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This research presents and confirms an intermediary model, deeply anchored in self-determination theory, to dissect the influence of Chinese high school students' core psychological needs and intrinsic drive on the nexus between educators' autonomous backing and students' proficiency in feedback literacy, highlighting the mediating roles of these elements. A survey of 704 Chinese senior high school students, including 319 males and 385 females, employed the Feedback Literacy Scale, Basic Psychological Needs Scale, Intrinsic Motivation Scale, and Perceived Teacher Autonomy Support Scale. The study's discoveries illuminate that educators' autonomous support not only directly amplifies students' feedback literacy but also has an indirect impact through the intermediation of basic psychological needs and intrinsic motivation, along with their interconnected dynamics. This inquiry not only deepens our grasp of the mechanisms interlinking teacher support with feedback literacy but also critically evaluates the findings to proffer targeted recommendations, thereby enhancing our comprehension of the underlying processes and guiding educational practices and student development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to their significant application potential in national defense and aerospace technology, the development of energetic materials with high heat resistance and high energy has attracted great attention recently. Herein, a zwitterionic strategy was explored for the preparation of a new heatresistant energetic material. Through this strategy, a zwitterionic energetic material, 2,6-diamino-9-iminio-3,5-dinitro-9H-dipyrazolo[1,5-a:50,10-d][1,3,5]triazin-4-ide (ZDPT), was prepared employing a simple method. The molecular and crystal structures of ZDPT were comprehensively examined using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The unique zwitterionic structure of ZDPT is rarely observed in energetic materials. ZDPT exhibited exceptionally high thermal stability with an onset decomposition temperature of 347 °C and a peak temperature of 380 °C, which was higher than that of most traditional heat-resistant energetic materials and the highest among energetic zwitterions and energetic ion salts. Moreover, ZDPT exhibited excellent energy performance and surprisingly low sensitivity. The detonation velocity was 8390 m s-1, which outperformed that of many heat-resistant energetic materials. The impact sensitivity and fraction sensitivity of ZDPT were higher than 40 J and 360 N, respectively. The extremely high thermal stability and low mechanical sensitivity were strongly related to the zwitterionic structure and the presence of a large p electron conjugation system of ZDPT making ZDPT a potential candidate for heat-resistant energetic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causal agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has infected millions of individuals worldwide, which poses a severe threat to human health. COVID-19 is a systemic ailment affecting various tissues and organs, including the lungs and liver. Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is one of the most common liver cancer, and cancer patients are particularly at high risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nonetheless, few studies have investigated the impact of COVID-19 on ICC patients. Methods: With the methods of systems biology and bioinformatics, this study explored the link between COVID-19 and ICC, and searched for potential therapeutic drugs. Results: This study identified a total of 70 common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) shared by both diseases, shedding light on their shared functionalities. Enrichment analysis pinpointed metabolism and immunity as the primary areas influenced by these common genes. Subsequently, through protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, we identified SCD, ACSL5, ACAT2, HSD17B4, ALDOA, ACSS1, ACADSB, CYP51A1, PSAT1, and HKDC1 as hub genes. Additionally, 44 transcription factors (TFs) and 112 microRNAs (miRNAs) were forecasted to regulate the hub genes. Most importantly, several drug candidates (Periodate-oxidized adenosine, Desipramine, Quercetin, Perfluoroheptanoic acid, Tetrandrine, Pentadecafluorooctanoic acid, Benzo[a]pyrene, SARIN, Dorzolamide, 8-Bromo-cAMP) may prove effective in treating ICC and COVID-19. Conclusion: This study is expected to provide valuable references and potential drugs for future research and treatment of COVID-19 and ICC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The patient, a male newborn, was admitted to the hospital 2 hours after birth duc to prematurity (gestational agc 27+5 weeks) and respiratory distress occurring 2 hours postnatally. After admission, the infant developed fever and elevated C-reactive protein levels. On the fourth day after birth, metagenomic next-generation sequencing of cerebrospinal fluid indicated a positive result for Mycoplasma hominis (9 898 reads). On the eighth day, a retest of cerebrospinal fluid metagenomics confirmed Mycoplasma hominis (56 806 reads). The diagnosis of purulent meningitis caused by Mycoplasma hominis was established, and the antibiotic treatment was switched to moxifloxacin [5 mg/(kg⋅day)] administered intravenously for a total of 4 weeks. After treatment, the patient's cerebrospinal fluid tests returned to normal, and he was discharged as cured on the 76th day after birth. This article focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of neonatal Mycoplasma hominis purulent meningitis, introducing the multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment of the condition in extremely preterm infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synergistic bioassay-guided isolation of the extracts of Artemisia rupestris L, which belongs to the family Asteraceae, afforded two acetylenic spiroketal enol ethers, namely rupesdiynes A (1) and B (2). Their structures were determined based on spectroscopic analysis and experimental and calculated ECD investigations. The two compounds exhibited synergistic activity and were able to reduce the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of oxacillin four-fold, with a fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) of 0.5 in combination with oxacillin against the oxacillin-resistant EMRSA-16. Biofilm formation inhibitory and Ethidium bromide (EtBr) efflux assay were further employed to verify the possible mechanism of the synergistic antibacterial effect. Additionally, molecular docking studies were conducted to investigate the binding affinities of the two compounds with penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a) of EMRSA-16. Taken together, rupesdiynes A (1) and rupesdiyne B (2) showed moderate synergistic activity against EMRSA-16 with oxacillin via inhibiting biofilm formation and efflux pump activity, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Massive GGGGCC (G4C2) repeat expansion in C9orf72 and the resulting loss of C9orf72 function are the key features of ~50% of inherited amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia cases. However, the biological function of C9orf72 remains unclear. We previously found that C9orf72 can form a stable GTPase activating protein (GAP) complex with SMCR8 (Smith-Magenis chromosome region 8). Herein, we report that the C9orf72-SMCR8 complex is a major negative regulator of primary ciliogenesis, abnormalities in which lead to ciliopathies. Mechanistically, the C9orf72- SMCR8 complex suppresses the primary cilium as a RAB8A GAP. Moreover, based on biochemical analysis, we found that C9orf72 is the RAB8A binding subunit and that SMCR8 is the GAP subunit in the complex. We further found that the C9orf72-SMCR8 complex suppressed the primary cilium in multiple tissues from mice, including but not limited to the brain, kidney, and spleen. Importantly, cells with C9orf72 or SMCR8 knocked out were more sensitive to hedgehog signaling. These results reveal the unexpected impact of C9orf72 on primary ciliogenesis and elucidate the pathogenesis of diseases caused by the loss of C9orf72 function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung disease in premature infants with increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ferroptosis. Herein, we designed a peptide-based nanoparticle to deliver therapeutic molecules to pulmonary, thereby ameliorating BPD. The BPD-induced damages of lung tissues were detected by H&E and immunohistochemistry staining. Inflammatory cytokines, Fe2+, and ROS levels were quantified by the indicated kits, respectively. The targeting relationship was verified by luciferase reporter assay and pull-down assay. Subsequently, self-assembled miR-134-5p inhibitor nanoparticles with pulmonary epithelial cell-targeting were synthesized. The characteristics were detected by transmission electron microscopy, luminescence imaging, and dynamic light scattering. A significant ferroptosis was observed in the BPD mice. The protein level of GPX4 was decreased significantly compared to the control group. Constantly, miR-134-5p showed positive regulation on ferroptosis by targeting GPX4. The designed nanoparticles were mainly accumulated in the lung region. Besides, it ameliorated experimental bronchopulmonary dysplasia via suppressing ferroptosis, in vivo and in vitro. Our findings provided a miR-134-5p/GPX4 axis in regulating ferroptosis of BPD and prompted the potential of applying the peptide-based nanoparticle to BPD treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a disease associated with impaired quality of life and heredity. This study aimed to investigate the association of allergic rhinitis in preschool children with exposure to indoor environment-related factors early in life. Methods In August 2019, the authors implemented a study among 2020 preschool children in Urumqi City using a case-control design. The study included parental reports for the occurrence of AR in children, parental history of respiratory disease, and indoor environmental correlates of maternal exposure from 1 year prior to pregnancy until the child's age of 0-1 year. Results Mode of birth (cesarean section) (OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.02∼1.67), father with AR (OR = 2.67, 95% CI = 2.08∼3.44), mother with AR (OR = 3.70, 95% CI = 2.88∼4.74), mother with asthma (OR = 3.11, 95% CI = 1.18∼8.20), and mother with newly purchased furniture in the parents' residence during pregnancy (OR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.03∼2.14) were risk factors for AR in children. Conclusions The focus of allergic rhinitis should be on children with a family history of AR and asthma and cesarean delivery. Primary prevention efforts for AR in preschool children are avoiding exposure of children to indoor environmental hazardous factors early in life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants allocate growth to different organs as a strategy to obtain limiting resources in different environments. Tree seeds that fall from a mother tree settle on, within, or below the forest floor and litter layer, and their relative positions can determine seedling biomass and nutrient allocation and ultimately affect survival to the sapling stage. However, how emerged seedling biomass and nutrients of each organ are affected by seeds in different positions is not yet completely understood in subtropical forests. Therefore, an experiment was conducted with seeds positioned above the litter layers of different thicknesses, on the forest floor, and beneath the litter layer, and the influences of seed position on biomass allocation and nutrient use efficiency of emerged seedlings of Castanopsis kawakamii was examined. The aim of the study was to determine the optimal seed position to promote regeneration. Allocation strategies were well coordinated in the emerged seedlings from different seed positions. Seedlings from seeds positioned above litter layers of different thicknesses (~40 and 80 g of litter) allocated growth to leaf tissue at the expense of root tissue (lower root mass fraction) and increased nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) accumulation and nutrient use efficiency. Seedlings from seeds positioned beneath a deep litter layer allocated most growth to roots (high root: shoot ratio, root mass fraction) to capture available resources at the expense of leaf growth. Seedlings from seeds positioned on the forest floor allocated most growth to roots to obtain limiting resources. Further, we also found that these traits were clustered into three groups based on trait similarity, and the cumulative interpretation rate was 74.2%. Thus, seed relative positions significantly affected seedling growth by altering the allocation of resources to different organs. The different strategies indicated that root N:P ratios (entropy weight vector was 0.078) and P nutrient use efficiency were essential factors affecting seedling growth in the subtropical forest. Of the seed positions analyzed, beneath a moderate litter layer (~40 g of litter) was the most suitable position for the growth and survival of Castanopsis seedlings. In future studies, field and lab experiments will be combined to reveal the mechanisms underlying forest regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integrated microbiome microbial agent ( referred to as integrated microbial agent) was a soil remediation agent produced by using the pig litter of microbial fermentation bed for raising pigs for about one year as the base material, which contained multiple functional microbiomes. The effects of different concentrations of the integrated microbial agent extract on the germination of watermelon seeds were studied by using the filter paper germination method. The results showed that: the extract solution of the integrated microbial agent had significant inhibitory effect on the germination of watermelon seeds. When the addition amount was 5%, the germination rate was 53. 33%, the germination index (7. 02) and seed vigor index (241. 