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Data-driven learning of the fractional discrete-time unified system is studied in this paper. A neural network method is suggested in the parameter estimation of fractional discrete-time chaotic systems. An optimization problem is obtained and the famous Adam algorithm is employed to train the neural network's weights and parameters. The parameter estimation result is compared with that of the stepwise response sensitivity approach (SRSA). This paper provides a high accuracy method for parameter inverse problems. The method also can be applied to data-driven learning of other fractional chaotic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stochastic transition behavior of tri-stable states in a fractional-order generalized Van der Pol (VDP) system under multiplicative Gaussian white noise (GWN) excitation is investigated. First, according to the minimal mean square error (MMSE) concept, the fractional derivative can be equivalent to a linear combination of damping and restoring forces, and the original system can be simplified into an equivalent integer-order system. Secondly, the stationary Probability Density Function (PDF) of system amplitude is obtained by stochastic averaging, and based on singularity theory, the critical parameters for stochastic P -bifurcation of the system are found. Finally, the properties of stationary PDF curves of the system amplitude are qualitatively analyzed by choosing the corresponding parameters in each sub-region divided by the transition set curves. The consistency between numerical results obtained by Monte-Carlo simulation and analytical solutions verified the accuracy of the theoretical analysis process and the method used in this paper has a direct guidance in the design of fractional-order controller to adjust the system behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Malalignment is a common event during the intramedullary nailing (IMN) of distal tibia fractures (DTFs). Although it is reported that the semi-extended IMN techniques such as suprapatellar (SP) and parapatellar (PP) approaches may be superior in preventing malalignment, the application of these techniques is concerning owing to the intra-articular involvement. We thus developed an extra-articular semi-extended infrapatellar (SEIP) approach which utilizes the infrapatellar (IP) space while maintaining the knee in a semi-extended position. However, there are no studies on the safety and efficacy of SEIP in treating DTFs. Therefore, in this study, the SEIP technique was examined, particularly in terms of the potential alignment improvement of DTFs, and this technique was compared with the traditional hyperflexed infrapatellar (HFIP) procedure.Materials and Methods: This randomized clinical trial (RCT) compared IMN malalignment while correcting extraarticular and nondisplaced intra-articular DTFs between April 2018 and June 2021 using the HFIP and SEIP techniques at a level I trauma center in China. The study participants were clinically and radiographically examined for at least 12 months of follow-ups. Intraoperative fluoroscopy time, operation time, blood loss, hospitalization duration, functional ankle score, and complications were assessed as well.Results: Among the 88 recruited participants, 45 (51%) underwent traditional HFIP IMN and 43 (49%) underwent SEIP IMN. Malalignment occurred in 9 patients (20.0%) from the HFIP cohort and in 2 patients (4.7%) from the SEIP cohort (P value = 0.030). In addition, the SEIP IMN technique significantly reduced the intraoperative fluoroscopy time, operation time, and improved the postoperative ankle function compared to the HFIP IMN technique. However, the intraoperative blood loss, hospitalization duration, infection, delay union, and nonunion remained the same between the two cohorts.Conclusions: In summary, we demonstrated that the SEIP IMN provides markedly enhanced alignment of extraarticular and nondisplaced intra-articular DTFs compared to the traditional HFIP IMN procedure. The described technique represents an effective option for IMN of DTFs.Level Of Evidence: Level 2. Trial registration The Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2100043673. Registered 26 February 2021, retrospectively registered, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=122263. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the endosymbiont origin from α‐Proteobacteria, mitochondrial genomes have undergone extremely divergent evolutionary trajectories among eukaryotic lineages. Compared with the relatively compact and conserved animal mitochondrial genomes, plant mitochondrial genomes have many unique features, especially their large and complex genomic arrangements. The sizes of fully sequenced plant mitochondrial genomes span over a 100‐fold range from 66 kb in Viscum scurruloideum to 11 000 kb in Silene conica. In addition to the typical circular structure, some species of plants also possess linear, and even multichromosomal, architectures. In contrast with the thousands of fully sequenced animal mitochondrial genomes and plant plastid genomes, only around 200 fully sequenced land plant mitochondrial genomes have been published, with many being only draft assemblies. In this review, we summarize some of the known novel characteristics found in plant mitochondrial genomes, with special emphasis on multichromosomal structures described in recent publications. Finally, we discuss the future prospects for studying the inheritance patterns of multichromosomal plant mitochondria and examining architectural variation at different levels of taxonomic organization—including at the population level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Very few studies have investigated the specific relationship between neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the short‐term outcomes of patients suffering from mild acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and receiving intravenous thrombolysis (IVT). This study aimed to investigate whether a high NLR is associated with a poor short‐term outcome in patients with mild AIS after IVT. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data that were prospectively acquired from patients with AIS treated with IVT. Mild AIS was defined as a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score ≤ 7 on admission. The NLR was based on a blood test performed prior to IVT and was classified as 'high' when exceeding the 75th percentile. Follow‐ups were performed at discharge and 3 months after onset. A poor outcome was defined as a modified Rankin scale (mRS) ≥3. Results: A total of 192 patients were included in this study. The median NLR was 3.0 (interquartile range [IQR]: 2.0–3.9). Fifty‐one patients (26.6%) had a high NLR (≥3.9) on admission. Forty‐one patients (21.4%) had a poor outcome at discharge, while 34 patients (17.7%) had a poor outcome at 3 months. Patients with a poor outcome at discharge, and at 3 months after onset, were more likely to have a high NLR at discharge (42.9% vs. 21.9%; p =.005) and at 3 months (44.1% vs. 22.8%; p =.011), compared with those with a better outcome. After adjustment for NIHSS score on admission, ipsilateral severe intracranial large artery occlusion, and atrial fibrillation, logistic regression analyses revealed that a high NLR was a significant predictor of poor outcome at discharge and at 3 months after onset. Conclusions: A high NLR on admission could be a useful marker for predicting poor short‐term outcome in patients with mild AIS following IVT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Unique bright red fluorescent and fluorescent quenching towards Cr(VI) analytes. • The ultra-low detection limits values among reported MOF-based sensors. • Immediate fluorescent quenching towards Cr(VI) in aqueous solution. • Excellent selectivity, anti-interference abilities and low detection limits. Heavy metal ion Cr(VI) content has been regarded as one of the most important indicators for discharged industrial wastewater. However, effective identification and detection of Cr(VI) analytes with high sensitivity and selectivity from various water environments remains a significant challenge. In this study, a novel luminescent material (labelled as Eu@Zr-MOF) with high water stability was assembled by post-modification of a zirconium-organic framework with lanthanide Eu3+ ions. And the coordination bonds binding between Eu3+ ions and carboxyl O atoms of Zr-MOF were confirmed by XPS technique. After Eu3+ ions were successfully immobilized within the Zr-MOF lattice, Eu@Zr-MOF exhibits a bright red fluorescence signal which was inherited from the unique luminescent feature of embedded Eu3+ ions. Notably, Eu@Zr-MOF can be deployed as a reliable photochemical sensor for