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Marine ladder polyethers have attracted the attention of chemists and biologists because of their potent biological activities. Synthetic chemists have attempted to construct their polyether frameworks by epoxide ring‐opening cascades, as Nakanishi hypothesis describes. However, Baldwin's rules of ring closure state that exo‐selective intramolecular cyclization of epoxy alcohols is preferred over endo‐selective cyclization. Herein, we investigated epoxide ring‐opening cascades of polyepoxy alcohols in [EMIM]BF4/PFTB (1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate /perfluoro‐tert‐butyl alcohol) and found that all‐endo products were formed via epoxide‐to‐epoxonium ring‐opening cyclizations (not restricted by Baldwin's rules, which only apply to intramolecular hydroxyl‐to‐epoxide cyclizations). We determined that the key factor enabling polyepoxy alcohols to undergo a high proportion of all‐endo‐selective cyclization was inhibition of exo‐selective hydroxyl‐to‐epoxide cyclization starting from the terminal hydroxyl group of a polyepoxy alcohol. By introducing a slow‐release protecting group to the terminal hydroxyl group, we could markedly increase the cyclization yields of polyether fragments with hydrogen atoms at the ring junctions. For the first time, we constructed consecutively fused six‐membered‐ring and fused seven‐, eight‐, and nine‐membered‐ring polyether fragments by epoxide‐to‐epoxonium ring‐opening cyclizations through the addition of a suitable Lewis acid. We also suggest that the biosynthesis of marine ladder polyethers may proceed via epoxide‐to‐epoxonium ring‐opening cyclization of polyepoxide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energetic electron precipitation from the equatorial magnetosphere into the atmosphere plays an important role in magnetosphere‐ionosphere coupling: precipitating electrons alter ionospheric properties, whereas ionospheric outflows modify equatorial plasma conditions affecting electromagnetic wave generation and energetic electron scattering. However, ionospheric measurements cannot be directly related to wave and energetic electron properties measured by high‐altitude, near‐equatorial spacecraft, due to large mapping uncertainties. We aim to resolve this by projecting low‐altitude measurements of energetic electron precipitation by ELFIN CubeSats onto total electron content (TEC) maps serving as a proxy for ionospheric density structures. We examine three types of precipitation on the nightside: precipitation of <200 keV electrons in the plasma sheet, bursty precipitation of <500 keV electrons by whistler‐mode waves, and relativistic (>500 keV) electron precipitation by EMIC waves. All three types of precipitation show distinct features in TEC horizontal gradients, and we discuss possible implications of these features. Plain Language Summary: Bursty precipitation of energetic electrons, via pitch‐angle scattering by whistler‐mode waves from the magnetosphere to the ionosphere, is an important factor in the global magnetosphere‐ionosphere coupling. It induces local modifications of ionospheric density and chemical composition. A recurrent problem in the investigation of this process is the presence of large uncertainties in the field‐line mapping between ionospheric density structures and high altitude satellites measuring electron fluxes in the magnetosphere. In the present study, such uncertainties are significantly reduced by making use of precipitating electron fluxes recorded by ELFIN CubeSats at low altitudes (450 km) just above the ionosphere and comparing them with maps of the corresponding ionospheric density structures. We identify three different types of electron precipitation on the nightside, corresponding to low, moderate, and high energy precipitating electrons. We show that each type of the precipitation is characterized by particular plasma density gradients in the ionosphere, suggesting a key role of wave ducting by plasma density gradients in fostering the precipitation of 300–500 keV electrons by whistler‐mode waves, and the potential importance of midnight plasma injections in generating EMIC waves that can further precipitate 0.5–2 MeV electrons far away from the plasmasphere. Key Points: Total electron content (TEC) maps are examined during energetic electron precipitation at the conjugate low altitudeNight‐side whistler‐mode wave driven precipitation is often associated with local horizontal TEC gradientsNight‐side EMIC wave driven precipitation is often poleward of the TEC minima associated with the plasmapause projection [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staminal nectaries show diversity in their position, size, shape, color, and number in Ranunculales. In Papaveraceae, nectaries only appear at the base of stamen in these lineages with disymmetric and zygomorphic flowers. However, the diversity of the staminal nectaries' developmental characteristics and structure is unknown. The diversity of staminal nectaries of Hypecoum erectum, Ichtyoselmis macrantha, Adlumia asiatica, Dactylicapnos torulosa, Corydalis edulis, and Fumaria officinalis (six species belonging to six genera, respectively) in the Fumarioideae was investigated under scanning electron microscopy, light microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. In all species studied, according to the developmental characteristics of the nectaries, four developmental stages can be divided into initiation, enlargement, differentiation, and maturation, and the number of nectaries can be determined at the stage of initiation (stage 1), and morphological differentiation occurs at the developmental stage 3. The staminal nectaries consist of secretory epidermis, parenchyma tissue, and phloem with some sieve tube elements reaching the secretory parenchyma cells; however, the number of cell layers of parenchyma can vary from 30 to 40 in I. macrantha and D. torulosa, to only 5 to 10 like in F. officinalis. Secretory epidermis cells are larger than secretory parenchyma cells with abundant microchannels on the outer cell wall. There were abundant mitochondria, Golgi bodies, rough endoplasmic reticulum, and plastids in secretory parenchyma cells. Nectar is stored in the intercellular space and exuded to the exterior via microchannels. In A. asiatica, according to the evidence of small secretory cell characteristics such as dense cytoplasm, and numerous mitochondria, together with the filamentous secretions present on the surface of epidermal cells on groove, it can be inferred that the U-shaped sulcate which is located in the white projection formed at the filament of triplets in A. asiatica is nectariferous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pathogenesis of cerebral atrophy (CA) is not clear. Previous studies show a high incidence of preterm CA in hemodialysis patients. This study aims to investigate the factors influencing CA and to derive a CA prediction nomogram in maintenance-hemodialysis patients. First, brain volumes of hemodialysis patients (≤55 years) were compared against age- and sex-matched healthy controls, and differences were revealed in bilateral insular cisterns width, maximum cerebral sulci width, Evans index, ventricular-brain ratio, frontal atrophy index, and temporal lobe ratio. Then, the patients were divided equally into "no or mild" or "severe" CA groups. Potential factors influencing CA were screened. Kt/V (urea removal index) and hemoglobin levels negatively correlated with CA degree, and were used to establish a nomogram within randomly assigned training and validation patient groups. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROC) for training and validation groups were 0.703 and 0.744, respectively. When potassium and calcium were added to the nomogram, the AUROC for training/validation group increased to 0.748/0.806. The nomogram had optimal AUROC for training (0.759) and validation (0.804) groups when albumin was also included. Hemodialysis patients showed reduced anterior brain volumes and the nomogram established herein may have predictive value for developing CA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific advances have led to the development and production of numerous vaccines and antiviral drugs, but viruses, including re-emerging and emerging viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2, remain a major threat to human health. Many antiviral agents are rarely used in clinical treatment, however, because of their inefficacy and resistance. The toxicity of natural products may be lower, and some natural products have multiple targets, which means less resistance. Therefore, natural products may be an effective means to solve virus infection in the future. New techniques and ideas are currently being developed for the design and screening of antiviral drugs thanks to recent revelations about virus replication mechanisms and the advancement of molecular docking technology. This review will summarize recently discovered antiviral drugs, mechanisms of action, and screening and design strategies for novel antiviral agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problematic internet use (PIU) has been shown to be closely associated with suicidality and self-injurious behavior (SSIB), but the mechanism to help explain this association is understudied. The aim of the present study is to test mediating