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In this paper, a fiber laser marking machine was used to pretreat an Al plate, and then a Au nanoparticle (Au NP) solution was dripped on the surface of the pre-treated plate to study the effect of the laser pretreatment assisted-nanoparticle-enhanced laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy technique on the emission and stability of the AlO molecular bands (B2P+ - X2P, Dn = 0) in the Al plasma. The results showed that laser pretreatment significantly improved the emission and stability of the AlO molecular bands. Therefore, this paper demonstrates the potential of laser pretreatment in improving analytical sensitivity in LIBS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diarrhea of college students (DCS) is a prevalent issue among college students, affecting their daily lives and academic performance. This study aims to explore the potential effect of Bifidobacterium breve BB05 supplements on the DCS. Initially, fifty healthy and fifty diarrheal students were recruited in the observational experiment and allocated into control and diarrhea groups, respectively. Subsequently, one hundred diarrheal students were newly recruited in the intervention experiment and randomly allocated into placebo and probiotic groups, both treated for 2 weeks. Questionnaires (BSS, HAMA-14, and HDRS-17) were performed to assess the students’ diarrheal states and mental health at baseline and post-treatment. Fecal samples underwent 16S rRNA sequencing and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay to evaluate gut microbiota and fecal metabolite alternations. Results indicated that B. breve BB05 supplementation significantly enriched (p < 0.05) the reduced gut microbial diversity caused by diarrhea. Diarrhea resulted in notable alterations in gut microbiota composition, as exhibited by elevated Collinsella and Streptococcus, alongside substantially decreased Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, and Prevotella, while B. breve BB05 supplementation partially restored the compromised gut microbiota at both the phylum and genus levels, particularly by increasing Bifidobacterium and Roseburia (p < 0.05). Importantly, questionnaire results suggested that B. breve BB05 administration achieved superior efficacy in relieving diarrhea symptoms and the associated anxiety and depression in college students. An increased fecal concentration of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) was also observed in the probiotic group, while Acetylcholine (ACH), Epinephrine (EPI), and Noradrenaline/Norepinephrine (NANE) reduced, revealing the potential of B. breve BB05 in alleviating anxiety and depression via modulating the microbiota–gut–brain axis. Furthermore, correlation analysis suggested that the altered microbiota and fecal neurotransmitters were closely associated with the mental symptoms. These results endorse B. breve BB05 intervention as a promising and innovative approach to alleviate both diarrhea and mental health conditions among college students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquaculture intensification has resulted in serious disease outbreaks in largemouth bass production. Compounds containing copper (Cu) are widely used as therapeutic agents in aquaculture. Currently, Cu misuse has been a severe issue in largemouth bass farming. However, few investigations have been performed on Cu toxicity in largemouth bass so far. In this study, an acute and a chronic toxicity test was carried out to determine the toxicity and the recommended dose of waterborne Cu in largemouth bass. In the acute toxicity bioassay, fish (2.58 ± 0.03 g) were exposed to 0 (control), 3, 6, 9, 18, or 30 mg/L Cu, and the results showed that the 96-h LC50 of waterborne Cu was 12.78 mg/L. Then a 30-day chronic toxicity test containing six treatments (i.e., 0, 51.3, 164, 513, 1640, and 5130 µg/L Cu) was conducted to investigate the influence of Cu on intestinal and renal health in terms of oxidative stress in juvenile largemouth bass (2.69 ± 0.02 g). The results showed that Cu concentrations at and above 51.3 µg/L significantly increased the malondialdehyde contents (in the intestine) and simultaneously decreased total superoxide dismutase activity levels (in the intestine and kidney), glutathione peroxidase activity levels (in the kidney), and reduced glutathione contents (in the kidney), compared to control. In contrast to control, fish exposed to high Cu concentrations (at and above 1640 µg/L) demonstrated lower catalase activity levels in the intestine and kidney. Based on the findings in the study, waterborne Cu content for largemouth bass farming was recommended to be less than 51.3 µg/L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Personalized precision irradiation of patients with left‐sided breast cancer is possible by examining the setup errors of 3‐ and 4‐mm gated window widths for those treated with deep inspiration breath‐hold (DIBH) treatment. An observational study was performed via a retrospective analysis of 250 cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of 60 left‐breast cancer patients who underwent whole‐breast radiotherapy with the DIBH technique between January 2021 and 2022 at our hospital. Among them, 30 patients had a gated window width of 3 mm, while the remaining 30 had a gated window width of 4 mm; both groups received radiotherapy using DIBH technology. All patients underwent CBCT scans once a week, and the setup errors in the left‐right (x‐axis), inferior‐superior (y‐axis), and anterior‐posterior (z‐axis) directions were recorded. The clinical‐to‐planning target volume (CTV‐PTV) margins of the two gating windows were calculated using established methods. The setup error in the Y direction was 1.69 ± 1.33 mm for the 3‐mm – wide gated window and 2.42 ± 3.02 mm for the 4‐mm – wide gated window. The two groups had statistically significant differences in the overall mean setup error (Dif 0.7, 95% CI 0.15–1.31, t = 2.48, p= 0.014). The Z‐direction setup error was 2.32 ± 2.12 mm for the 3‐mm – wide gated window and 3.15 ± 3.34 mm for the 4‐mm – wide gated window. The overall mean setup error was statistically significant between the two groups (Dif 0.8, 95% CI 0.13–1.53, t= 2.34, p = 0.020). There was no significant difference in the X‐direction setup error (p > 0.05). Therefore, the CTV‐PTV margin values for a 3‐mm gated window width in the X, Y, and Z directions are 5.51, 5.15, and 7.28 mm, respectively; those for a 4‐mm gated window width in the X, Y, and Z directions are 5.52, 8.16, and 10.21 mm, respectively. The setup errors of the 3‐mm – wide gating window are smaller than those of the 4‐mm – wide gating window in the three dimensions. Therefore, when the patient's respiratory gating window width is reduced, the margin values of CTV‐PTV can be reduced to increase the distance between the PTV and the organs at risk (OARs), which ensures adequate space for the dose to decrease, resulting in lower dose exposure to the OARs (heart, lungs, etc.), thus sparing the OARs from further damage. However, some patients with poor pulmonary function or unstable breathing amplitudes must be treated with a slightly larger gating window. Therefore, this study lays a theoretical basis for personalized precision radiotherapy, which can save time and reduce manpower in the delivery of clinical treatment to a certain extent. Another potential benefit of this work is to bring awareness to the potential implications of a slightly larger gating window during treatment without considering the resulting dosimetric impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the effects of sodium butyrate (NaBT) supplementation in high-fat diets on the growth performance and liver health of common carp (Cyprinus carpio), we formulated three isonitrogenous diets: the control diet (5.8% crude lipid, Control diet), the high-fat diet (10.8% crude lipid, HF diet), and the NaBT diet (10.8 % crude lipid and 0.1% NaBT, NaBT diet). Each diet was assigned to triplicate tanks (100 L) with 24 fish (14.52±0.08 g) in each tank. Experimental fish were fed twice daily for 8 weeks. The results showed that fish growth performance was not affected by experimental diets. Fish at HF group demonstrated higher content of triacylglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TCHO) in the liver. In addition, diet HF significantly increased hepatic oxidative stress by increasing malondialdehyde (MDA) content, decreasing activity levels of antioxidant enzymes and contents of reduced glutathione (GSH). Furthermoure, diet HF significantly decreased the mRNA expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and simultaneously increased the mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-6 in liver of common carp compared to control diet (P<0.05). However, diet NaBT significantly improved fish liver health by decreasing contents of TCHO and MDA, down-regulating mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6), increasing the activity levels of antioxidant enzymes, and upregulating the mRNA expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 in the liver (P<0.05). In conclusion, dietary NaBT supplementation could ameliorate the detrimental effects of high-fat diets on liver health by activating Nrf2 in common carp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the advantages of dosimetry and the treatment efficiency of tangent-arc technology in deep inspiration breath-hold radiotherapy for breast cancer. Methods: Forty patients with left-sided breast cancer who were treated in our hospital from May 2020 to June 2021 were randomly selected and divided into two groups. The first group's plan was a continuous semi-arc that started at 145° (± 5°) and stopped at 325° (± 5°). The other group's plan, defined as the tangent-arc plan, had two arcs: the first arc started at 145° (± 5°) and stopped at 85° (± 5°), and the second arc started at 25° (± 5°) and stopped at 325° (± 5°). We compared the target dose, dose in organs at risk (OARs), and treatment time between the two groups. Results: The target dose was similar between the continuous semiarc and tangent-arc groups. The V5 of the right lung was significantly different between the two groups (Dif 5.52, 95% confidence interval 1.92-9.13, t=3.10, P=0.004), with the patients in the continuous semi-arc and tangent-arc groups having lung V5 values of (9.16 ± 1.62)%, and (3.64 ± 0.73)%, respectively. The maximum dose to the spinal cord was (1835.88 ± 222.17) cGy in the continuous semi-arc group and (599.42 ± 153.91) cGy in the tangent-arc group, yielding a significant difference between the two groups (Dif 1236.46, 95% confidence interval 689.32-1783.6, t=4.57, P<0.001). The treatment times was (311.70 ± 60.45) s for patients in the continuous semi-arc group and (254.66 ± 40.73) s for patients in the tangent-arc group, and there was a significant difference in the mean number of treatment times between the two groups (Dif 57.04, 95% confidence interval 24.05-90.03, t=3.5, P=0.001). Conclusion: Both the continuous semi-arc and tangent-arc plans met the clinical prescription dose requirements. The OARs received less radiation with the tangent-arc plan than the continuous semi-arc plan, especially for the lung measured as V5) and the spinal cord (measured as the maximum dose). Tangentarc plan took significantly less time than the continuous semi-arc, which can greatly improve treatment efficiency. Therefore, tangent-arc plans are superior continuous semi-arc plans for all cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Tick-borne viruses (TBVs) pose a significant risk to the health of humans and other vertebrates. A class of multisegmented flavi-like viruses, Jingmen tick virus (JMTV) was first discovered in Rhipicephalus microplus ticks collected from Jingmen of Hubei Province, China in 2010. JMTV has been confirmed to have a relatively wide distribution in vectors and hosts and is associated with human diseases. Methods: Parasitic and host-seeking ticks were collected in Wolong Nature Reserve, Sichuan Province. Total RNA was extracted and then enriched the viral RNA. The DNA library was constructed and then were sequenced with MGI Highthroughput Sequencing Set (PE150). After the adaptor sequences,low-quality bases and host genome were removed, resulting reads classified as a virus were subsequently de novo assembled into contigs, which were then compared to the NT database. Those annotated under the kingdom virus were initially identified as potential virus-associated sequences. Phylogenetic and Reassortment analysis of sequences were performed using MEGA and SimPlot software, respectively. Results and discussion: Two host-seeking ticks and 17 ticks that fed on giant pandas and goats were collected. Through high-throughput sequencing, whole virus genomes were attained from four tick samples (PC-13, PC-16, PC-18, and PC-19) that shared 88.7--96.3% similarity with known JMTV. Phylogenetic tree showed that it was a novel JMTV-like virus, referred to as Sichuan tick virus, which also had the signals of reassortment with other JMTV strains, suggesting a cross-species transmission and co-infection of segmented flavi-like viruses among multiple tick hosts. Conclusion: We discovered and confirmed one new Jingmen tick virus, Sichuan tick virus. Further investigation is required to determine the pathogenicity of Sichuan tick virus to humans and animals, as well as its epidemiological characteristics in nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the advantages of dosimetry and the treatment efficiency of tangent-arc technology in deep inspiration breath-hold radiotherapy for breast cancer. Methods: Forty patients with left-sided breast cancer who were treated in our hospital from May 2020 to June 2021 were randomly selected and divided into two groups. The first group's plan was a continuous semi-arc that started at 145° ( ± 5°) and stopped at 325° ( ± 5°). The other group's plan, defined as the tangentarc plan, had two arcs: the first arc started at 145° ( ± 5°) and stopped at 85° ( ± 5°), and the second arc started at 25° ( ± 5°) and stopped at 325° (± 5°). We compared the target dose, dose in organs at risk (OARs), and treatment time between the two groups. Results: The target dose was similar between the continuous semiarc and tangent-arc groups. The V5 of the right lung was significantly different between the two groups (Dif 5.52, 95% confidence interval 1.92-9.13, t=3.10, P=0.004), with the patients in the continuous semi-arc and tangent-arc groups having lung V5 values of (9.16 ± 1.62)%, and (3.64 ± 0.73)%, respectively. The maximum dose to the spinal cord was (1835.88 ± 222.17) cGy in the continuous semi-arc group and (599.42 ± 153.91) cGy in the tangent-arc group, yielding a significant difference between the two groups (Dif 1236.46, 95% confidence interval 689.32-1783.6, t=4.57, P<0.001). The treatment times was (311.70 ± 60.45) s for patients in the continuous semi-arc group and (254.66 ± 40.73) s for patients in the tangent-arc group, and there was a significant difference in the mean number of treatment times between the two groups (Dif 57.04, 95% confidence interval 24.05-90.03, t=3.5, P=0.001). Conclusion: Both the continuous semi-arc and tangent-arc plans met the clinical prescription dose requirements. The OARs received less radiation with the tangent-arc plan than the continuous semi-arc plan, especially for the lung (measured as V5) and the spinal cord (measured as the maximum dose). Tangentarc plan took significantly less time than the continuous semi-arc, which can greatly improve treatment efficiency. Therefore, tangent-arc plans are superior continuous semi-arc plans for all cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Tick-borne viruses (TBVs) pose a significant risk to the health of humans and other vertebrates. A class of multisegmented flavi-like viruses, Jingmen tick virus (JMTV) was first discovered in Rhipicephalus microplus ticks collected from Jingmen of Hubei Province, China in 2010. JMTV has been confirmed to have a relatively wide distribution in vectors and hosts and is associated with human diseases. Methods: Parasitic and host-seeking ticks were collected in Wolong Nature Reserve, Sichuan Province. Total RNA was extracted and then enriched the viral RNA. The DNA library was constructed and then were sequenced with MGI Highthroughput Sequencing Set (PE150). After the adaptor sequences,low-quality bases and host genome were removed, resulting reads classified as a virus were subsequently de novo assembled into contigs, which were then compared to the NT database. Those annotated under the kingdom virus were initially identified as potential virus-associated sequences. Phylogenetic and Reassortment analysis of sequences were performed using MEGA and SimPlot software, respectively. Results and discussion: Two host-seeking ticks and 17 ticks that fed on giant pandas and goats were collected. Through high-throughput sequencing, whole virus genomes were attained from four tick samples (PC-13, PC-16, PC-18, and PC-19) that shared 88.7-96.3% similarity with known JMTV. Phylogenetic tree showed that it was a novel JMTV-like virus, referred to as Sichuan tick virus, which also had the signals of reassortment with other JMTV strains, suggesting a cross-species transmission and co-infection of segmented flavi-like viruses among multiple tick hosts. Conclusion: We discovered and confirmed one new Jingmen tick virus, Sichuan tick virus. Further investigation is required to determine the pathogenicity of Sichuan tick virus to humans and animals, as well as its epidemiological characteristics in nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The use of surgery is controversial in patients with stage T3 or T4 triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). We aimed to explore the effect of surgical treatment on overall survival (OS) of these patients. Methods: A total of 2,041 patients were selected and divided into the surgical and non-surgical groups based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database from 2010 to 2018. Propensity score matching (PSM) and inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) were applied to balance covariates between different groups. The OS of the two groups were assessed by Kaplan--Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazards regression models. Results: A total of 2,041 patients were included in the study. After PSM and IPTW, baseline characteristics of the matched variables were fully balanced. Kaplan--Meier survival curves showed that the median survival time and OS of TNBC patients with stage T3 or T4 in the surgical group were significantly improved compared with those in the non-surgical group. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that surgery was a protective factor for prognosis. Conclusion: Our study found that surgery prolonged the median survival and improved OS compared with the non-surgical group of TNBC patients with stage T3 or T4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] The effects of different parameters of electrostatic field on the removal of ethylene from fruit and vegetable storage environment were studied. [Methods]The high voltage electrostatic field technology was used to simulate the removal of ethylene from fruit and vegetable storages, and its influencing factors were tested and analyzed. [Results] The removal effect of needle-plate electrodes was better than that of needle electrodes. The removal effect of ethylene at high voltage was better than that at low voltage. The length of gas chamber was positively correlated with the time required for ethylene removal. Increasing the voltage could produce more ozone, thus improving the removal effect of ethylene. [Condusions] This study provides theoretical basis and technical support for the use of high-voltage electrostatic field to remove ethylene in controlled atmosphere storages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to investigate the influence of guar gum supplementation in high-fat diets on the growth performance and intestinal oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis of juvenile largemouth bass. Five isonitrogenous diets were prepared: a control diet (10% crude lipid, C), a high-fat diet (17% crude lipid, HF), and three high-fat diets supplemented with 0.3% guar gum (GG0.3), 1% guar gum (GG1), and 3% guar gum (GG3). Largemouth bass (3.1±0.2 g) were randomly assigned to fifteen tanks (30 fish/tank) and fed for 8 weeks. The results demonstrated that GG0.3 significantly increased specific growth rate (SGR) and increased feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to HF (P < 0.05). For histology, high-fat diets containing guar gum significantly increased intestinal villus length, villus width, and perimeter ratio, compared with HF (P < 0.05). Compared with Control, HF significantly decreased reduced glutathione (GSH) contents and increased malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in the intestine (P < 0.05). Additionally, HF significantly increased the expression of interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß), tumor necrosis factor a (TNF-a), and cysteine-aspartic proteases 9 (Caspase 9) in the intestine (P < 0.05). Compared to HF, GG0.3 significantly decreased MDA contents, increased GSH contents, and downregulated the expression of IL-1ß, TNF-a, and Caspase 3 than diet HF in the intestine (P < 0.05). These results suggest that guar gum can alleviate the adverse effects of high-fat diets on growth and gut health in fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cultivation of top-notch innovative talents is one of the most prominent tasks in China's universities in the new era, and also an opportunity and challenge for local universities. Taking the food subject of local universities as an example, some suggestions were put forward from the aspects of security measures, teacher team construction, talent selection and management, and talent cultivation, in order to provide reference for the exploration and practice of cultivating topnotch innovative talents in the food subject of local universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whipple's disease is a rare chronic systemic disease that affects almost any organ system of the body caused by the intracellular bacterium Tropheryma whipplei, which is found ubiquitously in the environment. Sequencing of the T. whipplei genome has revealed that it has a reduced genome (0.93 Mbp), a characteristic shared with other intracellular bacteria. Until our research started, 19 T. whipplei strains had been sequenced from cultures originated in France, Canada, and Germany. The genome of T. whipplei bacterium has not been studied in Asia yet. Here, two metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) of