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Let s , m , n be positive integers and F be a graph. A graph G is called F -saturated if F is not a subgraph of G but G + e contain a copy of F for every edge e ∈ E (G ¯) , where G ¯ is the complement graph of G. Let s a t (n , F) be the minimum number of edges over all F -saturated graphs with order n and S a t (n , F) denotes the family of F -saturated graphs with s a t (n , F) edges and n vertices. Let m K 2 denote a matching of size m and let s K 2 f denote a fractional matching of size s. In this paper, we determine the exact value of s a t (n , m K 2) , and characterize S a t (n , m K 2) when n + 2 m < n < 3 m. Moreover, we also determine the exact value of s a t (n , s K 2 f) , and characterize S a t (n , s K 2 f) when n > 2 s. The main results provide partial answers to the open question posed by Faudree et al. (2011). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 3‐graph F ${\rm{ {\mathcal F} }}$ is U(s,2s+1) $U(s,2s+1)$ if for any s $s$ edges e1,...,es∈E(F) ${e}_{1},\ldots ,{e}_{s}\in E({\rm{ {\mathcal F} }})$, ∣e1∪⋯∪es∣≤2s+1 $| {e}_{1}\cup \cdots \cup {e}_{s}| \le 2s+1$. Frankl and Kupavskii proposed the following conjecture: For any 3‐graph F ${\rm{ {\mathcal F} }}$ with n $n$ vertices, if F ${\rm{ {\mathcal F} }}$ is U(s,2s+1) $U(s,2s+1)$, then e(F)≤maxn−12,(n−s−1)s+12+s+13,2s+13. $\begin{array}{c}e({\mathscr{F}})\le \max \left\{\left(\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{n-1}{2}\right),(n-s-1)\left(\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{s+1}{2}\right)\right.\\ \,\left.+\left(\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{s+1}{3}\right),\left(\genfrac{}{}{0ex}{}{2s+1}{3}\right)\right\}.\end{array}$ In this paper, we confirm Frankl and Kupavskii's conjecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let G be a graph with vertex set V and let b > a be two positive integers. We say that G has all [a, b]-factors if G has an h-factor for every h : V → N such that a ≤ h (v) ≤ b for every v ∈ V and ∑ v ∈ V h (v) ≡ 0 (mod 2) . A spanning subgraph F of G is called an (a, b)-parity factor, if d F (v) ≡ a ≡ b (mod 2) and a ≤ d F (v) ≤ b for all v ∈ V . In this paper, we have developed sufficient conditions for the existence of all [a, b]-factors and (a, b)-parity factors of G in terms of the independence number and connectivity of G. This work extended an earlier result of Nishimura (J Graph Theory 13: 63–69, 1989). Furthermore, we show that these results are best possible in some cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the event-triggered distributed state estimation problem for a class of discrete time-varying systems in the presence of denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, where each sensor node selectively shares its local information with neighbors. In contrast to the previous studies where the DoS attacks are considered on sensor-to-filter channels, we deal with the situation that DoS attacks jam each filter-to-filter communication channel independently. To reduce the communication rate and save network resources, a novel event-triggered communication strategy is presented that takes into account the impact of DoS attacks and is specialized for each communication channel. Based on the covariance intersection fusion rule and weight rearrangement method, a distributed state estimation algorithm is proposed. Further, the consistency of estimates and mean-square boundedness of estimation errors are proved under system collective observability and some other mild assumptions. Lastly, a numerical simulation is conducted to demonstrate the developed results and the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. • Denial-of-service attacks are considered to act independently on filter-to-filter channels. • A novel event-triggered scheme is specialized for each communication channel under attacks. • A distributed state estimation algorithm is derived with the result shown to be consistent. • Mean-square boundedness of estimation errors are also ensured under mild conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate copolymer (ASA) particles with different microstructure were synthesized by emulsion polymerization and then used for toughening poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) (SAN) resin. The structure of ASA particles was confirmed by FTIR. TEM results demonstrated that the particles with different morphologies of multilobe shape, complete core-shell and dumbbell shape were obtained depending on the cross-linker amount. It was found that the toughening efficiency reached the highest when the ASA particles had complete core-shell structure and the shell composition was close to that of the SAN matrix. It was ascribed to the fact that the complete shell layer and similar shell composition provided sufficient interfacial adhesion and transferred stress to induce larger matrix deformation, so that the notched impact strength increased accordingly. Moreover, the notched impact strength of SAN/ASA blend was improved without significantly sacrificing tensile strength when adding 30 wt% ASA particles with the size of around 400 nm. SEM results of the impact-fractured surfaces revealed that irregular fluctuation and numerous microvoids occurred. It was deduced that the toughening mechanism was attributed to the