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Based on the laser flash method, the selection of experimental parameters on the accuracy of measurement results for measuring thermal diffusivity is investigated in this paper. High purity graphite is employed as the experimental material. Three experimental parameters are taken into consideration, including specimen thickness, laser pulse power, and laser pulse width. Firstly, the principle of the laser flash method is introduced. Then, a numerical simulation model is established and independence tests are performed. In order to investigate the impact of different experimental parameters to the precision of the measurement results using the laser flash method, six thicknesses of the specimens, five laser pulse powers, and five laser pulse widths are selected for numerical simulation and LFA 427 measurement experiments. Finally, an orthogonal design method with three-factor and three-level is constructed to investigate the influence degree of these three factors on the measurement results. It is found that the laser pulse width has the most significant influence, while the laser pulse power has the least impact. For high purity graphite specimens, it is required to choose a thicker specimen, a lower laser pulse power, and a smaller laser pulse width to ensure better measurement accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia. Carvacrol (CAR) has demonstrated the potential to mitigate dyslipidemia. This study aims to investigate whether CAR can modulate blood glucose and lipid levels in a T2DM rat model by regulating short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and the GPR41/43 pathway. The T2DM rat model was induced by a high-fat diet combined with low-dose streptozocin injection and treated with oral CAR and/or mixed antibiotics. Fasting blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance, and insulin tolerance tests were assessed. Serum lipid parameters, hepatic and renal function indicators, tissue morphology, and SCFAs were measured. In vitro, high glucose (HG)-induced IEC-6 cells were treated with CAR, and optimal CAR concentration was determined. HG-induced IEC-6 cells were treated with SCFAs or/and GPR41/43 agonists. CAR significantly reduced blood lipid and glucose levels, improved tissue damage, and increased SCFA levels in feces and GPR41/43 expression in colonic tissues of T2DM rats. CAR also attenuated HG-induced apoptosis of IEC-6 cells and enhanced GPR41/43 expression. Overall, these findings suggest that CAR alleviates blood lipid and glucose abnormalities in T2DM rats by modulating SCFAs and the GPR41/43 pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The catalytic activity of a transition metal (host) oxide can be influenced by doping with a second cation (dopant), but the key factors dominating the activity of the doped catalyst are still controversial. Herein, CeO2 doped with Ni, Mn, and Y catalysts prepared using aerosol pyrolysis were used to demonstrate the positive, negative, and additive effects on CO oxidation as a model reaction. Various characterization results indicated that Ni, Mn, and Y had been successfully doped into the CeO2 lattice. The catalytic activities of each catalyst for CO conversion were in the order of Ni–CeO2 > Mn–CeO2 > CeO2 > Y–CeO2. Operando DRIFTS-MS and various characterization methods were applied to reveal the intrinsic nature of the doping effects. The accumulation rate of the surface bidentate carbonates determined the CO oxidation. A definition to evaluate the doping effect was proposed, which is anticipated to be useful for developing a rational catalyst with a high CO oxidation activity. The CO oxidation reactivities displayed strong correlations with the surface factors obtained from operando DRIFTS-MS analysis and the structure factors from XPS and Raman analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amyloidogenic deposition of β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides in human brain involves not only the wild-type Aβ (wt-Aβ) sequences, but also posttranslationally modified Aβ (PTM-Aβ) variants. Recent studies hypothesizes that the PTM-Aβ variants may trigger the deposition of wt-Aβ, which underlies the pathology of Sporadic Alzheimer's disease. Among PTM-Aβ variants, the pyroglutamate-3-Aβ (pyroE3-Aβ) has attracted much attention becauseof their significant abundances and broad distributions in senile plaques and dispersible and soluble oligomers. pyroE3-specific antibodies are being tested as potential anti-Aβ drugs in clinical trials. However, evidence that support the triggering effect of pyroE3-Aβ on wt-Aβ in cells remain lacking, which diminishes its pathological relevance. We show here that cross-seeding with pyroE3-Aβ40 leads to accelerated extracellular and intracellular aggregation of wt-Aβ40 in different neuronal cells. Cytotoxicity levels are elevated through the cross-seeded aggregation, comparing with the self-seeded aggregation of wt-Aβ40 or the static presence of pyroE3-Aβ40 seeds. For the extracellular deposition in mouse neuroblastoma Neuro2a (N2a) cells, the cytotoxicity elevation correlates positively with the seeding efficiency. Besides aggregation rates, cross-seeding with pyroE3-Aβ40 also modulates the molecular level structural polymorphisms of the resultant wt-Aβ40 fibrils. Using solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) spectroscopy, we identified key structural differences between the parent pyroE3/?E3 and wt-Aβ40 fibrils within their fibrillar cores. Structural propagation from seeds to daughter fibrils is demonstrated to be more pronounced in the extracellular seeding in N2a cells by comparing the ssNMR spectra from different seeded wt-Aβ40 fibrils, but less significant in the intracellular seeding process in human neuroblastoma SHSY5Y cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enhance the accuracy of mechanical simulation in the directional solidification process of turbine blades for heavy-duty gas turbines, a new constitutive model that employs machine learning methods was developed. This model incorporates incremental learning and transfer learning, thus improves the predictive accuracy and generalization performance. To account for the anisotropy of the directionally solidified alloy, a deformation direction parameter is added to the model, enabling prediction of the stress-strain relationship of the alloy under different deformation directions. The predictive capabilities of both models are evaluated using correlation coefficient (R), average relative error (δ), and value of relative error (RE). Compared to the traditional model, the machine learning constitutive model achieves higher prediction accuracy and better generalization performance. This offers a new approach for the establishment of flow constitutive models for other directionally solidified and single-crystal superalloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with coronary heart disease and angina pectoris were divided into two groups (control and treatment) of 54 patients per group. The control group received puerarin, whereas the treatment group received puerarin plus nicorandil. Therapeutic outcomes of two treatments were compared by assessing lower left ventricular end systolic diameter, lower left ventricular end diastolic diameter, higher left ventricular ejection fraction, duration of angina pectoris, number of angina attacks, dosage of nitroglycerin needed, plasma viscosity, whole blood viscosity, fibrinogen level, pro-inflammatory markers, as well as 36-item Short Form Survey scores. The total therapeutic rate was better in the group receiving both puerarin and nicorandil than puerarin alone. No difference was discovered in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups. This led us to conclude that puerarin combined with nicorandil is more effective in treating coronary heart disease and angina pectoris and