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Chiral light emission plays a key role in sensing, tomography, quantum communication, among others. Whereas, achieving highly pure, tunable chirality emission across a broad spectrum currently presents significant challenges. Free‐electron radiation emerges as a promising solution to surpass these barriers, especially in hard‐to‐reach regimes. Here, chiral free‐electron radiation is presented by exploiting the spin‐momentum locking (SML) property of spoof surface plasmons (SSPs). When the phase velocity of free electrons matches that of the SSPs, the SSPs can be excited. By implementing wavenumber compensation through perturbations, the confined SSPs are transformed into free‐space free‐electron radiation. Owing to the law of angular momentum conservation, this process converts the transverse spin angular momentum of SSPs into the longitudinal spin angular momentum of free‐electron radiation during the process, producing pure, tunable, and chiral free‐electron radiation across a broad spectrum. This method achieves an optimal degree of circular polarization approaching −1. The innovative methodology can be adapted to SML‐enabled guided states or silicon photonics platforms, offering new avenues for achieving chiral emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given its increasing prevalence, aging is of great concern to researchers worldwide. Cellular senescence is a physiological or pathological cellular state caused by aging and a prominent risk factor for the interruption of the integrity and functionality of human biological barriers. Health barriers play an important role in maintaining microenvironmental homeostasis within the body. The senescence of barrier cells leads to barrier dysfunction and age-related diseases. Cellular senescence has been reported to be a key target for the prevention of age-related barrier diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and preeclampsia. Drugs such as metformin, dasatinib, quercetin, BCL-2 inhibitors, and rapamycin have been shown to intervene in cellular senescence and age-related diseases. In this review, we conclude that cellular senescence is involved in age-related biological barrier impairment. We further outline the cellular pathways and mechanisms underlying barrier impairment caused by cellular senescence and describe age-related barrier diseases associated with senescent cells. Finally, we summarize the currently used anti-senescence pharmacological interventions and discuss their therapeutic potential for preventing age-related barrier diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advances in vortex Smith–Purcell radiation (V‐SPR) have spurred many breakthroughs in the generation of vortex beams for their potential applications in chiral detection, particle acceleration, communication, and imaging. However, advanced multi‐mode applications of the V‐SPR suffer from the incoherent spectrum and poor purity in producing high‐order topological charges. Here, by exploiting the rotational symmetry and Brillouin‐folding phenomenon, it is proved that the coherent V‐SPR with independently steerable high‐order topological charge is directly emitted from chiral spoof surface plasmons. Moreover, both topological charges and operation frequencies can be readily tuned, thus enabling flexible adaptability over a broad bandwidth. A proof‐of‐concept prototype is designed and fabricated in the microwave regime, in which the method is demonstrated from the perspective of symmetry and tunability. The proposed methodology can be exploited as a platform to investigate the interaction between chiral plasmons and swift electrons, promising a feasible scheme for generating coherent and tunable vortex beams from the microwave to the terahertz band. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subseasonal variation of the anomalous western North Pacific anticyclone (WNPAC) has important implications for East Asian summer monsoon variability. How the WNPAC evolves on the subseasonal time scale under the different configurations of tropical North Atlantic (TNA) Ocean and north Indian Ocean (NIO) SST warming is elucidated in this study. The WNPAC forced by individual TNA SST warming shows an obvious subseasonal variation with a stepwise northward movement. In contrast, the WNPAC forced by individual NIO SST warming shows a weak subseasonal variation, being nearly stabilized at around 208N from June to August and thereby causing long-lasting and intense positive mei-yu-baiu-changma rainfall anomalies. The physical mechanism for the different subseasonal variation of WNPAC is further investigated. The TNA SST warming generates a WNPAC via a Rossby wave-induced divergence/convergence chain response. In this process, the TNA SST warming-induced suppressed convection over the western Pacific moves northward with the northward movement of climatological intertropical convergence zone and summer monsoon region, which generates a northward shift of the WNPAC. However, the NIO SST warming produces a WNPAC via a Kelvin wave-induced suppressed convection over the western Pacific Ocean. This suppressed convection is stabilized at around 208N because of the Kelvin wave activity scope being limited within 208N, which finally produces a nearly stationary WNPAC from June to August. In addition, under the simultaneous occurrence of the TNA and NIO SST warming, the subseasonal variation of WNPAC bears a resemblance to that for the individual NIO SST warming condition, where the TNA SST warming fails to exert its impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HAP2 is a transmembrane gamete fusogen found in multiple eukaryotic kingdoms and is structurally homologous to viral class II fusogens. Studies in Plasmodium have suggested that HAP2 is an attractive target for vaccines that block transmission of malaria. HAP2 has three extracellular domains, arranged in the order D2, D1, and D3. Here, we report monoclonal antibodies against the D3 fragment of Plasmodium berghei HAP2 and crystal structures of D3 in complex with Fab fragments of two of these antibodies, one of which blocks fertilization of Plasmodium berghei in vitro and transmission of malaria in mosquitoes. We also show how this Fab binds the complete HAP2 ectodomain with electron microscopy. The two antibodies cross-react with HAP2 among multiple plasmodial species. Our characterization of the Plasmodium D3 structure, HAP2 ectodomain architecture, and mechanism of inhibition provide insights for the development of a vaccine to block malaria transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's urbanization rate is increasing beyond sustainable levels because it has increased by approximately 1% every year in the last 30 years. As an important part of urban development, the selection of an urbanization strategy has been the focus of local governments. As such, local governments play an important role in urbanization processes by coordinating land supply and population growth. Using the 2009–2013 panel data of 41 cities in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region, this research tests the relationship between land supply and population growth to explore the urbanization strategy adopted by local governments. Simultaneous equation models for land supply and population growth are developed in this research. Empirical results identify land supply as the cause and population growth as the effect. Findings suggest that local governments in the YRD choose an aggressive strategy in urbanization which treats land as a tool for accelerating the urbanization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Probiotics play a role in relieving irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); however, the underlying mechanism is yet unclear. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of the supernatants of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum on the expression of serotonin transporter (SERT) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and protein. Materials and Methods: HT-29 and Caco-2 cells were treated with different concentrations of L. acidophilus and B. longum supernatants for 12 h and 24 h, respectively. SERT mRNA and proteins levels were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) and Western-blotting. Results: The mRNA levels of SERT in HT-29 and Caco-2 cells treated with different concentrations of L. acidophilus or B. longum supernatants for 12 h and 24 h, each, were higher than that in the control groups. In addition, the expression of the protein in both cells was also upregulated, which was approximately similar to that of the corresponding mRNA. Conclusions: L. acidophilus and B. longum supernatants can upregulate SERT mRNA and protein levels in intestinal epithelial cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Accurate intraoperative localization of esophageal lesions is essential for successful surgical resection. We tested whether preoperative endoscopic placement of titanium clips could facilitate intraoperative localization of early-stage esophageal cancer or severe dysplasia. Methods: A prospective randomized clinical trial was performed between May 2012 and July 2014. All enrolled patients received preoperative endoscopy and esophageal endoscopic ultrasound, as well as pathological study on the biopsy specimen, to confirm early stage esophageal cancer or severe dysplasia. One day before the surgical operation, patients in the experimental group received the preoperative endoscopic titanium labeling of esophageal lesions. Then, during the surgical operation, palpitation of titanium clips was used to localize the lesions in these patients. In patients in the control group, palpitation of nodules or esophageal wall mucosal thickening, together with the consideration of the results from preoperative endoscopic and ultrasound studies, was applied to estimate the location of the esophageal lesions. Study outcomes included the proportions of patients having successful intraoperative pre-resection lesion localization, post-esophagectomy lesion visualization, negative upper surgical margin, change of surgical approaches, and positive postoperative pathological diagnosis. Results: A total of 27 patients were enrolled into the study, with 14 in the experimental group and 13 in the control group. Compared to the patients in the control group, a higher proportion of patients in the experimental group had statistically significant successful intraoperative esophageal lesion localization (100 versus 15.3% in the experimental versus control group). Conclusions: Preoperative endoscopic titanium clip placement could facilitate intraoperative localization of early-stage esophageal cancer or severe dysplasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A majority of studies have indicated that microRNA‑125b (miR‑125b) is aberrantly expressed in various types of cancer. However, there are no studies on the expression and function of miR‑125b in human laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). In the present study, miR‑125b expression in LSCC sample tissues, corresponding adjacent non‑neoplastic tissues, LSCC cell lines and a normal human keratinocyte cell line was measured using the reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Following transfection with miR‑125b mimics, the Cell Counting Kit‑8, cell migration, cell invasion, western blotting and dual‑luciferase reporter assays were performed on LSCC cell lines. According to the results, miR‑125b was observed to be significantly downregulated in LSCC, and its expression was significantly associated with clinical stage and alcohol history. miR‑125b was also observed to decrease cell growth, migra­tion and invasion in LSCC cells by directly targeting signal transducer and activator of transcription 3. The results of the present study suggested that miR‑125b may be a potential treatment target of LSCC in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Target-specific next-generation sequencing technology was used to analyze 112 genes in adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). This sequencing mainly focused on the specific mutational hotspots. Among the 121 patients, 93 patients were B-ALL (76.9%), and 28 patients (23.1%) were T-ALL. Of the 121 patients, 110 (90.9%) harbored at least one mutation. The five most frequently mutated genes in T-ALL are NOTCH1, JAK3, FBXW7, FAT1, and NRAS. In B-ALL, FAT1, SF1, CRLF2, TET2, and PTPN1 have higher incidence of mutations. Gene mutations are different between Ph+ ALL and Ph- ALL patients. B-ALL patients with PTPN11 mutation and T-ALL patients with NOTCH1 and/or FBXW7 mutations showed better survival. But B-ALL with JAK1/JAK2 mutations showed worse survival. The results suggest that gene mutations exist in adult ALL patients universally, they are related with prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impacts of different meridional structures of tropical sea surface temperature (SST) on the Hadley circulation (HC) in the annual mean are investigated during the period 1948-2013. By decomposing the variations in SST and the HC into two components—that is, the equatorially asymmetric (SEA for SST. and HEA for HC) and the equatorially symmetric (SES for SST, and HES for HC) parts—it is shown that the long-term variability in SEA and SES captures well the temporal variations in equatorially asymmetric and symmetric variations in SST. The variation in HEA is closely linked to that of SEA, and the variation in HES is connected with that of SES. However, the response of HEA to a given amplitude variation in SEA is stronger (by ~5 times) than that of HES to the same amplitude variation in SES. This point is further verified by theoretical and numerical models, indicating that the meridional structure of SST plays a crucial role in determining the anomalies in HC. This result may explain why the principal mode of HC is dominated by an equatorially asymmetric mode in its long-term variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supramolecular gels with hierarchical order and complexity have been assembled. The gels contain well-defined Ag4L2 luminescent supramolecular cages as cores, which are cross-linked via Ag-P coordination bonding. The resulting gels are highly luminescent and exhibit rich stimuli-responsive behaviors toward mechanical and chemical (nitroexplosive and anions) stimuli. The gels could be transformed to highly luminescent crystal materials upon addition of halogen anions, in which only traces of lumiphor are accommodated in a host crystal matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of endogenous small noncoding RNAs in eukaryotes, have been recognized as significant regulators of gene expression through post-transcriptional mechanisms. To date, >2000 miRNAs have been identified in the human genome, and they orchestrate a variety of biological and pathological processes. Disruption of miRNA levels correlates with many diseases, including diabetes mellitus, a complex multifactorial metabolic disorder affecting >400 million people worldwide. miRNAs are involved in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus by affecting pancreatic β-cell functions, insulin resistance, or both. In this review, we summarize the investigations of the regulatory roles of important miRNAs in diabetes, as well as the potential of circulating miRNAs as diagnostic markers for diabetes mellitus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential influence of the developing phases of the two types of El Niño (i.e., EP El Niño and CP El Niño) on rainfall over southern China was investigated using observational data sets from 1979 to 2008. The developing phases of the CP El Niño events are associated with enhanced rainfall over southern China during summer, whereas the influence is not significant in autumn. During the developing phases of the EP El Niño events, rainfall significantly increases over southern China during autumn but no significant increases are observed in summer. These increases in rainfall are a result of the circulation anomalies associated with the two types of El Niño events. The western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH) shifts northeastward during developing phases of the CP El Niño events in summer and is accompanied by enhanced convection and ascending flow. The WPSH shifts westward during the developing phases of the EP El Niño events in autumn and is associated with anomalous southwesterlies over southern China. These circulation anomalies favor more rainfall in southern China. No significant circulation anomalies occur during the developing phases of the CP El Niño events in autumn or the EP El Niño events in summer. These results highlight the importance of considering their developing phases when investigating effects of these two types of El Niño events on climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is very common and usually occurs in childhood or early adulthood. Encephalitis/encephalopathy is an uncommon but serious neurological complication of EBV. A case of EBV-associated encephalitis/encephalopathy with involvement of reversible widespread cortical and splenial lesions is presented herein. An 8-year-old Chinese girl who presented with fever and headache, followed by seizures and drowsiness, was admitted to the hospital. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed high signal intensities on diffusion-weighted imaging in widespread cortical and splenial lesions. The clinical and laboratory examination results together with the unusual radiology findings suggested acute encephalitis/encephalopathy due to primary EBV infection. After methylpred- nisolone pulse therapy together with ganciclovir, the patient made a full recovery without any brain lesions. The hallmark clinical-radiological features of this patient included severe encephalitis/ encephalopathy at onset, the prompt and complete recovery, and rapidly reversible widespread involvement of the cortex and splenium. Patients with EBV encephalitis/encephalopathy who have multiple lesions, even with the widespread involvement of cortex and splenium of the corpus callosum, may have a favorable outcome with complete disappearance of all brain lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the fundamental interaction of nanoparticles at plant interfaces is critical for reaching field- scale applications of nanotechnology- enabled plant agriculture, as the processes between nanoparticles and root interfaces such as root compartments and root exudates remain largely unclear. Here, using iron deficiency--induced plant chlorosis as an indicator phenotype, we evaluated the iron transport capacity of Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated with citrate (CA) or polyacrylic acid (PAA) in the plant rhizosphere. Both nanoparticles can be used as a regulator of plant hormones to promote root elongation, but they regulate iron deficiency in plant in distinctive ways. In acidic root exudates secreted by iron- deficient Arabidopsis thaliana, CA- coated particles released fivefold more soluble iron by binding to acidic exudates mainly through hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces and thus, prevented iron chlorosis more effectively than PAA- coated particles. We demonstrate through roots of mutants and visualization of pH changes that acidification of root exudates primarily originates from root tips and the synergistic mode of nanoparticle uptake and transformation in different root compartments. The nanoparticles entered the roots mainly through the epidermis but were not affected by lateral roots or root hairs. Our results show that magnetic nanoparticles can be a sustainable source of iron for preventing leaf chlorosis and that nanoparticle surface coating regulates this process in distinctive ways. This information also serves as an urgently needed theoretical basis for guiding the application of nanomaterials in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Free‐electron radiations prompt numerous advanced applications such as particle detectors, biological imaging, and light sources from microwave to X‐ray. While their polarization, directionality, and phase could be shaped with prosperous metamaterials, their natural broad spectra have not been tailored to yield frequency combs, which are state‐of‐the‐art technology in metrology, spectroscopy, and precision frequency synthesis. Here, the frequency comb directly emitted from the free‐electron radiation is demonstrated by simultaneously exciting a series of modes with equidistant spectral lines. Both the offset and repetition frequencies are readily adapted by structural parameters, and relative spectrum intensities between the comb teeth are customizable based on selective coupling, thus permitting flexible tunability over broadband. Moreover, the repetition rate is experimentally verified at the microwave regime. The proposed methodology implies that swift electrons present a natural and versatile platform for generating frequency combs, facilitating the development of metrology and spectroscopy in the terahertz band. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first total syntheses of rubialatinsA and B, two newly discoverednaphthohydroquinone dimers, were achieved with high efficiencyand elegancy through rationally designed biomimetic approaches. Thetandem ring contraction/Michael addition/aldol reaction followed byoxidation enabled the rapid access of prerubialatin from readily availableprecursors, which then diverted into rubialatins A and B via epoxidationand photoinduced skeletal rearrangement, respectively. Moreover, severalnew rubialatin congeners were also obtained along the synthetic tour,some of which were proved to be authentic natural products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our previous experiment confirmed that high-mobility group box chromosomal protein 1 (HMGB1) was involved in the pathogenesis of Lupus nephritis (LN) by upregulating the proliferation of the mouse mesangial cell line (MMC) through the cyclin D1/CDK4/p16 system, but the precise mechanism is still unknown. Therefore, in the present study, we demonstrated that HMGB1 induced the proliferation of MMC cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, downregulated phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) expression, increased the level of Akt serine 473 phosphorylation, and induced p65 subunit nuclear translocation. The overexpression of PTEN prevented the upregulation of HMGB1-induced proliferation by blocking the activation of Akt. The knockdown of Akt by siRNA technology and blocking the nuclear factor-κ (NF-κ) pathway using pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) and SN50, inhibitors of NF-κ, both attenuated the HMGB1-induced proliferation by counteracting the activation of the cyclin D1. In addition, while sh-Akt partly blocked the nuclear translocation of the p65 subunit, PDTC did not affect the activation of the Akt induced by HMGB1 in MMC cells. These findings indicate that HMGB1 induced the proliferation of MMC cells by activating the PTEN/phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/NF-κ signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robustness and energy efficiency are critical for sensor information system, in which an abundance of wireless sensor nodes collects useful data from the deployed field. The chain-based protocols (like PEGASIS (Lindsey and Raghavendra, 2002)) are elegant solutions where sensor node has high energy efficiency. Unfortunately, if one node in the chain is failed due to some reasons such as energy exhaust, then the information cannot be forwarded to the sink. To improve system robustness and balance the energy consumption, this paper proposes a robust and energy-efficient data gathering (REEDG) approach, which is an improvement over the chain-based and grid-based network structures, in sensor information collecting system. In REEDG, data gathering is executed by a data transmitting chain which is composed by a series of virtual grids. Each grid communicates only with its neighbor grid and takes turns transmitting the information to the base station. Furthermore, an adaptive scheduling scheme is proposed to trade