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Integrating solar thermal conversion with phase change materials (PCMs) offers a promising pathway for continuous thermal energy generation with a zero‐carbon footprint. However, substantial infrared radiation losses at elevated temperatures often hinder the efficiency of such integrated systems. Inspired by the thermoregulation mechanisms of polar bears, this work introduces composite PCMs with spectrally selective absorption to enhance solar thermal energy storage efficiency. These composite phase change materials (CPCMs), featuring densely packed SiC ceramic grains with high porosity, exhibit a thermal conductivity of up to 14 W m−1 K−1 and an energy storage density of 195.1 kJ kg−1. The incorporation of nanoparticle‐coated foil induces a plasmonic effect that increases solar absorptivity to 90.57% and reduces infrared emissivity from 71.94% to 7.47%. Consequently, the solar thermal storage efficiency is significantly increased from 54.56% to 81.65% at 500 K, effectively addressing the challenges associated with high‐temperature solar thermal storage. Additionally, the low infrared emissivity of the c (PNC), combined with the inherent heat absorption properties of PCMs, enables infrared stealth functionality. These multifunctional CPCMs demonstrate considerable potential for advancing high‐temperature solar thermal storage technologies and other heat‐related applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Due to increased gene dose for the amyloid precursor protein (APP), elderly adults with Down syndrome (DS) are at a markedly increased risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD), known as DS‐AD. How the increased APP gene dose acts and which APP products are responsible for DS‐AD is not well understood, thus limiting strategies to target pathogenesis. As one approach to address this question, we used a novel class of γ‐secretase modulators that promote γ‐site cleavages by the γ‐secretase complex, resulting in lower levels of the Aβ42 and Aβ40 peptides. Methods: Ts65Dn mice, which serve as a model of DS, were treated via oral gavage with 10 mg/kg/weekday of BPN15606 (a potent and novel pyridazine‐containing γ‐secretase modulators). Treatment started at 3 months‐of‐age and lasted for 4 months. Results: Demonstrating successful target engagement, treatment with BPN15606 significantly decreased levels of Aβ40 and Aβ42 in the cortex and hippocampus; it had no effect on full‐length APP or its C‐terminal fragments in either 2 N or Ts65Dn mice. Importantly, the levels of total amyloid‐β were not impacted, pointing to BPN15606‐mediated enhancement of processivity of γ‐secretase. Additionally, BPN15606 rescued hyperactivation of Rab5, a protein responsible for regulating endosome function, and normalized neurotrophin signaling deficits. BPN15606 treatment also normalized the levels of synaptic proteins and tau phosphorylation, while reducing astrocytosis and microgliosis, and countering cognitive deficits. Interpretation: Our findings point to the involvement of increased levels of Aβ42 and/or Aβ40 in contributing to several molecular and cognitive traits associated with DS‐AD. They speak to increased dosage of the APP gene acting through heightened levels of Aβ42 and/or Aβ40 as supporting pathogenesis. These findings further the interest in the potential use of γ‐secretase modulators for treating and possibly preventing AD in individuals with DS. ANN NEUROL 2024;96:390–404 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Obesity is becoming a top global health problem. Inhibition of digestive enzymes is an effective approach in weight management due to the reduction of energy absorption. In this study, the inhibitory effects of luteolin on α‐glucosidase and pancreatic lipase were investigated in vitro and in vivo via enzyme kinetics, fluorescence quenching, molecular docking and rat experiments. The results showed that luteolin inhibited α‐glucosidase and pancreatic lipase in a mixed‐type and uncompetitive manner with IC50 values of 29.31 and 42.74 μg mL−1 respectively. The binding of luteolin with the two enzymes caused the quenching of intrinsic fluorescence of protein. Molecular docking simulation revealed that luteolin could be located in the active pocket of α‐glucosidase and interact with the key amino acid residues. Moreover, a hydrophobic interaction and a van der Waals force were formed between luteolin and the key amino acid residues of pancreatic lipase (His264 and Ser153). In vivo studies further confirmed that luteolin could significantly decrease the absorption of glucose and triacylglyceride in rats by inhibiting α‐glucosidase and pancreatic lipase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the EVOH/Ti3C2 composite fibers were prepared via electrospinning and the effect of added Ti3C2 on the structure and properties of electrospun EVOH fibrous membranes was further investigated. The morphology, crystal structure, thermal properties, wettability, tensile properties, as well as air permeability and water vapor permeability of as-prepared EVOH/Ti3C2 composite fibers were studied. The Ti3C2 is uniformly loaded onto the surface and inside the composite fiber and affects the fiber diameters. Furthermore, The Ti3C2 self-orients along the fiber axis and does not change the crystal structure of the electrospun EVOH fibers, improving the crystallinity and thermal stability of the electrospun EVOH/Ti3C2 fibrous membranes. With the increase in the Ti3C2 concentration in the electrospinning polymer solution, the addition of Ti3C2 not only rapidly improves the wettability of the fibrous membranes, but also enhances their air permeability, compared with the pristine electrospun EVOH fibrous membranes. The experimental results provide theoretical guidance for the preparation of Ti3C2 composite fibers, and also expand the application of electrospun EVOH and EVOH/Ti3C2 fibrous membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Luteolin loaded zein nanoparticles (Lut-ZNP) were prepared by using sodium caseinate as an electrostatic stabilizer. The formulation of the nanoparticles was optimized. Lut-ZNP were spray-dried, and the physicochemical properties were characterized by SEM, XRD, FT-IR and DSC. Then, the bioavailability of luteolin in rats was determined. Under the formulation of luteolin, zein and sodium caseinate with mass ratio of 1:5:15, the particle size, ζ-potential, encapsulation efficiency and loading efficiency of Lut-ZNP were 171.8 nm, -49.05 mV, 85.85% and 3.15%, respectively. Luteolin existed in the nanoparticles with amorphous form. Lut-ZNP exhibited good redispersibility in water after drying. Compared with free luteolin, the solubility, stability and release of luteolin in Lut-ZNP were greatly improved. Besides, the fecal excretion of luteolin in rats was significantly reduced after oral administration of Lut-ZNP. In addition to native luteolin, its metabolites including sulfate, glucuronidate and methylated glucuronidate were found in rat plasma. Lut-ZNP significantly increased the plasma concentrations of luteolin and its metabolites, and the bioavailability of luteolin was enhanced by 2.92 times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The retromer complex plays an essential role in intracellular endosomal sorting. Deficits in the retromer complex are linked to enhanced Aβ production. The levels of the components of the retromer complex are reported to be downregulated in Alzheimer disease (AD). Down syndrome (DS) shares neuropathological features with AD. Recent evidence points to dysregulation of the retromer complex in DS. The mechanisms underlying retromer deficits in DS and AD are poorly understood. Methods: We measured the levels of retromer components in the frontal cortex of cases of DS‐AD (AD in DS) as well as DS; the frontal cortex of a person partially trisomic (PT‐DS) for human chromosome 21 (HSA21), whose genome had only the normal 2 copies of the APP gene, was also examined. We also analyzed these proteins in the Dp16 mouse model of DS. To further explore the molecular mechanism for changes in the retromer complex, we treated Dp16 mice with a γ‐secretase modulator (GSM; 776890), a treatment that reduces the levels of Aβ42 and Aβ40. Results: We found VPS26A, VPS26B, and VPS29, but not VPS35, were significantly reduced in both DS and DS‐AD, but not in PT‐DS. Downregulation of VPS26A, VPS26B, and VPS29 was recapitulated in the brains of old Dp16 mice (at 16 months of age) and required increased App gene dose. Significantly, GSM treatment completely prevented reductions of the retromer complex. Interpretation: Our studies point to increased APP gene dose as a compromising retromer function in DS and suggest a causal role for Aβ42 and Aβ40. ANN NEUROL 2023;94:245–258 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The upgrading of traditional chiller plants to the high-efficiency refrigerator room is conducive to effective utilization and conservation of energy. An energy-saving method of chiller plants group control based