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The central dogma of modern biology underscores the pivotal roles proteins play in diverse biological processes, the study of which necessitates advanced methods to produce proteins with precision and versatility. Chemical protein synthesis, a powerful approach utilizing chemical reactions for the de novo construction of structurally accurate proteins, has emerged as a transformative tool for studying proteins and generating protein derivatives/mimics inaccessible by natural biological machinery, including post-translationally modified proteins, proteins comprised of unnatural amino acids, as well as mirror-image proteins. This review summarizes recent strides in synthetic method developments for chemical protein synthesis, including innovative techniques in solid-phase peptide synthesis, the challenges presented by difficult sequences in either synthesis or folding and the exploration of novel ligation reactions using both chemical and enzymatic methods. Furthermore, the review also delves into newly developed protocols for site-selective protein modifications and the generation of stapled or macrocyclized peptides/mini-proteins, highlighting the power of chemical methods to make structurally diverse proteins. Recent applications of synthetic proteins in investigating post-translational modifications (phosphorylation, lipidation, glycosylation, ubiquitination, etc.), mirror-image biological processes and drug development are further discussed. Together, these topics provide a comprehensive overview of the current landscape of chemical protein synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic aerobic oxidation reactions are largely governed by the efficiency of charge separation and subsequent reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Herein, we report a polarization engineering strategy to promote the charge separation and ROS generation efficiency by substituting the benzene unit with furan/thiophene in porous organic polymers (POPs). Benefiting from the extent of local polarization, the thiophene-containing POP (JNU-218) exhibits the best photocatalytic performance in aerobic oxidation reactions, with a yield much higher than those for the furan-containing POP (JNU-217) and the benzene-containing POP (JNU-216). Experimental studies and theoretical calculations reveal that the increase of local polarization can indeed reduce the exciton binding energy, and therefore facilitate the separation of electron-hole pairs. This work demonstrates a viable strategy to tune charge separation and ROS generation efficiency by modulating the dipole moments of the building blocks in porous polymeric organic semiconductors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies mainly focus on the game analysis of green building development under carbon tax policy, while carbon trading, as one of the important means to promote low-carbon development, is rarely mentioned in promoting the development of the green building market. Based on this, to study the impact of carbon trading policy on the development of the green building market, this study combines prospect theory for carbon trading to build a three-way evolutionary game model of developer-government-consumer. It studies the influencing causes of green building market development under the carbon trading mechanism from the whole perspective. The study shows the existence of a carbon trading policy helps the development of the green building market. In the presence of a carbon trading market, the government's punishment, subsidies, and the setting of carbon prices influence the development of the green building market. In addition, the percentage of carbon emissions bought, the potential benefits, and the selling price also affect the chance of consumers buying green buildings to a greater or lesser extent. This study introduces prospect theory into the developer-government-consumer three-way evolutionary game model, which enriches the research perspective of each subject's behavior in the green building market. It provides theoretical support for developers, governments, and consumers to collaborate to promote the coordination and development of the green building market. It has policy implications for promoting the green and high-quality development of the construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we establish an ℓ2 decoupling inequality for the surface F 4 2 : = { (ξ 1 , ξ 2 , ξ 1 4 + ξ 2 4) : (ξ 1 , ξ 2) ∈ [ 0 , 1 ] 2 } associated with the decomposition adapted to finite type geometry from our previous work [Li, Z., Miao, C., Zheng, J.: A restriction estimate for a certain surface of finite type in ℝ3. J. Fourier Anal. Appl., 27(4), Paper No. 63, 24 pp. (2021)]. The key ingredients of the proof include the so-called generalized rescaling technique, an ℓ2 decoupling inequality for the surfaces { (ξ 1 , ξ 2 , ϕ 1 (ξ 1) + ξ 2 4) : (ξ 1 , ξ 2) ∈ [ 0 , 1 ] 2 } with ϕ1 being non-degenerate, reduction of dimension arguments and induction on scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research undertook a case study of the life-cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis of the slow pyrolysis of Eucommia stem for the production of wood vinegar and activated carbon. The results showed that the production of one ton of wood vinegar via the slow pyrolysis of Eucommia stem show comparatively low global warming potential (2.37 × 102 kg CO2 eq), primary energy demand (3.16 × 103 MJ), acidification potential (2.19 kg SO2 eq), antimony depletion potential (3.86 × 10−4 kg antimony eq), and ozone depletion potential (7.46 × 10−6 kg CFC-11 eq) and was more environmentally friendly than the production of dilute acetic acid (12 wt %) via petrochemical routes. Meanwhile, the total capital investment, total product cost, and cash flowsheet were provided in the techno-economic analysis. Then, the net present value, internal rate of return, and dynamic payback period of the production process were evaluated. The findings indicated that while this production process is cost-effective, it might not be economically attractive or could generate investment risks. An increase in the added value of the wood vinegar and the activated carbon could remarkably improve the economic feasibility of this production process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we establish an ℓ2 decoupling inequality for the surface F 4 2 : = { (ξ 1 , ξ 2 , ξ 1 4 + ξ 2 4) : (ξ 1 , ξ 2) ∈ [ 0 , 1 ] 2 } associated with the decomposition adapted to finite type geometry from our previous work [Li, Z., Miao, C., Zheng, J.: A restriction estimate for a certain surface of finite type in ℝ3. J. Fourier Anal. Appl., 27(4), Paper No. 63, 24 pp. (2021)]. The key ingredients of the proof include the so-called generalized rescaling technique, an ℓ2 