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The understanding on the growth mechanism of complex gold nanostructures both experimentally and theoretically can guide their design and fabrication toward various applications. In this work, we report a cysteine-directed overgrowth of penta-twinned nanorod seeds into jagged gold bipyramids with discontinuous stepped {hhk} facets. By monitoring the growth process, we find that {hhk} facets with large k/h values (∼7) are formed first at two ends of the nanorods, followed by the protrusion of the middle section exposing {hhk} facets with smaller indices (k/h ∼ 2–3). Molecular dynamics simulations indicate that the strong adsorption of cysteine molecules on {110} facets is likely responsible for the formation of stepped {hhk} facets, and the stronger adsorption of cysteine molecules on {hhk} facets with smaller k/h compared to that on {hhk} facets with larger k/h is a possible cause of the discontinuity of {hhk} facets at the middle of gold bipyramids. The obtained jagged gold bipyramids display large field enhancement under illumination due to their sharp nanostructures, demonstrating their application potentials in surface-enhanced spectroscopy and catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To analyze the clinical efficacy of K-wire placement guided technology in paediatric supracondylar humerus fractures. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in 105 patients who underwent closed reduction and percutaneous pinning surgeries in our hospital from June 2019 to August 2022. 54 patients treated with a assisted reduction fixation device to assist in closed reduction and percutaneous K-wire cross-fixation were allocated into the Non-guided group, and 51 patients with K-wire placement guided technology to guide K-wire placement were assigned into the Guided group. The operation duration, number of disposable K-wire placement, intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency, Baumann angle, carrying angle, fracture healing time and Flynn score of elbow joint function at the final follow-up were compared between two groups. The postoperative complications of two groups were recorded. Results: There were significant differences between two groups in terms of operation duration, intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency, and disposable K-wire placement rate (p < 0. 05), while no significant differences of Baumann angle, carrying angle and the fracture healing time between two groups were observed (p > 0. 05). In the control group, ulnar nerve injury in 2 case, pin site infection in 4 cases, mild cubitus varus in 2 cases and loss of reduction in 4 cases were detected. In the study group, ulnar nerve injury in 1 case, pin site infection in 2 cases and loss of reduction in 1 case was observed. There was no significant difference in Flynn scores between two groups. Conclusion: K-wire placement guided technology is simple and convenient. The application of K-wire placement guided technology could relatively improved disposable K-wire placement rate, shorten the intraoperative fluoroscopy frequencies and reduce complication rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: It remains unclear whether there is an association between posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) rupture and the medial posterior tibial slope (MTS) or lateral posterior tibial slope (LTS). The present case–control study aimed to investigate a possible association between primary PCL rupture and MTS or LTS measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: A retrospective case–control study was conducted. Patients with primary PCL ruptures but not with anterior cruciate ligament injuries, were 1:1 matched by age and sex to a control group with no evidence of knee ligament injuries. Knee MRI was used to measure the MTS and LTS. In addition, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to identify an optimal cut-off value of the MTS and/or LTS. Results: In total, 46 patients with PCL ruptures (32 males, 14 females) and 46 controls (32 males, 14 females) were included in this study. The MTS was significantly lower in the patients with PCL ruptures (3.0° ± 2.2°) than in the control group (5.1° ± 2.3°, p < 0.001). The mean LTS/MTS ratio was significantly higher in patients with PCL ruptures (2.6 ± 2.5) than in the control group (1.3 ± 1.3, p = 0.001). However, the LTS was not significantly different between patients with PCL ruptures and the controls (4.4° ± 2.3° vs. 5.3° ± 2.6°, n.s.). After the MTS was determined to be a significant predictor, the ROC analysis was performed. The ROC analysis revealed the most accurate MTS cut-off of < 3.9°, with a sensitivity of 76.1% and a specificity of 73.9%. Conclusion: A decreased MTS and an increased LTS/MTS ratio are associated with an increased risk of primary PCL rupture. People with MTS < 3.9° are particularly at risk for PCL ruptures, and prevention and intervention programs for PCL ruptures should be developed and targeted towards them. Levels of evidence: Level III. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Traffic congestion, air pollution, fuel wastage, and car accidents are all exacerbated by increased traffic. Thus, vehicular communications, which refer to information transmission between cars, pedestrians, and infrastructures, have lately gained popularity and been extensively explored due to their enormous potential to enable intelligent transportation and various safety applications. Manually piloted cars and automated vehicles can acquire relevant information via vehicular communications to enhance traffic security and boost entertainment services. The basic concept of automobile clouds was originally published in the literature not long ago, and several suggested structural approaches have been presented in this study thus far. Several academics have concentrated on the structural layout to address various problems and, as a result, satisfy user expectations in order to give dependable services. We examined various vehicular cloud topologies in this study. We also offered a complete summary of current network layer research on allowing efficient vehicle communications and examined specific security, architectural, and reliability concerns in vehicular clouds. Also, the taxonomy of vehicular networks was discussed in terms of the service link between vehicular networks and cloud computing. Ultimately, we discussed the research prospects available. The results showed that security and privacy challenges are among the most important challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neutrophil serine proteinases (NSPs), released by activated neutrophils, are key proteins involved in the pathophysiologic processes of stroke. NSPs are also implicated in the process and response of thrombolysis. This study aimed to analyze three NSPs (neutrophil elastase, cathepsin G, and proteinase 3) in relation to acute ischemic stroke (AIS) outcomes and in relation to the outcomes of patients treated with intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (IV-rtPA). Methods: Among 736 patients prospectively recruited at the stroke center from 2018 to 2019, 342 patients diagnosed with confirmed AIS were included. Plasma neutrophil elastase (NE), cathepsin G (CTSG), and proteinase 3 (PR3) concentrations were measured on admission. The primary endpoint was unfavorable outcome defined as modified Rankin Scale score 3–6 at 3 months, and the secondary endpoints were symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) within 48 h, and mortality within 3 months. In the subgroup of patients who received IV-rtPA, post-thrombolysis early neurological improvement (ENI) (defined as National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score = 0 or decrease of ≥ 4 within 24 h after thrombolysis) was also included as the secondary endpoint. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association between NSPs levels and AIS outcomes. Results: Higher NE and PR3 plasma levels were associated with the 3-month mortality and 3-month unfavorable outcome. Higher NE plasma levels were also associated with the risk of sICH after AIS. After adjusting for potential confounders, plasma NE level > 229.56 ng/mL (odds ratio [OR] = 4.478 [2.344–8.554]) and PR3 > 388.77 ng/mL (OR = 2.805 [1.504–5.231]) independently predicted the 3-month unfavorable outcome. Regarding rtPA treatment, patients with NE plasma concentration > 177.22 ng/mL (OR = 8.931 [2.330–34.238]) or PR3 > 388.77 ng/mL (OR = 4.275 [1.045–17.491]) were over 4 times more likely to suffer unfavorable outcomes after rtPA treatment. The addition of NE and PR3 to clinical predictors of unfavorable functional outcome after AIS and the outcome after rtPA treatment improved discrimination as well as reclassification (integrated discrimination improvement = 8.2% and 18.1%, continuous net reclassification improvement = 100.0% and 91.8%, respectively). Conclusions: Plasma NE and PR3 are novel and independent predictors of 3-month functional outcomes after AIS. Plasma NE and PR3 also possess predictive value to identify patients with unfavorable outcomes after rtPA treatment. NE is probably an important mediator of the effects of neutrophils on stroke outcomes, which worth further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building effective and resilient emergency response networks (ERNs) is essential for the rapid recovery of interrupted infrastructure during extreme events. Aiming at providing critical benchmarking and implementable strategies for improving ERN resilience, this study proposed a novel framework to systematically quantify ERN resilience through an enhanced metanetwork analysis (MNA)–based approach. This framework first applied the MNA approach to conceptualize the complex emergency response as three-stage "agent-task-resource-knowledge" (A-T-R-K) metanetworks, representing connections among stakeholders, response tasks, emergency resources, and professional knowledge. Then, suitable metanetwork measures (i.e., natural connectivity, average speed, overall task completion, and the integrative metric of task resource and knowledge needs and task resource and knowledge waste) generated accordingly were used to quantify ERN resilience capacities—robustness, rapidity, resourcefulness, and redundancy. This proposed framework was validated through a case study of the emergency response to the Manchester Arena attack in the United Kingdom. The dynamic change of ERN resilience over time as well as possible causes within the case scenario were analyzed. Additionally, resilience improvement strategies and the advantages of the MNA approach are discussed. Overall, this enhanced MNA-based framework promotes an understanding of emergency response performance through systematically conceptualizing the complex ERN structure and dynamically quantifying ERN resilience capacities. Lessons learned from historical disasters provide decision-makers with implementable support to advance their collaboration and knowledge sharing and optimize resources and tasks for enhancing resilience in future infrastructure operation and emergency response activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a case study of a 72-year-old woman with pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS), a rare benign disorder of the synovium. The woman underwent a [68Ga]Ga-fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI)-04 PET/CT scan, which revealed intense and inhomogeneous FAPI uptake in both knees, indicating PVNS. The study highlights the potential value of [68Ga]Ga-FAPI in detecting PVNS, although further research is needed to determine its specificity. The article emphasizes the need to consider other bone or joint diseases in the differential diagnosis. [Extracted from the article]

The structural discontinuities in the form of air gaps in transformer cores cause the concentration of electromagnetic force, which is an important source of transformer vibration and noise. In this paper, an engineering model of magnetic flux density and electromagnetic force density on transformer core discontinuities is analytically developed. Based on a reasonable structural simplification and assumptions, magnetic flux density and electromagnetic force density are deduced as explicit functions of the geometric, material, and electrical excitation characteristics of the gap region and the transformer core. The accuracy of the established model is validated by the finite element method (FEM) combined with a magnetic measurement experiment. According to this engineering model, the electromagnetic force density can be reduced by decreasing the gap ratio and increasing the gap thickness to a reasonable level. The outcome of this paper can help to understand the physical mechanism of the electromagnetic force generated by core air gap discontinuities, which is meaningful for noise control and the condition monitoring of transformers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Significance: Blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption is a major pathological change after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and is both the cause and result of oxidative stress and of the immune response post-ICH. These processes contribute to ICH-induced brain injury. Recent Advances: After the breakdown of cerebral vessels, blood components, including erythrocytes and their metabolites, thrombin, and fibrinogen, can access the cerebral parenchyma through the compromised BBB, triggering oxidative stress and inflammatory cascades. These aggravate BBB disruption and contribute to further infiltration of blood components, resulting in a vicious cycle that exacerbates brain edema and neurological injury after ICH. Experimental and clinical studies have highlighted the role of BBB disruption in ICH-induced brain injury. Critical Issues: In this review, we focus on the strategies to protect the BBB in ICH. Specifically, we summarize the evidence and the underlying mechanisms, including the ICH-induced process of oxidative stress and inflammatory response, and we highlight the potential therapeutic targets to protect BBB integrity after ICH. Future Directions: Future studies should probe the mechanism of ferroptosis as well as oxidative stress-inflammation coupling in BBB disruption after ICH and investigate the effects of antioxidants and immunomodulatory agents in more ICH clinical trials. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 37, 115–134. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anteromedial tibial plateau fracture with posterolateral corner (PLC) injury is a relatively rare combined injury in the clinic. In addition, there is no unified treatment scheme for this combined injury. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and imaging results of single-stage arthroscopic-assisted surgery for anteromedial tibial plateau fracture with PLC injury, and to explore the advantages of this surgical technique.Method: In this retrospective study, a total of 9 patients (7 males and 2 females) were included, aged 24-64 years (average 40.7 years), treated in our Department of Orthopedics from January 2016 to January 2021. In the preoperative evaluations, there were 9 cases of anteromedial tibial plateau fractures with PLC injuries, 6 cases of concomitant PCL injuries, 6 cases of concomitant medial or lateral meniscus injuries, and 2 cases of concomitant fibular head avulsion fractures. All patients underwent single-stage arthroscopic-assisted surgery.Results: All patients were followed up, and the average follow-up period was 15.2 months (range 12-18 months). The average operation time was 135.6 min (range 100-160 min), and the average surgical blood loss was 87.2 ml (range 60-110 ml). The anatomical reduction was achieved in 9 cases, and the anatomical reduction rate was 100%. The average fracture healing time was 13.1 weeks (range 12-16 weeks). At the last follow-up, the average VAS score was 1 (range 0-2); the average Lysholm function score was 90.7 (range 86-95), and the average IKDC score was 91.4 (range 88-95); the average knee extension angle of all patients was 0° and the average knee flexion angle was 128.3° (average 120-135°); The posterior drawer test, the Lachman test and the dial test were negative for all cases. None of the patients had operation-related complications.Conclusion: Single-stage arthroscopy-assisted surgery in the treatment of anteromedial tibial plateau fracture with PLC injury can achieve good clinical outcomes, restore the stability of the knee joint, and reduce the risk of severe lower extremity dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes after medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction combined with supracondylar biplanar femoral derotation osteotomy (FDO) in recurrent patellar dislocation (RPD) with increased femoral anteversion angle (FAA) and genu valgum.Methods: Between January 2017 to December 2020, a total of 13 consecutive patients (13 knees, 4 males and 9 females, mean age 18.7 (range, 15-29 years) with RPD with increased FAA (FAA > 25°) and genu valgum (mechanical axis deformity of ≥5°) who underwent supracondylar biplanar FDO using a Tomofix-locking plate combined with MPFL reconstruction in our institution were included. Preoperative full-leg standing radiographs, lateral views, and hip-knee-ankle computed tomography (CT) scans were used to evaluate the mechanical lateral distal femoral angle (mLDFA), anatomical femorotibial angle (aFTA), mechanical axis, patellar height, tibial tubercle-trochlear groove (TT-TG) distance, and torsional angle of the tibial and femoral in the axial plane. Patient reported outcomes