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Carbon dioxide is considered an inert gas that rarely participates in atmospheric chemical reactions. Nonetheless, we show here that CO2 is involved in some important photo-oxidation reactions in the atmosphere through the formation of carbonate radicals (CO3⚫-). This potentially active intermediate CO3⚫- is routinely overlooked in atmospheric chemistry concerning its effect on sulfate formation. The present work demonstrates that the SO2 uptake coefficient is enhanced by 17 times on mineral dust particles driven by CO3⚫-. Importantly, upon irradiation, mineral dust particles are speculated to produce gas-phase carbonate radical ions when the atmospherically relevant concentration of CO2 presents, thereby potentially promoting external sulfate aerosol formation and oxidative potential in the atmosphere. Employing a suite of laboratory investigations of sulfate formation in the presence of carbonate radicals on the model and authentic dust particles, ground-based field measurements of sulfate and (bi)carbonate ions within ambient PM, together with density functional theory (DFT) calculations for single electron transfer processes in terms of CO3⚫--initiated S(IV) oxidation, a novel role of carbonate radical in atmospheric chemistry is elucidated.

Objective. Numerous studies have demonstrated that the efficacy of drugs differs in idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) patients with moderate or high proteinuria. However, there is no systematic comparison confirming it. This network meta-analysis (NMA) was performed to respectively compare the efficacy of ten IMN treatments in patients with moderate and high proteinuria and compare the risk of adverse events with 10 IMN regimens. Methods. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies analyzing the main therapeutic regimens for IMN were included from some databases. Network comparisons were performed to analyze the rates of total remission (TR), bone marrow suppression, and gastrointestinal symptoms. The surface under the cumulative ranking area (SUCRA) was calculated to rank interventions. Results. Seventeen RCTs and eight observational studies involving 1778 patients were pooled for comparison of ten interventions. Steroid + tacrolimus (TAC) showed the highest probabilities of TR whether patients had severe proteinuria or not (SUCRA 89.5% and 88.9%, separately). Rituximab (RTX) was more beneficial for TR on patients with proteinuria

Background The major public health crisis caused by the rapid spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the large-scale public health measures such as social isolation and school closures enforced by some countries have severely affected on the physical and mental wellbeing of children and adolescents globally. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of the psychological impact and investigate the similarities and differences in the influential factors for generalized anxiety disorder among rural adolescents as a relatively lesser noticed population the outbreak of COVID-19. Methods From May 11 to 22, 2020, a total of 1,179 adolescents, including Grade 5–6 in primary school and Grade 7–8 in middle school, were selected by multistage sampling in three Southern Chinese cities (Shantou, Guangdong Province; Hezhou, Guangxi Province; Nanchong, Sichuan Province), and completed the questionnaires including sociodemographic, generalized anxiety disorder, academic stress, coronaphobia, knowledge of COVID-19, and precautionary measures. ANOVA, Chi-square test, Kruskalwallis H test and multivariate linear regression were performed in the statistical analysis. Results The average scores of generalized anxiety disorder during the past two weeks were 3.43 (SD 4.46), 4.47 (SD 5.15), and 4.10 (SD 4.94) in Shantou, Hezhou and Nanchong, respectively. For the pooled data, academic stress (P P P = 0.002) contributed to the prediction of anxiety scores. Academic stress was significantly associated to anxiety symptoms in all cities (P all P all Conclusion This study highlights the urgent need for researchers and policymakers to focus on the mental health of rural children and adolescents during the COVID-19 epidemic. The adolescents with academic stress and coronaphobia, the greater the risk that adolescents will suffer from anxiety, suggesting mental health counseling and professional family support are needed.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a type of metabolic syndrome characterized of abnormal lipid deposition in the liver. Adlay polyphenol (AP), an effective component extracted from Coix lacryma-jobi L., has been reported that it can be used as a dietary supplement to prevent NAFLD. In this study, the mechanism and action of AP on lipid metabolism and regulation of intestinal flora are investigated.AP significantly decreases the lipid accumulation in free fatty acid-treated HepG2 cells. Western blot results indicate that AP improves lipid metabolism via activating the p-AMPK/p-ACC pathway. In vivo experiments show AP treatment significantly decreases the body weight, liver weight, hepatic triglyceride, and total cholesterol contents, as well as the serum glucose levels in high fat diet-fed mice, which may affect lipid accumulation by activating AMPK pathway and changing intestinal bacterial communities and intestinal microbiome metabolism.AP can be used as a food supplement for improving lipid metabolic dysfunction and reducing the incidence of metabolic diseases.

The eye-computer interaction technology based on electro-oculogram provides the users with a convenient way to control the device, which has great social significance. However, the eye-computer interaction is often disturbed by the involuntary eye movements, resulting in misjudgment, affecting the users' experience, and even causing danger in severe cases. Therefore, this paper starts from the basic concepts and principles of eye-computer interaction, sorts out the current mainstream classification methods of voluntary/involuntary eye movement, and analyzes the characteristics of each technology. The performance analysis is carried out in combination with specific application scenarios, and the problems to be solved are further summarized, which are expected to provide research references for researchers in related fields.基于眼电图的眼机交互技术为使用者提供了便捷的设备操控方式，具有重要的社会意义。然而，眼机交互往往会受到无意眼动干扰而出现误判现象，影响用户的使用体验，严重时甚至会引发危险。为此，本文从眼机交互的基本概念与原理出发，梳理当前主流的有意/无意眼动分类方法，并剖析各项技术特点；然后结合具体应用场景展开性能分析，进一步归纳亟待解决的问题，可望为相关领域的科研工作者提供研究参考。.

