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The lightweight designs of automobiles and space shuttles have raised the bar for aluminum (Al) and its alloys. Graphene (GP) has found widespread application in aluminum matrix composites due to its exceptional mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties. In this study, a successful preparation of 6061Al reinforced with GP was achieved through a powder metallurgy method. This involved mixing GP with 6061Al alloy powders via ball milling, followed by hot-pressing sintering to produce the final GP-reinforced Al alloy nanocomposite. The effect of the pH value of the plating solution on the electroless plating of GP has been studied for the first time. The results show that the strength of the aluminum-matrix composites with copper plating has been significantly improved compared with that of the composites without copper plating. When the pH value of the plating solution is 12, the tensile strength of the composites obtained has been increased by 60.41%. Compared with the matrix material, the conductivity of the composite material has also increased. This work shows that the mechanical behavior of graphene-reinforced metal matrix composites (MMCs) can be improved by adjusting the distribution of graphene coatings, which is of great benefit for the preparation of high strength and lightweight composites with good electrical conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triclosan (TCS) is an anti-microbial widely used in personal care and medical antibacterial products. Despite the widespread occurrence of TCS in municipal sewage sludge, understanding toward the fate of TCS within sewage treatment and environmental risks in the eventual land application is still limited. This review summarizes the TCS loads and transfer mechanisms in the sewage treatment process, sludge management process, land application, and its potential environmental impacts. TCS transfer from sewage to sludge mainly occurs in the primary sedimentation process, representing 2.50 to 4.58 times more compared to the secondary sedimentation process. This transfer is facilitated through adsorption because of the presence of humic acid-like and protein-like substances in sludge. Both anaerobic digestion and aerobic composting contribute to the degradation of TCS with aerobic composting being more effective, exhibiting TCS degradation rates 1.04–2.87 times higher than those observed in anaerobic digestion. After sludge land application, TCS majorly dissipates in the soil through biodegradation by fungi and bacteria, potentially posing environmental risks, such as inhibiting the seedling growth of plant species. Additionally, the degradation of TCS, coupled with the formation and subsequent degradation of MeTCS, is observed, with MeTCS exhibiting a higher half-life and greater toxicity than its parent compound (TCS). Overall, this research offers vital insights to enhance understanding of TCS's migration and degradation processes in sewage treatment and soil. It also provides guidance in environmental protection and sustainable resource management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity has been proposed as a promising predictor of atherosclerosis-related complications and a prognostic marker for cardiovascular diseases. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential correlation between serum levels of GGT and early-onset coronary artery disease (EOCAD). A retrospective, hospital-based case-control study was conducted, which included 860 patients with EOCAD and gender- and age-matched controls. Serum levels of GGT were measured using the reference measurement procedure on an automatic biochemistry analyser. The serum GGT levels of patients with EOCAD (34.90 ± 31.44 U/L) were significantly higher than those of the control group (21.57 ± 16.44 U/L, p <.001). Elevated serum levels of GGT were found to be an independent risk factor for EOCAD, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.021 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.014–1.029). Additionally, for every quartile increase in serum GGT levels, the risk of developing EOCAD increased by 1.6-fold. Moreover, serum GGT levels were significantly associated with disease severity, with lower GGT levels observed in patients without significant vascular disease (31.74 ± 24.06 U/L) compared to those with two-vessel disease (33.06 ± 25.00 U/L, p =.002) and three-vessel disease (37.75 ± 36.76 U/L, p =.001). The results of this study suggest that elevated serum GGT levels are associated with the development of EOCAD, and GGT may be implicated in the pathogenesis of the disease. Further large-scale prospective studies are needed to explore the potential relationship between serum GGT levels and the dynamic development of EOCAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have achieved substantial advancements in clinical care. However, there is no strong evidence for identified biomarkers of ICIs in NPC. In this retrospective study, 284 patients were enrolled into a training or validation cohort. Inflammatory indexes based on peripheral blood parameters were evaluated, including the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), the platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), the lymphocyte-to-C-reactive protein ratio (LCR), and the lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR). The optimum cut-off value for patient stratification was identified using X-tile. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox's proportional regression analyses were used to identify prognostic factors. Immunotherapy significantly changed the levels of SII, NLR, PLR, LCR and LMR in NPC patients. Patients with lower SII, NLR, and PLR, as well as those with higher LCR and LMR, before immunotherapy had superior PFS (all p < 0.05). Moreover, PFS in the decreased SII, reduced NLR and increased LMR group was significantly longer than in the opposite group (all p < 0.05). Both univariate and multivariate analyses validated that baseline SII and LMR, and the immunotherapy-related SII reduction and LMR elevation were independent prognostic factors for PFS in advanced NPC patients receiving ICIs. Immune checkpoint inhibitor treatments significantly changed the levels of SII, NLR, PLR, LCR and LMR in NPC patients treated with immunotherapy. A lower baseline SII and a higher baseline LMR, and a reduction in SII and an elevation in LMR after immunotherapy are favorable factors for predicting survival among advanced NPC patients. There is no strong evidence for identified biomarkers of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Lower baseline SII and higher baseline LMR were related to better PFS. The dynamic changes of SII and LMR were independent prognostic factors for the survival of NPC patients receiving ICIs. Neutrophils, platelets, lymphocytes, and monocytes can be used as cheap and valuable biomarkers for predicting tumor response in NPC on immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elaeagnus 'viridis', an artificial hybrid of E. macrophylla (♂) Thunb. (1784) × E. pungens (♀) Thunb. (1784), is known for its economic and ecological value. In this study, we sequenced and assembled the whole chloroplast (cp) genome of E. 