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In this study, the effect of nanostructure morphology on bubble nucleation of liquid argon on a platinum solid surface was explored using molecular dynamics methods. We examined the differences in nucleation behavior on smooth and nanostructured surfaces, including trapezoidal, rectangular, and reentrant cavities. The simulation results demonstrated that nanostructured surfaces outperformed smooth surfaces in terms of bubble nucleation, and the corresponding morphology had a significant effect. The reentrant cavity had the shortest bubble initial nucleation time, followed by the rectangular cavity, and the trapezoidal cavity had the longest bubble initial nucleation time. The mechanism of bubble nucleation on solid surfaces was further investigated from two perspectives: heat transfer through the solid-liquid interface and the potential energy constraint. Compared with other surfaces, surfaces with reentrant cavities exhibited a significantly higher heat transfer efficiency. The liquid atoms on the nanostructured surfaces absorb a large amount of heat within a short time, resulting in rapid accumulation of heat in the cavity. The thermal motions of the liquid atoms are enhanced, and the potential energy constraints from the surrounding atoms are overcome to achieve rapid bubble nucleation. Thus, the nanostructures promote bubble nucleation in the heated liquid. Our results provide novel insights into the design of nanostructures to improve the boiling heat transfer performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of self-regulated learning in language learning has been widely acknowledged, and there is a growing number of studies on technology-enhanced self-regulated language learning (SRLL). This systematic review aims to provide a holistic picture of existing studies in this area by identifying the characteristics of published studies, the research methods used to evaluate SRLL effectiveness and the role of technology in SRLL. The review covered 34 empirical studies focusing on SRLL that were published from 2011 to 2020. The results showed varied characteristics of technology-enhanced SRLL studies, dominance of the use of quantitative methods, greater focus on examining students' SRLL outcomes instead of their processes, and the role of technology in supporting the performance phase of students' SRLL instead of the entire SRLL process. These findings have implications for using technologies to facilitate and examine the holistic process of students' SRLL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We aimed to investigate the associations between maternal fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels and glycemic fluctuations during different trimesters and adverse birth outcomes among newborns. Methods: This cohort study used data from 63 213 pregnant women and their offspring in Foshan city from November 2015 to January 2019. Associations between maternal FPG and glycemic fluctuations during different trimesters and adverse birth outcomes [congenital heart defect (CHD), macrosomia, small/large for gestational age (SGA/LGA), and preterm birth (PTB)] in newborns were estimated using mixed-effects logistic regression models. Results: A total of 45 516 participants accepted at least one FPG test throughout pregnancy, and 7852 of whom had glycemic trajectory data. In the adjusted model, higher maternal FPG throughout the pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of adverse birth outcomes (except for SGA). Each 1 mmol/L increase in maternal FPG during trimester 1 was associated with higher odds of CHD (OR= 1.14 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.26)). The same increase in maternal FPG during trimester 3 was associated with a higher risk of PTB (OR=1.05 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.10)). Increment of maternal FPG during trimester 2 and trimester 3 was associated with a higher risk of macrosomia and LGA. Increase in FPG throughout the pregnancy was associated with slightly lower odds of SGA. Similar results were observed when analyzing the associations between glycemic fluctuations during different trimesters and adverse birth outcomes. Conclusions: Our findings indicate higher maternal FPG levels during different trimesters were associated with different adverse birth outcomes, which suggests the importance of glycemic management throughout the pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) is thought responsible for the metabolic abnormalities of schizophrenic patients, however, some untreated schizophrenic patients had already developed problems with glucose metabolism. The present study examined the hypothesis that schizophrenia itself but not risperidone, an extensively employed SGA, is accountable for metabolic abnormalities. Methods: A 56-day risperidone regimen (1 mg/kg/day) was employed for rats of social isolation rearing (SIR) beginning at different developmental stage (28 or 56 days after weaning, i.e., adolescent and young adulthood, respectively). Metabolic parameters including body weight, systolic blood pressure (SBP), triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol, and plasma glucose were measured at baseline, 28, and 56 days of the regimen. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed at the end of the regimen. Insulin function was evaluated by area under the curve (AUC) of OGTT, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-ir), and Matsuda index. Results: Our results demonstrated that: (i) SIR rats presented higher body weight, plasma triglyceride, and HOMA-ir than social controls. (ii) Higher insulin resistance was specifically presented in young adult rather than adolescent SIR rats. (iii) Adolescent drugged rats showed a lower level of LDL in day 28 of the regimen than young adult. Risperidone led to a lower LDL level in only young adult IR rats in day 56 than undrugged rats. (iv) SIR-induced dysregulation of insulin can be reversed by chronic risperidone treatment beginning at adolescence but not young adulthood. Conclusions: Our findings support the primary role of schizophrenia in metabolic abnormalities and risperidone appear beneficial when administered earlier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Railway engineering generates large amounts of construction and demolition waste (CDW). To quantify the amount of CDW generated from railway engineering projects throughout the whole life cycle, a process-based life cycle assessment model is proposed in this paper. The life-cycle CDW is divided into four parts: CDW from off-site transportation of construction materials (OSTCM), CDW from site operation wastage of construction materials (SOWCM), discard ballast from roadbeds, stationyard, bridges and tunnels (DB), and CDW from reparation and renewal of aging components (RRAC). Yun-Gui Railway is selected as a case study to validate the developed model, and an uncertainty analysis is conducted with Oracle Crystal Ball software. The results show that between 175 and 311 million tons of CDW is generated throughout the whole life cycle of Yun-Gui Railway. DB is the largest component of the life-cycle CDW from railway engineering projects. This indicates the negative environmental impacts of railway construction can be significantly mitigated by optimizing the location of ballast disposal sites and developing suitable landfill proposals. Also, the CDW generated by wastage of construction materials during off-site construction and site operation is important in waste management in railway engineering projects, in which rubble, sand, and cement have the high