were evaluated using the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, Kujala score, Lysholm score, visual analog scale (VAS), and Tegner score preoperatively and postoperatively. Postoperative CT scans were used to evaluate the changes of FAA and TT-TG, and full-leg standing radiographs was used to evaluate the changes of mLDFA, aFTA, and mechanical axis.Results: A total of 13 patients (13 knees) were included with an average follow-up period of 26.7 months (range 24-33). No cases developed wound infection, soft tissue irritation, and recurrent patellar dislocation during the follow-up period after surgery. Bone healing at the osteotomy site was achieved in all cases, and all patients regained full extension and flexion. Clinical outcomes (VAS, Kujala, IKDC, Lysholom, and Tegner scores) improved significantly at the final follow-up after surgery (p < 0.05). The mean mLDFA, aFTA, mechanical axis, and TT-TG distance showed statistically significant improvement following the combined surgery (p < 0.05), while the CDI did not change significantly after surgery (p>0.05).Conclusion: MPFL reconstruction combined with supracondylar biplanar FDO showed satisfactory clinical outcomes and radiographic results in the short-term follow-up period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. To investigate the function of miR-190a-3p on the proliferation and migration of glioma. Methods. Twenty glioma samples and 6 normal brain tissue samples were collected. Normal human glial cell line HEB and glioma cell lines were used for the experiments. We then used TargetScan to predict the target genes of miR-190a-3p. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was also used to validate. Results. Combined with dual-luciferase reporter experiment, we finally verified that YOD1 was the aim, and it was low-expressed in glioma. Besides, a series of mechanism experiments then proved that miR-190a-3p negatively regulates YOD1 expression. Conclusions. Our research was the first to demonstrate the promoting function of miR-190a-3p in the proliferation and migration of glioma and provided new views for the treatment of glioma. miR-190a-3p was expected to be a new target for molecular therapy of glioma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Emerging studies have reported gut microbial composition plays a key role in alleviating AD clinical symptoms during the probiotic intervention, but the correlation among clinical symptoms, immune responses and gut microbial alteration needs to be explored. Therefore, the objective was to investigate the correlation during Bifidobacterium adolescentis intervention in DNFB-induced AD mice. Methods: The mice were randomly divided into nine groups and fed B. adolescentis for 3 weeks. At the end of the experiment, clinical and immune indicators were assessed. Flow cytometry was performed to explore the effect of B. adolescentis on regulatory T cells in the spleen. V3–V4 region of the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene was sequenced to evaluate changes in the gut microbiota. Results: Bifidobacteria adolescentis treatments reduced ear and skin thickness and suppressed eosinophils and mast cells infiltration. Th1- and Th2-type responses were regulated and the Tregs population was promoted in the spleen by B. adolescentis treatments. Bifidobacteria adolescentis increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus but decrease Dorea and Pediococcus. Propionic and butyric acids were increased but isovaleric acid was decreased by B. adolescentis treatment. Besides, the functional modules, such as fatty acid biosynthesis, antigen processing and presentation were upregulated by B. adolescentis Ad1 treatment compared to the DNFB group. Conclusion: Collectively, these results imply that B. adolescentis with the role of immunomodulation promotes Treg differentiation and suppresses Th2 responses, and increases the proportion of Lactobacillus that is positively correlated to increase in propionic acid production, and thus has the potential for AD amelioration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gut microbiome plays an essential role in asthma development, and probiotic-based manipulation of the gut microbiome has been proposed to prevent asthma. Although the preventive effect of Lactobacillus supplementation against allergies has been reported, the precise Lactobacillus species beneficial for effective prevention of asthma remain unidentified and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of oral administration of six Lactobacillus species and the mechanism underlying asthma prevention via gut microbiome modulation. We investigated the effects of oral administration of L. rhamnosus, L. fermentum, L. casei, L. gasseri, L. salivarius, and L. reuteri (five strains of each species) on asthma and gut microbiome of house dust mite (HDM)-treated murine models of asthma. Of these, L. reuteri administration was the most effective: it alleviated airway inflammation, decreased total IgE and HDM-IgG1, and reduced Th2-associated pro-inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, modulation of specific microbial genera by L. reuteri was more effective in asthma prevention than the modulation of the overall microbiota composition. Lactobacillus and Enterococcus were enriched after L. reuteri supplementation and were closely associated with total IgE and IL-13 production. Furthermore, L. reuteri specifically altered the gut microbial function toward butyrate generation. Thus, L. reuteri may reduce the risk of asthma development by modulating specific gut microbiota to improve the lung immune environment. Our study suggests a novel option for gut microbiome manipulation via L. reuteri supplementation for suppression of asthma and other allergic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eu3+-doped germanate based red emitting phosphors SrGe4O9: xEu3+ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5 mol%) were prepared by high-temperature solid-state procedure. Moreover, the Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculation, X-ray diffraction (XRD) Rietveld refinement, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and photoluminescence (PL) measurement were discussed in detail to fully investigate the crystal structure and PL properties of SrGe4O9: xEu3+. Furthermore, the Judd–Ofelt (J–O) analysis demonstrated that the Eu3+ ions in the SrGe4O9 host possessed lower sites symmetry. In addition, the phosphor SrGe4O9: 0.35%Eu3+ displayed superior thermal stability with PL intensity at 423 K is around 90% of its initial value at 298 K. As a result, the white light emitting diodes (WLED) device based on SrGe4O9: 0.35%Eu3+ achieved an expected result of a correlated color temperature (CCT) of 4573 K and a color rendering index (CRI) of 80.8 under a voltage of 3 V and a driven current of 20 mA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• First study to show circRNAs expression profile of neutrophil transcriptome in patients with asymptomatic MMD. • Involved in signaling pathways regulating pluripotency of stem cells, targeting neutrophil may alter stem cell fate. • Altered target genes of DE-circRNAs were enriched in nervous system development, in the plasma membrane and involved in binding activity. • Some target genes of DE-circRNAs were predicted enriched in angiogenesis related pathways including HIF-1 pathway. • DE-circRNAs included the ones derived from the protein-coding genes such as DLG5, PTPRK, ITGB7, EIF4G3, PUM2 and ACTB. Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a rare cerebrovascular disorder with higher incidences in Eastern Asian countries but the natural course remains uncertain. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been implicated in brain disorders, but their role in the development of MMD is unclear. Neutrophil depletion has been shown to affect stem cell migration, fate, and therapeutic outcomes. We investigated the circRNAs expression profile of neutrophil transcriptome in patients with asymptomatic MMD. Microarray based circRNAs profiling was determined between neutrophil samples from patients with asymptomatic MMD and healthy subjects. The microarray results were followingly confirmed by quantitative reverse-transcription PCR. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses (KEGG) were adopted for annotation and predicting the functions of differentially expressed circRNAs. From this comparative circRNA microarray analysis of neutrophil samples from patients with asymptomatic MMD and healthy subjects, 123 circRNAs were identified differentially expressed between the two groups. Of these, 54 were upregulated and 69 were downregulated compared to controls (fold change >2.0 and P < 0.05). GO and KEGG analyses revealed that the differentially expressed circRNAs were mainly involved in immune responses, angiogenesis and metabolism in asymptomatic MMD. Besides, the hypoxia inducing factor-1α signaling pathway was found to be the critical pathway involved in the angiogenesis of disease pathogenesis. This is a pilot study on the neutrophils from the asymptomatic MMD and aberrantly expressed circRNAs in the profiling obtained by high-throughput microarray may help provide insights into MMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, the belief that genetic mutations control every aspect of tumorigenesis is still very popular. Even for the highly debated "bad luck" theory of cancers, it ascertained that random mutation of genes during the self-renewal of somatic stem cells is responsible for cancer initiation. Logically, most of the new therapeutic strategies so far, from molecular targeting to precision medicine or personalized medicine, are genome-obsessed and focused on identifying and targeting these mutated genes. Accordingly, a rather simplified therapeutic regimen was formulated: cancers with the same mutations, e.g., lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, etc, were managed with the same chemo or targeting medicine, whereas for a particular cancer, such as breast cancer or lung cancer, with different mutational spectrums was treated with different, so-called personalized medicine. The outcomes of this strategy, however, are mixed with encouraging and disappointing findings. In this review article, we will address the importance of non-genetic factors, the metabolic and epigenetic reprogramming, during the induction of cancer stem cells in response to arsenic, a major environmental human carcinogen. The information provided may not only advance our understanding of carcinogenic mechanism to a new level but also help in designing new strategies through targeting the metabolic and epigenetic signaling pathways for cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicine-food homology is a long-standing concept in traditional Chinese medicine. YiNianKangBao (YNKB) tea is a medicine-food formulation based on Sichuan dark tea (Ya’an Tibetan tea), which is traditionally used for its lipid-lowering properties. In this study, we evaluated the effects of YNKB on dyslipidemia and investigated the mechanism underlying its correlation with gut microbiota and serum metabolite regulation. Wild-type mice were fed a normal diet as a control. Male ApoE-/- mice were randomly divided into three high-fat diet (HFD) groups, a model group, and two treated groups (100, 400 mg/kg/d for low, high-dose), and fed by gavage for 12 weeks. Serum lipid levels, composition of gut microbiota, and serum metabolites were then analyzed before treatment with YNKB. We extracted the ingredients of YNKB in boiled water for one hour. YNKB supplementation at a high dose of 400 mg/kg/day reduced bodyweight gains (relative epididymal fat pad and liver weight), and markedly attenuated serum lipid profiles and atherosclerosis index, with no significant differences present between the low-dose treatment and HFD groups. Gut microbiota and serum metabolic analysis indicated that significant differences were observed between normal, HFD, and YNKB treatment groups. These differences in gut microbiota exhibited strong correlations with dyslipidemia-related indexes and serum metabolite levels. Oral administration of high-dose YNKB also showed significant lipid-lowering activity against hyperlipidemia in apoE-deficient mice, which might be associated with composition alterations of the gut microbiota and changes in serum metabolite abundances. These findings highlight that YNKB as a medicine-food formulation derived from Sichuan dark tea could prevent dyslipidemia and improve the understanding of its mechanisms and the pharmacological rationale for preventive use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a seafood-borne Gram-negative bacteria causing diarrheal diseases in humans world wide. ToxR is a membrane-associated transcriptional factor which plays an important role in acid stress tolerance and regulates the expression of virulence genes including type III secretion system 1 (T3SS1) and type VI secretion system 1 (T6SS1) in V. parahaemolyticus. However, possible mechanisms of ToxR mediating virulence gene expression have not been fully understood. In this study, we demonstrated that ToxR is essential for V. parahaemolyticus to tolerate acid stress by constructing a ToxR deletion mutant (Δ toxR) and its complemented strain (toxR +). Quantitative PCR showed that the expression of toxR was up regulated under acid stress condition. RNA-seq analysis showed that ompU encoding one of outer membrane proteins was dramatically down regulated in Δ toxR. Furthermore, the mutation of ompU also led to a significant reduction in tolerating acid stress indicating that ToxR mediated acid stress through regulating ompU expression. RNA-seq results further confirmed that acid stress condition could alter multiple signaling pathways either depending on ToxR (e.g., quorum sensing, fatty acid metabolism) or independent of ToxR (e.g., biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, microbial metabolism in diverse environment, biosynthesis of antibiotics, biosynthesis of amino acids and carbon metabolism pathways). We also for the first time demonstrated that ToxR positively regulated the expression of T6SS2 gene and the interbacteria killing activity. Our study provides comprehensive understanding of signaling pathways which are regulated by both acid stress and ToxR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has a rising prevalence and gut microbiota involvement is increasingly recognized. Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a major complication of T2DM. The aim of the study was to understand the gut–kidney axis by an analysis of gut microbiota composition among biopsy-proven DN, T2DM without kidney disease, and healthy control. Methods: Fecal samples were collected from 14 DNs, 14 age/gender-matched T2DMs without renal diseases (DM), 14 age and gender-matched healthy controls (HC) and household contacts (HH) of DM group. The microbiota composition was analyzed by 16sRNA microbial profiling approach. Results: Substantial differences were found in the richness of gut microbiota and the variation of bacteria population in DM compared to HC, and DN compared to DM, respectively. DM could be accurately distinguished from age/gender-matched healthy controls by the variable of genus g_Prevotella_9 (AUC = 0.9), and DN patients could be accurately distinguished from age/gender-matched DM by the variables of two genera (g_Escherichia-Shigella and g_Prevotella_9, AUC = 0.86). The microbiota composition of HH group was close to that of HC group, and was different from DM group. Under the same diet, DM could be more accurately detected by the same genus (g_Prevotella_9, AUC = 0.92). Conclusion: Gut microbiota composition was explored to be related to the occurrence of biopsy-proven DN from DM. DM could be distinguished from HC by detecting g_Prevotella_9 level in feces, while DN was different from DM by the variables of g_Escherichia-Shigella and g_Prevotella_9, which potentially contributed to the physiopathological diagnosis of DN from DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a Gram-negative halophilic bacterium that is mainly distributed in the seafood such as fish, shrimps and shellfish throughout the world. V. parahaemolyticus can cause diseases in marine aquaculture, leading to huge economic losses to the aquaculture industry. More importantly, it is also the leading cause of seafood-borne diarrheal disease in humans worldwide. With the development of animal model, next-generation sequencing as well as biochemical and cell biological technologies, deeper understanding of the virulence factors and pathogenic mechanisms of V. parahaemolyticus has been gained. As a globally transmitted pathogen, the pathogenicity of V. parahaemolyticus is closely related to a variety of virulence factors. This article comprehensively reviewed the molecular mechanisms of eight types of virulence factors: hemolysin, type III secretion system, type VI secretion system, adhesion factor, iron uptake system, lipopolysaccharide, protease and outer membrane proteins. This review comprehensively summarized our current understanding of the virulence factors in V. parahaemolyticus , which are potentially new targets for the development of therapeutic and preventive strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we explored the liver, heart and muscle tissue transcriptome of the haemoglobinless Antarctic fish Chionodraco hamatus using the Illumina paired‐end RNA sequencing. A total of 114,028 unigenes with a mean length of 794.24 bp was produced. Annotation of these unigenes showed that 29.16% and 35.52% of them had hits in the nucleotide (Nt) and protein (Nr) databases, respectively. In addition, 29.10% and 35.28% unigenes were annotated in the SwissProt and TrEMBL databases while 23.27% and 21.08% of unigenes were annotated in the conserved domain (CCD) and protein family (PFAM) databases, respectively. The results of eukaryotic orthologous groups (KOG) classification analysis showed that around 21.36% of unigenes could be mapped. Differential gene expression analysis indicated that 16,331, 16,291 and 13,262 differentially expressed genes (DEG) could be screened between muscle and heart, muscle and liver and heart and liver, respectively. A significant enrichment analysis of these DEGs revealed their implication in important biological processes, molecular functions, cellular components and diverse pathways. Furthermore, a total of 24,455 simple sequence repeats (SSR) were detected from the generated tissue transcriptome. The transcriptome data produced in this study will constitute an important resource for improving our knowledge of C. hamatus functional genomics and will facilitate future studies regarding this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Along with increases in the aging population and the number of elderly facilities, the existing unsustainable patterns of building operations have caused a series of space-related problems such as space waste, increasing operational costs and poor living environment. An effective method to resolve these problems is sustainable space management (SSM), which is a particularly good fit for nonprofit elderly facilities with limited capital budgets. However, one critical barrier to SSM is the lack of a sustainability measurement model in recent studies and practices. To overcome this barrier, this paper first develops a conceptual sustainability framework with five elements, or sustainability dimensions (SDs): facility characteristics, facility management organization, economic sustainability, environmental sustainability and social sustainability. Afterwards, an initial list of indicators evaluating the sustainability of space management is identified through a literature review and interviews with experts. Meanwhile, several hypothesized relationships among the five SDs are proposed based on experience and prior studies. A questionnaire survey to collect raw data regarding stakeholders' views of China's elderly facilities is conducted to identify the significance of these sustainability indicators (SIs). Furthermore, a structural equation modeling analysis comprising confirmatory factor analysis and path analysis is conducted to examine the measurement model as well as the proposed hypotheses. Based on a discussion of the key SIs (KSIs), significant paths for driving sustainability in space management within elderly facilities are proposed. The findings will fill the blind spot that facility managers experience when practicing daily space management to promote sustainability. Highlights • A conceptual model describing five sustainable dimensions (SDs) are developed for space management in elderly facilities. • Sustainability indicators (SIs) underlying SDs for space management in elderly facilities are identified. • Five key sustainable indicators (KSIs) are selected using two-dimension significance analysis. • Relationships among SDs are explored, and the social sustainability dimension occupied the core position. • Paths for influencing the sustainability of space management in elderly facilities are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the technological development of industrial automation, an increasing number of modern electronic components, which are very sensitive to voltage changes, are emerging in the distribution network as sensitive lodes. Enormous economic losses will be caused if voltage disturbance happens. Therefore, in this article, to support the voltage on these sensitive nodes in a targeted manner, an index denoted as vrc ~ is constructed to quantitatively describe the voltage recovery capability. Afterward, to satisfy the constraint of index vrc ~ , distributed wind turbines (DWTs) and distribution static compensators (D-STATCOMs) are optimized to the most beneficial capacities and locations, to provide the reactive power required by the sensitive nodes during voltage recovery process. The proposed mathematical model is relaxed from MINLP model into a second-order cone relaxation (SOCR) model and verified on IEEE 33-bus distribution network under scenarios with different vrc ~ values. The results prove that connecting sensitive loads to distribution network has large influences on the configuration scheme of DWTs and D-STATCOMs. Moreover, three algorithms named cuckoo search optimization(CSO), clustering cuckoo search optimization(CCSO) and Jaya are provided to compete with SOCR method in solving this mathematical model. Results show that SOCR method is superior than all the algorithms in robustness and effectiveness in terms of processing time and solution quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with trauma-related death. In this study, we evaluated differences in the expression of plasma microRNAs (miRNAs) in patients with different degrees of TBI, and explored the potential of miRNAs for use as diagnostic TBI biomarkers. The miRNA microarray results showed upregulation of 65, 33, and 16 miRNAs and downregulation of 29, 27, and 6 miRNAs in patients with mild, moderate, and severe TBI, respectively, compared with healthy controls. Thirteen miRNAs (seven upregulated and six downregulated) were found to be present in all TBI groups. Seven upregulated miRNAs were selected for validation in an enlarged cohort of samples and showed good diagnostic accuracy. The expression levels of miR-3195 and miR-328-5p were higher in the severe TBI group than in the mild and moderate TBI groups. In summary, our study demonstrates different expression profiles in plasma miRNAs among patients with mild to severe TBI. A subset of seven miRNAs can be used for diagnosis of TBI. Moreover, miR-3195 and miR-328-5p may be utilized during diagnosis to distinguish mild and moderate TBI from severe TBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Recently, a small but growing literature has depicted the beneficial effects of nocturnal hemodialysis (NHD) over conventional hemodialysis (CHD) in the fields of sleep disorders such as sleep apnea. The impact of various dialysis models on sleep disorders, however, has not been determined. The objective of our meta-analysis is to examine the potential effects of NHD, compared with CHD, on sleep disorders in HD patients. Methods: Several electronic databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, ClinicalTrials.gov and CNKI were searched, using the search terms “nocturnal” (or “nightly”) and “dialysis” (or “hemodialysis” or “renal dialysis”) from the earliest available date of indexing to March 2018. Two authors independently extracted data, evaluated the study quality, and conducted random-effects meta-analyses using STATA 12.0. Results: Of 1789 potentially relevant citations, 9 fulfilled eligibility criteria, consisting of 6 single-arm studies (comparing pre- and post-intervention outcomes), 1 observational study, and 2 randomized controlled trials (a total of 286 participants). Regarding objective sleep assessments, conversion from CHD to NHD resulted in a significant reduction in the AHI (Mean difference was -14.90; 95% CI, -20.12 to -9.68), a significant increase of SaO2 (Mean difference was 1.38%; 95% CI, 0.35% to 2.42%), and a significant decrease of TST (Mean difference was -0.31; 95% CI, -0.47 to -0.15). The trends were even stronger in the HD patients with sleep disorders. However, regarding subjective sleep assessments, improved sleep quality was found in the prospective pre-post intervention studies and cohort studies, while no significant improvements were found in the randomized controlled trials. Conclusion: Although a significant improvement of sleep apnea was observed by switching from CHD to NHD, it may not yield a net benefit in overall subjective sleep quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To verify the feasibility of using the ultra-high ductility cementitious composites (UHDCC) for construction without steel reinforcement, the mechanical properties of UHDCC was experimentally tested at material, structural member and structure levels. The tensile strength of UHDCC was from 5 MPa to 20 MPa, the average tensile strain capacity was 8% with the maximum value up to 12%. Four-point bending tests demonstrated that the plain UHDCC beams can match the loading capacity of conventional reinforced concrete beams with the steel reinforcement ratio of 0.5–1.5%. The deflection-span ratio of all the plain UHDCC beams exceeded 1/50 at the peak load. The eccentric compressive loading tests showed that the loading capacity of plain UHDCC column was close