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Controlling the coherence of chaotic soliton bunch holds the promise to explore novel light-matter interactions and manipulate dynamic events such as rogue waves. However, the coherence control of chaotic soliton bunch remains challenging, as there is a lack of dynamic equilibrium mechanism for stochastic soliton interactions. Here, we develop a strategy to effectively control the coherence of chaotic soliton bunch in a laser. We show that by introducing a lumped fourth-order-dispersion (FOD), the soliton oscillating tails can be formed and generate the potential barriers among the chaotic solitons. The repulsive force between neighboring solitons enabled by the potential barriers gives rise to an alleviation of the soliton fusion/annihilation from stochastic interactions, endowing the capability to control the coherence in chaotic soliton bunch. We envision that this result provides a promising test-bed for a variety of dynamical complexity science and brings new insights into the nonlinear behavior of chaotic laser sources. Controlling the coherence of chaotic waveforms holds the promise to explore novel light‐matter interactions. Here, the authors demonstrate a fourth‐order‐dispersion driven laser that delivers the coherence‐controlled chaotic soliton bunch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to develop novel food 3D printing material, the effects of different temperatures (25, 30, 35, 40 °C) on the rheological properties, 3D printing performance and structural properties of the composite plant protein-based ink were investigated with the soybean protein-isolated, gluten and rice protein (SPI-WG-RP) composite paste as the research object. The results showed that SPI-WG-RP inks exhibited shear thinning (R2 ≥0.98) at all temperatures, which was feasible for 3D printing. The increase of printing temperature reduced the yield stress and viscosity of SPI-WG-RP compound plant protein-based ink. When the temperature reached 40 °C, the extrusion recovery property of protein-based ink material was the best (>62.79%). SPI-WG-RP ink had excellent self-supporting behavior. In addition, the increase in printing temperature promoted the tight connection between the three proteins, and the sample microstructure was more dense and uniform at 40 °C, which improved the 3D printing performance to a certain extent. This study provides a theoretical basis for the preparation of plant protein-based ink with good printing performance, which is conducive to expanding the application of 3D printing technology in the field of plant protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel whole peanut butter (PB) was developed using an emerging technology called stirred media mill (SMM). The impact of SMM on the size, microstructure, rheology, nutrient, and flavor of PB was investigated. The SMM treatment significantly decreased the particle size of PB, damaged cell structure, and released the oil body from cells. The apparent viscosity of PB decreased with the grinding process. Visual inspection revealed that the colloidal stability of PB was improved. The fatty acid composition was not affected by the grinding process. However, the tocopherol contents of the extracted oil slightly increased. Electronic nose and GC–MS analysis indicated that SMM could alter the flavor of PB after grinding for 45 min. Overall, SMM was a potential process technology to manufacture stable nut butter with smooth texture and delightful flavor profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bamboo is the main food source of the giant panda. To increase bamboo intake in captive giant pandas, we studied factors affecting the bamboo intake. Fourteen healthy captive giant pandas in Dujiangyan Base of China Conservation and Research Center for The Giant Panda ("Dujiangyan Base" for short) were selected as research objects. A bamboo feeding experiment was conducted to study the effects of seasons, bamboo age, slope orientations where bamboo grows and felling-feeding time on bamboo intake of the giant panda. We found that the type of bamboo that captive giant pandas feed on was abundant in spring and summer, but relatively homogeneous in winter. With the increase of bamboo age, the intake of bamboo leaves decreased, while bamboo culms increased. The feed intake of 1-year-old bamboo leaves and 5-year-old bamboo culms reached the highest respectively. The slope orientation also affected the panda's bamboo intake, and the bamboo growing on sunny slopes or semi-sunny slopes was more favored by captive giant pandas. Moreover, the bamboo intake reached the highest when felling-feeding time was less than 24 h. In short, we confirmed that seasons, bamboo age, slope orientations and felling-feeding time were factors affecting bamboo intake for captive giant pandas. This study was expected to provide scientific guidance improving the feeding behavior management of captive giant pandas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rail transit has very strict requirements on the line operation area (i. e. rail transit area). The detection of foreign matter intrusion into the rail transit area can effectively remind drivers to avoid traffic accidents. As the first step in the automatic detection of foreign objects in the track area, track area detection and extraction bears very important research significance. Based on the analysis of existing research methods, an improved track area detection algorithm is proposed in this paper. Firstly, Canny