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Objective: To observe the morphological characteristics of posterior scleral staphyloma (PSS) with or without macular retinoschisis (MRS) using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Additionally, the incidence and severity of other pathologic myopic maculopathy associated with posterior scleral staphyloma was also evaluated. Methods: General information and OCT imaging data from 440 patients with posterior scleral staphyloma (PSS) and the PSS curvature > 20×10−3 μm–1 were collected. These patients visited the Department of Ophthalmology at the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University from January 2013 to June 2021. The obtained OCT images of PSS were analyzed using the Image J software to measure the curvature along the Bruch's membrane. The measured curvature was divided into four levels using the quartile method. The classification of macular retinoschisis (MRS) was based on the anatomical structure of the retina and the location of macular retinoschisis. Patients with PSS accompanied by MRS were assigned to the MRS group, while PSS patients without MRS were assigned to the non-MRS group. Additionally, typical OCT changes in other pathologic myopic maculopathy diseases, such as myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV), myopic traction maculopathy (MTM), and myopic foveoschisis (MF), were recorded and evaluated. Results: A total of 615 eyes (328 right eyes, 287 left eyes) from 440 patients (80 males and 360 females) were recruited in this study. The MRS group consisted of 159 patients (36.1%) with 190 eyes (30.9%), while the non-MRS group consisted of 281 patients (63.9%) with 425 eyes (69.1%). Both groups had a significantly higher proportion of female patients compared to male patients, and the right eye was more commonly affected than the left eye. In the MRS group, the prevalence of MRS increased progressively with the severity of PSS. Among the common posterior pole diseases, epiretinal membrane had the highest prevalence (33.2%), while lamellar macular hole had the lowest prevalence (5.3%). In the non-MRS group, the proportion of PSS in each group decreased progressively (except for an equal prevalence in the third and fourth levels) with increasing severity of PSS. Among the common posterior pole diseases, choroidal neovascularization had the highest prevalence (41.4%), while lamellar macular hole had the lowest prevalence (6.5%). When comparing the two groups, there were no significant differences in age, gender, and eye distribution. The MRS group had a higher prevalence of macular schisis, retinal detachment, and dome-shaped macula (17.9%, 14.2%, 14.8%) compared to the non-MRS group (11.3%, 9.2%, 9.6%). The non-MRS group had a significantly higher prevalence of choroidal neovascularization (41.4%) compared to the MRS group (12.6%), while there were no significant differences in the prevalence of epiretinal membrane and lamellar macular hole between the two groups. Conclusion: The prevalence of MRS increased progressively with the severity of PSS, and the MRS occurrence was positively correlated with PSS, which indicated that PSS may lead to MRS, while the proportion of PSS in each group decreases gradually with the severity of PSS in the non-MRS group decreased progressively (except for an equal prevalence in the third and fourth levels). In the MRS group, outer macular retinoschisiss were most relevant to posterior scleral staphyloma, and the prevalence of macular holes and retinal detachments was higher in the MRS group compared to the non-MRS group, indicating that MRS may further turn into complications such as macular holes and retinal detachments, which can significantly affect vision or lead to blindness. The prevalence of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) was significantly higher in the non-MRS group compared to the MRS group, suggesting that PSS with lower severity is more prone to develop into CNV. Dome-shaped macula (DSM) seems to play a protective role in the development of pathologic myopia, and abnormal changes in posterior scleral staphyloma curvature may be an important factor affecting the development and shape of DSM.

Abstract Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) lacks established biomarkers or molecular targets for predicting or enhancing radiation response. Phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-triphosphate-dependent Rac exchange factor 2 (PREX2) exhibits intricate implications in tumorigenesis and progression. Nevertheless, the precise role and underlying mechanisms of PREX2 in CRC radioresistance remain unclear. Methods RNA-seq was employed to identify differentially expressed genes between radioresistant CRC cell lines and their parental counterparts. PREX2 expression was scrutinized using Western blotting, real-time PCR, and immunohistochemistry. The radioresistant role of PREX2 was assessed through in vitro colony formation assay, apoptosis assay, comet assay, and in vivo xenograft tumor models. The mechanism of PREX2 was elucidated using RNA-seq and Western blotting. Finally, a PREX2 small-molecule inhibitor, designated PREX-in1, was utilized to enhance the efficacy of ionizing radiation (IR) therapy in CRC mouse models. Results PREX2 emerged as the most significantly upregulated gene in radioresistant CRC cells. It augmented the radioresistant capacity of CRC cells and demonstrated potential as a marker for predicting radioresistance efficacy. Mechanistically, PREX2 facilitated DNA repair by upregulating DNA-PKcs, suppressing radiation-induced immunogenic cell death, and impeding CD8+ T cell infiltration through the cGAS/STING/IFNs pathway. In vivo, the blockade of PREX2 heightened the efficacy of IR therapy. Conclusions PREX2 assumes a pivotal role in CRC radiation resistance by inhibiting the cGAS/STING/IFNs pathway, presenting itself as a potential radioresistant biomarker and therapeutic target for effectively overcoming radioresistance in CRC.

ABSTRACTThe most crucial variables that influence the characteristics and quality of cotton fibers during the cotton growth and ginning processes are temperature and moisture regains. Here the cotton fiber samples were generated with pre-treatment using a synergistic strategy of moisture regains and low temperatures, the morphology and structure of the fibers with different pre-treatments were analyzed by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Photoelectron Spectrometer (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Carbon-13 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometry (13C NMR). Further, the mechanical properties of the cotton fibers were evaluated using LLY-06E tensile. The results shown that, with 3 days of freezing in -18℃, the linear density variation of the cotton fiber samples reached maximum, and the surface of the fibers showed noticeable fractures, local holes, and folded damage. Moreover, the low temperature and high moisture regain caused the internal water molecules of the cotton fibers interact in complex ways, altering the intermolecular forces but without changing the chemical composition. This research expands the temperature field of cotton fibers, particularly in the ginning process, by investigating the damage to the mechanical characteristics of cotton fibers caused by the combined effect of low temperature and moisture regain.

To investigate the synergistic effect of Rosa roxbunghii Tratt. polysaccharide（RRTP）and Rosa roxbunghii Tratt. insoluble dietary fiber（RTIDF）on hypoglycemic function. In this study, RRTP and RTIDF were extracted, isolated and purified, the antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities of polysaccharides were measured by in vitro experiment and the relationship between hypoglycemic function and intestinal microbial community structure in mice was analyzed in vivo intervention experiment of Type Ⅱ diabetes in mice. The results were as follows: (1) RRTP had a good free radical scavenging ability in vitro, and could significantly inhibit α-glucosidase and α-amylase activities with IC50 values of 0.293 and 4.251 mg·mL-1, respectively. RTIDF only showed certain inhibitory activity on α-amylase activity. (2) After the intervention of the extracts in the model mice, the tendency of the obese mice to continue to lose weight was reversed. Compared with CK group (physiological saline), the blood glucose level of RTIDF and RRTP+RTIDF mice were significantly down-regulated, and the activity of CAT enzyme in serum was significantly enhanced. RRTP+RTIDF group was superior to RTIDF group. (3) The extract intervention could reduce the inflammatory factors in the liver, relieve the degree of cell swelling, increase the number of absorbing cells in the cecum, and restore the intestinal wall mucosal layer. (4) Further analysis of intestinal microbial community showed that RTIDF+RRTP could reduce the proportion of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes, increase the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Acetobacter, but RTIDF had more significant regulation effect on the population. Therefore, based on in vitro hypoglycemic simulation and in vivo intervention results, RRTP and RTIDF have a certain synergistic effect on glucose intervention in diabetic mice, it may be used together as an intervention to improve Type Ⅱ diabetes.

