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Russula rubrosquamosa (Russulaceae, Russlales) is described as a novel species from Yunnan Province, southwestern China. It is morphologically recognised by a small basidiocarp with orange-yellow to orange-red scales on the pileus and stipe, white lamellae, orange-red to bright red basal mycelia, subglobose to broadly ellipsoid basidiospores with dense warts and short or long ridges. Phylogenetically analyses of DNA sequences from part of the 28S gene combined with the nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region also confirm that R. rubrosquamosa forms an independent lineage within Russula subgenus Heterophyllidia section Ingratae. A comprehensive description, color photographs of fresh basidiomata, line-drawings of microstructures and comparisons with morphologically similar species are provided in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Design. A basic experimental study. Objective. To elucidate the role and mechanism of interleukin (IL)-17A in thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum (TOLF). Summary of Background Data. TOLF is characterized by the replacement of the thoracic ligamentum flavum with ossified tissue and is one of the leading causes of thoracic spinal stenosis. IL-17A is an important member of the IL-17 family that has received widespread attention for its key contributions to the regulation of bone metabolism and heterotopic ossification. However, it is unclear whether IL-17A is involved in TOLF. Materials and Methods. Cell counting kit-8 assay and 5- ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine staining were performed to assess the proliferation of ligamentum flavum cells (LFCs). Alkaline phosphatase activity assay, Alizarin red staining, and protein level expression of osteogenic-related genes were used to evaluate the osteogenic differentiation potential of LFCs. The effect of IL-17A on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of LFCs was further assessed after silencing β-catenin by transfection with small interfering RNA. In addition, the possible source of IL-17A was further demonstrated by coculture assays of T helper 17 (Th17) cells with LFCs. Student t test was used for comparisons between groups, and the one-way analysis of variance, followed by the Tukey post hoc test, was used for comparison of more than two groups. Results. IL-17A was elevated in TOLF tissue compared with normal ligamentum flavum. IL-17A stimulation promoted the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of LFCs derived from patients with TOLF. We found that IL-17A promoted the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of LFCs by regulating the β-catenin signaling. Coculture of Th17 cells with LFCs enhanced β-catenin signalingmediated proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of LFCs. However, these effects were markedly attenuated after the neutralization of IL-17A. Conclusions. This is the first work we are aware of to highlight the importance of IL-17A in TOLF. IL-17A secreted by Th17 cells in the ligamentum flavum may be involved in the ossification of the microenvironment by regulating β-catenin signaling to promote the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of LFCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider a class of Schrödinger-Kirchhoff equations in R³ with a general nonlinearity g and coercive sign-changing potential V so that the Schrödinger operator −a∆ + V is indefinite. The nonlinearity considered here satisfies the Ambrosetti-Rabinowitz type condition g(t)t ≥ µG(t) > 0 with µ > 3. We obtain the existence of nontrivial solutions for this problem via Morse theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a palladium-catalyzed general synthetic strategy to access an attractive and decorated set of chiral spiro derivatives of benzoxazine compounds is unveiled utilizing vinyl benzoxazinanones reacted with pyrazolone 4,5-diones, which extends the application of vinyl benzoxazinanones with ketones. This asymmetric catalytic [4+2] cycloaddition reaction demonstrates a broad substrate scope with functional group tolerance in yields of up to 76% and up to 96% ee. A facile scale-up and straightforward conversion to diversely substituted products verify the synthetic utility of this method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider a class of Schrödinger-Kirchhoff equations in R³ with a general nonlinearity g and coercive sign-changing potential V so that the Schrödinger operator –aΔ+V is indefinite. The nonlinearity considered here satisfies the Ambrosetti-Rabinowitz type condition g(t)t ≥ μG(t) > 0 with μ > 3. We obtain the existence of nontrivial solutions for this problem via Morse theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to a conjecture by C. C. Yang [Houston J Math 45 (2019):431-437], if ω(z)ω(k)(z) is a periodic function, where ω(z) is a transcendental entire function and k is a positive integer, then ω(z) is also a periodic function. We consider the related questions, which can be viewed as differential-difference versions of Yang's conjecture. We discuss the periodicity of a transcendental entire function ω(z) when differential-difference polynomials in ω(z) are periodic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The artificial bee colony (ABC) intelligence algorithm is widely applied to solve multi-variable function optimization problems. In order to accurately identify the parameters of the surface-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor (SPMSM), this paper proposes an improved ABC optimization method based on vector control to solve the multi-parameter identification problem of the PMSM. Because of the shortcomings of the existing parameter identification algorithms, such as high computational complexity and data saturation, the ABC algorithm is applied for the multi-parameter identification of the PMSM for the first time. In order to further improve the search speed of the ABC algorithm and avoid falling into the local optimum, Euclidean distance is introduced into the ABC algorithm to search more efficiently in the feasible region. Applying the improved algorithm to multi-parameter identification of the PMSM, this method only needs to sample the stator current and voltage signals of the motor. Combined with the fitness function, the online identification of the PMSM can be achieved. The simulation and experimental results show that the ABC algorithm can quickly identify the motor stator resistance, inductance and flux linkage. In addition, the ABC algorithm improved by Euclidean distance has faster convergence speed and smaller steady-state error for the identification results of stator resistance, inductance and flux linkage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neoboletus infuscatus (Boletaceae, Boletales) is described as a new species from Yinggeling of Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, southern China. It is morphologically characterized by a large basidioma with a nearly glabrous, brownish yellow, yellowish brown to pale