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Biofilms are the oldest, most successful, and most widely distributed form of microorganism life on earth, existing even in extreme environments. Presently, probiotics in biofilm phenotype are thought as the most advanced fourth-generation probiotics. However, high-efficiency and large-scale biofilm enrichment in an artificial way is difficult. Here, fibrous membranes as probiotic biofilm-enriching materials are studied. Electrospun cellulose acetate nanofibrous membranes with nano-sized fibers show outstanding superiority over fibrous membranes with micron-sized fibers in

The influence of hot extrusion on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al2O3/7075 aluminum matrix composites was investigated via optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and tensile testing. The results indicate that the yield strength, tensile strength, and elongation of the as-extruded composites respectively reached 244.4 MPa, 360.3 MPa, 11.0 %, which increased by 20.24, 33.28 and 507.73 %, compared to those of the as-cast composites. The hot extrusion process grants the composites fine compactness and significantly improves the distribution of Al2O3 particles in the composite. The eutectic phase at the grain boundaries was crushed into small fragments under shear force after hot deformation. Moreover, high dislocation density near the Al2O3 particles and grain boundaries was observed in the extruded composite. The failure mode of the as-cast material was quasi-cleavage fracture, while the failure mode of the as-extruded material was primarily ductile fracture.

Regular water management is crucial for the cultivation of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Inadequate irrigation leads to water stress and a reduction in tomato yield and quality. Therefore, it is important to develop an efficient classification method of the drought status of tomato for the timely application of irrigation. In this study, a simple classification and regression tree (CART) model that includes air temperature, vapor pressure deficit, and leaf–air temperature difference was established to classify the drought status of three tomato genotypes (i.e., cherry type ‘Tainan ASVEG No. 19’, large fruits breeding line ‘108290’, and wild accession ‘LA2093’). The results indicate that the proposed CART model exhibited a higher predictive sensitivity, specificity, geometric mean, and accuracy performance compared to the logistic model. In addition, the CART model was applicable not only to three tomato genotypes but across vegetative and reproductive stages. Furthermore, while the drought status was divided into low, medium, and high, the CART model provided a higher predictive performance than that of the logistic model. The results suggest that the drought status of tomato can be accurately classified by the proposed CART model. These results will provide a useful tool of the regular water management for tomato cultivation.

Introduction. To evaluate whether waist circumference (WC) or hyperglycemia is more closely associated with hypogonadism in middle-aged men. Research Design and Methods. This cross-sectional study analyzed male participants under 65 years old from the MJ Health Screening Center in Taiwan from 2007 to 2016. Basic patient characteristics with relevant parameters were obtained. We used the chi-square test to perform a correlation analysis for HbA1c and WC between participants with and without hypogonadism. A one-way ANOVA with post hoc Scheffe’s method was applied to compare the mean testosterone (T) among the HbAlc and WC groups (normal blood sugar with normal WC (NBSNW), abnormal blood sugar with normal WC (ABSNW), normal blood sugar with abnormal WC (NBSAW), and abnormal blood sugar with abnormal waist circumference (ABSAW)). Results. The 5,680 participants were divided into two groups based on the presence ( n = 599 ) or absence of hypogonadism ( n = 5,081 ), which was defined as total testosterone TT < 300 ng / dL . The mean TT of group NBSAW ( 443.71 ± 220.59 ng / dl ) was significantly lower than that of group ABSNW ( 506.64 ± 191.08 ng / dl , p < 0.001 ). Moreover, the mean TT of group ABSAW ( 398.89 ± 146.24 ng / dl ) was significantly lower than that of group ABSNW ( 506.64 ± 191.08 ng / dl , p < 0.001 ). The ORs after adjusting for BMI, TG, HDL, SBP, and DBP were statistically significant when comparing NBSAW vs. NBSNW ( OR = 2.846 ; 95 % CI = 2.266 – 3.575 ; p < 0.001 ), ABSNW vs. NDNW ( OR = 1.693 ; 95 % CI = 1.309 – 2.189 ; p < 0.001 ), and ABSAW vs. NBSNW ( OR = 4.613 ; 95 % CI = 3.634 – 5.856 ; p < 0.001 ). Conclusion. The current study showed that WC should be the risk factor that is more closely associated with hypogonadism than hyperglycemia in middle-aged men.

