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MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are crucial for plant growth and development via mediating post-transcriptional gene silencing. In wild-type Arabidopsis , DICER-LIKE 2 (DCL2)-dependent 22-nt siRNAs are rare, whereas DCL1 and DCL4-dependent 21-nt miRNAs and siRNAs are highly abundant. DCL4 naturally inhibits DCL2 in producing abundant 22-nt siRNAs from endogenous transcripts, but whether DCL1 suppresses endogenous 22-nt siRNA production and the extent of repression are still unknown. Here, we report that DCL1 and DCL2 cleaved both miRNA precursors and coding transcript-derived double-stranded RNAs. In a dcl1 dcl4 double mutant, massive 22-nt siRNAs were produced from endogenous protein-coding genes (genic siRNAs). Compared with wild-type, the 22-nt genic siRNAs derived from the Nitrate Reductase 1 (NIA1), NIA2 , DIACYLGLYCEROL ACYLTRANSFERASES 3 (DGAT3), SUPPRESSOR OF MAX2 1-LIKE 5 (SMXL5), and SMXL4 in dcl1 dcl4 increased up to 95%. Our analysis further indicated that the 22-nt genic siRNAs in dcl1 dcl4 were mainly loaded into ARGONAUTE 1 (AGO1) or AGO2. Thus, our results demonstrated that both DCL1 and DCL4 safeguard post-transcriptional gene silencing, preventing the production of DCL2-dependent 22-nt genic siRNAs from disrupting plant growth and development. • Massive DCL2-dependent 22-nt genic siRNAs and partially mature miRNAs caused the severely defective in dcl1 dcl4.. • In dcl1 dcl4 , DCL1 cleaved RDR6-dependent dsRNAs derived from TAS and coding transcripts, and DCL2 cleaved miRNA precursors. • Both DCL1 and DCL4 activity suppressed the production of DCL2-dependent 22-nt siRNAs from protein-coding gene loci. • DCL2-dependent 22-nt siRNAs may be loaded into AGO proteins and further repress endogenous gene translation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic jet lag (CJL)‐induced circadian rhythm disruption (CRD) is positively correlated with an increased risk of allergic diseases. However, little is known about the mechanism involved in allergic rhinitis (AR). Methods: Aberrant light/dark cycles‐induced CRD mice were randomly divided into negative control (NC) group, AR group, CRD+NC group, and CRD+AR group (n = 8/group). After ovalbumin (OVA) challenge, nasal symptom scores were recorded. The expression of Occludin and ZO‐1 in both nasal mucosa and lung tissues was detected by reverse transcription–quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and immunohistochemical staining. The level of OVA–specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) and T‐helper (Th)‐related cytokines in the plasma was measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the proportion of Th1, Th2, Th17, and regulatory T cell (Treg) in splenocytes was evaluated by flow cytometry. Results: The nasal symptom score in the CRD+AR group was significantly higher than those in the AR group with respect to eosinophil infiltration, mast cell degranulation, and goblet cell hyperplasia. The expression of ZO‐1 and Occludin in the nasal mucosa and lung tissues in the CRD+AR group were significantly lower than those in the AR group. Furthermore, Th2 and Th17 cell counts from splenocytes and OVA‐sIgE, interleukin 4 (IL‐4), IL‐6, IL‐13, and IL‐17A levels in plasma were significantly increased in the CRD+AR group than in the AR group, whereas Th1 and Treg cell count and interferon γ (IFN‐γ) level were significantly decreased in the CRD+AR group. Conclusion: CRD experimentally mimicked CJL in human activities, could exacerbate local and systemic allergic reactions in AR mice, partially through decreasing Occludin and ZO‐1 level in the respiratory mucosa and increasing Th2‐like immune response in splenocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Psoriasis (PS) is difficult to cure with a high incidence. Therefore, the quality of life (QOL) of people with Psoriasis has caused widespread concern. Universal scales respond poorly to subtle changes caused by specific diseases, which makes it challenging to fully understand the impact of QOL in patients with psoriasis. In view of the deficiencies of the universal scale and the lack of a specific scale suitable for Chinese cultural background, this study aims to develop the psoriasis scale among the system of QOL instruments for chronic diseases QLICD-PS (V2.0).Methods: The scale QLICD-PS (V2.0) was developed based on the procedural decision-making approach and the experience of establishing scales at home and abroad. 122 patients with psoriasis were participated in measuring QOL 3 times before and after treatments. The reliability was assessed by test-retest reliability (Pearson's correlation coefficients) and also internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficients). Qualitative analysis was adopted to evaluate content validity; item-domain correlation analysis, multi-dimensional scaling analysis, and factor analysis were adopted to evaluate the construct validity; the SF-36 scale was used as the criterion to evaluate the criterion-related validity due to lack of gold standard. Paired t tests were performed to evaluate the responsiveness on each domain/facet as well as the total of the scale, with Standardized Response Mean (SRM) being calculated.Results: The QLICD-PS was composed of the general module including 3 domains (28 items) and the psoriasis specific module (13 items). The Cronbach's α of the specific module, the general module and the total scale of the QLICD-PS was 0.78, 0.87 and 0.74 respectively, the split-half reliability of the specific module, the general module and the total scale was 0.81, 0.91 and 0.81, respectively, both indicating high reliability. Correlation and factor analysis confirmed good construct validity and criterion-related validity. After treatments, the score changes in the total scale were statistically significant with SRM being 0.5, showing moderate responsiveness.Conclusion: As the first psoriasis-specific QOL scale developed by the modular approach in Chinese, the QLICD-PS showed good reliability, validity and responsiveness, and could be used to measure the QOL of Patients with psoriasis specifically and sufficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By using the same saturated organic cations as structural templates, we synthesized and characterized a series of organic‐inorganic hybrid lead iodides with different structural types, namely as, 1D [(Me)4‐Pipz]Pb2I6 (1), 1D [(Me)4‐Pipz]PbI4 (2) and 2D [(Me)4‐Pipz]2Pb5I14 (3), in different organic solutions. Remarkably, these hybrid lead iodides display tunable broadband light emissions from yellow (578 nm) to red (680 nm) spectral range, which can be ascribed to self‐trapped excitons based on systematic spectroscopy characterizations. This work affords one structural design strategy to realize tunable structural skeletons and broadband low‐energy photoluminescence emissions in hybrid lead iodides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of Eucommia ulmoides leaf extract (ELE) on the common occurrence of liver steatosis, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, disturbance of gut microbiota, and disease susceptibility in high-fat diet-fed channel catfish. Channel catfish fed three diets, including a high-fat diet (11% crude fat) and ELE-supplemented diets containing 1‰ or 2‰ ELE for 4 weeks. The results showed the contents of liver triacylglycerol of 1‰ and 2‰ ELE groups were reduced, and ELE treatments decreased the expression of lipogenesis related genes (srebp-1c, pparγ, and acc-1), and increased the expression of lipolysis related genes (pparα). In addition, the supplementation of ELE improved the inflammatory response of the liver and intestine. ELE could improve the destruction of intestinal morphology structure and increase the expression level of hif-1a and tight junction proteins (Occludin, Claudin2, Claudin15). 