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Laccases (LACs) are versatile enzymes that catalyze oxidation of a wide range of substrates, thereby functioning in regulation of plant developmental processes and stress responses. However, with a few exceptions, the function of most LACs remains unclear in plants. In this study, we newly identified 4, 12, 22, 26, 27, 28 and 49 LAC genes for Physcomitrella patens, Amborella trichopoda, Zea mays, Ricinus communis, Vitis vinifera, Triticum aestivum and Glycine max, on the basis of exhaustive homologous sequence searches. In these plants, LACs differ greatly in sequence length and physical properties, such as molecular weight and theoretical isoelectric point (pI), but majority of them contain a signal peptide at their N-terminus. The originality of LACs could be traced back to as early as the emergence of moss. Plant LACs are clearly divided into seven distinct classes, where six ancient LACs should be present prior to the divergence of gymnosperms and angiosperms. Functional divergence analysis reveal that functional differentiation should occur among different groups of LACs because of altered selective constraints working on some critical amino acid sites (CAASs) within conserved laccase domains during evolution. Soybean and maize LACs have significantly different exon frequency (6.08 vs 4.82), and they are unevenly distributed and tend to form gene clusters on some chromosomes. Further analysis shows that the expansion of LAC gene family would be due to extensive tandem and chromosomal segmental duplications in the two plant species. Interestingly, ~81.6% and 36.4% of soybean and maize LACs are potential targets of miRNAs, such as miR397a/b, miR408d, or miR528a/b etc. Both soybean and maize LACs are tissue-specifically and developmental-specifically expressed, and are in response to different external abiotic and biotic stressors. These results suggest a diversity of functions of plant LAC genes, which will broaden our understanding and lay solid foundation for further investigating their biological functions in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we first propose a linearized method for solving the tensor complementarity problem. The subproblems of the method can be solved by solving linear complementarity problems with a constant matrix. We show that if the initial point is appropriately chosen, then the generated sequence of iterates converges to a solution of the problem monotonically. We then propose a lower-dimensional equation method and establish its monotone convergence. The subproblems of the method are lower-dimensional systems of linear equations. At last, we do numerical experiments to test the proposed methods. The results show the efficiency of the proposed methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adenylate cyclase 5 (ADCY5)‐related dyskinesia is a childhood‐onset movement disorder. Manifestations vary in frequency and severity and may include chorea, tremor, dystonia, facial twitches, myoclonus, axial hypotonia, and limb hypertonia. Psychosis is likely part of the broader spectrum. ADCY5 is widely expressed in the brain, especially in the striatum. Previous reports of brain autopsies of 2 subjects with likely ADCY5‐dyskinesia were limited by the absence of a molecular diagnosis. In 1 case, normal gross pathology was reported. In the other case, ADCY5 expression was not examined and neuropathological findings were confounded by age and comorbidities. Objectives: To examine ADCY5 expression and neuropathological changes in ADCY5‐dyskinesia. Methods: An extensive brain autopsy, including immunohistochemical analyses with antibodies to paired helical filament tau, α‐synuclein, amyloid‐β, microtubule‐associated protein 2, and ADCY5, was performed. Results: The patient, with a p.M1029K ADCY5 variant, had severe dyskinesias from early childhood, later recurrent episodes of psychosis, and died at age 46. Gross pathology was unremarkable, but we detected increased immunoreactivity for ADCY5 in neurons in multiple brain regions. Despite no history of brain trauma to suggest chronic traumatic encephalopathy, we found tau deposits in the deep cortical sulci, midbrain, and hippocampus with minimal amyloid pathology and no Lewy bodies. Conclusions: We present the first brain autopsy findings in a molecularly proven case of ADCY5‐dyskinesia, showing increased ADCY5 immunoreactivity in neurons and evidence of tau deposition. Additional patients will need to be studied to determine whether increased immunoreactivity for ADCY5 is a signature for ADCY5‐dyskinesia and whether this disease has a tauopathy component. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cross-national collaboration has been shaped by internationalization of scientific relationships. To study the synergic network of high quality research patterns, this paper collects a total of 300 top 50 items, in each indicator from the big database, Essential Science Indicators, which lists top-ranking papers, scientists and institutions from 2005 to 2015. First, the country level relations of co-authorship addresses in five indicator variables are extracted in the field of social sciences to build international collaboration networks. The social network analysis (SNA) method was applied to calculate the metrics of vertices, edges, average degree, average shortest path, diameter, clustering coefficient and betweenness centrality to illuminate the structural characters and collaboration patterns. Based on the international collaboration similarities, this paper also visualizes the endemic clustering groups of six networks, as cluster dendrograms, using Hierarchical Clustering (HC) method. Findings illustrate that USA, England and Canada are outstanding countries in the international collaboration networks of five indicators. There are geographical groups in European countries in the collaboration networks of scientists, institutes and countries/territories. It is also found that international collaboration contributes to both highly cited papers in the recent 10 years and hot papers in the recent 2 years in this field, rather than geographical similarity does. Those conclusions are critical for policy makers to produce guidelines on how to encourage researchers to build collaboration networks with high-level scholars in different countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To report the long-term clinical outcomes, including efficacy and safety, of implantable collamer lens (ICL) implantation to treat myopia. Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. Retrospective case series. Medical records of patients who had ICL implantation were reviewed. The preoperative and postoperative visual acuity, spherical equivalent (SE), endothelial cell density (ECD), and intraocular pressure (IOP) were analyzed. The postoperative vault and complication rate, including cataract and glaucoma, were evaluated. Patients were placed in the lens opacity group or clear lens group based on whether lens opacity developed postoperatively. One hundred ten eyes (60 patients) were analyzed. The mean preoperative age was 30.3 years ± 8.3 (SD). The mean SE was −12.01 ± 3.70 diopters (D) preoperatively and −0.65 ± 1.09 D 10 years postoperatively. The mean vault height was 562.4 ± 175.9 μm 6 months postoperatively, decreasing to 352.9 ± 171.8 μm at 10 years. There were no significant changes in the ECD and IOP at any timepoint. Lens opacities developed in 21 eyes (12.1%) during the 10-year follow-up. The mean vault in the lens opacity group was significantly lower than in the clear lens group after 4 years. No patient who had ICL implantation when they were 30 years or younger developed lens opacity or required phacoemulsification. The results indicate that ICL implantation provided long-term stability and good refractive outcomes. Performing this surgery in young patients, especially those 30 years or younger, may be safe in terms of long-term cataract formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare biometry and prediction of postoperative refractive outcomes obtained by two swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) biometers (IOLMaster 700 and Argos), and a partial coherence interferometry (IOLMaster ver 5.4) Biometric values were measured using two SS-OCT and PCI device and evaluated against one another. Predictive errors were compared at one month after cataract surgery. One hundred forty six eyes were considered. Axial length (AXL) measurements were not successful in 3 eyes measured by IOLMaster 700 and Argos devices, and in 17 eyes measured by IOLMaster ver. 5.4 devices. AXL as measured by Argos showed a tendency to be shorter in long eyes with AXL more than 26.0 mm (p <.001) and to be longer in short eyes with AXL less than 22.5 mm (p =.005). Anterior chamber depth as measured by IOLMaster ver. 5.4 was longer than that measured by the other two SS-OCT devices (vs. IOLMaster 700: p =.003; vs. Argos: p =.006). White-to-white diameter