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Background and Purpose Methods Results Conclusions This study was undertaken to conduct a meta‐analysis on the prevalence of aspiration pneumonia (AP) and hospital mortality in Parkinson disease (PD) as well as the risk of AP in PD patients compared to controls.We searched MEDLINE and Embase from inception to 19 March 2024 to identify cross‐sectional, cohort, and case–control studies comparing the frequency of AP and hospital mortality in PD patients. We computed risk ratios (RRs) with accompanying 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each study and pooled the results using a random‐effects meta‐analysis.A total of 781 studies were initially screened, and 13 studies involving 541,785,587 patients were included. Patients with PD had >3 times higher risk of AP compared to controls (RR = 3.30, 95% CI = 1.82–6.00, p < 0.0001). This increased risk was similar in both cohort studies (RR = 3.01, 95% CI = 1.10–8.24, p = 0.03) and case–control studies (RR = 3.86, 95% CI = 3.84–3.87, p < 0.00001). The prevalence of AP in 12 studies was 2.74% (95% CI = 1.69–4.41), and hospital mortality was 10% in six studies (10.0%, 95% CI = 5.32–18.0). Prevalence of AP was higher in studies with smaller sample size (5.26%, 95% CI = 3.08–8.83 vs. 2.06%, 95% CI = 1.19–3.55, p = 0.02).Our meta‐analysis showed that patients with PD had >3 times higher risk of AP, with an average 2.74% prevalence and 10.0% hospital mortality. Early recognition and treatment of AP in PD patients will help reduce morbidity and mortality. A multidisciplinary holistic approach is needed to address the multifactorial causes of AP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyelectrolyte (PE) gels, distinguished by their unique stimuli-responsive swelling behavior, serve as the basis of broad applications, such as artificial muscles and drug delivery. In this work, we present a theoretical model to analyze the electrostatics and its contribution to the swelling behavior of PE gels in salt solutions. By minimizing the free energy of PE gels, we obtain two distinct scaling regimes for the swelling ratio at equilibrium with respect to the salt concentration. We compare our predictions for the swelling ratio with experimental measurements, which show excellent agreement. In addition, we employ a finite element method to assess the applicability range of our theoretical model and assumptions. We anticipate that our model will also provide valuable insights into drug adsorption and release, deformation of red blood cells, 4D printing and soft robotics, where the underlying mechanism of swelling remains enigmatic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have emerged as a promising therapeutic option for melanoma, which demonstrating improved clinical outcomes in melanoma patients regardless of specific genetic mutations. However, the identification of reliable biomarkers for predicting immunotherapy response and prognosis remains a challenge. In this study, we performed genetic profiling of the melanoma patients with different subtypes and evaluated the efficacy of ICI treatment. A total of 221 melanoma patients were included in our cohort, consisting primarily of acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM), cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM), and mucosal malignant melanoma (MMM). Genetic analysis revealed BRAF mutations was predominant in CMM and NRAS mutations was prevalent in ALM. Copy number variants (CNVs) and structural variants (SV) were also detected, with CCND1 and CDK4 being the most affected genes in CNV and BRAF, ALK and RAF1 being the druggable targets in SV. Furthermore, NRAS mutations were associated with a poor prognosis in ALM, while TERT mutations were linked to unfavorable outcomes in CMM after receiving PD-1 therapy. Additionally, ALK expression exhibited improved outcomes in both ALM and CMM subtypes. Our study provides a comprehensive genomic and pathological profiling of Chinese melanoma patients, shedding light on the molecular landscape of the disease. Furthermore, numbers of gene mutations and ALK expression were identified as prognostic indicators. These findings contribute to the understanding of melanoma genetics in the Chinese population and have implications for personalized treatment approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Nowadays, cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK4/6) inhibitors have been approved for treating metastatic breast cancer and have achieved inspiring curative effects. But some discoveries have indicated that CDK 4/6 are not the requisite factors in some cell types because CDK2 partly compensates for the inhibition of CDK4/6. Thus, it is urgent to design CDK2/4/6 inhibitors for significantly enhancing their potency. This study aims to explore the mechanism of the binding of CDK2/4/6 kinases and their inhibitors to design novel CDK2/4/6 inhibitors for significantly enhancing their potency in different kinds of cancers. Materials and methods: A series of 72 disparately functionalized 4-substituted N-phenylpyrimidin-2-amine derivatives exhibiting potent inhibitor activities against CDK2, CDK4 and CDK6 were collected to apply to this research. The total set of these derivatives was divided into a training set (54 compounds) and a test set (18 compounds). The derivatives were constructed through the sketch molecule module in SYBYL 6.9 software. A Powell gradient algorithm and Tripos force field were used to calculate the minimal structural energy and the minimized structure was used as the initial conformation for molecular docking. By the means of 3D-QSAR models, partial least squares (PLS) analysis, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and binding free energy calculations, we can find the relationship between structure and biological activity. Results: In this study, we used molecular docking, 3D-QSAR and molecular dynamics simulation methods to comprehensively analyze the interaction and structure–activity relationships of 72 new CDK2/4/6 inhibitors. We used detailed statistical data to reasonably verify the constructed 3D-QSAR models for three receptors (q2 of CDK2 = 0.714, R2pred = 0.764, q2 = 0.815; R2pred of CDK4 = 0.681, q2 = 0.757; R2pred of CDK6 = 0.674). MD simulations and decomposition energy analysis validated the reasonability of the docking results and identified polar interactions as crucial factors that influence the different bioactivities of the studied inhibitors of CDK2/4/6 receptors, especially the electrostatic interactions of Lys33/35/43 and Asp145/158/163. The nonpolar interaction with Ile10/12/19 was also critical for the differing potencies of the CDK2/4/6 inhibitors. We concluded that the following probably enhanced the bioactivity against CDK2/4/6 kinases: (1) electronegative groups at the N1-position and electropositive and moderate-sized groups at ring E; (2) electrogroups featured at R2; (3) carbon atoms at the X-position or ring C replaced by a benzene ring; and (4) an electrogroup as R4. Conclusion: Previous studies, to our knowledge, only utilized a single approach of 3D-QSAR and did not integrate this method with other sophisticated techniques such as molecular dynamics simulations to discover new potential inhibitors of CDK2, CDK4, or CDK6. So we applied the intergenerational technology, such as 3D-QSAR technology, molecular docking simulation techniques, molecular dynamics simulations and MMPBSA19/MMGBSA20-binding free energy calculations to statistically explore the correlations between the structure with biological activities. The constructed 3D-QSAR models of the three receptors were reasonable and confirmed by the excellent statistical data. We hope the results obtained from this work will provide some useful references for the development of novel CDK2/4/6 inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. In patients with stage III melanoma carrying BRAF mutations, the risk of melanoma recurrence is relatively high even after complete resection of the primary melanoma and regional lymph nodes. Methods. We collected data from patients with stage III cutaneous and acral melanoma who received adjuvant trametinib combined with dabrafenib from three cancer centres in China between August 2019 and December 2022. Results. A total of 55 patients were included in this study. The one-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate was 79.8% (95% CI 73.6–86.0%). The one-year RFS rate was 79.8% (95% CI 72.8–86.8%) in the cutaneous melanoma subgroup, while the one-year RFS rate was 74.1% (95% CI 58.0–90.2%) in the acral melanoma subgroup. Six (46.2%) patients experienced recurrence during adjuvant therapy; 7 (53.9%) patients recurred after completion of the regimen. At the time of the first recurrence, distant metastasis occurred in 10 patients, local recurrence occurred in 2 patients, and one patient experienced both distant metastasis and local recurrence. Conclusions. This study confirmed the good tolerability and short-term benefits of adjuvant therapy with dabrafenib and trametinib in Chinese patients with stage III melanoma with BRAF V600 mutation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uniaxial cyclic compression