crazings and cavitation of particles. Therefore, this study paved a way of toughening the resin by adjusting the microstructure of the particles including morphology, composition, and size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid reduction of anthropogenic SO 2 emissions, the critical driver of haze in China has shifted from being dominated by sulfate to alternating sulfate and nitrate. Haze induced by different driver species may differ in the chemical forms of water-soluble inorganic ions (WSIIs). The unique topography and high-emission industrial agglomeration of the Loess Plateau determine its severe local PM 2.5 pollution and influence global weather patterns through the outward export of pollutants. PM 2.5 samples were conducted in Pingyao, on the eastern Loess Plateau of China, in autumn and winter. The average mass of PM 2.5 was 88.82 ± 57.37 μg/m3; sulfate, nitrate, and ammonium were the dominant component. The chemical form of the ion was dominated by (NH 4) 2 SO 4 , NH 4 NO 3 , NaNO 3 and KNO 3 during the nitrate-driven (ND) haze, while (NH 4) 2 SO 4 , NH 4 HSO 4 , NH 4 NO 3 , NaNO 3 and KNO 3 were predominant species during the sulfate-driven (SD) haze. Heterogeneous oxidation reactions dominated the mechanism of sulfate formation. Primary sulfate emissions or other generation pathways contributed to sulfate formation during the SD haze. The gas-phase homogeneous reaction of NO 2 and NH 3 dominates the nitrate generation during the ND haze. The heterogeneous reactions also played an essential role during the SD haze. Nitrate aerosol (42.30%) and coal and biomass combustion (23.23%) were the dominant sources of WSIIs during the ND haze. In comparison, nitrate aerosol (31.80%) and sulfate aerosol (25.08%) were considered the primary control direction during the SD haze. The chemical characteristics and sources of aerosols under various types of haze differ significantly, and knowledge gained from this investigation provides insight into the causes of heavy haze. [Display omitted] • Haze caused by different driver species differed in the characteristics of WSIIs. • NO 3 − production begins when NO 3 −/SO 4 2− values exceed 1.61. • Nitrate aerosol was identified as the main pollution source during both types of hazes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The street vended foods (SVF) are very popular in China, particularly in highly adolescents populated regions such as schools. Food quality is a critical global issue, but there are few studies describe the quality assessment of SVF. In this study, the quality of SVF around a university in Kunming was evaluated, including the microbial quality, proximate composition, oil quality, and heavy metal content. Microbial results showed that the aerobic plate count (APC) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) counts ranged from 1.94 to 7.43 log CFU/g or ml, and 0.53 to 1.48 log CFU/g or ml, respectively. A portion of fried snack samples exceed the standard limit of acid value (AV) and peroxide value (POV), and the same result was observed in carbonyl group value (CGV), thiobarbituric acid (TBA) value, viscosity, and conductivity. The proximate composition of the fried snack samples varied widely, while the fat content was generally higher. The heavy metal analysis showed most samples met the safety standards, with the content of 12–51, 1–19, 12–73, and 11–88 μg/kg for As, Hg, Cd, and Pb, respectively. In conclusion, although the overall results of this study were satisfying, more attention should be given to the quality of SVF. Consequently, there is a need for additional measures to protect consumers, particularly young adults in college, from foodborne disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cross-linked poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microspheres have been successfully prepared by using the asymmetric cross-linker allyl methacrylate (AMA) via dispersion polymerization. The influence of the AMA amount and polymerization process on the PMMA particle size and morphology has been studied thoroughly. It was found that micron-sized, cross-linked PMMA particles with narrow size distributions could be obtained by a semi-continuous process with the asymmetric cross-linker AMA. The obtained micron-sized, cross-linked PMMA particles could be further used as a light diffusion agent in a polycarbonate matrix, and their light diffusion properties were significantly enhanced by increasing the gel content in the cross-linked particles. Moreover, the influence of the polymerization process, cross-linker content in PMMA and PMMA content in the polycarbonate matrix on light diffusion was carefully investigated. The results showed that the PMMA particles containing 5.0 wt% AMA, obtained by semi-continuous polymerization, had a higher haze and gel content and exhibited a better light diffusion effect than did the other particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Increases in anthropogenic nitrogen (N) deposition are expected to lead to an overall higher mean and lower variance of N in the soil, which may disproportionately affect leguminous plants that acquire N both symbiotically via rhizobia and abiotically from soil. Here, we investigate the effects of changing N-heterogeneity at a fine spatial scale on the legume-rhizobium symbiosis. Methods: We used