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Many studies have examined that bullying bystander intervention refers to a positive, pro-social bystander behavior that prevents the sustained development of bullying incidents in the face of school bullying. Limited research has investigated the different roles of bystanders and the factors that influence their behavior. This study attempts to explore the association between being bullied and intervention by bystanders in adolescent school bullying, the role of moral disengagement, and the status of only children in this context. For this purpose, 2113 middle school students completed the Being Bullied Behavior Scale, Bystander Intervention Scale, and Moral Disengagement Scale. The study findings indicate that (1) being bullied positively anticipates the intervention by bystanders in school bullying; (2) further, moral disengagement plays an essential role in mediating the effects of bullying on bystander intervention, and being bullied "masks" the related positive influence on the bystander intervention through the negative mediation of moral disengagement; and (3) finally, the status of being an only child moderates the first half of this mediating effect. Based on this, this study implies that being bullied is more effective at predicting moral disengagement for only children. Consequently, the influence of being bullied on bystander intervention in school bullying is revealed in this study, which exhibits significant practical implications for improving the ecological environment of school bullying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient and precise design of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) is of great importance in the field of AMP development. Computing provides opportunities for peptide de novo design. In the present investigation, a new machine learning-based AMP prediction model, AP_Sin, was trained using 1160 AMP sequences and 1160 non-AMP sequences. The results showed that AP_Sin correctly classified 94.61% of AMPs on a comprehensive dataset, outperforming the mainstream and open-source models (Antimicrobial Peptide Scanner vr.2, iAMPpred and AMPlify) and being effective in identifying AMPs. In addition, a peptide sequence generator, AP_Gen, was devised based on the concept of recombining dominant amino acids and dipeptide compositions. After inputting the parameters of the 71 tridecapeptides from antimicrobial peptides database (APD3) into AP_Gen, a tridecapeptide bank consisting of de novo designed 17,496 tridecapeptide sequences were randomly generated, from which 2675 candidate AMP sequences were identified by AP_Sin. Chemical synthesis was performed on 180 randomly selected candidate AMP sequences, of which 18 showed high antimicrobial activities against a wide range of the tested pathogenic microorganisms, and 16 of which had a minimal inhibitory concentration of less than 10 μg/mL against at least one of the tested pathogenic microorganisms. The method established in this research accelerates the discovery of valuable candidate AMPs and provides a novel approach for de novo design of antimicrobial peptides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Image inpainting seeks a semantically consistent way to recover the damaged image while taking into account its unmasked content. It is a crucial task for multiple practical applications like object removal and art image editing. Recently deep neural networks have achieved promising performance for filling large missing regions in image inpainting tasks. However, the existing methods often generate content with distorted structures and blurry textures when encountering artistic images. To address these problems, we propose an art image inpainting method via embedding multiple attention dilated convolutions (MADC). Four dilated convolution blocks with dilation ratios of 1, 3, 5, and 7 are aggregated to obtain dense multi-scale contextual information. Then, we use the coordination attention layer to capture long-range spatial dependencies while preserving precise location information in order to enhance the feature representation of interest. By explicitly using the surrounding image features as references, we insert the MADC modules into the encoder network to facilitate the recovery of large portions in incomplete images. We also employ a discriminator with local and global branches to ensure local–global content consistency. Experiments on the art image dataset show that our method performs favorably against state-of-the-art in generating sharper more coherent and visually plausible inpainting results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solieria tenuis has the tendency to become a potential bloom in some regions of the sea in China. It has massive biomass. Therefore, making the best use of the bioresource of S. tenuis has gained attention. This study proposed a process for the comprehensive extraction of carrageenan and phycoerythrin from new resource S. tenuis and measured their bioactivities. The results showed that the purity of phycoerythrin could be up to 4.19 and the yield of phycoerythrin could be 0.06 mg/g (dry weight). The yield of carrageenan was 19.60% at 4% alkali concentration, 2 h alkali treatment time, and 62 °C alkali treatment temperature using the S. tenuis residue. The phycoerythrin had applications as an antioxidant and antibacterial agent, and carrageenan had applications in the culture medium. Thus, this emerging method fully used S. tenuis as new bioresources, which realized high value use and reduced the nitrogen content in production, having potential applications in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oxidative weathering of petrogenic organic carbon (OCpetro) is an important source of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere on geological timescales and significantly influences the carbon cycle and global climate change. However, at present, a robust proxy to assess OCpetro oxidation is lacking. Riverine rhenium (Re) has emerged as a potential proxy to trace OCpetro oxidation, but little is known about Re sources and its relationship with OCpetro oxidation. To better understand the robustness of this proxy, we analyzed a shale weathering profile from the early Cambrian Shuijingtuo Formation in Chengkou County, Chongqing City, to address the mobility of Re and selenium (Se) and their relationship with the oxidation of OCpetro by analyses of the elemental variation and sequential extraction. The results showed that the chemical index of alteration (CIA) increases from the fresh bedrock to the weathered sections, indicating enhanced weathering intensity. Based on the sequential extraction and mass transfer coefficients (τ), Re and Se mainly exist in the organic phase of shale and are paired lost with OCpetro during weathering, with no obvious correlation with sulfide minerals. Furthermore, the different proportions of Re and Se loss with OCpetro loss can be attributed to their different geochemical behaviors during weathering. Our study supports Re as a robust proxy to trace OCpetro oxidation, whereas Se is the potential one. In the future, combined studies on various sedimentary rock profiles with catchment basins are needed to determine the sources of riverine Re and Se and their relationships with OCpetro oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The previous studies have shown that iron–manganese co-oxide film (MeOx) could simultaneously remove ammonium, manganese ion and bisphenol A. In this study, the removal of fulvic acid (FA) was explored by adding potassium ferrate (K2FeO4) to heighten the catalytic activity of MeOx. After adding