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The mechanical properties of porcupine quills have attracted the interest of researchers due to their unique structure and composition. However, there is still a knowledge gap in understanding how these properties can be utilized to design biomimetic structures with enhanced performance. This study delves into the nanomechanical and macro-mechanical properties of porcupine quills, unveiling varied elastic moduli across different regions and cross sections. The results indicated that the elastic moduli of the upper and lower epidermis were higher at 8.13 ± 0.05 GPa and 7.71 ± 0.14 GPa, respectively, compared to other regions. In contrast, the elastic modulus of the mid-dermis of the quill mid-section was measured to be 7.16 ± 0.10 GPa. Based on the micro- and macro-structural analysis of porcupine quills, which revealed distinct variations in elastic moduli across different regions and cross sections, various biomimetic porous structures (BPSs) were designed. These BPSs were inspired by the unique properties of the quills and aimed to replicate and enhance their mechanical characteristics in engineering applications. Compression, torsion, and impact tests illustrated the efficacy of structures with filled hexagons and circles in improving performance. This study showed enhancements in maximum torsional load and crashworthiness with an increase in filled structures. Particularly noteworthy was the biomimetic porous circular structure 3 (BPCS_3), which displayed exceptional achievements in average energy absorption (28.37 J) and specific energy absorption (919.82 J/kg). Finally, a response surface-based optimization method is proposed to enhance the design of the structure under combined compression-torsion loads, with the goal of reducing mass and deformation. This research contributes to the field of biomimetics by exploring the potential applications of porcupine quill-inspired structures in fields such as robotics, drive shafts, and aerospace engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, polyamine-functionalized carbon dots (CDs) were synthesized by means of low temperature (<100°C) carbonization of citric acid at the presence of polyethylenimine (PEI), resulting spherical calcium carbonate micro-particles from inverse micro-emulsion system. Nanoscaled spherical silicas were prepared by Stöber method via deposition on the surface of micron calcium carbonate. Scanning- and transmission-electron microscopic analysis confirmed a micro-/nano-complex structure, enabling the composite material coating possessed coarser surface similar to those of 'lotus leaf'. After modification with 1 H, 1 H, 2 H, 2 H-perfluorodecanethiol, both good super hydrophobicity and good fluorescent performance were confirmed by the water contact angle of 154.1°±1.5°, their surface-free energy, and fluorescence quantum yield of 14.1%, which provides an inexpensive and easy way to fabricate superhydrophobic material with fluorescence characteristics and promotes high value application of inorganic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon carbide (SiC) ceramic is being increasingly applied in several engineering fields owing to its excellent saturation electron drift rate. Although much attention is paid to its material removal mechanism, producing a high‐quality SiC surface with a high material removal rate is still a challenging issue. Therefore, there is a need to investigate the material removal mechanism of SiC to improve the processing performance. In this study, the laser heating‐assisted nanocutting models are established using a molecular dynamics method. Then, a laser beam with various energies is irradiated onto the SiC. The influence of average laser power on the nanocutting mechanism of SiC is revealed in terms of the temperature of the machined region, cutting force, stress distribution state, subsurface damage, and tool wear. The results demonstrate that within the scope of this study, the using of laser irradiation methods has a positive effect on the machinability of SiC at the nanoscale, provided that the laser power density does not exceed the ablation threshold. Meanwhile, the results indicate that laser heating‐assisted methods have played an important role in suppressing tool wear. This study has significant theoretical and practical value in processing technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detecting the moisture content of grain accurately and rapidly has important significance for harvesting, transport, storage, processing, and precision agriculture. There are some problems with the slow detection speeds, unstable detection, and low detection accuracy of moisture contents in corn harvesters. In that case, an online moisture detection device was designed, which is based on double capacitors. A new method of capacitance complementation and integration was proposed to eliminate the limitation of single data. The device is composed of a sampling mechanism and a double-capacitor sensor consisting of a flatbed capacitor and a cylindrical capacitor. The optimum structure size of the capacitor plates was determined by simulation optimization. In addition to this, the detection system with software and hardware was developed to estimate the moisture content. Indoor dynamic measurement tests were carried out to analyze the influence of temperature and porosity. Based on the influencing factors and capacitance, a model was established to estimate the moisture content. Finally, the support vector machine (SVM) regressions between the capacitance and moisture content were built up so that the R2 values were more than 0.91. In the stability test, the standard deviation of the stability test was 1.09%, and the maximum relative error of the measurement accuracy test was 1.22%. In the dynamic verification test, the maximum error of the measurement was 4.62%, less than 5%. It provides a measurement method for the accurate, rapid, and stable detection of the moisture content of corn and other grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autophagy and Cell wall integrity (CWI) signaling are critical stress-responsive processes during fungal infection of host plants. In the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, autophagy-related (ATG) proteins phosphorylate CWI kinases to regulate virulence; however, how autophagy interplays with CWI signaling to coordinate such regulation remains unknown. Here, we have identified the phosphorylation of ATG protein MoAtg4 as an important process in the coordination between autophagy and CWI in M. oryzae. The ATG kinase MoAtg1 phosphorylates MoAtg4 to inhibit the deconjugation and recycling of the key ATG protein MoAtg8. At the same time, MoMkk1, a core kinase of CWI, also phosphorylates MoAtg4 to attenuate the C-terminal cleavage of MoAtg8. Significantly, these two phosphorylation events maintain proper autophagy levels to coordinate the development and pathogenicity of the rice blast fungus. Author summary: Autophagy is a conserved cellular degradation and recycling process important in maintaining proper cellular homeostasis whereas the cell wall integrity (CWI) signaling pathway is also a conserved regulatory pathway in stress response. CWI signaling not only operates alone but also functions through crosstalk with autophagy during fungal infection of host plants. Despite the importance, little is known about how autophagy and CWI signaling coordinate their regulatory roles. Here, we have found that autophagy-related (ATG) protein MoAtg4 phosphorylation mediates the coordination between autophagy and CWI signaling, which underlies the development and pathogenicity of Magnaporthe oryzae. Both ATG protein MoAtg1 and CWI kinase MoMkk1 phosphorylate MoAtg4, which inhibits the deconjugation and C-terminal cleavage of MoAtg8, respectively, to maintain proper autophagy levels. Our study revealed a novel coordination between autophagy and CWI signaling and how the two pathways coordinate to regulate the development and pathogenicity of the blast fungus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentration of selenium (Se) in agricultural products primarily depends on the concentration of Se in soil and the ability of plants to accumulate Se. Selenium deficiency not only leads to decreased body resistance, but also increases the risk of cancer. The form and concentration of bioavailable Se is important for diet. The present study was carried out via field experiment with wheat and broad beans in soil of different Se concentrations (0, 1.12, and 11.2 kg·ha−1), which was determined based on the national standard and the team's previous experience. Results indicated that the concentration of Se in the edible organs of wheat was higher than in broad bean, while the enriched Se concentration in the root of broad bean was more than twice and three times higher than that of wheat at medium and high levels of Se, respectively. Selenomethionine, which accounted for over half of the total Se speciations, was the dominant species in the edible parts of the two crops, followed by Selenocystine