Objectives: To evaluate and compare the efficacy, safety, and cost of nine Chinese patent medicines (CPMs) combined with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) in treating early diabetic kidney disease (DKD).Design: Systematic review and network meta-analysis.Data sources: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, clinicaltrials.gov, SinoMed, Chinese Biomedicine, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang, and Chongqing VIP Information databases were comprehensively searched from the beginning to February 2022.Review Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) including Bailing capsule (BLC); Jinshuibao capsule (JSB); Huangkui capsule (HKC); Compound Xueshuantong capsule (CXC); uremic clearance granule (UCG); Shenyan Kangfu tablet (SYKFT); tripterygium glycosides (TG); Keluoxin capsule (KLX), and Shenshuaining tablet (SSNT) combined with ACEI/ARB for patients with early DKD were reviewed.Data Synthesis: Two reviewers independently screened articles, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias. Risk ratios (RRs) and mean difference (MD) were reckoned to assess dichotomous variable quantities and continuous variable quantities, respectively. Using the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA), we then ranked each therapeutic regime.Results: Ultimately, 160 RCTs involving 13,365 patients and nine CPMs were included. UCG showed significantly higher probabilities on urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) when compared with ACEI/ARB group, with MD of −47 (95%CI) (−57, −37) and SUCRA 98.0%. The CXC group achieved a remarkable improvement in overall response rate (ORR) compared with ACEI/ARB (RR, 1.3, 95%CI (1.2, 1.5)) with SUCRA 91.9%. SSNT could be significantly superior to ACEI/ARB group in terms of serum creatinine (Scr) (−19 (−26, −12), SUCRA 99.3%) and adverse effects (AEs) (0.46 (0.17, 1.1), SUCRA 82.9%). BLC showed the greatest effectiveness on 24 h urinary total protein (24 h UTP) (−170 (−260, −83), SUCRA 78.5%) and triglyceride (Trig) (−0.89 (−1.2, −0.53), SUCRA 97.0%). From the cost-effectiveness analysis of CPMs in China, the cost of TG, SYKFT and CXC was 108, 600, and 648 RMB, respectively, per 3 months and were ranked in the top three.Conclusion: UCG and CXC might be the optimum selection for improving UAER and ORR, and SSNT could be significantly superior to ACEI/ARB group in terms of Scr and AEs. BLC shows the best curative effect on 24 h UTP and Trig. TG shows the highest cost-effectiveness among the nine CPMs.

Background: Immunosuppressants have been applied in the remedy of idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) extensively. Nevertheless, the efficacy and safety of immunosuppressants do not have final conclusion. Thus, a pairwise and network meta-analysis (NMA) was carried out to seek the most recommended therapeutic schedule for patients with IMN.Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) including cyclophosphamide (CTX), mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), tacrolimus-combined mycophenolate mofetil (TAC + MMF), cyclosporine (CsA), tacrolimus (TAC), leflunomide (LEF), chlorambucil (CH), azathioprine (AZA), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), non-immunosuppressive therapies (CON), steroids (STE), mizoribine (MZB), and rituximab (RIT) for patients with IMN were checked. Risk ratios (RRs) and standard mean difference (SMD) were reckoned to assess dichotomous variable quantities and continuous variable quantities, respectively. Total remission (TR) and 24-h urine total protein (24-h UTP) were compared using pairwise and NMA. Then interventions were ranked on the basis of the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA).Results: Our study finally included 51 RCTs and 12 different immunosuppressants. Compared with the CON group, most regimens demonstrated better therapeutic effect in TR, with RR of 2.1 (95% CI) (1.5–2.9) for TAC, 1.9 (1.3–2.8) for RIT, 2.5 (1.2–5.2) for TAC + MMF, 1.9 (1.4–2.7) for CH, 1.8 (1.4–2.4) for CTX, 2.2 (1.0–4.7) for ACTH, 1.6 (1.2–2.1) for CsA, 1.6 (1.0–2.5) for LEF, and 1.6 (1.1–2.2) for MMF. In terms of 24-h UTP, TAC (SMD, −2.3 (95% CI −3.5 to −1.1)), CTX (SMD, −1.7 (95% CI −2.8 to −0.59)), RIT (SMD, −1.8 (95% CI −3.5 to −0.11)), CH (SMD, −2.4 (95% CI −4.3 to −0.49)), AZA (SMD, −−4.2 (95% CI −7.7 to −0.68)), and CsA (SMD, −1.7 (95% CI −3 to −0.49)) were significantly superior than the CON group. As for adverse effects (AEs), infections, nausea, emesia, myelosuppression, and glucose intolerance were the collective adverse events for most immunosuppressants.Conclusion: This study indicates that TAC + MMF performed the best in terms of TR, and TAC shows the best effectiveness on 24-h UTP compared with other regimens. On the contrary, there seems to be little advantage on STE alone, LEF, AZA, and MZB in treating patients with IMN compared with CON.Systematic Review Registration: [https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/], identifier [CRD42021287013]

