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Through field investigation and comprehensive analysis, this paper classified green space system on campus of Southwest University of Science & Technology into points, lines and surfaces, and used basic theories of ecology, botany, garden aesthetics, and plant landscape assessment to analyze ornamental characteristics, seasonal changes, spatial layers and cultural connotations of its typical plant landscapes, so as to assess campus plant landscape comprehensively in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The degradation rate of quinclorac was investigated to afford scientific basis for its rational application with paddy soil of South China at different temperature,humidity and pH value. Quinclorac was sprayed into soil at the concentration of 1 mg·kg-1 . The soils were placed in corresponding temperature condition. Soil samples were taken for analysis on 1 h and 1,3,7,14,21,30,45,60, 120 d and extracted with potassium hydroxide solution. The supernatant was cleaned up with methylene dichloride and was evaporated on a rotary evaporator. Quinclorac was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. The results showed that pH value was the most obvious impact factor,the degradation rate of quinclorac was the fastest at pH = 7. 0 and the half-life is 10. 58 d. The degradation rate of quinclorac at pH=7. 0 was followed by alkaline(pH=8. 0)and acidic soil(pH=6. 0)and the half-lives are 18. 53 and 30. 81 d,respectively. Quinclorac degraded faster with higher temperature at 5-25 °C. The half-lives at (25±0. 5) °C and (35±0. 5) °C were 15. 04 d and 17. 33 d,respectively. Humidity had little effect to promote the degradation of quinclorac and the half-lives were more than 20 d at 30%,60%,90%. Therefore,adjusting the pH value of paddy soil to 7 or applying quinclorac in warm seasons 25-35 °C are beneficial to its degradation,which causes less residue and phytotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study gathered and processed the available air quality daily reports in 86 cities throughout China in 2001–2011. Urban air quality was assessed in terms of the evolution of the key pollutants, the pollution level, and the PM10(particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <10 μm) concentrations. The authors conclude that PM10is the most important pollutant in Chinese cities, especially after the national sulfur dioxide (SO2) controls during the 11th Five Year Plan (FYP; 2006–2010). A notable advance was the reduction of extremely heavily polluted days with air pollution index (API) above 150 from 7% in 2001 to 1% in 2011 in the all-city average. In addition, the average API-derived PM10concentrations continually decreased during the past 11 yr. Additionally, the pollution pattern of “more severe from south to north” in China became less obvious due to the decline of PM10concentrations in the northern cities and the more obvious regional characteristics of air pollution. Nevertheless, more pollutants should be included in the API system to fully reflect the air quality status and guide future air pollution controls in Chinese cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Totally water-soluble N-doped Carbon dots (N-CDs) were synthesized by a green hydrothermal method from biomass using Highland barley as a carbon source and ethanediamine as nitrogen source. TEM and XRD showed the graphitic amorphous structure and narrow diameter distribution of these N-CDs. N-doping to the crystal lattice and carrying many hydrophilic groups on the surface of N-CDs were verified by XPS and FT-IR. The as-synthesized N-CDs emitted strong blue fluorescence at 480 nm and owned a relatively high quantum yield of 14.4%. The product also could sensitively and selectively detect Hg2+ ions in the range of 10–160 μM and the limit of detection was equal to 0.48 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We propose a comprehensive framework for the analysis of multi-level brain asymmetry. • Stroke induces abnormal alterations in local and global asymmetry dynamics. • Abnormal asymmetry in stroke tends to normalize after BCI-based rehabilitation. • Longitudinal changes in brain asymmetry are associated with functional improvement. • Baseline neural and clinical features predict individual functional improvement. Hemispheric asymmetry or lateralization is a fundamental principle of brain organization. However, it is poorly understood to what extent the brain asymmetries across different levels of functional organizations are evident in health or altered in brain diseases. Here, we propose a framework that integrates three degrees of brain interactions (isolated nodes, node–node, and edge–edge) into a unified analysis pipeline to capture the sliding window-based asymmetry dynamics at both the node and hemisphere levels. We apply this framework to resting-state EEG in healthy and stroke populations and investigate the stroke-induced abnormal alterations in brain asymmetries and longitudinal asymmetry changes during poststroke rehabilitation. We observe that the mean asymmetry in patients was abnormally enhanced across different frequency bands and levels of brain interactions, with these abnormal patterns strongly associated with the side of the stroke lesion. Compared to healthy controls, patients displayed significant alterations in asymmetry fluctuations, disrupting and reconfiguring the balance of inter-hemispheric integration and segregation. Additionally, analyses reveal that specific abnormal asymmetry metrics in patients tend to move towards those observed in healthy controls after short-term brain-computer interface rehabilitation. Furthermore, preliminary evidence suggests that baseline clinical and asymmetry features