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As an integral part of the mitral valve apparatus, the left ventricle papillary muscle (PM) controls mitral valve closure during systole and participates in the ejection process during left ventricular systole. Mitral regurgitation (MR) is the most immediate and predominant result when the PM is structurally or functionally abnormal. However, dysfunction of the PM is easily underestimated or overlooked in clinical interventions for MR-related diseases. Therefore, adequate recognition of PM dysfunction and PM-derived MR is critical. In this review, we systematically describe the normal anatomical variations in the PM and the pathophysiology of PM dysfunction-related diseases and summarize the commonly used parameters and the advantages and disadvantages of various noninvasive imaging modalities for the structural and functional assessment of the PM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) mediate intercellular communication by transporting proteins. To investigate the pathogenesis of Mycoplasma gallisepticum , a major threat to the poultry industry, we isolated and characterized M. gallisepticum –produced EVs. Our study highlights the significant impact of M. gallisepticum –derived EVs on immune function and macrophage apoptosis, setting them apart from other M. gallisepticum metabolites. These EVs dose-dependently enhance M. gallisepticum adhesion and proliferation, simultaneously modulating Toll-like receptor 2 and interferon γ pathways and thereby inhibiting macrophage activation. A comprehensive protein analysis revealed 117 proteins in M. gallisepticum –derived EVs, including established virulence factors, such as GapA, CrmA, VlhA, and CrmB. Crucially, these EV-associated proteins significantly contribute to M. gallisepticum infection. Our findings advance our comprehension of M. gallisepticum pathogenesis, offering insights for preventive strategies and emphasizing the pivotal role of M. gallisepticum –derived EVs and their associated proteins. This research sheds light on the composition and crucial role of M. gallisepticum– derived EVs in M. gallisepticum pathogenesis, aiding our fight against M. gallisepticum infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bereavement of one or both parents is known to cause many kinds of internalizing and externalizing problems in adolescents. However, less is known about factors that are protective of the mental health of orphaned adolescents and differences by their gender and orphanhood type. To fill these gaps, the current study used a sample from southwestern China to test the association between types of orphans, life satisfaction, adolescents' psychological distress and problem behaviours. The results showed that orphan girls were prone to have lower levels of problem behaviours but higher levels of psychological distress than orphan boys. Female paternal orphans tended to have the highest psychological distress, while male paternal orphans tended to have the lowest psychological distress. In addition, school satisfaction had a stronger association with problem behaviour, and self‐satisfaction had a stronger association with psychological distress. Interventions and preventive measures aimed at reducing the psychological distress of orphans could benefit from the findings regarding the correlates of psychological distress and the most vulnerable group among orphans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is one of leading risk factors for type 2 diabetes and other types of chronic diseases. Synchronized intestinal electrical stimulation (SIES) has been explored for treating obesity and diabetes. In SIES, electrical stimulation is delivered to the small intestine in synchronization with the intrinsic intestinal myoelectrical activity (its basic rhythm is called slow wave) and therefore, the accurate detection of intestinal slow waves is critically important for SIES. The aim of this study is to detect the peaks in intestinal slow waves in real-time based on the automatic multiscale peak detection (AMPD) method. In this paper, we introduce an efficient technique for real-time detection of peaks in intestinal slow waves. The presented method is based on peak estimation of a given quasi-periodic signal using the AMPD method. This method uses a multi-scale approach to identify the peaks of the intestinal slow waves with high detection accuracy and a minimal delay. Throughout the experiments, the multi-scale technique is used to estimate the quasi-periodic signals using different signal-to-noise ratio, λ (optimal scale), and the "lag" β (number of datapoints for right hand estimation) as important performance factors. The performance of the presented method is also calculated and utilized in the comparison process for 10 datasets of the intestinal slow waves from rats at λ = 150 ms and two values of β = 100 ms and 150 ms. The experimental results show that the presented method has good overall accuracy for online peak detection while maintaining low memory and computational complexity. Numerically, the overall accuracy is above 90%, and 98% for the rodent intestinal slow waves at a time-lag of 150 ms. The developed SIES system has been applied to successfully reduce postprandial blood glucose in a rodent model of hyperglycemia. In conclusion, the developed algorithm is adequate for on-line peak detection of the intestinal slow waves; the SIES method used the developed peak detection algorithm which is effective in reducing postprandial blood glucose in a rodent model of hyperglycemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 27-year-old Han Chinese woman presented with fever, headache, lethargy, and difficulty in expression. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detected extensive hyperintensity of the left-sided frontoparietal, temporal, occipital, and insular cortices via fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) imaging. Post-contrast MRI revealed linear enhancement in the frontoparietal, temporal, and occipital sulci bilaterally. The detection of anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) was positive in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum. The patient was diagnosed with anti-MOG antibody-associated unilateral cortical encephalitis with bilateral meningeal involvement. The patient received low doses of intravenous dexamethasone followed by oral prednisone, which was tapered until withdrawal. The treatment significantly improved the patient's symptoms. A one-month follow-up showed that the patient gradually resumed her normal lifestyle. No further relapse was recorded after a one-year follow-up. MRI performed almost a year after the initial symptom onset showed that the FLAIR signal had decreased in the left insular lobe, and the abnormal cortical signal of the FLAIR in the original left frontotemporal occipital lobe had disappeared. Thus, we report a rare case of anti-MOG antibody encephalitis (unilateral cortical encephalitis with bilateral meningeal involvement) in an adult patient. This study provides a reference for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of MOG antibody-associated unilateral cortical encephalitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Doping Mn or In in Ni/CeO 2 significantly effects its CO 2 hydrogenation performance. • NiMn(4)/CeO 2 produces mainly CH 4 , while NiIn(4)/CeO 2 gives dominant CO. • Mn promoter enhances Ni reduction and promotes HCOO* and CH 3 * species formation. • Introduction of In hinders Ni reduction and facilitates formation of COOH* species. Conversion of CO 2 into value-added chemicals is a potential way for achieving carbon neutrality. A challenge is to controllably tune its product distribution. Thus, Ni/CeO 2 catalyst is modified here by doping Mn or In by the sol–gel method. NiMn(4)/CeO 2 shows CO 2 conversion of 35.3% and CH 4 selectivity of 86.6%, whereas NiIn(4)/CeO 2 produces dominant CO with selectivity of 99.1% and CO 2 conversion of 23.9%. Such catalytic results are highly comparable to those of previously reported Ni-based catalysts, but loading smaller amounts of Ni (1.7 wt%). Addition of Mn or In in Ni/CeO 2 significantly promotes formation of surface oxygen vacancies, influences Ni reducibility and enhances catalytic stability. Various characterizations, in situ spectroscopy and DFT calculation results reveal that high CH 4 selectivity of NiMn(4)/CeO 2 is due to formation of more HCOO* intermediates, whereas introduction of In significantly promotes formation of COOH* species, but inhibits generation of HCOO*, and thus resulting in dominant CO product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has established a link between stressful life events and suicide risk among adolescents, but limited attention has been directed towards vulnerable groups regarding the impact of such events on suicide risk. This study aimed to examine the influence of stressful life events on suicide risk among orphaned and left-behind adolescents in China and to explore potential variations in this effect across different types of adolescents. Participants were from four schools located in four counties with high HIV/AIDS infection rates in the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China. A sample of 1912 students were recruited, and 1524 responses were retained for analysis. Participants completed questionnaires assessing stressful life events, suicide risk, loneliness, and subjective well-being. Orphaned and left-behind adolescents were identified through demographic questions. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to assess the mediating effects of loneliness and subjective well-being on the relationship between stressful life events and suicide risk, as well as to examine the moderating effect of adolescent type. Stressful life events showed a significant positive association with suicide risk. Loneliness and subjective well-being played mediating roles in the relationship between stressful life events and suicide risk. Double and single orphans exhibited higher levels of loneliness and lower levels of subjective well-being. Moreover, stressful life events had a more pronounced effect on suicide risk among left-behind adolescents. Stressful life events exerted a direct positive impact on suicide risk among adolescents, while also indirectly affecting suicide risk by elevating loneliness and diminishing subjective well-being. Adolescents who experienced parental bereavement were more susceptible to feelings of loneliness and unhappiness. However, left-behind adolescents demonstrated elevated suicide risk even when facing similar levels of stressful life events. The stress sensitization theory and the distinct effects of chronic and acute stressors may offer explanatory insights. Implications for practice were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture is home to the largest population of Yi ethnic minority within mainland China. Due to the high HIV/AIDS epidemic, many Yi children become AIDS orphans who lost one or both parents to AIDS‐related causes. This study explored the prevalence and correlates of AIDS orphans' depressive symptom, sleep disorders and their comorbidity. Methods: A cross‐sectional survey was conducted to collect pertinent information from 467 AIDS orphans and 856 non‐orphans of Yi ethnic minority. Depressive symptoms were screened by a two‐item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ‐2). The symptoms of insomnia were assessed by the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), which was complemented by one item from the Pittsburgh Quality Sleep Index (PSQI) to measure the frequency of nightmare. Results: The prevalence of depression (26.8% vs. 20.4%, P = 0.009) and comorbidity of depression, insomnia and nightmare (7.5% vs. 4.3%, P = 0.046) was significantly higher for AIDS orphans than for non‐orphans. Risk factors such as ostracization and self‐reported poor physical health had stronger effects on depressive symptoms and sleep disorders for AIDS orphans than for non‐orphans. On the other hand, peer support, as an important protective factor, was significantly and negatively associated with depressive symptoms and sleep disorders for AIDS orphans. Conclusions: AIDS orphans of Yi ethnic minority reported higher levels of depressive symptoms and comorbidity of depression and sleep disorders than their non‐orphan counterparts. These symptoms were exacerbated by ostracization and self‐rated poor physical health but lowered by peer support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An aluminosilicate zeolite has a porous structure with openings comparable to the molecular size, which endows it with unique adsorptive and catalytic properties that are highly dependent on its chemical composition and crystal morphology. Thus, the precise control or rational design of zeolite's particle morphology has attracted much attention as it can greatly improve the adsorptive separation and catalytic properties by effectively adjusting the diffusion path of adsorbates, reactants and products. This paper reviews the recent progress made in the synthesis and application of zeolites with a specific crystal/particle morphology with emphasis on the control of the crystal size and facet exposure degree, oriented assembly of crystals, creation of hierarchical porous structures and synthesis of core–shell structures. It is shown that an appropriate decrease of the crystal size and/or an increase of the exposure degree of certain facets by adding seeds and optimizing the synthesis conditions enhances the catalytic stability and product selectivity in some reactions. This can also be achieved by introducing plenty of mesopores and/or macropores in zeolites as a result of significant alleviation of diffusion limitation. Assembly of zeolite crystals into membranes on porous substrates improves the adsorptive separation performance of zeolites, for e.g. alcohol/water mixture and xylene and butane isomers. Core–shell-structured composites with metal nanoparticles or subnanoparticles as the core and the zeolite, including its modified counterpart, as the shell show excellent catalytic performance in some hydrogenation, dehydrogenation and oxidation reactions. In addition, attempts to illustrate the relationship between zeolite's particle morphology and its catalytic performance are discussed and strategies for the rational design of zeolite's particle size and behavior are envisioned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abbreviations CADD combined annotation dependent depletion FGF fibroblast growth factor LVNC left ventricular non-compaction PCP planar cell polarity RA retinoic acid SNV single-nucleotide variant WGS whole-genome sequencing In this work, we found three novel candidate variants, namely a stop-gain I ZNF107 i (c.G1021T) and two missense variants I CYP26B1 i (c.C364A) and I KIF16B i (c.G1748A), to be the most plausible causes for the left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC) in a three-generation Chinese family. Whole-genome sequencing identifies novel candidate pathogenic variants associated with left ventricular non-compaction in a three-generation family LVNC is a rare genetic cardiomyopathy with two morphological features: a thick bilayered myocardium with prominent ventricular trabeculations and deep intertrabecular recesses in the left ventricular wall.1 Reports on LVNC-related genes are relatively limited, and approximately 42% of LVNC cases are familial, suggesting the existence of unknown mechanisms affecting the explored genetic etiologies of LVNC.2 Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling is likely a contributing factor of LVNC for its pivotal role in compact myocardium proliferation.3 Experiments on mouse embryos showed that some FGF proteins have high expression levels in both the endocardium and epicardium, and their deficiencies lead to a thin myocardium wall and therefore non-compaction.4 Moreover, excessive retinoic acid (RA), a metabolite of vitamin A, can interrupt the activation of the planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway regulating cardiomyocyte polarization.5 As a result, un-polarized cardiomyocytes maintain the original round shape, leading to a non-compacted myocardium. KIF16B encodes a kinesin-like protein mediating FGF signal transduction via regulating the surface presentation of FGFR2. [Extracted from the article]

The South China block (SCB) is located at the southeastern margin of the Eurasian plate, where intense Mesozoic magmatism and metallogenic belts occurred. The mechanism of mineralization is still unclear and debated. To clarify this issue, we determine a robust 3-D model of P-wave tomography of the upper mantle beneath the SCB by using 77,969 high-quality travel-time data of 934 teleseismic events recorded at 315 permanent and 72 portable stations in the SCB. Our results show that high-velocity (high-V) zones exist in the upper mantle under the Yangtze block and in the mantle transition zone under the eastern segment of the Jiangnan orogen. The former reflects thicker cratonic lithosphere, whereas the latter may reflect the deeply subducted paleo-Pacific plate. Low-velocity (low-V) anomalies are revealed in the upper mantle beneath the Cathaysia block, which are located above the high-V anomaly in the mantle transition zone. These low-V anomalies may reflect hot upwelling flows in the upper mantle, which might be related to the large-scale magmatic activities in the late Mesozoic. Our results suggest that the low-V hot mantle materials beneath the Cathaysia block have risen to the shallow lithosphere along magmatic channels such as fault zones, which eroded the nearby cratonic root of the Yangtze block and the overlying lithosphere and destroyed the lithosphere beneath the eastern SCB. The hot upwelling materials mineralized in the shallow part and so formed many metallogenic belts in the SCB. • The 3-D upper-mantle structure under the South China block (SCB) is studied using teleseismic tomography. • The Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks exhibit higher and lower P-wave velocities, respectively. • Hot mantle upwelling under the Cathaysia block caused lithospheric thinning and rich metallogenic belts in the eastern SCB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the value of echocardiography in diagnosing papillary muscle rupture (PMR) of the mitral valve, and summarize the characteristic echocardiographic features of different types. Echocardiograms of 13 PMR patients confirmed by surgery in Wuhan Union Hospital between January 2009 and December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed and their preoperative transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was compared with surgical findings. A total of 9020 patients underwent mitral valve repair or replacement surgery during the study period including 13 (0.14%) for PMR. Of the 13 PMRs, 8 cases were partial PMR(P-PMR), 5 cases were complete PMR(C-PMR); 3 cases were anterolateral PMR, and 10 were posteromedial PMR. The diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of the preoperative TTE were 99.9%, 53.8% and 99.9% respectively. Echocardiographic features of 10 patients (5-C-PMR and 5 P-PMR) with detailed TTE and intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) data included: both anterior and posterior leaflets prolapse (C-PMR 60% vs P-PMR 60%); flail leaflet (C-PMR100% vs P-PMR 40%); All C-PMRs and P-PMRs have severe, eccentric and lateral regurgitation; flail attachment (chordae tendinae and ruptured PM) at the tip of prolapsed leaflet (C-PMR100% vs P-PMR 60%); high-echo masses resembled "champagne glasses" in 100% of the C-PMR; high-echo masses resembled "lotus-seedpod" in 60% and "dumbbell-shaped" torn PM in remaining 40% of the P-PMR. Different PMR subtypes have different echocardiographic characteristics. Combining TTE and TEE can accurately identify the typical features of PMR such as ipsilateral hemipetal leaflet prolapse, high-echoic mass at the tip of the leaflet, massive eccentricity and lateral regurgitation. • Accurate diagnosis of mitral papillary muscle rupture (PMR) by sonographers is challenging due to its rarity. • Ipsilateral hemipetal leaflet prolapse, high-echoic mass at the tip of the leaflet, massive eccentricity and lateral