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Purpose: Since its introduction in 2011, FDG-PET/MRI has been advocated as a useful adjunct in colorectal cancer care. However, gaps and limitations in current research remain. This systematic review aims to review the current literature to quantify the utility of FDG-PET/MRI in colorectal cancer care. Methods: An up-to-date review was performed on the available literature between 2000 and 2023 on PubMed, EMBASE, Medline, databases. All studies reporting on the use of FDG-PET/MRI in colorectal cancer care were analyzed. The main outcome measures were accuracy in initial staging, restaging, and detection of metastatic disease in both rectal as well as colon cancers. The secondary outcome was comparing the performance of FDG-PET/MRI versus Standard of Care Imaging (SCI). Finally, the clinical significance of FDG-PET/MRI was measured in the change in management resulting from imaging findings. Results: A total of 22 observational studies were included, accounting for 988 patients. When individually compared to current Standard of Care Imaging (SCI)—MRI pelvis for rectal cancer and thoraco-abdominal contrast CT, PET/MRI proved superior in terms of distant metastatic disease detection. This led to as much as 21.0% change in management. However, the technological limitations of PET/MRI were once again highlighted, suggesting SCI should retain its place as first-line imaging. Conclusion: FDG-PET/MRI appears to be a promising adjunct in staging and restaging of colorectal cancer in carefully selected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Despite the high prevalence of cognitive impairment or dementia post-coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), the incidence of cognitive impairment or dementia post-CABG in contemporary practice is currently unclear. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate the incidence and associated risk factors of cognitive impairment or dementia in patients' post-CABG. Methods: A systematic search across three databases (PubMed, SCOPUS, and Embase) was conducted for studies published in or after 2013 that reported cognitive impairment or dementia post-CABG. Subgroup analyses and meta-regression by risk factors were performed to determine their influence on the results. Results: This analysis included 23 studies with a total of 2,620 patients. The incidence of cognitive impairment or dementia less than 1 month, 2 to 6 months, and more than 12 months post-CABG was 35.96% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 28.22–44.51, I2 = 87%), 21.33% (95% CI: 13.44–32.15, I2 = 88%), and 39.13% (95% CI: 21.72–58.84, I2 = 84%), respectively. Meta-regression revealed that studies with more than 80% of the cohort diagnosed with hypertension were significantly associated with incidence of cognitive impairment or dementia less than 1 month post-CABG. Conclusion: This meta-analysis demonstrates a high incidence of cognitive impairment or dementia in patients' post-CABG in contemporary practice, particularly less than 1 month post-CABG and more than 12 months post-CABG. We found that hypertension was a significant risk factor in the short-term (less than 1 month) follow-up period for cognitive impairment or dementia post-CABG. Future research should be done to assess strategies to reduce cognitive impairment post-CABG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The field of conservation genomics is becoming increasingly interested in whether, and how, structural variant (SV) genotype information can be leveraged in the management of threatened species. The functional consequences of SVs are more complex than for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), as SVs typically impact a larger proportion of the genome due to their size and thus may be more likely to contribute to load. While the impacts of SV‐specific genetic load may be less consequential for large populations, the interplay between weakened selection and stochastic processes means that smaller populations, such as those of the threatened Aotearoa hihi/New Zealand stitchbird (Notiomystis cincta), may harbour a high SV load. Hihi were once confined to a single remnant population, but have been reestablished into six sanctuaries and reserves, often via secondary bottlenecks, resulting in low genetic diversity, low adaptive potential, and inbreeding depression. In this study, we use whole genome resequencing of 30 individuals from the Tiritiri Matangi population to identify the nature and distribution of both SNPs and SVs within this small avian population. We find that SNP and SV individual mutation load is only moderately correlated, likely because SVs arise in regions of high recombination and that are less evolutionarily conserved. Finally, we leverage a long‐term monitoring dataset of pedigree and fitness data to assess the impact of SNP and SV mutation loads on individual fitness, and find that SNP and SV realised load had similar negative correlations with lifetime fitness. However, of the masked load metrics, only SVs had a positive significant correlation with lifetime fitness, indicating that masking of deleterious alleles may be more important for SVs than for SNPs. The results of this study indicate that only examining SNPs neglects important aspects of intra‐specific variation and that studying SVs has direct implications for linking genetic diversity and genomic health to inform management decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic water splitting (PWS) is a promising approach for sustainable hydrogen production, which can potentially address the growing energy demands and environmental concerns. In this paper, we designed a family of 18 two-dimensional materials, AX 2 B 3 (A = K, Rb, Cs; X = Ni, Pd, Pt; B S, Se), and further investigated their stability, electronic structures and PWS performance. We illustrated that all the materials possess high stability, and exhibit semiconducting characteristics with band-gaps from 0.78 to 2.07 eV. Interestingly, there are 6 Pt-containing materials, KPt 2 S 3 , KPt 2 Se 3 , RbPt 2 S 3 , RbPt 2 Se 3 , CsPt 2 S 3 and CsPt 2 Se 3 , with suitable band-edges to drive hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in the process of PWS. Besides, these 6 candidates can release high PWS activity due to their high electron mobility of ∼103 cm2/Vs, which is significantly higher than that of hole. Moreover, they have strong optical absorption coefficient (∼105 cm−1) covering visible to ultraviolet light, and deliver amazing solar-to-hydrogen efficiencies from 24.57% to 26.72%, which are higher than those of common PWS materials. Ultimately, two-dimensional APt 2 B 3 (A = K, Rb, Cs; B S, Se) are suitable candidates for PWS application under sun light. [Display omitted] • Two-dimensional AX 2 B 3 (A = K, Rb, Cs; X = Ni, Pd, Pt; B = S, Se), are revealed to possess high stability, and show band-gaps from 0.78 to 2.07 eV. • The 6 Pt-containing materials have suitable band-edges to drive photocatalytic water splitting. • They have strong optical absorption coefficient of 105 cm−1), and deliver amazing solar-to-hydrogen efficiencies from 24.57% to 26.72%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Swine acute diarrhoea syndrome coronavirus (SADS-CoV) causes vomiting, severe diarrhoea and death in newborn piglets. The spike (S) protein plays a crucial role in promoting virus invasion and inducing neutralizing antibody production. In this study, the extracellular region of the S protein was used as an immunogen to immunize BALB/c mice. After immunization, B cells were collected, fused with SP2/0 myeloma cells, cultured and subcloned, and a cell line capable of secreting neutralizing antibodies was obtained and named as 5D6. Additionally, it was determined that the 5D6 mAb could be used as the primary antibody for western blotting and indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) to detect SADS-CoV. Further studies indicated that the 5D6 mAb binds to the 136STSHAAD142 motif, which located in the N-terminal domain (NTD) of the spike protein. This result suggested that the NTD of the S protein can induce the production of neutralizing antibodies. Amino acid sequence alignment revealed that the epitope of the 5D6 mAb was conserved among SADS-CoV strains. This study helps elucidate the S protein function of SADS-CoV, and the 5D6 mAb may be used to develop diagnostic and treatment tools for detecting SADS-CoV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using mechanically activated Mg(OH) 2 /AlO(OH) powder, we obtained nearly fully dense MgAl 2 O 4 ceramics with small grains by combining reactive cold sintering and