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In this paper, the SWT model was improved by incorporating the Walker equation into the strain–life curve. The established model takes into account the material's sensitivity to mean stress by introducing the Walker exponent, w. Under uniaxial loading condition, the proposed model can reduce to the SWT model, Manson‐Coffin equation, and Walker model for w values of 0.5, 1, and 0, respectively. Under multiaxial symmetric loading, when w = 0.5, the proposed model can be simplified as another SWT correction model (CXH) proposed by Chen et al. The prediction accuracy of the established model was validated using about 200 data points collected from literature. These data points were obtained from tests conducted on eight different kinds of metals under various multiaxial loading paths. The verification results indicate that 96.8% and 97.9% of the data points fall within the factor‐of‐three boundary for the loading paths without and with mean stresses, respectively. Highlights: Shear terms have significant influence on fatigue damage under non‐proportional loading.An improved SWT model is proposed by incorporating Walker equation into strain–life curve.Procedures for determining the critical plane and damage parameters were presented.Good predictions are obtained for loadings with/without mean stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the strain‐induced effects on thermal and electrical transport properties of LaCuOSe are studied by combining first‐principles calculations with semi‐classical Boltzmann transport theory. The results show that external strain affects the crystal and electronic structures of LaCuOSe significantly. It is interesting to find that the electrical conductivity of n‐type LaCuOSe is improved by the tensile strain. In addition, the tensile strain also has positive effects on the Seebeck coefficient of p‐type doped LaCuOSe. Consequently, the power factor of p‐type doped LaCuOSe is enhanced by 18.2% under 10% tensile strain at 800 K. However, due to the obviously affected mechanical properties of LaCuOSe under external strain, the decreased Grüneisen constant and reduced Debye temperatures are resulted, and the lattice thermal conductivity of LaCuOSe at 300 K increases from 2.91 to 5.95 Wm/K with the tensile strain increasing from 0% to 10%. The sharply increased thermal conductivity finally results in the optimal ZT value of 0.076 and 0.417 for ideal p‐ and n‐type LaCuOSe at 800 K being reduced to 0.048 and 0.286 under 10% tensile strain, respectively. These results suggest that the thermoelectrical properties of LaCuOSe need to be further improved for its application under stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of high efficiency thermocatalysts remains a great challenge for gaseous formaldehyde elimination. Herein, rare earth‐doped manganese dioxide (RE‐MnO2) particles with sizes of approximately 200 nm were deposited on corrugated silica carrier (CSC) by using cerium or samarium as dopants. One part of rare earth ions in RE‐MnO2/CSC were substituted for the manganese ions in α‐MnO2, and the other part existed in the form of cerium oxide or samarium oxide. RE‐MnO2/CSC exhibited better thermocatalytic activity than MnO2/CSC. The formaldehyde removal efficiency over RE‐MnO2/CSC reached nearly 100 % even after cycle tests of 5 times. Both the cerium and samarium doping accelerated HCHO oxidation via increasing lattice oxygen and Mn4+ amounts, improving low‐temperature redox properties, and reducing apparent activation energy. Notably, the RE oxides in the catalysts played different roles in HCHO degradation. Samarium oxide did not possess thermocatalytic activity, while cerium oxide in RE‐MnO2/CSC participated directly in the formaldehyde degradation via the CeO2↔Ce2O3 redox reaction and facilitated the oxidation of Mn2O3 into MnO2. This work revealed the effect mechanisms of RE doping and RE oxide on the enhanced thermocatalytic activity, and provided a novel viewpoint to develop RE‐doped catalysts for formaldehyde removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finite Gaussian mixture models are powerful tools for modeling distributions of random phenomena and are widely used for clustering tasks. However, their interpretability and efficiency are often degraded by the impact of redundancy and noise, especially on high-dimensional datasets. In this work, we propose a generative graphical model for parsimonious modeling of the Gaussian mixtures and robust unsupervised learning. The model assumes that the data are generated independently and identically from a finite mixture of robust factor analyzers, where the features' salience is adjusted by an active set of latent factors to allow a violation of the local independence assumption. For the model inference, we propose a structured variational Bayes inference framework to realize simultaneous clustering, model selection and outlier processing. Performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated by conducting experiments on artificial and real-world datasets. Moreover, an application on the high-dimensional machine learning task of handwritten alphabet recognition is introduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Dynamic DNA methylation regulatory networks are involved in many biological processes. However, how DNA methylation patterns change during flower senescence and their relevance with gene expression and related molecular mechanism remain largely unknown.Here, we used whole genome bisulfite sequencing to reveal a significant increase of DNA methylation in the promoter region of genes during natural and ethylene‐induced flower senescence in carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.), which was correlated with decreased expression of DNA demethylase gene DcROS1. Silencing of DcROS1 accelerated while overexpression of DcROS1 delayed carnation flower senescence.Moreover, among the hypermethylated differentially expressed genes during flower senescence, we identified two amino acid biosynthesis genes, DcCARA and DcDHAD, with increased DNA methylation and reduced expression in DcROS1 silenced petals, and decreased DNA methylation and increased expression in DcROS1 overexpression petals, accompanied by decreased or increased amino acids content. Silencing of DcCARA and DcDHAD accelerates carnation flower senescence. We further showed that adding corresponding amino acids could largely rescue the senescence phenotype of DcROS1, DcCARA and DcDHAD silenced plants.Our study not only demonstrates an essential role of DcROS1‐mediated remodeling of DNA methylation in flower senescence but also unravels a novel epigenetic regulatory mechanism underlying DNA methylation and amino acid biosynthesis during flower senescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: The content of flavonoids could increase in A. canescens under saline conditions. Overexpression of AcCHI in transgenic A. thaliana promotes flavonoid biosynthesis, thereby functioning in the tolerance of transgenic plants to salt and osmotic stress by maintaining ROS homeostasis. Atriplex canescens is a halophytic forage shrub with excellent adaptation to saline environment. Our previous study showed that a large number of genes related to the biosynthesis of flavonoids in A. canescens were significantly up-regulated by NaCl treatments. However, it remains unclear whether flavonoids are involved in A. canescens response to salinity. In this study, we found that the accumulation of flavonoids significantly increased in either the leaves or roots of A. canescens seedling under 100 and 300 mM NaCl treatments. Correspondingly, AcCHS, AcCHI and AcF3H, which encode three key enzymes (chalcone synthases (CHS), chalcone isomerase (CHI), and flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H), respectively) of flavonoids biosynthesis, were significantly induced in the roots or leaves of A. canescens by 100 or 300 mM NaCl. Then, we generated the transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana overexpressing AcCHI and found that transgenic plants accumulated more flavonoids through enhancing the pathway of flavonoids biosynthesis. Furthermore, overexpression of AcCHI conferred salt and osmotic stress tolerance in transgenic A. thaliana. Contrasted with wild-type A. thaliana, transgenic lines grew better with greater biomass, less H2O2 content as well as lower relative plasma permeability in either salt or osmotic stress conditions. In conclusion, our results indicate that flavonoids play an important role in A. canescens response to salt stress through reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and the key enzyme gene AcCHI in flavonoids biosynthesis pathway of A. canescens has the potential to improve the stress tolerance of forages and crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Separator is a pivotal component of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and determines the electrochemical performance and safety. However, with the increase in energy density and application scenarios, commercial polyolefin separators are increasingly unable to undertake heavy responsibility of battery safety protection. Herein, a new kind of nanofiber separator based on poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) with excellent thermal stability, self-extinguishing, and superior electrochemical properties is reported. Effective inheritance of intrinsic properties from raw PEEK materials and optimized hot-pressing operation endows the separator with high robustness and wettability, showing tensile strength of 15.8 MPa and a contact angle of 17.2°. The high thermal stability of PEEK can ensure the separator to preserve the structural integrity and microstructure at temperatures beyond 300 °C, and the excellent self-extinguishing peculiarity of PEEK capacitates the high safety of LIB. Notably, benefitting from high porosity and polar surface, the PEEK separator shows high electrolyte uptake of 245.5% and exhibits a wider electrochemical window and faster lithium-ion transport number than commercial polyolefin separators. Furthermore, cells assembled with PEEK separator display better performance than the ones with PE separator, and the PEEK LIB has been successfully used to light up a lamp at a high temperature of 150 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We assessed muscle mass and function using ultrasound (US) and shear wave elastography (SWE) for sarcopenia in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: There were 84 patients with type 2 diabetes enrolled in this study; of these, 30 had sarcopenia and 54 did not. We measured appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI), handgrip strength, calf circumference, 6-m walking speed, and 5-time chair stand test. All patients were in the supine position with their knees in straight and bent poses in turn. The US-derived thickness (Tstraight, Tbent), cross-sectional area (CSAstraight, CSAbent), and SWE (SWEstraight, SWEbent) of the rectus femoris muscle (RFM) were measured and the differences (ΔT, ΔCSA, ΔSWE) were calculated. We assessed the correlations of clinical indicators with US and SWE features. We then compared the clinical indicators and US and SWE features between patients with and without sarcopenia to determine independent predictors. Diagnostic models were established based on these independent predictors. Results: The ASMI was correlated with Tbent (r = 0.57, p < 0.001) and CSAbent (r = 0.50, p < 0.001). Handgrip strength was correlated with Tbent (r = 0.53, p < 0.001) and CSAbent (r = 0.51, p < 0.001). Between patients with and without sarcopenia, the indicators of age, ΔCSA, and ΔSWE were statically different (all p ≤ 0.001). Based on these results, a diagnostic model for sarcopenia was established with 83.3% sensitivity, 83.3% specificity, and 83.3% accuracy. Conclusions: In elderly people with type 2 diabetes, sarcopenia patients had smaller muscle CSA and less stiffness than non-sarcopenia patients. US and SWE might be useful to screen them. Key Points: • Sarcopenia is common in elderly people with type 2 diabetes. • Ultrasound and shear wave elastography might be useful methods for quantitatively assessing muscle mass and strength. • Ultrasound and shear wave elastography might be useful methods for screening sarcopenia in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Recent studies have demonstrated that exosomes play roles in pathogenesis and in the treatment of various diseases. We explored the influence of exosomes released from Talaromyces marneffei (T. marneffei)‐infected macrophages on human macrophages to determine whether they play a role in the pathogenesis of T. marneffei infection. Methods: Exosomes derived from macrophages infected with T. marneffei were extracted and characterized by transmission electron microscopy and western blot. Moreover, we examined exosomes that modulated IL‐10 and TNF‐α secretion and activation of p42 and p44 extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) and activation of autophagy. Results: We found that exosomes promoted activation of ERK1/2 and autophagy, IL‐10 and TNF‐α secretion in human macrophages. Further, exosomes decreased the multiplication of T. marneffei in T. marneffei‐infected human macrophages. Interestingly, exosomes isolated from T. marneffei‐infected but not from uninfected macrophages can stimulate innate immune responses in resting macrophages. Conclusion: Our studies are the first to demonstrate that exosomes isolated from T. marneffei‐infected macrophages can modulate the immune system to control inflammation, and we hypothesize that exosomes play significant roles in activation of ERK1/2 and autophagy, the replication of T. marneffei and cytokine production during T. marneffei infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atriplex canescens is a representative halophyte with excellent tolerance to salt. Previous studies have revealed certain physiological mechanisms and detected functional genes associated with salt tolerance. However, knowledge on the ROS scavenging system and regulatory mechanisms in this species when adapting to salinity is limited. Therefore, this study further analyzed the transcriptional changes in genes related to the ROS scavenging system and important regulatory mechanisms in A. canescens under saline conditions using our previous RNA sequencing data. The Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway annotation revealed that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were highly enriched in signal transduction- and reactive oxygen species-related biological processes, including "response to oxidative stress", "oxidoreductase activity", "protein kinase activity", "transcription factor activity", and "plant hormone signal transduction". Further analyses suggested that the transcription abundance of many genes involved in SOD, the AsA-GSH cycle, the GPX pathway, PrxR/Trx, and the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway were obviously enhanced. These pathways are favorable for scavenging excessive ROS induced by salt and maintaining the integrity of the cell membrane. Meanwhile, many vital transcription factor genes (WRKY, MYB, ZF, HSF, DREB, and NAC) exhibited increased transcripts, which is conducive to dealing with saline conditions by regulating downstream salt-responsive genes. Furthermore, a larger number of genes encoding protein kinases (RLK, CDPK, MAPK, and CTR1) were significantly induced by saline conditions, which is beneficial to the reception/transduction of salt-related signals. This study describes the abundant genetic resources for enhancing the salt tolerance in salt-sensitive plants, especially in forages and crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A relatively rigid acyclic salamo-type ligand H2L and its square planar Cu(II) complex, [Cu(L)]·CH3OH, were synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography, as well as Fourier-transform infrared spectra, UV–Vis spectra, Hirshfeld surface analyses and DFT calculations. The ligand crystallizes in monoclinic space group P 21/c and has pairs of intramolecular hydrogen bonds between the oxime nitrogen atoms and the hydroxyl groups. The Cu(II) complex crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P 21/c. The Cu(II) ion is located in the N2O2 cavity of the fully deprotonated salamo-type ligand (L)2− unit, thus forming a four-coordinate distorted square planar geometry. At the same time, a belt-like, 2-D supramolecular structure is formed by the interaction of intermolecular hydrogen bonds, and the intermolecular interaction force is quantitatively analyzed by Hirshfeld surfaces. Significantly, fluorescence properties of the ligand and its Cu(II) complex were also studied. The coordination ratio of the Cu(II) complex was proved by UV–Vis and fluorescence titration experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining the realistic shear stress–strain–strength behaviour of asphalt concrete is important when designing asphalt pavements and impervious asphalt linings, facings, and cores for dams and dykes. The behaviour is often determined by applying different test methods to specimens of different sizes in the laboratory. However, the results of these different test methods can vary significantly even when evaluating materials produced using the same recipe under the same test conditions, which causes uncertainty. This paper presents the results of a study on hydraulic asphalt concrete obtained through triaxial compression (TC), slant shear (S), modified slant shear (MS), and direct simple shear (SS) tests under the same shear strain rate and temperature conditions. The stress–strain distributions in the specimens were numerically analysed. The results showed that the S, MS, and SS tests provided very different material shear stress–strain–strength behaviours compared to those derived from the TC test. The computed results showed that these significant differences were caused by the non-uniform stress and strain distributions, and significant stress concentrations, in the specimens, mainly owing to the test boundary conditions. Therefore, the results of the S, MS, and SS tests may have been misleading. The test results had to be corrected by considering the non-uniform stress and strain distributions in the specimens to obtain realistic results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methanol crossover is one of the main challenges for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Depositing a metal barrier on Nafion can reduce the crossover but usually faces the metal cracking issues. This study presents a new composite membrane in which an anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) substrate is impregnated with a Nafion solution and then coated with a layer of Au. The AAO/Nafion/Au composite membrane shows an ideal metal crack-free surface. Higher and more stable voltage has been achieved for the cell with the membrane, indicating an effectively suppressed methanol-crossover. Results reveal that there is a tradeoff between suppressing the methanol crossover and increasing the ion transmission. By optimizing the membrane, it can not only suppress the methanol crossover but also enhance the output performance of DMFCs. The current density and power density of the cells can be enhanced by 59% and 52.85%, respectively, compared to the cell with a commercial Nafion 117. Overall, this work provides a new approach to designing crack-free membranes for DMFCs. • A new type of AAO/Nafion®/Au composite membrane is first reported for the DMFCs. • Au layer spreads uniformly on the AAO/Nafion®/Au membrane without metal barrier cracks. • The composite membrane can effectively suppress the methanol crossover. • The maximum power density is enhanced by 52.85% compared to the cell with Nafion® 117. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A prophylactic vaccine is required to eliminate HCV as a global public health threat. We developed whole virus inactivated HCV vaccine candidates employing a licensed adjuvant. Further, we investigated the effects of HCV envelope protein modifications (to increase neutralization epitope exposure) on immunogenicity. Whole virus vaccine antigen was produced in Huh7.5 hepatoma cells, processed using a multistep protocol and formulated with adjuvant (MF-59 analogue AddaVax or aluminium hydroxide). We investigated the capacity of IgG purified from the serum of immunized BALB/c mice to neutralize genotype 1-6 HCV (by virus neutralization assays) and to bind homologous envelope proteins (by ELISA). Viruses used for immunizations were (i) HCV5aHi with strain SA13 envelope proteins and modification of an O-linked glycosylation site in E2 (T385P), (ii) HCV5aHi(T385) with reversion of T385P to T385, featuring the original E2 sequence determined in vivo and (iii) HCV5aHi(ΔHVR1) with deletion of HVR1. For these viruses, epitope exposure was investigated using human monoclonal (AR3A and AR4A) and polyclonal (C211 and H06) antibodies in neutralization assays. Processed HCV5aHi formulated with AddaVax induced antibodies that efficiently bound homologous envelope proteins and broadly neutralized cultured genotype 1-6 HCV, with half maximal inhibitory concentrations of between 14 and 192 μg/ml (mean of 36 μg/ml against the homologous virus). Vaccination with aluminium hydroxide was less immunogenic. Compared to HCV5aHi(T385) with the original E2 sequence, HCV5aHi with a modified glycosylation site and HCV5aHi(ΔHVR1) without HVR1 showed increased neutralization epitope exposure but similar immunogenicity. Using an adjuvant suitable for human use, we developed inactivated whole HCV vaccine candidates that induced broadly neutralizing antibodies, which warrant investigation in further pre-clinical studies. A vaccine against hepatitis C virus (HCV) is needed to prevent the estimated 2 million new infections and 400,000 deaths caused by this virus each year. We developed inactivated whole HCV vaccine candidates using adjuvants licensed for human use, which, following immunization of mice, induced antibodies that efficiently neutralized all HCV genotypes with recognized epidemiological importance. HCV variants with modified envelope proteins exhibited similar immunogenicity as the virus with the original envelope proteins. [Display omitted] • Efficient production of inactivated whole virus antigen for HCV vaccine candidates. • Whole inactivated HCV vaccines induce broadly neutralizing antibodies in mice. • Among adjuvants, AddaVax, analogue of licensed MF-59, shows the highest immunogenicity. • Modifications of HCV envelope proteins increase neutralization epitope exposure. • HCV with modified and original envelope proteins has similar immunogenicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monascus pigments (MPs), as secondary metabolites of Monascus, are microbial pigments which have been used for thousands of years. MPs are widely used in food industry as food pigments and preservatives, which have the stability of light resistance, high temperature resistance and acid-base change resistance. In addition, the antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral and anti-tumor biological activities of MPs have also attracted people's attention. Moreover, Due to the presence of citrinin, the safety of MPs still needs to be discussed and explored. In this paper, the production, biological activity, application in various fields and methods of detection and reduction of citrinin of MPs were reviewed, which provide new insights into the study and safe application related to human different diseases, medicines or health care products with MPs as active substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Plant AT-rich sequence and zinc-binding (PLATZ) proteins belong to a novel class of plant-specific zinc-finger-dependent DNA-binding proteins that play essential roles in plant growth and development. Although the PLATZ gene family has been identified in several species, systematic identification and characterization of this gene family has not yet been carried out for Tartary buckwheat, which is an important medicinal and edible crop with high nutritional value. The recent completion of Tartary buckwheat genome sequencing has laid the foundation for this study. Results: A total of 14 FtPLATZ proteins were identified in Tartary buckwheat and were classified into four phylogenetic groups. The gene structure and motif composition were similar within the same group, and evident distinctions among different groups were detected. Gene duplication, particularly segmental duplication, was the main driving force in the evolution of FtPLATZs. Synteny analysis revealed that Tartary buckwheat shares more orthologous PLATZ genes with dicotyledons, particularly soybean. In addition, the expression of FtPLATZs in different tissues and developmental stages of grains showed evident specificity and preference. FtPLATZ3 may be involved in the regulation of grain size, and FtPLATZ4 and FtPLATZ11 may participate in root development. Abundant and variable hormone-responsive cis-acting elements were distributed in the promoter regions of FtPLATZs, and almost all FtPLATZs were significantly regulated after exogenous hormone treatments, particularly methyl jasmonate treatment. Moreover, FtPLATZ6 was significantly upregulated under all exogenous hormone treatments, which may indicate that this gene plays a critical role in the hormone response of Tartary buckwheat. Conclusions: This study lays a foundation for further exploration of the function of FtPLATZ proteins and their roles in the growth and development of Tartary buckwheat and contributes to the genetic improvement of Tartary buckwheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two novel homomultinuclear complexes [Co6(L)2(μ‐OAc)4]·2CHCl3·CH3COCH3 (1) and [Ni2(L)(H2O)2(Py)2]·2CHCl3 (2) with a newly designed rigid bis(salamo)‐type tetraoxime ligand (H4L) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectra, UV–Vis absorption spectra, and X‐ray single‐crystal diffractions. Complex 1 is a novel triple‐decker symmetrical six‐core cluster structure with twofold axis and inversion center. The Co(II) atoms were sandwiched between the bis(salamo)‐type ligands and possess two different geometries of distorted tetragonal pyramid and octahedron, respectively. Complex 2 possesses