05) were significantly lower than those of the two control groups (P <0.05). There was no significant difference in the radicle growth (34.54 mm) between the two control groups (34.56 mm and 0.20 mm) (P<0.05). With the increase of the addition amount, the germination rate, radicle length, germination index and seed vigor index showed a downward trend. Through the pot experiment, the control effects of different proportions of addition amount of the integrated microbial agents on the plant growth of watermelon and wilt disease were studied. The results showed that :The results showed that: when the addition amount of integrated microbial agent was 10%, the root length and plant height were increased by 40. 82% and 45. 34%, respectively. compared with the old substrate, and the growth promotion effect was the most significant (P<0. 05), and the control effect on watermelon fusarium wilt was 66. 67%. When the addition amount of integrated microbial agent was more than 20%, the root length and plant height decreased by 10. 21 % and 3. 97%, respectively, compared with the old substrate, and the inhibitory effect was significant (P<0. 05). According to the results of the experiment, it was suggested that the integrated microbial agent could be applied to the roots of watermelon during the planting process, and the addition amount should be controlled below 10%, Then, the ideal control effect on fusarium wilt could be achieved by combining with other measures such as the disease control agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nucleic acid detection plays a key role in diverse diagnosis and disease control. Currently available nucleic acid detection techniques are challenged by trade-offs among speed, simplicity, precision and cost. Here, we described a novel method, designated SENSOR (Sulfur DNA mediated nucleic acid sensing platform), for rapid nucleic acid detection. SENSOR was developed from phosphorothioate (PT)-DNA and sulfur binding domain (SBD) which specifically binds double-stranded PT-modified DNA. SENSOR utilizes PT-DNA oligo and SBD as targeting module, which is linked with split luciferase reporter to generate luminescence signal within 10 min. We tested detection on synthesized nucleic acid and COVID-19 pseudovirus, achieving attomolar sensitivity combined with an amplification procedure. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) could also be discriminated. Indicating SENSOR a new promising nucleic acid detection technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the feasibility of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in children with portal hypertensive complications, PubMed and Cochrane Library were queried to identify clinical studies evaluating TIPS in patients <18 years old. Baseline clinical characteristics, laboratory values, and clinical outcomes were extracted. Eleven observational studies totaling 198 subjects were included in the study. The pooled technical success rate and hemodynamic success rate were 94% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 86–99%) and 91% (95% CI: 82–97%), respectively; ongoing variceal bleeding resolved in 99.5% (95% CI: 97–100%); refractory ascites was improved in 96% (95% CI: 69–100%); post-TIPS bleeding rate was 14% (95% CI: 1–33%); 88% of patients were alive or successfully received liver transplant (95% CI: 79–96%); and shunt dysfunction rate was 27% (95% CI: 17–38%). Hepatic encephalopathy occurred in 10.6% (21/198), though 85.7% (18/21) resolved with medical management only. In conclusion, based on moderate levels of evidence, TIPS is a safe and effective intervention that should be considered in pediatric patients with portal hypertensive complications. Future comparative studies are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Motor recovery is crucial in stroke rehabilitation, and acupuncture can influence recovery. Neuroimaging and machine learning approaches provide new research directions to explore the brain functional reorganization and acupuncture mechanisms after stroke. We applied machine learning to predict the classification of the minimal clinically important differences (MCID) for motor improvement and identify the neuroimaging features, in order to explore brain functional reorganization and acupuncture mechanisms for motor recovery after stroke. Methods: In this study, 49 patients with unilateral motor pathway injury (basal ganglia and/or corona radiata) after ischemic stroke were included and evaluated the motor function by Fugl--Meyer Assessment scores (FMA) at baseline and at 2-week follow-up sessions. Patients were divided by the difference between the twice FMA scores into one group showing minimal clinically important difference (MCID group, n = 28) and the other group with no minimal clinically important difference (N-MCID, n = 21). Machine learning was performed by PRoNTo software to predict the classification of the patients and identify the feature brain regions of interest (ROIs). In addition, a matched group of healthy controls (HC, n = 26) was enrolled. Patients and HC underwent magnetic resonance imaging examination in the resting state and in the acupuncture state (acupuncture at the Yanglingquan point on one side) to compare the differences in brain functional connectivity (FC) and acupuncture effects. Results: Through machine learning, we obtained a balance accuracy rate of 75.51% and eight feature ROIs. Compared to HC, we found that the stroke patients with lower FC between these feature ROIs with other brain regions, while patients in the MCID group exhibited a wider range of lower FC. When acupuncture was applied to Yanglingquan (GB 34), the abnormal FC of patients was decreased, with different targets of effects in different groups. Conclusion: Feature ROIs identified by machine learning can predict the classification of stroke patients with different motor improvements, and the FC between these ROIs with other brain regions is decreased. Acupuncture can modulate the bilateral cerebral hemispheres to restore abnormal FC via different targets, thereby promoting motor recovery after stroke. Clinical trial registration: https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=37359, ChiCTR1900022220. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viruses have evolved various strategies to achieve early infection by initiating transcription of their own early genes via host transcription factors, such as NF-κb, STAT, and AP1. How the host copes with this immune escape has been a topic of interest. Tripartite motif (TRIM) family proteins with RING-type domains have E3 ubiquitin ligase activity and are known as host restriction factors. Trim has been reported to be associated with phagocytosis and is also believed to be involved in the activation of autophagy. Preventing the virus from entering the host cell may be the most economical way for the host to resist virus infection. The role of TRIM in the early stage of virus infection in host cells remains to be further interpreted. In the current study, a crayfish TRIM with a RING-type domain, designated as PcTrim, was significantly upregulated under white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection in the red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii). Recombinant PcTrim significantly inhibited