can predict poststroke improvements in the Fugl-Meyer assessment of the lower extremity (mean absolute error of about 2). Overall, these findings advance our understanding of hemispheric asymmetry. Our framework offers new insights into the mechanisms underlying brain alterations and recovery after a brain lesion, may help identify prognostic biomarkers, and can be easily extended to different functional modalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a novel antifouling loose nanofiltration (LNF) membrane was prepared by the cross-linking and grafting of hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile ultrafiltration (HPAN UF) substrate with a polyethylenimine (PEI) based zwitterionic polymer PEI-CA through the covalent amide bond. The successful introduction of PEI-CA was verified by various techniques. The tailored membrane HPAN-PEICA exhibited ultra-high water permeance (73.5 L m−2 h−1 bar−1) and meanwhile maintained excellent rejection (~99.9 %) for dye Brilliant Blue R (BBR), Methyl Blue (MB), Congo red (CR) and Chrome Black T (CBT). In addition, it exhibited ultralow rejection (below ~6 %) towards the inorganic salts (NaCl, Na 2 SO 4 , MgCl 2 and MgSO 4), with excellent dye/salt selectivity of ~65. The as-fabricated membrane HPAN-PEICA was proved having good long-term operation stability and pressure resistance properties. Dynamic fouling experiments confirmed that the membrane HPAN-PEICA presented excellent antifouling performance towards four typical model foulants (LYZ, SA, HA and BSA). Over all, we believed that the tailored LNF membrane HPAN-PEICA having great application prospects in textile effluent treatment. • Loose NF membrane was fabricated by grafting modification a HPAN UF membrane. • The mean pore size, hydrophilicity and surface charge of membrane were regulated. • The membrane had a high water flux of 73.5 LMH/bar and CR rejection of ~100 %. • The membrane presented high dye/salt selectivity with salt rejection as low as <6 %. • It showed much enhanced antifouling properties towards typical model foulants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the effect of dehydration on photosynthetic apparatus has been widely studied, the respective effect of dehydration duration and dehydration degree was neglected. This study showed that, when leaves dehydrated in air, the PSII activities of leaves decreased with the decline of leaf relative water content (RWC). Unexpectedly, when leaves dehydrated to same RWC, the decreases in Fv/Fm, Ϊo and RC/CSm were lower in leaves dehydrating at 43 °C than those at 25 °C. However, to reach the same RWC, leaves dehydrating at 43 °C experienced 1/6 of the dehydration duration for leaves dehydrating at 25 °C. To distinguish the respective effect of dehydration degree and dehydration duration on photosynthetic apparatus, we studied the PSII activities of leaves treated with different concentration of PEG solutions. Increasing dehydration degree aggravated the decline of Fv/Fm, Ϊo and RC/CSm in leaves with the same dehydration duration, while prolonging the dehydration duration also exacerbated the decline of Fv/Fm, Ϊo and RC/CSm in leaves with identical dehydration degree. With the same dehydration degree and duration, high temperature enhanced the decrease of Fv/Fm, Ϊo and RC/CSm in the leaves. When leaves dehydrated in air, the effect of high temperature was underestimated due to reduction of dehydration duration. The results demonstrated that, dehydration degree and duration both play important roles in damage to photosynthetic apparatus. We suggest that, under combined stresses, the effects of dehydration degree and duration on plants should be considered comprehensively, otherwise, partial or incorrect results may be obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combination therapies with chemotherapy and traditional Chinese medicines are attracted increasing attentions for cancer treatment in China. Shengbai decoction (SBD) is a traditional Chinese compound medicine, composed of 6 traditional Chinese herbs. The aim of this study was to investigate the synergistic anti-tumor activity of SBD with cyclophosphamide (CTX) and the possibly underlying mechanisms in treating the hepatoma 22 (H 22) -bearing mice. The liver cancer models in C57BL/6 mice were established by injecting with mouse H 22 cancer cells. Results showed that combination treatment with SBD and CTX processed a significantly synergistic anti-tumor effect in H 22 tumor-bearing mice. Moreover, SBD could not only improve leukopenia caused by CTX, but prolong the survival time of the mice. Furthermore, SBD could upregulate the expressions of the pro-apoptotic genes, including p53, BAD, Cas3 and Bax, and suppress the expression of anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2. These results suggested that the combination treatment with SBD and CTX had health improving function and less side effects compared with the administration of CTX alone, and SBD could be a promising adjunct agent for liver cancer chemotherapy. [Display omitted] • Shengbai decoction (SBD) combined with cyclophosphamide (CTX) has synergistic anti-tumor effect on hepatoma 22-bearing mice. • SBD could reverse the toxicity of CTX, including the increasing in WBCs, RBCs, PLTs, and the body weight of tumor bearing mice. • SBD could alleviate the indexes of liver, kidney, thymus and splenic, and the inflammatory reaction indicators. • SBD may enhance the anti-tumor activity by promoting apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Rosmarinic acid (a- O -caffeoyl-3,4-dihydroxyphenyllacticacid, RA) is one of the most potent polyphenols. Which is commercially available with high (>96%) purification and much less expensive compared to other polyphenol compounds. • RA administration alleviated neurological deficits and reduced infarct volume. • The results revealed RA treatment alleviated the post-stroke depressive behaviors. Rosmarinic acid (RA), a natural polyphenol, possesses potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. To evaluate the ability of RA to cure ischemic stroke and post-stroke depression (PSD), rats were treated with various doses of RA after cerebral ischemia. Neurological deficits and infarct volume of the brain were measured. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH) were examined at different time points. In addition, a forced swimming test and sucrose preference test were performed to detect the anti-depressive effects of RA. Our results revealed RA administration significantly alleviated neurological deficits and reduced infarct volumes. RA attenuated the decrease of SOD, CAT activities and GSH levels in the ischemic penumbra of the brain. Most importantly, RA treatment alleviated the depression behaviors. Increased expression of Nrf2 was also induced by RA, while down regulation Nrf2 by Nrf2-short-hairpin RNA sequences reversed the increasing activity of SOD and CAT induced by RA, as well as the protection against PSD. The present study indicates that RA exerts a potent neuroprotective effect against stroke and PSD, which could be a promising therapeutic intervention for stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Shengbai Decoction (SBD) combined with cyclophosphamide (CTX) has synergistic effect against melanoma in vivo. • The synergistic effect of combination treatment may be attributed to the enhancement of immune response and the down-regulation of survival associated proteins. • The up-regulation of NF-κB signaling pathway and reducing adverse reactions promote the effect. • SBD could effectively prevent and alleviate leukopenia induced by CTX. Shengbai decoction (SBD), a famous Chinese herbal prescription, has been used for treatment of leukopenia for decades in China. In this study, its synergistic antitumor effect in combination with cyclophosphamide (CTX) on melanoma-bearing mice was investigated. A total of forty C57BL/6 male mice successfully modeled (6–8 weeks old, 18−22 g) were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 10): 1) the model group, 2) the CTX group, 3) the low dose of SBD (10.66 g/kg/d, raw medicine) and CTX group, and 4) the high dose of SBD (31.98 g/kg/d, raw medicine) and CTX group. Melanoma mice models were established by injection of 0.1 mL of melanoma cell suspension under the midline of the back of each C57BL/6 mouse. Treatment started five days after modeling. The results showed that SBD significantly alleviated histopathological damage, and reduced tumor growth and the concentrations of IL-6, IFN-γ and TNF-α in serum. Furthermore, the combined therapy increased the positive expression of NF-κB and promoted apoptosis compared with CTX alone. These results indicated that SBD could improve the antitumor effect of CTX on melanoma in vivo. And this combination treatment may be an ideal therapy against melanoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emission models of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from individual indoor building materials have been developed and validated. However, multiple indoor building materials release VOCs simultaneously, and neither single building material nor multiple building material emission models can predict the entire release cycle of VOCs accurately. This study established a long- and short-term numerical prediction model for indoor VOC concentration. The model includes an attenuation coefficient θ . To describe the decay rate of the total VOC content, which is mainly influenced by time, and by designing experiments and testing in environmental warehouses under different seasonal conditions, the value of θ was first obtained. Then, after successfully plotting the emission curve of indoor pollutant concentration over time through numerical solution and using θ , the VOC content was corrected for various seasonal conditions. On the basis of this model, an exposure dose integration algorithm was proposed to evaluate the environmental health risks, as an application of this model. In comparison with previous research results and experimental data, this model has better predictive performance.

Soil contamination with heavy metals is a significant environmental issue that adversely affects plant growth and agricultural productivity. Biochar and microbial inoculants have emerged as a promising approach to solving this problem, and previous studies have focused more on the remediation effects of single types of materials on heavy metal soil pollution. This study examined the impact of both standalone and combined applications of distiller's grains biochar, Lactobacillus plantarum thallus, and the bacterial supernatant on the availability of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in soil, its physicochemical features, and its enzyme activities; this study also examined the growth, physiological and biochemical characteristics, and heavy metal accumulation of Sorghum-sudangrass. The findings suggest that the application of distiller's grains biochar, Lactobacillus plantarum thallus, and the bacterial supernatant can improve the soil's physical and chemical properties and enhance soil enzyme activity while reducing the availability of heavy metals in the soil. Furthermore, the addition of these materials promoted plant growth, increased stress resistance, and significantly decreased the accumulation of heavy metals in the plants. A thorough analysis of the results shows that applying 0.025% Lactobacillus plantarum thallus along with 4.4% distiller's grains biochar produced the best results.

