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AbstractGiven the escalating demand for renewable biofuels amidst the continual consumption of fossil energy, the exploration and identification of microalgal strains for biodiesel production have become crucial. In this study, a microalgal strain named HDMA-12 was isolated from Lake Chenjiadayuan in China to evaluate its biodiesel potential. Phylogenetic analysis of its internal transcribed spacer sequences revealed HDMA-12 as a new molecular record in the genus Coelastrum. When cultivated in BG11 basal medium, HDMA-12 achieved a biomass of 635.7 mg L−1 and a lipid content of 26.4%. Furthermore, the fatty acid methyl ester profile of HDMA-12 exhibited favorable combustion characteristics. Subjected to 200 mM NaCl stress, HDMA-12 reached its maximum biomass of 751.5 mg L−1 and a lipid content of 28.9%. These findings indicate the promising prospects of HDMA-12 as a promising microalgal strain for further advancements in biodiesel production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical examination of an actinomycete strain Streptomyces malaysiensis DSM 4137 derived from a soil sample derived isolate Streptomyces sp. DSM 3816, yielded a new C2-asymmetric elaiophylin derivative efomycine U (1) and a known analogue halichoblelide D (2). These structures were unambiguously elucidated on the basis of extensive NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometric analyses. All compounds isolated were subjected to antimicrobial, cytotoxic and immnosuppressive activities evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the pathological characteristics of obesity is fat accumulation of skeletal muscles (SKM) and the myocardium, involving mechanisms of insulin resistance and abnormal lipid metabolism. Apolipoprotein A-IV (ApoA-IV) is an essential gene in both glucose and lipid metabolisms. Using high-fat diet (HFD) induced obese apoA-IV-knockout mice and subsequent introduction of exogenous recombinant-ApoA-IV protein and adeno-associated virus (AAV)-transformed apoA-IV, we examined lipid metabolism indicators of SKM and the myocardium, which include triglyceride (TG) content, RT-PCR for lipogenic indicators and western blotting for AKT phosphorylation. Similarly, we used high-glucose-fed or palmitate (Pal)-induced C2C12 cells co-cultured with ApoA-IV protein to evaluate glucose uptake, the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)–AKT pathway, and lipid metabolisms. In stable obese animal models, we find ApoA-IV-knockout mice show elevated TG content, enhanced expression of lipogenic enzymes and diminished phosphorylated AKT in SKM and the myocardium, but both stable hepatic expression of AAV-apoA-IV and brief ApoA-IV protein administration suppress lipogenesis and promote AKT phosphorylation. In a myoblast cell line C2C12, ApoA-IV protein suppresses Pal-induced lipid accumulation and lipogenesis but enhances AKT activation and glucose uptake, and the effect is abolished by a PI3K inhibitor. We find that ApoA-IV reduces fat accumulation by suppressing lipogenesis and improves glucose uptake in SKM and the myocardium by regulating the PI3K–AKT pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the main energy consumption of aviation and aerospace, the study of combustion characteristics of aviation kerosene is of great significance. In this paper, through the self-built experimental system, the combustion flame characteristics of pure aviation kerosene, aviation kerosene mixed with n-amyl alcohol, aviation kerosene mixed with dimethylfuran were studied under different working conditions, and the physicochemical properties of soot particles generated in the flame, and the effects of mixing n-amyl alcohol and dimethylfuran on the formation of soot particles were analyzed from the microscopic perspective. The results show that: 1. The soot particles in the combustion of aviation kerosene mixed with n-amyl alcohol and dimethylfuran show some characteristics of amorphous structure, unclear outline and incomplete curing; 2. Under K-D20 condition, nitrates are included in particulate matter generated by soot; 3. After mixing n-amyl alcohol and dimethylfuran, the degree of graphitization continues to decrease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are known to possess unique characteristics, which allow them to overcome a number of issues that plague traditional fluorescence probes. UCNPs have been employed in a variety of applications, but it is arguably in the realm of optical sensors where they have shown the most promise. Biomolecule conjugated UCNPs-based fluorescence probes have been developed to detect and quantify a wide range of analytes, from metal ions to biomolecules, with great specificity and sensitivity. In this review, we have given much emphasis on the recent trends and progress in the preparation strategies of bioconjugated UCNPs and their potential application as fluorescence sensors in the trace level detection of food industry-based toxicants and adulterants. The paper discusses the preparation and functionalisation strategies of commonly used biomolecules over the surface of UCNPs. The use of different sensing strategies namely heterogenous and homogenous assays, underlying fluorescence mechanisms in the detection process of food adulterants are summarized in detail. This review might set a precedent for future multidisciplinary research including the development of novel biomolecules conjugated UCNPs for potential applications in food science and technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lightweight designs of automobiles and space shuttles have raised the bar for aluminum (Al) and its alloys. Graphene (GP) has found widespread application in aluminum matrix composites due to its exceptional mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties. In this study, a successful preparation of 6061Al reinforced with GP was achieved through a powder metallurgy method. This involved mixing GP with 6061Al alloy powders via ball milling, followed by hot-pressing sintering to produce the final GP-reinforced Al alloy nanocomposite. The effect of the pH value of the plating solution on the electroless plating of GP has been studied for the first time. The results show that the strength of the aluminum-matrix composites with copper plating has been significantly improved compared with that of the composites without copper plating. When the pH value of the plating solution is 12, the tensile strength of the composites obtained has been increased by 60.41%. Compared with the matrix material, the conductivity of the composite material has also increased. This work shows that the mechanical behavior of graphene-reinforced metal matrix composites (MMCs) can be improved by adjusting the distribution of graphene coatings, which is of great benefit for the preparation of high strength and lightweight composites with good electrical conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the carbon nanotube-carbon fiber (CNT-CF)/cement-based composite served as a novel auxiliary anode in the form of overlay for the cathodic protection of reinforced concrete (RC) was proposed. The effect of CNT content and age on the conductivity of CNT-CF/cement-based composite was firstly analyzed. After applying the CNT-CF/cement-based composite, the effectiveness of cathodic protection on the reinforcement was evaluated by the corrosion potential and corrosion current, respectively, as measured by Tafel polarization and half-cell potential methods. For comparison, finite element simulation was adopted to calculate the corrosion potential and corrosion current. It showed that the resistivity of CNT-CF/cement-based composite monotonously decreased with increasing content of CNT up to 2 wt.