and methylselenocysteine. Through the analysis of the rhizosphere soil, it was found that Fe-Mn oxide-bound Se exceeded 80% of the total Se. Additionally, there was a significant linear correlation between the Se content in the edible parts of the two crops and the Se content in the soil. Findings suggested that wheat was more favorable than broad beans as Se supplement crops in a Se-supplied field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The zha-chili isolate HBUAS62285T is a facultative anaerobic strain. This bacterium was gram-positive, but it could not generate catalase, was not motile, did not form spores, had no flagella, and produced gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Comparing of HBUAS62285T with its related type strains Levilactobacillus suantsaiihabitans BCRC 81129T, Levilactobacillus angrenensis M1530-1T, Levilactobacillus cerevisiae DSM 100836T, Levilactobacillus wangkuiensis 6-5(1)T, Levilactobacillus lanxiensis 13B17T, and Levilactobacillus mulengensis 112-3T showed that the similarity of 16S rRNA gene sequence was less than 99.13%. Strain HBUAS62285T has a G+C content of 50.57 mol%, an ANI value of less than 86.61%, an AAI value of less than 92.9%, and a dDDH value of less than 32.9% when compared to the aforementioned closely related strains. In the end, the most major fatty acids in cells were determined to be C16:0, C18:1ω9c, C19:1 cyclo ω9,10c, and summed feature 10. Overall, the results of the phenotypic, genomic, chemotaxonomic, and phylogenetic studies indicate that strains HBUAS62285T and CD0817 constitute a new species within the genus Levilactobacillus, and the name Levilactobacillus yiduensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HBUAS62285T (= JCM 35804T = GDMCC 1.3507T). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion is a prognostic indicator for patients with non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). The real‐world data of ALK TKIs remain a major concern. Methods: Patients with ALK‐positive advanced NSCLC, who received crizotinib or alectinib treatment in first line, were retrospectively reviewed. ALK status was detected using immunohistochemistry (IHC) or next‐generation sequencing (NGS). Clinical outcomes have been comprehensively analyzed between TKIs, ALK fusions, EML4‐ALK variants, and next‐generation TKIs after crizotinib failure. Results: One hundred sixty‐eight patients were successively enrolled (crizotinib, n = 109; alctinib, n = 59). Alectinib showed consistent superiority in progressive‐free survival (PFS) over crizotinib (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.43, 95% confidential interval [CI]: 0.24–0.77, p = 0.004). Multivariate Cox regression showed chemotherapy (CT) prior to TKIs or synchronous chemotherapy seemed not to improve PFS compared to ALK inhibitors alone (p > 0.05). And, alectinib was superior to crizotinib in prolonging intracranial PFS (HR 0.12, 95% CI: 0.03–0.49, p = 0.003). Patients in EML4 group had a better prognosis than those in non‐EML4 group after alectinib administration (HR 0.13, 95% CI: 0.03–0.60, p = 0.009). TP53 co‐mutations were relatively common (34.0%) and associated with adverse outcome in ALK‐positive patients (adjusted HR 2.22, 95% CI: 1.00–4.92, p = 0.049). After crizotinib failure, 33 patients received a sequential application of next‐generation ALK TKIs. Compared to ceritinib and brigatinib, alectinib might have better PFS (p = 0.043). Conclusion: Our results revealed alectinib had better PFS and higher intracranial efficacy compared to crizotinib in ALK‐positive NSCLC, and might improve PFS by comparison with ceritinib and brigatinib after crizotinib failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the large‐scale integration of renewable energy into power systems, the strong correlation of wind power output as an important feature will inevitably bring huge impact on power grid planning and operation. However, due to the proliferation of planning and operation scenarios, the traditional power grid planning method can no longer guarantee the operation flexibility and stability under the fluctuation of new energy. In this work, a bi‐level transmission and generation expansion planning (TGEP) model considering the correlation of wind power based on mixed integer linear programming (MILP) is proposed. Firstly, a variable‐structure point diagnosis method is proposed to improve the fitting accuracy of the correlation. Secondly, a scenario reduction method considering the correlation, joint probability distribution and geometric characteristics is proposed, which effectively provides a more matching operating scenarios basis for planning. Thirdly, a multi‐scenario bi‐level TGEP model is proposed. The upper‐level investment decision model aims at the economical goal, while the lower‐level multi‐scenario coordinated optimization operation model aims to minimize the weighted operation index. The impact of the correlation on the results of TGEP is examined and verified in case study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of surface tension and initial input energy on cavitation properties based on a tunable-surface-tension large-density-ratio thermal lattice Boltzmann method pseudo-potential model are investigated. The validity and superiority of the proposed model in simulating the D2 law, Laplace law, and revised thermal two-dimensional Rayleigh–Plesset equation are demonstrated. Moreover, the lattice Boltzmann method was used to study the effects of varied surface tension on cavitation bubble properties for the first time, and the maximum surface tension-to-minimum surface tension ratio of 25 is utilized, which is highly improved compared with previous numerical simulations (< 4) and makes our result more clear. The simulation results indicate that for an infinite liquid, the increase in the surface tension will improve the collapse intensity of cavitation bubbles, increasing the collapse pressure, velocity, and temperature and meanwhile reducing the bubble lifetime. For the cavitation bubbles collapsing near a neutral wall, with an increase in the surface tension, the collapse pressure, temperature, and cavitation bubble lifetime trends are the same as in the infinite liquid. However, the collapse velocity is affected by the neutral wall, and the micro-jet becomes wider and shorter. The maximum cavitation bubble radius in an infinite liquid is nearly linearly proportional to the input initial energy. An increase in the surface energy reduces the maximum radius of the cavitation bubbles, while increasing the pressure energy and thermal energy promotes the maximum radius of the cavitation bubbles. This series of simulations proves the feasibility of the proposed model to investigate the thermodynamic process of the cavitation bubbles with high density ratios, wide viscosity ratios, and various surface tensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oxytocin, secreted by oxytocin neurons in the hypothalamus, is an endogenous neuropeptide involved in modulating multiple sensory information processing pathways, and its roles in the brain have been associated with prosocial, maternal, and feeding-related behaviors. Visual information is necessary for initiating these behaviors, with the retina consisting of the first stage in the visual system mediating external stimulus perception. Oxytocin has been detected in the mammalian retina; however, the expression and possible function of oxytocin receptors (OxtR) in the retina remain unknown. Here, we explore the role of oxytocin in regulating visual information processing in the retina. Results: We observed that OxtR mRNA and protein are expressed in the mouse retina. With Oxtr-Cre transgenic mice, immunostaining, and fluorescence in situ hybridization, we found that OxtRs are mainly expressed in GABAergic amacrine cells (ACs) in both the inner nuclear layer (INL) and ganglion cell layer (GCL). Further immunoreactivity studies showed that GABAergic OxtR+ neurons are mainly cholinergic and dopaminergic neurons in the INL and are cholinergic and corticotrophin-releasing hormone neurons in the GCL. Surprisingly, a high level of Oxtr mRNAs was detected in retinal dopaminergic neurons, and exogenous oxytocin application activated dopaminergic neurons to elevate the retinal dopamine level. Relying on in vivo electroretinographic recording, we found that activating retinal OxtRs reduced the activity of bipolar cells via OxtRs and dopamine receptors. Conclusions: These data indicate the functional expression of OxtRs in retinal GABAergic ACs, especially dopaminergic ACs, and expand the interactions between oxytocinergic and dopaminergic systems. This study suggests that visual perception, from the first stage of information processing in the retina, is modulated by hypothalamic oxytocin signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Space-ground laser time transfer is of significant importance to effectively function a high-precision time synchronization system. Instead of the single-pixel single-photon avalanche detector (SPAD) commonly used in the laser time transfer system, the SPAD