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Cold recycling method minimizes the need for aggregates while building roads and has significant economic and environmental benefits. The cold recycled mixture's inadequate mechanical strength, however, is a significant flaw. This article presents the strength increase equation after first analyzing the increasing law of the mechanical strength of the emulsified asphalt cold recycled mixture. The mechanical strength, high-temperature performance and low-temperature performance of emulsified asphalt cold recycled mixture have all been examined after the use of cement and fiber. The reinforcing effect of the fiber is also confirmed through field testing. Studies have shown that after 48 h, the mechanical properties of the emulsified asphalt cold recycled mixture become stable, and the increase is small. The correlation between the proposed strength growth equation and the laboratory test results reaches 0.99. With the addition of 1.5% cement, the high-temperature performance and low-temperature performance of asphalt mixture can be improved by 33% and 18%, respectively. The 0.4% of fiber can improve the high-temperature performance and low-temperature performance of asphalt mixture by 6% and 19%, respectively. Analyze the effect of cement and fiber on the performance of the emulsified asphalt cold recycled mixture, and choose the optimal content of cement and emulsified asphalt to be 1.5% and 0.4%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the mechanical properties of compacted loess specimens formed using the vertical vibration compaction method (VVCM) were investigated, including unconfined compressive strength, CBR value, and shear strength. The top water seepage test and slope simulated rainfall test were implemented. In the test section, the water infiltration laws of compacted loess subgrades with different degrees of compaction were studied. Subsequently, the water stability of compacted loess subgrades was investigated. The results show that the loess specimens formed using the VVCM have adequate mechanical properties. Moreover, increasing the degree of compaction significantly improves the resistance of the loess roadbed to water infiltration and reduces both the water infiltration area and the corresponding water content. In addition, the seepage of the loess roadbed causes the roadbed to collapse, which affects the roadbed's stability. The high-compacted roadbed section exhibits improved resistance to collapse. Thus, improving roadbed compaction can effectively improve the roadbed's stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herringbone gear planetary gear transmission system has the advantages of high contact ratio and high bearing capacity and is widely used in various heavy load fields. However, the gear generates a large amount of heat during the meshing transmission, which affects the nonlinear dynamic characteristics of the system. In this paper, the various nonlinear factors are considered, including time-varying meshing stiffness, engagement damping, backlash, and engagement error. A nonlinear dynamic model of the herringbone planetary gear system considering temperature effects is established by using the lumped-parameter method. The nonlinear vibration differential equation of the system is solved by using the Runge–Kutta method. The impact law of temperature and engagement damping ratio changes on the bifurcation features of the herringbone planetary gear system is studied by combining the maximum Lyapunov exponent diagram, bifurcation diagram, time domain diagram, phase diagram, Poincare diagram, and spectrogram. And the chaos phenomenon of the system is analyzed and controlled by using a non-feedback control method with the external periodic signal. The result shows that with the change of temperature rise and meshing damping ratio, the system exhibits the kinematics response of chaotic, multi-period, and single-period. Higher temperature rise (∆T > 64 °C) and larger engagement damping ratio (ξ > 0.122) can make the gear system enter stable periodic motion. The chaotic motion region of the system is effectively controlled to the periodic motion orbit by introducing the periodic signal feedback controller. The relevant conclusions can provide a theoretical basis for the optimal design of the dynamic structure stability of herringbone planetary gear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optical properties and the local electromagnetic field enhancement of a compound structure with rectangular nanohole arrays in Au-interlayer-Au multilayer films are numerically studied using finite-difference time domain method. We investigated some of structure parameters that influence the optical properties of the compound nanostructure. Adjustment of the length of rectangular nanoholes (L), the polarization direction (θ), the thickness of interlayer (SiO, H), and the materials in the interlayer can change the absorption intensity and the resonance peaks. An interlayer is located between the double Au films (Au-interlayer-Au multilayer films) with the function of confining local electromagnetic field. The simulation of the electromagnetic field distribution shows that the location of the local electromagnetic field enhancement can specify the different resonance patterns. The proposed compound nanostructure will be promising for application in portable nanoplasmonic multisensing and imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have reported on the synthesis of ordered hexagonal Au nanoparticle (NPs) arrays by anodic alumina oxide templates (AAO)-assisted thermal treatment. This simple process has led to the formation of an ordered hexagonal array of Au NPs on the surface of AAO. SERS properties of the ordered hexagonal Au NPs could be obtained by varying the size of Au NPs. Compared with the Au thin film on AAO, the SERS intensity of rhodamine adsorbed on the ordered hexagonal Au NPs was about 1000 times stronger. And the hexagonal Au NPs array films have had stronger Raman-enhanced signal compared to the disorder Au NPs films. Simulations according to the three-dimensional finite-difference time domain (3D-FDTD) have displayed that these electric field enhancements of the ordered hexagonal Au NPs are strongly dependent on the gap distance. Plasmonic ordered hexagonal Au NPs could provide us new platforms to realize novel optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The glass transition temperature ( T ) and density of poly-(phthalazinone ether sulfone ketone) (PPESK A) were estimated by molecular dynamic (MD) simulation. A novel poly-(phthalazinone ether sulfone ketone) (PPESK B) was constructed by introducing nitrol and amini energetic groups into PPESK A, and T and density were also simulated for PPESK B. The estimated T values of PPESK A were very close to experimental results, while for PPESK B three estimated values differed by < 5 K. The interactions between explosives and polymer binders of polymer bonded explosives (PBXs) were simulated by MD. Comparison of the cohesive energy densities (CED) and solubility parameter ( δ) values of PBXs, polymer binders, and mono-explosives indicate that, upon introducing polymer binders, the CED and δ values of PBXs decreased compared with those of corresponding mono-explosives. The binding energies ( E ) imply that 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene-based PBXs are more stable than 