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The health of rolling bearing is of great importance for the normal operation of rotating machinery. The fault diagnosis process can be roughly summarized as signal processing, feature extraction, and fault classification. In this paper, a novel feature extraction and fault diagnosis method with fractional order back-propagation neural network is put forward. The new sine cosine algorithm optimized variational mode decomposition is performed on vibration signals, and the fault feature vectors are selected and built by singular value decomposition. Inspired by the fractional order calculus, a fractional order back-propagation neural network is employed to realize fault classification. The capability of the developed fault diagnosis algorithm is comprehensively evaluated via benchmark bearing data. The experimental results demonstrate that the designed method substantially extracts bearing defect features, increases classification accuracy and efficiency, and also outperforms existing algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This study aimed to explore the relationship between workplace bullying among nurses and their professional quality of life, as well as the mediating role of coping styles between the two factors. Background: In China, the overall status of nurses' professional quality of life is not optimistic, and the problems of low compassion satisfaction and high compassion fatigue persist. Workplace bullying, which is a serious global issue, can negatively impact the mental health and professional quality of nurses. However, it has still not attracted enough attention from managers. Methods: The study used a cross-sectional research design and surveyed 297 clinical nurses from two tertiary grade A hospitals in Wuhan, China. Data were collected through an online questionnaire survey from March to May 2022. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods, including Pearson correlation analysis and structural equation modeling. Results: The score for nurses' workplace bullying was 38.72 ± 12.30. The scores for the three dimensions of professional quality of life were 27.56 ± 4.79 for compassion satisfaction, 30.51 ± 4.33 for burnout, and 28.47 ± 4.65 for secondary trauma stress. The scores for positive coping style and negative coping style were 34.59 ± 5.72 and 20.34 ± 5.08 points, respectively. Workplace bullying had a direct negative effect on compassion satisfaction, as well as positive direct effects on burnout and secondary traumatic stress. Coping styles played a mediating effect between workplace bullying and the pairwise relationships of compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary trauma stress. Conclusion: Workplace bullying hurts nurses' professional quality of life while coping styles plays an mediating role between workplace bullying and professional quality of life. Nursing managers can improve nurses' professional quality of life by reducing workplace bullying and enhancing positive coping style. Implications for nursing management: Nursing managers can employ management wisdom and techniques to mitigate the presence and detrimental effects of workplace bullying. This, in turn, promotes a positive work environment and enhances the professional quality of life for nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the dynamically optimal consumption, investment and life-insurance strategies for a wage earners under inside information and inflation. Assume that the wage earner can invest in a risk-free asset, a risky asset and an inflation-indexed bond and that the wage earner can obtain some additional information on the risky asset from the financial market. By maximizing the expected utility of the wage earner's consumption, inheritance and terminal wealth, we obtain the dynamically optimal consumption, investment and life-insurance strategies for the wage earner. The method of this paper is mainly based on (dynamical) stochastic control theory and the technique of enlargement of filtrations. Moreover, sensitivity analysis is carried out, which reveals that a wage earner with inside information tends to increase his/her consumption and investment, while reducing his/her purchase of life insurance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pregnancy in acromegaly is uncommon and still in debate for fear of tumor progression or potential threat to both mother and fetus's health. Besides, the data for pregnancy complications in uncontrolled acromegaly is limited. Thus, the objective of this study was to summarize pregnancy safety and disease courses after pregnancy in acromegalic patients and review their clinical characteristics based on disease activity in the literature. Methods: An evaluation of eight acromegalic women from Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) with 11 pregnancies was conducted. We also summarized a literature review of 82 disease-active pregnancies and 63 disease-controlled pregnancies with acromegaly. A second analysis was conducted to compare pregnancy courses and outcomes in different disease activities. Results: Before pregnancy, all patients had macroadenomas and underwent pituitary surgery. Pregnancy occurred at a median of 6 years (4–10) after the diagnosis of acromegaly. Assisted reproductive therapy was needed in 42.9% of participants. No cases had a premature birth or congenital malformations. Biochemical control was achieved in 50% of females before pregnancy and 75% at the last follow-up after delivery. Data analysis showed no differences in the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) or pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) between acromegaly-active or acromegaly-controlled groups. The GDM prevalence in patients diagnosed during pregnancy (33.3%) was higher than that in patients diagnosed before pregnancy (4.8%) (p = 0.001). Conclusion: Pregnancy without biochemical control in acromegaly and receiving medical treatment during pregnancy are not rare and generally safe for the fetus. There could be a higher prevalence of PIH in acromegalic pregnancies. The treatment of acromegaly and related complications can be managed with regular follow-up after pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Analysis of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) in ginseng samples was developed. • The solvent extraction and purification process were systemically optimized. • Single adsorbent nano-TiO 2 was applied instead of conventional adsorbent combination. • This method gave rise to satisfactory purification effect and recoveries for all PAs. • PAs were detected in the ginseng samples at concentration of 13.3 to 174 μg/kg. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are a group of naturally occurring toxins, which have been widely found in herbs. However, the complexity of the herbs made the accurate and simple determination of PAs challenging. Herein, the present work described the development of a simple and effective QuEChERS method for simultaneous determination of 18 PAs in various ginseng samples. The extraction and purification processes were systematically optimized and validated coupled to LC-MS/MS analysis. After intensive screening, a single adsorbent nano-TiO 2 was employed as a cleanup adsorbent during the dispersive solid phase extraction process to remove the matrix interferences and retain the target PAs in the sample solution, achieving the simultaneous determination of 18 PAs. The validation results displayed that the PAs had good linearity, sensitivity and satisfactory accuracy by the developed method. The method LODs and LOQs of PAs ranged from 0.05-1.49 μg/kg and 0.17–4.95 µg/kg, respectively. The average recoveries were 70.1 %-111 % with RSD less than 13 % under different spiked concentrations. Compared to the conventional QuEChERS method, this method gave rise to better purification effect and recoveries under the condition of only using one adsorbent nano-TiO 2 , which obvious improved its simplicity and versatility. Furthermore, this method was used to analyze the real ginseng samples and PAs were detected with concentrations ranging from 1.02 to 139 μg/kg, which further verified the feasibility of the developed method in the PAs analysis from the traditional herbal medicines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Burkholderia gladioli (B. gladioli) may cause food poisoning through the production of the toxin bongkrekic acid (BA), and could induce lung infections in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Edible mushrooms are a route of B. gladioli transmission; however, little effort has been focused on the prevalence of B. gladioli in edible mushrooms. In this study, 25 of the 325 edible mushroom samples were positive for B. gladioli , which showed moderate or strong biofilm formation capacity with a wide range of motility. Seventeen strains were capable of producing BA, while the isolates without toxin production lacked BA synthesis pathway genes bonK or bonR2. Antibiotic susceptibility testing indicated that all isolates were multidrug resistant. A considerable proportion of isolates were resistant to polymyxin B (100 %), chloramphenicol (84.62 %), aztreonam (84.62 %), ceftriaxone (84.62 %), and ticarcillin (61.54 %). None of the strains grew under environmental conditions such as pH