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The present study was performed to validate the accuracy of a self-designed applied-potential tomograph (APT) in measuring the cross area of a studied object and to assess the effect of omeprazole premedication on water gastric emptying (GE), based on APT. Twelve electrodes were evenly placed in a circular array around the studied subjects. Ten electrodes in a rotated order recorded the electrical current injected into paired electrodes. Based on tomography, averaged signals of changed resistivity were constructed to display the area of interest and GE curve. Six beakers of various diameters were respectively placed into a cylindrical perspex tank which was filled with saline to measure their cross areas via computer-generated diagrams of APT. One hour after either omeprazole (20 mg) or placebo premedication, 15 healthy males were ordered to consume 500 ml of test water to assess emptying for 40 min. Within 3 days, a similar procedure was repeated using the counterpart premedication. The true cross areas of the 6 beakers are 2.01, 15.9, 18.8, 30.19, 38.48 and 63.61 cm[sup 2] , whereas those obtained by APT were 7.9 ± 2.9, 16.7 ± 3.3, 22.4 ± 4.9, 28 ± 4.8, 48.7 ± 7.6 and 67 ± 6.1 cm[sup 2] , respectively (r = 0.98, p < 0.001). Valid emptying data were obtained in 73.3 and 86.6% of subjects, following placebo and omeprazole, respectively (not significant). The half emptying times were 12.7 ± 5.1 min for the placebo-treated group and 10.5 ± 3.6 min for the omeprazole-treated group, respectively (p < 0.05). The areas under the emptying curve were 1,611.5 ± 357.6 and 1,317.3 ± 316.7 arbitrary units, respectively (p < 0.01). In conclusion, our APT system is accurate for large-area measurements; acid inhibition before APT measurement does not increase the success rate but enhances water emptying. The interpretation of impedance-obtained GE should consider the acid-inhibitory effect.Copyright © 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a flexible method in folding cardboard cartons using interchangeable fixtures by moving the fixture with a robot. Fixture design approach for a given carton and folding sequence; Carton folding problems; Motion planning algorithm in generating folding sequences; Approaches in different carton styles; Fixture design for a sample carton and folding sequence implementation with a robot.

This paper presents a model for predicting intrinsic fatigue crack growth rates (ICGRs) in welded aluminum plates. The prediction model is based on the Walker equation and the influence of weld material strength on fatigue crack growth rates is further considered. ICGRs of friction stir welded 2024-T3 aluminum specimens under constant amplitude loading condition and constant stress intensity factor range loading condition are predicted using the model and compared with the experimental results. Good agreement between the predicted ICGRs and experimental results demonstrate the validity of the prediction model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • All N -phenyltetrahydroquinazolinones showed higher NtPPO inhibitory activity than flumioxazin. • 2o showed 10-fold more enhanced NtPPO-inhibiting potency than flumioxazin. • 2b and 2i could be potential lead compounds for weeds control in wheat fields. Discovering new protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO, EC 1.3.3.4) inhibitors is a promising direction for agrochemical research. Herein, we reported the discovery and in silico structure-guided optimization of N -phenyltetrahydroquinazolinones 1 and 2 as new PPO inhibitors. Most of the obtained compounds 1 and 2 exhibited significantly enhanced Nicotiana tabacum PPO (NtPPO) inhibitory potency than that of flumioxazin. Promisingly, 1-(tert -butoxy)-1-oxopropan-2-yl 2-chloro-4-fluoro-5-(4-oxo-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinazolin-3(4 H)-yl)benzoate, 2o , with a K i value of 4 nM, showed ten folds more enhanced NtPPO-inhibiting potency than flumioxazin. Additionally, compounds 2b and 2i showed a broad spectrum of broadleaf weeds control at 37.5–150 g ai/ha, and selective for wheat at 150 g ai/ha in the post-emergent application. The molecular simulation studies revealed the vital basis between N -phenyltetrahydroquinazolinones and NtPPO. The present work indicated that the N -phenyltetrahydroquinazolinone motif might be a potential scaffold for herbicide discovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-cost sensors (LCSs) are widely acknowledged for bringing a paradigm shift in supplemental traditional air monitoring by air regulatory agencies. However, there is concern regarding its data quality and performance stability, which has greatly restricted its large-scale applications. Knowing the recent techniques, progress, and challenges of LCS calibration is of immense significance to promote the field of environmental monitoring. By summarizing the published evidence, this review shows that the global sensor market is rapidly expanding due to the surging needs, but the calibration efforts have been focused on a limited selection of sensors. Relative humidity correction, regression, and machine learning are the three mainstream calibration techniques. Although there is no one-size-fits-all solution, a feature of the latest research tendency is machine learning. The duration of calibration is largely neglected in the experiment design, but it is found to affect the performance of different calibration methods, especially those that are data-driven. Geographically, China and the United States gained the most research attention in the sensor calibration field, but the spatial mismatch between particulate matter hotspots and calibration sites is quite evident for the rest of the world. Incomplete and unevenly distributed research footprints could limit the large-scale test of method generalizability, as well as diminish the monitoring capacity in underserved areas that suffer greater environmental justice crises. In general, model performance is enhanced by including the key influencing factors, but the degree of improvement is not evidently related to the number of explanatory variables. Overall, studies prove the critical importance of field calibration before sensor deployment, but more studies are needed to establish experiment protocols that can be customized to specific needs. • Calibration methods and duration collectively determine the calibration performance. • Machine learning methods have gained growing interest and popularity in sensor calibration. • Globally, spatial mismatch between PM 2.5 hotspots and calibration sites is evident. • Adding more influencing variables improves calibration accuracy but not evidently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apart from geographical difference and processing method, the maturity of fresh tea shoot is an important factor that determines tea quality. However, the quality development and chemical variation of green tea with tea shoot maturity remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the metabolic consequences of tea shoot maturity on the taste and aroma quality of green tea by metabolite profiling. In terms of taste quality, a