about 3.0 mg/L potassium ferrate, the elimination efficiency of 7.0 mg/L FA by the MeOx increased from 20 to 50%. The effects of temperature and ammonium on the elimination of FA were investigated. Higher temperature (above 22 °C) and higher ammonium concentration (above 2.0 mg/L) caused a decrease in FA removal. Most of FA combined with the ferric hydroxide colloid produced by K2FeO4 in water to form macromolecular groups, and they were subsequently absorbed and covered on the surface of MeOx. Scanning electron microscope showed that more viscous flocs appeared on the surface of MeOx, and the film thickness became thicker. Electron energy-dispersive spectrometer analysis revealed a notable increased in the C–O element ratio and a significant decreased in the Mn–Fe element ratio on the surface of MeOx. From Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, the content of transition metal carbonyl compounds increased in the surface of MeOx. XPS analysis confirmed that the presence of Fe3O4, FeO, Mn2O3 and Mn3O4 along with functional group substances of FA attached on the surface of MeOx. The removal mechanism of FA was studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effect of chromium and iron on glucose metabolism via the PI3K/Akt/GLUT4 signaling pathway. Skeletal muscle gene microarray data in T2DM (GSE7014) was selected using Gene Expression Omnibus database. Element-gene interaction datasets of chromium and iron were extracted from comparative toxicogenomics database (CTD). Gene ontology (GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed using DAVID online tool. Cell viability, insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, and protein expression level were measured in C2C12 cells. The bioinformatics research indicated that PI3K/Akt signaling pathway participated in the effects of chromium and iron associated with T2DM. Insulin-stimulated glucose uptake level was significantly higher in chromium picolinate (Cr group) and lower in ammonium iron citrate (FA group) than that for the control group (P < 0.05); chromium picolinate + ammonium iron citrate (Cr + FA group) glucose uptake level was higher than that for the FA group (P < 0.05). Intracellular ROS level was significantly higher in the FAC group than that for the control group (P < 0.05), and that for the Cr + FA group was lower than that for the FA group (P < 0.05). p-PI3K/PI3K, p-Akt/Akt, and GLUT4 levels were significantly lower in the FA group than that for the control group (P < 0.05), and the Cr + FA group had higher levels than the FA group (P < 0.05). Chromium might have a protective effect on iron-induced glucose metabolism abnormalities through the ROS-mediated PI3K/Akt/GLUT4 signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A complete catalase-encoding gene, designated soiCat1, was obtained from soil samples via metagenomic sequencing, assembly, and gene prediction. soiCat1 showed 73% identity to a catalase-encoding gene of Mucilaginibacter rubeus strain P1, and the amino acid sequence of soiCAT1 showed 99% similarity to the catalase of a psychrophilic bacterium, Pedobacter cryoconitis. soiCAT1 was identified as a psychrophilic enzyme due to the low optimum temperature predicted by the deep learning model Preoptem, which was subsequently validated through analysis of enzymatic properties. Experimental results showed that soiCAT1 has a very narrow range of optimum temperature, with maximal specific activity occurring at the lowest test temperature (4 °C) and decreasing with increasing reaction temperature from 4 to 50 °C. To rationally design soiCAT1 with an improved temperature range, soiCAT1 was engineered through site-directed mutagenesis based on molecular evolution data analyzed through position-specific amino acid possibility calculation. Compared with the wild type, one mutant, soiCAT1S205K, exhibited an extended range of optimum temperature ranging from 4 to 20 °C. The strategies used in this study may shed light on the mining of genes of interest and rational design of desirable proteins. Key points: • Numerous putative catalases were mined from soil samples via metagenomics. • A complete sequence encoding a psychrophilic catalase was obtained. • A mutant psychrophilic catalase with an extended range of optimum temperature was engineered through site-directed mutagenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mounting studies explored associations between fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and preterm birth (PTB); however, individual and combined impacts of PM2.5 constituents on PTB were less known. PM2.5 and its seven constituents were assessed by V4.CH.02 product of the Dalhousie University Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, a dataset containing combined geophysical-statistical estimates of PM2.5 across China. Effects of PM2.5 and its constituents on PTB and gestational age were firstly explored. Furthermore, weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression was conducted to reveal the impacts of total PM2.5 mass and identify contributing constituents. An interquartile range (IQR) increase in PM2.5 was associated with increased odds ratio (OR) of PTB. PM2.5 constituents were widely associated with PTB and reduced gestational age, with different time window. The total mass of PM2.5 (per IQR increment) in the first and the second trimester was positively associated with PTB by WQS regression (Trimester 1: OR = 1.38, 95%CI: 1.15, 1.65; Trimester 2: OR = 1.47, 95%CI: 1.21, 1.79). The most contributing factors were black carbon in the first trimester and sulphate ion in the second trimester, respectively. Especially, sea salt was identified as contributing constituent during the first trimester. The study indicated that prenatal exposure to PM2.5 and its constituents was individually and jointly associated with PTB and reduced gestational age. Sea salt was firstly identified as a risk factor of PTB in the seaside city, which needs further exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Luzon Strait is the main channel connecting the South China Sea (SCS) and the western Pacific, with complex atmospheric and oceanic dynamic processes. Based on 44 days of glider measurements and satellite observations, we investigated the temporal and vertical variations of chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentration in the Luzon Strait from July 25 to September 6, 2019. The Chl a was mainly distributed above 200 m and concentrated in the subsurface chlorophyll maximum (SCM) layer. The depth of SCM ranged between 50 m and 110 m, and the magnitude of SCM varied from 0.42 mg/m3 to 1.12 mg/m3. The variation of Chl a was identified with three stages responding to different dynamic processes. Under the influence of Kuroshio intrusion, the SCM depth sharply deepened, and its magnitude decreased in Stage 1. Afterward, a prominent Chl-a bloom was observed in the SCM layer from August 6 to August 16. The Chl-a bloom in Stage 2 was related to the influence of a cyclonic eddy, which uplifted of the thermocline and thus the deep nutrients. During Stage 3, prolonged heavy rainfall in the northeastern SCS resulted in a significant salinity decrease in the upper ocean. The convergence of upper water deepened the thermocline and the mixed layer. Thus, the Chl a decreased in the SCM layer but increased in the surface layer. In particular, a typhoon passed through the Luzon Strait on August 24, which induced the Chl a increase in the upper 50 m. However, there was little change in the depth-integrated Chl a (0–200 m), indicating that the Chl a increase in the surface layer was likely associated with physical entrainment of SCM caused by strong mixing, rather than the phytoplankton bloom in the upper water column. Underwater gliders provide frequent autonomous observations that help us understand the regional ocean's complex dynamic processes and biological responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To comprehensively compare the efficacy of different antiplatelet therapies for secondary prevention of lacunar stroke (LS). Methods: The relevant studies were identified by searching PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Collaboration Database up to May 2022. Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events were chosen to evaluate the efficacy of antiplatelet therapy for secondary prevention. Loop-specific approach and node-splitting analysis were used to evaluate consistency and inconsistency, respectively. The value of the surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA) was calculated and ranked. Funnel-plot symmetry was used to evaluate publication bias. The meta-analysis was performed by using STATA 16.0. Results: Thirteen studies with a total of 33,011 subjects were included in this network meta-analysis. Compared with placebo, aspirin, clopidogrel, cilostazol, ticlopidine, aspirin plus dipyridamole, and aspirin plus clopidogrel were associated with reducing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. The SUCRA estimated relative ranking of treatments showed that cilostazol may be the most effective (RR 0.56, 95% CI 0.42–0.74, SUCRA 95.8). No significant inconsistency or publication bias was found in the study. Conclusions: This meta-analysis suggests that cilostazol may be a priority option for secondary prevention of patients with LS. These findings still need further study in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hypoxia-mediated radioresistance is a major reason for the adverse radiotherapy outcome of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in clinical, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are still obscure.Methods: Cellular and exosomal ANGPTL4 proteins under different oxygen status were examined. Colony survival, lipid peroxidation and hallmark proteins were employed to determine the correlation between ferroptosis and radioresistance. Gene regulations, western blot and xenograft models were used to explore the underlying mechanisms of the role of ANGPTL4 in radioresistance.Results: ANGPTL4 had a much higher level in hypoxic NSCLC cells compared to normoxic cells. Up- or down- regulation of ANGPTL4 positively interrelated to the radioresistance of NSCLC cells and xenograft tumours. GPX4-elicited ferroptosis suppression and lipid peroxidation decrease were authenticated to be involved in the hypoxia-induced radioresistance. ANGPTL4 encapsulated in the exosomes from hypoxic cells was absorbed by neighbouring normoxic cells, resulting in radioresistance of these bystander cells in a GPX4-dependent manner, which was diminished when ANGPTL4 was downregulated in the donor exosomes.Conclusion: Hypoxia-induced ANGPTL4 rendered radioresistance of NSCLC through at least two parallel pathways of intracellular ANGPTL4 and exosomal ANGPTL4, suggesting that ANGPTL4 might applicable as a therapeutic target to improve the therapeutic efficacy of NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We theoretically investigate the evolution of dark screening spatial solitons originating from the quadratic electro-optic effect in biased centrosymmetric photorefractive (CP) crystal by using beam propagation method (BPM). The results indicate that the multiple dark solitons sequence can be obtained in the CP crystal with the odd or even initial conditions. If the initial width of the dark notch is smaller, only a fundamental soliton or a Y-junction soliton pair is generated. When the initial width of the dark notch and the bias electric field are increased, the multiple dark spatial solitons sequence is formed, which realized a progressive transition from a low-order soliton to a higher-order solitons sequence in both odd and even conditions. The solitons characteristic is similar to that of screening solitons in the non-centrosymmetric photorefractive (NCP) crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution of sea surface salinity (SSS) in the Arabian Sea (AS) and Bay of Bengal (BoB) is in contrast due to differences in air-sea freshwater fluxes and river runoff inputs. The monsoon-induced inter-basin water exchange plays an important role in regional salinity balance and atmosphere–ocean feedback in the North Indian Ocean. The satellite SSS data set reveals that significant intraseasonal variability of SSS occurs in the region south of the Indian Peninsula with the strongest amplitude in winter. A case study in autumn-winter of 2016 showed that the Northeast Monsoon Current (NMC) and mesoscale eddies play a dominant role in the intraseasonal variability of the SSS in the region south of the Indian peninsula. In November, the East India Coastal Current (EICC) transports the low-salinity water southward to the region east of Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, a cyclonic eddy develops and moves westward south of the NMC. Both NMC and the cyclonic eddy advects the low-salinity water westward to the region south of the Indian Peninsula. Then, an anticyclonic eddy generates in the north of the NMC. Thus, an eddy pair forms for more than one and a half months, which develops and propagates westward, transporting low-salinity water westward. The perturbation of mesoscale eddies and SSS difference between BoB and AS leads to the significant intraseasonal variability of SSS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cu(InGa)Se2 (CIGS) solar cells become one of the most important thin film photovoltaic devices thus far. The doping of Sb has improved the grain size of CIGS thin film and therefore led to the enhancement of solar cell efficiency. Various approaches have been used for the Sb doping. Not many reports of electrodeposition of In, Ga and Sb alloy have been reported. In this work, the Sb thin film was coated over Cu film surface prior to the In and Ga deposition in order to form a Cu/Sb/In/Ga metal precursor. After selenization, the Sb doped CIGS film was prepared. The structure and morphology of Sb doped CIGS films were investigated compared with the undoped CIGS reference samples. A modified selenization method was proposed, which improved the grain size. Finally, the conversion efficiency of Sb doped CIGS based solar cells has been improved by 1.02%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the density functional theory and finite field method, nonlinear optical properties of nine triarylamine-α-cyanocinnamic acid derivatives were investigated at the M06-2X/6–311++ G(d,p) and ωB97X-D/6–311++ G(d,p) levels of theory. Except for (E)-2-cyano-3-(4-(di([1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)amino)phenyl)acrylic acid (a), which had a D-π-A electronic structure, all the other eight derivatives had an A-π-D-π-A structure. The results suggest that the lowest energy transition of the nine triarylamine derivatives was the π–π* transition from the HOMO to LUMO. The absorption maxima of the derivatives in their ethanol solution were redshifted with respect to those in the gas phase. The introduction of conjugated C = C or C≡C bonds between the biphenyl unit of molecule a had a minor effect on the second-order nonlinear optical properties of the molecule. However, the introduction of C = C bond into the parent molecule improved the third-order nonlinear optical properties. The introduction of a heterocyclic ring (furan ring or thiophene ring) between the triarylamine