can improve cardiac functions, lessen chemodynamic indexes and inflammatory reactions of angina pectoris, and promote the quality of life of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective • Our aim is to analyze the association of serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1) levels with adverse pregnancy outcomes in patients with severe preeclampsia (SPE). Methods • A total of 108 patients with SPE who received treatment in Tianjin Medical University General Hospital in China from January 2017 to December 2019 were selected for the study. According to the presence or lack of presence of adverse pregnancy outcomes, the patients were divided into the occurrence group (n=34) and the nonoccurrence group (n = 74). Before treatment, patient serum vitamin A (VA), vitamin E (VE), IGF-1 and sFlt-1 levels were measured. Logistic regression analysis was performed for the correlation of serum IGF-1 and sFlt-1 with adverse pregnancy outcomes in patients with severe SPE. In addition, a Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to test the prediction value of patient serum VA, VE, IGF-1 and sFlt-1 levels. Results • Compared with the nonoccurrence group, patients in the occurrence group had much lower serum VA, VE and IGF-1 levels and significantly higher sFlt-1 levels. Logistic regression analysis revealed that serum levels of VA, VE, IGF-1 and sFlt-1 before treatment were associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in patients with SPE, and the ROC curve proved the accuracy of serum VA, VE, IGF-1 and sFlt-1 levels in predicting adverse pregnancy outcomes in patients with SPE. Conclusion • Abnormal expression of serum IGF-1 and sFlt-1 before treatment in patients with SPE is correlated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Clinically, the risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes can be predicted and intervention instituted by detecting pretreatment serum IGF-1 and sFlt-1 expression in patients with SPE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaria kills more than 500,000 people yearly, mainly affecting Africa and Southeast Asia. The disease is caused by the protozoan parasite from the genus Plasmodium, with Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum being the main species that cause the disease in humans. Although substantial progress has been observed in malaria research in the last years, the threat of the spread of Plasmodium parasites persists. Artemisinin-resistant strains of this parasite have been reported mainly in Southeast Asia, highlighting the urgent need to develop more effective and safe antimalarial drugs. In this context, natural sources, mainly from flora, remain underexplored antimalarial spaces. The present mini-review explores this space focusing on plant extracts and some of their isolated natural products with at least in vitro antiplasmodial effects reported in the literature comprising the last five years (2018–2022). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tea is consumed widely around the world owing to its refreshing taste and potential health benefits. However, drinking tea is considered a major route for dietary aluminum exposure in areas where tea consumption is relatively large. To assess the health risk associated with drinking tea, the contamination level of aluminum was determined in 81 tea samples. The transfer rate of aluminum during tea brewing was investigated. Then based on the site-specific exposure parameters such as consumption data and body weight for six different subpopulations in Fujian, the exposure risks were estimated using a probabilistic approach. Results demonstrate that the contents of aluminum in green tea, white tea, oolong tea, and black tea were significantly different according to the one-way ANOVA analysis (p < 0.05). The transfer rate of aluminum were 32.6%, 31.6%, 26.3%, and 14% for white tea, black tea, oolong tea, and green tea, respectively. With respect to the oral reference dose, the exposure of inhabitants in Fujian to aluminum through drinking tea is under control (even at the 99th percentile). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is important of tax burden stickiness to reveal the special phenomena that the operating conditions of enterprises are not synchronised with the changes of tax burden, but research on overall tax burden stickiness in emerging markets is relatively scarce. This study aims to investigate the suppressing effect of R&D investment on overall tax avoidance and overall tax burden stickiness of Chinese listed companies. We obtain the following conclusions: (1) Overall tax burden stickiness exists among listed Chinese companies. (2) Chinese listed companies have generally significant overall tax avoidance. (3) Overall tax avoidance has a significant positive direct effect, alleviating overall tax burden stickiness, but R&D investment partially offsets the positive influence of overall tax avoidance on overall tax burden stickiness, and the suppressing effect reaches 0.007. Our results illustrate that the implementation of tax planning for R&D projects can reduce R&D investment, so overall tax avoidance will deteriorate overall tax burden stickiness through R&D investment. Therefore, to improve resource utilisation efficiency and tax burden sensitivity to changes in revenue, tax planning should strike a balance between an effective reduction of R&D investment and alleviating tax burden stickiness as operating conditions fluctuate to achieve maximum tax benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Responses to sedatives, analgesics and muscle relaxants vary among patients under general anesthesia, which could be ascribed to the disparities of clinical characteristics and genetic factors of individuals. Accumulating researches have indicated that gene polymorphisms of the receptors, transporters and metabolizing enzymes associated with anesthetics play a considerable role in their efficacy. However, a systematically summarized study on the mechanisms of gene polymorphisms on pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of anesthetics is still lacking. In this paper, the recent researches on pharmacogenomics of sedatives, analgesics and muscle relaxants are comprehensively reviewed, and the contributions and mechanisms of polymorphisms to the differences of individual efficacy of these drugs are discussed, so as to provide guidance for the formulation of a rational anesthesia regimen for patients with various genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article takes a relational approach to studying the effects of internal and international migration on family intimacies. Drawing on interviews with adult children caring for parents back home, we examine how caregivers respond to the roles that dispersed siblings play in networks of eldercare. Using the concept of "relational comparison"—defined as how caregivers judge the efforts that different kinfolks make to fulfill their responsibilities and obligations—we argue that the impact of national borders and geographic distance on parental care should be assessed through the intimacies that multilocal families co-create. The (mis)alignment between non-migrant caregivers' expectations and their migrant siblings' practices generates myriad emotional responses, shaping whether they view the impact of international and internal migration on eldercare as largely similar, fundamentally different, or simply insignificant. These feelings affect who caregivers turn to when they need help, further shaping the configuration of care networks during moments of crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, titled "Adult Type II Choledochal Cyst," discusses a case of a 61-year-old woman who presented with intermittent abdominal pain. Laboratory studies revealed elevated liver enzymes, and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography showed a cystic lesion near the gallbladder, a strictured bile duct, and filling defects. The patient was diagnosed with a type II choledochal cyst, which was initially misdiagnosed as multiple gallbladders. Surgical procedures were performed to remove the cyst and stones, and the patient reported no recurrence of symptoms at the 1-year follow-up. The article emphasizes the challenges in accurately diagnosing this rare condition. [Extracted from the article]

