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Background: In recent years, the trichomonosis in raccoon dogs in China had occurred frequently. Pentatrichomonas hominis had been described in raccoon dogs in China in some previous studies. Purpose To Reveal: whether raccoon dogs can be infected by other trichomonad species besides P. hominis, and clarify the prevalence and species distribution of trichomonad in raccoon dogs. Methods: Herein, the 389 fecal samples were collected from farm-raised raccoon dogs in Hebei Province, all the samples were detected using the microscopic examination and several fecal samples containing trichomonad-like organisms were processed, cultured, stained, and photographed. Meanwhile, all the samples were screened by the species-specific nested PCR based on the small subunit rRNA (SSU rRNA) gene of P. hominis,Tritrichomonas foetus and Tetratrichomonas buttreyi, respectively, and all positive secondary PCR amplications obtained in this study were sequenced, aligned and analysed. Results: 62 fecal samples (15.9%,62/389) were trichomonad-positive under light microscopy, and the trichomonad-like cells were clearly observed in the culture contents. The PCR results showed that 100 samples were trichomonad-positive, including 45 P. hominis-positive samples (11.6%,45/389), 32 T. foetus-positive samples (8.2%,32/389), and 33 T. buttreyi-positive samples (8.5%,33/389), respectively. Double mixed infections were observed in 10 samples. The prevalence of T. foetus and P. hominis were both significantly higher in raccoon dogs with diarrhea (13.9%, and 25.0%) than that in raccoon dogs without diarrhea (7.6%, and 9.3%) (p < 0.05).All samples confirmed as trichomonad-positive under microscopy were also found to be trichomonad-positive by PCR analysis. The sequencing and phylogenetic analysis demonstrated the sequences obtained in this study belonged to P. hominis, T. foetus and T. buttreyi SSU rRNA, respectively. Among them, the T. buttreyi SSU rRNA sequences obtained in this study harbored the new sequence polymorphisms. Based on preliminary morphological and molecular analyses, raccoon dogs are considered as the new host of T. foetus and T. buttreyi. Conclusion: This is the first report about the identifcation and prevalence of T. foetus and T. buttreyi in raccoon dogs in China, and the results increase our knowledge about the host range and prevalence of trichomonad species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucose-sensitive membrane has potential application in self-regulating insulin release. Phenylboronic acid (PBA) is a well-known glucose reporter. Unfortunately, most PBA-based glucose-sensitive materials are expansion-type, which are not suitable as chemical valves in membrane pores for self-regulating insulin release. According to a new glucose-sensitive mechanism, we synthesized PBA-based contraction-type glucose-sensitive liner polymer and microgels. Herein, a glucose-sensitive membrane was prepared by grafting PBA-based contraction-type glucose-sensitive linear polymer on the membrane surface. Through adjusting the chain length and chain density, the glucose-sensitivity of the membrane was optimized. The membrane can reversibly regulate insulin release at physiologically relevant glucose concentrations in simulates body fluids and fetal bovine serum. The membrane also has good stability, anti-fouling and biocompatibility. It has potential application in self-regulating insulin release. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generally, the hydraulic pipe of a warplane experiences the pulsating flow generated by the plunger pump and the strong excitation generated by the jet engine. Furthermore, the pipe is situated in a high-temperature environment due to its proximity to the jet engine. Considering the combined influence of the thermal environment and excitation, this study presents a unique nonlinear resonance phenomenon in the hydraulic pipe for the first time. The governing equation is derived based on the Euler–Bernoulli beam theory and the generalized Hamilton's principle. The steady-state response is analyzed using the direct multi-scale method, and the stability of the response curve is examined using the Routh–Hurwitz criterion. Runge–Kutta method verifies the approximate analytical results. Using the direct multi-scale method, the effects of temperature, pulsating velocity and external excitation amplitude on the pipe's dynamics are investigated in detail. By comparing the stable boundary of the hydraulic pipe before and after buckling under the combined excitation, it is observed that the stability of the combined excitation is unaffected by the external excitation amplitude. The study also reveals that pulsating velocity and external excitation amplitude enhance the response, while an increase in temperature reduces the subcritical response and enhances the supercritical response. Additionally, temperature increments alter the range of excitation where the jumping phenomenon occurs. This research provides valuable theoretical guidance for the design of warplane jet engines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly sensitive surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) biosensor has been developed for the detection of microRNA-21 (miR-21) using an isothermal enzyme-free cascade amplification method involving catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA) and hybridization chain reaction (HCR). The CHA reaction is triggered by the target miR-21, which causes hairpin DNA (C1 and C2) to self-assemble into CHA products. After AgNPs@Capture captures the resulting CHA product, the HCR reaction is started, forming long-stranded DNA on the surface of AgNPs. A strong SERS signal is generated due to the presence of a large amount of the Raman reporter methylene blue (MB) in the vicinity of the SERS "hot spot" on the surface of AgNPs. The monitoring of the SERS signal changes of MB allows for the highly sensitive and specific detection of miR-21. In optimal conditions, the biosensor exhibits a satisfactory linear range and a low detection limit for miR-21 of 42.3 fM. Additionally, this SERS biosensor shows outstanding selectivity and reproducibility. The application of this methodology to clinical blood samples allows for the differentiation of cancer patients from healthy controls. As a result, the CHA-HCR amplification strategy used in this SERS biosensor could be a useful tool for miRNA detection and early cancer screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objectives: To compare the diagnostic performance of intratumoral and peritumoral features from different contrast phases of breast dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) by building radiomics models for differentiating molecular subtypes of breast cancer. Methods: This retrospective study included 377 patients with pathologically confirmed breast cancer. Patients were divided into training set (n = 202), validation set (n = 87) and test set (n = 88). The intratumoral volume of interest (VOI) and peritumoral VOI were delineated on primary breast cancers at three different DCE-MRI contrast phases: early, peak, and delayed. Radiomics features were extracted from each phase. After feature standardization, the training set was filtered by variance analysis, correlation analysis, and least absolute shrinkage and selection (LASSO). Using the extracted features, a logistic regression model based on each tumor subtype (Luminal A, Luminal B, HER2-enriched, triple-negative) was established. Ten models based on intratumoral or/plus peritumoral features from three different phases were developed for each differentiation. Results: Radiomics features extracted from delayed phase DCE-MRI demonstrated dominant diagnostic performance over features from other phases. However, the differences were not statistically significant. In the full fusion model for differentiating different molecular subtypes, the most frequently screened features were those from the delayed phase. According to the Shapley additive explanation (SHAP) method, the most important features were also