%. When the CNT content was 0.5 wt.%, the resistivity of the composite reached the minimum value of 22.3 Ω·cm. The resistivity for all the groups decreased with increasing age in the first 7 days. Both the experimental and simulated results showed that the CNT-CF/cement-based auxiliary anode improves the cathodic protection effectiveness for RC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accompanied by the growing prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the coexistence of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and NAFLD has increased. In the context of CHB, there is limited understanding of the factors that influence the development of NASH. We enrolled CHB combined NAFLD patients who had liver biopsy and divided them to NASH vs. non-NASH groups. A whole transcriptome chip was used to examine the expression profiles of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and mRNA in biopsied liver tissues. The function analysis of HIGD1A were performed. We knocked down or overexpressed HIGD1A in HepG2.2.15 cells by transient transfection of siRNA-HIGD1A or pcDNA-HIGD1A. In vivo investigations were conducted using hepatitis B virus (HBV) transgenic mice. In 65 patients with CHB and NAFLD, 28 were patients with NASH, and 37 were those without NASH. After screening 582 differentially expressed mRNAs, GO analysis revealed differentially expressed mRNAs acting on nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), which influenced redox enzyme activity. KEGG analysis also shown that they were involved in the NAFLD signaling pathway. The function analysis revealed that HIGD1A was associated with the mitochondrion. Then, both in vivo and in vitro CHB model, HIGD1A was significantly higher in the NASH group than in the non-NASH group. HIGD1A knockdown impaired mitochondrial transmembrane potential and induced cell apoptosis in HepG2.2.15 cells added oleic acid and palmitate. On the contrary, hepatic HIGD1A overexpression ameliorated free fatty acids-induced apoptosis and oxidative stress. Furthermore, HIGD1A reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) level by increasing glutathione (GSH) expression, but Adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) pathway was not involved. Both in vivo and in vitro CHB model, an upward trend of HIGD1A was observed in the NASH-related inflammatory response. HIGDIA played a protective role in cells against oxidative stress. Our data suggested that HIGD1A may be a positive regulator of NASH within the CHB context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium (Cd) pollution is a huge threat to ecosystem health. In the manuscript, pot experiments were conducted to investigate the changes in plant biomass and antioxidant indicators under different cadmium pollution levels (0, 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) of inoculation of plant growth-promoting bacteria ZG7 on sugar beet. The results showed that the accumulation of excess Cd in sugar beet exhibited different symptoms, including reduced biomass (p < 0.05). Compared with the group treated with uninoculated strain ZG7, inoculation of strain ZG7 significantly reduced the toxicity of sugar beet to Cd and enhanced its antioxidant capacity, with no significant differences in root biomass and increases in leaf biomass of 15.71, 5.84, and 74.12 under different Cd concentration treatments (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg), respectively. The root enrichment of Cd was reduced by 49.13, 47.26, and 21.50%, respectively (p < 0.05). The leaf fraction was reduced by 59.35, 29.86, and 30.99%, respectively (p < 0.05). In addition, the enzymatic activities of sucrase, urease, catalase, and neutral phosphatase were significantly enhanced in the soil (p < 0.05). This study helps us to further investigate the mechanism of cadmium toxicity reduction by inoculated microorganisms and provides a theoretical reference for growing plants in cadmium-contaminated agricultural fields. The combination of microorganisms and phytoremediation is becoming a popular research topic. The selection of suitable plant growth promoting bacteria can not only promote the growth and development of plants and enhance their cadmium resistance, but also improve the soil quality. And the results of this study will be important for growing edible plants and improving soils in cadmium-contaminated areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mammalian testis and ovary possess special immunocompetence, which is central to provide protection against pathogens. However, the innate immune responses to immune challenges in lamprey gonads are poorly understood. In this study, we extracted RNA from testis and ovary tissues of lampreys at 0 hour, 8 hours and 17 days after lipopolysaccharides (LPS) stimulation and performed transcriptome sequencing. While the transcriptome profiles of the two tissues were different for the most part, genes LIP, LECT2, LAL2, GRN, ITLN, and C1q were found to be the most significantly up-regulated genes in both. Quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis confirmed that these genes were upregulated after stimulation. Furthermore, immunohistochemical staining showed that these genes in lamprey gonads are expressed in high quantities and have a specific distribution. Taken together, our results suggest that these genes could play an essential role in response of the gonads to LPS induction. This research establishes a basis for investigating the immune mechanism of vertebrate gonads and presents a fresh concept for gaining insight into the evolutionary development of jawless vertebrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have shown that experiential learning can effectively advance students' education goals, but they have not attached importance to the perspective of destination marketing. This study fills a gap in the research on this topic. The study examined college students' study tours as a typical form of educational tourism by surveying 208 Chinese college students and graduates who had experienced such programmes. The results showed that study tour experiences resulted in destination associations among the students, which commonly led to revisit intentions. The findings demonstrated that destination associations combine destination memory, destination image and affective attachment. These components played mediating roles in the relationship between study tour experiences and destination revisit intention. This study informs destination marketers concerning the need to strategically develop their marketing strategies by capitalising on the educational tourism niche market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There have been growing concerns that social distancing and stay-at-home mandates have exacerbated loneliness for older people. Empirical evidence about older people's experiences of loneliness and COVID-19 have quantified this phenomena without considering how older people themselves define and understand loneliness. This paper explores how older New Zealanders conceptualized and experienced loneliness under 'lockdown' stay-at-home measures. This multi-methods qualitative study combines data from letters (n = 870) and interviews (n = 44) collected from 914 people aged over 60 and living in Aotearoa, New Zealand during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a reflexive thematic analysis to conceptualise this