moiety and the branched chain containing the cyanocinnamic acid group enhanced the second- and third-order nonlinear optical properties; especially, the second- and third-order polarisabilities of molecules b3 and c3, which were obtained by introducing a thiophene ring, were the highest. The second- and third-order polarisabilities of b3 were 0.13 × 105 and 27.13 × 105 a.u., respectively, while those of c3 were 0.14 × 105 and 28.10 × 105 a.u., respectively. This suggests that b3 and c3 have desirable second- and third-order nonlinear optical properties and can be used for designing efficient second- and third-order nonlinear optical materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vitro antioxidant potential of Bacillus coagulans T242. B. coagulans T242 showed better antioxidant activities, including the 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) free radical scavenging ability, lipid peroxidation inhibiting ability and reducing ability, than those exerted by Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG). B. coagulans T242 positively regulated the expression of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-relatedfactor 2/Kelch-like ECH-associated protein-1 (Nrf2/Keap1) pathway-related proteins (Nrf2, Keap1, heine oxygenase-1 (HO-1)); increased antioxidant enzymes (glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD)); reduced the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) level; decreased the expression of inflammatory-related cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α); and thus increased the survival rate in 2,2′-azobis (2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-damaged HT-29 cells. This study proved that B. coagulans T242 exerted antioxidative effects by quenching oxygen free radicals and activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway in HT-29 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitin is abundant in nature and its degradation products are highly valuable for numerous applications. Thermophilic chitinases are increasingly appreciated for their capacity to biodegrade chitin at high temperatures and prolonged enzyme stability. Here, using deep learning approaches, we developed a prediction tool, Preoptem, to screen thermophilic proteins. A novel thermophilic chitinase, Chi304, was mined directly from the marine metagenome. Chi304 showed maximum activity at 85 ℃, its Tm reached 89.65 ± 0.22℃, and exhibited excellent thermal stability at 80 and 90 °C. Chi304 had both endo- and exo-chitinase activities, and the (GlcNAc)2 was the main hydrolysis product of chitin-related substrates. The product yields of colloidal chitin degradation reached 97% within 80 min, and 20% over 4 days of reaction with crude chitin powder. This study thus provides a method to mine the novel thermophilic chitinase for efficient chitin biodegradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frequency diverse array (FDA)-multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) radar is characterized with a range-angle-dependent transceive beampattern by introducing incremental frequencies among the transmit array elements and separating the transmitted waveforms with matched filtering in the receiver. In this respect, the paper aims to control the range-angle-dependent transceive beampattern for FDA-MIMO radar by designing the weight vector according to the desired response. At the design stage, the weight vectors to control the beampattern responses of different regions are devised by performing the orthogonal decomposition technique. Then, a filtering matrix using the oblique projection operator is constructed to filter the weight vectors for different regions, where two iterative algorithms are developed either considering concurrent or successive control of multiple regions. In such a way, a desired range-angle-dependent transceive beampattern is formed with simultaneously broadened nulls and a flat-top mainlobe. At the analysis stage, the method has been applied to interference mitigation in FDA-MIMO radar, where the mismatch exists both in the sidelobes and mainlobe. Simulated and measured results are provided to corroborate the effectiveness of the proposed methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a qualitative analysis of discontinuous Llibre-Menezes piecewise linear systems. We obtain the explicit parameter conditions for the existence of limit cycles and the stable sliding segments. In addition, we prove that if a Llibre-Menezes piecewise system is continuous, then this system has a global asymptotically stable equilibrium point. Some examples are given to illustrate the main results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our aim was to clarify the main factors associated with lung function and to analyze the correlation between fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and lung function in a rural Chinese population. We analyzed data of 5195 participants in the China Northwest Natural Population Cohort: Ningxia Project who were ≥ 30 years old. They were recruited from 2018 to 2019, underwent spirometry during the physical examination, and completed a self-report questionnaire. A satellite-based spatiotemporal model was used to estimate the 2-year average PM2.5 exposure based on participants' home addresses. A generalized linear mixed model was used to test the relationship between PM2.5 concentration and lung function. Sex, age, exposure to cooking oil fumes, and occupational exposure were negatively correlated (P < 0.05) with forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1). Educational status, economic level, tea consumption, and alcohol consumption were positively correlated (P < 0.05) with FVC and FEV1. The adjusted results of each model revealed that FVC and FEV1 decreased with increased exposure to PM2.5. There was a strong negative correlation between a PM2.5 concentration of 35.66 μg/m3 and FVC, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC, with unadjusted hazard ratios of − 0.06 (95% confidence interval, − 0.10 to − 0.01), − 0.13 (− 0.17 to − 0.10), and − 22.10 (− 24.62 to − 19.26), respectively. In conclusion, long-term exposure to high concentrations of ambient PM2.5 is related to reduce lung function among people in rural areas in northwestern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) is an annual herbaceous plant of the Cruciferae family that has attracted attention as an oil crop and interseeded cover crop. We collected seeds of pennycress from five provenances in Northeast China, compared their characteristics, i.e. oil content, fatty acid composition, physical, chemical and antioxidant properties, their correlations with environmental factors were also analysed. Results: There were significant differences in the seed characteristics, oil content, quality indicators and composition among different provenances (P < 0.05). The 1000-seed weight ranged from 0.80 to 1.03 g; seed oil content from 28.89 to 42.57%; iodine from 79.19 to 99.09; saponification value from 186.51 to 199.60; peroxide value from 0.07 to 10.60; and acid value from 0.97 to 13.02. The range of seed oil colours were 66.53–78.78 (L*), 4.51–10.29 (a*), and 105.68–121.35 (b*). Erucic acid (C22:1) was the fatty acids with the highest content in pennycress seed oils (31.12–35.31%), followed by linoleic acid (C18:2 16.92–18.95%) and α-linolenic acid (C18:3 14.05–15.34%). The fatty acid 8,11,14-eicosatrienoic acid (C20:3) was detected for the first time in seed oils from Beian city, Panshi city and Kedong county, with contents of 1.13%, 0.84% and 1.03%, respectively. We compare and report for the first time on the radical-scavenging activity