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With the aim to improve the hygroscopic stability of palmatine chloride (PMTCl), an unreported single crystal of PMT—SSA (C21H20NO4·C7H5O6S·H2O) is prepared by the solvent evaporation method and characterized. A comprehensive analysis of the structure and Hirshfeld surface reveals that π—π stacking plays a crucial role in accumulating PMT—SSA. As expected, the hygroscopic stability of PMT—SSA is significantly improved compared with that of PMTCl. This may be due to the presence of π—π stacking in the structure of PMT—SSA which improves the hygroscopic stability. The present work inaugurates an avenue for improving the hygroscopic stability of active pharmaceutical ingredients and provides a novel crystalline product with a bright commercial prospect. Unfortunately, the maximum solubility of PMT—SSA is lower than that of PMTCl. How to improve its solubility will be explored in subsequent studies. However, it is surprising that PMT—SSA shows advantages with regard to antibacterial properties in comparison to PMTCl.

Background The diagnosis of hypertension should be based on the mean of two or more properly measured BP readings on each of two visits for clinical practice, but a one-visit strategy was applied in most epidemiological surveys. The impact of hypertension definition based on two visits on estimates of hypertension burden is unknown. This study aims to assess the impact of hypertension diagnosis based on a two-visit strategy for estimating hypertension burden in China. Methods The one-visit and two-visit strategies were applied to investigate the incidence of hypertension in a cohort study based on the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) 1989-2011. Additionally the prevalence of hypertension was investigated in a cross-sectional study based on the CHNS 2006-2009/2011 and the hypertension burden in China was estimated with data from the 2012-2015 China hypertension survey. Results Overall, the age-adjusted incidence of hypertension based on the two-visit strategy (1.82%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.74-1.90%) was 62.1% lower than estimation based on the one-visit strategy (4.80%; 95% CI, 4.68-4.93%). Similar results were found in the prevalence of hypertension (one-visit: 18.13% [95% CI, 17.34-18.92%]; two-visit: 9.47% [95% CI, 8.87-10.07%]). When the two-visit strategy was applied to the 2012-2015 China hypertension survey, the hypertension burden was predicted to be overestimated by 25.5-47.8% (based on JNC 7) and 23.5-48.2% (based on the 2017 ACC/AHA). Conclusion The hypertension burden would decrease from 244.5 million persons to 127.5-182.3 million persons in China if the two-visit strategy was applied.

To explore the difference between robot assisted (RA) and stereotactic frame based (SF) stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) in patients with medically refractory epilepsy.We undertook a retrospective review of 33 SEEG cases at our center, of which 14 were SF performed from March to October 2018 and 19 were RA performed from November 2018 to December 2019. Detailed review of medical histories and operative records as well as imaging and trajectory plans was carried out for each patient, and the results related to each technique compared. A multiple linear regression model was used to test for variables that significantly influenced placement error.Compared to the SF group, the RA group had a higher mean number of electrodes per patient (10.7 ± 2.8 versus 6.4 ± 0.8, P 0.0001) and a significantly shorter mean operative time (127.3 ± 40.7 versus 152.7 ± 13.6 min, P = 0.033). For the RA group, the intracranial implantation length was positively correlated with target point error (p = 0.000), depth error (p = 0.043), and two-dimensional (2D) radial error (p = 0.041). Conversely, skull thickness was negatively correlated with the TP error (p = 0.004), depth error (p = 0.037) and 2D radial error (p = 0.000). We also analyzed the mean entry point, target point, depth and 2D radial errors, the complication rates, and the results of epileptogenic zone (EZ) localization and Engel class. The results showed no difference in these aspects between the SF group and the RA group.This study suggests that, compared to stereotactic frame based SEEG, robot assisted SEEG is significantly more efficient and comparable in safety and effectiveness.

BACKGROUND The fruiting body of Pleurotus tuoliensis deteriorates rapidly after harvest, causing a decline in its commercial value and a great reduction in its shelf life. According to the present research, carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) may cause the softening, liquefaction and autolysis of mature mushrooms after harvest. To further understand the in vivo molecular mechanism of CAZymes affecting the postharvest quality of P. tuoliensis fruiting bodies, a tandem mass tags labelling combined liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (TMT-MS/MS) proteomic analysis was performed on P. tuoliensis fruiting bodies during storage at 25 °C. RESULTS A total of 4737 proteins were identified, which had at least one unique peptide and had a confidence level above 95%. Consequently, 1307 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were recruited using the criteria of abundance fold change (FC) >1.5 or

