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To study the effect of the width-to-narrow ratio on the forward and reverse flow characteristics of the Tesla valve, five different models of the Tesla valve with different width-to-narrow ratios are established in this paper. The numerical calculations of forward and reverse flow under different working conditions are carried out by the CFD method in the laminar flow regime, and the reliability of the numerical calculation method is verified by comparing it with the experimental results. The results show that: in forward flow, the main flow-through channel is not related to the width-to-narrow ratio, the flow rate of the straight channel increases with the increase of the width-to-narrow ratio, and the static pressure in the diversion section is in the shape of "∞"; while in reverse flow, the main flow-through channel is weakly related to the width-to-narrow ratio, the flow rate of the arc channel is not increased with the increase of the width-to-narrow ratio, and the static pressure in the diversion section is in the shape of "bench". As the width-to-narrow ratio decreases, the pressure drop during forward and reverse flow becomes more significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organophosphorus (OPs) compounds have received enormous attention due to high neurotoxicity. However, the complex detection environment makes it very difficult to detect the OPs compounds at extremely low‐concentration. Therefore, it is vital to develop a high sensitive analytical method for the detection of low‐concentration OPs compounds at complex environment. Here, we proposed a novel surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate based on the core‐shell structure Au@ZrO2 for the detection of extremely low‐concentration OPs compounds. By using above SERS substrate, we tested different kinds of OPs compounds and obtained excellent detection results. The detection limit of methyl parathion and triazophos can reach 0.01 mg/kg. Meanwhile, under the actual system (orange peel), the detection limit of the methyl parathion and triazophos also can reach 0.5 and 0.1 mg/kg, respectively. In addition, the above substrate is also very effective for the detection of dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP), a simulant for the chemical warfare agent (sarin), and the detection limit can reach 100 mg/kg. Besides, we also verified the reproducibility and stability of Au@ZrO2, which showed excellent properties. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of the SERS signal intensity for 20 tests was 6.38% and the enhancement ability of Au@ZrO2 can remain stable within 30 days. These results show that the proposed Au@ZrO2 SERS substrate has great potential in the detection of OPs compounds at extremely low‐concentration in the complex detection environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung cancer has surpassed other types of cancer to become the primary cause of cancer-related deaths. Surgery stands as the foremost clinical treatment strategy available for tackling this condition, but it receives a low efficiency for most patients. In recent years, some adjuvant therapies are employed to improve the lung cancer treatment efficiency, such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy. However, these strategies have not significantly increased overall survival of patients. Additionally, the random distribution of drugs will induce severe side effects. Nanomedicines have got great attentions to boost drug effect and reduce adverse reactions, including liposome-based nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, inorganic nanoparticles, and exosomes. Importantly, nanomedicines contribute to improving drug bioavailability, stability and residency in target regions. Benefiting from the physiological characteristics of lung, the inhaled pulmonary delivery strategy in combination with nanomedicine will provide a non-invasive and effective strategy for treating lung cancer. Furthermore, the use of targeting ligands enables precise delivery of loaded drugs to lung cancer cells. Inhaled nanomedicine exhibits unique distribution and sustained release behaviors in the alveoli, amplifying the therapeutic effect and reducing side effects. This review aims to discuss various inhaled methods of delivering nanomedicine to treat lung cancer and also summarizes the clearance mechanism of nanomedicine in the lung. Overall, this review focuses on the application of different inhalable nanomedicines, which may inspire the development of more effective treatments against lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pathogens disturb alternative splicing patterns of infected eukaryotic hosts. However, in plants it is unknown if this is incidental to infection or represents a pathogen-induced remodeling of host gene expression needed to support infection. Here, we compared changes in transcription and protein accumulation with changes in transcript splicing patterns in maize (Zea mays) infected with the globally important pathogen sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV). Our results suggested that changes in alternative splicing play a major role in determining virus-induced proteomic changes. Focusing on maize phytoene synthase1 (ZmPSY1), which encodes the key regulatory enzyme in carotenoid biosynthesis, we found that although SCMV infection decreases total ZmPSY1 transcript accumulation, the proportion of splice variant T001 increases by later infection stages so that ZmPSY1 protein levels are maintained. We determined that ZmPSY1 has two leaf-specific transcripts, T001 and T003, distinguished by differences between the respective 3'-untranslated regions (UTRs). The shorter 3'-UTR of T001 makes it the more efficient mRNA. Nonsense ZmPSY1 mutants or virus-induced silencing of ZmPSY1 expression suppressed SCMV accumulation, attenuated symptoms, and decreased chloroplast damage. Thus, ZmPSY1 acts as a proviral host factor that is required for virus accumulation and pathogenesis. Taken together, our findings reveal that SCMV infection-modulated alternative splicing ensures that ZmPSY1 synthesis is sustained during infection, which supports efficient virus infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, titled "[Retracted] MicroRNA-378 regulates cell proliferation and migration by repressing RNF31 in pituitary adenoma," was published in Oncology Letters in 2018. However, it has since been retracted due to concerns raised by a reader. The reader pointed out similarities between the scratch-wound assay data in Figure 3 of this article and data from a different paper submitted to the same journal. Additionally, there were possible anomalies in the "Control" panel. The editor decided to retract the paper due to a lack of confidence in the data and the authors did not provide an explanation. [Extracted from the article]