concentration-dependent decrease with tea shoot age was observed in gallic acid and caffeine. The levels of catechin, epicatechin, and epigallocatechin increased with tea shoot maturity, whereas those of epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin gallate, and total catechins decreased. Furthermore, the maximum contents of most amino acids were recorded in green tea processed from one bud with two leaves. In terms of aroma quality, volatile profiles of green tea were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry combined with chemometrics. A total of 32 differential volatile organic compounds showing significant differences were identified and divided into Groups I and II, which contribute undesirable flavor and sweet flowery aroma to tea, respectively. The relative abundance of Group I increased with tea shoot maturity whereas that of Group II decreased. These findings can be used in guiding the production of green tea. [Display omitted] • The effect of tea shoot maturity on taste and aroma quality of green tea was investigated. • The non-volatiles had obvious changing trend during tea shoot maturation. • Chemometrics analysis showed good separation of green tea processed from tea with different shoot maturity. • A total of 32 volatiles showing significant differences with tea shoot maturity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chilo suppressalis (Walker) is one of the important pests in rice production. In this paper, the spawning condition of Chilo suppressalis on rice seedlings in Wuxue, Qichun, Chongyang and Xiaogan of Hubei Province was investigated, and the spawning habit of overwintering-generation Chilo suppressalis on rice seedlings was analyzed. The results showed the overwintering-generation Chilo suppressalis prefers to spawn on verdant rice leaf blades (face, upper part). The investigation on spawning habit of Chilo suppressalis would provide a theoretical basis for the fore-casting and control of Chilo suppressalis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clozapine is an effective antipsychotic drug but is associated with serious side effects. Most treatment guidelines give no clear recommendations on regular monitoring of liver function tests, even though up to 60% of patients experience elevations in hepatic transaminases, with 15% to 30% experiencing an elevation two to three times greater than normal. Though elevations in liver function tests are often transient and asymptomatic, there are many reported cases of clozapine-induced hepatotoxicity, with damage to the liver, involvement of multiple organs, and even fulminant liver failure arising with moderate clozapine doses. This case report describes a Chinese woman who developed hepatotoxicity on a low dose of clozapine, and reviews the relevant literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung adenocarcinoma is a major public health problem with the low 5-year survival rate (15%) among cancers. Aberrant alterations of meiotic genes, which have gained increased attention recently, might contribute to elevated tumor risks. However, systematic and comprehensive studies based on the relationship between meiotic genes and LUAD recurrence and treatment response are still lacking. In this manuscript, we first confirmed that the meiosis related prognostic model (MRPM) was strongly related to LUAD progression via LASSO-Cox regression analyses. Furthermore, we identified the role of PPP2R1A in LUAD, which showed more contributions to LUAD process compared with other meiotic genes in our prognostic model. Additionally, repression of PPP2R1A enhances cellular susceptibility to nelfinavir-induced apoptosis and pyroptosis. Collectively, our findings indicated that meiosis-related genes might be therapeutic targets in LUAD and provided crucial guidelines for LUAD clinical intervention. Highlights: Meiotic genes-related risk score (MRS) is a promising prediction feature with high reliability and accuracy for LUAD patients. PPP2R1A is overexpressed in LUAD and associated with malignancy. Nelfinavir inhibited cell viability and yields anti-tumor effects in LUAD cells. PPP2R1A silencing sensitizes cancer cells to nelfinavir induced cell apoptosis and pyroptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pain perception arises from the integration of prior expectations with sensory information. Although recent work has demonstrated that treatment expectancy effects (e.g., placebo hypoalgesia) can be explained by a Bayesian integration framework incorporating the precision level of expectations and sensory inputs, the key factor modulating this integration in stimulus expectancy-induced pain modulation remains unclear. In a stimulus expectancy paradigm combining emotion regulation in healthy male and female adults, we found that participants' voluntary reduction in anticipatory anxiety and pleasantness monotonically reduced the magnitude of pain modulation by negative and positive expectations, respectively, indicating a role of emotion. For both types of expectations, Bayesian model comparisons confirmed that an integration model using the respective emotion of expectations and sensory inputs explained stimulus expectancy effects on pain better than using their respective precision. For negative expectations, the role of anxiety is further supported by our fMRI findings that (1) functional coupling within anxiety-processing brain regions (amygdala and anterior cingulate) reflected the integration of expectations with sensory inputs and (2) anxiety appeared to impair the updating of expectations via suppressed prediction error signals in the anterior cingulate, thus perpetuating negative expectancy effects. Regarding positive expectations, their integration with sensory inputs relied on the functional coupling within brain structures processing positive emotion and inhibiting threat responding (medial orbitofrontal cortex and hippocampus). In summary, different from treatment expectancy, pain modulation by stimulus expectancy emanates from emotion-modulated integration of beliefs with sensory evidence and inadequate belief updating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Navel oranges (Citrus sinensis. Newhall) are widely planted in several major production areas in southern China, with the Gannan region being the most distinctive. In this study, UPLC-Q-TOF/MS was used to discriminate the geographical origin of navel oranges harvested from distinct production areas in China. Results showed that the unsupervised analysis (PCA) explained 30.8% of the total variance, whereas supervised analysis (OPLS-DA) with cross-validated R2Y and Q2 values of 0.991 and 0.914, respectively, can obtain potential metabolites with better discrimination between Gannan and Non-Gannan regions. Forty-two potential differential metabolites with VIP >1.0 and P < 0.05 (T -test) were selected and identified. Three of these metabolites (narirutin 4′-glucoside, sinapic acid and farnesyl acetone) with AUC > 0.7 and P < 0.05 in logistic-regression analysis were included in the establishment of the receiver operating characteristic combined diagnostic analysis. Further, 16 metabolites were used to generate a suitable classification