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Oxygen vacancy-rich Bi/Bi 3 TaO 7 binary nanomaterials were obtained by a simple in situ reduction. The as-prepared composite exhibited superior photocatalytic activity for the degradation of RhB compared to the single material under the visible light range. The degradation rate of the optimal sample reached 92% within 120 min, 12.25 times that of the pure Bi 3 TaO 7. XRD and HRTEM characterization showed that the Bi metal obtained through in situ reduction was loaded on the Bi 3 TaO 7 nanostructure. In addition, XPS and EPR indicated a significant increase in the oxygen vacancy content of the composites. The time-resolved transient fluorescence spectroscopy and photocurrent results proved that the separation rate of photoexcited carriers and the corresponding ability of photoelectrons are greatly increased. It is due to the synergistic effect of the unique photo-reaction excitation pathway induced by bismuth metal plasma resonance and oxygen vacancies, which not only extends the photo-reaction to the infrared region but also increases the carrier residence time, and this is the fundamental reason for the excellent photocatalytic performance of the composite material. The h+ is the main reactive radical of the reaction, and •O 2 − also plays a role. Based on the above characterization study, we propose a possible photoreaction mechanism for the synergistic oxygen vacancy and Bi metal of Bi/Bi 3 TaO 7. Construction of Bi/Bi 3 TaO 7 photocatalysts enriched with oxygen vacancies by in situ reduction. The synergistic effect of plasmon resonance effect of metallic Bi and the unique photo-reaction excitation pathway induced by oxygen vacancies greatly improves the photocatalytic performance. [Display omitted] • In situ reduction synthesis of Bi 3 TaO 7 photocatalysts with Bi metal loading and abundant oxygen vacancy defects. • Unique material design enables an extended light response range and fast electron transfer. • The composite photocatalytic material showed excellent degradation effect on RhB and MB. • Efficient synergy of Bi metal and oxygen vacancies is profoundly elucidated. • This work provides an innovative pathway for the structural design of practical Bi-based photo-catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colloidal semiconductor II–VI metal chalcogenide (ME) magic‐size clusters (MSCs) exhibit either an optical absorption singlet or doublet. In the latter case, a sharp photoluminescence (PL) signal is observed. Whether the PL‐inactive MSCs transform to the PL‐active ones is unknown. We show that PL‐inactive CdS MSC‐322 transforms to PL‐active CdS MSC‐328 and MSC‐373 in the presence of acetic acid (HOAc). MSC‐322 displays a sharp absorption at ≈322 nm, whereas MSC‐328 and MSC‐373 both have broad absorptions respectively around 328 and 373 nm. In a reaction of cadmium myristate and S powder in 1‐octadecene, MSC‐322 develops; with HOAc, MSC‐328 and MSC‐373 are present. We propose that the MSCs evolve from their relatively transparent precursor compounds (PCs). The PC‐322 to PC‐328 quasi‐isomerization involves monomer substitution, while monomer addition occurs for the PC‐328 to PC‐373 transformation. Our findings suggest that S dominates the precursor self‐assembly quantitatively, and ligand‐bonded Cd mainly controls MSC optical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colloidal semiconductor II–VI metal chalcogenide (ME) magic‐size clusters (MSCs) exhibit either an optical absorption singlet or doublet. In the latter case, a sharp photoluminescence (PL) signal is observed. Whether the PL‐inactive MSCs transform to the PL‐active ones is unknown. We show that PL‐inactive CdS MSC‐322 transforms to PL‐active CdS MSC‐328 and MSC‐373 in the presence of acetic acid (HOAc). MSC‐322 displays a sharp absorption at ≈322 nm, whereas MSC‐328 and MSC‐373 both have broad absorptions respectively around 328 and 373 nm. In a reaction of cadmium myristate and S powder in 1‐octadecene, MSC‐322 develops; with HOAc, MSC‐328 and MSC‐373 are present. We propose that the MSCs evolve from their relatively transparent precursor compounds (PCs). The PC‐322 to PC‐328 quasi‐isomerization involves monomer substitution, while monomer addition occurs for the PC‐328 to PC‐373 transformation. Our findings suggest that S dominates the precursor self‐assembly quantitatively, and ligand‐bonded Cd mainly controls MSC optical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the study, Z-scheme CdS/BiOCl visible light reactive photocatalysts were prepared by a one-step synthesis. The composition, morphology, optical absorption property and degradation mechanism of as obtained binary composites were investigated in detail. SEM, TEM and XPS observation indicated that CdS nanoparticles were well dispersed on BiOCl nanosheets and bounded chemically to BiOCl. The CdS/BiOCl composite photocatalysts showed the enhanced photocatalytic performance on degrading RhB under visible light irradiation. Among them, 5-CdS/BiOCl exhibited the highest degradation rate (up to 94%), which was 1.9 and 4.7 times higher than those of CdS and BiOCl, respectively. And the performance of 5-CdS/BiOCl photocatalyst remained stable after four replicate experiments. The prime causes for the improved capability of CdS/BiOCl photocatalysts were their low carrier recombination and extended light response range. A feasible Z-scheme heterojunction mechanism was revealed according to radical capture experiments and photoelectrochemical tests. This study provides a new idea for wastewater purification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A compilation of new advances made in the research field of laboratory reaction kinetics in China's Key Development Project for Air Pollution Formation Mechanism and Control Technologies was presented. These advances are grouped into six broad, interrelated categories, including volatile organic compound (VOC) oxidation, secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation, new particle formation (NPF) and gas-particle partitioning, ozone chemistry, model parameters, and secondary inorganic aerosol (SIA) formation, highlighting the laboratory work done by Chinese researchers. For smog chamber applications, the current knowledge gained from laboratory studies is reviewed, with emphasis on summarizing the oxidation mechanisms of long-chain alkanes, aromatics, alkenes, aldehydes/ketones in the atmosphere, SOA formation from anthropogenic emission sources, and oxidation of aromatics, isoprene, and limonene, as well as SIA formation. For flow tube applications, atmospheric oxidation mechanisms of toluene and methacrolein, SOA formation from limonene oxidation by ozone, gas-particle partitioning of peroxides, and sulfuric acid-water (H 2 SO 4 -H 2 O) binary nucleation, methanesulfonic acid-water (MSA-H 2 O) binary nucleation, and sulfuric acid-ammonia-water (H 2 SO 4 -NH 3 -H 2 O) ternary nucleation are discussed. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Droplet removal from solid surfaces is particularly important for heat and mass transfer, corrosion protection, and certain technological requirements in production. In this study, we investigate droplet removal from a solid surface using an electric field. First, a visual platform was established to capture a video of the droplet deforming and jumping motion in an electric field, and a deformed ellipse equation was applied to fit the liquid droplet profiles. Second, the electric charge distribution was obtained, and the electric forces on the droplet surface before and after jumping were calculated. The result indicates that the charge only accumulates on the upper surface of the droplet, mostly at the top point, and the maximum charge of the 7 μl droplet is about 2 × 10−4 μC in this experiment. The forces on the droplet are almost constant and maintain a constant acceleration (greater than 10 m/s2) after leaving the surface. Third, the effects of droplet volume, electric field intensity, and electrode plate distance on droplet jumping were quantitatively studied. The experiments show that the electric field intensity required for droplet jumping is independent of the droplet volume but positive with the distance between the plates, when the distance between plates increases from 10 to 18 mm, the critical jumping electric field intensity increases by 0.1 kV/mm. The droplet acceleration decreases by about 20% with the increase in volume (5–10 μl) but increases with the increase in electric field intensity. The charge increases with the increase in electric field intensity, but the charge–mass ratio decreases by about 30% with the increase in volume (5–10 μl). Finally, the results show that a small volume and plate distance are more favorable to stimulating the droplets jumping under the electric field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CCR3 gene plays a critical role in allergic airway inflammation, such as allergic rhinitis (AR), and there is an inflammatory signal link between the nasal cavity and the CCR3 gene in bone marrow. However, the effects of the CCR3 gene in bone marrow cells on AR are not clear. The present study investigated the roles and underlying mechanisms of the bone marrow CCR3 gene in AR mice. Conditional knockout of the bone marrow CCR3 gene (CKO) in mice was generated using the Cre-LoxP recombination system, and offspring genotypes were identified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). An ovalbumin-induced AR model was established in CKO and wild-type mice to measure eosinophilic inflammation and the Th2 immune response. The following mechanisms were explored using a specific PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitor (Ly294002). We successfully constructed and bred homozygous CKO mice and confirmed a significant increase in CCR3 expression and PI3K/AKT pathway activity in AR mice. Deficiency of the bone marrow CCR3 gene caused a remarkable reduction of CCR3 expression and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway activity, inhibited histopathological lesions and eosinophil infiltration of the nasal cavity, and reduced the production of Th2 cytokines in serum, which led to the remission of allergic symptoms in AR mice. Ly294002 treatment also decreased these inflammatory indexes in a concentration-dependent manner and blocked inflammatory signals from CCR3, but it did not affect the high expression of CCR3 in AR mice. Collectively, our results suggest that conditional knockout of the bone marrow CCR3 gene can reduce eosinophilic inflammation and the Th2 immune response, which may be due to inhibition of the PI3K/AKT pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocomposites of C–Ta4+ co-doped NaTaO 3 and reduced graphene oxide (C-NTO/rGO) with highly efficient photocatalytic activity were fabricated by a one-step solvothermal reaction. The optimum composites C-NTO/3rGO (with 3 wt% rGO) exhibited superior photocatalytic activity for the degradation of RhB over a mono-component counterpart under visible light irradiation. The photocatalytic efficiency was found to be as high as 97% for 90 min. Both XRD and XPS characterizations indicated that the doping of carbon into the NaTaO 3 lattice leads to the reduction of Ta5+ to Ta4+. Furthermore, the co-doping significantly narrows the band gap (about 2.8 eV). Photo-luminescence (PL), time resolved transient PL decay spectra and photo-current results confirmed that photo-induced hole-electron pairs can be effectively separated resulting from the introduction of rGO. The synergistic effect of a decreased band gap and highly effective separation of photo-generated electrons and holes may be responsible for the enhanced photocatalytic activity of the fabricated nanocomposites. Both h+ and •OH active radicals were found to be the key factors for the photo-decomposition process of RhB over the nanocomposites, while •O 2 − was also involved to a smaller extent. A possible photo-degradation mechanism for C-NTO/rGO was proposed on the basis of the experiments results. [Display omitted] • Visible light-active co-doped NaTaO 3 and reduced graphene oxide photocatalysts were fabricated. • The photocatalysts exhibited high performance for the degradation of rhodamine B. • The narrowed band gap and effective separation of electron-hole were responsible for the excellent performance. • The photo-degradation mechanism for the enhanced activity was discussed deeply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, rGO/Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 /BiOCl composite photocatalysts were prepared using a one-step solvothermal method. The formation and morphology of these photocatalysts were characterized through XRD, Raman, XPS, SEM, TEM, and other techniques. The efficiency of the composite photocatalysts was assessed by decreasing RhB under visible light. Among them, the photocatalytic activity of 4 wt% rGO/Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 /BiOCl was discovered to be the best, with a degradation rate as high as 96 % within 60 min. This is because the inclusion of rGO not only increased the specific surface area of the ternary materials, but also acted as a carrier for electrons transfer. Besides, the heterojunction structure constituted between Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 and BiOCl also opens up a new pathway for carrier separation. Finally, we explored the degradation mechanism of rGO/Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 /BiOCl ternary materials in detail. This study holds an important reference for the synthesis of bismuth-based composite photocatalysts and has potential applications in wastewater treatment. [Display omitted] • The rGO/Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 /BiOCl photocatalysts were synthesized using a simple one-step solvothermal method. • The ternary photocatalysts represented excellent photocatalytic activity on degrading RhB under visible light. • Here is one major reason for the increase in catalytic activity: fast multiple charge transfer paths. • The degradation mechanism utilizes three active free radicals efficiently, and the degradation effect is remarkable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is one of the most devastating types of pediatric cancer. Accumulating evidence suggests that the dysregulated expression of long non-coding (lnc)-RNAs is associated with various pathologies of the CNS. However, the expression patterns and prognostic roles of lncRNAs in DIPG have not yet been systematically determined. In the present study, lncRNA expression profiles were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database using the lncRNA-mining approach and a differential expression analysis for lncRNAs was performed between DIPG and low-grade brainstem glioma and DIPG and normal pediatric brainstem tissue. Using a two-tailed t-test, 58 and 197 lncRNAs were found to be significantly deferentially expressed (Fold change >2 or <0.5, FDR adjusted P<0.05). To identify the prognostic value of these 255 differentially expressed lncRNAs, univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis were performed and a 9-lncRNA signature as a potential biomarker for predicting the prognosis of DIPG was constructed. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed that patients in the high-risk group exhibited a reduced survival time compared with patients in the low-risk group (median survival of 230 vs. 460 days, log-rank test P<0.001). Moreover, this lncRNA-signature could be used as an independent prognostic marker for DIPG patient survival. The present study provided novel candidates for the investigation of potential diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers and/or therapeutic targets of DIPG, as well as a novel insight into the underlying mechanisms of DIPG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of CdSe nanoplatelets (NPLs) as heterogeneous photocatalyst in organic reactions was presented. In combine with 2,2′-bipyridine additive, NPLs effectively promote reductive alkylation of aldimines and produce amino acid derivatives. The NPLs were found robust in the reaction; recycled NPLs remain catalytically active in further use. Our results demonstrate that NPLs could serve as a novel class of photocatalysts for visible light-driven organic reactions. [Display omitted] Colloidal semiconductor two dimensional CdSe nanoplatelets (NPLs) have been widely applied in photophysics, while rarely used in photocatalytic reactions. Here we show that CdSe NPLs act as photocatalyst in visible light-driven radical alkylation of aldimines, with 2,2′-bipyridine (BPY) as an additive. The photocatalytic reaction gave amino-acid derivatives in reliably good yields with various alkyl radical precursors. Furthermore, CdSe NPLs recycled from the reactions remain active and can be reused. The structural and photoelectric properties of fresh and recycled NPLs were characterized using XRD, XPS, TEM, EDS, TRPL, DRS and electrochemical analysis, revealing that BPY can bind to the surface defects of NPLs and adjust the relative oxidation and reduction potentials. As the synthesis of CdSe NPLs is low-cost, convenient and available at industrial scales, the results suggest NPLs could serve as a practical choice of photocatalyst for organic photochemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a tumor that occurs in the nasopharynx. Although advances in detection and treatment have improved the prognosis of NPC the treatment of advanced NPC remains challenging. Here, we explored the effect of microRNA (miR)-122-5p on erastin-induced ferroptosis in NPC cells and the role of ferroptosis in the development of NPC. The effect of miR-122-5p silencing and overexpression and the effect of citrate synthase on erastin-induced lipid peroxidation in NPC cells was analyzed by measuring the amounts of malondialdehyde, Fe2+, glutathione, and reactive oxygen species and the morphological alterations of mitochondria. The malignant biological behavior of NPC cells was examined by cell counting kit-8, EDU, colony formation, Transwell, and wound healing assays. The effects of miR-122-5p on cell proliferation and migration associated with ferroptosis were examined in vivo in a mouse model of NPC generated by subcutaneous injection of NPC cells. We found that erastin induced ferroptosis in NPC cells. miR-122-5p overexpression inhibited CS, thereby promoting erastin-induced ferroptosis in NPC cells and decreasing NPC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of deep learning provides a new way for solving the colorization problem on the grayscale image. Excellent coding‐based methods appear in the automatic image colorization task, avoiding the unsaturated colour effect problem of previous methods based on the L2 loss function. Traditional neural networks come with high computational costs and a large number of parameters. Considering the limitation of memory and computing resources and aiming at lightweight, a novel grey image automatic colorization network is proposed. The basic idea of coding‐based methods is used, regarding the colorization task as a pixel‐level classification problem, meanwhile redesign and improve the colour encoding and decoding process. This network architecture leverages a lightweight convolution to reduce the computation and combines an efficient attention model to form a residual block as the kernel of the backbone network. Furthermore, an efficient image self‐attention mechanism placed at the end of the network is applied to enhance the ultimate colouring results. The method proposed in this paper can maintain the natural colouring effect and significantly reduce the computational amount and network model parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measurements of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were performed as well as other pollutants in Shanghai in winter. The whole measurements were classified into three types of periods, including particulate pollution episodes (PPE), VOC pollution episodes (VPE), and relatively clean periods based on the pollution characteristics. Of these types, PPE have the highest fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) mass concentrations and second-highest VOC concentrations, mainly impacted by the regional transport of aged air masses from the northwest. VPE generally concern long-lasting high concentrations of VOCs under stagnant atmospheric conditions due to the accumulation of local emissions. Five sources of VOCs were identified by the positive matrix factorization (PMF) model, and furthermore, the analysis of VOCs concentration weighted trajectory (CWT) was employed to investigate the potential source region and even to validate the source identification to some extent. As a result, VOCs in Shanghai in winter were mainly from solvent usage (23.9%), vehicle emissions mixed with some petrochemical emissions (24.7%), natural gas and background (23.6%), combustion-related to regional transport (22.1%), and secondary formation (5.7%). The regional transport, usually with large combustion sources, played more important roles (41.9%) in VOCs during PPE compared to VPE and clean periods. The contribution of local emissions like vehicle exhaust and petrochemical emissions increased during VPE compared to PPE and clean periods. Clean periods have low PM 2.5 and low VOC concentrations, with a large contribution from the regional background. The present study highlighted the regional transport of VOCs should be taken into account for policymakers when making the city scale controlling measures. • Meteorological conditions strongly influenced VOCs characteristics in winter. • PPE and VPE were two kinds of typical pollution episodes in winter. • Regional transport-related combustion from the northwest played important roles during PPE. • Local emissions dominated the increase of VOCs during VPE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) and Th2 type immune response are critically involved in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis (AR), and this pathological process is influenced by microRNAs-mediated post-transcriptional regulation. The present study investigated the adaptation and function of miR-155 in AR patients and mouse model. We found that significantly increased miR-155 expression (1.63 ± 0.12 vs. 0.92 ± 0.11 in human, and 1.68 ± 0.15 vs. 1.06 ± 0.06 in mice) and ILC2s activity in nasal mucosa and serum in AR patients and mice. Administration of miR-155 antagomir