to that of RC column with a steel ratio of 0.8%. Additionally, shaking table tests were implemented on a RC frame (steel reinforcement ratios of columns were about 2.0%) and a plain UHDCC frame. The UHDCC frame survived 3 kinds of earthquakes with the peak ground acceleration from 0.105 g to 1.178 g, and exhibited excellent inter-story drift control under extremely strong earthquakes. The performance of the UHDCC frame fulfilled the requirements of various seismic codes. The feasibility of non-steel reinforced UHDCC structure was preliminarily confirmed by this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Streptococcus suis is an important zoonotic pathogen that causes severe infections and great economic losses worldwide. Understanding how this pathogen senses and responds to environmental signals during the infectious process can offer insight into its pathogenesis and may be helpful in the development of drug targets. Two-component regulatory systems (TCSs) play an essential role in this environmental response. In S. suis , at least 15 groups of TCSs have been predicted. Among them, several have been demonstrated to be involved in virulence and/or stress response. In this review, we discuss the progress in the study of TCSs in S. suis , focusing on the role of these systems in the virulence of this bacterium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A facile one-pot method for the formation of MoO 2 /RGO has been established using Mo particles as both the reductant for graphene oxide (GO) and as the Mo source. The Mo powder efficiently reduced the GO under acidic conditions to give reduced GO (RGO) and Mo ions. These ions were then transformed into MoO 2 and MoO 2 /RGO composites were formed by tuning the pH of the solution. Other variables such as reaction time and Mo:GO weight ratio were also investigated. The MoO 2 /RGO composite prepared at 3:1 (Mo:GO, called MoO 2 /RGO 3 ) had the best electrochemical performance for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline medium. The ORR reaction at the MoO 2 /RGO 3 electrode mainly proceeded via a four-electron pathway and the electrode displayed superior catalytic activity and good stability. These results indicate that MoO 2 /RGO 3 could be a promising noble metal-free electrocatalyst for fuel cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high tensile strain capacity of engineered cementitious composites (ECC) is exceptional for cementitious material. In the present paper, a comprehensive review is conducted to summarize the fundamental information of factors that influence the tensile properties of ECC, specifically the fiber properties, specimen size and geometry, and strain rate. The extended durability of ECC, including the long-term tensile properties, the mechanical behaviors under the high temperature impact and the cyclic and fatigue loading, is also paid special attention. It is concluded that (1) fiber properties have a decisive effect on the tensile performance of ECC; (2) size and geometry effect exists in tensile test and needs further study; (3) high rate loading leads to a noticeable changes in the tensile properties of ECC; and (4) durability of tensile properties should be further investigated for the better application of ECC material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of sharp boundary widely exists in image classification algorithms that use traditional association rules. This problem makes classification more difficult and inaccurate. On the other hand, massive image data will produce a lot of redundant association rules, which greatly decrease the accuracy and efficiency of image classification. To relieve the influence of these two problems, this paper proposes a novel approach integrating fuzzy association rules and decision tree to accomplish the task of automatic image annotation. According to the original features with membership functions, the approach first obtains fuzzy feature vectors, which can describe the ambiguity and vagueness of images. Then fuzzy association rules are generated from fuzzy feature vectors with fuzzy support and fuzzy confidence. Fuzzy association rules can capture correlations between low-level visual features and high-level semantic concepts of images. Finally, to tackle the large size of fuzzy association rules base, we adopt decision tree to reduce the unnecessary rules. As a result, the algorithm complexity is decreased to a large extent. We conduct the experiments on two baseline datasets, i.e. Corel5k and IAPR-TC12. The evaluation measures include precision, recall, F-measure and rule number. The experimental results show that our approach performs better than many state-of-the-art automatic image annotation approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fabrication of low-cost and efficient electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is highly desirable. Herein, Zinc ferrite/reduced graphene oxide (ZnFe 2 O 4 /rGO) is prepared by a quite simple and environmentally benign approach and applied as a high performance ORR electrocatalyst for the first time. The surface morphology and chemical composition of ZnFe 2 O 4 /rGO are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Cyclic voltammetry, linear sweep voltammetry and chronoamperometry are used to evaluate the electrochemical activities and stabilities of ZnFe 2 O 4 /rGO catalysts in alkaline media. Among ZnFe 2 O 4 /rGO with different mass ratios, the catalyst with 69.8 wt% ZnFe 2 O 4 (called ZnFe 2 O 4 /rGO (3)) has the best catalytic activities and it shows much superior methanol tolerance and better durability than the commercial Pt/C catalyst. Due to the synergistic effect, the ZnFe 2 O 4 /rGO (3) nanohybrid exhibits high ORR catalytic performance and durability, which follows a desirable four electron transfer mechanism in alkaline media. Therefore, it may be a highly competitive catalyst for fuel cells and metal-air batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper demonstrates a novel strategy for the construction of a graphene hybrid composites film, which was fabricated by electrodeposited reduced graphene oxide (ERGO) incorporating polymerization of l -lysine (PLL) onto glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Here we show that graphene films can be prepared on electrodes directly from GO dispersions by one-step electrodeposition technique based on electropolymerized PLL as a positively charged polymer interface to adsorb negatively charged GO nanosheets through electrostatic attraction. The thickness of graphene film can be easily controlled by using the electrodeposition technique, a distinct advantage over previously developed methods. The electrochemically reduced process of GO and electropolymerization of l -lysine were investigated by cyclic voltammetry with a wide potential range. The surface morphology of the modified electrode was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The ERGO/PLL/GCE shows conducive to electron transfer kinetics for Fe(CN) 6 3 − /Fe(CN) 6 4 − redox probes, compared with bare GCE, PLL/GCE and ERGO/GCE. The electrochemical behaviors of ascorbic acid (AA), dopamine (DA) and uric acid (UA) at ERGO/PLL/GCE were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, and the results suggest that the modified electrode exhibits enhanced electrocatalytic activity toward these important molecules. Under physiological condition and in the co-existence system of AA, DA and UA, the ERGO/PLL/GCE showed linear voltammetric responses in the concentration of 100 μM–1200 μM for AA, 2.0 μM–60 μM for DA and 20 μM–200 μM for UA, and with the detection limits (S/N = 3) of 2.0 μM, 0.10 μM and 0.15 μM for AA, DA and UA, respectively. The developed method has been applied to simultaneous determination of AA, DA and UA in human urine with satisfactory recoveries of 104.2%, 95.4% and 99.9%, respectively. This work demonstrates that the attractive features of ERGO/PLL provide promising applications in simultaneous determination of AA, DA and UA in physiological and pathological studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intestinal bacterial communities are highly relevant to the digestion, nutrition, growth, reproduction, and a range of fitness in fish, but little is known about the gut microbial community in Antarctic fish. In this study, the composition of intestinal microbial community in four species of Antarctic fish was detected based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing. As a result, 1 004 639 sequences were obtained from 13 samples identified into 36 phyla and 804 genera, in which Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Thermi, and Bacteroidetes were the dominant phyla, and Rhodococcus, Thermus, Acinetobacter, Propionibacterium, Streptococcus, and Mycoplasma were the dominant genera. The number of common OTUs (operational