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IntroductionSpontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage is the second most common subtype of stroke. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the risk factors affecting the prognosis of patients with basal ganglia cerebral hemorrhage after neuroendoscopy.MethodsBetween January 2020 and January 2024, 130 patients with basal ganglia cerebral hemorrhage who underwent neuroendoscopy were recruited from two independent centers. We split this dataset into training (n = 79), internal validation (n = 22), and external validation (n = 29) sets. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator-regression algorithm was used to select the top 10 important radiomic features of different regions (perioperative hemorrhage area [PRH], perioperative surround area [PRS], postoperative hemorrhage area [PSH], and postoperative edema area [PSE]). The black hole, island, blend, and swirl signs were evaluated. The top 10 radiomic features and 4 radiological features were combined to construct the k-nearest neighbor classification (KNN), logistic regression (LR), and support vector machine (SVM) models. Finally, the performance of the perioperative hemorrhage and postoperative edema machine learning models was validated using another independent dataset (n = 29). The primary outcome is mRS at 6 months after discharge. The mRS score greater than 3 defined as functional independence.ResultsA total of 12 models were built: PRH-KNN, PRH-LR, PRH-SVM, PRS-KNN, PRS-LR, PRS-SVM, PSH-KNN, PSH-LR, PSH-SVM, PSE-KNN, PSE-LR, and PSE-SVM, with corresponding areas under the curve (AUC) values in the internal validation set of 0.95, 0.91, 0.94, 0.52, 0.91, 0.54, 0.67, 0.9, 0.72, 0.92, 0.92, and 0.95, respectively. The AUC values of the PRH-KNN, PRH-LR, PRH-SVM, PSE-KNN, PSE-LR, and PSE-SVM in the external validation were 0.9, 0.92, 0.89, 0.91, 0.92, and 0.88, respectively.ConclusionThe model built based on computed tomography images of different regions accurately predicted the prognosis of patients with basal ganglia cerebral hemorrhage treated with neuroendoscopy. The models built based on the preoperative hematoma area and postoperative edema area showed excellent predictive efficacy in external verification, which has important clinical significance.

In the present study, the evolution of free water content in five different alkali-activated slag (AAS) systems was continuously monitored and compared using 1H low-field NMR. The alkali activators used were waterglass solutions with three different moduli (1.2, 1.4, and 1.6), sodium hydroxide solution, and sodium sulfate solution. The findings reveal that the type of activator significantly affected the dynamic changes in the relative free water content. Notably, an increase in free water content was observed in the early stages of hydration of all AAS systems except for those activated by sodium sulfate solution. Additionally, this study investigated the relationship between changes in free water content and hydration heat in the AAS systems, dividing the initial 24 h of AAS hydration into three stages. The results demonstrate that free water can serve as an effective probe for monitoring the hydration process in fresh AAS pastes, offering valuable insights alongside traditional thermal signals.

Highlights A unique atomic dispersed hetero-pair was successfully synthesized, consisting of Mo-Fe di-atoms anchored on N-doped carbon carrier. This strategy breaks the linear scaling relationships of electrocatalytic CO2 reduction by simultaneously regulating the *COOH adsorption energy and *CO desorption energy. The as-prepared MoFe–N–C exhibits excellent performance for CO2RR to CO with a high turnover frequency (TOF) of 3336.21 h−1, CO Faradaic efficiency (FECO) of 95.96% at − 0.60 V (versus RHE) and outstanding stability.

Abstract Reconfigurable modular microfluidics presents an opportunity for flexibly constructing prototypes of advanced microfluidic systems. Nevertheless, the strategy of directly integrating modules cannot easily fulfill the requirements of common applications, e.g., the incorporation of materials with biochemical compatibility and optical transparency and the execution of small batch production of disposable chips for laboratory trials and initial tests. Here, we propose a manufacturing scheme inspired by the movable type printing technique to realize 3D free-assembly modular microfluidics. Double-layer 3D microfluidic structures can be produced by replicating the assembled molds. A library of modularized molds is presented for flow control, droplet generation and manipulation and cell trapping and coculture. In addition, a variety of modularized attachments, including valves, light sources and microscopic cameras, have been developed with the capability to be mounted onto chips on demand. Microfluidic systems, including those for concentration gradient generation, droplet-based microfluidics, cell trapping and drug screening, are demonstrated. This scheme enables rapid prototyping of microfluidic systems and construction of on-chip research platforms, with the intent of achieving high efficiency of proof-of-concept tests and small batch manufacturing.

BackgroundPreoperative imaging for some unusual lesions in the sellar region can pose challenges in establishing a definitive diagnosis, impacting treatment strategies.MethodsThis study is a retrospective analysis of eight cases involving unusual sellar region lesions, all treated with endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery (EETS). We present the clinical, endocrine, and radiological characteristics, along with the outcomes of these cases.ResultsAmong the eight cases, the lesions were identified as follows: Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) in one case, Lymphocytic hypophysitis (LYH) in one case, Cavernous sinus hemangiomas (CSH) in one case, Ossifying fibroma (OF) in two cases; Sphenoid sinus mucocele (SSM) in one case, Pituitary abscess (PA) in two cases. All patients underwent successful EETS, and their diagnoses were confirmed through pathological examination. Postoperatively, all patients had uneventful recoveries without occurrences of diabetes insipidus or visual impairment.ConclusionOur study retrospectively analyzed eight unusual lesions of the sellar region. Some lesions exhibit specific imaging characteristics and clinical details that can aid in preoperative diagnosis and inform treatment strategies for these unusual sellar diseases.

