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Taking the “Green Credit Guidelines” (also known as “Green Credit Policy”, GCP) in 2012 as a quasi-natural experiment, this study adopts the panel datasets between 2010 and 2019 for Chinese manufacturing firms listed publicly to examine the effects of GCP on the labor productivity of Chinese heavily-polluting companies. The findings indicate that: (1) Upon introducing GCP, it can improve labor productivity of Chinese heavily-polluting companies, a result of the promotion effect of GCP on commercial credit and technological innovation. (2) The implementation of GCP can enhance the commercial credit of Chinese heavily-polluting enterprises and relieve its financing constraints to some degree. (3) The implementation of GCP can further the innovation activities of Chinese heavily-polluting companies and realize the re-test of the “Porter effect”. (4) The heterogeneity test indicates that GCP exerts a pronounced promoting influence on state-owned and large heavily-polluting enterprises in eastern China. Those conclusions are still valid after robustness tests. This research offers empirical evidence and policy wisdom for promoting the green conversion of manufacturing enterprises.

BackgroundRegulatory T (Treg) cells is required to dampen immune responses against intestinal microbiota, which aid in a healthy body to promise that the resident gut microbiota should not attract the attention of the immune system. Inflammation and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can be induced if the immune system fails to ignore the resident gut microbiota and targets them instead. D-mannose, a common monosaccharide in nature, has been shown to ameliorate multiple autoimmune diseases. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of D-mannose on mice ulcerative colitis (UC) induced by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS), and elucidate its underlying mechanisms.MethodsTo simulate human IBD, we constructed a mouse model of UC by injecting TNBS into the colon.ResultsOur results demonstrated that D-mannose treatment effectively alleviated TNBS-induced UC in mice, as evidenced by the amelioration of UC symptoms. D-mannose treatment significantly reduced inflammation by decreasing the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and inflammation mediators. D-mannose treatment also significantly inhibited oxidative stress, promoted the expression of GSH and SOD, decreased the expression of MDA. Mechanistically, D-mannose upregulated the proportion of both CD4(+) Tregs and CD8(+) Tregs.ConclusionIn summary, our study provides the first evidence of the therapeutic effect of D-mannose on mice with UC, which is likely mediated by upregulating Treg proportions.

Abstract Background To examine the value of early echocardiographic indices for the right ventricular function combined with platelet(PLT) parameters for predicting bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants. Methods This retrospective study included infants with gestational age (GA) below 32 weeks, who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit(NICU). The detection rate of tricuspid regurgitation jet velocity (TRVJ), ventricular septal flattening, pulmonary artery widening, right ventricular dilation, and right atrial enlargement on the 7th day of life (DOL 7) were compared between BPD and non-BPD infants. Echocardiographic indices of the right ventricular function including tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and right ventricular index of myocardial performance (RIMP) were measured on 1 day of life (DOL 1)、on DOL 7 and on 14 day of life (DOL 14) respectively. The PLT parameters including the PLT count, mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet hematocrit (PCT) level, and platelet distribution width (PDW) were measured on the DOL 1,DOL 7, and DOL 14. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between these parameters and BPD. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to assess the predictive value of the right ventricular function indices and PLT parameters for BPD. Results A total of 220 preterm infants were included in this study, and of these, 85 infants developed BPD among them. The RIMP of the BPD group on DOL 14 was higher than that of the non-BPD group (P

Seaweeds are critically important for the maintenance of biodiversity in marine aquaculture ecosystems, as they can inhibit the growth of Vibrio. Here, we determined the optimal environmental parameters for co-culturing green macroalgae (Ulva pertusa) and red macroalgae (Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis) with Chinese scallop (Chlamys farreri) by measuring dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, and the strength of Vibrio inhibition under laboratory conditions and validating the effectiveness of this optimal co-culture system from the perspectives of nutrient levels, enzyme activities, and microbial diversity. The results show that co-culturing 30 g of seaweed and three scallops in 6 L of seawater with aeration in the dark (1.25 L min−1, 12:12 h L:D) significantly decreased the number and abundance of Vibrio after 3 days. The activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, pyruvate kinase, and lactate dehydrogenase in C. farreri were significantly higher, indicating that its immune defense and metabolism enhanced in this optimal co-culture system. High DO and pH levels significantly decreased the alpha diversity of microorganisms, and the abundance of pathogenic microorganisms decreased. The optimal co-culture system was effective for the control of vibriosis. Generally, our findings suggest that seaweeds could be used to enhance the aquaculture environment by conferring healthy and sustainable functions in the future.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is crucial for cellular energy production, serving as a coenzyme in oxidation-reduction reactions. It also supports enzymes involved in processes such as DNA repair, aging, and immune responses. Lower NAD+ levels have been associated with various diseases, highlighting the importance of replenishing NAD+. Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) plays a critical role in the NAD+ salvage pathway, which helps sustain NAD+ levels, particularly in high-energy tissues like skeletal muscle.This review explores how the NAMPT-driven NAD+ salvage pathway influences skeletal muscle health and functionality in aging, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and skeletal muscle injury. The review offers insights into enhancing the salvage pathway through exercise and NAD+ boosters as strategies to improve muscle performance. The findings suggest significant potential for using this pathway in the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of skeletal muscle conditions.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the potential functions of miR-19a-3p in HCC. Method: We collected serum samples to analyze miR-19a-3p expression. We utilized CCK8 and Transwell assays to access miR-19a-3p′s influence on HCC cells malignancy. We used dual-luciferase reporter and western blotting to validate the impact of p53/miR-19 on miR-19/SOX4. Results: The results demonstrated that miR-19a-3p was highly expressed in pre-operative serum samples and HCC cells, which can promote cell proliferation, migration and invasion in HCC under in vitro conditions. Additionally, there was a p53 binding site on the upstream of miR-19a-3p, which was inhibited by p53. SOX4 was the direct gene targeted by miR-19a-3p. The imbalance of p53-miR-19-SOX4 loop was one reason for the progress of HCC. Conclusion: Our findings validate the mechanisms of miR-19a-3p and highlight its potential as a therapeutic target in HCC.

Abstract This paper delves into a novel micro-substance tracer test in fractured horizontal well C-15. The experimental results are highly encouraging as they demonstrate that the trace material tracer is capable of satisfying the testing demands, even when there are large numbers of fracturing stages involved. Data interpretation process involved dividing the test duration into two stages-fluid flowback period and stable production period. The tracer test data were employed to analyze the production profile of the well. The findings made it evident that the primary production stage underwent alterations in different production stages. Moreover, the degree of heterogeneity pertaining to each fracturing stage was characterized by employing the residence time distribution method. It was observed that the Lorentz coefficient lying between the primary production stage and the remaining fracturing stages ranged from 0.46 to 0.68. This study expands the application of the residence time distribution method for evaluating tracer testing. Through a comprehensive analysis of heterogeneity data within the fracturing stages and the production dynamics of the well, the effectiveness of the fracturing process can be assessed. This research enables reservoir operators to gain deeper insights into the dynamics of test wells, ultimately leading to increased production efficiency.

