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The metabolic characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or diabetes mellitus (DM) have been studied, but the metabolic abnormalities of RA patients complicated with DM are not completely understood. Therefore, we recruited RA patients with DM to investigate the metabolic abnormalities in these patients. We collected data of RA patients with DM and age- and sex-matched RA and DM patients from Changhai Hospital's electronic medical record system. Data of demographically matched healthy controls were also collected from the health management system of the Hangzhou Sanatorium of People's Liberation Army. Blood pressure, uric acid, glucose, and lipid levels were compared. The clinical data of RA with DM ( n = 104), DM ( n = 100), and RA ( n = 100) patients and healthy controls ( n = 100) were collected and compared. RA patients with DM had higher blood pressure and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels than the other three groups, a higher triglycerides (TG) level than healthy controls and RA patients, and a lower TG level than DM patients. RA patients with DM exhibited a relatively high proportion of metabolic abnormalities based on existing standards. Our study examined metabolic abnormalities in RA patients with DM for the first time, and our results suggest that clinicians should pay more attention to the metabolic abnormalities of RA patients with DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Environmental enrichment (EE) could influence brain plasticity and behavior in rodents. Whether the early EE may predispose individuals to a particular social hierarchy in the social dominance tube test (SDTT) at adulthood is still unknown. Objective: The present study directly investigated the influence of EE on competitive success in the SDTT among adult rats. Methods: Male rats were maintained in EE from postnatal days 21 to 35. Social dominance behavior was determined by SDTT, competitive food foraging test, and mate preference test at adulthood. IBA-1 expression in the hypothalamus was examined using immunohistochemistry and western blot. Results: EE rats were prone to become submissive during a social encounter with standard environment (SE) rats in the SDTT. No difference was found in food foraging in the competitive food foraging test between SE and EE rats. Male EE rats were more attractive than the SE to the female rats in the mate preference test. IBA-1 expression was found to be decreased in the hypothalamus of EE rats compared to SE group. Infusion of a microglia inhibitor reduced percentage of forward in SE rats in the SDTT. Infusion of DNA methyltransferase inhibitor prevented the development of subordinate status in EE rats and restored the expression of IBA-1 in the hypothalamus. Conclusions: The results suggest that early EE did not lead to reduced social hierarchy in the male rat. However, EE caused a reduction in the percentage of forward in the SDTT, which might be associated with reduced number of microglia in the hypothalamus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with diabetes mellitus are prone to develop refractory wounds. They exhibit reduced synthesis and levels of circulating hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S), which is an ephemeral gaseous molecule. Physiologically, H 2 S is an endogenous gasotransmitter with multiple biological functions. An emulsion method is utilized to prepare a microparticle system that comprises phase-change materials with a nearly constant temperature of phase transitions to encapsulate sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), a highly water-labile H 2 S donor. An emulsion technique that can minimize the loss of water-labile active compounds during emulsification must be developed. The as-prepared microparticles (NaHS@MPs) provide an in situ depot for the sustained release of exogenous H 2 S under physiological conditions. The sustained release of H 2 S promotes several cell behaviors, including epidermal/endothelial cell proliferation and migration, as well as angiogenesis, by extending the activation of cellular ERK1/2 and p38, accelerating the healing of full-thickness wounds in diabetic mice. These experimental results reveal the strong potential of NaHS@MPs for the sustained release of H 2 S for the treatment of diabetic wounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphological awareness is the foundation for the important developmental skills involved with vocabulary, as well as understanding the meaning of words, orthographic knowledge, reading, and writing. Visual perception of space and radicals in two-dimensional positions of Chinese characters' morphology is very important in identifying Chinese characters. The important predictive variables of special and visual perception in Chinese characters identification were investigated in the growth model in this research. The assessment tool is the "Computerized Visual Perception Assessment Tool for Chinese Characters Structures" developed by this study. There are two constructs, basic stroke and character structure. In the basic stroke, there are three subtests of one, two, and more than three strokes. In the character structure, there are three subtests of single-component character, horizontal-compound character, and vertical-compound character. This study used purposive sampling. In the first year, 551 children 4-6 years old participated in the study and were monitored for one year. In the second year, 388 children remained in the study and the successful follow-up rate was 70.4%. This study used a two-wave cross-lagged panel design to validate the growth model of the basic stroke and the character structure. There was significant correlation of the basic stroke and the character structure at different time points. The abilities in the basic stroke and in the character structure steadily developed over time for preschool children. Children's knowledge of the basic stroke effectively predicted their knowledge of the basic stroke and the character structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Autophagy related 4B (ATG4B) which regulates autophagy by promoting the formation of autophagosome through reversible modification of LC3, is closely related to cancer cell growth and drug resistance, and therefore is an attractive therapeutic target. Recently, ATG4B inhibitors have been reported, yet with drawbacks including weak potency. To discover more promising ATG4B inhibitors, we developed a high-throughput screening (HTS) assay and identified a new ATG4B inhibitor named DC-ATG4in. DC-ATG4in directly binds to ATG4B and inhibits its enzyme activity with an IC 50 of 3.08 ± 0.47 μM. We further confirmed that DC-ATG4in is an autophagy inhibitor and blocks autophagy induced by Sorafenib in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) cells. More importantly, combination of DC-ATG4in with Sorafenib synergized the cancer cell killing effect and proliferation inhibition activities on HCC cells. Our data suggested that inactivation of autophagy via ATG4B inhibition may be a viable strategy to sensitize existing targeted therapy such as Sorafenib in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical interactions that drive crater wear in turning are often studied using diffusion couples where the tool and workpiece are fixed. In contrast, in actual turning, there is a constant supply of new workpiece material at the tool-chip interface. In this work, diffusion simulations of a WC–Co(6%) and Ti–5Al–5V system were conducted, with constant replenishment of titanium at the interface (open system) and a fixed amount of material (closed system). The simulations showed that the formation of W(bcc), η -phase, and TiC is dependent on the activity of C and the permeability of Co and C in titanium. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy-based techniques were used to analyse a Ti–5Al–5V–5Mo–3Cr and WC–Co(6%) diffusion couple and a worn WC–Co(6%) insert. The sequence of phases in the closed system simulation was similar to that observed in the diffusion couple. The open system simulation indicated that W(bcc) can form at WC–WC boundaries (where Co is low) within the subsurface of a WC–Co(6%) that has adhered titanium, and at the WC/Ti interface. Additionally, high densities of stacking faults and dislocations were found within subsurface WC grains, indicating a significant reduction of the tool's integrity. • Thermodynamic simulation of a WC–Co and Ti–5Al–5V system at 1000 °C. • Crater wear in titanium machining is governed by C activity. • TiC and η -phase are indicated at the tool-workpiece interface in diffusion couples. • W(bcc) and a high defect density exist 2–4 μ m below the tool workpiece interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil physical and biogeochemical processes are key to regulate the soil microbial necromass (SMN) patterns. Increasing evidence showed that the SMN contributes to the formation of soil organic matters (SOM), and subsequently SOM stabilization and soil nutrient cycling. This study aims to review the state-of-the-art research on SMN and associated impacts on soil ecosystem functions and services, and also to provide future research perspectives on linking SMN with SOM formation, transformation, and stabilization patterns. We conducted a comprehensive bibliometric analysis that targeted 1118 relevant articles from 2001 to 2020 based on the Web of Science database towards deciphering the state-of-the-art research on SMN and the historical development trends. We found that the number of SMN relevant publications has been growing rapidly since 2001, especially during the past three years (from 2017 to 2020). Taking the soil amino sugars (AS) as the biomarker of SMN, enables quantifying the potential linkage of SMN to the origins of SOM. Analysis results revealed that the dynamics of SMN that originated from the variety of microbial biomass effectively contribute to the SOM accumulation and stabilization and thereby, carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling. In addition, the major factors regulating the SMN formation and accumulation, and subsequently nutrient cycling likely include soil physicochemical properties, changing climate conditions (e.g., global warming, N deposition, aridity, and elevated CO 2 concentration), soil biota, and agricultural management practices. Nevertheless, deeper analysis employing mechanistic modeling, in situ spectromicroscopic, and molecular biology techniques is urgently needed for systematic quantifications of the SMN dynamics and SOM turnover towards an advanced understanding of soil nutrient cycling, soil C stock and neutrality, soil health and productivity, and links to sustainable agriculture development and ecosystem services. [Display omitted] • Bibliometric analysis shows the development trends in the field of soil microbial necromss • Keyword analysis aids in outlining research hotspots of soil microbial necromass. • Soil amino sugars analysis is the classic method to study SMN across ecosystems. • Emphasis is needed on the mechanisms of SOM stabilization and microbial processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bismuth subgallate has been used in wound and gastrointestinal therapy for over a century. The combination of continuous rotation electron diffraction and sample cooling finally revealed its structure as a coordination polymer. The structure provides insight regarding its formula, poor solubility, acid resistance and previously unreported gas sorption properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Folding–unfolding imparts fluorescence dual color switching, thus a novel concept to switch fluorescence between two distinct colors while avoiding traditional bond rupturing and bond forming in photoswitching. Because folding and unfolding minimize the wear and tear on molecular structures, the new systems have excellent reversibility and fatigue resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interconnected reentrant microchannels (IRM) were developed to explore the feasibility of flow boiling enhancement and applications in high heat flux dissipations. They consisted of 14 parallel semi-closed Ω-shaped microchannels and 8 transverse ones each with a hydraulic diameter of 781 μm. These microchannels were fabricated in copper by wire electrical discharge machining process. One-to-one comparative studies between the IRM and parallel reentrant microchannels (PRM) with the same reentrant configurations were conduced in flow boiling experiments. Two coolants tests of deionized water and ethanol were performed at inlet subcoolings of 10 and 40 °C and mass fluxes of 125–300 kg/m 2 s. Significant flow boiling heat transfer augmentation, i.e., an enhancement ratio of 40–280% in water tests, and 28–61% in ethanol tests, were achieved for the interconnected reentrant microchannels. This can be attributed to that the addition of transverse microchannels provided more flow passages, diminished the confinement effects for vapor flow and introduced intense disruption and re-initializations of the liquid thin film. Moreover, the two-phase flow instabilities were mitigated considerably, and the stream-wise temperature uniformity was also improved for the IRM. All these features of interconnected reentrant microchannels indicate that they could be a promising option for the application in high heat flux dissipations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim Management of benign biliary stricture is challenging. Endoscopic therapy has evolved as the first-line treatment for various benign biliary strictures. However, covered self-expandable metal stents (CSEMS) have not been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of benign biliary stricture. With this goal, we conducted the present systemic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic stenting with CSEMS in the treatment of benign biliary stricture. Methods Systematic review and meta-analysis by searching PubMed, MEDLINE and Embase databases. Results In total, 37 studies (1677 patients) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Pooled stricture resolutions were achieved in 83% of cases. Median stent dwelling time was 4.4 months, with median endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography sessions of 2.0. Stricture recurrence at 4-year follow up was 11% (95% CI, 8-14%). Pooled complication rate was 23% (95% CI, 20-26%). Conclusions Placement of CSEMS is effective in the treatment of benign biliary stricture with relatively short stenting duration and low long-term stricture recurrence rate. However, more prospectively randomized studies are required to confirm the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focal infections that are caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria are becoming an ever-growing challenge to human health. To address this challenge, a pH-responsive amphiphilic polymer of polyaniline-conjugated glycol chitosan (PANI-GCS) that can self-assemble into nanoparticles (NPs) in situ is developed. The PANI-GCS NPs undergo a unique surface charge conversion that is induced by their local pH, favoring bacterium-specific aggregation without direct contact with host cells. Following conjugation onto GCS, the optical-absorbance peak of PANI is red-shifted toward the near-infrared (NIR) region, enabling PANI-GCS NPs to generate a substantial amount of heat, which is emitted to their neighborhood. The local temperature of the NIR-irradiated PANI-GCS NPs is estimated to be approximately 5 °C higher than their ambient tissue temperature, ensuring specific and direct heating of their aggregated bacteria; hence, damage to tissue is reduced and wound healing is accelerated. The above results demonstrate that PANI-GCS NPs are practical for use in the photothermal ablation of focal infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two electrodes for anodic water oxidation made by direct synthesis of inorganic catalysts onto conductive carbon fibre sheets are evaluated. As catalysts two Co- and Sb-containing phases were tested, that is, Co3Sb4O6F6 and the new compound CoSbO4. The compounds express large differences in their morphology: CoSbO4 grows as thin needles whereas Co3Sb4O6F6 grows as larger facetted crystals. Despite the smaller surface area the latter compound shows a better catalytic performance. When the compound Co3Sb4O6F6 was used it gave a low increase of +0.028 mV h−1 at an overpotential of η=472 mV after 10 h and a stability of +0.48 mV h−1 at an overpotential of η=488 mV after 60 h. The leakages of Co and Sb were negligible and only <0.001 at % Co and approximately 0.02 at % Sb were detected in the electrolyte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although exposure to ambient air pollution has been associated with mental disorder, little is known about its potential effects on children and adolescents, especially in Chinese population. We aimed to reveal the relationship of air pollutants with hospital outpatient visits for child and adolescence psychiatry (HOVCAP) in Shenzhen. A case-crossover study based on time-series data was applied, and a distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) was used to evaluate the non-linear and delayed effects of 4 major air pollutants (NO 2 , PM 2.5 , SO 2 and O 3) on HOVCAP. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was used to control the multicollinearity between covariates and to filter variables. A total of 94,660 cases aged 3–18 were collected from 2014 to 2019 in the Mental Health Center of Shenzhen. Results of pollutants at mode value (M 0) showed that in the single lag effect result, when the average daily concentration of NO 2 at 24 μg/m3, there was a significant effect on HOVCAP over lag 1, lag 4 and lag 5, respectively. The cumulative RR of NO 2 M 0 value to the outpatient visits were 1.438 (1.137–1.818) over lag 0–2, 1.454 (1.120–1.887) over lag 0–3, 1.466 (1.084–1.982) over lag 0–4, 1.680 (1.199–2.354) over lag 0–5, 1.993 (1.369–2.903) over lag 0–6, and 2.069 (1.372–3.119) over lag 0–7. However, PM 2.5 , SO 2 , O 3 were not associated with HOVCAP over neither single lag effects nor cumulative effects. The RR values both shown an increase either when NO 2 increases by 10 units or when the maximum concentration of NO 2 is reached. Our study suggests that exposure to the normal air quality of NO2 in Shenzhen may associated with the risk of HOVCAP. However, PM2.5, SO2, O3 were not associated with HOVCAP. • A distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) was used to evaluate the non-linear and delayed effects of pollutants on HOVCAP (hospital outpatient visits for child and adolescence psychiatry). • Exposure to the normal air quality of NO2 in Shenzhen may associated with the risk of HOVCAP. • The overall effect curve of NO2 on HOVCAP demonstrated an inverted U shape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NLRP3 inflammasome activation is implicated in irradiation-induced cognitive dysfunction. Alternate-day fasting (ADF) has been demonstrated to improve neuroinflammation as a non-pharmacological intervention. However, the exact mechanism and the anti-inflammatory effect in irradiation-induced cognitive dysfunction still need further in-depth study. The present study examined the effects of eight-week ADF on the cognitive functions of mice as well as inflammasome-mediated hippocampal neuronal loss following irradiation in mouse models of irradiation-induced cognitive deficits using seven-week-old male C57BL/6J mice. The behavioral results of novel place recognition and object recognition tasks revealed that ADF ameliorated cognitive functions in irradiation-induced cognitive dysfunction mice. ADF inhibited the expression of components of the NLRP3 inflammasome (NLRP3, ASC, and Cl.caspase-1), the downstream inflammatory factor (IL-1β and IL-18), and apoptosis-related proteins (caspase-3) via western blotting. Furthermore, an increased number of neurons and activated astrocytes were observed in the hippocampus using immunohistochemistry and Sholl analysis, which was jointly confirmed by western blotting. According to our study, this is the first time we found that ADF improved cognitive dysfunction induced by irradiation, and the anti-inflammatory effect of ADF could be due to inhibition in NLRP3-mediated hippocampal neuronal loss by suppressing astrocyte activation. • Alternate-day fasting improved cognitive function in the whole-brain irradiated mice. • Alternate-day fasting mitigated hippocampal neuronal loss following whole-brain irradiation in mice. • Alternate-day fasting inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome components and mitigated pro-inflammatory cytokines. • Alternate-day fasting decreased inflammatory responses of astrocyte activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IL-17-producing CD8 (Tc17) T cells have been shown to play an important role in infection and chronic inflammation, however their implications in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain elusive. In this study, we performed cytometry by time-of-flight (CyTOF) and revealed the distinctive immunological phenotypes of two IFNγ+ and IFNγ- Tc17 subsets that were preferentially enriched in human HCC. Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis further revealed regulatory circuits governing the different phenotypes of these Tc17 subsets. In particular, we discovered that IFNγ- Tc17 subset demonstrated pro-tumoral characteristics and expressed higher levels of CCL20. This corresponded to increased tumor infiltration of T regulatory cells (Treg) validated by immunohistochemistry in another independent HCC cohort, demonstrating the immunosuppressive functions of IFNγ- Tc17 subset. Most importantly, higher intra-tumoral proportions of IFNγ- Tc17 were associated with poorer prognosis in patients with HCC and this was further validated in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) HCC cohort. Taken together, this compendium of transcriptomic and proteomic data of Tc17 subsets sheds light on the immunosuppressive phenotypes of IFNγ- Tc17 and its implications in HCC progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil moisture is a key variable in the exchange of water and energy between the land surface and the atmosphere, especially over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) which is climatically and hydrologically sensitive as the Earth’s ‘third pole’. Large-scale spatially consistent and temporally continuous soil moisture datasets are of great importance to meteorological and hydrological applications, such as weather forecasting and drought monitoring. The Fengyun-3B Microwave Radiation Imager (FY-3B/MWRI) soil moisture product is a relatively new passive microwave product, with the satellite being launched on November 5, 2010. This study validates and reconstructs FY-3B/MWRI soil moisture across the TP. First, the validation is performed using in situ measurements within two in situ soil moisture measurement networks (1° × 1° and 0.25° × 0.25°), and also compared with the Essential Climate Variable (ECV) soil moisture product from multiple active and passive satellite soil moisture products using new merging procedures. Results show that the ascending FY-3B/MWRI product outperforms the descending product. The ascending FY-3B/MWRI product has almost the same correlation as the ECV product with the in situ measurements. The ascending FY-3B/MWRI product has better performance than the ECV product in the frozen season and under the lower NDVI condition. When the NDVI is higher in the unfrozen season, uncertainty in the ascending FY-3B/MWRI product increases with increasing NDVI, but it could still capture the variability in soil moisture. Second, the FY-3B/MWRI soil moisture product is subsequently reconstructed using the back-propagation neural network (BP-NN) based on reconstructed MODIS products, i.e., LST, NDVI, and albedo. The reconstruction method of generating the soil moisture product not only considers the relationship between the soil moisture and NDVI, LST, and albedo, but also the relationship between the soil moisture and four-dimensional variations using the longitude, latitude, DEM and day of year (DOY). Results show that the soil moisture could be well reconstructed with R 2 higher than 0.56, RMSE less than 0.1 cm 3 cm −3 , and Bias less than 0.07 cm 3 cm −3 for both frozen and unfrozen seasons, compared with the in situ measurements at the two networks. Third, the reconstruction method is applied to generate surface soil moisture over the TP. Both original and reconstructed FY-3B/MWRI soil moisture products could be valuable in studying meteorology, hydrology, and ecosystems over the TP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gut microbiota composition of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) is markedly altered compared with healthy individuals. There is mounting evidence that probiotic therapy alleviates disease severity in animal models and patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Bacillus subtilisis, as a probiotic, has also demonstrated a protective effect in IBD. However, the therapeutic mechanism of its action has yet to be elucidated. In the present study, a dextrose sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC mouse model was used to investigate the role of B. subtilis in the restoration of gut flora and determine its effective dose. Mucosal damage was assessed by performing alcian blue staining, cytokine levels were analyzed by ELISA and microbiota composition was investigated using 454 pyrosequencing to target hypervariable regions V3-V4 of the bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene. The results demonstrated that a higher dose B. subtilisis administration ameliorated DSS-induced dysbiosis and gut inflammation by balancing beneficial and harmful bacteria and associated anti- and pro-inflammatory agents, thereby aiding intestinal mucosa recovery from DSS-induced injuries. These findings indicate that choosing the correct dose of B. subtilis is important for effective UC therapy. The present study also helped to elucidate the mechanisms of B. subtilis action and provided preclinical data for B. subtilis use in UC therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patterning of p-GaN and/or indium-tin-oxide (ITO) surfaces is investigated to improve light extraction efficiency for GaN-based light-emitting diodes (LEDs). A