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Objective: To study the impact of Gx on quantification of hepatic fat contents under metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) imaged on VIBE Dixon in hepatobiliary specific phase. Methods: Forty-two rabbits were randomly divided into control group (n = 10) and high-fat diet group (n = 32). Imaging was performed before enhancement (Pre-Gx) and at the 13th (Post-Gx13) and 17th (Post-Gx17) min after Gx enhancement with 2E- and 6E-VIBE Dixon to determine hepatic proton density fat fractions (PDFF). PDFFs were compared with vacuole percentage (VP) measured under histopathology. Results: 33 animals were evaluated and including control group (n = 11) and MASLD group (n = 22). Pre-Gx, Post-Gx13, Post-Gx17 PDFFs under 6E-VIBE Dixon had strong correlations with VPs (r2 = 0.8208—0.8536). PDFFs under 2E-VIBE Dixon were reduced significantly (P < 0.001) after enhancement (r2 = 0.7991/0.8014) compared with that before enhancement (r2 = 0.7643). There was no significant difference between PDFFs of Post-Gx13 and Post-Gx17 (P = 0.123) for which the highest consistency being found with 6E-VIBE Dixon before enhancement (r2 = 0.8536). The signal intensity of the precontrast compared with the postcontrast, water image under 2E-VIBE Dixon increased significantly (P < 0.001), fat image showed no significant difference (P = 0.754). Conclusion: 2E- and 6E-VIBE Dixon can obtain accurate PDFFs in the hepatobiliary specific phase from 13 to 17th min after Gx enhancement. On 2E-VIBE Dixon (FA = 10°), effective minimization of T1 Bias by the Gx administration markedly improved the accuracy of the hepatic PDFF quantification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Centromere pairing is crucial for synapsis in meiosis. This study delves into the Skp1-Cullin1-F-box protein (SCF) E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, specifically focusing on F-box protein 47 (FBXO47), in mouse meiosis. Here, we revealed that FBXO47 is localized at the centromere and it regulates centromere pairing cooperatively with SKP1 to ensure proper synapsis in pachynema. The absence of FBXO47 causes defective centromeres, resulting in incomplete centromere pairing, which leads to corruption of SC at centromeric ends and along chromosome axes, triggering premature dissociation of chromosomes and pachytene arrest. FBXO47 deficient pachytene spermatocytes exhibited drastically reduced SKP1 expression at centromeres and chromosomes. Additionally, FBXO47 stabilizes SKP1 by down-regulating its ubiquitination in HEK293T cells. In essence, we propose that FBXO47 collaborates with SKP1 to facilitate centromeric SCF formation in spermatocytes. In summary, we posit that the centromeric SCF E3 ligase complex regulates centromere pairing for pachynema progression in mice.FBXO47 is key component of the centromeric SCF E3 ligase complex that regulates centromere pairing for pachynema progression in mouse spermatocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the value of 99mTc-isonitrile deoxyglucosamine (CNDG) SPECT/CT in the staging and resectability diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) compared with contrast-enhanced CT (CECT). Methods: This research was approved by the hospital ethics review committee. Sixty-three patients with NSCLC received 99mTc-CNDG SPECT/CT, CECT and initial TNM staging before treatment. Thirty-three patients who underwent radical surgery underwent postoperative pathological TNM staging as the reference standard. Another thirty patients underwent radiochemotherapy; among them, the reference standard of 7 patients of N staging and 5 patients of M staging was based on biopsy pathology, and the diagnosis of the remaining lesions was confirmed by at least one different image or clinical imaging follow-up for more than 3 months. The McNemar test and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were used to compare the diagnostic accuracy of staging and resectability of 99mTc-CNDG SPECT/CT and CECT in NSCLC, respectively. Results: For all patients and surgical patients, the accuracies of 99mTc-CNDG SPECT/CT in diagnosing the T stage and N stage were higher than those of CECT (all patients: 90.5%, 88.9% vs. 79.4%, 60.3%; surgical patients: 81.8%, 78.8% vs. 60.6%, 51.5%), and the differences were statistically significant (all patients: T stage, P = 0.016; N stage, P = 0.000; surgical patients: T stage, P = 0.016; N stage, P = 0.004). For all patients, the accuracy of 99mTc-CNDG SPECT/CT in diagnosing the M stage was higher than that of CECT (96.8% vs. 90.5%), but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.289). ROC curve analysis showed that the accuracy of 99mTc-CNDG SPECT/CT in diagnosing the potential resectability of NSCLC was significantly better than that of CECT (P = 0.046). Conclusion: This preliminary clinical study shows that 99mTc-CNDG SPECT/CT is of great value for accurate clinical staging of NSCLC compared with CECT and can significantly improve the accuracy of resectability diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is routinely performed for assessing right ventricular (RV) systolic but not diastolic function. We aimed to investigate CMR-based assessment of RV diastolic function in pediatric patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF), compared to transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) measurements. Methods: A total of 130 consecutive pediatric patients with rTOF who underwent clinically indicated CMR and same-day TTE were included. Forty-three controls were recruited. Phase-contrast images were used to measure trans-tricuspid valve flow velocities during early (E) and late diastolic (A) phases (measured in cm/s). Feature tracking of the tricuspid annulus was performed to derive early (e′) and late diastolic (a′) myocardial velocities (measured in cm/s). RV diastolic function was evaluated by E/A ratio, E/e′ ratio, and E-wave deceleration time (measured in milliseconds). Regression analyses were utilized to identify potential variables associated with RV diastolic dysfunction (DD). The performance of CMR-derived parameters in diagnosing RV DD was assessed using receiver-operating characteristic analyses. Results: Good agreement was found between CMR and TTE measurements (ICC 0.70–0.89). Patients with RV DD (n = 67) showed significantly different CMR-derived parameters including E and e′ velocities, and E/A and E/e′ ratio, compared to patients without DD (n = 63) (all p < 0.05). CMR-derived E and e′ velocities and E/e′ ratio were independent predictors of RV DD. E/e′ of 5.8 demonstrated the highest discrimination of RV DD (AUC 0.76, sensitivity 70%, specificity 86%). Conclusions: CMR-derived parameters showed good agreement with TTE parameters in determining RV DD. CMR-derived E/e′ was proved to be the most effective in identifying RV DD. Clinical relevance statement: This study demonstrated the feasibility and efficacy of CMR in assessing diastolic function in pediatric patients. RV DD was presented in over half of patients according to current TTE guidelines, highlighting the need for assessing RV diastolic function during follow-up. Key Points: • Routinely acquired cine and phase-contrast cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) images yielded right ventricular (RV) diastolic parameters which demonstrated good agreement with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) measurements. • There was a high prevalence of RV diastolic function impairment in pediatric patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF). • CMR is a reliable complementary modality of TTE for RV diastolic function evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation is a promising strategy for osteoporosis treatment. However, limited sources and poor tissue-homing efficiency limit their clinical capabilities. In this study, we isolated a kind of MSCs from women's menstrual blood (MenSCs) noninvasively and established a novel MSCs bone marrow-targeted delivery system by utilizing water-in-oil-in-water droplet microfluidics. MenSCs were encapsulated within β-cyclodextrin-functionalized alginate microcapsules loaded with zoledronates, which has a high affinity for bone. With this delivery system, MenSCs could be preferentially delivered to the bone marrow tissues via intravenous infusion, and restored bone mass by remodeling the bone marrow niche in situ in ovariectomized mouse models. Moreover, scRNA-seq analysis demonstrated that those MenSCs homed to the bone marrow recruited CD4+FOXP3+ natural regulatory T (nTreg) cells by secreting CCL28. The recruited nTreg promoted CD8+ T cells to secret Wnt family member 10B (WNT10B), activating the Wnt signaling in osteoblasts and thus promoting bone formation in situ in the bone marrow. This study reveals a promising application of MenSCs in postmenopausal osteoporosis treatment and highlights the clinical value of MenSCs by encouraging women to reserve autologous MenSCs before menopause to prevent and alleviate postmenopausal osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel cross-linked fluorinated acrylate latex was successfully synthesized via the semi-continuous seeded emulsion polymerization, in which methyl methacrylate (MMA) and butyl acrylate (BA) were used as the main monomers, and dodecafluoroheptyl methacrylate (DFMA) and N–N methylene bisacrylamide (MBA) were used as the fluorine monomer and the cross-linked monomer, respectively. Potassium persulfate (KPS) and mixed