of the seed oils of pennycress. The EC50 values of the DPPH radical-scavenging activity and ABTS+ radical-scavenging activity of the seed oils from different provenances were 8.65–19.21 mg/mL and 6.82–10.61 mg/mL, respectively. The ferric ion reduction antioxidant capacity (FRAP) ranged from 0.11 to 0.30 mmol Fe2+/g, which is equivalent to 4 mg/mL FeSO4 of pennycress seed oils. Conclusions: There was a significant correlation between seed characteristics and changes in geographical factors. With increasing longitude, the thickness of seeds, 1000-seed weight, and seed oil content increased, while the acid and peroxide values of the seed oil decreased. As the latitude increased, the 1000-seed weight and seed oil content increased, while the seed oil peroxide value decreased. Furthermore, mean annual temperature and annual rainfall are the two key environmental factors affecting the quality of pennycress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, based on two-grid discretizations and superposition principle, a new local and parallel finite element method is presented and studied for the coupled Stokes–Darcy model. Superposition principle is used to generate a series of local and independent subproblems to obtain a global continuous approximation. Optimal error estimates are derived. Numerical results are reported to support the theoretical findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a degenerative motor neuron disease and a leading cause of infant mortality, is caused by loss of functional survival motor neuron (SMN) protein due to SMN1 gene mutation. Here, using mouse and cell models for behavioral and histological studies, we found that SENP2 (SUMO/sentrin-specific protease 2)-deficient mice developed a notable SMA-like pathology phenotype with significantly decreased muscle fibers and motor neurons. At the molecular level, SENP2 deficiency in mice did not affect transcription but decreased SMN protein levels by promoting the SUMOylation of SMN. SMN was modified by SUMO2 with the E3 PIAS2α and deconjugated by SENP2. SUMOylation of SMN accelerated its degradation by the ubiquitin–proteasome degradation pathway with the ubiquitin E1 UBA1 (ubiquitin-like modifier activating enzyme 1) and E3 ITCH. SUMOylation of SMN increased its acetylation to inhibit the formation of Cajal bodies (CBs). These results showed that SENP2 deficiency induced hyper-SUMOylation of the SMN protein, which further affected the stability and functions of the SMN protein, eventually leading to the SMA-like phenotype. Thus, we uncovered the important roles for hyper-SUMOylation of SMN induced by SENP2 deficiency in motor neurons and provided a novel targeted therapeutic strategy for SMA. Key messages: SENP2 deficiency enhanced the hyper-SUMOylation of SMN and promoted the degradation of SMN by the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway. SUMOylation increased the acetylation of SMN to inhibit CB formation. SENP2 deficiency caused hyper-SUMOylation of SMN protein, which further affected the stability and functions of SMN protein and eventually led to the occurrence of SMA-like pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have managed to learn cross-lingual word embeddings in a completely unsupervised manner through generative adversarial networks (GANs). These GANs-based methods enable the alignment of two monolingual embedding spaces approximately, but the performance on the embeddings of low-frequency words (LFEs) is still unsatisfactory. The existing solution is to set up the low sampling rates for the embeddings of LFEs based on word-frequency information. However, such a solution has two shortcomings. First, this solution relies on the word-frequency information that is not always available in real scenarios. Second, the uneven sampling may cause the models to overlook the distribution information of LFEs, thereby negatively affecting their performance. In this study, we propose a novel unsupervised GANs-based method that effectively improves the quality of LFEs, circumventing the above two issues. Our method is based on the observation that LFEs tend to be densely clustered in the embedding space. In these dense embedding points, obtaining fine-grained alignment through adversarial training is difficult. We use this idea to introduce a noise function that can disperse the dense embedding points to a certain extent. In addition, we train a Wasserstein critic network to encourage the noise-adding embeddings and the original embeddings to have similar semantics. We test our approach on two common evaluation tasks, namely, bilingual lexicon induction and cross-lingual word similarity. Experimental results show that the proposed model has stronger or competitive performance compared with the supervised and unsupervised baselines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic value of conventional ultrasound (US) and strain elastography (SE) in malignant soft tissue tumors. Method: A total of 83 soft tissue masses were included prospectively. US and SE imaging were performed at the same time. Two observers assessed the B mode, color Doppler, elastic scores (ES), strain ratio (SR), and SE size to B mode size (EI/B) ratio and compared the consistency of the data between the observers. According to the pathological diagnosis of resection, the cases were divided into malignant and nonmalignant groups. The diagnostic value of conventional US and SE in the prediction of malignant soft tissue tumors was assessed. Results: The pathology results divided cases into 36 malignant lesions and 47 nonmalignant lesions. There was no statistically significant difference in gender, location, maximum diameter, echo, tail sign, cystic component, Doppler scores, or SR between the two groups (p > 0.05). However, significant differences between the two groups were found in age, depth, heterogeneity, edge, ES, and EI/B (p < 0.05). The biggest area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (0.934) was the combination model of age, heterogeneity, edge, ES, and EI/B, and the sensitivity and specificity were 0.861 and 0.957, respectively. Conclusions: Conventional US and SE are significant for the diagnosis of malignant soft tissue tumors, and SE can be used as a complementary technique to the characterization of STTs using conventional US. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regional difference of sea surface salinity (SSS) variations in the western tropical Pacific is investigated with Ocean Reanalysis System 5 datasets. Three robust zonal bands of SSS variations have been identified in the northwestern tropical Pacific (NWTP), the western equatorial tropical Pacific (WEqP), and the southwestern tropical Pacific (SWTP), respectively. SSS in the WEqP and the SWTP has a strong interannual variability that is related to ENSO. In the WEqP, SSS variations are mainly controlled by anomalous freshwater flux, while in the SWTP they are governed by both freshwater forcing and oceanic processes. In the NWTP, SSS variations present a low-frequency variability that is correlated with Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO), which is mostly dominated by the freshwater flux and strongly adjusted by the ocean advection and mixed layer changes. After removing interannual signals, the SSS in all three regions are highly related to IPO, indicating that IPO has a general influence on the western tropical Pacific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic-inorganic metal halide perovskite solar cells have achieved high efficiency of 25.5%. Finding an effective means to suppress the formation of traps and correlate stability losses are thought to be a promising