operator is used for edge detection after image preprocessing, and then Hough line detection algorithm is applied to construct rail line candidate set. In addition, constraints such as line slope and line endpoint offset are employed to process rail line candidate set to remove abnormal data and effectively merge line segments. Finally, the rail straight line endpoint is needed to extract rail line area, and it provides a solid foundation for the automatic detection of foreign matters in the track area. The real data collection and experiment of a metro line show that the proposed method can accurately detect the track area of the ground section, ground platform, tunnel and underground station, and improve the accuracy of rail detection and track area extraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pea protein (PP) was moderately hydrolyzed using four proteolytic enzymes including flavourzyme, neutrase, alcalase, and trypsin to investigate the influence of the degree of hydrolysis (DH) with 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% on the structural and functional properties of PP. Enzymatic modification treatment distinctly boosted the solubility of PP. The solubility of PP treated by trypsin was increased from 10.23% to 58.14% at the 8% DH. The results of SDS-PAGE indicated the protease broke disulfide bonds, degraded protein into small molecular peptides, and transformed insoluble protein into soluble fractions with the increased DH. After enzymatic treatment, a bathochromic shift and increased intrinsic fluorescence were observed for PP. Furthermore, the total sulfhydryl group contents and surface hydrophobicity were reduced, suggesting that the unfolding of PP occurred. Meanwhile, the foaming and emulsification of PP were improved after enzymatic treatment, and the most remarkable effect was observed under 6% DH. Moreover, under the same DH, the influence on the structure and functional properties of PP from large to small are trypsin, alcalase, neutrase and flavourzyme. This result will facilitate the formulation and production of natural plant-protein-based products using PP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bamboo shoot is a delicious and nutritious forest vegetable. It has been found that bamboo shoots collected from low-light environments have a less bitter taste. The molecular mechanism of light in the regulation of bitter substance accumulation in bamboo shoots is still unclear. In this study, we applied a shading treatment to Pleioblastus amarus bamboo shoots in the preharvesting period. The reduction in the bitterness intensity was confirmed by a sensory test. An integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis was performed on P. amarus bamboo shoots grown under shading treatment and normal growing conditions, and 56 differentially accumulated metabolites and 178 differentially expressed genes were identified. The results showed that the contents of a series of phenolic acids related to the tyrosine metabolism pathway were downregulated under shading treatment, revealing that shading decreased the accumulation of phenolic acids and further mediated the resulting bitter taste of the bamboo shoots. This work will be helpful for understanding the regulatory mechanisms governing the bitter tasting substances in bamboo shoots grown under a shading treatment and provides a reference for the use of shading treatment in cultivation practices to improve the taste of bamboo shoots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Escherichia coli, Enterobacter spp., Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterococcus spp., common gut bacteria in giant pandas, include opportunistic pathogens. The giant panda is an endangered species, classified as vulnerable by the World Wildlife Foundation. Continuous monitoring for the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among bacterial isolates from giant pandas is vital not only for their protection but also for public health. Results: A total of 166 E. coli, 68 Enterobacter spp., 116 K. pneumoniae and 117 Enterococcus spp. isolates were collected from fecal samples of 166 giant pandas. In the antimicrobial susceptibility tests, 144 E. coli isolates, 66 Enterobacter spp. isolates, 110 K. pneumoniae isolates and 43 Enterococcus spp. isolates were resistant to at least one antimicrobial. The resistant isolates carried antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), including sul3, blaTEM, blaSHV and tetA. The differences in the prevalence of the bla types implied that the genetic basis for β-lactam resistance among the E. coli, Enterobacter spp. and K. pneumoniae isolates was different. The strain K. pneumoniae K85 that was resistant to sixteen antimicrobials was selected for whole genome sequencing. The genome contained Col440I, IncFIBK and IncFIIK plasmids and altogether 258 ARGs were predicted in the genome; 179 of the predicted ARGs were efflux pump genes. The genetic environment of the β-lactamase genes blaCTX-M-3 and blaTEM-1 in the K. pneumoniae K85 genome was relatively similar to those in other sequenced K. pneumoniae genomes. In comparing the giant panda age groups, the differences in the resistance rates among E. coli, K. pneumoniae and Enterobacter spp. isolates suggested that the infections in giant pandas of different age should be treated differently. Conclusions: Antimicrobial resistance was prevalent in the bacterial isolates from the giant pandas, implying that the gut bacteria may pose serious health