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4U 1954 |$+$| 31 is a high-mass X-ray binary (HMXB) that contains a neutron star (NS) and an M supergiant companion. The NS has a spin period of |$\sim 5.4$| h. The traditional wind-accreting model requires an ultra-strong magnetic field for the NS to explain its extremely long spin period, which seems problematic for the NS with age of a few |$10^7$| yr. In this work, we take into account the unsteady feature of wind accretion, which results in alternation of the direction of the wind matter's angular momentum. Accordingly, the torque exerted by the accreted wind matter varies between positive and negative from time to time, and largely cancels out over long time. In such a scenario, NSs can naturally attain long spin periods without the requirement of a very strong magnetic field. This may also provide a reasonable explanation for the spin period distribution of long-period NSs in HMXBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural small tourism enterprises (STEs) are involved in many discretionary, spontaneous, and supporting activities toward the host communities, which is labeled as community social responsibility (CoSR) in this study. This study develops and validates a scale to measure rural STEs' CoSR. Stage 1 found four dimensions and 33 initial items through a thorough literature review and focus group discussions. In stage 2, an exploratory factor analysis was conducted to evaluate the dimensionality of the CoSR scale. Stage 3 used confirmatory factor analysis and supported a 22-item five-dimension scale (promoting economic development, cultural preservation, cultural production, environmental protection, and political participation). An additional study was conducted to further assess nomological validity of the developed scale. The development of the CoSR scale provides a measurement instrument to spur additional empirical studies on CoSR. This scale also provides a useful tool for rural STE owners to measure and manage CoSR activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The previous literature highlights a relationship between maternal smoking around birth (MSAB) and offspring attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These studies have focused on the causal effects of MSAB on offspring ADHD. A Mendelian randomization analysis was conducted using summary statistics. Data on MSAB were obtained from a recent study including 391,992 participants. ADHD data were obtained from six sources for 246,888 participants. The present study used five methods to examine the causal impact from outcomes on exposures. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) was the main method of analysis, while the other four methods were supplementary methods. The IVW revealed that MSAB was a risk factor for offspring ADHD (OR: 2.54; 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.61–4.00, p = 6.04 × 10−5). Concerning ADHD in both sexes, MSAB was associated with females (OR = 3.96, 95 % CI: 1.99–7.90, p = 8.98 × 10−5) and males (OR = 3.74, 95 % CI: 1.74–5.72, p = 1.48 × 10−4). In different diagnosis periods for ADHD, MSAB increased the risk of childhood (OR = 3.63, 95 % CI: 2.25–5.87, p = 1.31 × 10−7), late-diagnosed (OR = 2.99, 95 % CI: 1.74–5.14, p = 7.33 × 10−5), and persistent (OR = 4.77, 95 % CI: 1.88–12.14, p = 1.03 × 10−3) ADHD. The final analysis did not reveal heterogeneity. A causal impact of MSAB on offspring ADHD was observed. These findings highlight the need for careful consideration of prenatal exposure (MSAB) during the assessment of offspring ADHD. Additionally, it can provide targeted guidance for prenatal interventions. Future studies should analyze the effects of different doses of maternal smoking on ADHD. • The causality of maternal smoking around birth (MSAB) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is controversial. • The causal effect of MSAB on ADHD is observed. • Provide targeted guidance for prenatal interventions. • Future studies should analyze the effects of different doses of maternal smoking on ADHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the origin of the global B − L symmetry in a class of flavor-unified theories with gauge groups of SU(N ≥ 6). In particular, we focus on the SU(8) theory which can minimally embed three-generational SM fermions non-trivially. A reformulation of the third law for the flavor sector proposed by Georgi is useful to manifest the underlying global symmetries. The 't Hooft anomaly matching and the generalized neutrality conditions for Higgs fields play the key roles in defining the B − L symmetry. Based on the global B − L symmetry, we count the Higgs fields that can develop the VEVs and the massless sterile neutrinos in the SU(8) theory. We also prove that a global B − L symmetry can always be defined in any SU(N ≥ 6) theory when it is spontaneously broken to the SM gauge symmetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Common prosperity is both"common prosperity for all the people"and"prosperity for both the material and spiritual lives of the people". Based on the 2015 Chinese General Social Survey Data, this paper systematically investigates the effects of opportunity equity and outcome equity on happiness using propensity score matching and the causal forest algorithm. The results show that both opportunity equity and outcome equity have a positive effect on happiness; female identity and university education can strengthen the happiness-enhancing effect of opportunity equity, and urban household registration can strengthen the happiness-enhancing effect of outcome equity; the happiness-enhancing effect of outcome equity is most obvious among the group with immediate housing needs, and there is a significant shift around the age of thirty. Therefore, it is suggested that to achieve common prosperity, we should accelerate the construction of opportunity equity mechanism and steadily promote the development of outcome equity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small tourism business entrepreneurs (STBEs) are important stakeholders in rural destinations, so that their community citizenship behavior for the environment (CCBE) greatly influences the sustainable development of rural tourism communities. This paper thus focuses on STBEs’ CCBE. Guided by equity theory and social exchange theory, this article examines the impact of perceived justice on CCBE and the mediating roles of place identity and subjective well-being in that process. The survey data was collected from 434 STBEs in rural China. Results indicate that perceived justice positively relates to place identity and subjective wellbeing. Furthermore, place identity and subjective well-being fully mediate the effect of perceived justice on CCBE. These findings offer a newer understanding of the underlying mechanism between perceived justice and CCBE and offer implications for destination managers to promote sustainable development of rural destinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles that play important roles in intercellular communication and have potential therapeutic applications in regenerative medicine. Dermal mesenchymal stem cells (DMSCs) are a promising source of exosomes due to their regenerative and immunomodulatory properties. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating exosome secretion from DMSCs are not fully understood. Results: In this study, the role of peroxiredoxin II (Prx II) in regulating exosome secretion from DMSCs and the underlying molecular mechanisms were investigated. It was discovered that depletion of Prx II led to a significant reduction in exosome secretion from DMSCs and an increase in the number of intracellular multivesicular bodies (MVBs), which serve as precursors of exosomes. Mechanistically, Prx II regulates the ISGylation switch that controls MVB degradation and impairs exosome secretion. Specifically, Prx II depletion decreased JNK activity, reduced the expression of the transcription inhibitor Foxo1, and promoted miR-221 expression. Increased miR-221 expression inhibited the STAT signaling pathway, thus downregulating the expression of ISGylation-related genes involved in MVB degradation. Together, these results identify Prx II as a critical regulator of exosome secretion from DMSCs through the ISGylation signaling pathway. Conclusions: Our findings provide important insights into the molecular mechanisms regulating exosome secretion from DMSCs and highlight the critical role of Prx II in controlling the ISGylation switch that regulates DMSC-exosome secretion. This study has significant implications for developing new therapeutic strategies in regenerative medicine. -6AE1Qxi5fhihA5_M9L54L Video Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We utilize the lepton number violation signal process p e− → τ+jjj to search for heavy Majorana neutrinos at future proton-electron colliders. The LHeC (FCC-eh) is considered to run with an electron beam energy of 60 GeV, a proton beam energy of 7 (50) TeV and an integrated luminosity of 1 (3) ab−1, and the electron beam is considered to be unpolarized. We apply detector configurations and simulate signal and related standard model background events for both hadronic τh and leptonic τℓ final states, ℓ being a muon. After preselection, multivariate analyses are performed to reject the background. The strategy to reconstruct the heavy neutrino mass is developed and distributions of reconstructed mass are presented. Discovery sensitivities on parameter |VτN|2|VeN|2/(|VτN|2 + |VeN|2) for the heavy neutrino mass between 10 and 3000 GeV are predicted. At the 2-σ significance, the best discovery sensitivity is ∼ 1.2 × 10−5 (5.0 × 10−6) at the LHeC (FCC-eh) when mN ∼ 100 GeV for the hadronic τh final state. Sensitivities for the leptonic τℓ final state are found to be similar to those for the hadronic τh final state for most of the parameter space investigated. We also derive the limits on mixing parameters from electroweak precision data (EWPD) and DELPHI experiment. Assuming |VτN|2 = |VeN|2 = |VℓN|2, sensitivity bounds from the LHeC and FCC-eh experiments are found to be stronger than those from EWPD when mN ≲ 900 GeV, and also stronger than those from DELPHI when mN ≳ 70 GeV. Constraints are also interpreted and compared in the |VτN|2 vs. |VeN|2 plane. Compared with current limits from EWPD, DELPHI, and LHC experiments, future pe experiments can probe large additional regions in the parameter space formed by |VτN|2 and |VeN|2, and thus significantly enhance the discovery potential for a large portion of the |VτN|2 vs. |VeN|2 plane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reproduction of social relationships in a rural tourism destination is examined through a micro-sociological lens that explores residents' everyday interactions. Interaction ritual theory is adopted as the theoretical foundation. Zhinan, a mountainous village in Hangzhou, China, which initiated tourism in 2014, is the study site. Two rounds of focus groups and interviews were conducted with village residents. Qualitative inquiry shows that, under the influence of tourism, residents' daily interactions consist of three interaction rituals, that is, rural living rituals, tourism operation rituals, and event and festival rituals. Due to the distinct ingredients, these rituals unfold differentially and engage different social actors. They complement each other in the co-construction of rural social relationships that have symbolic, emotional, collective, and normative connotations. This study provides in-depth, contextualized understandings of rural residents' interactions and relationships, and draws practical implications for sustainable development of rural tourism destinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Searching for new physics (NP) is one of the areas of high-energy physics that requires the most processing of large amounts of data. At the same time, quantum computing has huge potential advantages when dealing with large amounts of data. The principal component analysis (PCA) algorithm may be one of the bridges connecting these two aspects. On the one hand, it can be used for anomaly detection, and on the other hand, there are corresponding quantum algorithms for PCA. In this paper, we investigate how to use PCA to search for NP. Taking the example of anomalous quartic gauge couplings in the tri-photon process at muon colliders, we find that PCA can be used to search for NP. Compared with the traditional event selection strategy, the expected constraints on the operator coefficients obtained by PCA based event selection strategy are even better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study a possible gauge symmetry breaking pattern in an SU(7) grand unified theory, which describes the mass origins of all electrically charged SM fermions of the second and the third generations. Two intermediate gauge symmetries of G 341 ≡ SU 3 c ⊗ SU 4 W ⊗ U 1 X 0 and G 331 ≡ SU 3 c ⊗ SU 4 W ⊗ U 1 X 1 arise above the electroweak scale. SM fermion mass hierarchies between two generations can be obtained through a generalized seesaw mechanism. The mechanism can be achieved with suppressed symmetry breaking VEVs from multiple Higgs fields that are necessary to avoid tadpole terms in the Higgs potential. Some general features of the SU(7) fermion spectrum will be described, which include the existence of vectorlike fermions, the tree-level flavor changing weak currents between the SM fermions and heavy partner fermions, and the flavor non-universality between different SM generations from the extended weak sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study a toy SU (6) model with the symmetry breaking pattern of the extended 331 symmetry of SU (3) c ⊗ SU (3) W ⊗ U (1) X . A "fermion-Higgs mismatching" symmetry breaking pattern is proposed for more realistic model building. Within such symmetry breaking pattern, only one Higgs doublet develops vacuum expectation value for the spontaneous electroweak symmetry breaking, and gives tree-level top quark mass. A natural VEV splittings in the 331 breaking Higgs fields gives tree-level masses to both bottom quark and tau lepton. The 125 GeV SM-like Higgs boson discovered at the LHC can have Yukawa couplings to bottom quark and tau lepton as in the SM prediction, and this suggests the 331 symmetry breaking scale to be ∼ O (10) TeV . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 11 compounds were isolated from I Litsea mollis i Hemsl. Compound B 4 b is a biphenylneolignan, isolated for the first time from the plant and the genus I Litsea i . Owing to the considerable interest in the active ingredients from the I Litsea i species, I L. mollis i was selected with the aim of isolating more structurally unique and biologically active compounds from this natural resource. To the best of our knowledge, compounds B 1-6 b and B 8-11 b were isolated for the first time from I Litsea mollis i Hemsl.; compounds B 1-4 b , B 6 b , B 8-11 b were isolated from the genus I Litsea i for the first time. [Extracted from the article]

