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A combined zircon U-Pb, garnet-based mineral-whole-rock Sm-Nd, and hornblende/biotite 40Ar/39Ar geochronological study was conducted on polymetamorphic granulite-facies rocks from the Prydz Belt and adjacent Vestfold Block in East Antarctica. Zircon U-Pb data and zircon-garnet rare earth element distributions indicate that granulite-facies mineral assemblages of the Meknattane Nunataks-Hamm Peak area and the Reinbolt Hills in the Prydz Belt were formed at ca. 1000-900 Ma. Some Grenvilleaged (i.e., late Mesoproterozoic to early Neoproterozoic) zircons underwent partial U-Pb resetting, without new growth, during Pan-African-aged (i.e., late Neoproterozoic to Cambrian) metamorphism. Mineral-wholerock Sm-Nd dating yielded isochron ages of 865-672 Ma for the Meknattane Nunataks-Hamm Peak area, 504-483 Ma for the Reinbolt Hills, and 670-589 Ma for the Vestfold Hills. These results suggest that Pan-Africanaged reworking was inhomogeneous, leading to either partial or complete resetting of the garnet Sm-Nd isotopic system in different areas. Apparently, Sm-Nd ages might have geological meaning only when the isotopic system of garnet (including other contemporaneous minerals) has been completely reset. In this regard, garnet-based Sm-Nd geochronology is less robust when applied to polymetamorphic granulite terranes. Hornblende 40Ar/39Ar dating produced an older age of 526 Ma for the Vestfold Hills, whereas biotite 40Ar/39Ar ages showed slight differences among the studied areas, with ages of 514-497 Ma for the Meknattane Nunataks-Hamm Peak area, 482-467 Ma for the Reinbolt Hills, and 520-509 Ma for the Vestfold Hills. These age patterns imply that 40Ar/39Ar dating of minerals can constrain the cooling time of the latest metamorphic event only, and cooling times to the Ar closure temperature of biotite differ among different parts of the Prydz Belt. Integration of the new results with available Sm-Nd and 40Ar/39Ar data indicates that the Prydz Belt underwent rapid tectonic uplift and cooling from lower to mid- and upper-crustal depths during postorogenic evolution. The Vestfold Block might have been located at the margin of the high-temperature Prydz Belt and underwent relatively low-temperature reworking and earlier cooling during the Pan-African-aged orogeny. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study explored the specific relationship between different lipid indicators and cognitive impairment and aimed to provide a reference for implementing targeted lipid regulation measures to prevent and alleviate cognitive impairment. Methods: We searched three databases (PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science) for literature related to hyperlipidaemia, lipid levels, and cognitive impairment, and used the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale to evaluate the quality of the identified literature. A meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4, and the combined effect size ratio using a random-effects model (odds ratio [OR] and 95% confidence interval [CI]) was used to evaluate the association between dyslipidaemia and cognitive impairment. Results: Among initially identified 2247 papers, we ultimately included 18 studies involving a total of 758,074 patients. The results of the meta-analysis revealed that patients with hyperlipidaemia had a 1.23-fold higher risk of cognitive impairment than those with normal lipid levels (OR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.04-1.47, p = 0.02). Further subgroup analysis showed that elevated total cholesterol (TC) levels increased the risk of cognitive impairment by 1.59-fold (OR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.27-2.01, p < 0.0001) and were more significant in older or male patients. Moreover, elevated triglyceride levels were inversely correlated with cognitive disorders, whereas elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were unrelated to cognitive impairment risk. Conclusions: Dyslipidaemia was strongly associated with cognitive impairment, and elevated TC levels were a risk factor for cognitive impairment. Furthermore, the damaging effects of elevated TC levels on cognition were more pronounced in older and male populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phlomoides is one of the largest genera of Lamiaceae with approximately 150–170 species distributed mainly in Eurasia. In this study, we describe and illustrate a new species, P. henryi, which was previously misidentified as P. bracteosa, from Yunnan Province, southwest China. Molecular phylogenetic analyses revealed that P. henryi is found within a clade in which most species lack basal leaves. In this clade, the new species is morphologically distinct from P. rotata in having an obvious stem and, from the rest, by having transparent to white trichomes inside the upper corolla lip. In addition, micro-features of trichomes on the calyx and leaf epidermis can differentiate the new species from other species grouped in the same clade and a key, based on trichome morphology for these species, is provided. The findings demonstrate that the use of scanning electron microscopy can reveal inconspicuous morphological affinities amongst morphologically similar species and play an important role in the taxonomic study of the genus Phlomoides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metamodel technology provides an efficient method to approximate complex engineering design problems. However, the approximation for high-dimensional problems usually requires a large number of samples for most traditional metamodeling methods, which leads to the difficulty of "curse of dimensionality." To address the aforementioned issue, this paper presents the Net-high dimension model representation (HDMR) method based on the Cut-HDMR framework. Compared with traditional HDMR modeling, the Net-HDMR method incorporates two novel modeling approaches that improve the modeling efficiency of high-dimensional problems. The first approach enhances the modeling accuracy of HDMR by using the net function interpolation method to decompose the component functions into a series of one-dimensional net functions. The second approach adopts the CV-Voronoi sequence sampling method to effectively represent one-dimensional net functions with limited samples. Overall, the proposed method transforms complex high-dimensional problems into fitting finite one-dimensional splines, thereby increasing the modeling efficiency while ensuring approximate accuracy. Six numerical benchmark examples with different dimensions are examined to demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed Net-HDMR. An engineering problem of thermal stress and deformation analysis for a jet engine turbine blade was introduced to verify the engineering feasibility of the proposed Net-HDMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the characteristics of 13N decay, a monitoring method of the primary loop leakage rate based on the y-y coincidence method was proposed. In this work, sampling and measure- ment devices were designed, in which NaI (TI) crystals were used as coincidence detectors. The Geant4 simulation method was used to study the relationship between the efficiency ε and capacity V change of different devices, and the εV value under the corresponding capacity was obtained. According to the value of εV, the optimal sampling and measurement device was determined, and then the detection efficiency of the device was calibrated experimentally. Taking the 600 000 kW reactor of Qinshan Phase II as the research object, the lower limit of detection was discussed. When the sampling point was located in the fume hood of the control rod drive mechanism, the theoretical lower limit of the coincidence method was 0.756 Lh-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of primary liver cancer, and different hepatitis viruses might affect the prognosis of patients with HCC. Objectives: This study aimed to reveal the differences in the postoperative prognosis of patients with hepatitis B virus-related HCC (HBV-HCC), hepatitis C virus-related HCC (HCV-HCC), and non-HBV non-HCV hepatocellular carcinoma (NBNC-HCC). Methods: The databases PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched for articles published until April 2022. Stata software version 12 and Review Manager version 5.4 were used to conduct the meta-analysis, and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement was adopted in this study. Results: In the present study, 26 papers on a total of 20381 participants who met the inclusion criteria were analyzed. The 5-year overall survival in