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On the basis of a brief description of the common types of antibiotics in animal derived food, the current status of antibiotic residues and hazards, focusing on antibiotic residue detection methods and research progress in animal source foods, it was pointed out that the main types of antibiotics were fluoroquinolones, β-lactams, macrolides, tetracyclines, nitrofurans, sulfonamides, amphenicols and aminoglycosides. Currently, antibiotic abuse caused serious residual problems, and the accumulation of antibiotics in the body could trigger allergic reactions, drug resistance and other symptoms. Antibiotic detection methods mainly included chromatography, spectrometry, electrochemistry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and chemical sensing, which respectively suffered from the problems of complicated pre-treatment process, weak anti-interference ability, susceptibility to false positives, fewer types of detection, and difficulty in realising the simultaneous detection of a variety of antibiotics, and so on. Compared with other methods, chemical sensing had the advantages of simple and rapid process, obvious color change reaction, and enormous potential for application in the detection of antibiotic residues. In the future, the structural characteristics of antibiotics can be analysed in depth, and sensors detecting a variety of antibiotics simultaneously can be developed, thus further promoting the development of rapid and accurate detection of antibiotic residues in animal derived food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofertilizers have been suggested as alternatives to synthetic fertilizers, which could reduce soil degradation brought on by excessive chemical fertilization and have an impact on the bacterial diversity and community in the soil. The diversity and community of soil bacteria in tea plantations treated with wheat straw compost have, however, received relatively little attention. In this research, a two-year field trial was run to examine the effects of applying wheat straw compost on the characteristics of the soil and the quality of the tea. We also used high-throughput sequencing to investigate the response of the soil bacterial community, and Spearman's rank correlation was used to estimate the relationship between the soil bacterial community, soil characteristics, and tea quality. It was noticed that applying chemical fertilizer along with compost increased the fertility of the soil and the quality of the tea. Based on a two-year thorough data analysis, the T4 treatment (compost fertilizers 15,000 kg ha−1 + chemical fertilizers 1050 kg ha−1, chemical fertilizer reduction 30%) was determined to be the best group. The diversity and community makeup of soil bacteria were impacted by fertilization management. After the initial compost replacement, soils with compost had a greater bacterial richness than soils with inorganic fertilizers. After the second compost substitution, PCoA analysis revealed that compost fertilizer could be easily differentiated from chemical fertilizer. In 2019, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Patescibacteria were the most prevalent bacterial phyla. In 2020, Firmicutes and Chloroflexi overtook Bacteroidetes and Patescibacteria as the two major bacterial phyla. In addition to increasing the diversity of soil bacteria and having an impact on the bacterial population, the application of wheat straw compost mixed with chemical fertilizers can also control the soil's characteristics and the quality of the tea produced in tea plantations. So, as a fertilization way with less environmental impact, wheat straw compost fertilization can be used in tea plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kidney fibrosis, characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) that leads to tissue scarring, is the final common outcome of a wide variety of chronic kidney diseases. Rather than being distributed uniformly across the kidney parenchyma, renal fibrotic lesions initiate at certain focal sites in which the fibrogenic niche is formed in a spatially confined fashion. This niche provides a unique tissue microenvironment that is orchestrated by a specialized ECM network consisting of de novo-induced matricellular proteins. Other structural elements of the fibrogenic niche include kidney resident and infiltrated inflammatory cells, extracellular vesicles, soluble factors and metabolites. ECM proteins in the fibrogenic niche recruit soluble factors including WNTs and transforming growth factor-β from the extracellular milieu, creating a distinctive profibrotic microenvironment. Studies using decellularized ECM scaffolds from fibrotic kidneys show that the fibrogenic niche autonomously promotes fibroblast proliferation, tubular injury, macrophage activation and endothelial cell depletion, pathological features that recapitulate key events in the pathogenesis of chronic kidney disease. The concept of the fibrogenic niche represents a paradigm shift in understanding of the mechanism of kidney fibrosis that could lead to the development of non-invasive biomarkers and novel therapies not only for chronic kidney disease, but also for fibrotic diseases of other organs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a class of fractional-order symmetric hyperchaotic systems is studied based on the Adomian decomposition method. Starting from the definition of Adomian, the nonlinear term of a fractional-order five-dimensional chaotic system is decomposed. At the same time, the dynamic behavior of a fractional-order hyperchaotic system is analyzed by using bifurcation diagrams, Lyapunov exponent spectrum, complexity and attractor phase diagrams. The simulation results show that with the decrease of fractional order q, the complexity of the hyperchaotic system increases. Finally, based on the fractional-order circuit design principle, a circuit diagram of the system is designed, and the circuit is simulated by Multisim. The results are consistent with the numerical simulation results, which show that the system can be realized, which provides a foundation for the engineering applications of fractional-order hyperchaotic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the comfort of the living environment, the thermal performance and temperature–humidity regulation of the exterior walls of two timber-framed structure buildings is theoretically calculated and experimentally studied in this study. Both of the two buildings are located in Nanjing, China, the hot-summer and cold-winter zone. Then WUFI is used to simulate and predict the changes of temperature, relative humidity, and water content of the two timber-framed structure buildings, to strengthen the theoretical analysis of the thermal and humidity coupling of the external walls, and to propose an optimal design scheme for the insulation and temperature and humidity regulation of the external walls. The main results show that the tested thermal conductivity is basically consistent with the predicted value, which prove that WUFI simulation can effectively predict the thermal insulation performance of the external wall. The two timber-framed structure buildings are both suitable for the cold areas, and the reasonable optimization of the design of the structure is the key to the insulation of the building wall. Timber-framed structure is proved to have good temperature–humidity regulation effect. The moisture content of the two timber-framed structure buildings is stable, and the annual temperature and winter humidity are within the appropriate humidity range, which indicates that the wall design is suitable for Nanjing hot-summer and cold-winter climate zone. Four types of wall structure indoor mold spore germinations are less likely, which is not easy to produce the mold. The above research aims to optimize the design of the energy-saving wall of the timber-framed structure and create a comfortable and healthy living environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • An increase of liver-infiltrating NK cells which exhibited high expression of Tim3, CXCR1 and CXCR3 in PBC mice. • Dysregulation of Tim-3 and Gal-9 expression is involved in modulating the local immune microenvironment in PBC mice. • The potential of Tim-3 pathway to modulate chemokine responses in NK cells during autoimmunity. Tim-3, which is expressed on a variety of innate immune cells including NK cells, plays a key role in many autoimmune diseases. However, the immunomodulatory actions of Tim-3 on NK cells in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) remain uncertain. Using a murine model of PBC we evaluated the expression of Tim-3 and its ligand Gal-9 in peripheral blood, liver, and spleen. Additionally, we studied Tim-3 regulation of chemokine receptors (CXCR1 and CXCR3) in vitro. Flow cytometric analysis indicated large numbers of infiltrating NK cells in the liver which exhibited high expression of Tim-3 and CXCR3. Moreover, we found overexpression of CXCR1 in liver tissue and liver-derived NK cells in PBC mice. We also observed lower levels of soluble Tim-3 in the serum of PBC mice. In vitro experiments with liver-derived NK cells from PBC mice indicated that CXCR3 was up-regulated by treatment with recombinant mouse TIM-3 Fc (rmTim-3 Fc) to activate the Tim-3 pathway. Furthermore, stimulating normal mouse spleen NK cells with poly I:C resulted in elevated expression of CXCR1 and interferon-γ release. Nonetheless, adding rmTim-3 Fc or rmGal-9 significantly down-regulated CXCR1 expression and IFN-γ release in NK cells activated by poly I:C, proposing a means to exploit the Tim-3 pathway to reverse responses in NK cells. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that dysregulation of Tim-3/Gal-9 is involved in modulating the local immune microenvironment in PBC mice. Our findings highlight the potential of Tim-3 pathway to modulate chemokine responses in NK cells during autoimmunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we introduce a catalytic system consisting of Pd (OAc)2/Xantphos/Al (OTf)3, which exhibits excellent reactivity in catalyzing the hydroesterification of a wide range of substrates, including electron‐deficient unsaturated acids/esters, aliphatic alkenes, functionalized styrenes, and phenylacetylenes. The catalytic system featured high reactivity and selectivity, low catalyst loading, wide substrate scope, and low CO pressure. Importantly, it eliminated the need for corrosive strong Brønsted acid additives, yielding alkyl‐ or aryl‐substituted dicarboxylic acid esters and monocarboxylic acid ester derivatives that hold significant industrial and pharmaceutical value. Mechanistic studies indicate that the reaction proceeds via the palladium hydride pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) is an engineering wood product made of veneer through laminated grouping and pressurized gluing, and it can efficiently use fast-growing and small-diameter wood. The existing connection methods for LVL structures are mainly metal fasteners. Compared with metal fasteners, wood dowels have the characteristics of being easy to tear down and recyclable, which has gained increasing attention in recent years. Based on this, the proposal suggested a dowel-type timber joint for connecting LVL members or laminates. Bending tests of wood dowels, dowel bearing tests between wood dowel and LVL, and double-shear tests of dowel-type timber joints were carried out. Several factors were analyzed to explore their influence on the failure mechanism and shear capacity of dowel-type timber joints. These factors include the wood grain direction, the ratio of side laminate thickness to dowel diameter, and the thickness ratio of middle-to-side laminate. Simplified models of dowel-type timber joints under main failure modes were established, and a theoretical equation of shear capacity was proposed based on Johansen's theory. The test results showed that the shear capacity of dowel-type timber joints was comparable to that of dowel-type steel joints under the same dowel diameter. The wood grain direction of laminates had little effect on the failure modes of dowel-type timber joints, but it could affect the shear capacity of joints by affecting the dowel-bearing capacity. The parameter analysis showed that the ratio of side laminate thickness to dowel diameter had an important effect on the failure modes of dowel-type timber joints. The failure modes of joints approached shear failure as the ratio increased. The modified theoretical equation could well predict the shear capacity of dowel-type timber joints under plastic hinge failure and shear failure. • A kind of dowel-type timber joint connecting LVL members or laminates was proposed. • Bending tests of wood dowels, dowel bearing tests between wood dowel and LVL, and double-shear tests of dowel-type timber joints were carried out. • Important factors were analyzed to explore the influence on the failure mechanism and shear capacity of dowel-type timber joints. • A theoretical equation of shear capacity of dowel-type timber joints was proposed based on Johansen's theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this study, a new municipal solid waste (MSW) management approach was developed by grafting the robust inexact trapezoidal T2 fuzzy method to a conventional fuzzy linear programming (FLP) framework. Waste managers or authorities could utilize the degree of possibility to compare two different uncertain information sources, which are rendered as fuzzy sets (FSs). This approach improves upon previous interval linear programming (ILP), FLP and T2 FLP methods through further in-depth analyses and solves the ambiguity issues in the field of MSW management. A clear optimal allocation plan for MSW would lead to a lower cost budget under limited processing capacities. The applicability of the proposed MSW system with integrated waste flow allocation planning and facility expansion regarding greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions demonstrate the validity of this innovative approach. The results from the robust inexact trapezoidal T2 fuzzy approach coupling possibility degrees (RITT2FLP-CPDs) model indicate that, compared with other methods, more uncertain information can be incorporated into this RITT2FLP-CPDs model, and the range of cost for the objective function is decreased based on the extension principle of the inexact trapezoidal T2 fuzzy approach. Thus, the processing efficiency of the solid waste capacity would be improved. Therefore, the proposed RITT2FLP-CPDs model is a promising approach for improving the fitness of engineering problems in the scope of MSW management. Graphical abstract Image 1061668 Highlights • Propose a new reliable arithmetical programming approach for MSW management. • Tackle uncertainty expressed as the robust IT2FS programming with a p-cut. • Increase decision spaces for solid waste system under GHG emission control. • Use scenarios to reflect tradeoffs between system cost and GHG credits. • Provide decision makers with better effective waste management options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • A sample-in-answer-out assay is developed for detection of sub-nanomolar Ag+. • It only requires a cheap timer to realize instrument-free quantitative measurement. • A target-triggered autocatalysis strategy is proposed for signal amplification. • Nanopore membrane-integrated paper devices serve as portable testing platforms. Abstract This work initially describes a sample-in-answer-out paper-based assay for simple, rapid, sensitive, specific, and low-cost detection of silver (I) (Ag+) ions. It combines Ag+-triggered in situ autocatalysis for signal amplification with an instrument-free, timing readout in 3D origami paper-based analytical devices integrated with nanopore membranes (NMs). The autocatalytic amplification is based on the oxidability of Ag+ towards 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) loaded in the NMs. The Ag+ ions are rapidly reduced by the TMB to form silver nanoparticles that further act as nanocatalysts to catalyse the oxidation of more TMB molecules to their derivatives by Ag+ ions for producing bigger (and more) metal particles. The NM's pores are thus partially blocked by these metal particles to adjust (prolong) the flowing time of a coloured reagent in the paper device. Under optimized conditions, this developed point-of-need method could quantitatively detect the Ag+ ions in a linear concentration range of 1.9–62.5 nM within 4 min, by simply using a ubiquitous phone (or a timer). Its detection limit was estimated to be ˜0.91 nM according to the 3σ rule. The recoveries of analyzing real water examples (i.e., pond water, tap water, drinking water, and soil water) were from ˜95.2 to ˜103.9%, and the corresponding relative standard deviations ranged from 3.3 to 8.1% (n = 6). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • A new on-off-on fluorescent assay for detecting chiral amino acids was developed. • Chiral nano ZnTPyP was synthesized for chiral recognition of amino acids. • The assay method was reliable and robust with high selectivity and sensitivity. • It realized accurate detection of amino acids in biological environment. Abstract Interests in the recognition of chiral amino acids have grown tremendously in recent years, particularly in the fields of food analysis and pharmaceutical studies. Herein, an innovative "on-off-on" fluorescent assay has been developed for the sensitive and selective determination of chiral Proline (Pro), Lysine (Lys), and Serine (Ser). This detection platform is constructed by exploiting the fluorescence quenching ability of chiral self-assembly zinc 5, 10, 15, 20-tetra(4-pyridyl)-21 H -23 H -porphine (ZnTPyP) to CdTe quantum dots (CdTe QDs). CdTe QDs can act as signal switches whose fluorescence signals can effectively quenched by chiral nano ZnTPyP and then restored in the presence of enantiomer amino acids. The coupling use of CdTe QDs and chiral nano ZnTPyP also permits quantitative analysis of d -Pro, d -Lys, l -Ser with detection limits of 4.46 × 10−10 mol L−1, 7.13 × 10−11 mol L−1, and 3.35 × 10−11 mol L−1, respectively. The approach is also suitable for the effective detection of the three amino acids in complex biological matrices. This rapid, robust and reliable strategy for recognizing enantiomer amino acids has not been reported. The proposed method can be a powerful and valuable technology in the areas of drug discovery and food chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, mid- and near-infrared spectroscopy fingerprints were combined to simultaneously discriminate 12 famous green teas and quantitatively characterize their antioxidant activities using chemometrics. A supervised pattern recognition method based on partial least square discriminant analysis (PLSDA) was adopted to classify the 12 famous green teas with different species and quality grades, and then optimized sample-weighted least-squares support vector machine (OSWLS-SVM) based on particle swarm optimization was employed to investigate the quantitative relationship between their antioxidant activities and the spectral fingerprints. As a result, 12 famous green teas can be discriminated with a recognition rate of 100% by MIR or NIR data. However, compared with individual instrumental data, data fusion was more adequate for modeling the antioxidant activities of samples with RMSEP of 0.0065. Finally, the performance of the proposed method was evaluated and validated by some statistical parameters and the elliptical joint confidence region (EJCR) test. The results indicate that fusion of mid- and near-infrared spectroscopy suggests a new avenue to discriminate the species and grades of green teas. Moreover, the proposed method also implies other promising applications with more accurate multivariate calibration of antioxidant activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Different cultivars of Chinese jujube were collected from Shanxi Province, China. • Compositions of reducing sugars and organic acids were determined by HPLC-UV. • Composition of minerals was determined by ICP-OES. • Principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis were used for classification. Abstract Ziziphus jujuba Mill. has been used as both an edible fruit and Chinese medicine for a long time. In this study, the chemical profiles in terms of reducing sugars, organic acids, and minerals of 15 cultivars of jujube were analyzed. The reducing sugars and organic acids were measured by HPLC-UV (high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection). Minerals were detected by ICP-OES (inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry). Glucose (85.9–1005 mg/100 g FW), malic acid (120–509 mg/100 g FW), citric acid (29.4–181 mg/100 g FW), iron (5.27–12.5 mg/100 g DW), calcium (16.2–30.2 mg/100 g DW) and magnesium (51.2–70.0 mg/100 g DW) were found to be the major components in the fruits. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) were used, in order to classify these cultivars based on the aforementioned chemical profiles. According to the PCA, classification based on the content of reducing sugars is more reasonable and reliable than other parameters. In this classification, 15 cultivars were categorized into 6 groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we describe a facile method named as Rubik's Cube stamping (RCS) for equipment-free fabrication of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs). RCS is inspired by the worldwide ubiquitous RC toy and requires no specialized electric equipment other than a classical six-faced RC that is assembled with home-made small iron components. It can pattern various rosin microstructures in paper simply by either using different functional faces of the modified RC or applying its internal pivot mechanism to adjust the components’ patterning forms on one functional face. Such a versatile stamping method is quite simple and inexpensive, and thus holds potential for producing rosin-patterned μPADs by untrained users in resource-limited environments such as small laboratories and private clinics, or even at home and in the field. Moreover, a set of one-channel devices are fabricated to design a point-of-care aptamer-based assay with near sample-in–answer-out capability that integrates enzymatic reactions for robust yet efficient signal amplification and a personal glucometer for portable, user-friendly, rapid and quantitative readout. Its utility is well demonstrated with the sensitive and specific detection of adenosine as a model target in buffer samples and undiluted human urine within several minutes. With the advantages of low cost, simplicity, portability, rapidity, and aptamer variety, this general point-of-care assay system reported here may find broad applications including home healthcare, field-based environmental monitoring or food analysis and emergency situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The monogenic defects in specific lysosomal enzymes in mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) III lead to lysosomal storage of glycosaminoglycans and complex CNS and somatic pathology, for which the detailed mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, serum samples from patients with MPS IIIA (age 2-9 yr) and MPS IIIB (2-13 yr) and healthy controls (age 2-9 yr) were assayed by global metabolomics profiling of 658 metabolites using mass spectrometry. Significant alterations were detected in 423 metabolites in all MPS III patients, of which 366 (86.5%) decreased and 57 (13.5%) increased. Similar profiles were observed when analyzing data from MPS IIIA and MPS IIIB samples separately, with only limited age variations in 36 metabolites. The observed metabolic disturbances in MPS III patients involve virtually all major pathways of amino acid (101/150), peptide (17/21), carbohydrate (19/23), lipid (221/325), nucleotide (15/25), energy (8/9), vitamins and co-factors (8/21), and xenobiotics (34/84) metabolism. Notably, detected serum metabolite decreases involved all key amino acids, all major neurotransmitter pathways, and broad neuroprotective compounds. The elevated metabolites are predominantly lipid derivatives, and also include cysteine metabolites and a fibrinogen peptide fragment, consistent with the status of oxidative stress and inflammation in MPS III. This study demonstrates that the lysosomal glycosaminoglycans storage triggers profound metabolic disturbances in patients with MPS III disorders, leading to severe functional depression of virtually all metabolic pathways, which emerge early during the disease progression. Serum global metabolomics profiling may provide an important and minimally invasive tool for better understanding the disease mechanisms and identification of potential biomarkers for MPS III. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The origins and authenticity against frauds are two essential aspects of food quality. In this work, a comprehensive quality evaluation method by FT-NIR spectroscopy and chemometrics were suggested to address the geographical origins and authentication of Chinese Ganoderma lucidum (GL). Classification for 25 groups of GL samples (7 common species from 15 producing areas) was performed using near-infrared spectroscopy and interval-combination One-Versus-One least squares support vector machine (IC-OVO-LS-SVM). Untargeted analysis of 4 adulterants of cheaper mushrooms was performed by one-class partial least squares (OCPLS) modeling for each of the 7 GL species. After outlier diagnosis and comparing the influences of different preprocessing methods and spectral intervals on classification, IC-OVO-LS-SVM with standard normal variate (SNV) spectra obtained a total classification accuracy of 0.9317, an average sensitivity and specificity of 0.9306 and 0.9971, respectively. With SNV or second-order derivative (D2) spectra, OCPLS could detect at least 2% or more doping levels of adulterants for 5 of the 7 GL species and 5% or more doping levels for the other 2 GL species. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using new chemometrics and NIR spectroscopy for fine classification of GL geographical origins and species as well as for untargeted analysis of multiple adulterants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The palladium(II)-catalyzed β- and γ-alkynylation of amide C(sp3)−H bonds is enabled by pyridine-based ligands. This alkynylation reaction is compatible with substrates containing α-tertiary or α-quaternary carbon centers. The β-methylene C(sp3)−H bonds of various carbocyclic rings were also successfully alkynylated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The palladium(II)-catalyzed β- and γ-alkynylation of amide C(sp3)−H bonds is enabled by pyridine-based ligands. This alkynylation reaction is compatible with substrates containing α-tertiary or α-quaternary carbon centers. The β-methylene C(sp3)−H bonds of various carbocyclic rings were also successfully alkynylated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gelsolin (GSN) is an actin-binding plasma protein with a pivotal role in the systemic response to acute tissue damage. The present study investigated GSN expression in the liver, spleen and blood serum in mice after burn. Method: A murine model of thermal injury was selected, and the animals were sacrificed at 8, 24, 48 and 72 h after injury. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to determine the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of GSN, and GSN protein expression was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: We found that GSN mRNA and protein were expressed in the liver, spleen and blood serum of the mice. GSN expression in these tissues was the lowest among the tested time points at 8 h after burn injury. The mortality within 72 h among the mice subjected to burn injury was significantly lower in those treated with GSN than in those not treated with GSN. Treatment with GSN markedly increased the GSN levels in the liver, spleen and blood serum after injury. Conclusion: These results indicated that GSN treatment may affect the outcome of thermal injury via changes in the GSN content of multiple tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tenuigenin (TNG) has been reported to have various pharmacological activities, such as anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the protective effects of TNG on lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) are still not clear. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects and mechanism of TGN on LPS-induced AKI in mice. The kidney histological change, levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine were measured to assess the protective effects of TNG on LPS-induced AKI. The levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in serum and kidney tissues were detected by ELISA. The extent of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) p65 and the expression of Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) were detected by western blot analysis. The results showed that TNG markedly attenuated the histological alterations, BUN and creatinine levels in kidney. TNG also suppressed LPS-induced TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 production. Furthermore, the expression of TLR4 and NF-κB activation induced by LPS were markedly inhibited by TNG. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that TNG protected against LPS-induced AKI by inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the popularity of devices with touch screens, it is convenient to match images with a hand-drawn sketch query. However, existing methods usually care little about memory space and time efficiency thus is inadequate for the rapid growth of multimedia resources. In this paper, a BHoG descriptor is proposed for sketch-based image retrieval. Firstly, the boundary image is detected from natural image using Berkeley boundary detector, and then divided into many blocks. Secondly, we calculate the gradient feature of each block, and find the principal gradient orientation. Finally, the principal gradient orientation is encoded to binary codes, which is proved to be efficient and discriminative. We evaluated the performance of BHoG on a large-scale social media dataset. The experimental results have shown that BHoG not only has a better performance on flexibility and efficiency, but also occupies small memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly uniform one-dimensional ZnO nanoarrays (ZnO NAs) fabricated by hydrothermal process were successfully explored as electron transport layer (ETL) for offering a direct and efficient path for electron transport in inverted polymer solar cells (PSCs). The inorganic CdS shell layer by in situ growth on the ZnO NAs surface was used to passivate and repair the surface defects of ZnO NAs. To further engineer the ZnO surface and improve the compatibility between ETL of inorganic ZnO/CdS core/shell and polymer blend contact junction, those organic molecules of 3,6,7,10,11-pentakis-(hexyloxy)-2-hydroxytriphenylene (TP-OH), 1-pyrenol (Py-OH) and 4′-(7-hydroxy-heptanoyl)-biphenyl-4-carbonitrile (BP-OH) were respectively spin-coated on the ZnO NAs/CdS surface to fabricate ETL based on ZnO/CdS/TP-OH NAs, ZnO/CdS/Py-OH NAs, ZnO/CdS/BP-OH NAs. The π–π interactions between the organic molecules and fullerene acceptors could lead to the well-organized distribution of active layer materials, which is in favor of the enhancement of electron selectivity and the reduction of recombination probability of electrons and holes. The incorporation of ZnO/CdS/Py-OH NAs as ETL into the inverted PSCs based on P3HT:PC 61 BM resulted in a superior power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 4.2% with enhanced short circuit current ( J sc ) and fill factor (FF), compared to 3.1% for bare ZnO NAs, due to the intermolecular close-stacking and relative stronger π–π interaction energy between Py-OH and fullerenes. In addition, the sensitized ZnO surface led to intimate interface between ETL and active layer, which would be in favor of increasing the stability of the device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stable adsorption of chitosan nanoparticles (CNs) onto cotton fabrics was successfully developed without any chemical binders. The adsorption kinetics, thermodynamics, and capacities under different experimental conditions were investigated. The structure and laundering durability of CNs-adsorbed cotton fabrics (CNs-cotton) were also characterized by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA). The adsorption capacities of cotton for CNs declined with the increasing CNs particle size and temperature. By contrast, adsorption capacities increased with the increasing adsorption pH and CNs mass concentration. The kinetic adsorption of CNs onto cotton fabrics was found to follow the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The adsorption mechanism reflected a complex process, and the intra-particle diffusion was not the only rate-limiting step. The transfer and diffusion rates progressively increased with the decrease of adsorption temperature and CNs particle size. The negative values of the standard Gibbs free energy changes (Δ G°) and the standard enthalpy (Δ H°) indicated that the adsorption was exothermic and spontaneous at 5-75°C. The superior laundering resistance of CNs-cotton was demonstrated after 30 consecutive washes, thereby proving the stable adsorption of CNs onto cotton fabrics without chemical binders. POLYM. COMPOS., 36:2093-2102, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineer [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an effective method, the fingerprint technique, which emphasized the whole compositions of samples, has already been used in various fields, especially in identifying and assessing the quality of herbal medicines. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and near-infrared (NIR), with their unique characteristics of reliability, versatility, precision, and simple measurement, played an important role among all the fingerprint techniques. In this paper, a supervised pattern recognition method based on PLSDA algorithm by HPLC and NIR has been established to identify the information of Hibiscus mutabilis L. and Berberidis radix, two common kinds of herbal medicines. By comparing component analysis (PCA), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), and particularly partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLSDA) with different fingerprint preprocessing of NIR spectra variables, PLSDA model showed perfect functions on the analysis of samples as well as chromatograms. Most important, this pattern recognition method by HPLC and NIR can be used to identify different collection parts, collection time, and different origins or various species belonging to the same genera of herbal medicines which proved to be a promising approach for the identification of complex information of herbal medicines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A series of new and easily tunable diphosphine ligands have been synthesized. • Product selectivity in hydroformylation of strained dialkenes can be controlled. • Coordination modes of Rh complexes bearing the new ligand are analyzed. • Ligand effects on product selectivity and complex coordination modes are mentioned. We reported the synthesis of new and easily tunable diphosphine ligands L1 - L5 based on bis(1H-indol-3-yl)methane. Strained 2,5-norbornadiene and dicyclopentadiene were used as the substrates to elucidate the relationship between ligand structure and product selectivity in Rh-catalyzed hydroformylation. Details in NMR, HRMS and single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealed that the coordination number and oxidation state could change rapidly upon exposure of RhI- L complexes to air. More importantly, the special structure of ligand which led to intramolecular methylene C–H oxidative addition to metal center could facilitate the hydroformylation reaction in an unexpected way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To investigate the effect of rhubarb combined with early enteral nutrition (EEN) on the gastrointestinal function, disease severity and systemic inflammation in patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Methods. A total of 126 patients with SAP were randomly assigned into three groups: parenteral nutrition group, treated with standard solution first and EN 14 days later; EEN group, treated with EN suspension; or EEN combined with rhubarb group, treated with rhubarb and then EN 2 h later. The gastrointestinal function, APACHE II scores, the levels of plasma IL-6, IL-11, C-reactive proteins (CRP) and the liver and kidney functional measures were longitudinally analyzed. Results. Patients in the EEN/rhubarb group had the shortest period of abdominal pain and the fastest recovery from abnormal bowel movement and high fever as well as significantly shorter periods of intensive-care unit and hospital stays. The combination of EEN and rhubarb significantly reduced the values of APACHE II scores. Combination therapies significantly reduced abnormally higher white blood cell (WBC) counts and levels of plasma CRP and IL-6, but increased the levels of plasma IL-11. Finally, combination therapies improved the SAP-related damages of liver and kidney function by reducing abnormally higher levels of plasma alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and creatinine (Cr). Conclusion. Combination of EEN and rhubarb significantly improved the gastrointestinal function, inhibited systemic inflammation and disease severity and mitigated the disease-related damages of liver and kidney function in SAP patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Image hashing based Approximate Nearest Neighbor (ANN) searching has drawn more and more attention in large-scale image dataset applications. It is still challenging to learn hashing codes to achieve good search performance. In this paper, we propose an image retrieval method based on boosting iterative quantization hashing method with query-adaptive reranking. Firstly, in boosting iterative quantization hashing embedding, we adopt boosting-based method to generate inputs to learn hashing functions. Then we optimize the hashing functions with a loss function by considering the relationship between samples. Once the hashing codes are generated, Query-Adaptive Reranking (QAR) method is proposed to learn bit-level weights for each category and query-adaptive weights for each hashing bit. In this way, the discrete Hamming distance value can be continuous, and many irrelevant returned images can be sorted to the back. We conduct experiments on three public datasets, and comparison results with six state-of-the-art methods to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Conditions for selective palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative 2-arylation of 3-substituted thiophene and bearing an ester at C2 position have been established. By using 2 mol% phosphine-free Pd(OAc)2 as the catalyst and a mixture of KOH and K2CO3 as the bases, in dimethylacetamide, moderate to good yields of the desired 2-arylated products were obtained. A range of functional groups such as nitrile, nitro, formyl or acetyl on the aryl bromides was tolerated. This method allows us to employ in some cases more convenient reactants in terms of cost or physical properties (boiling point) for . Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the complexity of neuropathology in lysosomal storage diseases (LSD) and blood-brain barrier (BBB), with particular focus on the developments in therapeutics targeting the central nervous system (CNS) of LSDs. It discusses LSD neuropathy, which has been attributed to diseases in CNS and peripheral nervous system (PNS). It suggests that the discovery of adeno-associated viral (AAV9) trans-BBB neutropism provides promise for LSD treatment through systemic vector delivery.

Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz (AMK) is an expensive edible Chinese herb with medicinal properties. Its economic value and medicinal properties are closely related to its geographical origin. In this study, a method based on stable isotopes and multiple elements combined with chemometrics was developed to identify the geographical origin of AMK. Five stable isotope ratios, including δ2H, δ18O, δ13C, δ15N, and δ34S, and 41 elements in 281 AMK samples from 10 regions were analyzed. An analysis of variance of stable isotope ratios and elements revealed that the δ2H, δ18O, Mg, Ca, and rare‐earth element concentrations in AMK from different geographical regions were significantly different. Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis proved that Ca, K, Mg, and Na can be used for classifying (variable importance >1) and accurately identifying AMK from Panan, Xianfeng, and other areas with 100% discrimination accuracy. In addition, we achieved a good identification of protected geographic indication products of similar quality. This method realized the geographical discrimination of AMK from different producing areas and could potentially control the fair trade of AMK. Practical Application: The quality of AMK is highly dependent on its geographical origin. Confusion over the origin of AMK impacts consumer rights. This study developed an accurate and effective classification method based on stable isotopes and multiple elements to ascertain the geographical origin of AMK, thereby providing an effective method for determining its quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute kidney injury (AKI) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are public health problems that cause a high socioeconomic burden worldwide. In recent years, the landscape of AKI etiology has shifted: Emerging evidence has demonstrated that DM is an independent risk factor for the onset of AKI, while an alternative perspective considers AKI as a bona fide complication of DM. Therefore, it is necessary to systematically characterize the features of AKI in DM. In this review, we summarized the epidemiology of AKI in DM. While focusing on circulation‐ and tissue‐specific microenvironment changes after DM, we described the active cellular and molecular mechanisms of increased kidney susceptibility to AKI under DM stress. We also reviewed the current diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for AKI in DM recommended in the clinic. Updated recognition of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and medications of AKI in DM is believed to reveal a path to mitigate the frequency of AKI and DM comorbidity that will ultimately improve the quality of life in DM patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Neuroinflammation is a major etiology of cognitive dysfunction due to sepsis. Maresin1 (MaR1), identified as a docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-derived metabolite from macrophages, has been demonstrated to exhibit potent neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects. Nevertheless, detailed functions and molecular mechanism of MaR1 in sepsis-induced cognitive dysfunction has not been fully elucidated. Here, we aimed to investigate potential neuroprotective effects of MaR1 on microglia-induced neuroinflammation in sepsis-induced cognitive impairment and to explore its anti-inflammatory mechanism. Methods: Different doses of MaR1 were administered to septic rats by via tail vein injection. The optimal dose was determined based on the 7-day survival rate of rats from each group. derived from macrophages with both anti-inflammatory to observe the ameliorative effects of MaR1 at optimal doses on cognitive dysfunction in septic rats. The effects of MaR1 on neuroinflammation-mediated microglial activation, neuronal apoptosis, and pro-inflammatory cytokine productions were in vivo and in vitro assayed, using Western blot, ELISA, TUNEL staining, Nissl staining, and the immunofluorescence method. To further elucidate anti-inflammatory machinery of MaR1, protein expressions of NLRP3 inflammatory vesicles and TLR4-NF-κB pathway-related proteins were subjected to Western blot assay. Results: After tail vein injection of MaR1 with different doses (2 ng/g, 4 ng/g, 8 ng/g), the results showed that 4 ng/g MaR1 treatment significantly increased the rats' 7-day survival rate compared to the CLP controls. Therefore, subsequent experiments set 4 ng/g MaR1 as the optimal dose. Morris water maze experiments confirmed that MaR1 significantly reduced space memory dysfunction in rats. In addition, in CLP rats and LPS-stimulated BV2 microglia, MaR1 significantly reduced activated