Search

Background: Infants born via cesarean section (CS) are at an increased risk of immune-related diseases later in life, potentially due to altered gut microbiota. Recent research has focused on the administration of probiotics in the prevention of gut microbiota dysbiosis in neonates delivered by CS. This study was performed to investigate the effects of probiotic supplementation on the gut microbiota of CS-delivered infants. Methods: Thirty full-term neonates delivered by CS were randomized into the intervention (supplemented orally with a probiotic containing Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Enterococcus faecalis for 2 weeks) and control groups. Stool samples were collected at birth and 2 weeks and 42 days after birth. The composition of the gut microbiota was analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing technology. Results: The applied bacterial strains were abundant in the CS-delivered infants supplemented with probiotics. Probiotics increased the abundance of some beneficial bacteria, such as Bacteroides, Acinetobacter, Veillonella, and Faecalibacterium. Low colonization of Klebsiella, a potentially pathogenic bacterium, was observed in the intervention group. Conclusions: Our results showed that probiotics supplemented immediately after CS enriched the gut microbiota composition and altered the pattern of early gut colonization. Trial Registration: registration number NCT05086458. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photon blockade (PB) is an effective way to generate single photon source which is indispensable in single-photon-based quantum information processing. Here we investigate the statistical properties of photons in a double-cavity optomechanical system, in which an optomechanical cavity (the primary one) is coupled to a Kerr-nonlinearity cavity (the secondary one). The optimal parametric relations for a strong PB effect are derived by calculating the equal-time second-order correlation functions. The results show that a weak Kerr-nonlinearity leads to a perfect PB effect in the primary cavity and a strong Kerr-nonlinearity leads to a stronger PB effect in the secondary cavity and between the two cavities. By adjusting the tunneling coupling strength to satisfy the optimal parametric conditions, the antibunching effects in and between these two cavities are controllable by properly selecting the Kerr-nonlinearity strength. This system can be used for a single-photon source with a controllable fashion in quantum information processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel, simple, and rapid method is demonstrated for measuring the pore size and pore size distribution of filtration membranes (FMs) used in aqueous applications with fluorescence probes. Because the selected fluorescent probes are mixable and have strong signals, combined with the operation of dead-end filtration, this method only requires small amounts of reagents; additionally, it is time-efficient by avoiding multiple rounds of filtration. This method detects the size of a FM pore throat (i.e., the narrowest position of a pore tunnel), which is more consistent with the actual filtration situation. The conditions, such as probe concentration, temperature, transmembrane pressure difference, and types of surfactants, have been optimized. The experimental results show that the fluorescence probe method has good accuracy and reproducibility for measuring the pore size and pore size distribution of both organic and inorganic FMs. The method is particularly suitable for rapid testing of the filtration performance (nominal pore size≥0.02 μm) of purchased or synthetic membranes in the laboratory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-objective cost-sensitive attribute reduction is an attractive problem in supervised machine learning. Most research has focused on single-objective minimal test cost reduction or dealt with symbolic data. In this paper, we propose a particle swarm optimization algorithm for the attribute reduction problem on numeric data with multiple costs and error ranges and use three metrics with which to evaluate the performance of the algorithm. The proposed algorithm benefits from a fitness function based on the positive region, the selected n types of the test cost, a set of constant weight values $$w_{i}^k$$ , and a designated non-positive exponent $$\lambda $$ . We design a learning strategy by setting dominance principles, which ensures the preservation of Pareto-optimal solutions and the rejection of redundant solutions. With different parameter settings, our PSO algorithm searches for a sub-optimal reduct set. Finally, we test our algorithm on seven UCI (University of California, Irvine) datasets. Comparisons with alternative approaches including the $$\lambda $$ -weighted method and exhaustive calculation method of reduction are analyzed. Experimental results indicate that our heuristic algorithm outperforms existing algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although conventional reverse time migration can be perfectly applied to structural imaging it lacks the capability of enabling detailed delineation of a lithological reservoir due to irregular illumination. To obtain reliable reflectivity of the subsurface it is necessary to solve the imaging problem using inversion. The least-square reverse time migration (LSRTM) (also known as linearized reflectivity inversion) aims to obtain relatively high-resolution amplitude preserving imaging by including the inverse of the Hessian matrix. In practice, the conjugate gradient algorithm is proven to be an efficient iterative method for enabling use of LSRTM. The velocity gradient can be derived from a cross-correlation between observed data and simulated data, making LSRTM independent of wavelet signature and thus more robust in practice. Tests on synthetic and marine data show that LSRTM has good potential for use in reservoir description and four-dimensional (4D) seismic images compared to traditional RTM and Fourier finite difference (FFD) migration. This paper investigates the first order approximation of LSRTM, which is also known as the linear Born approximation. However, for more complex geological structures a higher order approximation should be considered to improve imaging quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Particle-attached (PA) and free-living (FL) bacterial communities play essential roles in the biogeochemical cycling of essential nutrients in aquatic environments. However, little is known about the factors that drive the differentiation of bacterial lifestyles, especially in flooding lake systems. Here we assessed the compositional and functional similarities between the FL and PA bacterial fractions in a typical flooding lake—the Poyang Lake (PYL) of China. The results revealed that PA communities had significantly different compositions and functions from FL communities in every hydrological period, and the diversity of both PA and FL communities was affected mainly by the water regime rather than bacterial lifestyles. PA communities were more diverse and enriched with Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes, while FL communities had more Actinobacteria. There was a higher abundance of photosynthetic and nitrogen-cycling bacterial groups in PA communities, but a higher abundance of members involved in hydrocarbon degradation, aromatic hydrocarbon degradation, and methylotrophy in FL communities. Water properties (e.g., temperature, pH, total phosphorus) significantly regulated the lifestyle variations of PA and FL bacteria in PYL. Collectively, our results have demonstrated a clear ecological differentiation of PA and FL bacterial communities in flooding lakes, suggesting that the connectivity between FL and PA bacterial fractions is water property-related rather than water regime-related. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In real strata anisotropy and viscosity extensively exists. They degraded waveforms in amplitude, resulting in which reducing of image resolution. To obtain high-precision imaging of deep reservoirs, we extended the separated viscous and anisotropic reverse time migration (RTM) to a stable viscoacoustic anisotropic RTM for vertical transverse isotropic (VTI) media, based on single generalized standard and linear solid (GSLS) media theory.. We used a pseudo-spectral method to develop the numerical simulation. By introducing a regularization operator to eliminate the high-frequency instability problem, we built a stable inverse propagator and achieved viscoacoustic VTI media RTM. High-resolution imaging results were obtained after correcting for the effects of anisotropy and viscosity. Synthetic tests verify the validity and accuracy of algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frequency selectivity of routing signals in quantum channels is of great significance for a quantum optical network. We have proposed a novel tunable bandpass router constructed by two waveguides linked mediately via a driven three-level emitter. The routing properties in the output port are investigated theoretically by using the real-space Hamiltonian. Numerical results show that the continuous central frequencies on demand of routing photons can be manipulated almost linearly by tuning the driving field, and high routing efficiencies of resonance transmission can be achieved via reflection feedback. The proposed routing system could be exploited potentially in designing other quantum optical devices and quantum information processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Use of pedicle screws has been popularized in the treatment of pediatric spinal deformity. Despite many studies regarding the effect of pedicle screws on the immature spine, there is no study concerning the impact of addition of crosslink to pedicle-screw-based instrumentation on the development of the spinal canal in young children. This study aims to determine the influence of the screw-rod-crosslink complex on the development of the spinal canal. Methods: This study reviewed 34 patients with congenital scoliosis (14 boys and 20 girls) who were treated with posterior-only hemivertebrectomy and pedicle-screw-based short-segment instrumentation before the age of 5 years. The mean age at surgery in this cohort was 37 ± 11 months (range 21-57 months). They were followed up for at least 24 months. Of these patients, 10 underwent only pedicle screw instrumentation without crosslink, and 24 with additional crosslink placement. The vertebrae were divided into three regions as follows: (1) S-CL (screw-crosslink) region, in which the vertebrae were inserted with bilateral pedicle screws and two rods connected with the crosslink; (2) S (screw) region, in which the vertebrae were inserted with bilateral pedicle screws but without crosslink; (3) NS (no screws) region, which comprised vertebrae cephalad or caudal to the instrumented region. The area, anteroposterior and transverse diameters of the spinal canal were measured at all vertebrae on the postoperative and last follow-up computed tomography axial images. The instrumentation-related parameters were also measured, including the distance between the bilateral screws and the screw base angles. The changes in the above measurements were compared between each region to evaluate the instrumentation's effect on the spinal canal growth. Results: The mean follow-up was 37 ± 13 months (range 24-68 months) and the mean age at the last follow-up was 74 ± 20 months (range 46-119 months). In each region, the spinal canal dimensions significantly increased during the follow-up period. There was no significant difference in the spinal canal growth rate between the S and NS regions or between the S-CL and NS regions. Besides, a comparison of the S-CL and S regions regarding the changes in the measurements of the instrumentation construct revealed no significant differences. Conclusion: Pedicle-screw-based instrumentation does not cause retardation of the development of the spinal canal in young children. Moreover, use of the crosslink added to the screw-rod instrumentation also demonstrates no negative effect on the growth of the spinal canal. Thus, the addition of the crosslink to short screw-based instrumentation is recommended as an alternative to increase fixation stability in growing patients, even in very young pediatric population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, based on a variable-coefficient nonlinear Schrödinger (vcNLS) equation, amplification of the fundamental and second-order unchirped solitons in the dispersion-decreasing fiber without any external amplification device, which is different from those in the existing literatures, is studied. Via symbolic computation, soliton solutions of the vcNLS equation are obtained. For a fundamental-soliton pulse, the amplitude is amplified by the gain during the propagation, whereas the width keeps unchanged. Because of the equilibrium between the gain, nonlinearity and varying dispersion, soliton structure is not destroyed, and the amplified fundamental soliton is free from the pedestal and chirp. With the increase of the absolute value of the gain coefficient $$\alpha $$ , magnification of the fundamental-soliton amplitude is enhanced in the same propagation distance. For the second-order soliton, the width is compressed and the amplitude is amplified, because the amplification process is accompanied by the compression of the soliton. Period of the second-order soliton decreases exponentially during the propagation, and decreases with the increase of the absolute value of $$\alpha $$ in the same propagation distance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The home-field advantage (HFA) of litter decomposition is widespread in various terrestrial ecosystems, but whether it is present in wetland ecosystems and what the influencing factors are is less well-known. Here we conducted a 165-day transplanted litter decomposition experiment in a wetland ecosystem to explore the HFA effect and its relationships to litter quality and decomposer community structure. Methods: Three types of litter (sedge, silvergrass, and reed leaves) were transplanted in the Poyang Lake Wetlands of China, and the decomposition rate was accessed by periodic recovery of the remained litter samples. The bacterial and eukaryotic decomposer communities were determined by the rRNA gene sequencing method. Extracellular enzyme activities from litters were continuously monitored during decomposition. Co-occurrence networks were constructed to identify the keystone taxa. Results: We found that the HFA of litter decomposition was prevalent in wetlands, with home-field advantage for sedge and silvergrass litters, while home-field disadvantage for reed litter. The primary litter quality (especially TN and cellulose), enzymatic activity, and nutrient release pattern all affected the HFA effect. The most significant variation of decomposer community occurred among decay times, followed by litter types and decay sites. The difference in decomposer community composition among litters decreased with the decomposition time. The bacterial communities were significantly different among decay sites for all litters, while the eukaryotic