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Aims/hypothesis: The relationship between metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome is well established. While zinc finger BED-type containing 3 (ZBED3) has been linked to type 2 diabetes mellitus and the metabolic syndrome, its role in MASLD remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the function of ZBED3 in the context of MASLD. Methods: Expression levels of ZBED3 were assessed in individuals with MASLD, as well as in cellular and animal models of MASLD. In vitro and in vivo analyses were conducted using a cellular model of MASLD induced by NEFA and an animal model of MASLD induced by a high-fat diet (HFD), respectively, to investigate the role of ZBED3 in MASLD. ZBED3 expression was increased by lentiviral infection or tail-vein injection of adeno-associated virus. RNA-seq and bioinformatics analysis were employed to examine the pathways through which ZBED3 modulates lipid accumulation. Findings from these next-generation transcriptome sequencing studies indicated that ZBED3 controls SREBP1c (also known as SREBF1; a gene involved in fatty acid de novo synthesis); thus, co-immunoprecipitation and LC-MS/MS were utilised to investigate the molecular mechanisms by which ZBED3 regulates the sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c (SREBP1c). Results: In this study, we found that ZBED3 was significantly upregulated in the liver of individuals with MASLD and in MASLD animal models. ZBED3 overexpression promoted NEFA-induced triglyceride accumulation in hepatocytes in vitro. Furthermore, the hepatocyte-specific overexpression of Zbed3 promoted hepatic steatosis. Conversely, the hepatocyte-specific knockout of Zbed3 resulted in resistance of HFD-induced hepatic steatosis. Mechanistically, ZBED3 interacts directly with polypyrimidine tract-binding protein 1 (PTBP1) and affects its binding to the SREBP1c mRNA precursor to regulate SREBP1c mRNA stability and alternative splicing. Conclusions/interpretation: This study indicates that ZBED3 promotes hepatic steatosis and serves as a critical regulator of the progression of MASLD. Data availability: RNA-seq data have been deposited in the NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/query/acc.cgi?acc=GSE231875). MS proteomics data have been deposited to the ProteomeXchange Consortium via the iProX partner repository (https://proteomecentral.proteomexchange.org/cgi/GetDataset?ID=PXD041743). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess satisfaction and psychosocial status before and after facial bone contouring surgery using the Face-Q. Methods: The Face-Q, a multimodular patient-reported outcome (PRO) instrument, comprises independently functioning scales and checklists designed to assess outcomes in facial aesthetic patients. A prospective cohort study was conducted from November 2020 to May 2022. Participants undergoing facial bone contouring surgery (reduction mandibuloplasty and/or malarplasty) were asked to complete the Face-Q preoperatively and 12 months postoperatively. Comparative analyses were conducted using normative Face-Q data from 534 matched normal individuals. Face-Q scores were evaluated for each domain on a scale of 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater satisfaction with appearance or a superior quality of life. Results: A total of 284 patients (274 female and 10 male) completed the Face-Q preoperatively and 12 months postoperatively. Of these, 146 underwent reduction mandibuloplasty, 18 underwent malarplasty, and 120 underwent both procedures. Post-surgery, patients experienced significant improvements in overall appearance, features altered by surgery, and quality of life, excluding the patient-perceived age. Preoperatively, patients demonstrated significantly lower scores compared to normative data, with scores significantly increasing postoperatively to levels representative of the general population. Satisfaction with outcome was significantly correlated with postoperative Face-Q measurements but not preoperatively. Conclusion: Facial bone contouring surgery significantly improves the satisfaction and quality of life in patients with square faces, reaching a level at least equivalent to the normative population. The use of Face-Q should be highlighted in the clinic practice. Level of Evidence IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urease-producing bacteria (UPB) provide inorganic nitrogen for primary producers by hydrolyzing urea, and play an important role in marine nitrogen cycle. However, there is still an incomplete understanding of UPB and their ecological functions in the cultivation environment of the red macroalgae Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis. This study comprehensively analyzed the diversity of culturable UPB and explored their effects on urea uptake by G. lemaneiformis. A total of 34 isolates belonging to four main bacterial phyla i.e. (Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria) were identified through 16S rRNA sequencing and were screened for UPB by urea agar chromogenic medium assay and ureC gene cloning. Our data revealed that only 8 strains contained urease. All of these UPB exhibited different urease activities, which were determined by the Berthelot reaction colorimetry assay. Additionally, the UPB strain (G13) isolated from G. lemaneiformis with higher urease activity was selected for co-culture with G. lemaneiformis to explore its role in promoting or inhibiting nitrogen uptake by macroalgae. The results showed a significant increase in urea consumption in the culture medium and the total cellular nitrogen in G. lemaneiformis in the UPB-co culture group compared to the sterile group. This suggests that the selected UPB strain positively influences nitrogen uptake by G. lemaneiformis. Similarly, isotopic assays revealed that the δ15N content of G. lemaneiformis was significantly higher in the UPB-co culture than in the control group, where δ15N-urea was the only nitrogen source in the culture medium. This indicates that the UPB helped G. lemaneiformis to absorb more nitrogen from urea. Moreover, the highest content of δ15N was found in G. lemaneiformis with epiphytic bacteria compared to sterilized (i.e. control), showing that epiphytic bacteria, along with UPB, have a compound effect in helping G. lemaneiformis absorb more nitrogen from urea. Taken together, these results provide unique insight into the ecological role of UPB and suggest that urease from macroalgae environment-associated bacteria might be an important player in marine nitrogen cycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The toughness and adhesiveness of composite hydrogels play an important role in the field of wearable sensors, where they are used due to their remarkable flexibility and diverse specialized properties. In this work, a composite hydrogel with strong toughness and high adhesion for human motion detection and wireless sensing was obtained. Polydopamine (PDA)-modified cellulose nanofibers (PCNFs) were introduced into a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyacrylamide (PAM) network, resulting in the fabrication of a PCNF/PVA-PAM composite hydrogel. Lithium chloride served as a crosslinking agent and provided conductive ions, and the PCNFs provided the composite hydrogel with strong toughness and adhesion abilities. The compression strength of the obtained PCNF/PVA-PAM composite hydrogel was 1.1 MPa, and its adhesion strength to glass was 63.8 kPa. Moreover, the composite hydrogel exhibited good anti-freezing properties. The compression sensitivity of the composite hydrogel was 1.29, and it still maintained stability even after 500 testing cycles. The strain-sensing abilities of the composite hydrogel were satisfactory for different human body parts. This composite material holds great promise in the fields of wearable devices and wireless signal transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A scheme to enhance the entanglement between two magnon modes by an optical parametric amplifier (OPA) in a cavity magnomechanical system composed of a microwave cavity mode, two magnon modes and a mechanical mode is proposed. Owing to the magnon–phonon and cavity–magnon couplings, the enhancement of magnon–magnon entanglement can be realized in the presence of OPA with optimal phase by entanglement transfer. Especially, in virtue of the OPA, the strong entangled state for the two magnon modes can be prepared when there is no magnon–phonon interaction. Moreover, the improvement of tripartite entanglement between cavity–magnon–magnon with assistance of the OPA is also taken into account and analyzed. It is noted that the OPA increases the robustness of both magnon–magnon entanglement and cavity–magnon–magnon entanglement against the environmental temperature [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: ELF4 deficiency has been recently recognized as a novel disorder within the spectrum of inborn errors of immunity (IEIs), specifically categorized as a "disease of immune dysregulation." Cases of this condition, reported by our team and others, are very limited worldwide. As such, our current knowledge of this new disease remains preliminary. This review aims to provide a brief overview of the clinical manifestations, pathogenesis, and treatment strategies for this novel IEI. Data sources: A comprehensive review was conducted after an extensive literature search in the PubMed/Medline database and websites concerning transcriptional factor ELF4 and reports concerning patients with ELF4 deficiency. Our search strategy was "ELF4 OR ETS-related transcription factor Elf-4 OR EL4-like factor 4 OR myeloid Elf-1-like factor" as of the time of manuscript submission. Results: The current signature manifestations of ELF4 deficiency disorder are recurrent and prolonged oral ulcer, abdominal pain, and diarrhea in pediatric males. In some cases, immunodeficiency and autoimmunity can also be prominent. Targeted Sanger sequencing or whole exome sequencing can be used to detect variation in ELF4 gene. Western blotting for ELF4 expression of the patient's cells can confirm the pathogenic effect of the variant. To fully confirm the pathogenicity of the variant, further functional test is strongly advised. Glucocorticoid and biologics are the mainstream management of ELF4 deficiency disorder. Conclusions: Pediatric males presenting with recurring ulcerations in digestive tract epithelium with or without recurrent fever should be suspected of DEX. When atypical presentations are prominent, variations in ELF4 gene should be carefully evaluated functionally due to the complex nature of ELF4 function. Experience of treating DEX includes use of glucocorticoid and biologics and more precise treatment needs more patients to identify and further mechanistic study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacoside A (gypenoside, Gyp) is a potent bioactive compound derived from Gynostemma pentaphyllum, known to exert inhibitory effects on various malignant tumors. However, the effects of Gyp on glioma as well as the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In the present study, we first conducted a comprehensive investigation into the anti-glioma potential of gypenosides using network pharmacology to identify potential glioma-related targets. Protein–protein interaction networks were assembled, and GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were performed for shared targets. Experimental validation involved assessing the viability of U251 and U87 cell lines using the MTS method. Furthermore, trans-well and scratch migration assays evaluated the cell migration, while flow cytometry and Hoechst 33342 staining were utilized for apoptosis assessment. The study also monitored changes in autophagy flow through fluorescence microscopy. The expression levels of proteins pertinent to migration, apoptosis, and autophagy were tested using Western blotting. Findings revealed that Gyp upregulated apoptosis-related proteins (Bax and cleaved caspase-9), downregulated anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, and migration-associated matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9). Furthermore, autophagy-related proteins (Beclin1 and LC3 II) were upregulated, and p62 protein expression was downregulated. Gyp displayed considerable potential in suppressing glioma progression by inhibiting cell proliferation, invasion, and migration and promoting apoptosis and autophagy. Gyp may offer potential clinical therapeutic choices in glioma management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the endothelialization of covered and bare stents deployed in the canine carotid arteries and subclavian arteries for treating experimental aneurysms and arteriovenous fistulas, twenty aneurysms were created in 10 dogs, and 20 fistulas in another 10 dogs. The Willis balloon-expandable covered stent and a self-expandable covered stent were used to treat these lesions, and a self-expandable bare stent was deployed in the subclavian artery for comparison. Followed up for up to 12 months, the gross observation, pathological staining, and scanning electronic microscopic data were analyzed. Two weeks after creation of animal model, thirty self-expandable covered stents and ten balloon-expandable covered stents were deployed. Fifteen bare stents were deployed within the left subclavian arteries. Twenty days after stenting, the aneurysm significantly shrank. At 6 months, the thrombi within the aneurysm cavity were organized. Three to 12 months later, most covered and bare stents were covered by a thin transparent or white layer of endothelial intima. Layers of intima or pseudomembrane were formed on the stent 20–40 days after stent deployment. Over three months, the pseudomembrane became organized, thinner, and merged into the vascular wall. Under scanning electronic microscopy, the surface of covered and bare stents had only deposition of collagen fibers and rare endothelial cells 20–40 days after stenting. From three to ten months, the endothelial cells on the internal surface of stent became mature, with spindle, stripe-like or quasi round morphology along the blood flow direction. Over time, the endothelial cells became mature. In conclusion, three months after deployment in canines' arteries, the self-expandable bare and covered stents have mostly been covered by endothelial cells which become maturer over time, whereas the balloon-expandable covered stents do not have complete coverage of endothelial cells at three months, especially for protruding stent struts and areas. Over time, the endothelialization will become mature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nonstationary impacts of climate change and multi-reservoirs on extreme floods cannot be ignored due to the potential risk to flood control and river security. Nonstationary regional flood frequency analysis (NS-RFFA) provides an effective way to consider these influences. But there is currently no standard framework of NS-RFFA and insufficient consideration of uncertainty in quantile estimates. In the study, we proposed an improved framework of NS-RFFA considering the influence of multi-reservoirs as well as climate change and involving uncertainty estimation. The framework was applied to analyze the frequency of extreme floods in the Huai River Basin (HRB) where multi-reservoirs have been constructed and to reveal the extreme flood variation under the impact of climate change and reservoir group. Results show that precipitation during flood season and reservoir index played a dominant role in the variations of annual maximum streamflow in the HRB. The impact of reservoirs was more significant in the upstream tributaries than in the mainstream. The nonstationary models with location parameters varying with time