Background: The construction of a robust healthcare information system is fundamental to enhancing countries' capabilities in the surveillance and control of hepatitis B virus (HBV). Making use of China's rapidly expanding primary healthcare system, this innovative approach using big data and machine learning (ML) could help towards the World Health Organization's (WHO) HBV infection elimination goals of reaching 90% diagnosis and treatment rates by 2030. We aimed to develop and validate HBV detection models using routine clinical data to improve the detection of HBV and support the development of effective interventions to mitigate the impact of this disease in China., Methods: Relevant data records extracted from the Family Medicine Clinic of the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital's Hospital Information System were structuralized using state-of-the-art Natural Language Processing techniques. Several ML models have been used to develop HBV risk assessment models. The performance of the ML model was then interpreted using the Shapley value (SHAP) and validated using cohort data randomly divided at a ratio of 2:1 using a five-fold cross-validation framework., Results: The patterns of physical complaints of patients with and without HBV infection were identified by processing 158,988 clinic attendance records. After removing cases without any clinical parameters from the derivation sample ( n  = 105,992), 27,392 cases were analysed using six modelling methods. A simplified model for HBV using patients' physical complaints and parameters was developed with good discrimination (AUC = 0.78) and calibration (goodness of fit test p-value >0.05)., Conclusions: Suspected case detection models of HBV, showing potential for clinical deployment, have been developed to improve HBV surveillance in primary care setting in China. (Word count: 264).

Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a chronic autoimmune disease primarily affecting exocrine glands such as the salivary glands, leading to impaired secretion and sicca symptoms. As the mainstay of salivation, salivary gland epithelial cells (SGECs) have an important role in the pathology of pSS. Emerging evidence suggests that the interplay between immunological factors and SGECs may not be the initial trigger or the sole mechanism responsible for xerostomia in pSS, challenging conventional perceptions. To deepen our understanding, current research regarding SGECs in pSS was reviewed. Among the extensive aberrations in cellular architecture and function, this review highlighted certain alterations of SGECs that were identified to occur independently of or in absence of lymphocytic infiltration. In particular, some of these alterations may serve as upstream factors of immuno-inflammatory responses. These findings underscore the significance of introspecting the pathogenesis of pSS and developing interventions targeting SGECs in the early stages of the disease., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Students' music self-concept and music emotions are becoming prominent topics within the area of music education., Aims, Samples and Methods: The majority of previous research on self-concept and music emotions has examined the two constructs independently and focused on gender differences in externalizing behaviours in music learning, but has neglected the internal interactions between individual music self-concept and music emotions. Network analysis is a promising method for visually examining music self-concept and music emotions as part of a network of interactions to identify core features and interrelationships among nodes in the network. In this study, 515 students majoring in music from a Chinese university were recruited., Results: The results showed that high music self-concept and boredom were the common features at the core of the network for both men and women college students. The boredom exhibited by women differed from that of men in that men's boredom was directed at the entire music course, while boredom in women manifested as daydreaming and boredom with learning materials., Conclusions: This study is the first to explore gender differences in the music self-concept and music emotions from a holistic perspective. The findings could help music teachers gain insight into the complex system of music self-concept and music emotions. Music teachers could capture the respective features of men and women to design individualized teaching strategies., (© 2024 British Psychological Society.)