tests were performed to investigate the compression deformation and damage of polymer-bonded explosive (PBX) simulant, particularly shear localization. The macroscopic mechanical behavior and mesoscale failure mechanisms of the PBX simulant were analyzed by optical observation and SEM scanning methods. After each cyclic compression, the specimen was scanned by X-ray computed tomography (CT), and the internal 3D deformation of the specimen was calculated using the digital volume correlation (DVC) method. The results show that the stress–strain curve of the PBX simulant exhibits five stages and coincides with the morphological changes on the surface of the specimen. The mesoscale failure mechanism is dominated by particle interface debonding and binder tearing, accompanied by a small amount of particle breakage. There are three bifurcation points (T1, T2, and T3) in the curves of the normal and shear strain components with compression strain. It was found that these bifurcation points can reflect the full progression of the specimen from inconspicuous damage to uniformly distributed damage, shear localization, and eventual macroscopic fracture. The strain invariant I1 can quantitatively and completely characterize the deformation and damage processes of the PBX simulant under cyclic compression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A three-dimensional representation of the random distribution of fractures in rock masses, known as the discrete fracture network (DFN), is widely used to analyze the stability of jointed rock slopes. In this paper, a new framework for constructing three-dimensional DFN models in rock masses has been proposed to overcome the limitations of conventional circular or polygon-based models. The framework utilizes the universal elliptical disc (UED) model and integrates it with the discrete element method in 3DEC for the stability evaluation of jointed rock slopes. This paper starts by introducing the basic principles of the UED model. The procedures for constructing a three-dimensional DFN using the UED model is then outlined. In the present study, a case study of a rock slope in Zhejiang Province, China is used to demonstrate the implementation of the proposed framework. A comprehensive comparative study is conducted to investigate the impacts of several UED model parameters, including the ratio of major axis to minor axis and rotation angle, and discontinuity density, on the stability of rock slopes and compared to the conventional Baecher disc model. The results show that the framework can effectively integrate the UED model into 3DEC and provide a realistic representation of the three-dimensional DFN, leading to improved accuracy and efficiency in the stability evaluation of jointed rock slopes. The framework also shed light on the interactive effects of the UED model parameters and discontinuity density on the rock slope stability, providing a strong reference for using the UED model in constructing DFN models for rock slopes. Highlights: Three-dimensional discrete fracture networks (DFNs) of rock masses are successfully constructed using the universal elliptical disc (UED) model. Python subroutines are developed in 3DEC to construct 3D DFNs using the UED model for improved discrete element analyses of jointed rock slopes. The effects of several characteristic parameters of the UED model on the stability of jointed rock slopes are investigated. Based on a key block model, the mechanisms underlying the relationship between jointed rock slope stability and fracture discontinuity are rigorously explained. The advantages of the UED model over the conventional Baecher disc model are comprehensively discussed based on a rock slope case study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is often expected that Zn decreases Cd accumulation in plants due to competition for the same transporters. Here, we found that increasing Zn supply markedly increased the root-to-shoot translocation of Cd in rice. RNA sequencing showed that high Zn up-regulated expression of genes involved in glutathione biosynthesis and metabolism and the Zn/Cd transporter gene OsHMA2 , but down-regulated expression of genes related to Zn uptake. Knockout of the iron or Zn transporter genes OsIRT1 , OsIRT2 , or OsZIP9 did not affect the Zn promotional effect on Cd translocation. Knockout of the manganese/Cd transporter gene OsNRAMP5 greatly reduced Cd uptake but did not affect the Zn promotional effect. Variation in the tonoplast transporter gene OsHMA3 affected Cd translocation but did not change the Zn promotional effect. Knockout of the Zn/Cd transporter gene OsHMA2 not only decreased Cd and Zn translocation, but also abolished the Zn promotional effect. Increased expression of OsHMA2 under high Zn conditions supports the hypothesis that this transporter participates in the promotional effect of Zn on Cd translocation. The results also show that OsIRT1, OsIRT2, and OsZIP9 made only small contributions to Cd uptake under low Zn conditions but not under high Zn conditions, whereas the dominant role of OsNRAMP5 in Cd uptake diminished under low Zn conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work numerically investigates the flow control of an elastically mounted square cylinder by using an attached plate placing downstream. The flow control effect by using a long solid/flexible plate for a circular cylinder has been widely discussed. However, the effect of a short plate is not clear. In addition, few knowledge is known for VIV (vortex-induced vibration) suppression effect for a square cylinder by using a solid/flexible plate. The present work systematically studies the influence of plate length and flexibility on VIV suppression for an elastically mounted square cylinder at Reynolds number 150. First, the effect of a solid plate with non-dimensional length varying in a wide range 0.5 ≤ L * ≤ 3.0 is analyzed. Significant VIV suppression can be achieved by using an attached solid plate, even with a plate at a short length. The influence of flexibility is more complex. A short flexible plate is less effective than a solid plate with the same length. On the other hand, a long flexible plate with medium flexibility can further enhance VIV suppression. A maximum 96% reduction in the vibration amplitude can be achieved by using a long flexible plate with optimal flexibility. Additionally, two VIV suppression mechanisms for an elastically mounted square cylinder with an attached plate are concluded, and the influence of flexibility for both short and long plates is also analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new way to form fluorenones via the direct excitation of substrates instead of photocatalyst to activate the C(sp2)−H bond under redox‐neutral condition is reported. Our design relies on the photoexcited aromatic aldehyde intermediates that can be intercepted by cobaloxime catalyst through single electron transfer for following β‐H elimination. The generation of acyl radical and successful interception by a metal catalyst cobaloxime avoid the use of a photocatalyst and stoichiometric external oxidants, affording a series of highly substituted fluorenones, including six‐membered ketones, such as xanthone and thioxanthone derivatives in good to excellent yields, and with hydrogen as the only byproduct. This catalytic system features a readily available metal catalyst, mild reaction conditions and broad substrate scope, in which sunlight reaction and scale‐up experiments by continuous‐flow approach make the new methodology sustainable and amenable for potentially operational procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new way to form fluorenones via the direct excitation of substrates instead of photocatalyst to activate the C(sp2)−H bond under redox‐neutral condition is reported. Our design relies on the photoexcited aromatic aldehyde intermediates that can be intercepted by cobaloxime catalyst through single electron transfer for following β‐H elimination. The generation of acyl radical and successful interception by a metal catalyst cobaloxime avoid the use of a photocatalyst and stoichiometric external oxidants, affording a series of highly substituted fluorenones, including six‐membered ketones, such as xanthone and thioxanthone derivatives in good to excellent yields, and with hydrogen as the only byproduct. This catalytic system features a readily available metal catalyst, mild reaction conditions and broad substrate scope, in which sunlight reaction and scale‐up experiments by continuous‐flow approach make the new methodology sustainable and amenable for potentially operational procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inlet boundary conditions (BC) are one of the uncertainties which may influence the prediction of flow field and hemolysis in blood pumps. This study investigated the influence of inlet BC, including the length of inlet pipe, type of inlet BC (mass flow rate or experimental velocity profile) and turbulent intensity (no perturbation, 5%, 10%, 20%) on the prediction of flow field and hemolysis of a benchmark centrifugal blood pump (the FDA blood pump) and a commercial axial blood pump (Heartmate II), using large-eddy simulation. The results show that the influence of boundary conditions on integral pump performance metrics, including pressure head and hemolysis, is negligible. The influence on local flow structures, such as velocity distributions, mainly existed in the inlet. For the centrifugal FDA blood pump, the influence of type of inlet BC and inlet position on velocity distributions can also be observed at the diffuser. Overall, the effects of position of inlet and type of inlet BC need to be considered if local flow structures are the focus, while the influence of turbulent intensity is negligible and need not be accounted for during numerical simulations of blood pumps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the highest incidence of chronic liver disease worldwide, seriously endangering human health, and its pathogenesis is still unclear. In the recent years, increasing evidence has shown that intestinal flora plays an important role in the occurrence and development of NAFLD. Synbiotics can alter gut microbiota and may be a treatment option for NAFLD in the future. Objectives: To systematically investigate the therapeutic effect of synbiotic supplementation on NAFLD patients. Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted. Data sources and methods: We conducted a search on four databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science) to identify relevant studies. Eligible studies were then screened, and data from the included studies were extracted, combined, and analyzed. Result: This study analyzed 10 randomized controlled trials involving 634 patients with NAFLD. The results showed that synbiotic supplementation could significantly reduce the level of alanine aminotransferase (mean difference (MD) = -8.80; (95% CI [-13.06, -4.53]), 푝 < 0.0001), aspartate aminotransferase (MD = -9.48; 95% CI [-12.54, -6.43], 푝 < 0.0001), and γ-glutamyl transferase (MD = -12.55; 95% CI [-19.40, -5.69], 푝 = 0.0003) in NAFLD patients. In the field of metabolism, synbiotic supplementation could significantly reduce the level of total cholesterol (MD = -11.93; 95% CI [-20.43, -3.42], 푝 = 0.006) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (MD = -16.2; 95% CI [-19.79, -12.60], 푝 < 0.0001) and increase the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (MD = 1.56; 95% CI [0.43, 2.68], 푝 = 0.007) in NAFLD patients. In addition, synbiotic supplementation could significantly reduce liver stiffness measurement indicator (MD = -1.09; 95% CI [-1.87, -0.30], 푝 = 0.006) and controlled attenuation parameter indicator (MD = -37.04; 95% CI [-56.78, -17.30], 푝 = 0.0002) in NAFLD patients. Conclusion: Based on the current evidence, synbiotic supplementation can improve liver function, adjust lipid metabolism, and reduce the degree of liver fibrosis in patients with NAFLD, but these effects need to be confirmed by further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Computational fluid dynamics has been widely used to assist the design and evaluation of blood pumps. Discretization errors associated with computational grid may influence the credibility of numerical simulations. Non‐conformal grid interfaces commonly exist in rotary machines, including rotary blood pumps. Should grid size across the interface differ greatly, large errors may occur. Methods: This study explored the effects of non‐conformal grid interface on the prediction of the flow field and hemolysis in blood pumps using large eddy simulation (LES). Two benchmarks, a nozzle model and a centrifugal blood pump were chosen as test cases. Results: This study found that non‐conformal grid interfaces with considerable change of grid sizes led to discontinuities of flow variables and brought errors to metrics such as pressure head (7%) and hemolysis (up to 14%). Conclusions: The results on the full unstructured grid are more accurate with negligible changes of flow variables across the non‐conformal grid interface. A full unstructured grid should be employed for centrifugal blood pumps to minimize the influence of non‐conformal grid interfaces for LES simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine skin-derived stem cells (pSDSCs) are a type of adult stem cells (ASCs) that retain the ability to self-renew and differentiate. Currently, pSDSCs research has entered an intense period of development; however there has been no research regarding methods of cryopreservation. In this paper, we explored an efficient cryopreservation method for pSDSCs. Our results demonstrated that cryopreserving 50 μm diameter pSDSCs aggregates resulted in a lower apoptosis rate and a greater ability to proliferate to form larger spherical cell aggregates than during single-cell cryopreservation. To further optimize the cryopreservation method, we added different concentrations of melatonin (N -acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine, MLT) and trehalose (d -trehalose anhydrous, TRE) to act as cryoprotectants (CPAs) for the pSDSCs. After comparative experiments, we found that the cryopreservation efficiency of 50 mM TRE was superior. Further experiments demonstrated that the reason why 50 mM TRE improved cryopreservation efficiency was that it reduced the intracellular oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage caused by cryopreservation. Taken together, our results suggest that cryopreserving 50 μm diameter pSDSCs aggregates in F12 medium with 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and 50 mM TRE promotes the long-term storage of pSDSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and prognosis of decompressive craniectomy combined with temporal pole resection in the treatment of massive cerebral infarction, in order to provide basis for treatment selection. Methods: The clinical data of the patient with massive cerebral infarction treated in our hospital from January 2015 to December 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. According to the surgical methods, the patients were divided into control group (decompressive craniectomy) and study group (decompressive craniectomy + temporal pole resection). Intracranial pressure monitoring devices were placed in both groups. The NIHSS scores of the two groups before and 14 days after operation, the changes of intracranial pressure, length of hospital stay, length of NICU, mortality and modified Rankin scale before and after treatment were compared between the two groups. Results: The NIHSS score of the two groups after operation was lower than that before operation, and the NIHSS score of the study group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05); The intracranial pressure in the study group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05); One month after operation, the mortality of the study group (13.0%) was lower than that of the control group (27.8%). After one year of follow-up, the mortality of the study group (21.7%) was significantly lower than that of the control group (38.8%) (P < 0.05); The scores of mRS in the two groups were significantly improved compared with those before treatment (P < 0.05), and the scores of mRS in the study group were better than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Decompressive craniectomy combined with temporal pole resection has a better effect in the treatment of patients with massive cerebral infarction. It has good decompression effect, the postoperative intracranial pressure is well controlled, and significantly reduced the mortality. So it has better clinical application value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and prognosis of decompressive craniectomy combined with temporal pole resection in the treatment of massive cerebral infarction, in order to provide basis for treatment selection.Methods: The clinical data of the patient with massive cerebral infarction treated in our hospital from January 2015 to December 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. According to the surgical methods, the patients were divided into control group (decompressive craniectomy) and study group (decompressive craniectomy + temporal pole resection). Intracranial pressure monitoring devices were placed in both groups. The NIHSS scores of the two groups before and 14 days after operation, the changes of intracranial pressure, length of hospital stay, length of NICU, mortality and modified Rankin scale before and after treatment were compared between the two groups.Results: The NIHSS score of the two groups after operation was lower than that before operation, and the NIHSS score of the study group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05); The intracranial pressure in the study group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05); One month after operation, the mortality of the study group (13.0%) was lower than that of the control group (27.8%). After one year of follow-up, the mortality of the study group (21.7%) was significantly lower than that of the control group (38.8%) (P < 0.05); The scores of mRS in the two groups were significantly improved compared with those before treatment (P < 0.05), and the scores of mRS in the study group were better than those in the control group (P < 0.05).Conclusion: Decompressive craniectomy combined with temporal pole resection has a better effect in the