taxonomic units) varied from 346 to 768, while unique OTUs varied from 84 to 694 in the four species of Antarctic fish. Moreover, intestinal bacterial communities in individuals of each species were not really similar, and those in the four species were not absolutely different, suggesting that bacterial communities might influence the physiological characteristics of Antarctic fish, and the common bacterial communities might contribute to the fish survival ability in extreme Antarctic environment, while the different ones were related to the living habits. All of these results could offer certain information for the future study of Antarctic fish physiological characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthetic dimension opens new horizons in quantum physics and topological photonics by enabling new dimensions for field and particle manipulations. The most appealing property of the photonic synthetic dimension is its ability to emulate high-dimensional optical behavior in a unitary physical system. Here we show that the photonic synthetic dimension can transform technical problems in photonic systems between dimensionalities, providing unexpected solutions to technical problems that are otherwise challenging. Specifically, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a fully reconfigurable photonic Galton board (PGB) in the temporal synthetic dimension, in which the temporal high-speed challenge is translated into a spatial fiber-optic length matching problem, leading to the generation of tera-sample-per-second arbitrary waveforms with ultimate flexibility. In the experiments, an arbitrary waveform with a widely tunable sampling rate, ranging from 10.42 GSa/s to a record high of 1.64 TSa/s, is demonstrated. The concept of dimension conversion offers possible solutions to various physical dimension-related problems, such as super-resolution imaging, high-resolution spectroscopy, and high-precision time measurement. Synthetic dimensions have drawn a lot of attention in photonics recently, where many physical phenomena have been explored. This work, on the other hand, utilizes the temporal synthetic dimension to solve a technical problem that is otherwise challenging, and showcases the generation of tera-sample-per-second arbitrary waveforms with extreme flexibility, which offers new possible solutions in many application-related problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N-type pyrazine-based 1,4- and 1,5-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazole derivatives, showing unique aggregation-enhanced emission characteristics, were facilely prepared via Cu- and Ru-catalysed azide–alkyne cycloadditions, respectively. Thanks to their electron-deficient properties, they could readily form red-emissive charge transfer complexes with electron-donating triphenylamine in the aggregate and solid states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of the number and substitution position of phenyl groups on the aggregation-enhanced emission of benzene-cored luminogens is unambiguously revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to present a systematic study on high-temperature creep and post-creep response of structural steels. A wide range of stress levels (0.4‐1.1 of the yield strength) was adopted to span all possible loads when conducting creep tests at temperature range from 300 to 800 °C. Their effects on plain steel Q345B and high-strength steel Q460GJ were compared. After cooling, the residual mechanical properties of the crept specimens were tested and analyzed. Based on the results of the high-temperature creep tests, densely connected network (DenseNet) model was proposed for predicting the creep response of the structural steels at varied temperatures and stress levels. The predicted values obtained from the model were in good agreement with the corresponding experimental results. The validated model is recommended for reference in structural fire design. [Display omitted] • The stress level and elevated temperature have a significant influence on the creep behavior of structural steel. • The higher steel strength is not attributed to improve the creep behavior. • Artificial neural network is a promising approach for predicting the creep behavior of structural steels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Bimetallic palladium–silver nanoparticles (NPs) supported on reduced oxide graphene (RGO) with different Pd/Ag ratios (Pd–Ag/RGO) were prepared by an easy green method which did not use any additional reducing agents or a dispersing agent. During the process, simultaneous redox reactions between AgNO3, K2PdCl4 and graphene oxide (GO) led to bimetallic Pd–Ag NPs. The morphology and composition of the Pd–Ag/RGO were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and Raman spectroscopy. Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry were used to investigate the electrochemical activities and stabilities of these Pd–Ag/RGO catalysts for the electro-oxidation of methanol and ethanol in alkaline media. Among the different Pd/Ag ratios, the Pd–Ag (1:1)/RGO had the best catalytic activities and stability. So it is a promising catalyst for direct alcohol fuel cell applications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Our previous studies suggested that arsenic is able to induce serine 21 phosphorylation of the EZH2 protein through activation of JNK, STAT3, and Akt signaling pathways in the bronchial epithelial cell line, BEAS-2B. In the present report, we further demonstrated that reactive oxygen species (ROS) were involved in the arsenic-induced protein kinase activation that leads to EZH2 phosphorylation. Several lines of evidence supported this notion. First, the pretreatment of the cells with N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC), a potent antioxidant, abolishes arsenic-induced EZH2 phosphorylation along with the inhibition of JNK, STAT3, and Akt. Second, H2O2, the most important form of ROS in the cells in response to extracellular stress signals, can induce phosphorylation of the EZH2 protein and the activation of JNK, STAT3, and Akt. By ectopic expression of the myc-tagged EZH2, we additionally identified direct interaction and phosphorylation of the EZH2 protein by Akt in response to arsenic and H2O2. Furthermore, both arsenic and H2O2 were able to induce the translocation of ectopically expressed or endogenous EZH2 from nucleus to cytoplasm. In summary, the data presented in this report indicate that oxidative stress due to ROS generation plays an important role in the arsenic-induced EZH2 phosphorylation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] The partial interaction in bolted-side-plated (BSP) beams is studied. [•] Theoretical and numerical studies are conducted to investigate its influence. [•] Two simple factors are used to indicate the degree of partial interaction. [•] A common value is recommended for these factors to simplify strengthening design. [•] Retrofitting schemes are proposed for lightly and moderately reinforced RC beams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Airborne nanoplastics can be inhaled to threaten human health, but research on the inhaled nanoplastic toxicity is in its infancy, and interaction mechanisms are largely unknown. By means of molecular dynamics simulation, we employed spherical nanoplastics of different materials and aging properties to predict and elucidate nanoplastic transformations in alveolar fluid and impacts on the lung surfactant (LS) film at the alveolar air-water interface. Results showed spontaneous adsorption of LS molecules on nanoplastics of 10 nm in diameter, and the adsorption layer can be defined as coronas, which increased the particle size, reduced and equalized the surface hydrophobicity, and endowed nanoplastics with negative surface charges. Nanoplastics of polypropylene and polyvinylchloride materials were dissolved by LS, which could increase bioavailability of polymers and toxic additives. Aging properties represented by the nanoplastic size, polymer's molecular weight and surface chemistry altered nanoplastic transformations through modulating competition between polymer-LS and polymer-polymer interactions. Upon transferred to the alveolar air-water interface through vesicle fusion, nanoplastics could interfere with the normal biophysical function of LS through disrupting the LS ultrastructure and fluidity, and prompting collapse of the LS film. These results provide new molecular level insights into fate and toxicity of airborne nanoplastics in human respiratory system. [Display omitted] • Nanoplastics of five materials and three aging properties are prepared. • LS molecules spontaneously adsorb on nanoplastics to form LS coronas. • Nanoplastics of polypropylene and polyvinylchloride materials are dissolved by LS. • Aging properties alter