on Kernel Ridge Regression and Genetic Algorithm are presented. Combined with machine learning and the classic model of the chiller plants, the multiple nonlinear problems between the system parameters of the chiller plants are solved. A more detailed group control model of chiller plants is established, which is suitable for multiple chillers, variable-speed pumps, and variable-frequency fans. Incorporate the startup time of the chiller, the difference between the actual cooling capacity and the target cooling capacity into the penalty function, and use the Genetic Algorithm for multi-dimensional optimization to find the best efficiency point of the entire refrigeration room and achieve the goal of energy saving. A comparative analysis of the actual operation of the cold room system of a large electronics factory in Guangdong for three months is carried out. Compared with the traditional PID algorithm, the three-month power saving rate of this group control energy saving method is: 31.34%, 14.33%, 19.22%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The porcine body length trait is an essential factor affecting meat production and reproductive performance. It is evident that the development/lengthening of individual vertebrae is one of the main reasons for increases in body length; however, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. In this study, RNA-seq analysis was used to profile the transcriptome (lncRNA, mRNA, and miRNA) of the thoracic intervertebral cartilage (TIC) at two time points (1 and 4 months) during vertebral column development in Yorkshire (Y) and Wuzhishan pigs (W). There were four groups: 1- (Y1) and 4-month-old (Y4) Yorkshire pigs and 1- (W1) and 4-month-old (W4) Wuzhishan pigs. In total, 161, 275, 86, and 126 differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs, 1478, 2643, 404, and 750 DE genes (DEGs), and 74,51, 34, and 23 DE miRNAs (DE miRNAs) were identified in the Y4 vs. Y1, W4 vs. W1, Y4 vs. W4, and Y1 vs. W1 comparisons, respectively. Functional analysis of these DE transcripts (DETs) demonstrated that they had participated in various biological processes, such as cellular component organization or biogenesis, the developmental process, the metabolic process, bone development, and cartilage development. The crucial bone development-related candidate genes NK3 Homeobox 2 (NKX3.2), Wnt ligand secretion mediator (WLS), gremlin 1 (GREM1), fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3), hematopoietically expressed homeobox (HHEX), (collagen type XI alpha 1 chain (COL11A1), and Wnt Family Member 16 (WNT16)) were further identified by functional analysis. Moreover, lncRNA, miRNA, and gene interaction networks were constructed; a total of 55 lncRNAs, 6 miRNAs, and 7 genes formed lncRNA–gene, miRNA–gene, and lncRNA–miRNA–gene pairs, respectively. The aim was to demonstrate that coding and non-coding genes may co-regulate porcine spine development through interaction networks. NKX3.2 was identified as being specifically expressed in cartilage tissues, and it delayed chondrocyte differentiation. miRNA-326 regulated chondrocyte differentiation by targeting NKX3.2. The present study provides the first non-coding RNA and gene expression profiles in the porcine TIC, constructs the lncRNA–miRNA–gene interaction networks, and confirms the function of NKX3.2 in vertebral column development. These findings contribute to the understanding of the potential molecular mechanisms regulating pig vertebral column development. They expand our knowledge about the differences in body length between different pig species and provide a foundation for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new germacrane sesquiterpene dilactones, 2β-hydroxyl-11β,13-dihydrodeoxymikanolide (1), 3β-hydroxyl-11β,13-dihydrodeoxymikanolide (2), 1α,3β-dihydroxy-4,9-germacradiene-12,8:15,6-diolide (3), and (11β,13-dihydrodeoxymikanolide-13-yl)-adenine (4), together with five known ones (5–9) were isolated from the aerial parts of Mikania micrantha. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis. Compound 4 is featured with an adenine moiety in the molecule, which is the first nitrogen-containing sesquiterpenoid so far isolated from this plant species. These compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antibacterial activity against four Gram-(+) bacteria of Staphyloccocus aureus (SA), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Bacillus cereus (BC) and Curtobacterium. flaccumfaciens (CF), and three Gram-(–) bacteria of Escherichia coli (EC), Salmonella. typhimurium (SA), and Pseudomonas Solanacearum (PS). Compounds 4 and 7–9 were found to show strong in vitro antibacterial activity toward all the tested bacteria with the MIC values ranging from 1.56 to 12.5 µg/mL. Notably, compounds 4 and 9 showed significant antibacterial activity against the drug-resistant bacterium of MRSA with MIC value 6.25 µg/mL, which was close to reference compound vancomycin (MIC 3.125 µg/mL). Compounds 4 and 7–9 were further revealed to show in vitro cytotoxic activity toward human tumor A549, HepG2, MCF-7, and HeLa cell lines, with IC50 values ranging from 8.97 to 27.39 μM. No antibacterial and cytotoxic activity were displayed for the other compounds. The present research provided new data to support that M. micrantha is rich in structurally diverse bioactive compounds worthy of further development for pharmaceutical applications and for crop protection in agricultural fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ovarian cancer is a disease with increasing incidence worldwide, and there is an urgent need for chemotherapy and biological targeted therapy. Epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) is an important initiation stage for tumor cells to acquire the ability to invade and metastasize. A growing number of findings suggest that human Schlafen family member 5(SLFN5) plays a key role in malignancy. However, the role of SLFN5 in ovarian cancer cells has not been fully elucidated. Samples were collected from patients with ovarian cancer diagnosed in Hangzhou First People's Hospital, and the expression of SLFN5 was detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR. The relationship between SLFN5 expression and the progression and malignancy of ovarian cancer was analyzed by using the expression profile data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The mRNA expression levels of SLFN5 related upstream and downstream signaling pathways were studied by fluorescence quantitative PCR. Silencing SLFN5 was performed by siRNA transfection. The expression of SLFN5 and transfer-related proteins was examined by Western blot. Transwell and wound healing experiments investigated the migration and invasion ability of ovarian cancer cells. TCGA database analysis results showed that in the population with high SLFN5 expression, compared with the group with low SLFN5 expression, OS was worse (P = 0.011). SLFN5 silencing had a significant inhibitory effect on EMT and invasion movement of ovarian cancer cells. RT-PCR method was used to detect the mRNA changes of SLFN5 in ovarian cancer tissue and adjacent tissue. It was found that the expression of SLFN5 in ovarian cancer tissue was increased, with a significant difference (P < 0.05). Together, these results suggest that SLFN5 may play a synergistic role in tumorigenesis and development of ovarian cancer cells, providing a potential target for future drug development for the treatment of ovarian cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The screening of important candidate genes and the identification of genetic markers are important for molecular selection in the pig industry. The hematopoietically expressed homeobox (HHEX) gene plays an important role in embryonic development and organogenesis; however, the genetic variation and expression pattern of the porcine HHEX gene remains to be clarified. In this study, semiquantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry results showed the specific expression of the HHEX gene in porcine cartilage tissues. A novel haplotype consisting of two SNPs rs80901185 (T > C) and rs80934526 (A > G) was detected in the promoter region of the HHEX gene. The expression of the HHEX gene was significantly higher in Yorkshire pigs (TA haplotype) than in Wuzhishan pigs (CG haplotype), and a population analysis showed that this haplotype was significantly associated with body length. An analysis subsequently revealed that the –586 to –1 bp region of the HHEX gene promoter showed the highest activity. Furthermore, we found that the activity of the TA haplotype was significantly higher than that of the CG haplotype by changing the potential binding of transcription factors YY1 and HDAC2. In summary, we conclude that the porcine HHEX gene may contribute to the breeding of pigs for body length traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enhance tire durability, the antioxidant N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N′-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD) is used in rubber, but it converts into the toxic 6PPD quinone (6PPD-Q) when exposed to oxidants like ozone (O 3), causing ecological concerns. This review synthesizes the existing data to assess the transformation, bioavailability, and potential hazards of two tire-derived pollutants 6PPD and 6PPD-Q. The comparative analysis of different thermal methods utilized in repurposing waste materials like tires and plastics into valuable products are analyzed. These methods shed light on the aspects of pyrolysis and catalytic conversion processes, providing valuable perspectives into optimizing the waste valorization and mitigating environmental impacts. Furthermore, we have examined the bioavailability and potential hazards of chemicals used in tire manufacturing, based on the literature included in this review. The bioavailability of these chemicals, particularly the transformation of 6PPD to 6PPD-Q, poses significant ecological risks. 