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Local oxidative stress in diseases or injury severely hinders cell homeostasis and organ regeneration. Antioxidant therapy is an effective strategy for oxidative stress treatment. Biomaterials with good biocompatibility and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging ability are good choices for antioxidant therapeutics. However, there are few natural biomaterials that are identified with both biocompatibility and strong antioxidant activity. Here, we show, for the first time, that silk fibroin (SF) is a strong antioxidant, which can eliminate ROS in both cells and zebrafish. We further demonstrate that the β-sheet structures turn into a random coiled structure when SF is treated with hydrogen peroxide. The content of β-sheet structures can be increased by heating, thus enhancing the antioxidation properties of SF. Therefore, SF can serve as a good antioxidant biomaterial for therapeutics, and its β-sheet structure-based antioxidation mechanism provides a novel theoretical basis, which could be a new cue for more antioxidant biomaterial discovery and identification.

In this paper, Cu thin films were deposited on Si (100) substrates by the high−power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiIPMS) technique, and the effects of different duty cycles (from 2.25% to 5.25%) on the plasma discharge characteristics, microstructure, and electrical properties of Cu thin films were investigated. The results of the target current test show that the peak target current remains stable under 2.25% and 3% duty cycle conditions. Under the conditions of a 4.5% and 5.25% duty cycle, the target peak current shows a decreasing trend. The average power of the target shows a rising trend with the increase in the duty cycle, while the peak power of the target shows a decreasing trend with the increase in the duty cycle. The results of OES show that with the increase in the duty cycle, the total peak intensity of copper and argon emissions shows an overall increasing trend. The duty cycle from 3% to 4.5% change in copper and argon emission peak total intensity change is not obvious. The deposition rate and surface morphology of the copper film were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, and the deposition rate of the copper film increased with the increase in the duty cycle, which was mainly due to the increase in the average power. The surface roughness of the copper film was evaluated by atomic force microscopy. X−ray diffraction (XRD) was used to analyze the grain size and texture of the Cu film, and the results showed that the average grain size of the Cu film increased from 38 nm to 59 nm on the (111) and (200) crystal planes. Four−probe square resistance test copper film resistivity in 2.25%, 3% low duty cycle conditions of the copper film resistivity is generally higher than 4.5%, 5.25% high duty cycle conditions, the copper film resistivity shows the trend of change is mainly affected by the copper film grain size and the (111) face of the double effect of the optimal orientation. The lowest resistivity of the copper film measured under the 4.5% duty cycle condition is 1.7005 μΩ·cm, which is close to the intrinsic resistivity of the copper film of 1.67 μΩ·cm.

High-power pulse magnetron sputtering is a new type of magnetron sputtering technology that has advantages such as high peak power density and a high ionization rate compared to DC magnetron sputtering. In this paper, we report the effects of different pulse widths on the current waveform and plasma spectrum of target material sputtering, as well as the structure and properties of Cu films prepared under the same sputtering voltage and duty cycle. Extending the pulse width can make the sputtering enter the self-sputtering (SS) stage and improve the ion quantity of sputtered particles. The Cu film prepared by HiPIMS with long pulse width has higher bond strength and lower electrical resistivity compared to the Cu film prepared by short pulse width. In terms of microstructure, the Cu film prepared by HiPIMS with the long pulse width has a larger grain size and lower micro-surface roughness. When the pulse width is bigger than 200 μs, the microstructure of the Cu film changes from granular to branched. This transformation reduces the interface on the Cu film, further reducing the resistivity of the Cu film. Compared to short pulses, long pulse width HiPIMS can obtain higher quality Cu films. This result provides a new process approach for preparing high-quality Cu films using HiPIMS technology.

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic element that endangers crop growth and affects food safety and human health. Therefore, the study of Cd mitigation technology is important. Ultrasonic treatment can improve crop growth and enhance their ability to resist various abiotic stresses. In this study, the effect of ultrasonic treatment on alleviating sugarcane Cd stress was studied in a barrel experiment using sugarcane varieties ‘ROC22’ and ‘LC05‐136’ as test materials. Sugarcane buds without ultrasonic treatment and with ultrasonic treatment (20–40 kHz mixed frequency ultrasound for 2 min, dry treatment) were planted in soil with Cd contents of 0, 50, 100, 250, and 500 mg·kg−1. Compared with non-ultrasonic treatment, Ultrasonic treatment significantly increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes in sugarcane, significantly increased the content of osmoregulation substances, significantly reduced the content of superoxide anion (the highest decreases reached 11.55%) and malondialdehyde (the highest decreases reached 20.59%), and significantly increased the expression level of metallothionein (MT)-related genes, with the expression of ScMT1 increased by 8.80–37.49% and the expression of ScMT2–1–5 increased by 1.55–69.33%. In addition, ultrasonic treatment significantly reduced the Cd contents in sugarcane roots, stems, leaves, bagasse, and juice (the highest reduction in Cd content was 49.18%). In general, ultrasonic treatment regulated the metabolism of reactive oxygen species and MT-related gene expression in sugarcane, increased the Cd tolerance of sugarcane, promoted photosynthesis in sugarcane leaves, improved root morphology, enhanced sugarcane growth, and increased cane and sugar yield.