The fruit development and ripening process involve a series of changes regulated by fine-tune gene expression at the transcriptional level. Acetylation levels of histones on lysine residues are dynamically regulated by histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs), which play an essential role in the control of gene expression. However, their role in regulating fruit development and ripening process, especially in pepper (Capsicum annuum), a typical non-climacteric fruit, remains to understand. Herein, we performed genome-wide analyses of the HDAC and HAT family in the pepper, including phylogenetic analysis, gene structure, encoding protein conserved domain, and expression assays. A total of 30 HAT and 15 HDAC were identified from the pepper genome and the number of gene differentiation among species. The sequence and phylogenetic analysis of CaHDACs and CaHATs compared with other plant HDAC and HAT proteins revealed gene conserved and potential genus-specialized genes. Furthermore, fruit developmental trajectory expression profiles showed that CaHDAC and CaHAT genes were differentially expressed, suggesting that some are functionally divergent. The integrative analysis allowed us to propose CaHDAC and CaHAT candidates to be regulating fruit development and ripening-related phytohormone metabolism and signaling, which also accompanied capsaicinoid and carotenoid biosynthesis. This study provides new insights into the role of histone modification mediate development and ripening in non-climacteric fruits.

As an increasingly popular flow metering technology, Coriolis mass flowmeter exhibits high measurement accuracy under single-phase flow condition and is widely used in the industry. However, under complex flow conditions, such as two-phase flow, the measurement accuracy is greatly decreased due to various factors including improper signal processing methods. In this study, three digital signal processing methods—the quadrature demodulation (QD) method, Hilbert method, and sliding discrete time Fourier transform method—are analyzed for their applications in processing sensor signals and providing measurement results under gas-liquid two-phase flow condition. Based on the analysis, specific improvements are applied to each method to deal with the signals under two-phase flow condition. For simulation, sensor signals under single- and two-phase flow conditions are established using a random walk model. The phase difference tracking performances of these three methods are evaluated in the simulation. Based on the digital signal processor, a converter program is implemented on its evaluation board. The converter program is tested under single- and two-phase flow conditions. The improved signal processing methods are evaluated in terms of the measurement accuracy and complexity. The QD algorithm has the best performance under the single-phase flow condition. Under the two-phase flow condition, the QD algorithm performs a little better in terms of the indication error and repeatability than the improved Hilbert algorithm at 160, 250, and 420 kg/h flow points, whereas the Hilbert algorithm outperforms the QD algorithm at the 600 kg/h flow point.

Comprehensive investigations of the possible formation pathways of sulfate, the main composition of atmospheric aerosol in marine areas, continue to challenge atmospheric chemists. As one of the most important oxidation routes of S(IV) contributing to sulfate formation, the reaction process of S(IV) oxidized by hypobromic acid, which is ubiquitous with the gas-phase mixing ratios of ∼310 ppt and has a well-known oxidative capacity, has attracted wide attention. However, little information is available about the detailed reaction mechanism. Especially, due to the abundant species in cloud water, the potential effect of these compositions on these reaction processes and the corresponding effect mechanism are also uncertain. Using high-level quantum chemical calculations, we theoretically elucidate the two-step mechanism of Br+ transfer proposed by experiment through the verification of the key BrSO3− intermediate formation and subsequent hydrolysis reaction or the uncovered reaction of BrSO3− intermediate with OH−. Further, the novel and more competitive mechanisms (OH+ or O atom transfer pathways) that have not been considered in previous studies, leading to sulfate formation directly, have been found. Furthermore, it should be mentioned that we revealed the effect mechanism of constituents catalyzed in cloud water, especially the important H2O-catalyzed mechanism. In addition, all the above pathways follow this catalytic mechanism. This finding indicates a linkage between the complex nature of the atmospheric constituents and related atmospheric reaction, as well as the enhanced occurrence of atmospheric secondary sulfate formation in the atmosphere. Hence, this exploration of sulfate formation related to hypobromic acid could provide a better understanding about the sources of sulfate in marine areas.

Oxocarboxylic acids, one of the most important organic species, are detected in aerosols in various environments. Recent studies suggest that the gas-phase reactions between carboxylic acids and SO3 could form carboxylic sulfuric anhydrides, which might participate in nucleation. Here, glyoxylic acid (GA), the most abundant oxocarboxylic acid in the atmosphere, has been selected as an example to study the reactions between oxocarboxylic acids and SO3 and the nucleation potentials of products. The reaction between GA and SO3 that generates glyoxylic sulfuric anhydride (GSA) and the hydrolysis of GSA are investigated using computational methods. The results show that the reaction is almost barrierless, and GSA is stable against water. Additionally, the clusters of GSA and common nucleation species (sulfuric acid and ammonia) are more stable than the analogous clusters of GA, because they have more hydrogen bonds and proton transfers. It suggests that GA tends to transfer itself to a much better nucleation precursor, GSA, through a reaction with SO3, and GSA can drive nucleation and contribute to new particle formation (NPF). This mechanism might be general for all oxocarboxylic acids and could help to deeply understand the roles of oxocarboxylic acids in NPF.