About 10% of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) have pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). In this study, we explored the diagnostic values of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and Tei index for CHD-PAH in children. In order to complete the study, two hundred CHD children treated in our hospital from January 2015 to January 2017 were enrolled and divided into postoperative-PAH group (n=29) and no postoperative-PAH group (n=171) according to follow-up results. The peripheral blood was drawn after surgery, neutrophils and lymphocytes were measured by routine blood test, and NLR was calculated. Ventricular Tei index was determined by pulse Doppler, and the other basic data were compared. Factors affecting postoperative PAH were explored by multivariate analysis. The correlations of NLR and Tei index with N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and cardiac output/pulmonary blood flow (CO/Qp), were analyzed. The structural equation model of PAH was constructed. According to receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, the optimal cutoff values of NLR and Tei index for evaluating postoperative PAH were investigated. It has been found that NLR and Tei index are closely related to CHD-PAH in children, which indirectly reflect the severity and have high diagnostic values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on matrix-related pores from the nanometer to the micrometer scale in shales have made considerable progress in recent decades. However, nanoscale pores and cracks developed in the shear thin layers have not been systematically discussed. In this work, interlayer shear slip occurring in shales are observed through practical examples. The results show that the shear thin layer constructed by nanograin coating is widely distributed on superimposed shear slip planes. Usually, the development of the shear thin layer undergoes viscoelastic-rheological-embrittling deformation stages, and the nanograin texture assembled in the shear thin layer can demonstrate three pore and crack structure types. Based on the mechanical analysis concerning nanoscale cohesion force, it is identified that, as long as force remains a state, the shear thin layer must bear a nanoscale pore and crack character. Furthermore, the shale gas reservoir effect of the nanoscale pore and crack is simply discussed. Obviously, the adsorbed gas effect of the nanograin itself has a larger nanoscale size and surface functionality than those of kerogen and clay particles in the shales; three structure types of the nanoscale pore and crack can act as given controlling factors of storage and permeability for the free gas. Both the matrix-related pores and the three pore and crack structures have an intimate connection with respect to each other in the genetic mechanism and temporal-spatial evolution. This work has important theoretical implications for supplementing the pore and crack classification of shale. Moreover, it makes a significant contribution to shale gas exploration and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the effect of modified Wenyang Buxin decoction and routine therapy on cardiac function and serum levels of heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP), cardiac troponin-1 (cTnI) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients. Methods: A total of 120 CHF patients admitted to Zhejiang Province Rongjun Hospital (from January 2019 - January 2020) were selected for this study. They were randomly but equally distributed into groups A and B. All patients were given routine therapy such as diuretic treatment and detumescence, while those in group A received 150 mL of modified Wenyang Buxin decoction daily, in addition to routine therapy. At 2 months after therapy, cardiac function indices, serum H-FABP, cTnI and Ang-2 levels, hemorheology indices, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome scores, and Chinese questionnaire of quality of life in cardiovascular patients (CQQC) scores of the two groups were evaluated. Results: After therapy, cardiac function indices, serum H-FABP, cTnI and Ang-2 levels, hemorheology indices as well as TCM syndrome score and CQQC score were significantly improved in group A, when compared with corresponding values in group B (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Modified Wenyang Buxin decoction and routine therapy improves serum biomarker levels, cardiac function and quality of life, and relieves clinical symptoms of CHF in patients. Therefore, this treatment approach may be useful in the management of CHF patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that chemical compositions and structural arrangements of materials have a great influence on their resultant properties. Diverse functional materials have been constructed by using either biomolecules (peptides, DNA, and RNA) in nature or artificially synthesized molecules (polymers and pillararenes). The relationships between traditional building blocks (such as peptides) have been widely investigated, for example how hydrogen bonds work in the peptide multistage assembly process. However, in contrast to traditional covalent bond-based building blocks-based assembly, suprastructures formed by noncovalent bonds are more influenced by specific bond features, but to date only a few results have been reported based on noncovalent bond-based building block multistage assembly. Here, three metal-organic cycles (MOCs) were used to show how coordination bonds influence the bimetallacycle conformation then lead to the topology differences of MOC multilevel ordered materials. It was found that the coordination linker (isophthalate-Pt-pyridine) is an important factor to tune the shape and size of the MOC-derived suprastructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study on the fractional nonlocal equation with the logarithmic nonlinearity formed by... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Cu exposure hinders FSH binding to FSHR. • Cu induces ovarian steroidogenesis disorders via the FSHR/CYP19A1 pathway. • Hypomethylation on SF-1 promoter is involved in Cu-induced steroidogenesis disorders. Information on the effects of copper on reproduction is limited. Our previous study indicated that copper induces abnormal steroidogenesis in human ovarian granulosa cells, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, human ovarian granulosa cells were treated with multiple concentrations of copper for 24 h. After treatment, the 17-estradiol levels were significantly increased (29.83 % and 45.12 %, respectively) in the 1.0 and 2.0 μg/mL groups but decreased (23.06 % and 31.56 %, respectively) in the 20.0 and 40.0 μg/mL groups (P < 0.05). Similar changes in the levels of FSHR , StAR , CYP11A1 , CYP19A1 , HSD3β1 , and SF-1 were observed. The protein levels of FSHR were increased in the 2.0 μg/mL group but decreased in the 20.0 and 40.0 μg/mL groups (P < 0.05). Moreover, copper partially reversed the FSH-induced increase in FSHR , CYP19A1 and 17-estradiol levels, and the decreased effect of the FSH receptor binding inhibitor fragment on FSHR , CYP19A1 , and 17-estradiol became more apparent after adding copper. Additionally, the total methylation levels of the SF-1 promoter and DNMTs expression were significantly decreased following copper treatment. Overall, our results indicate that copper exposure induces steroidogenesis disorders via the FSHR/CYP19A1 pathway and changes