measured using Argos was significantly different measurements obtained using two IOLMaster (p <.001, respectively). The mean absolute postoperative prediction errors were 0.41 ± 0.31 diopters (D), 0.42 ± 0.32 D, and 0.35 ± 0.30 D for IOLMaster ver. 5.4, IOLMaster 700, and Argos, respectively. The ocular biometric measurements using three devices showed high agreement. AXL measured by Argos showed a significant difference compared with the measurements from two IOLMaster. ACD was highly correlated between two SS-OCT devices except IOLMaster ver 5.4. LT and CCT values between IOLMaster 700 and Argos were different significantly. SS-OCT devices demonstrated a superior ability to successfully perform measurements compared with PCI device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gravelly soil is a typical heterogeneous porous medium with a multiscale structure and hydraulic conductivity that is challenging to quantify. The aim of this study is to examine the structure of an eluvial-colluvial gravelly soil at different scales and link the structural characteristics to the hydraulic conductivity. To this end, large gravelly soil samples and small fines-sand mixture samples were prepared and then characterized by X-ray computed tomography (CT) and optical microscopy, respectively. Through image analyses, the pore structural characteristics at the gravel scale (≥ 1.0 mm) and sand scale (0.01–1.0 mm) were identified. Constant-head tests were performed on the large gravelly soil samples to measure the saturated coefficients of permeability (k). The results show a relatively small gravel-scale porosity and a large sand-scale porosity in compacted gravelly soils. The dominant sizes of gravel-scale pores and sand-scale pores are several millimeters and approximately 0.06 mm, respectively. An evaluation of ten existing permeability equations indicates that most of the previous empirical equations proposed for sand and gravel are not applicable to well-graded gravelly soils. For this reason, the existing permeability equations were improved. In addition, novel empirical equations for estimating the k value of gravelly soils were proposed based on the structural parameters of pores, as well as the concepts of the effective porosity and the effective grain size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A biosensor was created for the simultaneous monitoring of endogenous H2Sn and H2S in mouse brains and exploring their roles in activation of the TRPA1 channel under two types of brain disease models: ischemia and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Based on DFT calculations and electrochemical measurements, two probes, 3,4‐bis((2‐fluoro‐5‐nitrobenzoyl)oxy)‐benzoic acid (MPS‐1) and N‐(4‐(2,5‐dinitrophenoxy) phenyl)‐5‐(1, 2‐dithiolan‐3‐yl)pentanamide (MHS‐1), were synthesized for specific recognition of H2Sn and H2S. Through co‐assembly of the two probes at the mesoporous gold film with good anti‐biofouling ability and electrocatalytic activity, this microsensor showed high selectivity for H2Sn and H2S against potential biological interferences. The biosensor can simultaneously determine the concentration of H2Sn from 0.2 to 50 μm, as well as that of H2S from 0.2 to 40 μm. The expression of TRPA1 protein positively correlated with levels of H2Sn under both ischemia and AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A biosensor was created for the simultaneous monitoring of endogenous H2Sn and H2S in mouse brains and exploring their roles in activation of the TRPA1 channel under two types of brain disease models: ischemia and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Based on DFT calculations and electrochemical measurements, two probes, 3,4‐bis((2‐fluoro‐5‐nitrobenzoyl)oxy)‐benzoic acid (MPS‐1) and N‐(4‐(2,5‐dinitrophenoxy) phenyl)‐5‐(1, 2‐dithiolan‐3‐yl)pentanamide (MHS‐1), were synthesized for specific recognition of H2Sn and H2S. Through co‐assembly of the two probes at the mesoporous gold film with good anti‐biofouling ability and electrocatalytic activity, this microsensor showed high selectivity for H2Sn and H2S against potential biological interferences. The biosensor can simultaneously determine the concentration of H2Sn from 0.2 to 50 μm, as well as that of H2S from 0.2 to 40 μm. The expression of TRPA1 protein positively correlated with levels of H2Sn under both ischemia and AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain and plays an essential role in regulating wakefulness. Histaminergic neurons, which are exclusively localized in the tuberomammillary nucleus (TMN) of the hypothalamus, have a pivotal role in the regulation of sleep–wake patterns by sending widespread projections into many brain areas implicated in sleep–wake control. The role of glutamate in histaminergic neurons within the TMN and the resulting sleep–wake profile remains unknown. We found that glutamate, NMDA, AMPA or dihydrokainate, a glutamate-uptake inhibitor, dose-dependently increased wakefulness when microinjected into the rat TMN. Glutamate, NMDA, and AMPA also increased the firing rate of action potentials in TMN histaminergic neurons. The arousal-promoting effect of glutamate was inhibited by NMDA and histamine H 1 receptor antagonists. Furthermore, MK-801, an NMDA receptor antagonist, inhibited the firing rate of histaminergic neurons and increased non-rapid eye movement sleep after microinjection into rat TMN. Taken together, these findings demonstrated that glutamate activated histaminergic neurons in the TMN and increased wakefulness in rats, possibly via the action of NMDA and histamine H 1 receptors. • Glutamate and its receptor agonist NMDA and AMPA increase wakefulness in rats. • Glutamate, NMDA and AMPA activate the histaminergic neurons in TMN. • The effect of glutamate was inhibited by NMDAR and histamine H 1 R antagonists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider bang–bang property for a kind of time-varying time optimal control problem of null controllable heat equation. The study is a continuation of a recent work (Chen et al. in Syst Control Lett 112:18–23, 2018), where an approximate null controllable heat equation was considered. We first establish the equivalence between optimal norm control and optimal time control and then prove the existence of the optimal norm control and of the optimal time control. The time-varying bang–bang property for the optimal time control is finally established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxoplasma gondii typically causes lifelong chronic infection and has been identified in a variety of intermediate and definitive hosts. Felids are capable of serving as both intermediate and definite hosts for T. gondii infection. However, there is no direct evidence to prove that servals are the intermediate host of T. gondii. In this study, T. gondii antibodies were detected in a serval by a modified agglutination test (titer, 1:200). Viable T. gondii was isolated from the striated muscles of the serval. This strain was further propagated in cell culture and designated as TgServalCHn1. Genetic characterization of DNA derived from cell culture was performed by RFLP‐PCR of 10 markers, as well as polymorphic ROP5 and ROP18 genes. Results showed that this strain of T. gondii belonged to the genotype ToxoDB#20. The ROP5 allele 4 and ROP18 allele 3 suggested that this strain was avirulent, which was further supported by infection in mice. Encephalitis, immune organ necrosis and focal mononuclear cell infiltration in multiple organs were the main pathology characteristics observed in BALB/C mice infected with the TgServalCHn1 strain. To our knowledge, the present study is the first to report the isolation of T. gondii from a serval, which gives direct evidence for servals serving as an intermediate host of T. gondii. The genotyping results revealed the presence of genotype ToxoDB#20 in central China, enriching the scope of the distribution of T. gondii genotypes in Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In - vivo antibacterial property of Ti 10Cu sintered alloy was investigated in comparison with pure titanium (cp-Ti) by implanting the alloys with S. aureus suspension in the muscles of rabbits. The general appearance, the white blood cell (WBC) number, the bacteria number were checked and the pathological examination were analyzed. It has been shown that serious inflammation at day 4 and fester at day 14 were observed after implantation in cp-Ti group while only mild infection was observed at day 4 in the case of Ti 10Cu implants. Bacterial incubation results have also shown that lots of S. aureus were found in cp-Ti group at all intervals while only several bacteria at day 1 and day 4 and no bacteria after 7 days postimplantation can be found in Ti 10Cu group. All these results demonstrate the strong in vivo antibacterial property of Ti 10Cu alloy. The strong antibacterial property suggests that Ti 10Cu alloy might have potential application in orthopedic surgery and dental implant to reduce the implant-related infection or inflammation. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • The in vivo antibacterial property of Ti Cu sintered alloy has been investigated. • The results demonstrate that the Ti Cu alloy exhibits strong antibacterial property. • The strong antibacterial property suggests potential application in dental implant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD) is increasingly accepted as an effective treatment option in patients who require drainage for acute cholecystitis. A newly designed lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) has been introduced recently in this procedure. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility and safety of the newly designed LAMS in patients with acute cholecystitis who were unsuitable for cholecystectomy.Methods: Between Mar 2017 and Oct 2017, 22 patients with acute cholecystitis who were unsuitable for cholecystectomy underwent EUS-GBD with the newly designed LAMS. We evaluated the technical and clinical success and the adverse event profiles.Results: EUS-GBD with newly designed LAMS was technically and clinically successful in 21 of the 22 patients. EUS-GB stenting was performed at urgent setting in 17 patients, while 5 patients, who had undergone initial PTGBD, underwent EUS-GB stenting to remove PTGBD tube. The median procedure time was 11.5 (range 8.8-17.0) min. A late adverse event of stent occlusion developed in one patient. Stent migration was not observed during follow-up (median 318.0 days, range 39.0-398.0 days) and cumulative stent patency rate at 1 year was 95%.Conclusion: EUS-GBD with newly designed LAMS is feasible and shows acceptable safety profiles for both the urgent drainage of acute cholecystitis and elective internalization following PTGBD in patients with high surgical risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Preparation of dust suppression gel foam by glycosylated SPI modified with TGase. • The dust suppression gel foam is eco-friendly, safe and economical. • TG-SPI-XG showed excellent fluidity, foaming property and water retention. • The dust suppression efficiency remains above 98% after 75 days. Severe dust pollution is common in tunnel, coal mine, and other construction sites. Dust suppression foam is a feasible method for dust suppression, but its single function makes it difficult to adapt to complex construction sites. Driving by reconstructing the molecular structure of ecological raw materials and strengthening the network function, a new method of SPI based gel foam dust suppression was proposed in this study. This method was realized through improving the performance of soy protein isolate (SPI) gel by glycosylation and further enhancing the fluidity and foaming performance of SPI by enzymatic hydrolysis. Afterwards, its reaction mechanism and dust suppression mechanism were analyzed. It was found that after the glycosylation of 0.4% SPI with 0.2% xanthan gum (XG) and the subsequent addition of 0.15% transglutaminase (TGase), a relatively stable double reinforcement network structure was generated. This structure was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and other experiments; to be specific, its viscosity was reduced to 28.3mPa·s, and the foaming multiple was improved by 16.8% than SPI. The particle size of foam was observed to reduce to 20-60μm through a three-dimensional microscope, which is more conducive to wetting and capturing coal dust. Then, the prepared solution was compounded with 1.0% dodecyl dimethyl Amine oxide (OA-12) to develop a dust suppression gel foam and it was sprayed on the coal dust. Through experiments on the mine airflow-dust environment simulation platform, the dust suppression gel foam reached a PM10 suppression efficiency of 98.42%, and remained a total dust suppression efficiency of above 98% after 75 days. Moreover, the validity of the molecular model was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The molecular dynamics simulation showed that coal molecules with negative potential attract positively charged OA-12 molecules, and the tail group of OA-12 contacts the hydrophobic sites of the coal at an inclined angle, allowing water molecules to fully contact the coal molecules and improving the wettability; while gel molecules are adsorbed on the surface of coal molecules to play the role of bonding and filling. This research provides a theoretical support for the application of SPI based gel in the field of dust suppression, and develops an environmentally friendly and efficient feasible scheme for dust control in the construction site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the most abundant RNA modification, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation plays crucial roles in various diseases. The aim of this study is to comprehensively map the landscape of the mRNA m6A modification pattern in Barrett's esophagus (BE) in order to find key genes and potential therapy for BE and even esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-seq) and RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) were performed to compare the difference in mRNA m6A methylation and differentially expressed mRNAs between BE and normal control (NC) tissues. Bioinformatics analysis was used to describe the m6A modification pattern and specific genes in BE and NC tissues. Through MeRIP-seq, we obtained m6A methylation profiling in BE and NC tissues. In total, 11,026 unique peaks were detected in the BE groups, whereas 8564 unique peaks were detected in the NC groups. Peaks were primarily enriched within CDS with GGACU motifs and most of the peaks were within 1000 bp in width. Moreover, functional enrichment analysis demonstrated that hypermethylated and hypomethylated genes were significantly enriched in coronavirus disease pathway, calcium signaling pathway and MAPK signaling pathways. Furthermore, PPI network was conducted and 18 hub genes were identified via STRING database and Cystoscope. Among them, ACTA1, CDC20, CKM, KIF20a, MYH11, TPM2, MYL9, DES, TNNT3 were overexpressed in EAC in the GEPIA gene bank and TPM1, KIF20a impaired patients' survival in the Kaplan-Meier plotter database. Finally, functional enrichment analysis demonstrated that co-expressed genes of TPM1 were significantly enriched in calcium signaling pathway, cGMP-PKG signaling pathway and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Our study is the first to perform comprehensive and transcriptome-wide maps to identify the potential roles played by m6A methylation in BE, which widely involved in oxidative stress. This foresees a guiding role in revealing the molecular mechanism of m6A-mediated genes that govern the pathogenesis and progression of BE and EAC. • As the most abundant RNA modification, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation plays crucial roles in various diseases. • Our study performed comprehensive and transcriptome-wide maps to identify the potential roles played by m6A in BE. • This foresees a guiding role in the mechanism of m6A-mediated genes that underlie the pathogenesis of BE and EAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The theoretical relationship between the vehicle load and vehicle-induced cable force sums (VICFS) is derived through mechanical analysis and the specific expression is given for the first time. • An anomaly-sensitive warning index that directly reflects the service performance of stay cables is established based on the derived theoretical relationship and the detailed calculation procedures are given in this paper. • A new anomaly diagnosis method for stay cables is proposed by combining the established warning index with the X-bar control chart to solve the complex analysis problems caused by the transverse position of the vehicle on the bridge deck. • A new cable force decoupling method based on local generalized extreme value (GEV) distribution is presented to eliminate temperature trends from the raw data and obtain VICFS dataset. • The numerical simulations and an engineering application to an in-service cable-stayed bridge are carried out to verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method. Stay cables are one of the most critical load-carrying components for cable-stayed bridges. Cable damage or performance degradation can affect the normal operation of bridges. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate the service performance of cables in real time to ensure bridge safety. In this paper, an anomaly diagnosis method for stay cables based on vehicle-induced cable force sums (VICFS) of cable pairs (defined as two symmetric cables upstream and downstream) is proposed. First, the theoretical relationship between the vehicle load and VICFS was derived through mechanical analysis. Second, a new anomaly-sensitive warning index was established based on the above derivation, and the anomaly diagnosis for stay cables was achieved by combining it with the X-bar control chart. Then, according to finite element simulation, the variations in VICFS in different cases were analyzed to verify the rationality of the theoretical derivation and the established warning index. Finally, an engineering application to an in-service cable-stayed bridge was carried out to validate the feasibility and effectiveness of the anomaly diagnosis method. The results show that the proposed method can accurately detect and locate damaged cables, which can be successfully applied to monitor the long-term performance of stay cables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ag nanoparticles doped hollow carbon nanospheres (Ag@HCS) were controllably prepared. • Ag@HCS as electrochemical probe provided high sensitivity for HbA 1c detection. • A MIP film as the substrate endowed the sensor with high specificity. • The sensor was applied to determine HbA 1c in serum. Silver-doped hollow carbon spheres (Ag@HCS) were firstly introduced as electrochemical probes for glycated hemoglobin (HbA 1c) sensing at a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-based carbon cloth (CC) electrode. Herein, Ag@HCS was prepared using one-pot polymerization of resorcinol and formaldehyde with AgNO 3 on the SiO 2 template, subsequent carbonization, and template removal. Furthermore, poly-aminophenylboronic acid (PABA) as the MIP film was used as a sensing platform for recognition of HbA 1c , which captured the Ag@HCS probe by binding of HbA 1c with aptamer modified on the probe surface. Due to regular geometry, large specific surface area, superior electrical conductivity, and highly-dispersed Ag, the prepared Ag@HCS probe provided an amplified electrochemical signal based on the Ag oxidation. By use of the sandwich-type electrochemical sensor, the ultrahigh sensitivity of 4.365 μA (μg mL−1)-1 cm−2 and a wide detection range of 0.8–78.4 μg mL−1 for HbA 1c detection with a low detection limit of 0.35 μg mL−1 were obtained. Excellent selectivity was obtained due to the specific binding between HbA 1c and PABA-based MIP film. The fabricated electrochemical sensing platform was also implemented successfully for the determination of HbA 1c concentrations in the serum of healthy individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structural, physicochemical and digestive properties of rice starch modified by the combination of different temperature (60, 70, 80, 90 and 100 °C) preheating and pullulanase (PUL60, PUL70, PUL80, PUL90 and PUL100) treatments were investigated. The PUL60 treatment mainly modified the surface layer of starch granules, which increased the amylose content and damaged some ordered structures, resulting in slight decreases of gel strength and estimated glycemic index (eGI). With the increase of preheating temperature, PUL could act on more enzymatic sites to release a large amount of linear chains, reduce the ordered degree, and transform the A-type crystalline structure into B-type. The low molecule interaction strength between linear chains weakened the gel network structure, and some stable crystal structures formed by longer chains resisted the enzyme digestion. The gel strength and eGI value of PUL70 starch decreased significantly, and the properties of PUL80–100 starches tended to be stable, showing a further significant decrease of gel strength and a slight reduction of eGI value. Therefore, the preheating treatments at 60, 70 and 80 °C were suitable for the PUL modification of rice starch to obtain strong, medium and weak gel strength respectively, and the digestibility decreased with increasing preheating temperature. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anode-free batteries, cryogenic electron microscopy, metal dendrites, sodium ion batteries Keywords: anode-free batteries; cryogenic electron microscopy; metal dendrites; sodium ion batteries EN anode-free batteries cryogenic electron microscopy metal dendrites sodium ion batteries 1 1 1 07/25/23 20230721 NES 230721 B Sodium Metal Batteries b The art representing article number 2204402 by Yixian Wang, David Mitlin, and co-workers depicts two turtles on a sodium fueled road trip. Intermetallics Based on Sodium Chalcogenides Promote Stable Electrodeposition-Electrodissolution of Sodium Metal Anodes (Adv. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: Mutations in gap junction protein beta 1 (GJB1) on the X chromosome represent one of the most common causes of hereditary neuropathy. We assessed manifestations associated with a rare 3' untranslated region mutation (UTR) of GJB1 in a large family with X-linked Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMTX).Methods: Clinical, electrophysiological, and molecular genetic analyses were performed on an 8-generation family with CMTX.Results: There were 22 affected males and 19 symptomatic females, including an 83-year-old woman followed for 40 years. Electrophysiological studies showed a primarily axonal neuropathy. The c.*15C>T mutation in the GJB1 3' UTR was identified in 4 branches of the family with a log of odds (LOD) of 4.91. This created a BstE II enzyme recognition site that enabled detection by restriction digestion.Discussion: The c.*15C>T mutation in the GJB1 3' UTR segregates with CMTX1 in 8 generations. Penetrance in males and females is essentially complete. A straightforward genetic method to detect this mutation is described. Muscle Nerve 57: 859-862, 2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This retraction relates to this paper Cheng H, Dong H, Feng J, Tian H, Zhang H, Xu L. I Onco Targets Ther i . 2018;11:4711-4721. Figure 4C, miR-497 inhibitors and Figure 7D, Blank, both appear to have been duplicated with Figure 7D, miR-497 inhibitors, which has been flipped. [Extracted from the article]

Protein misfolding and aggregation, a key contributor to the progression of numerous neurodegenerative diseases, results in functional deficiencies and the creation of harmful intermediates. Detailed visualization of this misfolding process is of paramount importance for improving our understanding of disease mechanisms and for the development of potential therapeutic strategies. While in vitro studies using purified proteins have been instrumental in delivering significant insights into protein misfolding, the behavior of these proteins in the complex milieu of living cells often diverges significantly from such simplified environments. Biomedical imaging performed in cell provides cellular-level information with high physiological and pathological relevance, often surpassing the depth of information attainable through in vitro methods. This review highlights a variety of methodologies used to scrutinize protein misfolding within biological systems. This includes optical-based methods, strategies leaning on mass spectrometry, in-cell nuclear magnetic resonance, and cryo-electron microscopy. Recent advancements in these techniques have notably deepened our understanding of protein misfolding processes and the features of the resulting misfolded species within living cells. The progression in these fields promises to catalyze further breakthroughs in our comprehension of neurodegenerative disease mechanisms and potential therapeutic interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, airway remodeling, and protease-antiprotease imbalance have been implicated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the exact pathogenesis is still obscure. Gene transcription and post-transcriptional regulation have been taken into account as key regulators of COPD occurrence and development. Identifying the hub genes and constructing biological regulatory networks at the post-transcriptional level will help extend current knowledge on COPD pathogenesis and develop potential drugs. Methods: All lung tissues from non-smokers (n = 6), smokers without COPD (smokers, n = 7), and smokers with COPD (COPD, n = 7) were collected to detect messenger RNA (mRNA), microRNA (miRNA), circular RNA (circRNA), and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) expression and identify the hub genes. Biological regulatory networks were constructed at the post-transcriptional level, including the RNA-binding protein (RBP)-hub gene interaction network and the competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network. In addition, we assessed the composition and abundance of immune cells in COPD lung tissue and predicted potential therapeutic drugs for COPD. Finally, the hub genes were confirmed at both the RNA and protein levels. Results: Among the 20 participants, a total of 121169 mRNA transcripts, 1871 miRNA transcripts, 4244 circRNA transcripts, and 122130 lncRNA transcripts were detected. There were differences in the expression of 1561 mRNAs, 48 miRNAs, 33 circRNAs, and 545 lncRNAs between smokers and non-smokers, as well as 1289 mRNAs, 69 miRNAs, 32 circRNAs, and 433 lncRNAs between smokers and COPD patients. 