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As a significant infectious disease in livestock, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) imposes substantial economic losses on the swine industry. Identification of diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets has been a focal challenge in PPRS prevention and control. By integrating metabolomic and lipidomic serum analyses of clinical pig cohorts through a machine learning approach with in vivo and in vitro infection models, lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is discovered as a serum metabolic biomarker for PRRS virus (PRRSV) clinical diagnosis. PRRSV promoted LPA synthesis by upregulating the autotaxin expression, which causes innate immunosuppression by dampening the retinoic acid‐inducible gene I (RIG‐I) and type I interferon responses, leading to enhanced virus replication. Targeting LPA demonstrated protection against virus infection and associated disease outcomes in infected pigs, indicating that LPA is a novel antiviral target against PRRSV. This study lays a foundation for clinical prevention and control of PRRSV infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of metagenomic next‐generation sequencing (mNGS) in pathogens detection of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is limited because clinical, microbiological, and biological information are not well connected. We analyzed the 428 enrolled patients' clinical features, pathogens diagnostic efficiency of mNGS in CSF, microbial community structure and composition in CSF, and correlation of microbial and clinical biomarkers in CSF. General characteristics were unspecific but helpful in formulating a differential diagnosis. CSF mNGS has a higher detection rate (34.6%) compared to traditional methods (5.4%). mNGS detection rate was higher when the time from onset to CSF collection was ≤20 days, the CSF leukocytes count was >200 × 106/L, the CSF protein concentration was >1.3 g/L, or CSF glucose concentration was ≤2.5 mmol/L in non‐postoperative bacterial CNS infections (CNSi). CSF was not strictly a sterile environment, and the potential pathogens may contribute to the dysbiosis of CSF microbiome. Furthermore, clinical biomarkers were significantly relevant to CNS pathogens. Clinical data are helpful in choosing a proper opportunity to obtain an accurate result of mNGS, and can speculate whether the mNGS results are correct or not. Our study is a pioneering study exploring the CSF microbiome in different CNSIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emission of cyan light (470‐500 nm) plays a vital role in the visible light spectrum and is essential for applications such as lighting, displays, and optical communication. Inorganic cesium lead bromide perovskite quantum dots (CsPbBr3 PQDs) have made significant progress in the field of luminescence materials and devices, however, the lack of techniques to obtain highly emissive and stable cyan‐emitting CsPbBr3 PQDs has limited their device applications. Here, it is demonstrated that the complete surface passivation by treatment of didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB) and lead bromide, which can enhance the photoluminescence and stability of cyan emitting CsPbBr3 PQDs. In particular, the photoluminescence quantum yield of CsPbBr3 QDs can be greatly improved from 10.5% to 83.8%. Through an effective PMMA passivation, the obtained stable and bright CsPbBr3 PQDs composite films as the cyan color converters can effectively emit the cyan light to fill the "cyan gap" of white light‐emitting diode (WLED). The color rendering index value of such WLED is remarkably enhanced from 73.6 to 82.5. This study paves the way for the application of PQD color converters in the next generation of full‐visible‐spectrum WLED lighting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Circular RNAs (circRNAs), with their multilevel and versatile regulation, have emerged as promising targets for treating complex and heterogeneous malignancies such as oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). It is crucial to explore the function of key circRNAs and elucidate the underlying mechanisms to establish an effective in vivo delivery system to better utilize circRNAs as cancer treatment strategies. Materials and Methods: circRNA (circ‐OCAC) was identified as significantly downregulated in tumor samples compared to paracancerous tissues by RNA‐seq analysis of eight pairs of OSCC tissues. Functional experiments of circ‐OCAC were performed both in vitro and in vivo. The interactions between circ‐OCAC and miR‐411‐5p were clarified by RNA pull down and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays. Results: We observed that circ‐OCAC inhibits OSCC growth and metastasis by blocking the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. To translate this observation in vivo, a pH‐responsive nanoparticle (pNP) was developed to target circ‐OCAC. Our results confirmed the advantages of the pNP‐circ‐OCAC system: high tumor enrichment capacity and good biosafety, which resulted in a significantly enhanced antitumor effect. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that targeting circ‐OCAC serves as a promising potential therapeutic strategy for OSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distinguishing between shallow‐water delta and fluvial fan deposits in the subsurface of lacustrine basins is challenging due to their similar depositional characteristics and distribution patterns. This study focuses on the Middle Jurassic Shaximiao Formation in the central Sichuan Basin using core observations, seismic analyses, petrology analyses, zircon analyses, palaeoclimate indicators and palaeocurrent analyses to address this issue. Fifteen sedimentary lithofacies and eight lithofacies associations were established, corresponding to channelized fluvial deposits, non‐channelized fluvial deposits and shallow‐water delta deposits. Shallow‐water deltas are dominated by channels and mouth‐bar complexes with grey, red and green interbedded mudstone. Shingled seismic reflection, green mud clasts, small burrows and wave ripples are common with occasional palaeosols. Fluvial fans are dominated by channels and crevasse‐splays with pink colour and accompanied by red coloured floodplain deposits. Bright spot seismic reflection, red mud clasts, big burrows, current ripples and palaeosols are common. The increased uplift of the Dabashan Mountains controls the palaeocurrent direction, promoting the evolution from a shallow‐water delta in relatively humid environments to a fluvial fan in relatively arid environments. The channel widths in shallow‐water deltas are wider than those in fluvial fans, whereas the opposite applies for the channel amalgamation rate. Highly frequent channel‐width variations are controlled by short‐cycle climate fluctuation, corresponding to chemical index of alteration value fluctuations in different sandstone groups. The channel width in the relatively humid environments is wider than that in arid environments for both shallow‐water deltas and fluvial fans. It is likely that the sedimentary evolution from shallow‐water deltas to fluvial fans is relatively common in lacustrine basins in relatively arid environments with wide and gentle slope landforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To comprehensively evaluate the impact of agricultural management practices on soil productivity, it is imperative to conduct a thorough analysis of soil bacterial ecology. Deep‐banding nutrient‐rich amendments is a soil management practice that aims to improve plant growth and soil structure by addressing the plant‐growth constraints posed by dense‐clay subsoils. However, the response of bacterial communities to deep‐banded amendments has not been thoroughly studied. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a controlled‐environment column experiment to examine the effects of different types of soil amendments (poultry litter, wheat straw + chemical fertiliser and chemical fertiliser alone) on bacterial taxonomic composition in simulated dense‐clay subsoils. We evaluated the bacterial taxonomic and ecological group composition in soils beside and below the amendment using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and robust statistical methods. Our results indicate that deep‐banded amendments alter bacterial communities through direct and indirect mechanisms. All amendments directly facilitated a shift in bacterial communities in the absence of growing wheat. However, a combination of amendments with growing wheat led to a more pronounced bacterial community shift which was distinct from and eclipsed the direct impact of the amendments and plants alone. This indirect mechanism was evidenced to be mediated primarily by plant growth and hypothesised to result from an enhancement in wheat root distribution, density and rhizodeposition changes. Therefore, we propose that subsoil amendments regardless of type facilitated an expansion in the rhizosphere which engineered a substantial plant‐mediated bacterial community response within the simulated dense‐clay subsoils. Overall, our findings highlight the importance of considering the complex and synergistic interactions between soil physicochemical properties, plant growth and bacterial communities when assessing agricultural management strategies for improving soil and plant productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on reviewing the affordances of the educational platform Sutori for online language education, discussing its potential to complement synchronous online classrooms and its implications for language teachers' instructional practices. Topics discussed include the features and usability of Sutori, its role in scaffolding students' learning processes, and its potential for facilitating online interaction and collaboration among language learners.

This paper designs an ellipsoidal tube‐based output feedback robust model predictive control approach for linear systems with bounded disturbances and noises subject to physical constraints. The ellipsoidal tube‐based output feedback robust model predictive control approach combines the off‐line optimization to compute controller parameters and deal with system uncertainties, and the on‐line optimization to stabilize the nominal system with time‐varying tightened constraints. In the off‐line optimization, the state observer gain, ancillary feedback controller gain, and tightened constraint sets on the nominal system are synthesized in one optimization. Then, an ellipsoidal terminal constraint set with terminal controller gain and terminal cost matrix, and tightened constraint sets related to different sizes of estimation error bounds are computed. In the on‐line model predictive control optimization with time‐varying tightened constraints, a sequence of nominal control inputs is receding horizon optimized to steer the nominal system state to the ellipsoidal terminal constraint set. When the current nominal system state is bounded within the ellipsoidal terminal constraint set, the nominal control inputs are switched to the feedbacks on the closed‐loop nominal system states. Recursive feasibility of the proposed algorithm and robust stability of the controlled system are guaranteed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concerns have been raised about the potential health risks associated with elevated sugar levels in food products of osmotic dehydration (OD). To address this issue, a new strategy was proposed and validated in this study. Pea protein isolate (PPI) and inulin were introduced into osmotic solutions to reduce sucrose uptake in apple slices. Apple samples were subjected to OD (40%wt sucrose) at 40°C with different concentrations of PPI or inulin. Three parameters, including performance ratio (Pr), dehydration efficiency index (DEI), and sucrose gain rate were used to evaluate the effect of PPI and inulin addition on reducing sucrose uptake. The result showed that sucrose content in apple tissues after OD for 4 h was 51.79 mg/100 mg dry basis when treated by a sucrose solution alone, but was reduced to 43.43 mg/100 mg dry basis and 46.12 mg/100 mg dry basis when 1.5%wt inulin and 3% wt PPI was added, respectively. Practical applications: The use of low‐temperature and phase‐change‐free osmotic dehydration methods for the preservation of fruits is advantageous due to low energy consumption, better quality retention, and ease of operation. It has been used to produce intermediate moisture foods or as a pretreatment for other drying methods. However, the most widely used osmotic agents often contain high calories because carbohydrates have become the most popular osmotic agents. This has promoted the exploration of natural methods to reduce sugar uptake while maintaining the drying characteristic of osmotic dehydration. This study was undertaken to investigate the use of two biomacromolecules, that is, pea protein isolate and inulin as a simple yet effective means for achieving sugar reduction. The finding of this work has demonstrated that both methods can significantly reduce sucrose content in dried apple slices, thus confirming the potential for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer vaccines have shown promise as effective means of antitumor immunotherapy by inducing tumor antigen‐specific T cell immunity. In this study, a novel peptide‐based tumor nanovaccine that boosts antigen presentation and elicits effective antitumor immunity is developed. The adjuvant characteristics of an antimicrobial peptide‐derived core peptide, FK‐13, are investigated and used it to generate a fusion peptide named FK‐33 with tumor antigen epitopes. l‐phenylalanine‐based poly(ester amide) (Phe‐PEA), 8p4, is also identified as a competent delivery vehicle for the fusion peptide FK‐33. Notably, the vaccination of 8p4 + FK‐33 nanoparticles (8FNs) in vivo induces dendritic cell activation in the lymph nodes and elicits robust tumor antigen‐specific CD8+ T cell response. The nanovaccine 8FNs demonstrate significant therapeutic and prophylactic efficacy against in situ tumor growth, effectively inhibit tumor metastasis, and significantly prolong the survival of tumor‐bearing mice. Moreover, 8FNs can incorporate different tumor antigens and exhibit a synergistic therapeutic effect with antiprogrammed cell death protein 1 (PD‐1) therapy. In summary, 8FNs represent a promising platform for personalized cancer vaccines and may serve as a potential combinational modality to improve current immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: As the seed precursor, the ovule produces the female gametophyte (or embryo sac), and the subsequent double fertilization occurs in it. The integuments emerge sequentially from the integument primordia at the early stages of ovule development and finally enwrap the embryo sac gradually during gametogenesis, protecting and nursing the embryo sac. However, the mechanisms regulating integument development are still obscure.In this study, we show that SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS RECEPTOR‐LIKE KINASES (SERKs) play essential roles during integument development in Arabidopsis thaliana. The serk1/2/3 triple mutant shows arrested integuments and abnormal embryo sacs, similar defects also found in the triple loss‐of‐function mutants of ERECTA family (ERf) genes. Ovules of serk1/2/3 er erl1/2 show defects similar to er erl1/2 and serk1/2/3.Results of yeast two‐hybrid analyses, bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) analyses, and co‐immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that SERKs interact with ERf, which depends on EPIDERMAL PATTERNING FACTOR‐LIKE (EPFL) family small peptides. The sextuple mutant epfl1/2/3/4/5/6 shows integument defects similar to both of er erl1/2 and serk1/2/3.Our results demonstrate that ERf–SERK‐mediated EPFL signaling orchestrates the development of the female gametophyte and the surrounding sporophytic integuments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel consumer relevant skin index, namely ideal complexion score (ICS), was developed via modelling and a multitude of skin features including skin tone and colour homogeneity, hyperpigmentation patterns, skin surface topography/textures and skin optical properties were shown to have direct effect on it. Keywords: claim substantiation; computer modelling; image analysis; panel perception; skin ideal complexion; statistics EN claim substantiation computer modelling image analysis panel perception skin ideal complexion statistics 636 649 14 11/10/22 20221201 NES 221201 This study established a mathematical representation of consumer perception towards facial skin ideal complexion based on measurable clinical imaging cues for multiple ethnicities including Indian, Chinese, Caucasian and Latino. Matsubara et al later on evaluated human perception of facial skin radiance by successfully developing a regression model in terms of skin surface and subsurface reflection property, but the effect of skin colour components was not included in skin radiance model [22]. Ona Cula et al attempted to correlate objective skin properties such as melanin and haemoglobin content with perceived skin colour, but the study was limited to skin colour that is only a subset of perceived skin complexion [40]. [Extracted from the article]

