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This study explored the application of near infrared spectroscopy for quantitative and qualitative prediction of sulfur content in diesel fuel in the range of 10.3–1038.0 mg kg−1. The original spectra were preprocessed through various methods such as decentralization, normalization, multivariate scattering correction, and a smoothing (15-point window with second order polynomial fit). The performances of models based on partial least squares (PLS) regression, the bootstrapping soft shrinkage (BOSS), competitive adaptive reweighted sampling and Monte Carlo uninformative variable elimination algorithms in quantitative analysis of diesel samples were compared. The model for quantitative prediction of sulfur content in diesel samples using the BOSS-PLS algorithm had the highest performance and accuracy with a RMSEP of 36.20 mg kg−1 and r2 of 0.98 using a Savitzky-Golay second derivative. Diesel fuel samples were classified into five groups according to the sulfur content for qualitative analysis. The interval PLS method was then used to determine the characteristic spectra of the diesel samples. The experimental results indicated that the discriminant partial least squares qualitative analysis model had the highest performance with the characteristic spectrum from 12,493 to 10,892 cm−1, with 92.04% accuracy.

This study aimed to compare the efficiency of these two combined surgeries [prolapse and hemorrhoids (PPH) combined with the external hemorrhoidectomy and inferior internal hemorrhoid ligation; tissue selecting technique with mega-window stapler (TST-MS) combined with anal canal epithelial preservation operation].This is a single-center, evaluator-blinded randomized controlled trial (RCT). A total of 204 participants were randomly divided into the two groups. The anal function, reoccurrence, intraoperative variables, and operative complications were assessed. The measurement data were compared by paired t test and rank sum test. Chi-squared or Fisher's exact test was used for count data and rank sum test for ranked data. To assess differences within each group in different time points, the repeated-measures analysis of variance was conducted.TST-MS combined with anal canal epithelial preservation operation had lower Wexner score of anal incontinence (Z = 3.062, P = 0.002), higher patients' satisfaction degree (t = 7.32, P 0.001), less residual skin tags (χTST-MS combined with anal canal epithelial preservation operation showed better clinical efficiency in the treatment of prolapsed hemorrhoids.This study has been registered in Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2000038533).

This study intends to assess whether BMSCs inhibits inflammation and promotes chondrocyte activity in knee arthritis. 36 SD rats were randomly assigned into group H, group K, group M and group B. The rat models of knee arthritis were established in Group K, group M and group B. After modeling, BMSCs were infused into rats in group B and methotrexate to rats in group M for 6 weeks followed by analysis of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1 levels, morphology of knee cartilage, chondrocyte activity and the expression of NO, ERα and cGMP protein. H&E staining found that the surface of knee cartilage in group H was smooth and the morphology of chondrocytes was normal. In group K, bone fissure was formed on articular cartilage surface, and the hyperplasia of deep cells was disorder. The surface of articular cartilage in group B and M gradually became smooth. Compared to group H, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1 levels in group K were increased (P < 0.05); their levels in group M and group B were decreased relative to K group (P < 0.05). Compared to group K, chondrocytes activity in groups H, M and B was increased (P < 0.05). NO, ERα and cGMP levels were decreased in knee cartilage of group K relative to H group (P < 0.05) and increased in group M and group B (P < 0.05). In conclusion, BMSCs can down-regulate IL-6, IL-1 and TNF-α, enhance chondrocytes activity, and up-regulate the levels of NO, ERα and cGMP, thus providing a new idea for treating knee arthritis.

A nine-step synthetic route to access the tricyclic core of FR901483 is reported, featuring a key aza-Wacker cyclization step to construct an α-tertiary amine (ATA) in the bridged structure. The aza-Wacker protocol can tolerate both exocyclic and endocyclic double bonds, providing viable access to various bridged bicyclic rings bearing an ATA (e.g., 6-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane, 7-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane, and 7-azabicyclo[4.2.1]nonane) in good to excellent yields. The synthetic studies presented herein enable structural derivatization of FR901483 to further exploit its compelling biological activities.

An alternative biosynthetic route to form the furan-fused chromene skeleton in xyloketals is proposed, which involves coupling of two moieties from a bifurcated polyketide pathway, instead of the previously proposed polyketide–terpenoid pathway.

We develop MoS2 and quercetin functionalized nanoelectrodes with excellent electrocatalytic and anti-sulfur poisoning performance for H2S detection. Utilizing such nanosensors, the accurate quantification of intracellular endogenous H2S was achieved.

