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The macrovascular complications of diabetes cause high mortality and disability in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The inflammatory response of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) runs through its pathophysiological process. Salvianolic acid B (Sal B) exhibits beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system. However, its role and mechanism in diabetic vascular inflammatory response remain unclear. In this study, we found that Sal B reduced vascular inflammation in diabetic mice and high glucose- (HG-) induced VSMC inflammation. Subsequently, we found that Sal B reduced HG-induced VSMC inflammation by downregulating FOXO1. Furthermore, miR-486a-5p expression was obviously reduced in HG-treated VSMC. Sal B attenuated HG-induced VSMC inflammation by upregulating miR-486a-5p. Loss- and gain-of-function experiments had proven that the transfection of the miR-486a-5p mimic inhibited HG-induced VSMC inflammation whereas that of the miR-486a-5p inhibitor promoted HG-induced VSMC inflammation, thereby leading to the amelioration of vascular inflammation in the diabetic mice. Furthermore, studies had shown that miR-486a-5p inhibited FOXO1 expression by directly targeting its 3′-UTR. In conclusion, Sal B alleviates the inflammatory response of VSMC by upregulating miR-486a-5p and aggravating its inhibition of FOXO1 expression. Sal B exerts a significant anti-inflammatory effect in HG-induced VSMC inflammation by modulating the miR-486a-5p/FOXO1 axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We sought to investigate the value of combining intrauterine cerebral blood flow changes with brain electrical activity examination in evaluating the prognosis of brain injury. A total of 90 preterm infants were enrolled and divided into 2 groups: the brain damaged preterm infants group (n = 55) and the nonbrain damaged preterm infants group (n = 35). The diagnostic efficacy of combining intrauterine cerebral blood flow changes with electroencephalogram (EEG) activity examination in predicting the prognosis of preterm infants with brain injury was evaluated using T-test. Pearson linear correlation was applied to analyze the relationship between fetal intrauterine cerebral blood flow changes combined with electrical activity examination and the prognosis of brain injury. Significant differences were seen in pulse index, the ratio of peak systolic velocity to end diastolic velocity ratio, and other indexes between the 2 groups (P < 0.05). The combined approach of intrauterine cerebral blood flow changes with EEG activity examination demonstrated significantly higher values for area under the curve, sensitivity and negative predictive value compared to using intrauterine cerebral blood flow changes or EEG activity examination alone (P < 0.05). A positive correlation was found between fetal intrauterine cerebral blood flow and electrical activity examination (P < 0.05). Combining the assessment of intrauterine cerebral blood flow changes with cerebral electrical activity examination proved beneficial in diagnosing the prognosis of brain injury and provided an important reference for early clinical intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-resolution and wide-swath (HRWS) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging with azimuth multi-channel always suffers from channel phase and amplitude errors. Compared with spatial-invariant error, the range-dependent channel phase error is intractable due to its spatial dependency characteristic. This paper proposes a novel parameterized channel equalization approach to reconstruct the unambiguous SAR imagery. First, a linear model is established for the range-dependent channel phase error, and the sharpness of the reconstructed Doppler spectrum is used to measure the unambiguity quality. Furthermore, the intrinsic relationship between the channel phase errors and the sharpness is revealed, which allows us to estimate the optimal parameters by maximizing the sharpness of the reconstructed Doppler spectrum. Finally, the results from real-measured data show that the suggested method performs exceptionally for ambiguity suppression in HRWS SAR imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) serves as a hub for various cellular processes, and maintaining ER homeostasis is essential for cell function. Reticulophagy is a selective process that removes impaired ER subdomains through autophagy-mediatedlysosomal degradation. While the involvement of ubiquitination in autophagy regulation is well-established, its role in reticulophagy remains unclear. In this study, we screened deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) involved in reticulophagy and identified USP20 (ubiquitin specific peptidase 20) as a key regulator of reticulophagy under starvation conditions. USP20 specifically cleaves K48- and K63-linked ubiquitin chains on the reticulophagy receptor RETREG1/FAM134B (reticulophagy regulator 1), thereby stabilizing the substrate and promoting reticulophagy. Remarkably, despite lacking a transmembrane domain, USP20 is recruited to the ER through its interaction with VAPs (VAMP associated proteins). VAPs facilitate the recruitment of early autophagy proteins, including WIPI2 (WD repeat domain, phosphoinositide interacting 2), to specific ER subdomains, where USP20 and RETREG1 are enriched. The recruitment of WIPI2 and other proteins in this process plays a crucial role in facilitating RETREG1-mediated reticulophagy in response to nutrient deprivation. These findings highlight the critical role of USP20 in maintaining ER homeostasis by deubiquitinating and stabilizing RETREG1 at distinct ER subdomains, where USP20 further recruits VAPs and promotes efficient reticulophagy.Abbreviations: ACTB actin beta; ADRB2 adrenoceptor beta 2; AMFR/gp78 autocrine motility factor receptor; ATG autophagy related; ATL3 atlastin GTPase 3; BafA1 bafilomycin A1; BECN1 beclin 1; CALCOCO1 calcium binding and coiled-coil domain 1; CCPG1 cell cycle progression 1; DAPI 4’,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole; DTT dithiothreitol; DUB deubiquitinating enzyme; EBSS Earle’s Balanced Salt Solution; FFAT two phenylalanines (FF) in an acidic tract; GABARAP GABA type A receptor-associated protein; GFP green fluorescent protein; HMGCR 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase; IL1B interleukin 1 beta; LIR LC3-interacting region; MAP1LC3/LC3 microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3; PIK3C3/Vps34 phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase catalytic subunit type 3; RB1CC1/FIP200 RB1 inducible coiled-coil 1; RETREG1/FAM134B reticulophagy regulator 1; RFP red fluorescent protein; RHD reticulon homology domain; RIPK1 receptor interacting serine/threonine kinase 1; RTN3L reticulon 3 long isoform; SEC61B SEC61 translocon subunit beta; SEC62 SEC62 homolog, preprotein translocation factor; SIM super-resolution structured illumination microscopy; SNAI2 snail family transcriptional repressor 2; SQSTM1/p62 sequestosome 1; STING1/MITA stimulator of interferon response cGAMP interactor 1; STX17 syntaxin 17; TEX264 testis expressed 264, ER-phagy receptor; TNF tumor necrosis factor; UB ubiquitin; ULK1 unc-51 like autophagy activating kinase 1; USP20 ubiquitin specific peptidase 20; USP33 ubiquitin specific peptidase 33; VAMP8 vesicle associated membrane protein 8; VAPs VAMP associated proteins; VMP1 vacuole membrane protein 1; WIPI2 WD repeat domain, phosphoinositide interacting 2; ZFYVE1/DFCP1 zinc finger FYVE-type containing 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining the exact type of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 20 insertion (ex20ins) mutation in lung cancer has become important. We found that not all ex20ins mutations reported by cobas EGFR test v2 could be validated by Sanger sequencing even using surgical specimens with high tumor contents. This study aimed to validate the ex20ins results reported by the cobas test and to determine whether there were clinicopathological factors associated with aberrant cobas ex20ins report. In total, 123 cobas-reported cases with ex20ins were retrospectively collected and validated by Sanger sequencing and Idylla assay. Clinicopathological features between ex20ins cobas+/Sanger+ group (n = 71) and cobas+/Sanger− group (n = 52) were compared. The Idylla assay detected ex20ins in 82.6% of cobas+/Sanger+ cases but only in 4.9% of cobas+/Sanger− cases. The cobas+/Sanger− group was significantly associated with higher tumor contents, poorly differentiated patterns, tumor necrosis, and a lower internal control cycle threshold value reported by the Idylla which suggesting the presence of increased EGFR gene copy numbers. EGFR fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) revealed the majority of cobas+/Sanger− group had EGFR high copy number gain (16%) or amplification (76%) according to the Colorado criteria. Among cases reported to have concomitant classic EGFR and ex20ins mutations by the