A high temperature real-time accurate monitoring system based on photoelectric oscillation had been proposed and demonstrated. We use the narrow bandwidth characteristics of phase-shifting fiber Bragg grating (PS-FBG) to generate stable photoelectric oscillation signals. After the PS-FBG is ceramic packaged to adapt to and apply to 500 °C high temperature, the wavelength shift caused by temperature change is precisely responded by narrow linewidth PS-FBG, so the change of photoelectric oscillation signal can be monitored in real time with high precision. The experimental results show that the sensitivity is −1.24 GHz/°C and the linearity is −0.99953. The system has a resolution of 0.0083 °C. The test system has excellent potential application value in precise control of high temperature environment such as metal smelting, crystal growth, chemistry and pharmaceutical engineering.

To better understand the effect of rain-shelter cultivation on sweet cherry plantations, this study investigated the photosynthetic characteristics and other physiological parameters of sweet cherry were investigated in Guizhou. Compared with open-field cultivation, the leaf area under rain-shelter cultivation increased significantly; the leaf thickness, sponge tissue, palisade tissue and stomatal density decreased. Shelter covering resulted in an obvious reduction in the net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), water use efficiency (WUE) and stomatal limit (Ls) but considerably increased the instantaneous light energy use efficiency (LUE), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), and the chlorophyll (Chl) content of the leaves, especially the chlorophyll b content. Under a rain shelter, the leaf compensation point (LCP) and CO2 compensation point (CCP) were significantly reduced and the apparent quantum rate (AQY) and carboxylation rate effect (CE) were significantly increased. Furthermore, the non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) of sweet cherry cultivated under a rain shelter was higher than that of sweet cherry cultivated in the open field, resulting in a reduction in quantum yields and electron transfer rate (ETR), though the maximum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) did not decrease substantially. Therefore, rain-shelter cultivation did not damage the photosystem II response center but did increase the leaf area, Chl content and Ci, LUE and AQY and reduced LCP and Fv/Fm to improve the capability for weak light utilization. However, Pn was still significantly reduced, which might be due to the insufficient light provided by the rain shelter with approximately 55% transmittance.

ABT-737, a small molecule BH-3 mimetic, is less effective against human colon cancers due to its resistance. Verticillin A is a natural compound, which was previously purified from verticillium-infected mushrooms. Hence, we aimed at overcoming the ABT737 resistance observed in CRC tumors by combining Verticillin A with ABT-737 and figuring out the potential mechanism. In this study, we observed that Verticillin A could sensitize colon cancer to ABT-737-induced cell death through induction of mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis. Verticillin A could significantly increase the BIMEL/MCL-1 ratio to overcome ABT737 resistance through the suppression of the MEK/ERK pathway. In addition, up-regulation of BIM protein levels to activate BAX translocation results in apoptosis induction. Altogether, our work suggested the potential application of Verticillin A as a MEK inhibitor in BH3-mimetic-based therapy.

Herbs are rich in the active ingredients of drugs for preventing or treating various disorders. However, conventional bioactivity-guided separation is time and labor-intensive and neglects the additive effect of multiple components. These problems hinder the development of new medicines from natural products. This study established a chemometric analysis method that integrates processes based on the spectrum-effect relationship for the rapid identification of the primary active components of a plant. The high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fingerprints of 171 Salvia miltiorrhiza extracts (SMEs) with varied constituent profiles were analyzed. Chemometric analysis was performed to establish an HPLC fingerprint–bioactivity relationship to explore the components of SMEs that contribute to the antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity effect, respectively. The results indicated that the developed strategy can be used to identify components largely contributing to particular bioactivities and re-evaluate the efficacy of previously neglected components. The present study identified not only the primary active components of S. miltiorrhiza but also the optimal ratios of constituents, validating the method for use in the future investigation and development of herbal medicines. Keywords: Chemometric, herb, antioxidant, cytotoxicity, fingerprint, Salvia miltiorrhiza.

As an effective means of utilizing light energy, photothermal conversion has excellent application in the field of polymerization. Herein, a dividing wall-type heat exchanger with the aid of photothermal conversion was designed to conduct polymerization under irradiation with near-infrared (NIR) light by utilizing the ketocyanine-type dye solution as the highly efficient activator (>83.2% photothermal conversion efficiency). Various types of reversible-deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP) methods, including reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer, atom transfer radical polymerization, and bromine-iodine transformation RDRP, are suitable for this strategy. Well-defined polymers with excellent control over molar mass and molar mass dispersity (Ð < 1.28) were thus synthesized within a few hours under NIR (λmax = 810 nm, 850 nm) irradiation at room temperature. Importantly, in addition to conventional heating methods (such as electrical heating jackets), the designed dividing wall-type heat exchanger via NIR light activation has another unique advantage: it can enhance the polymerization by the synergistic effect of both heating and NIR light irradiation due to the deeper penetration of NIR light.

