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In the dense-medium coal preparation process magnetite powder is used, however, due to poor recovery of the magnetite, the consumption of magnetite increases which ultimately reflects in the economics. In order to continuously and efficiently recover the magnetite, a novel three-phase conical magnetic separator based on the principle of an alternating magnetic field generated by a three-phase linear motor, was developed. The distribution law of the magnetic field in the separation chamber was studied, and the magnetic separator's basic structure and parameters were determined. By varying the feed rate, coil current, coil turns, and particle size, magnetic separation experiments were conducted and compared with traditional magnetic separators. The results confirmed the excellent sorting performance of the conical AC magnetic separator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyanidin-3-O-galactoside and cyanidin-3-O-arabinoside (purity >98%) were isolated from black chokeberry by preparative high-performance liquid chromatography, and an animal experiment was conducted to investigate the pharmacokinetics of two anthocyanin monomers after intravenous administration. The results showed that cyanidin-3-O-galactoside has preferable druggability than cyanidin-3-O-arabinoside in pharmacokinetic area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new tirucallane-type triterpenoids, polystanins H–K (1–4), were obtained from the stems and leaves of Aphanamixis polystachya. Their structures were elucidated by analysis of the spectroscopic data and comparison with literature data. Compounds 1 and 2 showed week inhibitory effects against NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. All the isolates were investigated for their antifungal activities against drug-resistant Candida albicans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractYolk-shell SnO2 mesoporous double-layer nanotubes were synthesized in one-step by single nozzle electrospinning. Compared with the traditional electrospinning using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as the precursor polymer to obtain the single nanotube material, two PVPs (PVPK88-96 and PVPK23-27) with different molecular weights in solution coupled with Sn2+ easily form the core-shell structure nanofiber through phase separation. The yolk-shell double-layer SnO2 nanotubes were obtained after calcination at 600 °C for 2 h. The yolk-shell SnO2 mesoporous double-layer nanotube is a promising sensing material toward 3-hydroxy-2-butanone as it shows high sensitivity, cycling stability, and selectivity. Moreover, the response and recovery times of the yolk-shell SnO2 mesoporous double-layer nanotubes toward 1 ppm 3-hydroxy-2-butanone were 122 s and 117 s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change literacy (CCL) is recognized as a critical component in formulating and implementing effective climate change policies and actions. However, the degree of CCL among those entrusted with these very responsibilities – public officials, remains relatively unexplored. This study pioneers an investigation into the CCL of public officials in Taiwan through a national survey. Our findings indicate that while a majority of these officials are cognizant of climate change issues, their personal commitment to climate action leaves considerable room for growth. Furthermore, their general understanding of climate change, its impacts, and the necessary adaptation strategies is found wanting. A similar deficit is observed in their comprehension of the relevance of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to climate change. Our study, by establishing a framework for assessing CCL among public officials and providing preliminary data on the CCL of Taiwanese officials, not only fills a significant knowledge gap but also lays the groundwork for comparative studies across nations. Moreover, our findings underscore the need for governments to invest in enhancing the CCL of their personnel, thereby equipping them with the requisite knowledge and motivation to contribute effectively to global climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractBeef is an important source of protein for human consumption globally; in addition to beef, water buffalo and yak meat are widely consumed in Asia. Additionally, water buffalo horns are an integral part of traditional Chinese medicine. Adulteration of water buffalo horn with cattle and yak horn for economic gain has become a prevalent and pressing concern. This study used multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the simultaneous identification of meat and horns from water buffalo, cattle, and yaks within a single PCR test. Species-specific primers were designed for multiplex PCR based on a comprehensive comparison of mitochondrial gene sequences with those of commonly edible and horned animals. Multiplex PCR conditions were optimized by considering the concentration of components and the annealing temperatures for each set of species-specific primer pairs. A total of 220 bp amplicons were obtained for water buffalo, 269 bp for cattle, and 346 bp for yak. Validation measures were used to eliminate interference from other animal sources. Simultaneous identification of the three species in a single assay presents substantial advantages over conventional species-specific PCR methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global tobacco industry has made significant strides in reducing the harmful emissions of tobacco by focusing on the development of non-burning cigarette products. Among these innovations, electrically heated noncombustible cigarette smoking sets have garnered attention. However, one of the challenges faced by these products is the reliance on empirical values for temperature control, resulting in subpar taste and low production rates. To address these issues, this research introduces an optimization strategy that utilizes advanced algorithms such as Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and traditional non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II (NSGA-II). By leveraging these algorithms, this study aims to optimize the performance of electrically heated noncombustible cigarette smoking sets. The research methodology encompasses a comprehensive review of relevant literature and the systematic introduction of a simulation method. Through the proposed approach, a finite element model verification is conducted, which demonstrates a minimal maximum relative error between the model values of the objective function and the simulation values of the optimized parameters. As a result, this multi-objective optimization approach proves to be highly effective in enhancing the performance of electromagnetic cigarette heaters. It not only addresses the taste and production rate issues associated with existing electrically heated noncombustible cigarette smoking sets but also provides a scientifically grounded method for optimizing these devices. This research paves the way for further advancements in the tobacco industry, contributing to the development of safer and more satisfying alternatives to traditional cigarettes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global