cobas, the classic EGFR mutations were all detected by Sanger sequencing and Idylla, while the ex20ins mutations were undetected by Sanger sequencing (0%) or rarely reported by Idylla assay (3%). FISH revealed high EGFR copy number gain (17.9%) and amplification (79.5%) in cases reported having concomitant classic EGFR and ex20ins mutations by the cobas. This study demonstrated an unusually high frequency of EGFR amplification in cases with aberrant cobas ex20ins report which could not be validated by Sanger sequencing or Idylla assay. Ex20ins reported by the cobas test should be validated using other methods especially those reported having concomitant ex20ins and classic EGFR mutations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Postpartum women often experience stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and vaginal microbial dysbiosis, which seriously affect women's physical and mental health. Understanding the relationship between SUI and vaginal microbiota composition may help to prevent vaginal diseases, but research on the potential association between these conditions is limited. Results: This study employed 16S rRNA gene sequencing to explore the association between SUI and vaginal dysbiosis. In terms of the vaginal microbiota, both species richness and evenness were significantly higher in the SUI group. Additionally, the results of NMDS and species composition indicated that there were differences in the composition of the vaginal microbiota between the two groups. Specifically, compared to postpartum women without SUI (Non-SUI), the relative abundance of bacteria associated with bacterial dysbiosis, such as Streptococcus, Prevotella, Dialister, and Veillonella, showed an increase, while the relative abundance of Lactobacillus decreased in SUI patients. Furthermore, the vaginal microbial co-occurrence network of SUI patients displayed higher connectivity, complexity, and clustering. Conclusion: The study highlights the role of Lactobacillus in maintaining vaginal microbial homeostasis. It found a correlation between SUI and vaginal microbiota, indicating an increased risk of vaginal dysbiosis. The findings could enhance our understanding of the relationship between SUI and vaginal dysbiosis in postpartum women, providing valuable insights for preventing bacterial vaginal diseases and improving women's health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study introduces a facial expression-driven interaction method for small quadruped robots, featuring three layers: Perception (L1), Analysis (L2), and Expression (L3). L1 focuses on data acquisition and image stabilization, L2 on model training and emotion classification, and L3 on control feedback and interactive movements. The core NXEIK network model comprises the NAFNet for image stabilization, Mini-Xception for facial recognition, EANet for action mapping, and an inverse kinematics model. Validation on a self-designed robot platform demonstrated the method's ability to enhance jittery image data and outperform deep learning networks like ViT and ResNet-101 in facial expression classification. The NXEIK model enables the robot to adapt its movements to various expressions using only three parameter types. This research provides a feasible solution for enhancing human-robot interaction and movement design for flexible quadruped robots through facial expressions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To establish a nomogram for predicting the pathologic complete response (pCR) in breast cancer (BC) patients after NAC by applying magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound (US). Methods A total of 607 LABC women who underwent NAC before surgery between January 2016 and June 2022 were retrospectively enrolled, and then were randomly divided into the training (n  = 425) and test set (n  = 182) with the ratio of 7:3. MRI and US variables were collected before and after NAC, as well as the clinicopathologic features. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied to confirm the potentially associated predictors of pCR. Finally, a nomogram was developed in the training set with its performance evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (ROC) and validated in the test set. Results Of the 607 patients, 108 (25.4%) achieved pCR. Hormone receptor negativity (odds ratio [OR], 0.3; P  <  .001), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positivity (OR, 2.7; P  =  .001), small tumour size at post-NAC US (OR, 1.0; P  =  .031), tumour size reduction ≥50% at MRI (OR, 9.8; P  <  .001), absence of enhancement in the tumour bed at post-NAC MRI (OR, 8.1; P  =  .003), and the increase of ADC value after NAC (OR, 0.3; P  =  .035) were all significantly associated with pCR. Incorporating the above variables, the nomogram showed a satisfactory performance with an AUC of 0.884. Conclusion A nomogram including clinicopathologic variables and MRI and US characteristics shows preferable performance in predicting pCR. Advances in knowledge A nomogram incorporating MRI and US with clinicopathologic variables was developed to provide a brief and concise approach in predicting pCR to assist clinicians in making treatment decisions early. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop a potential refractory for directional solidification of high-entropy alloys with high-activity, the interfacial reaction of Al 2 O 3 , MgO, and BaZrO 3 refractory against TiZrNbV alloy melt was investigated. A comparative study of their corrosion resistance is performed to evaluate the applicability. Results indicated that the interaction occurred between the three refractory and the alloy melts, causing the refractory to be wetted by the alloy melt. The dissolution-corrosion was the main reason for the interaction, and the corrosion resistance extent of the refractory was proportional to the wetting angle of the alloy. Furthermore, Al 2 O 3 refractory was seriously corroded by the alloy melts, resulting in the appearance of a 50 μm thick pit. Then, the dissolved O in the refractory diffused into the alloy, causing a 400 μm thick interaction layer and Zr–O oxides reactants. In addition, MgO refractory could suppress its interaction with the alloy melt, due to the volatility of Mg vapor. However, there still existed a 50 μm thick interaction layer and Zr–O oxides products. Compared with Al 2 O 3 and MgO, BaZrO 3 refractory exhibited a lowest dissolution extent, and did not cause the appearance of an interaction layer or products, confirming its excellent corrosion resistance. These results provides insights into the process of producing high-entropy alloys using BaZrO 3 refractory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human action recognition (HAR) as the most representative human-centred computer vision task is critical in human resource management (HRM), especially in human resource recruitment, performance appraisal, and employee training. Currently, prevailing approaches to human action recognition primarily emphasize either temporal or spatial features while overlooking the intricate interplay between these two dimensions. This oversight leads to less precise and robust action classification within complex human resource recruitment environments. In this paper, we propose a novel human action recognition methodology for human resource recruitment environments, which aims at symmetrically harnessing temporal and spatial information to enhance the performance of human action recognition. Specifically, we compute Depth Motion Maps (DMM) and Depth Temporal Maps (DTM) from depth video sequences as space and time descriptors, respectively. Subsequently, a novel feature fusion technique named Center Boundary Collaborative Canonical Correlation Analysis (CBCCCA) is designed to enhance the fusion of space and time features by collaboratively learning the center and boundary information of feature class space. We then introduce a spatio-temporal information filtration module to remove redundant information introduced by spatio-temporal fusion and retain discriminative details. Finally, a Support Vector Machine (SVM) is employed for human action recognition. Extensive experiments demonstrate that the proposed method has the ability to significantly improve human action recognition performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have been extensively studied for lignin extraction from lignocellulosic biomass due to their easy synthesis, selective lignin dissolution, high recyclability, and other benefits. In this study, lignin in poplar wood was extracted using DESs composed of malic acid (Mal) and choline chloride (ChCl). A two-step treatment approach using DESs was proposed in order to enhance the lignin separation capability of DESs under mild conditions and achieve cellulose purification. The impacts of the Mal/ChCl molar ratio, reaction temperature and time on lignin extraction were examined. 