WSSV replication in crayfish. RNAi targeting PcTrim or blocking PcTrim with an antibody promoted WSSV replication in crayfish. Pulldown and co-IP assays showed that PcTrim can interact with the virus protein VP26. PcTrim restricts the expression level of dynamin, which is involved in the regulation of phagocytosis, by inhibiting AP1 entry into the nucleus. AP1-RNAi effectively reduced the expression levels of dynamin and inhibited host cell endocytosis of WSSV in vivo. Our study demonstrated that PcTrim might reduce early WSSV infection by binding to VP26 and then inhibiting AP1 activation, resulting in reduced endocytosis of WSSV in crayfish hemocytes. BjibKXcktbHxsdfgurhU3P Video Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functionally graded scaffold (FGS) can flexibly regulate the mechanical properties of bone scaffold and holds great promise for offering multifunctional responses of orthopaedic implants. Heterogeneous FGSs constructed by skeletal and sheet triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMSs) have been proposed in this study. The diversified deformation mechanisms of TPMS-FGSs showed superior mechanical stability, and energy absorption efficiency was enhanced by 3.0-79.0% and 2.6-16.8% compared to uniform skeletal and sheet TPMS, respectively. The graded structure of TPMS-FGSs altered the large-scale 45° shear failure to layer-wise or zigzag failure mode. Moreover, the comprehensive reformation of strain distribution and crack propagation in transition region under small compressive strain was experimentally and numerically studied. The results shed light on the global and local mechanical regulation mechanism of TPMS-FGS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused severe health problems worldwide and unprecedented decimation of the global economy. Moreover, after more than 2 years, many populations are still under pressure of infection. Thus, a broader perspective in developing antiviral strategies is still of great importance. Inspired by the observed multiple benefits of heparin in the treatment of thrombosis, the potential of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) for the treatment of COVID-19 have been explored. Clinical applications found that LMWH decreased the level of inflammatory cytokines in COVID-19 patients, accordingly reducing lethality. Furthermore, several in vitro studies have demonstrated the important roles of heparan sulfate in SARS-CoV-2 infection and the inhibitory effects of heparin and heparin mimetics in viral infection. These clinical observations and designed studies argue for the potential to develop heparin mimetics as anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug candidates. In this review, we summarize the properties of heparin as an anticoagulant and the pharmaceutical possibilities for the treatment of virus infection, focusing on the perspectives of developing heparin mimetics via chemical synthesis, chemoenzymatic synthesis, and bioengineered production by microbial cell factories. The ultimate goal is to pave the eminent need for exploring novel compounds to treat coronavirus infection-caused diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With the aging of the population, the prevalence and incidence of stroke in China are increasing every year. China advocates the establishment of a three-level medical service system for stroke rehabilitation, but it lacks uniform information management among all levels of medical institutions. Objective: To achieve unified management of stroke patient rehabilitation in multilevel hospitals in the region through informatization construction. Methods: The need for informatization of three-level stroke rehabilitation management was analyzed. Then, network connections were established, and a common rehabilitation information management system (RIMS) was developed for all levels of hospitals to enable daily stroke rehabilitation management, interhospitals referral, and remote video consultation. Finally, the impact on the efficiency of daily rehabilitation work, the functioning and satisfaction of stroke patients were investigated after implementing the three-level rehabilitation network. Results: One year after implementation, 338 two-way referrals and 56 remote consultations were completed using RIMS. The stroke RIMS improved the efficiency of doctors' orders, reduced therapists' time to write medical documents, simplified statistical analysis of data and made referrals and remote consultations more convenient compared to the traditional model. The curative effect of stroke patients managed by RIMS is better than that of traditional management. Patient satisfaction with rehabilitation services in the region has increased. Conclusion: The three-level stroke rehabilitation informatization has enabled the unified management of stroke rehabilitation in multilevel hospitals in the region. The developed RIMS improved the efficiency of daily work, improved the clinical outcomes of stroke patients, and increased patient satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxic and harmful gases may follow evacuees into the mine refuge chamber, endangering their life during the mine disaster. Gases from the outside environment are successfully kept out of the mine refuge chamber by air curtains. The effect of the air curtain installation position, jet velocity, angle, and structural parameters on the CO barrier efficiency is studied using numerical simulation of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in this paper. The results are also used to show the influence of the above factors on the efficiency of the air curtain. The results show that: (1) increasing the air curtain jet speed does not always increase or even decrease the air curtain barrier efficiency. (2) The best CO barrier efficiency of 68.1% was obtained by an air curtain installed on the top side of the refuge door with a velocity of 22 m/s and a jet angle of 10°. (3) A mathematical relationship between air curtain structural parameters and barrier efficiency is developed to provide a reference for the design of air curtain pipeline structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to understand the research situation of Juncao in China, the bibliometric analysis method was used to search the research literatures on Juncao in CNKI database and VIP database from 2007 to 2021, in order to statistically analyze the information including the publication year of literature, citation amount of literature, disciplinary distribution of literature, research topics, research institutions, authors, and research hotspots. The results showed that a total of 441 valid literatures were retrieved from 2007 to 2021, including 402 journal papers, 37 master's theses and 2 doctoral theses. The number of journal articles increased year by year, with a total of 322 articles from 2015 to 2021, accounting for 80. 1%; there were 1849 citation quantity, of which 1 668 were the high-frequency citations during 2012 - 2020, accounting for 90. 