Abstract Multi-enzyme complexes designed based on scaffold proteins are a current topic in molecular enzyme engineering. They have been gradually applied to increase the production of enzyme cascades, thereby achieving effective biosynthetic pathways. This paper reviews the recent progress in the design strategy and application of multi-enzyme complexes. First, the metabolic channels in the multi-enzyme complex have been introduced, and the construction strategies of the multi-enzyme complex emerging in recent years have been summarized. Then, the discovered enzyme cascades related to scaffold proteins are discussed, emphasizing on the influence of the linker on the fusion enzyme (fusion protein) and its possible mechanism. This review is expected to provide a more theoretical basis for the modification of multi-enzyme complexes and broaden their applications in synthetic biology.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0268175.].

Summary: Corneal alkali burn remains a clinical challenge in ocular emergency, necessitating the development of effective therapeutic drugs. Here, we observed the arachidonic acid metabolic disorders of corneas induced by alkali burns and aimed to explore the role of Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a critical metabolite of arachidonic acid, in the repair of alkali-burned corneas. We found a moderate dosage of PGE2 promoted the alkali-burned corneal epithelial repair, whereas a high dosage of PGE2 exhibited a contrary effect. This divergent effect is attributed to different dosages of PGE2 regulating ANXA1 expression differently. Mechanically, a high dosage of PGE2 induced higher GATA3 expression, followed by enhanced GATA3 binding to the ANXA1 promoter to inhibit ANXA1 expression. In contrast, a moderate dosage of PGE2 increased CREB1 phosphorylation and reduced GATA3 binding to the ANXA1 promoter, promoting ANXA1 expression. We believe PGE2 and its regulatory target ANXA1 could be potential drugs for alkali-burned corneas.

Introduction: Trehalose is a significant rare sugar known for its stable properties and ability to protect biomolecules from environmental factors.Methods: In this study, we present a novel approach utilizing a scaffold protein-mediated assembly method for the formation of a trehalose bi-enzyme complex. This complex consists of maltooligosyltrehalose synthase (MTSase) and maltooligosyltrehalose trehalohydrolase (MTHase), which work in tandem to catalyze the substrate and enhance the overall catalytic efficiency. Utilizing the specific interaction between cohesin and dockerin, this study presents the implementation of an assembly, an analysis of its efficiency, and an exploration of strategies to enhance enzyme utilization through the construction of a bi-enzyme complex under optimal conditions in vitro.Results and Discussion: The bi-enzyme complex demonstrated a trehalose production level 1.5 times higher than that of the free enzyme mixture at 40 h, with a sustained upward trend. Compared to free enzyme mixtures, the adoption of a scaffold protein-mediated bi-enzyme complex may improve cascade reactions and catalytic effects, thus presenting promising prospects.

The effect of the alkaline activation process, especially the SiO2/Na2O molar ratio (Ms) in the prepared alkaline activator, on the geopolymer materials prepared using the spent fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalyst and steel slag as raw materials is investigated in this study. The results indicate that the compressive strength of prepared geopolymers has been greatly affected by the alkaline environment. The compressive strength of obtained samples is improved obviously in the strong alkaline environment. Meanwhile, the number of amorphous gels in the prepared geopolymers increased with Ms decreasing. It is conducive for the silicon-oxo-aluminate species in the oligomers to polymerize into polymers with 3D polymeric structures, which would lead to the surface of as-prepared samples becoming smoother and the structure becoming denser. Moreover, the strong alkaline environment is beneficial for Ca2+ to involve in the geopolymerization reaction and form the N(C)ASH gel, which can further enhance the compressive strength of the prepared geopolymer.

Vitamin C, a water-soluble vitamin with strong reducing power, cannot be synthesized by the human body and participates in a variety of important biochemical reactions. Vitamin C is widely used in the pharmaceutical, food, health care, beverage, cosmetics, and feed industries, with a huge market demand. The classical two-step fermentation method is the mainstream technology for vitamin C production. D-sorbitol is transformed into L-sorbose by Gluconobacter oxydans in the first step of fermentation; then, L-sorbose is transformed into 2-keto-L-gulonic acid (2-KGA) by a coculture system composed of Ketogulonicigenium vulgare and associated bacteria; and finally, 2-KGA is transformed into vitamin C through chemical transformation. The conversion of L-sorbose into 2-KGA in the second fermentation step is performed by K. vulgare. However, considering the slow growth and low 2-KGA production of K. vulgare when cultured alone, it is necessary to add an associated bacteria to stimulate K. vulgare growth and 2-KGA production. Although the mechanism by which the associated bacteria promote K. vulgare growth and 2-KGA production has extensively been studied, this remains a hot topic in related fields. Based on the latest achievements and research, this review summarizes the metabolic characteristics of K. vulgare and associated bacteria and elucidates the mechanism by which the associated bacteria promote the growth and 2-KGA production of K. vulgare.

FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) are well-known key genes for initiating flowering in plants. Delineating the evolutionary history and functional diversity of FT genes is important for understanding the diversification of flowering time and how plants adapt to the changing surroundings. We performed a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of FT genes in 47 sequenced flowering plants and the 1,000 Plant Transcriptomes (1KP) database with a focus on monocots, especially cereals. We revealed the evolutionary history of FT genes. The FT genes in monocots can be divided into three clades (I, II, and III), whereas only one monophyletic group was detected in early angiosperms, magnoliids, and eudicots. Multiple rounds of whole-genome duplications (WGD) events followed by gene retention contributed to the expansion and variation of FT genes in monocots. Amino acid sites in the clade II and III genes were preferentially under high positive selection, and some sites located in vital domain regions are known to change functions when mutated. Clade II and clade III genes exhibited high variability in important regions and functional divergence compared with clade I genes; thus, clade I is more conserved than clade II and III. Genes in clade I displayed higher expression levels in studied organs and tissues than the clade II and III genes. The co-expression modules showed that some of the FT genes might have experienced neofunctionalization and subfunctionalization, such as the acquisition of environmental resistance. Overall, FT genes in monocots might form three clades by the ancient gene duplication, and each clade was subsequently subjected to different selection pressures and amino acid substitutions, which eventually led to different expression patterns and functional diversification. Our study provides a global picture of FT genes’ evolution in monocots, paving a road for investigating FT genes’ function in future.