Background The prevalence of overweight is increasing dramatically worldwide. The aim of our study was to investigate the association of plain water intake (PWI) with the risk of new-onset overweight risk among Chinese adults. Methods A total of 3,200 adults aged 18-65 who were free of overweight at baseline were enrolled from China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) cohort study in 2006-2011. The risk of new-onset overweight with different amounts of PWI per day was analyzed in this 5-year cohort. A multiple logistic regression model was used to assess the association of PWI and the risk of new-onset overweight and adjust for potential confounders. Moreover, dose-response models were developed to estimate the linear relationship. Results During 5 years of follow-up, 1,018 incident cases were identified. Our analysis indicated an inverse association of more than 4 cups of PWI per day and the risk of new-onset overweight among normal weight individuals. Compared with participants who drank 2 to 3 cups PWI, the adjusted odds ratios (OR) of overweight were 0.741 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.599-0.916) in participants who drank 4 to 5 cups PWI, and 0.547 (95% CI, 0.435-0.687) in participants who drank more than 6 cups PWI. The dose-response analysis showed that every cup of PWI was associated with a 6.5% and 8.4% decrease in the risk of new-onset overweight among men and women, respectively. The interactions of PWI and covariates on the risk of overweight were not found. Conclusion Drinking more than 4 cups (≈1 liter) per day of plain water is associated with decrease in the risk of new-onset overweight among normal-weight individuals.

Wood is produced by accumulation of secondary xylem via proliferation and differentiation of the cambium cells in woody plants. Identifying the regulators involved in this process remains a challenging task. In this study, we isolated PagSAG101a, the homolog of Arabidopsis thaliana SAG101, from a hybrid poplar (Populus alba × P. glandulosa) clone 84K and investigated its role in secondary xylem development. PagSAG101a was expressed predominantly in lignified stems and localized in the nucleus. Compared with non-transgenic 84K plants, transgenic plants overexpressing PagSAG101a displayed increased plant height, internode number, stem diameter, xylem width, and secondary cell wall thickness, while opposite phenotypes were observed for PagSAG101a knock-out plants. Transcriptome analyses revealed that differentially expressed genes were enriched for those controlling cambium cell division activity and subsequent secondary cell wall deposition during xylem formation. In addition, the tandem CCCH zinc finger protein PagC3H17, which positively regulates secondary xylem width and secondary wall thickening in poplar, could bind to the promoter of PagSAG101a and mediate the regulation of xylem differentiation. Our results support that PagC3H17, downstream of PagC3H17, functions in wood development. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Brassinosteroids have been implicated in the differentiation of vascular cell types in herbaceous plants, but their roles during secondary growth and wood formation are not well defined. Here we pharmacologically and genetically manipulated brassinosteroid levels in poplar trees and assayed the effects on secondary growth and wood formation, and on gene expression within stems. Elevated brassinosteroid levels resulted in increases in secondary growth and tension wood formation, while inhibition of brassinosteroid synthesis resulted in decreased growth and secondary vascular differentiation. Analysis of gene expression showed that brassinosteroid action is positively associated with genes involved in cell differentiation and cell-wall biosynthesis. The results presented here show that brassinosteroids play a foundational role in the regulation of secondary growth and wood formation, in part through the regulation of cell differentiation and secondary cell wall biosynthesis.

Edwardsiella ictaluri, a Gram-negative intracellular pathogen, is the causative agent of enteric septicemia in channel catfish, and catfish aquaculture in China suffers heavy economic losses due to E. ictaluri infection. Vaccination is an effective control measure for this disease. In this study, an attenuated E. ictaluri strain was acquired through deletion mutation of the T3SS protein eseJ

Growth-regulating factors (GRFs) are important regulators of plant development and growth, but their possible roles in xylem development in woody plants remain unclear. Here, we report that Populus alba × Papulus glandulosa PagGRF12a negatively regulates xylem development in poplar. PagGRF12a is expressed in vascular tissues. Compared to non-transgenic control plants, transgenic poplar plants overexpressing PagGRF12a exhibited reduced xylem width and plants with repressed expression of PagGRF12a exhibited increased xylem width. Xylem NAC domain 1 (XND1) encodes a NAC domain transcription factor that regulates xylem development and transcriptional analyses revealed that PagXND1a is highly upregulated in PagGRF12a-overexpressing plants and downregulated in PagGRF12a-suppressed plants, indicating that PagGRF12a may regulate xylem development through PagXND1a. Transient transcriptional assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation-polymerase chain reaction assays confirmed that PagGRF12a directly upregulates PagXND1a. In addition, PagGRF12a interacts with the GRF-Interacting Factor (GIF) PagGIF1b, and this interaction enhances the effects of PagGRF12a on PagXND1a. Our results indicate that PagGRF12a inhibits xylem development by upregulating the expression of PagXND1a.