Natural killer (NK) cells can migrate quickly to the tumor site to exert cytotoxic effects on tumors, and some chemokines, including CXCL8, CXCL10 or and CXCL12, can regulate the migration of NK cells. Activin A, a member of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) superfamily, is highly expressed in tumor tissues and involved in tumor development and immune cell activation. In this study, we focus on the effects of activin A on NK cell migration. In vitro, activin A induced NK cell migration and invasion, promoted cell polarization and inhibited cell adhesion. Moreover, activin A increased Ca2+, p-SMAD3 and p-AKT levels in NK cells. An AKT inhibitor and Ca2+ chelator partially blocked activin A-induced NK cell migration. In vivo, exogenous activin A increased tumor-infiltrating NK cells in NS-1 cell solid tumors and inhibited tumor growth, and blocking endogenous activin A with anti-activin A antibody reduced tumor-infiltrating NK cells in 4T-1 cell solid tumors. These results suggest that activin A induces NK cell migration through AKT signaling and calcium signaling and may enhance the antitumor effect of NK cells by increasing tumor-infiltrating NK cells.

As an environmentally friendly natural polymer, citric acid-modified chitosan (CAMC) can effectively regulate the hydration and exothermic processes of cement-based materials. However, the influence of CAMC on the macroscopic properties of concrete and the optimal dosage are still unclear. This work systematically investigates the effects of CAMC on the mixing performance, mechanical properties, shrinkage performance, and durability of concrete. The results indicated that CAMC has a thickening effect and prolongs the setting time of concrete. CAMC has a negative impact on the early strength of concrete, but it is beneficial for the development of the subsequent strength of concrete. With the increase in CAMC content, the self-shrinkage rate of concrete samples decreased from 86.82 to 14.52 με. However, the CAMC-0.6% sample eventually expanded, with an expansion value of 78.49 με. Moreover, the long-term drying shrinkage rate was decreased from 551.46 to 401.94 με. Furthermore, low-dose CAMC can significantly reduce the diffusion coefficient of chloride ions, improve the impermeability and density of concrete, and thereby enhance the freeze–thaw cycle resistance of concrete.

IntroductionPosterior communicating artery (Pcom) aneurysm has unique morphological characteristics and a high recurrence risk after coil embolization. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the recurrence-related morphology characteristics and hemodynamics.MethodA total of 20 patients with 22 Pcom aneurysms from 2019 to 2022 were retrospectively enrolled. The recurrence-related morphology parameters were measured. The hemodynamic parameters were simulated based on finite element analysis and computational fluid dynamics. The hemodynamic differences before and after treatment caused by different morphological features and the correlation between these parameters were analyzed.ResultSignificant greater postoperative inflow rate at the neck (Qinflow), relative Qinflow, inflow concentration index (ICI), and residual flow volume (RFV) were reported in the aneurysms with wide neck (>4 mm). Significant greater postoperative RFV were reported in the aneurysms with large size (>7 mm). Significant greater postoperative Qinflow, relative Qinflow, and ICI were reported in the aneurysms located on the larteral side of the curve. The bending angle of the internal carotid artery at the initiation of Pcom (αICA@PCOM) and neck diameter had moderate positive correlations with Qinflow, relative Qinflow, ICI, and RFV.ConclusionThe morphological factors, including aneurysm size, neck diameter, and αICA@PCOM, are correlated with the recurrence-inducing hemodynamic characteristics even after fully packing. This provides a theoretical basis for evaluating the risk of aneurysm recurrence and a reference for selecting a surgical plan.

Abstract Acoustofluidic separation of cells and particles is an emerging technology that integrates acoustics and microfluidics. In the last decade, this technology has attracted significant attention due to its biocompatible, contactless, and label-free nature. It has been widely validated in the separation of cells and submicron bioparticles and shows great potential in different biological and biomedical applications. This review first introduces the theories and mechanisms of acoustofluidic separation. Then, various applications of this technology in the separation of biological particles such as cells, viruses, biomolecules, and exosomes are summarized. Finally, we discuss the challenges and future prospects of this field.

