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Human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been established as a therapeutic target of lung cancer and other diverse tumors. The antibody drug Cetuximab has been developed to target the third subdomain III (TSDIII) of EGFR extracellular domain (ECD) by competitively inhibiting epidermal growth factor binding. In this study, we performed systematic investigation on the crystal complex structure of EGFR ECD domain with Cetuximab to create a residue importance profile for the TSDIII subdomain, based on which a number of U‐shaped, double‐stranded linear peptides were derived and cyclized to orthogonally thread through most hotspot residues and many responsible residues within the TSDIII β‐sheet plane; they represent mimotopes of the key antibody‐recognition site of TSDIII subdomain. Computational analyses revealed that these linear peptides cannot spontaneously fold to the desired conformation in free state due to their intrinsic flexibility. Cell‐free assays confirmed that the stapling can considerably improve the binding affinity of linear peptides to Cetuximab by up to 18‐fold. The cOrt1 [3–18] cyclic peptide was measured to have the highest affinity in all designed linear and cyclic peptides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mount Emei is located on the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau, on the transition zone between the main body of the Tibetan Plateau and the Sichuan Basin in China. It is not only the necessary place for the eastward movement of the plateau system but also the place where the southwest vortex begins to develop. Its special geographical location makes it particularly important to understand the turbulence characteristics and surface energy balance of this place. Based on the Atmospheric Boundary Layer (ABL) tower data, radiation observation data and surface flux data of Mount Emei station on the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau from December 2019 to February 2022, the components of surface equilibrium are estimated by the eddy correlation method and Thermal Diffusion Equation and Correction (TDEC) method, the characteristics of surface energy exchange in the Mount Emei area are analyzed, and the aerodynamic and thermodynamic parameters are estimated. The results show that the annual average value of zero-plane displacement d is 10.45 m, the annual average values of aerodynamic roughness Z 0 m and aerothermal roughness Z 0 h are 1.61 and 1.67 m, respectively, and the annual average values of momentum flux transport coefficient C D and sensible heat flux transport coefficient C H are 1.58 × 10 − 2 and 3.79 × 10 − 3 , respectively. The dimensionless vertical wind fluctuation variance in the Mount Emei area under unstable conditions can better conform to the 1/3rd power law of the Monin–Obukhov similarity theory, while the dimensionless horizontal wind fluctuation variance under unstable lamination and the dimensionless 3D wind fluctuation variance under stable condition does not conform to this law. In the near-neutral case, the dimensionless velocity variance in the vertical direction in this area is 1.314. The daytime dominance of sensible and latent heat fluxes varied seasonally, with latent heat fluxes dominating in summer and sensible heat transport dominating in winter. he surface albedo of Mount Emei in four seasons is between 0.04 and 0.08. The surface albedo in summer and autumn is higher than that in Mount Emei. The influence of the underlying surface on surface reflectance is much greater than other factors, such as altitude, longitude and latitude. The non-closure phenomenon is significant in the Mount Emei area. The energy closure rates before and after considering canopy thermal storage are 46% and 48%, respectively. The possible reason for the energy non-closure in this area is that the influence of horizontal advection and vertical advection on the energy closure is not considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Theanine is an important quality parameter referring to tea quality. Applying nitrogen fertilizers is one strategy to improve the level of theanine; however, the effect of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria on theanine synthesis in tea roots has been less studied. In this study, the bacteria isolated from Qimen County with the maximum potassium (K) solubilization were identified as Bacillus by biochemical and molecular analyses. We show that tartaric and pyruvic acids produced by Bacillus were important components related to K solubilization in vitro. Pot experiments and enzymatic assays in vitro showed that inoculation with Bacillus- secreted organic acids increased the level of available potassium in the soil. The increased K level activated recombinant CsTSI activity (theanine biosynthesis enzyme) and increased ethylamine content (the synthesis precursor of theanine), resulting in promoted theanine synthesis in tea roots. Therefore, our study indicates that Bacillus can be a potential bioinoculant for biofortification of tea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel solid‐phase microextraction coating of phosphorous‐containing titanium oxide composite was developed using titanium fiber as a support and a titanium source by hydrothermal oxidation in a phosphoric acid solution containing hydrogen peroxide. The morphology of the fiber coatings was controlled by the conditions of the hydrothermal oxidation reaction. The oriented nanofiber coating was employed to extract several types of representative aromatic analytes. The experimental results demonstrated that the as‐prepared fiber exhibited excellent extraction efficiency toward polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Combined with high‐performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection, main extraction conditions were optimized, including pH, ionic strength, extraction temperature, stirring rate, extraction time and desorption time. The established method presented good linearity from 0.05 to 200 μg/L with limit of detection ranging from 0.012 to 0.126 μg/L. This convenient and green procedure was suitable for the selective extraction and determination of typical polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in environmental water samples. The relative recoveries of 85.8–112% were obtained for the determination of target polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water samples spiked with 5.0 and 15.0 μg/L. Moreover, the as‐prepared fiber showed at least 210 extraction/desorption cycles due to its high mechanical and chemical stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: While oxytocin is commonly used for the prevention of uterine atony, its pharmacology may be affected by a prior history of caesarean delivery. The objective of this study was to determine the 50% effective dose (ED50) of bolus oxytocin after caesarean delivery in parturients with and without prior caesarean delivery. Methods: This was a parallel-group, double-blind, dose-response study using Dixon's up-and-down sequential allocation method to estimate the ED50 of bolus-administered oxytocin in parturients having caesarean delivery under combined spinal-epidural anaesthesia (CSE). Twenty-seven parturients with a history of prior caesarean delivery (With-PCD group) and 26 parturients with no such history (Without-PCD group) were enrolled. Oxytocin was administered as an intravenous bolus at a starting dose of 0.5 units, which was then increased or decreased by 0.25 units at a time. Uterine tone was assessed by the obstetrician as either 'adequate' or 'inadequate' 3 min after delivery of the fetus. Adverse effects, administration of additional uterotonic agents, and estimated blood loss were recorded. Results: The ED50 of oxytocin was greater in the With-PCD group than in the Without-PCD group (0.95 units [95% CI 0.82–1.08] vs. 0.55 units [95% CI 0.38–0.73], P < 0.001). The overall incidence of adverse effects was higher in the With-PCD group than in the Without-PCD group (33.3% vs. 7.7%, P = 0.02). Conclusion: The initial bolus dose of oxytocin needed to prevent uterine atony was higher in parturients with prior caesarean delivery than in parturients without prior caesarean delivery. Uterine scarring may contribute to the increased oxytocin requirements of the former group. Trial Registration Number: ChiCTR1900023474; investigator: Wei CN; date of registration: 30 May 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The intrathecal hyperbaric bupivacaine dosage for cesarean section is difficult to predetermine. This study aimed to develop a decision-support model using a machine-learning algorithm for