model for the targeted classification of the samples from different areas. These results provide guidance for geographical discrimination of navel oranges, and its application may be extended to improve planting conditions of navel oranges. Image 1 • ROC combined diagnostic analysis were used to explore the differential metabolites of navel oranges. • Narirutin 4′-glucoside, sinapic acid, and farnesyl acetone were selected as the marker compounds. • The main differences between the metabolites of navel oranges were related to flavonoids and organic acids. • The differential metabolites were linked to the influence of soils specificity and temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The flotation performances of malachite and calcite with CMDTP were explored. • CMDTP exhibited a stronger collecting power and a better selectivity on malachite than on calcite. • Cu2+ ions could promote the floatability of calcite in the presence of CMDTP. • CMDTP could adsorb on malachite surface via chemical interactions by FT-IR, zeta potential and XPS analysis. In this study, the flotation separation performances of malachite from calcite were investigated using a new chelating collector S-carboxymethyl-O, O'-dibutyl dithiophosphate (CMDTP) by micro-flotation tests, which showed that CMDTP exhibited a stronger collecting power and a better selectivity on malachite than octyl hydroxamic acid (OHA), 8-hydroxyquinoline (HQ) and sodium isobutyl xanthate (SIBX). In the flotation separation of artificially mixed minerals, malachite could be separated successfully from calcite at pH around 9.0 when using Na 2 S as a regulator. Its adsorption mechanism was also studied by FT-IR, zeta potential and XPS measurements, all of which confirmed that CMDTP showed a better affinity to malachite surface than to calcite surface. Furthermore, XPS provided obvious evidence that CMDTP could easily react with Cu2+ sites on malachite surface, and only a tiny adsorption occurred on calcite surface without Cu2+ ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fused-ring compounds containing a N–B–N (NBN) unit have emerged as a class of emitters for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) in recent years. However, despite the success of these compounds in achieving efficient green OLEDs, their application in blue OLEDs has not yet been realized. In this study, two new NBN-containing compounds featuring unsymmetrical molecular structures are designed and synthesized. The structural design endows the compounds with efficient blue emission and narrower emission bandwidths. A blue fluorescent OLED based on one of the compounds exhibits simultaneously a high external quantum efficiency of 4.2% and an excellent Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage (CIE) coordinate of (0.152, 0.096). The impressive performance of the OLED device suggests that with proper molecular designs, NBN-containing compounds possess great potential as excellent blue emitters for OLEDs, and thus merit further investigation and attention. [Display omitted] • Two new fused-ring compounds containing a N–B–N unit and featuring unsymmetrical molecular structures. • Easy adjustment of luminescent properties by simply changing the heteroatom in a boron-bonded structural motif. • Efficient blue emission with high fluorescence quantum yields and narrower emission bandwidths. • Efficient blue organic light-emitting diodes with excellent color coordinates based on N–B–N-containing compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To better understand how contour-levee irrigation practice impacts water resources for formulating effective water management policies, it is important to obtain its application on large-scale data sets, e.g. state-wide. Automatic classification of contour levee croplands from high-resolution aerial images is of great potential given the success of deep neural networks and the availability of high-resolution remote sensing imagery. This paper proposes a gradient CNN model to classify fields with contour levees from remote sensing images. Our model produces high-quality segmentation masks that are refined with superpixel-based segmentation post-processing. Our method is evaluated using images by the National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) for the counties in Arkansas. A comparison with the state-of-the-art methods demonstrates the improved performance of our proposed method. Our method demonstrates superior performance in the classification of challenging cases and achieves an overall 3.08% of accuracy improvement and 28.57% BER error reduction, compared to the second-best method. The p-value with respect to the second-best method is 0.005, which indicates great statistical significance. In addition, the results for data of different counties demonstrate the exceptional generalization ability of our method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most air pollution research has focused on assessing the urban landscape effects of pollutants in megacities, little is known about their associations in small- to mid-sized cities. Considering that the biggest urban growth is projected to occur in these smaller-scale cities, this empirical study identifies the key urban form determinants of decadal-long fine particulate matter (PM2.5) trends in all 626 Chinese cities at the county level and above. As the first study of its kind, this study comprehensively examines the urban form effects on air quality in cities of different population sizes, at different development levels, and in different spatial-autocorrelation positions. Results demonstrate that the urban form evolution has long-term effects on PM2.5 level, but the dominant factors shift over the urbanization stages: area metrics play a role in PM2.5 trends of small-sized cities at the early urban development stage, whereas aggregation metrics determine such trends mostly in mid-sized cities. For large cities exhibiting a higher degree of urbanization, the spatial connectedness of urban patches is positively associated with long-term PM2.5 level increases. We suggest that, depending on the city's developmental stage, different aspects of the urban form should be emphasized to achieve long-term clean air goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Changes in the volatiles of navel orange were investigated during maturation. • Principal component analysis showed good separation of fruits at different maturity. • Changes in the relative content of volatiles were clearly observed during growth. This study investigated the changes in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of navel orange during fruit maturation. The volatiles in navel orange from July (young fruit period) to November (commercial maturation period) were separated by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Fifty-seven VOCs were identified and classified into five groups. Through principal component analysis, the samples of different months were discriminated, and one-way analysis of variance showed that 55 volatiles significantly differed during growth. Among the VOCs, the relative concentration of monoterpenes increased with maturity, and D-limonene was the component with the highest content. Similar behavior was exhibited for aldehydes, reaching the maximum content in November. On the contrary, esters decreased its concentration from July to November. The concentration of sesquiterpenes gradually increased, reaching the maximum level between August and November. Moreover, alcohols reached theirs largest content in September, β-Linalool had the highest content among the alcohols. These results provided important theoretical support for the development of navel orange components and comprehensively elucidate the flavor characteristics during the ripening of navel orange. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Angiopoietin-2 (Angpt2) is associated with the progression of coronary artery disease (CAD). This research aimed to investigate the possible association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of ANGPT2 and CAD. Methods: This research was performed in a hospital from the eastern region of China. From February 2019 to June 2019, 222 patients with CAD were newly diagnosed and 403 healthy controls were confirmed by physical examinations. The distribution frequency of five SNPs of the ANGPT2 (rs11137037, rs2442598, rs12674822, rs1823375, and rs734701) in all participants was analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with SNP locus-specific probes. Results: Our data showed that the participants with the TT genotype of rs2442598 were at reduced risk of CAD compared with wild-types (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.511, 95% CI: 0.283-0.923). The participants with the AC and AC+CC genotypes of rs11137037 were at greater risk of CAD compared to wild-types (AOR = 1.754, 95% CI: 1.140-2.699; AOR = 1.731, 95% CI: 1.165-2.573, respectively). In addition, carriers of the GG+TT genotypes of rs12674822, showed more significant high-density lipoprotein than those of GG genotype, in addition, carriers of the GG+TT genotypes of rs12674822, showed more significant high-density lipoprotein than those of GG genotype (P=0.037). Conclusion: These findings, as well as analysis of the haplotype, clearly indicate that ANGPT2 SNPs were highly correlated with susceptibility to CAD among the Han Chinese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reduction and removal of surface native oxides from as-degreased and HCl-treated GaAs substrates using dimethylaluminumhydride (DMAH) have been studied by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It is revealed that higher oxide states are more easily removed from the GaAs surface after exposure to DMAH at 300 °C. Complete consumption of native oxides on HCl-treated GaAs surface has been realized with 10 s DMAH exposure. In addition, the metallization of the Al–O bonding with increase of DMAH exposure confirms the reduction of native oxides on GaAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the total synthesis of cytotoxic macrolide amphidinolide. The compound has gained interest in the synthetic community because of their potent cytotoxic activity against several cancer cell lines. Macrolides represent synthetic challenges because of their highly substituted diene functionality. The cleavage of the ester linkage could lead to the alcohols and the ketophosphonate.

The mechanism of single event transients in indium phosphide heterojunction bipolar transistors are studied with different laser energy, collector and irradiation positions based on a pulsed laser experiment. The area of the depletion region neutralized by the laser track determines the area of the funnel region, and affects the total charges collected by collector QTotal. The total charge collection consists of the charge collected in the depletion region, the charges collected in funnel region, and the diffusion charges. The larger the area of the neutralized depletion region, the larger the area of the funnel region, thus, the more electron–hole pairs would be collected. The influence of laser energy, collector bias and irradiation positions on total charge collection is studied and discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parameritannin A-2 (PA-2) is a natural product extracted from the stems of the plant Urceola huaitingii. Our previous studies have shown that PA-2 exhibits significant synergistic anticancer effects with doxorubicin (DOX) in HGC27 gastric cancer cell lines. Here we report that our isobolographic analysis confirms the synergistic cytotoxic effects of PA-2 and DOX in HGC27 cells. Flow cytometry and immunoblotting indicate that PA-2 enhances DOX-mediated apoptosis. Importantly, PA-2 enhances the intracellular accumulation of DOX in HGC27 cells. The combination of DOX and PA-2 remarkably increases the release of cytochrome C and the activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9, compared with DOX treatment alone. Moreover, PA-2 attenuates the DOX-induced activation of Akt, ERK1/2 and p38 signaling pathways, providing a molecular mechanism for the synergistic effects of DOX and PA-2 in the induction of apoptosis. In conclusion, our studies demonstrate that PA-2 and DOX synergistically induce mitochondria-dependent apoptosis as PA-2 inhibits the PI3K/Akt, ERK1/2 and p38 pathways in HGC27 cells. These findings suggest that the combination treatment with PA-2 and DOX may represent a potent therapy for gastric cancer. • PA-2 exhibits significant synergistic anticancer effects with DOX in HGC27 cells. • PA-2 enhances the intracellular accumulation of DOX in HGC27 cells. • PA-2 enhances DOX-mediated apoptosis. • PA-2 attenuates the DOX-induced activation of Akt, ERK1/2 and p38 signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Initial surface reaction mechanism for atomic layer deposition of HfO2 on the hydroxylated GaAs(001)-4×2 surface using HfCl4 and H2O as precursors is investigated using hybrid density functional theory. The reaction between HfCl4 and H2O with the hydroxylated GaAs(001)-4×2 surface consists of two half-reactions: (1) HfCl4 with GaAs–OH sites and (2) H2O with Hf–Cl sites. The two half-reactions proceed through the formation of stable chemisorbed states, resulting in high activation barriers of 17.1 and 17.6 kcal/mol for HCl formation, respectively. Additional energies are also needed to desorb the respective physisorbed states HCl from the substrate surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Campylobacter jejuni is a leading cause of foodborne illness globally. In this study, a spray drying and packaging process was developed to produce a thermally-stable dry powder containing bacteriophages that retains biological activity against C. jejuni after long distance shipping at ambient temperature. Spray drying using a twin-fluid atomizer resulted in significantly less (p < 0.05) titer reduction than spray drying using a vibrating mesh nebulizer. The use of centrifugation and dilution of filtered bacteriophage lysate in the formulation step resulted in a significantly greater (p < 0.05) proportion of bacteriophages remaining active relative to use of no centrifugation and dilution. The spray-dried bacteriophage powder generated using leucine and trehalose as excipients was flowable, non-cohesive, and exhibited a high manufacturing yield. The