75.3% of lignin was separated from poplar wood using Mal/ChCl (2 : 1) DESs at 120 °C for 4 h. Notably, after two-step DES treatments, 86.9% of lignin was removed, and the delignification efficiency was 21.7% higher than that by one-step treatment at the same temperature and time. Also, the lignin dissolved in DESs was regenerated and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and heteronuclear single quantum correlation (HSQC) spectroscopy. The results suggested that the regenerated lignin has low molecular weight with the β-O-4′ bond eliminated, which could be beneficial for the subsequent modification and development of lignin-based biofunctional materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study utilized a combination of FLIC(1D3.2C) and FLUENT(2021R2) software to optimize the primary air distribution along the grate and the performance of a straw briquette combustion furnace of a 7 MW unit in China used to produce hot air for drying grain. Three air distribution modes, namely front-enhanced, uniform, and rear-enhanced modes, were analyzed to determine their effect on the flue gas components above the grate, the temperature field in the furnace, and the nitrogen oxide concentration at the furnace outlet. The results of the calculations showed that the NOx emissions for the front-enhanced, uniform, and rear-enhanced modes were 133.5 mg/Nm3, 104.4 mg/Nm3, and 76.6 mg/Nm3, respectively. It was found that the rear-enhanced mode can expand the biomass drying, devolatilization, and combustion zone, thus improving the furnace combustion performance and decreasing NOx emissions. These findings can provide useful guidance for optimizing biomass chain-grate-firing furnaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a rare case of B-cell lymphoma that expresses two uncommon markers, KIT and synaptophysin. The patient, a 76-year-old female, presented with nasal congestion, eye proptosis, and other symptoms. The tumor was surgically removed and analyzed, revealing the expression of B-cell markers and the presence of KIT and synaptophysin. The findings contribute to the understanding of B-cell lymphomas and highlight the diagnostic challenges posed by unusual immunophenotypes. Further research is needed to determine the clinical implications of these markers and their role in tumor heterogeneity. [Extracted from the article]

The intentional ingestion of sodium nitrite causes toxicity by inducing methemoglobinemia, which can lead to cyanosis, hypotension and death. The number of reported suicide cases has significantly increased in the past 10 years as sodium nitrite is readily available online. The traditional tests for nitrite and nitrate require specialized detection methods which are not typically available in a postmortem toxicology laboratory. This rise in sodium nitrite overdose cases indicates the need for a simple, quick test for suspected nitrite toxicity. In this study, a common Griess reagent color test (MQuant™ Nitrite Test Strips) was used as a presumptive method in cases where the ingestion of sodium nitrite was suspected. The test results were consistent between specimens in all cases, and vitreous humor was identified as a reliable matrix to be used in the cases of suspected sodium nitrite poisonings. Case reports of five patients who died of suicide by sodium nitrite in a 6-month span are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The catalytic gasification of petroleum coke with different ratios of K2CO3 was investigated by a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) using the non-isothermal method. The initial, peak, and final gasification temperatures of the petroleum coke decreased greatly as the amount of K2CO3 increased, and the catalytic reaction became saturated at a concentration of K+ higher than 5 mmol/g; with the further increase in catalyst; the gasification rate varied slightly, but no inhibition effect was observed. The vaporization of the catalyst was confirmed during the gasification at high temperatures. The structural evolution of the residual coke with different carbon conversions was examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and N2 adsorption analyses during gasification with and without the catalyst. The results showed that the carbon crystallite structure of the residual coke varied in the presence of the catalyst. As the carbon conversion increased, the structure of the residual coke without the catalyst became more ordered, and the number of aromatic rings decreased, while the graphitization degree of the residual coke in the presence of the catalyst decreased. Meanwhile, the surface area and pore volume of petroleum coke increased in the gasification process of the residual coke, irrespective of the presence of the catalyst. However, the reactivity of the residual coke did not change much with the variation in the carbon and pore structure during the reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land-use systems (LUSs) and soil types (STs) are strongly related to factors that influence soil degradation and carbon (C) loss. However, the way in which land use and soil type affects the soil organic C (SOC) pools, and soil aggregation in the Sanjiang Plain, has not been thoroughly investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate soil physic–ochemical properties, soil aggregates, and C management index (CMI) in three different LUSs (grassland, dryland, and paddy field) under two STs (meadow soil and albic soil) of the Sanjiang Plain in northeast China. A total of 60 composite soil samples were collected for laboratory analyses. The results were as follows: soil properties were affected by LUS and ST, especially soil chemical properties; ST had no significant effect on soil aggregates but significantly affected its SOC content, while LUS had a significant effect on soil aggregates (p < 0.01), except for small macro-aggregates (2–0.25 mm); the mean weight diameter (MWD) and SOC in meadow soil was significantly different under different land uses, with grassland being the highest and dryland the lowest. However, there was no significant difference in albic soil. The heterogeneity of grassland, dryland, and paddy field showed that different LUSs had particular effects on SOC and its active components because LUS had significant effects on C pool index (CPI) and CMI, but ST and its interaction had no significant effects on CPI and CMI. Overall, the results showed that LUS was an important factor affecting CMI in the Sanjiang Plain, rather than ST, and the paddy field CMI was optimal in the Sanjiang Plain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypoxia plays a critical role in melanoma development, but the characteristics of elemental oxygen in proteins and adaptation to hypoxia microenvironments are still unidentified. This study aims to explore oxygen contents (OCs) and differentially expressed proteins (DEP). Protein expression data were retrieved from Human Protein Atlas. The DEP in melanoma samples were compared with normal skin cells. We identified 1,969 DEP, and none of the genes coding these proteins were present on chromosome Y. The average oxygen content (AOC) was 7.24% higher in highly expressed proteins than lowly expressed proteins in melanoma and normal skin cells. The AOC is 2.36% higher in the up regulated proteins (URPs) in melanoma. The essential amino acids in the proteins in melanoma cells contributed to increased OC. Functional dissections of the high OCs in URP displayed that some of these proteins are associated with cytoskeleton, cyclins and cell cycle proteins. The URP interactions were generated using a STRING database. Majority of these URPs are associated in expression, exhibiting sufficient interactions with each other. This study provides useful information regarding protein expression in melanoma cells and the molecular mechanism of melanoma using stoichiogenomics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Isatis tinctoria Linnaeus and Isatis indigotica Fortune are very inconsistent in their morphological characteristics, but the Flora of China treats them as the same species. In this work, a new technology that differs from conventional barcodes is developed to prove that they are different species and to clarify their classification. Results and methods: I. indigotica was indistinguishable from I. tinctoria when using ITS2. CPGAVAS2 was used to construct the chloroplast genomes. MAFFT and DnaSP were used to calculate nucleotide polymorphism, the chloroplast genomes of the two have high diversity in the rpl32 ~ trnL-UAG short region. When using this region as a mini barcode, it was found that there are obvious differences in the base numbers of I. tinctoria and different ploidy I. indigotica were found, but diploid and tetraploid I. indigotica had the same number of bases. Moreover, the reconstruction of the maximum likelihood (ML) tree, utilizing the mini-barcode, demonstrated that I. tinctoria and both diploid and tetraploid I. indigotica are located on distinct branches. The genome size of tetraploid I. indigotica was approximately 643.773 MB, the heterozygosity rate was approximately 0.98%, and the repeat sequence content was approximately 