communities were similar among decay sites until 165 days. The bacterial community was more sensitive to the HFA, while the eukaryotic community mainly contributed to the decomposition rate. Some habitat-specific decomposers contributed to the HFA, including Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Firmicutes, Ascomycota, Nematoda, and Ciliophora. The networks for litters with HFA had more nodes, more positive edges and keystone species than the litters without HFA. Conclusion: The initial litter quality and decomposer community (mainly bacteria) collectively drive the HFA of litter decomposition in wetlands, and the network analysis may be used to predict the HFA during litter decomposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coupled nonlinear Schrödinger (CNLS) equations for the fiber couplers with asymmetric self-phase modulation (SPM) and cross-phase modulation (XPM) are studied. With symbolic computation, one- and two-soliton solutions are obtained for the constant- and variable-coefficient CNLS equations. Switching dynamics of the solitons is discussed, and effects of the second-order group-velocity dispersion β, SPM coefficient σ, XPM coefficient σ and Kerr nonlinear intensity γ on the all-optical switching properties are studied, while other coefficients in those equations are seen not to affect the all-optical switching properties. For the constant-coefficient CNLS equations, we find that | β| is proportional to the optical switching speed, and the optical extinction ratios increase with the decrease of σ/ σ and increase of | β| and γ. A numerical simulation by the split-step Fourier and Runge-Kutta methods is presented on the constant-coefficient CNLS equations to analyse the stability of the one- and two-solitons with the random initial perturbations. For the variable-coefficient CNLS equations, effects of σ/ σ, β( z) = a e and γ( z) = a e on the optical switching are analyzed (where a, a and b are all constants, and z gives the direction of propagation in the fiber couplers): optical switching speed increases with the increase of | a| and decrease of | b|, and optical extinction ratios increase with the increase of | a| and decrease of σ/ σ and | a|. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The NAC protein family is one of the novel classes of plant-specific transcription factors. In this study, two genes ( BnNAC2 and BnNAC5) encoding the putative NAC transcription factors were identified in Brassica napus. Sequence analysis revealed that the deduced BnNAC proteins contain conserved N-terminal region (NAC domain) and highly divergent C-terminal domain. Yeast transactivation analysis showed that BnNAC2 could activate reporter gene expression, suggesting that BnNAC2 functions as a transcriptional activator. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that BnNAC2 was preferentially expressed in flowers, whereas BnNAC5 mRNAs accumulated at the highest level in stems. Further experimental results indicated that the two genes are high-salinity-, drought- and abscisic acid (ABA)-induced. Overexpression of BnNAC2 and BnNAC5 genes in yeast ( Schizosaccharomyces pombe) remarkably inhibited the growth rate of the host cells, and enhanced the cells sensitive to high-salinity and osmotic stresses. Complementation test indicated that BnNAC5 could recover the defects such as salt-hypersensitivity and accelerated-leaf senescence of vni2 T-DNA insertion mutant. Several stress-responsive genes including COR15A and RD29A were enhanced in the complemented plants. These results suggest that BnNAC5 may perform the similar function of VNI2 in response to high-salinity stress and regulation of leaf aging. Key message BnNAC2 and BnNAC5 are salt-, drought- and ABA-induced genes. Overexpression of BnNAC5 in Arabidopsis vni2 mutant recovered the mutant defects (salt-hypersensitivity and accelerated-leaf senescence) to the phenotype of wild type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The candidate plasticity related gene 15 (cpg15) plays important roles in neural development and plasticity. In the present study, we studied the role of the cpg15 3′-untranslated region (UTR) in regulating the expression of the gene. The results showed that the presence of the 3′-UTR significantly decreases, while loss of a putative AU-rich element (ARE) in the 3′-UTR increases the cpg15 expression, indicating that the 3′-UTR and ARE may be essential for regulation of cpg15 expression. In addition, HuD, a neural-specific RNA binding protein, increased the cpg15 expression, which depends on the presence of the 3′-UTR and ARE. RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay demonstrated that HuD forms a complex with cpg15 mRNA in the cells of rat hippocampus. Deletion of HuD domains RRM1 plus RRM2 or Hinge region plus RRM3 attenuates the function of HuD in enhancing the cpg15 expression. The results suggest that HuD regulates the cpg15 expression via the 3′-UTR-mediated mechanism, which requires the presence of the ARE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterogeneous photocatalysis with titania under visible light has increasingly been a focus for research. Metal or non-metal doping, surface sensitization, semiconductor coupling, precious metal deposition and increasing crystal defects have been used to enhance the photocatalytic activity of titania under visible light. Based on the research results of different modification methods in recent years, some mechanisms from the excitation, bulk diffusion and surface transfer of photoinduced charge carriers, such as band gap modification, changing the excitation path, promoting the separation of photogenerated charge carrier, improving the surface adsorption and reaction, and synergistic effects, for photocatalysis under visible light are discussed and the development trend in this field is predicted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adiponectin is well recognized as plasma physiologically active polypeptide hormone exclusively derived from human and animal mature adipocytes, with vigorous property in antidiabetic, antiobesity, antiatherogenic, and anti-inflammatory processes. In this study, we investigated the correlation between serum adiponectin level and clinical and pathological parameters in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). The study included 127 patients with CHC and 42 healthy volunteers as controls whose laboratory parameters and serum adiponectin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We demonstrated that a lower serum adiponectin level was associated with male gender, higher gamma-glutamyltransferase (gamma-GGT), higher albumin, higher TNF-alpha, and steatosis grade. The higher level of serum adiponectin in patients with genotype 2a was demonstrated when compared with that in the patients with genotype 1b. Furthermore, of great interest, results suggested that the significant differences regarding viral genotype seemed to occur only in male patients with CHC but not in female patients. In conclusion, serum adiponectin was associated with gender, genotype, liver steatosis, and TNF-alpha in a Chinese population with CHC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the efficacy of immunization with plasmid DNA encoding cholera toxin B subunit and Plasmodium falciparum epitopes in protecting against malaria. Effectiveness of cholera toxin B as an adjuvant which can boost both cellular and humoral immunity; Correlation of protective efficacy with CTL activity; Effects of anti-sporozoite protective immunity.

