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The purpose of this study is to test the relationship among green logistics, environmental degradation, and energy demand. The system generalized method of moment (system GMM) is used to study the data of Asian countries and four subregions in Asia. The estimation results show that logistics operation consumes nonrenewable energy such as fossil fuels, which has a negative impact on environmental sustainability and energy demand. The service quality and capability (LPITC) in the logistics performance index has a significant contribution to reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The logistics infrastructure (LPIIN) has significantly reduced the energy consumption in Asia, while the customs (LPIC) has significantly increased the energy demand. Other indicators of LPI also have a significant impact on the environment and energy in different subregions of Asia. Industrialization and urbanization both increase carbon emissions in Asia, while trade opening reduces carbon emissions. At the same time, these three variables have a positive impact on reducing energy consumption. The results show that logistics performance is significantly related to environmental degradation and energy, and renewable energy and green supply chain management can reduce the harmful effects of logistics activities on environment and energy. Therefore, Asian countries should give priority to environmental sustainability in supply chain management and encourage the application of green practices in logistics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrate formation risk is an important challenge in the development of deep-water gas field. Considering the characteristics of the Lingshui (LS) gas field in the South China Sea and the difference of well structures, a model for calculating wellbore temperature and pressure in deep-water gas production well is proposed and verified by the field data. Combining the hydrate equilibrium models with varied gas components, the prediction method of hydrate formation region in deep-water gas well in the South China Sea is obtained. The hydrate formation regions under different operating conditions for a deep-water gas well in the South China Sea were given by the proposed model. The results show that no hydrate formation risk exists in the production operation, but the risk exists in the shut-in and testing operations. Meanwhile, the determination of the hydrate inhibitor injection parameters during the testing operation is studied, and the influence of the inhibitors' injection concentration and pressure on preventing gas hydrates is analyzed. This work provides useful advice for the prediction and prevention of hydrate formation risk in the development of deep-water gas fields, especially in the South China Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the influence of polydopamine treatment on the surface properties and bond strength of yttria‐stabilised tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Y‐TZP). Sixty‐three zirconia blocks (10 × 10 × 2 mm) were randomly divided into three groups defined by surface treatment: (i) control group (C), (ii) grit‐blasted with 110 μm alumina particles (GB), and (iii) polydopamine (PDA) coating. The surfaces of specimens subjected to different treatments were investigated by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and water contact angle measurements. After the surface treatments, the specimens were cemented to resin composite cylinders. After bonding, the shear bond strength of the ceramic to the resin was measured, and the failure mode of each specimen was analysed using a stereomicroscope. The results indicated that the shear bond strength is highest for the GB treatment and lowest for the controls. However, the difference between groups GB and PDA was not statistically significant. In the control group, adhesive failure was predominant, whereas in the treatment groups, mixed mode failure was predominant. The pre‐treatment of Y‐TZP ceramic with the polydopamine coating might improve the bond strength of the resin cement to the zirconia ceramic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Besides the normal hearing pathway known as air conduction (AC), sound can also transmit to the cochlea through the skull, known as bone conduction (BC). During BC stimulation, the cochlear walls demonstrate rigid body motion (RBM) and compressional motion (CPM), both inducing the basilar membrane traveling wave (TW). Despite numerous measuring and modeling efforts for the TW phenomenon, the mechanism remains unclear, especially in the case of BC. This paper proposes a 3D finite element cochlea model mimicking the TW under BC. The model uses a traditional "box model" form, but in a spiral shape, with two fluid chambers separated by the long and flexible BM. The cochlear fluid was enclosed by bony walls, the oval and round window membranes. Contingent boundary conditions and stimulations are introduced according to the physical basis of AC and BC. Particularly for BC, both RBM and CPM of the cochlea walls are simulated. Harmonic numerical solutions are obtained at multiple frequencies among the hearing range. The BM vibration amplitude ( U BM ) and its relation with volume displacement difference between the oval and round windows (Δ Vol) , as well as the pressure difference at the base of the cochlea ( P SV 0 - P ST 0 ), are analyzed. The simulated BM response at 12 mm from the base is peaked at about 3 k Hz, which is consistent with published experimental data. The TW properties under AC and BC are the same and have a common mechanism. (1) U BM is proportional to Δ V o l at low frequencies. (2) U BM is also proportional to P SV 0 - P ST 0 , within 5 dB error at high frequencies such as 16 k Hz. This study partly reveals the common quantitative relations between the TW and related factors under AC and BC hearing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foamy viruses (FVs) are complex retroviruses that can infect humans and other animals. In this study, by integrating transcriptomic and genomic data, we discovered 412 FVs from 6 lineages in amphibians, which significantly increased the known set of FVs in amphibians. Among these lineages, salamander FVs maintained a coevolutionary pattern with their hosts that could be dated back to the Paleozoic era, while in contrast, frog FVs were much more likely acquired from cross-species (class-level) transmission in the Cenozoic era. In addition, we found that three distinct FV lineages had integrated into the genome of a salamander. Unexpectedly, we identified a lineage of endogenous FVs in caecilians that expressed all complete major genes, demonstrating the potential existence of an exogenous form of FV outside of mammals. Our discovery of rare phenomena in amphibian FVs has significantly increased our understanding of the macroevolution of the complex retrovirus. IMPORTANCE Foamy viruses (FVs) represent, more so than other viruses, the best model of coevolution between a virus and a host. This study represents the largest investigation so far of amphibian FVs and reveals 412 FVs of 6 distinct lineages from three major orders of amphibians. Besides a coevolutionary pattern, cross-species and repeated infections were also observed during the evolution of amphibian FVs. Remarkably, expressed FVs including a potential exogenous form were discovered, suggesting that active FVs might be underestimated in nature. These findings revealed that the multiple origins and complex evolution of amphibian FVs started from the Paleozoic era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radix Astragali and Semen Lepidii (HQ-TLZ) is a commonly used herbal medicine combination for treatment of heart failure, which has a good clinical effect. However, its active components and mechanism of action are not clear, which limits its clinical application and development. In this study, we explored the mechanism of action of HQ-TLZ in the treatment of heart failure based on network pharmacology. We obtained 11 active ingredients and 109 targets from the TCMSP database and SwissTargetPrediction database. Next, we constructed the action network and carried out enrichment analysis. The results showed that HQ-TLZ treatment of heart failure is primarily achieved by regulating the insulin resistance, erbB signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and VEGF signaling pathway. After inverse targeting, molecular docking, and literature search, we determined that the equivalent molecular groups of HQ-TLZ in the treatment of heart failure were quercetin and kaempferol. Based on network pharmacology, we reveal the mechanism of action of HQ-TLZ in the treatment of heart failure to a certain extent. At the same time, we determined the composition of the equivalent molecular group. This provides a bridge for the consistency evaluation of natural herbs and molecular compounds, which is beneficial to the development of novel drugs and further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bulk amorphous polymers become stretched and parallel-aligned under loading stress, and their intermolecular cooperation slows down the subsequent stress relaxation process. By means of dynamic Monte Carlo simulations, we employed the linear viscoelastic Maxwell model for stress relaxation of single polymers