Objective: We aimed to explore the relationship between peripheral blood circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and the expression of Claudin-4 in patients with breast cancer, and further explore the potential impact on clinical prognosis and risk assessment.Methods: We classified and enumerated circulating tumor cells in the blood of breast cancer patients by CTC-enriched in situ hybridization and the detection of Claudin-4 expression by immunohistochemistry. We carried out an analysis of the correlation between the two and the comparison of their impact on clinical parameters and prognosis.Results: There were 38 patients with a low expression of Claudin-4 and 27 patients with a high expression of Claudin-4. Compared with Claudin-4 low-expression patients, the number of CTCs was higher in patients with high Claudin-4 expression (11.7 vs. 7.4, p < 0.001). High Claudin-4 expression was associated with a lower count of epithelial CTCs (E-CTCs) (3.4 vs. 5.0, p = 0.033), higher counts of mesenchymal CTCs (M-CTC) (4.4 vs. 1.1, p < 0.001), and epithelial/mesenchymal CTCs (E/M-CTCs) (4.0 vs. 3.5, p = 0.021). The intensity of Claudin-4 was positively correlated with CTC (rs = 0.43, p = 0.001). Multivariate COX regression analysis showed that CTC counts (HR = 1.3, p < 0.001), Claudin-4 (HR = 4.6, p = 0.008), and Lymphatic metastasis (HR = 12.9, p = 0.001) were independent factors for poor prognosis. COX regression of CTC classification showed that epithelial/mesenchymal CTCs (E/M-CTC) (HR = 1.9, p = 0.001) and mesenchymal CTCs (M-CTC) (HR = 1.5, p = 0.001) were independent influencing factors of adverse reactions in breast cancer patients.Conclusion: The number of CTC in breast cancer is positively correlated with the expression of Claudin-4. High CTC counts and a high proportion of M-CTCs correlated with Claudin-4 expression. CTC counts and Claudin-4 expression were independent predictors of poor prognosis in breast cancer patients.

For marine and coastal engineering, construction resources have become scarce due to a limited local supply. Sea sand geopolymer-based recycled concrete (SSGRC) is an innovative cementitious material known for its eco-friendly benefits and corrosion resistance. This study explores the mechanical properties of SSGRC. The influences of the replacement rate of mineral slag, alkali activator concentrations, fine aggregate types, and curing ages on the compression strength of SSGRC were studied. The failure mechanism was analyzed using the failure patterns and compressive stress–strain curves. The results show that sea sand had a positive effect on geopolymer-based material. The SSGRC reached peak strength with an alkali activator concentration of 10 mol/L and a mineral slag replacement rate of 60%. The maximum stress and strain increased with an increasing curing age. The ratios of strength to the peak value were 55% and 85% after 1 day and 7 days, respectively. Using SEM, in the last hydration stage, the C-(A)-S-H gel was formed with a dense microstructure, and the geopolymer exhibited a favorable bonding performance. The constitutive models describing the complete stress–strain relationship under compression were developed.

Ammonia, as one of the primary water pollutants in aquaculture, has been shown to induce a wide range of ecotoxicological effects on aquatic animals. In order to investigate the antioxidant and innate immune responses in crustaceans disrupted by ammonia, red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) were exposed to 0, 15, 30, and 50 mg/L total ammonia nitrogen for 30 d, the alterations of antioxidant responses as well as innate immunity were studied. The results showed that the severity of hepatopancreatic injury were aggravated by the increasing ammonia levels, which were mainly characterized by tubule lumen dilatation and vacuolization. The swollen mitochondria and disappeared mitochondria ridges suggested that oxidative stress induced by ammonia targets the mitochondria. Concurrently, enhanced MDA levels, and decreased GSH levels as well as the decreased transcription and activity of antioxidant enzymes, including SOD, CAT, and GPx were noticed, which suggested that high concentrations of ammonia exposure induce oxidative stress in P. clarkii. Furthermore, a significant decrease of the hemolymph ACP, AKP, and PO along with the significant downregulation of immune-related genes (ppo, hsp70, hsp90, alf1, ctl) jointly indicated that ammonia stress inhibited the innate immune function. Our findings demonstrated that sub-chronic ammonia stress induced hepatopancreatic injury and exert suppressive effects on the antioxidant capacity as well as innate immunity of P. clarkii. Our results provide a fundamental basis for the deleterious effects of ammonia stress on aquatic crustaceans.