assessing intrathecal hyperbaric bupivacaine dose based on physical variables during cesarean section. Methods: Term parturients presenting for elective cesarean section under spinal anaesthesia were enrolled. Spinal anesthesia was performed at the L3/4 interspace with 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine at dosages determined by the anesthesiologist. A spinal spread level between T4-T6 was considered the appropriate block level. We used a machine-learning algorithm to identify relevant parameters. The dataset was split into derivation (80%) and validation (20%) cohorts. A decision-support model was developed for obtaining the regression equation between optimized intrathecal 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine volume and physical variables. Results: A total of 684 parturients were included, of whom 516 (75.44%) and 168 (24.56%) had block levels between T4 and T6, and less than T6 or higher than T4, respectively. The appropriate block level rate was 75.44%, with the mean bupivacaine volume [1.965, 95%CI (1.945,1.984)]ml. In lasso regression, based on the principle of predicting a reasonable dose of intrathecal bupivacaine with fewer physical variables, the model is "Y=0.5922+ 0.055117* X1-0.017599*X2" (Y: bupivacaine volume; X1: vertebral column length; X2: abdominal girth), with λ 0.055, MSE 0.0087, and R2 0.807. Conclusions: After applying a machine-learning algorithm, we developed a decision model with R2 0.8070 and MSE due to error 0.0087 using abdominal girth and vertebral column length for predicting the optimized intrathecal 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine dosage during term cesarean sections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorectal cancer is a commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related death which still increasing in many countries. The lack of biomarkers for early detection and clinic treatment results in high morbidity and mortality. The novel role of long noncoding RNA LINC00857 on cell proliferation migration and invasion was explored in this article. The expression level of LINC00857 in colorectal cancer tissue samples and cells was determined notably higher than normal tissue samples and cells. Silence LINC00857 can significantly inhibit colorectal cancer cell viability and metastasis in vitro. Moreover, LINC00857 depletion caused cell accumulation in the G0/G1 phase. In addition, we recognized the novel LINC00857–miR-1306–vimentin axis and demonstrated it by dual-luciferase reporter assay. And this signaling axis could be considered as the target for colorectal cancer treatment. In conclusion, LINC00857 can promote colorectal cancer progress by sponging miR-1306 and upregulate vimentin to accelerate the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents for colon cancer treatment is limited by multidrug resistance (MDR) and insufficient intracellular release of the administered nanomedicine. To overcome these limitations, we constructed a pH/ROS cascade-responsive and self-accelerating drug release nanoparticle system (PLP-NPs) for the treatment of multidrug-resistant colon cancer. The PLP-NPs comprised a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-sensitive polymeric paclitaxel (PTX) prodrug (DEX-TK-PTX), a pH-sensitive poly(l-histidine) (PHis), and beta-lapachone (Lapa), a ROS-generating agent. We found that PLP-NPs could accumulate in tumor tissue through enhancement of the permeability and retention (EPR) effect, and were subsequently internalized by cancer cells via the endocytic pathway. Within the acidic endo-lysosomal environment, PHis protonation facilitated the escape of the PLP-NPs from the lysosome and release of Lapa. The released Lapa generated a large amount of ROS, consumed ATP, and downregulated P-glycoprotein (P-gp) production through the activity of NQO1, an enzyme that is specifically overexpressed in tumor cells. In addition, the generated ROS promoted the release of PTX from DEX-TK-PTX to kill cancer cells, while ATP depletion inhibited P-gp-mediated MDR. In vitro and in vivo experiments subsequently confirmed that PLP-NPs induced tumor-specific cytotoxicity and overcame the MDR of colon cancer. Our findings indicate that the use of the PLP-NPs system represents a promising strategy to counter MDR in the treatment of colon cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a Lagrangian of the coupled Navier-Stokes equations is proposed based on the semi-inverse method. The fractional derivatives in the sense of Riemann-Liouville definition are used to replace the classical derivatives in the Lagrangian. Then the fractional Euler-Lagrange equation can be derived with the help of the fractional variational principles. The Agrawal's method is devoted to lead to the time-space fractional coupled Navier-Stokes equations from the above Euler-Lagrange equation. The solution of the time-space fractional coupled Navier-Stokes equations is obtained by means of RPS algorithm. The numerical results are presented by using exact solutions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epigenetic diversity could play an important role in adaptive evolution of organisms, especially for plant species occurring in new and stressful environments. Thlaspi arvense (field pennycress), a valuable oilseed crop, is widespread in temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. In this study, we investigated the effect of salinity stress on the epigenetic variation of DNA methylation and epigenetic stress memory in pennycress using methylation‐sensitive amplification polymorphism (MSAP) markers. We examined how the status of DNA methylation changes across individuals in response to salinity stress and whether such an effect of maternal stress could be transferred to offspring for one or two generations in nonstressed environments. Our results based on 306 epiloci indicated no consistent change of DNA methylation status in specific epiloci across individuals within the same conditions. In contrast, we found that the epigenetic diversity at population level increased significantly in response to the stimulation of salinity stress; and this "stimulation effect" could be transferred partially in the form of stress memory to at least two generations of offspring in nonstressed environments. In addition, we observed a parallel change in functionally important traits, that is, phenotypic variation was significantly higher in plants grown under salinity stress compared with those of control groups. Taken together, our results provide novel clues for the increased spontaneous epimutation rate in response to stress in plants, of potential adaptive significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone marrow–derived monocytes/macrophages (BMMs) play a vital role in liver inflammation and fibrogenesis. Cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) mediates the recruitment of BMMs into the injured liver. In this study, we revealed the molecular mechanisms under CB1‐mediated BMM infiltration. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) was employed to induce mouse liver injury. In vivo, human antigen R (HuR) was upregulated in macrophages of injured liver. HuR messenger RNA (mRNA) expression was positively correlated with CB1 and F4/80 mRNA expression. Furthermore, we detected the binding between HuR and CB1 mRNA in CCl4‐treated livers. In vitro, HuR modulated arachidonyl‐2′‐chloroethylamide (ACEA, CB1 agonist)‐induced BMM migration by regulating CB1 expression. HuR promoted CB1 expression via binding to CB1 mRNA. ACEA promoted the association between HuR and CB1 mRNA via inducing HuR nucleoplasmic transport. In the cytoplasm, HuR competed with the miR‐29 family to improve CB1 expression and BMM migration. In conclusion, our results prove that HuR regulates CB1 expression and influences ACEA‐induced BMM migration by competing with miR‐29 family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This case report demonstrates an interdisciplinary approach to treat a 26‐year‐old male patient with hyperdivergent Class II skeletal pattern, maxillary transverse deficiency, slight anterior open bite, and multiple hopeless teeth with root rests. Clinical Considerations: An interdisciplinary treatment was required for oral hygiene improvement, caries treatment, extraction of residual roots and hopeless teeth, maxillary expansion using microimplant‐assisted rapid palatal expansion, improvement of skeletal and dental relationship using orthodontic microimplants, and prosthetic restorations with the aid of dental implants. Conclusion: Consequently, esthetic and functional occlusal rehabilitation was achieved. Clinical Significance: Hyperdivergent