'viridis'. The results showed that its cp genome was 152,284 bp long, showing a typical quadripartite structure and containing a large single-copy region (LSC, 82,299 bp), a small single-copy region (SSC, 18,239 bp), and a pair of inverted repeats (IRs, 51,746 bp). The cp genome contains 132 genes, including 86 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 38 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis based on 66 common PCGs revealed that E. 'viridis' is most closely related to its maternal parent E. pungens. The chloroplast genomic information reported in this study will shed some useful light for further genetic studies in the genus Elaeagnus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with increased mortality among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. This meta-analysis aimed to identify risk factors for the development of AKI in patients with COVID-19. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed and EMBASE from 1 December 2019 to 1 January 2023. Due to significant study heterogeneity, meta-analyses were conducted using random-effects models. Meta-regression and sensitivity analysis were also performed. A total of 153,600 COVID-19 patients from 39 studies were included, and 28,003 patients developed AKI. By meta-analysis, we discovered that age, male sex, obesity, black race, invasive ventilation, and the use of diuretics, steroids and vasopressors, in addition to comorbidities such as hypertension, congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and diabetes, were significant risk factors for COVID-19-associated AKI. Early detection of these risk factors is essential to reduce the incidence of AKI and improve the prognosis of COVID-19 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we describe a new synthetic route to prepare 1-(2-fluorobenzyl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-3-carbonitrile (9), a key intermediate of riociguat (1). In this new route, 9 was obtained from commercially available methyl 2-chloronicotinate (28) as the staring material in four steps with an overall yield of 55%. The hydrazinolysis and intramolecular substitution were completed in one step to obtain 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-3-ol (30). Regioselective N1-benzylation of 30 afforded 1-(2-fluorobenzyl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-3-ol (31), whose structure was confirmed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, MS and single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Pd-catalyzed cyanation of 1-(2-fluorobenzyl)-3-bromo-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine (32) was applied to prepare key intermediate 9. Compound 32 in our approach has not been previously reported in the literature. The related impurities and process parameters were studied. The new synthetic route provides an alternative method for the preparation of riociguat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the dispersibility and uneven distribution of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in the copper matrix, the surface of CNTs were modified to enhance their dispersibility in the copper matrix. In this paper, different concentrations (7.5%, 15%, 30%) of HNO3 were used to functionalize the surface of CNTs to improve the chemical inertness of CNTs, and surface modification was performed on the purified and de-hybridized CNTs to make the CNTs better dispersed in the metal matrix. At the same time, the mechanical properties and electrical conductivity of the carbon nanotube-reinforced copper-based composites were analyzed. According to research result, 15% HNO3 combined with subsequent surface treatment have the best effect on surface modification of CNTs, significantly improving the dispersibility of CNTs and better exerting the excellent coordination effect of CNTs in copper-based composite. In addition, it is confirmed that the obtained Cu-CNTs/Cu composites have excellent comprehensive properties, which provide a new idea to improve the characteristics of copper-based composites doped with CNTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased proliferation and migration of abnormal airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) are significantly associated with asthma. Recently, the function of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in ASMCs has been identified. Our research attempted to resolve the function of the lncRNA DGCR5 in ASMCs and focus on its in-depth mechanisms of proliferation and migration. Quantitative real-time PCR and western blotting were used to evaluate the expressions of RNA and proteins, respectively. The CCK-8 assay was used to detect cell proliferation. Transwell assays were used to assess migration. Luciferase and RNA pull-down assays were used to verify the targeting between miR-204-5p and lncRNA DGCR5 or SRSF7. LncRNA DGCR5 was upregulated in ASMCs stimulated with PDGF-BB. Knockdown of DGCR5 reversed the effect of platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB) on the proliferation and migration of ASMCs. The results of this study showed that lncRNA DGCR5 binds to miR-204-5p, and SRSF7 is the target of miR-204-5p. Rescue experiments verified the interaction between miR-204-5p and DGCR5, as well as that between miR-204-5p and SRSF7. Overall, this study revealed that the lncRNA DGCR5/miR-204-5p/SRSF7 signalling axis has key regulatory effects on the proliferation and migration of ASMCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), an aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma caused by Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), lacks standard therapy and has a median survival of 10–22 months with combination chemotherapy. PEL is a tumor of plasmablast-like B cells generally expressing CD38, the target of daratumumab (Dara). Initially, we assessed PEL cells from eight patients and established that each expressed high levels of CD38 by flow cytometry. PEL cell lines were also evaluated and most had high CD38 expression. We then assessed Dara's effects on complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) of PEL cell lines as well as its clinical benefits on two patients with PEL. Despite high CD38 expression, Dara did not induce CDC of PEL cell lines, due in part to high levels of the complement-inhibitory proteins, CD55 and CD59. However, Dara induced significant and dose-dependent increases in ADCC, particularly in those lines with high CD38 levels. Two