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Magnetic-fluorescent microbeads have been widely used in the multiplex detection of biological molecules. The traditional method relies on flow cytometry to decode and analyze the microbeads. Alternative strategies that employ immobilized microbeads on a plane and involve fluorescence imaging to analyze the microbeads have been proposed. Among these strategies, an integrated chip that controls magnetic field contribution using nickel powder pillars and captured microbeads has attracted great attention. Despite its unique advantages such as low manufacturing costs, reusability and high capture efficiency, existing research had been limited by the inability to precisely capture a single microbead, and the overlapping of microbeads has made multiplex immunoassays based on this strategy impossible. In this work, low-density microbeads were prepared in a microfluidic chip using IBOMA as the main monomer. The low density of the microbeads made the preparation of an aqueous suspension easier. An integration of nickel patterns, magnets and channels was carried out and demonstrated the capacity of capturing single microbeads precisely. Fluorescence coding further empowered this method with the ability of multiplex immunoassay, which was verified using three types of IgG, and a calibration curve for the detection of anti-human IgG was established using a sandwich immunoassay. These results show the promising potential of this strategy for biomedical detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose an energy harvester that overcomes the bottleneck problem under ultralow-frequency rotational motion. The harvester consists of bistable dual piezoelectric energy harvesters (BD-PEH) with the magnetic plucking mechanism. The driving magnet is introduced to provide the magnetic plucking to BD-PEH. Therefore, the BD-PEH can operate at high-frequency vibrations across the potential well under ultralow-frequency rotation, which enhances energy harvesting efficiency. A numerical model of the harvester is developed, and the model results are in agreement with the experimental results. The effect of the depth of the potential well on the performance of the harvester is analyzed. The deeper the potential well, the higher the energy output, but it will reduce the bandwidth of the harvester. The experimental results show that the highest average power output is 0.81 mW at 1.2 Hz. In conclusion, the energy harvester proposed in this paper can generate enough energy to drive low-power electronic devices under ultralow-frequency rotational motion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite accumulating evidence linking defective lysosome function with autoimmune diseases, how the catabolic machinery is regulated to maintain immune homeostasis remains unknown. Late endosomal/lysosomal adaptor, MAPK and mTOR activator 5 (Lamtor5) is a subunit of the Ragulator mediating mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) activation in response to amino acids, but its action mode and physiological role are still unclear. Here it is demonstrated that Lamtor5 level is markedly decreased in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In parallel, the mice with myeloid Lamtor5 ablation developed SLE‐like manifestation. Impaired lysosomal function and aberrant activation of mTORC1 are evidenced in Lamtor5 deficient macrophages and PBMCs of SLE patients, accompanied by blunted autolysosomal pathway and undesirable inflammatory responses. Mechanistically, it is shown that Lamtor5 is physically associated with ATP6V1A, an essential subunit of vacuolar H+‐ATPase (v‐ATPase), and promoted the V0/V1 holoenzyme assembly to facilitate lysosome acidification. The binding of Lamtor5 to v‐ATPase affected the lysosomal tethering of Rag GTPase and weakened its interaction with mTORC1 for activation. Overall, Lamtor5 is identified as a critical factor for immune homeostasis by intergrading v‐ATPase activity, lysosome function, and mTOR pathway. The findings provide a potential therapeutic target for SLE and/or other autoimmune diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Directed toward the limitations of natural enzymes in diabetes management, it is possible to design nano-enzymatic structures and modulate the activity as needed to obtain superior materials that are more suitable for the specific application environment. In this work, noble metal–semiconductor composite nanozymes [Te–Au nanowires (NWs)] were designed and their enzyme-like activities were systematically investigated for diabetes management. The results indicated that Te–Au NWs exhibited pH-switching multi-enzyme-like activities and adapted to a wider range of reaction conditions than natural enzymes. The kinetics of their enzyme-catalyzed reactions followed the Michaelis–Menten model, showing their substrate affinity similar to that of natural enzymes. Actually, the nanozymes showed reliable application stability, maintaining more than 80% of various enzyme activities under prolonged or extreme storage conditions. Furthermore, the nanozymes can be flexibly applied to various paths of glucose detection. For example, we constructed three different colorimetric detection methods to achieve the detection of glucose in saliva and blood. All three detection methods showed a wider linear range and lower limit of detection (LOD), among which the most optimal method was the combination of Te–Au NWs and glucose oxidase (GOx), with a linear range of 0.05–4 mM and a LOD of 2.11 μM. In summary, nanozymes with multiple enzyme-like activities have significant advantages and effectively address the limitations of natural enzymes in the application of diabetes management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anlotinib and osimertinib are a class of tyrosine kinase inhibitors for the treatment of malignant tumor. The combination of anlotinib and osimertinib is currently used for treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. This study aimed to develop a simple and rapid isotope-labeled UHPLC–MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of anlotinib and osimertinib in human plasma. The analytes were extracted by protein precipitation with acetonitrile and were then separated on a Shim-pack GIST C18 column. The detection was performed on Shimadzu 8050 triple quadruple mass spectrometer in the