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L-serine and its derivative L-cysteine have broad industrial applications, and their direct fermentative production from renewable biomass is gaining increasing attention. Corynebacterium glutamicum is an extensively studied and well-established industrial microorganism, which is a predominant microbial host for producing amino acids. In this review, updated information on the genetics and molecular mechanisms underlying L-serine and L-cysteine production using C. glutamicum is presented, including their synthesis and degradation pathways, and other intracellular processes related to their production, as well as the mechanisms underlying substrate import and product export are also analyzed. Furthermore, metabolic strategies for strain improvement are systematically discussed, and conclusions and future perspectives for bio-based L-serine and L-cysteine production using C. glutamicum are presented. This review can provide a thorough understanding of L-serine and L-cysteine metabolic pathways to facilitate metabolic engineering modifications of C. glutamicum and development of more efficient industrial fermentation processes for L-serine and L-cysteine production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to explore the prevalence, severity, and factors associated with multidimensional fatigue in Chinese patients with newly diagnosed meningiomas. This cross-sectional study included 120 Chinese meningioma patients. Data were collected before surgery, including demographic, clinical, psychological, and sleep characteristics, as well as fatigue scores based on completion of the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20). Mann–Whitney U tests, Kruskal–Wallis H tests, Spearman correlation and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the data. The results showed there was a high prevalence of severe fatigue for each dimension: general fatigue (33.3%), physical fatigue (27.5%), reduced activity (28.3%), reduced motivation (12.5%), mental fatigue (11.7%), and total fatigue (23.3%). Headache and anxiety were found to be associated with general fatigue. Depression was related with physical fatigue. The Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) score and depression were associated with reduced activity. Depression and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score were correlated with reduced motivation, while the KPS score and anxiety were associated with mental fatigue. Importantly, comorbidity, the KPS score, headache, depression, sleep disturbances, and the ESS score remained strong correlates of total fatigue. Our findings indicate that newly diagnosed meningioma patients are affected by multidimensional fatigue. For patients with risk factors of fatigue, targeted interventions are advised to decrease fatigue and improve HRQoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease, and topical sequential therapy with a combination of calcipotriol and calcipotriol betamethasone is currently approved topical treatment. However, the exact mechanism by which this treatment regimen relieves psoriasis is unknown. We assembled a cohort of 65 psoriasis patients and divided post-treatment cohort into responder group and non-responder group according to the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score after 12-week treatment. We measured the expression levels of proteins in collected 130 serum samples using our in-depth proteomics platform with a data-independent acquisition mass spectrometer and antibody microarray. We performed bioinformatics analyses of the biologic processes and signaling pathways that were changed in the responder group and constructed a proteomics landscape of psoriasis pathogenesis response to treatment. We then validated the biomarkers of disease severity in an independent cohort of 88 samples using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We first identified 174 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) for comparative analysis of proteins between responders and non-responders at baseline (p < 0.05). Then pathway analysis showed that the responders focused more on signaling molecules and interaction, complement and coagulation cascades, whereas the non-responders more on signal transduction and IL-17 signaling pathways. We further identified four candidate biomarkers (COLEC11, C1QA, BNC2, ITIH4) response to treatment. We also found 125 DEPs (p < 0.05) after treatment compared with before treatment in responder group. Pathway analysis showed an enrichment in pathways related to complement and coagulation cascades, phagosome, ECM-receptor interaction, cholesterol metabolism, vitamin digestion and absorption. CD14 was validated as potential biomarkers for the disease severity of psoriasis and treatment targets. In this work, we analyzed the response to topical sequential therapy and finally identified four biomarkers. Additionally, we found that topical sequential therapy may alleviate psoriasis by regulating lipid metabolism and modulating the