2‰ ELE significantly enhanced the antioxidant capacity of intestine by increasing the activity of SOD enzyme. Moreover, the supplement of ELE significantly increased the abundance of Cetobacterium and Romboutsia (p < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the expression of immune factor nf-κb had a significant decrease, and il-1β showed a tendency to decrease in the ELE supplement groups after pathogenic bacteria challenge. In conclusion, the ELE alleviated fatty liver disease and inflammation response, improved the oxidative capacity and physiological structure of intestine, and improved the structure of intestinal microbiota and disease resistance in HFD-fed channel catfish. • Dietary ELE supplementation alleviated liver steatosis induced by high-fat diet. • Dietary ELE supplementation improved liver and gut health of channel catfish. • Dietary ELE supplementation improved the intestinal microbiota structure of channel catfish. • Dietary ELE supplementation enhanced disease resistance of channel catfish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Migration modes were correlated with clinical outcomes. • The worm was prone to migrate toward the cortical surface after medication. • Lesions distal from the original site may represent a delayed immune reaction. To differentiate diagnostic and prognostic factors from the clinical material of patients with cerebral sparganosis in central South China. Consecutive patients with cerebral sparganosis from our hospital between 2010 and 2018 were retrospectively enrolled. The clinical manifestations, radiographic features, treatment, and outcomes of these patients were analyzed. Thirty patients with cerebral sparganosis were included, and foci migration on magnetic resonance imaging was detected in 22 patients, from whom we observed 4 migration modes: interlobar migration (50.0%, 11/22); transmidline migration (27.3%, 6/22); transventricular migration (13.6%, 3/22); and cerebellum-brainstem migration (9.1%, 2/22). The percentage of good outcomes was higher in patients with live worm capture than in those without live worm capture (75.0%, 12/16 vs 33.3%, 2/6). Exposure to preoperative antiparasitic medication was associated with worm migration toward the cortical surface, which led to a higher probability of live worm capture. We propose 4 modes of sparganosis migration that are correlated with worm capture and neurologic prognosis. We found that exposure to antiparasitic medication was associated with worm migration toward the cortical surface, leading to a higher probability of live worm capture. These observations suggest a novel significance for preoperative medication of cerebral sparganosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural, Microstructure and RL curves of Single and Double Layers Absorbers of D and D/M samples. [Display omitted] Herein, two distinct nanocomposites of CaTiO 3 micro-cubes and polygonal SrFe 12 O 19 , both decorated with NiO nanoparticles, were successfully synthesized using hydrothermal method. The physico-chemical features of as-prepared samples were evaluated via XRD, FTIR, UV–vis, BET, XPS, FESEM and EDS analysis. Microwave attenuation features of as-prepared single layer absorbers were determined by VNA analysis in 2–18 GHz. Simulation confirmation was checked by preparing a bi-layer samples and evaluating it using VNA analysis after finding the appropriate thickness of each layer. The reflection loss from each single layer samples containing 20 wt% of each CaTiO 3 /NiO and SrFe 12 O 19 /NiO nanocomposites were −16 dB and −35 dB at 6.3 GHz with 2.5 mm matching thickness respectively. However, the RL was −34 dB at 10 GHz frequency with 2 mm thickness in a bilayer absorber with SrFe 12 O 19 /NiO nanocomposite layer put as absorbing layer with 1 mm thickness and CaTiO 3 /NiO positioned as matching layer with 1 mm thickness. Furthermore, at the X-band frequency, approximately entire band absorption is obtained. The findings demonstrate that adjusting the order and thickness of the layers in a bilayer absorber may readily improve microwave absorption performance. By comparing the results of simulation with real prepared bilayer absorbers, we found that with a 2 mm overall thickness, the bi-layer absorbers display accurate RL values, but not the matching frequency monitored in the simulation process. In reality, this discrepancy was unavoidable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: To assess the general and nutritional health of children with attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).Methods and Study Design: The National Multicenter Sleep Research Database for 23791 school-age children in grades 1-6 from 9 cities in China was accessed. Children with a specialist diagnosis of ADHD or not (non-ADHD) in 2005 were studied. National anthropometric growth standards for children aged 2-18 years classified children as underweight, wasted, stunted (short stature presumed nutritional), or overweight/obesity. Independent variables were preterm birth, sleep quality and prior disease and ADHD was the dependent variable. Binary logistic regression models were developed along with interaction analyses for associated disorder or disease on overweight/obesity, and stunted.Results: Some 18731 records were analyzed for 808 children with ADHD. The comparative prevalences for ADHD with non-ADHD children were stunted 9.8% vs 5.9% (p<0.001) and overweight/ obesity (32.6% vs 29.6%, p=0.002) respectively. ADHD boys were more often underweight (7.5% vs 5.3%, p=0.027), but not in girls. ADHD likelihood Odds Ratios, ORs (with 95%CI) were for premature birth 1.838, (1.393-2.423), allergic diseases 1.915 (1.526-2.399), otitis media 1.54 (1.118- 2.146), tonsillar or adenoid hypertrophy1.662 (1.348-2.050), gastroesophageal reflux 3.008(1.792-1.792-5.049), and sleep disorder 2.201(1.847-2.623) were ADHD risk factors. Only poor sleep quality and ADHD exhibited an interaction for stunted with OR=0.409 (0.233-0.719).Conclusions: Compromised and complex nutritional health in ADHD children challenges clinical nutrition with a range of health problems, albeit coherent with the needed nutritional emphasis in the 'first 1000 days'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to summarize the risk factors of type II respiratory failure in patients with an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), to guide clinical treatment in time, and consequently reduce the serious impact of COPD on human health. Methods: Five databases were searched for relevant articles on risk factors of acute exacerbation of COPD combinate with type II respiratory failure. We calculated the standard mean difference (SMD), odds ratio (OR), and their 95% confidence interval (95% CI) utilizing a fixed‐effect model or a random‐effect model according to the level of heterogeneity. Results: As of 14 May 2021, 13 articles were included in our meta‐analysis. The results showed that low albumin and uric acid levels were the risk factors for type II respiratory failure in acute exacerbation of COPD patients, and the differences were statistically significant (albumin: SMD = −2.03, 95% CI: −2.81, −1.26; uric acid: SMD = −1.28, 95% CI: −1.41, −1.15). Besides, 10 other systematic markers have been reported to be the risk factors for type II respiratory failure of patients with acute exacerbation of COPD, but only in single study. Conclusion: The meta‐analysis results further confirm that low albumin and uric acid levels are risk factors for type II respiratory failure in acute exacerbation of COPD patients. Additionally, this analysis also summarizes many emerging inflammatory indicators, nutritional indicator, and cardiovascular system indicators to predict the progression of acute exacerbation of COPD to type II respiratory failure but only in single study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under a strong electron-LO-phonon coupling in asymmetric Gaussian confinement potential quantum wells (AGCPQWs) when exposed to external magnetic fields, the AGCPQW qubit coherent time can be obtained from Fermi's golden rule and the variational method of Pekar type. We have calculated the coherence times of two-level quantum systems in RbCl AGCPQWs in external magnetic fields with varying with cyclotron frequency of magnetic field, confinement potential range (CPR), AGCPQW height, oscillating frequency and polaron radius were theoretically calculated. Based on the numerical results, we found that the coherence time was increased by decreasing magnetic field cyclotron frequency, AGCPQW height, oscillating frequency and polaron radius. Also, the coherence time was decreased with CPR for R < 0.7 nm and increased for R > 0.7 nm , with minimum value at R = 0.7 nm , ω c = 10 × 10 13 Hz and τ = 409.9 ps . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In nonsaturated 802.11 distributed coordination function (DCF) networks, existing studies had observed a salient phenomenon: the maximum stable throughput may be far higher than the saturation throughput and last for a long duration (say, months). Such a maximum stable throughput is called the presaturation throughput peak. The long-duration peak suggests that 802.11 DCF networks may provide a far higher stable throughput than what we generally believe, without worrying about a sudden deterioration of quality of service (QoS). This paper is devoted to developing a general theoretical framework to predict the peak. In the framework, we define a backoff entropy to quantify the uncertainty of the inherent random backoff process of 802.11 DCF networks, and then innovatively introduce a BackoffEntropy-Peak linearity property (i.e., the peak is linearly proportional to the backoff entropy) for the peak prediction. This framework is applicable for a general configuration of contention windows (CWs). It enables us to reveal the most essential dependency of the peak on the initial CW size and the number of network nodes. Further, we design peak-based call admission control (CAC) schemes that can be performed quickly and easily, without requiring network performance measurements and complex calculations. We verify our framework and CAC schemes via widely adopted 802.11 DCF ns2 and ns3 simulators (mostly with typical 802.11 standard settings). Extensive simulations show that our framework and CAC schemes trade within 9% peak prediction errors for making 802.11 DCF networks provide high stable throughput with good QoS (such as short delay and low collision probability). This paper is the first to propose applying the information entropy to study the throughput-stability problem. We believe that this study makes a crucial breakthrough in thoroughly investigating nonsaturated performance and network stability of random access wireless networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a complex nucleocytoplasmic large DNA virus that causes African swine fever, a lethal hemorrhagic disease that currently threatens the pig industry. Recent studies have identified the viral structural proteins of infectious ASFV particles. However, the functional roles of several ASFV structural proteins remain largely unknown. Here, we characterized the function of the ASFV structural protein H240R (pH240R) in virus morphogenesis. pH240R was identified as a capsid protein by using immunoelectron microscopy and interacted with the major capsid protein p72 by pulldown assays. Using a recombinant ASFV, ASFV-DH240R, with the H240R gene deleted from the wild-type ASFV (ASFV-WT) genome, we revealed that the infectious progeny virus titers were reduced by approximately 2.0 logs compared with those of ASFV-WT. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the growth defect was due to the generation of noninfectious particles with a higher particle-to-infectious titer ratio in ASFV-DH240R-infected primary porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs) than in those infected with ASFV-WT. Importantly, we found that pH240R did not affect virus-cell binding, endocytosis, or egress but did affect ASFV assembly; noninfectious virions containing large aberrant tubular and bilobulate structures comprised nearly 98% of all virions observed in ASFV-DH240R-infected PAMs by electron microscopy. Notably, we demonstrated that ASFV-DH240R infection induced high-level expression of inflammatory cytokines in PAMs. Collectively, we show for the first time that pH240R is essential for ASFV icosahedral capsid formation and infectious particle production. Also, these results highlight the importance of pH240R in ASFV morphogenesis and provide a novel target for the development of ASF vaccines and antivirals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extrapolation theorem is an essential and important theory in signal analysis. Since the offset linear canonical transform (OLCT) has proven to be an effective method in signal processing and optics, extrapolation theorems for continuous band-limited signals associated with the OLCT have been well studied. However, the extrapolation theorem for discrete signals in the OLCT domain remains unknown. In this short paper, by using the discrete generalized prolate spheroidal sequences (DGPSSs), the extrapolation theorem for discrete signals is presented. First, the definition of DGPSSs in the OLCT domain is proposed. Subsequently, the extrapolation theorem for OLCT discrete band-limited signals is obtained using the DGPSSs. In addition, a simplified computation of the extrapolation theorem for discrete band-limited signals in the OLCT domain is also obtained. Finally, simulation results are presented to show the utility and efficacy of the derived theorems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The clinical features of eczema and dermatitis in the elderly have not been fully studied. To investigate the proportion and clinical features of geriatric eczema patients in mainland China. Patients and methods: A multicenter cross-sectional study conducted in outpatients with eczema from 39 tertiary hospitals in 15 provinces. Results: 1128 elderly patients (12.88%) had eczema and dermatitis. The mean age of those was 68.2 ± 6.8 years (range, 60-90 years) with a median course of 5.5 ± 8.9 years, which is much longer than that of non-geriatric patients (2.6 ± 4.1 years, p < 0.001). Compared to non-geriatric patients, more patients involved in extremities (76.2% vs 61.5%, p < 0.001) and trunk (37.2% vs 26.4%, p < 0.001), but less in head and neck (18.3% vs 30.4%, p < 0.001; 25.3% vs 20.6%, p < 0.001). 13.4% of eczema and dermatitis in the elderly was widespread, which is much higher than that of 8% in non-geriatric group (13.4% vs 8%, p < 0.001). 22.9% of geriatric eczema patients reported severe itching, which is much higher than that of 14% in counterparts (22.9% vs 14%, p < 0.001). A positive correlation was observed between age and severe itching (Spearman's rank correlation test, p < 0.001). More geriatric patients had xerosis (39.6% vs 30.4%, p < 0.001) and more lichenification was found (25.6% vs 13.3%, p < 0.001). Conclusion: More than 10% of eczema occurs in the elderly patients. Longer disease duration, more severe itching, more extremities and trunk involvement, and prone to widespread, xerosis, and lichenification make it a special entity which should be studied further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon material modification and defect engineering are indispensable for bolstering the photocatalytic effectiveness of bismuth halide oxide (BiOX). In this study, a novel porous and defect-rich Ar-CB-2 photocatalyst was synthesized for emerging pollutants degradation. Leveraging the interfacial coupling effect of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), we expanded the absorption spectrum of BiOI nanosheets and significantly suppressed the recombination of charge carriers. Introducing defects via Argon (Ar) plasma-etching further bolstered the adsorption efficacy and electron transfer properties of photocatalyst. In comparison to the pristine BiOI and CB-2, the Ar-CB-2 photocatalyst demonstrated superior photodegradation efficiency, with the first-order reaction rates for the photodegradation of tetracycline (TC) and bisphenol A (BPA) increasing by 2.83 and 4.53 times, respectively. Further probe experiments revealed that the steady-state concentrations of ·O 2 − and 1O 2 in the Ar-CB-2/light system were enhanced by a factor of 1.67 and 1.28 compared to CB-2/light system. This result confirmed that the porous and defect-rich structure of Ar-CB-2 inhibited electron-hole recombination and boosted photocatalyst-oxygen interaction, swiftly transforming O 2 into active oxygen species, thus accelerating their production. Furthermore, the possible degradation pathways for TC and BPA in the Ar-CB-2/light system were predicted. Overall, these findings offered a groundbreaking approach to the development of highly effective photocatalysts, capable of swiftly breaking down emerging pollutants. [Display omitted] • A novel porous and defect-rich Ar-CB-2 photocatalyst was designed by plasma-etching. • Ar-CB-2/light system exhibited excellent performance for emerging pollutants removal. • The carbon defects promote photoelectric separation and adjust the band structure. • Free radicals production was significantly improved by defect introduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial secondary metabolites are pivotal for the development of novel drugs. However, conventional culture techniques, have left a vast array of unexpressed biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) in microorganisms, hindering the discovery of metabolites with distinct structural features and diverse biological functions. To address this limitation, several innovative strategies have been emerged. The "One Strain Many Compounds" (OSMAC) strategy, which involves altering microbial culture conditions, has proven to be particularly effective in mining numerous novel secondary metabolites for the past few years. Among these, microbial cyclic peptides stand out. These peptides often comprise rare amino acids, unique chemical structures, and remarkable biological function. With the advancement of the OSMAC strategy, a plethora of new cyclic peptides have been identified from diverse microbial genera. This work reviews the progress in mining novel compounds using the OSMAC strategy and the applications of this strategy in discovering 284 microbial cyclic peptides from 63 endophytic strains, aiming to offer insights for the further explorations into novel active cyclic peptides. [Display omitted] • Mining microbial cyclic peptides through OSMAC strategy. • The sources, structures and bioactivities of cyclic peptides produced by the OSMAC strategy. • Rare amino acids of microbial cyclic peptides. • Features and applications of the OSMAC strategy. • Combining OSMAC strategy with other pathway-specific strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The GaSe 1-x Te x /MoS 2 displays a type-II band alignment. • The electrons are moved from the GaSe 1-x Te x to the MoS 2 layer. • Te doping improves effective mass ratio and carrier separation efficiency. • The visible light absorption ability is improved in the lower energy region. In this work, the influence of Te atom doping on GaSe 1-x Te x /MoS 2 heterojunctions within the electronic, optical, and photocatalytic behavior are examined by means of first-principles calculations. The outcomes demonstrate that GaSe 1-x Te x /MoS 2 is a van der Waals heterojunction and displays a type-II band alignment, as substantiated by the binding energy and layer separation. Te atom doping can functionally govern the bandgap of GaSe 1-x Te x /MoS 2 , and all of them present a progressively decreasing tendency with the increase of the doping concentration, covering a range from 1.28 eV to 0 eV. Additionally, the VBM and