the HBV-HCC and HCV-HCC groups was lower than in the NBNC-HCC group (HBV-HCC vs. NBNC-HCC, P = 0.005; HCV-HCC vs. NBNC-HCC, P = 0.001). Patients with HBV-HCC and HCV-HCC had worse 5-year recurrence-free survival than patients with NBNC-HCC (HBV-HCC vs. NBNC-HCC, P = 0; HCV-HCC vs. NBNC-HCC, P = 0). In addition, the 5-year recurrence-free rate in the HCV-HCC group was lower than in the HBV-HCC group (P = 0). The observed association between serum alpha-fetoprotein levels and the postoperative prognosis was inconsistent in different subgroups. Conclusions: Patients with NBNC-HCC had a significantly better postoperative prognosis than those with virus-related HCC. The alpha-fetoprotein levels significantly correlated with the postoperative prognosis of patients with HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Internet of Things manufacturing technology is an important symbol for measuring the level of a country's scientific and technological development. Enterprises that apply the Internet of Things manufacturing technology represent the level of a country's industrial development to a large extent. However, the introduction of IoT manufacturing technology will not automatically generate benefits. It needs to be matched with a suitable organizational structure to maximize the advantages of IoT manufacturing technology. The enterprise organization structure has always been the focus of enterprise organization research and management research. From the linear system to the network organization, the innovation of enterprise organizational structure has never stopped. Therefore, the research on the organizational structure innovation of IoT manufacturing technology enterprises has strong theoretical and practical significance. This study conducted an empirical study on the impact of organizational innovation climate and individual innovation behavior on organizational structure innovation in IoT manufacturing technology enterprises in the form of a questionnaire survey. The structural equation model of organizational innovation climate and personal innovation behavior is proposed, the data and questionnaires are statistically and factorially analyzed by software such as SPSS 18.0 and AMOS 7.0, and the hypothesized structural equation model is verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rain-shelter cultivation could protect grape berries from many diseases and affect grape berry quality. However, there have been few studies of the effects of rainshelter cultivation on the accumulation of volatiles in Shuijing grapes grown in Yunnan Province. Therefore, the goal of this research was to explore the effects of rain-shelter cultivation on the accumulation of volatiles in Shuijing grape berries during development. The Shuijing grapes used during this study were grown in the Yunnan Province of southwest China in two consecutive vintages (2018 and 2019). The results showed that rainshelter cultivation promoted grape ripening and inhibited volatiles synthesis in Shuijing grape berries. However, the application of rain shelters did not affect the accumulation patterns of volatiles; instead, it affected the concentrations of volatiles in Shuijing grape berries, especially during the maturation phase [12-15 weeks after flowering (WAF)]. The concentrations of isoprenoid-derived volatiles (2019), fatty acid-derived volatiles, and amino acid-derived benzenoids in Shuijing grape berries were decreased by rain-shelter cultivation during the maturation phase. The concentration of 2,5-dimethyl-4-methoxy3(2H)-furanone (mesifurane) was also decreased by rain-shelter cultivation during the late maturation phase (14 and 15 WAF). A principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that the vintage had a much greater influence on the physicochemical parameters and volatiles of the Shuijing grape berries than the cultivation method. This work reveals the formation and accumulation patterns of volatiles of Shuijing grape berries under rainshelter cultivation during development and has significance for exploring the potential of rain-shelter cultivation in grape-producing regions with excessive rainfall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

* Context.--Concomitant BCR-ABL1 and JAK2V617F in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) is rare, and its pathogenesis and clinical significance are unclear. Objective.--To investigate the clonal relationship between the 2 genomic alterations, as well as the clinicopathologic impact. Design.--Retrospective analysis of MPNs with sequential development of BCR-ABL1 and JAK2V617F. Results.--Of 6 cases, 5 had JAK2V617F-positive MPN diagnosed before acquiring BCR-ABL1 years later, and 1 had BCR-ABL1+chronic myeloid leukemia before JAK2V617F-positive myelofibrosis completely replaced the BCR-ABL1+ clone 1 year after tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy. Among the former group, treatment for the initial MPN involved hydroxyurea, ruxolitinib, and/or supportive care, and the latency to the development of JAK2V617F ranged from 4 to 13 years (median of 9 years). Four cases showed retention of JAK2V617F, whereas BCR-ABL1 emerged as the major clone, including 2 cases that exhibited parallel increases in JAK2V617F and BCR-ABL1 burdens, with both genomic markers exceeding 50%. Three patients received stem cell transplants and demonstrated sustained engraftment, with the genomic markers below detectable levels. Conclusions.--Most MPNs with concomitant JAK2V617F and BCR-ABL1 are actually composite MPNs with a "second hit" residing on a different clone. Rare cases demonstrate a subclone harboring a "double-hit" in a background of a JAK2V617F-positive stem line clone. The probability of a "double-hit" with a BCR-ABL1+ stem line clone is probably reduced by effective tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment. The treatment often involves combined kinase inhibitors and/or hydroxyurea, but the outcome is unpredictable; hematopoietic stem cell transplantation may be the ultimate therapeutic option for this complicated disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autoparasitoids are important biocontrol agents for controlling hemipteran pests. Females of these wasps lay fertilized eggs in whitefly nymphs (primary host) which develop as females. The males develop as hyperparasitoids from unfertilized eggs on conspecific or other primary parasitoid species (as secondary hosts). To date, the effects of mating and secondary host sex on hyperparasitism have been largely neglected. We studied heteronomous hyperparasitism of mated and unmated Encarsia sophia (Girault & Dodd) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) females on different secondary hosts (conspecific or heterospecific: Eretmocerus hayati Zolnerowich & Rose (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae)) in no-choice and paired-choice bioassays. We demonstrated that regardless of their mating status E. sophia females were unable to parasitize male secondary hosts. Although mating of E. sophia females had no effect on the number of parasitized conspecific females, the number of heterospecific females (E. hayati) parasitized by mated E. sophia was greater than in the unmated females. The mating status of E. sophia females had no effect on host feeding on conspecific secondary hosts, but it did increase host feeding on heterospecific secondary hosts (E. hayati). In no-choice bioassays, both mated and unmated E. sophia females preferred E. sophia third instar female larvae and one-day-old E. hayati female pupae as their hosts, and preferred to feed on E. sophia third instar female larvae. In paired-choice bioassays, E. sophia females preferred to feed on E. hayati male pupae over female pupae, and consumed more E. sophia female pupae than male pupae regardless of mating status. Our results suggest that mating status modulates parasitism and host feeding of E. sophia females on heterospecific secondary hosts. In addition, we demonstrated that E. sophia females are unable to parasitize secondary male hosts to produce E. sophia males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive phosphorus is an important cause of eutrophication. For river basin management, source identification and control of nonpoint source (NPS) pollution are difficult. In this study, to explore influences of hydrological conditions on phosphorus, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model is applied to the Luanhe River basin in North China. Moreover, influences of the spatial scale of the livestock and poultry amount data on estimations of phosphorus loads are also discussed. The results show that applying