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Based on an analysis of the strengthening and toughening mechanisms of natural composites (shells and pearls) and the biomimetic principle, a new type of hexagonal honeycomb shelter was designed using concrete-filled steel tubes. Experiments were conducted to investigate the anti-penetration properties of the honeycomb shelter. The experimental results showed that in contrast to a reinforced concrete shelter, damage from an impacting projectile only occurred within a single hexagonal unit of the honeycomb shelter; in addition, the damaged area on the honeycomb shelter was relatively small. Furthermore, the projectile tended to yaw when it penetrated the honeycomb shelter. The results of the experiments on the honeycomb shelter were also analyzed in terms of stress wave propagation, which was examined using a numerical simulation. The analysis showed that due to the restriction and obstruction effects of the hexagonal steel tubes on the concrete within the steel tubes, the resistance on the projectile increased during the penetration process, which reduced the damage caused by the projectile. The experimental results and analysis showed that a honeycomb shelter composed of concrete-filled steel tube components exhibits relatively good anti-penetration properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• MMA-grafted PP is prepared with enhanced DC resistivity and more deep traps. • Trap characteristics of MMA-grafted PP based on TSDC is quantitatively analyzed. • MMA deepens the inherent PP trap depth and introduces a new deep trap of 1.8 eV. In this paper, the thermally stimulated depolarization current (TSDC) spectrum of methyl methacrylate (MMA)-grafted polypropylene is quantitatively analyzed by our TSDC peak separating algorithm. The separated trap peaks and extracted trap parameters are verified to be effective and credible by the experimental peak-separating method based on thermo-cleaning. The trap analysis on pristine and MMA-grafted polypropylene is carried out and indicates that grafting MMA can introduce a new high-depth trap peak at about 1.8 eV, meanwhile the intrinsic trap of polypropylene is deepened. This work would provide an opportunity to advance the understanding of trap characteristics in grafting-modified polypropylene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Diverse rice samples are suitable for an accuracy NIR assay of apparent amylose, amylose and amylopectin content simultaneously. • Calibration optimal equations of NIRs with much high values. • MPLS-DA (discriminant analysis) could classify waxy and non-waxy rice with 100% accuracy. • NIRS applicable for high-throughput screening. Rice starch properties of apparent amylose content (AAC), amylose content (AC), and amylopectin content (AP) are considered as the most important factors influencing grain quality as they are highly correlated with eating quality. This report is the first effort of predicting AC and AP values in rice flours, and recognizing waxy rice from non-waxy rice using NIRS technique. Calibration models generated by different mathematical, preprocessing treatments and combinations of wavelengths and signals were compared and optimized. The model established by modified partial least squares (MPLS) with "2, 8, 8, 2"/ Inverse MSC and ∼138 wavelengths signals yielded high RSQ of 0.977, 0.928, and 0.912 for AAC, AC and AP, respectively, as simultaneous measurement. MPLS-DA (discriminant analysis) could classify waxy and non-waxy rice with 100% accuracy. This high-throughput technology is valuable for breeding programs, and for the purposes of quality control in the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Scalable and controllable fabrication of Ni3S2-embedded NiFe LDH porous nanosheets grown on Ni foam in a facile method for OER catalysis. • The Ni3S2-embedded NiFe LDH porous nanosheet integrates merits including abundant interfaces, rapid mass transfer, bubble release and modulated electronic structure. • NiOOH resulting from the in situ partial Ni3S2 phase transformation over an equally important electrically conductive Ni3S2 to drive proficient catalysis. • This OER catalyst only requires an overpotential of 303 mV to deliver 1 A cm-2 toward OER. Ni 3 S 2 -embedded NiFe LDH heterostructured porous nanosheets were in situ grown on nickel foam (Ni 3 S 2 -NiFe LDHs /NF) via a one-pot solution method mediated by NaHS at room temperature in 15 min. Benefiting from the abundant Ni 3 S 2 -NiFe LDH interfaces, the as-prepared catalyst delivers 50, 500 and 1000 mA cm−2 with an overpotential of only 230, 285 and 303 mV for oxygen evolution reaction, respectively, registering as one of the best performing non-precious metal OER catalysts. In situ and ex situ analysis reveal that the Ni 3 S 2 was in situ partially transformed under an electrooxidation environment into NiOOH over an equally important electrically conductive Ni 3 S 2 to drive proficient catalysis. This strategy can be extended to fabricate Ru-Ni 3 S 2 -NiFe LDHs/NF electrocatalyst for high active hydrogen evolution reaction. Coupling these two catalysts achieved remarkable current densities of 10, 100 and 500 mA cm−2 at low voltages of 1.47, 1.71 and 1.85 V upon driving overall water splitting, respectively, superior to the performance of current industrial catalysts (200–400 mA cm−2 at 1.8–2.40 V). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using density functional theory (DFT), we have investigated the stability and electronic structure of lithium (Li) adsorbed in triplet form of (5.0) carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and (5.0) boron nitrogen nanotubes (BNNTs). We have mainly found that three (5.0) tubes are covalently connected. The triplet form is an energetically stable semiconductor. Li atom can be chemically adsorbed in the triplet form of nanotubes (NTs). Meanwhile, upon the adsorption of Li, the triplet form convert into metal. Hence, the triplet form can improve reactivity and sensitivity of NTs to Li significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing interest in the correlation between working time and environmental pressures, but prior empirical studies were mostly focused on static methods within limited country groups. To fill the gap, this study aims to stimulate the discussion by distinguishing between different time periods for developed and developing country groups respectively. In particular, we contribute to a further understanding of the environmental effects of working time reduction policies by comparing the differences under the dynamic framework of system Generalized Method of Moments. We applied this dynamic panel regression approach for 55 countries worldwide over the period 1980–2010, and employing carbon emissions per capita as the environmental indicator. In general, results confirmed the significant relationship between hours of work and environmental impacts in developed economies, although this is not the case for the developing counterparts. Interestingly, the significant correlations for the developed country group turned from positive during the first sub-period (1980–2000) to negative during the second sub-period (2001–2010). Connecting these results with previous literature, we proposed the reasons of rebound energy use derived from certain leisure activities which were more energy-intensive if excessive non-working time provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surfaces of stored grain bulk are often reconstructed from organized point sets with noise by 3-D laser scanner in an online measuring system. As a result, denoising is an essential procedure in processing point cloud data for more accurate surface reconstruction and grain volume calculation. A classified denoising method was presented in this research for noise removal from point cloud data of the grain bulk surface. Based on