immune response by affecting the complement activation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the status and change trend of forest in China, an indicator framework was developed using SDG sub-indicators. In this paper, we propose an improved methodology and a set of workflows for calculating SDG indicators. The main modification include the use of moderate and high spatial resolution satellite data, as well as state-of-the-art machine learning techniques for forest cover classification and estimation of forest above-ground biomass (AGB). This research employs GF-1 and GF-2 data with enhanced texture information to map forest cover, while time series Landsat data is used to estimate forest AGB across the whole territory of China. The study calculate two SDG sub-indicators: SDG15.1.1 for forest area and SDG15.2.1 for sustainable forest management. The evaluation results showed that the total forest area in China was approximately 219 million hectares at the end of 2021, accounting for about 23.51% of the land area. The average annual forest AGB from 2015 to 2021 was estimated to be 105.01Mg/ha, and the overall trend of forest AGB change in China was positive, albeit with some spatial differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aromatic structure of three different-rank vitrinites, V-YJL (Ro =0.61%), V-AW (Ro =1.13%), and V-JC (Ro =2.22%), was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), and atomic force microscope (AFM). Based on the HRTEM experimental results, it was found that with vitrinite reflectance increasing, the distributions of aromatic layers changed from disordered to well-aligned. The shapes of aromatic layers changed from twisted to more straight and parallel. In addition, there were more large-sized aromatic layers in vitrinite samples with larger vitrinite reflectance. XRD experimental data also showed that the sizes (La, Lc and N) of vitrinite crystallite structures increased and the inter-layer spacing (d002) decreased with increasing the vitrinite reflectance, which was consistent with the HRTEM data. AFM images illustrated that the surface morphologies of V-YJL, V-AW, and V-JC vitrinite samples showed as granule-like structure, compact spherical clusters, and irregular network with granular structure. Through comprehensive analysis of HRTEM data, XRD data, and AFM data, it was found that the morphology of the vitrinite samples obtained by AFM was related to the aromatic structural features of vitrinite from HRTEM and XRD. Both the aromatic chemical structure and morphological structure were coal rank dependent, and greatly affected by the arrangement of heterogeneous atoms. This study can provide helpful information on aromatic structure of vitrinite, which is important for investigation of coal and coal clean utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the recent developments in science and technology, torque measurements have been widely used in many fields. However, present torque measurement methods have limitations for long-term applications. Therefore, a new method of non-contact torque measurement based on the magnetomachanical effect is reported that may be used in reducing fatigue for long-term measurements. The theory of the changes in magnetization with torque are analyzed to construct a model. Hence, an experiment platform was constructed that includes an excitation coils, shaft, and Gauss meter. The relationship between the magnetic induction and the torque was measured using this apparatus. The results show that the experimental measurements are in agreement with mathematical models obtained using magnetomechanical concepts. The results also show that the maximum nonlinearity error of the system is 0.6% and the maximum repetitive error is 3.125%. Additionally, this proposed method meets the requirements for long-term torque measurements and may also be used for the non-contact characterization of the torque of watercraft and airplanes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed a kind ofZaocys dhumnadesDNA test kit and it’s indexes including specificity, sensitivity and stability were evaluated and compared with the method recorded in Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2010 edition). The bioinformatics technology was used to design primers, sequencing and blast, in conjunction with PCR technology based on the characteristics ofZ. dhumnadescytochrome b (Cytb) gene. The efficiency of nucleic acid extraction by the kit was done in accordance with Pharmacopoeia method. The kit stability results proved effective after repeated freezing and thawing 20 times. The sensitivity results indicated that the lowest amount detected by the kit was 0. 025 g of each specimen. The specificity test of the kit was 100% specific. All repeatability tests indicated the same results when conducted three times. Compared with the method recorded in Chinese Pharmacopoeia, the PCR-based assay kit by our team developed is accurate, effective in identification ofZ. dhumnades, it is simple and fast, demonstrating a broad prospect in quality inspection ofZ. dhumnadesin the future. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