2%. The publication of master's theses was concentrated in 2015-2019, with a total of 28 articles, accounting for 75.68%. A total of 17 disciplines were involved in the journal papers, and 10 disciplines such as agricultural science, biology and economic management were more distributed, with a total of 425 articles, of which 320 articles were related to agricultural science, accounting for 75.29%. Among them, 320 papers (times) were related to agricultural science, accounting for 75.29%. A total of 19 research topics were involved, with a cumulative frequency of 722 times. Among them, Juncao cultivation and edible fungus cultivation were the core, with a total of 569 times, accounting for 78. 81%. The leading research institution was Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, which had published 164 journal papers (accounting for 40. 8%), following by Yan'an University with 20 journal papers (accounting for 4.98%) and Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences with 17 journal papers (accounting for 4.23%). Among them, 145 journal articles were published on the platform (or jointly) of the National Engineering Technology Research Center of Juncao (accounting for 30.07%) and 26 master's dissertations were published (accounting for 70.27%). There were 12 authors who published more than 10 journal papers, moreover, they published 120 papers as the senior authors or corresponding authors, accounting for 29. 85%. In general, the current research hot topics were the cultivation technology and resource utilization of Juncao, and the core force of research was still the National Engineering Technology Research Center of Juncao. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical diversity of terpenoids is typically established by terpene synthase-catalyzed cyclization and diversified by post-tailoring modifications. Fungal bifunctional terpene synthase (BFTS) associated P450 enzymes have shown significant catalytic potentials through the development of various new terpenoids with different biological activities. This study discovered the BFTS and its related gene cluster from the plant endophytic fungus Didymosphaeria variabile 17020. Heterologous expression of the BFTS in Saccharomyces cerevisiae resulted in the characterization of a major product diterpene variediene (1), along with two new minor products neovariediene and neoflexibilene. Further heterologous expression of the BFTS and one cytochrome P450 enzyme VndE (CYP6138B1) in Aspergillus oryzae NSAR1 led to the identification of seven norditerpenoids (19 carbons) with a structurally unique 5/5 bicyclic ring system. Interestingly, in vivo experiments suggested that the cyclized terpene variediene (1) was modified by VndE along with the endogenous enzymes from the host cell A. oryzae through serial chemical conversions, followed by multi-site hydroxylation via A. oryzae endogenous enzymes. Our work revealed that the two-enzymes biosynthetic system and host cell machinery could produce structurally unique terpenoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants with certain medicinal values are a good source for isolating functionspecific endophytes. Rosa roxburghii Tratt. has been reported to be a botanical source of antimicrobial compounds, which may represent a promising candidate for screening endophytic fungi with antimicrobial potential. In this study, 54 endophytes were isolated and molecularly identified from R. roxburghii. The preliminary screening using the plate confrontation method resulted in 15 different endophytic strains showing at least one strong inhibition or three or more moderate inhibition against the 12 tested strains. Further rescreening experiments based on the disc diffusion method demonstrated that Epicoccum latusicollum HGUP191049 and Setophoma terrestris HGUP190028 had excellent antagonistic activity. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test for extracellular metabolites finally indicated that HGUP191049 had lower MIC values and a broader antimicrobial spectrum, compared to HGUP190028. Genomic, non-target metabolomic, and comparative genomic studies were performed to understand the biosynthetic capacity of the screened-out endophytic fungus. Genome sequencing and annotation of HGUP191049 revealed a size of 33.24 megabase pairs (Mbp), with 24 biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), where the putative antimicrobial compounds, oxyjavanicin, patulin and squalestatin S1 were encoded by three different BGCs, respectively. In addition, the non-targeted metabolic results demonstrated that the strain contained approximately 120 antimicrobial secondary metabolites and was structurally diverse. Finally, comparative genomics revealed differences in pathogenicity, virulence, and carbohydrateactive enzymes in the genome of Epicoccum spp. Moreover, the results of the comparative analyses presumed that Epicoccum is a promising source of antimicrobial terpenes, while oxyjavanicin and squalestatin S1 are antimicrobial compounds shared by the genus. In conclusion, R. roxburghii and the endophytic HGUP191049 isolated from it are promising sources of broadspectrum antimicrobial agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the role of ficolin-2 (FCN2) in the development and course of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to contribute to the evolution of innovative HCC therapeutics. Methods: Oncomine, GEPIA (Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis), TISIDB (Tumor Immune System Interactions and Drug Bank database), UALCAN (University of Alabama at Birmingham Cancer data analysis portal), UCSC (University of California, Santa Cruz), R package, the Kaplan-Meier technique, Cox regression analysis, LinkedOmics, Pearson's correlation, and a nomogram were used to investigate the prognostic value of FCN2 in HCC. Co-expressed genes were screened. A protein-protein interaction network was created using the STRING database. Finally, immunohistochemistry was performed to establish the expression of FCN2 in HCC tissues. A pan-cancer study centered on HCC-related molecular analysis was also conducted to look for a link between FCN2 and immune infiltration, immune modulators, and chemokine receptors. Results: In HCC tissues, the expression of FCN2 was observed to be lower than that in normal tissues. This was connected to the HCC marker alphafetoprotein, showing that FCN2 is involved in the development and progression of cancer. FCN2 may act through Staphylococcus aureus infection, lectins, and other pathways. Furthermore, at the immune level, the expression of FCN2 in HCC was associated with some immune cell infiltration, immunomodulators, and chemokine receptors. Conclusion: FCN2 may be an immune checkpoint inhibitor for HCC, creating a breakthrough in the treatment of HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbolometers based on the CMOS process has the important advantage of being automatically merged with circuits in the fabrication of larger arrays, but they typically suffer from low detectivity due to the difficulty in realizing high-sensitivity thermistors in the CMOS process. In this paper, two resistive microbolometers based on polysilicon and metal Al thermistors, respectively, are designed