Abstract Atherosclerosis is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. miR-26 is a potential biomarker of atherosclerosis. Standardized diagnostic tests for miR-26 (MIR26-DX) have been developed, but the fastest progress has been in predicting the efficacy of IFN-α therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, phase 3). MiR-26 slows atherosclerosis development by suppressing ACC1/2, ACLY, ACSL3/4, ALDH3A2, ALPL, BMP2, CD36, COL1A1, CPT1A, CTGF, DGAT2, EHHADH, FAS, FBP1, GATA4, GSK3β, G6PC, Gys2, HMGA1, HMGB1, LDLR, LIPC, IL-1β, IL-6, JAG2, KCNJ2, MALT1, β-MHC, NF-κB, PCK1, PLCβ1, PYGL, RUNX2, SCD1, SMAD1/4/5/7, SREBF1, TAB3, TAK1, TCF7L2, and TNF-α expression. Many agents targeting these genes, such as the ACC1/2 inhibitors GS-0976, PF-05221304, and MK-4074; the DGAT2 inhibitors IONIS-DGAT2Rx, PF-06427878, PF-0685571, and PF-07202954; the COL1A1 inhibitor HT-100; the stimulants 68Ga-CBP8 and RCT-01; the CPT1A inhibitors etomoxir, perhexiline, and teglicar; the FBP1 inhibitors CS-917 and MB07803; and the SMAD7 inhibitor mongersen, have been investigated in clinical trials. Interestingly, miR-26 better reduced intima-media thickness (IMT) than PCSK9 or CT-1 knockout. Many PCSK9 inhibitors, including alirocumab, evolocumab, inclisiran, AZD8233, Civi-007, MK-0616, and LIB003, have been investigated in clinical trials. Recombinant CT-1 was also investigated in clinical trials. Therefore, miR-26 is a promising target for agent development. miR-26 promotes foam cell formation by reducing ABCA1 and ARL4C expression. Multiple materials can be used to deliver miR-26, but it is unclear which material is most suitable for mass production and clinical applications. This review focuses on the potential use of miR-26 in treating atherosclerosis to support the development of agents targeting it.

This study examines the measurement of film thickness, curvature, and defects on the surface or inside of an optical element using a highly accurate and efficient method. This is essential to ensure their quality and performance. Existing methods are unable to simultaneously extract the three types of information: thickness, curvature, and defects. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), a non-invasive imaging technique with imaging depths down to the millimeter scale, provides the possibility of detecting the optical element components’ parameters. In this paper, we propose an error correction model for compensating delay differences in A-scan, field curvature, and aberration to improve the accuracy of system fitting measurements using SD-OCT. During data processing, we use the histogram-equalized gray stretching (IAH-GS) method to deal with strong reflections in the thin film layers inside the optics using individual A-scan averages. In addition, we propose a window threshold cutoff algorithm to accurately identify defects and boundaries in OCT images. Finally, the system is capable of rapidly detecting the thickness and curvature of film layers in optical elements with a maximum measurement depth of 4.508 mm, a diameter of 15 × 15 mm, a resolution of 5.69 microns, and a sampling rate of 70 kHz. Measurements were performed on different standard optical elements to verify the accuracy and reliability of the proposed method. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that thickness, curvature, and defects of an optical film have been measured simultaneously, with a thickness measurement accuracy of 1.924 µm, and with a difference between the calibrated and nominal curvature measurements consistently within 1%. We believe that this research will greatly advance the use of OCT technology in the testing of optical thin films, thereby improving productivity and product quality.

Abstract Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play a role in ovarian cancer (OV) evolution, immunosuppression and promotion of drug resistance. Exploring the value of CAFs-related biomarker in OV is of great importance. In the present work, we developed a CAFs-related index (CAFRI) based on an integrated analysis of single-cell and bulk RNA-sequencing and highlighted the value of CAFRI in predicting clinical outcomes in individuals with OV, tumour immune microenvironment (TIME) and response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). The GSE151214 cohort was used for cell subpopulation localization and analysis, the TCGA-OV patients as a training set. Moreover, the ICGC-OV, GSE26193, GSE26712 and GSE19829 cohorts were used for the validation of CAFRI. The TIMER 2.0, CIBERSORT and ssGSEA algorithms were used for analysis of TIME characteristics based on the CAFRI. The GSVA, GSEA, GO, KEGG and tumour mutation burden (TMB) analyses were used for mechanistic exploration. Additionally, the IMvigor210 cohort was conducted to validate the predictive value of CAFRI on the efficacy of ICIs. Finally, CAFRI-based antitumour drug sensitivity was analysed. The findings demonstrate that the CAFRI can served as an excellent predictor of prognosis for individuals with OV, as well as identifying patients with different TIME characteristics, differentiating between immune ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ tumour populations, and providing new insights into the selection of ICIs and personalised treatment regimens. CAFRI provides new perspectives for the development of novel prognostic and immunotherapy efficacy predictive biomarkers for OV.

Traditional methods for testing aspheric optical lenses struggle to achieve point-by-point testing across the full aperture of the lens. To facilitate the full-aperture, high-precision, and rapid testing of aspheric optical lenses, a power testing method of lenses based on the transmission phase deflectometric technique was employed. This method determines the phase deviation of light caused by the lens, thereby fitting the transmission wavefront and quickly detecting the power distribution information of the lens. This paper constructs a power testing model based on the phase deflectometric technique, proposes a calibration method that combines DLT (direct linear transformation) and pinhole models to reduce system errors, and combines phase extraction and wavefront fitting for experimental verification. The experimental results are compared with those obtained from the commercial visual lens mapper (VM-2000). The central errors of spherical power and cylindrical power are 1% and 0.7%, respectively. This provides a reliable method for the full-aperture, high-precision, and rapid testing of aspheric optical lenses.

