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Senescent microenvironments play an important role in tumor progression. Here, we report that doxorubicin (DOX)‐pretreated or replicative senescent stromal cells (WI‐38 and HUVEC) promote colorectal cancer (CRC) cell growth and invasion in vitro and in vivo. These pro‐tumorigenic effects were attenuated by exogenous administration of Klotho, an anti‐aging factor. We subsequently identified several senescence‐associated secretory phenotype (SASP)‐associated genes, including CCL2, which were significantly upregulated in both types of senescent stromal cells during replication and DNA damage‐induced senescence. Importantly, we found that the secretion of CCL2 by senescent stromal cells was significantly higher than that seen in nonsenescent cells or in senescent cells pretreated with Klotho. Notably, CCL2 was found to accelerate CRC cell proliferation and invasion, while this effect could be blocked by administration of a specific CCR2 antagonist. We further show that Klotho can suppress NF‐κB activation during DOX‐induced senescence and thus block CCL2 transcription. Low expression of Klotho, or high expression of CCL2 in patient tumor tissues, correlated with poor overall survival of CRC patients. Collectively, our findings suggest that senescent stromal cells are linked to progression of CRC. Klotho can suppress the senescent stromal cell‐associated triggering of CRC progression by inhibiting the expression of SASP factors including CCL2. The identification of key SASP factors such as CCL2 may provide potential therapeutic targets for improving CRC therapy.

In this paper, we present a novel guidance scheme based on model-based deep reinforcement learning (RL) technique. With model-based deep RL method, a deep neural network is trained as a predictive model of guidance dynamics which is incorporated into a model predictive path integral (MPPI) control framework. However, the traditional MPPI framework assumes the actual environment similar to the training dataset for the deep neural network which is impractical in practice with different maneuvering of the target, other perturbations, and actuator failures. To address this problem, our method utilizes meta-learning technique to make the deep neural dynamics model adapt to such changes online. With this approach, we can alleviate the performance deterioration of standard MPPI control caused by the difference between the actual environment and training data. Then, a novel guidance law for a varying velocity interceptor intercepting maneuvering target with desired terminal impact angle under actuator failure is constructed based on the aforementioned techniques. The simulation and experiment results under different cases show the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed guidance law in achieving successful interceptions of maneuvering target.

In this paper, considering a class of skid-to-turn (STT) missile with impact angle constraint to intercept the maneuvering target, a three-dimensional integrated guidance and control law based on the fractional integral terminal sliding mode control (FITSMC) scheme is proposed. Firstly, a three-dimensional integrated guidance and control model is established for missile-target relative motion and nonlinear missile dynamics with multiple system uncertainties and unknown disturbances. Secondly, in order to achieve the desired impact angle in finite-time without singularity, a novel nonsingular FITSMC scheme is employed to construct the sliding surface, and a modified filter is applied to dynamic surface control design. Also, an extended state observer is introduced to estimate and compensate the system uncertainties and unknown disturbances. Then, a robust integrated guidance and control scheme with impact angle constraint is developed using aforementioned techniques. Furthermore, the finite-time stability of the closed-loop system is proven based on Lyapunov theory. Finally, the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed integrated guidance and control algorithm are verified through numerical simulations.

This paper designs a parameter-dependent self-adaption integral sliding mode controller which converges the system in a finite time while focusing on an uncertain linear parameter varying (LPV) model of a variant aircraft that has a large-scale variation of the sweep angle and an extension. This design promotes the robustness and L2 performance of the aircraft's speed and altitude during the variant process. According to the longitudinal nonlinear model of a morphing aircraft obtained by the KANE method, the LPV model with the stretch and the sweep angle as the time-varying parameters is derived, and then, the equivalent linear time-invariant (LTI) system is obtained by the linear fractional representation (LFR). Furthermore, the state feedback LFR-H∞ controller has deduced from the linear matrix inequality (LMI) constraints, and then, the existing conditions of the integral sliding mode are obtained from the pole assignment. There are significant uncertainties and disturbances when the linear controller acts on the nonlinear system. Therefore, an adaptive algorithm is introduced to further improve the robustness of the integral sliding mode controller. Moreover, a parameter-dependent Lyapunov function analysis shows that the designed adaptive integral sliding mode control rate can converge the LPV system trajectories to the integral sliding mode surface in a finite time. The comparative simulation results of the nonlinear model of the morphing aircraft indicate the robustness and effectiveness of this approach. The method designed in this paper can be extended to general LPV systems.