and investigated their intermolecular cooperation in the stress relaxation process of stretched and parallel-aligned bulk amorphous polymers. We carried out thermal fluctuation analysis on the reproduced Debye relaxation and Arrhenius fluid behaviors of bulk polymers. We found a transient state with stretch-coil coexistence among polymers in the stress relaxation process. Further structure analysis revealed a scenario of local jamming at the transient state, resulting in an entropy barrier for stretch-coil transition of partial polymers. The microscopic mechanism of intermolecular cooperation appears as unique to polymer stress relaxation, which interprets the hydrodynamic interactions as one of essential factors raising a high viscosity in bulk amorphous polymers. Our simulations set up a platform of molecular modeling in the study of polymer stress relaxation, which brought new insights into polymer dynamics and the related mechanical/rheological properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins play important roles in plant growth and development. However, little is known about their functions in the leaf morphogenesis of Jingxiu grape (Vitis vinifera L.). Here, we explored the function of VvPPR1 , which encodes a DYW-type PPR protein in grape. We showed that VvPPR1 is involved in the regulation of leaf rolling, anthocyanin accumulation, and trichome formation in Arabidopsis thaliana. Analysis of structural characteristics showed that VvPPR1 is a DYW-type PPR gene in the PLS subfamily consisting of 15 PPR motifs. The N-terminal had a targeted chloroplast site, and the C-terminal had a DYW domain. Quantitative PCR analysis revealed that the expression level of VvPPR1 was highest in grape leaves. Subcellular localization revealed that VvPPR1 is localized in the cytoplasm and chloroplast. VvPPR1 -overexpressing plants had rolled leaves, high degrees of anthocyanin accumulation, and longer trichomes. The expression levels of genes related to these phenotypes were either significantly up-regulated or down-regulated. These results demonstrate that VvPPR1 is involved in leaf rolling, anthocyanin accumulation, and trichome formation in Arabidopsis; more generally, our findings indicate that VvPPR1 could be a target for improving the cultivation of horticultural crops. • VvPPR1 belongs to DYW class in the PLS subfamily of the PPR gene family. • VvPPR1 is mainly expressed in leaves, especially young leaves. • VvPPR1 localized in the cytoplasm and chloroplast. • Overexpressing VvPPR1 lead to the results that leaf rolling, anthocyanin accumulation and trichome longer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although the incidence, types, and radiological outcomes of simultaneous ipsilateral pelvic ring and acetabular fractures have been reported, there have been no reports on factors that may affect the quality of acetabular fracture reduction. Here, we evaluate the radiological outcomes of patients treated for simultaneous ipsilateral pelvic and acetabular fractures and analyze the factors that affect the quality of acetabular fracture reduction.Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of patients treated for simultaneous ipsilateral pelvic ring and acetabular fractures between 2016 and 2020. Factors that may predict inadequate reduction of the acetabular fracture were analyzed.Results: Data from 27 hips of 26 patients were collected. AO B2.2 and anterior columnar fractures were the most common types of pelvic ring and acetabular fractures, respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that Matta's criteria for pelvic ring fracture may be useful for predicting fair to poor quality of acetabular fracture reduction on X-rays. Furthermore, associated fractures identified by Letournel's classification system on computed tomography may be predictive of greater step-offs.Conclusions: Associated fractures identified via Letournel's classification may contribute to inadequate reduction of acetabular fractures. Matta's criteria for pelvic ring fractures may also be useful for predicting the risk of inadequate reduction of the acetabulum on X-ray scans. These findings may be assessed intraoperatively by fluoroscopy before beginning osteosynthesis for acetabular fractures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The control method is the central point of the unmanned vehicles. As the core system to guarantee the properties of self-decision and trajectory tracking of the unmanned vehicles, a new kind of trajectory tracking method based on the circulation of feasible path planning for the unmanned vehicles are proposed in this article which considered the dynamics and kinematics characteristics of vehicles. The multi-trace-points cooperative trajectory tracking control strategy on the basis of the circulation of feasible path generation method is proposed and the lateral controller is designed for trajectory tracking. The process of feasible path generation is conducted once the tracking error exceeded. A simulation platform of the trajectory tracking simulation of unmanned vehicles is built considering the mechanical properties of system elements and the mechanical characteristics. Finally, the proposed trajectory tracking method is verified. The tracking error would be reduced to make sure the vehicles move along the pre-set virtual track. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Pioneering empirical studies show that people bereaved due to COVID-19 experience elevated acute grief, posttraumatic stress, anxiety, and depressive symptom levels, which relate to functional impairment. However, studies focused on Western samples and multivariate analyses of relations between potential risk factors and mental health in this population are lacking.Objectives: To assess the mental health of Chinese adults bereaved due to COVID-19. To elucidate the associations of demographic and loss-related characteristics with mental health after COVID-19 bereavement.Methods: Four hundred twenty-two Chinese adults (56% male; Mean age: 32.73 years) recently bereaved due to COVID-19 completed an online survey. Demographic and loss-related characteristics and prolonged grief, posttraumatic stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms were assessed.Results: Clinically relevant prolonged grief (49%, n = 207), posttraumatic stress (22%, n = 92), depressive (70%; n = 294), and anxiety symptoms (65%; n = 272) were reported by a substantial group of participants. In four multiple regressions predicting each mental health indicator, Fs(15,406) = 5.08-7.74, Ps < 0.001, loss-characteristics (i.e., a shorter time since loss, βs =  -.12-.11, loss of a first-degree relative, βs =  .18-.37) and subjective loss experiences (i.e., feeling traumatized by the loss, βs =  .13-.18, or a close and/or conflictual relation with the deceased, βs =  .12-.23) related most consistently to mental health problems.Conclusion: Many Chinese adults bereaved due to COVID-19 experience severe mental health problems. The recent loss of first-degree relatives, feeling traumatized by the loss, and having a close and/or conflictual relationship with the deceased may elevate risk for these mental health problems, which could require indicated psychological treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Changshun green-shell laying hens are unique to Guizhou Province, China, and have high egg quality. Improving egg production performance has become an important breeding task, and in recent years, the development of high-throughput sequencing technology provides a fast and exact method for genetic selection. Therefore, we aimed to use this technology to analyze the differences between the ovarian mRNA transcriptome of low and high-yield Changshun green-shell layer hens, identify critical pathways and candidate genes involved in controlling the egg production rate, and provide basic data for layer breeding. Results: The egg production rates of the low egg production group (LP) and the high egg production group (HP) were 68.00 ± 5.56 % and 93.67 ± 7.09 %, with significant differences between the groups (p < 0.01). Moreover, the egg weight, shell thickness, strength and layer weight of the LP were significantly greater than those of the HP (p < 0.05). More than 41 million clean reads per sample were obtained, and more than 90 % of the clean reads were mapped to the Gallus gallus genome. Further analysis identified 142 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and among them, 55 were upregulated and 87 were downregulated in the ovaries. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis identified 9 significantly enriched pathways, with the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway being the most enriched. GO enrichment analysis indicated that the GO term transmembrane receptor protein tyrosine kinase activity, and the DEGs identified in this GO term, including PRLR, NRP1, IL15, BANK1, NTRK1, CCK, and HGF may be associated with crucial roles in the regulation of egg production. Conclusions: The above-mentioned DEGs may be relevant for the molecular breeding of Changshun green-shell laying hens. Moreover, enrichment analysis indicated that the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway and receptor protein tyrosine kinases may play crucial roles in the regulation of ovarian function and egg production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Auxiliary stopping area (ASA) is the necessary emergency facility for train safety of the normal high-speed maglev. The study addresses the ASA layout problem of the high-speed maglev operated bidirectionally on single track. First, an optimization model of the ASA layout for unidirectional double-track lines considering train safety, operation efficiency, and construction cost is established, and two basic methods of the ASA layout are investigated based on the distance demand characteristic of ASAs. Then, the ASA layout problem of bidirectional single-track lines is analyzed, and an ASA two-way coordination layout algorithm (ASA-TWCLA) is proposed. Finally, a numerical experiment is carried out. The results suggest that under the premise of train safety and operation efficiency, compared with using the basic methods separately on the two directions, adopting the ASA-TWCLA algorithm can obtain a more economical ASA layout scheme for the same scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covering: up to the second quarter of 2020 Threat or treat? While pathogenic bacteria pose significant threats, they also represent a huge reservoir of potential pharmaceuticals to treat various diseases. The alarming antimicrobial resistance crisis and the dwindling clinical pipeline urgently call for the discovery and development of new antibiotics. Pathogenic bacteria have an enormous potential for natural products drug discovery, yet they remained untapped and understudied. Herein, we review the specialised metabolites isolated from entomopathogenic, phytopathogenic, and human pathogenic bacteria with antibacterial and antifungal activities, highlighting those currently in pre-clinical trials or with potential for drug development. Selected unusual biosynthetic pathways, the key roles they play (where known) in various ecological niches are described. We also provide an overview of the mode of action (molecular target), activity, and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) towards bacteria and fungi. The exploitation of pathogenic bacteria as a rich source of antimicrobials, combined with the recent advances in genomics and natural products research methodology, could pave the way for a new golden age of antibiotic discovery. This review should serve as a compendium to communities of medicinal chemists, organic chemists, natural product chemists, biochemists, clinical researchers, and many others interested in the subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An efficient method is presented for the recovery of In3+ from acidic solution. • The activated carbon electrode shows good capability for electrosorption of In3+. • The recovery of In3+ is mainly based on electrical double-layer charging. • In3+ ions are preferentially electrosorbed in a competitive environment. High-efficiency recycling technology for endangered elements effectively mitigates the risk of resource shortages and promises the sustainability of supply chains, which is significant to the industry. In this study, an activated carbon (AC)-based capacitive deionization (CDI) for the selective electrosorption and recovery of indium ions (In3+) from acidic aqueous solution is proposed. The effects of applied voltage, pH, and initial concentration of indium were investigated to optimize the operation parameters for In3+ electrosorption. The results of cyclic voltammetry and the galvanostatic charge/discharge measurements indicate that the AC electrode shows good capability for the electrosorption of In3+ based on electrical double-layer capacitance. As demonstrated, In3+ can be successfully removed by CDI without deposition when the pH < 4, as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The deionization capacity of In3+ is 7.95 mg/g with an energy consumption of 0.84 kWh/mol in single-pass mode CDI with an initial concentration of 50 mg/L (pH = 3) at 1.2 V. However, the removal of In3+ is affected by the solution pH since hydrogen ions (H+) compete for electrosorption. Note that In3+ ions with high valence are preferentially electrosorbed on the electrode surface over H+ ions, exhibiting a selectivity coefficient of 2.12. Herein, in the charging step, a large number of H+ ions in solution are rapidly electrosorbed onto the electrode, while these H+ ions are gradually replaced by a small number of In3+ ions in solution. Therefore, this electrosorption process shows great potential for effectively recovering indium ions from acidic aqueous solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study infinite-time admissibility and infinite-time exact observability of Volterra systems in Hilbert spaces using a Hardy space approach, with an emphasis on the former. The problem is reduced to boundedness and lower boundedness of the associated weighted composition operators on the Hardy space on the right half plane. Sufficient conditions are established under which infinite-time admissibility and infinite-time exact observability of a Volterra system follows from that of the corresponding Cauchy system without convolution term. For infinite-time admissibility, the special case of exponentially decaying kernels is considered and two illustrative examples are given, both infinite-dimensional and infinite-dimensional. In the infinite-dimensional example, the obtained theoretical results are verified by numerical simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese government has promoted the concept of "healthy ageing" to meet the goals of Healthy China 2030. Thus, achieving healthy ageing has become the principal motivation behind community eldercare organisations' activities and services for the elderly in Chinese cities. The principles of healthy ageing encourage older adults to participate in activities, conduct volunteer labour, and strive to improve or at least maintain their physical health. Based on six months of ethnographic fieldwork, this paper examines the discourses and practices surrounding the "healthy ageing" paradigm in urban China and its role in governing the ageing population. This paper argues that the concept of healthy ageing requires older adults to set health as their primary goal, which also entails their embodiment of the healthy ageing paradigm. This paper bridges the literature on governmentality and critical and cultural gerontology while also contributing to the understanding of population governance in China. Healthy ageing aligns well with the state's objective to reduce the burden of disease and disability associated with ageing; healthy ageing aims to build a strong population by encourageing individuals' desire to maintain health and independence. The healthy ageing paradigm reshapes older adults' behaviour so that they invest effort in maintaining a healthy body and actively participating in their community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) exhibit active abilities to suppress or modulate deleterious immune responses by various molecular mechanisms. These cells are the subject of major translational efforts as cellular therapies for immune-related diseases and transplantations. Plenty of preclinical studies and clinical trials employing MSCs have shown promising safety and efficacy outcomes and also shed light on the modifications in the frequency and function of regulatory T cells (T regs). Nevertheless, the mechanisms underlying these observations are not well known. Direct cell contact, soluble factor production, and turning antigen-presenting cells into tolerogenic phenotypes, have been proposed to be among possible mechanisms by which MSCs produce an immunomodulatory environment for T reg expansion and activity. We and others demonstrated that adult bone marrow (BM)-MSCs suppress adaptive immune responses directly by inhibiting the proliferation of CD4+ helper and CD8+ cytotoxic T cells but also indirectly through the induction of T regs. In parallel, we demonstrated that fetal liver (FL)-MSCs demonstrates much longer-lasting immunomodulatory properties compared to BM-MSCs, by inhibiting directly the proliferation and activation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Therefore, we investigated if FL-MSCs exert their strong immunosuppressive effect also indirectly through induction of T regs. Methods: MSCs were obtained from FL and adult BM and characterized according to their surface antigen expression, their multilineage differentiation, and their proliferation potential. Using different in vitro combinations, we performed co-cultures of FL- or BM-MSCs and murine CD3+CD25−T cells to investigate immunosuppressive effects of MSCs on T cells and to quantify their capacity to induce functional T regs. Results: We demonstrated that although both types of MSC display similar cell surface phenotypic profile and differentiation capacity, FL-MSCs have significantly higher proliferative capacity and ability to suppress both CD4+ and CD8+ murine T cell proliferation and to modulate them towards less active phenotypes than adult BM-MSCs. Moreover, their substantial suppressive effect was associated with an outstanding increase of functional CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T regs compared to BM-MSCs. Conclusions: These results highlight the immunosuppressive activity of FL-MSCs on T cells and show for the first time that one of the main immunoregulatory mechanisms