Nonreciprocal light transport is of great importance due to its potential applications in optical communication. We investigate theoretically the unidirectional reflectionlessness behaviors of single photons in a waveguide system coupled with whispering-gallery-mode microresonators. Numerical results show that multi-band unidirectional reflectionlessness can be effectively implemented at the exceptional points by adjusting asymmetric intermode backscatterings of the coupled resonators, and reflectionless frequency-band number increased by multiplication with coupled resonators is also predicted. This suggests a novel multi-band device to effectively perform single-photon unidirectional reflectionlessness, which provides possible applications in quantum communication for designing high-efficiency optical filters, diodes, and so on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimentation is a common method to reveal the stick–slip vibration characteristics of horizontal well drill string system. Three different diameters of mini bits and an experimental bench of horizontal well drillstring system are innovatively designed to simulate the interaction between the bit and rock and the interaction between the drill pipe and well wall, which are the two boundary conditions that generate stick–slip vibration. The effects of bit type, drill pipe stiffness, rotational speed, and (ROP) Rate of Penetration on stick–slip vibration are investigated using rock-breaking experiments. The experimental results show that as the rotational speed increases from 9 to 45 r/min, (SSVI) stick–slip vibration intensity decreases. When the rotational speed is 9 r/min, the SSVI of the bit with higher cutter density drilling rock is lower than that of the bit with lower cutter density drilling rock. When the rotation speed is 45 r/min, the SSVI of the three bits is equal. The SSVI of drill pipe with smaller stiffness is greater than that of drill pipe with larger stiffness. The SSVI increases as the ROP increase from 0.36 to 1.26 m/h. The experimental findings aid in our understanding of the causes of stick–slip vibration. It lays the groundwork for the next step in reducing the harm caused by stick–slip vibration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition metals (TMs) have an excellent catalytic effect on the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP). However, nanosized TM catalysts tend to agglomerate due to their high surface energy and magnetism. In this work, a new Fe/Al composite catalyst was synthesized by loading Fe nanoparticles onto Al powder through a facile replacement route, and its effect on the thermal decomposition stability of AP and AP-based propellants was investigated. Morphological and structural characterization showed that Fe nanoparticles were successfully decorated on the Al surface without noticeable aggregation or shedding. The diameter of Fe nanoparticles was approximately 10 nm. The constructed Fe/Al composite catalyst presented a strawberry-like structure. Elemental mapping analysis revealed that the dispersion state of the Fe/Al composite catalyst was better than that of commercial Fe nanoparticles with AP. Thermal analysis indicated that the Fe/Al composite catalyst presented excellent catalytic stability in the high-temperature decomposition (HTD) of AP, reducing the HTD temperature by approximately 100 °C. Burning tests showed that the relative standard deviations of the burning rate with the Fe/Al composite catalyst were 2.5 and 2.2% at 5 and 10 MPa, respectively, whereas those with Fe reached 17.1 and 13.9% at 5 and 10 MPa, respectively. The Fe/Al composite catalyst inherited the good dispersion of Al, effectively resolving the problems of Fe nanocatalyst agglomeration. Therefore, the as-obtained Fe/Al composite catalyst can significantly improve the thermal decomposition stability of AP and AP-based propellants and will have wide application prospects in the field of AP-based propellants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To explore the effects of group singing therapy on depression symptoms and quality of life of patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods: Patients with COPD were randomly allocated to intervention (n = 30) and control groups (n = 30). The intervention group received group singing therapy once a week for 24 sessions along with routine health education, whereas the control group only received the routine health education. All patients were administered the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale depression subscale (HADS-D) and the Clinical COPD Questionnaire (CCQ). Data were collected at baseline and at 1, 3, and 6 months.Results: Fifty-six participants completed this trial. Significant between-group differences were observed with respect to the main effect of group and time as well as the effect of group × time interaction on HADS-D score. The HADS-D score was significantly improved 1, 3, 6 months after group singing therapy. The CCQ total scores were significantly different between the two groups with respect to the main effect of group and time and the group × time interaction effect. Significantly better CCQ was detected in the intervention group at 3 months and 6 months after intervention.Conclusions: Group singing therapy reduces depressive symptoms and improves the quality of life of patients with stable COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Axial length (AL) elongation in myopia is considered irreversible. We aimed to systemically report unexpected AL shortening observed in a randomized clinical trial (RCT) after repeated low-level red-light (RLRL) therapy. Methods: This is a post hoc analysis of a multicenter, single-masked RCT. Two hundred sixty-four myopic children aged 8–13 years allocated to RLRL treatment (intervention group) or a single vision spectacle (SVS, control group) were included. AL was measured using an IOL-master 500 at baseline, 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up visits. AL shortening was defined as AL reduction from baseline to follow-up visits at three cutoffs: > 0.05 mm, > 0.10 mm, and > 0.20 mm. Frequency of AL shortening at different cutoffs was calculated. Analysis was done with intent to treat (ITT). Results: At 12-months follow up, frequency of AL shortening > 0.05 mm was 26/119 (21.85%) and 2/145 (1.38%) for the RLRL group versus the control group, respectively. The frequency was 18/119 (15.13%) versus 0/145 (0%) for AL shortening > 0.10 mm, and 7/119 (5.88%) versus 0/145 (0%), for AL shortening > 0.20 mm, respectively (p < 0.001). Mean AL shortening after 12 months (SD) was −0.156 (0.086) mm in the RLRL group and −0.06 mm in the control group. Age was significantly associated with AL shortening in the multivariable analysis. For the RLRL group that exhibited AL shortening (n = 56), choroidal thickness (ChT) thickening (0.056 mm) could only explain 28.3% of AL shortening (−0.20 mm). Conclusion: Nearly a quarter of children had > 0.05 mm AL shortening following 12 months of RLRL therapy, whereas AL shortening rarely occurred among controls. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04073238). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyrolysis non-isothermal kinetics, thermodynamics and products compositional characteristics of kitchen wastes fermentation residues (KWFR) were investigated to explore the bioenergy potential by thermogravimetric analysis and pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) methods. The results showed that pyrolysis process can be divided into four common stages. The kinetics results deduced from FWO, KAS and Popescu methods showed that reaction activation energy (E) was 170.56, 168.98 and 172.10 kJ mol−1 and pre-exponential factor (A) was 1.22E + 17, 5.04E + 10 and 1.80E + 15 min−1, respectively, while the optimal mechanism function was G(α) = [1 − (1 − α)1/3]2(n = 2). The calculated thermodynamic parameters included ΔH (163.77–166.90 kJ mol−1), ΔS (− 62.25–61.28 J mol−1 K−1) and ΔG (145.41–184.02 kJ mol−1). The Py-GC/MS results showed mainly produced nitrogen-containing compounds, acidic alcohol compounds, aldehydes, ketones, esters, benzenes and hydrocarbons. This study highlights KWFR can be considered as an attractive feedstock for bioenergy and bio-based chemicals and meanwhile may help to solve the problem of kitchen wastes digestion tailings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) based on cadmium(II) ions, 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid (BDC), flexible ligand 1,4-bi(1H-imidazol-1-yl)butane (BIIM), coordinated water molecules, [(BIIM)(BDC)(HO)Cd] ( 1) and copper(II) ions, BIIM, coordinated water, free thiophene-2,5-dicarboxylate (TDC), free water, {[(BIIM)(HO)Cu]·(TDC)·(HO)} ( 2) are prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), infrared (IR) spectrum and the photoluminescence property for complex ( 1). The X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that the structures of complexes 1 and 2 are 2D structures through the C-H···π stacking interactions (for 1) and the BIIM bridging connections (for 2). The IR spectrum for 1 and 2 are presented in the paper, for 1, the strong peaks at 1399 and 1573 cm are owing to the carboxylic CO symmetry and asymmetry stretching vibrations of BDC. The features of the IR spectrum are consistent with the single crystal structures. The TGA reveal the water is the first lost material from complex, then the ligands removed, and finally the residues of these two complexes are the metal oxide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous materials with high specific surface area, high porosity, and high electrical conductivity are promising materials for functional applications, including catalysis, sensing, and energy storage. Molten salt dealloying was recently demonstrated in microwires as an alternative method to fabricate porous structures. The method takes advantage of the selective dissolution process introduced by impurities often observed in molten salt corrosion. This work further investigates molten salt dealloying in bulk Ni–20Cr alloy in both KCl–MgCl2 and KCl–NaCl salts at 700 ℃, using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD), as well as synchrotron X-ray nano-tomography. Micro-sized pores with irregular shapes and sizes ranging from sub-micron to several microns and ligaments formed during the process, while the molten salt dealloying was found to progress several microns into the bulk materials within 1–16 h, a relatively short reaction time, enhancing the practicality of using the method for synthesis. The ligament size increased from ~ 0.7 μm to ~ 1.3 μm in KCl–MgCl2 from 1 to 16 h due to coarsening, while remaining ~ 0.4 μm in KCl–NaCl during 16 h of exposure. The XRD analysis shows that the corrosion occurred primarily near the surface of the bulk sample, and Cr2O3 was identified as a corrosion product when the reaction was conducted in an air environment (controlled amount sealed in capillaries); thus surface oxides are likely to slow the morphological coarsening rate by hindering the surface diffusion in the dealloyed structure. 3D-connected pores and grain boundary corrosion were visualized by synchrotron X-ray nano-tomography. This study provides insights into the morphological and chemical evolution of molten salt dealloying in bulk materials, with a connection to molten salt corrosion concerns in the design of next-generation nuclear and solar energy power plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

VP35 of Ebola viruses (EBOVs) is an attractive potential target because of its multifunction. All-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and Molecular Mechanics Generalized Born surface area (MM/GBSA) energy calculations are performed to investigate the single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) as an inhibitor in wild-type (WT) VP35 as well as in three primary mutants (K248A, I295A, and K248A/I295A) through docking the SWCNT in the first basic patch (FBP) of VP35. The SWCNTs of all the four systems effectively bind to the FBP. Interestingly, the sites and orientations of the SWCNT binding to the I295A mutant and K248A/I295A double mutants change significantly to accommodate the variation of the VP35 conformation. Moreover, the VDW can provide the major forces for affinity binding in all four systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate single-photon scattering grating in a one-dimensional waveguide coupled to a cavity embedded with a driven Λ-type three-level atom. The single-photon reflection amplitude and transmission amplitude in the waveguide are obtained via a real-space approach, respectively. By spatially modulating a classical control field to drive the three-level emitter, alternating regions of high reflection and absorption as well as high transmission and absorption of the single photon are generated in both directions of the waveguide, which acts as a kind of scattering grating. The proposed scheme may have the potential for the design of chip-integrated grating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seismic data of the Laoshan Uplift in the South Yellow Sea Basin reveal a low signal-to-noise ratio and low reflection signal energy in the deep Mesozoic–Paleozoic strata. The main reason is that the Mesozoic-Paleozoic marine carbonate rock strata are directly covered by the Cenozoic terrestrial clastic rock strata, which form a strong shielding layer. To obtain the reflection signals of the strata below the strong shielding layer, a one-way wave equation bidirectional illumination analysis of the main observation system parameters was conducted by analyzing the mechanism of the strong shielding layer. Low-frequency seismic sources are assumed to have a high illumination intensity on the reflection layer below the strong shielding layer. Accordingly, optimized acquisition parameter suggestions were proposed, and reacquisition was performed at the existing measurement line positions in the Laoshan Uplift area. The imaging of the newly acquired data in the middle and deep layers was drastically improved. It revealed the unconformity between the Sinian and Cambrian systems under the strong shielding layer. The study yielded fresh insights into the tectonic and sedimentary evolution of the South Yellow Sea during the Lower Paleozoic era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the quantum Zeno dynamics, we propose a scheme for implementing the remote three-qubit controlled-Z gate with three Λ-type atoms trapped in three spatially separated cavities coupled by optical fibers. It can be implemented by one step and doesn't require strong cavity-fiber coupling. Moreover, the influences of various decoherence processes, such as spontaneous emission and photon leakage of cavities and fibers, on the fidelity are also investigated by numerical calculation. The result shows that our scheme is robust against the decoherence and promising for the realization with current experimental technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the differences in emotional memory between adolescents with and without suicidal ideation. Fifty adolescents with depression and suicidal ideation, 36 with depression but no suicidal ideation, and 41 healthy controls rated the emotional valence of positive, neutral, and negative pictures. Then, the