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Bone tumors and tumor-like lesions require that comprehensive imaging contains soft tissues and bone structures. There are so many kinds of examinations that the patients with bone tumors and tumor-like lesions should be performed. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the clinical applicability of zero echo time (ZTE) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in osseous bone tumor imaging and evaluate the image quality between computed tomography (CT) and ZTE imaging of bone tumors and tumor-like lesions. Thirty-six patients included 18 male patients (mean age: 35 ± 20 years) and 18 female patients (mean age: 42 ± 20 years) were recruited from a clinical cohort of patients undergoing MR and CT. We presented a novel scanning technique for MR scanners (750 W MR, GE Medical Systems) that could obtain ZTE images. ZTE images were acquired after standard-of-care MR imaging. Quality comparison of osseous findings was performed between ZTE and CT imaging using a five-point grading scale. The differences of image quality between ZTE and CT imaging were investigated using Mann–Whitney test. A significance level of P

Fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase) has attracted substantial interest as a target associated with cancer and type 2 diabetes. Herein, we found that disulfiram and its derivatives can potently inhibit FBPase by covalently binding to a new C128 allosteric site distinct from the original C128 site in APO FBPase. Further identification of the allosteric inhibition mechanism reveals that the covalent binding of a fragment of 214 will result in the movement of C128 and the dissociation of helix H4 (123-128), which in turn allows S123 to more easily form new hydrogen bonds with K71 and D74 in helix H3 (69-72), thereby inhibiting FBPase activity. Notably, both disulfiram and 212 might moderately reduce blood glucose output in vivo. Therefore, our current findings not only identify a new covalent allosteric site of FBPase but also establish a structural foundation and provide a promising way for the design of covalent allosteric drugs for glucose reduction.

This paper describes the synthesis and application of γ-Al2O3 supported SmCoO3 perovskite-type oxide in the catalytic propane dehydrogenation to propene. Various techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), H2 temperature-programmed reduction (H2-TPR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) were used to characterize the physico-chemical properties of SmCoO3/Al2O3 and derived Co-based catalyst. The characterization results reveal that the perovskite lattice confinement can lead to better dispersed cobalt oxide and restrain the reduction to metallic Co species. Under the high weight hourly space velocity (3 h−1), the propane conversion and propene selectivity of the reduced SmCoO3/Al2O3 catalyst were 25% and 94%, respectively, and obviously higher than those of the reduced SmCoO/Al2O3 catalyst used as a referential sample prepared by an incipient wetness impregnation method. A large amount of coke was formed over the used SmCoO/Al2O3 catalyst. Instead, the SmCoO3/Al2O3-derived Co-based catalyst can greatly reduce the amount of coke deposition. The superior catalytic performance and anti-coking ability of SmCoO3/Al2O3 catalyst are attributed to the formation of a large amount of well-dispersed surface Co2+ species, especially small CoO nanoparticles, and the absence of metallic Co species.

Cigarette smoke is one of major risk factors in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is generally believed that cigarette smoke induces mitochondrial damage in the alveolar epithelial cells to contribute to COPD. However, the exact molecular mechanism remains unknown for the mitochondrial damage. In this study, cigarette smoke extract (CSE) was found to induce the mitochondrial membrane permeability (MMP), which promoted proton leakage leading to the reduction in mitochondrial potential and ATP production. ANT in the mitochondrial inner membrane was activated by CSE for the alteration of MMP. The activation was observed without an alteration in the protein level of ANT. Inhibition of the ANT activity with ADP or bongkrekic acid prevented the MMP alteration and potential drop upon CSE exposure. The ANT activation was observed with a rise in ROS production, inhibition of the mitochondrial respiration, decrease in the complex III protein and rise in mitophagy activity. The results suggest that ANT may mediate the toxic effect of cigarette smoke on mitochondria and control of ANT activity is a potential strategy in intervention of the toxicity.

Background Metabolic inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and obesity. The above metabolic disorders often coexist and are closely related with systemic low-grade inflammation. Metabolic inflammatory syndrome (MIS), a cluster of these four metabolic disorders, is a novel concept that is thought to be a better predictor of coronary heart disease than metabolic syndrome. Adiponectin is an adipokine that increases insulin sensitivity and antioxidation as well as has an anti-atherosclerosis effect. It is unclear whether adiponectin is associated with MIS. The objective of this study was to assess whether circulating adiponectin can be used as an indicator for MIS in elderly adults. Methods A total of 136 elderly inpatients were divided into two groups: the MIS group and the non-MIS group. Characteristics, inflammatory markers, blood lipid metabolism, insulin resistance, and circulating adiponectin levels were assessed and compared between the two groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the association between the associated factors and MIS. Results MIS patients were more likely to have a higher body mass index, have a higher fasting blood glucose level, be smokers, have fundus arteriosclerosis, have lower levels of adiponectin (4044.90 ± 3906.82 ng/mL vs 8503.89 ± 3523.89 ng/mL, p < 0.001), and have higher levels of inflammation (white blood cell and C-reactive protein) than non-MIS patients. Multiple factor analysis showed that lower adiponectin levels (OR = 22.937, p < 0.001) were independently associated with MIS. Adiponectin levels were lower in the vascular disease (2673.29 ± 1930.05 ng/mL vs 7194.38 ± 4615.83 ng/mL, p = 0.001), atherosclerosis (2374.14 [1496.41-4263.90] ng/mL vs 6037.48 [3865.61-10,373.60] ng/mL, p < 0.001), and type 2 diabetes (2391.73 [1386.41-4069.68] ng/mL vs 8916.03 [5801.14-12,724.45] ng/mL, p < 0.001) subgroups than in the non-MIS group. Conclusion Lower adiponectin levels in serum are associated with MIS. Low adiponectin may be used as a biomarker for atherosclerosis in patients with MIS.

A new luminescent EuIII complex, namely [Eu2(BTFA)4(OMe)2(dpq)2] (1), in which BTFA = 3-benzoyl-1,1,1-trifluoroacetone and dpq = dipyrido [3,2-d:2′,3′-f] quinoxaline, has been designed and synthesized by employing two different ligands as sensitizers. Crystal structure analysis reveals that complex 1 is composed of dinuclear EuIII units crystallized in the monoclinic P space group. Notably, 1 exhibits high thermal stability up to 270 °C and excellent water stability. The photoluminescence property of the complex is investigated. Further studies show 1 can recognize Fe3+ ions with high selectivity from mixed metal ions in aqueous solution through the luminescence quenching phenomenon. Furthermore, the recyclability and stability of 1 after sensing experiments are observed to be adequate. By virtue of the superior stability, detection efficiency, applicability and reusability, the as-prepared EuIII complex can be a promising fluorescent material for practical sensing.