identified from the delayed phase. Conclusions: The intratumoral and peritumoral radiomics features from the delayed phase of DCE-MRI can provide additional information for preoperative molecular typing. The delayed phase of DCE-MRI cannot be ignored. Critical relevance statement: Radiomics features extracted and radiomics models constructed from the delayed phase of DCE-MRI played a crucial role in molecular subtype classification, although no significant difference was observed in the test cohort. Key Points: The molecular subtype of breast cancer provides a basis for setting treatment strategy and prognosis. The delayed-phase radiomics model outperformed that of early-/peak-phases, but no differently than other phases or combinations. Both intra- and peritumoral radiomics features offer valuable insights for molecular typing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interannual relationship between the Pacific Meridional Mode (PMM) and landfalling tropical cyclone (TC) frequency in China (LTCFC) exhibits an interdecadal enhancement since the late-1980s, Epochs I (E1, 1951–1985) and II (E2, 1987–2019) are therefore defined to unravel possible mechanisms. Strengthened low-level vorticity and weakened vertical wind shear always favor TC genesis in the western North Pacific (WNP) main development region (MDR) in positive PMM (PPMM) years of two epochs. During PPMM years of E1, many TCs recurve northeastward due to anomalous westerly steering flow over the MDR while only handful TCs move northwestward and land over China due to climatological mean southeasterly steering flow. In PPMM years of E2, prevailing easterly steering flow anomalies on the MDR's northern edge cause more TCs to move westward/northwestward and make landfall over China. Therefore, LTCFC is insignificantly (significantly) correlated with PMM during E1 (E2) due to the interdecadal change of steering flow, which is linked to different sea surface temperature (SST) patterns of PMM during two epochs. An anomalous WNP cyclone can be induced during PPMM years of both epochs. A northwestward shift of PPMM-associated positive SST anomalies causes a large zonal SST gradient in the off-equatorial WNP which induces westerlies during E1 while the zonal SST gradient is weak during E2. Thus, westerlies on the southern edge of the anomalous cyclone extend northward, leading to a northward shift of the anomalous cyclone during E1. The distinct responses of two PMM patterns can be well reproduced by the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is one of the biggest health threats of the 21st century. Although China is the biggest developing country, with a large population and different climate types, its projections of large-scale heat-related excess mortality remain understudied. In particular, the effects of climate change on aging populations have not been well studied, and may result in significantly underestimation of heat effects. In this study, we took four climate change scenarios of Tier-1 in CMIP6, which were combinations of Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) and Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs). We used the exposure-response functions derived from previous studies combined with baseline age-specific non-accidental mortality rates to project heat-related excess mortality. Then, we employed the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) method to decompose the impacts of climate change, population growth, and aging on heat-related excess mortality. Finally, we multiplied the heat-related Years of Life Lost (YLL) with the Value of a Statistical Life Year (VSLY) to quantify the economic burden of premature mortality. We found that the heat-related excess mortality would be concentrated in central China and in the densely populated south-eastern coastal regions. When aging is considered, heat-related excess mortality will become 2.8–6.7 times than that without considering aging in 2081–2100 under different scenarios. The contribution analysis showed that the effect of aging on heat-related deaths would be much higher than that of climate change. Our findings highlighted that aging would lead to a severe increase of heat-related deaths and suggesting that regional-specific policies should be formulated in response to heat-related risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research and application of responsive materials have long been hampered by their complicated designs and tedious construction processes. Besides, many current responsive materials show retard or weak responsiveness. In this study, responsive hybrid poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel membranes with embedded poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-acrylic acid) microgels as valves were constructed by simple mixing and subsequent freezing-thawing process. In the structure of the membranes, the matrix poly(vinyl alcohol) chains thread through and entangle with the microgels, and the microgels are firmly constrained within the hybrid hydrogel network. The fast and sharp temperature responsiveness of the embedded microgels was largely retained and endowed the hydrogel membrane with excellent temperature and pH responsiveness. Moreover, the hydrogel membrane showed excellent fatigue resistance in both temperature and pH-responsive flux examination. This study presented the great potential of these hybrid hydrogel membranes in biomedical applications and provided a new strategy for the future design and construction of responsive biomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To evaluate the correlation between synthetic MRI (syMRI) relaxometry and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps in different breast cancer subtypes and treatment response subgroups. Methods: Two hundred sixty-three neoadjuvant therapy (NAT)-treated breast cancer patients with baseline MRI were enrolled. Tumor annotations were obtained by drawing regions of interest (ROIs) along the lesion on T1/T2/PD and ADC maps respectively. Histogram features from T1/T2/PD and ADC maps were respectively calculated, and the correlation between each pair of identical features was analyzed. Meanwhile, features between different NAT treatment response groups were compared, and their discriminatory power was evaluated. Results: Among all patients, 20 out of 27 pairs of features weakly correlated (r = – 0.13–0.30). For triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), features from PD map in the pathological complete response (pCR) group (r = 0.60–0.86) showed higher correlation with ADC than that of the non-pCR group (r = 0.30–0.43), and the mean from the ADC and PD maps in the pCR group strongly correlated (r = 0.86). For HER2-positive, few correlations were found both in the pCR and non-pCR groups. For luminal HER2-negative, T2 map correlated more with ADC than T1 and PD maps. Significant differences were seen in T2 low percentiles and median in the luminal-HER2 negative subtype, yielding moderate AUCs (0.68/0.72/0.71). Conclusions: The relationship between ADC and PD maps in TNBC may indicate different NAT responses. The no-to-weak correlation between the ADC and syMRI suggests their complementary roles in tumor microenvironment evaluation. Critical relevance statement: The relationship between ADC and PD maps in TNBC may indicate different NAT responses, and the no-to-weak correlation between the ADC and syMRI suggests their complementary roles in tumor microenvironment evaluation. Key points: • The relationship between ADC and PD in TNBC indicates different NAT responses. • The no-to-weak correlations between ADC and syMRI complementarily evaluate tumor microenvironment. • T2 low percentiles and median predict NAT response in luminal-HER2-negative subtype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Progressive pseudorheumatoid dysplasia (PPRD) is a rare genetic disease with autosomal recessive inheritance. There was a lack of genotype–phenotype correlation data from the Chinese population. This study aimed to identify the genotype and phenotype characteristics of Chinese PPRD patients and to