MicroRNA-378 (miR-378) is dysregulated in multiple malignancies and is associated with tumor progression. However, the expression and mechanism of miR-378 in pituitary adenoma (PA) remains to be elucidated. In the present study, the role and mechanism of miR-378 in PA tumorigenesis and development was investigated. It was revealed that the levels of miR-378 expression were markedly downregulated in PA tissues. CCK-8 and wound healing assays revealed that transfection with miR-378 mimics was able to markedly inhibit the proliferation and migration of GH3 cells. Furthermore, quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrated that ring finger protein 31 (RNF31) was upregulated in PA specimens and the levels of RNF31 expression was negatively regulated by miR-378. In addition, knockdown of RNF31 markedly suppressed cell proliferation and migration in GH3 cells. In conclusion, the present study provides a molecular basis for the function of miR-378/RNF31 in the progression of human PA, indicating a potential novel target for the treatment of PA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A conic optimization method is proposed to calculate the Static Voltage Stability Limit interval (SVSL). • Interval ellipsoid hybrid model is proposed to describe the correlated uncertain variables. • Three different wind turbine (WT) models are considered in the proposed method. This paper presents a conic optimization method based on Semi-Definite Programming (SDP) relaxation for calculating the Static Voltage Stability Limitation (SVSL) in Active Distribution Networks (ADNs), considering correlated uncertainties associated with wind speeds and load forecasting. This method analyses the effect of wind generation on the SVSL interval evaluation with consideration of different wind turbine models. With the proposed Interval Ellipsoid Hybrid Convex Model (IEHCM), a conic optimization solution is presented, which may yield better results in dealing with correlated uncertainties and maintain high accuracy and convergence stability as compared to other alternative methods. The proposed method is tested on a modified IEEE 33-bus systems and several IEEE standard systems to show its superiority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the influence of thermal reduction temperature on the humidity sensitivity of graphene oxide (GO), we treat the prepared graphene oxide (GOS) thin film under different temperature conditions and obtained the GOS thin film humidity elements of different reduction degrees. Thermostability, function groups, and structural defects of the GOS samples are characterized by TG-DTA, FTIR, and Raman. After thermal reduction at 60 and 100°C, the function groups of GOS are not decomposed and the GOS has better humidity sensitivity and shows the characteristics of n-type semiconductor. After thermal reduction at 150–200°C, the function groups are decomposed and the humidity sensitivity is decreased due to thermal reduction on GOS. Particularly, the GOS shows the characteristics of p-type semiconductor in the relative humidity lower than 75.3%, and shows the characteristics of n-type semiconductor in the relative humidity higher than 75.3%. After thermal reduction at 250°C, the GOS thin film has no humidity sensitivity. After thermal reduction at 300–450°C, the carbon skeleton of GOS is combusted to form new structure defects and the humidity sensitivity is getting better, and the GOS shows the characteristics of p-type semiconductor. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Previous studies investigating the association between adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene promoter methylation and colorectal cancer (CRC) have yielded conflicting results. The aim of this study was to comprehensively evaluate the potential application of the detection of APC promoter methylation to the prevention and treatment of CRC. PubMed, Embase, and MEDLINE (results updated to October 2014) were searched for relevant studies. The effect size was defined as the weighted odds ratio (OR), which was calculated using either the fixed-effects or random-effects model. Prespecified subgroup and sensitivity analyses were conducted to evaluate potential heterogeneity among the included studies. Nineteen studies comprising 2,426 participants were selected for our meta-analysis. The pooled results of nine studies comprising a total of 740 subjects indicated that APC promoter methylation was significantly associated with CRC risk (pooled OR 5.53; 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.50-8.76; P?0.01). Eleven studies with a total of 1,219 patients evaluated the association between APC promoter methylation and the presence of CRC metastasis, and the pooled OR was 0.80 (95% CI 0.44-1.46; P 0.47). A meta-analysis conducted with four studies with a total of 467 patients found no significant correlation between APC promoter methylation and the presence of colorectal adenoma (pooled OR 1.85; 95% CI 0.67-5.10; P 0.23). No significant correlation between APC promoter methylation and patients' Dukes' stage, TNM stage, differentiation grade, age, or sex was identified. In conclusion, APC promoter methylation was found to be significantly associated with a higher risk of developing CRC. The findings indicate that APC promoter methylation may be a potential biomarker for the carcinogenesis of CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trivalent cerium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG:Ce3=) phosphors are synthesized by solid-state reaction method through using (Y1−xCex)2O3 solid solutions as precursors. Solid solubility limits of Ce3= replacing Y3= in Y2O3 and YAG are determined to be 40% and 7.5%, respectively, based on the relationship between the lattice parameter and chemical composition. Using (Y1−xCex)2O3 as precursors we synthesize YAG:Ce3= single phase at 1450 °C and N2 atmosphere. However, under the same conditions using CeO2 there exists a second phase YAlO3 as impurity. The photoluminescence intensity of YAG:Ce3= increases monotonically with the increase of Ce concentration until it reaches a maximum at solid solubility limits of Ce3= in YAG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gold (Au) nanocage@SiO2 nanoparticles are prepared by a novel approach. The silver (Ag) nanocube@SiO2 structure is synthetized firstly. Next, the method of etching a SiO2 shell by boiling water is adopted to change the penetration rate of AuCl−4 through the SiO2 shell. AuCl−4 can penetrate through silica shells of different thickness values to react with the Ag nanocube core by changing the incubation time. The surface plasma resonance (SPR) peak of synthetic Au nanocage@SiO2 can be easily tuned into the near-infrared region. Besides, CdTeS quantum dots (QDs) are successfully connected to the surface of Au nanocage@SiO2, which testifies that the incubation process does not change the property of silica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a set of inequalities based on mean values of quantum mechanical observables similar to nonlinear entanglement witnesses for bipartite quantum systems. These inequalities give rise to sufficient and necessary conditions for separability of all bipartite pure states and even some mixed states. In terms of these mean values of quantum mechanical observables, a measurable lower bound of the convex-roof extension of the negativity is derived. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Th e UNCITRAL Draft Convention on Contracts for the International Carriage of Goods Wholly or Partly by Sea was approved on Th ursday, 3 July 2008 and would then be presented to the General Assembly of the United Nations for endorsement later this year. Many innovative features contained in the Draft Convention fi ll the perceived gaps in existing transport regimes. Carrier's liability compared with international maritime conventions and the Draft Convention as well as China Maritime Code is discussed in the paper. It is pointed out that although the Draft Convention plays a very important role in the development of international private maritime law regime, the entry into the force of the Draft Convention is not optimistic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aspergillus niger is known to be capable of bioleaching heavy metal ions from municipal solid waste (MSW) incineration fly ash. The objective of this study was to investigate the bioleaching kinetics of the fungus in the presence of the fly ash at various pulp densities (1–6%) in a batch system. The growth of the fungus was modeled using the modified Gompertz model. Since the metals present in the fly ash are toxic and inhibit microbial growth, an inhibition kinetic model using the generalized Monod growth kinetics was evaluated. In a two-step bioleaching system where the fly ash was introduced into the culture two days after inoculation, citric acid production and the leaching of the metals aluminium, iron and zinc from the fly ash were examined. The kinetic parameters in the system were estimated using the least square method. Results showed that the modified Gompertz model fit the experimental data well. The specific growth rate decreased with increasing pulp density, with a maximum specific growth rate (μ max) of 0.115day−1 for the control. The critical inhibitor (i.e. fly ash) concentration () above which no growth occurred was found to be 6.0%. Results also showed an increase in metal concentration leached with a concomitant increase in the citric acid production at various pulp densities. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents a study on the hydrological and meteorological change in the Yangtze River Basin in China. Significant changes were found in many monthly precipitation datasets that were collected between 1961 and 2000. It states that the strongest relative increase was detected when the monthly precipitation is low in absolute terms. Some of the changes in the monthly precipitation in spring and summer from April to August, tends to aggravate the flood hazard. It also detected significant upward trends in the discharge of the River Yangtze Basin in the middle and lower regions on summer months.

Previous studies have found that the diversity of begomovirus-associated DNAβ satellites is related to host and geographical origin. In this study, we have cloned and sequenced 20 different isolates of DNAβ molecules associated with Malvastrum yellow vein virus (MYVV) isolated from Malvastrum coromandelianum plants in different geographical locations of Yunnan Province, China. Analyses of their molecular variation indicate that the satellites are clustered together according to their geographical location but that they have only limited sequence diversity. Infectivity tests using infectious clones of MYVV and its associated DNAβ molecule indicate that MYVV DNAβ is indispensable for symptom induction in Nicotiana benthamiana, N. glutinosa, Petunia hybrida, and M. coromandelianum plants. Furthermore, we showed that MYVV interacts functionally with heterologous DNAβ molecules in N. benthamiana plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Climatic indicators based on proxy historical flood/drought index series (1470–2003) in the Yangtze river (China) and ENSO (El Niño/La Niña) index series (1868–2003) are statistically analyzed to detect a long-term variability of the floods/droughts and ENSO events and to identify the teleconnections between ENSO and flood/drought series in the upper, middle and lower Yangtze River valley. In the lower and middle Yangtze catchments, El Niño shows a close relation with flood events and La Niña correlates with drought events. However, the relationships are reversed for the upper Yangtze catchment. These relations are significant at >90% confidence level based on test. Spectral analysis shows that main flood/drought variation cycle is longer than that of ENSO events. The latter shows periods of 3–4 year, 5.67 years, ∼10–12 years while the flood/drought cycle has periods of 16.69, 5.09 and 10.47 years (confidence level of 99%). Cross-spectral analysis results indicate the ENSO changes and flood/drought variation are significantly correlated at 5.04 year and ∼10–12 years periods. Therefore, from the viewpoint of periodicity, ENSO episodes (El Niño and La Niña) are in good teleconnection with floods/droughts in the Yangtze catchment. Eastern Asian summer and winter monsoons are influenced by ENSO through the strength of the subtropical high in the western Pacific region, which can possibly serve as the physical mechanism of the phenomenon mentioned above. The results tentatively suggest that the Chinese climatic index based on documentary records can be helpful for investigating the reconstruction of long-term ENSO activities. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A unified approach has been proposed in the paper for processing unbalanced operating conditions in transient stability calculations. The suggested method combined advantages of both abc phase coordinates and 012 sequence coordinates. The former is used to describe faults since it is suitable to modeling simultaneous faults and the latter is used for time simulation for its sparse nature. Novel fault description and coordinate conversion formulation is presented. The equivalent positive sequence bus admittance matrix is derived for interface with generators in stability simulation. With the new method, the sequence network constitution can be avoided; multiple and simultaneous faults and element parameter unbalance can be simulated easily; and the sparse technology can still be applied for study efficiency. Computer test results show clearly the effectiveness and efficiency of the new method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous work has shown that heavy metals may be bioleached from municipal solid waste (MSW) incinerator fly ash. The bioleaching of heavy metals from the ash depends on physical, chemical and biological factors. Our research objective is to establish the factors that exert a greater impact on the bioleaching process, and to determine the optimal bioleaching conditions in order to achieve the maximum metal leaching efficiency for selected metals. Four factors were investigated: sucrose concentration, inoculum spore concentration, fly ash pulp density, and the time of addition of fly ash to the fungus Aspergillus niger. Using the central composite design (CCD), 31 batch bioleaching tests were run under high and low values of these four factors. Empirical models obtained through second-order (Taylor series approximation) regression provided the optimal bioleaching conditions. Results showed that sucrose concentration and pulp density were more important factors than spore concentration and the time of addition of the fly ash. The concentration of Al, Fe, Zn, citric acid, and gluconic acid attained in the leached liquor was 12.3, 12.3, 77.6ppm, 51 and 281mM, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Follicle development refers to the process in which the follicles in the ovary gradually develop from the primary stage to a mature state, and most primary follicles fail to develop normally, without forming a dense granular cell layer and cell wall, which is identified as atretic follicles. Granulosa cells assist follicle development by producing hormones and providing support, and interference in the interaction between granulosa cells and oocytes may lead to the formation of atretic follicles. Ferroptosis, as a non-apoptotic form of death, is caused by cells accumulating lethal levels of iron-dependent phospholipid peroxides. Healthy follicles ranging from 4 to 5 mm were randomly divided into two groups: a control group (DMSO) and treatment group (10 uM of ferroptosis inducer erastin). Each group was sequenced after three repeated cultures for 24 h. We found that ferroptosis was associated with atretic follicles and that the in vitro treatment of healthy follicles with the ferroptosis inducer erastin produced a phenotype similar to that of atretic follicles. Overall, our study elucidates that tRF-1:30-Gly-GCC-2 is involved in the apoptosis and ferroptosis of GCs. Mechanistically, tRF-1:30-Gly-GCC-2 inhibits granulosa cell proliferation and promotes ferroptosis by inhibiting Mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1). tRF-1:30-Gly-GCC-2 may be