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Purpose: Percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (PE-TLIF) has become one of the most popular minimally invasive surgeries today. However, the issue of hidden blood loss (HBL) in this surgery has received little attention. This study aims to examine the HBL in PE-TLIF surgery and the effect of tranexamic acid (TXA) on blood loss. Methods: In our research, We conducted a retrospective analysis of 300 patients who underwent PE-TLIF from September 2019 to August 2023. They were divided into 2 groups based on whether they received intravenous TXA injection before surgery. The variables compared included: demographic data, pre-and postoperative hemoglobin (HB), hematocrit (HCT), platelets (PLT), red blood cells (RBC), total blood loss (TBL), visible blood loss (VBL), HBL, operation time, postoperative hospital stay, inflammatory markers, coagulation parameters, and adverse events. Results: Regarding demographic characteristics, besides the operation time, no significant differences were observed between the two groups. Compared with the control group, the TXA group showed a significant reduction trend in TBL, HBL, and VBL (P < 0.05). On the first day after surgery, there were significant differences in prothrombin (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and D-dimer (D-D) levels between the two groups. Similarly, HCT also found similar results on the third day after surgery. No adverse events occurred in either group. Conclusion: Research has found that there is a significant amount of HBL in patients undergoing PE-TLIF. Intravenous injection of TXA can safely and effectively reduce perioperative HBL and VBL. Additionally, compared to the control group, the TXA group shows a significant reduction in operation time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To obtain rapeseed protein with low phytic acid (PA), soy protein isolate (SPI) was used to investigate the interactions between SPI and PA. The influence of pretreatment (soaking using salt solution and dialysis) of the defatted rapeseed meal on the PA and protein content in the final rapeseed proteins was also studied. The results showed that electrostatic interactions dominated the protein–PA interaction, which was affected by pH and ionic strength. Accordingly, the pH and ionic strength in the soaking medium also influenced the PA remained in the rapeseed proteins. The PA content decreased with the ionic strength (400–800 mM) and relatively low PA was obtained at pH 6.0 (soaking environment). Finally, 52.8 % of the PA have been removed and PA content remained in rapeseed protein isolate (RPI) reached about 0.84 mg/g, at the same time, the protein content was maintained around 86.70 %. Overall, soaking using salt solution and dialysis could be an effective method to achieve high quality rapeseed protein with low PA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apples are rich in vitamins and dietary fiber and are one of the essential fruits in people's daily diet. China has always been a big apple consumer, and with the improvement of people's life quality, nutrition, and health requirements, the demand for high-quality apples has increased year by year. Apple mold heart disease is one of the main diseases affecting apple quality. However, this disease cannot be easily detected from the surface, so it is difficult to detect mold heart disease. Therefore, this paper focuses on the analysis of seven non-destructive detection technologies, including near infrared spectroscopy technology, hyperspectral technology, Raman spectroscopy technology, electronic nose technology, acoustic technology, electrical technology, and magnetic technology, summarizes their application status in the detection of apple mold heart disease, and then analyzes their advantages and disadvantages. Combined with the current rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, this paper proposes the future development trends of using non-destructive technologies to detect apple mold heart disease. It is expected to provide basic theory and application references for the intelligent detection of apple mold heart disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serum uric acid (SUA) has been discovered to be associated with bone mineral density (BMD), but its relationship with trabecular bone score (TBS) remains unclear. Thus, the aim of our study was to investigate the association between SUA levels and TBS. Our study included 5895 individuals over 20 years old (3061 men and 2834 women) from NHANES 2005–2008. To analyze the association between SUA and TBS, multivariate linear regression models with covariate adjustments were applied. Furthermore, population description, stratified analysis, single factor analysis, smooth curve fitting, interaction analysis, and threshold effect and saturation effect analysis were also conducted. After adjusting for covariates, SUA showed a strong negative relationship with total TBS (β = 0.319; 95% CI 0.145–0.494; P < 0.001). The relationship between SUA levels and total TBS was found to be nonlinear, with inflection points at 4.8 mg/dL for the overall population, 4.2 mg/dL for women, and 5.7 mg/dL for non-Hispanic whites, indicating a saturation effect. Additionally, no interactions were found in any of the subgroups. Our study found a negative association between SUA and total TBS in adults. Maintaining SUA at a saturated level can benefit in preventing osteoporosis and fractures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the effect of addition of citrus fiber (CF; 5% and 10%, which consists mainly of soluble pectin and insoluble cellulose) on physical properties and microstructure of meat analogs based on soy protein isolate and wheat gluten using high‐moisture extrusion. Layered structure or microstructure of meat analogs was observed by scanning electron microscope and confocal laser scanning microscope. Compared to the control (without CF), meat analogs with CF addition showed disorder layered microstructure, which was interconnected with smaller fibers. Rheological measurements (strain sweep and frequency sweep) show that the incorporation of CF resulted in meat analogs with softer texture. The moisture content of meat analogs increased significantly upon the addition of CF, which was also correlated with juiciness. Sensory evaluation and dynamic salt release results confirm that the saltiness of meat analogs with CF addition was enhanced due to the structural changes of phase‐separated structures, achieving salt reduction by 20% and showing a saltiness similar to the control sample. This research provides a novel approach to modulate the saltiness perception of meat analogs by modifying the phase separation of protein/polysaccharides. Practical Application: Citrus fiber is added to the plant protein matrix to prepare meat analogs with high moisture content and enhanced saltiness perception via modifying the phase separation of protein/polysaccharides. This work provided a potential target for the meat industry to produce the meat analogs with less salt intake. Further research can be conducted using modified fibrous or inner structure of meat analogs to improve its quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the microstructure and mechanical properties of MIG (Melt Inert Gas) lap welded 6005 aluminum alloy plates. Microstructure analysis (OM) of the joint showed that 15~30 μm small grains were observed at the fusion line. Mechanical analysis shows that the small grains are broken by shielding gas and molten pool flow force. Hardness test shows that there is a softening zone (41~43 HV) in HAZ much lower than BM and WZ. The low cycle fatigue test showed that the performance of lap joint decreased sharply, and the fatigue strength of weld decreased significantly, which was only 27.34% of the base metal. The fatigue fracture (SEM) of the weld observed slip band cracking and a large number of brittle fracture characteristics. Using the stress concentration factor K t for analysis, it was found that the cause of brittle fracture was mostly stress concentration. Lap joint stress concentration model appears in two ways: firstly, at the weld toe, the weld is subjected to eccentric force, secondly, there is a small gap between the two plates at the weld root, which cracks along the direction of 45° of the maximum shear stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurately determining the soluble solid content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), and firmness of multiple pear varieties is crucial for enhancing their market appeal. Traditional methods using spectral techniques require laborious and trial-and-error preprocessing, feature-wavelength selection, and model-establishment process. Additionally, multiple independent models need to be trained to predict different attributes. In this study, we developed a multi-task convolutional neural network (MCNN) model based on the whale optimization algorithm (WOA) to establish a global model for simultaneously determination of SSC, TA, and firmness of three pear varieties. Spectral data in the range of 300–900 nm were collected from individual pear samples using a self-designed