DNA methylation on the SF-1 promoter in human ovarian granulosa cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the residues of 42 pesticides subject to public concern in Tieguanyin tea produced in Fujian, China. The presence of 42 pesticide residues in 90 Tieguanyin tea samples were determined. A total of 17 pesticides were detected. At least one pesticide residue was detected in 65 samples (72.2%). The detected pesticides imidacloprid, tolfenpyrad, bifenthrin, acetamiprid were found in 55.6%, 33.3%, 18.9% and 16.7% of samples, respectively. Pesticide residues in Tieguanyin tea varied significantly over the seasons and across the production regions. Based on data obtained, the health risks associated with long-term exposure to those pesticides were assessed and risks of detected pesticides were ranked. The hazard quotients (HQs) among the detected pesticides range from 5 × 10−8 for fenpropathrin to 3 × 10−4 for imidacloprid. The results demonstrated that despite a high occurrence of pesticide residues in Tieguanyin tea, residue levels observed could not be considered as a serious public health problem. The risk ranking scheme showed dicofol and thiacloprid were considered to pose a medium-risk. The suggestions for 17 detected pesticides used in Tieguanyin tea plantation were made, including those already banned from use in China (dicofol and methomyl), recommended for diminished use (thiacloprid and chlorpyrifos), and permitted use with considering the pre-harvest interval (13 other pesticides). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perchlorate is known as a thyroid disrupter. Its contamination in various tea samples was monitored, and 286 samples belonging to four types of tea leaves were analysed. The detection rate of perchlorate in tea was 99.3%. The mean concentration in different tea types decreased in order from green tea, oolong tea, white tea to black tea. A probabilistic approach was performed to evaluate the dietary exposure of perchlorate for six different subpopulations. The daily intakes (EDIs) for consumers over the age of 41 were higher than that of other subpopulations. The hazard quotient for six groups was lower than 1 even at the extreme percentile (P99). It indicates that the risk of dietary exposure to perchlorate from tea consumption for Fujian people is acceptable without considering other foodstuffs. However, the high occurrence of perchlorate in tea samples suggested that the actual source of this contaminant should be further investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study that explores the loss of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) leads to functional aging-like attrition of adult hematopoietic stem cells . It mentions that aging of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) directly contributes to dysfunction of hematopoietic and immune systems due to aging-associated alterations in HSC features.

Investigated in this paper is the (2 + 1)-dimensional coupled nonlinear Schrödinger system, which describes the propagation of the optical soliton through the Kerr nonlinear fiber in which each component diffracts in two transverse dimensions. By virtue of the Kadomtsev-Petviashvili hierarchy reduction, we obtain the bright, dark and mixed vector soliton solutions in terms of the Gramian. We investigate the vector solitons graphically: (1) Bright-dark one solitons with one of the components being gray or black are shown. Bouncing, beating, oscillating and breathing effects which appear during the interactions between the bright-dark two solitons are discussed, and those interactions are shape-preserving; (2) Degenerate and non-degenerate dark-dark one solitons are presented. Interaction of the dark-dark two solitons is discussed and the two solitons keep their amplitudes and velocities invariant except for some phase shifts during the interaction; (3) Bound-state and complexes of the bright-bright solitons are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Netrin-1, a secreted protein recently characterized as a relevant cancer therapeutic target, is the antiapoptotic ligand of the dependence receptors deleted in colorectal carcinoma and members of the UNC5H family. Netrin-1 is overexpressed in several aggressive cancers where it promotes cancer progression by inhibiting cell death induced by its receptors. Interference of its binding to its receptors has been shown, through the development of a monoclonal neutralizing antinetrin-1 antibody (currently in phase II of clinical trial), to actively induce apoptosis and tumor growth inhibition. The transcription factor p53 was shown to positively regulate netrin-1 gene expression. We show here that netrin-1 could be a target gene of the N-terminal p53 isoform Δ40p53, independent of full-length p53 activity. Using stable cell lines, harboring wild-type or null-p53, in which Δ40p53 expression could be finely tuned, we prove that Δ40p53 binds to and activates the netrin-1 promoter. In addition, we show that forcing immortalized human skeletal myoblasts to produce the Δ40p53 isoform, instead of full-length p53, leads to the up-regulation of netrin-1 and its receptor UNC5B and promotes cell survival. Indeed, we demonstrate that netrin-1 interference, in the presence of Δ40p53, triggers apoptosis in cancer and primary cells, leading to tumor growth inhibition in preclinical in vivo models. Finally, we show a positive correlation between netrin-1 and Δ40p53 gene expression in human melanoma and colorectal cancer biopsies. Hence, we propose that inhibition of netrin-1 binding to its receptors should be a promising therapeutic strategy in human tumors expressing high levels of Δ40p53. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) continue to attract increasing interest with respect to their applications as luminescent materials. The ordered structure of the metal-organic complex facilitates the selective integration of PAHs that can be tuned to function cooperatively. Here, a unique highly twisted anthracene-based organoplatinum metallacycle was prepared via coordination-driven selfassembly. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the metallacycle was twisted through the cooperation of strong π···π stacking interactions and steric hindrance between two anthracenebased ligands. Notably, the intramolecular twist and aggregation behavior introduced restrictions to the conformational change of anthracenes, which resulted in increased emission intensity of the metallacycle in solution. The emission behaviors and suprastructures based on the highly twisted metallacycle can be modulated by the introduction of different solvents. This study demonstrates that this metallacycle with highly twisted structure is a promising candidate for sensing and bioimaging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the effect of topology on the equilibrium behavior of singly tethered ring polymers adsorbed on an attractive surface. We focus on the change of square radius of gyration R²g, the perpendicular component R²g⊥ and the parallel component R²g ‖ to the adsorbing surface, the mean contacting number of monomers with the surface {M}, and the monomer distribution along z-direction during transition from desorption to adsorption. We find that both of the critical point of adsorption ec and the crossover exponent f depend on the knot type when the chain length of ring ranges from 48 to 400. The behaviors of R²g, R²g⊥, and R²g ‖ are found to be dependent on the topology and the monomer-surface attractive strength. At weak adsorption, the polymer chains with more complex topology are more adsorbable than those with simple topology. However, at strong adsorption, the polymer chains with complex topology are less adsorbable. By analyzing the distribution of monomer along z-direction, we give a possible mechanism for the effect of topology on the adsorption behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spectroscopic