a novel molecular target for improving the development of atretic follicles in ovarian dysfunction. In conclusion, our study provides a new perspective on the pathogenesis of granulosa cell dysfunction and follicular atresia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epilepsy is a common brain disorder, repeated seizures of epilepsy may lead to a series of brain pathological changes such as neuronal or glial damage. However, whether circular RNAs are involved in neuronal injury during epilepsy is not fully understood. Here, we screened circIgf1r in the status epilepticus model through circRNA sequencing, and found that it was upregulated after the status epilepticus model through QPCR analysis. Astrocytes polarizing toward neurotoxic A1 phenotype and neurons loss were observed after status epilepticus. Through injecting circIgf1r siRNA into the lateral ventricle, it was found that knocking down circIgf1r in vivo would induce the polarization of astrocytes to phenotype A2 and reduce neuronal loss. The results in vitro further confirmed that inhibiting the expression of circIgf1r in astrocytes could protect neurons by converting reactive astrocytes from A1 to the protective A2. In addition, knocking down circIgf1r in astrocytes could functionally promote astrocyte autophagy and relieve the destruction of 4-AP-induced autophagy flux. In terms of mechanism, circIgf1r promoted the polarization of astrocytes to phenotype A1 by inhibiting autophagy. Taken together, our results reveal circIgf1r may serve as a potential target for the prevention and treatment of neuron damage after epilepsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Alzheimer's disease (AD), human Tau is phosphorylated at S199 (hTau-S199-P) by the protein kinase glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β). HTau-S199-P mislocalizes to dendritic spines, which induces synaptic dysfunction at the early stage of AD. The AKT kinase, once phosphorylated, inhibits GSK3β by phosphorylating it at S9. In AD patients, the abundance of phosphorylated AKT with active GSK3β implies that phosphorylated AKT was unable to inactivate GSK3β. However, the underlying mechanism of the inability of phosphorylated AKT to phosphorylate GSK3β remains unknown. Here, we show that total AKT and phosphorylated AKT was sulfhydrated at C77 due to the induction of intracellular hydrogen sulfide (H2S). The increase in intracellular H2S levels resulted from the induction of the proinflammatory cytokine, IL-1β, which is a pathological hallmark of AD. Sulfhydrated AKT does not interact with GSK3β, and therefore does not phosphorylate GSK3β. Thus, active GSK3β phosphorylates Tau aberrantly. In a transgenic knockin mouse (AKT-KI+/+) that lacked sulfhydrated AKT, the interaction between AKT or phospho-AKT with GSK3β was restored, and GSK3β became phosphorylated. In AKT-KI+/+ mice, expressing the pathogenic human Tau mutant (hTau-P301L), the hTau S199 phosphorylation was ameliorated as GSK3β phosphorylation was regained. This event leads to a decrease in dendritic spine loss by reducing dendritic localization of hTau-S199-P, which improves cognitive dysfunctions. Sulfhydration of AKT was detected in the postmortem brains from AD patients; thus, it represents a posttranslational modification of AKT, which primarily contributes to synaptic dysfunction in AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Inguinal hernia is the most common disease in pediatric surgery and is induced by congenital processus vaginalis patency. Almost all inguinal hernias are inguinal indirect hernias, and herniorrhaphy has accounted for about 15% of all pediatric operations. In the past 20 years, with the development of minimally invasive technology, laparoscopic inguinal herniorrhaphy has been emerging in China and in other countries. Aim: To introduce a new technique for treating inguinal hernia in children, and evaluate the feasibility and surgical efficacy of a transumbilical single-port laparoscopic water-injection hernia crochet needle in treating pediatric inguinal hernia. Material and methods: Clinical data of 136 inguinal hernial children treated using a transumbilical single-port laparoscopic water-injection hernia crochet needle in our hospital from June 2017 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: All procedures were successfully accomplished, and no case was converted to a different procedure; the average operation time was 16 min for one side and 35 min for both sides. Patients were followed for an average of 10 months after surgery. One patient had a line-knot reaction at the inguinal puncture point 3 months after surgery and recovered after conservative treatment, and no recurrent case was observed after surgery. Conclusions: It is feasible to treat pediatric inguinal hernia through a transumbilical single-port laparoscopic water- injection hernia crochet needle, which is associated with safety, less trauma, rapid recovery, no obvious scar, and satisfactory efficacy. Therefore, it is worthy of being promoted and applied in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition metal iron plays a crucial role in living cells. However, high levels of iron are potentially toxic through the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), serving as a deterrent to the commensal fungus Candida albicans for colonization in the iron-rich gastrointestinal tract. We observe that the mutant lacking an iron-responsive transcription factor Hap43 is hyper-fit for colonization in murine gut. We demonstrate that high iron specifically triggers multiple post-translational modifications and proteasomal degradation of Hap43, a vital process guaranteeing the precision of intestinal ROS detoxification. Reduced levels of Hap43 de-repress the expression of antioxidant genes and therefore alleviate the deleterious ROS derived from iron metabolism. Our data reveal that Hap43 functions as a negative regulator for oxidative stress adaptation of C. albicans to gut colonization and thereby provide a new insight into understanding the interplay between iron homeostasis and fungal commensalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen-doped graphene has attracted increasing attention in recent years. Synthesis of nitrogen-doped 3D graphene with high capacitance and excellent capacitive behavior is highly desirable for high-performance supercapacitor applications. In this study, nitrogen-doped porous 3D graphene was prepared from graphite oxide using the mild one-pot hydrothermal procedure. The p-phenylenediamine and ammonia were selected as the reduction and doping agents, respectively. 3D graphene specimens with various nitrogen doping amounts of 6.52-7.81% were prepared. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and supercapacitor performance were used to investigate the morphologies, structures and capacitance behaviors of the prepared 3D graphene composites. The results indicated that the as-prepared specimens contained different doping nitrogen amounts. NGP-10.6 showed well-connected 3D porous microstructure with largest doping nitrogen content. In turn, nature and content of nitrogen doping provided the graphene with excellent capacitive behavior. The specific capacitance of NGP-10.6 reached 788 F·g−1 at the current density of 0.5 A·g−1 and 296 F·g−1 at 10 A·g−1. Overall, these findings look promising for future applications as outstanding energy storage materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coupling of local surface plasmon (LSP) of nanoparticle and surface plasmon (SP) mode produced by metal film can lead to the enhanced electromagnetic field, which has an important application in enhancing the fluorescence of quantum dots (QDs). Herein, the Ag nanocube and Ag film are used to enhance the fluorescence of CdSe QDs. The enhancement is found to relate to the sizes of the Ag nanocube and the thickness of the Ag film. Moreover, we also present the fluorescence enhancement caused by only SP. The result shows that the coupling between metal nanoparticles and metal film can realize larger field enhancement. Numerical simulation verifies that a nanocube can localize a strong electric field around its corner. All the results indicate that the fluorescence of QDs can be efficiently improved by optimizing the parameters of Ag film and Ag cubes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gene associated with retinoid-interferon (IFN)-induced mortality 19 (GRIM-19), a novel IFN-β/retinoic acid-inducible gene product, has been identified as a potential tumor suppressor, which is associated with the inhibition of tumor growth. GRIM-19 has been demonstrated to be downregulated in the ovarian tissue of patients with breast cancer, however, its role in breast cancer remains to be fully elucidated. In the present study, a recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmid carrying GRIM-19 was constructed and then transfected into the MCF7 human breast cancer cell line to examine its effects on breast cancer cell growth, migration and invasion using several in vitro approaches. The results demonstrated that upregulation GRIM-19 in the MCF7 cells significantly inhibited cell proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion, and induced cell apoptosis. Additionally, upregulation of GRIM-19 also suppressed the secretion of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). It was also demonstrated that the activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) was downregulated by the expression of GRIM-19. These results revealed that overexpression of the GRIM-19 gene may be an effective approach to control the growth and invasion of human breast cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocomposites based on polyaniline (PANI) and graphene oxide sheets (GOs) were synthesized via in situ polymerization in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). The morphology and structure of the nanocomposites were characterized by atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. It was found that CTAB helps to exfoliate GOs in organic solvent and increases its dispersion in PANI matrix. PANI molecules formed are of different microstructures and are deposited onto the surface of GOs via π–π stacking and hydrogen bonding. The results show that the electrical conductivity and specific capacitance of PANI/GOs nanocomposites are strongly affected by the microstructure of PANI, which are originally induced by the presence of GOs and CTAB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Future global temperature change would have significant effects on society and ecosystems. Earth system models (ESM) are the primary tools to explore the future climate change. However, ESMs still exist great uncertainty and often run at a coarse spatial resolution (The majority of ESMs at about 2 degree). Accurate temperature data at high spatial resolution are needed to improve our understanding of the temperature variation and for many applications. We innovatively apply the deep-learning(DL) method from the Super resolution (SR) in the computer vision to merge 31 ESMs data and the proposed method can perform data merge, bias-correction and spatial-downscaling simultaneously. The SR algorithms are designed to enhance image quality and outperform much better than the traditional methods. The CRU TS (Climate Research Unit gridded Time Series) is considered as reference data in the model training process. In order to find a suitable DL method for our work, we choose five SR methodologies made by different structures. Those models are compared based on multiple evaluation metrics (Mean square error(MSE), mean absolute error(MAE) and Pearson correlation coefficient(R)) and the optimal model is selected and used to merge the monthly historical data during 1850-1900 and monthly future scenarios data (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, SSP5-8.5) during 2015-2100 at the high spatial resolution of 0.5 degree. Results showed that the merged data have considerably improved performance than any of the individual ESM data and the ensemble mean (EM) of all ESM data in terms of both spatial and temporal aspects. The MAE displays a great improvement and the spatial distribution of the MAE become larger and larger along the latitudes in north hemisphere, presenting like a 'tertiary class echelon' condition. The merged product also presents excellent performance when the observation data is smooth with few fluctuations in time series. Additionally, this work proves that the DL model can be transferred to deal with the data merge, bias-correction and spatial-downscaling successfully when enough training data are available. Data can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5746632 (Wei et al., 2021). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial and temporal characteristics of precipitation trends in the Zhujiang River basin, South China, are analyzed. Nonparametric trend tests are applied to daily precipitation data from 192 weather stations between 1961 and 2007 for the following indices: annual, monthly, and daily precipitation; annual and monthly number of rain days and precipitation intensity; annual and monthly maximum precipitation; 5-day maximum precipitation, number of rainstorms with >50 mm day−−1, and peaks over thresholds (90th, 95th, and 99th percentile). The results show that few stations experienced trends in the precipitation indices on an annual basis. On a monthly basis, significant positive and negative trends above the 90%% confidence level appear in all months except December. Trends in the indices of monthly precipitation, rain intensity, rain days, and monthly maximum precipitation show very similar characteristics. They experience the most distinct negative (positive) trends in October (January). A change of the mean wind direction by 50°° from east-southeast to east-northeast explains the downward trend in precipitation in October. Dry October months (months with low precipitation indices) can be observed when the mean wind direction is east-northeast (arid) instead of the prevailing mean wind direction, east-southeast (moist). The former is typical for the East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM). Nearly 90%% of the driest October months can be explained by wind directions typical for the EAWM. The upward trend in precipitation indices in January cannot be explained by changes in large-scale circulation. The analysis of the precipitation indices delivers more detailed information on observed changes than other studies in the same area. This can be attributed to the higher station density, the quality of daily data, and the focus on monthly trends in the current study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Many regional vulnerabilities in Asia are related to freshwater resources, whose major part comes from large rivers, with sources in high mountains. Hence, understanding of observed and projected changes in river discharge is of utmost importance. In the present contribution, results of studies devoted to observations (hydrological networks) and model-based projections of discharge in large rivers in Asia are presented. Even if changes in some observation records can be detected, their attribution is not easy, because the process of river discharge results from multiple factors. Hence, climatic background (observed and modelled changes in precipitation, evapotranspiration, soil moisture, snow cover and glaciers), and non-climatic factors (demography, socio-economy, withdrawals) play a role. Changes in river discharge extremes (high and low flows) are particularly important. Changes in discharges of large Asian rivers are of primary concern to the pursuit of sustainable development in the region. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• The cordierite are synthesized by using asbestos tailings and coal fly ash as main raw materials and adding a small amount of alumina powder. • The cordierite-based foam ceramics are prepared at lower temperature without additional sintering aids. • High temperature resistant saggers are not needed during the firing process, which can save a lot of energy. • The open porosity of the prepared foam material is as high as 49.26%. In this paper, calcined asbestos tailings and coal fly ash were used as the main raw materials, without additional sintering aids, except for a small amount of yellow sand and alumina powder, and the foaming agent method was used to successfully synthesize α-cordierite based ceramic foams at a lower temperature. The product is expected to be used in the filtration of high-temperature exhaust gas and special waste water, which provides a new idea for the recycling of asbestos tailings and coal fly ash. [Display omitted] The cordierite-based ceramic foams were successfully prepared by using asbestos tailings and coal fly ash (CFA) as main raw materials, without adding additional fluxing agent, and via the foaming agent method at a lower temperature. The influence of alumina content on the phase composition and structure of ceramic foams samples were investigated. At the same time, the influence of sintering temperature on phase evolution, physical and mechanical properties, microscopic morphology and water permeability were also studied. The results showed that the cordierite synthesized by the addition of 17.5% alumina had the better crystallinity. The addition of yellow sand could not only make up for the shortage of silicon sources in the raw materials, but also reduce the synthesis temperature of cordierite because it contained a certain amount of K+, Na+, Ca2+ and other fluxing components. Moreover, the bulk density, open porosity, water absorption, compressive strength and permeability coefficient of the cordierite-based ceramic foams prepared by the optimal formula S4 sintered at 1250 ℃ for 30 min were 0.77 g/cm3, 49.26%, 64.46%, 2.17 MPa and 0.71 mm/s, respectively. The product is expected to be used in the treatment of high-temperature exhaust gas and special waste water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land evaporation (ET) plays a crucial role in hydrological and energy cycle. However, the widely used numerical products are still subject to great uncertainties due to imperfect model parameterizations and forcing data. Lack of available observed data has further complicated the estimation. Hence, there is an urgency to define the global benchmark land ET for climate-induced hydrology and energy change. In this study, we have used the coefficient of variation (CV) and carefully selected merging regions with high consistency of multiple data sets. Reliability Ensemble Averaging (REA) method has been used to generate a long-term (1980-2017) daily ET product with a spatial resolution of 0.25 degree by merging the selected three data sets, ERA5, GLDAS2 and MERRA2. GLEAM3.2a and flux tower observation data have been selected as the data for reference and evaluation, respectively. The results showed that the merged product performed well under a variety of vegetation cover conditions as the weights were distributed across the east-west direction banding manner, with greater differences near the equator. The merged product also captured well the trend of land evaporation over different areas, showing the significant decreasing trend in Amazon plain in South America and Congo Basin in central Africa, and the increasing trend in the east of North America, west of Europe, south of Asia and north of Oceania. In addition to model performance, REA method also successfully worked for the model convergence showing as an outstanding reference for data merging of other variables. Data can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4595941 (Lu et al., 2021). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant ovule initiation determines themaximumof ovule number and has a great impact on the seed number per fruit. The detailed processes of ovule initiation have not been accurately described, although two connected processes, gynoecium and ovule development, have been investigated. Here, we report that ovules initiate asynchronously. The first group of ovule primordia grows out, the placenta elongates, the boundaries of existing ovules enlarge and a new group of primordia initiates fromthe boundaries. The expression pattern of different marker genes during ovule development illustrates that this asynchronicity continues throughout whole ovule development. PIN-FORMED1 polar distribution and auxin response maxima correlate with ovule primordia asynchronous initiation. We have established computational modeling to show how auxin dynamics influence ovule primordia initiation. Brassinosteroid signaling positively regulates ovule number by promoting placentae size and ovule primordia initiation through strengthening auxin response. Transcriptomic analysis demonstrates numerous known regulators of ovule development and hormone signaling, and many new genes are identified that are involved in ovule development. Taken together, our results illustrate that the ovule primordia initiate asynchronously and the hormone signals are involved in the asynchrony. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The magnitude of the impact of altitude gradient on microbial community and diversity has been studied in recent decades. Whereas bacteria have been the focus of most studies, fungi have been given relatively less attention. As a vital part of the macro- and microscopic ecosystem, rhizosphere fungi play a key role in organic matter decomposition and relative abundance of plant species and have an impact on plant growth and development. Using Duchesnea indica as the host plant, we examined the rhizosphere soil fungal community patterns across the altitude gradient in 15 sites of Yunnan province by sequencing the fungal ITS2 region with the Illumina MiSeq platform. We determined the fungal community composition and structure. We found that, surprisingly, rhizosphere soil fungal diversity of D. indica increased with altitudinal gradient. There was a slight difference in diversity between samples from high- and medium-altitude sites, with medium-altitude sites having the greater diversity. Furthermore, the rhizosphere soil fungal community composition and structure kept changing along the altitudinal gradient. Taxonomic results showed that the extent of phylum diversity was greatest at high-altitude sites, with Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Zygomycota, and Glomeromycota as the most dominant fungal phyla. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sufu is usually prepared by single-fungus fermentation with Mucor racemosus or Rhizopus oryzae. The quality of sufu fermented by different strains tends to differ. In this study, mixed fermentation (using M. racemosus and R. oryzae) and single-fungus fermentation (using only M. racemosus) were carried out, and the changes in physicochemical properties were assessed and compared. We found that the main enzyme activity of sufu in mixed fermentation was higher than that of M. racemosus fermentation, and the biochemical and texture properties of the sufu produced differed significantly between both fermentation processes. Thus, we demonstrated that mixed fermentation has several advantages over M. racemosus fermentation in terms of biochemical profile and texture of sufu. Our results provide insights for improving the efficiency of the industrial production of sufu, as well as sufu quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persistent endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in neurons is associated with activation of inflammatory cells and subsequent neuroinflammation following traumatic brain injury (TBI); however, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. We found that induction of neuronal-ER stress, which was mostly characterized by an increase in phosphorylation of a protein kinase R-like ER kinase (PERK) leads to release of excess interferon (IFN)β due to atypical activation of the neuronal-STING signaling pathway. IFNβ enforced activation and polarization of the primary microglial cells to inflammatory M1 phenotype with the secretion of a proinflammatory chemokine CXCL10 due to activation of STAT1 signaling. The secreted CXCL10, in turn, stimulated the T-cell infiltration by serving as the ligand and chemoattractant for CXCR3+ T-helper 1 (Th1) cells. The activation of microglial cells and infiltration of Th1 cells resulted in white matter injury, characterized by impaired myelin basic protein and neurofilament NF200, the reduced thickness of corpus callosum and external capsule, and decline of mature oligodendrocytes and oligodendrocyte precursor cells. Intranasal delivery of CXCL10 siRNA blocked Th1 infiltration but did not fully rescue microglial activation and white matter injury after TBI. However, impeding PERK-phosphorylation through the administration of GSK2656157 abrogated neuronal induction of IFNβ, switched microglial polarization to M2 phenotype, prevented Th1 infiltration, and increased Th2 and Treg levels. These events ultimately attenuated the white matter injury and improved anxiety and depressive-like behavior following TBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The outputs of four Global Climate Models (GFDL-ESM2M, HadGEM2-ES, IPSL-CM5A-LR and MIROC5), which were statistically downscaled and bias corrected, were used to drive four hydrological models (HBV, SWAT, SWIM and VIC) to simulate the daily discharge at the Cuntan hydrological station in the upper Yangtze River from 1861 to 2299. As the performances of hydrological models in various climate conditions could be different, the models were first calibrated in the period from 1979 to 1990. Then, the models were validated in the wet period, 1967–1978, and in the dry period, 1991–2002. A multi-objective automatic calibration programme using a univariate search technique was applied to find the optimal parameter sets for each of the four hydrological models. The Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) of daily discharge and the weighted least squares function (WLS) of extreme discharge events, represented by high flow (Q10) and low flow (Q90), were included in the objective functions of the parameterization process. In addition, the simulated evapotranspiration results were compared with evapotranspiration data from the GLEAM project for the upper Yangtze basin. For evaluating the performances of the hydrological models, the NSE, modified Kling-Gupta efficiency (KGE), ratio of the root mean square error to the standard deviation of the measured data (RSR) and Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) were used. The four hydrological models showed good performance in the calibration and validation periods. In this study, the daily runoff was simulated for the upper Yangtze River under the preindustrial control (piControl) scenario without anthropogenic climate change, from 1861–2299, for the historical period 1861–2005, and under the RCP2.6, RCP4.5, RCP6.0 and RCP8.5 scenarios in the period from 2006 to 2299. The long-term daily discharge datasets for the upper Yangtze River provide streamflow trends in the future and clues regarding to what extent human-induced climate change could impact streamflow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, cation-chloride cotransporters (CCCs) have drawn attention in the medical neuroscience research. CCCs include the family of Na+-coupled Cl- importers (NCC, NKCC1, and NKCC2), K+- coupled Cl- exporters (KCCs), and possibly polyamine transporters (CCC9) and CCC interacting protein (CIP1). For decades, CCCs have been the targets of several commonly used diuretic drugs, including hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide, and bumetanide. Genetic mutations of NCC and NKCC2 cause congenital renal tubular disorders and lead to renal salt-losing hypotension, secondary hyperreninemia, and hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis. New studies reveal that CCCs along with their regulatory WNK (Kinase with no lysine (K)), and SPAK (Ste20-related proline-alanine-rich kinase)/OSR1(oxidative stress-responsive kinase-1) are essential for regulating cell volume and maintaining ionic homeostasis in the nervous system, especially roles of the WNKSPAK-NKCC1 signaling pathway in ischemic brain injury and hypersecretion of cerebrospinal fluid in posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus. In addition, disruption of Cl- exporter KCC2 has an effect on synaptic inhibition, which may be involved in developing pain, epilepsy, and possibly some neuropsychiatric disorders. Interference with KCC3 leads to peripheral nervous system neuropathy as well as axon and nerve fiber swelling and psychosis. The WNK-SPAK/OSR1-CCCs complex emerges as therapeutic targets for multiple neurological diseases. This review will highlight these new findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preparation conditions, physicochemical properties and in vitro digestibility of enzyme-resistant dextrin from Chinese yam starches, which are native, easily accessible and cheap raw materials in China, were investigated in the current study. The results showed that the enzyme-resistant fraction content in enzyme-resistant dextrin increased and the whiteness of the enzyme-resistant dextrin decreased with the increasing concentrations of hydrochloric and citric acids and the rising heating temperatures, and the prolonged heating times. Considering the manufacturing cost and the beneficial usage, the enzyme-resistant dextrin produced by heating of Chinese yam starch in the presence of hydrochloric (0.11% dsb) and citric (0.2% dsb) acids at 150°C for 60min was selected. Enzyme-resistant dextrin had a low molecular weight of about 6800 Da and rich "non-digestible" α-1,2 glycosidic bond and was well-soluble in water, stable at pH 3.0-7.0 or after heating at 85°C for 0.5 h showed, high thermal stability and high resistant to the artificial gastric juice and small intestinal fluids. These characteristics make the selected enzyme-resistant dextrin suitable for use in the soft drink industry as the soluble dietary fibres and prebiotics in the beverages. This would provide an excellent opportunity to reduce the caloric value of the beverages and exert a beneficial effect on the intestinal microflora of people consuming beverages enriched with enzyme-resistant dextrins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We project drought losses in China under global temperature increase of 1.5 °C and 2.0 °C, based on the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) and the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI), a cluster analysis method, and "intensity-loss rate" function. In contrast to earlier studies, to project the drought losses, we predict the regional gross domestic product under shared socioeconomic pathways instead of using a static socioeconomic scenario. We identify increasing precipitation and evapotranspiration pattern for the 