Abstract The bifunctional photocatalytic-adsorbent AgZnO/polyoxometalates (AgZnO/POMs) nanocomposites were synthesized by combining AgZnO hybrid nanoparticles and polyoxometalates [Cu(L)2(H2O)]H2[Cu(L)2(P2Mo5O23)]⋅4H2O (HL = C6H6N2O) into nanostructures via a sonochemical method. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicated that AgZnO/POMs nanocomposites were uniform with narrow particle size distribution and without agglomeration. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis confirmed the nanostructure and composition of AgZnO/POMs nanocomposites. The ultraviolet–visible spectra (UV–Vis) and photoluminescence spectra (PL) confirmed excellent optical properties of the AgZnO/POMs nanocomposites. 94.13% ± 0.61 of basic magenta (BM) in aqueous solution could be removed using the AgZnO/POMs nanocomposites through adsorption and photocatalysis. The kinetic analysis showed that both the adsorption and photocatalysis process conform to pseudo-second-order kinetics. In addition, the removal rate of AgZnO/POMs nanocomposites was found to be almost unchanged after 5 cycles of use. The bifunctional photocatalytic-adsorbent AgZnO/POMs nanocomposites with high stability and cycling performance have broad application prospects in the treatment of refractory organic dye wastewater containing triphenylmethane.

Abstract Background Anxiety and postpartum depression are the most common psychological problems in women after delivery. Cognitive behavior intervention has been reported to have an effect in the therapy of postpartum depression. This research aimed to investigate whether cognitive behavior intervention could prevent the pathogenesis of postpartum depression in primiparous women. Methods In this randomized controlled trial, primiparous women who were prone to postpartum depression were recruited. Participates in the control group received routine postpartum care and those in the intervention group received both routine postpartum care and cognitive behavior intervention. Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were evaluated before and after the intervention. Results In the intervention group, the post-intervention scores of HAMA, HAMD, EPDS and PSQI were all significantly lower than the baseline scores (p = 0.034, p = 0.038, p = 0.004, p = 0.014, respectively). The proportion of participants with postpartum depression in the intervention group (11.5%) was significantly lower than the control group (24.3%) after the 6-week intervention. Participants in the intervention group were significantly more satisfied with the care than those in the control group (p = 0.032). Conclusion This research provided evidence that cognitive behavioral intervention in postpartum period could alleviate anxiety and depression in primiparous women, and inhibit the pathogenesis of postpartum depression. Trial registry This clinical trial was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2000040076).

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) is an important fiber crop worldwide. Insect attack causes cotton yield and quality losses. However, little is known about the mechanism of cotton response to insect attack. We simulated insect feeding by applying insect oral secretions (OS) to wounds, and combined transcriptome and metabolome analysis to investigate how OS from two major pest species (Helicoverpa armigera and Spodoptera litura) affect cotton defense responses. We found that respectively 12,668 and 13,379 genes were differentially expressed in comparison with wounding alone. On addition of OS, the jasmonic acid signaling pathway was rapidly and strongly induced, whereas genes involved in salicylic acid biosynthesis were downregulated. On constructing a coexpression gene network, we identified a hub gene encoding a leucine-rich repeat receptor kinase that may play an important role in early signal recognition and transduction. OS from the two insect species altered the abundance of flavonoid-related compounds in different patterns. Gossypol remained in lower concentration after OS application than after wounding alone, suggesting a suppressive effect of OS on cotton defense response. This study illustrated transcriptional and metabolic changes of cotton in responding to OS from two chewing insect species, identified potential key response genes, and revealed evidence for OS inhibition of wounding-induced cotton defense response.

We have established a highly efficient 96-well format based strategy to characterize nanobody (Nb) from an expressed alpaca Nb repertoire by combining heavy-chain antibody variable region gene cloning with Nb expression and reactivity profiling at the single cell level. Individual alpaca B lymphocytes were isolated based on B cell surface marker and membrane type antigen specific antibodies expression by fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). Single cell reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of CH1 and CH2 domain enable the identification and exclusion of B cell clones that express regular antibodies. The corresponding heavy-chain antibody variable region gene transcripts, which are CH1-CH2 domain negative, are then amplified from single B cell clones by nested PCR. Then Nbs were expressed in Escherichia coli cells and four Nbs showed high affinity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa Exotoxin A (PEA). Moreover, two PEA Nbs that recognize unique epitopes on PEA have been successfully applied to protect human cells from PEA induced apoptosis. In summary, our FACS and single cell reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) based strategy for identifying recombinant Nbs from single alpaca B cells allows highly efficient and unbiased characterization of the expressed Nb repertoires by sequence analysis, expression and parallel antibody reactivity testing.

Truckload spot rate (TSR), defined as a price offered on the spot to transport a certain cargo by using an entire truck on a target transportation line, usually price per kilometer-ton, is a key factor in shaping the freight market. In particular, the prediction of short-term TSR is of great importance to the daily operations of the trucking industry. However, existing predictive practices have been limited largely by the availability of multilateral information, such as detailed intraday TSR information. Fortunately, the emerging online freight exchange (OFEX) platforms provide unique opportunities to access and fuse more data for probing the trucking industry. As such, this paper aims to leverage the high-resolution trucking data from an OFEX platform to forecast short-term TSR. Specifically, a lagged coefficient weighted matrix-based multiple linear regression modeling (Lag-WMR) is proposed, and exogenous variables are selected by the light gradient boosting (LGB) method. This model simultaneously incorporates the dependency between historical and current TSR (temporal correlation) and correlations between the rates on alternative routes (between-route correlation). In addition, the effects of incorporating temporal and between-route correlations, time-lagged correlation and exogenous variable selection in modeling are emphasized and assessed through a case study on short-term TSR in Southwest China. The comparative results show that the proposed Lag-WMR model outperforms autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model and LGB in terms of model fitting and the quality and stability of predictions. Further research could focus on rates' standardization, to define a practical freight index for the trucking industry. Although our results are specific to the Chinese trucking market, the method of analysis serves as a general model for similar international studies.

