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The reliability of corroded reinforced concrete (RC) structures relies on the accurate minimum cross-sectional area of corroded rebar. In this study, the accurate morphologies and self-magnetic flux leakage (SMFL) field strengths of twenty-eight non-uniformly corroded rebars were obtained using 3D structural light scanning and micromagnetic detection technologies, based on which three indices of the SMFL field variation ratio dH, the corrosion non-uniformity degree d S n , and the cross-sectional area ratio K0.25 are proposed. The statistical results show that the probability densities of d S n and K0.25 obey the Weibull distribution and Gamma distribution at the 95% confidence level, respectively, and their distribution parameters are linearly or inversely proportional to dH. The probability density distribution of the minimum cross-sectional area of corroded rebar can be determined using indices d S n and K0.25, based on which a feasible SMFL-based reliability assessment method of corroded RC structures is proposed. The case study of a real specific corroded RC beam shows that the reliability assessment error of the SMFL-based method is only 1.2%, which is much lower than the 20.7% error of the existing method. This SMFL-based method provides a novel idea that can automatically and accurately assess the effect of rebars' corrosion non-uniformity on the reliability of specific in-serviceRC structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. The bromodomain-containing 4 (BRD4) is a member of the bromodomain and extra terminal domain (BET) family, which is an important epigenetic reader. It is currently a promising oncology target. In some tumors, BET bromodomain inhibitors have demonstrated promising results. Proteolysis-targeting methods (PROTAC), which rapidly and effectively degrade BRD4, have displayed considerable potential in the treatment of tumors in recent years. The purpose of this study is to examine the potential impact of BRD4 PROTAC compounds ARV-825 on oncogene BRD4-NUT fused protein in NUT carcinoma. Methods. The effectiveness of ARV-825 was evaluated at the cellular level using the cell counting kit 8 test, wound healing, cell transfection, western blotting analysis, and RNA sequencing. The effectiveness of ARV-825 was also examined in vivo using a xenograft model. Results. The BRD4-NUT fusion gene was overexpressed in 3T3 cells, and the pathogenic fusion gene was simulated. The results showed that the overexpression of BRD4-NUT could promote the proliferation and migration of 3T3 cells, but the expression of BRD4 protein was degraded after the addition of the novel cereblon-based PROTAC compound ARV-825 against BRD4, resulting in inhibition of BRD4-NUT 3T3 cell proliferation and migration. Further RNA-seq analysis showed that overexpression of BRD4-NUT was accompanied by increased expression of gene (e.g., Myc, E2F, TRAFs, Wnt, Gadd45g, and Sox6) with significantly enriched pathway (e.g., small cell lung cancer, NF-kappa B signaling pathway, and breast cancer), promoted cell cycle from G 1 phase to S phase, and increased cell proliferation and migration, activated the antiapoptosisi signal, led to abnormal cell growth, and ultimately led to tumorigenesis. The addition of ARV-825 effectively rescued this process and effectively inhibited cell vitality, proliferation, and migration. In vivo studies demonstrated that treatment with ARV-825 greatly suppressed tumor growth without causing harmful side effects and downregulated the BRD4-NUT expression level. Conclusion. Through the induction of BRD4 protein degradation, ARV-825 can successfully limit BRD4-NUT 3T3 cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. These findings suggested that the BRD4 inhibitor ARV-825 would be an effective therapeutic strategy for treating NUT carcinoma that with the genetic feature of BRD4-NUT fusion event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to UV-B radiation, an intrinsic component of solar light, is detrimental to all living organisms as chromophore units of DNA, RNA and proteins readily absorb high-energy photons. Indirect damage to the same molecules and lipids is mediated by elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, a side effect of exposure to UV-B stress. To protect themselves from UV-B radiation, plants produce phytochemical sunscreens, among which flavonoids have shown to be particularly effective. The core aglycone of flavonoid molecules is subjected to chemical decoration, such as glycosylation and acylation, further improving sunscreen properties. In particular, acylation, which adds a phenolic ring to flavonoid molecules, enhances the spectral absorption of UV-A and UV-B rays, providing to this class of compounds exceptional shielding power. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed the responses to UV-B radiation in four Brassicaceae species, including Arabidopsis thaliana, Brassica napus, Brassica oleracea, and Brassica rapa. Our study revealed a complete reprogramming of the central metabolic pathway in response to UV-B radiation characterized by increased production of functional precursors of specialized metabolites with UV-B shielding properties, indicating a targeted effort of plant metabolism to provide increased protection. The analysis of specialized metabolites and transcripts revealed the activation of the phenylpropanoid–acetate pathway, leading to the production of specific classes of flavonoids and a cross-species increase in phenylacylated-flavonoid glucosides with synapoyl glycoside decorations. Interestingly, our analysis also revealed that acyltransferase genes of the class of serine carboxypeptidase-like (SCPLs) proteins are costitutively expressed, but downregulated in response to UV-B radiation, possibly independently of the ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 (HY5) signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study employs the 2012 to 2016 commuting flows of Florida to reexamine excess commuting (EC) through multiscale complex network analysis. The results reveal significant discrepancies in urban connectivity, hierarchy, and labor market geography between the actual (ACN) and optimal commuting networks (OCN). Compared to ACN, OCN illustrates an overly simplified and isolated polycentric commuting system. This is evident through reduced overall network connectivity, a restructured centrality distribution pattern, and fragmented community divisions. Consequently, these results underscore the importance of delving into the economic implications of commuting within the conventional EC framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to uneven environmental monitoring site distribution, there are significant spatial data gaps for concentrations of ambient fine particles with diameters ≤ 2.5 µm (PM2.5) obtained using traditional monitoring methods. Satellite products are an alternative data source for locations where monitoring sites are unavailable. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aerosol optical depth (AOD) product has been widely used in PM2.5 assessment for years; however, it has obvious data gaps in winter. Here, the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) AOD was applied to supplement MODIS AOD data to obtain a fused AOD dataset. A three-stage model consisting of a corrected AOD model, mixed effects model, and geographically weighted regression model was developed and used with meteorological and vegetation factors to estimate PM2.5. Results showed overall model fitting by cross-validation (CV) with an R2 of 0.92, mean absolute error of 5.72 µg/m3, and root mean square error of 7.15 µg/m3. The combination of MODIS AOD and VIIRS AOD was a suitable method for enhancing AOD coverage. The CV R2 value of the three-stage model (0.92) was higher than that of the two-stage model (0.9). Hence, the three-stage model could achieve a better fit in estimating PM2.5 on a regional scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perovskite CsPbBr3 possesses high photovoltaic capability but limited application on account of the toxicity of lead. Sn-doped all-inorganic perovskites CsPbxSn1−xBr3 are designed in order to achieve comprehensive high photovoltaic performance with low toxicity, which is under great influence of chemical compositions and defects. In this paper, the electronic structures and other photovoltaic-related properties of CsPbBr3 and CsSnBr3 are studied by using first-principles method with different functionals. The calculation results show that CsSnBr3 has a lower bandgap than that of CsPbBr3. The transition dipole moment of CsPbBr3 is more even, and the effective masses of electrons and holes are slightly larger than those of CsSnBr3. By calculating the defect formation energies, the types and properties of intrinsic defects of these two