Abstract Objective Acute necrotic collection (ANC), acute peripancreatic fluid collection (APFC), pleural effusion, and ascites are common early complications of acute pancreatitis. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between 12 serum cytokines and the early complications and severity of acute pancreatitis (AP). Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 307 patients with AP, and divided them into severe group and mild‐to‐moderate group according to the revised Atlanta classification. Propensity score matching was used to control for confounding factors. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between cytokine levels and early complications of AP. Results Serum levels of interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐5, IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐10, IL‐17, and tumor necrosis factor‐α were significantly higher in the severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) group than in the non‐SAP group (p

Multi-terminal flexible DC distribution line faults develop rapidly, and power electronic equipment has a poor ability to withstand overcurrent. To solve the aforementioned problem, a DC line unit protection scheme based on improved Grey Slope Relational Analysis (GSRA) of fault currents is proposed to address the issue of achieving a balance between the reliability and speed of relay protection for DC distribution lines. This scheme uses the fault current measured at both ends of the line under various operating conditions, and calculates the correlation between the current at both ends of the positive and negative lines using the slope distance and polarity of the current increments. Based on this, GSRA is used to analyze the correlation of fault signals so that line faults can be eliminated quickly. This protection scheme allows the selectivity of traditional unit protection to be improved. Simulations using PSCAD/EMTDC have shown that this method can achieve fault discrimination and fault pole selection by simultaneously measuring the current at both ends of the line. This fast protection action is not affected by the line distribution capacitance and converter blocking, strong resistance to transition resistance and noise interference, and reliable identification under heavy loads and high-resistance ground faults.

Drilling and completion processes can often result in reservoir contamination around the wellbore, leading to decreased oil and gas productivity and significant economic losses for the oil field. This issue is particularly complex in sandstone reservoirs with low porosity and permeability horizontal wells, wherein traditional models have limited accuracy and applicability due to numerous unknown parameters. To address this challenge, this study focuses on non-uniform pollution around horizontal wells and proposes a new approach to divide the horizontal well pollution area into N micro-element sections. By establishing a seepage differential equation and employing the similar flow substitution method, we construct models for the pollution skin coefficient of each micro-element section as well as the total pollution skin coefficient. Furthermore, we combine empirical equation models and an oscillation-decreasing function model to develop a pollution radius distribution model that encompasses linear, parabolic, exponential, and logarithmic patterns. Through these advancements, we can realize a comprehensive reservoir damage assessment method. It is verified that the calculation error of this model is very small, and the influence of skin effect and reservoir anisotropy and the radius distribution of various heterogeneous pollution zones are fully considered. These findings indirectly suggest the rationality and practicality of the model presented in this paper. By incorporating actual gas well data into this model, it has been determined through discussion and analysis that the exponential distribution of the pollution radius has the greatest impact on the pollution skin factor along the horizontal well, from the heel to the toe. Increasing the pollution radius and decreasing the pollution permeability both result in an increase in the skin factor of the micro-segment and the total pollution skin factor of the horizontal well. However, compared to the pollution permeability, the radius of the pollution zone has a relatively minor effect on the total pollution skin factor. The proposed technique aims to serve as a valuable tool in optimizing and designing stimulation measures aimed at boosting production and minimizing formation damage. Through evaluation and analysis to reduce risks, protect reservoirs and extend well life, reduce costs, and enhance technical capabilities and economic benefits.

ObjectiveTo examine the correlation between specific indicators and the quality of hip joint ultrasound images in infants and determine whether the individual infant suit ultrasound examination for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH).MethodWe retrospectively selected infants aged 0–6 months, undergone ultrasound imaging of the left hip joint between September 2021 and March 2022 at Shenzhen Children’s Hospital. Using the entropy weighting method, weights were assigned to anatomical structures. Moreover, prospective data was collected from infants aged 5–11 months. The left hip joint was imaged, scored and weighted as before. The correlation between the weighted image quality scores and individual indicators were studied, with the last weighted image quality score used as the dependent variable and the individual indicators used as independent variables. A Long-short term memory (LSTM) model was used to fit the data and evaluate its effectiveness. Finally, The randomly selected images were manually measured and compared to measurements made using artificial intelligence (AI).ResultsAccording to the entropy weight method, the weights of each anatomical structure as follows: bony rim point 0.29, lower iliac limb point 0.41, and glenoid labrum 0.30. The final weighted score for ultrasound image quality is calculated by multiplying each score by its respective weight. Infant gender, age, height, and weight were found to be significantly correlated with the final weighted score of image quality (P

Perforation technology is often used to improve the productivity of horizontal wells in oilfield exploitation. During the perforation process, the formation seepage mode and productivity will change accordingly whether the contaminated zone is shot through. If we continue to use the previous productivity formula, it will cause a large calculation error and bring economic loss to the development of oil and gas fields. Firstly, based on the principle of equivalent seepage resistance, the reservoir-hole inflow profile in these two cases is analyzed in detail, and the reservoir-hole seepage model is constructed in different regions. The perforated horizontal well section is divided into N micro-unit sections, and the pressure drop model in the wellbore is constructed using the fluid mechanics theory. A new perforated horizontal well productivity prediction model is then created by coupling the reservoir-hole seepage model with the pressure drop model in the wellbore as a whole to accurately reflect the production performance of the perforated horizontal well. Through comparison and verification, it is concluded that the calculation results of the model are more precise, which can greatly reduce the productivity error. This method is reasonable and practical. When the oilfield’s actual well data is substituted into this model, it is discussed and analyzed that the reservoir’s physical characteristics, contamination level, and perforation completion parameters all have an impact on the productivity of horizontal wells, with the original formation’s permeability and reservoir contamination thickness having the most pronounced effects. These findings may effectively direct the design of technological processes and performance impact prediction.

Abstract Background Sargassum polycystum C. Agardh and Sargassum plagiophyllum C. Agardh are inhabitants of tropical coastal areas, their populations are negatively influenced by global warming and marine environment changes. The mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes of these species have not been sequenced. Results The mitochondrial genomes of S. polycystum and S. plagiophyllum were 34,825 bp and 34,862 bp, respectively, and their corresponding chloroplast genomes were 124,493 bp and 124,536 bp, respectively. The mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes of these species share conserved synteny, sequence regions and gene number when compared with the organellar genomes of other Sargassum species. Based on sequence analysis of 35 protein-coding genes, we deduced that S. polycystum and S. plagiophyllum were closely related with S. ilicifolium; these species diverged approximately 0.3 million years ago (Ma; 0.1–0.53 Ma) during the Pleistocene period (0.01–2.59 Ma). Rates of synonymous and non-synonymous substitutions in the mitochondrial genome of the Sargassum genus were 3 times higher than those in the chloroplast genome. In the mitochondrial genome, rpl5, rpl31 and rps11 had the highest synonymous substitution rates. In the chloroplast genome, psaE, rpl14 and rpl27 had the highest synonymous substitution rates. Conclusions Phylogenetic analysis confirms the close relationship between the two sequenced species and S. ilicifolium. Both synonymous and non-synonymous substitution rates show significant divergence between the group of mitochondrial genomes versus the group of chloroplast genomes. The deciphering of complete mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes is significant as it advances our understanding of the evolutionary and phylogenetic relationships between species of brown seaweeds.