In this study, a hypothetical protein (ORF02740) secreted by Edwardsiella piscicida was identified. We renamed the ORF02740 protein as EvpQ, which is encoded by a mobile genetic element (MGE) in E. piscicida genome. The evpQ gene is spaced by 513 genes from type VI secretion system (T6SS) gene cluster. Low GC content, three tRNA, and three transposase genes nearby evpQ define this MGE that evpQ localizes as a genomic island. Sequence analysis reveals that EvpQ shares a conserved domain of C70 family cysteine protease and shares 23.91% identity with T3SS effector AvrRpt2 of phytopathogenic Erwinia amylovora. Instead, EvpQ of E. piscicida is proved to be secreted at a T6SS-dependent manner, and it can be translocated into host cells. EvpQ is thereof a novel T6SS effector. Significantly decreased competitive index of ΔevpQ strain in blue gourami fish (0.53 ± 0.27 in head kidney and 0.44 ± 0.19 in spleen) indicates that EvpQ contributes to the pathogenesis of E. piscicida. At 8-, 18-, and 24-h post-subculture into DMEM, the transcription of evpQ was found to be negatively regulated by Fur and positively regulated by EsrC, and the steady-state protein levels of EvpQ are negatively controlled by RpoS. Our study lays a foundation for further understanding the pathogenic role of T6SS in edwardsiellosis.

BACKGROUND: Ultrafiltration (UF) volume and peritoneal solute transport rate (PSTR) are common parameters used to evaluate the efficacy of peritoneal dialysis (PD) on individual patients. It is unclear whether the level of exosomal microRNA (miRNA) in peritoneal dialysis effluent (PDE) can predict UF or PSTR. This study was designed to investigate if there is a correlation between PDE exosomal miRNA (miR-432-5p) levels and various UF volumes and PSTRs in PD patients. It also aimed to explore the underlying mechanism of water and dialytic sodium removal (DSR). METHODS: The PSTR was quantified using the 4-hour (4 h) 3.86% dialysate to plasma creatinine ratio. The PDE exosomes (PDE-exo) were isolated by ultracentrifugation. An miRNA assay was used to identify the different miRNA in the PDE-exo of patients in a high (H; PSTR >0.65, n=5) and low (L; PSTR

The value evaluation of endangered species can provide important supports for policy-making in biodiversity conservation. We evaluated the stakeholders' preference and willingness to pay (WTP) from the perspective of stakeholders by the choice experiment method (CEM) and discussed the ecological compensation mechanism, with濒危物种价值评估可为生物多样性保护提供重要的政策支撑。本文以国家二级重点保护植物翅果油树为例,从利益相关者视角作为切入点,基于选择实验法评价其偏好和支付意愿(WTP),进而探讨生态补偿机制。基于管理部门、企业和农户三方利益相关者的利益诉求,分析确定了5个翅果油树的物种属性,即种植面积、产品分类、树苗品种、保护投入和农户收益。运用随机参数Logit模型分析了利益相关者对不同物种属性变量的偏好和支付意愿。结果表明: 受访者对“保护增加投入”偏好最强和支付意愿最高,每户为331.00 yuan·a

Background: Previous studies have reported that roux-en Y gastric bypass surgery (RYGBS) can benefit patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, their conclusions are still inconsistent. Thus, this study will aim to assess the effect of RYGBS for patients with T2DM. Methods: In this study, the electronic databases of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, CINAHL, AMED, and CNKI from inceptions to the present without any limitations to language and publication status. All randomized controlled trials on assessing the effect of RYGBS for patients with T2DM will be included in this study. Two independent authors will carry out study search and selection according to the previous designed inclusion and exclusion criteria. At the same time, 2 authors will independently evaluate the risk of bias assessment by Cochrane risk of bias tool. Any disagreements between 2 authors will be solved by a third author through discussion. RevMan 5.3 software will be utilized for statistical analysis. Results: This study will summarize the most recent studies and will provide a deeper understanding about using the effect of RYGBS for patients with T2DM. Conclusions: The findings of this study will present the existing evidence for the effect of RYGBS for patients with T2DM. Systematic review registration: INPLASY202040127.

