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Smart city is an area where the Internet of things is used effectively with sensors. The data used by smart city can be collected through the cameras, sensors etc. Intelligent video surveillance (IVS) systems integrate multiple networked cameras for automatic surveillance purposes. Such systems can analyze and monitor video data and perform automatic functions required by users. This study performed main path analysis (MPA) to explore the development trends of IVS research. First, relevant articles were retrieved from the Web of Science database. Next, MPA was performed to analyze development trends in relevant research, and g-index and h-index values were analyzed to identify influential journals. Cluster analysis was then performed to group similar articles, and Wordle was used to display the key words of each group in word clouds. These key words served as the basis for naming their corresponding groups. Data mining and statistical analysis yielded six major IVS research topics, namely video cameras, background modeling, closed-circuit television, multiple cameras, person reidentification, and privacy, security, and protection. These topics can boost the future innovation and development of IVS technology and contribute to smart transportation, smart city, and other applications. According to the study results, predictions were made regarding developments in IVS research to provide recommendations for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To apply retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) optical texture analysis (ROTA) to investigate the prevalence, patterns, and risk factors of RNFL defects in patients with ocular hypertension (OHT) who showed normal optic disc and RNFL configuration in clinical examination, normal RNFL thickness on OCT analysis, and normal visual field (VF) results. Cross-sectional study. Six hundred eyes of 306 patients with OHT. All participants underwent clinical examination of the optic disc and RNFL, OCT RNFL imaging, and 24-2 standard automated perimetry. To detect RNFL defects, ROTA was applied. The risk score for glaucoma development was calculated according to the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study and European Glaucoma Prevention Study (OHTS-EGPS) risk prediction model. Risk factors associated with RNFL defects were analyzed using multilevel logistic regression analysis. Prevalence of RNFL defects. The average intraocular pressure (IOP) measured from 3 separate visits within 6 months was 24.9 ± 1.8 mmHg for the eye with higher IOP and 23.7 ± 1.7 mmHg for the eye with lower IOP; the respective central corneal thicknesses were 568.7 ± 30.8 μm and 568.8 ± 31.2 μm. Of 306 patients with OHT, 10.8% (33 patients, 37 eyes) demonstrated RNFL defects in ROTA in at least 1 eye. Of the 37 eyes with RNFL defects, the superior arcuate bundle was the most frequently involved (62.2%), followed by the superior papillomacular bundle (27.0%) and the inferior papillomacular bundle (21.6%). Papillofoveal bundle defects were observed in 10.8% of eyes. The smallest RNFL defect spanned 0.0° along Bruch's membrane opening margin, whereas the widest RNFL defect extended over 29.3°. Age (years) (odds ratio [OR], 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03–1.13), VF pattern standard deviation (decibels [dB]) (OR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.01–3.29), cup volume (mm3) (OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.01–1.53), and the OHTS-EPGS risk score (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01–1.07) were associated with RNFL defects. A considerable proportion of patients with OHT who showed no signs of optic disc and RNFL thickness abnormalities on clinical and OCT examination exhibited RNFL defects on ROTA. Axonal fiber bundle defects on ROTA may represent the earliest discernible sign of glaucoma in the glaucoma continuum. Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: From 2008 to 2020, colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality increased by approximately 50% and 47%, respectively, in South-East Asia (SEA). The human development index (HDI) influences various lifestyle choices (including physical activity), which may contribute to the prevalence of CRC in this region, distinct from factors related to medical or hereditary history. This review aims to evaluate and demonstrate the impacts and association of HDI with age-standardized rates (ASR) of CRC incidence and mortality in SEA. Methods: Utilizing data from the GLOBOCAN 2020, this study analyzed ASR for CRC incidence and mortality in each SEA country. Concurrently, the HDI for 2021 in these nations was gathered from the Human Development Reports. Using Spearman correlation analysis, we investigated the link between CRC ASR (incidence and mortality) and HDI indicators, including life expectancy at birth, mean years of schooling, and Gross National Income per Capita (2017 PPP$). The statistical significance threshold was set at P<0.05. Results: The statistical analysis revealed noteworthy positive correlations between HDI and its components (life expectancy at birth, mean years of schooling, and Gross National Income per Capita) with the ASR for incidence. Specifically, Spearman's rho values were 0.834, 0.755, 0.827, and 0.882, respectively. Similarly, significant correlations were observed between HDI and its constituents with ASR for mortality, with corresponding values of 0.720, 0.755, 0.718, and 0.782 at a 5% significance level. Conclusion: Countries with a high HDI exhibit a dual impact influence by fostering economic growth while potentially posing challenges to public health. Despite very high HDI nations demonstrating successful CRC screening programs that lower both incidence and mortality rates, various SEA countries face impediments in implementing such screenings. The impact of diet and lifestyle on CRC burdens is particularly pronounced in medium HDI countries, underscoring the significance of unprocessed diets and an active lifestyle in mitigating the prevalence of CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Internet of vehicles (IoV) is an Internet-of-things-based network in the area of transportation. It comprises sensors, network communication, automation control, and data processing and enables connectivity between vehicles and other objects. This study performed main path analysis (MPA) to investigate the trajectory of research regarding the IoV. Studies were extracted from the Web of Science database, and citation networks among these studies were generated. MPA revealed that research in this field has mainly covered media access control, vehicle-to-vehicle channels, device-to-device communications, layers, non-orthogonal multiple access, and sixth-generation communications. Cluster analysis and data mining revealed that the main research topics related to the IoV included wireless channels, communication protocols, vehicular ad hoc networks, security and privacy, resource allocation and optimization, autonomous cruise control, deep learning, and edge computing. By using data mining and statistical analysis, we identified emerging research topics related to the IoV, namely blockchains, deep learning, edge computing, cloud computing, vehicular dynamics, and fifth- and sixth-generation mobile communications. These topics are likely to help drive innovation and the further development of IoV technologies and contribute to smart transportation, smart cities, and other applications. On the basis of the present results, this paper offers several predictions regarding the future of research regarding the IoV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A patient presented with chronic cyanosis lasting for over 20 years. • A novel compound heterozygous mutation in CYB5R3. • MetHb levels were elevated and cytochrome b5 reductase activity was undetectable. • Mutation increased intracellular ROS levels and decreased NAD+/NADH ratio. Recessive congenital methemoglobinemia (RCM) is a hereditary autosomal disorder with an extremely low incidence rate. Here, we report a case of methemoglobinemia type I in a patient with congenital persistent cyanosis. The condition was attributed to a novel compound heterozygous mutation in CYB5R3, characterized by elevated methemoglobin levels (13.4 % of total hemoglobin) and undetectable NADH cytochrome b5 reductase (CYB5R3) activity. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) revealed two heterozygous mutations in CYB5R3: a previously reported pathogenic missense mutation c.611G>A(p.Cys204Tyr) inherited from the father, and a novel stop codon mutation c.906A>G(p.*302Trpext*42) from the mother, the latter mutation assessed as likely pathogenic according to ACMG guidelines. In cells overexpressing the CYB5R3 c.906A>G mutant construct, the CYB5R3 mRNA level was significantly lower than in cells overexpressing the wild-type (WT) CYB5R3 construct. However, there was no significant difference in protein expression levels between the mutant and WT constructs. Notably, an additional protein band of approximately 55 kDa was detected in the mutant cells. Immunofluorescence localization showed that, compared to wild-type CYB5R3, the subcellular localization of the CYB5R3 p.*302Trpext*42 mutant protein did not show significant changes and remained distributed in the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. However, the c.906A>G(p.*302Trpext*42) mutation resulted in increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and decreased NAD+/NADH ratio, suggesting impaired CYB5R3 function and implicating this novel mutation as likely pathogenic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study collected literature on augmented reality (AR) from academic and patent databases to plot the historic development trajectory of AR and forecast its future research and development trends. A total of 3193 and 13,629 papers were collected from academic and patent databases, respectively. First, a network was established using references from the academic literature; main path analysis was conducted on this reference network to plot the overall development trajectory. Subsequent cluster and word cloud analyses revealed the following five major groups of AR research topics: AR surgical navigation applications, AR education applications, AR applications in manufacturing, AR applications in architecture, and AR applications in visual tracking. Subsequently, the relationships between the overall development trajectory and the five AR research topics were compared. Next, the title and abstract of AR-related academic and patent papers were subjected to text mining to identify keywords with a high frequency of occurrence. The results can provide a reference for industry, government, and academia when planning future development strategies for the AR field. This research adopted an integrated analysis procedure to plot the trajectory of AR technology development and applications successfully and effectively, predict future patent research and development directions and produce technological forecasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) has no cure yet. This study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of stem cell therapy (SCT) for improving the gross motor function (GMF) of patients with CP. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed in CENTRAL, PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar to identify relevant randomized controlled trials from the year 2010 to 2020. The outcome measures were GMF and adverse events. For the meta-analysis, treatment effects on GMF improvement were expressed as standardised mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), using a random-effects model. Results: There were seven trials that either used autologous or allogenic stem cells, with 411 participants, and were met with inclusion and exclusion criteria. The age, severity, and type of CP in participants varied. Follow up duration ranged from 6 to 24 months. Four studies had single transplantation while the other three had two to four sessions. Overall, a significant positive effect on GMF was seen in SCT than control group, SMD = 2.22 [95% CI 1.15 - 3.29] with a high heterogeneity (I² = 95%). In a separate analysis, umbilical cord blood (UCB) was the most effective cell type, SMD = 3.24 [1.38,5.10]. Serious adverse events were rare, with similar effects in treatment and control groups. Conclusion: A positive and safe effect of SCT, specially UCB on GMF, was observed. However, the standardizations of treatment regimes, therapeutic-cell dose, and SCT optimal timing are needed to maximize the efficacy of treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose was isolated from waste coconut husk (Cocos nucifera) via alkali and single bleaching treatment. The isolated cellulose (CH-A-1B) was found to have residual lignin which imparts amorphous character to the polymer matrix as confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) peak at 1507 cm−1 confirmed the presence of lignin and the appearance of three new peaks at 1320, 1416, and 1595 cm−1 showed successful attachment of carboxymethyl group onto the cellulose backbone. Carboxymethylation of cellulose from CH-A-1B produced carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) with lower crystallinity compared to that of the double bleaching treatment cellulose (CH-A-2B). The CMC film prepared by solvent-casting method from CH-A-1B using 38 wt% NaOH possessed the highest conductivity of σ = 4.82 × 10−4 mS cm−1. The electrochemical properties of the CMC polymer electrolyte and the degree of crystallinity of the polymer matrix were found to be influenced by the amount of lignin content which acts as a natural plasticizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the deposition of high-quality a-Si:H by direct photodecomposition of Si[sub2]H[sub6] using vacuum ultraviolet light. Decomposition of a source gas of Si[sub2]H[sub6]; Characteristics of the physical and photoelectric properties of the deposited films; Differences in the properties of the films.

Abstract Lung ischemia-reperfusion (IR) occurs in many circumstances and leads to impaired lung function. The NACHT, LRR and PYD domains-containing protein 3 (Nlrp3) inflammasome is reportedly activated during lung IR. Mcc950 is a recently developed Nlrp3 inhibitor. The aim of our study was to test the efficacy of Mcc950 on lung IR injury and to investigate the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Nlrp3 inflammasome activation using a murine lung IR model. The results of the current study confirmed that Nlrp3 was upregulated and activated during lung IR, and inhibiting oxidative stress by the ROS scavenger edaravone attenuated Nlrp3 inflammasome activation. Mcc950 pretreatment significantly alleviated IR-induced lung injury by reducing production of the proinflammatory cytokines Il-1β and Il-18 and inhibiting neutrophil infiltration and cell apoptosis. Protein coimmunoprecipitation revealed that Mcc950 partially blocked the interaction between Nlrp3 and Nek7 (NimA-related protein kinase 7). Therefore, we conclude that ROS-dependent activation of the Nlrp3 inflammasome contributed to lung IR injury. Mcc950 significantly reduced lung IR injury by blocking Nlrp3 inflammasome activation, and the mechanism was partially attributed to inhibition of the interaction between Nlrp3 and Nek7. Thus, Mcc950 is a promising treatment for the prevention of lung IR injury. Highlights • The Nlrp3 inflammasome is activated by ROS during lung ischemia-reperfusion. • Mcc950 blocks Nlrp3 inflammasome activation and protects against lung ischemia-reperfusion injury. • The mechanism of Mcc950 is partially attributed to inhibition of the interaction between Nlrp3 and Nek7. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocrystalline magnetite Fe[sub 3]O[sub 4] films of about 180 nm thick have been deposited on Si(100) substrates by pulsed laser deposition. Zero-field-cooled magnetization shows clearly the Verwey transition near 120 K by an abrupt change, which is absent from the field-cooled magnetization. This is correlated to its hysteresis curves where the loops remain open until a high field of 2 T. The magnetization does not saturate in field 2 orders of magnitude higher than its coercive field. Such behaviors may result from the existence of antiphase domains. Antiphase boundaries inside the grains are clearly observed with transmission electron microscopy. Negative magnetoresistance of about 12% has been observed near 120 K in a field of 9 T. © 2001 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetotransport and micro-x-ray absorption near-edge structure (micro-XANES) studies of glass-coated 20Fe–20Ni–60Cu microwires have been carried out on both as-cast and heat-treated samples. The micro-XANES spectroscopy data were collected at the K edges of Cu, Ni, and Fe with the x-ray microprobe beamline at the Center for Advanced Microstructures and Devices. Comparison of the Fe K-edge spectra from the microwires to standard spectra reveals that the Fe atoms in the as-cast sample are in a face-centered cubic (fcc) configuration and they remain in the fcc phase throughout the annealing processes. Giant magnetoresistance (GMR) has been observed in the microwires and it reaches ∼6.5% at 300 K in a field of 9 T. The MR decreases to ∼2.5% as the annealing temperature increases to 500 °C. The loss of GMR upon annealing is attributed to the growth of Fe–Ni rich magnetic particles. Significant reduction in the number of extremely small particles is obtained after annealing at 500 °C, which shows MR characteristics that are different from the as-cast and 300 °C annealed microwires. © 2000 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perovskite-type Nd[sub 0.7]Bao[sub 0.3]MnO[sub 3] has been synthesized and its magnetic and magnetotransport properties studied in the temperature range from 5 K to 300 K. X-ray diffraction indicates that the crystal-symmetry is orthorhombic with a=0.5508(1) nm, b=0.5496(2) nm, and c=0.7764(3) nm. There exist two magnetic phase transitions. It first undergoes a paramaganetic-to-ferromagnetic phase transition at Curie temperature, T[sub C]=115 K, and then partial ordering of Nd magnetic moments develops at T[sub Nd]=40 K as temperature is further decreased. Resistivity measurements indicate corresponding insulator-to-metal transition near T[sub C] and a reentrant metal-to-insulator transition near 40 K. Colossal magnetoresistance exists over a wide temperature range, MR=[R[sub (H)-]R[sub (0)]]/R[sub (0)] is over 90% below 120 K. The maximum MR (98%) appears at 95 K, close to the paramagnetic-to-ferromagnetic phase transition. © 2000 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment aimed to assess the effects of sucrose-chelated trace elements as substitutes for inorganic trace elements on the growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, and muscle trace element deposition in growingfinishing pigs. Eighty-four castrated boars (70±3) kg were randomly divided into two treatment groups, each treatment with six replicates, and each replicate consisting of seven pigs. The control group (IE group) was fed a diet supplemented with 1% inorganic trace elements, and the experimental group (SE group) was fed a diet supplemented with 1% sucrosechelated trace elements. The experiment lasted for 56 days. The results showed that compared to IE group, the average daily gain, final weight, carcass weight, and backfat thickness of growing-finishing pigs in SE group increased ( P<0.05), the drip loss and refrigeration loss of the longissimus dorsi muscle decreased ( P<0.05), and the thawing loss showed a trend of reduction ( P>0.05). The redness (a*) value of the longissimus dorsi muscle of SE group increased after 45 minutes and one day of storage ( P<0.05). The T-AOC, T-SOD, and GSH-Px activities of the longissimus dorsi muscle of SE group were enhanced ( P<0.05), and the MDA content decreased ( P<0.05). Compared to IE group, the Cu and Se content in the longissimus dorsi muscle in SE group increased ( P<0.05), and the Fe and Mn content in the hind leg muscle increased ( P<0.05).The study indicates that using sucrose-chelated trace elements in the diet as substitutes for inorganic trace elements can improve the growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, and muscle antioxidant status of growing-finishing pigs, and promote the deposition of trace elements in muscles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of periphyton propagation in paddy fields on phosphorus biogeochemical cycling has received little attention. In this phytotron study, inorganic phosphorus (P i ) accumulation by periphyton was investigated for varying inputs of calcium [Ca(II)] or ferrous‑iron [Fe(II)], and lighting conditions. Results indicated that additions of Ca(II) or Fe(II) enhanced abiotic accumulation of P i by up to 16 times, and decreased solution P i concentration by up to 50%, especially under light condition. The enhanced P i accumulation into periphyton intensified with increasing P i concentration, and P i accumulation showed a positive linear relationship with Ca or Fe accumulation. Abiotic accumulation of P i induced by Ca(II) was mainly through Ca-phosphate precipitation, and co-precipitation of P with carbonates at pH > 8. Accumulation with added Fe(II) was mainly considered to be through Fe(III) phosphate precipitation coupled with adsorption of P i by ferric hydroxides. Moreover, Fe(II) was more effective than Ca(II) in promoting abiotic accumulation of P i by periphyton. Our results indicate the potential for controlling environmental factors to enhance the role of periphyton in biogeochemical cycling and P-use efficiency in paddy rice fields and to reduce P discharged to neighboring water bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to understand factors influencing the intention to adopt smart meters (SM) to save energy in the face of expected increases in electricity costs, stemming from the impact of Taiwan’s plans to increase the proportion of renewable energy in the post-Fukushima era demand. As far as we know, compared to previous relevant studies based on constructs of perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and attitudes, this study is the first one based on the application of protection motivation theory (PMT), which uses threat appraisal, coping appraisal, Social Influence, Secondary Data Influence constructs, and control variables to explain the correlation and impact of residential communities’ intention to adopt SM. With 292 valid questionnaires, this study applies SmartPLS 3 software in model analysis, and finds that the impact of coping appraisal variables is more significant than that of threat appraisal variables, while Secondary Data Influence, Age, and Electricity Cost variables have a significant influence on the intention to adopt SM. The relevant results and practical contributions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Contingent valuation is widely used due to its flexibility in valuing a wide variety of non-market goods. Although this method has important benefits, its validity and reliability are often criticised. This paper reviews the literature on the use of contingent valuation for measuring willingness to pay (WTP) for electricity generated from renewable energy sources (green electricity). A literature review, conducted on a sample of 57 peer-reviewed studies, shows that the vast majority of contingent evaluation studies stems from developed economies. Furthermore, most frequently used WTP elicitation techniques are open-ended and dichotomous choice approaches, which tend to produce varying levels of WTP. Studies dealing with the antecedents of WTP are predominantly inspired by the theory of reasoned action or by its extension, the theory of planned behaviour. This paper identifies six common errors in contingent valuation methods and discusses a number of remedies to deal with these errors in WTP research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The price consumers are willing to pay (WTP) extra for green electricity (GE) is one of the uncertainties possibly impacting on the overall feasibility of its market introduction. In the literature, several measurements of WTP are used. However, the number of studies comparing WTP measures is limited. This study investigates the construct validity (convergent and theoretical) of two widely used WTP measures (double-bounded dichotomous choice (DC) and open-ended (OE)). A model informed by the well-known theory of planned behaviour was applied to survey data from 890 South African domestic energy users. It was found that convergent validity among the WTP measures was fairly low. Moreover, results from Tobit regressions showed that a grounded theoretical model yields statistically significant results. However, different independent variables emerge in the DC and OE models. Therefore, the theoretical validity of one of the WTP measures seems to be low. The paper