High-levelab initiocalculations have been performed on the PBr radical by using multi-reference configuration interaction method plus Davidson correction (+Q) with correlation-consistent quadruple-ζ quality basis set. The potential energy curves (PECs) of the 22 Λ–S states of PBr have been obtained, most of which are reported for the first time. From the PECs of the bound states, the spectroscopic constants have been determined, in good agreement with the experimental results where available. Due to the large state density, there exhibits complicated interactions in the electronic excited states of PBr. The possible interactions by the spin–orbit coupling (SOC) effect have been discussed based on the evaluatedR-dependent spin–orbit matrix elements. The 51 Ω states, generating from the 22 Λ–S states after taking SOC into account, have been computed. The Λ–S component analysis of the wavefunctions for the Ω states indicates the strong interaction of the Λ–S states especially at the avoided crossing points and near the dissociation limits. Finally, the transition dipole moments of several transitions arising from upper Ω states to the X10+and X21 states and the corresponding radiative lifetimes have been studied. Our calculation results provide new information that should be valuable for further experimental studies on the electronic excited states of the PBr radical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new [#x003B2]-cyclodextrin functionalized poly (styrene-alt-maleic anhydride) was synthesized for removal of basic fuchsin (BF) and methylene blue (MB) from water via grafting reaction of [#x003B2]-cyclodextrin onto poly (styrene-alt-maleic anhydride) and then acylation with chloroacetyl chloride. Its structure was characterized. At a dosage of 0.25 g[#x000B7]L[#x02212]1, pH 6, and 25[#x000B0]C, adsorption equilibrium was reached in 600 min and maximum adsorption quantities to BF and MB were 295 mg[#x000B7]g[#x02212]1and 528 mg[#x000B7]g[#x02212]1, respectively. The equilibrium data fitted the Langmuir isotherm and the adsorption kinetics data followed the pseudo-second-order model. Adsorption processes were endothermic, entropy gained, and spontaneous in nature within 288-308 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemoprotective effect of hydroxytyrosol (HT) against Sudan I-induced genotoxicity was investigated in a human hepatoma cell line, HepG2. The comet assay and micronucleus (MN) assay were used to monitor genotoxicity. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation was measured using a fluorescent probe, 2,7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA). The levels of oxidative DNA damage and lipid peroxidation were estimated by immunocytochemistry analysis of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and by measuring levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), respectively. Intracellular glutathione (GSH) level was estimated by fluorometric methods. The results showed that HT significantly reduced the genotoxicity caused by Sudan I. Furthermore, HT ameliorated lipid pexidation as demonstrated by a reduction in TBARS formation and attenuated GSH depletion in a concentration-dependent manner. It was also found that HT reduced intracellular ROS formation and 8-OHdG level caused by Sudan I. These results strongly suggest that HT has significant protective ability against Sudan I-induced genotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkyl azides and acyl azides were reduced to the corresponding amines and amides with zinc and ammonium chloride as reducing agent under mild conditions in good to excellent yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to demonstrate a method for improving the solubility and relative bioavailability of artemisinin using a self-emulsifying drug delivery system (SEDDS). The self-emulsifying drug load, solubility, and emulsifying time were used as the evaluation indices, based on a solubility test and a ternary phase diagram. Optimal Mixture Design in Design-Expert software was used to optimize the prescription of the artemisinin SEDDS. By determining the water distribution coefficient in vitro, combined with the drug concentration–time curve in vivo, a comparison was made of the relative oral bioavailability of the artemisinin SEDDS and the crude drug. The optimal prescription ratio of oleic acid polyethylene glycol glyceride, polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil, and diethylene glycol monoethyl ether in the artemisinin SEDDS was 0.5:0.2:0.3 (wt/wt/wt), with a drug loading capacity of 41.556 mg/g, a solubility of 1.997 mg/mL, and a self-emulsification time of 214 s. The optimal prescription was transparent, slightly yellow, and oil-like. The average loading capacity of artemisinin was 41.912 mg/g, the emulsification time was 231 s, the average particle size was 128.0 nm, the average Zeta potential was –4.29 mV, and the solubility of artemisinin