powder retained its titer with no significant differences (p > 0.05) in biological activity after storage in suitable packaging for at least 3 weeks at room temperature and after ambient temperature shipping a total distance of approximately 19,800 km, including with a 38 °C temperature excursion. The bacteriophage powder therefore appears suitable for global distribution without the need for cold chain infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have investigated adsorption and dissociation of water and HfCl4 on Ge/Si(100)-(2×1) surface with density functional theory. The Si–Ge heterodimer and Ge–Ge homodimer are employed to represent the Si1-xGex surface. The activation energy for adsorption of water on Ge–Ge homodimer is much higher than that on Si–Ge heterodimer. No net activation barrier exists during the adsorption of HfCl4 on both SiGe surface dimers. The differences in the potential energy surface between reactions on Si–Ge and Ge–Ge dimers are due to different bond strengths. It should also be noticed that the activation energy for HfCl4 is quite flat, thus HfCl4 adsorbs and dissociates on Ge/Si(100)-(2×1) easily. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clinical severity scores, such as acute physiology, age, chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II), sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA), Pitt Bacteremia Score (PBS), and European Confederation of Medical Mycology Quality (EQUAL) score, may not reliably predict candidemia prognosis owing to their prespecified scorings that can limit their adaptability and applicability. Objectives: Unlike those fixed and prespecified scorings, we aim to develop and validate a machine learning (ML) approach that is able to learn predictive models adaptively from available patient data to increase adaptability and applicability. Methods: Different ML algorithms follow different design philosophies and consequently, they carry different learning biases. We have designed an ensemble metalearner based on stacked generalisation to integrate multiple learners as a team to work at its best in a synergy to improve predictive performances. Results: In the multicenter retrospective study, we analysed 512 patients with candidemia from January 2014 to July 2019 and compared a stacked generalisation model (SGM) with APACHE II, SOFA, PBS and EQUAL score to predict the 14-day mortality. The cross-validation results showed that the SGM significantly outperformed APACHE II, SOFA, PBS, and EQUAL score across several metrics, including F1-score (0.68, p < .005), Matthews correlation coefficient (0.54, p < .05 vs. SOFA, p < .005 vs. the others) and the area under the curve (AUC; 0.87, p < .005). In addition, in an independent external test, the model effectively predicted patients' mortality in the external validation cohort, with an AUC of 0.77. Conclusions: ML models show potential for improving mortality prediction amongst patients with candidemia compared to clinical severity scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To better leverage the accumulated bioactivity data in the ChEMBL database, we have developed Bioactivity-explorer, a web application for interactive visualization and exploration of the large-scale bioactivity data in ChEMBL. Mining and integration of the Therapeutic Target Database disease-target mapping into the ChEMBL database has enabled Bioactivity-explorer to include 493,430 scaffolds, 31,400,000 matched molecular pairs, 1330,220 target–target interactions in terms of shared active compounds, 4526,718 target–target interactions in terms of shared active scaffolds, 97,041,700 molecule–molecule interactions and 14,974 disease-target mappings. This web tool is available at http://cadd.pharmacy.nankai.edu.cn/b17r. The source codes of the front end and back end, released under MIT license, can be found at GitHub. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To mitigate air pollution-related health risks and target interventions towards the populations bearing the greatest risks, the City Health Outlook (CHO) project aims to establish multi-scale, long-lasting, real-time urban environment and health monitoring networks. A major goal of CHO is to collect data of personal exposure to particulate air pollution through a full profile that consists of a matrix of activities and micro-environments. As the first paper of a series, this paper is targeted at illustrating the characteristics of the participants and examining the effects of different covariates on personal exposure at various air pollution exposure levels.Methods: In the first campaign, volunteers are recruited to wear portable environmental sensors to record their real-time personal air pollution exposure and routes. After a web-based social media recruitment strategy, 50 eligible subjects joined the first campaign in Beijing from January 8 to January 20, 2018. The mean personal exposures were measured at 19.36, 37.65, and 43.45 μg/m3 for particulate matter (PM) with a diameter less than 1, 2.5, and 10 μm, respectively, albeit with the high spatial-temporal variations.Results: Unequal distribution of exposures was observed in the subjects with different sociodemographic status, travel behavior, living and health conditions. Quantile regression analysis reveals that subjects who are younger, less educated, exposed to passive smoking, low to middle household income, overweight, without ventilation system at home or office, and do not possess private vehicles, are more susceptible to PM pollution. The differences, however, are generally insignificant at low exposure levels and become evident on bad air quality days.Conclusions: The heterogeneity in personal exposure found in this the first CHO campaign highlighted the importance of studying the pollution exposure at the individual scale. It is at the critical stage to bridge the knowledge gap of environmental inequality in different populations, which can lead to great health implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We previously reported that dynamic high-pressure microfluidization (DHPM) can degrade pectin in aqueous solution. In this study, we further investigated the effect of DHPM on pectin in water-ethanol systems. In the absence of DHPM treatment, it was found that pectin exhibited increased average particle size and unchanged average molecular weight, but a decline in reducing-sugar-ends content with the increase of ethanol concentrations (0–10% v/v). These results indicated that the addition of ethanol induced aggregation of pectin. During DHPM treatment, pectin underwent disaggregation and degradation under all measured ethanol concentrations. Disaggregation was enhanced but degradation was weakened with the increase of ethanol concentration. FT-IR and UV spectra indicated that demethylation but no β-elimination occurred in the water-ethanol system during DHPM. Finally, the mechanism of DHPM-induced disaggregation and degradation of pectin under a water-ethanol system was updated. This work may help us to find a suitable condition for reducing the degradation of pectin during the process of homogenization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is not recommended