Herein, we present a rational strategy for the development of π-electron-enriched conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs) under mild conditions, aiming for the super-adsorption of iodine. Among them, TBTT-CMP@1 exhibits a superior iodine uptake up to 442 wt%. In addition, TBTT-CMP@3 displays outstanding CO2 adsorption capacity with uptake up to 1578 mg g−1 under 70 bar and 318 K conditions.

We present three novel conjugated microporous polymers (CMP@1–3), which were formed by an imidization reaction between tetra-(4-aminophenyl)ethylene and anhydrides. These CMPs exhibited high CO2 and organic vapor capture capacity.

In mammals, DNA 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) is involved in methylation reprogramming during early embryonic development. Yet, to what extent 5hmC participates in genome-wide methylation reprogramming remains largely unknown. Here, we characterize the 5hmC landscapes in mouse early embryos and germ cells with parental allele specificity. DNA hydroxymethylation was most strongly correlated with DNA demethylation as compared with de novo or maintenance methylation in zygotes, while 5hmC was targeted to particular de novo methylated sites in postimplantation epiblasts. Surprisingly, DNA replication was also required for 5hmC generation, especially in the female pronucleus. More strikingly, aberrant nuclear localization of Dnmt1/Uhrf1 in mouse zygotes due to maternal deficiency of Nlrp14 led to defects in DNA-replication-coupled passive demethylation and impaired 5hmC deposition, revealing the divergency between genome-wide 5-methylcytosine (5mC) maintenance and Tet-mediated oxidation. In summary, our work provides insights and a valuable resource for the study of epigenetic regulation in early embryo development.

Dracaena, a remarkably long-lived and slowly maturing species, is famous all over the world for the production of dragon’s blood, a precious traditional medicine used by different cultures since ancient times. However, lacking a high-quality genome,the molecular mechanisms underlying these traits are largely unknown and that greatly restricts the protection and regeneration of the rare and endangered plant resources. Here, we sequenced and assembled a chromosome-level genome of the Dracaena cochinchinensis, the first to be sequenced of Dracaena Vand. ex L. The D. cochinchinensis genome covering 1.21 Gb with a scaffold N50 of 50.06 Mb, and encodes 31,619 predicted protein-coding genes. We found D. cochinchinensis has undergone two whole genome duplications (WGDs) and two long terminal repeats (LTRs) insertion burst events. The expansion of cis-zeatin O-glucosyltransferase (cZOGT) and small auxin up-regulated RNA (SAUR) genes is account for its longevity and slow growth. In flavonoids biosynthesis pathway, transcription factors bHLH and MYB were predicted as the core regulators, and ROS as the specific signal molecule during the process of injury-induced dragon’s blood formation. Our study not only provides high-quality genomic knowledge of D. cochinchinensis, but also deciphered the mystery of its longevity, and preliminarily elucidated the molecular mechanism of dragon’s blood formation, which will facilitate the resource protection and sustainable utilization of Dracaena.SHORT SUMMARYThis study reports a chromosome-level genome assembly for D. cochinchinensis, the first genome of Dracaena Vand. ex L. It 29 provides valuable genetic resources and creates a large scope for studying Dracaena. We found the significant expansion of genes associated with its longevity and slow growth, and genes in flavonoids biosynthesis were first completely identified. Moreover, transcription factors bHLH and MYB as the core regulator of flavonoids biosynthesis, and ROS as the specific signal molecule during the process of injury-induced dragon’s blood formation were also identified. These results not only deciphered the mystery of its longevity, but also elucidated the molecular mechanism of dragon[s blood formation preliminarily, which will facilitate the resource protection and sustainable utilization of Dracaena.

Lipotoxicity can lead to beta-cell dysfunction and apoptosis because it induces oxidative stress. Recent studies have found that Irisin prevents pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction induced by palmitic acid (PA). However, an association between the protection against oxidative stress conferred by Irisin and beta-cell dysfunction has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we observed that Irisin treatment prevented INS-1 cell apoptosis induced by PA treatment and preserved the insulin-secreting function of INS-1 cells in vitro. These effects probably resulted from the Irisin-induced decrease in intracellular ROS levels triggered by PA treatment. In addition, PA treatment induced oxidative stress partially by inhibiting the activation of thioredoxin 2 (Trx2) through its increase of thioredoxin-interacting protein (Txnip) expression. However, Irisin administration blocked the increase in Txnip expression, which reversed the PA-induced inactivation of Trx2. Irisin also increased the nuclear translocation of Stat3, and the inhibition of Stat3 by siRNAs blocked Irisin-induced Trx2 expression, indicating that both Txnip and Stat3 are involved in Irisin-induced activation of Trx2. Furthermore, blockade of Stat3 by siRNAs led to the decreased gene expression of MafA and Ins and to cessation of glucose-induced insulin secretion that had been enhanced by Irisin. In vivo, HFD treatment led to reduced glucose tolerance and an increase in the level of the oxidative marker malondialdehyde (MDA) compared to that in the control group. However, these effects were ameliorated by Irisin injection due to the inhibition of beta-cell apoptosis and the activation of Trx2, probably through Txnip inhibition and Stat3 activation. In conclusion, our results reveal a possible mechanism for Irisin-induced beta-cell protection, which is mediated through Txnip inhibition and activation of the Stat3-Trx2 pathway.

Health coaching has emerged as a potential supporting tool for improving hypertension health behavior. However, health coaching efficacy on hypertension has not been reviewed systematically.To evaluate the effects of health coaching on blood pressure and behavioral changes among patients with hypertension in randomized controlled trials.A systematic review and meta-analysis.We searched Medline (via PubMed), Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Proquest, and Scopus from inception to November 30, 2021. All randomized controlled trials that estimated the effects of health coaching on blood pressure and behavioral changes in adults with hypertension were included. The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool was used to evaluate the quality of the included studies. Standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random-effects or fixed-effects meta-analysis. Sensitivity analysis and subgroup analysis were also conducted.A total of 1655 studies were screened and 12 randomized controlled trials were selected for inclusion, with 2497 participants were included. Most of the studies were at low risk of bias and the quality of evidence was high. The meta-analysis demonstrated that health coaching could significantly reduce systolic blood pressure (SMD: -0.26, 95 % CI: -0.39, -0.13, p 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure in hypertension (SMD: -0.13, 95 % CI: -0.22, -0.03, p = 0.009). In addition, health coaching showed statistically significant positive effects on dietary behaviors (SMD: 0.76, 95 % CI: 0.08, 1.44, p = 0.02) and self-efficacy (SMD: 0.39, 95 % CI: 0.05, 0.73, p = 0.02). Subgroup analysis indicated that the most common and effective type of health coaching was the phone-based interventions (systolic blood pressure: SMD: -0.27, 95 % CI: -0.44, -0.10, p = 0.002; diastolic blood pressure: SMD: -0.14, 95 % CI: -0.25, -0.03, p = 0.02). The effects of nurse-delivered interventions were larger than other health care professionals (systolic blood pressure: SMD: -0.42, 95 % CI: -0.68, -0.16, p = 0.002; diastolic blood pressure: SMD: -0.19, 95 % CI: -0.35, -0.04, p = 0.02).Current evidence suggested that health coaching could reduce blood pressure, improve dietary behaviors, and increase self-efficacy among patients with hypertension and thus could be an effective and alternative method in the management of hypertension. The most common and effective types of health coaching were phone-based and nurse-delivered interventions. Thus, more strategies and policies may be needed to implement these types of interventions to more patients with hypertension.

The heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) gene family perform a fundamental role in protecting plants against biotic and abiotic stresses. Aquilaria sinensis is a classic stress-induced medicinal plant, producing a valuable dark resin in a wood matrix, known as agarwood, in response to environmental stresses. The HSP70 gene family has been systematic identified in many plants, but there is no comprehensive analysis at the genomic level in A. sinensis. In this study, 15 putative HSP70 genes were identified in A. sinensis through genome-wide bioinformatics analysis. Based on their phylogenetic relationships, the 15 AsHSP70 were grouped into six sub-families that with the conserved motifs and gene structures, and the genes were mapped onto six separate linkage groups. A qRT-PCR analysis showed that the relative expression levels of all the AsHSP70 genes were up-regulated by heat stress. Subcellular localization of all HSP70s was predicted, and three were verified by transiently expressed in Arabidopsis protoplasts. Based on the expression profiles in different tissues and different layers treated with Agar-Wit, we predict AsHSP70 genes are involved in different stages of agarwood formation. The systematic identification and expression analysis of HSP70s gene family imply some of them may play important roles in the formation of agarwood. Our findings not only provide a foundation for further study their biological function in the later research in A. sinensis, but also provides a reference for the analysis of HSPs in other species.

To evaluate the effects of e-health interventions on disease activity, self-efficacy, pain and quality of life among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Prior systematic reviews have only reported the quality and features of e-health interventions in patients with RA. However, the effect of e-health interventions in patients with RA is unclear.Systematic review and meta-analysis.This review was conducted following the PRISMA guideline. We searched 5 databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus and the Cochrane library. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. The quality of the evidence was assessed via the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria. Using a random-effects model adopted the standardised mean difference (SMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). A chi-squared test and an IA total of 9 randomised control trials were included in this study. Compared with the control group, disease activity of the e-health group significantly decreased (SMD with 95% CI: -.17 [-.30, -.04], p = .01, IThe effect of e-health interventions on disease activity was statistically significant. More well-designed randomised controlled trials are still needed to verify the effects in the future.This study shows the potential value of e-health in improving health outcomes in patients with RA.

To explore the genetic basis for a child with febrile seizures.Peripheral venous blood samples were taken from the child and his parents for the analysis of chromosomal karyotype and dynamic variant of the FMR1 gene. The family trio was also subjected to target capture and next generation sequencing (NGS) with a gene panel related to developmental retardation, mental retardation, language retardation, epilepsy and special facial features.The child was found to have a normal karyotype by conventional cytogenetic analysis (400 bands). No abnormal expansion was found with the CGG repeats of the FMR1 gene. NGS revealed that the child has carried a heterozygous c.864+1 delG variant of the MEF2C gene, which may lead to abnormal splicing and affect its protein function. The same variant was found in neither parent, suggesting that it has a de novo origin. Based on the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics standards and guidelines, c.864+1delG variant of MEF2C gene was predicted to be pathogenic (PVS1+PS2+PM2).MEF2C, as the key gene for chromosome 5q14.3 deletion syndrome which was speculated as a cause for febrile seizures, has an autosomal dominant effect. The c.864+1delG variant of the MEF2C gene may account for the febrile seizures in this patient.

Dragon's blood (DB) refers mainly to the crimson resin of many

In this paper, we use the inverse design method to design an optical interconnection system composed of wavelength demultiplexer and the same direction waveguide crossing on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform. A 2.4 μm × 3.6 μm wavelength demultiplexer with an input wavelength of 1.3–1.6 μm is designed. When the target wavelength of the device is 1.4 μm, the insertion loss of the output port is − 0.93 dB, and there is − 18.4 dB crosstalk, in TE0 mode. The insertion loss of the target wavelength of 1.6 μm in TE0 mode is − 0.88 dB, and the crosstalk is − 19.1 dB. Then, we designed a same direction waveguide crossing, the footprint is only 2.4 μm × 3.6 μm, the insertion loss of the wavelength 1.4 μm and 1.6 μm in TE0 mode is − 0.99 dB and − 1 dB, and the crosstalk is − 12.14 dB and − 14.34 dB, respectively. Finally, an optical interconnect structure composed of two devices is used, which can become the most basic component of the optical interconnect network. In TE0 mode, the insertion loss of the output wavelength of 1.4 μm at the output port is − 1.3 dB, and the crosstalk is − 29.36 dB. The insertion loss of the output wavelength of 1.6 μm is − 1.39 dB, and the crosstalk is − 38.99 dB.

In this paper, we propose an equivalent transmit beamforming method in joint range and angle domains at the receiver of the colocated transmit-receive system where frequency diverse array (FDA) acts as transmit antenna. FDA employs a small frequency offset across the array elements and introduces additional degrees-of-freedom in range domain, which can significantly enhance the beamforming flexibility. However, the transmit beampattern of conventional FDA is range-angle-time dependent. In this work, the time-varying problem is first solved by using a series of filters and mixers at the receiver. In the sequel, a subarray-based FDA framework, termed as multisub-FDA, is established and then a range-angle-decoupled equivalent transmit beamforming method is devised based on particle swarm optimization, which incorporates the frequency offset of each subarray and the corresponding weight vector into the optimization problem. With the proposed approach, the array is capable of generating focused beampattern with low sidelobe in both range and angle domains. Numerical results show that the proposed algorithm improves the beamforming performance, range resolution, and sidelobe suppression.