and/or main influencing factors perform better on fitting extreme streamflow in the HRB compared with stationary and at-site analysis. The quantile estimates and their uncertainty based on NS-RFFA are dynamic, which gives an expression of the changing environment effects on annual maximum streamflow. Thus, our work contributes an improved framework of NS-RFFA considering the influence of climate change and reservoirs, providing more accurate and reliable estimates for river flood risk management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic diversity studies not only improve the understanding of the wild genetic resources of species but also provide a theoretical basis for the protection, development, and utilization of species and formulation of reasonable protection measures. Fishing pressure on the near threatened fish Harpadon nehereus has recently increased, leading to the aging and miniaturization of its population. We determined the gene sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome b (Cytb) and nuclear recombination-activating 1 (RAG1) in eight populations of H. nehereus in the Northwest Pacific, analyzed their genetic diversity levels, and compared the effectiveness of these two markers for analyzing genetic diversity and population structure. Sequence analysis of Cytb revealed that the eight populations showed low haplotype diversity (Hd = 0.110–0.356) and low nucleotide diversity (pi = 0.00015–0.00053). No significant genetic differentiation was observed among the populations (Fst = − 0.0197–0.000, P > 0.05). The haplotype network diagram did not exhibit evident geographical clustering or a pedigree structure. Molecular variance analysis revealed that variation primarily occurred within populations. Further comparative analysis of the RAG1 and Cytb sequences revealed two differences. RAG1 showed high haplotype diversity (Hd = 0.780–0.900) and low nucleotide diversity (pi = 0.00355–0.00463). The genetic differentiation index value revealed a significantly low level of genetic differentiation among some populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cervicogenic headache is an often observed secondary headache in clinical settings, with patients who endure prolonged and persistent pain being particularly susceptible to mood changes. Currently, the Mulligan is one of the effective methods for CEH. However, there is a lack of evaluation about the strength and frequency of headaches, as well as the assessment of pain-induced emotions, in individuals with CEH using this particular procedure. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Mulligan maneuver from a multidimensional perspective of pain intensity and mood. A total of forty patients diagnosed with CEH who satisfied the specified inclusion criteria were recruited and allocated randomly into two groups: the control group and the treatment group, with each group consisting of twenty cases. The control group received health education, while the treatment group received the Mulligan maneuver once daily over a course of 10 treatment sessions.The clinical outcome of patients with CEH in two groups was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD). Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging was employed to examine variations in brain function activities between the two CEH groups. Brain regions showing differences were identified as regions of interest and subsequently correlated with clinical behavioral measures using Pearson's correlation analysis. The differences in VAS, HAMA and HAMD between the two groups of CEH patients were also statistically significant. The brain regions that showed differences in the ReHo scores between the two groups of CEH patients included the left cerebellum, the frontal gyrus, and the middle temporal gyrus. There was a positive correlation between the left frontal gyrus and VAS, HAMA and HAMD. The left middle temporal gyrus had a negative correlation with VAS, HAMA, and HAMD and the left cerebellum had a positive correlation with VAS correlation. The Mulligan maneuver may improve pain levels and have a moderating effect on pain-related negative emotions by regulating the function of relevant brain regions in CEH patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater is one of most important available water resources in Chengdu Plain. It is sole drinking water in some rural areas, while the concentration of some areas could not meet the drinking water standards. Thus, it is significant to investigate the relationship between the concentration of Cr(VI) and land use types. The concentration of Cr(VI) in 102 groundwater sampling wells were obtained, and the spatial distribution of hexavalent chromium in groundwater was interpolated by Kriging interpolation method. Then, the land use types were analyzed by ENVI. Contributing area surrogate models were employed to investigate the influence of land use type on the concentration of Cr(VI). The following results were obtained, (1) the hexavalent chromium concentrated in crop land, flower-plant/forest land and greenhouse land. (2) The "contributing area surrogate" for the hexavalent chromium pollution region is circular area with a radius of 1750 m. And the pollutant of hexavalent chromium in region groundwater has a good correlation with greenhouse and crop land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study theoretically the generation of mechanical squeezing and optomechanical entanglement in a double-cavity optomechanical system involving a modulated optical parametric amplifier (OPA). Owing to the cooperation of the modulated OPA and the auxiliary cavity, the mechanical squeezing can be realized in both the resolved-sideband and unresolved-sideband regimes. Particularly, the strong mechanical squeezing can be generated in the resolved-sideband regime with the assistance of the modulated OPA. Moreover, under the joint effect of the auxiliary cavity and the modulated OPA, the optomechanical entanglement can be greatly enhanced in the unresolved-sideband regime. It is noted that both the mechanical squeezing and optomechanical entanglement have strong robustness against the high dissipation of the cavity and thermal noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the hydrological effects of the Three Gorges Dam operation in the entire reservoir area is significant to achieving optimal dam regulation. In this paper, a large-scale coupled hydrological-hydrodynamic-dam operation model is developed to comprehensively evaluate the hydrological effects of the river-type Three Gorges Reservoir. The results show that the coupled model is effective for hydrological, hydrodynamic regime and hydropower simulations in the reservoir area. Dam operation could have a notable positive effect on flood control and could reduce the maximum daily flood peak by up to 26.2%. It also contributes a large amount of hydropower, approximately 94.27 TWh/year, and a water supply increase for the downstream area of up to 22% during the dry season. In the flood season, the water level at Cuntan would increase under the condition that the water level of the dam is higher than approximately 158 m due to dam operation. In the dry season, attention should be paid to the low flow velocity near the dam in the reservoir area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rare Metals is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The carcass layer of flexible pipe comprises a large-angle spiral structure with a complex interlocked stainless steel cross-section profile, which is mainly used to resist radial load. With the complex structure of the carcass layer, an equivalent simplified model is used to study the mechanical properties of the carcass layer. However, the current equivalent carcass model only considers the elastic deformation, and this simplification leads to huge errors in the calculation results. In this study, radial compression