18 hub genes were identified in COPD. TGF-β signaling and Wnt/β-catenin signaling may be involved in the development of COPD. Furthermore, the circRNA/lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA networks and the RBP-hub gene interaction network were also constructed. Analysis of the immune cell infiltration level revealed that M2 macrophages and activated NK cells were increased in COPD lung tissues. Finally, we identified that the ITK inhibitor and oxybutynin chloride may be effective in treating COPD. Conclusions: We identified several novel hub genes involved in COPD pathogenesis. TGF-β signaling and Wnt/β-catenin signaling were the most dysregulated pathways in COPD patients. Our study constructed post-transcriptional biological regulatory networks and predicted small-molecule drugs for the treatment of COPD, which enhanced the existing understanding of COPD pathogenesis and suggested an innovative direction for the therapeutic intervention of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bridge influence lines (BILs) and bridge influence surfaces (BISs) are inherent static parameters of bridges which can be extracted from moving vehicle-induced bridge responses. Compared with dynamic parameters, these parameters are directly related to the stiffness and internal forces in each cross-section of a bridge therefore can be considered as an effective bridge metamodel. To accelerate the engineering practice of BIL- and BIS-based bridge evaluation, this paper first briefly reviews the current BIL and BIS field test and identification methods. Then, the bridge evaluation guidelines of China and the United States are introduced as the basis of the evaluation methods. Engineering application scenarios for bridge evaluation, including permit load verification, performance degradation checking, and load carrying capacity evaluation, are summarized, and a multiple-scenario bridge evaluation method is established. At the end of this paper, an evaluation example of a four-span continuous bridge is presented to illustrate the application procedure and verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. The outcomes of this paper provide a promising application method of field test BILs and BISs, which may help bridge engineers more effectively use these parameters in engineering practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the effect of non-uniform external static magnetic field on the scattering nonreciprocity of a deep-subwavelength gyrotropic particle system. Based on a scattering matrix approach, we show analytically that asymmetrical extinction cross section of the scattering system for opposite illumination directions can be accessed at multi-frequency and wide-angle regimes, in the presence of magnetic field with weak spatial non-uniformity. A simplified dual-dipole model is further employed to capture the generic physics of nonreciprocal scattering, essentially attributed to the asymmetrical magneto-electric cross interactions. In addition, typical examples are provided with full-wave numerical verifications. Our finding may open a straightforward and efficient pathway to manipulate nonreciprocal scattering at the subwavelength scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Water pollution caused by organic wastewater has become a serious concern worldwide. Fenton oxidation process is one of the most effective and suitable methods for the abatement of organic pollutants. However, the process has three obvious shortcomings: the narrow working pH range, the high costs and risks associated with handling, transportation and storage of reagents (H 2 O 2 and catalyst), the significant iron sludge related second pollution. In order to overcome these shortcomings, various optimized Fenton processes have been widely studied. Therefore, a summary of the study status of Fenton optimization processes is necessary to develop a novel and high efficiency organic wastewater treatment method. Based on the optimization perspective, taking shortcomings of Fenton process as a breakthrough, the fundamentals, advantages and disadvantages of single Fenton optimization processes (heterogeneous Fenton, photo-Fenton and electro-Fenton) for organic wastewater treatment were reviewed and the corresponding reaction mechanism diagrams were drawn in this paper. Then, the feasibility and application of the coupled Fenton optimization processes (photoelectro-Fenton, heterogeneous electro-Fenton, heterogeneous photoelectro-Fenton, three-dimensional electro-Fenton) for organic wastewater treatment were discussed in depth. Additionally, the effect of some important operation parameters (pH and catalyst, H 2 O 2 , organic pollutants concentration) on the degradation efficiency of organic pollutants was studied to provide guidance for the optimization of operation parameters. Finally, the possible future research directions for optimized Fenton processes were given. The review aims to assist researchers and engineers to gain fundamental understandings and critical view of Fenton process and its optimization processes, and hopefully with the knowledge it could bring new opportunities for the optimization and future development of Fenton process. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Review of single Fenton optimization processes for organic wastewater treatment. • Review of coupled Fenton optimization processes for organic wastewater treatment. • Key operational parameters are discussed. • Insights into future research directions for optimized Fenton processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the factors affecting axial length (AXL) growth and myopia progression in orthokeratology. Methods: This prospective, observational study enrolled 28 new orthokeratology lens wearers from a contact lens clinic between March 2016 and March 2017. Among them, 32 eyes of 17 wearers who completed one year of follow-up were finally analyzed. All participants underwent central (C) and peripheral (nasal 30° [N30] and temporal 30° [T30]) AXL measurements as well as central and peripheral refraction, ocular aberrations, and corneal topography at baseline and every posttreatment visit. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) was used to assess the associations between AXL change and all independent variables in both eyes. Results: The mean central AXL was 24.21 ± 0.60 mm and the mean baseline central spherical equivalent refractive error (SER) was −2.43 ± 0.97 diopters (D). Among all parameters that were significantly associated with AXL change in univariable GEE analyses, the baseline difference in AXL between C and N30 (β = −0.213, p < 0.001), baseline SER (β = −0.040, p < 0.033), posttreatment coma (β = −0.291, p < 0.031), third-order higher-order aberrations (HOAs) (β = −0.482, p < 0.001), and changes in second-order aberrations (β = 0.025, p = 0.027) at one year of follow-up were identified as significant factors in multivariable GEE analysis. Conclusions: The inhibition of AXL elongation and myopia progression in orthokeratology lens wear is significantly associated with the peripheral myopization and asymmetric optical changes mostly induced by third-order HOAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Acoustic devices with metamaterials based on quasi-conformal mapping. • Design acoustic devices by using isotropic materials. • Retrieve the effective parameters of the unit cell. Based on quasi-conformal mapping approach, we propose a two-dimensional broadband and low-loss planar lens in the acoustic regime, which can be realized using gradient-index sub-wavelength artificial structures with hard boundary. In this design, QCM is employed in the acoustic regime to convert a parabolic form into a planar one, which makes the resultant material approximately isotropic through minimizing the anisotropic factor. It is found that the planar lens can show the same performance as its parabolic counterparts over a broadband range of frequency. Moreover, the lens is fabricated via 3D printing technology and measured experimentally, which gives identical results with the theoretical prediction. The proposed technique could be extended to realize different acoustic devices and applied for a series of practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Hard carbon is the most popular anode material for Na-ion batteries, but its long-term reliability has still to be further improved. We herein examine fluoroethylene carbonate and succinic anhydride as electrolyte additives for improving the cycle performance of hard carbon anodes. For a proper evaluation, hard carbon symmetric cells as well as hard carbon/Na half-cells are employed to discriminate the influence of the additives on the hard carbon and Na electrodes. We confirm that fluoroethylene carbonate hardly improves the cyclability of hard carbon symmetric cells, but it does enable far better cycle behavior of Na metal, and thus improves the cycle performance of hard carbon/Na half-cells by mitigating the degradation of the hard carbon anodes caused by harmful products derived from Na metal. In contrast, succinic anhydride markedly improves the performance of hard carbon symmetric cells