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Cathepsin L (CTSL) could cleave and activate SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein to promote viral entry, making it a hopeful therapeutic target for COVID-19 prevention and treatment. So CTSL inhibitors are considered to be a promising strategy to SARS-CoV-2 infection. CTSL has previously been expressed in inclusion body in Escherichia coli. In order to prepare CTSL with high purity and activity in soluble active form, we transformed HEK-293T cells with a recombinant mammalian expression plasmid. CTSL was purified to a purity about 95%, found to migrate at approximately 43 kDa and exhibited substrate specificity against Z-Phe-Arg-AMC with specific activity of no less than 85 081 U/mg, characteristic of active CTSL. Although eukaryotic purified CTSL is commercially available, our study for the first time reported the details of the expression, purification, and characterization of active, recombinant CTSL in eukaryocyte system, which laid an experimental foundation for the establishment of high-throughput screening model for anti-coronavirus drugs targeting CTSL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preeclampsia is a multifactorial and heterogeneous complication of pregnancy. Here, we utilize single-cell RNA sequencing to dissect the involvement of circulating immune cells in preeclampsia. Our findings reveal downregulation of immune response in lymphocyte subsets in preeclampsia, such as reduction in natural killer cells and cytotoxic genes expression, and expansion of regulatory T cells. But the activation of naïve T cell and monocyte subsets, as well as increased MHC-II-mediated pathway in antigen-presenting cells were still observed in preeclampsia. Notably, we identified key monocyte subsets in preeclampsia, with significantly increased expression of angiogenesis pathways and pro-inflammatory S100 family genes in VCAN+ monocytes and IFN+ non-classical monocytes. Furthermore, four cell-type-specific machine-learning models have been developed to identify potential diagnostic indicators of preeclampsia. Collectively, our study demonstrates transcriptomic alternations of circulating immune cells and identifies immune components that could be involved in pathophysiology of preeclampsia. A study profiled transcriptomic characteristic of circulating immune cells in preeclampsia pregnancy by scRNA-seq, then develop cell-type-specific models to identify potential diagnostic indicators of preeclampsia by machine learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients infected with COVID-19 may experience significant and long-lasting changes in the mechanical and rheological properties of their blood cells, leading to microvascular dysfunction and other vascular complications such as microthrombosis. In this study, we perform detailed computational simulations to investigate the fibrinogen-dependent changes in microvascular blood flow. First, we develop a coarse-grained molecular model of plasma fibrinogen to investigate the correlation between fibrinogen concentration and plasma viscosity. Our simulation results show that plasma viscosity increases exponentially with fibrinogen concentration. We then use a coarse-grained RBC model to quantify the fibrinogen-dependent aggregation strength of RBC doublets and compare it with available experimental results. Next, we probe the effect of fibrinogen concentration on COVID-19 blood viscosity. Our simulation results show that increased plasma viscosity and blood cell aggregation are responsible for elevated blood viscosity. Finally, we quantify the alterations in microvascular blood flow in response to changes in cell adhesion. We find that the recruitment of WBCs and platelets would slow blood flow. The WBC–platelet adhesive interaction exacerbates the blockages, forming a complete blood occlusion at relatively low blood velocities. As blood velocities increase, the larger clusters of blood cells occluded by cell adhesion are more likely to dislodge from the site of inflammation. This computational study advances our understanding of the complex cell–cell interactions that influence microvascular blood flow. It highlights the importance of fibrinogen-induced changes in plasma viscosity, blood cell aggregation and adhesion in the risk of microvascular complications in patients with COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Substrate-controlled diversity-oriented synthesis of polycyclic frameworks via [4 + 2] and [3 + 2] annulations between ninhydrin-derived Morita–Baylis–Hillman (MBH) adducts and 3,4-dihydroisoquinolines under similar reaction conditions have been developed. The reaction provides diversity-oriented synthesis of a series of novel and structurally complex spiro multi heterocyclic skeletons in good yields (up to 87% and 90%, respectively) with excellent diastereoselectivities (up to >25:1 dr). In particular, the switchable [4 + 2] and [3 + 2] annulation reactions are controlled by tuning the hydroxyl protecting group on the ninhydrin-derived MBH adduct to deliver structural diverse spiro[indene-2,2′-[1,3]oxazino[2,3-a]isoquinoline] and spiro[indene-2,1′-pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline], respectively. Furthermore, the relative configuration and chemical structure of two kinds of cycloadducts were confirmed through X-ray diffraction analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron Chlorin e6 (ICE6), a star plant growth regulator (PGR) with independent intellectual property rights in China, has demonstrated its efficacy through numerous field experiments. We innovatively employed salting-out assisted liquid-liquid extraction (SALLE) with HPLC-UV/Vis to detect ICE6 residues in water, soil, garlic seeds, and sprouts. Using methanol and a C18 column with acetonitrile: 0.1% phosphoric acid mobile phase (55:45, v:v), we achieved a low LOQ of 0.43 to 0.77 μg kg−1. Calibration curves showed strong linearity (R2 > 0.992) within 0.01 to 5.00 mg kg−1. Inter-day and intra-day recoveries (0.05 to 0.50 mg kg−1) demonstrated high sensitivity and accuracy (recoveries: 75.36% to 107.86%; RSD: 1.03% to 8.78%). Additionally, density functional theory (DFT) analysis aligned UV/Vis spectra and indicated ICE6's first-order degradation (2.03 to 4.94 days) under various environmental conditions, mainly driven by abiotic degradation. This study enhances understanding of ICE6's environmental behavior, aids in risk assessment, and guides responsible use in agroecosystems. [Display omitted] • HPLC- UV/Vis coupled to DFT is proposed for PGRs authentication. • Anabiotic degradation was predominant in the degradation of ICE6. • Hydrolysis followed the first-order kinetics. • Increasing the temperature will accelerate hydrolysis. • The validated method was subjected to actual samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carvone is a monoterpene compound that has been widely used as a pesticide for more than 10 years. However, little is known regarding the fate of carvone, or its degradation products, in the environment. We used GC-MS (gas chromatography–mass spectrometry) to study the fate of carvone and its degradation and photolysis products under different soil and light conditions. We identified and quantified three degradation products of carvone in soil and water samples: dihydrocarvone, dihydrocarveol, and carvone camphor. In soil, dihydrocarveol was produced at very low levels (≤0.067 mg/kg), while dihydrocarvone was produced at much higher levels (≤2.07 mg/kg). In water exposed to differing light conditions, carvone was degraded to carvone camphor. The photolysis rate of carvone camphor under a mercury lamp was faster, but its persistence was lower than under a xenon lamp. The results of this study provide fundamental data to better understand the fate and degradation of carvone and its metabolites in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monochoria vaginalis (Burm. f.) Kunth is an annual weed commonly found in paddy fields. Understanding the effects of M. vaginalis on the yield and economics of paddy rice (Oryza sativa L.) is essential for integrated weed management. Here, a field experiment was conducted over two consecutive years (2017–2018) to determine the effects of different densities of M. vaginalis (0, 1, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 plants m–2) on yield losses, economic thresholds, and gross returns in paddy rice. The results showed that a higher density