T. whipplei from China were reconstructed through metagenomic nextgeneration sequencing (mNGS) and genome binning. We also provided genomic insights into the geographical role and genomic features by analyzing the whole genome. The whole-genome phylogenetic tree was constructed based on single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) distance calculations and then grouped by distance similarity. The phylogenetic tree shows inconsistencies with geographic origins, thus suggesting that the variations in geographical origins cannot explain the phylogenetic relationships among the 21 T. whipplei strains. The two Chinese strains were closely related to each other, and also found to be related to strains from Germany (T. whipplei TW08/27) and France (T. whipplei Bcu26 and T. whipplei Neuro1). Furthermore, the Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) matrix also showed no association between geographic origins and genomic similarities. The pan-genome analysis revealed that T. whipplei has a closed pan-genome composed of big core-genomes and small accessory genomes, like other intracellular bacteria. By examining the genotypes of the sequenced strains, all 21 T. whipplei strains were found to be resistant to fluoroquinolones, due to the genetic mutations in genes gyrA, gyrB, parC, and parE. The 21 T. Whipplei strains shared the same virulence factors, except for the alpC gene, which existed in 7 out of the 21 T. whipplei strains. When comparing 21 entire T. whipplei pan-genomes from various nations, it was discovered that the bacterium also possessed a closed genome, which was a trait shared by intracellular pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Erythroxylum austroguangdongense (Erythroxylaceae), a new species from Guangdong Province, China, is described and illustrated. This new species is morphologically most similar to E. calyptratum, but is distinguished by the leathery leaf blade with fewer pairs of secondary veins and flowers borne on leafless nodes of the basal part of the current branch with much longer pedicels and sub-rectangular petal appendages. This is the second native species of Erythroxylum recorded from China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ziziphus jujuba Mill. cv. 'LingwuChangzao' is a traditional jujube cultivar in northwest China. It is of great significance to explore the weed community composition and environmental characterization for the ecological control and comprehensive management of weeds in jujube orchards. In this article, a total of 37 species were recorded in 40 sample plots (1 m x 1 m). Moreover, fourteen environmental indicators to characterize the spatial locations, climate and soil nutrient characteristics of the plant communities were adopted. Methodology: Through the two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) quantity classification and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) ranking methods, the types of weed communities in the main planting base of jujube 'LingwuChangzao' and the main environmental factors affecting the change and distribution of weed types were analyzed. Results: The weed communities within the study area were divided into 15 types by the TWINSPAN classification. There were significant differences in soil factors to the species diversity indices of the weed communities, the diversity of weed communities was negatively correlated with available potassium, whereas positively correlated with soil water content. The CCA results showed that community structure and spatial distribution of weed communities were affected by soil water content, total potassium, soil organic carbon, total phosphorus, total nitrogen. Our results can be used as a reference for orchard weed management and provide a theoretical basis for weed invasion control and creating a higher biodiversity in arable land under the background of environmental change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction between the receptor-like kinase (RLK) FERONIA (FER) and the secreted peptide RAPID ALKALINIZATION FACTOR1 (RALF1) is vital for development and stress responses in Arabidopsis. Ligand-induced membrane dynamics affect the function of several RLKs, but the effects of the RALF1-FER interaction on the dynamics of FER and the ensuing effects on its functionality are poorly understood. Here, we show that RALF1 modulated the dynamics and partitioning of FER-GFP at the plasma membrane (PM). Moreover, FER was internalized by both clathrinmediated endocytosis (CME) and clathrin-independent endocytosis (CIE) under steady-state conditions. After RALF1 treatment, FERGFP internalization was primarily enhanced via the CME pathway, raising FER-GFP levels in the vacuole. RALF1 treatment also modulated trafficking of other PM proteins, such as PIN2-GFP and BRI1-GFP, increasing their vacuolar levels by enhancing their internalization. Importantly, blocking CME attenuated RALF1-mediated root growth inhibition independently of RALF1-induced early signaling, suggesting that the RALF1 can also exert its effects via the CME pathway. These findings reveal that the RALF1-FER interaction modulates plant growth and development, and this might also involve endocytosis of PM proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tender coconut water tastes sweet and is enjoyed by consumers, but its commercial development is restricted by an extremely short shelf life, which cannot be explained by existing research. UPLC-MS/MS-based metabolomics methods were used to identify and statistically analyze metabolites in coconut water under refrigerated storage. A multivariate statistical analysis method was used to analyze the UPLC-MS/MS datasets from 35 tender coconut water samples stored for 0–6 weeks. In addition, we identified other differentially expressed metabolites by selecting p-values and fold changes. Hierarchical cluster analysis and association analysis were performed with the differentially expressed metabolites. Metabolic pathways were analyzed using the KEGG database and the MetPA module of MetaboAnalyst. A total of 72 differentially expressed metabolites were identified in all groups. The OPLS-DA score chart showed that all samples were well grouped. Thirty-one metabolic pathways were enriched in the week 0–1 samples. The results showed that after a tender coconut is peeled, the maximum storage time at 4 °C is 1 week. Analysis of metabolic pathways related to coconut water storage using the KEGG and MetPA databases revealed that amino acid metabolism is one of the main causes of coconut water quality deterioration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report that defect solitons can be supported by kagome photonic lattices with a defect in biased photovoltaic-photorefractive crystals. For a positive defect, these defect solitons exist only in the semi-infinite bandgap and are stable in the low power region but unstable in the high power region. For a negative defect, these defect solitons exist in both of the semi-infinite bandgaps and the first bandgap. In the semi-infinite bandgap, low-power defect solitons are stable when the negative defect depth is low and unstable when the negative defect depth is high, moderate-power defect solitons are stable when the negative defect depth is high, and high-power defect solitons are unstable for all the negative defect depths. In the first bandgap, defect solitons are stable in all the power regions when the negative defect depth is low. When the negative defect depth is high, defect solitons are stable in the high power region and unstable in the low power