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The study presented here aimed to establish a predictive model for heart failure (HF) and all-cause mortality in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients with machine learning (ML) algorithm. We retrospectively included 1006 patients who initiated PD from 2010 to 2016. XGBoost, random forest (RF), and AdaBoost were used to train models for assessing risk for 1-year and 5-year HF hospitalization and mortality. The performance was validated using fivefold cross-validation. The optimal ML algorithm was used to construct the models to predictive the risk of the HF and all-cause mortality. The prediction performance of ML methods and Cox regression was compared. Over a median follow-up of 49 months. Two hundred and ninety-eight patients developed HF required hospitalization; 199 patients died during the follow-up. The RF model (AUC = 0.853) was the best performing model for predicting HF, and the XGBoost model (AUC = 0.871) was the best model for predicting mortality. Baseline moderate or severe renal disease, systolic blood pressure (SBP), body mass index (BMI), age, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score were strongly associated with HF hospitalization, whereas age, CCI score, creatinine, age, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol, baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were the most significant predictors of mortality. For all the above endpoints, the ML models demonstrated better discrimination than Cox regression. We developed and validated a novel method to predict the risk factors of HF and all-cause mortality that integrates readily available clinical, laboratory, and electrocardiographic variables to predict the risk of HF among PD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we have studied stochastic differential equations with unbounded delay in fractional power spaces perturbed by fractional Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process Y H , ξ ⁢ (t) with H ∈ (1 2 , 1) . Subsequently, the existence and uniqueness of mild solution of the considered equation have been proved with fixed-point theorem. Finally, we obtain the global attracting set of the considered equations by some stochastic analysis and inequality technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the Girsanov theorem for a kind of Volterra-Gaussian process, which are the generalization of fractional Brownian motion, Liouville fractional Brownian motion, and fractional Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process, we establish the Harnack inequalities for a class of stochastic functional differential equations driven by a kind of Volterra-Gaussian processes with a subordinator by an approximation technique. Some known results have been generalized and improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plant cuticle is essential in plant defense against biotic and abiotic stresses. To systematically elucidate the genetic architecture of maize (Zea mays L.) cuticular wax metabolism, 2 cuticular wax–related traits, the chlorophyll extraction rate (CER) and water loss rate (WLR) of 389 maize inbred lines, were investigated and a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed using 1.25 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). In total, 57 nonredundant quantitative trait loci (QTL) explaining 5.57% to 15.07% of the phenotypic variation for each QTL were identified. These QTLs contained 183 genes, among which 21 strong candidates were identified based on functional annotations and previous publications. Remarkably, 3 candidate genes that express differentially during cuticle development encode β-ketoacyl-CoA synthase (KCS). While ZmKCS19 was known to be involved in cuticle wax metabolism, ZmKCS12 and ZmKCS3 functions were not reported. The association between ZmKCS12 and WLR was confirmed by resequencing 106 inbred lines, and the variation of WLR was significant between different haplotypes of ZmKCS12. In this study, the loss-of-function mutant of ZmKCS12 exhibited wrinkled leaf morphology, altered wax crystal morphology, and decreased C32 wax monomer levels, causing an increased WLR and sensitivity to drought. These results confirm that ZmKCS12 plays a vital role in maize C32 wax monomer synthesis and is critical for drought tolerance. In sum, through GWAS of 2 cuticular wax–associated traits, this study reveals comprehensively the genetic architecture in maize cuticular wax metabolism and provides a valuable reference for the genetic improvement of stress tolerance in maize. Genome-wide association study of 2 cuticular wax–associated traits in maize reveals a β-ketoacyl-CoA synthase gene critical for drought tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Previous studies have proved that brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens, a piercing–sucking herbivore, activates strong local defenses in rice. However, whether a BPH infestation elicits systemic responses in rice remains largely unknown. By detecting the change in transcript levels of 12 jasmonic acid (JA) and/or salicylic acid (SA) signaling-responsive marker genes in different tissues of rice plants upon a BPH attack, we demonstrate that an infestation of gravid BPH females systemically activates JA- and SA-dependent defenses in rice, which may in turn influence the composition and structure of the community in the rice ecosystem. It has been well documented that an infestation of the piercing–sucking herbivore, brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens, activates strong local defenses in rice. However, whether a BPH infestation elicits systemic responses in rice remains largely unknown. In this study, we investigated BPH-induced systemic defenses by detecting the change in expression levels of 12 JA- and/or SA-signaling-responsive marker genes in different rice tissues upon a BPH attack. We found that an infestation of gravid BPH females on rice leaf sheaths significantly increased the local transcript level of all 12 marker genes tested except OsVSP, whose expression was induced only weakly at a later stage of the BPH infestation. Moreover, an infestation of gravid BPH females also systemically up-regulated the transcription levels of three JA-signaling-responsive genes (OsJAZ8, OsJAMyb, and OsPR3), one SA-signaling-responsive gene (OsWRKY62), and two JA- and SA- signaling-responsive genes (OsPR1a and OsPR10a). Our results demonstrate that an infestation of gravid BPH females systemically activates JA- and SA-dependent defenses in rice, which may in turn influence the composition and structure of the community in the rice ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is dedicated to the following Kirchhoff-type problem with Hartree-type nonlinearity: - (ε 2 a + ε b ∫ R 3 | ∇ u | 2 d x) ▵ u + V (x) u = ε μ - 3 K (x) (W μ (x) ∗ | u | p ) | u | p - 2 u , u ∈ H 1 (R 3) , where a , b ≥ 0 are constants, ε > 0 is a parameter, 0 < μ < 3 , p ∈ [ 2 , 6 - μ) , W μ (x) is convolution kernel, V(x) is nonnegative continuous external potential and K (x) ∈ C 1 (R 3) . Under some suitable assumptions on V(x) and K(x), we prove the existence and concentration of a positive ground state solution as ε → 0 via Poho z ˇ aev–Nehari manifold method. If K(x) is a positive constant, as its supplementary results, we also obtain the nonexistence of nontrivial solutions for p ≥ 6 - μ . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Exhaled breath contains many substances that are closely related to human metabolism. Analysis of its composition is important for human health, but it is difficult. Since the volatile molecules in breath samples are exhaled instantaneously, easily diffused and modified, and at low level of presence, they are difficult to identify and quantify. Methods: A modified direct analysis in real time ion source was used for high‐resolution mass spectrometry measurement of human metabolites in exhaled breath through online monitoring and offline analysis, in both positive and negative ion modes. The improved system enabled the breath volatiles as well as condensates to be directly sampled, rapidly transmitted and efficiently ionized in a confined region, and then detected using an Orbitrap mass analyzer. Results: The molecular features with online and offline analysis of exhaled breath were demonstrated with obvious differences. A total of about 65 metabolites in positive ion mode and about 55 metabolites in negative ion mode were identified based on accurate m/z values. Exhalome profile and the composition proportion of different classes of compounds were obtained. The relative contents of metabolites from breath varied during different time periods throughout a day. Conclusions: A more complete picture of the human breath metabolome was provided combining the results obtained from both online and offline analysis. The developed method allows analysis of breath samples with different status rapidly and directly, and it features simple operation and metabolite identification, requiring little or no sample preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the role of volunteers' psychological capital and family concern in the effect of the authentic leadership and organization's climate on volunteering behavior in volunteer organizations. A questionnaire survey was used to investigate 945 college student volunteers from volunteer organizations in Chinese colleges at three time points. The results found that authentic leadership and the climate in the volunteer organization were significantly and positively related to volunteers' psychological capital and volunteering behavior, and family concern was significantly and positively related to authentic leadership in volunteer organizations and volunteers' psychological capital. Authentic leadership and climate in volunteer organizations positively affected volunteering behavior, not only directly but also indirectly, through the mediating role of volunteers' psychological capital. Moreover, family concern played a moderating role in the indirect effect of authentic leadership and the climate in volunteer organizations on volunteering behavior through volunteers' psychological capital. Specifically, when the college students' family concern increased, the positive indirect effect of the authentic leadership and climate in volunteer organizations on volunteering behavior through volunteers' psychological capital increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CircRNAs are a group of endogenous small noncoding RNAs that are involved in multiple diseases including cancers. At present, the functions of circRNAs in breast cancer need to be further explored. In this study, 3 pairs of breast cancer and paracancer tissues with axillary lymph node metastasis were collected for circRNA high-throughput sequencing. We have identified 17,966 distinct circRNA candidates. Significant differential expressions were found in 136 circRNAs in breast cancer tissues relative to the matched paracancer tissues. We aslo identified differentially expressed 156 miRNAs and 1105 mRNAs in breast cancer tissues and normal breast tissues from public databases. Then we constructed a regulatory ceRNA network. 12 mRNAs were associated with prognosis of breast cancer. We also constructed a circRNAs-mediated subnetwork which might be related to prognosis of breast cancer. This article provides a better understanding of circRNAs-mediated ceRNA regulatory network by which circRNAs compete for endogenous RNAs in breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Aggressive cancers commonly ferment glucose to lactic acid at high rates, even in the presence of oxygen. This is known as aerobic glycolysis, or the "Warburg Effect." It is widely assumed that this is a consequence of the upregulation of glycolytic enzymes. Oncogenic drivers can increase the expression of most proteins in the glycolytic pathway, including the terminal step of exporting H+ equivalents from the cytoplasm. Proton exporters maintain an alkaline cytoplasmic pH, which can enhance all glycolytic enzyme activities, even in the absence of oncogene-related expression changes. Based on this observation, we hypothesized that increased uptake and fermentative metabolism of glucose could be driven by the expulsion of H+ equivalents from the cell. Results: To test this hypothesis, we stably transfected lowly glycolytic MCF-7, U2-OS, and glycolytic HEK293 cells to express proton-exporting systems: either PMA1 (plasma membrane ATPase 1, a yeast H+-ATPase) or CA-IX (carbonic anhydrase 9). The expression of either exporter in vitro enhanced aerobic glycolysis as measured by glucose consumption, lactate production, and extracellular acidification rate. This resulted in an increased intracellular pH, and metabolomic analyses indicated that this was associated with an increased flux of all glycolytic enzymes upstream of pyruvate kinase. These cells also demonstrated increased migratory and invasive phenotypes in vitro, and these were recapitulated in vivo by more aggressive behavior, whereby the acid-producing cells formed higher-grade tumors with higher rates of metastases. Neutralizing tumor acidity with oral buffers reduced the metastatic burden. Conclusions: Therefore, cancer cells which increase export of H+ equivalents subsequently increase intracellular alkalization, even without oncogenic driver mutations, and this is sufficient to alter cancer metabolism towards an upregulation of aerobic glycolysis, a Warburg phenotype. Overall, we have shown that the traditional understanding of cancer cells favoring glycolysis and the subsequent extracellular acidification is not always linear. Cells which can, independent of metabolism, acidify through proton exporter activity can sufficiently drive their metabolism towards glycolysis providing an important fitness advantage for survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many viruses employ a process known as superinfection exclusion (SIE) to block subsequent entry or replication of the same or closely related viruses in the cells they occupy. SIE is also referred to as Cross-protection refers to the situation where a host plant infected by a mild strain of a virus or viroid gains immunity against a more severe strain closely related to the initial infectant. The mechanisms underlying cross-protection are not fully understood. In this study, we performed a comparative transcriptomic analysis of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) leaves. The strains PVYN−Wi-HLJ-BDH-2 and PVYNTN−NW-INM-W-369-12 are henceforth designated as BDH and 369, respectively. In total, 806 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected between the Control and JZ (preinfected with BDH and challenge with 369) treatment. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis showed that the response to external biological stimulation, signal transduction, kinase, immunity, redox pathways were significantly enriched. Among these pathways, we identified numerous differentially expressed metabolites related to virus infection. Moreover, our data also identified a small set of genes that likely play important roles in the establishment of cross-protection. Specifically, we observed significant differential expression of the A1-II gamma-like gene, elongation factor 1-alpha-like gene, and subtilisin-like protease StSBT1.7 gene, with StSBT1.7 being the most significant in our transcriptome data. These genes can stimulate the expression of defense plant genes, induce plant chemical defense, and participate in the induction of trauma and pathogenic bacteria. Our findings provided insights into the mechanisms underlying the ability of mild viruses to protect host plants against subsequent closely related virus infection in Solanum tuberosum L. • We found different metabolites responding to PVY infection and identified key genes about PVYN-Wi for cross-protection against the more aggressive PVYNIN-NW SYR-II strain. • We found significant differences in the expression of specific genes. These genes can activate plant defense genes, enhance chemical defense, and respond to injury and pathogenic bacteria. • Our findings shed light on how mild viruses protect S. tuberosum L. plants from closely related virus infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asthma is a heterogeneous disease characterized by chronic airway inflammation, reversible airflow limitation, and airway remodeling. Eosinophil peroxidase (EPX) is the most abundant secondary granule protein unique to activated eosinophils. In this study, we aimed to illustrate the effect of EPX on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in BEAS-2B cells. Our research found that both EPX and ADAM33 were negatively correlated with FEV1/FVC and FEV1%pred, and positively correlated with IL-5 levels. Asthma patients had relatively higher levels of ADAM33 and EPX compared to the healthy control group. The expression of TSLP, TGF-β1 and ADAM33 in the EPX intervention group was significantly higher. Moreover, EPX could promote the proliferation, migration and EMT of BEAS-2B cells, and the effect of EPX on various factors was significantly improved by the PI3K inhibitor LY294002. The findings from this study could potentially offer a novel therapeutic target for addressing airway remodeling in bronchial asthma, particularly focusing on EMT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is an important complication of systemic sclerosis (SSc). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect and possible mechanism of polypeptide extract of scorpion venom (PESV) on SSc-ILD. Methods. C57/BL6 mice were injected with bleomycin to establish a SSc-ILD model. Different concentrations of PESV solution were administered to SSc-ILD mice, and dexamethasone was used as a positive control. H&E staining and Masson staining were used to observe the pathological changes. The TGF-β1 expression level was detected by immunohistochemistry. The expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins was detected by Western blot, and the expression of TGF-β1/Smad pathway-related proteins was also detected. The content of inflammatory cytokines in serum and BALF was determined by ELISA. Results. Pathological analysis showed that PESV could alleviate SSc-ILD-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis. Compared with the model group, the content of inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α significantly decreased after PESV treatment. PESV could increase the expression of epithelial marker (E-cadherin) and reduce the expression of interstitial markers (collagen I, vimentin, N-cadherin, and a-SMA). In addition, PESV could reduce the expression level of TGF-β1/Smad pathway-related protein. Conclusion. PESV can attenuate SSc-ILD by regulating EMT, and the effect was linked to the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway, which indicated that PESV may serve as a candidate drug for SSc-ILD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diosgenin (DSG) is a naturally occurring steroidal saponin with a variety of biological activities that is also an important precursor for the synthesis of various steroidal drugs. The traditional industrial production of DSG is based on natural plant extraction and chemical processing. However, the whole process is time-consuming, laborious, and accompanied by severe environmental pollution. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a more convenient and environmentally-friendly process to realize the green production of DSG. In our previous work, we achieved de novo synthesis of DSG in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using glucose as the carbon source. However, DSG production was only at the milligram level, which is too low for industrial production. In this work, we further developed yeast strains for DSG overproduction by optimizing the synthesis pathway, fine-tuning pathway gene expression, and eliminating competing pathways. Cholesterol 22-hydroxylase was used to construct the DSG biosynthesis pathway. The optimal ratio of cytochrome P450 (CYP) to cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR) associated with DSG synthesis was screened to increase DSG production. Weakening the expression of the ERG6 gene further increased DSG synthesis and reduced the formation of by-products. In addition, we investigated the impact of DSG accumulation on yeast cell physiology and growth by transcriptome analysis and found that the multidrug transporter PDR5 and the sterol-binding protein PRY1 contributed to DSG production. Finally, we obtained a DSG titer of 2.03 g/L after 288 h of high-cell-density fed-batch fermentation using the engineered strain LP118, which represents the highest DSG titer reported to date for a yeast de novo synthesis system. • Cholesterol 22-hydroxylase is critical for DSG synthesis. • Weakening ERG6 expression increases the DSG titer and reduces by-products synthesis. • Increasing the CYP: CPR ratio is helpful to improve DSG production. • PDR5 and PRY1 proteins are both important for DSG overproduction. • DSG was de novo synthesized in yeast at the gram-scale for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we are concerned with a class of coupled multidimensional stochastic differential equations driven by fractional Brownian motion with Hurst parameter H ∈ (1 / 2 , 1) . Using pathwise approach and based on Perov's fixed point theorem, we prove that the existence and uniqueness of solution for the equations considered under some local Lipschitz conditions. Subsequently, by establishing some priori estimates, we obtain a viability result for the stochastic systems under investigation. The sufficient and necessary condition is also an alternative global existence result for the fractional differential equations with restrictions on the state. Finally, by direct and inverse images for fractional stochastic tangent sets, we establish the deterministic necessary and sufficient conditions which control that the solution for the coupled stochastic systems under investigation evolves in some particular sets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with the following Kirchhoff equations: − a + b ∫ R N | ∇ u | 2 d x △ u + V (x) u = K (x) f (u) i n R N , u ∈ H 1 (R N) , where N ≥ 3 , f (u) is C 1 real function satisfying quasicritical growth at infinity, and V (x) , K (x) are positive and continuous functions. Combining Mountain Pass Theorem and compact embeddings in weighted Sobolev spaces, we establish the existence of at least a positive and a negative solution. Moreover, using a quantitative deformation lemma, we prove that the problem possesses one least energy sign-changing solution u 0 with two nodal domains. Finally, we show that the energy of u 0 is strictly larger than the ground state energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate the non-confluence property of a class of stochastic differential equations with Markovian switching driven by fractional Brownian motion with Hurst parameter H ∈ (1 / 2 , 1) . By using the generalized Itô formula and stopping time techniques, we obtain some sufficient conditions ensuring the non-confluence property for the considered equations. Additionally, we present two important corollaries on the non-confluence property by the Poisson equation and M-matrix, respectively, which can verify the non-confluence property more effectively than the general condition. Finally, we provide an example to illustrate the practical usefulness of our theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coin-tap method performs nondestructive testing by measuring the width of the tapping response pulse on the surface of the material. Existing studies have shown that defects in the material will cause the width of the tapping response pulse to increase. However, experiments have confirmed that different detection positions in the defective area will show different values of the width of the tapping response pulse, and the physical laws behind it have not been studied yet. To discuss its physical meaning, a mathematical model of the defective area is established, a method for calculating the width of the tapping response pulse is proposed, and a composite honeycomb structure with preset defects is used for data testing. Both the test results and the calculation results show that the pulse width of the tapping response will decrease with the increase of the defect depth and the deviation of the tapping position from the defect center. The consistency between the calculated results and the experimental results shows that the established defect model and pulse width calculation method can better explain the distribution law of the pulse width of the tapping response in the defective area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel approach to the exponential stability in mean square of stochastic functional differential equations and neutral stochastic functional differential equations with infinite delay is presented. Consequently, some new criteria for the exponential stability in mean square of the considered equations are obtained. Lastly, some examples are investigated to illustrate the theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tailoring gene expression to balance metabolic fluxes is critical for the overproduction of metabolites in yeast hosts, and its implementation requires coordinated regulation at both transcriptional and translational levels. Although synthetic minimal yeast promoters have shown many advantages compared to natural promoters, their transcriptional strength is still limited, which restricts their applications in pathway engineering. Results: In this work, we sought to expand the application scope of synthetic minimal yeast promoters by enhancing the corresponding translation levels using specific Kozak sequence variants. Firstly, we chose the reported UASF-E-C-Core1 minimal promoter as a library template and determined its Kozak motif (K0). Next, we randomly mutated the K0 to generate a chimeric promoter library, which was able to drive green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression with translational strengths spanning a 500-fold range. A total of 14 chimeric promoters showed at least two-fold differences in GFP expression strength compared to the K0 control. The best one named K528 even showed 8.5- and 3.3-fold increases in fluorescence intensity compared with UASF-E-C-Core1 and the strong native constitutive promoter PTDH3, respectively. Subsequently, we chose three representative strong chimeric promoters (K540, K536, and K528) from this library to regulate pathway gene expression. In conjunction with the tHMG1 gene for squalene production, the K528 variant produced the best squalene titer of 32.1 mg/L in shake flasks, which represents a more than 10-fold increase compared to the parental K0 control (3.1 mg/L). Conclusions: All these results demonstrate that this chimeric promoter library developed in this study is an effective tool for pathway engineering in yeast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sjögren's syndrome is a common autoimmune disease that can involve the nervous system, but rarely both the central and peripheral. Long-term use of high-dose corticosteroids and immunosuppressants are the main risk factors for Cryptococcus infection in patients with Sjögren's syndrome, of which pulmonary infection is the most common, while multiple bone infections are rare.Case Presentation: A 46-year-old Chinese woman with a 2-year history of Sjögren's syndrome presented to our hospital with numbness of limbs, shortness of breath, and weakness. Blood immunochemistry showed that antinuclear antibody (1:640), anti-Sjögren's syndrome-A antibodies, and anti-centromere antibodies were strongly positive. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple demyelinating lesions in the white matter of bilateral cerebral hemispheres. Electromyography indicated serious peripheral nerve injury, especially in lower limbs. Computed tomography scan of lumbar vertebral displayed multiple high-density shadows, and the corresponding vertebrae on magnetic resonance imaging showed abnormal low signal intensity on T1 and T2 sequences. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography showed multiple lesions with high 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in lung and vertebral bodies. Both lung and bone biopsies suggested Cryptococcus infection, with the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome with nervous system injury combined pulmonary and osseous cryptococcosis. She took a reduced dose of prednisone about 10 mg/day, terminated mycophenolate mofetil, and began to take immunoglobulin of 0.4 g/kg/day intravenously for 5 days, fluconazole (400 mg/day) for 6 months. Within 3 weeks, her chest radiography showed a marked improvement, and 3 months later, the pulmonary lesions disappeared on her computed tomography scan.Conclusions: This case exhibits an extremely rare condition of neural involvement in Sjögren's syndrome combined with pulmonary and osseous cryptococcosis. This report also highlights the crucial role of detailed clinical examination, serologic markers, and biopsy in avoiding misdiagnosis. Currently, there is no guideline for this situation; in this case, we controlled the disease successfully with antifungal drugs and adequate gamma globulin, followed by an appropriate dose of corticosteroids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work is focused on understanding the phase equilibria at 500 °C and solidification characteristics in the Al-rich region of Al-Ti-Er system. Nine annealed alloys and thirty-five as-cast alloys were investigated to study the phase equilibria and solidification characteristics of Al-Ti-Er system in the Al-rich region. Their microstructures were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, electron probe microanalysis, X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. Five ternary-phase regions were found at 500 °C. Nine primary solidification regions as γ-TiAl, ζ-Ti 2+x Al 5−x , Al 2 Er, ε(ht)-TiAl 3 , ε(rt)-TiAl 3 , Al 3 Er, τ 1 , τ 2 and (Al) were identified. Four ternary type Ⅱ and one type Ⅲ invariant reactions are suggested and two ternary phases were observed. The isothermal section at 500 °C and liquidus projection of Al-Ti-Er system in the Al-rich region determined in the present work provide new experimental data for a future thermodynamic assessment of this system. • Nine primary