The temperature stress caused by the large temperature difference is the main factor causing harmful cracks in large-volume concrete. The introduction of admixtures is beneficial to reduce the temperature difference inside and outside the large-volume concrete. This study investigated the mechanism of how citric acid-modified chitosan (CAMC) affects the hydration heat release process and hydration products of composite cementitious materials. Through methods such as hydration heat, X-ray diffraction (XRD), mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), the mechanism of how CAMC controls the hydration heat release process and hydration products of composite cementitious materials was revealed. The results show that the addition of CAMC delayed the hydration process of cementitious materials without affecting the type of hydration products but affected the content of each phase of hydration products. As the hydration process proceeded, the total porosity of all samples decreased, the volume of large pores decreased, and the volume of small pores increased. As the content of CAMC increased, the pore diameter of the hardened paste gradually became smaller, the proportion of large pores decreased, and the later hydration microstructure became more dense. The increase in CAMC dosage resulted in a decrease in the peak intensity of Q2 in the paste, indicating that Al atoms in Q2 (1Al) existed in the form of Alcoordination, which proves that CAMC reduced its hydration degree and delayed cement hydration.

Abstract Abiotic stresses such as salinity and drought greatly impact the growth and production of crops worldwide. Here, a shikimate kinase-like 2 (SKL2) gene was cloned from rice and characterized for its regulatory function in salinity and drought tolerance. OsSKL2 was localized in the chloroplast, and its transcripts were significantly induced by drought and salinity stress as well as H2O2 and abscisic acid (ABA) treatment. Meanwhile, overexpression of OsSKL2 in rice increased tolerance to salinity, drought and oxidative stress by increasing antioxidant enzyme activity, and reducing levels of H2O2, malondialdehyde, and relative electrolyte leakage. In contrast, RNAi-induced suppression of OsSKL2 increased sensitivity to stress treatment. Interestingly, overexpression of OsSKL2 also increased sensitivity to exogenous ABA, with an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. Moreover, OsSKL2 was found to physically interact with OsASR1, a well-known chaperone-like protein, which also exhibited positive roles in salt and drought tolerance. A reduction in ROS production was also observed in leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana showing transient co-expression of OsSKL2 with OsASR1. Taken together, these findings suggest that OsSKL2 together with OsASR1 act as important regulatory factors that confer salt and drought tolerance in rice via ROS scavenging.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a persistent and progressive respiratory disorder characterized by expiratory airflow limitation caused by chronic inflammation. Evidence has shown that COPD is correlated with neutrophil chemotaxis towards the airways, resulting in neutrophilic airway inflammation. This study aimed to evaluate neutrophil chemotaxis in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from COPD patients using a high-throughput nine-unit microfluidic platform and explore the possible correlations between neutrophil migratory dynamics and COPD development. The results showed that BALF from COPD patients induced stronger neutrophil chemotaxis than the Control BALF. Our results also showed that the chemotactic migration of neutrophils isolated from the blood of COPD patients was not significantly different from neutrophils from healthy controls, and neutrophil migration in three known chemoattractants (fMLP, IL-8, and LTB4) was not affected by glucocorticoid treatment. Moreover, comparison with clinical data showed a trend of a negative relationship between neutrophil migration chemotactic index (C. I.) in COPD BALF and patient’s spirometry data, suggesting a potential correlation between neutrophil migration and the severity of COPD. The present study demonstrated the feasibility of using the microfluidic platform to assess neutrophil chemotaxis in COPD pathogenesis, and it may serve as a potential marker for COPD evaluation in the future.

Abstract In this study, characteristics of charge injection under extra high electric field (above 100 kV/mm) in cross‐linked polyethylene (XLPE) were investigated by experiments of conduction current and space charge. The results show that current density from low electric field to sample breakdown corresponds to space charge limited current (SCLC) theory. More specifically, Schottky current is similar to experiment current before 100 kV/mm, while the J–E curve conforms to a modified SCLC theory after 100 kV/mm. Besides, the non‐linear coefficient of J–E curve from 100 kV/mm to extra high electric field is smaller than theoretical value, and the injection depth of space charge is restricted as the field becomes higher than 100 kV/mm, which may be caused by the negative differential mobility of charge. Driven by extra high electric field, charge collides with lattice of dielectric and scatters. As a result, mean free time of charge decreases and charge mobility is reduced with the increased field. Consequently, considering the decrease in charge mobility, a mobility‐limited charge injection equation is proposed, and the validity of the proposed equation under extra high electric field is demonstrated by space charge simulation.

Zinc oxide is a popular semiconductor used in catalysts due to its wide bandgap and high exciton binding energy. However, the photocatalytic performance of ZnO was compromised by its insufficient electron-hole separation efficiency and electron transfer rate. Herein, ZnO-reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composite solid catalyst was synthesized by one-step electrodeposition method on FTO substrate using lithium perchlorate (LiClO4) as the supporting electrolyte. Scanning electron microscopy, Raman, Fourier Transform Infrared, and XRD characterizations confirmed the deposition of ZnO and the reduction of graphene oxide Owing to the cooperative effect between rGO and ZnO, the as-prepared ZnO-rGO composites show much enhanced photocatalytic degradation ability compared with pure ZnO nanorods. By optimizing the conditions of electrodeposition of ZnO-rGO composites, the degradation rate of methylene blue can reach 99.1% within 120 min. Thus, the simple preparation and the excellent performance could endow the ZnO-rGO composites with promising application in practical dye-polluted water treatment.