potential for waste reduction. Findings from this study can contribute to the knowledge body as well as the engineering practice in green railways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a programmable dual‐catalyst hairpin assembly (DCHA) for realizing the synchronous recycle of two catalysts is developed, displaying high reaction rate and outstanding conversion efficiency beyond traditional nucleic acid signal amplifications (NASA). Once catalyst I interacts with the catalyst II, the DCHA can be triggered to realize the simultaneous recycle of catalysts I and II to keep the highly concentrated intermediate product duplex I‐II instead of the steadily decreased one in typical NASA, which can accomplish in about only 16 min and achieves the outstanding conversion efficiency up to 4.54 × 108, easily conquering the main predicaments of NASA: time‐consuming and low‐efficiency. As a proof of the concept, the proposed DCHA as a high‐speed and hyper‐efficiency DNA signal magnifier is successfully applied in the rapid and ultrasensitive detection of miRNA‐21 in cancer cell lysates, which exploits the new generation of universal strategy for the applications in biosensing assay, clinic diagnose, and DNA nanobiotechnology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a programmable dual‐catalyst hairpin assembly (DCHA) for realizing the synchronous recycle of two catalysts is developed, displaying high reaction rate and outstanding conversion efficiency beyond traditional nucleic acid signal amplifications (NASA). Once catalyst I interacts with the catalyst II, the DCHA can be triggered to realize the simultaneous recycle of catalysts I and II to keep the highly concentrated intermediate product duplex I‐II instead of the steadily decreased one in typical NASA, which can accomplish in about only 16 min and achieves the outstanding conversion efficiency up to 4.54 × 108, easily conquering the main predicaments of NASA: time‐consuming and low‐efficiency. As a proof of the concept, the proposed DCHA as a high‐speed and hyper‐efficiency DNA signal magnifier is successfully applied in the rapid and ultrasensitive detection of miRNA‐21 in cancer cell lysates, which exploits the new generation of universal strategy for the applications in biosensing assay, clinic diagnose, and DNA nanobiotechnology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a programmable dual‐catalyst hairpin assembly (DCHA) for realizing the synchronous recycle of two catalysts is developed, displaying high reaction rate and outstanding conversion efficiency beyond traditional nucleic acid signal amplifications (NASA). Once catalyst I interacts with the catalyst II, the DCHA can be triggered to realize the simultaneous recycle of catalysts I and II to keep the highly concentrated intermediate product duplex I‐II instead of the steadily decreased one in typical NASA, which can accomplish in about only 16 min and achieves the outstanding conversion efficiency up to 4.54 × 108, easily conquering the main predicaments of NASA: time‐consuming and low‐efficiency. As a proof of the concept, the proposed DCHA as a high‐speed and hyper‐efficiency DNA signal magnifier is successfully applied in the rapid and ultrasensitive detection of miRNA‐21 in cancer cell lysates, which exploits the new generation of universal strategy for the applications in biosensing assay, clinic diagnose, and DNA nanobiotechnology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oxidation of substrates via the cleavage of thermodynamically strong C-H bonds is an essential part of mammalian metabolism. These reactions are predominantly carried out by enzymes that produce high-valent metal-oxido species, which are directly responsible for cleaving the C-H bonds. While much is known about the identity of these transient intermediates, the mechanistic factors that enable metal-oxido species to accomplish such difficult reactions are still incomplete. For synthetic metal-oxido species, C-H bond cleavage is often mechanistically described as synchronous, proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET). However, data have emerged that suggest that the basicity of the M-oxido unit is the key determinant in achieving enzymatic function, thus requiring alternative mechanisms whereby proton transfer (PT) has a more dominant role than electron transfer (ET). To bridge this knowledge gap, the reactivity of a monomeric MnIV-oxido complex with a series of external substrates was studied, resulting in a spread of over 104 in their second-order rate constants that tracked with the acidity of the C-H bonds. Mechanisms that included either synchronous PCET or rate-limiting PT, followed by ET, did not explain our results, which led to a proposed PCET mechanism with asynchronous transition states that are dominated by PT. To support this premise, we report a semiempirical free energy analysis that can predict the relative contributions of PT and ET for a given set of substrates. These findings underscore why the basicity of M-oxido units needs to be considered in C-H functionalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relaxor behaviors near the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) can reduce the energy barrier for polarization rotation, which is an effective strategy to improve the piezoelectric properties of materials. In this work, the phase structure, microstructure, and piezoelectric properties of (0.69- x)Bi 1.02 FeO 3 -0.31BaTiO 3 - x Bi(Mg 1/2 Ti 1/2)O 3 (0.00 ≤ x ≤ 0.08) ceramics were systematically studied. The addition of a tiny amount of Bi(Mg 1/2 Ti 1/2)O 3 was found to cause the phase to transform from R -phase-dominant ferroelectrics (FEs) to PC -phase-dominant relaxor ferroelectrics (RFEs). The dielectric and electrical data reveal that nonergodic relaxor ferroelectrics (NE-RFEs) near the MPB were favorable for domain switching, which contributed to the enhanced piezoelectric and electrostrain properties of d 33 = 182 pC/N, T C = 475 °C, and S = 0.21% at x = 0.04. Finally, a model of domain growth induced by an electric field was proposed for FEs and NE-RFEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tribological failures of poly-α-olefin (PAO) oil-impregnated porous polyimide (PPI) undermine the long-term reliability of aerospace bearing cages, often resulting in black product formation. Thus, addressing blackening is crucial. This study uncovers distinct tribological behaviors of PAO oil-impregnated PPI surfaces when sliding against 440 C and GCr15 steel bearing balls. Compared to GCr15/PPI, the 440 C/PPI interface exhibits fewer black products, lower friction, and reduced wear. Analysis attributes this to the higher Cr content in 440 C steel balls, facilitating a robust and dense Cr oxide film on their surfaces, which mitigates PAO oil degradation from tribo-chemical reactions with iron. Lastly, a universal approach involving Cr ion injection onto steel ball surfaces significantly enhances the tribological performance and blackening resistance of PAO oil-impregnated PPI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, which mainly consist of atherosclerosis (AS), are major causes of death. A great deal of research has been carried out to clarify the molecular mechanisms of AS. However, the etiology of AS remains poorly understood. To screen the potential genes of AS occurrence and development, GSE43292 and GSE57691 were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database in this study for bioinformatic analysis. First, GEO2R was used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and the functional annotation of DEGs was performed by gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis. The Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) tool was used to construct the protein–protein interaction network and the most important modules and core genes were mined. The results show that a total of 211 DEGs are identified. The functional changes of DEGs are mainly associated with the cellular process, catalytic activity, and protein binding. Eighteen genes were identified as core genes. Bioinformatic analysis showed that the core genes are mainly enriched in numerous processes related to actin. In conclusion, the DEGs and hub genes identified in this study may help us understand the potential etiology of the occurrence and development of AS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complexity of the cellular medium can affect proteins’ properties, and, therefore, in-cell characterization of proteins is essential. We explored the stability and conformation of the first baculoviral IAP repeat (BIR) domain of X chromosome-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP), BIR1, as a model for a homodimer protein in human HeLa cells. We employed double electron–electron resonance (DEER) spectroscopy and labeling with redox stable and rigid Gd3+ spin labels at three representative protein residues, C12 (flexible region), E22C, and N28C (part of helical residues 26 to 31) in the N-terminal region. In contrast to predictions by excluded-volume crowding theory, the dimer–monomer dissociation constant KD was markedly higher in cells than in solution and dilute cell lysate. As expected, this increase was partially recapitulated under conditions of high salt concentrations, given that conserved salt bridges at the dimer interface are critically required for association. Unexpectedly, however, also the addition of the crowding agent Ficoll destabilized the dimer while the addition of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and lysozyme, often used to represent interaction with charged macromolecules, had no effect. Our results highlight the potential of DEER for in-cell study of proteins as well as the complexities of the effects of the cellular milieu on protein structures and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider the numerical solution of the time-fractional non-linear Klein-Gordon equation. We propose a spectral collocation method in both temporal and spatial discretizations with a spectral expansion of Jacobi interpolation polynomial for this equation. A rigorous error analysis is provided for the spectral methods to show both the errors of approximate solutions and the errors of approximate derivatives of the solutions decaying exponentially in infinity-norm and weighted L2-norm. Numerical tests are carried out to confirm the theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TfOH-catalyzed one-pot sequential reaction of indoles, acetophenones (cyclic ketones), and various 3-methyleneoxindolines in toluene afforded polysubstituted tetrahydrospiro[carbazole-1,3'-indoline]s in satisfactory yields. ¹H NMR spectra and single-crystal structures indicated that the obtained tetrahydrospiro[carbazole-1,3'-indoline]s existing in an unusual trans-configuration. The reaction mechanism was believed to proceed with domino acid-catalyzed 3-alkenylation of indoles with acetophenones, Diels-Alder reaction of 3-alkyenylindoles with 3-methyleneoxindolines, and an acid-catalyzed diastereoisomerization process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. The goals of the present study were (a) to assess the psychological treatment needs and treatment delivery preferences in people attending services or contacting a hospital website for chronic pain in Singapore, and (b) to explore potential relevance of the psychological flexibility (PF) model for this group by investigating associations between PF and pain-related outcomes. Design and Setting. This was a cross-sectional questionnaire study of people with chronic pain in Singapore. Subjects. Current users of treatment services at a tertiary pain management clinic (PMC), users of pain treatment services elsewhere, and nontreatment users. Methods. Participants were either recruited faceto-face at a pain clinic or via an online portal. All participants completed a questionnaire, including a survey of treatment barriers and needs, treatment delivery preferences for chronic pain, and standardized measures of PF, pain interference, emotional functioning, and health care use. Results. A total of 200 participants completed the study. Cost of treatment was identified as a main deterrent, while proof of treatment success was identified as a main facilitator for treatment uptake. A majority of participants (88.5%) indicated a preference for face-to-face treatment. In multiple regression analyses, after controlling for relevant demographic variables and pain intensity, PF explained 14% of the variance for pain interference and impact of depressive symptoms and 22% of the variance for depressive symptoms. Conclusion. A focus on meeting patients' needs at low cost, and providing proof of treatment success may increase psychological treatment uptake. Increasing PF for pain in people from Singapore may also contribute to better patient functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN), a branch of the vagus nerve, supplies the motor and sensation function of the larynx. Generally, RLN detours around the right subclavian artery on the right side and the aortic arch on the left side. In a rare anatomical variant, called nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve (NRLN), the nerve takes an aberrant path rather than descending into the thorax as usual. First reported in 1823, NRLN is a rare anomaly arising almost exclusively on the right side, reported in 0.3–0.8% of people, and associated with vascular anomalies of embryonic aortic arch development. The atypical vascular pattern of aberrant subclavian artery (arteria lusoria) running behind the trachea and esophagus allows the vagus nerve to pass freely, which then directly branches out as NRLN at the level of the larynx. On the other hand, cases of left NRLN, only reported in 0.004% of people, are all accompanied by significant pathologies such as situs inversus totalis with opposite vascular pattern of left aberrant subclavian artery. This rare anatomical variation is clinically important, as NLRN is a major risk factor for iatrogenic injury during thyroidectomy, parathyroidectomy, and other invasive procedures in the head and neck region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes a systematic study of the roles played by hydroxide in controlling the deposition of Au on Ag nanocubes for the fabrication of diversified Ag-Au bimetallic nanocrystals. The synthesis simply involves the titration of aqueous HAuCl4 into an aqueous suspension of Ag nanocubes in the presence of ascorbic acid (H2Asc), NaOH, and poly(vinylpyrrolidone) at room temperature. The OH- ions from NaOH can affect the reduction kinetics of the Au(III) precursor in a number of ways and thereby the deposition pathways of the Au atoms. First of all, the OH- can accelerate the reduction kinetics by neutralizing H2Asc into ascorbate monoanion (HAsc-), the true player behind the reduction power of ascorbic acid. Second, the OH- can neutralize the added HAuCl4 and progressively transform AuCl4- into AuCl3(OH)-, AuCl2(OH)2-, AuCl(OH)3-, or Au(OH)4- through ligand exchange, generating Au(III) precursors with increasingly lower reduction potentials and thus lower probability for galvanic replacement reaction with Ag nanocubes than AuCl4-. Third, the OH- can react with the Ag+ ions released from the galvanic reaction to generate Ag2O patches at the corners of Ag nanocubes. Our results indicate that the deposition of Au on Ag nanocubes can follow two distinct pathways depending on the initial pH of the reaction solution. When the initial pH is controlled in the range of 10.3-11.9, the reduction of Au(III) is initiated by Ag nanocubes but dominated by HAsc- afterward, leading to the formation of Ag@Au core-frame and then core-shell nanocubes. In contrast, if the initial pH is controlled in the range of 3.2-4.8, both the galvanic replacement with Ag nanocubes and the chemical reduction by HAsc- contribute to the conversion of Au(III) to Au atoms. The Ag+ ions released from the galvanic replacement can also be reduced by HAsc- to transform Ag nanocubes into Ag@Ag-Au concave nanocubes with hollow interiors and alloyed walls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new method for fabrication of thin film nanofibrous composite (TFNC) ultrafiltration (UF) membrane consisting of an ultrathin poly(acrylonitrile-co-acrylic acid) (PAN-AA) barrier layer based on a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibrous support layer was proposed in this study. First, a thin PAN-AA nanofibrous layer was electrospun and deposited on a thicker PAN nanofibrous substrate. Then, the as-prepared PAN-AA nanofibers were swollen in the alkaline buffer solution and merged imperceptibly as an integrated nonporous hydrogel layer on the PAN substrate. The PAN-AA hydrogel layer was cross-linked with different bivalent metal cations (Ca2+, Mg2+) to form an ultrathin barrier layer, of which the thickness and porosity were optimized by controlling the depositing time of PAN-AA nanofibers and pH value of buffer solution. Proteins with different molecular weights were used to evaluate the ultrafiltration performance of the resultant composite membranes. Due to its hydrophilic and negative charged barrier layer, the PAN-AA-Mg and PAN-AA-Ca TFNC UF composite membranes exhibited excellent permeate flux (221.2 and 219.2 L/m² h) and rejection efficiency (97.8% and 95.6%) for bovine serum albumin (BSA) aqueous solution (1 g/L) at 0.3 MPa. The PAN-AA TFNC UF membranes could be used to retain solutes, of which the radius was larger than 4.6 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using existing calibration methods for binocular stereo vision sensors (BSVS), it is very difficult to extract target characteristic points in outdoor environments under complex light conditions. To solve the problem, an online calibration method for BSVS based a double parallel cylindrical target and a line laser projector is proposed in this paper. The intrinsic parameters of two cameras are calibrated offline. Laser strips on the double parallel cylindrical target are mediated to calibrate the configuration parameters of BSVS. The proposed method only requires images of laser strips on the target and is suitable for the calibration of BSVS in outdoor environments. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated through physical experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevated serum levels of Interleukin-3 (IL-3), a major component of the cytokines, have been observed in chronic and medicated patients with schizophrenia, but this elevation may reflect either or both medication and illness chronicity effects. Thus, we compared serum IL-3 levels in first-episode drug-naive (FEDN) to chronic medicated patients with schizophrenia and examined the association of IL-3 with their psychopathological symptoms. Serum IL-3 levels were assessed in 55 FEDN patients, 52 chronic medicated patients and 43 healthy controls. Schizophrenia symptomatology was assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Serum IL-3 levels were measured by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We found significantly lower IL-3 levels in FEDN patients than both chronic patients and healthy controls (both p<0.001), while IL-3 levels in chronic patients were markedly higher than in healthy controls. No significant association was observed between IL-3 and any clinical psychopathology in FEDN patients; however, we found a significant correlation between serum IL-3 levels and the PANSS general psychopathology subscore in chronic medicated patients (p<0.05). Decreased IL-3 levels in FEDN patients suggest that suppressed immune function may be associated with developing schizophrenia, but as the disease progresses IL-3 levels increase perhaps related to medication treatment or other factors that occur during chronic illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple synthetic protocol was developed for the efficient synthesis of functionalized dispiro[indoline-3,1'-cyclobutane-2',3"-indolines] with high diastereoselectivity. The reaction proceeds by cyclodimerization reaction of 3-phenacylideneoxindoles in the presence of a catalytic amount of photosensitizer Ru(bpy3)Cl2 and visible light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CuS hexagonal nanosheet/graphene was fabricated by a facile one-pot microwave-thermal method. The samples possess excellent photocatalytic activity for degradation of organic pollutant under visible light. The high photocatalytic activity was attributed to the deposition of CuS hexagonal nanosheet onto graphene. CuS nanosheet serves as a transporter which efficiently inhibits the recombination of the photo-induced charge carriers in the nanocomposites. The developed method demonstrates a facile approach towards the synthesis of two-dimensional semiconductor-graphene nanocomposites with excellent photocatalytic performance under visible light. Uniform depositon of CuS hexaplates nanosheets onto the graphene was synthesized. The samples possessed excellent visible light photocatalytic performance and a possible photocatalytic mechanism was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of two types of rumination on different kinds of executive functions were investigated. Fifty-nine participants (M age = 22.8 yr., SD = 2.5) were assigned to one of three conditions and instructed either to: (1) ruminate in a self-distanced way, (2) ruminate in a self-immersed way, or (3) think about the layout of their campus following anger induction. Afterward, the participants were directed to finish tasks designed to assess three kinds of executive functions: shifting, inhibition, and updating. Results showed that self-immersed rumination impaired shifting ability the most, while participants engaged in self-distanced rumination showed the worst performance on the inhibition task. No significant difference was found in the updating task. These results suggest that rumination influenced particular executive functions in different ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leafy flowers are the major symptoms of peanut witches' broom (PnWB) phytoplasma infection in Catharanthus roseus. The orthologs of the phyllody symptoms1 (PHYL1) effector of PnWB from other species of phytoplasma can trigger the proteasomal degradation of several MADS box transcription factors, resulting in leafy flower formation. In contrast, the flowering negative regulator gene SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE (SVP) was up-regulated in PnWB-infected C. roseus plants, but most microRNA (miRNA) genes had repressed expression. Coincidentally, transgenic Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) plants expressing the PHYL1 gene of PnWB (PHYL1 plants), which show leafy flower phenotypes, up-regulate SVP of Arabidopsis (AtSVP) but repress a putative regulatory miRNA of AtSVP, miR396. However, the mechanism by which