characteristics of Er-doped lead silicate glasses were investigated with respect to the effects of glass modifiers (Li+, Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Sr2+, and Ba2+)with various optical basicities. Using the absorption spectra of the glasses, the Judd--Ofelt parameters of the glasses were calculated and examined, with an emphasis on the glass emission intensity ratio at 1572 nm. The spectra of the samples at low temperatures were examined, and the Stark splitting of Er3+ was investigated. The McCumber method was used to determine the emission cross sections of glasses. The SPM glass exhibited high values of full width at half maximum (51.24 nm) and the emission cross section at 1572 nm (1.908 x 10-21 cm²), with potential applications for guiding component design of 1.5-μm fiber lasers and amplifiers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipocalin‐2 is a functional biomarker for acute and chronic kidney diseases, heart failure and obesity‐related medical complications. It is rapidly induced in epithelial cells under stress conditions, but constitutively produced from pre‐adipocytes and mature adipocytes. Measuring the lipocalin‐2 levels represents an effective approach for risk prediction, patient stratification and disease management. Nevertheless, due to ligand‐binding, post‐translational modification and protein‐protein interaction, lipocalin‐2 exists as multiple variants that elicit different pathophysiological functions. To characterize the specific structure‐functional relationships of lipocalin‐2 variants is critical for the development of biomarker assays with sufficient precision and reliability. Moreover, identifying the pathological forms of lipocalin‐2 will provide new therapeutic targets and treatment approaches for obesity‐related complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the advent of the microscope, it has been mainly used in the field of material science, and then it has been gradually applied to biomedical field with excellent results. As a cell analysis instrument rising in 1980s, microscope is also one of the most advanced scientific and technological achievements. Up to now, it is still one of the most reliable tools in biomedical image analysis. Based on the above advantages, the simulation video of midwifery suture wound is developed with the help of microscope. 50 primiparas in our hospital were selected as the experimental objects and were divided into observation group (n = 25) and control group (n = 25) according to the principle of random distribution. The observation group was sutured by traditional midwifery wound, while the control group was sutured by midwifery wound with the help of simulation video. The results showed that the two groups were compared from operation time, hospitalization time, wound healing time and the incidence of wound adverse reactions (wound bleeding, wound infection, imperfect suture and slow recovery, etc.), and 50 primiparas and experts were investigated by questionnaire respectively. The results showed that the healing rate of 100% of the wounds in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group, while the control group was only The healing rate was 84.28%, the operation time and hospitalization time were greatly reduced, and the difference between the groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05); experts and patients also highly appraised the simulation video system. Combined with the development of the simulation video system of the midwifery suture under the electron microscope, it is beneficial to the wound suture, accelerate the wound healing rate, reduce the occurrence of adverse events, and improve the discharge rate, which is worthy of wide application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the dietary exposure risks of pesticide residues in snow fungus for the general population and young children, 91 snow fungus samples were collected from major production areas in Fujian Province, China and the presence of 44 pesticides was determined. A total of thirteen pesticides were detected; 65.9% of the samples contained one or more pesticide residues. The most frequently found pesticide was carbofuran, followed by acetamiprid and then imidacloprid. Data obtained were used for chronic, acute, and chronic cumulative dietary exposure risk assessments. The chronic hazard quotient (cHQ) was extremely low for both the general population and young children. The %ADI values of cumulative dietary exposures to organophosphorus pesticides and carbamates ranged from 0.53% to 1.49%, and did not exceed their corresponding ADIs. However, the acute dietary risks from all 13 pesticides, especially carbofuran and methamidophos, were of concern due to the relatively high acute hazard quotient. The risk ranking scheme showed that carbofuran could pose a high risk to snow fungus consumers. Finally, suggestions are made about the potential use in snow fungus cultivation of the pesticides with detected residues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The availability of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) constrain the ability of ecosystems to use resources such as light, water and carbon. In turn, nutrients impact the distribution of productivity, ecosystem carbon turnovers and their net exchange of CO2 with the atmosphere in response to variation of environmental conditions both in space and in time. In this study, we evaluated the performance of the global version of the land surface model ORCHIDEE-CNP (v1.2) which explicitly simulates N and P biogeochemistry in terrestrial ecosystems coupled with carbon, water and energy transfers. We used data from remote-sensing, ground-based measurement networks and ecological databases. Components of the N and P cycle at different levels of aggregation (from local to global) are in good agreement with data-driven estimates. When integrated for the period 1850 to 2017 forced with variable climate, rising CO2 and land use change, we show that ORCHIDEE-CNP underestimates the land carbon sink in the North Hemisphere (NH) during the recent decades, despite an a priori realistic GPP response to rising CO2. This result suggests either that other processes than CO2 fertilization which are omitted in ORCHIDEE-CNP, such as changes in biomass turnover, are predominant drivers of the northern land sink, and/or that the model parameterizations produce too strict emerging nutrient limitations on biomass growth in northern areas. In line with the latter, we identified biases in the simulated large-scale patterns of leaf and soil stoichiometry and plant P use efficiency pointing towards a too severe P limitations towards the poles. Based on our analysis of ecosystem resource use efficiencies and nutrient cycling, we propose ways to address the model biases by giving priority to better representing processes of soil organic P mineralization and soil inorganic P transformation, followed by refining the biomass production efficiency under increasing atmospheric CO2, phenology dynamics and canopy light absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cutaneous wound healing is a complex, dynamic physiological process. Traditional methods of promoting wound healing are not always effective. Consequently, alternative modalities, such as photodynamic therapy (PDT), are needed. We examined the effectiveness and underlying mechanisms of PDT in a murine model of acute wound healing.///Methods: Two excisional wounds were produced, one on each side of the midline, in C57bL/6J mice. Methyl 5-aminolevulinate hydrochloride (MAL) was applied to the right-side wound. After 1 to 3 hours of incubation, the wound was irradiated with red light. The left-side wound was not treated with MAL or red light. On Day 14, the wounds were excised and subjected to histological and immunohistochemical analysis.