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[Display omitted] • Provide chromosome-level genome assemblies for BP (Boleophthalmus pectinirostris) and PM (Periophthalmus magnuspinnatus). • Confirm two specific chromosome fission events in the PM genome by synteny comparison and ancestral chromosome reconstruction. • Reveal molecular clues from the loss of some important genes (such as SCPP and aanat1a) in certain or all of the three mudskippers for the water-to-land adaptation. Mudskippers are a large group of amphibious fishes that have developed many morphological and physiological capacities to live on land. Genomics comparisons of chromosome-level genome assemblies of three representative mudskippers, Boleophthalmus pectinirostris (BP), Periophthalmus magnuspinnatus (PM) and P. modestus (PMO), may be able to provide novel insights into the water-to-land evolution and adaptation. Two chromosome-level genome assemblies for BP and PM were respectively sequenced by an integration of PacBio, Nanopore and Hi-C sequencing. A series of standard assembly and annotation pipelines were subsequently performed for both mudskippers. We also re-annotated the PMO genome, downloaded from NCBI, to obtain a redundancy-reduced annotation. Three-way comparative analyses of the three mudskipper genomes in a large scale were carried out to discover detailed genomic differences, such as different gene sizes, and potential chromosomal fission and fusion events. Comparisons of several representative gene families among the three amphibious mudskippers and some other teleosts were also performed to find some molecular clues for terrestrial adaptation. We obtained two high-quality haplotype genome assemblies with 23 and 25 chromosomes for BP and PM respectively. We also found two specific chromosome fission events in PM. Ancestor chromosome analysis has discovered a common fusion event in mudskipper ancestor. This fusion was then retained in all the three mudskipper species. A loss of some SCPP (secretory calcium-binding phosphoprotein) genes were identified in the three mudskipper genomes, which could lead to reduction of scales for a part-time terrestrial residence. The loss of aanat1a gene, encoding an important enzyme (arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase 1a, AANAT1a) for dopamine metabolism and melatonin biosynthesis, was confirmed in PM but not in PMO (as previously reported existence in BP), suggesting a better air vision of PM than both PMO and BP. Such a tiny variation within the genus Periophthalmus exemplifies to prove a step-by-step evolution for the mudskippers' water-to-land adaptation. These high-quality mudskipper genome assemblies will become valuable genetic resources for in-depth discovery of genomic evolution for the terrestrial adaptation of amphibious fishes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The confidence bound (CB) is one of the most popular acquisition functions for Bayesian optimization (BO). It realizes the balance between local exploitation and global exploration through an explicit trade-off coefficient. In practice, researchers tend to employ fixed or random trade-offs for CB, which however is inflexible in tackling challenging optimization scenarios. Therefore, this article presents an adaptive CB acquisition function, called ACB, to address the issue. Specifically, this article uses Lipschitz conditions to identify a set of potentially optimal trade-off coefficients dynamically by the estimated prediction mean and the leave-one-out cross-validation variance. Thereby, the proposed ACB achieves adaptive trade-off between exploitation and exploration by cycling through the set of dynamically updated coefficients. This article verifies the superiority of the proposed ACB by comparing it against current CB-based BOs using different trade-off strategies on nine numerical examples and the design optimization of a supercritical carbon dioxide centrifugal compressor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A sustainable absorber was prepared by prismatic NiCo clusters enwrapped with CNTs. • The maximum reduction of radar cross section in actual far field is 27.5 dB m2. • The strategies inspire the advancement of high-efficiency absorbers. The employment of electromagnetic (EM) absorbers integrating elaborate architecture, enhanced microwave absorption and multifunctional features remains a formidable challenge in practical applications including military stealth and incoming 5G electronic information era. Herein, a novel microwave absorber has been fabricated by in-situ growing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the prismatic nickel–cobalt (NiCo) clusters derived from Ni-Co layered double hydroxides (NiCo-LDH) via catalytic carbonization of ethyl acetate. The NiCo/CNTs composites with highly porous texture could provide sufficient open space to balance the impedance and introduce magnetic loss mechanism. Accordingly, the absorbers achieved remarkable EM absorption performance with a minimum reflection loss of –46.2 dB at 1.5 mm and broad bandwidth of 5.8 GHz owing to synergistic magnetic-dielectric effects and distinct structural merits. The NiCo/CNTs absorber manifests superior radar wave attenuation by the radar cross section simulation and density functional theory (DFT) was also performed to elucidate the potential mechanisms of the heterostructure formation and performance enhancement in the NiCo/CNTs composites. This work is expected to provide new insights or inspirations to modulate EM properties by rationally designing heterostructure for the elimination of severe EM pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial emissions of volatile organic compounds are urgently addressed for their toxicity and carcinogenicity to humans. Developing efficient and eco-friendly reforming technology of volatile organic compounds is important but still a great challenge. A promising strategy is to generate hydrogen-rich gas for solid oxide fuel cells by autothermal reforming of VOCs. In this study, we found a more desirable commercial catalyst (NiO/K2O-γ-Al2O3) for the autothermal reforming of VOCs. The performance of autothermal reforming of toluene as a model compound over a NiO/K2O-γ-Al2O3 catalyst fitted well with the simulation results at the optimum operating conditions calculated based on a simulation using Aspen PlusV11.0 software. Furthermore, the axial temperature distribution of the catalyst bed was monitored during the reaction, which demonstrated that the reaction system was self-sustaining. Eventually, actual volatile organic compounds from the chemical factory (C9, C10, toluene, paraxylene, diesel, benzene, kerosene, raffinate oil) were completely reformed over NiO/K2O-γ-Al2O3. Reducing emissions of VOCs and generating hydrogen-rich gas as a fuel from the autothermal reforming of VOCs is a promising strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early identification of frailty is crucial to prevent or reverse its progression but faces challenges due to frailty's insidious onset. Monitoring behavioral changes in real life may offer opportunities for the early identification of frailty before clinical visits. This study presented a sensor-based system that used heterogeneous sensors and cloud technologies to monitor behavioral and physical signs of frailty from home settings. We aimed to validate the concurrent validity of the sensor measurements. The sensor system consisted of multiple types of ambient sensors, a smart speaker, and a smart weight scale. The selection of these sensors was based on behavioral and physical signs associated with frailty. Older adults' perspectives were also included in the system design. The sensor system prototype was tested in a simulated home lab environment with nine young, healthy participants. Cohen's Kappa and Bland–Altman Plot were used to evaluate the agreements between the sensor and ground truth measurements. Excellent concurrent validity was achieved for all sensors except for the smart weight scale. The bivariate correlation between the smart and traditional weight scales showed a strong, positive correlation between the two measurements (r = 0.942, n = 24, p < 0.001). Overall, this work showed that the Frailty Toolkit (FT) is reliable for monitoring physical and behavioral signs of frailty in home settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Global climate oscillation, as a selection dynamic, is an ecologically important element resulting in global biodiversity. During the glacial geological periods, most organisms suffered detrimental selection pressures (such as food shortage and habitat loss) and went through population declines. However, during the mild interglacial periods, many species re-flourished. These temporal dynamics of effective population sizes (Ne) provide essential information for understanding and predicting evolutionary outcomes during historical and ongoing global climate changes. Results: Using high-quality genome assemblies and corresponding sequencing data, we applied the Pairwise Sequentially Markovian Coalescent (PSMC) method to quantify Ne changes of twelve representative teleost species from approximately 10 million years ago (mya) to 10 thousand years ago (kya). These results revealed multiple rounds of population contraction and expansion in most of the examined teleost species during the Neogene and the Quaternary periods. We observed that 83% (10/12) of the examined teleosts had experienced a drastic decline in Ne before the last glacial period (LGP, 110–12 kya), slightly earlier than the reported pattern of Ne changes in 38 avian species. In comparison with the peaks, almost all of the examined teleosts maintained long-term lower Ne values during the last few million years. This is consistent with increasingly dramatic glaciation during this period. Conclusion: In summary, these findings provide a more comprehensive understanding of the historical Ne changes in teleosts. Results