transmission spectra-acquisition device. We established and compared an individual-variety prediction model and a global model using three pear varieties. The optimized MCNN model achieved optimal prediction accuracies for the SSC (R v 2 = 0.977, residual prediction deviation [RPD] = 5.414), TA (R v 2 =0.970, RPD = 5.057), and firmness (R v 2 =0.978, RPD = 6.326). Combing the global-modeling strategy with optimized MCNN architecture enhanced the model's robustness to variety variation and improved the accuracy in detecting pear-quality traits. This model provides a new, convenient, and automated method for end-to-end and simultaneous predictions of multiple quality indicators in fruit without any further processing of raw spectra. • An WOA-based multi-task CNN global model was built for pear quality evaluation. • The robustness of near infrared model for multi-variety pear prediction was enhanced. • Simultaneously detecting SSC, TA and firmness in three pear varieties was achieved. • Preprocessing and feature variable selection were not required for MCNN model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• TGF-β1 increased neuronal viability and inhibited apoptosis after trauma for 24 h. • TGF-β1 reversed the expression of Ca v 1.2, which was decreased after trauma injury. • TGF-β1 enhanced the trauma-injured neuro-2a intracellular Ca2+ concentration. • TGF-β1 increased the expression of Ca v 1.2 by activating the p38 MAPK pathway. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of disability and death in adolescents, and there is a lack of effective methods of treatment. The neuroprotective effects exerted by TGF-β1 can ameliorate a range of neuronal lesions in multiple central nervous system diseases. In this study, we used an in-vitro TBI model of mechanical injury on murine primary cortical neurons and the neuro-2a cell line to investigate the neuroprotective role played by TGF-β1 in cortical neurons in TBI. Our results showed that TGF-β1 significantly increased neuronal viability and inhibited apoptosis for 24 h after trauma. The expression of Ca v 1.2, an L-type calcium channel (LTCC) isoform, decreased significantly after trauma injury, and this change was reversed by TGF-β1. Nimodipine, a classic LTCC blocker, abolished the protective effect of TGF-β1 on trauma-induced neuronal apoptosis. The knockdown of Ca v 1.2 in differentiated neuro-2a cells significantly inhibited the anti-apoptosis effect of TGF-β1 exerted on injured neuro-2a cells. Moreover, TGF-β1 rescued and enhanced the trauma-suppressed neuro-2a intracellular Ca2+ concentration, while the effect of TGF-β1 was partially inhibited by nimodipine. TGF-β1 significantly upregulated the expression of Ca v 1.2 by activating the p38 MAPK pathway and by inhibiting trauma-induced neuronal apoptosis. In conclusion, TGF-β1 increased trauma-injured murine cortical neuronal activity and inhibited apoptosis by upregulating Cav1.2 channels via activating the p38 MAPK pathway. Therefore, the TGF-β1/p38 MAPK/Ca v 1.2 pathway has the potential to be used as a novel therapeutic target for TBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In present study, we explored the effect of mucin-gum arabic (GA) interactions on the structural changes of mucin network, as well as on the diffusion behaviors of sodium ions. Diffusion behaviors of sodium ions through the mucin/GA layer with various physicochemical properties were determined. Our results suggested that the introduction of GA induced the phase separation of mucin-GA binary system, which is largely driven by electrostatic interactions (electrostatic repulsion) and followed by the structural changes in the mucin layer. The mucin/GA mixed interconnected network with larger pores was formed, as revealed by transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy observations, which contributed to the diffusion of sodium ions. Our findings might provide a deep understanding of GA for enhancing the salty taste perception. [Display omitted] • Mucin-Gum Arabic interactions was investigated as function of pH and NaCl concentration. • Repulsive interactions can lead to phase separation of mucin and GA. • Phase separation might affect the mesh size or permeability of the mucin network. • Diffusion behavior of sodium ions could be modulated by phase separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) is an important gene that has been implicated in the progression of human cancer. Aberrant expression of RUNX2 predicts gastric cancer (GC) metastasis. However, the molecular mechanism of RUNX2 remains unknown. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesize that RUNX2 promotes GC metastasis by regulating the extracellular matrix component collagen type I alpha 1 (COL1A1). METHODS: The GEPIA database and immunohistochemical staining of 60 GC tissues were used to analyse the correlations between RUNX2 or COL1A1 expression and clinicopathological features, and the Kaplan-Meier method was used to evaluate survival. RT-PCR, western blotting and immunofluorescence were used to detect RUNX2 and COL1A1 expression in GC cells. Migration and invasion assays were performed to assess the influence of RUNX2 and COL1A1 on metastasis. RESULTS: RUNX2 and COL1A1 were highly expressed at both the gene and protein levels in GC, and patients who were positive for RUNX2 and COL1A1 had shorter survival. RUNX2 and COL1A1 expression linearly correlated with each other (r = 0.15, p < 0.01) and with clinical stage and lymph node metastasis (p < 0.05). Overexpressing RUNX2in vitro enhanced COL1A1 expression and promoted GC cell invasion and migration, whereas COL1A1 knockdown inhibited the increase in cell metastatic capacity promoted by RUNX2. In vivo, GC cells overexpressing RUNX2 promoted lung metastasis, and the downregulation of COL1A1 reduced the metastasis promoted by RUNX2. CONCLUSIONS: RUNX2 may promote GC metastasis by regulating COL1A1. RUNX2/COL1A1 can be employed as a novel target for therapy in GC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquatic products are easily polluted by microorganisms during storage owing to their nutritional characteristics, leading to deterioration. Microbes containing amino acid decarboxylases can decarboxylate free amino acids in aquatic products and produce biogenic amines (BAs). Excessive intake of BAs can cause food poisoning and other adverse physiological reactions, thus posing a potential safety risk to human health. Therefore, controlling the production of BAs in aquatic products to ensure food quality and safety is particularly important. Although the previous reviews introduced relevant information about BAs, they did not comprehensively and systematically introduce types, formation mechanisms, physiological effects, toxicity, content of BAs in various aquatic products, limit standards, freshness indexes, commonly used indirect and direct detection methods, and recent research progress on BA control technologies in aquatic products. Thus, this article reviews the literature in this field and provides an overview of state-of-the-art technologies. Additionally, current problems in the research and control of BAs, as well as future research directions are proposed. There are still enormous challenges for BAs as a freshness indicator in the field of intelligent packing systems, as well as in BA detection and control methods. Multiple techniques, including bacterial starters or purified amine oxidase, quorum sensing inhibitors, and low-temperature treatment combinations, need to be further studied in handling and storage processes to ensure the quality and food safety of aquatic products. Schema of biogenic amine content, physiological function, toxicity, production mechanism, affecting factors, limit standards, detection methods, freshness indexes, prevention and control methods, and future development direction in aquatic products. [Display omitted] • A comprehensive review was conducted on the detection and control of BAs. • Focus on legislation, efficient detection techniques, and predictive models for BAs. • Combination of BA control technologies can extend shelf life of aquatic products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The consistency of water level data is compromised under changing environment. • The new indicator - VWD designed in this study has good consistency. • Based on VWD and CSWWU, a risk assessment model for urban LIWS is constructed. • Risk map can be drawn after the probabilities of LIWS were quantified by the model. • The risk map may serve as a technical support for emergency water supply management. In the context of global environmental changes, the problem of low water levels (LWLs) is becoming increasingly prominent and posing a significant threat to urban water security. At the same time, there have been noticeable changes in basin hydrological conditions, leading to compromised consistency of water level data based on historical monitoring. Assessing the adaptability of urban water intake projects to water level changes has become a challenging problem currently. Firstly, we have designed a new indicator with good consistency - velocity of water level descending (VWD). Secondly, we have interpreted the connotation of the risk of urban