data. We identify three interconnected ways in which older people conceptualised and experienced loneliness: (1) feeling disconnected relating to lack of emotional closeness to another often resulting from being physically separated from others and not being able to touch; (2) feeling imprisoned relating to separation from preferred identities and activities and was frequently associated with boredom and frustration; and (3) feeling neglected which often related to feeling let down by generalised and idealised forms of support, such as one's neighbourhood and health care system. Older New Zealanders experienced lockdown loneliness in three interconnected ways rather than as a stable and homogenous experience. Māori, Pacific, Asian and New Zealand European older people often discussed loneliness in different ways; attesting to loneliness being a culturally-mediated concept shaped by expectations around desirable social interaction. We conclude the paper with implications for research and policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current guidelines recommendations for the initial dose of prednisolone (PSL) in the treatment of subacute thyroiditis (SAT) are based on low-quality studies. We designed a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to compare the efficacy and safety of using a low initial dose of PSL with a standard initial dose of PSL in SAT patients. This open-label RCT was conducted at five hospitals in China from June 2019 to January 2022. SAT patients with moderate-to-severe pain or a poor response to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the experimental and control groups. The initial dose of PSL was 15 mg/d in the experimental group and 30 mg/d in the control group. The primary outcome was the total duration of PSL treatment, with non-inferiority prespecified with a margin of 7 days. Clinical trial registration number: ChiCTR1900023884. The full analysis set included 60 patients (30 in each group). The mean duration of PSL treatment in the experimental and control group was 34.62 ± 14.12 and 41.18 ± 16.89 days, respectively, meeting the non-inferiority criterion (pnon-inferiority = 0.0006). The total dose of PSL used in the experimental group was lower than in the control groups (330 vs 595 mg, p < 0.0001). There were no differences in the mean time to pain relief and complete resolution, the occurrence of recurrence, hypothyroidism, or adverse events between the groups. The initial dose of 15 mg/d of PSL was not inferior to the dose of 30 mg/d in terms of efficacy and showed a similar safety profile. A low initial dose of PSL could be recommended for Chinese adult SAT patients who have a suboptimal response using NSAIDs or experience moderate-to-severe pain. Low initial dose (15 mg/d) of prednisolone was non-inferior to the standard initial dose of prednisolone (30 mg/d) in treatment duration, time to pain relief, or the prevalence of hypothyroidism, recurrence, and adverse reactions in the treatment of subacute thyroiditis. Patients with subacute thyroiditis administered a low initial dose of prednisolone had a lower total dose of prednisolone compared to those receiving the standard dose of prednisolone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to assess differences in intestinal microflora between patients with operable hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HBV-HCC) with microvascular invasion (MVI) and those without MVI. Additionally, we investigated the potential of the microbiome as a non-invasive biomarker for patients with MVI. We analyzed the preoperative gut microbiomes (GMs) of two groups, the MVI (n = 46) and non-MVI (n = 56) groups, using 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing data. At the operational taxonomic unit level, we employed random forest models to predict MVI risk and validated the results in independent validation cohorts [MVI group (n = 17) and non-MVI group (n = 15)]. β diversity analysis, utilizing weighted UniFrac distances, revealed a significant difference between the MVI and non-MVI groups, as indicated by non-metric multidimensional scaling and principal coordinate analysis. We also observed a significant correlation between the characteristic intestinal microbial communities at the genus level and their main functions. Nine optimal microbial markers were identified, with an area under the curve of 79.76% between 46 MVI and 56 non-MVI samples and 79.80% in the independent verification group. This pioneering analysis of the GM in patients with operable HBV-HCC with and without MVI opens new avenues for treating HBV-HCC with MVI. We successfully established a diagnostic model and independently verified microbial markers for patients with MVI. As preoperative targeted biomarkers, GM holds potential as a non-invasive tool for patients with HBV-HCC with MVI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) represents one type of advanced prostate cancer (PCa) with a median survival time of 1–2 years. Currently, there is a lack of reliable gene panels in predicting hormone treatment (HT) responses due to limited knowledge of CRPC-specific tumor-microenvironment (TME) characteristics. In this study, we first screened for up-regulated genes in CRPC samples using bulk-sequencing data retrieved from TCGA online database, and further investigated the expression status of these genes in four sets of downloaded single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) data: GSE117403 containing 16 normal human prostate samples; GSE141445 containing 13 PCa samples; GSE176031 containing 11 PCa samples and GSE137829 containing 6 CRPC samples. We identified a series of CRPC-specific TME characteristics including an enriched number of PEG10+ neuroendocrine cells, elevated expression of PPIB/CCDC74A/GAPDH/AR genes in tumor cells, increased expression of FAP/TGFB1 in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), suppressed immune environment featured by enhanced M2 macrophage polarization, T cell exhaustion and increased number of regulatory B cells. We further established a 12-gene panel using these characteristics and showed that this panel could separate CRPC samples from PCa samples (AUC of 0.78), and CRPC patients with higher panel scores tended to have treatment failure or progression (R = −0.47, p = 0.019). Based on these unique TME characteristics of CRPC, we established a prediction tool for estimating the duration of HT responses in PCa treatment. Our results suggest mechanisms by which prostate cancer becomes castrate resistant. Further study of PEG10 (and/or others) to evaluate therapeutic efficacy should be considered. Increased number of PEG10+ neuroendocrine cells is associated with recurrence of HT PCa patients A 12-gene panel could be used to predict duration of HT responses in PCa treatment [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcium plays a key role in many bio-homeostasis functions. Previous studies indicated that serum calcium is associated with diseases such as anaemia. However, the evidence on the association between serum calcium levels and anaemia risk is limited. Thus, the purpose of our study is to investigate the relationship between serum calcium and anaemia in US adults. This cross-sectional study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) including 15,519 participants, aged ≥18 years. The analyses were performed using multivariate logistic regression and a generalized additive model (GAM). Subgroup analysis, stratified by gender and age, was also performed. Among the sample of 15,519 individuals, 1565 (10.8%) had been diagnosed