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[Display omitted] Fe, N atoms deposited on porous biochar (Fe-N@BC) composites were synthesized and employed as an efficient catalyst for organic pollutant removal and CrVI reduction. Naturally abundant, renewable and N -rich pomelo peel as a carbon and nitrogen source and unsubstituted phthalocyanine/iron phthalocyanine complexes as a Fe and nitrogen resource were used to develop the Fe-N@BC via a carbonization process. It is found that Fe-N@BC hybrids have homogeneous dispersion of Fe and N atoms on 3D hierarchically porous biochar, which significantly improves the performance toward the detoxification of organic pollutants using peroxymonosulfate as an oxidant, as well as the reduction of hexavalent chromium by formic acid as a reductant. Furthermore, the effects of Fe loading and pyrolytic temperature on catalysis were comprehensively analyzed and optimized. The excellent activity of Fe-N@BC in acid media can be attributed to the high dispersion of Fe species, high content of doped nitrogen as well as hierarchical micro-mesopores, which induce to expose more active sites for catalysis. Owing to the structure-enabled acidic stability, Fe-N@BC efficiently retains its activity as well as its structural stability after several cycles of reactions. This work provides a new approach to construct Fe, N -doped biochar as an effective catalyst for the detoxification of organic and inorganic pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant reproduction is an extremely important phenomenon, as it is strongly associated with plant genetics and early development. Additionally, foundations of the reproductive system have direct implications on plant breeding and agriculture. Investigation of the functions of male and female gametophytes is critical since their fusion is required for seed formation. Although a large number of mutants have been generated to understand the functions of male and female gametophytes, only a small number of genes required for plant fertilization have been identified to date. This is because the screening method used previously required the dissection of siliques, and fertilization-specific mutants exhibiting semi-fertility (or ∼50% fertility) were difficult to identify. Here, we report a new efficient screening method for the identification of fertilization defective mutants in Arabidopsis thaliana using vanillin staining. This method is based on the pollen tube-dependent ovule enlargement morphology (POEM) phenomenon, which generates a partial seed coat within the ovule without fertilization. Using this method, we successfully identified 23 putative fertilization defective mutants in Arabidopsis. • Establishment of a new method targeting fertilization defective mutants. • Identification of 23 fertilization defective Arabidopsis mutants. • Identification a rare female fertilization mutant, tri3669. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The continuously welded 2D nano-networks were constructed based on hierarchical phase separation. • The impact of the polymer concentrations on the phase behavior in the ternary system was investigated. • The synergistic effect of sieving and adhesion was used to capture the PM. • The interaction between PM and PVB nanowires was proposed. • The spider web-inspired membrane shows excellent air filtration performance and stable long-term recycling capacity. Air pollution has garnered significant worldwide attention; however, the existing air filtration materials still suffer from issues related to monotonous structure and the inherent trade-off between PM rejection and air permeability. Herein, a spider web-inspired composite membrane with continuous monolayer structured 2D nano-networks tightly welded on nanofibers in the electrospun membrane scaffold is designed via a hierarchical phase separation strategy. The resultant biomimetic hierarchical-structured membranes possess the integrated features of hierarchical multiscale structures of 2D ultrafine networks composed of nanowires with a diameter of 31 nm self-assembled by nanoparticles, exceptional characteristics involving small average aperture, extremely low network thickness, high porosity and promising pore channel connectivity, combined with rich surface polar functional groups (3.02D dipole moment). Consequently, the composite membrane exhibits a high PM 0.3 capture efficiency of 99.6 % and low pressure drop of 58.8 Pa, less than 0.06 % of atmosphere pressure, with outstanding long-term PM 2.5 recycling filtration performance. The hierarchical phase separation–driven 2D nano-networks construction strategy, by virtue of their feasibility and tunability, holds great promise for widespread application across diverse membrane-related domains for air filtration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymersomes are hollow spheres self-assembled from amphiphilic block copolymers of certain molecular architecture. Whilst they have been widely studied for biomedical applications, relatively few studies have reported their interfacial properties. In particular, lubrication by polymersomes has not been previously reported. Here, interfacial properties of polymersomes self-assembled from poly(butadiene)-poly(ethylene oxide) (PBD-PEO; molecular weight 10,400 g mol −1 ) have been studied at both hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces. Their morphology at silica and mica surfaces was imaged with quantitative nanomechanical property mapping atomic force microscopy (QNM AFM), and friction and surface forces they mediate under confinement between two surfaces were studied using colloidal probe AFM (CP-AFM). We find that the polymersomes remained intact but adopted flattened conformation once adsorbed to mica, with a relatively low coverage. However, on silica these polymersomes were unstable, rupturing to form donut shaped residues or patchy bilayers. On a silica surface hydrophobized with a 19 nm polystyrene (PS) film, the polymer vesicles formed a more stable layer with a higher surface coverage as compared to the hydrophilic surface, and the interfacial structure also evolved over time. Moreover, friction was greatly reduced on hydrophobized silica surfaces in the presence of polymersomes, suggesting their potential as effective aqueous lubricants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Equilibration in adsorbing polymer systems can be very slow, leading to different physical properties at a given condition depending on the pathway that was used to reach this state. Here we explore this phenomenon using a diblock copolymer consisting of a cationic anchor block and a thermoresponsive block of poly(2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline), PIPOZ. We find that at a given temperature different polymer chain densities at the silica surface are achieved depending on the previous temperature history. We explore how this affects surface and friction forces between such layers using the atomic force microscope colloidal probe technique. The surface forces are purely repulsive at temperatures <40 °C. A local force minimum at short separation develops at 40 °C and a strong attraction due to capillary condensation of a polymer-rich phase is observed close to the bulk phase separation temperature. The friction forces decrease in the cooling stage due to rehydration of the PIPOZ chain. A consequence of the adsorption hysteresis is that the friction forces measured at 25 °C are significantly lower after exposure to a temperature of 40 °C than prior to heating, which is due to higher polymer chain density on the surface after heating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ghrelin has a protective effect on diabetes and its complications. To expound its probable molecular mechanisms, we investigated the effects of ghrelin on high glucose (HG)-induced cell apoptosis and intracellular signaling pathways in cultured human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE). In this study, we firstly came to conclusion that HG-induced 16HBE apoptosis was significantly inhibited by co-treatment of ghrelin. The molecular mechanism of ghrelin-induced protective effects for lungs is still not understood. We reported here for the first time that ghrelin can not only eliminate apoptosis of 16HBE, but also regulate the disordered cell cycle caused by HG. We speculated here that ghrelin inhibits the apoptosis of 16HBE by regulating the abnormal cell cycle to some extent. The mechanism may be that ghrelin up-regulates the expression of cyclin D1 via regulating Wnt/β-catenin pathway, which has an intimate relationship with lung diseases. These results suggested the possible role of ghrelin in treating diabetic lung diseases, especially in view of its low toxicity in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A micro-patterned silicon surface, consisting of depressions with walls having a tilt angle of 30°, was created by photolithography followed by etching. The friction forces in single asperity contact acting between such a surface and an AFM tip was measured in air. This allowed elucidation of the validity of some common friction rules for this particular situation where a small tip traces a surface having roughness features that are significantly larger than the tip itself. The rules that was compared with our data were Amontons’ first rule of friction stating that the friction force should be proportional to the load; Amontons’ third rule stating that the friction force should be independent of sliding speed, and Euler’s rule providing a relation between slope angle and friction coefficient. We found that both nanoscale surface heterogeneities and the μm-sized depressions affect friction forces, and considerable reproducible variations were found along a particular scan line. Nevertheless Amontons’ first rule described average friction forces well. Amontons’ third rule and Euler’s rule were found to be less applicable to our system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ZnO nanorods/ZnSe nanosheets heterostructure had been successfully fabricated by the spin coating method. The evolution of the structural, optical and photocatalytic properties of the samples with different spin coating times was comprehensively investigated. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns showed that the relative intensities of ZnSe peaks increased gradually with the increase of spin coating times, but the ZnO peaks were relatively suppressed, which had a good agreement with the results of Raman spectra. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron micrograph (TEM) images further confirmed that the ZnSe nanosheets (NSs) had been successfully assembled on the top surfaces of the ZnO nanorods (NRs) and in the upper parts of the gaps between the rods. At room temperature, the ZnO/ZnSe heterostructures exhibited a relatively suppressed UV emission together with a dramatically enhanced deep-level emission. In addition, the heterostructures exhibited remarkable photocatalytic activities. The type-II staggered band alignment and defects formed at the ZnO/ZnSe interfaces should be the key factors for improved photocatalytic performance, and the probable photocatalytic mechanism was discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the gel properties of low-sodium tilapia surimi, the effects of microwave-ultrasonic, single microwave, single ultrasonic and traditional water-bath heating treatments on the characteristics of low-sodium tilapia surimi gel in the gel setting stage were investigated in this study. Compared with other treatment groups, the water-bath heating and microwave–ultrasonic-assisted heating (WB-MW/US) + 1.5% NaCl group had higher gel strength (403.30 g cm) and water-holding capacity (87.88%). LF-NMR and CD spectrum analysis indicated that microwave and ultrasonic combination increased the degree of protein cross-linking and moisture proton density. In addition, microwave and ultrasonic combination had minimal effect on the secondary protein structure. WB-MW/US+1.5% NaCl group had more β-sheet (27.80%) and random coil content (22.30%), resulting in a uniform and dense spatial network structure of the low-sodium tilapia surimi gel. The results indicated that the microwave-ultrasonic combination treatment could be used as an efficient strategy for the production of new energy, low-sodium surimi gel products. • A new microwave-ultrasonic assisted gel setting stage method was developed. • Microwave-ultrasonic combination could improve physicochemical properties of surimi gel. • Microwave-ultrasonic combination promoted the transformation of protein secondary structure. • Microwave-ultrasonic combination gives low-sodium tilapia surimi gel the highest degree of bound moisture. • Microwave-ultrasonic combination could strengthen protein network structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pre-adsorbed branched brush layers were formed on silica surfaces by adsorption of a diblock copolymer consisting of a linear cationic block and an uncharged bottle-brush block. The charge of the silica surface was found to affect the adsorption, with lower amounts of the cationic polyelectrolyte depositing on less charged silica. Cleaning under basic conditions rendered surfaces more negatively charged (more negative zeta-potential) than acid cleaning and was therefore used to increase polyelectrolyte adsorption. The structure of adsorbed layers of the diblock copolymer was as determined by neutron reflectometry found to be about 70 nm thick and very water rich (97%). Interactions between the anionic surfactant sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) and such pre-adsorbed diblock polymer layers were studied by neutron reflectometry and by optical reflectometry. Optical reflectometry was also used for deducing interactions between the individual blocks of the diblock copolymer and SDS at the silica/aqueous interface. We find that SDS is readily incorporated in the diblock copolymer layer at low SDS concentrations, and preferentially co-localized with the cationic block of the polymer next to the silica surface. At higher SDS concentrations some desorption of polyelectrolyte/surfactant complexes takes place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on the correlation between microbial communities and precursor substances of ethyl carbamate (EC) during soy sauce fermentation. High-throughput sequencing showed that there were ten dominant bacterial communities in soy sauce fermentation. The dominant fungal communities were Zygosaccharomyces rouxii , Candida versatilis and Candida tropicalis. Weissella , Pediococcus and Lactococcus were the dominant bacteria which had positive correlation with ethanol accumulation, while Acinetobacter , Pseudomonas and Bacillus were negatively correlated with ethanol accumulation. Fungi with the strongest positive correlation with ethanol accumulation were OTU3 and OTU110, which all belong to Zygosaccharomyces rouxii , while Ascomycotina and Aspergillus had the strongest negative correlation with ethanol accumulation. Three bacteria belong to Halobacterium , Acinetobacter and Halomonas , and two fungi belong to Aspergillus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae had the strongest positive correlation with urea accumulation, while Lactococcus and Leuconostoc , and Zygosaccharomyces rouxii had strongest negative correlation with urea accumulation. The main bacteria with positive correlation with citrulline and arginine content were Leuconostoc , Weisiella and Galactococcus , while the bacteria with negative correlation were mainly Acinetobacter , Halomonas and Halobacterium. The fungi with positive correlation with citrulline and arginine content were all mainly Zygosaccharomyces rouxii , while the fungi with negative correlation were mainly Mortierella and Apiotrichum loubieri. • High-throughput sequencing could detect more abundant strains. • Ten bacterial communities with high-abundance of soy sauce were found. • The content of EC in soy sauce was significantly correlated with ethanol. • Zygosaccharomyces rouxii was closely related to EC accumulation in soy sauce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Supported gold nanoparticles have been proven to be active in the hydrogenation of the acetylene. In this work, we applied gold nanoparticles supported on silica for the selective hydrogenation of acetylene in excess ethylene that was close to current industrial practices. Amine group surface-functionalized silica was used to absorb the gold precursor , and small size-controlled gold nanoparticles are formed after chemical reduction. For the first time, O2 plasma was employed to remove the APTES grafted on the surface of silica for preparing the highly dispersed gold nanoparticles (∼3nm). The results of IR, TGA, XRD, and TEM showed that O2 plasma working under mild conditions (room temperature and low pressure) can efficiently remove the organic compounds without causing the aggregation of the gold nanoparticles. The plasma-treated catalyst Au/SiO2 gave excellent low-temperature selective catalytic activity in the hydrogenation of acetylene. The effects of the reduction temperatures on the catalytic performances of the Au/SiO2 were investigated. The enhanced performance of gold nanoparticles supported on silica as pretreated by O2 plasma was ascribed to two effects: (1) the small size of the gold nanoparticles supported on silica, (2) the nearly neutral charge on the Au nanoparticle, which is favorable to the activation of hydrogen. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Au–Cu bimetallic nanoparticles supported on SBA-15 have been reported to be much more active in CO oxidation than the corresponding monometallic counterparts in our previous work. In this work, in situ techniques including XRD, EPR, XANES, and FT-IR were employed to reveal the structural changes of the Au–Cu bimetallic particles during different pretreatment and reaction conditions, and to clarify the essence of the synergistic effect between gold and copper. The results showed that gold remained as Au0 in any treatment conditions, while copper was very sensitive to the treatment temperature and atmosphere. The freshly reduced catalyst was a mixture of Au3Cu1 intermetallic phase and Cu2O amorphous phase. In CO oxidation, the Au3Cu1 intermetallic phase was segregated into a gold core decorated with tiny CuO x patches, and CO adsorbed on Au0 reacted with active oxygen provided by the neighboring CuO x , thus enhancing greatly the activity for CO oxidation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Cancer cells frequently develop resistance to chemotherapeutic therapies and targeted drugs, which has been a significant challenge in cancer management. With the growing advances in technologies in isolation and identification of natural products, the potential of natural products in combating cancer multidrug resistance has received substantial attention. Importantly, natural products can impact multiple targets, which can be valuable in overcoming drug resistance from different perspectives. In the current review, we will describe the well-established mechanisms underlying multidrug resistance, and introduce natural products that could target these multidrug resistant mechanisms. Specifically, we will discuss natural compounds such as curcumin, resveratrol, baicalein, chrysin and more, and their potential roles in combating multidrug resistance. This review article aims to provide a systematic summary of recent advances of natural products in combating cancer drug resistance, and will provide rationales for novel drug discovery. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrothermal aqueous phase (HAP) contains abundant organics and nutrients, which have potential to partially replace chemical fertilizers for enhancing plant growth and soil quality. However, the underlying reasons for low available nitrogen (N) and high N loss in dryland soil remain unclear. A cultivation experiment was conducted using HAP or urea to supply 160 mg N kg−1 in dryland soil. The dynamic changes of soil organic matters (SOMs), pH, N forms, and N cycling genes were investigated. Results showed that SOMs from HAP stimulated urease activity and ureC , which enhanced ammonification in turn. The high-molecular-weight SOMs relatively increased during 5–30 d and then biodegraded during 30–90 d, which SUV 254 changed from 0.51 to 1.47 to 0.29 L−1 m−1. This affected ureC that changed from 5.58 to 5.34 to 5.75 lg copies g−1. Relative to urea, addition HAP enhanced ON mineralization by 8.40 times during 30–90 d due to higher ureC. It decreased NO 3 –N by 65.35%–77.32% but increased AOB and AOA by 0.25 and 0.90 lg copies g−1 at 5 d and 90 d, respectively. It little affected nirK and increased nosZ by 0.41 lg copies g−1 at 90 d. It increased N loss by 4.59 times. The soil pH for HAP was higher than that for urea after 11 d. The comprehensive effects of high SOMs and pH, including ammonification enhancement and nitrification activity inhibition, were the primary causes of high N loss. The core idea for developing high-efficiency HAP fertilizer is to moderately inhibit ammonification and promote nitrification. [Display omitted] • HAP relative to urea increased N loss by 4.59 times during 90 d cultivation. • HAP increased ureC during 30–90 d when high molecular weight DOMs biodegraded. • HAP increased AOA + AOB by 0.95 lg copies g−1 but decreased 65.35%–77.32% NO 3 –N. • HAP little changed nirK and increased nosZ by 0.41 lg copies g−1. • High soil pH and SOMs reasoned from HAP were the main reasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although nitrogen (N) transformations have been widely studied under oxic or anoxic condition, few studies have been carried out to analyze the transformation accompanied with NO 2 −-N accumulation. Particularly, the control of mixed N species in N-transformation remains unclear in an oxic-anoxic transition zone (OATZ), a unique and ubiquitous redox environment. To bridge the gap, in this study, OATZ microcosms were simulated by surface water and sediments of a shallow lake. The N-transformation processes and rates at different NH 4 +-N/NO 3 −-N ratios, and NO 2 −-N accumulations in these processes were evaluated. N-transformation process exhibited a turning point. Simultaneous nitrification and denitrification occurred in its early stage (first 10 days, dissolved oxygen (DO) ≥ 2 mg/L) and then denitrification dominated (after 10 days, DO < 2 mg/L), which were not greatly affected by the NH 4 +-N/NO 3 −-N ratio, on the contrary, the transformation rates of NH 4 +-N and NO 3 −-N were distinctly affected. The NH 4 +-N transformation rates were positively correlated with the NH 4 +-N/NO 3 −-N ratio. The highest NO 3 −-N transformation rate was observed at an NH 4 +-N/NO 3 −-N ratio of 1:1 with organic carbon/NO 3 −-N of 3.09. The NO 2 −-N accumulation, which increased with the decrease in NH 4 +-N/NO 3 −-N ratio, was also controlled by organic carbon concentration and type. The peak concentration of NO 2 −-N accumulation occurred only when the NO 3 −-N transformation rate was particularly low. Thus, NO 2 −-N accumulation may be reduced by adjusting the control parameters related to N and organic carbon sources, which enhances the theoretical insights for N-polluted aquatic ecosystem bioremediation. • Nitrogen transformation in the oxic-anoxic transition zone was investigated. • Nitrification-denitrification occurred in early days, then denitrification dominated. • NH 4 +-N/NO 3 −-N ratio controlled their transformation rates and NO 2 −-N accumulation. • NO 2 −-N accumulation peaked when NO 3 −-N transformation rate was rather low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caspase-1 is one of the main mediators of inflammatory caspases and has become a correspondent with inflammation, cell death, and several inflammatory diseases. In this review, we systematically summarize both original and recent advances in caspase-1 to provide references for a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms in its activation and functions. This study investigates and summarizes the published articles concerning caspase-1, inflammation, pyroptosis, apoptosis, and cell death by searching academic search systems, including the PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Caspase-1 is one of the main mediators of inflammatory caspases and has become a correspondent with inflammation and cell death. In cell death, caspase-1 was originally found to cause apoptosis in fibroblasts. Importantly, caspase-1 was later reported to execute programmed cell death, including pyroptosis and apoptosis, in many immune cells in response to diverse stimuli. It is widely established that different pathways can activate caspase-1 and subsequently mediate cell death and inflammation. It has become increasingly clear that caspase-1 is responsible for the initiation and control of pyroptosis, apoptosis, and inflammation in addition to its well-known function in cleaving IL-1β. The significant advancement in the understanding of caspase-1-controlled cell death and novel substrates inspires new therapeutic approaches in the future. • Caspase-1 has become a correspondent with inflammation, cell death and several inflammatory diseases. • Both original and recent advances of the molecular mechanisms of the activation and functions of caspase-1 were summarized. • Caspase-1 was reported to execute programmed cell death including pyroptosis and apoptosis. • The significant advancement in caspase-1-controlled cell death and novel substrates inspires new therapeutic approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Berberine has been found to exhibit an array of pharmacological activities relating to the lowering of blood glucose and the treatment of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). The mechanism underlying these activites, however, is poorly understood. In the present study, female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were given oral letrozole to establish a model of insulin-resistant PCOS, and animals were then randomized into untreated or berberine-treated groups (400, 200, or 100 mg/kg). After 28 days, we measured homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and insulin sensitivity index (ISI) values in these animals. We further conducted H&E staining of ovarian tissues, assessed mRNA expression of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) via real time PCR, and used Western blotting to measure GLUT4 and PI3K/AKT and MAPK pathway protein levels. Berberine treatment was able to help restore HOMA-IR and ISI values to normal levels while simultaneously bolstering the expression of GLUT4. Normal ovarian morphology was also restored upon berberine treatment. We further found that 400 mg/kg berberine treatment was associated with activation of PI3K/AKT signaling and suppression of the MAPK pathway. In