level-induced water scarcity (LIWS) based on the perspective of the coupling system of "water source - water intake engineering - the subsystem of urban water demand" (CSWWU). Thirdly, we constructed a risk assessment model of urban LIWS to quantify the possibility and consequences of adverse scenarios, aiming to enhance the city's ability to respond to extreme events. Taking Nanchang as an example, we generated 972 preset scenarios, calculated the probability of all scenarios, and drew the risk map of LIWS. The results showed that: (1) When the water level of Nanchang Station descends to 10.33, 10.14 and 10.04 m, the water supply deficit of the urban water plant can be balanced by the saved water volume, which is released by activating three types of emergency measures, respectively. (2) The city faces the greatest risk of LIWS in January and February of each year, which is the key period of risk management. (3) By drawing a risk map, we have comprehensively evaluated the important scenarios about urban LIWS in the future. The risk assessment method for urban LIWS is based on the new indicator, which can provide theoretical support for urban emergency water supply management and promote local governments to fully utilize the resilience of coupling systems to adapt to constantly changing society and environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic kidney disease is the outcome of most kidney diseases, and renal fibrosis is a pathological process involved in the progression of these disorders. The role of interleukin (IL)-33 was previously investigated in fibrotic disorders affecting various organs, including liver, lungs and heart; however, its role in renal fibrosis remains unclear. Previous studies have demonstrated that macrophages are involved in obstructive renal injury. In the present study, the roles of IL-33 and macrophages on renal fibrosis were investigated using a mouse model of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). Compared with non-obstructed kidneys, the expression levels of IL-33 and its receptor, interleukin 1 receptor like 1, increased after UUO. Furthermore, the infiltration of macrophages and the degree of renal fibrosis increased after treatment with IL-33. Additionally, the expression level of arginase-1, a marker of M2 macrophages, increased in renal tissue. After depletion of macrophages, the administration of exogenous IL-33 was not sufficient to reverse the reduction in fibrosis caused by elimination of these cells. Collectively, the present results suggested that IL-33 promoted renal fibrosis in UUO-induced renal injury by regulating macrophage polarization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of this work were to develop multi‐element viscoelastic models for beef and apply them to detect total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB‐N) content for freshness evaluation. The deformation data were collected by a viscoelasticity detection system that employed the airflow and laser technique. Then, TVB‐N contents were measured to determine the freshness of samples during storage. A universal global optimization (UGO) algorithm was applied to fit the deformation data. Various multi‐element viscoelastic models including the Burgers, six‐element and eight‐element models were built using the obtained fitting parameters, and different viscoelastic parameters representing the degree of beef spoilage were obtained. All the viscoelastic parameters of each multi‐element model and parameter combinations of the selected six‐element model were employed to build mathematical models for predicting TVB‐N content by support vector machine regression (SVR). In comparison, the six‐element model with all the viscoelastic parameters performed the best and was determined to predict TVB‐N content with correlation coefficient in the prediction set (RP) of 0.891 and root mean squared error in the prediction set (RMSEP) of 1.467 mg/100 g. Based on the results of parameter combinations, combination (E2, E3, E1, η1, η2) from the six‐element model performed the best, which was comparatively inferior to all the viscoelastic parameters of the six‐element model. Results demonstrated that it was possible to predict TVB‐N content for freshness evaluation by applying method of developing multi‐element model based on the viscoelasticity with chemometrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The production mechanism of total volatile basic nitrogen in beef was analyzed. • A test instrument based on airflow and laser was independently developed. • Six-element model of chilled beef was built based on viscoelasticity principle. • Six viscoelastic parameters related to spoilage were obtained. • The models relating beef viscoelasticity with TVB-N content were established. Abstract Viscoelasticity experiments were performed to detect the total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) content of chilled beef for freshness evaluation. The growth trend of TVB-N was further analyzed with prolonged storage time. A six-element viscoelastic model was then established by fitting deformation data through universal global optimization. The viscoelastic parameters, including elasticity moduli E 1 , E 2 , E 3 , and viscosity coefficients η 1 , η 2 , η 3 , were applied to build models of TVB-N content prediction using partial least squares regression (PLSR) and support vector machine regression (SVR). Results showed that the SVR model performed better than the PLSR model, with a correlation coefficient in the prediction set of 0.89 and a root mean squared error in the prediction set of 1.47 mg/100 g. These results demonstrated for the first time that the viscoelasticity based on airflow and laser technique combined with chemometrics can be used for the fast, nondestructive detection of TVB-N concentration for meat freshness assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the feasibility of airflow and laser ranging technique for nondestructively determination of TVB-N in beef, a viscoelasticity detection system was employed to collect deformation information of beef samples. Then 12 characteristic parameters were extracted from deformation curves. Multiple linear regression (MLR), principal component regression (PCR) and partial least squares regression (PLSR) were used to establish prediction models for TVB-N. The results showed that the PLSR model using 12 characteristic parameters performed the best with correlation coefficients in calibration and prediction sets (R c and R p ) of 0.847 and 0.821, root mean squared errors in the calibration and prediction sets (RMSEC and RMSEP) of 1.750 and 2.560 mg/100 g. This result demonstrated that it was feasible to use airflow and laser ranging technique for rapid and nondestructive detection of beef freshness. This study made possible that the deformation characteristics of livestock and poultry meat could be expressed in a quantitative method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A simple method to observe the oxygen diffusion in the emulsion system was developed. • The oxygen diffusion was strongly related to the lipid oxidation in emulsion. • The emulsion droplet surface could affect the oxygen diffusion and lipid oxidation. • The oil phase and water phase could affect the oxygen diffusion and lipid oxidation. Oxygen diffusion played an important role in the lipid oxidation of food emulsions. In this study, a simple method was developed to quantitatively observe the oxygen diffusion in the oil–water biphasic system, and it was further applied to investigate the relationship between the oxygen diffusion and lipid oxidation in O/W emulsions. Various factors that related to the emulsion oxidation were considered, from their influence on the oxygen diffusion and lipid oxidation in the emulsions. Results showed that there was obvious correlation between the oxygen diffusion and lipid oxidation in O/W emulsions, which reveals the inhibition of oxygen diffusion could apparently slow down the lipid oxidation. Moreover, the changes of oil phase, water phase and interfacial layer of the emulsions, which were related to the oxygen diffusion, could improve the oxidative stability of the emulsions effectively. Our findings are helpful for deep understanding the mechanisms of the lipid oxidation in food emulsions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A skeletal pose estimation method, named RVRU-Pose, is proposed to estimate the skeletal pose of vulnerable road users based on distributed non-coherent mmWave radar. In view of the limitation that existing methods for skeletal pose estimation are only applicable to small scenes, this paper proposes a strategy that combines radar intensity heatmaps and coordinate heatmaps as input to a deep learning network. In addition, we design a multi-resolution data augmentation and training method suitable for radar to achieve target pose estimation for remote and multi-target application scenarios. Experimental results show that RVRU-Pose can achieve better than 2 cm average localization accuracy for different subjects in different scenarios, which is superior in terms of accuracy and time compared to existing state-of-the-art methods for human skeletal pose estimation with