6PPD-Q is highly bioavailable in aquatic environments, indicating its potential for widespread ecological harm. The persistence and mobility of 6PPD-Q in the environment, along with its toxicological effects, highlight the critical need for ongoing monitoring and the development of effective mitigation strategies to reduce its impact on both human health and ecosystem. Future research should focus on understanding the chronic effects of low-level exposure to these compounds on both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, as well as the potential for bioaccumulation in the food chain. Additionally, this review outlines the knowledge gaps, recommending further research into the toxicity of tire-derived pollutants in organisms and the health implications for humans and ecosystems. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research is still under-represented for the long-term impacts of field biochar application on soil fertility, rice production and mineral nutrition and soil C sequestration. To investigate these effects, a field trial was established in the fall of 2010 with low (2.4 t ha−1), intermediate (6 t ha−1) and high (12 t ha−1) biochar doses. The biochar effect on soil nutrients is more pronounced in the surface soil and is dose dependent. In the surface soil, biochar application increased the availability of soil N, P and K. High dose decreased soil total Fe by 11.6% and Mn by 20.7%, leading to a slight but insignificant decrease in grain Fe and Mn concentration. The intermediate and high doses significantly increased the soil available Zn by 96.2% and 227.9% but did not affect the grain Zn concentration. Grain Cu concentration was significantly decreased by the intermediate (−19.6%) and high (−14.3%) dose of biochar. Biochar had a slight but insignificant boost on rice yield. Soil total C and N increased linearly with biochar application for the surface soil only where biochar was applied. In conclusion, with great soil C sequestration capacity, the long-term field return of biochar is beneficial for improving the soil macronutrient and Zn fertility, but caution is needed, as higher doses of biochar could potentially lead to a decrease in soil Fe and Mn and a reduction in grain Cu concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic refrigeration material is the key to adiabatic demagnetization refrigeration technology. In this work, two magnetic refrigerants, Gd5(C4O4)(HCOO)3(CO3)2(OH)6·2.5H2O (1) and Gd2(OH)4SO4 (2), were prepared through hydrothermal reaction. Magnetic study reveals that their magnetic entropy changes are 24.8 J kg−1 K−1 for 1 and 15.1 J kg−1 K−1 for 2 at 2 K and 2 T, respectively. The magnetic entropy changes of 1 and 2 at T = 2 K and ∆H = 2 T exceed most gadolinium hydroxyl compounds, indicating that magnetic refrigerants with large magnetic entropy changes at low magnetic fields can be obtained by introducing more weak magnetic exchange ligands to replace hydroxyl groups in gadolinium hydroxyl compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gold mining plays an essential role on the social and economic development. However, mining activities leads to destructive changes in ground structure and biodiversity, triggering considerable environmental problems. This study proposed a field observation to evaluate the short-term efforts of the artificial restoration measures taken by the Two-River Source Nature Reserve Administration from 2010 to 2015 in an abandoned gold mining area in Altai Mountain, Northwest China. The effects of different ecological restoration measures on soil and vegetation recovery were examined by calculating the richness index, dominance index, diversity index, evenness index, aboveground biomass, vegetation coverage, species number and soil-rock ratio index of the recovered area. Further, a principal component analysis (PCA) was used to compare the efficiency of each artificial measure. The results showed that gold mining activities cause serious environmental degradation in natural landscapes. The soil-rock ratio of the abandoned mining area was reduced by 98% compared with the original grassland. The surface vegetation was destructively destroyed, and the surface soil was stripped. Restoration measures considerably improved ecological conditions, which were reflected by surface biomass, diversity index and the soil-rock ratio, as well as accelerated ecological rebuilding processes in abandoned mining areas. The ecological efficiency of the single restoration measures assessed, such as soil measures, water replenishment measures and biological measures, was not significant. The average values of various indexes of these measures showed lower values of 0.12–0.45. The combination of various measures can not only improve the soil environment but can also lead to changes in plant community diversity and significant ecological efficiency. This was reflected by the values of various indexes, which reached higher values of 0.4–1.21. As far as the same kind of restoration measure is considered, the longer the restoration period, the better the recovery effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activated carbon from renewable biomass or its waste to purify various dyeing wastewater from textile industry is highly desired. In this work, porous activated carbon was prepared by using silk waste as precursor via a simple one-step carbonization process. The obtained SWC-1-800 had ultrahigh adsorption for anionic dye AR73 and cationic dye MB owing to its ultrahigh specific surface area (2774 m2 g−1) and rich functional groups. SWC-1-800 had an increased adsorption capacity reaching 1310 and 928 mg g−1 for AR73 and MB respectively as the initial concentration up to 1000 mg L−1. Moreover, the adsorption capacity was stable under a wide range of Na+ and SDS concentration. By adjusting the temperature and pH value, the maximum adsorption capacity reached 1337 and 1000 mg g−1 for AR73 and MB respectively, keeping the removal rate of AR73 and MB more than 80 % after 5 adsorption cycles. Besides, SWC-1-800 demonstrated quite good adsorption ability for many other kinds of dyes, which adsorption capacity as high as 1998 mg g−1 (Rh B). The adsorption mechanism was further proposed according to the structural characteristics, inherent functional groups and adsorption properties. Using silk waste-derived carbon to effectively absorb the harmful dyes in the wastewater shows dual value for cleaner production via a "waste-waste to clean products" model, which has great application potential in dyeing wastewater purification. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on the recycling of uranium, such as its usage as new materials, can promote the safe treatment of nuclear waste. In this work, with the direction of transition-metal complex cations, three uranyl–organic frameworks (UOFs) with different dimensions have been synthesized via a hydrothermal reaction, i.e. [Cu(phen)2(SO4)(UO2)(TDC)·H2O]n (1), {[Zn(phen)3][(UO2)2(TDC)3(TDC)]·6H2O}n (2), and {[Cd(phen)3][(UO2)2(TDC)2(OX)·2H2O]}n (3), (TDC = thiophene-2,5-dicarboxylic acid, OX = oxalate, and phen = 1,10-phenanthroline). With the presence of SO42−, 1 presents a rare neutral 1-D Cu/U heterometallic chain. Under the similar [Zn(phen)3]2+ and [Cd(phen)3]2+ templates, 2 is a 2-D [(UO2)2(TDC)3]n planar non-interpenetrated honeycomb layer, but 3 presents an interesting twofold interpenetrated (6,3) sheet structure, which is led by the larger cavity of the hexagonal motif with the presence of the second ligand OX. This trend could be helpful for the oriented construction of UOFs. Intra- and inter-layer hydrogen bonds between the honeycomb structure and guest cations and π–π stacking interactions contribute to the stabilization of the overall framework. Complete quenching of uranyl luminescence via nonradiative decay can be observed in 1, and 2 and 3 emit yellow fluorescence with well-resolved vibronic fine structures. The interpenetrated arrangements could give rise to weakened uranyl emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel-miR-659 Promoted Adipogenesis of pBMSCs by Targeting SPP1 Our previous study indicated that I SPP1 i is a potential target of novel-miR-659 by TargetScan and miRDB software. However, testosterone promoted the I SPP1 i expression during the later stages of pBMSCs differentiation (Figure 4), which was in keeping with the inhibition of I SPP1 i on lipid deposition. The expression of I SPP1 i decreased with novel-miR-659 upregulation and increased with novel-miR-659 knockdown, indicating that the expression trend of the I SPP1 i gene was opposite to that of novel-miR-659 (Figure S2). Inhibition of SPP1 Promoted the Adipogenic Differentiation of pBMSCs To further explore the role of I SPP1 i on pBMSCs differentiation, three pairs of I SPP1 i siRNA (si-212 I SPP1 i , si-810 I SPP1 i , and si-925 I SPP1 i ) were designed and transfected into pBMSCs. [Extracted from the article]