crystals are compared, and their effects on photovoltaic-related properties are analyzed. Different proportions of disordered CsPbxSn1−xBr3 crystals constructed by special Quasirandom structure (SQS) method are designed to observe the effect of Sn contents on the electronic structure, and effective masses of electrons and holes of CsPbBr3, and CsPb0.50(Ba/Ca)0.50Br3 are also calculated as a reference. It has been proved that the presence of Sn affects the orbital composition at the valence band maximum of the crystal, making Sn-5s orbitals participate in the formation of valence band maximum, which raises the energy of crystal valence band maximum and reduces the bandgap of the system. The doping of Sn decreases the toxicity of perovskite on the premise of considering the power conversion efficiency, which may provide a theoretical basis for the development of CsPbxSn1−xBr3 photovoltaic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) is a metabolic enzyme that catalyzes the methylation of nicotinamide (NAM) to generate 1-methyl nicotinamide (MNAM). Although previous studies have shown that NNMT is frequently dysregulated to promote the onset and progression of many malignancies, its expression profile, prognostic value and function in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) are still unknown. Methods: We used untargeted metabolomics based on mass spectrometry to analyze potential metabolite differences between tumors and matched adjacent normal tissues in 40 OSCC patients. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to analyze the NNMT expression profile in OSCC, and the diagnostic and prognostic values of NNMT were evaluated. Next, qPCR and Western blot were used to compare the expression of NNMT in five OSCC cell lines. Stable transfected cell lines were constructed, and functional experiments were carried out to elucidate the effects of NNMT on the proliferation and migration of OSCC cells. Finally, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data to investigate the potential functional mechanisms of NNMT in OSCC. Results: We found that the nicotinamide metabolic pathway was abnormally activated in OSCC tumor tissues compared with normal tissues. NNMT was expressed ubiquitously in tumor cells (TCs) and fibroblast-like cells (FLCs) but was absent in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). OSCC patients with highly expressed NNMT in TCs had higher risk of lymph node metastasis and showed a worse pattern of invasion (POI). Moreover, patients with highly expressed NNMT were also susceptible to postoperative recurrence. Highly expressed NNMT can independently predict shorter disease-free survival and recurrence-free survival. Functionally, we demonstrated that the ectopic expression of NNMT promoted OSCC tumor cell proliferation and migration in vitro. Conversely, silencing exerted significantly opposite effects in vitro. In addition, GSEA showed that highly expressed NNMT was mainly enriched in the epithelial–mesenchymal transformation (EMT) pathway, which displayed a significant positive correlation with the six classic EMT markers. Conclusions: Our study uncovered that NNMT may be a critical regulator of EMT in OSCC and may serve as a prognostic biomarker for OSCC patients. These findings might provide novel insights for future research in NNMT-targeted OSCC metastasis and recurrence therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel polysaccharide (MSP-1) was isolated from the fruiting body of Morchella sextelata and purified using DEAE-52 and Sephadex G-75. The molecular weight of MSP-1 was 1.17 × 104 Da, as detected by HPLC analysis. The monosaccharide composition of MSP-1 was mannose and glucose at a ratio of 1.00: 1.25. Methylation and NMR results revealed that the backbone of MSP-1 was composed of →4)- β -D-Man p -(1→, →4)- β -D-Glc p -(1→, →4)- α -D-Glc p -(1→, and →4, 6)- α -D-Glc p -(1→. SEM images of MSP-1 presented a dense network structure with porous characterizations. The immunomodulatory activities of MSP-1 were evaluated using RAW264.7 cells, and the results showed that MSP-1 promoted proliferative and phagocytic activity and increased the production of NO, TNF- α and IL-6. These results indicated that MSP-1 exhibited significant immunomodulatory activities. • A novel heteropolysaccharide (MSP-1) was purified from the fruiting body of Morchella sextelata. • The complete structure of M. sextelata polysaccharide was exhibited for the first time in the present study. • The 3D structure of MSP-1 presented a dense network structure with porous characterizations. • MSP-1 exhibited strong immunomodulatory activities by promoting proliferative and phagocytic activity and obviously increasing the production of NO, TNF- α and IL-6 on RAW264.7 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

EBV-encoded circular RNA LMP2A (ebv-circLMP2A) was found to be expressed in EBV-associated gastric carcinoma (EBVaGC) and associated with distant metastasis and poor prognosis. Angiogenesis is a key step in tumor invasion and metastasis and plays a crucial role in tumor progression. However, it is unclear whether and how ebv-circLMP2A is involved in angiogenesis. In this study, we showed that MVD, HIF1α, and VEGFA expression was increased in EBVaGC mouse xenografts with high expression of ebv-circLMP2A. The expression of ebv-circLMP2A was positively correlated with MVD, HIF1α, and VEGFA expression in clinical samples of EBVaGC. Knockdown of ebv-circLMP2A repressed tube formation and migration of HUVECs and decreased VEGFA and HIF1α expression in cancer cells under hypoxia, while ectopic expression of ebv-circLMP2A reversed these effects. Additionally, knockdown of HIF1α blocked the upregulation of ebv-circLMP2A by hypoxia, and ebv-circLMP2A interacted with KHSRP to enhance KHSRP-mediated decay of VHL mRNA, leading to the accumulation of HIF1α under hypoxia. There was a positive feedback loop between HIF1α and ebv-circLMP2A that promotes angiogenesis under hypoxia. ebv-circLMP2A was essential in regulating tumor angiogenesis in EBVaGC and might provide a valuable therapeutic target for EBVaGC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The truncated octahedral LiNi 0.05 Mn 1.95 O 4 (LNMO) electrode materials was prepared. • After 50 cycles, the LNMO capacity retention rate is increased from 38% to 80%. • The LNMO capture efficiency was improved, the 0.5 h recovery capacity reaches 25 mg/g. • 10 times Li extraction in Salt Lake brine, the Li-Mg separation factor is 202. • The energy consumption of the LNMO system for lithium extraction is 13.42 Wh/mol. Lithium extraction from salt lakes has become a hot research issue in recent years, and LiMn 2 O 4 -based electrochemical lithium extraction is considered to be one of the most promising technologies for application. However, LiMn 2 O 4 limits its further application due to the dissolution of Mn and the Jahn-Teller effect. In this study, a LiNi 0.05 Mn 1.95 O 4 (LNMO-0.05) lithium-extraction electrode material with truncated octahedral characteristics was prepared. The special crystal surface structure enhanced the diffusion and adsorption rates of Li+, whereas Ni doping effectively suppressed the Jahn-Teller effect, and the two mechanisms synergistically enhanced the lithium extraction performance of LMO. In lithium extraction from East Taijiner brine with an Mg/Li ratio of 46, LNMO-0.05 showed excellent ion selectivity (α Mg-Li = 214.08), high lithium extraction capacity (20.99 mg/g) and no significant capacity decay occurred after 10 cycles. These excellent properties make the LNMO-0.05 electrode suitable for industrial electrochemical lithium extraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sepsis is a systemic response to infections that may culminate into a life-threatening syndrome, the most common cause of acute kidney injury. Despite increasing mortality associated with septic acute kidney injury, its pathogenesis is poorly understood resulting in limited treatment options. Amygdalin participates in the regulation of various signaling pathways including Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling pathway. This pathway is critical for initiating immune responses and controlling persistent inflammation in various conditions such as infection. Cecal ligation and puncture is a most frequently used method for modeling sepsis. In the rat cecal ligation and puncture model, the levels of serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen, as well as the serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-a, interleukin-6, and interleukin-18) are significantly elevated. Furthermore, cecal ligation and puncture promotes cell apoptosis with increased BCL2-associated X protein and reduced B-cell lymphoma 2 protein expression. In this study, we have observed amygdalin to reduce serum cytokine secretion and prevent renal