90.43%. This species has a highly heterozygous, extremely repetitive genome. Conclusion: A new method was established to differentiate between I. indigotica and I. tinctoria. Furthermore, this approach provides a reference and basis for the directional breeding of Isatis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel dual-amplification system based on CRISPR-Cas12a and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was developed for colorimetric determination of MC-LR. This dual-amplification was accomplished by combining the nuclease activity of CRISPR-Cas12a with the redox activity of HRP. HRP linked to magnetic beads through an ssDNA (MB-ssDNA-HRP) was used to induce a color change of the 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB)-H2O2 chromogenic substrate solution. Specific binding of MC-LR with its aptamer initiated the release of a complementary DNA (cDNA), which was designed to activate the trans-cleavage activity of CRISPR-Cas12a. Upon activation, Cas12a cut the ssDNA linker in MB-ssDNA-HRP, causing a reduction of HRP on the magnetic beads. Consequently, the UV–Vis absorbance of the HRP-catalyzed reaction was decreased. The dual-signal amplification facilitated by CRISPR-Cas12a and HRP enabled the colorimetric detection of MC-LR in the range 0.01 to 50 ng·mL−1 with a limit of detection (LOD) of 4.53 pg·mL−1. The practicability of the developed colorimetric method was demonstrated by detecting different levels of MC-LR in spiked real water samples. The recoveries ranged from 86.2 to 118.5% and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was 8.4 to 17.6%. This work provides new inspiration for the construction of effective signal amplification platforms and demonstrates a simple and user-friendly colorimetric method for determination of trace MC-LR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the predictive performance and reproducibility of Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System (O-RADS) ultrasound (US) system in evaluating adnexal masses between sonologists with varying levels of expertise. Methods: This was a single-center retrospective study conducted between May 2019 and May 2020, which included 147 adnexal mases with pathological results. Four sonologists with varying experiences independently assigned an O-RADS US category to each adnexal mass twice. The intra- and inter-observer agreement was assessed using weighted kappa values. The area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value (PPV and NPV) were assessed for each sonologist. Results: Of the 147 adnexal mases, 115 (78.2%) lesions were benign and 32 (21.8%) lesions were malignant. Considering O-RADS > 3 as a predictor for adnexal malignancy, the predictive accuracies of the four sonologists were excellent, with AUCs ranging from 0.831 to 0.926. The predictive accuracies of O-RADS US by experienced sonologists were significantly higher compared to inexperienced sonologists (all P values < 0.005). The O-RADS US presented high sensitivity and NPV value for each sonologist. With regard to the reproducibility of O-RADS, the intra- and inter-observer agreement among experienced sonologists performed better than inexperienced sonologists. Conclusion: O-RADS showed difference in the predictive accuracy and reproducibility in the evaluation of adnexal masses among sonologists with different levels of expertise. Training is required for inexperienced sonologists before the generalization of O-RADS classification system in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is on the rise, it has been a major public health problem and places a significant burden on healthcare systems. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is an increasingly popular form of renal replacement therapy. Patients undergoing dialysis treatment undergo specific pathophysiological and psychological changes. The aim of this systematic review is to investigate the experiences of ESRD patients receiving PD in order to gain deeper insights into their attitudes and beliefs towards this treatment. This will help researchers and health professionals to target interventions to improve the quality of life of PD patients. Design: Protocol for a qualitative systematic review. Methods: This systematic review protocol will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) meta-analysis methodology. We will conduct a comprehensive search, including English and Chinese databases. It will include all published qualitative studies of patients' experiences with PD. Both English and Chinese literature will be covered. Two reviewers will independently participate in the literature selection, document selection, and data extraction process. Synthesis will be carried out through in-depth reading of the original text and subsequent creation of similar categories. Results: Experiencing is a complex dimension that includes physical, psychological and social aspects. This review will enable nurses to gain a deeper understanding of the feelings and beliefs of patients with PD. Our findings will provide healthcare professionals and policy makers with evidence to provide better care for patients with PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The processes of mechanical, hydrothermal and DESs are combined. • Structure-performance relationship of DESs delignification is clarified. • Multiple DESs extraction can further improve the delignification efficiency. • DESs compete with lignin to break the H-bonds in lignocellulose. Bamboo pulp and papermaking produce a lot of bamboo powder waste, and its resource utilization is of great significance for biomass refining and environmental protection. Here, we propose an integrated approach involving mechanical activation, hydrothermal extraction, and deep eutectic solvents (DESs) multiple delignification for the efficient separation of bamboo powder. Among seven carboxylic acids based DESs, choline chloride (ChCl)-lactic acid (La) DES (1:1) is the most effective, with over 78.0% lignin removal and 88.9% cellulose retained after mechanical-hydrothermal (180 °C, 5 h)-DES (110 °C, 12 h) treatment. Notably, 84.7% of delignification is achieved after three times of ChCl-La DES treatment at 70, 90, and 110 °C respectively. The delignification rate is negatively correlated with the amount of carboxyl group in the DESs. The lower the p K a value, the higher the delignification rate. Additionally, the selectivity for lignin is improved with decreasing solvent polarity. DES treatment effectively degrades the guaiacyl unit lignin fractions and disrupts several β-aryl-ether bonds (e.g., β-O-4, β-β, and β-5). Furthermore, DESs exhibit good recyclability, with less than 10% reduction in delignification after three cycles. Theory calculations confirm that ChCl-carboxylic acid DESs could compete with lignin to break hydrogen bonds in lignocellulosic biomass by providing their chloride, hydroxyl, and carboxyl groups. Overall, this study demonstrates the practical significance of multistage treatment for the effective fractionation of biomass into its three components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have the advantages of low cost, non-toxicity, and biodegradability for the catalytic conversion of fructose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF). However, the efficient separation of 5-HMF from DESs is essential and challenging for its high-value utilization. In this study, the efficient separation of 5-HMF from eight carboxylic acid-based DESs was achieved by four cycles of extraction using tetrahydrofuran (THF) with an overall extraction efficiency of more than 80.0% (30 °C). Besides, the addition of 1 mol L−1 NaCl solution can significantly improve the extraction efficiency from 30.0% to 42.0%. In addition, the process of recovery and reuse of the extractant was proved to be quite effective, in which the purity of 5-HMF in the recovered product and the amount of THF in the recycled extractant can reach up to 90.0% and 97.0%, respectively. Finally, a thorough procedure for the preparation, separation, and recovery of 5-HMF was carried out to assess the viability of the optimized separation and recovery process. The results reveal outstanding extraction efficiency (77.9%), excellent yield of 5-HMF (63.3%), and high purity of 5-HMF in the final product (86.0%). This work expands the range of possible uses for 5-HMF by demonstrating an efficient and environmentally friendly method for separating and recovering 5-HMF while ensuring the reuse of the extractant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition‐metal‐based layered double hydroxides (TM‐LDHs) nanosheets are promising electrocatalysts in the renewable electrochemical energy conversion system, which are regarded as alternatives to noble metal‐based materials. In this review, recent advances on effective and facile strategies to rationally design TM‐LDHs nanosheets as electrocatalysts, such as increasing the number of active sties, improving the utilization of active sites (atomic‐scale catalysts), modulating the electron