regurgitation are typical features of PMR. • From an ultrasound perspective, a detailed typing of PMR for all types of anatomical variants of the papillary muscle was performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues are commonly used both clinically and in forensic pathology. Recently, noncoding RNA (ncRNA) has attracted interest among molecular medical researchers. However, it remains unclear whether newly identified ncRNAs, such as long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) and circular RNA (circRNA), remain stable for downstream molecular analysis in FFPE tissues. Here, we assessed the feasibility of using autoptic FFPE brain tissues from eight individuals to perform quantitative molecular analyses. Selected RNA targets (9 mRNAs and 15 ncRNAs) with different amplicon lengths were studied by RT-qPCR in paired fresh and FFPE specimens. For RNA quality assessment, RNA purity and yield were comparable between the two sample cohorts; however, the RNA integrity number decreased significantly during FFPE sampling. Amplification efficiency also displayed certain variability related with amplicon length and RNA species. We found molecular evidence that short amplicons of mRNA, lncRNA, and circRNA were amplified more efficiently than long amplicons. With the assistance of RefFinder, 5S, SNORD48, miR-103a, and miR-125b were selected as reference genes given their high stability. After normalization, we found that short amplicon markers (e.g., ACTB mRNA and MALAT1 lncRNA) exhibited high consistency of quantification in paired fresh/FFPE samples. In particular, circRNAs (XPO1, HIPK3, and TMEM56) presented relatively consistent and stable expression profiles in FFPE tissues compared with their corresponding linear transcripts. Additionally, we evaluated the influence of prolonged storage time on the amplification of gene transcripts and found that short amplicons still work effectively in archived FFPE biospecimens. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate the possibility of performing accurate quantitative analysis of ncRNAs using short amplicons and standardized RT-qPCR assays in autopsy-derived FFPE samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel design of energy-harvesting shock absorber control system is proposed. • Damping fluctuation and damping failure zone can be eliminated with the system. • The system can regulate the damping coefficient in real-time and harvest energy. • The system is characterized with high energy recovery efficiency of 58.19%−70.55%. • A high response speed of 4 Hz that can meet the application requirement is obtained. An energy-harvesting shock absorber can adjust the damping coefficient in real time to meet the vibration reduction, and it can also harvest energy from the vibration of a suspension. This paper proposed a novel design for an energy-harvesting shock absorber system. The study focusses mainly on the realization of energy harvest and damping control. A closed loop damping control strategy is proposed, with which, the shock absorber is not only able to supply a controllable electromagnetic damping force but can also harvest energy from the vibration. The system construction and working principle is introduced, and the experiment platforms are established. A series of simulations and experiments were conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed shock absorber system. The results show that an average energy recovery efficiency of 40.72%–70.55% can be obtained when tested under sinusoidal excitation and random road excitation. The proposed system is characterized by a high response speed of 4 Hz, and it can meet the operating requirements under random road excitation. The results also indicate that the damping coefficient can be adjusted with a high precision of 93.56%, and thus, both the damping failure and damping fluctuation are effectively eliminated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dissimilatory iron reducing bacterium Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 (MR-1) exhibited a strong sodium butyl xanthate (SBX) biodegradation capability in the presence of Cr(VI) under aerobic conditions. In addition, 89.27% of SBX at a concentration of 30 mg/L was degraded within 48 h in the presence of 10 mg/L Cr(VI). Temperature and pH significantly affected SBX biodegradation, and MR-1 exhibited an enhanced biodegradation ability at a pH of 6°C and 30°C. Biodegradation kinetics of SBX in the presence of Cr(VI) and anions (NO3−, SO42−, or CO32−) followed the first-order exponential decay kinetics model. The inhibition effect was different for the different types and concentrations of coexisting anions. NO3− exhibited negligible inhibitory effects on SBX removal, whereas SO42− and CO32− had a potential inhibitory effect on SBX removal. When the coexisting anion concentrations were 10 and 30 mg/L, the order of inhibiting factor (IF) of the anions on SBX removal was \documentclass{aastex}\usepackage{amsbsy}\usepackage{amsfonts}\usepackage{amssymb}\usepackage{bm}\usepackage{mathrsfs}\usepackage{pifont}\usepackage{stmaryrd}\usepackage{textcomp}\usepackage{portland, xspace}\usepackage{amsmath, amsxtra}\usepackage{upgreek}\pagestyle{empty}\DeclareMathSizes{10}{9}{7}{6}\begin{document} $${ \rm{ \;I}}{{ \rm{F}}_{SO_4^{2 - }}}$$ \end{document}  >  \documentclass{aastex}\usepackage{amsbsy}\usepackage{amsfonts}\usepackage{amssymb}\usepackage{bm}\usepackage{mathrsfs}\usepackage{pifont}\usepackage{stmaryrd}\usepackage{textcomp}\usepackage{portland, xspace}\usepackage{amsmath, amsxtra}\usepackage{upgreek}\pagestyle{empty}\DeclareMathSizes{10}{9}{7}{6}\begin{document} $${ \rm{I}}{{ \rm{F}}_{CO_3^{2 - }}} > { \rm{ \;I}}{{ \rm{F}}_{NO_3^ - }}$$ \end{document} , whereas when the anion concentrations increased to 60 and 100 mg/L, the order of IF was \documentclass{aastex}\usepackage{amsbsy}\usepackage{amsfonts}\usepackage{amssymb}\usepackage{bm}\usepackage{mathrsfs}\usepackage{pifont}\usepackage{stmaryrd}\usepackage{textcomp}\usepackage{portland, xspace}\usepackage{amsmath, amsxtra}\usepackage{upgreek}\pagestyle{empty}\DeclareMathSizes{10}{9}{7}{6}\begin{document} $${ \rm{I}}{{ \rm{F}}_{CO_3^{2 - }}}$$ \end{document}  >  \documentclass{aastex}\usepackage{amsbsy}\usepackage{amsfonts}\usepackage{amssymb}\usepackage{bm}\usepackage{mathrsfs}\usepackage{pifont}\usepackage{stmaryrd}\usepackage{textcomp}\usepackage{portland, xspace}\usepackage{amsmath, amsxtra}\usepackage{upgreek}\pagestyle{empty}\DeclareMathSizes{10}{9}{7}{6}\begin{document} $${ \rm{I}}{{ \rm{F}}_{SO_4^{2 - }}}$$ \end{document}  >  \documentclass{aastex}\usepackage{amsbsy}\usepackage{amsfonts}\usepackage{amssymb}\usepackage{bm}\usepackage{mathrsfs}\usepackage{pifont}\usepackage{stmaryrd}\usepackage{textcomp}\usepackage{portland, xspace}\usepackage{amsmath, amsxtra}\usepackage{upgreek}\pagestyle{empty}\DeclareMathSizes{10}{9}{7}{6}\begin{document} $${ \rm{I}}{{ \rm{F}}_{NO_3^ - }}$$ \end{document}. Results obtained from this study showed that MR-1 could be used for the treatment of flotation wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• MiR-23a increased in PDLSCs and gingival crevicular fluid of periodontitis patients. • miR-23a inhibited osteogenesis of PDLSCs. • miR-23a inhibited the phosphorylation of Smad1/5/9 via BMPR1B. • miR-23a may serve as a biomarker and potential target of periodontitis. To investigate the role of microRNA-23a (miR-23a) in the osteogenesis of periodontal mesenchymal stem cells (PDLSCs) in periodontitis. Gingival crevicular fluid samples were collected from 21 control subjects and 29 patients with chronic periodontitis. MiR-23a was determined by quantitative real-time PCR. PDLSCs were transfected with miR-23a overexpressing lentiviruses. Subsequently, PDLSCs were induced with osteogenic differentiation media. Osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs was assessed by alkaline phosphatase activity assay, Alizarin red staining, and qRT-PCT detection of osteogenic gene expression. Western blot was performed to detect the protein levels of the SMAD family member 1/5/9 (Smad1/5/9) and their phosphorylation level. TargetScan was used to predict the target gene of miR-23a. Cotransfections of bone morphogenetic protein receptor type 1B (BMPR1B) and miR-23a applied to explore the relationship between BMPR1B and miR-23a. MiR-23a was significantly increased in PDLSCs and gingival crevicular fluid of periodontitis patients. Patients with gingival crevicular fluid miR-23a levels above a threshold showed more clinical indicators of periodontitis. After periodontal therapy, miR-23a levels significantly decreased. Overexpression miR-23a inhibited osteogenesis of PDLSCs, which was evidenced by reduced Alizarin Red S and osteogenic gene expressions. In addition, miR-23a inhibited the phosphorylation of Smad1/5/9. TargetScan predicted that BMPR1B is a target gene of miR-23a. Overexpression of BMPR1B abolished the effects caused by overexpression of miR-23a. Our study provides novel evidence that miR-23a acts as a negative regulator of osteogenesis in periodontitis patients'PDLSCs and that miR-23a may serve as a biomarker and potential target of periodontitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the results of molecular screening in 121 patients with suspected hereditary optic neuropathies. The 34 primary and 9 secondary LHON mutations were screened in all the patients. In the familial cases, OPA1 was also tested when negative finding for the mtDNA mutations screening. Molecular defects were identified in 35 patients (28.9% of screened patients). Among these, 33 patients (94.3%) had an mtDNA mutation, including m.11778G > A (69.7%), m.14484 T > C, m.3460G > A, m.3635G > A, m.14502 T > C and three secondary mutations m.3316G > A, m.3394 T > C, m.3497C > T. Two novel OPA1 mutations, c.1301 T > G (p.Leu434Arg) and c.985-1G > A (IVS9-1G > A), were also detected in families with the evidence of father-to-son transmission. In conclusion, we reported the results of the molecular screening of 121 patients with hereditary optic neuropathies from southwest of China. Our results highlight the importance of investigating LHON-causing mtDNA mutations and OPA1 mutations in cases