cell apoptosis in kidney injury, thus ameliorate kidney injury. The protective role of amygdalin in septic acute kidney injury was mediated through inhibition of Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of the transcription 3 signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been widely used in antibacterial fields due to their excellent antibacterial effects. Here, by using a dietary flavonoid found in edible plants, kaempferol (Kae), as reducing and capping agent, a facile and eco-friendly method was developed to synthesize the uniform and long-term stable silver nanoparticle/kaempferol composites (Kae-AgNPs). Kae-AgNPs were characterized by ultraviolet visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FT-IR) spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Kae-AgNPs with a size about 10 nm were synthesized by 0.1 mmol/L Kae. Lower concentration of Kae was shown with smaller Kae-AgNPs due to a few of Kae molecules expected to reduce a small number of Ag+ ions to metallic silver. Aqueous Kae-AgNPs were very stable and could be stably dispersed in water for about two months as evidenced by DLS detection, and the stability was further confirmed by XPS. Antibacterial analysis against Escherichia coli (ATCC 8099) and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538) strains showed that Kae-AgNPs displayed superior antibacterial effects than AgNPs or Kae alone, and interestingly, much better than that of the analogous nano-silver composites in the previous studies. Moreover, Kae-AgNPs with a low concentration of 2 μg/mL demonstrated highly effective antibacterial activity against E. coli (1 × 106 CFU/mL). The antibacterial mechanisms of Kae-AgNPs included the destruction of the membrane structure of bacteria, leakage of the cell contents, inducing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and eventually resulting in bacteria death. The results suggest that Kae-AgNPs have high efficiency against bacteria, and have the potential to be further developed as promising antibacterial nanocomposites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) sensors were prepared in-situ on the gas-sensing electrodes by a one-step simple sol-gel method for the detection of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas. The sphere-like ZnO NPs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDX), and their H2S sensing performance were measured at room temperature. Testing results indicate that the ZnO NPs exhibit excellent response to H2S gas at room temperature. The response value of the optimal sample to 750 ppb H2S is 73.3%, the detection limit reaches to 30 ppb, and the response value is 7.5%. Furthermore, the effects of the calcining time and thickness of the film on the gas-sensing performance were investigated. Both calcining time and film thickness show a negative correlation with the H2S sensing performance. The corresponding reaction mechanism of H2S detection was also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a highly lethal cancer in the world, and the prognosis of OSCC is poor with a 60% 5‐year survival rate in recent decades. Here, we introduced a novel secretory and acid glycoprotein with cysteine rich (secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine, SPARC), which is correlated with the worst pattern of invasion (WPOI) and prognosis of OSCC. SPARC expression levels were measured in OSCC tissues and normal tissues using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. The influence of SPARC on cell proliferation was examined by cell counting kit‐8, colony formation, and Edu tests. Then, the effect of SPARC on the metastasis of OSCC cells was detected by wound healing and transwell migration assays. Next, the biologic characteristics of SPARC shared by STRING were analyzed. Furthermore, the underlying mechanisms were confirmed by western blot analysis. SPARC revealed higher expression in OSCC tissues than nontumor tissues. Higher SPARC expression was correlated with poorer tumor differentiation, poorer WPOI pattern, and significantly and shorter overall survival. Knockdown SPARC significantly restrained OSCC cell growth, migration, and invasion. In addition, bioinformatics analysis found SPARC had a coexpression network with the platelet‐derived growth factor‐B (PDGFB) and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways with minimal false discovery rate. Furthermore, SPARC promotes OSCC cells metastasis by regulating the expressions of PDGFB, PDGFRβ, p‐PDGFRβ , and the PI3K/AKT pathway. Higher SPARC expression was positively correlated with poor WPOI and differentiation in OSCC. SPARC activates the PI3K/AKT/PDGFB/PDGFRβ axis to promote proliferation and metastasis by OSCC cell lines. Therefore, SPARC may be a potential therapeutic target for patients with OSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, by using tobacco cell suspension and wheat seedlings, we studied that eATP (extracellular ATP) released by copper (Cu) stress could act as diffusible signal in alleviating the Cu stress-induced cell death. A semipermeable membrane was fixed in the middle of a plastic box to divide the box into two equal compartments (A and B, respectively). This semipermeable membrane can prevent direct cell-to-cell (or seedling-to-seedling) contact and the diffusion of the macromolecules [such as ATPase (adenosine 5′-triphosphatase)] between these two compartments. The cell suspension directly stressed with CuCl2 was placed in compartment A and was incubated with the untreated cell suspension in compartment B. Such treatment significantly increased the levels of cell death and eATP content of the cell suspension in these two compartments. In contrast, addition of ATPase into the cell suspension directly stressed with CuCl2 decreased the eATP level in these two compartments but further increased the level of cell death in compartment B, compared to no addition of ATPase. Similar results were obtained when tobacco cell suspension was replaced by wheat seedlings. These observations indicate that when Cu stress from compartment A induced the plant cell death in compartment B, ATP transferred from compartment A could play a role in alleviating this cell death. Thus, it is suggested that eATP released by copper stress could act as diffusible signal in alleviating the Cu stress-induced cell death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Exergoeconomic off-design model is built and the maximum deviation is less than 9% • Design of system in low-rise building relies on working condition strongly. • Component with large size is attractive for system in high-rise building. • Design for different decision variables is usually different for low-rise building. • Design for different decision variables is usually similar for high-rise building. Abstract The solar absorption-subcooled compression hybrid cooling system (SASCHCS) is subjected to the off-design operation due to the variation of solar irradiance and cooling load. Therefore, the recent design based on the specific condition is difficult to make the system cost-effective in the entire working range. This paper mainly deals with the exergoeconomic design criterion of hybrid system based on the variable working conditions to access the trade-off of investment cost and performance in the whole working condition. The SASCHCS employed in the low-rise building and the high-rise building is considered. Besides, twenty-four cases with different important parameters, i.e., the size of absorption subsystem, condenser and evaporator of compression subsystem as well as isentropic efficiency of compressor, are analyzed in detail. The product cost flow rate and relative cost difference are taken as the decision variables. The exergoeconomic off-design model is developed at first. Subsequently, the decision variables for different temperatures of hot water and cooling water as well as load level is obtained and analyzed. It is found that the difference of the design guideline for the system used in the low-rise building and high-rise building lies in the size of absorption subsystem and condenser, i.e., the lowest scale of absorption chiller is appropriate when the temperature of hot water is less than 75 °C for the facility applied in the low-rise building, but the largest size of absorption subsystem is attractive in the entire range of hot water temperature as the hybrid system is used in the high-rise building. This paper is positive for the development of design theory and helpful to design the cost-effective SASCHCS under the entire working range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a nuclear and nucleolar protein, proliferation marker protein Ki-67 (Ki-67) serves a vital role in tumorigenesis due to its positive correlation with tumor proliferation. High expression of Ki-67 in the cell cycle from the G1 to M phase makes it a potential biomarker for certain tumors and useful for selecting medical treatment. However, the diagnostic value of Ki-67 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has not been fully evaluated. In the present study, the objective was the elucidation of the prognostic value of Ki-67 in a large number of OSCC patients. Ki-67 expression was detected by immunohistochemical staining methods in 298 OSCC specimens and 98 tumor-free oral mucosa specimens (62 dysplasia mucosa and 36 normal mucosa), acquired from Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University (Nanjing, China). Expression of Ki-67 in normal tissues, dysplasia tissues and OSCC tissues was compared. Associations between Ki-67 expression and clinicopathological parameters were analyzed by χ2 test. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox progression analysis were used to assess the diagnostic value of Ki-67 for OSCC. The results showed that Ki-67 expression was higher in OSCC tissues than in tumor-free tissues and that it increased with the progression of dysplasia in oral mucosa tissues. In addition, patients with high Ki-67 expression had a worse clinical outcome, including poor tumor differentiation (P=0.001), increased positive lymph node metastasis (P=0.006) and increased worst pattern of invasion type (P<0.0001). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated that higher Ki-67 expression was associated with poorer overall survival (OS) (P=0.035), recurrence-free survival (RFS) (P=0.017), metastasis-free survival (MFS) (P=0.032) and disease-free survival (DFS) (P=0.018) times. Additional multivariate analysis demonstrated that Ki-67 expression was negatively associated with OS, DFS, RFS and MFS. In conclusion, Ki-67 overexpression is associated with the progression of OSCC and serves as an independent prognostic factor for OSCC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An optimized design for a solar absorption-subcooled compression hybrid cooling system used in low-rise buildings is complicated because of the overall considerations involving increases in investment costs and energy savings, which are associated with an increase in the size of the absorption subsystem. To this end, this paper’s main contribution lies in its exergoeconomic-optimized design of a solar absorption-subcooled compression hybrid cooling system employed in low-rise buildings for different design cases. In this paper, not only the minimum product-cost flow rate but also the lowest relative cost difference is taken as the objective function owing to the notable changes in fuel cost flow rates. The results of the exergoeconomic optimization shows that the actual cooling capacity of the absorption subsystem should not be designed based only on the maximum collector area. Instead, the actual installed collector area should be determined by the optimal cooling capacity of the absorption subsystem. It was also found that the optimal cooling capacity of the absorption subsystem strongly depends on solar irradiance and cooling demands. In addition, optimal sizes for the absorption subsystem should be designed according to the different minimum product cost flow rates or the lowest relative cost difference, and this difference is sensitive to the local mean solar irradiance but weakly relies on the cooling demand. The paper is helpful in its cost-effective design for a solar absorption-subcooled compression hybrid cooling system used in low-rise buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Angiogenesis plays a vital role in many physiological and pathological processes and several diseases are connected with its dysregulation. Asiatic acid (AA) has demonstrated anticancer properties and we suspect this might be attributable to an effect on angiogenesis. A modified derivative of AA, N-(2α,3β,23-acetoxyurs-12-en-28-oyl)-L-proline methyl ester (AA-PMe), has improved efficacy over its parent compound, but its effect on blood vessel development remains unclear. Methods: In this study, we investigated the antiangiogenic activity of AA and AA-PMe in zebrafish embryos and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). First of all, we treated HUVECs with increasing concentrations of AA-PMe or AA, with or without vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) present, and assessed cell viability, tube formation, and cell migration and invasion. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis were later used to determine the role of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2)-mediated signaling in AA-PMe inhibition of angiogenesis. We extended these studies to follow angiogenesis using Tg(fli:EGFP) transgenic zebrafish embryos. For these experiments, embryos were treated with varying concentrations of AA-PMe or AA from 24 to 72 hours postfertilization prior to morphological observation, angiogenesis assessment, and endogenous alkaline phosphatase assay. VEGFR2 expression in whole embryos following AA-PMe treatment was also determined. Results: We found AA-PMe decreased cell viability and inhibited migration and tube formation in a dose-dependent manner in HUVECs. Similarly, AA-PMe disrupted the formation of intersegmental vessels, the dorsal aorta, and the posterior cardinal vein in zebrafish embryos. Both in vitro and in vivo AA-PMe surpassed AA in its ability to block angiogenesis by suppressing VEGF-induced phosphorylation of VEGFR2 and disrupting downstream extracellular regulated protein kinase and AKT signaling. Conclusion: For the first time, this study reveals that AA-PMe acts as a potent VEGFR2 kinase inhibitor and exerts powerful antiangiogenic activity, suggesting it to be a promising therapeutic candidate for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper mainly deals with the match of solar refrigeration, i.e., solar/natural gas-driven absorption chiller (SNGDAC), solar vapor compression-absorption integrated refrigeration system with parallel configuration (SVCAIRSPC), and solar absorption-subcooled compression hybrid cooling system (SASCHCS), and building cooling based on the exergoeconomics. Three types of building cooling are considered: Type 1 is the single-story building, type 2 includes the two-story and three-story buildings, and type 3 is the multi-story buildings. Besides this, two Chinese cities, Guangzhou and Turpan, are taken into account as well. The product cost flow rate is employed as the primary decision variable. The result exhibits that SNGDAC is considered as a suitable solution for type 1 buildings in Turpan, owing to its negligible natural gas consumption and lowest product cost flow rate. SVCAIRSPC is more applicable for type 2 buildings in Turpan because of its higher actual cooling capacity of absorption subsystem and lower fuel and product cost flow rate. Additionally, SASCHCS shows the most extensive cost-effectiveness, namely, its exergy destruction and product cost flow rate are both the lowest when used in all types of buildings in Guangzhou or type 3 buildings in Turpan. This paper is helpful to promote the application of solar cooling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing CO 2 emissions has become a major and urgent environmental goal worldwide. In this paper, we sample the data of 41 regions (including 165 countries) from 2000 to 2014 and adopt a gravity model to obtain an overview of the global flows of CO 2 emissions, energy consumption, the global economy and capital stock since the beginning of the 21st century. We then investigate global technical efficiency, reduction potential, shadow prices and factors influencing the marginal abatement costs of CO 2 emissions based on a quadratic directional output distance function. The empirical results show the following: (1) the global centres of gravity for CO 2 emissions, energy consumption and capital stock have accelerated their shift to the Asian inland in the 21st century, but the global centre of gravity for the economy did not show the same trend. (2) Global technical inefficiency demonstrates a U-shape, with a turning point in 2007. Average annual total global CO 2 emissions could be reduced by 4482.28 Mt, and the global marginal abatement costs of CO 2 emissions are approximately 673.74–697.73 USD/t. (3) The relationship between economic development and marginal abatement costs is represented by a U-shaped curve. The world is currently in the climbing phase of this curve, implying that controlling CO 2 emissions is becoming more costly. Moreover, energy structure, industrial structure, and CO 2 emissions are negatively correlated with marginal abatement costs. Finally, the financial crisis has had a significant effect on marginal abatement costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A linear-switch mode hybrid envelope tracking (ET) supply modulator utilizing adaptive biasing and gain enhanced