nanopillar-patterned p-GaN layer, a nanopillar-patterned ITO contact layer, and dual nanopillar-patterned p-GaN and ITO layers are fabricated. When compared with conventional LEDs, LEDs with the nanopillar-patterned p-GaN, nanopillar-patterned ITO, and dual nanopillar-patterned p-GaN and ITO layers showed light output enhancement by 50%, 90%, and 120%, respectively. The light extraction enhancement mechanism of these nanopillar-patterned nanostructures is investigated via the 3D finite-difference time-domain method. The results show that the LED with the dual nanopillar-patterned p-GaN and ITO layers offers the best light extraction efficiency, which could stimulate further efforts to increase the escape light cone effectively and overcome total internal reflection. This methodology for synchronous nanopatterning of two light-emitting interfaces is believed to provide a major light extraction enhancement. • An approach to improve the LEE by nano-pillar hierarchical structure in the ITO and p-GaN layers was proposed. • The LEDs with the nano-pillar patterned p-GaN, ITO and dual layers were fabricated and compared in experiments. • The physical mechanism of light extraction enhancement of the nanopillar-patterned structures above was investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate a large Chinese cohort's baseline characters and develop a new predictive scoring system. Methods: A total of 491 FL patients were reviewed, and 337newly diagnosed 1–3a FL patients from January 2010 to October 2020 were enrolled in our retrospective cohort. Results: Progression-free survival (PFS) was assessed as the first endpoint; the 2-year and 5-year PFS were 81.4% and 67.8%, respectively. A new risk scoring system (SLMR) was established after the univariable and multivariable analyses, and four independent factors such as β2-MG, LDH, LMR, the number of nodal areas ≥ 5, and spleen involvement were detected by FDG-PET imaging were included. The SLMR was compared with the existing models using discrimination and calibration, and k-fold cross-validation was performed for internal validation. Our cohort classified patients into three groups (low-, intermediate- and high) according to the SLMR and showed the best model performance, especially for FL3a and received rituximab maintenance after induction therapy patients. • The SLMR was developed for FL patients with PFS assessed as the first endpoint, including spleen involvement, LMR, the number of nodal areas ≥5, β2-MG, and LDH. • FL3a and FL1-2 patients both gain benefits from receiving rituximab maintenance after achieving remission. • The SLMR appears to perform better than traditional models in our cohort, especially for FL3a and received rituximab maintenance patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrafast vortex beams have been successfully utilized in a wide variety of applications. Here, we report on the generation of the visible and near-infrared cylindrical vector beams with femtosecond pulse duration and tens of Watts average output power. Based on an optimized fiber chirped-pulse amplification system and second harmonic generation technology, Gaussian beams are generated at the visible and near-infrared wavelength, respectively. After mode conversion operation, the high-quality cylindrical vector beams can be obtained with a central wavelength of 1036.13 nm and maximum output power and ultrafast pulse duration of 60.49 W/824 fs for radial vector beams and 59.67 W/783 fs for azimuthal vector beams. In the visible spectral region, the output cylindrical vector beams have a maximum output power of 30.78 W (radial vector beams) and 27.46 W (azimuthal vector beams) at 515.75 nm central wavelength. The pulse durations are measured to be 262 fs for radial vector beam and 273 fs for azimuthal vector beam at the maximum output power. The results demonstrate that the proposed laser systems may pay a promising way to develop high-power femtosecond cylindrical vector beams sources in the visible and near-infrared wavelength for optical communication, super-resolution imaging and laser processing. • We report on the generation of high-quality cylindrical vector beams with femtosecond pulse duration and tens of Watts average output power in the visible and near-infrared region. • The cylindrical vector beams have a central wavelength of 1036.13 nm with maximum output power and pulse duration of 60.49 W/824 fs for radial polarization and 59.67 W/783 fs for azimuthal polarization. • After frequency conversion, the output cylindrical vector beams have a central wavelength of 515.75 nm. The maximum output power and pulse duration are measured to be 30.78 W/262 fs (radial vector beams) and 27.46 W/273 fs (azimuthal vector beams). • They are the shortest pulse duration of radially and azimuthally polarized beams with Watts-level average output power in the visible and near-infrared region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene aerogel (GA)-supported metal–organic framework (MOF) particles with a three-dimensional (3D) architecture were fabricated for the first time via a facile template-free “sol-cryo” method. The prepared MOFs@graphene hybrid aerogels exhibit a 3D interconnected macroporous framework of graphene sheets with uniform dispersion of MOF particles. We also report the first attempt at using the hybrid aerogels as adsorbents for the solid-phase extraction (SPE) of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and the selective enrichment of proteins. The macroporous skeletons of GA provide both low backpressure and rapid mass transfer in SPE application, thus overcoming the obstacle of high backpressure caused by directly packing submicron or micron sized MOF particles into SPE cartridges. Excellent performances including satisfactory recoveries, high sensitivity and good reproducibility were achieved in the extraction of five NSAIDs. The hybrid aerogels also showed an interesting ability for selective enrichment of ribonuclease A (RNase A) and simultaneous exclusion of cytochrome C (Cyt C) and lysozyme (Lyz), which could be attributed to the electrostatic interactions between proteins and the positively charged coordinatively unsaturated metal sites (CUS) in MIL-101. We believe that this work will promote the application of MOFs in adsorption and separation, and our synthetic strategy could be further extended to develop other graphene-based hybrid aerogels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) plays a critical role in maintaining cellular cholesterol homeostasis. The purpose of this study is to identify the molecular mechanism(s) underlying ABCA1 epigenetic modification and determine its potential impact on ABCA1 expression in macrophage-derived foam cell formation and atherosclerosis development. DNA methylation induced foam cell formation from macrophages and promoted atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoE−/−) mice. Bioinformatics analyses revealed a large CpG island (CGI) located in the promoter region of ABCA1. Histone methyltransferase enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) downregulated ABCA1 mRNA and protein expression in THP-1 and RAW264.7 macrophage-derived foam cells. Pharmacological inhibition of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) with 5-Aza-dC or knockdown of DNMT1 prevented the downregulation of macrophage ABCA1 expression, suggesting a role of DNA methylation in ABCA1 expression. Polycomb protein EZH2 induced DNMT1 expression and methyl-CpG-binding protein-2 (MeCP2) recruitment, and stimulated the binding of DNMT1 and MeCP2 to ABCA1 promoter, thereby promoting ABCA1 gene DNA methylation and atherosclerosis. Knockdown of DNMT1 inhibited EZH2-induced downregulation of ABCA1 in macrophages. Conversely, EZH2 overexpression stimulated DNMT1-induced ABCA1 gene promoter methylation and atherosclerosis. EZH2-induced downregulation of ABCA1 gene expression promotes foam cell formation and the development of atherosclerosis by DNA methylation of ABCA1 gene promoter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A non-aqueous gel casting process based on the mixed solvent (ethanol and polyethylene glycol) and low-toxicity N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMAA) was developed for an aluminum nitride (AlN) ceramic. In the present work, rheological properties of non-aqueous concentrated AlN suspensions were investigated in the presence of mixed solvent, dispersant, milling time, monomer and solid loading, in order to screen for the most suitable experimental conditions to obtain a good rheological behavior for gel casting. The results showed that the 50 vol% slurry with 0.2 wt% dispersant concentration, 2 h milling time, 6 wt% -monomer content, and a solvent ratio of 3:1, can meet the requirements for the casting process of AlN ceramic slurries. After being dried at 100 °C for 1 h, the optimum bulk density and maximum flexural strength of the AlN green bodies were as high as 1.97 g/cm 3 and 18.68 MPa, respectively. SEM photographs revealed that the green body had a relative uniform microstructure when the solid loading was 50 vol%. The shrinkage and deformation of shaped sintered bodies prepared through gel casting were small after sintering. The sintering shrinkage, apparent porosity, bulk density and flexural strength were 14.8%, 0.22%, 3.21 g/cm 3 and 310 MPa, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A classic metabolic concept posits that insulin promotes energy storage and adipose expansion, while catecholamines stimulate release of adipose energy stores by hydrolysis of triglycerides through β-adrenergic receptor (βARs) and protein kinase A (PKA) signaling. Here, we have shown that a key hub in the insulin signaling pathway, activation of p70 ribosomal S6 kinase (S6K1) through mTORC1, is also triggered by PKA activation in both mouse and human adipocytes. Mice with mTORC1 impairment, either through adipocyte-specific deletion of Raptor or pharmacologic rapamycin treatment, were refractory to the well-known βAR-dependent increase of uncoupling protein UCP1 expression and expansion of beige/brite adipocytes (so-called browning) in white adipose tissue (WAT). Mechanistically, PKA directly phosphorylated mTOR and RAPTOR on unique serine residues, an effect that was independent of insulin/AKT signaling. Abrogation of the PKA site within RAPTOR disrupted βAR/mTORC1 activation of S6K1 without affecting mTORC1 activation by insulin. Conversely, a phosphomimetic RAPTOR augmented S6K1 activity. Together, these studies reveal a signaling pathway from βARs and PKA through mTORC1 that is required for adipose browning by catecholamines and provides potential therapeutic strategies to enhance energy expenditure and combat metabolic disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Siliceous mesostructured cellular foam (MCF) with highly interconnected porous structure, ultralarge pore size and relatively uniform particle size (3–5 μm) was prepared to achieve the mixed-mode and efficient separation of intact proteins. And molecular sieving effect for the first time played an important role in protein separation using mesoporous silica materials as HPLC stationary phase. The spherical silica particles were synthesized via hydrothermal method and the pore size was easily regulated by adding NH 4 F as well as altering the aging time. After aminopropyl derivatization, the chromatographic performance of functionalized mesoporous silica particles was investigated in comparison with those without modification and commercial NH 2 column, and their mixed-mode retention mechanisms were investigated in detail. The superior separation performance for the retention of proteins was obtained on our home-made column in comparison with commercial NH 2 column. The influences of aminopropyl derivatization and mobile phase composition on the column property were also investigated. Moreover, the home-made column showed similar performance for separation of polar anilines and neutral PAHs with the commercial column, owing to mixed-mode retention mechanisms including p–π stacking, electron interaction, hydrophobic effect, π–π EDA interaction and hydrogen bonding. All these results indicated that the aminopropyl modified MCF would be promising in the mixed-mode and efficient separation of biomolecules in addition with small molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New Findings What is the central question of this study? The enzyme system that is responsible for extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover is the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which can be blocked by the tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs). Whether renal sympathetic denervation (RSD) is able to ameliorate post-myocardial infarction left ventricular remodelling through attenuation of ECM via regulation of MMP activity and/or the MMP-TIMP complex remains unknown., What is the main finding and its importance? Renal sympathetic denervation has therapeutic effects on post-myocardial infarction left ventricular remodelling, probably by attenuating the ECM through regulation of the MMP9-TIMP1 complex in the transforming growth factor-β1 (a profibrotic cytokine that accelerates ECM remodelling after ischaemia) signalling pathway., Whether renal sympathetic denervation (RSD) is able to ameliorate post-myocardial infarction (post-MI) left ventricular (LV) remodelling by attenuation of the extracellular matrix via regulation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity and/or the MMP-tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP) complex remains unknown. Sixty-five Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the following four groups: normal (N, n = 15), RSD (RSD, n = 15), myocardial infarction (MI, n = 15) and RSD 3 days after MI (MI3d+RSD, n = 20). The bilateral renal nerves were surgically denervated 3 days after MI had been induced by coronary artery ligation. Left ventricular function was assessed using echocardiography and a Millar catheter at 6 weeks post-MI. Plasma noradrenaline, angiotensin II and aldosterone, collagen volume fraction, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), MMP2, MMP9 and TIMP1 in heart tissue were measured 6 weeks after MI. In rats with MI3d+RSD compared with MI rats, RSD improved systolic and diastolic function, resulting in an improvement in ejection fraction ( P < 0.05), fractional shortening ( P < 0.05) and LV internal dimension in systole ( P < 0.05) and diastole ( P < 0.05). Additionally, RSD treatment decreased left ventricular end-diastolic pressure ( P < 0.05) and increased LV systolic pressure ( P < 0.05) and maximal and minimal rate of LV pressure (both P < 0.05). Meanwhile, RSD reduced collagen content ( P < 0.01). TIMP1 was upregulated ( P < 0.05), whereas MMP2, MMP9 and TGF-β1 were downregulated in the LV of RSD-treated animals ( P < 0.05). Renal sympathetic denervation has therapeutic effects on post-MI LV remodelling, probably owing to effects on the extracellular matrix by regulation of the MMP9-TIMP1 balance in the TGF-β1 signalling pathway. Renal sympathetic denervation may be considered as a non-pharmacological approach for the improvement of post-MI cardiac dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expression of cell surface glycans terminating with sialic acid (SA) residues has been found to correlate with various disease states there among cancer. We here report a novel strategy for specific fluorescence labeling of such motifs. This is based on sialic acid-imprinted core-shell nanoparticles equipped with nitrobenzoxadiazole (NBD) fluorescent reporter groups allowing environmentally sensitive fluorescence detection at convenient excitation and emission wavelengths. Imprinting was achieved exploiting a hybrid approach combining reversible boronate ester formation between p-vinylphenylboronic acid and SA, the introduction of cationic amine functionalities, and the use of an NBD-appended urea-monomer as a binary hydrogen-bond donor targeting the SA carboxylic acid and OH functionalities. The monomers were grafted from 200 nm RAFT-modified silica core particles using ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as cross-linker resulting in a shell thickness of ca. 10 nm. The particles displayed strong affinity for SA in methanol/water mixtures (K = 6.6 × 105 M-1 in 2% water, 5.9 × 103 M-1 in 98% water, Bmax ≈ 10 μmol g-1), whereas binding of the competitor glucuronic acid (GA) and other monosaccharides was considerably weaker (K (GA) = 1.8 × 103 M-1 in 98% water). In cell imaging experiments, the particles selectively stained different cell lines in correlation with the SA expression level. This was further verified by enzymatic cleavage of SA and by staining using a FITC labeled SA selective lectin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flow boiling in porous-based microchannel heat sinks offers a potential and attractive solution for efficient cooling of high-heat-flux devices. In this study, a type of Ω-shaped reentrant porous microchannels with multi-scale rough surface (RPM-RS) was fabricated via a solid-state sintering method and constructed for heat sink cooling. Two-phase boiling experiments were conducted to explore their enhancement in flow boiling performance compared to the solid copper microchannels with the same reentrant configurations. Two coolants tests, i.e., deionized water and ethanol, with inlet subcooling of 10 °C and 40 °C, were conducted at mass fluxes of 125–300 kg/m 2 s. Experimental results show that the RPM-RS promoted the bubble nucleation and reduced the wall superheat for the onset of nucleate boiling (ONB) significantly. They presented a significant