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Pholis fangi is a small, bottom-dwelling fish species endemic to the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea in China. While previous research has focused on its population biology and molecular structure, little is known about the early developmental stages of this species. In this study, larval and juvenile P. fangi specimens were collected from the Sheyang Sea Area, Jiangsu Province, in 2017. Morphological features were examined using microscopy, and DNA barcoding was conducted to confirm species identification. The research documented detailed changes in yolk sac, fin development, and melanophore distribution patterns across larval and juvenile stages of P. fangi. Comparative analysis with other Pholis species revealed that melanophore distribution is a key distinguishing characteristic, allowing effective differentiation between larval and juvenile stages, as well as between Pholis species. This study provides valuable insights into the early life history of P. fangi, contributing to a better understanding of the genus Pholis. The findings demonstrate the utility of combining traditional morphological observation and molecular techniques for accurate species identification, particularly during the critical larval and juvenile developmental phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Curcumin, a natural bioactive compound derived from Curcuma longa , has been widely recognized for its antifungal properties. In this study, we investigated the effects of curcumin on the phytopathogenic fungus Alternaria alternata and its pathogenicity in cherry tomato fruit. The results demonstrated that curcumin treatment significantly inhibited mycelial growth and spore germination of A. alternata in a dose-dependent manner. Scanning electron microscopy revealed alterations in the morphology of A. alternata mycelia treated with curcumin. Furthermore, curcumin treatment led to an increase in malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide contents, indicating cell membrane damage in A. alternata. Moreover, curcumin exhibited a remarkable inhibitory effect on the incidence and lesion diameters of black rot caused by A. alternata in cherry tomato fruit. Gene expression analysis revealed upregulation of defense-related genes (POD , SOD , and CAT) in tomato fruit treated with curcumin. Additionally, curcumin treatment resulted in decreased activity of exocellular pathogenic enzymes (polygalacturonase, pectin lyase, and endo-1,4-β- d -glucanase) in A. alternata. Overall, our findings highlight the potential of curcumin as an effective antifungal agent against A. alternata , providing insights into its inhibitory mechanisms on mycelial growth, spore germination, and pathogenicity in cherry tomato fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients who underwent knee joint arthroplasty were at risk of venous thromboembolic events (VTEs), however, less studies were conducted to demonstrate the epidemiology and risk factors of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) following unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA). Objective of this study was to explore the incidence and prognostic factors of DVT after UKA. Methods: Patients who underwent primary UKA from December 2018 to June 2022 were recruited in this study. Demographic characteristics, operation related variables and laboratory index were extracted and analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to detect the optimum cut-off value for variables of interest. Univariate and multivariate logistic analysis were performed to identify risk factors of DVT. Results: 351 UKAs with a mean age of 65.4 ± 7.1 years were reviewed. After 12.9 ± 11.2 months follow-up, 35 DVTs were confirmed which indicating an incidence of 9.9%. The results showed that occupation (agricultural laborer) (P = 0.008), disease duration > 8.5 years (P = 0.035), operation time > 169 min (P = 0.003), intraoperative blood loss > 102 ml (P < 0.001), BMI > 26.8 kg/m 2 (P = 0.001), preoperative D-dimer > 0.29 mg/L (P = 0.001), prothrombin time < 10.7 s (P = 0.033) and INR < 0.98 (P = 0.032) between DVT and Non-DVT group were significantly different. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed intraoperative blood loss > 102 ml (OR, 3.707; P, 0.001), BMI > 26.8 kg/m 2 (OR, 4.664; P, 0.004) and D-dimer > 0.29 mg/L (OR, 2.882; P, 0.009) were independent risk factors of DVT after UKA. Conclusion: The incidence of DVT in the present study was 9.9%, extensive intraoperative blood loss, advanced BMI and high level of D-dimer would increase the risk of lower extremity thrombosis by 2–4 times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elliptic Helical Mathieu Optical Vortices (EHMOVs) are a family of elliptical vortex beams that are different from the classical circular vortex or high-order Bessel beams. We introduced the stationary phase method to efficiently generate EHMOVs by using the combined amplitude-phase modulation. Experimental results showed that EHMOV modes take the form of an ellipse folded through Cartesian axes unlike the vortices with radial circular symmetries. The optical morphology of the EHMOV beams can be flexibly adjusted by controlling two of their parameters, namely, order number and ellipticity. In addition, the derived expression for the orbital angular momentum (OAM) of the EHMOV beams indicates that the OAM of EHMOVs is in fractions, whereas that of Bessel beams is in integers. The EHMOVs with tunable or fractional-order OAM and elliptical optical vortex structures are expected to play a new and unique role in optical manipulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil pollution has become an issue of concern with the development of industrialization. In situ gas thermal remediation is a suitable remediation technology for heavily organic contaminated soil, yet its high energy consumption limits the application. In this study, three energy-saving strategies, off-gas burn-back mode, heat-returning mode, and air-preheating mode, were proposed, and their natural gas consumption and energy utilization ratio were analysed. A mathematical model was established for the heat and mass transfer in unsaturated soil by employing conjugate heat transfer. The temperature of the soil and flue gas, and the concentration of components in the soil and off-gas were simulated, which indicated the thermal behavior of the contaminated soil and the timing for operation control. Models of burners were also developed under different energy-saving modes for energy analysis. By comparing the basic method, adopting the off-gas burn-back mode obtained an energy-saving effect of 3.37%, which relied on the content and calorific value of the pollutant in the off-gas. Under combustion air-preheating ratios of 0.5 and 1.0, natural gas could only be saved by 13.56% and 18.88%, respectively. In general, the most effective energy-saving measure was the heat-returning mode, by which 21.44% of natural gas could be saved when the reflux ratio of the flue gas was 0.5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ichthyoplankton samples were collected from Changjiang (Yangtze) River estuary in May 2016. Species composition was studied by DNA barcoding and morphological identification. To make better use of the estuarine biotic integrity index (EBI) to assess the ecosystem health of the Changjiang River estuary over the past 30 years, we collected the data of a spring ichthyoplankton survey in the estuary from 1986 to 2016. The EBI was calculated using 12 evaluation metrics, namely, the number of total ichthyoplankton species, estuarine spawning species, estuarine nursery species, estuarine resident species, benthic species, pelagic species, and intolerant species, and the percentages of tolerant species, omnivores, insectivores, carnivores, and natural hybrid species. EBI was calculated in spring in four periods (1986, 1999, 2007, and 2016) by assigning points of 1, 3 or 5, giving values of 50, 38, 36, and 32, respectively, corresponding to "Good", "Fair-Poor", "Fair-Poor", and "Poor" EBI levels, respectively. Changes in species composition were the primary reason for the significant decreases in EBI between 1986 and 1999, and for the large differences between 1986 and 2007 and between 2007 and 2016. The changes in species composition were influenced by declines in ichthyoplankton species, pollution sensitive species, estuarine nursery species and estuarine sedentary species, and an increase in pollution resistant species. An analysis of EBI interdecadal variability showed that the health status of the Changjiang River estuary ecosystem over the last 30 years first declined and then stabilized at a lower level. This result further settled the argument for urgent protection and restoration of the Changjiang River estuary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few previous studies have focused on the effect of online environment factors (teachers’ enthusiasm, group interaction, etc.) on learners’ willingness to communicate in the context of learning Chinese as a second language (CSL). To fill this gap, this study investigated 471 CSL learners (1) to explore the mediating role of online learning enjoyment and perceived group interaction on the perception of teachers’ enthusiasm and willingness to communicate