proposes a number of explanations for the low construct validity observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's digital age, the financial industry, a cornerstone of the global economy, is undergoing monumental shifts. While business performance hinges on proficient leadership, the seismic wave of digital transformation poses new challenges and magnifies the need for specific leadership competencies. The urgency is clear: adapt or become obsolete. However, there is a lack of clarity regarding which competencies are essential during such transformations. To address this gap, the purpose of this study is to identify the leadership competencies that leaders in the financial industry should possess during the digital transformation process and to determine the influential relationships among these competencies and which ones are highly influential. This paper extensively investigates the criteria for evaluating leadership competencies and integrates expert judgments to construct an evaluation framework for leadership competencies during digital transformation. The Z-based decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (Z-DEMATEL) technique was applied to identify the influential relationships among the criteria and generate influence weights for each criterion. In addition, based on the results of Z-DEMATEL, an Influence Classification Map (ICM) was plotted that categorized the criteria into four groups: core, driving, independent, and impact. Management implications and improvement suggestions are provided accordingly. Z-DEMATEL enhances the general form of fuzzy DEMATEL. By integrating the Z-fuzzy theory, Z-DEMATEL not only accounts for the uncertainty of the evaluation environment but also measures the confidence level of experts. Taking Taiwan's financial industry as a case study, this study revealed that "vision and imagination," "critical analysis," and "strategic perspective" were the top three criteria with higher weights, while "critical analysis" and "interpersonal sensitivity" were the core criteria. Business managers can use the results to design leadership training programs that meet the requirements of digital transformation and ultimately improve the performance of organizations during the transformation. Moreover, the concepts and methods presented in this study can be applied to other industries that are embarking on their digital transformation journeys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of ultrasonication, heating and chemical washing on decontamination of seeds of three pea ( Pisum sativum) varieties and the microbial safety of their sprouts. Most of the decontamination treatments increased germination, decreased microbial load and enhanced sprout growth. Ultrasonication and NaOCl treatments reduced total aerobic counts on sprouts by 5.86 and 5.51 log units (averages of three varieties), respectively; while other chemical treatments (350 mL L−1 ethanol, 350 mL L−1 vinegar and 10 g L−1 NaCl solutions) failed to reduce total aerobic counts sufficiently enough to secure microbial safety. The ultrasonication not only improved germination (increased from an average of 83 to 97%), but also reduced the total aerobic counts to 2.21 log10 CFU g−1 on seed sprouts. Ultrasonication also increased the sprouts yield to 301.83 g per 10 g seeds. Therefore, ultrasonication can be used as a microbial control treatment for pea sprout production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, miRNA expression studies on cerebral ischemia in both human and animal models have focused mainly on acute phase of ischemic stroke. In this study, we present the roles played by microRNAs in the spontaneous recovery phases in cerebral ischemia using rodent stroke models. Brain tissues were harvested at different reperfusion time points ranging from 0–168 hrs after middle cerebral artery occlusion using homologous emboli. MiRNA and mRNA expression profiles were investigated by microarray followed by multiple statistical analysis. Candidate transcripts were also validated by quantitative RT-PCR. Three specific groups of miRNAs were observed among a total of 346 differentially expressed miRNAs. miRNAs, miR-21, -142-3p, -142-5p, and -146a displayed significant upregulation during stroke recovery (48 hrs to 168 hrs) compared with those during acute phases (0 hrs to 24 hrs). On the other hand, an opposite trend was observed in the expression of miR-196a/b/c, -224 and -324-3p. Interestingly, miR-206, -290, -291a-5p and -30c-1*, positively correlated with the infarct sizes, with an initial increase up to 24hrs followed by a gradual decrease from 48 hrs to 168 hrs (R = 0.95). Taken together with the expression levels of corresponding mRNA targets, we have also found that Hedgehog, Notch, Wnt and TGF-β signaling pathways could play significant roles in stroke recovery and especially in neuronal repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diallyl sulfide (DAS) is a component of garlic (Alliaceaefamily). Although diallyl polysulfide has been shown to exhibit anticancer activities, no report explored DAS-affected cell death in human cervical cancer cells in vitro. This study investigated DAS affected on cell-cycle regulation and apoptosis in human cervical cancer Ca Ski cells. DAS at 25–100 μM decreased the viability of Ca Ski cells by increasing G0/G1 phase arrest followed by induction of apoptosis in concentration- and time-dependent effects. Flow cytomteric assay indicated that DAS (75 μM) promoted the production of Ca2+accumulation and decreased the level of mitochondrial membrane potential in Ca Ski cells. Western blotting showed that 75 μM of DAS-induced G0/G1 phase arrest was mediated through the increased expression of p21, p27, and p53 with a simultaneous decrease in CDK2, CDK6, and CHK2 expression. The characteristics of apoptosis, such as morphological changes and DNA condensation, altered the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and sub-G1 phase occurred in Ca Ski cells after exposure to DAS. Furthermore, DAS induced mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to the release of cytochromecfor causing apoptosis in Ca Ski cells. These findings suggest that DAS might be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of cervical cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Protein disulfide isomerase ( PDI) family members are important enzymes for the correct folding and maturation of proteins that transit or reside in the endoplasmic reticulum ( ER). The human PDI family comprises at least 19 members that differ in cell type expression, substrate specificity and post-translational modifications. PDI family A member 2 ( PDIA2, previously known as PDIp) has a similar domain structure to prototypical PDI (also known as PDIA1), but the function and post-translational modifications of PDIA2 remain poorly understood. Unlike most PDI family members, PDIA2 contains three predicted N-linked glycosylation sites. By site-directed mutagenesis and enzymatic deglycosylation, we show here that all three Asn residues within the potential N-linked glycosylation sites of human PDIA2 (N127, N284 and N516) are glycosylated in human cells. Furthermore, mutation of N284 to glycosylation-null Gln increases formation of a highly stable disulfide-bonded PDIA2 dimer. Nevertheless, in He La cells, both wild-type and N127/284/516 Q mutant PDIA2 proteins localize to the ER, but not the ER-Golgi intermediate compartment, suggesting that glycosylation is important for PDIA2 protein-protein interactions but not subcellular localization. Finally, we identified human major histocompatibility complex class 1 antigens ( HLA- A, B, C) as potential binding partners of PDIA2, suggesting an involvement for PDIA2 in antigen presentation in addition to its previously described roles in autoimmunity and Parkinson's disease. These results further characterize this poorly defined member of the PDI family. Structured digital abstract • Calreticulin and PDIA2 colocalize by fluorescence microscopy (View interaction) • PDIA2 and PDIA1 colocalize by fluorescence microscopy (View interaction) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquaporins (AQPs) are transmembrane water channels ubiquitously expressed in mammalian tissues. They play prominent roles in maintaining cellular fluid balance. Although expression ofAQP1, -3, -4, -5, -8, -9, and -11 has been reported in the central nervous system, it is AQP4 that is predominately expressed. Its importance in fluid regulation in cerebral edema conditions has been highlighted in several studies, and we have also shown that translational regulation of AQP4 by miR-320a could prove to be useful in infarct volume reduction in middle cerebral artery occluded rat brain. There is evidence for the existence of two AQP4 transcripts (M1 and M23) in the brain arising from two alternative promoters. Because the AQP4 M1 isoform exhibits greater water permeability, in this study, we explored the possibility of microRNA-based transcriptional regulation of the AQP4 M1 promoter. Using RegRNA software, we identified 34 microRNAs predicted to target the AQP4 M1 promoter region. MicroRNA profiling, quantitative stem-loop PCR, and luciferase reporter assays revealed that miR-130a, -152, -668, -939, and -1280, which were highly expressed in astrocytes, could regulate the promoter activity. Of these, miR-130a was identified as a strong transcriptional repressor of the AQP4 M1 isoform. In vivo studies revealed that LNA™ anti-miR-130a could up-regulate the AQP4 M1 transcript and its protein to bring about a reduction in cerebral infarct and promote recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Recently, the enhancement of contactless, real-time features and high data transmission rates in supply chain management has been widely discussed. Notably, the cold chain is a part of the supply chain in which temperature monitoring plays a vital role in the system while automatic data collection is an essential aspect of cold chain management. As such, automatic data collection methods, such as radio frequency identification (RFID) techniques, are used to collect temperature data in order to track and trace all manner of products. In this paper, we evaluate an exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) control chart and artificial neural network technologies in order to monitor collected temperature data in the context of cold chain management. The back-propagation neural network is used to predict temperature shifts and trends. The EWMA control chart is adopted to monitor temperature variations. Using this strategy, as anomalies occur, the control center of an enterprise can perform certain actions immediately to prevent further disaster. Finally, we construct a system using a back-propagation neural network and statistical process control chart. A simulated environment using LEGO® bricks is also implemented to demonstrate the feasibility of this study. This temperature control mechanism is found to be useful for a real-time temperature data collection environment, as with using active RFID tags with temperature sensors for cold chain management. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In the highly competitive market, cooperative multi-agent transaction and negotiation mechanism have become an important research topic. This paper uses multi-agent technology to construct a multi-section flexible manufacturing system (FMS) model, and utilizes simulation to build a manufacturing environment based on JADE framework for multi-agent to combine with dispatching rules, such as shortest imminent processing time (SIPT), first come first serve (FCFS) earliest due date (EDD), and Buffer Sequence. This paper finds that using multi-agent technique for multi-section FMS model can enhance the production efficiency in practice. Meanwhile, in this study, multi-agent systems combined with dynamic dispatching can be used to identify the best dispatching rules combination for achieving largest throughput, and thus it can provide the reference for production scheduling in advance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study investigates the species of As and Pb (beudantite) residues present in the seriously contaminated agricultural rice soils of the Guandu Plain. Two pedons in the Guandu Plain agricultural soils, each pedon separated into five horizons (each of 20cm) were collected for this study. Soil samples were packed into a column for leaching with simulated acid rains. Soil pH ranged from 5.1 to 7.1 with high base saturation. Soils can be classified as clay loam, mixed, thermic, Typic or Umbric Albaqualfs. The XRD analysis indicated the beudantite particles are present in clay fractions, showing high concentrations of As and Pb. This is because of 50–100 years ago irrigation water was introduced from Huang Gang Creek of hot springs containing high concentrations of As and Pb. Only low concentrations of As and Pb can be leached out with simulated acid rains (i.e., pHs 2 and 4), even through 40 pore volumes of leaching experiments. The sequential extraction experiments resulted in the high portions of As and Pb remaining in the amorphous, Fe and Al oxyhydroxides and residual fractions. Thus, the remediation of As and Pb in this agricultural rice paddy soils merits further study. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this study, the links between interfacial chemistry, polyethylene oxide (PEO) flocculant adsorption behaviour, orthokinetic flocculation and dewatering behaviour of talc mineral dispersion have been investigated. The effect of Mg(II) ions, suspension conditioning time, solid loading, PEO dosage and shear was probed. Unflocculated dispersion of weakly charged, polydispersed talc particles at pH 7.5 displayed very poor settling rate but good sediment consolidation (∼47wt.% solid). PEO polymer adsorption rate and density were greater at higher than lower Mg(II) ion concentration. The adsorption propensity also decreased with increasing suspension conditioning time. An inverse correlation was observed between PEO adsorption rate/affinity and settling rate where slower adsorption kinetics led to larger and faster settling flocs. At equivalent PEO dosages (e.g., 200gpolymert−1 solid), 8wt.% solid dispersion solid produced both superior supernatant clarity and greater sediment consolidation than the markedly faster settling, dilute (2 and 4wt.% solid) suspensions. The influence of Mg(II) ions and conditioning time on settling rate was PEO dosage dependent, however, these factors had no noticeable effect on sediment consolidation. Dramatic enhancement of flocculated sediment compaction (from 38 to 52±2wt.% solid) was achieved in secondary dewatering under moderate shear. The results provide useful fundamental knowledge of polymer adsorption rate, adsorption affinity and interparticle bridging behaviour which underpin the flocculation and dewatering of talcaceous clay suspensions for significant improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the domestication of maize over the past ~10,000 years, breeders have exploited the extensive genetic diversity of this species to mold its phenotype to meet human needs. The extent of structural variation, including copy number variation (CNV) and presence/absence variation (PAV), which are thought to contribute to the extraordinary phenotypic diversity and plasticity of this important crop, have not been elucidated. Whole-genome, array-based, comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) revealed a level of structural diversity between the inbred lines B73 and Mo17 that is unprecedented among higher eukaryotes. A detailed analysis of altered segments of DNA conservatively estimates that there are several hundred CNV sequences among the two genotypes, as well as several thousand PAV sequences that are present in B73 but not Mo17. Haplotype-specific PAVs contain hundreds of single-copy, expressed genes that may contribute to heterosis and to the extraordinary phenotypic diversity of this important crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a semiconductor foundry, equipment failure has long been recognized as a major cause of unpredicted breakdown which results in an excessive production loss. Equipment maintenance management is one of the essential tasks in semiconductor manufacturing. Due to the prosperity of Internet and IT, e-diagnostics and e-maintenance through the web have become important applications in the semiconductor industry. Web services (WSs) can assist the data integration in heterogeneous e-manufacturing systems to support faster and remote maintenance functions. In this paper, a WS-based collaborative planning, forecasting and replenishment (CPFR) framework, namely WS-CPFR, is developed to collaboratively manage the logistics activities of spare parts in semiconductor equipment between equipment suppliers and semiconductor factories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Polymer mediated flocculation is central to efficient water recovery from and impoundment volume reduction of mineral waste tailings, particularly where clay minerals comprise a significant proportion. In this study, the adsorption kinetics of four high molecular weight polymeric flocculants onto colloidal, negatively charged kaolinite and smectite clay substrates under orthokinetic conditions has been investigated. For both kaolinite and smectite surfaces, the adsorption rate decreased in the sequence: non-ionic polyacrylamide homopolymer (PAM N)>anionic polyacrylamide-acrylate copolymer (PAM A)>non-ionic polyethylene oxide (PEO)>anionic polyacrylamide 2-acrylamido 2-methylpropane sulphonate copolymer (PAM S). Upon flocculation under laminar flow conditions, optimum subsidence rates for both clay types decreased according to flocculant type in the order PAM S>PEO>PAM A>PAM N, implying slower polymer adsorption rate facilitated higher floc settling behaviour. Calculation of first order rate constants for the adsorption of PAM N, PAM A and PAM S onto kaolinite at 25°C and 50°C and subsequent estimation of an activation energy in the range 14–22kJmol−1 polymer suggest that the overall energy is distributed among the transition state hydrogen bonds which are PAM polymer structure independent. Rationalisation of the results suggests that under industrially relevant conditions, flocculants with relatively slower tails’ particle attachment kinetics facilitate improved bridging performance and markedly enhanced settling behaviour. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The original version of this article unfortunately contained many mistakes with regard to some mathematical expressions and to Tables 3 & 5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Amphiregulin (AR), an epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like molecule, is a mitogen for keratinocytes. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a tumor derived from keratinoctyes. Expression of AR mRNA positively correlated with the clinical progression of 39 oral SCC. Oral SCC line, KB, was used as a model to study if increased expression of AR altered the biological behaviors of SCC cells. Exogenous AR dose-dependently enhanced the proliferation of KB cells expressing EGF receptor 1 (EGFR-1), a major receptor for AR, but little AR. Neutralizing anti-AR antibody significantly reversed the stimulatory effect of exogenous AR on KB cell proliferation. Ectopically expressed AR in stable clones manifested higher abilities to proliferate, migrate and invade Matrigel than vector control. Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), but not metalloprotease 9 (MMP-9) mRNA, was increased in all the AR-expressing stable clones. In summary, AR behaves as a tumor promoter for oral SCC cells partly via increased expression of COX-2. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Guo, Kai-Ying, Patricia Halo, Rudolph L. Leibel, and Yiying Zhang. Effects of obesity on the relationship of leptin mRNA expres- sion and adipocyte size in anatomically distinct fat depots in mice. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 287:R112-R119, 2004. First published March 4, 2004; 10.1152/a]pregu.00028.2004.--In support of leptin's physiological role as humoral signal of fat mass, we have shown that adipocyte volume is a predominant determinant of leptin mRNA levels in anatomically distinct fat depots in lean young mice in the postabsorptive state. In this report, we investigated how obesity may affect the relationship between leptin mRNA levels and adipocyte volume in anatomically distinct fat depots in mice with genetic (Lepob/Lepob and Ay/+), diet-induced, and aging-related obe- sity. In all of the obese mice examined, tissue leptin mRNA levels relative to the average adipocyte volume were lower in the perigonadal and/or retroperitoneal than in the inguinal fat depots and were lower than those of the lean young mice in the perigonadal fat depot. A close, positive correlation between leptin mRNA level and adipocyte volume was present from small to hypertrophic adipocytes within each perigonadal and inguinal fat pad in the obese mice, but the slopes of the regression lines relating leptin mRNA level to adipocyte volume were significantly lower in the perigonadal than in the inguinal fat pads of the same mice. These results suggest that obesity per se is associated with a decreased leptin gene expression per unit of fat mass in mice and that the positive correlation between leptin mRNA level and adipocyte volume is an intrinsic property of adipocytes that is not disrupted by adipocyte hypertrophy in obese mice. size fractionation; glucocorticoid receptor; tumor necrosis factor-α [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study that investigated the relationship of leptin gene expression to adipocyte volume in lean mice. Quantification of messenger RNA (mRNA) levels; Determination of adipocyte volume; Correlation between rates of leptin secretion and leptin mRNA levels.

Sprout is a nutritious ready-to-eat vegetable. In this study, we examined the effects of ultrasonication treatments (treated with 28, 40 or 80 kHz frequency for 10 min at 25 °C) on the changes in microstructure, seed hydration and germination, sprout growth, sprout quality, and microbial load of two adzuki bean (Vigna angularis) varieties (Kaohsiung 8 and Kaohsiung 10). The results indicated that the ultrasonication at 40 kHz or 80 kHz improved seed hydration and enhanced germination; this is linked to the ultrasound-induced microstructure changes in the hilum and seed coat surface of treated seeds. The ultrasonication-increased sprout growth and yield were possibly attributable to the increased α-amylase activity during germination. Ultrasonication also improved total polyphenols, total flavonoids, and total saponins contents and further enhanced the anti-oxidative activities (FRAP and DPPH) of produce sprouts. The results further indicated that the 40 kHz or 80 kHz treatment decreased microbial loads of treated sprouts to an acceptable level; therefore, these two treatments can be used for germination improvement and an effective microbial control treatment for adzuki bean sprout production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phosphorus (P) supply is mismatched with rice demand in the early and late stages of rice growth, which primarily results in low P use efficiency and high environmental risk. In recent years, the use of the natural periphyton in nutrient regulation in paddy fields has attracted much research interest. However, a mechanistic understanding of the action of periphyton on P biogeochemical cycling during the pivotal stages of rice growth has received little attention. In this study, the influence of periphyton proliferation on the soil surface and its consequential decomposition on P migration and bioavailability were investigated in two paddy soils using two microcosm experiments. The results showed that periphyton rapidly accumulated fertilizer P when it proliferated on the soil surface under favorable light condition, which led to more fertilizer P being stored on the soil surface and less P being fixed by soil particles or transported via runoff into the water bodies. The decomposition of periphyton under unfavorable light condition not only increased soil soluble reactive P, but also increased the amount of easily available P species, such as labile P, Al P, Fe P, and mobilized O P. Thus, periphyton colonizing the soil surface in the early stage of rice growth could act as a P sink and decrease the P environmental risk, and its decomposition in the late stage of rice growth could act as a P source and activator. Phosphorus bioavailability regulated by periphyton could be synchronous with rice needs. Thus, periphyton has the potential to increase P use efficiency in paddy fields. Unlabelled Image • Periphyton could rapidly accumulated fertilizer P in the early stage of rice growth. • Decomposition of periphyton increased P bioavailability in the late stage of rice growth. • Periphyton could act as a buffer and activator for P