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB)-based PBXs. The mechanical properties, Young's modulus E, shear modulus G, bulk modulus K, Poisson's ratio γ and Cauchy pressure ( C -C ) of the PBXs were assessed. The rigidity of the PBXs was found to be lower than that of mono-explosives. All K/ G values were positive, indicating that PBXs are flexible. Based on these mechanical properties results, PBXs using PPESK B as a binder are superior to those using PPESK A as a binder. Due to the low C -C values of the PBXs, the ductility of the materials of the fracture surface is poorer, especially for TATB-based PBXs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clutch engagement control is critical during launching process in a vehicle equipped with an automated manual transmission (AMT), which is a problem including muti-objective optimization and nonlinear control. In this paper, a optimal launching-intention-aware control strategy is proposed for clutch engagement. Firstly, a launching-intention-aware machine (LIAM) based on artificial neural network (ANN) is designed to identify the driver's launching intentions. Then the optimal laws of clutch engagement for different launching conditions are obtained based on the dynamic programming (DP), which regard friction loss, vehicle shock, angular acceleration of engine and engine torque as the optimizing indexes. Next, a slidingmode controller (SMC) is designed for the clutch engagement. Finally, the performances of the optimal laws and the SMC are validated by the joint simulation of Simulink-AMESim, and the results show that the requirements of vehicle launching are met. The proposed clutch engagement control strategy would provide a better theoretical support for the practical-extended application of AMT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vegetation effects on changes of soil physicochemical properties and microbial activities in the costal sand dune were investigated to understand the roles of vegetation on sand dune ecosystem. Eight sites from six vegetation zones and two bare zones in the dune front, dune crest, and dune back regions were selected. Soil microbial enzyme activities of β-glucosidase, acid phosphatase, arylsulfatase, and dehydrogenase, and soil physicochemical properties of each site were evaluated. The results showed that all the enzyme activities were higher in the mixed vegetation sites with native sand dune plants and naturalized plants and in Pinus thunbergii community site both located in the dune back regions where the accumulation of organic matter and nitrogen were more prominent. The results demonstrated that soil organic matter and nutrients are the primary determinants of the microbial activity in sand dune where are exposed to a gradient of physicochemical stress such as high salinity, moisture and salt spray. Therefore, the conservation of vegetation that generates more soil organic matter and nutrients is important factor in controlling the soil microbial activities and biogeochemical cycles in the coastal sand dune systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aberrant expression of interleukin-35 (IL-35) has been implicated in dampening antitumour immunity. The aim of this study was to explore the prognostic significance of IL-35 expression in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following curative resection. Furthermore, we aimed to formulate an effective prognostic nomogram for HCC after hepatectomy.Methods: Immunohistochemistry was applied to explore IL-35 expression as well as CD39(+)Foxp3(+) and Foxp3(+) regulatory T cell (Treg) infiltration in tissue microarrays in primary cohort comprising 210 randomly selected HCC patients who underwent curative resection. The results were further verified in an independent validation cohort of 138 HCC patients.Results: Patients with higher expression of IL-35 are more likely to suffer postoperative recurrence. Interleukin-35 was also identified as an independent prognostic factor for recurrence free survival in multivariate analysis. No correlation was detected between IL-35 expression and Foxp3(+) Treg infiltration, whereas significant positive correlation was found between IL-35 expression and CD39(+)Foxp3(+) Treg infiltration. In addition, CD39(+)Foxp3(+) Treg infiltration was also an independent predictor for postoperative recurrence. The nomogram comprising tumour size, tumour vascular invasion, IL-35 and CD39(+)Foxp3(+) Tregs had better predictive accuracy when compared with BCLC stage for RFS. These results were further validated in the validation cohort.Conclusions: Our data suggest for the first time that IL-35 expression correlates with HCC aggressiveness and emerged as a novel independent prognostic factor for recurrence, thus conferring the rationale to develop a novel therapy of targeting IL-35. Furthermore, IL-35 should be incorporated into nomogram to generate a more accurate predictive model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a critical global health concern, with existing treatments benefiting only a minority of patients. Recent findings implicate the chemokine ligand 17 (CCL17) and its receptor CCR4 as pivotal players in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of various cancers. This investigation aims to delineate the roles of CCL17 and CCR4 in modulating the tumor’s immune landscape, assessing their potential as therapeutic interventions and prognostic markers in HCC. Methods: 873 HCC patients post-radical surgery from 2008 to 2012 at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University were retrospectively examined. These individuals were stratified into a training cohort (n = 354) and a validation cohort (n = 519). Through immunohistochemical analysis on HCC tissue arrays, the expressions of CCL17, CCR4, CD73, CD47, HHLA2, and PD-L1 were quantified. Survival metrics were analyzed using the Cox model, and a prognostic nomogram was devised via R software. Results: The investigation confirmed the presence of CCL17 and CCR4 within the cancerous and stromal compartments of HCC tissues, associating their heightened expression with adverse clinical markers and survival outcomes. Notably, the interplay between CD73 and CCR4 expression in tumor stroma highlighted a novel cellular entity, CCR4 + CD73 + stromal cells, impacting overall and relapse-free survival. A prognostic nomogram amalgamating these immunological markers and clinical variables was established, offering refined prognostic insights and aiding in the management of HCC. The findings suggest that reduced CCR4 and CCR4 + CD73 + cell prevalence may forecast improved outcomes post-TACE. Conclusion: This comprehensive evaluation of CCR4, CCL17, and associated markers introduces a nuanced understanding of the HCC immunological milieu, proposing CCR4 + CD73 + stromal cells as critical to HCC pathogenesis and patient stratification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We sought to summarize the value of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) in the differential diagnosis of bladder paraganglioma (BPG) and bladder cancer. Methods: The medical records of 19 patients with BPG (13 males, 6 females) and 56 patients with bladder cancer (49 males, 7 females) between November 2007 and June 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. All patients underwent unenhanced and contrast-enhanced CT scanning. Results: Patient age (46.4 ± 11.1 years vs. 58.6 ± 16.0 years), tumor