route for further increasing the photovoltaic performance and commercialization potential of perovskite photovoltaic devices. Herein, we report a facile passivation model, which uses a multi-functional organic molecule to simultaneously realize the chemical passivation and field-effect passivation for the perovskite film by an upgraded anti-solvent coating method, which reduces the trap states density of the perovskite, improves interface charge transfer, and thus promotes device performance. In addition, the hydrophobic groups of the molecules can form a moisture-repelling barrier on the perovskite grains, which apparently promotes the humidity stability of the solar cells. Therefore, the optimal power conversion efficiency (PCE) of perovskite solar cells after synergistic passivation reaches 21.52%, and it can still retain 95% of the original PCE when stored in ∼ 40% humidity for 30 days. Our findings extend the scope for traps passivation to further promote both the photovoltaic performance and the stability of the perovskite solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To construct a genetic transformation system for Bacillus velezensis NSZ-YBGJ001 and identify the origin element in an endogenous plasmidpBV01 for curing pBV01 by plasmid incompatibility. Results: A plasmid pUBC01 was constructed, and then an electrotransformation system for B. velezensis NSZ-YBGJ001 was developed, which reached ~ 1000 transformants per microgram of pUBC01 DNA. Additionally, a 7276-bp circular plasmid pBV01 with a G + C content of 37.5% was isolated from B. velezensis NSZ-YBGJ001 and analyzed via sequence analysis. To cure pBV01, an incompatible plasmid pBV02 harboring the replication element of pBV01 was developed and functionally replicated in both Bacillus subtilis WB600 and B. velezensis NSZ-YBGJ001. pBV01 was cured through introduction of pBV02 into B. velezensis NSZ-YBGJ001 after serial subculturing for approximately 40 generations. Finally, another plasmid, pBV03, was constructed based on pBV-ori, and exogenous genes in pBV03 could be efficiently expressed in B. subtilis. Conclusions: The results of this study, including the genetic transformation system, plasmid-curing strategy, and exogenous gene expression, will support genetic manipulation of B. velezensis to promote its application in biocontrol and industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The kidney and upper urinary tract develop through reciprocal interactions between the ureteric bud and the surrounding mesenchyme. Ureteric bud branching forms the arborized collecting duct system of the kidney, while ureteric tips promote nephron formation from dedicated progenitor cells. While nephron progenitor cells are relatively well characterized, the origin of ureteric bud progenitors has received little attention so far. It is well established that the ureteric bud is induced from the nephric duct, an epithelial duct derived from the intermediate mesoderm of the embryo. However, the cell state transitions underlying the progression from intermediate mesoderm to nephric duct and ureteric bud remain unknown. Here we show that nephric duct morphogenesis results from the coordinated organization of four major progenitor cell populations. Using single cell RNA-seq and Cluster RNA-seq, we show that these progenitors emerge in time and space according to a stereotypical pattern. We identify the transcription factors Tfap2a/b and Gata3 as critical coordinators of this progenitor cell progression. This study provides a better understanding of the cellular origin of the renal collecting duct system and associated urinary tract developmental diseases, which may inform guided differentiation of functional kidney tissue. Nephric duct (ND)-derived ureteric buds (UB) form the kidney collecting duct system, while ureteric tips promote nephron formation. Here the authors use single-cell RNA-seq and introduce Cluster RNA-seq to identify four progenitor populations in developing ND/UB regulated by the transcription factors Tfap2a/b and Gata3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Argo observations revealed dramatic sea surface salinity (SSS) changes in the northeastern tropical Pacific Ocean (NETPO) during the past one and half decades, with a steady increase during 2004–2012 and a sharp decrease during 2013–2016. These changes mainly result from anomalous precipitation associated with the Walker Circulation through moisture transport across Central America. The anomalous Walker Circulation is caused by changes in trans-basin sea surface temperature (SST) gradients, especially those in the eastern tropical Pacific. Results using a longer reanalysis indicate that the upward trend of SSS in the NETPO started from the mid-1990s as the moisture transport across Central America decreased in response to reduced trans-basin SST gradients associated with the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation and Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective treatment of cancer has always been a major medical problem. Although some nanoformulations can guide chemotherapeutic drugs to reach the tumor sites, their large size (~ 100 nm) is still the bottleneck for the treatment of solid tumors through deep penetration. In this study, we develop a kind of biodegradable hybrid nanogels to multistage delivery of anticancer drug. The nanogels can effectively encapsulate an anticancer drug (doxorubicin hydrochloride) and accelerate its release under redox and acidic conditions mimicking tumor and intracellular situations as well as controlling its release using a remote heating approach. Furthermore, the nanogels can enter the narrow space between the cells by diminishing their sizes to 40–60 nm drug-carrying mesoporous silica nanoparticles at solid tumor area, eventually entering the tumor cells and functioning in the nucleus. The drug-loaded nanogels present higher intracellular drug accumulation capacity, resulting in a two-fold enhancement in anticancer cytotoxicity as compared to free drug, suggesting their high potential as a good nanoplatform for delivery of therapeutic agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Judicious combination of noble metals and smart gels makes cell imaging and drug delivery into one, which provides support for the integrated technology of diagnosis and treatment. In this work, the Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs)/poly-(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate) core–shell multifunctional composite nanosphere (Ag–p (NIPAM-co-DMAEMA)) was successfully synthesized by two-step one-pot method. The composite nanospheres had a particle size of approximately 200 nm and possessed multiple sensitive release properties, biocompatibility, and pharmacological activity. Importantly, it was found that cancer cells (CT-26) uptake more hybrid gels and exhibited stronger fluorescence, compared to normal cells (COS-7). This indicated that the hybrid gel had certain specificity and could be used for the imaging of cancer cells. Multifunctional composite nanospheres with optical and therapeutic functionality constructed by a simple method offered broad opportunities for cancer treatment and cell imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a novel KGM-based superabsorbent polymer KGM-g-poly-(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide-co-N,N'-dimethyl-N-ethylmethacryloxylethylammoniumbromide) (KAAD) was prepared, which was obtained by the free radical grafting solution polymerization of acrylamide (AM), acrylic acid (AA) and N,N'-dimethyl-N-ethylethacryloxylethylammonium bromide (DMAEA-EB) onto konjac glucomannan (KGM) with of