below 4.0 or NaCl concentrations above 3.0 g/100 mL. Furthermore, 10 novel sequence typings (STs) were detected among the 25 isolates by multilocus sequence typing. This study provides valuable information for the control and prevention of B. gladioli contamination in common edible mushrooms for the first time. • Dried black fungus was contaminated with B. gladioli at a rate of 25.61 %. • Strong or moderate biofilm-forming ability was observed in B. gladioli isolates. • B. gladioli not producing BA were found to lack the bonK or bonR2 genes. • Ten STs were detected from edible mushrooms for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contamination of Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) in dairy products poses a significant risk to human health. It is urgent to develop on‐site rapid strategy to reduce associated threats. We employed carbon dots (CDs) and silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) as energy donors and acceptors respectively. The CDs and SiNPs were functionalised with vancomycin and aptamers correspondingly, leading to the establishment of ratiometric fluorescent sensor. With a portable smartphone‐integrated device, the ratios of blue/green values from the colour images depended on L. monocytogenes concentrations for quantification. The sensors were demonstrated for monitoring L. monocytogenes in dairy products within 30 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and screening strategy for fibromyalgia (FM) in patients with synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, and osteitis (SAPHO) syndrome. Methods: A total of 313 patients from a cohort of 354 SAPHO patients volunteered to participate in this study. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data were collected at baseline. Acute-phase reactants during the last 3 months were obtained. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and FM evaluation were recorded by questionnaires. Results: A total of 57 (18.2%) patients met the 2016 research criteria for FM. Compared to those without FM, these patients had significantly higher visual analog scale (VAS), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) scores (all p < 0.001). However, no differences in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) or hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were identified between the two groups. Patients with FM were also markedly older [odds ratio (OR) 1.072, p = 0.032] and had higher Fibromyalgia Rapid Screening Tool (FiRST) scores (OR 1.607, p = 0.016). The FiRST score showed a sensitivity of 50.9% and a specificity of 89.8%, and with a cutoff of 3, the FiRST score presented a high sensitivity of 84.2%. Conclusion: The prevalence of FM among SAPHO patients was similar to that among patients with other rheumatic diseases. Concomitant FM in SAPHO syndrome was associated with older age and worse PROs. Different cutoff values for FiRST screening should be used in patients with SAPHO syndrome. Key Points • The prevalence of FM among SAPHO patients was similar to that among patients with other rheumatic diseases. • Concomitant FM in SAPHO syndrome was associated with older age, widespread pain, and worse PROs. • Different cutoff values for FiRST screening should be used in patients with SAPHO syndrome [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To retrospectively analyze the off‐label prescriptions at a plastic surgery hospital in China and conduct a literature review. The prescriptions in outpatient department from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018 were collected and compared with the related drug instructions in indications, dosage, frequency and route of administration to identify the off‐label prescriptions. According to related literatures, guidelines, and MICROMEDEX, the rationality of off‐label drug uses was evaluated. A total of 39 836 prescriptions were screened and 3395 (8.52%) off‐label prescriptions were identified. It involved 23 items off‐label medication uses. 20 items were off‐label used in indication and three items were in indication and administration route. These off‐label prescriptions involved 19 medicines and 12 indications and the dermatology related drug usage accounted for the largest proportion (91.3%). Additionally, five items (21.7%) were Chinese patent medicine related. Of the 23 items, seven (30.4%) have been recommended by guidelines and two (8.7%) by Thomson Grading System of Micromedex. All of them have been proved by literature evidence of level 1 to 4, in which 19 (82.6%) by Level 1 evidence, 21 (91.3%) by Level 1 to 2 evidence and 2 (8.7%) only by level 3 to 4 evidence. This can provide a theoretical basis to clinicians in prescribing. Our next work is to perfect some details about evidence assessment to improve the reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a highly regioselective propargylic benzylation with propargylic carbonates and benzyl 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives was developed via a photoredox/palladium dual-catalyzed process, which represents a novel catalytic model for non-terminal propargylic functionalization. The reaction showed excellent regioselectivity and functional group compatibility. A radical coupling mechanism between the propargylic radical and benzyl radical was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the amplitude and the length of the business cycle are investigated. It is the first time the length of the business cycle based on the Goodwin model (one classical business cycle model) is discussed. The effect of the time delay of the economic policy and consumption on the amplitude and the length of the business cycle is studied. Meanwhile, the memory property of making economic policy is also considered. The theoretical amplitude of the business cycle is obtained by multiple-scale methods. The transitions of the amplitude induced by memory property and time delay are analyzed. How the economic parameter and random excitation affect the length of the business cycle is proposed. Based on the results, we can find that the time delay of both economic policy and consumption can induce the transitions. Moreover, the memory property of economic policy will change the critical value of the parameters when the transitions occur. In one typical induced investment function, the length of the business cycle is determined only by the autonomous investment and consumption. However, the length of the business cycle is not mainly affected by the autonomous investment and consumption in some other typical induced investment function. This states that the type of induced investment function has a very important role in determining the length of the business cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Cronobacter malonaticus is one of foodborne pathogens associated with life-threating infections in newborns and adults. Controlling C. malonaticus in food samples is important to achieve microbial safety. In this study, inhibitory effects of chitosan with low molecular weight (LMW) and high molecular weight (HMW) on growth of C. malonaticus cells and biofilm formation were determined. Results indicated that minimum inhibitory concentration (MICs) of 0.165% (w/v) and 0.225% (w/v) for LMW and HMW were observed respectively. Compared to control group, both LMW and HMW with 1/4 MIC and 1/2 MIC could significantly inhibit growth of C. malonaticus cells, and caused the release of intracellular nuclear acid of C. malonaticus cells. Furthermore, the cell shrinkage, injury of cell membrane, the disruption of cell integrity, and deformation of cells were also found by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) after treatment of 1/2 MIC of LMW and HMW chitosan. Finally, we demonstrated that chitosan with LMW and HMW significantly inhibited the biofilm formation in C. malonaticus compared to control groups. The findings provide valuable information for application of chitosan to control C. malonaticus in food samples. Highlights • LMW and HMW chitosan can significantly inhibit growth of C. malonaticus cells. • Significant injuries of C. malonaticus membrane after LMW and HMW treatment are observed using SEM and TEM;. • We demonstrated for the first time that LMW and HMW could significantly inhibit biofilm formation of C. malonaticus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of a robust strategy for the effective removal of oils and organic pollutants should be of great technological significance for addressing severe environmental issues. Here we report the synthesis of superhydrophobic aminopyridine-containing conjugated microporous polymers (APCMPs) for oil/water separation through a simple one-pot coupling reaction. The resulting APCMPs show high thermal stability with a decomposition temperature of up to 300°. Wettability measurements show that all four kinds of APCMPs have a water contact angle (WCA) of higher than 150° and an oil contact angle of about zero, indicating excellent superhydrophobicity and superoleophilicity which have great advantages over those traditional approaches for the construction of superhydrophobic surfaces that usually suffer from a number of drawbacks such as the need for complicated techniques, multi-step processes or high production cost. By decoration of commercially available cotton threads with the as-synthesized