a dinuclear structure and the Ni(II) atoms are located in the N2O2 cavities of the ligand, and axial coordination atoms come from the coordinated water and pyridine molecules. Both Ni(II) atoms adopt distorted octahedral geometries. The interactions were quantitatively determined by Hirshfeld surfaces analyses of complexes 1 and 2. The coordination ratios were determined by studying the fluorescence properties of complexes 1 and 2. The results of fluorescence titration experiment show that the metals to ligand binding ratios are 6:2 and 2:1 for complexes 1 and 2, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient acquisition of clear images of moving objects is one of the research bottlenecks in the practical applications of ghost imaging (GI) technology. Here the representative ghost imaging of rotating objects was focused on, and a group frame neural network combined with a frame correction algorithm was proposed to promote the improvement of ghost imaging quality and efficiency for moving objects. By performing angle correction on the illumination patterns to obtain corrected bucket measurement images, the motion blur can be suppressed. These bucket measurement images are then input into the network to achieve high-quality image reconstruction. The structural similarity index measure (SSIM) of the network's output images is on average 25 times higher than traditional GI. Moreover, all the images of different angle orientations during the rotation of 360°with a 1-degree step distance can be reconstructed simultaneously by making use of one frame of correlation measurement data. Therefore, the acquisition cost with the proposed algorithm can be reduced by more than 300 times compared with traditional GI without angle correction. The proposed scenario may find broad application prospects in the fields of military and remote sensing. • The motion blur of fast-rotating objects in ghost imaging is suppressed by employing a frame correction algorithm. • The network takes the corrected multi-frame bucket measurement as inputs. • It can reconstruct images of the object at different rotation angles by only one-time imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum) is a traditional edible and medicinal crop and has been praised as one of the green foods for humans in the 21st century. However, its production and promotion are restricted by the low yields of current varieties. The interaction of genotype and environment could lead to inconsistent phenotypic performance of genotypes across different environments. Climate change has intensified these effects and poses a substantial threat to crop production. RESULTS: In the present study, the effects of meteorological factors on the phenotypic traits of 200 Tartary buckwheat landraces across four macro‐environments were investigated. Overall, the phenotypic performance of these Tartary buckwheat landraces was markedly varied across the different environments. Also, the average daily temperature and precipitation had relatively higher impacts on phenotypic performance. The results also revealed the negative impacts of relative humidity on the yield‐related traits. Twenty‐five Tartary buckwheat landraces were ultimately identified as having good overall phenotypic performance and high yield stability. CONCLUSION: Understanding the impacts of meteorological factors on the phenotypic performance of crops can guide appropriate measures and facilitate germplasm selection for yield enhancement in the context of climate change. The landraces selected comprehensively in this study could be used as parents or intermediate materials for breeding high‐quality Tartary buckwheat varieties in the future. The methods used could also be extended to other crops for breeding and germplasm innovation. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effects of fission products (FPs) Xe and Cs on the thermal conductivity for U 3 Si, which has been proposed to be an alternative nuclear fuel for UO 2 due to its high thermal conductivity and high uranium density, are systematically investigated based on first-principles calculations. It is shown that Xe/Cs occupation in U 3 Si results in thermal conductivity decreasing from 15.6 to 6.5 ∼ 14.0 W/mK at 300 K and from 31.7 to 12.9 ∼ 29.6 W/mK at 1000 K. This is mainly resulted from the weakened chemical bonding, decreased phonon group velocity, as well as destroyed periodic structures caused by Xe/Cs occupation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • An 87.01% yield of C11 was selectively synthesized at 60 °C within 3 h. • The overactivation of FFR was prevented by forming C N with the –NH 2 in chitosan. • The polarity of H 2 O increased the nucleophilicity of α-C leading to the high yield. Aldol condensation is a key step for converting the lignocellulosic platform compounds to fuel. The catalyst used in the aldol condensation requires the avoidance of the overactivation of aldehyde groups while fully activating ketone carbonyl groups. Herein, the modified chitosan (NaOH/CT-0.6) was applied for the efficient syntheses of single condensation product from biomass-derived furfural (FFR) and methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK), achieving an 87.01% yield of C11 at 60 °C and 3 h. Catalyst characterization revealed that the exposure of –NH 2 groups in chitosan after modification led to the formation of the imine with the C O groups of FFR. It was confirmed that the imine formation avoided the overactivation of aldehyde groups and improved cross-condensation product yield. Furthermore, the theoretical feasibility of the imine catalytic path was elucidated through DFT simulation and in situ DRIFTS analysis. Finally, the obtained condensation products were subjected to hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) over the 2 wt% Pd/Nb 2 O 5 , obtaining the hydrocarbon components suitable for bio-jet fuels. This work contributes significantly to the design of novel catalysts for aldol condensation reactions and the efficient conversion of biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Walnut anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz.) Penz. and Sacc. is an important walnut production problem in China. Although the long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are important for plant disease resistance, the molecular mechanisms underlying resistance to C. gloeosporioides in walnut remain poorly understood. Results: The anthracnose-resistant F26 fruits from the B26 clone and the anthracnose-susceptible F423 fruits from the 4–23 clone of walnut were used as the test materials. Specifically, we performed a comparative transcriptome analysis of F26 and F423 fruit bracts to identify differentially expressed LncRNAs (DELs) at five time-points (tissues at 0 hpi, pathological tissues at 24 hpi, 48 hpi, 72 hpi, and distal uninoculated tissues at 120 hpi). Compared with F423, a total of 14,525 DELs were identified, including 10,645 upregulated lncRNAs and 3846 downregulated lncRNAs in F26. The number of upregulated lncRNAs in F26 compared to in F423 was significantly higher at the early stages of C. gloeosporioides infection. A total of 5 modules related to disease resistance were screened by WGCNA and the target genes of lncRNAs were obtained. Bioinformatic analysis showed that the target genes of upregulated lncRNAs were enriched in immune-related processes during the infection of C. gloeosporioides, such as activation of innate immune response, defense response to bacterium, incompatible interaction and immune system process, and enriched in plant hormone signal transduction, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and other pathways. And 124 known target genes for 96 hub lncRNAs were predicted, including 10 known resistance genes. The expression of 5 lncRNAs and 5 target genes was confirmed by qPCR, which was consistent with the RNA-seq data. Conclusions: The results of this study provide the basis for future functional characterizations of lncRNAs regarding the C. gloeosporioides resistance of walnut fruit bracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many amorphous alloys have been developed to date, but the low plasticity has limited their application. To achieve an amorphous alloy with high plasticity, a series of (Ti40Zr25Cu9Ni8Be18)100-xTMx (x=0, 1, 2, 3, 4 at.