array device is capable of supporting the greater performance of the signal photon capture. In this paper, it is experimentally demonstrated that the detection precision and time deviation (TDEV) of the SPAD array can be extremely improved by an order of magnitude compared with those of a single-pixel SPAD. As a result, 2.4 ps root mean square precision and 0.25 ps over an averaging time of 1000 s TDEV are achieved for the SPAD array, providing a new detection method for high-precision laser time transfer applications, such as space-ground optical clocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macrophages in atherosclerotic patients are notably plastic and heterogeneous. Single-cell RNA sequencing (Sc RNA-seq) can provide information about all the RNAs in individual cells, and it is used to identify cell subpopulations in atherosclerosis (AS) and reveal the heterogeneity of these cells. Recently, some findings from Sc RNA-seq experiments have suggested the existence of multiple macrophage subsets in atherosclerotic plaque lesions, and these subsets exhibit significant differences in their gene expression levels and functions. These cells affect various aspects of plaque lesion development, stabilization, and regression, as well as plaque rupture. This article aims to review the content and results of current studies that used RNA-seq to explore the different types of macrophages in AS and the related molecular mechanisms as well as to identify the potential roles of these macrophage types in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic plaques. Also, this review listed some new therapeutic targets for delaying atherosclerotic lesion progression and treatment based on the experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the background of the 2030 sustainable performance goal, in the sustainable performance, strategic orientation has been paid much attention because of its importance and management controllability. Whether the market-oriented strategy of enterprises can affect the legitimacy of enterprises and what kind of complex relationship exists between market orientation, legitimacy of enterprises, and enterprise performance. Therefore, from the perspective of digital theory, this paper makes an empirical test on the above problems by introducing the intermediary variable of enterprise legitimacy, so as to make up for the shortcomings of the existing research. When the time index reaches 50, among the four dimensions of the experiment, the average correlation of digital culture is 1.12, the average correlation of resource integration is 0.58, the average correlation of process optimization is 0.74, and the average correlation of technical capability is 0.64. Among the four dimensions, the proportion of digital culture is the highest, and the CITC value of each measurement item in each dimension is greater than 0.5, so the deletion of each item cannot be increased. If the enterprises under digitalization can meet the social expectations and cognition of all stakeholders in the strategic-oriented sustainable performance system, they will be recognized and accepted by them, thus gaining higher legitimacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Fungi and bacteria dominate high-temperature Daqu (HTD) microbiota. • Fungi population increases as the fermentation temperature rises. • Aspergillus chevalieri and Kroppenstedtia eburnean are the dominant species. • Microbiota of different HTD show functional complementarity in Baijiu fermentation. • Water content in HTD emerges as a crucial factor influencing its flavor profile. High-temperature Daqu (HTD) is the starter for producing sauce-flavor Baijiu, with different-colored Daqu (white, yellow, and black) reflecting variations in fermentation chamber conditions, chemical reactions, and associated microbiota. Understanding the relationship between Daqu characteristics and flavor/taste is challenging yet vital for improving Baijiu fermentation. This study utilized metagenomic sequencing, physicochemical analysis, and electronic sensory evaluation to compare three different-colored HTD and their roles in fermentation. Fungi and bacteria dominated the HTD-associated microbiota, with fungi increasing as the fermentation temperature rose. The major fungal genera were Aspergillus (40.17%) and Kroppenstedtia (21.16%), with Aspergillus chevalieri (25.65%) and Kroppenstedtia eburnean (21.07%) as prevalent species. Microbial communities, functionality, and physicochemical properties, particularly taste and flavor, were color-specific in HTD. Interestingly, the microbial communities in different-colored HTDs demonstrated robust functional complementarity. White Daqu exhibited non-significantly higher α-diversity compared to the other two Daqu. It played a crucial role in breaking down substrates such as starch, proteins, hyaluronic acid, and glucan, contributing to flavor precursor synthesis. Yellow Daqu, which experienced intermediate temperature and humidity, demonstrated good esterification capacity and a milder taste profile. Black Daqu efficiently broke down raw materials, especially complex polysaccharides, but had inferior flavor and taste. Notably, large within-group variations in physicochemical quality and microbial composition were observed, highlighting limitations in color-based HTD quality assessment. Water content in HTD was associated with Daqu flavor, implicating its crucial role. This study revealed the complementary roles of the three HTD types in sauce-flavor Baijiu fermentation, providing valuable insights for product enhancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aroma is among the principal quality indicators for evaluating Baijiu. The aroma profiles of sauce-flavor Baijiu produced by 10 different manufacturers were determined by GC-IMS. The results showed that GC-IMS could effectively separate the volatile compounds in Baijiu, and a total of 80 consensus volatile compounds were rapidly detected from all samples, among which 29 volatile compounds were identified, including 5 alcohols, 14 esters, 2 acids, 2 ketones, 5 aldehydes, and 1 furan. According to the differences in aroma profile found by multivariate statistical analysis, these sauce-flavor Baijiu produced by 10 different manufacturers can be further divided into three types. The relative odor activity value of the identified volatile compounds indicated that seven volatile compounds contributed most to the aroma of sauce-flavor Baijiu in order of aroma contribution rate, and they were ethyl hexanoate, ethyl pentanoate, ethyl 2-methylbutanoate, ethyl octanoate (also known as octanoic acid ethyl ester), ethyl 3-methylbutanoate, ethyl butanoate, and ethyl isobutyrate. Correspondingly, the main aromas of these sauce-flavor Baijiu produced by 10 different manufacturers were sweet, fruity, alcoholic, etheral, cognac, rummy, and winey. On the one hand, this study proved that GC-IMS is well adapted to the detection of characteristic volatile aroma compounds and trace compounds in Baijiu, which is of positive significance for improving the aroma fingerprint and database of sauce-flavor Baijiu. On the other hand, it also enriched our knowledge of Baijiu and provided references for the evaluation and regulation of the flavor quality of sauce-flavor Baijiu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the bacterial flora structure, sensory quality and culturable lactic acid bacteria resources of sour porridge in Bayannur area were analyzed. Furthermore, these bacterial sequencing data were combined with the high-throughput sequencing data of Ordos sour porridge to analyze the microbiota differences. MiSeq results showed that Lactiplantibacillus , Acetobacter , Lacticaseibacillus , Lactobacillus , and Limosilactobacillus were the main bacterial genera in sour porridge. Further comparative analysis showed that the average relative abundance of 7 dominant bacteria genera was significantly higher in sour porridge from Bayannur area (P < 0.05). Electronic nose and electronic tongue demonstrated that the primary volatile flavor substances in sour porridge were terpene compounds, and the change in taste characteristics was mainly reflected in the sour taste index. Correlation showed that most of LAB genera and Acetobacter were positively correlated with the formation of aromatic compounds. Pure culture showed that Lacticaseibacillus paracasei and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum were the dominant LAB in sour porridge. Overall, certain differences in the bacterial flora of sour porridge from different regions were identified, with Lactiplantibacillus , Acetobacter , Lacticaseibacillus , Lactobacillus , and Limosilactobacillus being characteristic of sour porridge in Bayannur area. Moreover, some LAB genera and Acetobacter were found to have a positive effect on flavor formation in sour porridge. • Lactiplantibacillus , Acetobacter , Lacticaseibacillus , Lactobacillus , and Limosilactobacillus are the main bacterial genera. • Lacticaseibacillus paracasei and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum are the dominant LAB