treatment of patients with massive cerebral infarction. It has good decompression effect, the postoperative intracranial pressure is well controlled, and significantly reduced the mortality. So it has better clinical application value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lifeboat serves an important water rescue equipment. Capable of self-righting and being stable in free roll decay is crucial for a safe and efficient rescue for a lifeboat. To better understand the roll decay of lifeboat in complex environments, this work performs systematic numerical investigations on roll motion of a lifeboat in both calm water and periodic wave conditions. Investigations of lifeboat in calm water show that it is capable of self-righting with the initial heel angle equal or less than 120°. Although the initial heel angle not affects the final stable status, it has remarkable influence on the self-righting process. Lifeboat with a large initial heel angle subjects to more violent roll motion in the early stage, and thus has weaker stability. Analysis also shows that the nonlinear component of the roll damping coefficient becomes the major part of the total damping coefficient with an increasing initial heel angle. On the other hand, in waves conditions, lifeboat undergoes periodic roll motion in beam waves, and the periodic rolling motion is primarily associated with wave frequency. When the wave frequency approaches the natural frequency of the lifeboat, the rolling motion increases drastically. The present work helps to better understand the self-righting process of a lifeboat in complex environments and also to provide guidance in design and safe operation of a lifeboat. • Study on lifeboat roll decay and self-righting under wind-wave coupling. • At large heel angle, nonlinear roll damping undermines the self-righting stability. • The lifeboat severe roll motion occurs during the rising and falling wave stages. • Increasing the bottom plate length reduces the lifeboat's roll angular acceleration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a catalytic amount of N-iodosuccinimide (NIS) in combination with O2 in air, an aerobic oxidative reaction was carried out to efficiently and scalably construct a series of 10-phenanthrenols under sunlight at room temperature. Mechanistic studies reveal that H2O2 generated in situ was responsible for the conversion of I2 to IOH as a potential initiator for later catalytic cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Condensation of an (S)- or (R)-BINOL-derived dialdehyde and tris(2-aminoethyl)amine produced chiral [2+3] imine cages, which were further reduced to furnish more stable chiral amine cages and applied in the enantioselective recognition of (1R,2R)- and (1S,2S)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subsurface migration and accumulation of oil and gas have interested researchers for a long time, but these processes may occur over very long geological periods and are difficult to observe directly, so experimental simulations are warranted. In this study, an experimental method was developed to model hydrocarbon migration in the subsurface structure. Oil migration was simulated in a sandbox model, and industrial CT scanning was used to observe both the internal geometry of the model and the oil migration pathways. In the sandbox model, a NaI solution was used to simulate water, white oil was used to simulate hydrocarbon, and fine quartz sand, glass bead, silica powder, and brown corundum were chosen to represent brittle crust, based on suitable material parameters. A NaI-saturated layered sandbox model was constructed with an along-strike basal discontinuity, which during compression allowed a simple anticline with doubly verging reverse faults to form. Oil was then released continuously at a low rate from an orifice under one limb of the anticline. Initially, the oil migrated vertically through the fault zone until it reached the top of the fault zone; it then migrated laterally along the core of the anticline, saturating a model reservoir by buoyancy and capillary force. This experimental analog helps to explain hydrocarbon migration and accumulation within the Anjihai and Santai anticlines in northwest China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This psychobiography study of Temujin employed the Personality Adjective Evaluation Scale, the Personality Adjective Classification Survey, and the Delphi method to characterise Temujin's personality traits and probable influences. One hundred and thirty-two participants rated Temujin's personality on 248 evaluation words, while an expert panel (n = 4) utilised the Delphi consensus building method for convergence of the trait characterisation. Following factor analysis and multi-dimensional classification analysis, we found six personality trait categories to characterise Temujin: cruel and aggressive, forthright and chivalric, intelligent and capable, outstanding, self-reliant, and martial spirit. Findings may be explained by Temujin's life experiences, role models, culture background, such as family upheavals, economic distress, the metaphor of the sun and the moon of wise persons, the education received from his mother Hö'elün, the achievements of the ancestors and father, and the manner of their achievements. Moreover, the harmony and separation culture, the worship of power and heroes, and the nomadic and hunting life would have been significant influences. From these findings, we concluded that personality traits are influenced by early experiences, role models, and cultural background. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although some recent neuroimaging studies have indicated the abnormal brain structure or function in patients with lifelong premature ejaculation (LPE), whether and how the abnormal thalamic function participates in processing sexual behavioral information are still unclear in patients with LPE. The aim of this study was to assess the changes in the thalamus metabolism and structural integrity in patients with LPE. We performed a multimodal magnetic resonance approach in a 3.0 T system, including proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS), diffusion tensor imaging, and volumetric analysis to detect the differences in thalamic metabolism and structure between 20 patients with LPE and 15 healthy controls. We analyzed and correlated the clinical symptoms of the subjects with significant 1H-MRS-based features. Peak areas of N-acetylaspartate, choline, creatine (Cr), and glutamate/glutamine (Glu) were calculated with the LCModel software. Diffusion tensor imaging and volumetric analysis of thalami showed no differences between the 2 groups. On the contrary, 1H-MRS study disclosed that both Glu concentrations and Glu/Cr ratio values in the thalami of patients with LPE were remarkably increased when compared with healthy controls (P <.01 for both variables). In addition, both the intravaginal ejaculatory latency time score and Chinese Index of Sexual Function for Premature Ejaculation–5 score were negatively related to increased Glu concentrations and Glu/Cr ratio values. Glutamatergic activity changes of thalamus may be an underlying indicator for evaluating sensory conduction efficiency in patients with LPE. The present study first found the abnormal thalamic metabolism in patients with LPE and contributed to a better understanding of the LPE etiology. Limitations include a cross-sectional study design with small samples and no examination of other brain areas. Our findings show that the increase in glutamatergic activity of thalamus is related to LPE, suggesting that the increased Glu neurotransmission in the thalamus may contribute to the development of premature ejaculation. Xia J-D, Chen F, Zhang Q-J, et al. Abnormal Thalamic Metabolism in Patients With Lifelong Premature Ejaculation. J Sex Med 2021;18:275–283. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Yinggehai Basin is situated at the junction of Indochina and the northern South China Sea (SCS). The origin of the Yinggehai Basin is generally believed to be controlled by the rotation of the Indochina block along the Red River shear zone (RRSZ), which was formed by the collision of India with Asia during the Oligocene. However, the Eocene structural mechanisms of this basin remain debatable. Some studies suggest that the Eocene reactivation of the palaeo‐suture zone (which serves as a precursor to the RRSZ) has influenced the region. In contrast, others propose that the NNW–SSE extension of the northern SCS caused by the subduction of the palaeo‐SCS towards Borneo in the Eocene has played a significant role. To address these controversies, our study takes into account these two crucial factors using physical analogue modelling. The experimental results, including slow sinistral strike‐slip along the palaeo‐suture zone and the adjacent NNW–SSE extension, successfully explain the observed fault pattern during the Eocene period. It is noteworthy that the former primarily controlled the Eocene structure in the northern region of the Yinggehai Basin, whereas the latter played a pivotal role in shaping the ENE–WSW Eocene structures on the eastern slope of the basin. The westward propagating faults of the Qiongdongnan basin are cut off by the Yinggehai Basin structures at later large‐scale rotation stage. The experiment indicates that the basin evolution exhibits diachronous characteristics, with subsidence in the south occurring later than in the north. Our modelling results provide valuable insights into the key controlling factors that shaped the evolution of the basin during each stage. Furthermore, our findings offer evidence of the interaction between two significant tectonic processes: Indochina extrusion and the opening of the SCS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the promising applications, the demand to enhance poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) production while decreasing the cost has increased in the past decade. Here, xylose/glucose mixture and corncob hydrolysate (CCH) was evaluated as alternatives for γ-PGA production by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens C1. Although both have been validated to support cell growth, glucose and xylose were not simutaneously consumed and exhibited a diauxic growth pattern due to carbon catabolite repression (CCR) in B. amyloliquefaciens C1, while the enhanced transcription of araE alleviated the xylose transport bottleneck across a cellular membrane. Additionally, the xyl operon (xylA and xylB), which was responsible for xylose metabolism, was strongly induced by xylose at the transcriptional level. When cultured in a mixed medium, xylR was sharply induced to 3.39-folds during the first 8-h while reduced to the base level similar to that in xylose medium. Finally, pre-treated CCH mainly contained a mixture of glucose and xylose was employed for γ-PGA fermentation, which obtained a final concentration of 6.56 ± 0.27 g/L. Although the glucose utilization rate (84.91 ± 1.81%) was lower than that with chemical substrates, the xylose utilization rate (43.41 ± 2.14%) and the sodium glutamate conversion rate (77.22%) of CCH were acceptable. Our study provided a promising approach for the green production of γ-PGA from lignocellulosic biomass and circumvent excessive non-food usage of glucose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To better understand the fluid migration in orogenic zones and associated chemical remagnetization, we have conducted a detailed magnetic, petrographic, and strontium isotope study in an important orogenic belt of China, the Jurassic Dabashan fold and thrust belt. This belt formed by the continued collision of the North and South China blocks after the Late Triassic closure of the Paleo‐Tethys Ocean. Samples were collected in a variety of rock units of Ediacaran to Permian age, in both the thrust and the fold belts. Paleomagnetic analysis indicates that all the samples were remagnetized and carry a Middle‐Late Jurassic paleo‐direction. Rock magnetic data and scanning electron microscopy observations found that the proposed remagnetization is carried by framboidal magnetite, which likely formed by the replacement of pyrite. The pervasive nature of the chemical remagnetization in these units and belts and its temporal and spatial association with the orogeny suggest that it resulted from the alteration of orogeny‐induced fluids. Sr‐isotopic analysis of the units that are thought to be remagnetized suggests that the sediments in the thrust belt were altered by externally derived evolved fluids, whereas the Permian samples in the fold belt were altered by internal pore fluid mixing during the orogeny. Together with the lithological and structural features, we conclude that the external orogenic fluids migrated preferentially along thrust faults and unconformities but were blocked by layers of low‐permeability gypsum. Our results help to constrain the origin of widespread remagnetization in South China. Key Points: Widespread chemical remagnetizations in the Dabashan fold and thrust belt resulted from the action of the orogeny during the Middle‐Late JurassicInternal mixing of original pore fluids is suggested as the mechanism for remagnetization of the Permian strataThe pattern of orogeny‐induced fluids migration is determined from the thrust zone to fold zone [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice is a major dietary source of the toxic metal, cadmium (Cd). Previous studies reported that the rice transporter, OsNRAMP1, (Natural resistance‐associated macrophage protein 1) could transport iron (Fe), Cd and arsenic (As) in heterologous yeast assays. However, the in planta function of OsNRAMP1 remains unknown. Here, we showed that OsNRAMP1 was able to transport Cd and manganese (Mn) when expressed in yeast, but did not transport Fe or As. OsNRAMP1 was mainly expressed in roots and leaves and encoded a plasma membrane‐localized protein. OsNRAMP1 expression was induced by Cd treatment and Fe deficiency. Immunostaining showed that OsNRAMP1 was localized in all root cells, except the central vasculature, and in leaf mesophyll cells. The knockout of OsNRAMP1 resulted in significant decreases in root uptake of Cd and Mn and their accumulation in rice shoots and grains, and increased sensitivity to Mn deficiency. The knockout of OsNRAMP1 had smaller effects on Cd and Mn uptake than knockout of OsNRAMP5, while knockout of both genes resulted in large decreases in the uptake of the two metals. Taken together, OsNRAMP1 contributes significantly to the uptake of Mn and Cd in rice, and the functions of OsNRAMP1 and OsNRAMP5 are similar but not redundant. Rice is the major dietary source of the toxic metal cadmium. Understand how rice takes up Cd is important. Two previous studies showed that OsNRAMP1 could transport iron (Fe), Cd and arsenic (As) in heterologous yeast assays, but its in planta function remains unknown. Here, we functionally characterize OsNRAMP1 and show that the transporter contributes significantly to the uptake of Cd and Mn in rice, but not the uptake of Fe or As. OsNRAMP1 and OsNRAMP5 play similar but non‐redundant functions. Our study sheds light on the mechanisms of Cd and Mn uptake by rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new power divider is proposed with a compact size. In 50- $\Omega $ systems, impedance transformation is of great importance for power dividers. Coupled microstrip lines with capacitor loaded and two short-circuited ports are introduced to properly transform impedance and increase degrees of freedom in power divider designs. Image impedance and image transfer constant of coupled microstrip lines with capacitor loaded are derived. The main structural parameters of the power divider are calculated accordingly. A special design procedure is illustrated for the proposed power divider with the capacitor loaded, which is implemented on a printed circuit board. A good agreement between the simulated model and the fabricated sample is observed, which demonstrates the validity of the proposed circuit model and the design scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice is a major dietary source of the toxic metal cadmium (Cd), and reducing its accumulation in the grain is therefore important for food safety. We selected two cultivars with contrasting Cd accumulation and generated transgenic lines overexpressing OsNRAMP5 , which encodes a major influx transporter for manganese (Mn) and Cd. We used two different promoters to control the expression, namely OsActin1 and maize Ubiquitin. Overexpression of OsNRAMP5 increased Cd and Mn uptake into the roots, but markedly decreased Cd accumulation in the shoots, whilst having a relatively small effect on Mn accumulation in the shoots. The overexpressed OsNRAMP5 protein was localized to the plasma membrane of all cell types in the root tips and lateral root primordia without polarity. Synchrotron X-ray fluorescence mapping showed that the overexpression lines accumulated more Cd in the root tips and lateral root primordia compared with the wild-type. When grown in three Cd-contaminated paddy soils, overexpression of OsNRAMP5 decreased concentration of Cd in the grain by 49–94% compared with the wild type. OsNRAMP5 -overexpression plants had decreased Cd translocation from roots to shoots as a result of disruption of its radial transport into the stele for xylem loading, demonstrating the effect of transporter localization and polarity on ion homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radical formation is the initial step for conventional radical chemistry. Reported herein is a unified strategy to generate radicals in situ from aromatic β‐ketoesters by using a photocatalyst. Under visible‐light irradiation, a small amount of photocatalyst fac‐Ir(ppy)3 generates a transient α‐carbonyl radical and persistent ketyl radical in situ. In contrast to the well‐established approaches, neither stoichiometric external oxidant nor reductant is required for this reaction. The synthetic utility is demonstrated by pinacol coupling of ketyl radicals and benzannulation of α‐carbonyl radicals with alkynes to give a series of highly substituted 1‐naphthols in good to excellent yields. The readily available photocatalyst, mild reaction conditions, broad substrate scope, and high functional‐group tolerance make this reaction a useful synthetic tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radical