a split-root system to introduce local soil N-heterogeneity, while maintaining the same overall plant-level amount of N. We treated root halves of five inbred lines of Medicago truncatula (HapMap lines 267, 270, 276, 279, and 313) with 50%–50%, 20%–80%, 10%–90%, or 2%–98% N and inoculated them with two Ensifer meliloti strains that differ in N-fixation ability. Results: Although shoot biomass was unaffected by N-heterogeneity, plant lines adjusted their relative investments in nodulation versus root proliferation to optimize N-acquisition; high-N root halves tended to invest more into root proliferation, while low-N root halves invested more into nodule formation. We detected hidden plasticity in partner choice: although all plants formed more nodules with the more effective N-fixing strain, roots experiencing greater N-limitation increased preference for effective N-fixing rhizobia. Furthermore, there was significant variation among plant lines in root proliferation and nodulation responses to N-heterogeneity. Conclusion: In response to N-heterogeneity, M. truncatula exhibited phenotypic plasticity in root proliferation, nodulation, and partner choice at the local half-root level. We suggest that plasticity in response to rhizosphere conditions makes legumes potentially resilient to changes in N-heterogeneity, particularly in a time of anthropogenic N deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first time, full-length 16S rRNA sequencing method was applied to disclose the bacterial species and communities of a full-scale wastewater treatment plant using an anaerobic/anoxic/oxic (A/A/O) process in Wuhan, China. The compositions of the bacteria at phylum and class levels in the activated sludge were similar to which revealed by Illumina Miseq sequencing. At genus and species levels, third-generation sequencing showed great merits and accuracy. Typical functional taxa classified to ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB), denitrifying bacteria (DB), anaerobic ammonium oxidation bacteria (ANAMMOXB) and polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs) were presented, which were Nitrosomonas (1.11%), Nitrospira (3.56%), Pseudomonas (3.88%), Planctomycetes (13.80%), Comamonadaceae (1.83%), respectively. Pseudomonas (3.88%) and Nitrospira (3.56%) were the most predominating two genera, mainly containing Pseudomonas extremaustralis (1.69%), Nitrospira defluvii (3.13%), respectively. Bacteria regarding to nitrogen and phosphorus removal at species level were put forward. The predicted functions proved that the A/A/O process was efficient regarding nitrogen and organics removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel particle separation method named as magnetic projection is proposed. • The separation method can handle multiple plastic mixture without consume. • Particle mixture can be separated with purities over 95%. • The theory of the magnetic projection is analyzed and the process is simulated. • The separation process is promising in environment aspects. A novel magnetic separation method, denoted as "magnetic projection", was proposed. The method is based on a simple configuration: a container full of paramagnetic medium is placed beside a permanent magnet. Particles of different densities that submerge in the medium are driven by the magnetic force, moving in accordance with different trajectories, and are finally landed in different collection regions. We applied this method to separate mixed plastics, because most of the extant plastic separation processes can only deal with binary mixture. In the experiment, four common plastics such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC), and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) were used to simulate the plastic mixture. The experimental results showed that the proposed method can effectively separate the plastic mixture, as the purity of each type of recovered plastics was over 95 wt%. This approach demonstrates its tremendous potential in solid waste management and worth further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The introduced folding magnetization allows for higher magnetic flux density. • The ink direct written helped to test variable structure quickly. • The structure designed was found that the signal changed linearly with the load. • We demonstrated an isolated application scenario, sealed and wireless. The development of flexible tactile sensors is an emerging field due to their wide applications ranging from human-robot interactions to wearable electronics. This paper proposes a flexible tactile sensor based on the magnetic field for detecting both forces and positions, which exhibited a linear relationship. The direct ink writing technology was used to fabricate magnetic elastomers for the quick test of variable patterns. The introduced folding magnetization allows for a higher magnetic flux density in the designated position which made it possible to get rid of magnets. A pattern was designed and printed. The linear relationship was found to be linear (R2 > 0.98) between the magnetic field signal and the magnitude and position of the load force. Moreover, the untethered sensor was proven to work well in the sealed box, which is expected to serve as the electrical skin of robots or the tactile sensor in extreme environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aryl β-diketo acids (ADK) comprise a general class of potent HIV-1 integrase (IN) inhibitors, which can exhibit selective inhibition of strand transfer reactions in extracellular recombinant IN assays and provide potent antiviral effects in HIV-infected cells. Recent studies have shown that polycyclic aryl or aryl rings bearing aryl-containing substituents are components of potent members of this class. Reported herein is the first use of azido functionality as an aryl replacement in β-diketo acid IN inhibitors. The ability of azido-containing inhibitors to exhibit potent inhibition of IN and antiviral protection in HIV-infected cells, renders the azide group of potential value in the further development of ADK-based IN inhibitors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have witnessed a meteoric rise in device performance. However, maintaining photostability, particularly under thermal stress, remains a challenge due to defect formation in the perovskite layer. This study introduces europium (III) trifluoromethanesulfonate [Eu(OTF)3] as a multifunctional additive in two‐step processed perovskite films, significantly improving the performance and high‐temperature photostability of n‐i‐p PSCs. Density function theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the OTF− anion strongly coordinates with Pb2+, effectively inhibiting iodine vacancy defect formation. The addition of Eu(OTF)3 promotes perovskite grain growth to ≈2 µm and enhances film crystallinity. PSCs with a structure of ITO/SnO2/perovskite/PDCBT/NiOx/Au achieve a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 23.8%. Under 85 ± 5 °C and 1 sun illumination at an open circuit in ambient air, the PSCs with Eu(OTF)3 retain 82% of their initial PCE after aging for 1500 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bathymetric surveys are of great importance for submarine topography mapping and coastal construction projects. They are also of great significance for terrain surveys of islands and coastal zones, maritime navigation and marine management planning. Traditional ship-borne water depth measurement methods are costly and time-consuming, therefore, in recent years, passive optical remote sensing technology has become an important means for shallow water depth measurements. In addition, multispectral water depth optical remote sensing has wide application values. Considering the relationship between water depth and the inherent optical characteristics of water column, an inherent optical parameters linear model (IOPLM) is developed to estimate shallow water bathymetry from high spatial resolution multispectral images. Experiments were carried out in the shallow waters (≤20 m) around Dongdao Island in China's Paracel Islands and Saipan Island in the Northern Mariana Islands. Different accuracy evaluation indexes were used to verify the model. The comparisons with the traditional log-linear model and the Stumpf model show that in terms of overall accuracy and accuracy in different water depths, the IOPLM has slightly better results and stronger retrieval capabilities than the other models. The mean absolute error (MAE) of Dongdao Island and Saipan Island reached 1.17 m and 1.92 m, and the root mean square error (RMSE) was 1.49 m and 2.4 m, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aryl diketo acids (ADKs) represent an important new class of HIV-1 integrase (IN) inhibitors. In order to facilitate examination of the structural basis underlying IN⋅ADK interaction, biphenyl ketone and phenyl azide photophores were incorporated into ADK structures. Of particular note is the novel dual utilization of azide and phenyketone moieties for both enzyme recognition and for crosslinking. The resulting analogues maintained low micromolar inhibitory potency against IN in recombinant in vitro assays. These potential HIV-1 integrase photoaffinity labels may provide useful tools for studying enzyme interactions of the ADK inhibitor class. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A graph G has the strong parity property if for every subset X ⊆ V (G) with |X| even, G has a spanning subgraph F with minimum degree at least one such that d F (v) ≡ 1 (mod 2) for all v ∈ X , d F (y) ≡ 0 (mod 2) for all y ∈ V (G) - X . Bujtás et al. (Graphs Combin 36(2020):1391–1399, 2020) introduced the concept and conjectured that every 2-edge-connected graph with minimum degree at least three has the strong parity property. In this paper, we give a characterization for graphs to have the strong parity property and construct a counterexample to disprove the conjecture proposed by Bujtás, Jendrol' and Tuza. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To obtain a proton exchange membrane (PEM) with high proton conductivity and low methanol permeability, a novel amino-sulfo-bifunctionalized GO (NSGO) was synthesized and explored as a filler for sulfonated poly(arylene ether nitrile) (SPEN). The result indicated that the microstructure of composite membranes was rearranged by NSGO and strong acid–base interactions were formed between fillers and the SPEN matrix, affording enhanced thermal, mechanical, and dimensional stabilities. Moreover, it was found that NSGO fillers were uniformly dispersed in the SPEN matrix, generating efficient proton-conducting paths along the SPEN/NSGO interface. Meanwhile, the sulfonic and amino groups of NSGO served as additional proton hopping sites to connect the ionic clusters in the SPEN matrix, creating interconnected and long-range ionic pathways. In such a way, proton-conducting highways with low energy barriers are constructed, which enhance the proton conductivity of the composite membranes via the Grotthuss mechanism. Furthermore, the composite membranes also effectively prevent methanol permeation, and therefore high selectivity (the ratio of proton conductivity and methanol permeability) is endowed. Compared to SPEN membrane, a 3.6-fold increase in selectivity is obtained for the optimal composite membrane. This study will provide a new strategy for the preparation of high-performance PEM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Forced polyploidization is an effective strategy for acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (AMKL) therapy and factors controlling polyploidization are potential targets for drug development. Although bone morphology protein 2-inducible kinase (BMP2K) has been implied to be a potential target for fasudil, a potent polyploidy-inducing compound, the function of BMP2K in megakaryopoiesis and AMKL remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the role of BMP2K as a novel regulator in megakaryocyte polyploidization and differentiation and its implication in AMKL therapy. Results: BMP2K upregulation was observed in human megakaryopoiesis and leukemia cells whereas BMP2K was downregulated in AMKL cells forced to undergo terminal differentiation. Functionally, BMP2K suppressed MLN8237-induced megakaryocytic differentiation in AMKL cells and dampened megakaryocyte differentiation in primary mouse fetal liver cells. Furthermore, BMP2K overexpression conferred resistance to multiple chemotherapy compounds in AMKL cells. Mechanistically, cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) interacted with BMP2K and partially mediated its function. In transient MLN8237 and nocodazole challenge cell model, BMP2K reduced cell percentage of G2/M phase but increased G1 phase, suggesting a role of BMP2K antagonizing polyploidization and promoting mitosis by regulating cell cycle in megakaryopoiesis. Conclusions: BMP2K negatively regulates polyploidization and megakaryocyte differentiation by interacting CDK2 and promoting mitosis in megakaryopoiesis. BMP2K may serve as a potential target for improvement of AMKL therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 2,2′-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-induced oxidation on the functional, structural properties and proteomic information of arachin. The results showed that moderate oxidation improved the water/oil holding capacity of proteins and increased the emulsifying stability, while excessive oxidation increased the carbonyl content, reduced the thiol content, altered the structure and thermal stability, and reduced most of the physicochemical properties. Through LC-QE-MS analysis, it was observed that oxidation leads to various modifications in arachin, including carbamylation, oxidation, and reduction, among others. In addition, 15 differentially expressed proteins were identified. Through gene ontology (GO) analysis, these proteins primarily affected the cellular and metabolic processes in the biological process category. Further Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) analysis revealed that the "proteasome; protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum (PPER)" pathway was the most significantly enriched signaling pathway during the oxidation process of arachin. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that AAPH-induced oxidation can alter the conformation and proteome of arachin, thereby affecting its corresponding functional properties. The findings of this study can potentially serve as a theoretical basis and foundational reference for the management of peanut processing and storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to rapid industrialization and urbanization, human activities like industrial and agricultural production, transportation, aggravate heavy metal pollution in soil and continue to endanger vegetables and human health. In this study, three contaminated areas affected by heavy metal pollution in Guangdong Province were investigated in terms of Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd concentrations in soil and vegetables. Further analyses of the contamination status and potential risks to the health of residents consuming these vegetables were conducted. Results showed the following average heavy metal concentrations in vegetables and soil: Shaoguan > Guangzhou > Dongguan, indicating that mining has caused massive soil-heavy metal pollution. The heavy metal concentrations and Bioconcentration factors (BCFs) showed the following trend: leaf-vegetables > fruit-vegetables > root-vegetables, and those of vegetable type were as follows: Cd > Zn > Cu > Pb. The Nemero pollution index (PI) of all research region soils and hazard index (HI) exceeded 1. Hence, more attention should be paid to the potential for adverse health effects caused by the consumption of vegetables produced in these sites. Thus, effective measures are encouraged, with a focus on children due to their vulnerability to these heavy metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, two different functionalized graphene oxide (GO), sulfonic acid functionalized GO (SGO) and amino functionalized GO (NGO), were synthesized and incorporated into the sulfonated poly(arylene ether nitrile) (SPEN) by single doping and codoping. It was found that the codoping of SGO and NGO contributed to the enhancement of proton exchange membrane performance. These two functionalized GO as fillers were uniformly dispersed in SPEN matrix and their synergistic effect created the long-range proton transfer channels along fillers/SPEN matrix interfaces. Meanwhile, acid-base pairs which was induced by strong interfacial interactions between fillers and SPEN matrix provided new and low-energy-barrier pathways for proton hopping, facilitating the proton conduction via Grotthuss mechanism. Among all the membranes, the codoped S/N-3 composite membrane exhibited the highest proton conductivity (0.064 S·cm −1 at 20 °C and 0.21 S·cm −1 at 80 °C). Besides, it was endowed with unprecedented dimensional stability, especially in high temperature (just 12.75% at 80 °C). Also, low methanol permeability was conferred owing to methanol trapping effect of two functionalized GO. Furthermore, S/N-3 composite membrane showed a superior selectivity of 4.48 × 10 5 S⋅cm −3 ⋅s, which was nearly 10 times of that of commercialized Nafion 117. Our investigation provides a new strategy on the design of high performance composite membranes for applications of PEMs and other related fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alterations of multiple metabolites characterize distinct features of metabolic reprograming in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the role of most metabolites, including propionyl-CoA (Pro-CoA), in metabolic reprogramming and hepatocarcinogenesis remains elusive. In this study, we aimed to dissect how Pro-CoA metabolism affects these processes. TCGA data and HCC samples were used to analyze ALDH6A1-mediated Pro-CoA metabolism and its correlation with HCC. Multiple metabolites were assayed by targeted mass spectrometry. The role of ALDH6A1-generated Pro-CoA in HCC was evaluated in HCC cell lines as well as xenograft nude mouse models and primary liver cancer mouse models. Non-targeted metabolomic and targeted energy metabolomic analyses, as well as multiple biochemical assays, were performed. Decreases in Pro-CoA and its derivative propionyl-L-carnitine due to ALDH6A1 downregulation were tightly associated with HCC. Functionally, ALDH6A1-mediated Pro-CoA metabolism suppressed HCC proliferation in vitro and impaired hepatocarcinogenesis in mice. The aldehyde dehydrogenase activity was indispensable for this function of ALDH6A1, while Pro-CoA carboxylases antagonized ALDH6A1 function by eliminating Pro-CoA. Mechanistically, ALDH6A1 caused a signature enrichment of central carbon metabolism in cancer and impaired energy metabolism: ALDH6A1-generated Pro-CoA suppressed citrate synthase activity, which subsequently reduced tricarboxylic acid cycle flux, impaired mitochondrial respiration and membrane potential, and decreased ATP production. Moreover, Pro-CoA metabolism generated 2-methylcitric acid, which mimicked the inhibitory effect of Pro-CoA on citrate synthase and dampened mitochondrial respiration and HCC proliferation. The decline of ALDH6A1-mediated Pro-CoA metabolism contributes to metabolic remodeling and facilitates hepatocarcinogenesis. Pro-CoA, propionyl-L-carnitine and 2-methylcitric acid may serve as novel metabolic biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of HCC. Pro-CoA metabolism may provide potential targets for development of novel strategies against HCC. Our study presents new insights on the role of propionyl-CoA metabolism in metabolic reprogramming and hepatocarcinogenesis. This work has uncovered potential diagnostic and predictive biomarkers, which could be used by physicians to improve clinical practice and may also serve as targets for the development of therapeutic strategies against HCC. [Display omitted] • ALDH6A1 downregulation mediates the decline in propionyl-CoA metabolism that facilitates hepatocarcinogenesis. • Propionyl-CoA and 2-methylcitric acid suppress citrate synthase activity contributing to metabolic reprogramming in HCC. • Propionyl-CoA, propionyl-L-carnitine and 2-methylcitric acid may serve as novel metabolic biomarkers in HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand the pollution characteristics of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the glass deep-processing industry, samples were collected using polyvinyl fluoride bags and quickly transferred to summa tanks for GC/MS/FID analysis. The emission characteristics of VOCs, the ozone formation potential and the secondary aerosol formation potential were studied. The results showed that the VOCs emitted by the six enterprises were mainly aromatics and OVOCs, accounting for 35% to 97% of the emissions, with high emission loads of alkanes and halocarbons from individual enterprises. The stack emissions from Enterprise 2 were as high as 38 mg/m3, while the emissions from the remaining five enterprises were all in the range of 1.7~4.1 mg/m3, probably because the terminal treatment facilities were not updated in a timely manner, resulting in excessive stack emissions from Enterprise 2. The