presented here could lead to the development of appropriate strategies to protect species in light of ongoing global climate changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hadal environments (depths below 6,000 m) are characterized by extremely high hydrostatic pressures, low temperatures, a scarce food supply, and little light. The evolutionary adaptations that allow vertebrates to survive in this extreme environment are poorly understood. Here, we constructed a high-quality reference genome for Yap hadal snailfish (YHS), which was captured at a depth of ~7,000 m in the Yap Trench. The final YHS genome assembly was 731.75 Mb, with a contig N50 of 0.75 Mb and a scaffold N50 of 1.26 Mb. We predicted 24,329 protein-coding genes in the YHS genome, and 24,265 of these genes were successfully functionally annotated. Phylogenetic analyses suggested that YHS diverged from a Mariana Trench snailfish approximately 0.92 million years ago. Many genes associated with DNA repair show evidence of positive selection and have expanded copy numbers in the YHS genome, possibly helping to maintain the integrity of DNA under increased hydrostatic pressure. The levels of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a potent protein stabilizer, are much higher in the muscles of YHS than in those of shallow-water fish. This difference is perhaps due to the five copies of the TMAO-generating enzyme flavin-containing monooxygenase-3 gene (fmo3) in the YHS genome and the abundance of trimethylamine (TMA)-generating bacteria in the YHS gut. Thus, the high TMAO content might help YHS adapt to high hydrostatic pressure by improving protein stability. Additionally, the evolutionary features of the YHS genes encoding sensory-related proteins are consistent with the scarce food supply and darkness in the hadal environments. These results clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying the adaptation of hadal organisms to the deep-sea environment and provide valuable genomic resources for in-depth investigations of hadal biology. Author summary: Hadal environments (depths below 6,000 m) are characterized by extremely high hydrostatic pressures, low temperatures, a scarce food supply, and little light. Fish are the only vertebrates inhabiting the hadal zone, and hadal snailfishes have been found in at least five geographically separated marine trenches. However, the genetic mechanisms that allow vertebrates to live in such extreme conditions are not well understood. Here, we constructed a high-quality reference genome for Yap hadal snailfish (YHS) captured at a depth of ~7,000 m in the Yap Trench, using long reads obtained by Pacific Biosciences Sequel sequencing. Comparative genomic analyses revealed that many genes associated with DNA repair show evidence of positive selection and have expanded copy numbers in the YHS genome, which potentially reflect the difficulty of maintaining DNA integrity under high hydrostatic pressure. Moreover, the five copies of the trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO)-generating enzyme flavin-containing monooxygenase-3 gene (fmo3) and the abundance of trimethylamine (TMA)-generating bacteria in the YHS gut could provide enough TMAO to improve protein stability under hadal conditions. In addition, characteristics of the YHS sensory system genes were consistent with the scarce food supply and darkness in the hadal zone. Our results provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the adaptation of hadal organisms to the deep-sea environment and valuable genomic resources that will help further clarify hadal adaptations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In noisy evolutionary optimization, sampling is a common strategy to deal with noise. By the sampling strategy, the fitness of a solution is evaluated multiple times (called sample size) independently, and its true fitness is then approximated by the average of these evaluations. Most previous studies on sampling are empirical, and the few theoretical studies mainly showed the effectiveness of sampling with a sufficiently large sample size. In this paper, we theoretically examine what strategies can work when sampling with any fixed sample size fails. By constructing a family of artificial noisy examples, we prove that sampling is always ineffective, while using parent or offspring populations can be helpful on some examples. We also construct an artificial noisy example to show that when using neither sampling nor populations is effective, a tailored adaptive sampling (i.e., sampling with an adaptive sample size) strategy can work. These findings may enhance our understanding of sampling to some extent, but future work is required to validate them in natural situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The oriental river prawn, Macrobrachium nipponense , is an economically important shrimp in China. Male prawns have higher commercial value than females because the former grow faster and reach larger sizes. It is therefore important to reveal sex-differentiation and development mechanisms of the oriental river prawn to enable genetic improvement. Results We sequenced 293.3 Gb of raw Illumina short reads and 405.7 Gb of Pacific Biosciences long reads. The final whole-genome assembly of the Oriental river prawn was ∼4.5 Gb in size, with predictions of 44,086 protein-coding genes. A total of 49 chromosomes were determined, with an anchor ratio of 94.7% and a scaffold N50 of 86.8 Mb. A whole-genome duplication event was deduced to have happened 109.8 million years ago. By integration of genome and transcriptome data, 21 genes were predicted as sex-related candidate genes. Conclusion The first high-quality chromosome-level genome assembly of the oriental river prawn was obtained. These genomic data, along with transcriptome sequences, are essential for understanding sex-differentiation and development mechanisms in the oriental river prawn, as well as providing genetic resources for in-depth studies on developmental and evolutionary biology in arthropods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evolutionary algorithms (EAs) have found many successful real-world applications, where the optimization problems are often subject to a wide range of uncertainties. To understand the practical behaviors of EAs theoretically, there are a series of efforts devoted to analyzing the running time of EAs for optimization under uncertainties. Existing studies mainly focus on noisy and dynamic optimization, while another common type of uncertain optimization, i.e., robust optimization, has been rarely touched. In this paper, we analyze the expected running time of the (1+1)-EA solving robust linear optimization problems (i.e., linear problems under robust scenarios) with a cardinality constraint k. Two common robust scenarios, i.e., deletion-robust and worst-case, are considered. Particularly, we derive tight ranges of the robust parameter d or budget k allowing the (1+1)-EA to find an optimal solution in polynomial running time, which disclose the potential of EAs for robust optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one important member of the two-pore-domain potassium channel (K 2P) family, potassium channel subfamily K member 3 (KCNK3) has been reported for thermogenesis regulation, energy homeostasis, membrane potential conduction, and pulmonary hypertension in mammals. However, its roles in fishes are far less examined and published. In the present study, we identified two kcnk3 genes (kcnk3a and kcnk3b) in an euryhaline fish, Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), by molecular cloning, genomic survey and laboratory experiments to investigate their potential roles for osmoregulation. We obtained full-length coding sequences of the kcnk3a and kcnk3b genes (1209 and 1173 bp), which encode 402 and 390 amino acids, respectively. Subsequent multiple sequence alignments, putative 3D-structure model prediction, genomic survey and phylogenetic analysis confirmed that two kcnk3 paralogs are widely presented in fish genomes. Interestingly, a DNA fragment inversion of a kcnk3a cluster was found in Cypriniforme in comparison with other fishes. Quantitative real-time PCRs demonstrated that both the tilapia kcnk3 genes were detected in all the examined tissues with a similar distribution pattern, and the highest transcriptions were observed in the heart. Meanwhile, both kcnk3 genes in the gill were proved to have a similar transcriptional change pattern in response to various salinity of seawater, implying that they might be involved in osmoregulation. Furthermore, three predicted transcription factors (arid3a , arid3b , and arid5a) of both kcnk3 genes also showed a similar pattern as their target genes in response to the various salinity, suggesting their potential positive regulatory roles. In summary, we for the first time characterized the two kcnk3 genes in Nile tilapia, and demonstrated their potential involvement in osmoregulation for this economically important fish. • Two kcnk3 genes (kcnk3a and kcnk3b) were identified from Nile tilapia by molecular cloning. • Both kcnk3 genes are highly conserved among vertebrates including fishes. • A special kcnk3a cluster reversal was found in Cypriniformes fishes by a genomic survey. • Tilapia kcnk3a and kcnk3b genes showed a similar tissue distribution pattern, with the highest transcription in heart. • Both two kcnk3 genes are involved in osmoregulation roles in Nile tilapia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stomata are specialized pores in the epidermis of the aerial parts of a plant, where stomatal guard cells close and open to regulate gas exchange with the atmosphere and restrict excessive water vapor from the plant. The production and patterning of the stomatal lineage cells in higher plants are influenced by the activities of the widely-used mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling components. The phenotype caused by the