Highly ordered mesoporous tungsten trioxide (WO3) with high surface area (75 m2/g) and well-defined mesopores were successfully prepared through a hard templating method using a mesoporous silica KIT-6 as a template and (NH4)6H2W12O40 ⋅ xH2O as a tungsten precursor. Oxidative desulfurization of a model oil with H2O2 as the oxidant was carried out at 50°C under atmospheric pressure in order to analyze the catalytic activity. The desulfurization reactions were optimized by various kinds of reaction parameters such as H2O2/S molar ratio, reaction temperatures and series of sulfur-containing compounds [dibenzothiophene (DBT), benzothiophene (BT) and 4,6-dimethyl dibenzothiophene (4,6-DMBT)]. Excellent catalytic activity for the removal of the sulfur-containing compounds from the model oil was observed with mesoporous WO3 catalyst, where the activity was maintained during 5 recycle tests without any regeneration process. The high catalytic activity and durability is mainly attributed to well-defined mesopores and high surface area of mesoporous WO3 catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SET-CAN/NUP214 fusion is a recurrent event most commonly seen in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). It is related to resistance to glucocorticoids and chemotherapy; however, the reported prognosis of T-ALL with SET-CAN/NUP214 fusion is diverse, and the optimal treatment option remains undetermined. Here, we present the treatment process of an illuminating case of T-ALL with SET-CAN/NUP214 fusion. The patient showed early resistance to routine VICLP chemotherapy (at 15th day, 79.2% blasts), but the leukemia burden was significantly reduced after 28-day induction chemotherapy (18.85% blasts), even though she still didn’t achieve complete remission (CR) after a second course of high-dose methotrexate (3 g/m2) and pegaspargase. Ex vivo drug sensitivity screening using a panel of 165 kinds of cytotoxic drugs, targeted therapy drugs, combination chemotherapy drugs, etc., was conducted on the refractory leukemia cells, which showed extensive resistance to various regimens. Surprisingly, AML-like scheme DAE scheme (daunorubicin + cytarabine + etoposide) and carfilzomib showed the highest ex vivo inhibition rate. The patient received DAE regimen chemotherapy, and finally achieved complete remission and received allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). According to our own findings and a literature survey, we found that T-ALL patients with SET-CAN/NUP214 fusion usually shows early resistance to chemotherapy, but they have a delayed response, and the CR rate is not compromised; thus, a chemotherapy regimen featuring a 28-day long course, such as that used in GRAALL 2003 or 2005, is recommended for induction therapy. For refractory patients, AML-like therapy such as DAE or CLAG in combination with asparaginase may be beneficial. In addition, carfilzomib may be a useful therapeutic drug and is worthy of further study. Allo-HSCT improves prognosis and we recommend HSCT if possible. Additional chromosomal or molecular events may affect the prognosis, and further investigation is needed. We believe that through proper treatment, the prognosis of patients with SET-CAN/NUP214 fusion can be greatly improved, at least not worse than that of other T-ALL patients.

Evolutionary and ecological processes are primary drivers of ecological network constrictions. However, the ways that these processes underpin self-organization and modularity in networks are poorly understood. Here, we performed network analyses to explore the evolutionary and ecological effects on global marine microbial co-occurrence networks across multiple network levels, including those of nodes, motifs, modules and whole networks. We found that both direct and indirect species interactions were evolutionarily and ecologically constrained across at least four network levels. Compared to ecological processes, evolutionary processes generally showed stronger long-lasting effects on indirect interactions and dominated the network assembly of particle-associated communities in spatially homogeneous environments. Regarding the large network path distance, the contributions of either processes to species interactions generally decrease and almost disappear when network path distance is larger than six. Accordingly, we developed a novel mathematical model based on scale-free networks by considering the joint effects of evolutionary and ecological processes. We simulated the self-organization of microbial co-occurrence networks and found that long-lasting effects increased network stability via decreasing link gain or loss. Overall, these results revealed that evolutionary and ecological processes played key roles in the self-organization and modularization of microbial co-occurrence networks.