BACKGROUND: 'Gold Finger' is a grape cultivar with a finger‐like shape and a milk flavor. The process by which its aroma profile evolves during ripening is unclear. Thus, changes in the free and bound volatile compounds present in 'Gold Finger' grapes during ripening were investigated using headspace sampling–solid‐phase microextraction–gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (HS‐SPME‐GC‐MS). RESULTS: A total of 83 volatile aroma components were identified in the grapes, with aldehydes, esters, acids, and alcohols being the main components. The total aroma compound content exhibited significant differences between the bound and free forms. The total content of bound volatile compounds did not change significantly during fruit development, although the free aroma compound content was significantly higher than the bound content. The total content of free aldehydes, free alcohols, bound norisoprenoids, and ketones gradually increased for up to 70 days after flowering (DAF), while the total free ester, terpene, and acid content decreased. The characteristic aroma compounds of 'Gold Finger' grapes were identified as hexanal, (E)‐2‐hexenal, and ethyl hexanoate. CONCLUSIONS: These results give a foundation for the further development of 'Gold Finger' grapes and provide a theoretical basis for the selection and breeding of novel aromatic grape varieties. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tan sheep, an important local sheep breed in China, is famous for their fur quality. One-month-old Tan sheep have white, curly hair with beautiful flower spikes, commonly known as "nine bends", which has high economic value. However, the "nine bends" characteristic gradually disappears with age; consequently, the economic value of the Tan sheep decreases. Age-related changes in DNA methylation have been reported and may be responsible for age-induced changes in gene expression. Until now, no genome-wide surveys have been conducted to identify potential DNA methylation sites involved in different sheep growth stages. In this study we investigated the dynamic changes of genome-wide DNA methylation profiles in Tan sheep using DNA from skin and deep whole-genome bisulfite sequencing, and compared the DNA methylation levels at three different growth stages: 1, 24, and 48 months old (mon1, mon24, and mon48, respectively). Results: In this study, 11 skin samples from three growth stages (four for mon1, four for mon24, and three for mon48) were used for DNA methylation analysis and gene expression profiling. There were 52, 288 and 236 differentially methylated genes (DMGs) identified between mon1 and mon24, mon1 and mon48, and mon24 and mon48, respectively. Of the differentially methylated regions, 1.11%, 7.61%, and 7.65% were in the promoter in mon1 vs. mon24, mon24 vs. mon48, and mon1 vs. mon48, respectively. DMGs were enriched in the MAPK and WNT signaling pathways, which are related to age growth and hair follicle morphogenesis processes. There were 51 DMGs associated with age growth and curly fleece formation. Four DMGs between mon1 and mon48 (KRT71, CD44, ROR2 and ZDHHC13) were further validated by bisulfite sequencing. Conclusions: This study revealed dynamic changes in the genomic methylation profiles of mon1, mon24, and mon48 sheep, and the percentages of methylated cytosines were 3.38%, 2.85% and 4.17%, respectively. Of the DMGs, KRT71 and CD44 were highly methylated in mon1, and ROR2 and ZDHHC13 were highly methylated in mon48. These findings provide foundational information that may be used to develop strategies for potentially retaining the lamb fur and thus improving the economic value of Tan sheep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 3D borate–carbonate framework, GdB(OH)4CO3 (1), was synthesized. Magnetic study reveals that its MCE is up to 33.5 J kg−1 K−1 at 2 K and 2 T, due to the introduction of a long magnetic exchange path of Gd–O–B–O–Gd leading to 1 exhibiting weak magnetic interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead (Pb) is a typical toxic heavy metal element in soils and plants, which has a potential threat to human health through the food chain. Uptake of Pb in the soil–vegetable system has attracted broad attention, whereas reports on the main controlling factors of Pb uptake and accumulation in different soil–vegetable systems are limited. The effect of soil properties on Pb uptake and accumulation in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) was studied by a pot experiment with 16 typical soils in China. The results showed that the Pb bioavailability was lower in alkaline soils, and that soil cation exchange capacity (CEC), CaCO3, and total phosphorus contents might influence the uptake and transfer of Pb by peppers. Soil pH and CEC were the most significant factors affecting Pb accumulation in pepper fruits. Soil pH was negatively correlated with Pb uptake and accumulation due to its influence on Pb mobility and bioavailability. The accumulation of Pb decreased as soil CEC increased, which might inhibit the absorption and transfer of Pb in peppers. The multiple linear regression function based on soil Pb content, pH, and CEC could provide enough information for a good prediction of the accumulation of Pb in soil–pepper systems (R2 = 0.733). The results are in favor of developing a Pb threshold for vegetables in agricultural soils in China, thus improving the food safety of crops. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:1443–1451. © 2021 SETAC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Impaired axonal transport may contribute to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Down syndrome (DS). Axonal transport is a complex process in which specific motor proteins move cargoes to and from neuronal cell bodies and their processes. Inconsistent reports point to the changes in AD in the levels of the classical anterograde motor protein kinesin family member 5 (KIF5) and the primary neuronal KIF regulator kinesin light chain 1 (KLC1), raising the possibility that anterograde transport is compromised in AD. Methods and materials: To address inconsistencies and determine if the shared pathologies in AD and elderly DS subjects with dementia (AD in DS; AD-DS) extend to the changes in KIF5 and KLC1, we measured the levels of all the three KIF5 family members and KLC1 in the AD and AD-DS frontal cortex and AD temporal cortex and cerebellum in samples taken with a short postmortem interval. To support future studies to explore the cell biological basis for any changes detected, we also examined the levels of these proteins in the brains of young and aged adult mice in the Dp (16)1Yey/+ (Dp16) mouse model of DS and J20 mouse model of AD. Results: There were no changes in comparison with controls in KIF5 family members in either the AD or AD-DS samples when normalized to either β-actin or glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). Interestingly, however, samples from control brains as well as from AD and AD-DS demonstrated strong positive correlations between the levels of KIF5 family members, suggesting positive co-regulated expression. Importantly, while earlier reports pointed to a negative correlation between the levels of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and KIF5A levels, we found the opposite to be true in AD-DS; this was especially striking given triplication of the APP gene, with increased APP protein levels. AD and control samples showed positive correlations between fl-hAPP and KIF5 members, but they were less consistent. In contrast to the findings for KIF5, the levels of KLC1 were downregulated in the frontal cortex of both AD and AD-DS brains; interestingly, this change was not seen in the AD temporal cortex or cerebellum. As postmortem interval has a negative effect on the levels of KLC1, but not KIF5 members, we analyzed a subset of samples with a very short postmortem interval (PMI) (≤ 6 h), a PMI that was not significantly correlated with the levels of KLC1 in either AD or AD-DS samples; we confirmed the presence of a statistically significant reduction of KLC1 in AD and AD-DS brains as compared with control brains. Studies comparing Dp16 to its euploid control recapitulated human studies in demonstrating no change in KIF5 