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Heavy metals in the collapsed lake of Zhuxianzhuang Mine in the typical coal mine of Huaibei Coalfield were selected as the research object. Differences, sources and human health risks of heavy metals such as Cu, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, V, Zn and Mn in four seasons of lake water were analyzed. Among them, the content of V element was the highest in all four seasons (1.80~7.04mg/l), while the content of Cd was the lowest (0.03~1.92mg/l). In addition, the elements of the super background value are: V, Ni, Cu, and Cr, wherein the V content exceeds the background value multiple of 4.3 to 12.93. Principal component analysis (PCA) results show that the three principal components share 81.6% of the variance contribution rate. Finally, the results of lake water health risk assessment showed that the risk of non-carcinogenicity of 8 heavy metals was: Cu>Cd>Cr>Ni>Pb>V>Zn>Mn. The Cr element is the main carcinogenic risk element in the lake water of the study area, and the risk value is concentrated at 1.16E-08~7.54E-07. Among the exposed population, the hazard index (HI) of Mn was 49.21 times that of adults. In general, the hazard index value is <1, and the cancer risk is within acceptable levels (1E-06). But from the perspective of public health and safety, we need to maintain further observation and research on these elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is challenging to achieve consistent quantification of hydrogen‐bonded water species by fitting Gaussian bands on spectra collected from different instruments, especially when the spectral resolution is low. Therefore, this work aims to propose a near‐infrared (NIR) multivariate calibration model transfer method to obtain reliable, consistent, and reproducible results from different spectroscopic instruments. A composite method of Gaussian deconvolution, multivariate curve resolution‐alternating least squares (MCR‐ALS), and partial least squares (PLS) was developed to quantify five water species (labeled as C1, C2, C3, C4, and C5), respectively, assigned to non‐hydrogen‐bonded, singly hydrogen‐bonded, doubly and triply hydrogen‐bonded species, distorted ice‐like structures in the liquid phase, and fully hydrogen‐bonded species showing ice‐like structure. Primary instrument (iS50) was selected due to the highest spectral resolution and spectra (7500–5845 cm−1 with spectral resolution of 0.5 cm−1) were acquired from four types of salt solutions. The developed PLS model yielded a high prediction performance when applied on two independent prediction sets with R2P higher than 0.95 and RMSEP less than 0.009 for prediction of C1‐5. Model built with primary spectra was successfully transferred to spectra of secondary instrument (iN10), producing RMSEP less than 0.010. Transferred model applied on secondary instruments (NIRECO and MPA) showed that fully H‐bonded species in deionized water decreased as temperature increased, while non‐hydrogen‐bonded and singly hydrogen‐bonded demonstrated an opposite temperature dependence. Our results confirmed that it is promising to transfer the calibration model from a sophisticated spectrometer to a simple spectroscopic instrument in terms of quantification of hydrogen‐bonded water species. A composite method of Gaussian deconvolution, MCR‐ALS and PLS was proposed to quantify five hydrogen‐bonded water species. The developed model can be successfully transferred from a sophisticated spectrometer to a simple spectroscopic instrument. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To provide an excellent operation environment for micro-precise instruments in a narrow space with strict restrictions on weight, this study proposes a small-scale vibration isolation system with six-dimensional quasi-zero stiffness (QZS), consisting of at least three non-collinear fulcrums with three-dimensional QZS. The response characteristics of the QZS fulcrum, including the transfer rates, its stability, and convergence speed, are investigated by both quantitative calculations and simulations conducted using Simulink. A prototype is designed and manufactured and is then compared with other vibration isolation methods via experiments. The results show that the QZS isolator achieves a high performance and adequately reconciles the contradiction between vibration isolation and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in many fundamental biological processes, such as transcription regulation, protein degradation, and cell differentiation. Information on lncRNA in the melon fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett) is currently limited. Results: We constructed 24 RNA-seq libraries from eight tissues (midgut, Malpighian tubules, fat body, ovary, and testis) of Z. cucurbitae adults. A total of 3124 lncRNA transcripts were identified. Among those, 1464 were lincRNAs, 1037 were intronic lncRNAs, 301 were anti-sense lncRNAs, and 322 were sense lncRNAs. The majority of lncRNAs contained two exons and one isoform. Differentially expressed lncRNAs were analyzed between tissues, and Malpighian tubules versus testis had the largest number. Some lncRNAs exhibited strong tissue specificity. Specifically expressed lncRNAs were identified and filtered in tissues of female and male Z. cucurbitae based on their expression levels. Four midgut-specific lncRNAs were validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and the data were consistent with RNA-seq data. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses of targets of midgut-specific lncRNAs indicated an enrichment of the metabolic process. Conclusions: This was the first systematic identification of lncRNA in the melon fly. Expressions of lncRNAs in multiple adult tissues were evaluated by quantitative transcriptomic analysis. These qualitative and quantitative analyses of lncRNAs, especially the tissue-specific lncRNAs in Z. cucurbitae, provide useful data for further functional studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. In China, the prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) diseases and epidemiological trends in the TB forms among children are still unclear; a retrospective study was conducted aiming to assess it. Methods. Between January 2007 and September 2020, 1577 consecutive childhood TB patients (aged ≤ 15 years) were included in the study. Data, including demographic information and underlying diseases, were collected from medical records. Then, patients were categorized and reported according to the anatomical site of TB disease. To analyze the epidemiological trends in the proportion of each form of TB disease, a linear-by-linear association was used, and a P value of <0.05 was considered to indicate that a significant change had occurred in the proportion of TB disease over the studied period. Results. During the fourteen-year study period, a total of 1577 children patients were enrolled, including 954 boys (60.5%) and 623 girls (39.5%), with a mean age of 9.26 ± 5.18 years. Among the studied patients, 810 (51.4%) patients have pulmonary TB, 1137 (72.1%) have extrapulmonary TB, 372 (23.6%) have both conditions, and another 765 (48.5%) extrapulmonary cases presented in isolated form. Pleural TB (29.0%) and tuberculous lymphadenitis (23.7%) were the most frequent two forms of childhood TB. In addition, during the past decade, the proportions of pulmonary TB, pleural TB, and tuberculous lymphadenitis showed an increasing trend (all P < 0.05). However, no significant trends in the proportions of other forms of TB disease, such as extrapulmonary TB (P > 0.05), tuberculous meningitis (P > 0.05), endobronchial TB (P > 0.05), and disseminated TB (P > 0.05), were found. Conclusion. Our findings suggest that childhood TB is facing new challenges, and the policy should be adjusted timely to fit the real situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION The help of healthcare professionals for smokers to quit is critically important to increase quit rates. In the future, internship nursing students will potentially become the largest population of medical professionals. This study explored the impact of the use and awareness of universal tobacco control auxiliary resources on nursing students' 5As behavior in helping patients to quit smoking during a 40-week clinical internship in the last year of nursing school in Chongqing, China. METHODS A survey was conducted in 13 teaching hospitals selected from 29 in Chongqing, China, in 2019, by a random cluster sampling method. It investigated, by self-reported questionnaires, student 5As behavior in helping patients to quit smoking and use and knowledge of tobacco cessation auxiliary resources (tobacco cessation self-education manual, tobacco cessation guidelines, tobacco cessation drugs, tobacco cessation websites, and hotline). The relationship between tobacco cessation auxiliary resources and 5As behavior in helping patients to quit smoking was analyzed with a multivariate linear mixed-effect model. RESULTS In all, 534 (39.3%) students, of a total of 1358, reported that the majority of internship units provided a tobacco control self-education manual; 674 (49.6%) ever skimmed through tobacco cessation guidelines; 641 (47.2%) browsed tobacco cessation websites; 738 (54.3%) knew some cessation-assistance drugs; and 93 (6.8%) knew of and could recall the tobacco cessation hotline. Except for tobacco cessation websites, tobacco cessation auxiliary resources affected nursing interns' 5As behavior in helping patients to quit (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Tobacco cessation auxiliary resources influenced students' 5As behavior in helping patients to quit smoking. Students knew a little of tobacco cessation auxiliary resources. To improve students' 5As behavior for helping patients to quit, more tobacco cessation resources need to be developed and more students need to become acquainted with them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reaction of the secondary alkynyl(Mes*)PH phosphane 2 with (Fmes)BH2⋅SMe2 gives the geminal PH/BH frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) 3. The PH and the BH functions are jointly used in the reduction of carbon monoxide under mild reaction conditions to give the [P]‐CH2‐O‐[B] product. A subsequent cycloaddition sequence results in the liberation of formaldehyde. The FLP 3 reacts with benzonitrile to give a P‐benzamidine, and it couples two isonitriles at the FLP framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salmonella are a type of bacteria known to cause food-borne illness. Their host range varies widely, and their susceptibility to the host determines its pathogenicity. Salmonella enterica serovar Rissen (S. Rissen) is a widely distributed serotype; however, its virulence and pathogenicity are poorly understood. In this study, the pathogenicity and antibiotic resistance of a representative S. Rissen isolate were investigated. The cell model results showed that S. Rissen preferred to replicate in human macrophage cells U937 compared to murine macrophage cells RAW264.7, suggesting that it has a level of host adaptability. Genome sequencing and comparison analysis revealed that the distribution and nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms of virulence factors in S. Rissen were similar to those in S. Typhi rather than to those in S. Typhimurium. Taken together, our results suggest that although S. Rissen is a common serotype distributed in swine herds, pork and chicken products, it has strong ability to infect humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer (BC) is the most malignant tumor in women. The molecular mechanisms underlying tumorigenesis still need to be further elucidated. It is necessary to investigate novel candidate genes involved in breast cancer progression and prognosis. In this study, we commit to explore candidate genes that associate with prognosis and therapy in BC by a comprehensive bioinformatic analysis. Four GEO datasets (GSE5764, GSE7904, GSE20711, and GSE29431) and the BC-related transcriptome data in TCGA database were downloaded and used to identify the differently expressed genes (DEGs). The function of DEGs was analyzed by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways enrichment analysis. The protein–protein interaction (PPI) network of DEGs was constructed to identify hub genes. Prognostic candidate genes were identified through survival analysis. In addition, potential therapeutic targets were identified by constructed gene–drug interaction network through Comparative Toxicogenomics Database. A total of 547 DEGs (302 up and 245 down) were identified. Three core-subnetwork and 25 hub genes were identified in PPI network. Seven genes (namely COL12A1, QPRT, MRPL13, KRT14, KRT15, LAMB3, and MYBPC1) were identified as crucial prognostic candidate genes, which significantly associated with breast cancer overall survival. Furthermore, two representative candidate genes (COL12A1 and LAMB3) were optionally chosen for verification by reverse transcription and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). What's more, the gene–drugs interaction analysis indicates several antitumor drugs that could affect the expression of these prognostic markers, such as doxorubicin, cisplatin, and tamoxifen. These results identified seven crucial candidate genes that may serve as prognosis biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets of breast cancer, which may facilitate further understanding the molecular pathogenesis and providing potential therapeutic strategies for BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the value of S-Detect (a computer aided diagnosis system using deep learning) in breast ultrasound (US) for discriminating benign and malignant breast masses.Material and Methods: A literature search was performed and relevant studies using S-Detect for the differential diagnosis of breast masses were selected. The quality of included studies was assessed using a Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS) questionnaire. Two review authors independently searched the articles and assessed the eligibility of the reports.Results: A total of ten studies were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled estimates of sensitivity and specificity were 0.82 (95%CI: 0.77-0.87) and 0.86 (95%CI: 0.76-0.92), respectively. In addition, the diagnostic odds ratios, positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio were 28 (95%CI: 16- 49), 5.7 (95%CI: 3.4-9.5), and 0.21 (95%CI: 0.16-0.27), respectively. Area under the curve was 0.89 (95%CI: 0.86-0.92). No significant publication bias was observed.Conclusions: S-Detect exhibited a favourable diagnostic value in assisting physicians discriminating benign and malignant breast masses and it can be considered as a useful complement for conventional US. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remanufacturing is a product recovery strategy resulting in end-of-life (EoL) products being returned to recondition and equivalent to or better than the original. At present, the method of EoL time point determination for product remanufacturing is not available in considering the factors of life cycle energy and cost consumptions. This study proposes an optimal prediction method of EoL time point for product remanufacturing based on life cycle assessment and life cycle cost. First, life cycle assessment and life cycle cost theories are applied to analyze the life cycle energy and cost consumptions. Second, data regression fitting of life cycle energy and cost consumption is applied to obtain the functions of annual energy and cost consumption. Finally, a multi-objective optimization method is used to process the bi-objective functions, and the optimal EoL time point for product remanufacturing is determined. The proposed method is applied to a scroll compressor and obtained an optimal EoL time point for remanufacturing of 7.88 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article advances continuum-type mechanics of porous media having a generally anisotropic, productlike fractal geometry. Relying on a fractal derivative, the approach leads to global balance laws in terms of fractal integrals based on product measures and, then, converting them to integer-order integrals in conventional (Euclidean) space. Proposed is a new line transformation coefficient that is frame invariant, has no bias with respect to the coordinate origin and captures the differences between two fractal media having the same fractal dimension but different density distributions. A continuum localization procedure then allows the development of local balance laws of fractal media: conservation of mass, microinertia, linear momentum, angular momentum and energy, as well as the second law of thermodynamics. The product measure formulation, together with the angular momentum balance, directly leads to a generally asymmetric Cauchy stress and, hence, to a micropolar (rather than classical) mechanics of fractal media. The resulting micropolar model allowing for conservative and/or dissipative effects is applied to diffusion in fractal thermoelastic media. First, a mechanical formulation of Fick’s Law in fractal media is given. Then, a complete system of equations governing displacement, microrotation, temperature and concentration fields is developed. As a special case, an isothermal model is worked out. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Advanced materials modelling via fractional calculus: challenges and perspectives’. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of the genus Myiocephalus Marshall, 1898, M. cracentis Li, sp. nov. from the Palaearctic (China, Ningxia, Hubei), is described and illustrated. A key to known species of Myiocephalus is provided. Myiocephalus boops (Wesmael, 1835), is a new record for Jilin province (NE China). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The corrosion of rebars in concrete is a major cause of the falling bearing capacity of concrete structures. The durability of concrete could be effectively enhanced by adding mineral admixtures. Many studies have shown that rust inhibitors can effectively prevent rebar corrosion. Taking commonly used slag, fly ash, and silica fume as mineral admixtures, this paper explores how an alcohol-amine compound rust inhibitor affects the compressive strength, chloride penetration resistance, carbonation resistance, and rebar corrosion resistance of concrete with a large amount of mineral admixtures. The research results show that the addition of rust inhibitor hinders the early hydration of cementitious materials in concrete; the chloride diffusivity and carbonation depth of concrete were minimized, when the ratio of N,N-dimethylethanolamine (DMEA) to sodium monofluorophosphate (MFP) in the compound rust inhibitor stands at 15:1; the addition of rust inhibitor clearly suppressed the corrosion loss of the rebars in concrete, resulting in a low rebar corrosion rate. The research results provide experimental evidence for reducing rebar corrosion in reinforced concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A disaster of a catastrophic landslide triggered a debris flow with a scale of 0.3 billion m3 that occurred in the Zhamunong gully of Yigong on April 9th, 2000. It is of great scientific and engineering significance to study the main controlling factors and dynamic processes of this disaster, and the future development trend of similar hazards. Firstly, the precipitation, earthquake and temperature data before the event and seismic wave data after the event were collect. Secondly, a multi-dimensional approach on the data for finding the factors, dynamic processes and tendency of a catastrophic landslide triggered a debris flow in Zhamunong gully was applied, including the standard precipitation index and effective peak acceleration calculation methods, fast Fourier transform, landslide stability, MacCormack- TVD finite difference method and FLAC numerical simulation method. The results are shown as follows. (1) The main controlling factors of this disaster were the long-term freeze-thaw cycle, dry-wet cycle, and a middle magnitude earthquake. (2) Based on the ground vibration spectrum of 2000 disaster recorded by the Linzhi seismic station, the dynamic processes are the joint and crack development process, the crack fracture and sliding process, the landslide translating into the debris flow, the movement and deposition of the debris flow. (3) The density and the average velocity are 2.0 t·m-3 and 30.12 m·s-1, respectively, and the discharge is shown with the process of first increases and then decreases. (4) Similar catastrophic landslide triggered debris flow would happen in Zhamunong gully in the future. The research results are useful in establishing a foundation for further study on the dynamic mechanism and reduction countermeasures of a catastrophic landslide triggered by debris flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the deteriorated positive definite and skew-Hermitian splitting (DPSS) preconditioner, we develop a parameterized DPSS (PDPSS) preconditioner for the nonsymmetric saddle point linear systems. The spectral properties of the PDPSS preconditioned coefficient matrix are analyzed. Moreover, an upper bound of the degree of the minimal polynomial of the PDPSS preconditioned matrix is also obtained. Inasmuch as the efficiency of the PDPSS preconditioner depends on the values of its parameters, we further derive a fast and effective method to compute the optimal parameter values of the PDPSS preconditioner. Finally, numerical examples are employed to illustrate the feasibility and the efficiency of the PDPSS preconditioner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reduced numbers of carpal and tarsal bones (wrist and ankle joints) are extensively observed in the clade of Cetacea and Ruminantia (Cetruminantia). Homebox D11 (Hoxd11) is one of the important genes required for limb development in mammals. Mutations in Hoxd11 can lead to defects in particular bones of limbs, including carpus and tarsus. To test whether evolutionary changes in Hoxd11 underlie the loss of these bones in Cetruminantia, we sequenced and analyzed Hoxd11 coding sequences and compared them with other 59 HoxA and HoxD genes in a taxonomic coverage of Cetacea, Ruminantia and other mammalian relatives. Statistical tests on the Hoxd11 sequences found an accelerated evolution in the common ancestor of cetaceans and ruminants, which coincided with the reduction of carpal and tarsal bones in this clade. Five amino acid substitutions (G222S, G227A, G229S, A240T and G261V) and one amino acid deletion (G254Del) occurred in this lineage. In contrast, other 59 HoxA and HoxD genes do not show this same evolutionary pattern, but instead display a highly conserved pattern of evolution in this lineage. Accelerated evolution of Hoxd11, but not other 59 HoxA and HoxD genes, is probably related to the reduction of the carpal and tarsal bones in Cetruminantia. Moreover, we found two amino acid substitutions (G110S and D223N) in Hoxd11 that are unique to the lineage of Cetacea, which coincided with hindlimb loss in the common ancestor of cetaceans. Our results give molecular evidence of Hoxd11 adaptive evolution in cetaceans and ruminants, which could be correlated with limb morphological adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking advantage of coherent light beams, we experimentally investigate the variance-based uncertainty relations and the optimal majorization uncertainty relation for the two-dimensional quantum mechanical system. Different from most of the experiments which devoted to record each individual quantum, we examine the uncertainty relations by measuring an ensemble of photons with two polarization degree of freedom characterized by the Stokes parameters which allow us to determine the polarization density matrix with high precision. The optimality of the recently proposed direct-sum majorization uncertainty relation is verified by measuring the Lorenz curves. Results show that the Lorenz curve method represents a faithful verification of the majorization uncertainty relation and the uncertainty relation is indeed an ensemble property of quantum system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: Hypertension is an important risk factor for cognitive impairment. This study explored whether elderly patients with stage I hypertension (HPs) and normotensive patients (NPs) showed differences in the recovery of postoperative attention network function according to the attentional network test (ANT) performance. Materials and methods: Of 110 patients screened, 25 HPs and 25 NPs completed this study. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was applied to all participants before the operation and the ANT (on days 2 and 7) after the operation. All participants completed 1 day preoperatively and the ANT on postoperative days (PODs) 2 and 7. Results: Compared with NPs, HPs had significantly lower alerting network effect scores and more difficulty resolving conflict on POD 7. However, no significant difference was observed between the groups on POD 2. Orienting network performance was similar between the groups at all time points. Significant differences in alerting and executive control network performances were observed between PODs 2 and 7 in each group. Conclusion: HPs showed selective cognitive impairment at different time points following elective hip or knee arthroplasty. Compared with NPs, during the first postoperative week, HPs were more likely to experience delayed recovery of alerting and executive control network function, but not orienting network function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixtu res of the anionic surfactant AEC7-Na (branched alcohol ether carboxylate) and the cationic surfactant didecylmethylhydroxyethylammonium chloride (DEQ) were systematically investigated. The results showed that the mixtures possess synergisms. The DEQ-AEC7-Na mixture with a mass ratio of 1:1 showed the best result in terms of surface activity, wettability and emulsifying performance. However, when the mass ratio m(DEQ):m(AEC7-Na) = 8:2, the foaming ability and foam stability of the individual surfactants are better. Vesicles smaller than 100 nm coexist with worm-like micelles as soon as a small amount of AEC7- Na is added to DEQ (m(DEQ):m(AEC7-Na) = 8:2). At m(DEQ):m(AEC7-Na) = 4:6 and 2:8, vesicles of approximate ly 80 nm were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The efficacy and the safety of bortezomib-based chemotherapy were characterized in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) patients. Materials and Methods: The PubMed, Cochrane Library, Clinical Key, Science Direct, Oxford Journals, and China National Knowledge Internet databases were searched up to 1 May 2019. The selected trials needed to match the inclusion criteria and be carried out to evaluate quality appraisal and the synthesis of efficacy and safety. The enrolled MCL patients using bortezomib-based chemotherapy or chemotherapy alone needed to have been compared. The overall response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were combined to evaluate the efficacy while serious adverse events (SAEs) (grade III-IV peripheral neuropathy, neutropenia, and infection) were used to evaluate the safety. The heterogeneity of the results were analyzed simultaneously. Results: A total of 620 patients were enrolled across four studies in our meta-analysis, and the pooled results showed that the PFS [hazard ratio (HR)=0.66, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.54-0.82; p=0.0001)] and OS (HR=0.73, 95% CI=0.55-0.96; p=0.03) of patients with bortezomib-based chemotherapy were better than those of patients with chemotherapy alone, unlike ORR (risk ratio=1.46, 95% CI=0.85- 2.49; p=0.17), while SAEs were prominent in the combination group. Conclusion: MCL patients who are ineligible for transplant or high-dose chemotherapy could benefit from bortezomib-based chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apart from focusing on the analysis of the characteristics of reinforcing bars during corrosion, such as open circuit potential and polarization, the study also engages in the investigation of their corrosion in magnesium phosphate cement (MPC). For a more comprehensive understanding of the rusting performances, a comparison was made by an electrochemical workstation between the reinforcing bars in the MPC system and in the ordinary cement. Meanwhile, under an optical microscope, an observation was conducted on the corrosion morphology in MPC at different ages of concrete while during MPC hydration, an exploration based on pH changes and polarization curve theory was carried out to learn about the mechanism of the resistance of the reinforcing bars in MPC to corrosion. Despite their extremely slow rate, corrosion behaviors were practically found in the reinforcing bars in MPC. Both the changes in pH and the formation of ammonium phosphate metal complex in the weak base were considered in the study to be the control factors for the resistance of reinforcing bars in MPC to corrosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through the regularization downward continuation of gravity and magnetic anomalies, the depth of the field source can be solved. However, due to the Gibbs effect, the horizontal resolving power of the field source is poor. In view of this, based on the depth of field source established by regularization downward continuation, this paper proposes a physical property parameter inversion method based on iterative continuation and anomaly separation, which can effectively improve the inversion accuracy of superimposed anomaly physical parameters, and provide a new idea for solving the physical parameters of superposition gravity and magnetic anomalies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elbow fracture-dislocation is a complex injury which can lead to significant bony and soft tissue damage. Surgical intervention is guided towards restoring joint stability, allowing early mobilization and preventing long-term joint stiffness. The most common types are posterolateral, posteromedial, Monteggia type (and variants), and anterior trans-olecranon fracture-dislocations. Posterolateral fracture-dislocation is characterized by a radial head fracture (± anterolateral coronoid fracture) and typically capsuloligamentous disruption (lateral collateral ligaments injury is the most common). A posterolateral fracture-dislocation with radial head and coronoid anterolateral facet fractures is termed a terrible triad injury. In posteromedial fracture-dislocation, there is a fracture of the anteromedial facet of the coronoid, typically with proximal avulsion of the lateral collateral ligaments (± injury to the posterior bundle of the ulnar collateral ligament). Monteggia fracture-dislocation injuries demonstrate proximal ulnar fracture (with possible involvement of the olecranon and the coronoid) and radial head dislocation. These can be divided into apex anterior or apex posterior variants. The latter are commonly associated with radial head fractures and lateral ligamentous injury, and have a worse prognosis. In trans-olecranon fracture-dislocation, there is significant disruption of the greater sigmoid notch and the olecranon, with various involvement of the coronoid and the proximal ulna. The article describes the radiological findings and outlines the management principles in complex elbow fracture-dislocation injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The neuropilin and tolloid-like (Neto) proteins Neto1 and Neto2 are auxiliary subunits of kainate-type glutamate receptors (KARs) that regulate KAR trafficking and gating. However, how Netos bind and regulate the biophysical functions of KARs remains unclear. Here, we found that the N-terminal domain (NTD) of glutamate receptor ionotropic kainate 2 (GluK2) binds the first complement C1r/C1s-Uegf-BMP (CUB) domain of Neto proteins (i.e. NTD-CUB1 interaction) and that the core of GluK2 (GluK2ΔNTD) binds Netos through domains other than CUB1s (core-Neto interaction). Using electrophysiological analysis in HEK293T cells, we examined the effects of these interactions on GluK2 gating, including deactivation, desensitization, and recovery from desensitization. We found that NTD deletion does not affect GluK2 fast gating kinetics, the desensitization, and the deactivation. Wealso observed that Neto1 and Neto2 differentially regulate GluK2 fast gating kinetics, which largely rely on the NTDCUB1 interactions. NTD removal facilitated GluK2 recovery from desensitization, indicating that the NTD stabilizes the GluK2 desensitization state. Co-expression with Neto1 or Neto2 also accelerated GluK2 recovery from desensitization, which fully relied on the NTD-CUB1 interactions. Moreover, we demonstrate that the NTD-CUB1 interaction involves electric attraction between positively charged residues in the GluK2_NTD and negatively charged ones in the CUB1 domains. Neutralization of these charges eliminated the regulatory effects of the NTD-CUB1 interaction on GluK2 gating. We conclude that KARs bind Netos through at least two sites and that the NTD-CUB1 interaction critically regulates Neto-mediated GluK2 gating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The researches of wind energy harvesting have been more and more popular in recent years. In the paper, a vibration energy caused by a breeze is harvested with a cantilevered beam using a piezoelectric patch. When a swaging fan applies a breeze environment, the alternating voltage generates from the piezoelectric patch. Moreover, by designing a full wave rectifier, the alternating voltage from the piezoelectric patch is transformed as a DC voltage. Through some experiments, the amplitude of the alternating voltage is about 2.70 V and its frequency is 2.60 Hz (the first natural frequency of the cantilevered beam). And the gained DC voltage is about 2.45 V and can be made a luminous diode be on. These experimental results indicate that vibration energy caused by the breeze can be harvested with a full wave rectifier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are defined as RNA transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides that do not encode proteins. LncRNAs have been documented to exhibit aberrant expression in various types of cancer, including prostate cancer. Currently, screening for prostate cancer results in overdiagnosis. The consequent overtreatment of patients with indolent disease in the clinic is due to the lack of appropriately sensitive and specific biomarkers. Thus, the identification of lncRNAs as novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for prostate cancer is promising. In the present review, we attempt to summarize the current knowledge of lncRNA expression patterns and mechanisms in prostate cancer. In particular, we focus on lncRNAs regulated by the androgen receptor and the specific molecular mechanism of lncRNAs in prostate cancer to provide a potential clinical therapeutic strategy for prostate cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drill bit anisotropy denotes the difference in drilling ability of a bit in the axial and lateral directions, and is an important factor impacting directional drilling efficiency. Quantitative evaluation of PDC bit anisotropy is important for well trajectory control and PDC bit optimization. Based on the structural parameters of PDC bits such as inner cone depth, outer structure height, back-rake angle, and gauge structure, the quantitative evaluation model for determining PDC bit anisotropy is established and a method for solving the model coefficient is given. This model was applied to evaluate bit anisotropy of PDC bit A in the PY35—X well in the South China Sea. The results were used to optimize the design of a new PDC bit, B type. The PDC bit B was then used in the 2450-2850 m section of offset well HZ25—X, with the inclination angle being satisfactorily controlled in the range between 1.2 and 1.95°. Successful application of bit A in the offset well proves the validity of the evaluation model. The model of quantitative evaluation of PDC bit anisotropy helps to overcome the shortcomings of laboratory tests, like complicated test conditions and poor applicability. Basing on this model, the effect of structural parameters of PDC bits on the bit anisotropy index was discussed. It was shown that the bit anisotropy index increases as back rake angle, friction angle between the PDC bit and rock and bit size increase, and decreases as outer structure height, inner cone depth, and friction surface of the gauge increase. When drilling with a pendulum bottom hole assembly, it is recommended to use a PDC bit with high anisotropy index, which helps to minimize the tendency for the well to build angle due to strata deviating forces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on high-speed transportation network development in China. Topics include considered highway as means for long distance transportation between provinces and cities in China; representation of economic development level spatial pattern and the interaction between regions are highway structure and traffic demand distribution; and distribution of highways relatively uniform with respect to the population distribution.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to investigate the underlying functional network brain activity changes in patients with late monocular blindness (MB) and the relationship with their clinical features using the voxel-wise degree centrality (DC) method.Material and Methods: A total of 32 patients with MB (25 males and 7 females), and 32 healthy controls (HCs) (25 males and 7 females) closely matched in age, sex, and education, underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans. The DC method was used to assess local features of spontaneous brain activity. Correlation analysis was performed to explore the relationships between the observed mean DC signal values of the different areas and clinical features in these patients.Results: Compared with HCs, MB patients had significantly lower DC values in the bilateral cuneus/V1/V2, and significantly higher DC values in the left inferior temporal gyrus and bilateral medial frontal gyrus. However, there was no relationship between the observed mean DC values of the different brain areas and the behavioral performance.Conclusions: Late monocular blindness involves brain function network dysfunction in many regions, which might indicate impairment of the visual cortex and other vision-related brain regions in the MBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Casing shear deformation has become a serious problem in the development of shale gas fields, which is believed to relate to fault slipping caused by multistage fracturing. This paper presents a new investigation aiming at understanding the reduction of casing inner diameter after fault slipping under different conditions, according to microseism data and calliper surveys. A mathematical model, which was verified by measurement results, was established to build a relationship between microseism moment magnitude and slip distance. A 3D numerical model, which was verified by physical model experiments, was developed to quantify the relationships between slip distance and the reduction of casing inner