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This study highlights the necessity of drawing more attention to core-technology competence, a specific dimension of firm innovation competence, when examining the overall supplier concentration-innovation relationship to respond to the unprecedented challenges in the supply chain and technological advancement. Still, the mechanism of strategic aggressiveness and the conditioning role of environmental uncertainty are not well explored in this concern. Therefore, it is necessary to combine these factors to analyse. Using the data from Chinese manufacturing firms from 2012 to 2020 and based on resource dependence theory, we construct a panel data model to conduct empirical analysis and obtain the following results: supplier concentration can hinder firms’ core-technology competence; supplier concentration would constrain firms’ strategic aggressiveness, subsequently impairing core-technology competence; while supplier concentration can limit strategic aggressiveness, high environmental uncertainty can mitigate these negative effects. The findings are beneficial for firms to cope with current challenges and enhance core-technology competence based on the global supply chain crisis and environmental uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Independent innovation emphasizes the self-reliance and control of all key links. Slack resources within an organization, especially for innovation, are the critical resources that are controllable for independent innovation. However, existing research still lacks evidence on the areas of slack innovation resources and independent innovation for deeper exploration. This research addresses this gap by providing an empirical analysis of the relationship between R&D human resource slack and firms' independent innovation. Based on the unbalanced panel data of China's listed manufacturing firms for eleven years, this research explores the effects of R&D human resource slack on firms' independent innovation, the mediating mechanism of technological diversification, and the boundary effects of top management team functional heterogeneity. The results reveal that R&D human resource slack positively affects firms' independent innovation; R&D human resource slack can promote firms' independent innovation through related technological diversification, while the mediating effect of unrelated technological diversification is not statistically significant; the top management team functional heterogeneity strengthens the positive impact of R&D human resource slack on firm independent innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The degradation of tilmicosin (TLM), a semi-synthetic 16-membered macrolide antibiotic, has been receiving increasing attention. Conventionally, there are three tilmicosin degradation methods, and among them microbial degradation is considered the best due to its high efficiency, eco-friendliness, and low cost. Coincidently, we found a new strain, Glutamicibacter nicotianae sp. AT6, capable of degrading high-concentration TLM at 100 mg/L with a 97% removal efficiency. The role of tryptone was as well investigated, and the results revealed that the loading of tryptone had a significant influence on TLM removals. The toxicity assessment indicated that strain AT6 could efficiently convert TLM into less-toxic substances. Based on the identified intermediates, the degradation of TLM by AT6 processing through two distinct pathways was then proposed. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boron nitride (BN) is a commonly used pressure-transmitting material in experimental petrology. It is often considered to be as inert as MgO or Al2O3, and its redox potential is seldomly discussed. It is generally implied that, when used as a capsule sleeve, BN may impose relatively reduced conditions, similar to the effect of the fayalite-magnetite-quartz (FMQ) buffer. However, sediment melting experiments performed at 1050 °C and 3 GPa with BN as the capsule sleeve, produced a hydrous rhyolitic melt with dissolved H2S and CH4 (Li et al. 2021). The resulting fO2 estimate is significantly more reduced than that for the magnetite-wüstite (MW)-buffered experiment where H2S and CH4 were undetected (Li et al. 2021), possibly to the extent of the quartz-iron-fayalite (QIF) buffered conditions produced when BN is used as a capsule or crucible (Wendlandt et al. 1982). To establish an explanation for such a discrepancy, we have conducted further investigation to better constrain the fO2 imposed by BN, when used as a capsule sleeve. Here we report results on analyses of Fe content in Au capsules, a comparative experiment using a QIF buffer and an experiment with an Fe-(Mg,Fe) O sensor for direct analysis of fO2. The calibration of the equilibrium between FeO in melt and Fe in the Au capsule, from Ratajeski and Sisson (1999) appears to be inadequate in constraining fO2 for our experiments. However, we were able to obtain Fe diffusion coefficients in Au from the Fe diffusion profiles observed in the capsule of the Fe-(Mg,Fe)O sensor experiment, and both the inner and outer capsules of the MW-buffered experiment, with resulting values of 1 × 10–13 m2/s, 3 × 10–14 m2/s, and 5 × 10–14 m2/s, respectively. The QIF-buffered and Fe-(Mg,Fe)O sensor experiments provide several lines of evidence supporting the observation that BN imposes QIF-like redox conditions. First, the Fe-(Mg,Fe)O sensor returned an fO2 value of QIF. Second, the "apparent" partition coefficients between FeO content in melt and Fe in the Au capsules are similar between the BN experiment and the QIF-buffered experiment. Third, we observe CH4 and H2O peaks with similar intensities in the Raman spectra of melts from these two experiments, suggesting similar H2 and thus O2 fugacity. As our experiments were performed on a cubic press with the experimental assembly encased in a pyrophyllite cube, we interpret that the significantly reduced conditions imposed by BN are likely due to high H2O activity maintained by dehydration of pyrophyllite, which can be explained using the reaction 2BN + 3H2O = B2O3 + N2 + 3H2. Lower H2O activity will reduce or inhibit the oxidation of BN and its fO2 buffering ability. If heat-treated, BN acts as a highly efficient H2 barrier, as shown by Truckenbrodt et al. (1997). Through our efforts to determine the fO2 imposed by using BN as a capsule sleeve in our experimental assembly, we are able to demonstrate the reducing ability of BN as an assembly component and, furthermore, shed light on the process by which BN imposes such reduced fO2. We hereby present what we have learned during the course of this investigation in the hope that the effect of BN on fO2 control is both recognized and further exploited in future experimental studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Death feigning is an important anti-predator behavior for insects and it plays a significant role in improving escape and survival rates. In previous studies, the death-feigning behavior was described for Eucryptorrhynchus scrobiculatus (ESCR) and E. brandti (EBRA), but the specific changes in behavior were not documented in detail. A high-speed video was used to record the instantaneous positional changes of the death-feigning and "arousal" (the behavioral state following death-feigning). After mechanical stimulation, the antennae of ESCR and EBRA compressed and the legs moved. Then the rostrum and legs continued to contract and the appendages of the body, finally inducing death feigning. In contrast, in arousal the rostrum usually began to extend slowly at first along with the legs, then the antennae and the legs continued to extend. There were two other less frequent patterns of arousal, in which the rostrum and antennae were not extended simultaneously with the legs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This paper investigates the surge speed tracking control of an autonomous surface vehicle (ASV) subject to fully unknown internal dynamic, external disturbance, and unknown control input gain. An adaptive anti‐disturbance sampling control method is proposed for an ASV without using any model parameters. Specifically, by utilizing real‐time and historical data, discrete‐time reduced‐order and full‐order concurrent learning extended state observers (CLESOs) are designed to estimate the unknown ASV model parameters and ensure estimation convergence without requiring persistent excitation. Then, a surge speed tracking control law is designed based on the discrete‐time full‐order CLESO. Through Lyapunov stability analysis, the closed‐loop system is proven to be stable, and the estimation and tracking errors are bounded. Simulation and hardware‐in‐loop experimental results validate the effectiveness of the proposed discrete‐time CLESOs for the surge speed tracking of an ASV with fully unknown dynamic model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hair follicle-derived mesenchymal stem cell (HF-MSC)-based therapies protect against acute pancreatitis (AP). However, accumulating evidence suggests that MSC-based therapy mainly involves the secretion of MSC-derived small extracellular vesicles (MSC-sEVs) through paracrine effects. Thus, the present research investigated the therapeutic effect of HF-MSC-sEVs in AP and the underlying mechanisms. SEVs were purified from cultured HF-MSC supernatant. The effects of sEVs in vitro were analyzed on caerulein-simulated pancreatic acinar cells (PACs). The therapeutic potential of sEVs in vivo was examined in a caerulein-induced AP model. The organ distribution of sEVs in mice was determined by near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging. Serum specimens and pancreatic tissues were