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Turmeric extract is a β-diketone polyphenol extract isolated from theCurcuma longa L, a plant of the genus Curcuma of the Zingberaceae family. It mainly includes curcumin (CUR), demethoxycurcumin (DMC), and bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC). It is a commonly used food, natural pigment and cosmetic additive, which has various pharmacological activities, such as hypolipidemia, antioxidant, anti-inflammation, antiviral and anti-Alzheimer's disease. However, poor stability and low bioavailability limit the clinical application of curcuminoids. Curcumin hydrogenated metabolites also have pharmacological activity, and they are more stable and bioavailable than curcumin. The metabolites of curcuminoids (CUR, DMC and BDMC) in turmeric extract in rats were identified. Turmeric extract was suspended in 0.5% carboxymethlcellulose sodium (CMC-Na). Healthy male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats in drug group were gavaged with a single dose of 1 703 mg/kg turmeric extract (approximately 480 mg/kg curcuminoids), and the rats in control group were given equal volume of 05% CMC-Na solution. And then, plasma at different time points was collected after oral gavage. Urine, faeces and bile were collected after oral gavage in rats within 12 h. Plasma were prepared by protein precipitation method, the urine, faeces and bile were extracted by methanol. The biological samples of faeces, urine, bile and plasma were analyzed by ultra high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole extractive orbitrap mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-Extractive MS) in negative ion mode. The accurate molecular weight, primary and secondary mass spectrometry information of metabolites in faeces, urine, bile and plasma were identified. As a result, a total of 59 metabolites (B1-W12) were identified. B3, B7, B8, B11, B12, B13, C3, D3, D5, D8, D10, W1, W2, W4, W5, W7 and W10 were new metabolites. W3/W6, W11/W12 and W12 were firstly found in plasma, faces and urine, respectively. The results showed that the main metabolic pathways of curcumin were glucuronidation, sulfation, reductive hydrogenation, oxidation, reduction, hydroxylation, dehydroxylation and their composite reactions. This method can provide a theoretical basis for the later screening of active metabolites of curcumin compounds.

The wild species Thinopyrum intermedium (genome JJJSJSStSt) serves as a valuable germplasm resource providing novel diseases resistance and agronomically important genes for wheat improvement. Two wheat-Th. intermedium partial amphiploids, TAI7045 (2n = 56) and 78784 (2n = 56), exhibit high resistance to stripe rust and powdery mildew, and their chromosome constitutions have been characterized. With the aim to transfer novel resistance genes from Th. intermedium, the crosses of common wheat line MY11 with TAI7045 and 78784 were produced, and their individual F2-F5 progenies were characterized using sequential non-denaturing fluorescence in situ hybridization (ND-FISH) and molecular markers. We identified a set of wheat-Th. intermedium addition lines, involving the chromosomes 1St-JS, 2St, 2St-JS, 3St, 4J, 4St, 5St, 5J.St, 6JS.J, and 7JS. Above all, the stable wheat-Th. intermedium small segmental translocation lines with chromosomes 4DS.4DL-4StL-4DL-4JL and 4DS.4DL-4StL-4DL were selected. Combining data from specific marker amplification and resistance evaluation, we mapped the gene(s) for resistance to powdery mildew and stripe rust in the 233.56–329.88 Mb region of the long arm of the 4St chromosome from the reference Th. intermedium genome. The new wheat-Th. intermedium introgressions will be used as novel germplasm for breeding purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The perennial species Dasypyrum breviaristatum (genome [V.sup.b]) contains many potentially valuable genes for the improvement of common wheat. Construction of a detailed karyotype of D. breviaristatum chromosomes will be useful for the detection of Dasypyrum chromatin in wheat background. We established the standard karyotype of 1[V.sup.b]-7[V.sup.b] chromosomes through nondenaturing fluorescence in situ hybridization (ND-FISH) technique using 28 oligonucleotide probes from the wheat - D. breviaristatum partial amphiploid TDH-2 (AABB[V.sup.b][V.sup.b]) and newly identified wheat - D. breviaristatum disomic translocation and addition lines D2138 (6[V.sup.b]S.2[V.sup.b]L), D2547 (4[V.sup.b]), and D2532 (3[V.sup.b]S.6[V.sup.b]L) by comparative molecular marker analysis. The ND-FISH with multiple oligo probes was conducted on the durum wheat - D. villosum amphiploid TDV-1 and large karyotype differences between D. breviaristatum and D. villosum was revealed. These ND-FISH probes will be valuable for screening the wheat - Dasypyrum derivative lines for chromosome identification, and the newly developed wheat - D. breviaristatum addition lines may broaden the gene pool of wheat breeding. The differences between D. villosum and D. breviaristatum chromosomes revealed by ND-FISH will help us understand evolutionary divergence of repetitive sequences within the genus Dasypyrum. Key words: Dasypyrum breviaristatum, Dasypyrum villosum, oligo probes, chromosome identification, ND-FISH. L'espece perenne Dasypyrum breviaristatum (genome [V.sup.b]) contient plusieurs genes potentiellement utiles pour l'amelioration genetique du ble tendre. La production d'un caryotype detaille des chromosomes du D. breviaristatum sera utile pour detecter la chromatine du Dasypyrum au sein d'un fond genetique de ble. Les auteurs ont etabli un caryotype standard pour les chromosomes 1[V.sup.b]-7[V.sup.b] via hybridation in situ en fluorescence en conditions non-denaturantes (ND-FISH) a l'aide de 28 sondes oligonucleotidiques. Ces analyses ont ete realisees sur la lignee TDH-2, un amphiploide partiel ble - D. breviaristatum (AABB[V.sup.b][V.sup.b]), ainsi que sur des lignees disomiques de translocation et d'addition [D2138 (6[V.sup.b]S.2[V.sup.b]L), D2547 (4[V.sup.b]) et D2532 (3[V.sup.b]S.6[V.sup.b]L)] nouvellement identifiees par analyse avec des marqueurs moleculaires. L'analyse ND-FISH avec de nombreuses sondes a ete realisee sur TDV-1, un amphiploide ble dur - D. villosum, et de grandes differences caryotypiques entre D. breviaristatum et D. villosum ont ete revelees. Ces sondes ND-FISH seront utiles pour l'identification des chromosomes chez des lignees derivees de croisements ble - Dasypyrum. Les lignees d'addition ble - D. breviaristatum nouvellement produites permettront d'elargir l'assise genetique pour l'amelioration genetique du ble. Les differences revelees par analyse ND-FISH entre les chromosomes du D. villosum et du D. breviaristatum aideront a mieux connaitre la divergence evolutive des sequences repetees au sein du genre Dasypyrum. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles: Dasypyrum breviaristatum, Dasypyrum villosum, sondes oligonucleotidiques, identification des chromosomes, ND-FISH., Introduction The genus Dasypyrum contains two species, namely the annual D. villosum (L.) P. Candargy (2x = 2n = 14) and the perennial D. breviaristatum (L.) Frederiksen (2x = 2n [...]

Gastric cancer has a high rate of recurrence, and as such, immunotherapy strategies are being investigated as a potential therapeutic strategy. Although the involvement of immune checkpoints in immunotherapy is well studied, biomechanical cues, such as target cell stiffness, have not yet been subject to the same level of investigation. Changes in the cholesterol content of the cell membrane directly influence tumor cell stiffness. Here, we investigated the effect of cholesterol on NK cell‐mediated killing of gastric cancer stem‐like cells. We report that surviving tumor cells with stem‐like properties elevated cholesterol metabolism to evade NK cell cytotoxicity. Inhibition of cholesterol metabolism enhances NK cell‐mediated killing of gastric cancer stem‐like cells, highlighting a potential avenue for improving immunotherapy efficacy. This study suggests a possible effect of cancer cell stiffness on immune evasion and offers insights into enhancing immunotherapeutic strategies against tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than half of non‐muscle‐invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients eventually relapse even if treated with surgery and BCG without optional bladder‐preserving therapy. This study aims to investigate the antitumor activity and safety of a HER2‐targeted antibody‐drug conjugate, RC48‐ADC, intravesical instillation for NMIBC treatment. In this preclinical study, it is revealed that human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression scores of 1+, 2+, and 3+ are recorded for 16.7%, 56.2%, and 14.6% of NMIBC cases. The antitumor effect of RC48‐ADC is positively correlated with HER2 expression in bladder cancer (BCa) cell lines and organoid models. Furthermore, RC48‐ADC is revealed to exert its antitumor effect by inducing G2/M arrest and caspase‐dependent apoptosis. In an orthotopic BCa model, tumor growth is significantly inhibited by intravesical instillation of RC48‐ADC versus disitamab, monomethyl auristatin E, epirubicin, or phosphate‐buffered saline control. The potential toxicity of intravesical RC48‐ADC is also assessed by dose escalation in normal nude mice and revealed that administration of RC48‐ADC by intravesical instillation is safe within the range of effective therapeutic doses. Taken together, RC48‐ADC demonstrates promising antitumor effects and safety with intravesical administration in multiple preclinical models. These findings provide a rational for clinical trials of intravesical RC48‐ADC in NMIBC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the fatigue life of the key component and the surface properties of the 30CrNi2MoVA steel material, advanced ultrasonic-milling composite superficial treatment was performed. The microstructure, surface roughness, friction and wear performance, surface hardness, fatigue life and environmental experiments of the steel with and without ultrasonic-milling have been carried out in detail. In comparison with those of the traditional dry cutting, the results show that the surface roughness of the samples after the advanced ultrasonic-milling surface modification fluctuates about 0.32 μm, and the surface hardness is increased by about 40% compared with the matrix hardness, and the fatigue life of the pump head connection shaft has been increased by more than 11 times. Advanced ultrasonic-milling surface modification technology can increase the local residual compressive stress and wear resistance on the material surface, which can make the material have better surface properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data-driven methods based on samples from a supervisory control and data acquisition system have been widely applied in water-supply-network burst detection to save unexpected economic and labor costs. However, the class imbalance problem in actual on-site monitoring needs to be revised to improve the performance of data-driven methods. In this study, we proposed a domain adaptation method to generate minor-category samples (pipeline-burst samples in general) of arbitrary pipe networks utilizing theoretical hydraulic models. The proposed method transferred pipeline-burst data generated from a random water supply network with theoretical hydraulic models to an actual imbalanced dataset. Accordingly, we established a machine learning model exploring a mapping matrix between two domains for minority-category data transfer. The experimental validation first verified the effectiveness and reliability of the proposed method between two customized water supply networks in terms of their bust recognition accuracy, model parameter sensitivity and time efficiency. Then, an actual monitoring dataset from a working water supply network was used to prove the suitability and compatibility of the proposed method. A bust-point location method was also provided based on the detection results of pipeline-bursting events. The validations show the