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Renal transplantation is the only efficacious treatment for end‐stage kidney disease. However, some people have developed renal insufficiency after transplantation, the mechanisms of which have not been well clarified. Previous studies have focused on patient factors, while the effect of gene expression in the donor kidney on post‐transplant renal function has been less studied. Donor kidney clinical data and mRNA expression status were extracted from the GEO database (GSE147451). Weight gene co‐expression network analysis (WGCNA) and differential gene enrichment analysis were performed. For external validation, we collected data from 122 patients who accepted renal transplantation at several hospitals and measured the level of target genes by qPCR. This study included 192 patients from the GEO data set, and 13 co‐expressed genes were confirmed by WGCNA and differential gene enrichment analysis. Then, the PPI network contained 17 edges as well as 12 nodes, and four central genes (PRKDC, RFC5, RFC3 and RBM14) were identified. We found by collecting data from 122 patients who underwent renal transplantation in several hospitals and by multivariate logistic regression that acute graft‐versus‐host disease postoperative infection, PRKDC [Hazard Ratio (HR) = 4.44; 95% CI = [1.60, 13.68]; p = 0.006] mRNA level correlated with the renal function after transplantation. The prediction model constructed had good predictive accuracy (C‐index = 0.886). Elevated levels of donor kidney PRKDC are associated with renal dysfunction after transplantation. The prediction model of renal function status for post‐transplant recipients based on PRKDC has good predictive accuracy and clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Riehl's melanosis (RM) is an acquired hyperpigmentation disorder, presenting diffused and reticulate brownish-gray pigmentation, preferentially on the face and neck. RM overlaps with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis has never been reported. Case: We report a case of RM patient accompanied with SLE and Hashimoto's thyroiditis of primary hypothyroidism. Progressing, diffuse, symmetric, and reticular hyperpigmentation was seen on the face, neck, and upper limbs, manifesting as typical melanosis. Skin microscopy showed diffuse black-pepper-like changes and telangiectasias. The diagnosis of SLE and primary hypothyroidism were confirmed by follow-up investigations. The hyperpigmentation turned notably lighter after 14 months of treatment with prednisone, hydroxychloroquine, and L-thyroxine. Discussion: The exact pathogenesis of RM is unclear and exposure to coal tar dyes, ultraviolet, and fragrance fixatives in cosmetics are believed to be contributing factors, while some cases involve no triggers. It is not impossible that RM is a rare skin manifestation of SLE that has never been reported. The skin hyperpigmentation in this patient was not triggered by thyroid disease. Conclusion: RM could be a skin manifestation of autoimmunity. Coexistence of RM, lupus erythematosus and thyroiditis in the same patient is rare and has never been reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increase in satellites in the medium Earth orbit (MEO) region, there should be a focus on orbit safety in the MEO region. A safe orbit disposal strategy is necessary to maintain the sustainability of the MEO region. This paper focuses on long-term evolution modeling, safety analysis of MEO objects, and different disposal techniques for end-of-life BDS-2 MEO satellites. On the one hand, a long-term numerical evolution model is established, and mean equinoctial elements are adopted to propagate a long-term orbit. Long-term evolution for the MEO region over 100 years is carried out, including the Galileo, BDS, GPS, and GLONASS constellations. The earliest orbit intersection time with other global navigation satellite system (GNSS) constellations is put forward. On the other hand, a dynamic model and an optimization model for disposal orbit are established, which minimize the eccentricity growth within 200 years and the fuel consumption for maneuvering to the disposal orbit. The bounds for the disposal region of BDS MEO satellites are also proposed, which consider the measurement and control error of BDS MEO satellites and the eccentricity bounds for end-of-life BDS MEO satellites. A genetic algorithm is adopted to optimize the orbital elements for end-of-life BDS MEO satellites. In addition, two disposal cases, namely, upraising and reducing the orbit, for end-of-life BDS MEO satellites are simulated. The long-term evolutions for the disposal of orbital elements within 200 years are implemented, and the fuel consumption is