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Organic luminophores with high emission efficiency in solution as well as solid‐state have received increasing attention due to their promising applications in biosensors, biological imaging, and optoelectronic devices. Herein, four triphenylamine (TPA)‐substituted boron ketoimine molecules (TPA‐BKI a‐d) are designed and synthesized by combining a donor‐acceptor (D‐A) electronic system and highly twisted block. The asymmetry of molecular and the planarity of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) sides in the excited state endow TPA‐BKI a‐d with rigidified conformations, allowing bright emission in dilute solution. Additionally, their highly twisted structures avoid close contact between molecules and detrimental exciton interactions, leading to efficient emission in the solid state. Meanwhile, the emission colors are modulated by the incorporation of different substituents through the amino‐yne click reaction. Furthermore, because of the protonation and deprotonation of the amino substituents, TPA‐BKI‐d exhibits reversible alterations of optical properties in both solution and solid states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spatially controllable shape-shifting behaviors of a planar two-dimensional (2D) film to three-dimensional (3D) shapes upon external stimuli are of paramount significance for the development of smart materials. Herein, the present work focuses on fabricating plain film whose shape can be remotely and spatially transformed into various 3D configurations via the formation of a laser-induced temperature gradient; when subjected to laser irradiation, the prestretched hybrid films exhibit out-of-plane bending behavior owing to anisotropic chain relaxation and strain energy release. On this basis, various sophisticated shape transformations can be achieved by site-specific irradiations of laser with a controllable magnitude. Meanwhile, shape morphing involving reversible bending transformations can also be realized by employing the laser on the corresponding opposite side of the hybrid films. Remarkably, under a 160 mW/cm2 simulated sunlight illumination, the transformation of flat 2D film into 3D chiral actuators is driven by material anisotropy and geometrical heterogeneity of a bilayer strip design, and it yields right and left-handed helix, the morphologies of the helix shape can be precisely tailored by the strip angles and strain values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The remotely controlled shape memory behaviors of a two‐dimensional (2D) sheet to controlled helix structure upon external stimuli is of great significance in the field of smart materials. Herein, we devise a strategy to fabricate a series of shape memory polycaprolactone/W18O49 nanowire film via highly efficient UV‐triggered thiol‐acrylate click chemistry. The resultant polymer composites exhibited desirable photothermal transfer efficiency and can enable rapid temperature increase over the melting temperature of polymeric matrix, thus remotely actuating shape transformation within 8 s. Owing to the well‐defined architecture of the polymer network, the fabricated elastic composite film exhibited a high degree of crystallinity and showed excellent shape memory properties with Rf of 93.12% and Rr of 95.32%. Remarkably, under a 160 mW/cm2 simulated sunlight illumination, the transformation of flat 2D film into 3D chiral actuators is driven by designing anisotropic bilayer thin sheet, and it yields right‐ and left‐handed helix. This work will pave the way for designing biomimetic flexible actuators toward multifunctional shape‐shifting devices. Highlights: Shape memory polycaprolactone/W18O49 nanowires composite film is fabricated via UV‐triggered thiol‐ene click chemistry.Polymer composites exhibit light‐activated shape memory behaviors.The composite films show excellent shape fixity and shape recovery ratio based on the well‐defined network.The shape morphing behaviors of a flexible 2D bilayer strip into 3D chiral actuators are achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intelligent, controlled, slow-release antimicrobial materials have shown excellent application prospects in the medical field. Herein, silver particles (Ag) were synthesized using the hydrothermal method and a bacterial cellulose (BC) membrane as a template. The BC/Ag composite membrane was clad with copper alginate (CAlg) via the in-situ dip-coating method. Based on the Cu2+ ions in copper alginate, a layer of copper sulfide (CuS) was formed through a liquid-phase sulphuration reaction. This CuS layer leads the film to possess a photothermal and electrothermal response. Furthermore, we systematically investigated the microstructure, mechanical strength, and antibacterial properties of the composite film. The tensile strength of the BC/Ag/CAlg/CuS sample can reach 14.7 MPa, which should be attributed to the combination of the Cu2+ cross-linked CAlg and the inner BC/Ag composite film. Meanwhile, this assembled film exhibited hydrophilic and hygroscopic properties, as the antibacterial Ag particles can be continuously released and migrated from the inner layer to the outer layer. Finally, the BC/Ag/CAlg/CuS film inhibited Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli by 99.9% and 99.6%, respectively, which should be attributed to the synergistic effect of silver ions and CuS's electrical and photothermal stimulation responses. These characteristics of the thermally responsive BC/Ag composite films indicate that they may successfully serve as wound dressings and other medical biomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three‐arm star polymethacrylates with dual‐phase (solution and solid‐state) fluorescent emission have been synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) using a triphenylamine‐derived organboron complex (TAPA‐BKI‐3Br) as initiator. The as‐synthesized three‐arm star polymethacrylates exhibited bright emission in both solution and the solid states due to the highly twisted structure and intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) effect of TAPA‐BKI core, as well as the steric effect and restriction of intramolecular motions from the polymer arms. And the polymer chains have an important influence on the photophysical behavior of the as‐synthesized three‐arm star polymethacrylates in the aggregated state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)-based semi-crystalline polymers are shape memory polymers that have been extensively used in various applications ranging from biological, soft robots and flexible electronic devices. Despite the large number of studies aiming at constructing the well-defined crosslinked polymer networks, detailed investigations in terms of structural factors that influence the thermal-mechanical and shape memory properties are still poorly understand and investigated. In this work, PCL crosslinked networks with different molecular weight of diacrylate PCL macromonoter (Mn) are prepared via base-catalyzed thiol-ene Michael addition. The results indicate that the melting temperature, the crystallization temperature and the crystallinity of the polymer networks exhibit an upward trend with increment of Mn. Besides that, the tensile strength and shape memory properties are also correlated with Mn. Controlled-strain DMA characterization on shape memory properties show that the cPCL-10000 network exhibits the most remarkable shape fixity and shape recovery ratio, indicative of lowering cross-linking density and chains mobility. In particular, permanent shape reconfiguration can also be achieved by triggering transesterification within the same polymer network, and a possible molecular mechanism responsible for the elasticity-based shape memory effect and plasticity-based permanent shape reconfigurability is proposed and combined to present the 2D-to-3D shape-morphing behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To realize the biocompatibility, mechanical strength, and sustained