region. On the other hand, these defect solitons are those studied previously in kagome photonic lattices with a defect in biased non-photovoltaic- photorefractive crystals when the bulk photovoltaic effect is negligible and those in kagome photonic lattices with a defect in photovoltaic-photorefractive crystals when the external bias field is absent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report that defect solitons can be supported by kagome photonic lattices with a defect in biased photovoltaic-photorefractive crystals. For a positive defect, these defect solitons exist only in the semi-infinite bandgap and are stable in the low power region but unstable in the high power region. For a negative defect, these defect solitons exist in both of the semi-infinite bandgaps and the first bandgap. In the semi-infinite bandgap, low-power defect solitons are stable when the negative defect depth is low and unstable when the negative defect depth is high, moderate-power defect solitons are stable when the negative defect depth is high, and high-power defect solitons are unstable for all the negative defect depths. In the first bandgap, defect solitons are stable in all the power regions when the negative defect depth is low. When the negative defect depth is high, defect solitons are stable in the high power region and unstable in the low power region. On the other hand, these defect solitons are those studied previously in kagome photonic lattices with a defect in biased non-photovoltaic-photorefractive crystals when the bulk photovoltaic effect is negligible and those in kagome photonic lattices with a defect in photovoltaic-photorefractive crystals when the external bias field is absent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato juice was fermented by Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus casei to produce an innovative high-bioactivity probiotic beverage. The levels of lycopene, total carotenoids, ascorbic acid, total phenolic and volatile compounds, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azinobis-3-ethylbenzotiazo-line-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging capacities, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and Escherichia coli flora, as well as the inhibition of copper-induced human low-density lipoproteins (LDL)-cholesterol oxidation assays, were measured. The results revealed that the ABTS and DPPH inhibition values, as well as the FRAP and total phenolic content, were significantly increased. LDL-cholesterol oxidation was markedly delayed after the addition of the fermented juice. The in vitro inhibitory effects of Escherichia coli flora were substantially increased after being fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus casei. The results associated with the volatile compounds indicated that fermentation with Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus casei is a meaningful strategy for modifying flavors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this report, we aimed to explore the role and regulatory mechanism of microRNA-940 (miR-940) in bladder cancer development. The expressions of miR-940 in bladder cancer tissues and cells were measured. miR-940 mimics, miR-940 inhibitor small interference RNA against INPP4A (si-INPP4A), and GSK3b (si-GSK3β) and their corresponding controls were then transfected into cells. We investigated the effects of miR-940, INPP4A, or GSK3β on cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis. Additionally, target prediction and luciferase reporter assays were performed to investigate the targets of miR-940. The regulatory relationship between miR-940 and the Wnt/-βcatenin pathway was also investigated. miR-940 was upregulated in bladder cancer tissues and cells. Overexpression of miR-940 significantly increased bladder cancer cell proliferation, promoted migration and invasion, and inhibited cell apoptosis. INPP4A and GSK3β were the direct targets of miR-940, and knockdown of INPP4A or GSK3β significantly increased cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and inhibited cell apoptosis. After miR-940 overexpression, the protein expression levels of c-Myc, cyclin D1, and -βcatenin were significantly increased, and the expression levels of p27 and p--βcatenin were markedly decreased. The opposite effects were obtained after suppression of miR-940. XAV939, a tankyrase 1 inhibitor that could inhibit Wnt/-βcatenin signaling, significantly reversed the effects of miR-940 overexpression on cell migration and invasion. Our results indicate that overexpression of miR-940 may promote bladder cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and inhibit cell apoptosis via targeting INPP4A or GSK3β and activating the Wnt/-βcatenin pathway. Our findings imply the key roles of suppressing miRNA-940 in the therapy of bladder cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fermentation of foods by lactic acid bacteria is a useful way to improve the nutritional value of foods. In this study, the health-promoting effects of fermented papaya juices by two species, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus plantarum, were determined. Changes in pH, reducing sugar, organic acids, and volatile compounds were determined, and the vitamin C, total phenolic content, and flavonoid and antioxidant capacities during the fermentation process were investigated. Juices fermented by Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus plantarum had similar changes in pH and reducing sugar content during the 48 h fermentation period. Large amounts of aroma-associated compounds and organic acids were produced, especially lactic acid, which increased significantly (𝑝 < 0.05) (543.18mg/100mL and 571.29mg/100 mL, resp.), improving the quality of the beverage. In contrast, the production of four antioxidant capacities in the fermented papaya juices showed different trends after 48 hours' fermentation by two bacteria. Lactobacillus plantarum generated better antioxidant activities compared to Lactobacillus acidophilus after 48 h of fermentation. These results indicate that fermentation of papaya juice can improve its utilization and nutritional effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The defatted seed of Camellia oleiferaAbel is an underexploited byproduct. In the present study, 3 solvents (isopropanol, hexane, and diethyl ether) were used to extract active compounds fromdefatted seeds of Camellia oleifera Abel. The qualitative and quantitative characterization of the main phenolic compounds were performed using the HPLC-DAD. In addition, the antioxidant efficacy of defatted seed extracts in the stabilization of the corn oil was estimated bymonitoring its primary and secondary oxidation products. The results showed that isopropanolic extract (IE) exhibited the highest yield of total phenolic compounds (9.23 ± 0.33mg/g) compared with other solvents. The predominant phenolic compounds identified by HPLC-DAD in defatted seed extracts were epicatechin, naringenin, and catechin. In addition, IE exhibited the best inhibition effect on both primary and secondary oxidation products. The results reveal that IE of defatted seed of Camellia oleifera Abel is a useful antioxidant for the stabilization of corn oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An electronic tongue was used to monitor the quality change of fresh coconut milk at room temperature, and the data were analyzed by principal component analysis, cluster analysis and similarity analysis. Results showed that the quality of fresh coconut milk significantly changed within 2-3 and 7-8 h, and that the