configurations, and controlling the lattice facets, are summarized and compared. Then, the utilization of these fabricated TM‐LDHs nanosheets for oxygen evolution reaction, hydrogen evolution reaction, urea oxidation reaction, nitrogen reduction reaction, small molecule oxidations, and biomass derivatives upgrading is articulated through systematically discussing the corresponding fundamental design principles and reaction mechanism. Finally, the existing challenges in increasing the density of catalytically active sites and future prospects of TM‐LDHs nanosheets‐based electrocatalysts in each application are also commented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The designed method aims to perform image classification tasks efficiently and accurately. Different from the traditional CNN-based image classification methods, which are greatly affected by the number of labels and the depth of the network. Although the deep network can improve the accuracy of the model, the training process is usually time-consuming and laborious. We explained how to use only a few of labels, design a more flexible network architecture and combine feature distillation method to improve model efficiency while ensuring high accuracy. Specifically, we integrate different network structures into independent individuals to make the use of network structures more flexible. Based on knowledge distillation, we extract the channel features and establish a feature distillation connection from the teacher network to the student network. By comparing the experimental results with other related popular methods on commonly used data sets, the effectiveness of the method is proved. The code can be found at https://github.com/ZhangXinba/Semi_FD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pathological vascular remodeling and cell proliferation play vital roles in many proliferative vascular diseases. Estrogen can protect the cardiovascular system, but its exact molecular mechanism is unknown. Here we report that 17β-estradiol (E2) suppressed vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) proliferation and inflammation. qRT-PCR and Western blot demonstrated that E2 decreased NF-κB p50 expression and reduced VSMCs proliferation and inflammation. Mechanistically, a dual luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation suggested that KLF5 promoted NF-κB p50 expression by binding to the NF-κB p50 promoter, whereas E2 reduced the effect of KLF5 binding to the NF-κB p50 promoter and inhibited NF-κB p50 expression. Furthermore, a coimmunoprecipitation assay and immunofluorescence staining showed that the interaction between KLF5 and ERα increased in VSMCs treated with E2, which in turn decreased NF-κB p50 expression levels. Altogether, we reveal that E2 inhibits VSMCs proliferation and inflammation by reducing NF-κB expression induced by an increased interaction between KLF5 and ERα. These data provide further insights into how E2 inhibits vascular proliferation and inflammation. • 17β-estradiol (E2) inhibits VSMCs proliferation and inflammation in vivo and in vitro. • E2 inhibits NF-κB p50 expression and reduced proliferation and inflammation of VSMCs and vascular intimal. • E2 reduces NF-κB p50 expression via KLF5 regulating NF-κB p50 promoter. • The interaction between ERα and KLF5 increases in the presence of E2, then decreases NF-κB p50 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using rolling circle amplification (RCA) and two different ways of signal readout, we developed analytical methods to detect the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S protein). We modified streptavidin-coated magnetic beads with an aptamer of RBD through a biotin-tagged complementary DNA strand (biotin-cDNA). Binding of RBD caused the aptamer to dissociate from the biotin-cDNA, making the cDNA available to initiate RCA on the magnetic beads. Detection of RBD was achieved using a dual signal output. For fluorescence signaling, the RCA products were mixed with a dsDNA probe labeled with fluorophore and quencher. Hybridization of the RCA products caused the dsDNA to separate and to emit fluorescence (λex = 488 nm, λem = 520 nm). To generate easily detectable UV–vis absorbance signal, the RCA amplification was extended to produce DNA flower to encapsulate horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The HRP-encapsulated DNA flower catalyzed a colorimetric reaction between H2O2 and 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) to generate an optical signal (λabs = 450 nm). The fluorescence and colorimetric assays for RBD have low detection limits (0.11 pg mL−1 and 0.904 pg mL−1) and a wide linear range (0.001–100 ng mL−1). For detection of RBD in human saliva, the recovery was 93.0–100% for the fluorescence assay and 87.2–107% for the colorimetric assay. By combining fluorescence and colorimetric detection with RCA, detection of the target RBD in human saliva was achieved with high sensitivity and selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We investigated the diagnostic accuracy of serum NT-proBNP in patients with pleural effusion. • Serum NT-proBNP has moderate diagnostic accuracy for HF. • The diagnostic accuracy of NT-proBNP decreases in old patients. Serum N -terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a well-recognized diagnostic marker for heart failure (HF) in patients with dyspnea or pleural effusion (PE). The effects of age on the diagnostic accuracy of NT-proBNP in dyspneic patients are widely known; however, whether its diagnostic accuracy is affected by age in patients with PE remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the influence of age on the diagnostic accuracy of serum NT-proBNP for HF in patients with PE. Patients with PE were recruited from the BUFF (Biomarkers for patients with Undiagnosed pleural eFFusion) cohort and the SIMPLE (a Study Investigating Markers in PLeural Effusion) cohort. Serum NT-proBNP on admission and final diagnosis were extracted from the participant's medical records. The diagnostic accuracy of serum NT-proBNP was evaluated by a operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The influence of age on the diagnostic accuracy of NT-proBNP was investigated through subgroup analyses. One hundred and four participants were enrolled from the BUFF cohorts (HF, 32; non-HF, 72). One hundred and sixteen participants were enrolled from the SIMPLE cohort (HF, 21; non-HF, 95). The area under the ROC curve (AUCs) of NT-proBNP in the pooled cohort was 0.78 (95 %CI: 0.71 – 0.85). The AUC of NT-proBNP decreased in older patients. Serum NT-proBNP has moderate diagnostic accuracy for HF in old patients with PE. The diagnostic accuracy of serum NT-proBNP in these patients decreases with the advancement of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphogypsum (PG) is a solid waste product generated during wet-process phosphoric acid production. Various impurities considerably reduce the purity, whiteness, and application range of PG. This article analyzes the physical properties of PG in detail and systematically examines the content and distribution of impurities. Based on the obtained results, a simple process for the efficient removal of almost all impurities in the PG is proposed. The purity and whiteness of the purified gypsum (CaSO4) significantly increased to 99% and 92%, respectively. The migration of impurities and the material balance of this process were then analyzed. Most importantly, the purified gypsum showed high CO2 sequestration efficiency for CO2 mineral sequestration, through which a high value-added CaCO3 product was obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical oxidase biosensors have been widely applied in healthcare, environmental measurements and the biomedical field. However, the low and fluctuant oxygen levels in solution and the high anodic detection potentially restrict the assay accuracy. To address these problems, in this work, we constructed a three-phase interface enzyme electrode by sequentially immobilizing H2O2 electrocatalysts and an oxidase layer on a superhydrophobic laser-induced graphene (LIG) array substrate. The LIG-based enzyme electrode possesses a solid–liquid–air three-phase interface where constant and sufficient oxygen can be supplied from the air phase to the enzymatic reaction zone, which enhances and stabilizes the oxidase kinetics. We discovered that the enzymatic reaction rate is 21.2-fold improved over that of a solid–liquid diphase system where oxygen is supplied from the liquid phase, leading to a 60-times wider linear detection range. Moreover, the three-phase enzyme electrode can employ a cathodic measuring principle for oxidase catalytic product H2O2 detection, which could minimize interferences arising from oxidizable molecules in biofluids and increase the detection selectivity. This work provides a simple and promising approach to the design and construction of high-performance bioassay systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exosomes are nanoscale vesicles derived from