PHYL1 regulates AtSVP and miR396 is unknown, and the evidence of miR396-mediated AtSVP degradation is lacking. Here, we show that miR396 triggers AtSVP messenger RNA (mRNA) decay using genetic approaches, a reporter assay, and high-throughput degradome profiles. Genetic evidence indicates that PHYL1 plants and atmir396a-1 mutants have higher AtSVP accumulation, whereas the transgenic plants overexpressing MIR396 display lower AtSVP expression. The reporter assay indicated that target-site mutation results in decreasing the miR396-mediated repression efficiency. Moreover, degradome profiles revealed that miR396 triggers AtSVP mRNA decay rather than miRNA-mediated cleavage, implying that AtSVP caused miR396-mediated translation inhibition. We hypothesize that PHYL1 directly or indirectly interferes with miR396-mediated AtSVP mRNA decay and synergizes with other effects (e.g. MADS box transcription factor degradation), resulting in abnormal flower formation. We anticipate our findings to be a starting point for studying the posttranscriptional regulation of PHYL1 effectors in symptom development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) is the most prevalent human virus and causes global morbidity because the virus is able to infect multiple cell types. Remarkably, HSV infection switches between lytic and latent cycles, where T cells play a critical role. However, the precise way of virus-host interactions is incompletely understood. Here we report that HSV-1 productively infected Jurkat T-cells and inhibited antigen-induced T cell receptor activation. We discovered that HSV-1-encoded Us3 protein interrupted TCR signaling and interleukin-2 production by inactivation of the linker for activation of T cells. This study unveils a mechanism by which HSV-1 intrudes into early events of TCR-mediated cell signaling and may provide novel insights into HSV infection, during which the virus escapes from host immune surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the association between potential risk factors for myopia and its progression in young adult Taiwanese men. Methods: A survey of male military conscripts (aged 18-24 years) was conducted from February 2010 to March 2011 in Taiwan. Participants underwent comprehensive eye examinations, including measurements of axial length and corneal radius by optical biometry and non-cycloplegic autorefraction. Participants also provided self-reported progression of myopia and information regarding potential risk factors, including age, parental myopia, educational level, close work, outdoor activities, and urbanization. Results: Of 5145 eligible participants, 5048 (98.11%) provided refraction and questionnaire data; 2316 (45.88%) of the 5048 also had biometric measurements. The prevalence of myopia was 86.1% in this group, with a mean refractive error of −3.66 diopters (D). Of the 5048 participants, 1376 (27.3%) had experienced progression of their myopia during the past year. There were trends for a higher prevalence of myopia among older participants ( p = 0.014), those with a history of parental myopia ( p < 0.001), higher levels of education ( p = 0.001), increased time spent reading ( p < 0.001), less time outdoors ( p = 0.003), and higher levels of urbanization ( p = 0.010). However, only parental myopia, close work, and higher urbanization levels were significantly associated with self-reported progression of myopia. Conclusion: Older age, parental myopia, higher educational level, close work, fewer outdoor activities, and higher urbanization level were associated with the prevalence of myopia in Taiwanese men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How to develop students' workplace communication ability effectively is the key objective of the higher vocational courses, and the general vocational English may contribute to set up a workplace environment. This paper analyzes briefly the necessity and importance of hammering the general workplace English knowledge in English class teaching. Based on teaching and learning theory of the constructivism, the author holds the point that scaffolding instruction based on constructivism fully embodies the learner-centered teaching philosophy and helps to promote students' interest of English learning and develop their self-learning ability. Only in this way can educators realize the quasi-cohesion of general English and workplace English. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a large double-stranded DNA virus, herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) assembles capsids in the nucleus where the viral particles exit by budding through the inner nuclear membrane. Although a number of viral and host proteins are involved, the machinery of viral egress is not well understood. In a search for host interacting proteins of ICP34.5, which is a virulence factor of HSV-1, we identified a cellular protein, p32 (gC1qR/HABP1), by mass spectrophotometer analysis. When expressed, ICP34.5 associated with p32 in mammalian cells. Upon HSV-1 infection, p32 was recruited to the inner nuclear membrane by ICP34.5, which paralleled the phosphorylation and rearrangement of nuclear lamina. Knockdown of p32 in HSV-1-infected cells significantly reduced the production of cell-free viruses, suggesting that p32 is a mediator of HSV-1 nuclear egress. These observations suggest that the interaction between HSV-1 ICP34.5 and p32 leads to the disintegration of nuclear lamina and facilitates the nuclear egress of HSV-1 particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing the electron density in BF2-coordinated azo compounds through para-substitution leads to a bathochromic shift in their activation wavelength. When the substituent is dimethyl amine, or the like, the trans/cis isomerization process can be efficiently modulated using near infrared light. The electron donating capability of the substituent also controls the hydrolysis half life of the switch in aqueous solution, which is drastically longer for the cis isomer, while the BF2-coordination prevents reduction by glutathione. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Sacroiliac joint (SIJ) pain is a common cause of chronic low back pain. Full-endoscopic rhizotomy of lateral branches of dorsal rami innervating SIJ is a potential option for patients' refractory to medical treatment. The full-endoscopic rhizotomy is sometimes challenging under fluoroscopic guidance. This study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the navigation-assisted full-endoscopic rhizotomy for SIJ pain. Methods: The study was a retrospective match-paired study that enrolled consecutive patients undergoing navigation-assisted full-endoscopic rhizotomy for SIJ pain. The patient demographics, clinical outcomes, and operative parameters of endoscopic rhizotomy were compared with conventional cooled radiofrequency ablation (RFA) treatment. Results: The study enrolled 72 patients, including 36 patients in the endoscopic group. Thirty-six patients in the cooled RFA group were matched by age as the control. The follow-up time was at least 1 year. Patient characteristics were similar between the groups. The navigation-assisted endoscopic rhizotomy operation time was significantly longer than the cooled RFA. The visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) significantly decreased after each treatment. However, the between-group comparison revealed that the VAS and ODI of the patients after endoscopic rhizotomy were significantly lower than those after the cooled RFA group. There were no postoperative complications in the study. Conclusion: Navigation-assisted full-endoscopic rhizotomy