Class II facial and skeletal patterns with multiple missing teeth can be effectively treated using orthodontic skeletal anchorage. In young adults, the transverse discrepancy can be resolved using MARPE, which is also useful for improving the sagittal and vertical relationships. In the case of multiple missing teeth, orthodontic treatment can provide the proper space to facilitate dental implants to achieve optimal esthetics and function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In this study, we ask whether the invasive Datura stramonium bring about effects on native plants in three different habitats, including farmland, wasteland and roadside. Studying the invaded and uninvaded areas in these habitats, we found that the invasion of D. stramonium brought about corresponding effects on the functional traits of native plants and the stoichiometric characteristics of soil carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus. These findings imply that invasion by D. stramonium has a great effect on the local ecosystem, and it has a high ability to capture resources. D. stramonium can improve its own competitiveness by enhancing invasiveness by changing the functional traits of native plants and the stoichiometric characteristics of soil C, N and P, which may be the reason for its invasive success. Datura stramonium is an invasive herb of the family Solanaceae from Mexico and has been invading seriously in China. The effects of invasive plants on the functional traits of native plants and the stoichiometric characteristics of soil carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in different habitats were explored by taking the invasive plant D. stramonium and coexisting native plants as the research object. The species, quantity and height of plants in sample plots in farmland, wasteland and roadside habitats were investigated and the specific leaf area (SLA), leaf carbon content (C), nitrogen content (N), carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C:N), construction cost (CCmass) and stoichiometric characteristics of soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) were analyzed. The results showed that compared with the noninvaded area, the species and quantity of native plants decreased in the invaded area, and SLA and leaf N showed a decreasing trend. The plant height of native plants in the invaded area of the farmland and wasteland decreased by 23.19% and 15.26%, respectively, while the height of native plants along the roadside increased by 95.91%. The leaf C:N ratio of native plants in the invaded area along the roadside significantly increased by 54.07%. The plant height and leaf N of D. stramonium in the three habitats were higher than those of the native plants. The soil N in the invaded area of the three habitats increased, with the soil N in the farmland increasing by 21.05%, in the wasteland increasing by 9.82% and along the roadside significantly increasing by 46.85%. The soil carbon-to-phosphorus ratio (C:P) in the three habitats showed an increasing trend. The soil C:P ratio in the farmland increased by 62.45%, in the wasteland it increased by 11.91% and along the roadside it significantly increased by 71.14%. These results showed that invasion by D. stramonium has a great effect on the local ecosystem, and it has a high ability to capture resources. D. stramonium can improve its own competitiveness by enhancing invasiveness by changing the functional traits of native plants and the stoichiometric characteristics of soil C, N and P, which may be the reason for its invasive success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TiO 2 -MIL-101 nano-composite was synthesized through the growth of TiO 2 crystals on MIL-101 substrate under solvothermal conditions, and was applied into the adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB), rhodamine B (RhB) and crystal violet (CV). The fabricated TiO 2 -MIL-101 nano-composite was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and N 2 adsorption experiments. As a result, we found that TiO 2 -MIL-101 nano-composite remained good porosity because of the MIL-101 substrate, and the TiO 2 crystals were coated on the surface of MIL-101 without agglomeration. Furthermore, on basis of experiments, remarkable enhancement of adsorption affinity of TiO 2 -MIL-101 towards MB, RhB and CV could be mainly attributed to the regulation of the surface charge compared to original MIL-101 materials after coated by TiO 2 crystals. Meanwhile, the fabricated TiO 2 -MIL-101 exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity for the degradation of MB, RhB and CV based on the TiO 2 coatings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low temperature is a limiting environmental factor that impairs the growth, yield and quality of tea plants. Fatty acids desaturations (FADs) play a key role in mediating membrane fluidity in response to various abiotic stresses; however, the intrinsic mechanisms underlying FAD-mediated alleviation of cold stress in tea plants are poorly understood. In this study, cold stress exposure significantly increased the content of C18:2 (linoleic acid) in two tea varieties contrasting in cold tolerance (cold-tolerant Longjin43 and cold-sensitive Huangjinye). Three different cDNA sequences, designated CsFAD2 , CsFAD5 and CsFAD6 , encoding ω-6 FADs that are involved in the response to cold stress were isolated from tea. Yeast experiments further demonstrated that CsFAD2 , CsFAD5 and CsFAD6 can convert C18:1 to C18:2. Ectopic expression of CsFAD2 , CsFAD5 and CsFAD6 in Arabidopsis seedlings and plants enhanced cold tolerance in pot experiments. Interestingly, CsFAD2- or CsFAD5- silenced tea leaves were more sensitive to cold acclimation than CsFAD6- silenced leaves, and CsFAD2/5- silenced leaves affected cold tolerance more than CsFAD2/6- or CsFAD5/6 - silenced leaves, suggesting that CsFAD2 and CsFAD5 were more important than CsFAD6 in cold acclimation-dependent cold tolerance. Taken together, our results suggest that C18:2 is an important component associated with cold stress and CsFAD2 and CsFAD5 contribute more than CsFAD6 to cold tolerance. • ω-6 FADs conversed C18:1 to C18:2. • Ectopic expression of ω-6 FADs in Arabidopsis seedlings and plants enhanced cold tolerance in pot experiments. • CsFAD2 / 5 enhanced cold tolerance more than that of the CsFAD6. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of defect-free zeolite membrane remains a big challenge due to the fact that thermal expansion mismatch between the zeolite film and the porous support can generate thermal stress and cracks during template removal process. Rapid thermal processing (RTP) for the template removal of SAPO-34 zeolite membrane was systematically studied and an optimized procedure was provided. A short RTP at 973 K led to substantially increased selectivity and permeance. The higher selectivity is the result of bonding between zeolite crystals generated during the rapid heating, which reduced cracking during the flowing slow calcinations. Moreover, RTP also facilitated the decomposition of template molecules which resulted into higher permeance. Long exposure at high temperature and thermal cycling may lead to the formation of defects in SAPO-34 membranes. The integration of RTP and conventional calcination, using a 1 min RTP at 973 K, fast cooling to 673 K, then 4 h calcination and slow cooling to room temperature, led to significantly improved selectivity and permeance. This optimized template removal procedure inherited the advantage of RTP treatment and also reduced the exposure time at high temperature, thus led to membranes with both high permeance and selectivity. Permporometry analysis confirmed the reduced defect size and area caused by RTP treatment. The best membrane exhibited CO 2 permeance of 6.1 × 10 −7 mol/(m 2 s Pa) and CO 2 /CH 4 selectivity of 88 at 4.0 MPa pressure drop, which were improved by 49% and 80% respectively, compared with membranes calcined by conventional template removal procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macrophages are central players in inflammation, which leads to liver injury. It has been reported that continuous macrophage activation initiates this process. Our previous data show that the anti-inflammatory factor, 15-deoxy-Δ-prostaglandin J (15d-PGJ), inhibits bone marrow (BM)-derived macrophage (BMM) migration and inflammatory cytokine production. However, the underlying mechanism of 15d-PGJ inhibited BMM activation is still unclear. Here, we evaluate the role of 15d-PGJ/PPARγ axis in BMM activation. 