Chromium Nitride (CrN) coatings have widespread utilization across numerous industrial applications, primarily attributed to their excellent properties. Among the different methods for CrN coating synthesis, direct current magnetron sputtering (DCMS) has been the dominant technique applied. Nonetheless, with the expanded applications of CrN coatings, the need for enhanced mechanical performance is concurrently escalating. High-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS), an innovative coating deposition approach developed over the past three decades, is gaining recognition for its capability of yielding coatings with superior mechanical attributes, thereby drawing significant research interest. Considering that the mechanical performance of a coating is fundamentally governed by its microstructural properties, a comprehensive review of CrN coatings fabricated through both techniques is presented. This review of recent literature aims to embark on an insightful comparison between DCMS and HiPIMS, followed by an examination of the microstructure of CrN coatings fabricated via both techniques. Furthermore, the exploration of the underlying factors contributing to the disparities in mechanical properties observed in CrN coatings is revealed. An assessment of the advantages and potential shortcomings of HiPIMS is discussed, offering insight into CrN coating fabrication.

In wheat production, appropriate flowering time and ideal plant architecture are the prerequisites for high grain yield. Alternative splicing (AS) is a vital process that regulates gene expression at the post-transcriptional level, and AS events in wheat have been found to be closely related to grain-related traits and abiotic stress tolerance. However, AS events and their biological roles in regulating flowering time and plant architecture in wheat remain unclear. In this study, we report that TaNAK1 undergoes AS, producing three splicing variants. Molecular characterization of TaNAK1 and its splicing variants demonstrated that all three protein isoforms have a conserved NB-ARC domain and a protein kinase domain, but the positions of these two domains and the length of the protein kinase domains are different among them, implying that they may have different three-dimensional structures and therefore have different functions. Further investigations showed that the two splicing variants of TaNAK1, TaNAK1.1 and TaNAK1.2, exhibited different expression patterns during wheat growth and development, while the other one, TaNAK1.3, was not detected. Subcellular localization demonstrated that TaNAK1.1 was mainly localized in the cytoplasm, while TaNAK1.2 was localized in the nucleus and cytoplasm. Both TaNAK1.1 and TaNAK1.2 exhibit protein kinase activity in vitro. Ectopic expression of TaNAK1.1 and TaNAK1.2 in Arabidopsis demonstrated that these two splicing variants play opposite roles in regulating flowering time and plant architecture, resulting in different seed yields. TaNAK1.2 positive regulates the transition from vegetative to reproductive growth, plant height, branching number, seed size, and seed yield of Arabidopsis, while TaNAK1.1 negatively regulates these traits. Our findings provide new gene resource for regulating flowering time and plant architecture in crop breeding for high grain yield.

Red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) has increasingly become a high-value freshwater product in China. During the intensive cultivation, excessive ammonia exposure is an important lethal factor of crayfish. We investigated the toxic effects and mechanisms of ammonia on crayfish at two different developmental stages. A preliminary ammonia stress test showed a 96-h LC50 of 135.10 mg/L and 299.61 mg/L for Stage_1 crayfish (8.47 ± 1.68 g) and Stage_2 crayfish (18.33 ± 2.41 g), respectively. During a prolonged ammonia exposure (up to 96 h), serum acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase showed a time-dependent decrease. Histological assessment indicated the degree of hepatopancreatic injury, which was mainly characterized as tubule lumen dilatation, degenerated tubule, vacuolization and dissolved hepatic epithelial cell, increased with exposure time. Enhanced malondialdehyde level and reduced antioxidant capacity of hepatopancreas were also observed. The mRNA expression and activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase showed an initial up-regulation within 24 h, and then gradually down-regulated with the exposure time. In the post-treatment recovery period, the Stage_2 crayfish exerted a stronger antioxidant and detoxification capacity than that of the Stage_1 crayfish, and thus quickly recovered from the ammonia exposure. Our findings provide a further understanding of the adverse effects of ammonia stress and suggest guidelines for water quality management during crayfish farming.

Abstract This work deals with the problem of insufficient energy caused by the frequent use of relay nodes in wireless sensor networks. Here, energy cooperation relay selection algorithm is proposed in energy heterogeneous networks. It is assumed that the location of relay nodes obeys a homogeneous Poisson point process (PPP), and the relay nodes adopt an adaptive energy collection technology, which can harvest energy from the surrounding environment and decide whether to use or store it according to the current energy status of the battery. The relay nodes are divided into three kinds: the communication relay, the candidate relay and the ordinary relay. The candidate relay nodes are determined by K‐medoids clustering algorithms and the ordinary relay nodes transmit energy to them. Finally, the number of data packets sent by relay nodes and the expression of the energy status of the battery are derived correspond to the relay cooperation selection algorithm. The simulation results show that the energy cooperation relay selection scheme effectively extends lifetime of the network when the total network energy is relatively small.