FDA-approved drugs, all trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) and pomalidomide (Pom), significantly increased surface CD38 levels in low-CD38 expressing PEL cell lines, resulting in increased Dara-induced ADCC. Two patients with refractory PEL were treated with Dara alone or in combination with Pom. One patient with leptomeningeal PEL had a complete response to Dara and Pom combination treatment. Others had improvement in performance status and resolution of malignant ascites with Dara alone. Together, these data support the use of Dara monotherapy or in combination with ATRA or Pom as a potential therapeutic option for PEL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An immunochromatographic assay (ICA) based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) for ultrasensitive and quantitative detection of florfenicol (FF) in food samples was developed. Au nanocubers (AuNCs) with long wavelength absorption were synthesised, characterised and used as the substrate in SERS-ICA. Immunoprobe was prepared by linking Raman reporter and the antibody against FF on AuNCs. The SERS-ICA was completed in 15 min. By measuring the Raman intensities on T lines, quantitative detection of FF was achieved. The IC50 and limit of detection (LOD) of the assay for FF were 0.027 ng mL−1 and 0.12 pg mL−1, respectively. The cross-reactivity (CR) of the assay with thiamphenicol, chloramphenicol and other four drugs were examined. The recoveries of FF in spiked samples were 88.5% ∼ 102.4% with RSD of 2.3% ∼ 7.4%. It was proven that SERS-ICA was able to rapidly detect FF in food samples with high sensitivity, accuracy and precision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop a sensitive and specific ELISA for geosmin (GSM), the research of this study is focused on the design and synthesis of several GSM derivatives, which maintain the whole GSM structure as much as possible and contain a spacer arm with an active group at the end. To form the GSM backbone, tandem organic reaction strategies were used to replace the traditional Robinson cyclization reaction. Five GSM derivatives were synthesized and the formed GSM derivative-protein conjugates were used as the immunogens for the production of polyclonal antibodies against GSM, while four GSM derivatives were synthesized and the GSM derivative-protein conjugates were used as coating antigens for establishing ELISA. The relationship between the structures of GSM derivatives and the antibody properties was explored. Under optimal conditions, the LOD of the ELISA for GSM was found to be 0.16 ng mL−1, and the antiserum was able to specifically recognize the GSM backbone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of this study were to investigate the incidence of pain in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients and to analyze the correlation between pain and quality of life. PD patients who followed up in our PD center from March 2016 to December 2017 were included. The Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire was used to assess pain status. Depression status, sleep quality, quality of life and clinical data were also collected. A total of 463 PD patients were included, of whom 153 patients (33.1%) with pain. The main cause of pain was calcium and phosphorus metabolism disorder (51.6%). About 101 patients (66.0%) had multiple sites of pain, and 28 patients (18.3%) with pain were treated with analgesic drugs. Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that older age (OR = 1.026; p = 0.032) and higher intact parathyroid hormone level (OR = 1.043; p = 0.040) were independent risk factors for pain in PD patients. Multivariate analysis showed that score of pain rating index was an independent risk factor for depressive symptoms (OR = 1.100; p = 0.015), the score of Pittsburgh sleep quality index (B = 0.005; p = 0.044) and the score of physical component scale (B= −0.727; p = 0.016) in PD patients. The incidence of pain in PD patients was 33.1%. Older age and higher intact parathyroid hormone level were independent risk factors for pain. Pain was independently associated with depressive symptoms, sleep quality and quality of life in PD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional foods play an important role in health care and chronic diseases prevention, particularly cancer. Prenylated flavonoids are presented in many food resources. They are recognized as neutraceuticals due to their diverse health benefits. Up to now, more than 1000 prenylated flavonoids have been identified in plants. Their food resources are reviewed in this paper. Due to the good safety and cancer prevention effect of prenylated flavonoids, this paper reviews the cancer prevention activities and mechanisms reported in last decade. The structure-activity relationship is discussed. Due to the limited availability in nature, the heterologously biosynthetic technique of prenylated flavonoids is discussed in this review. Inclusion of dietary prenylated flavonoids into human diet is highly desirable. This paper combines the up-to-date information and give a clear image regarding prenylated flavonoids as neutraceuticals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Donafenib and lenvatinib are approved by China National Medical Products Administration and recommended as first-line treatment of Metastatic Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of donafenib compared with lenvatinib for first-line treatment of advanced HCC in China. A partitioned survival model consisting with three health states was developed to simulate lifetime development of advanced HCC from China healthcare payer's perspective. The lifetime costs, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), life-years (LYs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) were calculated. The efficacy data were obtained from ZGDH3 and REFLECT trials. The cost and health outcomes were discounted at a rate of 5%. Sensitivity and scenario analyses were carried out to explore the variation of model results. Compared with lenvatinib, donafenib incurred more costs of $1500.86 and had 0.139 QALYs gained, resulting in an ICER of $10,790.18/QALY. The probability of being cost-effective was 84.9% at a willingness-to-pay threshold of gross domestic product per capita in 2020 in China ($31,499.2/QALY). Sensitive and scenario analysis results were in line with base-case analysis. Donafenib appears to be a cost-effective strategy compared with lenvatinib for the first-line treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic HCC in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The popularity of social networking sites (SNSs) has drawn researchers' attention in recent years, and a large amount of efforts have been made to explore the association between SNS use and loneliness, however, they provided mixed results. This meta-analysis