CBM in all configurations derive from the contribution of electrons supplied by the Te- p and Mo- d orbitals, respectively. The CDD and W suggest that the electrons in GaSe 1-x Te x /MoS 2 are moved from the GaSe 1-x Te x to the MoS 2 layer, yet the impact of Te doping on the charge distribution at the interface is quite tenuous. Moreover, the increase in Te doping concentration improves the probability of photogenerated electron and hole desynchronization, and the larger VBOs and CBOs in the interlayers of GaSeT 0.33 /MoS 2 and GaSeB 0.33 /MoS 2 lead to a redistribution of electrons, which is conducive to the acceleration of the efficient dissociation of the photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Comparing with the monolayers, the two heterojunctions reveal the relatively wider absorption edge and enhanced light absorption ability in the lower energy visible light range, predicting the potential utilization of both in the fields of photocatalysis and solar energy conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of MPA on the lipid profile and CVD risk is still controversial; hence, this comprehensive dose–response meta -analysis of randomized controlled trials was conducted to assess the effect of MPA on lipid profiles in women. A comprehensive search was conducted in the following databases: Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed/Medline, and Embase, up to October 20, 2023. A random-effects meta -analysis approach based on the DerSimonian and Laird method was used to compute the combined estimates of the intervention's impact on the lipid profile. 35 eligible studies with 58 arms were included in our meta -analyses analysis. Combined effect sizes suggested a significant effect of MPA on total cholesterol (TC) levels (WMD: −3.43 mg/dL, 95 % CI: −5.38 to −1.48, p < 0.001), HDL-C levels (WMD: −3.34 mg/dL, 95 % CI: −3.77 to −2.91, p < 0.001), and triglyceride (TG) levels (WMD: −9.13 mg/dL, 95 % CI: −10.92 to −7.33, p < 0.001). The subgroup meta -analysis revealed a more substantial reduction in TC in studies with dosages > 2.5 mg/day (WMD: −4.10 mg/dL), mean participant age lower than 60 years (WMD: −3.80 mg/dL), mean BMI lower than 25 kg/m2 (WMD: −5.61 mg/dL), duration of intervention of 12 months or more (WMD: −3.98 mg/dL), and when the baseline TC value was equal to or greater than 200 mg/dL (WMD: −4.13 mg/dL). The current meta -analysis showed a statistically significant decrease in TC, TG, and HDL-C levels and a non-significant increase in LDL-C levels after MPA administration in women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the strengthening and deformation behavior of heterogeneous dual-phase high-entropy alloys (HEAs), Al x CoCrFeNi 3 (x = 1, 1.1, 1.15, 1.2, 1.25 and 1.3) HEAs were designed and prepared. The microstructure consists of FCC phase rich in Co-Cr-Fe-Ni and BCC phase rich in Ni Al, forming a soft and hard heterostructure. With the increase of Al, the microstructure changes from hypoeutectic to hypereutectic, and Al 1.25 CoCrFeNi 3 alloy exhibits a fine eutectic lamellar morphology. Tensile results show that the strength of Al x CoCrFeNi 3 HEAs tends to increase and then decrease with increasing Al elements. Al 1.25 CoCrFeNi 3 alloy achieves the highest yield strength (535.32 MPa) and tensile strength (1060.59 MPa) as well as high plasticity (17.21%), achieving a balance of strength and plasticity. Interfacial strengthening, grain boundary strengthening, solid solution strengthening and friction stress strengthening play an important role. During the tensile process, the eutectic lamellar heterostructure results in long-range back stress, which induces the high strain hardening ability of FCC phase. Due to the continuous transformation of stress in lamellar heterostructure, the cracks initiate in BCC phase and passivate in FCC phase, which forms synergistic strengthening effects. • By adjusting the content of Al, a heterogeneous structure of eutectic high-entropy alloy was prepared. • The contributions of different strengthening mechanisms were calculated. • The deformation and fracture mechanisms were analyzed by a combination of theoretical analysis and experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Characterization of the CO 2 plume evolution in deep aquifers under geological uncertainties is crucial for designing geological carbon storage (GCS) projects. In this study, we are concerned with uncertainty quantification (UQ) of CO 2 plume migration in uncertain permeability fields following non-Gaussian distributions. Specifically, we are concerned with the effect of intra-facies heterogeneity on plume migration in a multi-facies sedimentary setting. To alleviate the huge computational burden required for UQ, machine learning (ML) methods are broadly used to develop surrogate models. However, the quality of ML surrogate models is often not qualified. Here we present a probabilistic convolutional neural network (pCNN) method for fast surrogate modeling of the CO 2 plume evolution. The dense and residual connections are adopted in the pCNN's network architecture to enhance its performance in approximating the highly complex input–output mapping of the GCS model induced by non-Gaussian permeability heterogeneity. In addition, a Bayesian training strategy is utilized to train the pCNN surrogate model, enabling it to give predictions together with an estimate of the surrogate uncertainty. As a result, uncertainties associated with the pCNN surrogate can be quantified in addition to the model parameter uncertainty. The proposed method is demonstrated using a 3-D GCS model with an uncertain, non-Gaussian distributed, multi-facies permeability field. Results show that pCNN is able to provide a reliable and fast approximation of the highly complex GCS model. The pCNN-derived UQ estimates, obtained with negligible additional computational costs, show a good agreement with those derived from the computationally intensive GCS model. The generalization performance of pCNN is further investigated using "out-of-distribution" permeability samples. For such permeability fields, pCNN can still provide relatively accurate approximations, only showing slightly increased predictive errors and uncertainties relative to those having similar distributions to the training samples. • pCNN provides both reliable predictions and predictive uncertainties. • UQ of CO 2 plume migration in non-Gaussian permeability fields using pCNN. • pCNN obtains accurate UQ results at a relatively low computational cost. • pCNN gives satisfactory performance on "out-of-distribution" permeability samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We prepared novel green, eco-friendly carbon dots as a dualchannel probe for highly sensitive and selective detection of tartrazine (Trz) and palladium(II) (Pd(II)) involving, respectively, FRET and electron transfer mechanisms. Furthermore, the successful utilization of the carbon dots for detecting Trz and Pd(II) in actual samples implies its potential application prospects in analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Angiogenesis is a critical step in colorectal cancer growth, progression and metastasization. CT are routine imaging examinations for preoperative clinical evaluation in colorectal cancer patients. This study aimed to investigate the predictive value of preoperative CT enhancement rate (CER) and CT perfusion parameters on angiogenesis in colorectal cancer, as well as the association of preoperative CER and CT perfusion parameters with serum markers. Methods: This retrospective analysis included 42 patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma. Median of microvessel density (MVD) as the cut-off value, it divided 42 patients into high-density group (MVD ≥ 35/field, n = 24) and low-density group (MVD < 35/field, n = 18), and 25 patients with benign colorectal lesions were collected as the control group. Statistical analysis of CER, CT perfusion parameters, serum markers were performed in all groups. Receiver operating curves (ROC) were plotted to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of relevant CT perfusion parameters for tumor angiogenesis; Pearson correlation analysis explored potential association between CER, CT perfusion parameters and serum markers. Results: CER, blood volume (BV), blood flow (BF), permeability surface (PS) and carbohydrate antigen 19 − 9 (CA19-9), carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), trefoil factor 3 (TFF3), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in colorectal adenocarcinoma were significantly higher than those in the control group, the parameters in high-density group were significantly higher than those in the low-density group (P < 0.05); however, the time to peak (TTP) of patients in colorectal adenocarcinoma were significantly lower than those in the control group, and the high-density group showed a significantly lower level compared to the low-density group (P < 0.05). The combined parameters BF + TTP + PS and BV + BF + TTP + PS demonstrated the highest area under the curve (AUC), both at 0.991. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the serum levels of CA19-9, CA125, CEA, TFF3, and VEGF in patients showed positive correlations with CER, BV, BF, and PS (P < 0.05), while these indicators exhibited negative correlations with TTP (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Some single and joint preoperative CT perfusion parameters can accurately predict tumor angiogenesis in colorectal adenocarcinoma. Preoperative CER and CT perfusion parameters have certain association with serum markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an automated solar flare detection software tool to automatically process solar observed images, detect and track solar flares, and finally compile an event catalog. It can identify and track flares that happen simultaneously or temporally close together. The method to identify a flare is based on the local intensity changes in macropixels. The basic characteristics, such as the time and location information of a flare, are determined with a triple-threshold scheme, with the first threshold (global threshold) to determine the occurrence (location) of the flare and the second and third thresholds (local thresholds) to determine the real start and end times of the flare. We have applied this tool to one month of continuous solar ultraviolet (UV) images obtained by the Solar Disk Imager (SDI) onboard the Advanced Space-based Solar Observatory (ASO-S), which show active phenomena such as flares, filaments or prominences, and solar jets. Our automated tool efficiently detected a total number of 226 solar events. After a visual inspection, we found that only one event was misidentified (unrelated to an active event). We compared the detected events with the GOES X-ray flare list and found that our tool can detect 81% of GOES M-class and above flares (29 out of 36), from which we conclude that the intensity increase in SDI UV images can be considered as a good indicator of a solar flare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal feed is vulnerable to fungal infections, and the use of bio-preserving probiotics has received increasing attention. In contrast to Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria spp., fewer Bacillus spp. have been recognized as antifungal probiotics. Therefore, our objective was to screen antifungal strains and provide more Bacillus candidates to bridge this gap. Here, we screened 56 bacterial strains for cyclic lipopeptide genes and conducted an antifungal assay with Aspergillus niger as a representative fungus. We found that a Bacillus strain Bacillus amyloliquefaciens PM415, isolated from pigeon manure, exhibited the highest fungal inhibition activity as demonstrated by the confrontation assay and morphological observation under scanning electron microscope (SEM). Preliminary safety assessment and probiotic characterization revealed its non-pathogenic feature and stress tolerance capability. Whole genome sequencing of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens PM415 revealed a genome size of 4.16 Mbp and 84 housekeeping genes thereof were used for phylogenetic analysis showing that it is most closely related to Bacillus amyloliquefaciens LFB112. The in silico analysis further supported its non-pathogenic feature at the genomic level and revealed potential biosynthetic gene clusters responsible for its antifungal property. RNA-seq analysis revealed genome-wide changes in transportation, amino acid metabolism, non-ribosomal peptides (NRPs) biosynthesis and glycan degradation during fungal antagonism. Our results suggest that Bacillus amyloliquefaciens PM415 is a safe and effective probiotic strain that can prevent fungal growth in animal feeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulsatile GnRH release is essential for normal reproductive function. Kisspeptin secreting neurons found in the arcuate nucleus, known as KNDy neurons for co-expressing neurokinin B, and dynorphin, drive pulsatile GnRH release. Furthermore, gonadal steroids regulate GnRH pulsatile dynamics across the ovarian cycle by altering KNDy neurons' signalling properties. However, the precise mechanism of regulation remains mostly unknown. To better understand these mechanisms, we start by perturbing the KNDy system at different stages of the estrous cycle using optogenetics. We find that optogenetic stimulation of KNDy neurons stimulates pulsatile GnRH/LH secretion in estrous mice but inhibits it in diestrous mice. These in vivo results in combination with mathematical modelling suggest that the transition between estrus and diestrus is underpinned by well-orchestrated changes in neuropeptide signalling and in the excitability of the KNDy population controlled via glutamate signalling. Guided by model predictions, we show that blocking glutamate signalling in diestrous animals inhibits LH pulses, and that optic stimulation of the KNDy population mitigates this inhibition. In estrous mice, disruption of glutamate signalling inhibits pulses generated via sustained low-frequency optic stimulation of the KNDy population, supporting the idea that the level of network excitability is critical for pulse generation. Our results reconcile previous puzzling findings regarding the estradiol-dependent effect that several neuromodulators have on the GnRH pulse generator dynamics. Therefore, we anticipate our model to be a cornerstone for a more quantitative understanding of the pathways via which gonadal steroids regulate GnRH pulse generator dynamics. Finally, our results could inform useful repurposing of drugs targeting the glutamate system in reproductive therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamic behaviors of multiple inverted flags, the surrounding flow fields and the underlying fluid–structure interaction mechanism under staggered, triangular and inverted triangular arrangements are investigated experimentally using the particle image velocimetry technique. The results show that, like two parallel inverted flags, contact flapping can also be observed for two staggered inverted flags at small streamwise distances, thus indicating the inapplicability of the staggered arrangement in this case. However, compared with two tandem inverted flags, the amplitude of the downstream inverted flag in the staggered arrangement is significantly improved and can even reach the amplitude of a single inverted flag at a suitable transverse distance. Furthermore, owing to the weak vortex interaction mode of two staggered inverted flags and the almost similar incoming flow conditions of the downstream inverted flag at different streamwise distances, the amplitudes of two staggered inverted flags are insensitive to their streamwise distance. Therefore, a small streamwise distance is recommended to save space in practical application. Additional experiments on three inverted flags show that the triangular arrangement can be regarded as a linear superposition of two staggered arrangements due to the weak coupling interaction between the two downstream inverted flags, also resulting to an in-phase oscillation of these two downstream inverted flags. However, for the inverted triangular arrangement, the anti-phase oscillation of two upstream inverted flags causes a random small amplitude oscillation of the downstream inverted flag, fully exposing the disadvantage of this arrangement in energy harvesting. These findings are helpful to design an efficient energy harvesting device using multiple inverted flags. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Basketball dribbling is one of the key elements in basketball game. There is a lack of studies investigating the effect of fatigue on kinematics and kinetics in basketball dribbling. There are two primary aims of this study: (1) to explore the effect of fatigue on kinematics and kinetics in dribbling with the change of directions; (2) to determine the effect of fatigue on dribbling speed. Fourteen Croatian senior male basketball players (age: 21.16±3.43 years; body height: 188.81±6.88 cm; body mass: 87.81±6.06 kg; body fat: 13.34±3.52%), not power forwards or centers, participated in the study. Each player performed two types of change of direction (COD) while dribbling: front COD and spin move in the non-fatigued and then in the fatigued state. Xsens suit and Novel insoles were used to measure the kinematic and kinetic parameters. In terms of the front COD, the results of this study demonstrated that the maximum angular velocity in the knee (p=.028) and wrist joint (p=.007) as well as maximum force (p=.004) significantly decreased in the fatigued state. In terms of the spin move, the results showed that there were significant differences in pelvis velocity (p=.000), the maximum angular velocity in the knee joint (p=.020), and the first step velocity (p=.010) between the fatigued and non-fatigued states. No significant difference was found in the pelvis position, minimum angle in the knee joint and maximum force. Importantly, dribbling speed significantly decreased in the fatigued state (p=.002). The findings of this study suggest that coaching staff should design appropriate training programs to optimize players' ability to resist fatigue when dribbling under real game speed conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-noble metal co-catalysts can promote photo-excited charge separation of semiconductor and act as active sites for proton catalytic H 2 evolution. However, how to judge which function non-noble metal co-catalyst has is not clear. Here, we reported a 3D flower-like WC (WC–F) which shows outstanding activity (24502 μmol/h/g) on CdS in photocatalytic H 2 evolution. WC–F has the largest specific capacitance (12.07 F/g), which contributes to the largest electron storage capability. The integration of noble metal Pd and WC tests demonstrated WC–F has the largest proton reduction catalysis ability. Significantly, composite co-catalyst Pd/WC–F on CdS shows slightly higher (1.16 times) activity than WC–F/CdS, which means most of photoexcited electrons on WC–F have been consumed and reaction with protons to produce hydrogen. Thus, two judgement methods for both charges storage and protons catalysis were put forward. H 2 evolution mechanism of Lotus-White lotus root-Green lotus leaf. [Display omitted] • 3D flower-like WC–F loaded on CdS shows the best photocatalytic activity. • Pd is the most excellent co-catalyst among noble metals. • (Pd/WC–F)/CdS hardly enhances activity of WC–F/CdS, demonstrating WC-F has strong catalytic ability. • A criteria is proposed to judge whether a non-noble metal co-catalyst has strong catalytic ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