surfactants of sodium lauryl sulfate and alkyl alcohol polyether (EFS-470) were used as the initiator and emulsifier, respectively. The structure of resultant latex film was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The latex films were tested by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), contact angle (CA), cross-linked degree and X-ray diffractometer (XRD). The particle size and its distribution of the latex were measured by the nanoparticle size analyzer and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The factors that have an influence on the properties of the latex and the film are investigated in detail. The stability of the resultant latex was good. The average particles of the latex and its distribution were small and uniform, respectively. In comparison with the conventional latex film, the thermal stability and hydrophobicity of the novel latex film were improved obviously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Usually, the traditional acrylate polymer latex, which is used as the binder of the coatings, is a linear polymer and properties of the latex film cannot meet with the demand of the high-grade coatings. Presently, there are few reports on the polyacrylate latex modified by diallyl malate, i.e. butanedioic acid,2-hydroxy-, 1,4-di-2-propen-1-yl ester (BAHD) and long fluorocarbon acrylate monomer such as dodecafluoroheptyl methacrylate (DFMA) in the open literatures. The purpose of this work is that the cross-linked acrylate latex is prepared which DFMA and BAHD are used as the functional monomer and as a cross-linking monomer, respectively. The cross-linked acrylate latex is prepared which methyl methacrylate (MMA) and butyl acrylate (BA) is used as the main monomers and the non-ionic emulsifier isomeric alcohol polyoxyethylene ether (X-407) and the anionic emulsifier sodium dodecyl sulfonate (SDS) are used as emulsifiers. DFMA and BAHD are used as the functional monomer and as a cross-linking monomer, respectively. Factors which have an influence on the properties of the resultant latex and the emulsion polymerization are investigated in detail. The optimal recipe of preparing the latex is obtained as follows: the amount of mixed emulsifiers is 6% and mass ratio of X-470 to SDS is 2:1. When the amount of BAHD is 4.47%, the water absorption rate is reduced greatly. The glass transition temperature is 10 °C. In compassion with the conventional latex, the thermal decomposition temperature is increased by 10 °C. The resultant latex has good stability and small particle size. The latex film exhibits hydrophobicity and the water contact angle is more than 90°. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our recent study, we explored the efficacy of three-dimensional (3D) measurement of tumor volume in predicting the improvement of quality of life (QoL) in patients suffering from renal cell cancer (RCC), who were treated with axitinib and anti-PD-L1 antibodies. This study encompassed 18 RCC patients, including 10 men and 8 women, with an average age of 56.83 ± 9.94 years. By utilizing 3D Slicer software, we analyzed pre- and post-treatment CT scans to assess changes in tumor volume. Patients' QoL was evaluated through the FKSI–DRS questionnaire. Our findings revealed that 3D models for all patients were successfully created, and there was a moderate agreement between treatment response classifications based on RECIST 1.1 criteria and volumetric analysis (kappa = 0.556, p = 0.001). Notably, nine patients reported a clinically meaningful improvement in QoL following the treatment. Interestingly, the change in tumor volume as indicated by the 3D model showed a higher area under the curve in predicting QoL improvement compared to the change in diameter measured by CT, although this difference was not statistically significant (z = 0.593, p = 0.553). Furthermore, a multivariable analysis identified the change in tumor volume based on the 3D model as an independent predictor of QoL improvement (odds ratio = 1.073, 95% CI 1.002–1.149, p = 0.045).In conclusion, our study suggests that the change in tumor volume measured by a 3D model may be a more effective predictor of symptom improvement in RCC patients than traditional CT-based diameter measurements. This offers a novel approach for assessing treatment response and patient well-being, presenting a significant advancement in the field of RCC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic degradation combined with adsorption removal of contaminants is one of the most effective methods of removing TCH P-(CM-β-CD/HPCS/KHA)@AC/TiO2 composite material was prepared by etheration modification of β-Cyclodextrin (β-CD) and combination of activated carbon (AC) and TiO2, the adsorption/photocatalytic degradation behavior of tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) was studied, the P-(CM-β-CD/HPCS/KHA)@AC/TiO2 composites were successfully prepared by FTIR, SEM, XRD and XPS Characterisation tests. At 298 K and pH 4, the removal rate of TCH can reach 98% in 2 h. The adsorption of the composites follows the quasi-second-order kinetic model, which is highly consistent with the Langmuir model, an endothermic and spontaneous adsorption process is formed through intermolecular forces and coordination. Photocatalytic degradation follows the quasi-first order model, the photocatalytic performance was verified in conjunction with TOC testing, and the process was known to be a detoxification process through toxicity testing. Finally, after 10 cycles of treatment, the composite material removed up to 70% of TCH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Zygotic genome activation (ZGA) is an important event in the early embryo development, and human embryo developmental arrest has been highly correlated with ZGA failure in clinical studies. Although a few studies have linked maternal factors to mammalian ZGA, more studies are needed to fully elucidate the maternal factors that are involved in ZGA. Methods and results: In this study, we utilized published single-cell RNA sequencing data from a Dux-mediated mouse embryonic stem cell to induce a 2-cell-like transition state and selected potential drivers for the transition according to an RNA velocity analysis. Conclusions: An overlap of potential candidate markers of 2-cell-like-cells identified in this research with markers generated by various data sets suggests that Trim75 is a potential driver of minor ZGA and may recruit EP300 and establish H3K27ac in the gene body of minor ZGA genes, thereby contributing to mammalian preimplantation embryo development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TiAl alloy is a new kind of lightweight high temperature resistant structural material. Its density is only about half of that of nickel-based superalloy. It is an excellent substitute material for nickel-based superalloy. TiAl alloy is a brittle material that needs to be processed in the plastic domain on the nanoscale. Due to the influence of humidity, a thin water film will inevitably condenses on the processed surface. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the role of humidity in nanofabrication. The results show that when the water layer thickness is 0, 4 Å and 8 Å, the maximum tangential grinding force is 165 nN, 266 nN and 386 nN, and the maximum normal grinding force is 517 nN, 521 nN and 528 nN, respectively. Compared with the normal grinding force, the stress value of tangential grinding force changes more obviously. The variation of the peak value of radial distribution function (RDF) around Al atoms before and after grinding is smaller than that of Ti. From the second peak to the sixth peak, with the increasing of the water layer thickness, the peak of the wave crest gradually decreases. When the grinding wheel is rotating forward, the maximum tangential grinding force is 266 nN and the maximum normal grinding force is 521 nN, when the wheel is rotating backward, the maximum tangential grinding force is 497 nN and the maximum normal grinding force is 451 nN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two natural adsorbent materials, potassium humate (KHA) and montmorillonite (MMT), were successfully prepared by embedding them in sodium alginate (SA) gel spheres through physical cross-linking with CaCl2. And CaCO3 was used as a porogenic agent to prepare the porous composites, KHA/SA/MMT. The materials were characterized by using XRD, TGA, SEM, and N2 adsorption/desorption equipment. The results showed that MMT and KHA were successfully embedded in the SA gel; the introduction of MMT increased the thermal stability of the composites and the embedding of MMT, and the porogenic effect of CaCO3 increased the specific surface area of the composites substantially, which provided favorable conditions for adsorption and treatment of pollutants. In addition, a one-way exploratory experiment yielded a higher removal rate of Rhodamine B (RhB) at D = 0.6 g/L, pH = 5, C0 = 100 mg/L, and t = 360 min. The adsorption kinetics and adsorption isotherm conformed to the secondary kinetic model and Langmuir model, respectively, and the maximum adsorption of RhB by KHA/SA/MMT could reach up to 884.96 mg/g at 303 K. The adsorption mechanism for RhB was shown by FT-IR and XPS analyses to be possibly bound by non-covalent bonding forces. After seven consecutive adsorption–desorption cycles, the adsorption of RhB by KHA/SA/MMT still reached 80.75%. Therefore, the prepared gel spheres have the advantages of easy regeneration