experiments were carried out to make the carcasses to undergo plastic deformation. Subsequently, a residual neural network based on the experimental data was established to predict the load–displacement curves of carcasses with different inner diameter in plastic states under radial compression. The established neural network model's high precision was verified by experimental data, and the influence of the number of input variables on the accuracy of the neural network was discussed. The conclusion shows that the residual neural network model established based on the experimental data of the small-diameter carcass layer can predict the load–displacement curve of the large-diameter carcass layer in the plastic stage. With the decrease of input data, the prediction accuracy of residual network model in plasticity stage will decrease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The real-world exposure levels of non-therapeutic antibiotics and neonicotinoids in type 1 diabetes (T1D) children and their associations as environmental triggers through gut microbiota shifts remained unknown. We thus investigated the antibiotics and neonicotinoids' exposure levels and their associations with gut microbiota in pediatric T1D. Methods: Fifty-one newly onset T1D children along with 67 age-matched healthy controls were recruited. Urine concentrations of 28 antibiotics and 12 neonicotinoids were measured by mass spectrometry. Children were grouped according to the kinds of antibiotics' and neonicotinoids' exposures, respectively. The 16S rRNA of fecal gut microbiota was sequenced, and the correlation with urine antibiotics and neonicotinoids' concentrations was analyzed. Results: The overall detection rates of antibiotics were 72.5% and 61.2% among T1D and healthy children, whereas the neonicotinoids detection rates were 70.6% and 52.2% (P = 0.044). Children exposed to one kind of antibiotic or two or more kinds of neonicotinoids had higher risk of T1D, with the odd ratios of 2.579 and 3.911. Furthermore, co-exposure to antibiotics and neonicotinoids was associated with T1D, with the odd ratio of 4.924. Antibiotics or neonicotinoids exposure did not affect overall richness and diversity of gut microbiota. However, children who were exposed to neither antibiotics nor neonicotinoids had higher abundance of Lachnospiraceae than children who were exposed to antibiotics and neonicotinoids alone or together. Conclusion: High antibiotics and neonicotinoids exposures were found in T1D children, and they were associated with changes in gut microbiota featured with lower abundance of butyrate-producing genera, which might increase the risk of T1D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tin oxide and sulfur, nitrogen-doped tin oxide nano-powder catalysts were prepared by a solid phase reaction at room temperature, using the sodium p-toluene sulfonate (STS) surfactant as template. Theoretical calculation of the dehydration reaction energy of tin hydroxide was performed with the framework of DFT and their structures were characterized. And the UV-light degradation performance and mechanism used for the biomass wastewater were discussed, as well as, its COD and NH3-N value. The results show that the large gap of the reaction energy between intramolecular dehydration (Er = 2.81 eV) and intermolecular dehydration (Er = 5.77 eV) for tin hydroxide causes the presence of amorphous SnO2 and metastable tin hydroxide at 450 °C. The entry of S and N into the (110) crystal plane of SnO2 reduces its energy band gap width, exhibiting the photocatalytic degradation rate (98.9%) of S + N-SnO2-STS sample for the rice straw powder treatment wastewater (RSPTW) irradiated by UV-light for 8 h. The excellent degradation capacity of RSPTW mainly comes from the hydroxyl radicals (·OH) and superoxygen radicals (·O2−) produced by the rich hydroxyl on the surface of S + N-SnO2-STS due to the regulatory effect of STS and lower calcined temperature. The sewage discharge of photodegraded RSPTW complies with Chinese National Level II Standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the modulatory mechanism of let-7c-5p on the biological characteristics of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) cells by targeting AURKB. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened by bioinformatics analysis. CCK-8, colony formation, scratch healing, Transwell, and flow cytometry assays were employed to test biological functions of LUAD cells. Western Blot was undertaken to assay the protein level of AURKB, and qRT-PCR was undertaken to test AURKB mRNA and let-7c-5p expression. Dual-luciferase reporter gene method was applied to detect the interaction between AURKB and let-7c-5p. Let-7c-5p was much likely to target AURKB expression. Let-7c-5p was poorly expressed in LUAD cells and suppressed AURKB. Silencing AURKB or overexpressing let-7c-5p both could suppress proliferation, migration, and invasion and stimulate apoptosis, while overexpressing the two simultaneously could reverse such effect. Forced expression of let-7c-5p inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion and accelerated apoptosis of LUAD cells by inhibiting AURKB, which may provide a new way to understand the malignant progression of LUAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rare Metals is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Eucommia ulmoides (E. ulmoides) is a deciduous perennial tree belonging to the order Garryales, and is known as "living fossil" plant, along with ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), metaspaca (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) and dove tree (Davidia involucrata Baill). However, the genetic diversity and population structure of E. ulmoides are still ambiguous nowdays. In this study, we re-sequenced the genomes of 12 E. ulmoides accessions from different major climatic geography regions in China to elucidate the genetic diversity, population structure and evolutionary pattern. By integration of phylogenetic analysis, principal component analysis and population structure analysis based on a number of high-quality SNPs, a total of 12 E. ulmoides accessions were clustered into four different groups. This result is consistent with their geographical location except for group samples from Shanghai and Hunan province. E. ulmoides accessions from Hunan province exhibited a closer genetic relationship with E. ulmoides accessions from Shanghai in China compared with other regions, which is also supported by the result of population structure analyses. Genetic diversity analysis further revealed that E. ulmoides samples in Shanghai and Hunan province were with higher genetic diversity than those in other regions in this study. In addition, we treated the E. ulmoides materials from Shanghai and Hunan province as group A, and the other materials from other places as group B, and then analyzed the evolutionary pattern of E. ulmoides. The result showed the significant differentiation (Fst = 0.1545) between group A and group B. Some candidate highly divergent genome regions were identified in group A by selective sweep analyses, and the function analysis of candidate genes in these regions showed that biological regulation processes could be correlated with the Eu-rubber biosynthesis. Notably, nine genes were identified from selective sweep regions. They were involved in the Eu-rubber biosynthesis and expressed in rubber containing tissues. The genetic diversity research and evolution model of E. ulmoides were preliminarily explored in this study, which laid the foundation for the protection of germplasm resources and the development and utilization of multipurpose germplasm resources in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionic liquids are widely used in many fields due to their extremely tunable nature and exceptional properties. The extensive application of ionic liquids raises great concerns