formation is the initial step for conventional radical chemistry. Reported herein is a unified strategy to generate radicals in situ from aromatic β‐ketoesters by using a photocatalyst. Under visible‐light irradiation, a small amount of photocatalyst fac‐Ir(ppy)3 generates a transient α‐carbonyl radical and persistent ketyl radical in situ. In contrast to the well‐established approaches, neither stoichiometric external oxidant nor reductant is required for this reaction. The synthetic utility is demonstrated by pinacol coupling of ketyl radicals and benzannulation of α‐carbonyl radicals with alkynes to give a series of highly substituted 1‐naphthols in good to excellent yields. The readily available photocatalyst, mild reaction conditions, broad substrate scope, and high functional‐group tolerance make this reaction a useful synthetic tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agasicles hygrophila has been introduced worldwide as a control agent for the invasive weed Alternanthera philoxeroides. However, global warming has potential impact on its controlling efficacy. The aim of this research was to explore the primary factors responsible for the greatly reduced A. hygrophila population in hot summers. To imitate the temperature conditions in summers, different developmental stages of A. hygrophila were treated with high temperatures from 32.5 °C to 45 °C for 1–5 h. Based on the survival rate, the heat tolerance of each developmental stage was ranked from lowest to highest as follows: egg, 1st, 2nd, 3rd instar larva, adult and pupa. Eggs showed the lowest heat tolerance with 37.5 °C as the critical temperature affecting larval hatching. Heat treatment of the A. hygrophila eggs at 37.5 °C for 1 h decreased the hatch rate to 24%. Our results indicated that when compared with the control at 25 °C, 1 h treatment at 37.5 °C prolonged the duration of the egg stage, shortened the duration of oviposition and total longevity, and changed the reproductive pattern of A. hygrophila. The net reproductive rate, intrinsic rate and finite rate were all significantly reduced. The results suggest that low heat tolerance of the eggs was the major factor responsible for the reduction of A. hygrophila populations, and the key temperature was 37.5 °C. Therefore, appropriate measures should be taken to protect eggs in order to maintain the efficacy of A. hygrophila in the biological control of A. philoxeroides in hot summers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Discovering thermostable C. koseri TA via genome mining approach. • Enhancing enzymatic thermostability by adding pyridoxal 5′-phosphate. • Realization of asymmetric synthesis of l -phosphinothricin at 45 °C using α-TA. • Repetitive biocatalysis with high product yield using immobilized cells. α-Transaminase (α-TA) responsible for catalyzing the reversible transfer of amino groups between amine donors and amine acceptors, is applicable to enzymatic route for asymmetric synthesis of herbicide l -phosphinothricin (l -PPT). In the search for α-TAs with better catalysis performance, three α-TAs were discovered by genome mining approach using a known sequence encoding Escherichia coli tyrosine TA (TyrB) as probe. Through detailed comparison of their expression amount, activities and characteristics, Citrobacter koseri TA (CkTA) exhibited better activity and thermostability, which retain 65.9% of initial activity after incubation at 57 °C for 4 h. The K m and k cat / K m values of CkTA were 36.75 mM and 34.29 mM−1 min−1, respectively. In addition, recombinant CkTA cells were immobilized onto Celite 545 using tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine as crosslinker. During five repetitive asymmetric synthesis of l -PPT from 20 g/L prostereogenic ketone using l -Glu as amine donor, all the yields of l -PPT reached up to 91.2% (＞99% ee). These characteristics made CkTA a valuable addition to the currently scarce α-TA library for stereospecific synthesis of l -PPT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The screening of new potential microbes for the selective degradation of lignin makes agricultural straws available to achieve the complete conversion to biofuel. Because of the capability of laccase to oxidize phenolic compounds and to reduce the molecular oxygen of water, laccase has attracted much interest in recent years for its industrial applications. In this study, a fungal strain with a relatively high laccase activity was isolated from corn farm residue and identified as Trametes KS-2. The maximum laccase activity was 631 U/L for Trametes KS-2 when glucose/corn stalk (1/1, w/w) and peptone were used as the carbon source and nitrogen source, with 0.09 mmol of Cu2+ at pH 5.5 and 28 °C for 10 days. Laccase activity of Trametes KS-2 was relatively stable in the presence of salt and an ionic liquid. Scanning electron microscopy analysis indicated the morphological alteration of lignocelluloses via Trametes KS-2 treatment. Remarkable degradation of lignin in corn stalk was achieved with Trametes KS-2. After 15 days, the lignin was noticeably reduced to 76 mg, and the degradation rate was increased to 65.4%. Trametes KS-2 could be potentially utilized in the microbial degradation of lignin for lignocellulosic biomass and the industrial production of laccase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arbuscular mycorrhizas (AMs) have the ability to enhance drought tolerance of citrus, but the underlying mechanisms have not been clearly elucidated. Considering the strong association of cell membrane fatty acid (FA) unsaturation with plant drought tolerance, the present study hypothesized that AM fungi (AMF) modulated the composition and unsaturation of FAs to enhance drought tolerance of host plants. Drought-sensitive citrus rootstocks, trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata) seedlings, were inoculated with AMF (Funneliformis mosseae) for 3 months and were subsequently exposed to drought stress (DS) for 8 weeks. Mycorrhizal seedlings exhibited better plant growth performance, higher leaf water potential and lower root abscisic acid concentrations under both well-watered (WW) and DS conditions. Arbuscular mycorrhiza fungus inoculation considerably increased root methyl oleate (C18:1), methyl linoleate (C18:2) and methyl linolenate (C18:3N3) concentrations under both WW and DS conditions, and root methyl palmitoleate (C16:1) concentrations under WW, while it decreased root methyl stearate (C18:0) levels under both WW and DS. These changes in the composition of FAs of mycorrhized roots resulted in higher unsaturation index of root FAs, which later aided in reducing the oxidative damage on account of lower concentration of malondialdehyde and superoxide radicals. The changes of these FAs were a result of AMF-up-regulating root FA desaturase 2 (PtFAD2), FA desaturase 6 (PtFAD6) and Δ9 FA desaturase (PtΔ9) genes under WW and PtFAD2 , PtFAD6 and Δ15 FA desaturase (PtΔ15) genes under DS conditions. Our results confirmed that mycorrhization brought significant changes in root FA compositions, in addition to regulation of gene expression responsible for increasing the unsaturation level of FAs, a predisposing physiological event for better drought tolerance of citrus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is increasing interest in the application of ionic liquids for the pretreatment and fractionation of lignocelluloses. In this study, a series of functional acidic ionic liquids (ILs) with various heterocyclic organic cations were synthesized. Corn stalks were successfully fractionated into lignin, hemicelluloses, and cellulose when ultrasonically pretreated with ILs at 70 °C for 3 h, and subsequently treated with alkaline extraction. High yields of IL-isolated lignin (18.3% to 19.6%) and (8.3% to 14.6%) were obtained using ILs in the absence and presence of water, respectively. The yield of cellulose ranged from 40.0 to 77.0% from IL treatments, whereas the yield of hemicelluloses ranged from 1.1% to 17.3%. Enzymatic hydrolysis of the isolated cellulose residual produced 89.2% to 94.9% reducing sugar with 77.8% to 86.1% glucose, which corresponded to 80.5% to 91.4% enzymatic conversion of cellulose. Syringol and vanillin were found as the main lignin degradation products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • This study mainly analyzed changes of root TIPs expression under mycorrhization and drought. • AM plants had higher leaf water status and root ABA levels under WW and DS. • AMF up-regulated PtTIP1;2 , PtTIP2;1 , PtTIP4;1 and PtTIP5;1 expression under WW. • Root PtTIP1;2 , PtTIP 1;3 and PtTIP 4;1 were up-regulated by AMF under DS. • Root PtTIP2;1 and PtTIP 5;1 were down-regulated by AMF under DS. Abstract Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can enhance plant tolerance to drought stress (DS), while it is unclear whether aquaporins take part in the AMF-modulated mechanisms. In this study, a potted experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, Funneliformis mosseae , on plant growth, leaf water status, root abscisic acid (ABA), and relative expression levels of root tonoplast intrinsic protein (TIPs , one of the most abundant aquaporins on plant vacuoles and plasma