and efficient reuse and great potential for application in purifying RhB from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drilling and blasting method used for excavation causes damage to surrounding rock mass, and frequent blasting often leads to cumulative damage effects. Thus, understanding the distribution of Blast-Induced Damage (BID) zone is critical to assess the slope stability of open-pit mines. Herein, this study aims to investigate the cumulative damage effects and safety control criteria on the final wall of the open-pit slope under blasting. The cumulative damage zone was defined using a continuous damage model coupled with tensile damage and Drucker–Prager yield criteria embedded in the finite difference method. The simulation results were validated against field data collected from the Wushan open-pit mine in Inner Mongolia, China. The results demonstrate that the cumulative damage of the final wall exhibited a non-linear decreasing trend from the bench face to the interior of the slope, successfully reproducing the spatial distribution of the BID obtained from the in situ test, and revealing that the maximum cumulative damage depth occurred at the slope crest. Additionally, a safety control criterion for the critical damage zone of open-pit final slope was proposed based on the investigation of the effects of dynamic loading rate and stemming length on excessive overbreak. The results highlight how important it is to account for cumulative damage effects when assessing the final slope stability of an open pit and optimizing the mining design. Highlights: The cumulative damage effects on the final wall of the open-pit under blasting are investigated. A model coupled with tensile damage and Drucker-Prager yield criteria is established and incorporated into finite difference method to simulate the blast-induced damage zone. The subsurface damage depth is obtained using the digital drilling images technology. The dynamic loading rate and stemming length could significantly affect the excessive overbreak along the crest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When interacting with strangers, people tend to draw inferences pertaining to the strangers' personality traits based on their facial information, which leads to differential feelings of trust for the strangers. This study explored whether the weightage which individuals' provide to facial warmth and competence changes with social situations when they have to make decisions based on trust. In experiment 1, a donation context was set, and the participants tended to select a stranger volunteer with feminine face as the recipient of a higher donation amount. In experiment 2, an investment context was set, and while interacting with male trustees, the participants tended to select masculine male faces as recipients of a higher investment amount. However, a contradictory result was obtained when the participants interacted with the female trustees. Participants' perceptions of the trustworthiness of the four kinds of faces (feminine or masculine male faces, feminine or masculine female faces) predicted the corresponding donation and investment amounts. The results indicated that feminine faces (both male and female) were preferred as recipients of donation, and the warmth in the faces was given more weightage in the donation context (warmth perception). In the investment context (competence perception), participants tended to choose masculine faces as recipients of investment amount among the male faces but showed a preference for feminine faces among female faces. The research provides empirical support for a better understanding of the mechanisms behind highly flexible and complex social interactions among humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The H9N2 subtype of the avian influenza virus (AIV) is one of the main subtypes of low pathogenic AIV, and it seriously affects the poultry breeding industry. Currently, vaccination is still one of China’s main strategies for controlling H9N2 avian influenza. In this study, we selected MW548848.1 on the current popular main branch h9.4.2.5 as the reference strain, and we optimized the amino acid sequence of HA1 to make it suitable for expression in Bacillus subtilis. The B. subtilis expression vector showed good safety and stress resistance; therefore, this study constructed a recombinant B. subtilis expressing H9N2 HA1 protein and evaluated its immunogenicity in mice. The following results were obtained: the sIgA level of HA1 protein in small intestine fluid and the IgG level of PHT43-HA1/B. subtilis in serum were significantly improved (P < 0.01); PHT43-HA1/B. subtilis can cause a special immune response in mice; and cytokine detection interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) (P < 0.05) and Interleukin 2 (IL-2) (P < 0.01) expressions significantly increased. Additionally, the study found that PHT43-HA1/B. subtilis can alleviate the attack of H9N2 AIV in the spleen, lungs, and small intestine of mice. This study was the first to use an oral recombinant B. subtilis-HA1 vaccine candidate, and it provides theoretical data and technical reference for the creation of a new live vector vaccine against H9N2 AIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve environmental protection, high removal rates, reusability, and degradability, a carboxymethyl-functionalized porous hydrogel P-(CM-β-CD/HPCS/KHA/AC) was synthesized with carboxymethyl cyclodextrin (CM-β-CD), hydroxypropyl chitosan (HPCS), potassium humate (KHA), and activated carbon (AC) using polyacrylic acid (PAA) as the carrier. The gel materials before and after adsorption were characterized via FTIR, TG, XRD, and XPS. Results showed high adsorption capacity for antibiotics such as tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH). P-(CM-β-CD/HPCS/KHA/AC) hydrogel exhibits optimal TCH adsorption at 298 K with 0.8 g/L of the adsorbent at pH 4, resulting in the highest adsorption capacity of up to 108.81 mg/g, a removal rate of 69%, and an adsorption equilibrium time of 150 min. The maximum swelling ratio is 100.39 times at pH 7. The theoretical values of the TCH adsorption capacity obtained using the quasi-second-order kinetic equation at 298 K, 308 K, and 318 K are 114.8106, 98.4552, and 90.4159 mg/g, respectively, corresponding to the experimental values. The adsorption behavior follows a quasi-second-order kinetic equation, which is in accordance with the Langmuir model. It is driven by electrostatic interactions, π–π conjugation reactions, hydrogen bond interactions, entropy increase, and heat absorption, resulting in a spontaneous process. The regeneration and degradability of the P-(CM-β-CD/HPCS/KHA/AC) hydrogel were tested. After five cycles of adsorption–desorption experiments, the removal rate was 50.57%. After degradation for 6 months, the weight loss rates of the P-(CM-β-CD/HPCS/KHA/AC) hydrogel in acid, water, and alkali were 45.29%, 24.90%, and 29.50%, respectively, indicating the environment-friendly nature and repeated recyclability of the hydrogel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A connected graph G is called l 1 -embeddable, if it can be isometrically embedded into the l 1 -space. The shifted quadrilateral cylinder graph O m , n , k is a class of quadrilateral tilings on a cylinder obtained by rolling the grid graph P m □ P n via shifting k positions. In this article, we determine that all the O m , n , k are not l 1 -embeddable except for O m , n , 0 and O m , 3 , 1 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of native tree species can enhance soil ecological functions and mitigate the decline in soil status triggered by the high-intensity monoculture of Eucalyptus plantations, but the specific impact is still unclear. In this study, differences in the structural and function for soil bacterial communities were investigated between evergreen broad-leaved secondary forests, Eucalyptus pure plantations, and mixed plantations of Eucalyptus with two native species in Guangxi: Manglietia glauca and Mytilaria laosensis, respectively. Additionally, soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activities were determined. The results showed that pH, soil sucrase and peroxidase activities, and bacterial alpha-diversity indices were significantly higher in Eucalyptus mixed plantations with M. glauca and M. laosensis, compared to Eucalyptus pure plantations. Bacterial biomarkers (Burkholderiales, Bradyrhizobium, and Actinobacteria) with nitrogen fixation and phosphate solubilization functions were enriched in Eucalyptus with M. glauca and M. laosensis. Redundancy analysis showed that pH, effective boron (AB), and soil moisture were the main soil environmental factors driving changes in the structure of the soil bacterial community. Thus, we concluded that mixed plantations of Eucalyptus with M. glauca or M. laosensis have positive effects on mitigating soil acidification, increasing soil enzymatic activity, and improving soil ecological functions, which provides useful information for the development of sustainable management of Eucalyptus plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is highly prevalent in patients with chronic kidney disease and may lead to a loss of kidney function. However, it remains unclear whether or not continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment improves the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in patients with OSA. This meta-analysis was designed to