A new binuclear cobalt complex with electron-donating group (–OCH3) accelerates the visible-light-driven conversion of CO2 to CO in a water-containing system.

An asymmetric dearomative tandem annulation between 3-nitroindoles and 7-oxo-5-heptenals was developed by using modularly designed organocatalysts self-assembled from cinchona-squaramide and d-proline.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in the development of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MIRI). In this study, we aimed to explore the regulatory effect and mechanism of lncRNA SOX2-OT in MIRI.The expression levels of SOX2-OT and miR-146a-5p in OGD/R-treated H9C2 cells and in myocardial tissues of MIRI rats were measured by qRT-PCR. Cell viability was detected by MTT assay. The levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, MDA, and SOD were measured by ELISA. The target relationship between SOX2-OT and miR-146a-5p was predicted by LncBase, and subsequently confirmed by DLR assay. The effects of SOX2-OT silencing on myocardial apoptosis and function were further validated in MIRI rats.The expression of SOX2-OT was increased in OGD/R-treated H9C2 cells and myocardial tissues of MIRI rats. Silencing of SOX2-OT increased the viability and inhibited the inflammation and oxidative stress of OGD/R-treated H9C2 cells. SOX2-OT negatively regulated its target miR-146a-5p. Inhibition of miR-146a-5p reversed the effects of sh-SOX2-OT on increasing the viability, and on inhibiting the inflammation and oxidative stress of OGD/R-treated H9C2 cells. In addition, silencing of SOX2-OT alleviated myocardial apoptosis and improved myocardial function in MIRI rats.Silencing of SOX2-OT relieved the apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress of myocardial cells via up-regulating miR-146a-5p, contributing to the remission of MIRI (Fig. 28, Ref. 33).

Rice is an important food crop in the world and the study of its growth and plasticity has a profound influence on sustainable development. Ethylene modulates multiple agronomic traits of rice as well as abiotic and biotic stresses during its lifecycle. It has diverse roles, depending on the organs, developmental stages and environmental conditions. Compared to Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), rice ethylene signalling pathway has its own unique features due to its special semiaquatic living environment and distinct plant structure. Ethylene signalling and responses are part of an intricate network in crosstalk with internal and external factors. This review will summarize the current progress in the mechanisms of ethylene-regulated coleoptile growth in rice, with a special focus on ethylene signaling and interaction with other hormones. Insights into these molecular mechanisms may shed light on ethylene biology and should be beneficial for the genetic improvement of rice and other crops.

Background: L-type Ca V 1.2 calcium channel, the primary gateway for Ca 2+ influx in smooth muscles, is widely regulated by multiple posttranslational modifications, such as protein kinase-mediated phosphorylation and nitric oxide-induced S-nitrosylation. However, the effect of S-nitrosylation on Ca V 1.2 channel function and its role in arterial contractility are not well understood. Methods: Electrophysiological recordings, Ca 2+ and confocal imaging, and biochemical assays were used to functionally characterize S-nitrosylated Ca V 1.2 channels in vitro, while pressure myography and tail-cuff blood pressure measurement were conducted to evaluate the physiological effects of Ca V 1.2 S-nitrosylation ex vivo and in vivo. Results: S-nitrosylation significantly reduced the Ca V 1.2 current density by promoting lysosomal degradation that leads to decreased levels of total and surface Ca V 1.2 channel proteins in a Ca V β-independent manner and reducing the open probability of Ca V 1.2 channel. Mechanistically, the Cys1180 and Cys1280 residues within Ca V 1.2 channel have been determined as the molecular targets for S-nitrosylation as substitution of either Cys1180 or Cys1280 for serine resulted in substantial reduction of S-nitrosylation levels. Of note, Ca V 1.2 S-nitrosylation levels were significantly reduced in arteries isolated from both spontaneously hypertensive rats and patients with pulmonary hypertension. Moreover, mouse resistance arteries incubated with S-nitrosocysteine displayed much lower contractility and spontaneously hypertensive rats injected with S-nitrosocysteine also showed significantly reduced blood pressure, suggesting that reduced S-nitrosylation contributes to the upregulation of Ca V 1.2 channel activity in hypertensive arteries. Conclusions: This study provides strong evidence that S-nitrosylation-mediated downregulation of Ca V 1.2 channels is via 2 distinctive mechanisms and the findings offer potential pathways for therapeutic inventions in hypertension.