Abstract Levels of intestinal toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) impact inflammation in the neonatal gastrointestinal tract. While surfactant protein A (SP-A) is known to regulate TLR4 in the lung, it also reduces intestinal damage, TLR4 and inflammation in an experimental model of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in neonatal rats. We hypothesized that SP-A-deficient (SP-A−/−) mice have increased ileal TLR4 and inflammatory cytokine levels compared to wild type mice, impacting intestinal physiology. We found that ileal TLR4 and proinflammatory cytokine levels were significantly higher in infant SP-A−/− mice compared to wild type mice. Gavage of neonatal SP-A−/− mice with purified SP-A reduced ileal TLR4 protein levels. SP-A reduced expression of TLR4 and proinflammatory cytokines in normal human intestinal epithelial cells (FHs74int), suggesting a direct effect. However, incubation of gastrointestinal cell lines with proteasome inhibitors did not abrogate the effect of SP-A on TLR4 protein levels, suggesting that proteasomal degradation is not involved. In a mouse model of experimental NEC, SP-A−/− mice were more susceptible to intestinal stress resembling NEC, while gavage with SP-A significantly decreased ileal damage, TLR4 and proinflammatory cytokine mRNA levels. Our data suggests that SP-A has an extrapulmonary role in the intestinal health of neonatal mice by modulating TLR4 and proinflammatory cytokines mRNA expression in intestinal epithelium.

BackgroundAlthough N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation is the most abundant reversible methylation of mRNA, which plays a critical role in regulating cancer processing, few studies have examined the role of m6A in nonsmall-cell lung cancer-derived cancer stem-like cells (CSCs).MethodsCSCs were enriched by culturing NSCLC cells in a serum-free medium, and stem factors, including CD24, CD44, ALDH1, Nanog, Oct4, and Sox2 were detected by Western blot. ALKBH5 expression was measured by employing a tissue array. Global m6A methylation was measured after ALKBH5 knockdown. Malignances of CSCs were detected by performing CCK-8 assay, invasion assay, cell cycle analysis, and tumor formation in vitro and in vivo.Resultsm6A demethylase ALKBH5 is highly expressed in CSCs derived from NSCLC. Knockdown of ALKBH5 increased global m6A level, and also increased E-cadherin, decreased stem hallmarkers, Nanog and Oct4, and inhibited stemness of CSCs. In lung carcinoma, ALKBH5 is found to be positively correlated with p53 by using Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) online tool. P53 transcriptionally regulates ALKBH5 and subsequently regulates the global m6A methylation level. Knockdown of p53 or inhibition of p53’s transcriptional activity by addition of its specific inhibitor PFT-α decreased expression of ALKBH5 and CSCs’ malignancies, including proliferation, invasion, and tumor formation ability, indicating that p53 may partially regulate CSC’s malignancies via ALKBH5. Furthermore, we also found p53 transcriptionally regulates PRRX1, which is consistent with our previous report.ConclusionCollectively, our findings indicate the pivotal role of ALKBH5 in CSCs derived from NSCLC and highlight the regulatory function of the p53/ALKBH5 axis in modulating CSC progression, which could be a promising therapeutic target for NSCLC.

In this work, a pH-sensitive liposome–polymer nanoparticle (NP) composed of lipid, hyaluronic acid (HA) and poly(β-amino ester) (PBAE) was prepared using layer-by-layer (LbL) method for doxorubicin (DOX) targeted delivery and controlled release to enhance the cancer treatment efficacy. The NP with pH-sensitivity and targeting effect was successfully prepared by validation of charge reversal and increase of hydrodynamic diameter after each deposition of functional layer. We further showed the DOX-loaded NP had higher drug loading capacity, suitable particle size, spherical morphology, good uniformity, and high serum stability for drug delivery. We confirmed that the drug release profile was triggered by low pH with sustained release manner in vitro. Confocal microscopy research demonstrated that the NP was able to effectively target and deliver DOX into human non-small cell lung carcinoma (A549) cells in comparison to free DOX. Moreover, the blank NP showed negligible cytotoxicity, and the DOX-loaded NP could efficiently induce the apoptosis of A549 cells as well as free DOX. Notably, in vivo experiment results showed that the DOX-loaded NPs effectively inhibited the growth of tumor, enhanced the survival of tumor-bearing mice and improved the therapeutic efficacy with reduced side-effect comparing with free drug. Therefore, the NP could be a potential intelligent anticancer drug delivery carrier for cancer chemotherapy, and the LbL method might be a useful strategy to prepare multi-functional platform for drug delivery.