conduct a genotype–phenotype analysis of Chinese PPRD patients. Methods: Genetic analysis was performed for suspected PPRD patients from Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Medical records were collected from the electronic medical record system and patient-held portable health records. Published Chinese PPRD cases were gathered from both international and Chinese local databases. We collected demographic information, genetic variants, clinical manifestations, and imaging characteristics for further analysis. Results: We included 105 Chinese PPRD patients in the current study. Thirty-three variants, including nine novels and five hotspot variants, were identified, with 26/33 (79%) variants exclusively seen in the Chinese population. Chinese PPRD patients share a phenotype similar to that in international reports. Joint involvement may progress with age (R2 = 0.2541). Long bone shortening and severe deformities occur in three patients with biallelic null variants, of which at least one variant is located in exon 2. Among hotspot variants, c.624dupA (p.C209Mfs*21) were associated with later onset and more involved joints. Elbow joints were more likely to be affected in patients carrying c.624dupA (p.C209Mfs*21) and c.866dupA (p.S209Efs*13). Shoulder joints are more likely to be involved in patients with biallelic null variants (P = 0.027). Conclusions: Chinese PPRD patients share a unique mutation spectrum. Among the five hotspot variants, c.624dupA is associated with later onset of disease, more extensive joint involvement, and a tendency to affect elbow joints. Biallelic null variants with at least one variant in exon 2 could be a likely cause of long bone shortening and severe deformities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relaxor ferroelectric capacitors receive extensive attention for the energy storage applications due to their slim polarization–electric field hysteresis loops. Typically, relaxor ferroelectrics can be designed through introducing multiple heterovalent cations in the ferroelectrics to break the long-range ferroelectric order and form polar nanoregion. Here, medium-entropy relaxor ferroelectric (Bi0.7Na0.67Li0.03)0.5Sr0.3TiO3 (BNLST) thin films with A-site chemical heterogeneity, synthesized by a chemical solution method, are studied as dielectric capacitors for the energy storage application. Mn doping is utilized to occupy cation vacancies to improve the electrical properties. High energy density (47 J cm−3), good efficiency (69%), and good frequency, temperature and fatigue stability are obtained simultaneously. These results show the potential applications of SBNLT relaxor ferroelectric thin film for dielectric energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relaxor ferroelectric thin films, that demonstrate high energy storage performances due to their slim polarization–electric field hysteresis loops, have attracted extensive attentions in the application of miniaturized advanced pulsed power electronic systems. However, the ubiquitous defects induced in the thin films, for example, due to the volatilization of cations, limit the energy storage performance to a great extent due to the reduced breakdown strength. Here, the shallow trap defects, but not the oxygen vacancy, in 0.9Sr0.7Bi0.2TiO3-0.1BaTiO3 (SBT-BT) relaxor ferroelectric thin films are effectively suppressed by the Mn doping. An improved high energy storage density of 55 J/cm3 and an optimized high energy storage efficiency of 80.9% are achieved in the Mn-doped SBT-BT relaxor ferroelectric thin films, and high fatigue resistance, frequency and temperature stability are also achieved simultaneously. These results indicate this SBT-BT-based relaxor ferroelectric thin films exhibit high energy storage performance and can be used as an important component in energy storage electrical and electronic systems. More importantly, this work provides an effective approach to achieve high energy storage performances by shallow trap defect quenching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To observe the effect of amygdalin on liver fibrosis in a liver fibrosis mouse model, and the underlying mechanisms were partly dissected in vivo and in vitro. Methods: Thirty-two male mice were randomly divided into 4 groups, including control, model, low- and high-dose amygdalin-treated groups, 8 mice in each group. Except the control group, mice in the other groups were injected intraperitoneally with 10% carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-olive oil solution 3 times a week for 6 weeks to induce liver fibrosis. At the first 3 weeks, amygdalin (1.35 and 2.7 mg/kg body weight) were administered by gavage once a day. Mice in the control group received equal quantities of subcutaneous olive oil and intragastric water from the fourth week. At the end of 6 weeks, liver tissue samples were harvested to detect the content of hydroxyproline (Hyp). Hematoxylin and eosin and Sirius red staining were used to observe the inflammation and fibrosis of liver tissue. The expressions of collagen I (Col-I), alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), CD31 and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β)/Smad signaling pathway were observed by immunohistochemistry, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively. The activation models of hepatic stellate cells, JS-1 and LX-2 cells induced by TGF-β1 were used in vitro with or without different concentrations of amygdalin (0.1, 1, 10 µmol/L). LSECs. The effect of different concentrations of amygdalin on the expressions of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) dedifferentiation markers CD31 and CD44 were observed. Results: High-dose of amygdalin significantly reduced the Hyp content and percentage of collagen positive area, and decreased the mRNA and protein expressions of Col-I, α-SMA, CD31 and p-Smad2/3 in liver tissues of mice compared to the model group (P<0.01). Amygdalin down-regulated the expressions of Col-I and α-SMA in JS-1 and LX-2 cells, and TGFβ R1, TGFβ R2 and p-Smad2/3 in LX-2 cells compared to the model group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Moreover, 1 and 10 µmol/L amygdalin inhibited the mRNA and protein expressions of CD31 in LSECs and increased CD44 expression compared to the model group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusions: Amygdalin can dramatically alleviate liver fibrosis induced by CCl4 in mice and inhibit TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway, consequently suppressing HSCs activation and LSECs dedifferentiation to improve angiogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) are of interest in unconventional form of electronics. However, high-performance OFETs are currently contact-limited, which represent a major challenge toward operation in the gigahertz regime. Here, we realize ultralow total contact resistance (Rc) down to 14.0 Ω ∙ cm in C10-DNTT OFETs by using transferred platinum (Pt) as contact. We observe evidence of Pt-catalyzed dehydrogenation of side alkyl chains which effectively reduces the metal-semiconductor van der Waals gap and promotes orbital hybridization. We report the ultrahigh performance OFETs, including hole mobility of 18 cm2 V−1 s−1, saturation current of 28.8 μA/μm, subthreshold swing of 60 mV/dec, and intrinsic cutoff frequency of 0.36 GHz. We further develop resist-free transfer and patterning strategies to fabricate large-area OFET arrays, showing 100% yield and excellent variability in the transistor metrics. As alkyl chains widely exist in conjugated molecules and polymers, our strategy can potentially enhance the performance of a broad range of organic optoelectronic devices. The limitation in metal-semiconductor contact has been a major challenge for high-performance organic field-effect transistors. Here, the authors fabricate the contact by transferring platinum electrode on solution-processed organic films, realizing ultralow total contact resistance down to 14 Ω ∙ cm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of next-generation electronics requires scaling of channel material thickness