town-level livestock and poultry amount data allows the model to perform better when estimating phosphorus loads, indicating that using data at a finer administrative level is necessary. For the typical wet year, the estimated annual phosphorus load was 2.6 times that in the typical dry year. Meanwhile, the contribution of pollution in summer to the annual load is greater in the wet year than that in the dry year. The spatial distributions of subbasins with high unit loads of phosphorus differ under different hydrological conditions, meaning that critical areas for pollution control vary with the wetness of each year. All these findings indicate that for pollution control at basin scale, considering the seasonal and interannual variabilities in hydrological conditions is highly demanded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the effects of astragaloside on the proliferation, invasion, migration and apoptosis of nonsmall cell lung cancer A549 cells and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mechanistic target of rapamycin pathway. After A549 cells were treated with 0, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 µmol/l astragaloside for 24 h, the survival rate was measured by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay and the half maximal inhibitory concentration was calculated. Astragaloside at half maximal inhibitory concentration was added. Cell invasion, migration and apoptosis were detected by transwell assay, wound healing assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The effects of astragaloside on the expressions of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mechanistic target of rapamycin pathway-related proteins were detected by western blotting. After different concentrations of astragaloside were added, cell proliferation declined with increasing concentration. Half maximal inhibitory concentration against A549 cell proliferation was 32.2 µmol/l. Compared with blank control group; cell proliferation; invasion and migration were significantly weakened, while apoptosis was enhanced in astragaloside group. The expressions of phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, phosphorylation of protein kinase B and phosphorylation of mechanistic target of rapamycin proteins in astragaloside group were significantly lower than those in blank control group. Astragaloside inhibits the proliferation, invasion and migration, and promotes the apoptosis of nonsmall cell lung cancer A549 cells dose-dependently. Inhibiting phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, phosphorylation of protein kinase B and phosphorylation of mechanistic target of rapamycin expressions in the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mechanistic target of rapamycin pathway may be one of the mechanisms of astragaloside. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer‐related death. Even if early detection and treatment have proven to be effective, the survival outcomes are still poor. Methods: Tissue samples and clinicopathological data of 244 patients with clinical T1N0M0 NSCLC were collected. We investigated CXCR4, CXCR5 and CCR7 expression levels using the immunohistochemical method and analyzed their correlations with clinicopathological characteristics and survival outcomes. Results: Elevated expression levels of CXCR4, CXCR5 and CCR7 were found in tumor tissues (P < 0.001). The expression levels were remarkably different in histological type (CXCR4, P = 0.032; CXCR5, P < 0.001; CCR7, P < 0.001) and LVI (CXCR4, P = 0.017; CXCR5, P = 0.030; CCR7, P < 0.001). In addition, CXCR4 and CXCR5 expression were significantly different in tumor differentiation (CXCR4, P < 0.001; CXCR5, P < 0.001). Survival analysis showed that patients with positive CXCR4 expression had a significantly lower five‐year DFS (P = 0.007) and a lower five‐year OS (P = 0.010). Patients in the CXCR5 positive group had a significantly lower five‐year DFS (P = 0.038) and a lower five‐year OS (P = 0.220), which were statistically insignificant. However, five‐year DFS and five‐year OS of patients with positive CCR7 expression were significantly higher (DFS: P < 0.001; OS: P < 0.001). CXCR5 and CCR7 expression were found to be independent prognostic factors through multivariate analysis. Conclusions: Expression levels of CXCR4, CXCR5 and CCR7 were significantly higher in tumor tissues, and expression of CXCR5 and CCR7 were independent prognostic factors for survival. Moreover, all three chemokines were correlated to the survival outcomes of patients with clinical T1N0M0 NSCLC, providing potential prognosticators and therapy targets for lung cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this article is to use the microscope image method to analyze the prediction of the amount of water inflow from the working face of the coal mine field during the production process, and explore the measures for the prevention and control of water damage. On the basis of collecting and summarizing similar research results at home and abroad, the mine water inflow prediction equipment and water hazard prevention methods were constructed using microscopic image technology. For the outline of the mine, the motion history image method is introduced to map the motion in the image sequence to a static image, and the complex shape dynamic change problem is converted into a relatively simple static shape description problem, and then the image description method is used to obtain the characteristics of this image. Describe the size, direction and dynamic shape of mine outline movement. On the basis of identifying the water filling factors of the pit and obtaining reliable calculation parameters, the large well method is used to predict and analyze the water inflow and the prevention of water damage in the mining area, which is of great significance for the design of the mine water inrush prediction equipment and the design of water damage prevention. According to the analysis, the prediction result of the big well method is 166.10m3 / h as the most suitable basis for the prevention and control of water in the mining area. Based on this, the ground and underground water damage prevention measures are proposed. For the first 10 sets of data (within the theoretical prediction time), the average prediction error is 3.63%, The maximum prediction error is 7.42%; for the last 10 sets of data, the average prediction error is 5.14%, the maximum prediction error is 14.11%, and the comparison of microscopic images shows that the accuracy of the comparison of the traditional mine water inflow is increased by 23%, Which can effectively improve the prediction of water inflow and provide a strong guarantee for the prevention of equipment and water damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: While numerous epidemiological studies have indicated that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have anticancer properties in various cancers, the effects and mechanisms of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in ovarian cancer cell growth are poorly understood. Materials and Methods: ES2 ovarian clear cell carcinoma cells and SKOV3 adenocarcinoma cells were treated with palmitic acid or EPA, followed by flow cytometry and cell counting to measure apoptosis and proliferation, respectively. A modified protein lipid overlay assay was used to further verify whether EPA was a ligand of G protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30) in ES2 cells. The levels of apoptosis-related genes, phosphorylated AKT, and phosphorylated ERK1/2 were detected to explore the underlying mechanism. Finally, inhibitory effect of EPA on tumor growth via GPR30 was determined in vitro and in vivo. Results: EPA suppressed ES2 ovarian clear cell carcinoma cells growth via GPR30, a novel EPA receptor, by inducing apoptosis. As a ligand of GPR30, EPA activated the GPR30-cAMP-protein kinase A signaling pathway. When GPR30 was suppressed by siRNA or its inhibitor G15, the antiproliferative action of EPA was impaired. Furthermore, EPA inhibited tumor growth by blocking the activation of AKT and ERK. In the mouse xenograft model, EPA decreased tumor volume and weight through GPR30 by blocking tumor cell proliferation. Conclusion: These results confirm that EPA is a tumor suppressor in human ovarian clear cell carcinoma cells and functions through a novel fatty acid receptor, GPR30, indicating a mechanistic linkage between omega-3 fatty acids and cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein prenylation is an essential posttranslational modification and includes protein farnesylation and geranylgeranylation using farnesyl diphosphate or