radar. As an essential performance parameter of radar, the impact of angular resolution on the estimation accuracy of a skeletal pose is quantitatively analyzed and evaluated in this paper. Finally, RVRU-Pose has also been extended to the task of estimating the skeletal pose of a cyclist, reflecting the strong scalability of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nucleotides (NTs) are extremely important low-molecular-weight compounds in organisms, and play an important role in cell metabolism, energy and functional regulation. Our previous study found that NTs regulated the intestinal flora of rapid-aging mice (senescence-accelerated mouse prone-8, SAMP-8) and played a significant role in promoting the growth of Lactobacillus casei. However, the mechanism by which NTs promote the antagonization of intestinal pathogens by probiotics remains unclear. Therefore, we explored the mechanism by which NTs promote the antagonization of intestinal pathogens by L. casei via in vitro coculture. The results showed that NTs promoted the growth of L. casei , while negatively affecting Salmonella enterica. NTs increased the antagonism of S. enterica biofilm formation, swimming, swarming, and secretion of siderophore by L. casei. This antagonism was probably due to NTs activating the LuxS protein in L. casei , which closely combines with NTs, promoting the secretion of AI-2 signaling molecule and triggering the expression of genes related to the quorum sensing system, enabling L. casei to produce specific physiological activities. This study provides a theoretical basis for exploring using NTs as potential prebiotics. • Effect of NTs promoting L. casei against S. enterica was explored by coculture. • Effect of NTs on quorum sensing phenotype of L. casei and S. enterica was explored. • Molecular docking studied mechanism of NTs promoting L. casei against S. enterica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Usually, it takes 3–7 days to exfoliate the layered titanic acid H 1.07 Ti 1.73 O 4 (HTO) into Ti 1.73 O 4 1.07– (TO) nanosheet. The H 2 O 2 molecules can easily enter into the interlayers of the HTO crystal to form the H 2 O 2 intercalated HTO. The H 2 O 2 intercalation can achieve rapid exfoliation of HTO. It takes 1 h to exfoliate into a yellow H 2 O 2 -modified TO nanosheet, which has a wide absorption wavelength range and a narrow band gap. Moreover, such 2D nanosheet has a large specific surface area and a large number of reactive sites. And such yellow H 2 O 2 -modified TO nanosheet displays some visible photocatalytic hydrogen production performance. When the H 2 O 2 -TO nanosheet is loaded with Ni(OH) 2 , the sample can show a higher photocatalytic hydrogen production performance. The maximum photocatalytic hydrogen production rate of the Ni(OH) 2 -H 2 O 2 -TO catalyst is 32.48 μmol h−1 g−1, which is 4.1 and 1.9 times higher than that of H 2 O 2 -TO and Pt-H 2 O 2 -TO. This is due to the formation of a type II heterojunction between the H 2 O 2 -TO nanosheet and Ni(OH) 2. This heterojunction can achieve the effective separation of photogenerated carriers. • The introduction of peroxygen bonds leads to a positive shift in the CB minimum of the crystal as well as a reduction in the stripping time. • Potocatalyst presents stronger performance. • The mechanism of performance improvement can be explained in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Usually, it takes 3–7 days to exfoliate the layered titanic acid H 1.07 Ti 1.73 O 4 (HTO) into Ti 1.73 O 4 1.07– (TO) nanosheet. The H 2 O 2 molecules can easily enter into the interlayers of the HTO crystal to form the H 2 O 2 intercalated HTO. The H 2 O 2 intercalation can achieve rapid exfoliation of HTO. It takes 1 h to exfoliate into a yellow H 2 O 2 -modified TO nanosheet, which has a wide absorption wavelength range and a narrow band gap. Moreover, such 2D nanosheet has a large specific surface area and a large number of reactive sites. And such yellow H 2 O 2 -modified TO nanosheet displays some visible photocatalytic hydrogen production performance. When the H 2 O 2 -TO nanosheet is loaded with Ni(OH) 2 , the sample can show a higher photocatalytic hydrogen production performance. The maximum photocatalytic hydrogen production rate of the Ni(OH) 2 -H 2 O 2 -TO catalyst is 32.48 μmol h−1 g−1, which is 4.1 and 1.9 times higher than that of H 2 O 2 -TO and Pt-H 2 O 2 -TO. This is due to the formation of a type II heterojunction between the H 2 O 2 -TO nanosheet and Ni(OH) 2. This heterojunction can achieve the effective separation of photogenerated carriers. • The introduction of peroxygen bonds leads to a positive shift in the CB minimum of the crystal as well as a reduction in the stripping time. • Potocatalyst presents stronger performance. • The mechanism of performance improvement can be explained in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Edible oleogels was fabricated using soy fiber particles (SFP) with water as the second fluid. • SFP oleogels with modulated properties can be obtained by particle size, particle content and the second fluid content. • Similar properties of bread made with edible oleogels was observed in comparison with using commercial butter. Oleogels containing less saturated and trans -fats were considered as an ideal option to replace the solid fats in foods. In this research, oleogel was fabricated by dispersing soy fiber particles (SFP) in soy oil, and further it was used in bread preparation. Effect of the particle size, particle content and the second fluid content on the formation of oleogels were evaluated, based on the appearance and rheological properties. Results showed that the suspension of SFP in soy oil (24%, w/w) could be transformed into gel-like state, upon the addition of the second fluid. The SFP based networks were dominated by the capillary force which was originated from the second fluid. The rheological properties and yield stress of the oleogels could be modulated by particle size and particle content of SFP in oil phase, as well as the second fluid content in the system. When the oleogels were applicated in bread preparation, a layered structure could be formed in the bread, indicating the possibility of replacing the solid fats in bakery products by our oleogels. Our results offered a feasibility approach for oil structuring with natural raw materials, and developed a new approach to replace the solid fats in foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of iron addition (up to 10,000 ppmw) on silicon purification during Al–Si solvent refining is studied in this work. The Al–Si based melts with different iron contents were solidified with different cooling rates. It is found that the iron addition does not affect boron and phosphorus removal rates. Iron distribution in microstructure demonstrates that iron does not have an effect on the diffusion behaviors of boron and phosphorus. The compositions of intermetallic compounds containing iron indicate that there is neither interaction between iron and boron, nor interaction between iron and phosphorus. Besides, the models of interaction between boron and an additive element are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Complex gum arabic (GA) and tannic acid (TA) was confirmed by ITC. • GA inhibit the interaction of mucoadhesive TA with mucins. • TA modulate the retention of emulsions and aroma release. Flavour is a crucial sensory element that determines the consumers' preference for food and beverages. In this study, we determined the effects of complex gum arabic (GA) and tannic acid (TA) on the aroma release of flavour oil emulsions in vitro by simulating oral processing conditions. GA and TA were used to stabilize flavour oil emulsions. Visualization of in vitro retention using ex vivo porcine tongue, detection of aroma release in the model mouth, and sensory evaluation of flavour emulsions were performed to determine the effect of TA and GA. The results indicated that the retention of emulsions and the release of aroma compounds were modulated by TA and GA, which could be because of interactions that occurred between GA and TA in emulsions and mucins on the tongue. GA enhanced aroma release, whereas TA contributed to the retention or slow release of target aroma compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exercise training has different effects on arterial stiffness according to training modalities. The optimal exercise modality for improvement of arterial function in normotensive and hypertensive individuals has not been well established. In this review, we aim to evaluate the effects of aerobic, resistance and combined aerobic and resistance training on arterial stiffness in individuals with and without hypertension. We systematically searched the Pubmed and Web of Science database from 1985 until December 2013 for relevant randomised controlled trials (RCTs). The data were extracted by one investigator and checked by a second investigator. The training effects on arterial stiffness were estimated using weighted mean differences of the relative changes (%) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We finally reviewed the results from 17 RCTs. The available evidence indicates that aerobic exercise