Summary: Directional migration initiated at the wound edge leads epithelia to migrate in wound healing. How such coherent migration is achieved is not well understood. Here, we used electric fields to induce robust migration of sheets of human keratinocytes and developed an in silico model to characterize initiation and propagation of epithelial collective migration. Electric fields initiate an increase in migration directionality and speed at the leading edge. The increases propagate across the epithelial sheets, resulting in directional migration of cell sheets as coherent units. Both the experimental and in silico models demonstrated vector-like integration of the electric and default directional cues at free edge in space and time. The resultant collective migration is consistent in experiments and modeling, both qualitatively and quantitatively. The keratinocyte model thus faithfully reflects key features of epithelial migration as a coherent tissue in vivo, e.g. that leading cells lead, and that epithelium maintains cell-cell junction.

Abstract Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a two-step therapeutic process that utilizes Boron-10 in combination with low energy neutrons to effectively eliminate targeted cells. This therapy is primarily used for difficult to treat head and neck carcinomas; recent advances have expanded this method to cover a broader range of carcinomas. However, it still remains an unconventional therapy where one of the barriers for widespread adoption is the adequate delivery of Boron-10 to target cells. In an effort to address this issue, we examined a unique nanoparticle drug delivery system based on a highly stable and modular proteinaceous nanotube. Initially, we confirmed and structurally analyzed ortho-carborane binding into the cavities of the nanotube. The high ratio of Boron to proteinaceous mass and excellent thermal stability suggest the nanotube system as a suitable candidate for drug delivery into cancer cells. The full physicochemical characterization of the nanotube then allowed for further mechanistic molecular dynamic studies of the ortho-carborane uptake and calculations of corresponding energy profiles. Visualization of the binding event highlighted the protein dynamics and the importance of the interhelical channel formation to allow movement of the boron cluster into the nanotube. Additionally, cell assays showed that the nanotube can penetrate outer membranes of cancer cells followed by localization around the cells’ nuclei. This work uses an integrative approach combining experimental data from structural, molecular dynamics simulations and biological experiments to thoroughly present an alternative drug delivery device for BNCT which offers additional benefits over current delivery methods.

Abstract Form‐wound windings in electric machines designed for electric aircraft propulsion face reliability challenges due to the severe operating environment, such as high temperature and low pressure. This study proposes a forewarning method for insulation condition monitoring of form‐wound windings based on partial discharge (PD) and deep learning neural network. Three PD features are extracted from the PD profile, which provides information about physics‐of‐failure and reflects the degree of insulation degradation. An algorithm fusion extracted from auto‐encoder and long short‐term recurrent neural network is proposed to synthesize one failure precursor from these three features and make multi‐time‐step prediction through historical data to provide forewarning. An electrical and thermal accelerated ageing test is performed on the form‐wound windings at 0.2 atm to simulate working environment of electric aircraft. The proposed method is validated on the accelerated ageing dataset and shows better prediction accuracy than some existing time‐series prediction methods, indicating the advantages of the proposed method. Moreover, an on‐line hardware setup using a deep learning processor is recommended to implement the forewarning method. The proposed approach has the potential to be widely applied to other insulation systems and contribute to work on condition monitoring.

Repeated exposure to low-level blast overpressures can produce biological changes and clinical sequelae that resemble mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). While recent efforts have revealed several protein biomarkers for axonal injury during repetitive blast exposure, this study aims to explore potential small molecule biomarkers of brain injury during repeated blast exposure. This study evaluated a panel of ten small molecule metabolites involved in neurotransmission, oxidative stress, and energy metabolism in the urine and serum of military personnel (n = 27) conducting breacher training with repeated exposure to low-level blasts. The metabolites were analyzed using HPLC—tandem mass spectrometry, and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for statistical analysis to compare the levels of pre-blast and post-blast exposures. Urinary levels of homovanillic acid (p < 0.0001), linoleic acid (p = 0.0030), glutamate (p = 0.0027), and serum N-acetylaspartic acid (p = 0.0006) were found to be significantly altered following repeated blast exposure. Homovanillic acid concentration decreased continuously with subsequent repeat exposure. These results suggest that repeated low-level blast exposures can produce measurable changes in urine and serum metabolites that may aid in identifying individuals at increased risk of sustaining a TBI. Larger clinical studies are needed to extend the generalizability of these findings.

Abstract In this paper, the effect of moisture on the charge behaviour in oil‐impregnated pressboard is analysed based on the characteristics of the interface and the bulk. Space charge behaviour and infrared spectra are acquired from a sample with a high moisture content of 1.92% and another with low moisture content of 0.13%. The results show that a greater number of hydrogen bonds form in the high‐moisture sample. The threshold fields of charge injection are 1 and 0.6 kV/mm in the low‐ and high‐moisture samples, respectively. The dynamic charge transport in bulk is significantly accelerated by moisture. The drop in the injection barrier at the interface and the accelerated transport of charge in bulk in the high‐moisture sample may be associated with the mediating effect of a water layer at the interface and the lower trap energy in bulk caused by the hydrogen bonds, respectively. The combined changes in the interface and the bulk led to the dominant position of negative charges inside the high‐moisture sample, regardless of the distribution area or the charge amount.