calcification (1/19 vs. 18/56), stalk (0/19 vs. 10/56), internal vessels (15/19 vs. 19/56) and the enlarged adjacent supplying artery (14/19 vs. 10/56) were significantly different between BPG and bladder cancer (P < 0.05). The CT value in the corticomedullary phase (92.4 ± 16.6 HU vs. 64.0 ± 14.5 HU) and the contrast-enhanced value in the corticomedullary phase (54.5 ± 17.4 HU vs. 28.5 ± 12.8 HU) were significantly greater in BPG patients than in bladder cancer patients (P < 0.001), with corresponding area under the curve values of 0.930 and 0.912, respectively. The optimal cutoff values were 83.2 HU and 38.5 HU, respectively. A CT value > 83.2 HU in the corticomedullary phase and a contrast-enhanced CT value > 38.5 HU in the corticomedullary phase were used to indicate BPG with sensitivities of 78.9% and 89.5%, respectively, and specificities of 94.6% and 75.0%, respectively. Conclusion: The corticomedullary phase of CECT plays an important role in the preoperative differential diagnosis of BPG and bladder cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: A survival paradox between T4N0 (Stage IIB/IIC) and Stage IIIA colon cancer exists, even after adjusting for adequate lymph node (LN) retrieval and receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy (C). We conducted a large hospital-based study to re-evaluate this survival paradox based on the newest 8th edition staging system. Methods: The National Cancer Data Base was queried to evaluate 35,606 patients diagnosed with Stage IIB, IIC, and IIIA colon cancer between 2010 and 2017. The Kaplan–Meier method and log-rank test were used to compare unadjusted overall survival (OS). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine the association of stage with hazard ratios adjusted for relevant demographic and clinical variables including ≥ 12 LNs retrieved and receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The 5-year OS for optimally treated stage IIIA colon cancer (receipt of C) was 84.3%, which was significantly higher than stage IIB/C (≥ 12 LNs retrieved + C) (72.8%; P < 0.0001). Stage was an independent predictor of OS. Among optimally treated Stage IIIA patients, T1N1 had the best survival (90.6%) while stage T4bN0 (stage IIC) had the worst (70.9%) (P < 0.0001). Compared to stage IIB, stage IIC had a 17% increased risk of overall death while stage IIIA had a 21% reduction in death (P < 0.0001). Conclusion: Stage IIB/C and Stage IIIA survival paradox persists even after accounting for receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy and adequate lymph node retrieval. Future iteration of the TNM system should take this paradox into consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduce an orthogonal system on the half line, induced by generalized Jacobi functions. Some basic results on the generalized Jacobi rational approximation are established, which play important roles in the related spectral method. As an example of applications, the rational spectral method is proposed for partial differential equations of degenerate type. Its convergence is proved. Numerical results demonstrate its efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An optical approach begins by interpreting the gravitational redshift resulting to a change in the relative velocity of light due to the medium of propagation in the gravitational field. The discussion continues by pointing out an agreement in structure between the equation for rays in geometrical optics and the geodesic equation of general relativity. From their comparison we learn that the path of rays should be written in the form ds= n( r) dr+ r dθ, not ds= dr+ r dθ, in a medium with spherical symmetry of refractive index n( r). The development of an optical analogy suggests introducing n( r) in place of g as an optical version of the Schwarzschild metric. In form and content, n( r) is different from g. The optical point of view replaces the general-relativity explanations in terms of time and gravitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The atmospheric deposition fluxes of 7Be, 210Pb and 210Po at Xiamen were measured. The samples were collected from March 2004 to April 2005 and the sampling period was one month. The 7Be and 210Pb activity were measured using HPGe γ-spectrometer after concentration using Fe(OH)3 co-precipitation method. The 210Po was counted with an α-spectrometer after the sample was digested and spontaneous plated onto a silver planchet. At Xiamen, the atmospheric deposition fluxes of 7Be varied between 0.11 and 2.93 Bq·m−2·d−1 and the average was 1.64 Bq·m−2·d−1; 210Pb fluxes varied between 0.04 and 0.85 Bq·m−2·d−1, and the average was 0.51 Bq·m−2·d−1; 210Po fluxes varied between 0.002 and 0.133 Bq·m−2·d−1, and the average was 0.061 Bq·m−2·d−1. There were positive correlations between the deposition fluxes of 7Be, 210Pb or 210Po and the amount of precipitation. The residence time of aerosols varied between 6.0 and 54.0 days with a mean of 27.1 days, which were calculated by 210Po/210Pb fluxes ratios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies the mechanisms of peroxynitrite-induced [Ca2+]i increase in single neuronal cell using Fura-2 microfluorometric technique. Removal of calcium ions from the bath or using calcium channel antagonist; Inhibition of the [Ca2+]i increase induced by ONOO-; Effect of the sulfhydryl reductive agent.

Nonreciprocal devices are indispensable for providing highly desirable functionalities for optical circuitry. Here, we propose to take advantage of the interference between optomechanical interaction and mechanical driving to create optical nonreciprocal transmission in a double-cavity optomechanical system. We derived essential conditions for ideal optomechanically induced optical nonreciprocity and analysed properties of optical nonreciprocal transmission, especially in blue-detuned regime. These results can be used to control optical transmission in quantum information processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To evaluate if there are differences in outcomes for patients with stage III colon cancer in those from urban vs. rural commuting areas. Methods: Data were evaluated on patients diagnosed with stage III colon cancer between 2012 and2018 from the Louisiana Tumor Registry. Patients were classified into rural and urban groups. Data on overall survival, time from diagnosis to surgery and time from surgery to chemotherapy, and sociodemographic factors (including race, age, and poverty level) were recorded. Results: Of 2652 patients identified, 2159 were urban (81.4%) and 493 rural (18.6%). No age difference between rural and urban patients (p = 0.56). Stage IIIB accounted for 66.7%, followed by IIIC (21.6%) and IIIA (11%), with a significant difference between rural and urban patients based on stage (p = 0.02). There was no difference in the extent of surgery (p = 0.34) or tumor size (p = 0.72) between urban and rural settings. No difference in undergoing chemotherapy (p = 0.12). There was a statistically significant difference in receiving timely treatment for hospital volume (p < 0.0001) and poverty level (p < 0.0001), but no difference in time from diagnosis to surgery (p = 0.48), and time from surgery to chemotherapy (p = 0.27). Non-Hispanic Blacks were less likely to receive timely treatment when compared with non-Hispanic Whites for both surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy, (aHR 0.91, 95% CI 0.83–0.99) and (aHR 0.86, 95% CI 0.77–0.97), respectively. There was no difference in Kaplan–Meier overall survival curves comparing rural vs. urban patients (p = 0.77). Conclusions: There was no statistical difference in overall survival, time to surgery, and time to adjuvant chemotherapy between rural and urban patients with Stage III colon cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oxidative stress induced growth inhibitor 1 (OSGIN1) regulates cell death. The role and underlying molecular mechanism of OSGIN1 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are uncharacterized. Methods: OSGIN1 expression in NSCLC samples was detected using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Growth of NSCLC cells and gefitinib-resistant cells expressing OSGIN1 or TUBB3 knockdown was determined by MTT, soft agar, and foci formation assays. The effect of OSGIN1 knockdown on in vivo tumor growth was assessed using NSCLC patient-derived xenograft models and gefitinib-resistant patient-derived xenograft models. Potentially interacting protein partners of OSGIN1 were identified using IP-MS/MS, immunoprecipitation, PLA, and Western blotting assays. Microtubule dynamics were explored by tubulin polymerization assay and immunofluorescence. Differential expression of signaling molecules in OSGIN1 knockdown cells was investigated using phospho-proteomics, KEGG analysis, and Western blotting. Results: We found that OSGIN1 is highly expressed in NSCLC tissues and is positively correlated with low survival rates and tumor size in lung cancer patients. OSGIN1 knockdown inhibited NSCLC cell growth and patient-derived NSCLC tumor growth in vivo. Knockdown of OSGIN1 strongly increased tubulin polymerization and re-established gefitinib sensitivity in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, knockdown of TUBB3 strongly inhibited NSCLC cell proliferation. Mechanistically, we found that OSGIN1 enhances DYRK1A-mediated TUBB3 phosphorylation, which is critical for inducing tubulin depolymerization. The results of phospho-proteomics and ontology analysis indicated that knockdown of OSGIN1 led to reduced propagation of the MKK3/6-p38 signaling axis. Conclusions: We propose that OSGIN1 modulates microtubule dynamics by enhancing DYRK1A-mediated phosphorylation of TUBB3 at serine 172. Moreover, elevated OSGIN1 expression promotes NSCLC tumor growth and gefitinib resistance through the MKK3/6-p38 signaling pathway. Our findings unveil a new mechanism of OSGIN1 and provide a promising therapeutic target for NSCLC treatment in the clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design of a random copolymer comprising of 4-vinylbenzocyclobutene (4VBCB) and styrene as repeating units is presented herein. The effect of the 4VBCB to styrene ratio in the copolymer on the dielectric and thermodynamic properties of the materials was investigated using the molecular dynamics simulation technique. A script for the interactive crosslink relaxation method was developed using Perl as the language to control the crosslinking degree of the copolymers. This method was used to construct simulation units to generate highly crosslinked polymer networks from a given set of monomers. Three-dimensional simulation cells were constructed with the help of a computational algorithm and Materials Studio. The dielectric constants of the model were calculated using the existing polymer COMPASS force field by varying the monomer contents. The crosslinking degree was tuned to analyze the material properties. Several thermomechanical properties, such as curing-induced shrinkage, coefficient of thermal expansion, and glass transition temperature, were analyzed, and their dependence on the crosslinking degree was examined. The simulation results revealed that an increase in the crosslinking density resulted in an increase in the dielectric constant and glass transition temperature of the material. The extent of thermal expansion realized decreased under these conditions. The reliability of the simulation results was confirmed by comparing these results with experimentally-obtained results. The theoretically and experimentally obtained results demonstrated a close match within the acceptable error range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Various inflammation-based prognostic scores have been associated with poor survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Data were collected retrospectively from 674 HCC patients who underwent curative resection. The correlation between INS (inflammation–nutrition score), BCLC (Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer) stage and inflammatory indices and overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) was examined. Results: An elevated INS was associated with both tumor and host clinical characteristics. The combination of INS and BCLC stage stratifies OS and DFS from 80% and 65% (INS = 0, stage A) to 0% (INS = 2, stage C). Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that the INS was an independent predictor for OS and DFS, and was superior to inflammation-based scores. In addition, INS was demonstrated to be a prognostic factor for patients with early stage and had a higher AUC value in comparison with inflammation scores. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the INS is an independent marker of poor prognosis in patients with resectable HCC, especially for those with early stage, and it provides complimentary prognostic information to BCLC stage, and may aid in treatment strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: CXCL11 has been reported to be up-regulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), and CAF-secreted CXCL11 has been found to promote HCC cell proliferation and migration. Knowledge on how CAFs promote HCC progression is imperative for the future design of anti-tumor drugs addressing the high rates of disease recurrence. Herein, we propose a mechanism by which LINC00152 positively regulates CXCL11 expression and, subsequently, HCC cell phenotypes and growth characteristics via miR-205-5p in CAFs. Methods: The expression of LINC00152, miR-205-5p in HCC/non-cancerous tissues, CAFs/NFs and HCC cell lines was determined by RT-qPCR. The CXCL11 expression and secretion were determined by westernblot and ELISA. Different expressions of LINC00152, CXCL11 and miR-205-5p in CAFs were achieved by transfection with corresponding overexpression/knockdown vectors or mimics/inhibitor. The interactions among LINC00152, miR-205-5p and CXCL11 were confirmed by FISH, luciferase, AGO2 and RNA-pulldown assays. Transwell, colony formation and MTT assays were performed to assess the role of CAFs conditioned medium (CM) in HCC cell phenotype. BALB/c nude mice xenografts were used to determine the role of CAFs on HCC growth in vivo. Results: We found that in vitro, CM from CAFs transfected with sh-LINC00152 dramatically suppressed HCC cell viability, colony formation and migration, and that CM from CAFs transfected with miR-205-5p inhibitor (CAF-CM (miR-205-5p inhibitor)) exerted opposite effects on HCC cell phenotypes. Exogenous overexpression of CXCL11 in CAFs or CAF-CM (miR-205-5p inhibitor) could partially attenuate the effects of LINC00152 knockdown. In contrast, CM from CAFs transfected with LINC00152 dramatically increased HCC cell viability, colony formation and migration, and CM from CAFs transfected with miR-205-5p mimics (CAF-CM (miR-205-5p mimics)) exerted opposite effects on