in L2 in online CSL classes; and (2) to clarify whether gender, weekly self-online learning time and learning achievement moderate those relations. A moderated mediation structural equation model with good fitness revealed that both perceived group interaction and online learning enjoyment fully mediated the relationship between perceived teachers’ enthusiasm and willingness to communicate in L2, with perceived group interaction being a more vital mediator than learning enjoyment. The results illustrated that the structural mediating relationships significantly differ across genders, weekly self-learning times, and learners with different learning achievements. The findings advance the understanding of the pyramid model of willingness to communicate in online L2 learning and provide significant pedagogical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a vital energy source, light is one of the most significant environmental signals for plants' growth and development. The crosstalk amongst phytohormones regulated by light exhibits quantitative dynamic changes, but methodologies to analyze their distribution during plant growth are still limited. Rapid, highly sensitive, low-invasive detection and simultaneous assessment of the levels of multiple classes of phytohormones have important phytology applications, however the existing sample pretreatment strategies remain intricate, laborious, and far from being developed for in vivo high-sensitivity testing. (81) We applied a nanoconfined liquid phase nanoextraction (NLPNE) technique based on acidified carbon nanofibers (ACNFs) in combination with LC-ESI-MS/MS for highly sensitive analysis of acidic phytohormones' photoregulation and dynamic distribution. In this system, the mass transfer ability of analytes entering the nanoconfined space is significantly improved given the nanoconfined effect. In particular, the accelerated and strong adsorption of alkaline compounds to the ACNFs surface provide minimum interference for acidic compounds (photosensitive phytohormones), which facilitates their simple, fast, and selective quantification with improved sensitivity. The ACNFs-NLPNE strategy achieved quantitative enrichment of multi-class phytohormones in less than 5 min, and detection limits down to 0.49 fg mL−1. Moreover, we monitored the phytohormone changes under red and blue monochromatic light with relative standard deviations <13.4 %. The results further indicated that short-time red light regulation promoted Lepidium sativum L. growth while blue light inhibited it. (141) A nanoconfinement effect-based sample pretreatment platform was developed for monitoring photoregulation phytohormones dynamic distribution with higher sensitivity and stability. Our findings highlighted the importance of the NLPNE approach in providing an accurate plant crosstalk information at the molecular level, which opens a promising avenue for investigating internal hormonal responses to external stimuli. (52). [Display omitted] • A nanoconfined liquid-phase nanoextraction strategy for highly sensitive analysis of photosensitive phytohormones was developed. • The method can extract multiclass phytohormones with sensitivity as high as 0.49 fg mL−1. • Application of this strategy to monitor phytohormone changes resulted in an enrichment factor range of 226.9–292.2. • Short-time red light regulation promoted Lepidium sativum L. growth, while blue light inhibited it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flavor compounds, including total polyphenols, amino acids, and protein, in beer with extruded black rice as adjunct were detected and analyzed. Beer brewing technique has been intensively investigated in the past century. The chase of beer quality, including the color, flavor, foam, nutrition, and functionality, attracted considerable attention. Hence, headspace solid‐phase microextraction in combination with a gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (HS‐SPME‐GC–MS) was used to analyze flavor compounds qualitatively and quantitatively. A total of one organic acid, one aromatic, ten alcohols and 23 esters were present in extruded black rice adjunct beer. Protein components and molecular weight were analyzed, and the results were consistent with those of traditional beer in terms of content of foam‐stabilizing protein. The contents of essential amino acid which is an important nutritive index were higher than those in traditional rice adjunct beer, especially valine (70.9 mg/L) and threonine (42.8 mg/L). The representative ingredients of extruded black rice adjunct beer were polyphenols, nerolidol, geraniol, and geranylgeraniol which affected the functionality and antioxidant ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Since the outbreak of COVID‐19, universities in Hong Kong have implemented online and hybrid teaching modes, making computer‐assisted language learning (CALL) a primary way for English learning. Research on English learning motivation and self‐regulation has seldom considered learners' emotions (satisfaction and preparedness) and the synchronic online courses in a CALL context. Objectives: This study analyses the relationship between Hong Kong university students' motivation and self‐regulation by considering their emotions in computer‐assisted synchronic online English courses. Methods: 311 Hong Kong university students were invited to complete two questionnaires that investigated students' motivation and self‐regulation in computer‐assisted online English courses. SPSS 26 was employed for exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to extract factors and exclude unsuitable items, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed to verify the results of EFA. One‐way ANOVA was conducted to detect the impact of personal emotion on motivation and self‐regulation. AMOS 26 was adopted to construct a structural equation model (SEM) to explore the relationship between motivation and self‐regulation in the CALL context. Results and Conclusions: The results show that satisfaction and preparedness positively correlate with online English learning motivation and self‐regulation. Instrumentality‐attitude significantly predicts all factors of self‐regulation via SEM and goal setting significantly predicts all factors of motivation. With feasible English learning goals, Hong Kong university students are more proactive in learning English online where they actively interact with teachers and peers. Implications: Based on the L2 self‐system (Dörnyei, The psychology of the language learner: Individual differences in second language acquisition, 2005) and self‐determination theory (Barnard et al., Internet and Higher Education, 2009, 12, 1–6), this study clarifies the relationship between motivation and self‐regulation in the CALL context, expanding the application scope of the two theories. COVID‐19 has changed the teaching mode greatly, calling for a revolution in language education and learning. This study provides significant pedagogical implications that benefit both learners and teachers in CALL post‐COVID‐19. Lay Description: What is currently known about this topic: Motivation and self‐regulation greatly affect learners' performance in online English learning.There is a correlation between L2 learners' motivation and self‐regulation.Preparedness and satisfaction are related to learners' learning anxiety and motivation and directly affect learners' online learning achievement. What this paper adds: Satisfaction and preparedness positively correlate with online English learning motivation and self‐regulation.Instrumentality‐attitude significantly predicts all factors of self‐regulation via SEM and goal setting significantly predicts all factors of motivation.With feasible English learning goals, Hong Kong university students are more proactive in learning English online where they actively interact with teachers and peers. What are the implications of our topic for practitioners?: Learners and teachers must highlight the importance of satisfaction and preparedness in online English courses.Learners and teachers should attach great importance to the instrumentality‐attitude in the CALL context, and teachers can appropriately reduce the difficulty of English learning and design study content according to the needs of different students.Teachers should assist Hong Kong university students in formulating reasonable and feasible short‐term and long‐term learning goals at the beginning of online English courses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene has been demonstrated as a protective coating for Cu under ambient condition because of its high impermeability and light-weight oxidation barrier. However, it lacks the research of graphene as a protective coating in space environment. Here, we experimentally and theoretically study the oxidation behavior of graphene-coated Cu in vacuum atomic oxygen (AO) condition. After AO irradiation, the experimental results show multilayer graphene has better anti-oxidation than monolayer graphene. Meanwhile, the calculation results show the oxidation appeared on the graphene’s grain boundaries or the film’s vacancy defects for the monolayer graphene coated Cu foil. Moreover, the calculation results show the oxidation process proceeds slowly in multilayers because of the matched defects overlaps each other to form a steric hindrance to