brown pileus, pores orangish red when young, yellowish brown to brown when old, context and hymenophore staining blue when injured, a yellow stipe with red punctuations, surfaces of the pileus and the stipe usually covered with a thin layer of white pruina when young. Phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequences from part of the 28S gene, the nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, and part of the translation elongation factor 1-α gene (TEF1) also confirm that N. infuscatus forms an independent lineage within Neoboletus. Detailed morphological description, color photos of fresh basidiomata and line-drawings of microstructures are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A preconditioner for the mass matrix for high order finite element discretization on tetrahedra is presented and shown to give a condition number that is independent of both the mesh size and the polynomial order of the elements. The preconditioner is described in terms of a new, high order basis which has the usual property whereby individual functions are associated with distinct geometric entities of the tetrahedron. It is shown that the basis enjoys the novel property that the resulting mass matrix is spectrally equivalent to its own diagonal with constants independent of h and p. Although the exposition is based on an explicit basis, the preconditioner can be applied to any choice of basis. In particular, the basis can be used to specify a basis-independent additive Schwarz method, meaning that, in order to apply the preconditioner to an alternative basis, one only need to implement an appropriate change of basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies indicate that the Bacillus species is distributed in deep-sea environments. However, no specific studies on deep-sea Bacillus cereus have been documented. In the present work, we isolated a B. cereus strain, H2, from the deep-sea cold seep in South China Sea. We characterized the pathogenic potential of H2 and investigated H2-induced death of different types of cells. We found that H2 was capable of tissue dissemination and causing acute mortality in mice and fish following intraperitoneal/intramuscular injection. In vitro studies revealed that H2 infection of macrophages induced pyroptosis and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway that contributed partly to cell death. H2 infection activated p38, JNK, and ERK, but only JNK proved to participate in H2-triggered cell death. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and intracellular Ca2+ were essential to H2-induced activation of JNK and NLRP3 inflammasome. In contrast, lysosomal rupture and cathepsins were required for H2-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation but not for JNK activation. This study revealed for the first time the virulence characteristics of deep-sea B. cereus and provided new insights into the mechanism of B. cereus infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Design: Retrospective analysis.Objective: To investigate the prevalence of osteoporosis (OP) in patients undergoing lumbar fusion for lumbar degenerative diseases (LDD).Summary Of Background Data: OP is related to many complications after lumbar fusion for patients with LDD. There are sparse data on the prevalence of OP among this specific population. Moreover, LDD can falsely elevate the bone mineral density measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), leading to unreliable diagnostic results. Computed tomography (CT) Hounsfield unit (HU) values can help identify osteoporotic patients undetected by DXA.Methods: A total of 479 patients aged≥50 years undergoing lumbar fusion for LDD were reviewed. The diagnosis of OP using DXA was based on World Health Organization criterion. The criterion for OP diagnosed on CT scan was the L1-HU value≤110.Results: The prevalence of OP diagnosed on lumbar DXA, hip DXA, and both was 32.4%, 19.6%, 39.7%, respectively. The females had higher prevalence of OP diagnosed on DXA (spine and hip) than males (48.9% vs. 27.1%, P < 0.001). In females but not males, the prevalence of OP significantly increased with age (females, 50-59: 28.0%, 60-69: 58.1%, ≥70: 78.8%, P < 0.001). Patients having primary diagnosis of degenerative lumbar scoliosis had the higher prevalence of OP than the rest patients (56.5% vs. 36.8%, P = 0.002). Among the 324 patients diagnosed with non-OP by lumbar DXA, the prevalence of OP diagnosed on CT scan was 25.9%, it increased with age and was also highest in patients with degenerative lumbar scoliosis.Conclusion: OP was quite common among patients aged≥50 years undergoing lumbar fusion for LDD, especially for females aged≥60 years or patients having degenerative lumbar scoliosis. Older patients or patients having degenerative lumbar scoliosis are more likely to have unreliable lumbar T-scores. Measurements of HU values can help identify more osteoporotic patients in this population.Level Of Evidence: 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyroptosis is a newly defined gasdermin (GSDM)-dependent inflammatory type of programmed cell death. Different from mammals, which have a panel of pyroptotic GSDM members (e.g., GSDMA-E), teleosts possess only GSDME. The pyroptotic activity and regulation mechanism of teleost GSDME remain to be elucidated. In this work, we investigated the activity of the teleost Cynoglossus semilaevis (tongue sole) GSDME (CsGSDME) in association with different caspases (CASPs). We found that CsGSDME exerted pyroptotic and bactericidal activities through its N-terminal domain. Unlike human GSDME, which is exclusively cleaved by CASP3, CsGSDME was cleaved by C. semilaevis CASP (CsCASP) 1 with high efficiency and by CsCASP3 and 7 with comparatively low efficiencies, and all cleavages occurred at the 243FEVD246 site in the interdomain linker region of CsGSDME. Mutation of Phe243 to Asp/Ala and Asp246 to Ala in 243FEVD246 altered the cleavage preference of CsCASP1, 3, and 7. Treatment with loss-of-function CsCASP mutants or inhibition of CsCASP activity resulted in failure of CsGSDME cleavage. CsCASP1-cleaved CsGSDME induced pyroptosis, whereas CsCASP3/7-cleaved CsGSDME and F243 mutants induced switching of cell death from apoptosis to pyroptosis. Analysis of 54 teleost GSDME sequences revealed a conserved tetrapeptide motif that fits well to the inherent cleavage site of CASP1. Taken together, the results of our study demonstrate a hitherto, to our knowledge, unrecognized GSDME cleavage mode in teleosts that is clearly different from that in mammals, thus providing an important insight into the activation mechanism of CASP-mediated, GSDM-executed pyroptosis in teleosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tet methylcytosine dioxygenase 2 (Tet2) is an epigenetic regulator that removes methyl groups from deoxycytosine residues in DNA. Tet2-deficient murine macrophages show increased lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced and spontaneous inflammation at least partially because Tet2 acts to restrain interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 