Domain wall dynamics under the action of applied forces are crucial for future device concepts. We present the specific features of the vortex wall (VW) under the combination of an applied force, collective pinning, and magnetic anisotropy in a patterned rectangular shaped NiFe nanowire. We show the experimental evidence of VW propagation and the VW-based spin wave (SW) oscillation with intrinsic pinning barriers. As the VW was excited by a microwave antenna, the SW modes exhibited a localized or periodic oscillation feature with well-defined frequencies, which opens up the possibility to control data transport and processing by SW features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the magnetic storage density increases in commercial products, e.g. the hard disc drives, a full understanding of dynamic magnetism in nanometer resolution underpins the development of next-generation products. Magnetic force microscopy (MFM) is well suited to exploring ferromagnetic domain structures. However, atomic resolution cannot be achieved because data acquisition involves the sensing of long-range magnetostatic forces between tip and sample. Moreover, the dynamic magnetism cannot be characterized because MFM is only sensitive to the static magnetic fields. Here, we develop a side-band magnetic force microscopy (MFM) to locally observe the alternating magnetic fields in nanometer length scales at an operating distance of 1 nm. Variations in alternating magnetic fields and their relating time-variable magnetic domain reversals have been demonstrated by the side-band MFM. The magnetic domain wall motions, relating to the periodical rotation of sample magnetization, are quantified via micromagnetics. Based on the side-band MFM, the magnetic moment can be determined locally in a volume as small as 5 nanometers. The present technique can be applied to investigate the microscopic magnetic domain structures in a variety of magnetic materials, and allows a wide range of future applications, for example, in data storage and biomedicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, stroboscopic imaging of an alternating magnetic field (AC magnetic field) from individual superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles was achieved using the developed frequency modulated-magnetic force microscopy (FM-MFM) technique, which enables the imaging of the vector signals of AC magnetic fields, such as a combination of in-phase and quadrature signals or that of amplitude and phase signals. FM-MFM uses the frequency modulation of cantilever oscillation, caused by the application of an off-resonant AC magnetic field to a mechanically oscillated cantilever, and visualises the vector signals of the AC magnetic field by adding a frequency demodulator and a lock-in amplifier to a conventional magnetic force microscope. Stroboscopic imaging of an AC magnetic field was carried out by varying the phase of the measured in-phase and quadrature signals via a signal processing technique. For the superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles, stroboscopic imaging of the time-variable AC magnetic field, caused by the rotation of the magnetic moments within the particles, was demonstrated. This article describes the present status of FM-MFM technology, with particular attention to the feasibility of detecting magnetic moments of individual nanoparticles, and the possible application of FM-MFM in biological imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Here, we report three new Acidiphilium genomes, reclassified existing Acidiphilium species, and performed the first comparative genomic analysis on Acidiphilium in an attempt to address the metabolic potential, ecological functions, and evolutionary history of the genus Acidiphilium. In the genomes of Acidiphilium, we found an abundant repertoire of horizontally transferred genes (HTGs) contributing to environmental adaption and metabolic expansion, including genes conferring photosynthesis (puf, puh), CO2 assimilation (rbc), capacity for methane metabolism (mmo, mdh, frm), nitrogen source utilization (nar, cyn, hmp), sulfur compound utilization (sox, psr, sqr), and multiple metal and osmotic stress resistance capacities (czc, cop, ect). Additionally, the predicted donors of horizontal gene transfer were present in a cooccurrence network of Acidiphilium. Genome-scale positive selection analysis revealed that 15 genes contained adaptive mutations, most of which were multifunctional and played critical roles in the survival of extreme conditions. We proposed that Acidiphilium originated in mild conditions and adapted to extreme environments such as acidic mineral sites after the acquisition of many essential functions. IMPORTANCE Extremophiles, organisms that thrive in extreme environments, are key models for research on biological adaption. They can provide hints for the origin and evolution of life, as well as improve the understanding of biogeochemical cycling of elements. Extremely acidophilic bacteria such as Acidiphilium are widespread in acid mine drainage (AMD) systems, but the metabolic potential, ecological functions, and evolutionary history of this genus are still ambiguous. Here, we sequenced the genomes of three new Acidiphilium strains and performed comparative genomic analysis on this extremely acidophilic bacterial genus. We found in the genomes of Acidiphilium an abundant repertoire of horizontally transferred genes (HTGs) contributing to environmental adaption and metabolic ability expansion, as indicated by phylogenetic reconstruction and gene context comparison. This study has advanced our understanding of microbial evolution and biogeochemical cycling in extreme niches.