antibacterial properties of medical materials, it is feasible to introduce antibacterial material components into biomass matrix to prepare medical materials. Herein, zinc oxide (ZnO) was in-situ synthesized in bacterial cellulose (BC) dispersion and filtered into a film, and the BC/ZnO composite film was further immersed in sodium alginate (Alg) solution to construct the second layer structure. The microstructure, mechanical strength, and antibacterial properties of the composite films were investigated systematically. The tensile strength of the BC/ZnO/CAlg sample was achieved at 16.5 ± 2.4 MPa, much higher than that of the Zn2+ crosslinked CAlg film of 11.5 ± 1.2 MPa. The Zn2+ cross-linked Alg in the outer layer and the BC/ZnO composite film in the inner layer combined to create a synergistic effect. This secondary structure design ensures good hydrophilicity and hygroscopicity of the material which enables the sustained-release migration of Zn2+ from the inner layer to the outer layer. Finally, the BC/ZnO/CAlg composite film possesses excellent antibacterial performance against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. In addition, this work systematically expounds on the antibacterial and slow-release mechanism of secondary structure composite membranes. The results will provide a database and theoretical reference for applying BC/ZnO/CAlg composite membranes in the medical field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is crucial to enhance the mechanical properties to realize the application of sodium alginate (Alg) in engineering materials. Herein, a Ca2+ cross-linked sodium alginate/graphene oxide (CAlg/GO) composite fiber with a secondary reinforcement structure was prepared via wet spinning. The microstructure and physical properties of the fibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and mechanical strength testing. The composite fiber's strength and toughness improved significantly, benefiting from the uniform distribution of GO in the Alg matrix together with the simultaneous cross-linking of Ca2+ to Alg and GO sheets. Accompanying the addition of GO reaching 15%, the strength increased by 184 ± 16%. Meanwhile, the CAlg/GO composite fiber possessed a significant improvement in flame retardancy; the limiting oxygen index increased from 33 to 37 after adding 10% GO sheets to the fiber. In addition, the composite fiber's reinforcement, toughening, and flame retarding mechanisms were discussed from the point of the interaction between Alg, GO, and Ca2+, as this study will provide data and theoretical reference for the application of high-performance CAlg/GO composite fiber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lung Adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a major component of lung cancer. Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) has emerged as a new target for some tumor treatments. Methods: The expression and clinical data of LUAD samples were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, followed by acquiring ERS-related genes (ERSGs) from the GeneCards database. Differentially expressed endoplasmic reticulum stress-related genes (DE-ERSGs) were screened and used to construct a risk model by Cox regression analysis. Kaplan–Meier (K-M) curves and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to determine the risk validity of the model. Moreover, enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the high- and low- risk groups was conducted to investigate the functions related to the risk model. Furthermore, the differences in ERS status, vascular-related genes, tumor mutation burden (TMB), immunotherapy response, chemotherapy drug sensitivity and other indicators between the high- and low- risk groups were studied. Finally, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to validate the mRNA expression levels of prognostic model genes. Results: A total of 81 DE-ERSGs were identified in the TCGA-LUAD dataset, and a risk model, including HSPD1, PCSK9, GRIA1, MAOB, COL1A1, and CAV1, was constructed by Cox regression analysis. K-M and ROC analyses showed that the high-risk group had a low survival, and the Area Under Curve (AUC) of ROC curves of 1-, 3- and 5-years overall survival was all greater than 0.6. In addition, functional enrichment analysis suggested that the risk model was related to collagen and extracellular matrix. Furthermore, differential analysis showed vascular-related genes FLT1, TMB, neoantigen, PD-L1 protein (CD274), Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE), and T cell exclusion score were significantly different between the high- and low-risk groups. Finally, qRT-PCR results showed that the mRNA expression levels of 6 prognostic genes were consistent with the analysis. Conclusion: A novel ERS-related risk model, including HSPD1, PCSK9, GRIA1, MAOB, COL1A1, and CAV1, was developed and validated, which provided a theoretical basis and reference value for ERS-related fields in the study and treatment of LUAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Currently there is no standard therapy recommended for second‐line treatment for thymic carcinoma. Our study compared multidrug chemotherapy, single‐agent chemotherapy, and PD‐1 inhibitors in patients diagnosed with advanced thymic carcinoma who had previous platinum‐based chemotherapy at the clinic. Methods: The study included patients with thymic carcinoma who failed first‐line platinum‐based chemotherapy. Kaplan–Meier methods were applied in the study for estimating the progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) curves. Pearson chi‐square or Fisher's exact chi‐square test was adopted to make comparisons of the objective response rate (ORR) between treatment groups. Cox regression was used for the multivariate analyses in PFS and OS. Results: Among the 92 patients enrolled, multidrug chemotherapy was used in 51 (55.4%) patients for second‐line therapy. Thirty‐six patients (35.9%) received single‐agent chemotherapy, and eight patients (8.7%) underwent PD‐1 inhibitors. The multidrug chemotherapy group showed better efficacy than the other two groups, with an ORR of 35.3% (p = 0.006). The median PFS of multidrug chemotherapy, single‐agent chemotherapy and PD‐1 inhibitors were 5.0 months, 3.0 months, and 4.0 months, respectively (p = 0.008). Patients in the multidrug chemotherapy group also showed an advantage in OS in comparison with the other two treatment groups (p = 0.045), with a median OS of 30.4 months. Multivariate analysis showed that second‐line treatment was independent factor for both PFS (p = 0.035) and OS (p = 0.037). Grade 3–4 AEs were mostly detected in patients receiving multidrug chemotherapy and were primarily hematologic. Treatment‐related mortality was not found in any of the groups. Conclusions: Multidrug chemotherapy had a trend toward a more positive response rate and outcomes in longer survival time than single‐agent chemotherapy and PD‐1 inhibitors. Multidrug chemotherapy is a choice worth considering for second‐line therapy in patients with thymic carcinoma if tolerable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to realize the value-added utilization of food waste (FW), the preparation of crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) feed by yeast fermentation was investigated. Firstly, the suitable fermentation condition was obtained through a single factor experiment as follows: the initial moisture of the FW was adjusted to 60% with bran and inoculated with a 2% yeast mixture (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida utilis, and Yarrowia lipolytica, 3:2:1) followed by aerobic solid-state fermentation for 7 days. The crude protein and acid-soluble protein contents in the fermented feed were 25.14% and 5.16%, which were increased by 8% and 140.67%, respectively. The crude fat content was 0.74%, decreased by 68.29%. The content of antioxidant glutathione (571.78 μg/g) increased 63.33%, and the activities of protease and amylase increased nearly 9 and 3 times, respectively. The maximum degradation rates of aflatoxin B1, zearalenone, and deoxynivalenol were 63.83%, 77.52%, and 80.16%, respectively. The fermented feeds were evaluated by substituting (0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, and 100%) commercial diet for crayfish (30-day culture period). When the replacement proportion was 30%, the weight gain of crayfish reached 44.87% (initial body weight 13.98 ± 0.41 g), which was significantly increased by 10.25% compared with the control (p = 0.0005). In addition, the lysozyme and SOD enzyme activities in crayfish hepatopancreas were also increased significantly. Our findings suggest that yeast-fermented feed from FW can replace 30% of crayfish's conventional diet, which may improve crayfish's antioxidant capacity and enhance non-specific immunity by providing molecules such as glutathione. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The combination of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor and chemotherapy has been clinically confirmed to be beneficial as the first-line treatment of patients with advanced NSCLC. This study aimed to assess the effect of nivolumab + docetaxel versus nivolumab monotherapy in patients with NSCLC after the failure of platinum doublet chemotherapy. Materials and methods: The efficacy and toxicity of nivolumab + docetaxel combination therapy versus nivolumab monotherapy were compared in this retrospective study. Primary endpoint of the study was progression-free survival (PFS), and the secondary endpoints were objective response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS), and toxicity. Results: Between November 2017 and December 2019, 77 patients were included in this study, with 58 patients in the nivolumab group and 19 in the nivolumab + docetaxel group. The median follow-up was 18 months, and the PFS was 8 months for patients receiving nivolumab + docetaxel and 2 months for those receiving nivolumab alone (p = 0.001), respectively. Nivolumab + docetaxel showed superior OS compared with nivolumab, with the median OS unreached versus 7 months (p = 0.011). Among patients without EGFR/ALK variation, compared to nivolumab monotherapy, nivolumab + docetaxel showed better PFS (p = 0.04) and OS (p = 0.05). There was no significant difference in grade 3–4 adverse events (AEs) between the two groups (p = 0.253). Conclusions: The combination of nivolumab and docetaxel demonstrated a meaningful improvement in progression-free survival and overall survival compared to nivolumab monotherapy, in patients with NSCLC after the failure of platinum doublet chemotherapy, irrespective of EGFR/ALK variation status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Pembrolizumab and bevacizumab both have antitumor activity. According to NCCN updated guideline the benefit of pembrolizumab or bevacizumab as a first line in management of advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is documented in randomized controlled studies. The study aimed to evaluate the response and complications of patients with advanced NSCLC treated with pembrolizumab or bevacizumab plus chemotherapy. Methods: This study was a retrospective cohort study of patients with advanced nonsquamous NSCLC who received cisplatin with pemetrexed combined with pembrolizumab (A group) or bevacizumab (B group) from 07/02/2018 to 07/03/2021 at Peking University Cancer Hospital. Progression-free survival (PFS) was the primary outcome. The secondary outcomes included overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), duration of response (DoR), and adverse events (AEs). Results: This study included 66 patients, 34 in A group and 32 in B group. There were no differences in median PFS (7.6 vs 9.9 months, P =.601). There were no differences in median OS (23.1 vs 24.2 months, P =.782). There were no differences in ORR (57.6 % vs 41.9 %, P =.211) and DCR (93.9 % vs 100.0 %, P =.164) between 2 groups. The occurrence of AEs was similar. No new safety signals were observed. Grade 3 to 4 treatment-related AEs occurred in 17 (50.0 %) patients of A group and in 12 (37.5 %) of B group (P >.05). Conclusion: The addition of pembrolizumab or bevacizumab to pemetrexed plus cisplatin was well tolerated and resulted in a clinically meaningful treatment benefit in advanced nonsquamous NSCLC. When pembrolizumab is not suitable, bevacizumab plus chemotherapy may be an option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pretreatment of wheat straw has been recognized to be an essential step prior to anaerobic digestion, owing to the high abundance of lignocellulosic materials. In order to choose economical and effective techniques for the disposal of wheat straw, effects of five pretreatment methods including acid, alkali, co-pretreatment of acid and alkali, CaO2, and liquid digestate of municipal sewage sludge on anaerobic digestion of wheat straw were investigated by analyzing biogas production and organic matter degradation in the study. The results showed that among these pretreatment methods, the methane yield was highest in the liquid digestate pretreated-wheat straw with 112.6 mL gTS−1, followed by the acid, alkali, and CaO2 pretreatments, and the lowest was observed in the co-pretreatment of acid and alkali. Illumina MiSeq sequencing of the microbial communities in the anaerobic digesters revealed that the genera Ruminiclostridium including Ruminiclostridium and Ruminiclostridium 1, Hydrogenispora, and Capriciproducens were the main hydrolytic bacteria, acidogenic bacteria, and acetogenic bacteria, respectively, in the anaerobic digesters. Capriciproducens and Hydrogenispora dominated in the first and the later stages, respectively, in the anaerobic digesters, which could work as indicators of the anaerobic co-digestion stage of sludge and wheat straw. The total solid and SO42−-S contents of the solid digestate and the NH4+-N concentration of the liquid digestate had a significant influence on the microbial community in the digesters. These findings indicated that liquid digestate pretreatment was a potential option to improve the anaerobic digestion of wheat straw, due to the low cost without additional chemical agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is characterized by aggressive spread and poor prognosis, but has limited treatment options. Results of prognostic factors from randomized trials on treatment arrangement are conflicting and large‐scale real‐world analysis is lacking. Methods: Patients diagnosed SCLC between 2008 and 2018 in Peking University Cancer Hospital were included in this study. Kaplan–Meier methods were adopted, and univariate analysis and multivariate Cox regression models were constructed to analyze prognostic factors. Results: Among 1045 patients who presented to our center, 988 eligible patients were identified. Median overall survival (OS) was 16.0 months for the whole group, 24.0 months and 11.0 months for limited stage small cell lung cancer (LS‐SCLC) and extensive stage small cell lung cancer (ES‐SCLC), separately. Limited‐stage, good performance status (PS) (ECOG 0–1), response to primary systemic treatment, and patients who received initiative irradiation and three or more lines of chemotherapy were predicted to have better OS in the whole group. Only response to first‐line systemic therapy and prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) were independent prognostic factors of survival in LS‐SCLC; while good PS (ECOG 0–1), without liver, bone, or subcutaneous metastases, response to first‐line therapy, initial local irradiation, and three or more lines of systemic therapy predicted a favorable prognosis in ES‐SCLC. Conclusions: The present study retrieved from large real–world data suggested that response to primary systemic therapy and aggressive radiotherapy are independent prognostic factors for SCLC. PCI and initiative irradiation for original or metastatic sites improved the OS in LS‐SCLC and ES‐SCLC, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Programmed cell death-1/programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-1/PD-L1) inhibitors