potassium persulfate (K2S2O8) as initiator and N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as crosslinker. The groups of AA, AM and DMAEA-EB grafted on KGM were detected by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The effects of the reaction conditions (including an initiator dosage, AA and AM mass ratio, and a reaction temperature, etc.) on the grafting degree and grafting efficiency were investigated by a gravimetric method. The maximum grafting degree and grafting efficiency of the obtained graft polymer in the experiment were 71.51 and 89.90%, respectively. The effects of crosslinking agent and GD on water absorption were explored. And all of the experimental data show that the water absorption ratio of the KAAD resin exceeds 527.00 g/g under each optimal reaction conditions. Therefore, KAAD can be widely used as a functional material in pharmaceutics, textiles, construction and other fields due to its excellent superabsorbent properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a previous study, we developed Pichia pastoris GS115m, an engineered strain with decreased expression of one key gene, LRA4, in rhamnose metabolism. P. pastoris GS115m/LacB was subsequently constructed via introducing a β-galactosidase gene, LacB, under the control of rhamnose-inducible PLRA3 into P. pastoris GS115m. P. pastoris GS115m/LacB greatly improved recombinant protein production relative to the parental strain (P. pastoris GS115/LacB). In the present study, transcriptomes of P. pastoris GS115m/LacB and P. pastoris GS115/LacB grown in YPR medium were analyzed. P. pastoris GS115m/LacB was found to suffer from the mild carbon source starvation. To attenuate the starvation stress, P. pastoris GS115m/LacB attempted to enhance rhamnose metabolism by elevating the transcription levels of rhamnose-utilization genes LRA1-3 and RhaR. The transcription level of LacB under the control of PLRA3 thereby increased, resulting in the improved production of recombinant protein in P. pastoris GS115m/LacB. It was also revealed that P. pastoris GS115m/LacB cells coped with carbon starvation mostly via autophagy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the Argo period, the Pacific Ocean as well as the global oceans became saltier in the upper-200 m from 2005 to 2015, with a significant spatial variability. Using Argo-based observations and the Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean (ECCO), a salinity budget analysis in the upper 200 m was conducted to investigate what controls the recent observed salinity change in the Pacific Ocean. The results showed that the increasing salinity since 2005 was mainly caused by a reduction of surface precipitation. The ocean advection dampened the surface freshwater anomalies and rebuilt regional salinity balance. Both precipitation and advection are closely associated with the sea surface wind anomalies, suggesting the wind-driven changes in the ocean salinity field. A further analysis using an ocean objective analysis product and model simulations in addition to ECCO suggests that the recent salinity pattern since 2005 are related to the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO). This study also highlights the strong regulation of the ocean salinity change by natural decadal variability in the climate system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ideal inducible promoter presents inducibility with an inducer and no basal transcription without inducer. Previous studies have shown that PLRA3 in Pichia pastoris is a strong rhamnose-inducible promoter for driving the industrial production of recombinant proteins. However, another important profile of PLRA3, the basal transcription, was not investigated yet. In this study, the basal transcription of PLRA3 was assessed according to the profiles of two test strains grown in media lacking rhamnose: (1) the production of secretory β-galactosidase in P. pastoris GS115/PLRA3-LacB, in which lacB expression was regulated by PLRA3, and (2) growth in P. pastoris GS115/PLRA3-MazF, in which the expression of mazF, which encodes an intracellular toxic protein, was controlled by PLRA3. Analyses revealed low β-galactosidase production and non-obviously inhibited growth of the test strains, which suggests that there was a low basal transcription level of PLRA3 when rhamnose was absent. Thus, PLRA3 was an excellent candidate for genetic manipulation in P. pastoris due to its strict regulation, a strong and a low transcriptional activity with and without rhamnose, respectively. Subsequently, two systems were developed based on PLRA3 in P. pastoris: (1) an efficient markerless gene deletion system for single or multiple genes and (2) a high efficient piggyBac transposase-mediated mutation system for investigating the functions of unknown genes, as well as for the screening of expected mutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on Argo sea surface salinity (SSS) and the related precipitation (P), evaporation (E), and sea surface height data sets, the climatological annual mean and low-frequency variability in SSS in the global ocean and their relationship with ocean circulation and climate change were analyzed. Meanwhile, together with previous studies, a brief retrospect and prospect of seawater salinity were given in this work. Freshwater flux (E-P) dominated the mean pattern of SSS, while the dynamics of ocean circulation modulated the spatial structure and low-frequency variability in SSS in most regions. Under global warming, the trend in SSS indicated the intensification of the global hydrological cycle, and featured a decreasing trend at low and high latitudes and an increasing trend in subtropical regions. In the most recent two decades, global warming has slowed down, which is called the "global warming hiatus". The trend in SSS during this phase, which was different to that under global warming, mainly indicated the response of the ocean surface to the decadal and multi-decadal variability in the climate system, referring to the intensification of the Walker Circulation. The significant contrast of SSS trends between the western Pacific and the southeastern Indian Ocean suggested the importance of oceanic dynamics in the cross-basin interaction in recent decades. Ocean Rossby waves and the Indonesian Throughflow contributed to the freshening trend in SSS in the southeastern Indian Ocean, while the increasing trend in the southeastern Pacific and the decreasing trend in the northern Atlantic implied a long-term linear trend under global warming. In the future, higher resolution SSS data observed by satellites, together with Argo observations, will help to extend our knowledge on the dynamics of mesoscale eddies, regional oceanography, and climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protocatechuic aldehyde (PCA) is a natural compound found in the Chinese herb Salvia miltiorrhiza. It has been shown to possess multiple biological activities and to protect the cardiovascular system against oxidative stress, inflammation, and atherosclerosis. However, the potential effects of PCA on cardiac hypertrophy remain to be investigated. In this study, we showed that isoproterenol treatment (ISO, 10 μM for 24 h) induced significant hypertrophy in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, as manifested by enlargement of cell surface area (1.74-fold greater than that of the control, p < 0.05) and upregulation of hypertrophic gene markers (2.44- to 2.75-fold increase in ANF and β-MHC protein expression, p < 0.05). These ISO-induced hypertrophic responses were attenuated by PCA (50-200 μM, p < 0.05). Furthermore, intragastric administration of PCA (10-100 