solidification regions are identified. Four ternary type Ⅱ and one type Ⅲ invariant reactions are determined. • The isothermal section at 500 °C was contructed and five three-phase regions are confirmed in the Al-rich region. • Two ternary compound Al 43 Ti 4 Er 6 (τ 1) and Al 20 Ti 2 Er(τ 2) has been confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coordinated development of the regional water-energy nexus is important for the rational utilization of resources. This study proposed an integrated assessment and prediction approach of the water-energy nexus at the provincial scale, focusing on Inner Mongolia, China as a case study. A comprehensive and objective water-energy nexus evaluation index system was constructed. The coupling coordination degree (CCD) model, which measures the coordination between water and energy, and the grey model (GM(1,1)), which is used to predict the trends of the water-energy nexus, were used to explore coordination now and in the future. The results showed that the coupling degree (CD) of the water-energy nexus in Inner Mongolia had remained high at above 0.9 from 2007 to 2019, which was a high-level coupling. The CCD of the water-energy nexus showed a steady increasing trend from 0.57 to 0.76 and will continue to increase in the coming years. This study recommends continuously increasing monitoring of water and energy and increased focus on the coordinated development of water and energy. The results of this study can act as a reference for the coordinated development of the provincial water-energy systems and can guide research approaches for studying the water-energy nexus. • An integrated assessment and prediction approach of water-energy nexus was proposed. • The coordination relationship between water and energy systems was discussed. • The coupling coordination degree ranged from barely to intermediate. • There was a linear increase in coupling coordination degree prediction. • Ecological water use and energy use in the tertiary should be increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we are concerned with a class of coupled neutral stochastic partial differential equations driven by fractional Brownian motion with Hurst parameter H ∈ (0 , 1 / 2) ∪ (1 / 2 , 1). On account of the Perov's fixed point theorem and semigroup theory, we prove the existence and uniqueness of mild solution. Subsequently, by using delay integral inequalities, we identify the global attracting sets of the equations under investigation. Furthermore, we obtain some sufficient conditions that ensure the exponential decay of mild solutions in the pth moment. Lastly, we present an example to illustrate our theory in this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serum magnesium levels exceeding 0.9 mmol/L are associated with increased survival rates in patients with CKD. This retrospective study aimed to identify risk factors for cardio-cerebrovascular events among patients receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and to examine their correlations with serum magnesium levels. Sociodemographic data, clinical physiological and biochemical indexes, and cardio-cerebrovascular event data were collected from 189 patients undergoing CAPD. Risk factors associated with cardio-cerebrovascular events were identified by univariate binary logistic regression analysis. Correlations between the risk factors and serum magnesium levels were determined by correlation analysis. Univariate regression analysis identified age, C-reactive protein (CRP), red cell volume distribution width standard deviation, red cell volume distribution width corpuscular volume, serum albumin, serum potassium, serum sodium, serum chlorine, serum magnesium, and serum uric acid as risk factors for cardio-cerebrovascular events. Among them, serum magnesium ≤0.8 mmol/L had the highest odds ratio (3.996). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that serum magnesium was an independent risk factor, while serum UA (<440 μmol/L) was an independent protective factor for cardio-cerebrovascular events. The incidence of cardio-cerebrovascular events differed significantly among patients with different grades of serum magnesium (χ2 = 12.023, p = 0.002), with the highest incidence observed in patients with a serum magnesium concentration <0.8 mmol/L. High serum magnesium levels were correlated with high levels of serum albumin (r = 0.399, p < 0.001), serum potassium (r = 0.423, p < 0.001), and serum uric acid (r = 0.411, p < 0.001), and low levels of CRP (r = −0.279, p < 0.001). In conclusion, low serum magnesium may predict cardio-cerebrovascular events in patients receiving CAPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of preoperative T/N stage with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in lower and middle rectal cancer patients and the impacts on clinical decision‐making. Patients and methods: A total of 211 patients were recruited from October 2015 to March 2017 in this retrospective study. High‐resolution MRI was performed within 2 weeks before surgery. Histopathologic results were evaluated for the postoperative T/N stage and the diagnostic accuracy of MRI was assessed according to the postoperative histopathologic results. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were evaluated for T/N staging and κ values were used to evaluate MRI consistent analysis compared with postoperative histopathologic staging. Results: The overall MRI diagnostic accuracy was 79.62% for T1‐4 staging and 54.50% for N0‐2 staging. The κ values were 0.619 and 0.255 for T1‐4 and N0‐2 staging, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy of MRI for treatment decision‐making was 80.57%. Conclusion: MRI allows a highly accurate preoperative assessment of T stage but only a fairly accurate preoperative assessment of N stage for rectal cancer. The diagnostic accuracy of MRI for treatment decision‐making is promising, but additional studies are needed to validate these findings in a larger sample size from multiple centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ultrasensitive surface plasmon resonance (SPR) refractive index detection scheme based on weak value amplification is presented. Extremely low refractive index change (9.8 × 10−7 RIU) of sodium chloride solution was readily measurable, with a resolution of 1.3 × 10−7 RIU, a nearly three orders of magnitude increase in sensitivity over conventional SPR index-sensors via intensity interrogation. Preliminary measurement of refractive index change of alcohol solution demonstrated a minimum of 4.0 × 10−6 RIU with a resolution of 3.7 × 10−7 RIU, better than those obtained through wavelength-modulated heterodyne interferometry (with a resolution of 1.5 × 10−6 RIU). The system is highly stable, having a simple and compact configuration, lending to easy and repeatable operation in standard ambient environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a disposable molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensor was developed towards the highly sensitive and selective detection of the organophosphorus insecticide phosalone (PAS), employing a home-made carbon paste microelectrode (CPME) modified with a Zr-based metal–organic framework catalyst (Pt-UiO-66) and a mesoporous structured conductive molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP). Pt-UiO-66 octahedra with isolated dispersed Pt nanoparticle active sites were firstly incorporated into the CPME to provide a remarkably amplified signal for voltammetric determination. The mesoporous MIP was then synthesized onto the Pt-UiO-66/CPME via electropolymerization and a subsequent sol–gel process, which