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Background: Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) may lead to decreased quality of life (QOL) and increased anxiety and depression in patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT), possibly due to the lack of selectivity of the ablation tissue and the long ablation time. In recent years, pulsed field ablation (PFA) has been used for the first time in China to treat PSVT patients because of its ability to ablate abnormal tissue sites in a precise and transient manner. This study was conducted to compare the effects of PFA and RFCA on QOL and psychological symptoms of PSVT patients. Methods: We have designed a single-center, randomized, single-blind, standard-controlled trial. A total of 50 participants who met the eligibility criteria would be randomly allocated into the PFA group or RFCA group in a 1:1 ratio. All participants were assessed using the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at pre-procedure (T0), post-procedure (T1), and 3 months post-procedure (T2). The SPSS 21.0 software was used to analyze the data through Wilcoxon and Fisher's exact tests and repeated measures ANOVA. Results: Twenty-five in the PFA group and 24 in the RFCA group completed the trial. SF-36: (1) Between-group comparison: At T1, PFA group had significantly higher SF-36 scores on physiological function (PF) and general health (GH) than RFCA group, with a treatment difference of 5.61 points and 18.51 points(P < 0.05). (2) Within-group comparison: We found that in the PFA and RFCA groups, T2 showed significant improvement in the remaining 6 subscales of the SF-36 scale compared to T1 and T0 (P < 0.05), except for body pain (BP) and social function (SF) scores. HADS: (1) Between-group comparison: no significant difference (P > 0.05). (2) Within-group comparison: The HADS scores of the PFA and RFCA groups were statistically significant at T2 compared to T0 and T1 (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Our study provided new and meaningful evidence that PFA was effective in significantly improving QOL and decreasing anxiety and depression in PFA patients. Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2200060272. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Atractylodes chinensis (DC) Koidz., a dicotyledonous and hypogeal germination species, is an important medicinal plant because its rhizome is enriched in sesquiterpenes. The development and production of A. chinensis are negatively affected by drought stress, especially at the seedling stage. Understanding the molecular mechanism of A. chinensis drought stress response plays an important role in ensuring medicinal plant production and quality. In this study, A. chinensis seedlings were subjected to drought stress treatment for 0 (control), 3 (D3), and 9 days (D9). For the control, the sample was watered every two days and collected on the second morning after watering. The integration of physiological and transcriptomic analyses was carried out to investigate the effects of drought stress on A. chinensis seedlings and to reveal the molecular mechanism of its drought stress response. Results: The malondialdehyde, proline, soluble sugar, and crude protein contents and antioxidative enzyme (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase) activity were significantly increased under drought stress compared with the control. Transcriptomic analysis indicated a total of 215,665 unigenes with an average length of 759.09 bp and an N50 of 1140 bp. A total of 29,449 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected between the control and D3, and 14,538 DEGs were detected between the control and D9. Under drought stress, terpenoid backbone biosynthesis had the highest number of unigenes in the metabolism of terpenoids and polyketides. To identify candidate genes involved in the sesquiterpenoid and triterpenoid biosynthetic pathways, we observed 22 unigene-encoding enzymes in the terpenoid backbone biosynthetic pathway and 15 unigene-encoding enzymes in the sesquiterpenoid and triterpenoid biosynthetic pathways under drought stress. Conclusion: Our study provides transcriptome profiles and candidate genes involved in sesquiterpenoid and triterpenoid biosynthesis in A. chinensis in response to drought stress. Our results improve our understanding of how drought stress might affect sesquiterpenoid and triterpenoid biosynthetic pathways in A. chinensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the growth of the convex viscosity solution of the Monge–Ampère equation $\det D^2u=1$ outside a bounded domain of the upper half space. We show that if u is a convex quadratic polynomial on the boundary $\{x_n=0\}$ and there exists some $\varepsilon>0$ such that $u=O(|x|^{3-\varepsilon })$ at infinity, then $u=O(|x|^2)$ at infinity. As an application, we improve the asymptotic result at infinity for viscosity solutions of Monge–Ampère equations in half spaces of Jia, Li and Li ['Asymptotic behavior at infinity of solutions of Monge–Ampère equations in half spaces', J. Differential Equations 269 (1) (2020), 326–348]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] The development of interfacial engineering was crucial for achieving the industrialization of high-performance carbon fiber/phenolic composites. In this study, establishing scalable interpenetrating networks (cellulose nanofiber-zeolitic imidazolate frameworks-8/aramid nanofiber-boron nitride) on the fiber/matrix interphase, was in favor of realizing precise repairation of interfacial defects, further regulating thermal conductivity, mechanical and tribological properties of the composites. Based on the physical and chemical bridging-effects arising from above spider-web networks, the flexural strength and modulus of modified sample were 74.69 MPa and 6.22 GPa, showing an increase of 135.99% and 56.68%, respectively. Meanwhile, this trans-scale spider-web structure acted as a micron skeleton-nano unit continuous thermal conductive network, significantly reduced phonon scattering and displayed a 258.33% enhancement in the thermal management capability of modified sample. This study reveals key design principles of trans-scale interfacial structure to dynamicly regulate performances and meet service requirements of next-generation carbon fiber/phenolic composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: M. leprae preferentially infects Schwann cells (SCs) in the peripheral nerves leading to nerve damage and irreversible disability. Knowledge of how M. leprae infects and interacts with host SCs is essential for understanding mechanisms of nerve damage and revealing potential new therapeutic strategies. Methodology/Principal findings: We performed a time-course single-cell sequencing analysis of SCs infected with M. leprae at different time points, further analyzed the heterogeneity of SCs, subpopulations associated with M. leprae infection, developmental trajectory of SCs and validated by Western blot or flow cytometry. Different subpopulations of SCs exhibiting distinct genetic features and functional enrichments were present. We observed two subpopulations associated with M. leprae infection, a stem cell-like cell subpopulation increased significantly at 24 h but declined by 72 h after M. leprae infection, and an adipocyte-like cell subpopulation, emerged at 72 h post-infection. The results were validated and confirmed that a stem cell-like cell subpopulation was in the early stage of differentiation and could differentiate into an adipocyte-like cell subpopulation. Conclusions/Significance: Our results present a systematic time-course analysis of SC heterogeneity after infection by M. leprae at single-cell resolution, provide valuable information to understand the critical biological processes underlying reprogramming and lipid metabolism during M. leprae infection of SCs, and increase understanding of the disease-causing mechanisms at play in leprosy patients as well as revealing potential new therapeutic strategies. Author summary: Leprosy remains a key public health concern for WHO, particularly affecting the poorest and most disadvantaged sectors of society in the world's least developed countries. The exploration of the mechanism of leprosy nerve injury in order to prevent the occurrence of deformity and disability has aroused great interest and extensive attention of scientists. Although some achievements have been made, as a critical phase for the propagation of M. leprae, events occurring during the early stage of M. leprae infection of human SCs are still poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to