Lactobacillus paracasei FZU103, a probiotic previously isolated from the traditional brewing process of Hongqu rice wine, may have the beneficial effect of improving the disorder of lipid metabolism. This study aimed to determine the beneficial effects of L. paracasei FZU103 on improving hepatic lipid accumulation associated with hyperlipidemia. Results indicated that L. paracasei FZU103 intervention significantly inhibited the abnormal growth of body weight and epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT), prevented the hypertrophy of epididymal adipocytes, ameliorated the biochemical parameters of serum and liver related to lipid metabolism in HFD-fed mice. Histological analysis also showed that the excessive accumulation oflipid dropletsin the livers induced by HFD-feeding was greatly alleviated by L. paracasei FZU103 intervention. In addition, L. paracasei FZU103 also promoted the excretion of bile acids (BAs) through feces. Metagenomic analysis revealed that oral supplementation with L. paracasei FZU103 significantly increased the relative abundance of Ruminococcus, Alistipes, Pseudoflavonifractor and Helicobacter, but decreased the levels of Blautia, Staphylococcos and Tannerella in HFD-fed mice. The relationships between lipid metabolic parameters and intestinal microbial phylotypes were also revealed by correlation heatmap and network. Furthermore, ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF/MS)-based liver metabolomics demonstrated that L. paracasei FZU103 had a significant regulatory effect on the metabolic pathways of glycerophospholipid metabolism, fatty acid degradation, fatty acid elongation, unsaturated fatty acids biosynthesis, riboflavin metabolism, glycerolipid metabolism, primary bile acid biosynthesis, arachidonic acid metabolism, etc. Additionally, L. paracasei FZU103 intervention regulated expression of hepatic genes involved in lipid metabolism and bile acid homeostasis, and promoted fecal excretion of intestinal BAs. These findings present new evidence supporting that L. paracasei FZU103 has the potential to improve lipid metabolism, and could be used as a potential functional food for the prevention of hyperlipidemia.

The purpose of this study was to culture and characterise bacteria from an intact abscess on the skin of a dead Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera edeni) which stranded in the northern Beibu Gulf, China. To grow bacteria, samples from the abscess were added to blood agar. After incubation, yellowish mucous colonies were visualized. The bacterium was firstly recognised as Shewanella algae by the VITEK® 2 System. However, by using 16S rRNA gene sequencing the bacterium was finally identified as S. indica. To characterise the bacterium, antibiotic susceptibility and virulence factors, such as hemolysis and biofilm formation were investigated. The bacterium is capable of β-hemolysis and biofilm formation and it is also sensitive to several different classes of antibiotics, such as β-lactams, quinolones, and aminoglycosides. To date there have been no reports of this bacterium causing infections in humans or animals. However, in this study we described the first case of S. indica isolated from an intact abscess on the back of a Bryde's whale.

Zinc is essential for almost all living organisms, since it serves as a crucial cofactor for transcription factors and enzymes. However, it is toxic to cell growth when present in excess. The present work aims to investigate the toxicity mechanisms induced by zinc stress in yeast cells. To this end, 108 yeast single-gene deletion mutants were identified sensitive to 6 mM ZnCl2 through a genome-wide screen. These genes were predominantly related to the biological processes of vacuolar acidification and transport, polyphosphate metabolic process, cytosolic transport, the process utilizing autophagic mechanism. A result from the measurement of intracellular zinc content showed that 64 mutants accumulated higher intracellular zinc under zinc stress than the wild-type cells. We further measured the intracellular ROS (reactive oxygen species) levels of 108 zinc-sensitive mutants treated with 3 mM ZnCl2. We showed that the intracellular ROS levels in 51 mutants were increased by high zinc stress, suggesting their possible involvement in regulating ROS homeostasis in response to high zinc. The results also revealed that excess zinc could generate oxidative damage and then activate the expression of several antioxidant defenses genes. Taken together, the data obtained indicated that excess zinc toxicity might be mainly due to the high intracellular zinc levels and ROS levels induced by zinc stress in yeast cells. Our current findings would provide a basis to understand the molecular mechanisms of zinc toxicity in yeast cells.

The transcription factor NF-κB is a key regulator of cellular processes. A mechanism that contributes to timely termination of NF-κB activity is UPS-dependent degradation of p65 in the nucleus or on chromatin. The ubiquitin-specific protease that takes part in this process and its molecular mechanisms are shown in previous study, but which structural feature of USP48 was responsible for these effects is unknown. Here, we show that maybe the stability of NF-κB is controlled by proteasome-mediated degradation and ubiquitin-specific protease 48 (USP48), also known as synaptic ubiquitin-specific protease (synUSP) or USP31, can enhance NF-κB stability through proteasome-dependent regulation in the nucleus. USP48 contains a carboxyl-terminal nuclear localizing signal, 938RHRK941, which is responsible for its nuclear translocation. Our results demonstrate a more detailed mechanism for this member of the USP gene family in cellular processes.