geranylgeranyl diphosphate as substrates, respectively. Geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase is a branch point enzyme in the mevalonate pathway that affects the ratio of farnesyl diphosphate to geranylgeranyl diphosphate. Abnormal geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase expression and activity can therefore disrupt the balance of farnesylation and geranylgeranylation and alter the ratio between farnesylated and geranylgeranylated proteins. This change is associated with the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a condition characterized by hepatic fat overload. Of note, differential accumulation of farnesylated and geranylgeranylated proteins has been associated with differential stages of NAFLD and NAFLD-associated liver fibrosis. In this review, we summarize key aspects of protein prenylation as well as advances that have uncovered the regulation of associated metabolic patterns and signaling pathways, such as Ras GTPase signaling, involved in NAFLD progression. Additionally, we discuss unique opportunities for targeting prenylation in NAFLD/hepatocellular carcinoma with agents such as statins and bisphosphonates to improve clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the nursing effect of children's strabismus correction under microscope, and to formulate and analyze the nursing intervention methods. From June 2018 to June 2019, 150 cases of children's strabismus correction under microscope were selected as the research object. According to the sequence of admission, they were divided into observation group and control group, 75 cases in each group. The control group received routine nursing; the observation group received comprehensive nursing intervention. The scores of anxiety (HAMA) and depression (HAMD), the incidence of adverse reactions, the effect of treatment and patients' satisfaction were compared before and after treatment. After nursing intervention, the scores of anxiety (HAMA) and depression (HAMD) in the two groups were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05); compared with the control group, the incidence of adverse reactions in the observation group was significantly lower (P < 0.05); the curative effect of the observation group was better than that of the control group (P < 0.05); compared with the control group, the patients' satisfaction in the observation group was significantly lower (P < 0.05); The differences were statistically significant, which could be used to evaluate the effect of nursing intervention. Under the microscope, the comprehensive nursing intervention of children strabismus correction can effectively reduce the occurrence of adverse reactions, enhance the effect of surgical treatment and improve the satisfaction of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Crohn's disease (CD) primarily affects young female adults of reproductive age. Few studies have been conducted on this population's ovarian reserve status. The aim of study was to investigate potential risk factors associated with low ovarian reserve, as reflected by serum anti-Mu?llerian hormone (AMH) in women of reproductive age with CD. Methods: This was a case-control study. Cases included 87 patients with established CD, and healthy controls were matched by age, height and weight in a 1:1 ratio. Serum AMH levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The average serum AMH level was significantly lower in CD patients than in control group (2.47 ± 2.08 ng/mL vs. 3.87 ± 1.96 ng/mL, respectively, P< 0.001). Serum AMH levels were comparable between CD patients and control group under 25 years of age (4.41± 1.52 ng/mL vs. 3.49 ± 2.10 ng/mL, P= 0.06), however, serum AMH levels were significantly lower in CD patients over 25 years of age compared to control group (P< 0.05). Multivariable analysis showed that an age greater than 25 (odds ratio [OR], 10.03; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.90-52.93, P= 0.007), active disease state (OR, 27.99; 95% CI, 6.13-127.95, P< 0.001) and thalidomide use (OR, 15.66; 95% CI, 2.22-110.65, P= 0.006) were independent risk factors associated with low ovarian reserve (serum AMH levels < 2 ng/mL) in CD patients. Conclusions: Ovarian reserve is impaired in young women of reproductive age with CD. Age over 25 and an active disease state were both independently associated with low ovarian reserve. Thalidomide use could result in impaired ovarian reserve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on surface magnetic resonance sounding (MRS), a relationship is proposed to express the MRS response signal with a vertical coil for the MRS method for a whole underground space model. Firstly, the declination and inclination characteristics of the Earth's magnetic field and the coil normal angle are studied by deriving the angle rotation matrix. Surprisingly, the results indicate that the MRS signal can be effectively improved by changing the normal direction of the coil perpendicular to that of the Earth's magnetic field. The advanced detection distance of the underground MRS method is closely related to the exciting pulse moment and the receiving sensitivity. Hence, a larger pulse moment and high receiving sensitivity correspond to a longer advanced detection distance. However, the limited transmitting moment will reduce the advanced detection distance. In the research coincident loop with the coil 2 m by 2 m square is employed. In order to overcome the noises with 1 nV and 100 nV level, the turns of loop should be 100 turns and 400 turns, respectively. Finally, the numerical simulation results verify the feasibility of underground whole MRS theory and resolution analysis method for the advanced detection of water-inrush disasters in mines and tunnels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structural relaxation of a glass forming liquid, methyl m-toluate, is studied in the deeply supercooled region near glass transition with the calorimetric and dielectric techniques. The thermodynamics and kinetics of the enthalpy relaxation are focused, and the kinetic studies are paralleled with dielectric relaxation. Relaxation enthalpies are expressed in two manners, and the numerical determination is based on the quantity of heat involved in the enthalpy recoveries from the relaxed glasses to liquids through glass transition. The correlations between the relaxation enthalpies and fragility are examined, and the remarkable dependence is visible for both cases. The enthalpy and dielectric relaxations in the liquid reveal comparable results of the fragility indices and stretching exponents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is correlated with a poor prognosis and high mortality worldwide. Neuronal pentraxin 1 (NPTX1) has been reported to play an oncogenic role in several types of tumors. However, its expression and function in HCC is not yet fully understood. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the clinicopathological significance of NPTX1 in HCC and the underlying mechanisms. We observed that the expression of NPTX1 was decreased significantly in HCC and was associated with tumor size and metastasis in patients. Gain-of-function approaches revealed that NPTX1 suppressed the growth ability of HCC cells and contributed to mitochondria-related apoptosis. Furthermore, mechanistic investigations showed that the AKT (AKT serine/threonine kinase) pathway can regulate the effects of NPTX1 in HCC cells. After blocking the AKT pathway, the action of NPTX1 was greatly increased. In summary, we demonstrated that NPTX1 inhibited growth and promoted apoptosis in HCC via an AKT-mediated signaling mechanism. These findings indicate that NPTX1 is a potential clinical therapeutic target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PyOD is an open-source Python toolbox for performing scalable outlier detection on multivariate data. Uniquely, it provides access to a wide range of outlier detection algorithms, including established outlier ensembles and more recent neural network-based approaches, under a single, well-documented API designed for use by both practitioners and researchers. With robustness and scalability in mind, best practices such as unit testing, continuous integration, code coverage, maintainability checks, interactive examples and parallelization are emphasized as core components in the toolbox's development. PyOD is compatible with both Python 2 and 3 and can be installed through Python Package Index (PyPI) or https://github.com/yzhao062/pyod. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: The present study aimed to explore the function of NEAT1 on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), as well as its underlying mechanisms. Methods: Quantitative realtime PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to measure NEAT1 expression in NSCLC tissues and cells. MTT assay and transwell assay were performed to detect cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Potential target genes were identified via luciferase reporter assay. Protein analysis was performed through western blotting. Results: The expressions of NEAT1 were significantly higher in both of NSCLC tissues and cells than in normal controls. High expression of NEAT1 was significantly associated with TNM stage (P=0.000) and metastasis (P=0.000). NEAT1 knockdown inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of NSCLC cells. Hypoxia induction mediated by HIF-2α promoted EMT and NEAT1 expressions. Moreover, miR-101- 3p was a target of NEAT1. We also found that SOX9 was a target of miR-101-3p. Oncogenic function of NEAT1 on NSCLC progression was mediated by miR-101-3p/SOX9/Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Conclusion: NEAT1 up-regulation induced by HIF-2α over-expression could promote the progression of NSCLC under hypoxic condition. Moreover, NEAT1 also takes part in NSCLC progression via miR-101-3p/SOX9/Wnt/β-catenin axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of intermittent aeration and an influent distributary on NH4+-N removal, total nitrogen (TN) removal, nitrous oxide (N2O) emission and the abundances of nitrogen removal and N2O emission functional genes in four types of ecological soil wastewater infiltration systems (ESWISs) (which were conventional ESWIS 1 (operated without aeration and influent distributary), ESWIS 2 (operated with intermittent aeration), ESWIS 3 (operated with influent distributary) and ESWIS 4 (operated with intermittent aeration and influent distributary)) were studied. Intermittent aeration in ESWIS 2 and 4 created aerobic conditions above 50 cm depth of the matrix and anoxic or anaerobic conditions in the lower matrix (below 80 cm depth). ESWIS 4 improved NH4+-N (to 90.1%) and TN (to 87.8%) removal efficiencies and increased the abundances of eight nitrogen removal and N2O emission functional genes (amoA, nxrA, narG, napA, nirS, nirK, qnorB and nosZ) in contrast with other ESWISs. The combination of intermittent aeration and influent distributary achieved the lowest N2O emission rate of 34.7 mg/(m² d) in ESWIS 4. Intermittent aeration combined with influent distributary was recommended for ESWISs to enhance nitrogen removal and reduce N2O emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: The present study aimed to explore the function of NEAT1 on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), as well as its underlying mechanisms. Methods: Quantitative realtime PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to measure NEAT1 expression in NSCLC tissues and cells. MTT assay and transwell assay were performed to detect cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Potential target genes were identified via luciferase reporter assay. Protein analysis was performed through western blotting. Results: The expressions of NEAT1 were significantly higher in both of NSCLC tissues and cells than in normal controls. High expression of NEAT1 was significantly associated with TNM stage (P=0.000) and metastasis (P=0.000). NEAT1 knockdown inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of NSCLC cells. Hypoxia induction mediated by HIF-2α promoted EMT and NEAT1 expressions. Moreover, miR-101-3p was a target of NEAT1. We also found that SOX9 was a target of miR-101-3p. Oncogenic function of NEAT1 on NSCLC progression was mediated by miR-101-3p/SOX9/Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Conclusion: NEAT1 up-regulation induced by HIF-2α over-expression could promote the progression of NSCLC under hypoxic condition. Moreover, NEAT1 also takes part in NSCLC progression via miR-101-3p/SOX9/Wnt/β-catenin axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the research on the regioselective direct C7 arylation of indoles by directing groups. It mentions use of tertiary phosphine group in delivering rhodium catalysts to the carbon-hydrogen bond for the direct arylation of indole. Topics include the reactivity and selectivity of indole group, use of commercial Wilkinson's catalyst and synthesis of marine alkaloid dictyodendrin B.

Based on the theory of "harmony of body and mind" traditional culture, this paper combines the traditional Chinese language culture with the expression of dance art. By embedding various aspects of expression elements of language into the classroom of dance art, students can appreciate the dance art while achieving the purpose of learning Chinese language culture. Based on this idea, an integrated innovative teaching method is developed, which is then tentatively applied in the domestic and international Chinese language culture communication classrooms. The results show that the combination of Chinese language culture in the dance teaching of ethnic minorities in China is conducive to enhancing students' learning enthusiasm, especially for the spreading of traditional culture. In foreign countries, the learning effect and learning interest among primary and middle school students, college students and adults are improved by more than 2 times when traditional Chinese dance, local dance teaching and Chinese language culture are integrated. Therefore, the integration of dance art teaching and Chinese language culture is of great help to improve students' oral learning and practical application, which is of great significance to traditional communication and inheritance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic peroxy radicals (RO2) are key intermediates in the atmospheric degradation of organic matter and fuel combustion, but to date, few direct studies of specific RO2 in complex reaction systems exist, leading to large gaps in our understanding of their fate. We show, using direct, speciated measurements of a suite of RO2 and gas-phase dimers from O3-initiated oxidation of α-pinene, that ~150 gaseous dimers (C16-20H24-34O4-13) are primarily formed through RO2 cross-reactions, with a typical rate constant of 0.75-2 × 10-12 cm³ molecule-1 s-1 and a lower-limit dimer formation branching ratio of 4%. These findings imply a gaseous dimer yield that varies strongly with nitric oxide (NO) concentrations, of at least 0.2-2.5% by mole (0.5-6.6% by mass) for conditions typical of forested regions with low to moderate anthropogenic influence (i.e., ≤50-parts per trillion NO). Given their very low volatility, the gaseous C16-20 dimers provide a potentially important organicmedium for initial particle formation, and alone can explain 5-60%of α-pinene secondary organic aerosol mass yields measured at atmospherically relevant particle mass loadings. The responses of RO2, dimers, and highly oxygenated multifunctional compounds (HOM) to reacted α-pinene concentration and NO imply that an average ~20% of primary α-pinene RO2 from OH reaction and 10% from ozonolysis autoxidize at 3-10 s-1 and ≥1 s-1, respectively, confirming both oxidation pathways produce HOM efficiently, even at higher NO concentrations typical of urban areas. Thus, gas-phase dimer formation and RO2 autoxidation are ubiquitous sources of low-volatility organic compounds capable of driving atmospheric particle formation and growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated matrix oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), nitrogen removal, N2O emission and nitrogen removal functional gene abundance in three subsurface wastewater infiltration systems (SWISs), named SWIS A (without aeration or shunt distributing wastewater), SWIS B (with shunt distributing wastewater) and SWIS C (with intermittent aeration and shunt distributing wastewater) under different shunt ratios. Aerobic conditions were produced at a depth of 50 cm and anoxic or anaerobic conditions were not changed at depths of 80 and 110 cm by aeration in SWIS C. High average removal rates of chemical oxygen demand (COD) (83.1% for SWIS B, 90.9% for SWIS C), NH3-N (74.3% for SWIS B, 90.8% for SWIS C) and total nitrogen (TN) (61.1% for SWIS B, 87.9% for SWIS C) were obtained under shunt ratios of 1:3 and 1:2 for SWIS B and C, respectively. The lowest N2O emission rate (28.4 mg/(m² d)) and highest nitrogen removal functional gene abundances were achieved in SWIS C under a 1:2 shunt ratio. The results suggested intermittent aeration and shunt distributing wastewater combined strategy would enhance nitrogen removal and reduce N2O emission for SWISs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a