of suspected hereditary optic neuropathy. • The 121 optic atrophy patients from southwest of China were genetically screened. • mtDNA and OPA1 mutations investigated in optic neuropathy cases. • Two novel OPA1 mutations were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • High percentage of distillation residue contributed to all graded bio-oil yields. • Linear model was recommended for the prediction of the graded bio-oil yield. • Blending bituminous coal could disturb the distribution of bio-oil compounds. • The products from distillation residue were more abundant than bituminous coal. Abstract In this study, the effects of induction conditions on the distribution characteristics of graded bio-oil derived from the co-pyrolysis of bio-oil distillation residue and bituminous coal were investigated in a fixed pyrolysis reactor with a three-stage condenser. Based on the central composite design and statistical analysis, it could be found that a quadratic model was recommended to depict the total bio-oil yield, whereas the linear model was the best-fitting model for the graded bio-oil yield of different condensation stages. As for total bio-oil yield, all the combined effects of induction conditions played a negative role, and all second-order effects were advantageous. Moreover, the high percentage of distillation residue contributed to the bio-oil yield at each condenser and had the greatest impact on the bio-oil yield of the first condenser. However, high temperatures and high gas flow rates reduced the bio-oil yield of the first condenser and favored the increase in bio-oil yield of subsequent condensers. In addition, the products derived from distillation residue were more abundant than bituminous coal. And the addition of bituminous coal did not significantly increase the type of compounds in bio-oil from the blends, but disturbed the distribution of bio-oil products. The condensers with different temperatures facilitated the separation and enrichment of different compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminosilicate zeolites with controllable morphology have attracted considerable attention due to their potential applications in catalysis, adsorption, and separation technologies, as well as the biomedical field. However, the rational design and preparation of zeolites with the required morphology have not been achieved because the zeolite crystallization mechanism has not been fully understood, and therefore, the nucleation and crystal growth processes cannot be oriented. This paper reviews the progresses achieved in zeolite morphology control. The chemical compositions of the synthesis gel, including template (or the structure-directing agent) and framework heteroatoms, silica and alumina sources, alkali metal cations and mineralization ions, crystallization conditions, and synthesis methods have a considerable impact on the crystal morphology. The oriented assembly of zeolite crystals into special morphologies, such as hierarchical porous structures, zeolite membranes, hollow zeolite spheres, and core@shell-structured zeolites, can be realized by using soft and/or hard template methods and adjusting the synthesis and crystallization conditions. In addition, zeolite crystallization and crystal assembly mechanisms are investigated for providing an overall insight into the regulation of zeolite crystal morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Postoperative ileus (POI) is a heavy burden for healthcare industries and reduces the postoperative quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects and mechanisms of the intraoperative vagus nerve stimulation (iVNS) on gastrointestinal motility in a rodent model of POI.Methods: For control group (control, n = 8), electrodes were placed on the chest wall for recording the electrocardiogram and on the stomach and small intestine for measuring gastric slow waves (GSWs) and small intestinal slow waves (SSWs). For sham group (sham, n = 8) and iVNS group (VNS, n = 8), after the same surgery as the control, intestinal manipulation (IM) was performed to induce POI. iVNS was performed during the surgery for the iVNS group. Small intestinal transit (SIT), gastric emptying (GE), postoperative pain, and plasma TNF-α were evaluated after operation.Results: IM delayed GE that was normalized by iVNS (P < 0.05). iVNS reduced plasma TNF-α increased by IM (P = 0.04). iVNS prevents the injury of ileum mucosa induced by IM (P < 0.05). iVNS reduced the postoperative pain (P < 0.05). iVNS prevented the IM-induced decrease in vagal activity (sham 0-30 min vs. 150-180 min, P = 0.03, VNS 0-30 min vs. 150-180 min, P = 0.58) and increase in sympathovagal balance (sham 0-30 min vs. 150-180 min, P = 0.04, VNS 0-30 min vs. 150-180 min, P = 0.72).Conclusions: iVNS accelerates postoperative recovery by improving GE, reducing postoperative pain, and preventing the injury of ileum mucosa mediated via the autonomic mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Tumor proteases have been recognized as significant regulators in the tumor microenvironment, but the current strategies for in vivo protease imaging have tended to focus on the development of a probe design rather than the investigation of a novel imaging strategy by leveraging the imaging technique and probe. Herein, it is the first report to investigate the ability of multispectral photoacoustic imaging (PAI) to estimate the distribution of protease cleavage sites inside living tumor tissue by using an activatable photoacoustic (PA) probe.Procedures: The protease MMP-2 is selected as the target. In this probe, gold nanocages (GNCs) with an absorption peak at ~ 800 nm and fluorescent dye molecules with an absorption peak at ~ 680 nm are conjugated via a specific enzymatic peptide substrate. Upon enzymatic activation by MMP-2, the peptide substrate is cleaved and the chromophores are released. Due to the different retention speeds of large GNCs and small dye molecules, the probe alters its intrinsic absorption profile and produces a distinct change in the PA signal. A multispectral PAI technique that can distinguish different chromophores based on intrinsic PA spectral signatures is applied to estimate the signal composition changes and indicate the cleavage interaction sites. Finally, the multispectral PAI technique with the activatable probe is tested in solution, cultured cells, and a subcutaneous tumor model in vivo.Results: Our experiment in solution with enzyme ± inhibitor, cell culture ± inhibitor, and in vivo tumor model with administration of the developed probe ± inhibitor demonstrated the probe was cleaved by the targeted enzyme. Particularly, the in vivo estimation of the cleavage site distribution was validated with the result of ex vivo immunohistochemistry analysis.Conclusions: This novel synergy of the multispectral PAI technique and the activatable probe is a potential strategy for the distribution estimation of tumor protease activity in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. To evaluate the treatment outcomes of patients with punctate inner choroidopathy (PIC) and secondary choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Methods. This is a retrospective study of 24 eyes in 22 patients suffering from PIC with CNV. Patients were treated with intravitreal ranibizumab monotherapy (14 eyes) or combined oral corticosteroid and intravitreal ranibizumab therapy (corticosteroid-ranibizumab group, 10 eyes). Mean follow-up duration was 24.0 months. We evaluated best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fundus autofluorescence, fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography, and optical coherence tomography, before and after treatment. The following variables were compared between groups: number of intravitreal ranibizumab injections, BCVA, recurrence of CNV, and change in PIC lesions. Results. The ranibizumab monotherapy group received an average of 3 intravitreal ranibizumab injections; mean logMAR visual acuity improvement was 0.34, and 8 eyes developed recurrent CNV during follow-up. The corticosteroid-ranibizumab group received an average of 1.9 intravitreal ranibizumab injections; mean logMAR visual acuity improvement was 0.61, and there was no recurrence of CNV. Combined corticosteroid-ranibizumab therapy also resulted in better resolution of PIC lesions and fewer new PIC lesions. Conclusion. Both corticosteroid-ranibizumab treatment and ranibizumab monotherapy could significantly improve the vision of PIC patients with CNV. Combined corticosteroid and intravitreal ranibizumab treatment appeared to reduce CNV recurrence and development of new PIC lesions compared with ranibizumab monotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cytokines have been presumed to play an important role in the pathophysiology of functional dyspepsia (FD). Electroacupuncture (EA) has been used for FD treatment; however, its mechanisms remain largely unknown. This study aimed to (1) compare the plasma levels of cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6, and IL‐10, in "FD" rats with normal control rats; (2) investigate whether EA, using chronically implanted electrodes, could inhibit the release of these cytokines; and (3) explore the correlation of cytokine levels with plasma norepinephrine (NE) levels and gastric emptying (GE). Methods: A rodent model of FD was established via neonatal treatment with intragastric iodoacetamide. After 8 weeks, the rats were implanted with electrodes at acupoint ST36 for EA. The plasma levels of cytokines and NE were measured using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. We explored the correlations of cytokine levels with NE levels and GE. Key Results: (i) "FD" rats demonstrated increased levels of TNF‐α, IL‐1β, and IL‐6 (p < 0.05 each) compared with the control rats. (ii) EA significantly decreased the plasma levels of TNF‐α, IL‐1β, and IL‐6 in "FD" rats (p < 0.05 each) compared with sham EA. (iii) The plasma levels of NE were positively correlated with those of IL‐6 (r = 0.86, p < 0.05) and IL‐1β (r = 0.81, p < 0.05), whereas NE levels and GE were negatively correlated with IL‐10 levels (r = −0.870, p < 0.05 and r = −0.791, p < 0.05, respectively). Conclusions: EA inhibits the release of proinflammatory cytokines probably via the suppression of sympathetic activity in "FD" rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An azobenzene-based heteromeric prodrug (hNDP) was prepared for targeted chemotherapy against hypoxic tumor. hNDP could divert the parent drug from nucleus to cytoplasm with lower toxicity, while the azoreduction of hNDP in hypoxia would activate the drug with a robust anti-tumor effect by initiating the apoptosis-related biochemical cascades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at enhancing the catalytic activity of mpg-C 3 N 4 on thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate, mpg-C 3 N 4 was successfully modified by CuO nanorods, via a facile precipitation method. The structure, morphology and composition of mpg-C 3 N 4 and mpg-C 3 N 4 /CuO nanocomposites were characterized by nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurements, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscope, X-ray power diffraction, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, as well as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results demonstrated that CuO nanorods (length of 200–300 nm, diameter of 10–15 nm) were uniformly dispersed throughout mpg-C 3 N 4 , efficiently avoiding the agglomeration. Finally, it was demonstrated that the high weight-loss decomposition temperature of AP was decreased up to 118.5 °C in the presence of 2 wt% mpg-C 3 N 4 /CuO nanocomposites, which was higher than that of pure mpg-C 3 N 4 and CuO, respectively, demonstrating the catalytic performances of the nanocomposites was enhanced via the synergistic catalysis between mpg-C 3 N 4 and CuO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To estimate the diagnostic accuracy of Xpert MTB/RIF, a systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out. Methods: Up to June 20, 2015, multiple databases were screened for relevant studies. Results: Accordingly, 106 studies included 52,410 samples were selected. Diagnostic accuracy of Xpert MTB/RIF for TB detection was validated against either culture or a composite reference standard (CRS). Additionally, selected studies were further subgrouped in four groups based on sample’s type, subject’s age, status of HIV co-infection and smear-positivity. The overall pooled sensitivity and specificity of Xpert MTB/RIF was 0.85 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.82–0.88) and 0.98 (95% CI 0.96–0.98), respectively, compared to culture; while it was 0.59 (95% CI 0.44–0.72) and 0.99 (95% CI 0.97–1.00) compared to CRS. The overall sensitivity was lower in countries with high TB prevalence than countries with middle/low prevalence (0.84, 95% CI: 0.80–0.88 versus 0.89, 95% CI: 0.84–0.93). Furthermore, Xpert MTB/RIF has higher sensitivity in patients with positive smears (0.99, 95% CI 0.97–0.99), in patients with pulmonary TB samples (0.87, 95% CI 0.83–0.90), in adults (0.82, 95% CI 0.76–0.86) and in HIV-positive patients (0.81, 95% CI 0.73–0.87). Conclusions: Taken together, Xpert MTB/RIF is a quick and accurate diagnostic assay for TB which will significantly help the physicians to make their clinical decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:The ATP sensitive potassium (KATP) channel plays an important role in the regulation of resting membrane potential and membrane excitability. The role of the KATPchannel in modulating gastric motility is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the role and mechanism of the KATPchannel in modulating gastric tone and accommodation in dogs. Materials and methods:Gastric volume under a constant pressure reflecting gastric tone was measured using a barostat device in dogs equipped with a gastric cannula. Gastric accommodation was evaluated by the difference in gastric volume before and after a liquid meal. The roles of cholinergic and nitrergic pathways in the inhibitory effect of pinacidil (a KATPopener) were assessed. Results:1) Pinacidil dose-dependently decreased gastric tone at a dosage of 30 (p = 0.628), 100 (p = 0.013) and 300 μg kg−1(p < 0.001). 2) Glibenclamide, a KATPblocker, completely blocked the inhibitory effect of pinacidil on gastric tone. 3) Atropine did not block the inhibitory effect of pinacidil on gastric tone but Nω-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester markedly attenuated the inhibitory effect of pinacidil (p = 0.004). 4) Glibenclamide significantly reduced gastric accommodation (p < 0.001) while pinacidil had no effects on gastric accommodation. 5) Glibenclamide significantly reduced nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside-induced gastric relaxation. Conclusions:These findings indicate that the KATPchannel plays an important role in modulating gastric tone and accommodation in dogs. The inhibitory effect of pinacidil on gastric tone was through the nitrergic pathway as well as acting directly on smooth muscle cells. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a common functional gastrointestinal disease, and abdominal pain is one of the main symptoms. The aim of this study was to explore the effects and mechanisms of auricular electro-acupuncture (AEA) on gastric hypersensitivity in a rodent model of FD. Methods: Ten-day-old pups were gavaged with 0.2 ml of 0.1% iodoacetamide daily for 6 days. AEA at the “stomach” point with different parameters or sham-EA was performed on 8-week-old animals. Gastric sensitivity to gastric distention was measured under different conditions. Autonomic functions were assessed from the spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) derived from the electrocardiogram. Naloxone was injected intraperitoneally before AEA to explore the opioid mechanism. Gastric emptying was measured at the end of the study. Results: 1) Gastric sensitivity to gastric distention was higher in the FD rats. AEA with parameters of 0.1s on, 0.4s off, 100Hz, 0.3ms and 0.4–0.5mA, but not other parameters or sham-EA, decreased gastric hypersensitivity in the FD rats. Naloxone did not block the effect of AEA. 2) Lower vagal activity and higher sympathovagal ratio were noted in the FD rats, compared with the controls. AEA increased vagal activity and improved sympathovagal imbalance. Conclusions: AEA ameliorates gastric hypersensitivity in FD rats and this effect may be attributed to the improvement of sympathovagal balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Strain MJ51 could solubilize 82.0% of pretreated lignite within 8 days. • Multiple extracellular substances mediate the solubilization of lignite. • Strain MJ51 can rebuild the intermolecular hydrogen bonding of lignite. • Strain MJ51 can introduce C=O into the structure of coal in the same way as HNO 3. • Black liquid fractions contained various aromatic and aliphatic compounds. In this study, a newly discovered fungal strain Penicillium ortum MJ51 was isolated from lignite collected from a coal mine in Yunnan Province, China. The strain was then utilized to convert solid Yunnan lignite to liquid value-added chemicals. It solubilized 36.4% of the raw lignite and 82.0% of lignite pretreated with nitric acid within 8 days. The extracellular metabolites and enzymes secreted by MJ51 were detected dynamically, along with an analysis of the organic element composition, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of the raw lignite, pretreated lignite, and their bio-solubilized residues and soluble fractions. The results suggested that extracellular metabolites including alkaline substances and surfactants, secreted by MJ51 were the primary contributors to the depolymerization of lignite, because the lignite-solubilization ability of MJ51 was correlated with pH and surface tension of the culture. Moreover, extracellular enzymes, such as lignin peroxidase and esterase, secreted by MJ51 participated in the degradation of lignite despite their poor activity. Furthermore, MJ51 could introduce C O into the structure of raw lignite in the same way as HNO 3. Under the associated action of extracellular alkaline substances, surfactants, and enzymes, the hydrogen bond in coal was rebuilt, the complex aromatic skeletons were opened, and the attached long aliphatic side chain was cut off. The pretreated lignite could be thoroughly degraded by MJ51 than raw lignite as it had a lower degree of aromatic condensation, shorter aliphatic side chain and more carbonyl groups. The soluble bio-solubilized fractions of lignite contained aliphatic and aromatic compounds, and their derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peripheral nerve injury is a common clinical problem. Nerve growth factor (NGF) promotes peripheral nerve regeneration, but its clinical applications are limited by several constraints. In this study, we found that the time-dependent expression profiles of eight let-7 family members in the injured nerve after sciatic nerve injury were roughly similar to each other. Let-7 microRNAs (miRNAs) significantly reduced cell proliferation and migration of primary Schwann cells (SCs) by directly targeting NGF and suppressing its protein translation. Following sciatic nerve injury, the temporal change in let-7 miRNA expression was negatively correlated with that in NGF expression. Inhibition of let-7 miRNAs increased NGF secretion by primary cultured SCs and enhanced axonal outgrowth from a coculture of primary SCs and dorsal root gangalion neurons. In vivo tests indicated that let-7 inhibition promoted SCs migration and axon outgrowth within a regenerative microenvironment. In addition, the inhibitory effect of let-7 miRNAs on SCs apoptosis might serve as an early stress response to nerve injury, but this effect seemed to be not mediated through a NGF-dependent pathway. Collectively, our results provide a new insight into let-7 miRNA regulation of peripheral nerve regeneration and suggest a potential therapy for repair of peripheral nerve injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hierarchical macro/microporous ZSM-5 zeolite (defined as ZSM-5(MM)) was successfully synthesized by using silica spheres as silica source. The effects of template, sodium ions, hydroxyl ions, aluminum