Waterborne ammonia is becoming one of the most notorious pollutants in aquatic habitats and has been shown to induce a range of ecotoxicological effects on aquatic animals. High ammonia concentrations occur mainly in intensive aquaculture systems, and effective wastewater treatment and agricultural systems are necessary to treat excessive nitrogenous compounds. Ammonia can enter aquatic decapod crustaceans through their gills, thereby reducing the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood cells and damaging the structures of organs such as the gills and hepatopancreas. This ultimately results in oxidative stress, immunotoxicity, and high mortality. Crustaceans have the ability to exert detoxification functions against ammonia stress by regulating the permeation of ammonia and related nitrogenous compounds through membranes. To the best of our knowledge, a comprehensive review of the acute toxicity of ammonia to crustaceans is lacking. The present review focuses on the literature on the problems and mechanisms concerning ammonia-induced acute toxicity and aims to synthesize the knowledge of the relationship between ammonia stress and defense responses in crustaceans (mainly shrimp and crabs). This review also emphasizes the uptake, elimination, and detoxification of ammonia in crustaceans.

Objective: To explore the role of long non-coding RNA DLEU1 in the tumorigenesis and progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the underlying mechanisms. Methods: The expression of DLEU1 in NSCLC tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues was evaluated using bioinformatics analysis and qPCR. The effects of DLEU1 overexpression or deficiency on cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion were explored experimentally. Additionally, the impact of DLEU1 up-regulation on tumourigenesis was also assessed in vivo. Results: The expression of DLEU1 was up-regulated in NSCLC tumor tissues. DLEU1 overexpression promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion, but inhibited the apoptosis of NSCLC cells by upregulating CDK1 expression, binding with SRC and altering the expression of P70(S6K), MMP2 and E-cadherin. Besides, xenograft tumors in nude mice demonstrated that DLEU1 overexpression accelerated tumor growth. Conclusions: DLEU1 promoted tumorigenesis and progression of NSCLC, and might be a promising therapeutic target for NSCLC.

The growth of leaves is subject to strict time regulation. Several genes influencing leaf growth have been identified, but little is known about how genes regulate the orderly initiation and growth of leaves. Here, we demonstrate that TaKLU/TaCYP78A5 contributes to a time regulation mechanism in leaves from initiation to expansion. TaKLU encodes the cytochrome P450 CYP78A5, and its homolog AtKLU has been described whose deletion is detrimental to organ growth. Our results show that TaKLU overexpression increases leaf size and biomass by altering the time of leaf initiation and expansion. TaKLU-overexpressing plants have larger leaves with more cells. Further dynamic observations indicate that enlarged wheat leaves have experienced a longer expansion time. Different from AtKLU inactivation increases leaf number and initiation rates, TaKLU overexpression only smooths the fluctuations of leaf initiation rates by adjusting the initiation time of local leaves, without affecting the overall leaf number and initiation rates. In addition, complementary analyses suggest TaKLU is functionally conserved with AtKLU in controlling the leaf initiation and size and may involve auxin accumulation. Our results provide a new insight into the time regulation mechanisms of leaf growth in wheat.

Seed of rice is an important strategic resource for ensuring the security of China's staple food. Seed deterioration as a result of senescence is a major problem during seed storage, which can cause major economic losses. Screening among accessions in rice germplasm resources for traits such as slow senescence and increased seed longevity during storage is, therefore, of great significance. However, studies on delayed senescence in rice have been based mostly on diploid rice seed to date. Despite better tolerance have been verified by the artificial aging treatment for polyploid rice seed, the delayed senescence properties and delayed senescence related regulatory mechanisms of polyploid rice seed are rarely reported, due to the lack of polyploid rice materials with high seed set. High-throughput sequencing was applied to systematically investigate variations in small RNAs, the degradome, and the proteome between tetraploid and diploid rice seeds. Degradome sequencing analysis of microRNAs showed that expression of miR-164d, which regulates genes encoding antioxidant enzymes, was changed significantly, resulting in decreased miRNA-mediated cleavage of target genes in tetraploid rice. Comparisons of the expression levels of small RNAs (sRNAs) in the tetraploid and diploid libraries revealed that 12 sRNAs changed significantly, consistent with the findings from degradome sequencing. Furthermore, proteomics also showed that antioxidant enzymes were up-regulated in tetraploid rice seeds, relative to diploids.