HCC cell phenotypes. Knockdown of CXCL11 in CAFs or CAF-CM (miR-205-5p mimics) could partially attenuate the effects of LINC00152 overexpression. In vivo, LINC00152 knockdown in CAFs inhibited tumor growth in a mouse model, which could be reversed by CXCL11 overexpression in CAFs. Mechanistically, we found that LINC00152 could act as a ceRNA to counteract miR-205-5p-mediated suppression on CXCL11 by directly binding to miR-205-5p and the 3'UTR of CXCL11. Conclusion: Our data indicate that a LINC00152/miR-205-5p/CXCL11 axis in HCC CAFs can affect the proliferative and migrative abilities of HCC cells in vitro and HCC tumor growth in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a novel approach was presented for controllable preparation of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) hollow microspheres, and PAN-derived graphite carbon microspheres were synthesized through a simple and facile method, overcoming the intrinsic non-graphitizable property of PAN under low temperatures. The pure PAN microspheres and PAN/M (M = Fe, Co, Ni) microspheres were fabricated by the microfluidic technique and solvent evaporation method. Subsequently, the graphitization process was performed for carbon growth of all PAN microspheres at carbonization temperatures of 800 °C, 1000 °C,1200 °C, and 1400 °C, respectively. The effects of transition metals on the stability of compound droplets, monodispersity, and morphology of microspheres were investigated. The carbon resides was given by TG analysis, and the degree of graphite was characterized by the Raman spectra, XRD patterns, and TEM image. The results showed that the three transition metals exhibited different catalytic graphitization effects, leading to a different degree of catalytic graphitization. Understanding the catalytic graphitization effect of Fe, Co, and Ni on PAN microspheres offers new strategies for converting polymer-derived microspheres to invaluable synthetic graphite carbon, which has potential application in upcycling of waste plastics, catalysis, absorption, thermally conductive materials, and energy conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon-supported platinum-nickel alloy catalysts have become one of the main choices of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) due to the high catalytic activity toward oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). In this work, carbon aerogel supported platinum-nickel solid solution alloy catalysts (Pt3Ni/CA) with small particles (~ 3.5 nm) and uniform distribution were prepared via a simple one-step rapid reduction method during which no structure guide or stabilizer is added. In rotating disk electrode (RDE), the mass activity (MA, 0.25 A mgPt−1) and specific activity (SA, 4.69 A m−2) of the optimized Pt3Ni/CA catalysts for ORR are nearly 3.8 times and 6.5 times that of the state-of-the-art commercial carbon-supported platinum catalysts (Pt/C, 0.07 A mgPt−1 and 0.72 A m−2), respectively. After the accelerated durability test (ADT), the as-prepared Pt3Ni/CA catalysts still keep a satisfactory MA and SA which are more than 3.4 and 8.9 times as high as that of Pt/C. The Koutecký-Levich (K-L) equation shows that the electrochemical reaction conforms to be a 4e− process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demands on larger motors and battery packs in electric vehicles cause a suspension layout issue not appearing in gas-powered vehicles. Motivated by this need, our research aims to design a new-concept suspension applicable to electric vehicles, where given space-related constraints are satisfied without scarifying their kinematic performance. Here, we propose a three-phase design process for the synthesis of rear suspensions of an electric vehicle: concept topology design, kinematic feature identification, and detailed design. For the concept design to determine the mechanism topology, we employ the topology optimization method developed for mechanism synthesis subjected to a reduced suspension design space as well as a tighter condition on the camber rate—known as yielding better vehicle's dynamic performance. The next phase is to extract the underlying kinematic features of the synthesized suspension obtained by the topology optimization method as it may be difficult to directly figure out how the synthesized mechanism functions kinematically. For the extraction, we propose a connectivity-mapping technique followed by the wrench calculation. This phase is followed by the final detailed design to meet the specific requirements imposed on the target suspensions. The new suspensions designed by the proposed three-phase design approach will be shown to successfully resolve the suspension layout issue typically encountered in electric vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we demonstrate a dual-band metamaterial perfect absorber based on a Ag-dielectric-Ag multilayer nanostructure. The structure of top metal film covers nanoring grooves array. A dielectric layer has a function of confining electromagnetic fields. Theoretical analysis shows that two absorption peaks (1059 nm and 1304 nm) with the absorption of 99.2% and 99.9% have been achieved, respectively. The physical origin of perfect absorption peaks are related to the Fabry-Perot resonance effect and localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of the nanoring grooves. Its perfect absorption and resonance wavelength can be well regulated by adjusting the relevant structural parameters. Additionally, the absorber demonstrates good operation angle-polarization-tolerance at wide incident angles (0–60°). We believe that our design has a promising application in plasmon-enhanced photovoltaic, optical absorption switching, and modulator optical communications in the infrared regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular dynamic (MD) simulations were employed to investigate the hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane (CL-20) crystal, seven designed energetic poly-(phthalazinone ether sulfone ketones) (PPESKs) and PPESKs/ε-CL-20 polymer–bonded explosives (PBXs). Cohesive energy density (CED) and solubility parameters (δ) were predicted for PBXs, the results indicated that stability of PBXs are related to their cohesive energy density (CED). Mechanical properties of seven polymer-bonded explosives (PPESKs/ε-CL-20) were found improved in comparison with that of ε-CL-20 by adding polymer binders. Young's modulus (E), Shear modulus (G), and Bulk modulus (K) declined compare with ε-CL-20. K/G ratio and Cauchy pressure C12-C44 of PBXs indicate that they have certain ductility. Radial distribution function (RDF) was utilized for analyzing the interactions between PPESKs and ε-CL-20, and results demonstrate that hydrogen bond and van der Waals interactions exist between polymers and ε-CL-20. The calculated oxygen balance of polymer-bonded explosives (PBXs) is lower than that of pure ε-CL-20 by nearly about − 24%. Detonation properties of the polymer-bonded explosives (PBXs) were predicted based on ε-CL-20 values. Detonation velocity (D) for these PBXs was predicted almost at about 8300 m s−1, and the detonation pressure (P) for these PBXs was all predicted nearly at 38 GPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we present four types of topological bicontinuous porous structures, namely Gyroid (G), Schwarz Diamond (D), Schwarz Primitive (P), and iWp (W), which are generated from mathematically defined triply