expression in induced cells. MicroRNAs have emerged as critical regulatory noncoding RNAs that tune immune cell responses to physiological perturbations and play roles in pathological conditions in macrophages. To determine if a microRNA played any role in Tet2 activity, we examined the interrelationship of Tet2 action and the let-7 microRNA family, utilizing several let-7 microRNA engineered murine models. We first showed that Tet2, but not Tet3, is a direct target of the let-7a-1/let-7d/let-7f-1 (let-7adf) microRNAs in macrophages. We found that overexpression or deletion of the let-7adf gene cluster causes altered IL-6 induction both in tissue culture cells induced by LPS treatment in vitro as well as in a Salmonella infection mouse model in vivo. Mechanistically, let-7adf promotes IL-6 by directly repressing Tet2 levels and indirectly by enhancing a Tet2 suppressor, the key TCA cycle metabolite, succinate. We found that Let-7adf promotes succinate accumulation by regulating the Lin28a/Sdha axis. We thereby identify two pathways of let-7 control of Tet2 and, in turn, of the key inflammatory cytokine, IL-6, thus characterizing a regulatory pathway in which a microRNA acts as a feedback inhibitor of inflammatory processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of preconditioning the p-version mass matrix on meshes of (possibly curvilinear) triangular elements in two dimensions is considered. Through a judicious choice of hierarchical basis, it is shown that a preconditioner involving only diagonal solves on the vertices, edges, and element interiors gives rise to a preconditioned system for which the condition number is bounded independently of the polynomial order p and the mesh size h. The analysis is performed in the framework of an additive Schwarz method and requires the construction of new polynomial extension theorems, similar to those that are used in the analysis of the stiffness matrix. However, in the case of the mass matrix it is necessary to look at traces and extensions from the space L2 (rather than H1) and to make sense of the traces of polynomials regarded as functions in L2. Numerical examples are presented illustrating the performance of the algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ammonia and amines are important common trace atmospheric species that can enhance new particle formation (NPF) in the Earth's atmosphere. However, the synergistic effect of these two bases involving nucleation is still lacking. We studied the most stable geometric structures and thermodynamics of quaternary (NH3)(CH3NH2)(H2SO4)m(H2O)n (m = 1-3, n = 0-4) clusters at the PW91PW91/6-311++G(3df,3pd) level of theory for the first time. We find that the proton transfer from H2SO4 molecule to CH3NH2 molecule is easier than to NH3 molecule in the free or hydrated H2SO4-base clusters, and thus leads to the stability. The energetically favorable formation of the (NH3)(CH3NH2)(H2SO4)m(H2O)n (n = 0-4) clusters, by hydration or attachment of base or substitution of ammonia by methylamine at 298.15 K, indicate that ammonia and methylamine together could enhance the stabilization of small binary clusters. At low RH and an ambient temperature of 298.15 K, the concentration of total hydrated (NH3)(CH3NH2)(H2SO4)2 clusters could reach that of total hydrated (NH3)(H2SO4)2 clusters, which is the most stable ammonia-containing cluster. These results indicate that the synergistic effect of NH3 and CH3NH2 might be important in forming the initial cluster with sulfuric acid and subsequently growth process. In addition, the evaporation rates of (NH3)(CH3NH2)(H2SO4)(H2O), (NH3)(CH3NH2)(H2SO4)2 and (NH3)(CH3NH2)(H2SO4)3 clusters, three relative abundant clusters in (NH3)(CH3NH2)(H2SO4)m(H2O)n system, were calculated. We find the stability increases with the increasing number of H2SO4 molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The new round of Healthcare Reform in China has implemented over 3 years since 2009, and promoted greatly the development of public county hospitals. The purpose of this study is to evaluate county hospitals efficiency before and after the healthcare reform, and further assess the reform effectiveness through the comparative analysis of the efficiency.Methods: Data envelopment analysis (DEA) was employed to calculate the efficiency of 1105 sample hospitals which were selected from 31 provinces of China, also, Tobit regression was used to regress against those main external environmental factors.Results: Our results show that the scales and amounts of service of hospitals had increased sharply, however, the efficiency was relatively low and decreased slightly from 2008 to 2012. Thirteen (1.18%) in 2008 and six (0.54%) hospitals in 2012 were defined as technically efficient, and the average scores were 0.2916 and 0.2503. The technical efficiency average score of the post-reform was significantly less than that of the pre-reform (p < 0.001), and the score of eastern region was highest and the western was lowest among three regions of China.Conclusions: It suggests the reform had not well improved county hospital efficiency although hospitals have reached a fair developing scale, and the corresponding policies and measures should be put into effect for improving efficiency, especially in the level and structure of health investment, operation and supervision mechanism of county hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivation: Transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs) are clustered in the human genome, forming the TFBS-clustered regions that regulate gene transcription, which requires dynamic chromatin configurations between promoters and distal regulatory elements. Here, we propose a regulatory model called spatially adjacent TFBS-clustered regions (SATs), in which TFBS-clustered regions are connected by spatial proximity as identified by high-resolution Hi-C data. Results: TFBS-clustered regions forming SATs appeared less frequently in gene promoters than did isolated TFBS-clustered regions, whereas SATs as a whole appeared more frequently. These observations indicate that multiple distal TFBS-clustered regions combined to form SATs to regulate genes. Further examination confirmed that a substantial portion of genes regulated by SATs were located between the paired TFBS-clustered regions instead of the downstream. We reconstructed the chromosomal conformation of the H1 human embryonic stem cell line using the ShRec3D algorithm and proposed the SAT regulatory model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CD209 is an immune receptor that plays an important role in the initiation of innate immunity and activation of adaptive immunity in mammals. However, much less is known about the immunological function of CD209 in lower vertebrates. In the present study, we examined the immune effect of a CD209 homologue (CsCD209) from the teleost fish tongue sole Cynoglossus semilaevis. CsCD209 possesses a lectin domain that shares high levels of similarity with the lectin domains of human and mouse CD209. CsCD209 expression