collected to analyze the inhibition of inflammation and pyroptosis in vivo, as well as the appropriate infusion route: intraperitoneal (i.p.) or intravenous (i.v.) injection. HF-MSC-sEVs were taken up by PACs and improved cell viability in vitro. In vivo, sEVs were abundant in the pancreas, and the indicators of pancreatitis, including amylase, lipase, the inflammatory response, myeloperoxidase (MPO) expression and histopathology scores, in sEV-treated mice were markedly improved compared with those in the AP group, especially via tail vein injection. Furthermore, we revealed that sEVs observably downregulated the levels of crucial pyroptosis proteins in both PACs and AP tissue. We innovatively demonstrated that HF-MSC-sEVs could alleviate inflammation and pyroptosis in PACs in AP, suggesting a refreshing cell-free remedy for AP. [Display omitted] • Inflammasome NLRP3 mediated pyroptosis occurs widely in acute pancreatitis. • HF-MSC-sEVs can reduce the severity of acute pancreatitis. • HF-MSC-sEVs may attenuate AP by inhibiting PACs pyroptosis. • More accessible and less damaging HF-MSC-sEVs hold promise as a novel remedy for AP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate the distributed output tracking problem for high-order nonlinear multi-agent systems (MASs) with unknown time-varying powers. For one leader case, by using the algebra graph theory and adding a power integrator, the distributed tracking control law is successfully designed to achieve that the tracking errors can be adjusted to be arbitrarily small, while ensuring that all the signals of the closed-loop system are bounded. Then we extend this result to the case of multiple leaders and solve the containment tracking problem, the designed distributed nonlinear controller can guarantee that the followers' outputs of the systems eventually converge to a limit point in the convex hull spanned by the leaders' outputs. Finally, two simulation examples are used to illustrate the effectiveness of the designed schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aims to establish normal reference values of peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) for cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in Chinese adults using cardiorespiratory exercise testing (CPET). Methods: A cross-sectional study was done in four communities, two in the North (Beijing) and two in the South (Hezhou, Guangxi) of China from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2018, with one urban and one rural in each region. Out of 1642 participants screened, 1114 were eligible and completed CPET using a cycle ergometer (Ergosana320F) without abnormal ECG and were included in the analysis. The 2nd and 98th percentiles of V · O2peak were used as the lower and upper limits of the normal reference values. Results: Significant difference in mean V · O2peak was shown between men (27.0 mL·min−1·kg−1) and women (23.7 mL·min−1·kg−1). The mean V · O2peak decreased with age in both sexes, from 35.8 mL·min−1·kg−1 in age 20–29 years to 20.5 mL·min−1·kg−1 in 70–79 years in men and from 29.2 mL·min−1·kg−1 to 17.0 mL·min−1·kg−1 in women. Thus, the age- and sex-specific normal reference values of V · O2peak were presented for each 10-year age group by men and women separately. Conclusions: This first community-based study in China provides age- and sex-specific normal references of V · O2peak as a measure of CRF in Chinese adults, which differed significantly from those established in Western populations. Future studies with national representative samples should be warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research objective of this paper is to address the tracking control problem of high-order discrete-time nonlinear systems in the presence of completely unknown internal uncertainties, unknown external disturbances, and unknown control input gain. To address this challenge, the paper proposes a high-order discrete-time model-free anti-disturbance tracking control method without relying on prior knowledge of system parameters. The core of the approach is the development of a data-driven concurrent learning extended state observer. The uniqueness of this observer lies in its ability to estimate unknown control input gains without the persistent excitation and ensure the convergence of the estimates. Based on the concurrent learning extended state observer, a high-order discrete-time tracking control law is designed to precisely track the reference signal, ensuring the stability of the nonlinear closed-loop system. The effectiveness of this method was verified by applying simulation verification to the heading tracking control of surface automatic vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modeling the effect of H 2 O on the "sulfur content at sulfide saturation" (SCSS) in silicate melt is essential for the estimation of SCSS in both arc magmas and slab melts. Here we present a thermodynamic approach, in which, SCSS in hydrous silicate melt has been modeled as a combination of S dissolving as S2− and HS−/H 2 S, based on the sulfide capacity (C S2−) and the hydro-sulfide capacity (C HS), respectively. By adopting the thermodynamic framework of O'Neill and Mavrogenes (2002), S dissolution as HS−/H 2 S can be modeled in an analogous fashion to that for modeling S2− in anhydrous melt with the relation: ln H S SCSS = - Δ G ° Fes - F e O / R T + l n C HS - l n a FeO melt + l n a FeS sulfide . To obtain an expression for C HS , we compiled published experimental data on SCSS in hydrous silicate melts covering a PT range of 0.15–3 GPa and 785–1600 °C, and melt H 2 O contents of ∼1–13 wt%. While the contribution of S dissolving as S2− in basaltic and andesitic melts can be calculated based on the updated SCSS model for anhydrous basic melt from O'Neill (2021) , S2− is considered negligible in rhyolitic and dacitic melts, i.e., when melt FeO content <∼5 wt%. We propose an expression for C HS as a function of temperature, mole fractions of cations for the normalized anhydrous melt composition, ln(X OH + X H2O), and a Na + K-Al term for alkaline-enriched rhyolitic melts. The coefficients for cation mole fractions are adopted from the expression for C S2− from O'Neill (2021) ; the coefficients for the 1/ T and Na + K-Al terms are obtained from regression. The reproducibility of compiled SCSS values is ±50% for hydrous rhyolitic and dacitic melts, and ±10–30% for hydrous basaltic and andesitic melts, representing a significant improvement in comparison to previous models. Our model produces SCSS values for the primitive arc magmas compiled by Ruscitto et al. (2012) , that are in most cases higher than the measured S contents, implying sulfide under-saturated conditions during mantle wedge melting. The contribution of H 2 S dissolution to the calculated SCSS values varies in a range of 70–1234 ppm, which increases with the increase of H 2 O content (0.3–6.2 wt%). H 2 S dissolution therefore contributes to the higher S content in arc basalt compared to MORB, an observation which is further corroborated by the positive correlation between H 2 O and S contents in primitive arc magmas. Applying our current model to experimentally produced sediment melts spanning a PT range of 690–1050 °C and 2.5–4.5 GPa, demonstrates that sediment melts, especially those of intermediate supercritical character with >25 wt% H 2 O and peralkaline in composition, can have high SCSS values as a result of H 2 S dissolution, and act as the transfer medium for S recycling between the slab and mantle wedge under reduced conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To investigate the potential pharmacological value of extracts from honeysuckle on patients with mild coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Methods. The active components and targets of honeysuckle were screened by Traditional Chinese Medicine Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP). SwissADME and pkCSM databases predict pharmacokinetics of ingredients. The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database collected transcriptome data for mild COVID-19. Data quality control, differentially expressed gene (DEG) identification, enrichment analysis, and correlation analysis were implemented by R toolkit. CIBERSORT evaluated the infiltration of 22 immune cells. Results. The seven active ingredients of honeysuckle had good oral absorption and medicinal properties. Both the active ingredient targets of honeysuckle and differentially expressed genes of mild COVID-19 were significantly enriched in immune signaling pathways. There were five overlapping immunosignature genes, among which RELA and MAP3K7 expressions were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Finally, immune cell infiltration and correlation analysis showed that RELA, MAP3K7, and natural killer (NK) cell are with highly positive correlation and highly negatively correlated with hematopoietic stem cells. Conclusion. Our analysis suggested that honeysuckle extract had a safe and effective protective effect against mild COVID-19 by regulating a complex molecular network. The main mechanism was related to the proportion of infiltration between NK cells and hematopoietic stem cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gene editing technology based on CRISPR/cas9 system has a pivotal application prospect in promoting the genetic improvement of economic traits of aquaculture animals, and has been widely used in the genetic improvement of various aquatic animals. The captivating coloration and intricate color patterns in ornamental fish are vital phenotypic traits that directly influence their economic and aesthetic value. Goldfish (Carassius auratus), regarded as one of the world's earliest ornamental