The effect of oxalic acid on the edible quality of postharvest bamboo shoots during storage at 6 ± 1 °C for 20 days was investigated to better understand the mechanism of quality improvement. Shoots were placed in cold storage after being removed from their sheaths and soaked in a 10 mmol/L oxalic acid solution for 10 min. The results showed that oxalic acid treatment enhanced membrane integrity, reduced respiration along with decreasing losses of total sugar content and weight, decreased disease incidence, inhibited enzymatic browning, and retarded the lignification process in bamboo shoots during cold storage. These characteristics collectively contribute to maintenance of the edible quality of bamboo shoots. It was suggested that application of oxalic acid might also be a promising method for quality control of bamboo shoots postharvest.

Aims Neuromedin U (NMU), a highly conserved peptide, is implicated in energy homeostasis and is involved in regulating insulin secretion as a decretin hormone in animals. However, there have been no reports on the relationship between NMU and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of this study was to investigate circulating NMU concentrations in healthy subjects and T2DM patients and to evaluate the association between serum NMU levels and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Methods We used ELISA to analyze NMU concentrations in blood samples from newly diagnosed T2DM patients (n = 57) and age-, sex- and BMI-matched healthy control subjects (n = 50). Anthropometric parameters, oral glucose tolerance, glycosylated hemoglobin, blood lipids, insulin sensitivity, and insulin secretion were measured. Results No difference was observed in serum NMU levels between control subjects and newly diagnosed T2DM patients (p = 0.788). The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) results indicated that serum NMU concentrations did not change and did not correlate with insulin levels at fasting and 1 h, 2 h and 3 h after glucose load in both healthy controls and newly diagnosed T2DM patients. Conclusion Circulating NMU concentrations were similar in control subjects and newly diagnosed T2DM patients and were not associated with glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Serum NMU is not a human decretin hormone and may not play a role in the pathogenesis of T2DM.

Glioma is a kind of malignant brain tumor which damages the central nervous system of adults. Recent years, the molecular mechanism involved in the initiation and progression of glioma has been widely reported. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been proved to be significant modulators in the biological processes of glioma. In this study, we found that lncRNA AGAP2-AS1 was differentially expressed in glioma tissue samples and cell lines. Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the correlation between AGAP2-AS1 expression and the overall survival of glioma patients. Higher expression of AGAP2-AS1 was correlated with the lower overall survival of glioma patients. Functionally, AGAP2-AS1 knockdown inhibited glioma cell proliferation and accelerated glioma cell apoptosis. Mechanistically, AGAP2-AS1 upregulated HDGF by sponging miR-15a/b-5p. The function of AGAP2-AS1-miR-15a/b-5p-HDGF axis was confirmed by performing rescue assays. Experimental results suggested that miR-15a/b-5p and HDGF involved in AGAP2-AS1-mediated glioma cell proliferation. Moreover, AGAP2-AS1 and HDGF were found to activate Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in glioma cell lines. In summary, this study demonstrated that AGAP2-AS1 promoted glioma cell proliferation by sponging miR-15a/b-5p to upregulate the expression of HDGF.

Chaihu, the dried roots of several Bupleurum species, are widely used as herbal drugs. Triterpene saponins, as saikosaponins (SSs) in Chaihu, exhibit a wide range of pharmacological actions, including significant anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, anti-tumor and antiviral activities. To explore the regulatory biosynthesis of SS in Bupleurum chinense roots, we screened putative transcription factor (TF) genes from transcriptome data. Here, we report one of the bZIP TF genes, named BcbZIP134, which belongs to bZIP G subfamily. The expression of BcbZIP134 was elevated in MeJA-treated adventitious roots of B. chinense. No obvious differential expression of BcbZIP134 was detected in tissues (root, stem, leaf, flower and fruit) of B. chinense. Overexpressing BcbZIP134 in B. chinense hairy roots revealed that the content of the main SS monomers a, c and d were decreased compared to control hairy roots. Furthermore, the contents of a few other minor SS monomers were also affected when compared to the controls. The results indicate that BcbZIP134 may play a negative regulatory role in SS biosynthesis. Chaihu, the dried roots of several Bupleurum species, are successfully and widely used as herbal drugs. Triterpene saponins, as saikosaponins (SSs) in Chaihu, exhibit a wide range of pharmacological actions, including significant anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, anti-tumor and antiviral activities. To explore the regulatory biosynthesis of SS in B. chinense roots, we screened putative transcription factor (TF) genes from transcriptome data. Here, we report one of the bZIP TF genes, named BcbZIP134, which encodes a predicted 410 amino acid protein belonging to bZIP G subfamily. The expression of BcbZIP134 was elevated in MeJA-treated adventitious roots of B. chinense, and no obvious differential expression of BcbZIP134 was detected in tissues (root, stem, leaf, flower and fruit) of B. chinense. Overexpressing BcbZIP134 in B. chinense hairy roots revealed that the content of the main SS monomers a, c and d were decreased compared to control hairy roots. Furthermore, the contents of a few other minor SS monomers were also affected when compared to the controls. The results indicate that BcbZIP134 may play a negative regulatory role in SS biosynthesis.

Sum ( $\Sigma$ ) and difference ( $\Delta$ ) beampatterns are commonly utilized to estimate the bearings of targets in the radar system. However, the nulls of $\Delta $ -pattern are not always aligned with those of $\Sigma $ -pattern, and this phenomenon would become more severe in practical scenario since the array errors exist. Meanwhile, the sidelobe level (SLL) of the array would also increase due to the unavoidable errors. The above-described factors would dramatically decrease the performance of radar in the adaptive suppression of interference. To increase the output signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio of a radar system, this paper presents an approach to design the low SLL $\Sigma \Delta $ -patterns where the nulls of the $\Delta $ -pattern, excluding the central null, are always aligned with those of the $\Sigma $ -pattern in the presence of errors. Two schemes are addressed to obtain the covariance matrix for null-alignment constraint, which is exploited to force nulling in desired angles accordingly. In the sequel, the matrix tapering method is adopted to broaden the nulls and enhance the robustness for the possible errors. With the proposed approach, the low SLL and nulls alignment can be achieved simultaneously. Numerical examples are provided and discussed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed solution, including the results based on a linearly spaced microstrip array antenna.

Most fault localisation techniques take as inputs a faulty program and a test suite, and produce as output a ranked list of suspicious code locations at which the program may be defective. If only a small portion of the executions are labelled erroneously, we expect a fault localisation technique to be robust to these errors. However, it is not known which fault localisation techniques with high accuracy are robust and which techniques are best at finding faults under the trade-off between accuracy and robustness. In this paper, a theoretical analysis of the impacts of labelling perturbations on spectrum-based fault localisation techniques (SBFL) is presented from different aspects first. We theoretically analyse the influence of labelling perturbations on three relations among risk evaluation formulas and the effect of mislabelling cases on the ranking of faulty statements. Then, we conduct controlled experiments on 18 programs with 3079 faulty versions from different domains to compare the robustness of 23 classes of risk evaluation formulas. Besides, experiments are conducted for evaluating the robustness of two neural network-based techniques. The impacts of perturbation degrees, number of faults and types of labelling perturbation on the robustness of formulas are empirically studied, and several interesting findings are obtained.