positive electrospray ionization mode with multiple reaction monitoring. The precursor-to-product ion transitions were m/z 408.10→ 339.75, 500.25→ 72.20 and 413.50 → 344.50 for anlotinib, osimertinib and D5-anlotinib, respectively. Validation is based on US Food and Drug Administration guidelines. The linearity ranges were 0.5–100 ng/mL for anlotinib and were 1–500 ng/mL for osimertinib with the correlation coefficients (r  2) ≥ 0.99. Accuracy and precision, matrix effect, extraction recovery and stability of anlotinib and osimertinib were acceptable after validation. The UHPLC–MS/MS method was successfully validated and was applied to monitor the concentration of anlotinib and osimertinib in NSCLC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exosomes constitute an emerging biomarker for cancer diagnosis because they carry multiple proteins that reflect the origins of the parent cell. The highly sensitive detection of exosomes is a crucial prerequisite for the diagnosis of cancer. In this study, we report an exosome detection system based on quantum weak value amplification (WVA). The WVA detection system consists of a reflection detection light path and a Zr-ionized biochip. Zr-ionized biochips effectively capture exosomes through the specific interaction between zirconium dioxide and the phosphate groups on the lipid bilayer of exosomes. Aptamer-modified gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) are then used to specifically recognize proteins on exosomes to enhance the detection signal. The sensitivity and resolution of the detection system are 2944.07 nm/RIU and 1.22 × 10−5 RIU, respectively. The concentration of exosomes can be directly quantified by the WVA system, ranging from 105–107 particles/mL with the detection limit of 3 × 104 particles/mL. The use of Au NPs-EpCAM for the specific enhancement of breast cancer MDA-MB-231 exosomes is demonstrated. The results indicate that the WVA detection system can be a promising candidate for the detection of exosomes as tumor markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overconsumption of high-fat foods increases the risk of fatty liver disease (FLD) and liver cancer with long pathogenic cycles. It is also known that the intake of the chemical poison nitrosamine and its nanopreparations can promote the development of liver injuries, such as FLD, and hepatic fibrosis, and significantly shorten the formation time of the liver cancer cycle. The present work confirmed that the coexposure of a high-fat diet (HFD) and nano-diethylnitrosamine (nano-DEN) altered the tumor microenvironment and studied the effect of this coexposure on the progression of fatty liver malignant transformation into liver cancer. Gene transcriptomics and immunostaining were used to evaluate the tumor promotion effect of the coexposure in mice. After coexposure treatment, tumor nodules were obviously increased, and inflammation levels were elevated. The liver transcriptomics analysis showed that the expression levels of inflammatory, fatty, and fibrosis-related factors in the coexposed group were increased in comparison with the nano-DEN- and high-fat-alone groups. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) results showed that coexposure aggravated the high expression of genes related to the carcinomatous pathway and accelerated the formation of the tumor microenvironment. The immunohistochemical staining results showed that the coexposure significantly increased the abnormal changes in proteins related to inflammation, proliferation, aging, and hypoxia in mouse liver tissues. The coexposure of high fat and nano-DEN aggravated the process of steatosis and carcinogenesis. In conclusion, the habitual consumption of pickled foods containing nitrosamines in a daily HFD significantly increases the risk of liver pathology lesions progressing from FLD to liver cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The direct electrochemistry of hepatitis B virus containing the covalently closed circular DNA (HBV cccDNA) is realized at pretreated glassy carbon electrode (PGCE). It is essential that the direct electron transfer of guanine (G) and adenine (A) on HBV cccDNA strand is captured by microwave irradiation to melt cccDNA into ssDNA. The irreversible adsorption and diffusion controlled processes of G and A are revealed by cyclic voltammetry with participating 2 protons and 2 electrons respectively. In addition, we found that there are two oxidation peaks of G and A in whole blood containing HBV. Nevertheless, there is only one oxidation peak of G in whole blood of normal people. According to this difference of oxidation peaks in whole blood sample, it can be used screen quickly HBV infection or carriers in clinic and large area of blood donors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The MYC oncoprotein, also known as the master regulator of genes, is a transcription factor that regulates numerous physiological processes, including cell cycle control, apoptosis, protein synthesis and cell adhesion, among others. MYC is overexpressed in approximately 70% of human cancers. Given its pervasive role in cancer biology, MYC down‐regulation has become an attractive cancer treatment strategy. Methods: The CRISPR/Cas9 method was used to produce KO cell models. Western blot was used to analyzed the expressions of MYC and TATA‐binding proteinassociated factors 10 (TAF10) in cancer cells (MCF7, A549, HepG2 cells) Cell culture studies were performed to determine the mechanisms by which small molecules (Z363119456, Z363) affects MYC and TAF10 expressions and functions. Mouse studies were carried out to investigate the impact of Z363 regulation on tumor growth. Results: Z363 activate Thyroid hormone Receptor‐interacting Protein 12 (TRIP12), which phosphorylates MYC at Thr58, resulting in MYC ubiquitination and degradation and thereby regulating MYC target genes. Importantly, TRIP12 also induces TAF10 degradation, which reduces MYC protein levels. TRIP12, an E3 ligase, controls MYC levels both directly and indirectly by inhibiting MYC or TAF10 activity. Conclusions: In summary,these results demonstrate the anti‐cancer properties of Z363, a small molecule that is co‐regulated by TAF10 and MYC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uniform and monodisperse quantum dot (QD)–encoded magnetic microbeads with Janus structure were produced in a microfluidic