strains. • Lactiplantibacillus is a biomarker in Bayannur sour porridge, Limosilactobacillus is a biomarker in Ordos sour porridge. • LAB genera and Acetobacter have a positive effect on flavor formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biogeochemical cycling of iron (Fe) or sulfur (S) in paddy soil influences the cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) migration. However, the influence of coupled reduction effects and reaction precedence of Fe and S on the bioavailability of Cd and As is still not fully understood. This study aimed to reveal the influence of Fe and S reduction on soil Cd and As mobility under various pe + pH conditions and to elucidate the related mechanism in subtropical China. According to the findings, higher adsorption from Fe reduction caused high-crystalline goethite (pe + pH > 2.80) to become amorphous ferrihydrite, which in turn caused water-soluble Cd (62.0%) to first decrease. Cd was further decreased by 72.7% as a result of the transformation of SO 4 2- to HS-/S2- via sulfate reduction and the formation of CdS and FeS. As release (an increase of 8.1 times) was consequently caused by the initial reduction and dissolution of iron oxide (pe + pH > 2.80). FeS had a lesser impact on the immobilization of As than sulfate-mediated As (V) reduction in the latter stages of the reduction process (pe + pH < 2.80). pe + pH values between 3 and 3.5 should be maintained to minimize the bioavailability of As and Cd in moderate to mildly polluted soil without adding iron oxides and sulfate amendments. The practical remediation of severely co-contaminated paddy soil can be effectively achieved by using Fe and S additions at different pe + pH conditions. This technique shows promise in reducing the bioavailability of Cd and As. [Display omitted] ● Fe reduction promoted the ferrihydrite-bound Cd, releasing crystalline Fe-bound As. ● Amorphous iron oxide bound Cd dominated at high pe + pH in subtropical paddy soil. ● The initial reduction of iron oxides at high pe + pH released As. ● Low pe + pH decreased Cd and As mobility through CdS and FeSAs formation. ● Fe reduction consistently outweighed S in affecting (im)mobilization of Cd and As. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to its rapidity and accuracy, near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is a powerful tool to establish appropriate prediction models with an innovative method to evaluate wood properties. To reveal the mechanical qualities of clonal Chinese fir woods and to determine sound prediction models of mechanical properties, four main mechanical properties of six Chinese fir clones (Yang 020, Yang 061, Kaihua 3, Kaihua 13, Daba 8, Kailin 24) were evaluated by NIR spectroscopy. The clones Kaihua 13, Kailin 24, and Yang 020 showed good mechanical properties. To estimate mechanical properties with NIR spectroscopy, different methods should be adopted for different properties. The average spectra of radial and tangential sections combined with multiple scattering correction (MSC) and Savitzky–Golay (S–G) smoothing methods were used to predict the modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity. By adopting cross section spectra and taking MSC and S–G smoothing methods for pretreatment, the models of compressive strength parallel to grain could deliver the best results. For wood hardness, the models established with average spectra of three sections and first-derivative method were preferred. The correlation coefficients of the prediction models were between 0.84 and 0.90, and those of the calibration models were between 0.75 and 0.96. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adipose tissue inflammation in obese patients can cause a series of metabolic diseases. There are a variety of immune cells in adipose tissue, and studies have shown that T cells are associated with adipose tissue inflammation. This review aims to describe the current understanding of the relationship between T cells and adipose tissue inflammation, with a focus on regulation by T cell subtypes. Studies have shown that Th1, Th17 and CD8+ T cells, which are important T cell subsets, can promote the development of adipose tissue inflammation, whereas Treg cells protect against inflammation, suggesting that targeting the mechanism by which T cell subtypes regulate adipose tissue inflammation is a potential therapeutic strategy for treating obesity. T cells play important roles in regulating obesity-associated adipose tissue inflammation, thus providing new research directions for the treatment of obesity. More studies are needed to clarify how T cell subtypes regulate adipose tissue inflammation to identify new treatments for obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the existing next generation sequencing (NGS) system, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 19 deletion-insertion (19delins) is still interpreted into the category of EGFR exon 19 deletion (19del). However, the controversy exists whether the two mutation types have the similar responses and resistant mechanisms to first-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.Methods: We successively and retrospectively reviewed the NGS data of 3054 patients diagnosed as advanced NSCLC from November 2017 to September 2020. Finally, 41 patients with EGFR 19delins mutation and 41 patients with EGFR 19del mutation who received first-generation EGFR TKIs as first-line therapy were included in the study.Results: A total of 17 genotypes were identified in this study, including L747_P753delinsS (10/41), L747_A750delinsP (9/41), L747_T751delinsP (6/41) and E746_S752delinsV (3/41). Under the same baseline characteristics, the population of EGFR 19delins respond well to first line EGFR TKIs as well as those of EGFR 19del, with little difference in median progression-free survival (mPFS): 10.4 months vs. 13.1 months, p = 0.1076). Interestingly, patients with L747_T751delinsP seem to have a better mPFS than others (18.7 months vs. 13.1 months, p = 0.035). After the disease progression, both EGFR 19delins and EGFR 19del had similar rates of developing EGFR T790M mutation resistance (45.8% vs. 57.8%), and those receiving osimeritinib as second-line treatment obtain the similar survival benefits (mPFS: 12.0 months vs. 12.2 months (p = 0.97).Conclusions: This retrospective cohort study furnish the evidence that therapeutic responses and survival of untreated NSCLC population with EGFR 19delins mutation are equal to those with common EGFR 19del mutation after administration of EGFR TKIs therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical testing, microscopic image analysis, and X-ray diffraction were used to study the mechanical properties and their correlation with microstructure in three 20-year-old Chinese fir clones (Kailin 24, Kaihua 13, and Kaihua 3). The Chinese fir clones featured a modulus of rupture (MOR) of 52–59 MPa, a modulus of elasticity (MOE) of 10–11 GPa, and a compressive strength parallel to the grain of 31–34 MPa. Kaihua 13 and Kailin 24 had similar mechanical properties and were superior to Kaihua 3 among the tree clones. Radial variation indicated that their outerwood (rings 9–18) had better mechanical properties than their corewood (rings 3–7). Kaihua 13 with better mechanical properties had a larger ratio of cell wall to lumen than Kaihua 3 and Kailin 24. Outerwood with better mechanical properties also had a larger ratio of cell wall to lumen and a smaller microfibril angle compared to corewood with poor mechanical properties. Linear regression analysis also shows that for various clones and different radial positions in the same clone, anatomical structure parameters such as average cell wall thickness and the ratio of cell wall to lumen were positively correlated to their mechanical properties, while the microfibril angle was negatively correlated to mechanical properties. The two factors synergistically influence the mechanical properties of wood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the appearance and technology, traditional fermented Douchi can be divided into dried Douchi and wet Douchi. However, there are few reports on the difference of bacterial community structure between them or the influence of bacterial community on product flavor. In this study, high‐throughput sequencing technology and electronic nose were used to measure the bacterial diversity and flavor of 40 Douchi samples, and the correlation between them was explored by multivariate statistical means combined with COG database. Results showed that the cumulative average relative abundance of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria in the samples was as high as 95.93%, and the former was the core bacteria phylum. On the whole, the dominant bacteria in Douchi were Bacillus (50.67%), Staphylococcus (14.07%), Enterococcus (2.54%), Proteus (1.61%), Brevibacillus (1.46%), Providencia (1.26%), Weissella (1.24%), and Ureibacillus (1.19%). LEfSe analysis indicated that Bacillus can be used as a biomarker in dried fermented soybeans. Meanwhile, dried samples contained more intensive aromatic substances, but were