was conducted to confirm the relationship, based on 82 articles consisting of 90 independent samples with a total of 48,383 participants. A random-effects model was used to analyze main effects and revealed that SNS use and loneliness were weakly, yet significantly positively correlated (r = 0.052). The type of SNS use moderated the relationship. Specifically, abnormal and passive SNS use was significantly and positively correlated with loneliness; however, no significant differences were observed in the relationships between general and active use of SNSs and loneliness. In addition, the moderating effects of gender, age, and culture were not significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Travel apps have exerted an increasingly important impact on tourism. Drawing on the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), technology acceptance model (TAM) and motivation theory, this study develops and tests a new model designed to explain the young generation's continued use intention of travel apps. The results show young generation's utilitarian motivation and hedonic motivation significantly influence their continued use intention of travel apps. Findings also suggest that control factors have a significant influence on their utilitarian motivation. Moreover, hedonic motivation has a mediating effect on features of travel apps and the continued use intention. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decks of oil-extracting platforms could be damaged by great wave impact loads under harsh ocean conditions. Our understanding of the pressure distribution characteristics under the deck, especially those influenced by columns, is incomplete. A series of experiments are carried out to study the spatial and instantaneous distribution of the impact pressure generated by regular waves acting on the deck, and two cases are considered: a flat plate (FP for short) and a plate with four vertical columns (CP for short). Three-dimensional numerical simulations using a modified wave generating tool are conducted and compared to experimental data. Both compressible and incompressible flow solvers are applied to further quantitatively analyse the effect of air compressibility on impacting forces. The results show marked changes in both the pressure distribution scatter under the deck and the magnitude of the impact pressure when comparing the two cases. It has been demonstrated that run-up along the columns can cause intense localized pressure on the deck, and a close relationship exists between this increased pressure and fluid velocity. Additionally, the preliminary results showed that the phase compressibility increases the peak pressure compared with that of an incompressible solver, and the former matches the experimental measurements better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The micellar solution of a surface active ionic liquid, 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (C16mimBF4), with the presence of organic salt sodium salicylate (NaSal) was investigated by rheological measurements and 1HNMR. According to steady-shear viscosity curves, with the increase of NaSal concentration, the zero-shear viscosity η0 firstly showed an increase which meant the gradual formation of wormlike micelles in solutions (the most optimal concentration of NaSal was 4.5 mM), then η0 decreased to the previous value which indicated the wormlike micelles were destroyed. And the results of 1HNMR were further verified the structure transformation. The C16mimBF4/NaSal solution showed special viscoelastic property with the increase of NaSal concentration. When the linear wormlike micelles formed, the mixture solutions had viscosity (G′G″). In the frequency sweep rheological measurements, the curves of G′ and G″ showed two intersections, which indicates the structure of long wormlike micelles is weak and may be cut into short ones at higher shear frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eight process-related impurities in the synthesis of suvorexant were identified, while six of them were described for the first time. In order to get the references for the process optimization and quality control of API, the eight compounds were synthesized. According to the possible formation pathways, a modified synthesis and the strategy for impurity control in the corresponding reactions were established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel and facile synthesis of Iclaprim was reported. Started from trimethoprim (TMP), the amino-protection and Friedel–Crafts acetylation with acetic anhydride were simultaneously completed in CH2Cl2 with SnCl4 as catalyst. The Knoevenagel condensation of 2,4-diamino-5-(2-acetyl-3-hydroxy-4,5-dimethoxybenzyl)pyrimidine with cyclopropyl carboxaldehyde followed by the intramolecular Michael addition in the buffer system (pyrrolidine and acetic acid) installed the key framework (chromanone 13). The dehydration was catalyzed by H2SO4 so that the formation of 5-cyclopropyl-2,3-dimethoxy-4,5,6,6a,7,12-hexahydronaphtho[1,8-bc]pyrimido[5,4-f]azepin-9-amine, an impurity of Iclaprim reported at the first time, could be minimized. In the end, Iclaprim was obtained in a total yield of 21%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of astragalus polysaccharides (APS) on the proliferation and apoptosis of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) induced by X-ray radiation-induced A549 cells bystander effect (RIBE), and to explore their mechanisms. In this study, APS increased the reduced cell proliferation rate induced by RIBE and inhibiting the apoptosis of bystander cells. In terms of mechanism, APS up-regulates the proteins Bcl-2, Bcl-xl, and down-regulates the proteins Bax and Bak, which induces a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, which induces the release of Cyt-c and AIF, which leads to caspase-dependent and caspase-independent pathway to cause apoptosis. In addition, we believe that ROS may be the main cause of these protein changes. APS can inhibit the generation of ROS in bystander cells and thus inhibit the activation of the mitochondrial pathway, further preventing cellular damage caused by RIBE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urban–rural fringe is a dynamic environment where urban expansion limits the provision of landscape services. Economic valuation of these services is proposed to quantify the impact of urbanisation and inform planners of the potential losses that attribute to these land-use changes. However, most evaluation methods remain controversial regarding shortcomings in providing reliable results. This study applies market price, contingent valuation and value transfer methods and compares their performance in assessing the economic impact of land-use changes on the urban–rural fringe of the Amstelland (the Netherlands). Results with these applied methods