investigate the effect of CPAP therapy on eGFR in patients with OSA. Methods: We searched the electronic databases Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Embase through June 1, 2022. Information about patients, CPAP duration, gender distribution, pre- and post-CPAP treatment eGFR, and age of patients were collected for further analysis. We applied the standardized mean difference (SMD) with a 95%confidence interval (CI) to analyze the pooled effects. Both Stata 12.0 software and Review Manager 5.2 software were employed for all statistical analyses. Results: A sample of 13 studies with 519 patients was included in the meta-analysis. There was no significant change of eGFR levels before and after CPAP usage for patients with OSA (SMD = − 0.05, 95%CI: − 0.30 to 0.19, Z = 0.43, p = 0.67). However, subgroup analysis revealed that the level of eGFR was obviously decreased after CPAP therapy in patients with OSA and CPAP use duration > 6 months (SMD = − 0.30, 95% CI = − 0.49 to - 0.12, z = 3.20, p = 0.001), and elderly patients (> 60 years) (SMD = − 0.32, 95% CI = − 0.52 to − 0.11, z = 3.02, p = 0.002). Conclusions: Meta-analysis confirmed that OSA treatment with CPAP has no clinically significant effect on eGFR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), as one-dimensional nanomaterials, exhibit extraordinary mechanical, electrical, and chemical properties. In this research endeavor, atomic models of armchair CNTs (7, 7) and zigzag CNTs (12, 0) with the radii of 9.49 Å and 9.39 Å, respectively, and the lengths of 50 angs are established by molecular dynamics method and analyze their fracture behavior. Findings demonstrate that CNTs undergo notable elastic deformation and plastic deformation during stretching. When the CNTs with those containing 0, 4, 8, and 16 random vacancy defects, the strains of the zigzag CNTs when they break are 0.416, 0.346, 0.345, and 0.331, respectively. For the armchair CNTs, the strains of CNTs when they break are 0.494, 0.442, 0.411, and 0.384, respectively. So the strain value of the CNTs with more vacancy defects is smaller when they break. In addition, the zigzag CNT is disconnected along cross section, while the armchair CNT is disconnected along 45° cross section. When comparing non-defect CNTs with those containing 4, 8, and 16 random vacancy defects, the ultimate strength of the zigzag CNTs decreased by 7.56%, 18.24%, and 38.19%, respectively. For the armchair CNTs, the ultimate strength decreased by 25.64%, 30.21%, and 45.84%, respectively. The ultimate strain of the zigzag CNTs decreases by 11.55%, 15.58%, and 23.81% for 4, 8, and 16 vacancy defects, respectively. As for the armchair CNTs, the ultimate strain decreased by 12.54%, 14.32%, and 19.31% for the corresponding defect quantities. Consequently, the presence of vacancy defects considerably weakens the tensile mechanical properties of CNTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver diseases impose a huge burden worldwide. Although hepatocyte transplantation has long been considered as a potential strategy for treating liver diseases, its clinical implementation has created some obvious limitations. As an alternative strategy, cell therapy, particularly mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation, is widely used in treating different liver diseases, including acute liver disease, acute-on-chronic liver failure, hepatitis B/C virus, autoimmune hepatitis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, liver fibrosis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Here, we summarize the status of MSC transplantation in treating liver diseases, focusing on the therapeutic mechanisms, including differentiation into hepatocyte-like cells, immunomodulating function with a variety of immune cells, paracrine effects via the secretion of various cytokines and extracellular vesicles, and facilitation of homing and engraftment. Some improved perspectives and current challenges are also addressed. In summary, MSCs have great potential in the treatment of liver diseases based on their multi-faceted characteristics, and more accurate mechanisms and novel therapeutic strategies stemming from MSCs will facilitate clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible job shop scheduling problem is a NP-hard combinatorial optimization problem, which has significant applications in the field of workshop scheduling and intelligent manufacturing. Due to its complexity and significance, lots of attention have been paid to tackle this problem. This paper reviews some of the researches on this problem, by presenting and classifying the different criteria, constraints, and solution approaches. The existing solution methods for the flexible job shop scheduling problem in this literature are classified into exact algorithms, heuristics, and meta-heuristics, which are thoroughly reviewed. Particularly, the paper highlights the flexible job shop scheduling problem in the context of dynamic events and preventive maintenance. These dynamic events, such as machine breakdowns and unexpected changes in job requirements, present additional challenges to the scheduling problem. Furthermore, this paper analyzes the development trends in the manufacturing industry and summarizes detailed future research opportunities for the flexible job shop scheduling problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the setting of the increasing density of exploration wells, and the decreasing scale and increasing difficulty of discovering Jurassic paleogeomorphology reservoirs, it is urgent to deepen the fine depiction of pre-Jurassic paleogeomorphology features and to analyze their controlling effect on reservoirs. Based on abundant logging data combined with indoor microscopic observation and experimental testing, the paper applies the theory of reservoir configuration analysis for the first time to the single-channel period division of the pre-Jurassic Meng-Shaan paleochannel which deposited with the braided channel sand bodies. Meanwhile, it reveals the controlling effect of hydrocarbon accumulation and the distribution characteristics of the Yan 101 reservoir as ' paleogeomorphology and sedimentary facies combination' to determine the type, 'migration channel' to determine the distributing range, and 'low-amplitude structure' to determine the trap in the study area, and also the reservoir accumulation modes in different channel ranges have established. In conclusion, the single-channel boundary of the Meng-Shaan paleochannel in different periods controls the path of oil and gas migration, thus controlling the distribution range and reservoir type of the Yan 10 reservoir. Moreover, depending on the production data we derived that it should prefer the composite trap reservoir of the Fuxian period and the Yan 102 period, as well as the structural reservoir on the periphery of the Yan 102 period single-channel for the further exploration of the Yan 10 paleogeomorphology reservoirs within the development range of the Meng-Shaan ancient river. In particular, the lithologic trap reservoirs within the Fuxian period channel and the Meng-Shaan main channel, such as the reservoirs of the 'Source' of the secondary channel type and the paleochannel type, which could as a replacement accumulation model for increasing reserves and production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent micro-level research on government institutional reform emphasizes the importance of taking charge behavior in the context of institutional reform. This study constructs a structural equation model from survey data of 823 civil servants in Longgang, China, based on the theory of planned behavior, to examine the impact of workload and non-economic rewards on civil servants' taking charge behaviors in the context of institutional reform. Results confirm the difference paths of workload and non-economic rewards on taking charge behavior and the embeddedness of community mechanisms in government internal governance. The findings of this study are theoretically and practically relevant as they offer new perspectives into the triggers of continuous reform and the psychological mechanisms underlying the effects of workload and non-economic rewards on taking charge behavior in the context of institutional reform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the east-central and southeast regions of China, in the Xu-Su area, the Taihu Lake basin, Kunshan and Yingde regions, four categories of very exclusive stones, the Lingbi, Taihu, Kun, and Ying stones, have been quarried and used for the construction of royal palaces and private houses, as well as on a smaller scale in trays or on the desks of scholars for viewing and admiration in ancient times. For more than 2000 years, ancient Chinese scholars admired their peculiar shapes, aesthetic qualities, and symbolic significance as an expression of their affection for nature. Due to several historical events and the predominance of economics in the rapidly expanding world of stone appreciation, little is known about the Chinese classic cultural implications of these stones in modern China. Field investigations have demonstrated that the irresponsible, excessive, and unethical extraction of these stones and other geo-materials not only degrades the local environment but also leads to their exhaustion in the source areas, which are sites of significant geomorphological diversity that have been significantly altered by humans. Numerous important sites have been