SEDDS in water was 1.997 mg mL–1. It is 33.85 times of the solubility of artemisinin in water, which achieves the purpose of increasing the solubility of artemisinin. The comparison of the oil/water distribution coefficient of the artemisinin SEDDS with that of the crude drug in vitro showed that SEDDS could improve the permeability of artemisinin and promote the absorption in vivo, and the relative bioavailability of the SEDDS agent was at least 1.47 times higher than that of the crude drug. The artemisinin SEDDS could significantly improve the solubility and relative bioavailability of artemisinin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combined effects of degrading bacteria (Paracoccus sp. LXC), humic acid (HA), and soil amendments, including chicken manure, biochar, and wormcast, were investigated through 84 d of incubation in order to improve the remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) in aged contaminated agricultural soil. PAH concentrations and dissipation kinetics were analyzed, and the biomass and communities of microorganisms and soil enzyme activities were examined to clarify the possible mechanism. The highest removal efficiency of PAHs was 42.1% when treated with Paracoccus sp. LXC combined with biochar and HA. PAH dissipation was consistent with the first-order kinetics model and the half-life of PAHs decreased from 2323.3 d in the natural attenuation to 103–277 d in the amended microcosms. Soil amendments and HA promoted the development of PAH-degrading bacteria and diversity of bacterial communities in soil but not that of fungi. The removal efficiency of PAHs was positively correlated with the density of PAH-degrading bacteria and soil urease (Ure), dehydrogenase (Deh), and manganese-dependent peroxidase (Mnp) activities (r = 0.824–0.941, p <.01). The Paracoccus sp. LXC apparently removed 2–4-ring PAHs, and biochar and wormcast were effective in removing 2–4-ring and 5–6-ring PAHs, respectively. The combined bioremediation strategy using degrading bacteria with soil amendments and HA has high potential for PAH removal in aged contaminated agricultural soil and the possible mechanism was the combination of bioaugmentation with Paracoccus sp. LXC and biostimulation with HA and soil amendments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Megakaryocytes (MKs) are the unique non-pathological cells that undergo polyploidization in mammals. The polyploid formation is critical for understanding the MK biology, and transcriptional regulation is involved in the differentiation and maturation of MKs. However, little is known about the functions of transcriptional elongation factors in the MK polyploidization. In this study, we investigated the role of transcription elongation factor EloA in the polyploidy formation during the MK differentiation. We found that EloA was highly expressed in the erythroleukemia cell lines HEL and K562. Knockdown of EloA in HEL cell line was shown to impair the phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) induced polyploidization process, which was used extensively to model megakaryocytic differentiation. Selective over-expression of EloA mutants with Pol II elongation activity partially restored the polyploidization. RNA-sequencing revealed that knockdown of EloA decelerated the transcription of genes enriched in the ERK1/2 cascade pathway. The phosphorylation activity of ERK1/2 decreased upon the EloA inhibition, and the polyploidization process of HEL was hindered when ERK1/2 phosphorylation was inhibited by PD0325901 or SCH772984. This study evidenced a positive role of EloA in HEL polyploidization upon PMA stimulation through enhanced ERK1/2 activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inherited thrombocytopenia 2 (THC2) is difficult to diagnose due to the lack of specific clinical characteristics and diagnostic methods. To identify potential plasma protein biomarkers for THC2, we collected the plasma samples from a THC2 family (9 THC2 and 15 non-THC2 members), enriched the medium and low abundant proteins using Proteominer and analyzed the protein profiles using the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in data independent acquisition mode. Initially, we detected 784 proteins in the plasma samples of this family and identified 27 up-regulated and 36 down-regulated in the THC2 group compared to the non-THC2 group (|log2 ratio| >1 and p-value <0.05). To improve the predictive power, top eight dysregulated proteins (B7Z2B4, LTF, HP, ERN1, IGHV1-8, A0A0X9V9C4, VH6DJ, and D3JV41) were selected by an area under the curve-based random forest process to construct a clinical model. Multivariate analysis with random forest and support vector machine showed that the prediction model provided high discrimination ability for THC2 diagnosis (AUC: 1.000 and 0.967, respectively). The potential plasma protein biomarkers will be tested in more THC2 patients and other thrombocytopenia patients to further validate their specificity and sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) is