was most abundant in kidney and blood and was significantly upregulated during bacterial infection. CsCD209 exhibited a subcellular localization mainly on the cell surface of myelomonocytes. Recombinant CsCD209 displayed apparent binding capacities to a broad range of bacteria and fungi, and significantly promoted the phagocytosis of the bound bacteria by C. semilaevis leukocytes. Collectively, the results indicate that teleost CD209 serves as a pattern recognition receptor that exerts an influence on the phagocytosis process during pathogen infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes a protocol layer trust-based intrusion detection scheme for wireless sensor networks. Unlike existing work, the trust value of a sensor node is evaluated according to the deviations of key parameters at each protocol layer considering the attacks initiated at different protocol layers will inevitably have impacts on the parameters of the corresponding protocol layers. For simplicity, the paper mainly considers three aspects of trustworthiness, namely physical layer trust, media access control layer trust and network layer trust. The per-layer trust metrics are then combined to determine the overall trust metric of a sensor node. The performance of the proposed intrusion detection mechanism is then analyzed using the t-distribution to derive analytical results of false positive and false negative probabilities. Numerical analytical results, validated by simulation results, are presented in different attack scenarios. It is shown that the proposed protocol layer trust-based intrusion detection scheme outperforms a state-of-the-art scheme in terms of detection probability and false probability, demonstrating its usefulness for detecting cross-layer attacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein-protein interactions play an important role in the investigation of biomolecules. In this paper, we reported on the use of a reduced graphene oxide microshell (RGOM)-based optical biosensor for the determination of goat anti-rabbit IgG. The biosensor was prepared through a self-assembly of monolayers of monodisperse polystyrene microspheres, combined with a high-temperature reduction, in order to decorate the RGOM with rabbit IgG. The periodic microshells allowed a simpler functionalization and modification of RGOM with bioreceptor units, than reduced graphene oxide (RGO). With additional antibody-antigen binding, the RGOM-based biosensor achieved better real-time and label-free detection. The RGOM-based biosensor presented a more satisfactory response to goat anti-rabbit IgG than the RGO-based biosensor. This method is promising for immobilizing biomolecules on graphene surfaces and for the fabrication of biosensors with enhanced sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical investigation of Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb, a traditional herbal medicine used for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment in northwest China, led to the discovery of a new phenolic aromatic rings substituted lactam, tamaractam (1), together with the previously reported compounds cis-N-feruloyl-3-O-methyldopamine (2) and trans-N-feruloyl-3-O-methyldopamine (3). The structures of the compounds were determined by high resolution electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy (HRESIMS) and 1D and 2D-NMR experiments, as well as comparison with the literature data. The effects of the three compounds on the viability of RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RA-FLS) were assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Pro-apoptosis effect of compound 1 in RA-FLS was further investigated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay, activated caspase-3/7 level assessment using luminescence assay, and sub-G1 fraction measurement using flow cytometry. It was found that these three compounds displayed variable proliferation inhibitory activity in RA-FLS, and compound 1 exhibited the strongest effect. Compound 1 could remarkably induce cellular apoptosis of RA-FLS, increase activated caspase-3/7 levels, and significantly increase sub-G1 fraction in the cell cycle. The results suggested that compound 1 may inhibit the proliferation of RA-FLS through apoptosis-inducing effect, and these compounds may contribute to the anti-RA effect of T. ramosissima. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conspectus: Hierarchical structure is a key feature explaining the superior properties of many materials in nature. Fibers usually serve in textiles, for structural reinforcement, or as support for other materials, whereas spherical micro- and nanoobjects can be either highly functional or also used as fillers to reinforce structure materials. Combining nanocontainers with fibers in one single object has been used to increase the functionality of fibers, for example, antibacterial and thermoregulation, when the advantageous properties given by the encapsulated materials inside the containers are transferred to the fibers. Herein we focus our discussion on how the hierarchical structure composed of nanocontainers in nanofibers yields materials displaying advantages of both types of materials and sometimes synergetical effects. Such materials can be produced by first carefully designing nanocontainers with defined morphology and chemistry and subsequently electrospinning them to fabricate nanofibers. This method, called colloid-electrospinning, allows for marrying the properties of nanocontainers and nanofibers. The obtained fibers could be successfully applied in different fields such as catalysis, optics, energy conversion and production, and biomedicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small evolutionarily conserved noncoding RNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs), regulate gene expression either by translational repression or by mRNA degradation in mammals. miRNAs play functional roles in diverse physiological and pathological processes. miRNA processing is accurately regulated through multifarious factors. The canonical miRNA processing pathway consists of four sequential steps: (a) miRNA gene is transcribed into primary miRNA (pri-miRNA) mainly by RNA polymerase II; (b) pri-miRNA is processed into precursor miRNA (pre-miRNA) through microprocessor complex; (c) pre-miRNA is exported from the nucleus to the cytoplasm with the assistance of Exportin 5 (EXP5/XPO5) protein; and (d) pre-miRNA is further processed into mature miRNA via Dicer. Emerging evidence has also demonstrated that some miRNAs undergo alternative processing pathways. Dysregulation of miRNA processing is closely related to tumorigenesis. Here, we review the current advances in the knowledge of miRNA processing and briefly discuss its impact on human cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bioactive Kopsia alkaloids lundurines A-D are the only natural products known to contain indolylcyclopropane. Achieving their syntheses can provide important insights into their biogenesis, as well as novel synthetic routes for complex natural products. Asymmetric total synthesis of (−)-lundurine A has previously been achieved through a Simmons-Smith cyclopropanation strategy. Here, the total synthesis of (−)-lundurine A was carried out using a metal-catalyzed diazo cyclopropanation strategy. In order to avoid a carbene CH insertion side reaction during cyclopropanation of α-diazo- carboxylates or cyanides, a one-pot, copper-catalyzed Bamford-Stevens diazotization/diazo decomposition/cyclopropanation cascade was developed, involving hydrazone. This approach simultaneously generates the C/D/E ring system and the two chiral quaternary centers at C2 and C7. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Symmetrical silica (SiO2) nanostructures are synthesized by a facile chemical vapour deposition (CVD) method. The nanostructures are composed of oriented SiO2 nanowires. Herein, silicon (Si) wafers play the role of the precursor and Ga-Au-Fe alloy act as the catalyst for the growth of the silica nanostructures. The morphology and structure of these novel SiO2 nanowires are characterized. A possible mechanism is proposed to understand the growth process of the structures. These novel SiO2 nanostructures would be advantageous in potential optoelectronics, nanoelectronics and photocatalytic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An infinite source with series inductance is usually employed as a grid emulator in grid-connected distributed generation systems. Thus, high capacitance of a transmission cable (i.e., underground cable) is too significant to be neglected. As a result, the capacitance and inductance may cause system resonance, which, in turn, challenges system stability. This paper takes offshore wind farm as an example to investigate the resonance issues caused by the submarine transmission cable of the grid-connected generation system. Based on the submarine cable model, a series of considerable resonant peaks is found in the open-loop transfer function of the grid-connected system because of the high-order LC configuration. The resonant peaks are sensitive to the system setup, which is clearly investigated. To overcome the resonances, this paper proposes a cascaded notch-filter-based active damping method to guarantee a good system stability and robustness. Furthermore, the proposed controller employs a proportional-resonant component to reduce the steady-state error of the output current. The simulation and experimental results have validated the findings of resonances and the effectiveness of the proposed controller. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel synchronous-frame repetitive controller for three-phase UPS inverters. Distinguished from conventional repetitive control techniques, the proposed synchronous-frame approach minimizes the repetitive control time delay to one-sixth of the fundamental period such that the dynamic response is significantly improved. In order to overcome the harmonic distortions under severe load conditions (e.g., unbalanced and nonlinear), in this paper, three synchronous rotating frames are deliberately selected, in each of which the repetitive controller is incorporated. Resultantly, the (6n ±1)th harmonics as well as the triplen harmonics are compensated. Moreover, a high-performance fourth-order linear phase infinite-impulse-response filter is applied to further enhance the accuracy of steady-state tracking. The proposed controller is programmed on the 16-bit fixed-point digital signal processor (TI TMS320LF2407) and eliminates high-resolution current sensors for cost effectiveness. Simulations and experimental tests have been carried out based on an 18-kW three-phase UPS system. Low total harmonic distortion (<;0025;) has been achieved under heavily distorted nonlinear load and unbalanced load. Fast dynamic response has been demonstrated during step load transients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents several nonisolated semi-Z-source inverters for a single-phase photovoltaic (PV) system with low cost and doubly grounded features. These semi-Z-source inverters employ the Z-source/quasi-Z-source network and only two active switches to achieve the same output voltage as the traditional voltage-fed full-bridge inverter does. The two active switches of the semi-Z-source inverter are controlled complementarily. Different from the traditional single-phase Z-source/quasi-Z-source inverter, shoot-through zero state is not applicable to the semi-Z-source inverter. The input dc source and the output ac voltage of the semi-Z-source inverter share the same ground, thus leading to less leakage ground current advantages over other nondoubly grounded inverters, such as voltage-fed full-bridge inverter. This is a preferred feature for nonisolated grid-connected inverters, especially in PV application. A revised nonlinear sinusoid pulse width modulation method for a semi-Z-source inverter is also proposed. By using this method, desired duty cycle can be generated to output the sinusoidal voltage. Other dc-dc converters with similar voltage gain curve, which can also be used as a single-phase inverter, are also discussed and summarized. A single-phase semi-Z-source inverter prototype is built; experimental results are provided to verify and demonstrate the special features of the proposed circuit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A novel photoresponsive functional monomer bearing a siloxane polymerisable group and azobenzene moieties was synthesized. This monomer was then used to prepare photoresponsive molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP), which have specific binding sites for 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) through hydrogen bonding moieties. The binding affinity of the imprinted recognition sites was switchable by alternate irradiations with ultraviolet and visible light, suggesting that azobenzene groups located inside the binding sites could be used as chemical sensors and the trans–cis isomerization could regulate the affinity for the 2,4-D. In addition, the concentration of the 2,4-D was able to be quantified by monitoring the trans-to-cis photoisomerization rate constant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The protective efficacy of oral administration of VP28 using Bacillus subtilis as vehicles (rVP28-bs) in shrimp, Fenneropenaeus chinensis, upon challenge with white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) was investigated. The calculated relative percent survival (RPS) value of rVP28-bs fed shrimp was 83.3% when challenged on the 14th day post-administration, which is significantly higher (p < 0.001) than that of the group administered recombinant Escherichia coli over-expressing rVP28 (rVP28-e21). After immunization, activities of phenoloxidase (PO), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in hemolymph were analyzed. It was found that the supplementation of rVP28-bs into shrimp food pellets resulted in the most pronounced increase of iNOS activity (p < 0.001), but had the least influence on activities of PO and SOD. Besides, in the shrimp orally administered with rVP28-bs, the caspase-3 activity was one-fifth that of the control, though the signs of apoptosis (chromatin margination, nuclear fragmentation and apoptotic bodies) could not be observed by transmission electron microscope (TEM). These results suggest that by oral delivery of rVP28-bs, shrimp showed significant resistance to WSSV and an effect on the innate immune system of shrimp. The remarkably enhanced level of iNOS after rVP28-bs administration might be responsible for antiviral defense in shrimp. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This rapid report focuses on the pharmacodynamic mechanism of the carboplatin/paclitaxel combination and correlates it with its cytotoxicity. Consistent with the synergistic to additive antitumor activity (the combination index ranging from 0.53 to 0.94), cells exposed to this combination had significantly increased carboplatin-DNA adduct formation when compared to that of carboplatin alone (450 ± 30 versus 320 ± 120 adducts per 108 nucleotides at 2 h, p = 0.004). Removal of paclitaxel increased the repair of carboplatin-DNA adducts: 39.4 versus 33.1 adducts per 108 nucleotides per hour in carboplatin alone (p = 0.021). This rapid report provides the first pharmacodynamics data to support the use of carboplatin/paclitaxel combination in the clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of highly active CF 3 -containing 3'-(nitroisoxazole)spiro[pyrrolidin-3,2′-oxindoles] were synthesized and found to be novel glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4)/mouse double minute 2 (MDM2) dual inhibitors. Bioactive spirooxindole and isoxazole skeletons were combined, and the resulting compounds exhibited strong activities against both targets. In particular, compound 3d displayed excellent activity in the suppression of MDM2-mediated degradation of p53, as well as levels of GPX4, in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Moreover, 3d also exhibited inhibitory effects on MDM2 and GPX4 in MCF-7 xenograft model to trigger ferroptotic and apoptotic cell death in in vivo experiments, which was consistent with the results of in vitro experiments. [Display omitted] • Hyperdization of bioactive isoxazole and spirooxindole skeleton. • A novel GPX4/MDM2 dual inhibitor is rationally designed and efficiently synthesized. • Effective inhibition of MDM2–p53 interactions and GPX4 level in MCF-7 cells. • The inhibitor can effectively trigger ferroptotic and apoptotic cell death in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This strategy make the combination of privileged isoxazole and spirooxindole. • Medicinally important 3′-(nitroisoxazol)spiro[pyrrolidin-3,2′-oxindoles] containing trifluoromethyl were constructed. • The corresponding products were afforded in good to high yields (76–93%) and excellent diastereoselectivities (>20:1). • The atom-economic 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction was applied in this method. The highly diastereoselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of N -2,2,2-trifluoroethyl-substituted isatin imines with styrylisoxazoles was developed for the synthesis of a wide range of isoxazole- and trifluoromethyl-containing spiro[pyrrolidin-oxindoles] in high yields with excellent diastereoselectivities. Further transformations of the final products and the gram-scale capacity of this method were also assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bending clearance design method is applied for the aerodynamic optimization by using the Kriging model and Genetic Algorithm. To validate the effects of the clearance shape and the deformation coefficient on the TLF suppression, the baseline case and other four modified cases have been experimentally and numerically investigated in a low speed wind tunnel linear cascade. The measured data and numerical results demonstrates that the modified cases increase the pressure inside the clearance, impedes the tip leakage flow (TLF), and its deceleration effect on leakage fluid inside the bending clearance gradually increased with the increasing deformation coefficient. In addition, the presence of the blocking vortex (BV) exerts a brake on the tip leakage vortex (TLV) and divides it into two parts. The TLV development is interrupted in front of the midstream under the blocking effect, but the UPV scale is enlarged. Compared with the baseline case, the application of bending clearance is proved to reduce the aerodynamic loss and leakage with relative reduction of 9.7% and 28.8%, furthermore, the optimal configuration has better aerodynamic performance with relative reduction of 16.3% and 31%. Both of the aerodynamic loss and leakage continue to decline with the increase of λ , but no significant performance improvement will be achieved when λ exceeds 6 mm. • The bending clearance design method is applied by using the Kriging model and GA method. • The experiments of the baseline and four modified cases were conducted in a turbine cascade. • Optimal clearance configuration gained significant aerodynamic performance improvement. • The BV altered the vortex system in tip region and divided the TLV into two parts. • The loss and leakage continued to decline with the increase of λ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caspase (CASP) is a family of proteases involved in cleavage and activation of gasdermin, the executor of pyroptosis. In humans, CASP3 and CASP7 recognize the same consensus motif DxxD, which is present in gasdermin E (GSDME). However, human GSDME is cleaved by CASP3 but not by CASP7. The underlying mechanism of this observation is unclear. In this study, we identified a pyroptotic pufferfish GSDME that was cleaved by both pufferfish CASP3/7 and human CASP3/7. Domain swapping between pufferfish and human CASP and GSDME showed that the GSDME C-terminus and the CASP7 p10 subunit determined the cleavability of GSDME by CASP7. p10 contains a key residue that governs CASP7 substrate discrimination. This key residue is highly conserved in vertebrate CASP3 and in most vertebrate (except mammalian) CASP7. In mammals, the key residue is conserved in non-primates (e.g., mouse) but not in primates. However, mouse CASP7 cleaved human GSDME but not mouse GSDME. These findings revealed the molecular mechanism of CASP7 substrate discrimination and the divergence of CASP3/7-mediated GSDME activation in vertebrate. These results also suggested that mutation-mediated functional alteration of CASP probably enabled the divergence and specialization of different CASP members in the regulation of complex cellular activities in mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micro/nanorobots provide a promising approach for intravascular therapy with high precision. However, blood vessel is a highly complex system, and performing interventional therapy in those submillimeter segments remains challenging. While micro/nanorobots can enter submillimeter segments, they may still comprise nonbiodegradable parts, posing a considerable challenge for post-use removal. Here, we developed a retrievable magnetic colloidal microswarm, composed of