The influence of airflow impact milling (AFIM) on the particle size, physicochemical properties, microstructure, and flavor of defatted rice bran was investigated. With the decrease of feed speed and the increase of milling times, AFIM reduced the average particle size of defatted rice bran to a maximum of about 6.04 μm. At this time, its whiteness and soluble dietary fiber content increased by 17% and 36.6%, respectively, and the insoluble dietary fiber content decreased by 16.4%. AFIM increased the cation exchange capacity, water solubility index, and swelling capacity of defatted rice bran, but decreased the water and oil holding capacities. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy results showed that AFIM changed the microstructure of defatted rice bran to provide the ultrafine powders with good uniformity. A total of 37 volatile substances in defatted rice bran were identified by GC-IMS. The release of aromatic odors such as fruit, nutty, and sweet aromas from defatted rice bran after AFIM increased, improving its flavor quality. [Display omitted] • Airflow impact milling reduced D 50 of defatted rice bran and improved its uniformity. • Defatted rice bran with different particle size had diverse physicochemical property. • Micronization obviously improved the color and flavor quality of defatted rice bran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Silk fibroin incorporated aliphatic polyester nanofibers scaffold was readily developed by electrospinning. • The addition of PCL provided the resulting scaffold with good dimensional stability. • The incorporation of SF into nanofiber scaffolds effectively promoted cell proliferation. • The obtained PLGA/PCL/SF scaffold showed great promise for tissue engineering application. Poly (lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) has been extensively utilized to fabricate electrospun fibers for tissue engineering scaffolds due to its good biocompatibility and biodegradability. However, such scaffolds in biological media shrink and distort severely, which is undesired for practical application. In this study, a silk fibroin incorporated electrospun aliphatic polyester nanofiber scaffold (PLGA/PCL/SF) was developed via facile one-step electrospinning, with PLGA as the substrate and incorporating polycaprolactone (PCL) and silk fibroin (SF). The resulting scaffold exhibited fine fibers and water absorbency. Particularly, the addition of SF into scaffolds improved the water adsorption ability, and that of PCL effectively prevented scaffold shrinkage behaviors. In vitro degradation analyses showed that it was accelerating for the obtained scaffolds with SF added, without any undesirable acidic environment induced. Additionally, the PLGA/PCL/SF scaffold exhibited the most promising result in cell proliferation, presenting a valuable insight into the design of tissue engineering scaffolds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Smoking is a major causal risk factor for lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cardiovascular disease (CVD), and is the main preventable cause of deaths in the world. The components of cigarette smoke are involved in immune and inflammatory processes, which may increase the prevalence of cigarette smoke-related diseases. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms linking smoking and diseases have not been well explored. This study was aimed to depict a global map of DNA methylation and gene expression changes induced by tobacco smoking and to explore the molecular mechanisms between smoking and human diseases through whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) and RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq). Results: We performed WGBS on 72 samples (36 smokers and 36 nonsmokers) and RNA-seq on 75 samples (38 smokers and 37 nonsmokers), and cytokine immunoassay on plasma from 22 males (9 smokers and 13 nonsmokers) who were recruited from the city of Jincheng in China. By comparing the data of the two groups, we discovered a genome-wide methylation landscape of differentially methylated regions (DMRs) associated with smoking. Functional enrichment analyses revealed that both smoking-related hyper-DMR genes (DMGs) and hypo-DMGs were related to synapse-related pathways, whereas the hypo-DMGs were specifically related to cancer and addiction. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) revealed by RNA-seq analysis were significantly enriched in the "immunosuppression" pathway. Correlation analysis of DMRs with their corresponding gene expression showed that genes affected by tobacco smoking were mostly related to immune system diseases. Finally, by comparing cytokine concentrations between smokers and nonsmokers, we found that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was significantly upregulated in smokers. Conclusions: In sum, we found that smoking-induced DMRs have different distribution patterns in hypermethylated and hypomethylated areas between smokers and nonsmokers. We further identified and verified smoking-related DMGs and DEGs through multi-omics integration analysis of DNA methylome and transcriptome data. These findings provide us a comprehensive genomic map of the molecular changes induced by smoking which would enhance our understanding of the harms of smoking and its relationship with diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rural healthcare workers (RHWs) are the core of the rural health system. The antecedents of turnover of RHWs have been well studied, but little is known about the consequences of job mobilities among RWHs. This study aimed to identify the association between job mobility and the work commitment of RHWs in China.Methods: Based on a three-stage random sampling method, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in 11 western provinces in China. A total of 3783 RHWs, consisting of 2245 doctors and 1538 nurses, were included in our study. Confirmatory factor analysis, Pearson's chi-squared test, one-way ANOVA, linear regression analysis, and binary logistic regression analysis were performed for data analyses.Results: 46.3% of RHWs reported the experience of job mobility in the past. Work commitment of RHWs was not very high; specifically, the mean scores of pride in, concern for, and dedication to work were 3.54, 3.81, and 3.61 (out of a maximum of 5), respectively, and 29.9% presented turnover intent. RHWs' overall experience of job mobility in the past was significantly associated with an increased odds of having the turnover intent. With respect to the last job mobilities of RHWs, the last job changes that occurred in the last 3 years, especially these lateral (i.e., job changes between two healthcare institutions at the same hierarchical level) and upward (i.e., job changes from a healthcare institution at a lower hierarchical level to current institution) mobilities, were significantly associated with a high level of work commitment (i.e., pride in, concern for, and dedication to work) among RHWs. However, the lateral mobilities in the last four to 5 years and the downward mobilities (i.e., job changes from a healthcare institution at a higher hierarchical level to current institution) 6 years ago or more significantly increased the odds of having turnover intent among RHWs, and RHWs whose last job changes were other mobilities (i.e., job changes from a non-healthcare institution to a healthcare institution) in the last four to 5 years reported had a significantly low level of pride in and concern for work and an increased odds of having the turnover intent.Conclusions: The study suggests that the overall experience of job mobility in the past is a threat to RHWs' work commitment to their current healthcare institutions. The honeymoon-hangover pattern exists in the association between a single job change and RHWs' work commitment. Managers of rural healthcare institutions should pay more attention to these RHWs with the experience of job mobility to enhance their work commitment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dried blood samples (DBSs) have many advantages; yet, impediments have limited the clinical utilization of DBSs. We developed a novel volumetric sampling device that collects a precise volume of blood, which overcomes the heterogeneity and hematocrit issues commonly encountered in a traditional DBS card collection as well as allowing for more efficient extraction and processing procedures and thus, more efficient quantitation, by using the entire sample. We also provided a thorough procedure validation using this volumetric DBS collection device with an established quantitative proteomics analysis method, and then analyzed 1000 proteins using this approach in DBSs concomitantly with serum for future consideration of utility in clinical applications. Our data provide a first step in the establishment of a DBS database for the broad application of this sample type for widespread use in clinical proteomic and other analyses applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nonablative lasers are popular alternatives for atrophic acne scar treatment in Asia. Objectives: We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety between 1550-nm nonablative fractional laser (NAFL) and 