for treating learning and memory decline in menopausal women because it exerts adverse effects by activating classic estrogen receptors ERa and ERß. The membrane estrogen receptor G protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30) has been reported to be involved in memory modulation; however, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we found that GPR30 deletion in astrocytes, but not in neurons, impaired learning and memory in female mice. Astrocytic GPR30 depletion induced A1 phenotype transition, impairing neuronal function. Further exploration revealed that Praja1 (PJA1), a RING ubiquitin ligase, mediated the effects of astrocytic GPR30 on learning and memory by binding to Serpina3n, which is a molecular marker of neuroinflammation in astrocytes. GPR30 positively modulated PJA1 expression through the CREB signaling pathway in cultured murine and human astrocytes. Additionally, the mRNA levels of GPR30 and PJA1 were reduced in exosomes isolated from postmenopausal women while Serpina3n levels were increased in the plasma. Together, our findings suggest a key role for astrocytic GPR30 in the learning and memory abilities of female mice and identify GPR30/PJA1/Serpina3n as potential therapeutic targets for learning and memory loss in peri- and postmenopausal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This paper proposes a dynamic window with virtual goal (DW-VG) method for local collision avoidance in dynamic environments. Firstly, the debounce filter and polynomial curve-fitting algorithm are combined to predict the trajectory of the obstacles with timestamps. Based on the motion prediction of the obstacles, the virtual goal is proposed to replace the real goal, so that the robot can escape from the concave trap and avoid the dynamic obstacles. According to the timestamps and virtual goal, the optimal linear and angular velocities are selected from the dynamic window, which drive the robot toward its real goal. The simulation and experimental results show that the DW-VG method can not only escape the local minima and avoid dynamic obstacles but also is applicable to the dense environment. Furthermore, the simulation results also verify that the DW-VG method drives the robot to reach its goal faster and safer than other reactive obstacle avoidance methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel multilayer bidirectional linear array with the same sense circularly polarised (CP) radiation patterns are proposed. The CP resonant unit consists of a pair of loops and two square patches added on their opposite corners. With a feeding slotted substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) sandwiched between two back-to-back mirror rotated resonant units, a radiating element is designed, and same sense bidirectional CP waves are generated. Along the longitude direction, the radiating elements are arranged alternately from the centre line of the slotted SIW. Then, an 8-element linear array with uniform distribution is designed. Identical right-hand CP waves are achieved in both front and back directions. The array is fabricated, and measured results are in good agreement with simulated ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We find the explicit state vector for Torres-Vega–Frederick phase space representation [Go. Torres-Vega and J. H. Frederick, J. Chem. Phys. 98, 3103 (1993)], denoted by |Γ>. This set of states make up a complete and nonorthogonal representation. The Weyl ordered form of |Γ≥≤Γ| is derived, which can clearly exhibit the statistical behavior of marginal distribution of |Γ≥≤Γ|. The minimum uncertainty relation for |Γ> is demonstrated, which shows it being a coherent squeezed state [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing body of evidence has demonstrated an intricate association between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and neurodegenerative conditions, expanding beyond previous foci of comorbidities between IBD and mood disorders. These new discoveries stem from an improved understanding of the gut-microbiome-brain axis: specifically, the ability of the intestinal microbiota to modulate inflammation and regulate neuromodulatory compounds. Clinical retrospective studies incorporating large sample sizes and population-based cohorts have demonstrated and confirmed the relevance of IBD and chronic neurodegeneration in clinical medicine. In this review, we expound upon the current knowledge on the gut-microbiome-brain axis, highlighting several plausible mechanisms linking IBD with neurodegeneration. We also summarize the known associations between IBD with Parkinson disease, Alzheimer disease, vascular dementia and ischemic stroke, and multiple sclerosis in a clinical context. Finally, we discuss the implications of an improved understanding of the gut-microbiome-brain axis in preventing, diagnosing, and managing neurodegeneration among IBD and non-IBD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phage therapy has re-emerged as a promising solution for combating antimicrobial-resistant bacterial infections. Increasingly, studies have revealed that phages possess therapeutic potential beyond their antimicrobial properties, including regulating the gut microbiome and maintain intestinal homeostasis, as a novel nanocarrier for targeted drug delivery. However, the complexity and unpredictability of phage behavior during treatment pose a significant challenge in clinical practice. The intricate interactions established between phages, humans, and bacteria throughout their long coexistence in the natural ecosystem contribute to the complexity of phage behavior in therapy, raising concerns about their efficacy and safety as therapeutic agents. Revealing the mechanisms by which phages interact with the human body will provide a theoretical basis for increased application of promising phage therapy. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of phage-mammal interactions, including signaling pathways, adaptive immunity responses, and phage-mediated anti-inflammatory responses. Then, from the perspective of phage-mammalian immune system interactions, we present the first systematic overview of the factors affecting phage therapy, such as the mode of administration, the physiological status of the patient, and the biological properties of the phage, to offer new insights into phage therapy for various human diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High temperatures during flowering stage affects the seed setting in maize and thereby result in significant yield penalties in recent changing climate era. Based on the daily maximum temperature data of the maize growing season from 1971 to 2019 at the surface meteorological observatory in Henan Province of China and maize observation data at the agricultural meteorological observatory, an early warning grade of high temperatures during the summer maize flowering stage was constructed. The daily maximum temperature of the summer maize flowering stage was ≥ 32 °C as the critical threshold of high temperature disaster, and ≥ 35 °C as the threshold of high temperature disaster. The number of high temperature days (HD) ≥ 32 °C and ≥ 35 °C during 10 days of