Search

Zn metal as a promising anode of aqueous batteries faces severe challenges from dendrite growth and side reactions. Here, tetraphenylporphyrin tetrasulfonic acid (TPPS) is explored as an electrolyte additive for advanced Zn anodes. It is interesting to note that TPPS spontaneously assembles into unique aggregates. As they adsorb on the Zn anode, the aggregates enhance the resistance to electrolyte percolation and dendrite growth compared to single molecules. Meanwhile, TPPS facilitates anion association in the solvation sheath of Zn2+, and boosts the transference number of Zn2+ up to 0.95. Therefore, anion‐related side reactions and anion‐induced electrode overpotentials are reduced accordingly. In this context, the electrolyte containing TPPS exhibits excellent electrochemical performance. Even under a high loading of MnO2 (25 mg cm−2), a limited Zn supply (N/P ratio=1.7), and a lean electrolyte (15 μL mAh−1), the full cells still represent a higher cumulative capacity compared to the reported data. The advantages of this electrolyte are also adapted to other cathode materials. The pouch cells of Zn||NaV3O8 ⋅ 1.5H2O realize a capacity of ~0.35 Ah at 0.4 C under harsh conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zn metal as a promising anode of aqueous batteries faces severe challenges from dendrite growth and side reactions. Here, tetraphenylporphyrin tetrasulfonic acid (TPPS) is explored as an electrolyte additive for advanced Zn anodes. It is interesting to note that TPPS spontaneously assembles into unique aggregates. As they adsorb on the Zn anode, the aggregates enhance the resistance to electrolyte percolation and dendrite growth compared to single molecules. Meanwhile, TPPS facilitates anion association in the solvation sheath of Zn2+, and boosts the transference number of Zn2+ up to 0.95. Therefore, anion‐related side reactions and anion‐induced electrode overpotentials are reduced accordingly. In this context, the electrolyte containing TPPS exhibits excellent electrochemical performance. Even under a high loading of MnO2 (25 mg cm−2), a limited Zn supply (N/P ratio=1.7), and a lean electrolyte (15 μL mAh−1), the full cells still represent a higher cumulative capacity compared to the reported data. The advantages of this electrolyte are also adapted to other cathode materials. The pouch cells of Zn||NaV3O8 ⋅ 1.5H2O realize a capacity of ~0.35 Ah at 0.4 C under harsh conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with internal tandem duplication (ITD) mutations in Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) has an unfavorable prognosis. Recently, using newly emerging inhibitors of FLT3 has led to improved outcomes of patients with FLT3-ITD mutations. However, drug resistance and relapse continue to be significant challenges in the treatment of patients with FLT3-ITD mutations. This study aimed to evaluate the antileukemic effects of shikonin (SHK) and its mechanisms of action against AML cells with FLT3-ITD mutations in vitro and in vivo. Methods: The CCK-8 assay was used to analyze cell viability, and flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis and differentiation. Western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to examine the expression of certain proteins and genes. Leukemia mouse model was created to evaluate the antileukemia effect of SHK against FLT3-ITD mutated leukemia in vivo. Results: After screening a series of leukemia cell lines, those with FLT3-ITD mutations were found to be more sensitive to SHK in terms of proliferation inhibition and apoptosis induction than those without FLT3-ITD mutation. SHK suppresses the expression and phosphorylation of FLT3 receptors and their downstream molecules. Inhibition of the NF-κB/miR-155 pathway is an important mechanism through which SHK kills FLT3-AML cells. Moreover, a low concentration of SHK promotes the differentiation of AML cells with FLT3-ITD mutations. Finally, SHK could significantly inhibit the growth of MV4-11 cells in leukemia bearing mice. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that SHK may be a promising drug for the treatment of FLT3-ITD mutated AML. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous zinc‐ion batteries have garnered renewed interest owing to their inherent safety and cost‐effectiveness. However, Zn anode suffers from notorious side reactions and dendrite growth, compromising the battery performance. Designing anion‐containing solvation structures to facilitate the in situ formation of a solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer proves effective in protecting Zn anode, yet balancing the inherent interactions between the cations‐solvents and cations–anions remains a significant challenge. Herein, latent solvent (hexafluoroisopropanol) with specific anion‐philic and cation‐phobic properties is introduced, which can remarkably increase Zn(TFSI)2 solubility in water and induce anion‐containing solvation structures. The introduction of latent solvent enables anions to preferentially decompose, giving rise to an anion‐derived SEI layer. More interestingly, the direct anion‐cation interaction endows Zn2+ species with stepwise dehydration, minimizing the adsorption of water on Zn anode. The anion‐derived SEI layer and optimized de‐solvation process work in synergy to enable homogeneous Zn deposition and ensure high reversibility. When coupled with a NaV3O8·1.5H2O (NVO) cathode, the resultant full cell delivers a high‐capacity retention of 87.8% after 2000 cycles at 1 A g−1. This work provides valuable insights into the advanced latent solvent electrolyte design and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diapause, an adaptative strategy for survival under harsh conditions, is a dynamic multi-stage process. Bombus terrestris, an important agricultural pollinator, is declining in the wild, but artificial breeding is possible by imitating natural conditions. Mated queen bees enter reproductive diapause in winter and recover in spring, but the regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. Herein, we conducted a comparative 4D label-free proteomic analysis of queen bees during artificial breeding at seven timepoints, including pre-diapause, diapause, and post-diapause stages. Through bioinformatics analysis of proteomic and detection of substance content changes, our results found that, during pre-diapause stages, queen bees had active mitochondria with high levels of oxidative phosphorylation, high body weight, and glycogen and TAG content, all of which support energy consumption during subsequent diapause. During diapause stages, body weight and water content were decreased but glycerol increased, contributing to cold resistance. Dopamine content, immune defense, and protein phosphorylation were elevated, while fat metabolism, protein export, cell communication, signal transduction, and hydrolase activity decreased. Following diapause termination, JH titer, water, fatty acid, and pyruvate levels increased, catabolism, synaptic transmission, and insulin signaling were stimulated, ribosome and cell cycle proteins were upregulated, and cell proliferation was accelerated. Meanwhile, TAG and glycogen content decreased, and ovaries gradually developed. These findings illuminate changes occurring in queen bees at different diapause stages during commercial production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the enormous potential of zinc metal as an anode material for cost-competitive and safer power sources, the practical application of aqueous zinc batteries (AZIBs) has been plagued by uncontrollable detrimental side reactions and dendrite growth. To tackle these challenges, we propose a novel design strategy that focuses on balancing the hydrophobicity and zincophilicity of poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) solid–electrolyte interphases (SEIs). PILs with the same cation ([VBIm]+) but different anions (BF4−, TFO−, TFSI−) were polymerized on Zn electrodes to form artificial SEI layers with adjustable hydrophobicity. The hydrophobicity of the PIL SEIs leads to the formation of a uniform surface, which is beneficial for eliminating dendrites and inhibiting side reactions. As a result, the Zn‖[PVBIm][TFSI]@Ti cell exhibits a significantly improved coulombic efficiency of 99.61%. Nevertheless, it is important to note that the enhanced hydrophobicity, which contributes to benefits such as better coulombic efficiency, also introduces an inevitable risk of compromised zinc kinetics. To address this trade-off, a zwitterionic PIL, [PVIPS][Zn(TFSI)2], with a zincophilicity group (–SO3−) was proposed. This approach substantially improves the reversibility and long-term stability of Zn anodes, as evidenced by the outstanding capacity retention of the [PVIPS][Zn(TFSI)2]@Zn‖PANI full cell (81.32% after 2000 cycles) and 13 times longer life of symmetrical cells (over 1950 h at 1.0 mA cm−2/1.0 mA h cm−2) compared to bare Zn symmetrical cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is the standard and curative treatment strategy for patients with hematologic malignancies. Recently, decitabine-included regimens have been investigated by several studies including ours, which may prevent relapse of primary malignant diseases. Methods: This study was to retrospectively evaluate a 7-day decitabine-included regimen with reduced dose of idarubicin for patients with hematologic malignancies who underwent allo-HSCT. Results: A total of 84 patients were enrolled, including 24 cases in 7-day and 60 cases in 5-day decitabine groups, respectively. Patients conditioned with 7-day decitabine regimen showed accelerated neutrophil (12.05 ± 1.97 vs. 13.86 ± 3.15; u = 9.309, p < 0.001) and platelet (16.32 ± 6.27 vs. 21.37 ± 8.57; u = 8.887, p < 0.001) engraftment compared with those treated with 5-day decitabine regimen. Patients in the 7-day decitabine group showed a significantly lower incidence rate of total (50.00% [12/24] versus 78.33% [47/60]; χ2 = 6.583, p = 0.010) and grade III or above (4.17% [1/24] vs. 31.67% [19/60]; χ2 = 7.147, p = 0.008) oral mucositis compared to those in the 5-day decitabine group. However, the occurrence of other major complications post-allo-HSCT and outcomes of patients in these two groups were comparable. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that this 7-day decitabine-contained new conditioning regimen seems to be feasible and safe for patients with myeloid neoplasms who receive allo-HSCT, and a large-scale prospective study is needed to confirm the findings of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Aspergillus niger -mediated fungal treatment liberated P from sludge ash effectively. • Sludge-derived organics were used as nutrient substrates for fungal extraction of P. • Sequential extraction, 31P NMR, and P K-edge XANES identified P release behaviour. • Value-added products (Ca 5 (PO 4) 3 (OH) with a purity of > 85 %) were finally obtained. Fungal extraction is a promising approach for reclaiming phosphorus (P) from sewage sludge ash (SSA). However, this approach faces notable technical and economic challenges, including an unknown P speciation evolution and the addition of expensive chemical organic carbon. In this study, the use of an organic-rich effluent produced in sludge dewatering as nutrient source is proposed to initiate the fungal extraction of SSA-borne P with Aspergillus niger. The changes in P speciation in the ash during fungal treatment was analyzed by combined sequential extraction, solid-state 31P nuclear magnetic resonance, and P X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy. Results showed that after 5 days of fungal treatment using sludge-derived organics, 85 % of P was leached from SSA. Dominantly, this considerable release of P resulted from the dissolution of Ca 3 (PO 4) 2 , AlPO 4 , FePO 4 , and Mg 3 (PO 4) 2 in the ash, and their individual contribution rates to P released accounted for 28.0 %, 24.3 %, 20.6 %, and 18.8 %, respectively. After removal of metal cations (e.g., Mg2+, Al3+, Fe3+, and heavy metals) by cation exchange resin (CER), a hydroxyapatite (HAP) product with a purity of > 85 % was harvested from the extract by precipitation with CaCl 2. By contrast, without CER purification, a crude product of Ca/Mg-carbonates and phosphates mixture were obtained from this extract. A total of 73.2 wt% of P was ultimately recovered from SSA through integrated fungal extraction, CER purification, and HAP crystallization. These findings provide a mechanistic basis for the development of waste management strategies for improved P reclamation with minimal chemical organics consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with NPM1 mutation is a distinct genetic entity with favorable outcomes. Nevertheless, emerging evidence suggests that NPM1-mutated AML is still a highly heterogeneous disorder. In this study, 266 patients with AML with NPM1 mutations were retrospectively analyzed to evaluate the associations between variant allele frequency (VAF) of NPM1 mutations, co-mutated genes, measurable residual disease (MRD), and patient outcomes. Multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used for monitoring MRD. Ultimately, 106 patients were included in the long-term follow-up period. Patients with high NPM1 VAF (≥ 42.43%) had poorer 2-year relapse-free survival (RFS) (55.7% vs. 70.2%, P = 0.017) and overall survival (OS) (63.7% vs. 82.0%, P = 0.027) than those with low VAF. DNMT3A mutations negatively influenced the outcomes of patients with NPM1 mutations. Patients with high DNMT3A VAF or NPM1/DNMT3A/FLT3-ITD triple mutations had shorter RFS and significantly lower OS than that in controls. After two cycles of chemotherapy, patients with positive MFC MRD results had lower RFS (MRD+ vs. MRD−:44.9% vs. 67.6%, P = 0.007) and OS (61.5% vs. 76.6%, P = 0.011) than those without positive MFC MRD results. In multivariate analysis, high NPM1 VAF (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.045; P = 0.034) and positive MRD after two cycles of chemotherapy (HR = 3.289; P = 0.003) were independent risk factors for RFS; MRD positivity after two cycles of chemotherapy (HR = 3.293; P = 0.008) independently predicted the OS of the patients. These results indicate that VAF of both NPM1 gene itself or certain co-occurring gene pre-treatment and MRD post-treatment are potential markers for restratifying the prognoses of patients AML having NPM1 mutations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Difenoconazole is a triazole germicide that is usually applied to prevent fungal diseases on crops with high efficiency and safety. Jujube is a spiny Rhamnaceous plant that originated in China more than 4000 years ago and is extensively cultivated in northern China nowadays. To evaluate the safety of difenoconazole in jujube, supervised field trials were carried out in six provinces of China, and the final residue and dissipation behavior of difenoconazole on jujube were determined by gas chromatography (GC). The results showed that when addition levels were 0.02, 0.2, and 2 mg·kg−1, average recoveries of the aforementioned method for difenoconazole in jujube can be put into the range of 73–108%, and relative standard deviation (RSD) was 3–9%. The limit of quantitation (LOQ) for this method was 0.02 mg·kg−1. In the final residue test, difenoconazole was sprayed to deal with the jujube at 100 and 150 mg·kg−1 doses twice or three times, respectively, while the dissipation test was applied only once at a 150 mg·kg−1 dose. Final residue testing results have revealed that when jujube samples were harvested and tested at 7, 14, and 21 days post-application, difenoconazole residues in samples were 0.11–1.59, 0.05–0.77, 0.04–0.63 mg·kg−1, respectively. The dissipation testing results showed that the digestion process of difenoconazole in jujube tends to be a gradual reduction process and the dynamic regularity of the residue dissipation proves consistent with the first-order dynamics reaction equation. The half-life (t1/2) for difenoconazole residue dissipation in Qingdao and Yuncheng was 13.1 days and 16.5 days, respectively. The risk quotient (RQ) was 84.9% lower than 100%, showing that dietary intake risk to difenoconazole was acceptable and the maximum residue limit (MRL) of difenoconazole on jujube is recommended to be 2 mg·kg−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The WIBS electrolytes include "water-rich" and "anion-rich" micro-domains. • Formation of Li+(H 2 O) n network promotes Li+ transport. • Li+ aggregates within anion-rich domain restrict Li+ transport. Through a combination of molecular dynamics simulations and experimental approaches, the solvation structure and diffusion behavior of Li+ was investigated in water-in-bisalt electrolytes formed by introducing a second lithium salt (LiBF 4 , LiNO 3 , LiOAc) into the LiTFSI aqueous electrolyte. The calculation and experimental results indicate that nanostructures of water-in-bisalt electrolytes include "water-rich" and "anion-rich" domains. When LiBF 4 is added, Li+ is mostly located in the water-rich domain, effectively increasing the diffusion coefficient of Li+. This electrolyte exhibits a higher conductivity and a much lower price compared to mono-LiTFSI electrolytes, On the contrary, with the addition of LiOAc, OAc− will strongly coordinate with Li+ to change the solvation structure of solvent separated ion pairs (Li+(H 2 O) 4) to aggregates, which results in the decrease of Li+ diffusion coefficient. These fundamental insights highlight the correlation of microstructural and dynamic heterogeneities of water-in-bisalt electrolytes, which are expected to trigger rational design of solvation and dynamic behaviors of advanced aqueous electrolytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A synergetic strategy to accelerate ion transfer kinetics and regulate Zn-ion flux has been proposed to achieve stable and dendrite-free Zn anodes via a series of zincophilic covalent organic framework (COF) films. [Display omitted] • The ketone group of the covalent organic framework (COF) interacted strongly with the Zn-ion. • The strong interaction simultaneously accelerated ion transfer kinetics and regulated Zn-ion flux. • The zincophilic COF layer promoted uniform Zn deposition, inhibited dendritic growth and corrosion reactions. Zn metal is considered as an ideal anode for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) owing to the inherent merits of low cost, high theoretical capacity, and remarkable safety. However, the formation of Zn dendrites and water-induced parasitic reactions hamper the commercialization of AZIBs. Herein, a synergetic strategy to accelerate ion transfer kinetics and regulate Zn-ion flux has been proposed to achieve dendrite-free Zn anodes via a series of zincophilic covalent organic framework (COF) films. The nanoporous and mechanically stable COF films synthesized by the liquid–liquid interfacial polymerization can be straightforward transferred on the Zn foil surface through a dip-coating technique. Benefiting from the affinity between Zn2+ and electron-rich ketone, the zincophilic COF interlayers promote the de-solvation of hydrated Zn2+, simultaneously offer ample Zn2+ transport channels to facilitate rapid diffusion and regulating a homogenous Zn2+ flux, thereby inhibiting the dendritic growth and leading to the uniform Zn deposition. Additionally, the COF films with strong adherence and large surface area effectively separate Zn anodes from bulk aqueous electrolytes, inhibiting the water-induced corrosion reactions. As a result, the symmetric cell with COF-modified Zn anode exhibited a stable cycling lifetime more than 900 h at 1 mA∙cm−2 and 1 mAh∙cm−2, accompanied by a low voltage polarization of merely 74.3 mV. As a simple approach to synergistically restrict Zn-ion flux and enhance ion transport kinetics using zincophilic COF films via interfacial synthesis, this work would provide new insights into developing highly stable Zn anodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