enhancement in two-phase heat transfer at low to moderate heat fluxes, as well as a considerable mitigation of the two-phase flow instabilities. Furthermore, RPM-RS produced more uniform heat sink base temperatures compared to reentrant copper microchannels (RCM). The above encouraging results of reentrant porous microchannels highlight their promising potential to be an alternative of conventional solid microchannels for thermal management applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vinyl-functionalized silica spheres (VFSS) were synthesized through the one-step method. The effects of reactant ratio, temperature, reaction time and ammonium hydroxide dripping speed were investigated. The diameter of the spheres reached sub-2 μm magnitude by controlling the reaction conditions, which is suitable for high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) packing material. The vinyl groups in the silica spheres were further successfully modified by octadecyl (C 18 ) groups through a “thiol-ene” click reaction. Raw VFSS and C 18 modified VFSS (C-VFSS) were used as HPLC stationary phases to separate benzene homologs (benzene, toluene, and meta-xylene) and nonpolar compounds with different ring contents (benzene, phenantherene and fluoranthene). Both VFSS and C-VFSS exhibited hydrophobic retention behavior. Additionally, vinyl groups in the silica spheres may offer a π–π electron–donor–acceptor (EDA) retention mechanism for chromatographic separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though modeling and verifying Multi-Agent Systems (MASs) have long been under study, there are still challenges when many different aspects need to be considered simultaneously. In fact, various frameworks have been carried out for modeling and verifying MASs with respect to knowledge and social commitments independently. However, considering them under the same framework still needs further investigation, particularly from the verification perspective. In this article, we present a new technique for model checking the logic of knowledge and commitments (CTLKC + ). The proposed technique is fully-automatic and reduction-based in which we transform the problem of model checking CTLKC + into the problem of model checking an existing logic of action called ARCTL. Concretely, we construct a set of transformation rules to formally reduce the CTLKC + model into an ARCTL model and CTLKC + formulae into ARCTL formulae to get benefit from the extended version of NuSMV symbolic model checker of ARCTL. Compared to a recent approach that reduces the problem of model checking CTLKC + to another logic of action called GCTL ∗ , our technique has better scalability and efficiency. We also analyze the complexity of the proposed model checking technique. The results of this analysis reveal that the complexity of our reduction-based procedure is PSPACE-complete for local concurrent programs with respect to the size of these programs and the length of the formula being checked. From the time perspective, we prove that the complexity of the proposed approach is P-complete with regard to the size of the model and length of the formula, which makes it efficient. Finally, we implement our model checking approach on top of extended NuSMV and report verification results for the verification of the NetBill protocol, taken from business domain, against some desirable properties. The obtained results show the effectiveness of our model checking approach when the system scales up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The small size of micropores (typically <1 nm) in zeolites causes slow diffusion of reactant and product molecules in and out of the pores and negatively impacts the product selectivity of zeolite based catalysts, for example, fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts. Size-tailored mesoporosity was introduced into commercial zeolite Y crystals by a simple surfactant-templating post-synthetic mesostructuring process. The resulting mesoporous zeolite Y showed significantly improved product selectivity in both laboratory testing and refinery trials. Advanced characterization techniques such as electron tomography, three-dimensional rotation electron diffraction, and high resolution gas adsorption coupled with hysteresis scanning and density functional theory, unambiguously revealed the intracystalline nature and connectivity of the introduced mesopores. They can be considered as molecular highways that help reactant and product molecules diffuse quickly to and away from the catalytically active sites within the zeolite crystals and, thus, shift the selectivity to favor the production of more of the valuable liquid fuels at reduced yields of coke and unconverted feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RunX2 has been identified to crucially regulate the osteolysis in giant cell tumor of bone. MiR-30a is an intronic miRNA identified as tumor suppressor, but little is known about its role in giant tumor cell of bone. In our research, we reported miR-30a was down-regulated in GCT whereas RunX2 was highly expressed. Further research proved that miR-30a can regulate the expression of RunX2 by binding to its 3′-UTR, which influence the osteoclast differentiation and osteolysis formation. Thus, these results suggest that miR-30a could directly target RunX2 and participate in osteolysis in GCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel open-framework germanate,denoted as SU-77, was preparedby hydrothermal synthesis using ethylenediamine as the structure directingagent. The as-synthesized SU-77 is monoclinic with space group P21/aand a= 13.52427(5) Å, b= 12.64862(5) Å, c= 9.60578(3) Å, β = 92.8599(4)°. The structureof SU-77 is built from a novel Ge6O17(C2H8N2)F (Ge6) cluster buildingunit. The Ge6clusters are connected to form chains alongthe c-axis. These chains are further connected inthe [110] and [1–10] directions to form a three-dimensionalframework with 12 × 10 × 10-ring channels. The as-synthesizedmonoclinic SU-77 became orthorhombic while being observed in a transmissionelectron microscope (TEM) or when heated to 200 °C in air. Theorthorhombic structure of SU-77 was solved from micrometer-sized crystalsby rotation electron diffraction (RED). The monoclinic structure wasbuilt from the orthorhombic structure and subsequently refined againstsynchrotron powder X-ray diffraction data. SU-77 is the first exampleof an open-framework germanate with mixed coordination polyhedra solvedby electron diffraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of the high-silica zeolite SSZ-61 using a particularly bulky polycyclic structure-directing agent and the subsequent elucidation of its unusual framework structure with extra-large dumbbell-shaped pore openings are described. By using information derived from a variety of X-ray powder diffraction and electron microscopy techniques, the complex framework structure, with 20 Si atoms in the asymmetric unit, could be determined and the full structure refined. The Si atoms at the waist of the dumbbell are only three-connected and are bonded to terminal O atoms pointing into the channel. Unlike the six previously reported extra-large-pore zeolites, SSZ-61 contains no heteroatoms in the framework and can be calcined easily. This, coupled with the possibility of inserting a catalytically active center in the channel between the terminal O atoms in place of H+, afford SSZ-61 intriguing potential for catalytic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of the high-silica zeolite SSZ-61 using a particularly bulky polycyclic structure-directing agent and the subsequent elucidation of its unusual framework structure with extra-large dumbbell-shaped pore openings are described. By using information derived from a variety of X-ray powder diffraction and electron microscopy techniques, the complex framework structure, with 20 Si atoms in the asymmetric unit, could be determined and the full structure refined. The Si atoms at the waist of the dumbbell are only three-connected and are bonded to terminal O atoms pointing into the channel. Unlike the six previously reported extra-large-pore zeolites, SSZ-61 contains no heteroatoms in the framework and can be calcined easily. This, coupled with the possibility of inserting a catalytically active center in the channel between the terminal O atoms in place of H+, afford SSZ-61 intriguing potential for catalytic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background context Desmoplastic fibroma (DF) is a benign, yet locally aggressive, tumor of the connective tissue. Desmoplastic fibroma in the spine is extremely rare, and only a few cases have been reported. Although surgical resection of DF arising in the spine is commonly regarded as a recommended treatment, it is difficult to achieve satisfactory results. Purpose This