fish, has garnered significant attention from researchers due to its diverse range of color patterns and unique morphological variations. Tyr osinase (tyr) serves as the rate-limiting enzyme in the enzymatic cascade responsible for melanin biosynthesis. In our study, we have successfully developed a highly efficient and precise genome editing technology for Carassius auratus tyr osinase (tyr), resulting in the creation of a strikingly golden goldfish. The duplicated tyr genes (tyrA and tyrB) were first identified in C. auratus , and the CRISPR/Cas9 was used to disrupt both tyr genes. The edited albino mutants displayed a complete absence of melanocytes in both their eyes and body surface, whereas mosaic mutants exhibited varying degrees of melanin reduction. Notably, disrupting only tyrA or tyrB failed to yield a reduction in melanin content. The whole-genome resequencing was employed to comprehensively screen the off-target sites in the mutant individuals at the genome-wide scale. The results revealed that the absence of off-target mutations in the predicted location, which exhibited sequence similarity to the target sites. Our findings underscored the indispensable role of tyr genes in melanin synthesis within goldfish, while also demonstrating the remarkable efficiency and accuracy of the CRISPR/Cas9 editing system in generating novel phenotypes in fish. This bright golden goldfish represented a captivating addition to the realm of ornamental fish strains and provided valuable insights into the regulation of color patterning and the potential for gene-editing breeding in fish for future research. • The tyr knockout individuals displayed a bright golden body coloration and vivid red eyes. • Knocking out either of the two tyr genes alone was not able to destroy the melanin formation. • The whole-genome resequencing suggested that the absence of off-target mutations in the predicted location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Death feigning is an adaptive defence strategy that improves survival rates, often by decreasing predation risk. Although death-feigning behavior has been documented in many animals, the study on insects has gradually attracted more focus. Previous study reported two weevil species—Eucryptorrhynchus scrobiculatus (ESCR) and E. brandti (EBRA)—considered forestry pests, and exhibited death-feigning behavior. To examine the trade-off between the particular anti-predator behaviors and prey fitness, we endeavoured to experimentally determine how temporal (age), activity, and diurnal rhythm may affect death-feigning duration. We found that the death-feigning duration was gradually increased and then decreased with the increased age, and the variation appeared on 5 days. The death-feigning duration during the day (the zeitgeber time, ZT12) was shorter than during the night (the zeitgeber time, ZT5 and ZT24) for both species. However, ESCR weevils with lower locomotor activity displayed longer death-feigning durations. The significant correlations between age, activity, diurnal rhythm, and death feigning would provide the timescale when death-feigning pests were likely to be caught by natural enemies, which help us fully understand the behavioral rhythm to develop novel methods of biological pest control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicine food homologous (MFH) plants provide therapeutic and health care effects through diet. Thus, a risk assessment system for hazardous ingredient residues is urgently required to ensure their safe use. In this study, the pesticide contamination of six root and rhizome Chinese herbs, Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Panacis Quinquefolii Radix, Pseudostellariae Radix, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Codonopsis Radix, and Glehniae Radix, and the risks associated with their intake were investigated. A total of 420 MFH plant samples collected from 22 provinces in China were tested, and 61 pesticides were detected in 413 samples. Multiple pesticide residues were detected in each MFH sample, with contents ranging from 0.0002 to 3.010 mg/kg dry weight. Carbendazim (≥47.14%) and propham (≥40%) were the most frequently detected pesticides. Risk assessment determined by hazard quotients indicated that the risks were acceptable, with no short‐ or long‐term adverse health effects. However, considering the high incidence of residues and the detection of unregistered or even prohibited pesticides, strict supervision of soil quality and pesticide application (particularly cadusafos) in MFH plant cultivation are recommended to aid in monitoring MFH plant quality and ensuring diet and drug safety. Practical Application: Ensure the diet and drug safety of Chinese herbs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aroma is a key grain quality trait that directly influences the market price of rice globally. Loss of function of betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (OsBADH2) affects the biosynthesis of 2‐acetyl‐1‐pyrroline (2‐AP), which is responsible for aroma in fragrant rice. The current study was aimed at creating new alleles of BADH2 using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology under the genetic background of the japonica Ningjing 1 (NJ1) and indica Huang Huazhan (HHZ) varieties. Sensory evaluation and analysis using headspace solid‐phase microextraction gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS‐SPME‐GC‐MS) showed that the grains of the four homozygous T1 lines with new alleles of BADH2 (nj1‐cr BADH2‐1, nj1‐cr BADH2‐2, hhz‐cr BADH2‐1 and hhz‐cr BADH2‐2) produced moderate fragrance and had significantly increased 2‐AP content compared with wild‐types. Moreover, there were no significant differences in the amylose content and gelatinization temperature among the four lines with new alleles of BADH2 to the wild‐types. Thereafter, we crossed the HHZ background new alleles of BADH2 with CMS line Taonong 1A (TN1A) to produce a three‐line hybrid variety B‐Tao‐You‐Xiangzhan (BTYXZ) with increased grain aroma. The 2‐AP content in grains of the improved BTYXZ‐1 and BTYXZ‐2 reached at 26.16 and 18.74 μg/kg, and the gel consistency of BTYXZ‐1 and BTYXZ‐2 increased significantly by 9.1% and 6.5%, respectively, compared with the wild‐type Tao‐You‐Xiangzhan (TYXZ). However, the γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) content in the improved three‐line hybrid rice BTYXZ‐1 (5.6 mg/100 g) and BTYXZ‐2 (10.7 mg/100 g) was significantly lower than that of the TYXZ. These results demonstrated that CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology could be successfully utilized in improving aroma in non‐fragrant japonica and indica varieties. In addition, the newly developed BADH2 alleles provided important genetic resources for grain aroma improvement in three‐line hybrid rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf is the major photosynthesis organ and the key source of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain. Spotted leaf (spl) mutant is a kind of leaf lesion mimic mutants (LMMs) in plants, which is an ideal material for studying the mechanisms of leaf development. In this study, we report the leaf abnormal development molecular mechanism of a spl mutant named white stripe leaf (wsl) derived from wheat cultivar Guomai 301 (WT). Histochemical observation indicated that the leaf mesophyll cells of the wsl were destroyed in the necrosis regions. To explore the molecular regulatory network of the leaf development in mutant wsl, we employed transcriptome analysis, histochemistry, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and observations of the key metabolites and photosynthesis parameters. Compared to WT, the expressions of the chlorophyll synthesis and photosynthesis-related homeotic genes were repressed; many genes in the WRKY transcription factor (TF) families were highly expressed; the salicylic acid (SA) and Ca2+ signal transductions were enhanced in wsl. Both the chlorophyll contents and the photosynthesis rate were lower in wsl. The contents of SA and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were significantly higher, and the leaf rust resistance was enhanced in wsl. Based on the experimental data, a primary molecular regulatory model for leaf development in wsl was established. The results indicated that the SA accumulation and enhanced Ca2+ signaling led to programmed cell death (PCD), and ultimately resulted in spontaneous leaf necrosis of wsl. These results laid a solid foundation for further research on the molecular mechanism of leaf development in wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The characteristics of bone metabolism in T2DM are still controversial. This study aims to recognize bone turnover features in patients with newly diagnosed T2DM who have never been treated with anti‐diabetic drugs and further explore the possible factors contributing to their impaired bone turnover. Materials and Methods: An analytic sample of 88 patients with newly diagnosed T2DM and 152 non‐diabetic control individuals were studied. All the participants were postmenopausal women. Demographics variables and clinical history were recorded. We measured lipid profile, glucose metabolism, bone turnover markers indices as well as their related hormones, serum calcium and phosphorus. Bone mineral density was detected by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry. We compared the differences in bone turnover markers and their regulating hormones between two groups and further analysed the factors related to bone turnover in T2DM. Results: Compared with the control group, patients with T2DM had a higher level of bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP), lower levels of procollagen type I intact N‐terminal (P1NP), osteocalcin (OC) and parathyroid hormone (PTH). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that in patients with T2DM, HbA1c was negatively correlated with P1NP and OC. For patients without diabetes, HbA1c was negatively related to BALP and OC. Conclusions: Patients with newly diagnosed T2DM may have impaired osteoblastic maturation and bone formation, which may be mainly attributed to hyperglycaemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the adaptation stage of CRISPR-Cas systems, the Cas1–Cas2 integrase captures and integrates new invader-derived spacers into the CRISPR locus, serving as a molecular memory of prior infection. As of yet, the structural information of Cas1–Cas2 complex is available only for two species. Here we present the crystal structure of Cas1–Cas2 complex of Pyrococcus furiosus , which showed a distinct architecture from the known Cas1–Cas2 complexes. The shorter C-terminal tail of Pfu Cas2 directs the Cas1 dimers go in the opposite direction, resulting in a different prespacer binding mode. Based on our structural and mutagenesis results, we modeled a prespacer with a shorter duplex and longer 3′ overhangs to bind Pfu Cas1–Cas2 complex. The prespacer preference was confirmed by EMSA, fluorescence polarization, and in vitro integration assays. This model provides a potential explanation for the longer spacer acquisition observed in P. furiosus when deleting both cas4 genes. Our study highlights the diversity of the CRISPR adaptation module. • Crystal structure of Pfu Cas1–Cas2 complex revealed a distinct architecture. • The distinct architecture resulted from the shorter C-terminal tail of Cas2. • We proposed a prespacer binding model to explain the Pfu longer spacer acquisition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• In hydrous rhyolitic melt, S is dissolved as H 2 S/HS− (reduced) or SO 4 2− (oxidized). • H 2 S and SO 2 dissolution in rhyolitic melt follows the Fincham-Richardson relationship. • SCSS in hydrous rhyolitic melt increases with decreasing f O 2. • Subducted sediment melts have high SCSS values when FeO contents are low. The relative enrichment of sulfur (S) observed in arc magmas when compared to MORB, reflects the addition of slab-derived S to the mantle wedge source region. However, the mechanisms and efficiency of such S recycling remain poorly constrained. In this study, sediment melting experiments have been conducted using a synthetic pelite starting composition containing ∼7 wt% H 2 O and ∼1.9 wt% S, at 3 GPa, 1050 °C and variable oxygen fugacity (f O 2) , to investigate the effect of f O 2 on S solubility in sediment melts. To assess temperature and concentration effects, selected experiments were repeated either at lower temperatures of 950 °C and 1000 °C, or with a higher bulk S content of ∼4 wt%. All experiments produced hydrous rhyolitic melts, saturated with either pyrrhotite under reduced conditions or anhydrite under oxidized conditions. For 3 GPa, 1050 °C experiments, the sulfur content at sulfide saturation (SCSS) in melt is found to increase with decreasing f O 2, from ∼200 ppm at FMQ-0.5 to ∼1900 ppm at FMQ-7.5. The highest S solubility is achieved at FMQ + 1.6 where melt is saturated with both anhydrite and pyrrhotite. The sulfur content at sulfate saturation (SCAS) decreases from ∼2600 ppm at FMQ + 1.6 to ∼2000 ppm at FMQ + 7. Increasing either bulk S content or temperature produces a positive effect on SCSS and SCAS. Raman spectra of our experimental melts show that S exists as H 2 S/HS− under reduced conditions and as SO 4 2− under oxidized conditions. The solubility minimum, i.e., the onset of transition from S2− to S6+ is estimated to occur at ∼FMQ, with full transition to S6+ by ∼FMQ + 2. While the SCAS values are in good agreement with previous reports, the distinct increase of SCSS with decreasing f O 2 (when f O 2 < FMQ) has not been observed in previous slab melting experiments. Furthermore, we report for the first time that dissolution of H 2 S and SO 2 in hydrous rhyolitic melt follows the Fincham-Richardson relationship; and propose the definition of a hydro-sulfide capacity as C HS = [HS]*(f O 2 / f S 2)1/2; where [HS] is the concentration of S in melt (in ppm) dissolved as HS− and H 2 S. SCSS for H 2 S dissolution can therefore be modeled using C HS in an analogous fashion to modeling SCSS for anhydrous melts using the sulfide capacity (C S2−), with the relation ln [ HS ] SCSS = - Δ G Fes - FeO ° / R T + ln C HS - ln a FeO melt + ln a FeS sulfide. As predicted by such a model framework, we indeed observe a linear correlation between logSCSS and log X FeO (the mole fraction of FeO in melt) with a slope close to −1, i.e., SCSS experiences a sharp increase when FeO in melt falls below 1 wt%. Therefore, both our experimental results and model predictions suggest hydrous low-Fe rhyolitic melt produced by sediment melting under reduced conditions has the required S solubility to account for the relative enrichment of S observed in arc magmas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic technology is a widely used water treatment method, whose efficiency can be increased by developing a suitable photocatalyst fabrication procedure. In this study, five different synthesis methods were utilised for the preparation of novel ZnO/sepiolite photolytic composites, namely, sol-gel method, hydrothermal reduction, hydrolytic precipitation, powder sintering, and impregnation-reduction. The obtained photocatalysts were characterised by scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The differences between the applied photocatalyst preparation methods and the reasons for these differences were discussed, and the photocatalytic activities of the prepared composite materials were compared. The obtained results revealed that the physical structure, chemical properties, and photocatalytic performance of the composite produced by the sol-gel method were superior to those of the materials fabricated by the other four methods. Moreover, this material also exhibited high photocatalytic stability, while its photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye proceeded via a quasi-first-order reaction. The prepared composites have broad application prospects in photocatalysis and can be potentially used for treating environmental pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the adaptive output tracking problem for a class of high-order stochastic nonlinear systems with unknown time-varying powers and nonlinear parameterized uncertainties. By using the parameter separation technique and adding a power integrator design method, an adaptive controller with upper and lower bounds of the unknown time-varying power is successfully designed to guarantee that all the states of the closed-loop system are bounded in probability and the output tracking error can be regulated into a small neighborhood of the origin in probability. Finally, a simulation example is provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the designed controllers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) , the most productive economical bivalve mollusc, is identified as an attractive model for developmental studies due to its classical mosaic developmental pattern. Myosin heavy chain is a structural and functional component of myosin, the key muscle protein of thick filament. Here, full length cDNA of striated myosin heavy chains in C. gigas (CgSmhc) was obtained, and the expression profiles were examined in different development stage. CgSmhc had a high expression level in trochophore and D-shaped stage during embryo-larval stage. In adult, CgSmhc was a muscle-specific gene and primarily expressed in muscle tissues. Then, activity of 5′ flanking region of CgSmhc were examined through an reconstructed EGFP vector. The results indicated that 3098 bp 5′-flanking region of CgSmhc owned various conserved binding sites of myogenesis-related regulatory elements, and the 2000 bp 5′-flanking sequence was sufficient to induce the CgSmhc expression. Subsequently, the CRISPR/Cas9-mediated target disruption of CgSmhc was generated by co-injection of Cas9mRNA and CgSmhc-sgRNAs into one-cell stage embryos of C. gigas. Loss of CgSmhc had a visible effect on the sarcomeric organization of thin filaments in larval musculature, indicating that CgSmhc was required during larval myogenesis to regulate the correct assembly of sarcomere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review presents a summary of recent progress in research on the N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification and regulatory roles in hepatic lipid metabolism. As the most abundant internal modification of eukaryotic RNA, the m6A modification is a dynamic and reversible process of the m6A enzyme system, which includes writers, erasers, and readers. m6A methylation depressed lipid synthesis and facilitated lipolysis in liver. The depletion of m6A methyltransferase Mettl14/Mettl3 raised fatty acid synthase (FAS), stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), and elongase of very long chain fatty acids 6 (ELOVL6) in rodent liver, causing increases in liver weight, triglyceride (TG) production, and content in hepatocytes. FTO catalyzed m6A demethylation and the suppression m6A reader YTHDC2 promoted hepatocellular TG generation and hepatic steatosis in C57BL/6 mice through sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c) signaling pathway, which upregulated the lipogenic genes FAS, SCD1, ACC, recombinant acetyl coenzyme a carboxylase alpha, and cell death-inducing DNA fragmentation factor-like effector C (CIDEC). Furthermore, FTO overexpression did not only enhance mitochondrial fusion to