Abstract Magnetism in graphene has stimulated extensive studies to search for novel metal-free magnetic device. In this paper, we use a synthesis method far from equilibrium state named self-propagating high temperature synthesis (SHS) to produce few-layer graphene with different defect contents and then use a heat treatment process (vacuum-annealing and air-cooling) to further control the defects in graphene. We find that the type and content of defects in graphene can be controlled by adjusting the mole ratio of reactants (Mg: CaCO3) for SHS reaction and the temperature of the subsequent heat treatment. The deviation of the ratio of reactants from stoichiometric ratio benefits the production of graphene with higher concentration of defects. It is indicated that the temperature of the heat treatment has remarkable influences on the structure of graphene, Raman-sensitive defects can be recovered partly by heat treatment while IR-sensitive defects are closely related with the oxidation and decomposition of the oxygen-containing groups at elevated temperature. This work indicates that SHS is a promising method to produce graphene with special magnetism, and the heat treatment is an effective way to further adjust the magnetism of graphene. This work sheds light on the study to develop carbon materials with controlled ferromagnetism.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important crops in the world. Squamosa promoter binding protein-like (SPL) proteins are plant-specific transcript factors and play critical roles in plant growth and development. The functions of many SPL gene family members were well characterized in Arabidopsis and rice, in contrast, research on wheat SPL genes is lagging behind. In this study, we cloned and characterized TaSPL16, an orthologous gene of rice OsSPL16, in wheat. Three TaSPL16 homoeologs are located on the short arms of chromosome 7A, 7B, and 7D, and share more than 96% sequence identity with each other. All the TaSPL16 homoeologs have three exons and two introns, with a miR156 binding site in their last exons. They encode putative proteins of 407, 409, and 414 amino acid residues, respectively. Subcellular localization showed TaSPL16 distribution in the cell nucleus, and transcription activity of TaSPL16 was validated in yeast. Analysis of the spatiotemporal expression profile showed that TaSPL16 is highly expressed in young developing panicles, lowly expressed in developing seeds and almost undetectable in vegetative tissues. Ectopic expression of TaSPL16 in Arabidopsis causes a delay in the emergence of vegetative leaves (3–4 days late), promotes early flowering (5–7 days early), increases organ size, and affects yield-related traits. These results demonstrated the regulatory roles of TaSPL16 in plant growth and development as well as seed yield. Our findings enrich the existing knowledge on SPL genes in wheat and provide valuable information for further investigating the effects of TaSPL16 on plant architecture and yield-related traits of wheat.

Vertically aligned ZnO nanowires with high aspect ratio were prepared by chemical vapor deposition on Si substrate, which had been catalyzed by the polar plane in [0001] direction of ZnO nanorods prepared by the hydrothermal method. Morphology and structure characterizations showed that the as-grown nanowires had the single-crystal hexagonal wurtzite structure with a [0001] growth direction. Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) measurement indicated the as-grown ZnO nanowires had a good deal of oxygen vacancies owing to the high operation temperature. Temperature-dependent photoluminescence measurement revealed that the peak of near-band-edge emission shifted from 380 to 387 nm with the increase of temperature from 150 to 300 K. The high intensity of the green peak at 525 nm highlighted the potential application in visible light emitting diodes.

Many in-vitro methods for prediction of skin permeability have been reported in literature. Cerasome electrokinetic chromatography is one of the most sophisticated approaches representing a maximum level of similarity to the lipid phase of the stratum corneum. One goal of this study was to investigate the affinity pattern of Cerasome and to compare it with the permeability profile of human skin. Another purpose was to study the applicability of Hansen solubility parameters for modelling skin permeation and to investigate the predictive and explanatory potential of this method. Visualisation in Hansen diagrams revealed very similar profiles of Cerasome electrokinetic chromatography retention factors and skin permeability coefficients. In both cases, the characteristic pattern with two clusters of highly retained or highly permeable substances could be shown to be mainly caused by two groups of compounds, one of them with high affinity to ceramides, fatty acids and lecithin and the other being more affine to cholesterol. If based on a sufficiently comprehensive experimental dataset, model-independent predictions of skin permeability data using three-component Hansen solubility parameters are able to achieve similar accuracy as calculations made with an Abraham linear free energy relationship model in which the compounds are characterized by seven physicochemical descriptors.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the evidence comparing video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) and open thoracotomy in the treatment of metastatic lung cancer using meta-analytical techniques. METHODS: A literature search was undertaken until July 2013 to identify the comparative studies evaluating disease-free survival rates and survival rates. The pooled odds ratios (OR) and the 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated with the fixed or random effect models. RESULTS: Six retrospective studies were included in our meta-analysis. These studies included a total of 546 patients: 235 patients were treated with VATS, and 311 patients were treated with open thoracotomy. The VATS and the thoracotomy did not demonstrate a significant difference in the 1-,3-,5-year survival rates and the 1-year disease-free survival rate. There were significant statistical differences between the 3-year disease free survival rate (p = 0.04), which favored open thoracotomy. CONCLUSIONS: The VATS approach is a safe and feasible treatment in terms of the survival rate for metastatic lung cancer compared with the thoracotomy. The 3-year disease-free survival rate in the VATS group is inferior to that of open thoracotomy. The VATS approach could not completely replace open thoracotomy.