regarding their bioaccumulation potential and adverse effects on organisms. Green plants have a great potential for uptake of persistent xenobiotics from aquatic and terrestrial environment. However, the assimilation and bioaccumulation of 1-tetradecyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([C14mim]Br) have not been studied in plants yet. In order to explore the phytoaccumulation of [C14mim]+, ryegrass were exposed to [C14mim]Br with hydroponic experiment. The effects of [C14mim]Br dosages on growth index, chlorophyll content, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and antioxidant enzyme activity of ryegrass were investigated. The toxic effects of [C14mim]Br on ryegrass growth increased with increasing initial concentration. The high initial concentration treatment resulted in rapid changes in physiological characteristics in ryegrass tissue. [C14mim]+ ions were mainly accumulated in root tissue and partly translocated to the above ground part of ryegrass. [C14mim]+ was observed in the highest concentration (314.35 μg/g in root and 101.42 μg/g in aboveground parts of ryegrass) with 10 mg/L of [C14mim]Br. Our results demonstrated that ryegrass can uptake and accumulate [C14mim]+ and is therefore a suitable species for phytoremediation of trace amount of [C14mim]+ and possibly other ionic liquids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the masseter muscle changes and bone regeneration between reduction mandibuloplasty along with partial masseter muscle resection and reduction mandibuloplasty alone. Methods: Forty-seven patients who complained of prominent mandibular angle and hypertrophy masseter muscles (MMH) were divided into group 1 treated with reduction mandibuloplasty along with partial masseter muscle resection, and group 2 treated with reduction mandibuloplasty alone. Pre-5 days and long-term postoperative computed tomography data were collected, and the masseter muscle volume, hemi-mandible volume, and unilateral lower face width were measured. Patient satisfaction and complication were also evaluated. Results: At long-term follow-up, group 1 showed a greater decrease in masseter volume (p < 0.001), and lower face width (p < 0.001), and less bone regeneration (p < 0.001) than group 2. Furthermore, patients in group 1 had higher satisfaction with the surgical outcome (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Reduction mandibuloplasty along with partial masseter muscle resection can achieve a slender frontal appearance and significantly decrease bone generation. For patients with MMH, reduction mandibuloplasty along with partial masseter muscle resection is an effective and predictable lower face reshaping surgery. Level of Evidence IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine Ratings, please refer to Table of Contents or online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compressed sensing (CS) technique can sample and compress simultaneously. Since an image contains a huge amount of information, block CS (BCS) technique has appeared. This technique can divide image signals into non-overlapping sub-blocks and all the sub-blocks are processed separately. In classical BCS, translations of coefficients may cause signal losses when constructing sparse matrices. Therefore, reconstructed images are unsatisfactory at low sparsity. In this paper, we propose an improved BCS (IBCS). Our implementation is based on Mallat reconstruction algorithm to construct a non-square sparse matrix, it can retain more information of original signals. The reconstruction quality is more stable at different sparsity. Two experiments demonstrate that the reconstruction quality of the proposed IBCS is better than that of CBCS at lower sparsity and the implementation cost is reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although numerous efforts have been made in direct syngas conversion to higher alcohols via Fischer–Tropsch synthesis, the higher alcohols distribution remains a challenge. Here, we introduce alkaline earth metal oxide as promoter into activated carbon supported cobalt catalyst to tune distribution of higher alcohols. With the addition of Mg, the distribution of C2-5 alcohols increase from 41.2 to 75.8% accompanying with distribution of C6-18 alcohols decrease from 52.8 to 14.0%. Ba-promoted Co based catalyst (CoBa/AC) presents similar alcohols distribution to un-promoted catalyst, while the alcohol selectivity over CoBa/AC is higher than Co/AC. For promoted catalysts, the distribution of C6-18 alcohols increased in the order of Mg < Ca < Sr < Ba. The characterization results exhibit that the promoter addition facilitates the cobalt carbide formation, which leads to enhancement of selectivity to higher alcohols. The available active cobalt sites of promoted Co based catalysts increase in the same above order of Mg < Ca < Sr < Ba. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing prevalence of Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) poses a serious threat to global health. Phages and phage-derived enzymes gained increasing attention for controling CRKP infections. In this study, a lytic phage P510 infecting KL64 type K. pneumoniae was isolated and characterized. Whole genome analysis and electron microscopy analysis showed that phage P510 belonged to genus Przondovirus, family Autographiviridae, the order Caudovirales. The tail fiber protein of the phage was predicted to encode capsule depolymerase. Further analysis demonstrated that recombinant depolymerase P510dep had polysaccharide-degrading activity against KL64-types capsule of K. pneumoniae, and its lysis spectrum matched to host range of phage P510. We also demonstrated that the recombinant depolymerase was able to significantly inhibit biofilm formation. The discovery of the phage-derived depolymerase lays the foundation for controlling the spread of CRKPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors have previously demonstrated that one phage-displayed keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) model peptide that can bind to epidermal cells and facilitate cellular proliferation. In this study, the authors investigated the role of phage-displayed KGF model peptide on wound healing in diabetic rats. Full-thickness excisional dorsal wounds were created in the diabetic rats, after which the rats were randomly divided into five groups: negative control group [normal saline (NS)], two KGF control groups which were respectively treated with low-dose KGF (5 ng/mL, K-LD) and high-dose KGF (50 ng/mL, K-HD), and two KGF model-peptide-treated groups which were respectively treated with low-dose model peptide (5 ng/mL, M-LD) and high-dose model peptide (50 ng/mL, M-HD). On day 14 post-injury, wound closure was followed by digital planimetry and wound tissues were harvested for histologic assay and real-time polymerase chain reaction. Wounds treated with model peptide closed markedly faster than negative control wounds and were comparable to KGF treated wounds. Histology and immunohistology results demonstrated significantly higher levels of re-epithelization, granulation tissue formation and vascularization in the model peptide groups. Furthermore, real-time polymerase chain reaction expression of KGFR, collagen I and transforming growth factor-β1 in model peptide groups, were also generally higher than that in negative control group. Phage-displayed KGF peptide promotes wound healing through accelerating re-epithelialization, enhancing dermal regeneration, and inducing angiogenesis. Model peptide possesses the potential to be a promising therapeutic option for the treatment of diabetic ulcers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The awareness and treatment of lacrimal gland prolapse (LGP) have been primarily improved with a further understanding of lateral eyelid bulging over the decades. However, for Asian single-eyelid females with LGP, a tailor-made procedure