As for the vibration problem of rotor system for large rotating machinery such as aero engines, a finite element model for dynamic similarity experiment system of rotor is established based on finite element theory. The effect of support stiffness and support position on the dynamic characteristics of the rotor system have been emphatically analyzed. Moreover, the effect of support stiffness on the dynamic characteristics of rotor system have been verified on the designed test rig. The results show that, under different support stiffness intervals, each order natural frequency of the rotor system has a different variation tendency with the support stiffness or position. In addition, the variation of the mode shapes with the support stiffness or position are closely related to the variation of the natural frequencies with the support stiffness and position. Combining with the practice, the natural frequencies of the rotor system can be reasonably designed and the harmful mode shapes can be avoided by adjusting the supporting characteristics of the rotor system.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of the circadian clock gene Bmal1 on dentinogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) under inflammatory conditions.Dental pulp stem cells were isolated from the pulp tissue of the healthy donor and were then stimulated with different concentrations of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to mimic inflammatory conditions. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the gene expression of circadian clock genes Bmal1, Clock, Per1, Per2, Cry1, and Cry2. Western blot (WB) was applied to analyse the protein expression of circadian clock proteins (BMAL1, CLOCK) and dentinogenic differentiation-related proteins (DSPP, DMP1). In addition, the apoptosis and osteogenic differentiation of DPSCs were also analysed in the presence of different concentrations of LPS.The expression of circadian clock genes of DPSCs significantly changed in an inflammatory environment. WB analysis shows that BMAL1 is relevant to the dentinogenic differentiation of DPSCs. In low concentrations of LPS-mimicked inflammatory conditions, the expression of BMAL1 increased and promoted the dentinogenic differentiation of DPSCs. However, under high concentrations of LPS-mimicked inflammatory conditions, the expression of BMAL1 decreased and inhibited the dentinogenic differentiation of DPSCs. Moreover, the effects of BMAL1 on dentinogenic differentiation of DPSCs may be through PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.This study showed that the circadian clock gene Bmal1 affected dentinogenic differentiation of DPSCs, providing a new insight for clinical stem cell-based restorative dentinogenesis therapies.

After dental trauma to immature permanent teeth (IPT), there can be pulpitis, necrotic, and periapical periodontitis, which will halt further root development. Traditional endodontic root canal treatments and apexification cannot revitalize the necrotic pulp to revitalize the tooth to promote further root development. As a consequence, IPT with thin dentinal walls can be prone to fracture and if a fracture occurs, the patient will likely suffer the loss of the tooth. In an attempt to save IPT, there has been a growing interest among dentists to use regenerative endodontic procedures (REPs) to revitalize a replace dental pulp to continue root development and strengthen the dentinal walls to help prevent a subsequent loss of the tooth. However, the effectiveness of REPs and the precise methods to successfully accomplish REPs are controversial. Therefore, the objective of this review is to compare the different approaches to REPs in case reports by highlighting their advantages and limitations.

Environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) have been recognized as harmful and persistent environmental pollutants. In polluted regions, many acidic and basic atmospheric pollutants, which are present at high concentrations, may influence the extent of the formation of EPFRs. In the present paper, density functional theory (DFT) and ab-initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) calculations were performed to investigate the formation mechanisms of EPFRs with the influence of the acidic pollutants sulfuric acid (SA), nitric acid (NA), organic acid (OA), and the basic pollutants, ammonia (A), dimethylamine (DMA) on α-Al

Somatic chromosome doubling usually results in the production of mixoploids, which are difficult to use in breeding programs. In this study, we developed a method to isolate diploid and tetraploid cytotypes from induced mixoploids of Populus pseudo-simonii × P. nigra var. italica based on adventitious bud regeneration. We produced 75 mixoploids through colchicine-induced seed chromosome doubling in P. pseudo-simonii × P. nigra var. italica. The highest mixoploid induction frequency was 26.67 ± 5.09% following treatment with 0.1% colchicine for 96 h. We then screened a medium for adventitious bud regeneration from leaf explants of multiple genotypes, which was Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with 0.4 mg L−1 6-benzyladenine (BA) and 0.1 mg L−1 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). The maximum frequency of leaf differentiation was 96.67 ± 3.33%, and the number of adventitious buds per explant was 6.17 ± 1.02. When the medium was applied for adventitious bud regeneration of 12 mixoploid genotypes, 18 tetraploids and 26 diploids were isolated, of which five mixoploids generated both diploid and tetraploid cytotypes and seven mixoploids generated either diploids or tetraploids. Compared to diploids, tetraploids varied significantly in stomatal characteristics, micropropagation coefficient and rooting ability. Significant differences were also detected among genotypes at the same ploidy level, implying that heterozygosity also affected phenotypic variation during allopolyploidization. This study provides an effective method for isolation of diploid and tetraploid cytotypes from mixoploids and generation of full-sib diploid and tetraploid germplasms for polyploidy Populus breeding programs. This paper reported an efficient method to isolate diploids and tetraploids from Populus mixoploids via adventitious bud regeneration. Paired analysis showed both heterozygosity and ploidy level contributed to morphological variation.