This study presents a new machine learning (support vector machine (SVM))-based cooperative spectrum sensing (CSS) model, which utilises the methods of user grouping, to reduce cooperation overhead and effectively improve detection performance. Cognitive radio users were properly grouped before the cooperative sensing process using energy data samples and an SVM model. The resulting user group which participates in cooperative sensing procedures is safe, less redundant, or the optimised user group. Three grouping algorithms are presented in this study. The first grouping algorithm divides normal and abnormal users (malicious and severely fading users) into two groups. The second grouping algorithm distinguishes redundant and non-redundant users. The third grouping algorithm establishes an optimisation model with the objective of minimising average correlation within subsets. All users are then divided into a specific number of optimised groups, only one of which is required for cooperative sensing in each time. The performances of the three algorithms were quantified in terms of the average training time, classification speed and classification accuracy. Experimental results showed the proposed algorithms achieved their intended function and outperformed a conventional machine learning-based CSS model (proposed by Karaputugala et al.) in terms of security, energy consumption, and sensing efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have set out an equation for partition of 87 neutral molecules from water to o-nitrophenyl octyl ether, NPOE, an equation for partition of the 87 neutral molecules and 21 ionic species from water to NPOE, and an equation for partition of 87 neutral molecules from the gas phase to NPOE. Comparison with equations for partition into other solvents shows that, as regards partition of neutral (nonelectrolyte) compounds, NPOE would be a good model for 1,2-dichloroethane and for nitrobenzene. In terms of partition of ions and ionic species, NPOE is quite similar to 1,2-dichloroethane and not far away from other aprotic solvents such as nitrobenzene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study considers the effect of channel estimation error (CEE) on the soft-output bit log-likelihood ratio (LLR) in a multiple-input-multiple-output detection system which the source sends their quadrature amplitude modulation to the detector through Rayleigh fading channels. The new expressions of LLR with maximum-likelihood CE for deterministic channel model and minimum mean square error (MMSE) CE for random channel model are obtained separately for linear MMSE receiver using known pilot-symbol-aided CE. Meanwhile, the optimal power allocation between training and data transmissions for these two different LLR expressions, which attends to get the maximum ratio of signal and interference plus noise ratio, are obtained under the total transmitting power constraints. Numerical results show that the power allocation ratio sets to be ~0.5 is optimal for two new different LLRs at the same total power and system noise. Moreover, the derived LLR expressions match the simulation result and outperform the conventional system without the consideration of CEE and optimal power allocation. Meanwhile, the system performance is better than the existing research with the consideration of CE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed size is an important agronomic trait and a major component of seed yield in wheat. However, little is known about the genes and mechanisms that determine the final seed size in wheat. Here, we isolated TaCYP78A5, the orthologous gene of Arabidopsis CYP78A5/KLUH in wheat, from wheat cv. Shaan 512 and demonstrated that the expression of TaCYP78A5 affects seed size. TaCYP78A5 encodes the cytochrome P450 (CYP) 78A5 protein in wheat and rescued the phenotype of the Arabidopsis deletion mutant cyp78a5. By affecting the extent of integument cell proliferation in the developing ovule and seed, TaCYP78A5 influenced the growth of the seed coat, which appears to limit seed growth. TaCYP78A5 silencing caused a 10% reduction in cell numbers in the seed coat, resulting in a 10% reduction in seed size in wheat cv. Shaan 512. By contrast, the overexpression of TaCYP78A5 increased the number of cells in the seed coat, resulting in seed enlargement of ~11-35% in Arabidopsis. TaCYP78A5 activity was positively correlated with the final seed size. However, TaCYP78A5 overexpression significantly reduced seed set in Arabidopsis, possibly due to an ovule development defect. TaCYP78A5 also influenced embryo development by promoting embryo integument cell proliferation during seed development. Accordingly, a working model of the influence of TaCYP7A5 on seed size was proposed. This study provides direct evidence that TaCYP78A5 affects seed size and is a potential target for crop improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction This study analyzes the factors that influence the turnover intention of village doctors by investigating village clinic workers in rural areas, particularly in Xiangyang City, Hubei Province. Methods A total of 1184 village clinics were sampled randomly in Xiangyang City. The research assistants distributed 1930 questionnaires to village doctors. This study had a response rate of 97.88%. A total of 1889 village doctors completed the questionnaires. Results The results of the investigation conducted in Xiangyang City indicated that 63.2% of the village doctors did not plan to leave the organization where they were currently employed. However, more than one-third (36.8%) of the village doctors considered