conclusion, berberine has the potential to reduce PCOS pathology and IR values in a rat model system through a mechanism linked to GLUT4 upregulation via PI3K/AKT activation and MAPK pathway suppression. Image 1 • Berberine decreases insulin resistance in PCOS model rats. • Berberine ameliorates ovarian morphology in PCOS model rats. • Berberine increases GLUT4 expression in PCOS model rats. • Berberine activates PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in PCOS model rats. • Berberine suppresses MAPK signaling pathway in PCOS model rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Ru-Mo bimetallic catalyst was developed by decorating Ru NPs with mononuclear Mo5+Ox for the selective hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of amides to amines, where the C O bond of amide is selectively activated on the low-coordinated mononuclear Mo5+Ox sites and the HDO reaction proceeds at the interface of Ru and Mo5+Ox. [Display omitted] • A highly active, selective and stable RuMo/SiO 2 catalyst with Ru nanoparticles of ∼ 2 nm decorated with mononuclear Mo5+Ox has been developed for the HDO of primary amides to amines. • The catalytic performance relies critically on the Mo/Ru ratio, and high activity and selectivity are only achieved when Mo/Ru ratio is smaller than 0.12 where mononuclear Mo5+Ox dominates. • The characterizations and reaction kinetics show that the C O bond of the amide is activated on the low-coordinated mononuclear Mo5+Ox species and the reaction proceeds at the MoRu interface. The selective hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of amides is a key methodology to producing amines, yet it remains a great challenge due to the highly stable amide molecular structure. In this study a series of 2Ru x Mo/SiO 2 (x = 0 ∼ 3) catalysts were prepared with sequential impregnation method followed by reduction. The reaction tests showed that the target amine yield presented a volcano-shape dependence on the Mo content, and reached the highest value at the Mo content of 0.2 wt% which corresponded to a Mo/Ru atomic ratio of 0.11 and a Mo surface density of 0.08. By contrast, a higher Mo content resulted in dramatic decrease in both activity and selectivity. By using HAADF-STEM, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), H 2 -TPR and CO-chemisorption, the structure of the best-performance 2Ru0.2Mo/SiO 2 catalyst was identified as Ru NPs of ∼ 2 nm decorated with mononuclear Mo5+O x species, which was in contrast with the polymeric MoO 2 -like species partially covering the Ru surface for the 2Ru3Mo/SiO 2. Kinetic studies revealed that the reaction order with respect to CyCONH 2 was 1.2, −0.1 and −0.5 over the 2Ru/SiO 2 , 2Ru0.2Mo/SiO 2 and 2Ru3Mo/SiO 2 , respectively, which indicated amide was selectively activated on the low-coordinated Mo5+O x sites while H 2 was activated on the Ru sites and the reaction proceeded at the Mo-Ru interface. The turnover frequency based on interfacial Ru-Mo sites reached 407.8 h−1, which was more than twofold higher than that of Ru-W system (175.6 h−1) we previously reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ancylostoma caninum anticoagulant peptide 5 (AcAP5) is a potent inhibitor for coagulation factor Xa (FXa). Previous studies show that AcAP5 binds to FXa at the active site, and/or the exosite. The active site-binding contributes to direct blocking of FXa catalytic activity, but the effect of exosite-binding and the underlying mechanism remain unknown. To investigate whether and how the exosite-binding affects FXa function, we prepared several AcAP5 mutants with modifications to the active site-binding or exosite-binding region. Their FXa-inhibiting and anticoagulant activities were examined both in vitro and in rabbit plasma, and the interactions with FXa were analyzed using in silico molecular modeling, docking, and molecular dynamics simulation. Mutants abolishing either active site- or exosite-binding resulted in a dramatic decrease in their anti-FXa and anticoagulant activities. Elongation of AcAP5 exosite-binding region also impaired the FXa-inhibiting activity. Computational analysis demonstrated that the conformation of FXa becomes more rigid due to exosite-binding with AcAP5, which consequently affects its catalytic activity. Our results suggest that both active site- and exosite-binding contribute to the FXa inhibitory activity of AcAP5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrins are α-β heterodimeric cell receptors that can bind the protein components of pathogens, and play crucial roles in mammalian immune responses, but the immune functions mediated by integrins remains largely unknown in teleost fish. In this study, an integrin αvβ3 (GCαvβ3) originally assembled by αv (GCαv) and β3 (GCβ3) subunits, was identified from a teleost fish grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella. The pairwise alignment analyses showed that the amino acid sequences of GCαv and GCβ3 shared high similarity (75.2–95.1%) and identity (58.6–90.7%) with their homologs from other vertebrates. Both GCαv and GCβ3 harbored the conserved protein domains and motifs, and were clustered in fish branch of the phylogenetic tree containing the counterparts from various vertebrates. Co-immunoprecipitation displayed that GCβ3 could interact with the grass carp reovirus (GCRV) outer capsid protein VP5. Two incubation experiments revealed that the interaction of GCRV or VP5 proteins with GCβ3 could induce the expressions of type I interferons (IFNs) including IFN2 and IFN3 in grass carp ovary cell line. The functional analysis demonstrated that GCαvβ3 served as a receptor of viral protein components to be involved in antiviral immunity as human integrin αvβ3 did. In addition, both GCαv and GCβ3 were significantly upregulated in various tissues of grass carp after GCRV infection. This study might provide fundamental basis for understanding the molecular characteristics and immune functions of GCαvβ3, and offer a new insight into the antiviral immune mechanism specific to the integrins in grass carp. • An integrin αvβ3 (GCαvβ3) was cloned and identified from grass carp. • GCαvβ3 harbored the conserved protein domains and motifs as its homologs. • GCαvβ3 could interact with the GCRV outer capsid protein VP5. • GCαvβ3 could mediate the expressions of interferons during GCRV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity impacts multiple sites of the hypothalamus-pituitary gland-ovary axis (HPO axis) and has become a leading cause of female infertility. However, the critical hypothalamic neurons that participate in the development of obesity-induced infertility have not been well defined yet. Previous studies suggested that metabolic-sensing agouti-related peptide-expressing (AgRP) neurons in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) are hyperactive in diet-induced obesity (DIO) mice. We hypothesize that these neurons may convey metabolic dysfunction onto the HPO axis and contribute to obesity-induced infertility's pathophysiological process. To determine if AgRP neurons in obesity play a necessary role in the development of reproductive impairment in obesity, we used the chemogenetic method to normalize the neuronal activity of AgRP neurons in DIO female mice and test if their fertility can be restored. Our results indicated that chemogenetic inhibition of AgRP neurons could fully rescue the reproductive performance of DIO female mice, as manifested by recovered sex hormonal levels, ovulation, and fecundity. Moreover, we assayed serum AgRP levels in normal-weight and obese women and found elevated AgRP levels in obese subjects, suggesting the correlation between obesity and AgRP neuronal hyperactivity. Our results indicated that AgRP neurons constitute a central node connecting metabolism and reproduction, and dysfunctions of these neurons play a crucial role in reproductive impairment induced by metabolic abnormalities. • Diet-induced obesity (DIO) causes infertility in female mice. • DIO mice show abnormalities in hormones levels, estrous cycle, and ovulation. • Chemogenetic inhibition of hypothalamic AgRP neurons rescues fertility of DIO female mice. • Serum AgRP levels are elevated in obese women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date only four recombinant growth factors, including Filgrastim (rhG-CSF), have been approved by FDA as radiomitigators to ameliorate hematopoietic acute radiation syndrome (H-ARS). These approved agents are not stable under room-temperature, needing to be stored at 2–8 °C, and would not be feasible in a mass casualty scenario where rapid and cost-effective intervention is crucial. Delta-tocotrienol (δ-T3H), the most potent G–CSF–inducing agent among vitamin E isoforms, exhibited efficiency and selectivity on G-CSF production in comparison with TLR and STING agonists in mice. Five-dose δ-T3H was utilized as the optimal therapeutic regimen due to long-term G-CSF production and the best peripheral blood (PB) recovery of irradiated mice. Comparable