Search

[Display omitted] Cu doped CeO 2 (Cu-CeO 2) nanoparticles were synthesized via the hydrothermal method, exhibiting multiple nanozyme activities such as good oxidase-like (OXD), peroxidase-like (POD) and catalase-like (CAT) activities. These Cu-CeO 2 nanoparticles were successfully utilized to modulate the levels of oxygen and hydrogen peroxide in cells. The OXD and POD mimics showed optimal at pH of 3.5 and 4.0, but their activities significantly decreased under neutral or slightly acidic conditions. On the other hand, the CAT activity was excellent at pH 6.5, while the OXD and POD mimics were less effective. These findings demonstrated that nanozyme activity of Cu-CeO 2 nanoparticles is pH-dependent. Consequently, within the microenvironment of tumor cells, the CAT can efficiently catalyze the conversion of H 2 O 2 into O 2 , unaffected by H 2 O 2 /O 2 consuming mimics. Both oxygen indicator and oxygen tester measurements confirmed a significant increase in O 2 levels in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Furthermore, confocal microscopic imagings using fluorescence probes for H 2 O 2 and O 2 validated the variations of H 2 O 2 /O 2 in cells. This study highlights the ability of Cu-CeO 2 to regulate intracellular reactive oxygen levels and its tremendous potential in nanotherapy and alleviating tumor hypoxia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine casualties are increasing, and mortality from trauma associated with immersion in seawater is high. However, the associated pathophysiological characteristics remain unclear, limiting research into the early emergency treatment strategy. Healthy and 50% hemorrhagic shock rats were soaked in 15°C and 21°C seawater for 2 h, 4 h and 6 h, respectively, and the effects on vital signs, internal environment, tissue metabolism, lethal triad, vital organ functions and survival were observed. Immersion in seawater can cause death in healthy rats. Rats with hemorrhagic shock in 15°C seawater showed a lower survival rate than the corresponding groups in 21°C seawater. Moreover, compared with 21°C seawater, 15°C seawater played a more remarkable role in decreasing mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and respiration rate, increasing water content and decreasing Na+/K+-ATPase activity in the brain and lung; increase in plasma osmolality, Na+, K+, Cl−, and the occurrence of the lethal triad manifested by a decrease in core body temperature, pH, lactate, and an increase in coagulation parameters, as well as damage to cardiac, intestinal, hepatic, and renal functions in rats with hemorrhagic shock. Immersion in seawater at low temperatures could be lethal to healthy rats, causing the occurrence of a lethal triad and damage to vital organs. Furthermore, 15°C-seawater had a more significant effect than 21°C-seawater on aggravating the imbalance of internal environment and tissue metabolism, resulting in a higher incidence of the lethal triad and thus aggravating the dysfunctions of vital organs, which eventually resulted in higher mortality in rats with hemorrhagic shock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recovering clear structures from severely blurry inputs is a huge challenge due to the detail loss and ambiguous semantics. Although segmentation maps can help deblur facial images, their effectiveness is limited in complex natural scenes because they ignore the detailed structures necessary for deblurring. Furthermore, direct segmentation of blurry images may introduce error propagation. To alleviate the semantic confusion and avoid error propagation, we propose utilizing high-level vision tasks, such as classification, to learn a comprehensive prior for severe blur removal. We propose a feature learning strategy based on knowledge distillation, which aims to learn the priors with global contexts and sharp local structures. To integrate the priors effectively, we propose a semantic prior embedding layer with multi-level aggregation and semantic attention. We validate our method on natural image deblurring benchmarks by introducing the priors to various models, including UNet and mainstream deblurring baselines, to demonstrate its effectiveness and generalization ability. The results show that our approach outperforms existing methods on severe blur removal with our plug-and-play semantic priors. • A severe blur removal framework with learning a comprehensive semantic prior with global contexts and sharp local details in the natural dynamic scene has been proposed. • The semantic prior learning strategy is built relying on the knowledge distillation by the cross-level feature transferring constraints. • A prior embedding layer with feature aggregation and transformation is proposed to utilize the semantic prior effectively. • The plug-and-play semantic priors boost the performance of the several current deblurring methods. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We reveal the mechanism of action whereby ambient PM 2.5 promotes kidney injury. Using C57BL/6 mice, the effects of PM 2.5 exposure on the acute kidney injury (AKI) were investigated, including renal function changes, expression of inflammatory cytokines, histopathological changes, as well as activation of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain, leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing 3（NLRP3）. The effects of PM 2.5 on renal injury after NLRP3 inhibition were explored using NLRP3 inhibitor (MCC950) and NLRP3 knockout mice. The effects of PM 2.5 on the inflammatory response of renal macrophages were investigated at the cellular level. PM 2.5 exposure could promote kidney injury, NLRP3 activation and inflammatory response in mice. After using MCC950 and NLRP3 knockout mice, the effects of PM 2.5 and the kidney injury could be inhibited. The cellular-level results also suggested that MCC950 could inhibit the effects of PM 2.5. PM 2.5 can promote the progression of AKI and aggravate tissue inflammation through NLRP3, which is an important environmental toxicological mechanism of PM 2.5. • PM 2.5 can promote the progression of AKI and aggravate tissue inflammation through NLRP3. • PM 2.5 promotes the renal macrophage inflammation by activating NLRP3. • NLRP3 is a crucial action target for PM 2.5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) has been linked to an increased incidence and mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the impact of PM 2.5 exposure on HCC progression and the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effects of PM 2.5 exposure on the stem cell-like properties of HCC cells. Our findings indicate that PM 2.5 exposure significantly enhances the stemness of HCC cells (p < 0.01). Subsequently, male nude mice were divided into two groups (n = 8/group for tumor-bearing assay, n = 5/group for metastasis assay) for control and PM 2.5 exposure. In vivo assays revealed that exposure to PM 2.5 promoted the growth, metastasis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of HCC cells (p < 0.01). Further exploration demonstrated that PM 2.5 enhances the stemness of HCC cells by inducing cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation (p < 0.05). Mechanistic investigation indicated that elevated intracellular ROS inhibited kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) levels, promoting the upregulation and nucleus translocation of NFE2-like bZIP transcription factor 2 (Nrf2). This, in turn, induced autophagy activation, thereby promoting the stemness of HCC cells (p < 0.01). Our present study demonstrates the adverse effects of PM 2.5 exposure on HCC development and highlights the mechanism of ROS/Nrf2/Keap1-mediated autophagy. For the first time, we reveal the impact of PM 2.5 exposure on the poor prognosis-associated cellular phenotype of HCC and its underlying mechanism, which is expected to provide new theoretical basis for the improvement of public health. [Display omitted] ● PM 2.5 exposure induces the stem cell-like properties of hepatocellular carcinoma. ● PM 2.5 induces the stemness of HCC via ROS-dependent autophagy activation. ● PM 2.5 -generated ROS activates autophagy via the Nrf2/Keap1 pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Body size is closely related to the trophic level and abundance of soil fauna, particularly nematodes. Therefore, size-based analyses are increasingly prominent in unveiling soil food web structure and its responses to anthropogenic disturbances, such as livestock grazing. Yet, little is known about the effects of different livestock on the body size structure of soil nematodes, especially in grasslands characterized by local habitat heterogeneity. A four-year field grazing experiment from 2017 to 2020 was conducted in a meadow steppe characterized by typical mosaics of degraded hypersaline patches and undegraded hyposaline patches to assess the impacts of cattle and sheep grazing on the body size structure of soil nematodes within and across trophic