A meta-analysis.To update the current knowledge about the association between overweight, obesity, and low back pain (LBP) risk, we conducted a meta-analysis of published cohort studies.The association between obesity and LBP risk has been the research focus in the past decade. However, available data from studies on the association between obesity and LBP remains debatable.An extensive English language literature retrieval regarding the association between overweight, obesity, and the risk of LBP incidence was conducted on PubMed and EMBASE databases through December 2015. Meta-analysis for all the included literature was performed by STATA 12.0 to summarize test performance with Forest plots after a heterogeneity test. Moreover, subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed to examine the potential candidate-effect factors.A total of 10 cohort studies including 29,748 subjects satisfied the predefined eligibility criteria. The pooled odds ratio (OR) for overweight and obesity compared with normal weight was 1.15 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.08-1.21) and 1.36 (95% CI, 1.18-1.57), respectively. Moreover, subgroup analysis proved that increased body mass index was associated with an increased incidence of LBP in both men (overweight: pooled OR=1.16, 95% CI, 1.04-1.31; obesity: pooled OR=1.36, 95% CI, 1.15-1.61) and women (overweight: pooled OR=1.24, 95% CI, 1.04-1.50; obesity: pooled OR=1.40, 95% CI, 1.08-1.82). There was no evidence of publication bias.Our findings consistently show that overweight and obesity are risk factors for LBP in men and women. Maintaining a healthy body weight may be one of the factors preventing the occurrence of LBP.Level 1.

Objective The association between mutations in the USP26 gene and male infertility has been studied intensively. However, the biological function of the mutant proteins remains to be elucidated. To confirm the effects of the reported mutations, we analyse the enzyme activity of USP26 between the wild-type and the variants from a molecular perspective. Methods Using pGEX-USP26 as a template, site-directed mutagenesis was conducted to generate nineteen USP26 mutant plasmids. Using Ub-Met-β-gal and GST-Ub52 as model substrates, a USP cleavage assay was conducted to assess the enzymatic activities of the mutants. Results The enzyme activity of the Q156H mutant disappeared, but the other 18 mutants had the same activity as the wild type. E174# and E189# were terminal mutants, but they still had the same activity as the wild type. When we constructed the transcription terminal mutants E174#(1-522 bp), E174#(523-2742 bp), E189#(1-567 bp) and E189#(568-2742 bp) artificially, the enzyme activity of these four mutants disappeared. Conclusions We have successfully constructed nineteen mutants of USP26. The enzyme activity of the Q156H mutant disappeared, but the enzyme activities of the other 18 mutants were the same as that of the wild type.

The present study aimed to investigate the impacts of telmisartan (TEL) on hepatic fibrosis, serum leptin, leptin protein in liver tissue and its mRNA expression level in rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into the control (N), model (M), polyene phosphatidylcholine (P) and TEL (T) groups. Group M and the intervention groups were given a high-fat diet for 12 weeks to induce NAFLD, followed by 4 weeks of intragastric administration of normal saline (1.0 ml/kg/day), polyene phosphatidylcholine (PPC; 123.1 mg/kg/day) and TEL (8 mg/kg/day). The liver tissue was then assessed for the NAFLD activity score and fibrosis score (FS), and serum biochemistry and leptin levels were determined. Additionally, leptin protein expression levels were examined by western blotting and the expression of leptin mRNA was investigated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. TEL significantly improved FS in rats (P0.05). TEL reduced serum leptin, leptin protein and its mRNA in the liver tissue of NAFLD rats, and improved the pathological indicators of liver fibrosis.

The present study aimed to identify candidate substrates of ubiquitin-specific protease (USP)13 using two-dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE). USP13 is a well-characterized member of the USP family, which regulates diverse cellular functions by cleaving ubiquitin from ubiquitinated protein substrates. However, existing studies indicate that USP13 has no detectable hydrolytic activity in vitro. This finding implies that USP13 likely has different substrate specificity. In this study, a USP cleavage assay was performed using two different types of model substrates (glutathione S-transferase-Ub52 and ubiquitin-β-galactosidase) to detect the deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB) activity of USP13. In addition, a proteomic approach was taken by using 2D-DIGE to detect cellular proteins whose expressoin is significantly altered in 293T cell lines following the overexpression of USP13 or its C345S mutant (the catalytically inactive form). The data indicated that USP13 still has no detectable DUB activity in vitro nor does C345S. The results of 2D-DIGE demonstrated that the expression of several proteins increased or decreased significantly in 293T cells following the overexpression of USP13. Mass spec-troscopy analysis of gel spots identified 7 proteins, including 4 proteins with an increased expression, namely vinculin, thimet oligopeptidase, cleavage and polyadenylation specific factor 3, and methylosome protein 50, and 3 proteins with a decreased expression, namely adenylosuccinate synthetase, annexin and phosphoglycerate mutase. In addition, in the samples of 293T cell lines after the overexpression of USP13 and USP13 C345S, vinculin exhibited an increased expression, suggesting that it may be a candidate substrate of USP13. However, sufficient follow-up validation studies are required in order to determine whether vinculin protein directly interacts with USP13.