The gas-phase reaction of organic acids with SO3 has been recognized as essential in promoting aerosol-particle formation. However, at the air-water interface, this reaction is much less understood. We performed systematic Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics (BOMD) simulations to study the reaction of various organic acids with SO3 on a water droplet. The results show that with the involvement of interfacial water molecules, organic acids can react with SO3 and form the ion pair of sulfuric-carboxylic anhydride and hydronium. This mechanism is in contrast to the gas-phase reaction mechanisms in which the organic acid either serves as a catalyst for the reaction between SO3 and H2 O or reacts with SO3 directly. The distinct reaction at the water surface has important atmospheric implications, for example, promoting water condensation, uptaking atmospheric condesation species, and incorporating "SO42- " into organic species in aerosol particles. Therefore, this reaction, typically occurring within a few picoseconds, provides another pathway towards aerosol formation.

Carbon dioxide is considered an inert gas that rarely participates in atmospheric chemical reactions. However, we show here that CO2 is involved in some important photo-oxidation reactions in the atmosphere through the formation of carbonate radicals (CO3∙-). This potentially active intermediate CO3∙- is routinely overlooked in atmospheric chemistry regarding its effect on sulfate formation. Present work demonstrates that SO2 uptake coefficient is enhanced by 17 times on mineral dust particles driven by CO3∙-. It can be produced through two routes over mineral dust surfaces: i) hydroxyl radical + CO32-; ii) holes (h+) + CO32-. Employing a suite of laboratory investigations of sulfate formation in the presence of carbonate radical on the model and authentic dust particles, field measurements of sulfate and (bi)carbonate ions within ambient PM, together with density functional theory (DFT) calculations for single electron transfer processes in terms of CO3∙--initiated S(IV) oxidation, a new role of carbonate radical in atmospheric chemistry is elucidated.

Comprehensive investigations of the possible formation pathways of sulfate, the main composition of atmospheric aerosol in marine areas, continue to challenge atmospheric chemists. As one of the most important oxidation routes of S(iv) contributing to sulfate formation, the reaction process of S(iv) oxidized by hypobromic acid, which is ubiquitous with the gas-phase mixing ratios of ∼310 ppt and has a well-known oxidative capacity, has attracted wide attention. However, little information is available about the detailed reaction mechanism. Especially, due to the abundant species in cloud water, the potential effect of these compositions on these reaction processes and the corresponding effect mechanism are also uncertain. Using high-level quantum chemical calculations, we theoretically elucidate the two-step mechanism of Br+ transfer proposed by experiment through the verification of the key BrSO3- intermediate formation and subsequent hydrolysis reaction or the uncovered reaction of BrSO3- intermediate with OH-. Further, the novel and more competitive mechanisms (OH+ or O atom transfer pathways) that have not been considered in previous studies, leading to sulfate formation directly, have been found. Furthermore, it should be mentioned that we revealed the effect mechanism of constituents catalyzed in cloud water, especially the important H2O-catalyzed mechanism. In addition, all the above pathways follow this catalytic mechanism. This finding indicates a linkage between the complex nature of the atmospheric constituents and related atmospheric reaction, as well as the enhanced occurrence of atmospheric secondary sulfate formation in the atmosphere. Hence, this exploration of sulfate formation related to hypobromic acid could provide a better understanding about the sources of sulfate in marine areas.

The highly selective oxidation of cyclohexane to cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol (KA oil) is one of the most challenging issues in the chemical industry. However, the difficulty in attaining high selectivity and high conversion rate in parallel for the existing catalysts limits its practical application. In this paper, a novel photo-thermo synergistic catalyst was reported for the aerobic oxidation of cyclohexane. The uniform blue MoO3-x nanowires with small diameter stabilized by polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) were synthesized by a hydrothermal method, and a series of MoO3-x-AgPd composite materials of different proportions were prepared by an in-situ reduction process. The morphology, crystalline structure, surface chemical bonding, photoelectrochemical properties of MoO3-x-AgPd composites are thoroughly characterized. The MoO3-x-AgPd composites present significantly increased catalytic performance than MoO3-x nanowires in the photo-thermo synergistic catalytic oxidation of cyclohexane under dry air. The high conversion rate of 11.3% with the KA oil selectivity of 99.0% was achieved by the MoO3-x-Ag20Pd20 composites under photo-thermo catalytic process at 120 ℃, which is 1.5 times of that by MoO3-x nanowires. Under photo-thermo catalytic process, a high cyclohexane conversion rate similar to that of higher temperature thermal catalysis can be obtained at lower reaction temperature, and more cyclohexanol can be produced with a ketone to alcohol (K/A) ratio of 0.254. The significantly enhanced catalytic activity can be attributed to the effective charge transfer in the AgPd alloy nanoparticles, the optimized band gap structure, the suppressed charge recombination, and the promoted photo-thermo synergetic catalytic effect. This work provides a new reference scheme for the design and preparation of high-efficiency photo-thermo catalysts for the selective oxidation of cyclohexane.