superiority of our proposed approach for the imbalance data problem in pipe burst detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a key step of tumor lymphatic metastasis, lymphangiogenesis is regulated by VEGFC‐VEGFR3 signaling pathway mediated by immune cells, mainly macrophages, in the tumor microenvironment. However, little is known whether tumor associated neutrophils are involved in lymphangiogenesis. Here, it is found that TANs infiltration is increased in LN‐metastatic BCa and is associated with poor prognosis. Neutrophil depletion results in significant reduction in popliteal LN metastasis and lymphangiogenesis. Mechanistically, transcription factor ETV4 enhances BCa cells‐derived CXCL1/8 to recruit TANs, leading to the increase of VEGFA and MMP9 from TANs, and then facilitating lymphangiogenesis and LN metastasis of BCa. Moreover, phosphorylation of ETV4 at tyrosine 392 by tyrosine kinase PTK6 increases nuclear translocation of ETV4 and is essential for its function in BCa. Overall, the findings reveal a novel mechanism of how tumor cells regulate TANs‐induced lymphangiogenesis and LN metastasis and identify ETV4 as a therapeutic target of LN metastasis in BCa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The draining of brain interstitial fluid (ISF) to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the subsequent draining of CSF to meningeal lymphatics is well‐known. Nonetheless, its role in the development of glioma is a remarkable finding that has to be extensively understood. The glymphatic system (GS) collects CSF from the subarachnoid space and brain ISF through aquaporin‐4 (AQP4) water channels. The glial limiting membrane and the perivascular astrocyte‐end‐feet membrane both have elevated levels of AQP4. CSF is thought to drain through the nerve sheaths of the olfactory and other cranial nerves as well as spinal meningeal lymphatics via dorsal or basal lymphatic vessels. Meningeal lymphatic vessels (MLVs) exist below the skull in the dorsal and basal regions. In this view, MLVs offer a pathway to drain macromolecules and traffic immunological cells from the CNS into cervical lymph nodes (CLNs), and thus can be used as a candidate curing strategy against glioma and other associated complications, such as neuro‐inflammation. Taken together, the lymphatic drainage system could provide a route or approach for drug targeting of glioma and other neurological conditions. Nevertheless, its pathophysiological role in glioma remains elusive, which needs extensive research. The current review aims to explore the lymphatic drainage system, its role in glioma progression, and possible therapeutic techniques that target MLVs in the CNS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To compare the diagnostic positive rate and complication rate between the electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy (ENB) technique and computed tomography (CT)‐guided lung puncture for the biopsy of lung nodules located in the middle of an anatomic lung segment. Methods: Electronic medical records of 114 patients who underwent lung nodule biopsy between June 2021 and June 2022 were retrospectively evaluated. In all patients, the nodules were located in the middle third lung segment. To compare the diagnostic positive and complication rates between the two biopsy modalities performed in this lung region, clinical data, complication rates, nodule pathology, and imaging results were reviewed based on nodule characteristics retrieved from the electronic medical records. Results: Ninety‐three patients underwent CT‐guided lung puncture, while the remaining 21 patients underwent the ENB technique. No significant difference was observed in the diagnostic positive rate between the two groups (73.6 and 76.1%, respectively). In the CT‐guided lung puncture group, pneumothorax incidence, tube placement, postoperative hemorrhage, and symptomatic hemorrhage rates were 16.1, 6.5, 6.5, and 1.1%, respectively. In contrast, no complications occurred in the ENB group. Conclusions: The ENB technique is a safe and effective method for performing biopsies of pulmonary nodules with a diagnostic positive rate comparable to that of CT‐guided lung puncture and with a lower postoperative complication rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Active three-dimensional(3-D) thermography combines 3-D shape and active thermography. Thus, it enables the provision of the intuitive thermographic inspection results for composite parts with a complex geometry. However, conventional 3-D thermography acquires thermographic information and 3-D shape through at least two independent sensors and requires complex cross-modal image registration algorithm based on the keypoint detection and matching. In this article, an active 3-D thermography system is proposed using only one thermal camera for moving objects. This system does not require an independent 3-D sensor while the thermal camera acts as the 3-D sensor. Nature behind that is that a mathematical model is proposed to unify the line scanning thermography and laser triangulation in the dynamic scanning process, taking a line laser as both heat excitation for active thermography and spatial coding for 3-D reconstruction. Furthermore, the model enables the feature-free registration of thermogram sequence and 3-D shape, so that the registration is fast and robust without keypoint features. The experiments on standard height specimens, 3-D printing glass fiber composites, and carbon fiber intake tube have shown the error is calibrated within 0.25 mm in the range of 1 to 150 mm and evidenced the capability for subsurface defects detection. The ease and robustness of the proposed active 3-D thermography have a bright future for 3-D measurement, defects detection, and quality control in the production line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two improved analytical methods of calculations for natural frequencies and mode shapes of a uniform cantilever beam carrying a tip-mass under base excitation are presented based on forced vibration theory