in the cycle and storage tests at 60 °C. The superior thermal stability of succinic anhydride is attributed to a Na 2 CO 3 /sodium alkyl carbonates-rich solid-electrolyte interphase layer formed on the hard carbon surface, as evidenced by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • FEC and SA were compared as electrolyte additives for hard carbon (HC) anodes. • FEC hardly improves the cycle performance of HC anodes. • SA markedly improves the cycle and storage performance of HC anodes at 60 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrodynamic suspension polishing technique is proposed to prepare an ultra-smooth surface by designing a setup with a particular polishing disk. The novel polishing technique involves two preceding steps of mechanical polishing and chemical erosion processes. They are introduced to deal with the as-received Cu surface before the hydrodynamic suspension polishing for the polishing efficiency. Surface roughness, surface deformation layer and crystalline structures of the mechanically polished surface and the surface polished by the novel technique proposed here are characterized to show the advantages of the proposed technology. Results show that chemical erosion process efficiently removes surface deformation layer and the novel polishing process decreases the surface roughness significantly. The minimum surface roughness (Ra) is only 0.81 nm. Furthermore, there are no apparent surface deformation layers and crystalline defects on the surface after hydrodynamic suspension polishing. The relationship between the kinetic energy of abrasive and bonding energy of Cu atom is established to provide a clear understanding of the two typical planarization mechanisms, i.e., removing and filling. Both the scientific design of non-contact polishing and appropriate processing parameters are bases of preparation of the atomic-scale smooth surface. This study provides a new strategy to polish metal material with an atomic scale surface roughness and high efficiency. • A novel hydrodynamic suspension polishing technique is proposed. • Minimum surface roughness is 0.81 nm. • Surface with very low surface deformation and crystalline defects is obtained. • Removing and filling of atoms are mechanisms for ultra-smooth surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Traditional models employed to predict the soil water retention curve (SWRC) from the particle size distribution (PSD) always underestimate the water contents when the suction head is relative high. Using the measured physical parameters of 50 soil samples from the UNSODA unsaturated soil hydraulic property database, it is proven that this error originates from the poor conversion of the PSD to the pore size distribution (PoSD). The present study proposes a new approach to obtain a PoSD from a PSD, then to estimate the SWRCs. The residual pore fraction (the pore fraction with respect to clay content) was calculated using a power function, while the pore fractions of other sizes could readily be obtained using the corresponding particle mass fractions. The model was tested on 61 soils, and the results illustrated that the predicted PoSD from PSD using improved method exhibit good agreements with the measured PoSD, and the predicted SWRCs, which reduced the prediction bias at the relative high suction heads, reasonably approximated the measured SWRCs. Meanwhile, we evaluated the model performance through comparisons with the improved model proposed by Meskini-Vishkaee et al. (the scaled MV-VG model) and a traditional method, the results showed that the improved method provided better predictions of the SWRCs. Highlights • The underestimation of the water content in traditional SWRC prediction methods originate from the poor converting of PoSD from PSD. • An improved method to predict PoSD and SWRC are proposed. • The improved method can make reasonable estimations of SWRCs, which is better than the traditional method and the scaled MV-VG model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cable-membrane structures have small rigidity and are highly sensitive to wind. Structural health monitoring is necessary to ensure the serviceability and safety of the structure. In this research, the design method of a structural health monitoring system is using the characteristics of a cable-membrane structure. Taking the Yueyang Sanhe Airport Terminal as an example, a finite element model is established to determine the critical structural components. Next, the engineering requirements and the framework of the monitoring system are studied based on the results of numerical analysis. The specific implementation of the structural health monitoring is then carried out, which includes sensor selection, installation and wiring. The proposed framework is successfully applied to the monitoring system for the Yueyang Airport terminal building, and the synchronous acquisition of fiber Bragg grating and acceleration sensor signals is implemented in an innovative way. The successful implementation and operation of structural health monitoring will help to guarantee the safety of the cable-membrane structure during its service life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The study was conducted to examine changes in diagnostic and staging imaging methods for lung cancer in China over a 10‐year period and to determine the relationships between such changes and socioeconomic development. Methods: This was a hospital‐based, nationwide, multicenter retrospective study of primary lung cancer cases. The data were extracted from the 10‐year primary lung cancer databases at eight tertiary hospitals from various geographic areas in China. The chi‐squared test was used to assess the differences and the Cochran–Armitage trend test was used to estimate the trends of changes. Results: A total of 7184 lung cancer cases were analyzed. Over the 10‐year period, the utilization ratio of diagnostic imaging methods, such as chest computed tomography (CT) and chest magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), increased from 65.79% to 81.42% and from 0.73% to 1.96%, respectively, while the utilization ratio of chest X‐ray declined from 50.15% to 30.93%. Staging imaging methods, such as positron emission tomography‐CT, neck ultrasound, brain MRI, bone scintigraphy, and bone MRI increased from 0.73% to 9.29%, 22.95% to 47.92%, 8.77% to 40.71%, 42.40% to 62.22%, and 0.88% to 4.65%, respectively; abdominal ultrasound declined from 83.33% to 59.9%. These trends were more notable in less developed areas than in areas with substantial economic development. Conclusion: Overall, chest CT was the most common radiological diagnostic method for lung cancer in China. Imaging methods for lung cancer tend to be used in a diverse, rational, and regionally balanced manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a reactive oxygen species (ROS), peroxynitrite (ONOO−) generated by nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide anion (O2Ṗ−) plays important roles in physiological and pathological processes in the brain. However, the lack of reliable and durable analytical methods in vivo is still a bottleneck to understanding the signal pathway of ONOO− in the brain. In this work, a ratiometric electrochemical biosensor was developed for real-time monitoring and accurate quantification of ONOO− in the rat brain followed by cerebral ischemia. Firstly, a novel organic molecule, 4-(S-(6-mercaptohexyl)benzothioate-6-yl)-7-(diethylamino)-2-(4-(piperazinyl diferroformamide-1-yl)phenyl)chromenylium (HEMF), with a specific recognition group toward ONOO− and ferrocene as an electroactive group, was designed and synthesized for determination of ONOO− with high selectivity. The oxidation peak of ferrocene decreased with increasing concentration of ONOO−, with a rapid response within 15 s, because the pyrylium group in HEMF molecule specifically reacted with ONOO−, resulting in the loss of the ferrocene group from the HEMF molecule through a ring-opening reaction. Meanwhile, 5′-MB-GGCGCGATTTT-SH-3′ (SH-DNA-MB) was optimized as an inner reference molecule, enabling accurate quantification of ONOO− while avoiding environmental effects. The oxidation peak current ratio between ferrocene and MB demonstrated good linearity with concentrations of ONOO− from 20.0 nM to 2.0 μM. The achieved detection limit was as low as 12.1 ± 0.8 nM. The developed biosensor showed remarkable selectivity against potential interferences in the brain, such as other ROS, metal ions, amino acids and bioactive species, due to the specific reaction between the pyrylium group and ONOO−. As a result, the present ratiometric electrochemical biosensor with significant analytical performance, including high temporal resolution, high selectivity and accuracy, combined with the unique characteristics of carbon fiber microelectrode (CFME), such as high spatial resolution and good biocompatibility, was successfully applied in real-time determination of ONOO− in rat brains