and fabricated by the standard CMOS process. Experimental results show that the detectivity of the two resistive microbolometers can reach a maximum of 1.78 × 109 cmHz1/2/W at 25 μA and a maximum of 6.2 × 108 cmHz1/2/W at 267 μA. The polysilicon microbolometer exhibits better detectivity at lower bias current due to its lower effective thermal conductivity and larger resistance. Even though the thermal time constant of the polysilicon thermistor is three times slower than that of the metal Al thermistor, the former is more suitable for designing a thermal imaging system with sensitive and low power consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leptin has been found to be involved in the development and progression of many autoimmune diseases. As an organ-specific autoimmune disease, the pathogenesis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis has not been fully elucidated. It has been reported that serum leptin level is increased in Hashimoto's thyroiditis, but other studies have not shown any difference. We replicated a mouse model of experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) with a high-iodine diet and found that injection of the leptin receptor antagonist Allo-aca reduced thyroid follicle destruction and inflammatory cell infiltration in EAT mice, and thyroxine and thyroid autoimmune antibody levels. Further investigation revealed that Alloaca promotes the differentiation of Treg cells and inhibits the differentiation of Th17 cells. We believe that Allo-aca can alter the differentiation of Treg/Th17 cells by inhibiting the leptin signaling pathway, thereby alleviating thyroid injury in EAT mice. Interfering with the leptin signaling pathway may be a novel new approach to treat treating and ameliorating Hashimoto's thyroiditis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reproductive growth and vegetative growth are a pair of main contradictions in the process of plant growth. Flowering, as part of reproductive growth, is a key switch in the life cycle of higher plants, which affects the yield and economic benefits of plants to a certain extent. The Euphorbiaceae species, including castor bean (Ricinus communis), physic nut (Jatropha curcas), tung tree (Vernicia fordii), cassava (Manihot esculenta), and rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis), have important economic values because they are raw materials for the production of biodiesel, rubber, etc. The flowering mechanisms are still excluded in the Euphorbiaceae species. The flowering-related genes of Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) were used as a reference to determine the orthologs of these genes in Euphorbiaceae genomes. The result showed that 146, 144, 114, 114, and 149 of 207 A. thaliana genes were respectively matched to R. communis, V. fordii, J. curcas, H. brasiliensis, and M. esculenta. These identified genes were clustered into seven pathways including gibberellins, floral meristem identity (FMI), vernalization, photoperiod, floral pathway integrators (FPIs), and autonomous pathways. Then, some key numbers of flowering-related genes are widely conserved in the Euphorbiaceae genomes including but not limited to FPI genes LFY, SOC1, FT, and FMI genes AG, CAL, and FUL. However, some genes, including FRI, FLC, and GO, were missing in several or all five Euphorbiaceae species. In this study, we proposed the putative mechanisms of flowering-related genes to control flowering and provided new candidate flowering genes for using marker-assisted breeding to improve variety quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a three‐dimensional (3D) finite‐difference time‐domain (FDTD) approach utilizing time‐domain weighted Laguerre polynomials (WLPs) and space‐domain isotropic–dispersion (ID) finite‐difference scheme is presented (i.e., 3D ID‐WLP‐FDTD). The method exhibits unconditional stability and comprehensively improved performance such as lower anisotropic numerical dispersion error. To demonstrate its advantage, it is applied in an example of the propagation of a plane wave in a 3D cavity. The results calculated by the proposed ID‐WLP‐FDTD method and the conventional 3D WLP‐FDTD are compared, which shows that the proposed method can achieve reduced anisotropic numerical dispersion error while consuming less calculation time and hardware resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus), as one of the most important economic fish, was seriously infected by the nervous necrosis virus (NNV), especially in the larvae stage. PolyI:C is an effective stimulus of the antivirus system, but whether it can work in the larvae stage is still unknown. In this study, the transcriptomic profiles of 10 day-post hatching (dph) cod larvae challenged with polyI:C was analysed using next-generation sequencing technology. After assembly and annotation, a total of 77,562 unigenes were acquired and 780 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, including 508 upregulated and 272 downregulated genes. The DEGs were involved in diverse pathways including protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum, peroxisome, carbon metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, and PPAR signaling pathway. Gene expression patterns of five immune relevant genes belonging to IFN signal pathway, such as TLR3, IRF3, MDA5, IPS1 and ATG5, were detected using qPCR. The transcript levels of TLR3, IRF3, MAD5 and IPS1 in cod larvae seems very low, but these genes were upregulated significantly 48h post-challenged with polyI:C, while ATG5 was downregulated 12h after polyI:C challenged. The results indicated that IFN system of cod larvae can be induced by polyI:C, thus considering polyI:C as a potential antivirus agent for cod larvae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, a big problem for exploring K-ion half/full batteries is how to bring them with both high specific capacity and long cycling stability simultaneously, in terms of their intrinsically sluggish kinetics of K+ with larger radius than that of Li+, which often causes huge volume change over the electrochemical reaction. Herein, we report the exploration of high-performance K-ion half/full batteries with superb rate capability and cycle stability based on B-doped porous carbons with increased active sites and improved conductivity. The as-assembled K-ion half cell exhibits an excellent rate capability of 428 mA h g-1 at 100 mA g-1 and a high reversible specific capacity of 330 mA h g-1 with 120% specific capacity retention after 2,000 cycles at 2,000 mA g-1, which is state of the art among those based on carbon materials. Moreover, the as-constructed full cell delivers 98% specific capacity retention over 750 cycles at 500 mA g-1, which is superior to most of the analogs based on carbon materials that have been reported thus far, underscoring their potential applications in advanced energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been demonstrated to play vital roles in cancer development and progression. However, their biological roles and function mechanisms in liver cancer remain largely unknown. Methods: RNA-seq was