In recent years, crystalline-driven self-assembly (CDSA) has received enormous attention, but almost only for block copolymers (BCPs). Herein, we introduced perfluorocarbon chains into main-chain-type liquid crystalline alternating copolymers (ACPs) to obtain perfluoroalkane-containing ACPs with periodic C-I bonds in polymer backbones via step transfer-addition and radical-termination (START) polymerization, followed by an iodine reduction reaction of C-I bonds to induce CDSA of ACPs and put forward a novel concept of "reduction-induced crystallization-driven self-assembly" (RI-CDSA) of main-chain-type ACPs for the first time. Finally, we proposed the folded-chain model and mechanism to explain the novel RI-CDSA behavior, and its rationality has been proved by the corresponding experimental results.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of 7075 aluminum matrix composites (AMCs) reinforced with TiO2-coated carbon nanotubes (TiO2@CNTs) prepared by high energy ultrasonic assisted casting were investigated. In this paper, a novel method was developed to increase interfacial bonding by coating TiO2 on the surface of CNTs. The results showed that high-energy ultrasound can effectively promote the uniform dispersion of TiO2@CNTs in the melt, and the TiO2@CNTs can refine the α-Al phase. The optimal addition of TiO2@CNTs was 0.9wt.%, and the optimal ultrasonic time was 10 min. The yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, and microhardness of the as-cast composites prepared under the optimal parameters were 201.22 MPa, 261.79 MPa, and 126.02 HV, respectively, which increased by 40.9%, 32%, and 32.2% compared with those of the matrix, respectively. The semi-coherent interface was formed at the TiO2/α-Al interface and well-bonded interfaces between the CNTs and the matrix were formed. The fine grain strengthening, thermal mismatch strengthening, Orowan strengthening, and direct bearing strengthening were considered as four strengthening mechanisms that occurred simultaneously, leading to excellent mechanical properties of as-cast 7075-TiO2@CNTs composites.

The design and fabrication of micron-size Janus particles (JPs) with new structures and properties are still great challenges although various methods have been used to synthesize nano-size JPs. Therefore, it is of great significance to develop a high-efficiency preparation and facile functionalization technology for micron-size JPs. Herein, we developed a facile one-pot suspension polymerization to synthesize micron-size JPs which can be easily further functionalized for the first time. The key of this method is to use an amphiphilic block copolymer prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) as the macromolecular surfactant (MS). On the one hand, within a certain hydrophile–lipophile balance (HLB) range, the reversed micelles in the oil phase were used to absorb water and expand, then aggregate and fuse, and finally phase separate from the oil phase to form JPs. On the other hand, the MS prepared by ATRP has an initiating group at the MS chain end, which is exposed on one side on the surface of the JPs, so that the facile functionalization of the JPs can be further realized by the ATRP strategy.

Main-chain liquid crystalline polymers seldom develop into a columnar phase, let alone mesophase transitions between the columnar phase and other phases as the temperature changes. Herein, we present a new series of main-chain liquid crystalline copolymers which consist of strictly alternating rod-like aryl ester core, alkyl chain and perfluoroalkyl segments synthesized by photoinduced step transfer-addition and radical-termination (START) polymerization. The mesophases can be adjusted by changing the length of alkyl chains or perfluoroalkyl segments, which have been fully investigated and simulated in terms of molecular arrangements of molecules. Importantly the resultant liquid crystalline copolymers can present rare reversible phase transitions from a hexagonal columnar phase to a rectangular columnar phase and finally to a smectic phase with temperature increasing.

This study investigated the effects of different shelter coverings (arched-shelter and umbrella-shelter) on the volatile components of sweet cherry mature fruits in rainy areas, and the postharvest quality of these fruits during storage at room temperature. A total of 68 volatile compounds were identified and semiquantified in mature fruits. Aldehyde compounds were the most abundant, followed by alcohols. Benzyl alcohol, acetaldehyde, 2-methyl-propanal, hexanal, (E)-2-hexenal and benzaldehyde were the major volatiles, and the proportions of these compounds were greatly affected by different shelter coverings. With the extension of the storage period, the color parameters (L*, a* and b*), texture parameters (hardness, springiness, chewiness, resilience, skin strength and flesh firmness) and titratable acidity of the fruit rapidly decreased. The total soluble solid content and weight loss of the fruit gradually increased. Principal component analysis indicated that the sweet cherry fruits from the arched-shelter had the best quality and the longest shelf life.

In this work, we report a much simpler and low-cost method to prepare main-chain-type semifluorinated alternating copolymers by the formation of a halogen bond (XB) complex between α,ω-diiodoperfluoroalkanes and amines/halide salts. It is interesting that the terminal iodine functional group of the polymer chains is easily lost in the amine-promoted system, while the loss can be significantly reduced by adding a small amount of water. Importantly, the system promoted by halide salts can ensure complete retention of the iodine functional group. Overall, the establishment of this method provides a new strategy for designing smart fluoropolymer materials in a green and environmentally friendly facile manner under irradiation with visible light at room temperature.