leaving their posts voluntarily. Some job satisfaction indexes affect their intention to resign. The results showed that income satisfaction and the way organization policies are put into practice, in addition, my pay and the amount of work I do, the chances for advancement on this job and the work conditions are significant factors that contribute to the turnover intention of village doctors. Conclusions This study may interest heath care management administrator and highlight the influence of job satisfaction on turnover intention of village doctors. Our findings outline some issues that contribute to these problems and suggest an approach for health care policy maker to implement a broader national process and organizational strategies to improve the job satisfaction and stability of the village doctors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate various biological processes in plants. Considerable data are available on miRNAs involved in the development of rice, maize and barley. In contrast, little is known about miRNAs and their functions in the development of wheat. In this study, five small RNA (sRNA) libraries from wheat seedlings, flag leaves, and developing seeds were developed and sequenced to identify miRNAs and understand their functions in wheat development. Results Twenty-four known miRNAs belonging to 15 miRNA families were identified from 18 MIRNA loci in wheat in the present study, including 15 miRNAs (9 MIRNA loci) first identified in wheat, 13 miRNA families (16 MIRNA loci) being highly conserved and 2 (2 MIRNA loci) moderately conserved. In addition, fifty-five novel miRNAs were also identified. The potential target genes for 15 known miRNAs and 37 novel miRNAs were predicted using strict criteria, and these target genes are involved in a wide range of biological functions. Four of the 15 known miRNA families and 22 of the 55 novel miRNAs were preferentially expressed in the developing seeds with logarithm (log2) of the fold change of 1.0 ~ 7.6, and half of them were seed-specific, suggesting that they participate in regulating wheat seed development and metabolism. From 5 days post-anthesis to 20 days post-anthesis, miR164 and miR160 increased in abundance in the developing seeds, whereas miR169 decreased, suggesting their coordinating functions in the different developmental stages of wheat seed. Moreover, 8 known miRNA families and 28 novel miRNAs exhibited tissue-biased expression in wheat flag leaves, with the logarithm of the fold changes of 0.1 ~ 5.2. The putative targets of these tissue-preferential miRNAs were involved in various metabolism and biological processes, suggesting complexity of the regulatory networks in different tissues. Our data also suggested that wheat flag leaves have more complicated regulatory networks of miRNAs than developing seeds. Conclusions Our work identified and characterised wheat miRNAs, their targets and expression patterns. This study is the first to elucidate the regulatory networks of miRNAs involved in wheat flag leaves and developing seeds, and provided a foundation for future studies on specific functions of these miRNAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The retention behavior of neutral, positively charged, and negatively charged solutes on the IAM.PC.DD2 stationary phase was investigated and compared. A set of monofunctional compounds and complex drugs steroids, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, and ?blockers were selected for this study, i.e., neutral solutes and solutes with acidic or basic functionalities which are positively charged or negatively charged at pH7.0. The correlation between the retention factor logkwat pH7.0 on the IAM.PC.DD2 stationary phase and the partition coefficient logPoctor the distribution coefficient logD7.0showed that the retention mechanism depends on the charge state and structural characteristics of the compounds. The neutrals were least retained on the IAM.PC.DD2 stationary phase, and positively charged solutes were more retained than negatively charged ones. This implies that the retention of the charged solutes is controlled not only by lipophilicity but also by the electrostatic interaction with the phospholipid, with which positively charged solutes interact more strongly than negatively charged ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  Hydrogel formed by fluoroalkyl double-ended polyethylene glycol (Rf-PEG) micelles was studied to assess its properties to encapsulate a hydrophobic electron spin labeled drug, Chlorambucil–Tempol adduct (CT), and to control and sustain the drug release. The drug loaded hydrogel samples were characterized with variable-temperature dependent EPR experiment, and EPR theoretical lineshape analysis. It was found that CT molecules reside in the hydrophobic Rf-cores/IPDU shells of the Rf-PEG micelles and the maximum molecular-level loading capacity was estimated to be 18.8 mg per gram of the Rf-PEG. It has been known that Rf-PEG hydrogel with certain molecular masses for the fluoroalkyl group and the PEG chain shows properties of sol/gel phase coexistence and surface erosion, which represent the favorable condition for a pharmaceutical depot to control the kinetics of drug release. To evaluate the Rf-PEG’s biocompatibility and kinetics of the drug release, a cell proliferation assay was carried out on human oropharyngeal carcinoma (KB) cells. The results show that Rf-PEG is biocompatible and able to release CT to the cell media with a constant equilibrium concentration independent of the amount of CT loaded hydrogel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]