effects of negative affectivity between PIU and SSIB and whether social support moderates this mediating effect. A sample of 2173 middle and high school students (M age = 14.66, SD age = 1.87) in central China were recruited. All participants completed a self-report questionnaire assessing PIU, SSIB, negative affectivity, and social support. Simple mediation analysis and moderated mediation analysis were conducted to examine the roles of negative affectivity and social support in the association between PIU and SSIB. PIU was positively associated with SSIB, and negative affectivity mediated this association (β = 0.255, Boot 95 % CI: 0.219 to 0.296). The indirect effect of negative affectivity was moderated by social support, with a stronger association between PIU and SSIB for adolescents with lower social support (β = 0.228, Boot 95 % CI: 0.178 to 0.282) than their counterparts (β = 0.098, Boot 95 % CI: 0.068 to 0.133). Cross-sectional design with self-report measures. PIU is a detrimental risk factor for SSIB, as it is associated with high negative affectivity and increased SSIB, which was more robust for adolescents with lower social support. These results highlight the importance of helping adolescents regulate negative affectivity and improving social support-based preventative interventions to reduce SSIB. • Problematic internet use was a detrimental risk factor for suicidality and self-injurious behavior. • Problematic internet use increased suicidality and self-injurious behavior via high negative affectivity. • The mediation of negative affectivity was more robust for adolescents with lower social support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic degradation, as a very significant advanced oxidation technology in the field of environmental purification, has attracted extensive attention in recent years. The design and synthesis of catalysts with high-intensity photocatalytic properties have been the focus of many researchers in recent years. In this contribution, two new supramolecular materials {[(L1)·(Ag4I7)]CH3CN} (1), {[(L2)·(Ag4I7)]CH3CN} (2) were synthesized by solution volatilization reaction of two cationic templates 1,3,5-Tris(4-aminopyridinylmethyl)-2,4,6-Trimethylphenyl bromide (L1) and 1,3,5-Tris(4-methyl pyridinyl methyl)-2,4,6-trimethylphenyl bromide (L2) with metal salt AgI at room temperature, respectively. The degradation effect of 1 and 2 as catalyst on tetracycline (TC) under visible light irradiation was studied. The results showed that the degradation of TC by 1 was better than that by 2 and both of them had good stability and cyclability. The effects of pH value, catalyst dosage, and anion in water on the photocatalytic performance were also investigated. The adsorption kinetics fit the quasi-first-order model best. After 180 min of irradiation with 1, the degradation rate of TC can reach 97.91%. In addition, the trapping experiments showed that ·OH was the main active substance in the photocatalytic degradation of TC compared with ·O2− and h+. Because of its simple synthesis and high removal efficiency, catalyst 1 has potential value for the treatment of wastewater containing organic matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The post-earthquake emergency period, which is a sensitive time segment just after an event, mainly focuses on saving life and restoring social order. To improve the seismic resilience of city road networks, a resilience evaluation method used in the post-earthquake emergency period is proposed. The road seismic damage index of a city road network can consider the influence of roads, bridges and buildings along the roads, etc. on road capacity after an earthquake. A function index for a city road network is developed, which reflects the connectivity, redundancy, traffic demand and traffic function of the network. An optimization model for improving the road repair order in the post-earthquake emergency period is also developed according to the resilience evaluation, to enable decision support for city emergency management and achieve the best seismic resilience of the city road network. The optimization model is applied to a city road network and the results illustrate the feasibility of the resilience evaluation and optimization method for a city road network in the post-earthquake emergency period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the in-plane compression mechanism of two-dimensional biaxial braided composite laminates under quasi-static compression and dynamic compression. Three types of specimens with different off-axial angles in respect of OA00, OA60, and OA90 were employed for compression experiments. The surface damage process of the specimen was recorded using optical camera and infrared thermal imaging technology. The internal damage morphology of the tested specimens was analyzed by X-ray computed tomography. The progressive damage behavior of braiding yarns and matrix resin was simulated by a three-dimensional meso-level finite element model. Experimental and simulation results revealed that the off-axial angle significantly affects mechanical properties and damage mechanisms. The stress distribution and compression deformation of braiding yarns are affected by the boundary conditions of load-bearing yarn, which relies on the off-axial angle. The stress of OA00 specimen is concentrated at the interface of yarn and matrix resin. The failure mode of OA00 specimen is dominated by the shear band, which is induced by the interface microcracks between yarn and matrix resin. The stress of OA60 and OA90 specimens are concentrated at the undulation position of the braiding yarn. The critical failure mode of OA60 and OA90 specimens is delamination induced by interlaminar microcracks. The OA60 specimen achieves a better compression response with respect to bearing the load and absorbing the fracture energy because the sub-laminate that is formed after delamination can continue to bear the load until its intralaminar fracture occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During magnetospheric storms, radiation belt electrons are produced and then removed by collisions with the lower atmosphere on varying timescales. An efficient loss process is microbursts, strong, transient precipitation of electrons over a wide energy range, from tens of keV to sub‐relativistic and relativistic energies (100s keV and above). However, the detailed generation mechanism of microbursts, especially over sub‐relativistic and relativistic energies, remains unknown. Here, we show that these energetic electron microbursts may be caused by ducted whistler‐mode lower‐band chorus waves. Using observations of equatorial chorus waves nearby low‐altitude precipitation as well as data‐driven simulations, we demonstrate that the observed microbursts are the result of resonant interaction of electrons with ducted chorus waves rather than nonducted ones. Revealing the physical mechanism behind the microbursts advances our understanding of radiation belt dynamics and its impact on the lower atmosphere and space weather. Plain Language Summary: The Van Allen radiation belts, donut‐shaped rings of relativistic electrons, encircle Earth at distance ∼3–7 Earth radii. During magentospheric storms, radiation belt electrons are produced and then removed by collisions with the lower atmosphere on varying timescales. Resonant electron interaction with whistler‐mode chorus waves has long been known as one of the most important mechanisms of electron precipitation into the atmosphere. An efficient loss process is microbursts, strong, transient precipitation of electrons over a wide energy range. To scatter and precipitate energetic electrons, however, chorus waves should propagate to middle latitudes. Here, we show that such a wave propagation and the subsequent microburst generation can be possible under wave ducting, that is, wave energy being trapped within localized plasma density enhancements. Revealing the physical mechanism behind the microbursts advances our understanding of radiation belt dynamics and its impact on the lower atmosphere and space weather. Key Points: We demonstrate the first electron microburst observation by spinning Electron Losses and Fields INvestigation CubeSatsWe present a comparison between ducted and nonducted chorus‐driven electron precipitationSimulation shows ducted chorus cause electrons microbursts over energy 100s keV and above [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aster atropurpurea W.P. Li & G.X. Chen, a new species of Asteraceae from Hunan Province (China), is described and illustrated. Morphological, molecular and cytological data were used to assess its taxonomic status and phylogenetic relationships. Morphologically, A. atropurpurea is most similar to A. saxicola, but differs from it by having strigose stems and middle leaves, green phyllaries (apex), 3–7(12) capitula, and the lamina of the ray florets 2.1–2.4 mm broader. Phylogenetic analysis based on the nuclear ITS and ETS regions provided good support for recognizing A. atropurpurea at the specific level, phylogenetically closely related to A. homochlamydeus and A. handelii. Aster atropurpurea is octaploid and its karyotype is 2n = 8x = 72 = 8M + 56m + 8sm, which distinguishes it from morphologically similar species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study entailed the investigation of the roots of Euphorbia