performed with clinical hepatoma tissues and paired adjacent normal liver tissues to identify differentially expressed lncRNAs. qPCR was utilized to examine the expression levels of lncRNAs. We studied the function of TLNC1 in cell growth and metastasis of hepatoma with both cell and mouse models. RNA-seq, RNA pull-down coupled with mass spectrometry, RNA immunoprecipitation, dual luciferase reporter assay, and surface plasmon resonance analysis were used to analyze the functional mechanism of TLNC1. Results: Based on the intersection of our own RNA-seq, TCGA RNA-seq, and TCGA survival analysis data, TLNC1 was identified as a potential tumorigenic lncRNA of liver cancer. TLNC1 significantly enhanced the growth and metastasis of hepatoma cells both in vitro and in vivo. TLNC1 exerted its tumorigenic function through interaction with TPR and inducing the TPR-mediated transportation of p53 from nucleus to cytoplasm, thus repressing the transcription of p53 target genes and finally contributing to the progression of liver cancer. Conclusions: TLNC1 is a promising prognostic factor of liver cancer, and the TLNC1-TPR-p53 axis can serve as a potential therapeutic target for hepatoma treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Voltage-gated chloride channel 5 (CLCN5) transports hydrogen ions into the nucleolus and removes chloride ions, which helps the cell to maintain its pH value and osmotic pressure. To reveal the role of CLCN5 under low-salinity stress, a cDNA sequence of CLCN5 (TrCLC\'5) was cloned from Takifugu rubripes using the reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) technique. The results showed that TrCLCNö cDNA contained a complete open reading frame of 2505 bp continuously encoding 834 amino acid residues. Sequence alignments revealed that the TrCLCNö cDNA is highly homologous (96.2% and 96.1%) with that of Takifugu bimaculatus and Takifuguflavidus. SignalP and TMHMM analysis showed that TrCLCN5-deduced protein was a type III transmembrane protein and lacked a typical signal peptide. Conserved Domain analysis revealed that there was a Voltage_CLC domain and two CBS domains located in the TrCLCN5 deduced protein. qPCR analysis showed that TrCLCNö was highly expressed in the intestine, kidney and liver, and up-regulated in gills under low-salinity stress in 3h to 6h, which indicates that TrCLCNö may play an important role in the responses to acute low-salinity stress and would be useful in further understanding low-salinity adaption in T rubripes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Function approximation, integration, and optimization are three fundamental mathematical problems. They are especially challenging when the functions involved fluctuate wildly in certain parts of the domain, or if the domain is high dimensional. Ideally, algorithms to solve these problems should possess a rigorous mathematical framework, data-based (probabilistic) error bounds, and advanced sampling strategies for efficiency. The Guaranteed Automatic Integration Library (GAIL) is our multi-year research effort addressing these aforementioned challenges. GAIL is a free, open-source MATLAB software library with nine main algorithms undergirded by over a dozen peer-reviewed publications. GAIL solves problems in univariate and multivariate integration, and in univariate function approximation and optimization. GAIL algorithms adaptively sample data values of the input function and automatically stop when the error tolerance has been reached. In some cases, GAIL algorithms are proven to have asymptotically optimal computational cost. We consistently employ good software development practices for GAIL such as unit tests, searchable online documentation, and Git version control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method to suppress cross-band scattering is presented in this letter. A two-antenna system is analyzed, which consists of a lower-band (LB) dipole and a higher-band (HB) dipole. A pair of sleeves is loaded on the arms of the LB dipole. The cross-band scattering between the HB and LB antennas close to each other usually deteriorates the pattern of the HB antenna. In the proposed antenna system, the sleeves loaded on the arms of the LB dipole are used to suppress the induced current on the LB antenna and reduce the cross-band scattering in the two-dipole system, which restores the radiation pattern of the HB antenna. A prototype of the proposed antenna system is fabricated and measured. The results show that the maximum radiation direction of the HB antenna is changed from a maximum of 24 $^\circ$ back to 0 $^\circ$ in the $H$ -plane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Rosa roxburghii Tratt., a deciduous shrub of the family Rosaceae, is usually used as food and medicinal materials and also cultivated as an ornamental. Plant endophytic fungi are a large class of microbial resources not fully researched, with great potential applications. Two strains of Ascodesmis and Talaromyces were isolated during a survey of biodiversity on endophytic fungi of R. roxburghii in China. Multigene phylogenetic analyses showed that each of the two fungi formed a distinct lineage and separated from known congeneric species and they are proposed as two novel taxa. New information Ascodesmis rosicola sp. nov. usually has one or two conspicuous simple or branched ridges extending to the majority of the ascospore surface and remarkably small asci, distinguishing it from the previously-described species in the genus Ascodesmis. Talaromyces rosarhiza sp. nov., of the section Talaromyces, is closely related to T. francoae. It differs from the latter by having both monoverticillate and biverticillate conidiophores, while those of T. francoae are biverticillate. Both novel endophytes are illustrated and described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of exciting ammonia (NH3) molecular vibration in the growth of gallium nitride (GaN) was investigated by using an infrared laser-assisted metal organic chemical vapor deposition method. A wavelength tunable CO2 laser was used to selectively excite the individual vibrational modes. Resonantly exciting the NH-wagging mode (v2) of NH3 molecules at 9.219 lm led to a GaN growth rate of 84 μm/h, which is much higher than the reported results. The difference between the resonantly excited and conventional thermally populated vibrational states was studied via resonant and nonresonant vibrational excitations of NH3 molecules. Resonant excitation of various vibrational modes was achieved at 9.219, 10.35, and 10.719 μm, respectively. Nonresonant excitation was conducted at 9.201 and 10.591 μm, similar to conventional thermal heating. Compared to nonresonant excitation, resonant excitation noticeably promotes the GaN growth rate and crystalline quality. The full width at half maximum value of the XRD rocking curves of the GaN (0002) and GaN (10-12) diffraction peaks decreased at resonant depositions and reached its minimum value of 45 and 53 arcmin, respectively, at the laser wavelength of 9.219 μm. According to the optical emission spectroscopic studies, resonantly exciting the NH3 