epidemiological evidence indicates high rates of mental illness but low rates of diagnosis among older people. In China, service providers identify older adults with mental disorders in varied ways. Taking Shanghai as an example, this study revealed how the identification methods of geriatric mental health disorders in nonspecialized institutions diverge, providing a reference for the integration of services. A purposive sampling method was adopted to conduct semi-structured interviews with 24 service providers from various nonspecialized geriatric mental health care institutions. Interview audio was recorded with consent and converted into verbatim transcripts. The interview data were analysed thematically. Although service providers from the health care system tended to apply a biomedical-oriented assessment, those from the social care system typically identified mental disorders among older people based on selective attention and interpersonal relationships. Although there are stark differences, the various identification mechanisms implicitly converge—the relationship with clients has become an important consideration. Geriatric mental health issues urgently require the integration of formal and informal care resources. Referring to the idea of task transfer, social identification mechanisms are expected to be a useful supplement to traditional biomedical-oriented identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delayed sleep-wake phase disorder (DSWPD) is common and easily misdiagnosed in young people, and to date, there is no evidence-based treatment. A nonblinded randomized controlled study evaluated the effect of agomelatine therapy (AT) and cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) on DSWPD in young adults. Sixty adolescents and young adults (range = 19–24 years, mean = 22 years, 52% female) diagnosed with DSWPD were randomized to receive 4 weeks of agomelatine therapy with or without cognitive behavior therapy. Sleep diaries, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and World Health Organization wellbeing questionnaire (WHO-5) were measured pre-treatment and post-treatment. Agomelatine therapy for 4 weeks shifted the sleep-wake rhythm (p <.001) forward in both groups at the week 4 assessment. There were no significant differences in sleep onset (p =.099) and sleep offset (p =.959) between the CBT group and the no treatment (NT) group at the follow-up visits. However, significant differences were found in sleep duration (p =.002), sleep quality (p=0.005), sleep difficulties (p <.001), daytime sleepiness (p =.001), and wellbeing (p =.007) between groups. The improvements were received largely through the sleep-promoting effects of agomelatine therapy, and combining with cognitive behavior therapy on maintenance of altered sleep rhythms might be feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiotherapy is an effective therapy in tumour treatment. However, the characteristics of the tumour microenvironment, including hypoxia, low pH, and interstitial fluid pressure bring about radioresistance. To improve the anti-tumour effect of radiotherapy, it has been demonstrated that antiangiogenic therapy can be employed to repair the structural and functional defects of tumour angiogenic vessels, thereby preventing radioresistance or poor therapeutic drug delivery. In this study, we prepared triptolide (TP)-loaded Asn-Gly-Arg (NGR) peptide conjugated mPEG2000-DSPE-targeted liposomes (NGR-PEG-TP-LPs) to induce tumour blood vessel normalisation, to the end of increasing the sensitivity of tumour cells to radiotherapy. Further, to quantify the tumour vessel normalisation window, the structure and functionality of tumour blood vessels post NGR-PEG-TP-LPs treatment were evaluated. Thereafter, the anti-tumour effect of radiotherapy following these treatments was evaluated using HCT116 xenograft-bearing mouse models based on the tumour vessel normalisation period window. The results obtained showed that NGR-PEG-TP-LPs could modulate tumour vascular normalisation to increase the oxygen content of the tumour microenvironment and enhance the efficacy of radiotherapy. Further, liver and kidney toxicity tests indicated that NGR-PEG-TP-LPs are safe for application in cancer treatment [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micron-sized particles are prone to deposit on smooth surfaces. A micron-sized particle collision-deposition model including the effects of electrostatic forces, integrated with the factors of particle size, material properties, elastic–plastic deformation, particle charging, surface roughness, and van der Waals forces, is proposed. The effects of the electrostatic forces on the critical deposition velocity, collision duration, and coefficient of restitution (COR), which is the ratio of particle velocity after and before the collision, are investigated for 1–20 μm sand particles colliding with glass, steel, and aluminum alloy surfaces. The results show that the electrostatic forces of sand particles are approximately 106–108 times their gravity and increase the impact duration. Moreover, these forces increase the critical deposition velocity by 2.32–6.89% for the glass surface and decrease the COR by 0.6–3.5% for the three surfaces, while the particle size is below 20 μm and the roughness is 1 nm. The electrostatic forces ranked from the maximum to the minimum are those of the aluminum alloy, steel, and glass surfaces for the same particle size and surface roughness. The developed model can perfect the theory of particle flow and gas-particle two-phase flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

α-Terpineol, a monocyclic monoterpenoid tertiary alcohol with lilac-like aroma, is found in a variety of plant essential oils. Current research has revealed that α-terpineol has a varied range of biological activities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, analgesic, gastroprotective, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, and antidiarrheal effects. These beneficial activities of α-terpineol coupled with its unique aroma and safety offer the possibility of incorporating this compound into food, cosmetic, non-cosmetic, medical, agricultural, and chemical industries. Hence, this paper summarizes the sources and production of α-terpineol, and focuses on the biological properties so far described for α-terpineol and its mechanism of action. Furthermore, the safety of α-terpineol, industrial applications and directions for future α-terpineol research are discussed. This paper provides reference for the research and application of α-terpineol in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the seismic behavior of a precast concrete frame with buckling-restrained braces (BRBs-PC frame) and analyzes the structural failure mode caused by the horizontal force of BRBs. Two half-scale PC frames, with and without BRBs, were designed and tested using a pseudo-static test. During the test, the BRBs-PC frame exhibited a failure mode of beam-hinge with BRBs. When the BRBs-PC frame yielded, the ratio of the BRB's energy dissipation to total energy dissipation was 65%. Cracks appeared on the column's superimposed surfaces. The ultimate bearing capacity and energy dissipation of the BRBs-PC frame were