decoupling inequality for the surfaces { (ξ 1 , ξ 2 , ϕ 1 (ξ 1) + ξ 2 4) : (ξ 1 , ξ 2) ∈ [ 0 , 1 ] 2 } with ϕ1 being non-degenerate, reduction of dimension arguments and induction on scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forensic DNA analysis of semen-vaginal fluid mixed stains is essential and necessary in sexual assault cases. Here, we used a magnetic bead conjugated acrosin binding protein (ACRBP) antibody to separate and enrich sperm cells from mixed stains. Previously, western blotting indicated that ACRBP was specifically expressed in sperm cells, but not in female blood and epithelial cells, while immunofluorescence data showed ACRBP was localized to the acrosome in sperm cells. In our study, sperm were separated from mixed samples at three sperm cell/female buccal epithelial cell ratios (103:103; 103:104; and 103:105) using a magnetic bead conjugated ACRBP antibody. Subsequently, 23 autosomal short tandem repeat (STR) loci were amplified using the Huaxia™ Platinum PCR Amplification System and genotyped using capillary electrophoresis. The genotyping success rate for STR loci was 90% when the sperm to female buccal epithelial cell ratio was > 1:100 in mixed samples. Our results suggest that the magnetic bead conjugated ACRBP antibody is effective for isolating sperm cells in sexual assault cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice protein was used as a starting material to provide rice protein hydrolysates (RPH) through enzyme-assisted extraction. RPH was further fractionated using ultrafiltration membrane (UF) and classified by molecular weight (MW; MW < 1 kDa, MW 1–10 kDa, and MW > 10 kDa). Peptides with MW < 1 kDa possessed superior antioxidant properties (p < 0.05). Therefore, UF demonstrated great efficacy in selectively separating antioxidant peptides. A Pearson correlation analysis revealed that the total phenolic concentration was correlated with oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC; r = 0.999, p < 0.05). Amino acid contents had negative correlations with the scavenging activity (specifically, IC50) of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radicals (r = − 0.986 to − 1.000). Reducing power was related to aromatic amino acid contents (r = 0.997, p < 0.05). In this study, enzymatic hydrolysis was discovered to be an effective method of extracting and isolating natural antioxidant proteins from broken rice, thus preserving the nutritional quality of rice and making those proteins more accessible in future applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Rock fissures constitute the main habitat type in the karst rocky desertification (KRD) area, but the effects of their network morphology on soil properties remain unknown. To address this, we investigated 46 rock vertical profile plots in Guizhou Province of China and classified their habitats using the morphological characteristics of their fissure networks. The response characteristics of soil nutrients and enzyme activities to the rock fissure morphologies in different rock habitats were discussed, and the main factors affecting soil nutrients and enzyme activities were comprehensively analyzed. Rock fissure networks were divided into three types: Type 1, a random type, with a low dip angle, long trace length, multiple turns, multiple connections, and high density; Type 2, a uniform type, with a moderate dip angle, moderate trace length, fewer turns, fewer connections, and moderate density; and Type 3, an aggregation type, with a high dip angle, short trace length, fewer turns, moderate connections, and low density. Soil nutrient levels and enzyme activities were the highest in Type 1, followed by Types 2 and 3. There were no significant differences between the total phosphorus and available phosphorus content in Types 1–3. The dip angle, fractal dimension, and average trace length were identified as the main factors affecting soil nutrients and enzyme activities, and Type 1 was the most conducive for soil nutrient and enzyme accumulation. The restoration of Type 2 and 3 areas should be emphasized in future research, as these results will help guide vegetation restoration in KRD areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allometric scaling of leaf nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) provides information on species adaptation to resource availability and nutrient limitation of primary production. Studies examining how plant functional traits vary spatially have historically used global datasets, which may blur variation at local scale and thus some of the key drivers. Global studies have observed leaf N–P scaling exponents varied across different functional groups, latitudinal zones, ecoregions, and sites. However, whether these trends are consistent in a local habitat is still unclear. Here, we capitalized on a soil P availability gradient in subtropical China to examine scaling exponents of leaf N–P. We investigated 21 woody species at P-rich and P-poor sites for two consecutive years and estimated scaling exponents of leaf N–P across P-type sites, leaf ages, plant functional types, and phylogeny. The exponents varied across the abovementioned levels from 0.356 to 0.699. Averaged across all plant species, the exponent of 0.612 was a departure from the global average of 2/3 (0.66) and 3/4 (0.75). Two types of P-sites did not affect N–P exponents of deciduous-broadleaved trees and evergreen conifers. Our findings indicated that leaf N–P scaling exponents significantly differed within plant functional types and highlighted the resource availability in shaping nutrient cycling and evolutionary processes at local scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we consider the focusing cubic nonlinear Schrödinger equation(NLS) in the exterior domain outside of a convex obstacle in ℝ3 with Dirichlet boundary conditions. We revisit the scattering result below ground state in Killip—Visan—Zhang [The focusing cubic NLS on exterior domains in three dimensions. Appl. Math. Res. Express. AMRX, 1, 146–180 (2016)] by utilizing the method of Dodson and Murphy [A new proof of scattering below the ground state for the 3d radial focusing cubic NLS. Proc. Amer. Math. Soc., 145, 4859–4867 (2017)] and the dispersive estimate in Ivanovici and Lebeau [Dispersion for the wave and the Schrödinger equations outside strictly convex obstacles and counterexamples. Comp. Rend. Math., 355, 774–779 (2017)], which avoids using the concentration compactness. We conquer the difficulty of the boundary in the focusing case by establishing a local smoothing effect of the boundary. Based on this effect and the interaction Morawetz estimates, we prove that the solution decays at a large time interval, which meets the scattering criterion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For achieving air pollutant emission