differ greatly due to their respective advantages in revealing use values or non-use values of landscape services and dependence on land-use change. Thus, results are sensitive to value types, the scarcity of landscape services, scale of the study area, and involved stakeholders. This paper reflects on the strengths and weaknesses of these methods in different planning contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Impaired mucociliary clearance is an initial characteristic of recurrent cough, respiratory infection and chronic respiratory diseases. It has been demonstrated that prolonged inhalation of respirable silica particles results in a variety of pulmonary diseases, but whether the mucociliary system is involved in this process is unclear. This study aims to evaluate the effects of silica particles on mucociliary structure and MUC5B production in respiratory tract. Materials and Methods: C57BL/6 mice were administered with 2.5 mg silica particles through a single intratracheal instillation. The changes of mucociliary structure and MUC5B expression in trachea was evaluated by HE and AB-PAS staining, transmission electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry on days 1, 7, 28 and 84 post-exposure. Results: The mucociliary structure of airway epithelium was obviously impaired by silica particles, showing disordered, shortened or partially lost cilia on the surface, increased mucus in mucous layer and submucosal glands from day 7 to day 84. A variety of ultrastructural abnormalities were discovered in silica-exposed airway cilia, including absence of central pair microtubules, disorganized microtubules and clusters of axoneme on day 1 and 7. The numbers of ciliary axonemes and basal bodies in ciliated epithelial cells were significantly decreased, whereas the proportion of abnormal axonemes was gradually increased with exposure to silica particles (P < 0.05). In addition, silica particles significantly decreased MUC5B expression on the surface of airway epithelium on day 28 and 84, but obviously increased its production in submucosal glands from day 1 to day 84 (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Silica particles could lead to ultrastructural defects in airway cilia, mucus hypersecretion and altered MUC5B expression in trachea, indicating that impaired mucociliary structure and altered MUC5B production might participate in the development of silica-related respiratory diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anti-inflammatory activities of fucoxanthin, a marine carotenoid derived from the macroalgae and microalgae, have been demonstrated in the previous studies. However, the effect of fucoxanthin on ulcerative colitis (UC), an inflammatory bowel disease, was still unclear. In this study, we evaluated the in vivo anti-inflammatory effect of fucoxanthin on dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)-induced colitis in mice. Fucoxanthin at the doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg/day significantly protected against DSS-induced gradual loss of body weight, exhibited inhibitory effects on the DSS-induced increase of disease activity index and colon shortening. Moreover, fucoxanthin treatment resulted in a marked amelioration of the histological damage in the colon, and reduced the colonic PGE2 levels in colitic mice. In addition, the DSS-induced overexpressions of inflammation-related molecules including COX‐2 and NF-κB were significantly decreased in fucoxanthin-treated mice. These finding suggested that the use of fucoxanthin provides a new and attractive alternative to control UC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the deep sea-derived Streptomyces xiamenensis MCCC 1A01570, eight cyclic dipeptides (1–8) and five phenolics (9–13) were obtained. Cyclo-(I-Pro-D-Leu) (4) could moderately promote the gene transcriptional function of nuclear receptor RXRα, while 2, 3, and 13 showed weak reduction in RXRα gene transcriptional activities induced by 9-cis-retinoid acid (RA). These compounds might have beneficial effects against intractable diseases with relation to RXRα, such as cancer and metabolic diseases, due to their potential activities on regulating the transcriptional activation function of RXRα. In addition, 1–6, 8, 10, and 12 (20 μM) showed mild in vitro cytotoxicity against three cancer cell lines of ECA-109, Hela-S3 and PANC-1 with the inhibition rates arranging from 50% to 65%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanical reliability and thermal stability of thermoelectric materials are often the most neglected, while they will greatly affect the reliability and performance of thermoelectric devices when used in extreme environments. In this study, a nanostructured chromium nitride (CrN) thermoelectric material with a ZT value ∼0.12, exhibiting both high mechanical reliability and thermal stability, was prepared using a simple chemical method. Its hardness, reaching 7.21 GPa, is much higher than that of most other traditional thermoelectric materials. Thermogravimetric analysis shows that CrN remains stable at 873 K. Moreover, friction and wear tests demonstrate the high wear resistance and low friction coefficient (∼0.42) of CrN. The high thermal stability and good mechanical properties are expected to offer a wide range of opportunities for the thermoelectric application of CrN in some extreme environments, such as collision avoidance systems and outer space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myeloid sarcoma (MS) is a neoplastic condition composed of immature myeloid cells involving an extramedullary site. We investigated underlying chromosomal and molecular alterations to assess potential molecular markers of prognosis and outcome in this rare pediatric disease. We conducted a retrospective review of clinicopathologic and cytogenetic data from 33 pediatric patients with MS (ages 1 month–18 years) at our institution over a 32 year period (1984–2016). Tissue-based cancer microarray and targeted next-generation sequencing analysis were performed on six cases. The median age at diagnosis was 2.8 years with a male-to-female ratio of 2.6:1. MS is commonly presented with concomitant marrow involvement (n = 12, 36.4%) or as a recurrence of acute myeloid leukemia (AML; n = 14, 42.4%). The skin (n = 18, 54.5%) and soft tissue (n = 9, 27.3%) were the most common sites of involvement. Twenty-one of 25 samples (84.0%) harbored chromosomal aberrations; KMT2A alterations (n = 10, 40.0%) or complex cytogenetics (n = 7, 28.0%) were most frequent. Mutations in RAS, tyrosine kinase, cell signaling, and chromatin remodeling genes were detected. When compared to pediatric patients with AML without extramedullary involvement (EMI), inferior overall survival (OS) was observed (18.8 months vs. 89.3 months, p =.008). Pediatric patients with MS with non-favorable cytogenetics [abnormalities other than t(8;21), inv(16)/t(16;16), or t(15;17)] had a significantly lower OS compared to patients with AML with non-favorable cytogenetics and no extramedullary involvement (8.0 months vs. 28.1 months, p <.001). Pediatric MS is a rare disease with diverse clinical presentations. Non-favorable cytogenetics may be a poor prognostic marker for pediatric patients with MS and molecular diagnostics can assist with risk stratification and identify potentially actionable targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