We have reported the synthesis of epitope-imprinted mesoporous silica (EIMS) with an average pore size of 6.2 nm, which is similar to the geometrical size of the target protein, cytochrome C (Cyt c , 2.6 × 3.2 × 3.3 nm 3 ), showing great recognition and large-scale adsorption performance. The characteristic fragment of Cyt c was used as a template and docked onto the surface of C 16 MIMCl micelles via multiple interactions. Nitrogen adsorption-desorption and transmission electron microscopy confirmed the successful preparation of EIMS. Due to the ordered pore structure, larger pore size, and high specific surface area, the prepared EIMS show superior specificity (IF = 3.8), excellent selectivity toward Cyt c , high adsorption capacity (249.6 mg g -1 ), and fast adsorption equilibrium (10 min). This study demonstrates the potential application of EIMS with a controllable pore size for high-effective and large-scale separation of Cyt c , providing a new approach for effective biomacromolecular recognition., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

The rapid development of modern society has resulted in discharge of large, heavy metal quantities into wetlands that have been continuously accumulating, causing severe pollution. Dajiuhu, located in the Shennongjia Forest District of Hubei Province in China, is a wetland of significant value internationally, serving as a model wetland ecosystem with heightened scientific research value. In this study, 27 surface sediment samples from nine sub-lakes in Dajiuhu were collected in August 2020. The concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the sediments were determined. The heavy metal occurrence and speciation characteristics were analyzed by an improved BCR (European Community Bureau of Reference) extraction method. Four methods were used to evaluate heavy metals' pollution degree and ecological risk. The possible source of heavy metals was inferred using correlation analysis and principal component analysis. The heavy metal content in the lake sediments of Dajiuhu wetland was from the highest to the lowest concentration as follows: Zn [Formula: see text] Cr [Formula: see text] Ni [Formula: see text] Pb [Formula: see text] Cu [Formula: see text] Cd. The average Cd content exceeded the national nature reserve threshold values, while the other heavy metals measured were below their respective threshold values. However, due to the occurrence of Pb and Cd in different forms, they still pose certain pollution and ecological risk to the lake wetlands. On the other hand, Zn, Cr, Ni, and Cu do not pose an ecological risk in the lakes of the Dajiuhu wetland. The spatial distribution of heavy metal content in the nine sub-lakes did vary significantly. Regarding the heavy metal sources in the lake sediments, Ni, Cr, and Cu originate from natural factors, and Cd and Pb have mainly anthropogenic origins. In contrast, Zn has both natural and anthropogenic origins. This study provides further insights into the study of heavy metal pollution in lake wetlands. It provides a framework and a direction for managing heavy metal pollution in the Dajiuhu wetland., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Cadmium (Cd) toxicity induce various disturbances in metabolic processes and impair plant establishment. The composition of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes (δ 13 C and δ 15 N) and free amino acids (FAAs) can reflect the response of plants to environmental stress. In the present study, a solution culture experiment was carried out, and the secretion characteristics of FAAs as well as δ 13 C and δ 15 N were evaluated as indicative of the functional performance of two castor species (Zibo-3 and Zibo-9) under various Cd concentrations stress (0, 1, 2, and 5 mg L -1 ). The results indicated that: 1) The treatment of the plants with 5 mg L -1 of a Cd solution resulted in a significant decline of biomasses by 22.4% and 11.6% in Zibo-3 and Zibo-9, respectively, relative to controls; additionally, the accumulation levels for Cd in Zibo-9 were higher than those in Zibo-3, thus Zibo-9 showed higher tolerance and enrichment ability to Cd. 2) The exposure of castor to Cd treatments results in significant modifications in individual FAAs, suggesting a differential sensitivity of each biosynthetic pathway to this stress; however, a positive correlation was found between the accumulation of total FAAs and Cd treatment dosages; higher proportion of asparagine and glutamate in total amino acids for Zibo-9, and abundant secretion of arginine in Cd treated Zibo-9 may be associated with the higher Cd-tolerance and Cd-accumulation in Zibo-9. 3) Cd stress increased leaf δ 13 C and δ 15 N values regardless of the castor species; δ 13 C and δ 15 N could be used as monitoring tools for heavy metal stress in plants., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

Background: Nanoparticle-based pulmonary drug delivery systems are commonly developed and applied for drug-targeted delivery. They exhibit significant advantages compared to traditional pulmonary drug delivery systems. However, developing the formulation of each drug is a time-consuming and laborious task., Results: In this study, a universal lung-targeting nanoparticle was designed and constructed. The self-assembled micelles were composed of a platycodon secondary saponin, 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl platycodigenin 682 (GP-682), based on its specific amphiphilic structure. The GP-682 micelles exhibited a relatively stable zeta potential with a particle size between 60 and 90 nm, and the critical micelle concentration (CMC) value was approximately 42.3 μg/mL. Preincubation of GP-682 micelles markedly enhanced their cell membrane permeability and improved drug uptake in vitro. The results were visualized using fluorescent dye tracing, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations and the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay. The obtained benefits enhanced the distribution of levofloxacin (Lev) in mouse lung tissue and reduced antibiotics overdosing. The acute lung injury mouse model induced by the Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA 14 strain demonstrated that preinjection of GP-682 micelles before antibiotic administration resulted in a higher survival rate and anti-infective efficacy in vivo. It also caused reductions in pulmonary injury, bacterial invasion and cytokine expression compared with treatment with Lev alone., Conclusions: GP-682 micelles are another nanoparticle-based pulmonary drug delivery system and provide a new lung-targeting therapy option.