Amino acids are recognized as significant components of atmospheric aerosols. However, their potential role in atmospheric new particle formation (NPF) is poorly understood, especially aspartic acid (ASP), one of the most abundant amino acids in the atmosphere. It has not only two advantageous carboxylic acid groups but also one amino group, both of which are both effective groups enhancing NPF. Herein, the participation mechanism of ASP in the formation of new particle involving sulfuric acid (SA)–ammonia (A)-based system has been studied using the Density Functional Theory (DFT) combined with the Atmospheric Clusters Dynamic Code (ACDC). The results show that the addition of ASP molecules in the SA–A-based clusters provides a promotion on the interaction between SA and A molecules. Moreover, ACDC simulations indicate that ASP could present an obvious enhancement effect on SA–A-based cluster formation rates. Meanwhile, the enhancement strength R presents a positive dependence on [ASP] and a negative dependence on [SA] and [A]. Besides, the enhancement effect of ASP is compared with that of malonic acid (MOA) with two carboxylic acid groups (Chemosphere, 2018, 203, 26–33), and ASP presents a more obvious enhancement effect than MOA. The mechanism of NPF indicates that ASP could contribute to cluster formation as a “participator” which is different from the “catalytic” role of MOA at 238 K. These new insights are helpful to understand the mechanism of NPF involving organic compounds with multiple functional groups, especially the abundant amino acids, such as the ASP, in the urban/suburban areas with intensive human activities and industrial productions and therefore the abundant sources of amino acids. Furthermore, the NPF of the SA–A-based system involving amino acid should be considered when assessing the environmental risk of amino acid.

Regenerative endodontic procedures using autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can improve the biologic outcome of treatment. However, its mechanism of action on improving pulp regeneration is not fully elucidated. Autophagy was recently shown to be related to tissue repair and osteogenesis. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effect of PRP in dental pulp regeneration and to elucidate the role of autophagy involved in this process. Human dental pulp cells (hDPCs) were isolated from healthy dental pulp and co-cultured with an increasing concentration of PRP. Cellular migration and proliferation were determined by scratch assay, transwell assay, and cell-counting kit 8 assay. Osteogenic differentiation was clarified by using alkaline phosphatase staining, alizarin red staining, and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to measure the gene expression levels of alkaline phosphatase, collagen-1, osteocalcin, dentin matrix protein 1, and dentin sialophosphoprotein. Autophagic bodies were observed by transmission electron microscopy and the expression of autophagy marker light chain 3B (LC3B) was determined by immunofluorescence staining. The mRNA and protein expression level of LC3B and Beclin-1 were quantified by qRT-PCR and western blotting. The effect of PRP on cellular migration, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation was further investigated in the milieu of autophagy activator, rapamycin, and inhibitor, 3-methyladenine. Results showed that PRP promoted cell migration, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation. Autophagic bodies were strongly activated and the expression level of LC3B and Beclin-1 was significantly promoted by PRP. Autophagy inhibition suppressed PRP-induced hDPCs migration, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation, whereas autophagy activator substantially augmented PRP-stimulated migration, proliferation, and differentiation. Taken together, these findings suggested that PRP could effectively promote regenerative potentials associated with autophagy.

Objectives Our study aimed to observe the distribution of putative stem cells in irreversible pulpitis and to investigate the expression of specific molecules. Subjects and methods Extracted third molar teeth were collected and divided into two groups: the normal pulp group and inflamed pulp group. Real-time PCR was applied to detect the expression of several embryonic and dentinogenic genes. The expression of mesenchymal cell markers (STRO-1, CD90 and CD146) and stromal cell-derived factor 1α (SDF-1α)/CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) proteins was examined by immunohistochemical analysis. Results The expression levels of most embryonic and dentinogenic genes were not statistically different between the two groups. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that in inflamed pulp, cells with positive expression for STRO-1, CD90 and CD146 mainly resided in two specific niches, both adjacent to inflammatory sites: one in the pulp core, and another in the odontoblast layer. SDF-1α- and CXCR4-positive cells were significantly correlated with STRO-1-positive cells. Double immunofluorescence analysis indicated that STRO-1-positive cells overlapped with SDF-1α- and CXCR4-positive cells near the inflammatory site. Conclusions This study gave a direct observation of putative stem cells distributed in irreversible pulpitis and implied a role of SDF-1α/CXCR4 signaling in stem cells-based therapies for reparative dentinogenesis.

The circadian clock is a complex cellular mechanism that controls a series of physiological processes, including inflammation. It can directly interact physically with the components of the key inflammatory pathway. Similarly, inflammation can also lead to circadian rhythm disorders, which may further amplify the inflammatory response and aggravate tissue damage. This review offers a structured overview that focusses on the core proteins of the circadian clock and their interactions with inflammatory players, and provides a potential mechanism for the pathological rhythms observed under inflammatory conditions.

Oxocarboxylic acids, one of the most important organic species, are detected in aerosols in various environments. Recent studies suggest that the gas-phase reactions between carboxylic acids and SO

Background: Our study aimed to observe the distribution of stem cells in chronic pulpitis and to investigate the expression of specific molecules. Methods: Extracted third molar teeth were collected and divided into two groups. Experiment group was from patients with previous history of spontaneous pain and diagnosed as having chronic pulpitis. Noncarious third molars were used as control group. Dental pulp tissues were collected from these two groups. Real-time RT-PCR test was used to detect the expression of several embryonic and dentinogenic genes in dental pulp. The expression of the mesenchymal cell markers (STRO-1, CD146) and stromal cell-derived factor 1α (SDF-1α)/CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) proteins were examined by immunohistochemical and triple immunofluorescence analysis. Results: ThemRNA levels of most embryonic and dentinogenic genes were not statistically different (p > 0.05) between the two groups. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that in inflamed pulp, STRO-1- and CD146-positive cells mainly reside in two specific niches, both adjacent to inflammatory sites: one in the pulp core, and another in odontoblast layer. In contrast, fewer STRO-1- and CD146- positive cells appeared in the vicinity of the root apex. SDF-1α- and CXCR4-positive cells increased in zone I and II, and decreased in zone III, showing a significant correlation with STRO-1. Triple immunofluorescence analysis indicated that most STRO-1-positive cells overlapped with SDF-1α- and CXCR4-positive cells around the perivascular areas near the inflammatory site. Conclusions: This study gave a direct observation of stem cells distribution in chronic pulpitis for the first time and implies the important role of SDF-1α/CXCR4signaling in stem cells-based therapies for reparative dentinogenesis.