10-Hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) liposomes surface modified with stearyl glycyrrhetinate (SG) were prepared by the film dispersion method. Characterization of the liposomes, including drug release in vitro, pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution, was done. HCPT in plasma and tissues was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Compared with the conventional HCPT-liposomes and commercially available hydroxycamptothecin injection (HCPT Inject), pharmacokinetic parameters indicated that SG-HCPT-liposomes had better bioavailability. Regarding tissue distribution, the concentration of HCPT loaded by SG modified liposomes in the liver was higher than other tissues and the risk to the kidney was lower than HCPT-liposomes and HCPT Inject. These results support the hypothesis that the HCPT-liposomes modified with SG show enhanced liver-targeting through the glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) receptor to be an efficient drug carrier, which may help to improve therapeutic methods for hepatic diseases in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Resveratrol has been confirmed to improve bone quality and delay osteoporosis, but the mechanisms have not been thoroughly elucidated. In this report, we investigated the osteogenic differentiation effect of resveratrol on senescent bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and the involvement of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/ reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling pathway. Methods: Cell senescence, viability, and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs influenced by resveratrol were investigated and ROS production and AMPK expression were detected. Results: Cell senescence, characterized by senescence β-galactosidase staining and senescence-related genes (p16, p21, and p53) expression, was attenuated by resveratrol. Cell viability, extracellular matrix calcification, and osteogenic-related genes expression were significantly enhanced after resveratrol treatment. ROS production in BMSCs was inhibited while AMPK expression was up-regulated by resveratrol. Inhibition of AMPK expression by compound C reduced resveratrol-prompted osteogenesis and ROS production down-regulation. Conclusion: These results provide a potential mechanism involving AMPK activation/ROS inhibition signaling pathway in osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs enhanced by resveratrol. It suggests that development of therapy towards ROS is an effective way for osteoporosis treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For semilinear wave equations on Lorentzian manifolds with quadratic derivative nonlinear terms, we study the inverse problem of determining the background Lorentzian metric. Under some conditions on the nonlinear term, we show that from the source-to-solution map, one can determine the Lorentzian metric up to diffeomorphisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After administration, drug molecules usually enter target cells to access their intracellular targets. In eukaryotic cells, these targets are often located in organelles, including the nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, lysosomes, Golgi apparatus, and peroxisomes. Each organelle type possesses unique biological features. For example, mitochondria possess a negative transmembrane potential, while lysosomes have an intraluminal delta pH. Other properties are common to several organelle types, such as the presence of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) or solute carrier-type (SLC) transporters that sequester or pump out xenobiotic drugs. Studies on subcellular drug distribution are critical to understand the efficacy and toxicity of drugs along with the body's resistance to them and to potentially offer hints for targeted subcellular drug delivery. This review summarizes the results of studies from 1990 to 2017 that examined the subcellular distribution of small molecular drugs. We hope this review will aid in the understanding of drug distribution within cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to examine the effects of attachment, social support and resilience on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in people living with HIV/AIDS. One hundred fifty-two HIV+ adults in China were investigated. The results suggested that attachment anxiety had a significant direct effect on PTSD symptoms and impacted PTSD symptoms indirectly though associations with social support and resilience. Attachment avoidance could also be considered a distal risk factor of PTSD symptoms via the mediation of social support and resilience. The findings highlight the importance of identifying trauma and PTSD symptoms in people affected by HIV/AIDS and suggest that people with attachment anxiety and low social support resources might be at high risk for PTSD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellular automata (CA) models are widely used to simulate land-use changes because of their simplicity, flexibility, intuitiveness and ability to incorporate the spatial and temporal dimensions of processes. A small number of CA-based models have been developed to simulate changes in multiple land uses, most of which use the hierarchical allocation strategy and/or inertia factors to enable these CA models to do so accurately. However, only some of these models allow explicit determination of the allocation sequence for active land uses according to the hierarchical allocation strategy and the objective calculation of inertia factors. In this paper, we proposed a CA-based model, i.e. the LAND System Cellular Automata model for Potential Effects (LANDSCAPE), with a hierarchical allocation strategy and resistances, to simulate changes in multiple land uses. Furthermore, we introduced effective ways to objectively determine the allocation sequence for active land uses and calculate resistances for individual land uses. The results show that the LANDSCAPE model, with a calibrated allocation sequence and resistances, is reliable and accurate for simulating multiple land-use changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An effective method to remove cadmium (Cd) from scallop by-product enzymatic hydrolysate (SBEH) was developed, and the Cd bonding sites were