mg/kg/day) ameliorated cardiac hypertrophy in ISO-treated rats (1.5 mg/kg/day, s.c., for 7 days). PCA inhibited the abnormal changes in echocardiographic parameters and suppressed ISO-induced increase in cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area and collagen content (p < 0.05). It also ameliorated ISO-mediated elevation of HW/BW, LVW/BW, and HW/TL ratios (p < 0.05). Mechanistically, ISO facilitated JAK2 and STAT3 phosphorylation, increased STAT3 nuclear translocation, and enhanced STAT3 transcriptional activity. All these changes were attenuated by PCA. Taken together, these findings showed that PCA could protect against cardiac hypertrophy induced by ISO possibly via inhibition of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway, suggesting the potential of PCA as a therapeutic candidate for hypertrophy-associated heart diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mn3O4 and Mn3O4 (140)/CNTs have been investigated as high-capacity anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) applications. Nanoparticle Mn3O4 samples were synthesized by hydrothermal method using Mn(Ac)2 and NH3·H2O as the raw materials and characterized by XRD, TG, EA, TEM, and SEM. Its electrochemical performances, as anode materials, were evaluated by galvanostatic discharge-charge tests. The Mn3O4 (140)/CNTs displays outstanding electrochemical performances, such as high initial capacity (1942 mAh g−1), stable cycling performance (1088 mAh g−1 and coulombic efficiency remain at 97% after 60 cycles) and great rate performance (recover 823 mAh g−1 when return to initial current density after 44 cycles). Compared to pure Mn3O4 (140), the improving electrochemical performances can be attributed to the existence of very conductive CNTs. The Mn3O4 (140)/CNTs with excellent electrochemical properties might find applications as highly effective materials in electromagnetism, catalysis, microelectronic devices, etc. The process should also offer an effective and facile method to fabricate many other nanosized metallic oxide/CNTs nanocomposites for low-cost, high-capacity, and environmentally benign materials for LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the partition of unity method (PUM), a local and parallel finite element method is designed and analyzed for solving the stationary incompressible magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). The key idea of the proposed algorithm is to first solve the nonlinear system on a coarse mesh, divide the globally fine grid correction into a series of locally linearized residual problems on some subdomains derived by a class of partition of unity, then compute the local subproblems in parallel, and obtain the globally continuous finite element solution by assembling all local solutions together by the partition of unity functions. The main feature of the new method is that the partition of unity provide a flexible and controllable framework for the domain decomposition. Finally, the efficiency of our theoretical analysis is tested by numerical experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No evidence is available on whether cardiovascular mortality is affected by the ambient temperatures in Yinchuan, which is located in the northwestern region of China, with a typical continental semi-humid semi-arid climate. Daily data on cardiovascular mortality and meteorological factors was collected from Yinchuan city for the period of 2010–2015. A distributed lag non-linear model with quasi-Poisson link was used to assess the association between daily temperatures and cardiovascular deaths, after controlling for seasonality, day of the week, atmospheric pressure, humidity, sunshine duration, and wind speed. The relationship between ambient temperature and cardiovascular mortality was non-linear, with a U-shaped exposure-response curve. For all cardiovascular mortality, the effects of high temperatures appeared at lag 2–5 days, with the largest hot effect at lag 3 day (RR 1.082, 95% CI 1.021–1.146), while the effects of cold temperatures were insignificant. Both cold and high temperatures have more serious influence on the elderly (age ≥ 65) and males than the youth and females, respectively. The study has shown that both cold and high temperatures affect cardiovascular mortality. The findings may be helpful to identify the susceptible subgroups of cardiovascular mortality induced by temperatures, and to provide useful information for establishing public health programs that would better protect local population health from ambient temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NaCl induced PeJ3 (a DnaJ homolog) expression in Populus euphratica cell cultures. In contrast, salt treatment inhibited transcription of a J3-interacting protein kinase gene, PePKS5 (Salt Overly Sensitive 2-Like Protein Kinase 5). To clarify the mechanism by which PeJ3 conferred salinity tolerance, we isolated PeJ3 from P. euphratica and transformed it into Arabidopsis. PeJ3 overexpression inhibited AtPKS5 expression, but had no effect on AtJ3 transcripts. After 10-day exposures to 100 mM NaCl, PeJ3-transgenic lines showed prolonged survival (40-54.4%) and longer roots (43.8-51.1%) compared to wild-type (WT) and vector control (VC) plants. The observed differences in salt acclimation between transgenic and WT depended on their ability to exclude Na and maintain intracellular K. PeJ3-transgenic Arabidopsis accumulated less Na in root cells, due at least in part, to the high Na efflux in roots. K flux recordings revealed that PeJ3-transgenic lines lost less K than WT and VC under salt stress. In vitro and in vivo activity assays revealed that PeJ3-overexpression upregulated plasma membrane H-ATPase activity and enhanced HO signaling in salt-stressed Arabidopsis. Consequently, PeJ3-transgenic plants retained high H-pumping activity under NaCl salinity, which contributed to K/Na homeostasis in roots. In conclusion, PeJ3 overexpression resulted in H-ATPase activation through transcriptional AtPKS5 suppression and/or interactions with AtPKS5 kinase. Under salinity stress, upregulated H-pumps (i) promoted Na/H exchange across the Arabidopsis plasma membrane, (ii) reduced K efflux mediated by depolarization-activated plasma membrane channels, and (iii) stimulated HO signaling, which increased cytosolic free Ca and stimulated Na extrusion through Salt Overly Sensitive signaling in Arabidopsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we construct a second order algorithm based on the spectral deferred correction method for the time-dependent magnetohydrodynamics flows at a low magnetic Reynolds number. We present a complete theoretical analysis to prove that this algorithm is unconditionally stable, consistent and second order accuracy. Finally, two numerical examples are given to illustrate the convergence and effectiveness of our algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eag1 (ether-à-go-go-1), a member of the voltage-dependent potassium channel family, is expressed mainly in the brain, and at low levels in placenta, testis, and adrenal gland, and only transiently in myoblasts. Recently, several studies have suggested that Eag1 is selectively expressed in various tumor tissues. Eag1 plays important roles in tumor proliferation, malignant transformation, invasion, metastasis, recurrence, and prognosis. Therefore, it has become a new molecular target for tumor diagnosis, prognosis evaluation, and tumor-targeted therapy. This review provides information about the current progress in understanding Eag1 structure, electrophysiological characteristics, and role in cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]