fatal form of lung cancer with a poor prognosis. Coagulation system had been confirmed closely related to tumor progression and the hypercoagulable state encouraged the immune infiltration and development of tumor cells, leading to a poor prognosis in cancer patients. However, the use of the coagulation-related genes (CRGs) for prognosis in LUAD has yet to be determined. In this study, we constructed an immune-related signature (CRRS) and identified a potential coagulation-related biomarker (P2RX1). Methods: We obtained a total of 209 CRGs based on two coagulation-related KEGG pathways, then developed the CRRS signature by using the TCGA-LUAD RNA-seq data via the procedure of LASSO-Cox regression, stepwise-Cox regression, univariate and multivariate Cox regression. Grouped by the CRRS, Kaplan– Meier survival curves and receiver operating characteristic curves were drawn for the training and validation sets, respectively. In addition, single-sample gene set enrichment analysis was exploited to explore immune infiltration level. Moreover, immunophenotypes and immunotherapy grouped by CRRS were further analyzed. Results: We developed an immune-related signature (CRRS) composed of COL1A2, F2, PLAUR, C4BPA, and P2RX1 in LUAD. CRRS was an independent risk factor for overall survival and displayed stable and powerful performance. Additionally, CRRS possessed distinctly superior accuracy than traditional clinical variables and molecular features. Functional analysis indicated that the differentially high expressed genes in the low-risk group significantly enriched in T cell and B cell receptor signaling pathways. The low-risk group was sensitive to antiPD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy and displayed abundant immune infiltration and immune checkpoint gene expression. Finally, we identified an independent prognostic gene P2RX1. Low expression of P2RX1 associated with poor overall survival and decreased immune infiltration. Conclusions: Our study revealed a significant correlation between CRRS and immune infiltration. CRRS could serve as a promising tool to improve the clinical outcomes for individual LUAD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the authors analyse the ergodic capacity of the downlink channel in a hybrid satellite-terrestrial cooperative system. The satellite link experiences shadowed Rician fading and the terrestrial link follows Rayleigh fading. Using the moment generating function-based approach, they derived the formulae for the ergodic capacity with the amplify-and-forward protocol or the decode-and-forward protocol. Moreover, the asymptotic expression for the ergodic capacity at a high signal-to-noise ratio is derived, and the system multiplexing gain is also obtained. Using the asymptotic results, they propose a simple relay selection strategy, which only requires the knowledge of channel statistics. Monte Carlo simulations are provided to confirm the analytical results, and to illustrate the effect of different factors, in terms of the number of relays, channel conditions, and the cooperative protocol, on the ergodic capacity. Numerical results show that the analytical results are highly accurate in the single relay scenario and have low computational complexity in the multi-relay scenario. In addition, the proposed relay selection strategy achieves low overhead in the price of a little performance degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the solution deposition planarization (SDP) technique for deposition of oxide layer for the IBAD-MgO template has attracted more attentions. Although the texturing mechanism of IBAD-MgO is still under debate, it is accepted that the seed-layer (the one close to the MgO) should fulfill several requirements, such as atomic flatness surface as well as material composition. In this work, in order to clarify the influence of SDP-seed layer materials on the texture of IBAD-MgO layer, we chose Gd-Zr-O, Gd2O3, ZrO2, and Y2O3 as seed layer materials. Atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), and reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED) were used to illustrate the correlation between themicrostructure of the seed layer and the texture of IBAD-MgO film. AFM analysis shows that the atomic flatness was achieved on all the SDP films, as evidenced by the RMS value of around 0.3 nm on the 1 × 1 μm2 grid area. RHEED results show that the poor texture of IBAD-MgO is present when using Gd2O3 and ZrO2 as seed layer. Like Y2O3, the SDP-GZO film as a seed layer exhibits good compatibility with IBAD-MgO. In addition, the XRD result on Gd-Zr-O xerogel powder implies that the films mainly consist of nanocrystalline Gd2Zr2O7, which is a crucial feature of an efficient barrier layer. Eventually, a Jc value of 1.65 MA·cm-2 (at 77 K, s.f.) was achieved on a full stack of YBCO/CeO2 /IBAD-MgO/SDP-layer/C276 sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-conductance, highly calcium-selective channels formed by the Orai proteins exist as store-operated CRAC channels and store-independent, arachidonic acid–activated ARC channels. Both are activated by stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1), but CRAC channels are activated by STIM1 located in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, whereas ARC channels are activated by the minor plasma membrane–associated pool of STIM1. Critically, maximally activated CRAC channel and ARC channel currents are completely additive within the same cell, and their selective activation results in their ability to each induce distinct cellular responses. We have previously shown that specific ARC channel activation requires a PKA-mediated phosphorylation of a single threonine residue (Thr389) within the cytoplasmic region of STIM1. Here, examination of the molecular basis of this phosphorylation-dependent activation revealed that phosphorylation of the Thr389 residue induces a significant structural change in the STIM1-Orai–activating region (SOAR) that interacts with the Orai proteins, and it is this change that determines the selective activation of the store-independent ARC channels versus the store-operated CRAC channels. In conclusion, our findings reveal the structural changes underlying the selective activation of STIM1-induced CRAC or ARC channels that determine the specific stimulation of these two functionally distinct Ca2+ entry pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an essential role in the tumorigenesis of osteosarcoma (OS). However, the effects of miR-1248 on chemo-resistant potential of OS have not been studied. Here, we addressed this question. Methods: The levels of miR-1248 and apoptotic protein angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AGTR1) in OS specimens were examined by RT-qPCR and Western blotting, respectively. The relationship between miR-1248 and AGTR1 was determined by analysis of Spearman's Rank Correlation Coefficients. The patient survival was determined with Kaplan-Meier curves. Bioinformatics analyses were done to predict microRNAs (miRNAs) that target AGTR1. The functional binding of miRNAs to AGTR1 mRNA was examined by a dual luciferase reporter assay. Cell viability was determined by an CCK-8 assay. Apoptosis was determined by a fluorescence-based apoptosis assay. Results: The levels of miR-1248 were significantly elevated while the levels of AGTR1 were significantly decreased in OS specimens than in paired adjacent normal tissue. The levels of miR-1248 were negatively correlated to the levels of AGTR1. Moreover, the patients with high miR-1248 levels had poorer survival than those with low MiR-1248 levels, and the patients with low AGTR1 levels had poorer survival than those with high AGTR1 levels. MiR-1248 inhibited protein translation of AGTR1, through binding to the 3'-UTR of the AGTR1 mRNA. The AGTR1-mediated cell apoptosis was suppressed by overexpressing miR-1248, and was augmented by depleting miR-1248. Conclusion: Increased miR-1248 expression in OS may inhibit AGTR1-mediated cancer cell death in chemotherapy. The outcome of chemotherapy may be improved by the suppression of miR-1248 in OS cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 70-day trial was conducted to investigate the effects of surfactin on growth performance, intestinal digestive enzymes activities, and hepatic antioxidant potential on American eel (Anguilla rostrata) at elver stage. Six hundred American eel elvers were randomly divided into five treatments with three replicates per group, 40 fish per replicate. Dietary surfactin levels of the five treatment groups were 0, 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, respectively. Final