significantly reduced the activity of ILC2s in nasal mucosa, suppressed the production of Th2 cytokines in serum and nasal mucosa, and alleviated the airway inflammation and allergic symptoms in AR mice, while miR-155 agomir increased ILC2s activity and production of Th2 cytokines and induced airway inflammation and allergic symptoms in control mice. Meanwhile, the expression of transcriptional factor c-Maf (0.57 ± 0.05 vs. 0.37 ± 0.04) in nasal mucosa in AR mice, which was significantly recovered by miR-155 antagomir (0.56 ± 0.04). Treatment with miR-155 agomir decreased c-Maf expression in nasal mucosa in control mice. This synchronized with the similar pattern in the current observations that miR-155 regulated Th2 cytokine (IL-4, IL-5, IL-9 and IL-13) production, airway inflammation and allergic symptoms in AR mice. Together, upregulation miR-155 suppressed the expression of transcriptional factor c-Maf and was critically involved in the ILC2s activation, which contributed to the airway inflammation and allergic symptoms in AR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Increased SNHG8 expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. • SNHG8 promotes nasopharyngeal carcinoma progression in vitro and in vivo. • miR-656−3p/SATB1 was the effector molecules of SNHG8. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) has been proposed to regulate tumorigenesis, however, the role of small nucleolar RNA host gene 8 (SNHG8) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains unclear. Levels of SNHG8 in NPC tissues and cells were analyzed with real‐time quantitative PCR method. Cell counting kit-8 assay, colony formation assay, wound-healing assay, and transwell invasion assay were performed to detect cell viability, migration, and invasion. Luciferase activity assay and RIP assay were performed to explore relationships among SNHG8, microRNA-656−3p (miR-656−3p), and special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 1 (SATB1). We found SNHG8 level was increased expression in NPC tissues and cells. In vitro assays revealed that SNHG8 stimulates NPC cell proliferation, colony formation, cell migration, and cell invasion. In vivo assay confirmed knockdown of SNHG8 could hamper tumor growth. Furthermore, we showed SNHG8 serves as a sponge for miR-656−3p to regulate SATB1 expression, and participated in NPC progression. In summary, our work indicated the importance of SNHG8 in NPC progression, which provided novel treatment methods for NPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The specific enzymes secreted by microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of ruminants, such as phytase, can catalyze the decomposition of calcium compounds (e.g., phytic acid) and release bound calcium for the absorption of animals. Therefore, we speculate that gastrointestinal microbes could be a factor affecting digestion and absorption of dietary calcium. However, little related research has been reported. In the present study, we found that the true digestibility of calcium (TDC) in goats is related to gastrointestinal bacteria. Some gastro-intestinal bacteria, such as ruminal Prevotella, were beneficial for true host digestibility of dietary calcium. The current study was performed to examine the relationship between the true digestibility of calcium (TDC) in the diet and bacterial community structure in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of goats. Twenty-six Nubian healthy female goats were selected as experimental animals, and their TDC was determined using metabolic experiments. Eight goats were grouped into the high digestibility of Calcium (HC) phenotype, and another eight were grouped into the low digestibility of Calcium (LC) phenotype. Their bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplicons from the rumen, abomasum, jejunum, cecum, and colon contents were sequenced using next-generation high-throughput sequencing technology. In the rumen, 239 genera belonging to 23 phyla, 319 genera belonging to 30 phyla in the abomasum, 248 genera belonging to 36 phyla in the jejunum, 248 genera belonging to 25 phyla in the colon and 246 genera belonging to 23 phyla in the cecum were detected. In addition, there was a significant correlation between the TDC and the relative abundance of Candidatus_Saccharimonas, Christensenellaceae_R-7_group, Mogibacterium, Prevotella_1, Prevotella_UCG_004, Ruminococcus_2, Saccharibacteria in the rumen, Eubacterium_coprostanoligens_group, Lachnospiraceae_ND3007_group, Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20_group, p-1088-a5_gut_group, and Planctomycetes in the abomasum, Butyrivibrio in the cecum, and Fibrobacter in the cecum were observed. This study suggests an association of GIT microbial communities as a factor influencing TDC in goats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensive field measurements were carried out in urban Shanghai between 20th and 30th of May 2017, and the VOC characteristics and sources were investigated with a focus on the relative contributions of local emissions and regional transport, as well as on the potential source regions. The VOC characteristics and sources largely depended on the meteorological conditions, especially wind direction and wind speed. Generally, two kinds of episodes were associated with regional transport. In one scenario, pollutants were transported from areas upwind (north-to-northwest) of Shanghai, specifically the Suzhou-Wuxi-Changzhou and Nantong city clusters and were characterized by combustion emissions and aged air masses. In the other scenario, pollutants were transported from areas upwind (south-to-southeast) of Shanghai, specifically Ningbo-Zhoushan port, and were characterized by industrial emissions and aged air masses. Additionally, an episode associated with air masses from the clean area over the sea provided an opportunity to study the local emissions of VOCs in Shanghai. Vehicle exhaust and chemical industries, especially solvent usage, contributed a majority of the VOCs in urban Shanghai in summer, together accounting for more than 55%. The aromatic fraction of the PAMS in Shanghai was significantly higher than that in other regions in China. Regional transport and secondary formation were also important sources of VOCs, and their contribution ranged from ~15% to ~25% depending on the meteorological conditions, with an hourly maximum contribution as high as 67%. Fuel evaporation, especially leakage emissions, should be addressed in Shanghai. The present study highlights the fact that joint control of VOCs in conjunction with surrounding cities is critical for Shanghai. Image 1 • VOCs in Shanghai show a strong dependence on meteorological conditions. • Aromatic fractions in Shanghai are higher than those in most regions in China. • Solvent use and vehicle exhaust are the two largest emissions of local VOCs. • Regional transport plays an important role in VOC loading in Shanghai. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to propose a methodology that reflects the impact of interest rate risk on firms in supply chain network under bank financing and trade credit and further describe how trade credit improves the impact of interest rate risk on supply chain network through a financial flow equilibrium. A mean-variance framework and a network equilibrium analysis are integrated to provide a modeling framework. The model allows for the investigation of how bank credit financing (BCF) and trade credit financing (TCF) affect the payment strategy and financial flow of interconnected firms in supply chain networks and how they are affected by interest rate risks. The optimal behavior of manufacturers and retailers is described through variational inequality. We construct a supply chain network equilibrium model and derive qualitative properties of the solution and the function that becomes assimilated to the variational inequality problem. Additionally, variational inequality is solved using the modified projection method. This study extends the research on the impact of interest rate risk on the decision in supply chain network of firms. While other studies focus on the game between banks and firms, only a few authors have made attempts to examine the game between one manufacturer and one retailer in supply chain. An effective trade credit strategy is obtained by balancing cash and credit transactions. Through the case study, we learn how to balance the capital flow effectively to improve the negative impact of interest rate risk on supply chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfur (S) fertilization and rhizobium inoculation are important agronomic practices for improving soybean growth and yield. However, their combined effects on yield components and the resultant impacts on yield need further investigation. Our study aimed to verify the combined effects of S fertilizer and rhizobium inoculant on the yield components and seed yield of soybeans, as well as photosynthesis dynamics during the V5–R6 growth stages. A randomized block design incorporating two factors was employed for field experiments on soybean, involving the application of five rates of sulfur (0, 5.0, 9.8, 14.8, and 19.6 kg S ha−1) with rhizobium inoculation or without. A reduction of 50% in mineral fertilizer according to farmer practice (FP) was applied alongside different rates of sulfur for field experiments on soybeans. The findings indicated that the application of sulfur fertilization significantly enhanced soybean yield by increasing the number of grains per plant (NG) and the number of pods per plant (NP). Maximum grain yield was reached under treatment with an S rate of 19.6 kg S ha−1, which increased NG by 39% more than an S rate of 0 kg S ha−1. Correlation analysis indicated that higher photosynthesis was closely associated with increased yield components. This study demonstrated that applying S fertilizers could improve soybean production by combining the appropriate sulfur concentration and rhizobia inoculation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A smart cathode coating layer is designed to enhance the high-temperature safety of all-solid-state lithium batteries. Based on the spontaneous polarization-induced built-in electric field, ferroelectric coatings could enhance lithium ion transport at the cathode/electrolyte interface. At hazardous (high) temperatures, ferroelectric coatings transform into paraelectric phases, hindering the transport of lithium ions and slowing down the heat release caused by electrochemical reactions. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research was conducted to evaluate the connection between the true digestibility of Phosphorus (TDP) in diet and bacterial community structure in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of goats. Twenty-eight Nubian goats were chosen and metabolic experiment was conducted to analyze TDP of research animals. Eight goats were grouped into the high digestibility of phosphorus (HP) phenotype, and another 8 were grouped into the low digestibility of phosphorus (LP) phenotype. And from the rumen, abomasum, jejunim, cecum and colon content of the goats, bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplicons were sequenced. In the rumen 239 genera belonging to 23 phyla, in abomasum 319 genera belonging to 30 phyla, in jejunum 248 genera belonging to 36 phyla, in colon 248 genera belonging to 25 phyla and in cecum 246 genera belonging to 23 phyla were noticed. In addition, there was a significant correlation between the TDP and the abundance of Ruminococcaceae_UCG-010, Ruminococcus_2, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014, Selenomonas_1 and Prevotella in the rumen, Lachnospiraceae_ND3007_group, Saccharofermentans, Ruminococcus_1, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014, Lachnospiraceae_XPB1014_group and Desulfovibrio in the abomasum, Prevotella, Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, Fibrobacter, Desulfovibrio and Ruminococcus_2 in the jejunum, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014 in the colon, and Desulfovibrio in the cecum. Present research trial recommended that the community of gastrointestinal microbiota is a factor affecting TDP in goats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is characterized by various bothersome clinical symptoms of the nasal mucosa that impaired the quality of daily life. Different chemokine receptors play a crucial role in the recruitment of inflammatory cells in AR. However, the effect of CC chemokine receptor (CCR) 3 on the function of eosinophils (EOS) is still unclear. We investigated the effect of CCR3 on EOS in a murine model of OVA-mediated allergic rhinitis using CCR3-deficient (CCR3−/−) mice. In vitro , bone marrow of CCR3−/− and wild-type (WT) mice were used to investigate the induction and development of EOS. In vivo , Allergic rhinitis was initiated in CCR3−/− and wild-type (WT) mice by passive transfer OVA, followed by detecting the eosinophil infiltration of the nasal mucosa and bone marrow. Then CD34+ progenitor cells in bone marrow and blood were evaluated by IHC analysis. Furthermore, the degranulation proteins of EOS in nasal mucosa, marrow, blood and NALF were determined by IHC, real-time PCR analysis and Western blot. We found that CCR3 gene can regulate the growth and development of primary cultured eosinophils. Knockout CCR3 gene can inhibit the proliferation and degranulation of EOS. The infiltration of eosinophils in the nasal mucosa following OVA-challenged, was significantly higher in WT mice compared with those stimulated with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) for WT, but that was not seen in similarly treated CCR3−/− mice. Besides, the number of CD34+ progenitor cells in bone marrow and blood were also suppressed in CCR3−/− mice. The degranulation proteins of EOS expressed in nasal mucosa, marrow, blood and NALF were decreased in CCR3−/− AR mice compared with WT-AR mice. And the clinical symptoms were significantly alleviated. The expression of granulation proteins in NALF were not detected in both untreated CCR3−/− mice and WT mice. These results demonstrate a contribution of CCR3 to both the growth, migration, and degranulation of EOS during allergic rhinitis. ● CCR3 gene can regulate the proliferation and development of primary cultured eosinophils. ● The proliferation, differentiation, and migration of eosinophils were inhibited in CCR3 deficient allergic rhinitis mice. ● Besides, CCR3 knockout could significantly alleviated clinical symptoms of allergic rhinitis murine model. ● Our finding about knocking out CCR3 contributes to the therapy of allergic rhinitis and will pave the way to the establishment of anti-CCR3 therapy applicable to eosinophilic allergic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In order to increase the growth performance and make up for the lack of high-quality roughage, farmers are accustomed to adopting high-concentration diets during the fattening period of ruminants. The long-term consumption of high-concentration diets induces a series of nutritional metabolic diseases. In production practice, the major mutton sheep fattening region (e.g., Jiangsu, China) generally uses diets with a concentrate ratio of up to 80% to 90% during the fattening period, and reports of cases of nutritional metabolic diseases are also rare. This seems to indicate that sheep and goats are more adaptable to high-concentration diets than cattle. Our work shows that high-concentrate diets can significantly promote the digestion of nutrients; the liver enhances the adaptability of goats to high-concentration diets by regulating the expression of genes involved in nutrient metabolism and toxin clearance. Therefore, the liver plays a vital role in the adaptation of ruminants to high-concentration diets. The results here can lay the foundation for the rational application of high-concentration diets in production. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of high-concentrate diets on the blood parameters and liver transcriptome of goats. Eighteen goats were allocated into three dietary treatments: the high level of concentrate (HC) group, the medium level of concentrate (MC) group, and the low level of concentrate (LC) group. The blood parameters and pathological damage of the gastrointestinal tract and liver tissues were measured. In hepatic portal vein blood, HC showed higher LPS, VFAs, and LA; in jugular vein blood, no significant differences in LPS, VFAs, and LA were recorded among groups (p > 0.05). Compared to the LC and MC groups, the HC group showed significantly increased interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-10, TNF-α, and diamine oxidase in jugular vein blood (p < 0.05). Liver transcriptome analysis discovered a total of 1269 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) among the three groups and most of them came from the HC vs. LC group. There were 333 DEGs up-regulated and 608 down-regulated in the HC group compared to the LC group. The gene ontology enrichment analysis showed that these DEGs were mainly focused on the regulation of triacylglycerol catabolism, lipoprotein particle remodeling, and cholesterol transport. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis revealed that the liver of the HC group enhanced the metabolism of nutrients such as VFAs through the activation of AMPK and other signaling pathways and enhanced the clearance and detoxification of LPS by activating the toll-like receptor signaling pathway. A high-concentrate diet (HCD) can significantly promote the digestion of nutrients; the liver enhances the adaptability of goats to an HCD by regulating the expression of genes involved in nutrient metabolism and toxin clearance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aimed to explore whether the regulation of Th1/Th2 immune responses by FOXD3-AS1 is associated with dendritic cells (DCs) in allergic rhinitis (AR). HE staining was performed to assess the pathological changes in the nasal mucosa; ELISA was performed to measure the levels of Th1/Th2-related cytokines; flow cytometry was performed to analyze Th1/Th2 cells and MHC-II-, CD80-, and CD86-positive DCs; and qRT‒PCR and western blotting were performed to measure mRNA and protein expression levels, respectively. Our data revealed that LV-FOXD3-AS1 improved AR and increased the Th1/Th2 cell ratio in AR model mice. LV-FOXD3-AS1 further inhibited DC maturation both in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, the coculture system of DCs and CD4+ T cells demonstrated that LV-FOXD3-AS1 increased the Th1/Th2 cell ratio by inhibiting the maturation of DCs. In addition, LV-FOXD3-AS1 reduced the level of phosphorylated STAT6 in DCs derived from healthy mice, and STAT6 overexpression eliminated the inhibitory effect of LV-FOXD3-AS1 on the maturation of DCs. In summary, LV-FOXD3-AS1 ameliorated AR by increasing the Th1/Th2 cell ratio by inhibiting DC maturation via the inhibition of STAT6 phosphorylation. Our data confirmed the protective effect of FOXD3-AS1 in AR and provided a novel idea for the treatment of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is a multifactorial emergency disease. Until now, the etiology of SSNHL is still unknown. Previous studies regarding the etiology of SSNHL are clinical studies depending on clinical data collection and analysis. Due to the insufficient sample size or various selective bias in clinical studies, the results of these studies may be inaccurate. This prospective case–control study aimed at exploring the possible etiology and risk factors of SSNHL. We enrolled 255 SSNHL patients and 255 sex-, age- and residence-matched non-SSNHL subjects in the control group. Our study shows that there was no significant difference in the prevalence of comorbidities including hypertension and diabetes, as well as the incidence of smoking and drinking habits between the case and control groups (P > 0.05). In addition, the peripheral blood white blood cell count, neutrophil count, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and fibrinogen level of the case group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). These findings suggest smoking, drinking, hypertension and diabetes may not be related to the onset of SSNHL. However, hypercoagulable state and inner ear vascular microthrombosis related to an elevated fibrinogen level might be the risk factors of the disease. In addition, inflammation play an important role of SSNHL onset. Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry. Registration number: ChiCTR2100048991. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is one of the high-risk litigated medical specialties. Further elucidating the causes behind these malpractice claims can help physicians avoid patient injury. This study analyzed CABG litigations occurred in different level hospitals to outline the basic characteristics, as well as present a analysis on the medical malpractice that result in lawsuits. Methods: This study utilized the "China Judgments Online" database to compile litigations from 2012 to 2021 across China. 109 cases related to the CABG were included in the study, and were analyzed for demographic, patient outcomes and verdict characteristics in different levels of hospitals. Results: The median age of plaintiff patient was 62 years, the median length of stay was 25 days, and the median responsibility ratio of the litigation cases was 30%. The average proportion of responsibility of national, provincial and municipal hospitals were 29.6%, 28.4% and 39.5% respectively, and the median days after surgery to death of that were 15, 9 and 5 separately. The top 5 postoperative complications in dispute cases were: low cardiac output syndrome, postoperative hemorrhage, non-surgical site infections, surgical site infections and arrhythmia. Conclusions: The diagnosis and treatment capabilities of coronary artery bypass grafting in different levels of hospitals in China were inconsistent, and the treatment capabilities in prefecture-level hospitals were lower than that in national hospitals. The procedural error, failure to properly monitor the patient and diagnostic errors were common in CABG litigations. Postoperative complications related to surgical injuries and insufficient basic postoperative management lead to a higher responsibility proportion. Key Points: The procedural error was the most common reason in CABG malpractice claims. Malpractice occurred most in postoperative management procedure. CABG claims