bioavailability to match rice demand. • Biofertilizer based on periphyton would have the potential to increase P use efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The success of after-sales services fundamentally depends on the possibility of symmetry balancing needs, supply and customer satisfaction. Spare parts planning (SPP) software selection is an investment in balancing the symmetry of inventory control, which directly affects the success of after-sales services. This paper presents the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and grey relational analysis (GRA) as potential multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) methods for software selection. The application of these methods can be decreased by decision-makers' subjectivity, which leads to consistency and symmetry in the weight values of the criteria. The criteria were evaluated solely based on system functions by business consultants with respect to the modularity of the software to meet various business requirements, distinguishing this paper from other papers that focus on the financial aspects of selecting software. The results suggest that the AHP and GRA are feasible methods for software selection that effectively integrate consultants' experience to identify the suitable software and the most important function for adoption in real businesses. The findings of our data suggest that inventory optimization is the most important function of SPP software, as the demand forecasting function may be subjective. In conclusion, this paper represents a bridge between practitioners and researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Synovial cyst of knee cruciate ligament (SCKCL) is a rare condition but can cause severe knee pain. The understanding of its etiology is relatively poor. This current study aimed to elucidate the pathogenesis of SCKCL based on a series of histo- and cytopathological examination.Methods: Ten SCKCL patients who underwent arthroscopy were enrolled, among five patients claimed past knee injury. Hematoxylin & eosin staining was conducted to the cyst wall tissue sections and Papanicolaou staining to the cyst fluid smear. Prussian blue staining was employed to both the wall section and fluid smear. Immumohistochemical staining for mesothelial cells (MC), epithelial cells (CK), vascular endothelial cells (CD31), monocytes (CD68), and hematogenous stem cells (CD117) were taken to elucidate the possible involvement of various cell types in the development of SCKCL.Results: No erythrocyte was discovered in the fluid; however, Prussian blue stained hemosiderin particles were found in the cyst wall and fluid, suggesting past hemorrhage in all patients. Abundant lymphocytes and plasmocytes were observed in the cyst wall and fluid. In addition, the cyst lining was infiltrated with abundant CD68(+) monocytes while only few MC(+) mesothelial cells were sporadically observed in four samples. The cyst submucosa was also diffused with abundant CD68(+) monocytes and proliferated capillaries stained with CD31. CD117-positve hematogenous stem cells were sporadically observed in eight specimens.Conclusion: Our findings provided evidence that SCKCL is not a mature synovial cyst but rather an inflammatory pseudo-cyst. It may have resulted from past minor hemorrhage and intra-ligament chronic inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study was conducted to investigate the effect of stocking density (SD) on oxidative stress status and mammary gland permeability in early lactating dairy cows. Thirty‐two dairy cows were allocated into 16 blocks, basing on parity, previous milk yield, and body weight, and were then randomly assigned into one of the two treatments as follows: 75% (75SD) and 100% (100SD) SD. The cows were fed with same diet throughout the 8‐week experimental period. The milk yield and milk sample were collected on two consecutive days during the 8‐week experimental period weekly. Plasma samples were collected on fourth and eighth experimental weeks. Raw, energy‐corrected, and 4% fat‐corrected milk yield were significantly higher in 75SD‐cows than that of 100SD‐animals, respectively. The milk somatic cell count was lower in 75SD‐cows than that of 100SD‐animals. The levels of Na+, Na+/K+, bovine serum albumin and plasmin were lower in 75SD‐cows than those of 100SD‐cattle, respectively. The 75SD‐cows had reduced insulin and insulin/glucagon levels but higher prolactin and growth hormone concentrations, compared with those of 100SD‐animals, respectively. In conclusion, compared with low SD‐animals, early lactating cows with higher SD had higher oxidative stress status, which further led to a greater mammary gland permeability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Lime materials combined with organic materials effectively ameliorated soil acidity. • Applying the amendments increased soil nutrients availability. • Applying the amendments improved the uptake of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg by crops. • Applying these amendments increased the yields of canola seeds and sweet potato. • Canola was more sensitive to application of the amendments than sweet potato. A four-year field experiment was conducted in Langxi, Anhui province, China to investigate the ameliorated effects of various amendments on soil acidity, soil fertility properties, yields of canola seeds and sweet potato, nutrients uptake, and nitrogen utilization efficiency by the crops. The nine treatments used were control, lime, alkaline slag (AS), peanut straw (PS), canola straw (CS), organic manure (OM), AS + PS, AS + CS, AS + OM. The chemical fertilizers with 150.0 kg ha−1 N, 150.0 kg ha−1 P 2 O 5 , and 150.0 kg ha−1 K 2 O were applied for all treatments in canola season, while 90.0 kg ha-1 N, 90.0 kg ha−1 P 2 O 5 , and 90.0 kg ha−1 K 2 O in sweet potato season. Application of lime, AS, AS + PS, AS + CS, and AS + OM increased soil pH and decreased soil exchangeable Al3+. AS + OM showed the greatest ameliorating effect on soil acidity, and soil pH of the treatment increased by 0.45 compared with control. Application of AS + OM also led to greater reduction in soil exchangeable Al3+ and greater increase in soil exchangeable calcium and magnesium compared with lime, AS, AS + PS, and AS + CS. Applying amendments alone and combined promoted the physiological nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE) and nitrogen partial factor productivity (PFP N) of canola and sweet potato, thus increased the uptake of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg by the crops, and the yields of canola seeds and sweet potato. The application of AS + OM showed the greatest effect on the PFP N of canola among the treatments, while AS + CS was the best treatment for sweet potato in this aspect. The yield of canola seeds in AS + OM treatment was 2.61 Mg ha-1, and 5.84 times greater than that of control, while that of sweet potato in AS + CS treatment was 8.07 Mg ha-1, and 32% greater than control. In conclusion, AS + CS, AS + PS, and AS + OM were the good way to ameliorate soil acidity, increase use efficiency of nutrients and promote crop production and the AS + OM is the best one in these treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