Xinjiang is the largest arid and saline agricultural region in China. The common irrigation methods in this area are traditional flood irrigation and drip irrigation. In this study, we investigated the effects of these two irrigation methods on the fungal diversity, community structures, and functions in alfalfa rhizosphere soil as well as the associated environmental factors in northern Tianshan Mountain (Xinjiang, China). Soil enzyme activities (urease and neutral phosphatase) were significantly higher in the drip-irrigated alfalfa rhizosphere soil than in the flood-irrigated alfalfa rhizosphere soil, whereas the fungal alpha diversity in the drip-irrigated alfalfa rhizosphere soil was significantly lower than that in the flood-irrigated alfalfa rhizosphere soil. Six dominant fungal phyla were identified (>0.1%), with Ascomycota being the most abundant in all soils, followed by Basidiomycota (5.47%), Mortierellomycota (1.07%), Glomeromycota (0.55%), Rozellomycota (0.27%), and Chytridiomycota (0.14%). Ascomycota and Glomeromycota species were significantly less abundant in drip-irrigated alfalfa rhizosphere soil than in flood-irrigated alfalfa rhizosphere soil. A LEFSe analysis identified Cladosporiaceae (20.8%) species as the most abundant marker fungi in drip-irrigated alfalfa rhizosphere soil. Of the 13 fungal functional groups identified on the basis of the functional annotation using the FUNGuild database, Ectomycorrhizal (22.29%) was the primary functional group. Compared with flood irrigation, drip irrigation significantly decreased the relative abundance of Ectomycorrhizal and Arbuscular_Mycorrhizal, while increasing the relative abundance of Plant_Pathogen, although not significantly (P = 0.19). Available potassium was revealed to be the main environmental factor influencing soil enzyme activities, fungal alpha diversity, fungal community structures, and fungal functions in response to the different irrigation methods. In conclusion, drip irrigation may be more appropriate than flood irrigation in the Tianshan dryland agricultural area for enhancing soil enzyme activities, but it may also increase the abundance of plant pathogenic fungi in the soil.

The tumor microenvironment (TME) exerts a high impact on tumor biology and immunotherapy. The heterogeneous phenotypes and the clinical significance of CD8+ T cells in TME have not been fully elucidated. Here, a comprehensive immunogenomic analysis based on multi-omics data was performed to investigate the clinical significance and tumor heterogeneity between CD8+ T cell-related molecular clusters. We identified two distinct molecular clusters of ccRCC (C1 and C2) in TCGA and validated in E-MTAB-1980 cohorts. The C1 cluster was characterized by unfavorable prognosis, increased expression levels of CD8+ T cell exhaustion markers, high immune infiltration levels as well as more immune escape mechanisms. The C2 cluster was featured by favorable prognosis, elevated expression levels of CD8+ T cell effector markers, low load of copy number loss and low frequency of 9p21.3 deletion. Moreover, the effect of molecular classifications on Nivolumab therapeutic efficacy in the CheckMate 025 cohort was examined, and the C2 cluster exhibited a better prognosis. Taken together, we determine two CD8+ T cell-related molecular clusters in ccRCC, and provide new insights for evaluating the functions of CD8+ T cells. Our molecular classification is a potential strategy for prognostic prediction and immunotherapeutic guidance for ccRCC patients.

In order to solve the problems of long-time consumption and high energy consumption in existing capacity detection methods of retired Ni-MH batteries, a fast and reliable capacity prediction method for retired Ni-MH batteries by multi-parameter driven analysis was proposed in this paper. This method mainly obtains several parameters through short-time measurement and pulse rapid nondestructive testing. Then, Pearson correlation coefficient and KS-test were used to analyze the correlation between the two parameters and verify the same distribution. Finally, SVR was used to predict the battery discharge capacity. The results show that the volume expansion thickness difference Δd, AC internal resistance R, terminal voltage U of the battery, charge and discharge polarization internal resistance Rf1 and Rf2 and pulse charging power P2 of the battery are strongly negatively correlated with the discharge capacity, and these characteristic parameters can effectively and reliably reflect the internal structural characteristics of the battery. Additionally, the mean relative error of the established capacity model is 5.87%, and the lowest error is 1.32%. The prediction effect is good, which provides a certain reference value for the subsequent consistent sorting method.

As a powerful factory, microbial cells produce a variety of enzymes, such as lipase. Lipase has a wide range of actions and participates in multiple reactions, and they can catalyze the hydrolysis of triacylglycerol into its component free fatty acids and glycerol backbone. Lipase exists widely in nature, most prominently in plants, animals and microorganisms, among which microorganisms are the most important source of lipase. Microbial lipases have been adapted for numerous industrial applications due to their substrate specificity, heterogeneous patterns of expression and versatility (i.e., capacity to catalyze reactions at the extremes of pH and temperature as well as in the presence of metal ions and organic solvents). Now they have been introduced into applications involving the production and processing of food, pharmaceutics, paper making, detergents, biodiesel fuels, and so on. In this mini-review, we will focus on the most up-to-date research on microbial lipases and their commercial and industrial applications. We will also discuss and predict future applications of these important technologies.

Abstract Background Bacillus subtilis spores have been commonly used for the surface display of various food-related or human antigens or enzymes. For successful display, the target protein needs to be fused with an anchor protein. The preferred anchored proteins are the outer-coat proteins of spores; outer-coat proteins G (CotG) and C (CotC) are commonly used. In this study, mutant trehalose synthase (V407M/K490L/R680E TreS) was displayed on the surface of B. subtilis WB800n spores using CotG and CotC individually or in combination as an anchoring protein. Results Western blotting, immunofluorescence, dot blot, and enzymatic-activity assays detected TreS on the spore surface. The TreS activity with CotC and CotG together as the anchor protein was greater than the sum of the enzymatic activities with CotC or CotG alone. The TreS displayed on the spore surface with CotC and CotG together as the anchoring protein showed elevated and stable specific activity. To ensure spore stability and prevent spore germination in the trehalose preparation system, two germination-specific lytic genes, sleB and cwlJ, were deleted from the B. subtilis WB800n genome. It was demonstrated that this deletion did not affect the growth and spore formation of B. subtilis WB800n but strongly inhibited germination of the spores during transformation. The conversion rate of trehalose from 300 g/L maltose by B. subtilis strain WB800n(ΔsleB, ΔcwlJ)/cotC-treS–cotG-treS was 74.1% at 12 h (350 U/[g maltose]), and its enzymatic activity was largely retained, with a conversion rate of 73% after four cycles. Conclusions The spore surface display system based on food-grade B. subtilis with CotC and CotG as a combined carrier appears to be a powerful technology for TreS expression, which may be used for the biotransformation of d-maltose into d-trehalose.

China Coastal Bulk Coal Freight Index (CBCFI) reflects how the coastal coal transporting market’s freight rates in China are fluctuated, significantly impacting the enterprise’s strategic decisions and risk-avoiding. Though trend analysis on freight rate has been extensively conducted, the property of the shipping market, i.e., it varies over time and is not stable, causes CBCFI to be hard to be accurately predicted. A novel hybrid approach is developed in the paper, integrating Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and ensemble learning techniques to forecast CBCFI. The hybrid LSTM-based ensemble learning (LSTM-EL) approach predicts the CBCFI by extracting the time-dependent information in the original data and incorporating CBCFI-related data, e.g., domestic and overseas thermal coal spot prices, coal inventory, the prices of fuel oil, and crude oil. To demonstrate the applicability and generality of the proposed approach, different time-scale datasets (e.g., daily, weekly, and monthly) in a rolling forecasting experiment are conducted. Empirical results show that domestic and overseas thermal coal spot prices and crude oil prices have great influences on daily, weekly, and monthly CBCFI values. And in daily, weekly, and monthly forecasting cases, the LSMT-EL approaches have higher prediction accuracy and a greater trend complying ratio than the relevant single ensemble learning algorithm. The hybrid method outperforms others when it works with information involving a dramatic market recession, elucidating CBCFI’s predictable ability. The present work is of high significance to general commerce, commerce-related, and hedging strategic procedures within the coastal shipping market.