the distribution characteristics of cloud point data, the noisy points were divided into three types: The first and second types of the noisy points were either sparse points or small point cloud data deviating and suspending from the main point cloud data, which could be deleted directly by a grid method; the third type of the noisy points was mixed with the main body of point cloud data, which were most difficult to distinguish. The point cloud data with those noisy points were projected into a horizontal plane. An image denoising method, discrete wavelet threshold (DWT) method, was applied to delete the third type of the noisy points. Three kinds of denoising methods including average filtering method, median filtering method and DWT method were applied respectively and compared for denoising the point cloud data. Experimental results show that the proposed method remains the most of the details and obtains the lowest average value of RMSE (Root Mean Square Error, 0.219) as well as the lowest relative error of grain volume (0.086%) compared with the other two methods. Furthermore, the proposed denoising method could not only achieve the aim of removing noisy points, but also improve self-adaptive ability according to the characteristics of point cloud data of grain bulk surface. The results from this research also indicate that the proposed method is effective for denoising noisy points and provides more accurate data for calculating grain volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common progressive neurodegenerative movement disorder. Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) catalyzes the first rate-limiting step in the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) biosynthetic pathway in mammals, is a substrate for NAD+-dependent enzymes, such as sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), and contributes to cell fate decisions. However, the role of NAMPT in PD has remained to be fully elucidated. In the present study, PC12 cells were treated with the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) to establish an in vitro model of PD, following which an obvious inhibitory effect on the levels of NAMPT and NAD+ as well as the NAD+/NADH ratio was detected. In addition, pre-incubation with FK866, a highly specific NAMPT inhibitor, enhanced the inhibitory effects of 6-OHDA on the viability of PC12, while pre-incubation with nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), am enzymatic product of NAMPT, had the opposite effect. Furthermore, it was revealed that NMN markedly attenuated 6-OHDA-induced decreases in superoxide dismutase activity and glutathione levels, as well as 6-OHDA-induced increases in malondialdehyde and lactate dehydrogenase in PC12 cells. Furthermore, 6-OHDA significantly reduced SIRT1 activity in PC12 cells, which was inhibited by NMN. The pharmacological activator resveratrol also significantly inhibited 6-OHDA-mediated decreases in PC12 cell viability while reversing 6-OHDA-induced decreases in SIRT1 levels. The results of the present study suggested that NMT protected against 6-OHDA-induced decreases in PC12 cell viability, and that SIRT1 activation had a role in this process. Treatment with NMN to activate SIRT1 may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for treating PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

horacic ortic neurysms and issections (TAAD) are a major cause of death in the United States. The spectrum of TAAD ranges from genetic disorders, such as Marfan syndrome, to sporadic isolated disease of unknown cause. We hypothesized that genomic copy number variants (CNVs) contribute causally to early onset TAAD (ETAAD). We conducted a genome-wide SNP array analysis of ETAAD patients of European descent who were enrolled in the National Registry of Genetically Triggered Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms and Cardiovascular Conditions (GenTAC). Genotyping was performed on the Illumina Omni-Express platform, using PennCNV, Nexus and CNVPartition for CNV detection. ETAAD patients (n = 108, 100% European American, 28% female, average age 20 years, 55% with bicuspid aortic valves) were compared to 7013 dbGAP controls without a history of vascular disease using downsampled Omni 2.5 data. For comparison, 805 sporadic TAAD patients with late onset aortic disease (STAAD cohort) and 192 affected probands from families with at least two affected relatives (FTAAD cohort) from our institution were screened for additional CNVs at these loci with SNP arrays. We identified 47 recurrent CNV regions in the ETAAD, FTAAD and STAAD groups that were absent or extremely rare in controls. Nine rare CNVs that were either very large (>1 Mb) or shared by ETAAD and STAAD or FTAAD patients were also identified. Four rare CNVs involved genes that cause arterial aneurysms when mutated. The largest and most prevalent of the recurrent CNVs were at Xq28 (two duplications and two deletions) and 17q25.1 (three duplications). The percentage of individuals harboring rare CNVs was significantly greater in the ETAAD cohort (32%) than in the FTAAD (23%) or STAAD (17%) cohorts. We identified multiple loci affected by rare CNVs in one-third of ETAAD patients, confirming the genetic heterogeneity of TAAD. Alterations of candidate genes at these loci may contribute to the pathogenesis of TAAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experimentally feasible scheme to securely distribute and reconstruct a single-atom quantum state between two parties via a tripartite entangled state in cavity QED has been proposed. If they collaborate, both users can reconstruct and read the distributed secret information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ascending thoracic aorta is designed to withstand biomechanical forces from pulsatile blood. Thoracic aortic aneurysms and acute aortic dissections (TAADs) occur as a result of genetically triggered defects in aortic structure and a dysfunctional response to these forces. Here, we describe mutations in the forkhead transcription factor FOXE3 that predispose mutation-bearing individuals to TAAD. We performed exome sequencing of a large family with multiple members with TAADs and identified a rare variant in FOXE3 with an altered amino acid in the DNA-binding domain (p.Asp153His) that segregated with disease in this family. Additional pathogenic FOXE3 variants were identified in unrelated TAAD families. In mice, Foxe3 deficiency reduced smooth muscle cell (SMC) density and impaired SMC differentiation in the ascending aorta. Foxe3 expression was induced in aortic SMCs after transverse aortic constriction, and Foxe3 deficiency increased SMC apoptosis and ascending aortic rupture with increased aortic pressure. These phenotypes were rescued by inhibiting p53 activity, either by administration of a p53 inhibitor (pifithrin-α), or by crossing Foxe3-/- mice with p53-/- mice. Our data demonstrate that FOXE3 mutations lead to a reduced number of aortic SMCs during development and increased SMC apoptosis in the ascending aorta in response to increased biomechanical forces, thus defining an additional molecular pathway that leads to familial thoracic aortic disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Halides are often present at electrochemical environment, they can directly influence the electrode potential or zero charge potential through the induced work-function change. In this work, we focused in particular on the halogen-induced work function change as a function of the coverage of fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine on Al 2 Au and Al 2 Pt (110) surfaces. Results show that the real relation between work function change and dipole moment change for halogens adsorption on intermetallic surfaces is just a common linear relationship rather than a directly proportion. Besides, the different slopes between fitted lines and the