tPA-anchored Fe3O4@mSiO2 nanorobots (tPA-nbots), to archive tPA-mediated thrombolysis under balloon catheter-assisted magnetic actuation with x-ray fluoroscopy imaging system (CMAFIS). By deploying tPA-nbot transcatheter to the vicinity of the thrombus, the tPA-nbot microswarms were magnetically actuated to the blood clot at the submillimeter vessels with high precision. After thrombolysis, the tPA-nbots can be retrieved via the CMAFIS, as demonstrated in ex vivo organ of human placenta and in vivo carotid artery of rabbit. The proposed colloidal microswarm provides a promising robotic tool with high spatial precision for enhanced thrombolysis with low side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the design of multicompartment metal oxide/silica nanofibrous photocatalysts by colloid-electrospinning and subsequent calcination. During the calcination process, silica nanomaterials are cemented to form the fibrous framework and metal oxide precursors are crystallized inside and onto the fibers. This multicompartment nanofibrous structure, constructed with nanoparticles and core–shell nanocapsules, is therefore beneficial for the separation of the materials and the light utilization due to the multiple reflections and scattering of incident light in the cavities. The photocatalytic activity of the fibers was verified by the successful degradation of a model dye rhodamine B. This synthetic methodology is a universal approach for the fabrication of nanomaterials with hierarchical hollow structures, which are emerging in energy and environmental related applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interdigitated back contact (IBC) solar cells can achieve a very high efficiency due to its less optical losses. But IBC solar cells demand for high quality passivation of the front surface. In this paper, a polycrystalline silicon/SiO2 stack structure as front surface field to passivate the front surface of IBC solar cells is proposed. The passivation quality of this structure is investigated by two dimensional simulations. Polycrystalline silicon layer and SiO2 layer are optimized to get the best passivation quality of the IBC solar cell. Simulation results indicate that the doping level of polycrystalline silicon should be high enough to allow a very thin polycrystalline silicon layer to ensure an effective passivation and small optical losses at the same time. The thickness of SiO2 should be neither too thin nor too thick, and the optimal thickness is 1.2 nm. Furthermore, the lateral transport properties of electrons are investigated, and the simulation results indicate that a high doping level and conductivity of polycrystalline silicon can improve the lateral transportation of electrons and then the cell performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene has been extensively investigated for its use in flexible electronics, especially graphene synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). To enhance the flexibility of CVD graphene, wrinkles are often introduced. However, reports on the flexibility of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) films are few, because of their weak conductivity and, in particular, poor flexibility. To improve the flexibility of RGO, reduced graphene oxide nanoshells are fabricated, which combine self-assembled polystyrene nanosphere arrays and high-temperature thermal annealing processes. The resulting RGO films with nanoshells present a better resistance stabilization after stretching and bending the devices than RGO without nanoshells. The sustainability and performance advances demonstrated here are promising for the adoption of flexible electronics in a wide variety of future applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the mining effect influenced by a normal fault has great significance concerning the prediction and prevention of fault rock burst. According to the occurrence condition of a normal fault, the stress evolution of the working face and fault plane, the movement characteristics of overlying strata, and the law of fault slipping when the working face advances from footwall to hanging wall are studied utilizing UDEC numerical simulation. Then the inducing-mechanism of fault rock burst is revealed. Results show that in pre-mining, the in situ stress distribution of two fault walls in the fault-affected zone is notably different. When the working face mines in the footwall, the abutment stress distributes in a "double peak" pattern. The ratio of shear stress to normal stress and the fault slipping have the obvious spatial and temporal characteristics because they vary gradually from the higher layer to the lower one orderly. The variation of roof subsidence is in S-shape which includes slow deformation, violent slipping, deformation induced by the hanging wall strata rotation, and movement stability. The simulation results are verified via several engineering cases of fault rock burst. Moreover, it can provide a reference for prevention and control of rock burst in a fault-affected zone under similar conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is one of the most major diseases that threatens human health and life. The aim of this work was to obtain novel anticancer molecules from D. fragrans, a kind of medicinal plant. The structure of the new compound was identified using spectroscopic data (1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and two dimensions NMR). Its anticancer properties were evaluated using the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay against four human cells including lung cancer cells (A549), breast cancer cells (MCF-7), gastric cancer cells (SGC7901) and noncancerous human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). A new phenylpropanoid—(E)-caffeic acid-9-O-β-d-xylpyranosyl-(1→2)-β-d-glucopyranosyl ester (1), with seven known compounds (2–8)—was isolated. The IC50 value of compound 1 against MCF-7 cells was 2.65 ± 0.14 µM, and the IC50 values of compound 8 against three cancer cells were below 20 µM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The temporal and spatial-specific expression pattern of a transcript in multiple tissues and cell types can indicate key clues about its function. While several gene atlas available online as pre-computed databases for known gene models, it's still challenging to get expression profile for previously uncharacterized (i.e. novel) transcripts efficiently. Results: Here we developed LocExpress, a web server for efficiently estimating expression of novel transcripts across multiple tissues and cell types in human (20 normal tissues/cells types and 14 cell lines) as well as in mouse (24 normal tissues/cell types and nine cell lines). As a wrapper to RNA-Seq quantification algorithm, LocExpress efficiently reduces the time cost by making abundance estimation calls increasingly within the minimum spanning bundle region of input transcripts. For a given novel gene model, such local context-oriented strategy allows LocExpress to estimate its FPKMs in hundreds of samples within minutes on a standard Linux box, making an online web server possible. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, LocExpress is the only web server to provide nearly real-time expression estimation for novel transcripts in common tissues and cell types. The server is publicly available at http://loc-express. cbi.pku.edu.cn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a gastrointestinal disorder affecting 8 to 33% of people worldwide, which can lead to severe complications including esophageal strictures, Barrett's esophagus, and even esophageal cancer. Electrical stimulation therapy (EST) is a promising method to treat GERD; however, the implantation of conventional EST devices can be invasive and carries potential risks.