The enrichment of radioactive iodine in the waste of nuclear industries threatens human health, and thus the efficient capture of iodine has attracted a great deal of attention in recent years. Porous organic polymers (POPs) and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), new classes of porous materials, act as outstanding candidate adsorbent materials in this field due to their high surface areas, permanent tunable porosities, controllable structures, high thermal/chemical stabilities, versatility in molecular design and potential for post-synthetic modification. Herein, this review focuses on the research progress of these two types of porous materials for highly efficient iodine capture. We analyze and discuss some valid strategies for enhancing their iodine uptake, including increasing their surface area and pore volume, using organic building units with unique configurations and functions, introducing chemical functional groups to provide high-enthalpy binding sites, and further processing of POP and MOF materials. Indeed, there are many special structural and functional features found in porous POP and MOF materials, which make them unique and merit further exploration. Thus, we expect to see their usage grow as this field progresses.

Herein we present a rational strategy for the design of a porous organic structure based on conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs), aiming for the super absorption of CO2. The porous skeleton netted with thiophene- and carbazole- polar building blocks exhibits a synergistic effect on the absorption of CO2; the polar moiety facilitates the interaction between CO2 and the porous materials, and the high surface area provides a large interface. Among them, the task specific copolymer SN@CMP-6, exhibits a superior CO2 uptake at 1.05 bar and 273 K (86.46 cm3 g−1). All of the copolymers show high isosteric heats of CO2 adsorption (38.6–59.8 kJ mol−1).

A series of Zn-porphyrin dyes with different donor and π-linker groups based on the dye SM315 were systematically investigated to screen highly efficient candidates based on density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) calculations. Compared with SM315, dye 1 not only has stronger and broader absorption spectra and larger intramolecular charge transition (ICT) parameters, but also has a larger maximum short circuit density (JmaxSC) and an open-circuit photovoltage (VOC) due to the insertion of polyoxometalate (POM). In addition, dye 3 with an electron donor 3-ethynyl-7-(4-methoxyphenyl)-10-methyl-10,10a-dihydro-4aH-phenothiazine (D3) exhibits better photovoltaic performance among dyes 1-3 due to its broadest absorption spectra and largest JmaxSC, hence, D3 can act as a promising donor candidate for the construction of efficient dyes. Furthermore, the performance can be further improved by replacing the π-linker 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole (dye 3) with benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']difuran-2,6-dione (dye 4) and pyrrolo[2,3-f]indole-2,6(1H,5H)-dione (dye 5). Compared with dye 3, dyes 4 and 5 possess broader absorption spectra and light harvesting efficiency curves, larger ICT parameters, JmaxSC and conduction band energy shift. In particular, dye 4 might obtain a larger short-circuit photocurrent density, and dye 5 might obtain a larger VOC.

The development of three-dimensional (3D) in vitro model to recapitulate the in vivo tumor tissue is essential for studying tumor biology, discovering anti-cancer drugs, and evaluating anti-cancer drug efficacy. However, most of the previous models lack the involvement of vascular barrier. Here, we proposed an in vitro 3D cocultured tumor-vascular barrier model by the combination of alginate hydrogels beads and Transwell system. PC-3 cells and NIH/3T3 cells were encapsulated in alginate hydrogel beads, which were cultured in the bottom chamber of Transwell, while human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured on the porous membrane in the upper chamber to form vascular barrier. The effect of the concentration of alginate sodium on the morphology, diameter and swelling ratio of the beads was studied. The alginate sodium content and cell seeding density were further optimized according to cell proliferation ability. The formation of endothelial barrier was verified by immunostaining with tight junction protein VE-cadherin and transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) monitoring. Finally, the drug response of 3D cocultured tumor-vascular barrier model to curcumin was evaluated. Compared with two-dimensional (2D) coculture model and 3D coculture spheroid model, 3D tumor-vascular barrier model showed the highest activity of cancer cells and the strongest drug resistance. The developed 3D cocultured tumor-vascular barrier model possesses great potential to be applied for in vitro evaluation of anti-tumor drugs.

The formation of resin in the wood of A. sinensis was observed, and the results showed that the interxylary phloem, together with xylem rays, provided a structural foundation for the formation of agarwood resin. Agarwood is a costly resinous wood harvested from wounded Aquilaria trees and has been widely used in medicine, incense, and perfumery. A defensive response of Aquilaria to various wounds has been shown to be the key reason for agarwood formation; however, our understanding of the anatomical basis of agarwood formation is still fragmentary. In this study, we examined the structural characteristics of A. sinensis wood and its relationship with agarwood formation. The results showed that interxylary phloem together with xylem rays is the main tissue that contains living parenchyma cells in the wood of healthy A. sinensis and that the main reserve substance in these parenchyma cells is in the form of starch grains. After Agar-Wit treatment, these starch grains undergo a series of changes and are eventually converted into agarwood resin; the non-starch polysaccharides and phenols are some of the intermediate products in the process of agarwood resin formation. The resin initially forms and mainly accumulates in the parenchyma cells of the interxylary phloem and xylem rays. The results indicated that the interxylary phloem and xylem rays in the wood are not only the primary location of agarwood resin formation but also the main accumulation site. The stored starch grains might be the material underlying the formation of the resin.

Extracellular ADP, a derivative of ATP, interacts with the purinergic receptors in the cell membrane to regulate cellular activities. This signaling pathway remains unknown in the regulation of blood glucose in vivo. We investigated the acute activity of ADP in mice through a peritoneal injection. In the lean mice, in response to the ADP treatment, the blood glucose was elevated, and pyruvate tolerance was impaired. Hepatic gluconeogenesis was enhanced with elevated expression of glucogenic genes (G6pase and Pck1) in the liver. An elevation was observed in NADH, cAMP, AMP, GMP and citrate in the liver tissue in the targeted metabolomics assay. In the primary hepatocytes, ADP activated the cAMP/PKA/CREB signaling pathway, which was blocked by the antagonist (2211) of the ADP receptor P2Y13. In the circulation, gluconeogenic hormones including glucagon and corticosterone were elevated by ADP. Insulin and thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) were not altered in the blood. In the diet-induced obese (DIO) mice, NADH was elevated in the liver tissue to match the hepatic insulin resistance. Insulin resistance was intensified by ADP for further impairment in insulin tolerance. These data suggest that ADP induced the blood glucose through direct and indirect actions in liver. One of the potential pathways involves activation of the P2Y13/cAMP/PKA/CREB signaling pathway in hepatocytes and the indirect pathway may involve induction of the gluconeogenic hormones. NADH is a signal for gluconeogenesis in the liver of both DIO mice and lean mice.