wallichii , which resulted in the isolation of 29 ent -atisane diterpenoids (1 – 29), 14 of which were previously unknown. These previously undescribed ones were named euphorwanoids A–N (3 – 5 , 7 , 9 , and 10 – 18). Various techniques, including comprehensive spectroscopic methods and calculated electronic circular dichroism, were employed to determine their molecular structures. Additionally, the absolute configurations of ten ent -atisane diterpenoids (1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 9 , 11 , 12 , 14 and 16) were established through X-ray crystallographic analyses. All isolated compounds' potential to inhibit the influenza A virus in vitro were evaluated. Compounds 18 , 20 , and 24 exhibited notable antiviral activity against the A/Puerto Rico/8/1934 strain. Their effective concentrations for reducing viral activity (EC 50 values) were found to be 8.56, 1.22, and 4.97 μM, respectively. An intriguing aspect of this research is that it marks the first instance of ent -atisane diterpenes displaying anti-H1N1 activity. Empirical NMR rules were established with Δ δ to distinguish the R / S configurations of C-13 and C-16 in ent -atisanes. [Display omitted] • Twenty-nine ent -atisane diterpenoids including 14 previously undescribed ones were isolated. • The absolute configurations of 10 diterpenoids were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. • Ent -atisane diterpenoids exhibit anti-H1N1 activity for the first time. • Empirical NMR rules were established with Δδ to distinguish the R / S configurations of C-13 and C-16 in ent -atisanes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resveratrol (a high-value natural polyphenolic compound with numerous pharmacological activities) is predominantly present in the form of the glycoside polydatin in Polygonum cuspidatum roots. In this study, a novel endophytic fungus, Penicillium rubens , capable of producing both cellulase (0.71 ± 0.09 U/mL) and β-glucosidase (4.35 ± 0.38 U/mL) for cell wall hydrolysis and polydatin deglycosylation, was used to ferment P. cuspidatum roots to improve the yield of valuable resveratrol. Results showed that the semi-solid-state fermentation (SSSF) using the homogeneous cultures of P. rubens was the appropriate strategy to obtain a higher yield of resveratrol from P. cuspidatum roots. Under the optimal fermentation conditions (temperature 30 °C, inoculation dose 4.0 mL/g, and time 72 h), the yield of resveratrol (19.95 ± 0.83 mg/g DW) in P. cuspidatum roots fermented by P. rubens was 19.18-fold higher than that in the unfermented control (1.04 ± 0.47 mg/g DW). Moreover, the digestibility of P. cuspidatum roots by P. rubens in terms of dry matter weight and cellulose content was 40.04% and 21.91%, respectively. Scanning electron microscope observation indicated that P. rubens fermentation could effectively disrupt the cell walls of P. cuspidatum roots, thus contributing to the release of more polydatin for deglycosylation. In addition, the extracts of P. cuspidatum roots fermented by P. rubens exhibited higher antioxidant and antibacterial activities compared with those of the unfermented control. The economic analysis showed that the benefit of SSSF approach for resveratrol production was much greater than that of the unfermented control. Overall, this study proposed a cost-effective SSSF method using the novel P. rubens to obtain bioactive resveratrol from P. cuspidatum roots, which had promising potential in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmetic industries. [Display omitted] • Penicillium rubens capable of producing cellulase and β-glucosidase was identified. • P. rubens could exert both cell wall hydrolysis and polydatin deglycosylation. • Semi-solid-state fermentation strategy was optimal for increasing resveratrol yields. • Resveratrol yield in Polygonum cuspidatum increased by 19.18-fold after fermentation. • The novel P. rubens demonstrated promising potential in the field of fermentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective  This study aimed to investigate whether umbilical cord milking (UCM) prevents and controls anemia in preterm infants, as compared with immediate cord clamping (ICC). Study Design  Pregnant women delivering at <34 weeks' gestation in four hospitals were randomly assigned to undergo UCM or ICC from July 2017 to June 2019. Hematological parameters and iron status were collected and analyzed as primary outcomes at 24 hours, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 6 months after delivery. Results  Neonates receiving UCM had significant higher levels of hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit, and serum iron (p  < 0.05). Lower prevalence of anemia and lower need for transfusions were noted in UCM group. Although UCM was associated with prolonged duration of phototherapy, the maximum levels of bilirubin were similar between two groups (p  > 0.05). Conclusion  UCM is an effective intervention to help preterm infants experience less anemia with the potential to increase blood volume, as seen by higher Hb levels and more enhanced iron stores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To establish and discuss the significance of a clinical risk factor scoring model in predicting central compartment lymph node metastasis (CLNM) (level VI) in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 412 patients who underwent surgical treatment for PTC who were admitted to the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University between July 2016 and May 2017, with the patients being divided into a CLNM group and a non-metastasis (NM) group. Risk factors such as sex, age, tumor diameter, capsular invasion, multifocality, and tumor location were recorded for scoring via maximum likelihood estimation (MLE)-based discriminant analysis. The scoring model was used for prospective analysis of CLNM in another 104 patients. Besides, the discriminant function that was developed using the risk factors based on the retrospective data derived from the 412 patients was evaluated by plugging the retrospective data in for specified variables, with a higher score indicating a greater risk of developing CLNM. Clinical diagnosis of CLNM was based on postoperative paraffin section pathology, which was adopted as the criterion to assess discriminative accuracy in the prospective and retrospective groups. Results: The discriminative accuracy of the scoring model was 71.8% in the retrospective group and 72.2% in the prospective group. Conclusions:The scoring model enables simplified, quantitative analysis of CLNM in PTC patients. The scoring model has clinical significance in that it provides a basis for the choice of operation, personalized postoperative treatment, and prognosis of PTC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, two novel organic-inorganic hybrid supramolecule compounds {[Cu·L1'·H2O]·(α-Mo8O26)0.5}n1 and compound {[Cu·L2'·H2O]·(α-Mo8O26)0.5}n2 have been synthesized [L1' = 1, 3-bis (4-carboxylpyridine) propane dibromide, L2' = 1, 4-bis (4-carboxylpyridine) butane dibromide]. Compounds 1 and 2 have been expressly confirmed by PXRD, IR, X-ray single crystal diffraction and TG. Last, the study found that compounds 1 and 2 have obvious adsorption effects on MB and RhB organic dyes, and compound 2 has high adsorption capacity for MB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Pine wilt disease (PWD) is a devastating pine disease caused by Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and its main host in China is Pinus massoniana. The relationship between endophytic bacteria and disease resistance in P. massoniana remains unclear. In this paper, the leaves, roots, stems and treetops of different disease-resistant P. massoniana were studied as the research objective and Illumina MiSeq sequencing was used to analyse whether there were significant differences in the composition and diversity of endophytic bacterial communities between different disease-resistant P. massoniana. The results showed that at the genus level there were no obvious differences in the composition of the endophytic bacterial community of different disease-resistant P. massoniana in the leaves, but there were obvious differences in the roots, stems and treetops. The richness and diversity of endophytic bacteria in P. massoniana had no significant impact on its disease resistance, whilst the structure of endophytic bacterial community in stems and treetops may be related to its disease resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Models for household recycling behaviour in high-rise buildings were evaluated. • The used of recycling facilities can be predicted by physical setting. • The use of informal recycling sectors can be predicted by housing type. • Implications for public design in high-density residential areas are provided. • It provides insights into public design in high-rise residential areas. Recycling strategies and waste management for the source separation of recyclables are still in their infancy in China and many other developing countries. Unlike formal recycling systems with strictly regulated management in high-income countries, waste management and recycling activities in low-income and middle-income countries are predominantly informal. Formal recycling systems often have very small amounts of recyclables in comparison to informal recycling systems. Considering the Chinese case