15d-PGJ reduced activated BMM population in injured livers. Inflammatory cytokine expressions (MIP-1β, TNF-α, NOS2) were depressed by 15d-PGJ in macrophages isolated from treated livers. In vitro, 15d-PGJ inhibited BMM activation via PPARγ. Moreover, miR-27b-3p, miR-181a-1-3p, and miR-326-5p target MIP-1β, TNF-α, and NOS2 mRNA, respectively. The miRNA expressions were decreased in damaged livers, macrophages isolated from injured livers, and activated BMMs, which were renewed by 15d-PGJ/PPARγ axis. In activated BMMs, the miRNA inhibitors attenuated inhibitory effect of PPARγ agonist (troglitazone or ciglitazone), while replenishing the lack of miRNAs induced by PPARγ deficiency using miRNA mimics caused a decline of inflammatory cytokines. In conclusion, these data suggest that 15d-PGJ/PPARγ axis regulates BMM activation via promoting miR-27b-3p, miR-181a-1-3p, and miR-326-5p expressions. Key messages: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a simple method for preparation of MIL-101 templated TiO 2 @MIL-101 core-shell architecture, and endeavor to investigate the synergism of TiO 2 @MIL-101 core-shell composite for the high efficiency adsorption and decomposition of methyl orange (MO). XRD patterns, SEM and TEM images confirmed the core-shell architecture of TiO 2 @MIL-101 composite. Ti/Cr element ratio of the TiO 2 @MIL-101 composite from EDAX analysis was 14.8 wt%, which was similar to the calculated 15.8 wt% value. The fabricated composite possessed mesopores with total-pore-volume of 0.475 cm 3 g −1 and BET surface area of 1033 m 2 g −1 . MIL-101 templated TiO 2 @MIL-101 core-shell composite possessed excellent ability for the adsorption of MO, with the maximum adsorption capacity of 19.23 mg g −1 based on theoretical calculation. Furthermore, higher MO removal efficiency was achieved compared to MIL-101 and TiO 2 when TiO 2 @MIL-101 core-shell composite was used as adsorbent and catalyst, which only took 30 min to reach removal efficiency of 99% under UV irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article will shed new light on the already crowded area of Marco Polo research, by examining the perspective of Polo, his direct observation of Kublai Khan and Yuan China, as revealed in The Travels of Marco Polo. The paper analyses the sources of Polo’s perspective on the people he encountered on his travels in foreign lands. It argues that Polo’s ideas were shaped by his cultural background, personal experience and his own interests. Then it examines how the work presents Kublai Khan himself, as well as the Yuan empire’s monetary system, its waterway trade and its ethnic policy. The result of this investigation shows that Polo was an acute observer; he pointed out occasions of misrule despite his adoration of Kublai Khan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lengthy synthesis time is a major contributor to zeolite membrane's overall cost, which limits its commercial applications. Ultrafast synthesis of SAPO-34 zeolite membrane was realized by oil-bath heating. The synthesis time was significantly shortened from 5∼8 h to 1 h and membrane thickness was reduced from 3∼5 μm to 0.8 μm. This is by far the fastest synthesis method and the thinnest SAPO-34 membrane available. Oil-bath heating eliminated the thermal-lag associated with regular oven heating, which led to enhanced nucleation and crystallization. The obtained SAPO-34 membranes exhibited superior high pressure CO 2 CH 4 separation performance. The oil-bath heating method might serve as a cheap alternative for the expensive microwave system, which inherits all benefits of microwave heating without adding extra cost. This method might be used for the synthesis of other types of zeolite membranes for different separation applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out to investigate the indigenous use and pharmacological activity of traditional medicinal plants of Mount Taibai, China. Pharmacological data were collected by conducting informal interviews with local experienced doctors practicing traditional Chinese medicine and via open-ended questionnaires on villagers. We conclude that the residents of Mt. Taibai possess rich pharmacological knowledge. This study may help identify high-value traditional medicinal plant species, promote economic development associated with local medicinal plants, and increase awareness from government departments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coal tar wastewater was treated by self-synthesized nano zero valent iron (NZVI)/modified semicoke composites. Phenol was employed as simulated sample due to high content of phenol in coal tar wastewater. The results show that the phenol removal rate started to rise with the increase of modified semicoke amount and aging time, reached maximum at certain value, and then began to decrease. With the reaction time extending, phenol removal rate increased gradually, while phenol removal rate came down gradually as the initial phenol concentration rise. The XPS, XRD, and SEM results indicate that NZVI with uniform size was well-distributed on the surface of modified semicoke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Ti 3 C 2 T x QDs loaded on the surface of ASC can effectively hinder self-restacking of Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene and improve the electrocatalytic of ASC. • Compared with the ASC electrode, the Ti 3 C 2 T x QDs/ASC electrode exhibits good reversibility and capacitance. • The rhodamine B removal of Ti 3 C 2 T x QDs/ASC electrode is due to the high conductivity of Ti 3 C 2 T x QDs, with a unique pore structure, abundant functional groups, and specific area of ASC. Developing advanced materials for the removal of organic pollutants is an urgent need. Ti 3 C 2 T x quantum dots (Ti 3 C 2 T x QDs) offers good conductivity and hydrophilic properties. They have attracted increasing attention in electrocatalysis. However, restacking nano-sheets can impede their electro-chemical performance. Thus, we report here a simple preparation approach via the introduction of potential electrode material-activated semi-coke (ASC) into Ti 3 C 2 T x QDs using brief sonication. The as-fabricated Ti 3 C 2 T x QDs/ASC composite significantly improves the electro-chemical activity in contrast to pure ASC. The Ti 3 C 2 T x QDs/ASC composite is coated on a stainless-steel net and exhibits a higher degradation rate of rhodamine B (RhB) versus ASC electrodes and ASC adsorption. This excellent electro-catalytic performance can be attributed to the high conductivity of Ti 3 C 2 T x QDs, with a unique pore structure, abundant functional groups, and specific area of ASC. This structure has high potential as an anode and can remove organic pollutants from water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel flower-like phosphorous-doped titanium oxide nanocomposite coating was in situ grown on nickel-titanium alloy (NiTi) fiber by hydrothermal treatment in phosphoric acid solution. The experimental results demonstrated that phosphorous-doped titanium oxide nanoflakes (P-TiONFs) with an average thickness of 80 nm were formed on the NiTi fiber substrate in 0.1 mol L−1 H 3 PO 4 at 150 °C for 6 h. Thereafter, the resulting P-TiONFs were used as SPME fiber coatings for the adsorption of typical aromatic analytes from environmental water samples, which were determined by HPLC-UV. These P-TiONFs exhibited good adsorption selectivity for hydrophobic PAHs. After optimizing microextraction conditions, linear responses were achieved in the ranges of 0.05–200 μg L−1 for the determination of PAHs with determination coefficients higher than 0.999. LODs (S/N = 3) ranged from 0.009 to 0.132 μg L−1, while LOQs (S/N = 10) ranged from 0.030 to 0.441 μg L−1. RSDs for intra-day and inter-day analyses with a single fiber varied from 4.46% to 5.56% and 5.14%–6.75%, respectively. The relative recoveries of 83.60%–119.0% were achieved for the determination of PAHs in real water samples spiked at the concentration levels of 5.0 μg L−1 and 10.0 μg L−1 with RSDs below 7.38%. In addition, the fibers exhibited no significant decrease in adsorption efficiency after being used 240 adsorption and desorption cycles. The proposed method was successfully applied to the selective enrichment and determination of target PAHs in different water samples. [Display omitted] • A novel P-TiONFs coating was in situ grown on NiTi substrate by hydrothermal reaction. • The fabrication process of the NiTi@P-TiONFs fiber was precisely controllable. • The NiTi@P-TiONFs fiber showed good adsorption capability and selectivity for PAHs. • The NiTi@P-TiONFs fiber had high stability in a SPME application. • The proposed method was applied to enrichment and determination of PAHs in water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Directive, acid and reactive dyes are the