Aims Increasing evidence has shown that hormone secretion is regulated by endocytosis. Eps15 homology domain-containing protein 3 (EHD3) is an endocytic-trafficking regulatory protein, but whether EHD3 is associated with testosterone secretion is not clear. This work aims to explore the role of EHD3 in testosterone synthesis. Main methods Testosterone concentration was determined by ELISA. The effects of EHD3 on endocytosis were assessed by exosomes tracing assay and Immunofluorescence. Targeting relationship between EHD3 and NR5A1 was verified by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and dual luciferase reporter gene assay in Leydig cells. For in vivo assessments, conditional NR5A1 knockout mouse model was established with CRISPR/Cas9 gene targeting technology. Key findings EHD3 overexpression significantly increased the concentration of testosterone. EHD3 knockdown markedly decreased testosterone synthesis by reducing endocytosis. The activity of the EHD3 promoter was positively regulated by NR5A1, which occupied the conserved sequence “AGGTCA” in the EHD3 promoter. Furthermore, mice with a Leydig cell-specific conditional NR5A1 knockout displayed the blunted levels of EHD3 and clathrin (a key factor for endocytosis), and serum testosterone concentration compared with NR5A1f/f mice. Significance This study suggests a potential molecular mechanism of testosterone synthesis to fully understand male reproductive health.

To assess whether chronic endometritis (CE) affects embryo implantation in patients with repeated implantation failure (RIF).We retrospectively analyzed 126 RIF patients who were never diagnosed with CE and received no prior antibiotic therapy. Endometrial specimens obtained by endometrial scratching during mid-luteal phase were immunostained by CD138, a hallmark plasmacyte marker, to identify CE. Pregnancy outcome in RIF patients who underwent IVF-ET frozen-embryo within transfers 6 months after endometrial scratching was compared between women with and without CE.The prevalence of CE in patients with RIF was found to be 11.9% (15/126). Moreover, a significantly reduced clinical pregnancy rate was observed in RIF patients with CE (20% vs. 46.85%; p = 0.04). The live birth rate also exhibited a decreasing trend in RIF patients with CE, although there was no statistically significant difference (20% vs. 41.58%; p = 0.109).CE may be involved in the failure of embryo implantation and reduced clinical pregnancy outcome in patients with RIF.

In this paper, a metasurface Terahertz absorber based on the fractal technology of a graphene geometry resonator to realize ultra-wideband, ultrathin, adjustable double-layer cross-fractal formation is introduced. This paper proposes a dynamically tuned graphene absorbing material. The structure is composed of one- to four-level-fractal graphene pattern layers, MgF2 layers and metal reflective layers to form a two-sided mirror of an asymmetric Fabry&ndash, Perot cavity. To confine the terahertz electromagnetic wave, four different fractals are integrated into a supercell, and the coupling and superposition of adjacent resonant cavities form a broadband high-absorption absorber. Using finite element-based full-wave electromagnetic simulation software to simulate the response frequency of 0.4&ndash, 2.0 THz, we found that the absorber achieves a broadband 1.26 THz range (absorption &gt, 80%) and a relative bandwidth of 106.8%. By adjusting the Fermi energy, it can realize free switching and expand to wider broadband terahertz absorption, by adjusting the polarization angle (&Phi, ) from 0 to 90&deg, to prove that the structure is not sensitive to polarization, the absorber provides a 60&deg, large angle of incidence, polarization for TE and TM the absorption pattern remains basically the same. Compared with the previous work, our proposed structure uses fractal technology to expand the bandwidth and provide dynamic adjustable characteristics with great degrees of freedom. The appearance of the fractal structure reduces the difficulty of actual processing.

Aims Sodium butyrate (SB) is a major product of gut microbiota with signaling activity in the human body. It has become a dietary supplement in the treatment of intestinal disorders. However, the toxic effect of overdosed SB and treatment strategy remain unknown. The two issues are addressed in current study. Materials and methods SB (0.3–2.5 g/kg) was administrated through a single peritoneal injection in mice. The core body temperature and mitochondrial function in the brown adipose tissue and brain were monitored. Pharmacodynamics, targeted metabolomics, electron microscope, oxygen consumption rate and gene knockdown were employed to dissect the mechanism for the toxic effect. Key findings The temperature was reduced by SB (1.2–2.5 g/kg) in a dose-dependent manner in mice for 2–4 h. In the brain, the effect was associated with SB elevation and neurotransmitter reduction. Metabolites changes were seen in the glycolysis, TCA cycle and pentose phosphate pathways. Adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT) was activated by butyrate for proton transportation leading to a transient potential collapse through proton leak. The SB activity was attenuated by ANT inhibition from gene knockdown or pharmacological blocker. ROS was elevated by SB for the increased ANT activity in proton leak in Neuro-2a. Significance Excessive SB generated an immediate and reversible toxic effect for inhibition of body temperature through transient mitochondrial dysfunction in the brain. The mechanism was quick activation of ANT proteins for potential collapse in mitochondria. ROS may be a factor in the ANT activation by SB.

BackgroundTo explore the changes of chlorophyll content in needles of different leaf ages of Picea koraiensis Nakai of different specifications, the study compared the prediction accuracy changes of chlorophyll in needles of Picea koraiensis Nakai by two modeling methods: the BP neural network and partial least squares regression (PLSR) methods. The effects of different spectral pre-processing and characteristic band selection methods on the performance accuracy of the model were tested, and the optimal combination model was selected to predict forest growth status and community structure productivity through the physiological and biochemical characteristics of needles at different leaf ages. Results1) the spectral pre-processing method could avoid systematic errors and eliminate background values; 2) the accuracy of the needle chlorophyll fitting model with different leaf ages was much higher than that of mixed needle chlorophyll model, verifying that needle chlorophyll with different leaf ages could better estimate the annual growth and examine the growth status of Picea koraiensis Nakai; 3) the accuracy of the BP neural network model was significantly higher than that of the PLSR model, with its R 2 above 0.95, and the validation set’s R 2 above 0.86; and 4) the fitting accuracy of different leaf age needle chlorophyll models of the spectral pre-processing model, variable selection model, PLSR model and BP neural network: triennial needles > annual and biennial needles. ConclusionsThe BP neural network method was more accurate than the PLSR method in predicting pigment content model. In the process of model fitting, it was found that the pigment model fitted by fine classification of needles improves the accuracy of the model, which provides the basis and theoretical support for the establishment of the model by combining remote sensing technology with stoichiometry methods in the future.