harmed and destroyed. Some aesthetic qualities have also been lost, diminishing the importance of these geological features for tourists, students, and scientists. The only way out of this predicament is to apply Confucian environmental ethics and geo-ethical principles to the contemporary mining industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conversion of waste wood containing urea–formaldehyde resin (WW-UF) into solid fuel with lower nitrogen content and better fuel property through the hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) process was studied. With the increase of HTC temperature from 180 to 260 °C, the mass yield and energy yield of the hydrochar decreased from 81.2 to 38.7% and from 81.6 to 62.3%, respectively, while the higher heating values (HHV) of the hydrochar increased from 19.2 to 27.1 MJ/kg. Due to the hydrolysis of urea–formaldehyde resin into urea, the denitrogenation efficiency could reach over 80% at 180 °C. However, the denitrogenation efficiency decreased at elevated HTC temperature because of the condensation/polymerization of urea with carbohydrate derivatives. The combustion and pelletization behaviors of the hydrochar were all improved compared to that of the raw WW-UF. FT-IR spectra confirmed that the UF resin and hemicellulose in the WW-UF could be hydrolyzed at 180 °C, but carbonization of cellulose occurred with HTC temperature over 240 °C. The process water was analyzed by LC–MS/MS to confirm that the mono-saccharides, carboxylic acids, carbocyclic compounds, O-heterocyclic compounds, and N-heterocyclic compounds were presented in process water. The study confirmed that hydrothermal carbonization could be one promising method to covert the WW-UF into clean and efficient solid fuel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the perspective of environmental protection, high removal rate, reusable and degradable, amino-functionalized porous hydrogel material P-(EA-β-CD/KHA/AC) was synthesized by introducing ethylamino cyclodextrin, humic acid, and activated carbon, using polyacrylic acid as the carrier. MB and Cr (VI) are common wastewater pollutants, thus, Such contaminants must be removed from the water. The gel materials before and after adsorption were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The removal of MB and Cr(VI) showed high adsorption capacity. At 298 K and pH 8, the adsorption capacities of P-(EA-β-CD/KHA/AC) hydrogel for MB and Cr(VI) were as high as 262.31 and 170.12 mg/g, respectively, and the removal rates were 98.96% and 70.27%, respectively. The adsorption behavior follows the pseudo-second-order kinetic equation, conforming to the Langmuir model; and through intermolecular forces, π–π conjugation, chelation, and other interactions, entropy-increasing, endothermic, and spontaneous process is formed. The regeneration and degradability experiments of P-(EA-β-CD/KHA/AC) hydrogel were conducted and its recycling performance was verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The organosilicon modified cationic acrylic resin is prepared via solution polymerization technology, which butyl acrylate (BA), methyl methacrylate (MMA), styrene (St), vinyltriethoxysilane(VTES), dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) and hydroxy propyl methacrylate (HPMA) as the co-polymerized monomers, and proprylene glycol monomethyl ether (PGME) as solvent, and 2,2-azo-bis-iso-butyronitrile (AIBN) as the initiator to create a resin to introduce the Si-O bond into the polymer chains. The cathodic electrodeposition (CED) coatings were prepared by mixing the synthetic resin and blocked isocyanate. The influence of the amount of VETS on the resin and the resultant CED coatings is investigated in detail. The optimum amount of VETS is obtained, which is 5.0%. The hydrophobicity and the acid and alkaline resistance of the film are improved when VETS is introduced to co-polymerize with other monomers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term and high-intensity application of inorganic fertilizer leads to a strong variation of soil characteristics. The changes in soil chemical and biological properties can significantly affect the yield of Eucalyptus plantation. However, the mechanism of soil chemical properties affecting wood volume mediated by biological factors is not clear. The purpose of this study was to identify which soil properties were affected by different fertilization intensities and to disentangle the dominant factors affecting Eucalyptus volume. After clear felling evergreen broad-leaved forest, a Eucalyptus plantation was established that was coppiced every 5 years and fertilized every year. Within this plantation, areas with different treatments were established. These treatments were a 5-year growth period (low); two times 5-year growth period (medium); and three times 5-year growth period (high). In each treatment area and in a nearby evergreen broad-leaved forest (EBLF Control), five sample plots per treatment were set up. Various biological and chemistry analyses (18 in total) were related to determining the most important path and index for optimizing Eucalyptus plantation. The analysis of variance of enzyme activity and microbial biomass showed that the soil biological characteristics decreased over 10 years of plantation, and the enzyme activity was close to the state of EBLF control in medium, while the microbial biomass failed to return to its original state during continuous planting. Redundancy analysis results show that there was a strong correlation in chemical indicators and biological characteristics. Partial least square structural equation model showed that total phosphorus, nitrate nitrogen, urease, catalase, and microbial biomass nitrogen and phosphorus were the most influential soil biochemical factors, and the indirect effect of chemical properties on volume was achieved by microorganisms through enzyme activity. Continuous planting and large-scale application of inorganic fertilizer would lead to a decrease in plantation yield and fertilizer utilization efficiency and would affect the microbial biomass and enzyme activity by destroying the stability of soil chemical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slash disposal changes soil quality by affecting soil properties and nutrient cycling, and the appropriate disposal approaches remain controversial. This work aimed to explore the impact of different slash disposal methods on soil qualities. For this purpose, a Eucalyptus grandis × Eucalyptus urophylla plantation that had been cultivated in 2002 and felled for the third time in 2016 was established in Hezhou City, China. Burning forest (BF, for moderate intensity fire) and no-burning forest (NF) were set in the plantation, and the native evergreen broadleaf forest near the plantation was used as the control (CK). Soils were sampled quarterly in 2017, and 27 indicators that represent soil physical, chemical, and biological properties were analyzed and compared through the analysis of the sustainability index (SI), which adopts five indices to calculate soil quality. The obtained data showed that the indicators of BF and NF, except for the total potassium content, were much lower than those of CK. The physical properties (Max-WHC, CWHC, Min-WHC, MMC, CPD, TPD) of NF were significantly better (29.07%, 30.98%, 29.61%, 52.08%, 21.89%, 19.76%) than those of BF, unlike the chemical properties of BF (SOM, TN, ACa, AFe, AMn, ACu, AZn) were significantly better than those of NF (45.61%, 81.33%, 12.78%, 23.18%, 96.13%, 144.30%, 114.04%). The enzymatic activities of NF (URE, APHO) were significantly better (43.33%, 156.58%)than those of BF, except the activities of INV (− 25.21%). Results of SI showed that the soil quality of CK was much better than that of BF, and NF the worst. But it exhibited the most unevenness of CK, followed by NF, and BF the best. The change rules of BF and NF were contrasting, and soil quality reached the same level after half a year. In summary, the soil qualities, either BF or CK, were not comparable to that of CK. BF increased the soil quality fleetly and transiently, and NF was sustainable for the eucalyptus plantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the eutrophication of the water environment caused by fertilizer leaching and the problem of nondegradability of the current slow-release fertilizers, potassium humate (KHA), sodium alginate (SA), and acrylic acid (AA) were used as raw materials to synthesize a KHA/SA/PAA hydrogel-based sustained-release material onto which urea was loaded. Infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy analyses indicated that KHA, SA, and, AA had undergone graft copolymerization. The polymer network exhibited a porous structure, and its degradation rate was 1.21%/day. The swelling and diffusion models of materials under different pH conditions are discussed. The material's equilibrium swelling rate was as high as 621.46% at pH 7. The results indicated that the diffusion of urea from the material was non-Fickian in character and urea release was favored in an acidic environment, a behavior in accordance with the first-order kinetic equation and Higuchi equation. Potted vegetable experiments indicated the optimal dosage of soil and KHA/SA/PAA sustained-release fertilizer to be 500:1. After 14 days, the soluble protein content of green cabbage leaves and chlorophyll could be increased by 31.4% and 33.2%, respectively, whereas the malondialdehyde content could be reduced by 