body weight, weight gain rate, and feed efficiency were significantly affected by surfactin supplementation (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in feeding rate and survival rate among all groups (P>0.05). Protease and lipase activity in the intestine were significantly increased by surfactin supplementation (P<0.05), and amylase activity was similar among all groups (P>0.05). Malondialdehyde level, total antioxidation capacity level, and activities of superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase in intestine of fish were significantly (P<0.05) affected. No significant differences in CAT activities were found among all groups (P>0.05). The results demonstrated that dietary 25 mg/kg surfactin supplementation improves growth performance, some digestive enzyme activities in the intestine, and hepatic antioxidant potential of American eel at elver stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When crude oil is dehydrated with conventional demulsifiers, the dehydration rate is low which cannot meet the existing treatment requirements. To solve this problem, in this paper, a non-polyether demulsifier (St-BA-AA) was synthesized with styrene (St), butyl acrylate (BA), and acrylic acid (AA) as monomers, vinyl triethoxy silane as modifier by emulsion polymerization, which was compounded with the conventional demulsifier (PAMAM). The influence of temperature, setting time, compound ratio, HLB, IFT of two different demulsifiers was investigated in detail. The HLB measurement indicated that the closer the proportion value of HLB to the crude oil, emulsifiers have a better ability of replacing natural emulsifiers. The IFT measurement showed that when the dosage of demulsifier was 100μmg/L, the oil/water interfacial tension reached its lowest point. By optimizing the operating condition, more than 99.6% (wt) water was removed from the crude oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a universal system control strategy for voltage source converter (VSC) based high voltage direct current (HVDC) systems. The framework of the designed control strategy consists of five layer structures considering the topology and control characteristics of the VSC-HVDC system. The control commands sent from the topmost layer can be transmitted to the next layer based on the existing communication system. When the commands are sent to each substation, the following transmission of commands between the four lower layers are realized using the internal communication system while ignoring the communication delay. This hierarchical control strategy can be easily applied to any VSC-HVDC system with any topology. Furthermore, an integrated controller for each converter is designed and implemented considering all of the possible operating states. The modular-designed integrated controller makes it quite easy to extend its operating states if necessary, and it is available for any kind of VSC. A detailed model of a VSC-HVDC system containing a DC hub is built in the PSCAD/EMTDC environment. Simulation results based on three operating conditions (the start-up process, the voltage margin control method and the master-slave control method) demonstrate the flexibility and validity of the proposed control strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Heat stress is one of the most crucial environmental factors, which reduces crop yield worldwide. In plants, the MYB family is one of the largest families of transcription factors (TFs). Although some wheat stressrelated MYB TFs have been characterized, their involvement in response to high-temperature stress has not been properly studied. Results: Six novel heat-induced MYB genes were identified by comparison with previously established de novo transcriptome sequencing data obtained from wheat plants subjected to heat treatment; genomic and complete coding sequences of these genes were isolated. All six TaMYBs were localized in the nucleus of wheat protoplasts. Transactivation assays in yeast revealed that all six proteins acted as transcriptional activators, and the activation domains were attributed to the C-termini of the six wheat MYB proteins. Phylogenetic analysis of the six TaMYBs and R2R3-MYBs from Arabidopsis revealed that all six proteins were in clades that contained stress-related MYB TFs. The expression profiles of TaMYB genes were different in wheat tissues and in response to various abiotic stresses and exogenous abscisic acid treatment. In transgenic Arabidopsis plants carrying TaMYB80 driven by the CaMV 35S promoter, tolerance to heat and drought stresses increased, which could be attributed to the increased levels of cellular abscisic acid. Conclusions: We identified six heat-induced MYB genes in wheat. We performed comprehensive analyses of the cloned MYB genes and their gene products, including gene structures, subcellular localization, transcriptional activation, phylogenetic relationships, and expression patterns in different wheat tissues and under various abiotic stresses. In particular, we showed that TaMYB80 conferred heat and drought tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis. These results contribute to our understanding of the functions of heat-induced MYB genes and provide the basis for selecting the best candidates for in-depth functional studies of heat-responsive MYB genes in wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many immune parameters show circadian rhythms during the 24-hour day in mammals. The most striking circadian oscillation is the number of circulating immune cells that display an opposite rhythm between humans and mice. The physiological roles and mechanisms of circadian variations in mouse leukocytes are well studied, whereas for humans they remain unclear because of the lack of a proper model. In this study, we found that consistent with their natural host species, mouse and human circulating leukocytes exhibited opposite circadian oscillations in humanized mice. This cyclic pattern of trafficking correlated well with the diurnal expression levels of C-X-C chemokine receptor 4, which were controlled by the intracellular hypoxia-inducible factor 1α/aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator-like heterodimer. Furthermore, we also discovered that p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases/mitogen-activated 2 had opposite effects between mice and humans in generating intracellular reactive oxygen species, which subsequently regulated HIF-1α expression. In conclusion, we propose humanized mice as a robust model for human circadian studies and reveal insights on a novel molecular clock network in the human circadian rhythm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potassium prolinate + water + ethanol (ProK/W/Eth) solution has potential use as a liquid-to-solid phase-changing absorbent for energy-efficient CO2 capture process. In this study, the equilibrium solubility of CO2 in ProK/W/Eth solutions was measured in a stirred equilibrium cell at a temperature range from 293 to 343 K and CO2 partial pressures up to 200 kPa. Density and viscosity were also measured at temperatures from 293 to 333 K and ProK molality up to 6.09 mol·kg-1 ethanol. Moreover, the CO2 loading and cyclic capacity were compared with aqueous monoethanolamine (MEA) and aqueous ProK solution. The solubility data were well-represented using a Soft model with AAD within 8.0%. The data of density and viscosity were also correlated with empirical models. The predicted results matched well the experimental data with AAD within 0.37% for density and 1.38% for viscosity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Children's Response Styles Questionnaire (CRSQ) is a widely-adopted inventory that assesses response styles in youths. It is useful in examining how coping styles (particularly rumination) may relate to depressive vulnerability in youths. Despite its utility, little is known about its applicability in non-Western cultures and CRSQ has not been evaluated using current psychometric methods including item response theory (IRT). The present study assessed the properties using IRT methods in a Chinese youth sample.Methods: Students in Grades 4-6 were recruited from seven public primary schools in Hong Kong, and a total of 581 children (280 boys and 301 girls) between 8 and 14 years of age participated in the study. A Chinese version of CRSQ was administered to them in groups at school after receiving written parental consent as well as students' assent.Results: Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a two-factor structure that was comparable to that identified in Western samples, namely, the rumination