and the method of separation of variables, respectively. The cantilever model is simplified in detail by replacing the tip-mass with an equivalent inertial force and inertial moment acting at the free end of the cantilever based on D’Alembert’s principle. The concentrated equivalent inertial force and inertial moment are further represented as distributed loads using Dirac Delta Function. In this case, some typical natural frequencies and mode shapes of the cantilever model are calculated by the improved and unimproved analytical methods. The comparing results show that, after improvement, these two methods are in extremely good agreement with each other even the offset distance between the gravity center of the tip-mass and the attachment point is large. As further verification, the transient and steady displacement responses of the cantilever system under a sine base excitation are presented in which two improved methods are separately utilized. Finally, an experimental cantilever system is fabricated and the theoretical displacement responses are validated by the experimental measurements successfully.

Thinopyrum intermedium possesses many desirable agronomic traits that make it a valuable genetic source for wheat improvement. The precise identification of individual chromosomes of allohexaploid Th. intermedium is a challenge due to its three sub-genomic constitutions with complex evolutionary ancestries. The non-denaturing fluorescent in situ hybridization (ND-FISH) using tandem-repeat oligos, including Oligo-B11 and Oligo-pDb12H, effectively distinguished the St, J and JS genomes, while Oligo-FISH painting, based on seven oligonucleotide pools derived from collinear regions between barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), was able to identify each linkage group of the Th. intermedium chromosomes. We subsequently established the first karyotype of Th. intermedium with individual chromosome recognition using sequential ND-FISH and Oligo-FISH painting. The chromosome constitutions of 14 wheat–Th. intermedium partial amphiploids and addition lines were characterized. Distinct intergenomic chromosome rearrangements were revealed among Th. intermedium chromosomes in these amphiploids and addition lines. The precisely defined karyotypes of these wheat–Th. intermedium derived lines may be helpful for further study on chromosome evolution, chromatin introgression and wheat breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction of the 28-chromosome karyotype of Dasypyrum breviaristatum was undertaken using multicolor non-denaturing fluorescent in situ hybridization (ND-FISH) and Oligo-FISH painting protocols. A novel wheat-D. breviaristatum line D2138 contained 44 chromosomes including a pair of D. breviaristatum 6VbS.2VbL translocation chromosomes. Individual F2 and F3 progenies of a cross between D2138 with wheat lines CM62, MY11 and JM22, respectively, were characterized using ND-FISH and molecular markers. A relatively high chromosome alteration rate within wheat and D. breviaristatum 6VbS and 2VbL was observed in the three progeny populations, suggesting that chromosome 6VbS.2VbL has a gametocidal-like gene. The different types of translocation and deletion lines allowed localization of D. breviaristatum-specific gliadin coding genes on sub-telomeric regions of 6VbS by PCR and acid polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis. The positive effect of the D. breviaristatum 6VbS on agronomic and quality characters was also demonstrated. The new wheat-D. breviaristatum 6VbS and 2VbL translocation lines will be useful as novel germplasm for breeding purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even frequently used in wheat breeding, we still have an insufficient understanding of the biology of the products via distant hybridization. In this study, a transcriptomic analysis was performed for six Triticum aestivum - Thinopyrum elongatum substitution lines in comparison with the host plants. All the six disomic substitution lines showed much stronger "transcriptomic-shock" occurred on alien genomes with 57.43–69.22% genes changed expression level but less on the recipient genome (2.19–8.97%). Genome-wide suppression of alien genes along chromosomes was observed with a high proportion of downregulated genes (39.69–48.21%). Oppositely, the wheat recipient showed genome-wide compensation with more upregulated genes, occurring on all chromosomes but not limited to the homeologous groups. Moreover, strong co-upregulation of the orthologs between wheat and Thinopyrum sub-genomes was enriched in photosynthesis with predicted chloroplastic localization, which indicates that the compensation happened not only on wheat host genomes but also on alien genomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glioma is one of the most deadly types of brain cancer. As it is highly invasive, the prognosis for glioma patients remains dismal, with median survival rarely exceeding 16 months. Thus, developing a new prognostic biomarker for glioma and investigating its molecular mechanisms is necessary for the development of an efficient treatment strategy. In this study, we analyzed a cohort of 1,131 glioma patients using RNA-seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA project) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GSE4290 and GSE16011 datasets), and validated the results using the RNA-seq data of 1,018 gliomas from the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA project). We used the R language as the main tool for statistical analysis and data visualization. We found that NCAPG, a mitosis-associated chromosomal condensing protein, is highly expressed in glioma tissues. Furthermore, the expression of NCAPG increased significantly with the increase in tumor grade, and high NCAPG expression was found to be a predictor of poor overall survival in glioma patients (P < 0.001). This result shows that NCAPG expression could be an independent prognostic factor. Importantly, when the expression of NCAPG was knocked down, the CCK-8 assay revealed