could bind the PAS template molecules through hydrogen bond, coordinate bonding, hydrophobic interaction, and π–π stacking interaction. Morphological, structural, and electrochemical characterization studies revealed that this nano-sized MIP provided excellent features for PAS detection, including high porosity, large surface area, enhanced electron-transport ability, greatly improved diffusion capacity, and strong recognition specificity. Therefore, the resulting sensor exhibited an outstanding linearly proportional concentration domain of 0.50 nM–20 μM, low detection limit of 0.078 nM, marked selectivity over certain interferences with similar configurations, considerable repeatability, reproducibility, and stability for the analysis of PAS. Moreover, the sensor was successfully applied for the determination of PAS in agricultural products and environmental samples with results in good compatibility with a chromatographic method, indicative of the high reliability and practicability. Such an electrochemical sensor might open a novel window for the investigation of selective sensing of small organic species from their analogues coupled with the molecular imprinting technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A significant number of people with Parkinson's disease (PD) develop dementia in addition to cognitive dysfunction and are diagnosed as PD with dementia (PDD). This is characterized by cortical and limbic alpha synuclein (α-syn) accumulation, and high levels of diffuse amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques in the striatum and neocortical areas. In this regard, we evaluated the effect of a brain-penetrant, novel multifunctional dopamine D2/D3 agonist, D-520 on the inhibition of Aβ aggregation and disintegration of α-syn and Aβ aggregates in vitro using purified proteins and in a cell culture model that produces intracellular Aβ-induced toxicity. We further evaluated the effect of D-520 in a Drosophila model of Aβ1-42 toxicity. We report that D-520 inhibits the formation of Aβ aggregates in vitro and promotes the disaggregation of both α-syn and Aβ aggregates. Finally, in an in vivo Drosophila model of Aβ1-42 dependent toxicity, D-520 exhibited efficacy by rescuing fly eyes from retinal degeneration caused by Aβ toxicity. Our data indicate the potential therapeutic applicability of D-520 in addressing motor dysfunction and neuroprotection in PD and PDD, as well as attenuating dementia in people with PDD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate a class of stochastic Riemann-Liouville type fractional differential equations driven by Lévy noise. By using Itô formula for the considered equation, we attempt to explore the non-confluence property of solution for the considered equation under some appropriate conditions. Our approach is to construct some suitable Lyapunov functions which is novel in exploring the non-confluence property of differential equations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are currently no standardized objective measures to evaluate beef flavor attributes, especially the comparison between raw beef and cooked beef. Beef flavor attribute is one of the most significant parameters for consumers. This study described a predictive model using a 12-ion-sensor array and sensory properties to evaluate beef flavor attributes based on potential. Then the number of sensors was reduced to six via variance of analysis, and these six sensors were reserved with the saturated calomel reference electrode to constitute a new sensor array. Sensitive flavors of each sensor were selected through multiple comparative analysis. Results showed that the accuracy rate of classifying five basic flavors (acidity, sweetness, bitterness, saltiness, freshness) using the new sensor array was 100%. The processing methods used were based on multivariate statistical methods done with the cluster analysis (CA). Results were compared to sensory evaluation using genetic algorithm (GA). From GA, the accuracy rates of raw and cooked beef were 85.0% and 90.0%, which was consistent with the sensory analysis results. Moreover, reducing the number of sensors could decrease the data dimensionality and detection time. Also raw beef instead of cooked beef could be used in flavor attributes evaluation. This model could become an important method for evaluating beef flavor attributes repeatedly and objectively. This study described the development of a model using a 12-ion-sensor array and sensory properties to assess beef flavor attributes based on potential values. Then the number of sensors was reduced to six via variance of analysis. Five basic flavors were classified by cluster analysis using the new sensor array. And then flavor attributes in raw beef and cooked beef were assessed using genetic algorithm (GA). Unlabelled Image • Twelve sensors was reduced to six sensors, sensitive flavors of each sensor were obtained by multiple comparison method. • A flavor rating model was constructed combining GA, raw beef broth was evaluated instead of cooked beef broth. • There are few comparative studies on the flavor attributes in raw and cooked beef. This study is innovative in this respect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To systematically assess the clinical efficacy and safety of leflunomide for treating psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched until 1 January, 2018, to include relevant studies in this single‐arm meta‐analysis. Psoriasis improvement was evaluated using Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores. The primary outcome in patients was assessed using the Psoriatic Arthritis Response Criteria (PsARC). Other effectiveness evaluations included those of adverse events, quality of life including functional status (Health Assessment Questionnaire [HAQ] total score), and a quality‐of‐life instrument for dermatologic diseases (Dermatology Life Quality Index [DLQI] total score). Results: A total of 6 studies were included. After leflunomide treatment, 48% of the patients experienced a reduction of ≥50% based on PASI scores (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.22‐0.73). PASI 75 improvement was observed among 25% of the patients (95% CI: 0.11‐0.38). The primary effectiveness analysis revealed that 15% of the patients (95% CI: 0.07‐0.26) discontinued leflunomide treatment. Further, 77% of the patients (95% CI: 0.59‐0.92) achieved a PsARC response. Adverse events occurred in 38% of the patients (95% CI: 0.04‐0.71). The mean ± SD percentage PASI improvement was −4.88 (95% CI: −8.92, −0.85). Moreover, DLQI and HAQ were −2.02 (95% CI: −3.01, −1.03) and −0.19 (95% CI: −0.29, −0.09), respectively. Conclusions: Leflunomide is an effective and well‐tolerated treatment for PsA, and would be a safe and convenient option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiotherapy is a useful treatment for malignant tumors, including lung carcinoma; however, non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is frequently insensitive to radiation. It has been reported that heat shock protein 27 (HSPB1) is a radioresistance-associated protein in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. In the present study, the role of HSPB1 in NSCLC cells induced by irradiation was investigated. The viability of cells was determined by a Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. The apoptotic activity, cell cycle distribution and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) of cells were evaluated via flow cytometry. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses were employed to measure the expression of various genes and proteins. It was observed that knockdown of HSPB1 with small interfering RNA (si-HSPB1) markedly decreased the viability of A549 NSCLC cells and induced cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase following exposure to 6 Gy irradiation. Furthermore, it was revealed that si-HSPB1 significantly downregulated cyclin B1 and cyclin G1 expression. Additionally, si-HSPB1 promoted apoptosis and depolarized the MMP of cells exposed to 6 Gy irradiation. The expression levels of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), mitochondrial cytochrome c (cyto c) and pro-caspase-8 were downregulated, whereas those of Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax), cytosolic cyto c and cleaved-caspase-8 were upregulated. Collectively, silencing of HSPB1 increased the radiosensitivity of NSCLC cells by reducing cell viability, depolarizing the MMP, arresting the cell cycle in the G2/M phase and promoting cell apoptosis. Therefore, HSPB1 may be a novel target for increasing radiosensitivity in the treatment of NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this paper, a class of hybrid stochastic functional differential equations is investigated. Under some suitable assumptions, the p th moment stability, asymptotic stability and exponential stability are discussed by means of constructing an auxiliary functional differential equation and using the comparison principle. The proposed criteria removes some conditions in some earlier publications. Moreover, two examples and simulations are given to illustrate our results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, by using a transformation formula for fractional Brownian motion (fBm), we prove the existence of weak solutions to stochastic differential equations driven by an additive fBm with Hurst parameter 1 / 2 < H < 1 under the linear growth condition. Furthermore, we also consider the uniqueness in law and the pathwise uniqueness of the weak solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this paper, we consider a class of stochastic functional differential equations in Hilbert spaces driven by a fractional Brownian motion with Hurst parameter 1/2 < H < 1. By using pathwise approach, we prove a global existence and uniqueness result of the mild solution for the equations considered under some local Lipschitz conditions. Subsequently, by establishing some new estimates, we also prove some viability results to the stochastic systems under investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We are concerned with a class of neutral stochastic functional differential equations driven by fractional Brownian motion (fBm) in the Hilbert space. We obtain the global attracting sets of this kind of equations driven by fBm with Hurst parameter ћ ∈ (0, 1/2). Especially, some sufficient conditions which ensure the exponential decay in the p-th moment of the mild solution of the considered equations are obtained. In the end, one example is given to illustrate the feasibility and effectiveness of results obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the split-step theta (SST) method to approximate a class of time-changed stochastic differential equations, whose drift coefficient can grow super-linearly and diffusion coefficient obeys the global Lipschitz condition. The strong convergence of the SST method is proved, and the SST method attains the classical 1 of convergence. In addition, the mean square stability of the time-changed stochastic differential equations is investigated. Two examples are presented to show the consistency of the theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prediction of fine particulate matter with particle size less than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) is an important component of atmospheric pollution warning and control management. In this study, we propose a deep learning model, namely, a spatiotemporal weighted neural network (STWNN), to address the challenge of poor long-term PM2.5 prediction in areas with sparse and uneven stations. The model, which is based on convolutional neural network–bidirectional long short-term memory (CNN–Bi-LSTM) and attention mechanisms and uses a geospatial data-driven approach, considers the spatiotemporal heterogeneity effec It is correct.ts of PM2.5. This approach effectively overcomes instability caused by sparse station data in forecasting daily average PM2.5 concentrations over the next week. The effectiveness of the STWNN model was evaluated using the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region as the study area. Experimental results demonstrate that the STWNN exhibits higher performance (RMSE = 10.29, MAE = 6.4, R2 = 0.96, and IA = 0.81) than other models in overall prediction and seasonal clustering. Furthermore, the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) method was introduced to calculate the contribution and spatiotemporal variation of feature variables after the STWNN prediction model. The SHAP results indicate that the STWNN has significant potential in improving the performance of long-term PM2.5 prediction at the regional station level. Analyzing spatiotemporal differences in key feature variables that influence PM2.5 provides a scientific foundation for long-term pollution control and supports emergency response planning for heavy pollution events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3 Trepo C, Thivolet J. Hepatitis associated antigen and periarteritis nodosa (PAN). The symptoms of pain diminished, and the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), procalcitonin, creatinine, CK, CK-MB, and BNP declined to almost normal. A 30-year-old woman presented to our clinic with a 1-month history of progressive pain in the fingers and toes. [Extracted from the article]

Abstract This paper is concerned with the following quasilinear Schrödinger equations: { − △ u + V (x) u − △ (u 2) u = λ u p − 1 u in R N , u > 0 , u ∈ H 1 (R N) , where λ > 0 , 1 < p < 22 ⁎ − 1 , 2 ⁎ = 2 N N − 2 and N ≥ 3. Under some suitable assumptions on V (x) , we prove the existence of ground state solutions via Pohožaev manifold method. The novelty of this works with respect to some recent results is that we treat the existence by using Pohožaev manifold method in an Orlicz space and this enables us to handle the nonlinearity in a uniform way. As its supplementary results, we also prove the nonexistence of least energy solutions for 1 < p < 22 ⁎ − 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider a class of stochastic fractional evolution equations with infinite delay and a fractional Brownian motion in a Hilbert space. By the stochastic analysis technique, we establish the existence and uniqueness of mild solutions for these equations under non-Lipschitz condition with Lipschitz conditions being considered as a special case. An example is provided to illustrate the theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with the following problem: where is a parameter, and , . Under some certain assumptions on V(x), we establish the existence of ground-state solutions for quasi-linear elliptic equations with Sobolev exponent via the method of Pohožaev manifold, the monotonic trick and global compactness lemma. Some recent results are extended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proteins of Coriolus versicolor treated with the acetone extracts of Cinnamomum camphora xylem has been investigated. The specific proteins found in the extract treated C. versicolor, were characterized by two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis (2D-GE) and identified by matrix assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) combined with tandem time-of-flight microscopy, i.e. TOF-MS/TOF-MS. Most of 474 proteins detected from the pure culture were common metabolic proteins. Nineteen protein spots changed significantly and 17 spots were identified successfully. The 19 proteins were assigned to 10 functional groups including ion binding, translation factor activity, nucleic acid binding and ATPase activity. These proteins are involved in signal transduction, transport and membrane trafficking. The down regulated expression of translation elongation factor 1 alpha (EF1α), α-tubulin, and tropomyosin-1 showed that protein translation elongation, growth-stimulating signal transduction, signal transduction and material transport were suppressed, which resulted in the apoptosis of the pathogen. These findings provide a better understanding of the anti-fungal mechanism of C. camphora and indicate the way for the development of wood preservatives based on natural extracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are an emerging class of non-coding RNAs in plants. Our aim is to identify the circRNAs with different expression levels between tomato fruits from two cultivars (‘Jinling Fenyu’ and ‘Jinling Moyu’) at two different developmental stages. Following high-throughput sequencing, 3796 circRNAs were identified, and 243 circRNAs were shared in the four samples. As compared with the fruit at mature green stage, the expression levels of 273 and 89 circRNAs were significantly altered in the fruit at turning stage from ‘Jinling Fenyu’ and ‘Jinling Moyu’, respectively. Moreover, the parental genes of the circRNAs with significantly different expression level were mainly involved in metabolic, cellular and single-organism process and played roles in catalytic activity and binding based on GO (Gene Ontology) analysis. The results suggested that circRNAs were widespread in tomato and were generated from different chromosomes and diverse genomic regions. Some circRNAs were specific in tomato fruits at different developmental stages, which enriches the number of circRNAs in plants involved in fruit coloration and ripening. This study provides the first genome-wide profile of circRNAs involved in tomato fruit coloration and lays a foundation for studying the potential biological functions of circRNAs involved in fruit ripening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One kind of fluorescent nitrogen–doped carbon dots (denoted as NCDs) was successfully fabricated by a simple and facile one–pot solid phase pyrolysis process using citric acid and glycine as raw materials. The obtained NCDs under the optimal synthetic conditions have a fluorescence quantum yield up to 35.6% and show a spherical shape with an average diameter of about 3.0 nm. Moreover, NCDs can emit strong blue fluorescence and the surfaces when excited at 345 nm and their surfaces were decorated with lots of carboxyl, hydroxyl and amine groups. In order to further elucidate the effect of NCDs to protein, steady state/time-resolved fluorescence, UV–vis absorption, circular dichroism (CD), and Raman spectroscopic techniques as well as cyclic voltammetry (CV) were employed to explore the interaction of the as-synthesized NCDs with human serum albumin (HSA) in the simulated physiological environment. The experimental data reveal that NCDs could quench the intrinsic fluorescence of HSA via the formation of a ground-state complex with the association constants of the order of 10 4 L/mol. The values of thermodynamic parameters obtained at three different temperatures suggest that the binding reaction of NCDs with HSA mainly driven by hydrophobic forces and hydrogen bonds was spontaneous. Furthermore, the displacement experiments confirm that the binding of NCDs primarily took place in site I of HSA. The average distance between NCDs and tryptophan (Trp) residue of HSA was estimated to be 2.3 nm according to the theory of Förster non-radiation energy transfer. Finally, the analysis of synchronous fluorescence, three-dimensional fluorescence (3D), Raman, and CD spectra manifests that HSA underwent some conformational changes by unfolding the polypeptides of protein and increasing the polarity of the microenvironment surrounding both Trp and tyrosine (Tyr) residues in the presence of NCDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are plant-specific steroidal hormones; BR homeostasis is crucial for various aspects of plant growth and development. However, to date, the BR inactivation process has not been thoroughly elucidated. In this study, we identified and characterized a novel BAHD family acyltransferase gene, BRASSINOSTEROID INACTIVATOR2 (BIA2), involved in BR inactivation. BIA2-overexpressing (OE-BIA2) plants displayed typical BR-deficient phenotypes, which were rescued by exogenous BR treatment. Real-time qRT-PCR and transcriptome analyses showed that expression levels of virtually all of the BR biosynthetic genes were increased, whereas the expression of many BR inactivation genes was reduced in OE-BIA2 plants. Root inhibition assays showed that the root growth of OE-BIA2 plants was inhibited. We obtained plants with an intermediate phenotype by crossing the OE-BIA2 plants with BRASSINOSTEROID-INSENSITIVE1 (BRI1)-overexpressing plants. The null BIA2 mutants had longer hypocotyls in the dark. BIA2 was predominantly expressed in roots, and its expression was induced by 24-epibrassinolide or dark treatment, but it exhibited a differential expression pattern compared with its homologue, BIA1. Furthermore, genetic transformation with point-mutant and deleted-BIA2 constructs confirmed that the HXXXD motif is essential for the function of BIA2. Taken together, these findings indicate that BIA2 is a typical BAHD acyltransferase that is involved in BR homeostasis and may inactivate bioactive BRs by esterification, particularly in roots and hypocotyls under dark conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to detect the level of T-helper type 9 (Th9) cells and the cytokine interleukin-9 (IL-9) in peripheral blood of mice with bronchial asthma, and to explore the relationship between the expression of Th9 cells and the pathogenesis of asthma. Thirty female‑specific pathogen-free (SPF) Bagg' albino (BALB)/c mice were selected and randomly divided into the control group (n=15) and the bronchial observation group (n=15). Mice in the bronchial observation group were treated with ovalbumin (OVA) for sensitization and induction of a mouse model of asthma. The airway reactivity of mice was measured by a mouse pulmonary function apparatus using the non-invasive pulmonary impedance method. The proportions of Th9 cells in peripheral blood of mice in the two groups were detected using flow cytometry. Digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blot analysis were applied to detect the levels of IL-9 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and proteins in peripheral blood and lung tissues of mice in the two groups, respectively. Compared with that in the control group, the expression level of Th9 cells in the peripheral blood of mice in the observation group was significantly elevated (P<0.05), the expression level of IL-9 proteins in the peripheral blood was significantly increased (P<0.05), and the levels of IL-9 mRNA and proteins in lung tissues were significantly increased (P<0.05). The results show that the levels of Th9 cells and their cytokine IL-9 in the peripheral blood of mice with bronchial asthma are significantly increased, suggesting that Th9 cells play important roles in the pathogenesis of asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]