applicable to their comparatively young puffy eyes is needed. Methods: This is a retrospective study. From Jan. 2009 to Jan. 2019, two hundred and three Asian single-eyelid females with LGP, who met the inclusion criteria, underwent double-eyelid surgeries and adjunctive lacrimal gland repositions with preaponeurotic fat transposition. Pertinent demographics, complications, pre-and post-operative photography were collected. Results: A total of 167 patients completed the 4–24 months' follow-up (average: 16.3 months). One hundred and thirty-two cases (79.0%) were diagnosed as LGP preoperatively, and the rest (35/167, 21.0%) were diagnosed intraoperatively. All patients (average: 28.4 years old) received modified blepharoplasty. Postoperative symptoms involving local mild pain (2.9%, 5/167), upper eyelid tightness (3.6%, 6/167), and moderate epiphora (9.0%, 15/167) were all recovered spontaneously within one month. Prolapse recurrence and severe complications such as dry eye syndrome were not observed. Conclusions: We proposed a modified procedure to enhance the diagnosis and treatment of LGP during Asian blepharoplasty. The lacrimal gland suspension and fat transposition assured the cosmetic outcome for selected young, puffy Asian eyes. The supratarsal creases were satisfactory, and the complication rate was low. Furthermore, the rearrangement of preaponeurotic fat smoothed the contour transition and preserved the orbital volume. Therefore, this is a safe and effective technique worth recommending. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the effect of phage-displayed TGF-β1 model peptide on cutaneous wound healing in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Methods: Full-thickness excisional wounds were made on the dorsums of 50 rats which were then randomly divided into five groups: negative control group (normal saline (NS)), two TGF-β1 control groups which were respectively treated with low-dose TGF-β1 (5 ng/ml) and high-dose TGF-β1 (50 ng/ml), and two model-peptide-treated groups which were respectively treated with low-dose model peptide (5 ng/ml,) and high-dose model peptide (50 ng/ml). At day 14 post-injury, rats were euthanised and wounds were assessed by gross, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and quantificational real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: A significant increase in rate of wound closure was observed in model peptide groups in comparison to negative control group. The results of histopathological staining revealed that re-epithelization and collagen deposition in model-peptide-treated groups were significantly higher than those in negative control group. The results of immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence tests showed that Ki67-positive, VEGFA-positive, CD31-positive, α-SMA-positive, CD206-positive cells in model peptide and TGF-β1 control groups were more than those in negative control group. Furthermore, comparing with the mRNA expression profile in negative control groups, mRNA expression profile in model peptide group showed a decrease in proinflammatory cytokine and an increase in anti-inflammatory cytokine and collagen. Conclusions: Phage-displayed TGF-β1 peptide facilitates wound healing through accelerating re-epithelialization, enhancing collagen deposition, promoting neo-vascularization, and inhibiting inflammatory response. Model peptide possesses the potential to be a promising treatment strategy for enhancing diabetic wound repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new reproducing kernel Chebyshev wavelets method of solving a fractional telegraph equation is proposed. For solving the equation, reproducing kernel Chebyshev wavelets bases is constructed based on Chebyshev polynomials with a parameter. We choose an improved differential quadrature method with fourth-order truncation error to approximate second-order derivative term of the equation. Subsequently, the fractional telegraph equation is transformed into integral equation and the best approximate solution is obtained by searching the minimum of ε -approximate solutions. It is satisfied that the accuracy of errors provided by examples is very high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macroalgae host various symbionts on their surface, which play a critical role in their growth and development processes. However, there is still incomplete understanding of this epiphytic bacteria-host algae interactions. This study comprehensively analysed variation of the epiphytic bacterial communities (EBC) composition of red macroalga Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis at different geographic locations and environmental factors (i.e., nitrogen and phosphorus), which shape the EBC composition of G. lemaneiformis. The composition and structure of EBC were characterized using high throughput sequencing of the V3-V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene. The results revealed that epiphytic bacteria varied significantly among three different geographic locations in China, i.e., Nan'ao Island (NA), Lianjiang County (LJ), and Nanri Island (NR). Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Verrucomicrobia, and Epsilonbacteraeota at NR were strongly positively correlated with total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N), and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), but negatively correlated with nitrite nitrogen (NO2-N). The relative abundance of Cyanobacteria at NA and LJ were strongly positively correlated with NO2-N, but negatively correlated with TN, TP, NO3-N, and DIN. Besides, the Mantel test results indicated that the EBC composition was significantly correlated with these environmental factors, which was also confirmed by Spearman correlation analysis. Thus, environmental factors such as NO3-N and DIN play a key role in the community composition of epiphytic bacteria on G. lemaneiformis. This study provides important baseline knowledge on the community composition of epiphytic bacteria on G. lemaneiformis and shows correlation between different epiphytic bacteria and their surrounding environmental factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the paper, an improved collocation method is proposed for solving a linear fractional integro-differential equation. The method is proposed by improving the residual to vanish and require the residual to the minimum in sense of ‖ · ‖ C . It can avoid efficiently ill-conditioned of higher degree polynomials. Convergence order is superconvergence and stability analysis is also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Members of the genus Vibrio are ubiquitous in aquatic environments and can be found either in a culturable or a viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state. Despite widespread concerns as to how to define the occurrence and dynamics of Vibrio populations by culture-independent approaches, further physiological research and relevant biotechnological developments will require the isolation and cultivation of the microbes from various environments. The present work provides data and perspectives on our understanding of culturable Vibrio community structure and diversity in the Beibu Gulf. Finally, we isolated 1,037 strains of Vibrio from 45 samples and identified 18 different species. Vibrio alginolyticus, V. cyclitrophicus, V. tasmaniensis, V. brasiliensis, and V. splendidus were the dominant species that had regional distribution characteristics. The correlation between the quantitative distribution and community structure of culturable Vibrio and environmental factors varied with the Vibrio species and geographical locations. Among them, salinity, nitrogen, and phosphorus were the main factors affecting the diversity of culturable Vibrio. These results help to fill a knowledge gap on Vibrio diversity and provide data for predicting and controlling pathogenic Vibrio outbreaks in the