carcinogenic dyes which have complex structures and difficult to remove from the industrial wastewater. In this study, coal fly ash (CFA) was modified with HCl and NaOH solution and used for the removal of direct fast scarlet 4BS, direct sky blue 5B, acid navy blue R, and reactive turquoise blue KN-G dyes. Laboratory experiments were carried out to analyze the performance of modified coal fly ash (MCFA) to check the removal efficiency and adsorption capacity of dyes. The maximum removal efficiency of direct fast scarlet 4BS and direct sky blue 5B were recorded 96.03% and 93.820%, respectively using 0.05 g adsorbent dosage at 100 mg/L initial concentration. The results of MCFA were compared with carbon black, chitosan, starch, zeolite and unmodified coal fly ash (UMCFA) at lower dosage 0.05 g and higher dosage 0.4 g. Adsorption isotherm were analyzed by Langmuir and Freundlich model by different dyes concentrations, the result stated that Freundlich and Langmuir model (±0.9918, ±0.9974) was fitted by chemisorption and physisorption methods for all four dyes. Adsorption kinetic were also determined by Pseudo-first-order and Pseudo-second-order at different contact times with dye molecules and adsorbent active sites, and the results showed that the adsorption behaviors of all four dyes were described better by pseudo-second-order kinetics than pseudo-first-order kinetics. Recommended dosage of modified fly ash is between 10 ‱ to 20 ‱ for simulated textile industrial waste water and regeneration temperature is 300 ℃. [Display omitted] • Coal fly ash was modified by HCl and NaOH for the dye adsorption. • After modification the surface area and porosity of CFA were increased. • Modified coal fly ash was used for the removal of directive, acid and reactive dyes. • Maximum removal efficiency of directive dye was recorded up to 98% by using modified CFA. • The results of MCFA were compared with carbon black, chitosan, starch, zeolite and unmodified coal fly ash. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) which offer a variety of topologies, porous networks and high surface areas are promising and have potential for the applications of specific adsorption, isomerization, catalysis and separation. UIO-66 is the first MOF that has been observed to have reverse shape selectivity. However, such reverse shape selectivity of MOFs has never been explored for capillary gas chromatographic separation. Here we report the fabrication of MOF UIO-66 coated capillary column and exploration of the reverse shape selectivity and molecular sieving effect of such column for capillary gas chromatographic separation of alkane isomers and benzene homologues with excellent selectivity and precision. The adsorption enthalpies and entropies on the interaction between hydrocarbons and UIO-66 were measured to illustrate the energy effect on the separation of alkane isomers and benzene homologues on the UIO-66 coated capillary column. UIO-66 coated capillary column gave preferential retention of branched alkane isomers over their linear isomer, showing reverse shape selectivity, making UIO-66 coated capillary column attractive for capillary gas chromatographic separation of alkane isomers. iso-Propylbenzene (branched) eluted after n-propylbenzene on the UIO-66 coated capillary column again shows reverse shape selectivity. However, much bulkier 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene eluted earlier than n-propylbenzene and iso-propylbenzene on the UIO-66 coated capillary column, exhibiting molecular sieving effect. The combination of reverse shape selectivity with molecular sieving effect makes the UIO-66 coated capillary column promising for the separation of structural isomers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A series of Al-incorporated mobile crystalline materials (Al-MCM-41) were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis and characterized by XRD, N2 adsorption (isotherms), inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analysis, 27Al magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy, and in situ pyridine adsorption (IR analysis). All samples exhibit an ordered structure with the majority of Al species in framework positions, except those with an SiO2/Al2O3 ratio ≤10. The concentration of acid sites is closely related to the Al content in the unit cell. In the presence of Al-MCM-41, both α- and β-pinenes are quickly transformed into isomerized products, which then couple to form homo- and heterodimers. Lewis acid sites are active in triggering both the isomerization and dimerization reactions, but weak Brønsted acid sites seem inactive for the dimerization. Al-MCM-41 has a greater activity than many other microporous and layered materials, and can be easily regenerated. The activity correlates well with the concentration of acid sites, and the sample with an SiO2/Al2O3 ratio of 20 shows the highest activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In order to find the optimal operating parameters in high-temperature and low-temperature coal tar hydrocracking processes and to maximize the light oil yields, experimental studies have been carried out in a one-stage reactor in supercritical solvents. Xylene and gasoline were used as supercritical solvents to investigate their effects on the light oil yields. The results show that gasoline was more suitable as a supercritical solvent and that a suitable ratio of gasoline solvent to coal tar could result in higher light oil yields in both high- and low-temperature coal tar hydrocracking processes. The effects of different operating parameters, including temperature, hydrogen pressure, catalyst, and residence time, on light oil yield were tested. It was found that the yields of light oil from the two coal tar hydrocracking processes varied with the operating parameters in a similar manner. However, different values of the operating parameters gave rise to the maximum yields of light oil from the respective processes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• A novel, ultrasensitive photoelectrochemical immunosensor was constructed for detecting prostatic specific antigen (PSA). • g-C 3 N 4 /SnS 2 nanocomposite was used for the construction of photoelectrochemical immunosensor. • The proposed photoelectrochemical immunosensor presented ultrahigh sensitivity, reproducibility, specificity and stability. Herein, a novel amplified photoelectrochemical immunosensor based on a g-C 3 N 4 /SnS 2 nanocomposite was constructed and applied to detect prostate-specific antigen (PSA). The prepared nanocomposite materials were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet–visible absorption spectroscopy (UV–vis), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The results indicate that g-C 3 N 4 /SnS 2 nanocomposite materials were successfully synthesized. In a typical assembly process, the immunosensor was constructed by embellishing fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) electrode with g-C 3 N 4 /SnS 2 nanocomposite, chitosan (Chito), monoclonal antibody (Ab1), blocking agent bovine serum albumin (BSA), prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and polyclonal antibody-CdS (Ab2-CdS) bioconjugate in turn. The bioconjugate served as a signal amplification factor, and greatly enhanced the sensitivity of PSA detection. In this sensing strategy, the target PSA detection was based on the change in the amount of the signal amplification factor Ab2-CdS bioconjugate, which caused the change of photocurrent intensity. In the presence of PSA, the Ab2-CdS bioconjugate was specifically binding with PSA, then the signal amplification factor Ab2-CdS bioconjugate was incubated on the sensor electrode surface, increasing the photocurrent intensity significantly. Accordingly, under optimal conditions, a novel enhanced photoelectrochemical immunosensor was constructed, and it exhibited excellent sensitivity, selectivity and repeatability for detecting PSA. The detection limit was 1.3 fg·mL−1, and the range was 10 fg·mL−1 – 10 ng·mL−1. Simultaneously, the sensor also provides a likely sensing device for detecting other protein targets, which is of great significance for early clinical diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Ag+ was successfully doped into the imidazole ring of ZIF-8 via a simple etching and ion exchange approach. • The band gap energy of Ag-doped-ZIF-8 decreased efficiently. • A novel Z-scheme AgCl/Ag-doped-ZIF-8 heterojunction was fabricated. • The Z-scheme AgCl/Ag-doped-ZIF-8 heterojunction showed excellent photocatalytic activity. • AgCl/Ag-doped-ZIF-8 possessed good reusability and stability. It is of great importance to fabricate photocatalyst with high photocatalytic activity, and the formation of Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst has been proved to be an effective way to restrain the recombination of photo-induced carriers. In this work, Z-scheme AgCl/Ag-doped-ZIF-8 heterojunction is synthesized via a two-step process involving appropriate amount of cationic Ag ion doping into the imidazole ring of ZIF-8 framework and the precipitation of AgCl onto this Ag-doped-ZIF-8. The successful doping of ZIF-8 which decreases the band gap energy, enhances the light harvesting. Besides, the separation efficiency of photo-induced carriers is further improved due to the formation of Z-scheme AgCl/Ag-doped-ZIF-8 heterojunction, which is confirmed by photoelectrochemical experiments. As a result, the as-prepared AgCl/Ag-doped-ZIF-8 photocatalyst possesses excellent photocatalytic activity under visible light illumination. This work will provide a novel perspective for the design and construction of Z-scheme heterojunction for highly efficient photocatalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A starch-based adsorbing-flocculating bifunctional material St-A/F is prepared via graft copolymerization with two cationic monomers DMC and DMDAAC, using a safe and clean Fenton initiating system. 