reduction targets, total pollutant amount control is being continuously promoted in China. However, the traditional pattern of pollutant emission reduction allocation regardless of economic cost often results in unreasonable emission reduction pathways, and industrial enterprises as the main implementers have to pay excessively high costs. Therefore, this study adopted economic efficiency as its main consideration, used specific emission reduction measures (ERMs) of industrial enterprises as minimum allocation units, and constructed an enterpriselevel pollutant emission reduction allocation (EPERA) model with minimization of the total abatement cost (TAC) as the objective function, and fairness and feasibility as constraints for emission reduction allocation. Taking City M in China as an example, the EPERA model was used to construct a Pareto optimal frontier and obtain the optimal trade-off result. Results showed that under basic and strict emission reduction regulations, the TAC of the optimal trade-off point was reduced by 46.40% and 45.77%, respectively, in comparison with that achieved when only considering fairness, and the Gini coefficient was 0.26 and 0.31, respectively. The abatement target was attained with controllable cost and relatively fair and reasonable allocation. In addition, enterprises allocated different emission reduction quotas under different ERMs had specific characteristics that required targeted optimization of technology and equipment to enable them to achieve optimal emission reduction effects for the same abatement cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient capture and release of circulating tumor cells play an important role in cancer diagnosis, but the limited affinity of monovalent adhesion molecules in existing capture technologies leads to low capture efficiency, and the captured cells are difficult to be separated. Inspired by the phenomenon that the long tentacles of jellyfish contain multiple adhesion domains and can effectively capture moving food, we have constructed a biomimetic recognition strategy to capture and release tumor cells. In details, gold-coated magnetic nanomaterials (Au@Fe3O4 NPs) were first prepared and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, UV-vis absorption spectra, and Zeta potential. Then, the DNA primers modified on Au@Fe3O4 nanoparticles can be extended to form many radialized DNA products by rolling circle amplification. These long DNA products resemble jellyfish tentacles and contain multivalent aptamers that can be extended into three dimensions to increase the accessibility of target cells, resulting in efficient, simple, rapid, and specific cells capture. The capture efficiencies are no less than 92% in PBS buffer and 77% in blood. Subsequently, DNase I was selected to degrade biomimetic tentacles to release the captured tumor cells with high viability. This release strategy can not only improve cell viability, but also reduce a tedious release process and unnecessary costs. We believe that the proposed method can be expanded for the capture and release of various tumor cells and will inspire the development of circulating tumor cells analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evaluation of fluid responsiveness during veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) support is crucial. The aim of this study was to investigate whether changes in left ventricular outflow tract velocity–time integral (ΔVTI), induced by a Trendelenburg maneuver, could predict fluid responsiveness during VA-ECMO. Methods: This prospective study was conducted in patients with VA-ECMO support. The protocol included four sequential steps: (1) baseline-1, a supine position with a 15° upward bed angulation; (2) Trendelenburg maneuver, 15° downward bed angulation; (3) baseline-2, the same position as baseline-1, and (4) fluid challenge, administration of 500 mL gelatin over 15 min without postural change. Hemodynamic parameters were recorded at each step. Fluid responsiveness was defined as ΔVTI of 15% or more, after volume expansion. Results: From June 2018 to December 2019, 22 patients with VA-ECMO were included, and a total of 39 measurements were performed. Of these, 22 measurements (56%) met fluid responsiveness. The R2 of the linear regression was 0.76, between ΔVTIs induced by Trendelenburg maneuver and the fluid challenge. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of ΔVTI induced by Trendelenburg maneuver to predict fluid responsiveness was 0.93 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.81–0.98], with a sensitivity of 82% (95% CI 60–95%), and specificity of 88% (95% CI 64–99%), at a best threshold of 10% (95% CI 6–12%). Conclusions: Changes in VTI induced by the Trendelenburg maneuver could effectively predict fluid responsiveness in VA-ECMO patients. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT 03553459 (the TEMPLE study). Registered on May 30, 2018 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sarcolipin (SLN), a single-spanning membrane protein, is a regulator of the sarco-endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA1a). Chemically synthesized SLN, palmitoylated or not (pSLN or SLN), and recombinant wild-type rabbit SERCA1a expressed in S. cerevisiae design experimental conditions that provide a deeper understanding of the functional role of SLN on the regulation of SERCA1a. Our data show that chemically synthesized SLN interacts with recombinant SERCA1a, with calcium-deprived E2 state as well as with calcium-bound E1 state. This interaction hampers the binding of calcium in agreement with published data. Unexpectedly, SLN has also an allosteric effect on SERCA1a transport activity by impairing the binding of ATP. Our results reveal that SLN significantly slows down the E2 to Ca2.E1 transition of SERCA1a while it affects neither phosphorylation nor dephosphorylation. Comparison with chemically synthesized SLN deprived of acylation demonstrates that palmitoylation is not necessary for either inhibition or association with SERCA1a. However, it has a small but statistically significant effect on SERCA1a phosphorylation when various ratios of SLN-SERCA1a or pSLN-SERCA1a are tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The present study aimed at comparing the success rate and safety of proximal versus distal approach for ultrasound (US)-guided axillary vein catheterization (AVC) in cardiac surgery patients susceptible to bleeding. Methods: In this single-center randomized controlled trial, cardiac surgery patients susceptible to bleeding and requiring AVC were randomized to either the proximal or distal approach group for US-guided AVC. Patients susceptible to bleeding were defined as those who received oral antiplatelet drugs or anticoagulants for at least 3 days. Success rate, catheterization