v2 mode leads to NH3 decomposition at room temperature, reduces the formation of the TMGa:NH3 adduct, promotes the supply of active species in GaN formation, and, therefore, results in the increased GaN growth rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most effective strategies to end the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic is HIV screening technologies. Routine HIV screening reaches the first-time tester, people with undiagnosed HIV, and those persons who are in need of frequent retesting due to their ongoing risk. This secondary analysis examined nurse practitioners' (NPs) rates of offering routine HIV screening and health center HIV screening characteristics. A convenience sample of NPs completed either a paper and pencil or an online survey in February 2016. Nurse practitioners responded to several questions about their behaviors and the health center characteristics where they work related to HIV screening. Many NPs (31%) never offer routine HIV screening to patients. Efforts are needed to implement structural changes to increase HIV screening rates among NPs and the health centers where they work. Nurse practitioners, health centers, and the health center policiesmust align to address theHIV epidemic and implement nationalHIV screening recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient and high yielding methods for the preparation of vildagliptin 1 intermediate of (S)-1-(2-chloroacetyl) pyrrolidine-2-carbonitrile 2 and 3-amino-1-adamantane alcohol 3 respectively have been described. (S)-1-(2-Chloroacetyl) pyrrolidine-2-carbonitrile 2 has been synthesized from L-proline 2a via chloroacetyl chloride, performed with acetonitrile in the presence of sulfuric acid via one-pot reactions. 3-Amino-1-adamantane alcohol 3 has been prepared from amantadine hydrochloride via oxidation by sulfuric acid/nitric acid and boric acid as catalyst, and has been subjected to ethanol extraction. The overall yield is about 95%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global knockout of the BK channel has been proven to affect bone formation; however, whether it directly affects osteoblast differentiation and the mechanism are elusive. In the current study, we further investigated the role of BK channels in bone development and explored whether BK channels impacted the differentiation and proliferation of osteoblasts via the canonical Wnt signaling pathway. Our findings demonstrated that knockout of Kcnma1 disrupted the osteogenesis of osteoblasts and inhibited the stabilization of β-catenin. Western blot analysis showed that the protein levels of Axin1 and USP7 increased when Kcnma1 was deficient. Together, this study confirmed that BK ablation decreased bone mass via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Our findings also showed that USP7 might have the ability to stabilize the activity of Axin1, which would increase the degradation of β-catenin in osteoblasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hepatopancreas is an important digestive and immune organ in crustacean. There were low but stable numbers of microbes living in the hemolymph of crustacean, whereas the organs (including hepatopancreas) of crustacean were immersed in the hemolymph. It is very important to study the immune mechanism of the hepatopancreas against bacteria. In this study, a novel CTL (HepCL) with two CRDs, which was mainly expressed in the hepatopancreas, was identified in red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii). HepCL binds to bacteria in vitro and could enhance bacterial clearance in vivo. Compared with the C-terminal CRD of HepCL (HepCL-C), the N-terminal CRD (HepCL-N) showed weaker bacterial binding ability in vitro and stronger bacterial clearance activity in vivo. The expression of some antimicrobial proteins, such as FLP, ALF1 and ALF5, was downregulated under knockdown of HepCL or blocked with Anti-HepCL after challenge with Vibrio in crayfish. These results demonstrated that HepCL might be involved in the antibacterial immune response by regulating the expression of antimicrobial proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study seeks to discover flavonoids from a traditional Chinese herb, Artemisia rupestris L., with synergistic antibacterial effects against multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Five flavonoids, artemetin (1), chrysosplenetin (2), pachypodol (3), penduletin (4) and chrysoeriol (5) were obtained by various column chromatographic methods. Their chemical structures were determined on the basis of comprehensive spectroscopic analysis and comparison with literature data. Three of the compounds (2, 4 and 5) exhibited synergistic activity when combined with norfloxacin against SA1199B, an effluxing fluoroquinolone-resistant strain. The fractional inhibitory concentration indices (FICIs) of 2, 4 and 5 in combination with norfloxacin were 0.375, 0.079 and 0.266 respectively, suggesting synergy. Compound 5 also showed synergistic effects against EMRSA-15 and EMRSA-16 when combined with ciprofloxacin and oxacillin exhibiting FICIs of 0.024 and 0.375 respectively. Real time ethidium bromide (EtBr) efflux assay, qRT-PCR and molecular docking were employed to explore the mechanisms of the synergistic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dependence of periodic structures and ablated areas on temporal pulse shaping is studied upon irradiation of fused silica by femtosecond laser triple-pulse trains. Three types of periodic structures can be obtained by using pulse trains with designed pulse delays, in which the threedimensional nanopillar arrays with ~100-150 nm diameters and ~200 nm heights are first fabricated in one step. These nanopillars arise from the break of the ridges of ripples in the upper portion, which is caused by the split of orthogonal ripples in the bottom part. The localized transient electron dynamics and corresponding material properties are considered for the morphological observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior research on consumer response to preferential treatment has focused on treatment that has been earned through loyalty or effort, and most of this work has reported positive outcomes for recipients. Unearned preferential treatment (e.g., receiving a surprise discount, getting a free upgrade), in contrast, has received little attention. The current research demonstrates that, although receiving unearned preferential treatment does generate positive reactions, it is not always an entirely pleasurable experience. Results from four experiments show that when unearned preferential treatment is received in front of others, the positive feelings of appreciation for the treatment can be accompanied by feelings of social discomfort stemming from concerns about being judged negatively by other customers. These feelings of discomfort can reduce satisfaction with a shopping experience and affect purchasing behaviors. The negative impact of unearned preferential treatment on satisfaction is moderated by the characteristics and reactions of those observers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]