device via photopolymerization. UV light through a microscope objective was used to solidify the microbeads which showed sharp interfaces and excellent magnetic responses. QDs with different emission peaks (450 nm for blue and 640 nm for red) were mixed at different ratios to provide three spectral codes. The QD-encoded microbeads can be distinguished by analyzing their fluorescent images in HSV color space. After hydrolysis of the anhydride group in alkaline solution, protein was immobilized on microbeads via activation of carboxyl groups using (1-ethyl-3(3-dimethylaminoprophyl) carbodiimide/N-hydroxysuccinimide (EDC/NHS). A microhole array in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates with a specific size was fabricated to trap individual microbeads in a single microhole. The combination of Janus-structured QD-encoded magnetic microbeads and microhole arrays facilitates both flexibility, binding kinetics, sensitivity for suspension assay, and fluorescence mapping analysis for conventional biochips, thus providing a novel platform for multiplex bioanalysis. The capability of this integration for multiplex immunoassays was verified using three kinds of IgG and their corresponding anti-IgG. A detection limit of 0.07 ng/mL was achieved for human IgG, indicating practical applications in various fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The desert ecosystem is an important part of the terrestrial ecosystem. Accurate estimations of the biomass and species richness of desert plants are of great value for maintaining ecosystem stability; however, current assessments remain a challenge due to the large spatial heterogeneity in biomass and species richness and difficulties posed by time-consuming field surveys, particularly in remote areas. In the present study, There were 527 sampling sites, and each sampling site contained approximately 9 quadrats. Approximately 4500 quadrats in total were taken from the Junggar Desert of northern Xinjiang, and the spatial distribution and factors driving the biomass and species richness of the desert ecosystem were quantitatively analyzed. The results showed that the average aboveground biomass, belowground biomass, litter, and the Patrick index of the Junggar Desert in northern Xinjiang were 115.42 gm−2, 924.77 gm−2, 13.06 gm−2, and 63, with values ranging from 2–708.12 gm−2, 120.25–3537.3 gm−2, 2–56.46 gm−2, and 0–377, respectively, The mean of the variation coefficient was 56.19%, 41.16%, 62.16% and 73.83%, suggesting moderate variation. The result is affected by the differences between the desert environment and climate. Climate factors had a relatively large impact on species richness, and the variation coefficient of species richness was large, indicating a large degree of dispersion of species richness. The direct influence of environmental and climatic factors on underground biomass (BGB) is relatively small, and its coefficient of variation is small. The spatial distribution of biomass and species richness in northern Xinjiang gradually decreased from west to east. Redundancy analysis showed that climate was the main factor driving desert biomass and species richness in northern Xinjiang, with an average independent explanatory power of 20.38% and 18.57%, respectively. Structural equation modeling indicated that climate factors, elevation, and community coverage had a direct positive effect on the aboveground biomass of the desert plants in northern Xinjiang and a direct negative effect on the belowground biomass. Moreover, climate factors and biological factors showed a direct positive effect on the species richness in northern Xinjiang. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sensitive detection system based on aptamer-based biosensors for the detection of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) by mapping encoding upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) was constructed. In this sensor, oligonucleotides with CEA aptamer fragments immobilized on magnetic beads (MBs) were hybridized to complementary DNA modified on UCNPs (cDNA–UCNPs); thus, sandwich-structured probes were formed. In the presence of CEA, due to the stronger interaction between the aptamer and CEA than that of the aptamer and complementary DNA on UCNPs, the cDNA–UCNPs were isolated from the MBs, and the number of isolated UCNPs was directly related to the concentration of CEA. Using an inverted fluorescence microscope, the number of target-dependent UCNPs on a glass slide was counted, enabling the accurate determination of CEA in the solution. The dynamic range for CEA detection in PBS buffer was 0.02–6.0 ng mL−1 (0.1–30 pM) and a limit of detection (LOD) of 65 fM was achieved. We envisage that the system we developed can also have many promising applications in the sensitive detection of other biomarkers for early cancer diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel nonwoven‐fabric‐supported‐nano‐Ag (NWF/Ag) reactor was obtained via a mussel‐inspired in‐situ fabrication method. The resulting NWF/Ag features a high catalytic activity for the reduction reaction of organic dyes in the presence of sodium borohydride. More importantly, it is also feasible for the scale‐up catalysis in NWF/Ag‐assembled continuous‐flow reactors. Such a NWF/Ag catalyst preserves the fiber‐based three‐dimensional architecture to effectively drive the continuous‐flow catalysis reactions at unprecedented efficiency, benefiting from it the easy diffusion of dye molecules to access the active catalytic sites of nano‐Ag. Moreover, the resulting NWF/Ag composites can serve as versatile platforms to assemble continuous‐flow reactors in different shapes, sizes, and configurations to extend the catalysis applications. In this study, the catalytic reduction conversion of methylene blue can reach more than 98 % in 270 seconds using the NWF/Ag‐based channel‐type continuous‐flow reactor. It also preserves good catalytic reduction performance to other organic dyes, including methyl orange and acid orange 7. The NWF‐based platforms, combined with a rational designed approach of surface functionalization and hybridization, probably provide new insights into the catalytic reduction of organic dyes in a continuous‐flow way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore the value of combining bpMRI and clinical indicators in the diagnosis of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa), and developing a prediction model and Nomogram to guide clinical decision-making. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 530 patients who underwent prostate biopsy due to elevated serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels and/or suspicious digital rectal examination (DRE). Enrolled patients were randomly assigned to the training group (n = 371, 70%) and validation group (n = 159, 30%). All patients underwent prostate bpMRI examination, and T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) sequences were collected before biopsy and were scored, which were respectively named T2WI score and DWI score according to Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System version 2 (PI-RADS v.2) scoring protocol, and then PI-RADS scoring was performed. We defined a new bpMRI-based parameter named Total score (Total score = T2WI score + DWI score). PI-RADS score and Total score were separately included in the multivariate analysis of the training group to determine independent predictors for csPCa and establish prediction models. Then, prediction models and clinical indicators were compared by analyzing the area under the curve (AUC) and decision curves. A Nomogram for predicting csPCa was established using data from the training group. Results: In the training group, 160 (43.1%) patients had prostate cancer (PCa), including 128 (34.5%) with csPCa. Multivariate regression analysis showed that the PI-RADS score, Total score, f/tPSA, and PSA density (PSAD) were independent predictors of csPCa. The prediction model that was defined by Total score, f/tPSA, and PSAD had the highest discriminatory power of csPCa (AUC = 0.931), and the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 85.1% and 87.5%, respectively. Decision curve analysis (DCA) showed that the prediction model achieved an optimal overall net benefit in both the training group and the validation group. In addition, the Nomogram predicted csPCa revealed good estimation when compared with clinical indicators. Conclusion: The prediction model and Nomogram based on bpMRI and clinical indicators exhibit a satisfactory predictive value and improved risk stratification for csPCa, which could be used for clinical biopsy decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous-flow microreactors offer increased reactivity and reusability via unique reaction pathways to address a wide range of practical nanocatalysis problems. However, only limited platforms exist to employ these microreactors for versatile nanocatalytic reactions. In this work, we conformally anchored nickel oxide (NiO) nanosheets onto quartz fibers (QFs), which exhibited a high catalytic activity using the hydrogenation of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) as a model reaction in a batch reaction study. More importantly, we demonstrated that fiber-based QF@NiO composites (e.g., cotton, fabric, belt, felt) can be integrated as versatile platforms to develop microreactors for continuous-flow catalytic applications including hydrogenation reactions and dye-catalyzed degradation. This fiber-based three-dimensional (3D) nanocatalyst architecture effectively drives continuous-flow catalytic reactions with unprecedented efficiency due to the easy diffusion of reactant molecules into the fibrous structure, allowing contact with catalytic active sites. Our approach to continuous-flow microreactor design uses surface hybridization as a guideline to immobilize nanocatalysts onto the QFs. These QF-based platforms, coupled with rational design, are expected to be applied to a wide range of nanocatalytic reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposed a strategy of tracking pipe PIG utilizing Fiber Optic Distributed Vibration Sensor (FODVS) and YOLO object detection algorithm. Phase sensitive Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (ϕ-OTDR) is employed as the distributed sensor to collect the real field vibration signal generated as a result of the collision between leather bowl and weld joint. The space-time graphs of ϕ-OTDR are prepared to construct data sets to train a typical YOLOv3 net model. The trained model is proved to be able to accurately capture the invert-V signature in the space-time graph thus revealing the real time position of a PIG. This paper provides a concept-proof preliminary demonstration on the promising combination of FODVS and object detection scheme for pursuing better performance of events recogntion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology guidelines recommend comprehensive genomic profiling of lung adenocarcinoma, it has not been widely applied in Chinese hospitals. This observational study aimed to determine real-world evidence of whether comprehensive genomic profiling can benefit the survival of patients with lung cancer. We investigated the frequency of genomic alterations, treatment strategies, and clinical outcomes in 233 patients with advanced non-small cell lung carcinoma who were routinely screened using a 508-gene panel. The most prevalent drivers were mutations of EGFR (51%), KRAS (9%), PIK3CA (7%), ALK (7%), MET (6%), and BRAF (5%). Mutations in tumor suppressor genes included TP53, KEAP1, RB1, PTEN, and APC. Median overall survival (OS) was significantly shorter among patients harboring KRAS (mutant, n = 17; WT, n = 154) and TP53 (mutant, n = 103; WT n =68) mutations (11.3 vs. 24.0 months; P = 0.16 and 18.7 vs. 28.7 months; P = 0.018, respectively). The OS was longer among patients with tumors harboring EGFR (P = 0.069) and ALK (P = 0.51) mutations. Most patients (65.4%) with the driver gene-positive (EGFR, ALK, and ROS1) tumors were received TKI treatment, whereas those with driver gene wild tumors (53.1%) chose platinum-based therapy. Univariate and multivariate analyses associated a shorter OS among patients with tumors harboring concomitant TP53 and EGFR mutations. These findings provide additional evidence from real-world on the potential importance of targeted therapies as a treatment option in NSCLC patients harboring clinically actionable mutation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Klebsiella pneumonia, a Gram-negative bacterium belonging to the genus Enterobacter, causes many human and livestock diseases. Notably, infected goats may develop pneumonia, septicemia, which can lead to occasional death, resulting in great economic