diameter. And then the relationships among microseism moment magnitude, slip distance and the reduction of casing inner diameter were established. The influence of casing internal pressure, slip distance, mechanical parameters of cement sheath, and casing thickness on the reduction of casing inner diameter was analyzed. The mathematical calculation results showed that with the increase of the degree of moment magnitude, the radius and slip distance increase, and with the increase of stress drop, the radius decreases and the slip distance increases. The numerical analysis results showed maintaining high pressure, increasing the elasticity modulus and decreasing the Passion ratio of cement sheath and increasing the casing thickness were beneficial to decrease the reduction of casing inner diameter. Keeping the designed horizontal segment of well trajectory away from the fracture-developed area, or be parallel to natural fracture can decrease the slip distance of fault, which can decrease the reduction of casing inner diameter. Finally, some effective measures to reduce or prevent casing shear deformation were recommended. • The relationship between moment magnitude and slip distance was established. • The reduction of casing inner diameter after fault slipping was quantified. • Decreasing slip distance and increasing the casing thickness benefited protecting the casing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Newborn ear deformity can be performed through Earwell infant ear correction system as a non-surgical treatment to avoid plastic surgery. In the newborn period, the auricle is soft and the cartilage is plastic, the deformed auricle shape can be treated by mechanical action. From April 2016 to December 2018, we selected the patients who underwent Earwell non-invasive correction system in Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University for newborn ear deformities, and analyze the treatment age, treatment time, efficiency and complication of these patients. There were 105 patients with 141 ears underwent Earwell non-invasive correction system for newborn ear deformities. The average age for treatment is 2.16 ± 2.28 months (0.23–12.0 months). The average treatment time is 1.14 ± 0.57 months (0.33–4.0 months). The treatment outcomes show 109 ears get excellent results, 27 ears good results and 5 ears poor results. For complications, there were 6 patients had localized skin rash and 5 had skin lesion which were cured after 3–5 days. Nine patients had different degree of recurrence. The treatment age less than 6 weeks had a better results than treatment age old than 6 weeks (χ2 = 4.48, p < 0.05). Except 5 poor results patients, the treatment efficiency is 96.4% (136/141) in this study. The Earwell infant ear correction system is proven to be a simple, non-invasive, high-efficiency, low-cost treatment method, which is more effective than traditional plastic surgery, and treatment efficiency of different types ear deformities can reach more than 95% in China. It is important to ensure the early treatment during the first 6 weeks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The C–N bond breaking of methylamine on clean, carbon (nitrogen, oxygen)-modified Mo(100) [denoted as Mo(100) and Mo(100)–C(N,O), respectively], Mo2C(100), MoN(100), and Pt(100) surfaces has been investigated by the first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The results show that the reaction barriers of the C–N bond breaking in CH3NH2 on Mo(100)–C(N,O) are higher than that on clean Mo(100). The calculated energy barrier can be correlated linearly with the density of Mo 4d states at the Fermi level after the adsorption of CH3NH2 for those surfaces. Moreover, the DFT results show that the subsurface atom, e.g., carbon, can reduce the reaction barrier. In addition, We noticed that the activation energies for the C–N bond breaking on Mo2C(100) and MoN(100) are similar to that on Pt(100), suggesting that the catalytic properties of the transition metal carbides and nitrides for C–N bond scission of CH3NH2 might be very similar to the expensive Pt-group metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We theoretically investigate the force sensitivity of phase-modulation atomic force microscopy in the constant amplitude mode with Q-control technique, which enables to increase or decrease the effective Q factor (Qeff) of the cantilever. The relation between the minimum detectable interaction force and the effective Q factor is derived from the equation of motion for the cantilever at low Q environment such as liquid environment. It indicates that the minimum detectable interaction force can be reduced in proportion to Qeff1/2 under strong Q enhancement, while it does not depend on the effective Q factor under weak Q enhancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A model of two-stage semiconductor thermoelectric refrigerators with external heat transfer is proposed. The performance of the refrigerator obeying Newton’s heat transfer law is analyzed using the combination of finite-time thermodynamics and nonequilibrium thermodynamics. Two analytical formulas for cooling load versus working electrical current, and the coefficient of performance (COP) versus working electrical current, are derived. For a fixed total heat transfer surface area of two heat exchangers, the ratio of the heat transfer surface area of the high-temperature-side heat exchanger to the total heat transfer surface area of the heat exchangers is optimized to maximize the cooling load and the COP of the thermoelectric refrigerator. For a fixed total number of thermoelectric elements, the ratio of the number of thermoelectric elements of the top stage to the total number of thermoelectric elements is also optimized to maximize both the cooling load and the COP of the thermoelectric refrigerator. The effects of design factors on the performance are analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vuks equations correlate the microscopic molecular polarizabilities to the macroscopic refractive indices of anisotropic crystalline materials. For anisotropic liquid crystals, the molecular polarizabilities are difficult to measure directly due to the short- and long-range interactions. We have converted Vuks equations into different forms. By measuring the refractive indices at different temperatures and wavelengths, the Vuks equations can be validated. Five liquid-crystal materials with refractive index ranging from ∼1.46 to ∼1.86 are used to validate the modified Vuks equations. The experimental results agree with the theory very well. Based on the Vuks equations, the molecular polarizabilities of 4-cyano-4-n-pentylbiphenyl are calculated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the observation and characterization of a series of stable bimetallic 18-valence-electron clusters containing a highly symmetric 12-atom icosahedral Au cage with an encapsulated central heteroatom of Group VB transition metals, M@Au12- (M=V,Nb,Ta). Electronic and structural properties of these clusters were probed by anion photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. Characteristics of the M@Au12- species include their remarkably high binding energies and relatively simple spectral features, which reflect their high symmetry and stability. The adiabatic electronic binding energies of M@Au12- were measured to be 3.70±0.03, 3.77±0.03, and 3.76±0.03 eV for M=V, Nb, and Ta, respectively. Comparison of density-functional calculations with experimental data established the highly symmetric icosahedral structures for the 18-electron cluster anions, which may be promising building blocks for cluster-assembled nanomaterials in the form of stoichiometric [M@Au12-]X+ salts. © 2004 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A model describing the temperature effect of liquid crystal (LC) refractive indices is derived and confirmed