of urban Guangzhou, where formal and informal recycling systems coexist, this study investigated household recycling behaviour and explored the sociodemographic and contextual factors that affect this behaviour. Based on data collected through questionnaire surveys and interviews, a model of the use of public recycling facilities (UPRF) and a model of the use of informal recycling sectors (UIRS) were evaluated using correlations and multiple regression analyses. The findings indicated that the use of public recycling facilities can be significantly predicted by the launch of a source separation scheme, the physical setting and satisfaction with public recycling facilities. The sociodemographic variables did not significantly predict the use of public recycling facilities but did significantly predict the use of informal recycling sectors. This study's findings have implications for researchers and policymakers and shed light on public designs for sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel endophytic fungus Penicillium rubens isolated from pigeon pea producing cellulase (0.73 ± 0.14 U/mL) and β-glucosidase (4.85 ± 0.42 U/mL) was used to ferment pigeon pea roots (PPR) for obtaining bioactive genistein. Semi-solid-state fermentation (SSSF) with water was found to be the appropriate strategy for increasing genistein level in PPR. The genistein yield (0.37 ± 0.02 mg/g) in PPR fermented by P. rubens under the optimal conditions was 3.08-fold higher than that in the control (0.12 ± 0.02 mg/g). Scanning electron microscope results indicated that P. rubens utilized the nutrients in PPR for growth and could significantly destroy cell walls, thus contributing to the release of more genistein. The bioactivities of extracts from PPR fermented by P. rubens were higher than control. The present study provided a cost-effective SSSF approach to achieve higher yield of genistein from agrifood by-products PPR using the novel P. rubens. A novel endophytic fungus P. rubens , capable of cell wall hydrolysis and genistin deglycosylation, was used to ferment PPR using SSSF strategy to obtain higher yield of bioactive genistein. The present study developed a method associated with advantages of simple operation, low cost, low energy consumption and environmental friendliness for the effective utilization of agrifood by-products PPR in food, nutraceutical, and other industrial fields. Also, P. rubens exhibited promising potential in fermentation fields for improving yields of other bioactive aglycones from food and medicinal resources. [Display omitted] • A novel Penicillium rubens was found to produce cellulase and β-glucosidase. • Cellulase and β-glucosidase activities were determined to be 0.73 U/mL and 4.85 U/mL. • Semi-solid-state fermentation using water was optimal for obtaining genistein from pigeon pea roots. • Semi-solid-state fermentation increased genistein yield by 3.08-fold over control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a notable increase of 136.9% in the production of exopolysaccharides (EPS) was observed during the submerged fermentation of Antrodia cinnamomea when microparticle (4 g/L of Al 2 O 3) was applied. By evaluating the activities of key enzymes involved in EPS synthesis in A. cinnamomea , it was found that the addition of Al 2 O 3 enhanced the activities of phosphoglycerate mutase (PGM), UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (UGP), and GDP-mannose pyrophosphorylase (GMPPB). To further elucidate the mechanism through which Al 2 O 3 enhances the production of EPS in A. cinnamomea , a transcriptomic analysis was conducted to compare the gene expression levels. The results showed that there was a significant up-regulation of genes associated with the synthesis and assembly of polysaccharide repeating units, as well as genes responsible for the regulation of ABC transporter complex enzymes. To verify the above hypothesis, the ABC transporter inhibitor MK-571 sodium salt was added to the fermentation broth of A. cinnamomea. The study demonstrated that when the ABC transporter was inhibited, the yield of EPS was significantly reduced, which further confirmed that the addition of Al 2 O 3 could improve the activity of ABC transporter and promote the production of EPS in submerged fermentation of A. cinnamomea. • Microparticle Al 2 O 3 promote the yield of exopolysaccharides in Antrodia cinnamomea. • Al 2 O 3 can enhance the activities of key enzymes involved in polysaccharide synthesis. • Al 2 O 3 can up-regulate genes related to polysaccharide synthesis in A. cinnamomea. • Al 2 O 3 enhances the activity of ABC transporters, promoting the secretion of EPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we firstly reported the large-scale screening and isolation of endophytic fungi from nine wild and six cultivated soybeans in the cold regions of China. We totally isolated 302 endophytic fungal strains, of which 215 strains are isolated from the wild soybeans and 87 are identified from cultivated soybeans. Among these endophytic fungal strains, in the roots, stems, and leaves, 24.17% were isolated from roots, 28.8% were isolated from stems, and 47.01% were isolated from leaves, respectively. Most endophytic fungal strains isolated from the wild soybean roots were the species of Fusarium genus, and the fungal strains in the stems were the species of ascomycetes and Fusarium fungi, whereas most strains in the leaves were Alternaria fungi. To analyze the taxonomy of the obtained samples, we sequenced and compared their rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences. The data showed that 6 strains are putatively novel strains exhibiting ≤ 97% homology with the known strains. We next measured the secondary metabolites produced by the different strains and we found 11 strains exhibited high-performance synthesis of triterpenoids, phenols, and polysaccharides. Furthermore, we characterized their tolerance to abiotic stresses. The results indicated that 4 strains exhibited high tolerance to cadmium, and some strains exhibited resistance to acid, and alkali. The results of the study could facilitate the further exploration of the diversity of plant endophytic fungi and the potential applications of the fungi to practical agriculture and medicine industries. Key points: • 302 endophytic fungal strains isolated from wild soybean and cultivated soybean • 11 strains had high contents of triterpenoids, phenols, and polysaccharides • 4 strains exhibited high Cd tolerance, and a few strains with strong tolerance to acid and alkali solution [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While many researchers have pointed out that public design can increase users' sustainable practices, how to achieve good public designs is challenging. To explore the current public design barriers and solutions to household recycling in Hong Kong, our research group, in collaboration with two Caritas Community Centres, adopted participatory action research, including questionnaires, interviews, non-participant observations, collaborative workshops and on-site iterative prototyping process, to carry out a research project. In this project, local residents, recyclers, property management officers and cleaners in five public rental housing estates were recruited to voice their views on public design for recycling. Through the results of the spiral design exploration conducted at Sai Wan Estate, this study demonstrates the validity of action research to promote the participatory design for recycling. The paper concludes with a discussion of some barriers to and experience with applying these methods to improve the practice in the context of high-rise living environments. It also provides experience and insights into action research in public design for designers, researchers and policy makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aster chuanshanensis W.P. Li, a new species of Asteraceae from Shanxi and Sichuan, China, is described and illustrated based on morphological, micromorphological, molecular and cytological evidence. It is similar to A. indicus and A. shimadae, but differs from them in rhizome type, leaf size and texture, receptacle shape, floral tube and pappi lengths, and in the ratio of stigmatic line to the style arm appendage. Phylogenetic analysis based on nrDNA (ITS and ETS) sequence data supported A. chuanshanensis as a distinct species belonging to sect. Asteromoea. It is diploid with a karyotype 2n = 2x = 18m, which distinguishes it from the morphologically similar species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High temperature can reduce testes function, leading to decreased testosterone secretion. Dietary L-arginine (L-Arg) supplementation improves the semen quality and libido of boars. The present study investigated whether L-Arg could enhance the production of testosterone in mice exposed to high ambient temperature. Twenty-four 6-week-old male ICR mice were randomly divided into three groups: a control group, a heat-treated (HT) group and a group subjected to heat treatment plus 2mg kg-1 L-Arg (HTþArg). L-Arg was administered to mice by oral gavage for 18 consecutive days, after which the HT and HTþArg groups were placed into an incubator at 408C for 30 min every day for 5 days. Serum testosterone and LHconcentrations were significantly increased in the HTþArg compared with HT group, as was catalase, total superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity and the expression of steroidogenesis-related genes steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (Star), steroidogenic factor-1 (Sf1), 17α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 3 (Hsd17b3) and 17a-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase (Cyp17a1) in the testes. These results demonstrate that L-Arg can alleviate testosterone reductions in heat-treated mice by upregulating LH secretion, enhancing the antioxidant system and increasing the expression of testosterone synthesis-related genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proteins containing domain of unknown function (DUF) are prevalent in eukaryotic genome. The DUF1216 proteins possess a conserved DUF1216 domain resembling to the mediator protein of Arabidopsis RNA polymerase II transcriptional subunit-like protein. The DUF1216 family are specifically existed in Brassicaceae, however, no comprehensive evolutionary analysis of DUF1216 genes have been performed. We performed a first comprehensive genome-wide analysis of DUF1216 proteins in Brassicaceae. Totally 284 DUF1216 genes were identified in 27 Brassicaceae species and classified into four subfamilies on the basis of phylogenetic analysis. The analysis of gene structure and conserved motifs revealed that DUF1216 genes within the same subfamily exhibited similar intron/exon patterns and motif composition. The majority members of DUF1216 genes contain a signal peptide in the N-terminal, and the ninth position of the signal peptide in most DUF1216 is cysteine. Synteny analysis revealed that segmental duplication is a major mechanism for expanding of DUF1216 genes in Brassica oleracea, Brassica juncea, Brassica napus, Lepidium meyneii, and Brassica carinata, while in Arabidopsis thaliana and Capsella rubella, tandem duplication plays a major role in the expansion of the DUF1216 gene family. The analysis of Ka/Ks (non-synonymous substitution rate/synonymous substitution rate) ratios for DUF1216 paralogous indicated that most of gene pairs underwent purifying selection. DUF1216 genes displayed a specifically high expression in reproductive tissues in most Brassicaceae species, while its expression in Brassica juncea was specifically high in root. Our studies offered new insights into the phylogenetic relationships, gene structures and expressional patterns of DUF1216 members in Brassicaceae, which provides a foundation for future functional analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sub‐auroral polarization streams (SAPS) are one of the most intense manifestations of magnetosphere‐ionosphere coupling. Magnetospheric energy transport to the ionosphere within SAPS is associated with Poynting flux and the precipitation of thermal energy (0.03–30 keV) plasma sheet particles. However, much less is known about the precipitation of high‐energy (≥50 keV) ions and electrons and their contribution to the low‐altitude SAPS physics. This study examines precipitation within one SAPS event using a combination of equatorial THEMIS and low‐altitude DMSP and ELFIN observations, which, jointly, cover from a few eV up to a few MeV energy range. Observed SAPS are embedding the ion isotropy boundary, which includes strong 300–1,000 keV ion precipitation. SAPS are associated with intense precipitation of relativistic electrons (≤3 MeV), well equatorward of the electron isotropy boundary. Such relativistic electron precipitation is likely due to electron scattering by electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves at the equator. Plain Language Summary: Magnetosphere‐ionosphere coupling and dynamics are modified by precipitating ion and electron energy fluxes that alter the ionosphere's characteristics. Sub‐auroral polarization streams (SAPS) are a classical example of this coupling, encompassing precipitation of plasma sheet (<30 keV) particles, intensification of field‐aligned currents, and ionospheric feedback in the form of enhanced electric fields. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that SAPS are associated with precipitation of energetic ions (50–1,000 keV) and relativistic (up to a few MeV) electrons. The 50–1,000 keV ions may dominate the precipitating energy flux at low latitudes, where scattering of plasmasheet ions is significantly reduced. Relativistic electron precipitation significantly extends ionization enhancement effects to altitudes below 100 km, where these electrons deposit their energy. Key Points: Relativistic electron and energetic ion precipitation within sub‐auroral polarization streams (SAPS) are reported for DMSP and ELFIN conjunctionDuring this event relativistic electron precipitation within SAPS is driven by EMIC wavesDuring this event energetic ion precipitation within SAPS is due to field line scattering at the ion isotropy boundary [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel supramolecular compound 1 (C6H3) (CH2NH3)2+ (CH2NH2)]2· (β-Mo8O26)·3H2O was constructed under hydrothermal conditions by (NH4)6Mo7O24·4H2O and arylmethylamine cation L1. This compound 1 has been unambiguously characterized by PXRD, IR, and X-ray single crystal diffraction. What' more, the compound 1 has features of adsorption and catalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The efficacy of pulsed dye laser combined (PDL) and UltraPulse fractional CO2 in treatment of hypertrophic scars is well documented. The present study investigates the efficacy of moist exposed burn ointment (MEBO)/moist exposed burn therapy (MEBT) in postlaser wound management. Methods: Sixty‐one patients with immature, red hypertrophic scars were enrolled in this clinical trial. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: (a) the MEBO treatment group (n = 30) and (b) the control group (n = 31) treated with chlortetracycline hydrochloride ointment. Demographic data such as age, gender, and cause of scars were recorded. A visual analogue score (VAS) was collected to measure pain at 1, 6, 24, 72 hours, and 7 days post‐treatment. The Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) was used to determine the response of the scars before and 3 months after the treatment. The wound healing time and pigmentation scores were also recorded. Results: No significant differences were found in age, gender, and etiology of the scars in the two groups. The VAS scores in MEBO group were significantly lower than the control group within the first 3 days after treatment. The wound healing time of the MEBO group was significantly shorter than the control group. For both groups, VSS scores were significantly decreased and the scar markedly improved. However, the VSS scores were significantly lower in the MEBO group compared with the control group 3 months after treatment and pigmentation formation was dramatically lower in MEBO group compared with the control. Conclusion: MEBT/MEBO treatment reduced the post‐treatment pain, shortened the wound healing duration, promoted the overall scar condition, and reduced the incidence of pigmentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) of the family Coronaviridae has caused substantial economic losses in the swine husbandry industry. There's currently no specific drug available for treatment of coronaviruses or PEDV. Method: In the current study, we use coronavirus PEDV as a model to study antiviral agents. Briefly, a fusion inhibitor tHR2, recombinant lentivirus-delivered shRNAs targeted to conserved M and N sequences, homoharringtonine (HHT), and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) were surveyed for their antiviral effects. Results: Treatment with HCQ at 50 μM and HHT at 150 nM reduced virus titer in TCID50 by 30 and 3.5 fold respectively, and the combination reduced virus titer in TCID50 by 200 fold. Conclusion: Our report demonstrates that the combination of HHT and HCQ exhibited higher antiviral activity than either HHT or HCQ exhibited. The information may contribute to the development of antiviral strategies effective in controlling PEDV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical cyclones (TCs) pose one of the most dangerous threats to the lives and properties in coastal areas. Various parametric models have been developed to simulate TC wind fields and are critical for modeling and assessing the risk of storm surges and coastal inundations. The Holland parametric wind model (Holland, 1980) has been widely applied in the modeling of TC wind fields; however, systematic assessments of its performance in simulating typhoon wind fields in the Yellow Sea, where typhoons undergo extratropical transitions, are rare. Four typhoons that passed over the Yellow Sea were selected, and the wind measurements at 12 gauges and buoys along the Korean coast were used for model validation and assessment. The results showed that the Holland model is capable of producing satisfactory wind results for typhoons passing over the Yellow Sea given accurate TC parameters. The results also highlighted that the model-predicted typhoon winds were highly sensitive to Rmax and that the shape coefficient B thus should be chosen carefully when the Holland model wind fields are used for TC-induced storm surge or wave modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crime has been one of the notorious public threats in cities. Fortunately, the increasing digital crime data provide great opportunities to analyze and control crime