tends to have a beneficial effect on arterial stiffness in normotensive and hypertensive patients, but does not affect arterial stiffness in patients with isolated systolic hypertension. Resistance exercise has differing effects on arterial stiffness depending on type and intensity. Vigorous resistance training is associated with an increase in arterial stiffness. There seem to be no unfavourable effects on arterial stiffness if the training is of low intensity, in a slow eccentric manner or with lower limb in healthy individuals. Combined training has neutral or even a beneficial effect on arterial stiffness. In conclusion, our review shows that exercise training has varying effects on arterial stiffness depending on the exercise modalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at developing a Si solidification purification process in the Al–Si alloy system, series of experiments on the effect of electromagnetic stirring on refining of metallurgical grade Si(MG–Si) were carried out. By the use of electromagnetic stirring, an increase of size and average mass of primary Si flakes with the increasing voltage of the electromagnet were obtained. Impurity elements formed intermetallic compounds with Al and Si, such as Al 7 Fe 2 Si(α phase) and Al 5 FeSi(β phase). An intermetallic compound type transformation with electromagnetic stirring was observed. The refined Si under the alternative electromagnetic field contains much lower B and P than those without the electromagnetic stirring. An apparent segregation coefficient was introduced to describe the segregation between solid Si and Al–Si melt. The apparent segregation coefficients of B and P are determined to be 0.37 and 0.17, respectively, when the voltage of the electromagnet is 210 V and cooling rate is 0.5 K min −1 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a new method for predicting spindle deformation based on temperature data. The method introduces the adaptive neurofuzzy inference system (ANFIS), which is a neurofuzzy modeling approach that integrates the kernel and geometrical transformations. By utilizing data transformation, the number of ANFIS rules can be effectively reduced and the predictive model structure can be simplified. To build the predictive model, we first map the original temperature data to a feature space with Gaussian kernels. We then process the mapped data with the geometrical transformation and make the data gather in the square region. Finally, the transformed data are used as input to train the ANFIS. A verification experiment is conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed method. Six Pt100 thermal resistances are used to monitor the spindle temperature, and a laser displacement sensor is used to detect the spindle deformation. Experimental results show that the proposed method can precisely predict the spindle deformation and greatly improve the thermal performance of the spindle. Compared with back propagation (BP) networks, the proposed method is more suitable for complex working conditions in practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) is closely associated with poor prognosis in various aggressive cancers including large-cell lung cancer (LCLC). Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) refers to the unique capability of aggressive tumor cells to mimic the pattern of embryonic vasculogenic networks involving the blood supply in early tumor formation. We demonstrate the statistically positive correlation of uPAR expression with VM formation, metastasis, and poor prognosis of LCLC patients. uPAR + cells sorted from the LCLC H460 cell line show higher invasion, migration capacity, and tube structure formation capability on Matrigel compared with uPAR − cells. uPAR + tumor cells highly expressed vimentin and VE-cadherin; the epithelial marker E-cadherin was low expressed. Higher EMT-regulated protein twist and snail expressions were also observed in these cells. uPAR + cells injected subcutaneously into nude mice markedly increased tumor growth, induced VM formation and liver metastasis; by contrast, uPAR − cells did not. The data suggest that uPAR expression may predict VM formation, tumor metastasis and poorer prognosis of LCLC patients. The uPAR gene may be used as a novel therapeutic target for inhibiting angiogenesis and metastasis in LCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Arterial stiffness can be measured using various non-invasive methods. It is not well established whether it is necessary to standardize the time of the day when performing these measurements. The aim of the present study is to examine the effect of daytime on arterial stiffness in individuals with and without heart disease. Methods. We investigated the diurnal variation of cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) and carotid femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV). CAVI and cfPWV were measured in 70 participants (23 healthy young individuals [HY], 22 healthy elderly individuals [HE], 25 patients with heart disease [HD]) at 09:00, 13:00 and 17:00 h. Results. There was a significant diurnal variation in CAVI with the highest values at 09:00 h in both univariate and multivariate analysis. After adjusting for age, sex and MAP (mean arterial pressure), CAVI maintained a significant highest values at 09:00 h, which was 4% higher than at 13:00 h ( p = 0.022) and 5% higher than at 17:00 h ( p = 0.002). However, a lack of diurnal variation was found in cfPWV in multivariate analysis in our study population. Conclusion. Our findings suggest that it does not appear mandatory to measure cfPWV at the same time of day. However, standardizing the time of day for CAVI is important in routine clinical practice and longitudinal studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distributed array radar provides new prospects for three-dimensional (3D) inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) imaging. The accuracy of image registration, as an essential part of 3D ISAR imaging, affects the performance of 3D reconstruction. In this paper, the imaging process of distributed array ISAR is proposed according to the imaging model. The ISAR images of distributed array radar at different APCs have different distribution of scatters. When the local distribution of scatters for the same target are quite different, the performance of the existing ISAR image registration methods may not be optimal. Therefore, an image registration method is proposed by integrating the feature-based method and the area-based method. The proposed method consists of two stages: coarse registration and fine registration. In the first stage, a dominant scatters model is established based on scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT). In the second stage, sub-pixel precision registration is achieved using the local correlation matching method. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by comparison with other image registration methods. The 3D reconstruction of the registered experimental data is carried out to assess the practicability of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One important problem in casting wrought aluminum alloys is the high tendency to the formation of hot tears in the solidification process. By using semi-solid metal (SSM) processing, the hot tearing tendency of alloys can be minimized during casting. In the present research, the semi-solid slurry of wrought aluminum alloy 2024 was firstly prepared with a novel self-inoculation method (SIM), and then the microstructure characteristics of the semi-solid slurry and the rheo-diecastings cast with the semi-solid slurry were investigated. The results indicate that finer and more uniform globular primary α-Al particles can be obtained when the semi-solid slurry are isothermally held for a short period within the semi-solid temperature range, and the primary α -Al particles without entrapped liquid are uniformly fine, globular grains in the rheo-diecastings. The holding temperature and time affect the solid fraction, particle size, and shape factor. After the semi-solid slurry is held at 625 ° C for 3 min and 5 min, the optimal values for the average equivalent diameter are 70.80 μm and 74.15 μm, and for the shape factor are 1.32 and 1.42, respectively. The solidification process of the rheo-diecastings is composed of the following two distinct stages: primary solidification process and secondary solidification process. The secondary solidification process consists further of the following three stages: (1) direct growth of secondary primary (α2) phase from the surface of the primary α-Al phase particles without re-nucleation, (2) independent nucleation and growth of α3 phase from the residual liquid, and (3) eutectic reaction at the end. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A joint radar-communication (JRC) system utilizes the integrated transmit waveform and a single platform to perform radar and communication functions simultaneously. Admittedly, the multibeam waveform design approach could transmit the assigned waveforms in different beams with the aid of spatial and temporal degrees of freedom. However, a high sidelobe level (SLL) in the beampattern reduces energy efficiency and expands exposure probability. In this study, we propose a novel spatial–temporal joint waveform design method based on the beamforming algorithm to form a low SLL beampattern. Waveform synthesis constraints are considered to synthesize desired radar and communication waveforms at designated directions. Furthermore, we impose the constant modulus constraint to lessen the impact of the high peak-to-average ratio (PAPR). The optimization process of the whole model can be summarized as two stages. First, the covariance matrix is created by convex optimization with respect to the minimum SLL. Second, the integrated transmit waveform is tuned through an alternating projection algorithm. Based on the simulation findings, we demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms the traditional methods in terms of low SLL and waveform synthesis. Meanwhile, we validate the effectiveness of the proposed method using semi-physical experiment results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The water resistance properties of unmodified soy protein isolate (SPI1) materials and modified soy protein isolate (SPI2) materials were investigated. The surface morphology and surface composition of the materials were also identified by Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The average roughness of materials reduced from 14.362 nm to 8.672 nm. The N/C ratio of surface was decreased from 0.078 to 0.055, and the content of C1 reduced from 45.0% to 53.7%. Results indicate that the modification of SPI changes the surface morphology and surface composition of materials, showing higher water resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of hafnium carbide nanowires (HfC NWs) on carbon fibers was successfully achieved by employing HfCl 4 and furfuryl alcohol as precursor materials, facilitated by Ni-assisted catalytic pyrolysis. In the polymerization and cross-linking processes of furfuryl alcohol, hafnium cations play a crucial role, leading to the atomic-level amalgamation and effectively enhancing the reactivity of the Hf-O-C system. The nucleation of HfC NWs takes place at 1300 °C, followed by growth through a solid-liquid-solid (SLS) mechanism. Carbon fibers were uniformly coated with tens micrometer-long HfC NWs having an approximate diameter of 500 nm. Notably, the tips of these HfC NWs exhibited clean surfaces free of Ni catalyst particles, indicating their root growth model. This novel catalyst-assisted pyrolysis method holds great potential for enabling cost-effective large-scale production of transition metal carbide nanowires. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequent malignancy in women worldwide and the leading cause of female cancer–associated death in the world. Grainyhead-like 2 (GRHL2) is an important gene involved in human cancer progression. However, the role of GRHL2 in BC is unknown. Methods: In this study, we used in vitro experiments to verify the role of GRHL2 expression in BC progression. We used 14 databases to analyse the expression level of GRHL2 in BC and its prognostic and diagnostic value. In addition, the correlation between GRHL2 expression and immune cell infiltration and DNA methylation was also analysed. Results: At the cellular level, overexpression of GRHL2 induced E-cadherin expression in BC cells with a mesenchymal phenotype and resulted in a hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal (E/M) phenotype, which is more strongly correlated with tumour aggressiveness than a pure mesenchymal phenotype. Through analysis of various databases, we found that tumour tissue had a higher expression level of GRHL2. High expression of GRHL2 was associated with worse prognosis of BC patients and indicated that GRHL2 had significant diagnostic value. Grainyhead-like 2 is also related to immune infiltration and regulated by DNA methylation. Furthermore, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) analyses showed that GRHL2 -related signalling pathways in BC were related to tumour cell proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis. Conclusions: In summary, evidence indicates that GRHL2 can be used as a prognostic and diagnostic biomarker for BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Mechanical stirring was introduced in Al-Si solvent refining. • Mechanical stirring is beneficial to impurity atoms removal. • An apparatus for mechanical stirring in the Al-Si solvent refining was assembled. Al-Si solvent refining is a promising method to purify silicon, and boron and phosphorus are key impurity elements to be eliminated. When primary silicon grows in hypereutectic Al-Si melt, impurity atoms are enriched at the solid-liquid interface and diffuse into the remaining melt. Mechanical stirring was introduced in the Al-Si solvent refining in this work to dilute the concentrated impurity atoms at the solid-liquid interface. A rotating tube with an end closed was used to stir the Al-Si melt. It is found that mechanical stirring is beneficial to impurity atoms removal. Boron and phosphorus contents in purified silicon with mechanical stirring are smaller than that without mechanical stirring. When stirring speed increases, boron and phosphorus contents in purified silicon decrease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High salt intake is the leading dietary risk factor for death from noncommunicable diseases in the world. Some solid and semi-solid gelled foods, such as bread, sausage and cheese, are among the saltiest in the food category. In this study, we develop a simple and scalable method for the preparation of semi-solid food with an inhomogeneous salt distribution by dispersing sodium-containing soy protein/gum arabic coacervates into the food gels. The sensory analysis reveals an enhanced saltiness of these food gels allowing a reduction in the sodium content of 30%, while maintaining the taste and texture qualities. From the result of the kinetic release of sodium during mastication, we conclude that the enhanced saltiness is attributed not only to the sensory contrast structure but also to a faster sodium release. Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) is used to measure the binding affinity of Na+ and gum arabic (GA) with the mucin layer for the first time, showing that GA induces the swelling of the mucin layer, and the GA that is screened by salt exhibits the mucopenetration ability. This result is helpful to understand the enhanced saltiness and the acceleration of sodium diffusion through the inhomogeneous spatial distribution of protein/gum arabic coacervates. Preparation of PS-SPI/GA gels and possible saltiness enhancement mechanism. Image 1 • Salt reduction of semi-solid food was achieved via inhomogeneous distribution of sodium-containing coacervates. • The enhanced saltiness is attributed to sensory contrast structure and a faster sodium release. • Gum arabic induces the swelling of mucus, and the GA that is screened by salt exhibits the mucopenetration ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A six-core few-mode fiber. • Four supermodes are obtained. • Low loss and low crosstalk. • The large effective index difference. A novel six-core few-mode fiber is proposed in this paper. The refractive index of each core is graded and pure silica is adopted in the center of each core. Four supermodes are achieved using full-vector finite element method in this fiber. Pure silica cores are employed to effectively reduce the intrinsic loss. The larger effective refractive index difference between the modes is used to effectively reduce the mode crosstalk. The low bending loss is realized by using the trench refractive index at the cladding. The six cores of the fiber are arranged in a ring, which shows the performance of the ring-core fiber supporting the single radial mode and the larger effective refractive index difference between the modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Offspring mice from high microbial load-containing mother showed reduced asthma risk. • Bacterial lysates can affect intestinal microbial abundance in mother mice. • Bacterial lysates can promote community changes in mother mice. • Exposure to microbial environments during pregnancy may help prevent asthma. Although it is widely accepted that the "hygiene hypothesis" explains the increased incidence of asthma, the lack of suitable animal models hinders further in-depth studies of the underlying molecular immune mechanisms. Therefore, we aimed to develop a robust mouse asthma model to investigate the role of bacteria in preventing asthma. BALB/c female mice were fed a mixture of eight common bacterial lysates (BL; Broncho-Vaxom®) and a commercial probiotic (Bifidobacterium tetravaccine tablets) at different concentrations before and during pregnancy to simulate different microbial load levels. Faeces from the mother mice were subjected to bacterial 16S rRNA sequencing to quantify the maternal microbial load. TLR2/4 expression and the proportion of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the intestinal tract of female mice were determined, and the safety of the microbial load was evaluated. An asthma model was established in the offspring mice after weaning, and the extent of pulmonary pathological