studied. Cation-exchange resin, anion-exchange resin, activated charcoal, and zeolite were tested. The result showed that strong acid polystyrene cation-exchange resin was the most suitable sorption material for the removal of Cd. The optimal conditions were as follows: SBEH concentration at 17.07 mg/mL, pH value at 4.92, and adsorption time with 11.73 min, while 4 g resin was added in 50 mL solution at 30°C. The experimentally measured removal rate was 95.38% under these conditions. The Cd element has an intense bonding pattern with macromolecules, and more than half of the Cd element exists as positively charged ion in the SBEH. The cation-exchange resin removed Cd by dumping the macromolecules associated with the Cd element. Infrared (IR) spectra suggested that the sulfate ester groups and carboxyl groups in the macromolecules were binding sites of the Cd element in SBEH. These results provide a useful method for Cd removal from SBEH that potentially can be used for industrial processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Euonymus alatus, Celastraceae, is a deciduous tree species valued for its ornamental and medicinal properties. Here, the species' whole chloroplast genome sequence was generated by assembling the Illumina paired-end sequencing reads. The circular genome was 157,611 bp in length, exhibiting a typical quadripartite structure with a large single-copy (LSC: 85,892 bp), a small single-copy (SSC: 18,419 bp), and a pair of inverted repeat regions (IRA and IRB: each of 26,650 bp). The chloroplast genome encoded 131 genes, including 87 protein-coding (78 protein-coding gene species), 36 transfer RNA (29 tRNA species), and 8 ribosomal RNA genes (4 rRNA species). The overall GC content was 37.3%, while the corresponding values of the LSC, SSC and IR regions were 35.1, 31.7 and 42.7%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of 12 species complete chloroplast genomes suggested that E. alatus was relatively close to E. japonicus. This complete chloroplast genome is expected to provide valuable insight into further phylogenetic reconstruction of the Celastraceae species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we study the relationship between financial reporting quality and idiosyncratic return volatility for publicly listed Chinese companies from 2003 to 2012. First, we find that there is no link between financial reporting quality and total return volatility; however, there is a negative relationship between financial reporting quality and idiosyncratic return volatility. Second, we divide our whole sample into two subsamples according to financial reporting quality and find that the negative relationship between financial reporting quality and idiosyncratic volatility only exists in the subsample with low financial reporting quality. Finally, the results show different patterns of idiosyncratic volatility for Chinese listed companies before and after 2007, when a high-standard accounting system was adopted. The adoption of this high-standard accounting system reduces the negative relationship between idiosyncratic volatility and financial reporting quality. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

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We investigate whether ultimate ownership affects firms’ adjustment speed toward target capital structures for Chinese publicly listed companies over the period 1999–2009. We divide our sample into state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and non-SOEs according to their ultimate ownership. We find that SOEs have higher leverage ratios and slower adjustment speeds toward target capital structures. Our results are consistent with the trade-off theory, implying that the political resources of SOEs can lead to a higher persistence and slower leverage adjustment speeds in comparison to non-SOEs. Finally, our results also raise a question: Why do Chinese companies adjust their capital structure so fast? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil contamination by heavy metals has attracted worldwide attention, since its highly toxicity and potential threaten to the human health. Thus, in this study, the desorption behaviors of Pb(II) by citric acid from a Chinese clay were evaluated. According to the results, Pb(II) removal percentage reached around 60% within 2 h. The acidic condition, relative high concentration of citric acid and contamination levels were found to be beneficial for Pb(II) desorption. During the desorption process, the originally fixed Pb(II) was first replaced by H+, especially at low selectivity sorption sites. The released Pb(II) was then chelated by organic ligands from citric acid. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In an investigation of deoxynivalenol (DON)-transformation products byDevosia mutans17-2-E-8, the major product was identified as 3-epi-DON. This DON-transformation product was analysed by liquid chromatography and identified by congruent retention time and UV/Vis spectrum, as well as mass spectrometric data. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments including correlation spectroscopy (COSY), heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC) and nuclear overhauser effect (NOE) were conducted for structural characterisation of 3-epi-DON. High-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) was applied to scale up the separation of 3-epi-DON from DON in aD. mutans17-2-E-8 culture. From the culture where 100 mg DON was applied, 56 mg of 3-epi-DON (purity of 96.8%) was obtained from the HSCCC. The purified 3-epi-DON will be used for toxicological characterisation studies of this chemical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ilex × attenuata 'Fosteri' is an important ornamental plant widely distributed in mid-southern China and south-eastern United States. In this study, we assembled the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of I. attenuata by high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics. The full length of cp genome was 157,833 bp with 37.63% overall GC content, which contained two inverted repeats (IR) of 26,093 bp separated by a large single-copy (LSC) and a small single copy (SSC) of 87,188 bp and 18,459 bp, respectively. The cp genome contained 135 genes, including 88 protein-coding genes, 8 rRNA genes and 39 tRNA genes. Phylogenetic tree showed that the close relationship of three species of Ilex (I. attenuata, I. viridis and I. szechwanensis) in the Aquifoliaceae family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ilex rotunda is a traditional Chinese medicine plant. In this study, we characterized the complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequence of I. rotunda to investigate its phylogenetic relationship. The cp genome of I. rotunda was 157,743 bp in length with 37.62% overall GC content, including a large single-copy (LSC) region of 87,060bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,432 bp, which were separated by a pair of inverted repeats (IRS) of 26,121 bp. The cp genome contained 133 genes, including 88 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis based on whole cp genome sequences showed that I. rotunda is closely related to I. pubescens and I. polyneura. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ilex crenata Thunb. is a species of Aquifoliaceae with high ornamental and ecological values. In this study, the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of I. crenata was assembled and characterized through Illumina sequencing data. The entire cp genome of I. crenata was 157,988 bp in length with 37.64% overall GC content, containing a large single-copy (LSC) region of 87,414 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,422 bp, which were separated by a pair of 26,076 bp inverted repeat (IR) regions. A total of 135 genes were annotated, including 88 protein-coding genes, 39 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis based on 78 conserved protein-coding genes demonstrated that I. crenata is closely related to I. viridis and I. szechwanensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrophobically modified polyacrylamide (HMPAM) has been received considerable attention in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) processes. The effect of a block polyether with branched structure polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene-polyethylene-polyamine (expressed as polyether or PEO-PPO-PEA) on the rheological performances of HMPAM solutions with 8074 mg · L−1 total salinity were investigated at various time and 65°C in order to satisfy the needs of EOR in high temperature and salinity reservoirs. Results reveal that the addition of a certain amount of PEO-PPO-PEA can improve the viscosity and viscoelasticity of HMPAM solution in mineralized water because of the formation of a strong net-like structure. From the results of the flow characteristic measurement and the core flooding test, it can be concluded that the 1750 mg · L−1 HMPAM system with 25 mg · L−1 PEO-PPO-PEA is applicable to use as a displacement system in polymer flooding process at 65°C and 8074 mg · L−1 total salinity. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background. Subjects with asthma are more susceptible to psychological symptoms, but it is uncertain whether psychological symptoms are linked to future risk of asthma outcomes. Objective. To investigate the relationship between current psychological symptoms and future risk of asthma outcomes. Methods. We conducted a prospective cohort study with a 12-month follow-up period of 297 patients with asthma. Psychological symptoms, lung function, asthma control test, and Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire at baseline were assessed. Asthma outcomes including exacerbations, unplanned visits, emergency visits, hospital admissions, intensive care unit admissions, and length of hospital stays were monitored monthly. The time to the first asthma outcomes was analyzed. Furthermore, the association between psychological symptoms and future risk of asthma outcomes was calculated as adjusted relative risk (RR) using logistic regression models. Results. The asthma patients were assigned to one of three groups: neither anxiety nor depression symptoms (NAD, n = 102), either anxiety or depression symptoms (A/D, n = 68), or anxiety and depression symptoms (AD, n = 120). Logistic regression models indicated that asthma patients in the AD group, but not the A/D group, had an increased adjusted RR for unplanned visits and emergency visits (RR = 2.33, 95% confidence interval (CI) = [1.50, 3.61]; and RR = 3.13, 95% CI = [1.90, 5.17], respectively). The time to the first asthma outcomes including exacerbations, unplanned visits, and emergency visits was shorter in patients with psychological symptoms than those without (all p < .001). Conclusion. Current psychological symptoms, especially anxiety combined with depression, independently predict the future risk of asthma outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) is the characteristic functional abnormality of asthma, and previous studies have shown the potential for AHR to be influenced by psychological factors, yet the relationship between anxiety and/or depression and AHR remains unclear in patients with asthma. Objective. To explore the relationship between psychological status and AHR in asthma patients. Methods. In a cross-sectional study, 168 adult subjects were recruited with physician-diagnosed uncontrolled asthma and a positive result for AHR in methacholine (Mch) challenge test. Psychological status, asthma control, and asthma quality of life were assessed using Zung self-rating anxiety/depression scale, asthma control test (ACT), and asthma quality of life questionnaire (AQLQ), respectively. AHR severity was evaluated and quantified by the provocative concentration of Mch, which evoked a given decrease of 20% in FEV1. Results. A total of 70.23% of recruited patients (n = 118) met the diagnostic criteria for anxiety and/or depression. There was a trend between negative psychological status and AHR in asthma patients that did not reach statistical significance, but no independent effects of negative mood states (anxiety, depression, or both) on AHR were established. Further, analyses revealed that only anxiety is associated with worse asthma control ( p = 0.029), and a significant interaction effect of depression and anxiety accounted for lower asthma-related quality-of-life scores ( p < 0.001). Conclusions. AHR and psychological status are loosely related to each other even if in uncontrolled asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of ozone treatment on fresh strawberry and shredded lettuce food quality were tested by varying applied ozone concentration, contact time, pH and temperature to assess ozone a potential food sanitizer. The produce quality was assessed by comparing the changes in texture firmness, browning and decolorization, oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide respiration after the post-treatment storage from 0 to 21 days. The effectiveness of ozonation on natural microfloras including mesophiles, psychotrophes, yeasts and molds, was also evaluated for the improvement in produce shelf-life. As compared to chlorine treatments, ozone treatments slightly increased the lettuce browning but substantially retarded its respiration rates and firmness deterioration even after 21 days of storage. For strawberry, no significant difference in food quality was observed between ozone and chlorine treatments. Finally, ozone treatments at the doses below 10 mg/L were found not effective in killing natural microfloras grown on the produce surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]