of M. vaginalis exhibited greater inhibitory effects on plant height, tiller number per plant, and adjusted gross returns in both early and late rice. The inhibitory effects on spike number per plant, filled grains per panicle, and 1,000‐kernel weight were also significant, although lesser than those observed on the other yield traits. The economic threshold of M. vaginalis under manual weeding varied from 2.80 to 4.44 plants m–2, whereas the threshold levels under herbicide application ranged between 0.71 and 1.03 plants m–2 in the 2 yr. Averaged across all other factors, the adjusted gross returns decreased by 45.0% with increasing M. vaginalis density from 0 to 24 plants m–2. Taking into account the economic thresholds and gross returns, irrational use of herbicides should be prevented for weed management in paddy fields. This study provides useful data for reducing the use of chemical herbicides, saving the costs of weed management practices, and protecting the environment of farmland ecosystems. Core Ideas: Increasing density of M. vaginalis caused yield losses in early and late rice.The economic threshold of M. vaginalis for herbicide application was 0.71–1.03 plants m−2.The economic threshold of M. vaginalis for manual weeding was 2.80–4.44 plants m−2.Adjusted gross returns declined by 45% with increasing density of M. vaginalis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change poses an enormous challenge to countries across the world. News is a crucial channel to draw society's attention to this issue and strengthen climate governance initiatives, such as carbon emission reduction. The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of carbon-related news on carbon emissions and carbon transfer. First, we analyzed the topics of carbon-related news from media outlets such as ABC , CNN , and The Guardian from 2009 to 2019. Then, we calculated the carbon emissions from both production- and consumption-based perspectives and constructed the carbon transfer network of major countries around the world. Finally, we examined the direct and lag effects of carbon-related news attention and contents on carbon emissions and carbon transfer by using the extended population, affluence, and technology (STIRPAT) model as the analytical framework. The results showed the following. First, countries are paying increasing attention to carbon-related issues with the rise of global carbon emissions, and they mainly focus on the social aspects of carbon emissions. Second, there are differences in production- and consumption-based carbon emissions by country. The amount of embodied carbon transfer between countries has increased over time and the carbon transfer network has become tighter. Finally, carbon-related news has a positive impact on improving carbon emissions and carbon transfer worldwide. Different news topics have also shown varying effects on carbon emissions and carbon transfer. In summary, this study further revealed the impacts of carbon-related news on carbon emissions and transfer and accordingly provided policy implications in carbon emission reduction for the government. • The evolution of carbon-related news topics are analyzed. • The effects of carbon-related news on carbon emissions and carbon transfer are investigated. • Carbon-related news has a positive impact on improving carbon emissions and carbon transfer worldwide. • Different news topics have led to different effects on carbon emissions and carbon transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we present a method for the quantitative analysis of broflanilide residues in water, soil, and rice samples from a paddy field in Jiangxi Province, China. The quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) method was optimized for the extraction and purification of broflanilide residues. Residual broflanilide concentrations in different matrices were then determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The calibration curve of broflanilide showed good linearity in all matrices for concentrations between 0.005 and 1 mg·L−1, with a correlation coefficient greater than 0.99. The matrix effect varied from −69% to −54%, indicating matrix suppression. The average recoveries ranged between 85.82% and 97.46%, with relative standard deviations of 3.29%–8.15%. The limits of detection ranged from 0.16 to 1.67 μg·kg−1, and the limits of quantification were in the range of 0.54 to 5.48 μg·kg−1. Dissipation dynamic tests indicated broflanilide half-lives of 0.46–2.46, 2.09–5.34, and 1.31–3.32 days in soil, water, and rice straw, respectively. Broflanilide was dissipated more rapidly in water than in soil and rice straw. More than 90% of broflanilide residues dissipated within 14 days. The final residues of broflanilide in rice were all below LOQ at harvest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we present a method for the quantitative analysis of broflanilide residues in water, soil, and rice samples from a paddy field in Jiangxi Province, China. The quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) method was optimized for the extraction and purification of broflanilide residues. Residual broflanilide concentrations in different matrices were then determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The calibration curve of broflanilide showed good linearity in all matrices for concentrations between 0.005 and 1 mg·L−1, with a correlation coefficient greater than 0.99. The matrix effect varied from −69% to −54%, indicating matrix suppression. The average recoveries ranged between 85.82% and 97.46%, with relative standard deviations of 3.29%–8.15%. The limits of detection ranged from 0.16 to 1.67 μg·kg−1, and the limits of quantification were in the range of 0.54 to 5.48 μg·kg−1. Dissipation dynamic tests indicated broflanilide half-lives of 0.46–2.46, 2.09–5.34, and 1.31–3.32 days in soil, water, and rice straw, respectively. Broflanilide was dissipated more rapidly in water than in soil and rice straw. More than 90% of broflanilide residues dissipated within 14 days. The final residues of broflanilide in rice were all below LOQ at harvest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The massive installation and deployment of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructures requires designing efficient and convenient testing tools for the field testing. This paper presents a novel testing system for the EV off‐board charger, in an application such as field testing and maintenance. The authors discuss the design theory and hardware implementation of the system in first. Two typical charger testing scenarios using the proposed tester are discussed. In addition, the modular structure of the system provides the user with a high degree of flexibility, which allows them to configure their own testing systems according to their applications. Three digital processing approaches for constraining high‐frequency components and harmonics are introduced. The authors demonstrate that the digitalised traditional filter has an overwhelming advantage than the statistical filters in the experimental results. They also validate the function of the proposed testing system with a DC 60 kW charger, by finishing testing items such as the regulation accuracy, current imbalance and extreme temperature testing. Finally, they present a comparative study of recent EV charger testing systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer accounting for ~80% of lung cancer cases. According to novel research, numerous microRNAs (miRs) have been suggested to function as important regulators of cancer. In addition, the expression of miR-140-5p is decreased in patients with NSCLC. Therefore, it is important to further elucidate the role of miR-140-5p in NSCLC. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used in order to investigate the expression of miR-140-5p in NSCLC tissues and matched normal tissues and to determine miR-140-5p levels following transfection with mimics into A549 lung cancer cells. Targetscan software was used to predict the oncogene target of miR-140-5p. This analysis revealed that YES proto-oncogene 1 (YES1) includes a target site for miR-140-5p binding. The results revealed that YES1 is a potential target gene of miR-140-5p, and this was further confirmed by the results of luciferase reporter assays, which demonstrated that miR-140-5p directly targeted the predicted binding site in the 3′-untranslated region of YES1. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and flow cytometry assays were performed to determine the levels of cell viability and apoptosis. Western blot assays was performed to investigate the expression levels of YES1 and proteins associated with apoptosis in A549 cells following transfection. The results revealed that miR-140-5p expression was significantly downregulated in NSCLC tissues compared with matched normal tissues. The expression of miR-140-5p was significantly increased following transfection with miR-140-5p mimics. The results of CCK-8 and flow cytometry assays indicated that miR-140-5p inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis of tumor cells. Western blot analysis and RT-qPCR revealed that YES1 and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) mRNA and protein expression levels were markedly decreased in A549 cells, while Bcl-2 associated X (Bax) and caspase-3 expression levels increased significantly following transfection with miR-140-5p mimics compared with the negative control group. In conclusion, miR-140-5p may induce apoptosis in A549 cells by targeting YES1 and regulating the expression of apoptosis-associated proteins Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transformation of Chinese coal power firms is crucial for achieving carbon emission reduction (CER) goals, and promoting green technology innovation (GTI) is the key for the achievement. To examine the interactive mechanism of central and local government regulatory behavior and coal power firms' GTI behavior under China's dual-regulatory system, this paper introduces environmental impact coefficients and develops a tripartite evolutionary game model (EGM) from the perspective of CER. The influencing factors and interactive relationships among them are analyzed. Additionally, through numerical simulation, the impacts of changes in central and local government S&P (subsidies and penalties) on the evolution of the system are also obtained. The findings indicate the following: (1) Enhancing the initial willingness can accelerate the system's attainment of an optimal state. The local government exhibits a slower pace of evolution. Coal power firms are more sensitive to changes in the initial willingness of the central government. (2) The local government is more sensitive to changes in the central government's S&P intensity rather than changes in the central government's initial willingness. Low levels of central government S&P and high penalties are ineffective, while high subsidies can lead to a sudden decrease in the local government's willingness. (3) Local government penalties have a positive correlation with their effectiveness in promoting GTI, whereas high subsidies are ineffective. (4) The separate implementation of subsidies or penalties by either the central or the local government is detrimental to achieving the optimal state. Such an approach renders the fluctuant or negative behavior of the local government and coal power firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detection of water entry sound can be used as an early warning indicator for underwater vehicle. The present work is dedicated to investigate the amplitude distribution characteristics of the water entry sound. Understanding the time series amplitude distribution of the water entry sound can facilitate water entry sound detection method based on the probability distribution function (PDF) change. To shed light into needed model of amplitude distribution, this paper focusses on α stable distribution model, which is appropriate for leptokurtic data. The PDFs of numerical simulation and experimental measurement data of water entry sound are modeled with α stable distribution and normal models, respectively. The results demonstrate that: (i) The water entry sound shows noteworthy non-Gaussian characteristics. (ii) The α stable distribution model has higher goodness of fit than the normal distribution model for water entry noise. (iii) The characteristic exponent α is of great significance for describing the PDF of water entry sound, which allows deriving effective guidelines for the detection of water entry sound. • The α stable distribution model used for fitting the amplitude distribution of water entry sound was studied in details. • This thesis details effort to study the amplitude distribution property of the water entry sound. • The results reveal that α stable distribution model has higher goodness of fit than Gaussian model for water entry sound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cost management is an important part of enterprise management and can enhance the competitiveness of enterprises and improve the sustainability of enterprise development. Responsibility management can maximize the enthusiasm and initiative of employees and effectively improves the efficiency of cost management. Quantitative responsibility is the premise of realizing responsibility management. Aiming at the problem of unclear responsibility for costs within the enterprise, a method for responsible quantification based on intuitionistic trapezoidal fuzzy numbers and genetic algorithms is proposed in this paper. This paper first expounds on a cost management structure model, uses the method of intuitionistic fuzzy mathematics to determine the initial value of the responsibility based the structure model, then constructs the quantitative model for the coefficient of responsibility, and finally uses a specific enterprise as an example of quantitative calculations to solve the responsibility problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nimotuzumab, a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), increases radiosensitivity in lung cancer. Cisplatin is an effective antitumor agent in lung cancer. In the present study, the antitumor activity of nimotuzumab combined with cisplatin was investigated in A549 lung cancer cells. Viability, cell cycle distribution and cyclin D1 expression were assessed following treatment with nimotuzumab alone, cisplatin alone, nimotuzumab in combination with cisplatin, and nimotuzumab followed sequentially by cisplatin. The inhibitory effect on cell viability of nimotuzumab sequentially followed by cisplatin was higher compared with cisplatin alone (82.17±1.62 vs. 56.97±1.42%). Compared with treatment by cisplatin alone, cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry demonstrated that the percentage of cells in the G0/G1 phase was increased when A549 cells were treated with nimotuzumab followed sequentially by cisplatin (P<0.01). However, the proportion of cells in G0/G1 phase was decreased when A549 cells were treated with nimotuzumab and cisplatin simultaneously compared with cisplatin alone (P<0.05). Cyclin D1 expression was decreased in all chemotherapy treatment groups; the most significant decrease was in A549 cells treated with nimotuzumab followed sequentially by cisplatin. Nimotuzumab may enhance the antitumor activity of cisplatin on A549 cells. The cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 observed may have been due to decreased cyclin D1 levels. Potential antagonism was identified when A549 cells were treated with nimotuzumab and cisplatin simultaneously, indicating that targeted therapy may be more effective when administered prior to conventional chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA J HOMOLOG 3 (J3) is a special transcriptional regulator in flowering time control, but the molecular mechanism of J3 in regulating flowering time has not been thoroughly revealed in B. juncea which is one important oilseed and vegetable crop. In this study, J3 gene was cloned from B. juncea ( BjuJ3 ). Phylogenetic relationship analysis showed that the BjuJ3 had high amino acid sequence similarity (>93%) with other Brassica plants. The BjuJ3 -transgenic tobacco plants exhibited early flowering, suggesting that BjuJ3 was an activator of flowering time. The qRT-PCR analysis found that BjuJ3 could be ubiquitously induced by the long-day and vernalization treatments in all the tissues of B. juncea . Yeast two-hybrid assays and GST pull-down experiments revealed that BjuJ3 could not directly interact with BjuSOC1, BjuSVP and BjuAGL24. Whereas, yeast one-hybrid and Dual-Glo ® Luciferase assays found that BjuJ3 could not interact with BjuAGL24 promoter but could specifically bind to BjuSOC1-1 which is one of truncated fragments of BjuSOC1 promoter. Our research will provide valuable information for unraveling regulatory mechanisms of flowering time in B. juncea . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge graph (KG) as a popular semantic network has been widely used. It provides an effective way to describe semantic entities and their relationships by extending ontology in the entity level. This article focuses on the application of KG in the traditional geological field and proposes a novel method to construct KG. On the basis of natural language processing (NLP) and data mining (DM) algorithms, we analyze those key technologies for designing a KG towards geological data, including geological knowledge extraction and semantic association. Through this typical geological ontology extracting on a large number of geological documents and open linked data, the semantic interconnection is achieved, KG framework for geological data is designed, application system of KG towards geological data is constructed, and dynamic updating of the geological information is completed accordingly. Specifically, unsupervised intelligent learning method using linked open data is incorporated into the geological document preprocessing, which generates a geological domain vocabulary ultimately. Furthermore, some application cases in the KG system are provided to show the effectiveness and efficiency of our proposed intelligent learning approach for KG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] CEWH was illustrated to be a superior carbon source to glucose. [•] Lipid production by Chlorella vulgaris was enhanced by fed-batch culture. [•] The extracted microalgal lipid was transmethylated to biodiesel and analyzed. [•] Cyperus esculentus waste was proved to be an alternative feedstock for biodiesel. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The oleaginous yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides Y2 was employed to remove waste nutrients from bioethanol wastewater while simultaneously producing biomass enriched in microbial lipids. Under optimal conditions, the COD degradation ratio, biomass and lipid content reached 72.3%, 3.8g/l and 34.9%, respectively. For accelerating biomass and lipid accumulation, different feeding strategies of substrate were conducted. The biomass and lipid production increased by 39.5% and 53.8%, respectively, when glucose at 1.2g/(ld) was added during the last three days of the cultivation. An equation was established to estimate biomass energetic yield. Under optimal conditions, the biomass energetic yield was 50.9% and an increase of 26.0% was obtained by feeding glucose at 1.2g/(ld) during the last three days. The fatty acid composition of the lipids was similar to that from plant oils and other microbial lipids, and could thus be used as raw material for feed additives and biodiesel production. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Using scanning tunneling spectroscopy, we study a 3D topological insulator Bi2Te3 with a periodic structural deformation (buckling). The buckled surface allows us to measure the response of Dirac electrons in a magnetic field to the presence of a well-defined potential variation. We find that while the η = 0 Landau level exhibits a 12 meV energy shift across the buckled structure at 7 T, the amplitude of this shift changes with the Landau level index. Modeling these effects reveals that the Landau level behavior encodes information on the spatial extent of their wave functions. Our findings have important implications for transport and magnetoresistance measurements in Dirac materials with engineered potential landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mass-energy balance of lipid fermentation by oleaginous yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides Y4 with glucose as sole carbon source was investigated. The elemental composition of the freeze-dried cell samples obtained at different time points was determined using a Vario EL3 analyzer to estimate the biomass energetic yield (η). Then this work established the biomass energetic yield (η) to sets of biochemical variables and a new equation was developed to determine η without elemental composition of biomass. Biomass energetic yield estimated by the new equation was highly in accordance with that based on elemental composition. Bomb-calorimetric measurements were shown to be a direct method of quantifying the energy content of oleaginous yeasts. Combustion heat ( Q) of biomass determined experimentally was in consistent with those calculated according to its elementary contents. The relationship between lipid content and Q of the cells was simulated and a new practical equation was developed based on lipid content ( Y) to evaluate Q of biomass. Biomass energetic yield of R. toruloides Y4 could reach higher than 0.8. Combustion heat of biomass obtained after 116 h was 33 (kJ g) that was about 73% of the combustion heat of diesel. The results revealed that R. toruloides Y4 was an efficient 'energy-converter' in lipid production with glucose as the substrate. The results also implied the approaches to estimating η of fermentation, and Q of single oil cells developed in this study should be valuable to address the overall techno-economical analysis of bio-energy production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The measurement and early warning of real estate risk are important to prevent and defuse major financial risks, and they form a basis for high-quality development. This paper assessed the internal and external environments of the real estate market; constructed a real estate risk indicator system from the aspects of market level, real estate enterprises, policy factors and financial institutions; and implemented a PSO-SVM model to measure and warn of real estate risk. Empirical studies were conducted. The results show the following: (1) the synthetic real estate risk index well depicts the cyclical fluctuation of real estate risk in Beijing; (2) the warning model based on the PSO-SVM method exhibits better performance and higher warning accuracy than other models do. • The PSO-SVM model exhibits better performance than other models do. • The internal and external environments of the market are considered to establish the risk indicator system. • The synthetic index is in line with the risk situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The development of concentration polarization in a spiral wound reverse osmosis membrane channel and the depolarization effect of spacers are important concerns for understanding the performance of membrane processes. However, an accurate quantification of these effects derived from fundamental principles is impractical due to the complexity of the processes. In this study, a macroscopic method was developed to estimate the effect of concentration polarization on the performance of the spiral wound membrane modules. Concentration polarization in a channel filled with spacers was described as a combination of two extreme cases, namely the undisturbed concentration polarization and complete depolarization (uniform distribution across the channel height). With the introduction of a polarization factor for the degree of concentration polarization, a mathematical model was developed for the permeate flux in the spiral wound modules. The proposed model was solved numerically to simulate the performance of a long membrane channel under various operation conditions. The simulation results demonstrated that the model developed in this study was a feasible way to estimate concentration polarization in spiral wound modules. Excellent fitness was found between the numerical simulations and experimental observations of the average permeate fluxes in along membrane channel of spiral wound membrane modules. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Osteogenesis imperfecta type I (OI‐I) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by skeletal deformity, bone fragility, blue sclerae, dentinogenesis imperfecta, and hearing loss. The current study aimed to confirm the clinical diagnosis and genetic cause of OI‐I in a four‐generation Chinese family. Methods: Clinical investigation and pedigree analysis were conducted to characterize the phenotypic manifestations of a Chinese family with OI‐I. Follow‐up audiometry and imaging tests were used to evaluate the postoperative outcomes of stapes surgery in the proband with otosclerosis. Whole‐exome sequencing (WES) and Sanger sequencing were used to identify the pathogenic gene variants and for cosegregating analysis. Results: We described in detail the clinical features of the collected family with autosomal dominant OI‐I, and firstly identified a pathogenic splicing variant (c.2344‐1G>T) in intron 33 of COL1A1 in a Chinese family. The molecular analysis suggested that the mutation might cause splice site changes that result in a loss of gene function. The proband, who suffered from otosclerosis and presented two‐side middle‐severe conductive hearing loss, benefitted significantly from successive bilateral middle ear surgery. Conclusions: The diagnosis of OI‐I in a Chinese family was established by clinical and genetic investigation. A heterozygous pathogenic splicing variant in COL1A1 was directly responsible for the bone fragility and hearing loss of this family. Otosclerosis surgery should be suggested to rehabilitate conductive hearing impairment in OI patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the preparation of spherical molybdenum-copper (Mo-Cu) composites through the utilization of plasma spheroidization1 of molybdenum powder, followed by ‘Carbon thermal pre-reduction + Hydrogen deep reduction2’ processes. The properties of these composites are analyzed. By adjusting the mass ratio of molybdenum to copper and employing mechanical activation during high-temperature sintering, Mo and Cu are dispersed more uniformly, resulting in improved fluidity and a reduced tendency to agglomerate in x% Mo-Cu (x = 20, 40, 60, 80) composites. Experimental results demonstrate that compared to original powder Mo-Cu composites, the prepared spherical Mo-Cu composites exhibit uniform elemental distribution, regular arrangement, and reduced porosity. Among these, the 60% Mo (spherical)-Cu composites show the best dispersion and superior performance. At the optimal sintering temperature of 1250°C, the thermal conductivity of the sintered product increased from 137 Wm−1K−1 to 148 Wm−1K−1, the electrical conductivity increased from 18.9 MS/m to 21.8 MS/m, and the Vickers hardness increased from 177 HV to 209 HV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of organic inclusions from the offshore oil and gas fields provide much information about the number of times, temperature, depth, time and phase state of oil-gas migration, as well as about the composition of organic inclusions. On the basis of the type, character, composition and distribution of organic inclusions in the Zhu-III Depression at the Pearl River Mouth, information can be developed about the source rocks of oil and gas, and their evolution and migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of the emerging variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in different regions of the world, the battle with infectious coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 has been seesawing. Therefore, the identification of antiviral drugs is of particular importance. In order to rapidly identify inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro), an enzyme essential for viral replication, we combined the fluorescence polarization (FP) technique with biotin-avidin system (BAS) and developed a novel sandwich-like FP screening assay. Through high-throughput screening, two hits of 3CLpro inhibitors, ginkgolic acid (GA) and anacardic acid (AA) were identified, which showed IC50 values of 11.29 ± 0.48 and 12.19 ± 0.50 μM, respectively. Their binding modes were evaluated by HPLC-Q-TOF–MS. There was no mass increase detected for SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro incubated with either GA or AA, indicating the absence of covalent adducts. The kinetic analysis clearly demonstrated that both GA and AA inhibit SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro via reversible and mixed-inhibition manner. Our results argue against conclusion that GA and AA act as irreversible and covalent inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro, which is based on the studies by Chen et al. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The calcium-binding protein spermatid-associated 1 (Cabs1) is a novel spermatid-specific protein. However, its function remains largely unknown. In this study, we found that a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) transcripted from the Cabs1 gene antisense, AntiCabs1, was also exclusively expressed in spermatids. Cabs1 and AntiCabs1 knockout mice were generated separately (using Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat (CRISPR)-Cas9 methods) to investigate their functions in spermatogenesis. The genetic loss of Cabs1 did not affect testicular and epididymal development; however, male mice exhibited significantly impaired sperm tail structure and subfertility. Ultrastructural analysis revealed defects in sperm flagellar differentiation leading to an abnormal annulus and disorganization of the midpiece–principal piece junction, which may explain the high proportion of sperm with a bent tail. Interestingly, the proportion of sperm with a bent tail increased during transit in the epididymis. Furthermore, Western blot and immunofluorescence analyses showed that a genetic loss of Cabs1 decreased Septin 4 and Krt1 and increased cyclin Y-like 1 (Ccnyl1) levels compared with the wild type, suggesting that Cabs1 deficiency disturbed the expression of cytoskeleton-related proteins. By contrast, AntiCabs1−/− mice were indistinguishable from the wild type regarding testicular and epididymal development, sperm morphology, concentration and motility, and male fertility. This study demonstrates that Cabs1 is an important component of the sperm annulus essential for proper sperm tail assembly and motility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyanogen (C 2 N 2) is a new soil fumigant being tested worldwide for soil fumigation or sterilization before planting. This study established a multi-fumigant detection method for C 2 N 2 and its degradation product hydrogen cyanide (HCN) by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The GC–MS method was then applied to investigate the degradation of C 2 N 2 and HCN in eight different agricultural soils. The optimal headspace sampling conditions using a Box–Behnken experimental design were an extraction temperature of 60 °C, an extraction time of 0.7 h, and a solvent volume of 35 mL (30% H 2 SO 4). Under these conditions, the extraction rates of C 2 N 2 and HCN were 89.22% ± 0.65% and 92.50% ± 0.63%, respectively. The limits of quantification for both target compounds were 0.001 mg·kg−1. The recoveries of C 2 N 2 and HCN ranged from 84.7% to 102.9% and from 80.18% to 95.34%, respectively, at spiked levels of 0.05, 0.2, and 1.0 mg·kg−1 with relative standard deviation ≤2.2%. A residual dynamics experiment showed that C 2 N 2 and HCN disappeared rapidly in the soils. The first-order double-exponential decay model best described the decline of C 2 N 2 and HCN concentrations in soil. The half-lives of C 2 N 2 and HCN in soil were 8.553–27.964 h and 11.823–35.674 h, respectively. The GC–MS method provides a simple, fast, and organic solvent-free procedure to analyze multiple fumigants in the soil matrix. The proposed method is therefore recommended as a screening tool for the field investigation of C 2 N 2 - and HCN-fumigated sites. • A multi-fumigant GC–MS detection method for C 2 N 2 /HCN in soil was established. • The optimal headspace sampling conditions were 60 °C, 0.7 h, and 35 mL of 30% H 2 SO 4. • The limit of quantification for C 2 N 2 /HCN by the proposed method was 0.001 mg·kg−1. • The recoveries of C 2 N 2 and HCN were 84.7%–102.9% and 80.18%–95.34%, respectively. • The disappearance of C 2 N 2 /HCN in agricultural soils followed a biphasic pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the diagnostic and prognostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and clinical indicators of the vessels encapsulating tumor clusters (VETC) pattern and macrotrabecular-massive subtype in hepatocellular carcinoma (MTM-HCC). This retrospective study included patients who underwent preoperative CEUS and hepatectomy for HCC between August 2018 and August 2021. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to select independent correlated factors of VETC-HCC and MTM-HCC to develop nomogram models. The association between model outcomes and early postoperative HCC recurrence was assessed using Kaplan–Meier curve and Cox regression analysis. The training cohort included 182 patients (54.3 ± 11.3 years, 168 males) and the validation cohort included 91 patients (54.8 ± 10.6 years, 81 males). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that α-fetoprotein (AFP) levels (odds ratio [OR]: 2.26, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.49–3.42, p < 0.001), intratumoral nonenhancement (OR: 2.40, 95% CI: 1.02–5.64, p = 0.044), and the perfusion pattern in the CEUS arterial phase (OR: 2.27, 95% CI: 1.05–4.91, p = 0.038) were independent predictors of VETC-HCC. Besides, the former two were also independently associated with MTM-HCC (AFP level: OR: 2.36, 95% CI: 1.36–4.09, p = 0.002; intratumoral nonenhancement: OR: 3.72, 95% CI: 1.02–13.56, p = 0.046). Nomogram models were constructed based on the aforementioned indicators. Kaplan–Meier curve analysis indicated that predicted VETC-HCC or MTM-HCC exhibited higher rates of early recurrence (log-rank p < 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively). Cox regression analysis showed that a high risk of VETC-HCC was independently correlated with early recurrence (p = 0.011). CEUS combined with AFP levels can predict VETC-HCC/MTM-HCC and prognosis preoperatively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was aimed at developing and comparing prediction models based on Sonovue and Sonazoid contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in predicting pathologic grade and microvascular invasion (MVI) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Also investigated was whether Kupffer phase images have additional predictive value for the above pathologic features. Ninety patients diagnosed with primary HCC who had undergone curative hepatectomy were prospectively enrolled. All patients underwent conventional ultrasound (CUS), Sonovue-CEUS and Sonazoid-CEUS examinations pre-operatively. Clinical, radiologic and pathologic features including pathologic grade, MVI and CD68 expression were collected. We developed prediction models comprising clinical, CUS and CEUS (Sonovue and Sonazoid, respectively) features for pathologic grade and MVI with both the logistic regression and machine learning (ML) methods. Forty-one patients (45.6%) had poorly differentiated HCC (p-HCC) and 37 (41.1%) were MVI positive. For pathologic grade, the logistic model based on Sonazoid-CEUS had significantly better performance than that based on Sonovue-CEUS (area under the curve [AUC], 0.929 vs. 0.848, p = 0.035), whereas for MVI, these two models had similar accuracy (AUC, 0.810 vs. 0.786, p = 0.068). Meanwhile, we found that well-differentiated HCC tended to have a higher enhancement ratio in 6–12 min during the Kupffer phase of Sonazoid-CEUS, as well as higher CD68 expression compared with p-HCC. In addition, all of these models can effectively predict the risk of recurrence (p < 0.05). Sonovue-CEUS and Sonazoid-CEUS were comparably excellent in predicting MVI, while Sonazoid-CEUS was superior to Sonovue-CEUS in predicting pathologic grade because of the Kupffer phase. The enhancement ratio in the Kupffer phase has additional predictive value for pathologic grade prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deoxynivalenol (DON), a trichothecene mycotoxin, could lead to cytotoxicity in both animal bodies and plant seed cells. Ozone degradation technology has been applied to DON control. However, the safety and quality of the contaminated grain after DON degradation are largely obscured. In this work, we evaluated the cytotoxicity of ozone-treated DON through seed germination experiments and cytotoxicity tests. Cell experiments showed that the inhibition rate of HepG2 viability gradually increased within the concentrations of 1–10 mg/L of DON, alongside which an IC50 (half maximal inhibitory concentration) of 9.1 mg/L was determined. In contrast, degrading DON had no significant inhibitory effect on cell growth. Moreover, a 1–10 mg/L concentration of DON increased production of a large amount of reactive oxygen radicals in HepG2, with obvious fluorescence color development. However, fluorescence intensity decreased after DON degradation. Further, DON at a concentration of >1 mg/L significantly inhibited the germination of mung bean seeds, whereas no significant inhibition of their germination or growth were observed if DON degraded. Changes in total protein content, fatty acid value, and starch content were insignificant in wheat samples suffering ozone degradation, compared to the untreated group. Lastly, the ozone-treated wheat samples exhibited higher tenacity and whiteness. Together, our study indicated that the toxicity of DON-contaminated wheat was significantly reduced after ozone degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tiafenacil is a new contact herbicide and its environmental behavior after field application remains poorly understood. In order to understand the dissipation of tiafenacil in the soil, the tiafenacil dissipation experiment was conducted at citrus orchard sites in five provinces of China (Gansu, Shandong, Sichuan, Jiangxi, and Hainan) in 2019 and 2020 (July–August) and the relevant determination methods were optimized. The results showed that the established method showed good linearity in the concentration range of 0.01–0.5 mg/kg. The average recoveries of tiafenacil from the five soils were 86.31–101.66%, with coefficients of variation of 0.28–10.79%. The dissipation of tiafenacil at the five experimental sites conformed to the first‐order kinetic equation, Ct = C0 exp−kt (R2 = 0.8130 – 0.9967). The half‐life of tiafenacil ranged from 0.26 to 4.19 days. The dissipation rate of tiafenacil was positively correlated with soil organic matter content and negatively correlated with soil pH, while monthly average temperature and total rainfall were less influential than soil properties. Therefore, the established method was simple and effective for tiafenacil residue analysis in citrus orchard soils. Tiafenacil could readily dissipate in soil and might be a safe alternative to glyphosate for weed control in citrus orchards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cinnamomi Cortex, the dried stem bark of Cinnamomum cassia Presl (Rougui in Chinese) has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine, cooking and perfumery for thousands of years. Traditionally, the Cinnamomi Cortex of thick size is considered to be of good quality; however, there is no scientific data to support this point. Considering that essential oils are the main bioactive components, Cinnamomi Cortex of greater variety and amount essential oils is thought to be of better quality. In this study, laser microdissection coupled with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q/TOF-MS) was applied to profile the essential oils in different tissues of Cinnamomi Cortex and to determine if there is a correlation between the essential oil content and the stem bark thickness.Results: We report the tissue-specific metabolic profiles of different grades of Cinnamomi Cortex. Nineteen chemical components were unequivocally or tentatively identified in the chromatogram of the test samples. The results indicate that the bioactive components, the essential oils, were mainly present in the phloem.Conclusion: Phloem thickness is the key character for evaluating the quality of Cinnamomi Cortex. Our results can be of great importance in improving the cultivation, harvesting, and processing of Cinnamomi Cortex, as well as enhancing its effects in clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CircRNA derived from vacuolar ATPase assembly factor (circVMA21) is a newly‐researched circRNA, which is reported to adjust the degeneration of intervertebral disc. But, function of circVMA21 in infantile pneumonia is yet to be explored. The research surveyed the role of circVMA21 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐caused WI‐38 cell inflammatory injury. LPS (10 μg/ml, 12 hr) was exploited to arouse WI‐38 cell inflammatory injury. Subsequently, the mediatory impacts of microRNA (miR)‐142‐3p and circVMA21 in LPS‐evoked cell injury were detected after transfection with the inhibited or overexpressed vectors. In above processes, cell behaviors of cell viability, apoptosis, and pro‐inflammatory factors were monitored. NF‐κB and JNK pathways were elucidated to showcase the feasible molecular mechanisms. Results displayed that LPS engendered WI‐38 cell inflammatory injury was alleviated as well as activated NF‐κB and JNK pathways was interdicted by miR‐142‐3p suppression. Importantly, restrained miR‐142‐3p expression was discovered in WI‐38 cells after overexpressing circVMA21. Moreover, overexpressed