and water contents as well as crystallization temperature on the morphology and pore structure of ZSM-5 were investigated in detail. The formation mechanism was studied by XRD, SEM, N 2 sorption, ICP-AES, XPS, 27Al MAS NMR and 29Si MAS NMR, confirming that the silica spheres during synthesis process were served as not only silica nutrients to accelerate the generation of crystal nucleus, but also morphology guiding agents that induce the formation of macro/microporous structure followed by quasi solid hydrogel transformation mechanism. The prepared ZSM-5(MM) zeolite exhibited much longer catalytic lifetime and higher light olefins selectivity in the methanol to olefins (MTO) than those of the conventional microporous sample. This is because the hierarchical macro/microporous structure can effectively improve the diffusion of feedstocks and products, suppressing the rapid coke deposition. Meanwhile, the contribution of alkene cycle in MTO is enhanced and it produces more propene and butene. [Display omitted] ● A facile strategy has been developed to synthesize hierarchical macro/microporous ZSM-5 zeolite ● The silica spheres not only serve as silica source, but also play a morphology-oriented role ● The formation of hierarchical structure is related to the dissolution rate of silica spheres. ● Macro/microporous ZSM-5 exhibited longer catalytic lifetime and higher olefin selectivity in MTO [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After traumatic injury, peripheral nerves can spontaneously regenerate through highly sophisticated and dynamic processes that are regulated by multiple cellular elements and molecular factors. Despite evidence of morphological changes and of expression changes of a few regulatory genes, global knowledge of gene expression changes and related biological processes during peripheral nerve injury and regeneration is still lacking. Here we aimed to profile global mRNA expression changes in proximal nerve segments of adult rats after sciatic nerve transection. According to DNA microarray analysis, the huge number of genes was differentially expressed at different time points (0.5 h–14 d) post nerve transection, exhibiting multiple distinct temporal expression patterns. The expression changes of several genes were further validated by quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis. The gene ontology enrichment analysis was performed to decipher the biological processes involving the differentially expressed genes. Collectively, our results highlighted the dynamic change of the important biological processes and the time-dependent expression of key regulatory genes after peripheral nerve injury. Interestingly, we, for the first time, reported the presence of olfactory receptors in sciatic nerves. Hopefully, this study may provide a useful platform for deeply studying peripheral nerve injury and regeneration from a molecular-level perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Maternal overnutrition is associated with increased risk of metabolic disorders in the offspring. This study tested the hypothesis that maternal green tea (GT) supplementation can alleviate metabolic derangements in high-fat-diet-fed rats born of obese dams. Female Sprague–Dawley rats were fed low-fat (LF, 7%), high-fat (HF, 30%) or HF diet containing 0.75% or 1.0% GT extract (GT1, GT2) prior to conception and throughout gestation and lactation. Both doses of GT significantly improved metabolic parameters of HF-fed lactating dams (P<.05). Birth weight and litter size of offspring from HF dams were similar, but GT supplementation led to lighter pups on day 21 (P<.05). The weaned male pups received HF, GT1 or GT2 diet (dam/pup diet groups: LF/HF, HF/HF, HF/GT1, HF/GT2, GT1/HF and GT2/HF). At week 13, they had similar weight but insulin resistance index (IRI), serum nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) and liver triglyceride of rats born to GT dams were 57%, 23% and 26% lower, accompanied by improved gene/protein expressions related to lipid and glucose metabolism, compared with the HF/HF rats (P<.05). Although HF/GT1 and HF/GT2 rats had lower serum NEFA, their insulin and IRI were comparable to HF/HF rats. This study shows that metabolic derangements induced by an overnourished mother could be offset by supplementing GT to the maternal diet and that this approach is more effective than giving GT to offspring since weaning. Hence, adverse effects of developmental programming are reversible, at least in part, by supplementing bioactive food component(s) to the mother''s diet. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Visual electrophysiology is an objective visual function examination widely used in clinical work and medical identification that can objectively evaluate visual function and locate lesions according to waveform changes. However, in visual electrophysiological examinations, the flash visual evoked potential (FVEP) varies greatly among individuals, resulting in different waveforms in different normal subjects. Moreover, most of the FVEP wave labelling is performed automatically by a machine, and manually corrected by professional clinical technicians. These labels may have biases due to the individual variations in subjects, incomplete clinical examination data, different professional skills, personal habits and other factors. Through the retrospective study of big data, an artificial intelligence algorithm is used to maintain high generalization abilities in complex situations and improve the accuracy of prescreening. Methods: A novel multi-input neural network based on convolution and confidence branching (MCAC-Net) for retinitis pigmentosa RP recognition and out-of-distribution detection is proposed. The MCAC-Net with global and local feature extraction is designed for the FVEP signal that has different local and global information, and a confidence branch is added for out-of-distribution sample detection. For the proposed manual features,a new input layer is added. Results: The model is verified by a clinically collected FVEP dataset, and an accuracy of 90.7% is achieved in the classification task and 93.3% in the out-of-distribution detection task. Conclusion: We built a deep learning-based FVEP classification algorithm that promises to be an excellent tool for screening RP diseases by using FVEP signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Breakdown of the inner blood–retinal barrier and the blood–brain barrier is associated with changes in tight and adherens junction-associated proteins that link vascular endothelial cells. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 increases the paracellular permeability of vascular endothelial monolayers through tyrosine phosphorylation of VE-cadherin and claudin-5. Bovine retinal and human brain capillary endothelial cells were grown as monolayers on coated polycarbonate membranes. Paracellular permeability was studied by measuring the equilibration of 14C-inulin or fluorescence-labelled dextran. Changes in VE-cadherin and claudin-5 expression were studied by immunocytochemistry (ICC) and quantified by cell-based enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Tyrosine phosphorylation of VE-cadherin and claudin-5 was studied by ICC, immunoprecipitation and Western blotting. We found that exposure of endothelial cells to TGF-β1 caused a dose-dependent increase in paracellular permeability as reflected by increases in the equilibration of 14C-inulin. This effect was enhanced by the tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor orthovanadate and attenuated by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor lavendustin A. ICC and cell-based ELISA revealed that TGF-β1 induced both dose- and time-dependent decreases in VE-cadherin and claudin-5 expression. Assessment of cell viability indicated that changes in these junction-associated proteins were not due to endothelial death or injury. ICC revealed that tyrosine phosphorylation of endothelial monolayers was greatly enhanced by TGF-β1 treatment, and immunoprecipitation of cell lysates showed increased tyrosine phosphorylation of VE-cadherin and claudin-5. Our results suggest that tyrosine phosphorylation of VE-cadherin and claudin-5 is involved in the increased paracellular permeability of central nervous system-derived vascular endothelium induced by TGF-β1. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The properties of the inward current of medulla terminalis-X-organ (MTXO) cells isolated from the Penaeus japonicus eyestalk were studied with the whole-cell clamp technique in the presence of Ca2+ and K+ channel blockers. The inward currents had a threshold at about −50mV and peaked at −10mV. The reversed potential (V rev) was very close to V Na, the theoretical Nernst equilibrium potential for Na+. V rev followed V Na when the external Na+ concentration was varied and the currents were entirely suppressed by 30nM tetrodotoxin (TTX), indicating that it was carried by Na+. The smooth line of concentration-dependent inhibition of sodium currents by TTX represented the best fit with the Hill equation, yielding an IC50 of 2.1±0.1nM. The values of the half-maximal activation voltage V h were −20.6±0.5 and −19.3±0.5mV, respectively, in the absence and presence of 2nM TTX. TTX had no significant effect on the voltage dependence of steady-state activation and inactivation of I Na. Taken together, the results suggest that the inward current recorded under our experimental conditions was carried by sodium ions flowing through fast voltage-dependent Na+ channels. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Exosomes are nano-sized vesicles secreted by most cells that contain a variety of biological molecules, such as lipids, proteins and nucleic acids. They have been recognized as important mediators for long-distance cell-to-cell communication and are involved in a variety of biological processes. Exosomes have unique advantages, positioning them as highly effective drug delivery tools and providing a distinct means of delivering various therapeutic agents to target cells. In addition, as a new clinical diagnostic biomarker, exosomes play an important role in many aspects of human health and disease, including endocrinology, inflammation, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. In this review, we summarize the development of exosome-based drug delivery tools and the validation of novel biomarkers, and illustrate the role of exosomes as therapeutic targets in the prevention and treatment of various diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Throughout the nuclear power production process, the disposal of radioactive waste has consistently raised concerns about environmental safety. When the metal tanks used for waste disposal are corroded, radionuclides seep into the groundwater environment and eventually into the biosphere, causing significant damage to the environment. Hence, investigating the adsorption behavior of radionuclides on the corrosion products of metal tanks used for waste disposal is an essential component of safety and evaluation protocols at disposal sites. In order to understand the adsorption behavior of important radionuclides 60Co, 59Ni, 90Sr, 135Cs and 129I on α-FeOOH, the influences of different pH values, contact time, temperature and ion concentration on the adsorption rate were studied. The adsorption mechanism was also discussed. It was revealed that the adsorption of key nuclides onto α-FeOOH is significantly influenced by both pH and temperature. This change in surface charge corresponds to alterations in the morphology of nuclide ions within the system, subsequently impacting the adsorption efficiency. Sodium ions (Na+) and chlorate ions (ClO3−) compete for coordination with nuclide ions, thereby exerting an additional influence on the adsorption process. The XPS analysis results demonstrate the formation of an internal coordination bond (Ni–O bond) between Ni2+ and iron oxide, which is adsorbed onto α-FeOOH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) results from the reactivation of varicella zoster virus (VZV) in the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve. The inflammation caused by VZV involves multiple tissues in the eyes. Our goal is to evaluate pattern electroretinogram (PERG) changes and their relationship with corneal sub-basal nerve changes in patients with HZO. Methods: Twenty-two patients with herpes zoster keratitis or conjunctivitis and 20 healthy volunteers were recruited for this cross-sectional study. A PERG test was performed on both eyes of HZO patients and one eye of the healthy controls. In vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) was also performed on both eyes of the HZO patients to detect corneal nerve damage. Results: Our results showed changes in the PERG parameters in both eyes of HZO patients compared to the healthy controls. Affected eyes showed delayed N95 peak time and decreased P50 and N95 amplitude compared to the unaffected eyes (p < 0.05, respectively). Both affected and unaffected eyes in HZO patients showed delayed P50 peak time and decreased N95 amplitude (p < 0.05, respectively) compared to controls. In HZO patients, no significant differences in each PERG parameter were found between eyes with and without corneal lesions or between eyes with and without increased Langham's cells in the corneal epithelial sub-basal layer. The IVCM images showed decreased total nerve length and number at the sub-basal layer of the epithelial cornea in affected eyes compared to unaffected eyes (p < 0.05). No significant correlation was found between total nerve length and PERG changes. Conclusions: Our results showed that VZV-affected eyes without central cornea involvement displayed reduced N95 amplitude and prolonged P50 peak time in bilateral eyes compared to the healthy controls. Larger studies are needed to further explore the effect of HZO on the electrophysiological response of the eye and the posterior segment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZSM-5/ZSM-48 composite zeolite was synthesized via an one-pot method by using mixed templates of cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and 1,6-hexamethylenediamine (HDA), and its catalytic performance was tested in methanol-to-olefin reaction (MTO), butene conversion and co-reaction of methanol with butene. The results show that the amount of added CTAB plays a vital role in the synthesis of ZSM-5/ZSM-48 composite zeolite. The increase in the amount of CTAB in the synthesis gels leads to an increase in the content of zeolite with MFI structure, a higher specific surface area, more Al atoms located at channel intersections and more acid sites than ZSM-48 synthesized by the conventional method with HDA as a template. The catalytic results show that ZSM-5/ZSM-48 composite zeolite gives much higher propene selectivity in MTO reaction, butene conversion and co-reaction compared with ZSM-5, ZSM-48 and their mechanical mixtures due to that the combined effect of catalyst acidity and pore structure promotes the olefin-based cycle and inhibits the aromatization and hydride transfer reactions. Image 1 • ZSM-5/ZSM-48 composite was synthesized via one-pot method by using dual templates. • The relative content of composite zeolite can be adjusted by addition of CTAB. • Increasing MRE content promotes olefin-based cycle in MTO and co-reaction system. • Propene selectivity is improved due to combined effect of acid and pore structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The catalytic effects of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (ADP) on the biomass pyrolysis and its mechanism for the selective production of furfural (FF) and levoglucosenone (LGO) were investigated in this study. Samples were prepared with rice husk and ADP solutions with gradient-concentration and pyrolyzed via TG-FTIR and Py-GC/MS. Results showed that ADP made the decomposition of cellulose occur at a lower temperature and greatly enhanced the release of C O groups and carbohydrates below 300 °C, indicating the breakage of glycosidic bond and dehydration reaction during pyrolysis were promoted by ADP. In the pyrolysis volatiles, the production of anhydrosugars and furans was promoted significantly. Due to the rearrangement of the methoxy group, the production of methoxy phenols and CH 4 was decreased simultaneously. ADP showed good selectivity for both FF and LGO. With the increased ADP dose, the yield and relative content of FF and LGO increased firstly and then kept stable. 400 °C was found the optimal temperature for the production of FF and LGO, where the sum of the relative peak area of LGO and FF could reach 52.23%. Finally, a possible formation pathway of LGO and FF under the catalysis of ADP was speculated. • ADP enhanced the release of C O groups and carbohydrates below 300 °C. • ADP inhibited the production of methoxy phenols. • ADP showed good selectivity for both LGO and FF. • The mechanism of ADP for selective production of LGO and FF was speculated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An energy-harvesting suspension system of a vehile can improve both the ride comfort and fuel efficiency. However, such a suspension design is a multi-parameter and multi-objective optimization problem. To solve this problem, the sensitivities of performance criteria to the parameters of an energy-harvesting suspension are studied firstly, with analytical solutions and numerical solutions of the root mean squares of the design criteria. To get a trade-off between the conflicting performance indexes of the suspension, a non-dimensional mixed index based on safety probability is proposed to evaluate the performance, where the ride comfort probability and handling stability probability are adopted to unify the dimensions. On this basis, the genetic algorithm is adopted to solve the multi-parameter optimization problem. Numerical analysis and experiments are conducted to verify the performance of the optimized energy-harvesting suspension system. Results show that ride comfort and handling stability are two conflicting performance indexes, and only a Pareto optimal result can be obtained by multi-objective optimization algorithm. With the proposed mixed index of suspension as the optimal object, the ride comfort can be improved significantly, while the handling stability is ensured. Additionally, for a given energy-harvesting suspension, by merely optimizing the damping coefficient, the suspension performance can be improved with variations of road conditions, which illustrates the potential good performance of the energy-harvesting suspension. • A non-dimensional mixed index based on safety probability is proposed. • The inerter is fully considered in the suspension modeling and operation. • The sensitivity of performance criteria to the parameters is studied. • The damping coefficient is optimized at different road levels. • The safety probability based optimization is analyzed verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Upgrading fraction of bio-oil by adding nitrogenous compounds. • Improving the stability of fraction by decreasing ketones and furans with additives. • The pH value of fraction greatly increased from 2.54 to 5.10 by CO(NH 2) 2. • The content of high-value guaiacols compounds in fraction increased by 85.89%. This work optimized the physicochemical properties of fraction and effectively separated guaiacols compounds from bio-oil. It aimed to improve the quality and application value of bio-oil fraction. Several kinds of additives were added into the walnut shell bio-oil in the same mass ratio before the bio-oil distillation. The results showed that all additives, except for (NH 4) 2 SO 4 , increased the pH value of fractions by facilitating the conversion of acidic compounds to salts. Adding additives could decrease the content of ketones and furfural in the fraction and increase the stability of fraction. Meanwhile, the moisture content of fractions was decreased and the content of high-value guaiacols compounds was increased. Among these additives, the minimum moisture content (7.48%), the maximum pH (5.10) of fraction and the maximum yield of high-value guaiacols compounds (increased by 85.89%) all were obtained by adding CO(NH 2) 2. According to this study, among these additives, CO(NH 2) 2 could be used into