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In this study, insect biofuel from black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) oil was investigated as a potential alternative fuel in a single cylinder direct injection compression ignition (CI) engine. The neat of BSFL oil and its blends (B25, B50, B75, and B100) were utilized in the engine, in order to identify its combustion, performance, and emission characteristics. This was followed by an experimental performance at a constant speed with variable engine loads. The result showed a slight decrease by 3.28% in the cylinder pressure, with an 8.21% reduction in brake thermal efficiency; while an increment in the brake specific fuel consumption was noticed. Furthermore, there was a decreasing trend of about 19.62% and 1.84% in NO x and O 2 respectively. Nevertheless, an increase in CO, CO 2 , HC, and exhaust gas temperature was also discovered. It could be concluded that, the BSFL oil possesses a high potential to be utilized as an alternative fuel for CI engines in the future. • Insect biofuel is produced from black soldier fly larvae oil. • The cylinder pressure and brake thermal efficiency were lowered by 3.28% and 8.21%. • The brake specific fuel consumption was 47.57% higher than diesel fuel. • Nitrogen oxides indicate improvement by 19.62% as compared to diesel fuel. • Carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions increased with addition of BSFL oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Although many biocontrol bacteria can be used to improve plant tolerance to stresses and to promote plant growth, the hostile environmental conditions on plant phyllosphere and the limited knowledge on bacterial colonization on plant phyllosphere minimized the beneficial effects produced by the biocontrol bacteria. Rhodopseudomonas palustris strain GJ‐22 is known as a phyllosphere biocontrol agent. In this paper, we described detailed processes of strain GJ‐22 colony establishment at various colonization stages. Four different types of bacterial colonies, Type 1, scattered single cells; Type 2, small cell clusters; Type 3, small cell aggregates; and Type 4, large cell aggregates, were observed in the course of bacterial colonization. We categorized bacterial colonization into four phases, which were, Phase I: bacterial colony exists as Type 1 and cell population reduced quickly; Phase II: Type 1 evolved into Type 2 and cell population remained steady; Phase III: Type 3 arose and replaced Type 2, and cell population expanded slowly; and Phase IV: Type 3 matured into Type 4 and cell population increased quickly. We have shown that the preferable location sites of bacterial aggregates on leaf phyllosphere are grooves between plant epidermal cells. Analyses of expressions of plant defence‐related genes showed that, starting from Phase III, bacterial cells in the Type 3 and Type 4 colonies produced unidentified signals to induce host defence against Tobacco mosaic virus infection. In addition, we determined the crucial role of aggregates formation of GJ‐22 cell on plant phyllosphere in terms of bacterial cell stress tolerance and ISR (induced systemic resistance) priming. To our knowledge, this is the first report focused on the colonization process of a phyllosphere biocontrol agent and gave a clear description on the morphological shift of bacterial colony on phyllosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The volume fracturing in the Mahu conglomerate reservoir, double-wing fractures are generated, resulting in inadequate proppant laying effect and low fracture conductivity. Experiments are designed to explore methods for improving the conductivity of conglomerate-supported fractures. Real triaxial indoor experiments are conducted to explore the effects of displacement, stress difference, and weak surfaces. The proppant diversion experiment explores the diversion ability under the conditions of single proppant, mixed proppant, and multiple sand-laying concentrations. Attention is focused on the impact of proppant embedding and fragmentation on conductivity. Research has shown that (1) stepped variable displacement fracturing is beneficial for controlling the generation of fractures. High displacement is beneficial for activating naturally weak surfaces. Small displacements are beneficial for identifying naturally weak surfaces and controlling the speed of crack extension. (2) Embedding of proppants mainly affects the conductivity of mixed base-supported conglomerates. Crushing mainly affects the conductivity of particles supporting conglomerate fractures. (3) Quartz sand or quartz sand-mixed ceramsite is used for conglomerate reservoirs with low effective closure stress and a complex matrix. Ceramic particles can are reduce the impact of fragmentation on the conductivity of particle-supported conglomerate reservoirs. Study aims to provide scientific guidance for the efficient development of the Mahu reservoir. • Experiments are employed to optimize the conglomerate reservoir fracturing. • Variable displacement fracturing is beneficial to activate the natural fractures. • A method for high conductivity support-type fracture was developed. • The basis for selecting proppant for the Mahu reservoir was formed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and associated proteins (Cas) constitute CRISPR–Cas systems, which are antiphage immune systems present in numerous bacterial and most archaeal species. In recent years, CRISPR–Cas systems have been developed into reliable and powerful genome editing tools. Nevertheless, finding similar or better tools from bacteria or archaea remains crucial. This requires the exploration of different CRISPR systems, identification and characterization new Cas