significantly improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shifts from fossil fuels toward renewable energy (RE) introduce profound changes to landscapes, including visual impacts that are often investigated during environmental and social impact assessment. Moreover, RE transitions are among many visual changes happening in rural areas that are increasingly serving amenity functions and becoming destinations for wide ranges of users. This diversity introduces complexities during infrastructure siting discussions. Emerging grape and wine production landscapes in Canada serve amenity and production purposes, and this study was designed to understand the impacts of RE development using case studies of solar panels and wind turbines in two vineyard landscapes in Ontario (ON) and British Columbia (BC). We applied novel mixed methods, including content analysis and saliency-based visual impact analysis, to textual and image-based representations posted on Instagram of those vineyards. In this case, the addition of low-density RE infrastructures did not seem to disturb the vineyard experience. The technique presented can be applied in a wide range of infrastructure siting contexts, both before and after construction, but requires additional research and calibration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper investigates the effect of introducing a course in Web Development for Chinese students on their academic achievements and the basic competencies, using traditional and online approaches. For the experimental learning purposes, 300 students were selected from three universities located in China's largest cities: Shanghai, Beijing, and Tianjin. A course in Web Development was designed and implemented to achieve the research objectives. The study results showed that the difference in the learning outcomes of the two groups was insignificant and did not depend on the training format. Online learners had more feedback and were able to take lectures and practical training more quickly. Further research requires quantifying and comparing the effects of online learning in programming instruction using the instrumental variable method and structural equation modeling to reveal the causal relationship between the two. The study can be useful to developers of training programs to create both traditional and online courses because the data obtained during this research can improve the effectiveness of the new course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The arrival of the dual-carbon era indicates that it is imperative to reduce industrial carbon emissions with high carbon emissions. The implementation of carbon emission reduction will inevitably have an impact on industrial development. Three different carbon emission scenarios were established. Based on the average annual carbon emission growth rate of the past decade, it is set as a medium carbon scenario. According to the economic development stage and actual social development situation of each region, the corresponding annual average carbon emission growth rate is increased and decreased to set up high carbon and low carbon scenarios. The adjacent accumulation gray multivariate model for industries is established based on different scenarios. The results indicate that the carbon emission scenarios most suitable for industrial development in various regions are different. Heavy industrial provinces and cities such as Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei have the highest industrial output value under high carbon scenarios; Provinces and cities with high levels of industrialization, such as Jiangsu, Shanghai, Guangdong and Chongqing have the highest industrial output value under low-carbon scenarios. The industrial output value of Hebei is expected to grow the fastest under the high carbon scenario, reaching 2.15 trillion yuan by 2030. The industrial output value of Guangdong achieves the greatest improvement under low-carbon scenario. It is expected that the industrial output value of which will reach 6.86 trillion yuan by 2030, ranking first in the country. Therefore, the setting of carbon emission scenarios needs to be tailored to local conditions, increase technological innovation efforts, and further promote industrial development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of denitrifying anaerobic methane oxidation (DAMO) and anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox) simultaneously converts ammonium, methane, and oxidized nitrogen species (nitrite and nitrate) to harmless N2 and CO2. This integrated and complementary process achieves the nitrogen and carbon cycles in wastewater with the potential to be applied widely at full scale to realize energy-positive wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). In this review, we summarize the collaborative and competitive interactions of DAMO–Anammox microorganisms and systematically evaluate the challenges for the full-scale application of integrated DAMO–Anammox for wastewater treatment, including their extremely slow growth rate, low metabolic activity, and limited nitrogen and methene removal rate. We examine comprehensively the critical role of bioreactor design (attached, suspended, and granular sludge systems) for biomass retention and substrate transfer. The paper also discussed strategies involving trace elements (Cu(II) and Fe(II)), Zero Valent Iron (ZVI), and External Electrostatic Fields (EEFs) to enhance the DAMO–Anammox microbial activities. Further review is provided on the addition of Humics, quinone-compound anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AQDs), Fe(III), Mn(IV) as electron acceptors through extracellular electron transfer (EET) and couple with autotrophic denitrification (AuDen) (H2S and Fe(II)) to accelerate nitrogen and methane removal. Finally, a conceptual design of innovative WWTPs based on the integrated DAMO–Anammox was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the suitable regimens of induced termination of second-trimester pregnancy in women with prior cesareans. A total of 204 s-trimester pregnant women with prior cesareans at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2019 to December 2020 were included in this retrospective study. Group A included pregnant women who were administered mifepristone with misoprostol, Group B included those administering mifepristone with misoprostol as well as a transcervical Cook double-balloon catheter, Group C included those receiving mifepristone with an intra-amniotic injection of ethacridine lactate, and Group D included those receiving mifepristone, transcervical Cook double-balloon catheter, and intra-amniotic injection of ethacridine lactate. Their characteristics, clinical outcomes, and complications among the four groups were compared. All women had similar profiles in maternal age, gravidity, and previous cesarean delivery (p >.05). There was no significant difference in successful abortion among the four groups (p >.05). Group C had a significantly shorter induction-to-abortion interval than Group D (p <.01). The blood loss after abortion at 2 h in Group B was much less than Group A (p <.05). It made a significant difference between Group B and Group D regarding the blood loss after abortion