bio-oil pretreatments for enhancing downstream bio-oil processing and separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gallium-based liquid metal alloys (LMs) have promising prospects as circuit components for flexible electronics, while, their high surface tension is now challenging for wetting of LMs on polymer surfaces and further patterning. In this study, we prepared functional Cu thin films on PDMS to enhance wettability of EGaIn liquid metal, using metal reaction-enhanced wetting. By adjusting the deposition pressure for Cu film deposition and introducing silicon-bound PDMS, both surface characteristics and microstructures of the Cu films change greatly. The corresponding contact angle of EGaIn can be tuned from 19° to 79.5°. The folded texture of the Cu film surface reduces the actual contact area, leading to an increase in the contact angle. The higher I (111) /I (200) ratio in the Cu films improves the surface wettability, probably due to the fact that the (111)-phase orientation promotes the formation of CuGa 2 reaction products. This tunable wettability of LMs is expected to improve the performance of flexible electronic devices. • Cu films with various microstructures were deposited on PDMS and PDMS with rigid Si substrate comparatively. • The microstructure of Cu changed the contact Angle of EGaIn from 19° to 79.5°. • The wettability of EGaIn was determined by the degree of chemical reaction between Cu and Ga. • The larger actual contact area and higher I (111) /I (200) ratio in the Cu film favored the wettability of EGaIn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) refers to the decision making in the limited or infinite set of conflicting schemes. At present, the general method is to obtain the weight coefficients of each scheme based on different criteria through the expert questionnaire survey, and then use the Dempster–Shafer Evidence Theory (D-S theory) to model all schemes into a complete identification framework to generate the corresponding basic probability assignment (BPA). The scheme with the highest belief value is then chosen. In the above process, using different methods to determine the weight coefficient will have different effects on the final selection of alternatives. To reduce the uncertainty caused by subjectively determining the weight coefficients of different criteria and further improve the level of multi-criteria decision-making, this paper combines negation of probability distribution with evidence theory and proposes a weights-determining method in MCDM based on negation of probability distribution. Through the quantitative evaluation of the fuzzy degree of the criterion, the uncertainty caused by human subjective factors is reduced, and the subjective error is corrected to a certain extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy-harvesting suspension is very important to improve the energy efficiency of vehicles, especially for electric vehicles. A novel energy-harvesting variable/constant damping suspension system with motor based electromagnetic damper is proposed in this paper. The method attempts to make following contributions: The vehicle vibration energy is not only harvested from the suspension system, but also controlled to store in the battery for further usage. Moreover, the damping of the suspension system is able to be controlled as wish, to be constant or to vary with road conditions. The performance comparison with conventional suspension equipped with an oil damper is carried out by simulation and experiments. The effect of the moment of inertia on the suspension performance is investigated. To experimentally validate the proposed method, a scaled quarter car suspension validation platform is established. The experimental results show that the damping can be controlled to be constant as the conventional oil damper, and also be variable as wish. The proposed energy-harvesting suspension can recover energy from vehicle vibration to store in the battery for further usage with high efficiency, which is as high as 35.24% improvement compared with previous studies. Meanwhile, the damping coefficient can also be regulated in real-time accurately. • A novel energy-harvesting suspension system is proposed. • Both the energy harvest/storage and damping control are realized simultaneously. • The schematic and the operation principle of the system is explained in detail. • A 2DOF suspension model taking into account the inerter is built and analyzed. • The proposed suspension system and control method are verified experimentally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The coupling mechanism of BO and VUV technology was first proposed. • BO/VUV effectively removed multiple emerging pollutants without producing secondary pollutants. • The feasibility of the BO/VUV technology was verified in actual water bodies. • BO/VUV treatment reduced tap water toxicity, securing it as a terminal drinking water treatment option. Micropollutant in drinking water may not be effectively removed during centralized treatment. To reduce potential health risks, water treatment at the user terminal is warranted. This study investigated the performance of VUV coupled with boiling to simultaneously remove contaminants, a common household water treatment method in developing countries, for the treatment of micropollutants. Compared to individual boiling or VUV treatment, the VUV/BO process was more effective in improving the degradation of micropollutants. The results showed that heating promoted the direct photolysis and HO oxidation capabilities in the VUV process, with the HO generation increasing from 36.56 μM at 30 °C to 80.48 μM at 90 °C. At a reaction temperature of 100 °C, the degradation rates of malathion (MAL), dimethoate (DMT), trichloroacetic acid (TCAA), and dichloroacetic acid (DCAA) by VUV were increased by 0.81, 1.19, 1.34, and 0.90 times respectively compared to 25 °C. Analysis of the organic composition of actual water samples showed that the total fluorescence intensity of organic matter decreased significantly after VUV oxidation, mainly degrading humic-like substances. Using GC–MS analysis, this study identified 11 oxidative products of the DMT, and proposed two possible degradation pathways. Toxicity evaluation of the intermediate products of DMT demonstrated that they were less toxic than the parent contaminants. The results indicate that the heating-coupled water treatment process provides an effective technology for the treatment of micropollutants in terminal drinking water, and this process is worth promoting in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high heterogeneity of receptor expression and varied chemotherapeutic sensitivity seriously compromise the therapeutic outcome of triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC)‐targeting nanodrugs. In this work, a TNBC‐targeting nanodrug (designated as CPU) equipped with self‐promoted targeting property through chemotherapeutic upregulation of CD47 is constructed, enabling synergistic chemo/photodynamic therapy. Specifically, the hydrophobic docetaxel (DOC), which can upregulate the expression of CD47 in TNBC cells, is loaded in the nanomicelles (designated as P‐Pep) assembled from a protoporphyrin IX (PPIX)‐labeled amphiphilic chimeric peptide of Fmoc‐K(PPIX)‐AWSATWSNYWRH, obtaining the ca. 196 nm CPU. Aided by the enhanced permeability and retention effect and guidance of CD47‐binding peptide sequence, CPU is verified to prefer to accumulate in CD47 overexpressed TNBC cells, which can recruit more CPU by upregulating CD47 expression post‐treatment of DOC. Both in vitro and in vivo results demonstrate the superior tumor targeting ability, which can extensively amplify chemotherapeutic and photodynamic therapeutic effects while evading obvious adverse effects. The self‐promoted targeting strategy will inspire the design of nanodrugs for the personalized therapy of tumors with high heterogeneity and resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sepsis is a potentially fatal condition caused by infection. It is frequently difficult to distinguish sepsis from systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), often resulting in poor prognoses and the misuse of antibiotics. Hence, highly sensitive and specific biomarkers are needed to differentiate sepsis from SIRS. Urine samples were collected and segregated by group (a sepsis group, a SIRS group, and a healthy control group). iTRAQ was used to identify the differentially expressed proteins among the three groups. The identified proteins were measured by ELISA in urine samples. Finally, all the acquired data were analyzed in SPSS. C-reactive protein, leucine-rich alpha glycoprotein-1 and serum amyloid A (SAA) protein were differentially expressed among the three groups. The adjusted median concentrations of urinary C-reactive protein were 1337.6, 358.7, and 2.4 in the sepsis, SIRS, and healthy control groups, respectively. The urinary leucine-rich alpha glycoprotein-1 levels in these three groups were 1614.4, 644.5, and 13.6, respectively, and the levels of SAA were 6.3, 2.9, and 0.07, respectively. For all three of these measures, the sepsis group had higher levels than the SIRS group (P < 0.001), and the SIRS group had higher levels than the healthy control group. When combined, the three biomarkers had a sensitivity of 0.906 and a specificity of 0.896 in distinguishing sepsis from SIRS. Urinary C-reactive protein, urinary leucine-rich alpha glycoprotein-1 and urinary SAA have diagnostic value in cases of sepsis. This initial study suggests the possibility of improved differential diagnosis between sepsis and systemic inflammatory response syndrome; additional confirmation is necessary to corroborate the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information which deals with Agouti signalling peptide (ASIP) gene variation in Chinese donkeys. Topics discussed include information on genotyping of the donkeys; homozygosity of missense mutation in the ASIP gene in phenotype of no light points (NLP) donkeys; and use of donkey-hide gelatin in traditional Chinese medicine for promoting hematopoiesis; and genomic coding sequences of ASIP.