proteins. Archives tailored for Cas proteins are urgently needed and necessitate the prediction and grouping of Cas proteins into an information center with all available experimental evidence. Here, we constructed Cas Protein Data Bank (CasPDB), an integrated and annotated online database for Cas proteins from bacteria and archaea. The CasPDB database contains 287 reviewed Cas proteins, 257 745 putative Cas proteins and 3593 Cas operons from 32 023 bacteria species and 1802 archaea species. The database can be freely browsed and searched. The CasPDB web interface also represents all the 3593 putative Cas operons and its components. Among these operons, 328 are members of the type II CRISPR–Cas system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Fire detection based on Sauter mean diameter (SMD) instead of smoke concentration. • Optical sensing method of SMD based on dual wavelength technology. • Correction model of SMD for different size distributions and refractive indices. Abstract Existing fire smoke detectors utilize the intensity of scattering light as the indicator of fire smokes to trigger fire alarms, but a false fire alarm would be triggered by non-fire aerosols due to their similar concentration characteristics. According to the measurement results of our experiments and related works, the Sauter mean diameters of fire smokes are usually smaller than those of non-fire aerosols. Instead of the smoke concentration detector, a new type of Sauter mean diameter sensor is developed based on dual wavelength technology for fire detection. In order to measure the aerosol samples with different particle size distribution and refractive indices, an extra correction channel is added to reduce the measurement error from 39.1% to 7.61%. The sensor is calibrated by the DEHS (Di-Ethyl-Hexyl-Sebacat) aerosols in different sizes and tested by several typical fire smokes and non-fire aerosols, the results show that the sensor can timely trigger a fire alarm to fire smokes and avoid the false alarm caused by non-fire aerosols. With simple mechanical structure and high accuracy, this sensor improves the performance of optical fire smoke detector with high sensitivity, low-cost and unique ability to resist the false alarms caused by non-fire aerosols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: One of the unique features of plasmonic resonances in graphene structures is the enabled tunability through external means. Up to now, electrical gating is extensively adopted to tune graphene plasmonic resonances. This method is, however, limited unfortunately only to graphene structures with electrical connections. Here, a simple and efficient method to tune graphene plasmonic resonances by ultraviolet illuminations in a dynamical and reversible way is demonstrated. It is purely an optical means and can be applied to all kinds of graphene structures without introducing electrodes, ion–gel, or conducting layers required in electrical gating, which is of great significance especially for isolated graphene structures. The optical tuning method could shed new light on graphene‐based tunable devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The histone acetyltransferase males-absent-on-the-first (MOF) acetylates the histone H4, a modification important for many biological processes, including chromatin organization, transcriptional regulation, DNA replication, recombination and repair, as well as autophagy. Depletion of MOF induces serious consequences because of the reduction of histone acetylation, such as nuclear morphological defects and cancer. Despite the critical roles of MOF in the nucleus, the structural or functional mechanisms of the nucleocytoplasmic transport of MOF remain elusive. Here, we identified novel importin α1-specific nuclear localization signals (NLSs) in the N-terminal of human MOF. The crystal structure of MOF NLSs in complex with importin α1 further revealed a unique binding mode of MOF, with two independent NLSs binding to importin α1 major and minor sites, respectively. The second NLS of MOF displays an unexpected α-helical conformation in the C-terminus, with more extensive contacts with importin α1 not limited in the minor site. Mutations of the key residues on MOF and importin α1 lead to the reduction of their interaction as well as the nuclear import of MOF, revealing an essential role of NLS2 of MOF in interacting with importin α1 minor site. Taken together, we provide structural mechanisms underlying the nucleocytoplasmic transport of MOF, which will be of great importance in understanding the functional regulation of MOF in various biological processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hog deer (Axis porcinus) is a small deer whose natural habitat is the wet or moist tall grasslands in South and Southeast Asia. Wild populations have dramatically decreased in recent decades. While wild hog deer were recently acknowledged to be extinct in China, a few captive populations have been maintained. In the present study, we successfully employed the restriction-site-associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq) technique to generate a genome-wide profile of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the captive population of hog deer from Chengdu Zoo, China (N = 11). Up to 4.7 million clean reads per sample were sequenced, and 11,155 SNPs and 8,247 haplotypes were simultaneously observed within more than 80% of sequenced individuals. In this population, the mean frequency of major alleles at each polymorphism site was 0.7903±0.0014, and the average nucleotide diversity (π) and inbreeding coefficient (FIS) were 0.3031±0.0015 and -0.0302±0.0062, respectively. Additionally, the Euclidean distance-based multidimensional scaling method revealed