levels and a positive correlation between the levels of KIF5 family members. J20 mice also showed normal KIF5 levels. However, unlike the AD and AD-DS frontal cortex, KLC1 levels were not reduced in the brains of Dp16 or J20 mice. Conclusion: These data point to significant reductions in KLC1 in AD and AD-DS. In so doing, they raise the possibility of compromised KLC1-mediated axonal transport in these conditions, a posit that can now be pursued in model systems in which KLC1 expression is reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-chain n -3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are known to have beneficial effects on intestinal health. However, the underling mechanisms are largely unknown. The present study was conducted to investigate whether docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) attenuates TNF-α-induced intestinal cell injury and barrier dysfunction by modulating necroptosis signalling. Intestinal porcine epithelial cell line 1 was cultured with or without 12.5 µg/ml DHA, followed by exposure to 50 ng/ml TNF-α for indicated time periods. DHA restored cell viability and cell number triggered by TNF-α. DHA also improved barrier function, which was indicated by increased trans-epithelial electrical resistance, decreased FD4 flux and increased membrane localisation of zonula occludins (ZO-1) and claudin-1. Moreover, DHA suppressed cell necrosis in TNF-α-challenged cells, as shown in the IncuCyte ZOOM™ live cell imaging system and transmission electron microscopy. In addition, DHA decreased protein expression of TNF receptor, receptor interacting protein kinase 1, RIP3 and phosphorylation of mixed lineage kinase-like protein, phosphoglycerate mutase family 5, dynamin-related protein 1 and high mobility group box-1 protein. Furthermore, DHA suppressed protein expression of caspase-3 and caspase-8. Collectively, these results indicate that DHA is capable of alleviating TNF-α-induced cell injury and barrier dysfunction by suppressing the necroptosis signalling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the plasma levels and clearance of procalcitonin (PCTc) as prognostic biomarkers for patients with abdominal sepsis. A retrospective study of 103 patients with abdominal sepsis was conducted in our intensive care unit (ICU) from 2016 to 2018. Procalcitonin (PCT) plasma levels were measured at the time of diagnosis of abdominal sepsis and daily over the next 5 days. PCTc was calculated from day 3 to day 5. The prognostic accuracy of PCTc was expressed as the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). The Kaplan–Meier method was used to compare the survival curves by log-rank test. Logistic regression analysis was used to predict the 28-day mortality. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality since admission to ICU. Serum PCT levels from day 1 to day 5 did not differ significantly between survivors and non-survivors, while PCTc on day 5 was statistically significantly higher in survivors than that in non-survivors (86.4% vs 38.7%, P < 0.001). The cutoff value for PCTc-day 5 was 70%, with AUROC of 0.726, sensitivity of 64.6%, and specificity of 78.3%. The 28-day mortality was significantly lower among those with PCTc-day 5 >70% compared with those with PCTc-day 5 <70% (9.1% vs 38.3%, log-rank test, P < 0.001), and odds ratio (OR) was 0.16 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.05–0.48, P < 0.001). The ability to decrease PCT by at least 70% on day 5 was an independent predictor of 28-day mortality after admission to ICU with moderate accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the plasma levels and clearance of procalcitonin (PCTc) as prognostic biomarkers for patients with abdominal sepsis. A retrospective study of 103 patients with abdominal sepsis was conducted in our intensive care unit (ICU) from 2016 to 2018. Procalcitonin (PCT) plasma levels were measured at the time of diagnosis of abdominal sepsis and daily over the next 5 days. PCTc was calculated from day 3 to day 5. The prognostic accuracy of PCTc was expressed as the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). The Kaplan–Meier method was used to compare the survival curves by log-rank test. Logistic regression analysis was used to predict the 28-day mortality. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality since admission to ICU. Serum PCT levels from day 1 to day 5 did not differ significantly between survivors and non-survivors, while PCTc on day 5 was statistically significantly higher in survivors than that in non-survivors (86.4% vs 38.7%, P < 0.001). The cutoff value for PCTc-day 5 was 70%, with AUROC of 0.726, sensitivity of 64.6%, and specificity of 78.3%. The 28-day mortality was significantly lower among those with PCTc-day 5 >70% compared with those with PCTc-day 5 <70% (9.1% vs 38.3%, log-rank test, P < 0.001), and odds ratio (OR) was 0.16 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.05–0.48, P < 0.001). The ability to decrease PCT by at least 70% on day 5 was an independent predictor of 28-day mortality after admission to ICU with moderate accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgrounds and Aims The rhizosphere priming effect (RPE) has been explained from the perspective of microbial responses to root exudates and nutrient availability. This study introduced a chemical process that could also contribute to RPE: root exudates (organic acid ligands) could liberate mineral-protected carbon (C) in soil for microbial degradation. Methods Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) near-isogenic lines varying in citrate efflux were grown for 6 weeks in a C4 soil supplied with either low (10 μg g–1) or high P (40 μg g–1). Total below-ground CO2 was trapped and partitioned for determination of soil organic C decomposition and RPE using a stable isotopic tracing technique. Mineral dissolution was examined by incubating soil with citric ligand at a series of concentrations. Key Results High P increased RPE (81 %), shoot (32 %) and root biomass (57 %), root-derived CO2-C (20 %), microbial biomass C (28 %) and N (100%), soil respiration (20 %) and concentrations of water-extractable P (30 %), Fe (43 %) and Al (190 %), but decreased inorganic N in the rhizosphere. Compared with Egret-Burke, wheat line Egret-Burke TaMATE1B with citrate efflux had lower inorganic N, microbial biomass C (16 %) and N (30 %) in the rhizosphere but greater RPE (18 %), shoot biomass (12 %) and root-derived CO2-C (low P 36 %, high P 13 %). Egret-Burke TaMATE1B also had higher concentrations of water-extractable P, Fe and Al in the rhizosphere, indicating the release of mineral-protected C. In addition, citrate ligand facilitated Fe and Al release from soil, with their concentrations rising with increasing ligand concentration and incubation time. Conclusions While high P supply increased microbial growth and RPE possibly due to higher total root exudation, citrate efflux from the root might have facilitated the liberation of mineral-bound C, leading to the higher RPE under Egret-Burke TaMATE1B. Mineral dissolution may be an important process that regulates RPE and should be considered in future RPE research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wafer map defect pattern contains the critical information about semiconductor manufacturing, effective defect analysis technology can improve the yield of products. This paper develops a wafer defect pattern recognition and analysis method based on convolutional neural network (CNN). We build an 8-layer CNN model to inspect wafer map defect and a 13-layer model to classify defect patterns. To analyze the defects, we first extract features based on the classification network, then perform PCA dimensionality reduction and similarity ranking, we infer the root causes of tested samples according to the retrieved wafer maps. In particular, we analyze the impacts of different network layers and feature dimensions on image retrieval performance, it turns out that the appropriate dimensionality reduction can increase the accuracy and speed of wafer map retrieval. The models are trained and tested on the WM-811K wafer map dataset, which are collected from real wafer maps. The experimental results show that the proposed method is able to identify common wafer defect patterns and analyze the root causes accurately and effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Elevated CO 2 (eCO 2) may enhance soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration via greater input of photosynthetic carbon (C). However, greater rhizodeposits under eCO 2 may stimulate microbial decomposition of native SOC. This study aimed to examine the status and stability of SOC in three Australian cropping soils after long-term CO 2 enrichment. Samples (0–5 cm) of Chromosol, Vertosol and Calcarosol soils were collected from an 8-year Free-air CO 2 Enrichment (SoilFACE) experiment and were used to examine SOC dynamics by physical fractionation and incubation with 13C-glucose. Compared to the ambient CO 2 (aCO 2) (390–400 μmol mol−1), 8 years of elevated CO 2 (eCO 2) (550 μmol mol−1) did not increase SOC concentration of all soils, but changed SOC distribution with 12% more C in coarse soil fractions and 5% less C in fine fractions. Elevated CO 2 also enhanced the susceptibility of SOC to 13C-glucose-induced priming, but this effect was only significant in the coarse-textured Calcarosol topsoil. The eCO 2 history increased labile C (coarse C fraction, +13%) and soil pH (+0.25 units), and decreased available N (−30%) in the Calcarosol, which stimulated microbial biomass C by 28%, leading to an enhanced priming effect. Despite with greater total primed C, the Chromosol that had the highest amount of native C, had lower primed C per unit of SOC when compared to the low-C Calcarosol. In conclusion, the effect of long-term eCO 2 enrichment on soil C and N availability in cropping soils depended on soil type with the coarse-textured Calcarosol soil being more susceptible to substrate-induced decomposition of its SOC. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Elevated CO 2 (eCO 2) did not increase soil organic C in topsoil after 8 years. • Long-term eCO 2 increased C distribution to the >53 μm fraction. • Elevated CO 2 increased the priming effect in the coarse-textured Calcarosol. • Soil organic C stability: Chromosol >Vertosol > Calcarosol [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Elevated atmospheric CO2 (eCO2) can affect microbial decomposition of native soil organic carbon (SOC) via enhanced root exudation and rhizosphere activity. Few studies have examined the effect of eCO2 on the decomposition of newly-added crop residues, which are important to understand below-ground C changes. A soil microcosm experiment was conducted to examine whether eCO2 would enhance the rhizosphere effects on the decomposition of crop residues.Methods: White lupin (Lupinus albus L. cv. Kiev) was grown for 34 or 62 days under ambient CO2 (aCO2, 400 μmol mol−1) or eCO2 (800 μmol mol−1) in a low-C (2.0 mg g−1) soil which was amended with or without dual 13C and 15N labelled wheat, field pea or canola crop residues. An isotopic tracing technique was adopted to partition residue-derived CO2 from total below-ground CO2 efflux. Two independent groups of data were analysed statistically at either Day 34 or 62.Results: The presence of white lupin increased the decomposition of all residues at Day 34. This positive rhizosphere effect on residue decomposition decreased and was even reversed at Day 62, probably due to depletion of labile C, or microbial N limitation, or rhizosphere acidification. The eCO2-induced decomposition depended on residue type at Day 34. Specifically, when compared to aCO2, eCO2 did not affect the decomposition of canola residue, increased that of field pea residue by 13.5% but decreased wheat straw decomposition by 7.4%. However, residue decomposition was, on average, 13% higher under eCO2 at Day 62, which was correlated positively with the increase in rhizosphere extractable C (P < 0.01).Conclusions: Elevated CO2 generally increased residue decomposition in the rhizosphere, but this effect was mediated by residue type at Day 34. Enhanced residue decomposition under legumes at eCO2 may favour C turnover and the release of residue N. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Proton-nucleus (p +A) collisions play an important role as a control system for interpreting hot nuclear matter effects in nucleus-nucleus (A+A) collisions. There is a large amount of data from both RHIC and the LHC that indicate that collective effects are also present in small systems. Understanding the origin of these effects is still incomplete, since a variety of models with very different underlying physics have been shown to describe p +A data. We present a comprehensive set of measurements of soft-physics observables and comparisons with theoretical models. These measurements include multi-particle correlations as a function of event multiplicity, ν 2 (p T) and ν 3 (p T) for inclusive charged particles at mid-rapidity, ν 2 (p T) for hadrons at forward/backward rapidities, and the centrality and pseudorapidity dependence of inclusive ν 2. The implications for the origin of collectivity in p +Au collisions at RHIC is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The quantification of proteins is essential in fundamental research or clinical applications. Here, we developed a facile electrochemical aptasensor based on target-induced turn-off of photosensitization for label-free and ultrasensitive detection of protein (exemplified by lysozyme). EB (ethidium bromide) molecules that were embedded in dsDNA between lysozyme binding aptamer and complementary DNA immobilized on the electrode, could photo-cleave the dsDNA via singlet oxygen (O 2 1) during photosensitization, resulting in a high voltammetry current of the [Fe(CN) 6 ]3-/4-. Upon recognition of the lysozyme by aptamer, the EB molecules were released from dsDNA, and its photosensitization activity was turned off. As a result, more amount of complementary DNA was retained on the Au nanoparticles modified carbon nanotube paste electrode (AuNPs-CNPE), leading to a declined voltammetry current. Such a sensing strategy allowed detection of 10 pM-1 µM lysozyme with a low detection limit (about 2 pM). Besides, the sensor was free of labeling procedure as well as extra signal amplification step, and the CNPE modification was quite simple, only with AuNPs. The sensor also showed excellent selectivity toward lysozyme in the presence of interfering proteins, such as thrombin, bovine serum albumin, myoglobin, etc. The proposed sensor was applied to the determination of lysozyme in urine samples with the recoveries ranging from 96.6% to 101%. The proposed biosensor holds a great promise in developing other electrochemical sensors based on photosensitization. Highlights •  A target-induced turn-off of photosensitization technique is proposed. •  A new electrosensor was developed for label-free detection of protein. • The electrosensor can be used for detection of lysozyme as low as 10 pM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The vascular endothelium acts as a barrier between the blood flow and the inner lining of the vessel wall, and it functions as a filtering machinery to filter out any unwanted transfer of materials from both sides (i.e. the blood and the surrounding tissues). It is evident that diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension disturb the normal endothelial functions in humans and lead to endothelial dysfunction, which may further precede to the development of atherosclerosis. Long non-coding RNAs and micro RNAs both are types of non-coding RNAs which, in the recent years, have increasingly been studied in the pathophysiology of many diseases including diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, neurological diseases, and others. Recent findings have pointed out important aspects on their relevance to endothelial function as well as dysfunction of the system which may arise from presence of diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. Diabetes or hypertension-mediated endothelial dysfunction show characteristics such as reduced nitric oxide synthesis through suppression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity in endothelial cells, reduced sensitivity of nitric oxide in smooth muscle cells, and inflammation – all of which have been either shown to be directly caused by gene regulatory mechanisms of non-coding RNAs or shown to be having a correlation with them. In this review, we aim to discuss such findings on the role of these non-coding RNAs in diabetes or hypertension-associated endothelial dysfunction and the related mechanisms that may pave the way for alleviating endothelial dysfunction and its related complications such as atherosclerosis. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cytosolic chaperonin T‐complex protein (TCP) 1‐ring complex (TRiC) has been shown to exert neuroprotective effects on axonal transport through clearance of mutant Huntingtin (mHTT) in Huntington's disease. However, it is presently unknown if TRiC also has any effect on axonal transport in wild‐type neurons. Here, we examined how TRiC impacted the retrograde axonal transport of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). We found that expression of a single TRiC subunit significantly enhanced axonal transport of BDNF, leading to an increase in instantaneous velocity with a concomitant decrease in pauses for retrograde BDNF transport. The transport enhancing effect by TRiC was dependent on endogenous tau expression because no effect was seen in neurons from tau knockout mice. We showed that TRiC regulated the level of cyclin‐dependent kinase 5 (CDK5)/p35 positively, contributing to TRiC‐mediated tau phosphorylation (ptau). Expression of a single TRiC subunit increased the level of ptau while downregulation of the TRiC complex decreased ptau. We further demonstrated that TRiC‐mediated increase in ptau induced detachment of tau from microtubules. Our study has thus revealed that TRiC‐mediated increase in tau phosphorylation impacts retrograde axonal transport. The cytosolic chaperonin T‐complex protein (TCP) 1‐ring complex (TRiC) or chaperonin containing TCP‐1 (CCT) has been shown to exert neuroprotective effects in Huntington's disease. Here, we demonstrate that CCT enhances retrograde axonal transport of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) to impact neuronal function. Our study has showed that upregulation of TRiC/CCT increases the level of cyclin‐dependent kinase 5 (CDK5)/p35, resulting in tau phosphorylation. Surprisingly, the net effect on retrograde axonal transport of BDNF is the reduction in pauses with a concomitant increase in transport velocities. We further provide evidence that the effect of CCT on enhancing axonal transport of BDNF is dependent on endogenous tau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study evaluated the potential combined effects of NAFLD and MetS on the development of osteoporosis. The relationship between NAFLD and MetS and osteoporosis was assessed in 938 postmenopausal female participants. Moderate and severe NAFLDs were combined as significant NAFLD (SNAFLD). All the subjects were divided into 4 subgroups based on the status of SNAFLD and MetS. Relative excess risk of interaction (RERI), attributable proportion (AP) of interaction, and synergy index (SI) were used to investigate the additive interaction of those two factors. NAFLD, SNAFLD, and MetS were independent factors for osteoporosis with the adjustment of age and other confounders. The incidence of osteoporosis in MetS (+) SNAFLD (+) group was significantly higher than that in other three groups. RERI was 2.556 (95% CI = 0.475–4.636), AP was 0.454 (95% CI = 0.201–0.706), and SI was 2.231 (95% CI = 1.124 to 4.428), indicating the significant combined interaction of SNAFLD and MetS on the development of osteoporosis. SNAFLD and MetS are independent risk factors for osteoporosis in postmenopausal females, respectively. Moreover, SNAFLD and MetS have an additive effect on the development of osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Plants grown under elevated CO2 (eCO2) demand more nitrogen from soil and invest more labile carbon (C) compounds into below-ground. This would potentially affect microbial decomposition of soil organic C (SOC) in the rhizosphere- namely rhizosphere priming effect (RPE). This study aims to reveal how eCO2 and nitrogen (N) supply affect the RPEs under wheat and white lupin.Methods: Wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Yitpi) and white lupin (Lupinus albus L. cv. Kiev) were grown at two N addition rates under ambient CO2 (400 μmol mol−1) and eCO2 (800 μmol mol−1) for 32 and 52 days in a C4 soil. Rhizosphere priming of SOC was quantified using the stable 13C isotopic tracing technique.Results: Relative to adequate N supply, low N increased the RPEs under both species at Day 32, but decreased the RPEs under wheat while had no effect on RPE under white lupin at Day 52. Elevated CO2 increased the RPE except that under wheat at Day 52.Conclusions: Low N availability in soil increased the RPE probably via stimulated microbial N mining while eCO2 and severe N limitation synergistically decreased the RPE under wheat but not under N2-fixing white lupin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on HfO 2 thin film deposition by atomic layer deposition for growth properties and laser damage resistance is rare. In this paper, its related properties have been investigated with various deposition cycles. Microstructure of the thin films was investigated by X-ray diffraction. Film cross-sections were measured by the Transmission Electron Microscope. In addition, film morphology was studied under an atomic force microscope. Laser-induced damage threshold was tested by a damage test system. The results show that with the increase of cycle number, the refractive index of the HfO 2 film deposited by ALD increases gradually. Growth rate was no longer keeps a constant, and there was a jump at the 500 cycles. Moreover, film roughness increases gradually with the deposition cycles increased, especially when the cycle numbers were 500 and 1000, film roughness were 2.16 nm and 2.03 nm, respectively. Based on the results of XRD and TEM, crystallization was found to occur when the deposition cycle was larger than or equal to 500 with mainly polycrystalline structure. With the film thickness increased, film exhibited preferred orientation of (2, 0, 0). All it shows that with the film cycle number increased, three processes of the film growth appeared: gathered, island and nucleation crystalline phases. The damage threshold of the films decreased from ∼28 J/cm 2 to ∼16 J/cm 2 while the crystallinity of films increased, indicating that the presence of grain boundaries led to the reduction of the damage threshold of the films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurotrophic factors, including the members of the neurotrophin family, play important roles in the development and maintenance of the nervous system. Trophic factor signals must be transmitted over long distances from axons and dendrites to the cell bodies of neurons. A mode of signaling well suited to the challenge of robust long distance signaling is the signaling endosome. We review the biology of signaling endosomes and the “signaling endosome hypothesis”. Evidence for disruption of signaling endosome function in disorders of the nervous system is also reviewed. Changes in endosome structure in Alzheimer disease (AD) and Down syndrome (DS) are present early in these disorders. Data for the APP products responsible are reviewed and the consequent changes in signaling from endosomes discussed. We conclude by pointing to the need for additional studies to explore the biology of signaling endosomes in normal neurons and to elucidate their role in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Elevated CO (eCO) alters plant rhizosphere processes and soil microbial properties which in turn change the decomposition of native soil organic carbon (SOC), the process termed rhizosphere priming effect (RPE). This study examined the effect of eCO on RPEs of plant species contrasting in root system and exudation. Methods: Two C3 species, wheat ( Triticum aestivum L. cv. Yitpi) and white lupin ( Lupinus albus L. cv. Kiev), were grown under ambient CO (400 ± 15 μmol mol) and eCO (800 ± 30 μmol mol) for 34 and 62 days in a C4 soil. The amounts of CO derived from SOC and plant roots were quantified. Results: Elevated CO increased the RPEs of white lupin by 78% and 47% at days 34 and 62, respectively. It increased microbial respiration (63%) and biomass carbon (43%) in the rhizosphere soil of white lupin at Day 62. In contrast, eCO decreased wheat RPE by 22% and did not affect rhizosphere soil respiration and microbial biomass carbon at Day 62. Moreover, eCO increased the concentration of soluble organic carbon in the rhizosphere of white lupin but not wheat. Conclusions: The enhanced RPE of white lupin but not wheat under eCO had resulted from an increase in root exudation of white lupin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent measurements in small collisions systems at LHC and RHIC indicate that the particles produced in high-multiplicity collisions exhibit collective behavior very similar to that observed in large systems where QGP is formed. In large systems, it is well established that the final-state particle correlations arise from anisotropic pressure gradients in the initial state of the collisions that drive a near-perfect fluid evolution. Whether QGP is also formed in small collision systems is presently under intense investigation. To study the origin of the collective behavior in small systems, the PHENIX experiment performed a series of geometry-controlled experiments using p +Al, p +Au, d +Au, and 3 He+Au collisions at s N N = 200 GeV . The elliptic ( v 2 ) flow coefficients are measured as a function of p T for inclusive and identified charged hadrons. Mass dependence is observed in v 2 ( p T ) indicative of hydrodynamic evolution. The distinct initial geometries provide discriminating power against the models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The investigation of journal rotation and bearing surface waviness on the dynamic performance of aerostatic journal bearings is presented in this paper. The linear perturbation theory and an iterative procedure are proposed to solve the unsteady Reynolds equation. The bearing dynamic stiffness and dynamic damping under various operating parameters are numerical calculated. The results show that journal rotation can play an important role in bearing dynamic performance. The vertical principal stiffness and principal damping of the pure aerostatic journal bearing have a significant dependence on perturbation rotational speed. The influence of surface waviness on bearing dynamic characteristics is notable. With the growth of the wave's amplitude, the absolute values of dynamic stiffness and dynamic damping can be