change occurred more markedly within 2-3 h. Important quality indices of fresh coconut milk including titratable acidity, pH and microorganisms, were analyzed by chemical and microbiological analyses. The results were consistent with those of the electronic tongue method. Therefore, this simple and reliable method can be used to monitor the quality change of fresh coconut milk, which is beneficial to the processing and quality control of this foodstuff. Practical Applications Coconut milk is widely used as a food ingredient in Southeast Asia and Western countries, while the quality of fresh coconut milk changes quickly at room temperature. This work aims to establish a method using the electronic tongue to monitor the quality change of freshly squeezed coconut milk, which is advantageous for its storage and processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inhibitory activity of the papaya seed extract (PSE) on Candida albicans (C. albicans) was determined by turbidimetry method. The inhibitory mechanisms were also evaluated from the prospective of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) decrease, and the activities of four complex enzymes in mitochondria respiratory chain. Results obtained from this study indicated that the PSE exhibited an effective inhibitory activity on C. albicans and induced significant accumulation of ROS and collapse of MMP. The Complex I and Complex III exhibited continues significant decrease in mitochondrial enzyme activity assays, but the Complex II and Complex IV activities were not positively correlated. Furthermore, the GC-MS analysis demonstrated that the PSE represents a rich and high-purity source of benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC), which indicated the BITC may be responsible for the mitochondrial dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents the complete nucleotide sequences of p0801-IMP from Klebsiella pneumoniae, p7121-IMP from K. oxytoca, and p17285-IMP from Citrobacter freundii, which are recovered from three different cases of nosocomial infection. These three plasmids represent the first fully sequenced blaIMP-carrying IncN2 plasmids. Further comparative genomics analysis of all the five integron-carrying IncN2 plasmids p0801-IMP, p7121-IMP, p17285-IMP, pJIE137, and p34983-59.134kb indicates that they possess conserved IncN2 backbones with limited genetic variations with respect to gene content and organization. Four class 1 integrons (blaIMP-1-carrying In1223 in p0801-IMP/p7121-IMP, blaIMP-8-carrying In655 in p17285-IMP, In27 in pJIE137, and In1130 in p34983-59.134kb), two insertion sequence-based transposition units (ISEcp1-orfRA1-14 in p17285-IMP, and ISEcp1-blaCTX-M-62-1orf477-orfRA1-14 in pJIE137), and a novel Tn1696-related transposon Tn6325 carrying In1130 in p34983-59.134kb are indentified in the plasmid accessory regions. In1223 and In655 represent ancestral Tn402-associated integrons, while In27 and In1130 belong to complex class 1 integrons. The relatively small IncN2 backbones are able to integrate different mobile elements which carry various resistance markers, promoting the accumulation and spread of antimicrobial resistance genes among enterobacterial species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the association of serum uric acid (UA) levels with bone mineral density (BMD) at all skeletal sites in healthy Chinese males >50 years of age. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 385 Chinese males >50 years of age who underwent health checkup in Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University in Shanghai, China, was conducted. Clinical and bone characteristics were compared in different UA tertiles (UA1: UA <4.7 mg/dL, UA2: 4.7 mg/dL ≤ UA <6 mg/dL and UA3: UA ≥6 mg/dL). Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis were used to study the correlation of UA with BMD at various skeletal sites. Results: Serum UA levels were positively associated with higher BMD and T-values at the lumbar spine, but not at other skeletal sites, after adjusting for multiple confounding factors. Lumbar spine BMD; the T- and Z-values at the lumbar spine, total hip and femoral neck; as well as intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels are higher in the highest tertile of UA than in the second tertile of UA. Conclusion: Our results provide epidemiological evidence in Chinese Han males aged >50 years that serum UA levels are positively correlated with lumbar spine BMD and T-values, suggesting that UA may exert protective effect on bone density at the lumbar spine in Chinese males >50 years of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A number of hormones work together to control plant cell growth. Rapid Alkalinization Factor 1 (RALF1), a plant-derived small regulatory peptide, inhibits cell elongation through suppression of rhizosphere acidification in plants. Although a receptor-like kinase, FERONIA (FER), has been shown to act as a receptor for RALF1, the signaling mechanism remains unknown. In this study, we identified a receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase (RPM1-induced protein kinase, RIPK), a plasma membrane-associated member of the RLCK-VII subfamily, that is recruited to the receptor complex through interacting with FER in response to RALF1. RALF1 triggers the phosphorylation of both FER and RIPK in a mutually dependent manner. Genetic analysis of the fer-4 and ripk mutants reveals RIPK, as well as FER, to be required for RALF1 response in roots. The RALF1-FER-RIPK interactions may thus represent a mechanism for peptide signaling in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to characterize mechanisms of plasmid-mediated antimicrobial resistance in Shigella boydii. S. boydii strain 2246 with resistance to ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone and azithromycin was isolated from a human case of watery diarrhea in a Chinese public hospital. Resistance in strain 2246 to ceftriaxone and azithromycin was attributable to the presence of blaCTX--M--14 and erm(B) and mph(A), respectively, which were co-located on a multidrug-resistant (MDR) plasmid p2246-CTXM. p2246-CTXM represented a novel IncFII-type MDR plasmid with a very complex chimera structure. Its master backbone was genetically closely related to the R100 plasmid, but p2246-CTXM had evolved to integrate additional R100-unrelated backbone regions as well as massive exogenous mobile elements that carried multiple resistance determinants. In p2246-CTXM, erm(B) together with its leading peptide gene erm(C), mph(A) together with its regulatory genes mrx and mphR(A), and blaCTX--M--14 were captured by three different mobile elements Tn6295, the IS26-mph(A)-mrxmphR( A)-IS6100 unit, and a truncated ISEcp1-blaCTX--M--14IS-903D-iroN transposition unit, respectively, all of which were harbored in a large Tn3-family transposon Tn6285. p2246-CTXM still carried additional resistance determinants mer (mercury resistance), aacA4 (aminoglycoside resistance), cmlA1 (chloramphenicol resistance), and qacED1 (quaternary ammonium compound resistance). This is the first report of identifying a clinical S. boydii strain simultaneously resistant to ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, and azithromycin, and determining the complete sequence of a resistance plasmid from S. boydii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The objective of this study was to characterize the molecular mechanism of coproduction of KPC-2 and NDM-1 in Citrobacter freundii.Methods: C. freundii strain 112298 was isolated from a human case of septic shock in a Chinese teaching