that the pairwise genetic relatedness was evenly distributed. However, the results of homologous searching by short reads did not provide any meaningful explanation of the phylogenetic relationship of hog deer, which should be further investigated. In conclusion, our results revealed current state of genetic diversity in this captive population of hog deer.Furthermore, these genome-wide SNPs would be useful for guiding the mating schedule to avoid sharp increase of inbreeding coefficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changed land use patterns are the most direct manifestation of ecological engineering implemented by humans, being among the driving factors for changes in ecosystem services (ESs). However, different ecological engineering governance measures can lead to different changes in land use, resulting in corresponding changes to ESs and ecosystem service value (ESV), yet these changes is the content that needs to be clarified. In this study, four kinds of ESs, namely water yield, soil conservation, carbon storage and water purification, were quantified in part region of the Beijing-Tianjin Sandstorm Source Control Project (BTSSCP). In addition, eight scenarios were simulated according to the land use change caused by engineering management measures, and the ESs and ESV ensuing under these differing scenarios quantified accordingly. The results show that the main land use types in the study area from 2000 to 2020 were cropland and forestland, while during this period land use change mainly consisted of the expansion of grassland (+466.79 km2) and loss of cropland (−2095.27 km2). For different engineering management measures, protective governance will play a greater role in improving ESs than restoration governance. Protecting the existing governance outcomes from degrading can maintain a water yield of 36.85 × 108 m3, soil conservation of 73.72 × 106 t, carbon storage of 89.01 × 106 t, the purified water nitrogen content of 1.21 × 106 t, with the total ESV maintained at 54.237 billion yuan. Moreover, the high-investment counties clearly engage in ecological restoration that provides high ESV. Yet, there are still some counties with high project investment where the gains in ESV are low, such as Luanping county and Pingquan county. Therefore, it should be reasonably distributed based on the existing governance results in the next round of project investment allocation. In the past 20 years, engineering governance measures have significantly improved the ESs in the region. Nevertheless, looking ahead, it remains necessary to strengthen the emphasis on protecting governance outcomes. [Display omitted] • Scenario simulations were run under governance measures for ecological engineering. • Ecosystem service value (ESV) under differing governance measures were simulated. • ESV is higher when ecological protection rather than restoration measures are used. • Project investment vis-à-vis ESV under the different scenarios were analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dissipation, residues and risk assessment of lufenuron during kumquat growing and kumquat processing were investigated under field and household conditions. The QuEChERS technique with high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) was used to detect lufenuron residues content in kumquats and its processed products. The recoveries were 82.3–102.8% at a spike level of 0.005–0.5 mg kg−1, the relative standard deviations (RSDs) were 1.1–9.4%. The dissipation kinetics data showed that lufenuron in kumquats were degraded with the half-lives of 9.12–12.60 days. The terminal residues of lufenuron in kumquats were 0.064–0.107 mg kg−1 after application one times with a pre-harvest interval (PHI) of 14 days under the designed dosages. The juicing process can significantly reduce the residues of lufenuron in kumquats juice, and the processing factor (PF) value of juicing process was 0.15. The chronic dietary exposure assessment risk quotient (RQ) values of lufenuron in kumquats fruit and juice for different consumers were 0.71–2.13% and 0.37–0.86%, all of the RQ values were lower than 100%. The results from this study are important reference for Chinese governments to develop criteria for the safe and rational use of lufenuron on kumquats and monitor the quality safety of agricultural products and protecting consumer health. • Residue behaviorof lufenuron in kumquats during growing and processing is reported for the first time. • The degradation half-life of lufenuron showed that lufenuron degrades relatively slowly. • The juicing process can significantly reduce the residues of lufenuron in kumquats juice. • Dietary exposure risks associated with lufenuron in kumquats fruit and juice in China are all not a health concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, biogenic Mn oxides (BioMnO x) are considered as the promising degradation agents for environmental organic contaminants. However, little information is available for the degradation of atrazine by BioMnO x. In this work, BioMnO x , generated by a soil-derived Mn(II)-oxidizing bacterium, Providencia sp. LLDRA6, was explored to degrade atrazine. To begin with, collective results from mineral characterization analyses demonstrated that this BioMnO x was biogenic bixbyite-type Mn 2 O 3. After that, purified biogenic Mn 2 O 3 was found to exhibit a much higher removal efficiency for atrazine in aqueous phase, as compared to unpurified biogenic Mn 2 O 3 and LLDRA6 biomass. During the atrazine removal by biogenic Mn 2 O 3 , six intermediate degradation products were discovered, comprising deethylatrazine (DEA), hydroxylatrazine (HA), deethylhydroxyatrazine (DEHA), ammeline, cyanuric acid, and 5-methylhexahydro-1,3,5-triazine-2-thione (MTT). Particularly, the intermediate, MTT, was considered as a new degradation product of atrazine, which was not described previously. Meanwhile, Mn(II) ions were released from biogenic Mn 2 O 3 , and on the surface of biogenic Mn 2 O 3 , the content of hydroxyl O species increased at the expense of that of lattice and water O species, but the fundamental crystalline structure of this Mn oxide remained unchanged. Additionally, no dissociative Mn(III) was found to involve in atrazine degradation. In summary, these results demonstrated that both the non-oxidative and oxidative reactions underlay the degradation of atrazine by biogenic Mn 2 O 3. [Display omitted] • Providencia sp. LLDRA6 can produce biogenic bixbyite-type Mn 2 O 3. • Purified biogenic Mn 2 O 3 exhibited the greatest removal efficiency for atrazine. • A new intermediate, MTT, was reported in atrazine degradation by biogenic Mn 2 O 3. • The atrazine degradation included the non-oxidative and oxidative reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A long-term stability of gel enhanced foam as an in-depth profile control agent in high temperature reservoirs was successfully prepared by adding comb polymer gel. The increased viscosity of gel brings a negative effect on surface tension which reduces the gel enhanced foam volume. In turn, the increased viscosity could enhance the thickness and strength of foam film which increases foam stability and plugging capacity in porous media. The morphology results show that the gel enhanced foam has a thicker bubble film which enhances its foam stability. The effect of injection mode, gas–liquid ratio, gas injection velocity and formation permeability on the plugging capacity was investigated by single sand-pack experiments. When the gas–liquid ratio and gas injection velocity were respectively set at 1:1 and 0.5 ml/min, co-injection of gel enhanced foaming solution and gas could obtain a better plugging capacity in high permeability sand-packs. Parallel sand-pack experiments show that the profile improvement capacity of high formation permeability ratio is much better than that of low formation permeability ratio. The visual simulation experiment was also conducted to illustrate the flowing behavior of gel enhanced foam. By Jiamin effect or Jamin superimposed effect, directly plugging and bridging in the large pore space, the gel enhanced foam can effectively reduce the permeability of porous media in high permeability zones and divert fluid into low permeability zones, thus increases the swept volume. The treatment has been successfully used in Henan oilfield of China which provides a reference to water production control in other similar high temperature oilfields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A numerical study with large-eddy simulation (LES) method is performed on the aerodynamic effects of bio-inspired leading-edge serrations on a wing in heaving motion at a low Reynolds number of Re = 2 × 10 4. During the research, rigorous contrastive simulations are performed for the baseline wing and the serrated ones. The baseline wing has a NACA0012 profile and the serrated ones are obtained by stretching/shrinking the leading portion of the baseline sinusoidally. Conclusive results show that leading-edge serrations can help reduce aerodynamic hysteresis and suppress dynamic-stall-induced load oscillations effectively. More importantly, serrated wings can be more efficient in lift production than the baseline, especially for relatively high reduced frequencies. In the currently covered parameter space, the largest lift efficiency improvement achieved by the leading-edge serrations can reach 15.92%, and the least improvement is 2.73%. Along with these good properties, the leading-edge serrations have induced larger drag, which indicates they are undesirable for propulsive motivations. Visualization of the flow fields reveals that a series of counter-rotating streamwise vortex pairs are dynamically induced by the leading-edge serrations. These streamwise vortices can act as momentum transporters and help enhance momentum exchange between low-energy boundary layer and high-energy outer flows, which can affect the flow structures as well as the aerodynamics of a heaving wing greatly. The current results may provide inspirations for improving aerodynamics, economies and stabilities of bionic underwater/aerial micro robots or any other devices which have heaving/flapping parts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although cell-in-cell structures (CICs) could be detected in a wide range of human tumors, homotypic CICs formed between tumor cells occur at low rate for most of them. We recently reported that tumor cells lacking expression of E- and P-cadherin were incapable of forming homotypic CICs by entosis, and re-expression of E- or P-cadherin was sufficient to induce CICs formation in these tumor cells. In this work, we found that homotypic CICs formation was impaired in some tumor cells expressing high level of E-cadherin due to loss expression of alpha-catenin (α-catenin), a molecular linker between cadherin-mediated adherens junctions and F-actin. Expression of α-catenin in these tumor cells restored cell-cell adhesion and promoted CICs formation in a ROCK kinase-dependent way. Thus, our work identified α-catenin as another molecule in addition to E- and P-cadherin that were targeted to inactivate homotypic CICs formation in human tumor cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose:A primary goal of physical education is to develop physically literate individuals with the knowledge, skills, and confidence necessary for a physically active lifestyle. Guided by the expectancy-value and interest motivation theories, the purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between students' motivation and health-related fitness knowledge developed in physical education and their after-school physical activity participation.Method:Third-, 4th-, and 5th-grade students (N = 293) from 6 elementary schools in a large metropolitan school district in the United States provided data on expectancy beliefs and perceived task values, situational interest, health-related fitness knowledge, and after-school physical activity. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a simultaneous multiple regression model.Results:It was found that expectancy beliefs (β = .20,t = 2.16,p = .03) and perceived exploration demand (β = .25,t = 2.58,p = .01), a source for situational interest, were positively related to after-school physical activity. The 2 variables, however, accounted for only 11.2% of the variances for children's after-school physical activity participation.Conclusion:This study demonstrates that students' active exploration and expectancy beliefs for success in physical education have limited influence on leisure-time physical activity participation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) areone of the most promising drugtargets for cancer therapy, and since more than 90% of all cancer-relateddeaths are associated with tumor metastasis, developing strategiesto inhibit tumor metastasis while retaining anti-tumor growth activityare of great interest. Herein we demonstrated the design and identificationof a series of novel hydroxamate-based HDAC inhibitors bearing potentactivities against tumor growth and metastasis. Optimization of theinitial hit resulted in the discovery of new HDAC inhibitors throughstudying the structure–activity relationship. Among them, compound 11b, one of the most potent leads, exhibited nanomolar IC50values toward inhibition of class I and IIb HDACs as wellas sub-micromolar activity against proliferation and migration ofbreast cancer cells in vitro. More importantly, it also significantlysuppressed tumor growth in a breast tumor xenograft mouse model anddose-dependently blocked in vivo tumor metastasis in a mouse pulmonarymetastasis model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Refrigeration rotary compressors are widely used in air-conditioners. A rotary compressor has a special rotor-bearing system, since the elastic cantilevered crankshaft is under dynamic transverse forces on different planes. The large deformation of the crankshaft would affect the thickness of the oil film, wear the bearings down or even induce the rotor-to-stator rubs. It is considered as a non-linear fluid–structure interaction problem. To ensure the compressor operating well, the dynamic behaviors of both single-cylinder and twin-cylinder compressors' crankshafts at various speeds are analyzed. The influence of configuration of balancers on the reliability of rotor system is investigated for the further. Calculation results suggest that the vulnerable sections of crankshaft vary with the rotational speed. It is also found that 80% of the dynamic balance is the optimum design condition to reduce the transverse forces on crankshaft and the wear-out of journal bearings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pore and throat structure of tight oil reservoir cores is complex, and the resistance of oil drop to discharge from the core is very high during dynamic imbibition. Surfactant has good ability in interfacial tension reduction and wettability reversal. It can reduce oil drop discharge resistance and enhance oil recovery effectively during dynamic imbibition in tight reservoirs. Here, we first analyzed the pore throat structure and mineral composition of tight core, and then the oil drop visualization instrument was used to study the discharge behavior of oil drop during dynamic imbibition. The oil drop discharge form was analyzed, and the influence of various factors on the oil drop discharge behavior was explored, and then the dynamic imbibition performance of surfactant in tight cores was obtained. The core throat diameter was mainly distributed in 0.07–1.1 μm, and the hydrophilic mineral content in core reached 50.8%. In the case of fluid flow in fracture, the oil drop discharge from near fracture matrix was faster, and its growth rate in height and width was faster than that without external fluid flow. Within a certain range, with the increase of IFT, the rate of core imbibition increased gradually. When the IFT increased from 0.32 mN/m to 0.59 mN/m, the oil drop rapture time decreased by 66.3%. The growth rate of oil drop discharged from the top and side of the core was faster than that from the bottom surface. Furthermore, it was easier to discharge. With the core thickness reduced by half, the rapture time of oil drop was reduced by 74.7%. For tight reservoirs, hydraulic fracturing can create more fracture surfaces and reduce the size of matrix blocks, which contributes to reduce the oil drop discharge resistance during imbibition and improve the oil recovery. This study provides a basis for surfactant to improve dynamic imbibition and oil production performance of tight sandstone oil reservoir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperature and precipitation are considered to be the most important indicators affecting the green-up date. Sensitivity of the green-up date to temperature and precipitation is considered to be one of the key indicators to characterize the response of terrestrial ecosystems to climate change. We selected the main grassland types for analysis, including temperate steppe, temperate meadow steppe, upland meadow, and lowland meadow. This study investigates the variation in key meteorological indicators (daily maximum temperature (Tmax), daily minimum temperature (Tmin), and precipitation) between 2001 and 2018. We then examined the partial correlation and sensitivity of green-up date (GUD) to Tmax, Tmin, and precipitation. Our analysis indicated that the average GUD across the whole area was DOY 113. The mean GUD trend was −3.1 days/decade and the 25% region advanced significantly. Tmax and Tmin mainly showed a decreasing trend in winter (p > 0.05). In spring, Tmax mainly showed an increasing trend (p > 0.05) and Tmin a decreasing trend (p > 0.05). Precipitation showed no significant (p > 0.05) change trend and the trend range was ±10 mm/decade. For temperate steppe, the increase in Tmin in March promotes green-up (27.3%, the proportion of significant pixels), with a sensitivity of −0.17 days/°C. In addition, precipitation in April also promotes green-up (21.7%), with a sensitivity of −0.32 days/mm. The GUDs of temperate meadow steppe (73.9%), lowland meadow (65.9%), and upland meadow (22.1%) were mainly affected by Tmin in March, with sensitivities of −0.15 days/°C, −0.13 days/°C, and −0.14 days/°C, respectively. The results of this study reveal the response of vegetation to climate warming and contribute to improving the prediction of ecological changes as temperatures increase in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Aim: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in first-degree relatives (FDRs) of CKD patients. Methods: A cross-section study of first-degree relatives of CKD patients was conducted between November 2007 and March 2009 in southern China. A total of 1187 first-degree relatives (494 male and 693 female; mean age 41.26 years) of 419 CKD patients (194 male and 225 female; mean age 32.10 years) were reviewed and tested for haematuria, albuminuria and reduced glomerular filtration rate. CKD risk factors, including age, gender, body mass index, hypertension and the causes of index case were also investigated. CKD was diagnosed according to the criteria of the National Kidney Foundation-Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative. Results: The prevalence of CKD in first-degree relatives of CKD patients was 29.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 27.1%-32.2%). After adjusting for all the potential confounders, older age, female gender, hypertension, hyperglycaemia, hyperuricaemia, hypertriglyceridemic, low level of high density lipoproteins, increased body mass index and nephrotoxic medications were independently associated with increased risk of CKD. Furthermore, relatives of index cases with chronic glomerulonephritis were at higher risk haematuria (ORs = 2.12, 95% CI: 1.45-3.10) compared with relatives of index cases with other kinds of renal diseases. Conclusion: The first-degree relatives of CKD patients are at high risk of CKD, especially those relatives of CKD patients with chronic glomerulonephritis. Screening in this high risk population might help to identify early CKD patients and make a proper intervention strategy to prevent the disease from quick progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cohort of 516 patients at two community-based methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) clinics in Guangdong province, China, was interviewed at initiation of treatment and at 1, 3, and 6 months of follow-up to collect demographic information, drug use experience, social support, and changes of quality of life (QOL) over treatment. Covariance analysis and generalized estimation equation model were used to compare the QOL scores over time and to identify factors possibly influencing QOL scores. The results suggested that MMT is effective at improving QOL scores in physical, psychological, and social domains. Being currently employed, having good family relationships, job as the source of income, and particularly a longer time in treatment were significantly associated with QOL improvements in at least one domain. The study's limitations are noted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The curriculum may superimpose a content-specific context that mediates motivation (Bong, 2001). This study examined content specificity of the expectancy-value motivation in elementary school physical education. Students' expectancy beliefs and perceived task values from a cardiorespiratory fitness unit, a muscular fitness unit, and a traditional skill/game unit were analyzed using constant comparison coding procedures, multivariate analysis of variance, X2, and correlation analyses. There was no difference in the intrinsic interest value among the three content conditions. Expectancy belief attainment, and utility values were significantly higher for the cardiorespiratory fitness curriculum. Correlations differentiated among the expectancy-value components of the content conditions, providing further evidence of content specificity in the expectancy-value motivation process. The findings suggest that expectancy beliefs and task values should be incorporated in the theoretical platform for curriculum development based on the learning outcomes that can be specified with enhanced motivation effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been demonstrated that situational interest in physical activity may derive from five dimensional sources, Novelty, Optimal Challenge, Attention Demand, Exploration Intent, and Instant Enjoyment. The purpose of this study was to examine the multidimensional sources in elementary school physical education. The five dimensions were measured in 5,717 students in third, fourth, and fifth grades from a random sample of 30 elementary schools. Students' responses were randomly divided into two samples for a two-step confirmatory factor analysis. The results confirmed that the five dimensions are primary sources of situational interest for