WO3, a visible light reaction catalyst, absorbs light at a wavelength of 470 nm and has many advantages, such as strong stability, long life, non-toxicity, low cost, and suitable band edges. In this review, the photocatalytic mechanism of WO3 in water pollution treatment is introduced, as well as a systematic summary, and some main strategies for improving the photocatalytic activity of WO3 in water pollution treatment are introduced, for example surface and morphology control, synthetic heterojunctions, and doping element. Finally, the main conclusions and prospects of WO3-based photocatalysts are pointed out. It can be expected that this review can provide guidance for designing low-cost, high-efficiency new WO3-based photocatalysts in the process of water pollution treatment and can meet the application prospects of efficient utilization of solar degradation in the field of environmental purification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CXCR4 is expressed on leukaemia cells and haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), and its ligand stromal‐derived factor 1 (SDF‐1) is produced abundantly by stromal cells in the bone marrow (BM). The SDF‐1/CXCR4 axis plays important roles in homing to and retention in the protective BM microenvironment of malignant leukaemia cells and normal HSCs. CXCR4 expression is regulated by multiple mechanisms and the level of CXCR4 expression on leukaemia cells has prognostic indications in patients with acute leukaemia. CXCR4 antagonists can mobilize leukaemia cells from BM to circulation, which render them effectively eradicated by chemotherapeutic agents, small molecular inhibitors or hypomethylating agents. Therefore, such combinational therapies have been tested in clinical trials. However, new evidence emerged that drug‐resistant leukaemia cells were not affected by CXCR4 antagonists, and the migration of certain leukaemia cells to the leukaemia niche was independent of SDF‐1/CXCR4 axis. In this review, we summarize the role of CXCR4 in progression and treatment of acute leukaemia, with a focus on the potential of CXCR4 as a therapeutic target for acute leukaemia. We also discuss the potential value of using CXCR4 antagonists as chemosensitizer for conditioning regimens and immunosensitizer for graft‐vs‐leukaemia effects of allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneously malignant disorder resulting in poor prognosis. Ubiquitination, a major post-translational modification (PTM), plays an essential role in regulating various cellular processes and determining cell fate. Despite these initial insights, the precise role of ubiquitination in AML pathogenesis and treatment remains largely unknown. In order to address this knowledge gap, we explore the relationship between ubiquitination and AML from the perspectives of signal transduction, cell differentiation, and cell cycle control; and try to find out how this relationship can be utilized to inform new therapeutic strategies for AML patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to explore the clinical features and prognostic significance of CSF3R mutations in AML patients with CEBPA double mutations (CEBPAdm). One hundred one AML patients with CEBPAdm were retrospectively analyzed in this study. Mutation status of CSF3R gene, clinical features, and long-term outcomes were analyzed. The frequency of CSF3R mutations in patients with CEBPAdm was 19.80% (20/101). Patients with CSF3R mutations were associated with a lower platelet (u = 2.728, P = 0.006) and higher leukocytes (u = 3.178, P = 0.001) compared with those with wide-type CSF3R gene. The 5-year relapse-free survival (RFS) was 18.7% in patients with CSF3R mutations, which was significantly lower than those with wide-type CSF3R (31.8%) (P = 0.015). The 5-year overall survival (OS) was also significantly different between patients with and without CSF3R mutations (17.5% versus 57.4%, P = 0.019). The prevalence of CSF3R mutations was high in AML patients with CEBPAdm, which indicated a poor prognosis, and CSF3R mutations may be a new potential candidate for prognostically re-stratifying AML patients with CEBPAdm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field equations in a three-dimensional commutative space based on a set of commutation relations are derived. In this space, the commutation relation of the position and kinematic momentum of a particle is generalized to include a metric tensor field in addition to a vector field. The introduction of a metric tensor is a generalization of the commutation relation for Feynman's proof of the Maxwell equations. In this paper, as the equations of motion and the field equations are classical, the Poisson bracket and not the commutation relation is used in the calculations. As the commutative space is defined by the Poisson bracket, the equations of motion for the particle and the field equations for the metric tensor and vector are derived from the Poisson bracket in Hamiltonian mechanics. The Helmholtz conditions, which express the existence of a Lagrangian for a particle in the space, are also derived from the Poisson bracket. Then the field equations are calculated explicitly by two approaches. One is to calculate the Helmholtz conditions using the equations of motion. The other is to calculate the Jacobi identity for the kinematic momentum or velocity of the particle. In addition to the homogeneous Maxwell equations, the generalized field equations are obtained to define the generalized electric and magnetic fields of the tensor field. Just like the usual electric and magnetic fields, the generalized fields are invariant under a local gauge transformation and should play significant roles in physics. Finally, the homogeneous Maxwell equations of the vector field are seen to exhibit similarities with the generalized field equations for the tensor field. This similarity provides a useful theoretical framework for constructing gravitoelectromagnetism, which is based on analogies between the equations for electromagnetism and relativistic gravitation. It remains to establish the usefulness of the theoretical framework with applications of the field equations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generation process of natural gas in the Yacheng formation, including mudstone and coal strata, is simulated by an open system laboratory pyrolysis apparatus. The results show that higher geothermal gradient of the central depression could accelerate the generation of methane in the deep-water sags and the transformation of the residual hydrocarbons to methane in the deep-water area began from 5.3 Ma. Therefore, the main sags in the deep-water area are of high gas generation potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tandem repeats (TRs) are highly dynamic regions of the genome. Mutations at these loci represent a significant source of genetic variation and can facilitate rapid adaptation. Bumblebees are important pollinating insects occupying a wide range of habitats. However, to date, molecular mechanisms underlying the potential adaptation of bumblebees to diverse habitats are largely unknown. In the present study, we investigate how TRs contribute to genetic variation in bumblebees, thus potentially facilitating adaptation. We identified 26,595 TRs from the assembled 18 chromosome sequences of the buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), 66.7% of which reside in genic regions. We also compared TRs found in B. terrestris with those present in the assembled genome sequence of a congener, B. impatiens. We found that a total of 1,137 TRs were variable in length between the two sequenced bumblebee species, and further analysis reveals that 101 of them are located within coding regions. These 101 TRs are responsible for coding sequence variation and correspond to protein sequence length variation between the two bumblebee species. The variability of identified TRs in coding regions between bumblebees was confirmed by PCR amplification of a subset of loci. Functional classification of bumblebee genes where coding sequences include variable-length TRs suggests that a majority of genes (87%) that could be assigned to a protein class are related to transcriptional regulation. Our results show that TRs contribute to coding sequence variation in bumblebees, and thus may facilitate the adaptation