21.1%, indicating that soil treatment with the KHA/SA/PAA sustained-release fertilizer can effectively improve crop quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite direct reprogramming of human cardiac fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocytes (iCM) holds great potential for heart regeneration, the mechanisms are poorly understood. Whether other human somatic cells could be reprogrammed into cardiomyocytes is also unknown. Here, we report human urine cells (hUCs) could be converted into CM-like cells from different donors and the related chromatin accessibility dynamics (CAD) by assay for transposase accessible chromatin(ATAC)-seq. hUCs transduced by MEF2C, TBX5, MESP1 and MYOCD but without GATA4 expressed multiple cardiac specific genes, exhibited Ca2+ oscillation potential and sarcomeric structures, and contracted synchronously in coculture with mouse CM. Additionally, we found that MYOCD is required for both closing and opening critical loci, mainly by hindering the opening of loci enriched with motifs for the TEAD and AP1 family and promoting the closing of loci enriched with ETS motifs. These changes differ partially from CAD observed during iCM induction from human fibroblasts. Collectively, our study offers one practical platform for iCM generation and insights into mechanisms for iCM fate determination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the defluorination of SiF4 on Si (1 1 1) surface are studied by adopting density functional theory calculation. SiF4 defluorination on Si (1 1 1) surface will undergo a four-step reaction: (1) SiF4 ↔ SiF3 + F, (2) SiF3 ↔ SiF2 + F, (3) SiF2 ↔ SiF + F, and (4) SiF ↔ Si + F. The results show that SiF3 and F tend to adsorb at the T site, SiF tend to adsorb at the FCC site, while Si and SiF2 tend to adsorb at the HCP site. Then, the stable co-adsorbed configurations of SiFn (n = 0 ~ 3) and F are obtained. Further, the kinetic results of SiF4 defluorination show that on Si (1 1 1) surface, SiF3 is the most abundant specie, which is consistent with the experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impaired capability for understanding and interpreting the expressions on other people's faces manifests itself as a core feature of schizophrenia, contributing to social dysfunction. With the purpose of better understanding of the neurobiological basis of facial emotion perception deficits in schizophrenia, we investigated facial emotion perception abilities and regional structural brain abnormalities in drug-naïve patients with first-episode schizophrenia, and then examined the correlation between them. Fifty-two drug-naive patients with first-episode schizophrenia and 29 group-matched healthy controls were examined for facial emotion perception abilities assessed with the Facial Emotion Categorization and performed magnetic resonance imaging. The Facial Emotion Categorization data were inserted into a logistic function model so as to calculate shift point and slope as outcome measurements. Voxel-based morphometry was applied to investigate regional grey matter volume (GMV) alterations. The relationship between facial emotion perception and GMV was explored in patients using voxel-wise correlation analysis within brain regions that showed a significant GMV alterations in patients compared with controls. The schizophrenic patients performed differently on Facial Emotion Categorization tasks from the controls and presented a higher shift point and a steeper slope. Relative to the controls, patients showed GMV reductions in the superior temporal gyrus, middle occipital gyrus, parahippocampa gyrus, posterior cingulate, the culmen of cerebellum anterior lobe, cerebellar tonsil, and the declive of cerebellum posterior lobe. Importantly, abnormal performance on Facial Emotion Categorization was found correlated with GMV alterations in the culmen of cerebellum anterior lobe in schizophrenia. This study suggests that reduced GMV in the culmen of cerebellum anterior lobe occurs in first-episode schizophrenia, constituting a potential neuropathological basis for the impaired facial emotion perception in schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-metal thin films have received considerable attention because they can shield Fe and Ni elements from metal catalytic coking. In this study, the SiF4–H2–Ar mixture gas was used as the silicon source to deposit silicon-based films on 316 stainless steel wafer substrates through plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD). The morphology, element composition, and crystalline fraction of the substrates were characterised through scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The optimal preparation temperature for surface silicon-based thin films was 300 °C (uniformly inlaid without cracks). Ethyl benzene was used at 700–900 °C (ΔT = 50 °C) and normal pressure to evaluate the performance of silicon-based thin films in inhibiting metal-catalytic coking. The temperature programmed oxidation-infrared absorption results showed that the coking inhibition rate of silicon-based thin films at T ≤ 800 °C was 70%, and when T > 800 °C, the coking inhibition rate decreases rapidly. The coke on the surface of the silicon-based films had a more lower degree of graphitization than that on the monocrystalline silicon(111) wafer and quartz wafer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Core fucosylation of N-linked glycoproteins has been linked to the functions of glycoproteins in physiological and pathological processes. However, quantitative characterization of core fucosylation remains challenging due to the complexity and heterogeneity of N-linked glycosylation. Here we report a mass spectrometry-based method that employs sequential treatment of intact glycopeptides with enzymes (STAGE) to analyze site-specific core fucosylation of glycoproteins. The STAGE method utilizes Endo F3 followed by PNGase F treatment to generate mass signatures for glycosites that are formerly modified by core fucosylated N-linked glycans. We benchmark the STAGE method and use it to characterize site specific core fucosylation of glycoproteins from human hepatocellular carcinoma and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, resulting in the identification of 1130 and 782 core fucosylated glycosites, respectively. These results indicate that our STAGE method enables quantitative characterization of core fucosylation events from complex protein mixtures, which may benefit our understanding of core fucosylation functions in various diseases. Core fucosylation of N-linked glycoproteins has been linked to physiological and pathological processes. Here, the authors develop a mass spectrometry-based method that utilizes Endo F3 followed by PNGase F treatment to quantify site-specific glycoprotein core fucosylation in protein mixtures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The radical copolymerization was used to synthesize cationic acrylic resin, which the methyl methacrylate (MMA) was used as the main hard monomer and styrene (St) was added to replace the function of MMA to reduce the cost of raw materials. Butyl acrylate (BA) was used as the main soft monomer to reduce the glass transition temperature of the polymer. Hydroxypropyl methacrylate (HPMA) was used to provide cross-linked hydroxyl groups for resin, and hydroxyl groups also had a certain hydrophilic properties. Dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) was used to provide tertiary amine group for the resin, which was acidified by organic acid to form ammonium salt. The cathodic electrodeposition (CED) coatings were prepared by mixing the resultant resin and blocked isocyanate. The conditions of synthesizing the cationic acrylic resin were optimized. The optimum synthetic conditions were the following. The mass ratio of (MMA + St) to BA was 3:2. The amount of DMAEMA was 12–15% in total monomer. The amount of HPMA was 20% in total monomer. The amount of the initiator was 2%. The neutralization degree was 80%. The reaction temperature was 90 °C. Both the conductivity of electrophoretic coating and its film were good when the cationic acrylic resin was synthesized under the optimum conditions. Besides, the characterization of Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) confirmed that the cationic acrylic resin had been synthesized successfully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been revealed as being abundantly expressed in a variety of tissues and have been found to contribute to the regulation of many autoimmune diseases. Although previous studies demonstrated that the pathogenesis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is related with epigenetic dysregulation, the exact mechanism remains unclear. The important role of thyroid-specific circRNAs in HT attracted much attention but without any report revealed their expression profile and function in plasma of HT. In this study, the circRNA expression profile in plasma of HT was explored for the first time by using Arraystar CircRNA Microarray technology. We obtained 22 differentially expressed circRNAs (fold change ≥ 2.0 or ≤ − 2.0, p < 0.05) in plasma of HT, including 7 upregulated circRNAs and 15 downregulated circRNAs. By constructing circRNA-miRNA-mRNA competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network, we found that upregulated circRNAs may function as ceRNAs and affect the occurrence or development of HT through chemokine signaling pathway (p < 0.0001), HIF-1 signaling