losses in goat-farming industry. However, there are little systematic methods for detection of goat Klebsiella pneumoniae in livestock production. Results: In this study, we developed a Klebsiella pneumoniae goat polyclonal antibody and established an indirect ELISA method to detect the Klebsiella pneumoniae. After screening and optimizing the conditions for detection, we determined the optimal working dilutions of the coated-bacterial antigen, the polyclonal antibody, and the enzyme-labeled secondary antibody that were 1:800 (2.99 × 107 CFU/ml), 1:6400, and 1:5000, respectively. The optimal condition of coating and blocking were both 4 °C for 12 h. The optimal dilution buffers of bacterial antigen, the antibodies, and the blocking buffer were 0.05 mol/L carbonate buffer, 1% BSA phosphate buffer, and 1.5% BSA carbonate buffer, respectively. The cut-off value was determined to be 0.28, and the analytical sensitivity was 1:800 (dilution of a positive sample). Furthermore, there was no cross-reaction between the coated antigen and goat serum positive for antibodies against other bacteria, indicating that indirect ELISA could detect Klebsiella pneumoniae specifically in most cases. The average coefficients of variation of intra-assay and inter-assay were 4.37 and 5.17% indicating favorable reproducibility of indirect ELISA. In the detection of clinical veterinary samples, the positive rate of indirect ELISA was 6.74%, higher than that of conventional agglutination assays. Conclusions: Taken together, we successfully established an indirect ELISA method for detecting antibodies against Klebsiella pneumoniae in goats, which can be applied in production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional preparation methods of carbon dots (CDs), generally causing low atom utilization and environmental unfriendliness due to the use of massive solvents, make it difficult for CDs to be synthesized on a large scale. In this work, a one-step solid-phase pyrolysis method was used to address the problems mentioned above. Selecting citric acid and natural biomass glycine as raw materials, through studying influences of the pyrolysis temperature, time, and raw material ratio on properties of the product, it is found that the ratio of citric acid to glycine plays a dominating role to luminescing color and fluorescence intensity of products. Eventually, the glycine-doped blue- and green-emitting fluorescent CDs (GCDs-b and GCDs-g) were prepared by the solid-phase pyrolysis, with high quantum yields of 84.0% and 63.0% and product yields of 71.5% and 64.5%, respectively. Moreover, the uniform and spherical GCDs-b and GCDs-g with average particle size of 4.1 nm and 3.5 nm, respectively, were well-dispersed in aqueous solution, exhibiting excellent and different optical properties, salt tolerance, pH, and light stabilities. Furthermore, in order to explore the influences of surface functional groups on luminescing color of the products, investigation was done on the surface chemical structure, composition, and the characteristics of optical spectra in the formation processes of GCDs-b and GCDs-g. It is rarely reported that the green light emission is related to carbon atom structure and amidation on surfaces of CDs. Additionally, the cellular viability assay of GCDs-b and GCDs-g was also conducted to verify its good biocompatibility, which guarantees these materials can be applied in cellular imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grazing exclusion (GE) is one of the most common ways to restore degraded grasslands. However, the effects of GE on grassland community characteristics and carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) storage remain unclear, especially in deserts. To further assess the effects of GE on plant and soil properties in arid and semiarid deserts, the community biomass, diversity, and ecosystem C and N contents and storage were determined from GE (6 years) plots and adjacent freely grazed (FG) plots in sagebrush deserts, which are vital spring-autumn pastures in Xinjiang, China. The results revealed that GE had surprisingly dissimilar influences on the plant community and soil properties in both regions. In the semiarid desert, the richness index, diversity index, and evenness index in the GE plot decreased by 41.9, 70.1, and 54.9% compared to those in the FG plot. In the arid desert, the average height, total coverage, and above- and belowground biomass in the GE plot increased by 55.1, 157.1, 207.3, and 322.2% (p < 0.05), respectively, compared to those in the FG plot. However, GE had no significant effect on above- or belowground biomass in the semiarid desert. In addition, in the semiarid region, GE not only decreased the SOC (top 70 cm soil) and STN (top 100 cm soil) concentrations but also significantly decreased the total SOC and STN storage in the top 100 cm of soil by 43.5 and 39.1% (p < 0.05), respectively, and the ecosystem C and N storage in the GE plot decreased significantly, by 39.1 and 36.7%, respectively, compared to that in the FG plot. These findings indicate that GE is an effective approach to improving desert productivity in sagebrush desert ecosystems, especially in arid regions, but may not be beneficial for diversity maintenance or C and N sequestration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terrestrial photosynthesis is regulated by plant phenology and environmental conditions, both of which experienced substantial changes in recent decades. Unlike early-season photosynthesis, which is mostly driven by temperature or wet-season onset, late-season photosynthesis can be limited by several factors and the underlying mechanisms are less understood. Here, we analyze the temperature and water limitations on the ending date of photosynthesis (EOP), using data from both remote-sensing and flux tower-based measurements. We find a contrasting spatial pattern of temperature and water limitations on EOP. The threshold separating these is determined by the balance between energy availability and soil water supply. This coordinated temperature and moisture regulation can be explained by “law of minimum,” i.e., as temperature limitation diminishes, higher soil water is needed to support increased vegetation activity, especially during the late growing season. Models project future warming and drying, especially during late season, both of which should further