at 2 h (p <.01). With regard to total incidences of adverse reactions, there were much fewer in the group B than the group A (p <.05). The four regimens are all effective for the termination of second-trimester pregnancy in women with prior cesareans. The use of transcervical Cook double-balloon could reduce the risks caused by misoprostol, and the combination of these is feasible to induce second-trimester pregnancy termination in women with prior cesareans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality of fish pre-treatment processing directly affected the production competitiveness of the fish industry. The removal of heads and tails is one of the key technologies in the fish processing. This study proposed an identification method of fish head and tail, and the original YOLOV3 model was improved by replacing the backbone feature extraction network of the YOLOV3 model with the lightweight neural network MobileNetv3. Firstly, a freshwater fish image dataset was created and divided into the training, validation and test sets with the assigned ratio of 6:2:2. Next, the freshwater fish dataset was trained using the target detector YOLOV3. Finally, the average accuracy mAP (mean of Average Precision) and the average image detection time were used as the accuracy and speed indexes to evaluate the detection effect of the model. In addition, the SSD-MobileNetv3 and SSD-VGG16 were introduced into present study and they were compared with the improved algorithm. The experimental results showed that the detection speed of the YOLOV3 model with MobileNetV3 was significantly improved. The mAP of YOLOV3-MobileNetv3 model was 98.36%, the inference speed was 28.2 ms, which was 5.09%, 4.24% and 2.07% higher than the mAP of other three models (SSD-VGG16, SSD-MobileNetv3 and YOLOV3-Darknet-53), and the average detection time shortened by 86%, 9.99% and 29%, respectively. Therefore, this experimental method of head and tail of freshwater fish could achieve real-time detection and recognition of various kinds of freshwater fish, which had the great advantages of high detection accuracy and fast detection speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high frequency of chemotherapy resistance is ultimately responsible for clinical relapse in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Nevertheless, the molecular mechanism relevant to glucocorticoid (GC) resistance remains ambiguous. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were performed to detect the expressions of paraoxonase 2 (PON2), Bcl-2 and Bax. shRNA was used to knockdown PON2 expression in SUP-B15 and REH cell. CCK-8 and flow cytometry assay were conducted to monitor the changes of proliferation and apoptosis in ALL cells. The growth of ALL REH cells in vivo was determined using transplanted tumor model. This study was designed to identify GC resistance-associated genes by means of the transcriptome chip from the public Gene Expression Omnibus database, and preliminarily investigation of dexamethasone (DEX)-resistance mechanism in ALL. We disclosed that PON2 expression was elevated in ALL patients and especially higher in DEX-resistance ALL patients. Then, cell apoptosis assay suggested that silencing of PON2 dramatically promoted in DEX-resistant ALL cells apoptosis and the activity of Caspase 3 induced by DEX administration. In xenograft tumor model, PON2 knockdown significantly reduced DEX-resistant ALL cells growth in immunodeficient mice. Collectively, inhibition of PON2 may represent a novel method to restore the sensitivity of treatment-resistant ALL to GC-induced cell death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high birth weight discordance (BWD) places twins at high risks of adverse perinatal outcomes; however, there is no commonly accepted definition of intertwin BWD. Given that gestational age (GA) is closely associated with both BWD and adverse neonatal outcomes, the aim of our study is to develop a measure that takes both BWD and GA into account to define BWD and explore the potentially optimal delivery time in dichorionic twins, with the balance against the risk of intrauterine demise and adverse neonatal outcomes. About 99,000 mixed gender twin pairs from the US matched multiple birth file from 1995 to 2000 were enrolled in our study. We set up a two-dimensional matrix model to select the BWD cutoff point related to outcomes. The optimal delivery time was identified based on the risks of adverse neonatal outcomes and fetal death by GA. The combination of BWD and GA had a higher predictive performance for adverse neonatal outcomes than BWD alone (area under ROC curve (AUC): 0.816 vs. 0.523, p <.001). When GA was controlled for, the growth discordant cutoff point was BWD at the 40% level. The optimal delivery time suggested in dichorionic twins with BWD higher than 40% was identified at 33–34 gestational weeks. The combination of BWD and GA was a better predictor for adverse neonatal outcomes than BWD alone. In dichorionic twins with BWD >40%, pregnancy may be continued till 33–34 gestation weeks if there is no indication for immediate delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study was to establish the feasibility of using the critical nitrogen (N) dilution curve of cotton leaves for diagnosing N nutrition, so as to provide a theoretical basis and guidance for accurate fertilization in drip-irrigated cotton fields. We conducted field experiments using Lumianyan 24 under four different reduced N treatments including (506 kg hm−2 (N1), 402.5 kg hm−2 (N2), 299 kg hm−2 (N3), and 195.5 kg hm−2 (N4)) between 2018 and 2019. We subsequently measured N concentration and leaf dry matter (LDM). We also calculated the critical N concentration (Nc) dilution model, allometric growth model, N nutrient index (NNI), and N accumulation. Our results revealed that with the development of growth period, the leaf NNI and N accumulation displayed an increasing trend followed by a decreasing pattern in 2018. On the other hand, the leaf NNI in 2019 showed a similar performance as presented in 2018, while the N accumulation depicted a gradually increasing trend. We also found that NNI and N accumulation of cotton leaves reduced with decreasing N application. The Nc dilution curve model for drip-irrigated cotton fields was Nc = 5.163LDM−0.171 (LDM > 1.65), Nc = 4.7% (LDM ≤ 1.65), R2 = 0.933, with a highly significant fit and RMSE = 0.374, accompanied by excellent model simulation performance. In conclusion, this study established the Nc dilution curve model. Additionally, the calculated NNI can efficiently diagnose the status of N nutrients, thus providing a valuable theoretical basis for accurate fertilization of drip-irrigated cotton fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While university change initiatives have become more common in the face of changing learner needs and higher education funding, many fail to produce desired effects, even when guided by organizational change models. The purpose of this study was to document a successful change process in an engineering department at a Hispanic-serving institution in the southwestern United States. The change effort focused on enhancing faculty capacity to support diverse student success. The change process was planned