endocytosis, formed by fusion of multivesicular bodies with membranes and secreted into the extracellular matrix or body fluids. Many studies have shown that exosomes can be present in a variety of biological fluids, such as plasma, urine, saliva, amniotic fluid, ascites, and sweat, and most types of cells can secrete exosomes. Exosomes play an important role in many aspects of human development, including immunity, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and neoplasia. Urine can be an alternative to blood or tissue samples as a potential source of disease biomarkers because of its simple, noninvasive, sufficient, and stable characteristics. Therefore, urinary exosomes have valuable potential for early screening, monitoring disease progression, prognosis, and treatment. The method for isolating urinary exosomes has been perfected, and exosome proteomics is widely used. Therefore, we review the potential use of urinary exosomes for disease diagnosis and summarize the related literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Silicon (Si), have been considered as promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), due to its high theoretical specific capacity of 4200 mAh g−1. However, the poor electrical conductivity and large volume change during lithiation/delithiation process, resulting in poor cycling stability, and seriously hindered the practical application in LIBs. Herein, a multiple Si/Fe x Si y @NC/CNTs composite is synthesized and investigated as advanced anode materials for LIBs via a simple one-step method. Such multiple Si/Fe x Si y @NC/CNTs composite has several merits including the Fe x Si y can not only accommodate the huge volume change of Si nanoparticles, but also enhance the conductivity upon discharge/charge process. Furthermore, the in-situ growth CNTs may help establish a long-range conductivity, and the Nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) layer can further improve the conductivity of Si, as well as inhibit the direct contract between electrolyte and Si during cycling process. Accordingly, the Si/Fe x Si y @NC/CNTs-1 exhibits excellent cycling stability (a high capacity of 994.4 mAh g−1 is maintained at 1.0 A g−1 after 600cycles) and outstanding rate capability (a suitable capacity of 441.7 mAh g−1 was obtained even at 5.0 A g−1). Moreover, the assembled full cell can achieve a capacity of 141.4 mAh g−1 after 65 cycles at 1.0C, exhibiting outstanding cycling stability. This work provides a prospective way for the commercial production of high-performance Si-based anode materials for LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are numerous ways to achieve light-induced self-assembly of gold nanoparticles, but most of them are through chemical reaction and slow. Ligands that can perform photoexcitation-induced aggregation were synthesized and modified onto gold nanoparticles. The leading functionalized nanoparticles exhibit highly efficient light-induced self-assembly properties and show high-contrast color fading in tens of seconds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The functional group (FG) system sensu Colin S. Reynolds of freshwater phytoplankton has been widely applied in many aspects of freshwater ecological assessments. However, there is no current consensus as to how and to why some functional coda shows multiple habitat templates in different water bodies. To test whether there are multiple habitat templates for some functional coda in the FG system, we used two mesotrophic deep reservoirs in China as examples, analysing phytoplankton taxonomic and environmental data collected in 4 seasons over two years. Results showed that a large proportion of the indicators had similar habitat templates within the FG system, whilst some species had multiple or different habitat templates according to their niche differentiation. The random forest (RF) model filtered a minimum set of environmental conditions and provided two potential habitat templates for Oocystis lacustris. One explanatory habitat template of clear water provided by the FG system was verified in the Nanwan Reservoir, and the other habitat template of high dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) was found in the Nianyushan Reservoir. Further studies of the potential multiple habitat templates for some functional coda are recommended for its proper use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • C4-C7 PFCAs are predominant in leachate, while FOTHs are dominant in landfill air. • The quality of installed landfill liners is critical for minimizing PFAS leakage. • Activated carbon, ion exchange, and reverse osmosis are effective for treating PFAS in leachate. • Foam fractionation and advanced oxidation are effective per laboratory/pilot scale tests. • Key knowledge gaps in PFAS management at landfills are identified. Landfills have served as the final repository for > 50 % municipal solid wastes in the United States. Because of their widespread uses and persistence in the environment, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) (>4000 on the global market) are ubiquitously present in everyday consumer, commercial and industrial products, and have been widely detected in both closed (tens ng/L) and active (thousands to ten thousands ng/L) landfills due to disposal of PFAS-containing materials. Along with the decomposition of wastes in-place, PFAS can be transformed and released from the wastes into leachate and landfill gas. Consequently, it is critical to understand the occurrence and transformation of PFAS in landfills and the effectiveness of landfills, as a disposal alternative, for long-term containment of PFAS. This article presents a state-of-the-art review on the occurrence and transformation of PFAS in landfills, and possible effect of PFAS on the integrity of modern liner systems. Based on the data published from 10 countries (250 + landfills), C4-C7 perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids were found predominant in the untreated landfill leachate and neutral PFAS, primarily fluorotelomer alcohols, in landfill air. The effectiveness and limitations of the conventional leachate treatment technologies and emerging technologies were also evaluated to address PFAS released into the leachate. Among conventional technologies, reverse osmosis (RO) may achieve a high removal efficiency of 90–100 % based on full-scale data, which, however, is vulnerable to the organic fouling and requires additional disposal of the concentrate. Implications of these knowledge on PFAS management at landfills are discussed and major knowledge gaps are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green and highly selective synthesis of organonitrogen chemicals (ONCs) using the renewable energy source biomass over noble-metal free solid catalysts under common room temperature and pressure conditions is still a major challenge. Here, we report a sustainable electrochemical method for selective synthesis of several valuable ONCs with high yields using biomass-derived furanic aldehydes over greenly fabricated TiS2 nanosheets through a facile synthesis. Based on a range of characterization techniques including high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray absorption fine structure, a well-defined structure of the TiS2 nanosheets (3.86 nm with 1T phase) was constructed. These as-prepared catalysts were applied to the electrochemical reductive amination (ERA) of three biomass-derived aldehydes, i.e. furfural (FF), 5-methylfurfural (MF) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), and exhibited superior performance whereby over 95% conversion of each furanic aldehyde and nearly perfect selectivity of ONCs were achieved. TiS2 nanosheets, in particular, exhibited a marked ∼2-fold increase in conversion (∼49%) compared with the monometallic Ti electrode. Besides, the reaction kinetics and rational pathway were also studied. In addition, these exfoliated TiS2 nanosheets maintained high durability over 6 h, providing a promising and versatile route for the sustainable upgrading of biomass-derived sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ti3C2Tx (T = OH) was first prepared from Ti3AlC2 by HF etching and applied into a photocatalytic CO2 reduction. Then, the Ti3C2Tx nanosheets present interbedded a self-supporting structure and extended interlayer spacing. Meanwhile, the Ti3C2Tx nanosheets are decorated with abundant oxygen-containing functional groups in the process of etching, which not only serve as active sites but also show efficient charge migration and separation. Among Ti3C2Tx materials prepared by etching for different times, Ti3C2Tx-36 (Etching time: 36 h) showed the best performance for photoreduction of CO2 into alcohols (methanol and ethanol), giving total yield of 61 μmol g catal.