significantly lower in W6S (selectivity to hydrogen) and W3S (methane‐aliph) compared with the wet samples. Aneurinibacillus and Brevibacillus were helpful to the formation of aromatic flavor in Douchi, but Vagococcus and Corynebacterium were the opposite. Gene and microbial phenotypic prediction showed that microorganisms in dried Douchi use protein more efficiently, while in wet Douchi, microbial energy metabolism was more vigorous. The pathogenic potential of microorganisms in dried samples was higher than that in wet. This study can sound the alarm for improving the safety of home‐brewed Douchi and provide guidance for the subsequent screening of strains that enhance the flavor of fermented soybeans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: (Pro)renin receptor has emerged as a new member of the renin‐angiotensin system implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Herein we report characterization of the therapeutic potential of (pro)renin receptor (PRR) antagonist PRO20 in 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6Nx) rats. Methods: Male Wistar rats underwent 5/6Nx followed by treatment with vehicle or received daily injections of a PRR inhibitor PRO20 (700 μg/kg) via the 3 s.c. Sham group served as a control. Results: As compared with the sham control, the 5/6Nx rats exhibited significant increases in proteinuria, glomerulosclerosis, tubular injury, and interstitial inflammation in the remnant kidneys. Treatment with PRO20 significantly attenuated these abnormalities, as evidenced by reduced expression of fibronectin, α‐SMA, collagen 1, TGF‐β1, IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐1β, MCP‐1 and increased expression of E‐cadherin. Increased urinary/renal levels of renin activity, angiotensinogen (AGT), and Angiotensin II (Ang II) by 5/6Nx, which were all ameliorated by PRO20. Renal PRR, the secreted proteolytic fragment of PRR (sPRR) in renal and urinary, were all elevated in 5/6Nx rats. Moreover, our results revealed that renal Wnt3A and β‐catenin expression were upregulated during 5/6Nx, which were all attenuated by PRO20. Conclusions: Overall we conclude that in vivo antagonism of PRR with PRO20 will improve 5/6Nx‐induced CKD mainly through inhibition of intrarenal RAS and Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pickled cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [Linn.] Walp) is a popular fermented vegetable in China that is made by spontaneous fermentation. Prior to this study, little was known about its microbial community. Eighteen pickled cowpea samples were collected in Enshi City, China, in 2018. The bacterial diversity within these samples was evaluated using a combination of high-throughput sequencing (Illumina MiSeq platform) targeting the V3–V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene sequence and culture-dependent methods. A total of 456,318 high-quality 16S rRNA gene sequence reads were obtained, and these reads were clustered into 19,712 OTUs with 97.0% similarity. The core bacterial phyla were Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and Firmicutes; the core bacterial genera were Levilactobacillus, Lactiplantibacillus, Companilactobacillus, Pediococcus, Lactobacillus, Weissella, and Pseudomonas. Using the spread-plating method, 39 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains were isolated and identified based on the nearly complete 16S rRNA gene sequence. Of these, 37 were identified as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum group, while the other two were classified as Limosilactobacillus fermentum and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus. These results indicate a high relative abundance of LAB in traditional pickled cowpea, especially Lactobacillaceae species, which likely contribute to fermentation. This study would provide information on the LAB population of Pickled cowpea and indicated that the Pickled cowpea could be a good source for isolation of lactic acid bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial communities that enrich in high‐temperature Daqu are important for the Chinese maotai‐flavor liquor brewing process. However, the bacterial communities in three different types of high‐temperature Daqu (white Daqu, black Daqu, and yellow Daqu) are still undercharacterized. In this study, the bacterial diversity of three different types of high‐temperature Daqu was investigated using Illumina MiSeq high‐throughput sequencing. The bacterial community of high‐temperature Daqu is mainly composed of thermophilic bacteria, and seven bacterial phyla along with 262 bacterial genera were identified in all 30 high‐temperature Daqu samples. Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Acidobacteria were the dominant bacterial phyla in high‐temperature Daqu samples, while Thermoactinomyces, Staphylococcus, Lentibacillus, Bacillus, Kroppenstedtia, Saccharopolyspora, Streptomyces, and Brevibacterium were the dominant bacterial genera. The bacterial community structure of three different types of high‐temperature Daqu was significantly different (p <.05). In addition, the results of microbiome phenotype prediction by BugBase and bacterial functional potential prediction using PICRUSt show that bacteria from different types of high‐temperature Daqu have similar functions as well as phenotypes, and bacteria in high‐temperature Daqu have vigorous metabolism in the transport and decomposition of amino acids and carbohydrates. These results offer a reference for the comprehensive understanding of bacterial diversity of high‐temperature Daqu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monascus pigments (MPs) with different color characteristics, produced by submerged fermentation of Monascus purpureus M9, have potential application in food industry. In the present study, the effects and regulatory mechanisms of ammonium nitrate (AN) on the color characteristics of MPs were investigated. The concentration of intracellular pigments was significantly decreased when subjected to AN. The hue and lightness value indicated AN altered the total pigments appearance from original red to orange. The HPLC analysis for six major components of MPs showed that the production of rubropunctatin or monascorubrin, was significantly reduced to the undetectable level, whereas the yields of monascin, ankaflavin, rubropunctamine and monascorubramine, were apparently increased with AN supplement. To be noted, via real-time quantitative PCR strategy, the expression level of mppG, closely relative to orange pigments biosynthesis, was significantly down-regulated. However, the expression of mppE, involved in yellow pigments pathway, was up-regulated. Moreover, the broth pH value was dropped to 2.5–3.5 in the fermentation process resulted from AN treatment, along with the increased extracellular polysaccharide biosynthesis. Taken together, the change of MPs categories and amounts by AN might be the driving force for the color characteristics variation in M. purpureus M9. The present study provided useful data for producing MPs with different compositions and modified color characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Douchi, a popular traditional fermented soybean product, is mainly made by natural fermentation. However, its taste quality is affected by specific fungal communities which vary greatly according to fermentation conditions and production technologies used in different regions. Therefore, the taste quality of Douchi samples from different regions was digitally evaluated using electronic tongue technology. In addition, the fungal community structures and its association of them were also identified using high‐throughput sequencing technology. Results showed that there were obvious differences in the taste quality of samples from different regions, while the tastes of different types of samples from the same region were similar. Sourness, umami, richness, and saltiness were the main reasons for regional differences in taste. Similarly, the results of high‐throughput sequencing indicated that samples from different regions displayed important differences in dominant fungal genus, among which Debaryomyces, Fusarium, Pichia, Aspergillus, and Saccharomyces were the main dominant fungi. Debaryomyces and Trichosporon were conducive to the formation of taste qualities of Douchi, while Cladosporium and Candida have a negative impact on the taste quality of Douchi var correlation analysis. This study indicated the effects of dominant fungi on the formation of Douchi taste quality, allowing a deeper understanding of the role of microbial species in generating fermented soybean products in China. Our work provides theoretical support to guide the improvement of the industrial production process of Douchi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional fermented cereals are a rich source of naturally derived, diverse microorganisms. Illumina MiSeq high‐throughput sequencing was used to investigate thoroughly fungal microflora in Western Inner Mongolian acidic gruel. A total of 589,495 sequences were obtained from 16 acidic gruel