theoretical slope employed in pure metal surfaces demonstrating that the halogens adsorption on intermetallic surfaces are more complicated. We also present a weight parameter β to describe different factors effect on work function shift and finally qualify which factor dominates the shift direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The simplification of 3D laser scanning point cloud is an important step of surface reconstruction and volume estimation of bulk grain in granary. This study presented an adaptive simplification algorithm based on particle swarm optimization (PSO). It introduced PSO into the average distance method, a conventional simplification method. The basic idea of this algorithm was to adaptively determine the optimal point reducing intervals of scanning lines according to original point cloud density by PSO. By using the 3D point cloud scanned from bulk grain surface in granary, the proposed algorithm was validated. Compared with the average distance method, the proposed algorithm obtained more evenly distributed point set, smaller reduction ratio (6.96%) and higher volume estimation accuracy (relative error was less than 3?). The 3D laser scanner (GSLS003, Jilin University and SkyViTech Co., Ltd., Hangzhou, China) used in this study could scan the complete picture of the grain surface in a granary in one time, so the acquired point cloud data do not have to be jointed. For the good simplification performance and capability of updating the reducing interval at any moment, the proposed algorithm and the 3D laser scanner could be used to realize online real-time measurement of stored bulk grain volume in granary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we demonstrate that the degeneration of intervertebral discs is caused by ageing and apoptosis of matrix cells. Apoptosis is as essential as the function of proteoglycan synthesis in assessing the possible degeneration of intervertebral discs; paeoniflorin (PF) induces cytoprotective effects on various types of cells. In this study, the function of PF in inhibiting Fas ligand (FasL)-induced apoptosis in annulus fibrosus cells was assessed, and the correlation between apoptosis and the Fas-FasL pathway was determined. Annulus fibrosus cells were derived from the intervertebral discs of 1-month-old Sprague Dawley rats; the cells were characterised by toluidine blue staining and subjected to apoptosis with FasL. PF was diluted to various concentrations and added to annulus fibrosus cells at various times. The impact of PF and FasL on cell apoptosis of annulus fibrosus cells was determined by flow cytometry. Western blot analysis was performed to determine the protein expression levels of Fas and caspase-3. The percentages of apoptotic annulus fibrosus cells as well as the expression levels of caspase-3 and Fas were significantly reduced following treatment with 208, 20.8 or 2.08 μM PF. PF inhibits the activation of the Fas-FasL signal pathway and decreases FasL-induced apoptosis of annulus fibrosus cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hafnium carbide (HfC) is regarded as one of the most promising cathode materials for field emission. But the experimental results did not provide a detail picture of the surface properties. In this work, we perform an ab initio study of the surface energies and work functions for the (1 0 0), (1 1 0), (1 1 1), (2 1 0), (3 1 0) and (3 1 1) surfaces of hafnium carbide. For the polar surface of (1 1 1) and (3 1 1) plane, a new method is taken to calculate the surface energy of the different surface terminations. The results indicate that the Hf termination surface is most stable, which are consistent with the experimental results. Additionally, we focused in particular on oxygen atom induced work function changes on HfC(1 1 1) plane as a function of coverage. An unexpected decrease of the work function is found at low coverage, and a reasonable resolution for this anomaly is given based on the method of Roman et al. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type II topoisomerases modify DNA supercoiling, and crystal structures suggest that they sharply bend DNA in the process. Bacterial gyrases are a class of type II topoisomerases that can introduce negative supercoiling by creating a wrap of DNA before strand passage. Isoforms of these essential enzymes were compared to reveal whether they can bend or wrap artificially stiffened DNA. Escherichia coli gyrase and human topoisomerase IIα were challenged with normal DNA or stiffer DNA produced by polymerase chain reaction reactions in which diaminopurine (DAP) replaced adenine deoxyribonucleotide triphosphates. On single DNA molecules twisted with magnetic tweezers to create plectonemes, the rates or pauses during relaxation of positive supercoils in DAP-substituted versus normal DNA were distinct for both enzymes. Gyrase struggled to bend or perhaps open a gap in DAP-substituted DNA, and segments of wider DAP DNA may have fit poorly into the N-gate of the human topoisomerase IIα. Pauses during processive activity on both types of DNA exhibited ATP dependence consistent with two pathways leading to the strand-passage-competent state with a bent gate segment and a transfer segment trapped by an ATP-loaded and latched N-gate. However, E . coli DNA gyrase essentially failed to negatively supercoil 35% stiffer DAP DNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Hemipelvectomy is a major operation with significant risks including infection, prosthesis failure and fracture. This systematic review was designed to review the functional outcomes, oncologic outcomes and complications in patients who received internal hemipelvectomy and pelvic reconstruction for primary pelvic tumour. Methods Searches on MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, Embase and Google Scholar were performed to locate studies involving patients receiving internal hemipelvectomy and pelvic reconstruction using a prosthesis, implant or bone graft. All studies were either prospective or retrospective observational studies published in English. Results This systematic review included 12 studies from 1990 to 2011 involving 217 patients from 5 to 77 years of age who had received follow-up for a period from 3 weeks to 15 years. Among the 12 studies, the mortality rate, disease-free rate and incidence of local recurrence were 10-69.2, 23.1-90.0 and 9.1-41.7%, respectively. The post-operative Musculoskeletal Tumor Society ( MSTS) functional score ranged from 50 to 70 in the more recent studies. Compared with prostheses and other implants, patients who received allografts had the highest post-operative function, as shown by their MSTS scores, but also had a greater incidence of post-operative infection. On the other hand, the prosthesis group was associated with the highest percentage of fracture and dislocations, as well as other significant complications. Conclusion This comprehensive review provided informative details regarding the goals, outcomes and complications associated with this procedure and underscored the need for further investigation into the various surgical approaches currently available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To describe a spectral domain optical coherence (OCT)-assisted method of measuring retinal vessel diameters. Methods: All Patients with an OCT circle scan centered at the optic nerve head using a Spectralis OCT (Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) were retrospectively reviewed. Individual retinal vessels were identified on infrared reflectance (IR) images and given unique labels both on IR and spectral domain OCT (SD-OCT). Vessel width and vessel types obtained by IR were documented as ground truth. From OCT, measurements of each vessel, including horizontal vessel contour diameter, vertical vessel contour diameter, horizontal hyperreflective core diameter, and reflectance shadowing