caused by surgical injuries have a higher proportion of liability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although crop rotations have been widely shown as an effective approach for improving yield or soil quality in the long term, the relationship between crop rotations and quality traits of crop or biochar-based fertilization is still unclear. To address this, we conducted a long-term field experiment in the Heilongjiang province of China to investigate the effects of crop rotation and biochar-based fertilizer application on the crop yield, soil parameters, crop quality, and agronomic traits in 2014–2020. The effects of rotations on crop production and soil properties were evaluated with the average yield variability during the 7 years of this study. Our results showed that the diversified corn and soybean rotations had a significant positive effect on average crop yield compared with their monocultures. The corn yield was enhanced by 0.6 Mg ha−1 (5.4%) in the corn–soybean–corn (CSC) crop sequence compared with monoculture corn. Similarly, soybean yield was enhanced by 0.21 Mg ha−1 (9.7%) in the soybean–corn–corn (SCC) crop sequence compared with monoculture soybean. However, a negative effect of crop rotations was detected on the protein content of soybean compared with the monoculture soybean, while a positive effect was detected on oil content. Additionally, no differences were detected in crop yield between biochar-based fertilization and mineral fertilization treatments, but a significant positive effect of biochar-based fertilization was observed for any crop on both protein and oil content. A significant effect of crop rotation was found on the percentage of total soil N (TN), available soil N (AN), and available soil K (AK) content. The SSS crop sequence treatment illustrated the highest TN values at 0.18%. The CCC crop sequence treatment increased AN and AK content by 9.1% and 7.8%, respectively, compared with SSS (p < 0.05). We conclude that crop rotations increase crop yield and biochar-based fertilizer application, improving crop quality traits in the long term. Thus, the addition of biochar-based fertilizer could efficiently enhance the yield and quality of crop in the rotation cropping system. The findings of this study may provide useful information for designing sustainable cropping systems based on rotations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. lncRNA AFAP1-AS1 has been linked to the pathogenesis of a wide range of tumors. Nevertheless, whether it plays a role in laryngeal carcinoma (LC) remains unclear. Methods. Twenty-nine pairs of LC and related normal tissues were collected for the detection of lncRNA AFAP1-AS1 using qRT-PCR. Correlation of lncRNA AFAP1-AS1 level and clinicopathological characters was assessed by the chi-square test. Impacts of lncRNA AFAP1-AS1 silencing on LC phenotypes were tested in vitro via CCK-8, clone formation, EdU staining, wound healing, flow cytometry, and Transwell assay. Results. Herein, a remarkable elevation of lncRNA AFAP1-AS1 was observed in LC patients. And higher lncRNA AFAP1-AS1 level was correlated to worse clinical pathological characteristics. Moreover, lncRNA AFAP1-AS1 silencing was revealed to repress TU212 malignant phenotypes. Conclusion. Our data suggested that lncRNA AFAP1-AS1 acts as an oncogene of LC in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: endolymphatic sac decompression; hearing Loss; Meniere's disease; semicircular canal occlusion; vertigo EN endolymphatic sac decompression hearing Loss Meniere's disease semicircular canal occlusion vertigo 319 322 4 02/17/22 20220301 NES 220301 Key points Triple semicircular canal occlusion is an efficient strategy for vertigo control in patients with intractable Meniere's disease. Approximately 10% of patients suffered from persistent vertigo, despite an optimal conservative treatment, are considered as intractable MD.1 To date, many methods have been attempted to treat these patients, including a variety of surgeries: selective vestibular neurotomy, labyrinthectomy and endolymphatic sac surgeries. The surgery can block the movement of endolymph in the canals to eliminate vertigo attacks induced by position changing Patients with advanced-stage MD suffered more from hearing deterioration postoperatively. [Extracted from the article]

A letter to the editor on "Radiative trapping effect of Yb3+ ions in lead-germanate glasses," by Zhongmin Yang, Zhonghong Jiang, Yuehui Liu, & Zaide Deng in July 2006 issue is presented.

Purpose: To investigate optimal approaches for appropriate removal of the parotid gland in the management of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the external auditory canal (EAC) at different tumor stages. Methods: In total, 39 patients with SCC of EAC treated at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University between September 2003 and April 2019 were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent lateral temporal bone resection or subtotal temporal bone resection. Total parotidectomy was performed in patients with direct parotid invasion. Superficial parotidectomy was performed in patients with parotid node metastasis and patients with advanced stages without evidence of parotid involvement. Results: The mean follow-up period was 68.7 months. Local recurrences or distant metastases occurred in five patients (12.8%). The 5-year overall survival rate was 78.4%. The 5-year survival rate was 100% in early stage (T1 and T2) patients, and 58.9 and 50.0% in patients staged III and IV, respectively. Direct parotid invasion was observed in only advanced-stage patients, while parotid node metastasis was noted in both early and advanced-stage patients preoperatively. There were no significant differences (χ2 = 0.1026; p = 0.749) between different tumor primary locations. However, soft tissue or preauricular organs became vulnerable once the anterior wall was infiltrated or eroded. Conclusion: Parotid management is important for achieving safer and wider tumor-free margins. Total parotidectomy should be mandatory for all advanced-staged (T3 and T4) patients. An optimal decision for parotid management in early stages depends on the infiltration or erosion of the anterior wall of the EAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ménière disease (MD) is an idiopathic inner ear disorder, and endolymphatic hydrops (EH) being considered to be its pathological basis. Currently, there is no gold standard for diagnosing MD. Previous study has reported visualized EH using MRI by intratympanic gadolinium-based contrast media (GBCM) administration (IT-Gd) in patients with MD, and this technique was gradually established for MD diagnosis. However, few studies reported their diagnostic sensitivity and specificity in clinical application. This prospective study aimed at investigating the clinical characteristics and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results of patients with MD, and analyzing the relationship between clinical results and MRI findings in MD patients. Our study shows that the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of MRI were 79.2% and 80.7% respectively. Moreover, there was no significant correlation between hearing levels and cochlear grading scores, nor vestibular grading scores. The duration of disease was not significantly associated with cochlear or vestibular grading scores. These findings suggest that IT-Gd MRI offers reliable radiological diagnostic criteria for