membranes) genes of trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata L. Raf.) seedlings under well-watered (WW) and DS. The 8-week DS significantly decreased mycorrhizal colonization by 19.5%. In both WW and DS, AMF significantly enhanced leaf relative water content, leaf water potential, and plant growth performance (plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, and biomass), as well as root ABA levels. With regards to root TIPs , seven TIP genes were identified. Meanwhile, AMF treatment up-regulated PtTIP1;2 , PtTIP2;1 , PtTIP4;1 , and PtTIP5;1 and down-regulated PtTIP1;1 and PtTIP2;2 under WW. Under DS, AMF seedlings showed higher expression levels of root PtTIP1;2 , PtTIP1;3 , and PtTIP4;1 and lower expression levels of root PtTIP2;1 and PtTIP5;1. It concludes that root TIPs exhibited diverse responses to mycorrhization, indicating the multiple roles of AMF in water absorption under drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract High-efficient preparation and screening of electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) was realized by a three electrode driving closed bipolar electrode (BPE) array system. As high concentrations of Fe(CN) 6 3−/4− (both 200 mM) existed in the anodic cell of the BPE system and same electrode material was adopted by the BPE anodic pole and driving electrode in anodic cell, the anodic cell performed similar to "good conductor" and the electrochemical behavior of the closed BPE system approximately equal to that of the three-electrode system in cathodic cell. Based on the above property and the parallel array, electrocatalysts containing bimetallic Pt Au and reduced graphene oxide (PtAu-rGO) with varying metal proportion were successfully prepared on the cathodic BPE poles by a two-step reduction process. Graphene oxide was firstly reduced to reduced graphene oxide (rGO) in each cathodic pole by cyclic voltammetry, and then Pt Au with different metal proportion were electrodeposited on the surface of rGO. Afterward, in-situ and high-throughput screening of these electrocatalysts for ORR was carried out based on the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) imaging on the corresponding anodic BPE poles. The screening results were consistent with those of the conventional electrochemical method by testing the catalytic performance one by one very well. This closed BPE array system with one potentiostat not only can prepare multiple catalyst candidates at the same time, but also can evaluate them, simultaneously, which is of great immediate significance to the field of fuel cell. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • High-throughput electrocatalysts preparation was achieved by the closed-BPE array. • In-situ electrocatalysts screening was realized based on ECL imaging. • The work provided high-efficient preparation and screening of electrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil salinity has negative effects on crop growth and production, while it is not clear whether mycorrhizal symbiosis mitigates the negative effect on citrus plants under salt stress. This study was to investigate the effects of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, Rhizoglomus intraradices on plant growth, root morphology, leaf relative water content (RWC), and root endogenous hormone levels of trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata) seedlings exposed to 0 and 150 mmol/L NaCl for 4 weeks. The 150 mmol/L NaCl treatment significantly inhibited root mycorrhizal colonization by 38%. Salt stress significantly reduced plant growth, root morphology, and RWC, while mycorrhizal seedlings represented greater growth performance (height, stem diameter, leaf number, and total plant biomass), root morphological traits (length, area, volume, diameter, and lateral root number) and RWC under non-salt and salt stress. Mycorrhizal fungal inoculation significantly increased root abscisic acid (ABA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) levels by 27%, 16%, and 11% under non-salt and by 17%, 20%, and 14% under salt stress. Mycorrhizal treatment did not alter root gibberellins and zeatin riboside levels under non-salt or salt stress, whereas increased root brassinosteroids levels by 24% only under non-salt stress. It suggests that R. intraradices had positive effects on enhancing salt tolerance of trifoliate orange, which is involved in greater plant growth, root development, and root ABA, IAA, and MeJA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Cereals are the main dietary source of cadmium (Cd). Rice grains often contain higher levels of Cd than other cereals, but the reasons are unknown. The aims of this study were to compare Cd uptake, translocation and influx kinetics between rice, wheat and maize and to investigate whether the expression and functionality of Nramp5 genes differ between the three crop species.Methods: Two cultivars each of rice, wheat and maize were grown hydroponically and exposed to a range of Cd concentrations. Nramp5 genes were cloned from the three plants and their expression levels determined. The Cd transport activities of Nramp5 proteins were tested in yeast.Results: Under hydroponic conditions, Cd uptake in rice was 2.5-8.1 and 1.1-3.6 times that of wheat and maize, respectively. The maximum Cd influx velocity of rice was 6.5 and 2.2 times that in wheat and maize, respectively. Wheat showed the lowest Cd uptake but the highest Cd root-to-shoot translocation. The absolute expression level of OsNramp5 in rice roots was 4-5 times that of TaNramp5A and TaNramp5D in wheat or ZmNramp5 in maize. All Nramp5 proteins were localized to the plasma membrane. When expressed in yeast, OsNramp5 showed a greater Cd transport activity than wheat or maize Nramp5.Conclusions: Rice has a greater Cd uptake ability than wheat or maize, likely because OsNramp5 is more highly expressed and the protein has a higher Cd transport activity than wheat or maize Nramp5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Xianshuihe Fault Zone (XFZ), with a maximum sinistral offset of ∼60 km since 13–5 Ma, is one of the major active fault zones on the eastern Tibetan Plateau. In this study, we investigated the tectonic landforms and slip rate along the central segment of the left-lateral strike-slip XFZ. Field investigations and topographic features show that horizontal offset has been accumulated on the topographical markers of different scales formed since the Late Pleistocene. The central segment of the XFZ is composed of three major faults: Yalahe, Selaha, and Zheduotang faults arranged in a right-stepping echelon pattern, which is mainly characterized by systematical offset of drainages, alluvial fans and terrace risers with typical scissoring structures, indicating a feature of strike-slip fault. We have estimated that the Selaha and Zheduotang Faults participate a slip rate of 5.6 ± 0.8 mm/yr and 3.4 ± 0.4 mm/yr respectively of the total ∼10 mm/yr slip rate across the central XFZ, based on the offset glacial morphology and radiocarbon dates. The present results suggest that the left-lateral slip of the XFZ partitions the deformation of eastward extrusion and northeastward shortening of the central Tibetan Plateau to accommodate the continuing penetration of the Indian plate into the Eurasian plate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: To understand the origin of chemical remagnetization in carbonate reservoir rocks and associated chemical processes, we have conducted detailed petrologic, geochemical, and magnetic studies of the hydrocarbon‐impregnated Ediacaran dolomite in the Taishan Paleo‐reservoir, south China. Samples were collected across a continuous outcrop consisting of oil‐free dolomite, transition zone dolomite, and highly hydrocarbon‐impregnated reservoir dolomite. Paleomagnetic results show that dolomite from the reservoir and transition zone were remagnetized and carries a possible Cambrian‐Ordovician direction (Dec = 163.7°, Inc = 10.6°, and α95 = 1.9°), and the oil‐free dolomite shows unstable magnetizations. Hematite is the magnetic mineral in the oil‐free dolomite, whereas the hydrocarbon‐impregnated reservoir dolomite contains no hematite but mainly pyrrhotite nanoparticles. Transition‐zone dolomite contains both hematite and pyrrhotite. In addition, the natural remanent magnetization intensities decrease from the reservoir dolomite, through the transition zone, and into the oil‐free dolomite, and a similar trend was observed in the total organic carbon and bitumen contents. The results suggest that the magnetic mineral assemblage and magnetic intensity in dolomite appear to be closely related to the degree of hydrocarbon impregnation and that remagnetization of the Ediacaran dolomite was likely caused by hydrocarbon migration into the dolomite. Pyrrhotite nanoparticles, magnetite, and barite are suggested to be formed during hydrocarbon migration, by the reduction of detrital hematite in the dolomite and sulfur species in the hydrocarbons. The new findings into the origin of pervasive remagnetization have the potential to guide future hydrocarbon exploration within Ediacaran dolomite that is host to the largest single carbonate gas reservoir in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucose isomerase (GI) responsible for catalyzing the isomerization from d -glucose to d -fructose, was an important enzyme for producing high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). In a quest to prepare HFCS at elevated temperature and facilitate enzymatic recovery, an effective procedure for whole cell immobilization of refractory Thermus oshimai glucose isomerase (ToGI) onto Celite 545 using tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine (THP) as crosslinker was established. The immobilized biocatalyst showed an activity of approximate 127.3 U/(g·immobilized product) via optimization in terms of cells loading, crosslinker concentration and crosslinking time. The pH optimum of the immobilized biocatalyst was displaced from pH 8.0 of native enzyme to neutral pH 7.0. Compared with conventional glutaraldehyde (GLU)-immobilized cells, it possessed the enhanced thermostability with 70.1% residual activity retaining after incubation at 90°C for 72 h. Moreover, the THP-immobilized biocatalyst exhibited superior operational stability, in which it retained 85.8% of initial activity after 15 batches of bioconversion at 85°C. This study paved a way for reducing catalysis cost for upscale preparation of HFCS with higher d -fructose concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A redox-neutral reaction without using any external oxidant and reductant in one pot is described. By combining a Ru(bpy)32+ photocatalyst and cobaloxime catalyst, a number of tertiary anilines can be oxidized by Ru(bpy)32+ to realize oxidative cyclization of tetrahydroquinolines, and the electron and proton eliminated from the substrate anilines are captured by a cobaloxime catalyst to achieve hydrogen transfer in situ to maleimides, in good to excellent yields, under redox-neutral conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interaction between conduction and radiation during the phase-change process within multidimensional participating media was numerically investigated. The solutions were based on the reproducing kernel particle method (RKPM). Test cases were analyzed and compared to results from analytical solutions and other studies to examine the performance of RKPM. Comparisons indicate that the RKPM is stable and accurate. The effect of thermo-optics effect on the phase-change process was carried out with the refractive index increases/decreases linearly with the temperature. The solidification process involving radiation was studied in a 2D enclosure. The effects of different parameters, i.e., extinction coefficients, scattering albedos, conduction-radiation parameters, and latent heat, on the temperature profiles were investigated, and the results show the parameters have significant effects on the solidification process. In addition, the solidification process during convection-radiation cooling was analyzed in a cuboid enclosure with the effect of various phase transition temperature ranges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sucrose and proline metabolisms are often associated with drought tolerance of plants. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) species (Funneliformis mosseae and Paraglomus occultum) on root biomass, lateral root number, root sucrose and proline metabolisms in trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata) seedlings under well-watered (WW) or drought stress (DS). All the AMF treatments significantly increased root dry weight, taproot length, and the number of lateral roots in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd class under WW and DS. Mycorrhizal seedlings conferred considerably higher fructose and glucose concentrations but lower sucrose accumulation, regardless of soil water status. Under DS, F. mosseae treatment significantly increased root sucrose synthase (SS, degradative direction) and sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) activity but deceased root acid invertase (AI) and neutral invertase (NI) activity, and P. occultum inoculation markedly increased root AI, NI, SS, and SPS activities. AMF treatments led to a lower proline accumulation in roots, in company with lower activities of Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS), δ-ornithine aminotransferase (OAT), Δ1- pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase (P5CR), and proline dehydrogenase (ProDH) in roots. It appears that the AM symbiosis induced greater root development and sucrose and proline metabolisms to adapt DS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we investigate the dynamics of the coherence of two atoms trapped in one cavity with resonance and large detuned characters, respectively. By means of tracing over the freedom of the cavity, the evolution coherent state can be obtained. Subsequently, the coherence within the two different scenarios is discussed. Remarkably, an interesting result is obtained as the coherence can be enhanced to a large extent in the framework of large detuning. Besides, we find that there exists a distinctive phenomenon of recovery of the coherence with the interaction time of atom-cavity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reliable estimates of the failure modes of basic facilities, especially the seismically isolated bridge, are required for almost any form of analysis used for the seismic design and retrofit of bridge. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau (HZM) Bridge (HZMB), a seismically isolated continuous girder bridge with six spans, is a sea-crossing bridge, which is now under construction and will connect the Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. Because the bridge is located in a highly active seismic zone, it is essential to evaluate the seismic performance of this bridge, in particular of its failure modes. Based on this practical engineering, this paper investigated the failure modes of isolated continuous girder bridge subjected to strong ground motions by developed weighted rank sum ratio method, in combination with developed 3D finite element bridge models. Firstly, three-dimensional finite element bridge models are developed and assessed using the incremental dynamic analysis method. Due to the flexibility of seismic isolation, both bending and rotational stiffness of isolation bearings are taken into account in the analysis. In addition, the rotational angle of bearings is found to be sensitive to seismic analytical results of isolated continuous girder bridges. Then, it conducted the nonlinear dynamic analysis on the HZM Bridge under sixteen strong earthquake records. Further, statistically significant failure modes and the weakest failure mode of this bridge are identified through the weighted rank sum ratio method. It resulted that, the final failure modes of this isolated continuous girder bridge are presented at the isolation bearings on a part of middle piers, at the isolation bearings on the abutments, at the isolation bearings at a side pier, and at the bottoms of side piers, respectively. The results of the failure mode analysis would greatly assist engineers to establish effective strategies for performance enhancement and seismic retrofit of bridge in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plant cell wall polysaccharide arabinan provides an important supply of arabinose, and unraveling arabinan-degrading strategies by microbes is important for understanding its use as a source of energy. Here, we explored the arabinan-degrading enzymes in the thermophilic bacterium Caldanaerobius polysaccharolyticus and identified a gene cluster encoding two glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 51 α-L-arabinofuranosidases (CpAbf51A, CpAbf51B), a GH43 endoarabinanase (CpAbn43A), a GH27 β-L-arabinopyranosidase (CpAbp27A), and two GH127 β-Larabinofuranosidases (CpAbf127A, CpAbf127B). The genes were expressed as recombinant proteins, and the functions of the purified proteins were determined with para-nitrophenyl (pNP)-linked sugars and naturally occurring pectin structural elements as the substrates. The results demonstrated that CpAbn43A is an endoarabinanase while CpAbf51A and CpAbf51B are α-L-arabinofuranosidases that exhibit diverse substrate specificities, cleaving α-1,2, α-1,3, and α-1,5 linkages of purified arabinan-oligosaccharides. Furthermore, both CpAbf127A and CpAbf127B cleaved β-arabinofuranose residues in complex arabinan side chains, thus providing evidence of the function of this family of enzymes on such polysaccharides. The optimal temperatures of the enzymes ranged between 60°C and 75°C, and CpAbf43A and CpAbf51A worked synergistically to release arabinose from branched and debranched arabinan. Furthermore, the hydrolytic activity on branched arabinan oligosaccharides and degradation of pectic substrates by the endoarabinanase and L-arabinofuranosidases suggested a microbe equipped with diverse activities to degrade complex arabinan in the environment. Based on our functional analyses of the genes in the arabinan degradation cluster and the substrate-binding studies on a component of the cognate transporter system, we propose a model for arabinan degradation and transport by C. polysaccharolyticus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]