with anaemia. Both the univariate logistic regression model and multivariate logistic regression model showed a reverse relationship between serum calcium and anaemia risk. Moreover, a non-linear association between serum calcium and anaemia risk was observed using GAM and smooth curve fitting. The inflection point of serum calcium was at 2.3 mmol/L. GAM with penalized splines suggested a reverse association between serum calcium and the prevalence of anaemia when the concentration of serum calcium was below 2.3 mmol/L. In contrast, we found no statistically significant difference when serum calcium concentration was higher than the inflection point (2.3 mmol/L). Lower serum calcium levels were associated with increased risk of anaemia risk. Moreover, we observed non-linear associations between serum calcium and anaemia risk. Our results need to be confirmed in future prospective studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to estimate the clinical efficacy and identify the best beneficiaries of postoperative adjuvant transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (PA-TACE) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A total of 749 HCC patients who underwent surgical resection (380 underwent PA-TACE, 369 had resection only) with a high risk of recurrence were reviewed retrospectively. Patients receiving PA-TACE were randomly split into development and validation cohorts. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed in the development cohort. A novel model for PA-TACE-insensitivity prediction was built based on univariate and multivariate analysis and was multi-dimensionally validated in the validation set and all samples. After propensity score matching (PSM), in the early-recurrence group, no significant improvement in RFS was achieved with PA-TACE compared to radical hepatic resection alone. PA-TACE insensitive patients were considered as the PA-TACE non-benefit population and were associated with six clinicopathological factors: AFP, node number, tumor capsule, Ki-67 index, MVI, and complications in the development cohort. These factors were incorporated into a nomogram model, which reliably predicted PA-TACE insensitivity, with concordance indices of 0.874 and 0.897 for the development and validation cohort, respectively. In the overall sample, PA-TACE did not significantly improve patients' RFS and OS in the high-score group, while the low-score group had statistical significance. Recurrence pattern diversity was also found to be a factor leading to PA-TACE insensitivity. We constructed a new PA-TACE-insensitivity prediction model with potential clinical value. The good predictive performance and availability would allow this model to effectively screen PA-TACE beneficiaries. The independent influencing factors of PA-TACE insensitivity in patients who received PA-TACE were analyzed to construct a predictive model and its clinical application performance was verified with multi-dimensional methods. PA-TACE treatment should be avoided for patients with high scores according to this model, while it should be cautiously recommended for patients with low scores after multiple considerations. Compared with other related models, this model has obvious advantages in versatility and effectiveness. It can effectively screen the best benefit population of PA-TACE and provide a reliable reference for the selection of precise treatment plans for patients after radical resection of hepatocellular carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNA exerts an important regulatory role in almost all the biological process, including hair follicle development in Liaoning Cashmere goat. In order to improve the Cashmere performance of goat, the regulatory role of microRNA in hair follicle cycle has drawn hotspot attention. However, the molecular mechanisms of miRNA-1-3p involved in hair follicle development are poorly understood. In this study, we found that miRNA-1-3p was less expressed in anagen stage of hair follicle cycle of Cashmere goat than that in telogen stage by using RT-qPCR and immunoblotting analysis, in contrast to the expression pattern of FGF14. The Dual-Luciferase reporter assay was employed to verify the relationship between miRNA-1-3p and FGF14. The results showed that miRNA-1-3p specifically binds to the 3′UTR of FGF14 mRNA, and FGF14 is the target gene of miR-1-3p. In conclusion, this study shows that miRNA-1-3p may regulate hair follicle development in Liaoning Cashmere goats by targeting FGF14. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The investigation of chemical constituents from the rhizomes of Ruscus aculeatus resulted in the isolation of two new biphenyl derivatives, aculebiphenyls A and B (1-2), together with two known analogs (3-4). Their chemical structures were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic interpretation and HR-ESI-MS analysis. Compounds 3-4 were isolated from the Ruscus genus for the first time. The isolated compounds were tested for anti-inflammatory activities and antibacterial activities. Compound 1 exhibited significant inhibitory effects on LPS-induced NO production and COX-2 with IC50 values of 10.8 µM and 0.4 µM. Compound 1 also significantly down-regulated the levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Compound 1 showed moderate antibacterial activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to automatically and quantitatively analyse the characteristics of the optic disc by applying artificial intelligence (AI) to fundus images. A total of 1084 undergraduates were recruited in this cross-sectional study. The optic disc area, cup-to-disc ratio (C/D), optic disc tilt, and the area, width, and height of peripapillary atrophy (PPA) were automatically and quantitatively detected using AI. Based on axial length (AL), participants were divided into five groups: Group 1 (AL ≤ 23 mm); Group 2 (23 mm < AL≤ 24 mm); Group 3 (24 mm < AL≤ 25 mm); Group 4 (25 mm < AL< 26 mm) and Group 5 (AL ≥ 26 mm). Relationships between ocular parameters and optic disc characteristics were analysed. A total of 999 undergraduates were included in the analysis. The prevalence of optic disc tilting and PPA were 47.1% and 92.5%, respectively, and increased with the severity of myopia. The mean optic disc area, PPA area, C/D, and optic disc tilt ratio were 1.97 ± 0.46 mm2, 0.84 ± 0.59 mm2, 0.18 ± 0.07, and 0.81 ± 0.08, respectively. In Group 5, the average optic disc area (1.84 ± 0.41 mm2) and optic disc tilt ratio (0.79 ± 0.08) were significantly smaller and the PPA area (1.12 ± 0.61 mm2) was significantly larger than those in the other groups. AL was negatively correlated with optic disc area and optic disc tilt ratio (r=–0.271, –0.219; both p < 0.001) and positively correlated with PPA area, width, and height (r = 0.421, 0.426, 0.345; all p < 0.01). A greater AL (β = 0.284, p < 0.01) and a smaller optic disc tilt ratio (β=–0.516, p < 0.01) were related to a larger PPA area. The characteristics of the optic disc can be feasibly and efficiently extracted using AI. The quantization of the optic disc might provide new indicators for clinicians to evaluate the degree of myopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main component of donkey meat is skeletal muscle, and different muscle fibers have been found to be associated with meat quality. However, RNA-seq technology has yet to be used to profile the transcriptomic changes of different muscles of the donkey. In this study, the characterizations of different muscles on the gene expression profiles of Dezhou donkey were obtained, the aim was to identify the