incidents. However, studies that predict the risk of crime exposure for an individual's spatiotemporal paths based on historical crime big data are still limited. In this study, we have proposed the crime risk index (CRI) for spatiotemporal trajectory and built a model to estimate the CRI. Furthermore, an online crime risk analysis platform has been developed based on the model. First, we proposed a multi‐scale tile system and a novel algorithm to estimate trajectory‐based CRI using big historical crime data and entropy‐based weighting. Second, we created a web‐based platform that allows users to provide a spatiotemporal trajectory and estimate the crime risk for such trajectory. We conducted several experiments based on the crime data in Detroit. Results demonstrate the practicability and generalizability of our platform. The proposed model and platform can be applied to multiple cities, providing useful references for crime information and public safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites that exploit host cell machineries for replication. In this review, we focus on the current understanding of host cell nuclear proteins whose translocation from the nucleus to cytoplasm is induced and utilized by viruses to support viral replication and infection. Utilization of nuclear proteins for viral replication and infection involves disruption of nuclear import, enhancement of nuclear export, removal of nuclear localization signal (NLS) from nuclear proteins and alteration of nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) to cooperatively support viral replication. Understanding of nucleo-cytoplasmic transport system, and associated mechanisms, utilized by viruses will advance therapeutic development of strategies to produce optimal antiviral agents effective in control of viral diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• CaCO 3 generated a synergetic effect with CaSO 4 ·2H 2 O in reducing chloride binding capability of C 3 A. • Langmuir isotherm presented a better description for the hydrated blended C 3 A pastes. • The chloride-bearing AFm phases formed were solid solutions with monoclinic and rhombohedral polymorphs. • The polymorphs of the solid solutions depended on the composition of pastes and chloride concentrations. In this study, the impact of CaCO 3 and CaSO 4 ·2H 2 O on chloride binding in hydrated blended C 3 A pastes was investigated. The chloride binding capacity and pH value were obtained through equilibration method, and the phase assemblages were evaluated using XRD and Raman spectroscopy. The results showed that the exposure of the hydrated blended C 3 A pastes to NaCl solutions caused an increase of pH as a result of the chloride binding by the AFm phases. Both CaCO 3 and CaSO 4 ·2H 2 O led to the decrease of chloride binding capacity and pH value, and CaCO 3 was more obvious than CaSO 4 ·2H 2 O on reducing chloride binding capacity. The greater the CaCO 3 content was, the more obvious the reduction was, while most reduction occurred for the CaCO 3 /C 3 A molar ratios less than 0.5. Especially, coupled incorporation of CaCO 3 and CaSO 4 ·2H 2 O caused a significant reduction in chloride binding capacity and pH, with binding capacity of ettringite < carboaluminate hydrates < monosulfoaluminate < C 3 AH 6. The chloride-bearing AFm phases formed after exposure were solid solutions which presented two monoclinic and rhombohedral polymorphs at ambient temperature, and the polymorphs were dependent on the composition of blended C 3 A pastes and chloride concentrations. CaCO 3 whether with CaSO 4 ·2H 2 O or not led to the solid solutions formation with carbonate-AFm as end member. While CaSO 4 ·2H 2 O showed no effect on the constitution of solid solutions, but led to the transformation of polymorphs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical microscopy, spectroscopic and x-ray diffraction studies at high-pressure are used to investigate intermolecular interactions in binary mixtures of germane (GeH4)+hydrogen (H2). The measurements reveal the formation of a new molecular compound, with the approximate stoichiometry GeH4(H2)2, when the constituents are compressed above 7.5 GPa. Raman and infrared spectroscopic measurements show multiple H2 vibrons substantially softened from bulk solid hydrogen. With increasing pressure, the frequencies of several Raman and infrared H2 vibrons decrease, indicating anomalous attractive interaction for closed-shell, nonpolar molecules. Synchrotron powder x-ray diffraction measurements show that the compound has a structure based on face-centered cubic (fcc) with GeH4 molecules occupying fcc sites and H2 molecules likely distributed between Oh and Td sites. Above ca. 17 GPa, GeH4 molecules in the compound become unstable with respect to decomposition products (Ge+H2), however, the compound can be preserved metastably to ca. 27 GPa for time-scales of the order of several hours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main clinical manifestations of eczema include itching, erythema, swelling and pain. Currently, allergies and TH1/TH2 cytokine imbalances are significant causes of eczema. TCM believes that eczema is mainly caused by incongruity between dry and wet. Wenguanmu ointment is a classic Mongolian medicine, which mainly composed of Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge , Coptis chinensis Franch and Bezoar. These ingredients can clear heat and dampness, dispel wind and dehumidification, anti-inflammatoryad analgesic. In this study, it was found that Wenguanmu ointment can treat eczema with anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipruritic. In this study, the content of main components in Wenguanmu ointment was tested. Moreover, the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Wenguanmu ointment on eczema model mice were studied. Kunming mice (25 ± 2 g) were randomly divided into 6 groups: Control group; Model group; Vehicle group; Wenguanmu ointment group; Compound dexamethasone acetate cream group; Chushizhiyang ointment group. The eczema mouse model was established by DNCB. HPLC and TLC tests were used to determine the content of the main components in Wenguanmu ointment. HE staining was used to assess skin damage in mice. In order to detect the anti-inflammatory effect of Wenguanmu ointment on eczema, The levels of IgE, TNF-α, IFN-γ, COX-2 and IL-4 in serum was measured by ELISA. Genecards and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man databases were used to analyze potential target gene predictions, and it was speculated that Wenguanmu ointment was associated with NF−κB signaling pathway and chemokine signaling pathway. To detect this inference, RT-qPCR and western blotting were used to detect protein and mRNA levels of CKLF-1, IκB-α, and NF-κB. Wenguanmu ointment can repress the symptoms of eczema caused by 2, 4-dinitrochlorobenzene, and inhibit the level of serum immunoglobulin E. Simultaneously it restrain the elevation of miscellaneous pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, as well as reducing the expression of CKLF-1 and NF-κB protein in the nucleus, and increasing the protein expression of IκB to improve eczema. The ameliorating effect of Wenguanmu ointment on eczema lesions can play a importment role by inhibiting the CKLF-1/NF-κB pathway. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resonant interactions with electromagnetic whistler-mode waves are a primary driver of energetic electron dynamics in the Earth's radiation belts. The most intense waves can resonate with electrons nonlinearly, and effects of such nonlinear resonant interactions significantly differ from the classical quasi-linear diffusion. There have been continuous efforts on the theoretical investigation and implementation of these effects into radiation belt models, but not all nonlinear effects have been revealed yet. The two most investigated effects are phase trapping and phase bunching, which are responsible for electron acceleration and precipitation into the Earth's atmosphere, respectively, i.e., for the first cyclotron resonance with waves generated at the equator and propagating to higher latitudes, phase trapping increases electrons' energy, whereas phase bunching decreases the electron pitch-angle (and magnetic moment). However, recent studies reported a new effect called positive phase bunching, which may increase the electron pitch-angle and move them away from the loss-cone. This paper aims to characterize possible contributions of this effect to long-term electron dynamics, including multiple resonant interactions. Using an iterated mapping technique, we show that although the positive phase bunching effect can modify electron trajectories, it does not change the average rate of electron mixing in phase space. Thus, this effect may be safely neglected in long-term simulations of radiation belt dynamics. We also discuss possible verification of the positive phase bunching effect using short (single resonance), bursty electron precipitation events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effect of different almond oil extraction techniques, namely, cold‐press extraction (CP), hydraulic press extraction (HP), and subcritical fluid extraction (SFE), on the fatty acid composition, physicochemical properties, bioactive substances, and thermal stability. The results showed that oleic acid and linoleic acid were the main