of FL-MSCs passes through active and functional T reg induction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Two steps of CH 4 hydrate formation in the presence of CP were observed. • Gas uptake as high as 131.80 mmol/molH 2 O was obtained in this work. • The stability of methane hydrates was characterized in this work. • A new strategy for methane hydrate storage and transportation was proposed. The work systematically investigates the kinetic of methane(CH 4) hydrate formation in the presence of cyclopentane（CP）by measuring induction time, hydrate formation rate, and gas uptake. The results showed that there are two steps for CH 4 hydrate formation in the presence of CP: Step 1, pure CP hydrate formation. Step 2, gas enters the empty cages of pure CP hydrates to form CP/CH 4 mixed hydrates. Besides, the rapid hydrate formation rate and high CH 4 uptake are observed from hydrate formation in this work. At the optimum conditions of 288.15 K and CP mole fractions of 5.6 mol%, the gas uptake and the time required for completion of hydrate formation are 131.80 mmol/mol H 2 O and 138 min, respectively. Relative to the highest reported gas uptake obtained in the presence of thermodynamic promoter (72.0 mmol/mol H 2 O), the value increased by 83%. More strikingly, the work shows that high gas uptake hydrates formed at relatively low temperatures can be stored and transported at relatively high temperatures, as high as 298.15 K, without significantly reducing the gas uptake, thereby providing one of the cost-effective methods for hydrate storage and transportation, that is forming hydrates at relatively low temperatures and storing and transporting hydrates at relatively high temperatures. Further, we proposed a schematic of the process chain of SNG(storing natural gas via solid hydrate) technology in vehicular and detailed discuss the current status of SNG technology development. It can be concluded that using the strategy that storage and transportation hydrates at a low-pressure condition instead of at ambient pressure (1.0 atm) may be a more realistic choice to industrialize SNG technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monochromophore-based polymeric fluorescence-phosphorescence dual-emission materials with multi-responsiveness have been reported by assembling one special organic molecule into hydrogen-bonded polyacrylic acid (PAA) matrix. Owing to the dynamic nature of H-bonded crosslinks in PAA, the as-prepared polymeric film displays responsive and reversible phosphorescence-to-fluorescence conversion and thus emission color changes, laying solid foundation for rewritable information display uses. [Display omitted] • Robust monochromophore-based dynamic polymer systems are designed to realize fluorescence-phosphorescence dual-emission. • Rich carboxyl H-bonded crosslinks account for the intense phosphorescence. • Dynamic polymer network enables multi-stimuli responsive luminescence color changes. Organic fluorescence-phosphorescence dual-emission materials are attracting broad attention for their wide potential applications in information technology, display media, etc. Most reported organic systems rely on the combination of two or more luminogens that emit different-colored phosphorescence and fluorescence respectively. By contrast, the fluorescence-phosphorescence dual-emission from one single luminogen system are especially appealing, as they can offer many advantages such as improved luminescence stability, simplified fabrication process and excellent reproducibility. Nevertheless, it remains challenging to achieve stimuli-responsive fluorescence-phosphorescence dual-emission in monochromophore-based organic material. Herein, we specially designed one new bromine-substituted naphthalimide molecule and incorporated it into a dynamic carboxyl hydrogen-bonded polyacrylic acid (PAA) network to produce the robust multi-stimuli-responsive fluorescence-phosphorescence dual-emission materials. Detailed studies demonstrated that high-density carboxyl hydrogen-bonded crosslinks play important roles in the achievement of intense phosphorescence by providing a rigid environment and efficient oxygen barrier to stabilize the triplet-excited states. On this basis, responsive fluorescence-phosphorescence dual-emission characteristic was guaranteed to realize interesting luminescence color changes, because many environmental stimuli (e.g., temperature, humidity, or alcohol) were known to dissociate the carboxyl hydrogen-bonded crosslinks. This reported strategy is expected to be universal and promising for the future development of powerful organic fluorescence-phosphorescence dual-emission materials with versatile uses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumor-derived exosome (TD-Ex) serves as a crucial early diagnostic biomarker of pancreatic cancer (PC). However, accurate identification of TD-Ex from PC is still a challenging work. In this paper, a detection microsystem that integrates magnetic separation and FET biosensor is developed, which is capable of selectively separating TD-Ex of PC from the plasma and detecting exosomal miRNA10b in a sensitive and specific manner. The magnetic beads were functionalized with dual antibody (GPC-1 antibody and EpCAM antibody), enabling selective recognition and capture of PC-derived exosomes. On the other hand, a peptide nucleic acid (PNA)- functionalized reduced graphene oxide field-effect transistor (RGO FET) biosensor was subsequently utilized to detect the exosomal miRNA10b, which is highly expressed in PC- derived exosomes. This system could achieve a low detection limit down to 78 fM, and selectively identify miRNA10b from single-base mismatched miRNA. In addition, 40 clinical plasma samples were tested with this microsystem, and the results indicate that it could effectively distinguish PC patients from healthy individuals. The assay combines specific capture and enrichment of PC-derived exosomes with sensitive and selective detection of exosomal miRNA, showing its potential to be used as an effective scheme for PC early diagnosis. An integrated microsystem is depicted, designed for the specific isolation and enrichment of pancreatic cancer-derived exosomes via dual-antibody functionalized magnetic beads. Simultaneously, the utilization of a Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA)-functionalized Field-Effect Transistor (FET) biosensor for the identification of exosomal miRNA10b is represented. This highlights the microsystem's enhanced sensitivity and selectivity, along with its capability for label-free, rapid detection, facilitating clear differentiation between pancreatic cancer patients and healthy individuals. [Display omitted] • A novel magnetic beads-based assay is constructed to isolate specific exosome. • Exosomal miRNA10b using a FET biosensor is sensitively detected. • A microsystem integrating exosome-selective isolation and detection is established. • The microsystem accurately distinguishes PC patients from healthy individuals. • An integrated microsystem is developed for early diagnosis of tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new synergistic strategy, based on simultaneously encapsulating CH 4 molecules in some 51264 cages (structure II hydrates) and facilitating structure I CH 4 hydrate formation, was found can place more CH 4 in the hydrate phase and facilitate more water-to-hydrate conversion, thereby increasing significantly the final gas uptake. Relative to the LCU, the highest increase in CH 4 uptake obtained in this work is up to 232.75 %. [Display omitted] • CH 4 hydrate formation mechanism in the presence of a promoter are illustrated. • Metastable Str.II pure CH 4 hydrates play a bridge to obtain mixture hydrate phase. • A CH 4 uptake, as high as 141.21 mmol/molH 2 O, is obtained from this work. • A new strategy that can significantly increase hydrate gas uptake is proposed. The addition of thermodynamic promoters is a promising and perhaps the only effective method to reduce hydrate formation conditions. However, this is achieved at the cost of the gas storage capacity reduction since the thermodynamic promoter will occupy some hydrate cages. To date, there is no effective method that can simultaneously limit this negative effect and obtain high water-to-hydrate conversion. In this work, we determine the methane (CH 4) hydrate formation mechanism in the presence of a thermodynamics promoter, Cyclopentane (CP), and find that structure II (Str.II) CH 4 hydrate, as a metastable intermediate structure of the reaction, plays a quite significant role in encapsulating CH 4 molecules in some 51264 cages (Str.II hydrates) and facilitating structure I CH 4 hydrate formation, thereby increasing gas uptake significantly. A CH 4 uptake, as high as 141.21 mmol/molH 2 O, is obtained from this work. Relative to the acknowledged limit of CH 4 uptake of Str.II hydrates formed commonly in the presence of same mole fractions of thermodynamics promoter (8 (P r o m o t e r) · 16 (C H 4) · 136 H 2 O)), the highest increase in CH 4 uptake is up to 232.75 %. These results would stimulate the development of the hydrate reaction theory and provide a new direction for promoter design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article titled "Electrospun Nanofibrous Composite Membranes for Long-Term Release of Celecoxib for Achilles Tendon Reconstruction Following Injury" discusses the development of a new implantable combination of nanofibers for Achilles tendon reconstruction. The nanofibers, called celecoxib-collagen-bupivacainepoly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (CCBP), show improved therapeutic application and higher load-to-failure values compared to healthy tendons and nanofibers with doxycycline. The authors suggest that CCBP is a promising scaffold for repairing ruptured Achilles tendons and is superior to existing materials. [Extracted from the article]