APCMPs, a continuous oil/water separation instrument was designed and fabricated with high oil/water separation efficiency. Due to their physicochemical robustness, excellent superwetting ability, and simple and scalable production, such APCMPs may hold great potential as superwetting porous materials or coatings for oil spilling cleanup or other pollution removal applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] The creation of high-performance thermal insulation and flame-retardant materials is of great importance for minimizing energy consumption and reducing fire risk for modern buildings. Herein, we report the creation of a new composite aerogel, which was prepared by incorporation of 9,10-Dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene 10-Oxide-3-Aminopropyl triethoxysilane (DOPO-KH550) modified hollow glass microspheres (HGM) into polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) using citric acid as a cross-linker, as a kind of thermal insulation and flame retardant materials (abbreviated as PVA-DKHGM). The as-synthesized PVA-DKHGM composite exhibits superior thermal conductivity of 0.0187 W m−1 K−1, owing to the hollow structure of the hollow glass microspheres and rich porosity. Besides, it reaches V-0 level at the UL-94 test and the peak heat release rate (pHRR) was measured to be 114.93 (kW/m2) which is lower than most composites now. These results are attributed to the synergy effect of the hollow glass microsphere and DOPO-KH550 which offers the composites aerogel excellent flame retardancy. Owing to its advantages such as lightweight, highly porous, thermally stable, simple to prepare, high mechanical strength, and can be further scaled up, our PVA-DKHGM aerogel may hold great potential for practical applications in construction of energy-saving modern buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• After PM2.5 stimulation, the content of irisin in mouse lung tissue increased. • Irisin mitigated inflammatory changes in PM2.5-induced acute lung injury models. • Irisin inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation in MH-S cells. • Irisin may play an anti-inflammatory role through the Nod2/NF-κB signaling pathway. Air pollution consisting of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) can induce or aggravate pulmonary inflammatory injury. Irisin has been shown to inhibit inflammation and help to protect against acute kidney, lung or brain injury. However, the role of irisin in lung inflammation after exposure to PM2.5 remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect and molecular mechanism of irisin supplementation on in vitro and in vivo models of PM2.5-induced acute lung injury（ALI). C57BL/6 mice and alveolar macrophage cell line (MH-S) were treated with PM2.5. Histopathological examination and FNDC5/ irisin immunofluorescence staining was performed on lung tissue sections. MH-S cell viability was determined by CCK-8 assay. The levels of Nod2, NF-κB p65 and NLRP3 were detected by qRT-PCR and western blotting. The levels of cytokines (IL-1β, IL-18 and TNF-α) were detected by ELISA. PM2.5 exposure induced increased secretion of pro-inflammatory factors and activation of Nod2, NF-κB p65 and NLRP3 as well as endogenous levels of irisin. In vivo and in vitro inflammation was alleviated by irisin supplementation. Irisin significantly decreased IL-1β, IL-18, and TNF-α production at both mRNA and protein level. Expression levels of Nod2, NF-κB p65, and NLRP3 were all significantly affected by irisin. In vivo the degree of pulmonary injury and inflammatory infiltration was weakened after irisin administration. In vitro , irisin could inhibit the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome for a sustained period of 24 h, and its inhibitory ability was gradually enhanced. In conclusion, our findings indicate that irisin can modulate the inflammatory injury of lung tissue caused by PM2.5 through the Nod2/NF-κB signaling pathway, suggesting that irisin can be a candidate for the therapeutic or preventive intervention in acute lung inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidative stress has been increasingly recognized as a major contributing factor in a variety of human diseases, from inflammation to cancer. Although certain parts of signaling pathways are still under investigation, detailed molecular mechanisms for the induction of diseases have been elucidated, especially the link between excessive oxygen reactive species (ROS) damage and tumorigenesis. Emerging evidence suggests anti-oxidant therapy can play a key role in treating those diseases. Among potential drug resources, plant polysaccharides are natural anti-oxidant constituents important for human health because of their long history in ethnopharmacology, wide availability and few side effects upon consumption. Plant polysaccharides have been shown to possess anti-oxidant, anti-inflammation, cell viability promotion, immune-regulation and antitumor functions in a number of disease models, both in laboratory studies and in the clinic. In this paper, we reviewed the research progress of signaling pathways involved in the initiation and progression of oxidative stress- and cancer-related diseases in humans. The natural sources, structural properties and biological actions of several common plant polysaccharides, including Lycium barbarum, Ginseng, Zizyphus Jujuba, Astragalus lentiginosus, and Ginkgo biloba are discussed in detail, with emphasis on their signaling pathways. All of the mentioned common plant polysaccharides have great potential to treat oxidative stress and cancinogenic disorders in cell models, animal disease models and clinical cases. ROS-centered pathways (e.g. mitochondrial autophagy, MAPK and JNK) and transcription factor-related pathways (e.g. NF-B and HIF) are frequently utilized by these polysaccharides with or without the further involvement of inflammatory and death receptor pathways. Some of the polysaccharides may also influence tumorigenic pathways, such as Wnt and p53 to play their anti-tumor roles. In addition, current problems and future directions for the application of those plant polysaccharides are also listed and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Curvulamine is a novel alkaloid with strong antimicrobial activity produced by the marine-derived fungus Curvularia sp. IFB-Z10. In this work, the effects of different carbon and nitrogen source on curvulamine production were firstly investigated. Different morphologies were formed and pellet-like growth of fungi was found positive for the curvulamine formation, and sucrose, yeast extract and sodium nitrate revealed most suitable for curvulamine formation. Subsequently, four seed culture methods were employed to examine the linkage between pellet shape and curvulamine production. The mean pellet diameter was significantly decreased and the production was improved to 17.97 mg/L by method M3, which used baffled shake flask and glass homogenizer to prepare the homogenized seed broth. Furthermore, microparticle-based morphology engineering was used to control the pellet shape and enhanced the curvulamine production. By supplementation of talc powder (200 mesh, 5 g/L), the mean pellet diameter dramatically decreased and the fermentation titer reached 33.05 mg/L, which was about 1.9-fold of the control (17.21 mg/L). In addition, the fermentation process was scaled up in a 5-L bioreactor and the curvulamine production reached 21.63 mg/L, which was about 3.3-fold of the control (6.58 mg/L). The results obtained provided a new approach to enhance curvulamine production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofilms on surfaces of equipment and environments may be the major source of foodborne pathogens contamination in food. In this study, thirty-one Cronobacter sakazakii were identified by a combination of chromogenic agar, API-20e, and PCR targeting gluA and ropB genes. Furthermore, the highest amount and mature biofilm was formed by one typical isolate (Csa26) after 72 h using crystal violet staining (CVS) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) respectively. Thereafter, the two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) technology was firstly applied to study the differential expression proteins between biofilm and planktonic cells. Using the MALDI/TOF/TOF mass spectrometry (MS) analysis combined with MASCOT research results, twenty-eight differential expression proteins were successfully identified at the threshold of 2.0 fold changes. In addition, the expression abundance of 13 proteins was expressed only or increased in biofilm cells. The findings presented here firstly reveal potential factors involved in biofilm formation at the proteomics level and provide new knowledge for revealing the biofilm-forming mechanism of C. sakazakii . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dalesconols (dalesconols A and B) are novel polyketides with strong immunosuppressive activity produced by Daldinia eschscholzii . In this work, the effects of different media (M1, M2, and M3) on fungus growth and dalesconols biosynthesis were firstly tested and compared. Intermediates and enzyme analysis indicated that laccase had the major contribution to dalesconols biosynthesis. The key role of laccase on dalesconols biosynthesis was further experimentally confirmed, which suggested that the modified M2 was more favored for laccase and dalesconols production. Thereafter, the medium composition was optimized by RSM with a fermentation titer of 36.66 mg/L obtained. Furthermore, Ca 2+ induction was employed to up-regulate of laccase activity and further enhanced dalesconols production (76.90 mg/L), which was 308% higher than that in M2. In addition, dalesconols production reached 63.42 mg/L in scale-up experiments. This work indicated great potential of laccase as a key enzyme on regulation of dalesconols production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conversion from triene- to diene-typedansamycins is clarifiedstep by step in Streptomyces seoulensisIFB-A01.Such an intertype convertibility is adopted to establish for the firsttime the simultaneous mutasynthesis of both types of C17-benzene ansamycins(C17BAs). Three of the newly generated unnatural compounds showedpotent cytotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bivalent genes, of which promoters are marked by both H3K4me3 (trimethylation of histone H3 on lysine 4) and H3K27me3 (trimethylation of histone H3 on lysine 27), play critical roles in development and tumorigenesis. Monomethylation on lysine 4 of histone H3 (H3K4me1) is commonly associated with enhancers, but H3K4me1 is also present at promoter regions as an active bimodal or a repressed unimodal pattern. Whether the co-occurrence of H3K4me1 and bivalent marks at promoters plays regulatory role in development is largely unknown. Results: We report that in the process of lineage differentiation, bivalent promoters undergo H3K27me3-H3K4me1 transition, the loss of H3K27me3 accompanies by bimodal pattern loss or unimodal pattern enrichment of H3K4me1. More importantly, this transition regulates tissue-specific gene expression to orchestrate the development. Furthermore, knockout of Eed (Embryonic Ectoderm Development) or Suz12 (Suppressor of Zeste 12) in mESCs (mouse embryonic stem cells), the core components of Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) which catalyzes H3K27 trimethylation, generates an artificial H3K27me3-H3K4me1 transition at partial bivalent promoters, which leads to up-regulation of meso-endoderm related genes and down-regulation of ectoderm related genes, thus could explain the observed neural ectoderm differentiation failure upon retinoic acid (RA) induction. Finally, we find that lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) interacts with PRC2 and contributes to the H3K27me3-H3K4me1 transition in mESCs. Conclusions: These findings suggest that H3K27me3-H3K4me1 transition plays a key role in lineage differentiation by regulating the expression of tissue specific genes, and H3K4me1 pattern in bivalent promoters could be modulated by LSD1 via interacting with PRC2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatment of the chlorides (L2,6-iPr2Ph)2LnCl (L2,6-iPr2Ph = [(2,6- iPr2C6H3)NC(Me)CHC(Me)N(C6H5)]−) with 1 equiv. of NaNH(2,6- iPr2C6H3) afforded the monoamides (L2,6-iPr2Ph)2LnNH(2,6- iPr2C6H3) (Ln = Y ( 1), Yb ( 2)) in good yields. Anhydrous LnCl3 reacted with 2 equiv. of NaL2,6-iPr2Ph in THF, followed by treatment with 1 equiv. of NaNH(2,6- iPr2C6H3), giving the analogues (L2,6-iPr2Ph)2LnNH(2,6- iPr2C6H3) (Ln = Sm ( 3), Nd ( 4)). Two monoamido complexes stabilized by two L2-Me ligands, (L2-Me)2LnNH(2,6- iPr2C6H3) (L2-Me = [N(2-MeC6H4)C(Me)]2CH)−; Ln = Y ( 5), Yb ( 6)), were also synthesized by the latter route. Complexes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 were fully characterized, including X-ray crystal structure analyses. Complexes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 are isostructural. The central metal in each complex is ligated by two β-diketiminato ligands and one amido group in a distorted trigonal bipyramid. All the complexes were found to be highly active in the ring-opening of L-lactide (L-LA) and ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) to give polymers with relatively narrow molar mass distributions. The activity depends on both the central metal and the ligand (Yb < Y < Sm ≈ Nd and L2-Me < L2,6-iPr2Ph). Remarkably, the binary 3/benzyl alcohol (BnOH) system exhibited a striking 'immortal' nature and proved able to quantitatively convert 5000 equiv. of L-LA with up to 100 equiv. of BnOH per metal initiator. All the resulting PLAs showed monomodal, narrow distributions ( Mw/ Mn = 1.06 − 1.08), with molar mass ( Mn) decreasing proportionally with an increasing amount of BnOH. The binary 4/BnOH system also exhibited an 'immortal' nature in the of ε-CL in toluene. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Interest in grape seed proanthocyanidin (GSP) as a cholesterol-lowering nutraceutical is growing. This study was to investigate the effect of GSP on blood cholesterol level and gene expression of cholesterol-regulating enzymes in Golden Syrian hamsters maintained on a 0.1% cholesterol diet. Results affirmed supplementation of 0.5% or 1.0% GSP could decrease plasma total cholesterol and triacylglycerol level. Western blot and real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses demonstrated GSP did not affect sterol regulatory element binding protein-2 and low-density lipoprotein receptor; however, it increased mRNA 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase. GSP had no effect on the protein mass of liver X receptor alpha (LXRα) but it decreased mRNA LXRα. Most importantly, GSP increased not only the protein level of cholesterol-7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) but also mRNA CYP7A1. It was concluded that the hypocholesterolemic activity of GSP was most likely mediated by enhancement of bile acid excretion and up-regulation of CYP7A1. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Simiao pill is one of the most frequently prescription in traditional Chinese medicine to treat gout and hyperuricemia. Aim of the study: We investigated the effects of Simiao pill on urate excretion and renal function and examined whether renal organic ion transporters are involved in potassium oxonate-induced hyperuricemic mice. Materials and methods: Water extract of Simiao pill at 507, 1014 and 2028mg/kg was orally administered to hyperuricemic and normal mice for 7 days, and allopurinol (5mg/kg) was given as a positive control. Serum and urine levels of uric acid and creatinine, and fractional excretion of uric acid (FEUA) were measured in hyperuricemic and normal mice treated with Simiao pill and allopurinol. Simultaneously, the mRNA and protein levels of mouse urate transporter 1 (mURAT1), glucose transporter 9 (mGLUT9) and organic anion transporter 1 (mOAT1) and organic cation/carnitine transporters (mOCT1, mOCT2, mOCTN1 and mOCTN2) in the kidney were analyzed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting methods, respectively. Results: Simiao pill significantly reduced serum uric acid levels and increased FEUA dose-dependently in hyperuricemic mice. And it effectively reversed oxonate-induced alterations in renal mURAT1, mGLUT9 and mOAT1 mRNA and protein levels, resulting in the enhancement of renal urate excretion in mice. Moreover, Simiao pill decreased serum creatinine levels, as well as increased renal mOCT1, mOCT2, mOCTN1 and mOCTN2 mRNA and protein levels, leading to improve renal dysfunction in this model. Conclusion: These findings suggest that Simiao pill processes uricosuric and nephroprotective actions by regulating renal organic ion transporters in hyperuricemic animals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] The development and preparation of multifunctional photothermal conversion materials has far-reaching significance for the utilization of solar energy resources in response to the energy crisis. Herein, we propose a Janus membrane for interfacial solar evaporation and phase change energy storage. The membranes were fabricated via combining the PVA film with multi-shelled hollow spheres (MHS). The membranes have asymmetric wettability, that is, one side is hydrophilic and the other side is hydrophobic. The as-resulted membranes obtain outstanding light absorption without further processing. According to these two advantages, the membranes were applied to solar evaporation. The evaporation rate of the membrane is 1.41 kg*m−2h−1 and the evaporation efficiency is 92.4 % under 1sun irradiation. Moreover, the membrane prepared by impregnating 1-Hexadecanamine (HDA) into MHS possesses excellent tensile strength (2.21 MPa) and photothermal conversion ability. The light-to-thermal conversion efficiency can reach 81.9 % under 1sun irradiation. Therefore, the membranes have broad application prospects in the field of photothermal conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to detect the association between P-selectin autoantibody positive and response to steroid treatment in newly diagnosed immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) patients. Methods: The data from 105 newly diagnosed adult ITP patients administered with first-line of steroid treatment from October 2016 to May 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Treatment responses were evaluated within 3 months after the onset of treatment. Results: Among the 105 patients, 80.00% (84/105) of patients presented with platelet glycoprotein-specific antibody positive; 44.76% (47/105) patients were anti-P-selectin positive, while 