Singapore grouper iridovirus (SGIV) is a highly pathogenic double-stranded DNA virus, and the fatality rate of SGIV-infected grouper is more than 90%. Up to now, there is no effective methods to control the disease. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) might play an important role in individual growth and development, immune regulation and other life processes. In this study, lncRNAs were identified in Epinephelus coioides, an important economic aquaculture marine fish in China and Southeast Asia, and the regulatory relationships of lncRNAs and mRNA response to SGIV infection were analyzed. A total of 11,678 lncRNAs were identified and classified from the spleen and GS (grouper spleen) cells. 105 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) were detected during SGIV infection. The lncRNAs and the regulated mRNAs were analyzed using co-expression network, lncRNA target gene annotation and GO enrichment. At 24 and 48 h after SGIV infection, 118 and 339 lncRNA-mRNA pairs in GS cells were detected, and 728 and 688 differentially expressed lncRNA-mRNA pairs in spleen were obtained, respectively. GO and KEGG were used to predict the DE lncRNAs' target genes, and deduce the DE lncRNAs-affected signaling pathways. In GS cells, lncRNAs might participate in cell part, binding and catalytic activity; and lncRNAs might be involved in immune system process and transcription factor activity in spleen. These data demonstrated that lncRNAs could regulate the expression of immune-related genes response to viral infection, and providing a new insight into understanding the complexity of immune regulatory networks mediated by lncRNAs during viral infection in teleost fish.

Aiming at the problem of inaccurate feature extraction of low illumination images, a method is proposed that fuses Scale Invariant Feature Transform into SuperPoint. Firstly, the low illumination image is light-enhanced. Secondly, SuperPoint and SIFT features are fused at feature map level, changing the deep neural network weight by labeling the prob output of the network with the SIFT of input image as the maximum of the current prob at pixel-level. Finally, the loss function is constructed based on homography transformation, its principle between image pairs is used to realize the constraint on network parameters. The training and evaluation are conducted on ExDark dataset, tests and comparisons are conducted on multiple indicators of SOTA on HPatches common dataset. The experimental results show that our method improves the precision and recall than SuperPoint, and performs well in multiple evaluation indicators. &nbsp

Eyelid reconstruction is a demanding task faced by plastic surgeons. Island flaps from the zygomaticotemporal region, where the zygomatico-orbital artery predominates in vascularization, represent the recent local approaches to this problem. Questions exist as to where and on what element the flap should be based, and whether or not they should be adapted in relation to the behavior of the zygomatico-orbital artery.A total of 22 fresh-frozen adult cadaver heads were employed. The fasciocutaneous perforators of the zygomatico-orbital artery and their anastomoses with the surrounding arteries, especially those in the upper palpebra, were investigated. On this basis, a distally based perforator flap was created and executed for eyelid reconstruction in 7 patients.The zygomatico-orbital artery was interconnected through its perforators with the subdermal plexus over the zygomaticotemporal region and with the arteries in the surroundings. The transverse facial artery took the place of zygomatico-orbital artery where it was absent. Both the arteries anastomosed consistently with the superficial orbital arcade at a predictable site. All 7 flaps survived completely.A new distally based perforator flap from the zygomaticotemporal region is described regarding its anatomical basis and clinical applications to eyelid reconstruction. With a vascular axis consistently present and a pivot adjacent to the defects, the flap is more reliable in vascularization, and less harm to its donor site than orbicularis oculi myocutaneous flaps, and poses no concern about whether the zygomatico-orbital artery is present or not.

With increasing of data size and development of multi-core computers, asynchronous parallel stochastic optimization algorithms such as KroMagnon have gained significant attention. In this paper, we propose a new Sparse approximation and asynchronous parallel Stochastic Variance Reduced Gradient (SSVRG) method for sparse and high-dimensional machine learning problems. Unlike standard SVRG and its asynchronous parallel variant, KroMagnon, the snapshot point of SSVRG is set to the average of all the iterates in the previous epoch, which allows it to take much larger learning rates and makes it more robust to the choice of learning rates. In particular, we use the sparse approximation of the popular SVRG estimator to perform completely sparse updates. Therefore, SSVRG has a much lower per-iteration computational cost than its dense counterpart, SVRG++, and is very friendly to asynchronous parallel implementation. Moreover, we provide the convergence guarantees of SSVRG for both SC and non-SC problems, while existing asynchronous algorithms (e.g., KroMagnon) only have convergence guarantees for SC problems. Finally, we extend SSVRG to non-smooth and asynchronous parallel settings. Numerical results demonstrate that SSVRG converges significantly faster than the state-of-the-art asynchronous parallel methods, e.g., KroMagnon, and is usually more than three orders of magnitude faster than SVRG++.