suppress the O atom diffusion in the vertical direction, and the mismatched defects generates potential energy barriers for interlayer to suppress the O atom diffusion in the horizontal direction. Hence, multilayer graphene films could serve as protection coatings to prevent diffusion of O atom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a severe lack of effective treatments for ulcerative colitis (UC), a recurrent and intractable inflammatory bowel disease. The identification of valid targets and new drugs is an urgent need. In this study, we identified the XBP-1 agonist HLJ2 as a promising treatment candidate. In an in vivo mouse model of DSS-induced colitis, HLJ2 decreased weight loss, colon contracture, disease activity index (DAI), colon mucosa damage index (CMDI) and histopathological index (HI). HLJ2 also decreased myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and reduced production of the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. HLJ2 improved intestinal mucosa damage induced by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) and increased the expression of ZO-1 and claudin-1. Fecal 16s rRNA high-throughput sequencing demonstrated a significant improvement in UC intestinal dysbacteriosis in mice treated with HLJ2, including increased abundance of probiotics such as Lachnospiraceae, Prevotellaceae, and Lactobacillaceae. At the same time there was a reduction in the abundance of pathogenic or conditional pathogenic microorganisms such as Bacteroidaceae, Porphyromonadaceae, Deferribacteraceae, and Pseudomonadaceae in HLJ2-treated mice compared with untreated mice. Our results demonstrated that the XBP1 agonist HLJ2 inhibits inflammation, regulates the intestinal flora, and protects the intestinal mucosa. It is thus a potential therapeutic agent for ulcerative colitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder characterized by memory deficits and cognitive decline. Excessive amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide aggregates and forms soluble oligomers and insoluble cerebral amyloid plaques, which is widely thought to be the underlying pathogenic mechanism of AD. Therefore, effective regulation of Aβ metabolism is an important aspect of preventing and improving AD. Berberine, which is the main active component of the traditional medicinal herb Coptidis rhizoma , has a positive effect on reducing Aβ levels. However, the exact mechanism involved is unclear and requires more investigation. In the present study, we examined the role of berberine in the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in neuroblastoma cells and primary cultured neurons and sought to characterize the role of AMPK in the metabolism of Aβ. The results indicate that berberine reduces Aβ generation and decreases the expression of β-site APP cleaving enzyme-1 (BACE1) via activating AMPK in N2a mouse neuroblastoma cells stably expressing human Swedish mutant APP695 (N2a/APP695sw), N2a cells, and primary cultured cortical neurons. Therefore, berberine reduced the accumulation of Aβ, which likely contributes to its memory enhancing effect in patients with AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by memory deficits and cognitive decline. Amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition and cholinergic defect are widely thought to be the underlying mechanism of learning and memory impairment. Geniposide, which is the main active component of the traditional Chinese herbal Gardenia jasminoides Ellis , elicits neuroprotective effects by alleviating inflammation responses and oxidative damages. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of geniposide on levels of cholinergic markers, RAGE, RAGE-dependent signalling pathways and amyloid accumulation in the APPswe/PS1dE9 AD model mouse. Geniposide suppressed MAPK signaling over-activation mediated by Aβ-RAGE interaction, resulting in reduced Aβ accumulation and amelioration of cholinergic deficits in the cerebral hippocampus. Furthermore, geniposide inhibited the toxic effect of oligomeric Aβ 1-42 induced cholinergic deficit by increasing ChAT levels and activity but decreasing AChE activity in cultured primary hippocampal neurons. These results indicated that geniposide enhanced cholinergic neurotransmission, which likely contributes to its memory enhancing effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The in vivo effects of Bemisia tabaci ( Gennadius) ( Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) Middle East-Asia Minor 1 ( MEAM1) saliva on the induced defense of tomato plants were examined. After infiltration of MEAM1 saliva into tomato leaves, qPCR analysis indicated strong local induction of salicylic acid ( SA)-responsive genes - salicylic acid induction deficient 2 ( SID2) and β-1,3-glucanase ( BGL2)- whereas pathogenesis-related protein-1 ( PR1) showed strong induction both locally and systemically. The jasmonic acid ( JA)-responsive genes - omega-3 fatty acid desaturase 3 ( FAD3), lipoxygenase ( LOX), and proteinase inhibitor II ( PI- II) - indicated moderate induction both locally and systemically. The activities of peroxidases and catalase were also induced both locally and systemically, whereas polyphenol oxidase and lipoxygenase were either transiently induced or unchanged. When either MEAM1 or Asia II_3 whitefly adults were given access to leaves 2 h after saliva infiltration, the number of F1 progeny on the leaves on which the infiltration took place was significantly reduced for both. In contrast, when either MEAM1 or Asia II_3 adults were given access to leaves 1 day after infiltration, the number of Asia II_3 progeny was significantly reduced, whereas the number of MEAM1 progeny remained the same as the control. After 2 days, there was no significant difference for the infiltrated leaves for either species. In contrast, 2 h, 1 day, and 2 days after saliva infiltration, the number of F1 MEAM1 progeny on leaves where infiltration did not take place was the same as the controls, whereas the number of Asia II_3 progeny was significantly reduced. Furthermore, the percentage of MEAM1 adults on leaves with high PR1 and BGL2 RNAs was significantly higher than the percentage of Asia II_3 adults. Altogether, infiltration of MEAM1 saliva caused intense local defense, as well as moderate, but more persistent systemic defense. Both the SA and JA signaling pathways were regulated by MEAM1 salivary components, and were associated with asymmetric plant defense that favored MEAM1 over Asia II_3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pain greatly affects the quality of life of people worldwide. Despite their demonstrated efficacy, currently used opioid drugs and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are frequently associated with several adverse events. The identification of new therapeutic targets and the development of corresponding analgesics may represent novel approaches for effectively treating pain. SY0916 is a novel compound that was designed and synthesized by the Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. As demonstrated by the hot plate test, tail-flick test and the formalin test, SY0916 exerted strong peripheral and central antinociceptive effects. Western blot, immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) results indicate that SY0916 induces its peripheral antinociceptive effect by suppressing the peripheral activity of inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandin E2 (PGE 2 ), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). Moreover, its central antinociceptive effect might be mediated by the down-regulation of PGE 2 and TNF-α expression and the inhibition of p-p38 and NF-κB pathway signaling in glial cells. These findings demonstrate that SY0916 may serve as a promising analgesic candidate drug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Biochar application significantly decreased the diversity of microbial community. • Biochar application enhanced the microbial interaction in the megaaggregates. • B10 and B30 treatments increased the interactions between microbial communities. • B50 treatment decreased the interactions between microbial communities. Soil microbial community diversity and composition are responsive to biochar application. However, the impacts of biochar application on soil microbial community structure and interactions in different aggregate fractions are poorly understood. We conducted a 3-year field trial involving biochar application to black soil in northeastern China. Four biochar treatments were applied: 0 (B0, control), 10 (B10), 30 (B30) and 50 (B50) t ha−1 biochar. Compared to the B0 treatment, biochar application significantly decreased the diversity of bacterial and fungal communities. In addition, biochar application significantly increased the relative abundances (RAs) of Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria and significantly decreased those of Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, Planctomycetes and Verrucomicrobia. Moreover, the B30 and B50 treatments significantly increased and decreased the RA of Nitrospirae, respectively. Moreover, the RA trends of Acidobacteria, Nitrospirae and Planctomycetes among different aggregate fractions was mega-aggregates (ME; > 2 mm) > macroaggregates (MA; 0.25–2 mm) > microaggregates (MI; < 0.25 mm); the RAs of Basidiomycota and Glomeromycota in ME were higher than those in MA and MI. The RA of Ascomycota in MI was the highest among the different aggregate fractions. The co-occurrence networks showed that the B30 treatment enhanced microbial interactions in terms of the number of links, average degree, and modularity, while the B50 treatment reduced these interactions. Additionally, co-inertia analysis demonstrated that the microbial interactions in ME were enhanced by biochar application. Thus, an appropriate biochar application (e.g., 30 t ha−1 used in the present study area) can enhance soil microbial interactions, especially in ME. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Different weighting methods are utilized to calculate the weights of evaluation indicators from different angle. • The game theory is employed to seek the optimal combination of index weights based on weight results of different weighting methods. • Successfully overcoming the problems that the combination of subjectivity and objectivity is insufficient and the weight ratio is seriously imbalance. • The introduction of prospect theory takes the psychological perceived value of decision makers into account. Black-start schemes play an important role in speeding up the rapid restoration of the power system after a blackout or a local outage. Evaluation of black-start schemes is an important part of decision-making in a black-start. The current assessment method still has the problem of the lack of subjective and objective combination. Given this background, this paper proposes an evaluation model of a black-start scheme combining the optimal combination weight and an improved VlseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) method. Firstly, this paper uses the respectively analytic hierarchy process, principal component analysis, the criteria importance through intercriteria correlation, and the entropy weight method to calculate the indicator weight from a different angle. Moreover, the optimal weight of the evaluation indicator is obtained based on game theory, which successfully overcomes the problems that the combination of subjectivity and objectivity is insufficient and the weight ratio is seriously imbalanced. Secondly, to consider the perceived value of the decision-makers, prospect theory is introduced to calculate the "loss" and "gain" to obtain the foreground matrix. Thirdly, the positive and negative ideal solutions are determined based on the foreground matrix to improve the traditional VIKOR method, and then the black-start schemes are evaluated. Finally, example results verify the rationality and effectiveness of the proposed evaluation model. Moreover, the experimental results show that the proposed model is more stable and superior to existing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we report on the concurrent emergence of the directional Kondo behavior and incommensurate magnetic ordering in a layered material. We employ temperature- and magnetic field-dependent resistivity measurements, susceptibility measurements, and high resolution wavelength X-ray diffraction spectroscopy to study the electronic properties of AgCrSe2. Impurity Kondo behavior with a characteristic temperature of TK = 32 K is identified through quantitative analysis of the in-plane resistivity, substantiated by magneto-transport measurements. The excellent agreement between our experimental data and the Schlottmann's scaling theory allows us to determine the impurity spin as S = 3/2. Furthermore, we discuss the origin of the Kondo behavior and its relation to the material's antiferromagnetic transition. Our study uncovers a rare phenomenon—the equivalence of the Néel temperature and the Kondo temperature—paving the way for further investigations into the intricate interplay between impurity physics and magnetic phenomena in quantum materials, with potential applications in advanced electronic and magnetic devices. This study reports on the simultaneous emergence of the impurity Kondo effect and incommensurate magnetic ordering in the layered material AgCrSe2 these usually mutually exclusive phenomena complement each other. The ability to enable Kondo effect in association with the antiferromagnetic order, provides a novel route to tune the competition between magnetic correlations and Kondo screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorinated organic compounds are ubiquitously detected in saline waters. The photochlorination of organic compounds is one possible source, and chlorine radicals originating from other photosensitive substances have been reported to be responsible for organic compounds chlorination in previous reports. In this study, benzo[ a ]pyrene (BaP) chlorination in 10% acetonitrile/NaCl aqueous solution was initiated by self-sensitization of BaP, while chlorine radicals were not involved in the reaction. After 45 min of photoreaction in four seawater samples, chlorinated product (6-ClBaP) accounted for 10–17% of the fraction of transformed BaP, which was higher than that previously reported. The influences of Cl−, pH, humic acid, electron donors, and particulate matter on the formation of chlorobenzo[ a ]pyrene were systematically investigated. A self-sensitized photochlorination reaction mechanism was proposed as follow: photoexited BaP was activated to singlet state and then transformed to triplet state through inter-system crossing. Then the excited triplet state and oxygen formed [3BaP*-3O 2 ] or [BaP-1O 2 ] complex, which further reacted with Cl− to produce 6-ClBaP. ga1 • Photochlorination of BaP in 10% acetonitrile/NaCl aqueous solution was initiated by self-sensitization. • Photochlorinated product of BaP accounted for 10–17% transformed BaP in seawater. • Chlorine radicals were not involved in the self-sensitization photoreaction. • Higher pH level is beneficial for the photochlorination reaction of BaP. • Self-sensitive photochlorination pathway may be fundamental in saline water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a case of pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) of the colon in the setting of inflammatory bowel disease that was treated with medical management rather than emergent surgery. While the reflex response to extraluminal air in the abdomen is abdominal exploration, consideration of the clinical context in which PI is discovered and an understanding of a complete differential diagnosis of the sources of PI is critical to avoiding unnecessary surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the effect of fermentation time and potato pulp addition on the fermentation characteristics of dough and textural profiles of the steamed bread. Volatile compounds in steamed bread processing were also determined. Rheofermentometer analysis showed that the gas retention capability of dough decreased with the increase in potato pulp level, and the productive fermentation time might be shortened through the addition of high potato pulp levels (40%–50%) to dough. The resistance to extension of dough samples decreased with the increase in fermentation time and potato pulp level. When the fermentation time was 60–75 min, all steamed bread samples had high specific volumes and soft textures. Moreover, the volatile compounds in the fermented dough and steamed bread were enriched by the addition of potato pulp. These results indicated that fermentation time and potato pulp affected the technological properties and volatile compounds of wheat dough and steamed bread. Image 1 • The gas retention capability of dough decreased with increase in potato pulp level. • The addition of 40%–50% potato pulp could shorten dough fermentation time. • Resistance to extension of dough decreased with the increase in fermentation time. • All samples had high specific volume when the fermentation time was 60–75 min. • The addition of potato pulp enriched the volatile compounds of fermented products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a recurrent and chronic intestinal disease. Available drugs for UC are accompanied by poor effectiveness or severe adverse events and thus there is an urgent need to develop specific and effective drugs for UC treatment. HLY is a new compound synthesised from coptisine by our institute. HLY activates the transcriptional activity of X-box binding protein 1 (xbp1) and inhibits the expression of non-muscle myosin heavy chain 9 (myh9) in intestinal epithelial cells (IEC6). When the xbp1 gene was silenced by siRNA, HLY had no effect on myh9. HLY effectively reduced body weight loss and the percentage of colon contracture in vivo , decreased disease activity index (DAI) score, colon mucosal damage index (CMDI) and tissue histopathological index (THI) in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC mice. Furthermore, oral HLY effectively increased the expression of xbp1 and inhibited the expression of myh9 in vivo as demonstrated by western-blot and immunohistochemical assays. Taken together, HLY could alter ulcerative colitis via the xbp1-myh9 pathway. To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating that the monomer compound targets the xbp1-myh9 pathway in the treatment of UC. HLY may be developed as a possible therapeutic candidate for UC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Progress in magnetoelectric materials is hindered by apparently contradictory requirements for