microglia and pro-inflammatory cytokines levels and neuronal apoptosis. Mechanically, MaR1 inhibits microglia-induced neuroinflammation through suppressing activations of NLRP3 inflammatory vesicles and TLR4-NF-κB signal pathway. Conclusion: Collectively, our findings suggested that MaR1 might be a prospective neuroprotective compound for prevention and treatment in the sepsis process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The greatest challenge in developing therapies for mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) IIIB is to achieve efficient central nervous system (CNS) delivery across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). In this study, we used the novel ability of adeno-associated virus serotype 9 (AAV9) to cross the BBB from the vasculature to achieve long-term global CNS, and widespread somatic restoration of α-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAGLU) activity. A single intravenous (IV) injection of rAAV9-CMV-hNAGLU, without extraneous treatment to disrupt the BBB, restored NAGLU activity to normal or above normal levels in adult MPS IIIB mice, leading to the correction of lysosomal storage pathology in the CNS and periphery, and correction of astrocytosis and neurodegeneration. The IV delivered rAAV9 vector also transduced abundant neurons in the myenteric and submucosal plexus, suggesting peripheral nervous system (PNS) targeting. While CNS entry did not depend on osmotic disruption of the BBB, it was significantly enhanced by pretreatment with an IV infusion of mannitol. Most important, we demonstrate that a single systemic rAAV9-NAGLU gene delivery provides long-term (>18 months) neurological benefits in MPS IIIB mice, resulting in significant improvement in behavioral performance, and extension of survival. These data suggest promising clinical potential using the trans-BBB neurotropic rAAV9 vector for treating MPS IIIB and other neurogenetic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A ruthenium–platinum bimetallic catalyst supported on boehmite was prepared by co-impregnation and hydrothermal reduction and characterized by XRD, TEM and TG–DTG. Reduction time of the catalyst affected the conversion of γ-Al2O3 to boehmite and the specific surface area of the catalyst, and consequently influenced the catalytic performance of the catalyst. Under the same conditions, the Ru–Pt/AlOOH catalyst showed much higher activity and selectivity than the Ru–Pt/γ-Al2O3 in aqueous hydrogenation of methyl propionate. The selectivity to 1-propanol of 97.8% could be obtained at methyl propionate conversion of 89.1% over Ru–Pt/AlOOH at 453K under 5MPa of H2 for 6h. It is postulated that the high performance of this novel catalyst is related to the cooperation of the hydroxyl groups of support surface and water solvent. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The preparation of a new surface-active sulfonated phosphine and its catalytic performance in aqueous biphasic hydroformylation of long chain olefins were reported. The amphiphilic phosphine: sodium salt of sulfonated n-C12H25O C6H4P(C6H4-p-CH3O)2 (DMOPPS) was prepared by sulfonation of the hydrophobic phosphine DMOPP in concentrated H2SO4 under N2 atmosphere at 30°C for about 5h. The rhodium complex, RhCl(CO)(TPPTS)2 [TPPTS=P(C6H4-m-SO3Na)3], was used as the catalyst precursor. The catalytic active species with the DMOPPS as ligand was in situ formed by adding DMOPPS to the RhCl(CO)(TPPTS)2 catalyst precursor. The surface-activity and micelle-forming property of this new amphiphilic phosphine were confirmed by using cryogenic transmission electron microscope (Cryo-TEM). Under the same conditions, the biphasic hydroformylation of 1-decene using DMOPPS as ligand was compared with that using traditional TPPTS as ligand. The catalysis system using DMOPPS was also compared with the previous Rh-TPPTS-surfactant [C12H25N(CH3)3I (DTAI)] system. Some reaction parameters such as stirring rates, alkyl chain length of olefins, the molar ratio of phosphine/rhodium, and the catalyst recycle were also studied in detail. The results showed that the ligand DMOPPS exhibited a micelle-forming property that could significantly enhance the hydroformylation reaction rate of long chain olefin. Moreover, the surface-active phosphine may also stabilize the aqueous/oil phase boundary, which could enhance the biphasic catalytic reaction rates. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A series of new triarylphosphine ligands with long-chain alkoxy group, [m-MeOC6H4P(p-CH3(CH2) n OC6H4)2 and m-MeOC6H4P(m-CH3(CH2) n OC6H4)2, n =0, 3, 7, 11 and 15], have been synthesized by a novel method. These phosphines with different electron-donating substituent were applied as ligands in rhodium-catalyzed hydroformylation of styrene. The results indicated that the longer-chain-length of p-alkoxy group was favorable to the formation of 2-phenylpropanal, but increasing the chain-length of m-alkoxy group decreased the selectivity for the 2-phenylpropanal. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Six cationic gemini and trimeric surfactants: N,N′-didodecyl-N,N′-dimethyl piperazinium iodide (2), the monooxlate of N,N′-didodecylpiperazine (3), the hydrochloride of N,N′-didodecylpiperazine (4), the 1,3,5-trimethyl-1,3,5-tridodecylhexahydro-1,3,5-trazinium iodide (5), the monooxlate of 1,3,5-tridodecylhexahydro-1,3,5-triazine (6) and the hydrochloride of 1,3,5-tridodecylhexahydro-1,3,5-triazine (7) were prepared using the regular methods. These cationic surfactants and a double-chained surfactant, didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (1), were successfully applied as catalysis promotion agents in aqueous biphasic hydroformylation of higher olefins. The aqueous catalysts used in present study were RhCl(CO)(TPPTS)2–TPPTS [TPPTS: P(m-C6H4SO3Na)3]. The experimental results showed that while all these cationic surfactants could accelerate the hydroformylation reaction, surfactants 1, 2, 6, 7 exhibited more significant promotion effects. The influences of the surfactant anions on the reaction were also discussed. Of the three gemini surfactants 2, 3, and 4, which were derived from N,N′-didodecylpiperazine, surfactant 2 with iodide as anion exhibited substantially higher promotion effect than surfactants 3 with monooxalate and 4 with chloride as anion, respectively. On the other hand, among the three trimeric surfactants 5, 6, 7, which were derived from 1,3,5-tridodecylhexahydro-1,3,5-triazine, surfactants 6 with monooxalate and 7 with hydrochloride as anion displayed better acceleration effect than surfactant 5 with iodide as anion. Compared with the double-chained and single headed surfactant 1, surfactant 2 containing two alkyl chains and cationic heads and surfactant 6 with three alkyl chains and cationic heads were superior additives to accelerate the hydroformylation reactions. When they were used as catalysis promotion additives, less water-soluble phosphine (TPPTS) was required to immobilize the rhodium catalyst in aqueous phase, and the hydroformylation reaction proceeded more regioselectively toward the valuable linear aldehyde under lower syngas pressure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The effect of support and catalyst reduction temperature on the catalytic performance of ruthenium catalysts in the hydrogenolysis of glycerol was studied. The support material can influence the metal particle size and the reaction routes. The reaction activity decreases with increasing catalyst reduction temperature, which is attributed to two reasons: (1) the growth in Ru particle size caused by heating treatment; (2) the strong metal-support interaction (SMSI), which results in partially covering of Ru metal particles by Ti2O3 species. The covering phenomenon can influence the reaction routes of the hydrogenolysis reaction, and consequently influence the product selectivity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The effect of rhamnolipid produced by a Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain on the aerobic degradation of granular organic substrate from kitchen waste by the bacterium was studied and compared with that of two synthetic surfactants, SDS and Triton X-100. The adsorption of rhamnolipid on the substrate, the surfactant-interfered adhesion of bacteria on the substrate as well as physicochemical and microbial conditions of the substrate during degradation were investigated. The adsorption isotherm of rhamnolipid on the substrate fit Freundlich law and its interactions with the substrate and bacteria weakened the adsorption of the bacteria on the substrate. The two synthetic surfactants, however, did not have such microbial effects. During degradation, rhamnolipid slowed down water evaporation in the substrate and significantly strengthened the dispersion of organic matter into the substrate water phase. The number of cells in the rhamnolipid treatment was higher than that in control and the remaining organic matter content in the substrates also had faster decreasing. SEM examination showed the on-site degradation of the substrate organic matter without rhamnolipid and the transfer of the degradation site in the presence of rhamnolipid. The results indicated that interference of rhamnolipid in the substrate matrix plays a potential role, physicochemically or microbially, on the degradation of the granular organic substrate. SDS and Triton X-100 may have the above physicochemical effects, but not so significant. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The double long-chain cationic surfactants (DLCS) were used in higher olefin hydroformylation catalyzed by water-soluble rhodium catalyst in aqueous/organic biphasic system. The reaction rate was greatly accelerated and the value of TOF (turn over frequency defined as the moles of converted olefin per mole Rh per hour) in 1-dodecene hydroformylation could achieve 2291h−1 even without stirring. When the reaction was carried out with stirring rate of 400rpm, TOF increased to 7472h−1. These values of TOF were comparable with that in homogeneous catalysis system. The phenomenon is attributed to the formation of vesicle and the enrichment of rhodium catalyst in the interfacial layer, as well as the high transfer rate of olefins from the organic phase to the interface of vesicle. The acceleration mechanism of DLCS in biphasic catalysis was discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IFSs) proposed by Atanassov, fuzzy rough sets (FRSs) proposed by Nanda and Majumdar, rough fuzzy sets (RFSs) proposed by Banerjee and Pal, have gained attention from researchers for their applications in various fields. Then similarity measures between three fuzzy sets were developed. In this paper, we first point out: IFSs, FRSs and RFSs are L-fuzzy sets with L being a special fuzzy lattice. At the same time, we suggest some rules which is considered when we give a similarity measure for measuring the degree of similarity between elements and between some fuzzy sets. After that, some existing measures of similarity are reviewed, some examples are applied to show that some existing similarity measures are not always effective in some cases. We propose some new similarity measures for measuring the degree of similarity between three fuzzy sets under an unifying form and between IFSs. Finally, we illustrate the problem in the context of colorectal cancer diagnosis by similarity measure between fuzzy rough sets. Therefore, the proposed similarity measures can provide a useful way for measuring three fuzzy sets more effectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The promotional effect of cationic gemini surfactants for the hydroformylation of 1-dodecene in the organic/aqueous biphasic catalytic system is reported. Cationic gemini surfactants with a flexible spacer (G(Eth), G(But) and G(Hex)) and rigid spacer (G(Xyl)) group were used in the reaction. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) and solubilization of laurylbenzene in gemini surfactant solutions were determined. The influence of the concentration of gemini surfactants and the stirring rate on 1-dodecene hydroformylation were investigated. The reaction results showed that in the biphasic catalytic system the hydroformylation of 1-dodecene catalyzed by RhCl(CO)(TPPTS)2–TPPTS [TPPTS=tris(sodium-m-sulfonatophenyl) phosphine] in the presence of gemini surfactants occurred with higher turn over frequency (TOF) and higher regioselectivity toward linear aldehyde (L/B) than those obtained with the conventional monomeric surfactant CTAB. The phenomena could be attributed to the fact that the gemini surfactant has lower CMC and better surface tension reduction ability; moreover it could form more compact and spherocylindrical micelle in the solution. These properties would be favorable for the decrease in the phase transfer energy barrier, thereby greatly accelerating the reaction rate. Meanwhile, the more compact structure of the spherocylindrical micelle formed from gemini surfactant could construct a favorable microenvironment for the formation of linear aldehyde. The comparison of the acceleration effect of the three type surfactants (monomeric surfactant CTAB (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide), gemini surfactant G(Eth), G(But), G(Hex)), G(Xyl) as well as double chain surfactant DCMAB (di(cetylmethyl)ammonium bromide) indicated that the surfactant structure had an important effect on the reaction rate. Their promotion order is DCMAB>G(Eth)≈G(But)≈G(Hex)≈G(Xyl)>CTAB. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The blood–brain barrier is the main obstacle to efficient delivery of therapeutic reagents, including viral vectors, into the central nervous system (CNS) for treating global CNS diseases. In this study, the effects of mannitol infusions on global brain gene expression of a novel AAV vector were examined after intravenous (iv) or intracisternal injection. Initially, a self-complementary adeno-associated virus serotype 2 vector (scAAV) was compared to traditional single-stranded AAV2 vector for reporter gene expression in the brain of adult mice with or without pretreatment of an iv mannitol infusion. One to two months postinjection, analysis of vector-transduced green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression in the brain revealed that vector delivery to the CNS via iv injection required pretreatment with mannitol. This expression was observed only when scAAV vectors were used. Using these conditions, transgene expression was observed in various neurons and glial cells throughout the brain. The peripherally administered scAAV vectors also transduced the cells in multiple somatic tissues with efficient expression in liver (20–30% of hepatocytes), but was less efficient in other somatic tissues. Intracisternal injection of scAAV vector produced a broad and intense transgene expression in both neurons and glial cells in the CNS of injected mice ranging from the olfactory area to the brain stem and spinal cord. More than 50% of the Purkinje cells in the cerebellum expressed GFP. Intravenous infusion of mannitol before intracisternal injection of the scAAV vector enhanced the dispersion of the vector in the CNS. Further optimization of these steps combining peripheral and intracisternal scAAV gene delivery should facilitate the development of treatments for global CNS diseases, especially diseases involving both the somatic system and the CNS, such as lysosomal storage disorders. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) IIIB is characterized by mild somatic features and severe neurological diseases leading to premature death. No definite treatment is available for MPS IIIB patients. We constructed two recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors containing the human α-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NaGlu) cDNA driven by either a CMV or a neuron-specific enolase (NSE) promoter. In vitro, these rAAV vectors mediated efficient expression of recombinant NaGlu in human MPS IIIB fibroblasts and mouse MPS IIIB somatic and brain primary cell cultures. The secreted rNaGlu was taken up by both human and mouse MPS IIIB cells in culture and degraded the accumulated glycosaminoglycans (GAG). A direct microinjection (107 viral particles, 1 μl/10 minutes per injection) of vectors containing the NSE promoter resulted in long-term (6 months, the duration of the experiments) expression of rNaGlu in multiple brain structures/areas of adult MPS IIIB mice. Consistent with previous studies, the main target cells were neurons. However, while vector typically transduced an area of 400–500 μm surrounding the infusion sites, the correction of GAG storage involved neurons of a much broader area (1.5 mm) in a 6-month duration of experiments. These results provide a basis for the development of a treatment for neurological disease in MPS IIIB patients using AAV vectors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • Stable isotope and multi-element compositions of Huangjing was used for its origin traceability. • OPLS-DA significantly enhanced the traceability capability for Qingyang Huangjing products. • The discrimination accuracies of Qingyang (PGI products) were 100 % compared with other products. • Regional and farming patterns the correlations with eco-environment were discussed. • The strategy can be applied to combat mislabeling of PGI Huangjing products and ensure food safety. Huangjing (Polygonati Rhizoma) is a high-value homology of medicine and food in China, for which the geographical origins (i.e., geoherbalism) and farming patterns (natural or farmed) are decisive in its functions and selling price. In this study, five stable isotope ratios (δ 13C, δ 15N, δ 18O, δ 2H, and 87Sr/86Sr) and 48 multi-element signatures of 238 Huangjing samples collected from seven main production areas in China were analyzed together for origin traceability and farming authentication purposes. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) for each variable revealed that δ 18O, δ 2H, 87Sr/86Sr, Fe, and rare earth elements were significantly different among origins. The orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) modeling of all variables indicated that K, Ca, Mg, Fe, and Mn were the most important variables (VIP > 1) for identifying Qingyang Huangjing protected geographical indication (PGI) from those of other origins, and discriminant accuracy reached 100 %. Moreover, ANOVA and OPLS-DA demonstrated that δ 15N, K, Ca, and Mg were the elements that effectively distinguished natural and farmed Huangjing. Therefore, the strategy may be an important alternative tool for authenticity management, which is significant for combating origin mislabeling and the fraudulent conducts of Huangjing products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at an entangled-chaos system with a memristor, the dynamic analysis and circuit realization are studied. Combining with the quadratic flux-controlled memristor, a memristive chaotic system is constructed, and the multistable behavior of the system when the initial value of the system changes is studied by using the system phase diagram, bifurcation diagram, and Lyapunov exponent spectrum (LE). Spectral entropy (SE), C0, and SampEn are used to describe the complexity of the memristive entanglement-chaos system. Finally, the multistable behavior of the system is realized by the digital circuit chip STM32. The experimental results are consistent with the system analysis and the numerical simulation of the MATLAB software. The experimental results of the circuit provide a foundation for the engineering application of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Spatio-temporal evolution analysis of TN and TP pollution using Sentinel-2 data. • The optimal model for the precise evaluation of TN and TP pollutants are constructed. • The accuracy of TN and TP inversion models are 0.708 and 0.734, respectively. • The TN and TP and its change causes are analyzed in three sections of basin. There are large amounts of resources to consume, slow efficiency, limited scope, and lack of access to hazardous areas that are characteristic of traditional methods of assessing pollutants in watersheds. In stark contrast, remote sensing technology offers expansive coverage, swift operation, superior timeliness, and cost-effectiveness, effectively compensating for the shortcomings of traditional methods. The severe siltation and persistent malodorous emissions have long been suffered by the Daitou River due to the substantial influx of wastewater from agricultural, residential, and industrial sources in the surrounding regions. To investigate the water quality status within the Daitou River basin and to delineate the temporal and spatial variations in water quality, the study focuses on the Daitou River basin within the Tongan District of Xiamen City. Utilizing Sentinel-2-L2A satellite imagery from the years 2018 to 2022, a five-year assessment of nitrogen and phosphorus pollutant concentrations in the area was conducted. The methodology entailed image pre-processing to extract the morphological evolution of the study area, followed by the development of an inversion model for nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations based on the sensitive spectral bands of nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations. This model facilitated an analysis of the spatial and temporal distribution patterns, the identification of pollutant fluctuations, the examination of pollution sources, and the implementation of ongoing surveillance on pollutant dynamics within the basin. The findings are as follows: (i) The water area boundary of Daitou River Basin can be obtained from 2018 to 2022, and the area of Daitou River Basin will gradually decrease. (ii) According to the constructed model, it can be concluded that the inversion model of nitrogen and phosphorus concentration with one variable function has the best effect, and the determination coefficients R2 are 0.708 and 0.734, respectively. (iii) Over the period from 2018 to 2022, total nitrogen levels in the Daitou Creek exhibited fluctuating trends, with a marked increase from 2021 to 2022, nearly reaching the threshold of Class V surface water standards by 2022. Conversely, total phosphorus concentrations exhibited an overall declining trend, with a relatively stable period from 2018 to 2021, followed by a significant drop from 2021 to 2022, ultimately aligning with the Class V surface water standards in 2022. The study concludes that the Sentinel-2 image-based pollutant monitoring technique can furnish a more comprehensive, prompt, and quantitative dataset for water quality surveillance. Results of this study aids in refining existing water quality monitoring knowledge and methodologies, thereby enhancing the scientific rigor of pollutant surveillance and remediation efforts. It offers a valuable data source and methodological support for ecological environmental governance assessments, providing a foundation for ecological planning and integrated basin management. Furthermore, it serves as a crucial reference for realizing the intelligent monitoring system of river basin and improving the monitoring capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glycerol and CO2 are largely produced as by-products in modern industry. Herein, three Ru complexes bearing air- and water-stable NHC–nitrogen–nitrogen ligands are designed as bifunctional catalysts to upcycle glycerol and CO2 simultaneously. Among them, Ru complex 2 featuring an N–H structure shows the highest efficiency with TONs up to 300 000 and 387 000 for formate and lactate, respectively. 13C labelling experiments clearly manifest that formate is primarily derived from CO2. Furthermore, in situ FTIR spectra suggest that glyceraldehyde from glycerol might serve as a key intermediate to form lactate, while DFT calculations indicate that Ru complex 2 possesses the lowest reaction barriers and can form the Ru＝N intermediate, contributing to its higher activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An innovative bitopic phosphoramidite ligand L was proficiently synthesized and subsequently employed in coordination with two distinct metal species (AgI and RhI), leading to the construction of a heterometallic coordination polymer. The catalyst showcased remarkable performance in the hydroformylation of long-chain alkenes, displaying high activity and selectivity with a minimum yield of 90% for aldehydes. Operating as a heterogeneous catalyst, it not only demonstrated outstanding efficacy in facile separation from the product but also maintained a low rhodium loss per catalytic cycle. The catalyst exhibited exceptional stability, remaining high activity and selectivity over 10 successive reuses. Moreover, the RhAgL catalysts exhibit notable isomerization effects on alkenes, which promote the preferential formation of branched aldehydes in the resulting product. The straightforward synthetic strategy employed in preparing this highly effective catalyst introduced an innovative concept for heterogeneous catalysis, offering promising prospects for advancing industrial processes. This remarkable performance indicates the catalyst's potential for sustainable and efficient chemical transformations, highlighting its significance in driving advancements in catalytic technology for a variety of applications in industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1,4-Butanediol, an important chemical raw material, especially as the monomer of engineering plastic polyethylene terephthalate (PBT), plays a pivotal role in contemporary chemicals. A promising parallel approach is the linear-selective hydroformylation of inexpensive allyl acetate, which is economical yet challenging. Herein, we describe an atom-economic approach characterized by high selectivity for synthesizing 4-oxobutyl acetate through rhodium-catalyzed hydroformylation using allyl acetate. This protocol affords the intermediate of valuable 1,4-butanediol in excellent yield (up to 95%) and exhibits excellent regioselectivity (linear/branched up to 164) under mild conditions (60 °C, 10 bar of syngas), effectively minimizing the formation of decomposed byproducts. The success of this protocol hinges on the use of a "Rh/POP-type ligand" in combination with either acetic acid or bulky anionic salts as additives. Preliminary mechanism studies show that the use of CH3COOH facilitates the formation of a tridentate κ3-P,O,P-coordination, which prevents the coordination of carbonyl with the Rh center, leading to the relatively high linear selectivity of 4-oxobutyl acetate. Furthermore, the successful application of this protocol in synthesizing 4-oxobutyl acetate at a scale of 3.8 g, employing low Rh-loading (0.05 mol%), highlights its potential for industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]