recognition of the images was evaluated 72 h later. Adolescents with suicidal ideation reported more negative emotional valence scores for positive and neutral pictures and were significantly less likely to recognize negative pictures than were those without suicidal ideation. The performance of adolescents with suicidal ideation on the negative picture recognition test was closely related to anxiety, depression severity, and intensity of suicidal ideation. The negative bias toward neutral stimuli and cognitive impairment may be important risk factors for adolescents with suicidal ideation. Improving emotional memory via targeted management approaches may help young people with suicidal ideation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To simplify the preparation of sacrificial layer in micro-electromechanical system structure, new processes have been developed. By using lift-off technology, sacrificial layer was selectively deposited into the pit that prepared for sacrificial layer releasing. Then a short time polishing process was used to remove the burrs around the pit. This method offers several advantages including reducing the difficulty of polishing and hence processing cost. Methods and apparatuses to provide a continuously smoothly sacrificial layer surface in the pit were disclosed. However, it is important to control the homogeneity of filling and avoid the shadow effect at the corner of the pit. The unpadded regions would form a steep step and cause the cracking of structure layer. This problem was discussed and solved by rotating the tilted wafer during sacrificial material deposition. The surface roughness after the preparation process of sacrificial layer was measured. The root mean square roughness of sacrificial layer was 1.247 nm and reduced to 0.861 nm after a short time polishing process. Finally, a film bulk acoustic wave resonator with stacked Mo/AlN/Mo films had been fabricated on the sacrificial layer based on this method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Demoralization, a significant mental health concern in patients with chronic diseases, can have a large impact on physical symptom burden and quality of life. The present review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions for demoralization among patients with chronic diseases.PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science were systematically searched. Research on providing interventions to patients with chronic diseases that included quantitative data on demoralization was then systematically reviewed.Fourteen studies were included, most of which considered demoralization as a secondary outcome. Interventions included evidence-based meaning-centered psychotherapy, dignity therapy, psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy, and others. Ten studies used randomized controlled designs. Six of these investigated evidence-based meaning-centered therapy, and four investigated dignity therapy, showing the best empirical support for these intervention types. Most studies showed significant impacts on demoralization in patients with chronic diseases.This systematic review provides insights into potential psychological interventions for reducing demoralization in patients with chronic diseases. Randomized controlled designs and adequately powered samples, with demoralization as the primary outcome, are needed to more clearly evaluate its effectiveness.Method: Demoralization, a significant mental health concern in patients with chronic diseases, can have a large impact on physical symptom burden and quality of life. The present review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions for demoralization among patients with chronic diseases.PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science were systematically searched. Research on providing interventions to patients with chronic diseases that included quantitative data on demoralization was then systematically reviewed.Fourteen studies were included, most of which considered demoralization as a secondary outcome. Interventions included evidence-based meaning-centered psychotherapy, dignity therapy, psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy, and others. Ten studies used randomized controlled designs. Six of these investigated evidence-based meaning-centered therapy, and four investigated dignity therapy, showing the best empirical support for these intervention types. Most studies showed significant impacts on demoralization in patients with chronic diseases.This systematic review provides insights into potential psychological interventions for reducing demoralization in patients with chronic diseases. Randomized controlled designs and adequately powered samples, with demoralization as the primary outcome, are needed to more clearly evaluate its effectiveness.Results: Demoralization, a significant mental health concern in patients with chronic diseases, can have a large impact on physical symptom burden and quality of life. The present review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions for demoralization among patients with chronic diseases.PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science were systematically searched. Research on providing interventions to patients with chronic diseases that included quantitative data on demoralization was then systematically reviewed.Fourteen studies were included, most of which considered demoralization as a secondary outcome. Interventions included evidence-based meaning-centered psychotherapy, dignity therapy, psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy, and others. Ten studies used randomized controlled designs. Six of these investigated evidence-based meaning-centered therapy, and four investigated dignity therapy, showing the best empirical support for these intervention types. Most studies showed significant impacts on demoralization in patients with chronic diseases.This systematic review provides insights into potential psychological interventions for reducing demoralization in patients with chronic diseases. Randomized controlled designs and adequately powered samples, with demoralization as the primary outcome, are needed to more clearly evaluate its effectiveness.Conclusion: Demoralization, a significant mental health concern in patients with chronic diseases, can have a large impact on physical symptom burden and quality of life. The present review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions for demoralization among patients with chronic diseases.PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science were systematically searched. Research on providing interventions to patients with chronic diseases that included quantitative data on demoralization was then systematically reviewed.Fourteen studies were included, most of which considered demoralization as a secondary outcome. Interventions included evidence-based meaning-centered psychotherapy, dignity therapy, psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy, and others. Ten studies used randomized controlled designs. Six of these investigated evidence-based meaning-centered therapy, and four investigated dignity therapy, showing the best empirical support for these intervention types. Most studies showed significant impacts on demoralization in patients with chronic diseases.This systematic review provides insights into potential psychological interventions for reducing demoralization in patients with chronic diseases. Randomized controlled designs and adequately powered samples, with demoralization as the primary outcome, are needed to more clearly evaluate its effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Faculty at a Midwestern metropolitan public university recently developed a course on bioinformatics that emphasized collaboration and inquiry. Bioinformatics, essentially the application of computational tools to biological data, is inherently interdisciplinary. Thus part of the challenge of creating this course was serving the needs and backgrounds of a diverse set of students, predominantly computer science and biology undergraduate and graduate students. Although the researchers desired to investigate student views of the course, they were interested in the potentially different perspectives. Q methodology, a measure of subjectivity, allowed the researchers to determine the various student perspectives in the bioinformatics course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By using a light-harvesting organic ligand tris(4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl)amine (TIPA), a new Co(II)-based coordination polymer (1) with the chemical formula of [Co2(TIPA)2(Tz)][Co(TIPA)(NO3)(H2O)]·4NO3·2DMA·2H2O has been generated via reaction of Co(NO3)2·6H2O with the tetrazole (Tz) ligands and TIPA in water and DMA mixed solvent under the conditions of solvothermal. Significantly, complex 1 is capable of photodegradation of the organic dyes with the existence of hydrogen peroxide and ultraviolet irradiation (λ = 254 nm). Furthermore, the mechanism of photocatalytic degradation of the organic dyes is studied. In biological research, we aimed to develop the compound which could increase the protective effect of NGF on NSCs during the treatment of spinal cord injury. The RT-PCR was performed to evaluate the trka receptor gene expression on the NSCs. The western was used to evaluate the activation for signaling pathway of PI3K/Akt in NSCs after compound treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Management errors during pre-hospital care, triage process and resuscitation have been widely reported as the major source of preventable and potentially preventable deaths in multiple trauma patients. Common tools for defining whether it is a preventable, potentially preventable or non-preventable death include the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS®) clinical guideline, the Injury Severity Score (ISS) and the Trauma and Injury Severity Score (TRISS). Therefore, these surrogated scores were utilized in reviewing the study's trauma services. Methods: Trauma data were prospectively collected and retrospectively reviewed from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2018. All cases of trauma death were discussed and audited by the Hospital Trauma Committee on a regular basis. Standardized form was used to document the patient's management flow and details in every case during the meeting, and the final verdict (whether death was preventable or not) was agreed and signed by every member of the team. The reasons for the death of the patients were further classified into severe injuries, inappropriate/delayed examination, inappropriate/delayed treatment, wrong decision, insufficient supervision/guidance or lack of appropriate guidance. Results: A total of 1913 trauma patients were admitted during the study period, 82 of whom were identified as major trauma (either ISS > 15 or trauma team was activated). Among the 82 patients with major trauma, eight were trauma-related deaths, one of which was considered a preventable death and the other 7 were considered unpreventable. The decision from the hospital's performance improvement and patient safety program indicates that for every trauma patient, basic life support principles must be followed in the course of primary investigations for bedside trauma series X-ray (chest and pelvis) and FAST scan in the resuscitation room by a person who meets the criteria for trauma team activation recommended by ATLS®. Conclusion: Mechanisms to rectify errors in the management of multiple trauma patients are essential for improving the quality of trauma care. Regular auditing in the trauma service is one of the most important parts of performance improvement and patient safety program, and it should be well established by every major trauma center in Mainland China. It can enhance the trauma management processes, decision-making skills and practical skills, thereby continuously improving quality and reducing mortality of this group of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surgical approaches for medically refractory mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) that previously have been reported include anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL), transcortical selective amygdalohippocampectomy, transsylvian amygdalohippocampectomy, and subtemporal amygdalohippocampectomy. Each approach has its advantages and potential pitfalls. The purpose of this report is to describe our technique of keyhole corticoamygdalohippocampectomy for patients with MTLE due to hippocampal sclerosis. Operations were performed through a 6-cm vertical linear incision and a low 2.5-cm keyhole craniotomy at the anterior squamous temporal bone. Resection of the anterior-most portions of the middle and inferior temporal gyri provided a cylinder-like corridor to the mesial temporal lobe. Identification of the temporal horn through a basal approach was followed by resection of the amygdala, uncus, and hippocampus-parahippocampal gyrus. This 9-year series included 683 patients with a minimum follow-up duration of 2 years. Surgery times were short (range, 1 h 35 min to 2 h 30 min). Only a small percentage of patients had complications (1.76 %), and the rate of Engel Class I seizure-free outcome was 87 %. No overt speech problems or visual field deficits were identified. Compared with the most popular conventional trans-middle temporal gyrus approach, this technique can make the operation easier, safer, and less traumatic to functional lateral neocortex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction of the polysaccharide of Limonium bicolor with BSA was measured at a neutral pH and an ionic strength of 0.15 M(NaCl), using SDS-PAGE and UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. The moving speed, the absorbance value, and the fluorescence of BSA are changed when glycan is present. The results have shown that the interaction is taken between glycan and BSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We reported our experience in the surgical treatment of a relatively large cohort of patients with occipital lobe epilepsy (OLE). We also carried out a systematic review of the literature on OLE. Methods: Thirty-five consecutive patients who underwent occipital resection for epilepsy were included. Diagnoses were made following presurgical evaluations, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), scalp video-electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring, and intracranial EEG monitoring. At last follow-up, seizure outcome was classified using the Engel classification scheme. Results: Twenty-five of 35 patients experienced/had experienced ≥1 type of aura before the seizure. Invasive recordings were used to define the epileptogenic area in 30 of 35 patients (85.7 %). All patients underwent occipital lesionectomies or topectomies. Histopathology revealed: cortical dysplasias, gliosis, dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor, ganglioglioma, and tuberous sclerosis. After a mean follow-up of 44 months, 25 patients (71.4 %) were seizure free (Engel class I), 3 (8.6 %) rarely had seizures (Engel class II), 5 (14.3 %) improved more than 75 % (Engel class III), and 2 (5.7 %) had no significant improvement (Engel class IV). Preoperatively, 12 of 33 patients (36.4 %) had visual field deficits. Postoperatively, 25 patients (75.8 %) had new or aggravated visual field deficits. Conclusions: The management of OLE has been aided greatly by the availability of high-resolution diagnosis. Postoperative visual field deficits occur in a significant proportion of patients. Comprehensive intracranial EEG coverage of all occipital surfaces helps to define the epileptogenic area and preserve visual function, especially in cases of focal cortical dysplasia undetectable by MRI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic batteries free of toxic metal species could lead to a new generation of consumer energy storage devices that are safe and environmentally benign. However, the conventional organic electrodes remain problematic because of their structural instability, slow ion-diffusion dynamics, and poor electrical conductivity. Here, we report on the development of a redox-active, crystalline, mesoporous covalent organic framework (COF) on carbon nanotubes for use as electrodes; the electrode stability is enhanced by the covalent network, the ion transport is facilitated by the open meso-channels, and the electron conductivity is boosted by the carbon nanotube wires. These effects work synergistically for the storage of energy and provide lithium-ion batteries with high efficiency, robust cycle stability, and high rate capability. Our results suggest that redox-active COFs on conducting carbons could serve as a unique platform for energy storage and may facilitate the design of new organic electrodes for high-performance and environmentally benign battery devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver kinase B1 (LKB1) has important roles in governing energy homeostasis by regulating the activity of the energy sensor kinase AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). The regulation of LKB1 function, however, is still poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that the orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 binds and sequesters LKB1 in the nucleus, thereby attenuating AMPK activation. This Nur77 function is antagonized by the chemical compound ethyl 2-[2,3,4-trimethoxy-6-(1-octanoyl)phenyl]acetate (TMPA), which interacts with Nur77 with high affinity and at specific sites. TMPA binding of Nur77 results in the release and shuttling of LKB1 to the cytoplasm to phosphorylate AMPK?. Moreover, TMPA effectively reduces blood glucose and alleviates insulin resistance in type II db/db and high-fat diet- and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice but not in diabetic littermates with the Nur77 gene knocked out. This study attains a mechanistic understanding of the regulation of LKB1-AMPK axis and implicates Nur77 as a new and amenable target for the design and development of therapeutics to treat metabolic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To better understand normative behavior for quantitative evaluation of motor recovery after injury, we studied arm movements by non-injured Rhesus monkeys during a food-retrieval task. While seated, monkeys reached, grasped, and retrieved food items. We recorded three-dimensional kinematics and muscle activity, and used inverse dynamics to calculate joint moments due to gravity, segmental interactions, and to the muscles and tissues of the arm. Endpoint paths showed curvature in three dimensions, suggesting that maintaining straight paths was not an important constraint. Joint moments were dominated by gravity. Generalized muscle and interaction moments were less than half of the gravitational moments. The relationships between shoulder and elbow resultant moments were linear during both reach and retrieval. Although both reach and retrieval required elbow flexor moments, an elbow extensor (triceps brachii) was active during both phases. Antagonistic muscles of both the elbow and hand were co-activated during reach and retrieval. Joint behavior could be described by lumped-parameter models analogous to torsional springs at the joints. Minor alterations to joint quasi-stiffness properties, aided by interaction moments, result in reciprocal movements that evolve under the influence of gravity. The strategies identified in monkeys to reach, grasp, and retrieve items will allow the quantification of prehension during recovery after a spinal cord injury and the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two acid mine drainage (AMD) samples were studied by a PCR-based cloning approach, which were from Yunfu sulfide mine in Guangdong province, China. A total of 15 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were obtained from the two AMD samples. The percentage of overlapped OTUs in two AMD samples was 42.1%. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the bacterium in the two samples fell into four putative divisions, which were Nitrospira, α-Proteobacteria, β-Proteobacteria, and γ-Proteobacteria four families. Organisms of genuses Acidithiobacillus and Gallionella, which were in γ-Proteobacteria family and β-Proteobacteria family, respectively, were dominant in two samples. The proportions of clones affiliated with Gallionella in each sample were 47.2% (G2) and 16.9% (G1). The result suggested that organisms of Gallionella were a very important composition in microbial communities of the two AMD samples we studied. In addition, the PCR amplification of archaeal 16S rDNA genes form these two AMD samples have been performed with two sets of archaea-specific primers, but no PCR product found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-efficiency routing of photon signals between different quantum channels is of great importance for a quantum network. We investigate theoretically the quantum routing of single photons in a double-waveguide system with an infinite waveguide channel and a semi-infinite waveguide channel terminated by a perfect mirror. Numerical results show that high transfer-rate routing between two channels can be effectively performed in a wide frequency range, arising from the interferences among photons scattered by the boundary mirror and the qubits coupled to the waveguide system. This may suggest a potential scattering setup to effectively control the single-photon quantum routing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel sesquiterpenoid was isolated from the whole plant of Ecdysanthera rosea Hook. et Arn. Its structure was elucidated as tricyclo[5,3,1,02,4]-3-aldehyde-3,11-dimethyl-8-methanoic acid on the basis of spectral evidence (1D and 2D NMR) and was named ecdysanthblic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The one-dimensional pattern of heterocyst in the model cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 is coordinated by the transcription factor HetR and PatS peptide. Here we report the complex structures of HetR binding to DNA, and its hood domain (HetRHood) binding to a PatS-derived hexapeptide (PatS6) at 2.80 and 2.10 Å, respectively. The intertwined HetR dimer possesses a couple of novel HTH motifs, each of which consists of two canonical α-helices in the DNA-binding domain and an auxiliary α-helix from the flap domain of the neighboring subunit. Two PatS6 peptides bind to the lateral clefts of HetRHood, and trigger significant conformational changes of the flap domain, resulting in dissociation of the auxiliary α-helix and eventually release of HetR from the DNA major grove. These findings provide the structural insights into a prokaryotic example of Turing model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]