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Lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 1(LPCAT1), a key metabolic enzyme in the phosphatidyl-choline metabolism pathway, mediates phosphatidylcholine synthesis through deacylation-reacylation, which leads to alterations in the phospholipids composition of cell membranes and the remodelling of the cellular cytoskeleton. Lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 1 has been shown to be highly expressed in gastric, breast and colorectal cancer, and can accelerate the alteration of the phospholipids composition of tumor cell membranes or interact with tumor driver genes, such as epidermal growth factor receptor and cell cycle-related genes. It might promote tumor development by affecting tumor cell proliferation, migration, invasion and resistance to chemotherapy.

Rail breakage can cause train derailment that leads to catastrophic consequences, prevention of which is worthy of a significant amount of investment in finance and time. Non-destructive evaluation can provide qualitative and quantitative inspection of rail tracks in-situ to detect dangerous faults, even though these defects are primarily invisible or hardly noticed from the surface of the rail. To make it efficient and convenient, infrared thermography technique offers a remote operation without interfering with rail transportation. The image processing for edge detection can further quantify the defect deterioration by depicting the contour of the defect. Moreover, the optimal parameters for various edge operators provide reliable detection for natural fracture defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raspberry ketone accounts for the characteristic aroma of the raspberry fruit. In order to explore the genes involved in raspberry ketone synthesis, the transcriptome in fruit tissues of two red raspberry varieties "Polka" and "Orange legend", were sequenced and 24213 single genes were obtained. As the red raspberry fruit ripening, genes involved in flavonoid and anthocyanin synthesis were up-regulated, while those associated with lignin synthesis were down-regulated. A gene (RinPKS4) highly related to raspberry ketone synthesis was identified by transcriptome analysis, and RinPKS4 gene was over-expressed in raspberry in order to further understand the function of RinPKS4 gene in raspberry ketone synthesis. The results showed that the gene expression level of RinPKS4 in the leaf tissues of a transgenic lines increased by about 4-fold and the content of raspberry ketone increased by 42.64% compared with the wide type. This study lays a theoretical foundation for further study on the synthesis and regulation of raspberry ketone in red raspberry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elimination of antibiotics such as tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) from wastewater is of great significance, but still faces challenges. In this regard, Cu2O decorated CuZnAl-layered double hydroxide (Cu2O/CuZnAl-LDHs) heterostructure photocatalysts were designed via a facile coprecipitation method and subsequent in situ reduction approach. The XRD, XPS, UV-vis DRS, PL, Mott–Schottky plots, and VB-XPS results together revealed that the construction of a heterostructure inhibits the recombination of relatively useful electrons and holes, providing a strong driving force for the photocatalytic degradation of TC. Additionally, the synergistic effects increased visible light absorption and the population of adsorption sites, which also played pivotal roles in the removal of TC. As a result, the degradation efficiency of TC catalyzed by Cu2O/CuZnAl-LDHs under visible light reached 94.1% within 120 min. The capture experiments of active species and ESR analysis confirm that the superoxide radical (˙O2−), holes (h+) and hydroxyl radicals (˙OH) were responsible for the decomposition of TC. This study provides a rational design strategy and performance assessment of LDH-based heterostructured photocatalysts for the treatment of antibiotic-contaminated water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grazing behaviour between protozoa and phytoplankton exists widely in planktonic ecosystems. Poterioochromonas malhamensis is a well‐known and widespread mixotrophic flagellate, which is recognized to play an important role within marine and freshwater planktonic ecosystems and regarded as the greatest contamination threat for mass algal cultures of Chlorella. In this study, a comprehensive range of factors, including morphological characters, biochemical compositions, and specific growth rate of ten species or strains of Chlorella, were evaluated for their effect on the feeding ability of P. malhamensis, which was assessed by two parameters: the clearance rate of P. malhamensis on Chlorella spp. and the specific growth rate of P. malhamensis. The results showed that the clearance rate of P. malhamensis was negatively correlated with cell wall thickness and specific growth rate of Chlorella spp., while the specific growth rate of P. malhamensis was positively correlated with carbohydrate percentage and C/N ratio and negatively correlated with protein, lipid percentage, and nitrogen mass. In conclusion, the factors influencing feeding selectivity include not only the morphological character and chemical composition of Chlorella, but also its population dynamics. Our study provides useful insights into the key factors that affect the feeding selectivity of P. malhamensis and provides basic and constructive data to help in screening for grazing‐resistant microalgae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A C 3-symmetrical 4,4″,4⁗-nitrilotris(2′-methyl-[1,1′-biphenyl]-3-carboxylic acid) (4) derived from nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) was found to selectively bind Zinc(ii) ions both in DMSO or MeOH. A synergistic effect of the anionic counter ion SO42− on the