followed by global cerebral ischemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is significant to in situ monitor membrane proteins at the single-cell level for understanding the cell function. Herein, an integrated platform was designed and constructed for highly efficient cell capture and in situ sensitive SERS determination of HER2 activity in cells through rational spatial organization of multi-functional cyclic RGD nanopatterns at a disordered mesoporous gold film via electrochemical activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract We compute sea quark Sivers distribution within color glass condensate (CGC) framework. It has been found that up to the leading logarithm accuracy, the collinear twist-3 approach and the CGC calculation yield the same result for sea quark Sivers distribution in the dilute limit. We further verify that transverse momentum dependent factorization is consistent with CGC treatment at small x for the case of transverse single spin asymmetry in open charm quark production in semi-inclusive deeply inelastic scattering process in an overlap kinematical region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hypoxia-reoxygenation process of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may cause oxidative stress injury of the kidney, but the molecular mechanisms are not clear. The present study aimed to investigate whether high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) and its subsequent inflammatory pathway served a role in kidney injury. Adult Sprague Dawley rats were used to establish hypoxia models: Continuous hypoxia, intermittent hypoxia and intermittent hypoxia with hypercapnia. Rat kidney tissues and peripheral blood samples were obtained. Histopathological and ultrastructural changes were observed by light and electron microscopy. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was used to detect the distribution of HMGB1. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the expression of HMGB1, receptor for advanced glycosylation end products (RAGE), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of active B cells (NF-κB) p65 subunit, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, NAD-dependent protein deacetylase sirtuin-1 (SIRT1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) mRNA in renal tissues. An ELISA was used to detect the expression of soluble TLR2, TLR4, PPAR-γ, TNF-α, IL-6 in peripheral blood. Hematoxylin & eosin staining demonstrated that there was no serious injury to the kidneys due to hypoxia, with the exception of a certain degree of renal tubular epithelial cell vacuolation. By contrast, ultrastructural changes by electron microscopy were more significant in the hypoxia groups compared with the control, including foot process fusion in the glomerulus and degeneration of mitochondria in the proximal convoluted tubules. IHC also indicated increased expression of HMGB1 and nuclear translocation in the hypoxia groups. The results of the RT-qPCR demonstrated that hypoxia stimulation increased the expression of HMGB1, PPAR, RAGE and TNF-α mRNA, and decreased the expression of SIRT1 mRNA in kidney tissues (P<0.05). The results of the ELISA suggested that hypoxia stimulation increased the expression of soluble TLR4, TNF-α and IL-6 in the peripheral blood, and decreased the expression of soluble TLR2 and PPAR-γ. In summary, hypoxia stimulation may cause early renal injury at the subcellular level and increase the expression and translocation of HMGB1. Hypoxia also upregulated the mRNA expression of the HMGB1-RAGE-TNF-α pathway in kidney tissue and increased the expression of soluble TLR4, TNF-α and IL-6 in the peripheral blood. This suggested that the HMGB1-RAGE/TLR-TNF-α pathway may contribute to the molecular mechanisms of early renal injury induced by hypoxia. The pathway may contain potential markers for OSA-associated early renal injury and drug intervention targets in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract By using tetracarboxylatoresorcin[4]arene 2,8,14,20-tetrapentyl-6,12,18,23-tetra- methoxy-4,10,16,22-tetra-carboxymethoxy-resorcin[4]arene (H 4 L), eight lanthanide-based coordination polymers (CPs), [M(HL)(DMF)(H 2 O) 2 ]·3H 2 O (M = Tb 1 , Eu 2 , Gd 3 , Yb 4 and Sm 5) and [M(HL)(DMF)(H 2 O)] (M = Ce 6 , Pr 7 and La 8), have been constructed. Isostructural CPs 1 – 5 exhibit charming ribbons built with rare earth cations and cup-like HL3− anions. The ribbons are lengthened by hydrogen bonds to constitute supramolecular layers, respectively. CPs 6 – 8 are isostructural and show unique layer networks. The luminescent properties of 1 and 2 in solid states were studied. The detection of CPs 1 and 2 towards metal cations, polyoxometalates (POMs) and organic small molecules by luminescent quenching and enhancement process has been systematically investigated. Graphical abstract Eight coordination polymers based on lanthanide ions and a tetracarboxylate-functionalized resorcin[4]arene ligand have been constructed. 1 and 2 exhibit high activities in detecting Fe3+, POMs, nitromethane and nitrobenzene by quenching effects. 2 could be employed as a turn-on-type luminescent sensor for N,N -dimethylformamide and N,N -dimethylacetamide. fx1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Myocardium and diaphragm samples of cattle (n = 521) from HeNan Province (China) were screened for Sarcocystis sarcocysts by histological examination, pepsin digestion, and molecular assays. Morphology and molecular assays were used for identification. The prevalence of Sarcocystis infection in cattle was 41.5% (216/521). Histological examination identified sarcocysts in the myocardium (49.4%, 200/405) and diaphragm (13.8%, 16/116) of cattle. Two species were identified, namely S. cruzi (41.3%, 215/521) and S. hominis (0.2%, 1/521). The findings of the present study indicate a high prevalence of S. cruzi infection in cattle from central China. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • The prevalence of Sarcocystis infection in cattle was 41.5% from central China. • Season and age were the risk factors of Sarcocystis infection in cattle. • The prevalence of Sarcocystis infection in cattle from China was summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of parental refractive errors on myopic children in Korean families using a nationally representative survey. We used the ophthalmologic examination dataset of the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys IV and V, a nationwide population-based cross-sectional study using a complex, stratified, multistage, probability cluster survey, which were performed from 2008–2012. We included 3,862 children from 5–18 years of age from 2,344 families without any ocular trauma, surgical history, or cataract affecting refractive errors. The generalized estimating equation was conducted to assess the association of refractive errors among children and their parents. Among 3,862 children, 2,495 had myopia, which was 64.6% prevalence. There were 208 children with high myopia (5.4%). The prevalence rate ratio (PRR) for pediatric myopia and high myopia with myopic parents was 1.34 (95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.24–1.45) and 3.11 (95% CI 1.93–5.01), respectively. The PRR of myopia and high myopia in children significantly increased to 1.37 (95% CI 1.04–1.81) and 11.41 (95% CI 6.24–20.88), as the degree of parental myopia increased (P < 0.001, respectively). Children with two myopic parents were more myopic than those with only one myopic parent (P < 0.001, respectively). In addition to parental myopia, the age of the child and household income were also significant risk factors for all degrees of pediatric myopia in a family (P ≤ 0.005, respectively). In conclusion, Korean children showed high prevalence of myopia. Children with myopic parents showed a significantly greater risk for myopia and high myopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three isostructural heterometallic metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) {[Ln2Ni(OAc)5(HL)(L)]·solvent molecules}n (H2L = 2-hydroxyimino-N-[1-(2-pyrazinyl)ethylidene]-propanohydrazone, Ln = Dy for 1, Tb for 2 and Gd for 3) were solvothermally synthesized by varying rare-earth metal ions with different electron configurations. Their crystal structures, gas adsorption and magnetic behaviors were fully investigated. The three isomorphous MOFs exhibit three-dimensional microporous frameworks with two different orientated dodecane metallic {NiIILnIII(HL)}6 metallomacrocycles alternately connected by {LnIII(L)} connectors, in which an empty one-dimensional channel decorated by the basic hydrazone interior is generated. Due to their LnIII-independent microporous nature, the activated sample of 1 as a representative example has a significant CO2 uptake up to 42.2 cm3 g−1 and an unusually high CO2/N2 and CO2/CH4 adsorption selectivity of up to 98.8 and 16.8 at 298 K and 100 kPa. Magnetically, apparent antiferromagnetic interactions for both 1 and 2 as