Front cover: In article 2300149 by Shih‐Jung Liu and co‐workers, a new implantable combination of nanofibers of celecoxib‐collagen‐bupivacainepoly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) (CCBP) is developed for Achilles tendon reconstruction. Regenerated Achilles tendons using CCBP nanofibers show improved therapeutic application with significantly higher load‐to‐failure values than do healthy tendons and the nanofibers comprising doxycycline. This CCBP combination is a promising scaffold superior to existing materials for repairing ruptured Achilles tendons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

None of the authors have responded to any further correspondence from the Publisher regarding this retraction note. Retraction Note: A Heterometallic MOF for Highly Selective Al3 + Ion Detection and Protective Effect Against Periodontitis by Reducing P. Gingivalis CFU and Inflammatory Cytokines Levels Further checks by the Publisher identified a number of irrelevant references, text overlap with an earlier article from different authors [[1]], and mismatch between the institution that approved the animal experiments and the authors' affiliation. [Extracted from the article]

Fine spatial resolution (i.e., ≤ 100 m) land surface temperature (LST) data are crucial to study heterogeneous landscapes (e.g., agricultural and urban). Some well-known spatiotemporal fusion methods like the Spatial and Temporal Adaptive Reflectance Fusion Model (STARFM) and the Enhanced STARFM (ESTARFM), which were originally developed to fuse surface reflectance data, may not be suitable for direct application in LST studies due to the high sub-diurnal dynamics of LST. Furthermore, the effectiveness of spatiotemporal fusion methods for LST data has not been thoroughly evaluated in previous studies that only focused on relatively small spatiotemporal extents. To address these limitations, we proposed a variant of ESTARFM, referred to as the unbiased ESTARFM (ubESTARFM), specifically designed to accommodate the high temporal dynamics of LST to generate fine-resolution LST estimates. We evaluated ubESTARFM and ESTARFM against in-situ LST and the ECOsystem Spaceborne Thermal Radiometer Experiment on Space Station (ECOSTRESS) LST across 12 regions throughout Australia, encompassing various land covers and environments. Independent validation showed that ubESTARFM had a bias of 2.55 K, unbiased root mean squared error (ubRMSE) of 2.57 K, and Pearson correlation coefficient (R) of 0.95 against the in-situ LST over 11,290 observations at the 12 sites, all of which were considerably better than those calculated for ESTARFM, being a bias of 4.73 K, ubRMSE of 3.80 K and R of 0.92. When compared to ECOSTRESS data, ubESTARFM LST had a bias of −1.69 K, ubRMSE of 2.00 K, and R of 0.70 over 43 near clear-sky scenes, while ESTARFM LST had a bias of 1.79 K, ubRMSE of 2.68 K, and R of 0.59. Overall, our results demonstrated that ubESTARFM can avoid systematic bias accumulation, substantially reduce uncertainty deviation, and maintain a good level of correlation with validation datasets when compared to ESTARFM. A further assessment underscored the potential of ubESTARFM for application using LST data acquired from geostationary platforms (e.g., Himawari-8), with a mean ubRMSE (R) of 2.22 K (0.97) against in-situ LST over 1327 observations at 3 sites from southeast Australia at the overpass time of MODIS/Terra. This promising method leverages reliable numeric values from coarse-resolution LST while borrowing spatial heterogeneity from fine-resolution LST and has the potential to be coupled with energy balance and/or radiative transfer models thus enabling better farm and/or regional-scale water management strategies to be implemented. Furthermore, both the input and generated LST data, encompassing a comprehensive spatial extent over diverse land covers and climatic conditions, are publicly available for benchmarking future algorithmic refinements. • We developed an unbiased variant of ESTARFM (ubESTARFM) to fuse MODIS and Landsat LST. • ubESTARFM uses coarse LST as reference to locally correct systematic bias of fine LST. • We evaluated ubESTARFM against in-situ LST and ECOSTRESS LST across Australia. • ubESTARFM reduces deviation of uncertainty while it maintains spatial details. • ubESTARFM shows potential for application on geostationary LST (e.g., Himawari-8). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Medialization thyroplasty (MT) using various implants has been employed as a corrective procedure for unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP). A newly developed APrevent® vocal implant system (VOIS) offers an innovative solution with a finely adjustable design. This study aimed to investigate the long-term functional voice outcomes and benefits of postoperative adjustments in patients receiving MT using the VOIS-implant. Methods: This is a prospective case series study at single tertiary medical center. Fourteen adult patients diagnosed with UVFP received MT with the VOIS implant and were followed up for more than 1 year. Implant adjustment procedure by injecting 0.9% physiological saline solution was performed both during and after the surgery to optimize glottal closure and voice quality. Objective voice outcomes and acoustic parameters were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively at various timepoints. Results: Thirteen patients (93%) received intraoperative balloon adjustment, ranging from 0.05to 0.12 ml. Four patients underwent adjustments postoperatively and exhibited a positive trend towards immediately improving acoustic voice quality. Our long-term results demonstrated a notable improvement after the surgery in voice quality, with significant decreases in VHI-30 and improvements in perceptual parameters of GRBAS scale, acoustic measures such as jitter and signal-to-noise ratio (p < 0.001) and cepstral peak prominence smoothed in sustained vowel and short sentences. The voice outcomes remained stable more than 1 year follow-up. Conclusions: Overall, MT with VOIS implantation provides a favorable long-term outcomes and stability in voice quality for patients with UVFP and also an effective tool for postoperative adjustment without major revision surgeries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine the disparities in survival outcomes between stage IIB-IVA cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and adenocarcinoma (AC) treated with chemoradiotherapy. Methods: Patients diagnosed between 2004 and 2015 were retrospectively included from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results databases. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used in this study. The primary endpoints were cervical cancer-specific survival (CCSS) and overall survival (OS). Results: A total of 2752 patients were identified, including 87.5% (n=2408) were SCC and 12.5% (n=344) were AC. Patients with AC had inferior 5-year CCSS (67.5% vs 54.8%, P< 0.001) and OS (58.4% vs 47.2%, P< 0.001) compared to those with the SCC subtype. The hazard curve of cervical cancer-related death in AC peaked at 2 years (19%) and still small peaks in the 7 and 11 years of follow-up. Regarding SCC, cervical cancer-related deaths peaked at 2 years (15%) and the hazard rate was 2.0% during the six years of follow-up. The multivariate Cox regression analyses indicated that histology was an independent prognostic factor associated with survival outcomes. Patients with AC had significantly poor CCSS (P< 0.001) and OS (P< 0.001). Similar results were found after PSM. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates a significantly better prognosis for cervical SCC patients compared to those with cervical AC undergoing chemoradiotherapy. These results highlight the importance of histological subtyping in predicting treatment outcomes and tailoring therapeutic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flowers of Paulownia spp. wither and fall on a large scale after blooming in spring and have potential allelopathic effects on surrounding plants, including crops and weeds. In this study, the phytotoxic effects of water extracts of Paulownia tomentosa flower litter (EPF) on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), green bristlegrass (Setaria viridis L.) and purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) were evaluated in the laboratory. The mode of action of the phytotoxicity of EPF on lettuce seedlings was studied and the secondary metabolites in EPF were analyzed by liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). The results show that EPF significantly inhibited the seed germination and seedling growth of four target plants in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, EPF could induce the excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) flowing with oxidative damage of the lipid bilayer of the biofilm, resulting in reduced cell viability and even apoptosis in lettuce. There were 66 secondary metabolites identified by LC-HRMS in P. tomentosa flowers. Among them, 10 compounds, including salicylic acid, caffeic acid, parthenolide, 7-hydroxycoumarin and abscisic acid (ABA), were all known allelochemicals. In summary, P. tomentosa flower litter displayed significant allelopathic effects, which were related to the accumulation of ROS in target plants. Phenolic acids, flavonoids as well as ABA are probably the main allelochemicals of P. tomentosa flowers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although the benefits of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) on cardiovascular events have been reported in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with or without heart failure (HF), the impact of SGLT2i on cardiac remodelling remains to be established. Methods: We searched the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science databases up to November 16th, 2020, for randomized controlled trials reporting the effects of SGLT2i on parameters of cardiac structure, cardiac function, plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level or the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) score in T2DM patients with or without chronic HF. The effect size was expressed as the mean difference (MD) or standardized mean difference (SMD) and its 95% confidence interval (CI). Subgroup analyses were performed based on the stage A–B or stage C HF population and HF types. Results: Compared to placebo or other antidiabetic drugs, SGLT2i showed no significant effects on left ventricular mass index, left ventricular end diastolic volume index, left ventricular end systolic volume index, or left atrial volume index. SGLT2i improved left ventricular ejection fraction only in the subgroup of HF patients with reduced ejection fraction (MD 3.16%, 95% CI 0.11 to 6.22, p = 0.04; I2 = 0%), and did not affect the global longitudinal strain in the overall analysis including stage A–B HF patients. SGLT2i showed benefits in the E/e' ratio (MD − 0.45, 95% CI − 0.88 to − 0.03, p = 0.04; I2 = 0%), plasma NT-proBNP level (SMD − 0.09, 95% CI − 0.16 to − 0.03, p = 0.004; I2 = 0%), and the KCCQ score (SMD 3.12, 95% CI 0.76 to 5.47, p = 0.01; I2 = 0%) in the overall population. Conclusion: The use of SGLT2i was associated with significant improvements in cardiac diastolic function, plasma NT-proBNP level, and the KCCQ score in T2DM patients with or without chronic HF, but did not significantly affect cardiac structural parameters indexed by body surface area. The LVEF level was improved only in HF patients with reduced ejection fraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat contains the largest number of miR396 family with 17 miR396 in Poaceae. MiR396 regulatory network underlying wheat grain development has not comprehensively been explored. Our results showed that precursor miR396 family in Poaceae exhibited not only conservativeness but also diversification especially in wheat. Five haplotypes were detected in Poaceae species, while 4 haplotypes in wheat with Hap-4 (miR396a) and Hap-5 (miR396n) unique to wheat. GO enrichment analysis of target genes showed that the first 20 enrichment functions of miR396a and miR396n are completely different from each other, and also completely different from miR396(b–g), miR396(h–m), and miR396(o–q). Functional annotation on the 18 target genes shared by miR396(b–g), miR396(h–m), and miR396(o–q) found that 11 of the 18 target genes are growth-regulating factor (GRF) genes. Our results indicated that, during the grain filling stage of wheat, miR396 is involved in the development of grains by regulating the expression of GRF genes (GRF1, GRF6, and GRF9). Although the enrichment function of miR396(b–g), miR396(h–m), and miR396(o–q) is the same, the gene functional networks they formed differ greatly. Our results indicated that polyploidization enriches not only the diversity of miR396 family and its target genes but also gene functional networks in wheat. These results laid foundation for further elucidating function of miR396 gene family underlying wheat grain development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevated arginase type II (Arg‐II) associates with higher grade tumors. Its function and underlying molecular mechanisms in melanoma remain elusive. In the present study, we observed a significantly higher frequency of Arg‐II expression in melanoma of patients with metastasis than those without metastasis. Silencing Arg‐II in two human melanoma cell lines slowed down the cell growth, while overexpression of native but not a catalytically inactive Arg‐II promoted cell proliferation without affecting cell death. Treatment of cells with arginase inhibitor also reduced melanoma cell number, demonstrating that Arg‐II promotes melanoma cell proliferation dependently of its enzymatic activity. However, results from silencing Arg‐II or overexpressing native or the inactive Arg‐II as well as treatment with arginase inhibitor showed that Arg‐II promotes melanoma metastasis‐related processes, such as melanoma cell migration and adhesion on endothelial cells, independently of its enzymatic activity. Moreover, the treatment of the cells with STAT3 inhibitor suppressed Arg‐II‐promoted melanoma cell migration and adhesion. Furthermore, catalase, but not superoxide dismutase, prevented STAT3 activation as well as increased melanoma cell migration and adhesion induced by overexpressing native or the inactive Arg‐II. Taken together, our study uncovers both activity‐dependent and independent mechanisms of Arg‐II in promoting melanoma progression. While Arg‐II enhances melanoma cell proliferation through polyamine dependently of its enzymatic activity, it promotes metastasis‐related processes, that is, migration and adhesion onto endothelial cell, through mitochondrial H2O2‐STAT3 pathway independently of the enzymatic activity. Suppressing Arg‐II expression rather than inhibiting its enzymatic activity may, therefore, represent a novel strategy for the treatment of melanoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been a marked increase in life‐threatening food allergy (FA). One hypothesis is that changes in bacterial communities may be key to FA. To better understand how gut microbiota regulates FA in humans, we established a mouse model with FA induced by ovalbumin. We found that the mice with FA had abnormal bacterial composition, accompanied by increased immunoglobulin G, immunoglobulin E, and interleukin‐4/interferon‐γ, and there existed a certain coherence between them. Interestingly, Bifidobacterium breve M‐16V may alter the gut microbiota to alleviate the allergy symptoms by IL‐33/ST2 signaling. Our results indicate that gut microbiota is essential for regulating FA to dietary antigens and demonstrate that intervention in bacterial community regulation may be therapeutically related to FA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the relationship between parent–child attachment and social anxiety in college students, as well as the mediating role of psychological resilience and the moderating role of online social support. In total, 614 college students were recruited by the cluster sampling method. The results showed that (1) parent–child attachment was negatively correlated with college students' social anxiety and positively correlated with their psychological resilience, (2) psychological resilience played a mediating role between parent–child attachment and college students' social anxiety, and (3) online social support regulated the first half and second half of the mediation process in which parent–child attachment affected college students' social anxiety through psychological resilience. These findings revealed the mechanism of parent–child attachment affecting social anxiety, which had important theoretical and empirical value for enhancing the strength of college students' psychological resilience and alleviating social anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to select optimal candidates benefiting from the addition of induction chemotherapy (IC) to concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in stage II–IVa nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) based on Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) DNA and nodal maximal standardized uptake values (SUVmax‐N) of [18F]‐fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography. Patients and materials: A total of 679 patients diagnosed with stage II–IVa (except N0) NPC were retrospectively included in this study. Overall survival was the primary endpoint. Survival differences between different groups were compared using the log‐rank test. The hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model. Results: Both high levels of EBV DNA (>1500 copies/mL) and SUVmax‐N (>12.3) indicated worse survival conditions. All patients were divided into low‐ and high‐risk groups based on these two biomarkers. The risk group was an independent prognostic factor in OS, progression‐free survival (PFS), and distant metastasis‐free survival (DMFS) (all p‐values<0.05). The addition of IC to CCRT was associated with survival improvement in OS, PFS, and DMFS in high‐risk patients, while no survival difference was found between CCRT