down to the two-dimensional limit while maintaining ultralow contact resistance1,2. Transition-metal dichalcogenides can sustain transistor scaling to the end of roadmap, but despite a myriad of efforts, the device performance remains contact-limited3–12. In particular, the contact resistance has not surpassed that of covalently bonded metal–semiconductor junctions owing to the intrinsic van der Waals gap, and the best contact technologies are facing stability issues3,7. Here we push the electrical contact of monolayer molybdenum disulfide close to the quantum limit by hybridization of energy bands with semi-metallic antimony (01 1 ̅ 2 ) through strong van der Waals interactions. The contacts exhibit a low contact resistance of 42 ohm micrometres and excellent stability at 125 degrees Celsius. Owing to improved contacts, short-channel molybdenum disulfide transistors show current saturation under one-volt drain bias with an on-state current of 1.23 milliamperes per micrometre, an on/off ratio over 108 and an intrinsic delay of 74 femtoseconds. These performances outperformed equivalent silicon complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor technologies and satisfied the 2028 roadmap target. We further fabricate large-area device arrays and demonstrate low variability in contact resistance, threshold voltage, subthreshold swing, on/off ratio, on-state current and transconductance13. The excellent electrical performance, stability and variability make antimony (01 1 ̅ 2 ) a promising contact technology for transition-metal-dichalcogenide-based electronics beyond silicon.The electrical contact of two-dimensional transistors is pushed close to the quantum limit by hybridization of the energy bands with antimony; the contacts have low contact resistance and excellent stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent realizations of ultrathin freestanding perovskite oxides offer a unique platform to probe novel properties in two-dimensional oxides. Here, we observe a giant flexoelectric response in freestanding BiFeO3 and SrTiO3 in their bent state arising from strain gradients up to 3.5 × 107 m−1, suggesting a promising approach for realizing ultra-large polarizations. Additionally, a substantial change in membrane thickness is discovered in bent freestanding BiFeO3, which implies an unusual bending-expansion/shrinkage effect in the ferroelectric membrane that has never been seen before in crystalline materials. Our theoretical model reveals that this unprecedented flexural deformation within the membrane is attributable to a flexoelectricity–piezoelectricity interplay. The finding unveils intriguing nanoscale electromechanical properties and provides guidance for their practical applications in flexible nanoelectromechanical systems. Freestanding perovskite oxides pave the way to novel flexural properties. Here, the authors observe the nanoscale strain gradient induced flexoelectric polarization with an unusual flexo-expansion/shrinkage effect in freestanding ferroelectric oxide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three dimensional scaffolded DNA origami with inorganic nanoparticles has been used to create tailored multidimensional nanostructures. However, the image contrast of DNA is poorer than those of the heavy nanoparticles in conventional transmission electron microscopy at high defocus so that the biological and non-biological components in 3D scaffolds cannot be simultaneously resolved using tomography of samples in a native state. We demonstrate the use of electron ptychography to recover high contrast phase information from all components in a DNA origami scaffold without staining. We further quantitatively evaluate the enhancement of contrast in comparison with conventional transmission electron microscopy. In addition, We show that for ptychography post-reconstruction focusing simplifies the workflow and reduces electron dose and beam damage. The authors demonstrate electron ptychographic computed tomography by simultaneously recording high contrast data from both the organic- and inorganic components in a 3D DNA-origami framework hybrid nanostructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess early changes in synthetic relaxometry after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for breast cancer and establish a model with contrast-free quantitative parameters for early prediction of pathological response. Methods: From March 2019 to January 2021, breast MRI were performed for a primary cohort of women with breast cancer before (n = 102) and after the first (n = 93) and second (n = 90) cycle of NAC. Tumor size, synthetic relaxometry (T1/T2 relaxation time [T1/T2], proton density), and ADC were obtained, and the changes after treatment were calculated. Prediction models were established by multivariate logistic regression; evaluated with discrimination, calibration, and clinical application; and compared with Delong tests, net reclassification (NRI), and integrated discrimination index (IDI). External validation was performed from February to June 2021 with an independent cohort of 35 patients. Results: In the primary cohort, all parameters changed after early treatment. Synthetic relaxometry decreased to a greater degree in major histologic responders (MHR, Miller–Payne G4-5) compared with non-MHR (Miller–Payne G1-3). A model combining ADC after treatment, changes in T1 and tumor size, and cancer subtype achieved the highest AUC after the first (primary/validation cohort, 0.83/0.82) and second cycles (primary/validation cohort, 0.85/0.84). No difference of AUC (p ≥ 0.27), NRI (p ≥ 0.31), and IDI (p ≥ 0.32) was found between models with different cycles and size-measured sequences. Model calibration and decision curves demonstrated a good fitness and clinical benefit, respectively. Conclusions: Early reduction in synthetic relaxometry indicated pathological response to NAC. Contrast-free T1 and ADC combined with size and cancer subtype predicted effectively pathological response after one NAC cycle. Key Points: • Synthetic MRI relaxometry changed after early neoadjuvant chemotherapy, which demonstrated pathological response for mass-like breast cancers. • Contrast-free quantitative parameters including T1 relaxation time and apparent diffusion coefficient, combined with tumor size and cancer subtype, stratified major histologic responders. • A contrast-free model predicted an early pathological response after the first treatment cycle of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are of interest for beyond-silicon electronics1,2. It has been suggested that bilayer TMDs, which combine good electrostatic control, smaller bandgap and higher mobility than monolayers, could potentially provide improvements in the energy-delay product of transistors3–5. However, despite advances in the growth of monolayer TMDs6–14, the controlled epitaxial growth of multilayers remains a challenge15. Here we report the uniform nucleation (>99%) of bilayer molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) on c-plane sapphire. In particular, we engineer the atomic terrace height on c-plane sapphire to enable an edge-nucleation mechanism and the coalescence of MoS2 domains into continuous, centimetre-scale films. Fabricated field-effect transistor (FET) devices based on bilayer MoS2 channels show substantial improvements in mobility (up to 122.6 cm2 V−1 s−1) and variation compared with FETs based on monolayer films. Furthermore, short-channel FETs exhibit an on-state current of 1.27 mA μm−1, which exceeds the 2028 roadmap target for high-performance FETs16.The epitaxial growth of bilayer molybdenum disulfide on sapphire enables the fabrication of field-effect transistor devices with improved performance in carrier mobility and on-state current over traditional monolayer films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate changes are altering precipitation to more frequent extreme precipitation events that have strong impacts on the structure and functions of grassland ecosystems. We conducted a rain simulation experiment combined with in situ 15 N labeling of three