expand the water-limited regions, causing large variations and potential decreases in photosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes a piezoelectric energy harvester to supply power for low-consumption devices in intelligent vehicle wheels. The harvester is embedded in the spoke and possesses the ability of self-tuning due to the centrifugal force in the rotational motion. A dynamic model suitable for design is derived through the Euler-Lagrange method and verified by experiments. In order to facilitate the design of the harvester, the concept of design factor is proposed and discussed. The wheel's rotational characteristics is measured by a road test and a harvester is designed for the R16 wheel. An experimental platform with Macro Fiber Composite is built and the output power of 0.61-6.28 mW is achieved at the wheel speeds from 40 to 120 kph on real road test. The results demonstrate that the proposed piezoelectric energy harvester can be applied to establish a wireless self-sufficient intelligent vehicle wheel system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rotational piezoelectric energy harvester has the ability to convert rotation mechanical energy into electric power. The piezoelectric harvester with cantilever based on gravity excitation has received great attention. Given that gravity excitation is greater than conventional vibration excitation, and large mass are often used in low-frequency applications, large amplitudes pose a significant threat to the life of a harvester. In this study, a rotational energy harvester with limiters is investigated to promote practical development. This study establishes a theoretical model verified by experiments. Results show that stiffness has little influence on the limiting effect. In the experimental conditions, the output after 2000 N/m is basically the same. The peak value of the output voltage is linearly proportional to the space. Given that an impact excitation is generated in the collision, the limiter widens the frequency band of the output in the upsweep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The research aims to observe the curative effectiveness of cotton-spreading moxibustion and half-needling method therapy to treat herpes zoster in pregnancy. Methods: Twenty-two cases of herpes zoster in pregnancy were included in the research. This study applied cotton-spreading moxibustion and halfneedling method therapy to treat this condition. Selected acupoints included ashi point located in the area of the herpes lesions, as well as the corresponding hua tuo jia ji points. Cotton-spreading moxibustion, half-needling and surround needling therapy was applied at ashi points, along with half-needling with oblique insertion in hua tuo jia ji points. The total course of treatment was from five to fifteen times. During the process of treatment, the signs and symptoms of herpes was observed to fade and change. Results: Total effective rate was 100%, including the twenty-two patients. There were twenty patients completely cured, and two patients who improved. The total therapeutic time was a minimum of five times. The clinical cured rate was 77.3% with ten treatments. Conclusions: The cotton-spreading moxibustion and half-needling method therapy showed obvious effectiveness in treating herpes zoster in pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compound extremes such as cooccurring soil drought (low soil moisture) and atmospheric aridity (high vapor pressure deficit) can be disastrous for natural and societal systems. Soil drought and atmospheric aridity are 2 main physiological stressors driving widespread vegetation mortality and reduced terrestrial carbon uptake. Here, we empirically demonstrate that strong negative coupling between soil moisture and vapor pressure deficit occurs globally, indicating high probability of cooccurring soil drought and atmospheric aridity. Using the Global Land Atmosphere Coupling Experiment (GLACE)-CMIP5 experiment, we further show that concurrent soil drought and atmospheric aridity are greatly exacerbated by land- atmosphere feedbacks. The feedback of soil drought on the atmosphere is largely responsible for enabling atmospheric aridity extremes. In addition, the soil moisture-precipitation feedback acts to amplify precipitation and soil moisture deficits in most regions. CMIP5 models further show that the frequency of concurrent soil drought and atmospheric aridity enhanced by land-atmosphere feedbacks is projected to increase in the 21st century. Importantly, land- atmosphere feedbacks will greatly increase the intensity of both soil drought and atmospheric aridity beyond that expected from changes in mean climate alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Heat stress could cause huge losses for Lentinula edodes in China and other Asian cultivation areas. Yet our understanding of mechanism how to defend to heat stress is incomplete. Methods: Using heat-tolerant and heat-sensitive strains of L. edodes, we reported a combined proteome and transcriptome analysis of L. edodes response to 40 °C heat stress for 24 h. Meanwhile, the effect of LeDnaJ on the thermotolerance and IAA (indoleacetic acid) biosynthesis in L. edodes was analyzed via the over-expression method. Results: The proteome results revealed that HSPs (heat shock proteins) such as Hsp40 (DnaJ), Hsp70, Hsp90 and key enzymes involved in tryptophan and IAA metabolism process LeTrpE, LeTrpD, LeTam-1, LeYUCCA were more highly expressed in S606 than in YS3357, demonstrating that HSPs and tryptophan as well as IAA metabolism pathway should play an important role in thermotolerance. Over-expression of LeDnaJ gene in S606 strains showed better tolerance to heat stress. It was also documented that intracellular IAA accumulation of S606 (8-fold up) was more than YS3357 (2-fold up), and exogenous IAA enhanced L. edodes tolerance to heat stress. Conclusion: Our data support the interest of LeTrpE, LeDnaJ, tryptophan and IAA could play a pivotal role in enhancing organism thermotolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Satellite-retrieved Solar Induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence (SIF) has shown great potential to monitor the photosynthetic activity of terrestrial ecosystems. However, several issues, including low spatial and temporal resolution of the gridded datasets and high uncertainty of the