13C NMR, XRD, SEM and BET are used in characterization of chemical construction and physicochemical property for the product. St-A/F has double functions of adsorbing and flocculating; it can remove hydro-soluble reactive and direct dyes, and insoluble disperse dyes simultaneously. In adsorption study, the removal ratio (RR) of direct dye 4BS and reactive dye KE-4B were 92.06 and 94.13%, respectively. The adsorption behaviors have higher fitting degree to pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isothermal model than pseudo-first-order and Freundlich isothermal model. In flocculation study, the RR of St-A/F was recorded above 93.91% to three disperse dyes. St-A/F has significantly increased Zeta potential and isoelectric point (pI 9.08). St-A/F can cause destabilization and aggregation to negatively charged disperse dye particles, via charge neutralization and bridging effects, using its positively charged graft branched chains. St-A/F can simultaneously remove soluble and insoluble pollutants, so it considered to have great advantage in treatment for practical textile printing and dying wastewater with complicated composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to explore the diagnostic value of the combination of cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), serum homocysteine (HCY) and procalcitonin (PCT) for hyperbilirubinemia complicated with brain injury in neonates. One hundred and forty-nine children with hyperbilirubinemia admitted to Shandong Medical Imaging Research Institute from January 2014 to April 2016 were collected as research subjects, and were divided into a brain injury group (n=67) and a non-brain injury group (n=82) according to whether children suffered from brain injury. PCT levels were detected by electrochemiluminescence (ECL), and HCY levels by enzymatic cycling assay (ECA). The combination of cranial MRI, HCY and PCT was used to diagnose hyperbilirubinemia complicated with brain injury in neonates. The concentrations of HCY and PCT in the brain injury group were significantly higher than those in the non-brain injury group (P<0.001). According to the MRI examination results, the patients were divided into an MRI normal group and an MRI abnormal group. In the brain injury group, the serum HCY and PCT levels of the MRI abnormal group were significantly higher than those of the MRI normal group, with a statistically significant difference (P<0.05). In the non-brain injury group, the serum HCY and PCT levels of the MRI abnormal group were significantly higher than those of the MRI normal group, with a statistically significant difference (P<0.05). The sensitivity of the combined detection was significantly higher than that of single detection (P<0.05); the specificity was significantly higher than that of HCY detection (P<0.05), and the accuracy was significantly higher than that of MRI and HCY single detection (P<0.05). In conclusion, the combination of cranial MRI, HCY and PCT, which has a high diagnostic value for hyperbilirubinemia complicated with brain injury in neonates, is conducive to the early diagnosis and timely treatment of the disease and the reduction of sequelae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is of great concern to fabricate Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst for promoting the separation efficiency of photo-generated carriers and maintaining higher redox abilities. Herein, we design a promising Z-scheme heterojunction via loading Ag/AgCl into porous Co 3 O 4 which is derived from the pyrolysis of ZIF-67 for visible light driven photocatalysis. After moderate calcination of ZIF-67 at 400 °C, the resulted porous Co 3 O 4 (C400) with the same dodecahedral morphology as ZIF-67 is proved to be an effective host for incorporation of photosensitive semiconductor Ag/AgCl. Due to the suitable conduction and valence band potential of C400 and Ag/AgCl, superoxide (•O 2 −) and hydroxyl radicals (•OH) are successfully generated, which further promote the photo-redox reaction. As a result, the fabricated Ag/AgCl/C400 exhibits superior catalytic activity (3.9 times higher than Ag/AgCl) and high catalytic efficiency which are attributed to the improved the light response and the separation efficiency of photogenerated carriers. The structures, morphologies, optical and electrochemical properties of these prepared photocatalysts are systematically investigated by various characterization methods, and a detailed photocatalytic mechanism is proposed. This work provides a new insight into the design of Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst. Image 1 • The porous Co 3 O 4 with polyhedron structure is prepared by moderate calcination of ZIF-67. • A plasmonic Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst is designed via loading Ag/AgCl into porous Co 3 O 4. • O 2 - and ·OH are generated due to the suitable CB and VB potential of Co 3 O 4 and Ag/AgCl promoting the photo-redox reaction. • The Ag/AgCl/Co 3 O 4 heterojunction exhibits superior catalytic activity and high catalytic efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatty liver injury is characterized by liver fat accumulation and results in serious health problems worldwide. There is no effective treatment that reverses fatty liver injury besides etiological therapy. Inflammation is an important macrophage-involving pathological process of liver injury. Here, we investigated the role of sphingosine 1-phosphate receptors (S1PRs) in fatty liver injury and explored whether S1PR2/3 blockade could cure fatty liver injury. A methionine-choline-deficient and a high-fat (MCDHF) diet was used to induce fatty liver injury, and the number of macrophages was evaluated by flow cytometry. Gene expressions were detected using RT-qPCR and cytometric bead array. In MCDHF-diet-fed mice, pro-inflammatory factor expressions were upregulated by fatty liver injury. The S1P level and S1PR2/3 expressions were significantly elevated. Moreover, increased S1P level and S1PR2/3 mRNA expressions were positively correlated with pro-inflammatory factor expressions in the liver. Furthermore, the number of pro-inflammatory macrophages (iMφ) increased in injured liver, and they were mainly bone-marrow-derived macrophages. In vivo, S1PR2/3 blockade decreased the amount of iMφ and inflammation and attenuated liver injury and fibrosis, although liver fat accumulation was unchanged. These data strongly suggest that anti-inflammatory treatment by blocking the S1P/S1PR2/3 axis attenuates fatty liver injury, which might serve as a potential target for fatty liver injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatocytes are the main parenchymal cells of the liver and play important roles in liver homeostasis and disease process. The heterogeneity of normal hepatocytes has been reported, but there is little knowledge about hepatocyte subtype and distinctive functions during liver cholestatic injury. Bile duct ligation (BDL)-induced mouse liver injury model was employed, and single-cell RNA sequencing was performed. Western blot and qPCR were used to study gene expression. Immunofluoresence was employed to detect the expressions of marker genes in hepatocytes. We detected a specific hepatocyte cluster (BDL-6) expressing extracellular matrix genes, indicating these hepatocytes might undergo epithelia-mesenchymal transition. Hepatocytes of BDL-6 also performed tissue repair functions (such as angiogenesis) during