1.5 °C and 2.0 °C global warming above the preindustrial at 2020-2039 and 2040-2059, respectively. With increasing drought intensity and areal coverage across China, drought losses will soar. The estimated loss in a sustainable development pathway at the 1.5 °C warming level increases 10-fold in comparison with the reference period 1986-2005 and nearly threefold relative to the interval 2006-2015. However, limiting the temperature increase to 1.5 °C can reduce the annual drought losses in China by several tens of billions of US dollars, compared with the 2.0 °C warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we aimed to investigate the main composition and antioxidant properties of taro vinegar, and we used commercially available apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, and 9° rice vinegar as the controls. The results showed that taro vinegar contains 14 types of amino acids, of which the contents of arginine and histidine are the highest (34.84 mg/100 mL and 29.67 mg/100 mL, respectively). Seven essential amino acids (56.72 mg/100 mL) accounted for 38.93% of the total amino acids. Taro vinegar is rich in acetic acid (6 g/100 mL). The total protein, polysaccharide, and polyphenol contents of taro vinegar were 648.27 mg/100 mL, 133.91 mg/100 mL, and 63.24 mg/100 mL, respectively, and they were significantly higher than those of white vinegar, 9° rice vinegar, and apple cider vinegar. However, the total acid content of taro vinegar was lower than that of 9° rice vinegar. The antioxidant activity analysis revealed that the total antioxidant capacity, DPPH radical scavenging activity, hydroxyl radical scavenging ability, and reducing power of taro vinegar were higher than those of white vinegar, 9° rice vinegar, and apple cider vinegar. Thus, taro vinegar is a good quality and healthy vinegar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pre-fermentation plays a vital role in the processing of sufu. The quality of sufu made using different microbes tends to vary. Here, we performed mixed fermentation and single-strain fermentation using Mucor racemosus and Rhizopus oryzae to produce sufu. The free amino acids and volatile flavor components of sufu prepared by the 3 fermentation methods were detected by an automatic amino acid analyzer and GC-MS, respectively. In mixedfermented sufu, the total amounts of free amino acids, flavor amino acids, hydrophobic amino acids, and essential amino acids were superior those obtained by fermentation using either strain singly. Mixed-fermented sufu also showed the lowest content of free tyrosine, reducing the undesirable "white spot" phenomenon of sufu. Volatile flavor compounds in mixedfermented sufu better than those of single-fungus fermentation. We demonstrated that mixed fermentation can improve the flavor and quality of sufu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mountain precipitation is often strongly underestimated as observations are scarce, biased toward lower-lying locations and prone to wind-induced undercatch, while topographical heterogeneity is large. This presents serious challenges to hydrological modeling for water resource management and climate change impact assessments in mountainous regions of the world, where a large population depends on water supply from the mountains. The headwaters of the Tarim River, covering four remote and highly glacierized Asian mountain ranges, are vital water suppliers to large agricultural communities along the Taklamakan Desert, northwest China. Assessments of future changes to these water towers have been hampered because of the large precipitation uncertainties. In this study, six existing precipitation datasets (observation-based reanalysis datasets, satellite observation datasets, and the output of high-resolution regional climate models) were compared over five headwaters of the Tarim River. The dataset incorporating the highest observation density (APHRODITE) is then corrected by calibrating the glacio-hydrological model Soil and Water Integrated Model-Glacier Dynamics (SWIM-G) to observed discharge, glacier hypsometry, and modeled glacier mass balance. Results show that this form of inverse modeling is able to inform the precipitation correction in such data-scarce conditions. Substantial disagreement of annual mean precipitation between the analyzed datasets, with coefficients of variation in catchment mean precipitation of 68% on average, was found. The model-based precipitation estimates are on average 1.5-4.3 times higher than the APHRODITE data, but fall between satellite-based and regional climate model results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural antioxidants have received considerable research interest nowadays, especially their usage in oil products. Blueberry anthocyanin extracts were added to crude camellia seed oil and lipophilized with free fatty acids in the oil through enzymatic process. The results showed that lipophilized anthocyanin derivates were synthesized, the oxidative stability of the oil under high temperature was improved, and the content of free fatty acids of the crude camellia seed oil was decreased. In conclusion, enzymatic lipophilization of blueberry extracts with free fatty acids in crude camellia seed oil could improve the quality of oil, especially the performance under high temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, graphene oxides with different functionalization degrees were prepared by a facile one-step hydrothermal reflux method at various reaction temperatures using graphene oxide (GO) as starting material and p-phenylenediamine (PPD) as the modifier. The effects of reaction temperature on structure, appearance and bonding type of the obtained materials were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that when the reaction temperature was 10–70 °C, the GO reacted with PPD through non-covalent ionic bonds (–COO−H3+N–R) and hydrogen bonds (C–OH…H2N–X). When the reaction temperature reached 90 °C, the GO was functionalized with PPD through covalent bonds of C–N. The crystal structure of products became more ordered and regular, and the interlayer spacing (d value) and surface roughness increased as the temperature increased. Furthermore, the results suggested that PPD was grafted on the surface of GO through covalent bonding by first attacking the carboxyl groups and then the epoxy groups of GO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanism of pituitary gland tumour (PGT) is unclear. Aberrant immune tolerance is associated with the pathogenesis of tumour. Vitamin D and vitamin D receptor (VDR) are involved in the immune regulation. Interleukin (IL)-10 is one of the important immune regulatory molecules. This study aims to elucidate the role of VDR in the regulation of IL-10 in peripheral B cells of PGT patients. In this study, the peripheral blood samples were collected from PGT patients and healthy subjects. B cells were purified from the blood samples and analysed by RT-qPCR and Western blotting. The correlation between the expression of IL-10 and VDR in the B cells was assessed. We observed that the serum VitD levels were negatively correlated with IL-10 expression in peripheral B cells of patients with PGT. Low levels of VDR expression were found in peripheral B cells of PGT patients. Exposure to VitD suppressed the expression of IL-10 in B cells. The VDR bounds the transcription factor of IL-10 to interfere with the expression of IL-10 in B cells. The VDR agonists inhibited IL-10 expression in B cells from PGT patients. In conclusion, modulation of the expression of VDR can regulate the expression of IL-10 in peripheral B cells of PGT patients, which may contribute to the treatment of PGT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]