periodic minimal surfaces. A systematic semi-theoretical investigation is performed to analyze the relations between the microstructures and the macroscopic mechanical behavior. Benefiting from the straightforward controllability on parameters, the scaling laws of the geometrical properties and mechanical properties are determined as functions of the relative density according to numerical analysis and computational simulation. An application to additive manufacturing accompanying with uniaxial compression testing is also performed, and the results show a highly agreement with the above scaling laws. Moreover, the simulation results indicate that the mechanical properties are highly dependent on topological architectures, which affect the deformation behavior of porous materials. It is shown that P topology has the highest stiffness and strength with stretching-dominated mode, while the rest exhibit a flexibly bending-dominated deformation behavior. The present study provides not only new insights into the structure-property relations of such topologies, but also a practical guide for their fabrication and application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The self-assembly of block copolymer in solution has proven to be an effective strategy for building up a wide range of nanomaterials with diverse structures and applications. This paper reports a facile self-assembly approach towards two-dimensional (2D) sandwich-like mesoporous nitrogen-doped carbon/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites (denoted as mNC/rGO) with well-defined large mesopores. The strategy involves the synergistic self-assembly of polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PS- b-PEO) spherical micelles, m-phenylenediamine ( mPD) monomers and GO in solution and the subsequent carbonization at 900 °C. The resultant mNC/rGO nanosheets have an average pore size of 19 nm, a high specific surface of 812 m·g and a nitrogen content of 2.2 wt%. As an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst, the unique structural features render the metal-free nanosheets excellent electrocatalytic performance. In a 0.1 mol·L KOH alkaline medium, mNC/rGO exhibits a four-electron transfer pathway with a high half-wave-potential ( E ) of +0.77 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) and a limiting current density ( J ) of 5.2 mA·cm, which are well comparable with those of the commercial Pt/C catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simulation based on the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) has been performed, and theoretical models comprising concentric Ag nanoring-nanodisk of different parameters have been constructed to research their plasmon properties. According to unique electronic properties of concentric nanoring-nanodisk, abundant plasmon properties could be obtained at their interfaces, including dipole, quadrupole, and octupole plasmon resonance modes. Complex field distributions which are induced by concentric nanoring-nanodisk support the possibility to create dark resonance mode. This can lead to Fano-like resonance combining with bright resonance mode by predominantly dipole resonance. A concentric nanoring-nanodisk system has been proved to support Fano-like resonance without symmetry breaking. At the frequency of the Fano resonance, strong localized optical fields can be obtained. Narrow spectral features with high local fields of Fano resonances make it possible to achieve many applications based on surface plasmon property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we provide a simulation based on finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) way of the properties of surface plasmons on Ag nanoring and study their electric field distribution in order to identify different multiple surface plasmon resonances. We can obtain the symmetric field distribution that parallels to the orientation of direction of incident light. We find their propagation can be controlled. And we discuss some of the parameters that influence the optical response of the Ag nanoring. Adjustment of nanoring radius (inner radius and outer radius) and height can change the absorption intensity and the resonance peaks. The simulation of the field distribution also displays that the location of the field enhancement is specified by the different resonance patterns. Dipole, quadrupole, and octupole plasmon resonance modes can be found in the Ag nanoring at resonance wavelength. This is an important step toward a thorough understanding of plasmon resonance in Ag nanorings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We reported a simple hydrothermal method to fabricate Au nanoparticles-decorated ZnO nanorods (ZnO-NRs) using aligned ZnO-NRs arrays as a template. Via changing the concentration of HAuCl aqueous solution, the size and density of Au nanoparticles (NPs) on the surface of ZnO-NRs could be readily tuned. The photoluminescence of Au-NPs decorated ZnO-NRs were investigated, in order to optimize the configuration of the Au-NPs decorated ZnO-NRs system realizing the maximum band emission. Due to a synergistic effect of the adjacent Au NPs and ZnO-NRs and efficiently coupled localized surface plasmon resonance (SPR) excitation, an optimized sample employing Au NPs with 15-nm size showed best catalytic efficiency. We have proposed a mechanism that is the electron transfer from surface-plasmon-stimulated \Au NPs to the conduction band of ZnO-NRs. These results demonstrate that Au NPs can significantly enhance the charge separation by extracting electrons from the photoexcited ZnO and consequently improve the photocatalytic activity of the composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yond bap is a traditional fermented milk product from the Yunnan province in China. Yond baps are mostly produced with goat's milk and occasionally with cow's milk. As a traditional dairy product produced by fermentation, yond bap contains an abundant microflora. The microbes that play a role in the fermentation of goat milk form a specific community structure. In this work, 11 types of yond bap were characterized from four different regions in the Yunnan province. We employed bar-coded pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA to analyze the bacterial community structure in the yond baps. The results indicated that the bacterial community structures of the 11 yond baps were different. Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria were detected in all the samples. Pseudomonas, a proteobacterium, was the predominant bacterial genus . Pseudomonas sequences were detected often and in most of the samples. Next, Streptococcaceae, Lactobacillaceae, and Lactococcus belonging to Streptococcaceae family played important roles in the fermentation of yond baps as the numbers of sequences belonging to these species were higher. The results demonstrate the presence of different bacterial community structures of yond baps from different regions in the Yunnan Province of China. This study provides information about the diversity of the microbial community of fermented food and a reliable theoretical foundation for improving the quality and flavor of yond baps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In diabetic retinopathy (DR), visual deterioration is related with retinal neovascularization and vascular hyperpermeability. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents are currently utilized to suppress retinal neovascularization and macular edema (ME); however, there are still concerns on the widespread use of them because VEGF is a trophic factor for neuronal and endothelial cells in the retina. As an alternative treatment strategy for DR, it is logical to address hypoxia-related molecules to treat DR because the retina is in relative hypoxia as DR progresses. In this study, we demonstrate that destabilization of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) by SH-1242 and SH-1280, novel heat shock protein 90 (hsp90) inhibitors, leads to suppression of hypoxia-mediated retinal neovascularization and vascular leakage in diabetic retina. In vitro experiments showed that these inhibitors inhibited hypoxia-induced upregulation of target genes of HIF-1α and further secretion of VEGF. Furthermore, these inhibitors effectively suppressed expression of target genes of HIF-1α including vegfa in the retina of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) mice. Interestingly, despite hsp90 inhibition, these inhibitors do not induce definite toxicity at the level of gene expression, cellular viability, and histologic integrity. We suggest that SH-1242 and SH-1280 can be utilized in the treatment of DR, as an alternative treatment of direct VEGF inhibition. Key message: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutations in the SCN1A gene-encoding voltage-gated sodium channel α-I subunit (Na1.1) cause various spectrum of epilepsies including Dravet syndrome (DS), a severe and intractable form. A large number of SCN1A mutations identified from the DS patients lead to the loss of function or truncation of Na1.1 that result in a haploinsufficiency effects, indicating that the exact expression level of SCN1A should be essential to maintain normal brain function. In this study, we have identified five variants c.*1025T>C, c.*1031A>T, c.*1739C>T, c.*1794C>T and c.*1961C>T in the SCN1A 3′ UTR in the patients with DS. The c.*1025T>C, c.*1031A>T and c.*1794C>T are conserved among different species. Of all the five variants, only c.*1794C>T is a novel variant and alters the predicted secondary structure of the 3′ UTR. We also show that glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) only binds to the 3′ UTR sequence containing the mutation allele 1794U but not the wild-type allele 1794C, indicating that the mutation allele forms a new GAPDH-binding site. Functional analyses show that the variant negatively regulates the reporter gene expression by affecting the mRNA stability that is mediated by GAPDH's binding, and this phenomenon could be reversed by shRNA-induced GAPDH knockdown. These findings suggest that GAPDH and the 3′-UTR variant are involved in regulating SCN1A expression at post-transcriptional level, which may provide an important clue for further investigating on the relationship between 3′-UTR variants and SCN1A-related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy of Ag nanorings antenna in both experiment and simulation. Self-organized Ag nanorings antenna were formed on quartz glass wafers by a simple chemistry reaction without any template. The three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain simulation calculations indicate that the electric field enhancement of Ag nanoring antenna is strongly dependent on the gap distance. A very strong surface plasmon coupling in the gap region of Ag nanoring antenna is observed, whose field intensity is enhanced four times compared to that for Ag nanodomes antenna with the same gap distance. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) measurements have shown that the SERS intensity acquired from the Ag nanoring antenna is about 16 times stronger than that obtained from Ag nanodomes antenna. These results pave the way to design plasmonic nanostructures for practical applications that require coupled metallic nanoparticles with enhanced electric fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glioma stem cells (GSCs) are thought to be critical for resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy and for tumor recurrence after surgery in glioma patients. Identification of new therapeutic strategies that can target GSCs may thus be critical for improving patient survival. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that function as tumor suppressors or oncogenes. In this study, we confirmed that miR-107 was down-regulated in GSCs. To investigate the role of miR-107 in tumorigenesis of GSCs, a lentiviral vector over-expressing miR-107 in U87GSCs was constructed. We found that over-expression of miR-107 suppressed proliferation and down-regulated Notch2 protein and stem cell marker (CD133 and Nestin) expression in U87GSCs. Furthermore, enhanced miR-107 expression significantly inhibited U87GSC invasion and reduced matrix metalloproteinase-12 expression. miR-107 also suppressed U87GSCs xenograft growth in vivo. These findings suggest that miR-107 is involved in U87GSCs growth and invasion and may provide a potential therapeutic target for glioma treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B7-H3, a novel B7 family member, positively or negatively regulates T-cell responses. We investigated the clinical relevance and prognostic significance of B7-H3 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Western blotting showed B7-H3 upregulation in 17 of 24 (70.8 %) HCC tissues compared with nontumor liver tissues ( p = 0.028). B7-H3 immunostaining on tissue microarrays containing 240 HCC patient samples indicated that 225 (93.8 %) tumors had aberrant B7-H3 expression, with strong intensity in 79 (32.9 %) cases, whereas B7-H3 expression in peritumor liver cells was weak in most cases (226; 94.2 %). Notably, patients with high/moderate tumor cell B7-H3 expression showed significantly poorer survival ( p = 0.009) and increased recurrence ( p = 0.002). After multivariable adjustment, high/moderate B7-H3 expression remained significant for an increased risk of recurrence (hazard ratio = 1.79; 95 % confidence interval = 1.19-2.70; p = 0.005). B7-H3 expression correlated with invasive phenotypes like vascular invasion and advanced tumor stage, and the metastatic potential of HCC cell lines. Flow cytometry showed that B7-H3 expression is inversely correlated with proliferation and interferon-γ production by infiltrating T cells. Interferon-γ stimulation significantly upregulated B7-H3 expression in HCC cells in vitro , implicating B7-H3 expression as a feedback mechanism to evade anti-tumor immunity. Importantly, the prognostic value of B7-H3 expression was validated in an independent cohort of 206 HCC patients. Collectively, our data suggest that B7-H3 was abundantly expressed in HCC and was associated with adverse clinicopathologic features and poor outcome. Thus, B7-H3 represents an attractive target for diagnostic and therapeutic manipulation in human HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Abnormal dendritic spine morphology is a significant neuroanatomical defect in fragile X mental retardation. It has been suggested that overactive group 1 metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGlu) signaling is associated with the spine dysmorphology occurring in fragile X syndrome (FXS). Thus, group 1 mGlu became a new therapeutic target for the treatment of FXS. Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of inhibition of mGlu signaling in FXS. Methods: We observed the changes in dendritic spines after pharmacological modulation of mGlu signaling in an Fmr1 knockout (KO) mouse model. Results: The activation of group 1 mGlu resulted in elongation of dendritic spines in the cultured neurons derived from Fmr1 KO mice and wild-type (WT) mice. Antagonism of group 1 mGlu reduced the average spine length of Fmr1 KO neurons. Furthermore, systemic administration of the selective group 1 mGlu5 antagonist 2-methyl-6-phenylethynyl pyridine (MPEP) reduced the average spine length and density in the cortical neurons of Fmr1 KO mice at developmental age. For the adult mice, MPEP administration was less effective for the restoration of spine length. The percentage of immature spines showed a similar reduction in parallel to the changes of spine length. Temporary MPEP intervention with single-dose treatment did not show any effect. Conclusion: These results show that MPEP administration could partially rescue the morphological deficits of dendritic spines in Fmr1 KO mice at developmental age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein-bound methionine (Met) oxidation has been associated with normal aging and a variety of age-related diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Monitoring the changes of protein-bound methionine content in the brain in response to normal aging and oxidative stress is of great interest and could be used as an indicator of oxidative stress of rats in pathological conditions. We have developed a rapid analytical method for the determination of oxidized products of protein-bound methionine in rat brain. The assay involved rapid acid proteolysis with microwave irradiation and solid-phase extraction of the free amino acids followed by LC-ESI-ITMS analysis. Detection was achieved in positive ionization with an ion trap mass spectrometer operating in multiple-reaction monitoring mode. The calibration curves of the analytes were linear ( r > 0.99) in the range between 0.098 and 1.560 μg/mL. Intra- and inter-day relative standard deviation percentages were <9% and <8%, respectively. The assay performance was sufficient to support a rapid analytical tool for monitoring brain protein-bound methionine oxidation levels. The content of protein-bound Met and methionine sulfoxide (MetO) in the hippocampus of adult and old rats with or without HO treatment was determined by employing the new method. The content of protein-bound MetO was significantly increased in old rats after exposure to HO. This result indicates increased sensitivity to Met oxidation in the hippocampus of old rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of fusaric acid (FA) phytotoxin on the physiology of root leaf cells in watermelon seedlings was evaluated. Results revealed that the cell membrane potential treated with FA in 12 h was decreased by 61.9–81.8% compared with untreated controls. FA markedly accelerated the lipid peroxidase activity of watermelon leaves. Malondiadehyde in leaves treated with different concentrations of FA in 24 h was 5.2–11.0 fold as much as control. Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity (PAL) in leaves treated with FA was first increased and then decreased. The highest PAL activity was obtained after 6–12 h, which was 7.2–10.5 fold as much as control. Activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and peroxidase (POD) were first increased and then decreased when the seedlings were treated with FA. The highest SOD and POD activities were observed after 12 h and then both declined. The β-1,3-glucanase and chitinase activities in leaves treated with FA were first quickly increased and then declined, the highest activities were found after 12 and 3 h. We concluded that FA strongly inhibited root and leaf cells functions physiologically responsible for fusarium wilt of watermelon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scaleless wings mutant in Bombyx mori (scaleless, sl) was previously reported morphologically. In the present study, we give data to clarify the mechanism of the mutation at the developmental level. Programmed cell death participates in the wing scale development during early pupal stage, and there are significant differences between that of sl and the wild type (WT) at each phase. Well-differentiated scale precursor cells do not form in sl when they have formed in WT. The peak of Caspase-3/7 activity in sl occurs 1 day later than and ten times as much as that in WT. Apoptotic bodies and DNA ladder studies also show that there is excessive apoptosis in sl early pupal wing. In addition, we have studied Bm-ASH1, an achaete–scute homolog in B.mori, which is thought to play a key role during the development of wing scales, and have found that the gene structure and expression levels of Bm-ASH1 in sl and WT are identical. All the data indicate that the wing scale precursor differentiation mechanism is abnormal in sl, which causes failing determination of scale cells and the downstream symptom of excessive apoptosis. But some of the elements to the scale differentiation circuit, such as Bm-ASH1, still operate in sl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ultra-sensitive and "turn-on" method is demonstrated for the determination of uranyl ion. The assay is based on hairpin-to-DNAzyme structure switching that is induced by an entropy-driven catalytic reaction. An UO22+-specific DNAzyme is cleaved by UO22+ to produce a DNA fragment. This fragment initiates the entropy-driven catalytic reaction to produce a large number of a sequence "R". The sequence R initiates the circular cleavage of FAM-labeled hairpins by switching the hairpin to Mg2+-specific DNAzyme structure. This causes the recovery of green fluorescence. The method works in the 20 pM to 800 pM concentration range and the limit of detection is 4 pM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesoporous gold sponges were prepared using 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP)-stabilized Au seeds. This is a general process, which involves a simple template-free method, room temperature reduction of HAuCl4·4H2O with hydroxylamine. The formation process of mesoporous gold sponges could be accounted for the electrostatic interaction (the small Au nanoparticles (~3 nm) and the positively charged DMAP-stabilized Au seeds) and Ostwald ripening process. The mesoporous gold sponges had appeared to undergo electrostatic adsorption initially, sequentially linear aggregation, welding and Ostwald ripening, then, they randomly cross link into self-supporting, three-dimensional networks with time. The mesoporous gold sponges exhibit higher surface area than the literature. In addition, application of the spongelike networks as an active material for surface-enhanced Raman scattering has been investigated by employing 4-aminothiophenol (4-ATP) molecules as a probe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the study which explores the significance of magnetism-based interaction capture (MAGIC) in identifying small-molecule protein. The primary goal of the study is to discover the effects of compound "CGK733-biotin" on identified protein ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM). The study cites that the compound is vital for the validation of the protein. The study concludes that MAGIC technology has played important role in synthesizing mutated protein.

A correction to the article "Small molecule–based reversible reprogramming of cellular lifespan" that was published in the June 11, 2006 issue is presented.