Objectives: Translucent skin is an attribute widely appreciated by people in East Asian countries. There have been studies in the literature to describe the phenomenon by means of clinical grading, instrumental measurement and image analysis. However, due to its subjective and complex nature, skin translucency has not been comprehensively and rigorously characterized and modelled, particularly in the Chinese population. This study is to develop a mathematical model that quantitatively describes skin translucency from visual cues objectively measured from the skin. Materials and Methods: The study was designed to characterize and model skin translucency by incorporating expert evaluation, panel perception and image analysis of multiple skin visual attributes in one analysis. Faces of 36 Chinese females aged 18–65 years old were evaluated by a dermatologist to obtain clinical translucency scores. Subject pairs were formed with a relatively high and low translucency score in each pair. Their faces were judged in person by 9 panellists in paired‐comparison (2‐AFC) fashion to pick a 'more translucent skin' from each subject pair. Front‐view facial images of the subjects were taken, and multiple colour and other visually perceivable skin attributes were measured using image analysis. Bradley‐Terry analysis and multiple regressions were performed to correlate the panel choices of 'more translucent skin' with the objectively measured skin parameters. Results: Multiple skin colour properties affected the panel choices towards translucent skin. Among them skin tone lightness and skin glossiness had positive effects on skin translucency while the hue, colour unevenness, severity of red and dark spots affected it negatively. Subsurface light reflection and skin visual smoothness had some effect but were not statistically significant. A mathematical model was constructed to predict a person's skin translucency from objectively measured skin attributes. Conclusion: The subjective property of skin translucency can be characterized and quantified via a comprehensive modelling process involving clinical grading, panel evaluation, image‐based measurement of skin attributes and statistical analysis. A novel skin parameter, Skin Translucency Index (STI) was established, which provides a way to measure skin translucency, making it possible to assess treatment efficacy before and after product application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluorescent polymer nanoparticles (NPs) have great potential as bioimaging and therapeutic agents in the biomedical field. Here, a subtle method is developed to synthesize inherently fluorescent core–shell NPs with diameters less than 100 nm. The permanent fluorescence comes from the rigid conjugated structure between benzene and chloromethyl groups in the crosslinked poly(chloromethylstyrene) (PCMSt) core, which is able to be applied for the determination of Fe3+ with a detection limit of 1.39 × 10−6 m. It is further demonstrated that the galactose modification (poly (6‐O‐acryloyl‐d‐galactose), PADGal) shell can efficiently· facilitate the selective internalization of NPs by human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2), and the cells are more prone to uptake the NPs with medium crosslinking degree. The hydrophobic anticancer drug 10‐hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) is then loaded onto PADGal@PCMSt NPs. Benefiting from the specific interactions between asialoglycoprotein (ASGP) receptors and the galactose moiety, the PADGal@PCMSt NPs can deliver HCPT with the highest efficiency to HepG2 cells in comparison with the human cervical cancer cells (HeLa), the human alveolar adenocarcinoma basal epithelial cells (A549), the mouse breast cancer cells (4T1), and the mouse fibroblast cells (NIH3T3). The present study provides a new strategy to build small‐size fluorescent polymer NPs with both bioimaging and therapeutic functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crude oil reserves in tight Middle and Lower Jurassic reservoirs are of increasing exploration interest in the central Sichuan Basin, SW China. However, the origin of these "tight oils" is poorly understood. In this study, sixteen samples of light oils/condensates from tight Middle and Lower Jurassic reservoir rocks were analysed using gas chromatography (GC) and isotope ratio mass spectrometry to investigate the oils' origin and to classify them into genetic families. The tight oils can be divided into two families. Family I oils occur in the Gongshanmiao oilfield where reservoir units comprise the Da'anzhai Member of the Lower Jurassic Ziliujing Formation, the Lower Jurassic Lianggaoshan Formation, and the First Member of the Middle Jurassic Shaximiao Formation. Family I oils are characterized by relatively low values of the methylcyclohexane (MCH) and cyclohexane (CH) indexes, low values of Mango's parameter K2 for light hydrocarbon composition, and relatively negative δ13C values ranging from ‐30.8‰ to ‐28.9‰. Family I oils are inferred to be self‐sourced by lacustrine shales in the Da'anzhai Member and the Lianggaoshan Formation in the study area, both of which are rich in sapropelic organic matter. These source rocks also charged reservoirs in the First Member of the Shaximiao Formation. By contrast, the newly discovered Family II oils, which occur at the Jinhua oilfield and the as‐yet undeveloped Qiulin and Bajiaochang structures, are reservoired in the Second Member of Shaximiao Formation. Family II oils have higher values of the MCH index, CH index and Mango's K2 parameter, and δ13C values varying from ‐27.5‰ to ‐25.4‰. These oils have similar light hydrocarbon compositions and δ13C values to oils derived from source rocks in the Upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation which contain dominantly humic organic matter. Family II oils are therefore inferred to be derived from the coaly mudstones in the Xujiahe Formation. The different compositions of the tight oils in the First and Second Members of the Shaximiao Formation appear to be controlled by the distribution and thickness of source rocks in the study area. Thus, the Gongshanmiao oilfield where Family I oils occur in the First Member is close to the depocentre of source rocks in the Da'anzhai Member and Lianggaoshan Formation. These source rocks are inferred to have charged the First Member reservoirs which may also be present in nearby oil‐ and gas‐bearing structures such as Nanchong and Yingshan. By contrast, Family II oils occur in tight reservoirs in the Second Member in areas with thick successions of Upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation mudstone source rocks, such as the Jinhua oilfield. In areas where both source rocks are present such as the Zhongtaishan and Lianchi oilfields, Shaximiao Formation reservoirs appear to contain both Family I and Family II oils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smad4, a key mediator of the transforming growth factor‐β signaling, is mutated or deleted in 20% of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cancers and significantly affects cancer development. However, the effect of Smad4 loss on the immunogenicity and tumor immune microenvironment of PDAC is still unclear. Here, a surprising function of Smad4 