with rhG-CSF, sequential administration of δ-T3H post-irradiation improved hematologic recovery and accelerated the regeneration of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) in the bone marrow (BM) and spleen of 6.5Gy irradiated mice; and consistently enhanced repopulation of BM-HSCs. In 4.0Gy irradiated nonhuman primates, δ-T3H exhibited comparable efficacy as rhG-CSF to promote PB recovery and colony-formation of BM-HPCs. Altogether, we demonstrated that sequential administration of delta-tocotrienol ameliorates radiation-induced myelosuppression in mice and non-human primates through inducing G-CSF production, indicated δ-T3H as a promising radiomitigator for the management of H-ARS, particularly in a mass casualty scenario. • δ-T3H induces the optimal G-CSF production in vivo versus various G-CSF inducers. • δ-T3H mitigates radiation-induced myelosuppression comparable as rhG-CSF in mice. • δ-T3H affords comparable hematopoietic benefits as rhG-CSF in irradiated monkeys. • δ-T3H has potential to be used as radiomitigator against H-ARS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phospholipids fulfill an important role in joint lubrication. They, together with hyaluronan and glycoproteins, are the biolubricants that sustain low friction between cartilage surfaces bathed in synovial fluid. In this work we have investigated how the friction force and load bearing capacity of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) bilayers on silica surfaces are affected by temperature, covering the temperature range 25–52 °C. Friction forces have been determined utilizing the AFM colloidal probe technique, which showed that DPPC bilayers are able to provide low friction forces over the whole temperature interval. However, the load bearing capacity is improved at higher temperatures. We interpret this finding as being a consequence of lower rigidity and higher self-healing capacity of the DPPC bilayer in the liquid disordered state compared to the gel state. The corresponding structure of solid supported DPPC bilayers at the silica–liquid interface has been followed using X-ray reflectivity measurements, which suggests that the DPPC bilayer is in the gel phase at 25 °C and 39 °C and in the liquid disordered state at 55 °C. Well-defined bilayer structures were observed for both phases. The deposited DPPC bilayers were also imaged using AFM PeakForce Tapping mode, and these measurements indicated a less homogeneous layer at temperatures below 37 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are emerging microbial pollutants that are regulated by many factors and pose potential threats to aquatic environments. In this study, we used network analysis, correlation analysis, and constructed models based on metagenomic sequencing results to explore the spatial patterns, impact mechanisms, transmission risks and differences in ARGs in the water and sediment of the Weihe River Basin. The findings revealed notable disparities in ARGs, mobile genetic elements (MGEs), and bacterial communities. In the sediment, the abundance of ARGs was considerably greater than that in water. Moreover, the percentage of ARGs shared by the two components reached a value of 85.8%. Through network analysis, it was determined that the presence of 16 MGEs and 20 bacterial phyla was strongly associated with ARGs (R2 > 0.7, P < 0.05). The Mantel test showed that abiotic factors including DO, pH, nutrients, and heavy metals played important roles in the distribution of ARGs (P < 0.05). A structural equation model revealed that the key factors influencing the distribution of ARGs in water were bacterial diversity and environmental parameters (standardized effects of −0.730 and −0.667), and those in sediment were bacterial diversity and MGEs (standardized effects of −0.751 and 0.851). Neutral modeling indicated that deterministic processes played an important role in the assembly of ARGs in the water of the Weihe River Basin, and stochastic processes were dominant in the sediment. There was a highly significant positive linear correlation between ARGs and pathogens, and there was more complex co-occurrence in the water than in the sediment (R2 > 0.9, P < 0.05), with stronger migration and transmission occurring. Exploring ARGs in large-scale watersheds is immensely important for elucidating their traits and transmission mechanisms and consequently paving the way for the formulation of efficient strategies to mitigate resistance threats. • ARGs exhibit different distribution patterns in water and sediment. • Deterministic processes are important in the assembly of ARGs in water, and stochastic processes are dominant in sediment. • ARGs are affected by bacterial diversity and environmental factors in water, and bacterial diversity and MGEs in sediment. • DO, pH, nutrients, and heavy metals play important roles in the distribution of ARGs. • ARGs are more intensely migrating and spreading to pathogens in water than sediment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of mix-cultured aerobic denitrifying microorganisms on the water remediation has been extensively explored, but little is known about the performance of mix-cultured low efficiency fungi on denitrification. In this study, two kinds of aerobic denitrifying fungi (Trichoderma afroharzianum H1 and Aspergillus niger C1) were isolated from reservoirs, improved the capacity by mix-cultured. The results showed a difference between northern and southern reservoirs, the dominants of genera were Cystobasidium and Acremonium. The removals of total nitrogen (TN) was 12.00%, 7.53% and 69.33% in Trichoderma afroharzianum H1, Aspergillus niger C1 and mix-cultured (C1 and H1) under the denitrification medium. The contents of ATP and electron transport system activity in mix-cultured amendment were increased by 42.54% and 67.52%, 1.72 and 2.91 times, respectively. Besides, the raw water experiment indicated that TN removals were 24.05%, 12.66% and 73.42% in Trichoderma afroharzianum H1, Aspergillus niger C1 and mix-cultured. The removals of dissolved organic carbon in mix-cultured were increased 35.02% and 50.46% compared to Trichoderma afroharzianum H1 and Aspergillus niger C1. Therefore, mix-cultured of two low efficiency aerobic denitrifying fungi has been considered as a novelty perspective for mitigation of drinking water source. • Trichoderma afroharzianum H1 and Aspergillus niger C1 were isolated from reservoirs. • Mix-cultured of two fungi improved the performance of aerobic denitrifying. • Mix-cultured could remove 69% total nitrogen and 93% of dissolved organic carbon. • The ATP and electron transport system activity were increased by mix-cultured. • Mix-cultured exhibited excellent nitrogen and carbon removal ability in raw water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to summarize the indications and clinical features of pediatric drug-resistant epilepsy associated with early brain injury, surgical outcomes, and prognostic factors. We retrospectively analyzed children diagnosed with drug-resistant epilepsy due to early brain injury, who had undergone surgery at the Pediatric Epilepsy Center of Peking University First Hospital from May 2014 to May 2021. Clinical data of vasculogenic and non-vasculogenic injuries from early brain damage were compared and analyzed. The surgical outcomes were assessed using the Engel grading system. The median ages at acquiring injury, seizure onset, and surgery among 65 children were 19.0 (0–120) days, 8.6 (0–136.5) months, and 62.9 (13.5–234) months, respectively. Of the 14 children with non-vasculogenic injuries, 12 had posterior ulegyria. Unilateral or bilateral synchronous interictal epileptiform discharges were located mainly in the posterior quadrant in 10 children (71 %), and unilateral posterior quadrant or non-lateralized ictal region in eight children (57 %). The surgical approach was mainly temporo-parieto-occipital or parieto-occipital disconnection in nine children. Of 49 children with vasculogenic injuries, magnetic resonance imaging revealed hemispheric abnormalities in 38. Unilaterally hemispheric or bilateral interictal epileptiform discharges were observed in 36 children (73 %), whereas 42 (86 %) had unilateral hemispheric or non-lateralized ictal onset. The surgical procedure involved hemispherotomy in 38 children (78 %) and lobectomy or disconnection, multilobectomy or disconnection and hemispherotomy in 5, 20, and 40 children, respectively. Fifty-five patients (84.6 %) achieved remission from seizure during follow-up at 5.4 years. Age at surgery (odds ratio = 1.022, 95 % confidence interval = 1.003–1.042, P = 0.023) and etiology (odds ratio = 17.25, 95 % confidence interval = 2.778–107.108, P = 0.002) affected the seizure outcomes. Children with drug-resistant epilepsy due to early brain injury can successfully be treated with surgery after rigorous preoperative screening. Good surgical outcomes are associated with an early age at surgery and an etiology of vasculogenic injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flooding undermines the functionality of road links, leading to commute disruption, such as increased commuting time and immobility. Therefore, identifying the critical roads under different flood scenarios is of great significance for transportation planning to minimize flood risk. Previous studies on the road criticality under pluvial floods have focused on mostly structural characteristics of the roads, lacking the quantification of the flood impact on traffic. We employed an integrated framework coupling pluvial flood modeling with commute simulation to assess the criticality of flooded road links under three scenarios (10, 30, and 50 year floods). The output of the flood modeling was used to reconstruct the road network. The routes of each individual commuter under a business as usual (BAU) scenario and three flood scenarios were obtained from the commute simulation. As the flood return period increased, the distribution of traffic flow became more uneven. The road criticality assessment revealed that greater flood impact on roads was closely related to the proximity of water bodies, low-lying topography, and greater commute demands of the region and provided evidence to prioritize locations for interventions. This study helps understand the resilience of transportation systems during floods, thereby enabling practitioners to design effective strategic plans in terms of emergency response, risk management, and urban planning. • Developed the road criticality indicators to characterize the impact of road disruption on commutes during floods. • The distribution of traffic flow became more uneven as the flood return period increased. • The causes of impassable roads were spatially heterogeneous. • The road criticality indicators provided ground for prioritizing interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myosin X (Myo10) has several unique design features including dimerization via an anti-parallel coiled coil and a long lever arm, which allow it to preferentially move on actin bundles. To understand the stepping behavior of single Myo10 on actin bundles, we labeled two heads of Myo10 dimers with different fluorophores. Unlike previously described for myosin V (Myo5) and VI (Myo6), which display alternating hand-over-hand stepping, Myo10 frequently took near simultaneous steps of both heads, and less frequently, 2–3 steps of one head before the other head stepped. We suggest that this behavior results from the unusual kinetic features of Myo10, in conjunction with the structural properties of the motor domain/lever arm, which will favor movement on actin bundles rather than on single filaments. • We report the real-time simultaneous tracking of two motor domains of myosin 10. • Myosin 10 takes steps by hand-over-hand mechanism. • Myo10 takes frequent near simultaneous steps of both heads. • Less frequently, one head of myosin 10 takes 2–3 steps before the other head steps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ideal breathable and waterproof materials contain two key elements: hydrophobic matrix and small pore size. Current high-performing breathable waterproof membranes usually employ fluorinated materials to construct hydrophobic surface, which possess alarming potential environmental hazards. Fluorine-free waterproof agents through coating treatment to obtain hydrophobicity suffer from complicated fabrication process and poor durability. Hence, non-fluorinated chemicals incorporated into fibers via a facile one-step electrospinning may be an effective approach to attain durable hydrophobic membranes. Poly(methylhydrosiloxane)/polyurethane (PMHS/PU) solution with various PMHS concentration was formulated and electrospun to fibrous membranes, followed by a facile thermal treatment process. A systematic study including morphologies, porous structure, and surface wettability was performed. Breathable waterproof performance and tensile strength were also investigated. Added PMHS imparted mighty hydrophobicity to the membranes with a water contact angle of 130.2°, and the subsequent heat treatment greatly improved waterproofness, meanwhile doubled the tensile strength. The resultant membranes exhibited robust hydrostatic pressure of 54.1 kPa, medium breathability of 9.5 kg m−2 d−1, and excellent stretching stress of 14.1 MPa, which can meet the requirements of general use. The presented strategy on membrane fabrication is feasible and scalable, which may be considered as an effective remedy for environmental protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective The present study investigated the electroclinical features and epileptogenic networks of parietal operculum seizures (POS) by using stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) intracerebral recordings. Methods Comprehensive presurgical evaluation data of seven patients with drug-resistant epilepsy with POS were analyzed retrospectively. Stereoelectroencephalography-recorded seizures were processed visually and quantitatively by using epileptogenicity mapping (EM), which has been proposed to ergonomically quantify the epileptogenicity of brain structures with a neuroimaging approach. Results Six patients reported initial somatosensory or viscerosensitive symptoms. Ictal clinical signs comprised frequently nocturnal hypermotor seizures and contralateral focal motor seizures, including tonic, tonic–clonic, or dystonic seizures of the face and limbs. Interictal and ictal scalp EEG provided information regarding lateralization in the majority of patients, but the discharges were widely distributed over perisylvian or "rolandic-like" regions and the vertex. Furthermore, two subgroups of epileptogenic network organization were identified within POS by SEEG, visually and quantitatively, using an EM approach: group 1 (mesial frontal/cingulate networks) was observed in three patients who mainly exhibited hypermotor seizures; group 2 (perisylvian networks) was observed in four patients who mainly exhibited contralateral focal motor seizures. Conclusion This study indicated that POS could be characterized by initial specific somatosensory sensations, followed by either frequently nocturnal hypermotor seizures or contralateral focal motor seizures. The distinctive seizure semiology depended on the organization of two primary epileptogenic networks. This article is part of the Special Issue "Individualized Epilepsy Management: Medicines, Surgery and Beyond. Highlights • Parietal operculum seizures were characterized by initial specific somatosensory sensations, followed by either frequently nocturnal hypermotor seizures or contralateral focal motor seizures. • Two subgroups of epileptogenic networks could be identified within parietal operculum seizures: mesial frontal/cingulate networks and perisylvian networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanophotocatalyst is a promising candidate for degrading organic pollutants but has an extremely low photocatalytic activity under nature sunlight. In this work, flower-like MoS 2 quantum dots/ZnO (MQ/ZnO) nanospheres with the size of approximately 1.26 μm are prepared at low temperature. The resultant flower-like MQ/ZnO nanospheres displayed higher photocatalytic activity than pure ZnO nanospheres under natural sunlight and without stirring, with the decomposition rate of the MQ/ZnO composites approximately 3.3 times higher than that of the pure ZnO nanospheres. Furthermore, the introduction of MoS 2 QDs endowed ZnO nanospheres with optical memory ability. The enhanced sunlight-driven photocatalytic activity is dependent on the unique electrical properties of MoS 2 QDs and the synergistic effect between ZnO and MoS 2 QDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, novel covalent organic framework modified polyacrylonitrile electrospun nanofibers (denoted: PAN@COF(TFP- p -PDA) nanofibers) was prepared and used as adsorbent of pipette tip solid-phase extraction (PT-SPE) for the effective extraction of estrogens in milk followed by high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detector (HPLC-FLD). The PAN@COF(TFP- p -PDA) nanofibers was prepared via a secondary growth method for the first time. The characterization results of PAN@COF(TFP- p -PDA) nanofibers showed that a continuous, dense and uniform COFs layer was grown on the surface of PAN electrospun nanofibers, and PAN@COF(TFP- p -PDA) nanofibers had high Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) specific surface area (303.91 m2 g−1). Several important parameters of PT-SPE affecting the extraction efficiency were systematically studied, and the optimized conditions were comprised of 8 mg PAN@COF(TFP- p -PDA) nanofibers, pH 7 and 1.5 mL of 15% ammonia-acetonitrile (V:V) as elution solvent. Under optimal conditions, the linear range of the tested estrogen was estimated from 1.13 to 100 ng mL−1 with correlation coefficient larger than 0.997. The limits of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were