quantitative fluorescence quenching detection of Cr 2 O 7 2− ions based on the emission peak at 618 nm, showing rather high sensitivity (K SV = 6.746 × 104 M−1) and ultra low detection limit (DL = 5.71 ppb) which has been enhanced more than 3 times compared with pristine Zr-MOF. This study provides a reliable reference for the preparation of novel luminescent MOFs platform for efficient recognition and detection of Cr(VI) analytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate how necroptosis (ie, programmed necrosis) is involved in killing of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after ablative hypofractionated radiation therapy (HFRT).Methods and Materials: Deoxyribonucleic acid damage, DNA repair, and the death form of NSCLC cells were assessed after radiation therapy. The overexpression and silencing of receptor-interacting protein kinases 3 (RIP3, a key protein involved activation of necroptosis)-stable NSCLC cell lines were successfully constructed. The form of cell death, the number and area of colonies, and the regulatory proteins of necroptosis were characterized after radiation therapy in vitro. Finally, NSCLC xenografts and patient specimens were used to examine involvement of necroptosis after ablative HFRT in vivo.Results: Radiation therapy induced expected DNA damage and repair of NSCLC cell lines, but ablative HFRT at ≥10 Gy per fraction preferentially stimulated necroptosis in NSCLC cells and xenografts with high RIP3 expression, as characterized by induction and activation of RIP3 and mixed-lineage kinase domain-like protein and release of immune-activating chemokine high-mobility group box 1. In contrast, RNA interference of RIP3 attenuated ablative HFRT-induced necroptosis and activation of its regulatory proteins. Among central early-stage NSCLC patients receiving stereotactic body radiation therapy, high expression of RIP3 was associated with improved local control and progression-free survival (all P < .05).Conclusions: Ablative HFRT at ≥10 Gy per fraction enhances killing of NSCLC with high RIP3 expression via preferential stimulation of necroptosis. RIP3 may serve as a useful biomarker to predict favorable response to stereotactic body radiation therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than 50% of Chinese mangroves were lost between 1950 and 2000 to habitat destruction, prompting an urge for conservation. To assess the importance of the protected Maowei Gulf mangrove estuary for fish population assemblage in the Beibu Gulf (China), we studied species composition and abundance of juvenile fish (including larvae) from July 2012 to June 2013. A total of 11 691 specimens were collected, which belonged to 24 species and 15 families. Six perciform species constituted 93% of the total sample. Pseudogobius javanicus (53.29%) was the dominant species from August to November, Omobranchus elegans (28.49%) from April to July, non-identified species in December and January, and Liza carinata in February and March. A number of commercially important fish species were also identified. Abundance was the highest in summer/early autumn (max 162.4 in Sep), and lowest in winter/early spring (Mar = 4.5). Diversity (H’) and richness (Dma) indices (both max. in May: 1.67 and 1.95 respectively) were generally positively correlated with tide and temperature, and negatively with salinity. Seasonal variations play a more important role in the fish assemblage structure than tidal rhythm, with differences particularly pronounced between colder and warmer months. Despite the prominent seasonal differences in abiotic factors, this study indicates that Maowei mangroves provide habitat and food for juvenile fish throughout the year and thus are indispensable for the fish diversity in the Beibu Gulf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to reduce the dependence of pedestrian navigation on satellite navigation system and wireless communication, a new method is proposed to construct pedestrian navigation system (PNS) based on micro inertial technology. In this paper, the distributed system structure is arranged on human feet and trunk, and the key technologies, namely the system initial alignment, the error correction, the precise gait-phase detection, the effect and the inhibition of environmental magnetic field, have been studied. Besides, theories and applications of the key technologies are also discussed, and the performance of the PNS has been analyzed in the environment of electromagnetic interference. Experimental results show that the positioning error of the route with electromagnetic interference accounts for 2% of the travel distance. The key technologies proposed in the study can effectively improve the positioning accuracy of PNS, and independently achieve longer time personal navigation in the attenuate or even invalid global navigation satellite system (GNSS) and wireless communication signal environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

G protein-coupled receptor 50 (GPR50), a risk factor for major depressive disorder and bipolar affective disorder, is expressed in both the developmental and adult brain. However, the function of GPR50 in the brain remains unknown. We here show GPR50 is expressed by neural progenitor cells (NPCs) in the ventricular zone of embryonic brain. Knockdown of GPR50 with a small interference RNA (siRNA) decreased self-renewal and neuronal differentiation, but not glial differentiation of NPCs. Moreover, overexpression of either full-length GPR50 or the intracellular domain of GPR50, rather than the truncated GPR50 in which the intracellular domain is deleted in, increased neuronal differentiation, indicating that GPR50 promotes neuronal differentiation of NPCs in an intracellular domain-dependent manner. We further described that the transcriptional activity of the intracellular domain of notch on Hes1 gene was repressed by overexpression of GPR50. In addition, decreased levels of transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) mRNA was observed in GPR50 siRNA-transfected NPCs, suggesting that knockdown of GPR50 impairs wnt/β-catenin signaling. Moreover, the mRNA levels of neurogenin (Ngn) 1 , Ngn2 and cyclin D1 , the target genes of notch and wnt/β-catenin signalings, in NPCs were reduced by knockdown of GPR50. Therefore, GPR50 promotes self-renewal and neuronal differentiation of NPCs possibly through regulation of notch and wnt/β-catenin signalings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Microstructural evolution and deformation mechanism of a Fe–12Mn–8Al–0.8C steel were investigated. The steel exhibited a good combination of strength over 900MPa and ductility about 46%. The microstructure of the Fe–12Mn–8Al–0.8C steel in solid solution state was a mixture of the (α+γ+κ) phases. The κ phase carbides ((Fe,Mn)3AlC x ) were formed by a spinodal decomposition during quenching. The deformation behavior of the austenite in the early deformation stage was fully determined by the size of the dislocation substructure, namely, dislocations alignment and Taylor lattices. With strain increasing, a gradual transition from Taylor lattices to highly dense dislocation walls and microbands was observed in austenite. Ferrite exhibited randomly distributed dislocations at a low strain and high dense dislocation tangles at a strain of 20%. TEM observations revealed ordered κ-carbide precipitates were sheared by slip bands at a strain of 30%. The present steel presented a multiple-stage strain hardening behavior which was associated with the changes of such dislocation substructures. The steel also exhibited a high initial strain hardening rate and a high specific strength about 130.5MPacm3/g. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Despite the considerable efforts to reconstruct the phylogeny of grasses, the relationships among the subfamilies Bambusoideae, Pooideae and Ehrhartoideae in the BEP clade remain unresolved. Here we completely sequenced three chloroplast genomes of representative species from Bambusoideae and Ehrhartoideae and obtained 19 additional chloroplast genome sequences of other grasses from GenBank. Using sequences of 76 chloroplast protein-coding genes from the 22 grass species, we fully resolved the phylogeny of the BEP clade. Our results strongly supported the (B,P)E hypothesis, i.e., Bambusoideae and Pooideae are more closely related than Ehrhartoideae. This result was not biased by systematic or sampling errors and was impervious to phylogenetic methods or model specification. The divergence time estimate suggests that the initial diversification of the BEP clade into three subfamilies happened within a short time period (∼4MY). The presence of these short internal branches may explain the inability of previous studies to achieve a confident resolution of the BEP clade. The combination of the sequences of the entire chloroplast genomes provided sufficient phylogenetic information to resolve the BEP phylogeny fully. These results provide a valuable evolutionary framework for comparative and functional genomic studies using the grass family as a model system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) and its southern and southeastern mountain ranges, Himalaya-Hengduan Mountains (HHM), are one of the most extensive habitats for alpine plants in the world. How ferns occurring in QTP and HHM changed their distribution ranges in response to Quaternary climatic oscillations remains almost unknown. Methodology and Results: We employed sequences of two chloroplast DNA regions, rps4-trnS and trnL-trnF, to reconstruct phylogeography of the Sino-Himalayan fern Lepisorus clathratus, occurring mainly in the QTP and HHM. Individuals of this species have either dehiscent or indehiscent sporangia with the latter evolved from the plesiomorphic dehiscent forms. Based on a range-wide sampling, we detected 27 cpDNA haplotypes that were divided into five groups by network analyses. Populations in the Hengduan Mountains possess the highest genetic diversity, while a single haplogroup is detected across the north-central region. A distinct phylogeographical subdivision was detected between the Hengduan Mountains and north-central region by AMOVA analysis. The haplogroup distribution pattern, coalescence and AMOVA analysis suggest that a long term survival area (refugia) of the species was located in the Hengduan Mountains during glaciations, with probable range expansions into north-central regions during interglacial periods. Populations with indehiscent sporangium can carry private haplotypes and are inclined to maintain genetic homogeneity. One group with indehiscent sporangia most likely survived in situ on the QTP during glaciations. Conclusions/Significance: This study for the first time sheds light on the response of alpine ferns in the QTP and HHM to the Quaternary climatic oscillations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bifurcations with constraints are open problems appeared in research on periodic bifurcations of nonlinear dynamical systems, but the present singularity theory doesn't contain any analytical methods and results about it. As the complement to singularity theory and the first step to study on constrained bifurcations, here are given the transition sets and persistent perturbed bifurcation diagrams of 10 elementary bifurcation of codimension no more than three. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhododendron is the largest genus in Ericaceae and is well known for its diversity and beauty of flowers present in different species, making it a much‐revered lineage of ornamental plants. Many species of Rhododendron are intolerant of high temperatures, which are becoming more common and intense in urban areas under global climate change. Therefore, the discovery and description of genes from heat‐tolerant Rhododendron lineages are essential in the development of new climate‐resilient cultivars. One such species known to be heat tolerant is Rhododendron × pulchrum Sweet. To better understand the genomics of heat tolerance in this species, we assembled a haplotype‐resolved and chromosome‐scale genome for R. × pulchrum, which had a genome size of 509 Mb; a scaffold N50 of 37 251 370 bp; and contained 35 610 genes. In addition, based on the same reannotation pipeline, we conducted pan‐genomic analyses for all seven available chromosome‐scale Rhododendron genomes and found 14 415 gene groups shared across all species and 18 018 gene groups distributed in the other species, including 1879 gene groups found in only a single species. Finally, we analyzed the transcriptomic data from heat‐treated and non‐heat‐treated R. × pulchrum plants to quantify the genes that are most important during heat stress in an effort to inform the development of climate‐resilient cultivars. This study provides insight into the genome diversity in Rhododendron and targets several genes related to agronomic traits that may help in further analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotton (Gossypium spp.) is a vital global source of renewable fiber and ranks among the world's most important cash crops. While extensive nuclear genomic data of Gossypium has been explored, the organellar genomic resources of allotetraploid cotton, remain largely untapped at the population level. The plastid genome (plastome) is well suited for studying plant species relationships and diversity due to its nonrecombinant uniparental inheritance. Here, we conducted de novo assembly of 336 Gossypium plastomes, mainly from domesticated cultivars, and generated a pan‐plastome level resource for population structure and genetic diversity analyses. The assembled plastomes exhibited a typical quadripartite structure and varied in length from 160 103 to 160 597 bp. At the species level, seven allotetraploid species were resolved into three clades, where Gossypium tomentosum and Gossypium mustelinum formed an early diverging clade rooted by diploids, followed by splitting two sister clades of Gossypium darwinii–Gossypium barbadense and Gossypium hirsutum–Gossypium ekmanianum–Gossypium stephensii. Within the G. hirsutum clade the resolution of cultivated accessions was less polyphyletic with landrace and wild accessions than in G. barbadense suggesting some selection on plastome in the domestication of this adaptable species of cotton. The nucleotide diversity of G. hirsutum was higher than that of G. barbadense. We specifically compared the plastomes of G. hirsutum and G. barbadense to find mutational hotspots within each species as potential molecular markers. These findings contribute a valuable resource for exploring cotton evolution as well as in the breeding of new cotton cultivars and the preservation of wild and cultivated germplasm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: First principles calculations of the total energy of CaTe as a function of unit cell volume have been carried out for the NaCl, MnP and CsCl structures on the basis of density functional theory (DFT). All these calculations are performed with the CRYSTAL06 program package. The sequence of high-pressure phases for CaTe transforms from NaCl phase to an intermediate state with a mixture of NaCl and MnP phases and then to the CsCl phase is obtained, which is in good agreement with the previous experimental results. Several structural properties (equilibrium lattice constant, bulk modulus, etc.) of NaCl structure have been calculated, which are also in agreement with the previous experimental results. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Rehmannia chingii is an important medicinal plant with immense value in scientific research. However, its mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) has not yet been characterized. Herein, based on whole-genome Illumina short reads and PacBio HiFi reads, we obtained the complete mitogenome of R. chingii through a de novo assembly strategy. We carried out comparative genomic analyses and found that, in comparison with the plastid genome (plastome) showing a high degree of structural conservation, the R. chingii mitogenome structure is relatively complex, showing an intricate ring structure with 16 connections, owing to five repetitive sequences. The R. chingii mitogenome was 783,161 bp with a GC content of 44.8% and contained 77 genes, comprising 47 protein-coding genes (CDS), 27 tRNA genes, and 3 rRNA genes. We counted 579 RNA editing events in 47 CDS and 12,828 codons in all CDSs of the R. chingii mitogenome. Furthermore, 24 unique sequence transfer fragments were found between the mitogenome and plastome, comprising 8 mitogenome CDS genes and 16 plastome CDS genes, corresponding to 2.39% of the R. chingii mitogenome. Mitogenomes had shorter but more collinear regions, evidenced by a comparison of the organelles of non-parasitic R. chingii, hemiparasitic Pedicularis chinensis, and holoparasitic Aeginetia indica in the Orobanchaceae family. Moreover, from non-parasitic to holoparasitic species, the genome size in the mitogenomes of Orobanchaceae species did not decrease gradually. Instead, the smallest mitogenome was found in the hemiparasitic species P. chinensis, with a size of 225,612 bp. The findings fill the gap in the mitogenome research of the medicinal plant R. chingii, promote the progress of the organelle genome research of the Orobanchaceae family, and provide clues for molecular breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new loach Oreonectes guilinensis sp. nov. is described from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. It is the second surface‐dwelling