a clinically important causative agent of acute respiratory diseases in postweaning calves and feedlot cattle and causes numerous economic losses to the cattle industry. In June 2018, an outbreak of an acute respiratory disease occurred among 4- to 10-month-old calves on three intensive beef cattle farms in Heilongjiang Province, Northeast China, with a 27.42% morbidity rate (329/1200) and a > 25% mortality rate (85/329). Using next-generation sequencing, we comprehensively analyzed microbial diversity in the lung samples of the diseased cattle and found that the causative agent of this epidemic outbreak is mainly a bovine orthopneumovirus named BRSV strain DQ. We then isolated and confirmed the virus by RT-PCR and an indirect immunofluorescence assay. Phylogenetic analysis of genes G, F, N, NS1, NS2, and SH of BRSV strain DQ showed that this strain shares the highest genetic similarity with strains USII/S1, 15489, V41, and NY487834 belonging to subgroup III of BRSV. This is the first report of subgroup III strain of BRSV presence in China. Heilongjiang Province is a major cattle-breeding province in China; therefore, it is necessary to test for BRSV in the cattle trade and to conduct region-extended epidemiological surveillance for BRSV in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most versatile instrumental analytical techniques for the non-interventive characterization of organic artefacts is near-infrared spectroscopy. In the case of textiles, methodology has recently emerged for assessing the condition of historic silks on site and a corresponding protocol that allows the simultaneous weighting categorization of silks would be really advantageous. This would enable curators and conservators to be more aware of objects containing these problematic fabrics, informing decisions concerning treatment, display and storage. The research described here was directed at developing complementary near-infrared spectroscopic analysis for tin-weighting categorization. A robust classification model was generated from the multivariate analysis of spectra for a large set of reference silks, which allowed the differentiation of non-weighted and tin phosphate/silicate-weighted silks, both aged and unaged. The protocol was piloted at two regional costume collections, and its value to collections management clearly demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries silks processed in Europe were frequently weighted with tin phosphate/silicate. There is particular concern over these silks in collections, since they appear susceptible to catastrophic deterioration. The aim of this research was to better understand the consequences of tin weighting on the ageing behaviour of silk, and so inform preventive conservation policies for these artefacts. Samples treated according to two authentic procedures, 'pink tin' and 'dynamite', were prepared and characterized. The mechanical performances of the silks were then assessed before and after artificial ageing. Environmental scanning electron microscopy energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopic (ESEM-EDS) analyses of the treated samples suggest that pink tin-weighted silks incorporate sodium tin(IV) phosphate with some tin(IV) oxohydroxide, while dynamite tin weighting provides a complex sodium tin(IV) aluminophosphosilicate inclusion. The mechanical strength tests reveal that although the weighted silk samples were weaker than untreated silk after their initial weighting treatment, there was a smaller decrease in strength than expected after ageing. This suggests that the long-term stabilities of the tin-weighted silks may be somewhat less problematic than previously considered, which may lead to a reassessment of current preventive conservation strategies. Resume «Comprehension du comportement au vieillissement des soies empesees a l'etain des dix-neuvieme et vingtieme siecles» A la fin du dix-neuvieme siecle et au debut du vingtieme siecle, les soies fabriquees en Europe etaient frequemment empesees avec du phosphate/silicate d'etain. Il y a une inquietude particuliere pour ces soies conservees dans les collections, car elles semblent susceptibles de deteriorations catastrophiques. Le but de cette recherche etait de mieux comprendre les consequences de l'empesage a l'etain sur le comportement de la soie apres vieillissement, et ainsi d'eclairer les politiques de conservation preventive pour ces objets. Des echantillons traites selon deux methodes authentiques, celle de « l'etain rose » (pink tin) et celle « dynamite » (dynamite), ont ete prepares et caracterises. Les comportements mecaniques des soies ont ete evalues avant et apres vieillissement artificiel. Les analyses des echantillons sous microscope electronique a balayage environnemental couple a l'analyse X par dispersion d'energie (ESEM-EDS) suggerent que les soies empesees avec l'etain rose comprennent du phosphate d'etain (IV) et un peu d'oxohydroxyde d'etain (IV) tandis que l'empesage a l'etain dynamite fournit un complexe aluminophosphosilicate d'etain (IV). Les