off energy consumption on each node and data forwarding delay. Experimental results show that, when compared with state-of-the-art approaches, REEDG achieves network lifetime extension of at least 13% as measured in terms of 20% dead nodes and improves the data transmission ratio at lowest 24% as 20% nodes fail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy efficiency and data transmission delay are critical issues for mobile target tracking wireless sensor networks, in which abundant sensor nodes are deployed to collect the target information from the sensing field. At present, many existing works have been concentrated on extending network lifetime, while less emphasis was placed on both transmission delay reduction and the adaptive sleep of sensor nodes considering the application constraints. In this paper, we propose a smart power management and delay reduction approach for target tracking based on a grid network structure, where sensor nodes adjust their sleep intervals according to the distance between the node and the moving target. Sensor nodes can distributedly decide their sleeping time using the information from their neighbors. Furthermore, we propose a real-time chain to relay the sensed data for transmission delay reduction. The proposed approach allows sensor nodes that are far away from the target to sleep more and make the target information forward to the sink in time. Experimental results verify that, in contrast to adaptive coordinate and local power management protocols, the proposed approach achieves a significant energy saving while maintaining a short transmission delay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overestimation of precipitation over steep mountains is always a common bias of atmospheric general circulation models (AGCMs). One basic reason is the imperfection of parameterization scheme. Sub-grid topography has a non-negligible role in the dynamics of the actual atmosphere, and therefore the sub-grid topographic parameterization schemes have been the focus of model development. This study proposes a sub-grid parameterization scheme for topographic vertical motion in CAM5-SE to revise the original vertical velocity by adding the topographic vertical motion and then resulting a significant improvement of simulation in precipitation over steep mountains. The results show a better improvement in precipitation simulation in steep mountains, such as the steep edge of the Tibetan Plateau and the Andes. The positive deviations of the precipitation on the mountain tops and the negative deviations in the windward slope are revised. The improved scheme of topographic vertical motion reduces the model biases of summer mean precipitation simulations by up to 48 % (6.23 mm day−1) on the mountain tops. The improvement of convective precipitation (4.83 mm day−1) contributes the most to the improvement of the total precipitation simulation. In addition, we extend the dynamic lifting effect of topography from the lowest layer to multiple layers, approaching the surface layer. Moreover, the water vapor transport in low-altitude regions in front of the windward slope is also considerably improved, leading to simulations of much more realistic circulation patterns in the multi-layer scheme. Since the sub-grid parameterization scheme addresses the more detailed problem caused by topography, the water vapor is transported further to the northwest in the multi-layer scheme. The topographic vertical motion schemes in both the Single- and Multi-experiments can improve the model performance in simulating precipitation in all regions with complex terrain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two atomic arrangements were found near the equiatomic composition in the strontium-lithium-arsenic system. Orthorhombic o-SrLiAs was synthesized by reaction of elemental components at 950 °C, followed by annealing at 800 °C and subsequent quenching in water. The hexagonal modification h-SrLi1-xAs was obtained from annealing of o-SrLiAs at 550 °C in dynamic vacuum. The structures of both phases were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction: o-SrLiAs, structure type TiNiSi, space group Pnma, Pearson symbol oP12, a = 7.6458(2) Å, b = 4.5158(1) Å, c = 8.0403(3) Å, V = 277.61(2) Å(3), RF = 0.028 for 558 reflections; h-SrLi1-xAs, structure type ZrBeSi, space group P63/mmc, Pearson symbol hP6, a = 4.49277(9) Å, c = 8.0970(3) Å, V = 141.54(1) ų, RF = 0.026 for 113 reflections. The analysis of the electron density within the framework of the quantum theory of atoms in molecules revealed a charge transfer according to the Sr1.3+Li0.8+As2.1-, in agreement with the electronegativities of the individual elements. The electron localizability indicator distribution indicated the formation of a 3D anionic framework [LiAs] in o-SrLiAs and a rather 2D anionic framework [LiAs] in h-SrLi.1-xAs. Magnetic susceptibility measurements point to a diamagnetic character of both phases, which verifies the calculated electronic density of states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: For screening a library of enzyme mutants, an efficient and cost-effective method for reliable assay of enzyme activity and a decision method for safe recognition of mutants of higher activity are needed. The comparison of activity concentrations of mutants in lysates of transformed Escherichia coli cells against a threshold is unsafe to recognize mutants of higher activity due to variations of both expression levels of mutant proteins and lysis efficiency of transformed cells. Hence, by a spectrophotometric method after verification to measure uricase activity, specific activity calculated from the level of total proteins in a lysate was tested for recognizing a mutant of higher activity. Results: During uricase reaction, the intermediate 5-hydroxyisourate interferes with the assay of uric acid absorbance, but the measurement of absorbance at 293 nm in alkaline borate buffer was reliable for measuring uricase initial rates within a reasonable range. The level of total proteins in a lysate was determined by the Bradford assay. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis supported different relative abundance of uricase mutant proteins in their lysates; activity concentrations of uricase in such lysates positively correlated with levels of total proteins. Receiver-operation-curve analysis of activity concentration or specific activity yielded area-under-the-curve close to 1.00 for recognizing a mutant with > 200% improvement of activity. For a mutant with just about 80% improvement of activity, receiver-operation-curve analysis of specific activity gave area-under-the-curve close to 1.00 while the analysis of activity concentration gave smaller area-under-the-curve. With the mean plus 1.4-fold of the standard deviation of specific activity of a starting material as the threshold, uricase mutants whose activities were improved by more than 80% were recognized with higher sensitivity and specificity. Conclusion: Specific activity calculated from the level of total proteins is a favorable index for recognizing an enzyme mutant with small improvement of activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), synthesized from arachidonic acid by cytochrome P450 epoxygenases, are converted to dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acids by soluble epoxide hydrolase. EETs exert anti-inflammatory effects. However, the effect of EETs on humoral immunity is poorly understood. The present study is to investigate the potential role of EETs on B cell function and mechanisms. We examined the role of EETs on antibody production of splenic B cells from C57BL/6 and apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE-/-) mice by means of ELISA. Of the 4 EET regioisomers, 8,9-EET decreased basal and activation-induced B cell antibody secretion. As well, 8,9-EET significantly inhibited B-cell proliferation and survival, plasma cell differentiation and class-switch recombination. Western blot analysis revealed that lipopolysaccharide-induced nuclear translocation of NF-κB could be attenuated