is an alternative to SIJ pain treatment. Integrating intraoperative navigation can ensure accurate full-endoscopic rhizotomy to provide better durability of pain relief than the cooled RFA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precise genome manipulation in specific cell types and subtypes in vivo is crucial for neurobiological research because of the cellular heterogeneity of the brain. Site-specific recombinase systems in the mouse, such as Cre-loxP, improve cell type-specific genome manipulation; however, undesirable expression of cell type-specific Cre can occur. This could be due to transient expression during early development, natural expression in more than one cell type, kinetics of recombinases, sensitivity of the Cre reporter, and disruption in cisregulatory elements by transgene insertion. Moreover, cell subtypes cannot be distinguished in cell type-specific Cre mice. To address these issues, we applied an intersectional genetic approach in mouse using triple recombination systems (Cre-loxP, Flp-FRT and Dre-rox). As a proof of principle, we labelled heterogeneous cell subtypes and deleted target genes within given cell subtypes by labelling neuropeptide Y (NPY)-, calretinin (calbindin 2) (CR)- and cholecystokinin (CCK)-expressing GABAergic neurons in the brain followed by deletion of RNA-binding Fox-1 homolog 3 (Rbfox3) in our engineered mice. Together, our study applies an intersectional genetic approach in vivo to generate engineered mice serving dual purposes of simultaneous cell subtype-specific labelling and gene knockout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a robust synthesis of Ag@Au core-shell nanocubes by direcdy depositing Au atoms on the surfaces of Ag nanocubes as conformal, ultrathin shells. Our success relies on the introduction of a strong reducing agent to compete with and thereby block the galvanic replacement between Ag and HAuCl4. An ultrathin Au shell of 0.6 nm thick was able to protect the Ag in the core in an oxidative environment. Significantly, the core-shell nanocubes exhibited surface plasmonic properties essentially identical to those of the original Ag nanocubes, while the SERS activity showed a 5.4-fold further enhancement owing to an improvement in chemical enhancement. The combination of excellent SERS activity and chemical stability may enable a variety of new applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medulloblastoma (MB) is a malignant primary brain tumor with poor prognosis. MB-derived CD133/Nestin double-positive cells (MB-DPs) exhibit cancer stem-like cell (CSC)-like properties that may contribute to chemoradioresistance, tumorigenesis and recurrence. In various tumors, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) upregulation including MB which can regulate the expression of Nestin. Celecoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, has been shown to potentially reduce STAT3 phosphorylation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of celecoxib in enhancing the effects of ionizing radiotherapy (IR) on MB-DP. MB-DPs and MB-derived CD133/Nestin double-negative cells (MB-DNs) were isolated from medulloblastoma cell line Daoy. Then, both of them were treated with celecoxib in different concentrations, and cell viability was assessed. The assays of cell survival, sphere formation, radiosensitivity, colony formation, apoptotic activity and mouse xenografting experiments in MB-DPs and MB-DNs treated with celecoxib alone, radiation alone, or celecoxib combined with radiation were further evaluated. We isolated MB-DPs from MB cell line Daoy, which exhibited typical CSC-like characteristics. Microarray analysis and Western blotting both indicated the upregulation of Janus kinase (JAK)-STAT cascade and STAT3 phosphorylation. Incubation with celecoxib dose-dependently suppressed the CSC-like properties and enhanced the IR effect on the induction of apoptosis, as detected by TUNEL assay and staining for Caspase 3 and Annexin V. Finally, celecoxib also enhanced the IR effect to suppress tumorigenesis and synergistically improve the recipient survival in orthotopic MB-derived CD133/Nestin double-positive cells (MB-DP cells) bearing mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Herbaceous plants containing antioxidants can protect against DNA damage. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant substances, antioxidant activity, and protection of DNA from oxidative damage in human lymphocytes induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Our methods used acidic methanol and water extractions from six herbaceous plants, including Bidens alba (BA), Lycium chinense (LC), Mentha arvensis (MA), Plantago asiatica (PA), Houttuynia cordata (HC), and Centella asiatica (CA). Methods Antioxidant compounds such as flavonol and polyphenol were analyzed. Antioxidant activity was determined by the inhibition percentage of conjugated diene formation in a linoleic acid emulsion system and by trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assay. Their antioxidative capacities for protecting human lymphocyte DNA from H2O2-induced strand breaks was evaluated by comet assay. Results The studied plants were found to be rich in flavonols, especially myricetin in BA, morin in MA, quercetin in HC, and kaemperol in CA. In addition, polyphenol abounded in BA and CA. The best conjugated diene formation inhibition percentage was found in the acidic methanolic extract of PA. Regarding TEAC, the best antioxidant activity was generated from the acidic methanolic extract of HC. Water and acidic methanolic extracts of MA and HC both had better inhibition percentages of tail DNA% and tail moment as compared to the rest of the tested extracts, and significantly suppressed oxidative damage to lymphocyte DNA. Conclusion Quercetin and morin are important for preventing peroxidation and oxidative damage to DNA, and the leaves of MA and HC extracts may have excellent potential as functional ingredients representing potential sources of natural antioxidants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 3′ untranslated region (3′ UTR), including the poly (A) tail, reportedly plays an important role in arterivirus replication, but the roles of the cis-acting elements present in the 3′ UTR of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) remain largely unknown. In the present study, PCR-based mutagenic analysis was conducted on the 3′ UTR of PRRSV infectious full-length cDNA clone pAPRRS to investigate the structure and function of the conserved terminal nucleotides between the poly (A) tail and the 3′ UTR region. Our findings indicated that the conservation of the primary sequence of the 3′ terminal nucleotides, rather than the surrounding secondary structure, was vital for viral replication and infectivity. Four nucleotides (nt) (5′-AAUU-3′) at the 3′ proximal end of the 3′ UTR and the dinucleotide 5′-AU-3′ exerted an important regulatory effect on viral viability. Of the five 3′-terminal nucleotides of the 3′ UTR (5′-AACCA-3′), at least three, including the last dinucleotide (5′-CA-3′), were essential for maintaining viral infectivity. Taken together, the 3′-terminal conserved sequence plays a critical role in PRRSV replication and may function as a contact site for specific assembly of the replication complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was undertaken to investigate the influence of electroacupuncture (EA) on compulsive scratching in mice and c-Fos expression elicited by subcutaneous (s.c.) administration of a known puritogen, 5'-guanidinonaltrindole (GNTI) to the neck. Application of EA to Hegu (LI4) and Quchi (LI11) acupoints at 2 Hz, but not 100 Hz, attenuated GNTI-evoked scratching. In mice pretreated with the μ opioid receptor antagonist naloxone, EA 2 Hz did not attenuate GNTI-evoked scratching, whereas EA at 2 Hz did attenuate GNTI-evoked scratching in mice pretreated with the κ opioid receptor antagonist nor-binaltorphimine. Moreover, intradermal (i.d.) administration of the selective μ opioid receptor agonist [d-Ala2, N-Me-Phe4, Gly5-ol]-enkephalin acetate (DAMGO) attenuated GNTI-evoked scratching behavior, while s.c. administration of DAMGO was ineffective. GNTI provoked c-Fos expression on the lateral side of the superficial layer of the dorsal horn of the cervical spinal cord. Application of 2 Hz EA to LI4 and LIU decreased the number of c-Fos positive nuclei induced by GNTI. It may be concluded that application of 2 Hz EA to LI4 and LIU attenuates scratching behavior induced by GNTI in mice and that the peripheral μ opioid system is involved, at least in part, in the anti-pruritic effects of EA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have shown the electromagnetic stimulation improves bone remodeling and bone healing. However, the effect of percutaneous electrical stimulation (ES) was not directly explored. The purpose of this study was to evaluate effect of ES on improvement of bone repair. Twenty-four adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were used for cranial implantation. We used a composite comprising genipin cross-linked gelatin mixed with tricalcium phosphate (GGT). Bone defects of all rats were filled with the GGT composites, and the rats were assigned into six groups after operation. The first three groups underwent 4, 8, and 12 weeks of ES, and the anode was connected to the backward of the defect on the neck; the cathode was connected to the front of the defect on the head. Rats were under inhalation anesthesia during the stimulation. The other three groups only received inhalation anesthesia without ES, as control groups. All the rats were examined afterward at 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Radiographic examinations including X-ray and micro-CT showed the progressive bone regeneration in the both ES and non-ES groups. The amount of the newly formed bone increased with the time between implantation and examination in the ES and non-ES groups and was higher in the ES groups. Besides, the new bone growth trended on bilateral sides in ES groups and accumulated in U-shape in non-ES groups. The results indicated that ES could improve bone repair, and the effect is higher around the cathode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data congestion and network delay are the important factors that affect performance of cloud computing systems. Using local disk of computing nodes as a cache can sometimes get better performance than accessing data through the network. This paper presents a storage cache placement algorithm--C-Aware, which traces history access information of cache and data source, adaptively decides whether to cache data according to cache media characteristic and current access environment, and achieves good performance under different workload on storage server. We implement this algorithmin both simulated and real environments. Our simulation results using OLTP and WebSearch traces demonstrate that C-Aware achieves better adaptability to the changes of server workload. Our benchmark results in real systemshow that, in the scenario where the size of local cache is half of data set, C-Aware gets nearly 80% improvement compared with traditionalmethods when the server is not busy and still presents comparable performance when there is high workload on server side. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we report the synthesis and characterization of a BF2-azo complex that can be induced to isomerize without the need of deleterious UV light. The complexation of the azo group with BF2, coupled with the extended conjugation of the N=N π-electrons, increases the energy of the n-π* transitions and introduces new p-nonbonding (πnb) to π* transitions that dominate the visible region. The well separated πnb-π* transitions of the trans and cis isomers enable the efficient switching of the system by using only visible light. The complexation also leads to a slow cis → trans thermal relaxation rate (t1/2 = 12.5 h). Theoretical calculations indicate that the absorption bands in the visible range can be tuned using different Lewis acids, opening the way to a conceptually new strategy for the manipulation of azo compounds using only visible light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The kinds of new-style plasma flow controllers have been designed to control flow actively according to the behavior of the directional air flow induced by DBD (Dielectric Barrier Discharge) plasma in still air. The desired flow structures have been obtained by organizing the directional flow induced by DBD plasma through arranging electrodes in the controllers purposefully. The flow fields induced by the new-style plasma active flow controllers have been investigated visibly and measured by PIV. The experiment shows that the required structure of the induced flow can be realized through designing new-style plasma flow controllers reasonably to control flow actively. The research results provide a novel flow controller without flow source for active flow control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chagos Archipelago designated as a no-take marine protected area in 2010, lying about 500 km south of the Maldives in the Indian Ocean, has a high conservation priority, particularly because of its fast recovery from the ocean-wide massive coral mortality following the 1998 coral bleaching event. The aims of this study were to examine Symbiodinium diversity and distribution associated with scleractinian corals in five atolls of the Chagos Archipelago, spread over 10,000 km 2. Symbiodinium clade diversity in 262 samples of seven common coral species, Acropora muricata, Isopora palifera, Pocillopora damicornis, P. verrucosa, P. eydouxi, Seriatopora hystrix, and Stylophora pistillata were determined using PCR-SSCP of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1), PCR-DDGE of ITS2, and phylogenetic analyses. The results indicated that Symbiodinium in clade C were the dominant symbiont group in the seven coral species. Our analysis revealed types of Symbiodinium clade C specific to coral species. Types C1 and C3 (with C3z and C3i variants) were dominant in Acroporidae and C1 and C1c were the dominant types in Pocilloporidae. We also found 2 novel ITS2 types in S. hystrix and 1 novel ITS2 type of Symbiodinium in A. muricata. Some colonies of A. muricata and I. palifera were also associated with Symbiodinium A1. These results suggest that corals in the Chagos Archipelago host different assemblages of Symbiodinium types then their conspecifics from other locations in the Indian Ocean; and that future research will show whether these patterns in Symbiodinium genotypes may be due to local adaptation to specific conditions in the Chagos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the impact of trust on patient outcomes (satisfaction, HbA1C, physical and mental health-related quality of life (HRQoL)) and to investigate the role of decision-making preferences in the trust–outcome relationship. Methods: We conducted a one-year longitudinal analysis of 614 type 2 diabetic patients (mean age: 59.3 years; mean disease duration: 6.7 years). Patients’ self-administered questionnaires and medical record were used for the research. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to investigate the relationship among variables during a 12-month follow-up. Further, we used latent growth modeling (LGM) to assess changes in health outcomes and to examine how these changes were related to trust. Results: Regression analyses revealed that trust was positively related to glycemic control, physical HRQoL, and satisfaction at 12 months. Patients with higher decision-making preferences experienced a greater increase in subsequent satisfaction. The results of LGM showed that higher levels of trust were associated with greater increases in physical HRQoL. Conclusion: Trust contributes to improvements in health outcomes. The relationship between trust and satisfaction may be stronger among patients with higher decision-making preferences. Practice implications: For healthcare providers, efforts should be made to cultivate patients’ trust and enhance their decision-making preferences to maximize satisfaction and improve outcomes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