Background Lung adenocarcinoma (ACA) is the most common subtype of non-small-cell lung cancer. About 70%–80% patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage; therefore, the survival rate is poor. It is urgent to discover accurate markers that can differentiate the late stages of lung ACA from the early stages. With the development of biochips, researchers are able to efficiently screen large amounts of biological analytes for multiple purposes. Methods Our team downloaded GSE75037 and GSE32863 from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Next, we utilized GEO’s online tool, GEO2R, to analyze the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between stage I and stage II–IV lung ACA. The using the Cytoscape software was used to analyze the DEGs and the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was further constructed. The function of the DEGs were further analyzed by cBioPortal and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) online tools. We validated these results in 72 pairs human samples. Results We identified 109 co-DEGs, most of which were involved in either proliferation, S phase of mitotic cell cycle, regulation of exit from mitosis, DNA replication initiation, DNA replication, and chromosome segregation. Utilizing cBioPortal and University of California Santa Cruz databases, we further confirmed 35 hub genes. Two of these genes, encoding CDC28 protein kinase regulatory subunit 2 (CKS2) and RecQ-mediated genome instability 2 (RMI2), were upregulated in lung ACA compared with adjacent normal tissues. The Kaplan–Meier curves revealed upregulation of CKS2 and RMI2 are associated with worse survival. Using CMap analysis, we discovered 10 small molecular compounds that reversed the altered DEGs, the top five are phenoxybenzamine, adiphenine, resveratrol, and trifluoperazine. We also evaluated 72 pairs resected samples, results revealed that upregulation of CKS2 and RMI2 in lung ACA were associated with larger tumor size. Our results allow the deeper recognizing of the mechanisms of the progression of lung ACA, and may indicate potential therapeutic strategies for the therapy of lung ACA.

A 3-D impact angle constrained partial integrated guidance and control design with finite-time convergence is developed for a surface-to-air skid-to-turn missile intercepting a head-on maneuvering target. First, fully considering coupling among three channels and roll dynamics of missile, a new 3-D design model of partial integrated guidance and control is established with less assumption. Two assumptions that the components of missile velocity derivatives along body frame are available and the missile is roll-stabilized at constant roll attitude are removed to extend the applicable scope of the model. Then, based on the modified filter and continuous adaptive operator, adaptive finite-time dynamic surface control is proposed for partial integrated guidance and control design and achieves finite-time convergence with multiple uncertainties. The proposed adaptive operators are continuous and differentiable to prevent derivatives of virtual intermediate control signal from growing unbounded through the modified filter and compensate errors caused by the modified filter and extended state observer. In order to achieve better interception accuracy and convergence effect in impact angle constraints simultaneously, the first error vector of method is constructed in continuous non-singular terminal sliding surface form. And nonlinear extended state observers with finitetime convergence are introduced to estimate uncertainties. With the synthesis of above, a 3-D impact angle constrained partial integrated guidance and control scheme with finite-time convergence is developed, and accurate expressions of convergent regions are given. The finite-time stability analysis is given based on the Lyapunov theory. Simulation and experiment results demonstrate the enhanced interception performance under impact angle constraints and robustness against uncertainties.