loss-of-function mutations suggested pivotal roles of the canonical MAPK pathway in the suppression of stomatal formation and regulation of stomatal patterning in Arabidopsis, whilst the cell type-specific manipulation of individual MAPK components revealed the existence of a positive impact on stomatal production. Among a large number of putative MAPK substrates in plants, the nuclear transcription factors SPEECHLESS (SPCH) and SCREAM (SCRM) are targets of MAPK 3 and 6 (MPK3/6) in the inhibition of stomatal formation. The polarity protein BREAKING OF ASYMMETRY IN THE STOMATAL LINEAGE (BASL) is phosphorylated by MPK3/6 for localization and function in driving divisional asymmetries. Here, by functionally characterizing three MAPK SUBSTRATES IN THE STOMATAL LINEAGE (MASS) proteins, we establish that they are plasma membrane-associated, positive regulators of stomatal production. MPK6 can phosphorylate the MASS proteins in vitro and mutating the putative substrate sites interferes the subcellular partition and function of MASS in planta. Our fine-scale domain analyses identify critical subdomains of MASS2 required for specific subcellular localization and biological function, respectively. Furthermore, our data indicate that the MASS proteins may directly interact with the MAPKK Kinase YODA (YDA) at the plasma membrane. Thus, the deeply conserved MASS proteins are tightly connected with MAPK signaling in Arabidopsis to fine-tune stomatal production and patterning, providing a functional divergence of the YDA-MPK3/6 cascade in the regulation of plant developmental processes. Author summary: Stomata surrounded by guard cells are breathing pores in the plant epidermis, where they open to allow gas exchange and close to restrict water loss. The production and patterning of stomata in the model plant Arabidopsis provide an ideal genetic and cell biological system for studying the molecular mechanisms underlying developmental program and plasticity in responding to environmental changes. The MAPK cascades are ubiquitous signaling modules in eukaryotes. They regulate diverse cellular programs by relaying extracellular signals to intracellular regulators. In the model plant Arabidopsis, MAPK 3 and 6 were found to phosphorylate several protein substrates in the nucleus and cytoplasm to regulate stomatal development and patterning. In this study, we report that a group of new MAPK substrates, the MASS proteins, function at the plasma membrane to regulate stomatal production and patterning in Arabidopsis. Thus, the output of MAPK signaling in the regulation of stomatal development is diverged by differentially localized substrates, suggesting that the concerted activities of MAPK substrates fine-tune stomatal development to ultimately improve plant adaptability to the changing environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ultrasound velocity sensor was used to measure the metastable zone width. • The metastable zone width of NaNO 3 in the cooling crystallization process from high-saline wastewater system was determined. • The primary nucleation kinetics of NaNO 3 in the cooling crystallization process from high-saline wastewater was studied. For investigating the fractional crystallization process of high-saline wastewater from coal chemical industry, the primary nucleation kinetics of NaNO 3 during cooling crystallization was studied. 20 g NaCl/100 g H 2 O was added to simulate the high-saline environment, which resulted in a ternary NaCl-NaNO 3 -H 2 O mixture system. Based on the measured solubility and supersolubility in the temperature range from 288.09 to 311.70 K by using ultrasonic velocity sensor, the effects of stirring rate, cooling rate and presence of seed crystals on the metastable zone width (MSZW) were analyzed. The results showed that increasing the saturation temperature as well as increasing the stirring rate will make the MSZW of NaNO 3 narrow. This is mainly attributed to the intensification of mass transfer and diffusion, which promotes the crystal nucleation. By contrast, the change in the size of solute molecular clusters in the solution may lag behind the transformation of the solution state, so that the MSZW of NaNO 3 becomes wide when increasing the cooling rate. Meanwhile, because the addition of seed crystals is beneficial to induce the solution to start crystallization at a lower supersaturation, it always leads to the narrowing of MSZW, whereas the dosage has a relatively weak effect in the scope of experimental research. Furthermore, self-consistent Nývlt-like equation and classical 3D nucleation theory were used to study the primary nucleation kinetics of NaNO 3 during cooling crystallization process. Corresponding nucleation kinetic equations were regressed based on the experimental data. The activation energies E sat of NaNO 3 nucleation process fitted by these two models were 28.97 and 26.08 kJ/mol, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • An organic photoredox catalyst was developed for aqueous organocatalyzed ATRP. • Faster rate and higher initiator efficiency than its counterpart were observed. • Difference of oxidative and reductive quenching cycle was studied via kinetic model. • Current system enabled the polymerization through a "green" and sustainable way. Abstract A water-soluble organic photoredox catalyst, 3,7-methoxypolyethylene glycol 1-naphthalene-10-phenoxazine (Naph-PXZ-PEG), that can catalyze aqueous organocatalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) via oxidative quenching cycle has been reported for the first time. Comparative studies of Naph-PXZ-PEG and EosinY involved aqueous organocatalyzed ATRP systems have been done via polymerization experiment and kinetic modeling approach. Results showed that the polymerization via oxidative quenching cycle in Naph-PXZ-PEG system proceeded much faster and higher initiator efficiency than the polymerization via reductive quenching cycle in Eosin Y system under same conditions. Detailed information of the Naph-PXZ-PEG was presented by experiments and density functional theory (DFT) simulation. A series of kinetics experiments under different catalyst loadings, initiator concentrations, "on-off" switch of light and chain extension have been conducted and confirmed the good controllability of the current system and high end-group fidelity. This work provides a systematic study on developing an effective water soluble organic catalyst for the preparation of the well-defined polymers by a "green" and sustainable ATRP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water pollution has always been an important issue threatening human health. Water quality monitoring is an important step to ensure water quality safety. Water quality parameters such as pH, temperature and conductivity are important indicators in water quality monitoring. In this paper, a multi-parameter water quality detection integrated chip system is studied, and multiple sensors are integrated on the same chip to realize the monitoring of conventional parameters such as pH, temperature and conductivity in drinking water. The chip system was processed by MEMS technology. A ruthenium oxide (RuO2) film is used for pH detection, and the sensor exhibits a super-Nernst response (62.88 mV/pH) in the range of pH 1.92–11.74. The patterned micro Pt film is used as the temperature sensor, and the three-wire orthogonal structure is used for temperature detection. The sensitivity of this temperature sensor is 5.517  Ω / ∘ C in the range of 6 to 80 ∘ C. Conductivity was measured by a four-electrode system, and the electrode constant was 1.667 cm − 1 measured between 0.994 and 21.167 mS/cm. The test results show that the multi-parameter integrated chip system can realize the simultaneous detection of pH, temperature and conductivity in water, and has the characteristics of miniaturization and low cost, and provides an effective way for simultaneous detection of water quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many real-world optimization problems, the objective function evaluation is subject to noise, and we cannot obtain the exact objective value. Evolutionary algorithms (EAs), a type of general-purpose randomized optimization algorithm, have been shown to be able to solve noisy optimization problems well. However, previous theoretical analyses of EAs mainly focused on noise-free optimization, which makes the theoretical understanding largely insufficient for the noisy case. Meanwhile, the few existing theoretical studies under noise often considered the one-bit noise model, which flips a randomly chosen bit of a solution before evaluation; while in many realistic applications, several bits of a solution can be changed simultaneously. In this paper, we study a natural extension of one-bit noise, the bit-wise noise model, which independently flips each bit of a solution with some probability. We analyze the running time of the (1+1)-EA solving OneMax and LeadingOnes under bit-wise noise for the first time, and derive the ranges of the noise level for polynomial and super-polynomial running time bounds. The analysis on LeadingOnes under bit-wise noise can be easily transferred to one-bit noise, and improves the previously known results. Since our analysis discloses that the (1+1)-EA can be efficient only under low noise levels, we also study whether the sampling strategy can bring robustness to noise. We prove that using sampling can significantly increase the largest noise level allowing a polynomial running time, that is, sampling is robust to noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Haematococcus pluvialis is a freshwater species of Chlorophyta, family Haematococcaceae. It is well known for its capacity to synthesize high amounts of astaxanthin, which is a strong antioxidant that has been utilized in aquaculture and cosmetics. To improve astaxanthin yield and to establish genetic resources for H. pluvialis, we performed whole-genome sequencing, assembly, and annotation of this green microalga. A total of 83.1 Gb of raw reads were sequenced. After filtering the raw reads, we subsequently generated a draft assembly with a genome size of 669.0 Mb, a scaffold N50 of 288.6 kb, and predicted 18,545 genes. We also established a robust phylogenetic tree from 14 representative algae species. With additional transcriptome data, we revealed some novel potential genes that are involved in the synthesis, accumulation, and regulation of astaxanthin production. In addition, we generated an isoform-level reference transcriptome set of 18,483 transcripts with high confidence. Alternative splicing analysis demonstrated that intron retention is the most frequent mode. In summary, we report the first draft genome of H. pluvialis. These genomic resources along with transcriptomic data provide a solid foundation for the discovery of the genetic basis for theoretical and commercial astaxanthin enrichment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Radiation-induced lung fibrosis (RILF) is a complication of radiotherapy in thoracic cancer patients. Thalidomide (THD) has a therapeutic effect on fibrotic and inflammatory disorders. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of THD on RILF in mice and better understand the underlying regulatory mechanisms of the therapeutic effect. We found that THD mitigated the fibrosis caused by irradiation in mice. The action of THD on RILF was related to the elevation of low levels reactive oxygen species (ROS), which inhibited the transforming growth factor‑β (TGF‑β)/Smad3 signaling pathway through activation of nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2). Analysis of the therapeutic effect of THD using Nrf2-/- mouse model confirmed the role of Nrf2 in vivo. In addition, no radioprotective effect of THD on thoracic cancer cell lines was observed. In conclusion, these data showed that THD attenuated RILF in mice, which was mediated by Nrf2-dependent down-regulation of the TGF-β/Smad3 pathway, suggesting THD as a potential novel agent for RILF prevention. Graphical abstract fx1 Highlights • Thalidomide (THD) mitigated the fibrosis caused by irradiation in mice. • THD alleviated radiation-induced lung fibrosis (RILF) through suppression of TGF-β/Smad3 in an Nrf2-dependent manner. • No radioprotective effect of THD on thoracic cancer cell lines was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study presented herein investigated an easy preparation, high performance, wavelength-modulated LSPR optical fiber chemosensor coated by gold nanospheres(AuNS) for Hg 2+ detection based on thymine-Hg 2+ -thymine base pair mismatches and the coupled plasmonic resonance effect.Utilizing electrostatic self-assembly method, the high density and dispersivity monolayer AuNS coated LSPR fiber sensor had the near field refractive index sensitivity up to 2016 nm/RIU. The single-strand probe DNA served as a binding element for free AuNS labelled-target DNA conjugates was attached to the monolayer AuNS by Au-S bond. In the present of Hg 2+ , the coupled plasmonic resonance band between monolayer AuNS and free AuNS was produced by thymine-Hg 2+ -thymine structure and leaded to red-shift of LSPR peak. Under the optimal conditions, the enlarged red-shift in peak of LSPR spectroscopy was linearly with the concentration of Hg 2+ in the range from 1.0 × 10 −9 to 5.0 × 10 −8 M with the coefficient of 0.976. The limit of detection was 0.7 nM(S/N = 3). The specificity of the sensor was proved high by evaluating the response to other heavy metal ions. The proposed fiber sensor provided a label-free, miniature, low-cost approach for the Hg 2+ detection and had potential in real environmental evaluations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a significant and promising conducting polymer, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) has attracted considerable attention in the last decade. This review aims at giving a comprehensive illustration about current progress on the synthesis and electrochemical sensing applications of PEDOT-based materials in environmental monitoring, food and drug analysis and health care. PEDOT-based materials, such as PEDOT, functionalized PEDOT and PEDOT composites were fabricated mainly by chemical polymerization and electrochemical polymerization. Various nanostructures with large surface area, high conductivity, fast electron transfer rate, hydrophobic interaction and good biocompatibility were displayed by the PEDOT-based materials. Synergetic effects were enhanced dramatically in electrochemical (bio) sensors by PEDOT composites, especially by those incorporated with versatile nanomaterials. Through this paper, we hope to attract attention from a wider community and inspire researchers to take advantage of PEDOT in approaching scientific challenges and developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supplementation with Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) has beneficial effects on aquatic animals. Herein, we aimed to investigate the effects of different doses of APS on the growth, innate immune response, and brain-gut axis of Macrobrachium rosenbergii. The molecular weight and the monosaccharide composition of APS were analyzed. APS were added at concentration of 0 (control), 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, and 0.20 % in practical diets. Growth performance increased significantly under 0.05 to 0.20 % APS, with enhanced lipase and protease activities in intestinal tissues. Prawns receiving APS supplementation had significantly lower amounts of pathogenic intestinal bacteria (Vibrio and Aeromonas) and a markedly different microbial community structure compared with those of the control group. The fecal short chain fatty acid (SCFA) and neurotransmitters γ-aminobutyric acid contents increased in the brains of prawns receiving APS, which was potentially associated with increased Lactobacillus and Bacillus levels. Prawns receiving APS supplementation displayed a significantly enhanced immune function (such as total hemocyte count, total protein concentration, phenoloxidase activity, serum agglutination titer, and lysozyme activity) and improved disease resistance to Vibrio anguillarum compared those in the control group. Thus, dietary APS positively affected the gut-brain axis by altering the microbiota composition, increasing the fecal SCFA content, and enhancing prawn immunity. • We have disclosed the details of polysaccharide APS and its characterization. • An appropriate dose of APS for the growth performance of prawn was determined. • Dietary APS improved the immune response and the resistance of prawn to Vibrio harveyi challenge. • Dietary ASP could enhance gut digestive enzyme activities and immune response by modulating gut bacterial • The fecal SCFAs and neurotransmitters γ aminobutyric acid contents increased in the brains of prawns receiving APS [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A multi-scale modeling strategy was developed to investigate SET-ATRP. • Complicated SET process was revealed by DFT calculations. • Kinetic parameters of reactants, intermediates and products in SET reactions were estimated. • The effects of SET process on polymerization kinetics were elucidated by kinetic modeling. Mechano/sonochemically mediated reversible deactivation radical polymerization has attracted great attention because of the novel electron transfer regulation process and high-efficient process intensification on mass transfer. Herein, a multi-scale modeling strategy combining quantum chemical calculation and kinetic modeling was developed for sonochemically induced electron transfer controlled atom transfer radical polymerization (SET-ATRP) to study the complicated SET process and its effects on polymerization. At the molecular scale, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were used to acquire the electron characteristic and structure–reactivity of the reactants, intermediates and products during SET process, which provides guideline to figure out the underlying mechanism. Results showed that DMSO•• generated under ultrasonication could react with free Me 6 TREN to induce electron transfer for the reduction of CuIIBr/L+ to produce CuI/L+, which is the key step for a successful polymerization. The corresponding elementary reaction rate coefficients were calculated by thermodynamic formulae combining transition state theory and Marcus theory. At the micro-scale, kinetic modeling based on method of moment was established to account for the role of SET process in regulating polymerization. Good agreements between the simulation results and experimental data confirmed the reliability of the as-developed multi-scale modeling strategy. More Me 6 TREN and CuIIBr/L+ resulted in more electron transfer and faster polymerization rate. This work provides an in-depth mechanism insights and kinetic understanding for SET-ATRP, which has a promising potential to promote its progress of application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this issue of Developmental Cell , Hernández-Coronado et al. present genetic and pharmacological evidence that reveals the central role of plant glutamate receptor-like proteins (GLRs) in the tradeoff between wounding-triggered regeneration and defense, offering new strategies to improve plant regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mullite whisker reinforced porous anorthite ceramics have been fabricated by foam-gelcasting method. Effect of whisker content on thermal conductivity and mechanical strength of the prepared material has been studied. It is found that while thermal conductivity remains almost the same, compressive strength can be significantly improved by increasing whisker content. The results are discussed in terms of microstructures. It suggests that porous anorthite ceramics with both high mechanical strength and low thermal conductivity can be achieved by reinforcing with mullite