transformations via modulating competitive interactions. • Dissolved nanoplastics interfere with the normal biophysical function of LS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionic liquids (ILs), owing to their low vapor pressure and excellent solvating ability, are being increasingly applied in various industries to replace highly toxic organic solvents. They mainly pollute aquatic environment and soils, directly endangering eco-environment and human health. Therefore, it is critical to understand and optimize structural motifs of ILs with reduced toxicity. Considering human oral exposure is the major route, our investigations employed a human cell panel (modeling oral exposures) including human stomach (GES-1), intestinal (FHC), liver (HepG2) and kidney (HEK293) cells using a series of experimental and computational approaches to explore the cytotoxicity and molecular mechanism of ILs. We discovered that the cytotoxicity of triazolium and imidazolium ILs was human cell line-dependent with cytotoxicity in an order of FHC > GES-1 > HepG2 > HEK293. For this reason, a toxicity assay using a single cell line was highly inappropriate. Compared to anions (Br-, OTs-, OTMBS-) we tested, the cation of ILs played a major role in causing cytotoxicity. Ionic liquids with cations having longer hydrophobic sidechains (IL09 vs. IL01) readily insert into cell membranes with enhanced membrane and lipidomic perturbations, induce cytotoxicity by triggering cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Reducing sidechain length and incorporating three nitrogen atoms (triazolium) instead of two (imidazolium) in the cation core alleviated cytotoxicity by reducing cell membrane perturbations and cell function interference. These findings provide important guiding principles for the design of the next-generation of "green" and safe ILs. [Display omitted] • Toxicity of ILs was investigated using a human cell panel modeling oral exposure. • Cytotoxicities of triazolium and imidazolium ILs are cell line-dependent. • Cations of ILs with longer hydrophobic side chains are more toxic. • Cellular and molecular mechanisms of IL-induced cytotoxicity are elucidated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: It has been widely reported that Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is overexpressed in the serum and ascites of ovarian cancer (OVCA) patients, and elevated IL-6 level correlates with poor prognosis and survival. However, the exact role that IL-6 plays in this malignancy or whether IL-6 can regulate tumorigenic properties has not been established. Here we demonstrate that overexpression of IL-6 in non-IL-6-expressing A2780 cells (by transfecting with plasmid encoding for sense IL-6) increases anchorage-independent growth, proliferation, adhesion and invasion, while depletion of endogenous IL-6 expression in IL-6-overexpressing SKOV-3 cells (by transfecting with plasmid encoding for antisense IL-6) decreases. Further investigation indicates that IL-6 promotes OVCA cell proliferation by altering cell cycle distribution rather than inhibiting apoptosis and that IL-6-enhanced OVCA cell invasive may be associated with increased matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 but not MMP-2 proteolytic activity. In addition, overexpressing or deleting of IL-6 in OVCA cells enhances or reduces its receptor (IL-6Rα and gp130) expression and basal phosphorylation levels of both ERK and Akt, and additional treatment with specific inhibitor of the ERK or Akt signaling pathway significantly inhibits the proliferation of IL-6-overexpressing A2780 cells. Our data suggest that the autocrine production of IL-6 by OVCA cells regulates tumorigenic properties of these cells by inducing IL-6 signaling pathways. Thus, regulation of IL-6 expression or its related signaling pathway may be a promising strategy for controlling the progression of OVCA. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The assessment of maturity and biological parameters is important in the composting process. In this study, excitation–emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy was applied to evaluate the maturity and biological parameters of compost produced from the co-composting of dairy and rice chaff. The results from a Pearson correlation analysis between traditional physico-chemical maturity indices and fluorescence regional integration (FRI) parameters showed that among the FRI parameters, P V,n /P III,n and P V,n were suitable for the assessment of compost maturity. Moreover, the FRI parameters could be used to evaluate biological parameters including the germination index (GI) and ribotype evolution which indicate the bacterial community structure and dynamics. P IV,n was the most suitable indicator for revealing the community structure and dynamics during the composting process. Fluorescence spectroscopy combined with the FRI analysis could be used as a sensitive and efficient tool for assessing compost maturity and biological parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: CeO2–Bi2O3 composite was synthesized via a two-stage process. The precursors were prepared from Ce(NO3)3·6H2O, Bi(NO3)3·5H2O and CO(NH2)2 with different molar ratio through the hydrothermal process, and then was completed by carrying out the precursors for 4h at 600°C under flowing air atmosphere. Techniques of X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopic (TEM) and diffuse reflectance ultraviolet–vis spectra (UV-DRS) were employed to characterize the as-synthesized materials. The results showed that the microstructure and morphology of CeO2–Bi2O3 composite were similar in spite of different inverse proportion. We also investigated improved photocatalytic activity in the case of CeO2–Bi2O3 composite catalyst compared to the catalytic activity of pure Bi2O3 or CeO2 powder. The suppression of charge recombination in the composite CeO2–Bi2O3 catalyst led to higher catalytic activity for the degradation of RhB. The CeO2 10%/Bi2O3 photocatalyst exhibited maximum photocatalytic activity. The photocatalytic activity is in close relation with the inverse proportion between reactants. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) powders were synthesized by homogeneous precipitation method with different surface dispersants. Bi(NO3)3·5H2O and NH4VO3 were utilized as starting materials to synthesize BiVO4 particles with the edge length of about 100–150nm. Bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) was prepared by decomposing Bi(NO3)3·5H2O at 600°C. Techniques of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectra (UV–vis DRS) have been employed to characterize the as-synthesized materials. The results showed that the structure and morphology of BiVO4 were various using different surface dispersant. We have also investigated the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamin B which showed that BiVO4/Bi2O3 possessed a high photocatalytic activity under visible-light irradiation. The photocatalytic activity is in close relation with the surface dispersant about BiVO4 synthesis. The result was better using N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA) than using N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone. The inverse proportion between BiVO4 and Bi2O3 was also important for the photocatalysis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A correction is presented to the article "Bifdobacteria adolescentis regulated immune responses and gut microbial composition to alleviate DNFB‑induced atopic dermatitis in mice."

Abstract: Recent reports on experimental models of neurodegeneration in mice have strengthened the notion that environmental enrichment (EE) is beneficial, in terms of delayed onset and progression, to a variety of neurodegenerative diseases. These studies also revealed interesting mechanistic understandings as to how EE might function. While it is generally assumed that EE elicits transcriptional and translational events that on the whole tend to be neuroprotective and neurogenic, fairly specific changes that appear to target the underlying pathological causes of disease in these various mouse models have been noted. These include a possible restoration of brain-derived neurotrophic factor striatal transport in the R6/1 Huntington’s mice and an elevation in the levels of amyloid-degrading enzyme neprilysin in the APPswe/PS1ΔE9 Alzheimic mice. An elevation in glial-derived neurotrophic factor coupled to a reduction in dopamine transporter may underlie beneficial effects in mice with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced Parkinsonian symptoms. How all these findings would translate to disease settings in human patients are unclear, but they do provide useful leads for further clinical and paraclinical investigations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]