in suppressing mouse PDAC tumor immunogenicity is identified. Although Smad4 deletion in tumor cells enhances proliferation in vitro, the in vivo growth of Smad4‐deficient PDAC tumor is significantly inhibited on immunocompetent C57BL/6 (B6) mice, but not on immunodeficient mice or CD8+ cell‐depleted B6 mice. Mechanistically, Smad4 deficiency significantly increases tumor cell immunogenicity by promoting spontaneous DNA damage and stimulating STING‐mediated type I interferon signaling,which contributes to the activation of type 1 conventional dendritic cells (cDC1) and subsequent CD8+ T cells for tumor control. Furthermore, retarded tumor growth of Smad4‐deficient PDAC cells on B6 mice is largely reversed when Sting is codeleted, or when the cells are implanted into interferon‐alpha receptor‐deficientmice or cDC1‐deficientmice. Accordingly, Smad4 deficiency promotes PDAC immunogenicity by inducing tumor‐intrinsic DNA damage‐elicited type I interferon signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dodecylamine dialdehyde starch (DASDA) is synthesized with corn starch, sodium periodate, and dodecylamine, and its structure, particle morphology, crystal structure, and thermal properties are characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis. Antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus suggests that minimum inhibitory concentrations of DASDA against E. coli and S. aureus are 0.31 and 0.63 mg mL−1, and the antibacterial effect against E. coli is better than that against S. aureus. The antibacterial activity is effectively improved with the increase of amino content of DASDA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Naotic dissepiments are special structures of rugose corals, characterized by a column of distally arched plates at peripheral parts of thick septa or within the cystozone. In this study, naotic‐dissepimented colonial rugose corals Gyanyimaphyllum crassiseptatum and Ipciphyllum naoticum and their associated microfacies were documented from the Late Permian Gyanyima section in Tibet, southwestern China. The morphology of the Gyanyima naotic‐dissepimented corals is cerioid massive forms or fasciculate forms with connected individuals, with broken skeletons. Between coral colonies and/or skeletons, the interspaces are occupied by highly fragmented bioclasts and sparry calcite. These biotic and sedimentary characteristics suggest that the Gyanyima naotic‐dissepimented corals could have developed in high water‐energy environments above fair‐weather wave‐base. This implies that the development of naotic dissepiments was probably related to an enhanced hydrodynamic force. According to a review on the Permian naotic‐dissepimented rugose corals in China, they are mainly composed of massive colonial forms with a few fasciculate colonial and solitary forms. Current available data indicate that they could occur in bioclastic grainstones and oncoid limestones with eroded skeletons, which also support a conclusion that naotic dissepiments formed in turbulent environments. Based on the ontogenic studies on naotic‐dissepimented rugose corals, naotic dissepiments occur sporadically in the neanic stage and are well developed but not permanently and uniformly in adult stage. Furthermore, different species in the same genus have different degrees of development of naotic dissepiments, which might imply that naotic dissepiments are not suitable to be an important taxonomic character in higher than species level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dusk feeding is practised probably to satisfy the energy requirement during night. However, little is known on the changes with clock gene expressions during this feeding behaviour. In our present study, the linkage of clock gene expressions and feeding behaviour in dusk feeding was investigated in laying hens under two lighting programs: the conventional lighting program (Control) with a light period from 05:00 AM to 21:00 PM and a dark period from 21:00 PM to 05:00 AM; or the shifted lighting program group (SLP) with a light period from 02:00 AM to 18:00 PM and a dark period from 18:00 PM to 02:00 AM. The gene expression‐related appetite and circadian rhythm were investigated in hypothalamus and proventriculus at 1, 3 and 5 h before scotophase. The results demonstrated that dusk feeding was synchronously shifted with altered lighting program, dusk feeding was observed from 5 h before scotophase in both groups. The expressions of anorexigenic gene proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and cocaine‐ and amphetamine‐regulated transcript (CART) were downregulated (p < 0.05) during dusk feeding and changed in pace with lighting program. The expressions of clock gene period 2 (Per2) and cryptochrome 1 (Cry1) in hypothalamus were downregulated (p < 0.05) during dusk feeding and shifted by lighting program. In the proventriculus, ghrelin expression was decreased (p < 0.05) during dusk feeding by lighting program. In conclusion, the expressions of clock genes Per2 and Cry1 are linked with the downregulated expressions of anorexigenic genes, POMC and CART, and in turn the augmented feed intake at dusk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carcinoma‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs) consist of heterogeneous subpopulations that play a critical role in the dynamics of the tumor microenvironment. The extracellular signals of CAFs have been attributed to the extracellular matrix, cytokines, cell surface checkpoints, and exosomes. In the present study, it is demonstrated that the CD10 transmembrane hydrolase expressed on a subset of CAFs supports tumor stemness and induces chemoresistance. Mechanistically, CD10 degenerates an antitumoral peptide termed osteogenic growth peptide (OGP). OGP restrains the expression of rate‐limiting desaturase SCD1 and inhibits lipid desaturation, which is required for cancer stem cells (CSCs). Targeting CD10 significantly improves the efficacy of chemotherapy in vivo. Clinically, CD10‐OGP signals are associated with the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer. The collective data suggest that a nexus between the niche and lipid metabolism in CSCs is a promising therapeutic target for breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forrestiacids A (1) and B (2) are a novel class of [4+2] type pentaterpenoids derived from a rearranged lanostane moiety (dienophile) and an abietane unit (diene). These unprecedented molecules were isolated using guidance by molecular ion networking (MoIN) from Pseudotsuga forrestii, an endangered member of the Asian Douglas Fir Family. The intermolecular hetero‐Diels–Alder adducts feature an unusual bicyclo[2.2.2]octene ring system. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, GIAO NMR calculations and DP4+ probability analyses, electronic circular dichroism calculations, and X‐ray diffraction analysis. This unique addition to the pentaterpene family represents the largest and the most complex molecule successfully assigned using computational approaches to predict accurately chemical shift values. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited potent inhibitory activities (IC50s <5 μM) of ATP‐citrate lyase (ACL), a new drug target for the treatment of glycolipid metabolic disorders including hyperlipidemia. Validating this activity 1 effectively attenuated the de novo lipogenesis in HepG2 cells. These findings provide a new chemical class for developing potential therapeutic agents for ACL‐related diseases with strong links to traditional medicines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil biodiversity has become a hot research topic base on its important role in maintaining the stability of soil function. This study examined the impacts of long‐term (36 years) management practices on the soil microbial community. We employed high‐throughput sequencing to determine the diversity and composition of the bacterial and fungal communities under different long‐term management practices in a fertilizer application experiment that started in 1981. The following fertilizer treatments were compared with a control treatment without fertilizer: nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer (NP), straw cover plus nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer (NPCS), and irrigation plus nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers (NPIR). Inorganic fertilizer significantly increased the soil moisture contents and most of the soil nutrient levels, and straw cover was better at retaining soil moisture and nutrients than irrigation. The bacterial and fungal α‐diversity in the NP treatment did not differ from those in the control (p >.05). In addition, there were no differences in the bacterial α‐diversity in NPCS and NPIR. However, there was a significant increase in the α‐diversity of the fungal community under straw cover compared with the irrigation treatment (p <.05). Soil characteristics such as the moisture content, soil organic matter, total nitrogen, alkali‐hydrolysable nitrogen and total phosphorus made equally important contributions to the bacterial and fungal communities according to redundancy analysis. Therefore, we speculated that straw cover was useful to improve soil bioactivity with a rich and stable microbial ecosystem. The results of this study provide theoretical data for the protection of soil microbial diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blood pressure (BP) monitored within 24 h from the beginning of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) with alteplase, is one of the important factors affecting the prognosis of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). This study aimed to explore longitudinal BP trajectory patterns and determine their association with stroke prognosis after thrombolysis. From November 2018 to September 2019, a total of 391 patients were enrolled consecutively during the study period, and 353 patients were ultimately analyzed. Five systolic (SBP) and four diastolic blood pressure (DBP) trajectory subgroups were identified. The regression analysis showed that when compared with the rapidly moderate stable group, the continuous fluctuation‐very high level SBP group (odds ratio [OR]: 2.743, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.008–7.467) was associated with early neurological deterioration (END). Both the rapid drop‐high level SBP (OR: 0.448, 95% CI: 0.219–0.919) and DBP groups (OR: 0.399, 95% CI: 0.219–0.727) were associated with early neurological improvement (ENI). Moreover, there was a U‐shaped correlation between the OR value of SBP trajectory group and favorable outcome (the modified Rankin Scale [mRS] score 0–2) at 3 months: the slow drop‐low level SBP group represent a well‐established unfavorable outcome risk factor (OR:5.239, 95% CI: 1.271–21.595), and extremely high SBP—the continuous fluctuation‐very high level SBP group, are equally associated with elevated unfavorable outcome risk (OR:3.797, 95% CI: 1.486–9.697). The continuous fluctuation‐very high level DBP group was statistically significant in mRS (OR: 3.387, CI: 1.185–9.683). The BP trajectory groups show varying clinical features and risk of neurological dysfunction. The findings may help identify potential candidates for clinical BP monitoring, control, and specialized care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a hybrid full duplex passive optical network with fusion of wavelength‐division‐multiplexing and orthogonal frequency‐division multiplexing (WDM‐OFDM) for a radio‐over‐fiber (RoF) system application. The key of the system is a tunable optical frequency comb (OFC) embedded cascading modulators and a parameter mixer. Moreover, 23 frequency components with 0.6 dB flatness generated by the OFC are used as light sources for each WDM channel. We utilize a 7.5 GHz OFDM wired signal and a 12.5 GHz OFDM wireless signal for downstream transmission and 10 Gb/s OOK (on–off keyed) signals for upstream traffic. Using polarization multiplexing technique, we extract a central optical carrier to bear the upstream signal so that no excess optical source is introduced into the ONU. Thus, the intricacy and costs of system are diminished. Moreover, successful transmission has been demonstrated since the bit error rates of the downstream and upstream signals are always under the adopted forward error correction limit. Furthermore, the proposed system can enhance power budget and reduce cost, which has a promising prospect for future wireless communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate the safety and feasibility of taking low‐concentration carbohydrate solution at 2 h before induction of anesthesia for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) patients. Methods: GDM patients undergoing cesarean section were randomly assigned to experimental group (n = 43) and control group (n = 42). Two hours before induction of anesthesia, participants in experimental group orally received 300 mL low‐concentration carbohydrate solution, while those in control group received equivalent warm water. Blood glucose and serum insulin were measured at 2 h before induction of anesthesia, right before induction of anesthesia, and the morning of postoperative day 1. Neonatal blood glucose level was monitored at birth. Maternal gastrointestinal function and well‐being were assessed perioperatively. Results: The levels of blood glucose and serum insulin right before induction of anesthesia in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group. There were four cases with hypoglycemia in the experimental group and 19 cases in the control group right before induction of anesthesia (9.3% vs 45.2%, p < 0.001). The incidence of neonatal hypoglycemia was 2.3% in the experimental group and 7.1% in the control group with no significance. Hunger score of the participants between the two groups right before induction of anesthesia was significantly different. No aspiration, nausea, and vomiting occurred in both groups before, during, and after surgery. No significant difference was found in the time to the first flatus and abdominal distension between the two groups. Conclusion: Taking low‐concentration carbohydrate solution is safe and feasible for patients with GDM undergoing elective cesarean section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has experienced dramatic warming in summer mean temperature since the early 1990s, leading to precipitation variation across the region. We have studied the variation of rainy‐season (April–September) precipitation in eastern China during 1961–2016. Overall, we found that rainy‐season precipitation increased in the south and decreased in the north during 1992–2016 (PII) compared to 1961–1991 (PI). By defining rainfall‐belt indices of intensity and central location, we found that the southern rainfall‐belt during the main rainy‐season tends to produce much more‐intense precipitation during PI relative to PII, in contrast to the northern rainfall‐belt, which tends to have less‐intense precipitation during PII. Despite some fluctuations, the central positions of neither the northern nor the southern rainfall‐belts exhibit a statistically significant difference between the two periods. Unlike during PI, during PII, there is an obvious anticyclone over the Lake Baikal region. This anticyclone has caused anomalous north winds flowing from north‐central to southwestern China, leading to weakening of the northward moisture transport. Also, regions such as northeastern, north‐central, and southwestern China have been controlled by negative geopotential height anomalies and weak vertical air‐motion anomalies, resulting in drying from north to southwestern China. At the same time, the enhanced water‐vapour convergence in the southeastern coastal region of China favours increased precipitation there. These processes working in concert created the drying‐north–wetting‐south pattern in the main rainy‐season during 1961–2016. The change in rainfall‐belt intensity in eastern China has also shown a close relationship with the change in vapour transport from low latitudes. The weakened land‐sea thermal difference in the East Asia–Northwest Pacific region, which has weakened water‐vapour and atmospheric circulation, has also played a role in the change of rainfall‐belt intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main causes of failure of orthopedic implants are infection and poor bone ingrowth. Surface modification of the implants to allow for long‐term antibacterial and osteogenic functions is an effective solution to prevent failure of the implants. We developed silver‐rich TiN/Ag nano‐multilayers on the surface of titanium alloy with different doses of Ag+. The antibacterial stability and osteogenesis of the silver‐rich surface were determined by evaluating the adhesion and proliferation of Staphylococcus epidermidis, and the adhesion, proliferation, alkaline phosphatase activity, extracellular matrix mineralization, and the expression level of genes involved in osteogenic differentiation of rat bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). The results demonstrated that the antibacterial rates (Ra) of 5 × 1016‐Ag, 1 × 1017‐Ag, 5 × 1017‐Ag, and 1 × 1018‐Ag were respectively 46.21%, 85.66%, 94.99%, 98.48%, and 99.99%. After subcutaneous implantation in rats or immersion in phosphate buffered saline for up to 12 weeks, the silver‐rich surface of the titanium alloy showed long‐term stable inhibition of Staphylococcus epidermidis. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo studies indicated that the Ag‐implanted titanium did not show apparent cytotoxicity and that lower Ag+ implanted groups (5 × 1016‐Ag, 1 × 1017‐Ag) had better viability and biological safety when compared with higher Ag+ implanted groups. In addition, when compared with the Ti6Al4V‐group, all Ag‐implanted groups exhibited enhanced osteogenic indicators in rat BMSCs. Regarding osteogenic indicators, the surfaces of the 5 × 1017‐Ag group had better osteogenic effects than those of other groups. Therefore, the proper dose of Ag+ implanted TiN/Ag nano‐multilayers may be one of the options for the hard tissue replacement materials with antibacterial activity and osteogenic functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Morphogenesis and adaptive tropic growth in plants depend on gradients of the phytohormone auxin, mediated by the membrane‐based PIN‐FORMED (PIN) auxin transporters. PINs localize to a particular side of the plasma membrane (PM) or to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to directionally transport auxin and maintain intercellular and intracellular auxin homeostasis, respectively. However, the molecular cues that confer their diverse cellular localizations remain largely unknown.In this study, we systematically swapped the domains between ER‐ and PM‐localized PIN proteins, as well as between apical and basal PM‐localized PINs from Arabidopsis thaliana, to shed light on why PIN family members with similar topological structures reside at different membrane compartments within cells.Our results show that not only do the N‐ and C‐terminal transmembrane domains (TMDs) and central hydrophilic loop contribute to their differential subcellular localizations and cellular polarity, but that the pairwise‐matched N‐ and C‐terminal TMDs resulting from intramolecular domain–domain coevolution are also crucial for their divergent patterns of localization.These findings illustrate the complexity of the evolutionary path of PIN proteins in acquiring their plethora of developmental functions and adaptive growth in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All‐inorganic lead halide perovskites are promising candidates for optoelectronic applications. However, fundamental questions remain over the component interaction in the perovskite precursor solution due to the limitation of the most commonly used solvents of N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Here, we report an interaction tailoring strategy for all‐inorganic CsPbI3−xBrx perovskites by involving the ionic liquid solvent methylammonium acetate (MAAc). C=O shows strong interaction with lead (Pb2+) and N−H⋅⋅⋅I hydrogen bond formation is observed. The interactions stabilize the perovskite precursor solution and allow production of the high‐quality perovskite films by retarding the crystallization. Without the necessity for antisolvent treatment, the one‐step air‐processing approach delivers photovoltaic cells regardless of humidity, with a high efficiency of 17.10 % along with long operation stability over 1500 h under continuous light illumination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by progressive decline of memory and cognitive functions. Accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau is a pathological hallmark of AD and also plays a pathogenic role in disease progression. Proteolysis Targeting Chimera (PROTAC) technology enables the selective removal of a target protein by cellular ubiquitin‐proteasome system. Here we describe the characterization of tau PROTAC degrader developed at APRINOIA as a novel disease modifying treatment. Methods: Tau degrader was synthesized by linking a proprietary tau binder from Aprinoia tau PET tracer program with a ligand of E3 ligase. The PROTAC mediated tau degradation was first evaluated in HEK293 cells expressing P301L tau, which develops tau oligomer and aggregates upon incubation with "tau seeds" from brain lysates of rTg4510 mice. The reduction of tau aggregates was measured using a HTRF based immunoassay. A similar seeding induced tau aggregation assay was established in primary neurons to confirm the degrader activity. Efficacy was further evaluated in rTg4510 mice following treatment with IV injection. Results: PROTAC tau degrader reduced tau oligomer/aggregates in cellular models as well as in therTg4510 mice. Preliminary data suggests degrader is more effective in degradation of soluble tau oligomers in early stage of pathological tau development. Conclusion: Tau PROTAC degrader generated from proprietary tau warhead can selectively decrease the oligomer/aggregated tau in both in vitro and in vivo models. Current effort is focused on optimization of ADME properties of tau degrader as a promising therapy for AD primary tauopathies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the performance of Beijing Climate Center's Climate System Model (BCC_CSM) is analysed in terms of China summer rainfall prediction, especially its capability to reproduce the spatial structure and temporal variation of the leading modes of empirical orthogonal function decomposition. Results show that the BCC_CSM has predictability for the summer mean rainfall pattern, namely, reproducing more rainfall in South China and maritime area, and less rainfall in North China and inland area. The model can reproduce the spatial pattern of the first two leading modes of observed summer rainfall; however, it fails to show correct interannual variability of the first two principle components, which may lead to a low skill in summer rainfall anomaly prediction over most parts of China. The leading mode‐based correction (LMC) method is then applied for the post processing procedure to correct prediction errors. Cross validation confirms that the LMC method can integrate the historical spatial pattern information of observed summer rainfall with the original model prediction, making the corrected model output better reflect spatial structure of the leading modes and their interannual variation. Compared with the original model output, the positive temporal correlation coefficient area for the corrected China summer rainfall anomalies is thus increased, and the average spatial correlation coefficient during 1991–2015 is improved from −0.01 before the correction to 0.17. The LMC method shows its potential for improving the prediction skill of BCC_CSM, which can be used in operational prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The design of functional metallohydrogels is attractive but challenging. A rational approach is introduced for designing functional metallohydrogels using chiral ligands, a phenylalanine derivative with a pyridyl group ( l/ d‐PF). Intriguingly, the as‐prepared metallohydrogel exhibits excellent O2 binding and activating properties. Insights into the O2 binding pathway reveals the presence of a novel [( l+ d)‐PF‐Cu3+‐O2−] species, which can efficiently reduce ferric cytochrome c with the reactive O2− by receiving an electron from reductant ascorbic acid. This study provides helpful instructions for developing new artificial systems with specific functions through the