para-Nitrophenol (PNP) is a hydrolytic product of organophosphate insecticides, such as parathion and methylparathion, in soil. Aerobic microbial degradation of PNP has been classically shown to proceed via the "hydroquinone (HQ) pathway" in Gram-negative degraders, whereas it proceeds via the "benzenetriol (BT) pathway" in Gram-positive ones. The "HQ pathway" is initiated by a single-component PNP 4-monooxygenase and the "BT pathway" by a two-component PNP 2-monooxygenase. Their regioselectivity intrigued us enough to investigate their catalytic difference through structural study. PnpA1 is the oxygenase component of the two-component PNP 2-monooxygenase from Gram-positive Rhodococcus imtechensis strain RKJ300. It also catalyzes the hydroxylation of 4-nitrocatechol (4NC) and 2-chloro-4-nitrophenol (2C4NP). However, the mechanisms are unknown. Here, PnpA1 was structurally determined to be a member of the group D flavin-dependent monooxygenases with an acyl coenzyme A (acyl-CoA) dehydrogenase fold. The crystal structure and site-directed mutagenesis underlined the direct involvement of Arg100 and His293 in catalysis. The bulky side chain of Val292 was proposed to push the substrate toward flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), hence positioning the substrate properly. An N450A variant was found with improved activity for 4NC and 2C4NP--probably because of the reduced steric hindrance. PnpA1 shows an obvious difference in substrate selectivity with its close homologues TcpA and TftD, which may be caused by the unique Thr296 and a different conformation in the loop from positions 449 to 454 (loop 449-454). Above all, our study allows structural comparison between the two types of PNP monooxygenases. An explanation that accounts for their regioselectivity was proposed: the different PNP binding manners determine their choice of ortho- or para-hydroxylation on PNP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study has explored effective flow control strategies to improve unsteady aerodynamic performance of a plunging airfoil at a low Reynolds number of Re = 59 000 through controlling the leading-edge vortex (LEV) formation and development. The leading-edge blowing control is first utilized to directly strengthen the LEV by injecting momentum into the separated leading-edge shear layer. The influence of the momentum coefficient on the vortical evolution and aerodynamic forces is more significant than that of the exit width. As the momentum coefficient increases in a certain range, the LEV can be enhanced, thereby increasing the maximum unsteady lift. However, it is found that an accelerated detachment usually occurs with enhancement of the LEV as the secondary vortex is also promoted by blowing, leading to a reduced duration of high lift compared with the baseline case. In order to solve such a control problem of the LEV, the control strategy of the combined blowing and suction is further proposed, which could increase the LEV strength and concurrently delay the LEV detachment to some extent through inhibiting the growth of the secondary vortex. As a result, the unsteady aerodynamic performance of the plunging airfoil has been further improved with a significant increase in the maximum lift coefficient and a moderately prolonged duration of high lift. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early treatment has a positive effect on autoimmune encephalitis. However, different treatments have individual differences and corresponding contraindications in the clinical. Few reports have described the application of immunoadsorption with Staphylococcal Protein A Column (SPA-IA) in neuroimmune diseases. We aimed to observe the safety and efficiency of SPA-IA in autoimmune encephalitis.Patients and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed three cases of autoimmune encephalitis wherein the first-line treatment was ineffective or contraindicated. The clinical features and prognosis during and after SPA-IA are described in detail.Results: All patients were definitely diagnosed with autoimmune encephalitis. After treated with SPA-IA, all antibody titers, except for the serum antibody titer in Patient 2, were markedly decreased in both the cerebral spinal fluid and serum. The mean fibrinogen levels before and after SPA-IA were stable, and there were no clinical bleeding events. The modified Rankin Scale scores and their symptoms improved significantly after the last SPA-IA session or 3 months later.Conclusions: SPA-IA may be a viable, efficacious, and safe treatment alternative for autoimmune encephalitis with contraindications to traditional treatment or poor response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evaluation of the improvement of information teaching ability (ITA) helps teachers to proactively learn advanced information teaching techniques and to realize innovative information teaching. The relevant studies mainly focus on the theoretical level and rarely deal with the growth of teachers through learning. Therefore, this paper presents an evaluation method for ITA improvement based on complex online network. Firstly, an analysis framework was established for the activity of the ITA improvement network (ITAIN) and used to measure the ITAIN activity under the learning condition of complex online network. Following the evaluation strategy of preference ranking organization method for enrichment evaluation (PROMETHEE), the author constructed an evaluation model for the improvement of ITA and an evaluation index system (EIS) of five primary indices. The proposed model was proved effective through experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humpback whales have higher hydrodynamic maneuverability due to the unique protuberance structures on the leading edge of their flippers. The leading-edge protuberance, therefore, is regarded as an attractive flow control method. Although some results have shown the effect of the leading-edge protuberance on a static airfoil, its effect on the aerodynamic characteristics of dynamic airfoils is still not clear. In present study, direct force measurements are conducted on dynamic NACA 0012 wings with sinusoidal leading-edge protuberances as well as a baseline configuration at a low Reynolds number of 2 × 104. Three typical motions of the wing, including pitching, plunging, and combined pitching-plunging, are employed to examine the effect of motion styles on aerodynamic characteristics of airfoils. Under the static case, it is found that leading-edge protuberances delay the stall angle of attack of airfoils by about 67%, and increase the maximum lift coefficient, which are different from previous studies of thick straight wings, such as NACA 634–021, NACA 0020, and NACA 0021. Under dynamic cases, motion styles have a significant effect on the aerodynamic characteristics of airfoils. The lift coefficient of the modified airfoil becomes larger than the baseline airfoil mainly at upstroke phases for pitching motion, downstroke phases for plunging motion, and all phases for combined pitching-plunging motion, considering positive angles of attack. Compared to the static condition, the range of angles of attack where the lift of the modified airfoil is larger than the baseline airfoil extends; however, the lift difference between both airfoils decreases. Under pitching motion, phase-locked two-dimensional particle image velocimetry is performed to investigate the mechanism behind different aerodynamic characteristics between two dynamic airfoils. It is revealed that leading-edge protuberances inhibit formation of the secondary vortex, and weaken coherency of the leading-edge vortex (LEV). The flow acceleration effect of trough planes, different evolution of the LEV and the spanwise flow on the upper surface, are the main reasons that affect the aerodynamic characteristics of the modified airfoil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The enrollment rate of freshmen has always