risks for captive giant pandas. The resistance genes in the genome of K. pneumoniae K85 were associated with insertion sequences and integron-integrase genes, implying a potential for the further spread of the antimicrobial resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Particle morphology can affect the performance of an electrostatic precipitator air–liquid interface (ESP-ALI) cell exposure system and the resulting cell toxicity. In this study, three types of monodisperse aerosols – spherical sucrose particles, nonspherical align soot aggregates, and nanosilver aggregates/agglomerates – were selected to evaluate the collection efficiency at flow rates ranging from 0.3 to 1.5 lpm. To quantify the particle morphology, the fractal dimensions (Df) of the tested aerosols were characterized. The penetration of fine particles (dp = 100–250 nm) under different operating conditions was correlated with a characteristic exponential curve using the dimensionless drift velocity (Vc/Vavg,r) as the scaling parameter. For nanoparticles (NPs, dp <100 nm) with different particle morphologies, the particle penetrations in the ESP-ALI were similar, but their diffusion losses were not negligible. In contrast, for fine particles, the collection efficiency of soot nanoaggregates (Df = 2.29) was higher than that of spherical sucrose particles. This difference might be due to the simultaneous influences of the electric field-induced and flow field-induced alignment. Furthermore, based on Zhibin and Guoquan's Deutsch model, a quadratic equation was applied to fit the experimental data and to predict the performance of the ESP-ALI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The giant panda (GP) is the most precious animal in China. Gastrointestinal tract disease, especially associated with dysbiosis of gut microbiota, is the leading cause of death in GPs. Here, we performed 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing to investigate the gut microbiota of GPs having symptoms of anorexia. Results showed that gut microbiota of GP with anorexia had lower richness (Chao1 index) than the healthy GP. However, no significant differences in alpha diversity were observed. There is a significance in the microbial structure between anorexia and healthy GPs. The abundance of phylum Firmicutes (99.23% ± 7.1%), unidentified genus Clostridiales (24.75% ± 2.5%), was significantly higher in the subadult anorexia group (P < 0.01), and that of the unidentified genus Clostridiales (4.53% ± 1.2%) was also significantly higher in the adult anorexia group (P < 0.01). Weissella and Streptococcus were found to be decreased in both anorexia groups. The decreased abundance of Weissella (0.02% ± 0.0%, 0.08% ± 0.0%) and Streptococcus (73.89% ± 4.3%, 91.15% ± 7.6%) and increase in Clostridium may cause symptoms of anorexia in giant pandas. The correlation analysis indicated that there is a symbiotic relationship among Streptococcus, Leuconostoc, Weissella, and Bacillus which are classified as probiotics (r > 0.6, P < 0.05). Importantly, a negative correlation has been found between Streptococcus and unidentified_Clostridium in two groups (r > 0.6, P < 0.05). Our results suggested that Streptococcus might be used as probiotics to control the growth of Clostridium causing the anorexia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periodontitis is a common chronic inflammatory disease of periodontal tissue, mostly concentrated in people over 30 years old. Statistics show that compared with foreign countries, the prevalence of periodontitis in China is as high as 40%, and the prevalence of periodontal disease is more than 90%, which must arouse our great attention. Diagnosis and treatment of periodontitis currently rely mainly on clinical criteria, and the exploration of the etiologic criteria is relatively lacking. We, therefore, have explored the pathogenesis of periodontitis from the perspective of immune imbalance. By predicting the fraction of 22 immune cells in periodontitis tissues and comparing them with normal tissues, we found that multiple immune cell infiltration in periodontitis tissues was inhibited and this feature can clearly distinguish periodontitis from normal tissues. Further, protein interaction network (PPI) and transcription regulation network have been constructed based on differentially expressed genes (DEGs) to explore the interaction function modules and regulation pathways. Three functional modules have been revealed and top TFs such as EGR1 and ETS1 have been shown to regulate the expression of periodontitis-related immune genes that play an important role in the formation of the immunosuppressive microenvironment. The classifier was also used to verify the reliability of periodontitis features obtained at the cellular and molecular levels. In conclusion, we have revealed the immune microenvironment and molecular characteristics of periodontitis, which will help to better understand the mechanism of periodontitis and its application in clinical diagnosis and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The gut microbiome is essential for the host's health and serves as an essential reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). We investigated the effects of different factors, including the dietary shifts and age, on the functional characteristics of the giant panda's gut microbiome (GPs) through shotgun metagenome sequencing. We explored the association between gut bacterial genera and ARGs within the gut based on network analysis. Results: Fecal samples (n=60) from captive juvenile, adult, and geriatric GPs were processed, and variations were identified in the gut microbiome according to different ages, the abundance of novel ARGs and the biosynthesis of antibiotics. Among 667 ARGs identified, nine from the top ten ARGs had a higher abundance in juveniles. For 102 ARGs against bacteria, a co-occurrence pattern revealed a positive association for predominant ARGs with Streptococcus. A comparative KEGG pathways analysis revealed an abundant biosynthesis of antibiotics among three different groups of GPs, where it was more significantly observed in the juvenile group. A co-occurrence pattern further revealed a positive association for the top ten ARGs, biosynthesis of antibiotics, and metabolic pathways. Conclusion: Gut of GPs serve as a reservoir for novel ARGs and biosynthesis of antibiotics. Dietary changes and age may influence the gut microbiome's functional characteristics; however, it needs further studies to ascertain the study outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess the capabilities of self-renewal and multipotent differentiation. Firstly isolated from bone marrow, MSCs are subsequently identified from various post-natal tissue types. Based the differentiation into tissue-specific cells, MSCs were capable of replacing damaged and diseased tissues. In addition, MSCs have been demonstrated to possess important immunomodulatory properties. Increasing data showed that MSCs exhibited tropism for sites of the tumor microenvironment and interacted with tumor cells closely through paracrine signaling. Therefore, better understanding of crosstalk between MSCs and tumor cells will be able to develop potential strategies in the treatment of tumors in the future. Herein, we summarize the research progress of the influence of MSCs on tumor cells and the prospect of their application in tumor therapy in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the relationship between the bamboo including its nutrients and microbiome, and gut microbiome of giant panda, different bamboo species were provided for feeding the giant pandas. Nutrients of bamboo were examined, and the bamboo microbiome and gut microbiome of giant panda were investigated using high throughput sequencing. The results revealed that the composition of gut microbiome in giant panda varied among groups with different bamboo diet. Except for fat and hemicellulose, cellulose, lignin, carbohydrate, protein, flavone and tannin were significantly different between different bamboo species (p < 0.05). PCoA showed that the composition of bamboo microbiome varied by different species. Significant differences in richness and diversity of bacteria were observed between different bamboo (p < 0.05), as well as the abundance of the main bacteria and fungi at phylum and genus level (Kruskal-Wallis, LDA > 4). Interestingly, the content of lignin and cellulose in bamboo was positively associated with the relative abundance of Streptococcus and Clostridium in gut of giant panda, respectively (p < 0.05). The diversity of bamboo bacteria was positively correlated with that of gut bacteria in giant panda (p < 0.05). Significant associations of certain bacteria and fungi between bamboo and gut of giant panda (p < 0.05) were found. 36 bacterial and 54 fungal genera were both shared between bamboo and the gut of giant panda in all groups. Our results demonstrated that the gut microbial community varied between giant pandas fed on different bamboo species revealing that bamboo nutrients and microbiome affect gut microbiome of giant panda. Our findings contributed to the deeper understanding of dietary or environmental impact on gut microbiome of giant panda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulsation is a universal phenomenon that exists in diverse fields. For nonlinear optics, the soliton pulsating behavior can be meaningful for fundamental physics and industrial purpose owing to its fruitful nonlinear dynamics and the possible detrimental effect of instability (or even route to chaos) during pulsating process. Herein, a novel type of soliton pulsation in an ultrafast laser is unveiled. The pulsating behavior features that the soliton experiences periodic peak power variation but with almost invariable pulse energy. This phenomenon is denoted as "invisible soliton pulsation" when referring to the routine diagnostic methods. However, the invisible soliton pulsation can be distinguished by recording the shot‐to‐shot spectra with real‐time spectroscopy technique. It is found that the appearance of the invisible soliton pulsation is sensitive to the pump power level. Moreover, the phenomenon of invisible soliton pulsation is further revealed by numerical simulations. These findings can shed new insights into the complex nonlinear behavior of solitons in dissipative optical systems, and also enrich the performance diagnostic of ultrafast lasers for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have reported gene therapy as an alternative treatment for canine's cancer. Fifty-three samples from canine patients were obtained and the expression of MHC classes I and II and CD-markers in tumour cells, subpopulations of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) through flow cytometry and tumour cell cytokines were examined through real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. These data were compared by using Biomarker Patterns Software. Mammary gland tumours (MGTs) showed low MHC I expression that can be correlated with tumour malignancy, with cut-off values of 72.58% (MGT, < 7 2. 