by 8,9-EET. Furthermore, germinal center formation was impaired by 8,9-EET in mice in vivo. 8,9-EET may inhibit B-cell function in vitro and in vivo, which suggests a new therapeutic strategy for diseases with excess B cell activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The geometries, stabilities, and electronic properties of AuLa ( n = 2-8) clusters have been systematically investigated by using density-functional theory. The results show that the doped La atom prefers to locate at the center site with the number of Au atom increasing from 2 to 8. Furthermore, the AuLa clusters are more stable than the Au clusters. The charges transfer from La atom to Au atoms at n = 2-4, but charge-transferring is reversed at n = 5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have raised the possibility that the recent decline in winter rainfall over southwest Western Australia (SWWA) is related to the concurrent upward trend in the southern annular mode (SAM). On the basis of an analysis of 60-yr (1948--2007) reanalysis and observed data, the authors suggest that the apparent inverse relationship between the SAM and SWWA winter rainfall (SWR) is caused by a single extreme year--1964. It is shown that both the negative and positive phases of the SAM have little impact on SWR in the case that data for 1964 are excluded from the analysis. In addition, for periods prior to and after 1964 in the case that data for 1964 are excluded, the apparent relationship between the SAM and SWR becomes insignificant, and the circulation anomalies with respect to SWR appear to be an SAM-like pattern for which the anomalies at high latitudes are not significant. The result indicates that the SAM does not significantly influence the winter rainfall over SWWA. Instead, the variation of SWR would be more closely linked to the variability in regional circulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gaseous pvTxproperties of CO2(1, CAS No. 124-38-9) propane (2, CAS No. 74-98-6) mixtures were measured using the Burnett-isochoric method with 225 data points obtained for temperatures from (320 to 400) K, pressures up to 7784 kPa, and densities up to 141 kg·m−3at x1= 0.5158 and x1= 0.8017. Burnett measurements for argon (CAS No. 7440-37-1) were conducted at 319 K and for CO2at 343 K. The pvTproperties and virial coefficients of argon and CO2agreed well with literature results when the effective cell constant for each fluid instead of that of the helium calibration was used in the density calculations. The temperature, pressure, density, and mole fraction uncertainties were estimated to be ± 5 mK, ± 300 Pa, ± 0.05 %, and ± 0.01 %, respectively. A truncated virial equation was used to correlate the experimental pvTxdata of CO2 propane mixtures with root-mean-square deviations of ± 0.03 %. The second and third virial coefficients for the binary mixtures were also determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the NCEP–NCAR reanalysis, the 40-yr ECMWF Re-Analysis (ERA-40), and precipitation data from the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) Merged Analysis of Precipitation (CMAP) and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, the variability and circulation features influencing southwest Western Australia (SWWA) winter rainfall are investigated. It is found that the climate of southwest Australia bears a strong seasonality in the annual cycle and exhibits a monsoon-like atmospheric circulation, which is called the southwest Australian circulation (SWAC) because of its several distinct features characterizing a monsoonal circulation: the seasonal reversal of winds, alternate wet and dry seasons, and an evident land–sea thermal contrast. The seasonal march of the SWAC in extended winter (May–October) is demonstrated by pentad data. An index based on the dynamics’ normalized seasonality was introduced to describe the behavior and variation of the winter SWAC. It is found that the winter rainfall over SWWA has a significant positive correlation with the SWAC index in both early (May–July) and late (August–October) winter. In weaker winter SWAC years, there is an anticyclonic anomaly over the southern Indian Ocean resulting in weaker westerlies and northerlies, which are not favorable for more rainfall over SWWA, and the opposite combination is true in the stronger winter SWAC years. The SWAC explains not only a large portion of the interannual variability of SWWA rainfall in both early and late winter but also the long-term drying trend over SWWA in early winter. The well-coupled SWAC–SWWA rainfall relationship seems to be largely independent of the well-known effects of large-scale atmospheric circulations such as the southern annular mode (SAM), El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Indian Ocean dipole (IOD), and ENSO Modoki (EM). The result offers qualified support for the argument that the monsoon-like circulation may contribute to the rainfall decline in early winter over SWWA. The external forcing of the SWAC is also explored in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease with T cell-driven immunoinflammatory responses contributing to disease initiation and progression. We investigated the potential role of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in hyperhomocysteinaemia (HHcy)-accelerated atherosclerosis in apoE−/− mice. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: Objective: To establish the transgenic mouse of cTnTR141W gene to make an animal model of dilated cardiomyopathy. Methods: A transgenic plasmid was constructed by inserting the cTnTR141W gene driven by the α-MHC promoter. The expression level of the gene was determined with Northern blotting. Pathologic changes were observed by light microscopy and transmission electronic microscopy and analyzed with echocardiography. The localization of the mutant human cTnT protein was detected by immunohistochemistry. The hypertrophy markers were analyzed by RT-PCR. Results: Transgenic mice carrying the cTnTR141W mutation were established. The cTnTR141W was expressed by 1.5- to 2.0-fold that of the endogenous cTnT gene and was showed to assemble in the sarcomere. The transgenic heart exhibited a thinner ventricular wall and an enlarged ventricular chamber. Interstitial fibrosis and the elongated and lysed myofrils were also observed in the transgenic heart tissue. The function on EF%, FS% and movement of the ventricular wall was significantly decreased. The immature death occurred after 4 months of age and the immature death rate was 11.1% before 8 months of age in the cTnTR141W mice. The increased NPPB, ACTA1 and decreased ATP2A2 were detected in the transgenic heart. Conclusions: The expression of mutant cTnTR141W in the mouse heart caused ventricular chamber enlargement, systolic dysfunction, myocardial hypertrophy, and interstitial fibrosis, suggesting that the cTnTR141W gene is a causal factor for DCM and that the cTnTR141W transgenic mouse is a useful animal model for the study of human DCM. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract  The structures and stabilities of B n O and B n O2 clusters with n ≤ 6 are studied systematically by using density-functional theory. The lowest-energy structures of B n O clusters favor two-dimensional, and can be obtained from B n or B n−1O. For B n O2, unexpectedly, all of the most stable B n O2 clusters but B6O2 are linear. Furthermore, in B n O2 clusters, the longer the distance between two O atoms, the more stable the structure. To investigate the relative stability of considered clusters, binding energies per atom, reaction energies, and fragmentation energies are also calculated and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixtures of difluoromethane (HFC-32) and 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane (HFC-227ea) are promising alternative refrigerants; however, there is currently no available published experimental PVTxdata. The gaseous PVTxproperties of HFC-32 (1) HFC-227ea (2) mixtures were measured using the Burnett-isochoric method with 251 data sets obtained for temperatures from (310 to 410) K, pressures up to 3658 kPa, and densities up to 206 kg·m-3at x10.2648, x10.5155, and x10.7809. The temperature, pressure, and mole fraction uncertainties were estimated to be ±10 mK, ±100 Pa, and ±0.01 %, respectively. A truncated virial equation was used to correlate the experimental data, with the second and third virial coefficients for the binary mixtures also determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The geometries, stabilities, and electronic properties of Bnand AlBnclusters, up to n12, have been systematically investigated by using the density-functional approach. The results of Bnclusters are in good agreement with previous conclusions. When the Al atom is doped in Bnclusters, the lowest-energy structures of the AlBnclusters favor two-dimensional and can be obtained by adding one Al atom on the peripheral site of the stable Bnwhen n≤ 5. Starting from n6, the lowest-energy structures of AlBnclusters favor three-dimensional and can be described as an Al atom being capped on the Bnclusters. The average atomic binding energies, fragmentation energies, and second-order energy differences are calculated and discussed. Maximum peaks were observed for clusters of sizes n5, 8, 11, especially for the AlB8cluster, implying that these clusters possess relatively higher stability. The adiabatic IP and EA of AlBnand Bnclusters are discussed and compared with some available experimental results. A distinct phenomena for AlBnclusters is that all even n, but n10, have higher adiabatic ionization potentials than odd n. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: It is to describe an immunocompetent adult patient with hepatitis and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) after Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. In the initial course of the diagnosis and treatment, CMV infection was ignored. Case report: A 19-year-old Chinese girl complained of fatigue with pain and numbness of the limbs, with abnormal liver function. She was diagnosed as a case of GBS based on history, clinical findings and auxiliary examinations. On day 13 of admission, her liver function was still abnormal. So CMV was recommended to examine. CMV hepatitis was diagnosed on positive serum anti-CMV IgG and IgM antibodies. The case was improved only with intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, without the use of antiviral therapy. Conclusions: This case showed an immunocompetent adult patient with hepatitis and GBS induced by CMV. The physicians should take into account multi-system involvement of severe CMV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unique behavior of a new Ru(II) diimine complex, Ru(bpy)[sub 2](L)[sup 2+] (where L is 4-methyl-4'-[p-(dimethyl- amino)-α-styryl]-2,2'bipyridine, bpy is 2,2'-bipyridine), was studied in detail. Due to the strong electron donating property of the amino group, an ILCT (intraligand charge transfer) state is involved either in the absorption spectra or in the time-resolved emission spectra. Dual emission based on ³MLCT and ³ILCT states was observed at room temperature for the first time via a time-resolved technique in Ru(II) diimine complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integration of methanogenic archaea with photocatalysts presents a sustainable solution for solar-driven methanogenesis. However, maximizing CH4 conversion efficiency remains challenging due to the intrinsic energy conservation and strictly restricted substrates of methanogenic archaea. Here, we report a solar-driven biotic--abiotic hybrid (biohybrid) system by incorporating cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanoparticles with a rationally designed methanogenic archaeon Methanosarcina acetivorans C2A, in which the glucose synergist protein and glucose kinase, an energy-efficient route for glucose transport and phosphorylation from Zymomonas mobilis, were implemented to facilitate nonnative substrate glucose for methanogenesis. We demonstrate that the photo-excited electrons facilitate membrane-bound electron transport chain, thereby augmenting the Na+ and H+ ion gradients across membrane to enhance adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis. Additionally, this biohybrid system promotes the metabolism of pyruvate to acetyl coenzyme A (AcCoA) and inhibits the flow of AcCoA to the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, resulting in a 1.26-fold augmentation in CH4 production from glucose-derived carbon. Our results provide a unique strategy for enhancing methanogenesis through rational biohybrid design and reprogramming, which gives a promising avenue for sustainably manufacturing value-added chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Considering the high motality induced by cardiovascular diseases in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and the cardiovascular protective effect of H2S, the aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between plasma H2S and cardiovascular risk markers, including pulse pressure (PP), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), intima-media thickness (IMT) and carotid-femoral PWV (PWVCF), and mortality in chronic hemodialysis (CHD) patients. And further investigate the underlying cardiovascular protection mechanism of H2S in CHD patients with uremic accelerated atherosclerosis (UAAS). Methods: 113 CHD patients (62 men, 51 women) who had no residual renal function and had undergone regular dialysis treatment for at least 3 months were enrolled into this study. Plasma H2S was measured through zinc acetate reaction. cPKCßII membrane translocation and phosphorylation of Akt were detected by Western blot. The ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 levels were detected by ELISA. Results: Lower plasma H2S level in CHD patients was predictor of an increased PP, LVMI and IMT. Patients with lower H2S had a lower survival at the end of the study. H2S was an independent predictor of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality when adjusted for other risk factors. CHD Patients with lower H2S showed an increase of cPKCßII activation, but phosphorylation of Akt decreased. The level of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 increased significantly. Conclusions: These results obtained confirm that lower plasma H2S concentration in CHD patients is negative correlated with many cardiovascular risk factors such as PP, LVMI and IMT and high mortality, which may mediated by the cPKCßII/Akt signaling pathway and further its potential downstream substrates VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 is upregulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Cardiovascular diseases especially atherosclerosis are the major cause of death in chronic hemodialysis (CHD) patients. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) plays a protective role in chronic hemodialysis (CHD) patients. We have previously confirmed H2S metabolism abnormalities may contribute to development of uremic accelerated atherosclerosis (UAAS) in chronic hemodialysis patients with diabetic nephropathy. In this study, we try to further explore the relationship between H2S and conventional protein kinase CßII (cPKCßII) in CHD patients with UAAS. Methods: A total of 20 healthy people, 30 CHD patients without atherosclerosis and 30 chronic hemodialyzed patients with atherosclerosis (CHD+AS) were enrolled if they were more than 18 years of age, had no residual renal function, and had maintained hemodialysis for more than 3 months. CHD patients with atherosclerosis were defined as localized thickening of intima-media thickness (IMT) =1.2 mm that did not uniformly involve the whole wall of carotid artery. Plasma H2S was measured with a sulfide sensitive electrode, and cPKCßII membrane translocation was detected by western blot. Results: There was no significant difference between CHD and CHD+AS group in terms of age, sex ratio, dialysis duration, smoking, body mass index (BMI), Kt/V, hemoglobulin (Hb), serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and etc. Plasma H2S level in CHD patients was significantly lower than the control group, and CHD+AS group was lower than that in CHD patients (P < 0.05). cPKCßII membrane translocation in CHD+AS group increased significantly compared with CHD group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, Plasma H2S concentration was negatively correlated with cPKCßII membrane translocation in CHD+AS patients. Conclusions: These findings suggest that lower H2S may include in the development of UAAS in CHD patients through regulating the cPKCßII signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) play an important role in protecting organisms against various stressors. Heat shock protein 40 (HSP40) is a class of the heat shock protein family and performs a function as co-chaperone of HSP70. In this study, an HSP40 gene from the mud crab Scylla paramamosain (SpHSP40) was identified and characterized. The full-length cDNA of SpHSP40 was 1904 bp, containing an open reading frame (ORF) of 1191 bp, a 5'UTR of 118 bp, and a 3'UTR of 595 bp. The deduced amino acid sequence of SpHSP40 contained all four classical HSP40 family signatures. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed that SpHSP40 transcript was expressed in a wide range of tissues, while strong expression was observed in the hepatopancreas. In order to understand the response of heat shock proteins induced by nitrite exposure, expression levels of HSPs (SpHSP90, SpHSP70, SpHSP60 and SpHSP40) mRNA in the hepatopancreas and gills were investigated. Results show that HSPs (SpHSP90, SpHSP70, SpHSP60 and SpHSP40) were up-regulated displaying a time-dependent pattern in response to nitrite stress. All these results indicate that HSPs play an important role in mediating environmental stress in mud crabs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) is a conserved protein that is involved in protecting organisms against various oxidative stresses. In this study, a thioredoxin reductase gene was cloned from the mud crab Scylla paramamosain (SpTrxR). The full-length cDNA of SpTrxR is comprised of 2724 bp with a 1791 bp open reading frame that encodes a putative protein of 596 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of SpTrxR contains the typical TrxR domain. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed that the SpTrxR mRNA was distributed abundantly in mud crabs, while strong expression was observed mainly in the gills. The expression of antioxidant enzyme genes (SpTrxR, SpTrx, SpSOD, and SpCAT) was measured using quantitative real-time PCR after acute ammonia and nitrite exposure. The results show that antioxidant enzyme genes (SpTrxR, SpTrx, SpSOD, and SpCAT) were modulated by acute ammonia and nitrite exposure. These results suggest that antioxidant enzyme genes play an important role in protecting organisms against oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cascade can correctly reflect the process of information dissemination. • Social topology strengthens the connection between different information as they diffuses. • Users on social platforms are most influenced by the first few people when passing on information. • Social platforms with stronger friendships, such as Twitter, are more accurate in predicting the microscopic diffusion of information. People have been increasingly sharing information via social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook in recent years, making understanding and predicting the spread of information a hot research topic. Accurate prediction of cascades within social platforms can effectively track the information dissemination process and prevent the spread of harmful information. Previous work either did not fully exploit the potential social graph structure or chose to predict communication sequences as a diffusion graph, resulting in inconsistency with the actual diffusion situation. We propose a method that is structurally simple and effective, requiring only sequential sequences of users' spread information and social relationships among users. Our method is based on LSTM (Long Short-Term Memory) for temporal feature extraction of cascade sequences and combined with GCN (Graph Convolutional Networks) for extracting features containing node topology in social graphs for microscopic prediction of information diffusion cascades. Comparative experiments on two real social platform datasets demonstrate that our method has a better prediction effect. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The collectin surfactant protein‑A (SP‑A), a potent host defense molecule, is well recognized for its role in the maintenance of pulmonary homeostasis and the modulation of inflammatory responses. While previous studies have detected SP‑A in numerous extrapulmonary tissues, there is still a lack of information regarding its expression in central nervous system (CNS) and potential effects in neuroinflammatory diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). The present study used experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the most commonly used animal model of MS, to investigate the expression of SP‑A in the CNS at different stages of disease progression. In addition, in vitro experiments with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‑stimulated human astrocytes and microglia were performed to investigate the potential role of SP‑A in the modulation of CNS inflammatory responses. The results of the present study demonstrated widespread distribution of SP‑A in the rat CNS, and also identified specific expression patterns of SP‑A at different stages of EAE. In vitro, the current study revealed that treatment of human astrocytes and microglia with LPS promoted SP‑A expression in a dose‑dependent manner. Furthermore, exogenous SP‑A protein significantly decreased Toll‑like receptor 4 and nuclear factor‑κB expression, and reduced interleukin‑1β and tumor necrosis factor‑α levels. The results of the current study indicate a potential role for SP‑A in the modulation of CNS inflammatory responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The theoretical study of a step-tunable gyrotron controlled by successive excitation of multiharmonic modes is presented in this paper. An axis-encircling electron beam is employed to eliminate the harmonic mode competition. Physics images are depicted to elaborate the multi-harmonic interaction mechanism in determining the operating parameters at which arbitrary harmonic tuning can be realized by magnetic field sweeping to achieve controlled multiband frequencies' radiation. An important principle is revealed that a weak coupling coefficient under a highharmonic interaction can be compensated by a high Q-factor. To some extent, the complementation between the high Q-factor and weak coupling coefficient makes the high-harmonic mode potential to achieve high efficiency. Based on a previous optimized magnetic cusp gun, the multiharmonic step-tunable gyrotron is feasible by using harmonic tuning of first-to-fourth harmonic modes. Multimode simulation shows that the multi-harmonic gyrotron can operate on the 34GHz first-harmonic TE11 mode, 54 GHz second-harmonic TE21 mode, 74GHz third-harmonic TE31 mode, and 94GHz fourth-harmonic TE41 mode, corresponding to peak efficiencies of 28.6%, 35.7%, 17.1%, and 11.4%, respectively. The multi-harmonic step-tunable gyrotron provides new possibilities in millimeter-terahertz source development especially for advanced terahertz applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to reduce the expression of interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 1 (IRAK-1) in dendritic cells (DCs) by RNA interference (RNAi). Subsequently, its effects on the expression of costimulatory surface molecules, the release of inflammatory cytokines, and the proliferation of T cells during the activation process of DCs, were determined. RNAi was used to silence IRAK-1 gene expression in DCs, followed by lipopolysaccharide stimulation. Flow cytometry was then used to detect the expression levels of DC surface molecules, including cluster of differentiation (CD)86, major histocompatibility complex class II and CD40. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was conducted to detect the mRNA expression levels of Toll-like receptor 4, IRAK-4, IRAK-1 and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in DCs. In addition, ELISA was used to detect the release of the following inflammatory cytokines: Interleukin (IL)-10, IL-12 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). The MTS assay was used to determine the effects of IRAK-1 RNAi on T-cell proliferation. Knockdown of IRAK-1 gene expression in DCs significantly reduced the expression levels of costimulatory surface molecules and intracellular NF-κB, decreased release of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-12 and TNF-α, increased release of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, and significantly reduced the proliferation of T cells. These results suggested that suppression of IRAK-1 gene expression may inhibit the differentiation and maturation of DCs via the downregulation of DC surface molecules, inhibition of intracellular signal transduction pathways, regulation of inflammatory cytokine release, and by reducing its promoting effects on T-cell proliferation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) are both age-related diseases of global concern being among the most common chronic metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases, respectively. While both diseases can be genetically inherited, environmental factors play a vital role in their pathogenesis. Moreover, DM and PD have common underlying molecular mechanisms, such as misfolded protein aggregation, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and microbial dysbiosis. Recently, epidemiological and experimental studies have reported that DM affects the incidence and progression of PD. Moreover, certain antidiabetic drugs have been proven to decrease the risk of PD and delay its progression. In this review, we elucidate the epidemiological and pathophysiological association between DM and PD and summarize the antidiabetic drugs used in animal models and clinical trials of PD, which may provide reference for the clinical translation of antidiabetic drugs in PD treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vibrio parahaemolyticus (V. parahaemolyticus) is a major bacterial pathogen found in brackish environments, leading to disease outbreaks and great economic losses in the mud crab industry. This study investigated the molecular mechanism of V. parahaemolyticus infecting mud crabs through genome sequencing analysis, survival experiments, and the expression patterns of related functional genes. A strain of V. parahaemolyticus with high pathogenicity and lethality was isolated from diseased mud crab in South China. The genome sequencing results showed that the genome size of V. parahaemolyticus was a circular chromosome of 3,357,271 bp, with a GC content of 45 %, containing 2985 protein-coding genes, denoted as V. parahaemolyticus LG2206. Genome analysis data revealed that a total of 113 adherence coding genes were obtained, including 120 virulence factor coding genes, 37 type III secretion system (T3SS) coding genes, and 277 sequences of T3SS effectors. Survival experiments showed that the mortality was 20 % within 96 h in the 1 × 104 CFU/mL infection group, 90 % in the 3.2 × 105 CFU/mL treatment group, and 100 % in the 1 × 106 CFU/mL treatment group. The LD 50 of V. parahaemolyticus LG2206 was determined as 4.6 × 104 CFU/mL. Six genes of znuA and fliD (flagellin encoding genes), yscE and yscR (T3SS encoding genes), and nfuA and htpX (virulence factor encoding genes) were selected and validated by quantitative real-time PCR analysis after infection with 4.6 × 104 CFU/mL of V. parahaemolyticus LG2206 for 96 h. The expression of the six genes exhibited a significant up-regulation trend at all tested time points. The results indicated that the infestation-related genes screened in the experiment play important roles in the infestation process. This study provides timely and effective information to further analyze the molecular mechanism of V. parahaemolyticus infection and develop comprehensive measures for disease prevention and control. • A high pathogenicity and lethality of V. parahaemolyticus was isolated, and name as LG2206. • The genome size of LG2206 was 3,357,271 bp, containing 2985 protein-coding genes. • The LG2206 codes 120 virulence factor, 37 type III secretion system (T3SS), and 277 sequences of T3SS effectors. • The LD50 of LG2206 was determined as 4.6 × 104 CFU/mL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aimed at the Top-k query problems in the wireless sensor networks (WSN) where enquirers try to seek the k highest or shortest reported values of the source nodes, using privacy protection technology, we present an exact Top-k query algorithm based on filter and data distribution table (shorted for ETQFD). The algorithm does the query exactly and meanwhile uses conic section privacy function to prevent the disclosure of the real data and then to promise the security of nodes in network. In this proposal, each node in WSN uses data distribution table to reflect the distribution of its own data and keeps exact filter to just return data which is possibly to be the result of the query, so as to reduce the energy cost of network and prolong network lifetime. In addition, data of node is packaged with a privacy protection function based on conic section. The algorithm's performance is examined with respect to a number of parameters using synthetic datasets. Performance analysis and simulation results illustrate that, compared to existing algorithms, ETQFD is energy-efficient and the network lifetime in our algorithm is longer. At the same time, privacy of data in this algorithm is also guaranteed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The health workers in Jiaxing of China have established maternal health WeChat groups for maternal health education and management since 2019. Pregnant women in Jiaxing are invited to join the WeChat groups and a health worker as the group manager provides health education and individual counselling for women within the group. This study aimed to investigate the exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) status up to six months and its associated factors among the mothers of infants aged 7-12 months within the WeChat groups. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey on healthy mothers with infants aged 7-12 months from seven maternal health WeChat groups in October 2021 in Jiaxing, China. EBF was defined as breastfeeding infants exclusively up to six months. Data including breastfeeding practice from birth to six months, maternal sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics, hospitalization information, work related factors and reasons for non-EBF up to six months were collected using an online self-administered questionnaire. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the factors independently associated with EBF up to 6 months. Results: A total of 822 mothers were included in this study. Among them, 586 mothers (71.3%) exclusively breastfed infants up to six months. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that older maternal age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.956; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.917, 0.997) and perceived insufficient breast milk (AOR 0.104; 95% CI 0.072, 0.149) were associated with lower odds of EBF up to six months. The five of common reasons for non-EBF up to six months were no or insufficient breast milk (59.8%), return to work (23.9%), no flexible nursing breaks at work (18.2 %), infant crying or feeling tired or troubled with breastfeeding (9.7%), and nipple and breast problems (9.3%). Conclusion: About 71.3% of infants were exclusively breastfed until six months of age in our WeChat groups. Perceived insufficient breast milk and work related factors are the main barriers to EBF up to six months in this setting. However, further comparative study is needed to confirm the effect of WeChat groups on breastfeeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]