nitrogen (N) forms (NO3−, NH4+, glycine) to investigate how the frequency of extreme precipitation influences plant productivity and N acquisition (N uptake, 15 N recovery, and preference for N form) by the dominant species Stipa grandis and soil microorganisms in the temperate steppe. Extreme precipitation had three frequencies (1, 3, and 6 events for low, medium, and high frequency) with the same total rain amount in 1-month cycle. The low frequency reduced the S. grandis biomass by 39%, whereas the high ones raised the S. grandis biomass by 43% and increased plant and microbial N uptake up to 6.3-fold and 5.1-fold of those under ambient precipitation, respectively. Plants preferred NO3− and microorganisms preferred NH4+ under low frequency, but they showed similar preference for three N forms, leading to chemical niche overlap for NO3−, NH4+, and glycine under high frequency. This indicated that high precipitation frequency effectively reduced the proportion of each N form, which plants and microorganisms competed for as the available N pool increased. Overall, the increase of precipitation frequency (decreasing intensity) shifted the extreme (low frequency but high intensity) to optimal conditions for plant productivity and N acquisition by plants and microorganisms in the temperate steppe. These findings provide new insights for understanding the diverse responses of ecosystem functions to extreme climate events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess how expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty (ESP) impacts blood pressure (BP) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in hypertensive patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Methods: Patients were separated into two groups based upon whether or not they adhered to antihypertensive drug regimens. Patients underwent 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring before and at 6 months post-ESP, while clinical BP measurements and HRQOL questionnaires (SF-36) were conducted over the course of 24 months post-surgery. Results: We enrolled 62 patients, with 25 and 37 in the medicated and non-medicated groups, respectively. Mean 24-h BP differed significantly, with systolic and diastolic BP (SBP and DBP) decreases of 5.3 mmHg and 2.5 mmHg, respectively (P <0.01). Mean 24-h SBP and DBP decreases in the medicated group were 10.2 mmHg and 4.6 mmHg, respectively (P < 0.001), with significant decreases during the daytime of 8.6 mmHg, 3.0 mmHg, and nighttime of 12.3 mmHg, 7.7 mmHg (P <0.001). In the non-medicated treatment group, 24-h SBP and DBP decreases were 1.9 mmHg and 1.1 mmHg (P < 0.005) with significant decreases in mean nighttime BP values of 3.2 mmHg and 1.9 mmHg (P < 0.001). While pre- and postoperative SF-36 results differed significantly, no differences were observed between the two groups. Conclusion: ESP decreases BP and improves HRQOL in OSA patients with hypertension, particularly in combination with antihypertensive drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tensile mechanical properties of fully recrystallized TWIP steel specimens having various grain sizes (d) ranging from 0.79 μm to 85.6 μm were investigated. It was confirmed that the UFG specimens having the mean grain sizes of 1.5 μm or smaller abnormally showed discontinuous yielding characterized by a clear yield-drop while the specimens having grain sizes larger than 2.4 μm showed normal continuous yielding. In-situ synchrotron radiation XRD showed dislocation density around yield-drop in the UFG specimen quickly increased. ECCI observations revealed the nucleation of deformation twins and stacking faults from grain boundaries in the UFG specimen around yielding. Although it had been conventionally reported that the grain refinement suppresses deformation twinning in FCC metals and alloys, the number density of deformation twins in the 0.79 μm grain-sized specimen was much higher than that in the specimens with grain sizes of 4.5 μm and 15.4 μm. The unusual change of yielding behavior from continuous to discontinuous manner by grain refinement could be understood on the basis of limited number of free dislocations in each ultrafine grain. The results indicated that the scarcity of free dislocations in the recrystallized UFG specimens changed the deformation and twinning mechanisms in the TWIP steel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A precise and noninvasive method for the size and shape measurement of gold nanorods (GNRs) has been proposed based on depolarized dynamic light scattering (DDLS). A home-made DDLS apparatus has been established. By applying depolarized optical path with precise alignment method, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of this apparatus is highly improved. GNRs with three different diameter and length has been precisely measured by using DDLS method as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The thickness of adsorption layer of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) in solution has been taken into consideration. Results show that size measurement of GNRs by using DDLS method agrees very well with that by using SEM. In addition, it is shown that the extinction spectroscopy strongly limited the application of DDLS method by affecting the effective scattering light intensity. Proper laser wavelength should be chosen before the application of this method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association between socioeconomic status and the onset age of menarche is still not conclusive. This cross-sectional study was conducted among primary and middle school girls aged 7 to 16 years old in Tianjin, China, to explore the distribution of menarcheal age and its association with socioeconomic status. A self-designed structured questionnaire was completed by students and their parents to collect information on socioeconomic status (i.e., family income, parental education level, living residence), menarcheal status, and covariates (weight status of girls and their parents, sleeping hours per day, physical activity). Information on menarcheal status included whether or not menarche had occurred (Yes/No) and the exact age at menarche. Linear regression analysis was used to explore the association between socioeconomic status and menarcheal age before and after covariate adjustment. Among 1485 eligible girls with complete information, 445 had experienced menarche, with an overall menarche rate of 30%. The mean age at menarche was 12.9 years (95% confidence interval 12.8–13.0). Urban girls experienced menarche earlier than rural girls did (12.1 years vs. 13.5 years). Univariate analysis showed that urban residence and higher parental education were associated with earlier onset of menarche. After covariate adjustment, the significance still existed. However, after adjusting further for residence, the significant association with the parental education disappeared. Only urban residence was still significantly associated, even after further adjustment for parental education and family income, with adjusted regression coefficients (95% confidence interval) of − 1.087 (− 1.340,-0.834), indicating that the onset age of menarche among urban girls was 1.087 years (0.834, 1.340) younger than that among rural girls. Family income was not related to the onset age of menarche in any analyses. Conclusion: Urban-rural differences played a more important role in the early onset of menarche than socioeconomic differences between families. What is Known: • The age at menarche varies by race and country, but the global trend is towards earlier onset as a result of changes in nutrition, family structure, socioeconomic status, and physical condition. What is New: • Urban girls experienced menarche earlier than rural girls, but this urban-rural difference could not be explained by family income, parental education, weight status of the participants and their parents, participants' physical exercise and sleeping hours. • Higher parental education was associated with earlier onset of menarche, but this association disappeared after adjustment for living