−1, which is 2.8 times than that of Ti3AlC2. Moreover, excellent cycling stability for CO2 reduction is beneficial from the stable morphology and crystalline structure. This work provided novel sights into constructing surface active sites controllably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flavonoids and caffeine are the major secondary metabolites with beneficial bioactivity for human health in tea plants, and their biosynthesis pathway and regulatory networks have been well-deciphered. However, the accumulation traits of flavonoids and caffeine in different tea cultivars was insufficient in investigation. In this study, metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses were performed to investigate the differences of flavonoids and caffeine accumulation and regulation between Chinese varieties, including the 'BTSC' group with green leaf, the 'BTZY' group with purple foliage, and the 'MYC' group comprising Assam varieties with green leaf. The results showed that most of the flavonoids were down-regulated in the 'MYC' group; however, the total anthocyanin contents were higher than that of the 'BTSC' group while lower than that of the 'BTZY' group. An ANS (Anthocyanin synthase) was significantly up-regulated and supposed to play a key role for anthocyanin accumulation in the 'BTZY' group. In addition, the results showed that esterified catechins were accumulated in the 'BTSC' and 'BTZY' groups with high abundance. In addition, SCPL1A (Type 1A serine carboxypeptidase-like acyltransferases gene) and UGGT (UDP glucose: galloyl-1-O-β-d-glucosyltransferase gene) potentially contributed to the up-accumulation of catechins esterified by gallic acid. Interestingly, the results found that much lower levels of caffeine accumulation were observed in the 'MYC' group. RT-qPCR analysis suggested that the expression deficiency of TCS1 (Tea caffeine synthase 1) was the key factor resulting in the insufficient accumulation of caffeine in the 'MYC' group. Multiple MYB/MYB-like elements were discovered in the promoter region of TCS1 and most of the MYB genes were found preferentially expressed in 'MYC' groups, indicating some of which potentially served as negative factor(s) for biosynthesis of caffeine in tea plants. The present study uncovers the characteristics of metabolite accumulation and the key regulatory network, which provide a research reference to the selection and breeding of tea varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Non‐severe aplastic anemia is more likely to develop into severe aplastic anemia, and there is no widely accepted treatment plan at present. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation might be a new therapeutic strategy. Methods: Retrospectively analyzed 32 patients with non‐severe aplastic anemia who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from September 2007 to September 2020, and the 5‐year estimated overall survival rate and the incidence of graft‐versus‐host disease were analyzed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the treatment of pediatric non‐severe aplastic anemia. Results: Thirty‐two patients who underwent transplantation, 29 patients (90.6%) survived, 3 patients (9.4%) died. The incidence of acute graft‐versus‐host disease was 51.6% (16/31), including 15 cases (48.4%) of grade I‐II and 1 case (3.2%) of grade III–IV. The incidence of chronic graft‐versus‐host disease was 38.7% (12/31). The 5‐year overall survival rate was 91.8%. Conclusions: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is a practicable, safe, and effective treatment option for non‐severe aplastic anemia pediatric patients who are suitable for transplant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depression is one of the most important mental illnesses and is closely related to inflammation. Betaine is a natural product with an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. However, the mechanism by which betaine ameliorates depression-like behaviors induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the neuroprotective effect of betaine on LPS-induced depression-like behavior in mice and its mechanism of action. ICR mice were randomly divided into four groups: the control group, the LPS model group (0.83 mg/kg), the positive drug group (MIDO, 50 mg/kg), and the betaine group (5% and 1% in drinking water). The betaine group was administered for 21 days, and on the 22nd day, except for the blank group, LPS (0.83 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected to establish a lipopolysaccharide-induced mice depression-like model. Twenty-four hours after LPS injection, the tail suspension test (TST), open field test (OFT), and sucrose preference test (SPT) were performed to evaluate the effect of betaine on LPS-induced depressive behavior in mice. After the behavioral study, the mouse brain, hippocampus, and serum were taken for detection. The expressions of cytokines and inflammatory mediators were detected by ELISA, HE staining, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, and western blotting. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression levels of the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), caspase-1, and ASC, the protein expression levels of the microglial polarization markers COX-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and CD206. The results showed that betaine significantly ameliorated the depression-like behavior in LPS-induced mice, significantly attenuated the production of proinflammatory cytokines and increased the release of an anti-inflammatory cytokines. Betaine decreased the expression of the NLRP3 inflammasome, decreased the expression of M1 polarization markers, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), COX-2, and iNOS and promoted the expression of M2 polarization marker CD206. Our study suggests that betaine may promote the transition of microglia from the M1 to the M2 phenotype by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation, thereby attenuating lipopolysaccharide-induced depression-like behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitosan (CS) and pea protein isolate (PPI) were used as raw materials to prepare nanoparticles. The structures and functional properties of the nanoparticles with three ratios (1:1, 1:2 1:3, CS:PPI) were evaluated. The particle sizes of chitosan–pea protein isolate (CS–PPI) nanoparticles with the ratios of 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3 were 802.95 ± 71.94, 807.10 ± 86.22, and 767.75 ± 110.10 nm, respectively, and there were no significant differences. Through the analysis of turbidity, endogenous fluorescence spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, the interaction between CS and PPI was mainly caused by electrostatic mutual attraction and hydrogen bonding. In terms of interface properties, the contact angles of nanoparticles with the ratio of 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3 were 119.2°, 112.3°, and 107.0°, respectively. The emulsifying activity (EAI) of the nanoparticles was related to the proportion of protein. The nanoparticle with the ratio of 1:1 had the highest potential and the best thermal stability. From the observation of their morphology by transmission electron microscopy, it could be seen that the nanoparticles with a ratio of 1:3 were the closest to spherical. This study provides a theoretical basis for the design of CS–PPI nanoparticles and their applications in promoting emulsion stabilization and the delivery of active substances using emulsions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a micronutrient, vitamin C plays an important role in growth and immunity of fish, but the effects of vitamin C on Pampus argenteus were still unclear. Here, we added vitamin C with different concentrations (0, 350, 1050, 2100 and 4200 mg/kg) to the basic diet, and the optimal concentration of vitamin C was screened out as 1050 mg/kg through the growth indicators, antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, GSH‐PX and MDA) and the expression of four immune‐related genes (IL‐2, IL‐3, IL‐17 and IL‐18). After feeding dietary vitamin C supplementation with optimal concentration for 4 weeks, 80 ml/t formaldehyde was used to damage the immune system of fish. Then, the activities of the antioxidant enzymes and immune‐related genes were tested to find out the protective effects of vitamin C on the immune system. The results showed that the activity of CAT, SOD and GSH‐PX increased, while the MDA content decreased. At the molecular level, the expression of IL‐2 and IL‐3 genes increased, but the expression of IL‐17 and IL‐18 genes was inhibited. These findings suggested that the dietary vitamin C supplementation improved fish growth, alleviated the stress reaction caused by formaldehyde treatment and improved the immunity of P. argenteus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc sulfide (ZnS) is considered as a candidate anode material to replace commercial graphite anodes in high-performance lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, the significant volume change during the lithiation/delithiation process leads to poor cycle and rate performance, severely limiting the application of the ZnS anode in LIBs. Here, core–shell ZnS@C microrods (ZnS@C MRs) were synthesized via a