are increasingly used in China, but no real-world data are available about the immune-related adverse events (irAEs). This real-world retrospective study aimed to assess the safety and effectiveness of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to analyze the association between irAEs and effectiveness. Methods: This was a retrospective study of the clinical data of patients with NSCLC treated with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors from August 2016 to November 2019 at Beijing Cancer Hospital. The patients were divided into the irAE or non-irAE groups. Overall adverse events, the impact of irAE on tumor response, and the association of irAEs with effectiveness were evaluated. Results: One hundred and ninety-one patients were included, including 70 (36.6%) patients in the irAE group and 121 (63.4%) patients in the non-irAE group. AE, grades 3–5 AEs, and irAE occurred in 107 (56.0%), 24 (12.6%), and 70 (36.6%) of the patients, respectively. The objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were higher in the irAE group compared with the non-irAE group (42.0% vs. 25.8%, P=0.038; 91.9% vs. 70.8%, P=0.002). Multivariable analyses identified that irAE were associated with progression-free survival (HR=0.62, 95%CI: 0.43–0.91; P=0.015), but not with overall survival (HR=0.76, 95%CI: 0.44–1.28; P=0.299). Conclusion: In NSCLC treated with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, patients with irAEs showed improved effectiveness over patients without irAEs. Future studies of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy should explore this association and the underlying biological mechanisms of efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this prospective phase II clinical trial was to investigate the efficacy and safety of anlotinib in patients with relapsed small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Forty‐five patients with relapsed SCLC were enrolled and treated with anlotinib (one cycle of 12 mg daily for 14 days, discontinued for 7 days, and repeated every 21 days) until disease progression or intolerance of treatment. The primary end point was progression‐free survival (PFS). Secondary end points were overall survival (OS), disease control rate (DCR), objective control rate (ORR) and toxicity. The median PFS was 4.1 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.4‐5.8) and the median OS was 6.1 months (95% CI 2.2‐10.0). The OS for the limited‐stage subgroup was significantly longer than that of the extensive‐stage subgroup (P =.02). The DCR was 67%, and the ORR was 11%. The most common adverse event was hypertension (13%), which was controlled well with antihypertensive drugs. In conclusion, anlotinib has likely efficacy in patients with relapsed SCLC, and the side effects can be well tolerated. A longer OS was observed in limited‐stage SCLC patients treated with anlotinib. What's new? Although untreated small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients are usually sensitive to chemotherapy, they are prone to relapse. Anlotinib is a novel multi‐target small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor with both anti‐angiogenesis and anti‐tumor growth effects. While anlotinib became the first drug approved for third‐line and further‐line treatment of SCLC in China, few studies have focused on anlotinib treatment in relapsed SCLC. This one‐arm, prospective phase II clinical study reports a median progression‐free survival of 4.1 months (95% CI 2.4‐5.8) and median overall survival of 6.1 months (95% CI 2.2‐10.0) for anlotinib treatment in relapsed SCLC, with relatively mild side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A facile photo-cured polycaprolactone (PCL)/polydopamine (PDA) nanocomposite is prepared via thiol-ene reaction. Owing to favorable light-to-thermal transfer of doped polydopamine nanoparticles (PDAPs) in composites, active photo-thermal actuation of the composite is achieved when subjected to simulated sunlight irradiation, the effects of sunlight intensity and PDAPs concentration on the composite's surface temperature are studied systematically. Solid state plasticity is also achieved by activating the dynamic transesterification reaction within the same polymer network. More importantly, the composite also features sunlight-induced plasticity under a light intensity of 960 mW cm−2. Macroscopically, the flat permanent shape can be reconfigured to a new 3D permanent shape via simulated sunlight, and the reconfigured shape still exhibits excellent elasticity-based shape memory behaviors even after seven cycles of testing. Based on these special properties, the PCL/PDAPs composite is further used in the field of electronic devices. It is expected that the design of PCL-PDAPs composite can pave a simple pathway for the simplification of complex shapes and can be extended to fabricate light-operated actuators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nutrient balance in rice paddy fields can change under different tillage management practices; however, the extent of the change may differ for various rice varieties. A field experiment was conducted over 2 successive years to clarify the effects of no-till and rice varieties on the apparent balance of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Four treatments: no-till/japonica rice (NTJ), no-till/glutinous rice (NTG), conventional tillage/japonica rice (CTJ), and conventional tillage/glutinous rice (CTG) with three replicates of each were established to test the hypothesis that no-till and japonica rice can improve the apparent balance of nutrients. Results: The tillage method and rice variety had interactive effects on the apparent balance of N and P. After the 2-year experiment, total N and P pools in the 20 cm surface soil layer were highest under the NTJ treatment (4757.0 kg N ha−1, 2428.5 kg P ha−1) and lowest under the CTG treatments (4726.3 kg N ha−1, 2412.0 kg P ha−1). Under no-till conditions, japonica rice had higher grain yield but lower straw biomass than that of glutinous rice. NTG treatment significantly increased the N and P content in rice grains and straw. The environmental losses of N and P in the rice fields mainly occurred during the rice season. Based on nutrient balance estimation, N losses in the NTJ, NTG, and CTJ treatments were reduced by 15.03 kg N ha−1, 11.55 kg N ha−1, 6.72 kg N ha−1, respectively, as compared with that of the CTG treatment. The corresponding P losses were reduced by 8.02 kg P ha−1, 7.84 kg P ha−1, and 3.96 kg P ha−1. In terms of economic benefits, NTJ also resulted in the highest actual income (2724.25 US dollars) and the highest ratio of production investment (6.40). Conclusion: No-till was more likely to maintain soil N and P nutrients than conventional tillage, and this advantage was most significant when planting japonica rice. In addition, no-till was conducive to N and P uptake by rice, but only japonica rice exhibited increased grain yield. Consequently, the NTJ treatment was recommended to improve the N and P balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rice paddy wetlands may serve as a nutrient source or sink in agricultural ecosystems. However, the pattern of nutrient loss on a watershed scale is not clear. A year-round on-site observation study based on 6-h intervals was conducted. Rainfall, temperature, runoff nutrient concentrations, and adjacent stream water samples were automatically monitored to uncover the temporal changes in the runoff losses of the predominant nutrient proxies (total N and total P) from a typical rice-planting area (120 ha) in the Yangtze river delta region of China. Results: A high total N concentration in the rice-planting area was observed during the rice-planting season; however, significant fluctuation in the total P was evident throughout the year. The Δtotal N (drainage minus stream) parameter showed negative values with a mean of −0.25 mg L−1, while Δtotal P showed positive values with a mean of 0.06 mg L−1. The annual average