5 8 % and non-MGT, > 7 2. 5 8 %). IL-8, showing a positive correlation with angiogenesis, expression in MGTs was significantly high and IL-12 expression in complex and tubulopapillary carcinomas were significantly lower than that in healthy mammary gland cells (p < 0. 0 1). PBLs of dogs with MGTs had fewer T cells, particularly T helper cells, and B cells and more non-T, non-B cells, particularly malignant MGTs, than did PBLs of healthy dogs. Among all surface markers and cytokines detected, high CD3 TIL was significantly correlated with a more favourable prognosis. Cytokines, such as IL-8, -12, and -15, can be the indicators of therapeutic targets because of their specific expression patterns in specific MGT subtypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the Hailar Basin is situated in the northwestern margin of the Jiamusi-Mongolia Block. Topics include the collected mudstone samples have prepared using standard palynological techniques; and three samples corresponding to depths between 2909 m and 2963 m in Hong 6 contained relatively abundant fossil pollen and spores.

Objective: Selective and non-selective methods for caries removal were controversial so far, thus we aimed to compare the efficacy of selective and non-selective caries removal by conducting meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).Materials and Methods: Eligible RCTs studies comparing selective caries removal with non-selective caries removal were retrieved by searching PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library till 15 July 2017. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for outcome indictors, including pulpal exposure, pulpal symptoms and failure using Inverse variance-random effects or Mantel-Haenszel-fixed effects models.Results: Totally, seven studies were eligible for the meta-analysis. Compared with the non-selective caries removal group, the risk of pulpal exposure was significantly reduced in the selective caries removal group (OR = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.04-0.30). No significant difference was observed in pulpal symptoms (OR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.30-2.12) and failure (OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 0.69-2.84) between the groups.Conclusions: The efficacy of selective caries removal appears comparable to that of non-selective caries removal in children, with similar pulpal symptoms and failure, but selective caries removal may result in a low incidence of pulpal exposure. However, larger-scale RCTs with long-term follow-up are required to confirm this conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) particles are used in some food products to alter their optical properties, such as whiteness or brightness. These additives typically contain a population of TiO2nanoparticles (d < 100 nm), which has led to concern about their potential toxicity. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of TiO2particles on the gastrointestinal fate of oil-in-water emulsions using a simulated gastrointestinal tract (GIT) that includes mouth, stomach, and small intestine phases. Theoretical predictions suggested that TiO2nanoparticles might inhibit lipid digestion through two physicochemical mechanisms: (i) a fraction of the lipase adsorbs to TiO2particle surfaces, thereby reducing the amount available to hydrolyze lipid droplets; (ii) some TiO2particles adsorb to the surfaces of lipid droplets, thereby reducing the lipid surface area exposed to lipase. The importance of these mechanisms was tested by passing protein-coated lipid droplets (2%, w/w) through the simulated GIT in the absence and presence of TiO2(0.5%, w/w) nanoparticles (18 nm) and fine particles (167 nm). Changes in particle characteristics (size, organization, and charge) and lipid digestion were then measured. Both TiO2nanoparticles and fine particles had little impact on the aggregation state and charge of the lipid droplets in the different GIT regions, as well as on the rate and extent of lipid digestion. This suggests that the theoretically predicted impact of particle size on lipid digestion was not seen in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of excipient emulsions with different lipid droplet sizes on carotenoid bioaccessibility from tomatoes was investigated using a simulated gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Excipient emulsions with different surface-weighted mean droplet diameters were fabricated: d = 0.15 μm (small), 0.40 μm (medium), and 22.3 μm (large). Changes in particle size, microstructure, ζ-potential, and carotenoid bioaccessibility were measured when tomato-emulsion mixtures that had received different thermal and mixing treatments were passed through the GIT model. Carotenoid bioaccessibility decreased with increasing initial droplet size (small ≥ medium > large), which was attributed to two effects. First, smaller droplets extracted carotenoids from tomato tissue more efficiently. Second, smaller droplets were digested faster leading to more rapid mixed micelle formation, thereby increasing carotenoid solubilization in intestinal fluids. Carotenoid bioaccessibility was higher from boiled than raw tomatoes because thermal disruption of the plant tissue facilitated carotenoid release. Carotenoid bioaccessibility was higher when tomatoes were boiled with emulsions than when they were boiled alone and then added to emulsions. In conclusion, excipient emulsions are highly effective at increasing carotenoid bioaccessibility from tomatoes, but lipid droplet size must be optimized to ensure high efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Choerospondias axillaris is both an edible and medicinal fruit. It has a growing popularity and economic importance due to its nutritive value and medicinal effects, but comprehensive information on the chemical composition and bioactivity of its fruits is still lacking. Therefore the aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant, antimicrobial and antiproliferative effects and chemical composition of peel polyphenolic ( PP) and flesh polyphenolic ( FP) extracts from C. axillaris. RESULTS The phenolics and flavonoids of peel were significantly higher than those of flesh. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography ( UPLC) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight-mass spectrometry ( UPLC/ ESI-QTOF-MS2) analysis revealed that (+)-catechin and oligomeric procyanidins were the most abundant compounds in PP and FP. Both extracts exhibited strong ferric-reducing antioxidant power, total antioxidant activity and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical ( DPPH•)-scavenging ability. PP showed a significantly higher antimicrobial effect against tested strains than that of FP, in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, both extracts inhibited the growth of HepG2 and Caco-2 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, with IC50 values of 39.31 and 47.49 µg mL−1 to HepG2 cells and 101.90 and 102.61 µg mL−1 to Caco-2 cells respectively. CONCLUSION This is the first detailed report on the chemical composition and bioactivities of C. axillaris fruits. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consider a Hamiltonian action of S1 on (C, ω), we shown that the Hamiltonian Gromov-Witten invariants of it are well-defined. After computing the Hamiltonian Gromov-Witten invariants of it, we construct a ring homomorphism from $$H_{{S^1},CR}^*\left( {X,R} \right)$$ to the small orbifold quantum cohomology of X// S and obtain a simpler formula of the Gromov-Witten invariants for weighted projective space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the interest in studying modification of pectin has increased. A number of hydroxyl and carboxyl groups distributed along the backbone as well as a certain amount of neutral sugars presented as side chains make pectin capable of preparing a broad spectrum of derivatives. By forming pectin derivatives, their properties may be modified and some other new functional properties may be created. This article attempts to review the information about various methods used for pectin modification, including substitution (alkylation, amidation, quaternization, thiolation, sulfation, oxidation, etc.), chain elongation (cross-linking and grafting) and depolymerization (chemical, physical, and enzymatic degradation). Characteristics and applications of some pectin derivatives are also presented. In addition, the safety and regulatory status of pectin and its derivatives were reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the interest in studying modification of pectin has increased. A number of hydroxyl and carboxyl groups distributed along the backbone as well as a certain amount of neutral sugars presented as side chains make pectin capable of preparing a broad spectrum of derivatives. By forming pectin derivatives, their properties may be modified and some other new functional properties may be created. This article attempts to review the information about various methods used for pectin modification, including substitution (alkylation, amidation, quaternization, thiolation, sulfation, oxidation, etc.), chain elongation (cross-linking and grafting) and depolymerization (chemical, physical, and enzymatic degradation). Characteristics and applications of some pectin derivatives are also presented. In addition, the safety and regulatory status of pectin and its derivatives were reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complex liposomes containing both a hydrophilic drug vitamin C and hydrophobic drug medium-chain fatty acids were prepared by double emulsion method and double emulsion-dynamic high pressure microfluidization, respectively. The results showed that the complex nanoliposomes (medium-chain fatty acids-vitamin C nanoliposomes) prepared by double emulsion-dynamic high pressure microfluidization exhibited higher entrapment efficiency of medium-chain fatty acids (48.66 ± 2.59)%, relatively higher entrapment efficiency of vitamin C (64.00 ± 5.27)%, lower average size diameter (92.8 ± 6.85) nm, and better storage stability at 4°C for 90 days than those prepared by double emulsion.In vitrodrug release studies of medium-chain fatty acids-vitamin C nanoliposomes prepared by double emulsion-dynamic high pressure microfluidization were also investigated. Prolonged drug releases of medium-chain fatty acids-vitamin C nanoliposomes were observed compared with liposomes encapsulating one drug (medium-chain fatty acids or vitamin C) over a period of 24 h. It was indicated that double emulsion-dynamic high pressure microfluidization could be a potential approach in the preparation of nanoscale complex liposomes encapsulating both a hydrophilic drug and hydrophobic drug. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The present universe is dominated by repulsive dark energy. It is natural that the coupling between the dark energy and the attractive gravity has to be taken into account in studying the evolution of our universe. Here, we induce an evolution equation for dark energy-dark matter-coupled universe. The solutions of the dynamic equation provide a specific picture of cosmic evolution, which is well compatible with current observed evolution histories of both Hubble parameter and equation of state parameter of dark energy. In this picture, the already observed universe has undergone through three epochs-the epoch of equilibrium between gravity and dark energy at cosmological redshifts $$z>1$$ , the phase transition epoch at z between about 0.5 and 1, and the present acceleration epoch starting from $$z\simeq 0.5$$ . The expected matter-dominated deceleration epoch has not been seen yet, which requires future deep observations to look back upon more early universe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Major polyphenolic compounds in pineapple peels were identified and quantified. The antioxidant capacities of pineapple peel extracts and these polyphenolic compounds were determined using DPPH• scavenging capacity and phosphomolybdenum method. Effects of these polyphenolics’ interactions on their antioxidant capacity were also evaluated. Gallic acid (31.76 mg/100 g dry extracts), catechin (58.51 mg/100 g), epicatechin (50.00 mg/100 g), and ferulic acid (19.50 mg/100 g) were found to be the main polyphenolics in pineapple peels. The IC50for DPPH• scavenging assay of the extracts was 1.13 mg/ml and total antioxidant capacity was 0.037 g ascorbic acid equivalents/g. The order of DPPH• scavenging capacity of per mole of these polyphenolic compounds present in pineapple peels was gallic acid > epicatechin = catechin > ferulic acid, but it was different when using phosphomolybdenum method the order of which was epicatechin. > catechin > gallic acid = ferulic acid. Results of polyphenolics’ interactions indicated no synergistic effects. In the combinations of ferulic acid-epicatechin and ferulic acid-gallic acid, additive effects were found using both antioxidant activity assays. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Micronized by a dry grinding method (D-ODF) or a wet granulating method (W-ODF), okara dietary fiber (ODF), was fed to BALB/c mice for 28 d. The water holding capacity of D-ODF and W-ODF was significantly enhanced after micronization. W-ODF had a larger swell capacity and a higher content of soluble dietary fiber than crude ODF and D-ODF. After feeding for 28 d, the populations of Escherichia coli and Lactobacilli in the cecum were significantly lower and higher in the W-ODF group than other groups, respectively, while the population of Bifidobacterium increased in all groups. The effect of each diet on the population of E. coli. Lactobacilli and Bifidobacterium was all maintained for a short period of time except that the effectiveness of W-ODF diet on the Bifidobacterium population lasted slightly longer than other diets. At the end of the feeding period, serum total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride in D-ODF and W-ODF diets were significantly lower and HDL-C/TC ratio was significantly higher than those in crude ODF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Doppler dipole signal dominates the cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropy maps obtained by the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe ( WMAP) mission, and plays a key role throughout the data processing. Previously, we discovered a timing asynchronism of 25.6 ms between the timestamps of the spacecraft attitude and radiometer output in the original raw WMAP time-ordered data (TOD), which, if not corrected during data processing, would generate an artificial quadrupole component () in recovered CMB maps (). Recently, proves that there does exist a timing offset-induced error corresponding to about 25.6 ms in the WMAP calibrated TOD, by studying the fluctuation variance per pixel in the temperature map recovered from the TOD as a function of assumed timing offset. Here, we find evidence directly in the WMAP TOD for such an uncorrected timing error, which possibly occurred in calculating the Doppler dipole signal during the WMAP team's TOD data processing. The amplitude is highly significant and is consistent with previous work. We also show that the uncorrected timing offset can lead the WMAP CMB quadrupole to be substantially overestimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By selecting a right generalized coordinate X, which contains the general solutions of the classical motion equation of a forced damped harmonic oscillator, we obtain a simple Hamiltonian which does not contain time for the oscillator such that Schrödinger equation and its solutions can be directly written out in X representation. The wave functin in x representation are also given with the help of the eigenfunctions of the operator $$ \hat X $$ in x representation. The evolution of $$ \left\langle {\hat x} \right\rangle $$ is the same as in the classical mechanics, and the uncertainty in position is independent of an external influence; one part of energy mean is quantized and attenuated, and the other is equal to the classical energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein ubiquitination is a common form of post-translational modification that regulates a broad spectrum of protein substrates in diverse cellular pathways. Through a three-enzyme (E1–E2–E3) cascade, the attachment of ubiquitin to proteins is catalysed by the E3 ubiquitin