that the proliferation of glioma cells (LN-229 and T98G cell lines) decreased significantly compared with the control group. In addition, the healing rates of these cells were significantly lower in the si-NCAPG group than in the control group (P < 0.001). We then used the CIBERSORT algorithm to analyze the expression levels of 22 subpopulations of immune cells and found that NCAPG was significantly negatively correlated with natural killer cell activation. In addition, it was positively correlated with MHC-I molecules and ADAM17. Our study is first in comprehensively describing the high expression of NCAPG in glioma. It also shows that NCAPG can function as an independent prognostic predictor of glioma, and that targeting NCAPG can be a new strategy for the treatment of glioma patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although low-grade glioma (LGG) has a good prognosis, it is prone to malignant transformation into high-grade glioma. It has been confirmed that the characteristics of inflammatory factors and immune microenvironment are closely related to the occurrence and development of tumors. It is necessary to clarify the role of inflammatory genes and immune infiltration in LGG. Methods: We downloaded the transcriptome gene expression data and corresponding clinical data of LGG patients from the TCGA and GTEX databases to screen prognosis-related differentially expressed inflammatory genes with the difference analysis and single-factor Cox regression analysis. The prognostic risk model was constructed by LASSO Cox regression analysis, which enables us to compare the overall survival rate of high- and low-risk groups in the model by Kaplan–Meier analysis and subsequently draw the risk curve and survival status diagram. We analyzed the accuracy of the prediction model via ROC curves and performed GSEA enrichment analysis. The ssGSEA algorithm was used to calculate the score of immune cell infiltration and the activity of immune-related pathways. The CellMiner database was used to study drug sensitivity. Results: In this study, 3 genes (CALCRL, MMP14, and SELL) were selected from 9 prognosis-related differential inflammation genes through LASSO Cox regression analysis to construct a prognostic risk model. Further analysis showed that the risk score was negatively correlated with the prognosis, and the ROC curve showed that the accuracy of the model was better. The age, grade, and risk score can be used as independent prognostic factors (p < 0.001). GSEA analysis confirmed that 6 immune-related pathways were enriched in the high-risk group. We found that the degree of infiltration of 12 immune cell subpopulations and the scores of 13 immune functions and pathways in the high-risk group were significantly increased by applying the ssGSEA method (p < 0.05). Finally, we explored the relationship between the genes in the model and the susceptibility of drugs. Conclusion: This study analyzed the correlation between the inflammation-related risk model and the immune microenvironment. It is expected to provide a reference for the screening of LGG prognostic markers and the evaluation of immune response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurovascular dysfunction is a primary or secondary cause in the pathogenesis of several cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative disorders, including stroke. Therefore, the overall protection of the neurovascular unit (NVU) is a promising therapeutic strategy for various neurovascular diseases. However, the complexity of the NVU limits the study of the pathological mechanisms of neurovascular dysfunction. Reconstituting the in vitro NVU is important for the pathological study and drug screening of neurovascular diseases. In this study, we generated a spontaneously assembled three‐dimensional NVU (3D NVU) by employing the primary neural stem cells and brain microvascular endothelial cells in a Matrigel extracellular matrix platform. This novel model exhibits the fundamental structures and features of the NVU, including neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, vascular‐like structures, and blood–brain barrier‐like characteristics. Additionally, under oxygen‐glucose deprivation, the 3D NVU exhibits the neurovascular‐ or oxidative stress‐related pathological characteristics of cerebral ischemia and the injuries can be mitigated, respectively, by supplementing with the vascular endothelial growth factor or edaravone, which demonstrated that the availability of 3D NVU in ischemic stroke modeling. Finally, the 3D NVU promoted the angiogenesis and neurogenesis in the brain of cerebral ischemia rats. We expect that the proposed in vitro 3D NVU model will be widely used to investigate the relationships between angiogenesis and neurogenesis and to study the pathology and pharmacology of neurovascular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aegilops sharonensis , a wild relative of wheat, harbors diverse disease and insect resistance genes, making it a potentially excellent gene source for wheat improvement. In this study, we characterized and evaluated six wheat- A. sharonensis derivatives, which included three disomic additions, one disomic substitution + monotelosomic addition and two disomic substitution + disomic additions. A total of 51 PLUG markers were developed and used to allocate the A. sharonensis chromosomes in each of the six derivatives to Triticeae homoeologous groups. A set of cytogenetic markers specific for A. sharonensis chromosomes was established based on FISH using oligonucleotides as probes. Molecular cytogenetic marker analysis confirmed that these lines were a CS- A. sharonensis 2Ssh disomic addition, a 4Ssh disomic addition, a 4Ssh (4D) substitution + 5SshL monotelosomic addition, a 6Ssh disomic addition, a 4Ssh (4D) substitution + 6Ssh disomic addition and a 4Ssh (4D) substitution + 7Ssh disomic addition line, respectively. Disease resistance investigations showed that chromosome 7Ssh of A. sharonensis might harbor a new powdery mildew resistance gene, and therefore it has potential