A novel diversity-oriented post-Ugi/gold(I)-catalyzed heteroannulation process for the synthesis of imidazo[1,4]diazepin-7-ones is elaborated. The scope and limitations of the protocol are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characteristics of the patch antenna based on photonic band-gap (PBG) substrate with heterostructures were studied numerically by using the method of finite difference time domain (FDTD). The results indicate that, comparing to the conventional patch antennas, the expansion of working frequency band of the new patch antenna can be realized and its radiation efficiency also can be improved notably with the influence of PBG. In addition, for this new kind of patch antenna, its return loss is much less and there are two minimum values for return loss corresponding to the resonant frequency of the two different photonic crystals made of the substrate. Its physical mechanism lies on the PBG which suppresses the surface waves propagating along the surface of the substrate and reflects most of electromagnetic wave energy radiated to the substrate significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To produce a humanized mouse, it is critical to obtain a correct expression of a human gene/cDNA after insertion into a mouse locus. We previously generated a targeted allele in which the PGK-neo cassette, flanked by lox71 and loxP, was inserted into the first exon of the mouse endogenous transthyretin (Ttr) gene in ES cells. Using these ES cells, we showed that a human transthyretin (TTR) cDNA with the PGK-puro cassette can be efficiently inserted into this locus by Cre-mediated recombination, and that the human TTR cDNA was expressed in a tissue-specific manner under the control of the mouse endogenous Ttr promoter. To examine whether the PGK-puro cassette or IRES could affect the expression of human TTR cDNA, we generated four mouse lines using Cre and Flp-mediated recombination. The mouse line containing the PGK-puro cassette, but not IRES, exhibited quantitatively and temporally similar expression of human TTR cDNA. Removal of the PGK-puro cassette significantly downregulated the expression of the cDNA. The insertion of IRES sequence upstream of the human TTR cDNA resulted in decreased expression, even in the presence of the PGK-puro cassette. The mouse line containing IRES, but not PGK-puro, showed the lowest level of expression. These results suggest that the PGK-puro cassette is necessary to obtain the enhanced expression of a co-existing human cDNA in the mouse Ttr locus, even though the expression of co-existing cDNA was under the control of the mouse endogenous promoter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The L1o ordered FePt thin films have been prepared by magnetron sputtering system on Cr85 W15 underlayer at 500 °C of substrate temperature. A 3 nm Pt or W thin interlayer was employed to modulate the magnetic properties of FePt films. The crystallographic relationship between the FePt thin film and the CrW underlayer was studied, and the dependence of FePt films structure and magnetic properties on the Pt or W interlayer was investigated. The M-H loop of the FePt films with Pt or W interlayer was analyzed by using a three-dimensional (3-D) micromagnetic model, with careful discussions of the tetragonal symmetry and the magneto-elastic anisotropy due to the stress in the film plane. The stress state in the films and its effect on magnetic properties were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) antizyme inhibitor (AZI) has been shown to regulate ODC activity in cell cultures. However, its biological functions in an organism remain unknown. An embryonic stem (ES) cell clone was established, in which the Azin1 gene was disrupted by the gene trap technique. To identify the function of Azin1 gene in vivo, a mutant mouse line was generated using these trapped ES cells. Homozygous mutant mice died at P0 with abnormal liver morphology. Further analysis indicated that the deletion of Azin1 in homozygous mice resulted in the degradation of ODC, and reduced the biosynthesis of putrescine and spermidine. Our results thus show that AZI plays an important role in regulating the levels of ODC, putrescine and spermidine in mice, and is essential for the survival of mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  Transthyretin (TTR) associated amyloidosis is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by peripheral and autonomic neuropathy. Both genetic and environmental factors are thought to be involved in development of TTR associated amyloidosis. Previously, we demonstrated that amyloid deposition was observed in various tissues of transgenic mouse lines carrying a human mutant TTR (Met30) gene. To analyze the influence of environmental factors on TTR amyloidosis, these amyloidogenic transgenic mouse models were kept under conventional (CV) or specific pathogen free (SPF) conditions. Although the serum levels of Met30 for mice housed in the CV and SPF conditions were similar, amyloid deposition was observed in CV conditions, but not in SPF conditions. In addition, the extent of amyloid deposition in transgenic mice was dependent on duration kept under CV conditions. There were significant differences in proportion of amyloid deposition in several tissues between CV and SPF conditions. Maintenance of these mice at 30°C did not induce amyloid deposition in SPF conditions. These results suggest that the SPF conditions can completely prevent amyloid deposition, and that environmental factors can affect the onset and progression even in a single gene disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  The gene trap technique is a powerful approach for characterizing and mutating genes in the mouse. We used this method to identify a mouse gene of unknown function and to establish a mutant mouse line. We subsequently identified one gene, denoted Ayu17-449, on mouse chromosome 3 that comprised 14 exons encoding 1920 amino acids with a granin motif in its N-terminal sequence. In adult mice, this gene was highly expressed in the brain, heart, lung, muscle, stomach, and kidney. The insertion of a trap vector into the second intron of this gene resulted in the null mutation. Homozygous mice for these mutation died by 1 day after birth. Mutant mice showed a loss of acidic granules in the proximal convoluted tubules of the kidney. Our data demonstrates that Ayu17-449 is important for mouse survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transmission spectra from equivalent negative refractive photonic crystals (PCs) composed of a triangular array of air cylinders in a GaAs matrix are studied by finite-difference time-domain method in the paper. Mechanism of wave resonance is probed and propagation of optical waves in the PCs is described in terms of effective refraction index and Bloch waves. Our numerical results show that probability of spontaneous radiation would be enhanced extremely under the influence of Bloch resonance waves, stimulated emission and photon tunnel effect, resulting in the optical waves localized greatly in the PCs at particular frequencies. In addition, we find out that the position of transmission peaks, with values far greater than unit, can be controlled by tuning the central frequency of waveguide source. It means that photon current in the PCs also can be controlled to optimize transmission properties of PCs, so as to meet the requirements of novel optical devices based on PCs. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract??Distributed optical amplification from photonic-crystal fibers (PCFs) with layered structure composed of positive-and negative-refraction materials is studied by the finite-difference time-domain method. We found that the transmission spectra, with transmissivity far greater than unity at discrete transmission bands, have a band-gap structure with distributed gain, but the optical gain for defect modes is much smaller than that for transmitting modes, and maxima usually occur at the upper-and lower-band edges. This suggests that PCFs can be employed in dense wavelength-division multiplexed fiber-optics communication systems as transmission media carrying optical signals without crosstalk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This investigation is mainly aimed to study the influence of SiC and Al2O3 particles on the mechanical properties and damage evolution behaviors of an aluminum alloy Al-2618. Heat treatments for the composites are also studied to optimize their mechanical properties. The results of tensile tests show that SiC particulate reinforcement has advantages over Al2O3 reinforcement in both strength and ductility for the composites. T4 treatment is suggested for the composites rather than conventional peak-aging treatment (T6). T4 heat treatment with an additional of 0.6% pre-strain can result in same UTS and a 0.2% proof stress for the composites as high as T6 treatment but the final elongation under T4 treatment is larger than that under T6 treatment by more than 100%. Based on observation of damage evolution behaviors of the reinforcing particles, a theory that strength of the composites is mainly decided by the balance between reinforcing particles sharing load and making strain discontinuity in the matrix is proposed to interpret the test results. Their tolerance for large local strain at the interface, their high K1c and their low thermal expansion make SiC particles sharing much load and the better reinforcement over Al2O3 particles in respect to both strength and ductility of the composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermally stable mesoporous TiO2 spheres were successfully prepared via in situ hydrolysis of a titanium glycolate precursor. The mesoporous nature was retained even with calcination up to 500 °C under static air conditions. Mesoporous TiO2 calcined at 500 °C showed the maximum photocatalytic activity. This is mainly attributed to the better utilization of charge carriers due to the low diffusional length along with high surface area and well-defined nanocrystallinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management of excessive aqueous sulfide is one of the most significant challenges of treating effluent after biological sulfate reduction for metal recovery from hydrometallurgical leachate. The main objective of this study was to characterize and verify the effectiveness of a sulfide-oxidizing bacterial (SOB) consortium isolated from post-mining wastes for sulfide removal from industrial leachate through elemental sulfur production. The isolated SOB has a complete sulfur-oxidizing metabolic system encoded by sox genes and is dominated by the Arcobacter genus. XRD analysis confirmed the presence of elemental sulfur in the collected sediment during cultivation of the SOB in synthetic medium under controlled physicochemical conditions. The growth yield after three days of cultivation reached ~2.34 gprotein/molsulfid, while approximately 84% of sulfide was transformed into elemental sulfur after 5 days of incubation. Verification of isolated SOB on the industrial effluent confirmed that it can be used for effective sulfide concentration reduction (~100% reduced from the initial 75.3 mg/L), but for complete leachate treatment (acceptable for discharged limits), bioaugmentation with other bacteria is required to ensure adequate reduction of chemical oxygen demand (COD).