pathway (p = 0.02), and FoxO signaling pathway (p = 0.04). Notably, hsa_circ_0008193 verified by RT-qPCR were the major upregulation circRNAs involved in the chemokine signaling pathway. These results provide a comprehensive circRNA resource for further in-depth study of the regulatory mechanisms of circRNA in HT and may provide new insight into HT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The divinyl silane modified self-crosslinking polyacrylate latex was successfully prepared by semicontinuous seeded emulsion polymerization. Methyl methacrylate (MMA) and butyl acrylate (BA) were used as main monomers and the reaction was initiated by potassium persulfate (KPS). The modified monomer 1, 3-divinyltetramethyldisiloxane (DVMS) and crosslinked monomer hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) were introduced into the basic dispersion. Sodium dodecyl sulfonate (SDS) anionic surfactant and alkyl polyglycoside (APG) nonionic emulsifier were utilized as composite emulsifiers. The structure of latex film was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The latex films were tested by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and contact angle (CA) and apparent crosslinking percentage. The particle size of the emulsion was measured by Zetatrac dynamic light scattering instrument. The optimum conditions are as follows: the amount of composite emulsifier is 5.0%, the mass ratio of SDS to APG is 1:1, the amount of initiator is 0.5%, the amount of DVMS is 5.0%, and the amount of HEA is 1.0%. The emulsion has good mechanical stability and chemical stability, and the storage stability is ideal. The dispersion is blue and translucent, with a small particle size. The apparent crosslinking percentage of the latex film is above 89%, and the highest contact angle was more than 98°. The polyacrylate colloidal film prepared in this paper has outstanding thermal stability and hydrophobicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fuzzy granular structure is a mathematical structure to deal with fuzzy information granules. This paper studies fuzzy granular structure of a fuzzy relation vector and its uncertainty measurement. In the first place, fuzzy granular structure of a fuzzy relation vector is defined by using fuzzy set matrices. In the next place, dependence between fuzzy granular structures and some operators on the fuzzy granular structures base are investigated. After that, algebraic and lattice features of fuzzy granular structures are obtained. Lastly, as an application of fuzzy granular structures, uncertainty measurement for fuzzy relation vectors is discussed and effectiveness analysis of the proposed measures is conducted. These results will be helpful for providing the framework for granular computing of fuzzy relation vectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of cross-species transmission in December 2019, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) became a serious endangerment to human health and the causal agent of a global pandemic. Although the number of infected people has decreased due to effective management, novel methods to treat critical COVID-19 patients are still urgently required. This review describes the origins, pathogenesis, and clinical features of COVID-19 and the potential uses of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in therapeutic treatments for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-infected patients. MSCs have previously been shown to have positive effects in the treatment of lung diseases, such as acute lung injury, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, lung cancer, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. MSC mechanisms of action involve differentiation potentials, immune regulation, secretion of anti-inflammatory factors, migration and homing, anti-apoptotic properties, antiviral effects, and extracellular vesicles. Currently, 74 clinical trials are investigating the use of MSCs (predominately from the umbilical cord, bone marrow, and adipose tissue) to treat COVID-19. Although most of these trials are still in their early stages, the preliminary data are promising. However, long-term safety evaluations are still lacking, and large-scale and controlled trials are required for more conclusive judgments regarding MSC-based therapies. The main challenges and prospective directions for the use of MSCs in clinical applications are discussed herein. In summary, while the clinical use of MSCs to treat COVID-19 is still in the preliminary stages of investigation, promising results indicate that they could potentially be utilized in future treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Infant gut microbiota which plays an important role in long-term health is mainly shaped by early life nutrition. However, the effect of nutrients on infants gut microbiota is less researched. Here, we present a study aiming to investigate in vitro a modified formula that is supplemented with milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) that were missing in common formulas when compared with human milk and to assess the impact of feeding scheme on microbiota and metabolism. Methods: A total of 44 infants including 16 from breast milk feeding, 13 from common formula feeding and 15 from modified formula feeding were analyzed, and A cross-sectional sampling of fecal and urine was done at 1 month-of-age. Stool microbiota composition was characterized using high-throughput DNA sequencing, and urinary metabolome was profiled by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). In vitro growth experiment of Bifidobacterium with key components from MFGM was performed and analyzed by both DNA and RNA. Results: Stool samples from the infants who were breastfed had a higher relative abundance of Bifidobacterium and a lower relative abundance of Escherichia than the formula-fed infants. The stool microbiome shifts were associated with urine metabolites changes. Three substances including lactadherin, sialic acid and phospholipid, key components of MFGM were significantly positively correlated to Bifidobacterium of stool samples from infants, and stimulated the growth rate of Bifidobacterium significantly by provided energy in vitro growth experiment with RNA analysis. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the key components from MFGM could improve infants' health by modulating the gut microbiome, and possibly supporting the growth of Bifidobacterium. Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02658500 (registered on January 20, 2016). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rock mass pressure has always been a research hotspot in the field of tunnel engineering, especially in the super large-span tunnel, which is characterized by flat section, large excavation span, and complex stress field. Based on the Letuan Tunnel (a bi-directional tunnel with eight traffic lanes) of Binlai expressway expansion project in Shandong Province, China, this paper focused on the calculation method of rock mass pressure and the evolution law of load release in the construction process of the super large-span tunnel excavated by upper-bench central diaphragm (CD) method. Based on field measured data of Letuan Tunnel, the deformation behavior of primary lining and the distribution state of rock mass pressure during the tunnel construction were analyzed. According to the bearing mode of supporting structure, the mechanical models of different construction stages were established. Then, the rock mass pressures in different construction stages were back-calculated using mechanical models and compared with the measured values, and the evolution law of load release during the tunnel construction was discussed. The study results show that the tunnel deformation and rock mass pressure were significantly affected by the construction process and support form, and the excavation span was the key factor affecting the stability of rock mass. For the shallow-buried super large-span tunnel constructed by upper-bench CD method, the primary support of upper bench was under eccentric pressure. The comparison between the back-calculated value and the field measured value indicated that they were similar, and the average relative error was 17.23%. According to the concept of load release coefficient proposed in this paper, the load release coefficient after the pilot tunnel ahead (Part I) excavation reached 63%, and the load release coefficient after the pilot tunnel behind excavation (Part II) was 37%, which means that the rock mass pressure of Part I is increased about 59% due to the excavation of Part II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the characteristics of the high content of phenols and poor biodegradability in lignite upgrading wastewater, the Fenton oxidation process was used as a pretreatment technology of the biochemical treatment process. Therefore, the best reaction conditions within the range of test conditions were investigated. The results show that the best reaction conditions of the Fenton oxidation system within the range tested are as follows: The ratio of H2O2/chemical oxygen demand (COD) was 1.25, the pH value was 3.5, the H2O2/Fe2 + molar ratio was 1:1, and the reaction time was 60 min. Under these conditions, the highest biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5)/COD value obtained was 0.74; the COD removal efficiency increased by 63.55%. And the output of iron sludge characterized by 30-min static