groups. Without grazing, the hypersaline patches harbored higher abundance of large-bodied nematodes in the community compared to the hyposaline patches. Livestock grazing decreased large-bodied nematodes within and across trophic groups mainly by reducing soil microbial biomass in the hypersaline patches, with sheep grazing resulting in more substantial reductions compared to cattle grazing. The reduction in large-bodied nematode individuals correspondingly resulted in decreases in nematode community-weighted mean (CWM) body size, nematode biomass, and size spectra slopes. However, both cattle and sheep grazing had minimal impacts on the CWM body size and size spectra of total nematodes in the hyposaline patches. Our findings suggest that livestock grazing, especially sheep grazing, has the potential to simplify soil food webs by reducing large-bodied nematodes in degraded habitats, which may aggravate soil degradation by weakening the bioturbation activities of soil fauna. In light of the widespread land use of grasslands by herbivores of various species and the ongoing global grassland degradation of mosaic patches, the recognition of the trends revealed by our findings is critical for developing appropriate strategies for grassland grazing management. • Ungrazed hypersaline patches harbored more large-bodied nematodes than ungrazed hyposaline patches. • Livestock grazing, especially by sheep, notably decreased large-bodied nematodesacross trophic groups in the hypersaline patches, primarily by reducing soil microbial biomass. • The reduction in large-bodied nematodes led to decreases in nematode community-weighted mean body size, nematode biomass, and size spectra slopes, resulting in simplifed soil food webs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the toxicological mechanism by which perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) induces liver injury via ferroptosis. Primary mouse hepatocytes were treated with LD50 = 55 M PFOS. Their cytotoxicity was detected by CCK-8 and LDH assays, while JC-1 staining was used to identify their mitochondrial membrane potential. GSH-Px, MDA, and SOD levels were determined using kits, and Fe2 + levels were determined using the FerroOrange probe and iron ion assay kit. The DCFH-DA probe was used to examine ROS levels, while Western blot was used to examine protein expressions. After treatment with the ferroptosis inhibitor YL939 and the ROS inhibitor BABTA, the ability of PFOS to induce ferroptosis was observed. In animal experiments, we examined the liver function and the degree of hepatic ferroptosis of mice treated with PFOS as well as their histopathological changes. PFOS could induce hepatocyte ferroptosis, while YL939 and BABTA treatment could inhibit PFOS-induced ferroptosis. PFOS could induce liver injury and increase ferroptosis levels in tissue, while treatment with YL939 and BABTA could inhibit liver injury. PFOS can induce ferroptosis in hepatocytes and cause liver injury in mice, which is its toxicological mechanism. • PFOS can induce ferroptosis in hepatocytes. • PFOS can cause liver injury in mice, which is its toxicological mechanism. • PFOS can trigger hepatocyte injury through ROS-mediated ferroptosis, thereby causing liver injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the adsorption and desorption characteristics of heavy metals in road dust (RD) for the aspect of integrated stormwater management. The chemical fractionations of Cu, Zn, Ni, and Cd were determined by a three-step sequential extraction protocol. Pseudo-first-order and Pseudo-second-order kinetic models, along with Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherms were adopted to simulate the batch experimental data. The proportional shift of metals' chemical fractionations in original RD, adsorption equilibrium, and desorption equilibrium were determined. Results show that RD has a remarkable affinity to adsorb heavy metal within a short time. The adsorption processes were well described by the Pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R 2 = 0.98–0.99) and Freundlich isotherm (R 2 = 0.89–0.98) for most of the given metals indicating that the chemical adsorption was probably the rate-controlling step and the binding energy for each site was not identical. The maximum adsorption capacities for Cu, Cd, Zn, and Ni were 6300 mg kg−1, 5800 mg kg−1, 4000 mg kg−1, and 3200 mg kg−1, respectively. A linear fit to the equilibrium pH and the total amounts of the adsorbed metals indicates a strong pH-dependent adsorption. According to the proportional shift of metals' chemical fractionations during the adsorption and desorption processes, the exchangeable fractions of heavy metals in RD were irreversible. It suggests that a portion of the surface sites of RD would be not exchangeable once it was occupied. Image 1 • Road dust with a finer grain size is an important source of metal ions retention. • A two-stage adsorption kinetic behavior for Cu, Zn, Ni, and Cd was found. • Pseudo-second-order kinetic fitted better to the given metals. • Both of the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were fitted well for Zn, Ni, and Cd. • Metals' exchangeable fractions in road dust could be considered as irreversible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In order to improve the cholesterol-binding capacity (CBC) of foxtail millet bran dietary fiber (FMBDF), xylanase-catalyzed hydrolysis was used. Single-factor experimental design and orthogonal experimental design were applied to optimize the hydrolysis conditions. The optimal hydrolysis conditions were as following: hydrolysis pH 3.8, xylanase dose 50 U/g FMBDF, hydrolysis temperature 50 °C and hydrolysis time 2 h. Under above conditions, the CBC value (11.57 mg/g) of the xylanase modified FMBDF (X-FMBDF) was 2.23 fold of FMBDF (5.19 mg/g). Analysis of monosaccharide composition, infrared spectrum and scanning electron microscopy showed that xylanase treatment could change the monosaccharide composition and microstructure of FMBDF, which contributed to the binding of dietary fiber to cholesterol. It was suggested that enzymatic treatment was a good method to modify the functional properties of dietary fibers. Highlights • Optimal xylanase treatment conditions were obtained. • Xylanase treatment increased cholesterol-binding capacity of dietary fiber. • Infrared spectroscopy and SEM demonstrated the changes of fiber structure. • Xylanase modified fiber functional properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Gastric cancer is one of the prevalent types of cancers and despite improvements in its treatment, the overall survival is still far from descent. The dearth of efficient biomarkers, chemotherapeutic agents and therapeutic targets form a major hurdle in the treatment of the gastric cancer. Accumulating evidences suggest that MicroRNAs (miRs) may prove important therapeutic targets/agents for the management of cancers including gastric cancer. Herein, we examined the expression of miR-19a by qRT-PCR in gastric cancer and attempted to explore its potential role. It was found that the expression of miR-19a is significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced in the gastric cancer tissues as well as the gastric cancer cell lines. Inhibition of miR-19a in gastric cancer cells suppressed the proliferation migration and invasion of the gastric cancer cells. Bioinformatic analysis revealed CUL5 to be the potential target of miR-19a. Contrary, to the expression of miR-19a, the expression of CUL5 was significantly (p < 0.05) downregulated in all the gastric cancer tissues and cell lines. However, inhibition of miR-19a in SNU-16 gastric cancer cells could cause upsurge of CUL5 expression. Overexpression of CUL-5 was found to exhibit similar effects on the proliferation, migration and invasion of the SNU-16 gastric cancer cells as that of miR-19a suppression. Additionally, overexpression of CUL5 could at least partially abolish the effects of miR-19a suppression on the proliferation, migration and invasion of SNU-16 gastric cancer cells. Finally, overexpression of miR-19a caused inhibition of the xenografted tumors in vivo indicating the potential of miR-19a as therapeutic target for gastric cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