current mirror operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) with class AB output stage in parallel with a switching regulator is presented. In comparison to a conventional OTA design with similar quiescent current consumption, proposed approach improves positive and negative slew rate from 50 to 93.4 V/ \mu \texts and −87 to −152.5 V/ \mu \texts , respectively, dc gain from 45 to 67 dB while consuming same amount of quiescent current. The proposed hybrid supply modulator achieves 83% peak efficiency, power-added efficiency (PAE) of 42.3% at 26.2 dBm for a 10-MHz 7.24-dB peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) long-term evolution (LTE) signal and improves PAE by 8% at 6 dB back off from 26.2-dBm power amplifier (PA) output power with respect to fixed supply. With a 10-MHz 7.24-dB PAPR quadrature-phase shift keying LTE signal the ET PA system achieves adjacent channel leakage ratio (ACLR) of −37.7 dBc and error vector magnitude (EVM) of 4.5% at 26.2-dBm PA output power, while with a 10-MHz 8.15-dB PAPR 64QAM LTE signal the ET PA system achieves ACLR of −35.6 dBc and EVM of 6% at 26-dBm PA output power without digital predistortion. The proposed supply modulator core circuit occupies 1.1-mm2 die area, and is fabricated in a 0.18- \mu \textm CMOS technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the antibacterial activity of protease hydrolysates from Silybum marianum protein isolates (SMPIs) was investigated. Neutral protease, papain, pepsin and alkaline protease were used as experimental enzymes, while Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Sarcina lutea and Bacillus subtilis were the bacterial indicators. The results showed that neutral protease, papain and pepsin hydrolysates exerted inhibitory effects on the four types of bacteria tested. However, alkaline protease hydrolysates of SMPI showed stimulatory effects on replication of the four bacteria tested. The antibacterial mechanism of SMPI hydrolysates was studied using scanning electron microscopy, and the results showed effective inhibition of E. coli (Gram-negative, G-) and S. aureus (Gram-positive, G+). It is speculated that the underlying mechanism of SMPI hydrolysates may involve injury to E. coli and S. aureus cell membranes. Currently, no similar studies have been conducted on the antibacterial activity of SMPI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excess commuting reflects a cits overall commuting efficiency by quantifying the proportion of non-optimal commute that would be avoided if resident workers could freely swap houses or jobs in a given urban form. This framework has been widely used to evaluate urban land use and transportation policy decision-makings. One major methodological limitation in the excess commuting literature is that most existing studies establish on an oversimplified assumption of homogeneous resident workers/jobs, which neglects the complexity of residential (and employment) location choices. To fill this gap, this research develops a methodology to measure excess commuting across worker subgroups differentiated by residential neighborhood type, which captures the comprehensive socioeconomic profiles of workers defined based on multiple attributes. Based on a cross-sectional study of Portland, Boston, New Orleans, and Detroit, it is found that the traditional method overestimates the commuting benchmarks and causes biased evaluation of commuting efficiency performance. Moreover, this research reveals significant disparities in excess commuting across different neighborhood types and identifies three representative subgroups of distinct excess commuting patterns, which are the traditional suburban subgroup, new starts subgroup, and socioeconomically disadvantaged subgroup. With this proposed methodology, more effective and heterogeneous policies targeting different population subgroups could be developed. • Measures excess commuting across worker subgroups by residential neighborhood type • Performs a cross-sectional study of Portland, Boston, New Orleans, and Detroit • The traditional method overestimates commuting benchmarks. • Reveals significant disparities in excess commuting across different neighborhood types • Identifies three representative subgroups of distinctive excess commuting patterns [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Microbial secondary metabolism is regulated by a complex and mostly-unknown network of global and pathway-specific regulators. A dozen biosynthetic gene clusters for secondary metabolites have been reported in myxobacteria, but a few regulation factors have been identified. Results: We identified a transcription regulator Esi for the biosynthesis of epothilones. Inactivation of esi promoted the epothilone production, while overexpression of the gene suppressed the production. The regulation was determined to be resulted from the transcriptional changes of epothilone genes. Esi was able to bind, probably via the N-terminus of the protein, to an inverted repeat sequence in the promoter of the epothilone biosynthetic gene cluster. The Esi-homologous sequences retrieved from the RefSeq database are all of the Proteobacteria. However, the Esi regulation is not universal in myxobacteria, because the esi gene exists only in a few myxobacterial genomes. Conclusions: Esi binds to the epothilone promoter and down-regulates the transcriptional level of the whole gene cluster to affect the biosynthesis of epothilone. This is the first transcription regulator identified for epothilone biosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric fine particulate matter 2.5 (PM 2.5) may carry many toxic substances on its surface and this may pose a public health threat. Epidemiological research indicates that cumulative ambient PM2.5 is correlated to morbidity and mortality due to pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Mitigating the toxic effects of PM2.5 is therefore highly desired. Bufei Huoxue (BFHX) capsules have been used in China to treat pulmonary heart disease (cor pulmonale). Thus, we assessed the effects of BFHX capsules on PM2.5-induced pulmonary inflammation and the underlying mechanisms of action. Using Polysearch and Cytoscape 3.2.1 software, pharmacological targets of BFHX capsules in atmospheric PM2.5-related respiratory disorders were predicted and found to be related to biological pathways of inflammation and immune function. In a mouse model of PM2.5-induced inflammation established with intranasal instillation of PM2.5 suspension, BFHX significantly reduced pathological response and inflammatory mediators including IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-8, TNF-α, and IL-1β. BFHX also reduced keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), and collagen fibers deposition in lung and improved lung function. Thus, BFHX reduced pathological responses induced by PM2.5, possibly via regulation of inflammatory mediators in mouse lungs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eu 3+ doped Mg 2 Al 4 Si 5 O 18 phosphors were prepared by the solid-state reaction. The first principles calculation, XRD, diffuse reflection spectra, photoluminescence spectra and thermal quenching are carried out to investigate the electron structure, crystal structure, photoluminescence and thermal properties. The calculation results show that Mg 2 Al 4 Si 5 O 18 possesses the direct band gap of about 5.1 eV. With the introduction of Eu 3+ , the energy gap becomes obviously smaller due to the discontinuity of exchange-correlation energy. Between HOMOs and LOMOs, a series of f orbitals of Eu 3+ can be observed, which is the essential condition to realize the efficient 4 f –4 f transitions of Eu 3+ . The experimental results indicate that the samples can efficiently absorb the UV-light and emit the red light with the highest peak at 614 nm. With the co-doping of Bi 3+ as sensitizer, the emission intensity of Eu 3+ increases by about 49% due to the energy transfer between Bi 3+ and Eu 3+ . With the introduction of Li + /Na + /K + as charge compensators, the emission intensities of Mg 2 Al 4 Si 5 O 18 : Eu 3+ are enhanced by about 22%, 18% and 5%. With the temperature increase, the emission intensity of all samples, especially the Bi 3+ doped samples, dramatically declines, which reveals two important effects: one is that the Eu 3+ emission is very sensitive to temperature, and other is that the complex energy transfer process among the excited and ground states of Eu 3+ , Bi 3+ or host absorption occurs. To explain the degradation, the mechanism based on the configurational coordinate diagram is proposed and this model could be helpful for the understanding of the energy transfer mechanism among the various energy levels in the process of temperature change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel solar cooling system, i.e., the