%, TM=Nb, Y) alloys were designed to study the influence of Nb and Y addition on the plasticity. The amorphous samples were prepared using the vacuum melting and copper mold casting process. The microstructures, glass forming ability and mechanical properties of the alloys were investigated by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), depth-sensitive nanoindentation, and uniaxial compressive test. The plasticity of different bulk amorphous alloys was investigated by measuring the plastic deformation energy (PDE) during loading. The relationship between the PDE value and plasticity in bulk amorphous alloys was explored. Results show that Nb addition decreases the PDE value and promotes the generation of multiple shear bands, which significantly increases the fracture strength and plasticity, while the addition of Y element reduces the fracture strength and plastic strain of the alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The popularity of Tartary buckwheat [Fagopyrum tataricum (L.) Gaertn], as a medicinal and food crop, has been increasing in recent years. However, its low yield seriously restricts its industrial development. Amongst the various studies conducted to enhance the productivity of Tartary buckwheat, the association between yield and main agronomic traits has formed the foundation for the breeding and cultivation of high‐yielding varieties, becoming the primary interest of breeders. The commonly used methods are often restricted by sample size, distribution assumptions and trait properties and confined to the linear relationship. In this paper, the random forest regression model was used to obtain a comprehensive and reliable evaluation. The phenotypic data of 200 Tartary buckwheat landraces with 15 quantitative and two qualitative agronomic traits for two consecutive years were used. Results were compared between planting seasons and with those from classical methods, such as the correlation analyses and the multiple linear regression model. The random forest model distinguished the number of grains per plant, plant height, and 1,000‐grain weight as the most influential agronomic traits in both seasons. The main and interactive effects were explored using the accumulated local effects plot and showed great conformity between the two seasons. The robustness and reliability of the random forest model make it a desirable methodology for breeding new varieties and germplasm innovation of Tartary buckwheat and other crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammatory cytokines are signaling molecules that regulate numerous physiological processes, from tissue homeostasis to metabolism and food intake. Expression of certain cytokines can be markedly induced in subsets of taste bud cells under acute and chronic inflammation. This may contribute to altered taste perception and preference associated with many diseases. Although the pathways of cytokine induction are well studied in immune cells, they remain poorly characterized in taste cells, in part due to the difficulties of performing biochemical analyses with a limited number of taste cells. The recently developed taste organoid model provides an opportunity to carry out these mechanistic studies in vitro. However, it was unknown whether taste organoids respond to inflammatory stimuli as do in vivo native taste buds. Here we analyze lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced expression and secretion of two inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). We show that, similarly to native mouse taste epithelia, organoids derived from mouse circumvallate stem cells express several toll-like receptors (TLRs), including TLR4—the primary receptor for LPS. Organoids and native taste epithelia express all five genes in the nuclear factor-κb (Nfkb) family that encode the transcription factor NF-κB, a critical regulator of inflammatory responses. LPS stimulates fast induction of TNF and IL-6 with similar induction kinetics in organoids and native taste epithelia. These results show that taste epithelial cells possess necessary components for inflammatory cytokine induction and secretion and suggest that the organoid model can be a useful tool to dissect the underlying mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the rate and reasons and also the risk factors for unplanned reoperation after pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) in a single center. Patients and Methods: This retrospective analysis included patients who underwent PD in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University between January 2010 and January 2018. The patients were divided into nonreoperation and reoperation groups according to whether they underwent unplanned reoperation following the primary PD. The incidence and reasons were examined. In addition, multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors for unplanned reoperation. Results: Of the 330 patients who underwent PD operations, 22 (6.67%) underwent unplanned reoperation. The main reasons for reoperation were postpancreaticoduodenectomy hemorrhage (PPH) (12/22 [54.5%]) and pancreaticoenteric anastomotic (PEA) leak (5/22 [22.7%]). Multivariate logistic regression analyses identified that diabetes (odds ratio [OR], 3.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06–12.90; P = 0.04), intraoperative blood loss ≥400 mL (OR, 4.06; 95% CI, 1.29–12.84; P = 0.02), occurrence of postoperative complications in the form of PPH (OR, 30.67; 95% CI, 8.85–106.31; P < 0.001), and PEA leak (OR, 11.53; 95% CI, 3.03–43.98, P < 0.001) were independent risk factors for unplanned reoperation. Conclusions: Our results suggest that diabetes, intraoperative blood loss ≥400 mL, PPH, and PEA leak were independent risk factors for unplanned reoperation after primary PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bio-based plasticizer, acetylated cyclohexanol acetyl ricinolate (A-CAE) was successfully prepared from ricinoleic acid by esterification, epoxidation, and acetylation. Its structure was verified by FT-IR and 1H NMR, and its plasticizing properties were tested. Subsequently, A-CAE was used to prepare PVC films and compared with commercial plasticizers dioctyl terephthalate (DOTP) and acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC). The tensile test showed the elongation at break of A-CAE-50 was 40.4 % higher than ATBC-50, 77.3 % higher than DOTP-50 respectively; the optical performance indicated that the transmittance of A-CAE-50 was up to 90.5 %, and the Tg of A-CAE-50 was 32.2 °C, showing that the PVC matrix and A-CAE had excellent compatibility; in migration test, A-CAE also showed outstanding extraction resistance. When A-CAE was blended with DOTP to plasticize PVC together, all the films also showed fantastic transmittance and mechanical properties. All in all, which comprehensively showed that A-CAE had excellent properties of plasticized PVC. The text overview diagram of ricinoleic acid-based plasticizer with excellent optical properties for PVC polymers. [Display omitted] • A-CAE we prepared can be used not only as the main plasticizer, but also as an auxiliary plasticizer blended with DOTP. • PVC films plasticized with A-CAE basically shows excellent optical properties and extraction resistance. • All the experimental steps in this article have less reaction temperature, less energy consumption and post-treatment steps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The original article can be found online at https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-022-09382-2. B Correction: European Radiology b https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-022-09382-2 The original version of this article, published on 17 January 2023, unfortunately contained a mistake. [Extracted from the article]

• SrTiO 3 /BaFe 12 O 19 heterostructure was first synthesized and theoretically constructed. • Ba-ferrite plays a "two birds with one stone" effect to enhance photocatalytic activity and prevent metal ion leaching. • The refractory tetracycline could be rapidly degraded over heterojunction/PMS/Vis system. • The catalytic mechanism was explained on the electronic and atomic level. The photocatalytic activation peroxymonosulfate (PMS) could boost the oxidation capacity of the photocatalytic system by generating multiple active species and improving the separation efficiency of photogenerated charges via PMS electron trapping. Here, SrTiO 3 /BaFe 12 O 19 heterojunction was first synthesized and theoretically constructed. PMS was activated by photocatalysis of heterojunction for the tetracycline (TC) degradation, and the degradation efficiency reached 96.1% within 60 s with a reaction kinetic constant of 0.241 s−1. This degradation efficiency and reaction kinetics were 1.39 and 1.83 times higher than those of the SrTiO 3 /PMS/Vis catalytic system, respectively. Experimental and theoretical calculations identified the active sites for PMS activation and corresponding activation pathways. The energy band structure of the Z-scheme heterojunction and the transfer path of photogenerated charges were constructed by combining the UV-DRS, UPS tests and theoretical calculations. Then, the degradation pathway of TC was proposed based on the molecular orbits structure of TC and