individual retrievals, limit the applications of SIF. In addition, inconsistency in measurements footprints also hinder the direct comparison between gross primary production (GPP) from eddy covariance (EC) flux towers and satellite-retrieved SIF. In this study, by training a neural network (NN) with surface reflectance from the MODerate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and SIF from Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2), we generated two global spatially continuous SIF (CSIF) datasets at moderate spatio-temporal resolutions (0.05 degree 4-day) during 2001-2016, one for clear-sky conditions and the other one in all-sky conditions. The clear-sky instantaneous CSIF (CSIFclear-inst) shows high accuracy against the clear-sky OCO-2 SIF and little bias across biome types. The all-sky daily average CSIF (CSIFall-daily) dataset exhibits strong spatial, seasonal and interannual dynamics that are consistent with daily SIF from OCO-2 and the Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment-2 (GOME-2). An increasing trend (0.39 %) of annual average CSIFall-daily is also found, confirming the greening of Earth in most regions. Since the difference between satellite observed SIF and CSIF is mostly caused by the environmental down-regulation on SIFyield, the ratio between OCO-2 SIF and CSIFclear-inst can be an effective indicator of drought stress that is more sensitive than normalized difference vegetation index and enhanced vegetation index. By comparing CSIFall-daily with gross primary production (GPP) estimates from 40 EC flux towers across the globe, we find a large cross-site variation (c.v. = 0.36) of GPP-SIF relationship with the highest regression slopes for evergreen needleleaf forest. However, the cross-biome variation is relatively limited (c.v. = 0.15). These two continuous SIF datasets and the derived GPP-SIF relationship enable a better understanding of the spatial and temporal variations of the GPP across biomes and climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This letter reports the idea of extending the sensing distance of phase sensitive optical time-domain reflectometry system based on remotely pumped erbium-doped fiber (EDF) amplification. A segment of EDF is spliced in the middle of the sensing fiber with the pump power injected from the front end to realize power compensation such as a repeater. The 75-km sensing distance under single-end operating scheme and the 10-dB tail-end SNR are demonstrated. Since the method eliminates the necessity of dual-end operation and field power supply, it provides a much more practical and feasible way of realizing long-range perimeter monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is a significant cause of infectious diarrhea in animals. In this study, yeast surface display technology was employed to investigate the effects of ETEC enterotoxin fusion protein on the intestinal flora and mucosal immunity of rats. ETEC estA, estB, and eltAB (heat-labile and heat-stable toxins) were expressed on the surface of yeast. Rats were divided into normal saline, yeast and display yeast groups. Fecal and jejunal content samples were collected on the 7th, 14th, and 21st days. Rats were then fed ETEC for 3 days before again collecting these samples. Levels of SIgA, IL-2, IL-4, IFN-γ, and microbial population density and diversity were documented by ELISA, T-RFLP and real-time PCR. The results demonstrated that estA, estB, and eltAB fusion proteins were expressed on the surface of yeast. Following ETEC challenge, levels of SIgA, IL-2, IL-4, IFN-γ, and, the numbers and variety of intestinal microbes were significantly increased in rats receiving display yeast and yeast. These factors were significantly decreased in rats given normal saline and yeast. Our results indicate that display yeast and yeast can increase the number and diversity of intestinal microbes in rats and improve intestinal immune function. After ETEC challenge, the display yeast can better maintain the balance of intestinal bacteria and mucosal immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background More than 220 million people worldwide are chronically infected with schistosomes, causing severe disease or even death. The major pathological damage occurring in schistosomiasis is attributable to the granulomatous inflammatory response and liver fibrosis induced by schistosome eggs. The inflammatory response is tightly controlled and parallels immunosuppressive regulation, constantly maintaining immune homeostasis and limiting excessive immunopathologic damage in important host organs. It is well known that the activation of programmed death 1 (PD-1) signaling causes a significant suppression of T cell function. However, the roles of PD-1 signaling in modulating CD4+ T cell responses and immunopathology during schistosome infection, have yet to be defined. Methodology/Principal Findings Here, we show that PD-1 is upregulated in CD4+ T cells in Schistosoma japonicum (S. japonicum)- infected patients. We also show the upregulation of PD-1 expression in CD4+ T cells in the spleens, mesenteric lymph nodes, and livers of mice with S. japonicum infection. Finally, we found that the blockade of PD-1 signaling enhanced CD4+ T helper 2 (Th2) cell responses and led to more severe liver immunopathology in mice with S. japonicum infection, without a reduction of egg production or deposition in the host liver. Conclusions/Significance Overall, our study suggests that PD-1 signaling is specifically induced to control Th2-associated inflammatory responses during schistosome infection and is beneficial to the development of PD-1-based control of liver immunopathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structure of osthole has been modified to improve its larvicidal activity against mosquitoes. A new efficient synthesis of osthole derivatives with Grignard reagents has been developed, which employs CuI and LiCl as promoters and covers a broad range of substrates to afford the corresponding products in mild to good yields (up to 83%). Bio-activity evaluation showed that several products exhibited better activities than osthole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visible-light photocatalysts that degrade organic pollutants in an efficient and recyclable way are highly desirable for water treatment. In this study, UiO-66, a zirconium-based