for use as resistance source for wheat breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Joint scanning laser thermography (JLST) is well-known for its efficiency to overcome the field of view (FOV) limitation of thermal imagers. However, JSLT requires a data reconstruction to reveal the location of the defective area straightforwardly. Moreover, its detection capacity is limited by the lack of a deconvolution algorithm adaptive to the reconstructed data. In this study, a deconvolutional reconstruction method based on the Lucy–Richardson (LR) algorithm has been developed for JST, which is effective in suppressing random noise and the blur effect caused by the thermal diffusion. A JSLT inspection is carried out on a functional coating material with cylinder-like defects to test the performance of the proposed method. In comparison to the directly processed method on the original data, the proposed method is processed on the reconstructed data and then compared with principal component analysis (PCA), restored pseudo heat flux (RPHF), fast Fourier transform (FFT) methods and non-negative matrix factorization (NMF). The experimental results indicated that our proposed LR method exhibited a higher signal-to-noise ratio. Besides, it can detect the cylinder-mocked debonding defects with a diameter of 1.5 mm and a depth of 2.0 mm buried under the 1.0-mm coating. In addition, the defect detection diameter-to-depth ratio reached 1.5, while the defect detection rate of the test specimens can approach 90%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquaporin 4 (AQP4) is an ubiquitously expressed membrane protein channel found in the central nervous system and mainly on astrocytes. Recent studies on AQP4 has implicated it in tumorigenesis. It is of interest to determine the potential value of AQP4 in identifying, guiding treatment and prognosticating various types of CNS cancers. This investigation systematically investigated the oncogenic role of AQP4 across 33 CNS tumors found in GEO and TCGA datasets. We found that CNS tumors strongly expressed AQP4. There appeared to be a strong link between the prognosis of patients with a CNS malignancy and degree of AQP4 expression. AQP4 expression influences the degree of CD8+ T-cell infiltration level as well as cancer-associated fibroblast infiltration in CNS tumors. Moreover, synaptic vesicle cycle and phosphatidylinositol signaling system-associated functions were also found to be related to AQP4 functional mechanisms. Furthermore, potential AQP4 inhibitors have also been explored by using Specs data base and virtual screening technique. This study contributes toward current knowledge regarding the role of AQP4 in CNS tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: A chromosome‐specific painting technique has been developed which combines the most recent approaches of the companion disciplines of molecular cytogenetics and genome research. We developed seven oligonucleotide (oligo) pools derivd from single‐copy sequences on chromosomes 1 to 7 of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and corresponding collinear regions of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The seven groups of pooled oligos comprised between 10 986 and 12 496 45‐bp monomers, and these then produced stable fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) signals on chromosomes of each linkage group of wheat and barley. The pooled oligo probes were applied to high‐throughput karyotyping of the chromosomes of other Triticeae species in the genera Secale, Aegilops, Thinopyrum, and Dasypyrum, and the study also extended to some wheat‐alien amphiploids and derived lines. We demonstrated that a complete set of whole‐chromosome oligo painting probes facilitated the study of inter‐species chromosome homologous relationships and visualized non‐homologous chromosomal rearrangements in Triticeae species and some wheat‐alien species derivatives. When combined with other non‐denaturing FISH procedures using tandem‐repeat oligos, the newly developed oligo painting techniques provide an efficient tool for the study of chromosome structure, organization, and evolution among any wild Triticeae species with non‐sequenced genomes. Significance Statement: We developed seven oligonucleotide pools based on single‐copy sequences on seven chromosomes of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and corresponding collinear regions of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The approach has greatly improved the resolution of chromosome identification for high‐throughput karyotyping of representative wild Triticeae species and the probes enable to characterize chromosome rearrangements for wheat‐alien transfer and evolutionary studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the critical role of hypoxia inducible factor‐1α (HIF‐1α) in cerebral neovascularization after stroke has been well characterized, the details regarding the regulation of endothelial progenitor cell (EPC)‐dependent neovascularization by HIF‐1α are not completely understood. Using lentiviral shRNA to knockdown HIF‐1α, we showed that HIF‐1α plays a central role in bone marrow‐derived EPC (bmEPC) homing and sprouting in the post‐acute stage of ischemic Sprague Dawley (SD) rat brains. First, knockdown of HIF‐1α decreased the homing of both endogenous and exogenous bmEPCs to the ischemic brain. Additionally, the knockdown impaired the incorporation and sprouting of bmEPCs in the ischemic brain. In vitro, knockdown of HIF‐1α inhibited the spheroid sprouting and tube formation of bmEPCs. Mechanically, the HIF‐1α‐dependent recruitment of bmEPCs to the ischemic brain was relative to the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis and HMGB1, which were relative to astrocytes. In addition, the loss of HIF‐1α resulted in deficient expression levels of VEGF‐A, Flk‐1, NRP1, and Dll4 in the ischemic brains, bmEPCs, and astrocytes. These findings suggested that HIF‐1α implicates in bmEPC homing via CXCL12/CXCR4 and HMGB1 and that it promotes bmEPC sprouting via