the summer maize flowering stage were counted. The sequence of high temperature days of summer maize flowering stage was constructed and its normal distribution characteristics were verified. The quartile value of the normal distribution sequence was selected as the threshold value of high temperature in different grades, and the high temperature heat damage in the summer maize flowering stage was divided into three early warning meteorological grades. The index verification of the early warning meteorological grade was carried out by using the observation data of kernel number per ear in the agricultural meteorological station for maize. The results showed that the three grade indexes corresponding to the number of high temperature days with daily maximum temperature ≥ 32 °C were: 3 ≤ HD < 5 (Grade I), 5 ≤ HD < 7 (Grade II), and HD ≥ 7 (Grade III) and the three grade indexes corresponding to high temperature days ≥ 35 °C were: 2 ≤ HD < 3 (Grade I), 3 ≤ HD < 5 (Grade II), HD ≥ 5 (Grade III). The constructed indexes were verified as follows, the number of high temperature days ≥ 32 °C at about 90% stations was significantly negatively correlated with the number of maize grains per ear, and 74% stations which the number of high temperature days ≥ 35 °C was significantly negatively correlated with the number of maize grains per ear. Applying this index to evaluate the high temperature risk in the flowering period, we can indicate that the high temperature risk had trend of increasing gradually from north to south. In conclusion, the constructed high temperature warning meteorological grade index during the flowering stage could accurately reflect the damage grade of maize during the flowering stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Weight gain is one of the most challenging issues in patients with schizophrenia treated with antipsychotics. Several meta-analyses have been conducted to review the efficacy of topiramate in reducing weight, however, several issues regarding the methodology had arisen of which make the results remain ambiguous. Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials about the use of topiramate in patients with schizophrenia for weight reduction. Ten double-blinded randomised placebo-controlled trials and seven open-label randomised controlled trials included 905 patients. Results: Patients treated with topiramate experienced a greater reduction in body weight and BMI. Patients in countries of the lower overweight population showed more significant BMI reduction. Besides, studies from the Middle East and South Asia showed the greatest effect in body weight change, followed by East Asia, then Europe=America. Topiramate group was outperformed control group with significant psychopathology improvement. No difference between two groups regarding the overall side effects. Conclusions: Topiramate was significantly superior to control group in mitigating weight gain and psychopathology in antipsychotic-treated patients with schizophrenia. The effects of topiramate augmentation need further investigations in larger definitive studies using methodological rigor and thorough assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorpyrifos, one of the common broad-spectrum insecticides, can damage the human nerve system - even to the point of death under long-term exposure. In addition, chlorpyrifos is hard to be naturally degraded because of its strong combination with soil particles and long half-life. So repairing the polluted soil is urgently needed. In this study, the embedding and crosslinking immobilization techniques were used to determine the degradation of chlorpyrifos in soil. After 16SrDNA analysis, the results showed that LLBD2 is Bacillus cereus and LLBD4 is bacillus sp., and bacteria immobilized on the degradation of chlorpyrifos were significantly better than the free bacteria. The degradation rate reached 83.28% after LLBD2 being immobilized within 72 h. Furthermore, the environmental factors influenced with LLBD2 showed that immobilized bacteria were more adapted to the changed environment than the free one. Although the initial concentration, pH, and temperature were significantly changed, the degradation rate of chlorpyrifos by immobilized bacteria was stable, suggesting that environmental factors had little influence on the immobilized bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) contribute to the development of multiple malignant tumors. Here, we focused on the biological function and underlying molecular mechanism of an lncRNA, nuclear-enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1), in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Methods:In vitro experiments were conducted to determine the biological effects of NEAT1 in LUAD cells. A luciferase activity reporter assay was performed to corroborate the interaction between NEAT1 and miR-193a-3p. Data from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), Oncomine, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and our in-house reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) were combined to examine the expression of NEAT1 and miR-193a-3p in LUAD. To further explore the regulatory mechanism of NEAT1, we searched for putative target genes of miR-193a-3p from 12 online prediction databases and determined genes positively correlated with NEAT1 as candidate targets. Furthermore, we analyzed the expression of these selected genes using data from TCGA. Results:In vitro experiments showed that knockdown of NEAT1 in LUAD cells markedly restrained cell proliferation, invasion, and migration and stimulated cell apoptosis. The dual-luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that miR-193a-3p directly targeted NEAT1 at its 3’-UTR. We then detected NEAT1 and miR-193a-3p in LUAD cells and normal lung epithelial cells and discovered high expression of NEAT1 and low expression of miR-193a-3p in LUAD cell lines. Simultaneously, the pooled results from the GEO, Oncomine, TCGA, and in-house RT-qPCR showed that the NEAT1 expression increased while the miR-193a-3p expression decreased in LUAD tissues versus normal lung tissues. Furthermore, the USF1 gene was not only upregulated in LUAD, but also positively correlated with NEAT1, suggesting that NEAT1 may function as a ceRNA to sponge miR-193a-3p and abrogate the inhibitory effect of miR-193a-3p on USF1. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that NEAT1 plays important roles in the occurrence and progression of LUAD. It may exert its role by acting as a ceRNA to regulate miR-193a-3p. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A response from the authors of the article "Short-term use of serotonin reuptake inhibitors and risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding" in the January 2014 issue is presented.

The article presents a study which examines the synthesis of enantioselective kinamycins. It mentions that the synthesis involves 12 linear steps from the Birch reduction of 3-(triiso-propylsilyloxy)-toluene. It explains the annulation strategy which allows the synthesis of substituted diazofluorenes in three steps from simple precursors such as α-oxidation, carbonyl reduction, and global deprotection.