calculated. The results show that the current MEO region is relatively safe and that the eccentricity is the most important factor that influences the long-term evolution of safety analysis for BDS MEO disposal orbits. Upraising the orbit is safe for end-of-life BDS MEO satellites. This investigation provides the theoretical foundation for investigating the long-term evolutionary mechanisms of the MEO region and references disposal strategy analysis for decommissioned navigation satellites, and the spent upper stages for other GNSS constellations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many factors affecting the characteristics of cement-fly ash slurry in practical engineering. Thus, this paper studies the influence of multifactors on the fluid properties of cement-fly ash slurry based on water-cement ratio (w / c) (0.75, 1, 1.25, and 1.5), fly ash content (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%) and temperature (20°C, 40°C, 60°C, and 80°C). The bleeding ratio, initial setting time, final setting time, and viscosity were analyzed under coupling conditions. It is found that the water-cement ratio (w / c) is the main factor that affects the rheological properties and bleeding rate of slurry. The temperature affects the stability of the slurry in terms that the bleeding ratio of the slurry decreases as the temperature increases. The addition of fly ash enhances the stability of the slurry under different temperature conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sensitive resonance Rayleigh light scattering (RLS) assay for alpinetin was developed based on alpinetin‐modified gold nanorods (AuNRs). Alpinetin could interact with AuNRs and formed a new assembly by electrostatic attraction. In pH 7.4 Tris–HCl buffer solution, the assembly of alpinetin–AuNRs showed a sensitive RLS signal. Under optimum conditions, the magnitude of enhanced RLS intensity (ΔIRLS) was proportional to the concentration of alpinetin over the range 0.027–3.24 μg ml−1, with a detection limit of 1.79 ng ml−1 (by 3σ). The developed RLS method was successfully applied to the detection of alpinetin in real or synthesized samples. Alpinetin recoveries were 90.4–108.7% with an RSD of 0.82–2.9% (n = 5) for Alpinia katsumadai samples, and 95.1–103.7% with an RSD of 0.28–3.9% (n = 5) for synthesized samples. The results showed that this new approach was convenient, reliable and sensitive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly sensitive method for the detection of 6-mercaptopurine (MP) by resonance Rayleigh light scattering (RLS) method was developed. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesized by a modified seed method and characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). AuNPs were bound to MP via covalent bonding to form the MP-AuNPs complex, which increased the RLS intensity of MP at 347 nm (increased by 65.7%). Under optimum conditions, the magnitude of the enhanced RLS intensity for MP-AuNPs was proportional to MP concentration in the range 0.0681-1.702 μg mL−1. The linear regression equation was represented as follows: Δ I RLS = 9.31 + 82.42 c ( r = 0.9948). The limit of detection (LOD, 3σ) was 3.32 ng mL−1. The system was applied successfully to detect MP in pharmaceuticals. MP recoveries were 99.9-101.7% with a relative standard deviation (RSD) ( n = 5) of 0.59-0.77% for three synthetic samples, and 97.5-110.0% with an RSD of 0.98-2.10% ( n = 5) for tablet samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction of paylean (PL) with calf thymus DNA (ctDNA) was investigated using fluorescence spectroscopy, UV absorption, melting studies, ionic strength, viscosity experiments and molecular docking under simulated physiological conditions. Values for the binding constant Ka between PL and DNA were 5.11 × 103, 2.74 × 103 and 1.74 × 103 L mol-1 at 19, 29 and 39°C respectively. DNA quenched the intrinsic fluorescence of PL via a static quenching procedure as shown from Stern-Volmer plots. The relative viscosity and the melting temperature of DNA were basically unchanged in the presence of PL. The fluorescence intensity of PL-DNA decreased with increasing ionic strength. The value of Ka for PL with double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) was larger than that for PL with single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). All the results revealed that the binding mode was groove binding, and molecular docking further indicated that PL was preferentially bonded to A-T-rich regions of DNA. The values for Δ H, Δ S and Δ G suggested that van der Waals forces or hydrogen bonding might be the main acting forces between PL and DNA. The binding distance was determined to be 3.37 nm based on the theory of Förster energy transference, which indicated that a non-radiation energy transfer process occurred. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interactions of mapenterol with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and human serum albumin (HSA) have been investigated systematically using fluorescence spectroscopy, absorption spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD) and molecular docking techniques. Mapenterol has a strong ability to quench the intrinsic fluorescence of BSA and HSA through static quenching procedures. At 291 K, the binding constants, Ka, were 1.93 × 103 and 2.73 × 103 L/mol for mapenterol-BSA and mapenterol-HAS, respectively. Electrostatic forces and hydrophobic interactions played important roles in stabilizing the mapenterol-BSA/has complex. Using site marker competitive studies, mapenterol was found to bind at Sudlow site I on BSA/HSA. There was little effect of K+, Ca2+, Cu2+, Zn2+ and Fe3+ on the binding. The conformation of BSA/HSA was changed by mapenterol, as seen from the synchronous fluorescence spectra. The CD spectra showed that the binding of mapenterol to BSA/HSA changed the secondary structure of BSA/HSA. Molecular docking further confirmed that mapenterol could bind to Sudlow site I of BSA/HSA. According to Förster non-radiative energy transfer theory (FRET), the distances r0 between the donor and acceptor were calculated as 3.18 and 2.75 nm for mapenterol-BSA and mapenterol-HAS, respectively. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using fluorescence quenching, fluorescence lifetime, (UV + vis) absorption, circular dichroism (CD) and molecular docking technique, the interactions of human serum albumin (HSA) with bromchlorbuterol-HCl (BCB) and phenylethanolamine A (PEA) were investigated. The quenching rate constants and binding constants for BCB/PEA with HSA were determined at T = (292.15, 302.15 and 312.15) K respectively, which were all decreased with the increase of the temperature, showing not a dynamic quenching. The fluorescence lifetime of HSA with BCB/PEA had changed little compared to that of HSA alone ( τ 0 ), further confirming that BCB/PEA quenching of intrinsic fluorescence of HSA is a static quenching. The effects of K + , Ca 2+ , Cu 2+ , Zn 2+ and Fe 3+ on the binding were studied. The analysis of the thermodynamic parameters for BCB/(PEA + HSA) showed that BCB/PEA could bind to HSA via hydrophobic force. The binding distances were determined as 2.90 and 4.11 nm for (BCB + HSA) and (PEA + HSA) based on the Förster’s non-radiative energy transfer theory (FRET). Synchronous fluorescence and CD spectra indicated that the conformation of HSA was changed by BCB/PEA. The competitive studies for the drug with site marker suggested that both BCB and PEA were bound at Sudlow’s sites I (sub-domain IIA, also known as indometacin binding site) in HSA, and the results of the study of molecular docking also leads to the same conclusion. The competitive binding experiments for the two drugs were also performed, which further indicates that PEA and BCB could share the same binding site, and PEA has a much stronger binding capacity than BCB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new resonance light scattering (RLS) method for determining eugenol was developed using gold nanorods (AuNRs) as probes which were synthesized in our lab. The weak RLS intensity of eugenol was obviously enhanced by the use of AuNRs. All of the results from the SEM, RLS and UV spectra indicated that eugenol induced the assembly of AuNRs; thus, a new complex of AuNRs-eugenol was formed. The assembly of this new complex was achieved through a coordination bond between eugenol and AuNRs. Under optimum experimental conditions, a direct linear relationship was established between the enhancement of RLS intensity and the concentration of eugenol in the range of 0.043–10.60 μg ml − 1 ( r = 0.9927). Moreover, the limit of detection (LOD) was found at a nanogram level (7.28 ng ml − 1 by 3 S 0 / S ). The recovery and RSD ( n = 5) of three synthetic samples were 99.7–104.2% and 0.81–1.19%, respectively. The method was successfully employed for the analysis of eugenol in curry powder samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new method for the determination of calf thymus DNA at nanogram level was proposed based on the enhanced resonance light scattering (RLS) signals of DNA in the presence of procyanidin and cetylpyridinium bromide dihydrate (CPB). Under the experimental conditions, the RLS intensity of DNA at 291.0 nm was greatly enhanced by procyanidin–CPB at pH 7.0. There was a good linear relationship ( r = 0.9993) between the enhanced RLS intensity ( Δ I RLS ) and DNA concentration of 0.0084–3.36 μg mL −1 . The limit of detection (LOD) was 2.27 ng mL −1 (3 S 0 / S ). Three synthetic DNA samples were measured with satisfactory, and the recovery was 102.3–107.2%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To investigate the impact of donor Killer Immunoglobulin-like Receptors (KIR) genotypes and centromeric motif B (Cen-B) on clinical outcomes after unrelated donor (URD) hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for Chinese population. Method A total of 210 Chinese patients underwent URD-HSCT were investigated in this 4-year retrospective study. KIR genotyping and HLA typing were performed for the population. Results The risk of transplant from Bx1 donors and the benefit of the presence of Cen-B (ignoring the number) were observed for standard risk AML/MDS patients Donor KIR genotype Bx was associated with significant improved OS (P = .026) and RFS (P = .021), and reduced NRM (P = .017) for AML/MDS patients. A much worse survival was observed for transplants from Bx1donors compared to Bx2, Bx3, and Bx4 donors for patients in CR1, ( n = 82; OS: P = .024; RFS: P = .021). Transplant form donors with Cen-B improved OS (HR = .256; 95% CI = .084 to .774; P = .016) and RFS (HR = .252; 95% CI = .084 to .758; P = .014) for AML/MDS patients in CR1. However, the effect did not increase with the number of Cen-B motifs (cB/B vs. cA/B; OS: P = .755; RFS: P = .768). No effect was observed for high risk AML/MDS and ALL/NHL, CML patients. Conclusions Avoiding the selection of HSCT donors with KIR genotype Bx1 is strongly advisable for AML/MDS patients of standard risk. The presence of cen-B motif rather than the number was more important in donor selection for Chinese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction of terbutaline sulfate (TS) with calf thymus DNA (ctDNA) were investigated by fluorescence quenching, UV–vis absorption, viscosity measurements, ionic strength effect, DNA melting experiments and molecular docking. The binding constants ( K a ) of TS to ctDNA were determined as 4.92 × 10 4 , 1.26 × 10 4 and 1.16 × 10 4 L mol −1 at 17, 27 and 37 °C, respectively. Stern–Volmer plots suggested that the quenching of fluorescence of TS by ctDNA was a static quenching. The absorption spectra of TS with ctDNA revealed a slight blue shift and hyperchromic effect. The relative viscosity ctDNA was hardly changed by TS, and melting temperature varied slightly. For the system of TS–ctDNA, the intensity of fluorescence decreased with the increase of ionic strength. Also, the K a for TS–double stranded DNA (dsDNA) was clearly weaker than that for TS–single stranded DNA (ssDNA). All these results revealed that the binding mode of TS with ctDNA should be groove binding. The enthalpy change and entropy change suggested that van der Waals force or hydrogen bonds was a main binding force between TS and ctDNA. Furthermore, the quantum yield of TS was measured by comparing with the standard solution. Based on the Förster energy transference theory (FRET), the binding distance between the acceptor and donor was calculated. Molecular docking showed that TS was a minor groove binder of ctDNA and preferentially bound to A–T rich regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a new drilling technology, the ultra-high-speed diamond drilling can exhibit great superiority in drilling deep hard rock, which can achieve high rates of penetration (ROP) with substantially lower energy and load. In order to better understand the removal mechanism, the effect of ultra-high cutting speed on the cutting heat and rock-breaking performance of a single cutter was investigated by using ABAQUS software. A thermal elastoplastic damage model has been established by using a finite element analysis system aiming at the linear cutting operations. The changes of stress state, strain accumulation, and heat migration in the tool unit were analyzed. The results show that when the cutting speed exceeds 8 m/s, the heat flux and mechanical specific energy (MSE) decrease as the rotary speed (RPM) increases. That is, when cutting at ultra-high linear speed (>8 m/s), more input energy was used to break rock. In addition, when the cutting speed is in the ultra-high-speed stage and continues to increase, the proportion of brittle failure of the rock will gradually increase, and a new balance will not be reached until the cutting speed reaches 12 m/s, which helps to improve the rock breaking efficiency. • A thermal elastoplastic damage model has been established for the linear cutting operations. • A different trend from previous studies appears after a certain value of speed. • When the cutting speed exceeds 8 m/s, the form of the broken rock mainly dominated by plastic failure is changed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]