Abstract Barrett's esophagus (BE) is a well-known precancerous condition of esophageal adenocarcinoma. However, the immune cells and immune related genes involved in BE development and progression are not fully understood. Therefore, our study attempted to investigate the roles of immune cells and immune related genes in BE patients. The raw gene expression data were downloaded from the GEO database. The limma package in R was used to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Then we performed the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and random forest (RF) analyses to screen key genes. The proportion of infiltrated immune cells was evaluated using the CIBERSORT algorithm between BE and normal esophagus (NE) samples. The spearman index was used to show the correlations of immune genes and immune cells. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess the diagnostic value of key genes in BE. A total of 103 differentially expressed immune-related genes were identified between BE samples and normal samples. Then, 7 genes (CD1A, LTF, FABP4, PGC, TCF7L2, INSR,SEMA3C) were obtained after Lasso analysis and RF modeling. CIBERSORT analysis revealed that resting CD4 T memory cells and gamma delta T cells were present at significantly lower levels in BE samples. Moreover, plasma cell and regulatory T cells were present at significantly higher levels in BE samples than in NE samples. INSR had the highest AUC values in ROC analysis. We identified 7 immune related genes and 4 different immune cells in our study, that may play vital roles in the occurrence and development of BE. Our findings improve the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of BE.

BackgroundThe transition from a healthy gastric mucosa to gastric cancer is a multi-step process. Early screening can significantly improve the survival rate of gastric cancer patients. A reliable liquid biopsy for gastric cancer prediction is urgently needed and since tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs) are abundant in various body fluids, tRFs are possible new biomarkers for gastric cancer.MethodsA total of 438 plasma samples from patients with different gastric mucosal lesions as well as healthy individuals were collected. A specific reverse transcription primer, a forward primer, a reverse primer, and a TaqMan probe were designed. A standard curve was constructed and an absolute quantitation method was devised for detection of tRF-33-P4R8YP9LON4VDP in plasma samples of individuals with differing gastric mucosa lesions. Receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed to evaluate the diagnostic values of tRF-33-P4R8YP9LON4VDP for individual with differing gastric mucosa. A Kaplan–Meier curve was established to calculate the prognostic value of tRF-33-P4R8YP9LON4VDP for advanced gastric cancer patients. Finally, a multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to assess the independent prognostic value of tRF-33-P4R8YP9LON4VDP for advanced gastric cancer patients.ResultsA detection method for plasma tRF-33-P4R8YP9LON4VDP was successfully established. Levels of plasma tRF-33-P4R8YP9LON4VDP were shown to reflect a gradient change from healthy individuals to gastritis patients to early and advanced gastric cancer patients. Significant differences were found among individuals with differing gastric mucosa, with reduced levels of tRF-33-P4R8YP9LON4VDP significantly related to a poor prognosis. tRF-33-P4R8YP9LON4VDP was found to be an independent predictor of an unfavorable survival outcome.ConclusionsIn this study, we developed a quantitative detection method for plasma tRF-33-P4R8YP9LON4VDP that exhibited hypersensitivity, convenience, and specificity. Detection of tRF-33-P4R8YP9LON4VDP was found to be a valuable means by which to monitor different gastric mucosa and to predict patient prognosis.

Inhibition of epithelial ferroptosis in colonic tissues relieved clinical symptoms and improved endoscopic presentations in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Kumatakenin, the main ingredient of traditional Chinese medicinal cloves and Alpinia purpurata, is reported to possess therapeutic benefits. However, whether kumatakenin could inhibit ferroptosis and further alleviate colitis remains unclear. Here, we measured the effects of kumatakenin on ferroptosis of colonic epithelial cells from colitis mice. The colitis model was induced in mice by oral intake of 2.5% dextran sulfate sodium in drinking water. RNA sequencing was performed to investigate the mechanism underlying kumatakenin-mediated effects on colitis. The results showed that different doses of kumatakenin significantly alleviated symptoms and suppressed intestinal inflammation in the colitis mouse model. Kumatakenin supplementation decreased cellular iron levels and suppressed ferroptosis in epithelial cells from colitis mice. RNA sequencing, qPCR, and pharmacological inhibition assays showed that kumatakenin reduced cellular iron levels and suppressed ferroptosis in epithelial cells from colitis mice at least partially by upregulating expression of enolase (Eno-3). Furthermore, kumatakenin decreased iron levels in epithelial cells by modulating the Eno3-iron regulatory protein (IRP1) axis. Molecular docking results revealed that kumatakenin could bind Eno3 via hydrogen bonding with the amino acid residues Thr208, Val206, and Pro203. This work will provide a scientific basis for the clinical use of kumatakenin in the treatment of colitis.

The heterogeneous species of tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs) with specific biological functions was recently identified. Distinct roles of tRFs in tumor development and viral infection, mediated through transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation, has been demonstrated. In this review, we briefly summarize the current literatures on the classification of tRFs and the effects of tRNA modification on tRF biogenesis. Moreover, we highlight the tRF repertoire of biological roles such as gene silencing, and regulation of translation, cell apoptosis, and epigenetics. We also summarize the biological roles of various tRFs in cancer development and viral infection, their potential value as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for different types of cancers, and their potential use in cancer therapy.

Polyoxometalate (POM)-based binary and ternary hybrids, including combinations of POMs, semiconductors, nanostructured carbon (carbon nanotubes, graphene, carbon dots, etc.), and metal nanoparticles (MNPs), are key materials in photoelectrocatalysis. POM plays a key role in the construction of nanohybrids and contributes to their photoelectrochemical catalytic properties. These composites combine the properties of two or three functional nanoscale materials, resulting in a wide range of applications, including catalysis, energy conversion and storage, molecular sensors, and electronics. Herein, we summarize the latest progress in POM-based binary nanohybrids (POM/metal, POM/semiconductor, and POM/nanocarbon) and ternary nanohybrids (metal/POM/nanocarbon), particularly in energy materials for photocatalysis, fuel cells, biosensors, and photoelectrochemical devices. Current applications are critically assessed, and promising target systems are discussed.

Long-distance drifting of seaweeds driven by ocean currents is an ideal model for exploring population-level genetic connectivity and phylogeographic structure. In the Indo-Pacific convergence region, we integrated phylogeographic and ocean current data and Lagrangian particle simulations to explore how the ocean currents contributed to the biogeographical patterns and population genetic connectivity of Sargassum polycystum. The oceanographic transport and direction of gene flow was in line with contemporary ocean currents. The S. polycystum geographical dispersal from glacial refugia homogenized the footprint of genetic divergence. The multidisciplinary intersection provides insights into the evolutionary history and biogeographic conservation of tropical seaweeds in the Indo-Pacific convergence region.