N and P runoff from paddy field were 11.6 kg ha−1 and 1.5 kg ha−1, respectively. The window phases for the total N loss were mainly concentrated in the rice-growing season. However, the window phase for the total P loss was more dispersive throughout the year. No apparent relationships were found between rainfall and N and P concentrations by self-organizing map analysis. Conclusions: The high-resolution monitoring, in this study, suggested that nutrient loss loading rather than nutrient concentration was strongly related to surface runoff Therefore, fertilization before high-intensity rainfall should be avoided to mitigate the nutrient runoff losses and maintain the rice wetland eco-function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Laboratory incubation experiments using 15N stable isotope labeling and acetylene suppression techniques were conducted to compare the autotrophic nitrification and heterotrophic nitrification rates with the addition of swine manure (SW) and swine-manure-derived biochar (SWB) in two paddy soils. Materials and methods: SW and SWB were applied at four N-based amendment levels, namely control (0 mg N kg−1), low (1.1 mg N kg−1), medium (2.2 mg N kg−1), and high (4.4 mg N kg−1). Twenty-five milliliters of C2H2 gas were injected into each storage bottle to inhibit autotrophic nitrification in soil. At the end of the preincubation period, 160 mg kg−1 15N-glycine were added to each storage bottle to stimulate heterotrophic nitrification in soil. Results and discussion: Results showed that SW increased the NH4+-N content by 3.5 to 17.5 mg kg−1 in both soils, while SWB decreased it by 0.1 to 4.7 mg kg−1 compared to control group, regardless of whether autotrophic nitrification was inhibited. Both SW and SWB enhanced NO3−-N accumulation in the two soils compared to control group when autotrophic nitrification was not inhibited; however, NO3−-N concentration in the soil with SWB was up to 24% lower than that with the same level of SW addition. NH3 volatilization rates were elevated at all the SW and SWB amendment levels, although only SW led to higher N2O emission rates. Compared with SW, high level of SWB significantly decreased N2O emissions by 78 to 84% in the loam and clay loam soils. The increase in NH3 volatilization, soil NO3−-N accumulation, and autotrophic nitrification rate were greater with SW than with SWB. Higher rates of soil heterotrophic nitrification were observed in SWB-amended soils than in SW-amended soils with a high (4.4 mg N kg−1) amendment level. Conclusions: Our results suggest that SWB is less likely to increase NO3−-N accumulation in soil and contributes more to the lower soil autotrophic nitrification rate compared with SW. Although SWB can promote heterotrophic nitrification, it generally inhibits the autotrophic nitrification process and slows the increment pace of the gross nitrification in paddy soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a conserved component of the innate immune response in many species. In the present study, the cDNA sequences encoding two AMPs (cathelicidin and NK‐lysin, comprising 1,576 and 606 bp, respectively) were cloned from Dabry's sturgeon (Acipenser dabryanus). Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the two AMPs were clustered together with homologous protein sequences from other fish. NK‐lysin was highly expressed during early embryonic development, suggesting maternal transmission. Tissue distribution analysis showed that cathelicidin had the highest expression in the liver and NK‐lysin was most abundantly expressed in the spleen. In response to Poly I:C treatment, the expression of cathelicidin was upregulated at 12 and 24 hr post induction (hpi), but downregulated at 72 hpi. NK‐lysin mRNA expression increased after treatment with Poly I:C, reaching a peak at 24 hpi. Lipopolysaccharide treatment also induced the expression of two antimicrobial peptide genes. Lipopolysaccharide treatment significantly upregulated the expression of cathelicidin at 6, 24, and 48 hpi, and upregulated NK‐lysin expression at 6 and 12 hpi. These results suggested that two AMPs could participate in the immune response induced by poly I:C or LPS stimulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This real‐world study assessed the efficacy and toxicity of anlotinib as salvage treatment in Chinese patients with advanced non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: The medical records of 81 patients with advanced NSCLC who had failed at least two lines of chemotherapy were retrospectively collected. All patients were administered anlotinib treatment until disease progression or intolerance as a result of adverse events. Survival curves were created using the Kaplan–Meier method. The log‐rank test was used for univariate analysis of progression‐free survival (PFS) between groups. Cox regression was used to estimate the statistically significant factors based on univariate analysis. Results: The median PFS was five months (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.5–6.5). The objective response rate (ORR) was 7% and the disease control rate (DCR) was 84%. The following subgroups of patients had longer PFS (P < 0.05): squamous cell carcinoma, no brain or liver metastases, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) of 0–1, and no previous VEGF‐tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment. The results of Cox regression indicated that an ECOG PS of 0–1 (hazard ratio 0.152, 95% CI 0.057–0.403; P = 0.00) and patients without brain metastases (hazard ratio 0.421, 95% CI 0.195–0.911; P = 0.028) had longer PFS following anlotinib treatment. Conclusion: Anlotinib, which is well tolerated, plays a significant role in the salvage treatment of advanced NSCLC. Patients with advanced NSCLC with an ECOG PS of 0–1 and no brain metastases achieved longer PFS following anlotinib salvage treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) can significantly prolong overall survival for patients with advanced non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)‐mutation or anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)‐rearrangement. However, the real‐world evaluation status of ALK/EGFR in China remains unclear. Methods: We conducted a prospective study including 1134 patients with cytologically or histologically confirmed advanced NSCLC (stage IIIb–IV) at 12 Chinese hospitals. Results: The most common evaluation methods were amplification‐refractory mutation system for EGFR status and immunohistochemistry targeting D5F3 for ALK status. Among patients with non‐squamous, the EGFR mutation rate was 44.1% and the ALK rearrangement rate was 10.0%. Among patients with squamous cell carcinoma, the EGFR mutation rate was 8.3% and the ALK rearrangement rate was 3.7%. Among all patients, gender (HR = 1.7, 95%CI = 1.2–2.4, P = 0.006), smoking history (HR = 1.8, 95%CI = 1.3–2.7, P = 0.001), histology (HR = 5.0, 95%CI = 2.4–10.1, P < 0.001), and brain metastases (HR = 1.5, 95%CI = 1.1–2.2, P = 0.017) were independent predictors of EGFR mutation, while age (HR = 2.6, 95%CI = 1.7–4.1, P < 0.001) was an independent predictor of ALK rearrangement. The median time from tumor diagnosis to EGFR or ALK status confirmation was 7 and 5 days, respectively. Targeted therapy rate was 73.8% in EGFR‐positive patients and 51.4% in ALK‐positive patients. There was a negative correlation between the first‐line targeted therapy rate and the EGFR mutation detection period (r = −0.152, P = 0.02), while no significant correlation among patients with ALK rearrangement (r = −0.179, P = 0.076). Conclusion: Squamous NSCLC patients should also be routinely tested to determine their EGFR/ALK statuses. The first‐line targeted therapy rate remains low in Chinese patients with NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Thymoma and thymic carcinoma are rare thymic epithelial tumors. We investigated the efficacy of first‐line gemcitabine and cisplatin (GP) chemotherapy versus gemcitabine and cisplatin chemotherapy combined with the