time‐reversal symmetry broken and polar ferroelectric electronic structure in common ferromagnets and antiferromagnets. Alternative routes can be provided by recent discoveries of a time‐reversal symmetry breaking anomalous Hall effect (AHE) in noncollinear magnets and altermagnets, but hitherto reported bulk materials are not polar. Here, the authors report the observation of a spontaneous AHE in doped AgCrSe2, a layered polar semiconductor with an antiferromagnetic coupling between Cr spins in adjacent layers. The anomalous Hall resistivity 3 μΩcm$\mu \Omega \, \textnormal {cm}$ is comparable to the largest observed in compensated magnetic systems to date, and is rapidly switched off when the angle of an applied magnetic field is rotated to ≈80° from the crystalline c‐axis. The ionic gating experiments show that the anomalous Hall conductivity magnitude can be enhanced by modulating the p‐type carrier density. They also present theoretical results that suggest the AHE is driven by Berry curvature due to noncollinear antiferromagnetic correlations among Cr spins, which are consistent with the previously suggested magnetic ordering in AgCrSe2. The results open the possibility to study the interplay of magnetic and ferroelectric‐like responses in this fascinating class of materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are inconsistent results regarding the efficacy and safety of intermittent epidural bolus (IPB) versus continuous epidural infusions (CPI) for labor analgesia. This study used a meta-analytic approach to assess the safety and treatment efficacy of IPB versus CPI for labor analgesia based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Four electronic databases were used to identify eligible RCTs. Pooled effect estimates at 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effects model. Twenty-two RCTs with 2,573 parturients were selected for final analysis. The findings revealed no significant differences between IPB and CPI for the incidences of cesarean and instrumental delivery. IPB was shown to be associated with shorter total duration of labor [weighted mean difference (WMD): −21.46; 95% CI: −25.07 to −17.85; P < 0.001], duration of the first of stage of labor (WMD: −13.41; 95% CI: −21.01 to −5.81; P = 0.001), and duration of the second stage of labor (WMD: −4.98; 95% CI: −9.32 to −0.63; P = 0.025). Furthermore, IPB significantly reduced the incidences of required anesthetic interventions compared with CPI [relative risk (RR): 0.61; 95% CI: 0.39–0.95; P = 0.030], whereas there was no significant difference between IPB and CPI for the time required in the first anesthetic intervention (WMD: 7.73; 95% CI: −33.68–49.15; P = 0.714). The local anesthetic IPB (bupivacaine equivalents) was associated with lower milligrams per hour of local anesthetic (WMD: −0.89; 95% CI: −1.41 to −0.36; P = 0.001) and better maternal satisfaction (WMD: 8.76; 95% CI: 4.18–13.35; P < 0.001). There were no significant differences between IPB and CPI for the risk of adverse events. This study found that parturients with IPB have short total duration of labor and duration of the first and second stage of labor, reduced requirements for additional anesthetic interventions, and improved maternal satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of efficient catalyst with low-cost, earth-abundant metals for sustainable hydrogen generation is still an intriguing challenge. Doping of cation or anion is regarded as an effective approach for ingenious modulation of chemical composition related to the electrocatalysts for improving their activity. Herein, a ternary Ni(S 0.49 Se 0.51 ) 2 porous flakes array on carbon fiber cloth (CFC) via simultaneous sulfuration and selenylation of Ni(OH) 2 flakes. Owing to the synergistic effect between Ni, S and Se atoms, high surface area, abundant active site and good conductivity of the Ni(S 0.49 Se 0.51 ) 2 /CFC, the as-synthesized catalyst requires lower overpotential (113 mV) than pure NiS 2 /CFC and NiSe 2 /CFC to drive 10 mA cm −2 for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in 1.0 M KOH with good sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing economic importance of Cyclina sinensis aquaculture, interest in its defense mechanisms against pathogenic infection has grown in recent years. Inhibitor of nuclear factor-kappaB (IκB) and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) are proteins with central roles in many important physiological and pathological processes, such as innate immune responses. In this study, we identified CsIκB and CsNF-κB genes from a C. sinensis transcriptome library. In healthy adult clams, CsIκB and CsNF-κB genes were widely expressed in various tissues and highly expressed in hemocytes. Further, the expression levels of these genes were significantly increased in hemocytes challenged by Vibrio anguillarum , Micrococcus luteus and poly I:C. Inhibition of CsMyD88 expression by RNAi technology significantly altered the mRNA expression patterns of CsIκB and CsNF-κB as measured using quantitative real-time PCR. These results collectively indicated that the NF-κB signaling pathway, including CsIκB and CsNF-κB genes, might be involved in early innate immune responses and may be regulated by a MyD88-dependent signaling pathway in C. sinensis . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroptosis is a newly discovered form of cell death accompanied by iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation. Both biotic and abiotic stresses can induce ferroptosis in plant cells. In the case of plant interactions with pathogenic Phytophthora oomycetes, the roles of ferroptosis are still largely unknown. Here, we performed transcriptome analysis on soybean plants treated with the biocontrol agent Pythium oligandrum, a soilborne and non‐pathogenic oomycete capable of inducing plant resistance against Phytophthora sojae infection. Expression of homologous soybean genes involved in ferroptosis and resistance was reprogrammed upon P. oligandrum treatment. Typical hallmarks for characterizing ferroptosis were detected in soybean hypocotyl cells, including decreased glutathione (GSH) level, accumulation of ferric ions, and lipid peroxidation by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Meanwhile, ferroptosis‐like cell death was triggered by P. oligandrum to suppress P. sojae infection in soybean. Protection provided by P. oligandrum could be attenuated by the ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin‐1 (Fer‐1), suggesting the critical role of ferroptosis in soybean resistance against P. sojae. Taken together, these results demonstrate that ferroptosis is a P. oligandrum‐inducible defence mechanism against oomycete infection in soybean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When participating in demand response, the industrial adjustable load has the advantages of large capacity, high benefit, and easy management compared with commercial and residential loads. However, the stage of the production process is strongly coupled with the power consumption process, especially in the steel industry. Here, a multi‐objective optimization model for the optimal scheduling of hot rolling load considering the actual production operation conditions was proposed, the model was abstracted into a vehicle routing problem (VRP) ,which is a typical combinatorial optimization problem.To minimize the cost of electricity and the risk of delivery order default, this paper considered the jump penalty value between adjacent slabs simultaneously, constructed an integrated scheduling model of hot rolling shop scheduling and power demand response, and designed a multi‐objective production scheduling algorithm based on NSGA‐II to solve the problem. The results showed that the proposed method can realize the reasonable distribution of production load under the constraints of electricity price and production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has become the major stakeholder in global photovoltaic (PV) technology. However, the existing mechanistic interpretation of "what promotes the technological progress of the Chinese PV industry" is controversial. This paper takes China's A-share listed PV enterprises from 1999 to 2019 as the research sample and uses a panel fixed-effect regression model to empirically test the impact of research and development (R&D) investment and government subsidies on the technological progress of PV enterprises. The results show that there is an "N"-shaped nexus between R&D investment and technological progress, and most PV enterprises are in the climbing stage of the N-shaped curve. With the development of the PV industry, the nexus will undergo a transformation from inverted U-shaped to N-shaped, indicating that R&D investment is a key driver of PV technological progress. Yet, government subsidies are a "double-edged sword". They have a significant positive direct effect on PV technological progress but also a negative moderating effect. Tax returns play a positive incentivizing role, while financial subsidies play a negative moderating role. This study provides a policy basis for the timely reduction of financial subsidies and increased R&D investment to promote technological progress in China's PV industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing vessels, in the central nervous system (CNS) is seen both as