unsaturated fatty acids in almond oil (AO). The overall physicochemical properties of the AO (SFE) had the better oil quality compared to cold‐press extraction and hydraulic press extraction in three kinds of varieties. Almond oil extracted from SFE contained the highest levels of total phenolics (9.58–11.75 mg/100 g), total phytosterols (92.86–244.21 mg/100 g), total tocopherols, and tocotrienols (48.03–55.74 mg/100 g). Meanwhile, the TG/DTG curves showed AO (SFE) were more thermally stable than AO (CP) and AO (HP) consistent with the result of oxidative induction time. Subcritical fluid extraction may be a useful extraction technology to produce high‐quality almond oils in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver diseases affect millions of people worldwide. In most developed countries, the incidence of viral hepatitis is waning as a result of modern advances in disease prevention, diagnosis, and therapies. Expanded programmes for systematic immunisation against hepatitis B virus have also significantly brought down the number of new cases in many countries, including China. In contrast, with the improvement in living standards, the prevalence of metabolic liver diseases including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and alcohol-related liver disease is set to rise, ultimately leading to more cases of end-stage liver diseases (liver failure, cirrhosis, and liver cancer). Over the past 30 years, visionary governments of major nations have provided strong incentives for basic/clinical research, vaccination programmes, and drug discovery and development in the field of hepatology. To get rid of her unflattering title as the "leader in liver diseases", China has also made a serious effort to initiate nationwide preventive measures for liver diseases, global partnerships, and mentoring programmes for young hepatologists. Instrumental to such progress is the continuous support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), which has helped hepatology to thrive in virtually all research directions within the country. In this article, we seek to provide stimulating glimpses into the evolving liver disease epidemiology, institutional research profiles, funding landscape, and drug development trends in China, with an attempt to compare her status and achievements with those of the United States, European countries, and Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Vibrational properties of the crystalline p -quaterphenyl at low temperature are investigated by Raman scattering. The temperature dependent vibrational behaviors associated with the intra- and intermolecular terms are analyzed in detail. The order-disorder transition makes significant impacts on the energies, widths, and intensities of the vibrational modes, and the drastic splits of the modes mainly result from the sudden decline of the peak widths. Meanwhile, the intensity ratio of the 1280-cm−1 and 1220-cm−1 mode exhibits anomalous tendency around the transition temperature, as well as the frequency separations between them and between the higher energy mode and the lower energy mode around 1600 cm−1. Thus, they still can well indicate the molecular planarity in the low temperature conditions. However, the intensity ratio of the two modes around 1600 cm−1 is no longer to be a good indicator of this transition due to the bare anomalous behavior around the transition temperature. Our work is of important significance for understanding the internal vibrational properties of p -quaterphenyl, and it also provides considerable supports for the further study of this material. Graphical Abstract Highlights • Temperature effect on the vibrational properties of p -quaterphenyl was investigated by Raman scattering. • The energies, widths, and intensities of the modes all exhibit significant anomalies at around the transition temperature. • Our work provides groundwork for understanding the structural transformation in p -oligophenyls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (APP) causes porcine pleuropneumonia, a disease responsible for substantial losses in the worldwide pig industry. In this study, outbred Kunming (KM) and Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice were evaluated as alternative mice models for APP research. After intranasal infection of serotype 5 reference strain L20, there was less lung damage and a lower clinical sign score in ICR compared to KM mice. However, ICR mice showed more obvious changes in body weight loss, the amount of immune cells (such as neutrophils and lymphocytes) and cytokines (such as IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α) in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). The immunological changes observed in ICR mice closely mimicked those found in piglets infected with L20. While both ICR and KM mice are susceptible to APP and induce pathological lesions, we suggest that ICR and KM mice are more suitable for immunological and pathogenesis studies, respectively. The research lays the theoretical basis for determine that mice could replace pigs as the APP infection model and it is of significance for the study of APP infection in the laboratory. Highlights • The ICR mice showed more obvious changes in body weight loss, the amount of immune cells and cytokines in blood and BALF. • The immunological changes observed in ICR mice closely mimicked those found in piglets infected with L20. • The results suggest that ICR and KM mice are more suitable for immunological and pathogenesis studies, respectively. • The research lays the theoretical basis for determine that mice could be as the APP infection model for the study in the lab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Drug repositioning is a cost- and time-efficient approach for new indications. • Targeting host machineries, used by viruses, could develop broad-spectrum antivirals. • Repurposing existing drugs could efficiently identify antiviral agents. The development of highly effective antiviral agents has been a major objective in virology and pharmaceutics. Drug repositioning has emerged as a cost-effective and time-efficient alternative approach to traditional drug discovery and development. This new shift focuses on the repurposing of clinically approved drugs and promising preclinical drug candidates for the therapeutic development of host-based antiviral agents to control diseases caused by coronavirus and influenza virus. Host-based antiviral agents target host cellular machineries essential for viral infections or innate immune responses to interfere with viral pathogenesis. This review discusses current knowledge, prospective applications and challenges in the repurposing of clinically approved and preclinically studied drugs for newly indicated antiviral therapeutics. Teaser This communication focuses on the repurposing of clinically approved drugs and promising preclinical drug candidates for therapeutic development of host-based antiviral agents to control diseases caused by coronavirus and influenza virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABX3‐type halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) have been a hot topic recently due to their fascinating optoelectronic properties. It has been demonstrated that A‐site ions have an impact on their photophysical and chemical properties, such as the optical band gap and chemical stability. The pursuit of halide perovskite materials with diverse A‐site species would deepen the understanding of the structure–property relationship of the perovskite family. In this work we have attempted to synthesize rubidium‐based perovskite NCs. We have discovered that the partial substitution of Rb+ by Cs+ help to stabilize the orthorhombic RbPbBr3 NCs at low temperature, which otherwise can only be obtained at high temperature. The inclusion of Cs+ into the RbPbBr3 lattice results in highly photoluminescent Rb1−xCsxPbBr3 NCs. With increasing amounts of Cs+, the band gaps of the Rb1−xCsxPbBr3 NCs decrease, leading to a redshift of the photoluminescence peak. Also, the Rb1−xCsxPbBr3 NCs (x=0.4) show good stability under ambient conditions. This work demonstrates the high structural flexibility and tunability of halide perovskite materials through an A‐site cation substitution strategy and sheds light on the optimization of perovskite materials for application in high‐performance optoelectronic devices. Adding stability: Lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) attract tremendous attention due to their extraordinary optical properties. Herein, we show that the partial substitution of Rb+ by Cs+ helps to stabilize the orthorhombic RbPbBr3 NCs at low temperature, which otherwise could only be obtained at high temperature (above 300 °C, see figure). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared with graphene, 2H-MoS2 possesses a non-zero bandgap and thus has an unlimited potential for electronic, spintronic, and optoelectronic applications. Understanding of the phonon scattering mechanisms is crucial to its device applications because the heat flow and transport are the basic processes functioning at various temperatures. So far, the knowledge of the phonon anharmonicity of 2H-MoS2 is limited due to the availability from a narrow temperature range and the absence of the low frequency phonon information. Here, we report an experimental study on the temperature dependence of the frequency and linewidth of 2H-MoS2 by Raman scattering over a wide temperature range from 2.2 to 1000 K and down to the wavenumber of 10 cm−1. The cubic anharmonicity is found to be dominant at low temperatures, and quartic anharmonicity predominates at high temperatures. The obtained shear mode seems insensitive to the anharmonic effects. The damping effects are discussed based on the available experimental data. These phonon scattering behaviors of 2H-MoS2 are of great help to the future nanodevice developments and applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Raman scattering measurements are performed on crystalline biphenyl at low temperatures. The properties of the vibrational modes focused on the intra- and intermolecular terms are analyzed in detail. Nearly all of the vibration modes exhibit hardening and simultaneously sharpen with decreasing temperature, whereas the modes at around 250 cm−1 and 1280 cm−1 soften their energies as temperature is decreased. Moreover, all the internal modes have anomalous reversals at around 45 K on the frequencies, widths, and intensities, and below 45 K, several new internal modes appear. Results of the analyses indicate that the reemergence of the interring tilt angle of the molecules at 45 K has a significant impact on the vibrational properties of biphenyl. Our work thus paves interesting and essential groundwork for the further study of biphenyl. Graphical Abstract Highlights • High resolution Raman spectra of biphenyl were collected at low temperatures to detect the internal librational properties. • Vibrational modes at high frequencies were used to identify the incommensurate structure transition in biphenyl. • Our work provides groundwork for understanding the structural transformation in biphenyl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) are major bioactive constituents of wolfberry which possess several pharmacological effects such as antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities. We aimed to evaluate how LBP attenuated the hepatic injury in a non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) methionine-choline deficient (MCD) mouse model. NASH was induced in C57BL/6N mice by feeding with MCD diet for 6 weeks. During the experiments, 1 mg/kg LBP was intragastrically fed on a daily basis with or without MCD diet lasting from the 4th to 6th week. Control and vehicle–control (LBP + PBS) were fed with a regular animal chow. LBP significantly ameliorated NASH-induced injuries, including the increase of serum ALT and AST levels, hepatic oxidative stress, fibrosis, inflammation, and apoptosis. The hepatoprotective effects of LBP were accompanied by the attenuation of thioredoxin interacting protein, nod-like receptor protein 3/6 (NLRP3/6) and reduced NF-κB (nuclear factor-kappa B) activity. Vehicle LBP fed mice showed no adverse effect on the liver. In conclusion, the suppression of the NLRP3/6 inflammasome pathway and NF-κB activation may partly contribute to the reduction of the hepatic injury during the progression of NASH by therapeutic LBP treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transient analysis for electromagnetic scattering by the objects with both conducting and penetrable media requires the accurate solution of time-domain volume-surface integral equations in an integral equation approach. Traditionally, the problem is solved by uniting the method of moments (MoM) in the space domain and a marching-on-in-time (MOT) scheme in the time domain. The MoM requires structured conforming meshes for discretizing geometries because of the used divergence-conforming Rao–Wilton–Glisson and Schaubert–Wilton–Glisson basis functions and the implementation will be more inconvenient when incorporated with the MOT scheme that has a well-known late-time instability problem. In this communication, we propose a different scheme to solve the problem and it uses a Nyström method to discretize the space domain and Galerkin’s method with Laguerre basis and testing functions to discretize the time domain. The Nyström method has several merits compared to the MoM while Galerkin’s method can result in an unconditional stability in the time domain. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the approach, and its good performance has been seen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • ZnO-CuO core-shell nanowires and ZnO/CuO nanowires were synthesized by a facile three-step process. • The oxidation temperature heavily impacts the morphology and structure. • ZnO/CuO nanowires exhibits enhanced sensing performance and a n-type response behavior. • The underlying mechanism based on charge transfer in p-n junctions is carefully investigated. Abstract The synergism of nanocomposite heavily impacts the performance of gas sensing materials, that need to be systematically and deeply investigated to meet the high application requirement. In this work, we present gas sensors developed by ZnO-CuO core-shell nanowires (C-S NWs) and ZnO/CuO NWs (ZnO NWs modified by CuO nanoparticles) synthesized by a facile three-step process. The sensing performances for both structures were investigated toward the oxidizing gas NO 2 and the reducing gas benzene. Results show that compared with pure ZnO NWs, ZnO/CuO NWs exhibits enhanced sensing performance and a n-type response behavior, while ZnO-CuO C-S NWs shows reduced sensing property and a p-type response behavior. The phenomenon is closely associated with the charge transfer at the p-n junctions contributing to adsorb the target gases for materials. Our study indicates that the construction method and their synergism are key factors to the effective design of gas sensors with MOS sensing materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extensive deployment of heterogeneous small cells in cellular networks results in ultra-dense small-cell networks (USNs). The USNs have been established as one of the vital networking architectures in the 5G to expand system capacity and augment network coverage. However, intensive deployment of cells results in a complex interference problem. In this paper, we propose a distributed multi-domain interference management scheme among cooperative small cells. The proposed scheme mitigates the interference while optimizing the overall network utility. In addition, we jointly investigate OFDMA scheduling, TDMA scheduling, interference alignment (IA), and power control. We model small cells’ coordination behavior as an overlapping coalition formation game. In this game, each base station can make an autonomous decision and participate in more than one coalition to perform IA and suppress intra-coalition interference. To achieve this goal, we propose a distributed joint interference management (JIM) algorithm. The proposed algorithm allows each small-cell base station to self-organize and interact into a stable overlapping coalition structure and reduce interference gradually from multi-domain, thus achieving an optimal tradeoff between costs and benefits. Compared with existing approaches, the proposed JIM algorithm provides appreciable performance improvement in terms of total throughput, which is demonstrated by simulation results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adjunctive therapy with olanzapine and fluoxetine has been shown to be beneficial in treatment-resistant depression and the depressive phase of bipolar disorder. Consensus guidelines issued by the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Neuropsychopharmakologie und Pharmakopsychiatrie strongly recommend that patients taking olanzapine undergo therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), and suggest that TDM is useful for patients taking fluoxetine. The aim of the current study was to develop and validate a sensitive, practical, and robust liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method (LC-MS/MS) for simultaneous determination of olanzapine, fluoxetine, and norfluoxetine in human plasma for routine TDM. Simple liquid-liquid extraction using ethyl acetate was used to extract olanzapine, fluoxetine, and norfluoxetine from 200 μL of pre-basified human plasma. Analytes were separated on an Agilent Eclipse Plus C 18 column (4.6 × 100 mm, 5 μm) eluted with a mobile phase consisting of methanol:20 mM ammonium formate buffer (82.5:17.5, v/v), and then quantified using an electrospray ionization source operated in positive ion multiple reaction monitoring mode. The linear range for the analytes was 0.2–25 ng/mL, covering the vast majority of levels encountered in real-life samples. A weighting factor of 1/x 2 best fit the calibration curves. The mean internal standard-normalized matrix effects for all analytes were 99.5%–110%. The extraction recoveries were 75%–85% for olanzapine and olanzapine‑ d 3 , and 58%–69% for fluoxetine, norfluoxetine, and their deuterated internal standards. Accuracy and precision values also met the acceptance criteria. The stability assessments showed that QC samples containing the three analytes were stable for at least 1 d at room temperature, 21 d at −70 °C, and through three freeze-thaw cycles. Post-preparation storage for 2 d in the autosampler did not cause obvious degradation of the investigated compounds. This validated high performance LC-MS/MS method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study in healthy male volunteers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]