impair mitochondrial function and lipid oxidation but also promoted lipid peroxidation, accompanied by excessive TG in hepatocytes and rodent liver. Elevated m6A modification potently suppressed hepatic lipid accumulation, while the shrinkage of m6A modification arose hepatic lipid deposition. These findings have highlighted the beneficial role of m6A RNA methylation in hepatic lipid metabolism, potentially protecting liver from lipid metabolic disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main challenge in the field of 3D biomimetic skin is to search for a suitable hydrogel matrix with good biocompatibility, appropriate mechanical property and inner porosity that can support the adhesion and proliferation of skin cells. In this study, photocurable chondroitin sulfate methacrylate (CSMA) and collagen methacrylate (CoLMA) synthesized from chondroitin sulfate (CS) and type I collagen I (CoL) in the dermal matrix were used to construct a photo-crosslinked dual-component CSMA-CoLMA hydrogel matrix. Due to the toughening effect of the dual-component, the CSMA-CoLMA hydrogel improved the intrinsic brittleness of the single-component CSMA hydrogel, presented good mechanical tunability. The average storage and elasticity modulus could reach 3.3 KPa and 30.3 KPa, respectively, which were close to those of natural skin. The CSMA-CoLMA hydrogel with a ratio of 8/6 showed suitable porous structure and good biocompatibility, supporting the adhesion and proliferation of skin cells. Furthermore, the expression of characteristic marker proteins was detected in the epidermal and dermal bi-layered models constructed with the hydrogel containing keratinocytes and fibroblasts. These results suggest that the dual-component CSMA-CoLMA hydrogel has promising potential as a matrix to construct 3D biomimetic skin. [Display omitted] • Photocurable chondroitin sulfate and collagen are first used for biomimetic skin. • Dual-component hydrogel presents a good mechanical tunability than single-component. • The mechanical property of the 8/6 ratio hydrogel is close to that of natural skin. • Dual-component hydrogel can support the adhesion and proliferation of skin cell. • Dual-component hydrogel can reconstitute the dermis and tortuous epidermal layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A new optimization framework that jointly optimizes the task assignment for AGVs and double yard cranes is proposed. • The proposed model solves the scheduling interference between the double yard cranes and considers the impact of AGV arrivals on the yard scheduling. • An exact branch-and-bound algorithm is used to assign tasks for double yard cranes and prune rules are used to accelerate the algorithm. • The assignment for the double yard cranes is based on the dual-cycle operations of QCs to improve the operation efficiency of double yard cranes. • Propositions are derived from the proposed model and algorithm, which accelerate the algorithm and give suggestions on how to assign tasks between the double yard cranes. Double yard cranes in one yard block refer to two yard cranes that run in different rails and can pass each other. They can both reach to the seaside and landside of the yard blocks. But interference between the double yard cranes occurs during picking up or putting down containers, which has to be solved when assigning tasks to the double yard cranes. AGVs assignment have also to be considered when scheduling yard cranes. This paper focuses on the integrated optimization of AGV and double yard cranes in automated container terminals, aiming to increase terminal efficiency through the coordination of multiple sub-operations. A mixed integer programming model is developed, which considers the interference of the double yard cranes. The objective is to minimize the completion time of all the tasks. To solve the problem, a branch and bound (B&B) based method is designed. Specifically, a heuristic algorithm is used to assign container tasks to AGVs, and B&B method is utilized to assign container tasks to double yard cranes. This paper derives pruning strategies and acceleration strategies based on model analysis to improve the efficiency of the algorithm. The effectiveness and validity of the proposed model and algorithm is verified through small-scale and large-scale experiments. Results are compared with that of commercial solver Gurobi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The increasing concentrations of SCCPs along altitude confirmed alpine condensation. • BCF of SCCPs were higher than other semivolatile organic compounds. • Lichens was a suitable atmospheric indicator of SCCPs in the Tibetan Plateau. Pristine alpine regions are ideal regions for investigating the long-range atmospheric transport and cold trapping effects of short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs). The concentrations and alpine condensation of SCCPs were investigated in lichen samples collected from the southeastern Tibetan Plateau. The concentrations of SCCPs ranged from 3098 to 6999 ng/g lipid weight (lw) and appeared to have an increasing trend with altitude. For congeners, C 10 dominated among all the congener groups. The different environmental behavior for different congener groups was closely related to their octanol-air partition coefficient (K oa). C 10 congeners showed an increasing trend with altitude, whereas C 13 congeners were negatively correlated with altitude. Volumetric bioconcentration factors (BCF) of SCCPs reached 8.71 in lichens, which were higher than other semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) such as organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD). These results suggested that SCCPs were prone to accumulate in the lichen from the air and provided evidence for the role of lichens as a suitable atmospheric indicator in the Tibetan Plateau. Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the quality of guidelines on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) instrument and identify concordance of different commendations. Materials and Methods: A systematic search was undertaken from inception to May 2018. Two reviewers independently selected the titles and abstracts. The guidelines included were assessed using the AGREE II instrument. The consistency of evaluations was calculated using intra-class correlation coefficients with 95% CI. Results: From 994 records, 7 guidelines were included. Most of guidelines got a moderate score of AGREE II. The highest median scores were achieved for scope and purpose and clarity and presentation (69.4%), while the lowest median scores across guidelines were for applicability (50.0%). Most of the nonpharmacologic management recommendations for IBS were similar. However, there also existed some differences on pharmacologic between different guidelines. Conclusions: The guidelines on IBS varied in quality and there were discrepancies about recommendations and recommendation grades. There is some space to improvement the quality of methodological rigor in development and reporting within clinical guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid breakthrough of electrochemical treatment of tumors, electric field (EF)-sensitive genes, previously rarely exploited, have become an emerging field recently. Here, we reported our work for the identification of EF-sensitive genes in lung cancer cells. The gene expression profile (GSE33845), in which the human lung cancer CL1-0 cells were treated with a direct current electric field (dcEF) (300 mV/mm) for 2 h, was retrieved from GEO database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were acquired, followed by Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway (KEGG) and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis. Hub genes were acquired and analyzed by various tools including the Human Protein Atlas, Kaplan-Meier analysis, Cytoscape, FunRich, Oncomine and cBioPortal. Subsequently, three-dimensional protein models of hub genes were modeled by Modeller 9.20 and Rosetta 3.9. Finally, a 100 ns molecular dynamics simulation for each hub protein was performed with GROMACS 2018.2. A total of 257 DEGs were acquired and analyzed by GO, KEGG and PPI. Then, 10 hub genes were obtained, and the signal pathway analysis showed that two inflammatory pathways were activated: the FoxO signaling pathway and the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway. The molecular dynamic analysis including RMSD and the radius of gyration hinted that the 3D structures of hub proteins were built. Overall, our work identified EF-sensitive genes in lung cancer cells and identified that the inflammatory state of tumor cells may be involved in the feedback mechanism of lung cancer cells in response to electric field stimulation. In addition, qualified three-dimensional protein models of hub genes were also constructed, which will be helpful in understanding the complex effects of dcEF on human lung cancer CL1-0 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In insects, death‐feigning is an effective defence strategy. Eucryptorrhynchus brandti, a major borer pest in China, has a weak flight ability and exhibits obvious death‐feigning behaviour when disturbed. Despite a large number of studies of its biological and ecological properties as well as control methods, the death‐feigning behaviour has not been specifically described. In laboratory conditions, we recorded the survival rate under starvation and feeding conditions and evaluated the effect of starvation on the duration and occurrence of death‐feigning. In a continuous experiment, we examined variation in the death‐feigning duration every day over 7 day. Then, we evaluated the effects of starvation for 3, 6 and 