time, number of attempts, and mechanical complications within 24 h were recorded for each procedure. Results: A total of 198 patients underwent randomization: 99 patients each to the proximal and distal groups. The proximal group had the higher first puncture success rate (75.8% vs. 51.5%, p < 0.001) and site success rate (93.9% vs. 83.8%, p = 0.04) than the distal group. However, the overall success rates between the two groups were similar (99.0% vs. 99.0%; p = 1.00). Moreover, the proximal group had fewer average number of attempts (p < 0.01), less access time (p < 0.001), and less successful cannulation time (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in complications between the two groups, such as major bleeding, minor bleeding, arterial puncture, pneumothorax, nerve injuries, and catheter misplacements. Conclusions: For cardiac surgery patients susceptible to bleeding, both proximal and distal approaches for US-guided AVC can be considered as feasible and safe methods of central venous cannulation. In terms of the first puncture success rate and cannulation time, the proximal approach is superior to the distal approach. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03395691. Registered January 10, 2018, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03395691?cond=NCT03395691&draw=1&rank=1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adhesion of diatoms to a substrate occurs through the secretion of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), which is conducive to the growth of other fouling organisms, including barnacles and oysters attached to the diatom surface [[9]]. Furthermore, B 11 b , B 13 b , and B 14 b also displayed broad antidiatom activities against I C. socialis i , I N. leavissima i , and I N. parva i , which indicated that polyhydroxyl substitution of flavones can increase antidiatom activity (Fig. The organic extracts were subjected to silica gel column chromatography (CC) eluted by a gradient of petroleum ether (PE)-EtOAc to EtOAc, and then MeOH to afford five fractions (Frs. [Extracted from the article]

Mongolia is an important country in the Economic Corridor of China-Mongolia-Russia, a deep understanding of the coupling relationship between urbanization and the eco-environment in Mongolia is meaningful to achieve green development of the Belt and Road. The entropy method and coupling coordination degree model were integrated to evaluate the coupling coordination degree between urbanization and the eco-environment in Mongolia during 2000-2016. The results showed that the coupling coordination degree between urbanization and the eco-environment in Mongolia was generally at the stage of seriously unbalanced development, and that the main contributor of the urbanization and the eco-environment subsystem were demographic urbanization and eco-environment endowment, respectively. The southern part of Mongolia central zone should be paid more attention due to the lower degree of coupling coordination between urbanization and the eco-environment. To promote the healthy urbanization development in Mongolia, six-layer eco-city establishing green development pattern is proposed to provide scientific support for Mongolia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It remains to be discovered whether a formula predicting the subglottic transverse diameter measured by ultrasound (SGDformula) for the selection of an appropriate endotracheal tube (ETT) for children without congenital heart disease (CHD) is useful for children with CHD. A formula for predicting SGD was established after assessing 60 children ≤ 8 years without CHD and validated on 60 children with CHD. We selected the cuffed ETT size based on the SGD by ultrasound (SGDultra). Subsequently, the fit of the ETT cuff in 60 children with CHD was examined via air-leak test. The maximum allowed difference between the SGDformula and the ETT size that fit was 0.2 mm. The agreement among and accuracy of SGDultra, SGDformula, and the ETT used in children was analyzed. For children without CHD, we adopted a linear formula, given by SGDformula (mm) = 0.4 × age + 5.3. For children with CHD, allometric formula was adopted, given by SGDformula (mm) = 5.4 × age0.18. A stronger agreement exists between SGDultra and ETT size compared to that between SGDformula and ETT size. And the mean bias (SGDformula-ETT size and SGDultra-ETT size) was 0.21 mm (95% confidence interval, - 0.59 to 1.01 mm) and 0.00 mm (- 0.79 to 0.84 mm). For the CHD group, the ultrasound-based method yielded a 78% success rate of ETT size choice, while the formula-based method permitted an appropriate ETT size in only 32% of subjects (P < 0.001). Our analysis showed that measuring the SGDultra was more accurate in predicting the correct OD of the ETT in children with CHD undergoing cardiovascular surgery, based on the correlation and agreement with ETT OD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The laser beam welded joints of the high-strength microalloyed steel consist of the base metal (BM), the partially transformed heat-affected zone I (PTHAZ-I), the partially transformed heat-affected zone II (PTHAZ-II), the fully transformed heat-affected zone (FTHAZ) and the fusion zone (FZ). The martensite/austenite (M/A) islands of the bainites in the PTHAZ-II are dense versus those in the PTHAZ-I, and the martensites exist in the FTHAZ and the FZ together with the bainites under the slow welding speed. The M/A islands of the bainites and/or the martensites in the PTHAZ become denser under the high welding speed, and the martensites in the FTHAZ and the FZ predominate. The low-angle boundary density and the high local misorientation proportion are used to identify the constituents roughly, consistent with the microstructural characteristics in the welded joints. The misorientation angle distributions are employed to evaluate the degree of the phase transformation, reflecting the change law of the degree of the phase transformation in the welded joints. The hardness and the tensile tests indicate that the HAZ and the FZ are stronger than the BM, dependent on the microstructures in the welded joints. The strengthening in the HAZ and the FZ is mainly attributed to the products of non-equilibrium phase transformation with the high dislocation density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ubiquitination, a key and extensive posttranslational modification of proteins, has profound effects on a variety of physiological and pathological processes. The inherent complexity of ubiquitin conjugates makes it highly challenging to study the functional and structural mechanisms of ubiquitination. To address these challenges, accesses to sufficient poly-ubiquitin chains or ubiquitinated proteins are urgently needed. Over the last decade, synthetic protein chemists have developed several