Side-chain liquid crystalline polymer (SCLCP) usually contains a simple and flexible homopolymer as main chain, while its effect on the self-assembly behavior is often ignored. In this work, in order to increase the structural complexity and investigate the interaction between the main chain and mesogens, perfluorinated segments are introduced into the main chain using a photoinduced Step Transfer-AdditionRadical-Termination polymerization method, producing a novel series of SCLCPs containing 4-methoxyphenyl benzoate mesogens, soft hydrocarbon spacers, and a strictly alternating perfluoroalkyl and alkyl backbone. By adjusting the length of spacers or perfluoroalkyl segments, several mesophases with complex chain packing structures are achieved. This design strategy that constructing highly ordered liquid crystalline (LC) structures from SCLCPs with precise chemical structure provides a facile way toward novel LC nanomaterials.

Most existing greenhouse decision support systems only consider external environmental factors, such as soil and atmosphere, rather than plant response. A conceptual plant-response-based strategy for irrigation and environmental controls for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) seedling cultivation in greenhouse operations was proposed. Because stomatal conductance (gsw) is a comprehensive indicator of plants, soil moisture, and atmospheric conditions, this study used gsw to design a conceptual system by employing factors affecting gsw as the key for decision-making. Logistic regression was performed with independent variables (i.e., temperature (Tair), vapor pressure deficit (VPD), and leaf–air temperature difference) to predict the gsw status. When the gsw status was “low,” the system entered into the environmental control component, which examined whether the VPD and the photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) were in the normal range. If the VPD and the PPFD were not in the normal range, the system would offer a suggestion for environmental control. Conversely, when both parameters were in the normal range, the system would determine that irrigation should be performed and the irrigation amount could be estimated by the evapotranspiration model. Thus, the strategy only considered leaf temperature, Tair, VPD, and PPFD, and the overall error rate to characterize gsw was below 13.36%.

PNIPAM-co-AAc-Span80 shows an enhanced hydrophobic property, rich pore structure, and good adsorption performance for DOX. The desorption results demonstrate that 98.7% of DOX can be released efficiently in an acidic environment.

Introducing fluoroalkyl chains into metallopolymers is a prerequisite to studying the self-organization effect of fluoroalkyl chains and their structure-property relationship. In this work, we present a fluorinated metallopolymer to build an alternating conduction-insulation "molecular fence" model synthesized by the coordination of Ru(II) and a bis-terpyridine-end-capped-phenyl (BTP) ligand modified with fluoroalkyl chains. Taking advantage of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), a well-aligned periodic linear layered structure is observed clearly, which provides the most direct visualization of the self-organization effect of fluoroalkyl chains for the first time. In addition, combining ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectroscopy and theoretical calculations, we find that fluoroalkyl chains demonstrate a septation effect between two adjacent metallopolymer chains and further restrain the occurrence of interchain charge-transfer transition (ICCT) due to their closed packed structure. This "molecular fence" model can provide a novel route for electron conduction in molecular networks and guide potential applications in the materials science field.

Verticillin A is a diketopiperazine compound which was previously isolated from Amanita flavorubescens Alk (containing parasitic fungi Hypomyces hyalines (Schw.) Tul.). Here, we initially found, by wound healing assay and Transwell assay in vitro, that verticillin A possesses an inhibitory effect against the migration and invasion of the human colon cancer cell. Subsequently, c-mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (c-Met) was identified as a molecular target of verticillin A by screening key genes related to cell migration. Verticillin A-mediated c-Met suppression is at the transcriptional level. Further study demonstrated that verticillin A suppressed c-MET phosphorylation and decreased c-MET protein level. In addition, verticillin A inhibited the phosphorylation of c-MET downstream molecules including rat sarcoma (Ras)-associated factor (Raf), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and protein kinase B (AKT). Overexpression of Erk partially reversed the verticillin A-mediated anti-metastasis action in the human colon cancer cell. More importantly, verticillin A also inhibited cancer cell metastasis in vivo. Thus, verticillin A can significantly inhibit the migration and invasion of colon cancer cells by targeting c-Met and inhibiting Ras/Raf/mitogen-activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK)/ERK signaling pathways. Therefore, we determined that verticillin A is a natural compound that can be further developed as an anti-metastatic drug in human cancers.

The purpose of this study was to explore the relative elemental contents and speciation of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and sulfur in the leaves of sweet cherry trees. The differences in the...