This study aimed to prepare copper-chelating peptides from soybean meal (SBMP-Cu(II)) using Aspergillus oryzae in solid-state fermentation and to investigate the chelation mechanism, structure and stability of SBMP-Cu(II). The results showed that peptides from soybean meal peptides (SBMP) with molecular masses of 1–5 kDa had a strong chelating capacity toward Cu2+, and the Cu2+ chelating capacity reached up to (288.47 ± 2.18) mg/g after purification by weak anion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatography. A total of 27 oligopeptides with molecular masses of less than 1 500 Da were identified from the 1–5 kDa SBMP by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and acidic (aspartic acid and glutamic acid) and basic amino acids (arginine, histidine and lysine) played a key role in the chelation of Cu2+. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and zeta potential analysis showed that the major active groups in SBMP involved in its chelation with Cu2+ were –COOH and –NH2, and SBMP-Cu(II) had a higher crystallinity, with the formation of roughly spherical agglomerates caused by the neutralization of charges on the surface. In addition, SBMP-Cu(II) showed stronger resistance to acid, heat and salt as well as higher in vitro digestive stability than SBMP, suggesting that SBMP-Cu(II) has the potential to improve Cu2+ bioavailability as a new copper supplement. These results provide a theoretical basis and technical support for the low-cost and efficient preparation of SBMP-Cu(II) supplements and the high-value resource utilization of soybean meal.