investigate SC heterogeneity and biomarkers in different M. leprae infectious stages at a single cell resolution. We established that a stem cell-like cell subpopulation was in the early stage of differentiation and could differentiate into an adipocyte-like cell subpopulation. This research provides a novel perspective on the dynamic process of host cell differentiation and metabolism regulated by M. leprae and thus increase understanding of the mechanisms underlying the causes of disability in leprosy patients as well as identifying potential new therapeutic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Madelung disease (MD) was first described by Brodie in 1846 as a rare multiple lipoma. It is a benign tumor characterized by symmetrical diffuse adipose tissue deposition in the proximal extremities and neck. Until now, the etiology and pathogenesis of the disease have not been fully explained, resulting in difficulties in diagnosis and treatment; moreover, palliative treatment, such as surgical resection of adipose tissue or liposuction, is still the mainstream treatment for MD. However, the effectiveness of palliative surgery is limited, and most patients still relapse or metastasize after treatment. Therefore, we analyzed the relationship between tumor cells and immune cells in MD using single-cell RNA sequencing for the first time and combined an analysis of our results with a review of previous literature reports. Our study provides a new perspective on the pathogenesis of MD and provides a vital clinical basis for targeted therapy. The authors declare that all the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article and its Supplemental information files. • Madelung disease (MD) is a rare metabolic disease whose etiology has not been fully elucidated. • It is a benign tumor characterized by symmetrical diffuse adipose tissue deposition in the proximal extremities and neck. • The diagnosis is mainly based on physical and histological examination, clinical features, and imaging. • We reported on MD by using single-cell RNA sequencing for the first time and offered a new perspective on its biological characteristics, which is expected to provide a vital clinical basis for targeted therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the perspective of mysticism, the interpretation of zuowang 坐忘 as the breath-meditation technique with a transcendental goal establishes the religious basis of Zhuangzi's cultivation. In contrast, most Chinese scholars argue instead that zuowang is primarily the mental state independent of meditative techniques, and that the techniques are devoid of philosophical significance. The pivot of the two seemingly irreconcilable views is the holistic concept of qi 氣. Combining the two interpretations can lead to a consummate understanding. There is an innate connection between the physical and nonphysical qi, and the latter can be considered as the root and basis. Deep exploration of the mysticism paradigm represented by Harold Roth reveals that the interpretation of meditative techniques is a necessary step in gaining mystical experiences not contradictory to the one that construes it as mental cultivation. The mind–body transformation shows that the pursuit of authenticity and wholeness of humanity can broaden one's concern with fellow human beings and other realms of existence, as the same process is followed in the perpetual growth and change of the universe. This allows us to experience resonance with the universe toward the goal of "the unity of self" so to speak. The religiousness of Zhuangzi's cultivation is, thus, substantiated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Acute monocytic leukemia belongs to type M5 of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) classified by FAB, which appears a high incidence of extramedullary infiltration (EMI) and poor prognosis. In this study, we observed the inhibitory effect of ginsenoside Rk3 on the EMI of monocytic leukemia cells and initially explored its related mechanism of targeting the miR-3677-5p/CXCL12 axis. Methods. The MTT assay and colony formation assay were used to detect the inhibitory effect of Rk3 on proliferation. Both cellular migration and invasion were observed by the Transwell assay. The expression levels of miR-3677-5p, CXCL12, and CXCR4 were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot, as well as overexpression of miR-3677-5p by transfected with lentivirus and detection of a dual luciferase reporter gene. The expression of MMP2 and TIMP2 was detected by immunofluorescence. Results. Rk3 effectively inhibits the proliferation, migration, and invasion associated with EMI of leukemia. The leukemia cells of M5 patients with EMI showed low expression of miR-3677-5p but high expression of the mRNA of CXCL12 and CXCR4. Overexpression of miR-3677-5p or intervention of CXCL12 effectively inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of SHI-1 cells. The luciferase assay showed that CXCL12 was the downstream target gene of miR-3677-5p. After overexpression of miR-3677-5p or intervention of CXCL12 in combination with Rk3, the inhibitory effect on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of SHI-1 cells was more obvious. Importantly, Rk3 significantly regulated the expression levels of miR-3677-5p, CXCL12, CXCR4, and EMI-related functional proteins including MMP2 and TIMP2. Overexpression of miR-3677-5p or intervention of CXCL12 also regulated the expression of MMP2 and TIMP2. Conclusions. The leukemia cells of M5 patients with EMI appeared to have low expression of miR-3677-5p and high expression of the mRNA of CXCL12 and CXCR4, which may be used as indicators of EMI and poor prognosis. Rk3 is effective in inhibiting the EMI of SHI-1 cells by targeting the miR-3677-5p/CXCL12 axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leprosy is an infectious disease caused by non‐cultivable bacteria Mycobacterium leprae. Th17 cells play vital roles during pathogenesis of leprosy reactions and IL‐23 is involved in Th17 cell differentiation. Although previous studies have reported the participation of IL‐23 in leprosy patients in peripheral blood, the role of this cytokine in skin has not yet been described for the disease. In this study, we first evaluated IL‐23 expression in the skin of patients with leprosy. Data showed that in keratinocytes, endothelial cells, and macrophages, IL‐23 expression was markedly higher in patients compared to that in the normal skin controls. Also, leprosy patients presented higher percentage of IL‐17A‐producing IL‐23R + CD4 T cells than healthy donors. IL‐23R blocking induced markedly downregulated IL‐17A secretion in leprosy patients but not in healthy donors. Furthermore, TGF‐β expression was significantly elevated after IL‐23R blocking. Overall, this study establishes that Th17 cells produce IL‐17A in an IL‐23 dependent manner in the skin of leprosy patients and provides more focused treatment strategies for Mycobacterium leprae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Matrix deposition plays a critical role in image quality of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI). To improve the ionization efficiency and overcome the limitation of traditional matrix deposition methods in the face of difficult-to-sublimate or difficult-to-dissolve matrix, covalent organic frameworks (COFs) named COF-DhaTab was successfully synthesized and firstly used as matrix film. It was fabricated by imprinting of sieved COF-DhaTab powder on the surface of a double-sided adhesive tape. Outstanding reproducibility and uniformity of COF-DhaTab film were demonstrated by relative standard deviation (RSD) within 8.37% and 7.71% from dot-to-dot and plate-to-plate, respectively. With the introduction of double-sided adhesive tape, water contact angle (WCA) of COF-DhaTab film increased from 55° to 141°, resulting in significant suppression of analyte diffusion. Moreover, the intensity of potassium perfluorooctanic sulfonate (PFOS, C 8 F 17 SO 3 −, m/z 498.93) was 9.3 × 105, more than six hundred times higher than that using DHB matrix. This enhancement was attributed to the rough surface and multiple branches of the synthesized COF-DhaTab. To verify the ability of COF-DhaTab film as substrate, the spatial distribution of PFOS in zebrafish, rat liver and kidney tissues was explored. Superior imaging capability was displayed with high-spatial resolution and reliable location distribution. These results not only demonstrate the outstanding ability of COF-DhaTab as matrix for MALDI-MS and MALDI-MSI, but also provide a facile approach for fabrication of novel matrix films for MALDI-MSI. [Display omitted] • A novel strategy was developed to fabricate matrix film for difficult-to-sublimate or difficult-to-dissolve matrix. • MALDI-MS signal of PFOS with COF-DhaTab matrix was increased by 600 times than DHB matrix. • Matrix film of sieved COF-DhaTab was used to study spatial distribution of PFOS by MALDI-MSI. • Excellent MALDI image quality was demonstrated by COF-DhaTab matrix film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Genetic etiology was clarified in 54 families, with a positive rate of 48%. • 19 novel P/LP variants and 22 VUS variants were identified. All of these findings broadened the mutation spectrum of hearing loss genes. Hearing loss is a group of diseases with high genetic heterogeneity. About 160 genes have been reported to be associated with hereditary hearing loss. 113 families with hearing loss were collected, and WES was used to detect SNV, InDel, CNV and mitochondrial gene variants. For some probands with negative WES test results, the copy number of STRC and OTOA were determined by using real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. Pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants were found in 54 probands, of which 98% (53/54) were SNVs or InDels and 2% (1/54) were CNVs, a positive rate of 48%. 