residence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During wildfire season in the western US, fire retardant chemicals are dropped from aircraft in an effort to control the spread of fire. Fire retardant dropped on sites that are not actively burning results in exceptionally high soil nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) "fertilization" effect on wildland soils impacting terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Herein, we used microdialysis to evaluate the short-term spatiotemporal dynamics of soil inorganic N and ortho-P fluxes in response to wood pyrogenic carbon (PyC) on soils receiving fire retardant (Phos-Chek) in a 28-d column experiment. Retardant additions to soil induced dramatic increases in soil inorganic N and ortho-P flux rates. The addition of wood PyC to soils with retardant significantly and immediately reduced ortho-P flux rates at multiple depths (1, 5, and 10 cm) and reduced NH4+ flux rates at 10 cm while retaining flux rates at 1 and 5 cm. These effects were observed throughout the course of the experiment and were more pronounced towards the end of the experiment. By d-28, PyC significantly reduced the NH4+, NO3−, and ortho-P accumulation on ionic resins at soil column bottoms by 50%, 52%, and 43%, respectively. The application of wood PyC may be effective at buffering excess nutrient fluxes from fire retardant and reduce short-term nutrient leaching in unburnt forest soils exposed to fire retardant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been a large amount of literature on missing data. Most of them focus on situations where there is only missingness in response or covariate. In this paper, we consider the adequacy check for the linear regression model with the response and covariates missing simultaneously. We apply model adjustment and inverse probability weighting methods to deal with the missingness of response and covariate, respectively. In order to avoid the curse of dimension, we propose an empirical process test with the linear indicator weighting function. The asymptotic properties of the proposed test under the null, local and global alternative hypothetical models are rigorously investigated. A consistent wild bootstrap method is developed to approximate the critical value. Finally, simulation studies and real data analysis are performed to show that the proposed method performed well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sound is an essential element for enhancing the realness of virtual world. Currently, there are some remarkable works on the synthesis of fluid sound, such as fire and water. However, little attention has been paid to synthesizing explosion sound. This paper proposes an automatic method for synthesizing explosion sounds that are synchronized with the visual phenomena of explosion animations, including fireball generation and flame combustion. Such two types of visual animation correspond to two types of sound, which we name as explosive sound and combustion noise, respectively. For the synthesis of explosive sound, firstly, the occurrence time and duration of explosion sound are determined according to the dynamic process of fuel consumption, and then, the corresponding explosive sound is extracted from the recording examples according to the high-frequency content. For the combustion noise, we propose a synthesis method of combustion noise on the basis of the timbre similarity between sound examples and low-frequency combustion noise generated by a physical method. Finally, the two types of sound are blended respecting the occurrence and duration of the explosions and combustions parts detected in the visual stream. Our experiments and the user study show the results of our method and demonstrate the effectiveness of our method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multilayered Al sheets having alternative stacking of 2 N Al (99.21 wt.% purity, N is short for nine) and 4 N Al (99.993 wt.% purity, N is short for nine) with various layer thicknesses from 16 to 1 μm were fabricated by 6 to 10 accumulative roll bonding (ARB) cycles, followed by annealing. The effects of layer thickness and annealing treatment on mechanical properties were studied. In all samples, the grain sizes in the 4 N layers were larger than those in the 2 N layers due to the purity difference. The grain size and mechanical properties saturated after 6 ARB cycles, but the layer thickness gradually decreases with increasing cycles and accordingly, more homogeneous microstructures were obtained with higher cycles. After annealing, heterogeneous structures were retained in 6-cycle sample, while most homogenous structures were observed in 10-cycle sample. Yield-drop phenomenon widely observed in the homogeneous samples disappeared in the heterogeneous 6-cycle sample after annealing at 225 and 250 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gut microbiota is crucial in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the metabolism of T2DM patients is not well-understood. We aimed to identify the differences on composition and function of gut microbiota between T2DM patients with obesity and healthy people. In this study, 6 T2DM patients with obesity and 6 healthy volunteers were recruited, and metagenomic approach and bioinformatics analysis methods were used to understand the composition of the gut microbiota and the metabolic network. We found a decrease in the abundance of Firmicutes, Oribacterium, and Paenibacillus; this may be attributed to a possible mechanism and biological basis of T2DM; moreover, we identified three critical bacterial taxa, Bacteroides plebeius, Phascolarctobacterium sp. CAG207, and the order Acidaminococcales that can potentially be used for T2DM treatment. We also revealed the composition of the microbiota through functional annotation based on multiple databases and found that carbohydrate metabolism contributed greatly to the pathogenesis of T2DM. This study helps in elucidating the different metabolic roles of microbes in T2DM patients with obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a typical plant virus which has biocompatibility and high transfection efficiency, tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) has shown broad application potential in drug or gene delivery field. Elucidating its intracellular trafficking is of great importance in investigation of its cytotoxicity, targeting site, and delivery efficiency, and is advantageous to designing new TMV-based drug delivery systems with different targets. By taking advantage of the regulated pH value of different organelles in a mammalian cell, we exploit a pH detection strategy to investigate the intracellular trafficking pathway of TMV. Here, we report a single-wavelength excited ratiometric fluorescent pH probe. This probe is constructed by simultaneously coupling pH-sensitive fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and pH-insensitive rhodamine B isothiocyanate (RBIRC) onto the inner surface of TMV. The fluorescence intensity ratio of FITC to RBITC excited at 488 nm responds specifically towards pH value over other interferential agents. By taking use of this single-wavelength excited ratiometric pH probe and confocal laser scanning microscopy, it is shown that the endocytosed TMV is located in a pH decreasing microenvironment and eventually enters lysosomes. This work may provide important guidance on construction of TMV-based nano carriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catalytic depolymerization of lignin to produce bio-oil, liquid fuels, and aromatic chemicals in high yields is important for a biorefinery to remain competitive. In this study, undoped and Ni-doped catalysts for depolymerization of rice husk lignin (RHL) were developed and analyzed. The results showed that the catalysts had hydrotalcite-like structures with lamellar morphology. With suitable Ni-doping amount, the catalysts had high activity, thus better promoted the depolymerization of RHL. Among all catalysts, the Ni1/4MgAl catalyst could best promote the cleavage of the β-O-4 aryl ether bond in RHL molecule and thus could substantially