calculated as 0.34–0.57 ng mL−1 and 1.13–1.9 ng mL−1, respectively. The practicality of the developed analytical method was verified through determination of estrogens in milk samples, satisfactory recoveries (87.0%−114.8%) were obtained with relative standard deviations (RSDs) smaller than 8.6%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a novel three-dimensional zinc-based metal-organic framework (Zn-MOF), i.e., {Zn 2 (L) 2 (DMF) 2 H 2 O} n (L = 2,5-bis(phenylamino)-1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid) was designed and developed under solvothermal condition. As a proof-of-principle, a π-conjugated framework of carboxylate ligand capable of “bottom up” synthesis was integrated with metal ion to construct a novel MOF for sensing applications. As expected, the synthesized Zn-MOF exhibited fluorescence enhancement for cadmium ion (Cd 2+ ) and sensing of nitrobenzene (NB) through fluorescence quenching. The detection limits were calculated to be 0.12 μM for Cd 2+ and 1.19 μg mL −1 for NB based on signal-to-noise ratio of 3:1. Moreover, various techniques and density functional theory investigations verified that the possible sensing mechanisms for Cd 2+ and NB included ion exchange and photoinduced electron transfer, respectively. Finally, their practical applications on real samples also demonstrated that the Zn-MOF-based sensor can be effectively utilized for detection and imaging of Cd 2+ present in the real water samples and living cells. This study may inspire future research and design of target fluorescent MOFs with specific functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fe2O3-assisted pyrolysis has been demonstrated to be a cost-effective thermal desorption (TD) technology. Lurgi-Thyssen dust (LTD) is a type of steel slag waste that contains a large amount of Fe2O3. In this study, to reduce energy consumption, LTD was added to contaminated soil to evaluate the feasibility of enhancing the TD removal efficiency of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). The DEHP removal rate increased by 22.39% after adding 2% LTD at 200 °C for 20 min. Because of the catalytic pyrolysis of LTD, DEHP was pyrolyzed to form three types of short-chain esters: mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), di (2-methylbutyl) ester, and methyl 2-ethylhexyl phthalate. The pyrolysis products of DEHP were less toxic and did not affect soil reuse. When the DEHP removal rate was 87.10%, LTD addition decreased the temperature and residence time of TD and alleviated the effect of TD on the soil physicochemical properties. Additionally, the desorption of DEHP from soil fitted the pseudo-second-order kinetic model well. Thus, the addition of LTD to contaminated soil enhanced the efficiency of TD remediation. Moreover, this study could provide a practical and economical strategy for LTD reuse. • Thermal desorption of di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate involved volatilization, pyrolysis. • Lurgi-Thyssen dust improved the thermal desorption remediation effect. • The catalysis includes alkyl bond breakage, ester hydrolysis, carboxyl methylation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phospholipids and hyaluronan have been implied to fulfil important roles in synovial joint lubrication. Since both components are present in synovial fluid, self-assembly structures formed by them should also be present. We demonstrate by small angle X-ray scattering that hyaluronan associates with the outer shell of dipalmitoylphophatidylcholine (DPPC) vesicles in bulk solution. Further, we follow adsorption to silica from mixed hyaluronan/DPPC vesicle solution by Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation measurements. Atomic Force Microscope imaging visualises the adsorbed layer structure consisting of non-homogeneous phospholipid bilayer with hyaluronan/DPPC aggregates on top. The presence of these aggregates generates a long-range repulsive surface force as two such surfaces are brought together. However, the aggregates are easily deformed, partly rearranged into multilayer structures and partly removed from between the surfaces under high loads. These layers offer very low friction coefficient (<0.01), high load bearing capacity (≈23 MPa), and self-healing ability. Surface bound DPPC/hyaluronan aggregates provide a means for accumulation of lubricating DPPC molecules on sliding surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catalytic hydrogenation of CO 2 to methane was investigated over Ru/rutile TiO 2 , focusing on the influence of the pretreatment temperature on the activity. Rutile TiO 2 stabilized Ru nanoparticles even after pretreatment at 800 °C; therefore it was possible to establish the structure–activity relationship without considering the particle size effect. The CO 2 turnover frequency initially increased with increasing pretreatment temperature from 300 to 800 °C, and reached a maximum value of 1.59 s −1 on Ru/rutile TiO 2 pretreated at 600 °C; it decreased to 1.16 s −1 for the sample pretreated at 800 °C. The characterization results indicated that the activity depended on both the extent of encapsulation of Ru particles by TiO x layers and the number of hydroxyl groups on the TiO x surface. The mechanism of CO 2 methanation was discussed based on in situ diffuse-reflectance infrared Fourier-transform spectroscopy results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) plays a central role in regulating the activities of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in the presence of a variety of stressful stimuli via binding to its type 1 receptors (CRFR1). Despite that many peptidic or non-peptidic antagonists of CRFR1 have been developed to serve as therapeutic tools to CRF-related pathologies, none of them have been utilized clinically. Targeting the extracellular domain 1 (EC1) of CRFR1, the CRF-binding site, represents a new strategy to inhibit the function of the receptor. However, no such agents have been identified up to now. Herein, by using an 87-amino acid fragment corresponding to the EC1 region as the bait, we screened the binding polypeptides from a phage display (Ph.D.-12) peptide library. After 3-round biopanning, positive clones were selected and the polypeptides carried by them were identified. 5 polypeptides were found to bind with the target specifically. Among them, the P7 exhibited the highest affinity. By evaluating the cAMP accumulation in the CRFR1 or CRFR2-expressing HEK293 cells, we demonstrated that P7 blocking the function of CRFR1, but not CRFR2. In addition, we also found that P7 and CRF act on CRFR1 competitively. Taken together, we reveal that P7, a novel polypeptide identified from phage display library, inhibits the function of CRFR1 effectively and specifically by binding at its EC1 domain. The new polypeptide might provide a promising agent for diagnostic or therapeutic utilities in CRF-related disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of substrate curvature on structural, optical properties of Cu, Co codoped ZnO thin films were investigated in this study. XRD analysis indicated that the crystal quality of the ZnO films could been influenced by the substrate curvature. The biaxial stress of our samples was measured by side-inclination X-ray diffraction technique. The results indicated that the type of the stress was biaxial compressive stress. Optical absorption spectra showed the absorption edge of our samples displayed blueshift with decreasing substrate curvature. Gauss fit for PL emission spectra showed that the substrate curvature affected the PL properties of the Cu, Co codoped ZnO thin films deposited on polystyrene particles. The various substrates induced defect-related emission increased in visible region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate effect of Hong Qu on flavor and quality of Hakka yellow rice wine (Hakka Huangjiu). Volatile components of three kinds of Hakka Huangjiu with or without adding Hong Qu were analyzed by solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Their non-volatile components were also detected by liquid chromatography quadrupole Orbitrap mass spectrometry (LC-Q-Orbitrap-MS). Results indicated that there were great differences in flavor components among three wines. Among them, the main difference components between traditional Hakka Huangjiu and Hakka Huangjiu without adding Hong Qu were isoamyl alcohol, phenylethanol, isobutyl acetate, isobutyl alcohol, ethyl palmitate and ethyl decanoate. In Hakka Huangjiu, esters were the most volatile components, followed by alcohols, while acids were less. Under NEG and POS modes of LC-Q-Orbitrap-MS, a total of 765 and 1244 components were detected in three kinds of Hakka Huangjiu, respectively. Among 217 kinds of polypeptides detected, the content of 160 kinds of polypeptides in Hakka Huangjiu adding only with Hong Qu was higher than that of traditional Hakka Huangjiu and Hakka Huangjiu without adding Hong Qu. Amino acids and polypeptides