755-nm picosecond laser with diffractive lens array (DLA) in Asian patients. Methods: Twenty-three patients with atrophic acne scars received three sessions of split-face treatment with 1550-nm NAFL on one side and 755-nm picosecond laser with DLA on the other side. Sessions were applied at 8-week interval. Blinded dermatologists assessed efficacy through baseline and follow-up photographs. Results: A greater improvement in atrophic facial acne scars was observed on the 1550-nm NAFL side than on the 755-nm picosecond laser side (P < 0.05). Pain was significantly more severe on the 1550-nm NAFL side than the 755-nm picosecond laser side (P < 0.05). Adverse effects on the 1550-nm NAFL side included prolonged erythema, acneiform eruptions, superficial crusting, and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. Only transient erythema was observed on the 755-nm picosecond laser side. Conclusion: Although the 1550-nm NAFL showed superior efficacy to the 755-nm picosecond laser with DLA for the treatment of atrophic facial acne scars, the latter was associated with fewer adverse effects and may be the best choice for those who request "little-to-no down-time" treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the international education market, much attention has been paid to China, as it is the world's largest source country in sending students abroad. The other side of the story, that is, China, as the world's third most popular destination, is considerably less known and researched. This study seizes this research opportunity and focuses on exploring why international students choose to do their higher education in mainland China. International students from five Chinese coastal universities are the research respondents. Focus group discussions were first conducted and elicited 31 motivating items. They were later evaluated through a questionnaire-based survey. The push-pull model was critically reviewed and then used to organise the results. A questionnaire-based survey (n = 462) was later undertaken. Seven motivation factors were identified and a hierarchical relationship among the motivations was observed. The most influential push factor is the students' desire for learning, novelty and challenge seeking, while the strongest pull factor is their expectation for China's prosperous future. The motivations with medium priority were self-understanding, quality of education, and value for money. Also, stimulating factors and admission issues were important, but significantly less important than other factors. Demographic factors were found to be influential to motivations. Focusing on "reverse" international student mobility, this research enriches knowledge about international students' destination choice. It also offers practical implications to universities and institutes in China and other emerging countries, who are interested in offering better programmes and attracting more international students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lactobacillus has been reported to inhibit acute lung injury (ALI). However, the molecular mechanism of Lactobacillus casei (L. casei) in preventing ALI has not been identified, so we investigated whether L. casei pretreatment could inhibit the activation of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway following ALI. ALI model was established by intraperitoneal injection of 2 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to female BALB/c mice. In L. casei LC2W group, mice were intragastrically administrated L. casei LC2W for a week, before the ALI modeling. The serum of normal BALB/c mice after intragastric administration of L. casei LC2W was used for in vitro cell assays. The serum was pre-incubated with mouse macrophage cell line (RAW264.7) and human lung cell line (HLF-A), then LPS was added to co-incubate. Compared with ALI model group, L. casei LC2W pretreatment significantly reduced lung pathological damage, the number of neutrophils and total cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Besides, L. casei LC2W pretreatment could significantly reverse the abnormal expression of ICAM-1, IL-6, TNF-α and IL-10 in lung tissue and serum, plus, L. casei LC2W significantly reduced the phosphorylation levels of IRAK-1 and NF-κB p65. In vitro, the serum decreased the up-regulation of IL-6 and TNF-α in cell lines induced by LPS. In conclusion, L. casei LC2W intragastric administration pretreatment could significantly improve LPS-induced ALI in mice, probably through circulation to reach the lungs so as to inhibit the inflammatory response induced by activation of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This research work suggested that p62 could promote PTC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion via NF-κB signaling pathway. • p62 is a potential biomarker which might be closely related to the tumorigenesis in PTC. Its potential role as a therapeutic target for PTC is worthy of further study. • This study shows that p62 is closely related to clinical indicators such as BRAF (V600E) mutation, lymph node metastasis and multiple lesions, and can be further studied as an indicator of clinical pathology analysis. Thyroid cancer is the most common malignancy in human endocrine system. Increasing evidence has indicated that p62 plays a key role in tumorigenesis. The roles and underlying molecular mechanisms of P62 in thyroid cancer, however, remain to be elucidated. The expression levels of P62 in thyroid tumor tissues and thyroid cancer cells were detected by western blotting and qRT-PCR. Then, the effects of up-regulation or down-regulation of P62 on thyroid cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, cell cycle and apoptosis were measured by CCK-8 assay, transwell assay, flow cytometry and transwell assay, respectively. In terms of the mechanism, P62 could stimulate thyroid cancer progression by the activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. P62 was highly expressed in thyroid tumor tissues. Furthermore, high expression of p62 was observed in PTC cell lines, and especially in the K1 and TPC-1 cells. In vitro, the up-regulation of p62 promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of thyroid cancer cells, whereas the knockdown of p62 resulted in the opposite effect. Knock-down of P62 increased the number of cells in the G0/G1 phase but reduced it in the S and G2/M phase. Moreover, we confirmed that overexpression of p62 inactivated NF-κB pathway with sequencing analysis and bioinformatics analysis. This research work suggested that p62 could promote PTC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion via NF-κB signaling pathway. Furthermore, p62 is a potential biomarker which might be closely related to the tumorigenesis in PTC. Its potential role as a therapeutic target for PTC is worthy of further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Ginsenoside F1 (GF1) is a potential drug candidate for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Nevertheless, its low oral bioavailability and poor solubility limit clinical application. By utilizing either a direct or indirect approach, intranasal administration is a non-invasive drug delivery method that can deliver drugs to the brain rapidly. But large molecule drug delivered to the brain through intranasal administration may be insufficient to reach required concentration for therapeutic effect. In this study, using GF1 as a model drug, the feasibility of intranasal administration in combination with absorption enhancers to increase brain distribution of GF1 was explored. First of all, the appropriate absorption enhancers were screened by in situ nasal perfusion study. GF1-HP-β-CD inclusion complex was prepared and characterized. Thereafter, in vivo absorption of GF1 after intranasal or intravenous administration of its inclusion complex with/without absorption enhancers was investigated, and safety of the formulations was evaluated. The results showed that 2% Solutol HS 15 was a superior absorption enhancer. HP-β-CD inclusion complex improved GF1 solubility by 150 fold. Following intranasal delivery, the absolute