There is an increasing concern that aquaculture has been implicated in the formation of antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) reservoirs; however, little is known about the consequences of their presence in groundwater. In this study, 22 antibiotics, including four acetylated metabolites, and 27 ARGs were analyzed in fish pond water, surface water, and groundwater of the Honghu Lake in China. Correlations between conventional parameters, ionic composition, antibiotic concentration, and relative abundance of ARGs in water samples were analyzed. Among the three different sources of water, total antibiotic levels were the highest in fish pond water and the lowest in groundwater, with moderate levels in lake water. In surface water, sulfonamides and their metabolites accounted for the highest antibiotic content, whereas tetracyclines were the most frequently found in groundwater samples. Despite the near-undetectable levels of antibiotics in groundwater, the relative abundance of ARGs in groundwater samples was even higher than that in surface waters. The magnitude and extent of ARG migration are likely to be dependent on local antibiotic contamination levels as well as on the local environmental and hydrogeological conditions, with the class 1 integrons (intI1) being essential for the dissemination of such ARGs. The effects of environmental parameters such as antibiotics, dissolved oxygen, HCO 3 - , and pH on ARGs were highly significant, reflecting the potential impact of these factors on the abundance of ARGs. Our findings thus highlight the need for improved control of the spread of ARGs in and from aquaculture environments.

Vascular endothelial cells were activated during acute ischemic brain injury, which could induce neural progenitor cell proliferation and migration. However, the mechanism was still unknown. In the current study, we explored whether vascular endothelial cells promoted neural progenitor cell proliferation and whether migration occurs via exosome communication. The acute middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was prepared, and exosomes were isolated from bEnd.3 cells by ultracentrifugation. In the exosome injection (Exos) group and PBS injection (control) group, exosomes or PBS were injected intraventricularly into rats' brains 2 h after MCAO surgery, respectively. Sham group rats received the same surgical but did not cause middle cerebral artery occlusion. The infarct volume was reduced on day 21 after ischemic brain injury by MRI, and neurobehavioral outcomes were improved on day 7, 14, and 21 by exosome injection compared with the control (p < 0.05). On the 21st day after MCAO, the animals were euthanized, and the number of BrdU/nestin-positive cells was measured by immunofluorescence. BrdU/nestin-positive cells in Exos group rats were significantly increased (p < 0.05) in the peri infarct area, the ipsilateral DG zone of the hippocampus, and the ventral sub-regions of SVZ when compared with the rats in the control group. Further, in vitro study demonstrated that neural progenitor cell proliferation and migration were activated after exosomes treatment, and cell apoptosis was attenuated compared to the control (p < 0.05). Our study suggested that exosomes should be essential for the reconstruction of neuronal vascular units and brain protection in an acute ischemic injured brain., (Copyright © 2020 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A sustainable photocatalyst of Ti 3+ self-doped elongated anatase nanowires combined with reduced graphene oxide (TiO 2 NWs@rGO) was prepared via a facile one-step reductive synthesis process using NaBH 4 as reductant for the first time. The obtained optimal TiO 2 NWs@rGO composite has a large surface area,182 m 2  g -1 , which demonstrates strong adsorption capacity due to the multilayered structure built by highly crystallized nanowires of TiO 2 and ultrathin rGO layers. When the photocatalyst was applied in removing waste engine oil (100 mL, 50 mg L -1 ), it exhibited outstanding performance with up to COD 98.6% removal extent (from 145 initial to 2 mg L -1 final COD) after 5 h, which is 34.1% higher than that of TiO 2 NWs (64.5% COD removal extent). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses of residual waste engine oil after photocatalysis shows significant reductions of C 6 -C 19 chemicals as well as total disappear of C 15 ,C 16 , C 17 , C 18 chemicals. The outstanding photocatalytic activity of TiO 2 NWs@rGO benefits from sensitive response to visible light, improved surface reactivity and high electron flux enabled by rGO and Ti 3+ in TiO 2 . In addition, this composite catalyst can be self-cleaned, and recycled for reuse, which suggests promising potential for waste engine oil treatment., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Standard management protocols for patients with pheochromocytoma (PHEO) have been described in current guidelines. However, the standard management approach for cardiac surgical patients with concurrent clinically silent PHEO has not been established yet. The effects of open heart surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on PHEO presentation are poorly documented. Here, we report in detail the anesthetic management and hemodynamic changes in a case of CPB-assisted pulmonary valve replacement surgery with an incidentally discovered normotensive PHEO. A 55-year-old male with normotensive PHEO underwent an open heart pulmonary valve replacement surgery. Blood pressure (BP) fluctuated with an inherent alternation rhythm during the whole process of the surgery with a peak at 230/130 mmHg and nadir at 40/30 mm Hg. Administration of fluids and vasoconstrictor/vasodilator was used for BP optimization. However, the BP changed intractably with delayed responses to the optimization management. The hemodynamic instability observed in this case indicated that the risk of occurrence and severity of the PHEO crisis did not decrease in cases with previously silent PHEO and may be triggered in any clinical scenario, not in tumor removal procedures alone. Careful preoperative evaluation and preparation with multidisciplinary cooperation are of paramount importance for such patients because open chest cardiac surgery and CPB could complicate the situation. In addition, there is little evidence about the benefits of a combined cardiac surgery with PHEO resection in such a clinical scenario, which validates further investigation.