The type III secretion system effector EseJ plays a regulatory role inside bacteria. It suppresses the adherence of Edwardsiella piscicida (E. piscicida) to host epithelial cells by down regulating type 1 fimbriae. In this study, we observed that more macrophages infected with ΔeseJ strain of E. piscicida detached as compared with those infected with the wild-type (WT) strain. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) staining and cleaved caspase-3 examination revealed that the detachment is due to increased apoptosis, suggesting that EseJ suppresses macrophage apoptosis. However, apoptosis inhibition by EseJ is not relative to a type III secretion system (T3SS) and is not related to EseJ's translocation. Since EseJ negatively regulates type 1 fimbriae, murine J774A.1 cells were infected with ΔeseJΔfimA or ΔeseJΔfimH strains. It was demonstrated that ΔeseJ stimulates macrophage apoptosis through type 1 fimbriae. Moreover, we found that infecting J774A.1 cells with the ΔeseJ strain increased levels of cleaved caspase-8, caspase-9, and caspase-3, demonstrating that EseJ inhibits apoptosis through either an extrinsic or a combination of extrinsic and intrinsic pathways. Pre-treatment of macrophages with caspase-8 inhibitor prior to infection with the ΔeseJ strain decreased the levels of cleaved caspase-8, caspase-9, and caspase-3, indicating that the ΔeseJ strain stimulates apoptosis, mainly through an extrinsic pathway by up regulating type 1 fimbriae. Zebrafish larvae or blue gourami fish infected with the ΔeseJ strain consistently exhibited higher apoptosis than those infected with the E. piscicida WT strain or ΔeseJΔfimA strain. Taken together, we revealed that the T3SS protein EseJ of E. piscicida inhibits host apoptosis, mainly through an extrinsic pathway by down regulating type 1 fimbriae.

The type III secretion system (T3SS) is one of the most important virulence factors of the fish pathogen Edwardsiella piscicida. It contains three translocon proteins, EseB, EseC, and EseD, required for translocation of effector proteins into host cells. We have previously shown that EseB forms filamentous appendages on the surface of E. piscicida, and these filamentous structures mediate bacterial cell-cell interactions promoting autoaggregation and biofilm formation. In the present study, we show that EseC, but not EseD, inhibits the autoaggregation and biofilm formation of E. piscicida. At 18 h postsubculture, a Delta eseC strain developed strong autoaggregation and mature biofilm formation, accompanied by enhanced formation of EseB filamentous appendages. This is in contrast to the weak autoaggregation and immature biofilm formation seen in the E. piscicida wild-type strain. EseE, a protein that directly binds to EseC and also positively regulates the transcription of the escC-eseE operon, was liberated and showed increased levels in the absence of EseC. This led to augmented transcription of the escC-eseE operon, thereby increasing the steady-state protein levels of intracellular EseB, EseD, and EseE, as well as biofilm formation. Notably, the levels of intracellular EseB and EseD produced by the Delta eseE and Delta eseC Delta eseE strains were similar but remarkably lower than those produced by the wild-type strain at 18 h postsubculture. Taken together, we have shown that the translocon protein EseC inhibits biofilm formation through sequestering EseE, a positive regulator of the escC-eseE operon. IMPORTANCE Edwardsiella piscicida, previously known as Edwardsiella tarda, is a Gram-negative intracellular pathogen that mainly infects fish. The type III secretion system (T3SS) plays a pivotal role in its pathogenesis. The T3SS translocon protein EseB is required for the assembly of filamentous appendages on the surface of E. piscicida. The interactions between the appendages facilitate autoaggregation and biofilm formation. In this study, we explored the role of the other two translocon proteins, EseC and EseD, in biofilm formation. We have demonstrated that EseC, but not EseD, inhibits the autoaggregation and biofilm formation of E. piscicida, providing new insights into the regulatory mechanism involved in E. piscicida biofilm formation.