Abstract: Circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) induced by host–guest complexation remains a challenge in supramolecular chemistry. Herein, a couple of CPL–silent enantiomeric guest binaphthylbis(4,4′‐bipyridinium) salts can emit obvious CPL in the presence of cucurbit[8]uril in aqueous media, due to the restriction of molecular rotation limitation effect. Such CPL can be reversibly adjusted by the addition of acid and base. Furthermore, the resultant supramolecular systems can interact with DNA, accompanied by the morphological conversion from branched supramolecular nanowires to exfoliated nanowires, which can enable to the exploration of such supramolecular systems as DNA markers by CPL signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phylogeographical study of the northern three-toed jerboa, Dipus sagitta, which has one of the largest geographical ranges among Palaearctic desert rodents, was performed using complete mitochondrial cytochrome b (Cytb) and fragments of two nuclear genes. Phylogenetic analysis of the Cytb data, including 222 specimens from 69 localities revealed, six allopatric lineages divergent at 7.4-10.1%. In some lineages the Cytb data are supported by nuclear data, thus confirming a high level of cryptic diversity within D. sagitta. The recovered pattern of genetic differentiation was reviewed from a taxonomic perspective. In general, the mitochondrial lineages show relatively good correlation with morphological subspecies. Both mitochondrial and nuclear data support the isolated position of the Qaidam lineage, which diverged from the rest in the Early Pleistocene (~1.5 Myr) according to our molecular clock results. Therefore, we propose to recognize this lineage as a separate species, Dipus deasyi; the taxonomic status of other lineages remains to be clarified. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the centre of the origin of the D. sagitta complex is located in the eastern part of the range. The geographical structure of genetic variation in D. sagitta is compared to those in other desert rodents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) remains a major problem in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We have developed a novel reperfusion strategy for PCI and named it "volume-controlled reperfusion (VCR)". The aim of the current study was to assess the safety and feasibility of VCR in patients with STEMI. Methods: Consecutive patients admitted to Beijing Chaoyang Hospital with STEMI were prospectively enrolled. The feasibility endpoint was procedural success. The safety endpoints included death from all causes, major vascular complications, and major adverse cardiac event (MACE), i.e., a composite of cardiac death, myocardial reinfarction, target vessel revascularization (TVR), and heart failure. Results: A total of 30 patients were finally included. Procedural success was achieved in 28 (93.3%) patients. No patients died during the study and no major vascular complications or MACE occurred during hospitalization. With the exception of one patient (3.3%) who underwent TVR three months after discharge, no patient encountered death (0.0%), major vascular complications (0.0%), or and other MACEs (0.0%) during the median follow-up of 16 months. Conclusion: The findings of the pilot study suggest that VCR has favorable feasibility and safety in patients with STEMI. Further larger randomized trials are required to evaluate the effectiveness of VCR in STEMI patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United Nations Secretary-General Mechanism (UNSGM) for investigation of the alleged use of chemical and biological weapons is the only established international mechanism of this type under the UN. The UNGSM may launch an international investigation, relying on a roster of expert consultants, qualified experts, and analytical laboratories nominated by the member states. Under the framework of the UNSGM, we organized an external quality assurance exercise for nominated laboratories, named the Disease X Test, to improve the ability to discover and identify new pathogens that may cause possible epidemics and to determine their animal origin. The "what-if" scenario was to identify the etiological agent responsible for an outbreak that has tested negative for many known pathogens, including viruses and bacteria. Three microbes were added to the samples, Dabie bandavirus, Mammarenavirus, and Gemella spp., of which the last two have not been taxonomically named or published. The animal samples were from Rattus norvegicus, Marmota himalayana, New Zealand white rabbit, and the tick Haemaphysalis longicornis. Of the 11 international laboratories that participated in this activity, six accurately identified pathogen X as a new Mammarenavirus, and five correctly identified the animal origin as R. norvegicus. These results showed that many laboratories under the UNSGM have the capacity and ability to identify a new virus during a possible international investigation of a suspected biological event. The technical details are discussed in this report. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Angular distribution and spin polarization of photoelectrons from 3s valence subshell of neutral magnesium are investigated by using the multiconfiguration relativistic random-phase approximation. Photoionization parameters for all five Rydberg series of double-excitation resonances P1o, P1o, and 3D1o between the Mg+[3s] and Mg+[3p] thresholds are presented to clarify the high-energy portion of the Rydberg series, in which peaks corresponding to double excitations can be identified unambiguously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Reactivated cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection has been known to cause significant morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. However, CMV disease rarely develops in immunocompetent patients, and reported cases often present with a mild, self-limiting course, without severe life-threatening sequelae. While the colon is the most common gastrointestinal site affected by CMV disease in immunocompetent patients, rectal involvement is rarely reported. CMV proctitis can present in two distinct forms, primary and reactivated. However, reactivated CMV proctitis is rarely reported as a causative etiology of nosocomial diarrhea, except in transplant patients. Herein we present a case of reactivated CMV proctitis in an immunocompetent patient, presenting as nosocomial diarrhea. Previously reported cases of reactivated CMV proctitis in immunocompetent patients are also reviewed.Case Presentation: A 79-year-old female was admitted because of metabolic encephalopathy caused by dehydration and hypernatremia. The patient's consciousness level returned rapidly after fluid supplementation. However, she subsequently presented with abdominal pain and diarrhea on day 8 of admission. Abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography on day 10 of admission demonstrated inflammation around the rectum, suggesting proctitis. Colonoscopy on day 16 of admission showed a giant ulcer at the rectum. Pathology of rectal biopsy confirmed CMV infection. The patient recovered without sequelae after 38 days of valganciclovir treatment. Follow-up colonoscopy revealed a healed ulcer over the rectum. Ten cases in the literature, plus our case, with reactivated CMV proctitis in immunocompetent patients were reviewed. We found that most patients were elderly (mean, 72 years) with a high prevalence of diabetes mellitus (54.5%). Cardinal manifestations are often non-specific (diarrhea, hematochezia, tenesmus), and eight (72.7%) developed CMV proctitis following a preceding acute, life-threatening disease, rather than as an initial presentation on admission. These manifestations frequently develop during hospitalization, and are thus often regarded as nosocomial diarrhea.Conclusions: Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of nosocomial onset of reactivated CMV proctitis in patients hospitalized due to a preceding critical illness, although the benefits of antiviral therapy remain unclear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dengue, a viral infection transmitted between people by mosquitoes, is one of the most rapidly spreading diseases in the world. Here, we report the analyses covering 11 y (2005-2015) from the city of Guangzhou in southern China. Using the first 8 y of data to develop an ecologically based model for the dengue system, we reliably predict the following 3 y of dengue dynamics--years with exceptionally extensive dengue outbreaks. We demonstrate that climate conditions, through the effects of rainfall and temperature on mosquito abundance and dengue transmission rate, play key roles in explaining the temporal dynamics of dengue incidence in the human population. Our study thus contributes to a better understanding of dengue dynamics and provides a predictive tool for preventive dengue reduction strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]