study reviews the clinical patterns and follow-up data of patients with DF in the spine who underwent surgical treatment. We attempted to correlate surgical treatment and outcomes over time. Study design A retrospective clinical study of the surgical managements, including subtotal resection, total spondylectomy, and en bloc resection, for DF in the spine. Desmoplastic fibroma of the spine treatment occurred from 2004 to 2009 at the Department of Bone Tumor Surgery, AA Hospital. Patient sample Twelve consecutive cases of DF of the spine underwent surgical treatment at our center between 2004 and 2009. Outcome measures Neurologic outcomes were evaluated using Frankel score system and recurrence and metastasis were evaluated by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging of the surgical segments involved. Imaging was performed 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery, every 6 months for the next 2 years, and then annually for life. Methods Overall, two different surgery protocols were applied. One protocol involved subtotal resection followed by radiotherapy (n=4), whereas the other involved total tumor resection (n=8). Postoperative radiotherapy was administered in six cases. Clinical data and surgery efficacy were analyzed via chart review. Results Eleven patients were disease-free during their follow-up period, whereas one patient experienced recurrence without metastasis. Radicular pain nearly disappeared, and patients suffering from spinal cord compression recovered well. Local recurrence was detected in one-fourth (25%) of the cases that underwent subtotal resection and was not detected in any of the cases involving total spondylectomy. Conclusions Local recurrence of DF is not uncommon after insufficient removal. Therefore, total excision, while also preserving neural function, is recommended. In our study, patients who underwent a total spondylectomy had significantly lower local recurrence rates for DF in the spine. Radiotherapy may be an acceptable alternative therapy, whereas en bloc resection has the potential to result in significant functional impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Biodegradable and water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol was employed as the matrix. • High-dielectric CCTO ceramic particles were used as the filler. • CCTO particle morphology on the properties of CCTO/PVA films were investigated. • The composite films filled with CCTO-S exhibited the highest dielectric constant. Flexible dielectrics with high dielectric constant and low loss have promising applications in many electronic devices. In this work, a binary composite with admirable dielectric properties was fabricated using a giant dielectric material CaCu 3 Ti 4 O 12 (CCTO) as the filler and a non-ferroelectric and water-soluble polymer, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as the matrix. To optimize the dielectric properties, the effects of CCTO particle morphology on the dielectric properties of the CCTO/PVA composite films were detailed with the help of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and precision impedance analyzer. Compared with CCTO/PVA composite films filled with rod-shaped or irregular CCTO particles, composite films filled with square CCTO particles exhibited the highest dielectric constant and the maximum dielectric constant reached up to 45.5 while the dielectric loss was only 0.19 at 100 Hz. This work provides a promising way to fabricate PVA-based dielectric composites for practical applications in electronics. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Parallel strategy with heterogeneous algorithms is proposed for solving MINLPs. [•] Communication between parallel threads are designed to improve the performance. [•] Theoretical analysis is conducted for the speedup ratio of the parallel computation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] We introduce the rotation electron diffraction (RED) method. [•] We discuss the advantages of RED over powder XRD and single crystal XRD. [•] We demonstrate the power and limitations of the RED method. [•] We determined the structures of silicalite-1, the EUO-, FER- and AST-type zeolites by RED. [•] We study how different parameters affect unit cell, structure solution and refinement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palladium nanoparticles have been immobilized into an amino-functionalized metal-organic framework (MOF), MIL-101Cr-NH2, to form Pd@MIL-101Cr-NH2. Four materials with different loadings of palladium have been prepared (denoted as 4-, 8-, 12-, and 16 wt %Pd@MIL-101Cr-NH2). The effects of catalyst loading and the size and distribution of the Pd nanoparticles on the catalytic performance have been studied. The catalysts were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), N2-sorption isotherms, elemental analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). To better characterize the palladium nanoparticles and their distribution in MIL-101Cr-NH2, electron tomography was employed to reconstruct the 3D volume of 8 wt %Pd@MIL-101Cr-NH2 particles. The pair distribution functions (PDFs) of the samples were extracted from total scattering experiments using high-energy X-rays (60 keV). The catalytic activity of the four MOF materials with different loadings of palladium nanoparticles was studied in the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction. The best catalytic performance was obtained with the MOF that contained 8 wt % palladium nanoparticles. The metallic palladium nanoparticles were homogeneously distributed, with an average size of 2.6 nm. Excellent yields were obtained for a wide scope of substrates under remarkably mild conditions (water, aerobic conditions, room temperature, catalyst loading as low as 0.15 mol %). The material can be recycled at least 10 times without alteration of its catalytic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twofamilies of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), MIL-88and MIL-101 built by trinuclear transition metal (TM) clusters (TM= Cr, Fe, or Sc), have been known for several years, but their synthesesare often reported separately. In fact, these MOFs are polymorphs,or framework isomers: they are assembled from the same metal secondarybuilding units and organic linkers, but the connectivity of thesecomponents differs. Here we report for the first time the synthesisof the vanadium MOF MIL-88B(V) and compare its synthesis parametersto those of MIL-47(V) and the recently reported MIL-101(V). The propertiesof MIL-88B(V) and MIL-101(V) are remarkably different. MIL-88B(V)can “breathe” and is responsive to different solvents,while MIL-101(V) is rigid and contains mesoporous cages. MIL-101(V)exhibits the highest specific surface area among vanadium MOFs discoveredso far. In addition, both MIL-88B(V) and MIL-101(V) transform to MIL-47at higher temperatures. We have also identified the key synthesisparameters that control the formation of MIL-88B(V), MIL-101(V), andMIL-47: temperature, time, and pH. This relates to the rate of reactionbetween the metal and linkers, which has been monitored by ex situX-ray powder diffraction and V K-edge X-ray absorptionspectroscopy during MOF synthesis. It is therefore important to fullystudy the synthesis conditions to improve our understanding of frameworkisomerism in MOFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A series of novel hybrid compounds of 2-phenyl-3-alkylbenzofuran and imidazole or triazole were prepared and evaluated in vitro against a panel of human tumor cell lines. The results suggest that the 2-ethyl-imidazole ring, and substitution of the imidazolyl-3-position with a 2-bromobenzyl or naphthylacyl group, were vital for modulating inhibitory activity. In particular, hybrid compound 31 was found to be the most potent derivative with IC50 values of 0.08–0.55μM against five strains human tumor cell lines and was found to be more selective against breast carcinoma (MCF-7) and colon carcinoma (SW480) (IC50 values 40.8-fold and 40.1-fold lower than cisplatin (DDP)). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• SCP administration leads to enhanced expression of TRPV4 in the hippocampus of mice. • TRPV4 inhibitor improves cognitive impairment after SCP administration. • TRPV4 inhibitor decreases the expression of the hippocampal CaMKIIα/p-CamkⅡα and the proapoptotic protein Bax, Caspase-3. • TRPV4 inhibitor increase the expression of DCX and NeuN in the hippocampus. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common causes of neurodegenerative diseases in the elderly. Cholinergic dysfunction is one of the pathological hallmarks of AD and leads to learning and memory impairment. Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4), a nonselective cation channel, is involved in learning and memory functions. HC067047, a TRPV4 specific inhibitor, has been reported to protect neurons against cerebral ischemic injury and amyloid-β-(Aβ) 40-induced hippocampal cell death. However, whether HC067047 could improve scopolamine (SCP)-induced cognitive dysfunction in mice is still unknown. The aims of this study were to verify whether HC067047 could ameliorate the SCP-induced learning and memory impairments in mice and to elucidate its underlying mechanisms of action. In this study, we examined the neuroprotective effect of the HC067047 against cognitive dysfunction induced by SCP (5 mg/kg, i.p.), a muscarinic receptor antagonist. The results showed that administration of HC067047 (10 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly ameliorated SCP-induced cognitive dysfunction as assessed by the novel place recognition test (NPRT) and novel object recognition test (NORT). In the Y-maze test, HC067047 significantly enhanced the time spent in the novel arm in SCP mice. To further investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effect of HC067047, expression of several proteins involved in apoptosis was examined. The results demonstrated that HC067047 treatment decreased the protein levels of proapoptotic proteins such as Bax and caspase-3 in the hippocampus of SCP mice. In addition, HC067047 enhanced expression of the neurogenesis marker DCX and improved levels of the mature neuronal marker NeuN in SCP mice. These findings suggest the neuroprotective potential of the TRPV4 inhibitor HC067047 for the management of dementia with learning and memory loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammation is a crucial component that contributes to the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder. It has been revealed that the nonselective cation channel transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) profoundly affects a variety of physiological processes, including inflammation. However, its roles and mechanisms in LPS-induced depression are still unclear. Here, for the first time, we found that there was a significant increase in TRPV4 in the hippocampus in a depression mouse model induced by LPS. TRPV4 inhibitor HC067047 or knockdown the hippocampal TRPV4 with TRPV4 shRNA could effectively rescue the aberrant behaviors. Furthermore, TRPV4 inhibitor HC067047 reduced the activation of astrocyte and microglia, decreased expression of CaMKII-NLRP3 inflammasome and increased the expression of neurogenesis marker DCX in the hippocampus. In addition, enhanced neuroinflammation in the serum was also reversed by TRPV4 inhibitor HC067047. Thus, we consider that TRPV4 has an important role in contributing to the depression-like behavior following LPS-induced systemic inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Nearly 40 years of remote sensing-based water area data from Lake Chad are generated. • The total inundation area lags behind the open water area by approximately 2 – 3 months. • An interactive online application for inspecting yearly and monthly areas of Lake Chad is provided for the general public. As the second largest lake in Africa, the extent of Lake Chad has over 50% seasonal variations with large parts of water under aquatic vegetation. Although a great area shrinkage since the 1960s divided the lake into two parts, namely, the northern and southern basins, it still feeds millions of people from four countries around it. Given sparse in situ measurements, remote sensing with seamless spatial coverage has served for acquiring the long-term area series of Lake Chad. This study retrieves the open (unvegetated) surface water area series of Lake Chad and the total inundation area, including open water and water under macrophytes, combining multiple remote sensing data from around 1980 to 2020 with satellite-based water level and in situ observations at the Bol gauge as validation and auxiliary. Results show that the total inundation area continuously recovered at a rate of 145 km2/year from 1982 to 2020 with large annual fluctuations. Approximately two- to three-month time lags between the open surface water and the total inundation area reveal the hydrological asynchrony of Lake Chad, which can be attributed by the large area of rooted macrophytes. The overspill of the southern surface water flowing over the Great Barrier into the northern lake also has a one-month lag with the open surface water of the southern lake. The Google Earth Engine-based online application can be easily shared for use and data downloaded by the general public, and the open code can be adjusted for any other lakes worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Social isolation stress increases hippocampal NLRP3 expression and provokes depressive-like behaviors in male mice. • Inhibition of NLRP3 with MCC950 elicits antidepressant effect in isolated mice. • Inhibition of NLRP3 with MCC950 reverses the impaired hippocampal structural plasticity in isolated mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background context: Primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the spine (PNHLS) with spinal cord compression is an extremely rare disease in clinical practice. The optimal treatment options for this disease have been controversial and pose a challenge for the clinicians. Purpose: To provide some useful insight into the treatments, outcomes, and prognostic factors of PNHLS. Study design: Retrospective analysis. Patient sample: The authors collected 40 patients’ data with primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma at the mobile spine, and these patients presented with spinal cord compression as a first symptom between 1998 and 2010. Outcome measures: The posttreatment neurologic status, general status, local recurrence, and survival were noted according to the telephone calls, letters, or follow-up visits in the outpatient department. Methods: Multidisciplinary treatments, including surgical intervention, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, were performed in this series. Follow-ups regarding treatment outcomes, local recurrence, and survival rates were carried out and analyzed. The prognostic factors including age, neurologic status, general status, vertebrae involvement, and treatment outcomes were determined. Results: The median age of the patients was 52 years (range, 13–79 years). After treatments, 30 patients (75%) reached a complete remission (CR). The 5-year overall survival (OS) of all patients was 72.9%. Patients who were younger than 60 years, with single vertebra involvement, or had CR after treatment had higher 5-year OS (p<.05). In multivariate analysis, CR after treatment and involvement of a single vertebra were identified as favorable prognostic factors for OS. Conclusions: Patients with PNHLS with neurologic compression had distinct clinical features. Regarding treatment, the authors emphasized the importance of multidisciplinary management and the optimal operating juncture. Patients with excellent response to the treatment and single vertebra involvement had better survival. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Lumican is a dermatan sulfate proteoglycan highly expressed in connective tissue and has the ability to regulate collagen fibril assembly. Previous studies have shown that lumican is involved in wound healing, but the precise effects of lumican on reepithelialization and wound contraction, the two pivotal aspects of skin wound healing, have not been investigated. Here we explored the roles of lumican in fibroblast contractility, a main aspect of skin wound healing, by adopting mice skin wound healing model and the corresponding in vitro cellular experiments. Our results showed that lumican can promote skin wound healing by facilitating wound fibroblast activation and contraction but not by promoting keratinocyte proliferation and migration. Silencing of integrin α2 completely abolished the pro-contractility of lumican, indicating lumican enhances fibroblast contractility via integrin α2. Our study for the first time demonstrated that lumican can affect fibroblast’s mechanical property, which is pivotal for many important pathological processes, such as wound healing, fibrosis, and tumor development, suggesting that lumican might have a potential to be used to modulate these processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate experimentally the Doppler cooling of 40Ca+ ions using the s1/2 → D3/2 electric quadrupole transition, in which the scattering light that is much different from the exciting light makes it possible to collect background-free fluorescence. The idea excluding 397nm excitation has the advantage of high-sensitivity detection and only employs lasers in red and infrared wavelengths, which should be practical for trapped-ion quantum information processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]