been a headache for colleges and universities. It is also very difficult to accurately predict the number of freshmen before they register. In recent years, deep learning and machine learning technology have made a breakthrough and are widely used in data processing, edge computing, and situation awareness. So far, no researcher has used machine learning methods to forecast the enrollment of new students, because the intuitive feeling is that the registration of a freshman is very subjective, dependent on several factors. To date, the number of freshmen in universities has always been forecasted using traditional methods, that is, phone calls and fee payment status inquiries. On the basis of the historical admission enrollment data of a university, this study used a variety of machine learning methods, including decision tree, random forest, and back propagation neural network, for forecasting. Based on the results of our research, it is possible to predict whether a freshman will register in a university, which makes this work very worthy of further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of the greenhouse grape cultivation area, the supporting greenhouse grape varieties appear to be single. At present, there are few researches on the selection of grape varieties suitable for two-harvest-a-year cultivation in greenhouses. In order to meet the needs of fruit growers for the diversity of greenhouse grape varieties, experimental studies had been carried out. Through three consecutive years of two-harvest-a-year production of six grape varieties of 'Jingxiangyu', 'Ruidukemei', 'Xiangfei', 'Jingyan', 'Zaomanao' and 'Hanxiangmi', the first crop of greenhouse grapes matured from May to July, and the second crop matured during the New' Year's Day and Spring Festival. Through the investigation and analysis of their phenological periods, fruit economic characteristics and economic benefits, it was found that the four varieties of 'Jingxiangyu', 'Ruidukemei', 'Xiangfei' and 'Jingyan' performed well under greenhouse cultivation conditions, and thus can be used as supporting fine varieties for large-scale promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present experiment, a new metal–organic framework (MOF) containing Eu(III) of {[Eu(CA)(OA)0.5(H2O)2]·H2O}n (1, in which H2OA = oxalic acid and H2CA = chelidonic acid) has been generated by using the solvothermal reaction approach. The as-prepared Eu-MOF was investigated for the high sensitive detection performance for the p-nitroaniline, a harmful chemical in food and water. As a kind of luminescent sensor, the Eu-MOF reflects an obvious fluorescent quenching toward the p-nitroaniline, while other similar nitroaromatic compounds only show weak quenching effects. To relieve the stigma and mental disorders in syphilis patients, the dopamine content in cerebrospinal fluid was detected by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent detection kit after the compound treatment. In addition to this, the real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was also implemented for the detection of the dopamine receptor relative expression levels in the striatum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified many genetic variants that are risk factors for numerous immune-mediated diseases. In particular, different immune-mediated diseases have been found to share the same susceptibility loci. Therefore, exploring the genetic overlap between atopic dermatitis (AD) and other immune-mediated diseases in more detail may help identify additional shared susceptibility loci among common immune-mediated diseases. Recent evidence suggests that the 11q23.3 locus is a susceptibility locus shared among multiple immune-mediated diseases. Objective: This study was designed to investigated whether SNPs at the chromosome 11q23.3 locus are associated with AD in the Han Chinese population. Methods: In total, 16 SNPs within the 11q23.3 locus were genotyped using TaqMan assays for 1,012 AD cases and 1,362 controls. From these SNPs, we selected rs638893 with an association values of p < 5 × 10−2 for AD for further analysis in an independent replication study using the Sequenom MassARRAY system to genotype an additional (consisting of 1,288 cases and 1,380 controls). The combined analyses were performed in two stages using a meta-analytical method. Results: We identified a common variant at 11q23.3 (rs638893), that was significantly associated (p = 1.58 × 10−3, OR = 1.22) with AD. The genotype-based association analysis revealed that the recessive model provided the best fit for rs638893. Conclusion: Our study identified a variant on chromosome 11q23.3 that likely confers susceptibility to AD, thereby advancing our understanding of the genetic basis of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific expenditure and distribution of higher education drive the sustainable and stable development of regional economy. Currently, China faces an imbalance in the allocation of higher education resources. To solve the problem, it is necessary to study the spatiotemporal difference of higher education development. Therefore, this paper explores how higher education varies in time and space and measures how the spatiotemporal difference and input of higher education affects regional economy. Firstly, the authors divided the influence of spatiotemporal difference and input of higher education on regional economy into four aspects. Next, the spatiotemporal differences of higher education were examined in detail. Based on the four aspects, an equilibrium model was established for regional economic development, and the law of evolution to equilibrium was analyzed. Experimental results verify the effectiveness of the established model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Thiazolidinediones (TZDs), such as rosiglitazone (RSG), which activates peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), are a potent class of oral antidiabetic agents with good durability. However, the clinical use of TZDs is challenging because of their side effects, including weight gain and hepatotoxicity. Here, we found that bavachinin (BVC), a lead natural product, additively activates PPARγ with low-dose RSG to preserve the maximum antidiabetic effects while reducing weight gain and hepatotoxicity in db/db mice caused by RSG monotherapy. Structural and biochemical assays demonstrated that an unexplored hotspot around Met329 and Ser332 in helix 5 is triggered by BVC cobinding to RSG-bound PPARγ, thereby allosterically stabilizing the active state of the activation-function 2 motif responsible for additive activation with RSG. Based on this hotspot, we discovered a series of new classes of allosteric agonists inducing the activity of TZDs in the same manner as BVC. Together, our data illustrate that the hotspot of PPARγ is druggable for the discovery of new allosteric synergists, and the combination therapy of allosteric synergists and TZD drugs may provide a potential alternative approach to the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of exogenous hydroxyl, carboxyl groups and/or Sn2+ on pyrolysis reactions of poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The activation energy (Ea) of pyrolysis reactions was estimated by the Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose method. The kinetic models were also explored by the Malek method, and the random degradation behavior was determined by comparing the plots of In{-In[1 - (1 - w)0.5]} versus 1/T for experimental data from TGA with model reactions. The pyrolysis reaction rate of PLLA was affected slightly by exogenous hydroxyl and carboxyl groups at lower levels of Sn with 65–70 mg·kg-1 but increased appreciably in the presence of extraneous Sn2+, -COOH/Sn2+, or -OH/Sn2+. The Ea values for the pyrolysis reactions of the PLLAs that provided lactide were different under the catalysis of Sn2+ in different chemical environments because Sn2+ can form the new Sn-carboxylate and Sn-alkoxide with exogenous carboxyl and hydroxyl groups, which were different in steric hindrance for the formation of activated complex between Sn2+ and PLLA. Under the catalysis of Sn2+, a lactide molecule can be directly eliminated selectively at a random position of PLLA molecular chains, and the molecular chain of PLLA cannot change two PLLA fragments at the elimination site of lactide. However, it was regenerated into a new PLLA molecule with the molecular weight reduced by 144 g·mol-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to establish a rapid and accurate method for identifying aflatoxin contamination in peanut oil. Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy combined with either partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) or a support vector machine (SVM) algorithm were used to construct discriminative models for distinguishing between uncontaminated and aflatoxin-contaminated peanut oil. Peanut oil samples containing various concentrations of aflatoxin B1 were examined with an ATR-FTIR spectrometer. Preprocessed spectral data were input to PLS-DA and SVM algorithms to construct discriminative models for aflatoxin contamination in peanut oil. SVM penalty and kernel function parameters were optimized using grid search, a genetic algorithm, and particle swarm optimization. The PLS-DA model established using spectral data had an accuracy of 94.64% and better discrimination than did models established based on preprocessed data. The SVM model established after data normalization and grid search optimization with a penalty parameter of 16 and a kernel function parameter of 0.0359 had the best discrimination, with 98.2143% accuracy. The discriminative models for aflatoxin contamination in peanut oil established by combining ATR-FTIR spectral data and nonlinear SVM algorithm were superior to the linear PLS-DA models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Primary or acquired chemoresistance is a key link in the high mortality rate of ovarian cancer. There is no reliable method to predict chemoresistance in ovarian cancer. We hypothesized that specific methylation characteristics could distinguish chemoresistant and chemosensitive ovarian cancer patients. Methods: In this study, we used 450 K Infinium Methylation BeadChip to detect the different methylation CpGs between ovarian cancer patients. The differential methylation genes were analyzed by GO and KEGG Pathway bioinformatics analysis. The candidate CpGs were confirmed by pyrosequencing. The expression of abnormal methylation gene was identified by QRT-PCR and IHC. ROC analysis confirmed the ability to predict chemotherapy outcomes. Prognosis was evaluated using Kaplan–Meier. Results: In advanced high-grade serous ovarian cancer, 8 CpGs (ITGB6:cg21105318, cg07896068, cg18437633; NCALD: cg27637873, cg26782361, cg16265707; LAMA3: cg20937934, cg13270625) remained hypermethylated in chemoresistant patients. The sensitivity, specificity and AUC of 8 CpGs (ITGB6:cg21105318, cg07896068, cg18437633; NCALD: cg27637873, cg26782361, cg16265707; LAMA3: cg20937934, cg13270625) methylation to predict chemotherapy sensitivity were 63.60–97.00%, 46.40–89.30% and 0.774–0.846. PFS of 6 candidate genes (ITGB6:cg21105318, cg07896068; NCALD: cg27637873, cg26782361, cg16265707; LAMA3: cg20937934) hypermethylation patients was significantly shorter. The expression of NCALD and LAMA3 in chemoresistant patients was lower than that of chemosensitive patients. Spearman analysis showed that NCALD and LAMA3 methylations were negatively correlated with their expression. Conclusions: As a new biomarker of chemotherapy sensitivity, hypermethylation of NCALD and LAMA3 is associated with poor PFS in advanced high-grade serous ovarian cancer. In the future, further research on NCALD and LAMA3 will be needed to provide guidance for clinical stratification of demethylation therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dielectric properties are validated to be correlated with the changes of food quality during 4°C storage, thus it could be used as predictive indicators for the quality parameters of salmon (Salmo salar) during cold storage. An open-ended coaxial detection method was used to determine the dielectric properties (dielectric constant ε' and dielectric loss ε") of salmon at the frequency range of 20-2500 MHz, and to explore the relationship between dielectric properties and volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N), thiobarbituric acid reactants (TBARS), total viable counts (TVC), pH and K-value in salmon fillets during storage for 7 d. Results showed that the TVB-N, TBARS, TVC and K-value of salmon increased linearly with the increase of storage time, and the pH decreased firstly and increased subsequently. Also, the dielectric properties (ε' and ε") decreased with the increase of frequency, and increased with the increase of storage time. During 7 d storage, ε" increased the most at the frequency of 27.12 and 40.68 MHz, while at the frequency of 915 MHz and 2450 MHz, the increase of ε" was smaller. Results analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis showed that significant correlation (p<0.01) was found between ε" and TVB-N and TBARS at the frequency of 27.12, 40.68, 100.00, 300 and 915 MHz. The results of the partial least square (PLS) model showed that all the determination coefficients (R²pred) were over 0.900. Especially for TBARS, the R²pred of PLS-ε' and PLS-ε" were 0.913 and 0.920, respectively, and the root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) were 0.041 and 0.039, respectively. However, the highest R²pred for PLS-ε' and PLS-ε" both occurred in TVB-N. Also, the predicted values against measured values of TVB-N, TBARS and TVC of salmon presented a good linear relationship. The linear coefficient R² of TVB-N, TBARS and TVC for PLS-ε' were 0.937, 0.910 and 0.917 respectively, and 0.942, 0.917 and 0.933 respectively for PLS-ε". The results demonstrated the dielectric properties combined with PLS analysis can be used as a rapid and non-destructive method to predict quality parameters of salmon during 4°C storage and could be further applied to other aquatic products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China is one of the five major distribution regions of Impatiens in the world, with more than 270 species distributed all over the country, especially in limestone areas such as Yunnan, Guizhou and Guangxi. In order to explore pollination ecology of Impatiens uliginosa, we conducted the following experiments: observing the floral traits and floral phenology, measuring the nectar volume and sugar concentration, counting pollen viability, deposition and removal, carrying out pollination treatments and recording floral visitors and their behavior. Results show that the average life span of a single flower is 3.23±0.68 d. The male and female phase lasted for 1.70±0.06 d and 1.53±0.63 d. The amount of nectar per flower is 6.97±0.47 ul and sugar concentration of nectar is 36.58±0.82%, respectively. Stigma is receptive on the first day of anthesis. Pollen viability is strongest on the second day of anthesis. The pollen-ovule ratio (P/O) is 3974.28±105.07. We investigated the contributions of different floral visitors. Bombus sp., Apis dorsata, Lobocla proxima, Ant sp. and Ephydra sp. are diurnal visitors. However, Bombus sp. is the most effective pollinator of I. uliginosa. Pollination treatments indicated that I. uliginosa is self-compatible but completely relies on pollinators for pollination. There is no restriction on pollination in the field and I. uliginosa can avoid inbreeding depression. This study is of great significance to enrich the biological data of pollination and protect the biodiversity of Impatiens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectively and accurately assessing pain in clinical settings is challenging. Previous studies showed that alpha oscillations of electroencephalogram data are correlated with subjective perceived pain. Based on this finding, this study is aimed at assessing chronic low back pain based on alpha oscillations. Multichannel electroencephalogram data were recorded from 27 subjects with chronic low back pain under the simple conditions of closing eyes or opening eyes. Spectral analyses were conducted to extract the alpha band responses, and the alpha powers were calculated for the two conditions, respectively. Normalized alpha power was calculated by subtracting the alpha power in the eyes-open condition from that in the eyes-closed condition. The correlation between the alpha power and the subjective pain intensity was evaluated in frontal, central, and posterior regions. The normalized alpha power in the central region was negatively correlated with the subjective pain intensity (R = − 0.50 , P = 0.01), with the strongest correlation occurring at the Cz electrode (R = − 0.59 , P = 0.04). The correlation analysis results demonstrated the possibility of using the differences of alpha spectral power between eyes-closed and eyes-open conditions as a measure for assessing chronic low back pain. The findings suggest that the normalized alpha power in the central region may be used as a measurable and quantitative indicator of chronic pain for clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The organic pollutants in water have been a great environment challenges to human beings, and photocatalytic degradation is an effective method to solve this problem. In this paper, the Rh-loaded cobalt ferrite CoFe 2 O 4 (CFO) nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized by in situ photodeposition of Rh nanoparticles onto the porous CFO particles as the photocatalysts. After incorporating Rh nanoparticles, the CFO/Rh composite has a higher specific surface area and is more efficient in charge separation than the bare CFO. The photocatalytic efficiency of decomposing Malachite Green (MG) is improved from 70% over the bare CFO to 97% over the optimized CFO/Rh in 60 min. The CFO/Rh sample also demonstrates its durability for the degradation of MG in 5 photocatalytic reaction cycles. Additionally, hydroxyl radicals (•OH) and superoxide radicals (•O 2 −) are proved to be the crucial reactive species during the photocatalytic degradation of MG with CFO/Rh, evidenced by the active species capture experiments. This work provides a useful approach to enhance the photocatalytic activity of semiconductors for degrading organic dyes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]