metal-organic framework, was conjugated with AgI to obtain a composite for use as photocatalyst. The AgI/UiO-66 composites with different composition ratios were synthesized by a simple solution method and exhibited remarkable activity for the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under visible-light irradiation. The scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction results confirmed the outstanding structural stability of the AgI/UiO-66 photocatalysts. The photocatalytic stability of the AgI/UiO-66 composite was further examined by reusing AgI/UiO-66 for long-term dye degradation. The good stability of the AgI/UiO-66 composite can be attributed to the outstanding stability of the UiO-66 framework material, as well as the good interaction between AgI and the UiO-66 framework. The mechanism of the photocatalytic RhB degradation by AgI/UiO-66 was investigated by introducing different scavengers to compete for the possible reactive species involved in the degradation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Schistosomiasis is a chronic parasitic disease that affects approximately 200 million people. In Schistosomiasis japonica and mansoni, parasite eggs were trapped in host liver and stimulated the CD4+T cell responses to regulate the formation of the granulomas. Subsequently, excessive granulomatous response in some heavily, and/or repeatedly infected individuals could result in chronic liver fibrosis and circulatory impairment. Thus, elucidation of the mechanisms of these responses will not only provide more information to better understand the mechanisms of the immunoregulation in schistosomiasis, but also help to design new therapies to control granuloma-associated immunopathology. The role of aquaporin-4 (AQP4) in water transport has been extensively investigated in the central nervous system (CNS). Recently, studies have shown that AQP4 expresses in immune system and lack of AQP4 in mice results in significantly less CD4+CD25+ T regulatory cells (Treg cells) under physiological condition, one of the subpopulations of CD4+T cells which restrains immunopathology in hosts with schistosomiasis. However, little information exists regarding the contribution of AQP4 to the immune regulation in schistosome infection. Methods The liver granulomatous response in S. japonicum-infected AQP4 knockout (KO) mice and its wild-type (WT) littermates were detected by staining liver sections with hematoxylin and eosin. The generation of various CD4+ T subsets, including Th1, Th2, Th17, and Treg cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. In addition, the levels of total IgG, IgG1, IgG2a in serum of infected mice were detected by ELISA assay. Results Our results showed an enhanced granulomatous response with increased accumulation of eosinophils and macrophages around eggs in the liver of AQP4 KO mice with Schistosomiasis japonica. In addition, our study demonstrated enhanced Th2 but reduced Th1 and Treg cells generation in AQP4 KO mice with Schistosomiasis japonica, which may, at least partly, account for the enhancement of the liver granuloma formation. Conclusion Our study for the first time provides evidences that AQP4 has an association with the immunoregulation of the liver granuloma formation, which may confer a new option for schistosomiasis treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cost and safety considerations have driven up the interest in LiFePO4 as a lithium-ion battery cathode material. Carbon nanopainting is currently the most common approach to increase the power density of LiFePO4, but more can be done to improve the application performance further. In this study the rate performance of LiFePO4 was increased by using a conductive dual-carbon network that can extract and conduct electrons from the Li+ storage host more effectively than common pyrolyzed carbon. The dual-carbon network consists of a connected network of graphene sheets and a nanoscale continuous coating of pyrolyzed conductive carbon on the surface of the aggregated LiFePO4 nanocrystals. Such a construction supports fast electron transport between the aggregated LiFePO4 nanocrystals as well as within them. Consequently the LiFePO4/C composite fabricated as such delivered very high rate performances even at very high discharge rates (104 mAh g−1 at 50 C where 1 C=170 mA g−1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Schistosome eggs are trapped in host liver and elicit severe hepatic granulomatous inflammation, which can lead to periportal fibrosis, portal hypertension, hemorrhage, or even death in the host. It was reported that the macrophage plays an important role in host immune responses to schistosome infection. Nitric oxide (NO) produced by classically activated macrophages (M1 macrophages) is cytotoxic to schistosomula and can prevent hepatic schistosomal fibrosis, while arginase-1 (Arg-1) expressed by alternatively activated macrophages (M2 macrophages) promotes hepatic schistosomal fibrosis. However, the dynamics of macrophage polarization, as well as the possible factors that regulate macrophage polarization, during schistosome infection remain unclear. Methods: We first analyzed M1 and M2-phenotypic markers of peritoneal macrophages from mice infected with Schistosoma japonicum (S. japonicum) at indicated time points using flow cytometry (FCM) analysis and real-time PCR. Then we treated peritoneal macrophages from normal mice with schistosome worm antigen (SWA) or schistosome soluble egg antigen (SEA) and determined M1 and M2-phenotypic markers, in order to identify macrophage polarization in responding to schistosomal antigens. Results: In this study, we showed that macrophages were preferentially differentiated into the M1 subtype during the acute stage of S. japonicum infection. However, the level of M1 macrophages decreased and M2 macrophages significantly increased during the chronic stage of infection. Furthermore, we showed that SWA favors the generation of M1 macrophages, whereas SEA preferentially promotes M2-polarized phenotype. Conclusion: These findings not only reveal the parasite antigen-driven dynamic changes in macrophage polarization, but also suggest that manipulation of macrophage polarization may be of therapeutic benefit in controlling excessive hepatic granulomas and fibrosis in the host with schistosomiasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]