sensing behaviour of 4 to metal ions was clearly observed in DMSO. Interestingly, 4 showed a rapid hypochromatic shift in emission ascribed to the deprotonation and the concomitant formation of a 4 –metal complex upon the addition of Zn2+ ions, instead of the bathochromic shift and emission enhancement attributed to the SO42−-involved hydrogen-bonding interaction for Ni2+, Li+, Mg2+, and Na+ ions at ratios below 1:1 in DMSO. The observed sensing process of sulfate salts associated with the SO42−-involved hydrogen-bonding interaction, deprotonation, and the concomitant complexation can also be clearly monitored by titration methods utilising UV-vis, fluorescence, and NMR spectroscopy in solution. In comparison with 4 , compound 1 showed an obvious difference in the binding interaction with zinc sulfate in MeOH, probably owing to the decreased acidity. Anion-induced hydrogen-bonding interactions and deprotonation of the COOH protons in the excited state also endowed 4 versatile spectroscopic properties. The addition of F− and SO42− anions resulted in a remarkable enhancement probably related with a rigidifying effect. 2,2′,2″-Nitrilotribenzoic acid can be utilised as a potential scaffold to build a series of conjugated fluorescent sensors by its chelation effect owing to the rigid cavity pre-organised by the triphenylamine moiety and the carboxylic groups and the conjugation extension in the 4,4′,4″ positions. A C 3-symmetrical 2,2′,2″-nitrilotribenzoic acid derivative as a fluorescent sensor for zinc ions has been developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diptychus maculatus(Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae), the sole species of genusDiptychus, is an economically important freshwater fish widely distributed in Asia. In this study, we first sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome ofD. maculatus.The genome is 16,835 bp in length, consisting of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes as well as 2 non-coding regions: origin of light–strand replication (OL) and control region (D-loop). The gene composition and order are identical with most bony fishes. The overall nucleotide composition of the heavy strand is 27.7% A, 26.7% T, 26.5% C and 19.1% G. The mitogenome data would be useful for further genetics studies, phylogenetic analysis, and resource protection ofD. maculatusand phylogenetic analysis of Schizothoracine fishes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an urgent need to identify the potential risk factors for activating latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. In this study, we evaluated the immune function of Rv1737c, which is a latency‐associated antigen of dormancy survival regulator (DosR) of M. tuberculosis in a mouse model. Our data showed that mice pretreated with recombinant Rv1737c (rRv1737c) exhibited higher levels of antigen‐specific antibodies (IgG, IgM and IgA) than sham‐treated mice. Following Bacilli Calmette‐Guerin (BCG) challenge, rRv1737c adjuvanted with cholera toxin subunit B (CTB) induced diffuse lung inflammation and fibrosis compared to the control mice. The inflammatory pathogenesis due to rRv1737c pre‐exposure was associated with a switch in the macrophage phenotype from M1 to activated M2 and was characterized by IL‐10 production. Intracellular cytokine analysis further showed that the rRv1737c‐pretreated mice exhibited an increased frequency of Th2 cells in the lungs, lymph nodes and spleen after BCG challenge. Furthermore, IFN‐γ expression increased in the lungs after rRv1737c pretreatment compared to that in the sham mice. Accordingly, lung cells from rRv1737c‐immunized mice stimulated with killed BCG produced higher levels of multiple cytokines, such as IFN‐γ, IL‐10 and IL‐6. The results confirmed that the pathological features of rRv1737c promoted inflammation. Overall, our findings provide direct evidence of the pro‐inflammatory function of rRv1737c in a murine model of BCG infection, indicating that Rv1737c is a pathogenic antigen of M. tuberculosis and may be key to the recurrence of latent infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has already become a pandemic wherein the infection's timely diagnosis has proven beneficial to patient treatment and disease control. Nucleic acid detection has been the primary laboratory diagnostic method for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. To ensure laboratory staff safety and quality nucleic acid testing, the Chinese Society of Laboratory Medicine formulated this consensus, based on the Chinese National Recommendations and previous literature for nucleic acid detection. A working group comprises 34 hospital professionals experience with real-time polymerase chain reactions (PCR) testing for SARS-CoV-2 drafted guidance statements during online discussions. A modified Delphi methodology was used in forming a consensus among a wider group of hospital professionals with SARS-CoV-2 detection experience. Guidance statements were developed for four categories: (I) specimen type, priority, collecting, transportation and receiving; (II) nucleic acid isolation and amplification; (III) quality control; (IV) biosafety management and decontamination. The modified Delphi voting process included a total of 29 guidance statements and final agreement. Consensus was reached after two rounds of voting. Recommendations were established for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 using real time PCR testing based on evidence and group consensus. The manuscript was evaluated against The Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation Instrument (AGREE II) and was developed to aid medical laboratory staff in the detection of the ribonucleic acid (RNA) of SARS-CoV-2., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/atm-20-4060). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2020 Annals of Translational Medicine. All rights reserved.)