width, were assessed. Results: A total of 220 vessels from 13 eyes of 12 patients were labeled, among which, 194 vessels (88 arteries and 65 veins confirmed from IR) larger than 40 microns were included in the study. The mean vessel width obtained from IR was 107.9 ± 36.1 microns. A mean vertical vessel contour diameter of 119.6 ± 29.9 microns and a mean horizontal vessel contour diameter of 124.1 ± 31.1 microns were measured by SD-OCT. Vertical vessel contour diameter did not differ from vessel width in all subgroup analysis. Horizontal vessel contour diameter was not significantly different from vessel width for arteries and had strong or very strong correlation with vessel width for veins. Conclusion: In our study, vertical vessel contour diameter measured by current commercially available SD-OCT was consistent with vessel width obtained by IR with good reproducibility. This SD-OCT based method could potentially be used as a standard measurement procedure to evaluate retinal vessel diameters and their changes in ocular and systemic disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary α Helices are a basic unit of protein secondary structure and therefore the interaction between helices is crucial to understanding tertiary and higher-order folds. Comparing subtle variations in the structural and sequence motifs between membrane and soluble proteins sheds light on the different constraints faced by each environment and elucidates the complex puzzle of membrane protein folding. Here, we demonstrate that membrane and water-soluble helix pairs share a small number of similar folds with various interhelical distances. The composition of the residues that pack at the interface between corresponding motifs shows that hydrophobic residues tend to be more enriched in the water-soluble class of structures and small residues in the transmembrane class. The latter group facilitates packing via sidechain- and backbone-mediated hydrogen bonds within the low-dielectric membrane milieu. The helix-helix interactome space, with its associated sequence preferences and accompanying hydrogen-bonding patterns, should be useful for engineering, prediction, and design of protein structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to estimate the value of embryonal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (ENOTES) in treating severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) complicated with abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS). METHODS: The patients, who were randomized into an ENOTES group and an operative group, underwent ENOTES and laparotomy, respectively. The results and complications of the two groups were compared. RESULTS: Enterocinesia was observed earlier in the ENOTES group than in the operative group. Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score of patients in the ENOTES group was lower than that of the operative group on the 1st, 3rd and 5th post-operative day (P<0.05). The cure rate was 96.87% in the ENOTES group, which was statistically different from 78.12% in the operative group (P<0.05). There were significant differences in complications and mortality between the two groups (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Compared with surgical decompression, ENOTES associated with flexible endoscope therapy is an effective and minimal invasive procedure with less complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Batang Group (BTG) volcanic rocks in the Zhiduo area, with NW-trending outcrops along the northeastern margin of the Qiangtang terrane (northern Tibet), are mainly composed of volcaniclastic rocks, dacite and rhyolite. Major and trace element, Sr and Nd isotope, zircon U-Pb and Hf isotope data are presented for the BTG dacites. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry zircon U-Pb dating constrains the timing of volcanic eruption as Late Triassic (221 ± 1 Ma). Major and trace element geochemistry shows that the BTG volcanic rocks are classified as calc-alkaline series. All samples are enriched in large-ion lithophile elements and light rare earth elements with negative-slightly positive Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.47-1.15), and depleted in high field strength elements and heavy rare earth elements. In addition, these rocks possess less radiogenic Sr [(Sr/Sr) = 0.7047-0.7078], much radiogenic Nd (ε( t) = −4.2 to −1.3) and Hf (ε( t) = 4.0-6.6) isotopes, suggesting that they probably originated from partial melting of a crustal source containing a mantle-derived juvenile component. The inferred magma was assimilated by crustal materials during ascending and experienced significant fractional crystallization. By combining previously published and the new data, we propose that the BTG volcanic rocks were genetically related to southwestward subduction of the Ganzi-Litang ocean (a branch of Paleo-Tethys) in the northeastern margin of the Qiangtang terrane. Given the coeval arc-affinity magmatic rocks in the region, we envisage that the Ganzi-Litang ocean may extend from the Zhongdian arc through the Yidun terrane to the Zhiduo area, probably even further northwest to the Tuotuohe area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has therapeutic effects on various diseases, while its effect on developing cirrhosis as well as the underlying mechanism remained largely unknown. Methods: Twenty C57BL/6 mice were randomly separated into 2 groups of ten each. One group received transplantation of MSCs, while the other group received saline as control. The mice then received intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) twice per week for 8 weeks to develop cirrhosis. After another 4 weeks, the levels of cirrhosis in these mice were evaluated by liver fibrosis area, portal pressure, sodium balance and excretion. Transcripts of transforming growth factor β 1 (TGFβ1) and bone morphogenic protein 7 (BMP7) in the mouse livers were quantified by RT-qPCR. BMP7-depleted MSCs were prepared and applied in this model, and compared to MSCs. Results: Liver fibrosis, portal hypertension and sodium retention that were developed by CCl4, were all significantly alleviated by MSCs transplantation, which decreased TGFβ1 levels and increased BMP7 levels in the injured liver. MSCs were found to express extremely high levels of BMP7. Knockdown of BMP7 in MSCs completely abolished the protective effect of MSCs against CCl4-induced cirrhosis. Conclusions: MSCs mitigate cirrhosis through their production of BMP7 against the fibrogenic effect of TGFβ1 in the injured liver. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weld-induced geometric distortion of plate between the stiffeners of friction stir welded (FSW) stiffened panel is idealized. The plate distortion magnitude is defined according to the statistical data from Paik's analysis results. By the use of finite element method (FEM), the stability performance of FSW stiffened panel subjected to longitudinal compression is calculated and the effects of plate distortion shapes and boundary conditions on the stability performance of the structure are analyzed. Calculation results show that, in general, the plate geometric distortion presented in this work increases the critical buckling load but reduces the ultimate strength of the structure. The plate distortion shape affects the buckling mode and buckling load as well as the ultimate strength of the structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface energies and work functions for six close-packed surfaces of 19 common fcc and bcc metals in the periodic table have been systematically calculated by means of the density functional theory (DFT) method. The accuracy of the results is established in comparison with the experimental and other theoretical values. The variations of work functions with the surface crystallographic orientation display a good regularity. For alkali metals, the