hospital. The major carbapenemase and ESBL genes were detected by PCR. The MIC values were determined by using VITEK 2 and antimicrobial susceptibility was judged by CLSI standards. The resistance plasmid was transferred into Escherichia coli by electroporation, followed by plasmid DNA isolation from the electroporant, and then fully sequenced and compared with closely related plasmids.Results: Strain 112298 produces KPC-2 and NDM-1, encoded by the novel non-typeable plasmid p112298-KPC and an IncX3-type plasmid p112298-NDM, respectively. In p112298-KPC, a Tn1722-based blaKPC-2-carrying transposon is associated with several additional resistance modules, constituting a single MDR region. Assembly of these resistance modules is likely mediated by homologous recombination between five copies of IS26 elements at different sites within the MDR region. p112298-NDM is a very close relation of pNDM-HN380. blaNDM-1 in p112298-NDM is carried by a Tn125 variant, which differs from the prototype Tn125 as observed in pNDM-BJ01 by disruption of an upstream copy of ISAba125 by IS5 and absence of a downstream copy of ISAba125.Conclusions: Production of KPC-2 and NDM-1 by p112298-KPC and p112298-NDM, respectively, makes C. freundii 112298 highly resistant to carbapenems and, moreover, these two plasmids still harbour genes for resistance to cephalosporins, chloramphenicol, chromate, fosfomycin, quaternary ammonium, rifampicin and sulphonamides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strain 628 was isolated from a human case of intracranial infection in a Chinese teaching hospital. Strain 628 produces KPC-2 and CTX-M-55 encoded by two different conjugative plasmids, i.e., the IncFIIK plasmid p628-KPC and the IncI1 plasmid p628-CTXM respectively. blaKPC-2 is captured by a Tn1722-based unit transposon with a linear structure. ΔTn3-ISKpn27-blaKPC-2- ΔISKpn6-ΔTn1722 and this transposon together with a mercury resistance (mer) gene locus constitutes a 34 kb acquired drug-resistance region. blaKPC-2 has two transcription starts (nucleotides G and C located at 39 and 250 bp upstream of its coding region respectively) which correspond to two promoters, i.e., the intrinsic P1 and the upstream ISKpn27/Tn3-provided P2 with the core -35/-10 elements TAATCC/TTACAT and TTGACA/AATAAT respectively. blaCTX-M-55 is mobilized in an ISEcp1-blaCTX-M-55- 1orf477 transposition unit and appears to be the sole drug-resistant determinant in p628-CTXM. blaCTX-M-55 possesses a single transcription start (nucleotides G located at 116 bp upstream of its coding region) corresponding to the ISEcp1-provided P1 promoter with the core -35/-10 element TTGAAA/TACAAT. All the above detected promoters display a characteristic of constitutive expression. Coexistence of blaKPC and blaCTX-M in K. pneumoniae has been reported many times but this is the first report to gain deep insights into genetic platforms, promoters, and expression of the two coexisting bla genes with determination of entire nucleotide sequences of the two corresponding plasmids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A carbapenem-nonsusceptible Enterobacter aerogenes strain named 3-SP was isolated from a human case of pneumonia in a Chinese teaching hospital. NDM-1 carbapenemase is produced by a pNDM-BJ01-like conjugative plasmid designated p3SP-NDM to account for carbapenem resistance of 3-SP. p3SP-NDM was fully sequenced and compared with all publically available pNDM-BJ01-like plasmids. The genetic differences between p3SP-NDM and pNDM-BJ01 include only 18 single nucleotide polymorphisms, a 1 bp deletion and a 706 bp deletion. p3SP-NDM and pNDM-BJ01 harbor an identical Tn125 element organized as ISAba125, blaNDM-1, bleMBL, ΔtrpF, dsbC, cutA, ΔgroES, groEL, ISCR27, and ISAba125. The blaNDM-1 surrounding regions in these pNDM-BJ01-like plasmids have a conserved linear organization ISAba14-aphA6-Tn125-unknown IS, with considerable genetic differences identified within or immediately downstream of Tn125. All reported pNDM-BJ01-like plasmids are exclusively found in Acinetobacter, whereas this is the first report of identification of a pNDM-BJ01-like plasmid in Enterobacteriaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Williams syndrome (WS) is a neurodevelopmental disease characterized by compelling psychological phenotypes. The symptoms span multiple cognitive domains and include a distinctive pattern of social behavior. The goal of this study was to explore adaptive behavior in WS patients in China. Methods We conducted a structured interview including the Infants-Junior Middle School Students Social-life Abilities Scale in three participant groups: children with WS (n = 26), normallydeveloping children matched for mental age (MA, n = 30), and normally-developing children matched for chronological age (CA, n = 40). We compared the mean scores for each domain between the three groups. Results Children with WS had more siblings than children in the two control groups. The educational level of the caregivers of WS children was lower than that of the control children. We found no differences in locomotion, work skill, socialization, or self-management between the WS and MA groups. WS children obtained higher scores of self-dependence (df = 54, Z = -2.379, p = 0.017) and had better communication skills (df = 54, Z = -2.222, p = 0.026) compared with MA children. The CA children achieved higher scores than the WS children for all dimensions of adaptive behavior. Conclusions WS children have better adaptive behavior skills regarding communication and self-dependence than normal children matched for mental age. Targeted intervention techniques should be designed to promote social development in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simultaneous detection of enteric viruses that cause similar symptoms (e.g. hand, foot and mouth disease) is essential to the prevention of outbreaks and control of infections. In this study, a novel PCR-Mass assay combining multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) was developed and used for simultaneous detection of eight distinct human enteric viruses. Enteric viral isolates and standard viral RNAs were examined to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the PCR-Mass assay. Clinical performance was evaluated with a total of 101 clinical specimens from patients suspected of having hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD). The results were compared to those of previous analyses using real-time RT-PCR. The identification of specific viruses and clinical specimens shows that the PCR- Mass assay performed as well as or better than standard methods with respect to indicating the presence of multiplex pathogens in a single specimen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sepsis is the leading cause of death in Intensive Care Units. Novel sepsis biomarkers and targets for treatment are needed to improve mortality from sepsis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have recently been used as finger prints for sepsis, and our goal in this prospective study was to investigate if serum miRNAs identified in genome-wide scans could predict sepsis mortality. Methodology/Principal Findings: We enrolled 214 sepsis patients (117 survivors and 97 non-survivors based on 28-day mortality). Solexa sequencing followed by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assays was used to test for differences in the levels of miRNAs between survivors and non-survivors. miR-223, miR-15a, miR-16, miR-122, miR- 193*, and miR-483-5p were significantly differentially expressed. Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated and the areas under the curve (AUC) for these six miRNAs for predicting sepsis mortality ranged from 0.610 (95%CI: 0.523- 0.697) to 0.790 (95%CI: 0.719-0.861). Logistic regression analysis showed that sepsis stage, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores, miR-15a, miR-16, miR-193b*, and miR-483-5p were associated with death from sepsis. An analysis was done using these seven variables combined. The AUC for these combined variables' predictive probability was 0.953 (95% CI: 0.923-0.983), which was much higher than the AUCs for Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores (0.782; 95% CI: 0.712-0.851), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores (0.752; 95% CI: 0.672-0.832), and procalcitonin levels (0.689; 95% CI: 0.611-0.784). With a cut-off point of 0.550, the predictive value of the seven variables had a sensitivity of 88.5% and a specificity of 90.4%. Additionally, miR-193b* had the highest odds ratio for sepsis mortality of 9.23 (95% CI: 1.20-71.16). Conclusion/Significance: Six serum miRNA's were identified as prognostic predictors for sepsis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2007, many cases of fever, thrombocytopenia and leukopenia syndrome (FTLS) have emerged in Henan Province, China. Patient reports of tick bites suggested that infection could contribute to FTLS. Many tick-transmitted microbial pathogens were tested for by PCR/RT-PCR and/or indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). However, only 8% (24/285) of samples collected from 2007 to 2010 tested positive for human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA), suggesting that other pathogens could be involved. Here, we used an unbiased metagenomic approach to screen and survey for microbes possibly associated with FTLS. BLASTx analysis of deduced protein sequences revealed that a novel bunyavirus (36% identity to Tehran virus, accession: HQ412604) was present only in sera from FTLS patients. A phylogenetic analysis further showed that, although closely related to Uukuniemi virus of the Phlebovirus genus, this virus was distinct. The candidate virus was examined for association with FTLS among samples collected from Henan province during 2007-2010. RT-PCR, viral cultures, and a seroepidemiologic survey were undertaken. RT-PCR results showed that 223 of 285 (78.24%) acute-phase serum samples contained viral RNA. Of 95 patients for whom paired acute and convalescent sera were available, 73 had serologic evidence of infection, with 52 seroconversions and 21 exhibiting a 4-fold increase in antibody titer to the virus. The new virus was isolated from patient acute-phase serum samples and named Henan Fever Virus (HNF virus). Whole-genome sequencing confirmed that the virus was a novel bunyavirus with genetic similarity to known bunyaviruses, and was most closely related to the Uukuniemi virus (34%, 24%, and 29% of maximum identity, respectively, for segment L, M, S at maximum query coverage). After the release of the GenBank sequences of SFTSV, we found that they were nearly identical (>99% identity). These results show that the novel bunyavirus (HNF virus) is strongly correlated with FTLS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate molecular epidemiology of dengue viruses (DENV) in southern China, a total of 14 dengue isolates were collected in southern China during each epidemic year between 1978 and 2006 and their full-length genome sequences were obtained by using RT-PCR method. The E gene sequences from additional 6 dengue fever patients in Guangzhou in 2006 were also obtained by using RT-PCR method. Combined with DENVs sequences published in GenBank, phylogenetic analysis and recombination analysis were performed. One hundred and twenty-five E gene sequences and 60 complete genome sequences published in the GenBank were also involved. Phylogenetic analysis showed that there was a wide genetic diversity of DENVs isolated in southern China. DENV-1 strains exist in almost all of the clades of genotype I and IV except the Asia 1 clade of genotype I; DENV-2 stains are grouped into four of the five genotypes except American genotype. DENV-4 strains are grouped into 2 genotypes (I and II). Phylogenetic analysis also showed that all DENV-4 isolates and two DENV-2 isolates were closely related to the prior isolates from neighboring Southeast Asia countries. The DENV-1 strain isolated during the 2006 epidemic is highly homologous to the strains isolated during the 2001 epidemic. Recombination analysis showed no inter-serotype recombination, but 22 intra-serotype recombination events were found across the 32 complete genomes of all Chinese isolates. The study suggested that dengue fever epidemic in Southern China over the past 30 years presented two important modes, 1) imported-cases-induced endemic prevalence; 2) endogenous epidemic outbreak with natural epidemic focus. Recombination may play an important role in dengue virus evolution and adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel strain of influenza A (H1N1) virus was isolated in Mexico and the US in March and April 2009. This novel virus spread to many countries and regions in a few months, and WHO raised the level of pandemic alert from phase 5 to phase 6 on June 11, 2009. The accurate identification of H1N1 virus and other human seasonal influenza A viruses is very important for further treatment and control of their infections. In this study, we developed an oligonucleotide microarray to subtype human H1N1, H3N2 and H5N1 influenza viruses, which could distinguish the novel H1N1 from human seasonal H1N1 influenza viruses and swine H1N1 influenza viruses. The microarray utilizes a panel of primers for multiplex PCR amplification of the hemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase (NA) and matrix (MP) genes of human influenza A viruses. The 59-mer oligonucleotides were designed to distinguish different subtypes of human influenza A viruses. With this microarray, we accurately identified and correctly subtyped the reference virus strains. Moreover, we confirmed 4 out of 39 clinical throat swab specimens from suspected cases of novel H1N1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 4-coumarate: coenzyme A ligase (4CL) is one of the key enzymes in the biosynthesis of lignin monomers. It has been demonstrated that the 4CL is a new potential target site for developing effective plant growth inhibitors. Although previous studies demonstrate that chalcone and naringenin differentially suppress the growth of several annual plant species, we show here that the compounds can inhibit the 4CL enzyme activity in the plants. The enzyme was extracted and partially purified from the leaf tissues of two tolerant plants (wheat and soybean) and three susceptible plants (tomato, barnyard grass, and common chickweed). A maximal 29-fold purification of the enzyme, with a yield of 32% (tomato), was achieved by a six-step procedure, including anion-exchange column chromatography. Naringenin strongly inhibited the 4CL specific activity in wheat, soybean and barnyard grass, whereas chalcone showed the highest inhibitory effect in common chickweed. A good correlation was observed between the level of growth suppression by the compounds and the total 4CL amount in the plants. These results suggest that the inhibitor treatment at the same concentration could not inactivate the entire 4CL enzyme produced in the tolerant plants. Taken together, these results highlight the possibility of the 4CL as a new action site of growth suppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]