and distraction/problem-solving subscales. IRT analysis suggested that items varied in levels of item discrimination and item severity, and in precision/usefulness for assessing the underlying latent trait levels. Test information analysis indicated that rumination subscale was more useful than the distraction and problem-solving subscale in assessing the latent trait over a broader range of levels. For gender-based Differential Item Functioning (DIF) analysis, item 1 "When I am sad, I think about how alone I feel" was found to exhibit higher discriminating power for girls than boys.Conclusions: The study presents the first attempt to examine CRSQ item properties using IRT analysis and supports its validity beyond the Western cultures. The factor structure of CRSQ was found to be comparable to the West in our Chinese sample. Differential Item Functioning (DIF) evaluation suggested all but one item in the rumination subscale of the CRSQ apply equally well to both boys and girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an electrospray ion source coupled to an orthogonal continuous-flow atmospheric pressure chemical ionization region. The source can generate intense and stable currents of several specific reagent ions using a range of salt solutions prepared in methanol, thereby providing both an alternative to more common radioactive ion sources and allowing for the generation of reagent ions that are not available in current chemical ionization mass spectrometry (CIMS) techniques, such as alkaline cations. We couple the orthogonal electrospray chemical ionization (ESCI) source to a high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometer (HR-ToF-MS), and assess instrument performance through calibrations using nitric acid (HNO3/, formic acid (HCOOH), and isoprene epoxydiol (trans-β-IEPOX) gas standards, and through measurements of oxidized organic compounds formed from ozonolysis of α-pinene in a continuous-flow reaction chamber. When using iodide as the reagent ion, the HR-ToF-ESCIMS prototype has a sensitivity of 11, 2.4, and 10 cps pptv-1 per million counts per second (cps) of reagent ions and a detection limit (3σ, 5 s averaging) of 4.9, 12.5, and 1.4 pptv to HNO3, HCOOH, and IEPOX, respectively. These values are comparable to those obtained using an iodide-adduct HR-ToF-CIMS with a radioactive ion source and low-pressure ion-molecule reaction region. Applications to the α-pinene ozonolysis system demonstrates that HR-ToF- ESCIMS can generate multiple reagent ions (e.g., I-, NO-3 , acetate, Li+, Na+, K+, and NH+ 4 / having different selectivity to provide a comprehensive molecular description of a complex organic system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malignant melanoma (MM) is the most aggressive type of skin cancer. MicroRNA (miR) has been implicated in the development and progression of MM; however, their underlying mechanism of action remains largely unknown. The present study aimed to investigate the role of miR-33b in MM. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction data indicated that the expression of miR-33b was significantly reduced (P<0.01) in MM cell lines, including WM35, WM451 and SK-MEL-1, when compared with human melanocyte cells. Subsequently, WM451 and SK-MEL-1 cells were transfected with an miR-33b mimic or inhibitor. MTT assay data demonstrated that the viability of MM cells markedly decreased following miR-33b overexpression; however, viability was markedly upregulated following miR-33b knockdown. Additionally, the glycolysis level was examined. Results demonstrated that glucose consumption and lactic acid production were significantly downregulated (P<0.01) after miR-33b upregulation, whereas these levels significantly increased in MM cells transfected with miR-33b inhibitor (P<0.01), suggesting that miR-33b negatively mediates the glycolysis level in MM cells. Bioinformatics indicated that hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α was a putative target gene of miR-33b, and this was confirmed by a luciferase reporter assay, which demonstrated that miR-33b was able to directly bind to the 3' untranslated region of HIF-1α mRNA. Furthermore, the expression of HIF-1α was negatively regulated by miR-33b at the post-transcriptional level in MM cells. Overexpression of HIF-1α reversed the inhibitory effect of miR-33b on the proliferation and glycolysis in MM cells. Finally, the results of the present study demonstrated that hexokinase 2 and lactate dehydrogenase-A may be involved in miR-33b/HIF-1α mediated glycolysis in MM cells. In conclusion, these results suggest that miR-33b inhibits cell proliferation and glycolysis by targeting HIF-1α in MM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytonuclear disruption may accompany allopolyploid evolution as a consequence of the merger of different nuclear genomes in a cellular environment having only one set of progenitor organellar genomes. One path to reconcile potential cytonuclear mismatch is biased expression for maternal gene duplicates (homoeologs) encoding proteins that target to plastids and/or mitochondria. Assessment of this transcriptional form of cytonuclear coevolution at the level of individual cells or cell types remains unexplored. Using single-cell (sc-) and single-nucleus (sn-) RNAseq data from eight tissues in three allopolyploid species, we characterized cell type-specific variations of cytonuclear coevolutionary homoeologous expression and demonstrated the temporal dynamics of expression patterns across development stages during cotton fiber development. Our results provide unique insights into transcriptional cytonuclear coevolution in plant allopolyploids at the single-cell level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell proliferation and release from the bone marrow have been demonstrated to be controlled by circadian rhythms in both humans and mice. However, it is unclear whether local circadian clocks in the bone marrow influence physiological functions and life span of erythrocytes. Here, we report that loss of the clock gene Per2 significantly decreased erythrocyte life span. Mice deficient in Per2 were more susceptible to acute stresses in the erythrocytes, becoming severely anemic upon phenylhydrazine, osmotic, and H2O2 challenges. ¹H NMR-based metabolomics analysis revealed that the Per2 depletion causes significant changes in metabolic profiles of erythrocytes, including increased lactate and decreased ATP levels compared with wild-type mice. The lower ATP levels were associated with hyperfunction of Na+/K+-ATPase activity in Per2-null erythrocytes, and inhibition of Na+/K+-ATPase activity by ouabain efficiently rescued ATP levels. Per2-null mice displayed increased levels of Na+/K+-ATPase α1 (ATP1A1) in the erythrocyte membrane, and transfection of Per2 cDNA into the erythroleukemic cell line TF-1 inhibited Atp1a1 expression. Furthermore, we observed that PER2 regulates Atp1a1 transcription through interacting with trans-acting transcription factor 1 (SP1). Our findings reveal that Per2 function in the bone marrow is required for the regulation of life span in circulating erythrocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precise control of the morphology and crystalline structure of semiconductor-based photocatalyst is crucial for improving the efficiency of solar energy conversion system. In this work, taking BiVO4 semiconductor photocatalyst as an example, we investigated the formation process for the regular decahedron BiVO4 crystals prepared by a convenient hydrothermal method and found that the synthesis is undergoing a dissolution-recrystallization process, concomitantly, the phase was transformed from tetragonal zircon type to monoclinic sheelite-type. By controlling the kinetics of crystal growth for BiVO4 through regulating acidity of the reaction solution, we rationally tune the morphology of monoclinic BiVO4 from regular decahedron crystals to short rod-like particles, particularly precisely modulate the proportion of {010}/{011} facets for the decahedron BiVO4. By tuning the crystalline phase and morphologies of BiVO4 crystal, we found that the photocatalytic water oxidation activity for the well-defined BiVO4 crystal with specific configuration of {010} and {011} exposed facets can be 50 times of tetragonal BiVO4 particles. Our work shows a convenient strategy for precise control of the growth process of semiconductor-based photocatalyst, based on the understanding of the crystal morphology evolution mechanism, which will be instructive for constructing semiconductor-based photocatalysts for solar energy conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]