Group encryption (GE), introduced by Kiayias, Tsiounis and Yung (Asiacrypt’07), is the encryption analogue of group signatures. It allows to send verifiably encrypted messages satisfying certain requirements to certified members of a group, while keeping the anonymity of the receivers. Similar to the tracing mechanism in group signatures, the receiver of any ciphertext can be identified by an opening authority - should the needs arise. The primitive of GE is motivated by a number of interesting privacy-preserving applications, including the filtering of encrypted emails sent to certified members of an organization.

IF1 (ATPIF1) is a nuclear DNA-encoded protein with an activity in the inhibition of catalytic activity of F1Fo-ATP synthase (ATPase), an enzyme for ATP synthesis in mitochondria. A role of IF1 remains unknown in the metabolic disorder in obesity. In this study, IF1 was examined in the diet-induced obese (DIO) mice and a decrease in IF1 protein was observed in several tissues including the skeletal muscle, liver and intestine in the absence of mRNA alteration. Significance of the reduction was investigated in the IF1-KO mice, in which insulin sensitivity was improved in the absence of body weight alteration on Chow diet. On a high fat diet (HFD), the IF1-KO mice gain more body weight as a result of enhanced fat tissue growth. The energy expenditure and locomotion activity were decreased in the KO mice without an alteration in food intake. The increase in insulin sensitivity remained in the obese KO mice. The colon tissue exhibited a resistance to the HFD-induced atrophy with less cell apoptosis and more secretion of GLP-1. Mitochondria exhibited an enhanced ATP production and maximal oxygen consumption without an alteration in the respiratory chain proteins. However, the ATP level was reduced in the fasting condition in the muscle as well as the liver. Mitophagy was enhanced with elevated accumulation of PINK1 and Parkin proteins in the mitochondria. The protein abundance of ADP/ATP translocase 2 (ANT2) was decreased in the inner membrane of mitochondria to account for the reduced apoptosis and enhanced mitophagy. The data suggest that the IF1 reduction in obesity leads to reprogramming of mitochondrial metabolism in a compensatory response to maintain the insulin sensitivity through down-regulation of ANT2 protein.

To explore a novel strategy for the remediation of soils polluted with Cu and Cd, three strains of plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) isolated from contaminated mines and two grass species (perennial ryegrass and tall fescue) were selected in this study. The performance of PGPR strains in metal adsorption, maintaining promotion traits under stress, and ameliorating phytostabilization potential was evaluated. Cd2+ exerted a stronger deleterious effect on microbial growth than Cu2+, but the opposite occurred for grass seedlings. Adsorption experiment showed that the growing PGPR strains were able to immobilize maximum 79.49% Cu and 81.35% Cd owing to biosorption or bioaccumulation. The strains exhibited the ability to secrete indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and dissolve phosphorus in the absence and presence of metals, and IAA production was even enhanced in the presence of low Cu2+ (5 mg L−1). However, the siderophore-producing ability of the isolates was strongly suppressed under Cu and Cd exposure. Ryegrass was further selected for pot experiments owing to its higher germination rate and tolerance under Cu and Cd stress than fescue. Pot-experiment results revealed that PGPR addition significantly increased the shoot and root biomasses of ryegrass by 11.49%–44.50% and 43.53%–90.29% in soil co-contaminated with 800 mg Cu kg−1 and 30 mg Cd kg−1, respectively. Metal uptake and translocation in inoculated ryegrass significantly decreased owing to the reduced diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-extractable metal content and increased residual metal-fraction percentage mediated by PGPR. Interestingly, stress mitigation was observed in these inoculated plants; in particular, their malondialdehyde content and superoxide dismutase activity were even significantly lower than those of ryegrass under normal conditions. Therefore, PGPR could be a promising option to enhance the phytostabilization efficiency of Cu and Cd in heavily polluted soils.

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) were synthesized via a hydrothermal method, in which extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) from anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) granular sludge was used as a carbon precursor, while citric acid and ethylenediamine were applied as auxiliary carbon source and passivation agent, respectively. The synthesized CQDs, with orderly spherical shape and mean size of 7.15 nm, emitted blue fluorescent light under UV radiation of 365 nm. The CQDs had a high fluorescence yield (40.84%), with good water solubility and excellent spectroscopic properties. In addition, the CQDs exhibited selective, sensitive and distinctive fluorescence quenching behaviors for Cr(VI) and Mn(VII) in a PBS buffer solution (NaH2PO4–Na2HPO4) of pH 7, with a detection limit of 5.8 nM for Cr(VI) and 2.3 nM for Mn(VII). Owing to the nitrogen components from the EPS of anammox granules, the CQDs were well nitrogen-doped, promoting electron-transfer and leading to reduction between the CQDs and Mn(VII)/Cr(VI). These results indicate that CQD-based chemical sensing is a simple and efficient means for the fluorescence detection of Mn(VII) and Cr(VI).

Policy-based signatures (PBS) were proposed by Bellare and Fuchsbauer (PKC 2014) to allow an {\em authorized} member of an organization to sign a message on behalf of the organization. The user's authorization is determined by a policy managed by the organization's trusted authority, while the signature preserves the privacy of the organization's policy. Signing keys in PBS do not include user identity information and thus can be passed to others, violating the intention of employing PBS to restrict users' signing capability. In this paper, we introduce the notion of {\em traceability} for PBS by including user identity in the signing key such that the trusted authority will be able to open a suspicious signature and recover the signer's identity should the needs arise. We provide rigorous definitions and stringent security notions of traceable PBS (TPBS), capturing the properties of PBS suggested by Bellare-Fuchsbauer and resembling the "full traceability" requirement for group signatures put forward by Bellare-Micciancio-Warinschi (Eurocrypt 2003). As a proof of concept, we provide a modular construction of TPBS, based on a signature scheme, an encryption scheme and a zero-knowledge proof system. Furthermore, to demonstrate the feasibility of achieving TPBS from concrete, quantum-resistant assumptions, we give an instantiation based on lattices., 37 pages,5 figures

Chronic endometritis (CE) is an unusual inflammatory condition characterized by endometrial plasmacyte infiltration. It has a high prevalence in women with reproductive failure. Because of its characteristic localization patterns and molecular functions, syndecan-1 has been identified as a biomarker of plasmacyte, and syndecan-1 immunohistochemistry (IHC) becomes the most dependable diagnostic method for CE. In this review, we discuss the association between CE and reproductive failure, the clinicopathological characterization of CE, the function and expression of syndecan-1, the progress of syndecan-1 IHC in the diagnosis of CE, and the prediction of reproductive outcome.