cholestatic injury. We also found that four clusters of cholestatic hepatocytes (BDL-2, BDL-3, BDL-4, and BDL-5) were involved in inflammatory process in different ways. To be specific, BDL-2/3/5 were inflammation-regulated hepatocytes, while BDL-4 played a role in cell chemotaxis. Among these four clusters, BDL-5 was special. because the hepatocytes of BDL-5 were proliferating hepatocytes. Our analysis provided more knowledge of hepatocyte distinctive functions in injured liver and gave rise to future treatment aiming at hepatocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, Ag/In2S3/ZnO nanorods (NRs) composite photocatalysts were successfully prepared via simple methods. Significantly, hydroxyl radical active substances were found in the electron spin resonance tests of In2S3/ZnO NRs and Ag/In2S3/ZnO NRs, which indicates that the oxidation reaction that oxidizes water or hydroxide ions into hydroxyl radicals occurs on the valence band of ZnO NRs. It suggests that Z-scheme heterojunction was successfully constructed. In the photocatalytic experiments of degrading 4-nitrophenol (PNP), the Ag/In2S3/ZnO NRs composite exhibits higher photocatalytic activity than ZnO NRs, In2S3, Ag/ZnO NRs and In2S3/ZnO NRs. The characteristic peak of PNP disappears completely in 50 min. The enhanced photocatalytic performance can be attributed to the formation of Z-scheme heterojunction between ZnO NRs and In2S3. In addition, local surface plasmon resonance of Ag and Schottky junction formed between Ag and In2S3 also promote the photocatalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work deals with the preparation of bio-nanocomposite for enhanced antibacterial activity and its application on surgical care. Chitosan-ZnO nanocomposite was prepared by direct addition of dissolved chitosan with zinc nitrate and sodium hydroxide solution. The formation of chitosan-ZnO nanocomposite was confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and UV–Visible spectroscopic analyses. Hexagonal structure of ZnO was determined by X-ray diffraction patterns. With two-fold increase of zinc nitrate concentration, higher zinc ion content in the nanocomposite was obtained and evidenced by atomic absorption spectroscopy studies. The thermal analysis revealed the stability of chitosan increased with formation of chitosan-ZnO nanocomposite. The scanning electron microscope images revealed that ZnO nanoparticles were dispersed within the chitosan matrix. The prepared nanocomposite had a higher antibacterial activity than pure chitosan which showed excellent activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli) with highest zone of inhibition 90 mm. The prepared nanocomposite formulations exhibited excellent in vitro cytocompatibility and in vivo histological activity, which demonstrates the favourable wound healing behaviour of materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to test whether computed tomography (CT)-diagnosed Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a risk factor for cerebrovascular symptoms in patients with suspected atherosclerotic disease. A total of 550 patients (mean age 65.2 ± 8.8 years, 370 males) with carotid plaques who underwent carotid computed tomographic angiography (CTA) and unenhanced abdominal CT were retrospectively analyzed. NAFLD was diagnosed by abdominal CT. Carotid CTA assessed the presence of carotid artery stenosis or plaque. The relationship between NAFLD and cerebrovascular symptoms was analyzed using generalized estimating equations and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The prevalence of NAFLD was significantly higher in symptomatic patients (76.5 vs 9.8%; P < .001). After adjusting for several confounding factors (e.g., hypertension and hyperlipidemia), univariate and multivariate logic regression analysis revealed that NAFLD was still strongly associated with cerebrovascular symptoms (odds ratio, 22.81; 95% CI 13.03–39.93; P < .001). ROC analysis showed that the area under the curve for discriminating symptomatic and asymptomatic plaques using NAFLD measurements was 0.833, with a sensitivity of 76.5% and a specificity of 90.2%. NAFLD is strongly associated with an increased risk of cerebrovascular symptoms. It may be an important predictor of symptomatic carotid plaque and cerebrovascular symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal that is the cause of irreversible hazards to living organisms. Cadmium ions can induce the phosphorylation of MAPKs pathway molecules such as Hog1 and Slt2, but downstream effectors and potential activation pathways are still unclear. In this study, the RNA-seq data analysis in Cd-stressed yeast was performed to predict and screen the signal transduction pathway and the potential effect molecules regulated by MAPKs. Based on differentially expressed genes and Venn diagrams, 31 genes regulated by Hog1p and two genes induced by Slt2p, which related to carbohydrate metabolism, oxidative damage, DNA replication stress and detoxification, were characterized under Cd exposure to yeast. A cysteine-specific transporter (Yct1) modulated by Hog1 was confirmed via RNA-seq results. Meanwhile, we tested the Cd-sensitivity, intracellular Cd concentrations and β-galactosidase assay, and results indicated that the hypersensitivity of the hog1 mutant to Cd was partly abrogated in YCT1 gene deletion, induction of YCT1 was dependent on Hog1 and its transcription factors, and Yct1p would be epistatic to the Hog1p in Cd-tolerance. The investigation of the transcriptome of MAPKs under Cd stress provided valuable information for future molecular studies of Cd-tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: A dosimetry evaluation model for treatment planning of esophageal radiation therapy is developed using a deep learning model. The model predicts dose volume histogram (DVH) from distance to target histogram (DTH) based on stacked de‐noise auto‐encoder (SDAE) and one‐dimensional convolutional network (1D‐CN). Method: First, SDAE is used to extract the features from the curves of DTH and DVH. Then 1D‐CN model is employed to learn the relationship between the features of DTH and DVH, and later used to predict the features of DVH from the features of DTH. Finally, the curve of DVH is restored from the features of DVH based on SDAE. Two hundred and seventy treatment plans are used for training 1D‐CN and another sixty‐three treatment plans are used for evaluating this model. This method is also compared with another two popular prediction methods based on support vector machine (SVM) and U‐net. Results: Based on the experimental result, the proposed model achieves the lowest dose endpoint error comparing to the other models. The average prediction error on planned target volume, left lung, right lung, heart, and spinal cord is 2.94% for the proposed model, while the average prediction errors are 6.79% and 3.41% for SVM and U‐net, respectively. Conclusions: A dosimetry evaluation method based on SDAE and 1D‐CN is developed in characterizing the correlation relationship between DTH and DVH of treatment plans. The results show that the model could be trained more efficiently in this framework and the DVH could be predicted with higher accuracy comparing to those existing methods. It provides a useful tool in supporting automated treatment planning of esophageal intensity‐modulated radiotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The separation of methanol-dimethyl carbonate (DMC) is an important but challenging process. Polymer membranes suffered from poor separation performance and stability. High performance SAPO-34 zeolite membrane was prepared on porous α-alumina supports with oil-bath heating method. Vapor separation of methanol-DMC mixtures on SAPO-34 membranes was systematically studied, including pressure drop, feed composition, temperature, flow rate, membrane degradation etc. SAPO-34 membranes demonstrated outstanding vapor separation performance, with methanol flux ~ 15 kg/(m2 h) and methanol/DMC separation factor ~ 1000 at 403 K and 0.6 MPa pressure drop for 90methanol:10DMCwt% feed. SAPO-34 membranes exhibited great stability in ~ 20 d continuous test. Methanol flux decreased substantially with time but it can be recovered to 80% of original value by a simple methanol rinse. Methanol/DMC separation factor exhibited significant increase with time, which can be attributed to the defect blocking by the chemical bonding of DMC in the defects, as verified by XPS and FT-IR analysis. Too much DMC adsorption on crystal surface hindered the free permeation of methanol. The methanol adsorption induced expansion of SAPO-34 crystals also helped shrinking defects effectively, which contributed to high