fish identified in the genus Oreonectes after the type species Oreonectes platycephalus. This new species can be distinguished from other species within the genus by the combination of the following features: a round caudal fin, 13–14 branched rays, an incomplete lateral line with 4–6 pores, a short pelvic fin located some distance from the anus, a scale‐covered body, a stout build (body width 14.0%–16.7% of standard length), a posterior chamber of well‐developed airbladder and a yellowish‐brown body with a lateral dark brown strip. The maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis based on cytb gene recovered this new species in a well‐supported clade with the type species O. platycephalus, sister to the Lefua clade. Morphological comparisons as well as our phylogenetic tree support Oreonectes shuilongensis, Oreonectes daqikongensis, Oreonectes jiarongensis as species of Troglonectes. Based on our results there are 6 valid species in the genus Oreonectes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: A highly active and stable composite photocatalyst which can be used in practical environmental remediation was developed. Methods: g‐C3N4/SnO2/BiPO4 ternary composites (CN/SO/BPO) were synthesised via simple impregnation, and their texture structure, morphology, and surface composition were deeply characterized. Results: In just 25 min under visible‐light radiation, CN/SO/BPO almost eliminated rhodamine B, and the observed rate constant for the reaction was almost 36 and 3 times higher in comparison to that of CN/BPO and SO/BPO, respectively. Conclusions: On the basis of experimental outcomes and DFT calculation, the direct Z‐type structure of CN/SO/BPO lead to the improved photogenerated charge separation efficiency, as confirmed by surface photovoltage spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and transient photocurrent responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying the factors that cause reproductive isolation and their relative importance in species divergence is crucial to our understanding of speciation processes. In most species, natural selection is commonly considered to play a large role in driving speciation. Based on whole genome re‐sequencing data from 27 Populus alba and 28 Populus adenopoda individuals, we explored the factors related to reproductive isolation of these two closely related species. The results showed that the two species diverged ~5–10 million years ago (Ma), when the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau reached a certain height and the inland climate of the Asian continent became arid. In highly differentiated genomic regions, the relative divergence (FST) and absolute divergence (dxy) were significantly higher than the genomic background, θπ and shared polymorphisms decreased whereas fixed differences increased, which indicated that natural selection played a key role in the reproductive isolation of the two species. In addition, we found several genes that were related to reproduction that may be involved in explaining the reproductive isolation. Using phylogenetic trees resolved from haplotype data of Populus tomentosa and P. adenopoda, the maternal origin of P. tomentosa from P. adenopoda was likely to be located in Hubei and Chongqing Provinces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of genomic structural evolution associated with accelerated evolutionary rates that result in avoidance of meltdown and increase biodiversity is becoming ever more possible as the number of available plastomes increases. To more comprehensively analyze rate heterogeneity among monocots and within Poaceae, we sequenced plastomes from four Poaceae species, combined them with publicly available data from ~200 plastomes, and conducted comparative analyses to quantify the pattern of rate heterogeneity between different lineages, functional groups, and periods of evolutionary time. We compared structural differences across the Poaceae to quantify how changes in plastome size correspond to different genomic subunits and the evolution of IR–SC junction boundaries. The substitution rates among ancestral Poaceae were inferred to be exceptionally rapid compared to other monocots but slowed after divergence into extant lineages, which could not be sufficiently explained by positive selection. As such, rapid rates in the ancestral lineage leading to Poaceae might be more closely linked to large‐scale structural changes like the loss of ycf1 and ycf2. The total increase in plastome size across Poaceae was positively correlated with the total length of intergenic spacers, tandem repeats, and dispersed repeats as well as large single copy, and inverted repeats (IRs). The continuous evolution of IR–SC junction boundaries was asynchronous with sizes of total genome and subunits across Poaceae. Future work is needed to better understand what factors in ancestral Poaceae evolved to harness such rapid rates of plastome evolution, avoid a mutational meltdown, and escape the stagnation of strong purifying selection as well as if these factors could be utilized to synthetically control rates. Highlights: Extensive sampling covering all monocotyledonous orders and subfamilies of Poaceae to compare different levels of plastome evolutionary rates heterogeneity.Comprehensively revealed the clade‐specific patterns of plastomes size variations among Poaceae subfamilies.Confirmed the distances of genes to IR–SC boundaries were effective for phylogeny, species identification, and maternal tracing of Poaceae species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new potassium europium borate K 3 EuB 6 O 12 has been prepared using a high temperature molten salt method and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD) analyses. Its structure features a three-dimensional (3D) framework composed of isolated [B 5 O 10 ] 5− anions that are bridged by K + and Eu 3+ ions. In this structure, one crystallographic distinct atom site is mixed occupied by K/Eu at a molar ratio of 1:1. The self-activated photoluminescence (PL) of K 3 EuB 6 O 12 was studied. The excitation spectrum covers a wide range from 322 to 466 nm, which suggests that the K 3 EuB 6 O 12 phosphors can be effectively excited by a near-UV light source. The emission spectrum consists of groups of lines in the red spectral region due to the 5 D 0 → 7 F j (j = 1, 2, 3, 4) electronic transitions of Eu 3+ ions, with the most intense line at 611 nm. We may expect that K 3 EuB 6 O 12 has the potential to be a red phosphor pumped by near-UV LED chips. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high-frequency signal injection-type maximum torque per ampere (MTPA) algorithm is usually employed to control the operation of interior permanent magnet synchronous motors (IPMSMs). The MTPA algorithm exhibits good dynamic performance and anti-interference ability. However, due to the injection of a high-frequency current signal, problems such as torque ripple and additional loss are encountered. Therefore, in this paper, a virtual signal injection control (VSIC) method that does not require actual injection is proposed for solving the aforementioned problems while yielding good performance. However, in the control process of the proposed method, the d-axis inductance parameter affects the accuracy of the torque information, resulting in errors in the system. To solve this problem, an online identification algorithm of model reference adaptive systems (MRAS) based on the Popov super stability theory as the basis for the design of the adaptive law is proposed in this paper. The d-axis inductance parameter of the motor is obtained in real-time and then introduced into the control system by using the VSIC method. Finally, VSIC-type MTPA control based on inductance identification is realized. The proposed algorithm does not depend on the design parameters of the motor and exhibits good dynamic response and anti-interference performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the feasibility of producing high‐value products from biomass, the copper‐supported off‐Al H‐Beta zeolite was prepared and used as a catalyst. The 1‐phenyl‐1,2‐ethanediol was chosen as a catalyst, a model molecule of biomass, the reaction mechanism and reaction path of the oxidative cleavage were studied. The variation of concentration for different components and products distribution were obtained under different temperatures. Based on these experimental results, a kinetic model of the reaction system was established, and the kinetic parameters were developed through optimization algorithms. Results show that Brønsted acid and Lewis acid have a synergistic role in the oxidative cleavage of 1,2‐diol. The adding of Cu species can regulate the acidity and acid amount of the catalyst and can effectively improve the C─C bond breaking ability of the catalyst. 