The uneven distribution and spatial mismatch between water and land resources (WLR) limit the utilization efficiency of agricultural water and land resources (AWLR), and then pose a threat to food production. There is a critical need to understand their matching characteristics for strategic resource allocation decisions and management. In this study, a holistic index (RSI) derived from resource equivalency analysis (REA) was developed which contributed to examine the abundance or deficiency of agricultural water and land resources (AWLR) based on the conception of generalized water resources (including blue water and green water). Results indicate that the matching degree of AWLR was the lowest in Northeast China, North China and Gansu in Northwest China, while the highest value was in Xinjiang due to the higher blue water use. In north China, other provinces suffered water scarcity except in Jilin, Liaoning, Henan, while all provinces in south China suffered land scarcity except in Tibet and Jiangsu. Meanwhile, the matching of AWLR was not exactly consistent with the distribution pattern of precipitation. The higher proportion of green water resources was not located in southeast China with rich precipitation; it had to do with water management. Too much or little water resources can result in the increasing of blue water use. The proposed approach can be a powerful instrument to implement public policies and management strategy as an attempt to improve the utilization efficiency and enhance the optimize-allocation of AWLR.

The aim of this study was to propose a stem cell therapy for hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) based on plasma exchange (PE) for peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) collection and examine its safety and efficacy. Sixty patients (n=20 in each group) were randomized to PE (PE alone), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) (PE after G-CSF treatment), and PBSC transplantation (PBSCT) (G-CSF, PE, PBSC collection and hepatic artery injection) groups. Patients were followed-up for 24 weeks. Liver function and adverse events were recorded. Survival analysis was performed. PBSCT improved blood ammonia levels at 1 week (P

Glucosinolates (GS) are a group of sulfur- and nitrogen-rich plant secondary metabolites that originate from amino acids and exist mainly in plants in the order Brassicales, such as Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) and Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis). To date, several regulatory components responsible for GS biosynthesis have been identified in Arabidopsis. However, the functions of GS biosynthesis regulators in Chinese cabbage have not been clarified. In our current study, a putative ATR1/MYB34 orthologous gene, BrMYB34.2, was isolated from Chinese cabbage leaves. To investigate the function of this gene, we engineered Arabidopsis plants that overexpress BrMYB34.2 ectopically and phenotypic analysis was performed. Moreover, we assayed the accumulation levels of indolic GS (IGS) and aliphatic glucosinolates in transgenic plants and test the expression of key genes of IGS biosynthesis and tryptophan synthesis by Real-time quantitative PCR. And further analysed the resistance of transgenic plants in 5MT stress treatment. The results indicate that ectopic expression of the BrMYB34.2 gene in Arabidopsis was able to up-regulate the accumulation level of IGS due to the increased expression of IGS and Trp biosynthetic genes. Moreover, overexpression of BrMYB34.2 conferred Arabidopsis 5MT resistance. These results suggest that the BrMYB34.2 gene may function as one of the regulators of IGS and Trp biosynthesis in Chinese cabbage.

Abstract Background Eutrophication of freshwater systems can result in blooms of phytoplankton, in many cases cyanobacteria. This can lead to shifts in structure and functions of phytoplankton communities adversely affecting the quality of drinking water sources, which in turn impairs public health. Relationships between structures of phytoplankton communities and concentrations of the toxicant, microcystin–leucine–arginine (MC-LR), have not been well examined in large shallow lakes. The present study investigated phytoplankton communities at seven locations from January to December of 2015 in Tai Lake, and relationships between structures and diversities of phytoplankton communities and water quality parameters, including concentrations of MC-LR and metals, were analyzed. Results A total of 124 taxa of phytoplankton were observed, and the predominant taxa were Microcystis sp. and Dolichospermum flos-aquae of Cyanophyta and Planctonema sp. of Chlorophyta. The greatest diversities of phytoplankton communities, as indicated by species richness, Simpson, Shannon–Wiener, the Berger and Parker, and the Pielou evenness indices, were observed in spring. Furthermore, productivity of phytoplankton was significantly and negatively correlated with diversities. These results demonstrated that Simpson, Shannon–Wiener, the Berger and Parker, and the Pielou evenness indices of phytoplankton communities were significantly related to trophic status and overall primary productivity in Tai Lake. In addition, temperature of surface water, pH, permanganate index, biochemical oxygen demand, total phosphorus, arsenic, total nitrogen/total phosphorous ratio, and MC-LR were the main factors associated with structures of phytoplankton communities in Tai Lake. Conclusion The present study provided helpful information on phytoplankton community structure and diversity in Tai Lake from January to December of 2015. Our findings demonstrated that Simpson, Shannon–Wiener, the Berger and Parker, and the Pielou evenness indices could be used to assess and monitor for status and trends in water quality of Tai Lake. In addition, MC-LR was one of the main factors associated with structures of phytoplankton communities in Tai Lake. The findings may help to address important ecological questions about the impact of a changing environment on biodiversity of lake ecosystems and the control of algae bloom. Further studies are needed to explore the relationship between MC-LR and phytoplankton communities in the laboratory.

Converting biomass into high value-added compounds has attracted great attention for solving fossil fuel consumption and global warming. 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) has been considered as a versatile biomass-derived building block that can be used to synthesize a variety of sustainable fuels and chemicals. Among these derivatives, 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) is a desirable alternative to petroleum-derived terephthalic acid for the synthesis of biodegradable polyesters. Herein, to fully understand the current development of the catalytic conversion of biomass to FDCA, a comprehensive review of the catalytic conversion of cellulose biomass to HMF and the oxidation of HMF to FDCA is presented. Moreover, future research directions and general trends of using biomass for FDCA production are also proposed.

Environmental estrogen is a substance that functions as an endocrine hormone in organisms and can cause endocrine system disruption. A typical environmental estrogen, diethylstilbestrol (DES), can affect normal sexual function and organism development. However, even though the effects of different exposure stages of DES on the endocrine system and gonadal development of zebrafish juveniles are unknown, sex determination is strongly influenced by endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). From 10–90 days post fertilization (dpf), juvenile zebrafish were exposed to DES (100 and 1000 ng/L) in three different stages (initial development stage (IDS), 10–25 dpf; gonadal differentiation stage (GDS), 25–45 dpf and gonadal maturity stage (GMS), 45–60 dpf). Compared with that of IDS and GMS, the growth indicators (body length, body weight, and others) decreased significantly at GDS, and the proportion of zebrafish females exposed to 100 ng/L DES was significantly higher (by 59.65%) than that of the control; in addition, the zebrafish were biased towards female differentiation. The GDS is a critical period for sex differentiation. Our results show that exposure to environmental estrogen during the critical gonadal differentiation period not only affects the development of zebrafish, but also affects the population development.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the black citrus aphid from Sichuan Province of China, Aphis aurantii, was sequenced and analyzed. The mitochondrial genome was a double strand, circular molecule with 15,296 bp and an A + T content of 83.5%, comprising 13 PCGs, 22 tRNA genes, and two rRNA genes. Gene arrangement was conserved in the mitogenome of A. aurantii. A 631-bp long control region was found, with a high A + T content of 82.6%. All PCGs used standard ATN start codons and most PCGs ended with complete TAA stop codons. The phylogenetic analysis supported that A. aurantii was closely related to other five congeners of the genus Aphis.