contents in Hakka Huangjiu brewed only with Hong Qu and traditional Hakka Huangjiu co-fermented with Hong Qu were relatively high. • Effect of Hong Qu on flavor and quality of Hakka Huangjiu was firstly reported. • Hakka Huangjiu added with Hong Qu had relatively high amino acid and polypeptide. • The tripeptide Gly-Leu-Phe was firstly identified in Hakka Huangjiu by LC-Q-Orbitrap-MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Existing methods for computing the semantic similarity between Gene Ontology (GO) terms are often based on external datasets and, therefore are not intrinsic to GO. Furthermore, they not only fail to handle identical annotations but also show a strong bias toward well-annotated proteins when being used for measuring similarity of proteins. Inspired by the concept of cellular differentiation and dedifferentiation in developmental biology, we propose a shortest semantic differentiation distance (SSDD) based on the concept of semantic totipotency to measure the semantic similarity of GO terms and further compare the functional similarity of proteins. Using human ratings and a benchmark dataset, SSDD was found to improve upon existing methods for computing the semantic similarity of GO terms. An in-depth analysis shows that SSDD is able to distinguish identical annotations and does not depend on annotation richness, thus producing more unbiased and reliable results. Online services can be accessed at the Gene Functional Similarity Analysis Tools website (GFSAT: http://nclab.hit.edu.cn/GFSAT). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper, we synthesized the transition metal ions (Mn, Cu, Fe) doped and co-doped ZnS nanowires (NWs) by a one-step hydrothermal method. The results showed that the solid solubility of the Fe2+ ions in the ZnS NWs was about two times larger than that of the Mn2+ or Cu2+ ions in the ZnS NWs. There was no phase transformation from hexagonal to cubic even in a large quantity transition metal ions introduced for all the samples. The Mn2+/Cu2+/Fe2+ related emission peaks can be observed in the Mn2+,Cu2+ and Fe2+ doped ZnS NWs. The ferromagnetic properties of the co-doped samples were investigated at room temperature. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Hydrous hydrazine, such as hydrazine monohydrate (N2H4·H2O), is a promising hydrogen carrier material due to its high content of hydrogen (8.0wt%). The decomposition of hydrous hydrazine to H2 with a high selectivity and a high activity under mild conditions is the key to its potential usage as a hydrogen carrier material. Platinum-modified Ni/Al2O3 catalysts (NiPt x /Al2O3) were prepared starting from Ni–Al hydrotalcite and tested in the decomposition of hydrous hydrazine. Compared with Ni/Al2O3, the TOF was enhanced sevenfold over NiPt0.057/Al2O3; meanwhile, the selectivity to H2 was increased to 98%. Characterization results by means of HAADF-STEM, XRD, and EXAFS revealed the presence of surface Pt–Ni alloy in this Pt-promoted catalyst. The formation of Pt–Ni alloy could significantly weaken the interaction between adspecies produced (including H2 and NH x ) and surface Ni atoms, which is confirmed by microcalorimetry and TPD results. The weakening effect could account for the greatly enhanced reaction rate, as well as H2 selectivity on NiPt x /Al2O3 catalysts. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Zn0.97Cu0.01V0.02O nanoparticles have been successfully prepared by the sol–gel method and sintered at 600°C in argon and air atmosphere, respectively. The effects of annealing atmosphere on the structural, optical and magnetic properties of the obtained samples were studied. The X-ray diffraction result showed that the Zn0.97Cu0.01V0.02O was single phase with the wurtzite structure of ZnO. The sample annealed in air had much better crystallization. Photoluminescence shows an increase in green emission when annealing in argon. The two Zn0.97Cu0.01V0.02O samples exhibited ferromagnetism at room temperature. The ferromagnetism in this study was itself property of Cu, V co-doped ZnO and not originated from the secondary phase. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Cr-doped zinc oxide (Zn1−x Cr x O, 0≤x≤0.08) diluted magnetic semiconductors have been synthesized successfully by the sol–gel method. Investigations on magnetic, optical and structural properties of the produced samples have been done. Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) shows the existence of Cr ion in the Cr-doped ZnO. The results of X-ray diffraction (XRD), the transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) indicate that the Cr ions are at least partially substitutionally incorporated into the crystal lattice of ZnO. The produced samples show good high-T c (Curie temperature) ferromagnetism (FM) in Cr-doped ZnO nanoparticles with Cr concentration of less than 5at%. The results of photoluminescence (PL) further testify that FM is an intrinsic property of the Cr-doped ZnO nanoparticles. And the occurrence of FM should mainly contribute to the Cr doping. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Displacement is a good descriptor of the structural behavior. • Displacement is not the direct output of the accelerometer. • Online displacement extraction by the interaction of multiple simple models. • Interaction multiple model Kalman filter for significant displacement extraction. • Segmental integration of accelerometer for slight displacement extraction. Vibration detection and displacement extraction of structures are of great significance to structural health monitoring(SHM). Accelerometers are one of the most widely used sensors in SHM, but displacement is not the direct output of accelerometers. There has been substantial research undertaken on the state parameter estimation of structure. Most studies in the field of structural state estimation have only focused on offline structure analysis. Few empirical studies have focused on online displacement extraction and verification. The present study aimed to explore an adaptive online displacement extraction and vibration detection method with only acceleration measurement. The methodological approach taken in this study is a mixed methodology based on the interactive multiple model (IMM) Kalman filter. Vision-based displacement extraction and segmental integration based displacement extraction are designed as verification schemes. Four groups of experiments were carried out to verify the proposed method. The findings show that the damping vibration model is suitable for capturing obvious vibration, the constant acceleration model is suitable for capturing slight vibration, and the constant position model is suitable for static state tracking. For obvious vibration, the IMM Kalman filter can be effectively performed for displacement extraction and vibration detection. For slight vibration, the performance of the IMM segmental integration is good. It is hoped that this research will contribute to a deeper understanding of displacement extraction and vibration detection in SHM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the nitrogen removal characteristics and metabolic pathway of bacteria in aquatic ecosystem, with a focus on heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic denitrification. The bacteria demonstrated significant heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic denitrification capacity. The highest ammonium-N, nitrate-N, and nitrite-N removal efficiencies were 95.31 ± 0.11%, 98.91 ± 0.05%, and 98.79 ± 0.09%, respectively. The Monod model was used to estimate the maximum rate of substrate utilization (R mo) and the half-saturation concentration (K s) for the two substrates, i.e., ammonium and nitrate. The kinetic coefficients were 3.34 mg/L/d (R mo) and 30.59 mg/L (K s) for ammonium-N, respectively, and 14.23 mg/L/d (R mo) and 215.24 mg/L (K s) for nitrate-N, respectively. The effects of initial nitrogen (ammonium-N or nitrate-N) concentration, temperature, and dissolved oxygen (DO) on nitrogen removal rate were investigated using response surface methodology (RSM), and the optimal conditions for nitrogen removal were determined. The principal nitrogen removal pathway of the bacteria was proposed as complete heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic denitrification, which was performed by six key genera: Arthrobacter , Pseudomonas , Rhodococcus , Bacillus , Massilia , and Rhizobium. Chryseobacterium and other denitrifying species may also reduce nitrification products (NO X −) via aerobic denitrification. • Heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic denitrification were established. • Monod kinetic coefficients indicated great application potential of the well-cultured sediment. • RSM was a reliable method for determining the optimum point for nitrogen removal. • Complete heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic denitrification was the principle nitrogen removal pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]