well as ferromagnetic coupling for 3 are respectively observed at low temperature resulting from the competition of magnetic anisotropy and intermetallic ferromagnetic superexchange. Additionally, 1 with highly anisotropic DyIII spin shows slow magnetization relaxation under zero dc field, whereas 3 possessing isotropic GdIII ions displays a significant cryogenic magnetocaloric effect with a maximum entropy change of 26.6 J kg−1 K−1 at 3.0 K and 70 kOe. These interesting results can provide valuable information on gas separation-based multifunctional 3d–4f MOF materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Alanine racemase is a pyridoxal-5′-phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzyme that reversibly catalyzes the conversion of l -alanine to d -alanine. d -alanine is an essential constituent in many prokaryotic cell structures. Inhibition of alanine racemase is lethal to prokaryotes, creating an attractive target for designing antibacterial drugs. Here we report the crystal structure of biosynthetic alanine racemase (Alr) from a pathogenic bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. Structural studies showed that P. aeruginosa Alr (PaAlr) adopts a conserved homodimer structure. A guest substrate d -lysine was observed in the active site and refined to dual-conformation. Two buffer ions, malonate and acetate, were bound in the proximity to d -lysine. Biochemical characterization revealed the optimal reaction conditions for PaAlr. Highlights • The crystal structure of PaAlr was solved. • Sequences and structures were compared among species with two alanine racemases. • d -Lysine was observed in active site, but not covanlently linked, which is somehow similar but different from PaDadX. • Optimal reaction conditions were characterized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most lethal and malignant types of cancer that affects global human health. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of pyruvate kinase muscle isozyme M2 (PKM2) expression on the clinical features and prognosis of HCC. The present study employed univariate logistic regression to investigate the correlation between PKM2 expression and clinical features. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to estimate the independent effect of PKM2 expression on survival status. The results revealed that patients in the high PKM2 group (≥11.25) exhibited significantly lower creatinine levels (P=0.043), higher fetoprotein levels (P<0.001), advanced stage (P<0.001) and higher grade (P=0.004) compared with patients with low PKM2 expression levels (<11.25). In addition, patients with high PKM2 expression exhibited poor prognosis compared with patients with low PKM2 expression. After correcting the covariates, PKM2 expression remains significantly associated with reduced overall survival (P<0.05). These findings suggested that PKM2 is an independent risk factor for HCC and provides valuable information for future studies on the pathogenesis of HCC and drug discovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the oxidation properties of low-iron vanadium-titanium magnetite with high vanadium and titanium in a laboratory muffle furnace was investigated. XRD, SEM, and TG-DSC method are employed to identify the main phases and chemical composition of the samples. The roasting time of 4h and Na2CO3/vanadium titanium magnetite mass ratio of 7.5:100 were determined. The results showed that the blank oxidation roasting temperature ranged from 593°C to 1035°C, the mixed oxidation roasting temperature of vanadium-titanium magnetite and Na2CO3 at the range of 204°C to 825°C, and the forming temperature of soluble vanadate at the range of 700°C to 825°C. When roasting temperature reached 1000°C, consolidation was started. When roasting temperature was 850°C, the roasting conversion efficiency, acid leaching efficiency and water leaching efficiency were 92.4%, 87%, and 85%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-codingRNAscan exert significant roles various cancers, includingNSCLC.Previously, weindicated that lncRNADGCR5 can promote lung cancer progression through inhibiting hsa-mir-22-3p. In our current study, we investigated the role of DGCR5 in cancer stem cell-like properties of NSCLC. CSCs have been recognized as the frequent cause of tumor metastasis, tumor recurrence, and chemotherapy resistance. Here, lung cancer stem cells were successfully enriched from the parental NSCLC A549, H460, and H1299 cells by using tumor sphere formation assays and side population (SP) assays. We observed that DGCR5 was up-regulated in the enriched CSCs of NSCLC. DGCR5 can inhibit the stemness of NSLCLwhile overexpression ofDGCR5 promotedCSC-like traits. In addition, miR-330-5p was predicted as target of DGCR5 and the correlation between them was validated by dual-luciferase reporter assay, RIP assay, and RNA pull-down assay. Meanwhile, it was found that miR-330-5p was decreased in CSCs ofNSCLC. miR-330-5p mimics repressed the stemness while miR-330-5p inhibition enhanced CSC-like properties by targeting CD44. Taken these together, DGCR5 can act as a crucial regulator of CSCs in NSCLC by modulating miR-330-5p/CD44 axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A novel mixotrophic biofilm reactor (MBR) was operated to simultaneously remove total organic carbon, nitrate, and Mn(II). Effects of some key factors on mixotrophic denitrification were investigated in lab‐scale bioreactors. Optimized conditions obtained from the MBR were used to validate the experiments, proving their feasibility. High‐throughput sequencing was employed to analyze the microbial communities of the MBR. The community diversity in the MBR was markedly influenced by the ratio of Cinorganic:Corganic. The species were increased with lower Cinorganic:Corganic concentration. Pseudomonas was detected as the dominant species in the MBR, indicating that Pseudomonas sp. SZF15 and Pseudomonas sp. H‐117 play a primary role in the process of nitrate removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have demonstrated that aging promotes myocardial apoptosis after ischemia/reperfusion, via unknown specific mechanisms. The present study investigates the potential relationship between lncRNAs and aging-related apoptosis by lncRNA/mRNA microarray technology. The results indicate aging increased myocardial lncRNA ENSMUST00000134285 and mMAPK11, confirmed by both bioinformatics analysis and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Mouse cardiomyocytes were subjected to gene manipulation (ENSMUST00000134285 knockdown and overexpression). Knockdown of ENSMUST00000134285 inhibited MAPK11 activity and increased the myocardial apoptotic ratio (determined by TUNEL staining and caspase activity assays) after hypoxia/reoxygenation. Conversely, overexpression of ENSMUST00000134285 increased MAPK11 activity and decreased the myocardial apoptotic ratio. Furthermore, luciferase reporter assay revealed that miR760 may be a mediator between ENSMUST00000134285 and mMAPK11. We have provided evidence that lncRNAs are the important regulatory molecules in aging-mediated effects upon apoptosis. The apoptosis regulatory effects of aging are complex. Except apoptosis-promoting effects, aging could also inhibit myocardial apoptosis after hypoxia or ischemia. Further studies investigating the mechanisms that aging inhibit myocardial apoptosis after hypoxia/ischemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This article aimed to investigate the effect of miR-497 on thyroid papillary carcinoma. Materials and methods: miR-497 expression was analyzed using The Cancer Genome Atlas. A total of 56 papillary thyroid carcinoma patients' tumor tissues and normal tissues were collected. Nthy-ori 3-1 and K1 cells were cultured. K1 cells were also transfected. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were used to detect miR-497 and yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) expression. Luciferase reporter assay was performed. MTT and Transwell assay were conducted to measure cells' proliferation, migration and invasion. Immunofluorescence detection was used to detect YAP1-positive cells. Results: miR-497 was downregulated, while YAP1 was upregulated in thyroid papillary carcinoma tissues and K1 cells (P<0.05). Compared with the negative control group, the OD495 value and the migrating and invasive cell number were significantly lower in miR-497 mimics group and significantly higher in miR-497 inhibitor group (P<0.05). YAP1 was the target gene of miR-497. Compared with blank group, the OD495 value and the migrating and invasive cell number were significantly lower in si-YAP1 group and significantly higher in miR-497 inhibitor group (P<0.05), while no significant difference was found between si-YAP1+inhibitors group and blank group in these indicators. Conclusion: miR-497 regulated the proliferation, migration and invasion of K1 cells by negatively regulating YAP1 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]