Mitochondrial 2-enoyl-acyl-carrier protein reductase (MECR) is an enzyme in the mitochondrial fatty acid synthase (mtFAS) pathway. MECR activity remains unknown in the mechanism of insulin resistance in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. In the present study, MECR activity was investigated in diet-induced obese (DIO) mice. Mecr mRNA was induced by insulin in cell culture, and was elevated in the liver of DIO mice in the presence hyperinsulinemia. However, MECR protein was decreased in the liver of DIO mice, and the reduction was blocked by treatment of the DIO mice with berberine (BBR). The mechanism of MECR protein regulation was investigated with a focus on ATP. The protein was decreased in the cell lysate and DIO liver by an increase in ATP levels. The ATP protein reduction was blocked in the liver of BBR-treated mice by suppression of ATP elevation. The MECR protein reduction was associated with insulin resistance and the protein restoration was associated with improvement of insulin sensitivity by BBR in the DIO mice. The data suggest that MECR protein is regulated in hepatocytes by ATP in association with insulin resistance. The study provides evidence for a relationship between MECR protein and insulin resistance.

Introduction Chromones are the major constituents of agarwood and are considered to be directly related to its quality. Agarotetrol, a chromone derivative, is a Chinese Pharmacopoeia content detection index. However, comprehensive high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), quantitative analysis of multiple components by a single marker (QAMS), and ultra-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) analyses of this pharmacopeial plant material have never been performed. Moreover, reports regarding the separation and detection of multiple active 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone analogues from this plant material are surprisingly scarce. Objective To establish a simple, reliable, and effective HPLC method utilising both diode array and MS detection for the simultaneous determination of multiple active chromone analogues in agarwood. Methods Four 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromones were isolated from methanol extracts of agarwood. After optimising the extraction, separation, and analytical conditions, validation of the developed analytical method indicated good linearity, satisfactory precision, and good recovery. On this basis, a method for the quantitative analysis of multiple components by a single marker was established. The four 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromones were identified by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic analysis and UPLC coupled to electrospray ionisation quadrupole-time-of-flight MS. Conclusions The behaviour of the chromones characterised by MS fragmentation indicated a loss of molecular CO and the formation of m/z 121 compounds by the cleavage of CH2 -CH2 bonds between the chromone and phenyl moieties. Three detection methods were successfully used in this study for agarwood detection, and this protocol may potentially be used as a tool for the quality control of agarwood.

Dalbergia odorifera, a critically endangered tree species, produces heartwood containing a vast variety of flavonoids. This heartwood, also known as Chinese rosewood, has high economic and medicinal value, but its formation takes several decades. In this study, we showed that discolored wood induced by pruning displays similar color, structure, and flavonoids content to those of natural heartwood, suggesting that wounding is an efficient method for inducing flavonoid production in D. odorifera. Transcriptome analysis was performed to investigate the mechanism underlying wounding-induced flavonoids production in D. odorifera heartwood. Wounding upregulated the expression of 90 unigenes, which covered 19 gene families of the phenylpropanoid and flavonoid pathways, including PAL, C4H, 4CL, CHS, CHI, 6DCS, F3'5'H, F3H, FMO, GT, PMAT, CHOMT, IFS, HI4'OMT, HID, IOMT, I2'H, IFR, and I3'H. Furthermore, 47 upregulated unigenes were mapped to the biosynthesis pathways for five signal molecules (ET, JA, ABA, ROS, and SA). Exogenous application of these signal molecules resulted in the accumulation of flavonoids in cell suspensions of D. odorifera, supporting their role in wounding-induced flavonoid production. Insights from this study will help develop new methods for rapidly inducing the formation of heartwood with enhanced medicinal value.

Induction of apoptosis is a strategy in the treatment of glioma, a malignant tumor with the highest prevalence in the brain. Sodium butyrate (NaB) induces apoptosis in glioma cells at pharmacological dosages (>2.5 mM), but the mechanism remains largely unknown beyond the mitochondrial potential drop. In this study, NaB was found to open the mitochondrial permeability transient pore (MPTP) to induce a proton leak in the mechanism of apoptosis. The MPTP opening led to collapse of mitochondrial potential and suppression of ATP production in the NaB-treated cells. Proton leak was increased in the mitochondria under the coupling and uncoupling conditions from the MPTP opening. The proton leak was associated with an elevation in the protein abundance of adenine nucleotide translocator 2 (ANT2) and was blocked by an ANT-specific inhibitor of bongkrekic acid (BA). These data suggest that the proton leak is induced by NaB for the mitochondrial potential drop in the induction of apoptosis. The mechanism may be related to activation of ANT2 in the MPTP complex.

Background Metabolic inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and obesity. The above metabolic disorders often coexist and are closely related with systemic low-grade inflammation. Metabolic inflammatory syndrome (MIS), a cluster of these four metabolic disorders, is a novel concept that is thought to be a better predictor of coronary heart disease than metabolic syndrome. Adiponectin is an adipokine that increases insulin sensitivity and antioxidation as well as has an anti-atherosclerosis effect. It is unclear whether adiponectin is associated with MIS. The objective of this study was to assess whether circulating adiponectin can be used as an indicator for MIS in elderly adults. Methods A total of 136 elderly inpatients were divided into two groups: the MIS group and the non-MIS group. Characteristics, inflammatory markers, blood lipid metabolism, insulin resistance, and circulating adiponectin levels were assessed and compared between the two groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the association between the associated factors and MIS. Results MIS patients were more likely to have a higher body mass index, have a higher fasting blood glucose level, be smokers, have fundus arteriosclerosis, have lower levels of adiponectin (4044.90 ± 3906.82 ng/mL vs 8503.89 ± 3523.89 ng/mL, p < 0.001), and have higher levels of inflammation (white blood cell and C-reactive protein) than non-MIS patients. Multiple factor analysis showed that lower adiponectin levels (OR = 22.937, p < 0.001) were independently associated with MIS. Adiponectin levels were lower in the vascular disease (2673.29 ± 1930.05 ng/mL vs 7194.38 ± 4615.83 ng/mL, p = 0.001), atherosclerosis (2374.14 [1496.41–4263.90] ng/mL vs 6037.48 [3865.61–10,373.60] ng/mL, p < 0.001), and type 2 diabetes (2391.73 [1386.41–4069.68] ng/mL vs 8916.03 [5801.14–12,724.45] ng/mL, p < 0.001) subgroups than in the non-MIS group. Conclusion Lower adiponectin levels in serum are associated with MIS. Low adiponectin may be used as a biomarker for atherosclerosis in patients with MIS.