tests de resistance mecanique ont revele que bien que les echantillons de soies empesees etaient plus faibles que ceux de soies non traitees, apres leur traitement d'empesage initial, la diminution de leur resistance apres vieillissement etait plus faible qu'on ne l'attendait. Ceci suggere que la stabilite a long-terme des soies empesees a l'etain pourrait etre moins problematique qu'on ne l'estimait auparavant, ce qui pourrait conduire a une reevaluation des strategies de conservation preventive. Zusammenfassung „Das Alterungsverhalten von Zinn-beschwerten Seiden aus dem neunzehnten und zwanzigsten Jahrhundert“ Im spaten neunzehnten und fruhen zwanzigsten Jahrhundert wurde Seide, die in Europa verarbeitet wurde, haufig mit Zinn-Phosphat / Silikat beschwert. Es besteht spezielle Besorgnis fur diese Seidenstoffe in Sammlungsbestanden, da sie besonders anfallig fur katastrophalen Zerfall zu sein scheinen. Das Ziel dieser Forschung war es, ein besseres Verstandnis der Auswirkungen von Beschwerung mit Zinn auf das Alterungsverhalten von Seide zu erlangen, um Richtlinien zur praventiven Konservierung dieser Artefakte zu erstellen. Proben wurden nach zwei authentischen Verfahren, „rosa Zinn“ und „;Dynamit“, hergestellt und charakterisiert. Die mechanischen Eigenschaften der Seide wurden dann vor und nach der kunstlichen Alterung beurteilt. Rasterelektronenmikroskopie Energiedispersive Rontgenspektroskopie (Environmental scanning electron microscopy energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (ESEM-EDS))- Analysen der behandelten Proben zeigen,dass „rosa Zinn“-beschwerte Seide Zinn (IV)-Phosphat mit einigem Zinn (IV) Oxohydroxid beinhaltet, wahrend eine Beschwerung mit „Dynamit“ zu einer komplexen Zinn (IV) Aluminophosphorsilikat Verbindung fuhrt. Versuche zur mechanischen Festigkeit zeigten, dass zwar die beschwerten Seiden-Proben direkt nach der Beschwerung schwacher waren als unbehandelte Seide, jedoch nach der Alterung eine wesentlich geringere Verschlechterung der Festigkeit festzustellen war als zuvor vermutet. Dies deutet darauf hin, da&ss die langfristige Stabilitat der Zinn-beschwerten Seide vielleicht etwas weniger problematisch ist als bisher angenommen, was zu einer Neubewertung der derzeitigen praventiven Konservierungsstrategien fuhren konnte. Resumen “Entendiendo el comportamiento de envejecimiento de sedas cargadas con estano de los siglos XIX y XX” A finales del siglo XIX y primeros del XX las sedas procesadas en Europa se cargaban frecuentemente con silicatos y fosfatos de estano. En el contexto de colecciones hay una preocupacion especial por estas sedas ya que son susceptibles a deterioraciones catastroficas. El objetivo de esta investigacion fue el entender mejor las consecuencias de la carga de estano en el comportamiento de envejecimiento de las seda, para poder elaborar planes de conservacion preventiva para estos artefactos. Se prepararon y caracterizaron muestras tratadas siguiendo dos procesos autenticos: 'estano rosa' y 'dinamita'. Se evaluo el rendimiento mecanico de las sedas antes y despues del envejecimiento artificial. Los analisis de las muestras tratadas usando tecnicas de microscopio electronico de barrido ambiental rayos X de dispersion espectroscopicas (ESEM-EDS), sugieren que las sedas cargadas con 'estano rosa' incorporan fosfato de estano(IV) con algo de oxohidroxido de estano(IV), mientras que las cargadas con 'dinamita' proporcionan la inclusion de un complejo de aluminiophosphosilicato de estano(IV). Las pruebas de fuerza mecanica revelaron que a pesar de que las muestras de seda cargadas eran mas debiles que las de las sedas que no habian sido tratadas despues del tratamiento inicial, despues de ser envejecidas habia menos disminucion en fuerza que lo que se esperaba. Esto sugiere que la estabilidad a largo plazo de las sedas cargadas con estano puede ser menos problematica de lo que se habia considerado en el pasado, lo que puede llevar a reconsiderar las estrategias actuales de conservacion preventiva. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Gout Impact Scale (GIS) is a disease-specific health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) measurement for patients with gout. This study aimed to investigate the quality of life in Chinese patients with gout and potential risk factors for poorer HR-QoL by GIS. Adults with gout from February 2017 to February 2019 were invited to complete a questionnaire containing the GIS, social demographic characteristics, clinical information and gout-specific questions. Pearson/Spearman correlation and linear regression were used to analyze the data. A total of 413 patients were included in the analysis (mean age, 51.85 years; 96.4% male). The mean (SD) score of GIS total was 56.79 ± 15.45. Worse gout-specific HR-QoL was associated with anxiety (p <.05), depression (p <.05) and fatigue (p <.05). The effectiveness and global satisfaction of Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM) were negatively related to each dimension of GIS. Age (B = −0.251, p =.013), fatigue (B = 1.850, p <.001) and depression (B = 9.068, p =.042) were independent predictors of GIS total score. Gout-specific HR-QoL is impaired by social demographic and clinical characteristics, highlighting the importance of psychological factors (fatigue and depression) and patient-reported outcomes (patients' satisfaction and confidence in gout treatment). These findings suggest that more studies should focus on disease-specific HR-QoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess the acceptability, reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the Chinese Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (C-AQLQ) in a sample of Chinese asthma patients. Methods: The C-AQLQ and Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) scales were administered to patients at baseline and 3 months later. Asthma severity condition and lung function were evaluated. Necessary data were gathered to assess the psychometric properties such as the feasibility, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, structural validity, discriminant validity, convergent validity, and responsiveness of the C-AQLQ. Results: One hundred and thirty-seven patients completed the investigation. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the total scale was 0.96. Factor analysis yielded five factors that generally corresponded to the five proposed subscales. Patients with mild asthma reported higher scores than patients with moderate/severe asthma on all subscales other than environmental stimuli. Lung function measurement and the asthma severity score correlated significantly with domains of the C-AQOL but with fewer domains of the SF-36. The questionnaire detected within-subject changes in patients' asthma status during follow-up. Conclusions: Results indicated preliminary support that the C-AQLQ is a reliable, valid, discriminating, and responsive measure of quality of life in Chinese asthma patients. It is more sensitive than the generic SF-36 in detecting differences in asthma severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land surface temperature (LST) is a key parameter in land surface physics and depends on energy and water exchange processes with the atmosphere. The generalized single-channel (GSC) algorithm is an operational approach for retrieving LST from satellite sensors with only one thermal infrared channel. Until now, validations of the GSC algorithm usingin situdata were limited. In this study, Landsat 8 imagery and SURFace RADiation budget network (SURFRAD) ground observations were employed to test the accuracy of the GSC algorithm. The validation results show that the GSC algorithm can obtain high LST retrieval accuracy when the total atmospheric water vapour content is between 0.5 and 3 g cm−2, with coefficient of determination (R2) between the retrieved LST and the ground LST greater than 0.97 and mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean square error (RMSE) values of 1.57 K and 1.96 K, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land surface temperature (LST) is a key parameter in the physics of land surfaces through the processes of energy and water exchange with the atmosphere. For Landsat data with only one thermal infrared channel (Landsat 4 to Landsat 7), LST cannot actually be retrieved, and external data sources, such as meteorological observations or Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data, are needed to obtain the water vapour content parameter (an important input parameter for the LST retrieval algorithm); this results in limitations on deriving LST. However, the band designations of the Landsat 8 sensors enable the derivation of LST from the Landsat 8 data. This article demonstrates an LST retrieval methodology that makes use of only Landsat 8 image data. In this methodology, the split-window covariance-variance ratio (SWCVR) technique is introduced to derive water vapour content from Landsat 8. A comparison between the retrieved LST and thein situLST measurements shows good accuracy, with a root mean squared error (RMSE) of 0.83 K. The fact that the proposed LST estimation method utilizing solely Landsat 8 image data does not rely on any external data is a significant advantage for the development of an operational Landsat 8 LST product generating system. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The treatment of pediatric severe aplastic anemia (SAA) with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), presents major challenges including the risks of graft failure, septic complications, and graft- versus-host disease (GVHD). Additive infusions of human umbilical cord derived mesenchymal stem cell (hUC-MSC) may be administered to improve patient survival. We retrospectively examined 37 pediatric patients with SAA who received allo-HSCT and subsequent infusions of hUC-MSC suspension at a dose of 1.0 × 106 /kg. The times and doses of hUC-MSC infusions were increased in patients with severe GVHD. All patients received hUC-MSC infusions. The median time to post-transplantation neutrophil count of greater than 