and IC+CCRT in low‐risk patients. Conclusions: Our study can help clinicians select stage II–IVa NPC patients who benefit from IC, which is important in guiding individual treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fuxin mixture (FXHJ) is a prescription for the treatment of heart failure. It has been shown to be effective in clinical trials, but its active ingredients and mechanism of action are not completely clear, which limits its clinical application and international promotion. In this study, we used network pharmacology to find, conclude, and summarize the mechanism of FXHJ in the treatment of heart failure. From FXHJ, we found 39 active ingredients and 47 action targets. Next, we constructed the action network and was conducted enrichment analysis. The results showed that FXHJ mainly treated heart failure by regulating the MAPK signaling pathway, PI3KAkt signaling pathway, cAMP signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, toll-like receptor signaling pathway, VEGF signaling pathway, NF-kappa B signaling pathway, and the apoptotic signaling molecule BCL2. Through the research method of network pharmacology, this study summarized the preliminary experiments of the research group and revealed the probable mechanism of FXHJ in the treatment of heart failure to a certain extent, which provided some ideas for the development of new drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study certain representations of Lie algebra , which is a subalgebra of extended Schrödinger-Virasoro Lie algebra. We prove the irreducibility of its certain representations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By employment of an amide-functionalized tetracarboxylic ligand 5,5′-(carbonylbis(azanediyl))-diisophthalic acid (H4cbab), a new polyhedral metal–organic framework (MOF) with the chemical formula of {[InZn2(cbda)2(H2O)2](NMF)3}n (1, NMF = N-methylformamide) has been synthesized under the solvothermal reaction condition. The structural feature was studied via the single crystal X-ray diffraction along with ultimate analysis. This as-prepared MOF shows excellent luminescence performance which can be able to detect Al3+ ions selectively. In aqueous solutions, the detection limitation for Al3+ ion is 0.56 µM, which is significantly below the highest standard of 7.41 µM for Al3+ ion in drinking water that is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO). The protective effect of compound against periodontitis was further explored. The viable cell counts (CFU) number was counted to evaluate the inhibitory effect of compound on bacterial growth. The enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was carried on in order to measure accurately the proportion of inflammatory cytokines in gingival fluid around the implant. The potential binding modes of the synthesized compounds as well as the targeted protein was explored by calculating docking with high accuracy as well as pose scoring process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blueberry is an important agricultural crop with high nutritional, health, and economic value. Despite the well‐studied blueberry cultivation methods and soil requirements, little is known about how beneficial bacteria function in organic blueberry cultivation systems and their effects on acidic soils. In this study, a single bacteria Bacillus amyloliquefaciens JC65 and three biocontrol bacteria consortiums containing JC65 were applied to organic system. The effect of bacteria to blueberry growth, yield, fruit quality, and soil quality was investigated. A consortium of three mixed Bacillus (B. amyloliquefaciens JC65, B. licheniforims HS10 and B. subtilis 7ze3) showed the highest growth improvement efficiency. The bacterial inoculation increased blueberry leaf chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate by 21.50%, 13.21% at 30 days, and increased average plant height by 2.72% at 69 days. Compared with the control, the inoculated plants showed an increased yield of 14.56%. Interestingly, blueberry fruit quality was also improved with supplement of the bacterial consortium. Fruit anthocyanin, soluble sugar, vitamin C, soluble solids, and soluble protein content were increased by 5.99%, 4.21%, 17.31%, 2.41%, and 21.65%, respectively. Besides, beneficial bacterial consortium also enables sustainable agriculture by improving soil ammonium nitrogen and organic matter by 3.77% and 2.96% after blueberry planting. In conclusion, the combination of beneficial bacteria showed a synergistic activity in organic system to promote the blueberry yield, fruit quality, and soil nutrient preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) are becoming a major threat to public health, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The most common form of NDDs is Alzheimer's disease (AD), boasting 60–70% share. Although some debates still exist, excessive aggregation of β-amyloid protein (Aβ) and neurofibrillary tangles has been deemed one of the major causes for the pathogenesis of AD. A growing number of evidences from studies, however, have suggested that reactive oxygen species (ROS) also play a key role in the onset and progression of AD. Although scientists have had some understanding of the pathogenesis of AD, the disease still cannot be cured, with existing treatment only capable of providing a temporary relief at best, partly due to the obstacle of blood-brain barrier (BBB). The study was aimed to ascertain the neuroprotective effect of thermal cycle hyperthermia (TC-HT) against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and Aβ-induced cytotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells. Treating cells with this physical stimulation beforehand significantly improved the cell viability and decreased the ROS content. The underlying mechanisms may be due to the activation of Akt pathway and the downstream antioxidant and prosurvival proteins. The findings manifest significant potential of TC-HT in neuroprotection, via inhibition of oxidative stress and cell apoptosis. It is believed that coupled with the use of drugs or natural compounds, this methodology can be even more effective in treating NDDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Drought stress affects grapevine growth and development and reduces berry yield and quality. Identifying genes that are involved in the plant response to drought stress will enable the development of new grape strains that are tolerant to drought. Objective: We cloned the VvibZIP14 gene from Vitis vinifera and analyzed its role in drought resistance. Methods: Gene expression was analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR. Subcellular localization was assessed with a transient expression assay. The transactivation activity of the protein was evaluated in yeast. The physiologic role of VvibZIP14 was analyzed by overexpressing VvibZIP14 in Arabidopsis following drought stress. Hydrogen peroxide accumulation in Arabidopsis was visualized by diaminobenzidine staining. Results: Drought stress caused the accumulation of VvibZIP14, which was localized in the nucleus and had transcriptional activity. Transgenic plants showed improved resistance to drought stress and reduced electrolyte leakage compared to plants overexpressing empty vector, whereas chlorophyll content, photosystem II maximal photochemical efficiency, and net photosynthetic rate were higher. Catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase activities were also increased in VvibZIP14-overexpressing plants subjected to drought stress. Conclusions: VvibZIP14 functions as a transcription factor that confers resistance to drought stress in grape by enhancing the antioxidant response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide. The long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) DUXAP8 has been reported to play an important role in CRC. This study investigated the mechanism by which this lncRNA regulates CRC progression. Methods: The levels of lncRNA DUXAP8 in CRC tissues and cell lines were detected by qRT-PCR. We then knocked down or forced overexpression of DUXAP8, and the resultant effect on cell proliferation was determined by the Edu assay and a cell cycle analysis, and the effect on cell apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry. The cell invasion/migration ability and the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers were determined by Transwell/wound healing assays and Western blotting. CHIP and RNA pull-down assays were performed to determine the binding of Zeste gene enhancer 2 (EZH2) and trimethylated histone H3 to Lys27 (H3K27me3) in the E-cadherin promoter regions, or to DUXAP8. Results: The levels of lncRNA DUXAP8 were significantly increased in CRC tissues and CRC cell lines. Knockdown of lncRNA DUXAP8 inhibited cell proliferation and the EMT process, and increased cell apoptosis, and overexpression of lncRNA DUXAP8 had an opposite effect. Both ChIP and RNA pull-down assays showed that the E-cadherin promoter region was bound by H3K27me3 and EZH2, which restrained E-cadherin expression. However, that binding was suppressed and E-cadherin expression was markedly induced by lncRNA DUXAP8 knockdown. Furthermore, lncRNA DUXAP8 could interact with EZH2 and H3K27me3. Conclusion: Our data indicated that lncRNA DUXAP8 could induce the progression of CRC by negatively regulating