using Kotter's eight-step change model (1996) and was therefore a prescribed, linear, sequential change process. Qualitative analysis of audio-recorded faculty interviews and meetings, artifacts, field notes, and participant observation highlights how Kotter's change model was implemented iteratively and emergently. Early steps were revisited and strategies were treated as improvable. This approach enhanced faculty buy-in and project success. Characterization of each step provides insight into ways to apply Kotter's change model in higher education settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pectin degradation in the cell walls and middle lamella greatly affects the texture and the quality of the fruit including the taste and storage time. This directly affects its acceptability, supply to the consumer market, and economic benefits. It is therefore essential to establish the relationship between the chemical changes of pectin and the texture of the fruit to improve its preservation. This study was designed to evaluate the degradation of pectin in the peels of Tarocco blood orange and the textural changes during postharvest storage and further investigate their relationship over the study period. The texture of the fruit was characterized using the texture profile analyzer and the degradation of pectin was investigated by testing the content of the pectin, degree of esterification, and galacturonic acid content. The physicochemical properties, such as weight loss, moisture content, and anthocyanin content were also measured. Furthermore, the structural changes of the pectin were analyzed by molecular weight determination and FTIR test. The results showed that the Mw of pectin decreased from 568.05 kDa to 362.55 kDa, with a 42.1% decline in pectin content for storing for 63 d. The gradual solubilization, depolymerization, and de-esterification of the pectin consequently led to the decline in the textual properties of the fruit during postharvest storage. This can be applied and lead to improvements in quality control and process design in the food industry and the marketplace for the fruit during storage and preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports a mixed-methods study about using virtual reality (VR) tools (Google Cardboard and Expeditions) for developing students' oral proficiency in learning Chinese as a second language. Twelve students role-played as tour guides for six locations throughout a semester: four of them with VR tools and two without. Data collection included oral presentations recorded at four different times of the semester (for Presentations 1, 3, 4, and 6), class observations, participants' reflection papers, and individual interviews at the end of the semester. Results revealed that the content and vocabulary of participants' oral presentations when using VR tools scored statistically significantly higher than when not using VR tools. Qualitative data showed that participants felt that VR tools facilitated preparation and encouraged active learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the occurrence of mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOH) in food contact papers in China, and to investigate the potential sources of MOH contamination, a total of 159 food contact papers and raw materials were analysed by off-line solid-phase extraction-gas chromatography flame ionisation detection (SPE-GC-FID) and a GC-MS method. The migration of MOH from food contact papers into Tenax, olive oil or 50% ethanol under the worst foreseeable conditions of use was determined. The results indicated that the occurrence of MOH in China is of a potential health risk concerning the migration of mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH) and mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) which were detected in 82.6% and 50.4% of samples, respectively. Migration of MOSH from 47.9% of samples was higher than 2 mg/kg and migration of MOAH from 32.2% samples exceeded 0.5 mg/kg in case of the worst foreseeable condition of use. The highest mean migration of MOSH and MOAH were found in packaging papers for long-term storage (more than 6 months), with mean migration of 91.2 mg/kg and 1.4 mg/kg, respectively. Migration of MOH from printed paper was considerably higher than that of unprinted paper, validating previous findings that the printing ink is the predominant source of MOH contamination in food contact papers. Migration of MOH from paper bowls used for packing instant noodles was relatively low, suggesting the internal hollow layer may be acting as a functional barrier that could block the transfer of MOH (up to C28) through the gas phrase, even though the outer layer was made from recycled paper. High concentrations of MOSH and MOAH were also detected in de-foamers, adhesives and rosin sizing agents, indicating that the MOH contamination caused by the use of raw materials and additives should also be taken into consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To prepare a novel antimicrobial peptide Nal-P-113 loaded poly (ethylene glycol) combined chitosan nanoparticles (Nal-P-113-PEG-CSNPs) for root caries restorations to control the periodontitis related pathogens in periodontitis care. Nanoparticles were prepared by simple polymerisation method and characterised using effective analytical methods (TEM, UV, etc.). The antimicrobial activity and biofilm formation of Nal-P-113-PEG-CSNPs was tested against periodontal bacterial pathogens by different in vitro methods. The size of Nal-P-113 loaded PEG-Chitosn nanoparticles was 216.2 ± 1.6 nm. The drug encapsulation efficiency (%EE (w/w) of Nal-P-113-PEG-CSNPs was found to be 89.33 ± 1.67% (w/w). The antimicrobial examination showed that prepared NPs have effectively inhibited the growth of Fusobacterium nucleatum, Streptococcus gordonii, and Porphyromonas gingivalis with the MIC of 23 µg/mL, 6 µg/mL and 31 µg/mL, respectively. The prepared antimicrobial peptide-loaded PEG-CSNPs provide excellent in vitro efficiency but, further studies are necessary to confirm its therapeutic efficacy on periodontitis care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the poultry slaughtering, accurate viscera positioning is essential to reduce the damage of internal organs. The introduction of machine vision technique can help to locate the viscera and can provide new direction for the poultry evisceration. After a midline abdominal incision of the poultry, the internal organs are taken out from the poultry that placed on the conveyor line by the parallel robot. Based on machine vision, the recognition accuracy of opened poultry viscera directly affects the level of visceral damage and residue caused by gripping manipulator. However, visceral positioning is often influenced by different noise in the abdominal cavity, such as mucous membranes and blood stains. Thus, the image segmentation of poultry viscera is a complex process, and it is challenging to remove the noise. In general, existing image segmentation methods can hardly segment visceral regions well. To strengthen the anti-noise ability, we proposed an improved region-based active contour method with the level-set formulation. This method combined with several operations of color space conversion and