Background: Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (CRP), Aurantii Fructus Immaturus (AFI) and Aurantii Fructus (AF) are all important Citrus species used in traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. Although they have been used since ancient times and are still in use today, the mechanistic basis for their regulation of adrenergic receptors (ARs) is still not clear., Purpose: In this study, we aimed to determine the active components and mechanisms of action of CRP, AFI and AF in treating gastrointestinal disorders related to ARs., Methods: First, the phenethylamine alkaloid components of CRP, AFI and AF were identified and compared across 30 samples of three Citrus species by UPLC-Q/TOF-MS in combination with content difference analysis. Second, the effect of the main active alkaloid component on AR-based gastrointestinal disorders was investigated by an in vivo small intestinal propulsive test and an in vitro relaxing small intestinal smooth muscle activity test. The mechanism of AR regulation of the active alkaloid was further studied by evaluating its effect on relaxing small intestinal smooth muscle in the presence of an inhibitor. Lastly, the enzymes, which played an important role in epinephrine synthesis and AR regulation, were detected by immunohistochemistry., Results: Three phenethylamine AR regulators (N-methyltyramine, synephrine and hordenine) in CRP, AFI and AF were characterized. It was found that N-methyltyramine could relax mouse small intestinal smooth muscle and inhibit small intestinal propulsion. The effect of N-methyltyramine on relaxing small intestinal smooth muscle could be inhibited by a-methyl-l-tyrosine. The enzymes related epinephrine synthesis and AR function were found in the mouse small intestine. The biotransformation process that converts N-methyltyramine to epinephrine was determined., Conclusion: The treatment of gastrointestinal disorders of CRP, AFI and AF is associated with their alkaloid component N-methyltyramine via the regulation of ARs, and the mechanism is considered to be the biotransformation of N-methyltyramine to epinephrine by serial synthase, which takes place at the nerves cells in small intestine., (Copyright © 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

Liver is a vital organ present in animals for detoxification, protein synthesis, digestion and other functions and its powerful regenerative capacity is well known. C. plagiosum is an abundant fish that is representative of the cartilaginous class in the southeast coastal region of China and its liver accounts for >70% of the fish's visceral weight and contains many bioactive substances. MicroRNAs (microRNAs) play important roles in a wide range of biological processes in eukaryotes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis. However, microRNAs in response to liver regeneration has not been well studied. This study aimed to identify the microRNAs that participate in liver regeneration and other liver-related diseases and to improve our understanding of the mechanisms of liver regeneration in sharks. To this end, normal and regenerating liver tissues from C. plagiosum were harvested 0, 3, 6, 12 and 24h after partial hepatectomy (pH) and were sequenced using the Illumina/Solexa platform. In total, 309 known microRNAs and 590 novel microRNAs were identified in C. plagiosum. There were many microRNAs differentially expressed in the normal and regenerating livers between time points. Using target prediction and GO analysis, most of the differentially expressed microRNAs were assigned to functional categories that may be involved in regulating liver regeneration, such as cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. The microRNA expression profile of liver regeneration will pave the way for the development of effective strategies to fight against liver disease and other related disease., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This work reports on a novel fluorescent sensor 1 for Cd 2+ ion based on the fluorophore of tetramethyl substituted bis(difluoroboron)-1,2-bis[(1 H -pyrrol-2-yl)methylene]hydrazine (Me₄BOPHY), which is modified with an electron donor moiety of N , N -bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)benzenamine. Sensor 1 has absorption and emission in visible region, at 550 nm and 675 nm, respectively. The long wavelength spectral response makes it easier to fabricate the fluorescence detector. The sensor mechanism is based on the tunable internal charge transfer (ICT) transition of molecule 1 . Binding of Cd 2+ ion quenches the ICT transition, but turns on the π - π transition of the fluorophore, thus enabling ratiometric fluorescence sensing. The limit of detection (LOD) was projected down to 0.77 ppb, which is far below the safety value (3 ppb) set for drinking water by World Health Organization. The sensor also demonstrates a high selectivity towards Cd 2+ in comparison to other interferent metal ions., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Liver regeneration is a complicated process, and understanding the regulatory mechanism will be helpful in the treatment of diseases associated with liver. In this study, the one-third liver resection model was established in Chiloscyllium plagiosum, and the whole transcriptome of the C. plagiosum was generated using the Illumina-Solexa sequencing platform. Differentially expressed genes were analyzed using bioinformatics methods and verified using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Using miRanda and TargetScan, we screened the microRNA library for miRNAs that target the glutathione S-transferase P1(GSTP1) gene. Dual-luciferase reporter assays were used to confirm binding between the miRNA and GSTP1. Finally, we used western blotting analysis to determine expression of the GSTP1 protein. As a result, 65,356 unigenes were obtained in normal and damaged liver tissues, with mean length of 955 bp. A total of 359 differentially expressed genes were acquired; 217 of which were upregulated, and 142 were downregulated, including the GSTP1 gene, following liver resection. The presence of the GSTP1 protein in C. plagiosum was shown for the first time. Luciferase reporter assay revealed that GSTP1 messenger RNA was targeted by ipu-miR-143. The discovery and differential expression analysis of GSTP1 in C. plagiosum will be a valuable resource to explain the molecular mechanism of GSTP1 regulation of liver repair.