dominant active species for TC degradation. The toxicity evaluation indicated that the catalytic system could greatly reduce the TC toxicity. This easily recoverable, highly stable heterojunction is expected to be used in other organic wastewater degradation and practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract BiOI/Mn x Zn 1-x Fe 2 O 4 magnetic photocatalysts were successfully prepared for the first time. With the degradation of simulated RhB wastewater as a pointer to the photocatalytic reaction and combined with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–vis DRS), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), the reasons influencing the photocatalytic performance of the magnetic photocatalysts were further explored. The excessive or insufficient Mn-Zn ferrite both leads to a relatively low photocatalytic activity. When the calcination temperature reaches to 200 and 400 °C, the photocatalytic activity is enhanced significantly, but the main active component in the photocatalysts has changed from BiOI to Bi 5 O 7 I at 400 °C. The nanocomposites prepared under alcohol water environment with hollow microspheres morphology possess a highly photocatalytic efficiency, and the RhB degradation rate within 4 h in the ethanol water environment is significantly higher than that in pure water (98% vs. 59%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The asphalt core is located between the upstream and downstream transition zones that are simultaneously placed and compacted in the central part of the embankment dam to form a strong interlocking asphalt core–gravel transition zone (AC-GTZ) interface. The asphalt core usually settles a little more than the transition zones during dam construction, and AC-GTZ interface shear displacements develop. Shear tests were conducted in the laboratory to investigate the interface behavior. Test results show that the AC-GTZ interface was gradually deformed up to a shear displacement of 60 mm, but the properties of the asphalt surface layer did not deteriorate. The integrity of the asphalt core would be better maintained if a sliding layer is placed between the core and the transition zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV, also known as drone) as an aerial sink to travel along a natural landscape or rural industrial linear infrastructure to collect data from deployed sensors. We study a joint schedule problem that involves flight planning for the drone and transmission scheduling for sensors, such that the maximum amount of data can be collected with a limited individual energy budget for the UAV and the sensors, respectively. On one hand, the flight planning decides the flight speed and flight path based on sensor locations, energy budgets, and the transmission schedule. On the other hand, the transmission schedule decides for each sensor when to deliver data and what transmission power to use based on the energy budgets and flight plan. By observing three import optimality properties, we decouple the joint problem into two subproblems: drone flight planning and sensor transmission scheduling. For the first problem, we propose a dynamic programming algorithm to produce the optimal flight planning. For the second problem, with a flight plan as input, we introduce a novel technique (water-tank), which together with dynamic programming, is the key to achieve an optimal transmission schedule that maximizes data collection. Simulations show that the separately determined flight plan and transmission schedule are near-optimal for the original joint problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a complex and changeable tumor microenvironment. Despite emerging evidence focusing on autophagy process within immune cells, the function and regulatory mechanism of macrophage autophagy in tumor progression remains unclear. Our results of multiplex-immunohistochemistry and RNA-sequencing identified the reduced levels of autophagy in tumor macrophages in the HCC microenvironment, associated with a poor prognosis and increased microvascular metastasis in HCC patients. Specifically, HCC suppressed the macrophage autophagy initiation through the up-regulation of mTOR and ULK1 phosphorylation at Ser757. Knockdown of autophagy-related proteins to further inhibit autophagy significantly boosted the metastatic potential of HCC. Mechanistically, the accumulation of NLRP3 inflammasome mediated by autophagy inhibition promoted the cleavage, maturation, and release of IL-1β, which facilitated the HCC progression, eventually accelerating HCC metastasis via the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Autophagy inhibition provoked macrophage self-recruitment through the CCL20-CCR6 signaling was also a crucial account of HCC progression. Recruited macrophages mediated the cascade amplification of IL-1β and CCL20 to form a novel pro-metastatic positive feedback loop through promoting HCC metastasis and increased macrophage recruitment, respectively. Notably, targeting IL-1β/IL-1 receptor signaling impaired lung metastasis induced by macrophage autophagy inhibition in a mice HCC lung metastasis model. In summary, this study highlighted that inhibition of tumor macrophage autophagy facilitated HCC progression by increasing IL-1β secretion via NLRP3 inflammasome accumulation and by macrophage self-recruitment through the CCL20 signaling pathway. Interruption of this metastasis-promoting loop by IL-1β blockade may provide a promising therapeutic strategy for HCC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently available vaccines from inactivated foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) only protect animals by inducing neutralizing antibodies. A vaccine that contains cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) epitopes to induce strong CTL responses might protect animals more effectively. Herein, we used swine leukocyte antigen class I (SLA I) proteins derived from six different strains of domestic pigs to screen and identify shared FMDV CTL epitopes. Four potential FMDV CTL epitopes (Q01, Q02, AS3, and QA4) were confirmed by mass spectrometry. We also determined the antigenicity of these epitopes to elicit cell-mediated immunoresponse by the ELISPOT and CTL assays. Among the four peptides, Q01 and QA4 were found to bind all six SLA-I proteins with strong affinity and elicit significant activity of CTL ( P  < 0.01). We conclude that Q01 and QA4 peptides are novel shared epitopes that can be recognized by all six SLA-I molecules on representative CTLs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a general method combining evolutionary algorithm and decision-making technique to optimize the structure of a minichannel heat sink (MCHS). Two conflicting objectives, the thermal resistance θ and the pumping power P, are simultaneously considered to assess the performance of the MCHS. In order to achieve the ultimate optimal design, multi-objective genetic algorithm is employed to obtain the nondominated solutions (Pareto solutions), while technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS) is employed to determine which is the best compromise solution. Meanwhile, both the material cost and volumetric flow rate are fixed where this nonlinear problem is solved by applying the penalty function. The results show that θ of Pareto solutions varies from 0.03707 K W-1 to 0.10742 K W-1, while P varies from 0.00307 W to 0.05388 W, respectively. After the TOPSIS selection, it is found that P is significantly reduced without increasing too much θ. As a result, θ and P of the optimal MCHS determined by TOPSIS are 35.82% and 52.55% lower than initial one, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The group analysis method is applied to the two-dimensional nonlinear Klein-Gordon equation with time-varying delay. Determining equations for equations with a time-varying delay are derived. A complete group classification of the studied equation with respect to the function involved into the equation is obtained. All admitted Lie algebras are classified. By using the classifications, representations of all invariant solutions are found. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of underground space in urban areas may be obstructed by the aboveground facilities that are in good condition. Instead of building new aboveground structures, an alternative solution is to add new basements under the existing structures. One of the key issues arising from this complicated technique is the behavior of the underpinning piles. This paper considers this issue in terms of a real case recently addressed in China. The retrofit construction procedure was carefully monitored. Observations included the axial-loading and excavation- unloading responses of the underpinning piles, the axial forces transmitted from the piles to the replacing pillars, and the variations in building settlement. The results indicated that the piles acted well as an underpinning role in transferring structure load into surrounding geomaterials. The mobilization degree of the pile-shaft friction increased as the shallow strata were excavated further. Abrupt increase in pillar force and building settlement were detected when the exposed portions of the piles were cut, and therefore the cutting operation should be careful for safety control. The performance-based analyses support the pile-pillar load transmission method and offer a fairly successful reference to future applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The magnetic photocatalyst BiOCl/MnZnFeO was prepared by impregnation-calcination method. The structure and properties of the prepared photocatalyst were characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM, TEM, UV-vis DRS, and VSM. MnZnFeO inhibited the growth along (001) crystal face and promoted (110) crystal surface exposure of BiOCl. The as-prepared magnetic composite appeared flower-like microspheres assembled with nanosheets. The average crystallite size and the nanosheet thickness range of BiOCl/MnZnFeO were 57.6 and 75.7-112.2 nm, respectively. The band gap energy ( E ) of BiOCl/MnZnFeO was 2.48 eV, which was lower than that of BiOCl. The saturation magnetization ( Ms), coercive force ( Hc), and remanent magnetization ( Mr) of BiOCl/MnZnFeO were respectively 4.64 emu g, 50.12 G and 0.09 emu g, indicating a good resistance to demagnetization and paramagnetism. The optimum synthesis condition of BiOCl/MnZnFeO was obtained by orthogonal experiments, and the degradation ratio of RhB with the photocatalyst was 99.6% at 30 min. After four cycles, the degradation ratio of RhB with the recovered photocatalyst was still above 83%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research gives a complete Lie group classification of the one-dimensional nonlinear delay Klein-Gordon equation. First, the determining equations are derived and their complete solutions are found. Then the complete group classification and representations of all invariant solutions are obtained. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Two new fluorescent chemical sensors, H 4 L and its L-Cu2+ complex, are reported for the selective detection of Cu2+ and S2− ions in DMF solution, respectively. • The crystal structure of the L-Cu2+ complex was determined by X-ray crystallography, and Hirshfeld surface analysis was described. • The recognition mechanisms of the chemical sensor H 4 L and its L-Cu2+ complex were analyzed by density functional theory (DFT) and mass spectrometry. Two new fluorescent chemical sensors, H 4 L and its L-Cu2+ complex, are reported for the selective detection of Cu2+ and S2− ions in DMF solution, respectively. In the fluorescent switch structure of chemical sensor H 4 L, the binding of Cu2+ ions in the receptor part leads to the coordination between the completely deprotonated ligand (L)4− unit and Cu2+, resulting in fluorescence quenching. S2− was added to the L-Cu2+ complex to turn on the fluorescence of the L-Cu2+ complex. The chemical sensor H 4 L and its L-Cu2+ complex can possess obvious selectivities for common cations and anions in the micro molar concentration range, so as to quantitatively detect Cu2+ and S2− ions. The interaction of S2− ions with the chemical sensor L-Cu2+ was investigated by fluorescence time response measurement, whereas high-resolution mass spectrometry, and fluorescent titration substantiated the stoichiometry between L-Cu2+ and S2− ions. The crystal structure of the L-Cu2+ complex, [Cu 2 (L)]·2CHCl 3 has been determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations were performed in order to show the structures and electronic properties of H 4 L and its L-Cu2+ complex. [Display omitted]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are polysaccharides that play vital functional roles in numerous biological processes, and compounds belonging to this class have been implicated in a wide variety of diseases. Chondroitin AC lyase (ChnAC) (EC 4.2.2.5) catalyzes the degradation of various GAGs, including chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid, to give the corresponding disaccharides containing an Δ4-unsaturated uronic acid at their non-reducing terminus. ChnAC has been isolated from various bacteria and utilized as an enzymatic tool for study and evaluating the sequencing of GAGs. Despite its substrate specificity and the fact that its crystal structure has been determined to a high resolution, the direction in which ChnAC catalyzes the cleavage of oligosaccharides remain unclear. Herein, we have determined the structural cues of substrate depolymerization and the cleavage direction of ChnAC using model substrates and recombinant ChnAC protein. Several structurally defined oligosaccharides were synthesized using a chemoenzymatic approach and subsequently cleaved using ChnAC. The degradation products resulting from this process were determined by mass spectrometry. The results revealed that ChnAC cleaved the ß1,4 glycosidic linkages between glucuronic acid and glucosamine units when these bonds were located on the reducing end of the oligosaccharide. In contrast, the presence of a GlcNAc-α-1,4-GlcA unit at the reducing end of the oligosaccharide prevented ChnAC from cleaving the GalNAc-ß1,4-GlcA moiety located in the middle or at the non-reducing end of the chain. These interesting results therefore provide direct proof that ChnAC cleaves oligosaccharide substrates from their reducing end towards their non-reducing end. This conclusion will therefore enhance our collective understanding of the mode of action of ChnAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past two decades, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been widely used for diagnosis in gestational women. Though it has several advantages, animal and human studies on the safety of MRI for the fetus remain inconclusive. Epigenetic modifications, which are crucial for cellular functioning, are prone to being affected by environmental changes. Therefore, we hypothesized that MRI during gestation may cause epigenetic modification alterations. Here, we investigated DNA methylation patterns of leptin promoter in the placenta and cord blood of women exposed to MRI during gestation. Results showed that average methylation levels of leptin in the placenta and cord blood were not affected by MRI. We also found that the methylation levels in the placenta and cord blood were not affected by different magnetic fields (1.5T and 3.0T MRI). However, if pregnant women were exposed to MRI at 15 to 20 weeks of gestation, the methylation level of leptin in cord blood was visibly lower than that of pregnant women exposed to MRI after 20-weeks of gestation (P = 0.037). mRNA expression level of leptin in cord blood was also altered, though mRNA expression of leptin in the placenta was not significantly affected. Therefore, we concluded that gestational MRI may not have major effects on the methylation level of leptin in cord blood and the placenta except for MRI applied before 20 weeks of gestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Protein glutathionylation is an important post-translational modification that regulates many cellular processes, including energy metabolism, signal transduction, and protein homeostasis. Global profiling of glutathionylated proteins (denoted as glutathionylome) is crucial for understanding redox-regulated signal transduction. Here, we developed a novel method based on click reaction and proteomics to enrich and identify the glutathionylated peptides in Escherichia coli and Drosophila lysates, in which 937 and 1,930 potential glutathionylated peptides were identified, respectively. Bioinformatics analysis showed that the cysteine residue next to negatively charged amino acid residues has a higher frequency of glutathionylation. Importantly, we found that most proteins associated with metabolic pathways were glutathionylated and that the glutathionylation sites of metabolic enzymes were highly conserved among different species. Our results indicate that the glutathione analog is a useful tool to characterize protein glutathionylation, and glutathionylation of metabolic enzymes, which play important roles in regulating cellular metabolism, is conserved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two octahedral homopolynuclear Ni(II) complexes, [Ni 2 (L)(OAc)(MeOH)]·CH 3 CN·MeOH (1) and [Ni 4 (L) 2 (acac) 2 (EtOH) 2 ]·2CH 3 CN (2) have been synthesized and characterized structurally. Hirshfeld surfaces, DFT calculation and fluorescence properties of complexes 1 and 2 were investigated. [Display omitted] • Anion-solvent-dependent construction