0.5 × 109 /L was 14 days (range, 11-20 days) and time to post-transplantation platelet count of greater than 20 × 109 /L was 19 days (14-29 days). The overall frequency of acute GVHD (aGVHD) was 45.9% (17/37). These aGVHD episodes occurred at a median time of post-transplantation 47 days (15-83 days). The frequency of chronic GVHD (cGVHD) was 18.9% (7/37); cGVHD developed from aGVHD in 10.8% (4/37) of patients. The GVHD-associated mortality rate was 18.9% (7/37) and aGVHD-specific mortality rate was 8.1% (3/37). The median overall survival time was 35 months (9-67 months) and the three-year overall survival rate was 74.2% (28/37). Seven patients died of GVHD, one patient died of a severe invasive fungal infection, and one patient died of renal failure. In conclusion, post-transplantation hUC-MSC infusions seemed to be safely infused in children with SAA who have previously received allo-HSCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we have used plasmid-based RNA interference (RNAi) strategy to downregulate the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in EGFR wild-type (H292) and mutant (H1975) lung tumor models. The targeted knockdown of EGFR by small hairpin RNA not only inhibited growth of H292 xenograft but also inhibited H1975 lung cancer cell and xenograft, which bore L858R/T790M EGFR and was resistant to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors. These data demonstrated that small hairpin RNA was an effective therapy against mutant EGFR-expressing cancer cells and thus considered to be a promising strategy in the treatment of lung cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Although β-catenin cytoplasmic stabilization and nuclear translocation play a key role in initiation of colorectal cancer (CRC), the mechanisms are far from clear. The aim of this study was to investigate the relation of expressions of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and E-cadherin, and the β-catenin gene exon 3 mutation to the altered distribution of β-catenin, and their roles in CRC progression and prognosis. Material and methods. Expressions of β-catenin, COX-2 and E-cadherin in 96 tissue specimens were detected by immunohistochemistry, and mutation of β-catenin gene exon 3 was screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC). Results. Cytoplasmic/nuclear expression of β-catenin and reduced membranous expression of E-cadherin were associated, respectively, with the earlier and later stages of sequential colorectal carcinogenesis (p<0.05). The altered distribution of β-catenin was significantly associated with both high Dukes' stages and poor differentiation of CRC (p<0.05). It also had a parallel relationship with COX-2 overexpression (p<0.05, Spearman's rank analysis), but not with reduced E-cadherin expression. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a significantly worse survival rate for CRC patients with altered expression of β-catenin (p<0.05, log-rank test). Nevertheless, we failed to find any exon 3 mutation of β-catenin gene in all 60 cases of CRC. Conclusions. Altered distribution of β-catenin occurs in the early stage of colorectal carcinogenesis and has a parallel relationship with COX-2 overexpression. It may serve as a potential marker for the progression and prognosis of CRC. The exon 3 mutation did not appear contributive to the abnormal expression of β-catenin in CRCs in a Chinese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a new enantiornithine bird, Linyiornis amoena gen. et sp. nov., from the Lower Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation in northeastern China. Traces of ovarian follicles indicate that the specimen represents a female individual. The nearly three-dimensional preservation of the new specimen reveals morphological details rarely visible in other Early Cretaceous enantiornithines, allowing more detailed comparison with Late Cretaceous enantiornithines. Differences in the preserved morphology of the right and left coracoids suggest that the appearance of some features is strongly affected by preservation, indicating that the distribution of these features in compressed specimens may need to be reevaluated. Like Late Cretaceous enantiornithine specimens, the holotype of Linyiornis amoena preserves a hypertrophied pit for muscle attachment on the bicipital crest but clearly did not preserve a fossa for the capital ligament, present in Late Cretaceous taxa; we discuss the functional morphology and implications of these features in Linyiornis amoena. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:EFFD4348-7376-4201-A948-CEC686E2E0DC SUPPLEMENTAL DATA—Supplemental materials are available for this article for free at www.tandfonline.com/UJVP Citation for this article: Wang, Y., M. Wang, J. K. O'Connor, X. Wang, X. Zheng, and X. Zhang. 2016. A new Jehol enantiornithine bird with three-dimensional preservation and ovarian follicles. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. DOI: 10.1080/02724634.2015.1054496. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]