important genes in donkey muscles, and aid in improving donkey meat quality via RNA-seq. In the donkey gluteus (DG) and donkey longissimus dorsi (DL) group, GO enrichment indicated that DEGs were mainly involved in the biological regulation and metabolic process, and KEGG analysis shows that a total of 427 DEGs were mapped to 216 KEGG pathways and 23 KEGG pathways were significantly enriched such as the ribosome, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, glucagon signaling pathway and biosynthesis of amino acids pathways. Meanwhile, 504 DEGs were mapped to 223 KEGG pathways, in which 17 were significantly enriched including cardiac muscle contraction and oxytocin signaling pathway in donkey hamstring muscles (DH) and DL group. In addition, the tenderness in donkey meat might involve muscle fiber type and glucose metabolism, which might profit from the DEGs including MYH1, MYH7, TNNC1, TNNI3, TPM3, ALDOA, ENO3, and PGK1. The genes found in this study will provide some ideas for further understanding the molecular mechanism of donkey meat quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the Time-Varying Parameter-Stochastic Volatility-Vector Auto Regression model, this study examines the dynamic relationship between Non-deliverable Forwards, Stock Index Gap, Interest Rate Gap, and short-term fluctuations of the RMB exchange rate during the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak. Our findings indicate that these variables exhibit time-varying characteristics and a relatively significant stable trend. Additionally, in the initial phase of the pandemic, there were substantial capital outflows from the Chinese stock market. However, as the Chinese economic situation improved and the government intervened in a timely manner, exchange rate and Non-deliverable Forwards volatility decreased, leading to a slowdown in outflows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extant literature has demonstrated the significant effect of food names on consumer behavior. However, few studies focused on food names with auspicious meanings. Thus, this study proposes an attribute-value-satisfaction-intention (AVSI) model to enhance our understanding of the effect of food names on consumer behavior. Data were collected from 483 Chinese consumers who had recently purchased auspiciously named food products. The results indicate that both the meaning and the linguistic characteristics of food name attributes had a positive influence on consumer values. Consumer values also significantly affected repurchase intention directly and indirectly through satisfaction. Furthermore, individuals' superstitious beliefs served as a partial moderator. This study's results provide important insights for developing effective marketing strategies to increase consumer loyalty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Aims and background Methods Results and conclusions Omentin-1 (oment-1) is a type of adipokines that is mainly expressed in visceral fat tissue. Based on accumulating evidence, oment-1 is closely related to diabetes and its complications. However, so far data about oment-1 and diabetes is fragmented. In this review, we focus on the role of oment-1 on diabetes, including its possible signalling pathways, the correlation of circulating omens-1 levels with diabetes and its complications.The web of PubMed was searched for articles of relevant studies published until February, 2023.Oment-1 might exert its effects by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway and activating the Akt and AMPK-dependent pathways. The level of circulating oment-1 is negatively correlated with the occurrence of type 2 diabetes and some complications, including diabetic vascular disease, cardiomyopathy, and retinopathy, which can be affected by anti-diabetic therapies. Oment-1 could be a promising marker for screening and targeted therapy for diabetes and its complications; however, more studies are still needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil microorganisms contribute substantially to a wide range of services and thereby improve recovery in ecosystem restoration. However, there is relatively limited information on how microbial communities respond to different land-use types with similar plant species and their potential roles in supporting soil restoration in mine tailings. To understand the importance of the response of soil microbial communities to the stress of tailings area in different soil habitats, this article selected three different land use types (Tailings area, Buffer zone and Vegetable field) as the variables in the Yanzibian tailings area in Ningqiang, Shaanxi Province, China. Soil physicochemical properties and heavy metal concentrations of the different land use types were compared. Illumina MiSeq. 2500 Sequencing Technology was used to analyze the abundance and structural diversity of the microbial community in soil samples. The results showed that most of the soil samples were unsafe with multiple metals. All soil samples in the buffer zone and tailings ponds were acidic. With the acidity decreased, bacterial community richness and diversity increased significantly. Briefly, different environmental factors and soil microbial communities were significantly distinct across different land-use types. Cu, Zn, Pb, pH, MC (Moisture content), TN (Total nitrogen), TP (Total phosphorus), and TK (Total potassium) were essential factors affecting the abundance and structural diversity of soil microbial communities across three different land-use types. As a result, Actinobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, and Gammaproteobacteria were the top dominant classes in the buffer zone and Vegetable field soils, while Sulfobacillia dominated in tailings pond soils. Further, we found that with the continuous decline of the pH, the dominant genera transferred from norank_f__norank_o__Vicinamibacterales, Bacillus and Nocardioides to the norank_f__norank_o__Gaiellales and norank_f__norank_o__Acidobacteriales, then to Sulfobacillus. These confirmed that the responses of microbiota to heavy metals stress varied in different land-use types. Together, this study provides important information on the occurrence and distribution of soil microbiomes in tailings areas and their potentially beneficial roles in soil restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effects of depression on cognitive function in patients of different ages with diabetes mellitus (DM). 