The hoverfly, Eupeodes corollae, is a worldwide natural enemy of aphids and a plant pollinator. To provide insights into the biology of this species, we examined its population genetic structure by obtaining 1.15-GB random genomic sequences using next-generation sequencing and developing genome-wide microsatellite markers. A total of 79,138 microsatellite loci were initially isolated from the genomic sequences; after strict selection and further testing of 40 primer pairs in eight individuals, 24 polymorphic microsatellites with high amplification rates were developed. These microsatellites were used to examine the population genetic structure of 96 individuals from four field populations collected across southern to northern China. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 5 to 13 with an average of 8.75; the observed and expected heterozygosity varied from 0.235 to 0.768 and from 0.333 to 0.785, respectively. Population genetic structure analysis showed weak genetic differentiation among the four geographical populations of E. corollae, suggesting a high rate of gene flow reflecting likely widespread migration of E. corollae in China.

The vigor of tea plants (Camellia sinensis) and tea quality are strongly influenced by the abundance and forms of nitrogen, principally NO3−, NH4+, and amino acids. Mechanisms to access different nitrogen sources and the regulatory cues remain largely elusive in tea plants. A transcriptome analysis was performed to categorize differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in roots and young leaves during the early response to four nitrogen treatments. Relative to the continuously nitrogen-replete control, the three nitrogen-deprived and resupplied treatments shared 237 DEGs in the shoots and 21 DEGs in the root. Gene-ontology characterization revealed that transcripts encoding genes predicted to participate in nitrogen uptake, assimilation, and translocation were among the most differentially expressed after exposure to the different nitrogen regimes. Because of its high transcript level regardless of nitrogen condition, a putative amino acid transporter, TEA020444/CsCAT9.1, was further characterized in Arabidopsis and found to mediate the acquisition of a broad spectrum of amino acids, suggesting a role in amino acid uptake, transport, and deposition in sinks as an internal reservoir. Our results enhance our understanding of nitrogen-regulated transcript level patterns in tea plants and pinpoint candidate genes that function in nitrogen transport and metabolism, allowing tea plants to adjust to variable nitrogen environments.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the sawfly, Analcellicampa danfengensis, was sequenced and analyzed. This double strand, circular molecule is 15,968 bp in length with an A + T content of 80.9% and contains 13 PCGs, 22 tRNA genes, and two rRNA genes. Gene rearrangement occurs in the mitogenome of A. danfengensis. Two putative control regions are found, respectively with a length of 495 bp and 359 bp. All PCGs use standard ATN as start codons and most PCGs has complete TAN as stop codons. The phylogenetic analysis suggests that A. danfengensis is closely related to Monocellicampa pruni, another species of Tenthredinidae.

The use of formaldehyde-free, biomass-based composites has gained increasing attention in recent years because of their environmental benefits and superior strength properties. In this study, oriented cotton stalk board (OCB) was fabricated with an environmentally friendly, water-based konjac glucomannan-chitosan-polyvinyl alcohol (KCP) blend adhesive using hot pressing technology. The effects of pressing parameters on the physical and mechanical properties of oriented cotton stalk board were examined in order to obtain optimal pressing parameters. Interfacial bonding surface was also examined with a scanning electron microscope and a fluorescence microscope. The optimal physical and mechanical properties were obtained at a pressing temperature of 150 °C for 15 min with a target density of 0.8 g/cm3 during hot pressing. Adhesive content and hot pressing pressure had significant influences on adhesion. Mechanical interlocking was also observed between cotton stalks and the adhesive. OCB with KCP blend adhesive has comparable mechanical properties to that with urea formaldehyde resin or phenolic formaldehyde resin. OCB resinated with KCP blend adhesive is environmental friendly and has potential applications in furniture and interior decoration with less stringent requirements for water resistance.

Background and rationale for the study. To investigate thyroid function in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) caused by hepatitis B virus infection and to determine whether thyroid hormone levels can be used as prognostic markers for assessing severity and prognosis of ACLF patients. We enrolled 75 patients with ACLF and70 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).Continual serum samples were collected during hospitalization from the ACLF patients. The serum thyroid hormone levels (triiodothyronine [T3], thyroxine [T4], free (F)-T3, FT4, and thyroid stimulation hormone [TSH]) were measured by chemiluminescence. The Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) score was used to assess severity.Results. ACLF patients showed significantly (p < 0.001) lower values of serum T3, T4, FT3/FT4 and TSH than CHB patients. The T3, T4, and TSH levels in ACLF patients were negatively correlated with the MELD score (T3: r = -0.495, p < 0.001; T4: r = -0.281, p < 0.001; TSH: r = -0.498, p < 0.001), suggesting that serum thyroid hormone levels reflect disease severity. At 1 year, 31 patients died. The T3 (p = 0.016), T4 (p = 0.008), and TSH (p = 0.003) levels in non-survivors were significantly lower than in survivors. The serum TSH level was a significant factor for predicting mortality in ACLF patients (optimal cutoff value = 0.38 IU/mL). The cumulative survival rate was decreased significantly when the serum TSH level was < 0.38 IU/mL (39.2%, p < 0.001).Conclusion. Serum TSH level may be a useful indicator for assessing severity and prognosis in ACLF patients.

The ternary nanocomposites Fe3O4/Ag/polyoxometalates (Fe3O4/Ag/POMs) with core−shell−core nanostructure were synthesized by coating [Cu(C6H6N2O)2(H2O)]H2[Cu(C6H6N2O)2(P2Mo5O23)]·4H2O polyoxometalates on the surface of Fe3O4/Ag (core−shell) nanoparticles. The transmission electron microscopy/high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analyses show that the Fe3O4/Ag/POMs ternary nanocomposites reveal a core−shell−core nanostructure, good dispersibility, and high crystallinity. The vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and physical property measurement system (PPMS) demonstrated the good magnetic properties and superparamagnetic behavior of the nanocomposites at 300 K. The UV−vis spectroscopy displayed the broadband absorption of the Fe3O4/Ag/POMs with the maximum surface plasmon resonance of Ag nanostructure around 420 nm. The dye removal capacity of Fe3O4/Ag/POMs was investigated using methylene blue (MB) as a probe. Through adsorption and photocatalysis, the nanocomposites could quickly remove MB with a removal efficiency of 98.7% under the irradiation of visible light at room temperature. The removal efficiency was still as high as 97.5% even after six runs by magnetic separation of photocatalytic adsorbents after processing, indicating the reusability and high stability of the nanocomposites. These Fe3O4/Ag/POMs photocatalytic adsorbents with magnetic properties will hopefully become a functional material for wastewater treatment in the future.