top-low-hat transformation, which could extract the viscera contour and precisely removed the noise. The results showed that recognition accuracy of the heart-liver area and fat area in the viscera are 98.98% and 99.75%, respectively, while the overall viscera for poultry was 98.96%. The results of this experiment suggested that the proposed image segmentation algorithm could achieve the required accuracy for poultry viscera detection. Thus, the proposed visceral contour recognition method could be applied in poultry processing, providing critical information to guide the robot for automated evisceration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: The preferred treatment for Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) patients is surgery. Approximately, 35% of patients can undergo surgical resection in clinic. Biomarkers for CCA need to be identified for diagnosis, treatment, or prognosis prediction of this disease. Y-box binding protein-1 (YBOX-1) is highly correlated with tumor progression and poor overall survival in many malignancies. The prognostic value of YBOX-1 overexpression in CCA remains unclear. We examined the expression of YBOX-1 in resected tissue in CCA patients and studied the effect of YBOX-1 in CCA migration and invasion in vitro and in vivo. Methods: Expression of YBOX-1 in the tissue of 91 CCA patients was investigated by immunohistochemistry. The effects of YBOX-1 on migration, invasion, and proliferation in CCA cell lines were assessed by short hairpin RNA lentivirus or overexpression plasmid transfection. Results: A total of 55 (60.4%) of CCA cancerous tissues showed strongly positive YBOX-1 cytoplasmic staining. The strongly positive expression of YBOX-1 was close to early recurrence and poor overall survival by Kaplan–Meier analyses. Knockdown of YBOX-1 reduced migration and invasion in CCA cells and proliferation of tumor in xenotransplantation nude mice. Overexpression of YBOX-1 promoted migration and invasion in CCA cells and proliferation of tumor in xenotransplantation nude mice. Conclusion: YBOX-1 is correlated with early recurrence and poor overall survival in CCA. YBOX-1 may be a factor of predicting poor prognosis and overall survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose an effective image retrieval approach using block truncation coding compressed data stream based on edge-based quantization (EQBTC). First, an image is compressed into corresponding quantisers and a bitmap image by EQBTC. Then, the quantisers are used for colour feature extraction, whereby the bitmap image and grey image are used for luminance and edge feature extraction. Subsequently, two image features, the colour histogram feature (CHF) and the overall structure feature (OSF), are computed to measure the similarity between two images using a specific distance metric computation. The results presented in this paper demonstrate that the proposed model is superior to the block truncation coding image retrieval scheme and some earlier proposed methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A surface coating made of α-zirconium phosphate (α-ZrP) nanoparticles was synthesized using one-step drop-cast processing. The coating consisted of surface-modified α-ZrP nanoparticles of three different sizes. Characterization was conducted using an atomic-force microscope (AFM) and a goniometer. Results showed that the aggregation of nanoparticles resulted in a dual distribution of surface roughness leading to superhydrophobicity with contact angles up to 160º against de-ionized water. Two factors enable superhydrophobicity, hydrophobic α-ZrP nanoparticles and self-assembly into dual-model distribution. The dual-model distribution of the surface was formed by the fractal clustering of nanoparticles and the platelet-shaped nanoparticles' random orientation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Online videos are commonly used in medical education. The aim of this review was to investigate the role of online instructional videos in teaching procedural skills to postgraduate medical learners. Methods: This systematic narrative review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, ERIC and Google Scholar were searched. Full texts that applied to online videos, postgraduate medical learners and procedural skills were included without language restrictions. The methodological quality of the studies was evaluated using a validated tool. A thematic analysis of the studies was carried out using a general inductive approach. Results: A total of 785 articles were retrieved and the full text was reviewed for 66 articles that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study. Twenty papers that were relevant to the role of online videos in postgraduate medical education of procedural skills were used for this review. They were heterogenous in the outcomes collected and the evidence was of variable quality. There was strong evidence for the use of online videos for procedural skill knowledge acquisition and retention. Online videos were used for various purposes, such as supervision, assessment, postoperative debriefing, providing feedback, and promoting reflection. Conclusion: Online videos are a valuable educational tool especially for procedural skill knowledge acquisition and retention. Future research needs to be carried out on the appropriate use of platforms in disseminating and using online videos, identifying the factors surrounding the learners, video characteristics, and data protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the relationship between magnitude of orthokeratology (OrthoK) treatment zone decentration and 2-year axial length (AL) elongation in myopic children. Methods: One-hundred and one Chinese children who wore OrthoK contact lenses for 2 years. The magnitude and direction of the OrthoK treatment zone center from the entrance pupil center were recorded after 3 and 24 months of lens wear along with AL measurement. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was performed to assess which factors significantly affected an increase in AL. Results: After 3 and 24 months of OrthoK treatment, the mean (± standard deviation [SD]) magnitude of the OrthoK treatment zone decentration was 0.64 ± 0.38 mm and 0.68 ± 0.32 mm, respectively. There were no significant differences between the two time points (P >.05). After 2 years of OrthoK contact lenses wear, the mean (± SD) AL growth was 0.36 ± 0.34 mm. The axial elongation was slightly correlated with baseline age of subjects (r = −0.073, P <.001), baseline spherical equivalent refractive error (r = −0.088, P <.001) and magnitude decentration of treatment zone (r = −0.190, P =.027). Conclusions: The decentration of OrthoK treatment zone stabilizes after 3 months of lens wear and slightly decreases AL growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to examine the incorporation of Google Earth Virtual Reality (VR) into English Learners' (ELs) expository writing experiences from a Funds of Knowledge perspective utilizing a mixed-methods explanatory sequential design. The participants were 22 ELs from a middle school in a rural Midwestern town. During the quantitative phase, the expository writing artifacts were collected through a multiple before-and-after