6,549 patients with DM who were assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) in 2016 were selected from the 2016 Kailuan Group staff physical examinations. Generalized linear regression models were used to analyze the effects of SDS index score on MMSE score in DM patients in different age groups. We also analyzed the effects of SDS index score on MMSE score in DM patients with different risk factors. Generalized linear regression analysis showed that higher SDS index score was associated with lower MMSE score (β = −0.06; P < 0.01). In addition, there was an interaction effect between SDS index score and age groups on cognitive function. Meanwhile, SDS index score also has an interaction effect with level of education. The negative association between the degree of depression and cognitive function level increases with age in DM patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The basal Cambrian sandstone unit in the North China craton (NCC) is an example of globally widespread siliciclastic succession that resides on the Great Unconformity and deposited on a hypothesized low-lying peneplain during the Cambrian global eustatic sea-level rise. Detrital zircon age signatures from this distinct sequence enable recognition of the ancient drainage system of the NCC in deep time and track its potential linkage with the Gondwana landmass. LA-ICP-MS U–Pb dating of the fossil-calibrated basal Cambrian (Series 2) detrital zircon samples from seven measured sections reveal marked spatial changes in their age signatures that can be divided into three distinct types. The first is generally characterized by the bimodal age populations with broad peaks at ~1.85 Ga and ~2.5 Ga that correlate with the Archean to Paleoproterozoic basement inboard of the NCC. The second is featured by multimodal distribution with diagnostic Neoproterozoic peaks that correspond to subregional magmatic record. The third also shows multiple-zircon age populations, but yields significant crystallization ages close to the early Cambrian age. Comparing our new data with existing age spectra for the Cambrian strata across the NCC and the northern Gondwana demonstrates that separate drainage systems did exist in the peneplained basement during global Cambrian transgression and the basal Cambrian unit in the NCC was not a part of the far-travelled sand sheet across the northern margin of Gondwana. The most suitable source for Cambrian-aged grains constrained by paleogeographic restoration is the arc terrane developed along the northern margin of the NCC as a result of subduction of the Paleo-Asian oceanic plate. Our new continental-scale detrital zircon provenance signatures in the basal Cambrian unit suggest that the NCC should be considered a discrete continental block separated by the Proto-Tethys Ocean in the Cambrian, rather than an integral part of the northern Gondwana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The filling characteristic of rockfill is a non-ignorable engineering problem for high dams, and a reasonable control of compaction quality is the key to promoting the development of high dams. In this article, numerical and field tests were implemented to study the main problems affecting the compaction characteristics of large-size coarse-grained soil, namely determinations of the reasonable H0/dmax (the ratio of the compaction layer thickness to the maximum particle size) and the main influencing factors of minimum porosity. The macroscopic manifestations of the compaction characteristics were analyzed from the perspectives of energy, force chain, and particle breakage. The interaction between particles was explained by the 'filling effect' of fine particles, the 'wedging effect', and the 'wall effect' of coarse particles. It was found that the minimum porosity was not an inherent characteristic of rockfill, since the porosity and the corresponding degree of breakage were influenced by the compaction conditions. The value of H0/dmax meeting engineering practice was proposed, which can create favorable compaction conditions for obtaining the minimum porosity. Meantime, some suggestions were provided for obtaining the minimum porosity of large-size coarse-grained soil. The research results have an application reference value for the filling design and evaluation of high dams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During electroosmosis experiments, the electrical interface resistance between electrodes increases with soil cracking, which hinders the further improvement of electroosmosis efficiency. To improve the effectiveness of later stage electroosmosis, the consolidation effect of dredged sludge was studied using electroosmosis combined with excitation loading. In this study, a series of experimental tests were used to analyze the influence of the intermittent vibration ratio on the consolidation effect of sludge. The electric current, effective potential, drainage, surface settlement, water content and undrained shear strength were monitored during sludge improvement. After testing, it was concluded that compared with the pure electro-osmotic method, the consolidation effect of the electro-osmotic method combined with the excitation loading method had significant performance improvements on the soil. In addition, the optimal intermittent vibration ratio was obtained, which could provide a design basis for engineering practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infection by the Schistosoma japonicum can result in acute, chronic and late-stage manifestations. The latter often presents with severe organ failures and premature death. Importantly, infection can also produce autoimmune phenomena reflected by the development of autoantibodies. We wished to explore and profile the presence of autoantibodies in sera of patients with different stages of S. japonicum infection with the added aim of providing a reference assisting diagnosis. Blood samples from 55 patients with chronic and 20 patients with late-stage schistosomiasis japonica together, with a control group of 50 healthy people were randomly investigated against a microarray of 121 different autoantigens. In addition, the frequency of antibodies against Schistosoma egg antigen (SEA) was examined. In the sera from patients with chronic schistosomiasis japonica, 14 different highly expressed autoantibodies were detected, while patients with late-stage schistosomiasis were found to express as many as 43 autoantibody specificities together with a significantly higher frequency of antibodies against SEA compared to the control group. The findings presented suggest that autoantibody-based classification of schistosomiasis japonica represents a promising approach for the elucidation of subtypes of the disease. This approach may reflect differential disease mechanisms, which could ultimately lead to better treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Destination mascots have attracted some research interest, but more needs to be done. This study aims to explore destination mascots from a cognitive appraisal theory-based perspective. The results showed that an ideal destination mascot consisted of five characteristics: local representation and engagement, signature items and images, future, cuteness and fun, and tradition. "Local representation and engagement" and "cuteness and fun" were found to influence residents' community citizenship behavior through emotions. "Future" directly influenced community citizenship behavior, but this relationship was subject to moderation by place identity. This paper contributes to the literature by offering a deeper understanding of destination mascots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unintended effects of gene edit crops may pose safety issues. Omics is a useful tool for researchers to evaluate these unexpected effects. Transcriptome and proteomics analyses were performed for two gene editors, CRISPR-Cas9 and adenine base editor (ABE) gene edit rice, as well as corresponding wild-type plants (Nipponbare). Transcriptome revealed 520 and 566 rice differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the Cas9/Nip and ABE/Nip comparisons, respectively. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis showed that most DEGs participated in metabolism of terpenoids and polyketones, plant–pathogen interactions, and plant signal transduction. It mainly belongs to environmental adaptation. Proteomics revealed 298 and 54 rice differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the Cas9/Nip and ABE/Nip comparisons, respectively. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that most DEPs participated in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolite and metabolic pathways. According to integrated transcriptomes and proteomics analysis, the results showed that no newly generated genes were identified as new transcripts of these differentially expressed genes, and gene edit tools had little effect on rice transcription levels and no new proteins were generated in the gene-edited rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of p-cresyl sulfate (PCS) and indoxyl sulfate (IS) on the prognosis of patients with uremia remains controversial. We performed a prospective study on peritoneal dialysis (PD) to investigate the relationship between PCS or IS levels with clinical outcomes. This prospective cohort study investigated the association of serum PCS and IS with clinical outcomes in patients undertaking PD. We performed a correlations analysis to explore the influencing factors of PCS an IS. Meta-analysis was conducted to objectively evaluate the prognostic effects of PCS and IS on different stages of CKD patients. A total of 127 patients were enrolled consecutively and followed with an average period of 51.3 months. Multivariate Cox regression showed that serum total PCS not only contributed to the occurrence of PD failure event (HR: 1.05, 95% CI = 1.02 to 1.07, p < 0.001), but also increased the risk of cardiovascular event (HR: 1.08, 95% CI = 1.04 to 1.13, p < 0.001) and PD-associated peritonitis (HR: 1.04, 95% CI = 1.02 to 1.08, p = 0.001). Dividing the total PCS level by 18.99 mg/L, which was calculated from the best cutoff value of the ROC curve, patients with total PCS higher than 18.99 mg/L had worse prognosis. Meta-analysis confirmed its value in cardiovascular event in PD. The serum total PCS concentration was a detrimental factor for higher PD failure event, cardiovascular event, and PD-associated peritonitis. It could be used as an innovative marker in predicting poor clinical outcome in PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare the risk of mortality in patients with cirrhosis with and without the associated acute kidney injury (AKI). We performed a systematic search in the PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases for observational studies that were done on patients with cirrhosis. Eligible studies reported AKI in patients with cirrhosis and compared mortality among patients with and without AKI. We used a random-effects model, using STATA version 16.0, for deriving pooled effect sizes that were reported as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Thirty-two studies were included. In patients with cirrhosis, AKI was significantly associated with higher in-hospital mortality (OR 5.92), and mortality at 30 days (OR 4.78), 90 days (OR 4.34), and at 1 year follow-up (OR 4.82) compared to patients without AKI. AKI is associated with an increased risk of mortality in patients with cirrhosis. Careful monitoring to identify the development of AKI and early prompt management is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aotearoa, New Zealand's (NZ) initial pandemic response has been held up internationally as a model of social cohesion and compassion, made salient by the 'team of five million' messaging promoted by the New Zealand government. This paper considers whether the first New Zealand COVID-19 lockdown was viewed and experienced as socially cohesive from the perspective of diverse older New Zealanders. This study presents a deductive analysis based on 44 individual or group interviews with Māori, Pacific, Chinese, Korean and New Zealand European (NZE) people aged 60 and over. This paper presents a critical, intersectional discussion around social cohesion experienced by older New Zealanders during lockdown, by considering their views and experiences of belongingness, legitimacy, recognition, inclusion and participation. We suggest that New Zealand European participants benefited most from national appeals for solidarity and reported enhanced feelings of belongingness and inclusion. Māori, Chinese, Korean and Pacific experienced belongingness and inclusion primarily on a community level owing to the culturally-specific support they received. We conclude that future pandemic planning should aim to strengthen targeted culturally-specific community initiatives already in action whilst improving aspects of inclusion and participation for all older New Zealanders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, soot particles generated and discharged from the flame during the kerosene combustion were studied. The soot particles collected in the flame were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, while the soot particles collected above the flame were characterized by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman, and thermogravimetric techniques. The results show that with the increase of the sampling height within the flame, the morphology of the soot particles gradually changed from viscous, connected dense state to well-defined particles which were accumulated to form chain structure, and eventually formed particle superposition. Meanwhile, the soot particles mainly contain four elements of C, O, N, and H. The soot particles showed good oxidation activity in the thermogravimetric analysis in an oxygen environment. On the other hand, by heating in a nitrogen environment, after 567 °C, the soot particles were subject to thermal degradation by self-oxidation with O-containing functional groups, involving bond rupture and restructuring to generate volatile substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of China Tourism Research is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of the work is to study the influence of historical elements of traditional music culture, which were formed before the Ming Dynasty in Southeast Asia, on the development of musical knowledge, which is the basis for the preservation of musical traditions. This study builds on an empirical approach through a sociological survey. The findings showed that 57% of study participants had an average level of knowledge regarding the historical features of the development of the national compositions. To improve the understanding of the specifics of music historical development, the authors have developed elements of the music education programme. In the process of teaching the emphasis was on historical events, with the use of interactive programmes; the study of compositions in practical classes separately for each period; the involvement of students in the process of teaching; detailed study of individual elements characteristic of each period; the development of creative skills and independence. The results showed that students preferred the period of the Yuan Dynasty (32%) among others due to the active interaction of China with different countries in those times. The lowest results were obtained by students in group 2 (72%), which confirms the effectiveness of the developed stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed 156 adult patients with primary cytogenetically normal AML for ASXL1 mutations and co-mutations using targeted next-generation sequencing with a panel of 34 genes associated with myeloid neoplasms. ASXL1mut were identified in 15(10%) patients, more frequent at an older age (≥60years) (p =.014), and had significant associations with co-mutations in TET2, KIT, CBL and SRSF2, whereas inversely correlated to NPM1 and CEBPA mutations. ASXL1mut clustered in ELN2017 intermediate-risk group (p =.028). In the context of intermediate-risk, ASXL1mut had a worse overall survival(OS) (p =.038) and Relapse-free survival(RFS) (p =.016) than ASXL1wt. When coexisting DNMT3A or TET2 mutations, ASXL1mut/DNMT3Amut genetype revealed a superior OS than ASXL1mut/DNMT3Awt (p =.027), and ASXL1mut/TET2mut confered a worse RFS than ASXL1mut/TET2wt (p =.031). No significant prognosis impact of VAF (a cutoff value of 30%) and clone ranks of ASXL1mut were observed in this corhort. Our study provided a new understanding of characteristics of ASXL1mut AML. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new series of 6,9-dihydrofuro[3,2-f]quinoline-8-carbonitrile derivatives were prepared, via one-pot reaction of ethyl 5-aminobenzofuran-2-carboxylate, aromatic aldehydes and 3-oxo-3-phenylpropanenitrile in ethanol as a solvent at reflux. The advantages of this protocol include mild reaction conditions, easy purification, high yields, and catalyst-free approach. IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and HRMS spectras were used to identify the structures of all the synthesized compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the relationship between the flue gases and combustion state of In-Situ Combustion(ISC) were systemically studied by analysis of combustion mechanism, simulate static and dynamic oil flooding experiments. On-site detection gas method was established and used for the detection the content of O2, CO2, H2S, CO, CH4 in the flue gases. The results showed that the CO2 content was higher than 10%, the O2 content was lower than 3%, and the range from 70-85% of N2 in the flue gases, it can be evaluated as high temperature burning state. The CH4 content in the flue gases was higher than 30%, the heavy oil reservoir would undergo hydro-thermal cracking reaction and the corresponding wells were in the combustion preheating stage. The gases content was conducted to evaluated the combustion state and ensure the safety of underground production Well. Based on that, the identification of combustion state and application in the fire flooding industrial pilot area of Hongqian-1 Wellblock was further explained. The results showed that 67% of ignition wells were in high temperature combustion state, and other 25% wells were evaluated as stalled. This study provided technique support for scheme formulation and production dynamic control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although we have entered the new normal created by the COVID-19 crisis, few studies have offered guidance for the future of hospitality and tourism education. This study attempts to fill this gap by adopting two theories – curriculum theory and stakeholder theory. Thirty participants, consisting of hospitality and tourism students, faculty members, and industry professionals, were interviewed in focus groups. The results demonstrate curricula with a heavy emphasis on technology (artificial intelligence, virtual reality, or big data), marketing, culture/diversity, safety/crisis management, and entrepreneurship; and soft competencies focusing on creativity, self-confidence/positivity, self-care/wellness, critical thinking, leadership and teamwork. Many of these hard and soft skills reflect a greater need for new innovative business ideas and safety/health concerns in the post-COVID era. We hope these results serve as a foundation for educators and other stakeholders involved in setting plans and strategies for hospitality and tourism education in the years to come. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical investigation of endophytic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus HQD24, isolated from the flower of Rhizophora mucronata led to the isolation of eight alkaloids, including pyripyropene A (1), 1,11-dideacetyl-pyripyropene A (2), pyripyropene E (3), chaetominine (4), tryptoquivaline J (5), fumitremorgin C (6), 1-acetyl-β-carboline (7), and nicotinic acid (8). Their structures were unambiguously elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data and comparison with the data of literature. Compound 2 was known as a synthetic product and isolated as a natural product for the first time. The immunosuppressive and cytotoxic activities of all isolated compounds were evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding student choice in hospitality and tourism higher education from the perspective of students' knowledge-based profiles remains largely unexplored in the literature. This study fills this research gap with contextual evidence of a unique sports tourism-related subject in Hong Kong as an example. A qualitative approach on the discussion forums with 45 undergraduate students was applied. Applying branding theory, student profiles consisting of their sports interests, sports brand attitudes, and awareness of athletes, along with sports tourism destinations and sports incidents were effectively reported. The common features and unique student profiles were discussed. A conceptual knowledge-based student profile model was developed for the benefit of quality assurance in higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the remodeling pattern of the extracranial occluded internal carotid artery (OICA) by vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (VWI). Thirty-nine atherosclerotic OICAs from 32 consecutive cases underwent 3-Tesla VWI to acquire pre- and post-contrast T1-weighted two-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery fast spin echo sequences. 25 symptomatic CAs exhibited ipsilateral downstream cerebral ischemia or ophthalmic artery embolism within last three months. The 14 remaining CAs were asymptomatic. Twenty-four CAs from 22 patients with atherosclerosis but no stenosis were recruited as control group. The outer wall area (OWA) was calculated based on the outer contour of the carotid artery drawn on the pre-contrast VWI. Negative remodeling was defined as a lower OWA compared to that of control group. Clinical characteristics including age, sex and vascular risk factors showed no significant difference between the occluded and control group. However, the OWA was lower in the occluded group than in the control group (0.63 versus 0.90 cm2, p = 0.004). For all OICAs, the OWA was larger in symptomatic cases than asymptomatic cases (0.71 versus 0.49cm2, p = 0.025). Using a cutoff value of 0.44, the sensitivity and specificity of OWA for detecting symptomatic OICA were 0.88 and 0.57, respectively. Heterogeneous signal intensity and enhancement were more often observed at the proximal than the distal segment of occlusion (p < 0.001). The inter-observer agreement regarding the evaluation of VWI characteristics was desirable (κ = 0.805 ∼ 0.847). Negative remodeling is prevalent in OICA, especially in asymptomatic cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Natural Fibers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Chemical epigenetic modifiers applied on a plant endophytic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus isolated from a healthy stem of terrestrial plant Cynodon dactylon, significantly changed of metabolic profile and resulted in the isolation of nineteen compounds, including ten alkaloids (1–10), six polyketides (11–16), and three benzene derivatives (17–19). This is the first report of 14, 18 and 19 being isolated from this fungal species. And compound 14 was known as a synthetic product and isolated as a natural product for the first time. HPLC profiles of the control and treated samples indicated that compounds 11, 16, 18 are belonged to the newly induced secondary metabolites. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometric analyses. The immunosuppressive and cytotoxic activities of all isolated compounds were evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]