External-cavity diode lasers can continuously change the output optical frequency by scanning its optical resonant cavity (ORC), which is a piezoelectric actuated mechanical system. However, due to the hysteresis inherent in the piezoelectric actuator, the displacement response of the ORC exhibits nonlinear behaviour. In addition, the harmonics in input signal near the resonance frequencies of mechanical system will excite the vibration of the ORC. To improve the scanning characteristics of the ORC, a B-spline model is utilised to shape the input trajectory into two parts. Firstly, the nonlinearity error in the displacement response of the ORC is approximated by a B-spline model to generate a compensation voltage for the piezoelectric actuator. Secondly, the inflection-point region of the input trajectory is shaped by optimising the B-spline control points based on a frequency domain objective function to significantly reduce the energy of the resonance frequencies in input signal. The experimental results show that the B-spline shaped input trajectory significantly reduces the nonlinearity and suppresses the vibration of the displacement response of the ORC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aimed to investigate the impact of PM2.5 exposure on acute liver injury C57BL/6 mice were used to examine the hepatic histopathological changes in PM2.5-exposed mice, as well as in CCl4-mediated acute liver injury mice after long-term exposure to PM2.5. During in vitro experiments, Kupffer cells were detected for M1 polarization level after treating with PM2.5, and the activation level of NLRP3 inflammasomes were assessed. According to our findings, PM2.5 can induce M1 polarization of Kupffer cells in the liver to create an inflammatory microenvironment. Long-term exposure to PM2.5 can aggravate acute liver injury in mice. Treatment with MCC950, an NLRP3 inhibitor, can inhibit the effect of PM2.5. As demonstrated by in vitro analysis, PM2.5 can promote M1 polarization of Kupffer cells. As suggested by our results, long-term exposure to PM2.5 can create an inflammatory microenvironment to aggravate mouse acute liver injury. The effect is related to NLRP3-mediated M1 polarization in Kupffer cells. • PM2.5 can create an inflammatory microenvironment to aggravate acute liver injury. • The effect is related to NLRP3-mediated M1 polarization in Kupffer cells. • PM2.5 exerts its effects through activating NLRP3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoporosis is linked to reduced bone mineral density (BMD) as a major risk factor for fragility fractures. Recent studies indicated an association between BMD and abnormally elevated lipid levels in blood as common indicators for hyperlipidemia. In this study, we assessed the protective effect of paeoniflorin, a phytochemical compound with multiple pharmacological activities, against hyperlipidemia-induced osteoporosis in rats fed a high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet (HCHF). The special diet-fed rats were subjected to an 8-week treatment with either paeoniflorin (20 mg/kg, daily) or vehicle. The control group received a normal diet during the entire study. At study conclusion, serum markers of lipid metabolism and bone turnover were measured. Bone strength was assessed by biomechanical testing, and femurs were scanned using micro-computed tomography to analyze trabecular and cortical bone structure. Interestingly, paeoniflorin controlled the serum lipid profile by significantly decreasing HCHF-induced high levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Paeoniflorin significantly improved trabecular and cortical parameters as well as femur length and width that were negatively affected by HCHF diet. Biomechanical strength testing showed that femurs of HCHF diet-fed rats endured significantly lower force but higher displacement and strain than those of control rats, whereas paeoniflorin reversed the negative effects. Moreover, paeoniflorin rescued osteoblast differentiation and cell spreading activities along with bone turnover markers. In conclusion, HCHF-induced hyperlipidemia caused adverse effects on the bone that were rescued by paeoniflorin treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural byproduct-foxtail millet ( Setaria italic ) bran was explored to extract dietary fiber by enzymatic methods and the physicochemical and functional properties of foxtail millet bran dietary fiber (FMBDF) were investigated. Results revealed that foxtail millet bran was a good source for dietary fiber production. The studies of physicochemical and functional properties showed that the water holding capacity and swelling power of FMBDF were 3.24 g/g and 2.06 ml/g, respectively. Meanwhile, FMBDF exhibited good adsorption capacities to lipophilic substances such as lard (3.34 g/g), peanut oil (2.32 g/g) and cholesterol (5.19 mg/g). Its bile salts adsorption capacity (143.03 μmol/g for sodium cholate and 76.65 μmol/g for sodium taurocholate) indirectly reflected its cholesterol-lowering effect. The chemical composition and microstructure studies of FMBDF demonstrated that these had a lot to do with its functional properties. The results indicate that FMBDF has a great potential to be used as functional ingredient in food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is characterized by a change of glomerular structure and dysfunction of filtration barrier, which significantly accompanied by podocytes apoptosis and glomerular fibrosis. Angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ) induced activation of ERK1/2 signaling plays important roles in causing apoptosis of podocytes in DN kidneys. Previous studies have shown that PRMT1 have a pro-inflammatory function through activating ERK1/2 signaling pathway during development of chronic pulmonary disease, however, its role in DN development has not been investigated. Here, we detected a higher expression of PRMT1 in podocytes of kidneys from DN patients compared with normal kidneys. High glucose administration induced elevation of PRMT1 expression in podocytes, accompanied with higher phosphorylation of ERK and cleaved caspase-3. AMI-1, a selective inhibitor for PRMT1, could block these effects caused by glucose treatment. Administration of AMI-1 also attenuated apoptosis of podocytes during DN development of high-fatty diet-induced diabetic mice. Epithelial to mesenchymal transition during DN development, which characterized by extracellular matrix deposition in podocytes, was also restrained by AMI-1 treatment. Collectively, this study firstly demonstrated that PRMT1 exert podocyte-injury effects in mouse glomerulus through Ang Ⅱ/ERK pathway, which reveals a potential therapeutic target for DN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Research the solubility of Glibenclamide in binary mixed solvents of methanol + water, n -propanol + water, isopropanol + water, and acetonitrile + water. • Extended Hildebrand Solubility Approach was applied to explain co-solvence phenomenon. • The solubility data were correlated by some thermodynamic models. • Some apparent thermodynamic properties were evaluated. Equilibrium solubility of glibenclamide (GCM) in aqueous solutions of methanol, n -propanol, isopropanol, and acetonitrile were studied by static technique at temperatures ranging from 288.15 K to 323.15 K under p = 101.3 kPa. When the composition of cosolvent was constant in the four mixed solvents, GCM solubility increased with the rising temperature. When the temperature was fixed, the GCM mole fraction solubility showed positive dependence on the increasing mass fraction of methanol in methanol + water mixture. While in solutions of n -propanol + water, isopropanol + water, and acetonitrile + water, it first increased as the mass fraction of cosolvent (w) added, at around w = 0.9, the solubility reached a maximum value and then it descended. Thermodynamic models like Jouyban−Acree model, modified Apelblat−Jouyban−Acree model, and CNIBS/R-K model were taken to correlate the equilibrium mole fraction solubility of GCM in four solvent mixtures. The maximum RAD and the RMSD values calculated by the CNIBS/R-K model were found in the mixture of methanol + water and didn't exceeded 7.4 × 10−2 and 1.48 × 10−5, respectively. However, the maximum RAD values obtained by the Jouyban−Acree and modified Apelblat−Jouyban−Acree model were found in the mixture of acetonitrile + water and didn't exceeded 5.57 × 10−2 and 5.55 × 10−2, respectively. The RMSD all didn't exceeded 2.54 × 10−5. Hence, the Jouyban−Acree model and modified Apelblat−Jouyban−Acree model are shown to be superior to the CNIBS/R-K model in this work. The experimental data and model parameters obtained will be helpful for the preparation and purification of GCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) infections result in higher treatment costs and mortality rates. Integrons play important roles in emergence and spread of antibiotic resistant genes. To get a better understand on the effects of integron on CRE resistance, distribution of common carbapenemase genes and class 1 integron in clinical CRE isolates were investigated. Carbapenemase genes, including bla KPC , bla VIM , bla IMP , bla NDM , bla GES , bla VEB and bla OXA-23 , were screened in 161 CRE isolates and subtypes of these genes were confirmed through sequence analysis. Class 1 integron was screened and common promoter and gene cassette arrays were determined by sequencing. The resistant rates to clinical commonly used antibiotics between integron positive and integron negative CRE isolates were compared. Of 161 CRE isolates, the most prevalent carbapenemase gene was bla KPC-2 , which was detected in 139 isolates, including 99 Klebsiella pneumoniae. Class 1 integron was detected in 78 isolates. Twenty different gene cassettes, including two carbapenemase genes bla VEB-1 and bla IMP-4 , and nine different gene cassette arrays, including bla VEB-1 -aadB-arr-2-cmlA5-bla OXA-10 -aadA1 , aadB-catB8-bla OXA-10 -aadA1-dfrA1-aacA4 and bla IMP-4 -qacG-aacA4-catB3 , were detected. Five types of common promoters were identified. Relative weak promoter PcH1 was the dominant type. Resistant rates of CRE isolates containing class 1 integrons to ceftazidime, amikacin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and gentamicin were higher than those without class 1 integrons (P < 0.05). Class 1 integrons play important roles in the emergence and spread of CRE resistance. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of aadB-catB8-bla OXA-10 -aadA1-dfrA1-aacA4 and bla IMP-4 -qacG-aacA4-catB3 in the same Providencia rettgeri isolate and bla VEB-1 -aadB-arr-2-cmlA5-bla OXA-10 -aadA1 in P. rettgeri. • Twenty different gene cassettes, including two carbapenemase genes bla VEB-1 and bla IMP-4 , were detected in this study. • aadB-cat8-bla OXA-10 -aadA1-dfrA1-aacA4 and bla IMP-4 -qacG-aacA4-catB3 were reported for the first time in the same Providencia rettgeri isolate. • Bla VEB-1 -aadB-arr-2-cmlA5-bla OXA-10 -aadA1 was reported for the first time in P. rettgeri. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Evolution of metazoan TMEM16 family has been mainly driven by gene gain and loss. • TMEM16 genes have been under purifying selection in general to maintain the protein structures and physiological functions. • TMEM16A/B orthologs could have either narrow or wide inner gate which may determine the protein function as either CaCC or CaPLSase. • TMEM16 family could be plastic during the evolution since small number of amino acid substitutions are sufficient to switch the protein function. Most of Transmembrane protein 16 (TMEM16) family members function as either a Ca2+-activated Cl- channel (CaCC) or phospholipid scramblase (CaPLSase) and play diverse physiological roles. It is well conserved in eukaryotes; however, the origin and evolution of different subfamilies in Metazoa are not yet understood. To uncover the evolutionary history of the TMEM16 family, we analyzed 398 proteins from 74 invertebrate species using evolutionary genomics. We found that the TMEM16C–F and J subfamilies are vertebrate-specific, but the TMEM16A/B, G, H, and K subfamilies are ancient and present in many, but not all metazoan species. The most ancient subfamilies in Metazoa, TMEM16L and M, are only maintained in limited species. TMEM16N and O are Cnidaria- and Ecdysozoa-specific subfamilies, respectively, and Ctenophora, Xenacoelomorpha, and Rotifera contain species-specific proteins. We also identified TMEM16 genes that are closely linked together in the genome, suggesting that they have been generated via recent gene duplication. The anoctamin domain structures of invertebrate-specific TMEM16 proteins predicted by AlphaFold2 contain conserved Ca2+-binding motifs and permeation pathways with either narrow or wide inner gates. The inner gate distance of TMEM16 protein may have frequently switched during metazoan evolution, and thus determined the function of the protein as either CaCC or CaPLSase. These results demonstrate that TMEM16 family has evolved by gene gain and loss in metazoans, and the genes have been generally under purifying selection to maintain protein structures and physiological functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Targeting antigens encoded by DNA vaccines to the key antigen-presenting cells by chemotactic or growth factors, is an effective strategy for enhancing the potency of DNA vaccinations. Here, we report the effects of chemotactic or growth factors on a DNA vaccine against botulinum neurotoxin serotype A (BoNT/A) in a mouse model. We demonstrated that mice immunized with DNA constructs encoding the Hc domain of BoNT/A (AHc) fused with DC-stimulating Flt3L or MIP-3α cytokines failed to elicit an enhanced or efficacious AHc-specific humoral or protective response in mice. However, the potency of DNA vaccination was significantly modulated and enhanced by co-administration of AHc-expressing DNA with pFlt3L or pMIP-3α, which generated strong immune and protective responses against BoNT/A. Moreover, the enhanced potency was further boosted by co-administration of AHc-expressing DNA with the combination of pFlt3L and pMIP-3α in mice, but not with the Flt3L-MIP-3α fusion molecule, which indicated that co-immunization with both pFlt3L and pMIP-3α could synergistically enhance AHc-specific immune and protective responses against BoNT/A. In summary, our findings indicate that co-administration of plasmids encoding antigen and cytokine rather than administration of plasmids encoding cytokine-antigen fusion is effective to enhance the potency of AHc-expressing DNA vaccine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For screening features in an ultrahigh-dimensional setting, we develop a maximum correlation-based sure independence screening (MC-SIS) procedure, and show that MC-SIS possesses the sure screen property without imposing model or distributional assumptions on the response and predictor variables. MC-SIS is a model-free method in contrast with some other existing model-based sure independence screening methods in the literature. Simulation examples and a real data application are used to demonstrate the performance of MC-SIS and to compare MC-SIS with other existing sure screening methods. The results show that MC-SIS can outperform those methods when their model assumptions are violated, and remain competitive when the model assumptions are satisfied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of the large change in iodine nutrition and other lifestyle in China, there is concern that thyroid nodules (TNs) may become epidemic. However, few data are currently available on the national prevalence of TNs. In addition, whether excess iodine in drinking water is associated with an increased risk of TNs, following universal salt iodization, has been less studied. We aim to estimate a national prevalence of TNs and its association with drinking water iodine. We conducted a national survey of 9,381,032 adults, aged 18 years or older, from 30 provinces and municipalities in China, who underwent a thyroid ultrasound test from January 2018 to December 2018. Crude and standardized prevalence of TNs were estimated. We further evaluated the ecological association between province- or city-specific iodine levels in drinking water and the prevalence of TNs using linear regression. The age-standardized prevalence of TNs in men, women, and both sexes were 29.8%, 44.7%, and 37.1%, respectively. The prevalence increased with age from 22.7% (18–30 years) to 71.5% (≥70 years), and body mass index from 26.1% (<18.5 kg/m2) to 40.8% (≥28 kg/m2). Participants living in the eastern, northern, and northeastern regions had a higher prevalence of TNs (ranged from 38.7% to 43.7%) than those in other regions (ranged from 30.1% to 35.5%). The coastal residents (40.1%) had a higher prevalence of TNs than those in inlanders (35.4%). Higher levels of iodine in drinking water were linearly associated with increased prevalence of TNs, with Pearson correlation coefficients of 0.47 (P < 0.01) in men, 0.40 (P = 0.03) in women, and 0.46 (P = 0.01) in overall participants. This was a nationwide prevalence study of TNs in China, showing that TNs were common health problems, and increased concentration of iodine in drinking water was associated with a higher prevalence of TNs. [Display omitted] • Thyroid nodules (TNs) a prominent thyroid disease in China. High water iodine was associated with prevalence of TNs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fall armyworm (FAW) is a damaging pest of many economic crops. Long-term use of chemical control prompted resistance development to many insecticide classes. Many populations were found to be significantly less susceptible to major Bt toxins expressed in transgenic crops. In this study, a FAW strain collected from Puerto Rico (PR) with 7717-fold Cry1F-resistance was examined to determine if it had also developed multiple/cross resistance to non-Bt insecticides. Dose response assays showed that the PR strain developed 19-fold resistance to acephate. Besides having a slightly smaller larval body weight and length, PR also evolved a deep (2.8%) molecular divergence in mitochondrial oxidase subunit II. Further examination of enzyme activities in the midgut of PR larvae exhibited substantial decreases of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aminopeptidase (APN), 1-NA- and 2-NA-specific esterase, trypsin, and chymotrypsin activities, and significant increases of PNPA-specific esterase and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities. When enzyme preparations from the