Beibu Gulf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing population infected by carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae necessitates the development of alternative therapies. In this study, we isolated, characterized, and sequenced a bacteriophage, P509, which was able to specifically infect and lyse carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae of K locus type KL64. A one-step growth curve experiment showed that the latent time period of phage P509 was 5 min, and the burst size was about 85 phage particles/cell. Stability tests confirmed that P509 was stable over a wide range of temperatures (4 to 50 °C) and pH (3 to 11) conditions. Phage P509 was identified as a linear double-stranded DNA phage with a genome of 40,954 bp with 53.2% G + C content, encoding 50 predicted proteins. Genomic and morphological analysis suggested that P509 belonged to the genus Przondovirus, family Autographiviridae, order Caudovirales. Further analysis showed that no virulence-related genes or lysogen-formation gene clusters were detected in the genome, suggesting that P509 is a lytic phage, making it potentially suitable for clinical applications. In vitro, the number of viable cells in three phage-treated groups (MOI = 0.1, 0.01, 0.001) decreased by 3.75 log10 CFU/ml, 3.32 log10 CFU/ml and 3.21 log10 CFU/ml, respectively, after 80 min of incubation, in comparison to that in the untreated group. Based on these characteristics, phage P509 may be a promising candidate for future phage therapy applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two novel hybrid compounds, [{Mo(NO3)2(2,2′-bpy)}0.5{Mo6O17(2,2′-bpy)6}][PMo12O40] (1); [{Mn(2,2′-bpy)2}0.5{Mo6O17(2,2′-bpy)6}][PMo12O40] (2) (bpy = 2,2′-bpyridine), have been synthesized under mild hydrothermal conditions and structurally characterized by physico-chemical and series of spectroscopic methods. Two rare compounds which are basically isostructural with similar cell parameters are composed of transition metal-oxide-based cluster cations (TMOC) and classical Keggin type {PMo12O40} anions. Both [{Mo(NO3)2(2,2′-bpy)}0.5{Mo6O17(2,2′-bpy)6}]n and [{Mn(2,2′-bpy)2}0.5{Mo6O17(2,2′-bpy)6}]n cluster cation fragments possess opened railway molybdenum-oxide-based infinite cation chains. Then through O⋯O bond interactions, the adjacent railway chains are linked together with inverse symmetry mode to generate two kinds of interesting 2D supramolecular positive layers accommodated with big ellipse {PMo12O40} anions. By H-bonding interactions, the alternative accumulations between layers and layers give rise to 3D supramolecular channel frameworks, and the {PMo12O40} anions from different layers each other also generate graphene-like negative inorganic sheets. The electrochemical behaviors and electrocatalytic activities of both compounds have been explored. The photocatalytic activities of compounds 1 and 2 for decomposition of rhodamine B (RhB), methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) under UV irradiation also have been investigated. The catalytic performances for the tertbutyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) oxidation of styrene also were carried out. The results show that compounds 1 and 2 exhibit multifunctional catalytic performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Simple, multiplex qPCR methods are advantages for rapid molecular diagnosis of multiple antibiotics-resistant genes simultaneously. However, the number of genes can be detected in a single reaction tube is often limited by the fluorescence channels of a real-time PCR instrument. In this study, we developed a simple 2-D multiplex qPCR method by combining the probe colors and amplicon Tm values to overcome the mechanical limit of the machine. The principle of the novel assay was validated by detection of nine bacterial antibiotic-resistance genes (KPC, NDM, VIM, OXA-48, GES, CIT, EBC, ACC and DHA) in a single reaction tube. This assay is highly sensitive within a range of 30–3000 copies per reaction. The simplicity, rapidity, high sensitivity and specificity, and low cost of the novel method make it a promising tool for developing clinical diagnostic kits for monitoring resistance and other genetic determinants of infectious diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gene transcription in bacteria is mainly triggered by sigma factors (σ factors), such as rpoE. Bacterial ncRNAs are key players in reprogramming protein transcription when the environment changes. In our experiment, under the stress of ampicillin, the ncRNA transcriptomes of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi wild-type strain (WT) and rpoE-deficient strain (ΔrpoE) were sequenced and analyzed, and four ncRNAs were selected to be verified by qRT-PCR. Of the ncRNA transcripts tested, 57 ncRNAs were found to have significantly different expressions (fold changes > 2) in ΔrpoE compared to WT, with 31 being upregulated and 26 being downregulated. The expression levels of the four ncRNAs verified preliminarily by subsequent qRT-PCR showed consistency with the sequencing data. Our study revealed the differences in ncRNA expression profiles between Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi WT and ΔrpoE under ampicillin stress. The four ncRNAs identified by qRT-PCR and their associated signaling pathways may be related to the envelope stress and antibiotic susceptibility of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Propagation of nonlinear shock structures in inhomogeneous dusty plasmas with power law dust size distribution and nonadiabatic dust charge fluctuation has been investigated. Using reductive perturbation expansion, the hydrodynamic equations are reduced to a modified variable coefficient Korteweg–de Vries (MKdV)–Burgers equation governing the characteristic of shock structures. Two different types of shock structures exist in this system and transform each other. The numerical results show that the inhomogeneity, the power law dust size distribution and the nonadiabatic dust charge fluctuation have strong influence on the nonlinear properties of shock structures and the transition condition between monotone shock structures and oscillatory shock structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mandibular angle ostectomy is a common plastic surgery for facial contouring in East Asians. However, rarely we could find reports on differences between East Asian males and females undergoing this surgery. Objective: To describe the differences between East Asian males and females before and after mandibular angle ostectomy. Methods: A total of 22 Asian males and 52 Asian females who underwent mandibular angle ostectomy from April 2015 to November 2018 were enrolled. Three-dimensional computed tomography was used to evaluate the preoperative and postoperative data of the mandible. Thirteen clinical data were measured on reconstructed mandibular models. The differences in data between males and females were analyzed to identify the causes of the differences before and after surgery. The follow-up was 6–12 months, and patient satisfaction was also evaluated. Results: The ostectomy volume was positively correlated with the distance from the intersection of the occlusal plane and the anterior margin of the mandibular ramus to gonion (MR-Go; female, p < 0.01; male, p = 0.02). There was a positive correlation between the ostectomy volume and the postoperative drainage fluid (The drainage fluid is mainly blood) volume after surgery in females (p < 0.05), while there is no significant correlation between these two data in males (p = 0.19). Patients with a long distance from the second molar to the lower edge of the mandibular body (SM-MB) tended to have a higher risk of postoperative bleeding (female, r = 0.56, p < 0.01; male, r = 0.73, p = 0.01). Conclusion: Because of the difference in the anatomical size of the mandible and different aesthetic