We report on a general method for broadband responsivity enhancement in graphene photodetectors based on the sandwiched graphene structure under total internal reflection. The optical absorption is ~25% for transverse electric waves for pure monolayer graphene, and the responsivity of pure monolayer graphene photodetectors is 0.012 A/W, which is one or two orders of magnitude larger than the normal incidence excitation. The enhanced responsivity covers a wide wavelength range from 300 to 1550 nm. Further, this method is not limited by the device, and it is a general method used to improve the light-graphene coupling, thus increasing the responsivity of graphene photodetectors largely. And this method allows large area preparation to meet the needs of the free space light detections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prolyl-4-hydroxylase (PHD) proteins are key in sensing tissue hypoxia. In nucleus pulposus (NP) cells, our previous work demonstrated that PHD isoforms have a differential contribution in controlling hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-α degradation and activity. Recently we have shown that a regulatory relationship exists between PHD3 and inflammatory cytokines in NP cells. With respect to PHD2, the most abundant PHD isoform in NP cells, very little is known concerning its function and regulation under inflammatory conditions that characterize intervertebral disc degeneration. Here, we show that PHD2 is a potent regulator of the catabolic activities of TNF-α; silencing of PHD2 significantly decreased TNF-α-induced expression of catabolic markers including SDC4, MMP-3, MMP-13, and ADAMTS5, as well as several inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, while partially restoring aggrecan and collagen II expression. Use of NF-κB reporters with ShPHD2, SiHIF-1α, as well as p65-/-, PHD2-/-, and PHD3-/- cells, shows that PHD2 serves as a co-activator of NF-κB/p65 signaling in HIF-1-independent fashion. Immunoprecipitation of endogenous and exogenously expressed tagged proteins, as well as fluorescence microscopy, indicates that following TNF-α treatment, PHD2 interacts and co-localizes with p65. Conversely, loss of function experiments using lentivirally delivered Sh-p65, Sh-IKKβ, and NF-κB inhibitor confirmed that cytokine-dependent PHD2 expression in NP cells requires NF-κB signaling. These findings clearly demonstrate that PHD2 forms a regulatory circuit with TNF-α via NF-κB and thereby plays an important role in enhancing activity of this cytokine. We propose that during disc degeneration PHD2 may offer a therapeutic target to mitigate the deleterious actions of TNF-α, a key proinflammatory cytokine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate whether intermittent administration of parathyroid hormone [1-34] (PTH[1-34]) promotes tendon-bone healing after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in vivo. A rat model of ACL reconstruction with autograft was established at the left hind leg. Every day, injections of 60 μg PTH[1-34]/kg subcutaneously were given to the PTH group rats (n = 10) for four weeks, and the controls (n = 10) received saline. The tendon-bone healing process was evaluated by micro-CT, biomechanical test, histological and immunohistochemical analyses. The effects of PTH[1-34] on serum chemistry, bone microarchitecture and expression of the PTH receptor (PTH1R) and osteocalcin were determined. Administration of PTH[1-34] significantly increased serum levels of calcium, alkaline phosphatase (AP), osteocalcin and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP). The expression of PTH1R on both osteocytes and chondrocyte-like cells at the tendon-bone interface was increased in the PTH group. PTH[1-34] also enhanced the thickness and microarchitecture of trabecular bone according to the micro-CT analysis. The results imply that systematically intermittent administration of PTH[1-34] promotes tendon-bone healing at an early stage via up-regulated PTH1R. This method may enable a new strategy for the promotion of tendon-bone healing after ACL reconstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate a selective microcleaving graphene (MG) transfer technique for the transfer of graphene patterns and graphene devices onto chosen targets using a bilayer-polymer structure and femtosecond laser microfabrication. In the bilayer-polymer structure, the first layer is used to separate the target graphene from the other flakes, and the second layer transfers the patterned graphene to the chosen targets. This selective transfer technique, which exactly transfers the patterned graphene onto a chosen target, leaving the other flakes on the original substrate, provides an efficient route for the fabrication of MG for microdevices and flexible electronics and the optimization of graphene's performance. This method will facilitate the preparation of van der Waals heterostructures and enable the optimization of the performance of graphene hybrid devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of cancer cells rely on elevated telomerase expression and activity for rapid growth and proliferation. Telomerase-negative cancer cells, by contrast, often employ the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway to maintain telomeres. ALT cells are characterized by long and dynamic telomeres and the presence of ALT-associated promyelocytic leukemia (PML) bodies (APBs). Previous work has shown the importance of APBs to the ALT pathway, but their formation and precise role remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that a homeobox-containing protein known as HMBOX1 can directly bind telomeric double-stranded DNA and associate with PML nuclear bodies. Hence, we renamed this protein TAH1 for telomere-associated homeobox-containing protein 1. TAH1 knockdown significantly reduced the number of APBs and led to an increase in DNA damage response signals at telomeres. Importantly, TAH1 inhibition also notably reduced the presence of telomere C-circles, indicating altered ALT activity. Our findings point to TAH1 as a novel link between pathways that regulate DNA damage responses, PML nuclear bodies, and telomere homeostasis in ALT cells, and provide insight into how ALT cells may achieve sustained growth and proliferation independent of the telomerase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]