whole larval body were examined, all three esterase, GST, trypsin, and chymotrypsin activities were significantly elevated in the PR strain, while ALP and APN activities were not significantly different from those of susceptible strain. Data indicated that multiple/cross resistances may have developed in the PR strain to both Bt toxins and conventional insecticides. Consistently reduced ALP provided evidence to support an ALP-mediated Bt resistance mechanism. Esterases and GSTs may be associated with acephate resistance through elevated metabolic detoxification. Further studies are needed to clarify whether and how esterases, GSTs, and other enzymes (such as P450s) are involved in cross resistance development to Bt and other insecticide classes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two lanthanide coordination polymers, namely, {[La(TTTA)(H 2 O) 2 ]·2H 2 O} n (La-TTTA) and [Nd(TTTA)(H 2 O) 2 ]·2H 2 O} n (Nd-TTTA) have been hydrothermally synthesized through the reaction of lanthanide ions (La 3+ and Nd 3+ ) with the flexible tripodal ligand 2,2′,2″-[1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyltris(thio)]tris-acetic acid (H 3 TTTA). La-TTTA and Nd-TTTA are isostructural and both show three dimensional structures. La-TTTA and Nd-TTTA show good recognition of amine molecules via quenching the luminescent intensities in amines emulsions. They can also recognize Fe 3+ , Cu 2+ , Mg 2+ , Cr 3+ and Co 2+ ions with the quenching the peak around 361 nm when the compounds immersed in ionic solutions. The two compounds act as efficient Lewis acid catalysts for the cyanosilylation of benzaldehyde and derivatives in high yields shortly due to the strong Lewis acidity and the possible open sites of the lanthanide ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starch-protein interactions affect the rheological and textural properties of composite gels. The limitations of proteins as food ingredients can be overcome by enzyme modifications. Herein, to investigate the effect of enzyme-modified potato proteins on the properties of protein-starch composite gel food ingredients, we used laccase, peroxidase, or tyrosinase to catalyze the covalent cross-linking of potato protein (PP). Circular dichroism spectroscopy and gel electrophoresis indicated that the secondary structure of PP was altered after enzyme treatment. Laccase-treated PP (LPP) exhibited a stronger degree of cross-linking than peroxidase-treated PP (PPP) and tyrosinase-treated PP (TPP). Texture profile analysis confirmed that the composite gel of LPP and potato starch (LPP/PS) displayed a stable three-dimensional structure compared with PPP/PS, TPP/PS, or native PP/PS (control). Creep recovery of TPP/PS, PPP/PS, and LPP/PS (57.90, 81.77, and 92.08%, respectively) was increased vs. PP/PS (52.57%). The results provide a theoretical basis for improving the properties of potato-based composite gel. • The network of proteins was formed by laccase, peroxidase or tyrosinase. • Enzyme resulted in a significant change of secondary structure of potato proteins. • Laccase-treated potato protein had a stronger degree of cross-linking. • Laccase-treated potato protein/potato starch gels had higher creep recovery. • Laccase-treated potato protein/potato starch had stronger gel network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Previous studies have demonstrated differences among organs in terms of shock-induced vascular reactivity and a role for adenosine A2A receptors (A2ARs) in protection against ischemia/reperfusion injury. However, the contributions of A2ARs to organ-specific vascular reactivity and the protection of vascular responsiveness following shock are currently unknown. Methods: We investigated the role of A2ARs in different arteries, including the left femoral artery (LFA), thoracic aorta (TA), superior mesenteric artery (SMA), right renal artery (RRA), pulmonary artery (PA), and middle cerebral artery (MCA), in hemorrhagic-shock rats. Results: The vascular reactivities of the LFA, SMA, RRA, and MCA increased slightly during early shock and then gradually decreased, whereas those of the PA and TA decreased from the start of shock. Different blood vessels lost vascular reactivity at different rates compared with controls; the LFA had the highest rate of loss (64.51%), followed by the SMA (44.69%), TA (36.06%), PA (37.83%), and RRA (32.33%), whereas the MCA had the lowest rate (18.45%). The rate of loss of vascular reactivity in the different vessels was negatively correlated with A2AR expression levels in normal and shock conditions. The highly selective A2AR agonist CGS 21680 significantly improved vascular reactivity, hemodynamic parameters, and animal survival, whereas the specific antagonist SCH58261 further decreased the shock-induced reduction in vascular reactivity and hemodynamic parameters. Conclusions: A2ARs are involved in the regulation and protection of vascular reactivity following shock. A2AR activation may have a beneficial effect on hemorrhagic shock by improving vascular reactivity and hemodynamic parameters. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper, we introduce the concept of biholomorphic convex mapping of order on the unit ball in a complex Hilbert space . Then we provide some sufficient conditions that a locally biholomorphic mapping is a biholomorphic convex mapping of order ; we give an Alexander type theorem between the subclass of convex mappings and the subclass of starlike mappings on in a Hilbert space. We also study the order of starlikeness of biholomorphic convex mappings of order on in a Hilbert space. Finally, we construct some examples of biholomorphic convex mappings of order on in a Hilbert space by a linear operator. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Midgut trypsins are associated with Bt protoxin activation and toxin degradation. Proteinase inhibitors have potential insecticidal toxicity against a wide range of insect species. This study was conducted to evaluate the interaction of proteinase inhibitors with Bt toxin and to examine midgut trypsin gene profile of Heliothis virescens. A sublethal dose (15ppb) of Cry1Ac, 0.75% soybean trypsin inhibitor, and 0.1% and 0.2% N-α-tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone significantly suppressed midgut proteinase activities, and resulted in reductions in larval and pupal size and mass. The treatment with inhibitor+Bt suppressed approximately 65% more larval body mass and 21% more enzymatic activities than the inhibitor-only or Bt-only. Eleven trypsin-like cDNAs were sequenced from the midgut of H. virescens. All trypsins contained three catalytic center residues (H73, D153, and S231), substrate specificity determinant residues (D225, G250, and G261), and six cysteines for disulfide bridges. These putative trypsins were separated into three distinct groups, indicating the diverse proteinases evolved in this polyphagous insect. These results indicated that the insecticidal activity of proteinase inhibitors may be used to enhance Bt toxicity and delay resistance development. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The tarnished plant bug (TPB) has increasingly become an economically important pest of cotton. Heavy dependence on insecticides, particularly organophosphates and pyrethroids, for TPB control facilitated resistance development to multiple classes of insecticides. To better understand resistance and explore ways to monitor resistance in field populations, this study examined acephate susceptibility and the activities of two major detoxification enzymes in nine field populations collected in the Delta region of Mississippi and Arkansas in 2010. Two Arkansas populations from Reed and Backgate had 3.5- and 4.3-fold resistance to acephate, as compared to a susceptible laboratory strain. Extensive planting of cotton and heavy chemical sprays is a major driving force for resistance development to acephate in Mid-south cotton growing areas. Reduced susceptibility to acephate was highly correlated with elevated esterase activities. The acephate-resistant populations from Backgate, Lula, and Reed consistently had higher (up to 5.3-fold) esterase activities than susceptible populations. Regression analysis of LC50s with kinetic esterase activities revealed a significant polynomial quadratic relationship with R 2 up to 0.89. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) also had elevated activity in most populations, but the variations of GST activities were not significantly correlated with changes of acephate susceptibility. Finally, examination of esterase and GST inhibitors indicated that suppression rates (up to 70%) by two esterase inhibitors in 2010 were slightly lower than those detected in 2006, and ethacrynic acid (EA) inhibited GST effectively in both years. Two other GST inhibitors (sulfobromophthalein and diethyl maleate) displayed significantly lower suppression rates in 2010 than those detected in 2006, suggesting a potential genetic shift in pest populations and a necessity of continued monitoring for insecticide resistance with both bioassay and biochemical approaches. Results indicated that using major detoxification enzyme activities for resistance monitoring may provide insight into acephate resistance in field populations of TPB. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Widespread use of Bt crops for control of lepidopterous pests has reduced insecticide use and provided the tarnished plant bug the opportunity to become a serious pest on mid-South cotton. Organophosphate insecticides have predominantly been used against plant bugs in recent years due to the reduced efficacy of other insecticides. In this study, a biochemical approach was developed to survey enzymatic levels associated with organophosphate resistance levels in field populations of the tarnished plant bug. Forty-three populations were collected from the delta areas of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Three esterase substrates and one substrate each of glutathione S-transferase (GST) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) were used to determine corresponding detoxification enzyme activities in different populations. Compared to a laboratory susceptible colony, increases up to 5.29-fold for esterase, 1.96-fold for GST, and 1.97-fold for AChE activities were detected in the field populations. In addition to the survey of enzyme activities among the populations, we also examined the susceptibility of major detoxification enzymes to several inhibitors which could be used in formulations to synergize insecticide toxicity against the target pests. As much as 52–76% of esterase, 72–98% of GST, and 93% of AChE activities were inhibited in vitro. Revealing variable esterase and GST activities among field populations may lead to a better understanding of resistance mechanisms in the tarnished plant bug. This study also reports effective suppression of detoxification enzymes which may be useful in future insecticide resistance management program for the tarnished plant bug and other Heteropteran pests on Bt crops. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The rovibrational spectrum of the N2–N2O van der Waals complex has been recorded in the N2O ν 1 region (∼1285cm−1) using a tunable diode laser spectrometer to probe a pulsed supersonic slit jet. The observed transitions together with the data observed previously in the N2O ν 3 region are analyzed using a Watson S-reduced asymmetric rotor Hamiltonian. The rotational and centrifugal distortion constants for the ground and excited vibrational states are accurately determined. The band-origin of the spectrum is determined to be 1285.73964(14)cm−1. A restricted two-dimensional intermolecular potential energy surface for a planar structure of N2–N2O has been calculated at the CCSD(T) level of theory with the aug-cc-pVDZ basis sets and a set of mid-bond functions. With the intermolecular distance fixed at the ground state value R =3.6926Å, the potential has a global minimum with a well depth of 326.64cm−1 at =11.0° and =84.3° and has a saddle point with a barrier height of 204.61cm−1 at =97.4° and =92.2°, where is the enclosed angle between the N–N axis (N–N–O axis) and the intermolecular axis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Insecticide resistance mechanisms, including those for Cry proteins (Bt), in Heliothis virescens are not well understood. Sequencing of midgut transcriptomes may facilitate the discovery of the genes responsible for resistance development. In this study, a total of 5856 Sanger sequences were obtained and assembled to 1687 contigs (464) and singletons (1233) with average length of 507bp. Blast similarity search showed that 1372 cDNAs from this study matched different genes or cDNAs in the GenBank and other sequence databases. Blast2go annotation identified 611 highly similar proteins with metabolic and cellular processes as major biological functions and catalytic activity and binding as major molecular functions. At least 143 contigs and singletons were associated with pesticide activation, detoxification, and resistance development. These cDNAs, with average length of 601bp, matched nine groups of pesticide resistance related genes. At least 80 cDNAs coded for Bt resistance related enzymes and potential receptors, including 58 proteinases, 4 cadherins, 13 aminopeptidase, and 5 alkaline phosphatases. Other putative detoxification enzymes included 20 cytochrome P450 oxidases, 11 glutathione S-transferases, 9 esterases, 8 sodium channels, and 15 cytochrome oxidases. Of the 143 contigs and singletons, 111 cDNA sequences seemed to be new resistance candidate gene transcripts in GenBank because they either priorly matched resistance candidate cDNAs of other species, or had low sequence identity with those previously sequenced from H. virescens. This study provides a foundation for future research to develop a gut-specific DNA microarray for analysis of the global changes of gene expression in response to biological and chemical pesticides. Future development resistance management strategies could benefit from this study and help continue research to identify key genes targetable by classic and novel approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: G-frames, which were considered recently as generalized frames in Hilbert spaces, have many properties similar to those of frames, but not all the properties are similar. For example, exact frames are equivalent to Riesz bases, but exact g-frames are not equivalent to g-Riesz bases. In this paper, we firstly give a characterization of an exact g-frame in a complex Hilbert space. We also obtain an equivalent relation between an exact g-frame and a g-Riesz basis under some conditions. Lastly we consider the stability of an exact g-frame for a Hilbert space under perturbation. These properties of exact g-frames for Hilbert spaces are not similar to those of exact frames. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The central mean and central subspaces of generalized multiple index model are the main inference targets of sufficient dimension reduction in regression. In this article, we propose an integral transform (ITM) method for estimating these two subspaces. Applying the ITM method, estimates are derived, separately, for two scenarios: (i) No distributional assumptions are imposed on the predictors, and (ii) the predictors are assumed to follow an elliptically contoured distribution. These estimates are shown to be asymptotically normal with the usual root- convergence rate. The ITM method is different from other existing methods in that it avoids estimation of the unknown link function between the response and the predictors and it does not rely on distributional assumptions of the predictors under scenario (i) mentioned above. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper, we consider the generalized Roper–Suffridge extension operator defined by for , where , , , and we choose the branch of the power functions such that and , , We prove that the set can be embedded in Loewner chains and give the answer to the problem of Liu Taishun. We also obtain that the operator preserves starlikeness or spirallikeness of type α on for some suitable constants , , where is the class of all univalent analytic functions on the unit disc U in the complex plane C with and . [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Post-weaning multi-systemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) has emerged as a major disease that poses a significant threat to the economics of global swine industry. Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is the causal agent of PMWS in pigs. Currently, the prevention of PCV2 infection based on vaccines is limited, and the available vaccines are either killed viral vaccines or recombinant protein based vaccines and not cost effective. The PK-15 cells, which is widely used for PCV2 propagation, is not efficient and heterogeneous in terms of permissivity to viral infection. In order to acquire a homogeneous porcine kidney cell line that can reliably produce PCV2 in high titers, cell clones that show high- (PK15-C1) or low-permissive (PK15-A2) phenotype to PCV2 infection were derived from heterogeneous PK15 parent cells by limiting dilution and cell cloning. Maximum virus titers in PK15-C1, PK15-A2 and PK15 parent cells were 108, 102 and 105 tissue culture infective dose 50 (TCID50)/ml, respectively. The viral proteins of PCV2 were produced and accumulated faster in PK15-C1 cells than those in PK15 parent cells. These results indicate that PK15-C1 cell clone is more permissive to PCV2 infection than PK15 parent cells and thus will be useful for PCV2 replication in vitro, as well as, vaccines, diagnostic and research applications on PCV2. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate in rats, changes in peripheral blood immune cells and mammary tissue after an intramammary infusion of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The results of the study showed that infusion of LPS induced a rapid migration of neutrophils (PMNs) from the blood to mammary alveoli, increased the activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and the concentration of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in mammary tissues, decreased the activity of myeloperoxidase in serum and reduced the CD4+/CD8+ ratio. This is the first report of changes in peripheral blood immune cells and mammary tissue in rat mastitis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Control of the tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois), in cotton in the mid-South relies heavily on pesticides, mainly organophosphates. Continuous and dominant use of chemical sprays has facilitated resistance development in the tarnished plant bug. A natural population in Mississippi with resistance to malathion was studied to examine whether and how glutathione S-transferases (GST) played an important role in the resistance. Bioassays were first conducted to examine synergism of two GST inhibitors. Both ethacrynic acid (EA) and diethyl maleate (DM) effectively abolished resistance and increased malathion toxicity against two resistant strains by more than 2- and 3-fold, whereas incorporation of GST inhibitors did not significantly increase malathion toxicity against a susceptible strain. GST activities were compared in vitro between malathion susceptible and resistant strains by using 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene as a GST substrate. The resistant strain had significantly higher (1.5-fold) GST activity than the susceptible strain. Up to 99%, 75%, and 85% of the GST activities were inhibited by EA, sulfobromophthalein (SBT), and DM, respectively. The GST activities tended to increase from May to October by 1.76-fold. All three inhibitors significantly suppressed the GST activity to a constant low level over the season. Further examination of GST cDNA indicated that in the coding region only one nucleotide variation was revealed between the susceptible and resistant strain. This variation did not cause a protein sequence change, and an identical amino acid sequence was predicted for both strains. Multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis showed that the 216-residue GST from the tarnished plant bug was highly similar (up to 68% of amino acid sequence identity) to the GSTs from other insects, which conferred organophosphate resistance. GST gene expression levels were examined using real-time PCR, and the results indicated that GST gene transcripts were elevated in the resistant strain by 1.3-fold. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper, a new class of biholomorphic mappings named “ε quasi-convex mapping” is introduced in the unit ball of a complex Banach space. Meanwhile, the definition of ε-starlike mapping is generalized from to . It is proved that the class of ε quasi-convex mappings is a proper subset of the class of starlike mappings and contains the class of ε starlike mappings properly for some . We give a geometric explanation for ε-starlike mapping with and prove that the generalized Roper–Suffridge extension operator preserves the biholomorphic ε starlikeness on some domains in Banach spaces for . We also give some concrete examples of ε quasi-convex mappings or ε starlike mappings for in Banach spaces or . Furthermore, some other properties of ε quasi-convex mapping or ε-starlike mapping are obtained. These results generalize the related works of some authors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper, we give a necessary and sufficient condition that a locally biholomorphic mapping f on the unit ball B in a complex Hilbert space X is a biholomorphic convex mapping, which improves some results of Hamada and Kohr and solves the problem which is posed by Graham and Kohr. From this, we derive some sufficient conditions for biholomorphic convex mapping. We also introduce a linear operator in purpose to construct some concrete examples of biholomorphic convex mappings on B in Hilbert spaces. Moreover, we give some examples of biholomorphic convex mappings on B in Hilbert spaces. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A few biholomorphic convex mappings on the unit ball in for are known. In this paper, we shall prove some sufficient conditions for biholomorphic convex mappings on Reinhardt domain in . Some results of Roper and Suffridge, Hamada and Kohr on are extended to . From these, we may construct some concrete biholomorphic convex mappings on . [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) is a widely used model of human rheumatoid arthritis (RA) characterized by chronic inflammation of the synovial joints. The pathogenesis of RA and CIA has not been completely defined, but both involve the recruitment of leukocytes and lymphocytes to the joints and Th1-type cell mediated autoimmune responses. The C–C chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) is preferentially expressed on Th1 cells and has been strongly implicated in inflammatory process through trafficking of leukocytes and lymphocytes into the sites of inflammation. We investigated the role of the CCR5 in CIA using CCR5 knockout mice (CCR5−/−) in which we analyzed the consequences of CCR5 deficiency for the immune response and inflammation. We found that CCR5−/− mice showed a significant reduction in the incidence of CIA after collagen II (CII)-immunization as compared to wild-type (CCR5+/+) mice. The reduced incidence seen in CCR5−/− mice was associated with these animals having significantly lower IgG levels, especially IgG2a and IgG2b antibodies against CII, as well as an obviously augmented IL-10 production in splenocytes. Overproduction of MIP-1β in CCR5-deficient mice after CII-immunization may contribute partially to the occurrence of arthritis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: HIV-related peripheral neuropathy is a major neurological complication of HIV infection, although little is known about its pathogenesis. We amplified HIV-1 C2V3 envelope sequences from peroneal nerves obtained from HIV/AIDS patients. Sequence analysis and infectious recombinant viruses containing peripheral nerve-derived C2V3 sequences indicated a predominance of CCR5-dependent and macrophage-tropic HIV-1, although dual tropic viruses using both CCR5 and CXCR4 were identified. The neuropathogenic effects of recombinant HIV-1 clones were investigated using a novel dorsal root ganglion culture system that was comprised of sensory neurons, macrophages and Schwann cells from transgenic rats expressing human CD4 and CCR5 on monocytoid cells. Despite restricted viral replication, HIV-1 infection caused a reduction in the percentage of neurons with neuritic processes together with significant neurite retraction, which was accompanied by induction of IL-1β and TNF-α expression, depending on the individual virus. Our results suggest that HIV-1 infection of the peripheral nervous system causes axonal degeneration, possibly through the induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN) is a T cell-mediated autoimmune disease of the peripheral nervous system that duplicates the clinical, pathological, and electrophysiological features of Guillain–Barre´ syndrome in humans. However, the molecular pathogenesis of EAN remains controversial. Therefore, for this study, we induced EAN with P0 protein peptide 180–199 in CD4−/−, CD8−/−, CD4−8−, and B cell knockout (μMT) mice to further investigate the roles of these cells in EAN. Our results showed that the severity of clinical signs and histopathological manifestations of EAN and the T cell response to P0 peptide 180–199 in CD4−/− mice were significantly lower than those in their wild-type counterparts. CD8−/− mice also had a milder clinical course, less histopathological change, and a diminished T cell response to P0 peptide 180–199. However, more severe clinical and histopathological manifestations, a stronger T cell response to P0 peptide 180–199, and enhanced IFN-γ production in the spleen were observed in the EAN of CD4−8− and μMT mice, but these were not obviously different from those of wild-type mice. Levels of IgG production were similar in sera from CD4−/−, CD8−/−, and CD4−8−, and wild-type mice. These findings suggest that the induction and control of murine EAN are dependent on both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and that B cells apparently do not perpetuate the related inflammatory demyelination. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Although many toxicological evaluations have been conducted for honey bees (Apis mellifera), most of these studies have only focused on the effects of individual chemicals. However, honey bees are usually exposed to pesticide mixtures under field conditions. In this study, we examined the effects of individual pesticides and mixtures of clothianidin (CLO) with eight other pesticides [carbaryl (CAR), thiodicarb (THI), chlorpyrifos (CHL), beta -cyfluthrin (BCY), gamma -cyhalothrin (GCY), tetraconazole (TET), spinosad (SPI) and indoxacarb (IND)] on honey bees using a feeding method. Toxicity tests of a 4-day exposure to individual pesticides revealed that CLO had the highest toxicity to A. mellifera, with an LC 50 value of 0.24 μg a.i. mL-1, followed by IND and CHL with LC 50 values of 3.40 and 3.56 μg a.i. mL-1, respectively. SPI and CAR had relatively low toxicities, with LC 50 values of 7.19 and 8.42 μg a.i. mL-1, respectively. In contrast, TET exhibited the least toxicity, with an LC 50 value of 258.7 μg a.i. mL-1. Most binary mixtures of CLO with other pesticides exerted additive and antagonistic effects. However, all the ternary mixtures containing CLO and TET (except for CLO+TET+THD) elicited synergistic responses to bees. Either increased numbers of components in the mixture or/and a unique mode of action appeared to be responsible for the higher toxicity of mixtures. Our findings emphasized the need for risk assessment of pesticide mixtures rather than the individual chemicals. Our data also provided information that might help growers avoid increased toxicity and unnecessary injury to pollinators. [Display omitted] • Nine pesticide exerted significant different feeding (oral) toxicities to honey bees. • Interactive patterns were revealed in mixtures of clothianidin with 8 pesticides. • Scale of aggravated toxicity add as the number of components in mixture increase. • Data are valuable for guiding pesticide selection and minimizing risks to bees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Di-2-ethylhexyl phosphate (DEHP) and its main toxic metabolite mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) are the typical endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and widely affect human health. Our previous research reported that synthetic nonionic dietary emulsifier polysorbate 80 (P80, E433) had the promotional effect on the oral absorption of DEHP in rats. The aim of this study was to explore its mechanism of promoting oral absorption, focusing on the mucus barrier and mucosal barrier of the small intestine. A small molecule fluorescent probe 5-aminofluorescein-MEHP (MEHP-AF) was used as a tracker of MEHP in vivo and in vitro. First of all, we verified that P80 promoted the bioavailability of MEHP-AF in the long-term and low-dose exposure of MEHP-AF with P80 as a result of increasing the intestinal absorption of MEHP-AF. Afterwards, experimental results from Western blot, qPCR, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence showed that P80 decreased the expression of proteins (mucus protein mucin-2, tight junction proteins claudin-1 and occludin) related to mucus barrier and mucosal barrier in the intestine, changed the integrity of intestinal epithelial cell, and increased the permeability of intestinal epithelial mucosa. These results indicated that P80 promoted the oral absorption of MEHP-AF by altering the intestinal mucus barrier and mucosal barrier. These findings are of great importance for assessing the safety risks of some food emulsifiers and clarifying the absorption mechanism of chemical pollutants in food, especially for EDCs. Unlabelled Image • P80 promoting the bioavailability of MEHP-AF in vivo. • P80 promoting the intestinal absorption and epithelial uptake of MEHP-AF. • P80 altering the mucus barrier and mucosal barrier of small intestine. • P80 increasing the permeability of the small intestine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl), limited by a wide band gap, makes it poor perform in visible-light-driven photodegradation. The novel semiconductor composites of BiOCl/g-C 3 N 4 @UiO-66 composites were first prepared through the facile solvothermal approach. BiOCl/g-C 3 N 4 @UiO-66 photocatalysts were characterized and BiOCl nanoplates and g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets were successful constructed and further decorated on the surface with UiO-66. In comparison with the binary composites and the pure materials, BiOCl/g-C 3 N 4 @UiO-66 exhibits the higher RhB photocatalytic degradation under visible light irradiation. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of BiOCl/g-C 3 N 4 @UiO-66 composites can be attributed to the lower recombination probability of electron-hole pair of the heterojunction, increased surface area for RhB adsorption accomplished with photodegradation process. In this work, novel BiOCl/g-C 3 N 4 @UiO-66 composites were first prepared through the facile solvothermal approach via coating UiO-66 on the surface of BiOCl/g-C 3 N 4. The materials exhibit higher RhB photocatalytic degradation under visible light irradiation, which can be attributed to the lower recombination probability of electron-hole pair of the heterojunction and increased surface area for RhB adsorption accomplished with during photodegradation process. Image 1 • Composited BiOCl with g-C 3 N 4 enhances visible light absorption ability and generate of more photo generated electron-holes. • Enhanced photocatalytic activity of BiOCl/g-C 3 N 4 @UiO-66 has been observed compared to pristine and binary composites. • Coating UiO-66 on the surface of BiOCl/g-C 3 N 4 enhance BET surface area and facilitate electron-hole separation efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High dynamic range (HDR) imaging is to reconstruct high-quality images with a broad range of illuminations from a set of differently exposed images. Some existing algorithms align the input images before merging them into an HDR image, but artifacts of the registration appear due to misalignment. Recent works try to remove the ghosts by detecting motion region or skipping the registered process, however, the result still suffers from ghost artifacts for scenes with significant motions. In this paper, we propose a novel Multi-scale Channel Attention guided Network (MCANet) to address the ghosting problem. We use multi-scale blocks consisting of dilated convolution layers to extract informative features. The channel attention blocks suppress undesired components and guide the network to refine features to make full use of feature maps. The proposed MCANet recovers the occluded or saturated details and reduces artifacts due to misalignment. Experiments show that the proposed MCANet can achieve state-of-the-art quantitative and qualitative results. • A novel channel-attention network for HDR is proposed. • The channel-attention extracts no-ghosting features. • We extract multi-scale features and merge them gradually. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The rovibrational spectrum of H2O–CO2 and D2O–CO2 weakly bound complexes has been measured in the v 2 bend region of the water monomer by infrared diode laser absorption spectroscopy. Rotational and centrifugal distortion constants for different internal rotation states in the excited vibrational state have been determined. The band-origin of the spectrum is blue-shifted from that of the water monomer by 0.739cm−1 for H2O–CO2 and 0.083cm−1 for D2O–CO2, respectively. The tunneling splitting is reduced upon vibrational excitation by 0.00698(31)cm−1 for H2O–CO2 and 0.00044(17)cm−1 for D2O–CO2, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Drug-drug interactions (DDIs) extraction is one of the important tasks in the field of biomedical relation extraction, which plays an important role in the field of pharmacovigilance. Previous neural network based models have achieved good performance in DDIs extraction. However, most of the previous models did not make good use of the information of drug entity names, which can help to judge the relation between drugs. This is mainly because drug names are often very complex, leading to the fact that neural network models cannot understand their semantics directly. To address this issue, we propose a DDIs extraction model using multiple entity-aware attentions with various entity information. We use an output-modified bidirectional transformer (BioBERT) and a bidirectional gated recurrent unit layer (BiGRU) to obtain the vector representation of sentences. The vectors of drug description documents encoded by Doc2Vec are used as drug description information, which is an external knowledge to our model. Then we construct three different kinds of entity-aware attentions to get the sentence representations with entity information weighted, including attentions using the drug description information. The outputs of attention layers are concatenated and fed into a multi-layer perception layer. Finally, we get the result by a softmax classifier. The F-score is used to evaluate our model, which is also adopted by most previous DDIs extraction models. We evaluate our proposed model on the DDIExtraction 2013 corpus, which is the benchmark corpus of this domain, and achieves the state-of-the-art result (80.9% in F-score). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]