VEGF‐A/flk1‐NRP1/Dll4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Malignant glioma is one of the most challenging central nervous system diseases to treat and has high rates of recurrence and mortality. Current therapies often fail to control tumor progression or improve patient survival. Marinobufagenin (MBG) is an endogenous mammalian cardiotonic steroid involved in sodium pump inhibition. Currently, various studies have indicated the potential of MBG in cancer treatments; however, the precise mechanisms are poorly understood. The functions of MBG were examined using colony formation, migration, cell cycle, and apoptosis assays in glioma cells. A mitochondrial membrane potential assay was performed to determine the mitochondrial transmembrane potential change, and cytochrome c release from mitochondria was assayed by fluorescence microscopy. An immunofluorescence assay was performed, and the nuclear translocation of NF‐κB in glioma cells was confirmed by confocal microscopy. Western blotting and RT‐qPCR were used to detect the protein and gene expression levels, respectively. In addition, transfection experiment of ATP1A1‐siRNA was further carried out to confirm the role of sodium pump α1 subunit in the anticancer effect of MBG in human glioma. The apoptosis‐promoting and anti‐inflammatory effects of MBG were further investigated, and the sodium pump α1 subunit and the ERK signaling pathway were found to be involved in the anticancer effect of MBG. The in vivo anticancer efficacy of MBG was also tested in xenografts in nude mice. Thus, therapies targeting the ERK signaling‐mediated mitochondrial apoptotic pathways regulated by MBG might represent potential treatments for human glioma, and this study could accelerate the finding of newer therapeutic approaches for malignant glioma treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an important relative of wheat (Triticum aestivum L), Dasypyrum breviaristatum contains novel high molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GSs) encoded by Glu-1Vb genes. We identified new wheat--D. breviaristatum chromosome introgression lines including chromosomes 1Vb and 1VbL.5VbL by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) combined with molecular markers. We found that chromosome changes occurred in the wheat--D. breviaristatum introgression lines and particularly induced the deletion of 5BS terminal repeats and formation of a new type of 5B-7B reciprocal translocation. The results imply that the D. breviaristatum chromosome 1Vb may contain genes which induce chromosomal recombination in wheat background. Ten putative high molecular weight glutenin subunit (HMW-GS) genes from D. breviaristatum and wheat-- D. breviaristatum introgression lines were isolated. The lengths of the HMW-GS genes in Dasypyrum were significantly shorter than typical HMW-GS of common wheat. A new y-type HMW-GS gene, named Glu-Vb1y, was characterized in wheat-- D. breviaristatum 1Vb introgression lines. The new wheat--D. breviaristatum germplasm displayed reduced plant height, increased tillers and superior grain protein and gluten contents, improved gluten performance index. The results showed considerable potential for utilization of D. breviaristatum chromosome 1Vb segments in future wheat improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drift compensation is an important issue in an electronic nose (E-nose) that hinders the development of E-nose's model robustness and recognition stability. The model-based drift compensation is a typical and popular countermeasure solving the drift problem. However, traditional model-based drift compensation methods have faced "label dilemma" owing to high costs of obtaining kinds of prepared drift-calibration samples. In this study, we have proposed a calibration model for classification utilizing a single category of drift correction samples for more convenient and feasible operations. We constructed a multi-task learning model to achieve a calibrated classifier considering several demands. Accordingly, an associated solution process has been presented to gain a closed-form classifier representation. Moreover, two E-nose drift datasets have been introduced for method evaluation. From the experimental results, the proposed methodology reaches the highest recognition rate in most cases. On the other hand, the proposed methodology demonstrates excellent and steady performance in a wide range of adjustable parameters. Generally, the proposed method can conduct drift compensation with limited one-class calibration samples, accessing the top accuracy among all presented reference methods. It is a new choice for E-nose to counteract drift effect under cost-sensitive conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas sensor drift is an important issue of electronic nose (E-nose) systems. This study follows this concern under the condition that requires an instant drift compensation with massive online E-nose responses. Recently, an active learning paradigm has been introduced to such condition. However, it does not consider the "noisy label" problem caused by the unreliability of its labeling process in real applications. Thus, we have proposed a class-label appraisal methodology and associated active learning framework to assess and correct the noisy labels. To evaluate the performance of the proposed methodologies, we used the datasets from two E-nose systems. The experimental results show that the proposed methodology helps the E-noses achieve higher accuracy with lower computation than the reference methods do. Finally, we can conclude that the proposed class-label appraisal mechanism is an effective means of enhancing the robustness of active learning-based E-nose drift compensation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The initial factor in the occurrence, development, and prognosis of cerebral ischemia is vascular dysfunction in the brain, and vascular remodeling of the brain is the key therapeutic target and strategy for ischemic tissue repair. Catalpol is the main active component of the