elementary school physical education. The findings implied that situational interest should be taken into account as a necessary curricular component in elementary physical education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renal ischemia/reperfusion and ATP depletion/repletion in LLC-PK[sub 1] cells result in phosphorylation of FKHR and FKHRL1. Background. Cell death and survival pathways are critical determinants of epithelial cell fate after ischemia. Forkhead proteins have been implicated in the regulation of cellular survival. Methods and Results. We have found that none of the forkhead family of proteins, FKHR, is phosphorylated after ischemia/reperfusion in the rat kidney. The time course of phosphorylation is similar to the time course of activation of the forkhead protein kinase Akt/protein kinase B (PKB), with maximal phosphorylation at 24 to 48 hours postreperfusion when the process of regeneration peaks. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 activation has also been implicated as prosurvival in the injured kidney. ERK1/2 were phosphorylated in postischemic kidneys at 5, 30, and 90 minutes of reperfusion, with phosphorylation decreased by 24 and 48 hours. Immunocytochemical analysis revealed increased phospho-ERK1/2 in the thick ascending limb and isolated cells of the S3 segment, which have lost apical actin staining. To understand the relationship between forkhead phosphorylation, Akt, and ERK1/2, an in vitro model of injury was employed. After 40 minutes of chemical anoxia followed by dextrose addition for 20 minutes to replete adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels, FKHR and FKHRL1 are phosphorylated. The levels of phospho-Akt are increased for at least 120 minutes after dextrose addition with a maximum at 20 minutes. Phosphorylation of Akt, FKHR, and FKHRL1 are phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) dependent since phosphorylation is reduced by the PI 3-kinase inhibitors, wortmannin, or LY294002. Inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/ERK kinase (MEK1/2), the upstream activator of ERK1/2, has no effect on forkhead protein phosphorylation after chemical anoxia/dextrose addition. Conclusion. We conclude that PI 3-kinase and Akt are activated after renal ischemia/reperfusion and that Akt phosphorylation leads to phosphorylation of FKHR and FKHRL1, which may affect epithelial cell fate in acute renal failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accumulation of heat and moderate precipitation are the primary factors that are used by grasslands to trigger a green-up date. The accumulated growing degree-days (AGDD) requirement over the preseason is an important indicator of the response of grassland spring phenology to climate change. This study adopted the Normalized Difference Phenology Index (NDPI), which derived from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), to extract annual green-up dates in the Hulun Buir grassland in China between 2001–2015. Our analysis indicated that the range (standard deviation) and trend for the green-up date were DOY (day of year) 104 to DOY 144 (10.6 days) and −2.0 days per decade. Nine point two percent of the study area had significant (p < 0.05) changes in AGDD requirements. The partial correlations between the AGDD requirements and chilling days (67.04%, pixels proportion) were negative and significant (p < 0.05). The partial correlations between the AGDD requirement and precipitation (28.87%) were positive and significant (p < 0.05). Finally, the partial correlation between the AGDD requirement and insolation (97.65%) were positive and significant (p < 0.05). The results of this study could reveal the response of vegetation to climate warming and contribute to improving the phenological mechanism model of different grassland types in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• With the help of SERS, urine can largely reflect the metabolic status of the body. • Co-analysis of supernatant and sediment makes the diagnosis more accurate. • The present results suggest high potential for SERS to detect BCa from urine. Metabolites present in urine reflect the current phenotype of the cancer state. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) can be used in urine supernatant or sediment to largely reflect the metabolic status of the body. Materials & methods: SERS was performed to detect bladder cancer (BCa) and predict tumour grade from urine supernatant, which contains various system metabolites, as well as from urine sediment, which contains exfoliated tumour cells. Results & discussion: Upon combining the urinary supernatant and sediment results, the total diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of SERS were 100% and 98.85%, respectively, for high-grade tumours and 97.53% and 90.80%, respectively, for low-grade tumours. Conclusion: The present results suggest high potential for SERS to detect BCa from urine, especially when combining both urinary supernatant and sediment results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydraulic fracturing is required during development of tight oil reservoir. Flowback fluid, usually surfactant, is generally used in fracturing fluid to accelerate the fluid flow back. For the reservoir with matrix and fracture construction, this flow of surfactant is dynamic imbibition. Betaine surfactant has good salt and temperature tolerance. In this study, a betaine surfactant was characterized from interfacial tension and wettability. In order to simulate complex fracture conditions, a matrix-fracture network model was established. It was featuring adjustable fracture width from 476.5 to 72.8 μm through changing the confining pressure. Then series of experiments were carried out on the