The paragenic minerals plagioclase. perthite, biotite, hornblende and pyroxene in acid-granite, alkali-granite, monzonite and volcanic rocks collected from seven areas different in thermal history have been determined. On the basis of 14 plateau age spectra and isochron ages of paragenic minerals in conjunction with the observed mineral textures, the suitability of plateau age spectra of plagioclase and perthite and their thermo-chronological significance are discussed in this paper. The results indicate that undisturbed feldspar gives satisfactoryAr-Ar plateau ages in consistence with those of paragenic minerals. This means that feldspars from the undisturbed area are suitable forAr-Ar dating. On the other hand. the age spectra of feldspars as well as of biotite. pyroxene and hornblende affected by tectonic or thermodynamic events appear unsmooth at varying temperatures, thus complicating their interpretation. Feldspars may give an emplacement age of a rock and /or that of the latest thermodynamic event, depending on the intensity of the event and the retentivity of Ar in the mineral. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the effects of environmental factors on microbial communities is critical for microbial ecology, but it remains challenging. In this study, we examined the diversity (alpha diversity) and community compositions (beta diversity) of prokaryotes and fungi in hypersaline sediments and salinized soils from northern China. Environmental variables were highly correlated, but they differed significantly between the sediments and saline soils. The compositions of prokaryotic and fungal communities in the hypersaline sediments were different from those in adjacent saline–alkaline soils, indicating a habitat-specific microbial distribution pattern. The macroelements (S, P, K, Mg, and Fe) and Ca were, respectively, correlated closely with the alpha diversity of prokaryotes and fungi, while the macronutrients (e.g., Na, S, P, and Ca) were correlated with the prokaryotic and fungal beta-diversity (P ≤ 0.05). And, the nine microelements (e.g., Al, Ba, Co, Hg, and Mn) and micronutrients (Ba, Cd, and Sr) individually shaped the alpha diversity of prokaryotes and fungi, while the six microelements (e.g., As, Ba, Cr, and Ge) and only the trace elements (Cr and Cu), respectively, influenced the beta diversity of prokaryotes and fungi (P < 0.05). Variation-partitioning analysis (VPA) showed that environmental variables jointly explained 55.49% and 32.27% of the total variation for the prokaryotic and fungal communities, respectively. Together, our findings demonstrate that the diversity and community composition of the prokaryotes and fungi were driven by different macro and microelements in saline habitats, and that geochemical elements could more widely regulate the diversity and community composition of prokaryotes than these of fungi.

This paper proposes a finite time convergence sliding mode control (FSMC) strategy based on linear parameter-varying (LPV) methodology for the stability control of a morphing aircraft subject to parameter uncertainties and external disturbances. Based on the Kane method, a longitudinal dynamic model of the morphing aircraft is built. Furthermore, the linearized LPV model of the aircraft in the wing transition process is obtained, whose scheduling parameters are wing sweep angle and wingspan. The FSMC scheme is developed into LPV systems by applying the previous results for linear time-invariant (LTI) systems. The sufficient condition in form of linear matrix inequality (LMI) constraints is derived for the existence of a reduced-order sliding mode, in which the dynamics can be ensured to keep robust stability and L2 gain performance. The tensor-product (TP) model transformation approach can be directly applied to solve infinite LMIs belonging to the polynomial parameter-dependent LPV system. Then, by the parameter-dependent Lyapunov function stability analysis, the synthesized FSMC is proved to drive the LPV system trajectories toward the predefined switching surface with a finite time arrival. Comparative simulation results in the nonlinear model demonstrate the robustness and effectiveness of this approach.

This article provides systematic analysis and controller design methods for dynamic tracking performance of servo mechanisms associated with practical systems. Discrete general composite nonlinear feedback, as a fundamental controller, will be proposed to yield a good transient performance. Particularly, in the servo systems, there also exist unmodeled disturbances which may lead to tracking errors. A novel repetitive control scheme based on disturbance observer configuration is incorporated into the controller to counteract this unexpected effect. Furthermore, to deal with any periodic signal of variable frequency, a fractional-order repetitive control scheme based on disturbance observer strategy is proposed. The stability of the overall closed-loop system is guaranteed via frequency domain analysis. Three controllers, that is, the proportional–derivative controller with zero-phase error tracking controller scheme and the conventional disturbance observer, the integral backstepping controller, and the compound discrete general composite nonlinear feedback controller with fractional-order repetitive control scheme based on disturbance observer are compared. To demonstrate the dynamic tracking performance of the proposed control strategy, comparative experiments are conducted.