The structures and energetics of the binuclear dimethylphosphido vanadium carbonyls (Me2P)2V2(CO)n (n = 10, 9, 8, 7, 6) have been examined using density functional theory. The experimentally known (Me2P)2V2(CO)8 with two bridging Me2P groups and all terminal CO groups is found to be the lowest energy structure by a substantial margin. The predicted V V distance in this structure of 2.696 A is close to the experimental distance of 2.733 A as determined by X-ray crystallography. The Wiberg bond index (WBI) of 0.94 supports the formulation of this V V interaction as a formal double bond, consistent with the 18-electron rule. Decarbonylation of (Me2P)2V2(CO)8 is predicted to give a singly CO-bridged (Me2P)2V2(CO)6(µ-CO) structure with a shorter V V distance of 2.374 A corresponding to a WBI of 1.30 and suggesting a formal triple bond. Further decarbonylation to (Me2P)2V2(CO)6 is predicted to lead to structures with four-electron donor bridging η2-µ-CO groups rather than structures with formal V V quadruple bonds. For the carbonyl-richer system (Me2P)2V2(CO)9 the lowest energy structure retains two bridging Me2P ligands and all terminal CO groups. Its V V distance of 3.138 A coupled with a WBI value of 0.23 suggests the formal single bond required by the 18-electron rule. The lowest energy (Me2P)2V2(CO)10 structure has a similar V V single bond. However, only one of its Me2P ligands bridges the central V V bond; the other Me2P group is a terminal ligand bonded to a single vanadium atom. Structures with intact Me2P-PMe2 ligands having direct P P bonds are very high energy structures relative to their isomers with two separate Me2P units lacking a direct P P bond.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6), are beneficial for human health. In this study, we selected a high EPA content (30% in total fatty acids) strain of Mortierella alpina CCFM 698 that overexpressed an ω-3 fatty acid desaturase from Phytophthora parasitica, and investigated the cell growth and lipid accumulation of this strain in a 65 L airlift fermenter with glucose batch feeding. The maximum cell dry weight was 28.7 g L−1 and the highest total fatty acid content was 33.0% (w/w) in cell dry weight. The highest EPA yield was 1.8 g L−1. Both low and high dose supplementation of this strain into the feed of laying hens increased DHA accumulation in the yolk. The highest DHA content of 7.61 mg g−1 yolk was achieved in Fengda-1 laying hens with 4% supplementation and the DHA production per egg was 118.46 mg. However, Hy-Line Brown laying hens displayed a higher DHA production per egg and the value was 131.50, 131.72, 131.95 mg with 1.5%, 2%, 4% supplementation, respectively. The lowest ratio of ω-6/ω-3 PUFAs (3.53) was obtained in Hy-Line Brown laying hens with 4% supplementation. These results suggest that M. alpina CCFM 698 can be used as an alternative source of ω-3 PUFAs in feed to produce nutritious eggs with high DHA content.

Secondary sulfate plays a crucial role in forming marine aerosol, which in turn is an important source of natural aerosol at a global level. Recent experimental studies suggest that oxidation of S(IV) compounds, in practice dissolved sulfur dioxide, to sulfate (S(VI)) by hypochloric acid could be one of the most significant pathways for sulfate formation in marine areas. However, the exact mechanism responsible for this process remains unknown. Using high-level quantum chemical calculations, we studied the reaction between dissolved sulfur dioxide and hypochloric acid. We account for the dominant protonation states of reactants in the pH range 3.0-9.0. We also consider possible catalytic effects of species such as H2O. Our results show that sulfate formation in HOCl+HOSO2(-) and HOCl+SO32- reactions relevant to acidic and nearly neutral conditions can occur either through previously proposed Cl+ transfer or through a novel HO+ transfer mechanism. In alkaline conditions, where the dominant reactants are OCl- and SO32-, an O atom transfer mechanism proposed in previous experimental studies may be more important than Cl+ transfer. Catalysis by common cloud-water species is found to lower barriers of Cl+ transfer mechanisms substantially. Nevertheless, we find that the dominant S(IV) + HOCl reaction mechanism for the full studied pH range is HO+ transfer from HOCl to SO32-, which leads directly to sulfate formation without ClSO3- intermediates. The rate-limiting barrier of this reaction is low, leading to an essentially diffusion-controlled reaction rate. S(IV) lifetimes due to this reaction decrease with increasing pH due to the increasing fractional population of SO32-. Especially in neutral and alkaline conditions, depletion of HOCl by the reaction is so rapid that S(IV) oxidation will be controlled mainly by mass transfer of gas-phase HOCl to the liquid phase. The mechanism proposed here may help to explain marine sulfate sources missing from current atmospheric models. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The NR4A orphan nuclear receptors function as early response genes to numerous stimuli. Our laboratory has previously demonstrated that overexpression of NR4A3 (NOR-1, MINOR) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes enhances insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. To assess the in vivo effect of NR4A3 on adipocytes, we generated transgenic mice with NR4A3 overexpression driven by the adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (AP2) promoter (AP2-NR4A3 mice). We hypothesized that AP2-NR4A3 mice would display enhanced glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. However, AP2-NR4A3 mice exhibit metabolic impairment, including increased fasting glucose and insulin, impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, decreased serum free fatty acids, and increased low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol. AP2-NR4A3 mice also display a significant reduction in serum epinephrine due to increased expression of catecholamine-catabolizing enzymes in adipose tissue, including monoamine oxidase-A. Furthermore, enhanced expression of monoamine oxidase-A is due to direct transcriptional activation by NR4A3. Finally, AP2-NR4A3 mice display cardiac and behavioral alterations consistent with chronically low circulating epinephrine levels. In conclusion, overexpression of NR4A3 in adipocytes produces a complex phenotype characterized by impaired glucose metabolism and low serum catecholamines due to enhanced degradation by adipose tissue.