sedimentation ratio was about 45.1%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the physiological response and compensation mechanism of Lagerstroemia indica seedlings under drought stress and rewatering to provide a reference for the study of drought tolerance mechanisms. In this study, we compared and analyzed the changes in 10 physiological indices of L. indica seedlings after the drought stress (for 30 days) and rewatering (for 7, 14, and 21 days) treatment and conducted a principal component analysis. With the intensification of drought stress, the relative water content of L. indica seedlings decreased, whereas the carotenoid, proline, and soluble protein contents and relative electrical conductivity increased. The chlorophyll and soluble sugar contents and superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activities initially increased but subsequently decreased. The malondialdehyde content varied, with an initial increase, subsequent decrease, and final increase. After rewatering, all physiological indicators, except for malondialdehyde, quickly recovered to the levels of the control seedlings; among them, proline, soluble protein contents, and superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activities produced an overcompensation or compensation effect. However, the most sensitive physiological indices of L. indica seedlings to drought stress and rewatering were soluble sugar, chlorophyll, malondialdehyde, and proline. In the complex process of responding to drought stress and rewatering, L. indica seedlings could effectively regulate the soluble sugar, chlorophyll, and proline contents in vivo to actively respond to drought. When the degree of drought stress did not exceed the tolerance threshold of L. indica seedlings, it could even produce a compensation or overcompensation effect after rewatering, showing their resilience and adaptability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strong ratoon ability is the key factor in improving sugarcane productivity and reducing production costs. Soil microorganisms are sensitive to environmental changes and play an important role in regulating soil ecological functions. However, the impacts of sugarcane varieties with different ratooning abilities on soil microorganisms are poorly understood. Therefore, two common cultivated varieties with different ratooning abilities (Yuetang 94-128 with strong ratooning ability and Yuetang 03-373 with low ratooning ability) were selected to study the effects of sugarcane varieties on sugarcane yield and microbial community structure from 2017 to 2019 in South China. The Illumina MiSeq platform was applied in the present study to detect the diversity and community structure of rhizosphere soil bacteria and fungi in the different sugarcane varieties in 2019. The results showed that sugarcane cane yield and sugar yield were higher in Yuetang 94-128 during the three years, whereas the sugar content was lower in Yuetang 94-128 than in Yuetang 03-373 during this time. Different years influenced cane yield and sugar yield, while the sucrose content remained stable during the different years. The pH, organic matter (SOM) and total nitrogen (TN) contents were significantly lower in Yuetang 03-373 than in Yuetang 94-128, whereas the other indices had no significant difference between the different varieties. The α-diversity of sugarcane rhizosphere soil bacteria and fungi was not significantly different between the different varieties. Compared with Yuetang 03-373, the increase in bacterial taxa associated with the soil carbon and nitrogen cycles may be one of the reasons for the strong ratooning of Yuetang 94-128. The difference in rare fungal taxa between the two sugarcane varieties may lead to different ecological functions in the soil. Redundancy analysis (RDA) and Mantel test showed that the soil physical and chemical properties did not significantly influence the microbial community structure, which could indicate that sugarcane variety was the primary variable responsible for microbial community structure. This study provided important information on the rhizosphere soil microbial community structure of different sugarcane varieties with different ratooning abilities and provided a theoretical basis for improving the ratooning ability of sugarcane varieties from the perspective of improving soil microbial community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate lipase-catalysis bioprocess in the application of sensory enhancement upon modified skim milk products. Through the comparison of various experimental elements, an optimal lipase-catalysis protocol for flavor rich milk was set, which was to catalyze pasteurized whole milk under the experimental parameters of reaction temperature 55 °C, reaction time 3 h, Lipozyme TLIM 3.0 U/mL, alcohol 135.00 μL/100 mL by a molar ratio of mpropanediol:methanol = 3:2. Then, the acquired flavor rich milk was partially utilized into the preparation of modified skim milk products. The results from volatile compositional analysis showed that high amounts of volatiles could be yielded in modified skim milk products, which can be amounted to 394.39 μg/L, mainly including short-chain fatty acids, fatty acid esters, methyl ketones, alkanes and aldehydes. Descriptive sensory results showed that the advantageous volatile characters of modified skim milk products were intensified and favorable in the sensory traits of milk flavor and mouthfeel, yet with some defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel self-crosslinking long fluorocarbon acrylate polymer latex has been successfully prepared by semi-continuous seeded emulsion polymerization with methyl methacrylate(MMA), butyl acrylate (BA), dodecafluoroheptyl methacrylate (DFMA) and hydroxypropyl methacrylate(HPMA) as main monomers, 10-undecylenic acid (10-UA) and diallyl phthalate (DAP) as functional monomers. During the latex polymerization, the monomers were emulsified by the mixed surfactants of nonionic surfactant alcohol ether glycoside (AEG) and anionic surfactant sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS), and initiated by potassium persulfate (KPS). The resultant latex showed excellent properties. The chemical composition of latex was determined with Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FTIR) and the glass transition temperature (Tg) of polymer was detected by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and the water repellency of the prepared film was measured by water contact angle measurement (WCA). The reaction conditions were optimized and obtained as follows: the optimal monomer dosage was MMA: BA: DFMA: HPMA = 12.75:12.75:0.9:1.2, the amount of 10-UA and DAP was both 4% of all monomers, the dosage of AEG: SDBS was 5% (1:1) and KPS was 0.5%, respectively. The result indicated that the conversion of the mixed monomers was more than 98% and the coagulation was less than 1% and the resultant latex also had the outstanding appearance and latex performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a heterogeneous group of tumors with variable clinical courses. In order to improve patient outcomes, it is critical to clinically separate aggressive PCa (AG) from non-aggressive PCa (NAG). Although recent genomic studies have identified a spectrum of molecular abnormalities associated with aggressive PCa, it is still challenging to separate AG from NAG. To better understand the functional consequences of PCa progression and the unique features of the AG subtype, we studied the proteomic signatures of primary AG, NAG and metastatic PCa. 39 PCa and 10 benign prostate controls in a discovery cohort and 57 PCa in a validation cohort were analyzed using a data-independent acquisition (DIA) SWATH–MS platform. Proteins with the highest variances (top 500 proteins) were annotated for the pathway enrichment analysis. Functional analysis of differentially expressed proteins in NAG and AG was performed. Data was further validated using a validation cohort; and was also compared with a TCGA mRNA expression dataset and confirmed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using PCa tissue microarray (TMA). 4,415 proteins were identified in the tumor and benign control tissues, including 158 up-regulated and 116 down-regulated proteins in AG tumors. A functional analysis of tumor-associated proteins revealed reduced expressions of several proteinases, including dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4), carboxypeptidase E (CPE) and prostate specific antigen (KLK3) in AG and metastatic PCa. A targeted analysis further identified that the reduced expression of DPP4 was associated with the accumulation of DPP4 substrates and the reduced ratio of DPP4 cleaved peptide to intact substrate peptide. Findings were further validated using an independently-collected tumor cohort, correlated with a TCGA mRNA dataset, and confirmed by immunohistochemical stains of PCa tumor microarray (TMA). Our study is the first large-scale proteomics analysis of PCa tissue using a DIA SWATH-MS platform. It provides not only an interrogative proteomic signature of PCa subtypes, but also indicates the critical roles played by certain proteinases during tumor progression. The spectrum map and protein profile generated in the study can be used to investigate potential biological mechanisms involved in PCa and for the development of a clinical assay to distinguish aggressive from indolent PCa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]