A highly sensitive and uniform three-dimensional (3D) surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrate has been fabricated by in situ ultraviolet ozone cleaning and layer-by-layer self-assembly. The SERS properties and the structural changes of the substrates were systematically studied by adjusting the cleaning time upon the in situ and post cleaning strategy. Under the optimal cleaning condition, the cleaning technology could give rise to clean and optimal surfaces for SERS analysis, thus obtaining efficient plasmonic films populated with a large number of homogeneous ‘hot-spots’. Then with the optimal monolayer film, the SERS performance derived from plasmon coupling in multilayers of the Au@Ag nanocubes substrates was explored. It demonstrated that the plasmon coupling between layers (out-of-plane) contributed much to the SERS intensity, leading a more superior SERS enhancement from the 3D SERS substrates than that from the conventional two-dimensional SERS substrates. Also the in situ cleaning 3D SERS substrates displayed a nice uniformity and excellent time stability. With this method, the optimized substrates were further used to detect prohibited pigments in drink with an excellent linear relationship between characteristic peak intensity and analytes concentration over wide concentration ranges. Our experimental results clearly show that the in situ cleaning 3D SERS substrates provide an ideal candidate for SERS applications in food safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastric cancer (GC) remains one of the most common digestive cancers worldwide; however, most patients present at an advanced stage at initial diagnosis. Zic1 is a novel candidate tumor suppressor gene that is epigenetically silenced in GC. In this study, we investigated Zic1 promoter methylation in plasma DNA as a novel molecular marker for the early diagnosis and monitoring of GC. Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) assay was performed to detect Zic1 promoter methylation in plasma DNA from 20 healthy subjects, 50 gastric intraepithelial neoplasia patients, and 104 GC patients. The Zic1 promoter methylation rate in the plasma samples from the healthy control group was 0%, but it reached 54.0% in the intraepithelial neoplasia group and 60.6% in the GC group. The latter two values were significantly higher than that found in the healthy control group (p < 0.05), with a 100% specificity for intraepithelial neoplasia and GC diagnosis. The positive predictive value of plasma Zic1 promoter methylation for the diagnosis of intraepithelial neoplasia and GC was 100%. Methylation status in the GC group was not significantly associated with tumor size, tumor differentiation, lymph node metastasis, TNM staging, or tumor invasion (p > 0.05). Assessment of the significance of detection of the carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) level and Zic1 promoter methylation rate for GC diagnosis revealed that the sensitivity of Zic1 promoter methylation was significantly higher than that of the CEA level as a marker and that the combined measurement of these two indices (parallel testing) improved sensitivity. Taken together, our results suggest that the Zic1 promoter methylation rate in plasma-derived DNA is of great significance for the early screening of GC and monitoring of tumorigenesis. Zic1 promoter methylation may serve as a novel non-invasive plasma biomarker for the early detection of GC and for risk assessment in high-risk populations. The combined measurement of the Zic1 promoter methylation rate and CEA level (parallel testing) may enhance the current guidelines for the early diagnosis of GC.

OBJECTIVES: To conduct a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to assess the therapeutic outcome of fluorescence cystoscopy (FC) guided transurethral resection (TUR) in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Relevant RCTs were identified from electronic database (MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane Library). The proceedings of relevant congress were also searched. The primary parameters were recurrence rate, the time to fist recurrence, recurrence free survival rate (RFS) and progression rate. RESULTS: 12 RCTs including 2258 patients, which were identified for analysis in our study. Our study showed that the FC group have lower recurrence rate than the white light cystoscopy (WLC) group with statistically significant difference (OR: 0.5; p

As part of efforts to enhance the strategies explored to eliminate the adverse impacts of cyanobacterial blooms, we isolated an algicidal bacterium, J4, from Lake Taihu. Analysis of 16S rDNA sequence revealed that strain J4 belonged to the genus Brevundimonas. Bacterium J4 exhibited algicidal activity mainly through excretion of extracellular algicidal compounds that were further extracted with methanol and purified by silica gel chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The compounds showed thermal stability, strong polarity and water solubility in J4 cultures. Study on the algicidal activity of J4 against two dominant cyanobacterial bloom-forming species in Lake Taihu showed that J4 exhibited lower algicidal rate against Synechococcus sp. BN60 (48.6%, t = 6 days) than against Microcystis aeruginosa 9110 (91.8%, t = 6 days). Additionally, rapid reduction in cell density of J4 was observed in co-cultures of Synechococcus sp. BN60 and bacterium J4 but not observed in co-cultures of M. aeruginosa 9110 and bacterium J4 during algicidal process, which was the main reason why the algicidal rate of J4 against BN60 was lower than against 9110. The reduction in cell density of J4 resulted from inducible production of antimicrobial-like compound secreted by Synechococcus sp. BN60 in co-cultures of Synechococcus sp. BN60 and bacterium J4, which reflected a kind of chemical defense from cyanobacteria (BN60) against algicidal bacteria (J4). However, M. aeruginosa 9110 had no chemical defense against J4, suggesting that whether cyanobacterial chemical defense occurs or not between cyanobacteria and algicidal bacteria depends on specific cyanobacteria-algicidal bacteria pairs. These results show that not only one-sided algicidal effect but also two-sided reciprocal inhibition interactions exist between algicidal bacteria and cyanobacteria, indicating the complexity of cyanobacteria-algicidal bacteria interactions in Lake Taihu and the need to take the cyanobacterial defensive responses into consideration when assessing potential use of algicidal bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]