bioavailability of inclusion complex was 46%, with drug brain targeting index (DTI) 247% and nose-to-brain direct transport percentage (DTP) 58%. Upon further addition of 2% Solutol HS 15, the absolute bioavailability was increased to 75%, with DTI 315% and DTP 66%. Both nasal cilia movement and biochemical substances (total protein and lactate dehydrogenase) leaching studies demonstrated 2% Solutol HS 15 was safe to the nasal mucosa. In conclusion, intranasal administration combining with safe absorption enhancers is an effective strategy to enhance drug distribution in the brain, showing promise for treating disorders related to the central nervous system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Modeling of variation in GR rainfall error by rain type and intensity. • Modeling of DPR rainfall error and variable error parameters. • Hierarchical Bayesian fusion was used to integrate DPR and GR rainfall data. • HB fusion considered varying parameters in rainfall error modeling. • HB fusion outperformed CB fusion and improved the original DPR rainfall product. The optimal fusion of multisource rainfall data can improve the accuracy and resolution of a posteriori estimates, which is beneficial for hydrological and meteorological applications. In this study, the errors of ground-based dual-polarization radar (GR) and dual-frequency precipitation radar (DPR) on global precipitation measurement (GPM) satellite rainfall estimation were modeled, and a hierarchical Bayesian (HB) framework was developed for GR and DPR rainfall data fusion. According to the matched optimal estimated GR rainfall and rain gauge data, the GR rainfall error was analyzed, and the error variance varying with rain type and intensity was described and modeled. The rain types were classified based on disdrometer and dual-polarization radar data. By comparing the DPR rainfall product with GR rainfall, the DPR rainfall error was divided into systematic and random errors. The systematic error was linearly fitted, and the probability distributions for the random error and the variable error parameters were analyzed and modeled. Because the parameters for GR and DPR rainfall errors varied with rain type and intensity, we developed a HB fusion approach considering the varying parameters in rainfall error modeling. The performance of the fusion algorithm was evaluated using matched GR and DPR cases, which showed that the HB fusion can effectively improve the consistency between the original DPR rainfall product and rain gauge data, reducing the relative bias by an average of 30% and improving the correlation by an average of 20%. Compared with the conventional Bayesian (CB) fusion algorithm, which is based on overall error modeling, the HB fusion results can improve the root mean square error by an average of 24% and relative bias by 14%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tactile P300 brain-computer interface (BCI) generally has a worse accuracy and information transfer rate (ITR) than the visual-based BCI. It may be due to the fact that human beings have a relatively poor tactile perception. This study investigated the influence of visual attention on the performance of a tactile P300 BCI. We designed our paradigms based on a novel cheeks-stim paradigm which attached the stimulators on the subject's cheeks. Two paradigms were designed as follows: a paradigm with no visual attention and another paradigm with visual attention to the target position. Eleven subjects were invited to perform the two paradigms. We also recorded and analyzed the eyeball movement data during the paradigm with visual attention to explore whether the eyeball movement would have an effect on the BCI classification. The average online accuracy was 89.09% for the paradigm with visual attention, which was significantly higher than that of the paradigm with no visual attention (70.45%). Significant difference in ITR was also found between the two paradigms (p < 0. 0 5). The results demonstrated that visual attention was an effective method to improve the performance of tactile P300 BCI. Our findings suggested that it may be feasible to complete an efficient tactile BCI system by adding visual attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tactile perception, the primary sensing channel of the tactile brain-computer interface (BCI), is a complicated process. Skin friction plays a vital role in tactile perception. This study aimed to examine the effects of skin friction on tactile P300 BCI performance. Two kinds of oddball paradigms were designed, silk-stim paradigm (SSP) and linen-stim paradigm (LSP), in which silk and linen were wrapped on target vibration motors, respectively. In both paradigms, the disturbance vibrators were wrapped in cotton. The experimental results showed that LSP could induce stronger event-related potentials (ERPs) and achieved a higher classification accuracy and information transfer rate (ITR) compared with SSP. The findings indicate that high skin friction can achieve high performance in tactile BCI. This work provides a novel research direction and constitutes a viable basis for the future tactile P300 BCI, which may benefit patients with visual impairments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In vitro disease modeling enables translational research by providing insight into disease pathophysiology and molecular mechanisms, leading to the development of novel therapeutics. Nevertheless, in vitro systems have limitations for recapitulating the complexity of tissues, and a single model system is insufficient to gain a comprehensive understanding of a disease. Results: Here we explored the potential of using several models in combination to provide mechanistic insight into hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), a genetic vascular disorder. Genome editing was performed to establish hPSCs (H9) with ENG haploinsufficiency and several in vitro models were used to recapitulate the functional aspects of the cells that constitute blood vessels. In a 2D culture system, endothelial cells showed early senescence, reduced viability, and heightened susceptibility to apoptotic insults, and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) exhibited similar behavior to their wild-type counterparts. Features of HHT were evident in 3D blood-vessel organoid systems, including thickening of capillary structures, decreased interaction between ECs and surrounding SMCs, and reduced cell viability. Features of ENG haploinsufficiency were observed in arterial and venous EC subtypes, with arterial ECs showing significant impairments. Molecular biological approaches confirmed the significant downregulation of Notch signaling in HHT-ECs. Conclusions: Overall, we demonstrated refined research strategies to enhance our comprehension of HHT, providing valuable insights for pathogenic analysis and the exploration of innovative therapeutic interventions. Additionally, these results underscore the importance of employing diverse in vitro systems to assess multiple aspects of disease, which is challenging using a single in vitro system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been receiving considerable attention in the field of dermatology since the elucidation of its mechanism and reports of its clinical effcacy. PRP alone or in combination with other therapies has demonstrated benefits for some cosmetic problems and skin diseases. Only a few transient or short-term side effects have been reported with the use of PRP. In this review, we highlight the potential effcacy and benefits of PRP with a focus on its applications in skin rejuvenation, androgenic alopecia, alopecia areata, chronic vitiligo, melasma, infiammatory nail disorders, and psoriasis. We suggest that detailed studies be conducted to standardize PRP preparation and optimize treatment methods in order to further improve its usefulness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been receiving considerable attention in the field of dermatology since the elucidation of its mechanism and reports of its clinical efficacy. PRP alone or in combination with