solar absorption-subcooled compression hybrid cooling system (SASCHCS), is a better solution for large-scale buildings with many floors, but the thermodynamic characteristics of the system are not adequately realized. The thermodynamic model of the hybrid system is absent, and the design of the nominal cooling capacity of the absorption subsystem and the volume of the storage tank are not known. Consequently, this paper primarily examined the thermodynamics of SASCHCS. A thermodynamic model of the hybrid system was developed, and the working process and performance of the hybrid system for different nominal cooling capacities of the absorption subsystem and the volumes of storage tanks were analysed in detail. The influence of selected parameters on the performance was discussed. It was found that the performance of the system first increases and subsequently decreases gradually with improvement in the nominal cooling capacity of the absorption subsystem. The appropriate ratio of the nominal cooling capacity of the absorption subsystem to the area of the collector should be 0.148 kW/m 2 to 0.222 kW/m 2 . Additionally, the performance of the hybrid system increases first but subsequently decreases gradually with the decrease in volume of the storage tank. An appropriate decrease in the volume of the storage tank is recommended. This paper contributes to a deeper understanding of SASCHCS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leptomeningeal fibrosis is important in the pathogenesis of communicating hydrocephalus following subarachnoid hemorrhage; however, the underlying mechanisms of leptomeningeal fibrosis remain largely unclear. In the present study, primary meningeal mesothelial cells (MMCs) were used as a cell model to investigate the effect of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) on leptomeningeal fibrosis. Firstly, primary MMCs were isolated from rat brains and characterized by immunofluorescene, staining positive for keratin and vimentin, but negative for factor VIII. Upon TGF-β1 treatment, MMCs were induced to express connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), an indicator of fibrosis, in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling was significantly activated by TGF-β1. However, in the presence of a p38 MAPK inhibitor, TGF-β1-induced CTGF expression was markedly suppressed. Together, these data suggest that TGF-β1 could induce fibrosis of MMCs via the p38 MAPK signaling pathway, providing a novel potential target for intervention in TGF-β1-induced leptomeningeal fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the first study on in-situ co-growth of biphasic CsPbBr 3 and Zn-Cd-S quantum dots (QDs) in borosilicate glass, and provide explicitly evidence of their morphology and nanoscale distribution. Such biphasic QDs co-doped nano-glass composites show unique green and red dual-band emissions. By changing the thermal heating scheme, the fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) and thus the apparent color can be widely adjusted. The FIR can be also fine-tuned simply by varying the excitation wavelength. Based on the FIR, a self-calibrated X-rays dosimeter is constructed, which also possesses a good thermal stability. Although the X-rays induced scintillation weakening occurs, it can be readily recovered by post-thermal-annealing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In plants, photoreceptors transfer light signals to phytochrome-interacting factors (PIFs), inducing the rapid phosphorylation and degradation of PIFs to promote photomorphogenesis. However, the phosphatase responsible for PIF dephosphorylation remains unknown. In this study, we identified a type 1 protein phosphatase, TOPP4, that is essential for PIF5 protein stability in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Compared with the wild type, the dominant-negative mutant, topp4-1, displayed reduced hypocotyl length and larger apical hook and cotyledon opening angle under red light. Overexpression of topp4-1 in the wild type led to defects that were similar to those in the topp4-1 mutant. Red light induced phytochrome B (phyB)-dependent TOPP4 expression in hypocotyls. The topp4-1 mutation weakened the closed cotyledon angle of phyB-9 and phyA-211 phyB-9, while overexpression of TOPP4 significantly repressed the short hypocotyls of phyB-green fluorescent protein seedlings, indicating that TOPP4 and phyB function in an antagonistic way during photomorphogenesis. Protein interaction assays and phosphorylation studies demonstrate that TOPP4 interacts directly with PIF5 and dephosphorylates it. Furthermore, TOPP4 inhibits the red light-induced ubiquitination and degradation of PIF5. These findings demonstrate that dephosphorylation of PIF5 by TOPP4 inhibits its ubiquitin-mediated degradation during photomorphogenesis. These data outline a novel phytochrome signaling mechanism by which TOPP4-mediated dephosphorylation of PIF5 attenuates phytochrome-dependent light responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Exotic genes, especially clustered multiple-genes for a complex pathway, are normally integrated into chromosome for heterologous expression. The influences of insertion sites on heterologous expression and allotropic expressions of exotic genes on host remain mostly unclear. Results: We compared the integration and expression efficiencies of single and multiple exotic genes that were inserted into Myxococcus xanthus genome by transposition and attB-site-directed recombination. While the site-directed integration had a rather stable chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) activity, the transposition produced varied CAT enzyme activities. We attempted to integrate the 56-kb gene cluster for the biosynthesis of antitumor polyketides epothilones into M. xanthus genome by site-direction but failed, which was determined to be due to the insertion size limitation at the attB site. The transposition technique produced many recombinants with varied production capabilities of epothilones, which, however, were not paralleled to the transcriptional characteristics of the local sites where the genes were integrated. Comparative transcriptomics analysis demonstrated that the allopatric integrations caused selective changes of host transcriptomes, leading to varied expressions of epothilone genes in different mutants. Conclusions: With the increase of insertion fragment size, transposition is a more practicable integration method for the expression of exotic genes. Allopatric integrations selectively change host transcriptomes, which lead to varied expression efficiencies of exotic genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a tumor virus that is associated with a variety of neoplasms, including EBV-associated gastric carcinoma (EBVaGC). Recently, EBV was reported to generate various circular RNAs (circRNAs). CircRNAs are important regulators of tumorigenesis by modulating the malignant behaviors of tumor cells. However, to date, the functions of ebv-circRNAs in EBVaGC remain poorly understood. In the present study, we observed high ebv-circRPMS1 expression in EBVaGC and showed that ebv-circRPMS1 promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion and inhibited the apoptosis of EBVaGC cells. In addition, METTL3 was upregulated in GC cells overexpressing ebv-circRPMS1. Mechanistically, ebv-circRPMS1 bound to Sam68 to facilitate its physical interaction with the METTL3 promotor, resulting in the transactivation of METTL3 and cancer progression. In clinical EBVaGC samples, ebv-circRPMS1 was associated with distant metastasis and a poor prognosis. Based on these findings, ebv-circRPMS1 contributed to EBVaGC progression by recruiting Sam68 to the METTL3 promoter to induce METTL3 expression. ebv-circRPMS1, Sam68, and METTL3 might serve as therapeutic targets for EBVaGC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of study was to determine relationship between cagA and genetic characterization of metronidazole (MTZ) resistant H. pylori strains from a region at high risk of gastric cancer. Methods: 172 H. pylori strains were isolated from the patients with dyspeptic symptoms, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing for MTZ was assessed by E-test. rdxA and frxA genes were amplified using PCR among the MTZ resistant isolates. The status of the plasmid and classes 1~3 integrons were investigated in all isolates. Results: MTZ was detected in 88 isolates (51.16%). Variations in the rdxA gene leading to alterations of amino acids in RdxA proteins were identified in all MTZ resistant strains. FrxA contained missense alterations in 55 MTZ resistant isolates, while the premature truncation of FrxA was caused by frameshift mutations in 9 MTZ resistant strains. Plasmid was found in one MTZ sensitive strain (0.58%), and none of Class 1~3 integrases gene was