of bumblebees through diversifying proteins involved in controlling gene expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hamiltonian of a nonrelativistic particle coupled to non-Abelian gauge fields is defined to construct a non-Abelian gauge theory. The Hamiltonian which includes isospin as a dynamical variable dictates the dynamics of the particle and isospin according to the Poisson bracket that incorporates the Lie algebraic structure of isospin. The generalized Poisson bracket allows us to derive Wong's equations, which describe the dynamics of isospin, and the homogeneous (sourceless) equations for non-Abelian gauge fields by following Feynman's proof of the homogeneous Maxwell equations. It is shown that the derivation of the homogeneous equations for non-Abelian gauge fields using the generalized Poisson bracket does not require that Wong's equations be defined in the time-axial gauge, which was used with the commutation relation. The homogeneous equations derived by using the commutation relation are not Galilean and Lorentz invariant. However, by using the generalized Poisson bracket, it can be shown that the homogeneous equations are not only Galilean and Lorentz invariant but also gauge independent. In addition, the quantum ordering ambiguity that arises from using the commutation relation can be avoided when using the Poisson bracket. From the homogeneous equations, which define the "electric field" and "magnetic field" in terms of non-Abelian gauge fields, we construct the gauge and Lorentz invariant Lagrangian density and derive the inhomogeneous equations that describe the interaction of non-Abelian gauge fields with a particle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The transport of small organic molecules through single-wall carbon nanotube is studied by MD simulation. • The flow behavior of ring molecules is significantly different with chain molecules. • Chain molecules show an ordered structure in the CNT. • Ring molecules exhibit strong ability to transport through the CNT. In this research, the flow behavior of ring and chain molecules through a carbon nanotube (CNT) driven by pressure has been investigated using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. We have examined the distribution of fluid molecules and the flow process confined in the CNT. We also calculated the radial count profiles, the axial density distributions, molecular conformation and fluid flux. Our results revealed that a sudden pressure applied on fluid molecules will lead to inrush of fluid inside nanoscale channels. The fluid molecules confined in the CNT formed an interfacial layer near the CNT inner surface. That of toluene system is closer to the CNT wall than heptane system. The results also indicated that plane of toluene molecules in interfacial layer is parallel to the CNT wall. The distributions of the others are disordered. The heptane molecules formed four cylindrical layers inside the CNT. The molecules in interfacial layer are parallel to the CNT wall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Localized high-concentration electrolytes (LHCEs) have attracted extensive attention in light of their excellent characteristic that inherits the advantages of high-concentration counterparts and minimize their shortcomings. However, the fundamental mechanisms of nano-heterogeneity influencing the LHCE properties are still not well understood. Herein, a systematic comparison combining theoretical and experimental methods is performed to clarify the fundamental correlation between electrolyte microstructure and properties. The unique microstructure in the LHCE of high-concentration clusters surrounded by a nonsolvating diluent enables the hopping diffusion of Li+ through the anion ligand layers, which is responsible for the high transference number and fast diffusion of Li+. In addition, the anion coordinated with multiple Li+ undergoes defluorination reactions and contributes, with the diluent decomposition, to the formation of a stable and robust "LiF-rich" solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer on the Li metal, which is responsible for the enhanced cycling stability. These fundamental insights highlight the correlation of microstructural and dynamic heterogeneities of electrolytes with SEI formation, which should be considered in the rational design of next-generation improved electrolytes. [Display omitted] • Heterogeneous clusters in the LHCE enabled favorable Li + hopping diffusion. • The Li+(FSI−) x (DMC) y cluster in a sea of dilute contributed to FSI− decomposition. • Coordinated FSI− decomposition led to compact SEI and inhibit Li dendritic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resonance Raman spectra of BeZnO alloy materials were studied using 325 nm Laser. The research showed that the Raman spectra of BeZnO alloys presents a dual-mode vibration. Compare BeZnO alloy with ZnO single crystal, the A1 (LO) phonon vibration mode of BeZnO alloy moved to the larger wave number direction. The position of A1 (LO) phonon vibration modes of BeZnO and BeZnO was 580 cm and 582 cm, respectively. In addition, the temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy was employed for BeZnO, and the phonon mode frequency shift with temperature was studied in detail. Finally, the stability of the polar and nonpolar BeZnO alloy materials was studied using resonance Raman spectroscopy. The results showed that the A1 (LO) phonon mode frequency of polar BeZnO alloy remained in the same position, while the nonpolar BeZnO alloys moved nearly 3.5 cm to larger direction after being placed in the air for two years. The reason may be that the stability of the nonpolar BeZnO alloy is relatively poor upon interaction with molecule such as H2O, O2 in the air. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Treatments for intracranial aneurysms mainly include endovascular treatment and craniotomy. Most studies report on large intracranial aneurysms, yet treatments for very small intracranial aneurysms remain controversial. Our purpose was to explore management strategies for ruptured very small intracranial aneurysms. Methods From January 2002 to September 2010, 162 consecutive patients with ruptured very small intracranial aneurysms (≤3 mm) were retrospectively analyzed by comparing procedural data, adverse events, additional procedures, and length of hospital stay between management strategies. Modified Rankin Scale was assessed at 2 months and at 1 year by a postal questionnaire and telephone interview. Results Of the 85 patients in the microsurgical group, 79 underwent surgical clipping and 6 underwent wrapping; 77 patients underwent endovascular therapy (endovascular group), including coiling (65 cases), stent-assisted (13 cases) and balloon-assisted (7 cases) coiling, and stenting (2 cases). At 2 months, a good grade (modified Rankin Scale 0–2) was achieved in 74% of patients in the endovascular group and 69.4% of patients in the microsurgical group. At 1 year, a good grade was achieved by 84.9% in the endovascular group and 80% in the microsurgical group. Logistic regression results showed that whichever treatment option was chosen, Hunt-Hess grade, age, cerebral vasospasm, and complications contributed significantly to the prediction of outcome at 2 months. Conclusions Endovascular therapy for ruptured very small intracranial aneurysms was not inferior to surgical clipping and showed a slight trend toward better prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Li+ transport mechanism changes in concentrated ionic liquid electrolytes. • Asymmetric anion-based electrolytes exhibit more pronounced concentration effect. • Dual-anion electrolytes all show faster Li+ diffusion than mono-anion electrolyte. The anion chemistry of lithium salts plays a pivotal role in determining the physicochemical and electrochemical performances of ionic liquid (IL) electrolytes. This work explores the effects of anion size and symmetry on coordination and dynamics of lithium ions (Li+) through molecular dynamics simulations. Four types of ILs composed of the same cation N-N-diethyl-N-methyl-N-(2-methoxyethyl)-ammonium (DEME+) and different anions of symmetrical bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (FSI−) and bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (TFSI−), as well as asymmetric (fluorosulfonyl)(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (FTFSI−) and (difluoromethylsulfonyl)-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (DFTFSI−) are studied for comparison purpose. The calculation results show that the formation of Li+ aggregates in concentrated IL electrolytes could enhance Li+ transport due to the Li+ transport mechanism gradually shifts from vehicle transport to Li+ hopping through the anion ligand layers. Furthermore, it can be seen that the asymmetric anion based electrolytes possess superior performance than that of symmetric anions. In addition, the dual-anion based electrolytes all exhibit faster Li+ diffusion coefficient than mono-anion based electrolytes, which arise from the synergistic effect between mixed anions. As such, this work highlights the role of the anion structures and synergism in the rational design of concentrated IL-based electrolytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This meta-analysis was performed to determine the accuracy of procalcitonin ( PCT) in predicting mortality in pneumonia patients with different pathogenic