samples. Ascomycota was found to be the predominant phylum with a relatively abundance of 97.54%, followed by Basidiomycota (2.26%) and Chytridiomycota (0.1%). The dominant genera obtained from the acidic gruel were Candida, Galactomyces, Hanseniaspora, Guehomyces, Zygosaccharomyces, Trichosporon, Rhodosporidium, Penicillium, and Blastobotrys. Candida and Galactomyces were predominant genera, and their relative abundances were 57.59% and 34.95%, respectively. A total of 50 yeast strains were isolated and identified. Statistical analysis indicated that P kudriavzevii and Geo. silvicola affiliated with Ascomycota were the dominant yeasts in acidic gruel, accounting for 28% and 22%, respectively. This study provides an unequivocal theoretical basis for the study of fungal diversity and the identification and preservation of yeasts in traditional fermented cereals. It also provides validated strain resources for further exploration of the effect of yeasts on acidic gruel quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work investigates corrugation growth and mitigation associated with vibration interference between multiple moving wheels and resilient track. A discretely supported slab track is developed in the time domain. The tangential contact between the wheel and rail is described using an unsteady two-dimensional model. Combined these two models with long-term wear, the growth processes of corrugation under single and multiple wheel-rail interaction are simulated. The results show that low-frequency standing wave between wheels caused by vibratory interferences can lead to the drastic fluctuation of the contact force and thusly the standing wave-shaped profile of corrugation occur on railhead. It is also found that corrugation with multiple wavelengths successively appear and these wavelengths are always equivalent to unit fractions of the wheelbase, in which characteristic wavelengths predicted reach agreements with the observed results in situ. It is concluded that low-frequency standing wave between moving wheels are the dominant contributions to corrugation growth and the dependence of wavelengths on the wheelbase constitutes the wavelength-fixed nature of rail corrugation. Furthermore, the corrugation mitigation is investigated by installing rail damper. The results show that short pitch rail corrugation can be postponed by rail damper, but rail corrugation have the potential to reappear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice wine, a traditional fermented alcoholic beverage in China, is produced with grains such as rice, which are fermented with saccharifying starter-koji. Its flavor quality is closely associated to the starter culture-koji, which is made by mixing botanical materials with high-class glutinous rice in certain ecological context. However, there are few reports on the microbial community structure of rice wine koji. In this paper, bacterial community structures of rice wine koji were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing based on Illumina MiSeq high-throughput technology in 20 samples collected from Xiaogan area, Hubei province and Dazhu area, Sichuan province (10 from each area). We found rice wine koji flora mainly consisted of Weissella, Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Bacillus, Enterococcus, and Cronobacter, with relative abundances of 29.49%, 10.93%, 8.85%, 4.75%, 1.16% and 1.15%, respectively, as well as an accumulative average relative abundance of 58.71%. They all belonged to Firmicutes and Proteobacteria—the two known dominant genus. Genus-level PCA (Principal component analysis) and OTU-level PCoA (Principal coordinates analysis) based on unweighted UniFrac distances showed that the bacterial community structure differed significantly between the samples from the 2 areas. 7 OTUs were detected in all samples, accounting for 4.4% of the total qualified assembly. Among the 7 OTUs, 3 OTUs were identified as Enterococcus, 2 OTUs were identified as Cronobacter, 1 OTU was identified as Bacillus and 1 OTU was identified as Alkaliphilus. Fifty-eight lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains were isolated from the 20 koji samples with traditional microbial methods. Among them, Enterococcus faecium and Pediococcus pentosaceus were the dominant LAB isolates, with relative abundances of 51.72% and 31.03%. Despite the differences, a large number of shared bacteria were detected in samples from the two areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a traditional fermented cereal, Inner Mongolian acidic gruel has a unique flavor and rich nutrition, but the microbial diversity of acidic gruel and the microbial differences among the products in different regions have not been reported. The bacterial diversity and the lactic acid bacteria species of 27 types of traditional handmade acidic gruel were evaluated using a combination of MiSeq high-throughput sequencing and PCR-DGGE. All 358,205 high-quality 16S rRNA reads were divided into 25,171 OTUs under the similarity of 97%. Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes were the dominant bacterial phyla, and the core dominant genera were Lactobacillus and Acetobacter with average relative abundances of 64.06% and 24.13%, respectively. The primary genera that caused the differences in the bacterial community structure between the Bayan Nur and Ordos acidic gruel samples were Pseudomonas, Leuconostoc, and Acinetobacter as revealed by redundancy analysis (RDA). PCR-DGGE analyses revealed that the lactic acid bacteria in both the Bayan Nur and Ordos samples of acidic gruel were Lactobacillus (L.) amylolyticus, L. alimentarius, L. fermentum, L. hamsteri, L. helveticus, L. panis, L. plantarum, L. pontis, and Leuconostoc lactis. In addition, L. hamsteri was the core strain detected among all the samples. The results deepened the understanding of the microbial community composition and the diversity of acidic gruel to provide a theoretical basis for the preservation and protection of microbial resources in acidic gruel in the Inner Mongolia area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the channel estimation problem for three-dimensional (3-D) massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems, where the base station (BS) is equipped with a two-dimensional uniform planar array (UPA) to serve a number of user equipments (UEs). To implement with low hardware complexity, the number of available radio-frequency (RF) chains at BS is constrained to be much smaller than the number of antennas. The theoretical analysis of sparse property for 3-D massive MIMO channel reveals that there exists two kinds of sparse structures in beam-domain channel vector, namely the common sparsity structure among sub-arrays of UPA and block sparsity structure per sub-array. Based on this property, a novel structured sparse Bayesian learning framework is proposed to estimate the channel between BS and UE reliably. Moreover, an adaptive spatial interpolation scheme is proposed to further reduce the number of required RF chains at BS while maintaining the estimation performance. The simulation results show that the proposed scheme provides stable estimation performance for a variety of scenarios with different numbers of RF chains, transmit signal-to-noise ratios, Rician factors, and angular spreads, and outperforms the reference schemes significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing evidence suggests a strong association between decreased lipid catabolism and the development of cancer. Solute carrier family 9 member A5 (SLC9A5) plays a regulatory role in colorectal function. However, the specific involvement of SLC9A5 in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear, as well as its potential connection to lipid catabolism. We found that SLC9A5 exhibited significantly higher expression in CRC tumor tissues compared to adjacent paratumor tissues, as confirmed through analysis of the TCGA database and validation on a CRC tissue chip using IHC. Furthermore, in vitro experiments showed that knockdown of SLC9A5 resulted in suppressed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Then we performed bioinformatics analysis and found that SLC9A5 was significantly enriched in peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation (FAO) pathway and negatively correlated with its first rate-limiting enzyme acyl-CoA oxidases (ACOX). Interestingly, the expression of ACOX1, as well as FAO process indicated by changes in very long chain fatty acid levels, were enhanced upon SLC9A5 knockdown in CRC cells. Moreover, the attenuated tumor growth, migration, invasion, and increased FAO observed after SLC9A5 knockdown could be reversed by simultaneous knockdown of both SLC9A5 and ACOX1. In summary, these findings reveal the oncogenic role of SLC9A5 in CRC, particularly in relation to ACOX1-mediated peroxidation, and might serve as a promising therapeutic target for inhibiting the progression of colorectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging evidence has shown that metabolism, in particular the synthesis of fatty acids, has great significance for