ultrafast high-temperature sintering (UHS). During reactive cold sintering, the intermediate products, γ -Al 2 O 3 and α -Al 2 O 3 , stemming from the dehydration of AlO(OH), reacted with MgO to form nanocrystalline bulk MgAl 2 O 4 with a relative density of up to ∼65%. After the subsequent UHS process (1930 °C for 60 s), the relative density of the samples reached 97%. The sintering efficiency and the final density of the samples were substantially higher than those of conventional sintering (1500 °C/6 h). This work provides a new technical route for the efficient fabrication of dense and fine-grained spinel ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characteristics of the packing material under an alternating electric field are an important factor in the removal of FCCS particles. In this study, the electric field distribution of a separation unit consisting of packed spheres under an alternating electric field is simulated, and the movement mechanism of catalyst particles is analysed. An "effective contact point" model is derived to predict the adsorption of filler contact points on catalyst particles under the alternating electric field, and the model is validated by simulations and experiments. The numerical calculation and experimental results indicate that the electrical properties of the filler spheres, the filler angle q, and the frequency f of the alternating electric field affect the adsorption of catalyst particles. As the frequency of the electric field increases, the particle removal efficiency of the high-conductivity filler (silicon carbide) increases and then settles, and the separation efficiency of the low-conductivity filler (glass, zirconia) is not sensitive to the change in electric field frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, global science has shown an increasing open trend, however, the characteristics of research integrity of open access (OA) publications have rarely been studied. The aim of this study is to compare the characteristics of retracted articles across different OA levels and discover whether OA level influences the characteristics of retracted articles. The research conducted an analysis of 6,005 retracted publications between 2001 and 2020 from the Web of Science and Retraction Watch databases. These publications were categorized based on their OA levels, including Gold OA, Green OA, and non-OA. The study explored retraction rates, time lags and reasons within these categories. The findings of this research revealed distinct patterns in retraction rates among different OA levels. Publications with Gold OA demonstrated the highest retraction rate, followed by Green OA and non-OA. A comparison of retraction reasons between Gold OA and non-OA categories indicated similar proportions, while Green OA exhibited a higher proportion due to falsification and manipulation issues, along with a lower occurrence of plagiarism and authorship issues. The retraction time lag was shortest for Gold OA, followed by non-OA, and longest for Green OA. The prolonged retraction time for Green OA could be attributed to an atypical distribution of retraction reasons. There is no exploration of a wider range of OA levels, such as Hybrid OA and Bronze OA. The outcomes of this study suggest the need for increased attention to research integrity within the OA publications. The occurrences of falsification, manipulation, and ethical concerns within Green OA publications warrant attention from the scientific community. This study contributes to the understanding of research integrity in the realm of OA publications, shedding light on retraction patterns and reasons across different OA levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seasonal temperature forecasting models in greenhouse based on multiple regression (MR), BP artificial neural networks (BPANN), random forest (RF) and support vector machine (SVM) were constructed using meteorological observations inside and outside the Venlo-type glass greenhouses from 27th February 2021 to 4th March 2023 at Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, and then to validate all the models. The results showed that the fitting accuracy of the seasonal forecasting models for daily average and minimum air temperatures in the greenhouse was significantly higher than that of the seasonal forecasting models for daily maximum air temperature; the fitting accuracy of each model for air temperature inside the greenhouse in spring, summer and autumn was higher than that for winter. For the seasonal forecasting models of daily average air temperature and minimum air temperature, the fitting accuracy of the spring, summer and autumn forecasting models constructed by the four algorithms was higher, but the simulation effect of the RF model was more stable, and the coefficient of determination (R²) of the simulated values and the actual observed values were above 0.94, and the root mean square error (RMSE) and absolute error (MAE) were within 1.5 °C. For the seasonal forecast models of daily maximum temperature, the fitting accuracy of RF model for spring, summer and autumn was higher than other models in general, and its R² value was above 0.75. The MR model had higher accuracy for winter indoor air temperature and was more suitable for predicting winter greenhouse air temperature. The study concluded that it is feasible to choose the RF model to forecast the air temperature inside the glass greenhouse in spring, summer and autumn and the MR model to forecast the air temperature inside the glass greenhouse in winter, and this study can provide an important reference for the seasonal forecast of air temperature in Venlo-type glass greenhouse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assembly line biosynthesis of the powerful anticancer‐antiviral didemnin cyclic peptides is proposed to follow a prodrug release mechanism in Tristella bacteria. This strategy commences with the formation of N‐terminal prodrug scaffolds and culminates in their cleavage during the cellular export of the mature products. In this study, a comprehensive exploration of the genetic and biochemical aspects of the enzymes responsible for both the assembly and cleavage of the acylated peptide prodrug scaffolds is provided. This process involves the assembly of N‐acyl‐polyglutamine moieties orchestrated by the nonribosomal peptide synthetase DidA and the cleavage of these components at the post‐assembly stage by DidK, a transmembrane CAAX hydrolase homolog. The findings not only shed light on the complex prodrug mechanism that underlies the synthesis and secretion of didemnin compounds but also offer novel insights into the expanded role of CAAX hydrolases in microbes. Furthermore, this knowledge can be leveraged for the strategic design of genome mining approaches aimed at discovering new bioactive natural products that employ similar prodrug biochemical strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the relative contributions of historical and anthropogenic factors to declines in genetic diversity is important for informing conservation action. Using genome-wide DNA of fresh and historic specimens, including that of two species widely thought to be extinct, we investigated fluctuations in genetic diversity and present the first complete phylogenomic tree for all nine species of the threatened shorebird genus Numenius, known as whimbrels and curlews. Most species faced sharp declines in effective population size, a proxy for genetic diversity, soon after the Last Glacial Maximum (around 20,000 years ago). These declines occurred prior to the Anthropocene and in spite of an increase in the breeding area predicted by environmental niche modeling, suggesting that they were not caused by climatic or recent anthropogenic factors. Crucially, these genetic diversity declines coincide with mass extinctions of mammalian megafauna in the Northern Hemisphere. Among other factors, the demise of ecosystem-engineering megafauna which maintained open habitats may have been detrimental for grassland and tundra-breeding Numenius shorebirds. Our work suggests that the impact of historical factors such as megafaunal extinction may have had wider repercussions on present-day population dynamics of open habitat biota than previously appreciated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most prevalent chronic inflammatory skin conditions. We aimed to describe the clinical features of adult‐onset and childhood‐onset AD in a multi‐ethnic Asian population. Methods: A retrospective study was performed of 188 patients with AD managed at a tertiary skin institution in Singapore. Patient demographics, clinical features