novel peptide ligation methods for the preparation of ubiquitin conjugates with precise control over the atomic structure. In this review, we summarize the recent breakthroughs and potential challenges in the chemical synthesis and semi-synthesis of ubiquitin conjugates with respect to the preparation of poly-ubiquitin-based proteins and ubiquitin-based probes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although there is literature suggesting that pathophysiologic changes in children with congenital heart disease alter the pharmacokinetics of anesthetics and may result in dosage adjustment, limited information exists regarding the pharmacokinetics of remifentanil in infants with unrepaired tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). The objectives of the current analysis were to characterize the population pharmacokinetics of remifentanil in infants, and to evaluate the effects of TOF on remifentanil's pharmacokinetics.Methods: Twenty-seven infants (16 with TOF and 11 with normal cardiac anatomy; aged 114-360 days) scheduled to undergo elective surgery under general anesthesia were recruited in the study. All children received remifentanil 1 μg/kg/min intravenously for anesthesia induction and early maintenance [until ~ 20 min before cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for patients with TOF]. Serial arterial blood samples were drawn and analyzed. Population pharmacokinetics of remifentanil was characterized using NONMEM software. The estimates were standardized to a 70-kg adult using a per-kilogram model.Results: A two-compartment disposition model adequately described the pharmacokinetics of remifentanil. Besides body weight, the introduction of any other covariates, including TOF status, did not improve the model significantly (P > 0.05). The population parameter estimates for systemic clearance (Cl1) and inter-compartment clearances (Cl2) were 6.03 × (WT/70 kg) and 1.23 × (WT/70 kg) L/min, respectively, and central volume of distribution (V1) and peripheral volumes of distribution (V2) were 19.6 × (WT/70 kg) and 21.7 × (WT/70 kg) L, respectively.Conclusions: Unrepaired TOF does not change the pharmacokinetics of remifentanil, suggesting a similar dosage for infants with TOF compared to normal cardiac anatomy infants.Clinical Trial Registration: The patient enrollment in this study started at 2012, so we do not have clinic trial number, but we still think this is a valuable research and hope it could be considered for publication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine the role of T lymphocyte immune imbalance and interleukin (IL)-10 gene polymorphism in the development of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in obese children. Methods: One hundred obese children at high-risk and low-risk for OSA based upon a sleep questionnaire were selected. Peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets were measured by flow cytometry, and plasma IFN- γ, IL-4, and IL-10 cytokines were detected by ELISA. The relationships between OSA and the above variables were analyzed. IL-10 gene polymorphisms were analyzed by DNA sequencing. Results: Ninety subjects completed all the tests. Forty-two patients were diagnosed as OSA by PSG. Compared with non-OSA children, the levels of CD4 T cells, IFN- γ, and IL-4 were increased ( P < 0.05) whereas the numbers of CD4 CD25 Treg and NKT cells and the levels of IL-10 were reduced ( P < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that IL-10 level was negatively associated with OAHI (OR 0.352, 95% CI 0.286-0.540; P < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, IL-10 also had a strong negative association with OSA after adjustment for confounding factors from models 1 to 3. Correlative analysis showed that IL-10 levels had a positive association with CD4 CD25 Treg ( r = 0.628, P < 0.01). Furthermore, the IL-10/A-1082G gene polymorphism correlated with OSA. Conclusions: T lymphocyte immune imbalance was associated with OSA and IL-10 may play an important protective role in the pathogenesis of OSA in obese children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in urban rivers are a serious public health concern in regions with poorly planned, rapid development. To gain insights into the predominant factors affecting the fate of ARGs in a highly polluted urban river in eastern China, a total of 285 ARGs, microbial communities, and 20 physicochemical parameters were analyzed for 17 sites. A total of 258 unique ARGs were detected using high-throughput qPCR, and the absolute abundance of total ARGs was positively correlated with total organic carbon and total dissolved nitrogen concentrations ( P < 0.01). ARG abundance and diversity were greatly altered by microbial community structure. Variation partitioning analysis showed that the combined effects of multiple factors contributed to the profile and dissemination of ARGs, and variation of microbial communities was the major factor affecting the distribution of ARGs. The disparate distribution of some bacteria, including Bacteroides from mammalian gastrointestinal flora, Burkholderia from zoonotic infectious diseases, and Zoogloea from wastewater treatment, indicates that the urban river was strongly influenced by point-source pollution. Results imply that microbial community shifts caused by changes in water quality may lead to the spread of ARGs, and point-source pollution in urban rivers requires greater attention to control the transfer of ARGs between environmental bacteria and pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceratophyllum demersum was used to remove U(VI) from aqueous solution. Effects of various adsorption parameters such as pH, shaking time, initial U(VI) concentration, and temperature were investigated. The optimum pH for U(VI) removal was 5.0. Pseudo-first-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model could best describe the adsorption process. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacity was 140.45 mg/g. Thermodynamic calculations suggested that the U(VI) adsorption process was spontaneous and exothermic. The amino, hydroxyl, and carbonyl groups on the algal surface could contribute to U(VI) adsorption. The present study suggested that C. demersum biomass could be an efficient biosorbent to remove U(VI) contaminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a simple thermal treatment with the antimony source for the metal-organic chemical vapor deposition of thin GaSb films on GaAs (111) substrates for the first time. The properties of the as-grown GaSb films are systematically analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, x-ray diffraction, photo-luminescence (PL) and Hall measurement. It is found that the as-grown GaSb films by the proposed method can be as thin as 35 nm and have a very smooth surface with the root mean square roughness as small as 0.777 nm. Meanwhile, the grown GaSb films also have high crystalline quality, of which the full width at half maximum of the rocking-curve is as small as 218 arcsec. Moreover, the good optical quality of the GaSb films has been demonstrated by the low-temperature PL. This work provides a simple and feasible buffer-free strategy for the growth of high-quality GaSb films directly on GaAs substrates and the strategy may also be applicable to the growth on other substrates and the hetero-growth of other materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, LaKMnO powder was synthesized by sol-gel method. The phase structure, morphology of the composite have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscope. Testing of the microwave absorption was carried out by using the network analyzer Agilent HP-8722ES at room temperature. The results show that the LaKMnO powder has excellent absorbing property. The maximum reflection loss is −33.51 dB at about 12.22 GHz with a thickness of only 1.25 mm. Moreover, the bandwidth with the reflection loss above 10 dB reaches about 2.1 GHz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BioDeNO process, which combines the advantages of the chemical absorption and biological reduction processes, is regarded as a promising candidate for NO removal from the flue gas. In the BioDeNO, NO was accumulated in the process of the biological reduction of Fe(EDTA)-NO. In this work, the pathway of the Fe(EDTA)-NO reduction was investigated and a mathematic model was developed to evaluate and predict the accumulation of NO. Furthermore, parametric tests such as the effects of the C/N ratio (molar ratio of carbon/nitrogen), electron donor, and sulfite concentrations on NO accumulation were investigated. Experimental results revealed that NO accumulation was inhibited with a high C/N ratio (2.4), sufficient electron donor, and a low sulfite concentration. In addition, compared with the inorganic electron donor (Fe(EDTA)), the organic electron donor (glucose) was beneficial for microorganism metabolism and NO accumulation inhibition. This work will provide significant insight into the inhibition of NO accumulation during the operation of BioDeNO and advance this novel process for the industrial application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adsorption of U(VI) onto Elodea canadensis was studied via a batch equilibrium method. Kinetic investigation indicated that the U(VI) adsorption by E. canadensis reached an equilibrium in 120 min and followed pseudo-second-order kinetics. The solution pH was the most important parameter controlling adsorption of U(VI) and the optimum pH for U(VI) removal is 6.0. The U(VI) biosorption can be well described by Langmuir model. IR spectrum analysis revealed that -NH, -OH, C=O and C-O could bind strongly with U(VI). XPS spectrum analysis implied that ion exchange and coordination mechanism could be involved in the U(VI) biosorption process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve environment and relieve poverty, China has launched a series of major ecological engineering programs since the 1980s. These include the Natural Forest Conservation Program, the Sloping Cropland Conversion Program, the Desertification Combating Program, and the Protection Forest System Construction Program. There is a growing need to quantify the contributions of these programs to regional carbon stocks. However, the lack of widely accepted, robust methods is one of the key obstacles to quantification. The objective of this study was to review existing methods for quantifying regional carbon stocks and then recommend suitable ones for the Chinese ecological engineering programs. We expect that the recommended methods can be applied to elsewhere in the world where there are similar characteristics and objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China′s bid for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games will promote rapid development of domestic ski tourism. More than 10 provinces in the northern China list ski tourism as a new source of growth in the tourism industry. Formulating a scientific evaluation system is an important foundation for ski resort development. By referring to the conditions of existing international ski resorts, a comprehensive index system for evaluating ski resort development was developed based on natural factors, human factors, athletic sports, and popular ski tourism. The system was composed of one target layer, two indices, seven sub-indices and twenty-five basic indices. Based on data collected during a field investigation in 2012 and on a statistical model, the development conditions of the following ski resorts were quantified: Yabuli Ski Resort in Heilongjiang Province and Beidahu Ski Resort in Jilin Province in Northeast China, Wanlong Ski Resort in Hebei Province and Nanshan Ski Resort in Beijing in the northern China, and Silk Road International Ski Resort in Uygur Autonomous Region of Xinjiang in the northwestern China. The resulting index values of development conditions at Beidahu, Yabuli, Wanlong, Nanshan, and Silk Road International Ski Resorts were 0.304, 0.278, 0.270, 0.214, and-0.025, respectively. Various natural and human factors exert positive and negative effects on the development potential of ski resorts. The development conditions of the five ski resorts were inferior to those of first-class international resorts. Therefore, the development conditions of the five ski resorts should be improved with future construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microwave absorbing composites composed of both multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and Barium titanatena (BaTiO) nanoparticles as absorbers were prepared by sol-gel method. The structure and morphology of the BaTiO/MWCNTs nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The complex permittivity and permeability of the BaTiO/MWCNTs nanocomposites were measured and then the reflection loss (RL) was calculated in the frequency range of 1-18 GHz. The sample ω = 2.5 % (the mass fraction of MWCNTs is denoted as ω hereafter) has the minimum reflection loss of −34.4 dB at 15.1 GHz compared with the other samples at the same thickness of 1.4 mm and the effective bandwidth(RL < −10 dB) is even wider than 3.5 GHz, ranging from 13.8 to 17.4 GHz. Furthermore, the sample ω = 2.5 % can reach −47.9 dB at 7.1 GHz with the thickness of 7.0 mm and the effective bandwidth almost covers 10 GHz with the thickness ranging from 1.4 to 9.0 mm. The obtained BaTiO/MWCNTs nanocomposites may become an ideal microwave absorber with thin thickness, broad bandwidth and strong absorption. Good absorption properties at a low MWCNTs loading provide an added advantage in terms of ease of processability, MWCNTs filler saving and