novel Schiff base ligand, chromone-3-carbaldehyde-aminophenazone (L) and its Ln(III) (Ln = La, Yb) complexes were synthesized and characterized by physicochemical methods. The interaction between the ligand, Ln(III) complexes and calf thymus DNA in physiological buffer (pH = 7.10) was investigated by using UV-vis spectroscopy, fluorescence spectra, ethidium bromide experiments and viscosity measurements, indicating that the studied compounds can all bind to DNA via an intercalation binding mode and the complexes have stronger binding affinity than the free ligand alone. Furthermore, antioxidant activity of the ligand and its complexes was determined by superoxide and hydroxyl radical scavenging methods in vitro, suggesting that Ln(III) complexes inhibit stronger antioxidant activity than the ligand alone and some standard antioxidants, such as mannitol and vitamin C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: As health care systems seek to provide patient-centered care as a cornerstone of quality, the link between patient-centeredness and patient outcomes is a concern. Past research reveals inconsistent findings regarding the impact of patient-centeredness on patient outcomes, and few studies have investigated the factors that moderate this relationship. Most studies have used self-rated outcomes on a cross-sectional basis, even though most patient care is inherently longitudinal. The current study extends past research by examining the theoretical and empirical relationships between patients’ perceptions of autonomy support and autonomy preferences with regard to their health outcomes. We hypothesized that autonomy preferences moderate the positive relationships between perceived autonomy support and patient–physician relationships, and on self-rated and objective health outcomes such that the relationships are more positive when patient autonomy preferences are high. Data were collected 3 times over a one-year period from a sample of 614 patients with type 2 diabetes in Taiwan. The results revealed strong support for the hypothesized relationships between perceived autonomy support and patient trust, satisfaction, and mental health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after adjusting for baseline scores; however, the direct link between autonomy support and patients’ glycemic control was not significant. Specifically, patients with high decisional preference experienced a greater increase in subsequent trust and satisfaction than patients with low decisional preference. Further, patients with high information preference had a higher level of satisfaction over time than patients with low information preference. In addition, it was found that perceived autonomy support improved both physical and mental HRQoL but only if combined with high levels of information preference. This study provides evidence of a contingency perspective of the relationship between patient autonomy support and outcomes. By recognizing the uniqueness of each patient’s autonomy preferences, healthcare practitioners can increase the efficiency of patient-centered care and improve patient outcomes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In order to optimize the flow field in a full-scale Carrousel oxidation ditch with many sets of disc aerators operating simultaneously, an experimentally validated numerical tool, based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD), was proposed. A full-scale, closed-loop bioreactor (Carrousel oxidation ditch) in Ping Dingshan Sewage Treatment Plant in Ping Dingshan City, a medium-sized city in Henan Province of China, was evaluated using CFD. Moving wall model was created to simulate many sets of disc aerators which created fluid motion in the ditch. The simulated results were acceptable compared with the experimental data and the following results were obtained: (1) a new method called moving wall model could simulate the flow field in Carrousel oxidation ditch with many sets of disc aerators operating simultaneously. The whole number of cells of grids decreased significantly, thus the calculation amount decreased, and (2) CFD modeling generally characterized the flow pattern in the full-scale tank. 3D simulation could be a good supplement for improving the hydrodynamic performance in oxidation ditch designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Er(III) complexes are prepared from Er(NO3)3&centerdot;6H2O and Schiff-base ligands derived from 8-hydroxyquinoline-2-carboxaldehyde with four aroylhydrazines, including benzoylhydrazine, 2-hydroxybenzoylhydrazine, 4-hydroxybenzoylhydrazine and isonicotinylhydrazine, respectively. X-ray crystal and other structural analyses indicate that Er(III) and every ligand can form a binuclear Er(III) complex with nine-coordination and 1: 1 metal-to-ligand stoichiometry at the Er(III) centre. All the Er(III) complexes can bind to calf thymus DNA through intercalation with the binding constants at the order of magnitude 106 M−1, and they may be used as potential anticancer drugs. All the Er(III) complexes have strong scavenging effects for hydroxyl radicals and superoxide radicals; however, complex containing active phenolic hydroxyl group shows stronger scavenging effects for hydroxyl radicals and complex containing N-heteroaromatic substituent shows stronger scavenging effects for superoxide radicals. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A new ligand, 3-carbaldehyde chromone-(benzoyl) hydrazone (L), was prepared by condensation of 3-carbaldehyde chromone with benzoyl hydrazine. Its four rare earth complexes have been prepared and characterized on the basis of elemental analyses, molar conductivities, mass spectra, ¹H NMR spectra, UV-vis spectra, fluorescence studies and IR spectra. The Sm(III) complex exhibits red fluorescence under UV light and the fluorescent properties of Sm(III) complex in solid state and different solutions were investigated. In addition, the DNA binding properties of the ligand and its complexes have been investigated by electronic absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectra, ethidium bromide displacement experiments, iodide quenching experiments, salt effect and viscosity measurements. Experimental results suggest that all the compounds can bind to DNA via an intercalation binding mode. Furthermore, the antioxidant activities of the ligand and its complexes were determined by superoxide and hydroxyl radical scavenging methods in vitro. The rare earth complexes were found to possess potent antioxidant activities that are better than those of the ligand alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]