and disease scores were analysed. Results: Clinical features related to pigmentary changes, such as orbital darkening and Dennie–Morgan folds were more prevalent among childhood‐onset AD patients than in adult‐onset AD patients. Similarly, features related to prolonged scratching or friction, such as anterior neck folds, perifollicular accentuation and infra‐auricular/infranasal fissuring were also more prevalent in childhood‐onset AD patients. Disease scores such as SCORAD and EASI were not different between patients with childhood versus adult‐onset disease. Conclusion: There were significant differences in clinical features between childhood‐onset and adult‐onset AD. Certain features are related to pigmentary changes and might be more accentuated in patients with skin of colour. Further studies are needed to understand how the different features might be clinically significant and related to the various AD endotypes and disease trajectories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The internal motivation for physical exercise plays an important role in promoting college students' mental health, but there is little literature on the influence and mechanism of exercise motivation on mental health. We conducted a survey with 1,271 college students who completed the Exercise Motivation Scale, Perceived Social Support Scale, Resilience Scale-10, and General Health Questionnaire. Exercise motivation was found to be positively correlated with mental health. Perceived social support and resilience had both independent and chain mediating effects on the link between exercise motivation and mental health. The results have revealed the mechanism of the relationship between exercise motivation and mental health, and provide a preliminary basis for studying the causal relationship between these variables. Our findings also provide a theoretical basis for developing interventions to promote students' mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While previous studies have shown camelina drought tolerance relative to other oilseed crops, drought has been documented to severely influence the productivity of camelina. To date, little information is available on the drought tolerance of camelina genotypes. This study was conducted to evaluate drought tolerance in fifteen camelina genotypes and test the alleviative effect of nanoparticles on PEG-induced water deficit stress (WDS) at the whole-plant level at the Yangzhou University Pratacultural Science Experimental Station in September 2021. Four different degrees of WDS were induced by a range of PEG solution concentrations (0, 16.7, 25.0, 37.5, and 56.3 mM). A petri dish study determined that CamK8 and CamK9 (GR50 = 19.0 and 34.3 mM, respectively) were the most sensitive and tolerant genotypes, respectively, to PEG-induced WDS. Results from the whole-plant test showed that the foliar application of MWCNTs (dose: 50 or 100 mg L−1) or nano-Se (dose: 5 or 10 mg L−1) alleviated the adverse effect of PEG-induced WDS, and increased the camelina plant height (ranges: 51.1–56.3 cm) and crop yield (ranges: 0.11–0.14 g plant−1) compared with untreated control and PEG-treated plants (height: 43.5–56.9 cm; yield: 0.06–0.12 g plant−1) in CamK8 without affecting the principal fatty acid composition and groups in camelina oil. The results of this study demonstrated that applying MWCNTs or nano-Se could alleviate WDS and maintain seed yield in camelina, providing the possibility of using these nanoparticles to manage WDS in agricultural practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• All the four dicarboxylic acids additives can improve the discharge potential of the Mg anode effectively. • The four selected additives can form soluble complexes with Mg2+ and promote the dissolution of the Mg anode. • The discharge potential is still 50 mV higher than that of the blank electrolyte after 60-hour-discharge. The aqueous Mg-air battery has promising applications in energy storage system. To improve the discharge performance of the Mg anode, four dicarboxylic acids including oxalic acid, malic acid, succinic acid, adipic acid are used as electrolyte additive for the aqueous Mg-air battery. The influence of the four selected additives and their reaction mechanism are systematically investigated by hydrogen evolution, electrochemical experiments (OCP, half/full-cell test, EIS), SEM, XRD, XPS and DFT calculations. The experiment results demonstrate that the dicarboxylic acid electrolyte additive can active the Mg anode evidently by increasing the hydrogen evolution volume and negative shift of discharge potentials. The surface morphology and the chemical composition analyses demonstrate that the four selected additives can form soluble complexes with Mg2+. The oxalic acid is the best electrolyte additive among the four dicarboxylic acids. The chelating ability of the additives and the pH of the electrolyte both affect the discharge performance of the Mg anode. The mechanism by which the dicarboxylic acids additives improve the discharge performance of the Mg anode is further proved by DFT calculations. It is the soluble Mg2+ complex (MgL, L: dicarboxylate) formed between the additives and the Mg anode that inhibit the formation of the corrosion products and promote the dissolution of the Mg anode, thus enhance the discharge performance of the Mg anode. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, rice husk biochar was engineered with abundant iron ion sites to enhance the enrichment of antioxidant peptides from rice protein hydrolysates through metal-chelating interactions. The π-π interactions and metal ion chelation were identified as the primary mechanisms for the enrichment process. Through peptide sequencing, four peptides were identified: LKFL (P1: Leu-Lys-Phe-Leu), QLLF (P2: Gln-Leu-Leu-Phe), WLAYG (P3: Trp-Leu-Ala-Tyr-Gly), and HFCGG (P4: His-Phe-Cys-Gly-Gly). The vitro analysis and molecular docking revealed that peptides P1-P4 possessed remarkable scavenging ability against radicals and Fe2+ chelating ability. Notably, peptide P4 showed radical scavenging activity comparable to glutathione (GSH) against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azinobis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate (ABTS) radicals. Cellular experiments further confirmed that peptide P4 effectively protected HepG2 cells from oxidative stress-induced damage. The modified rice husk biochar proved to be an effective means for enriching rice antioxidant peptides from protein hydrolysates. [Display omitted] • A functionlized rice husk biochar was prepared for enriching antioxidant peptides. • One-step-enrichment significantly improved the free radical scavenging abilities. • Four antioxidant peptides (LKFL, QLLF, WLAYG, and HFCGG) were identified. • HFCGG showing comparable antioxidant ability to GSH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen isotope exchange (HIE) represents one of the most attractive labeling methods to synthesize deuterium‐ and tritium‐labeled compounds. Catalytic HIE methods that enable site‐selective C−H bond activation and exchange labeling with gaseous isotopes D2 and T2 are of vital importance, in particular for high‐specific‐activity tritiation of pharmaceuticals. As part of our interest in exploring s‐block metals for catalytic transformations, we found CsN(SiMe3)2 to be an efficient catalyst for selective HIE of benzylic C−H bonds with D2 gas. The reaction proceeds through a kinetic deprotonative equilibrium that establishes an exchange pathway between C−H bonds and D2 gas. By virtue of multiple C−H bonds activation and high activity (isotope enrichment up to 99 %), the simple cesium amide catalyst provided a very powerful and practically convenient labeling protocol for synthesis of highly deuterated compounds and high‐specific‐activity tritiation of pharmaceuticals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen isotope exchange (HIE) represents one of the most attractive labeling methods to synthesize deuterium‐ and tritium‐labeled compounds. Catalytic HIE methods that enable site‐selective C−H bond activation and exchange labeling with gaseous isotopes D2 and T2 are of vital importance, in particular for high‐specific‐activity tritiation of pharmaceuticals. As part of our interest in exploring s‐block metals for catalytic transformations, we found CsN(SiMe3)2 to be an efficient catalyst for selective HIE of benzylic C−H bonds with D2 gas. The reaction proceeds through a kinetic deprotonative equilibrium that establishes an exchange pathway between C−H bonds and D2 gas. By virtue of multiple C−H bonds activation and high activity (isotope enrichment up to 99 %), the