anti‐angiogenic drug endostar (GP + E) in advanced thymoma and thymic carcinoma. Methods: The records of 45 patients with invasive metastatic thymomas or thymic carcinomas treated with GP as first‐line therapy between August 2008 and July 2017 at the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Eighteen patients (75%) in the GP + E group achieved a partial response and six (25%) had stable disease. In GP only group, nine (42.8%) patients achieved a partial response, 11 (52.4%) had stable disease, and one (4.8%) had progressive disease. The GP + E group had a significantly higher overall response rate (75% vs. 42.9%; P = 0.028), and median progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of 19 and 76 months, respectively. In the GP only group, median PFS and OS were 16 and 29 months, respectively. PFS and OS were not significantly different between the groups. Conclusions: GP has moderate efficacy and could represent a suitable first‐line therapy for thymic carcinoma and thymoma. Chemotherapy combined with endostar could improve the overall response rate, but did not prolong PFS or OS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Patients with advanced nonsquamous nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who experienced progression with two or more lines chemotherapy have no treatment options that clearly confer a survival benefit. As a novel vascular endothelial growth factor receptor‐2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor, apatinib has a certain antitumor effect for various solid tumors. The present study evaluated the efficacy and safety of apatinib in advanced nonsquamous NSCLC as salvage treatment in Chinese real‐world practice. Methods: Twenty‐eight patients were enrolled in this observational study from October 2015 to May 2017. Progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were graphed by Kaplan–Meier curve and intergroup comparisons were carried out by log‐rank test. Objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR) and adverse effects (AEs) were also evaluated. Results: Seven patients obtained partial response, and 18 obtained stable disease, representing an ORR of 26% and a DCR of 93%. Median PFS and OS were 3 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.6–3.4) and 7.4 (95% CI 1.3–13.5) months, respectively. The efficacy analysis showed that Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0–1 was correlated with prolonged OS and PFS (P < 0.05), and hypertension during apatinib treatment was correlated with prolonged OS (P < 0.05). Cox regression showed that ECOG performance status (P < 0.01) (RR = 0.231) (95% CI 0.083‐0.642) and hypertension during apatinib treatment (P = 0.05) were predictive indicators for apatinib treatment. Grade 3–4 AEs with incidences of 10% or greater were hypertension (21%), hand‐foot syndrome (14%) and proteinuria (11%) which could be relieved by dose reduction. Conclusion: In conclusion, apatinib has a certain therapeutic effect in patients with advanced nonsquamous NSCLC. ECOG performance status and hypertension during apatinib might be predictive indicators for treatment efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Converting swine manure to biochar is an effective way to recycle valuable nutrients, but there are few reports on its feasibility as a phosphorus (P) source. The objective of this study was to clarify the unique nature, including P speciation, of manure biochar products under various pyrolysis temperatures. We used solution 31P nuclear magnetic resonance and P K-edge X-ray adsorption near-edge spectroscopy (P XANES) to characterize P species in swine manure biochar. For every 100 °C increment starting from 300 °C, the P content in manure biochar increased by 2.16 to 3.37 g kg−1. However, above 400 °C, organic P species did not appear anymore, and only inorganic P, including orthophosphate and pyrophosphate, existed. P K-edge XANES spectra further showed all biochar samples had higher percentages of Ca3 (PO4)2 and NaP2O7, and lower percentages of FePO4, AlPO4, and inositol hexaphosphate compared to manure. Interestingly, percentages of Ca3(PO4)2, FePO4, and AlPO4 in MB400 (indicating manure pyrolysed at 400 °C) were comparable with those in MB700 while the percentage of NaP2O7 was higher in MB400. Phosphorus release from MB400 maintained a relatively high level at 0.33 g kg−1 during the whole 300-h observation period. These results suggest that with a suitable pyrolysis temperature, it was feasible for manure biochar to be a P source alternative.ᅟ [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interferon regulatory factors ( IRFs) are crucial regulators in initiating the host innate immune response against pathogen invasions. Dabry's sturgeon ( Acipenser dabryanus) is particularly a valuable fish species found in the Yangtze River, China for which there is scarce immunological data. In the present study, we investigated the expression profile of sturgeon IRF genes. All adIRFs were composed of 8 exons and 7 introns, except adIRF1, which possessed 9 exons interrupted by 8 introns. Moreover, the predicted protein sequence has a DNA-binding domain (DBD) sharing high identity with spotted gar ( Lepisosteus oculatus). Regarding the expression patterns, 5 adIRF genes were found to be constitutively expressed in all tissues examined, and were significantly higher in lymphoid organs (eg, blood, kidney, intestine, and spleen). Following Aeromonas hydrophila infection, the expression of adIRF1 and adIRF3 were upregulated in the spleen and caudal kidney, while both the adIRF5 and adIRF8 genes were downregulated in caudal kidney. In addition, adIRF4 was significantly upregulated at 3 h postinfection by A. hydrophila in the spleen and caudal kidney. These results suggest that adIRFs are related to the immune response to bacterial infection, which will help clarify the function of these IRFs and provide a fundamental basis for protecting the Dabry's sturgeon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on the growth performance and antioxidant capacity of 35-d-old broilers exposed to heat stress. Broilers, 14 d of age, were divided into four groups with six replicates per group (eight chickens/replicate). Thermoneutral group (Group TN) was fed the basal diet and maintained at 28°C for 24 h/d. The heat-stressed groups were housed at 35°C for 12 h/d and 28°C for 12 h/d and fed the basal diet supplemented with EGCG at 0, 300 and 600 mg/kg diet (Groups HS0, HS 300 and HS600, respectively). Compared with Group TN, heat-stressed groups showed significantly reduced gain, feed intake and serum total protein and glucose levels; inhibited serum alkaline phosphatase activities; and increased serum levels of uric acid, cholesterol and triglycerides and the activity of serum creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase (p < 0.05). Compared with Group HS0, Group HS600 exhibited an increased gain and feed intake; and normalised blood parameters and enzyme activities. Compared with Group TN, the expression of antioxidant-related liver proteins was decreased in Group HS0 and increased in Groups HS300 and HS600 (p < 0.05). The results suggest that EGCG can improve the growth performance and alleviate the oxidant damage by modulating the antioxidant properties of broilers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of no-tillage (NT) on rice yield and nitrogen (N) behavior often varies considerably from individual studies. A meta-analysis was performed to assess quantitatively the effect of NT on rice yield and N uptake by rice, N use efficiency (NUE, i.e., fertilizer N recovery efficiency), and nutrient runoff losses. We obtained data from 74 rice-field experiments reported during the last three decades (1983-2013). Results showed the NT system brought a reduction of 3.8 % in the rice yield compared with conventional tillage (CT). Soil pH of 6.5-7.5 was favorable for the improvement of rice yield with the NT system, while a significant negative NT effect on rice yield was observed in sandy soils ( p < 