growth and metastasis of colorectal neoplasm. The previous results showed that RA-XII, a natural cyclopeptide isolated from Rubia yunnanensis , inhibits tumor growth and metastasis by AMPK/mTOR/P70S6K pathway and PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway. But if or not lipid metabolism involves the antitumor mechanism of RA-XII is not clear. Herein the results indicated that RA-XII reduced the cell motility by decreasing the expressions of β-catenin and β-catenin dependent proteins CD44 and MMP7 in HCT116 cells. Then RA-XII effectively reduced fatty acids levels by decreasing the expression of SREBP-1 and inhibiting the expressions of de novo fatty acid synthesis proteins FASN and SCD. Moreover the decreased cell motility caused by RA-XII was attenuated with the SREBP-1 knockdown. In addition, the in vivo experiments also demonstrated that RA-XII inhibited tumor growth and metastasis via restraining lipogenesis in colorectal neoplasm mouse models. Taken together, these results indicated that RA-XII suppressed the colorectal neoplasm growth and metastasis by inhibition of lipogenesis depended on SREBP-1 suppression. • Natural cyclopeptide RA-XII suppresses tumor growth and metastasis in colorectal cancer in vitro and in vivo. • RA-XII inhibits lipogenesis in colorectal cancer in vitro and in vivo. • SREBP-1 siRNA blocks the anti-tumor effects of RA-XII. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Abstract In this study, the ternary Ni − Sn − P alloy coatings were prepared on the copper substrate by electroless deposition at a relatively low temperature of 50 °C with a relatively high deposition rate of 9.0 μm·h−1 from a neutral solution by using sodium stannate (Na 2 SnO 3) as the tin source. The coating consisted of 96.02% Ni, 2.82% P, and 1.16% Sn. The effects of Na 2 SnO 3 and other deposition parameters on the deposition rate were investigated. Electrochemical experiments were also carried out to reveal the mechanism of Na 2 SnO 3 influencing the Ni − Sn − P deposition procedure. It was found Na 2 SnO 3 inhibited the anodic oxidation of hypophosphite and accelerated the cathodic reduction of Ni2+ simultaneously. Furthermore, the activation energy of Ni − Sn − P deposition process was estimated to be 42.6 kJ·mol−1. The Ni − Sn − P alloy coating exhibited smoother surface and improved corrosion resistance compared with Ni − P coating. Highlights • An electroless Ni-Sn-P coating was deposited in a neutral bath at 50 °C. • The tin source Na 2 SnO 3 improved the deposition rate. • Ni-Sn-P coating with the thickness of 2.25 μm contains 2.82% P and 1.16% Sn. • The mechanisum and process of low temperature deposition procedure was stated. • Ni-Sn-P coating has smoother surface and better corrosion resistance than Ni P coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two novel PN type ionic liquids (ILs) surfactants, N-(3-(diethoxyphosphoryl) propyl)-N,N-dimethyloctadecan-1-aminium-6-methyl-4-oxo-4H-1,2,3-oxathiazin-3-ide-2,2-dioxide and N-(3-(diethoxyphosphoryl)propyl) -N,N-dimethyl octadecan-1-aminium-2,3,4,5,6-pentahydroxyhexanoate were synthesized and investigated as a potential water-based lubricant additive. Unlike other ILs with low solubility, these ILs surfactants are stable and miscible with water-diethylene glycol. Remarkably, these additives reduce the corrosion of water on the steel and improve friction and antiwear function for the steel surface with lower friction coefficient and wear volume. Based on the results of mechanism analysis, we speculate a boundary lubricating protection film containing phosphorus and nitrogen formed on the sliding steel surfaces, achieving excellent tribological properties by a phosphorus-nitrogen synergy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stepped spillways are commonly used in hydropower engineering, landscape irrigation and aeration tanks due to their high energy dissipation and superior aeration. This study used the k–ε turbulence model to study the pressure distributions of three types of stepped spillways with different horizontal face angles in fully developed skimming-flow regions. The horizontal surfaces of V-shaped steps exhibited a pressure peak that decreased from both sidewalls to the axial plane, while those of inverted V-shaped steps exhibited the opposite pattern. There was barely any variation from those of traditional stepped spillways. Negative pressures on the vertical surfaces of V-shaped, inverted V-shaped and traditional stepped spillways occurred near the sidewalls, near the axial plane and along the entire cross-section, respectively. For all the stepped spillways studied, the minimum pressure decreased with increasing Froude number and increasing absolute values of the horizontal face angles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Abstract Macrophages, which have various phenotypes and diverse functions, are becoming the target cells in inflammatory diseases. In this study, we evaluated the effects of the natural product smiglaside A, a phenylpropanoid glycoside isolated from the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Smilax riparia , on macrophage polarization and investigated the underlying mechanisms. We found that smiglaside A promoted M2 polarization and reduced M1 polarization in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells and primary mouse peritoneal macrophages. Further mechanistic studies showed that the promoting effect of smiglaside A on M2 polarization was attenuated by pharmacological inhibition or gene silencing of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) or peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ). Moreover, smiglaside A-enhanced PPARγ activity was prevented by the AMPK inhibitor compound C and by an siRNA. These findings indicate that the AMPK-PPARγ pathway is involved in promotion of M2 macrophages by smiglaside A. In a mouse model of LPS-induced acute lung injury, smiglaside A significantly increased the survival rate of LPS-injected mice and ameliorated the LPS-induced inflammatory response and lung damage. In addition, smiglaside A enhanced the protein expression levels of phosphorylated AMPK and PPARγ in the lung and promoted alveolar macrophages to the M2 phenotype in this mouse model. Taken together, our results indicate that smiglaside A can promote macrophage polarization to an anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype via stimulating the AMPK-PPARγ signaling pathway. Our study may provide novel approaches and/or targets for drug development to treat inflammatory diseases such as acute lung injury and sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seismic inversion is an important approach in parameters estimation in the fields of geosciences. The low-frequency component of the model parameter plays an important role in seismic inversion. The emergence of broadband seismic data acquisition and processing technologies is pushing the attention of the low frequency to a new level. With the review of the research status of the estimation of the low-frequency models in history and the low-frequency component contained in the complex frequency domain, a novel broadband seismic Bayesian inversion approach in the complex frequency domain is proposed to implement the estimation of the low-frequency component of the model parameter. The proposed approach makes full use of the advantage of broadband seismic data and the low-frequency component of the damped wave fields in the complex frequency domain. The kernel function of the proposed inversion approach is built with Bayesian inference. Synthetic examples demonstrate the feasibility and robustness of the proposed inversion approach in the estimation of the low-frequency component of the model parameter. A field data example verifies the feasibility and reasonability of the proposed inversion approach in application. Finally, the estimated low-frequency component of the model parameter is utilized as the initial model for the suggested seismic Bayesian inversion method in time domain. Model and field data examples further verify the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed inversion method in the final estimation of the model parameter by comparing with the conventional inversion approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Justice in rural residential land distribution is vital to both farmers' living security and social stability in China. Based on the Self-interest Theory and endowment effect, this article discusses the impact of farmers' identity and property rights cognition on their perceptions of rural residential land distributive justice using the survey data of 565 rural households in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, China by principal component analysis and binary logistic regression. The results indicate that (1) farmers' identity would impact their perceptions of rural residential land distributive justice, among different farmers, perceptions of rural residential land distributive justice differed greatly; (2) there is a negative relationship between farmers' perceptions of rural residential land distributive justice and their private property rights cognition; (3) farmers' private property rights cognition would be an amplifier to the impact of their identity on rural residential land distributive justice perceptions. We finally argue that rural residential land policy judgment about injustice should focus on farmers' identity, and the government should protect legitimate rights and interests of farmers in the process of rural residential land distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Aidi injection (ADI) combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for primary hepatic carcinoma (PHCC). Methods. We conducted a literature search in EMBASE, PubMed, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP databases from the earliest possible year to April 2018. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving ADI combined with TACE versus TACE alone for patients with PHCC were included. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool was applied for quality assessment. Results. 22 studies involving 1611 participants were included. The clinical response rate (RR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.17-1.40; P < 0.00001), KPS score (RR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.59-2.00; P < 0.00001), survival rate (RR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.16-1.39; P < 0.00001), immune function (MD = 1.24, 95% CI: 0.98-1.51; P < 0.00001), and adverse effects (RR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.57-0.68; P < 0.00001) of ADI plus TACE showed significant difference when compared with TACE alone. Conclusions. ADI combined with TACE in the treatment of PHCC improved the clinical response rate and safety compared to TACE alone. However, due to poor methodological quality of many of the included RCTs, more rigorously designed and large-scale RCTs are warranted to examine this beneficial effect in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This article draws upon responses given by volunteers who work in the Beijing LGBT Centre regarding perceptions of sexual identity, and how Chinese culture affects hidden or open sexual identities of Chinese lesbian and gay people in this region. The insights gained from those working carefully to create social change offers an important and original contribution to the field of gay and lesbian studies in China. The findings indicate the volunteers at the Beijing LGBT Centre are frustrated by the lack of acceptance of non‐heterosexual relationships among Chinese culture and society, and by the disregard of lesbian gay and bisexual (LGB) people by the Chinese government. The findings also illustrate stigmatization of homosexuality in China is enacted in structural terms (such as in the lack of policy, legislation and positive endorsement by governmental and socio‐political organizations), public expression (such as negative attitudes, beliefs or reactions towards LGB people) and internalized repression (through fear of stigmatization, and subsequent abuse due to negative societal attitudes and discrimination). Influenced by the Chinese tradition of conforming to group values, the findings from this study show that volunteers at the Beijing LGBT Centre believe LGB people in China are generally hesitant to disclose their sexual identities, and reject the idea that there had been a collective shift in Chinese culture regarding increased acceptance of LGB people. It also finds volunteers at the LGBT Centre in Beijing blame Chinese culture for its lack of acceptance of non‐heterosexual relationships, and state stigmatization of homosexuality in China is due to deep‐rooted cultural homophobia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Exosomal microRNAs have recently been studied as the potential diagnostic marker for various malignancies, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to investigate serum exosomal microRNA profiles as HCC diagnostic marker. Transmission electron microscopy and Western blot were used to identify serum exosomes. Deep sequencing was performed to screen differentially expressed microRNAs between HCC (n = 5) and liver cirrhosis (LC, n = 5) groups. Three upregulated and two downregulated microRNAs were selected for qPCR analysis. The levels of selected microRNAs were normalized to Caenorhabditis elegans miR‐39 microRNA mimics. Serum exosomal level of miR‐122, miR‐148a, and miR‐1246 was further analyzed and significantly higher in HCC than LC and normal control (NC) groups (P < 0.001), but not different from chronic hepatitis group (P > 0.05). The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic performance of candidate microRNAs. Area under the curve (AUC) of miR‐148a was 0.891 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.809–0.947] in discriminating HCC from LC, remarkably higher than alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) (AUC: 0.712, 95% CI: 0.607–0.803). Binary logistic regression was adopted to establish the diagnostic model for discriminating HCC from LC. And the combination of miR‐122, miR‐148a, and AFP increased the AUC to 0.931 (95% CI, 0.857–0.973), which can also be applied for distinguishing early HCC from LC. miR‐122 was the best for differentiating HCC from NC (AUC: 0.990, 95% CI, 0.945–1.000). These data suggest that serum exosomal microRNAs signature or their combination with traditional biomarker may be used as a suitable peripheral screening tool for HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The k-ε turbulent model and VOF methods were used to simulate the three-dimensional turbulence jet. Numerical simulations were carried out for three different kinds of jets in a bounded pool with the deflection wall with angles of 0°, 3°, 6°, and 9°. The numerical simulation agrees well with the experimental data. The studies show that the length of the potential core zone increases with the increase of the deflection angle. The velocity distribution is consistent with the Gaussian distribution and almost not affected by the deflection angle in potential core zone. The decay rates of flow velocity in the transition zone are 1.195, 1.281, 1.439, and 1.532 corresponding to the unilateral deflection angles, 0°, 3°, 6°, and 9°, respectively. The decay rates of velocity in the transition zone are 1.928 and 2.835 corresponding to the bilateral deflection angles 3° and 6°. It is also found that the spread of velocity is stronger in the vertical direction as the deflection angles become smaller. The spread rates of velocity with unilateral deflection wall are higher than those with bilateral deflection walls in the horizontal plane in the pool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new N-(3-(diethoxyphosphoryl)propyl)-N,N-dimethyloctadecan- 1-ammonium bromide (NP) surfactant was synthesized. The NP together with 1 wt% sodium D -gluconate or 1 wt% triethanolamine displays remarkable lubricating property as the water-based lubricant additive and provides a non-corrosive environment for steel in aqueous solution. The lubricating mechanism was tentatively discussed according to electrical contact resistance, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Quartz Crystal Microbalance measurement. These results show a stable protective film is formed on the contact surface by physical adsorption and tribo-chemical reactions. Surprisingly, the water-based additive has excellent anti-friction properties comparable to oil-based lubricants and superior to cationic surfactant analogue. Therefore, this NP is a potential efficient additive in water-based lubricating fluids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To investigate the relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D3] levels and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) as well as carotid atherosclerotic plaque in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods. 314 patients with T2DM were enrolled in this study. The clinical data and laboratory examinations of subjects were recorded, such as serum 25(OH)D3, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), serum lipids, fasting blood glucose (FBG), and other biochemical parameters. Color Doppler ultrasound was used to measure carotid IMT and carotid atherosclerotic plaques. Patients were divided into four quartile groups according to the serum 25(OH)D3 levels from low to high: group Q1~group Q4. Results. From group Q1 to group Q4, carotid IMT and the incidence of plaque were gradually reduced. Serum 25(OH)D3 levels were lower in the plaque group compared with the nonplaque group (P<0.01). Serum 25(OH)D3 levels were negatively correlated with the carotid IMT (r=−0.4, P<0.01). Multiple linear stepwise regression analysis showed that serum 25(OH)D3 was independently associated with carotid IMT (β=−0.009, P<0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed that serum 25(OH)D3 levels were independently associated with the presence of carotid plaque in T2DM (OR = 0.95; 95%CI: 0.92~0.98, P=0.004). Conclusions. Low vitamin D status may contribute to the incidence of carotid atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]