simple cesium amide catalyst provided a very powerful and practically convenient labeling protocol for synthesis of highly deuterated compounds and high‐specific‐activity tritiation of pharmaceuticals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactive cold sintering (RCS) is a combination of a low-temperature reaction and the cold sintering process, and it is used for the direct synthesis and simultaneous consolidation of ceramic powders. Here, we investigated RCS of BaZrO 3 through the reaction between Ba(OH) 2 ⋅8H 2 O and Zr(OH) 4 , and obtained pure BaZrO 3 compacts with a relative density of ∼92% under the conditions of Zr(OH) 4 ball-milling for 30 min, Ba/Zr ratio of 1.15, and holding a temperature of 350 °C for 60 min. The effects of processing parameters on the phase structure, relative density, microstructure evolution, and dielectric property of the BaZrO 3 bulk were studied in detail. The results suggest that the synthesis and densification of BaZrO 3 bulk in the RCS process involved the steps of dissolution, reaction, agglomeration, collapse, and densification. The present study extends the applicability of RCS to the preparation of high-density perovskite ceramics with nanograins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A generalized cold sintering densification strategy based on a hydroxide precursor transformation route is proposed for oxides. The densification of MgO, CuO, ZnO and WO 3 was achieved via cold sintering by using their corresponding hydroxides at temperatures not exceeding 450 °C. Nano-oxides formed by the decomposition of the hydroxides exhibited good low-temperature sinterability. The densification mechanisms mainly involved particle rearrangement promoted by in situ released water and intergranular diffusion accelerated by surface defects of the oxide particles generated from hydroxide decomposition. During the cold sintering process, the oxides with relatively higher solubility in a water vapor environment are more likely to form surface defects, which promoted water-aided densification. Owing to the possibility of obtaining the corresponding hydroxides for almost all oxides, this strategy renders cold sintering feasible for a wide range of materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resource partitioning may facilitate the coexistence of sympatric species with similar ecological requirements. Here, we study a colony of unusual echolocating birds called swiftlets, which nest underground on an island off the coast of Singapore. The colony comprises two congeneric swiftlet species, black‐nest swiftlets (Aerodramus maximus) and edible‐nest swiftlets (A. fuciphagus), nesting at high densities and in close proximity. Bioacoustic recordings and monitoring of nesting biology at the site across multiple seasons revealed significant differences in echolocation calls as well as survival rates between the species, with the larger black‐nest swiftlet nesting at locations with the highest fledging rates. We also observe an additional off‐season breeding peak by the smaller species, the edible‐nest swiftlet. Unexpectedly, off‐season egg‐hatching rates were significantly higher compared with the rates during the shared breeding season (mean difference = 14%). Our study on the breeding biology of these echolocating cave‐dwelling birds provides an example of spatial and temporal strategies that animals employ to partition resources within a confined habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An outbreak of bacterial septicemia in female silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, which caused significant death of the fish in the Yantian Reservoir, was investigated. The pathogen was isolated from diseased fish and identified as Aeromonas veronii utilizing biochemical characteristics and molecular methods analyses. An artificial infection experiment indicated that the strain caused 100% mortality of juvenile silver carp and mature female fish with eggs but no death of the mature male fish. Silver carp challenged with A. veronii showed similar clinical signs with naturally infected fish. The histopathological study revealed that A. veronii infection caused the increment of hemosiderin granules and the vacuole formation in tissues of the spleen and livers, as well as the collapse, deformation, and disintegration of egg cells. The ACP, AKP, and CAT enzyme activities in the serum of both naturally and artificially infected silver carp were decreased significantly with the severe infection. In this study, A. veronii was isolated and identified as the primary bacterial pathogen causing the mass death of sexually mature female silver carp with eggs in Yantian Reservoir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, three parameter optimization methods and two designs of experiments (DOE) were used for the optimization of three major design parameters ((bill diameter (D), billet length (L), and barrier wall design (BWD)) in crown forging to improve the formability of aluminum workpiece for shock absorbers. The first optimization method is the response surface method (RSM) combined with Box–Behnken's experimental design to establish fifteen (15) sets of parameter combinations for research. The second one is the main effects plot method (MEP). The third one is the multiobjective optimization method combined with Taguchi's experimental design method, which designed nine (9) parameter combinations and conducted research and analysis through grey relational analysis (GRA). Initially, a new type of forging die and billet in the controlled deformation zone (CDZ) was established by CAD (computer-aided design) modeling and the finite element method (FEM) for model simulation. Then, this investigation showed that the optimal parameter conditions obtained by these three optimization approaches (RSM, MEP, and multiobjective optimization) are consistent, with the same results. The best optimization parameters are the dimension of the billet ((D: 40 mm, the length of the billet (L): 205 mm, and the design of the barrier wall (BWD): 22 mm)). The results indicate that the optimization methods used in this research all have a high degree of accuracy. According to the research results of grey relational analysis (GRA), the size of the barrier wall design (BWD) in the controllable deformation zone (CDZ) has the greatest influence on the improvement of the preforming die, indicating that it is an important factor to increase the filling rate of aluminum crown forgings. At the end, the optimized parameters are verified by FEM simulation analysis and actual production validation as well as grain streamline distribution, processing map, and microstructure analysis on crown forgings. The novelty of this work is that it provides a novel preforming die through the mutual verification of different optimization methods to solve a typical problem such as material underfill. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study examined the relationship between physical exercise (PE) and prosocial behavior (PSB) and constructed a chain mediation model through the mediating effect of physical education learning motivation (PELM) and emotional intelligence (EI). Methods: Through the stratified random sampling, 1053 students (average age = 14 years, SD = 0.96 years) that complied with the requirements were surveyed from Henan Province in China. PE, EI, PELM, and PSB were assessed using standard scales. For data analysis, Pearson's correlation analysis, structural equation model test, and bias-corrected percentile Bootstrap method were carried out in turn. Results: (1) There was a significant positive correlation between PE and PSB (r = 0.137), and the direct path between PE and PSB was significant (β = 0.09, t = 4.73, p < 0.01); (2) PE can positively predict EI (β= 0.08, t = 5.27, p < 0.01) and PELM (β= 0.04, t = 2.07, p < 0.05), EI can significantly and positively PSB (β= 0.67, t = 22.12, p < 0.01), PELM can significantly and positively predict PSB (β= 0.05, t =2.20, p< 0.05); (3) EI and physical learning motivation play a significant intermediary role between PE and PSB. The mediating effect consists of three indirect effects: PE → EI → PSB (the mediating effect value is 0.055), PE → PELM → PSB (the mediating effect value is 0.002), PE → EI → PELM → PSB (the mediating effect value is 0.002); (4) The chain mediation effect is significant in girls, but not in boys. Conclusion: (1) PE can positively predict PSB. (2) EI and PELM had significant mediating effects between PE and PSB, including single mediating effects of EI and PELM and chain mediating effects of EI-PELM; (3) There are gender differences in the chain mediation effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proper embryonic development requires directional axes to pattern cells into embryonic structures. In Drosophila, spatially discrete expression of transcription factors determines the anterior to posterior organization of the early embryo, while the Toll and TGFβ signalling pathways determine the early dorsal to ventral pattern. Embryonic MAPK/ERK signaling contributes to both anterior to posterior patterning in the terminal regions and to dorsal to ventral patterning during oogenesis and embryonic stages. Here we describe a novel loss of function mutation in the Raf kinase gene, which leads to loss of ventral cell fates as seen through the loss of the ventral furrow, the absence of Dorsal/NFκB nuclear localization, the absence of mesoderm determinants Twist and Snail, and the expansion of TGFβ. Gene expression analysis showed cells adopting ectodermal fates much like loss of Toll signaling. Our results combine novel mutants, live imaging, optogenetics and transcriptomics to establish a novel role for Raf, that appears to be independent of the MAPK cascade, in embryonic patterning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This network meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of intravenous (IV) hydralazine, oral nifedipine, and IV labetalol with different dosage regimens in the treatment of severe hypertension during pregnancy. A comprehensive literature search was performed on PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) exploring the effects of hydralazine, nifedipine, and labetalol in the treatment of severe hypertension during pregnancy. A total of 21 RCTs with 2183 patients comparing 7 regimens (oral nifedipine 50,60,90 mg; hydralazine 15,25 mg; and labetalol 220,300 mg) were identified. Compared with IV labetalol 300 mg, nifedipine 50,60, and 90 mg significantly improved the successful treatment rate of severe hypertension during pregnancy, nifedipine 50 and 90 mg and IV hydralazine 25 mg required significantly fewer doses to achieve target blood pressure (BP), and nifedipine 50 mg took significantly shorter time to achieve target BP. Subgroup analysis showed that only nifedipine 50 mg tablets, not capsules, required a significantly shorter time and fewer doses to achieve target BP than IV labetalol 300 mg. Moreover, nifedipine 60,90 mg showed superior effectiveness than IV hydralazine 15,25 mg in the successful treatment rate of severe hypertension during pregnancy. SUCRA analysis suggested that nifedipine 50,60,90 mg as the better regimens with the lower rates of overall ADR and neonatal complications. These findings demonstrated the superiority of oral nifedipine 50,60,90 mg, especially oral nifedipine 50 mg tablets, in the treatment of severe hypertension during pregnancy than IV labetalol 300 mg, while oral nifedipine 60,90 mg also showed superiority in the successful treatment rate of severe hypertension during pregnancy than IV hydralazine 15,25 mg. However, the limitations of the underlying data indicate that future large-scale and rigorous RCTs are needed to confirm such findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM) is pathologically characterized by diffuse myofibre necrosis and regeneration, myophagocytosis and a sparse inflammatory infiltrate. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is a key chemokine that regulates monocyte/macrophage infiltration into injured tissues. IL-6 signalling in the induction of MCP-1 expression has not been investigated in IMNM. Methods MCP-1 expression in muscle specimens was assessed using immunohistochemistry and Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Levels of multiple serological cytokines were evaluated using the electrochemiluminescence-based immunoassays. Flow cytometry, RT-qPCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, western blot, dual-luciferase reporter assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation qPCR were performed to explore the effects of IL-6 signalling on MCP-1 production in human myoblasts. Results MCP-1 was scattered and was positively expressed within myofibres and a few inflammatory cells in the muscles of patients with IMNM. Sarcoplasmic MCP-1 expression significantly correlated with myonecrosis, myoregeneration and inflammatory infiltration. Serum MCP-1, IL-6 and the soluble form of the IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R) were elevated in patients with IMNM compared with controls. Serological MCP-1 levels were significantly associated with serum IL-6 expression and clinical disease severity in IMNM patients. The IL-6/sIL-6R complex induced MCP-1 expression via the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway in human myoblasts. Mechanistically, phospho-STAT3 was enriched in the MCP-1 promoter region and promoted the transcription. Conclusion IL-6 trans-signalling may contribute to the immunopathogenesis of IMNM by augmenting inflammation through regulation of MCP-1 expression in IMNM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the development of plant extracts as corrosion inhibitors to protect metals from corrosion is a popular research direction. However, given the vast diversity of plant species in nature, it is imperative to explore effective methods to improve screening efficiency in order to quickly identify the corrosion inhibition potential of plants. In this work, a new strategy for developing plant-extracted eco-friendly corrosion inhibitors based on the family and genus of plants is proposed. Three plants of different genera in the Asteraceae family, including Artemisia argyi extract (AAE), Chrysanthemum indicum extract (CIE), and Centipeda minima extract (CME), were selected and successfully prepared as novel corrosion inhibitors for Q235 steel in a sulfuric acid solution. The corrosion inhibition behavior and corresponding mechanism were systematically investigated by using some electrochemical tests (open circuit potential, potentiodynamic polarization, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) and surface characterizations (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy). The experimental results illustrated that the main components of the three extracts were similar and that when combined with KI as mixed-type corrosion inhibitors, they could dramatically slow down the metal corrosion rate. The maximum value of the corrosion inhibition efficiency reached 96.29%, 96.50%, and 97.52%, respectively, at 200 mg/L and could increase to 98.64%, 97.65%, and 99.06%, respectively, with a prolonged immersion time. A synergistic effect exists between the three plant extracts and KI, leading to the firm adsorption of the three plant extract molecules onto a Q235 steel surface, thereby forming a robust protective film. This work demonstrated that plants of different genera in the Asteraceae family possessed similar corrosion inhibition capabilities, providing a novel way to select potential corrosion inhibitors from numerous plants based on family and genus classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global climate change is attracting widespread scientific, political, and public attention owing to the involvement of international initiatives such as the Paris Agreement and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. We present a large-scale bibliometric analysis based on approximately 120,000 climate change publications between 2001 and 2018 to examine how climate change is studied in scientific research. Our analysis provides an overview of scientific knowledge, shifts of research hotspots, global geographical distribution of research, and focus of individual countries. In our analysis, we identify five key fields in climate change research: physical sciences, paleoclimatology, climate-change ecology, climate technology, and climate policy. We draw the following key conclusions: (1) Over the investigated time period, the focus of climate change research has shifted from understanding the climate system toward climate technologies and policies, such as efficient energy use and legislation. (2) There is an imbalance in scientific production between developed and developing countries. (3) Geography, national demands, and national strategies have been important drivers that influence the research interests and concerns of researchers in different countries. Our study can be used by researchers and policymakers to reflect on the directions in which climate change research is developing and discuss priorities for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutational signatures are characteristic patterns of mutations generated by exogenous mutagens or by endogenous