The magnetic adsorbent, Fe3O4@[Ni(HL)2]2H2[P2Mo5O23]·2H2O (Fe3O4@1), is synthesized by employing the nanoparticles Fe3O4 and polyoxometalate hybrid 1. Zero-field-cooled (ZFC) and field-cooled (FC) curves show that the blocking temperature of Fe3O4@1 was at 120 K. Studies of Fe3O4@1 removing cationic and anionic dyes from water have been explored. The characterization of Fe3O4@1, effects of critical factors such as dosage, the concentration of methylene blue (MB), pH, adsorption kinetics, isotherm, the removal selectivity of substrate and the reusability of Fe3O4@1 were assessed. The magnetic adsorbent displayed an outstanding removal activity for the cationic dye at a broad range of pH. The adsorption kinetics and isotherm models revealed that the adsorption process of Fe3O4@1 was mainly governed via chemisorption. The maximum capacity of Fe3O4@1 adsorbing substance was 41.91 mg g−1. Furthermore, Fe3O4@1 showed its high stability by remaining for seven runs of the adsorption-desorption process with an effective MB removal rate, and could also be developed as a valuable adsorbent for dyes elimination from aqueous system.

In this work, two magnetic adsorbents Fe3O4@1 and Fe3O4@2 were prepared by combining Fe3O4 nanoparticles and polyoxometalate hybrids [Ni(HL)2]2H2[P2Mo5O23]·4H2O (1), [H2L]5H[P2Mo5O23]·12H2O (2) (HL = 2-acetylpyridine-thiosemicarbazone). The temperature-dependent zero-field-cooled (ZFC) and field-cooled (FC) measurements indicated the blocking temperature at 160 K and 180 K, respectively. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area of Fe3O4@1 and Fe3O4@2 is 8.106 m2/g and 1.787 m2/g, respectively. Cationic dye methylene blue (MB) and anionic dye methyl orange (MO) were investigated for selective dye adsorption on Fe3O4@1 and Fe3O4@2. The two adsorbents were beneficial for selective adsorption of cationic dyes. The adsorption efficiency of MB was 94.8% for Fe3O4@1, 97.67% for Fe3O4@2. Furthermore, the two adsorbents almost maintained the same adsorption efficiency after seven runs. The maximum MB adsorption capacity of Fe3O4@1 and Fe3O4@2 is 72.07 and 73.25 mg/g, respectively. The fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectra of the adsorbents collected after adsorption of MB are very similar to the initial as-synthesized Fe3O4@polyoxometalates indicating the high stability of the two adsorbents. The adsorption kinetics indicated that the MB removal followed the pseudo-second-order model. These results showed that the two adsorbents had a potential application in treating wastewater.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to longitudinally evaluate and analyze the role of interleukin-22-producing CD4 positive cells (IL-22) in the pathogenesis of Hepatitis C Virus recurrence after Orthotopic Liver Transplantation (HCV-OLT).Methods15 HCV-OLT, 15 age- and gender- matched non-HCV post-OLT (OLT) and 15 hepatitis C virus infected (HCV) patients were enrolled into our study from the liver transplantation and research center at Beijing 302 Hospital. We determined the frequencies of IL-22 using flow cytometry and expression of IL-22 mRNA using PCR in peripheral blood and liver tissue. We also divided HCV-OLT patients into rapid fibrosis progression (RFP) and slow fibrosis progression (SFP), examined IL-22 cells and analyzed the correlations between IL-22 frequencies and liver injury, fibrosis and clinical parameters. Moreover, we investigated the role of IL-22 in Human Hepatic Stellate Cells (HSCs).ResultsThe levels of serum IL-22, frequencies of IL-22 producing cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and expression of IL-22 mRNA and protein in the liver in the HCV-OLT group were significantly higher than that in the HCV and OLT groups. Furthermore, eight (53.3%) patients developed RFP after two years; another three patients were diagnosed liver cirrhosis. The frequencies of IL-22 were much higher in RFP compared with SFP, while no significant difference existed between OLT and SFP. Intrahepatic IL-22 positive cells were located in fibrotic areas and significantly correlated with α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and fibrosis staging scores, not with grading scores and HCRVNA. In vitro, IL-22 administration prevented HSCs apoptosis, promoted HSCs proliferation and activation, up-regulated the expression of HSC-sourced growth factors including α-SMA, TGF-β and TIMP-1, and increased the production of liver fibrosis markers including laminin, hyaluronic acid and collagen type IV.ConclusionPeripheral and intrahepatic IL-22 is up-regulated and plays a pathological role in exacerbating liver fibrosis by activating HSCs in HCV-OLT patients, which may predict RFP and serve as an attractive target for anti-fibrotic therapy.

Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) is the most common complication that causes visual decrease after extracapsular cataract surgery. The primary cause of PCO formation is the proliferation of the residual lens epithelial cells (LECs). The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) plays an important role in the growth and migration of LECs. In the current study, we used small interfering RNA (siRNA) to specifically attenuate mTOR in human lens epithelial B3 cells (HLE B3). We aimed to examine the effect of mTOR-siRNA on the proliferation, migration and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of HLE B3 cells and explore the underlying mechanisms. The mTOR-siRNA was transfected into HLE B3 cells using lipofectamine 2000. The mRNA and protein levels of mTOR were examined to confirm the efficiency of mTOR-siRNA. The levels of mRNA and protein as well as the activity of mTOR down-stream effectors p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K) and protein kinase B (PKB, AKT) were examined using real-time PCR or Western blot, respectively. The cell proliferation was determined using cell counting kit (CCK) 8 and cell growth curve assay. The cell migration was examined using Transwell system and Scratch assay. MTOR-siRNA effectively eliminated mTOR mRNA and protein. The proliferation and migration were significantly suppressed by mTOR-siRNA transfection. mTOR-siRNA reduced the mRNA of p70S6K and AKT in a time-dependent manner. Furthermore, the phosphorylation of p70S6K and AKT was decreased by mTOR-siRNA. MTOR-siRNA also eliminated the formation of mTORC1 and mTORC2 protein complex and blocked the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β-induced EMT. Our results suggested that mTOR-siRNA could effectively inhibit the proliferation, migration and EMT of HLE B3 cells through the inhibition of p70S6K and AKT. These results indicated that mTOR-siRNA might be an effective agent inhibiting HLE cells growth and EMT following cataract surgery and provide an alternative therapy for preventing PCO.

In this article, a study was presented on the adsorption activity of a new nanocomposite particle Fe3O4@1, which was synthesized by combining [Cu(HL)2]2H2[P2Mo5O23]·10H2O (1) (HL = 2-acetylpyridine semicarbazone) and Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray powder diffraction analyses revealed that Fe3O4@1 possessed high crystallinity with an average particle size of 19.1 nm. The adsorption activity of the as-prepared Fe3O4@1 was investigated by photometrically monitoring the removal of methylene blue, rhodamine B, safranine T, gentian violet, fuchsin basic, and methyl orange from aqueous solutions. Significantly, we could easily separate Fe3O4@1 from the reaction media by applying an external magnet. Furthermore, the recycling performance was observed using methylene blue, revealing the recyclability and high stability of Fe3O4@1. It was shown that Fe3O4@1 is a promising candidate material for adsorbing cationic dyes in aqueous media.