Abstract A main concern of the promising DMF‐based Cu2ZnSn(Sx,Se1‐x)4 (CZTSSe) solar cells lies in the absence of a large‐grain spanning structure, which is a key factor for high open‐circuit voltage (Voc) and power conversion efficiency (PCE). A new strategy to achieve CZTSSe large‐grain spanning monolayer is proposed, by taking advantage of the synergistic optimization with a Cu2+ plus Sn2+ redox system and pre‐annealing temperatures. A series of structural, morphological, electrical, and photoelectric characterizations are employed to study the effects of the pre‐annealing temperatures on absorber qualities, and an optimized temperature of 430 ℃ is determined. The growth mechanism of the large‐grain spanning monolayer and the effect of redox reaction rate are carefully investigated. Three types of absorber growth mechanisms and a concept of critical temperature are proposed. The devices based on this large‐grain spanning monolayer suppress the recombination of carriers at crystal boundaries and interfaces. The champion device exhibits a high Voc (>500 mV) and PCE of 11.76%, which are both the maximum values among DMF‐based solar cells at the current stage.

Melanoma is one of the most common malignant tumors. The anti-PD-1 antibody is used for the treatment of metastatic melanoma. Treatment success is only 35–40% and a range of immune-related adverse reactions can occur. Combination of anti-PD1 antibody therapy with other oncology therapies has been attempted. Herein, we assessed whether chlorogenic acid liposomes modified with sialic acid (CA-SAL) combined with anti-PD1 antibody treatment was efficacious as immunotherapy for melanoma. CA-SAL liposomes were prepared and characterized. In a mouse model of B16F10 tumor, mice were treated with an anti-PD1 antibody, CA-SAL, or combination of CA-SAL + anti-PD1 antibody, and compared with no treatment controls. The tumor inhibition rate, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) phenotype, T-cell activity, and safety were investigated. We observed a significant decrease in the proportion of M2-TAMs and CD4+Fop3+ T cells, while there was a significant increase in the proportion of M1-TAMs and CD8+ T cells, and in the activity of T cells, and thus in the tumor inhibition rate. No significant toxicity was observed in major organs. CA-SAL and anti-PD1 Ab combination therapy presented synergistic anti-tumor activity, which enhanced the efficacy of the PD-1 checkpoint blocker in a mouse model of melanoma. In summary, combination immunotherapy of CA-SAL and anti-PD1 Ab has broad prospects in improving the therapeutic effect of melanoma, and may provide a new strategy for clinical treatment.

Double-layer winding halbach fault-tolerant motor (DLW-HFTM) combines the advantages of the permanent magnet motor and the fault-tolerant motor, which are beneficial to improve the characteristics of the joint robot. First, the structure of DLW-HFTM is proposed in view of the requirement of the fault tolerance of drive motor on the joint robot without degrading the other performances, such as the torque and the efficiency. Then, the working principle and initial design dimensions are depicted, and a finite element parameter model is established by Maxwell software. Furthermore, the design parameters are optimized by multi-objective sensitivity analysis. Finally, the electromagnetic performances before and after optimization are analyzed, including no-load back EMF, torque, loss, efficiency, etc. Meanwhile, the fault-tolerant performance of the motor is analyzed. The research results show that the DLW-HFTM can improve the fault-tolerance on the condition of meeting the design requirements.

In this paper, based on the gray value change of reflected light image of porous silicon (PSi) Bragg mirror, a fast and simple biological detection method is proposed. In this method, CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) are used as markers for refractive index amplification, and digital image method is used for detection. The detection light has the same wavelength as the lowest reflectivity of the edge of the Bragg mirror, and the reflected light radiated on the surface of the Bragg mirror is received by the detector. The theoretical simulation results show that the intensity of the reflected light increases with the increase of the refractive index caused by the biological reaction. According to the experimental results, the average gray value variation increases with the increase of the target DNA concentration and becomes a linear relationship in a certain range. Based on this method, the DNA detection limit is 20.74 pM. The method is low-cost, has a short detection time and can be used in the detection of biosensor microarray.

To further improve the sensitivity of porous silicon-assembled microcavity biosensors, the detection of porous silicon assembled microcavity by angle spectrum method is also researched. This contribution uses CdSe/ZnS quantum dot-labelled probe DNA to amplify the refractive index and detect it by the angle spectrum method. The first layer is a microcavity layer, and the next is porous silicon with a Bragg structure. After functionalization, different concentrations of target DNA were coupled to construct quantum dot-labelled probe DNA to bind specifically to the target DNA. With the Bragg device based on quartz glass forming an assembled microcavity structure, using a He-Ne laser as the detection light and collimation beam, the angle spectrum method is used to detect different concentrations of target DNA before and after biological reaction with quantum dot-labelled probe DNA and reflect the angle of minimum light intensity. The experimental results show that with increasing target DNA concentration, probe DNA concentration and angle, the detection limit is 13.25 pM. The angle-spectrum method has been successfully used to detect the assembled porous silicon microcavity. The angle-spectrum method has the advantages of spectrometer free and low cost.

Glassy carbon (GC) is a type of non-graphitizing disordered carbon material at ambient pressure and high temperatures, which has been widely used due to its excellent mechanical properties. Here we report the changes in the microstructure and mechanical properties of GC treated at high pressures (up to 5 GPa) and high temperatures. The formation of intermediate sp2–sp3 phases is identified at moderate treatment temperatures before the complete graphitization of GC, by analyzing synchrotron X-ray diffraction, Raman spectra, and transmission electron microscopy images. The intermediate metastable carbon materials exhibit superior mechanical properties with hardness reaching up to 10 GPa and compressive strength reaching as high as 2.5 GPa, nearly doubling those of raw GC, and improving elasticity and thermal stability. The synthesis pressure used in this study can be achieved in the industry on a commercial scale, enabling the scalable synthesis of this type of strong, hard, and elastic carbon materials.

Abstract Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has reach pandemic proportions globally. For patients with symptoms of fever and cough accompanied by rapid lung damage progression, COVID-19 needs to be distinguished from interstitial lung disease (ILD) attributed to connective tissue disease (CTD), especially dermatomyositis (DM)/clinical amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM) associated rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RP-ILD). Case presentation We report a case of a woman observed with fever, cough, and rapid lung damage during the epidemic. The patient had a suspicious epidemiological history, and her chest CT scans showed lung damage similar to that caused by COVID-19, but anti-Ro52 antibody was strongly positive. She was diagnosed with CADM associated RP-ILD and died 1 month later. Conclusions During the COVID-19 epidemic, it is critical to carefully assess patients with CTD related ILD, especially RP-ILD associated with CADM. Repeated nucleic acid tests for COVID-19 are necessary to achieve accurate case diagnosis. High-resolution CT (HRCT) of the chest is presently deemed an inefficient technique to distinguishing between COVID-19 and CADM associated RP-ILD. The characteristic rashes of dermatomyositis require careful observation and can often provide diagnostic clues. For patients with CADM, a high titers of anti-Ro52 antibody may be related to the pathogenesis of RP-ILD, suggesting a poor prognosis.