Immune surveillance is dependent on lymphocyte migration and targeted recruitment. This can involve different modes of cell motility ranging from random walk to highly directional environment-guided migration driven by chemotaxis. This study protocol describes a flow-based microfluidic device to perform quantitative multiplex cell migration assays with the potential to investigate in real time the migratory response of T cells at the population or single-cell level. The device also allows for subsequent in situ fixation and direct fluorescence analysis of the cells in the microchannel.

Abstract The unprecedented global COVID‐19 pandemic strongly argues the critical need for innovative diagnostic tools meeting the requirement of test speed, accuracy, and throughput. Owing to the integration of optics and microfluidics technologies, optofluidic technology enables highly precise flow manipulation and highly sensitive signal detection at the microscale, thus offering the promising potential for developing biodiagnostic applications. Research toward this direction is fast growing into an emerging area. In this paper, we give an overview of emerging optofluidic technologies for biodiagnostic applications with the focus on three common types of biomarkers: nucleic acid, protein, and cell. We conclude by discussing the challenges, opportunities, and future perspectives of this field.

In this study, the space charge behavior in ethylene propylene rubber (EPR) under a 50-Hz AC field is studied based on the variation of space charge response, FTIR spectra and impurity contents inside EPR with thermal treatment. The space charge was detected with the pulsed electroacoustic (PEA) method and the phase shift of detecting pulse under 50 Hz AC field was realized according to the automatic equal phase shift (AEPS) principle. The results show three main types of impurities in untreated EPR. Three distinct regions of space charge distribution are seen in untreated EPR under a 50-Hz AC field. The mean phase density of space charge ρθ is increased with the enhancement of the applied field from 15 to 61 kV/mm. The maximum electric field distortion rate of untreated EPR tends to rise first and then decrease, ranging from 6.65% to 31.87%. The impurity content and the ρθ decreased significantly for EPR thermal treated at 150 °C for 18 h. Corresponding, the maximum electric field distortion rate is effectively reduced to 0.66%. Finally, the space charge source and migration process are speculated based on the diffusion trend of the space charge isodensity line and the migration direction of various charges under the electric field.

High salinity seriously affects crop growth and yield. Abscisic acid-, stress-, and ripening-induced (ASR) proteins play an important role in plant responses to multiple abiotic stresses. In this study, we identified a new salt-induced ASR gene in rice (OsASR6) and functionally characterized its role in mediating salt tolerance. Transcript levels of OsASR6 were upregulated under salinity stress, H2O2 and abscisic acid (ABA) treatments. Nuclear and cytoplasmic localization of the OsASR6 protein were confirmed. Meanwhile, a transactivation activity assay in yeast demonstrated no self-activation ability. Furthermore, transgenic rice plants overexpressing OsASR6 showed enhanced salt and oxidative stress tolerance as a result of reductions in H2O2, malondialdehyde (MDA), Na/K and relative electrolyte leakage. In contrast, OsASR6 RNAi transgenic lines showed opposite results. A higher ABA content was also measured in the OsASR6 overexpressing lines compared with the control. Moreover, OsNCED1, a key enzyme of ABA biosynthesis, was found to interact with OsASR6. Collectively, these results suggest that OsASR6 serves primarily as a functional protein, enhancing tolerance to salt stress, representing a candidate gene for genetic manipulation of new salinity-resistant lines in rice.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are important symbiotic microorganisms in soil that engage in symbiotic relationships with legumes, resulting in mycorrhizal symbiosis. Establishment of strong symbiotic relationships between AMF and legumes promotes the absorption of nitrogen by plants. Ammonium nitrogen can be directly utilised by plants following ammonium transport, but there are few reports on ammonium transporters (AMTs) promoting ammonium nitrogen transport during AM symbiosis. Lotus japonicus is a typical legume model plant that hosts AMF. In this study, we analysed the characteristics of the Lotus japonicus ammonium transporter LjAMT2;2, and found that it is a typical ammonium transporter with mycorrhizal-induced and ammonium nitrogen transport-related cis-acting elements in its promoter region. LjAMT2;2 facilitated ammonium transfer in yeast mutant supplement experiments. In the presence of different nitrogen concentrations, the LjAMT2;2 gene was significantly upregulated following inoculation with AMF, and induced by low nitrogen. Overexpression of LjAMT2;2 increased the absorption of ammonium nitrogen, resulting in doubling of nitrogen content in leaves and roots, thus alleviating nitrogen stress and promoting plant growth.