BACKGROUND & AIMS:HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF) is a severe liver disease which results in a high mortality in China. To early predict the prognosis of the patients may prevent the complications and improve the survival. This study was aimed to develop a new prognostic index to estimate the survival related to HBV-ACLF. METHODS:Consecutive patients with HBV-ACLF were included in a prospective observational study. Serum Cystatin C concentrations were measured by using the particle-enhanced immunonephelometry assay. All of the patients were followed for at least 3 months. Cox regression analysis was carried out to identify which factors were predictive of mortality. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the efficacy of the variates for early predicting mortality. RESULTS:Seventy-two patients with HBV-ACLF were recruited between January 2012 and January 2013. Thirty patients died (41.7%) during 3-months followed up. Cox multivariate regression analysis identified serum cystatin C (CysC) and total bilirubin (TBil) were independent factors significantly (P < 0.01) associated with survival. Our results further showed that new prognostic index (PI) combining serum CysC with TBil was a good indicator for predicting the mortality of patients with HBV-ACLF. Specifically, the PI had a higher accuracy than the CTP, MELD, or MELD-Na scoring for early prediction short-term survival of HBV-ACLF patients with normal levels of serum creatinine (Cr). The survival rate in low risk group (PI < 3.91) was 94.3%, which was markedly higher than those in the high-risk group (PI ≥ 3.91) (17.4%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION:We developed a new prognostic index combining serum CysC with TBil which early predicted the short-term mortality of HBV-ACLF patients.

Radiation caries have been reported to be correlated with radiotherapy-induced destruction of salivary function and changes in oral microbiota. There have been no published reports detailing patients who have remained radiation caries-free following radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between salivary function, oral microbiota and the absence of radiation caries. Twelve radiation caries-free patients and nine patients exhibiting radiation caries following irradiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma were selected. V40, the dose at which the volume of the contralateral parotid gland receives more than 40 Gy, was recorded. Stimulated saliva flow rate, pH values and buffering capacity were examined to assess salivary function. Stimulated saliva was used for molecular profiling by Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis. Mutans streptococci and Lactobacilli in saliva were also cultivated. There were no significant differences in V40 between radiation caries-free individuals and those with radiation caries. Compared with normal values, the radiation caries-free group had significantly decreased simulated saliva flow rate, while there were no significant differences in the saliva pH value and buffering capacity. Similar results were observed in the radiation caries group. There was no statistical difference in microbial diversity, composition and log CFU counts in cultivation from the radiation caries-free group and the radiation caries group. Eleven genera were detected in these two groups, among which Streptococcus spp. and Neisseria spp. had the highest distribution. Our results suggest that changes in salivary function and in salivary microbiota do not explain the absence of radiation caries in radiation caries-free individuals.

In recent years, scientists have developed various biomaterials to remineralize human teeth to treat dentine hypersensitivity. Poly(amido amine) (PAMAM) dendrimers have become a research focus in this field. It has been demonstrated that PAMAM is able to create precipitates both on the surface of and within the dentinal tubules, however, there is little information about its effect on reducing dentine permeability in vitro. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro effectiveness and stability of the fourth generation amine-terminated PAMAM on dentinal tubule occlusion, especially on dentine permeability. Sodium fluoride (NaF), which has been widely used as a desensitizing agent, is regarded as positive control. Demineralized sensitive dentine samples were coated with PAMAM or sodium fluoride solutions and soaked in artificial saliva (AS) at 37 °C for different periods. Four weeks later, samples in each group were then equally split into two subgroups for testing using a brushing challenge and an acid challenge. Dentine permeability of each specimen was measured before and after each challenge using a fluid filtration system. Dentine morphology and surface deposits were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and analyzed with Image-Pro Plus software. Data were evaluated through multifactorial ANOVA with repeated measures and pair-wise comparisons at a level of 5%. The results showed that PAMAM and NaF significantly reduced dentine permeability to 25.1% and 20.7%. Both of them created precipitates on dentine surfaces after AS immersion for 28 days. PAMAM-induced biomineralization not only on dentine surfaces, but also deeper in dentinal tubules, significantly reduced dentine permeability. Moreover, PAMAM-induced biomineralization elicited excellent stable occlusion effects after acid challenge. In conclusion, PAMAM demonstrated a strong ability to resist acid and showed great potential to be used in the treatment of dentine hypersensitivity in future.

Cell-based therapies for liver disease rely on a high-quality supply of hepatocytes and a means for storage during transportation from site of isolation to site of usage. Unfortunately, frozen cryopreservation is associated with unacceptable loss of hepatocyte viability after thawing. The purpose of this study was to optimize conditions for cold storage of rat hepatocyte spheroids without freezing. Rat hepatocytes were isolated by a two-step perfusion method; hepatocyte spheroids were formed during 48 h of rocked culture in serum-free medium (SFM). Spheroids were then maintained in rocked culture at 37°C (control condition) or cold stored at 4°C for 24 or 48 h in six different cold storage solutions: SFM alone; SFM + 1 mM deferoxamine (Def); SFM + 1 μM cyclosporin A (CsA); SFM + 1 mM Def + 1 μM CsA, University of Wisconsin (UW) solution alone, UW + 1 mM Def. Performance metrics after cold storage included viability, gene expression, albumin production, and functional activity of cytochrome P450 enzymes and urea cycle proteins. We observed that cold-induced injury was reduced significantly by the addition of the iron chelator (Def) to both SFM and UW solution. Performance metrics (ammonia detoxification, albumin production) of rat hepatocyte spheroids stored in SFM + Def for 24 h were significantly increased from SFM alone and approached those in control conditions, while performance metrics after cold storage in SFM alone or cold storage for 48 h were both significantly reduced. A serum-free medium supplemented with Def allowed hepatocyte spheroids to tolerate 24 h of cold storage with less than 10% loss in viability and functionality. Further research is warranted to optimize a solution for extended cold storage of hepatocyte spheroids.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, {[Cu2Fe(CN)6(C2H8N2)4]·4.5H2O}n, consists of two [Cu(C2H8N2)2]2+ cations, one [Fe(CN)6]4− anion, four water molecules and a half water molecule that lies on a twofold rotation axis. The FeII atom is coordinated by six C atoms from three terminal and three doubly bridging CN− ligands. The bridging CN− ligands connect the anion to a five-coordinate [Cu(C2H8N2)2]2+ cation and to two symmetry-related six-coordinate [Cu(C2H8N2)2]2+ cations, forming a one-dimensional polymer in the ab plane. Intermolecular hydrogen bonds connect the polymer units into a three-dimensional network.