radix of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch, and it exhibits potential pleiotropic protective effects in many brain-related diseases, including stroke.Purpose: The present study was designed to investigate whether catalpol protects vascular structure and promotes angiogenesis in cerebral ischemic rats and to identify its possible mechanisms in vivo and in vitro.Study Design: Cerebral ischemic rats and oxygen-glucose deprivation-exposed brain microvascular endothelial cells were used to study the therapeutic potential of catalpol in vivo and in vitro.Methods: First, neurological deficits, histopathological morphology, infarct volume, vascular morphology, vessel density, and angiogenesis in focal cerebral ischemic rats were observed to test the potential treatment effects of catalpol. Then, oxygen-glucose deprivation-exposed brain microvascular endothelial cells were used to mimic the pathological changes in vessels during ischemia to study the effects and possible mechanisms of catalpol in protecting vascular structure and promoting angiogenesis.Results: The in vivo results showed that catalpol reduced neurological deficit scores and infarct volume, protected vascular structure, and promoted angiogenesis in cerebral ischemic rats. The in vitro results showed that catalpol improved oxygen-glucose deprivation-induced damage and promoted proliferation, migration, and in vitro tube formation of brain microvascular endothelial cells. The HIF-1α (hypoxia-inducible factor 1α)/VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) pathway was activated by catalpol both in the brains of cerebral ischemic rats and in primary brain microvascular endothelial cells, and the activating effects of catalpol were inhibited by SU1498.Conclusion: The results of both the in vivo and in vitro studies proved that catalpol protects vascular structure and promotes angiogenesis in focal cerebral ischemic rats and that the mechanism is dependent on HIF-1α/VEGF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the composition of chromosome aberrations in a wheat‒Dasypyrum breviaristatum substitution line with seeds treated by a dose of gamma-rays (200 Gy), sequential non-denaturing fluorescence in situ hybridization (ND-FISH) with multiple oligonucleotide probes was used to screen individual plants of the mutagenized progenies. We identified 122 types of chromosome rearrangements, including centromeric, telomeric, and intercalary chromosome translocations from a total of 772 M1 and 872 M2 plants. The frequency of reciprocal translocations between B- and D-chromosomes was higher than that between A- and D-chromosomes. Eight translocations between D. breviaristatum and wheat chromosomes were also detected. The 13 stable plants with multiple chromosome translocations displayed novel agronomic traits. The newly developed materials will enhance wheat breeding programs through wheat‒Dasypyrum introgression and also facilitate future studies on the genetic and epigenetic effects of translocations in wheat genomics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wild species, Thinopyrum intermedium. (Genome StStJSJSJJ), serves as a valuable germplasm resource providing novel genes for wheat improvement. In the current study, non-denaturing fluorescence in situ hybridization (ND-FISH) with multiple probes and comparative molecular markers were applied to characterize two wheat-Th. intermedium chromosome additions. Sequential ND-FISH with new labeled Th. intermedium specific oligo-probes were used to precisely determine the chromosomal constitution of Th. intermedium, wheat—Th. intermedium partial amphiploids and addition lines Hy36 and Hy37. The ND-FISH results showed that the added JS-St translocated chromosomes in Hy36 had minor Oligo-5S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) signals at the short arm, while a pair of J-St chromosomes in Hy37 had major Oligo-pTa71 and minor Oligo-5S rDNA signals. The 90K SNP array and PCR-based molecular markers that mapped on wheat linkage group 5 and 3 facilitated the identification of Thinopyrum chromosome introgressions in the addition lines, and confirmed that added chromosomes in Hy36 and Hy37 were 5JSS.3StS and 5JS.3StS, respectively. Complete coding sequences at the paralogous puroindoline-a (Pina) loci from Th. intermedium were cloned and localized on the short arm of chromosome 5JS of Hy36. Line Hy36 showed a reduction in the hardness index, which suggested that Th. intermedium-specific Pina gene sequences may be associated with the softness trait in wheat background. The molecular cytogenetic identification of novel wheat—Th. intermedium derivatives indicated that the frequent chromosome rearrangement occurred in the progenies of wheat-Thinopyrum hybridization. The new wheat-Thinopyrum derived lines may increase the genetic diversity for wheat breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A dynamic evaporator model of air source heat pump (ASHP), considering the ratio of the latent heat to sensible heat of wet air, is presented to analyze the performance of ASHP under frosting. The performance parameters, such as the heating capacity, COP and the outlet temperature of compressor, are simulated with CYCLEPAD. Then a semi-empirical correlation that predicts frost accumulation on the air-side of fin-tube heat exchanger is developed with dimensionless analysis and also modified by a test conducted under cold-moist conditions in winter. In addition, eight influence factors are considered involving the ambient conditions and structures of heat exchanger, whose effects are analyzed as well. Among them, the equivalent diameter of air flow cross-section in fin-tube deq is especially proposed. Lastly, the relationships between the ratio, the performance parameters and the frost accumulation are discussed in this paper, followed by an evaluation of an optimal defrosting time interval to improve the ASHP’s energy efficiency and operational reliability at cold-moist conditions in central-south China. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]