other therapies has demonstrated benefits for some cosmetic problems and skin diseases. Only a few transient or short-term side effects have been reported with the use of PRP. In this review, we highlight the potential efficacy and benefits of PRP with a focus on its applications in skin rejuvenation, androgenic alopecia, alopecia areata, chronic vitiligo, melasma, inflammatory nail disorders, and psoriasis. We suggest that detailed studies be conducted to standardize PRP preparation and optimize treatment methods in order to further improve its usefulness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water turbidity plays an important role in marine biogeochemical processes and ecosystem. Remote sensing of water turbidity in the Eastern China Seas is still a challenging task due to its large variations spanning more than three orders from coastal highly turbid waters to offshore clear waters. Thus, this study developed a new blended remote sensing algorithm for accurately estimating water turbidity in the whole Eastern China Seas from Geostationary Ocean Colour Imager (GOCI). The general idea of the new blended algorithm is to combine the band forms with the best abilities for deriving water turbidity in turbid waters and relatively clear waters, respectively. Evaluations based on field data showed a good performance of the new blended algorithm with values of the determination coefficient (R2), root-mean-square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), and mean relative error (MRE) of 0.884, 47.96 NTU, 29.59 and 48.13%, respectively. The proposed algorithm was applied to the GOCI data of 2015; and large spatiotemporal variations of water turbidity in the Eastern China Seas were observed. High values of water turbidity were observed in winter for both coastal and offshore waters, whereas the lowest values were observed in summer. Sediment resuspension drove by wind and tidal forcing, and sediment transportation related to current might be responsible for spatiotemporal variations of water turbidity, while the detailed study is required for further investigations. Overall, this study provides a technological basis which can be used to understand the variation patterns of water turbidity in the Eastern China Seas from GOCI satellite measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Family visitors are important audiences for museums. This paper develops a model that examines the influence of Chinese family visitors' leisure experiences in museums on their behavioural intentions (BI) with their perceived benefits (mindful benefits and non-mindful benefits, MB and NMB) as the mediating variables. Based on the theoretical framework of an interactive experience model, parents' experiences in museums were divided into experience of existential authenticity (interaction with the exhibits) (EA) and experience of parents-children interaction (PCI). A total of 375 local family visitors at a cluster of craft museums in Hangzhou, China participated in the survey. The PLS-SEM analysis indicates that both EA and PCI have positive effects on perceived benefits. EA, which emphasises the personal interactions between visitors and exhibited objects as well as their intangible meanings, is found to be more powerful than PCI in shaping visitors' BI. MB and NMB differ in their influence on visitors' behaviours. Only MB is linked with visitors' BI. Further, MB partially mediates the relationship between EA and BI, and fully mediates the relationship between PCI and BI. Implications are offered to enhance family visitors' experiences through appropriate service management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AgCuS-CNTs composite coatings were synthesized successfully by the in-situ sulfide method. When the processing temperature was 120 °C, the CNTs network was surrounded by AgCuS and Ag 3 CuS 2 , and the composite coating showed excellent current-carrying tribological properties. The friction coefficient reached 0.15 under an electrical current of 0.1 A and a load of 4.5 N, and the maximum cut-off turns reached 12,000 cycles. [Display omitted] • An in-situ sulfide method was developed for preparing AgCuS-CNTs composite coatings. • A high adhesion strength rating of 0–1 was obtained for the composite coating. • The wear rate could be reduced by 2 orders of magnitude with this composite coating. In order to improve the current-carrying properties of AgCu10 alloy, AgCuS-carbon nanotubes (CNTs) composite coatings were synthesized on AgCu10 substrates using an in-situ sulfide method. During the process, an entangled CNTs layer was formed firstly on the AgCu10 substrate by dipping the substrate into a CNTs dispersant and dried at room temperature, then an AgCuS-CNTs coating was synthesized in-situ by immersing the substrate with the CNTs layer in a 0.1 M Na 2 S solution. The current-carrying friction performance of the composite coating was significantly improved. Compared with the AgCu10 substrate, the friction coefficient was decreased from ∼0.35 to ∼0.15, and the wear rate was reduced by 2 orders of magnitude. Furthermore, the electrical resistivity of the coatings was as low as 2.44 × 10−6 Ω·cm, which was almost the same as the AgCu10 substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • The first cross-dehydrogenative coupling of secondary benzylic ethers. • Isochroman-based tertiary ether synthesis in high efficiency. • Coupling of α-substituted isochromans with indoles and pyrroles. • The first example of catalytic asymmetric cross-dehydrogenative coupling leading to quaternary center. Abstract Current studies on cross-dehydrogenative coupling of benzylic ethers for new C–C bond construction predominantly focus on primary ether moieties. Oxidative cross-coupling of secondary benzylic ethers remains elusive. Herein, we describe the first cross-dehydrogenative coupling of secondary benzylic ethers with indoles and pyrroles for tertiary ether construction. A broad range of α-aryl substituted isochromans react with a variety of electronically varied indoles and pyrroles smoothly under mild metal-free conditions in high efficiency. In addition, the catalytic asymmetric variant was preliminarily explored, and corresponding tertiary ether was obtained in 69% ee. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The 595-nm pulsed dye laser (PDL) has been used to treat vascular anomalies for about 30 years; however, there are insufficient data in Chinese patients concerning therapeutic efficacy, optimized parameters, and procedure techniques. Objective: To study the efficacy and relevant factors in PDL therapy for vascular anomalies in Chinese patients. Method: We enrolled 431 patients with 8 different vascular anomalies and no previous treatment in this retrospective study. A detailed classification of vascular anomalies and various parameters and techniques of PDL were studied. The clinical outcomes were analysed using the Investigator Global Assessment. Results: Improvements were significantly correlated with infantile haemangioma (IH) subtypes (p < 0.05). A significant correlation between efficacy and lesion colour, anatomical sites, and hypertrophic-type port-wine stain (PWS) was found (p < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between efficacy and age or sex (p > 0.05). Conclusion: PDL is an effective and safe therapeutic modality for managing vascular anomalies in Chinese patients. We determined that differentiating and identifying IH subtypes prior to treatment could be a useful parameter for predicting therapeutic results. Lesion colour, sites, and hypertrophic changes in PWS are relevant therapeutic factors. PDL parameters and techniques differ according to the various vascular anomalies to achieve optimal results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Evaluating degradation kinetics of anthocyanins at different pH levels. • The change of anthocyanins were analysed by UV-Vis spectrophotometry and HPLC. • The color of PSPE were observed visually and characterized through CIELAB color space. Abstract Purple sweet potato anthocyanins are common natural pigments widely