changes and Treg proportion were evaluated. A BL concentration of 1 mg/kg enriched the intestinal flora, increased the proportion of Tregs, and increased the expression of TLR2/4 in the maternal mice. The proportion of peripheral blood Tregs was increased, whereas the risk of asthma decreased only in the offspring from mothers with a high microbial load relative to control mice. This study established a safe and stable high microbial load maternal-offspring mouse asthma model, laying the foundation for a study on the molecular mechanism underlying the protective effects of a high microbial load against asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochemical sensing plays a vital role in the research of life and natural science. However, with the increase of environmental complexity and amount of sample, traditional sensors cannot meet the needs of accurate and efficient analysis of numerous data. The emergence of AI provides a new strategy for overcoming the challenges in biochemical sensing, especially in the field of molecular diagnosis and imaging analysis. In this review, we focus on how AI reinforce biochemical sensing in accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and efficiency. The applications of AI in material synthesis, molecular diagnosis and imaging analysis in the past three years are reviewed, and the characteristics and performance evaluation methods of the algorithms are emphatically discussed. Finally, we proposed the challenges of AI biochemical sensing in application, including database construction, reasonable selection of algorithms, and data reliability verification, and clarified the advancements needed and future development prospects. • How AI can benefit biochemical sensors. • Overview of characteristics and evaluation methods of AI algorithms. • The challenges of AI in the application of biochemical sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lin, Tian, Huaping Jia, Yunming Li, Yongxing Xu, Bei Zhao, Dong Zheng, Hongfeng Yan, Meihui Zhao, Yanlei Li, Liping Xia, Fengxia Zhou, Cuiping Liu, Ke Ma, Ma Mi, and Jianwen Gu. Epidemiological survey of congenital heart disease among children aged from 2 to 18 in Suo County, Nagqu, Tibet. High Alt Med Biol. 00:000–000, 2024. Background: Studies have reported the prevalence of congenital heart disease (CHD) in parts of Tibet, but relative epidemiological surveys are rare. We aimed to explore the prevalence of CHD in children and its relationship with family history in Suo County, Nagqu, Tibet, an altitude of 3,980 meters. Methods: We recruited 4,002 children aged 2–18 years. Subjects underwent a family history investigation, cardiac auscultation, and clinical manifestation examination and then received echocardiographic screening. Results: The prevalence of CHD among children in Suo County was 0.97% (39 cases), much higher than the prevalence at sea level. The most common subtype was atrial septal defect, accounting for 53.9% of CHD, followed by patent ductus arteriosus (33.3%) and ventricular septal defect (12.8%). We also found that children whose mothers had previously borne children with CHD had a higher risk of CHD than those without (p = 0.002); other factors related to CHD during pregnancy, such as smoking, drinking, drug use, and viral infection, showed no statistical differences between children with and without CHD. Conclusions: The prevalence of CHD in children in Suo County is much higher than at low altitude, consisting mostly of simple forms with left-to-right shunt, with rare complex CHD. These results support implementing diagnostic and treatment plans to prevent CHD in Suo County. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using non-amphiphilic polysaccharide to stabilize oil-in-water emulsions is still a challenge in food industry. Polysaccharide microgels showed emulsifying capacity, however, the stability of the formed emulsions is far from the requirements of the food industry. In this work, agarose microgel/Tween-20 suspensions were prepared and further employed in oil-in-water emulsion stabilization. Focuses were taken on the impact of Tween-20 on the emulsifying properties of agarose microgels. Results suggested that Tween-20 could complex with agarose microgels, and microamounts of Tween-20 (0.02 wt%) could apparently improve the emulsifying performance of microgels. Dynamic interfacial pressure and interfacial adsorption of microgels indicated that appropriate amount of Tween-20 (≤0.04 wt%) could benefit the interfacial adsorption of agarose microgels, while excessive Tween-20 (≥0.08 wt%) could compete with agarose microgels for adsorption sites on oil/water interface. Results of this work supporting that surfactant complexing could be a promising solution to prepare polysaccharides based Mickering emulsions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomographic SAR (TomoSAR) is a remote sensing technique that extends the conventional two-dimensional (2-D) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging principle to three-dimensional (3-D) imaging. It produces 3-D point clouds with unavoidable noise that seriously deteriorates the quality of 3-D imaging and the reconstruction of buildings over urban areas. However, existing methods for TomoSAR point cloud processing notably rely on data segmentation, which influences the processing efficiency and denoising performance to a large extent. Inspired by regression analysis, in this paper, we propose an automatic method using neural networks to regularize the 3-D building structures from TomoSAR point clouds. By changing the point heights, the surface points of a building are refined. The method has commendable performance on smoothening the building surface, and keeps a precise preservation of the building structure. Due to the regression mechanism, the method works in a high automation level, which avoids data segmentation and complex parameter adjustment. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our method to denoise and regularize TomoSAR point clouds for urban buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Most signatures are constructed on the basis of RNA or protein expression levels. The value of vascular invasion-related signatures based on lncRNA pairs, regardless of their specific expression level in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is not yet clear. Methods: Vascular invasion-related differentially expressed lncRNA (DElncRNA) pairs were identified with a two-lncRNA combination strategy by using a novel modeling algorithm. Based on the optimal cutoff value of the ROC curve, patients with HCC were classified into high- and low-risk subgroups. We used KM survival analysis to evaluate the overall survival rate of patients in the high- and low-risk subgroups. The independent indicators of survival were identified using univariate and multivariate Cox analyses. Results: Five pairs of vascular invasion-related DElncRNAs were selected to develop a predictive model for HCC. High-risk subgroups were closely associated with aggressive clinicopathological characteristics and genes, chemotherapeutic sensitivity, and highly expressed immune checkpoint inhibitors. Conclusions: We identified a signature composed of 5 pairs of vascular invasion-related lncRNAs that does not require absolute expression levels of lncRNAs and shows promising clinical predictive value for HCC prognosis. This predictive model provides deep insight into the value of vascular invasion-related lncRNAs in prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Triple-negative breast cancer has poorer prognosis than other molecular subtype of breast cancer. RSRC2 is a newly discovered tumor suppressor gene. Our study found RSRC2 expression was lost in triple-negative breast cancer tissues. Low expression of RSRC2 was associated with worse prognosis of breast cancer patients. SCIN was identified as a novel transcriptional target of RSRC2 in triple-negative breast cancer cells. The clarification of relationship between RSRC2 and SCIN provided a new sight for triple-negative breast cancer treatment. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has a shorter survival time and higher mortality rate than other molecular subtypes. RSRC2 is a newly discovered tumor suppressor gene. However, the potential functional mechanism of RSRC2 in TNBC remains unknown so far. Multiple bioinformatics databases were used. A Human Transcriptome Array 2.0 analysis, ChIP-seq analysis, ChIP-qPCR, RT-qPCR, Western blot, cell function assays in vitro and a metastatic mouse model in vivo were performed to demonstrate the role of RSRC2 in TNBC. Through the analysis of various databases, RSRC2 expression was the lowest in TNBC tissues compared to other molecular subtypes. The low expression of RSRC2 was associated with a worse prognosis for patients with breast cancer. The transcriptome array, ChIP-seq and bioinformatics analysis identified that GRHL2 and SCIN might have a close relationship with RSRC2. The functional bioinformatics enrichment analysis and functional cell experiments showed that RSRC2 was involved in cell adhesion, cell proliferation, cell migration and invasion. Furthermore, RSRC2 expression suppressed SCIN expression but not GRHL2 expression. SCIN re-expression in the RSRC2 overexpression cells or SCIN knockdown in the RSRC2 knockdown cells reversed the cellular function caused by RSRC2. Mechanistically, RSRC2 transcriptionally inhibited SCIN expression. In summary, our study reveals that RSRC2 acts as a tumor suppressor in TNBC development and progression through negatively regulating SCIN-mediated cell function, thus providing a potential target for TNBC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although Mesna is an FDA-approved chemotherapeutic adjuvant and an antioxidant based largely on its antioxidative properties, kinetic and mechanistic studies of its redox reactions are limited. A kinetic analysis of the reduction processes of cis-diamminetetrachloroplatinum(IV) (cis-[Pt(NH3)2Cl4], a cisplatin Pt(IV) prodrug) by thiol-containing compounds Mesna, thioglycolic acid (TGA), and DL-thiolactic acid (TLA) was carried out in this work at 25.0°C and 1.0 M ionic strength. The reduction processes were followed under pseudo-first-order conditions and were found to strictly obey overall second-order kinetics; the observed second-order rate constant k′ versus pH profiles were established in a wide pH range. A general reaction stoichiometry of Δ[Pt(IV)] : Δ[Thiol]tot = 1 : 2 was revealed for all the thiols; the thiols were oxidized to their corresponding disulfides which were identified by mass spectrometry. Reaction mechanisms are proposed which involves all the prololytic species of the thiols attacking the Pt(IV) prodrug in parallel, designating as the rate-determining steps. Transient species chlorothiol and/or chlorothiolate are formed in these steps; for each particular thiol, these transient species can be trapped rapidly by another thiol molecule which is in excess in the reaction mixture, giving rise to a disulfide as the oxidation product. The rate constants of the rate-determining steps were elucidated, revealing reactivity enhancements of (1.4–8.9) × 105 times when the thiols become thiolates. The species versus pH and reactivity of species versus pH distribution diagrams were constructed, demonstrating that the species ‒SCH2CH2SO3‒ of Mesna largely governs the total reactivity when pH > 5; in contrast, the form of Mesna per se (mainly as HSCH2CH2SO3‒) makes a negligible contribution. In addition, a well-determined dissociation constant for the Mesna thiol group (pKa2 = 8.85 ± 0.05 at 25.0°C and μ = 1.0 M) is offered in this work, which was determined by both kinetic approach and spectrophotometic titration method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional candling methods are very hard to discriminate the infertile chicken eggs from the fertile ones before hatching on the poultry farm. The purpose of this study was to detect infertile chicken eggs before hatching by use of the nondestructive technique of visible near infrared transmission spectroscopy. The Naïve-Bayes method was adopted to link spectral data and qualitative observation values of chicken eggs to build a model. Five preprocessing methods were applied to spectral data to improve the robustness of the models. The internal test method of leave one cross validation and an external test method were employed to test the predictive ability of the established models. Naïve-Bayes with a second derivative by the Savitzky-Golay preprocessing method was selected as the optimal prediction model by comparing with four evaluation parameters of other models. The overall accuracy of the model using the second derivative—Savitzky-Golay preprocessing method was 91.67%, while the sensitivity and the specificity were 95% and 100%, respectively. The prediction ability of the optimal model was assessed by use of unknown new egg samples. The average overall prediction accuracy of the prediction set containing 111 eggs was 89.12%, while the sensitivity and specificity were 88.14 and 90.38%, respectively. Results showed that the prediction model had good predictability and stability. Therefore, visible near infrared transmission spectroscopy would be an appropriate technology to detect infertile chicken eggs before hatching. The infertile chicken eggs from the fertile ones before hatching were discriminated Visible near infrared spectroscopy first detected infertile chicken eggs before hatching. Naive bayes classifier with five different pre-processing methods were compared. The unknown eggs were predicted by the optimal Naive bayes prediction model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • VIS-NIR transmission spectroscopy was used to identify the unfertilized duck eggs from the fertilized ones before hatching and a instrument was independently developed. • Leverage Diagnostic and Mahalanobis Distance methods were used to eliminate outliers. • Internal validation of leave-one-out cross-validation and external validation of NB were used in validating established prediction model to obtain the optimum model. • The optimum NB prediction model was used to predict the unknown duck eggs before hatching. Abstract Identification of unfertilized duck eggs before hatching was hardly achieved in the poultry farm by the traditional method. Visible/near infrared (VIS/NIR) transmittance spectroscopy was used as a rapid and non-destructive technique to distinguish the unfertilized duck eggs before hatching. Transmittance spectral data of duck eggs laid by the same flock of ducks was obtained. Prediction models were developed and used to link the non-destructive assessment methods and qualitative observation values of spectral with the spectral data. Established models were validated by the internal leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV) and external validation. The prediction model established by standard normal variate (SNV) pre-processing method and naive Bayes (NB) modeling method got the best performance. The overall prediction accuracy of the validation set was 94.54% and the prediction accuracy of internal validation was 95.06%. The prediction accuracy of 667 duck eggs by means of NB modeling method by SNV pre-processing was 94.77%. Results showed that the VIS/NIR transmittance spectroscopy was an effective tool for detecting the unfertilized duck eggs. This provided technical support for identification of the unfertilized duck eggs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) diagnostics can be useful for diagnosing or confirming miRNA abundance and are used in screening tests and to assess changes in miRNAs in vivo. At present, the use of traditional nucleic acid amplification assays to detect miRNAs has been limited in laboratory environment because of the time, equipment, and technical expertise required to perform these assays. A specialized, rapid affordable miRNA detection system is necessary when there are limited resources or point‐of‐care testing needs. We designed a portable and affordable fluorescence‐based miRNA detection system based on isothermal signal amplification technology, using SYBR Green II as a fluorescent dye. To reduce costs, we chose LED as a light source and designed the corresponding optical path for LED. The portable detection system shows results consistent with those by real‐time PCR, and can be used to detect miR‐183 with a limit of detection of approximately 2 fmol. We used the system to detect miR‐183 in tissues and blood from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The results from the portable detection device were compared with those from clinical trials and indicated that the miR‐183 fluorescence signal could successfully identify HCC and provide information related to cancer progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Study spectral calibration model transfer between two varieties of eggs. • Global updating, direct standardization and slope/bias correction were studied. • Search optimal master variety by comparing two varieties of eggs. • Mahalanobis distance combined with principal component analysis eliminated outliers. Abstract This research was performed to study calibration model transfer between White Leghorns eggs and Bantam eggs for prediction of egg freshness by visible near infrared (VIS-NIR) spectroscopy. Transmission spectra of the two varieties were acquired in the equatorial region of the eggs. And albumen pH as the freshness evaluating parameter was measured using traditional destructive methods. After outliers were eliminated by Mahalanobis distance combined with principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares regression (PLSR) with different preprocessing methods was used to develop prediction models. Global updating, direct standardization (DS) and slope/bias correction (SBC) were evaluated to transfer calibration models from one variety to another. The Kennard-Stone (KS) algorithm was used to select standardization samples. White Leghorns eggs and Bantam eggs as the master variety in turn were compared to find superior master variety. Application of the slope/bias correction (SBC) algorithm obtained the best prediction results of albumen pH. And the better slope/bias correction (SBC) transfer performance with a r p of 0.908 and a RMSEP of 0.133 was found when Bantam eggs were as the superior master variety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]