In this study, a novel carboxymethyl functionalized β-cyclodextrin-modified graphene oxide (CM-β-CD-GO) adsorbent was designed and fabricated. The CM-β-CD-GO was applied to remove methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solutions. The adsorption mechanism was discussed in detail through the study of pH effect, kinetics, and isotherm models. The adsorption of CM-β-CD-GO for MB displayed high removal rates at the pH range of 6.0–10.0, and the removal efficiency is over 90% within 20 min. The pseudo-second-order model could well describe the kinetic process of MB adsorption, and the adsorption was determined by the multi-step process. The maximum uptake capability of CM-β-CD-GO towards MB was 245.70 mg g−1 at 25 °C according to Langmuir isotherm model. A possible adsorption mechanism that electrostatic attraction, π-π interaction, and host-guest supramolecular interactions supported MB adsorption was proposed. The adsorption capacity of CM-β-CD-GO showed no significant change after five cycles. The structure and morphology of CM-β-CD-GO were characterized by XPS, FT-IR, TGA, PXRD, AFM, SEM, zeta (ζ) potential determination, and Raman spectroscopy. This work provides valuable information for the design of novel adsorbents that specifically and efficiently adsorb cationic dyes contaminants.

The neurophysiological basis of the association between interhemispheric connectivity and speech comprehension processing remains unclear. This prospective study examined regional cerebral blood flow (CBF), homotopic functional connectivity, and neurovascular coupling, and their effects on comprehension performance in post-stroke aphasia. Multimodal imaging data (including data from functional magnetic resonance imaging and arterial spin labeling imaging) of 19 patients with post-stroke aphasia and 22 healthy volunteers were collected. CBF, voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC), CBF-VMHC correlation, and CBF/VMHC ratio maps were calculated. Between-group comparisons were performed to identify neurovascular changes, and correlation analyses were conducted to examine their relationship with the comprehension domain. The correlation between CBF and VMHC of the global gray matter decreased in patients with post-stroke aphasia. The total speech comprehension score was significantly associated with VMHC in the peri-Wernicke area [posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS): r = 0.748, p = 0.001; rostroventral area 39: r = 0.641, p = 0.008]. The decreased CBF/VMHC ratio was also mainly associated with the peri-Wernicke temporoparietal areas. Additionally, a negative relationship between the mean CBF/VMHC ratio of the cingulate gyrus subregion and sentence-level comprehension was observed (r = −0.658, p = 0.006). These findings indicate the contribution of peri-Wernicke homotopic functional connectivity to speech comprehension and reveal that abnormal neurovascular coupling of the cingulate gyrus subregion may underly comprehension deficits in patients with post-stroke aphasia.

The brown alga Silvetia siliquosa (Tseng et Chang) Serrão, Cho, Boo & Brawly is endemic to the Yellow-Bohai Sea and southwestern Korea. It is increasingly endangered due to habitat loss and excessive collection. Here, we sequenced the mitochondrial (mt) and chloroplast (cp) genomes of S. siliquosa. De novo assembly showed that the mt-genome was 36,036 bp in length, including 38 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 26 tRNAs, and 3 rRNAs, and the cp-genome was 124,991 bp in length, containing 139 PCGs, 28 tRNAs, and 6 rRNAs. Gene composition, gene number, and gene order of the mt-genome and cp-genome were very similar to those of other species in Fucales. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a close genetic relationship between S. siliquosa and F. vesiculosus, which diverged approximately 8 Mya (5.7–11.0 Mya), corresponding to the Late Miocene (5.3–11.6 Ma). The synonymous substitution rate of mitochondrial genes of phaeophycean species was 1.4 times higher than that of chloroplast genes, but the cp-genomes were more structurally variable than the mt-genomes, with numerous gene losses and rearrangements among the different orders in Phaeophyceae. This study reports the mt- and cp-genomes of the endangered S. siliquosa and improves our understanding of its phylogenetic position in Phaeophyceae and of organellar genomic evolution in brown algae.

Background. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important role in many cancer progression. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression level and clinical significance of the lncRNA, proliferating cell nuclear antigen pseudogene 1 (PCNAP1), in cancer tissue and the plasma of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression of PCNAP1 in HCC tissue, adjacent tissue, and plasma. Spearman’s rank correlation analysis was performed to assess relationships among cancer tissue, plasma PCNAP1, and plasma AFP. Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to assess survival of HCC patient with high and low expression of PCNAP1. The survival difference was compared by the log-rank test. The use of plasma levels PCNAP1 for diagnosing HCC was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Results. The expression of PCNAP1 in HCC tissue was significantly higher than in adjacent tissue (P

Objective: To study the extraction process of agarwood active ingredients (AA) and investigate the safety and effectiveness of AA in the treatment of insomnia rats by nasal administration. Method: A β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) inclusion compound (a-β-CD) was prepared from agarwood essential oil (AEO), and the preparation process was optimized and characterized. The safety of AA in nasal mucosa was evaluated through Bufo gargarizans maxillary mucosa and rat nasal mucosa models. Insomnia animal models were replicated by injecting p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA), conducting behavioral tests, and detecting the expression levels of monoamine neurotransmitters (NE and 5-HT) and amino acids (GABA/Glu) in the rat hypothalamus. Results: The optimum inclusion process conditions of β-CD were as follows: the feeding ratio was 0.35:1.40 (g:g), the inclusion temperature was 45 °C, the inclusion time was 2 h, and the ICY% and IEO% were 53.78 ± 2.33% and 62.51 ± 3.21%, respectively. The inclusion ratio, temperature, and time are the three factors that have significant effects on the ICY% and IEO% of a-β-CD. AA presented little damage to the nasal mucosa. AA increased the sleep rate, shortened the sleep latency, and prolonged the sleep time of the rats. The behavioral test results showed that AA could ameliorate depression in insomnia rats to a certain extent. The effect on the expression of monoamine neurotransmitters and amino acids in the hypothalamus of rats showed that AA could significantly reduce NE levels and increase the 5-HT level and GABA/Glu ratio in the hypothalamus of insomnia rats. Conclusion: The preparation of a-β-CD from AEO can reduce its irritation, improve its stability, increase its curative effect, and facilitate its storage and transport. AA have certain therapeutic effects on insomnia. The mechanism of their effect on rat sleep may involve regulating the expression levels of monoamine neurotransmitters and amino acids in the hypothalamus.