increased clearly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thrust aerostatic bearing with vacuum pre-load (VPL pads) is a kind of effective supporting structure with simple mechanism and well stiffness. In this paper, a calculation method is presented to calculate the static characteristics of the VPL pads. Based on finite difference method (FDM), an efficient iterative algorithm is developed to decrease the iterative times. Compared to the experiment results, it shows that the calculation method can predict the static characteristics exactly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a ratiometric SERS probe was created for monitoring nitric oxide (NO) by designing a novel molecule, 3,4-diaminobenzene-thiol, and immobilizing this molecule onto trisoctahedral gold nanostructures with superior SERS capability. The established probe possessed good selectivity and biocompatibility, high sensitivity and accuracy, thus enabling imaging and biosensing of NO in live cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar thermal energy storage based on phase change materials (PCMs) plays a significant role in overcoming the intermittent and fluctuating nature of solar irradiation. However, the weak solar absorptance, intrinsic low thermal conductivity, and leakage problems preclude efficient solar energy storage harvesting and storage. Herein, eco-friendly, anisotropic, large porosity wood-derived SiC ceramics is proposed to overcome the above bottleneck problems and achieve rapid solar thermal energy storage. We report a synergetic strategy to fabricate composite phase change materials (CPCMs) with high thermal conductivity and large energy storage density by partially removing the interwoven lignin and hemicellulose from natural wood. The porosity of the porous wood-derived SiC ceramics can be increased from 55% to 80%, beyond the porosity limitation of conventional wood. Vertically aligned channels and compact SiC grains serve as thermal transport highways and enable resultant CPCMs to exhibit a high thermal conductivity of 31.2 W/mK even at a porosity of up to 80%. The solar absorptance of proposed composites (89%) is significantly higher than that of pure PCMs, enabling them to capture solar energy effectively. This work provides a synergetic strategy for achieving efficient solar energy harvesting, fast conversion, and high-density storage simultaneously via proposed eco-friendly and large porosity wood-derived SiC ceramics-based phase change composites. [Display omitted] • Efficient solar energy harvesting, conversion, and storage are achieved simultaneously. • The porosity of eco-ceramics increases greatly from 55% to 80% beyond the porosity limitation of conventional wood. • The thermal conductivity of proposed phase change composites is 31.2 W/mK even at a porosity of up to 80%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In concentrated solar power (CSP) technology, molten salt is one of the highly competitive phase change energy storage materials due to large energy storage densities and good chemical resistance. However, the lack of precise methodological guidance for designing high enthalpy eutectic salts limits the widespread and efficient application of molten salts. Here, we first present a method for accurately assessing the enthalpy of eutectic salt by first-principles molecular dynamics (FPMD) simulations. By simulating two extreme states infinitely close to the pure solid and pure liquid at the phase transition temperature, the fusion enthalpy of a new ternary eutectic salt (K 2 CO 3 -Li 2 CO 3 -NaF) is accurately predicted with a calculation error as low as 6.4%. This work provides theoretical guidance for predicting the enthalpy of molten salts and lays the foundation for their widespread application. • An FPMD-based method for predicting melting enthalpy is first presented. • The new method predicts the enthalpy of NaCl–CaCl 2 with an error of 1.5%. • The new method predicts the enthalpy of K 2 CO 3 -Li 2 CO 3 -NaF with an error of 6.4%. • A new ternary salt K 2 CO 3 -Li 2 CO 3 -NaF with a T m of 663.75K, ΔH of 302.5J/g is prepared. • The phase diagram method is superior to MD in predicting the melting temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enzyme powered self-assembly strategy is proposed in this work to construct enzyme-entrapped hydrogel biosensor, for simple, rapid, and colorimetric detection of metabolites. Specifically, the enzyme itself drives the assembly of hydrogel biosensor. The gelation process powered by enzyme is compatible for encapsulation of detection enzymes while retain their activities, so as to facilitate catalytic detection of specific metabolites with colorimetric signal readout. For convenience of the operation, the hydrogel biosensor has been further fitted in a test tube to construct a new kind of one-tube assay kit. For the proof-of-concept, assay kits for hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) and glucose have been testified. The linear detection ranges for H 2 O 2 and glucose are 0.05–1.50 mM and 2–50 mM, the limit of detection (LOD) are 8.9 µM and 1.6 mM, and the entire assay time require only 1 min and 6 min, respectively. They exhibit high sensitivity and specificity both in test solution and real serum samples. Therefore, this one-tube colorimetric assay kit is promising for in home medical diagnosis and clinical routine rapid testing. Additionally, the hydrogel biosensor system may have universality for embedding other detecting enzymes, and enable many biomedical tests based on specific enzymes. [Display omitted] ● Enzyme powered self-assembly of hydrogel that also entraps other enzymes is proposed. ● H 2 O 2 can be the analyte in the hydrogel biosensor system rather than an initiator. ● A one-tube assay kit is constructed for fast colorimetric detection of metabolites. ● The hydrogel system is suitable for point-of-care assay in resource limiting areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar application is a potent climate change mitigation strategy in agroecosystems. However, little is known about the interactive effects of elevated CO 2 (eCO 2) and biochar on plant nutrient uptake and soil microbial processes. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of eCO 2 and biochar addition on plant C:N:P stoichiometry and rhizobacterial community for better management of nutrient balance and use efficiency in a future climate scenario. White lupin (Lupinus albus L.) was grown for 30 days in topsoil and subsoil with or without 2% corn-stubble biochar under ambient CO 2 (aCO 2 : 390 ppm) or eCO 2 (550 ppm). Elevated CO 2 increased, but biochar decreased, plant biomass and shoot N and P uptake, with no interactions in either soil layer. Elevated CO 2 decreased shoot N concentration by 16% and biochar decreased shoot P concentration by 11%. As a result, eCO 2 increased shoot C:N ratio by 20% and decreased the N:P ratio by 11%. Biochar decreased shoot C:N ratio by 8% in the subsoil under eCO 2. However, biochar increased shoot C:P ratio by an average of 13% and N:P ratio by 23% in the subsoil. Moreover, plants grown in the subsoil showed lower shoot N (35%) and P (70%) uptake compared to the topsoil. The results indicate that N and P are the more limiting factors that regulate plant growth under eCO 2 and biochar application, respectively. Elevated CO 2 and biochar oppositely affected dominant rhizobacterial community composition, with the eCO 2 effect being greater. The microbiota in the subsoil held a greater diversity of contrasting species than the topsoil, which were associated with nutrient cycling, hydrocarbon degradation and plant productivity. These results enrich our understanding of potential soil nutrient cycling and plant nutrient balance in future agroecosystems. [Display omitted] • eCO 2 increased shoot C:N ratio by 20% and decreased the N:P ratio by 11%. • Biochar increased shoot C:P ratio by 13% and N:P ratio by 23% in the subsoil. • eCO 2 increased but biochar decreased plant biomass and shoot N, P uptake. • eCO 2 had greater effects than biochar on the dominant rhizobacterial community. • The subsoil held a greater diversity of contrasting species than the topsoil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A numerical study of the effect of the bearing surface waviness on the performance of aerostatic journal bearings is presented. The finite difference method (FDM) and an iterative procedure are proposed to solve Reynolds equation and derive the air film pressure distribution. The calculated results indicate that the surface waviness can influence the bearing characteristics obviously. The effect of the wave's spatial wavelength on the bearing performance is not in order, whereas the effect of the waviness amplitude is ordinal. With the growth of the circumferential or axial waviness amplitude from 1.0 µm to 3.0 µm, the load capacity, stiffness and mass inflow rate can be decreased, whereas the circumferential or axial friction coefficient can be increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]