used in food industry, while they are often thermally processed in application. Degradation of anthocyanins, formation of polymers and color changes of purple sweet potato extract (PSPE) were investigated at 90 °C in the range of pH 3.0–pH 7.0. Data analysis indicated a first-order reaction for anthocyanins degradation in solutions with pH 3.0, 5.0 and 7.0 have half-lives of 10.27, 12.42 and 4.66 h, respectively. The polymeric color formation followed zero-order kinetics, progressively increasing with pH values. The color of PSPE were changed with heating time and pH value through visual observation and colorimetric characterization. Analysis by UV–Vis spectrophotometry and HPLC indicated that anthocyanins in solution with pH 3.0 changed from monomeric anthocyanin into new polymers during heat treatment. Degradation of anthocyanins was accompanied by an increase in polymeric color index, due to the formation of melanoidin pigments and condensation reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract MIL-100(Cr) is an important member of metal-organic frameworks due to its large surface area, unique pore structure, good stability and unsaturated metal sites. Generally, this material was synthesized with the addition of HF and solvent for a long crystallization time (96 h). In this work, we report that MIL-100(Cr) can be synthesized under HF- and solvent-free conditions in a short crystallization time (15 h). The obtained MIL-100(Cr) possessed high surface area and rich porosity. Additionally, such material exhibited enhanced catalytic performance in the oxidation reaction of benzyl alcohol, demonstrating that it has potential applications in catalysis. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • MIL-100(Cr) can be synthesized without the addition of HF and solvent. • The crystallization time for the synthesis of MIL-100(Cr) was shorten to 15 h. • This material exhibited enhanced catalytic performance in the oxidation reaction of benzyl alcohol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the dynamics of evolutionary networked games with different length information via semi-tensor product (STP) method. First, a networked game with different length information is modeled in the form of probabilistic Boolean networks (PBNs) with time delays. Second, based on the utility function of each player, a necessary condition for the existence of a pure Nash equilibrium is obtained. Then a state feedback control is applied to stabilize the considered system. Finally, an example is presented to substantiate the effectiveness of the theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To assess the dimensions of Brücke’s muscle, as the longitudinal portion, and of Müller’s muscle and Iwanoff’s muscle combined as circular and radial/reticular portions of the ciliary muscle.Methods: The histomorphometric study included human globes that had been enucleated due to an ocular tumor or end-stage glaucoma. After immunohistochemical staining of the ciliary muscles, the histology slides were examined under a light microscope applying a digitized image analysis system.Results: The study included 55 globes [axial length 25.6 ± 3.0 mm (range 21.0 mm-36.0 mm)] from 55 patients [mean age, 33.7 ± 18.3 years (range:1-66 years)]. Length of Brücke’s muscle (mean 3.40 ± 0.76 mm) increased with longer axial length (P < 0.001; regression coefficient beta: 0.52) and was not significantly associated with age (P = 0.12), presence of glaucoma (P = 0.11) or Brücke’s muscle thickness at the scleral spur (P = 0.32), at the site of the maximum thickness of the ciliary body (P = 0.84) or at the posterior end of Müller’s/Iwanoff’s muscle (P = 0.66), or with thickness (P = 0.29) and cross-sectional area (P = 0.85) of Müller’s/Iwanoff’s muscle. Mean distance between Brücke’s muscle end and the ora serrata measured 1.73 ± 1.13 mm and increased with longer axial length (P < 0.001; beta: 0.46). Distance from the scleral spur to the ora serrata (mean: 4.94 ± 1.42 mm; range: 3.08-9.09 mm) increased with longer axial length (P < 0.001; beta: 0.61). Maximal thickness (mean: 245 ± 125 μm) and cross-section area (mean: 0.19 ± 0.11 mm2) of Müller’s/Iwanoff’s muscle decreased significantly with the diagnosis of glaucoma (P = 0.02;beta:-0.38) and longer axial length (P = 0.03; beta: -0.35).Conclusions: Length of Brücke’s muscle increased with axial length of the globe, while its cross-sectional area was independent of axial length. Müller’s/Iwanoff’s muscle decreased in cross-sectional area with longer axis, and in particular with the presence of glaucoma, while the dimensions of Brücke’s muscle were not related to glaucoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work highlights the fabrication of nickel‑copper/titanium nitride (Ni-Cu/TiN) for the use in direct methanol fuel cells. Ni-Cu nanoparticles are coated on the surface of TiN film by electrochemical methods. The formation of Ni-Cu/TiN is confirmed by a variety of means such as field-emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The presence of Ni-Cu on TiN film is further confirmed by cyclic voltammetry. For the electrochemical oxidation of methanol, the electrocatalytic activity of the prepared Ni-Cu/TiN is higher than those of Cu/TiN, Ni/TiN, Ni-Mn/TiN, and Ni-Co/TiN. The stability for the electrochemical oxidation of methanol at Ni-Cu/TiN is better than that of Ni-Cu/glassy carbon electrode. The proposed Ni-Cu/TiN might be beneficial to develop high performance and low manufacturing cost of direct methanol fuel cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate a general model of a two-mode Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) coupled via Josephson tunneling. By the bosonization method, we analytically and numerically calculate the entanglement parameter. It shows that the better entanglement can be achieved by increasing the number of particles and decreasing the the coupling strength for Josephson tunneling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ischemic stroke is a major cerebrovascular disease resulting from a transient or permanent local reduction of cerebral blood flow. Angiogenesis plays an important role in cerebral microvascular repair after ischemic stroke. This study aimed at investigating the effect of NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) on the angiogenesis of mouse cerebral microvascular endothelial bEnd.3 cells in a hypoxic environment. We found that Nrf2 expression was temporarily increased in hypoxia-induced bEnd.3 cells. Knockdown of Nrf2 inhibited the proliferation, migration, as well as tube formation in hypoxia-induced bEnd.3 cells. Meanwhile, vascular endothelial growth factor and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways were identified to be regulated by Nrf2 in hypoxia-induced bEnd.3 cells. It was found that silencing of Nrf2 downregulated the expression levels of NAD(P)H:quinine oxidoreductase-1, vascular endothelial growth factor, p-Akt, and heme oxygenase-1 in hypoxia-induced bEnd.3 cells. Data suggested that hypoxia induced the transient increase of Nrf2, which plays a key role in the angiogenesis of cerebral microangiogenesis, and that Nrf2 regulates the proliferation, migration, as well as tube formation likely through PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in hypoxia-induced bEnd.3 cells. Our study provides proof of concept for the modulation of Nrf2, so as to tilt the balance toward angiogenesis, representing a therapeutic strategy for hypoxia or ischemia disorders such as stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence for the preventative effects of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting (PTAS) on the recurrence of stroke in patients with severe intracranial vertebrobasilar stenoses (IVBS) varies, and the influence of study characteristics on the study outcomes have not been determined. Methods: A study level based meta-analysis was performed to investigate the influence of baseline characteristics on the 30-day and follow-up stroke recurrence or death in symptomatic IVBS patients receiving PTAS. Relevant single center studies