increase the yields of bio-oil. The depolymerization catalyzed by this catalyst was also found to be temperature-, time-, and solvent-dependent. This study provides information that can be beneficial to the biorefinery industries and may help promote the valorization of lignin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Knowledge of the effects of pasture degradation on soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N) fractions in permafrost soils on the Tibetan Plateau is limited. The aims of this study were (1) to evaluate the changes in SOC and N contents in density fractions under Kobresia pasture due to degradation and (2) to explore the contributions of the changes of SOC and N in density fractions to the changes of SOC and N in whole soil. Materials and methods: The impact of Kobresia pasture degradation on SOC and N fractions was investigated in the permafrost region of the Tibetan Plateau. A continuously degraded pasture was identified and classified into three categories of vegetation cover according to their degrees of degradation (i.e., vegetation cover decline from 90% ± 6.6% to 70% ± 8.3% and 45% ± 8.7%). The SOC and N fractions were separated by using the density separation method. Results and discussion: The Kobresia pasture degradation significantly decreases SOC and N contents and stocks in soils. The SOC and N contents in the whole soil were positively correlated with the SOC and N contents in the light and heavy fractions (p < 0.001, respectively). The SOC and N contents were significantly correlated with soil pH and the contents of soil moisture, clay, silt, and sand. The ratio of SOC to total N in the whole soil was positively correlated with the ratio of SOC to N in heavy fractions (p < 0.001) rather than the ratio of SOC to N in light factions (p > 0.05). When pasture degraded from vegetation covers 90% to 45%, SOC stock at 0–40-cm soil layer decreased by 28.7% and N stock decreased by 39.2% in the whole soil; 56.6% and 47.6%, respectively, in the light fractions and 14.3% and 40.6%, respectively, in the heavy fractions. The depletion rates of N were higher than those of SOC in the heavy fractions and whole soil. At all sites, more than 80% of the SOC and N stocks were protected in heavy fractions. Conclusions: These results indicate that a decoupling depletion of SOC and soil N appeared with the Kobresia pasture degradation in the permafrost region of the Tibetan Plateau. The Kobresia pasture degradation affects the SOC and N fractions differently and thus regulates soil carbon and N cycling in the permafrost soils on the Tibetan Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2018 tropical cyclone (TC) season over the western North Pacific (WNP) underwent two extreme situations: 18 TCs observed during June–August (JJA) and ranked the second most active summer in the satellite era; only 5 TCs that occurred during September–October (SO), making it the most inactive period since the late 1970s. Here we attribute the two extreme situations based on observational analyses and numerical experiments. The extremely active TC activity and northward shift of TC genesis during JJA of 2018 can be attributed to the WNP anomalous low-level cyclone, which is due primarily to El Niño Modoki and secondarily to the positive phase of the Pacific Meridional Mode (PMM). Overall, the extremely inactive TC activity during SO of 2018 is due to the absence of TC formation over the South China Sea and Philippine Sea, which can be attributed to the in-situ anomalous low-level anticyclone associated with the positive phase of the Indian Ocean Dipole, although the positive PMM phase and El Niño Modoki still hold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess the value of 18F-FDG PET and MR-IVIM parameters before and during concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for evaluating early treatment response and predicting tumor recurrence in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) using a hybrid PET/MR scanner.Methods: Fifty-one patients with LACC underwent pelvic PET/MR scans with an IVIM sequence at two time-points (pretreatment [pre] and midtreatment [mid]). Pre- and mid-PET parameters (SUVmax, MTV, TLG) and IVIM parameters (D, F, D*) and their percentage changes (Δ%SUVmax, Δ%MTV, Δ%TLG, Δ%D, Δ%F, Δ%D*) were calculated. We selected independent imaging parameters and built a combined prediction model incorporating imaging parameters and clinicopathological risk factors. The performance of the combinative evaluation for tumor early shrinkage rates (TESR) and the prediction model for tumor recurrence was assessed.Results: Thirty-two patients were classified into the good response (GR) group with TESR ≥ 50%, and 19 patients were categorized into the poor response (PR) group with TESR < 50%. Δ%D (p = 0.013) and Δ%F (p = 0.006) are independently related to TESR with superior combined diagnostic ability (AUC = 0.901). Pre-TLG, Δ%D, and suspicious lymph node metastasis (SLNM) were selected for the construction of the combined prediction model. The model for identifying the patients with high risk of tumor recurrence reached a moderate predictive ability and good stability with c-index of 0.764 (95% CI, 0.672-0.855).Conclusion: The combined prediction model based on pretreatment PET metabolic parameter (pre-TLG), IVIM-D percentage changes, and LNs status provides great potential to identify the LACC patients with high risk of recurrence at early stage of CCRT.Key Points: • PET/MR plus IVIM offers various complementary information for LACC. • IVIM-D and IVIM-F percentage changes are independently related to tumor early shrinkage rates. • The combined prediction model can help identify the LACC patients with high risk of tumor recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of yeast and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on mastitis and milk microbiota composition of dairy cows. Thirty lactating Holstein cows with similar parity, days in milk were randomly assigned to five treatments, including: (1) Health cows with milk SCC < 500,000 cells/mL, no clinical signs of mastitis were found, fed basal total mixed ration (TMR) without supplementation (H); (2) Mastitis cows with milk SCC > 500,000 cells/mL, fed basal TMR without supplementation (M); (3) Mastitis cows fed basal TMR supplemented with 8 g day−1 yeast (M + Y); (4) Mastitis cows fed basal TMR supplemented with 8 g day−1 LAB (M + L); (5) Mastitis cows (milk SCC > 500,000 cells/mL) fed basal TMR supplemented with 4 g day−1 yeast and 4 g day−1 LAB (M + Y + L). Blood and milk sample were collected at day 0, day 20 and day 40. The results showed efficacy of probiotic: On day 20 and day 40, milk SCC in H, M + Y, M + L, M + Y + L was significantly lower than that of M (P < 0.05). Milk concentration of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in M + Y + L were significantly reduced compared with that of M on day 40 (P < 0.05). Milk Myeloperoxidase (MPO) and N-Acetyl-β-d-Glucosaminidase (NAG) activity of M + Y, M + L, M + L + Y were lower than that of M on day 40 (P < 0.05). At genus level, Staphylococcus, Chryseobacterium and Lactococcus were dominant. Supplementation of LAB decreased abundance of Enterococcus and Streptococcus, identified as mastitis-causing pathogen. The results suggested the potential of LAB to prevent mastitis by relieving mammary gland inflammation and regulating milk microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate apoptotic effects of berberine, a significant alkaloids component existing in Rhizoma coptidis, and its possible acting mechanism in insulinoma cells. Methods: Different concentrations of berberine were used to treat mouse insulinoma (MIN6) cells for various period of time. The viability and apoptosis of the cells were analyzed using methylthiazolyldiphenvl-tetrazolium bromide assay, flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay. Changes in the relating pro- and anti-apoptosis proteins were detected by western-blotting. Results: The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of berberine was 5.7 μmol/L on MIN6 cells viability for 16 