ligase, which is best represented by the superfamily of the cullin-RING complexes. Conserved from yeast to human, the DDB1–CUL4–ROC1 complex is a recently identified cullin-RING ubiquitin ligase, which regulates DNA repair, DNA replication and transcription, and can also be subverted by pathogenic viruses to benefit viral infection. Lacking a canonical SKP1-like cullin adaptor and a defined substrate recruitment module, how the DDB1–CUL4–ROC1 E3 apparatus is assembled for ubiquitinating various substrates remains unclear. Here we present crystallographic analyses of the virally hijacked form of the human DDB1–CUL4A–ROC1 machinery, which show that DDB1 uses one β-propeller domain for cullin scaffold binding and a variably attached separate double-β-propeller fold for substrate presentation. Through tandem-affinity purification of human DDB1 and CUL4A complexes followed by mass spectrometry analysis, we then identify a novel family of WD40-repeat proteins, which directly bind to the double-propeller fold of DDB1 and serve as the substrate-recruiting module of the E3. Together, our structural and proteomic results reveal the structural mechanisms and molecular logic underlying the assembly and versatility of a new family of cullin-RING E3 complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of three types of polymeric proanthocyanidins (PPC) with different degrees of polymerization (DP), namely PPC1 (DP = 6.39 ± 0.13), PPC2 (DP = 8.21 ± 0.76), and PPC3 (DP = 9.92 ± 0.21), on the physicochemical characteristics and in vitro starch digestibility of potato starch were studied. PPC addition (5%, w/w) increased the gelatinization temperature and decreased some viscosity indices of potato starch, including the peak, trough, breakdown, and setback viscosities. Starch-PPC pastes showed reduced thixotropy and improved stability and gelling properties compared to starch paste. The three types of proanthocyanidins all showed evident inhibitory effects on the digestion and retrogradation of potato starch, including short-term and long-term retrogradation. Among the three, PPC with a lower DP had stronger effects on the starch short-term retrogradation and gelling performance, whereas larger PPC molecules exhibited a greater impact on starch recrystallization and digestive characteristics. The research consequences were conducive to explore the application of functional PPC in starch-based food processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have shown the pathogenic effects of grains cultivated in the endemic areas of Keshan disease and selenium is effective in the prevention of this disease. In this study, liver damages induced by feeding grains from an endemic area (endemic diet), and the effects of selenium and α-tocopherol supplement were examined. After 3 months on the endemic diet, the amounts of serum enzymes were significantly increased when compared to controls (animals receiving diet from a non-endemic area). Liver enzymes (alkaline phosphatase and choline esterase) were also found to be altered in the serum, further suggesting liver damages in animals on an endemic diet. Supplement of the endemic diet with selenium or α-tocopherol reversed the changes in serum enzymes. Increase in lipid peroxidation in the liver of animals on the endemic diet was observed when compared to that in control animals. Selenium and α-tocopherol supplements prevented the increase in lipid peroxidation in the liver by the endemic diet. Semi-quantitative histochemical analysis of glutamate dehydrogenase and succinate dehydrogenase in liver tissue showed that the livers of animals on an endemic diet were more sensitive to ischemic damages in vitro. Supplementation of the endemic diet with either selenium or α-tocopherol reduced the sensitivity to ischemic damages. The results suggest that increased lipid peroxidation in the liver of rats on an endemic diet may be responsible for liver damages and elevation of serum enzymes. Restoration of glutathione peroxidase activity by selenium supplement or an increase in the content of α-tocopherol in the liver can prevent lipid peroxidation in animals on an endemic diet and thus provide the protective effects against liver damages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optically pumped deep-ultraviolet lasers operating at room temperature are demonstrated from heterostructures consisting of Al xGa1− xN/AlN grown on (0001) AlN substrate. The substantial reduction of the threading dislocation density by using a native AlN substrate over sapphire substrates is critical to the realization of the photo-pumped lasers. The threshold power density was 1.88 MW cm−2. The layers below the active region were Si-doped and had bottom waveguide and cladding layer n -type structures required for diode lasers, thus demonstrating the feasibility of deep UV lasing for the proposed structures on AlN substrates by current injection, provided that effective hole injection layers are included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In article number 1900317, Wen-Chung Xu, Zhi-Chai Luo, and co-workers unveil a novel type of soliton pulsation in an ultrafast laser. The observed pulsating dynamics cannot be resolved by routine diagnostic methods because of the almost unchanged energy, which is termed as "invisible" soliton pulsation. [Extracted from the article]

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake. The spelling of David Julian McClements name was incorrect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]