In the past two decades, the agro-pastoral ecotone of northern China has experienced dramatic habitat loss and fragmentation, and patches of remaining grassland have formed. However, it is still unclear how to prioritize biodiversity conservation in the remaining grassland patches in this fragmented landscape. Here, we investigated 84 remaining grassland patches in the Tabu River Basin, a typical area of agro-pastoral ecotone of northern China. To determine the conservation priorities of these remaining grassland patches, we used a new conservation criterion called ecological uniqueness based on beta diversity. We further explored the impact of local habitat, dispersal process, and patch characteristics on ecological uniqueness. Our results showed that turnover was the dominant component of regional beta diversity (accounting for 81.9%). We identified 13 hotspots patches with high conservation priority due to their significant ecological uniqueness, 9 of which were small patches (

The halbach permanent magnet synchronous motor (HPMSM) combines the advantages of permanent magnet motors and halbach arrays, which make it very suitable to act as a robot joint motor, and it can also be used in other fields, such as electric vehicles, wind power generation, etc. At first, the sizing equation is derived and the initial design dimensions are calculated for the HPMSM with the rated power of 275W, based on which the finite element parametric model of the motor is built up and the key structural parameters that affect the total harmonic distortion of air-gap flux density and output torque are determined by analyzing multi-objective sensitivity. Then the structure parameters are optimized by using the cuckoo search algorithm. Last, in view of the problem of local overheating of the motor, an improved stator slot structure is proposed and researched. Under the condition of the same outer dimensions, the electromagnetic performance of the HPMSM before and after the improvement are analyzed and compared by the finite element method. It is found that the improved HPMSM can obtain better performances.

The end stiffness characteristic of the mechanism has great influence on its positioning accuracy， compliance character and dynamic properties. In order to eliminate the configuration singularity， as well as to enhance its stiffness and accuracy， better dynamic property， a controllable stiffness of the mechanism is often required to satisfy different situations. On basis of full degree of freedom parallel mechanism， the design method by adding redundant actuated limbs to realize the end stiffness requirement is analyzed. According to screw theory， the inverse Jacobian matrix of parallel mechanism with limb single drive is analyzed， the mapping relationship matrix from the actuation to the end-effector stiffness is established. Then， the superposition rule of stiffness of each limb to the end stiffness component of the mechanism is analyzed. According to the end stiffness requirement， a stiffness synthesis method by adding redundant-actuated limbs to realize the end stiffness requirement is established. Finally， the Stewart parallel platform is adopted to verify this synthesis method， the design requirement of the end stiffness matrix decoupling is realized.

Macrofungus Ganoderma luteomarginatum is one of the main species of Ganoderma fungi distributed in Hainan province of China, the fruiting bodies of which have been widely used in folk as a healthy food to prevent tumors. To explore the potential cytotoxic constituents from G. luteomarginatum, the phytochemical investigation on the ethyl acetate soluble fraction of 95% ethanolic extract from the fruiting bodies of this fungus led to the isolation of twenty-six lanostane triterpenoids (1–26), including three undescribed ones (1–3), together with eight ergostane steroids (27–34). The structures of three new lanostane triterpenoids were elucidated as lanosta-7,9(11)-dien-3β-acetyloxy-24,25-diol (1), lanosta-7,9(11)-dien-3-oxo-24,26-diol-25-methoxy (2), and lanosta-8,20(22)-dien-3,11,23-trioxo-7β,15β-diol-26-oic acid methyl ester (3) by the analysis of 1D, 2D NMR, and HRESIMS spectroscopic data. All isolates were assayed for their cytotoxic activities using three human cancer cell lines (K562, BEL-7402, and SGC-7901) and seven lanostane triterpenoids (1, 2, 7, 13, 18, 22, and 24), and one ergostane steroid (34) showed definite cytotoxicity with IC50 values that ranged from 6.64 to 47.63 μg/mL. Among these cytotoxic lanostane triterpenoids, compounds 2 and 13 showed general cytotoxicity against three human cancer cell lines, while compounds 1 and 18 exhibited significant selective cytotoxicity against K562 cells with IC50 values of 8.59 and 8.82 μg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, the preliminary structure–cytotoxicity relationships was proposed.

Summary: New carbon forms that exhibit extraordinary physicochemical properties can be generated from nanostructured precursors under extreme pressure. Nevertheless, synthesis of such fascinating materials is often not well understood. That is the case of the C60 precursor, with irreproducible results that impede further progress in the materials design. Here, the semiconducting amorphous carbon, having band gaps of 0.1–0.3 eV and the advantages of isotropic superhardness and superior toughness over single-crystal diamond and inorganic glasses, is produced from fullerene at high pressure and moderate temperatures. A systematic investigation of the structure and bonding evolution is carried out with complementary characterization methods, which helps to build a model of the transformation that can be used in further high-pressure/high-temperature (high p,T) synthesis of novel nano-carbon systems for advanced applications. The amorphous carbon materials produced have the potential of accomplishing the demanding optoelectronic applications that diamond and graphene cannot achieve.

We present a study of the conformational transitions of a helical polymer by using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations. With focus on the variation of the dihedral angles, we are able to obtain the monomer-level details of the response of the polymer chain to environmental stimuli (e.g., temperature variation and mechanical forces). Specifically, during the thermo-induced helix–coil transition, all the helices break synchronously. On the contrary, the force-induced helix breaking always starts from the termini, and then the chain behaviors become divergent and temperature dependent. Particularly, at intermediate temperatures, we find that our polymer chain can adopt an asymmetrical half-trans conformation during the stretching procedures, although the chain itself has quite uniform and homogeneous composition.

To improve the detection sensitivity of a porous silicon optical biosensor in the real-time detection of biomolecules, a non-spectral porous silicon optical biosensor technology, based on dual-signal light detection, is proposed. Double-light detection is a combination of refractive index change detection and fluorescence change detection. It uses quantum dots to label probe molecules to detect target molecules. In the double-signal-light detection method, the first detection-signal light is the detection light that is reflected from the surface of the porous silicon Bragg mirror. The wavelength of the detection light is the same as the wavelength of the photonic band gap edge of the porous silicon Bragg mirror. CdSe/ZnS quantum dots are used to label the probe DNA and hybridize it with the target DNA molecules in the pores of porous silicon to improve its effective refractive index and enhance the detection-reflection light. The second detection-signal light is fluorescence, which is generated by the quantum dots in the reactant that are excited by light of a certain wavelength. The Bragg mirror structure further enhances the fluorescence signal. A digital microscope is used to simultaneously receive the digital image of two kinds of signal light superimposed on the surface of porous silicon, and the corresponding algorithm is used to calculate the change in the average grey value before and after the hybridization reaction to calculate the concentration of the DNA molecules. The detection limit of the DNA molecules was 0.42 pM. This method can not only detect target DNA by hybridization, but also detect antigen by immune reaction or parallel biochip detection for a porous silicon biosensor.