35.24% (37/105) were anti-P-selectin negative. No significant difference in overall response was observed between patients who were anti-P-selectin positive and those who were anti-P-selectin negative (74.47% vs. 89.19, χ2 = 2.910, p = 0.088). But patients who were anti-P-selectin negative had significantly higher complete response rate, compared to those who were anti-P-selectin positive (72.97% vs. 48.94%, χ2 = 4,965, p = 0.026). Logistic regression analysis revealed that anti-GP IIb/IIIa positive (OR = 3.114, p = 0.010, 95% CI: 1.313–7.388) and anti-P-selectin positive (OR = 0.309, p = 0.036, 95% CI: 0.127–0.753) were two factors that could affect patients' response. Conclusions: Our study found that ITP patients with anti-GP IIb/IIIa may have a higher response to steroid treatment, but anti-P-selectin-mediated-ITP might be less responsive to steroid treatment. In adults with ITP, the presence of anti-P-selectin autoantibodies is a predictive factor for poor response to steroid treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cronobacter (seven species) can survive in dry powdered infant formula for a long time, but the thorough molecular mechanism of resistance to desiccation remains elusive. Here we examine the regulation mechanism of Cronobacter 's tolerance to desiccation by the typical two-component system (TCS) EnvZ/OmpR. When exposed to desiccation conditions, Cronobacter showed higher survival than other pathogens, as well as significantly up-regulated expression of ompR and otsAB genes with markedly decreased survival of their mutants, suggesting their relationship with desiccation tolerance. OmpR directly binds to the promoter of trehalose biosynthesis operon otsBA , significantly enhancing their expression, and boosting the trehalose levels. The ompR -deletion in other six species further confirmed its positive regulation in desiccation tolerance. Our data present a hypothesis that EnvZ/OmpR increases intracellular trehalose levels against damage to the cells, which prompts Cronobacter to survive in desiccation conditions. This study reveals a universal molecular mechanism for desiccation resistance in Cronobacter species. [Display omitted] • Cronobacter spp. displayed strong desiccation tolerance. • TCS EnvZ/OmpR regulated desiccation resistance in C. malonaticus. • Trehalose protected C. malonaticus against drying stress. • EnvZ/OmpR promoted trehalose synthesis in C. malonaticus against drying stress. • EnvZ/OmpR played a vital role in desiccation tolerance of Cronobacter spp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent development of Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) technology has provided new methods for researchers to design and fabricate seismometers and geophones in small scale which will enable seismic sensors achieve higher sensitivity with a larger frequency band when compared with traditional instruments. In this paper, we review the development of various types of MEMS based geophones and seismometers by dividing them into two types according to the state of inertial mass (liquid or solid type). Within all types of seismic sensors, emphasis has been put on the highly sensitive electrochemical sensors and the frequently used capacitive seismic sensors. The working principles, detailed fabrication processes, as well as the advantages or limitations are also summarized. Moreover, the levelling system assembled with the seismic sensors is also included in this review. They are added to help seismometers work properly when tilted. Since MEMS fabrication technology with small mass also brings magnified intrinsic noise to the seismic sensors, self-noise issues and some possible modifications on structures or signal processing circuits to reduce this noise are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the potential health benefits of the natural environment for human well-being. Given the fast-paced nature of contemporary lifestyles, research into the use of virtual environments as a means to provide various seasonal landscapes has gained increasing importance. Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of different sensory modes on the preferences and therapeutic effects of virtual autumn landscapes on university campuses. Methods: In this study, 320 participants, with an average age of 21.11 years (±1.21 years), were exposed to virtual environments featuring autumn color landscapes and bare tree landscapes using visual, auditory, and combined conditions. A control group was included for comparison. Differences in participants' physiological indicators (EEG, heart rate) and psychological measures (POMS, PANAS, SVS, ROS) were analyzed, with the use of the Holm correction (P < 0.05). Results: (1) Autumn virtual landscapes with color had a superior therapeutic effect. (2) There were significant differences in the therapeutic effects of different sensory modes within the same season's landscape categories, suggesting that incorporating additional sensory dimensions may enhance therapeutic outcomes. Conclusion: Based on the study's findings, we recommend that when designing therapeutic environments, attention should be given to seasonal variations and the integration of various sensory modes to optimize therapeutic results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclic peptides with cyclophane linkers are an attractive compound type owing to the fine‐tuned rigid three‐dimensional structures and unusual biophysical features. Cytochrome P450 enzymes are capable of catalyzing not only the C−C and C−O oxidative coupling reactions found in vancomycin and other nonribosomal peptides (NRPs), but they also exhibit novel catalytic activities to generate cyclic ribosomally synthesized and post‐translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) through cyclophane linkage. To discover more P450‐modified multicyclic RiPPs, we set out to find cryptic and unknown P450‐modified RiPP biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) through genome mining. Synergized bioinformatic analysis reveals that P450‐modified RiPP BGCs are broadly distributed in bacteria and can be classified into 11 classes. Focusing on two classes of P450‐modified RiPP BGCs where precursor peptides contain multiple conserved aromatic amino acid residues, we characterized 11 novel P450‐modified multicyclic RiPPs with different cyclophane linkers through heterologous expression. Further mutation of the key ring‐forming residues and combinatorial biosynthesis study revealed the order of bond formation and the specificity of P450s. This study reveals the functional diversity of P450 enzymes involved in the cyclophane‐containing RiPPs and indicates that P450 enzymes are promising tools for rapidly obtaining structurally diverse cyclic peptide derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclic peptides with cyclophane linkers are an attractive compound type owing to the fine‐tuned rigid three‐dimensional structures and unusual biophysical features. Cytochrome P450 enzymes are capable of catalyzing not only the C−C and C−O oxidative coupling reactions found in vancomycin and other nonribosomal peptides (NRPs), but they also exhibit novel catalytic activities to generate cyclic ribosomally synthesized and post‐translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) through cyclophane linkage. To discover more P450‐modified multicyclic RiPPs, we set out to find cryptic and unknown P450‐modified RiPP biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) through genome mining. Synergized bioinformatic analysis reveals that P450‐modified RiPP BGCs are broadly distributed in bacteria and can be classified into 11 classes. Focusing on two classes of P450‐modified RiPP BGCs where precursor peptides contain multiple conserved aromatic amino acid residues, we characterized 11 novel P450‐modified multicyclic RiPPs with different cyclophane linkers through heterologous expression. Further mutation of the key ring‐forming residues and combinatorial biosynthesis study revealed the order of bond formation and the specificity of P450s. This study reveals the functional diversity of P450 enzymes involved in the cyclophane‐containing RiPPs and indicates that P450 enzymes are promising tools for rapidly obtaining structurally diverse cyclic peptide derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Academic emotion is a fundamental emotional concept closely linked to academic achievement. Understanding the connection between academic emotion and the personality trait of hardiness is pivotal in maintaining a stable career orientation throughout one's educational career. Therefore, in pursuit of fostering the robust growth of nursing careers, it is imperative to delve into the academic emotions experienced by undergraduate nursing students. This study endeavors to mitigate the impact of gender differences among nursing students while investigating the intricate relationship between academic emotions and the trait of hardiness in their personalities. Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional research design. We gathered data from a convenient sample of 292 nursing students enrolled at Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine. Each student provided demographic information and responded to a general academic mood questionnaire, as well as a Hardiness Personality Rating Scale. Subsequently, we used canonical correlation analysis to evaluate the correlation between academic emotion and tenacity personality in 292 undergraduate nursing students. Results: We discovered that academic emotions among nursing students are predominantly characterized by feelings of disappointment and boredom. Furthermore, personality hardiness is primarily influenced by the dimensions of engagement and control. It is important to note that a heightened level of negative, low-arousal academic emotions can diminish the level of engagement. The first typical correlation coefficient corresponding to academic emotion and hardiness were 0.660. The linear combination of standardized variables of the first typical variable corresponding to academic emotion (X1) = -0.444*negative hyperarousal -0.443 * positive hyperarousal + 0.694 * negative hypoarousal -0.260 * positive hypoarousal. The standardized variable equation of the first typical variable corresponding to hardiness personality (η1) = 0.235* hardiness -0.433* control -0.530* investment -0.303* challenge. Conclusions: Nursing students generally believe that their input is out of proportion to the return, and this unbalanced emotional experience will seriously affect their academic emotions in China. It is suggested that paying attention to cultivating their tenacious personality traits in the teaching process may help to enhance their academic emotions and enhance the sense of belonging and identity of nursing students engaged in the nursing profession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Water environmental pollution especially caused by bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms always would accelerate the spread of infectious diseases and has been one of the issues highly concerned by the World Health Organization for a long time. The development of novel antibacterial materials with high activity for water cleanness was of great importance for public health and ecological sustainable development. In this work, we developed two really free-standing conjugated microprous polymers (CMPs) film with large size and processibility by a simple and convenient solid surface-assisted polymerization between bromo- and aryl-acetylene monomers. With the solid interfacial orientation from silica nanofibers, the resulting CMPs film exhibited nanotube-liked morphology with BET surface area of 379.5 m2 g−1 and 480.1 m2 g−1. The introduction of antibacterial isocyanurate and acetanilide group into polymer skeleton brings the resulting CMPs film intrinsically antimicrobial capability and durability. The growth of E. coli can be completely inhibited by the resulting CMPs film even after several cycles. Our work was suggested to provide a new route for rational design of CMPs film or membrane with antibacterial activity for water treatment and sterilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Burkholderia gladiolus (B. gladiolus) is foodborne pathogenic bacteria producing bongkrekic acid (BA), which causes food poisoning and has a mortality rate of up to 40 % or more. However, no drugs have been reported in the literature for the prevention and treatment of this infection. In this study, a phage was identified to control B. gladiolus. The novel phage vB_BglM_WTB (WTB), which lyse B. gladiolus with high efficiency, was isolated from sewage of Huaihe Road Throttle Well Sewage Treatment Plant in Hefei. Transmission electron microscopy showed that WTB had an icosahedral head (69 ± 2 nm) and a long retractable tail (108 ± 2 nm). Its optimal temperature and pH ranges to control B. gladiolus were 25 °C -65 °C and 3–11 respectively. The phage WTB was identified as a linear double-stranded DNA phage of 68, 541 bp with 60.04 % G + C content, with a long latent period of 60 min. Phylogenetic analysis and comparative genetic analysis indicated that phage WTB has low identity (<50 %) with other phages, with the highest similarity to Burkholderia phage Maja (25.7 %), which showed that it does not belong to any previous genera recognized by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) and was a candidate for a new genus within the Caudoviricetes. We have submitted a new proposal to ICTV to create a new genus, Bglawtbvirus. No transfer RNA (tRNA), virulence associated and antibiotic resistance genes were detected in phage WTB. Experimental results indicated that WTB at 4 °C and 25 °C had excellent inhibition activity against B. gladiolus in the black fungus, with an inhibition efficiency of over 99 %. The amount of B. gladiolus in the black fungus was reduced to a minimum of 89 CFU/mL when treated by WTB at 25 °C for 2 h. The inhibition rate remained at 99.97 % even after 12 h. The findings showed that the phage WTB could be applied as a food-cleaning agent for enhancing food safety and contributed to our understanding of phage biology and diversity. • A novel Burkholderia phage WTB was isolated from sewage. • A new genus of Caudoviricetes , Bglawtbvirus , with WTB as the type phage, was proposed. • Phage WTB was stable 25 °C–60 °C and pH 3–11. • Phage WTB had the ability to control B.gladiolus in the black fungus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effective combination of ultra-precise detection and on-demand sterilization stands out as one of the most valuable antifouling methods to combat pathogenic bacteria source and ensure the environment and food safety. Herein, an innovative "five birds one stone" aptasensor has been reported. It integrates magnetic separation, tri-modal precision detection, and efficient sterilization for monitoring of Staphylococcus aureus. Firstly, as a switch of the aptasensor, aptamer-modified potassium chloride-doped carbon dots (apt/KCl@CDs) could be adsorbed onto the surface of magnetic multi-walled carbon nanotube composites (M-MWCNTs) through π-π stacking, which could be replaced by the specific binding of the target bacteria to the aptamer. The mutual interference between the nanomaterials could be eliminated by this reverse magnetosorption strategy, enhancing the test sensitivity. In addition to the fluorescence properties, the peroxidase activity possessed by apt/KCl@CDs enables the conversion of the (3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine) TMB-H 2 O 2 colorimetric system to a photothermal modal. Then, the ultra-precision detection in the assay was achieved by the fluorescence-colorimetric-photothermal tri-modal sensing from the formation of S. aureus -apt/KCl@CDs in the supernatant. Besides, the efficient sterilization could be ensured by adsorbing the apt/KCl@CDs on the surface of S. aureus , generating toxic •OH for direct attacking cells. This was the first report that was more beneficial for bacterial eradication. The detection limits of fluorescence, colorimetric and photothermal modals were 4.81 cfu/mL, 3.40 cfu/mL and 6.74 cfu/mL, respectively. The magnetic nanoplatform integrating tri-modal detection-sterilization meets the demand for highly sensitive and precise detection in different scenarios, providing immediate control for pathogens and broad application prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attempted synthesis of sterically demanding tris-β-diketiminate complexes of europium led to oxidation–coupling of β-diketiminates and the formation of the THF-solvated divalent europium complex Eu(L2,6-Me2)2(THF) (L2,6-Me2= [{N(2,6-Me2C6H3)C(Me)}2CH]−), while the normal tris-β-diketiminate complex Eu(L2-Me)3for the less bulky ligand L2-Me([{N(2-MeC6H4)C(Me)}2CH]−) was isolated by the same procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) is a common complication after the laminectomy. Epidural fibrosis is the major cause of lower back pain and other complications. Numerous studies have shown that apigenin (API) could treat various fibrotic diseases by regulating various signaling pathways, whereas no study has discussed whether API can inhibit fibroblast proliferation and reduce epidural fibrosis after the laminectomy by regulating Wnt3a/β-catenin signaling pathway. Methods: Human fibroblasts were cultured and treated with API in different concentrations for 24 h. CCK-8 detection and EdU incorporation assay were performed to detect cell viability and cell proliferation. Western blotting analysis was applied to detect expressions of proliferative proteins, Wnt3a, and its downstream proteins. Moreover, the Wnt3a gene was overexpressed in fibroblasts to define the relationship between Wnt3a/β-catenin signaling pathway and fibroblast proliferation. Wnt3a overexpressed fibroblasts were treated with API to verify if it could reverse the effects of API treatment. Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups. Laminectomy was performed and the rats were gavaged with different doses of API or 5% sodium carboxyl methyl cellulose (CMC-Na) solution for 1 month. The abilities of API to inhibit fibroblast proliferation and to reduce epidural fibrosis were evaluated using histological and immunohistochemical analysis. Results: CCK-8 detection and EdU incorporation assay demonstrated that API could inhibit the viability and proliferation rate of fibroblasts in a concentration-dependent manner. The Western blotting analysis revealed that API could inhibit the expressions of PCNA, cyclinD1, Wnt3a, and its downstream proteins. The overexpression of Wnt3a in fibroblasts could upregulate the expressions of proliferative proteins such as PCNA and cyclinD1. The inhibitory effect of API on PCNA, Wnt3a, and its downstream proteins was partially reversed by overexpression of Wnt3a. Moreover, the results of the histological and immunohistochemical analysis revealed that API could reduce the epidural fibrosis in rats by inhibiting fibroblast proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions: API can inhibit fibroblast proliferation and reduce epidural fibrosis by suppressing Wnt3a/β-catenin signaling pathway, which can be adopted as a new option to prevent epidural fibrosis after the laminectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] The inevitable intermittency of solar illumination during the interfacial evaporation process can cause a reduction in the evaporation performance of solar evaporators. Here, we report the fabrication of a new solar-driven interfacial evaporator using MXene nanosheets as the photothermal layer, modifying them with conjugated microporous polymer hollow microspheres, and then compounding them with the phase change material, in this case, cetyl alcohol, to form a composite evaporator (CE) that can perform all-weather solar interfacial evaporation. By combining interfacial evaporation photothermal conversion with energy storage, the evaporator achieves an evaporation rate of 1.57 kg⋅m−2⋅h−1 at a light intensity of 1 kW⋅m−2 and 2.79 kg⋅m−2⋅h−1 at a light intensity of 2 kW⋅m−2. In addition, the evaporator attains an excellent solar evaporation efficiency of over 91% in both cases and even in salt water. In addition, interestingly, our CE exhibits excellent continuous evaporation ability, e.g., the mass of evaporated water was increased by 0.36 kg⋅m−2 at a light intensity of 2 kW⋅m−2 compared to the cavity evaporator without the phase change material (PCM) when solar light was turned off. These results could be attributed to the fact that the energy released by the incorporated phase change material allows the evaporator to maintain stable evaporation under conditions of insufficient or intermittent solar irradiation, potentially providing a new opportunity for addressing the intermittent problem of evaporation at the solar interface due to unstable light intensity, thus showing great potential for practical continuous desalination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A multifunctional self-floating photothermal materials (CS-CMPsHM) were synthesized. • The CS-CMPsHM are capable of adsorption antibiotics by interfacial steam generation. • The improved adsorption was due to specific π-π electron-donor–acceptor interactions. • Wastewater purification was achieved in simulated and actual water samples. • The inhibitory effect of the collected water on plant growth was significantly reduced. Solar-driven interfacial evaporation (SDIE) technology holds the promise of purification and removal of organic pollutants from water samples. In this work, an efficient SDIE composed of multifunctional self-floating photothermal materials based on candle soot-coated conjugated microporous polymer hollow spheres (CS-CMPsHM) for treatment of tetracycline (TC) wastewater is reported. By depositing candle soot nanoparticles, CS-CMPsHM achieved excellent interfacial evaporation performance by extending the light absorption. Additionally, the π-π interaction between CMP's unique conjugated network and TC molecules and the well-developed porosity facilitates the capture of target contaminants. The synthesized CS-CMPsHM evaporator demonstrated remarkable properties, i.e., excellent photothermal performance (with superior photothermal conversion efficiency up to 94 % and evaporation rate of 1.55 kg m−2h−1 under one sun irradiation), extremely low wet thermal conductivity (0.075 W m-1K−1), reusability, superior salt resistance, stability, adsorption of pollutants and renewable performance. Furthermore, CS-CMPsHM remains its excellent purification performance from real water samples (the Yellow River) measured by a three-dimensional fluorescence spectrometer. The results of biological toxicity show that the purified water recovered by the SDIE method effectively reduced the phytotoxicity of TC. With its straightforward and scalable manufacturing process, our CS-CMPsHM demonstrates promising potential as advanced photothermal materials for the treatment of various pollutants using SDIE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevention of surgery-induced intraarticular fibrosis remains a challenge following orthopedic surgery. Homoharringtonine (HHT) has been reported to have positive effects in preventing various kinds of fibrosis. However, little is known regarding its effect as well as the potential mechanism of HHT in preventing surgery-induced intraarticular fibrosis. Methods: Various concentrations of HHTs were locally applied in vivo to reduce knee intraarticular fibrosis in rabbits. Histological macroscopic assessments such as hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, Masson's trichrome staining, and Picric-sirius red polarized light were used to evaluate the effect of HHT in reducing intraarticular fibrosis. CCK-8, cell cycle assay, and EdU incorporation assay were used in vitro to detect HHT's effect on inhibiting fibroblast viability and proliferation. The effect of HHT on fibroblast differentiation, extracellular matrix production, and apoptosis were evaluated by western blot, flow cytometry, immunofluorescent staining, and TUNEL analysis. Moreover, the expressions of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway were detected. Results: The results demonstrated that HHT could reduce the formation of intraarticular fibrosis. HHT was also found to induce fibroblast apoptotic cell death in a dose- and time-dependent manner in vitro. Moreover, HHT could effectively inhibit the production of the extracellular matrix secreted by fibroblasts and inhibited the expression of p-PI3K, p-AKT, and p-mTOR in a dose-dependent manner. After treating with insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), an activator of the PI3K/AKT axis, the expressions of pro-apoptosis-related proteins were decreased, and the fibroblast apoptosis rate was also inhibited. Conclusions: In conclusion, this study demonstrated that HHT could reduce the formation of intraarticular fibrosis through the inhibition of fibroblast proliferation, extracellular matrix production, and the induction of fibroblast apoptotic cell death. Furthermore, its potential mechanism may be through the suppression of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Catalytic partial oxidation (CPOX) processing experimentally investigated to use Methane in SOFC. • Reynolds number effects on electrochemical performance of the SOFCs. • Carbon deposition prevented by utilizing oxygen with methane in favorable operating conditions. • Investigation of the carbon deposition through the NiO-YSZ anode by EDAX and SEM. The development of high-performance non-precious metal electrocatalysts is of great importance for construction of next generation fuel cells. Herein, we report for the first time the creation of new metal-free porous carbon framework catalysts derived from N -rich hypercrosslinked polymers (HCPs) using pyrrole as building blocks for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) (denoted as PCF-HCPs). The PCF-HCPs obtained at the pyrolysis temperature of 900 °C (PCF-HCP-900), displayed outstanding catalytic activity towards the ORR compared with other PCF-HCPs pyrolysis temperature. Due to PCF-HCP-900 with large specific surface, excellent porosity and, importantly, exposed active sites caused by N doping with high density, the catalysts exhibited outstanding ORR activity in alkaline medium, i.e., the PCF-HCP-900 yielded a half-wave potential of 0.84 V, which was 10 mV higher than that of the state of-the-art Pt/C catalyst (0.83 V), and onset potential of 0.95 V (vs. RHE), a high diffusion limiting current density of 4.8 mA cm−2, better methanol tolerance and long-term stability (2 mV negative shift after 3000 potential cycles) than commercial Pt/C. Furthermore, PCF-HCP-900 shows a favorable 4-electron transfer process (n ≈ 3.96) and lower H 2 O 2 yield. Based on these merits, the PCF-HCP-900 may open a new possibility for design of ORR metal-free catalyst of fuel-cell technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Drying stress repressed the expression of type VI secretion system (T6SS) in Cronobacter spp. • T6SS is negatively involved in desiccation tolerance of Cronobacter. • The repression of T6SS contributes to hyperosmolality development within the cytomembrane of C. malonaticus. Cronobacter malonaticus (C. malonaticus) is a food-borne pathogen inducing severe infections both in infants and adults, and it could survive in dry powdered infant formula (PIF) for a long time, implying its strong tolerance to desiccation. However, the thorough molecular mechanism of resistance to desiccation remains elusive. When C. malonaticus was exposed to desiccation conditions (7, 15, and 30 d), transcriptomic analysis provided a universal adaptation strategy to withstand desiccation with the increased compatible solutes accumulation, activated stress resistance-related regulators, suppressed protein export and bacterial secretion system, and reduced other unessential survival functions including