a normal physiological response as well as a pathological step in disease progression. Formation of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is an essential step in physiological CNS angiogenesis. The BBB is regulated by a neurovascular unit (NVU) consisting of endothelial and perivascular cells as well as vascular astrocytes. The NVU plays a critical role in preventing entry of neurotoxic substances and regulation of blood flow in the CNS. In recent years, research on numerous acquired and hereditary disorders of the CNS has increasingly emphasized the role of angiogenesis in disease pathophysiology. Here, we discuss molecular mechanisms of CNS angiogenesis during embryogenesis as well as various pathological states including brain tumor formation, ischemic stroke, arteriovenous malformations, and neurodegenerative diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic film mulching (PF) can change soil properties and microbial community structure. However, the effect of PF on soil microbial interactions in different aggregate fractions is still unclear. We conducted a three-year field trial in black soil of northeastern China to evaluate the variation in soil microbial interactions and community structure in different aggregate fractions after PF. Compared with the control (CK), the PF treatment significantly decreased the humification index by 13.9% and chromophoric dissolved organic matter by 36.6% and significantly increased the fractal dimension by 4.8% and electrical conductivity by 22.8%. In addition, the PF treatment significantly decreased the relative abundances of Chloroflexi, Planctomycetes and Verrucomicrobia but significantly increased the relative abundance (RA) of Proteobacteria. Furthermore, the PF treatment significantly decreased the RA of Glomeromycota in megaaggregates (>2 mm, ME) and macroaggregates (0.25–2 mm) and the RA of Actinobacteria in microaggregates (<0.25 mm, MI), related to decreases in aggregate stability. Compared with the CK treatment, the PF treatment significantly decreased the bacterial Shannon index in ME but significantly increased the fungal Shannon index in MI. Moreover, β-1,4-glucosidase activity significantly influenced the community structure of soil bacteria and fungi. The PF treatment decreased soil microbial interactions, especially in ME. The keystone of the microbial network shifted from 0319-6A21 (Nitrospirae) to Gsoil-1167 (Actinobacteria) after PF. In short, PF decreased soil aggregate stability and microbial interactions in black soil in a subhumid area. [Display omitted] • Plastic film mulching (PF) decreased microbial interactions in black soil. • The keystone of microbial network was Gsoil-1167 (Actinobacteria) under PF. • PF significantly decreased the bacterial Shannon index in megaaggregates. • PF significantly increased the fungal Shannon index in microaggregates. • PF significantly decreased soil aggregate stability and the humification of DOM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) method coupled with High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS) for the determination of illegal basic dyes in food samples was developed and validated. This method was based on Magnetic sulfonated reduced graphene oxide (M-S-RGO), which was sensitive and selective to analytes with structure of multiaromatic rings and negatively charged ions. Several factors affecting MSPE efficiency such as pH and adsorption time were optimized. Under the optimum conditions, the calibration curves exhibited good linearity, ranging from 5 to 60 µg/g with correlation coefficients >0.9950. The limits of detection of 16 basic dyes were in the range of 0.01–0.2 µg/L. The recoveries ranged from 70% to 110% with RSD% < 10%. The results indicate that M-S-RGO is an efficient and selective adsorbent for the extraction and cleanup of basic dyes. Due to the MSPE procedures, matrix effect and interference were eliminated in the analysis of HPLC–MS/MS without the matrix-matched standards. Thus, validation data showed that the proposed MSPE–HPLC–MS/MS method was rapid, efficient, selective, and sensitive for the determination of illegal basic dyes in foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in the world with high mortality rate. EHLJ7 is a quaternary coptisine derivative synthesized by our institute. In this study, the role and mechanism of EHLJ7 on CRC are further elucidated. Using target fishing, colon cancer-associated target screening and molecular docking analysis, PI3K/AKT pathway was selected for the target of EHLJ7 at CRC. Results of Flow cytometry, wound healing assay and transwell migration assay confirmed that EHLJ7 could inhibit migration and apoptosis of colon cancer cells by specifically inhibiting PI3K/AKT pathway in vitro. Xenograft tumor models and a newly established azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)/Peptostreptococcus anaerobiu (P.anaerobius)-induced CRC mouse model are applied to access the anti-cancer action and mechanism of EHLJ7 using western-blot, immunohistochemistry and analysis of exosomes. The key findings in this study are listed as follows: (1) EHLJ7 exerts superior anti-tumor effect with good safety on Xenograft tumor model and CRC model; (2) EHLJ7 exerted its anti-CRC effect by specifically inhibiting PI3K/AKT pathway and apoptosis in vivo and in vitro. In summary, we demonstrated that EHLJ7 exerts therapeutic effect against CRC by PI3K/AKT pathway, which made it possible as a potentially effective compound for the treatment of CRC. • A newly CRC model induced by AOM/DSS/P.anaerobius was • EHLJ7 has good therapeutic effect on CRC model mice. • EHLJ7 exerted its anti-CRC effect by specifically inhibiting PI3K/AKT pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We have previously shown the inhibition of the small-molecule inhibitor FB2 on imatinib-sensitive and resistance CML cell lines with the wild-type Bcr–Abl fusion gene. Here we report the potent and selective antiproliferation on FB2 on transfected Ba/F3 p210 cell lines expressing various isoforms of Bcr–Abl (wild-type, Y253F, T315I). FB2 which orients Bcr–Abl and Src kinase activities, is shown to override imatinib-resistance CML involving Y253F mutation in the Abl kinase domain of the fusion protein except T315I in vivo and in vitro. Thus, we present FB2 that displays potency toward Bcr–Abl and Src as the molecular target, and which could potentially be used to override drug resistance in CML. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• HEV infection led to mitochondrial dysfunction and activity of the mitophagy pathway. • The mitochondria were in the oxidative stress situation in HEV-infected hepatocyte. • Mitophagy may be one of the key factors of hepatocytes injury caused by HEV infection. Recently, hepatitis E virus (HEV) has caused large outbreaks and presented a significant public health problem. Thus, the mechanism of HEV has attracted increasing research attention. Previous studies revealed that HEV infection induced hepatocyte injuries and structural and functional changes in mitochondria. These pathological changes affected the life cycle of hepatocytes. However, the precise underlying mechanism and the effector protein responsible for this process remain unclear. In the present study, mitochondrial function and the expression of mitophagy-associated mRNA transcripts and proteins were detected in an HEV- infected Mongolian gerbil model. Observation of ultrastructural changes in the liver of the inoculated group revealed the disappearance of mitochondrial cristae of mitochondrion, blurring of the bilayer structure and cavitation in the cytoplasm. The results showed that the mitochondrial transmembrane potential of decreased, mitochondrial transition pore (MPTP) opening increased, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production increased, and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity decreased in the HEV-inoculated group. Moreover, the LC3, Beclin1, BNIP3L, Parkin, PINK1 and P62 mRNA levels were significantly increased (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01) in the inoculated group. Western blot and immunohistochemistry assay analyses detected the upregulation of the mitophagy-associated proteins LC3, Beclin1, BNIP3L, Parkin, PINK1 and P62 (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01) in HEV-infected gerbils. All these data demonstrated that HEV infection in vivo induced mitochondrial dysfunction and the activation of the mitophagy pathway, which might be one of the key factors in hepatocyte injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tripterygium glycosides (TG), which are extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine, Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F. (TwHF), has promising applications in the treatment of renal diseases; however, since its active components exerts bidirectional kidney toxicity, its clinical application is severely restricted. Recent investigations have demonstrated definite toxicity-reducing effects from glycyrrhizic acid glycosides (GA) when combined with TG; however, the mechanism remains unclear. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the specific molecular mechanism by which GA alleviates TG-induced renal toxicity from the perspective of tight junctions. Dynamic analyses, which investigated the changes in kidney toxicity biomarkers for different combinations and concentrations of TG and GA, were conducted for three weeks on SD rats and renal tissue structural changes were examined after three weeks of administration. Additionally, the transcription and translation levels of the relevant tight junctions and RhoA/ROCK1/MLC signalling proteins were analysed in HK-2 cells. Our study showed that TG can cause transient tubulotoxicity at certain doses, and that the combined application of GA and TG can repair tight junction structures by regulating the key factors in the RhoA/ROCK1/MLC signalling pathway, thus reducing TG-induced nephrotoxicity. Overall, this study provides a new strategy to reduce TG-induced toxicity by protecting renal tight junctions. [Display omitted] • Certain dose of TG may cause transient kidney injury via damage to the renal tubules. • Disruption of the tight junctions in renal tubular epithelial cells is a key pathway in TG-induced nephrotoxicity. • GA may exert a protective effect against TG-induced nephrotoxicity by regulating the RhoA/ROCK1/MLC signalling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Faced with the dual constraints of resources and the environment, green technology innovation has become an important measure to solve the development challenges of heavily polluting industries. From the perspective of institutional regulation theory, this paper studies the impact of direct environmental regulation on green technology innovation in Chinese listed companies of heavily polluting industries by using the Panel Poisson fixed effect model. Besides, the heterogeneity of ownership and industry is discussed. The results indicate that direct environmental regulations exert a strong and significant incentive effect on green technology innovations in heavily polluting industries. Regarding the heterogeneity of enterprise ownership, direct environmental regulations were found to be more significant to the green technology innovations of state-owned listed companies in such industries. Considering industry heterogeneity, compared with labor-resource intensive industries, direct environmental regulation can effectively encourage green technology innovations in technology-capital intensive industries. This study provides a policy basis for promoting environmental governance and green technology innovation in China's heavily polluting industries. Unlabelled Image • Direct environmental regulation show significant positive effects on green technology innovation by using micro data. • The marginal effect of direct environmental regulation on green technology innovation was 7.2%. • Ownership and industry heterogeneity of direct environmental regulation's impact on green technology innovation are explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PC software-based portable cyclic voltammetry (PCV) systems have the advantages of portability, high performance, and real-time detection. In this paper, the PCV system used cyclic voltammetry (CV) as the main detection and analysis method and contained the following components: a three-electrode unit, a portable potentiostat, and PC software. The PC software was used as the system control and display, and a dynamic peak position adjustment (DPPA) algorithm for E. coli measurements based on thick biofilm modification on electrodes was designed especially for this system to realize the real-time correspondence between the measured results and the modified electrodes. The performance test results obtained by setting different detection parameters in the PCV system were compared with those of commercial electrochemical workstations. The difference was less than 4.99%, with a relative standard deviation less than 0.20%. An electrochemical biosensor based on a Prussian blue-multiwalled carbon nanotube-gold nanoparticle composite was developed for E. coli detection. After constructing an antibody-BSA-E. coli electrode modification on the sensor, experimental data processed by the DPPA algorithm showed that the logarithm (lg D f E. c o l i ) of the E. coli dilution factor and the peak current response had a linear relationship. The PCV system could quickly and accurately detect E. coli concentrations with dynamic adjustment algorithms for biofilm-modified electrodes. Furthermore, the system could detect the electrochemical activities of various high-sensitivity biomolecules, showing great detection potential for on-site monitoring and meeting the requirements of real-time and portable detection in various food safety fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction of cytochrome c (Cyt c) with cardiolipin (CL) is believed to play an important role in the initial events of apoptosis. Herein, we investigate the structural changes of CL‐bound Fe2+Cyt c and the correlation with Cyt c release through surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) on nickel substrates. The SERS results together with molecular dynamics simulation reveal that Fe2+Cyt c undergoes autoxidation and a relatively larger conformational alteration after binding with CL, inducing higher peroxidase activity of Cyt c and higher permeability of the CL membrane compared with those induced by the Fe3+Cyt c. The proapoptotic activity and SERS effect of the Ni nanostructures allow the in situ study of the redox‐state‐dependent Cyt c release from isolated mitochondria, which reveals for the first time that the ferrous state of Cyt c most likely plays a more important role in triggering apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction of cytochrome c (Cyt c) with cardiolipin (CL) is believed to play an important role in the initial events of apoptosis. Herein, we investigate the structural changes of CL‐bound Fe2+Cyt c and the correlation with Cyt c release through surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) on nickel substrates. The SERS results together with molecular dynamics simulation reveal that Fe2+Cyt c undergoes autoxidation and a relatively larger conformational alteration after binding with CL, inducing higher peroxidase activity of Cyt c and higher permeability of the CL membrane compared with those induced by the Fe3+Cyt c. The proapoptotic activity and SERS effect of the Ni nanostructures allow the in situ study of the redox‐state‐dependent Cyt c release from isolated mitochondria, which reveals for the first time that the ferrous state of Cyt c most likely plays a more important role in triggering apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of Vitamin C (VC) on hydrocortisone (HC)-induced cell injury in human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC). Methods: Cell viability was measured by CCK-8 assay and the expression of Best-3 was detected by Western blotting assay. The experiment was divided into normal control, HC injury group, VC treatment groups, HC + Best-3 siRNA group, HC + VC + Best-3 siRNA group, HC + pcDNA3.1 Best-3 group, and HC + VC + pcDNA3.1 Best-3 group. Results: HC inhibited HMEC-1 cell viability was balanced with lower expression of Best-3 in a dose-dependent manner. Conversely, VC promoted HMEC-1 cell viability was paralleled to higher expression of Best-3 in a dose-dependent manner. Silencing Best-3 with Best-3 siRNA inhibited HMEC-1 cell viability, however, over-expression of Best-3 with pcDNA3.1 Best-3 promoted HMEC-1 cell viability. Moreover, VC and over-expression of Best-3 prevented HC-induced HMEC-1 cell apoptosis; however, silencing Best-3 further enhanced HC-induced HMEC-1 cell apoptosis. HC reduced Best-3 expression, which was alleviated by VC treatment. HC treatment decreased Bcl-2 expression, facilitated Bax expression. Both of VC and over-expression of Best-3 promoted Bcl-2 expression and decreased Bax expression. Additionally, VC and Best-3 expression have a synergistic effect. Conclusions: VC can efficiently attenuate HC-induced HMEC-1 cell injury, which may be related to promote Best-3 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The development of bifunctional catalysts that can be applied to both hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is widely regarded as a key factor in the production of sustainable hydrogen fuel by electrochemical water splitting. In this work, we present a high-performance electrocatalyst based on nickel-cobalt metal-organic frameworks for overall water splitting. The as-obtained catalyst shows low overpotential to reaches the current density of 10 mA cm−2 with 249 mV for OER and 143 mV for HER in alkaline media, respectively. More importantly, when the electrolyzer was assembled with the as-prepared catalyst as anode and cathode simultaneously, it demonstrates excellent activity just applies a potential of 1.68 V to achieve 10 mA cm−2 current density for overall water splitting. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • NiCoSe/C was prepared by direct selenylation of Ni/Co metal-organic framework. • The NiCoSe/C catalyst shows high performance for both OER and HER. • The NiCoSe/C catalyst shows efficient overall water splitting property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Facile fabrication of high-performance catalyst based on low-cost metals for sustainable hydrogen evolution is still a matter of cardinal significance. However, synthetic approaches for electrocatalyst are usually complicated and the yields are often low. Herein, we report a one-step simple method for the large-scale synthesis of Co/Ni-MoO 2 composite as efficient and stable hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalyst to drive 10 mA cm−2 current density with a low overpotential of 103 mV in basic media. Co-MoO 2 and Ni-MoO 2 were also prepared using this method with overpotential of 137 and 130 mV, respectively, to gain the same current density. These results indicate that this facile synthesis approach is of great practical importance as it can be easily used for large-scale preparation of electrocatalysts in industry. Highlights • A facile one-step method for synthesis of Co/Ni-MoO 2 composite was developed. • Co/Ni-MoO 2 supplies two kinds of active sites including Co/Ni specie and MoO 2 specie. • The catalyst exhibits excellent catalytic performance for HER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a key role in tumor radiotherapy and chemotherapy resistance, relapse, and metastasis, and are primarily maintained in a resting state in vivo. The failure of conventional therapies to target CSCs is the main cause of treatment failure. The discovery of CSCs in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) tumors is becoming more prevalent; however, the understanding of the mechanisms underlying the maintenance of tumor stemness is still limited. We previously cloned NOR1, a tumor suppressor gene downregulated in NPC cell lines and tissues. In this study, we demonstrate that Wnt/β-catenin and ALDH1A1 form a signal circuit and that NOR1 antagonizes the tumor stem cell-like phenotype in NPC cell lines: the ectopic overexpression of NOR1 reduced β-catenin and ALDH1A1 expression; β-catenin/TCF4 targeted the regulation of ALDH1A1 transcription in NPC cells; silencing ALDH1A1 reduced AKT (total and phosphorylated) and GSK-3β (phosphorylated) expression; and eventually feedback decreased β-catenin expression levels. We also found that NOR1 expression decreased cancer stem-like cell properties of NPC cells, reduced their ability to form tumor spheroids in vitro, reduced tumorigenicity in nude mice in vivo, and increased sensitivity to chemotherapy agents. Taken together, our findings illustrated a new function of NOR1 that suppresses cancer stem-like cell properties in tumor cells by inhibiting the AKT-GSK-3β-Wnt/β-catenin-ALDH1A1 signal circuit. The study suggests that NOR1 deletion expression in NPC cells may be a potential molecular target for cancer stem cell therapy. J. Cell. Physiol. 232: 2829-2840, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a comprehensive review of the research works regarding the solar assisted heat pump system (SAHP) in the application of domestic hot water will be conducted, starting with the working principle, classification, theoretical analysis and demonstration samples. The overview of the research works was then analysed with respects to five categories, i.e., (1) integrated structure and individual components layout, sizing and optimisation; (2) thermal performance simulation and prediction; (3) laboratory based measurement compared against the modelling prediction; (4) long-term performance evaluation through real time and onsite measurement; and (5) economic and environmental assessment and social acceptance analyses. The opportunities, i.e. developing novel, economically- feasible, energy-efficient systems in combination with advanced technologies, conducting the real time and onsite measurement and assessing the energy, economic and environmental influences and social acceptance, applying standardisation method to design, manufacture, choose, test and utilise the appropriate system, and exploring energy policy and subsidy strategies for market expansion of SAHP, will be provided for the researchers and engineers relevant to this research field. The results of this research will be helpful in indicating the potential research areas for the overseas and domestic researchers, developing potential industries for the worldwide engineers, expanding the global solar market, and providing potential ways of saving energy and reducing carbon emission for the local governments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) represents a powerful approach for studying the structure and reaction of proteins in fundamental and applied sciences. The surface properties of SERS-active materials determine important parameters such as Raman enhancement ability, biocompatibility, and electronic communication between supports and proteins. Here, electron transfer (ET) of Cyt c on noble metals and transition metals is investigated by SERS spectroscopy. The results here indicate that the ET occurs from the reduced state of Cyt c to silver substrate, depending on the laser wavelengths. Nickel and cobalt can directly transfer electrons to the oxidized state of Cyt c, which enables a reductive activity of these transition metal nanoparticles (NPs). This study demonstrates the role of transition metals as electron donors for Cyt c and has proved that the charge transfer theory for SERS is applicable for explanation of the ET between Cyt c and Ag NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by β-amyloid protein (Aβ) deposition. Reducing the Aβ load may be a new perspective for AD treatment. Ginsenoside Re is an extract from Panax notoginseng , which is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine that has been used for the treatment of various diseases for years. Ginsenoside Re has been reported to decrease Aβ in Alzheimer's disease animal models, but the mechanism has not been fully elucidated. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism of ginsenoside Re. Our results showed that ginsenoside Re decreased the Aβ levels in N2a/APP695 cells. Aβ peptides are generated by β-secretase (β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1)) and γ-secretase. We found that ginsenoside Re decreased the BACE1 mRNA and protein levels and inhibited BACE1 activity in the N2a/APP695 cells. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) is a transcription factor that regulates the activity of the BACE1 promoter, and activating PPARγ can inhibit BACE1. The results also showed that ginsenoside Re significantly increased the PPARγ protein and mRNA levels. These effects of ginsenoside Re on BACE1 could be effectively inhibited by the PPARγ antagonist GW9662. These findings indicate that ginsenoside Re inhibits BACE1 through activation of PPARγ, which ultimately reduces the generation of Aβ 1–40 and Aβ 1–42 . Therefore, ginsenoside Re may be a promising agent for the modulation of Aβ-related pathology in AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Fifteen undescribed triterpene spiroketal lactones were isolated from Pseudolarix amabilis. • Six compounds exhibited significant NF-κB pathway inhibition activities (IC 50 : 0.09 to 0.49 μM). • Compound 16 showed anti-inflammatory activity against xylene-induced ear swelling and improved the disease activity index (DAI) of ulcerative colitis. Fifteen new triterpenoids (1 – 15), along with twenty known ones (16 – 35), were isolated from Pseudolarix amabilis. The triterpenoid structures include multiple skeleton types, such as 2,3-seco-cycloartane, 3,4-seco-cycloartane, 3,4:9,10-diseco-cycloartane, and 3,4:8,9:9,10-triseco-cycloartane, as elucidated by extensive spectroscopy (1D NMR, 2D NMR, HRESIMS, and IR) and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The anti-inflammatory activities of compounds 1 – 35 were evaluated. Compounds 3 , 11 , 16 , 24 , 25 , and 26 suppressed the transcription of the NF-κB-dependent reporter gene in LPS-induced 293T/NF-κB-Luc cells with IC 50 values of 0.12, 0.10, 0.30, 0.09, 0.49, and 0.35 μ M, respectively. In addition, compound 16 showed anti-inflammatory activity against xylene-induced ear swelling in vivo with an inhibition rate of 44.7 % (30 mg/kg). Compound 16 significantly improved the disease activity index (DAI) of ulcerative colitis at a dose of 400 mg/kg in a dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced mouse model of experimental ulcerative colitis (P < 0.01). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We report new developments on the chemical vapor deposition growth of 0.4nm single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) inside the linear channels of the aluminophosphate zeolite, AlPO4-5 (AFI), single crystals (0.4nm-SWCNT@AFI). Ethylene (C2H4) and carbon monoxide (CO) were used as the feedstock. Polarized Raman spectroscopy was used to analyze the structure and quality of SWCNTs, both the radial breathing mode and G-band are much clearer and stronger than the samples grown by the old process which used template tripropylamine molecules for growing SWCNT@AFI. From the Raman spectra, it is clearly seen that the RBM is composed of two peaks at 535 and 551cm−1. By using the pseudopotential module in Material Studio to calculate the Raman lines, the 535cm−1 peak is attributed to the (5,0) SWCNTs and the 551cm−1 peak to the (3,3) SWCNTs. The abundance of (4,2) is relatively small. Thermal gravity analysis showed that while the samples grown by CO display less than 1wt% of carbon, for the samples heated in C2H4 atmosphere the weight percentage of SWCNTs is around 10%, which implies ∼30% of the AFI channels are occupied with SWCNTs, a significant increase compared with the previous samples. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]