1‐phenyl‐1,2‐ethanediol firstly underwent oxidative cleavage to produce benzaldehyde, which further underwent parallel tandem reactions to get benzyl alcohol (BP), methyl benzoate (MB), and benzaldehyde dimethyl acetal (BDA), respectively. The highest activation energy is required for the oxidative cleavage reaction in the reaction system, and a higher temperature thus will be needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phoneme segmentation is often necessary in research of Tibetan TTS or phonetics. Artificial segmentation is a hard job and time-consuming. The acoustic model of Tibetan language is not precise or robust enough because of resource-deficiency. Therefore, it is not precise enough when the method of auto-segmentation is adopted. Lhasa dialect of Tibetan is chosen as the study object. Phone set and dictionary of Tibetan are established. Common phones are obtained on the basis of distance between phone models. GMM-HMM models of English and Lhasa Tibetan are fused. Silences and short pauses are autojudged. Words network is established and then expanded to be a models (or monophones) network. All frames of parameters are segmented and aligned to sates of models by using Viterbi algorithm. Experiments demonstrate that phones are segmented and the result is better than the method of using pure Tibetan models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Over the last 20 years, suprapatellar (SP) intramedullary nailing has gained considerable attention for treating tibia fractures and is believed to improve fracture alignments, decrease anterior knee pain, and facilitate intraoperative fluoroscopy. However, it is associated with various concerns, including the need to make another infrapatellar (IP) incision to remove the nail. Aims: This study was aimed at developing a new technique for the removal of SP tibial nails through an SP approach using a cannulated extraction system. The efficiency of the novel SP approach was compared to that of the traditional IP approach for the removal of SP tibial nails. Patients and methods: This was a retrospective cohort study from a prospectively collected clinical registry. The data for 69 consecutive patients who received surgery to remove a previous SP intramedullary nail using an SP approach (n = 30, SP cohort) or an IP approach (n = 39, IP cohort) were analyzed. Intra-operative evaluations included intraoperative blood loss, operation time, and changes in the surgical procedures. At six months follow-up, post-operative Lysholm knee score, visual analog scale (VAS) score, and the active range of motion (ROM) of the affected knee and complications were assessed. Results: Patients in the SP cohort exhibited an increased post-operative Lysholm knee score (β, 2.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.6 to 4.6; P = 0.012), decreased post-operative VAS score (β, − 0.7; 95% CI, − 1.1 to − 0.2; P = 0.004), and increased operation time (β, 9.8 minutes; 95% CI, 5.7 to 14.0 minutes; P < 0.001) compared with those treated with the IP approach after adjustment for baseline characteristics. There were no statistically significant differences in blood loss, post-operative ROM, or complications between the two cohorts. Conclusions: Compared with the IP technique, the SP approach for the removal of an SP tibial nail was independently associated with an increased post-operative Lysholm knee score and decreased VAS score, although the surgery was longer in duration. The novel technique offers a reliable and minimally invasive option for the removal of an SP tibial nail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] TDP-43 colocalizes and interacts with AICD. [•] TDP-43 enhances the transactivation of AICD. [•] TDP-43 enhances AICD-mediated TP53 transcription and apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schmid factors (m) for typical slip modes (basal 〈a〉, prismatic 〈a〉, pyramidal 〈a〉 and 〈c + a〉 slips) and twinning patterns ( and twins) were systematically calculated in hexagonal close-packed Cd, Zn, Mg, Zr, Ti and Be. A monotonic effect on m-values was presented for pyramidal 〈a〉 and 〈c + a〉 slips, and and twinning patterns with decreasing c/a ratio. The results calculated herein were used to characterize deformation behaviors and provide essential data for anisotropic feature analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The semi-extended tibial intramedullary nailing method would enable easier and improved reductions for tibial fractures as well as facilitate fluoroscopic imaging; however, its in-articular nature remains controversial. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical and functional outcomes of the semi-extended infrapatellar (SEIP) approach and hyper-flexed infrapatellar (HFIP) approach for intramedullary nailing to treat tibial shaft fractures. Methods: This study involved the retrospective analysis of the medical records of patients with tibial shaft fractures that were fixed through either the SEIP approach or the HFIP approach of intramedullary nailing and who were admitted to a level 1 trauma centre. The minimum patient follow-up period was 12 months and the clinical and functional outcomes were estimated at the 12-month visit. Results: Of the 80 patients whose medical records were analyzed, 40 (50%) underwent SEIP nailing and the remaining 40 (50%) underwent the traditional HFIP nailing. Compared with the HFIP group, patients in the SEIP group had a higher Lysholm knee score (median, 92 [interquartile range, 88–95] vs median, 88 [interquartile range, 81–92]; p =.01), a shorter intra-operative fluoroscopy time (median, 93 [interquartile range, 78–105] s, vs median, 136 [interquartile range, 110–157] s; p <.001), and operation time (mean, 88.1 [SD, 17.8] min vs mean, 98.7 [SD, 19.3] min; p =.01). The VAS score was significantly lower in the SEIP group (median, 0; interquartile range, 0–0) than in the HFIP group (median, 0; interquartile range, 0–2) (p =.03). There were two cases (5%) in the SEIP group and 10 cases (25%) in the HFIP group of moderate AKP (p =.03). Meanwhile, there was no significant difference in malalignment, nonunion, delayed union, infection, and other complications, as well as SF-36 physical and mental scores. Conclusion: We found that the SEIP approach to tibia intramedullary nailing was superior to the HFIP approach based on the intra-operative and post-operative outcomes. Thus, this novel technique provides an infrapatellar option for semi-extended tibial nailing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Hexahistidine-tagged protein functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs/6His-tagged protein) were prepared and characterized by ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry and atomic force microscopy. Both static and dynamical adsorption experiments showed that the MWCNTs/6His-tagged protein served as good sorbent for the solid-phase extraction of Cu2+ and Ni2+. Effective on-line sorption of Cu2+ and Ni2+ on the MWCNTs/6His-tagged protein packed microcolumn was achieved in a pH range of 3.0–4.5 and 4.5–6.0, respectively. The retained Cu2+ and Ni2+ were efficiently eluted with 0.2molL−1 imidazole–HCl solution for on-line flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination. The MWCNTs/6His-tagged protein exhibited fairly fast kinetics for the sorption of Cu2+ and Ni2+, and offered up to 20,000 and 1800 times improvement in the tolerable concentrations of co-existing ions over the MWCNTs for solid-phase extraction of Cu2+ and Ni2+, respectively. On-line solid-phase extraction at a flow rate of 5.0mLmin−1 for 60s gave an enhancement factor of 29 for Cu2+ and 28 for Ni2+, a sample throughput of 45h−1, and a detection limit (3s) of 0.31μgL−1 for Cu2+ and 0.63μgL−1 for Ni2+. The precision for 11 replicate measurements was 2.4% for 10μgL−1 Cu2+, and 2.5% for 15μgL−1 Ni2+. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The 1:2 internal resonance of coupled dynamic system with quadratic and cubic nonlinearities is studied. The normal forms of this system in 1:2 internal resonance were derived by using the direct method of normal form. In the normal forms, quadratic and cubic nonlinearities were remained. Based on a new convenient transformation technique, the 4- dimension bifurcation equations were reduced to 3- dimension. A bifurcation equation with one-dimension was obtained. Then the bifurcation behaviors of a universal unfolding were studied by using the singularity theory. The method of this paper can be applied to analyze the bifurcation behavior in strong internal resonance on 4- dimension center manifolds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Tuning band structures based on metal sulfides/Zr-MOF heterojunctions. • Greatly optimized band structures. • Significantly improved light energy utilization and optical-electronic properties. • Remarkably enhanced photocatalytic efficiencies and accelerated reaction kinetics. Assembly of advanced MOFs based heterojunctions is an effective avenue to facilitate light utility and photogenerated electron-hole separation for photochemical detoxification of Cr(VI) and degradation of reactive dyes. Systematically polishing the band states of photocatalysts is the crucial point but still requires further study. Herein, a band structure tuning strategy was designed by depositing carefully selected metal sulfides on a 2D Zr-MOF to assemble six metal sulfides/Zr-MOF heterojunctions. Fortunately, In 2 S 3 /Zr-MOF presents prominent optical-electronic properties and photocatalytic performances since the highly matched band structure. And its UV–Visible light utility, carriers migration rate, electron-hole separation efficiency and recombination inhibition ability have been greatly optimized. Ingeniously, In 2 S 3 /Zr-MOF (M5) exhibits best photochemical purification abilities towards ultra-stubborn reactive dyes RR11, RB21 and highly toxic Cr(VI) ions, under 500 W xenon lamp, with degradation/reduction efficiencies of 91.8, 93.3 % and 97.9 % within 5, 13 h and 70 min, respectively. Compared with pure In 2 S 3 and Zr-MOF, the photocatalytic degradation kinetics towards RR11 have been increased 27.18 and 38.50 times, respectively, providing the recyclability of more than 4 times. Mechanism studies confirm that ·O 2 − species play dominant roles in removal of reactive dyes, and the powerful electrons transfer from the conduction band (CB) of In 2 S 3 to Zr-MOF's relatively positive CB further reinforce their ability to combine with dissolved O 2 in water to provide more ·O 2 −. While the cooperation of electrons in CB of Zr-MOF with O 2 /·O 2 − has been suggested as the mechanism for photocatalytic detoxification of Cr(VI) to Cr(III). This study provides a feasible strategy for boosting the photochemical purification capacities of Zr-MOFs based heterojunction platforms. A band structure tuning strategy has been effectively designed and carried out by depositing diverse metal sulfides with unique band states on a 2D Zr-MOF, respectively, enabling precisely modulate the optical-electronic properties and boost the photocatalytic reduction and degradation efficiencies under xenon lamp. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Photosensitive post-modification based on the super-stable UiO-67. • Greatly narrowed band gap and optimized band structure. • Significantly improved visible light utilization and optical-electronic properties. • Remarkably enhanced photocatalytic efficiencies and accelerated reaction kinetics. As a new kind of organic-inorganic hybrid semiconductor materials, MOFs have come into focus as photocatalysts for decontamination of Cr(VI) oxates and reactive dyes from contaminated water. However, although most Zr-MOFs exhibit hydrolytic stability, they absorb almost only ultraviolet light. Assembly of MOFs with both hydrolytic stability and high visible light responsiveness thus has become a most feasible avenue recently. Here, composite of Ag@UiO-67 was intentionally designed by modifying the classical Zr-MOF of UiO-67 with highly photosensitive Ag+ ions. Results suggested that compared with pristine UiO-67, Ag@UiO-67 displays significantly narrowed band gap (Eg) value, sufficiently negative conduction band (CB) potential, suitable valence band (VB) potential and significantly improved charge transfer efficiency. Notably, the Eg value of 2.09 eV gives Ag@UiO-67 excellent ability of visible photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) and degradation of Reactive dark blue K-R (RB13), with reduction and degradation efficiencies of 91.37 % within 140 min (k = 0.024 min−1) and 92.63 % within 160 min (k = 0.016 min−1), respectively, which are 5.6 and 6.9 times of as synthesized UiO-67. Moreover, photocatalytic mechanism studies reveal that · O 2 – plays key roles in bleaching RB13 and photogenerated species with sufficient negative potential can effectively reduce Cr(VI). And Ag@UiO-67 can utilize visible light more efficiently to accelerate the charge transfer rate. This work provides a feasible avenue to tailor the visible light sensitivity and band structure of classic Zr-MOFs, for eliminating inorganic and organic contaminants such as Cr(VI) ions and dye of RB13. Visible photocatalytic reduction and degradation capacities towards Cr(VI) and reactive dye (RB13) have been successfully achieved, by firmly anchoring Ag+ ions in UiO-67. This study provides a feasible strategy to realize the low-energy light utilization and bifunctionality of robust Zr-MOFs platforms. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provides information on a study which described the process developed by First Pharmaceutical Factory in Shijiazhuang City, China, for treating vitamin C wastewater. Fermentation technology used at the factory; How the system operates; Conclusion.

The Japanese rhinoceros beetle Trypoxylus dichotomus is one of the largest beetle species in the world and is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine. Ten subspecies of T. dichotomus and a related Trypoxylus species (T. kanamorii) have been described throughout Asia, but their taxonomic delimitations remain problematic. To clarify issues such as taxonomy, and the degree of genetic differentiation of Trypoxylus populations, we investigated the genetic structure, genetic variability, and phylogeography of 53 specimens of Trypoxylus species from 44 locations in five Asian countries (China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, and Myanmar). Using specific‐locus amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF‐seq) techniques, we developed 330,799 SLAFs over 114.16M reads, in turn yielding 46,939 high‐resolution single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for genotyping. Phylogenetic analysis of SNPs indicated the presence of three distinct genetic groups, suggesting that the various subspecies could be treated as three groups of populations. PCA and ADMIXTURE analysis also identified three genetic clusters (North, South, West), which corresponded to their locations, suggesting that geographic factors were important in maintaining within population homogeneity and between population divergence. Analyses of SNP data confirmed the monophyly of certain subspecies on islands, while other subspecies (e.g., T. d. septentrionalis) were found to be polyphyletic and nested in more than one lineage. AMOVA demonstrated high level of differentiation among populations/groups. Also, pairwise FST values revealed high differentiation, particularly between South and West, as well as between North and South. Despite the differentiation, measurable gene flow was inferred between genetic clusters but at varying rates and directions. Our study demonstrated that SLAF‐seq derived markers outperformed 16S and COII sequences and provided improved resolution of the genetic differentiation of rhinoceros beetle populations from a large part of the species' range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymorphisms in arsenic (+ 3 oxidation state) methyltransferase (AS3MT) have been shown to be related to interindividual variations in arsenic metabolism and to influence adverse health effects in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) patients treated with arsenic trioxide (As2O3). The occurrence of hyperleukocytosis with As2O3 treatment seriously affects the early survival rate of APL patients, but no definite explanation for such a complication has been clearly established. To clarify the causes of this situation, AS3MT polymorphisms 14215 (rs3740390), 14458 (rs11191439), 27215 (rs11191446), and 35991 (rs10748835) and profiles of plasma arsenic metabolites were evaluated in a group of 54 newly diagnosed APL patients treated with single-agent As2O3. High-performance liquid chromatography–hydride generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HPLC–HG-AFS) was used to determine the concentrations of plasma arsenic metabolites. Plasma arsenic methylation metabolism capacity was evaluated by the percentage of inorganic arsenic (iAs), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), primary methylation index (PMI, MMA/iAs), and secondary methylation index (SMI, DMA/MMA). The results showed that APL patients who developed hyperleukocytosis had a higher plasma iAs%, but a lower MMA% and PMI than those who did not develop hyperleukocytosis during As2O3 treatment. In addition, patients with the AS3MT 14215 (rs3740390) CC genotype had significantly higher plasma iAs% and incidence of hyperleukocytosis, but lower PMI