circVMA21 exerted the similar functions as miR‐142‐3p suppression in LPS‐triggered WI‐38 cell injury. But, the influence was clearly reversed by miR‐142‐3p overexpression. Hindered NF‐κB and JNK pathways caused by overexpressed circVMA21 was also crippled by miR‐142‐3p overexpression. The research discolsed that circVMA21 protected WI‐38 cells to resist LPS‐triggered inflammatory injury via miR‐142‐3p‐NF‐κB/JNK axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic heavy metal with severe impacts on plant growth and development. Although a multitude of plants have acquired strong tolerance to Cd stress, the underlying molecular mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Here, we identified a Agamous-like MADS-box gene (EcAGL) from Erigeron canadensis. The expression of EcAGL was obviously raised under Cd stress and subcellular localization indicated EcAGL was localized in the nucleus. Overexpression of EcAGL in Arabidopsis thaliana showed marked alleviation of the Cd-induced reduction; Compared to wild-type lines, the antioxidant enzymes activities were increased in EcAGL overexpressing lines under Cd stress. The roots Cd content of transgenic lines was not different with the control plants, whereas significant reduction in shoots Cd content was detected in the transgenic lines, indicating that this gene can enhance Cd tolerance by reducing Cd accumulation in Arabidopsis. Moreover, the expression levels of heavy metal ATPase (AtHMA2 and AtHMA3) and natural resistance-associated macrophage protein (AtNRAMP5) genes in the root of transgenic lines decreased under Cd stress, indicating that EcAGL likely hampered the Cd transport pathway. Gene expression profiles in shoot showed that EcAGL likely modulates the expression of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase gene (AtACS2), which is involved in the ethylene synthesis pathway, to strengthen the tolerance to Cd. Collectively, these results indicate that EcAGL plays a significant role in regulating Cd tolerance in E. canadensis by alleviating oxidative stress, Cd transport and affecting the ethylene biosynthesis pathway, providing new insight into the molecular mechanism underlying plant tolerance to Cd stress. • EcAGL increased Cd tolerance of transgenic Arabidopsis. • Expression of EcAGL in Arabidopsis upregulated AtHMA2 , AtHMA3 , and AtNRAMP5 genes. • EcAGL affecting the ethylene biosynthesis pathway under Cd stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research into vinyl-linked covalent organic frameworks (COFs) has grown significantly in recent years due to various attractive properties. Herein, we design and synthesize two highly crystalline and stable 2,4,6-collidine-derived vinylene-linked 2D COFs. Both COFs can act as efficient photocatalysts to facilitate visible-light-driven aerobic oxidation. The TM-TBT-COF was observed to exhibit superior activity and recyclability owing to its excellent semiconducting properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a pathological condition that occurs in soft tissues following severe trauma. The exact pathogenesis of HO remains unclear. Studies have shown that inflammation predisposes patients to the development of HO and triggers ectopic bone formation. Macrophages are crucial mediators of inflammation and are involved in HO development. The present study investigated the inhibitory effect and underlying mechanism of metformin on macrophage infiltration and traumatic HO in mice. Our results found that abundant levels of macrophages were recruited to the injury site during early HO progression and that early administration of metformin prevented traumatic HO in mice. Furthermore, we found that metformin attenuated macrophage infiltration and the NF-κB signaling pathway in injured tissue. The monocyte-to-macrophage transition in vitro was suppressed by metformin and this event was mediated by AMPK. Finally, we showed that inflammatory mediator's regulation by macrophages targeted preosteoblasts, leading to elevated BMP signaling, and osteogenic differentiation and driving HO formation, and this effect was blocked after the activation of AMPK in macrophages. Collectively, our study suggests that metformin prevents traumatic HO by inhibiting of NF-κB signaling in macrophages and subsequently attenuating BMP signaling and osteogenic differentiation in preosteoblasts. Therefore, metformin may serve as a therapeutic drug for traumatic HO by targeting NF-κB signaling in macrophages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Florpyrauxifen-benzyl is a novel herbicide used to control weeds in paddy fields. To clarify and evaluate its hydrolytic behavior and safety in water environments, its hydrolytic characteristics were investigated under varying temperatures, pH values, initial mass concentrations and water types, as well as the effects of 40 environmental factors such as microplastics (MPs) and disposable face masks (DFMs). Meanwhile, hydrolytic products were identified by UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS, and its hydrolytic pathways were proposed. The effects of MPs and DFMs on hydrolytic products and pathways were also investigated. The results showed that hydrolysis of florpyrauxifen-benzyl was a spontaneous process driven by endothermic, base catalysis and activation entropy increase and conformed to the first-order kinetics. The temperature had an obvious effect on hydrolysis rate under alkaline condition, the hydrolysis reaction conformed to Arrhenius formula, and activation enthalpy, activation entropy, and Gibbs free energy were negatively correlated with temperature. Most of environmental factors promoted hydrolysis of florpyrauxifen-benzyl, especially the cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB). The hydrolysis mechanism was ester hydrolysis reaction with a main product of florpyrauxifen. The MPs and DFMs did not affect the hydrolytic mechanisms but the hydrolysis rate. The results are crucial for illustrating and assessing the environmental fate and risks of florpyrauxifen-benzyl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HDA9 (a RPD3-like histone deacetylase) belongs to the histone deacetylase family which is involved in flowering time control through repression of AGL19 and FT , but it is still elusive that whether and how HDA9 directly interacts with flowering signal integrators of SOC1 and AGL24 in Brassica juncea. In this study, BjuHDA9 (a homologous HDA9 ) was cloned from B. juncea and ubiquitously expressed in root, stem, cauline leaf, flower bud and opening flower. BjuHDA9 was highly induced by short-day photoperiod. Yeast two-hybrid and pull-down assays demonstrated that BjuHDA9 could not interact with BjuSOC1 and BjuAGL24 proteins. Whereas, BjuHDA9 directly interacted with promoters of BjuSOC1 and BjuAGL24 via yeast one-hybrid and Dual-Glo ® Luciferase assays. It suggested that the histone deacetylase BjuHDA9 was probably involved in flowering time control by binding to promoter regions of BjuSOC1 and BjuAGL24. This study will provide valuable information for elucidating the molecular mechanism of BjuHDA9 in regulating flowering time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major public health concern. The clearance of HBV may involve cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) activity and T helper type 1 reactions. Exosomes generated from dendritic cells (DCs) can induce immunological responses capable of eradicating viruses. However, exosomes loaded with antigens have not yet demonstrated therapeutic potential in HBV infection. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the antiviral effects of DC-derived exosomes (Dexs) loaded with ubiquitinated HBV core antigen (Dexs-Ub-HBcAg). Murine bone marrow-derived DCs were loaded with a recombinant lentivector encoding the ubiquitinated form of HBcAg. High-purity Dexs were generated using differential velocity centrifugation. Splenic T-lymphocytes were stimulated with Dexs-Ub-HBcAg and the specific T-cell-mediated immune responses were examined. Cytokine expression was analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. T-lymphocyte proliferation was detected using a Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and HBcAg-specific CTL activity was determined using a lactate dehydrogenase release assay. The results revealed that Dexs-Ub-HBcAg effectively stimulated T-cell proliferation and induced the activation of antigen-specific CTLs to exhibit HBcAg-specific CTL immune responses in vitro. These results suggest the potential of Dexs-Ub-HBcAg for development as a future therapeutic option for the elimination of HBV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CuInSe2 (CIS) nanodandelion structures were synthesized by a two-step solvothermal approach. First, InSe nanodandelions were prepared by reacting In(acac)3 with trioctylphosphine-selenide (TOP-Se) in 1-octadecene (ODE) at 170 °C in the presence of oleic acid. These InSe dandelions were composed of polycrystalline nanosheets with thickness < 10 nm. The size of the InSe dandelions could be tuned within the range of 300 nm–2 µm by adjusting the amount of oleic acid added during the synthesis. The InSe dandelion structures were then reacted with Cu(acac)2 in the second-step solvothermal process in ODE to form CIS nanodandelions. The band gap of the CIS dandelions was determined from ultraviolet (UV) absorption measurements to be ∼ 1.36 eV, and this value did not show any obvious change upon varying the size of the CIS dandelions. Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) measurements showed that the specific surface area of these CIS dandelion structures was 44.80 m2 g − 1, which was more than five times higher than that of the CIS quantum dots (e.g. 8.22 m2 g − 1) prepared by using reported protocols. A fast photoresponsive behavior was demonstrated in a photoswitching device using the 200 nm CIS dandelions as the active materials, which suggested their possible application in optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Mn2+ greatly enhanced the heat-resistance and increased the intracellular of trehalose and mannitol levels of Cordyceps javanica IF-1106. • Sporulation yield and heat resistance of the blastospores increased by addition of Cu2+ and Fe3+. • Higher virulence is achieved when the heat-resistant blastospores were used to challenge Acyrthosiphon pisum. Heat tolerance of fungi is critical for field stability and efficacy of fungal insecticides. Components of the medium, such as carbon source, nitrogen source and metal ions, contribute to the thermotolerance of fungi. In this study, several metal ions were detected to establish their effects on the sporulation and thermotolerance of the blastospores of Cordyceps javanica IF-1106 when cultured in liquid medium. The results showed that metal ions play different roles in sporulation and thermotolerance of the fungi. Mn2+ greatly increased the thermotolerance of the blastospores, and Fe2+ increased the thermotolerance slightly. However, both has no or negative effects on sporulation of the fungi. In the case of Cu2+ and Fe3+, sporulation yield and thermotolerance of the blastospores increased significantly. In addition, intracellular trehalose and mannitol involved in thermotolerance of fungi were extracted and then quantified by ion chromatography. We find that the trehalose and mannitol are higher in the presence of Mn2+, implying that Mn2+ could adjust the intracellular trehalose and mannitol level confers the blastospores with higher tolerance to thermal stress. Further, Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was applied to screen the optimal composition of metal ions. When the formula was MnSO 4 ·H 2 O 8 mg/L, CuSO 4 ·5H 2 O 5 mg/L, FeSO 4 ·7H 2 O 11 mg/L, FeCl 3 ·6H 2 O 8 mg/L, maximum sporulation yield and GT 50 were obtained. Lastly, the virulence of the blastospores to Acyrthosiphon pisum was validated, a higher virulence is achieved with decreased LT 50 (2 d) and LC 50 (2.37 × 104 blastospores mL−1). In conclusion, thermotolerant blastospores of C. javanica IF-1106 and higher sporulation yield could be achieved by optimizing the metal ions composition, which helps to determine the formula for larger scale fermentation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common cause to lead to chronic pain. Sensitization of pain pathways including central sensitization and peripheral sensitization has been regarded as a major cause of OA pain refractory to treatment. Addressing peripheral sensitization or central sensitization alone may not adequately treat OA pain. In our previous studies, botulinum toxin type A (BoNT/A) has been shown to reduce peripheral sensitization for analgesic effects. In addition, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has also been suggested to reduce central sensitization for analgesia. The present study was designed to investigate whether BoNT/A in combination with tDCS has better analgesic effects than isolated treatment to alleviate OA-induced chronic pain in rats. The Von Frey and hot plate tests were applied to assess the pain-related behaviors at different time points. The expression level of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-2B (NMDAR2B) was evaluated in midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) by Western blot the Immunohistochemistry staining after different treatments. The results showed that the combined treatment of BoNT/A and tDCS better improved the pain-related behaviors and significantly increased the expression level of NMDAR2B protein in PAG than each isolated treatment. These results suggested that the combined treatments for relief of chronic pain were more obvious than each isolated treatment. The combination of BoNT/A and tDCS may relieve pain by increasing N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the PAG, and then the descending inhibitory systems were activated to modulate peripheral and central sensitization. [Display omitted] • Sensitization of pain pathways has been recognized as a major cause of osteoarthritis pain refractory to treatment. • NMDA receptors in midbrain periaqueductal gray play an important role in the relief of chronic pain. • Botulinum toxin type A and transcranial direct current stimulation may reduce pain sensitization by NMDA receptors. • The combination of botulinum toxin type A and transcranial direct current stimulation provide better analgesic effects. • It is important to realize that the treatment of chronic pain should focus more on neurosensitization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Si nanowires are successfully grown in porous carbon by supercritical fluid-liquid-solid (SFLS) process, which show high specific capacities and charge–discharge cycling stability as anode materials for Li-ion storage. The enhancement capacity and cycling stability of the Si nanowires/porous carbon composite nanostructures is attributed to the porous carbon serving as a highly conductive framework and absorption of volume changes of Si nanowires during the lithiation/delithiation process. At optimized condition, the Si nanowires/porous carbon electrodes maintain reversible capacities of 1678 mAh g−1 for the 100th cycle at a current density of 420 mA g−1, which is much better as compared to that of pure Si nanowires. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We propose a novel framework for uncertainty quantification via information bottleneck (IB-UQ) for scientific machine learning tasks, including deep neural network (DNN) regression and neural operator learning (DeepONet). Specifically, we incorporate the bottleneck by a confidence-aware encoder, which encodes inputs into latent representations according to the confidence of the input data belonging to the region where training data is located, and utilize a Gaussian decoder to predict means and variances of outputs conditional on representation variables. Furthermore, we propose a data augmentation based information bottleneck objective which can enhance the quantification quality of the extrapolation uncertainty, and the encoder and decoder can be both trained by minimizing a tractable variational bound of the objective. In comparison to uncertainty quantification (UQ) methods for scientific learning tasks that rely on Bayesian neural networks with Hamiltonian Monte Carlo posterior estimators, the model we propose is computationally efficient, particularly when dealing with large-scale datasets. The effectiveness of the IB-UQ model has been demonstrated through several representative examples, such as regression for discontinuous functions, learning nonlinear operators for partial differential equations, and a large-scale climate map model. The experimental results indicate that the IB-UQ model can handle noisy data, generate robust predictions, and provide confident uncertainty evaluation for out-of-distribution data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]