14-3-3ζ is overexpressed in several cancers, including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), and plays an important role in tumorigenesis. However, the mechanisms underlying its tumorigenesis remain unclear. Here we report that 14-3-3ζ was upregulated in ESCC tumors, compared with adjacent normal tissues; 14-3-3ζ levels were positively correlated with ESCC lymph node metastasis and recurrence. Overexpression of 14-3-3ζ promoted the tumor growth and invasion of ESCC in vitro and in vivo, whereas depletion of 14-3-3ζ suppressed these effects. Moreover, 14-3-3ζ reduces expression of genes mediating S1P/S1PR2 signaling, and this effect is mediated through activation of NF- κ B. Taken together, 14-3-3ζ contributes to ESCC tumorigenesis and progression through repressing S1PR2 signaling and may act as a new therapeutic target for ESCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reductive dissolution of soil manganese (Mn) oxides increases potential toxicity of Mn2+to plants. In order to examine the effect of nitrogen forms on reduction of Mn oxides in rhizosphere soil, a rhizobox experiment was employed to investigate the reduction of Mn oxides due to the growth of soybean and maize in an Oxisol with various contents of NO3–-N and NH4+-N and a total N of 200 mg kg−1. The results showed that exchangeable Mn2+in rhizosphere soil was 9.6–32.7 mg kg−1higher than that in bulk soil after cultivation of soybean and maize for 80 days, which suggested that plant root exudates increased reduction of soil Mn oxides. Application of ammonium-N promoted reduction of Mn oxides in rhizosphere soil compared to application of nitrate and nitrate together with ammonium. Soybean cultivation led to a higher reduction in soil Mn oxides than maize cultivation. Application of single ammonium enhanced Mn uptake by the plants and led to more Mn accumulating in plant leaves, especially for soybean. Therefore, application of ammonium-based fertilizer can promote reduction of soil Mn oxides, while application of nitrate-based fertilizer can inhibit reduction of soil Mn oxides and thus reduce Mn2+toxicity to plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the prognostic value of systemic inflammation and insulin resistance in women with breast cancer with different body mass index (BMI). This multicenter, prospective study included 514 women with breast cancer. Multivariate survival analysis showed that patients with high C-reactive protein (CRP), high CRP to albumin ratio (CAR), high lymphocyte to CRP ratio (LCR), high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (LHR), and high triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (TG/HDL-c) were significantly associated with worse prognosis. The mortality rate of patients with both high CAR and high LHR or both low LCR and high LHR were 3.91-fold or 3.89-fold higher than patients with both low CAR and low LHR or both high LCR and low LHR, respectively. Furthermore, the combination of LCR and LHR significantly predicted survival in patients within the high BMI group. The CRP, CAR, LCR, LHR, and TG/HDL-c were associated with poor survival in women with breast cancer. The combination of CAR and LHR or LCR and LHR could better predict the prognostic outcomes of women with breast cancer, while the combination of LCR and LHR could better predict the prognosis of those patients with overweight or obese patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aging is accompanied by muscle loss. In older adults with cancer sarcopenia (OACS), systemic inflammation, reduced food intake, and reduced physical activity led to a poor prognosis. This study was to investigate the prognostic ability of the inflammatory Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI), which combines patient's inflammation, diet status, and physical activity status to predict overall survival of OACS. Methods: This prospective multi‐center study enrolled 637 OACS, with an average age of 72.78 ± 5.98 years, of which 408 (64.1%) were males. We constructed the Inflammatory Functional Prognostic Index (IFPI) of OACS based on inflammatory GNRI scores, reduced food intake, and reduced physical activity. According to the IFPI, OACS was divided into high‐, moderate‐, and low‐risk groups. Univariate and multivariate survival analyses analyzed the prognostic ability of the clinical parameters. Results: Compared with OACS with a high GNRI score, the 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) of OACS with a low GNRI score was 1.816 (1.076–3.063), 1.678 (1.118–2.518), and 1.627 (1.101–2.407), respectively. This result was consistent with that of the calibration curve. The subgroup analysis showed that the low GNRI score had a significant positive relation with patients with gastrointestinal cancer (Pinteraction < 0.001). Notably, the survival analysis of IFPI showed that the mortality risk of moderate‐ and high‐risk patients was 1.722‐and 2.509‐fold higher, respectively, than that of low‐risk patients. Conclusion: The GNRI score was a short‐term and long‐term inflammatory prognostic indicator for OACS. The IFPI score could improve patient survival prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Human walking increases horizontal particle dispersion distance by ten-fold. • Human walking enhances particle settlement on critical surfaces. • Movement of contaminant source towards a patient elevates the infection risk. Human movement significantly influences local airflow and particle dispersion in indoor environments. Therefore, this study integrates the dynamics of human walking into the analysis of airborne infection risks in a positive pressure isolation ward designed for the protection of immunocompromised patients. Real-time data collection was performed using an anemometer and IoT-based PM sensors to measure airflow velocities and particulate matter (PM) concentrations within a full-scale experimental chamber. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) was used for the numerical simulations, and a User-Defined Function (UDF) code simulated the translational movement of a manikin. The results demonstrated strong agreement with the experimental data, thereby validating the airflow turbulence and Lagrangian-based Discrete Phase Model (DPM) in predicting the airflow velocities and particle transport. The study revealed that human walking substantially enhanced particle dispersion distance by 10-fold compared to static conditions, primarily attributed to intensified air mixing induced by the body movement. Furthermore, the CFD analysis underscored that the direction of walking plays a crucial role in airborne transmission. Specifically, walking away from a patient did not elevate infection risk, whereas approaching a patient significantly increased particle deposition in the patient-occupied region. This study highlights the critical need to consider both movement patterns and directional flow in managing airborne infection risks, contributing to the development of more effective infection control strategies in healthcare settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rab37-mediated exocytosis of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP1), an inflammatory cytokine, under serum-depleted conditions which leads to suppression of lung cancer cell metastasis has been reported. Starvation is also a stimulus of autophagic activity. Herein, we reveal that starvation activates Rab37 and induces autophagy. Methods: We used an overexpression/knockdown system to determine the relationship between autophagy and Rab37 in vitro and in vivo. The autophagy activity was detected by immunoblotting, transmission electron microscope, autophagosome purification, and immunofluorescence under the confocal microscope. Lung-to-lung metastasis mouse model was used to clarify the role of autophagy and Rab37 in lung cancer. Clinical lung cancer patient specimens and an online big database were analyzed. Results: Initially, we demonstrated that active-form Rab37 increased LC3-II protein level (the marker of autophagosome) and TIMP1 secretion. Accordingly, silencing of Rab37 gene expression alleviated Rab37 and LC3-II levels as well as TIMP1 secretion, and induction of autophagy could not increase TIMP1 exocytosis under such conditions. Moreover, silencing the Atg5 or Atg7 gene of lung cancer cells harboring active-mutant Rab37 (Q89L) led to decreased autophagy activity and TIMP1 secretion. In the lung-to-lung metastasis mouse model, increased TIMP1 expression accompanied by amiodarone-induced autophagy led to decreased tumor nodules and cancer cell metastasis. These phenomena were reversed by silencing the Atg5 or Atg7 gene. Notably, increasing autophagy activity alone showed no effect on TIMP1 secretion under either Rab37 or Sec22b silencing conditions. We further detected colocalization of LC3 with either Rab37 or TIMP1, identified Rab37 and Sec22b proteins in the purified autophagosomes of the lung cancer cells harboring the active-form Rab37 gene, and confirmed that these proteins are involved in the secretion of TIMP1. We reveal that autophagic activity was significantly lower in the tumors compared to the non-tumor parts and was associated with the overall lung cancer patient survival rate. Conclusions: We are the first to report that autophagy plays a promoting role in TIMP1 secretion and metastasis in a Rab37-dependent manner in lung cancer cells and the lung-to-lung mouse model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]