dynamic imbibition in tight oil fracture network model with the aid of surfactant. Various factors that impact on the oil recovery during dynamic imbibition of models were examined. The oil recovery by dynamic imbibition was gradually increased with the increasing concentration of surfactant, matrix permeability, and temperature. The oil recovery reached to 22.6% with surfactant concentration of 0.5 wt%. With various surfactant flow rate, the oil production reached to 18.1% at a flow rate of 0.1 mL/min during dynamic imbibition. The oil distribution in the matrix and fracture was analyzed using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) method. It showed that the surfactant can effectively improve the oil recovery in the matrix near fracture during dynamic imbibition. The study would provide further understanding for the dynamic imbibition with aid of surfactant in tight oil sandstone reservoir after fracturing. • A fracture network tightsand model is developed, featuring controllable fracture width. • The dynamic imbibition behavior of an amphoteric surfactant in fracture network is clarified with various factors. • An amphoteric surfactant is characterized from interfacial tension and wettability. • The oil saturation in fracture and rock matrix during dynamic imbibition is illustrated by MRI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conceptual knowledge development in physical education is critical to helping learners become physically literate. Understanding physical education learners' long-term knowledge development is one of the first steps in designing effective curriculum. Guided by the constructivist learning theory, this study aimed to determining the extent to which the cardiorespiratory fitness knowledge learned in the first year contributed to further knowledge development in the second year. A two-year longitudinal design was adopted to track 716 students' learning documented in their physical education workbook from sixth grade to seventh grade. Canonical correlation and multivariate multiple regression analyses were conducted to determine the relationship of learning during the two years. The results showed that student knowledge development in the first year did facilitate their knowledge development in the second year (R c = 0.54; Wilks' λ = 0.69, F (9, 1728.1) = 30.99, p <.01, η 2 =.31). Specifically, students' three types of knowledge development (descriptive, relational, and reasoning) were all significant contributors (descriptive: Wilks' λ = 0.96, F (3, 710) = 9.34, p <.01, η 2 =.04; relational: Wilks' λ = 0.98, F (3, 710) = 4.44, p <.01, η 2 =.02; reasoning: Wilks' λ = 0.90, F (3, 710) = 26.13, p <.01, η 2 =.10) to their further learning with the knowledge development from the reasoning assignments to be the strongest facilitator. Students' overall learning in the first year significantly contributed to their descriptive (R 2 = 0.12), relational (R 2 = 0.26), and reasoning (R 2 = 0.21) knowledge learning in the second year. • The nature of the learning task influences students' further learning • Knowledge learning from the high-level cognitive tasks was a stronger facilitator for further knowledge learning • Cognitive learning tasks can be integrated in physical education to further knowledge learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A accounts for nearly 30% of the total CYP enzymes in the human liver and participates in the metabolism of over 50% of clinical drugs. Moreover, CYP3A plays an important role in chemical metabolism, toxicity, and carcinogenicity. New animal models are needed to investigate CYP3A functions, especially for drug metabolism. In this report, Cyp3a1/2 double knockout (KO) rats were generated by CRISPR-Cas9 technology, and then were characterized for viability and physiological status. The Cyp3a1/2 double KO rats were viable and fertile, and had no obvious physiological abnormities. Compared with the wild-type (WT) rat, Cyp3a1/2 expression was completely absent in the liver of the KO rat. In vitro and in vivo metabolic studies of the CYP3A1/2 substrates indicated that CYP3A1/2 was functionally inactive in double KO rats. The Cyp3a1/2 double KO rat model was successfully generated and characterized. The Cyp3a1/2 KO rats are a novel rodent animal model that will be a powerful tool for the study of the physiological and pharmacological roles of CYP3A, especially in drug and chemical metabolism in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dispersed particle gel (DPG) was successfully prepared from a polymer gel at room temperature. The polymer gel system, morphology, viscosity changes, size distribution, and zeta potential of DPG particles were investigated. The results showed that zirconium gel systems with different strengths can be cross-linked within 2.5 h at low temperature. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) results showed that the particles were polygonal particles with nano-size distribution. According to the viscosity changes, the whole preparation process can be divided into two major stages: the bulk gel cross-linking reaction period and the DPG particle preparation period. A polymer gel with a 3-dimensional network was formed in the bulk gel cross-linking reaction period whereas shearing force and frictional force were the main driving forces for the preparation of DPG particles, and thus affected the morphology of DPG particles. High shearing force and frictional force reduced the particle size distribution, and then decreased the zeta potential (absolute value). The whole preparation process could be completed within 3 h at room temperature. It could be an efficient and energy-saving technology for preparation of DPG particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]