///Results: During the first week, no difference was seen between the two sides. However, at week 2, PDT-treated wounds exhibited delayed re-epithelialization. On Day 14, hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining showed a continuous epithelial lining in untreated wounds. In contrast, PDT-treated wounds partially lacked epithelium in the wound bed. Masson's Trichrome (MTC) staining showed a thicker dermis and more collagen fibers and inflammatory cells in PDT-treated wounds than in untreated wounds. Immunohistochemical analyses showed significantly fewer CD31+ blood vessels and greater collagen III density in PDT-treated wounds than in untreated wounds. However, treated and untreated wounds did not differ in collagen I density.///Conclusions: PDT delayed acute wound healing in a murine model of secondary intention wound healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy levels and E1, E2, M1, and M2 transitions rates are reported for the low-lying 41 levels of Ge(XVIII), belonging to the n = 3 states (1s22s22p6)3s23p3, 3s3p4, and 3s23p23d. High-accuracy calculations have been performed as benchmarks for accurate treatments of relativity, electron correlations, and QED effects in multivalence- electron systems. The calculated energy levels are in excellent agreement with the experimental results and the experimentally compiled energy values from the National Institute for Standards and Technology wherever available. The calculated values, including core-valence corrections, are found to be in a good agreement with other theoretical and experimental values. The present results are reported as benchmarks for future calculations and measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS; OMIM 300068) is the most frequent cause of 46, XY disorders of sex development (DSD). However, the correlation between genotype and phenotype has not been determined. We conducted a systematic analysis of the clinical characteristics, hormone levels, ultrasonography data and histopathology of a 46, XY Chinese patient with AIS. The family was followed up for nearly 8 years. We applied whole-exome sequencing (WES) for genetic analysis of the pedigree and performed bioinformatic analysis of the identified variants. Human embryonic kidney 293T/17 (HEK293T/17) cells were transiently transfected with wild-type or mutant AR and MAP3K1 plasmid. Cell lysates were used to analyze androgen receptor (AR) production. A novel hemizygous AR variant (c.2070C>A, p. His690Glu) and a rare heterozygous MAP3K1 variant (c.778C>T, p. Arg260Cys) were identified by WES in the proband and her mother. Bioinformatic analysis predicted these two variants to be pathogenic. Multiple amino acid sequence alignments showed that p. His690 and p. Arg260 are conserved among various species. His690Glu is a mutation that decreased the AR production, whereas the Arg260Cys mutation increased the AR production. The novel compound variants of the AR and MAP3K1 genes also increased the production of AR protein. Thus, the phenotype of the patient may be caused by defects in both the AR and MAP3K1 signaling pathways. Compound variants of the AR and MAP3K1 genes resulted in a specific phenotype in this patient with AIS. WES might reveal genetic variants that explain the heterogeneity of AIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, medical imaging technology has rapidly spread in the modern medical industry, producing a large amount of medical image information. The purpose of this paper is how to combine the key means of image processing with medical images, providing doctors with efficient and convenient means of medical image search. This paper studies medical image segmentation, extraction and representation of feature, index and related retrieval techniques. Aiming at image segmentation, a PCNN image segmentation method based on canny edge detection is proposed. Based on the traditional gray histogram feature extraction technique, an adaptive weighted improved gray histogram method is proposed, and it is proved by experiments that this method can enhance some important features of the image. It is easier to calculate the similarity and help the doctor to find the image features of interest in the complex learning image. For the image indexing technology, used the artificial neural network BP algorithm to classify the image, proposed a diffusion matching algorithm based on image segmentation. In the corresponding feedback, the rough set and the support vector set can be better combined, and introduced corresponding feedback techniques to retrieve the image. Make full use of the rough set of big data processing, the benefits of redundant data's reduction, which can reduce SVM training data, can not only improve SVM classification efficiency, but also improve retrieval efficiency. Experimental results show that the improved corresponding feedback method has certain advantages in feedback accuracy and feedback speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to explore the effect of the treatment through autologous fibula graft and hollow needle fixation to treat femoral head cutting after dynamic hip screw (DHS) fixation. Methods: A total of 41 patients were admitted to the department of orthopedic trauma and received DHS fixation. Preoperative and postoperative harris score of hip function, limb shortening length and collodiaphysial angle between operation group (n = 11) and non-operation group (n = 13) were compared. Results: There was no difference between the two groups before surgery (P > 0.05). There was a difference between the preoperative and postoperative in the operation group (P < 0.05). The excellent and good rate of the hip function score in patients 6 months after the operation was 55.6%. In the operation group, the hip function score increased after surgery (P < 0.001). Except for two groups of patients before operation, there was a difference in the limb shortening length and collodiaphysial angle between the operation group and non-operation group in other time points after surgery (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The application of the autogenous fibula graft and hollow nail fixation was effective in treating femoral head cutting after DHS fixation, and patients’ subjective evaluation and objective indicators’ outcomes of follow up were satisfactory, which was worthy of clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Studies on the usefulness of speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) in the evaluation of the left ventricle in rats with stress cardiomyopathy (SCM) are limited. Our aim was to investigate whether strain values by STE and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) could predict early myocardial injury in rats with SCM.Material and Methods: SCM was induced in Sprague-Dawley female rats using immobilization (IMO) stress. Biomarkers and echocardiographic parameters were evaluated and compared among groups (group 1 - 30 minutes after IMO stress, group 2 - 24 hours after IMO stress, and control group). We defined myocardial injury as a left ventricular ejection fraction <50%. Possible predictors of early myocardial injury were determined by univariate logistic regression, and independent predictors of early myocardial injury were investigated with multivariable logistic regression.Results: A total of 44 rats with a mean weight of 426±33 g were evaluated. Group 1 had the highest plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine levels (p<0.001) and the highest heart rate (p<0.001). In univariate logistic regression, cTnI (OR=2.61 [1.02‒10.25], p=0.043) and global longitudinal strain (GLS) (OR=2.13 [1.12‒6.26], p=0.022) were predictive of early myocardial injury. When GLS and cTnI were included in a multivariate analysis, only GLS remained an independent predictor of early myocardial injury (OR=2.67 [1.14‒14.76], p=0.027).Conclusions: STE is useful for the quantitative detection of subtle myocardial