of two homopolynuclear Ni(II) complexes 1 and 2 were synthesized and characterized structurally. • Complex 2 possesses a novel centrosymmetric tetra-nuclear structure with two dinuclear [Ni 2 (L)(acac)(EtOH)] units. • Hirshfeld surfaces, DFT calculation and fluorescence properties of complexes 1 and 2 were investigated. Two counteranion-solvent-dependent homopolynuclear Ni(II) complexes, [Ni 2 (L)(OAc)(MeOH)]·CH 3 CN·MeOH (1) and [Ni 4 (L) 2 (acac) 2 (EtOH) 2 ]·2CH 3 CN (2) have been constructed by exploiting the flexibility of a symmetrical multi-halogen-substituted bis(salamo)-based ligand H 3 L. The structures of complexes 1 and 2 were confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Complex 1 is a di-nuclear Ni(II) complex, where two octahedral Ni(II) atoms are located in the N 2 O 2 cavities of the salamo units, and bridged via a acetate ion. Complex 2 possesses a centrosymmetric tetra-nuclear structure with two di-nuclear [Ni 2 (L)(acac)(EtOH)] units. It is worth noting that one acetylacetonate anion is coordinated to Ni2 atom in bidentate fashion along with one methanol molecule that completes its hexa-coordinated geometry. It is possible that the existence of the acetylacetone anion makes the ligand (L)3- unit exhibit its flexibility, which promotes the formation of tetra-nuclear complex 2. The close surveillance of the crystal structure of complexes 1 and 2 discloses some notable non-covalent interactions like H-bonding, C H⋯π and π⋯π. Moreover, both complexes 1 and 2 form three-dimensional supramolecular structures with the help of intermolecular hydrogen bonds. It was found that the synthesis of complexes 1 and 2 weakened the fluorescence intensity of H 3 L until quenching. Hirshfeld surfaces analyses confirmed that hydrogen bond interactions play the most important role in the stability of crystal structures. The high kinetic stability and low chemical reactivity of complexes 1 and 2 were investigated based on the band gap energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoclasts reside on bone and are the main bone resorbing cells playing an important role in bone homeostasis, while natural killer ( NK) cells are bone-marrow-derived cells known to play a crucial role in immune defence against viral infections. Although mature NK cells traffic through bone marrow as well as to inflammatory sites associated with enhanced bone erosion, including the joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, little is known about the impact NK cells may have on mature osteoclasts and bone erosion. We studied the interaction between human NK cells and autologous monocyte-derived osteoclasts from healthy donors in vitro. We show that osteoclasts express numerous ligands for receptors present on activated NK cells. Co-culture experiments revealed that interleukin-15-activated, but not resting, NK cells trigger osteoclast apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner, resulting in drastically decreased bone erosion. Suppression of bone erosion requires contact between NK cells and osteoclasts, but soluble factors also play a minor role. Antibodies masking leucocyte function-associated antigen-1, DNAX accessory molecule-1 or tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand enhance osteoclast survival when co-cultured with activated NK cells and restore the capacity of osteoclasts to erode bone. These results suggest that interleukin-15-activated NK cells may directly affect bone erosion under physiological and pathological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palygorskite has remarkable rheological properties and was used to increase the stability and viscosity of aqueous suspensions. The effects of different physical and chemical processing methods on the apparent viscosity and plastic viscosity of the palygorskite suspensions such as pressing, ultrasound scattering, acidification, and chemical additives have been released. The pressing and ultrasound scattering indicated that the dispersed state of palygorskite could be increased effectively after treatment, and the apparent viscosity of treated-palygorskite samples increased almost 2-3 times compared to that of before. The viscosity of the acid-treated palygorskite suspension was not increased. The viscosity increased with the content of bentonite in the mixture of bentonite and palygorskite in fresh water. It seemed to be not worthy to add a certain amount of bentonite to palygorskite in order to enhance viscosity and vice versa. Chemical additives appeared to have good effects on the rheological behavior of palygorskite suspension. Magnesium oxide revealed great contribution to viscosity enhancement. The main mechanism was the electrostatic attractive interaction between magnesium oxide particles with positive charges and the palygorskite rods with negative charges. This interacted force has an impact on the structural inversion of palygorskite rods and even caused the reinforcing of flocculation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cationic polymer, hydroxy aluminum, and clay minerals are three flocculants with different action mechanisms and a more cost-efficient multiple flocculant can be prepared by compositing them through appropriate technology. All of attapulgite (ATP), clay minerals containing magnesium, aluminum, and silicate, are porous environmental mineral material with good absorbability and have found wide applications in industrial sewage treatment. With polyaluminum chloride (PAC), poly(dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride) (PDMDAAC), and attapulgite (ATP) clay being the main raw materials, multiple flocculant CMHa (liquid) with good storage stability was prepared and its optimized blending mass percent was PDMDAAC of 2%-3%, ATP of 4%–6%, and PAC of 20%–30%. The liquid poly(dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride) (PDMDAAC) was firstly loaded on solid material in kneader and then mixed in certain proportion with PAC and ATP to prepare solid CMHa convenient for storage and transportation. The optimized mass ratio is PAC : ATP : PDMDAAC = 80 : 10 : 2.4. When this multiple flocculant was used to treat domestic sewage, coal washing sewage, dyeing wastewater, and papermaking wastewater, its equivalent dosage was just 50% of PAC, while overall production cost has been reduced to about 40%, viewing showing broad application prospect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bentonite is characterized by the large specific surface, good adsorption, ion exchange ability, and nontoxicity. An enhanced bentonite base composite flocculant (BTA) can be prepared from treating the calcium base bentonite and compositing various functional additives. Bentonite was firstly treated by citric acid, then the talc and activated carbon turned to be acid part and simultaneously the part that was treated by sodium bicarbonate and calcium hydroxide turned to be alkaline part, and finally the acid bentonite part and alkaline bentonite part were mixed up with preground powder of polymeric chloride aluminium (PAC), cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM), ferrous sulfate, and aluminum sulfate, and after all of the processing flocculant BTA was obtained. The optimum preparation process of flocculant BTA has shown 29.5% acid bentonite part, 29.5% alkaline bentonite part, 15% PAC, 1% CPAM, 5% ferrous sulfate, and 20% aluminum sulfate. BTA was used to treat drinking water with high turbidity and metal ion in Karamay City, Xinjiang. The treated water was surely up to the drinking water standard of China in decolorization rate, deodorization rate, heavy metal ion removal rate, and so forth, and contents of residual aluminum ions and acrylamide monomer in drinking water were considerably decreased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The InN nanorods were grown on Si(1 1 1) substrate by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy (PAMBE) system, with a substrate nitridation process. The effect of nitriding time of Si(1 1 1) substrate on morphology, orientation and growth temperature of InN nanorods was characterized via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The deviation angle of InN nanorods was measured to evaluate the alignment of arrays. The results showed that InN nanorods could not be formed with 1 min nitridation of Si(1 1 1) substrate, but they could be obtained again when the nitriding time was increased to more than 10 min. In order to get aligned InN nanorods, the growth temperature needed to increase with longer nitriding time. The vertical orientation of InN nanorods could be enhanced with increase in nitriding time. The influence of the substrate nitridation on the photoluminescence (PL) spectra of InN nanorods has been investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]