9 day in a non‐continuous experiment and further observed variation in the death‐feigning intensity. We found that starvation significantly affected the survival rate. Survival time was significantly longer in the starvation group than in the feeding group, and females had longer survival times than males (female: 14 day, male: 8 day). In the continuous experiment, starved E. brandti had the longest duration of death‐feigning at 2 day, followed by a significant decrease. In the non‐continuous experiment, the duration and proportion of death‐feigning decreased significantly as the duration of starvation increased and were significantly lower than feeding. These observations suggest that starvation is a non‐negligible factor in the death‐feigning behaviour of E. brandti adults, facilitating the interpretation of future ecological and behavioural data of thanatosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bipolar disorder (BPD) is a severe mental illness characterized by fluctuations in mood states, behaviors and energy levels. Growing evidence suggests that genes associated with specific illnesses tend to interact together and encode a tight protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, providing valuable information for understanding their pathogenesis. To gain insights into the genetic and physiological foundation of BPD, we conduct the physical PPI analysis of 184 BPD risk genes distilled from genome-wide association studies and exome sequencing studies. We have identified several hub genes (CAMK2A , HSP90AA1 and PLCG1) among those risk genes, and observed significant enrichment of the BPD risk genes in certain pathways such as calcium signaling, oxytocin signaling and circadian entrainment. Furthermore, while none of the 184 genetic risk genes are "well established" BPD drug targets, our PPI analysis showed that αCaMKII (encoded by CAMK2A) had direct physical PPIs with targets (HRH1 , SCN5A and CACNA1E) of clinically used anti-manic BPD drugs, such as carbamazepine. We thus speculated that αCaMKII might be involved in the cellular pharmacological actions of those drugs. Using cultured rat primary cortical neurons, we found that carbamazepine treatment induced phosphorylation of αCaMKII in dose-dependent manners. Intriguingly, previous study showed that CAMK2A heterozygous knockout (CAMK2A +/-) mice exhibited infradian oscillation of locomotor activities that can be rescued by carbamazepine. Our data, in combination with previous studies, provide convergent evidence for the involvement of CAMK2A in the risk of BPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we considered the existence of solutions to a discrete second-order resonance problem with eigenparameter-dependent boundary conditions. We first transformed the resonance problem into its corresponding equivalent system using the Lyapunov-Schmidt method. In addition, using Schauder's fixed-point theorem and the connectivity theories of the solution set of compact vector fields, we obtained the existence and multiplicity of solutions to the second-order discrete resonance problem with eigenparameter-dependent boundary conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder of the elderly for which there is no cure or disease-modifying therapy. Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress play a central role in dopaminergic neurodegeneration in PD. Therefore, antioxidants are considered a promising neuroprotective approach. In in vivo activity studies, 6-OHDA-induced oxidative stress in SH-SY5Y cells was established as a model of PD for cellular experiments. IIAVE (Ile–Ile–Ala–Val–Glu) was derived from Isochrysis zhanjiangensis octapeptide (IIAVEAGC), which has a small molecular weight. The structure and antioxidant activity of IIAVE were tested in a previous study and proved to have good antioxidant potential. In this study, the chemical properties of IIAVE were calculated using quantum chemical methods, including frontier molecular orbital (FMO), molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), natural population analysis (NPA), and global reactivity properties. The interaction of IIAVE with Bcl-2 and DJ-1 was investigated using the molecular docking method. The results showed that IIAVE promoted the activation of the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway and up-regulated the expression of the superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD-1) protein by inhibiting the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells. In addition, IIAVE inhibits ROS production and prevents 6-OHDA-induced oxidative damage by restoring mitochondrial membrane potential. Furthermore, IIAVE inhibited cell apoptosis by increasing the Bcl-2/Bax ratio and inhibiting the activation of Caspase-9 and Caspase-3. Thus, IIAVE may become a potential drug for the treatment and prevention of PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), outer deep vascular plexus (oDVP) was the emerging field, and the mechanisms of photoreceptor dysfunction remained to be explored. ODVP and photoreceptors were related, with oDVP being part of the supplier of oxygen and nutrients to photoreceptors, while their possible relationship in ROP was not clear. TGF-beta1 has been reported indispensable in oDVP development and altered in ROP patients and animal models. We hypothesized that the TGF-beta1 alteration in rat 50/10 oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) model contributed to oDVP malformation and exerted consequent effects on photoreceptor development. We first explored the profile of oDVP development in rat after birth and compared the expression of TGF-beta1 and pSMAD2/3 in Normoxia and OIR groups. Afterwards, the inhibitor of the pathway, LY364947, was used to establish the OIR, OIR+LY364947, Normoxia, and Normoxia+LY364947 groups. The oDVP and photoreceptor were examined by Isolectin B4 staining, western-blot of CD31 and Rho, and electron microscopy. ODVP sprouted at postnatal day 10 (D10) and reached the edge of retina at D14. The TGF-beta1/SMAD2/3 pathway was compromised during the critical period of oDVP development. The inhibitor simulated the oDVP retardation, pericyte, and photoreceptor malformation in the Normoxia+LY364947 group and might further compromise the development of oDVP and photoreceptor in the OIR+LY364947 group. The inhibition of the TGF-beta1/SMAD2/3 pathway indicated its critical role in oDVP malformation and photoreceptor damage, suggesting a possible therapeutic target of ROP treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate whether calcium supplement with or without other drugs could reduce the risk of preeclampsia and gestational hypertension based on existed evidence, and to clarify whether there is discrepant effect among different population and using different dose.Methods: PubMed, Cochrane library, and EMBASE database were searched. Two authors independently screened all records and extracted data. The meta-analysis was performed to calculate risk ratios and 95% CIs using random-effects models.Results: 27 studies, with 28 492 pregnant women were included. The results showed calcium supplement was associated with lower incidence of preeclampsia (RR 0.51, 95% CI: 0.40 to 0.64) and gestational hypertension (RR 0.70, 95% CI: 0.60 to 0.82). Sub-analyses revealed high-dose (1.2-2 g/day), moderate-dose (0.6-1.2 g/day), and low-dose (<0.6 g/day) of calcium supplement could reduce the risk of preeclampsia. For gestational hypertension, only high dose and moderate dose groups were associated with reducing the risk of gestational hypertension. However, we could draw a conclusion which does group was the most protective, as we were unable to directly compare the effects of different doses.Conclusions: This study indicated calcium supplementation might decrease the risk of preeclampsia and gestational hypertension. And results of subgroups analyses enhanced our confidence to the protective effect of calcium supplementation. However, further studies with direct comparison of different dose of calcium supplementation are needed to explore the ideal dose of calcium supplementation to prevent preeclampsia and gestational hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • We propose a novel chaos-based image encryption algorithm with the orbit perturbation and dynamic state variable selection mechanisms. • The two-dimensional logistic-adjusted-sine map is employed to do permutation and diffusion. • The proposed algorithm is highly sensitive to a slight difference in the plain and cipher images. • The proposed algorithm can resist known/chosen-plaintext attacks effectively. • The proposed algorithm provides excellent encryption performance in only one round. Abstract In this paper, we propose a novel chaos-based image encryption algorithm with the orbit perturbation and dynamic state variable selection mechanisms. The two-dimensional logistic-adjusted-sine map is employed to generate pseudo-random numbers. Using an auxiliary variable, the orbit of the chaotic map is perturbed continuously by the previously processed pixel and one of two state variables is selected to generate the keystream. Consequently, the keystream depends on not only the initial condition and control parameter of the chaotic map, but also on the information in the plain and cipher images, and thus, the algorithm is highly sensitive to both the images. A number of simulations were conducted to verify the effectiveness and security of the algorithm. Moreover, the proposed algorithm provides excellent encryption performance in only one round. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) is a sessile bivalve living in the intertidal zone. It has become an attractive model for developmental studies due to its metamorphic transition from a mobile planktonic larvae to a sessile adults. To determine the effect of metamorphosis on muscle development in oyster larvae, we characterized myogenesis during larval development and metamorphosis by phalloidin staining which labels filamentous actin filaments. Our data revealed a dynamic pattern of myogenesis during embryonic and larval development. It appears that simple "U-shaped" muscle ring first developed at the trochophore stage. This was followed by a more complex musculature including an anterior adductor, velum ventral retractors at the veliger stage, and the addition of posterior adductors and foot retractors at the veliger and pediveliger stages. During metamorphosis, muscle structures in the anterior adductor, velum retractors and ventral retractors were degenerated. At the same time, mantle and gill musculature appeared and became the primary muscle system in juveniles together with the posterior adductor. In addition, indirect immunofluorescence with the monoclonal antibody against C. gigas muscle proteins (myosin heavy chains (MYHC) and α-actinin) were used to monitor changes in the developing musculature at different larval stages. The immunofluorescence staining results of muscle proteins were consistent with phalloidin staining. The expression locations of two muscle proteins were similar and mainly located in larval velum retractor and adductor muscle. The α-actinin expression positions were located in Z -lined of velum striated retractors. Data from these studies provide a comprehensive description of myogenesis in C. gigas embryos and larvae. Moreover, our data showed that metamorphosis has a significant impact on remolding the musculature after transition from a mobile planktonic larvae to a sessile mollusk, associated with certain muscle group degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, phenol-formaldehyde resin-coupled TiO 2 (PF/TiO 2 ) photocatalysts were synthesized via the sol–gel method using tetrabutyl titanate as a precursor and they were tested to determine their activities during the photocatalytic degradation of phenol. The as-synthesized products were characterized using Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that TiO 2 was in the anatase phase in the as-synthesized PF/TiO 2 product and the crystallite size was smaller than that for TiO 2 . The coupling of PF increased the light absorption capacity of TiO 2 . Under irradiation with natural sunlight, TiO 2 (500 °C, 2 h) obtained a phenol degradation rate of 28.9% after 7.5 h whereas 4% PF/TiO 2 (200 °C, 2 h) degraded phenol more efficiently (62.8%) in the same time according to high performance liquid chromatography. The higher photocatalytic activity of 4% PF/TiO 2 (200 °C, 2 h) can be attributed to a combination of factors, including graphite carbon material formation, a smaller crystallite size, and stronger optical absorption in the visible region. The graphite carbon material facilitated better electron transport and helped to minimize electron–hole recombination in the photocatalyst, thereby enhancing the degradation efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design and synthesis of effective photocatalysts for photodegradation of persistent organic pollutants is of significant importance. Novel CuFe2O4 microspheres were successfully synthesized through a facile one-pot hydrothermal route. The composite CuFe2O4-TiO2 photocatalysts with a heterojunction were then fabricated through a simple mixing and heating method. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images revealed the clear hollow structure of the catalyst, and the TiO2 nanoparticles were attached tightly on the surface of the microspheres. Crystal structures and surface chemical composition of the photocatalysts were confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements. The band structure of the CuFe2O4-TiO2 photocatalyst was confirmed using Mott-Schottky measurements and UV-Vis absorption results. As expected, the CuFe2O4-TiO2 photocatalysts exhibited an enhanced photodegradation activity of methylene blue compared to bare CuFe2O4 and TiO2. A Z-scheme system was proposed and the efficient separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs through the heterojunction resulted in the enhanced performance. This study provides an effective noble-metal-free and low-cost photocatalyst, and opens up a new synthesis strategy to construct other types of photocatalysts with morphology design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports experimental measurements of the isothermal and isochoric formation kinetics of methane hydrate in sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) solutions of various concentrations with gas-inducing agitation, and the results are compared with those obtained with normal agitation and no agitation. The experiments were conducted at 274 K with initial gas pressure of 10 MPa. At a given SDS concentration, the gas-inducing agitation gave higher hydrate formation rate than normal agitation and no agitation. Gas inducing agitation of deionized water gave a relatively low methane hydrate formation rate, which could be greatly enhanced by adding SDS. The enhanced kinetics can be attributed to increased gas-liquid contact area, with the coalescence of induced gas bubbles being effectively inhibited by SDS at low concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives:Although decreased thyroid function is negatively correlated with clinical outcomes in critically ill patients, its role in allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) has not been sufficiently described. Methods:The associations between pre-conditioning thyroid hormone concentrations and transplant-related complications in 474 adult patients with haematologic malignancies who underwent myeloablative allo-HCT were assessed. Results:A receiver-operating characteristic curve showed that the baseline serum-free triiodothyronine 3 (FT3) level had an excellent predictive value for non-relapse mortality (NRM) within 100 days in sibling HCT with an area under the curve of 0.73 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.64–0.82]. With a cut-off value of 4.7 pmol/l, the sensitivity and specificity for early NRM were 68% and 73%, respectively. The cumulative incidences of early NRM within 100 days after sibling HCT were 14% (95% CI, 10–18%) in the low FT3 group and 6% (95% CI, 4–8%) in the high-FT3 group (p = 0.033). In multivariate analysis, a lower FT3 level was significantly associated with high early NRM (HR = 3.19, 95% CI, 1.13–9.03,p = 0.029). The difference was also significant at 3 years after HCT (24% vs. 14%,p = 0.046). Recipients with lower FT3 levels also had a trend towards a lower OS at 3 years after HCT (66% vs. 72%,p = 0.235), although the difference did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion:A low FT3 level before conditioning may be a useful predictive biomarker for higher early NRM among patients undergoing myeloablative sibling transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The effect of F and Cl on trace element recycling during subduction-related sediment melting has been investigated by performing piston-cylinder experiments with a hydrous experimental pelite starting material (EPSM) with variable Cl (~ 0, 500, 1000, 2000, or 3000 ppm) and F (~ 0, 700, or 1500 ppm) concentrations, at 2.5 GPa, 800 °C. The variations of trace element concentrations in melt are systematically correlated with the variation of F (0.07–0.39 wt%) and Cl (0.07–0.39 wt%) contents. Trace elements Zn, V and Pb, and major elements Fe, Mg and Ca, show positive correlations with each other, and also with the Cl content in melt. The concentrations of light and medium rare earth elements (LMREE) increase with the Cl content in melt, whereas both F and Cl cause a decrease in the concentrations of high field strength elements (HFSE, such as Nb, Ta, Zr and Hf). Trace element (REE, Y, Sr, Th, U) concentrations in apatite are found to increase with the mole fraction of chlorapatite (ClAp). The preference for ClAp is stronger for cations with higher charge (e.g., Th 4 + , U 4 + > REE 3 + ) and larger ionic radii (e.g., LREE > HREE). Trace element partition coefficients between apatite and melt show up to 4 times variation between experiments, e.g., D La Ap-melt = 77–281; D Sm Ap-melt = 176–519; D Sr Ap-melt = 4–12 and D Th,U Ap-melt = 4–19. The REE partition coefficients between apatite and melt ( D REE Ap-melt ) display a concave pattern with the peak at Sm/Nd and a negative Eu anomaly, and are significantly higher than previously reported values for partitioning experiments conducted at lower pressures and higher temperatures. The high values of D LREE Ap-melt demonstrate the importance of apatite in terms of LREE partitioning during sediment melting, while allanite/monazite still dominates the partitioning of Th. In the absence of allanite/monazite, apatite-buffered melt is characterized by a significant enrichment of Th relative to La. Because of the contrasting behavior of LREE and HFSE in melt with the addition of Cl and F, the fractionation of these elements in slab-derived sediment melts will be enhanced by the presence of halogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In molluscs, muscle contraction is triggered by a direct binding of Ca 2 + to myosin. The myosin essential light chain (MELC) provides the Ca 2 + binding site and is of importance for motor function and regulation. In this study, the complete cDNA sequence of MELC gene of the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas , was obtained, and the expression profiles were performed in different tissues and different embryo-larval