whiskers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schistosomiasis japonicum is one of the most important human parasitic diseases, and a number of studies have recently elucidated the difference in biological characteristics of S. japonicum among different parasite isolates, for example, between the field and the laboratory isolates. Therefore, the understanding of underlying genetic mechanism is of both theoretical and practical importance. In this study, we used six microsatellite markers to assess genetic diversity, population structure, and the bottleneck effect (a sharp reduction in population size) of two parasite populations, one field and one laboratory. A total of 136 S. japonicum cercariae from the field and 86 from the laboratory, which were genetically unique within single snails, were analyzed. The results showed bigger numbers of alleles and higher allelic richness in the field parasite population than in the laboratory indicating lower genetic diversity in the laboratory parasites. A bottleneck effect was detected in the laboratory population. When the field and laboratory isolates were combined, there was a clear distinction between two parasite populations using the software Structure. These genetic differences may partially explain the previously observed contrasted biological traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Schistosomiasis japonica has been resurging in certain areas of China where its transmission was previously well controlled or interrupted. Several factors may be contributing to this, including mobile populations, which if infected, may spread the disease. A wide range of estimates have been published for S. japonicum infections in mobile populations, and a synthesis of these data will elucidate the relative risk presented from these groups. Methods: A literature search for publications up to Oct 31, 2014 on S. japonicum infection in mobile populations in previously endemic but now non-endemic regions was conducted using four bibliographic databases: China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang, VIP Chinese Journal Databases, and PubMed. A meta-analysis was conducted by pooling one arm binary data with MetaAnalyst Beta 3.13. The protocol is available on PROSPERO (No. CRD42013005967). Results: A total of 41 studies in Chinese met the inclusion criteria, covering seven provinces of China. The time of post-interruption surveillance ranged from the first year to the 31st year. After employing a random-effects model, from 1992 to 2013 the pooled seroprevalence ranged from 0.9% (95% CI: 0.5-1.6%) in 2003 to 2.3% (95% CI: 1.5-3.4) in 1995; from the first year after the disease had been interrupted to the 31st year, the pooled seroprevalence ranged from 0.6% (95% CI: 0.2-2.1%) in the 27th year to 4.0% (95%CI: 1.3-11.3%) in the second year. The pooled seroprevalence in mobile populations each year was significantly lower than among the residents of endemic regions, whilst four papers reported a lower level of infection in the mobile populations than in the local residents out of only 13 papers which included this data. Conclusions: The re-emergence of S. japonicum in areas which had previously interrupted transmission might be due to other factors, although risk from re-introduction from mobile populations could not be excluded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-term potentiation (LTP) of spinal C-fiber-evoked field potentials is considered as a fundamental mechanism of central sensitization in the spinal cord. Accumulating evidence has showed the contribution of spinal microglia to spinal LTP and pathological pain. As a key signaling of neurons-microglia interactions, the involvement of CX3CL1/CX3CR1 signaling in pathological pain has also been investigated extensively. The present study examined whether CX3CL1/CX3CR1 signaling plays a role in spinal LTP. The results showed that 10-trains tetanic stimulation (100 Hz, 2s) of the sciatic nerve (TSS) produced a significant LTP of C-fiber-evoked field potentials lasting for over 3 h in the rat spinal dorsal horn. Blockade of CX3CL1/CX3CR1 signaling with an anti-CX3CR1 neutralizing antibody (CX3CR1 AB) markedly suppressed TSS-induced LTP. Exogenous CX3CL1 significantly potentiated 3-trains TSS-induced LTP in rats. Consistently, spinal LTP of C-fiber-evoked field potentials was also induced by TSS (100 Hz, 1s, 4 trains) in all C57BL/6 wild type (WT) mice. However, in CX3CR1-/- mice, TSS failed to induce LTP and behavioral hypersensitivity, confirming an essential role of CX3CR1 in spinal LTP induction. Furthermore, blockade of IL-18 or IL-23, the potential downstream factors of CX3CL1/CX3CR1 signaling, with IL-18 BP or anti-IL-23 neutralizing antibody (IL-23 AB), obviously suppressed spinal LTP in rats. These results suggest that CX3CL1/CX3CR1 signaling is involved in LTP of C-fiber-evoked field potentials in the rodent spinal dorsal horn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, reduced carboxylic graphene/palladium nanoparticles (rGN-COOH/PdNPs) modified ultramicroelectrode array (UMEA) was investigated and applied in electrochemical determination of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). The UMEAs were fabricated by micro electro-mechanical system technique. The sensitive film of rGN-COOH/PdNPs was prepared by self-assembling of carboxylic graphene (GN-COOH), electroreducing the GN-COOH and electrodepositing the palladium nanoparticles on UMEA. This modification method is suitable to UMEA, which can immobilize the sensitive film on the designed sites and maintain the unique characteristics of UMEA. Compared with the sensitive film of GN-COOH, rGN-COOH and PdNPs, the sensitive film of rGN-COOH/PdNPs showed satisfied electroreduction performance to dissolved oxygen (DO). A BOD microsensor was fabricated based on the rGN-COOH/PdNPs modified UMEA. A good linear range from 1 to 30 mg/L for BOD determination was displayed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Ultrasonication-light was developed as coupled physical stimuli for solvent-free RDRP. • Ultrasonication enabled effective process intensification for different photocatalytic pathway. • Good controls over polymerizations were achieved even at high conversion. • Current system enabled the polymerization towards "green" and sustainability. Focusing on energy-saving and environmentally-friendly polymerization engineering, ultrasonication and light were employed as coupled physical stimuli to regulate solvent-free reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT), atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and iodine transfer polymerization (ITP). The solvent-free polymerizations of (meth)acrylate under different conditions were performed with good control even at high monomer conversion (>90%), yielding polymers with low values of dispersity and retention of chain-end functionality. Kinetic experiments and mechanistic insights confirmed that light triggered different photocatalytic pathways (e.g. oxidative quenching cycle for RAFT, reductive quenching cycle for ATRP, photogenerated radical species for ITP) to initiate and mediate the solvent-free polymerizations and ultrasonication was used as an effective process intensification method to improve the diffusive of photocatalysts and their derivatives to alleviate the diffusional limitations for keeping good control up to high monomer conversion. This as-developed strategy is proved to be an efficient technology to produce well-defined polymers without complicated processes of products separation from solvent and residual monomer removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Tetanic stimulation of the sciatic nerve (TSS) induces sciatic nerve injury and long-lasting pain hypersensitivity in rats, and spinal glial activation and proinflammatory cytokines releases are involved. In the present study, we showed that spinal interleukin (IL)-23 and its receptor, IL-23R, are crucial for the development of mechanical allodynia after TSS. In the spinal dorsal horn, both IL-23 and IL-23R are expressed in astrocytes, and this expression is substantially increased after TSS. Inhibition of IL-23 signaling attenuated TSS-induced allodynia and decreased the induction of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP, an astrocytic marker). Conversely, intrathecally delivered IL-23 induced a persistent allodynia. Similar to IL-23 signaling, an increase in IL-18 and its receptor, IL-18R, as well as CX3CL1 and its receptor, CX3CR1, was simultaneously observed in the spinal dorsal horn after TSS. Interestingly, IL-18 and CX3CR1 were exclusively expressed in microglia, while IL-18R was mainly localized in astrocytes. In contrast, CX3CL1 was predominately expressed in neurons and secondarily in astrocytes. The functional inhibition of CX3CL1 and IL-18 signaling attenuated TSS-induced allodynia and suppressed IL-23 and IL-23R upregulation. Activation of CX3CR1 and IL-18R induced similar behavioral and biochemical changes to those observed after TSS. These results indicate that the interaction among CX3CL1, IL-18 and IL-23 signaling in the spinal cord plays a critical role in the development of allodynia. Thus, interrupting this chemokine-cytokine network might provide a novel therapeutic strategy for neuropathic pain. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper presents a microsensor chip integrated with a gold nanoparticles-modified ultramicroelectrode array (UMEA) as the working electrode for the detection of copper ions in water. The microsensor chip was fabricated with Micro-Electromechanical System technique. Gold nanoparticles were electrodeposited onto the surface of UMEA at a constant potential of −0.3 V. The ratio d/ Rb of interelectrode spacing ( d) over the individual electrode's radius ( Rb) was investigated to improve the electrochemical performance. The UMEA with a d/ Rb of 20 showed the best hemispherical diffusion mode, resulted in fast response time and high current response. The gold nanoparticles increased the active surface area of UMEA by not changing the geometries of UMEA, and the current response was increased further. Incorporating the optimized characteristic of UMEA and gold nanoparticles, the microsensor showed a good linear range from 0.5 to 200 µg L−1 of copper ions in the acetate buffer solutions with the method of square wave stripping voltammetry. Compared with the gold nanoparticles-modified disk electrode, the gold nanoparticles-modified UMEA showed higher sensitivity (0.024 µA mm−2 µg−1 L) and lower limit of detection (0.2 µg L−1). Water samples from river water and tap water were analyzed by the microsensor chip with recovery ranging from 100.7 % to 107.8 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper presents an electrochemical microsensor for simultaneous detection of copper (II) and lead (II) using an l-aspartic acid/l-cysteine/gold nanoparticle modified microelectrode. The microelectrode was fabricated by Micro Electro-Mechanical System technique. The complex of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and amino acid with carboxyl group was used as the selective ligand for metal ions. The microelectrode was firstly modified with AuNPs to increase the sensitive area of the working electrode. Subsequently, the AuNPs/gold electrode was modified with l-cysteine and then covalently linked with a monolayer of l-aspartic acid using glutaraldehyde. Electrochemical analysis of metal ions was achieved by using square wave voltammetry without stirring. The microsensor exhibited an excellent linear range from 5μgL−1 to 2000μgL−1 with the limit of detection of 1μgL−1. This metal ion detection method based on l-aspartic acid/l-cysteine/gold nanoparticle modified microelectrode is simple, sensitive and it could be used for electrochemical analysis of copper (II) and lead (II). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this work, three heavy metals (Cu(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II)) in wide potential window were simultaneously detected on tin film/gold nanoparticles/gold microelectrode (Sn/GNPs/gold microelectrode) by the method of square wave stripping voltammetry. The Sn/GNPs/gold microelectrode was fabricated by in situ plating of a Sn film on a gold nanoparticles (GNPs) modified gold microelectrode. The influence of hydrogen overflow on stripping of Zn(II) on the gold microelectrode was reduced by modification of GNPs, which made the stripping potential of target metals shift positively. The interference of sulfhydryl groups was reduced and the selectivity of the microelectrode was improved due to the addition of Sn in the detection solution. After accumulation at −1.4 V for 300 s in acetate buffer solution (0.1 mol L−1, pH 4.5), the Sn/GNPs/gold microelectrode revealed a good linear behavior in the examined concentration ranges from 5 to 500 µg L−1 for Cu(II) and Pb(II), and from 10 to 500 µg L−1 for Zn(II), with a limit of detection of 2 µg L−1 for Cu(II), 3 µg L−1 for Pb(II) and 5 µg L−1 for Zn(II) ( S/ N=3). When compared with a Sb/GNPs/gold microelectrode and a Bi/GNPs/gold microelectrode, the Sn/GNPs/gold microelectrode showed the best stripping performance to Cu(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II). As a new type of environment-friendly electrode, the Sn/GNPs/gold microelectrode has potential applications for detection of heavy metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have fabricated an interdigitated double-coil microelectrode chip for the determination of traces of phosphate by making use of a MEMS technique and enzyme immobilization technology. The chip is composed of two 3-dimensional strip microelectrodes which form a double coil microelectrode configuration with steep sidewalls and high aspect ratio. This novel configuration results in a high current response during amplification by redox cycling. The enzyme pyruvate oxidase was immobilized on the chip using gold nanoparticles as a support. Phosphate can be determined by using this chip with good sensitivity and linearity and in concentrations ranging from 0.5 μM to 7 μM. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper presents a micro multichannel immunosensor for hemoglobin-A1c level determination rapidly and conveniently. The micro immunosensor is composed of an integrated FET sensor chip and a disposable microelectrode-array chip based on CMOS and MEMS technique, respectively. Antibody immobilization methods, such as mixed self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), seed mediated growth nano-gold and nano-gold wrapped with mixed SAMs are studied. The immunosensor fabricated by nano-gold wrapped with mixed SAMs immobilization method shows the highest sensitivity due to the uniform distribution of the nano-golds without aggregation, and the increase of biomolecules amount on the sensitive area of the micro electrode chip. Whole blood samples obtained from hospital were examined using this immunosensor. Relative standard deviation of 2.63% and recovery of 102.54% were achieved. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A micro potentiometric immunosensor based on mixed SAMs wrapped nano-spheres array for the detection of hemoglobin-A1c level is presented in this paper. Nano-spheres array is prepared by wrapping nano-gold particle with mixed SAMs on the surface of micro immunosensor. Mixed SAMs make the nano-gold particles distribute uniformly without aggregation and render the signal less susceptible to noise. Based on this nano-spheres array, antibody is covalently immobilized on the immunosensor surface. The micro immunosensor, consisting of ISFET integrated chip and MEMS electrodes array is applied to measure hemoglobin-A1c level by detecting the concentration of hemoglobin-A1c and hemoglobin simultaneously. The responses of the immunosensor are linear over the concentration range of 166.7–570ng/ml hemoglobin and 50–170.5ng/ml HbA1c. Whole blood sample obtained from hospital was also examined using this immunosensor. The low relative deviation shows that this micro immunosensor may provide an alternative tool for the determination of HbA1c level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The receptor-binding domain (RBD) on spike protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is the main region interacting with the viral receptor-ACE2 and is a useful target for induction of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV infection. Here we generated two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), targeting RBD, with marked virus neutralizing activity. The mAbs recognize a new conformational epitope which consists of several discontinuous peptides (aa. 343–367, 373–390 and 411–428) and is spatially located neighboring the receptor-binding motif (RPM) region of the RBD. Importantly, W423 and N424 residues are essential for mAb recognition and are highly conserved among 107 different strains of SARS, indicating that the residues are the most critical in the epitope which is a novel potential target for therapeutic mAbs. A human–mouse chimeric antibody, based upon the original murine mAb, was also constructed and shown to possess good neutralizing activity and high affinity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A novel amperometric immunosensor for the detection of α-fetoprotein (AFP) based on the integration of microelectronic technology, mixed self-assembled monolayers (mixed SAMs), gold nanoparticles (nanogold) and enzyme amplification has been developed. Using microelectronic technology, an immunosensor was fabricated which has an “Au, Pt, Pt” three-microelectrode system and two microwells constructed by SU-8 photoresist on silicon wafer. Using mixed SAMs and nanogold, a mixed monolayer comprising cysteamine and 1,6-hexanedithiol was formed on the working electrode surface to assemble nanogold and further to immobilize AFP antibody for detecting AFP in human serum samples. The stepwise mixed SAMs and nanogold based immobilization procedure was characterized by means of cyclic voltammetry. The factors influencing the performance of the resulting immunosensor were studied in detail. After the addition of H2O2 and KI to the immunosensor incubated with AFP and further with horseradish peroxidase-labeled AFP antibody, the cathodic current varied linearly in concentration range of AFP from 15 to 350ng/ml with a detection limit of 5ng/ml. Moreover, the studied immunosensor has attractive advantages, such as miniaturization, compatibility with the complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) techniques, high specificity, good reproducibility and long-term stability, which make it potentially attractive for clinical immunoassays. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A new silicon-based amperometric microelectrode biosensor with consecutive platinization and polymerization of pyrrole is designed and fabricated with bulk micromachining technology. The biosensor consists of a p-type silicon substrate, two respective Au microelectrodes fabricated in two respective in-device micropools formed by anisotropic silicon wet etching, and an SU-8 microreaction pool. To our knowledge, consecutive platinization and polymerization of pyrrole is the first such use for surface modification. The biosensor aims for low unit cost, small dimensions and compatibility with CMOS technology. Successful experimental results have been achieved for glucose detection. Compared to conventional amperometric biosensors and amperometric microelectrode biosensors made with surface micromachining technology, it has several advantages, such as smaller sensitive surface area (1mm × 1mm), lower detection limit (1 × 10-4M), larger linear range (1 × 10-4–1 × 10-2M), larger sensitivity per unit area (39.640nAmM-1mm-2), better reproducibility (3.2% RSD for five detections) and stability (relative remaining sensitivity per unit area kept well above 95% after being stored in a clean container at room temperature for a month), easier to be made into arrays and to be integrated with processing circuitry, etc. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this work, doctors can find useful tips to discover semantic similarities to diagnostic tasks, natural biomedical language, and writing to obtain effective simulations. It proposes a concrete analytical framework for a considerable collection. It does some preliminary analysis using datasets extracted from the entire graduate entrance exam library. It has developed a web front end to demonstrate this method's practicality in the real-world context. The quickly extending field of enormous information examination is starting to assume a basic function in creating clinical practice and exploration. It gives a device to amass and retain a lot of organized and unstructured information created by the board, investigation, and current medical services frameworks. As of late, big data information examination has been applied to measures that help clinical administrations and illness investigation. The appropriation and R and D in this space are hampered by some key issues intrinsic in the huge information worldview. Basic Analysis of Images, Signals, and Genomics: In this article focus on these key challenges and discusses some of the three promising medical research areas. It targets large amounts of medical data, and the use of multimodal data from different sources has also been discussed in recent studies. Research Areas with the potential and significant impact in providing medical services are also being considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Phenol and quinoline do not affect the morphology of NaNO 3 crystals. • Phenol and quinoline significantly affect the size of NaNO 3 crystals. • The effect of quinoline on crystal size is greater than that of phenol. • The influence mechanism of organics on crystal size is solute diffusion block. In this study, the effect of organic pollutants on the fractional crystallization of NaNO 3 from high-saline wastewater was investigated by experiments and theoretical methods. Prior to the investigation, the optimal condition of cooling rate, 10 K/h, stirring intensity, 200 rpm, and aging time, 10 min, were acquired for pursuing a high purity, large crystal particle and uniform size distribution. Based on the optimized process operation, different contents of organic contaminants represented by phenol and quinoline were added for NaNO 3 crystallization. It is clear that both phenol and quinoline have no effect on the product morphology, while their negative effects on the crystal size are significant. The averaged crystal size decrease from 717 μm to 162 μm, when the phenol content reaches 2.0%. Similarly, the addition of 0.2% quinoline cause an obvious decline of the mean size to 197 μm. The results of XRD characterization, carbon content analysis and infrared spectrum show that phase transformation, incorporation into crystal lattice and selective adsorption are not the main modification mechanisms for the influence of organic matters on the crystal size. Hence, the reduced crystal size is mainly attributed to the inhibition of solute diffusion caused by the presence of organic pollutants. This was further verified by the molecular dynamics simulation. The calculated results indicate that when the system contains 40 Na+ ions, 40 NO 3 − ions, 20 phenol or quinoline molecules, the diffusion coefficient of Na+ reduce by 8.67% and 30.86%, while the diffusion coefficient of NO 3 − decrease by 29.33% and 39.51%, respectively. Related results provide an important reference for the industrial process control of high-saline wastewater fractional crystallization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• AuNPs-PSSA composite film was in-situ and easily prepared by cyclic potential sweeps. • AuNPs-PSSA was much more sensitive for TBBPA detection than single AuNPs and PSSA. • Detection limit was 25 pM, and feasibility in wastewater samples was tested by HPLC. Developing a sensitive, simple and fast sensing system for 3,3′,5,5′-tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is important because of its ubiquitousness and high toxicity. In this work, a gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and poly(sulfosalicylic acid) (PSSA) composite film (AuNPs-PSSA) is fabricated in-situ on an electrode surface via cyclic voltammetry scanning. The characterization via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy indicate that the PSSA film is homogeneously decorated with AuNPs, and a highly uniform and thin composite film is obtained. Electrochemical tests reveal that the AuNPs-PSSA film exhibits larger active surface area, lower charge transfer resistance and higher accumulation efficiency toward TBBPA than single AuNPs and PSSA film. As a result, the oxidation signals and sensing sensitivity of TBBPA are significantly enhanced on the surface of the AuNPs-PSSA. The developed TBBPA sensing platform using AuNPs-PSSA composite film, with low detection limit (25 pM) and wide linear range (0.1−10 nM), is successfully utilized to measure TBBPA level in wastewater samples. The results are highly consistent with those that obtained from high-performance liquid chromatography. The preparation and reusability of the TBBPA sensor can be automatically achieved through CV scanning, providing a promising on-line monitoring system for wastewater samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

casper has been a widely used transparent mutant of zebrafish. It possesses a combined loss of reflective iridophores and light-absorbing melanophores, which gives rise to its almost transparent trunk throughout larval and adult stages. Nevertheless, genomic causal mutations of this transparent phenotype are poorly defined. To identify the potential genetic basis of this fascinating morphological phenotype, we constructed genome maps by performing genome sequencing of 28 zebrafish individuals including wild-type AB strain, roy orbison (roy), and casper mutants. A total of 4.3 million high-quality and high-confidence homozygous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected in the present study. We also identified a 6.0-Mb linkage disequilibrium block specifically in both roy and casper that was composed of 39 functional genes, of which the mpv17 gene was potentially involved in the regulation of iridophore formation and maintenance. This is the first report of high-confidence genomic mutations in the mpv17 gene of roy and casper that potentially leads to defective splicing as one major molecular clue for the iridophore loss. Additionally, comparative transcriptomic analyses of skin tissues from the AB, roy and casper groups revealed detailed transcriptional changes of several core genes that may be involved in melanophore and iridophore degeneration. In summary, our updated genome and transcriptome sequencing of the casper and roy mutants provides novel genetic clues for the iridophore loss. These new genomic variation maps will offer a solid genetic basis for expanding the zebrafish mutant database and in-depth investigation into pigmentation of animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Seasonal migration is one of the most spectacular events in nature; however, the molecular mechanisms related to this phenomenon have not been investigated in detail. The Chinese tapertail, or Japanese grenadier anchovy, Coilia nasus , is a valuable migratory fish of high economic importance and special migratory dimorphism (with certain individuals as non-migratory residents). Results In this study, an 870.0-Mb high-quality genome was assembled by the combination of Illumina and Pacific Biosciences sequencing. Approximately 812.1 Mb of scaffolds were linked to 24 chromosomes using a high-density genetic map from a family of 104 full siblings and their parents. In addition, population sequencing of 96 representative individuals from diverse areas along the putative migration path identified 150 candidate genes, which are mainly enriched in 3 Ca2+-related pathways. Based on integrative genomic and transcriptomic analyses, we determined that the 3 Ca2+-related pathways are critical for promotion of migratory adaption. A large number of molecular markers were also identified, which distinguished migratory individuals and non-migratory freshwater residents. Conclusions We assembled a chromosome-level genome for the Chinese tapertail anchovy. The genome provided a valuable genetic resource for understanding of migratory adaption and population genetics and will benefit the aquaculture and management of this economically important fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface functional group plays an important role in H 2 S catalytic oxidization. However, the specific effect of each group species has seldom been investigated. For the first time, we revealed by experimental and theoretical methods that the pyrone group was the most valuable group. An increase in the pyrone-group amount obviously decreased the kinetic reaction order of H 2 S catalytic oxidization. The catalyst with the largest amount of pyrone group (0.1321 mmol·g−1) showed the lowest reaction order (0.5896) and activation energy (16.25 kJ·mol−1). By comparison, a catalyst with 0.0008 mmol·g−1 of pyrone group had a reaction order of just 1.1852 and an activation energy of 81.22 kJ·mol−1. The contribution of pyrone content to the kinetic reaction order had a negative correlation coefficient of −8.0665, which was three and five times larger than that of the quinone (−2.5568) and acidic groups (−1.7454), respectively. Moreover, density functional theory calculations showed that the pyrone group had the lowest energy gap (0.156 eV), far less than that (1.921 eV) of the carboxyl group. After H 2 S was adsorbed, the pyrone group had a Mulliken atomic charge of 0.510, which was larger than that (0.236) of the carboxyl group. In other words, the pyrone group showed the best ability to