non-experimental design and analyzed using ANOVA. A text-in-context coding approach was adopted to examine changes in students' writing. The results showed a statistically significant increase in expository writing skills, particularly in description, cause/effect, compare/contrast, and enumeration. A descriptive survey assessing the acceptance of Google Earth VR was distributed as well. During the qualitative phase, a follow-up focus group for the ELs and teacher interviews were conducted. Field notes/memos were used to triangulate the data. The qualitative findings indicated that the ELs were engaged in the virtual-assisted writing environment and showed positive attitudes toward Google Earth VR. Concerns about using Google Earth VR in writing (i.e. time-consuming as well as distracting and posing integration difficulties) were addressed. Future directions inspired from this study are discussed as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solvothermal reactions of AgNO3 with 9,10-anthraquinone-1,5-dicarboxylic acid (H2L) and 4,4'-bipyridine (bipy) gave rise to a metal-organic framework, namely [Ag(L)(bipy)]n (1), which was structurally characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectra, and X-ray diffraction analysis. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses indicate that 1 exhibits a 2D 44 topology framework assembled by dinuclear [Ag2(COO)2] units, L and bipy ligands. 1 displays highly sensitivity in the detection of nitrobenzene (NB) as a fluorescent sensor. Moreover, 1 exhibits a relatively good photocatalytic activity towards the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) in aqueous solution under UV irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The novel kojic acid derivatives KAD1 and KAD2 have been demonstrated that they exhibited potent anti-melanogenesis activity in our previous report. In this study, we further study the inhibitory mechanism on mushroom tyrosinase. The inhibitory types of both KADs on diphenolase were classified as mixed type based on the results of the kinetic model. The interaction between KADs and tyrosinase was illustrated by fluorescence quenching, molecular docking and copper chelate activity. The KADs were also evaluated with respect to their antioxidant activities by DPPH and ABTS+ assays. The results showed that KADs have more potent antioxidant activities than kojic acid. Our study could provide new ideas for the development of new anti-tyrosinase and antioxidant agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ropivacaine is a commonly used local anaesthetic, but its side effects remain largely unknown. In the present study, we investigated the side effects of ropivacaine in human neuronal SH-5Y5Y cells. We show that 0.5% and 1% ropivacaine could cause fission-like mitochondrial morphological changes. Ropivacaine exclusively induces mitochondrial fission protein DRP1, generation of ROS and causes mitochondrial dysfunction including decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential, the activity of cytochrome C oxidase and ATP production. The side effects of ropivacaine appear to be dependent on DRP1 expression as silencing of DRP1 in neuronal cells abolishes ropivacaine-induced morphological changes and mitochondrial dysfunction. Silencing of DRP1 prevents ropivacaine-induced cellular LDH release and cell death. Moreover, DRP1-deficient neuronal cells are resistant to ropivacaine-induced apoptosis and silencing of DRP1 rescues the activity of cytochrome C oxidase and cellular ATP production. Collectively, our data indicate that imbalances in mitochondrial dynamics, mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death resulting from ropivacaine are all dependent on DRP1 expression. Our study provides valuable data to assess the safety of ropivacaine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamics of tremulous motion in the upper limb is complex. We aimed to explore the relationship between the complexity of upper limb tremor when aiming and aiming performance and the influences of physical load on the two outcomes. Fifteen modern pentathlon athletes were recruited and completed two 1000-m treadmill running and three 60-s standard aiming task trials: one at baseline and each of the other two immediately after each running. The time series of light spot trace on the target was measured using a high-speed camera. The complexity of this time series was quantified using multiscale entropy. The effective aiming rate was used to assess the aiming performance. We observed that participants with lower tremor complexity had lower effective aiming rate across three physical load conditions (r2 > 0.38, p < 0.01). Physical load decreased both tremor complexity (F = 4.8, p = 0.01) and effective aiming rate (F = 13.5, p < 0.0001), but no difference was observed after 1000-m running compared to that after 2000-m running. The per cent change of tremor complexity associated with the change of effective aiming rate (r2 = 0.55, p < 0.0001). This pilot study demonstrates that multiscale complexity of tremulous motion in the upper limb when aiming may serve as a novel marker to assess the physiologic system functionality when aiming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Silymarin refers to a class of flavonoid lignans occurring in the fruits and seeds of the Silybum manalttlm (L). Gaertn, and is widely used in dietary supplements. 2. The main active ingredients of silymarin are silychristins A and B, silydianin, silybins A and B, and isosilybins A and B. However, the metabolism of silymarin has never been investigated. The major objectives of the present study were to investigate the metabolic pathways of silymarin isomers and to identify reactive metabolites. 3. Fourteen glutathione (GSH) conjugates were detected in rat/human liver microsomes incubations containing NADPH, GSH and seven individual isomers. Seven GSH conjugates (M1-M7) resulted from demethylated silymarin. M8-M14 originated from hydroxylated silymarin. Moreover, we found that GSH was probably conjugated on either ring A or ring E of silymarin based on the mass spectrometric fragments. In addition, recombinant enzyme incubation experiments demonstrated that CYP3A4 was the predominant P450 responsible for the metabolism of silymarin. 