Starch directly determines the grain yield and quality. The key enzymes participating in the process of starch synthesis have been cloned and characterized. Nevertheless, the regulatory mechanisms of starch synthesis remain unclear. In this study, we identified a novel starch regulatory gene, ZmCBM48-1, which contained a carbohydrate-binding module 48 (CBM48) domain. ZmCBM48-1 was highly expressed in the maize endosperm and was localized in the plastids. Compared with the wild type lines, the overexpression of ZmCBM48-1 in rice altered the grain size and 1000-grain weight, increased the starch content, and decreased the soluble sugar content. Additionally, the transgenic rice seeds exhibited an alterant endosperm cell shape and starch structure. Meanwhile, the physicochemical characteristics (gelatinization properties) of starch were influenced in the transgenic lines of the endosperm compared with the wild type seeds. Furthermore, ZmCBM48-1 played a positive regulatory role in the starch synthesis pathway by up-regulating several starch synthesis-related genes. Collectively, the results presented here suggest that ZmCBM48-1 acts as a key regulatory factor in starch synthesis, and could be helpful for devising strategies for modulating starch production for a high yield and good quality in maize endosperm.

High voltage power cables play a critical role in global electricity transmission and distribution. The currently used power cables cannot fulfil the green and sustainable requirement of modern society because of the thermoset nature of cable insulation and shields. This study is aimed at developing thermoplastic shields for high voltage power cable, which is one bottleneck restricting the development of environmental-friendly cables. Using carbon black (CB) as the main conductive component and a small amount of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) or graphene as the second filler, highly conductive polypropylene based composite materials were prepared for potential shield applications. It was found that, at a fixed conductive filler loading, the replacement of a small amount CB by CNTs can significantly enhance the electrical conductivity and suppress its temperature dependence. However, when CB was replaced by graphene, only limited enhancement of electrical conductivity could be achieved and the electrical conductivity is still highly dependent on temperature. Dissipative particle dynamics simulations demonstrated that the enhanced conduction property in the CNTs-containing composites could be understood by the shorter average distance between CB and CNTs. Finally, the coordination between the newly developed conductive composites and the environmental-friendly thermoplastic polypropylene insulation was evaluated via high voltage direct current measurements, and the results revealed that the CNTs-containing composites showed excellent suppression effect on the space charge injection and accumulation in the insulation. This research paved a new way for developing environmental-friendly high voltage power cable shields.

In this paper, a modified algorithm is introduced to explain the process of charge formation in water tree aged cable insulation with respect to the dielectric properties of water tree areas and the cylindrical geometries of cable insulation. The algorithm combined with the classic bipolar charge transport model represents a novel attempt to simulate charge behavior in insulation with water tree. The finite-difference method is employed to solve for the electric field in the presence of space charge, and the finite-volume method is employed to solve the charge continuity equation. The dielectric parameters in this paper are not instantaneous near the interface but are functions of the radius. To overcome the Courant-Friedrichs-Lewy condition, the Crank-Nicolson method is used to separate the governing equations in the time domain. To validate the accuracy of the model, this paper also presents the space charge behavior in water tree aged cross-linked polyethylene cable samples measured by the full-scale pulsed electro-acoustic method. The homocharge is injected under a high electric field. During the depolarization process, the shallow trap charge gradually disappears, whereas the homocharge continues to form a positive peak signal. Simulations show that the homocharge accumulates in the tip of the water tree because the dielectric characteristics of the material change during the water-aging process. The model describes the behavior of space charge in the water tree aged insulation of cylindrical geometries. Improvements will be needed in the following research.

Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) and reference data were used to determine the amylose contents of single maize seeds to enable rapid, effective selection of individual seeds with desired traits. To predict the amylose contents of a single seed, a total of 1069 (865 as calibration set, 204 as validation set) single seeds representing 120 maize varieties were analyzed using chemical methods and performed calibration and external validation of the 150 single seeds set in parallel. Compared to various spectral pretreatments, the regression of partial least squares (PLS) with mathematical treatment of Harmonization showed the final optimization. The single-seed amylose contents showed the root mean square error of calibration (RMSEC) of 2.899, coefficient of determination for calibration (R2) of 0.902, and root mean square error of validation (RMSEV) of 2.948. In external validations, the coefficient of determination in cross-validation (r2), root mean square error of the prediction (RMSEP) and ratio of the standard deviation to SEP (RPD) were 0.892, 2.975 and 3.086 in the range of 20–30%, respectively. Therefore, NIRS will be helpful to breeders for determining the amylose contents of single-grain maize.

Oxidative stress may contribute to the pathology of many diseases, and endogenous thiols, especially glutathione (GSH) and its metabolites, play essential roles in the maintenance of normal redox status. Understanding how these metabolites change in response to oxidative insult can provide key insights into potential methods of prevention and treatment. Most existing methodologies focus only on the GSH/GSH disulfide (GSSG) redox couple, but GSH regulation is highly complex and depends on several pathways with multiple redox-active sulfur-containing species. In order to more fully characterize thiol redox status in response to oxidative insult, a high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method was developed to simultaneously determine seven sulfur-containing metabolites, generating a panel that systematically examines several pathways involved in thiol metabolism and oxidative stress responses. The sensitivity (LOQ as low as 0.01 ng/mL), accuracy (88–126% spike recovery), and precision (≤12% RSD) were comparable or superior to those of existing methods. Additionally, the method was used to compare the baseline thiol profiles and oxidative stress responses of cell lines derived from different tissues. The results revealed a previously unreported response to oxidative stress in lens epithelial (B3) cells, which may be exploited as a new therapeutic target for oxidative-stress-related ocular diseases. Further application of this method may uncover new pathways involved in oxidative-stress-related diseases and endogenous defense mechanisms.