were retrieved by searching PubMed and Embase. A random effect model was applied to synthesize the outcomes. Meta-regression and subgroup analyses were performed to evaluate the potential influence of study characteristics on outcomes. Results: Fifteen cohort studies comprising 554 symptomatic IVBS patients were included. PTAS was associated with an 8% incidence of stroke recurrence or death (95% CI: 5% to 12%) in IVBS patients within 30 days, and 8 per 100 person-years (95% CI: 5 to 11 per 100 person-years) of cumulative stroke recurrence or death during follow-up. Meta-regression indicated that the center volume, as defined by the numbers of cases per year, was negatively correlated with 30-day (regression coefficient = -0.09, p = 0.02) and follow-up (regression coefficient = -0.60, p = 0.01) stroke recurrence or death. Age, gender, or comorbidities have no significant effect on the outcomes. Conclusions: Centers of higher procedural volume may be associated with better clinical outcomes for symptomatic IVBS patients receiving PTAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light weight polypropylene (PP) mesh is the most widely used implant among all other synthetic meshes for hernia repair. However, infection is the complication associated to all synthetic meshes after hernia repair. Thus, to manage mesh related infection; antibacterial drug is generally loaded to surgical implants to supply drug locally in mesh implanted site. Nevertheless, PP mesh restricts the loading of antibacterial drug at operated area due to its low wettability. The aim of this study was to introduce a novel antimicrobial PP mesh modified with β-cyclodextrine (CD) and loaded with antimicrobial agent for infection prevention. A cold oxygen plasma treatment was able to activate the surfaces of polypropylene fibers, and then CD was incorporated onto the surfaces of PP fibers. Afterward, triclosan, as a model antibacterial agent, was loaded into CD cavity to provide desired antibacterial functions. The modified polypropylene mesh samples CD-Tric-1, CD-Tric-3 exhibited excellent inhibition zone and continuous antibacterial efficacy against E. coli and S. aureus up to 6 and 7 days respectively. Results of AFM, SEM, FTIR and antibacterial tests evidenced that oxygen plasma process is necessary to increase chemical connection between CD molecules and PP fibers. The samples were also characterized by using EDX, XRD, TGA, DSC and water contact angle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polypropylene (PP) light weight meshes are commonly used as hernioplasty implants. Nevertheless, the growth of bacteria within textile knitted mesh intersections can occur after surgical mesh implantation, causing infections. Thus, bacterial reproduction has to be stopped in the very early stage of mesh implantation. Herein, novel antimicrobial PP meshes grafted with β-CD and complexes with triclosan were prepared for mesh infection prevention. Initially, PP mesh surfaces were functionalized with suitable cold oxygen plasma. Then, hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) was successfully grafted on the plasma-activated PP surfaces. Afterwards, β-CD was connected with the already HDI reacted PP meshes and triclosan, serving as a model antimicrobial agent, was loaded into the cyclodextrin (CD) cavity for desired antibacterial functions. The hydrophobic interior and hydrophilic exterior of β-CD are well suited to form complexes with hydrophobic host guest molecules. Thus, the prepared PP mesh samples, CD-TCL-2 and CD-TCL-6 demonstrated excellent antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli that were sustained up to 11 and 13 days, respectively. The surfaces of chemically modified PP meshes showed dramatically reduced water contact angles. Moreover, X-ray diffractometer (XRD), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), and Thermogravimetric (TGA) evidenced that there was no significant effect of grafted hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and CD on the structural and thermal properties of the PP meshes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High performance MIL-101(Cr)-TiO 2 composite material was successfully prepared by doping MIL-101(Cr) in amorphous titania and evaluated for oxidative desulfurization (ODS) of dibenzothiophene (DBT) using cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) as oxidant. The experimental results showed that introduction of MIL-101(Cr) favored the catalytic centers titania to get high dispersion. Remarkably, the reaction rate constant over the catalyst with 10% dopant concentration reached 340 × 10 −3 min −1 , which was seven times as that of amorphous titania and much higher than that of reported titania composites or metal-organic framework-based catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytochemical investigation into the seeds ofPaeonia ostiiT. Hong et J. X. Zhang (Paeoniaceae) led to the identification of three new aromatic monoterpenoid glycosides, named paeostisides A–C (1–3), along with one known compound. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic analysis and chemical method. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Family travel with aging parents has emerged as a growing market in China. This study applies social practice theory to examine family travel practices and related sociocultural factors. Qualitative interviews with 23 families were conducted to identify parents' and adult children's subjective experiences of intergenerational differences and action logics throughout the trip. The findings reveal that, because of urban-rural distinctions, the two generations have differing travel habits, preferences, and capabilities, which foster interdependency but also induce tensions. Influenced by reciprocal filial piety, both generations feel obligated to make compromises and gratify the other's needs to fulfill their desirable prospects of family travel. The urban-rural distinctions are gradually resolved as the ongoing negotiations unfold. This study advances existing research by integrating the zooming-in and zooming-out lenses of practice theory to highlight the interplay between family travel practices and wider social structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess a potential role of Bruch´s membrane (BM) in the biomechanics of the eye, we measured its thickness and the density of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells in various ocular regions in eyes of varying axial length. Methods: Human globes, enucleated because of an ocular tumor or end-stage glaucoma were prepared for histological examination. Using light microscopy, the histological slides were histomorphometrically examined applying a digitized image analysis system. Results: The study included 104 eyes with a mean axial length of 27.9±3.2 mm (range:22.6mm-36.5mm). In eyes without congenital glaucoma, BM was significantly thickest (P<0.001) at the ora serrata, followed by the posterior pole, the midpoint between equator and posterior pole (MBEPP), and finally the equator. BM thickness was not significantly correlated with axial length (ora serrata: P = 0.93; equator:P = 0.31; MBEPP:P = 0.15; posterior pole:P = 0.35). RPE cell density in the pre-equatorial region (P = 0.02; regression coefficient r = -0.24) and in the retro-equatorial region (P = 0.03; r = -0.22) decreased with longer axial length, while RPE cell density at the ora serrata (P = 0.35), the MBEPP (P = 0.06; r = -0.19) and the posterior pole (P = 0.38) was not significantly correlated with axial length. Highly myopic eyes with congenital glaucoma showed a tendency towards lower BM thickness and lower RPE cell density at all locations. Conclusions: BM thickness, in contrast to scleral and choroidal thickness, was independent of axial length in eyes without congenital glaucoma. In association with an axial elongation associated decrease in the RPE cell density in the midperiphery, the findings support the notion of a biomechanical role BM may play in the process of emmetropization/myopization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]