mutational processes. Mutational signatures are important for research into DNA damage and repair, aging, cancer biology, genetic toxicology, and epidemiology. Unsupervised learning can infer mutational signatures from the somatic mutations in large numbers of tumors, and separating correlated signatures is a notable challenge for this task. To investigate which methods can best meet this challenge, we assessed 18 computational methods for inferring mutational signatures on 20 synthetic data sets that incorporated varying degrees of correlated activity of two common mutational signatures. Performance varied widely, and four methods noticeably outperformed the others: hdp (based on hierarchical Dirichlet processes), SigProExtractor (based on multiple non-negative matrix factorizations over resampled data), TCSM (based on an approach used in document topic analysis), and mutSpec.NMF (also based on non-negative matrix factorization). The results underscored the complexities of mutational signature extraction, including the importance and difficulty of determining the correct number of signatures and the importance of hyperparameters. Our findings indicate directions for improvement of the software and show a need for care when interpreting results from any of these methods, including the need for assessing sensitivity of the results to input parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2D heterostructures have garnered tremendous attention for potential applications in electronics and optoelectronics. Heterostructures can be constructed by assembling individual atomically thin layers of 2D materials into integrated devices, which involves three primary degrees of freedom (DOFs), i.e., Lego‐like basic building blocks, out‐of‐plane stacking order, and in‐plane twist‐angle alignment. By steering the DOFs of 2D materials, devices and structures such as artificial Shockley junction, quantum wells, and superlattices can be conveniently established based on well‐developed fabrication and/or assembly techniques, beneficial for next‐generation ultracompact information technologies. Herein, the recent progress on constructing the artificial atomic structures by taking advantage of three primary DOFs is overviewed. An outlook of the challenges and future developments is presented as well. Future advancements in the rational construction of complex devices and artificial heterostructures are also suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the characteristics of the COVID‐19 publications in the ten psychology‐related Web of Science categories in the social science citation index 10‐month following the COVID‐19 outbreak. Methods: Six publication indicators were examined across authors, institutions, and countries. Results: Analyses showed that the United States has produced the highest number of empirical investigations into the psychological impact of COVID‐19, and the majority of the research across all countries was in clinical and psychopathology. Distribution of journals and psychology‐related Web of Science categories were analyzed. Frequently used words in article title, author keywords, and KeyWords Plus were also presented. Conclusions: The findings suggest that there are substantial clinical implications associated with COVID‐19. There are recommendations offered for future research and clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have investigated the relationship between sarcopenia and mild to moderate renal decline. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and sarcopenia. In total, 123 patients hospitalized with CKD and 57 healthy volunteers who underwent physical examination during the same period (control group) were analyzed. Body compositions were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and the relative appendicular skeletal muscle index (RASMI) was calculated. Muscular strength was evaluated using hydraulic hand dynamometer. Walking speed within 6 m was measured for muscular function assessment. Single-photon emission computed tomography was performed to measure the glomerular filtration rate of CKD patients, who were then divided into CKD1 (55 patients in CKD stages 1 and 2) and CKD2 (68 patients in CKD stages 3–5). RASMI showed a downward trend with CKD progression (P = 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age and CKD progression were independent risk factors for sarcopenia. The morbidity of sarcopenia was significantly greater in CKD patients than in healthy volunteers, and the degree of muscle loss was closely related to CKD progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• REEs were associated with clay, Fe, and Al during pedogenesis based on mass balance. • The chondrites-normalized patterns of REEs revealed an LREEs enrichment. • The magnitude of REEs fractionation in Ultisol was higher than that in Inceptisols. • HREEs were preferentially leached in the studied soils. Volcanic plateaus commonly form in andesitic regions. Few pedological studies have explored the fractionation and mobility of rare earth elements (REEs) in andesite-derived soils. The present study clarified the pedogenic processes of soils on volcanic plateaus in northern Taiwan; this was achieved by analyzing the patterns and fractionation indices of REEs and performing mass balance calculations to determine their mobility. Four pedons were examined through physiochemical and mineral analyses and by taking REEs measurements from the plateaus surrounding Mt. Huangtsui. The four pedons were pedon VP1 from a lava plateau, pedons VP2 and VP3 from an epiclastic plateau, and pedon VP4 from the scarp of a lava plateau. The identified chondrites-normalized REEs patterns exhibited universal similarities with light REEs (LREEs) enrichment across all horizons of individual pedons, suggesting that their parent materials were uniform within the profile on the plateau. The signatures of REEs patterns differed among the four pedons because of their soil variations (e.g., clay and gibbsite). This study identified a considerable migration of REEs along with clay, Fe, and Al in the soil profiles. The mass gains of REEs, LREEs, and heavy REEs (HREEs) in the subsurface soils of pedon VP1 were greater than those in the other pedons because pedon VP1, classified as Typic Hapludult, exhibited the highest level of soil development. However, the REEs mass fluxes were low in pedon VP4 (classified as Typic Dystrudept) throughout the profile, where HREEs were preferentially leached in incipient soil. For pedons VP2 and VP3 (both classified as Oxic Dystrudepts), their profile distributions of REEs were similar because of their identical parent materials and pedological characteristics. A principal component analysis elucidated the differentiation of REEs distribution between pedons. Thus, the REEs characterization associated with the mass balance was applicable to the pedogenic tracers of soils on the plateaus. This study provides useful insights into the mobility of REEs in andesitic soils on volcanic plateaus and the potential of REEs as pedogenic tracers of these soil types globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel dual responsive NO / β-lapachone co-delivery system could effectively disrupt intracellular redox balance through multiple pathways and induce tumor cell apoptosis, showing the promise as multifunctional tumor therapy platform. [Display omitted] Nitric oxide (NO) / β-Lapachone (Lap) combined therapy by causing oxidative stress is an effective tumor therapy strategy. Herein, a dual-responsive lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) LSNO for NO / Lap co-delivery were constructed from the zinc-coordinated lipid (DSNO(Zn)) and the hydrophobic drug Lap in the presence of helper lipids (DOPE and DSPE-PEG 2000). The zinc-coordinated structure in LSNO might elevate the Zn2+ content in tumor cells, contributing to antioxidant imbalance. The fluorescent assays proved the light-triggered NO release and fluorescent self-reporting abilities of LSNO. In addition, the LNPs had good drug release behavior under high concentration of GSH, indicating the NO / drug co-delivery capacity. In vitro antitumor assays showed that the NO / Lap combination treatment group could induce more significant tumor cell growth inhibition and cell apoptosis than individual NO or Lap treatment. The following mechanism studies revealed that NO / Lap combination treatment led to distinct oxidative stress by producing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and peroxynitrite anion (ONOO–). On the other hand, the intracellular redox balance could be further disrupted by Lap-induced NADPH consumption and Zn2+ / NO-induced reductase