16 families (14%) were detected with candidate variants of uncertain significance. 19 novel pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants and 22 candidate variants of uncertain significance were identified in this study. The most common hearing loss gene in the families was GJB2 , accounting for 28% (15/53), followed by SLC26A4 and MYO15A , accounting for 21% (11/53) and 11% (6/53), respectively. Heterozygous gene deletion was detected in 3 probands, including 2 with STRC and 1 with OTOA in 43 families with WES negative test. Genetic etiology was clarified in 54 families. All of these findings broadened the mutation spectrum of hearing loss genes, thus providing new variant information for the future diagnosis of patients with hearing loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infected wound healing has always been a challenge in clinic. Effective and economic wound dressings with combined antibacterial activity and pro-healing function are highly desirable, especially in the context of infected wounds. An obvious advantage of antibacterial wound dressing is to avoid the overuse of antibiotics and the occurrence of drug resistance. Herein, an injectable hyaluronic acid hydrogel with antioxidative and photothermal antibacterial activity as a functional dressing was prepared, characterized and evaluated in an experimental infected wound model. This hydrogel was developed by loading graphene oxide (GO) in a natural polymer network consisting of hyaluronic acid grafted with tyramine (HT) and gelatin grafted with gallic acid (GGA). The HT/GGA/GO hydrogels have a porous cross-linked network structure and demonstrate a good stability, biocompatibility, antioxidant, hemostatic and photothermal antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. In addition, in vivo studies have shown that HT 1 /GGA 2 /GO 0.1 hydrogel dressing combined with photothermal therapy can effectively prevent early infection and accelerate wound healing. These results indicated this functionalized injectable hydrogel HT 1 /GGA 2 /GO 0.1 has a great potential in wound dressing application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various β-nitro ketones, including those bearing a β-tertiary carbon, were prepared from geminal bromonitroalkanes and trimethylsilyl enol ethers of a broad range of ketones by visible light photoredox catalysis, which were then easily converted into β-amino ketones, 1,3-amino alcohols, α,β-unsaturated ketones, β-cyano ketones and γ-nitro ketones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Industrialization of ultra-robust hybrid aerogels with micro-nano structure. • Recycling waste resources was a green and sustainable development strategy. • The multiscale interpenetrating networks acted as effective thermal isolation barriers. • Decoration of ZIF-8 crystals on the cross-linking points of nanofibers induced constructing rigid-flexible frameworks. • The hybrid aerogel exhibited remarkable mechanical, thermal isolation, gas and dye adsorption capacities. Ultra-low density nanoaerogels as the lightest solid material have aroused extensive attention. However, lacking crack extension resistance limited their further development and application. Here, aramid and cellulose wastes were recycled to prepare high value-added nanofibers, which were further self-assembled to construct multilfunctional hybrid aerogels. In-situ growth of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks-8 (ZIF-8) on the cellulose nanofiber (CNF) created a robust skeleton. Flexible aramid nanofibers (ANF), as burgeoning building blocks were employed to inlay into the microscopic skeleton structure for establishing micro-nano double networks. Benefiting from the existence of multiscale networks, the maximum value in the compressive stress of S 0 , S 1 , S 2 and S 3 increased from 2.74 to 4.63, 5.19 and 6.61 MPa, respectively. Meanwhile, ANF-ZIF-8-CNF hybrid aerogels exhibited low thermal conductivity of 3.58–3.97 × 10-2 W/(m⋅K). The significant increase in the specific surface area (481.46 m2/g) endowed hybrid aerogels with high adsorption abilities for nitrogen (280.83 cm3/g), prussian blue (34.12 mg⋅g−1), rhodamine B (37.30 mg⋅g−1), DMF (25.13 g⋅g−1) and DMSO (15.48 g⋅g−1), respectively. This multiscale structural engineering strategy opens an avenue toward to upcycle waste resources into the next-generation high-performance nanoaerogels, showing huge application potential in thermal management, air purification and sewage treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate university students' perceptions of social media as a learning resource (SM-LR) in China and the USA in terms of their attitudes, perceived usefulness and behavioral intentions. An instrument used for this study was adapted from a prior validated survey based on the Technology Acceptance Model. The sample population consisted of 241 respondents from universities in China and the USA. The results suggested that most respondents (>75%) from each nation had used social media for learning purposes and that they shared similar understandings and definitions of social media. However, significant differences by nation were found concerning students' attitudes, perceived usefulness and behavioral intentions. Most respondents from China were more positive about SM-LR than their counterparts from the USA. Also, respondents who had previously used social media for learning were more positive about SM-LR. No correlations were found between students' self-reported academic performance and their attitudes, perceived usefulness, or behavioral intentions. Proposed areas of future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the collaborative dialogue patterns of pair programming and their impact on programming self‐efficacy and coding performance for both slow‐ and fast‐paced students. Forty‐six postgraduate students participated in the study. The students were asked to solve programming problems in pairs; those pairs' conversations were recorded when they worked on their tasks. Data analysis methods, including lag sequential analysis, cluster analysis and paired t‐test, were employed, and the results showed that (1) four collaborative dialogue patterns emerged: Lecture, Guide, Question and Answer (Q&A), and Inquiry patterns; (2) Guide and Inquiry patterns significantly increased programming self‐efficacy for both fast‐ and slow‐paced students while Lecture and Q&A patterns significantly increased programming self‐efficacy for slow‐paced students but not for fast‐paced students; (3) Guide and Inquiry patterns played a significant role in improving coding performance for slow‐paced students. The study reveals a complex relationship between collaborative dialogue patterns with programming self‐efficacy and coding performance, critically affecting students' pair programming quality. Further details of the findings are also discussed. Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topic Pair programming is promising in promoting problem solving and knowledge transfer and is widely used in programming education.There are different patterns observed in the pair programming process.Collaborative dialogue patterns found in "expert‐novice" pair programming were derived from a single programming task.What this paper adds Four collaborative dialogue patterns of pair programming emerged by increasing the different tasks and experiment duration and expanding the sample size, which further verified the stability of the similar patterns in previous studies.Four collaborative dialogue patterns showed different significant impacts on different students' programming self‐efficacy and coding performance.This study presents the finer‐grained characteristics of collaborative interaction in programmer pairs and contributes to the explanation regarding the different effects of pair programming reported in previous studies.Implications for practice and/or policy Four collaborative dialogue patterns can help the teachers understand the collaborative process of pair programming between fast‐ and slow‐paced students.The collaborative dialogue patterns can be used to formulate effective intervention strategies to stimulate the process of collaboration in pairs and applied in future programming education to provide a new path for cultivating and promoting students' programming abilities.It is worth further investigating the impact of collaborative dialogue patterns on students' computational thinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a systematic investigation of the spectroscopic properties at anharmonic force fields of ground electronic state ( X ˜ 1 A 1 ) of LiNH2, which are calculated using second-order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) and density functional theory (DFT) with hybrid GGA and meta-hybrid GGA (M06-2X) exchange-correlation functional. Two high angular momentum basis sets of 6-311+g (2d, p) and 6-311++g (3df, 2pd) are used. The equilibrium geometries, ground-state rotational constants, harmonic frequencies, and quartic and sextic centrifugal distortion constants of LiNH2 are calculated and compared with corresponding experimental or theoretical data. The predicted accuracy of the calculated constants has been confirmed by analyzing the deviations with respect to experiment. In addition, the anharmonic constants, vibration-rotation interaction constants, force constants, and Coriolis coupling constants of LiNH2 are firstly obtained. The infrared spectrum is predicted and together with the first prediction on the higher-order anharmonic constants contributes to a better understanding of the vibrational and rotational characteristics of LiNH2, thus revealing its internal structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Granuloma faciale (GF) is a rare inflammatory skin disorder of unknown etiology, which can cause severe cosmetic impairment.[1] GF presents as asymptomatic, solitary or multiple, erythematous nodules and/or plaques, nearly always limited to the face.[[1], [3]] Due to delayed diagnosis, with delays of up to 15 years reported, the disease may gradually/eventually progress to disseminated or extrafacial GF.[2] Herein, we report an unusual case of GF with extensive lesions (covering 70% of the facial area) and extrafacial involvement, a condition which has rarely been described. Granuloma faciale (GF) is an idiopathic cutaneous disorder of unknown etiology, predominantly affecting the face but may infrequently appear on the trunk, scalp, or extremities.[1] GF usually manifests as localized, well-delimited plaques and nodules at one single site. This suggests that it is still necessary to increase vigilance against the disease and perform skin biopsies on any chronic erythematous plaques or nodules for early diagnosis, so as to avoid the serious consequences of disease progression. [Extracted from the article]

The mechanism of pulmonary fibrosis caused by irradiation remains obscure. Since rosmarinic acid (RA) have anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, we aimed to evaluate the effect of RA on the X-ray-induced lung injury. Male rats received RA (30, 60, or 120 mg/kg) 7 days before 15 Gy of X-ray irradiation. Here, we showed that RA reduced X-ray-induced the expression of inflammatory related factors, and the level of reactive oxygen species. RA down-regulated the phosphorylation of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB). We found that thoracic tumor patients whose lung regions received radiation showed lower level of microRNA-19b-3p (miR-19b-3p). Furthermore, we provided evidence that miR-19b-3p targets myosin phosphatase target subunit 1 (MYPT1), and RA attenuated RhoA/Rock signaling through upregulating miR-19b-3p, leading to the inhibition of fibrosis. In conclusion, RA may be an effective agent to relieve the pulmonary fibrosis caused by radiotherapy of thoracic tumor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. An artificial liver support system (ALSS) is an effective therapy for patients with severe liver injury. A vasovagal reaction (VVR) is a common complication in various treatment settings but has not been reported previously in ALSS. Methods. This study retrospectively evaluated patients who suffered an ALSS-related VRR between January 2018 and June 2019. We collected data from VVR episodes including onset time, duration, changes in heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP), and drug treatment. Results. Among 637 patients who underwent ALSS treatment, 18 were included in the study. The incidence of VVR was approximately 2.82%. These patients were characterized by a rapid decrease in BP or HR with associated symptoms such as chest distress, nausea, and vomiting. The majority of patients (78%) suffered a VVR during their first ALSS treatment. Sixteen patients (89%) had associated symptoms after treatment began. Sixteen patients (89%) received human albumin or Ringer's solution. Atropine was used in 11 patients (61%). The symptoms were relieved within 20 min in 15 patients and over 20 min in 3 patients. Conclusions. A VVR is a rare complication in patients with severe liver injury undergoing ALSS treatment. Low BP and HR are the main characteristics of a VVR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transdermal drug delivery system has been researched for a long time because of its advantage in decreasing side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and gastrointestinal disturbance. Sonophoresis has been shown to be very effective in promoting the transdermal delivery of drugs. This study is on purpose to research the feasibility of sonophoresis promoting cisplatin in the treatment of cervical cancer and the optimum drug delivery mode. Methods: Thirty-two female nude-mice model of cervical cancer were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=8 in each group): control group without any intervention, low, medium and high concentration groups were treated with the corresponding cisplatin concentrations of 0.2mg/mL, 0.4mg/mL and 0.8mg/mL, respectively, with concurrent sonophoresis applied on the skin of local tumor, 1 mL at a time, once a day for a total of 5 days. Therapeutic pulsed ultrasound (TPU) was 1.0 MHz, 2.0 W/cm2 and 60-min duration. Weight of mice and tumor diameters were measured every day during the intervention. The concentration of cisplatin in tumors was detected by HPLC. Meanwhile, tumor, skin, liver and kidney gross structures and ultrastructure were observed in order to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of experimental conditions. In addition, apoptosis and proliferation-related factors (MPO, Caspase-3, PCNA) were detected by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and TUNEL assay. Results: The weight of nude mice in each group showed an increasing trend, except for a decrease of weight in the 0.8 mg/mL group. No obvious tumor inhibition effect was observed. Cisplatin was detected in the 0.4 mg/mL group and 0.8 mg/mL group, with relative concentrations of 0.081± 0.033 mg/mL and 0.111± 0.021 mg/mL, respectively. Both skin and kidney inflammation were observed in the 0.8 mg/mL group. The expression of MPO, caspase-3 and TUNEL was concentration dependent, with the highest expression in the 0.8 mg/mL group, followed by the 0.4 mg/mL group, with no significant differences between the control and the 0.2 mg/mL group. PCNA was highly expressed in both the control and 0.2 mg/mL groups but decreased in the 0.4 mg/mL and 0.8 mg/mL groups. Conclusion: Sonophoresis enhanced transdermal delivery of cisplatin in a xenograft tumor model of cervical cancer. Considering the occurrence of skin inflammation and renal injury caused by cisplatin, the recommended concentration to be administered is 0.4mg/mL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a malignant tumor with low survival rate, so new therapies are urgently needed. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) play a critical role in tumorigenesis, and HDACs inhibition is a potential therapeutic target in ESSC. In our study, we evaluated the effect and molecular mechanism of MS‐275 (an inhibitor of HDACs) on ESCC cells. We found that HDAC1 and HDAC2 were overexpressed in ESCC tissues and related with clinical pathological features of patients with ESCC. MS‐275 markedly reduced HDAC1 and HDAC2 expression, whereas increased the level of AcH3 and AcH2B. MS‐275 suppressed proliferation and clonogenicity of ESCC cells in a concentration‐dependent manner. In addition, MS‐275 induced apoptosis, arrested cell cycle, and inhibited migration, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, and sphere‐forming ability of ESCC cells in vitro. Moreover, p‐Akt1 and p‐mTOR were downregulated by MS‐275. Finally, MS‐275 significantly inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Taken together, HDAC1 and HDAC2 are associated with the progression of ESCC, and MS‐275 hinders the progression and stemness of ESCC cells by suppressing the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. Our findings show that MS‐275 inhibits ESCC cells growth in vitro and in vivo, which is a potential drug for the ESCC therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we establish the existence of large solutions of Hessian equations and obtain a new boundary asymptotic behavior of solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing penetration of variable energy resources in modern electric power systems requires additional flexibility in reserve provision to maintain reliable and efficient grid operations. However, full recognition and appropriate compensation of this flexibility is difficult to ensure within current power market designs due to rigidity in reserve definitions and requirements. This paper proposes a new mixed-integer linear programming formulation for the optimal clearing of a day-ahead market based on swing contracts with dynamically updated regulation reserve zones. Five-bus and 30-bus test cases are used to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed new market design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high radiosensitivity of the intestinal epithelium limits the survival of victims by nuclear accidents or terrorism and limits effective radiotherapy against abdominal malignancies. Recently, we reported that (−)-epicatechin (EC) modulates oxidative stress and exerts neuroprotection. Here, we investigate the protective effects of EC against intestinal damage induced by radiation. The established model is acute moderate but reversible intestinal injury damage. We also set up the injured model of "minigut" ex vivo, which mimic the process of intestinal regeneration in vivo. We found that EC can repress oxidative stress by regulating SOD and MDA levels in serum and intestine tissue. Correspondingly, EC can decrease apoptosis of crypt cells in Lgr5-EGFP-IRES-creERT2 mice after radiation. Further studies demonstrated that EC can promote Nrf2 translocation from cytoplasm to nuclear and then activate the expression of HO1 and NQO1. Interestingly, EC can enhance the activity of intestine stem cells labelled by Lgr5 and promote intestinal epithelium regeneration determined by HE and immunofluorescence staining in vivo and in vitro. We also found that EC can activate the Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway confirmed by TCF/LEF luciferase reporter assay. Together, EC can provide the protective effect on intestine and promote intestinal regeneration after radiation through Nrf2 and Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The existence of aggressive behavior in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) raises questions about whether cognitive and emotional factors in social information processing play a role between autistic traits (ATs) and aggressive behavior in the general population, especially in the context of Chinese culture. Moreover, given a possible gender difference in these variables, the study aimed to examine the effect of ATs on aggressive behavior, and the potential mediating role of hostile attribution bias and alexithymia on this association, as well as gender difference. Methods: 850 Chinese college students participated in the assessment, including their ATs, hostile attribution bias, alexithymia, and aggressive behavior. Pearson correlation, mediation effects analyses, and multiple-group comparison were conducted. Results: The results indicated that ATs indirectly predicted increased aggressive behavior through attribution bias and alexithymia. Gender difference in mediating effects was revealed: ATs indirectly predicted increased aggressive behavior through the serial mediating effect only in males. Conclusion: Hostile attribution bias and alexithymia completely mediated the association between ATs and aggressive behavior, which contained the separate mediating effects of (a) hostile attribution bias and (b) alexithymia and the serial mediating effect of (c) hostile attribution bias and alexithymia. Gender differences in mediating effects were found only in the serial mediating effect, which was significant in males but not in females. The findings revealed the internal mechanism of ATs affecting aggressive behavior and gender difference, which have implications for the intervention of aggressive behavior of individuals with autism and those with high levels of ATs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climatic hazards, such as hurricanes and ice storms, pose a top threat to power distribution systems. This paper proposes a resilience-enhancing strategy to make distribution systems more resilient to climatic hazards. The proposed strategy consists of three resilience-oriented design (ROD) measures, namely line hardening, installing backup distributed generators (DGs), and adding automatic switches. The main challenges of this problem are modeling the spatio-temporal correlation among ROD decisions and uncertainties, capturing the entire failure-recovery-cost process, and solving the resultant large-scale mixed-integer stochastic problem efficiently. To deal with these challenges, we propose a hybrid stochastic process with deterministic casual structure to model the spatio-temporal correlations of uncertainties. A new two-stage stochastic mixed-integer linear program is formulated to capture the impacts of ROD decisions and uncertainties on system's responses to climatic hazards. The objective is to minimize the ROD investment cost in the first stage and the expected costs of loss of load, DG operation, and damage repairs in the second stage. A dual decomposition algorithm with branch-and-bound is developed to solve the proposed model with binary variables in both stages. Case studies on the IEEE 123-bus test feeder show the proposed approach can improve the system resilience at minimum costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chimeric RNAs are transcripts composed of RNA fragments from different genes and are traditionally well-known cancer-causing genetic events. Recent studies show chimeric RNAs being present in multiple non-neoplastic tissues and cells, suggesting that at least some may have roles in normal physiology. However, chimeric RNAs and their implications in brain development and neural differentiation have not been formally studied. Here, we firstly characterized the landscape of chimeric RNAs in human infant brain tissues and identified 599 chimeric RNAs. Through a series of filtering, 22 were selected and tested in a neural differentiation process starting from stem cells. Ten were validated experimentally. One of these ten chimeric RNAs, DUS4L-BCAP29 , dramatically increased when human umbilical mesenchymal stem cells were induced for neural differentiation. Consistently, we found that overexpressed DUS4L-BCAP29 effectively promoted neural differentiation. Our results support the important role(s) chimeric RNAs play in neural differentiation, and are consistent with the new notion that chimeric RNAs also exist in normal physiology, and likely serve biological purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this paper, we establish the existence of viscosity solutions of Hessian equations with singular right-hand sides and obtain the asymptotic boundary behavior of solutions. The asymptotic results generalize those for Poisson equations and Monge-Ampère equations, and are more precise than obtained from Hopf lemma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The parathyroid hormone receptor-1 (PTH1R) is a class B G protein–coupled receptor central to calcium homeostasis and a therapeutic target for osteoporosis and hypoparathyroidism. Here we report the cryo–electron microscopy