work functions follow the sequence Φ (110) > Φ (133) > Φ (311) > Φ (120) > Φ (100) > Φ (111). But for the same crystal structure of bcc transition metals (Nb, Mo, Ta, W), the order is Φ (110) > Φ (133) > Φ (120) > Φ (111) > Φ (311) > Φ (100). The work functions for 3d, 4d and 5d transition fcc metals also display an obvious regularity and ordered as Φ (111) > Φ (100) > Φ (211) > Φ (123) > Φ (310) > Φ (110). Particular attention is paid to the surface energies anisotropy with the same crystal structure metals and the variations present a good regularity, too. Especially, a roughly inverse proportional relationship between the surface energy and work function is found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel esterase gene (designated RmEstB ) from the thermophilic fungus Rhizomucor miehei was cloned and functionally expressed in Escherichia coli . Sequence analysis revealed a 960-bp open reading frame encoding a protein of 319 amino acids. The deduced protein sequence contained an HGGG motif, suggesting that the enzyme is a hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) family esterase. It showed highest identity of 52% with the esterase from Pseudomonas mandelii . The recombinant esterase was purified to homogeneity at 5.1-fold purification with a recovery yield of 85%. The molecular mass of RmEstB was estimated to be 37 kDa by SDS-PAGE. RmEstB was most active at pH 7.5 and 50 °C. The enzyme was highly stable in the presence of 30% ethanol, methanol, acetone, isopropanol, dimethyl sulfoxide and acetonitrile. RmEstB showed a broad range of substrate specificities toward various p -nitrophenol ( p NP) esters (C 2 –C 10 ) and triglycerides (C 2 –C 6 ), with the highest specific activities obtained for p NP acetate (255 U/mg) and triacetin (1330 U/mg), respectively. In addition, RmEstB efficiently catalyzed the hydrolysis of sterically hindered esters of tertiary alcohols. This study presents a novel fungal HSL family esterase with potential for some industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the frequency and determinants of liver stiffness measurement (LSM) failure by means of FibroScan in “real-life” Chinese patients. Methods: A total of 38,464 “real-life” Chinese patients in 302 military hospital of China through the whole year of 2013, including asymptomatic carrier, chronic hepatitis B, chronic hepatitis C, liver cirrhosis (LC), alcoholic liver disease, autoimmune liver disease, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and other, were enrolled, their clinical and biological parameters were retrospectively investigated. Liver fibrosis was evaluated by FibroScan detection. S probe (for children with height less than 1.20 m) and M probe (for adults) were used. LSM failure defined as zero valid shots (unsuccessful LSM), or the ratio of the interquartile range to the median of 10 measurements (IQR/M) greater than 0.30 plus median LSM greater or equal to 7.1 kPa (unreliable LSM). Results: LSM failure occurred in 3.34% of all examinations (1286 patients out of 38,464), among them, there were 958 cases (2.49%) with unsuccessful LSM, and 328 patients (0.85%) with unreliable LSM. Statistical analyses showed that LSM failure was independently associated with body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 kg/m2, female sex, age greater than 50 years, intercostal spaces (IS) less than 9 mm, decompensated liver cirrhosis and HCC patients. There were no significant differences among other diseases. By changing another skilled operator, success was achieved on 301 cases out of 1286, which reduced the failure rate to 2.56%, the decrease was significant (P<0.0001). Conclusions: The principal reasons of LSM failure are ascites, obesity and narrow of IS. The failure rates of HCC, decompensated LC, elder or female patients are higher. These results emphasize the need for adequate operator training, technological improvements and optimal criteria for specific patient subpopulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The elastic deformation of the levitation electromagnet (LM) of the high-speed maglev vehicle brings uneven levitation gaps and displacement differences between measured gap signals and the real gap in the middle of the LM, and then reduces dynamic performances of the electromagnetic levitation unit. However, most of the published literature has paid little attention to the dynamic deformation of the LM under complex line conditions. In this paper, considering the flexibility of the LM and the levitation bogie, a rigid-flexible coupled dynamic model is established to simulate deformation behaviors of the LMs of the maglev vehicle passing through the 650 m radius horizontal curve. Simulated results indicate that the deflection deformation direction of the same LM on the front transition curve is always opposite to that on the rear transition curve. Similarly, the deflection deformation direction of a left LM on the transition curve is opposite to that of the corresponding right LM. Furthermore, deflection deformation amplitudes of the LMs in the middle of the vehicle are always very small (less than 0.2 mm). However, the deflection deformation of the LMs at both ends of the vehicle is considerably large, and the maximum deflection deformation is about 0.86 mm when the vehicle passes at the balance speed. This forms a considerable displacement disturbance for the nominal levitation gap of 10 mm. It is necessary to optimize the supporting structure of the LM at the end of the maglev train in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zwitterioniccarboxybetaine and sulfobetaine materials have shownan excellent ability to resist nonspecific protein adsorption. Itis desirable to obtain a better understanding of zwitterionicmaterials based on their molecular structures. This work aims to understandthe roles of charged groups in zwitterionic moieties and todesign new protein-resistant zwitterionic moieties beyond carboxybetaineand sulfobetaine. We conducted molecular simulations to studythe hydration, self-association, and protein interactions of 12 zwitterionicmoieties derived from three anionic groups (carboxylic, sulfonate,and sulfate) and four cationic groups (quaternary ammonium, tertiaryammonium, secondary ammonium, and primary ammonium). The partial chargesof atoms in these moieties were obtained from quantum chemical calculations.Hydration was studied by evaluating the hydration free energy of moietiesand the hydration structure and dynamics of the charged groups. Allzwitterionic moieties have strong hydration, but their structuraland dynamic properties depend on the types of cationic and anionicgroups involved. The self-association and protein interactions ofzwitterionic moieties also show relationships with the chargedgroups. Our simulation results indicate good protein-resistant abilityof several zwitterionic moieties, one of which has also beenshown by recent experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide. Accumulating evidence indicates that the local recurrent and/or distant metastatic tumors, the major causes of lethality in the clinic, are related to the aggressive phenotype of a small fraction of cancer cells loosely termed as cancer stem cells (CSCs), tumor initiating cells (TICs), or cancer metastasis-initiating cells (CMICs). Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) are shown to exhibit unique growth abilities including self-renewal, differentiation potential, and resistance to most anti-cancer agents including chemo- and/or radiotherapy, all of which are believed to contribute to the development and overall aggressiveness of the recurrent or metastatic lesions. It is in the urgent need not only to further define the nature of heterogeneity in each tumor but also to characterize the precise mechanisms governing tumor–host cross-talk which is assumed to be initiated by BCSCs. In this review, we will focus on recently identified key factors, including the BCSCs among circulating tumor cells, interaction of BCSCs with the host, epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), tumor microenvironment, the intrinsic resistance due to HER2 expression, potential biomarkers of BCSCs and cancer cell immune signaling. We believe that new evidence coming from both bench and clinical research will help to develop more effective approaches to control or significantly reduce the aggressiveness of metastatic tumors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Zwitterionic materials have showntheir excellent performance inmany biological and chemical applications. Zwitterionic materialspossess moieties that own both cationic and anionic groups. The associationsamong zwitterionic moieties through electrostatic interactions playan important role in properties of zwitterionic materials. However,the relationship between the molecular structures and associationsof zwitterionic moieties are still not well understood. This workcompared thermal- and salt-responsive behaviors of sulfobetaine andcarboxybetaine polymers by examining their rheological propertiesas a function of temperature and their hydrodynamic sizes as a functionof salt concentration. Results showed that carboxybetaine polymersdo not exhibit stimuli responses as expected from the antipolyelectrolytebehavior of zwitterionic polymers as observed in sulfobetaine polymers.We studied and compared the associations among zwitterionic moietiesin these two zwitterionic polymers using molecular dynamic simulations.Simulation results show that the charge-density difference betweencationic and anionic groups determines the associations among zwitterionicmoieties, which are responsible for different stimuli responses ofcarboxybetaine and sulfobetaine polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To describe the treatment response to aflibercept in patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration that showed insufficient or diminishing treatment effects under ranibizumab. Methods: From December 2012 till June 2013 all patients receiving intravitreal injections of aflibercept after previous treatment with ranibizumab were collected in a database and retrospectively reviewed. Clinical data such as visual acuity or central subfield retinal thickness on optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans were analyzed for the time frame before, during, and shortly after the aflibercept injections. Of particular interest was the comparison of clinical features under ongoing ranibizumab treatment to the time during aflibercept treatment. Results: Seventy-one eyes of 65 patients were included in the study. All eyes had previous ranibizumab injections in their medical history, the average number of which was nine (range 3-43). For the total group the mean visual acuity (VA) before the first ranibizumab injection was 0.54 logMAR, and after the last ranibizumab injection was 0.57 logMAR. Mean VA changed from 0.47 logMAR before the first aflibercept injection to 0.25 logMAR after the last aflibercept injection. Central subfield retinal thickness (CSRT) on OCT changed from a mean of 417.28 μm to 349.52 μm under ranibizumab treatment and from 338.76 μm to 272.00 μm under aflibercept treatment. Interestingly, 33 % of cases that did not show a functional improvement under ranibizumab therapy gained visual acuity after aflibercept treatment. Conclusion: Aflibercept appears to be an effective choice for patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration who were resistant to previous therapy of ranibizumab. The longevity of this effect still remains questionable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To analyze the clinical features and laboratory test results of patients with autoimmune hepatitis ( AIH ) - primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) overlap syndrome, as well as their correct diagnosis rate and time to diagnosis. Methods Fifty - three patients who were diagnosed by liver biopsy as having AIH - PBC overlap syndrome from January 2009 to June 2013 were selected as subjects; 53 AIH patients and 53 PBC patients were selected as control groups. Their clinical manifestations, laboratory test results, and diagnosis on admission were retrospectively analyzed. Comparison of normally distributed quantitative data between groups was made by one - way analysis of variance, and multiple comparisons were made by SNK - q test ; comparison of qualitative data between groups was made using RxC contingency table, and multiple comparisons were made by Scheffe's confidence interval test. Results The 53 patients with AIH - PBC overlap syndrome had a serum alanine aminotransferase level of 173. 65 ±52. 08 U/L, a serum total bilirubin level of 38. 07 ± 6. 82 μmo/L, a serum alkaline phosphatase ( ALP) level of 293. 81 ± 28. 89 U/L, and a serum gamma - glutamyl transpeptidase level of 57. 57 ±78. 84 U/L. ALP showed significant difference between the patients with AIH - PBC overlap syndrome and control groups. The serum level of immunoglobulin M in overlap syndrome patients was 3. 33 ±2. 12 g/L, which was significantly different from those of two control groups. Of the 53 overlap syndrome patients, 27 were positive for anti - mitochondrial antibody - M2, and the positive rate was significantly different from those of two control groups. Without liver biopsy, the correct diagnosis rate was the lowest (52. 83% ), and it took the longest time (8 ±7.7 d) to confirm the diagnosis on admission. Conclusion The clinical manifestations of patients with AIH - PBC overlap syndrome are more similar to those of PBC patients, but their biochemical test results are more similar to those of AIH patients. AIH - PBC overlap syndrome has the clinical features of both AIH and PBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The RMSECV of the PLS models for atractylenolides I and III was 0.0387 and 0.0358. [•] The determination coefficient of quantitative models was 96.63 and 96.16. [•] The established predictions model were accurate and reliable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] A novel thermostable feruloyl esterase was purified and characterized. [•] The enzyme was stable over a broad pH range and exhibited good thermostability. [•] The enzyme exhibited strict substrate specificity for methyl ferulate. [•] The feruloyl esterase gene was cloned and sequenced. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Surfactant molecular structure strongly affects rheological properties of systems. [•] Mixed system of gemini 12-3-12 and sodium dodecylsulfonate has low viscosity peaks. [•] Rodlike micelle-to-vesicle transition leads to low viscosity peaks of mixed system. [•] Salt effect depends on matching water affinities between counterions and head groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present the design, fabrication, and measurement of an evanescently coupled waveguide photodetector operating at 1.55 μm, which mainly comprises a diluted waveguide, a single-mode rib waveguide and a p—i—n photodiode with an extended optical matching layer. The optical characteristics of this structure are studied by using a three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain (3D FDTD) method. The photodetector exhibits a high 3-dB bandwidth of more than 35 GHz and a responsivity of 0.291 A/W at 1550 nm directly coupled with a cleaved fiber. Moreover, a linear response of more than 72-mW optical power is achieved, where a photocurrent of more than 21 mA is obtained at a reverse bias voltage of 3 V. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A recombinant inbred line (RIL) population bred from a cross between a javanica type (cv. D50) and an indica type (cv. HB277) rice was used to map seven quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for thousand grain weight (TGW). The loci were distributed on chromosomes 2, 3, 5, 6, 8 and 10. The chromosome 3 QTL qTGW3.2 was stably expressed over two years, and contributed 9–10% of the phenotypic variance. A residual heterozygous line (RHL) was selected from the RIL population and its selfed progeny was used to fine map qTGW3.2. In this “F2” population, the QTL explained about 23% of the variance, rising to nearly 33% in the subsequent “F2:3” generation. The physical location of qTGW3.2 was confined to a ~556kb region flanked by the microsatellite loci RM16162 and RM16194. The region also contains other factors influencing certain yield-related traits, although it is also possible that qTGW3.2 affects these in a pleiotropic fashion. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics poses a great clinical challenge in fighting serious infectious diseases due to complicated resistant mechanisms and time-consuming testing methods. Chemical reaction-directed covalent labeling of resistance-associated bacterial proteins in the context of a complicated environment offers great opportunity for the in-depth understanding of the biological basis conferring drug resistance, and for the development of effective diagnostic approaches. In the present study, three fluorogenic reagents LRBL1-3 for resistant bacteria labeling have been designed and prepared on the basis of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). The hydrolyzed probes could act as reactive electrophiles to attach the enzyme, β-lactamase, and thus facilitated the covalent labeling of drug resistant bacterial strains. SDS electrophoresis and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry characterization confirmed that these probes were sensitive and specific to β-lactamase and could therefore serve for covalent and localized fluorescence labeling of the enzyme structure. Moreover, this β-lactamase-induced covalent labeling provides quantitative analysis of the resistant bacterial population (down to 5 %) by high resolution flow cytometry, and allows single-cell detection and direct observation of bacterial enzyme activity in resistant pathogenic species. This approach offers great promise for clinical investigations and microbiological research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a scheme for quantum teleportation of a two-qubit entangled state using four-qubit cluster state is discussed by use of cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED) involving the interaction of the atoms with the cavity. In this protocol, by using a one-dimensional maximally four-qubit cluster state as quantum channel, quantum information of an unknown state of two two-level particles is faithfully transmitted from a sender (Alice) to a remote receiver (Bob). According to the results measured by the Bob, as it is shown, the unknown two-particle entangled state can be teleported perfectly, and the successful possibilities and fidelities of the scheme can reach 1.0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although inherited GJA1 (encoding Cx43) gene mutations most often lead to oculodentodigital dysplasia and related disorders, four variants have been linked to erythrokeratodermia variabilis et progressiva (EKVP), a skin disorder characterized by erythematous and hyperkeratotic lesions. While two autosomal-dominant EKVP-linked GJA1 mutations have been shown to lead to augmented hemichannels, the consequence(s) of keratinocytes harboring a de novo P283L variant alone or in combination with a de novo T290N variant remain unknown. Interestingly, these variants reside within or adjacent to a carboxy terminus polypeptide motif that has been shown to be important in regulating the internalization and degradation of Cx43. Cx43-rich rat epidermal keratinocytes (REKs) or Cx43-ablated REKs engineered to express fluorescent protein-tagged P283L and/or T290N variants formed prototypical gap junctions at cell–cell interfaces similar to wildtype Cx43. Dye coupling and dye uptake studies further revealed that each variant or a combination of both variants formed functional gap junction channels, with no evidence of augmented hemichannel function or induction of cell death. Tracking the fate of EKVP-associated variants in the presence of the protein secretion blocker brefeldin A, or an inhibitor of protein synthesis cycloheximide, revealed that P283L or the combination of P283L and T290N variants either significantly extended Cx43 residency on the cell surface of keratinocytes or delayed its degradation. However, caution is needed in concluding that this modest change in the Cx43 life cycle is sufficient to cause EKVP, or whether an additional underlying mechanism or another unidentified gene mutation is contributing to the pathogenesis found in patients. This question will be resolved if further patients are identified where whole exome sequencing reveals a Cx43 P283L variant alone or, in combination with a T290N variant, co-segregates with EKVP across several family generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatment of ocular infection involves pharmacotherapy with steroids and antibiotic drops, such as moxifloxacin hydrochloride (MFH) and dexamethasone sodium phosphate (DSP). To characterize the pharmacokinetics of these two compounds, we performed and validated a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method to quantify them in rabbit ocular tissues and plasma. We used protein precipitation to extract the compounds. The analyte and internal standard (IS) were separated using a Shim-pack Scepter C18 column. The mobile phase was composed of 0.1% formic acid water (A) and methanol (B). MFH and DSP were detected using positive ion electrostatic ionization (ESI) in multiple reaction monitoring mode (MRM). The calibration curves for both compounds showed good linearity over concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 200 ng/mL in rabbit ocular tissues and plasma. The lower limit of quantification for both MFH and DSP was 0.5 ng/mL. We validated this method for selectivity, linearity (r2 > 0.99), precision, accuracy, matrix effects, and stability. Thus, we used this method to assess the pharmacokinetic (PK) characteristics of MFH and DSP in rabbit ocular tissues and plasma after single doses. Our results indicate that this method can be used for the simultaneous analysis of moxifloxacin hydrochloride and dexamethasone sodium phosphate in clinical samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oculodentodigital dysplasia (ODDD) is mainly an autosomal dominant human disease caused by mutations in the GJA1 gene, which encodes the gap junction protein connexin43 (Cx43). Surprisingly, there have been two autosomal recessive mutations reported that cause ODDD: a single amino acid substitution (R76H) and a premature truncation mutation (R33X). When expressed in either gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC)-deficient HeLa cells or Cx43-expressing NRK cells, the R76H mutant trafficked to the plasma membrane to form gap junction-like plaques, whereas the R33X mutant remained diffusely localized throughout the cell, including the nucleus. As expected, the R33X mutant failed to form functional channels. In the case of the R76H mutant, dye transfer studies in HeLa cells and electrical conductance analysis in GJIC-deficient N2a cells revealed that this mutant could form functional gap junction channels, albeit with reduced macroscopic and single channel conductance. Alexa 350 dye transfer studies further revealed that the R76H mutant had no detectable negative effect on the function of co-expressed Cx26, Cx32, Cx37 or Cx40, whereas the R33X mutant exhibited significant dominant or trans-dominant effects on Cx43 and Cx40 as manifested by a reduction in wild-type connexin gap junction plaques. Taken together, our results suggest that the trans-dominant effect of R33X together with its complete inability to form a functional