activities downregulation, thus promoting the degree of cell damage. Besides, it was also found that NO and Lap could directly damage nuclear DNA and induce mitochondrial dysfunction, thereby leading to caspase-3 activation and tumor cell death. These results proved that LSNO could serve as a promising multifunctional tumor therapy platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amides are a fundamental and widespread functional group, and are usually considered as poor electrophiles owing to resonance stabilization of the amide bond. Various approaches have been developed to address challenges in amide transformations. Nonetheless, most methods use activated amides, organometallic reagents or transition metal catalysts. Here, we report the direct alkylation of N,N-dialkyl benzamides with methyl sulfides promoted by the readily available base LDA (lithium diisopropylamide). This approach successfully achieves an efficient and selective synthesis of α-sulfenylated ketones without using transition-metal catalysts or organometallic reagents. Preliminary mechanism studies reveal that the deprotonative aroylation of methyl sulfides is promoted by the directed ortho-lithiation of the tertiary benzamide with LDA. Direct conversion of amides to ketones typically requires the use of transition metal catalysts or reactive organometallic reagents. Here the direct alkylation of benzamides with methyl sulfides using LDA as base provides access to thioalkoxyketones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wettability and reactivity between molten aluminum (Al) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are a key issue in the preparation of CNTs-reinforced Al-matrix composites using a solidification route. In this work, we measured the wettability of randomly aligned multi-walled carbon nanotubes (buckypaper) by molten Al at 973–1173 K in a high vacuum using a modified sessile-drop method and examined their interactions using a droplet-sucking technique. The wettability between Al and CNTs is even worse than that of the Al/graphite system. The contact angles are basically larger than 140° and show only a sluggish decrease with time during isothermal dwelling. The chemical stability of CNTs in contact with Al is closely related to their structural integrity. The CNTs with good crystallinity and structural integrity have relatively high chemical stability and exhibit only a weak interfacial reaction with Al at 973 K. However, the stability of structural defective parts is much lower. They are readily eroded by molten Al, leading to the fragmentation of the CNTs. These CNT fragments having an open tubular structure are then rapidly dissolved in molten Al along the axial and radial directions. Simultaneously, a large amount of Al4C3 is formed at the interfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We achieved the densification of hydroxyapatite (HA) via cold sintering using CaHPO 4 ·2H 2 O as an additive at temperatures lower than 200 °C and investigated the influences of CaHPO 4 ·2H 2 O content and temperature on the relative density of cold-sintered HA and its composites. The elastic modulus, compressive strength and flexural strength of the cold-sintered specimens were comparable yet slightly inferior to the level of the dense HA prepared by conventional sintering at temperatures higher than 1000 °C. A possible densification mechanism was proposed for the formation of hydrogen bonds between the CaHPO 4 fragments generated by the thermal decomposition of CaHPO 4 ·2H 2 O and the phosphate groups in HA by water molecules, thus linking the HA particles together. This strategy of achieving dense target product from its hydrated precursors provides an important avenue for the development of cold sintering process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

aimed to investigate the effect of echinacoside on autophagy-related indicators through the mTOR signaling pathway, especially the effect on the clearance of autophagy substrate P62 and α-synuclein, the core pathological products of Parkinson's disease (PD), to provide new strategies for the treatment of PD. Methods: A mouse model of subacute PD was established by the intraperitoneal injection of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). First, the neurobehavioral symptoms in mice of each group were evaluated, and the monoamine neurotransmitters in the striatum in each group were measured with a high-performance liquid phase. Immunofluorescence double staining was adopted to observe the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), α-synuclein, and LC3. The transmission electron microscope was used to observe the changes of ultrastructure in substantia nigra and the formation of autophagosomes. Then, the expressions of TH, α-synuclein, Beclin 1, LC3, P62, mTOR, and the up-stream protein AKT were detected by Western blot. Results: When compared with the model group, the neurobehavioral function significantly improved in the echinacoside group (P < 0.01), together with increased expression of TH, DA, and DOPAC in the brain (P < 0.01). In the echinacoside group, while the expressions of Beclin 1 and LC3-II increased (P < 0.01), the expression levels of P62 and α-synuclein decreased significantly (P < 0.01). Echinacoside could up-regulate the expression level of the survival signal p-AKT/AKT and decrease the expression of mTOR. Conclusion: Echinacoside could increase autophagy by inhibiting the expression of mTOR, thereby promoting the clearance of α-synuclein and the degradation of the autophagy substrate P62 and exerting the neuroprotective effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Due to their long history, complex admixture processes and large population sizes, more research is required to explore the fine genetic structure of Han populations from different geographic locations of China. Aim: To characterise the paternal genetic structure of the Han Chinese in Henan province, which was once the central living region of the ancient Huaxia population, the precursors of the Han Chinese. Subjects and methods: We sequenced Y chromosomes of 60 males from Zhengzhou, Henan Province, and reconstructed a phylogenetic tree for these samples with age estimation. Results: We observed high diversity of paternal lineages in our collection. We found that the in situ Neolithic expansion of the "Major lineages" contributed to a large portion of the paternal gene pool of the Han population in Henan Province. We also detected a large number of "Minor lineages" that diverged in the Palaeolithic Age. Conclusion: We suggest that the high genetic diversity in the paternal gene pool of modern Han populations is mainly attributed to the reservation of a larger number of lineages that diverged in the Palaeolithic Age, while the recent expansion of limited lineages contributed to the majority of the gene pool of modern Han populations. We propose that such a structure is a basal characteristic for the genetic structure of modern Han populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-density hydroxyapatite (HA) compacts were achieved by cold sintering of co-precipitated powders at temperatures lower than 200 °C without addition of any solvent. Critical factors affecting the densification behavior including the source of powders, the type of solvent, applied pressure, sintering temperature and time were investigated. The presence of lattice water together with ion substitution in the co-precipitated HA powders has a significant effect on the densification. A novel viewpoint that is essentially different from classical dissolution−precipitation mechanism in cold sintering was proposed; i.e., the formation of hydrogen bonds between the HA particles plays a critical role in the densification. Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We characterized the metal tolerance of recombinant strains harboring metallothionein from the freshwater crab Sinopotamon henanense (ShMT) in vivo and metal binding properties of ShMT purified in vitro. The recombinant strains harboring ShMT were exposed to 0.1 mM Cd2+, 0.3 mM Cu2+, 0.5 mM Pb2+, and 0.8 mM Zn2+. The growth curves and spot assays of recombinant strains and the contents of heavy metal ions were analysed in the media supplemented with above metal ions provided to recombinant E. coli synthesis. The structural characteristics of the Cd-, Cu-, Pb-, and Zn-ShMT were determined through ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV-vis), circular dichroism (CD), and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). The in vivo results showed that, compared to control strains, recombinant strains tolerated Cd2+, Cu2+, Pb2+, and Zn2+. Furthermore, the contents of Cd2+ and Pb2+ in media decreased substantially. In vitro and the Cd-ShMT had a higher degree of folding compactness in solution. 