characteristic pollutants, including OVOCs, aromatics and alkanes, which are mainly derived from spray painting and gluing, were screened in the six enterprises. Aromatics and OVOCs contributed the most to the ozone formation potential in the six enterprises, with some enterprises having a high contribution from alkanes and alkenes. On the basis of the secondary aerosol formation potential, toluene, benzene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene and m/p-xylene account for 98% of the six enterprises' emissions. Glass enterprises should prioritise the control of benzene and OVOCs emissions. The glass processing industry mainly emits aromatics, OVOCs and alkanes. Through a preliminary study on the emission characteristics of VOCs in the glass deep-processing industry, we provided basic data for the reduction and control of VOCs in the glass deep-processing industry in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Dysregulated cell cycle targeting is a well-established therapeutic strategy against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Dissecting the underlying mechanism may improve the efficacy of HCC therapy. Methods: HCC data from TCGA and new clinical samples were used for DNASE1L3 expression analysis and for assessing its correlation with HCC development. The in vitro function of DNASE1L3 in HCC cell proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion was assessed using RTCA, CCK-8 and transwell assays and the in vivo function in subcutaneous tumor formation in a xenograft nude mouse model. The role of DNASE1L3 in HCC tumorigenesis was further verified in AKT/NRASV12-induced and DEN/CCl4-induced primary liver cancers in wildtype and Dnase1l3−/− mice. Finally, RNA-Seq analysis followed by biochemical methods including cell cycle, immunofluorescence, co-immunoprecipitation and Western blotting assays were employed to reveal the underlying mechanism. Results: We found that DNASE1L3 was significantly downregulated and served as a favorable prognostic factor in HCC. DNASE1L3 dramatically attenuated HCC cell proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion in vitro and reduced subcutaneous tumor formation in nude mice in vivo. Furthermore, DNASE1L3 overexpression dampened AKT/NRASV12-induced mouse liver cancer in wildtype mice and DNASE1L3 deficiency worsened DEN/CCl4-induced liver cancer in Dnase1l3−/− mice. Systemic analysis revealed that DNASE1L3 impaired HCC cell cycle progression by interacting with CDK2 and inhibiting CDK2-stimulated E2F1 activity. C-terminal deletion (DNASE1L3ΔCT) diminished the interaction with CDK2 and abrogated the inhibitory function against HCC. Conclusion: Our study unveils DNASE1L3 as a novel HCC cell cycle regulator and tumor suppressor. DNASE1L3 impairs HCC tumorigenesis by delaying cell cycle progression possibly through disrupting the positive E2F1-CDK2 regulatory loop. DNASE1L3 may serve as a target for the development of novel therapeutic strategies against HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric correction (AC) is the basis for quantitative water remote sensing, and adjacency effects form an important part of AC for medium- and high-spatial-resolution optical satellite images. The 6S radiative transfer model is widely used, but its background reflectance function does not take the radiance changes at water–land boundaries into account. If the observed land possesses bright features, the radiance of the adjacent water will be affected, leading to deviations in the AC results and increasing the uncertainty of water depth-based optical quantitative remote sensing. In this paper, we propose a model named WL-AE (a correction model for water–land boundary adjacency effects), which is based on the obvious radiance differences at water–land boundaries. This model overcomes the problem by which the background reflectance calculation is not terminated due to the highlighting pixel. We consider the influences of different R n s (neighborhood space) on the target pixel. The effective calculation of the equivalent background reflectance of the target pixel is realized, and the influence of the land area anomaly highlighting the pixel on the adjacent water is avoided. The results show that WL-AE can effectively improve the entropy and contrast of the input image and that the water–land boundary is greatly affected by adjacency effects, especially in the green and near-infrared bands, where the M r c (mean rate of change) are as high as 14.2% and 20.1%, respectively. In the visible wavelength, the S d of R r c (the relative rate of change) is positively correlated with R n s , and the S d reaches 16.9%. Although the adjacency effect is affected by ground object types, its influence area remains within 3 km offshore. Based on the WL-AE and 6S results, the comparative test regarding bathymetric inversion shows that the influence is significant in the 0–5 m depth section. In Penang, the MRE of the 0–4 m inversion results is 31.4%, which is 10.5% lower than that of the 6S model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma; HCC) is rising and with poor clinical outcome expected, a more accurate judgment of tumor tissues and adjacent nontumor tissues is necessary. The aim of this study was to construct a diagnostic model based on random forest (RF) and artificial neural network (ANN). It can