Abstract Neutrophil trafficking in tissues critically regulates the body’s immune response. Neutrophil migration can either play a protective role in host defense or cause health problems. Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) is a known biomarker for chronic kidney disease (CKD) and was recently shown to impair neutrophil arrest on endothelium and transendothelial migration. In the present study, we further examined the effect of FGF23 on human blood neutrophil chemotaxis using two new microfluidic devices. Our results showed that chemotaxis of FGF23 pre-treated neutrophils to a fMLP gradient, in the presence or absence of a uniform FGF23 background, is quantitatively lower compared to the control cells. This effect is accompanied with a stronger drifting of FGF23 pre-treated cells along the flow. However, without the FGF23 pre-treatment, the FGF23 background only reduces chemotaxis of transmigrated cells through the thin barrier channel to the fMLP gradient. The effect of FGF23 on neutrophil migration and the correlation between multiple cell migration parameters are further revealed by chemotactic entropy and principle component analysis. Collectively, these results revealed the effect of FGF23 on weakening neutrophil chemotaxis, which shed light on FGF23 mediated neutrophil migration with direct disease relevance such as CKD.

Periodic grounded dc trees in cross-linked polyethylene under various dc prestressing times are investigated in the temperature range of 20 °C-80 °C. Space charge behaviors in the samples during dc prestressing are simulated based on the bipolar charge transport model. The results reveal that the dc prestressing time has different effects on the tree growth at different temperatures, which is because that the space charge behavior in the sample during dc prestressing is closely related to the dc prestressing time and the temperature, and it has both promotion effect and impedance effect on the tree growth. The moderate promotion effect and impedance effect under 160 s dc prestressing at 20 °C, and the strongest promotion effect and the weakest impedance effect under 240 s dc prestressing at 40 °C result in the largest tree lengths, widths, and accumulated damages under each corresponding condition. At 60 °C and 80 °C, the lengths, widths, and accumulated damages are the largest under 240 s dc prestressing, smaller under 80 s dc prestressing, and the smallest under 160 s dc prestressing, and the reason is believed to be the growth rates reversal during the tree growth. Also it is found that the dc prestressing time has significant effects on the tree shape at 60 °C and 80 °C, which is believed to be related to the wider charge diffusion range under longer dc prestressing time. The electrical tree characteristics are discussed in detail combined with the space charge behaviors.

Starch synthesis is a complex process that influences crop yield and grain quality in maize. Many key enzymes have been identified in starch biosynthesis; however, the regulatory mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we identified a DOF family gene, ZmDOF36, through transcriptome sequencing analysis. Real-time PCR indicated that ZmDOF36 was highly expressed in maize endosperm, with lower expression in leaves and tassels. ZmDOF36 is a typical DOF transcription factor (TF) that is localized to the nucleus and possesses transcriptional activation activity, and its transactivation domain is located in the C-terminus (amino acids 227–351). Overexpression of ZmDOF36 can increase starch content and decrease the contents of soluble sugars and reducing sugars. In addition, abnormal starch structure in transgenic maize was also observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, the expression levels of starch synthesis-related genes were up-regulated in ZmDOF36-expressing transgenic maize. ZmDOF36 was also shown to bind directly to the promoters of six starch biosynthesis genes, ZmAGPS1a, ZmAGPL1, ZmGBSSI, ZmSSIIa, ZmISA1, and ZmISA3 in yeast one-hybrid assays. Transient expression assays showed that ZmDOF36 can activate the expression of ZmGBSSI and ZmISA1 in tobacco leaves. Collectively, the results presented here suggest that ZmDOF36 acts as an important regulatory factor in starch synthesis, and could be helpful in devising strategies for modulating starch production in maize endosperm.

Micron droplet deposition onto a wall in an impinging jet is important for various applications like spray cooling, coating, fuel injection, and erosion. The impinging process is featured by abrupt velocity changes and thus complicated behaviors of the droplets. Either modeling or experiment for the droplet behaviors is still challenging. This study conducted numerical modeling and compared with an existing experiment in which concentric dual-ring deposition patterns of micron droplets were observed on the impinging plate. The modeling fully took into account of the droplet motion in the turbulent flow, the collision between the droplets and the plate, as well as the collision, that is, agglomeration among droplets. Different turbulence models, that is, the v 2 − f model, standard k–ε model, and Reynolds stress model, were compared. The results show that the k–ε model failed to capture the turbulent flow structures and overpredicted the turbulent fluctuations near the wall. Reynolds stress model had a good performance in flow field simulation but still failed to reproduce the dual-ring deposition pattern. Only the v 2 − f model reproduced the dual-ring pattern when coupled with droplet collision models. The results echoed the excellent performance of the v 2 − f model in the heat transfer calculation for the impinging problems. The agglomeration among droplets has insignificant influence on the deposition.