separation factor. The addition of 1% water in the feed had little impact on separation performance. Compared with polymer membranes and other inorganic membranes, SAPO-34 membranes exhibited significantly improved flux and separation factor for the vapor separation of methanol-DMC mixture. Highlights • Thin SAPO-34 zeolite membrane prepared with oil-bath heating method. • Outstanding vapor separation performance for methanol-dimethyl carbonate mixture. • Membrane degradation attributed to chemical adsorption of dimethyl carbonate. • Adsorption induced crystal expansion blocked the defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the expression and biological function of retinoic acid inducible gene I (RIG-I) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Materials and methods: An immunohistochemical analysis was performed on 86 pairs of tumor tissue and adjacent normal tissue samples of patients with ESCC. We generated RIG-I-overexpressing ESCC cell lines KYSE70 and KYSE450, and RIG-I- knockdown cell lines KYSE150 and KYSE510. Cell viability, migration and invasion, radioresistance, DNA damage, and cell cycle were evaluated using CCK-8, wound-healing and transwell assay, colony formation, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry and Western blotting, respectively. RNA sequencing was performed to determine the differential gene expression between controls and RIG-I knockdown. Tumor growth and radioresistance were assessed in nude mice using xenograft models. RIG-I expression was higher in ESCC tissues compared with that in matched non-tumor tissues. RIG-I overexpressing cells had a higher proliferation rate than RIG-I knockdown cells. Moreover, the knockdown of RIG-I slowed migration and invasion rates, whereas the overexpression of RIG-I accelerated migration and invasion rates. RIG-I overexpression induced radioresistance and G2/M phase arrest and reduced DNA damage after exposure to ionizing radiations compared with controls; however, it silenced the RIG-I enhanced radiosensitivity and DNA damage, and reduced the G2/M phase arrest. RNA sequencing revealed that the downstream genes DUSP6 and RIG-I had the same biological function; silencing DUSP6 can reduce the radioresistance caused by the overexpression of RIG-I. RIG-I knockdown depleted tumor growth in vivo, and radiation exposure effectively delayed the growth of xenograft tumors compared with the control group. RIG-I enhances the progression and radioresistance of ESCC; therefore, it may be a new potential target for ESCC-targeted therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lung cancer, most of which is non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), is the most common tumor in the world, and drug resistance, as a major problem in clinical treatment, has attracted extensive attention. However, the role and mechanism of Targeting protein for Xenopus kinesin-like protein 2 (TPX2), which is highly expressed in NSCLC, is still unclear. Methods: Bioinformatics analysis was used to analyze the relationship between TPX2 and the clinicopathological features of NSCLC. Stable TPX2 overexpression cell lines with were constructed by lentivirus infection, and the effect of TPX2 on proliferation, migration, invasion and chemoresistance to docetaxel was characterized by the CCK8, wound healing, transwell, colony formation assay and FACS. An in vivo lung homing mouse model was used to further confirmed the role of TPX2 on metastasis. Exosomes were extracted by differential centrifugation from the culture supernatant, and their functions were investigated by co-culture with tumor cells. Gene expression was detected via Western blot and real time PCR (RT-qPCR). Results: Overexpression of TPX2 was related to the poor prognosis of NSCLC. Promoted migration, invasion and metastasis, and reduced the sensitivity of NSCLC cells to docetaxel. The abundance of TPX2 can be packaged in vesicles and transported to other cells. In addition, overexpression of TPX2 induced the accumulation of β-catenin and C-myc. Conclusion: Our findings indicated that intercellular transfer of exosomal TPX2 triggered metastasis and resistance against to docetaxel in lung cancer cells, through activating downstream WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulforaphane was reported to exert neuroprotective effects via upregulating expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and has received increasing attention as an alternative candidate for treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the mechanism to account for Nrf2 upregulation by sulforaphane in AD remains unknown. Herein, we found that sulforaphane upregulated Nrf2 expression and promoted Nrf2 nuclear translocation via decreasing DNA methylation levels of the Nrf2 promoter in mouse neuroblastoma N2a cells stably expressing human Swedish mutant amyloid precursor protein (N2a/APPswe cells), a cellular model of AD. Furthermore, sulforaphane (1.25 and 2.5 μM) decreased the levels of amyloid β 1-40 (Aβ 1-40 ) (21.7% and 33.4% decrease for intracellular Aβ 1-40 ; 22.0% and 30.2% decrease in culture medium), Aβ 1-42 (26.4% and 42.9% decrease for intracellular Aβ 1-42 ; 25.8% and 43.8% decrease in culture medium), reactive oxygen species (15.0% and 28.5% decrease), and malondialdehyde (MDA) (34.4% and 39.2% decrease) and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) (60.0% and 89.3% increase) activity in N2a/APPswe cells. Sulforaphane also decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin 1β (IL-1β) (16.5% and 33.6% decrease) and IL-6 (15.6% and 26.1% decrease) and reduced phosphorylated nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 (19.2% and 32.2% decrease), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) (20.5% and 28.6% decrease), and iNOS protein (40.2% and 54.7% decrease) expression levels in N2a/APPswe cells. Our study suggested that sulforaphane upregulated the expression of Nrf2 and promoted the nuclear translocation of Nrf2 by decreasing DNA demethylation levels of the Nrf2 promoter, thus leading to antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects in a cellular model of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This cross-sectional study investigated the influence of dietary protein intake (DPI) on serum phosphate levels in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients and determined the DPI cutoff required to prevent hyperphosphatemia. A total of 504 PD patients were categorized into fast (4 h dialysate/plasma [D/P] creatinine clearance ≥0.65) or slow (<0.65) peritoneal transporters. Serum phosphorus and peritoneal solute clearance were compared between the groups with different DPI. The fast peritoneal transporters (n = 233) were older, had lower serum albumin and phosphorus levels, and had higher peritoneal phosphorus clearance (all p < 0.001). Among the slow transporters (n = 271), serum phosphorus levels were significantly higher among patients with DPI > 1.0 g/kg/d (p < 0.001). High DPI only increased the hyperphosphatemia risk in slow transporters (not in high transporters). DPI ≥1.026 g increased the hyperphosphatemia risk in those patients (area under the curve: 0.66, p = 0.001). High DPI increases the hyperphosphatemia risk in PD patients with slower peritoneal transport function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The abnormality of nuclear receptor-related protein 1 (Nurr1) in expression and function can contribute to neurodegeneration of dopaminergic neurons and occurrence of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, its related mechanism in PD is still unknown. In this study, we found that Nurr1 was down-regulated and CCL2 was up-regulated in PD patients and PD mice. CCL2 promoted apoptosis and secretion of TNF-α and IL-1β in SH-SY5Y cells and inhibited cell viability while knockdown of CCL2 exerted the opposite effects. Nurr1 overexpression inhibited apoptosis, the release of TNF-α and IL-1β and promoted viability in α-Syn-treated SH-SY5Y cells, which was markedly promoted by CCL2 antibody and dramatically reversed by CCL2. Nurr1 overexpression negatively regulated CCL2 expression in vivo and in vitro . Furthermore, Nurr1 overexpression remarkably relieved MPTP-induced movement disorder and spatial memory deficits and played neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory roles in MPTP-induced PD mice by down-regulating CCL2 in vivo . In conclusion, Nurr1 overexpression exerts neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory roles via down-regulating CCL2 in both in vivo and in vitro PD models, contributing to developing mechanism-based and neuroprotective strategies against PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]