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Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) has two genotypes, G1 and G2. To research the immunogenicity differences of PEDV G1 and G2 genotype strains and obtain a neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAb), we inoculated specific-pathogen-free BALB/c mice with a newly emerged strain, PEDV-LNCT2. After immunizations, cells from the spleen of the mice were fused with SP2/0 myeloma cells. Following culturing and subcloning, a strain, 1B9, secreting neutralizing antibody, was obtained. The 1B9 mAb neutralized new variant genotype 2 PEDV strains (LNCT2, LNSY, and Hjms), but it did not neutralize a genotype 1 PEDV strain (CV777), in vitro . Results showed that the epitope recognized by the 1B9 mAb lies in the spike protein, and that it is a conformational epitope. These findings confirm that allelic differences in the PEDV S gene between the G1 and G2 genotype strains led to changes in the S protein and, thus, differences in its immunogenicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: With the growing complexity of dynamic control systems, the effective diagnosis of all possible failures has become increasingly difficult and time consuming. The virtually infinite variety of behavior patterns of such systems due to control inputs and environmental influences further complicates system characterization and fault diagnosis. To circumvent these difficulties, we propose a new diagnostic method, consisting of three elements: the first, based on anomaly detection, identifies any performance deviation from normal operation; the second, based on anomaly/fault localization, localizes the problem, as best as possible, to the specific component or subsystem that does not operate properly and the third, fault diagnosis, discriminates known and unknown faults and identifies the type of the fault if it is previously known. Our prescriptive method for diagnostic design relies on the use of self-organizing maps (SOMs) for regionalization of the system operating conditions, followed by the performance assessment module based on time-frequency distributions (TFDs) and principal component analysis (PCA) for anomaly detection and fault diagnosis. The complete procedure is described in detail and demonstrated with an example of automotive engine control system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A class of Lie algebras associated to generalized Cartan matrices A is studied. The Lie algebras have much simpler structure than Kac–Moody algebras, but have the same root spaces with . In particular, has an abelian subalgebra of “half size.” We show that, has a non-degenerate invariant symmetric bilinear form if and only if A is symmetrizable; if and only if the GCMs and are the same up to a permutation of rows and columns. We study the lowest (respectively highest) weight Verma module (respectively ) over , and obtain the necessary and sufficient conditions for to be irreducible, and also find its maximal proper submodule when is reducible. Then using graded dual module of we deduce the necessary and sufficient conditions for to be irreducible. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • Nano Al 2 O 3 layer is coated on Cu-SSZ-13 by chemical liquid deposition (CLD). • High-Temperature SCR activity of aged Cu-SSZ-13 is preserved by Al modification. • Aggregated Cu is passivated as CuAlO 2 that are inert for NH 3 oxidation. • CuAl 2 O 4 and Al 2 O 3 , comparing with CuO, have higher affinity for Cu(OH) 2. • CuAl 2 O 4 forms with Al modification and captures detached Cu as CuAlO 2 upon aging. To improve the hydrothermal durability of Cu-SSZ-13 selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst, a thin Al 2 O 3 modification layer was coated on the external surface of Cu-SSZ-13 by a chemical liquid deposition (CLD) method. The high-temperature SCR activity of the Al-modified Cu-SSZ-13 can be maintained upon 750–800 °C hydrothermal aging, and over-oxidation of NH 3 is largely inhibited. Based on H 2 -TPR and EPR results, it is revealed that CuAl 2 O 4 -like species forms upon Al modification and converts further to CuAlO 2 -like species during aging, while the accumulation of CuO-like species is inhibited. The high affinity of Al-containing species (i.e. , Al 2 O 3 and CuAl 2 O 4 -like species) with Cu(OH) 2 is suggested by DFT calculations, indicating that Cu(OH) 2 detached from ion-exchange sites are captured by Al to form CuAlO 2 -like species instead of CuO-like species. The passivation of detached Cu species by coated Al leads to somewhat weakened low-temperature SCR activity, but successfully preserves the high-temperature SCR performance upon aging, which can be applied to high-temperature SCR scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Swine acute diarrhea syndrome coronavirus (SADS-CoV) is a newly discovered enteric coronavirus. We have previously shown that the caspase-dependent FASL-mediated and mitochondrion-mediated apoptotic pathways play a central role in SADS-CoV-induced apoptosis, which