effective combination of chiral ligands with metal ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nucleoside analogue entecavir {systematic name: 2‐amino‐9‐[(1S,3R,4S)‐4‐hydroxy‐3‐hydroxymethyl‐2‐methylenecyclopentyl]‐1,9‐dihydro‐6H‐purin‐6‐one}, C12H15N5O3, is an antihepatitis B virus drug that has been approved in the US, EU and several countries worldwide. We report here the single‐crystal structure of the anhydrous form and compare it with that of the previously reported monohydrate form [Jiang & Liu (2009). Acta Cryst. E65, o2232]. Hirshfeld surface analysis has been employed to understand and visualize the subtle packing differences between the two crystalline forms. The results show that, compared to the previously reported hydrated form, the anhydrous crystal has significantly different intermolecular interactions and packing patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It was found that flavonoids could remarkably inhibit the chemiluminescence (CL) intensity of an off-line gold nanoparticle (AuNP)-catalyzed luminol-H2O2 CL system. By contrast, flavonoids enhanced the CL intensity of an on-line AuNP-catalyzed luminol-H2O2 CL system. In the off-line system, the AuNPs were prepared beforehand, whereas in the on-line system, AuNPs were produced by on-line mixing of luminol prepared in a buffer solution of NaHCO3 − Na2CO3 and HAuCl4 with no need for the preliminary preparation of AuNPs. The on-line system had prominent advantages over the off-line system, namely a lowering of the background noise and improvements in the stability of the CL system. The results show that differences in the signal suppression effect of flavonoids on the off-line AuNP-catalyzed CL system are influenced by the combined action of a free radical scavenging effect and occupy-sites function; the latter was proved to be predominant using controlled experiments. Enhancement of the on-line system was ascribed to the presence of flavonoids promoting the on-line formation of AuNPs, which better catalyzed the luminol-H2O2 CL reaction, and the enhancement activity of the six flavonoids increased with the increase in reducibility. This work broadens the scope of practical applications of an AuNP-catalyzed CL system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benefiting from the natural nano-size graphene-structure in natural asphaltene material, a facile one-pot route, mild chemical oxidation of low-value petroleum asphaltene followed by routine ammonium neutralization, is presented to produce high quality graphene quantum dots (GQDs). The asphaltene-derived GQDs possess a variety of oxygen-containing and nitrogen-containing functional groups such as carboxyl, hydroxyl, amine, and nitro groups. They present such excellent fluorescence properties as stable ability to retain strong green fluorescence within a relative broad excitation range in a bio-suitable pH range of 4-7, high photoluminescence quantum yield of 18% and good fluorescent stability against photobleaching. And they are much smaller and thinner than most reported GQDs, displaying good biocompatibility with low cytotoxicity, effective cellular uptake, and excellent fluorescent probe performance for cancer cell imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of rhizosphere properties on the rhizosphere priming effect ( RPE) are unknown. This study aimed to link species variation in RPE with plant traits and rhizosphere properties., Four C3 species (chickpea, Cicer arietinum; field pea, Pisum sativum; wheat, Triticum aestivum; and white lupin, Lupinus albus) differing in soil acidification and root exudation, were grown in a C4 soil. The CO2 released from soil was trapped using a newly developed Na OH-trapping system., White lupin and wheat showed greater positive RPEs, in contrast to the negative RPE produced by chickpea. The greatest RPE of white lupin was in line with its capacity to release root exudates, whereas the negative RPE of chickpea was attributed to its great ability to acidify rhizosphere soil. The enhanced RPE of field pea at maturity might result from high nitrogen deposition and release of structural root carbon components following root senescence. Root biomass and length played a minor role in the species variation in RPE., Rhizosphere acidification was shown to be an important factor affecting the magnitude and direction of RPE. Future studies on RPE modelling and mechanistic understanding of the processes that regulate RPE should consider the effect of rhizosphere pH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybridization and introgression are believed to play important roles in plant evolution. However, few empirical studies have been designed to clarify the ways in which these processes complicate taxonomic delimitation. Recent phylogenetic studies based on a number of different DNA fragments have indicated that Picea brachytyla in the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is polyphyletic, a finding that contrasts with traditional taxonomy based on morphological traits. We aimed to test this conflict using transcriptomic data from 26 trees collected from multiple localities for this and related species. Our phylogenomic analyses suggest that the sampled trees of P. brachytyla cluster into two distinct lineages corresponding to the two taxonomically recognized intraspecific varieties: var. brachytyla and var. complanata. However, var. complanata nested within Picea likiangensis and was sister to one of its three varieties, while var. brachytyla comprised an isolated lineage. The polyphyletic origin hypothesis was further supported by likelihood tree comparisons using Akaike's information criterion (AIC) and by coalescent analyses under the snapp model. However, our abba-baba and ∂a∂i analyses suggest that gene flow between these two independently evolved lineages has been extensive and bidirectional. Introgression, as well as parallel evolution in the arid habitats common to both lineages, may have given rise to their morphological similarity. Our study highlights the importance of genomic evidence and the use of newly developed coalescent analysis methods for clarifying the evolutionary complexity of certain plant taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Revealing chemokine receptor CXCR4 expression, distribution, and internalization levels in different cancers helps to evaluate cancer progression or prognosis and to set personalized treatment strategy. We here describe a sensitive and high-throughput immunoassay for determining CXCR4 expression and distribution in cancer cells. The assay is accessible to a wide range of users in an ordinary lab only by dip-coating poly(styrene-co- N-isopropylacrylamide) spheres on the glass substrate. The self- assembled spheres form three-dimensional photonic colloidal crystals which enhance the fluorescence of CF647 and Alexa Fluor 647 by a factor of up to 1000. CXCR4 in cells is detected by using the sandwich immunoassay, where the primary antibody recognizes CXCR4 and the secondary antibody is labeled with CF647. With the newly established assay, we quantified the total expression of CXCR4, its distribution on the cell membrane and cytoplasm, and revealed their internalization level upon SDF-1α activation in various cancer cells, even for those with extremely low expression level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background All-trans retinol, a precursor of retinoic acid, is an effective anti-aging treatment widely used in skin care products. In comparison, topical retinoic acid is believed to provide even greater anti-aging effects; however, there is limited research directly comparing the effects of retinol and retinoic acid on skin. Objectives In this study, we compare the effects of retinol and retinoic acid on skin structure and expression of skin function-related genes and proteins. We also examine the effect of retinol treatment on skin appearance. Methods Skin histology was examined by H&E staining and in vivo confocal microscopy. Expression levels of skin genes and proteins were analyzed using RT- PCR and immunohistochemistry. The efficacy of a retinol formulation in improving skin appearance was assessed using digital image-based wrinkle analysis. Results