h. Berberine caused a 20% reduction (P<0.05) in cell number after only 4-h incubation; which reached 50% after 24 h (P<0.01). Berberine treatment for 16 h significantly increased the level of DNA fragmentation. The flow cytometry showed the apoptotic rate increased 2.9- and 4.6-fold after treating with berberine (5 μmol/L) for 8 and 16 h, while 3- and 8.7-fold after 10 μmol/L treatment for 8 and 16 h (P<0.01). Berberine treatment dramatically elevated the expression ratio of Bax to Bcl-2. Meanwhile, berberine notably increased the apoptosis-inducing factors and cytochrome C transforming from the mitochondria to the cytoplasm. Apoptotic protease-activating factor 1 (Apaf-1) was subsequently activated after cytochrome C release. Furthermore, caspase-3 and poly adenosine diphosphate-ribose polymerase were also activated to trigger apoptosis cascade. Conclusion: High concentration (5 and 10 μmol/L) of berberine could induce the apoptosis of MIN6 cells through cytochrome C/Apaf-1/caspase-3 and apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) 3B42 precipitation, the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Final analysis and the Regional Specialized Meteorological Center (RSMC) Tokyo best-track data during 2000-2015 are used to compare spatial rainfall distribution associated with Northwest Pacific tropical cyclones (TCs) with different vertical wind shear directions and investigate possible mechanisms. Results show that the maximum TC rainfall are all located in the downshear left quadrant regardless of shear direction, and TCs with easterly shear have greater magnitudes of rainfall than those with westerly shear, consistent with previous studies. Rainfall amount of a TC is related to its relative position and proximity from the western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH) and the intensity of water vapor transport, and low-level jet is favorable for water vapor transport. The maximum of vertically integrated moisture flux convergence (MFC) are located on the downshear side regardless of shear direction, and the contribution of wind convergence to the total MFC is far larger than that of moisture advection. The cyclonic displacement of the maximum rainfall relative to the maximum MFC is possibly due to advection of hydrometeors by low- and middle-level cyclonic circulation of TCs. The relationship between TC rainfall and the WPSH through water vapor transport and vertical wind shear implies that TC rainfall may be highly predictable given the high predictability of the WPSH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar (a carbon-rich product from pyrolysis of organic materials) additions to agricultural soils have been shown to often result in neutral to positive influences on soil properties and processes; however, the only a limited number of studies have been conducted on active organic farming systems and of those, none have used multivariate analytical methods to examine the influence of biochar on soil microbial activity, nutrient cycling, and crop performance. In this study, biochar produced from local timber harvest residues on Waldron Island, WA was applied in factorial combination with a poultry litter based fertilizer to replicated plots on six organic farms that were all growing Kabocha squash ( Cucurbita maxima) in the summer of 2016. A series of soil physicochemical and biochemical properties were examined after 5 months of biochar application; squash samples were evaluated for productivity and nutrient uptake. Factorial multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) revealed a significant influence of biochar on soil properties as well as a synergistic effect of biochar and poultry litter during a 5 month field trial. Principle component analysis (PCA) highlighted soil total C content, microbial biomass C, enzyme activities, bioavailable P, and phosphatase enzyme activity as the variables most influenced by biochar incorporation into surface mineral soil. Redundancy analysis (RDA) further indicated that better soil biochemical conditions, particularly soil enzyme activities and available P concentrations, were associated with higher crop productivity in biochar-treated plots. Overall, our study demonstrates that locally produced wood biochar, in addition to improving soil C storage, has the potential to significantly improve soil fertility and crop productivity in organic farming systems on sandy soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To further investigate the {ptin vitro} effects of an osteoprotective herbal formula "ELP" ( Herba Epimedii, Fructus Ligustri Lucidi and Fructus Psoraleae) using seropharmacological approach. Methods: Rats were fed with ELP or its individual component herbs for 2 days. The serum containing the postabsorbed ingredients of the herbal items were collected for cell culture using UMR106 cell, RAW264.7 cell and mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) isolated from the bone marrow of the rats. The effects of the herbal-containing serum on cell toxicity were detected by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay; bromodeoxyuridine assay was conducted to measure the cell proliferation of UMR106 cell and MSC; cell activity was measured using colorimetric method, and mRNA expression of runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and osteopontin (OPN) of UMR106 and MSC as well as matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and cathepsin K of RAW264.7 were analyzed using real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results: ELP and its component serum exhibited no cytotoxic effects on the cells. The ELP-containing serum increased the proliferation of UMR106 cell and MSC by 25.7% and 14.4 %, respectively and the alkaline phosphatase activity of MSC was increased by 42.6%. On the contrary, it inhibited the RAW264.7 cell differentiation by 29.2 %. ELP serum upregulated the Runx2 expression of UMR and MSC by 1.18 fold and 1.27 fold, respectively. It also upregulated ALP and OPN expression in MSC by 1.69- and 2.12-fold, respectively. On the other hand, ELP serum down-regulated MMP-9 and cathepsin K expression of RAW264.7 cell by 0.46- and 0.36-fold, respectively. Conclusions: The serum of the animals fed with ELP contains active ingredients which are effective in promoting osteogenesis and inhibiting osteoclastogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined CpG island methylation in p16 gene and its effect on p16 protein expression in tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) patients to explore its potential implications in the development and progression of ToF. The study subjects consisted of 75 healthy controls and 63 ToF patients recruited at Linyi People's Hospital between January 2012 and June 2014. The 4 mL of peripheral venous blood of each subject was obtained and saved in ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) tubes. Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) was employed to detect CpG island methylation in p16 promoter region and Western blotting was used to detect p16 expression of all subjects. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (FQ-PCR) was performed to test p16 mRNA expression. The results showed that p16-methylation rates in ToF group were significantly higher than the control group (ToF group, 58.73%; control group, 13.33%; P < 0.001). Remarkably, Western blotting and FQ-PCR results derived from RVOT revealed that p16 protein expression was significantly lower in ToF group compared to the control group (0.76 ± 0.21 versus 2.31 ± 0.35; P < 0.001), and p16 gene expression was also markedly decreased in ToF group (1.212 ± 0.152 versus 1.346 ± 0.191, P < 0.001). Additionally, our analysis suggested that CpG island methylation in p16 promoters in ToF patients was negatively correlated with p16 protein and gene expression (both P < 0.05). Our study reports that high CpG island methylation of p16 gene and loss of p16 protein expression associate with the development and progression of ToF, which may have significant therapeutic applications for ToF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]