E-cadherin via interaction with EZH2 and H3K27me3. These findings suggest lncRNA DUXAP8 as target for treating CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In wind tunnel tests, the cantilever sting is usually used to support aircraft models because of its simple structure and low aerodynamic interference. However, in some special conditions, big-amplitude and low-frequency vibration would occur easily on the model not only in the pitch direction but also in the yaw direction, resulting in inaccurate data and even damage of the supporting structure. In this paper, aiming at suppressing the vibration in pitch and yaw plane, a multidimensional system identification and active vibration control system on the basis of piezoelectric actuators is established. A vibration monitoring method based on the strain-displacement transformation (SDT) matrix is proposed, which can transform strain signals into vibration displacements. The system identification based on chirp-Z transform (CZT) is applied to improve the adaptability and precision of the building process for the system model. After that, the hardware platform as well as the software control system based on the classical proportional-derivative (PD) algorithm is built. A series of experiments are carried out, and the results show the exactness of the vibration monitoring method. The system identification process is completed, and the controller is designed. Vibration control experiments verify the effectiveness of the controller, and the results indicate that vibrations in pitch and yaw directions are attenuated apparently. The spectrum power is reduced over 14.8 dB/Hz, which prove that the multidimensional identification and active vibration control system has the capability to decline vibration from different directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Well dispersed MnO nanoparticles supported on activated carbon were successfully prepared. • MnO/AC catalysts were highly active for catalytic decomposition of ozone due to the enhanced electron transfer ability. • MnO/AC-700 exhibited the highest ozone conversion owing to the more active sites and more surface oxygen vacancies. • 1 wt.% MnO/AC showed an extremely high activity per mass of active phase compared with the reported catalysts. MnO nanoparticles supported on coal-based activated carbon (AC) were facilely fabricated via incipient wetness impregnation method by calcination of manganese acetate in nitrogen. The as-prepared catalysts were characterized by N 2 adsorption-desorption, XRD, TEM, and XPS. It is demonstrated that calcination under inert atmosphere can facilely obtain well dispersed MnO nanoparticles on AC, and the particle size, as well as the surface oxygen species of the catalysts strongly depended on the calcination temperature. The AC supported MnO nanoparticles all exhibited high catalytic activity toward ozone decomposition at room temperature, and an optimal one was displayed as the calcination temperature of 700 °C. The smallest particle size of MnO nanoparticles and the most amount of surface oxygen vacancies, were mainly responsible for the highest activity of MnO/AC-700. Moreover, lower loading of Mn was found to be more favorable for stable catalytic performance. This work reported a series of MnO based catalysts for efficient removal of ozone at room temperature for the first time, and may shed new lights on the design of manganese oxides with lower oxidation state for efficient ozone decomposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regression analysis has been widely used for face recognition. This paper mainly discuss the following regularized matrix regression problem: Given a set of k image matrices A 1 , A 2 , ... , A k ∈ R m × n and an image matrix B ∈ R m × n , find x = (x 1 , x 2 , ... , x k) T ∈ R k such that min x ∈ R k ∥ x 1 A 1 + x 2 A 2 + ⋯ + x k A k − B ∥ F 2 + λ 2 ∥ x ∥ 2 2 , where x 1 , x 2 , ... , x k are also a set of representation coefficients, λ is the model parameter, and ∥ A ∥ F represents the Frobenius norm of matrix A. Yuan and Liao [S.F. Yuan, A.P. Liao, Least squares Hermitian solution of the complex matrix equation AXB + CXD = E with the least norm. J. Frankl. Inst. 351 (2014), pp. 4978–4997] introduced a new product for matrices and vectors, and solved the least squares Hermitian problem of complex matrix equation A X B + C X D = E. In this paper, we deeply investigate this product and its relative properties about matrix trace, norm, and determinant. We then provide a direct method to get the close form solution for solving the regularized image matrix regression problem in face recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The non-Langerhans cell histiocytoses (non-LCH) are rare and benign histiocytic disorders. We present a 61-year-old female with progressive skin-colored nodules on the face and extremities. The skin biopsy showed dermal infiltration of foamy histiocytes. Further imaging study showed erosive arthritis and lymphadenopathy. The microscopical feature of anterior mediastinal lymph node was similar to that in the skin. Thus, the diagnosis is non-LCH with joints and lymph nodes involvement. This patient presented both the clinical manifestations of multicentric reticulohistiocytosis (MRH) and histologic findings of xanthoma disseminatum (XD), indicating the plausible association and the shared disease spectrum of MRH and XD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed the effects of rice straw biochar (RSBC) and swine manure biochar (SMBC) on N2O emission from paddy soil. The biochars were added to soil at the rates of 1% and 5% (w/w), and N2O emission, soil properties and soil enzyme activities were determined at the elongation, heading and maturation stages of rice growth. The N2O flux started within 2 h of adding the biochar, and decreased significantly thereafter during the three growth stages. The cumulative N2O emission was suppressed by 45.14–73.96% following biochar application, and 5% SMBC resulted in the lowest cumulative emission. In addition, biochar application significantly increased soil pH, soil organic carbon (SOC), NO3− levels and urease activity, and decreased soil NH4+ and nitrate reductase activity. Regression analysis indicated that cumulative N2O emission was correlated positively to NH4+, and negatively to soil pH, SOC and NO3−. SEM further revealed that biochar application weakened the denitrification process, and the NH4+ level had the most significant impact on N2O emission. Taken together, RSBC and SMBC regulated the nitrogen cycle in paddy soil and mitigated N2O emission by increasing soil pH, decreasing nitrate reductase activity and NH4+ content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital innovations are revolutionizing education, bringing opportunities that are seized across disciplines including conference interpreting training. This research draws a transdisciplinary framework of Legitimation Code Theory and multimodality research to explore how to build and transfer the disciplinary knowledge of interpreting via an on-line course, a staple of today's education. The paper first conceptualizes the disciplinary knowledge of interpreting as elite code that entails both specialist knowledge of high semantic density and tacit experience of professionals of the trade. Then, drawing on empirical data from the first interpreting MOOC in China, the paper describes how knowledge of different semantic features is built through distinctive patterns of multimodal presentation. Effectiveness of the multimodal presentation of knowledge is then triangulated with learning outcome research. Findings of this paper highlight how multimodal presentation in on-line lectures support the process of learning and hence elicit reflective perspectives on knowledge building of interpreting in the on-line space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Atomic-scale imaging of Mo-S molecular catalysts were performed by aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy. • Both the cases of molecular catalysts on GaP nanowire photocathodes and on single-layer graphene have been studied. • The existence of molecule clusters can be confirmed and atom contrasts can be obtained. • A fully one-to-one image-structure correspondence is still difficult to extract owing to electron beam-sample interaction. Atomic-scale electron microscopy characterization of single molecular catalysts is of great interest to the catalysis community, but is challenging for the electron microscopy community at current stage. Here, we show a case study of atomic-scale imaging of Mo-S molecular catalysts by aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy. Both the real case and ideal case have been studied, i.e., molecular catalysts on GaP nanowire photocathodes and on single-layer graphene, respectively. Electron beam-sample interaction is the key issue to achieve one-to-one correspondence between image and atomic structure. Future perspective is discussed to break through the bottleneck. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a series of difluoroboron β-diketonate fluorophores that manifest temperature-dependent emission wavelength accompanied by a change of fluorescence from green to orange. The distinct emission changes allow convenient and accurate measurements of temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]