Four weeks of retinoic acid and retinol treatments both increased epidermal thickness, and upregulated genes for collagen type 1 ( COL1A1), and collagen type 3 ( COL3A1) with corresponding increases in procollagen I and procollagen III protein expression. Facial image analysis showed a significant reduction in facial wrinkles following 12 weeks of retinol application. Conclusions The results of this study demonstrate that topical application of retinol significantly affects both cellular and molecular properties of the epidermis and dermis, as shown by skin biopsy and noninvasive imaging analyses. Although the magnitude tends to be smaller, retinol induces similar changes in skin histology, and gene and protein expression as compared to retinoic acid application. These results were confirmed by the significant facial anti-aging effect observed in the retinol efficacy clinical study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient method for the synthesis 3,4-dihydropyridin-2-ones has been developed via tandem one-pot Michael-type addition and cyclization of the Blaise reaction intermediate and acrylic ester. A series of readily available nitriles, bromoacetic esters and acrylic esters have been employed to examine the scope of substrates for this method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on van der Waals heterostructures based on stacked 2D atomic crystals is intense due to their prominent properties and potential applications for flexible transparent electronics and optoelectronics. Here, nonvolatile memory devices based on floating-gate field-effect transistors that are stacked with 2D materials are reported, where few-layer black phosphorus acts as channel layer, hexagonal boron nitride as tunnel barrier layer, and MoS2 as charge trapping layer. Because of the ambipolar behavior of black phosphorus, electrons and holes can be stored in the MoS2 charge trapping layer. The heterostructures exhibit remarkable erase/program ratio and endurance performance, and can be developed for high-performance type-switching memories and reconfigurable inverter logic circuits, indicating that it is promising for application in memory devices completely based on 2D atomic crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and one of its encoded proteins, HBV X protein (HBx), have been shown to induce autophagy in hepatoma cells. Substantial evidence indicates that autophagy is a potent suppressor of inflammation. However, sporadic reports suggest that autophagy could promote pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and inflammation in some biological contexts. Here, we show that overexpression of HBx induces LC3B-positive autophagosome formation, increases autophagic flux and enhances the expression of ATG5, ATG7, and LC3B-II in normal hepatocytes. Abrogation of autophagy by small interfering RNA against ATG5 and ATG7 prevents HBx-induced formation of autophagosomes. Autophagy inhibition also abrogates HBx-induced activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and production of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, and CXCL2. These findings suggest that autophagy is required for HBx-induced NF-κB activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine production and could shed new light on the complex role of autophagy in the modulation of inflammation. J. Cell. Physiol. 230: 2382-2389, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene-silicon based configurations are attracting great attention for their potential application as electronics and optoelectronics. For their practical use, it is still limited by the configuration fabrication process. In this paper, a catalyst-free method is reported to directly grow nanographene on silicon covered with a thin oxide layer to form nanographene-oxide-silicon configurations. Compared with previously reported nanographene-silicon Schottky junctions, the nanographene-oxide-silicon structures exhibit a high performance on electronic and photovoltaic properties. The reverse leakage current of the nanographene-oxide-silicon is suppressed from over 10−5 A down to 10−8 A and the rectifier ratio is greatly enhanced from less than 5 up to 103. The photovoltage is enhanced over 50 times. The nanographene-oxide-silicon structures exhibit especially ultrasensitive to weak light at a photovoltage working mode, which exceeds up to 106 V/W at the light power of 0.025 μW. Due to the source material for nanographene is photoresist and the fabrication process is mainly based on the current-used photolithography and silicon technique, the developed nanographene-oxide-silicon structures are very easy for device fabrication, integration, and miniaturization, and could be a promising way to produce metal-free graphene-silicon based electronics and optoelectronics for commercial use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A family of enantiopure β-aminoalcohols based on aziridine backbones were synthesized, and examined as chiral ligands for the copper(II)-catalyzed asymmetric of aromatic aldehydes with nitromethane, giving β-nitroalcohols in excellent yields (up to 93%) and moderate to good (up to 82%). Moreover, possible transition states of the reaction are proposed. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the N-terminal region of Amyloid β (Aβ) peptides plays dual roles as metal-coordinating sites and conformational modulator, few studies have been performed to explore the effects of mutations at this region on the overall conformational ensemble of Aβ and the binding propensity of metal ions. In this work, we focus on how three familial Alzheimer's disease mutations (D7H, D7N, and H6R) alter the structural characteristics and thermodynamic stabilities of Aβ42 using molecular dynamics simulations. We observe that each mutation displays increased b-sheet structures in both N and C termini. In particular, both the N terminus and central hydrophobic region of D7H can form stable β-hairpin structures with its C terminus. The conserved turn structure at Val24-Lys28 in all peptides and Zn2+-bound Aβ42 is confirmed as the common structural motif to nucleate folding of Aβ. Each mutant can significantly increase the solvation free energy and thus enhance the aggregation of Aβ monomers. The correlation dynamics between Aβ(1-16) and Aβ(17-42) fragments are elucidated by linking the domain motions with the corresponding structured conformations. We characterize the different populations of correlated domain motions for each mutant from a more macroscopic perspective, and unexpectedly find that Zn2+-bound Aβ42 ensemble shares the same populations as Aβ42, indicating that the binding of Zn2+ to Aβ follows the conformational selection mechanism, and thus is independent of domain motions, even though the structures of Aβ have been modified at a residue level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compared the effects of several ligands frequently used in aqueous synthesis, including L-cysteine, L-cysteine hydrochloride, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), glutathione and 3-mercaptopropionic acid, for microwave synthesis of CdTe quantum dots (QDs) in a sealed vessel with varied temperatures and times, and then developed a rapid microwave-assisted protocol for preparing highly luminescent, photostable and biocompatible CdTe/CdS/ZnS core-multishell QDs. The effects of molecular structures of these ligands on QD synthesis under high temperatures were explored. Among these ligands, NAC was found to be the optimal ligand in terms of the optical properties of resultant QDs and reaction conditions. The emission wavelength of NAC-capped CdTe QDs could reach 700 nm in 5 min by controlling the reaction temperature, and the resultant CdTe/CdS/ZnS core-multishell QDs could achieve the highest quantum yields up to 74% with robust photostability. In addition, the effects of temperature, growth time and shell-precursor ratio on shell growth were examined. Finally, cell culturing indicated the low cytotoxicity of CdTe/CdS/ZnS core-multishell QDs as compared to CdTe and CdTe/CdS QDs, suggesting their high potential for applications in biomedical imaging and diagnostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]