overall process economics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of Al-substitution on the magnetic properties and microwave absorbing properties of single phase BaSrCoZnAlFeO (x = 0-1) hexaferrites has been discussed in the present work. The phase composition, morphology and saturation magnetization of the hexaferrites were investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and vibrating sample magnetometer. The results show that the structure of Y-type hexaferrite has not been affected by the substitution of Al. The morphologies of all samples display plate-like. The hysteresis loops of all samples show ferromagnetic behavior. The Ms decreases with the substitution of Al and the values of coercivity are only a few decade oersteds. The complex permittivity and permeability of BaSrCoZnAlFeO were determined by microwave vector network analyzer and then the reflection loss (RL) was calculated in the frequency range of 1-18 GHz. The sample exhibits the maximum absorption of −19 dB at 11.5 GHz with an bandwidth (RL < −10 dB) of more than 6 GHz for x = 0.3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A strain bacterium that is thermophilic, heterotrophic nitrifying, and aerobic denitrifying was isolated and identified as Anoxybacillus contaminans HA for the first time. The identification was based on morphological and physiological characterizations, together with phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA sequence. The strain possessed excellent tolerance to high temperatures, with 55 °C as its optimum and 60 °C as viable. Moreover, NH-N and NO-N could be efficiently removed under thermophilic and solely aerobic conditions, with little intermediate accumulation. Average removal efficiencies of NH-N and NO-N at 55 °C reached 71.0 and 74.7 %, respectively, with removal rates of 5.83 and 32.08 mg l h, respectively. Single-factor experiments suggested that the optimal conditions for both heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic denitrification were glucose as carbon source, NH-N range of 50-200 mg l, and wide NO-N range of 200-1000 mg l. These results indicated that strain HA had heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic denitrification abilities, as well as the notable ability to remove ammonium under thermophilic condition. Thus, this strain has potential application in waste-gas treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CuZnSnS (CZTS) nanocrystals combining the advantage of feasible solution-phase synthesis and processing are perceived as promising materials for application in efficient, low-cost photovoltaic technology. Herein, we have got surfactant-free CZTS nanocrystals by a novel ligand exchange method, and the obtained CZTS nanocrystals were deposited onto ZnO nanorod arrays to construct depleted bulk heterojunction solar cell. The all-inorganic CZTS nanocrystal solar cells demonstrated a remarkable improvement in J (from 8.14 to 13.97 mA/cm) and power conversion efficiency (from 1.83 to 3.34 %) compared with surfactant-capped CZTS nanocrystals. Using surface photovoltage spectrum, the influence of ligand exchange of CZTS nanocrystals on the charge transport and photovoltaic performance of the nanostructured CZTS solar cells was discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of Zn doped BaZnCoFeO (x = 0, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9, 1.2) W-type hexaferrites were successfully synthesized via chemical co-precipitation method. The XRD result showed that the structure of W-type hexaferrite has not been affected by the substitution of Zn. The morphology of the particles measured from SEM was the flat hexagonal sheet with large size about 15 μm and high aspect ratio of ~20. And the complex permittivity and permeability of BaZnCoFeO which were determined by microwave vector network analyzer in the frequency of 1-18 GHZ was calculated based on the measured data. For the sample with x = 0.7, the minimum reflection loss of −52.8 dB was obtained at 12.8 GHz and the effective absorbing bandwidth reached 4.5 GHz for the sample with the thickness of 2.1 mm. At the thickness of 2.5 and 3.0 mm, the minimum reflection loss were −14.7 dB at 10.35 GHz and −13.2 dB at 8.1 GHz and the effective absorbing bandwidth were 4.93 and 2.21 GHz, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, co-precipitation synthesized CaMnO doped by La and Co was reported for the first time as electromagnetic wave absorbing material. Comparative analysis of results shows that doping of La has a greater effect on the complex permittivity than on the complex permeability. The incorporation of the La and Co makes CaMnO get a stronger dielectric polarization effect and lower the resonance frequency, which improves the electromagnetic absorbing properties of it. The wave-absorbing property is pretty good when CaMnO doped with La and Co, the maximum reflection loss is −25 dB at 11.71 GHz with a thickness of 2 mm. Moreover, the bandwidth with the reflection loss above 10 dB is reached about 3.5 GHz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fractional-order brushless DC motor (BLDCM) system is proposed in this paper. By computer simulations, we find that the fractional-order BLDCM system exhibits a chaotic attractor for fractional order $$0.96 < q \le 1$$ , and that the largest Lyapunov exponent varies depending on fractional-order q. Furthermore, in order to stabilize the fractional-order chaotic BLDCM system, two control strategies are presented via single input, based on the generalized Gronwall inequality and the Mittag-Leffler function. Numerical simulations are presented to verify the validity and feasibility of the proposed control schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) involves the activation of a previously administered photosensitizing agent by visible light to induce tumor necrosis. Photosensitizers are topically applied in the treatment of skin tumors to avoid systemic side effects. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility and efficacy of aminolevulinic acid (ALA) as a photosensitizer (ALA-PDT) in combination with CO2 laser in the treatment of Bowen's disease (BD; intraepithelial squamous cell carcinoma). Twenty-two lesions from 18 patients were randomized into two groups: 11 lesions were treated with topical ALA-PDT (180 J/cm(2) at 100 mW/cm(2)) + CO2 laser for one to three sessions. The remaining 11 lesions were treated with CO2 laser alone, serving as control group. All patients were reviewed at ≤1-week intervals. Biopsies were taken from BD lesions prior to treatment. The initial evaluation was undertaken 1 month after treatment, and biopsies were harvested for histological evaluation. Patients who did not respond to the three sessions of treatment were referred to surgical treatment. In the ALA-PDT + CO2 laser group, 72.73 % (8/11) of BD lesions showed complete remission, with an overall clearance of 90.91 %, and only one recurred (9 %) during follow-up. Local side effects included mild erythema, edema, erosion, and burning and/or stinging sensation. No systemic side effects were observed. In the control group, 63.63 % (7/11) of lesions had complete remission and the overall clearance was 54.55 %. However, five lesions (45.45 %) had recurrence. Local side effects included mild to moderate edema, erosion, ulceration, delayed healing, prolonged pain, and scarring. There existed a significant difference in recurrence rate between the two groups (P < 0.05). Moreover, after ALA-PDT plus CO2 laser treatment, complete necrosis was observed in responsive lesions, and 3 months later, the atypical BD cells were replaced by normal keratinocytes. Topical ALA-PDT in combination with CO2 laser is safe, effective, and is associated with low recurrence and reduced side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical absorption-biological reduction (BioDeNO), which uses Fe(EDTA) as a complexing agent for promoting the mass transfer efficiency of NO from gas to water, is a promising technology for removing nitric oxide (NO) from flue gases. The carbon source and pH are important parameters for Fe(EDTA)-NO (the production of absorption) reduction and NO emissions from BioDeNO systems. Batch tests were performed to evaluate the effects of four different carbon sources (i.e., methanol, ethanol, sodium acetate, and glucose) on Fe(EDTA)-NO reduction and NO emissions at an initial pH of 7.2 ± 0.2. The removal efficiency of Fe(EDTA)-NO was 93.9 %, with a theoretical rate of 0.77 mmol L h after 24 h of operation. The highest NO production was 0.025 mmol L after 3 h when glucose was used as the carbon source. The capacities of the carbon sources to enhance the activity of the Fe(EDTA)-NO reductase enzyme decreased in the following order based on the C/N ratio: glucose > ethanol > sodium acetate > methanol. Over the investigated pH range of 5.5-8.5, the Fe(EDTA)-NO removal efficiency was highest at a pH of 7.5, with a theoretical rate of 0.88 mmol L h. However, the NO production was lowest at a pH of 8.5. The primary effect of pH on denitrification resulted from the inhibition of nosZ in acidic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, Ga doped ZnO (GZO) nanopowders which were synthesized via the homogeneous precipitation method were systematically investigated. The X-ray diffraction result showed that the GZO nanopowders have good crystallinity with wurtzite structure. The scanning electron microscopy image indicated that the morphology of Ga doped ZnO displayed ellipsoidal-like shaped and flake-like structure with an average grain size of about 20-30 nm. Besides, the existence of Ga was examined by X-ray photoelectron spectra, which indicated that Ga ions entered into the ZnO lattice. What's more, the influences of Ga doping content, calcination atmosphere and calcination temperature on the electrical resistivity of the GZO nanopowders were studied and we found that these factors are important in controlling the electrical conductivity. In addition, the electrical resistivity was 3.142 × 10 Ω cm under the optimum experimental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was set to explore the role of P2X and P2X as the important molecules in sensory afferent of bladder in female overactive bladder (OAB) patients with the bladder hyperesthesia. Sixty-eight OAB patients admitted in Southwest Hospital affiliated to the Third Military Medical University during September, 2011-December, 2012 were selected and included in the experimental group (OAB group) and 30 healthy volunteers during the same period were included as the control group. We recorded voiding diary and urodynamic results, and immunohistochemistry analysis was used to detect P2X and P2X receptor in interstitial cell of Caja (ICC) in bladder tissue of female OAB patients and healthy volunteers, to tentatively explore the effect of P2X and P2X in bladder hyperesthesia. Urodynamic study has important diagnostic value in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of OAB. P2X receptor was significantly up-regulated in bladder ICC in OAB group. The blockage of P2X receptor could significantly inhibit the contraction of bladder muscle strips, decrease the bladder pressure and the electric discharge of pelvic nerve. PET and urodynamic study showed that micturition desire sense in PAG area of pons in OAB patients was significantly increased compared with the control group. The up-regulation of P2X in ICC is an important factor to cause bladder hyperesthesia in OAB patients. PET and urodynamic study indicate that the bladder-originated nervous impulses are important cause of OAB. This study provides a basis for the study of P2X receptor in ICC in bladder hyperesthesia of OAB patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trimetallic nanoparticles have received enormous attention due to their multifunctional catalytic activities. Their surface structures strongly determine their catalytic performances, therefore an investigation on their stable structures is of great importance for understanding the catalytic activity. In this article, we have employed an improved discrete particle swarm optimization algorithm to systematically explore the structural stability and segregation behavior of tetrahexahedral Pt-Pd-Au trimetallic nanoparticles. The exchange probability was introduced to decrease computational cost and to avoid falling into local optima. The simulation results reveal that Pt atoms tend to occupy the interior, while both Pd and Au atoms preferentially segregate to the surface. Furthermore, Au atoms exhibit stronger surface segregation than Pd ones, and the segregative behavior is less pronounced in larger nanoparticles. Besides, the distribution of surface atoms has been further examined by the analyses of coordination number. This study provides a fundamental perspective on structural features and segregation behavior of trimetallic nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We synthetize LaCaMnO particles with porous microsphere shape through co-precipitation method. The crystal structure and morphology were characterized by XRD and SEM respectively. The particles are orthorhombic calcium lanthanum manganese oxide with porous microsphere shape which is less talked. The test of microwave absorption was carried out by using the network analyzer Agilent HP-8722ES. The microwave absorbing peak is 31 dB at 11.5 GHz and the effective absorbing bandwidth above 10 dB reaches 1.9 GHz in the 11.1-13 GHz. The microwave absorption can be attributed to both the dielectric loss and the magnetic loss, but the former is greater than the latter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]