adhesion, invasion, virulence, and flagellar motility. Importantly, type VI secretion system (T6SS) genes exhibited significantly downregulated expressions, as well as markedly increased survival and viability of their mutants after desiccation treatment, revealing the negative regulation of T6SS in desiccation tolerance. Meanwhile, the decreased expressions of T6SS structure genes in other six species further confirmed the vital role of T6SS in desiccation tolerance of Cronobacter spp. Thus, our studies present a novel hypothesis of desiccation resistance in Cronobacter based on type VI secretion system inhibition, causing the reduction of macromolecule secretion such as effectors and hyperosmolality development within the cytomembrane, which allow Cronobacter to survive in desiccation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Excessive fructose consumption is a risk factor for liver fibrosis. Pterostilbene protects against liver fibrosis. Here, we investigated the potential role and the mechanisms underlying the hepatocyte epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in fructose-induced liver fibrosis and protection by pterostilbene.Experimental Approach: Characteristic features of liver fibrosis in 10% fructose-fed rats and EMT in 5 mM fructose-exposed BRL-3A cells with or without pterostilbene and the change of miR-34a/Sirt1/p53 and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/Smads signalling were examined. MiR-34a inhibitor, miR-34a minic, or p53 siRNA were used to explore the role of miR-34a/Sirt1/p53 signalling in fructose-induced EMT and the action of pterostilbene.Key Results: Pterostilbene prevented fructose-induced liver injury with fibrosis in rats. Fructose caused hepatocyte undergoing EMT, gaining fibroblast-specific protein 1 and vimentin, and losing E-cadherin, effects attenuated by pterostilbene. Moreover, fructose induced miR-34a overexpression in hepatocytes with down-regulated Sirt1, increased p53 and ac-p53, and activated TGF-β1/Smads signalling, whereas these disturbances were suppressed by miR-34a inhibitor. Additionally, miR-34a inhibitor and p53 siRNA prevented TGF-β1-driven hepatocyte EMT under fructose exposure. Pterostilbene down-regulated miR-34a, up-regulated Sirt1, and suppressed p53 activation and TGF-β1/Smads signalling in fructose-stimulated animals and cells but showed no additional effects with miR-34a inhibitor on miR-34a/Sirt1/p53 signalling in fructose-exposed hepatocytes.Conclusions and Implications: These results strongly suggest that activation of miR-34a/Sirt1/p53 signalling is required for fructose-induced hepatocyte EMT mediated by TGF-β1/Smads signalling, contributing to liver fibrosis in rats. Pterostilbene exhibits a protective effect against liver fibrosis at least partly through inhibiting miR-34a/Sirt1/p53 signalling activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A ultralow noise magnetic field is essential for many branches of scientific research. Examples include experiments conducted on ultracold atoms, quantum simulations, and precision measurements. In ultracold atom experiments specifically, a bias magnetic field will often serve as a quantization axis and be applied for Zeeman splitting. As atomic states are usually sensitive to magnetic fields, a magnetic field characterized by ultralow noise as well as high stability is typically required for experimentation. For this study, a bias magnetic field is successfully stabilized at 14.5 G, with the root mean square value of the noise reduced to 18.5 μG (1.28 ppm) by placing μ-metal magnetic shields together with a dynamical feedback circuit. Long-time instability is also regulated consistently below 7 μG. The level of noise exhibited in the bias magnetic field is further confirmed by evaluating the coherence time of a Bose-Einstein condensate characterized by Rabi oscillation. It is concluded that this approach can be applied to other physical systems as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Five toxic aldehydes were eliminated after gastrointestinal digestion of proteins. • Released cysteine contributed greatly to their elimination via adduct formation. • The formation of adduct between cysteine and GO, MGO and ACR significantly decreased their cytotoxicity toward Caco-2 cells. Abstract Acrolein (ACR), glyoxal (GO), methylglyoxal (MGO), hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), and malondialdehyde (MDA) are toxic contaminants for humans. This work aimed to investigate whether intake of proteins can mitigate their toxicity. Simulated gastrointestinal digestion of proteins from pork, chicken, milk powder and soy protein isolate eliminated amount of ACR, GO, MGO, HMF, and MDA. Among six amino acids, cysteine showed highest capacity for elimination of these toxic compounds through the formation of adducts; it reached the highest elimination capacity for GO, MGO, ACR, MDA, and HMF in 40 min at pH 2.0, and 20 min at pH 7.0. The formed adducts between cysteine and GO, MGO, or ACR showed much lower toxicity against Caco-2 cells. Incubation of the cells with 8 mM GO and MGO for 48 h decreased the cell viability to 16.1%, 16.9% respectively; while incubation of the same concentration of their adducts still kept the cell viability at 82.2% and 81.6% respectively. Cysteine showed much higher detoxifying capacity for ACR than GO and MGO, which can lower the toxicity of ACR toward Caco-2 cells by 80 times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presence of Cronobacter malonaticus in powdered infant formula (PIF) poses a high risk to infant and public health. Cronobacter malonaticus has been widely distributed in food and food processing environments, and the true origin of C. malonaticus in PIF is poorly understood. Control and prevention of C. malonaticus is necessary for achieving microbial safety of PIF. However, little information about decontamination of C. malonaticus is available. In this study, effects of hydrogen peroxide on inactivation and morphological changes of C. malonaticus cells were determined. Furthermore, inhibitory effects of H2O2 on biofilm formation in C. malonaticus were also performed. Results indicated that H2O2 could completely inactivate C. malonaticus in sterile water with 0.06% H2O2 for 25 min, 0.08% H2O2 for 15 min, and 0.10% for 10 min, respectively, whereas the survival rates of C. malonaticus in tryptic soy broth medium significantly increased with the same treatment time and concentration of H2O2. In addition, morphological changes of C. malonaticus cells, including cell shrinkage, disruption of cells, cell intercession, and leakage of intercellular material in sterile water after H2O2 treatment, were more predominant than those in tryptic soy broth. Finally, significant reduction in biofilm formation by H2O2 was found using crystal violet staining, scanning electron microscopy, and confocal laser scanning microscopy detection compared with control samples. This is the first report to determine the effects of H2O2 on C. malonaticus cells and biofilm formation. The findings provided valuable information for practical application of H2O2 for decontamination of C. malonaticus in dairy processing [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flavoprotein monooxygenases (FPMOs) play important roles in generating structural complexity and diversity in natural products biosynthesized by type II polyketide synthases (PKSs). In this study, we used genome mining to discover novel mutaxanthene analogues and investigated the biosynthesis of these aromatic polyketides and their unusual xanthene framework. We determined the complete biosynthetic pathway of mutaxathene through in vivo gene deletion and in vitro biochemical experiments. We show that a multifunctional FPMO, MtxO4, catalyzes ring rearrangement and generates the required xanthene ring through a multistep transformation. In addition, we successfully obtained all necessary enzymes for in vitro reconstitution and completed the total biosynthesis of mutaxanthene in a stepwise manner. Our results revealed the formation of a rare xanthene ring in type II polyketide biosynthesis, and demonstrate the potential of using total biosynthesis for the discovery of natural products synthesized by type II PKSs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flavoprotein monooxygenases (FPMOs) play important roles in generating structural complexity and diversity in natural products biosynthesized by type II polyketide synthases (PKSs). In this study, we used genome mining to discover novel mutaxanthene analogues and investigated the biosynthesis of these aromatic polyketides and their unusual xanthene framework. We determined the complete biosynthetic pathway of mutaxathene through in vivo gene deletion and in vitro biochemical experiments. We show that a multifunctional FPMO, MtxO4, catalyzes ring rearrangement and generates the required xanthene ring through a multistep transformation. In addition, we successfully obtained all necessary enzymes for in vitro reconstitution and completed the total biosynthesis of mutaxanthene in a stepwise manner. Our results revealed the formation of a rare xanthene ring in type II polyketide biosynthesis, and demonstrate the potential of using total biosynthesis for the discovery of natural products synthesized by type II PKSs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]