than patients with the CT + TT genotype. Conversely, we did not observe statistically significant associations between the occurrence of hyperleukocytosis and AS3MT 14458 (rs11191439), 27215 (rs11191446), and 35991 (rs10748835) polymorphisms in our study subjects. These results indicated that AS3MT 14215 (rs3740390) might be used as an indicator for predicting the occurrence of hyperleukocytosis in APL patients treated with As2O3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this prospective cohort study was to determine the incidence and neuroimaging risk factors associated with Babinski sign following acute ischemic stroke, as well as its relationship with the functional outcome of patients. Methods: A total of 351 patients were enrolled in the study within 7 days of acute ischemic stroke. The Babinski sign along with other upper motor neuron signs were examined upon admission and between days 1 and 3 and days 5 and 7 after admission. Neuroimaging parameters included site and volume of infarction and white matter lesions. All patients were followed up at 3 months. Functional outcome was assessed with the Lawton Activities of Daily Living scale and modified Rankin Scale. Results: Babinski sign was observed in 115 of 351 (32.8%) patients in the acute ischemic stroke. These patients had higher National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores at admission and higher rates of atrial fibrillation and cardioembolism; higher frequencies of frontal, temporal, and limbic lobes and basal ganglia infarcts; and larger infarct volume. Higher NIHSS score and basal ganglia infarct were significant predictors of the presence of Babinski sign. After adjusting for confounds, the presence of Babinski sign did not predict poor functional outcome. Conclusion: The incidence of Babinski sign was 32.8% in the acute ischemic stroke. Severe infarction and basal ganglia infarct were independent predictors of Babinski sign. Although Babinski sign is common in acute ischemic stroke patients, it does not predict poor functional outcome 3 months later. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) is a severe neurological disorder caused by thiamine deficiency. The most common cause of WE is alcoholism. However, there is a significant paucity of information in the existing literature relating to nonalcoholic WE. In this study, we investigated the clinical characteristics and neuroimaging findings of nine patients with nonalcoholic WE. Patients and methods: We retrospectively collated clinical data from nine patients who had been diagnosed with WE in accordance with established criteria including age, gender, risk factors and clinical manifestations. We also collated initial hematological and neuroimaging findings. Results: The mean age of the nine patients was 54.0±17.1 years; four of these patients (44.4%) were male. All nine patients had a history of fasting (range, 5–47 days) prior to WE. Four of the nine patients (44.4%) exhibited the classical triad, and eight (88.9%) showed alterations in mental status. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans showed that all nine patients had symmetric lesions of the medial thalamus. MRI also revealed other WE-related lesions in mammillary bodies (22.2%), the periaqueductal region (55.6%), the tectal plate of the midbrain (77.8%), cranial nerve nuclei (77.8%) and in the symmetric subcortical white matter (11.1%). Conclusion: Our analysis showed that fasting is a common cause of WE in nonalcoholic patients and that MRI is a useful tool for the diagnosis of WE. The most common MRI findings were symmetrical lesions of the medial thalamus lesions, followed by the tectal plate of the midbrain and cranial nerve nuclei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A anhydrous orthoborate Na 3 Tb(PO 4 ) 2 has been prepared and its crystal structure was determined by X-Ray diffraction of a non-merohedral twinned single crystal. The results show that the compound crystallizes in monoclinic space group C 2/ c and the structure features a 3D framework containing PO 4 , NaO 6 , NaO 7 , NaO 8 and TbO 8 polyhedra. Under near-UV excitation (370 nm), Na 3 Tb(PO 4 ) 2 shows intense characteristic emission bands of Tb 3+ (490 nm, 543 nm, 585 nm and 620 nm) with the CIE coordinate of (0.3062, 0.5901), corresponding to greenish color. The excitation spectrum covers a wide range from 340 nm to 390 nm, which indicates that phosphor Na 3 Tb(PO 4 ) 2 can be efficiently activated by near-UV LED ship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is postulated to enhance the recruitment of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into the tumor microenvironment, which promote tumor recurrence. The aim of this study is to determine the molecular mechanisms behind SBRT stimulating MSC migration and differentiation.Methods: In vitro, mediated factors and migrated MSCs (post-SBRT) were generated. In vivo, bone-marrow derived MSCs were identified and harvested from green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing transgenic male mice and transplanted into sub-lethally irradiated recipient female mice to establish a model of bone marrow transplantation. Lewis lung carcinoma and malignant melanoma-bearing recipient mice were treated with SBRT, 14 Gy/1 fraction. The migration and differentiation potential of MSCs were characterized.Results: SBRT increased the release of stromal cell derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) and platelet-derived growth factor-B (PDGF-B) by tumor cells; these ligands bound to chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 4 (CXCR4) and platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β (PDGFR-β), respectively, on circulating bone marrow-derived MSCs, resulting in engraftment of the MSCs into the tumor parenchyma. The newly-homed MSCs differentiated into pericytes, which induced the tumor vasculogenesis, and promoted tumor regrowth. Targeted therapies, AMD3100 and imatinib abrogated MSC homing, vasculogenesis, and tumor regrowth.Conclusion: Bone-marrow derived MSCs migrate to the tumor parenchyma and differentiate into pericytes, inducing tumor vasculogenesis after SBRT, and promoting tumor recurrence. MSC migration and maturation may be abrogated with AMD3100 and imatinib. This novel treatment strategy warrants clinical investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To pool reliable evidences for the optimum anterior transposition technique in the treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome by comparing the clinical efficacy of subcutaneous and submuscular anterior ulnar nerve transposition. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science, OVID AMED, EBSCO and potentially relevant surgical archives. Risk of bias of each included studies was evaluated according to Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. The risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for the clinical improvement in function compared to baseline. Heterogeneity was assessed across studies, and subgroup analysis was also performed based on the study type and follow-up duration. Results: Three studies with a total of 352 participants were identified, and the clinically relevant improvement was used as the primary outcomes. Our meta-analysis revealed that no significant difference was observed between two comparison groups in terms of postoperative clinical improvement in those studies (RR 1.04, 95% CI 0.86 to 1.25, P = 0.72). Meanwhile, subgroup analyses by study type and follow-up duration revealed the consistent results with the overall estimate. Additionally, the pre- and postoperative motor nerve conduction velocities were reported in two studies with a total of 326 patients, but we could not perform a meta-analysis because of the lack of concrete numerical value in one study. The quality of evidence for clinical improvement was ‘low’ or ‘moderate’ on the basis of GRADE approach. Conclusions: Based on small numbers of studies with relatively poor methodological quality, the limited evidence is insufficient to identify the optimum anterior transposition technique in the treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome. The results of the present study suggest that anterior subcutaneous and submuscular transposition might be equally effective in patients with ulnar neuropathy at the elbow. Therefore, more high-quality randomized controlled trials with standardized clinical improvement metrics are required to further clarify this topic and to provide reproducible pre- and postoperative objective outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aerobic glycolysis, a metabolic hallmark of cancer, is associated with radioresistance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Pyruvate kinase M2 isoform (PKM2), a key