development stages. The results showed that the full length of C. gigas MELC (CgMELC) cDNA was 659 bp, containing a 5′-untranslated region of 73 bp, a 3′-untranslated region of 112 bp. The open reading frame encoded a 157 amino acid peptide. The protein sequence of CgMELC contained a conserved EF-hand calcium binding motif, and showed a high sequence identity (68.4–100%) with other bivalves. Quantitative analysis of CgMELC mRNA in tissues indicated that CgMELC was expressed at the highest level in the striated adductor muscle, followed by the smooth adductor muscle and mantle. During the development of embryos and larvae, quantitative analysis and whole-mount in situ hybridization revealed that CgMELC was expressed starting from the blastula stage and abundantly expressed in trochophore and D-shaped larvae, indicating that CgMELC might also be involved in regulation of larval muscle system development. Our data provided valuable information for further researches on the function of MELC and regulation of muscle contraction in oysters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental behaviour of short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) was investigated in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems in the Arctic. The mean concentrations of SCCPs in the aquatic and terrestrial samples were 178.9 ng/g dry weight (dw) and 157.2 ng/g dw, respectively. Short carbon chain (C 10 ) and less-chlorinated (Cl 6 ) congener groups were predominant in the Arctic samples, accounting for 48.6% and 34.8% of the total SCCPs, respectively. The enrichment of lighter SCCP congener groups (i.e., fewer chlorine atoms with shorter carbon chain lengths) indicated that the fractionation process occurred during long-range transport. The biomagnification factor (BMF) was 0.46 from gammarid to cod, which indicated that the SCCPs did not biomagnify between these two species. The soil–vegetation bioaccumulation factor (BAF) of SCCPs was 29.9, and C 13 and Cl 7, 8 congener groups tended to accumulate in the terrestrial vegetation. Regression analysis (BAFs = 10.9 × #C + 5.6 × #Cl − 125.2, R = 0.53, P < 0.01) showed that the number of carbon and chlorine atoms influenced the bioaccumulative behaviour of SCCPs and suggested that the number of carbon atoms had a greater influence on the BAFs of SCCPs in the terrestrial ecosystem than did the number of chlorine atoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an algorithm for numerically computing Lyapunov functions for nonautonomous systems on finite time-intervals. The algorithm relies on a linear optimization problem and delivers a continuous and piecewise affine function on a compact set. The level-sets of such a Lyapunov function give concrete bounds on the time-evolution of the system on the time-interval and for time-periodic systems they deliver an ultimate bound on solutions. Four examples of computed finite-time Lyapunov functions are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The partitioning behavior of Cl and F between apatite and sediment melt has been investigated by performing piston-cylinder experiments at 2.5 GPa, 800 °C using a hydrous experimental pelite staring material (EPSM) with ~7 wt% H2O and variable Cl (~0, 500, 1000, 2000, or 3000 ppm) and F (~0, 700, or 1500 ppm) contents, relevant for subduction zone conditions. Cl and F partitioning between apatite and melt is non-Nernstian, with varying from 1.9-10.6 and varying from 16-72. In contrast, Cl and F partition coefficients between phengite/biotite and melt were determined to be 0.24 ± 0.01, 0.86 ± 0.05, 1.4 ± 0.1, and 3.7 ± 0.4, respectively. The Nernstian partitioning of Cl and F between phengite/biotite and melt suggests ideal mixing of F, Cl, and OH in phengite, biotite, and melt. Exchange coefficients for F, Cl, and OH partitioning between apatite and melt were determined, with The evident variation of Kd values was attributed to non-ideal mixing of F, Cl, and OH in apatite. A regular ternary solution model for apatite was developed by modeling the variation of Kd values for experiments from this study and those from and . Positive values (~15 to ~25 kJ/mol) obtained for Margules parameters at low-pressure conditions (0.2 GPa, 0.05 GPa, and 900 °C) are in contrast to zero or negative values at 2.5 GPa, 800 °C. Based on a thermodynamic framework for F, Cl, and OH exchange between apatite and melt, using values for obtained through regression, F and Cl contents in melt can be derived from apatite compositions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intrauterine adhesions (IUA) remain a major cause of infertility. Interceed, a regenerated cellulose adhesion barrier, is used to prevent adhesions in abdominal cavity. This study aimed to determine whether Interceed could reduce adhesions and tissue fibrosis and improve endometrial receptivity (ER) in rabbit. Rabbits were randomized into 6 groups: sham operation, Interceed control, IUA model, Interceed therapy, estrogen therapy, and combination therapy. Four rabbits per group were euthanized to evaluate adhesion severity on the day before intervention and day 7, 14, and 28 after intervention. Number of endometrial glands and degree of endometrial fibrosis acted as markers for adhesion severity. Pseudopregnancy was induced in the remainder, and 8 rabbits per group were killed for assessing ER on days 6, 7, and 8 of pseudopregnancy by ανβ3 integrin and pinopode. We found that Interceed or estrogen therapy led to significant improvement in the adhesion severity on day 28 after intervention, respectively, compared to IUA model group (all P < .05). However, after combination therapy, such improvement achieved comparable to sham operation group as early as day 14 after intervention (glands, P = .711, fibrosis, P = .154). Among the IUA models treated, ER was highest after combination therapy on day 7 of pseudopregnancy, similar to sham operation group (integrin, P = .352, pinopode, P = .154). In conclusion, Interceed and estrogen reduce adhesions and tissue fibrosis and improve ER in a rabbit model and may be novel therapeutic approaches for infertility resulting from IUA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a candidate persistent organic pollutant of the Stockholm Convention, short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) have recently received particular attention. In this study, we investigated, for the first time, the concentrations of SCCPs in biota samples collected from the Fildes Peninsula at King George Island and Ardley Island, Antarctica. The concentrations of SCCPs ranged from 3.5 to 256.6 ng/g (dry weight, dw), with a mean of 76.6 ± 61.8 ng/g dw, which was lower than those detected in mid- and low-latitude regions. The long-range transport behaviour of SCCPs was confirmed by both the detection of SCCPs in Antarctic remote areas and their special congener profiles. Short carbon chain (C 10 ) congeners predominated in the Antarctic samples, which accounted for 56.1% of the total SCCP contamination. Such enrichment of C 10 congeners indicated the high potential for the long-range transport of shorter chain congeners. In addition, SCCPs tended to be enriched in the species with high lipid contents. The biomagnification potential of SCCPs was found between Archeogastropoda ( Agas ) and Neogastropoda ( Ngas ), and the biomagnification factors of shorter chain congeners of SCCPs were higher than that of the longer chain ones. Considering that the endemic species in polar regions may be sensitive and vulnerable to the adverse effects of environmental contaminants, more attention should be paid on the bioaccumulation and toxicological risks of SCCPs in polar environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a numerical algorithm for computing ISS Lyapunov functions for discrete-time systems which are input-to-state stable (ISS) on compact subsets of the state space. The algorithm relies on solving a linear optimisation problem and delivers a continuous and piecewise affine ISS Lyapunov function on a suitable triangulation covering the given compact set excluding a small neighbourhood of the origin. The objective of the linear optimisation problem is to minimise the ISS gain. It is shown that for every ISS system there exists a suitable triangulation such that the proposed algorithm terminates successfully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number and positions of disulfide linkages in a therapeutic monoclonal antibody (mAb) play a crucial role in forming and stabilizing a correct mAb structure that is critical to its function. Peptide mapping by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) analysis of enzymatically digested mAb under nonreducing condition is a powerful method for disulfide linkage characterization to ensure mAb drug function and quality. However, the development of a robust sample preparation method with improved digestion efficiency and minimized disulfide scrambling for disulfide linkage analysis is essential but challenging. In this study, a sample preparation method for analysis of correct disulfide linkages in therapeutic mAbs was developed. Instead of common trypsin digestion, Lys-C plus trypsin was used in this approach to improve digestion efficiency. In addition, lower digestion temperature (25 °C) and lower digestion pH (pH 6.8) were also examined to minimize disulfide scrambling. Our results showed that Lys-C plus trypsin digestion at pH 6.8 and 25 °C is a better sample preparation condition for all therapeutic mAbs tested in this study because of a better digestion efficiency (all expected disulfide linkages can be confidently observed) and minimal disulfide scrambling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]