5,5′-Dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic) acid (DTNB) reaction and ITC results demonstrated that ShMT yielded Cd 6 -, Cu 7 -, and Pb 6 -ShMT. The binding stability order was Cu-ShMT > Cd-ShMT > Pb-ShMT > Zn-ShMT. Overall, ShMT is a canonical crustacean MT and is defined as a Cd-specific MT isoform that functions mainly in a detoxifying Cd2+ and Pb2+ and in regulating Zn2+ homeostasis in S. henanense. This research on the metal binding properties of ShMT provides a better understanding of the physiological function of ShMT reducing heavy metal bioavailability and by regulating essential trace metals. Image 1 • ShMT could coordinate Cd2+, Cu2+, Pb2+, and Zn2+ in vivo and in vitro. • Cd-ShMT has a higher degree of folding compactness in solution. • ShMT can form M 6 Ⅱ-ShMT with divalent metal ions and has high affinity to monovalent metal ions. • ShMT is shown to be a Cd-specific MT isoform. • ShMT works as a detoxifying biomolecule for Cd2+ and a regulating biomolecule for Zn2+ homeostasis in S. henanense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A real representation of complex polynomial matrices in the framework of conjugate product is first proposed, and some interesting properties of the proposed real representation are given. With the real representations as tools, alternative proofs for some properties of conjugate product are given. In addition, the concept of real determinant is proposed for complex polynomial matrices in the framework of conjugate product, and based on the real determinant the invertibility in the framework of conjugate product is investigated. These results imply that the proposed real representation has potential applications in the further investigation of conjugate product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hereditary spastic paraplegias refer to a heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative disorders resulting from degeneration of the corticospinal tract. Clinical characterization of patients with hereditary spastic paraplegias represents progressive spasticity, exaggerated reflexes and muscular weakness. Here, to expand on the increasingly broad pools of previously unknown hereditary spastic paraplegia causative genes and subtypes, we performed whole exome sequencing for six affected and two unaffected individuals from two unrelated Chinese families with an autosomal dominant hereditary spastic paraplegia and lacking mutations in known hereditary spastic paraplegia implicated genes. The exome sequencing revealed two stop-gain mutations, c.247_248insGTGAATTC (p.I83Sfs*11) and c.526G>T (p.E176*), in the ubiquitin-associated protein 1 (UBAP1) gene, which co-segregated with the spastic paraplegia. We also identified two UBAP1 frameshift mutations, c.324_325delCA (p.H108Qfs*10) and c.425_426delAG (p.K143Sfs*15), in two unrelated families from an additional 38 Chinese pedigrees with autosomal dominant hereditary spastic paraplegias and lacking mutations in known causative genes. The primary disease presentation was a pure lower limb predominant spastic paraplegia. In vivo downregulation of Ubap1 in zebrafish causes abnormal organismal morphology, inhibited motor neuron outgrowth, decreased mobility, and shorter lifespan. UBAP1 is incorporated into endosomal sorting complexes required for transport complex I and binds ubiquitin to function in endosome sorting. Patient-derived truncated form(s) of UBAP1 cause aberrant endosome clustering, pronounced endosome enlargement, and cytoplasmic accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins in HeLa cells and wild-type mouse cortical neuron cultures. Biochemical and immunocytochemical experiments in cultured cortical neurons derived from transgenic Ubap1flox mice confirmed that disruption of UBAP1 leads to dysregulation of both early endosome processing and ubiquitinated protein sorting. Strikingly, deletion of Ubap1 promotes neurodegeneration, potentially mediated by apoptosis. Our study provides genetic and biochemical evidence that mutations in UBAP1 can cause pure autosomal dominant spastic paraplegia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary familial brain calcification (PFBC) is a rare neurological disorder. Mutations in five genes (SLC20A2, PDGFRB, PDGFB, XPR1, and MYORG) have been linked to PFBC. Here, we used SYBR green‐based real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay and denaturing high‐performance liquid chromatography analysis to detect copy number variants (CNVs) in 20 unrelated patients with PFBC, negatively sequenced for the five known genes. We identified three deletions in SLC20A2, including a large de novo full gene deletion and two exonic deletions confined to exon 2 and exon 6, respectively. Subsequent linked‐read whole‐genome sequencing of the patient with the large deletion showed a 1.7 Mb heterozygous deletion which removed the entire coding regions of SLC20A2 as well as 21 other genes. In the family with a deletion of exon 6, a missense variant of uncertain significance (SLC20A2: p.E267Q) also co‐segregated with the disease. Functional assay showed the deletion could result in significantly impaired phosphate transport, whereas the p.E267Q variant did not. Our results confirm that deletion in SLC20A2 is a causal mechanism for PFBC and highlight the importance of functional study for classifying a rare missense variant as (likely) pathogenic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gambia is the smallest country in West Africa and it has contributed to the academic world over the past decades. This study characterized document type, language, publication trend, subject category, international collaboration of Gambia publications during 1900-2016 based on Science Citation Index Expanded in Web of Science. Results showed that Gambia is highly reliant on foreign and international collaboration in research, especially with the UK and USA. International collaboration was responsible for the increasing scientific production and scientific impact of Gambia over the years. Medical Research Council (MRC) contributed the most Gambia publications, and played an important role in conducting international collaboration. Most of Gambia publications focused on tropical medicine, environmental and occupational public health, immunology and infectious diseases. Gambia has attracted increasing attention from the academic world, with improving scientific production and scientific impact, signalling more prestige in the scientific community. With the information and insights provided in this paper, we managed to obtain a quick overview of Gambia publications that can help make strategic decisions for researchers and governors of scientific research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C12H9ClFN3, monoclinic, C2/c (no. 15), a = 24.713(13) Å, b = 15.459(13) Å, c = 17.507(12) Å, β = 17.515(11)°, V = 4742(6) Å3, Z = 16, Rgt(F) = 0.0530, wRref(F2) = 0.1161, T = 113(2) K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Analytical method for tetrodotoxin in bivalve mollusks was developed by HILIC-MS/MS. • High recovery for tetrodotoxin were obtained by the optimized MCX clean-up. • The levels of tetrodotoxin in bivalve mollusks from local market was characterized. • Temporal and tissue distributions of tetrodotoxin in samples were studied. A method was established for determining tetrodotoxin (TTX) in bivalve mollusks by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (HILIC-MS/MS) using kasugamycin as the internal standard for quantification. Samples were subjected to ultrasonic extraction with methanol–water (1:1, v/v) containing 0.5% acetic acid, protein precipitation with acetonitrile, clean-up using a cation exchange solid phase extraction cartridge, elution with acetonitrile:water (1:1, v/v) containing 0.3% hydrochloric acid, neutralization with ammonia before HILIC-MS/MS analysis. The average recovery of the samples spiked at 3 levels ranged in 84.6%-98.1% with the relative standard deviation less than 7.2%. Using this method, the contamination of TTX in 429 bivalve mollusk samples collected in the local markets during 2018 and 2020 was investigated. The detection rates were 12.0–18.8%, following the order of oyster > mussel > clam > scallop. High contaminated oysters and mussels with TTX were found in July to August. Moreover, TTX analogs found in bivalve mollusks included 4-epiTTX, 5,6,11-trideoxyTTX, 4,9-anhydroTTX, and 5-deoxyTTX/11-deoxyTTX. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]