structure of human PTH1R bound to a long-acting PTH analog and the stimulatory G protein. The bound peptide adopts an extended helix with its amino terminus inserted deeply into the receptor transmembrane domain (TMD), which leads to partial unwinding of the carboxyl terminus of transmembrane helix 6 and induces a sharp kink at the middle of this helix to allow the receptor to couple with G protein. In contrast to a single TMD structure state, the extracellular domain adopts multiple conformations. These results provide insights into the structural basis and dynamics of PTH binding and receptor activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Biodegradable ZIF-8@CNF@cellulose foams were prepared by in situ green growth method. • The ZIF-8 crystals significantly improved the adsorption ability of composite foams. • The CNF immobilized ZIF-8 crystals and improved the mechanical strength of foams. • ZIF-8@CNF@cellulose foams showed high adsorption capacity for gases and heavy metals. Abstract The excess emission of toxic gases in atmosphere and heavy metal ions in drinking water is still a serious threat to human health. In this paper, a lightweight and porous zeolitic imidazolate frameworks-8@cellulose nanofiber@cellulose foam (ZIF-8@CNF@cellulose foam) with excellent gas adsorption and heavy metal ions removal properties was prepared using a simple in situ green growth method. The nitrogen adsorption property of ZIF-8@CNF@cellulose foam was 30 times higher than pure cellulose foam. Furthermore, the adsorption testing demonstrated that the composite foam showed high adsorption capacity for fluorescent dyes (24.6 mg g−1 for rhodamine B), heavy metal ions (35.6 mg g−1 for Cr (VI)) and organic solvents (45.2 g g−1 for DMF). Additionally, the ZIF-8/cellulose-based foam with 40 wt.% CNF exhibited an excellent mechanical performance, reaching a compressive strength value of 1.30 MPa. Herein, this work provides a feasible method to prepare ZIF-8@CNF@cellulose foam composite materials, which could adsorb gas molecules and heavy metal ions and show a great potential in atmosphere and water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Novel Ag-MOFs@CNF@ZIF-8 cellulose-based air filters were designed and fabricated. • The Ag-MOFs were employed to endow filters with excellent antibacterial activity. • The ZIF-8 nanocrystals were used to endow filters with high gas adsorption ability. • The introduction of CNF significantly improved the mechanical strength of filters. • The composite filter exhibited 94.3% removal efficiency for PM 2.5. Abstract A biodegradable cellulose-based air filter (Ag-MOFs@CNF@ZIF-8) with multi-layer structure was fabricated by in situ generation of double-component metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and reinforcement of cellulose nanofiber (CNF). It exhibits good filtration performance, gas adsorption, antibacterial activity and mechanical property. The presence of MOFs could enhance the interaction between the filter and particulate matter (PM) and significantly improve the specific surface area of the composite filter. Thus, the filtration efficiency of the composite filter could reach 94.3% for PM 2.5 and the nitrogen adsorption capacity increased to 109 cm3 g−1. Furthermore, the Ag-MOFs@CNF@ZIF-8 filter exhibited excellent antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli with an inhibition zone diameter of 18.1 mm. The compressive strength of the composite filter could be up to 501 kPa, approximately 3.8 times higher than that of pure cellulose filter. Herein, this composite filter has a great application potential in PM 2.5 removal, toxic gas adsorption and healthcare fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Although affiliation with deviant peers is among the most salient risk factors for college students' maladjustment, few studies have examined the possible peer contagion processes for problematic Internet use and the underlying mechanisms explaining how peer factors may shape the development of problematic Internet use. Based on data from 2516 Chinese undergraduate students (mean age = 18.56 years, SD = 0.84; 38.16% female) across their four college years and utilizing lagged latent difference score analyses, this study tested a process model to elucidate how peer Internet overuse and peer pressure on Internet use may contribute to Chinese undergraduates' problematic Internet use via shaping their maladaptive cognitions over Internet use. Results indicated that peer Internet overuse predicted subsequent increases in students' peer pressure on Internet use, which in turn, were linked with students' elevated problematic Internet use via maladaptive cognitions over Internet use. This dynamic cascade process was robust even after considering a series of potential confounding variables and the prospective associations among the key variables of interest. Such findings shed light on the peer contagion processes for the development of Chinese college students' problematic Internet use, and provide empirical evidence supporting the call for integrating peer factors into prevention and intervention programs aimed at reducing the incidence and severity of college students' problematic Internet use. Highlights • Peer contagion processes for problematic Internet use were examined. • A latent difference scores model based on four annual waves of data were used. • Peer Internet overuse predicted Chinese college students' problematic Internet use. • Peer pressure was identified as a significant mediator. • Maladaptive cognitions was identified as a more proximal predictor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a novel method to co-optimize the distribution system operation and repair crew routing for outage restoration after extreme weather events. A two-stage stochastic mixed integer linear program is developed. The first stage is to dispatch the repair crews to the damaged components. The second stage is distribution system restoration using distributed generators, and reconfiguration. We consider demand uncertainty in terms of a truncated normal forecast error distribution, and model the uncertainty of the repair time using a lognormal distribution. A new decomposition approach, combined with the progressive hedging algorithm, is developed for solving large-scale outage management problems in an effective and timely manner. The proposed method is validated on modified IEEE 34- and 8500-bus distribution test systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a resilience-oriented design (ROD) technique to protect distribution grids against high-impact but low-probability extreme weather events. The problem is formulated as a two-stage stochastic mixed integer problem. The first stage is to make ROD decisions, i.e., hardening existing distribution lines and deploying ROD resources such as back-up distributed generators and automatic switches. The second stage evaluates the system operation cost during a realized extreme weather event and repair cost after the event. A novel modeling strategy is proposed to deal with the decision-dependent uncertainty of distribution line damage status, which is affected by the first-stage hardening decisions. As both stages have binary variables, a modified and computationally efficient progressive hedging algorithm with scenario bundling is introduced. The algorithm performance is evaluated by calculating lower bounds of solutions. The proposed model and algorithms are demonstrated on 34-bus and 123-bus test feeders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper mainly discusses the application of speech system based on deep learning in online music learning system. Firstly, this paper introduces the concept and principle of deep learning technology, studies the basic principle of twin network and the research status of target tracking, and discusses how to apply the twin network target tracking technology to the music Internet course learning system. Then, it introduces the basic principle of voice data system and its application in the field of music learning and discusses how to apply voice data system to music Internet course learning system. Then, aiming at the problems existing in the online music learning system, the deep learning technology is used to realize the voice interaction solution. In this paper, a framework of music learning system based on twin network target tracking and speech data system is proposed. By constructing speech recognition model and speech synthesis model based on deep learning, the system can realize various functions such as music recognition, melody tracking, rhythm perception, and