Red-osier dogwood, a native species of flowering plant in North America, has been reported to have anti-oxidative properties because of abundant phenolic compounds; this could be promising as a functional food or a feed additive. In the present study, an oxidative damage model using 1.0 mM hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in Caco-2 cells was established to evaluate the antioxidative effects of red-osier dogwood extracts (RDE). The results showed that 1.0 mM H2O2 pre-exposure for 3 h significantly decreased cell viability, and increased interleukin 8 (IL-8) secretion and the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level. Caco-2 cells were treated with 100 µg/mL RDE for 24 h after pre-exposure to H2O2. It was found that the decreased cell viability caused by H2O2 was significantly restored by a subsequent 100 µg/mL RDE treatment. Furthermore, the IL-8 secretion and ROS level were significantly blocked by RDE, accompanied by the enhanced gene expression of hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and the enhanced protein expression of the nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf-2). Moreover, RDE improved barrier functions in Caco-2 cells. Using RDE reduced the diffusion of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran and increased the transepithelial resistance (TEER) value. The relative mRNA level of tight junction claudin-1, claudin-3, and occludin was elevated by RDE. These extracts also repaired the integrity of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) damaged by H2O2 and increased the protein expressions of ZO-1 and claudin-3 in the H2O2-pretreated cells. These results illustrated that RDE reduced the ROS level and enhanced the barrier function in oxidative-damaged epithelial cells.

Abscisic acid (ABA)-, stress-, and ripening-induced (ASR) proteins are reported to be involved in drought stress responses. However, the function of maize ASR genes in enhancing drought tolerance is not known. Here, nine maize ASR members were cloned, and the molecular features of these genes were analyzed. Phenotype results of overexpression of maize ZmASR3 gene in Arabidopsis showed lower malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and higher relative water content (RWC) and proline content than the wild type under drought conditions, demonstrating that ZmASR3 can improve drought tolerance. Further experiments showed that ZmASR3-overexpressing transgenic lines displayed increased stomatal closure and reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation by increasing the enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) under drought conditions. Moreover, overexpression of ZmASR3 in Arabidopsis increased ABA content and reduced sensitivity to exogenous ABA in both the germination and post-germination stages. In addition, the ROS-related, stress-responsive, and ABA-dependent pathway genes were activated in transgenic lines under drought stress. Taken together, these results suggest that ZmASR3 acts as a positive regulator of drought tolerance in plants.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer are two leading causes of death worldwide. CVD and cancer share risk factors such as obesity and diabetes mellitus and have common diagnostic biomarkers such as interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein. Thus, timely and accurate diagnosis of these two correlated diseases is of high interest to both the research and healthcare communities. Most conventional methods for CVD and cancer biomarker detection such as microwell plate-based immunoassay and polymerase chain reaction often suffer from high costs, low test speeds, and complicated procedures. Recently, lab-on-a-chip (LoC)-based platforms have been increasingly developed for CVD and cancer biomarker sensing and analysis using various molecular and cell-based diagnostic biomarkers. These new platforms not only enable better sample preparation, chemical manipulation and reaction, high-throughput and portability, but also provide attractive features such as label-free detection and improved sensitivity due to the integration of various novel detection techniques. These features effectively improve the diagnostic test speed and simplify the detection procedure. In addition, microfluidic cell assays and organ-on-chip models offer new potential approaches for CVD and cancer diagnosis. Here we provide a mini-review focusing on recent development of LoC-based methods for CVD and cancer diagnostic biomarker measurements, and our perspectives of the challenges, opportunities and future directions.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a common lung disease characterized by breathing difficulty as a consequence of narrowed airways. Previous studies have shown that COPD is correlated with neutrophil infiltration into the airways through chemotactic migration. However, whether neutrophil chemotaxis can be used to characterize and diagnose COPD is not well established. In the present study, we developed a microfluidic platform for evaluating neutrophil chemotaxis to sputum samples from COPD patients. Our results show increased neutrophil chemotaxis to COPD sputum compared to control sputum from healthy individuals. The level of COPD sputum induced neutrophil chemotaxis was correlated with the patient's spirometry data. The cell morphology of neutrophils in a COPD sputum gradient is similar to the morphology displayed by neutrophils exposed to an IL-8 gradient, but not a fMLP gradient. In competing gradients of COPD sputum and fMLP, neutrophils chemotaxis and cell morphology are dominated by fMLP.

The experiment studies the effect of baicalin and baicalein on mice U14 cervical cancer and its pharmacokinetics in mice. By using different mouse models of cancer treatment program administered and uptake kinetics experiments, tissue distribution experiment, excretion, and metabolism in experimental experiments, we found that baicalin and baicalein can improve immunity and the ability of antioxidation and inhibit the growth of tumor. The absorption of intestinal drug takes place in intestinal tract. Tissue distribution was ideal. Because of the ideal drug distribution, the liver and kidney were protected. Drug was mainly excreted through the feces and bile excretion.