by experiment. Two single LC compounds (5CB, 5PCH) and two mixtures (MLC-6241-000 and UCF-35) with different birefringence values were used to validate the model. This model fits all the experimental data well. For a low-birefringence LC mixture, if the operating temperature is far below its clearing point, the temperature-dependent refractive indices can be approximated as a parabolic form. This prediction is also experimentally validated. In addition, a linear relationship between 〈n2〉 and temperature is found. © 2004 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The three- and two-coefficient Cauchy equations are derived based on the three-band model for the wavelength- and temperature-dependent refractive indices of anisotropic liquid crystals. For high birefringence (Δn>=0.2) liquid crystals, the three-coefficient Cauchy model fits experimental results more accurately than the two-coefficient model. For low birefringence (Δn<=0.12) liquid crystal mixtures the two-coefficient Cauchy model works equally well as the three-coefficient model in the off-resonance spectral region. © 2004 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The reductions of perioperative blood loss and inflammatory response are important in total knee arthroplasty. Tranexamic acid reduced blood loss and the inflammatory response in several studies. However, the effect of epinephrine administration plus tranexamic acid has not been intensively investigated, to our knowledge. In this study, we evaluated whether the combined administration of low-dose epinephrine plus tranexamic acid reduced perioperative blood loss or inflammatory response further compared with tranexamic acid alone.Methods: This randomized placebo-controlled trial consisted of 179 consecutive patients who underwent primary total knee arthroplasty. Patients were randomized into 3 interventions: Group IV received intravenous low-dose epinephrine plus tranexamic acid, Group TP received topical diluted epinephrine plus tranexamic acid, and Group CT received tranexamic acid alone. The primary outcome was perioperative blood loss on postoperative day 1. Secondary outcomes included perioperative blood loss on postoperative day 3, coagulation and fibrinolysis parameters (measured by thromboelastography), inflammatory cytokine levels, transfusion values (rate and volume), thromboembolic complications, length of hospital stay, wound score, range of motion, and Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score.Results: The mean calculated total blood loss (and standard deviation) in Group IV was 348.1 ± 158.2 mL on postoperative day 1 and 458.0 ± 183.4 mL on postoperative day 3, which were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) compared with Group TP at 420.5 ± 188.4 mL on postoperative day 1 and 531.1 ± 231.4 mL on postoperative day 3 and Group CT at 520.4 ± 228.4 mL on postoperative day 1 and 633.7 ± 237.3 mL on postoperative day 3. Intravenous low-dose epinephrine exhibited a net anti-inflammatory activity in total knee arthroplasty and did not induce an obvious hypercoagulable status. Transfusion values were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in Group IV, but no significant differences were observed in the incidence of thromboembolic complications, wound score, range of motion, and HSS score among the 3 groups (p > 0.05).Conclusions: The combined administration of low-dose epinephrine and tranexamic acid demonstrated an increased effect in reducing perioperative blood loss and the inflammatory response compared with tranexamic acid alone, with no apparent increased incidence of thromboembolic and other complications.Level Of Evidence: Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN) has drawn increasing public attention. Organic anion transporters (OATs) are considered to be responsible for mediating nephrotoxicity of aristolochic acids (AAs), as AAs are typical OAT1 substrates that exhibit anionic properties and contain one hydrophobic domain. Inspired by the OAT1 three-dimensional structure or substrate/protein interactions involved in transport, we designed a magnetic polymeric hybrid, mimicking the effect of basic and aromatic residues of OAT1, for efficient enriching aristolochic acid I (AA I) and aristolochic acid II (AA II) in Traditional Chinese patent medicines (TCPM). N, N-dimethylaminopropyl acrylamide (DMAPAm) was used as a cationic monomer and copolymerized with divinylbenzene (DVB) onto the surface of monodisperse magnetic nanoparticles (denoted as MNs@SiO2T-DvbDam). The magnetic polymer hybrid demonstrated high selectivity and capacity for AAs, which was mainly attributed to (1) electrostatic interactions from the cationic or basic moiety of DMAPAm and (2) the hydrophobic and p-p stacking interactions from the aromatic ring of DVB. Additionally, the surface of the hybrid exhibited amphiphilic property according to the ionization of DMAPAm, thus improving the compatibility of the adsorbent with the aqueous sample matrix. This strategy was proven to be robust in the analysis of real drug samples, which was characterized by a good linearity, high recovery and satisfactory reusability. This work confirmed that the proposed tool could be a promising candidate for enhancing the extraction selectivity of AAs in Traditional Chinese medicines (TCM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On June 10, 2022, the MS6.0 Ma'erkang earthquake sequence occurred in the Bayan Har block. In this paper, the temporal and spatial distribution and attenuation characteristics of earthquake sequence is analyzed based on the regional structure, the temporal and spatial distribution of earthquake sequence, the focal mechanism solution, and the parameters of earthquake sequence, using the data of Sichuan Seismic Network and the temporary stations incorporated into the network. The results show that: (1) The MS6.0 Ma'erkang earthquake sequence is generally distributed in NW-SE direction, and the long axis of this series is basically consistent with the nearby Songgang fault. (2) As the earthquake sequence is formed by three large events with MS ≥5.0, the frequency of small earthquakes in the earthquake sequence area generally attenuates relatively slowly, while the activity level (magnitude) of aftershocks attenuates rapidly. (3) After the MS5.2 earthquake, the sequence parameters obtained show that the h-value is 1.09 and the p-value is stable at 1.02, indicating that the intensity and frequency attenuation of the earthquake sequence are gradually stable and tend to be normal. The b-value is 0.95, indicating that the maximum aftershock magnitude of the series is estimated to be ML5.1, and the b-value gradually tended to be stable, indicating that the stress in the region gradually tended to be balanced after the MS5.2 earthquake. The MS4.4 (ML5.0) earthquake that occurred at 4:37 on June 10 (local time) is the largest aftershock after the MS5.2 earthquake in the sequence. (4) The Songgang fault with NW-SE trend is presumed to be the main seismogenic tectonics, but the migration of three earthquakes with MS≥5.0 may also indicate that the Songgang fault is not a single seismogenic tectonics, which requires further field scientific investigation and analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a rapid carbonization-activation two-step process for preparing powdered activated coke (PAC) sorbent is proposed. Shengli lignite is utilized as the feedstock to prepare PACs through this process, employing various combinations of carbonization and activation temperatures. The pore structure, surface functional groups, yield and SO2 adsorption properties of the PACs are comprehensively analyzed. Additionally, Aspen Plus software is employed to calculate the system equilibrium of this process. Results demonstrate that the performance of the prepared PAC is predominantly influenced by the activation temperature. Despite variations in carbonization temperature, consistent performance and yield are achieved as long as the activation temperature remains constant. Through the experimental design, the optimum combination of carbonization temperature and activation temperature of the two-step process is optimized, that is, the carbonization temperature is 750°C, and the activation temperature is 950°C. The SBET of the PAC prepared under optimal condition is 550 m² /g, and its SO2 adsorption capacity is 116.58 mg/g, which are both higher than that of the other ACs. The system equilibrium indicates that the optimal parameters for PAC preparation can be achieved by employing a water and air spray technique between the combustion zone and activation zone, with a water spray rate of 1.70 (kg/kg coal for combustion) and an air spray rate of 2.75 (kg/kg coal for combustion). In addition, the maintenance of system equilibrium necessitates the combustion of a certain amount of gas to elevate the temperature through the injection of a specific quantity of air into the carbonization step, with an air spray rate set at 11.00 (kg/kg coal for combustion). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Investigate the mechanism of how sodium butyrate (NaBut) improves mitochondrial function and kidney tissue injury in diabetic kidney disease (DKD) via the AMPK/PGC-1α pathway. Methods: Assess the effects of NaBut on glucose and insulin tolerance, urine, and gut microbial composition in db/db and db/m mice. Use flow cytometry and western blotting to detect the effects of NaBut on apoptosis, kidney mitochondrial function, and AMPK/PGC-1α signaling. Use HK-2 cells induced by high glucose (HG) to establish the DKD model in vitro and detect changes in the AMPK/PGC-1α signaling pathway and mitochondrial function after NaBut intervention. Results: NaBut attenuated blood glucose levels and reversed increases in urine and serum levels of glucose, BUN, Ucr, TG, TC, and UAE in db/db mice. NaBut improved insulin tolerance, reversed PGC-1α and p-AMPK expression level in the kidneys of db/db mice, and improved lipid accumulation and mitochondrial function. NaBut was able to reverse the effects of elevated glucose, compound C, and siRNA-PGC on ROS and ATP levels. Additionally, it increased protein expression of PGC-1α and p-AMPK. Conclusion: NaBut activates the kidney mitochondrial AMPK/PGC-1α signaling pathway and improves mitochondrial dysfunction in DKD, thus protecting kidney tissue in vitro and in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the impact of microwave-vacuum drying (MVD) on moisture uniformity in mushroom slices and whole mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) by near infrared (NIR) hyperspectral imaging in combination with multivariate analysis. The partial least squares regression (PLSR) models based on standard normal variate (SNV) preprocessing spectra obtained good results for predicting moisture contents (MC) with the coefficient of determination in prediction ( R p 2 ) of 0.985 for mushroom slices and 0.963 for whole mushrooms. The MC of caps was 5–11 g/100 g higher than that of stipes for the first 12 min of drying and after 18 min of drying the MC of stipes was 6–22 g/100 g higher than that of caps. The MC of peripheral caps of whole mushrooms was 2–12 g/100 g higher than that of centers for the first 30 min of drying, but the MC of peripheral caps was 4–5 g/100 g lower than that of centers in the last 20 min of drying. In addition, the difference of MC between caps and stipes (6–22 g/100 g) in mushroom slices was more significant than that between the center and periphery (4–5 g/100 g) in whole mushrooms during the middle and later periods of drying procedure. • Rates of shrinkages, color changes and evaporation vary during drying. • Caps of mushroom slices tend to lose moisture faster than stipes. • Stipes under caps of whole mushrooms can cause uneven moisture distribution. • Moisture of sliced and whole mushrooms shows different patterns during drying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial biomass (MB) plays a critical role in residue decomposition and soil organic matter (SOM)

Cadmium (Cd) is a poisonous metal that is toxic for male reproduction. Cyanidin-3- O -glucoside (C3G) as typical anthocyanin benefits many organs. In this study, we investigated the protective effects and associated underlying mechanisms of C3G against the toxicity of Cd on male reproduction in rat Leydig cell line R2C cells. Cells were pre-protected with C3G (5–160 μmol/L) for 2 h and then treated with cadmium sulfate (CdSO 4) (10–160 μmol/L) for 24 h. The results showed that cytotoxicity, mitochondrial damage, superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), and overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in CdSO 4 -treated R2C cells were significantly reduced with C3G pre-treatment. Moreover, C3G pre-treatment led to upregulated expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein and progesterone production. Our study suggests that C3G may be a potential therapeutic agent against Cd-induced reproductive toxicity. • C3G improved cell morphological changes in CdSO 4 -treated R2C cells. • C3G enhanced progesterone synthesis by modulating MMP and StAR expression. • C3G protected against Cd-caused reproductive injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development of social media encourages people to share their opinions and feelings on the Internet. Every day, a large number of short text comments are generated through Twitter, microblogging, WeChat, etc., and there is high commercial and social value in extracting useful information from these short texts. At present, most studies have focused on extracting text key words. For example, the LDA topic model has good performance with long texts, but it loses effectiveness with short texts because of the noise and sparsity problems. In this paper, we attempt to use Word2Vec and Doc2Vec to improve short-text key word extraction. We first added the method of the collaborative training of word vectors and paragraph vectors and then used the TextRank model's clustering nodes. We adjusted the weights of the key words that were generated by computing the jump probability between nodes and then obtained the node-weighted score, and eventually sorted the generated key words. The experimental results show that the improved method has good performance on the datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Five new sesquiterpenoids were isolated from the rhizomes of Homalomena occulta. • Compound 5 represented the first example of 1,4-oxa-oppositane sesquiterpenoid. • Compounds 5 , 18 , 19 showed potent anti-inflammatory activity. Abstract The rhizomes of Homalomena occulta are called Qian-nian-jian in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which is widely consumed in China owing to its health benefits for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and for strengthening tendons and bones. A phytochemical investigation on this famous TCM yielded 19 sesquiterpenoids (1 – 19) with various carbocyclic skeletons including isodaucane (2 , 8 , and 9), guaiane (3), eudesmane (4 and 10 – 15), oppositane (5 , 16 , and 17), and aromadendrane (18 and 19) types. The structures of new compounds, Homalomenins A-E (1 – 5), were determined by diverse spectroscopic data. Compound 1 possessed a rare sesquiterpenoid skeleton and compound 5 represented the first example of 1,4-oxa-oppositane sesquiterpenoid. These isolates were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on COX-2 mRNA, COX-2 protein expression, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production in Raw264.7 cells, which demonstrated that compounds 5 , 18 , 19 showed potent anti-inflammatory activity by suppressing LPS-induced COX-2 expression and PGE2 production in a dose-dependent manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]