0.05). N rate, ranging from 120 to 180 kg N ha, for at least 3 years was necessary for NT to enable rice yield comparable with that of CT. Furthermore, the observations indicated NT reduced N uptake and NUE of the rice by 5.4 and 16.9 %, while increased the N and P exports via runoff by 15.4 and 40.1 % compared with CT, respectively. Seedling cast transplantation, N rate within the range 120-180 kg N ha, and employing NT for longer than 3 years should be encouraged to compromise between productivity and environmental effects of NT implementation in rice fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The ALK inhibitor, crizotinib, has demonstrated effectiveness in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer harboring ALK rearrangements. As few studies of the clinical characteristics of Chinese patients with ALK rearrangements have been reported, we conduct this study to gain more understanding in such area among Chinese patients.Patients& Methods: We undertook a retrospective study of 288 non-small-cell lung cancer patients admitted to our institution over a period of 4.5 years.Results: Following testing, 14.9% of the patients (43/288) were found to be ALK fusion gene positive. Patient data including gender, age, smoking status, EGFR mutation status and medical imaging data were collected and analyzed.Conclusion: The findings suggested that patients with ALK rearrangements are more likely to be young, have EGFR wild-type, and more likely to exhibit mucus secretion, solid tumor growth, lymph node metastasis and pleural metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Colloid-facilitated migration of phosphorus (P) is a widely accepted phenomenon in surface and subsurface environment. Release and migration of colloidal P (P) in agricultural fields are closely related to P fertilization regimes. In this study, a site-specific experiment with rice/oilseed rape rotation was conducted to determine the export potential of P from the field and literatures reporting the impact of P fertilization regimes on release and migration of P in other agricultural fields were compared. Materials and methods: In this 2-year field experiment, four P fertilization regimes (no fertilizer control, inorganic P fertilizer of low and high rates, and swine manure treatment) with three replicates were conducted. Floodwater and runoff samples were collected in flooding season and the 100-cm-depth soil samples were collected after both crops' harvest seasons. Colloidal particles were separated by microfiltration and ultracentrifugation processes and determined gravimetrically. The P value was calculated as the difference between the concentration of total P in non-ultracentrifuged and ultracentrifuged samples. The same method was applied for the colloidal mineral elements (Fe and Al) and organic carbon. Results and discussion: Total P concentration in paddy floodwater significantly increased after fertilization but decreased quickly in the following days, maintaining at 6.0 mg m. In soil extracts, concentration of P was low but stable, which ranged from 6 to 22 % of total P after oilseed rape season and from 7 to 18 % after rice season. In runoff samples, there were positive correlations between P, colloidal Fe (Fe), colloidal Al (Al), and colloidal TOC (TOC); the majority of P forms was molybdate reactive P. In both crops' seasons, the amount of colloids increased with soil depth. Content of soil P was low and occupied 0.1-2 % of total P. The literature review showed that P in soil solution, runoff, and leachate ranged from 1.4 to 94 % of total P. Conclusions: These results suggested that although the concentrations of P were not high, they widely distributed in paddy floodwater, runoff, and soil profile. Fertilization regimes and planting systems had a significant influence on the contents of P. Moreover, the P binding with Fe/Al minerals and organic carbon might be an alternative route of P loss in paddy field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ammonia oxidation is performed by both ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB). Few studies compared the adaptability of AOA and AOB for oxygenated/hypoxic alternant conditions in water-level-fluctuating zones. Here, using qPCR and 454 high-throughput sequencing of functional amoA genes of AOA and AOB, we examined the changes of abundances, diversities, and community structures of AOA and AOB in periodically flooded soils compared to the non-flooded soils in Three Gorges Reservoir. The increased AOA operational taxonomic unit (OTU) numbers and the higher ratios of abundance (AOA:AOB) in the periodically flooded soils suggested AOA have better adaptability for oxygenated/hypoxic alternant conditions in the water-level-fluctuating zones in the Three Gorges Reservoir and probably responsible for the ammonia oxidation there. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed that oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) had the most significant effect on the community distribution of AOA ( p < 0.01). Pearson analysis also indicated that ORP was the most important factor influencing the abundances and diversities of ammonia-oxidizing microbes. ORP was significantly negatively correlated with AOA OTU numbers ( p < 0.05), ratio of OTU numbers (AOA:AOB) ( p < 0.01), and ratio of amoA gene abundances (AOA:AOB) ( p < 0.05). ORP was also significantly positively correlated with AOB abundance ( p < 0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The programmed cell death-1/programmed cell death-1 ligand ( PD-1/ PD- L1) pathway plays a crucial role in tumor evasion. This study evaluated the association between circulating PD-L1 expression and clinical characteristics in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer ( NSCLC). Methods A total of 109 advanced NSCLC and 65 healthy patients from the Beijng Cancer Hospital were enrolled in the study. Circulating PD- L1 expression was tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The associations between the level of PD- L1 expression and clinicopathologic features and prognosis were statistically analyzed. Results The expression of PD- L1 in advanced NSCLC patients was significantly upregulated compared with the healthy control ( P < 0.001). The expression of PD-L1 was significantly correlated with abdominal organ metastasis ( P = 0.004). A high PD- L1 expression had a worse prognosis than a low expression in patients (18.7 vs. 26.8 month, P < 0.001). Conclusions PD- L1 was elevated in advanced NSCLC patients and may play an important role in tumor immune evasion and patient prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND The physicochemical stress-induced bioprocess is an efficient strategy for enhancement of the production of microbial metabolites, but multiple physicochemical stresses have not applied in poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ- PGA) production. RESULTS The effects of multiple physicochemical stresses on the production and synthetase genes transcription of γ- PGA were investigated in Bacillus licheniformis WX-02. Under heat stress stimulated at 50 °C, osmotic stress induced by 3% KCl, and alkaline stress mediated by pH 8.5, γ- PGA yields increased by 66%, 106% and 133%, respectively, and the transcription levels of γ- PGA synthetase gene PgsC were improved 3.1-fold, 3.6-fold and 5.4-fold compared with the control. Heat and osmotic stress also induced the up-regulation of another γ- PGA synthetase gene of PgsB with 1.4-fold and 4.3-fold increase, respectively. By combined application of heat and pH stress, the maximum γ- PGA yield reached 29.34 g L−1, 185% higher than the control. CONCLUSION This study provided a novel strategy to enhance γ- PGA yield by physicochemical stresses treatment, and the possible mechanism was also determined. The stress-mediated strategy can be easily applied in γ- PGA production at large scale. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological stoichiometry provides a powerful tool for integrating microbial biomass stoichiometry with ecosystem processes, opening far-reaching possibilities for linking microbial dynamics to soil carbon (C) metabolism in response to agricultural nutrient management. Despite its importance to crop yield, the role of phosphorus (P) with respect to ecological stoichiometry and soil C sequestration in paddy fields remains poorly understood, which limits our ability to predict nutrient-related soil C cycling. Here, we collected soil samples from a paddy field experiment after seven years of superphosphate application along a gradient of 0, 30, 60, and 90 (P-0 through P-90, respectively) kg P·ha-1·yr-1 in order to evaluate the role of exogenous P on soil C sequestration through regulating microbial stoichiometry. P fertilization increased soil total organic C and labile organic C by 1-14% and 4-96%, respectively, while rice yield is a function of the activities of soil ß-1,4-glucosidase (BG), acid phosphatase (AP), and the level of available soil P through a stepwise linear regression model. P input induced C limitation, as reflected by decreases in the ratios of C:P in soil and microbial biomass. An eco-enzymatic ratio indicating microbial investment in C vs. P acquisition, i.e., ln(BG) : ln(AP), changed the ecological function of microbial C acquisition, and was stoichiometrically related to P input. This mechanism drove a shift in soil resource availability by increasing bacterial community richness and diversity, and stimulated soil C sequestration in the paddy field by enhancing C-degradation-related bacteria for the breakdown of plant-derived carbon sources. Therefore, the decline in the C:P stoichiometric ratio of soil microorganism biomass under P input was beneficial for soil C sequestration, which offered a "win-win" relationship for the maximum balance point between C sequestration and P availability for rice production in the face of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND The poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ- PGA) hydrolase of PgdS affects the molecular weight and yield of γ- PGA in Bacillus subtilis, while the effects of PgdS on the γ- PGA synthesis in Bacillus licheniformis have not been investigated. RESULTS By heterologous expression in Escherichia coli, the PgdS was characterized. The purified PgdS had an optimal γ- PGA degradation activity from pH 5.5 to 6.5, with an appropriate reaction temperature from 37 °C to 45 °C. The enzyme activity could be enhanced by Zn2+, Mn2+, Ca2+ and SDS, while inhibited by Hg2+ or Cu2+. By enhanced expression of pgdS gene in vivo, the enzyme activity, protein concentration and gene transcriptional level of PgdS were improved, and γ- PGA molecular weight decreased from 1000-1200 kDa to 600-800 kDa. Moreover, the γ- PGA yield reached 20.16 g L-1, increased by 54% than the native strain (13.11 g L−1). Gene transcript levels of glutamate transporters and poly-γ-glutamate synthetase were confirmed to be improved, which might be the reason for the increased γ- PGA production. CONCLUSION Enhanced expression of pgdS gene in B. licheniformis WX-02 helped to reduce the molecular weight and improve the yield of γ- PGA. This study provided a novel strategy to regulate the molecular weight and yield of γ- PGA. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The role of surgery in limited small cell lung cancer ( SCLC) is still controversial. To assess the role of surgery in SCLC we performed a retrospective analysis of survival in a group of limited stage patients, who were managed with trimodal therapy including surgery, or with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Methods We performed a retrospective survival analysis in a series of 153 limited stage SCLC patients treated between 1995 and 2013. Kaplan- Meier survival analysis and Cox regression analysis were used to calculate the overall survival of the surgical and non-surgical groups. Results Median survival in all patients was 21.5 months. Median survival for surgical and non-surgical patients was 30.5 months and 16.9 months, respectively. The survival curves for the two arms are significantly different ( P < 0.01). In multivariate analysis, the benefit of surgical treatment and thoracic radiotherapy varied in a time-dependent fashion. Conclusions Our results suggest that surgery added to chemotherapy and radiotherapy may be associated with a therapeutic benefit in limited SCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We investigated whether aprepitant, a neurokinin-1 antagonist, could decrease chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) following cisplatin, when a conventional anti-emetic regimen had failed. Methods: This was a prospective study (April 2011-April 2012) of patients with lung cancer, treated with cisplatin at the Beijing Cancer Hospital, and initially receiving granisetron, dexamethasone, and metoclopramide as anti-emetics. If patients experienced vomiting of grade ≥2 and required rescue anti-emetic medications during the first cycle, oral aprepitant was added in subsequent cycles (day 1: 125 mg; days 2-3: 80 mg once daily). Acute (day 1) and delayed (days 2-5) nausea and vomiting, use of rescue medications, and occurrence of adverse reactions were monitored after the start of chemotherapy. Results: Twenty-five of 132 patients (18.9 %) were administered aprepitant for secondary prophylaxis against emesis during the second cycle of chemotherapy. The incidences of acute and delayed nausea were 52 and 100 % in the first cycle, but 8 and 72 % in the second cycle. The incidences of acute and delayed vomiting were 20 and 100 % in the first cycle, but 0 and 36 % in the second cycle. No patients required rescue medications or intravenous rehydration during the second cycle. Aprepitant was not associated with additional adverse events. Conclusions: In patients with lung cancer receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy, the addition of aprepitant to a 5-HT antagonist, dexamethasone, and metoclopramide improves protection against CINV when the conventional anti-emetic regimen fails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural fertilization may change processes of elemental biogeochemical cycles and alter the ecological function. Ecoenzymatic stoichiometric feature plays a critical role in global soil carbon (C) metabolism, driving element cycles, and mediating atmospheric composition in response to agricultural nutrient management. Despite the importance on crop growth, the role of phosphorous (P) in compliance with eco-stoichiometry on soil C and nitrogen (N) sequestration in the paddy field remains poorly understood in the context of climate change. Here, we collected soil samples from a field experiment after 6 years of chemical P application at a gradient of 0 (P-0), 30 (P-30), 60 (P-60), and 90 (P-90) kg ha−1 in order to evaluate the role of P on stoichiometric properties in terms of soil chemical, microbial biomass, and eco-enzyme activities as well as greenhouse gas (GHG: CO2, N2O and CH4) emissions. Continuous P input increased soil total organic C and N by 1.3–9.2% and 3%–13%, respectively. P input induced C and N limitations as indicated by the decreased ratio of C:P and N:P in the soil and microbial biomass. A synergistic mechanism among the ecoenzymatic stoichiometry, which regulated the ecological function of microbial C and N acquisition and were stoichiometrically related to P input, stimulated soil C and N sequestration in the paddy field. The lower emissions of N2O and CH4 under the higher P application (P-60 and P-90) in July and the insignificant difference in N2O emission in August compared to P-30; however, continuous P input enhanced CO2 fluxes for both samplings. There is a technical conflict for simultaneously regulating three types of GHGs in terms of the eco-stoichiometry mechanism under P fertilization. Thus, it is recommended that the P input in paddy fields not exceed 60 kg ha−1 may maximize soil C sequestration, minimize P export, and guarantee grain yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]