Similitude theory is used to establish the necessary conditions between the enlarged or reduced model and the original structure, and has been widely applied to vibration and impact tests of large structures. However, several limitations and difficulties still persist in partial similitude for complex structures. In this paper, a partial similitude method to obtain scaling laws is proposed. The powers in scaling laws are variables against the scaling factors, and the coupling effect among design parameters is considered in the powers. The accuracy and applicability of the proposed method are demonstrated in two case studies. The first case study discusses the partial similitude of a single rotor-bearing system. The single rotor-bearing system is scaled with distortion in the geometrical dimension and boundary conditions. It is found that the proposed method predicts the critical speeds and unbalance responses with good accuracy. Furthermore, the proposed method can improve the prediction accuracy by comparing with the methods in current literatures. The second case study comprises a dual-rotor system to demonstrate the accuracy and applicability of the proposed method for more complex rotor-bearing system. The speed ratio, excitation position, co-rotation, and counter-rotation are discussed in predicting the critical speeds as well as unbalance responses. It is also found that the proposed method can improve the prediction accuracy.

Baba Nyonya can be traced back to about 600 years ago when the very first batch of Chinese emigrated from China to Malacca, Singapore, Penang and Java of Indonesia.It was partially assimilated into the Malay culture, especially in food, dress and language used, while retaining some of the Chinese traditions and culture. Baba Nyonya represent special part of southeast Asian culture. This paper intent to reveal how the identity of modern Baba and Nyonya is constructed and evolved from time to time, the factors that lead to disappearance of the culture, and the future of the Baba Nyonya identity.Most importantly,how the community of Baba Nyonya and Malaysia society did to protect and carry on their identity and culture. To conclude, the identity of Modern Baba Nyonya is not disappearing but evolving into another stage with further mixture of other cultures. It has not been forgotten but has transformed into the new phrase of identity.

In coastal regions, intense bursts of particles are frequently observed with high concentrations of iodine species, especially iodic acid (IA). However, the nucleation mechanisms of IA, especially in polluted environments with high concentrations of sulfuric acid (SA) and ammonia (A), remain to be fully established. By quantum chemical calculations and atmospheric cluster dynamics code (ACDC) simulations, the self-nucleation of IA in clean coastal regions and that influenced by SA and A in polluted coastal regions are investigated. The results indicate that IA can form stable clusters stabilized by halogen bonds and hydrogen bonds through sequential addition of IA, and the self-nucleation of IA can instantly produce large amounts of stable clusters when the concentration of IA is high during low tide, which is consistent with the observation that intense particle bursts were linked to high concentrations of IA in clean coastal regions. Besides, SA and A can stabilize IA clusters by the formation of more halogen bonds and hydrogen bonds as well as proton transfers, and the binary nucleation of IA-SA/A rather than the self-nucleation of IA appears to be the dominant pathways in polluted coastal regions, especially in winter. These new insights are helpful to understand the mechanisms of new particle formation induced by IA in clean and polluted coastal regions.

The gas-phase reaction of organic acids with SO

In this paper, according to the French LCPC asphalt mixture design method, the high modulus asphalt mixture is designed. It is found that the designed high-stiffness modulus mixture has high water stability, high temperature resistance to rutting and fatigue performance. The high-speed and long-slope section was successfully promoted and applied, which solved the problem of the structure and material durability of the long-slope section of the expressway under heavy load conditions and prolonged the service life of the road.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6), are beneficial for human health. In this study, we selected a high EPA content (30% in total fatty acids) strain of

Under two-phase flow conditions, the performance of Coriolis mass flowmeters is significantly affected. A critical signal processing technique in Coriolis flowmeters is the estimation of resonance frequency and phase difference from sinusoidal vibration signals. This paper reviews three typical digital signal processing methods used to calculate phase difference, including Quadrature Demodulation, Hilbert Transform and Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT). These three methods are compared using simulated signals based on experimental results under two-phase flow conditions up to high GVFs (gas volume fractions) and low flow rate. The results indicate that, under two-phase flow conditions in particular for high GVFs and low flow rate, the three methods are affected in different degrees, and may need further modification to achieve better results under two-phase flow conditions.