features and disease severities. A systematic search of English-language articles was performed using PubMed, Embase, Web of Knowledge and the Cochrane Library to identify studies. The diagnostic value of PCT in predicting prognosis was determined using a bivariate meta-analysis model. The Q-test and I2 index were used to test heterogeneity. A total of 21 studies comprising 6007 patients were included. An elevated PCT level was a risk factor for death from community-acquired pneumonia ( CAP) (risk ratio ( RR) 4.38, 95% confidence interval ( CI) 2.98-6.43), particularly in patients with a low CURB-65 score. The commonly used cut-off, 0.5 ng/mL, had low sensitivity ( SEN) and was not able to identify patients at high risk of dying. Furthermore, the PCT assay with functional SEN <0.1 ng/mL was necessary to predict mortality in CAP in the clinic. For critically ill patients, an elevated PCT level was associated with an increased risk of mortality ( RR 4.18, 95% CI: 3.19-5.48). The prognostic performance was nearly equal between patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia ( VAP) and patients with CAP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Rondani) is an important predatory insect, primarily preying on aphids. The effective control of diapause in A. aphidimyza is a crucial practical issue in the field of biological pest control and large-scale artificial insect breeding. Previous research has shown that, in the European strain of A. aphidimyza, diapause occurs during the larval stage in the cocoon, it has a day-long response, and it enters diapause when the day length decreases. In this study, we evaluated the effects of photoperiod and temperature on the incidence of diapause in A. aphidimyza. We found that the diapause occurs in the cocooning larvae stage, and the highest diapause rate was recorded at under 15 °C and 10L:14D photoperiod conditions. Transcriptome sequencing analysis showed that differentially expressed genes were mainly enriched in the glucose metabolism pathway. The aphidophagous gall midge, Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Rondani) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), a dominant natural enemy of aphids, has been used as a biological control agent in many countries to control aphids in greenhouses. To identify key factors that induce diapause in A. aphidimyza, we evaluated the effects of photoperiod and temperature on the incidence of diapause in A. aphidimyza under laboratory conditions. The results showed that temperature and photoperiod had significant impacts on development and diapause in A. aphidimyza. Low temperatures and a short photoperiod inhibited development, while high temperatures and a long photoperiod promoted development. Temperatures above 20 °C and a photoperiod greater than 14 h prevented diapause in A. aphidimyza. However, the highest diapause rate was recorded at under 15 °C and 10L:14D photoperiod conditions. At 15 °C, the first to third larvae were sensitive to a short photoperiod at any stage, and a short photoperiod had a cumulative effect on diapause induction. The longer the larvae received short light exposure, the higher the diapause rate appeared to be. Transcriptome sequencing analysis at different stages of diapause showed that differentially expressed genes were mainly enriched in the glucose metabolism pathway. Physiological and biochemical analyses showed that diapausing A. aphidimyza reduced water content; accumulated glycogen, trehalose, sorbitol, and triglycerides; and gradually reduced trehalose and triglyceride contents in the body with the extension of diapause time. Glycogen may be used as a source of energy, but sorbitol is usually used as a cryoprotectant. This study provided results on aspects of diapause in A. aphidimyza, providing data and theoretical support for promoting its commercial breeding and in-depth research on the molecular mechanisms underlying diapause regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood (greenhouse whitefly) are worldwide polyphagous pests of economic importance that damage solanaceous vegetables. Neonicotinoid pesticides and parasitoid Encarsia formmosa Gahan are the main management strategies applied worldwide, but precise control methods in greenhouse vegetables need to be developed to reduce the application amounts of pesticides and improve the suppression of whitefly populations. Therefore, we assessed the indoor acute toxicities and risk assessment of neonicotinoids for T. vaporariorum and E. formosa adults and pupae and compared the control effects of E. formosa and neonicotinoid acetamiprid. According to the acute toxicities results, most neonicotinoid insecticides were more toxic to E. formosa than T. vaporariorum, and pupae were much less susceptible than adults of both species. Moreover, acetamiprid had a low risk effect on E. formosa. Sole application of E. formosa and acetamiprid could effectively control T. vaporariorum, but their combined application resulted in antagonistic effects on the control of T. vaporariorum. The results showed that a combined application or sole use of E. formosa could reduce the use of insecticides, slow down the development of insecticide resistance in whiteflies, and improve the efficiency of controlling the growth of whitefly populations in greenhouse vegetable production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A feasible and scalable two-step method is developed to synthesize LiFeSO4Fy(OH)1-y which could deliver 92 and 80 mA h g-1 when cycled at 1 C and 15 C, respectively. Moreover, with 80% of capacity retention after 2800 cycles at 1 C, this material should be of great interest as a contender to LiFePO4 for use in high power Li-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To explore NPM1, FLT3-ITD, CEBPA, and c-kit mutations in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) from Chinese population. Methods: In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the prevalence and clinical profile of NPM1, FLT3-ITD, CEBPA, and c-kit mutations in 312 patients with de novo AML. Results: The frequencies of NPM1, FLT3-ITD, c-kit, and CEBPA mutations were 15.4, 14.0, 7.64, and 25.6%, respectively. The occurrence rate of NPM1 mutations increased with age in patients younger than 60 years. NPM1, c-kit, and CEBPA mutations were all associated with French-American-British subtypes. Patients with NPM1 mutations and FLT3-ITD presented with higher peripheral white blood cell counts and marrow blast percentages. Conclusion: Both this and previous studies may suggest low frequencies of NPM1 and FLT3-ITD mutations in AML patients from the Chinese population, and they may have a synergistic function in stimulating proliferation of leukemia cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Although the antitumor, immunomodulatory activities, and other effects of shikonin have been studied for decades, its systemic toxicity in vivo remains unclear. Objective: To estimate the long-term systemic toxicity of shikonin derivatives (ShD) in a rat model. Materials and methods: The roots of Arnebia euchroma (Royle) Johnst. (Boraginaceae) were extracted in ethanol, passed through a molecular sieve, and dried. A microemulsion solution in water was subsequently prepared. Adult Wistar rats were treated with ShD by gavage at concentrations of 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg per day for 90 days or 180 days. Hematological and biochemical examinations were performed, and the vital organs were subjected to pathological analyses. Results: We did not observe hematological or non-hematological toxicity of ShD at a dose as high as 800 mg/kg per day for 6 months. Discussion and conclusion: Our findings may offer some beneficial information for the practical application and research of Arnebia euchroma. We demonstrated in an animal model that ShD may be safe for usage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Certain molecular mutations are associated with signs of cell morphology and differentiation in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, only limited data are available for the detailed analysis of such correlations. In this study, AML patients were classified into 4 subsets according to CD34, HLA-DR and CD11c expression levels. Significantly low CD34 antigen expression was observed in nucleophosmin (NPM1)-mutated patients and in those with FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD). No correlations were observed among NPM1 mutations, FLT3-ITD and monocytic morphology in patients without CD34 expression. Both NPM1 mutations and FLT3-ITD were absent in cluster IIb patients (CD34+CD11c-). The associations among NPM1 mutations, FLT3-ITD and the surface molecular signature of leukemic cells may offer beneficial information about the pathogenesis of AML. © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retinol-binding protein (RBP) has been used as a nutritional index for children with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in previous studies. However, no studies have yet examined RBP levels in AML patients from all age groups. In this study, AML patients presented with lower RBP concentrations than healthy control subjects and patients with benign haematopathies. A negative association was observed between serum RBP level and peripheral white blood cell count in M4 and M5 AML patients. Moreover, patients carrying the FLT3-ITD mutation and young patients had lower RBP levels than those lacking this mutation and elderly patients. In conclusion, these observations suggest that aberrant retinol levels may be associated with AML. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Bombus terrestris is one of the most ideal pollinators in the world and brings great economic benefits through the pollination of fruits and vegetables. The huge demand for pollinators, combined with habitat loss, climate change, and pesticide use over the past decades, has resulted in a dramatic decline in wild bumblebee populations and distribution. Hence, the artificial breeding of bumblebees is of great significance and has a broad market prospect. Diapause is an important process in artificial breeding. Although some studies have been carried out on the diapause-related genes of bumblebees, the precise mechanisms affecting the phosphorylation level remain unclear. Here, we performed a new comparison of three diapause-stage expression profiles using isobaric tandem mass tag (TMT)-labeled proteomics and phosphoproteomics. The results provided abundant resources and contributed to a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the regulation of reproductive diapause in eusocial insects. Reproductive diapause is an overwintering strategy for Bombus terrestris, which is an important pollinator for agricultural production. However, the precise mechanisms underlying reproductive diapause in bumblebees remain largely unclear. Here, a combination analysis of proteomics and phosphoproteomics was used to reveal the mechanisms that occur during and after diapause in three different phases: diapause (D), postdiapause (PD), and founder postdiapause (FPD). In total, 4655 proteins and 10,600 phosphorylation sites of 3339 proteins were identified. Diapause termination and reactivation from D to the PD stage were characterized by the upregulation of proteins associated with ribosome assembly and biogenesis, transcription, and translation regulation in combination with the upregulation of phosphoproteins related to neural signal transmission, hormone biosynthesis and secretion, and energy-related metabolism. Moreover, the reproductive program was fully activated from PD to the FPD stage, as indicated by the upregulation of proteins related to fat digestion and absorption, the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, fatty acid elongation, protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum, and the upregulation of energy-related metabolism at the phosphoproteome level. We also predicted a kinase–substrate interaction network and constructed protein–protein networks of proteomic and phosphoproteomic data. These results will help to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the regulation of diapause in B. terrestris for year-round mass breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Schwertmannite and sulfated polysaccharides are selectively recovered from AMD. • This method involves pH-controlled Fe biomineralization and sulfate bioreduction. • Solution equilibrium calculation characterizes the Fe biomineralization behavior. • The key factor that determines the pH required for Fe biomineralization is revealed. • The recovered sulfated polysaccharides show the obvious antiangiogenic bioactivity. Acid mine drainage (AMD) poses an environmental challenge to the global mining industry. However, it is also a potential source of iron and sulfate for recovery. In this work, we proposed an integrated process of pH-controlled biomineralization of iron and biological sulfate reduction to facilitate the concurrent purification of AMD and selective recovery of iron and sulfate as valuable products. Compared with the biomineralization controlling pH at 2.8, the modified biomineralization controlling pH at 3.2 improved the iron precipitation efficiency from 9.7 % to 95.3 %, leading to a 53–fold increase in pure-grade schwertmannite Fe 8 O 8 (OH) 4.08 (SO 4) 1.96 production in AMD. This improvement may be related to the relatively low Gibbs free energy value of the Fe3+ mineralization reaction at pH 3.2. The solution equilibrium calculation using Visual MINTEQ indicated that keeping the system pH at an appropriate level is crucial for the spontaneous and effective biomineralization of Fe to schwertmannite at room temperature. The specific pH required for Fe biomineralization is slightly affected by the content of metal cations (e.g., Al3+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cu2+, and Mn2+) and oxoanion (AsO 3 3−/AsO 4 3−) in AMD but greatly affected by sulfate content (mM) (pH = 0.149 ln c(SO 4 2−) + 2.551). For the effluent resulting from AMD biomineralization, sulfate reduction at pH 5.0 removed residual Zn2+ (99.9 %), Mn2+ (97 %), Cu2+ (100 %), and sulfate (87.1 %) while recovering sulfated polysaccharides with antiangiogenic bioactivity (as confirmed by the chorioallantoic membrane tests). The pilot-scale continuous flow operation experiments demonstrated that this integrated method has the potential to recover valuable iron/sulfate products from AMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Mechanism of controllable graphene dispersibility using photo-responsive surfactants. • cis -AzoTAB prefers to generate an "L-shaped" configuration at high concentrations. • trans -AzoTAB has a smaller saturated adsorption capacity compared to cis -AzoTAB. • Reversible dispersion and aggregation processes only occur at a specific concentration. Reversible dispersion and aggregation of graphene with photo-stimuli response have exhibited enormous potential in electrochemical and biomedical fields owing to its green and efficient characteristics. However, the molecular mechanism of photo-controllable dispersibility of graphene is still limited. Herein, the reversible dispersion and aggregation of graphene in the existence of photo-responsive surfactant (2-(4-(4-butylphenyl)diazenylphenoxy) ethyltrimethylammonium bromide, AzoTAB) is investigated by molecular dynamics simulation. Analysis of structural features indicates that the adsorption configurations of trans -AzoTAB and cis -AzoTAB show different evolutions with increasing concentration. At high surfactant concentrations, exceed trans -AzoTAB molecules move away from the graphene surface and generate second adsorption layer, while cis -AzoTAB molecules prefer to lift a benzene ring to obtain an "L-shaped" configuration, which responsible for the larger saturated adsorption capacity of cis -AzoTAB molecules. Subsequently, the potential of mean force (PMF) provides comprehensive direct evidence for the influence of adsorption configurations on the dispersibility of graphene. It is observed that the transition between the π-π stacking structure formed by three trans -AzoTAB layers and the "L-shaped" configuration of cis -AzoTAB molecules can achieve the reversible dispersion and aggregation processes of graphene. Thus, the photoisomerization of AzoTAB triggered by exposure to UV/visible light could be utilized to realize reversible dispersion and aggregation of graphene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: The common adverse effects of linezolid for treating septic patients with gram-positive cocci is anemia and thrombocytopenia, which limit its clinical application. Objectives: We determined the effects of vitamin B6 adjunctive therapy on linezolid-associated cytopenias, and retrospectively studied 75 septic patients who received at least 7 days of linezolid treatment. Methods: Patients were divided into a linezolid treatment group (LTG; n = 41) that received linezolid only and a combination treatment group (CTG; n = 34) that received both linezolid and vitamin B6. Each group was further subdivided into those with sepsis and those with severe sepsis. Each patient had red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), and platelet (PLT) measurements at baseline (day 0) and every other day for 2 weeks during treatment; these parameters were compared between the groups and assessed for time-dependent trends. Results: For patients in the LTG, RBC, Hb, and Hct values showed statistically significant reductions over time, and these values were lower compared with the values in the CTG. The CTG also showed downward trends, except on the first day of treatment. The PLT count also decreased in both groups. Patients with severe sepsis had lower PLT counts in both treatment groups compared with the septic patients. Conclusions: Septic patients who received a combination treatment of linezolid and vitamin B6 might show positive effects for linezolid-associated reductions in some hematologic parameters (RBC, Hb, and Hct). This combined treatment might also slow PLT reduction, which was more evident in patients with severe sepsis. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01295801. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Although some studies have reported relationships between cytogenetic subgroups, molecular markers and age in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), conclusions based on data from a Chinese population are lacking. In the present study, we evaluated 640 patients with de novo AML. The patients were divided into 8 age groups, i.e. 0–9, 10–19, 20–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69 and ≥70 years, and were then classified into cytogenetic groups based on normal, balanced and unbalanced karyotypes [including both complex karyotypes (CKs) and monosomal karyotypes (MKs)]. Different age distributions were observed in these karyotype groups. The frequency of the normal karyotype increased with age from 6.67 to 58.33% (χ2 = 20.68, p = 0.001), whereas that of the balanced karyotypes decreased with age from 73.33 to 11.11% (χ2 = 48.22, p < 0.001). Furthermore, the occurrence of the unbalanced karyotypes and CKs also increased with age (p < 0.05). No age-specific distributions were observed for the MK subgroups and the different molecular markers (NPM1, FLT3-ITD and c-kit). The cytogenetic subtypes were also related to the French-American-British classification, peripheral blood white cell count and molecular markers. In conclusion, the different age profiles of the cytogenetic subtypes may implicate different mechanisms in the pathogenesis of AML, which may be beneficial for etiological research and the prevention of AML. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: An α-cyclodextrin–[60]fullerene conjugate with a flexible linker at the secondary face of α-cyclodextrin has been prepared, which displays significant water solubility and, more importantly, acts as a new class of HCV entry inhibitor with IC50 at 0.17μM level. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Vitrinite reflectance (VR, Ro%) measurements from residual kerogen of pyrolysis experiments were performed on immature Maoming Oil Shale substituted the samples for the gas-prone source rocks of Yacheng formation of the Qiongdongnan Basin in the South China Sea. The work was focused on determination an upper limit of maturity for gas generation (ULMGG) or “the deadline of natural gas generation”. Ro values at given temperatures increase with increasing temperature and prolonged heating time, but ΔRo-value, given a definition of the difference of all values for VR related to higher temperature and adjacent lower temperature in open-system non-isothermal experiment at the heating rate of 20°C/min, is better than VR. And representative examples are presented in this paper. It indicates that the range of natural gas generation for Ro in the main gas generation period is from 0.96% to 2.74%, in which ΔRo is in concordance with the stage for the onset and end of the main gas generation period corresponding to 0.02% up to 0.30% and from 0.30% up to 0.80%, respectively. After the main gas generation period of 0.96–2.74%, the evolution of VR approach to the ULMGG of the whole rock for type II kerogen. It is equal to 4.38% of VR, where the gas generation rates change little with the increase of maturation, ΔRo is the maximum of 0.83% corresponding to VR of 4.38%Ro, and the source rock does not nearly occur in the end process of hydrocarbon gas generation while Ro is over 4.38%. It shows that it is the same the ULMGG from the whole rock for type II kerogen as the method with both comparison and kinetics. By comparing to both the conclusions of pyrolysis experiments and the data of VR from the source rock of Yacheng formation on a series of selected eight wells in the shallow-water continental shelf area, it indicate that the most hydrocarbon source rock is still far from reaching ULMGG from the whole rock for type II kerogen. The source rock of Yacheng formation in the local areas of the deepwater continental slope basin have still preferable natural gas generative potential, especially in the local along the central depression belt (namely the Ledong, Lingshui, Songnan and Baodao sags from southwest to northeast) from the depocenter to both the margin and its adjacent areas. It help to evaluate the resource potential for oil and gas of the hydrocarbon source rock in the deepwater continental slope of the Qiongdongnan Basin or other basins with lower exploration in the northern of the South China Sea and to reduce the risk in exploration. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The filamentous temperature-sensitive H protease (ftsH) gene family plays an important role in plant growth and development. FtsH proteins belong to the AAA protease family. Studies have shown that it is a key gene for plant chloroplast development and photosynthesis regulation. In addition, the ftsH gene is also involved in plant response to stress. At present, the research and analysis of the ftsH gene family are conducted in microorganisms such as Escherichia coli and Oenococcus and various plants such as Arabidopsis, pear, rice, and corn. However, analysis reports on ftsH genes from tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.), an important model plant, are still lacking. Since ftsH genes regulate plant growth and development, it has become necessary to systematically study this gene in an economically important plant like tobacco. Results: This is the first study to analyze the ftsH gene from Nicotiana tabacum L. K326 (NtftsH). We identified 20 ftsH genes from the whole genome sequence, renamed them according to their chromosomal locations, and divided them into eight subfamilies. These 20 NtftsH genes were unevenly distributed across the 24 chromosomes. We found four pairs of fragment duplications. We further investigated the collinearity between these genes and related genes in five other species. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis identified differential expression patterns of NtftsH in different tissues and under various abiotic stress conditions. Conclusions: This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the NtftsH gene family. The exon–intron structure and motif composition are highly similar in NtftsH genes that belong to the same evolutionary tree branch. Homology analysis and phylogenetic comparison of ftsH genes from several different plants provide valuable clues for studying the evolutionary characteristics of NtftsH genes. The NtftsH genes play important roles in plant growth and development, revealed by their expression levels in different tissues as well as under different stress conditions. Gene expression and phylogenetic analyses will provide the basis for the functional analysis of NtftsH genes. These results provide a valuable resource for a better understanding of the biological role of the ftsH genes in the tobacco plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A new method is described using the sparse Bayesian learning (SBL) algorithm of Tipping to obtain an optimal and reliable solution to the Laplace transform inversion in dynamic light scattering (DLS). The linear inverse problem in DLS has numerical solutions that depend on their domains and dimensions. For a given domain and dimension, a sparse solution in an SBL framework is the most-probable solution and can be used for classifying a system of objects by a few relevant values. Recently, we have shown that the SBL algorithm of Tipping is suitable for studying cataract in ocular lenses by describing the opacity of a lens with a few dominant sizes of crystallin proteins in the lens. However, since the sparseness of SBL solutions cannot reflect a true system, we need to develop a method by using the SBL algorithm to give a true description and, at the same time, a useful classification of the opacity of lenses. We generate a set of sparse solutions of different domains but of the same dimension, and then superimpose them to give a general solution with its dimension treated as a regularization parameter. An optimal solution, which provides a reliable description of a particle system, is determined by the L-curve criterion for selecting the suitable value of the regularization parameter. The performance of our method is evaluated by analyzing simulated data generated from unimodal and bimodal distributions. From the reconstructed distributions, we see that our method gives high resolution comparable to the sophisticated Bryan’s maximum-entropy algorithm, which gives better resolution than CONTIN. Our method is then applied to experimental DLS data of the ocular lenses of a fetal calf and a Rhesus monkey to obtain optimal particle size distributions of crystallins and the crystallin aggregates in the lenses. We conclude by discussing possible improvements on our method for analyzing DLS data and for solving any linear inverse problem by an SBL algorithm. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: To investigate the earliest histological changes of the retina after laser treatment of diabetic retinopathy by using Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT, Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany). Methods: This study examined 320 laser burns from 16 eyes of 12 patients with early severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) that underwent laser photocoagulation according to the protocol which the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) recommended. SD-OCT scan was performed before the laser treatment, then 1 hour, 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours and 1 week after treatment. The main outcome measure was thickness change in outer retina (OR) in the region localized to the laser treatment. Results: The alterations of retinal thickness at the location of the laser burns mainly occurred within the retinal layers that expand from the outer plexiform layer (OPL) to the outer highly reflective layer (HRL) (IS/OS). From 1 hour to 48 hours after laser treatment, the thickness of retina, from OPL to the HRL, increased with time. At 48 hours post- treatment, the increase of retinal thickness from OPL to the HRL reached a peak. At 72 hours, the thickness of retina from the OPL to the HRL began to decrease as a result of the outward migration of OPL towards the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE). At 1 week post- treatment, hyporeflectivity at the level of IS/OS and RPE atrophy was observed in the areas corresponding with the laser burns; the thickness of retina from the OPL to the HRL was essentially within normal thickness. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the subtle in vivo imaging changes of laser lesion and the trend of earliest changes in the thickness of the retina in the level of OPL-HRL, first increasing then subsequently decreasing as shown by SD-OCT in DR post laser treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The oil/water interface covered with trans -AzoTAB is stable than that with cis isomer. • Each cis -AzoTAB molecule occupies larger area than trans -AzoTAB molecule. • The addition of a small amount of SDS inhibits the desorption of AzoTAB. • cis -AzoTAB possess a faster molecular diffusion than trans -AzoTAB. Photoresponsive emulsions have attracted growing attention and exhibited enormous potential in a wide range of applications related to their green and efficient characteristics. Herein, molecular dynamics simulations were performed to elaborate the reversible emulsification/demulsification processes regulated by a mixture of an anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and the photoresponsive cationic surfactant 2-(4-(4-butylphenyl)diazenylphenoxy) ethyltrirnethylammonium bromide (AzoTAB). The simulation results indicate that the oil/water interface dominated by trans -AzoTAB molecules was more stable than that dominated by cis -AzoTAB molecules at specific concentrations, during which emulsification/demulsification can be reversibly regulated by the trans – cis isomerization reaction. The van Hove function results suggest that the cis -AzoTAB molecules possessed a faster diffusion rate than the trans isomer, contributing to the mutual dissolution of the oil and water phases. Furthermore, the role of SDS in regulating emulsification/demulsification processes was revealed. The addition of a small amount of SDS inhibited the desorption of AzoTAB from the oil/water interface and highlighted the influence of the structural difference between trans - and cis -AzoTAB molecules on interfacial stability. This work provides a molecular understanding of the interfacial stability and fluidity of photoresponsive emulsions, which are fundamental principles for the rational design of emulsions and other dispersion systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The length distributions of simple tandem repeats in the genomes of several organisms are evaluated and found to exhibit long-range correlations in A and T nucleotide bases related repeats for most eukaryotes. In particular, the length distributions of the mononucleotide A/T repeat units have longer tails than those of the C/G repeat units. Also, the length distributions of the dinucleotide repeat unit CG show a simple monotonously fast decreasing behavior, while those of repeat units AT, AG and AC have complicated structures at larger repeat lengths, especially for human, mouse and rat chromosomes. These distributive behaviors are due to the CpG deficiency in different genomes with different methylation activities. Especially, methyltransferases in vertebrates appear to methylate specifically the cytosine in CpG dinucleotides, and the methylated cytosines is prone to mutate to thymine by spontaneous deamination. The dinucleotide CpG would gradually decay into TpG and CpA. In addition, there is a peak in the distributions of repeat unit A at repeat-repeat separation 153 nt for humans and chimpanzees. We show that the long-tail behavior of mononucleotide repeat unit A and the peak at repeat separation 153 nt are due to the interspersed repetitive DNA sequences in humans and chimpanzees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In this study, the effect of the targeted silencing of OnGCY on the reproduction of the pirate bug Orius nagaii was evaluated. OnGCY silencing significantly inhibited ovarian development and egg production and significantly reduced the expression of the gene encoding the vitellogenin (Vg) gene. These data provide insights into the function of OnGCY in insect reproduction, which could guide research for the mass rearing of natural enemies for the biological control of insect pests. This study identified and characterized the gene encoding recep tor-type guanylate cyclase-22-like (GCY-22; OnGCY) from the pirate bug Orius nagaii, an important biological control agent. The full-length cDNA of the GCY of O. nagaii was obtained by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE); it had a total length of 4888 base pairs (bp), of which the open reading frame (ORF) was 3750 bp, encoding a polypeptide of 1249 amino acid residues. The physicochemical properties of OnGCY were predicted and analyzed by using relevant ExPASy software, revealing a molecular formula of C6502H10122N1698O1869S57, molecular weight of ~143,811.57 kDa, isoelectric point of 6.55, and fat index of 90.04. The resulting protein was also shown to have a signal peptide, two transmembrane regions, and a conserved tyrosine kinase (tyrkc). Silencing OnGCY by RNA interference significantly inhibited ovarian development and decreased fertility in female O. nagaii in the treated versus the control group. Additionally, OnGCY silencing significantly decreased the expression levels of other GCY and Vg genes. Thus, these results clarify the structure and biological function of OnGCY, which has an important role in insect fecundity. The results also provide a reference for agricultural pest control and future large-scale breeding of biological control agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Asian honeybee, Apis cerana, is an ecologically and economically important pollinator. Mapping its genetic variation is key to understanding population‐level health, histories and potential capacities to respond to environmental changes. However, most efforts to date were focused on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) based on a single reference genome, thereby ignoring larger scale genomic variation. We employed long‐read sequencing technologies to generate a chromosome‐scale reference genome for the ancestral group of A. cerana. Integrating this with 525 resequencing data sets, we constructed the first pan‐genome of A. cerana, encompassing almost the entire gene content. We found that 31.32% of genes in the pan‐genome were variably present across populations, providing a broad gene pool for environmental adaptation. We identified and characterized structural variations (SVs) and found that they were not closely linked with SNP distributions; however, the formation of SVs was closely associated with transposable elements. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis using SVs revealed a novel A. cerana ecological group not recoverable from the SNP data. Performing environmental association analysis identified a total of 44 SVs likely to be associated with environmental adaptation. Verification and analysis of one of these, a 330 bp deletion in the Atpalpha gene, indicated that this SV may promote the cold adaptation of A. cerana by altering gene expression. Taken together, our study demonstrates the feasibility and utility of applying pan‐genome approaches to map and explore genetic feature variations of honeybee populations, and in particular to examine the role of SVs in the evolution and environmental adaptation of A. cerana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distance distributions of the four types of bases A, C, G and T in the complete sequences of human genome are shown to have long-tail power-law but short-distance exponential behaviors. However, the random sequences with identical numbers of bases show only short-distance exponential behaviors. The DNA sequence of E. coli, which is much shorter than human's, is shown to exhibit essentially exponential behavior as its corresponding random sequence. Also, DNA sequence of human's with smaller C + G content is seen to enjoy longer power-law tail in its distributions of C and G. The coefficient in the exponential decaying function shows a linear dependent with the C + G content but the decay exponent in the power-law shows no such dependence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the method of two-dimensional DNA walks based on three independent groups of mapping rules for 21 DNA sequences of animal and plant viruses, and for the sequences of irrational and random numbers. This method provides a visualization tool for the determination of the regional abundance of nucleotides in DNA sequences. By defining a statistical deviation and a maximum-deviation ratio for a DNA walk, we find that the maximum-deviation ratios for the 21 viral DNA sequences are generally larger than those of the random-number sequences of same lengths. It is shown that the viral DNA sequences generally have the smallest maximum-deviations with the same mapping group, and that greater difference between CG and AT contents is associated with larger maximum-deviation ratio. Also it is possible to distinguish a viral DNA sequence from a random-number sequence if the lengths of the sequences are longer than 2000 base-pairs. Other possible applications of the two-dimensional DNA walks are mentioned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]