regulator of glycolysis, is expressed exclusively in cancers. However, the impact of PKM2 silencing on the radiosensitivity of NSCLC has not been explored. Here, we show a plasmid of shRNA-PKM2 for expressing a short hairpin RNA targeting PKM2 (pshRNA-PKM2) and demonstrate that treatment with pshRNA-PKM2 effectively inhibits PKM2 expression in NSCLC cell lines and xenografts. Silencing of PKM2 expression enhanced ionizing radiation (IR)-induced apoptosis and autophagy in vitro and in vivo , accompanied by inhibiting AKT and PDK1 phosphorylation, but enhanced ERK and GSK3β phosphorylation. These results demonstrated that knockdown of PKM2 expression enhances the radiosensitivity of NSCLC cell lines and xenografts as well as may aid in the design of new therapies for the treatment of NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, four hydroxyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMSOH) with different viscosities and hydroxyl contents were used to improve the toughness of polycarbonate (PC) through reactive melt blending. A largely improved toughness of PC has been achieved, and the low temperature toughness of PC/PDMSOH blends could overtake that of PC homopolymer in much higher temperatures ( e.g. −10 °C versus 23 °C). Moreover, it was found that the more the hydroxyl content, the less the PDMSOH was needed to reach the highest toughness, suggesting that equivalent molar ratio between the carbonyl group content of PC and the hydroxyl group content of PDMSOH was required for the toughening of PC. Ultraviolet spectrophotometry was used to analyze the possible reaction between PC and PDMSOH. Contact angle was measured to assess the change of interfacial interaction between PC and PDMSOH as change of viscosity and hydroxyl content. The formation of PC- co-PDMSOH copolymer was believed to be the key for the toughening effect. This work gives a profound recommendation of the optimum kind and dosage of PDMSOH which should be used to improve the toughness of PC and will find immediate industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Plane strain compressions were conducted on a rolled Mg–6Al–3Sn (AT63) alloy plate along the rolling direction (termed in-plane compression, IPC) and normal direction (termed through-thick compression, TTC), respectively. Deformation behaviors (mechanical response, microstructure evolution and macrotexture development) of each plane strain compression were compared against those of equivalent uniaxial compression (UC), and deformation mechanisms of IPC and TTC were investigated in detail. It has been found that the IPC with transverse constraint exhibits enhanced basal slip and retarded extension twinning with respect to the corresponding UC. However, the IPC with normal constraint transforms the main deformation mechanisms (i.e., extension twinning and basal slip) into prismatic slip and directional pyramidal slip. The TTCs, no matter with rolling or transverse constraint, suppress basal slip dramatically and cause directional contraction twins and directional pyramidal slip. The differences in deformation mechanisms between the plane strain compression and the corresponding UC are explained in relation to Schmid factor and strain directionality. Our results shed light on the deformation mechanisms of Mg alloys during plane strain compressions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

ABSTRACT To optimize somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) procedures in mini-pigs, the present study was designed to examine the effects of donor cell types and aphidicolin (APC) treatment on in vitro development of reconstructed embryos. Oviduct epithelial cells (OEC), ear fibroblast cells (EFC) and cumulus cells (CC) derived from mini-pigs were treated with serum starvation only or serum starvation followed by treatment of 0.1 µg/mL APC. The reconstructed embryos were cultured for 7 days to evaluate their developmental competency. Cleavage and blastocyst formation rates of reconstructed embryos derived from the OEC by APC treatment were significantly higher than the serum starvation (61.82% vs. 56.25%, 24.55% vs. 17.86%; P < 0.05). The cleavage rate from the EFC was significantly increased by APC treatment compared to serum starvation only (63.36% vs. 57.01%; P < 0.05). In the ooctyes with the CC, the reconstructed embryos could yield high blastocyst formation rate by APC treatment (29.63%; P < 0.05). In the presence of APC, CC gave rise to the highest cleavage and blastocyst formation rates among the three cell types. Therefore, our results suggest that treatment of CC with serum starvation plus APC prior to nuclear transfer is more suitable in SCNT of mini-pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead and chromate/dichromate are widely used in manufacturing industry, but Pb(II) and Cr(VI) ions pose fatal threats to human health and the water ecological environment. It is thus highly desirable to develop novel and valid strategies for rapid detection and effective decontamination of these heavy metal ions. Design and assembly of luminescent Metal-Organic Framework (LMOFs) for effective recognition and removal of Pb(II) and/or Cr(VI) from water provide a feasible avenue to address this issue. Herein, a novel Cd(II)-MOF, [(Cd 3 L 2)]·(solvent) x (labeled as compound 1) with bright blue fluorescence was assembled under the solvothermal reaction of triangular ligand 5'-(5-carboxy-1H-benzo [ d ]imidazole-2-yl)-[1,1':3′,1″-terphenyl]-4,4″-dicarboxylic acid (H 3 L) and Cd(NO 3) 2. Given that the unique structure features of 3D stacking framework, i. e. strong π···π conjugative effects of organic linkers, plentiful free imidazole N atoms and carboxyl O atoms, Cd-MOF of 1 was deliberately deployed as bifunctional platform to sense Pb(II)/Cr(VI) and photochemically reduce Cr(VI) to Cr(III). Notably, 1 emits durable bright blue fluorescence and performs rapid quenching sense for Pb2+, Cr 2 O 7 2− and CrO 4 2−, with ultra low detection limits of 1.89, 4.83 and 2.84 ​ppb, respectively. Moreover, highly toxic Cr(VI) could be rapidly and thoroughly reduced to Cr(III) ions by 1 under the irradiation of mercury lamp, with reliable recycling ability. The possible photoluminescence, quenching and photocatalytic reduction mechanisms also were tentatively proposed. Highly efficient and bifunctional for cationic Pb(II), anionic Cr(VI) analytes detection and Cr(VI) photochemical reduction decontamination were thoroughly demonstrated by a powerful Cd(II)-Organic Framework platform, performing fairly low detection limits values and rather high/rapid photocatalytic reduction capability. And may open a new avenue for addressing the fatal environmental pollution issues caused by heavy metal ions. [Display omitted] • The unique dual-fluorescent probe for cationic Pb(II) and anionic Cr(VI) analytes. • Fairly low detection limits values among all reported MOF-based sensors. • Excellent selectivity, anti-interference abilities and reliable recyclability. • High efficiency, rapid and recyclable photocatalytic reduction abilities for Cr(VI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: LRP16 gene has been characterized as an estrogen-responsive gene. One 1/2ERE/GC-rich site was previously identified to be indispensable for −676/−214 (region A) fragment within LRP16 regulatory region to confer E2 action. Here, we report that −213/−24 fragment (region B) has higher E2-responsiveness than that of region A in MCF-7 cells, but not in HeLa cells. Deletion and mutation analyses of region B showed that multiple GC-sites are involved in the E2-stimulated response and one 30-bp fragment (−213 to −184bp) is essential for conferring maximum E2-responsiveness. Results from the cotransfection assays containing Sp1-siRNA revealed that Sp1 is required for the basal transcription activity and E2-responsiveness of both regions A and B. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that inhibition of Sp1 in MCF-7 cells not only decreased the basal expression of LRP16, but markedly impaired its upregulation by E2. Results from gel mobility shift assays exhibited the direct binding of Sp1 protein to the 28-bp fragment (−211 to −184bp), which was enhanced by the ERα titer. Moreover, the functional interaction of ERα and Sp1 proteins in the presence of E2 at the GC-rich sites in region B was confirmed by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays. In general, these results demonstrate that GC-rich sites in the proximal promoter of LRP16 gene are sufficient for E2 activation of LRP16 and the −213/−184 fragment containing only one GC site is essential for the maximal induction in MCF-7 cells. We also provide a model for Sp1-dependent regulation of genes by E2 through GC-rich motifs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]