simple hydrothermal method, followed by in situ polymerization and a sulfidation process. Due to the rationally designed structure, the outer carbon shell can avoid the volume expansion of ZnS, thus maintaining the structural stability. Moreover, the carbon shell can not only enhance the conductivity, but also inhibit direct contact between ZnS and the electrolyte during the repeated lithiation/delithiation process. Accordingly, ZnS@C MRs exhibit outstanding electrochemical performance in LIBs. Specifically, a capacity of 392 mA h g−1 is obtained after 500 cycles at 1.0 A g−1. Moreover, a capacity of 162 mA h g−1 is maintained at 3.0 A g−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Until now, there has been very little unified analysis of metadiscourse across speech and writing. Drawing on a reflexive metadiscourse model, this article conducts a multidimensional analysis of metadiscourse across 10 spoken and written registers in a corpus of 626 texts. Two metadiscourse dimensions, participants' interaction and discourse presentation, are identified. The more interactive registers are more prominently marked by participants' interaction, and the more informational registers by discourse presentation. Along metadiscourse dimensions, the 10 registers are lumped into 6 clusters: 'discussion broadcasts and public conversations', 'scripted speeches and unscripted speeches', 'general prose and nondiscussion broadcasts', 'press and fiction', 'casual conversations', and 'academic prose'. Metadiscourse markers of both dimensions are frequently used in registers of the first two clusters which are highly interactive and informational, while they rarely occur in registers of the next two clusters which have low interactive or informational focuses. Metadiscourse markers of participants' interaction are pervasive in the highly interactive register (casual conversations), and those of discourse presentation in the highly informational register (academic prose). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Portal hypertension is a common manifestation in late-to-end-stage liver diseases and can cause severe complications such as ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, etc. However, an early diagnosis of portal hypertension is often difficult as it can be asymptomatic. Though the gold standard to diagnose portal hypertension is hepatic vein catheterization, ultrasound elastography is regarded as a noninvasive alternative that can be used to accurately predict portal hypertension and a few further complications such as gastro-esophageal varices. Since ultrasound elastography is available in most medical centers, and is cheaper and noninvasive, studying its function in predicting portal hypertension is of paramount importance. Therefore, this review generalized the results of recently published articles in order to establish the indicators that were related to diagnostic and prediction efficiency. Our study found that various technologies of ultrasound elastography could be used to predict portal hypertension with satisfactory diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and AUC. Meanwhile, we also recognized similar diagnostic efficiency of ultrasound elastography in gastro-esophageal varices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice growth is constantly challenged by severe environmental conditions, especially high-temperature stress, brought about by global warming. How to increase rice yields is a current issue in many countries. By analyzing the meteorological data from Anhui Province over the past 60 years, the frequency and level of high-temperature damage were comprehensively analyzed. On this basis, five indica rice varieties with strong high-temperature tolerance, relatively high yield and stable yield were selected by laboratory-simulated high-temperature and field high-temperature experiments: Longliangyou Huazan (LLYHZ), 9you-6 (9Y-6), Longliangyou-1988 (LLY-1988), Fengliangyou-4 (FLY-4) and Huanghuazan (HHZ). These are suitable for planting in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. This study provides a theoretical reference and scientific basis for the study of rice tolerance to high-temperature stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Gibberellic Acid Stimulated Arabidopsis/Gibberellin Stimulated Transcript (GASA/GAST) gene family is a group of plant-specific genes encoding cysteine-rich peptides essential to plant growth, development, and stress responses. Although GASA family genes have been identified in various plant species, their functional roles in Prunus mume are still unknown. In this study, a total of 16 PmGASA genes were identified via a genome-wide scan in Prunus mume and were grouped into three major gene clades based on the phylogenetic tree. All PmGASA proteins possessed the conserved GASA domain, consisting of 12-cysteine residues, but varied slightly in protein physiochemical properties and motif composition. With evolutionary analysis, we observed that duplications and purifying selection are major forces driving PmGASA family gene evolution. By analyzing PmGASA promoters, we detected a number of hormonal-response related cis-elements and constructed a putative transcriptional regulatory network for PmGASAs. To further understand the functional role of PmGASA genes, we analyzed the expression patterns of PmGASAs across different organs and during various biological processes. The expression analysis revealed the functional implication of PmGASA gene members in gibberellic acid-, abscisic acid-, and auxin-signaling, and during the progression of floral bud break in P. mume. To summarize, these findings provide a comprehensive understanding of GASA family genes in P. mume and offer a theoretical basis for future research on the functional characterization of GASA genes in other woody perennials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive lipid intake is related to the increasing risk of several human chronic diseases. Simple lipid reduction leads to poor taste of food, which cannot be accepted by consumers. Rational design of food O/W emulsion structure to inhibit lipid digestion is considered to be an effective way to maintain diet healthy without reducing sensory quality. Proteins are amphiphilic and polysaccharides have unique rheological properties, which play key roles in the formation and stability of multiphase systems. Recent years, global scholars intend to rationally design protein-polysaccharide multi-scale composite interfaces to improve the functional properties and inhibit lipid digestion of emulsions. In this article, we review the published papers on the effect of protein-polysaccharide multi-scale composite interface on lipid digestibility of emulsion during 2015–2021. The inhibition of protein-polysaccharide based emulsion gel interface on lipid digestion of emulsion is extensively provided. However, the effects of protein-polysaccharide multilayer interfaces, protein-polysaccharide particle interfaces and protein-polysaccharide covalent interfaces on the lipid digestion of emulsion are controversial. Further analysis of the published papers found that the ability of the protein-polysaccharide multi-scale composite interfaces to maintain their structural integrity is the key factor affecting lipid digestion of the emulsions. The ability of the oil-water interfaces to maintain its structural integrity in the small intestine is regulated by its interfacial structure. Thus, revealing the regulatory mechanism of the interfacial structure of the emulsions on its structural changes and lipid digestion in the digestive tract is the basis and key to resolve the above controversy. Therefore, further systematic research is needed to fulfill the theoretical system of the rational design of emulsion structure on its lipid digestibility. • Protein-polysaccharide based emulsion gel interface could inhibit lipid digestion. • Effects of protein-polysaccharide multilayer interfaces, particle interfaces and covalent interfaces on the lipid digestion of emulsion are controversial. • The controversy limits the rational design of emulsion structure to control its lipid digestion. • Revealing the regulatory mechanism of the interfacial structure of the emulsions on lipid digestion is the key to resolve the controversy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: C2C12 myotubes; fiber type transformation; L-theanine; prox1/CaN signaling pathway EN C2C12 myotubes fiber type transformation L-theanine prox1/CaN signaling pathway 959 967 9 09/13/22 20220901 NES 220901 Introduction Skeletal muscles comprise approximately 50% of the body weight in most mammals, which is composed of functionally diverse fiber types. These results indicated that LT induced skeletal muscle fiber type transformation was dependent on prox1/CaN signaling pathway. Knockdown of prox1 disrupts LT-induced activation of CaN signaling pathway and muscle fiber t... As shown in Figure 3, LT significantly increased the protein and mRNA level of I prox1 i . [Extracted from the article]