Biodiversity hotspots at the global and national scale have contributed important information for biodiversity conservation; however, in hotspot designation two kinds of “gap” greatly limit conservation planning, which this study identifies as the “scale gap” and the “conservation gap”. To address the gap, we integrated systematic conservation planning (SCP) with gap analysis to optimize solutions of protected areas planning at local scales. In this study, we presented a quantitative spatial methodology for prioritization and downscaled to a planning case study in the province of Shanxi, China. First, the spatial distribution of 54 threatened plant species were mapped at fine resolution, and scenarios of conservation targets for taxa were generated according to species attributes, which are both the necessary inputs in selection algorithm of priority conservation. Then we determined 17 priority conservation areas using SCP, which only cover ∼5% of the total area but could represent 100% of the threatened plant species in Shanxi Province. We confirmed that priority conservation areas determined based on SCP can achieve maximum efficiency of conservation, especially considering representation of small-ranged species. Further, through overlapping priority conservation areas with nature reserves, six conservation gaps were identified for future conservation efforts. Our findings provide suggestions for protected areas network planning of botanical conservation in real-world contexts. The proposed method of integrating SCP with gap analysis can be generally used in bridging the gap between biodiversity priority areas and protected areas in proactive planning and management protocol for biodiversity conservation.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of auricular subcutaneous penetration needling combining with row acupuncture at meridian sinew on prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc. Methods One hundred and three patients with prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc were treated with a combined treatment of auricular subcutaneous penetration needling and row acupuncture at meridian sinew. Results Of 103 patients, 46 cases were cured, 33 were markedly effective, 21 effective and 3 ineffective. The total effective rate was 97.1% (100/103). Conclusion The combined treatment of auricular subcutaneous penetration needling and row acupuncture at meridian sinew has a significant efficacy for the treatment of prolapse of lumbar intervertebral disc.

It has been reported that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of Alpha-synuclein (SNCA) are associated with Parkinson's disease (PD). Some researchers have attempted to validate this finding in various ethnic populations. The results of studies concerning SNCA polymorphisms and PD susceptibility remain conflicting. To evaluate the association between these SNPs and PD, the authors conducted a series of meta-analyses using a predefined protocol. Databases including PubMed, MEDLINE and PD gene were searched to identify relevant studies. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the strength of the association. All analyses were calculated using STATA11.0. A total of 19 studies on the SNPS rs181489, rs356186, rs356219, rs894278, rs2583988, rs2619363, rs2619364, rs2737029, rs10005233 and rs11931074 were included. This meta-analysis showed that eight out of these 10 candidate SNPs may be associated with PD risk. Significant association was found between PD and the following SNPs: rs181489, rs356186, rs356219, rs894278 rs2583988, rs2619364, rs10005233 and rs11931074. Among these SNPs, rs356186 was found to be the only SNP that may play a protective role in Parkinson's disease. These results suggest that the SNCA gene may be associated with PD.

Natural killer lysin (NK-lysin), produced by cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells, is a cationic antimicrobial peptide that has a broad antimicrobial spectrum, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Nevertheless, the implication of NK-lysin in the protection against bacterial infection is not aware in common carp. In this study, six different NK-lysin genes (nkl1, nkl2, nkl3, nkl4, nkl5 and nkl6) were identified in the common carp genome. Each of the mature peptides of common carp NK-lysin has six well-conserved cysteine residues, and shares a Saposin B domain, characteristic of saposin-like protein (SALIP) family. The gene nkl1 contains 5 extrons and 4 introns, and nkl2, nkl3, nkl4 or nkl5 contains 4 extrons and 3 introns, however, the nkl6 has 3 extrons and 2 introns. By quantitative real-time PCR, nkl2 transcripts were predominantly expressed in spleen of healthy common carp, while elevated mainly in gill and spleen upon Aeromonas hydrophila infection. The recombinant NK-lysin-2 purified from Pichia pastoris shows antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive), and Escherichia coli M15, Aeromonas hydrophila, as well as Edwardsiella tarda (Gram-negative), the latter two are important pathogens of aquaculture. Our results indicate that NK-lysin in common carp might play an important role in fish immune response by enhancing antibacterial defense against bacterial pathogens.

This paper mainly addresses a novel control law with rigidity matrix based on three co-leaders minimally persistent formations in the plane. This control law particularly considers the fault tolerance of the leaders, and in this way, the three co-leaders model is better than leader-first follower model, leader-remote follower model, etc. in persistent formation. Firstly, the first order kinematic model is adopted for every agent. Then the fundamental moving principal of the leaders and the followers are described in detail. On the basis of these principals, the control law with the rigidity matrix for the whole formation is proposed. Moreover, the stability analysis is also supplied. Finally, simulations show that the proposed controllers ensure the group formation stabilized to maintain the rigid shape, while the distances between the agents remain unchanged.

With rapid economic development in China, the frequency of that new buildings replace old buildings increases gradually in rural areas, which inevitably results in the emergence of a large amount of waste clay brick. The processing of construction waste takes up a lot of land resources and worsen the existing rural environmental pollution situation. using waste clay brick to prepare recycled coarse aggregate concrete not only can effectively eliminate construction waste and reduce the consumption of original coarse aggregate and thus the cost of buildings, but also solves a series of environmental problems—it conforms to the concept of "green building" and stands in line with the strategic objectives of sustainable development. This paper researched on the influence of recycled coarse aggregate gradation and water cement ratio to the strength of recycled concrete at first, then experimentally verified the application feasibility of recycled coarse aggregate self-compacting concrete.