A novel fluorescent Probe 1 , based on phenanthro-imidazole has been developed as an efficient chemosensor for the trace detection of copper ions (Cu 2+ ). Probe 1 demonstrated sensitive fluorescence quenching upon binding with Cu 2+ through 1:1 stoichiometric chelation. The detection limit for Cu 2+ ions was projected through linear quenching fitting to be as low as 2.77 × 10 -8 M (or 1.77 ppb). The sensing response was highly selective towards Cu 2+ with minimal influence from other common metal ions, facilitating the practical application of Probe 1 in trace detection., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Emerging evidence suggests that Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with insulin resistance (IR) yet the underlying mechanisms are still obscure. The vital role of gut microbiota in triggering IR has been increasingly reported, however, no study has explored the correlation of gut microbiota and H. pylori-associated IR. Using H. pylori-infected mice model fed different diet structures, we demonstrated that H. pylori infection significantly aggravated high-fat diet (HFD)-induced metabolic disorders at the early stage, the extent of which was close to the effect of long-term HFD. Interestingly, we observed dynamic alterations in gut microbiota that were consistent with the changes in the metabolic phenotype induced by H. pylori and HFD. There may be an interaction among H. pylori, diet and gut microbiota, which dysregulates the host metabolic homeostasis, and treatment of H. pylori may be beneficial to the patients with impaired glucose tolerance in addition to diet control., (Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Invasive plants colonize new environments, become pests and cause biodiversity loss, economic loss and health damage. Senecio vulgaris L. (Common groundsel, Asteraceae), a widely distributing cosmopolitan weed in the temperate area, is reported with large populations in the north-eastern and south-western part, but not in southern, central, or north-western parts of China. We studied the germination behavior of S. vulgaris to explain the distribution and the biological invasion of this species in China. We used seeds originating from six native and six invasive populations to conduct germination experiments in a climate chamber and under outdoor condition. When incubated in a climate chamber (15 °C), seeds from the majority of the populations showed >90% germination percentage (GP) and the GP was equal for seeds with a native and invasive origin. The mean germination time (MGT) was significantly different among the populations. Under outdoor conditions, significant effects of origin, storage conditions (stored at 4 °C or ambient room temperature, ca. 27 °C) and seasons (in summer or autumn) were observed on the GP while the MGT was only affected by the season. In autumn, the GP (38.6%) was higher and the MGT was slightly longer than that in summer. In autumn, seeds stored at 4 °C showed higher GP than those stored at ambient room temperature (ca.27 °C), and seeds from invasive populations revealed higher GP than those from native populations. The results implied that the high temperature in summer has a negative impact on the germination and might cause viability loss or secondary dormancy to S. vulgaris seeds. Our study offers a clue to exploring what factor limits the distribution of S. vulgaris in China by explaining why, in the cities in South-East China and central China such as Wuhan, S. vulgaris cannot establish natural and viable populations.

In this study, a series of polyetherimide/SBA-15: 2-D hexagonal P6mm, Santa Barbara USA (PEI/SBA-15) adsorbents modified by phosphoric ester based surfactants (including tri(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (TEP), bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (BEP) and trimethyl phosphonoacetate (TMPA)) were prepared for CO2 adsorption. Experimental results indicated that the addition of TEP and BEP had positive effects on CO2 adsorption capacity over PEI/SBA-15. In particular, the CO2 adsorption amount could be improved by around 20% for 45PEI-5TEP/SBA-15 compared to the additive-free adsorbent. This could be attributed to the decrease of CO2 diffusion resistance in the PEI bulk network due to the interactions between TEP and loaded PEI molecules, which was further confirmed by adsorption kinetics results. In addition, it was also found that the cyclic performance of the TEP-modified adsorbent was better than the surfactant-free one. This could be due to two main reasons, based on the results of in situ DRIFT and TG-DSC tests. First and more importantly, adsorbed CO2 species could be desorbed more rapidly over TEP-modified adsorbent during the thermal desorption process. Furthermore, the enhanced thermal stability after TEP addition ensured lower degradation of amine groups during adsorption/desorption cycles., (Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.)