abnormalities in rats with SCM. GLS may provide a reliable and non-invasive method to predict early myocardial injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multifunctional Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is a multigene family with isoform-specific regulation of vascular smooth muscle (VSM) functions. In previous studies, we found that vascular injury resulted in VSM dedifferentiation and reduced expression of the CaMKII-γ isoform in medial wall VSM. Smooth muscle knockout of CaMKII-γ enhanced injury-induced VSM neointimal hyperplasia, whereas CaMKII-γ overexpression inhibited VSM proliferation and neointimal formation. In this study, we evaluated DNA cytosine methylation/demethylation as a mechanism for regulating CaMKII isoform expression in VSM. Inhibition of cytosine methylation with 5-Aza-2=-deoxycytidine significantly upregulated CaMKII-γ expression in cultured VSM cells and inhibited CaMKII-γ downregulation in organ-cultured aorta ex vivo. With the use of methylated cytosine immunoprecipitation, the rat Camk2g promoter was found hypomethylated in differentiated VSM, whereas injury- or cell culture-induced VSM dedifferentiation coincided with Camk2g promoter methylation and decreased expression. We report for the first time that VSM cell phenotype switching is accompanied by marked induction of thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG) protein and mRNA expression in injured arteries in vivo and in cultured VSM synthetic phenotype cells. Silencing Tdg in VSM promoted expression of CaMKII-γ and differentiation markers, including myocardin, and inhibited VSM cell proliferation and injury-induced neointima formation. This study indicates that CaMKII-γ expression in VSM is regulated by cytosine methylation/demethylation and that TDG is an important determinant of this process and, more broadly, VSM phenotype switching and function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anxiety is presumably driven by fear memory. Molecular profiles in the amygdala of mice with fear memory induced by psychological and physical stresses remain to be elucidated. Fear memory in mice was induced by a paradigm of social defeat. Physical and psychological stresses (PPS) to an intruder were given by attacks from an aggressive resident. Psychological stress (PS) to an observer was given by the witnessing of aggressor attacks. Amygdala tissues from these mice showing fear memory and anxiety vs. tissues from control mice were harvested to analyze mRNA and microRNA profiles by high-throughput sequencing. In the amygdala of intruders and observers with fear memory, the genes encoding 5-HTR1b, 5-HTR2a, DAR2, AChRM3, and IP3R1 are upregulated, whereas genes encoding GPγ11, GPγ13, GPγT2, RasC3, and P450 are downregulated, indicating that these molecules are involved in fear memory induced by physical/psychological stresses. In the comparison of intruders with observers, the upregulation of genes encoding 5-HTR6, GPγ8, P2R7, NFκ2, CREB3/1, and Itgα9 as well as the downregulation of genes encoding DAR5, 5-HTR1a, and HSP1a are involved in fear memory induced by physical stress. The upregulation of genes encoding DAR1, 5-HTR5a and SSR2/3 as well as the downregulation of AdRα1, CREB3/1, GPγ13 and GPγ8 are involved in fear memory induced by psychological stress. Results obtained by sequencing mRNA and microRNA profiles are consistent with results of quantitative RT-PCR analysis and dual-luciferase reporter assays performed for validation. In conclusion, fear memories and anxiety induced by PPS vs. PS are caused by the imbalanced regulation of different synapses and signaling pathways in the amygdala.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The current study identifies the molecular mechanism underlying fear memory and anxiety induced by psychological stress vs. physical stress, in which the imbalanced expression of microRNA-regulated mRNAs relevant to dopaminergic, adrenergic, and serotonergic synapses in the amygdala plays an important role. This result reveals different molecular profiles for psychological and physical stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using (NH4)2S2O8 as an oxidant and 12-phosphotungstic acid as a doping agent, the ternary composite material PW12/PANI/SnO2 was prepared. The photocatalyst was characterized by FT-IR, XRD, UV-Vis, N2 adsorption-desorption tests, SEM and XPS techniques. The PANI additive was useful to reduce the agglomeration of nanoparticles and improve the dispersion because of hydrogen bonding between PANI and SnO2. XRD image showed that SnO2 has planar orientation and purity. The photocatalytic activities of the composite were investigated for the degradation of gentian violet as a probe under illumination with UV. The effect of different factors and different conditions for gentian violet is discussed. Results show that after 30 W UV irradiation, the degradation rate is 96.23%. The composite catalyst is better than SnO2, PW12 and SnO2/PANI with higher activity. Photocatalytic degradation of gentian violet is a first-order reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The postbuckling response of rings under external pressure is analyzed theoretically. • The problem is studied by three strain-hardening ring models step by step. • Each strain-hardening model is solved by different analytical methods. • Analytical results correlate well with FEM results. The large deflection postbuckling behavior of rings under external pressure was studied theoretically and numerically. Rigid linear strain-hardening property was adopted to approximate the plastic behavior of the rings. Analytical models based on different theories were derived to describe the large deflection properties of postbuckling behavior. The influence of material properties and geometric parameter on the postbuckling response was investigated based on the proposed analytical models. Besides, finite element analyses were carried out to verify the validity of the proposed analytical models and the numerical results showed good agreement with the theoretical ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We perform lattice Monte Carlo simulation using the bond-fluctuation model to examine the conformation and dynamic properties of a single small flexible ring polymer in the matrix of linear chains as functions of the degree of polymerization of the linear chains. The average conformation properties as gauged by the mean-square radius of gyration and asphericity parameter are insensitive to the chain length for all the chain lengths examined (30, 100, 300, and 1000). However, in the longer chain (300 and 1000) samples, there is an increased spread in the distribution of the value of these quantities, suggesting structural heterogeneity. The center-of-mass diffusion of the ring shows a rapid decrease with increasing chain length followed by a more gradual change for the two longer chain systems. In these longer chain systems, a wide spread in the value of the apparent self-diffusion coefficient is also observed, as well as qualitatively different square displacement trajectories among the different samples, suggesting heterogeneity in the dynamics. A primitive path analysis reveals that in these long chain systems, the ring can exist in topologically distinct states with respect to threading by the linear chains. Threading by the linear chain can dramatically slow down and in some cases stall the diffusive motion of the ring. We argue that the life times for these topological conformers can be longer than the disentanglement time of the linear chain matrix, so that the ring exhibits nonergodic behavior on time scales less or comparable to the life time of these conformers. Our results suggest a picture of the ring diffusion as one where the diffusion path consists of distinctive segments, each corresponding to a different conformer, with slow interconversion between the different