channel may explain why patients harboring this autosomal recessive R33X mutant exhibit greater disease burden than patients harboring the R76H mutant [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coal rich in semi-fusinite was selected to run liquefaction rests in tubing-bomb reactors in a pre-heated sand bath. The petrological features of liquefaction residues were observed by microscopy, and the comparative discussion on chemical structure on raw coal and relatively liquefaction residues were presented by using FF-IR, 13C-NMR, and Py-GC/MS techniques. The results show that the liquefaction conversion reaches to more than 50% although coal used with high semi-fusinite content. The optical examination of liquefaction residues show that the partial semi-fusinites become plastic, and even formes hollow spheres, which indicate that semi-fusinites have involved in the liquefaction reaction. The comparison of chemical structure of raw coal and relatively liquefaction residues clearly show that the changes of chemical structures during liquefaction are occurred. Furthermore, the results of Py-GC/MS show that the compounds in residue are mainly composed of alklynaphthalene, C2-naphthalene and C3-naphthalene are main constitutions. Finally, the role of semi-fusinite in liquefaction was further discussed according to the results of speculation and petrological features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

: The Notch pathway can have both oncogenic and tumor suppressor roles, depending on cell context. For example, Notch signaling promotes T cell differentiation and is leukemogenic in T cells, whereas it inhibits early B cell differentiation and acts as a tumor suppressor in B cell leukemia where it induces growth arrest and apoptosis. The regulatory mechanisms that contribute to these opposing roles are not understood. Aberrant promoter DNA methylation and histone modifications are associated with silencing of tumor suppressor genes and have been implicated in leukemogenesis. Using methylated CpG island amplification (MCA)/DNA promoter microarray, we identified Notch3 and Hes5 as hypermethylated in human B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We investigated the methylation status of other Notch pathway genes by bisulfite pyrosequencing. Notch3, JAG1, Hes2, Hes4 and Hes5 were frequently hypermethylated in B leukemia cell lines and primary B-ALL, in contrast to T-ALL cell lines and patient samples. Aberrant methylation of Notch3 and Hes5 in B-ALL was associated with gene silencing and was accompanied by decrease of H3K4 trimethylation and H3K9 acetylation and gain of H3K9 trimethylation and H3K27 trimethylation. 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine treatment restored Hes5 expression and decreased promoter hypermethylation in most leukemia cell lines and primary B-ALL samples. Restoration of Hes5 expression by lentiviral transduction resulted in growth arrest and apoptosis in Hes5 negative B-ALL cells but not in Hes5 expressing T-ALL cells. These data suggest that epigenetic modifications are implicated in silencing of tumor suppressor of Notch/Hes pathway in B-ALL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zwitterionic carboxybetaines (CBs) are ubiquitous innature andconsidered promising materials for biological and chemical applications.A thorough understanding of the effect of carbon spacer length (CSL)on molecular properties is important. In this work, using moleculardynamics simulation and quantum chemical calculation, we investigatedthe effect of CSL on the molecular properties of CB molecules. Thehydration number, structure, and dynamics of carboxylic and trimethylammonium groups were investigated and found to present different behaviorsin regards to the variation of CSL. The simulation results with partialcharges developed from quantum chemical calculations were comparedwith those with partial charges from the OPLS all atom (OPLSAA) forcefield. The hydration free energy of CB molecules and CB–Na+association was also studied as a function of CSL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To describe the mechanical behavior of NEPE propellant under finite deformation condition,a viseo-hyperelastic constitutive equation was proposed. The equation comprises two parts--a component based on Yeoh strain energy function to characterize the static hyperelastic behaviour, and another to define nonlinear viscoelastic behaviour. The tensile test and relaxation test were employed to determine the parameters in the constitutive relationship. The comparison between the predicted results based on the proposed model and the experimental results shows that it is able to aptly describe the visco-hyperelastic behaviour of NEPE propellant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With first-principles virtual-crystal approximation calculations, we systematically investigate the geometric and electronic structures as well as the phase transition of lead zirconate titanate (PbZr1-xTixO3 or PZT) as a function of Ti content for the whole range of 0 ⩽ xTi ⩽ 1. It can be found that, with the increase of the Ti content, the PbZr1-xTixO3 solid solutions undergo a rhombohedral-to-tetragonal phase transition, which is consistent with the experimental results. In addition, we also show the evolution in geometric and electronic structures of rhombohedral and tetragonal PbZr1-xTixO3 with the increasing content of Ti. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Trace constituents are widely present in complex mixtures, and trace analysis is challenging because of the unpredictable matrix. In this work, a high-component filtering strategy was developed for improved analysis of trace constituents in complex sample by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS). Using a specifically designed chromatographic apparatus, the high-abundant fractions were filtered prior to LC–MS analysis. The samples complexity was reduced and the sample-loading amount for the rest low-level fractions can be considerably increased. The application of this approach was illustrated with an analytically challenging sample, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine named Compound Danshen Sample. We observed that the loss rate for 12 analytes during the filtering procedure ranged from 6.54 to 26.11%, but showed a stable repeatability with RSD<3.79%. The proposed filtering method with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometritry (Q-TOF/MS) enhanced the detection capacity, offering a comprehensive characterization of 133 compounds in Compound Danshen Samples. The quantification sensitivity was also improved in trace analysis, allowing six low compounds that cannot be quantified by the traditional methods to be tested by the filtering method. It can be predicted that the qualitative and quantitative trace analysis will be greatly improved when the loading samples is increased resulting from the filtration of high-level targets. The proposed strategy is promising to monitor trace constituents in diverse complex mixtures in the analytical field of pharmaceutics, metabonomics and environments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Using the first-principles method based on the density functional theory, we investigated the magnetic stability of sp half-metal ferromagnets SrC and BaC in rocksalt (RS), zincblende (ZB), and nickel arsenide (NA) structures under external pressure. The magnetic moments, total energy of magnetic and nonmagnetic phases, and lattice constants are calculated as a function of the applied pressure. The calculations show the occurrence of pressure-induced magnetic phase transitions which are mainly resulted from the band widening of anion p states. It is also confirmed that for both SrC and BaC, the rocksalt structure is the most stable phase among the three phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]