4. Several P450 enzymes were reportedly inactivated by some of bioactive constituents of silymarin to some extent. Our findings facilitate the understanding of mechanisms of the reported inactivation of P450 enzymes induced by silymarin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adipose tissue has been considered as a crucial source of certain pro-inflammatory cytokines; conversely, these pro-inflammatory cytokines are involved in regulating the proliferation and apoptosis of adipocytes, promoting lipolysis, inhibiting lipid synthesis and decreasing blood lipids, etc. In recent decades, extensive studies have indicated that pro-inflammatory cytokines play important roles in the development of lipid metabolism of metabolic diseases, including obesity, atherosclerosis, steatohepatitis and hyperlipoproteinemia. However, the involved pro-inflammatory cytokines types and the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. The "re-discovery" of cancer as a metabolic disorder largely occurred in the last five years. Although pro-inflammatory cytokines have been intensively investigated in cancer research, there are very few studies about the roles of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the lipid metabolism of cancer. In the current review, we provide an overview of the progress that has been made in the roles of different pro-inflammatory cytokines in lipid metabolism of metabolic diseases including cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large industrial projects change communities, landscapes, and ecosystems, with significant impacts for local people. But, conventional project evaluations often underestimate wide-ranging local interests, especially those of young people. To address this gap, we collected data from Instagram, where a younger demographic dominates the medium, focusing on two hydroelectricity proposals in Canada: the in-progress Site C Dam in British Columbia, and the 1960s Mactaquac Dam in New Brunswick. A year of landscape photos and captions from each were coded into thematic categories and linked based on statistical co-occurrence. Project impacts for this youth cohort can be predicted by identifying the values and activities statistically associated with the features likely to be affected by each proposal: dam construction will affect perceived esthetics and sense of home in Site C, and dam removal will cause lifestyle changes in Mactaquac. The advantages and drawbacks of this method are discussed including implications of such new data sources for social impact assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Stroke is a common condition after a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or minor ischemic stroke (IS). Adding clopidogrel to aspirin may yield more beneficial outcomes than aspirin mono-therapy; meanwhile, the risk of bleeding in the acute phase remains poorly understood. Therefore, there is increasing emphasis on the risks and benefits of clopidogrel with aspirin compared with aspirin mono-therapy in an effort to treat TIA/IS. Design. We searched several electronic databases, including PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase, to identify eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) based on the index words comparing dual-antiplatelet therapy to aspirin mono-therapy for secondary stroke prevention updated to December, 2018. Results. A total of 11 RCTs met our inclusion criteria. The pooled analysis showed that clopidogrel plus aspirin was associated with a trend toward a reduction in recurrent IS (RR = 0.72, 95%CI = 0.65-0.81, p < .001), but not the recurrent stroke rate (RR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.63-1.03, p = .09) than aspirin mono-therapy. There were differences in bleeding episodes (RR = 1.81, 95%CI = 1.65-1.99, p < .001), moderate-severe major bleeding (RR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.24-2.16, p = .0005), or mild bleeding (RR = 2.25, 95%CI = 1.54-3.31, p < .001) between the study groups. Meanwhile, no benefit of reducing the risk of intracranial hemorrhage with dual-antiplatelet therapy was found in TIA/IS patients (RR = 1.44, 95% CI = 0.95-2.19, p = .09). Conclusions. The addition of clopidogrel to aspirin for patients with TIA or IS appeared to significantly reduce the risk of IS recurrence with a possible increase in the risk of bleeding compared with aspirin alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat is one of the three major staple foods in the world. Although wheat is highly nutritional, it has a variety of allergenic components that are potentially fatal to humans and pose a significant hazard to the growth and consumption of wheat. Wheat allergy is a serious health problem, which is becoming more and more prevalent all over the world. To address and prevent related health risks, it is crucial to establish precise and sensitive detection and analytical methods as well as an understanding of the structure and sensitization mechanism of wheat allergens. Among various analytical tools, mass spectrometry (MS) is known to have high specificity and sensitivity. It is a promising non immune method to evaluate and quantify wheat allergens. In this article, the current research on the detection of wheat allergens based on mass spectrometry is reviewed. This review provides guidance for the further research on wheat allergen detection using mass spectrometry, and speeds up the development of wheat allergen research in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat is one of the three major staple foods in the world. Although wheat is highly nutritional, it has a variety of allergenic components that are potentially fatal to humans and pose a significant hazard to the growth and consumption of wheat. Wheat allergy is a serious health problem, which is becoming more and more prevalent all over the world. To address and prevent related health risks, it is crucial to establish precise and sensitive detection and analytical methods as well as an understanding of the structure and sensitization mechanism of wheat allergens. Among various analytical tools, mass spectrometry (MS) is known to have high specificity and sensitivity. It is a promising non immune method to evaluate and quantify wheat allergens. In this article, the current research on the detection of wheat allergens based on mass spectrometry is reviewed. This review provides guidance for the further research on wheat allergen detection using mass spectrometry, and speeds up the development of wheat allergen research in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new method had been developed for the preparation of fluorescent Magnesium doped carbon quantum dots (Mg-CQDs) by a simple mechanical ball milling a mixture of cellulose and Mg power. The Mg-CQDs were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV-vis spectra, Fluorescent emission spectra and Transmission electron microscopy. And the result showed that the prepared Mg-CQDs displayed high selective and sensitive detection of iron ions with a detection limit of 50 ppb. Moreover, the idea of mechanical ball milling provided a method of large-scale industrial production to carbon quantum dots (CQDs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solubility data of N-acetyl-L-glutamine in aqueous solution with different proportions of methanol and ethanol were determined with a static analytical method from 293.15 to 318.15 K. The data were then correlated by five models including the modified Apelblat equation, Van't Hoff equation, local composition model (NRTL model), CNIBS/Redlich-Kister model, and Jouyban-Acree model. The results show that Van't Hoff equation agrees well with the experimental data. When the ratio of methanol or ethanol in aqueous solution is in the range of 0.2-0.4, the solubility of N-acetyl-L-glutamine reaches its maximum. Besides, the melting temperature and fusion enthalpy of N-acetyl-L-glutamine were measured by the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and no polymorphism was found in the systems studied. The thermodynamic properties including enthalpy, entropy and Gibbs free energy during dissolution were calculated accordingly in this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]