conformers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a numerical investigation of the crystallization of monodisperse hard spheres on different patterned substrates. We find that the duration of a metastable fluid state, which may last for relatively long time in the homogeneous crystallization, can be deeply reduced or almost eliminated when a substrate is used as the seed of crystallization. In the presence of the square patterned substrate, which has the basic character of the body-centered cubic (bcc) crystal structure, a transient bcc crystal phase was observed, suggesting that the bcc structure could be possible to be stabilized by the square patterned substrates. The process of crystallization becomes complicated when the patterned substrate is incommensurate with the bulk crystal. Furthermore, a purely face-centered cubic or hexagonal close packed crystal phase with stacking faults can be generated by using a certain patterned substrate without other factors such as gravity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of hydrodynamic interactions on the lamellar ordering process for two-dimensional quenched block copolymers in the presence of extended defects and the topological defect evolutions in lamellar ordering process are numerically investigated by means of a model based on lattice Boltzmann method and self-consistent field theory. By observing the evolution of the average size of domains, it is found that the domain growth is faster with stronger hydrodynamic effects. The morphological patterns formed also appear different. To study the defect evolution, a defect density is defined and is used to explore the defect evolutions in lamellar ordering process. Our simulation results show that the hydrodynamics effects can reduce the density of defects. With our model, the relations between the Flory–Huggins interaction parameter χ, the length of the polymer chains N, and the defect evolutions are studied. It is found that χN is an important parameter for defect evolutions. Furthermore, the evolution behavior of the defect densities and the average size of domains are compared and the differences are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phase behaviors of comblike block copolymer Am+1Bm/homopolymer A mixtures are studied by using the random phase approximation method and real-space self-consistent field theory. From the spinodals of macrophase separation and microphase separation, we can find that the number of graft and the length of the homopolymer A have great effects on the phase behavior of the blend. For a given composition of comblike block copolymer, increasing the number of graft does not change the macrophase separation spinodal curve but decreases the microphase separation region. The addition of a small quantity of long-chain homopolymer A increases the microphase separation of comblike block copolymer/homopolymer A mixture. However, the addition of short-chain homopolymer A will decrease the phase separation region of comblike block copolymer/homopolymer A mixture. It is also found that the microstructure formed by diblock copolymer is easier to be swelled by homopolymer than that formed by comblike block copolymer. This can be attributed to the architecture difference between the comblike block copolymer and linear block copolymer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-assembled behavior of symmetric ABA rod-coil-rod triblock copolymer melts is studied by applying self-consistent-field lattice techniques in three-dimensional space. The phase diagram is constructed to understand the effects of the chain architecture on the self-assembled behavior. Four stable structures are observed for the ABA rod-coil-rod triblock, i.e., spherelike, lamellar, gyroidlike, and cylindrical structures. Different from AB rod-coil diblock and BAB coil-rod-coil triblock copolymers, the lamellar structure observed in ABA rod-coil-rod triblock copolymer melts is not stable for high volume fraction of the rod component (frod=0.8), which is attributed to the intramolecular interactions between the two rod blocks of the polymer chain. When 0.3≤frod≤0.7, the intramolecular interactions between the two rigid blocks of the polymer chain are decrease, which results in the occurrence of some interesting metastable mixed structures. These structures have not been observed in polymers containing only one rod block, such as a lamellar-alt-lamellar structure. The results are expected to provide guidance for the design of microstructures in experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neutrophils are an important source of IL-1β secretion in bacterial infections, where they infiltrate affected tissues in log-fold higher numbers than macrophages. Neutrophils also have functional NLRP3 and NLRC4 inflammasomes that can process pro- IL-1β to the bioactive 17-kDa form. In the current study, we examined the role of IL-1β in response to corneal infection with the filamentous fungus Aspergillus fumigatus and found that neutrophils were the predominant source of bioactive IL-1β in the cornea. We also observed that caspase-11-/- mice exhibit the same susceptibility phenotype as IL-1β-/-, ASC-/-, NLRP3-/-, and caspase-1-/- mice, with impaired neutrophil recruitment to infected corneas and increased hyphal growth. We further demonstrate that caspase-11 is required for caspase-1 activation and IL-1β processing during infection. In vitro, we show that caspase-11 is regulated by the common type I IFN receptor (IFNAR) through JAK-STAT signaling and that caspase-11 is required for speck formation and caspase-1 activity. Aspergillus spores (conidia) stimulate IL-1β processing and secretion in neutrophils activation of Dectin-1 and signaling through the Raf1 kinase/MEKK rather than the spleen tyrosine kinase pathway. Collectively, these findings reveal unexpected regulation of IL-1β production by neutrophils in response to pathogenic fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The instability of imperfect non-uniform circular shallow arch under radial pressure for both pinned-pinned and fixed-fixed boundary conditions is discussed in the article. The imperfection includes the symmetric initial displacement inducing no stress and the non-uniformity which represented by three piecewise constant-stiffness segments. Analytical theoretical formulation is derived by the least potential energy principle. Through mathematical analysis, it's shown rigorously that the effect of imperfection still doesn't vanish as the mode number of imperfection approaching to infinity. The stiffer end case and stiffer center case are discussed concerning equal potential energy load and snap-through criterion. Distinct snap-through behavior is observed for stiffer end case with fixed boundary condition by a proposed index plot. Moreover the two limiting cases including rigid end case and rigid center case are investigated by employing the augmented potential energy with Lagrangian multipliers considering the imperfection effect. Snap-through criteria are obtained in a closed form for rigid center case. And for the rigid end case with pinned BC, when the center segment's size is tending to zero, an asymptotical solution is derived and by this solution, the importance of multiplicity of roots of some equations governing the snap-through behavior is illustrated clearly. Besides, the equal potential energy load of two limiting cases is analyzed in detail with emphasis on imperfection effect. This paper aims to extend the understanding of imperfect non-uniform circular shallow arch under radial pressure. Highlights • Analytical investigation of imperfect non-uniform shallow arch under radial pressure is conducted. • Snap-through criteria are obtained in closed form for some cases. • The imperfection effect on snap-through and equal potential energy load is analyzed in details. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]