The torque-controlled expansion anchors, undercut anchors,bonded anchors and special inverted conical chemical anchors subjected to tension load, which including single anchor, two anchors, four anchors and eight anchors are tested. Failure mode and tension performance of anchor group are investigated, and test value and calculative value of ultimate load are compared. Experimental results show that some anchor group occur the concrete cone failure under tension load, and others occur steel failure under tension load. Test value and calculative value of ultimate load are compared, and the result meets well.

In this work, SiO2has been selected to be introduced into the system to improve the high-frequency magnetic properties of Ba1.5Sr1.5Co2Fe24O41hexaferrites. The influence of SiO2additive on the phase composition, microstructures and high-frequency magnetic properties of the samples prepared by solid-state reaction were investigated. The results indicate that the major phase of doped samples is Z-type ferrite. The addition of SiO2causes a decrease of the average grain size. Permeability measurements indicate that SiO2doping significantly improves the magnetic characteristics of those samples. With the doping content of SiO2increasing from 0 to 8wt%, the initial permeability decreases from 5.8 to 2.6, and the cut-off frequency rises up from 1.5GHz to over 1.8GHz. Meanwhile, the quality factor of the samples sintered at 1200°C varies with the SiO2content, and a maximum quality factor at 1GHz of Q=14 was found for x=4wt%. The improvements of magnetic properties and the high quality factors are crucial for applications of Z-type hexaferrites in high-frequency communication systems.

This article firstly designed four specimens, including a contrastive specimen and three chemical anchorage reinforcement specimens which reinforcing the beam ends in different ways and then applied low-cycle reciprocating to the four specimens. This paper analyzed the anchor failure performance of the anchorage specimens by testing and data .The research concluded that the chemical anchorage can meet the component single drawing to components yield without failure. With the increasing of the loading series and the cycles improving, the parts of the anchor bars were pulled out.

M-type barium hexaferrite (BaM) is a promising gyromagnetic material for self-biased microwave\millimeter wave devices because of its large uniaxial magnetocrystalline anisotropy and low microwave loss in high frequency. Due to the limitation of growth conditions, it is difficult to deposit BaM films with enough thickness by PLD, MBE and Magnetron Sputtering for practical application. However, it is demonstrated in present experiment that large area polycrystalline BaM thick films (500μm) with self-biasing (high remanence) and low microwave loss can be successfully fabricated by tape casting. X-ray diffraction and Scanning electron microscopy results indicate that these BaM thick films have highly c-axis oriented crystallographic texture with hexagonal morphology. Magnetic hysteresis loops reveal that samples exhibit excellent properties with a saturate magnetization (4πMs) of 3606G, a high squareness ratio (Mr/Ms) of 0.82. In addition, ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) measurement shows that the FMR linewidth is as small as 431Oe at 48GHz. These parameters ensure these BaM thick films are potentially useful for self-biased microwave\millimeter wave devices such as circulator, phase shifter and filter.

To make full use of waste clay bricks, we made recycled coarse aggregate by waste clay bricks and used it in self-compacting recycled concrete. In order to improve the utilization rate of recycled coarse aggregate and realize good workability, we adopted skeleton dense accumulation method. With the fitted curve method, we obtained an accumulation curve of recycled coarse aggregate with reasonable gradation. Under the same conditions, we made contrast test with the recycled coarse aggregate by different gradation way. Through contrast test, we found that the recycled concrete with skeleton dense accumulation method has better performance in strength and workability, and his method improved the utilization rate of the recycled coarse aggregate.

This paper expounds the excellent characteristics of CFRP in engineering application, analyzes the scope of application of CFRP reinforced plastics.This paper introduces the principle and the carbon fiber composite reinforcement method and frame beams and carbon fiber reinforced beam in the structure of the calculation results were analyzed .By SAP2000 software analyzing, results show that after using CFRP reinforced plastics has dramatically enhanced the bearing capacity of the frame beam, improve the ductility of the components, prolong the life span of the structure .

This paper firstly introduces the basic principle of PUSHOVER analysis and general steps of analysis. And then use the actual construction example to illustrate its application. This paper aims to evaluate the anti-seismic property through setting the parameters, building the data model and establishing the PUSHOVER conditions, and then do the static elastoplastic analysis. When the anti-seismic property of the building can not meet the necessary standard, the strengthening is needed. What is more, this paper employs the steel plate for reinforcement since its advantages.