Garden chrysanthemums are a group of chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum morifolium) that are mostly used in garden landscape collocations. Because most garden chrysanthemum varieties have low plants and poor space effects, they have certain limitations in garden landscape applications. In this study, we selected seven garden chrysanthemum varieties with excellent characteristics for artificial hybridization and intercross parentage to obtain new varieties with good traits we need. The phenotypic characteristics of the F1 offspring in terms of plant height, crown width, crown height ratio, number of main branches, branching intensity, plant form, inflorescence diameter, number of flowers per plant, number of ray florets, flower color, and days from planting period to coloring period were analyzed and systematically evaluated. Subsequently, a comprehensive evaluation system was established using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and k-means clustering method. We built a comprehensive analysis model, calculated the weighting of each evaluation factor, and multiplied the weight value by the score of the evaluation index standard of each factor to obtain the comprehensive score of each plant. All F1 plants were divided into four grades: excellent grade accounting for 13%, good grade accounting for 28%, medium grade accounting for 36%, and poor grade accounting for 23%. Then, we analyzed the differences of some quantitative traits between Group E (hybrids in excellent grade) and Group O (hybrids in good, medium, and poor grades). There were significant differences in plant height, crown height ratio, and the number of main branches but no significant difference in crown width. Combining with comprehensive score showed that Group E performed well overall. Finally, we selected five hybrid offspring with the highest overall scores in Group E as excellent variety materials of garden chrysanthemum for hedgerow. They were CH22, YQ73, HY08, CQ80, and HY07, respectively. We also found that plant height, lodging resistance, crown height ratio, plant form, crown width, and the number of main branches could be the main indicators in the AHP, which can be effectively applied to the comprehensive evaluation and breeding of garden chrysanthemums for hedgerows.

The clinical manifestations of variant angina is unevenly distributed during the 24 h, thus the in vivo performance of drugs should be tailored according to the angina circadian rhythm. Cryptotanshinone (CTN) is one of the representative bioactive lipid-soluble components of Danshen which has been commonly used for cardiovascular diseases such as angina pectoris. The aim of this study was to develop a novel CTN sustained-released pellets (CTN-SRPs) to precisely synchronize the CTN plasma concentrations with predicted occurrence of angina pectoris for angina chronotherapy. A deconvolution-based method was applied to develop and optimize the CTN-SRPs. The plasma concentration-time curve of CTN immediate-released formulation after oral administration in rats was used as the weight function. The predicted plasma concentration-time curve of CTN-SRPs simulated according to the incidence of variant angina during 24 h was used as the response function. Then the desired drug release profile of CTN-SRPs was calculated based on deconvolution using weight function and response function, and subsequently used for guiding the formulation optimization. CTN-SRPs were prepared with the combinations of PVP, poloxamer 127 and EC as matrix using fluidized bed technology. An orthogonal design was employed to obtain the optimal formulation with its release profile similar with the desired one. Pharmacokinetic studies validated that the actual plasma concentration-time curve of these optimized CTN-SRPs was similar with the predicted one. In addition, the percent errors (%PE) of CTN plasma concentrations in 8–12 h were less than 10%. In conclusion, this deconvolution-based method could be applied to adjust the in vivo performance of drugs for angina chronotherapy. Keywords: Chronotherapy, Deconvolution, Angina pectoris, Cryptotanshinone, In vitro/in vivo performance, Control release

A highly efficient catalyst of graphene-supported mixed-valent Mn16-containing polyoxometalate is reported here by electrochemical strategy. The modified electrode with the catalyst exhibits an excellent electrocatalytic performance for water oxidation, which will contribute to the development of highly efficient catalysts for oxygen evolution. Keywords: Water oxidation, Polyoxometalates, Graphene, Electrocatalysis

Grafting has been widely applied to melon (Cucumis melo L.) production to alleviate obstacles of continuous cropping and control soil-borne diseases. However, grafting often leads to a decline of fruit quality. For example, sometimes bitter fruits are produced on grafted plants. However, the underlying physiological mechanism still remains unclear. This study investigated the effects of different rootstocks on the taste of fruits of the Balengcui, an oriental melon cultivar, during summer production. The results showed that all grafted plants with Cucurbita maxima Duch. rootstocks produced bitter fruits, while non-grafted plants and plants grafted onto muskmelon rootstocks produced no bitter fruits. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and metabonomic analysis were performed to investigate the mechanism underlying the occurrence of bitter fruits. Metabolite comparisons of fruits from plants grafted onto Ribenxuesong rootstocks both with non-grafted plants and plants grafted onto muskmelon rootstocks showed that 17 metabolites including phospholipids, cucurbitacins and flavonoids, exhibited changes. The three Cucurbitacins, Cucurbitacin O, Cucurbitacin C, and Cucurbitacin S, increased dramatically. The 10 phospholipids PS(18:1(9Z)/18:2(9Z,12Z)), PS(P-18:0/15:0), PA(18:1(11Z)/18:1(11Z)), PE(16:0/18:0), PS(O-16:0/17:2(9Z,12Z)), PI(16:0/18:2(9Z,12Z)), PA(15:0/22:6(4Z,7Z,10Z,13Z,16Z,19Z)), PS(P-16:0/17:2(9Z,12Z)), PS(22:0/22:1(11Z)), and PA(17:1(9Z)/0:0)) were significantly decreased, while two PA (16:0/18:2 (9Z, 12Z) and 16:0/18:1 (11Z)), two flavonoids (pelargonidin 3-(6''-malonylglucoside)-5-glucoside and malvidin 3-rutinoside) significantly increased in fruits of plants grafted onto Cucurbita maxima Duch. rootstocks. These metabolites were involved in the glycerophospholipid metabolic pathway, the mevalonate pathway, and the phenylpropanoid pathway. In summary, these results showed that the bitter fruits of grafted Balengcui were caused by Cucurbita maxima Duch. rootstocks. Phospholipids, cucurbitacins, and flavonoids were the key contributors for the occurrence of bitter fruits in Balengcui melon after grafting onto Cucurbita maxima Duch. rootstocks.

SrLa4-x-ySi3O13: xTb3+, yEu3+ phosphor was prepared by high temperature solid-state method. The luminescent centers of Eu3+ and Tb3+ occupying La3+ lattice sites in hosts were confirmed by Rietevld refinement method. The phenomenon of self-cross-relaxation energy transfer is observed between Tb3+ ions from 5D4-7FJ to 7F6-5D4 transition. Additionally, the direction of energy transfer (ET) was observed from Tb3+ to Eu3+ ions, and ET efficiency became more efficient as the concentration of activator increases. The type of ET between Tb3+ and Eu3+ ions was demonstrated to be the dipole-dipole mechanism. The multi-color lights were realized covering the green to red visible region by the route of energy transfer. Furthermore, the decrease of Eu3+ emission intensity resulting from thermal quenching can be effectively compensated by Tb3+→Eu3+ ET. The excellent luminescent properties and thermal stability show this phosphor to be a promising candidate for white LEDs.