requirements for facial contouring between males and females, surgeons encounter different intraoperative conditions resulting in difficulties during surgery. Understanding differences in mandibular angles predicts differences in ostectomy volume and postoperative bleeding risk, thus aiding surgeons and leading to better operative outcomes. Level of Evidence III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B cell dysfunction due to obesity can be associated with alterations in the levels of micro-RNAs (miRNAs). However, the role of miRNAs in these processes remains elusive. Here, we show that miR-802 is increased in the pancreatic islets of obese mouse models and demonstrate that inducible transgenic overexpression of miR-802 in mice causes impaired insulin transcription and secretion. We identify Foxo1 as a transcription factor of miR-802 promoting its transcription, and NeuroD1 and Fzd5 as targets of miR-802-dependent silencing. Repression of NeuroD1 in β cell and primary islets impairs insulin transcription and reduction of Fzd5 in β cell, which, in turn, impairs Ca2+ signaling, thereby repressing calcium influx and decreasing insulin secretion. We functionally create a novel network between obesity and β cell dysfunction via miR-802 regulation. Elucidation of the impact of obesity on microRNA expression can broaden our understanding of pathophysiological development of diabetes. Obesity predisposes to type 2 diabetes, but the mechanisms of obesity-associated β cell dysfunction are incompletely understood. Here the authors report that obesity increases the levels of miR-802, which impairs insulin transcription and secretion by targeting NeuroD1 and Fzd5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the clinical features and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) findings of retinal astrocytic hamartoma (RAH) in Chinese patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). Methods: The medical records of 91 consecutive patients with established TSC diagnosis were retrospectively reviewed. Fundus findings regarding RAH documented by fundus photography and SD-OCT at presentation were collected and analyzed. Results: RAHs were seen in 69 of the 91 patients (75.8%); 50.7% of these patients showed bilateral retinal involvement. Type 1 RAH was found the most common type with a prevalence of 94.2%, while type 2 and type 3 RAH with 7.2% and 18.8% respectively. A significant correlation between age and RAH types was shown by Fisher's exact test (p < 0.001). By SD-OCT, non-calcified RAHs featured in hyperreflective thickening of the retinal nerve fiber layer with some degree of retinal disorganization, while multinodular calcified RAHs characterized with moth-eaten appearances representing intraretinal calcification with posterior dense optical shadowing. Conclusion: A higher prevalence of TSC-associated RAH but an unexpected lower prevalence of calcified RAHs was shown in Chinese compared with that of Caucasians. SD-OCT can be used to facilitate the detection and follow-up of RAHs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/hypothesis: Although obesity is a predisposing factor for pancreatic beta cell dysfunction, the mechanisms underlying its negative effect on insulin-secreting cells is still poorly understood. The aim of this study was to identify islet long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) involved in obesity-mediated beta cell dysfunction. Methods: RNA sequencing was performed to analyse the islets of high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice and those of normal chow-fed mice (NCD). The function in beta cells of the selected lncRNA 1810019D21Rik (referred to in this paper as ROIT [regulator of insulin transcription]) was assessed after its overexpression or knockdown in MIN6 cells and primary islet cells, as well as in siRNA-treated mice. Then, RNA pull-down, RNA immunoprecipitation, coimmunoprecipitation and bisulphite sequencing were performed to investigate the mechanism of ROIT regulation of islet function. Results: ROIT was dramatically downregulated in the islets of the obese mice, as well as in the sera of obese donors with type 2 diabetes, and was suppressed by HNF1B. Overexpression of ROIT in MIN6 cells and islets led to improved glucose homeostasis and insulin transcription. Investigation of the mechanism involved showed that ROIT bound to DNA methyltransferase 3a and caused its degradation through the ubiquitin proteasome pathway, which blocked the methylation of the Nkx6.1 promoter. Conclusions/interpretation: These findings functionally suggest a novel link between obesity and beta cell dysfunction via ROIT. Elucidating a precise mechanism for the effect of obesity on lncRNA expression will broaden our understanding of the pathophysiological development of diabetes and facilitate the design of better tools for diabetes prevention and treatment. Data availability: The raw RNA sequencing data are available from the NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO series accession number GSE139991). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The protistan pathogens Cryptosporidium and Enterocytozoon bieneusi can cause significant intestinal diseases in animals and humans. However, limited information is available regarding prevalence and molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium and E. bieneusi in ruminants in Northern China. In this study, the overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium and E. bieneusi was 19.3% (62/321) and 28.97% (93/321) in dairy calves and 1.10% (9/818) and 13.57% (111/818) in sika deer (Cervus nippon) in four provinces in Northern China, respectively. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium and E. bieneusi in different factor groups was various. Five Cryptosporidium species/genotypes were identified, of which C. parvum, C. ryanae, C. bovis, and C. andersoni were only found in dairy calves, and only Cryptosporidium deer genotype was found in sika deer. Moreover, J, I, and BEB4 ITS genotypes of E. bieneusi were found in dairy calves, and six known genotypes (JLD-III, JLD-IX, JLD-VII, EbpC, BEB6, and I) and ten novel genotypes (namely LND-I and JLD-XV to JLD-XXIII) were found in sika deer in this study. Cryptosporidium parvum and E. bieneusi genotype J were identified as the predominant species/genotypes in dairy calves, whereas the predominance of Cryptosporidium spp. and E. bieneusi in sika deer was Cryptosporidium deer genotype and BEB6, respectively. The present study reported the prevalence and genotypes of Cryptosporidium and E. bieneusi in dairy calves and sika deer in four provinces in northern China. The present findings also suggest that investigated dairy calves and sika deer may play an important role in the transmission of E. bieneusi and Cryptosporidium to humans and other animals, and also in an effort to better understand the epidemiology of these enteric pathogens in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1−x)(K0.495Na0.495La0.01)(Nb0.997Cu0.0075)O3-xBi(Mg0.5Zr0.5)O3 (abbreviated as KNLNC-xBMZ) ceramics were designed and prepared. The phase transition, microstructure and electrical properties of the ceramics were investigated. The phase structures of the ceramics transform from orthorhombic to pseudocubic phases and the grain sizes decrease gradually with BMZ content (x) increasing. Additionally, BMZ additions can significantly enhance the dielectric temperature stability and decrease the dielectric loss of ceramics over a relatively broad temperature range. KNLNC-0.02BMZ ceramics exhibit high dielectric permittivity (εr = 1542) and small variation (Δεr/εr150 °C ≤ ± 15%) in dielectric permittivity from 100 to 375 °C, and low dielectric loss (tanδ ≤ 2%) in the temperature range of 100–350 °C, which suggests that this ceramic is a candidate for high-temperature capacitor application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]