speech interaction. Finally, the feasibility and effectiveness of the scheme are proved through experimental verification, which provides a useful reference for the further development of online music learning system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light-weight and high-modulus carbon fiber/phenolic composites, were in large demand of heavy-loading engineering, vehicles and aerospace fields. However, the limitation in the weak interface would cause serious stress concentration and structural failure of materials. Herein, aramid nanofiber (ANF) and cellulose nanofiber (CNF) as flexible units, and zeolitic imidazolate frameworks-8 (ZIF-8) as a rigid unit, were employed to establish a trans -scale reinforced structure on the interphase for balancing the modulus of fibers/resin and improving interfacial properties of the composites. This flexible-rigid (ANF/CNF-ZIF-8) scalable structure, contributed to the integration of various components and forming effective bonds between fibers and the matrix, further promoting mechanical and tribological performances of the composites. Due to the trans -scale interface enhancement of this unique flexible-rigid structure, the flexural strength of 30%ANF-ZIF-8-composite (S 1-3) and 30%CNF-ZIF-8-composite (S 2-3) improved by 77.68% and 88.46%, respectively. Meanwhile, the elastic modulus of S 1-3 and S 2-3 reached 5.41 and 5.40 GPa, indicating a significant ascent of 137.28% and 136.84%, respectively. This work provides a promising and effective strategy of constructing a flexible-rigid scalable interfacial structure and opens an avenue toward the large-scale fabrication of new-generation advanced materials. [Display omitted] • Constructing a flexible-rigid structure for trans-scale interface reinforcement of carbon fiber/phenolic composites. • This bioinspired interfacial enhanced structure acted as a smart cushion, could effectively transfer external stress. • High aspect ratio ANF/CNF was beneficial for reinforcing interfacial bonding of the composites by bridge-linking. • ANF/CNF-ZIF-8 enhanced carbon fiber/phenolic composites displayed remarkable mechanical and tribological performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesenchymal stem cell transplantation is a promising therapeutic approach for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, poor engraftment and limited survival rates are major obstacles for its clinical application. Resveratrol, an activator of silent information regulator 2, homolog 1 (SIRT1), regulates cell destiny and is beneficial for neurodegenerative disorders. The present study is designed to explore whether resveratrol regulates the fate of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) and whether hUC-MSCs combined with resveratrol would be efficacious in the treatment of neurodegeneration in a mouse model of AD through SIRT1 signaling. Herein, we report that resveratrol facilitates hUC-MSCs engraftment in the hippocampus of AD mice and resveratrol enhances the therapeutic effects of hUC-MSCs in this model as demonstrated by improved learning and memory in the Morris water maze, enhanced neurogenesis and alleviated neural apoptosis in the hippocampus of the AD mice. Moreover, hUC-MSCs and resveratrol jointly regulate expression of hippocampal SIRT1, PCNA, p53, ac-p53, p21, and p16. These data strongly suggests that hUC-MSCs transplantation combined with resveratrol may be an effective therapy for AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulating evidence suggests that oxidative stress induced by beta-amyloid (Aβ) is implicated in the pathlogical progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). 3H-1,2-dithiole-3-thione (D3T), the simplest compound of the sulfur-containing dithiolethiones, has been proved to be a strongly active antioxidant factor by regulation of the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Previous study reported that D3T confers protection to AD cell model in vitro, however, the neuroprotective effect of D3T in the AD mammalian model is unknown. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of D3T in the Tg2576 AD mouse model and investigate the mechanisms underlying its beneficial effects. We showed that intraperitoneal administration of D3T significantly alleviated cognitive deficits in AD mice and dramatically decreased insoluble Aβ level and oxidative stress. Further mechanistic studies revealed that D3T significantly promoted hippocampal neurogenesis, and up-regulated levels of silent information regulator 1 (Sirt1), Nrf2 and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Moreover, the positive effect of D3T on behavioral performance of AD mice was markedly attenuated by inhibition of the Sirt1/Nrf2 pathway by the antagonist EX527. In summary, our studies on a mouse AD model indicate that D3T could serve as a potential therapeutic agent for this devastating disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, by Karamata regular variation theory and constructing super and subsolutions, we obtain the asymptotic boundary behavior of convex solutions of Monge–Ampère equations with singular righthand sides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stem cell transplantation represents a promising therapy for central nervous system injuries, but its application to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is still limited and the potential mechanism for cognition improvement remains to be elucidated. In the present study, we used Tg2576 mice which express AD-like pathological forms of amyloid precursor protein (APP) to investigate the effects of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) intravenous transplantation on AD mice. Interestingly, hUC-MSCs transplantation significantly ameliorated cognitive function of AD mice without altering Aβ levels in hippocampus. Remarkably, hUC-MSCs transplantation reduced oxidative stress in hippocampus of AD mice by decreasing the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), increasing the level of nitric oxide (NO), enhancing the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). The mechanisms underlying the improved cognitive function may be linked to hippocampal neurogenesis and an up-regulation of neuronal synaptic plasticity related proteins levels including silent information regulator 1 (Sirt1), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and synaptophysin (SYN). Taken together, our findings suggest that hUC-MSCs can improve cognition of AD mice by decreasing oxidative stress and promoting hippocampal neurogenesis. These results suggest that modulating hUC-MSCs to generate excess neuroprotective factors could provide a viable therapy to treat AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circadian rhythms modulate many physiologic processes and behaviors. Therefore, their disruption causes a variety of potential adverse effects in humans and animals. Circadian disruption induced by constant light exposure has been discovered to produce pathophysiologic consequences after brain injury. However, the underlying mechanisms that lead to more severe impairment and disruption of neurophysiologic processes are not well understood. Here, we evaluated the effect of constant light exposure on the neurobehavioral impairment and survival of neurons in rats after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Sixty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to a weight-drop model of TBI and then exposed to either a standard 12-/12-h light/dark cycle or a constant 24-h light/light cycle for 14 days. Our results showed that 14 days of constant light exposure after TBI significantly worsened the sensorimotor and cognitive deficits, which were associated with decreased body weight, impaired water and food intake, increased cortical lesion volume, and decreased neuronal survival. Furthermore, environmental circadian disruption inhibited cell proliferation and newborn cell survival and decreased immature cell production in rats subjected to the TBI model. We conclude that circadian disruption induced by constant light exposure worsens histologic and neurobehavioral impairment and inhibits neurogenesis in adult TBI rats. Our novel findings suggest that light exposure should be decreased and circadian rhythm reestablished in hospitalized TBI patients and that drugs and strategies that maintain circadian rhythm would offer a novel therapeutic option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scale-up preparation of aramid nanofiber (ANF) and cellulose nanofiber (CNF), still faces serious challenges such as extreme production cost and lengthy preparation cycle. Herein, a feasible top-down strategy was proposed to achieve the efficient reclamation of waste resources, further realizing the large-scale production of high value-added nanofibers. The ANF/CNF as nanoscale building blocks and their reinforcement effects on the mechanical performances of carbon fiber/phenolic composites were investigated. Related strength and modulus of ANF/CNF-enhanced composites in the tensile, bending, shear and nano indentation tests, increased by 118.1% (tensile strength), 141.2% (tensile modulus), 142.2% (flexural strength), 354.4% (flexural modulus), 38.8% (shear strength) and 94.4% (elastic modulus), respectively. Our work offers a valuable reference in the fabrication of low-cost ANF/CNF derived from waste resources, which would facilitate the wide application of nanofibers in fabricating high-performance advanced functional materials. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper dual disks applied in the braking and transmission of vehicles and aircraft, were susceptible to the damage of shear force and friction heat, seriously affecting friction stability and service life. In this study, enhanced building blocks including polyethyleneimine (PEI), boron nitride (BN) and polydopamine (PDA) were employed to construct a hierarchical interfacial structure for boosting tribological performances of carbon fiber/resin composites paired with copper dual disk. Furthermore, this flexible/rigid/flexible reinforcement contributed to the formation of friction films and high-efficiency thermal conduction network, significantly reducing wear damage to dual disks. The drop in the wear rate of PEI/BN/PDA-modified composite reached 85.07%. Moreover, the wear rate of copper dual disk decreased from 1.63 × 10−8 cm3J−1 to 0.80 × 10−8 cm3J−1, showing a 50.92% decline. • The effects of single/double/triple-coatings on the mechanical and tribological properties of composites were studied. • This flexible/rigid/flexible enhanced structure significantly promoted the tribological performances of friction materials. • The BN nanosheets benefited for facilitating the formation of friction film and the rapid dispersion of accumulated heat. • The PEI/BN/PDA hierarchical coatings contributed to alleviating surface damage and extending service life of copper dual disk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) is a classical heme-containing protein which has been applied in many fields. The prosthetic group heme in HRP, especially in unfolded state, can react with hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) to produce a fluorescent product with the maximum emission wavelength at 450 nm. Utilizing this emission band as a fluorescence probe, the unfolding process of HRP in urea can be assessed quantitatively, and the calculated thermodynamic parameters are consistent with those determined by circular dichroism (CD) at 222 nm and steady-state tryptophan (Trp) fluorescence methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we develop a facile one-pot approach to the fabrication of poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) microsphere-incorporated calcium alginate (ALG-Ca)/hydroxyapatite (HAp) porous scaffolds based on HAp nanoparticle-stabilized oil-in-water Pickering emulsion templates, which contain alginate in the aqueous phase and PLLA in the oil phase. The emulsion aqueous phase is solidified by in situ gelation of alginate with Ca 2+ released from HAp by decreasing pH with slow hydrolysis of d -gluconic acid δ-lactone (GDL) to produce emulsion droplet-incorporated gels, followed by freeze-drying to form porous scaffolds containing microspheres. The pore structure of porous scaffolds can be adjusted by varying the HAp or GDL concentration. The compressive tests show that the increase of HAp or GDL concentration is beneficial to improve the compressive property of porous scaffolds, while the excessive HAp can lead to the decrease in compressive property. Moreover, the swelling behavior studies display that the swelling ratios of porous scaffolds reduce with increasing HAp or GDL concentration. Furthermore, hydrophobic drug ibuprofen (IBU) and hydrophilic drug bovine serum albumin (BSA) are loaded into the microspheres and scaffold matrix, respectively. In vitro drug release results indicate that BSA has a rapid release while IBU has a sustained release in the dual drug-loaded scaffolds. In vitro cell culture experiments verify that mouse bone mesenchymal stem cells can proliferate on the porous scaffolds well, indicating the good biocompatibility of porous scaffolds. All these results demonstrate that the PLLA microsphere-incorporated ALG-Ca/HAp porous scaffolds have a promising potential for tissue engineering and drug delivery applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The SnO 2 /Ag/SnO 2 nano-multilayer structure has been designed and fabricated on quartz glass by magnetron sputtering and then annealed in air. The effect of annealing temperature on the structural, optical, and electrical properties of the SAS films was investigated. The SEM images and XRD patterns show that crystallinity of the samples was improved as a result of annealing. High-quality transparent conductive films with sheet resistance of 4.4 Ω/sq and maximum transmittance of 91% at 500 nm wavelength were obtained with an annealing temperature of 200 °C. The figure of merit of the SAS films annealed at 200 °C reached a maximum of 3.39×10 −2 Ω −1 . It is observed the allowed direct band gap decreases with increasing substrate temperature. These multilayer films can be used as transparent conductive electrodes in optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The original version of this article unfortunately contained an error in Fig. 4a. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We examine whether Firm A should provide the ABD strategy when facing a competing Firm B in a volatile spot market. • Firm B cannot obtain or partially obtain pre-order information from the ABD Firm. • Firm A should not offer the ABD strategy under some conditions. • ABD can bring some benefits to Firm B even when Firm B cannot get any information. • Partial transparency may be more profitable for Firm B than full transparency. We consider two competing risk-neutral firms (A and B) that can procure raw materials via a forward contract and in a volatile spot market. They produce seasonable products using perishable raw materials. The raw material spot price is affected by their trading behavior depending on the extent of the firms' market powers. To attract consumers ordering products at a discount price in an advance selling period, Firm A offers an advance booking discount (ABD) strategy and updates the demand and spot price information from the pre-orders. The rival Firm B can either not obtain, partially obtain, or completely obtain pre-order information from Firm A, thereby resulting in information non-transparency, partial transparency, or full transparency, respectively. We initially examine the base case in which Firm A does not offer ABD. We then derive equilibrium solutions under the three cases of information transparency. We find that when the profit margin is high and firms have medium market powers, then Firm A should not offer ABD; otherwise, it should. With ABD, less transparency enables Firm A to set a higher price. Interestingly, the expected profit of Firm B, under certain circumstances, can be higher than in the base case even when Firm B cannot get any pre-order information. On the other hand, when firms have low market powers, partial transparency is profitable for Firm B; otherwise, full transparency is profitable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have shown associations of fetuin-A (alpha 2-Heremans-Schmid glycoprotein, AHSG) with various disorders, including insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, and atherosclerosis. In this study, genotype and allele frequencies of the rs4918 SNP in the AHSG gene were examined in 380 patients with ischemic stroke and 350 healthy controls from a Northern Han Chinese population via the PCR-RFLP technique. Frequencies of the GG genotype and the G allele in AHSG (rs4918) were significantly higher in patients with ischemic stroke or atherosclerotic cerebral infarction than those in the control group ( P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated the significance of rs4918 in these patients, after adjustment for confounding factors ( P < 0.05). These findings suggest that rs4918 SNPs of the AHSG gene are associated with a risk for ischemic stroke in a Northern Han Chinese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]