facilitates viral replication. However, the roles of intracellular signaling pathways in SADS-CoV-mediated cell apoptosis and the relative advantages that such pathways confer on the host or virus remain largely unknown. In this study, we show that SADS-CoV induces the activation of ERK during infection, irrespective of viral biosynthesis. The knockdown or chemical inhibition of ERK1/2 significantly suppressed viral protein expression and viral progeny production. The inhibition of ERK activation also circumvented SADS-CoV-induced apoptosis. Taken together, these data suggest that ERK activation is important for SADS-CoV replication, and contributes to the virus-mediated changes in host cells. Our findings demonstrate the takeover of a particular host signaling mechanism by SADS-CoV and identify a potential approach to inhibiting viral spread. • SADS-CoV activated the ERK signaling pathway irrespective of viral replication. • Chemical inhibition and ERK1/2 knockdown markedly impaired SADS-CoV replication. • There were crosstalk between ERK and apoptotic pathways during SADS-CoV infection. • SADS-CoV exploits the ERK cascade to complete successful viral infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is associated with numerous mammalian diseases, especially viral diseases. Porcine parvovirus (PPV) is the causative agent of reproductive failure in swine. Here, we observed that the PPV infection of porcine kidney 15 and porcine testis cells resulted in the activation of ER stress sensors mediated by protein kinase R-like ER kinase (PERK), but not inositol-requiring enzyme 1 and activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6). ER stress activation obviously blocked PPV replication. Depletion of proteins, such as PERK, eukaryotic initiation factor 2, and ATF4, by small interfering RNA significantly enhanced PPV replication. Moreover, the pro-apoptotic factor C/EBP homologous protein was identified a key factor in the inhibition of PPV replication. These data demonstrate that PPV infection activates ER stress through the PERK signaling pathway and that ER stress inhibits further PPV replication by promoting apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Defects in rare-earth nickelates (RE NiO 3) are closely related to their metal-to-insulator phase transitions and optical/electrical properties, therefore play an important part in the applications of RE NiO 3. In this work, the intrinsic point defects of RE NiO 3 (RE ​= ​Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Y and Lu) with stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric ratios were studied through first-principles calculations. In stoichiometric systems, the defect formation energy has the order of RE Frenkel ​> ​Cation antisite defect ​≈ ​Ni Frenkel ​> ​O Frenkel ​> ​Schottky. Among non-stoichiometric RE NiO 3 , the defects are prone to form in RE 2 O 3 excessive environment as compared to those in the Ni 2 O 3 excessive situation. In terms of electronic properties, oxygen vacancies reduce the band gap of RE NiO 3 and introduce a new occupied state of Ni–O. At 300 ​K, the conductivity of RE NiO 3 increases with the increase of carrier concentration. For the optical properties, the O vacancies block the infrared light and increase the transmission of visible light. The intrinsic point defects discussed in this study can not only explain the difference in defect type, but also provide a way to optimize performance of RE NiO 3. Our first-principles calculations find that the defects compound consisting of nominally charged isolation defects would dominate stoichiometric Re NiO 3 , while the Schottky defects composed of V R E 3 − + V Ni 3 − + 3 V O 2 − are the most stable existence in Re NiO 3. In terms of electronic properties, oxygen vacancies reduce the band gap of Re NiO 3 , and introduce a new occupied state of Ni–O. The conductivity of Re NiO 3 increases with the increase of carrier concentration. For the optical properties, the oxygen vacancies block the infrared light and increase the transmission of visible light in Re NiO 3. [Display omitted] • First-principles study of intrinsic point defects and optical properties of RE NiO 3. • The Schottky defects are the most stable in stoichiometric RE NiO 3. • Nonstoichiometric RE NiO 3 can induce extra oxygen vacancies. • O vacancies block the infrared light and increase the transmission of visible light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Thioglycolic-acid-stabilized CdTe quantum dots, synthesized directly in aqueous solution, are successfully conjugated with biotin and polyethylene glycol. Using these conjugates, we report the development of this kind of water-soluble quantum dot for immunofluorescent labeling of cancer cells. The results show that these conjugates have very low nonspecific binding and good stability against photobleaching, enabling them to be applied in many biological fields, such as cellular labeling, intracellular tracking, and other imaging applications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]