be used to aid in the identification of diseased tissue such as cancerous tissue, for HCC clinical diagnosis and surgical guidance. GSE36376 and GSE121248 from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) were used as training sets in this investigation. R package "limma" and WGCNA were used to filter the training set for statistically significant p < 0.05 differential genes. To better understand the biological function and characteristics, R software was used to perform GO and KEGG enrichment analyses. To pick out and further understand the key genes, we performed PPI analysis and random forest tree analysis. Next, we built the ANN to predict training sets and validation set (GSE84402), and ROC curve was plotted to calculate area under curve (AUC). Then immune cell infiltration indicated difference of immune cell subsets between control and case groups. Finally, the survival analysis of key genes was also carried out based on data in TCGA database. Based on the expression of these 9 genes, we built the artificial neural network (ANN) and the accuracy of the final models was assessed with an ROC curve. The areas under the ROC curve were 0.984 (95% CI 0.972–0.993) in training sets. Its predictive capability was further assessed using the validation set. And the areas under the ROC curve were 0.929 (95% CI 0.786–1.000). In summary, this method effectively classifies hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and the corresponding noncancerous tissues and provides reasonable new ideas for the early diagnosis of liver cancer in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we aimed to investigate the chemical components and biological activities of Musella lasiocarpa, a special flower that is edible and has functional properties. The crude methanol extract and its four fractions (petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and aqueous fractions) were tested for their total antioxidant capacity, followed by their α-glucosidase, acetylcholinesterase, and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities. Among the samples, the highest total phenolic and total flavonoid contents were found in the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction (224.99 mg GAE/g DE) and crude methanol extract (187.81 mg QE/g DE), respectively. The EtOAc fraction of Musella lasiocarpa exhibited the strongest DPPH· scavenging ability, ABTS·+ scavenging ability, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with the IC50 values of 22.17, 12.10, and 125.66 μg/mL, respectively. The EtOAc fraction also showed the strongest ferric reducing antioxidant power (1513.89 mg FeSO4/g DE) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity ability (524.11 mg Trolox/g DE), which were higher than those of the control BHT. In contrast, the aqueous fraction demonstrated the highest acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity (IC50 = 10.11 μg/mL), and the best xanthine oxidase inhibitory ability (IC50 = 5.23 μg/mL) was observed from the crude methanol extract as compared with allopurinol (24.85 μg/mL). The HPLC-MS/MS and GC-MS analyses further revealed an impressive arsenal of compounds, including phenolic acids, fatty acids, esters, terpenoids, and flavonoids, in the most biologically active EtOAc fraction. Taken together, this is the first report indicating the potential of Musella lasiocarpa as an excellent natural source of antioxidants with possible therapeutic, nutraceutical, and functional food applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An axial MagLev device with unified mathematical model is proposed. • The measurement sensitivity is increased by ∼20x through enlarging magnets' separation distance. • The density of living cells is first measured by the axial MagLev device. • A non-destructive defects detection method via axial MagLev is demonstrated. • Ultrasonic measurement technique is combined with axial MagLev. Magnetic levitation (MagLev) is an emerging technology that levitates materials in paramagnetic media, yet standard MagLev devices that are based on two identical square magnets grants limited operational space and applicability. This study focuses on the axial MagLev configuration, which are based on two identical ring magnets. The approach offers larger operational space as well as greater maneuverability. A unified mathematical model was developed to calculate the distribution of the magnetic field in the axial MagLev configuration, and to correlate the levitated samples' densities and equilibrium positions along the centerline without knowing the samples' weight or volumes. With the mathematical model, the sensitivity of the measurement is predictable and adjustable without the restriction of the linear magnetic field along the centerline. The sensitivity of the axial MagLev device can be increased by ∼ 20 x, i.e., from 66 to 1450 mm/(g/cm3), when the separation distance of magnets is increased from 8 to 32 mm. To demonstrate the potential for the wide applicability, density measurement of living cells, defect detection of polymeric products, as well as a combination of axial MagLev and ultrasonic measurement approach are carried out. The proposed method has prospects for broad applications in areas such as biomedicine, material science, and measurement engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]