detected in the studied isolates. The conservative cagA fragment was obtained from all clinical isolates of H. pylori. The sequence of cagA 3' variable region in 164 strains were obtained, including East Asian-type (122, 74.39%) and Western-type (42, 25.61%). Prevalence of Westerntype cagA 3' variable region was significantly higher in MTZ resistant (33.73%, 28/83) than those of MTZsensitive strains (17.28%, 14/81) (p=0.02). Conclusion: A high prevalence of MTZ resistance was found in the region, and bacterial chromosome mutations in the rdxA and frxA gene still contribute to the high-level MTZ resistance. H. pylori strains characterized with West-type cagA 3' variable region tend to acquire MTZ resistance in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first time, wheat bran was fermented with Eurotium cristatum (E. cristatum), and alterations in the structural and functional characteristics were explored. The results showed that the soluble dietary fibre (SDF) content significantly increased in fermented bran, and the water and oil holding capacities improved. The total polyphenols, anthocyanin, and main flavour substance phenylethyl alcohol were significantly increased by E. cristatum fermentation. The ferulic acid content was approximately 12.06 times higher in fermented bran than in unfermented bran. These changes may be due to the release of hydrolytic enzymes during E. cristatum fermentation. E. cristatum fermentation enhanced the antioxidant and anti-obesity activities of bran. Furthermore, this study showing that E. cristatum fermentation produced β-hydroxy acid metabolites of monacolin K (MKA) in wheat bran. Thus, this research suggests that E. cristatum can be a starter culture to produce functional foods. [Display omitted] • First application of Eurotium cristatum in solid-state fermentation of wheat bran. • Phenylethyl alcohol content significantly increased and produced a particular flavor. • Fermentation produced β-hydroxy acid metabolite of monacolin K in bran. • Fermentation enhanced bioactive compounds and functional activities of bran. •Eurotium cristatum could be a starter culture to produce functional foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Mn doped La-Mn oxides show excellent SCR activity and SO 2 /H 2 O resistance. • SCR activity decreases but N 2 selectivity increases in the presence of SO 2 /H 2 O. • Mn doping changes some of Mn3+ at B-site to Mn4+ and some at A-site to Mn2+. • The formation of sulfate increases acidity strength and improves N 2 selectivity. • After SO 2 /H 2 O resistance, decrease of Mn4+ and oxygen species weakens redox. A series of Mn doped perovskite La-Mn oxides were prepared and characterized systematically·NH 3 -SCR activity and the resistance to SO 2 and/or H 2 O were evaluated. The results showed that LM-1.4 catalyst displays excellent LT SCR activity and wide window (80% NO x conversion in 100–300 °C). In the presence of SO 2 and H 2 O, LM-1.4 catalyst can also achieve about 95% NOx conversion and N 2 selectivity in long-term testing and good SCR activity (above 80% NOx conversion in 145–300 °C) in the cycles. The Mn doped La-Mn oxides have S BET of 86 m2/g and V total of 0.27 cm3/g, but some Mn oxides do not enter the perovskite framework and form Mn 3 O 4 and MnO 2. Mn substituted A-site La ions in perovskite La-Mn oxides changes some of Mn3+ at the B-site in LaMnO 3 to Mn4+ and some at the A-site to Mn2+. Doping of Mn can change redox properties of perovskite La-Mn oxides, but after the resistance testing in the presence of SO 2 and H 2 O, the decrease of Mn4+ content and active oxygen species on the catalyst surface can weaken the redox properties of La-Mn oxides. Mn doping increases significantly the adsorption amount of NH 3 , but the formation of sulfate increases the strong acidity of the catalyst. Mn doping can also accelerate the decomposition of ammonium sulfate, resulting in an improvement of SO 2 -resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A MnO 2 /Bi 2 WO 6 heterojunction photocatalyst was synthesized by hydrothermal method. • Ultrathin MnO 2 nanosheets attached to the surface of Bi 2 WO 6 nanosheets with 3D flower. • The MnO 2 /Bi 2 WO 6 photocatalyst exhibit superior photocatalytic NO removal efficiency. • The defective Mn3+ increases oxygen vacancies and plays a rapid charge transfer role. • Structural evolution and catalytic mechanisms were investigated. A MnO 2 /Bi 2 WO 6 heterojunction photocatalyst was synthesized by simple hydrothermal method and characterized systematically. The results showed that ultrathin MnO 2 nanosheets are evenly attached on the surface of Bi 2 WO 6 nanosheets to form interfaces between MnO 2 and Bi 2 WO 6 and retains 3D flower-like structure of Bi 2 WO 6. The MnO 2 addition to Bi 2 WO 6 increases the specific surface area, widens the light absorption region, and changes the electronic properties of Bi and W. Moreover, the defective Mn3+ increases oxygen vacancies and plays a rapid charge transfer role. A good energy band structure is formed in MnO 2 /Bi 2 WO 6 to facilitate the photogenerated carrier separation. The photocatalytic studies suggest that MnO 2 /Bi 2 WO 6 shows excellent photocatalytic efficiency and stability for the degradation of NO under light irradiation and inhibition for NO 2 generation. MnO 2 /Bi 2 WO 6 photocatalyst can produce more •OH and •O 2 − radicals than Bi 2 WO 6 , and the electron transfer among Mn ions enhances the removal of NO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize seed storage proteins are a major source of human and livestock consumption. However, these proteins have poor nutritional value, because they are deficient in lysine and tryptophan. Much research has been done to elevate the lysine content by reducing zein content or regulating the activities of key enzymes in lysine metabolism. Using the naturally lysine-rich protein genes, sb401 and SBgLR, from potato, we previously increased the lysine and protein contents of maize seeds. Here, we examined another natural lysine-rich protein gene, GhLRP, from cotton, which increased the lysine content of transgenic maize seeds at levels varying from 16.2% to 65.0% relative to the wild-type. The total protein content was not distinctly different, except in the six transgenic lines. The lipid and starch levels did not differ substantially in Gossypium hirsutum L. lysine-rich protein (GhLRP) transgenic kernels when compared to wild-type. The agronomic characteristics of all the transgenic maize were also normal. GhLRP is a high-lysine protein candidate gene for increasing the lysine content of maize. This study provided a valuable model system for improving maize lysine content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel WC/BiOCl binary composite photocatalyst was synthesized. • Intimate interface contact has internal electrical field from WC to BiOCl. • The introduction of WC enhanced light absorption and electron transportation. • A possible photodegradation pathway of sulfamethoxazole was proposed. A novel n-n type WC/BiOCl binary photocatalyst was synthesized, and applied to sulfamethoxazole (SMX) degradation. The physical and photoelectric properties of the WC/BiOCl were characterized by various experimental and calculational methods. An intimate interfacial contact between WC and BiOCl was identified, which help to reduce the aggregation of BiOCl and more importantly, build an internal electrical field between WC and BiOCl. It is interesting to find that the WC layer(s) can help to reduce the interfacial charge transfer resistance and act as electron transfer and storage sites. Subsequently, the holes are engaged in the oxidation of SMX by WC/BiOCl. Additionally, WC/BiOCl photocatalyst has more reactive sites and absorbs more incident photons compared with pure BiOCl. Quenching and electron spin resonance (ESR) experiments indicate that O 2 ·- is the main active species, holes and OH• are also involved. The degradation pathway of SMX and the enhancing mechanism for the photodegradation through the combination of WC and BiOCl were explored. This work provides a novel binary photocatalyst for SMX degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• It evaluates the effect of China's ETS on non-fossil energy development. • It analyzes ETS's effects from energy type, pilot, and pilot-energy type aspects. • The ETS has the most significant promoting effect on hydropower and photovoltaics. • Carbon price plays a positive role in moderating the effect of China's ETS. Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) can internalize the environmental costs of fossil energy consumption and encourage enterprises to consume non-fossil energy, which is crucial for People's Republic of China (PRC) to achieve the contribution target of the Paris Agreement cost-effectively. However, whether the ETS in PRC can promote non-fossil energy development remains to be answered. This paper uses a difference-in-differences model to evaluate the effect of the ETS on non-fossil energy development in PRC. Using provincial monthly panel data from January 2004 to December 2019, we find that (1) the ETS has significantly promoted non-fossil energy development in PRC, increasing the monthly average share of non-fossil energy power generation in total power generation by 2.326 percentage points, which has been verified by a series of robustness tests. (2) The effect of the ETS on non-fossil energy development is heterogeneous by energy type, pilot region, and pilot-energy type. The ETS has significantly increased the share of hydropower and photovoltaic power generation, and has significantly promoted non-fossil energy development in Guangdong; meanwhile, the ETS has significantly increased the share of hydropower and nuclear power in Guangdong, and the share of wind power and photovoltaic power in Hubei. (3) The higher the carbon price, the greater the role of the ETS in promoting non fossil energy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study that examined the changes in T-type calcium (T-type Ca2+) channel in rats with spinal nerve injuries using painful behavior assessment, whole-cell patch clamp recordings, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. The researchers determined whether changes in T-type Ca2+ occur in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons from nerve injury. Results showed that changes in T-type Ca2+ occurred in DRG neurons after spinal nerve injury.

Abstract: The periodic disposed gold nanoparticle arrays (GNPAs) are very useful for wide range applications. Employing the neutralization reaction between chloroauric acid and amino groups, GNPAs were self-assembled inside pore channels of amino-functionalized mesoporous silica thin films (AF-MSTFs) which were produced by using the surface active agent CTAB (cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide). The AF-MSTF samples were characterized by FTIR, XRD and TEM. The results show that the average diameter of quantum dots was controlled by the highly ordered pore channels. UV–vis absorption spectra of the GNPAs/AF-MSTF nanocomposites exhibit blue-shift and intensity decrease of absorption peaks as the neutralization reaction time decreases, representing the existence of GNPs and revealing an adjustable optical property. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: The study objectives were to examine the effects of Chinese herbal fomentation on radiocephalic arteriovenous fistula (AVF) maturation. Methods: All patients' preoperative evaluation, operative procedure, and follow-up information records were reviewed to identify patients undergoing radiocephalic AVF procedures for maintenance hemodialysis. All patients underwent preoperative vessel ultrasound. The ultrasound examinations were repeated every 2 months after the operative procedure. From the day after the operation, the forearm of the patient is fomented with a mixture of Dan Shen and Hong Hua in dry powdered form dissolved in fresh warm water. The fomentation lasted for 60 minutes, once a day for 28 consecutive days. Results: Sixty-four (64) specific access site operations were yielded in 62 patients for analysis. Forty-nine (49; 76.6%) of the 64 fistulas were considered sonographically mature and 15 (23.4%) were deemed sonographically immature. The sonographically mature fistulas ( n=46) that were suitable for puncture had blood flow of 655±132 mL/minute, and venous diameter of 4.5±0.3 mm. The most frequent complication was thrombosis before first use, which accounted for 6 AVFs failures to mature (0.16 per patient-year). There were two hospitalizations for fistula-related bacteremia in the group (0.05 per patient-year). Conclusions: The Chinese herbal fomentation reduced the frequency of early thrombosis of new AVFs and was accompanied by an increase in the proportion of AVFs that were suitable for dialysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the specific antitumor responses against autologous hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells of dendritic cells (DCs) fused with allogeneic HCC cell line, and evaluated the feasibility of BEL7402 as an alternative strategy to deliver shared HCC antigens to DCs. Methods: Previous studies demonstrated fusions of patient-derived DCs and autologous tumor cells could induce T-cell responses against autologous tumors. These fusion cells require patient-derived tumor cells, which are not, however, always available. Here, we report the fusing of autologous DCs with allogeneic HCC cell line to induced cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response against autologous HCC cells compare with autologous tumor cells. Results: These DC/ BEL7402 fusion cells co-expressed tumor-associated antigens and DC-derived costimulatory and major histocompatibility complex molecules. Both CD4+ and CD8 T+ cells were activated by the fusion cells as demonstrated by the proliferation of T-cells, the production of cytokines and the simultaneous induction of specific CTL responses. Significantly, CTL induced by dendritic cell/allogeneic BEL7402 fusion cells were able to kill autologous HCC cells by human leukocyte antigen-A2 restricted mechanisms. The results did not show significant difference between DC fusion with autologous hepatocellular carcinoma cells and DC fusion with allogeneic hepatocellular carcinoma cell line. Conclusions: The fusion of allogeneic HCC cell line and autologous DCs may have applications in antitumor immunotherapy through cross-priming against shared tumor antigens and may provide a platform for adoptive immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Recently, studies on dendritic cell (DC) vaccine have focused on the development of more effective DC vaccine regimen, such as the application of multiple tumor-associated antigen–targeted DC vaccine. This approach could be used to enhance efficacy of DC-based vaccine against tumors and infectious diseases. In this study, we analyzed whether DC from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma can be infected with the α-fetoprotein (AFP) gene and/or HBsAg gene (hepatocellular carcinoma–related antigen). Further, it was examined whether vaccination using these genetically engineered DC can induce stronger therapeutic antitumor immunity. Results revealed that DC infected with AdAFP (adenovirus AFP)/HBsAg can express AFP and HBsAg by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction and Western blot techniques. Compared with those before transfection, the expressions of membrane molecules increased dramatically. Specific T cells generated by DCs infected with AdAFP/HBsAg specifically recognized human leukocyte antigen–matched HepG2.2.15 cell lines. Moreover, the cytotoxic activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes against HepG2.2.15 with DCs expressing AFP was significantly augmented by coinfection with the HBsAg gene. Administration with such vaccine also significantly increased the production of interleukin-12p70 and interferon-γ. Most importantly, in vivo results suggested that inhibitors of tumor growth were most significant in severe combined immunodeficiency mice model, which was treated with induced cytotoxic T lymphocyte by the AFP/HBsAg-DC vaccine. These results indicate that a vaccination therapy using DCs coinfected with the two tumor-associated antigen genes is an effective strategy for immunotherapy in the activation of DCs, CD4+ T cells, and CD8+ T cells, and may be useful in the clinical application of cancer vaccine therapy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Fusions of patient-derived dendritic cells (DCs) and autologous tumor cells induce T-cell responses against autologous tumors in animal models and human clinical trials. These fusion cells require patient-derived tumor cells, which are not, however, always available. Here we fused autologous DCs from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to an allogeneic HCC cell line (HepG2). These fusion cells co-expressed tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) and DC-derived costimulatory and MHC molecules. Both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were activated by the fusion cells. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) induced by the fusion cells were able to kill autologous HCC by HLA-A2- and/or HLA-A24-restricted mechanisms. CTL activity against shared TAAs indicates that the presence of alloantigens does not prevent the development of CTLs with activity against autologous HCC cells. These fusion cells may have applications in anti-tumor immunotherapy through cross-priming against shared tumor antigens and may provide a platform for adoptive immunotherapy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]