facilitate electron transfer. As a result, the catalyst with 0.1321 mmol·g−1 of the pyrone group removed 100% of the H 2 S (450 ppm). This amount was 42% higher than a catalyst with 0.0008 mmol·g−1 of the pyrone group. The main results of this work help to explain the mechanism of carbon material in various types of catalysis. Unlabelled Image • Carbons with different functional groups were used to catalyze H 2 S oxidization. • Both acidic and basic groups decreased reaction order and activation energy. • The pyrone group showed the best ability to facilitate electron transfer. • The carbon with a biggest amount of pyrone group showed the best activity. • Computational result also indicated the critical role of pyrone group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen (H2) is a clean energy carrier and its cost-effective separation is important for future H2 energy deployment. Currently, H2 is mainly produced from high temperature methane steam reforming reactions and thus the availability of membrane separation technology that can work at elevated temperatures can reduce the production cost. In this work, a cross-linked polybenzimidazole (PBI)-triglycidylisocyanurate (TGIC) and sulfonated graphene (SG) composite membrane was developed using a mixed proton–electron conducting concept. In such a membrane, protons diffuse by hopping along the cross-linking sites between the sulfonic groups of SG and the pyrrole rings of PBI, while electrons are transported via highly electron conductive SG. Following the addition of SG, the membrane became more compact, given the reduced interlayer spacing and swelling ratio. The thermal stability and oxidative resistance are comparable to those of other PBI-based membranes. For H2/CO2 separation, H2 can permeate through a 132 μm-thick membrane with 99.99% selectivity and a high flux of up to 0.22 mL min−1 cm−2 at 300 °C. The stable operation at 280 °C for 160 hours proves the membrane robustness at such an elevated temperature. Compared to the previously reported mixed conducting ceramic membranes exhibiting equivalent H2 fluxes requiring operation temperatures above 800 °C, the polymer and graphene composite membrane presented herein can reduce the operation temperature by 500 °C. This is an important requirement to ensure a more practical integration of membrane technology into industrial processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The deep-sea snail Phymorhynchus buccinoides belongs to the genus Phymorhynchus (Neogastropoda: Raphitomidae), and it is a dominant specie in the cold seep habitat. As the environment of the cold seep is characterized by darkness, hypoxia and high concentrations of toxic substances such as hydrogen sulfide (H2S), exploration of the diverse fauna living around cold seeps will help to uncover the adaptive mechanisms to this unique habitat. In the present study, a chromosome-level genome of P. buccinoides was constructed and a series of genomic and transcriptomic analyses were conducted to explore its molecular adaptation mechanisms to the cold seep environments. Results: The assembled genome size of the P. buccinoides was approximately 2.1 Gb, which is larger than most of the reported snail genomes, possibly due to the high proportion of repetitive elements. About 92.0% of the assembled base pairs of contigs were anchored to 34 pseudo‐chromosomes with a scaffold N50 size of 60.0 Mb. Compared with relative specie in the shallow water, the glutamate regulative and related genes were expanded in P. buccinoides, which contributes to the acclimation to hypoxia and coldness. Besides, the relatively high mRNA expression levels of the olfactory/chemosensory genes in osphradium indicate that P. buccinoides might have evolved a highly developed and sensitive olfactory organ for its orientation and predation. Moreover, the genome and transcriptome analyses demonstrate that P. buccinoides has evolved a sulfite-tolerance mechanism by performing H2S detoxification. Many genes involved in H2S detoxification were highly expressed in ctenidium and hepatopancreas, suggesting that these tissues might be critical for H2S detoxification and sulfite tolerance. Conclusions: In summary, our report of this chromosome-level deep-sea snail genome provides a comprehensive genomic basis for the understanding of the adaptation strategy of P. buccinoides to the extreme environment at the deep-sea cold seeps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) is commonly used in gas insulated switchgears (GIS) as an insulating medium. When local overheating or partial discharge occurs in GIS, SF6 may be decomposed into various products including CO. In this paper, based on the photoacoustic (PA) effect of gas molecules, the infrared absorption line at 6380.318 cm−1 was chosen as the target line. An infrared laser with a center wavelength of 1567 nm was chosen as the light source, and a cantilever enhanced PA detector was used as the sensor; then, the experimental platform was constructed. The influence of the temperature and pressure on the infrared absorption coefficient of CO was analyzed. The relationship of the PA signal and the CO concentration under the background of SF6 and N2 were obtained. The results show that the temperature has a great influence on the CO absorption coefficient while the influence of pressure is negligible, and the temperature influential coefficient is about 5.0 × 10−6 cm−1/°C. The detection system has the highest signal-to-noise ratio when the frequency of the chopper is 40 Hz. Under N2 and SF6 background gases, there is a good linear relationship between CO concentration and pure PA signals. The minimum detection limit of CO in the background of N2 is 3.63 ppm, while it is 9.88 ppm in SF6. The different kinds of the background gases can influence the PA signals. The PA signals decrease with the increase of the temperature of the gas cell, and they also decrease with the increase of the pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Two kcnk3 genes were identified from Channa argus for the first time. • Both kcnk3 genes are highly conserved in vertebrates including fishes. • Snakehead kcnk3a and kcnk3b genes showed different distribution patterns. • Effects of fasting and refeeding on the expression of two kcnk3 genes were detected. Potassium channel subfamily K member 3 (KCNK3) has been reported to play important roles in membrane potential conduction, pulmonary hypertension and thermogenesis regulation in mammals. However, its roles remain largely unknown and scarce reports were seen in fish. In the present study, we for the first time identified two kcnk3 genes (kcnk3a and kcnk3b) from the carnivorous Northern snakehead (Channa argus) by molecular cloning and a genomic survey. Subsequently, their transcription changes in response to different feeding status were investigated. Full-length coding sequences of the kcnk3a and kcnk3b genes are 1203 and 1176 bp, encoding 400 and 391 amino acids, respectively. Multiple alignments, 3D-structure prediction and phylogenetic analysis further suggested that these kcnk3 genes may be highly conserved in vertebrates. Tissue distribution analysis by real-time PCR demonstrated that both the snakehead kcnk3 s were widely transcribed in majority of the examined tissues but with different distribution patterns. In a short-term (24-h) fasting experiment, we observed that brain kcnk3a and kcnk3b genes showed totally opposite transcription patterns. In a long-term (2-week) fasting and refeeding experiment, we also observed differential change patterns for the brain kcnk3 genes. In summary, our findings suggest that the two kcnk3 genes are close while present different transcription responses to fasting and refeeding. They therefore can be potentially selected as novel target genes for improvement of production and quality of this economically important fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Mudskippers are typical amphibious fishes and possess various strategies to ameliorate ammonia toxicity during exposure to environmental ammonia. The present study aimed to provide transcriptomic evidence through profiling the gill and liver transcriptomes of Boleophthalmus pectinirostris (BP) and Periophthalmus magnuspinnatus (PM), which were subjected to treatment with high environmental ammonia for up to 72 h. The results of gene function annotation showed that most of the differentially expressed genes were involved in metabolic pathways. After ammonia exposure, the protein and amino acid metabolism related genes in mudskippers were down-regulated, and PM had more down-regulated genes than BP. The expression levels of several representative genes involved in ammonia excretion in the gill were commonly increased. Interestingly, NH 4 + transporting and H+ excreting related genes, including Na+/K+(NH 4 +)/2Cl− cotransporter (nkcc), Na+/K+(NH4+)-ATPase (nka), carbonic anhydrase 2 (ca2), H+-ATPase, Na+/H+ (NH 4 +)-exchanger (nhe), and carbonic anhydrase 15 (ca15), were up-regulated more significantly in BP than PM; however, the transcription levels of Rhesus glucoprotein b (Rhbg) and Rhesus glucoprotein c1 (Rhcg1), which constitute the NH 3 transporting channels, were up-regulated more significantly in PM than BP. Furthermore, the present study provides molecular evidence for how mudskippers adopt partial amino acid catabolism to decrease the production of endogenous ammonia under high environmental ammonia loading. Highlights • Profiled the gill and liver transcriptomes of two mudskippers, which were subjected to treatment with high environmental ammonia. • PM is more effective than BP to slow down the build-up of ammonia by reducing the rate of ammonia production. • Expression levels of several representative genes involved in ammonia excretion in the gill were commonly increased. • Partial amino acid catabolism plays an important role in reducing the production of endogenous ammonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]