MD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mast cells (MCs) are the major effector cells of allergic rhinitis (AR). The present study aimed to investigate the effects of C-C chemokine receptor type 3 (CCR3) on the proliferation, apoptosis, chemotaxis and activated degranulation of mouse MCs. Mouse bone marrow-derived MCs were cultured in vitro, purified and identified using toluidine blue staining and flow cytometry. Three different CCR3-short hairpin (shRNA) lentiviral vectors were constructed and transfected into MCs, and the mRNA and protein expression levels of CCR3 were assessed by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting. Proliferation and apoptosis of the MCs were measured using Cell Counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assays and flow cytometry, respectively. MC chemotaxis was assessed by Transwell assay and quantified using flow cytometry. The activation of MC degranulation was examined using ELISAs. The results demonstrated that MCs were appropriately isolated, and identified that CCR3-shRNA2 presented the higher knockdown effect among the three shRNAs tested. Following 96 h of transfection, the results of CCK-8 and flow cytometry assays demonstrated that CCR3-shRNA2 inhibited MC proliferation and promoted MC apoptosis. The results from the Transwell assay indicated that CCR3-shRNA2 restrained MC chemotaxis, whereas ELISA results demonstrated that CCR3-shRNA2 suppressed MC degranulation. In conclusion, CCR3-shRNA2 effectively downregulated CCR3 mRNA and protein expression levels in mouse MCs. In addition, CCR3-shRNA2 promoted MC apoptosis and suppressed the proliferation, chemotaxis and degranulation of mouse MCs, suggesting that CCR3-shRNA2 may serve as a therapeutic tool for the treatment of allergic rhinitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) is an emergency disease requiring immediate diagnosis and treatment. The incidence of ISSNHL in the Western countries' population was estimated to 5–20 per 100,000 inhabitants. The etiology of ISSNHL remains unknown. Its pathogenesis is most often suggested to be due to a disturbed microcirculation and infection. Previous studies have reported that comorbidities, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM), and hyperfibrinogenemia are risk factors of ISSNHL. This study aimed at investigating the clinical characteristics, laboratory parameters and comorbidities of patients with ISSNHL. Our study suggests that the annual incidence of ISSNHL in China mainland is 19 per 100 000. The clinical characteristics and prevalence of comorbidities of ISSNHL patients are different according to age distribution and hearing results. Moreover, the patients with vertigo, hypertension, DM and high TG suffered more often from severe hearing loss compared with the counterparts. This indicates that the cardiovascular and metabolic diseases (hypertension and hyperlipidemia) appeared to be closely associated with the occurrence and severity of ISSNHL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing evidences have revealed that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are frequently involved in various cancers. However, the expression and function of lncRNA DRAIC in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remain unknown. In this study, we found that DRAIC was significantly increased in NPC tissues. Increased expression of DRAIC was positively correlated with advanced clinical stages of NPC patients. Functional assays revealed that ectopic expression of DRAIC enhances NPC cell growth, migration and invasion. DRAIC knockdown represses NPC cell growth, migration and invasion. Mechanistically, we identified two miR-122 binding sites on DRAIC. RNA pull-down, RNA immunoprecipitation, and dual-luciferase reporter assays confirmed the binding of DRAIC to miR-122. Via binding of miR-122, DRAIC upregulated the expression of miR-122 target SATB1, which was abolished by the mutation of miR-122 binding sites on SATB1. Moreover, the oncogenic roles of DRAIC on NPC were reversed by the mutation of miR-122 binding sites on SATB1, simultaneous overexpression of miR-122, or depletion of SATB1. In addition, the expression of SATB1 was also increased and positively associated with that of DRAIC in NPC tissues. In conclusion, these findings revealed the important roles of DRAIC-miR-122-SATB1 axis in NPC and suggested that DRAIC may be a potential therapeutic target for NPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract New particle formation (NPF) events are important phenomena that generate nanoparticles and even fine particles via gas-to-particle conversion. These events have clear effects on aerosol loading, atmospheric chemistry and global climate. Long-term field measurements were used to characterize aerosol size distributions and to examine the role of atmospheric volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in NPF events in the urban environment of Shanghai. Aitken and accumulation particles are dominant and account for 85–95% of the total particles, whereas coarse particles are negligible. Particles in the four size-models show the same seasonality: highest in winter and lowest in autumn. The mean particle size distributions display different patterns of diurnal fluctuation, including bimodal in spring and winter, tri-modal in autumn, and "banana" shaped in summer due to highly frequent NPF events. The geometric mean diameter (GMD) is often 20–30 nm or 40–60 nm. Overall, NPF events occur on 89 days out of 335 measurement days (26.5%), and the newly formed particles have a mean growth rate of 6.28 nm h−1. Two typical anthropogenic aromatics, benzene and toluene, from traffic emissions closely match the occurrence of NPF events and have a weakly positive correlation with the nucleation particle number concentrations. The enhanced VOCs as precursors of organic vapors may contribute to the growth process of NPF events to some extent (e.g., growth rate) so that newly formed particles can grow into a detectable size. Highlights • Aitken and accumulation particles account for 85–95% of total particles. • Aerosol size distributions display different diurnal patterns. • The NPFs occur on 89 days out of 335 days with the highest frequency in summer. • Two anthropogenic aromatics have correlations with nucleation particle. • Enhanced VOCs may contribute to the growth of newly formed particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric pollutions have an important impact on aerosol, condensation nuclei (CN) and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) loadings near the ground through disturbing particle size, number, chemical composition and reactions, mixing state, hygroscopicity, and so on. Aerosols and CCN were measured in urban Guangzhou during pollution and post-rain periods to examine effects of particulate pollutants on aerosol CCN activity and compare their mechanisms between summer and winter. In contrast with different levels of pollutions, particle matter (PM 2.5 ) and number (CN) and CCN almost showed an opposite trend to aerosol activity (CCN/CN). In summer, new particle formation (NPF) events triggered by photochemical reactions (e.g. O 3 ) always occurred in no-pollution daytime, and increased significantly CN and CCN as a dominant contributor to secondary aerosols. Under pollution conditions, the gas-to-particle transition driven by photochemical reactions guided the formation and aging processes of particles in daytime, especially in changing soluble species, whereas atmospheric oxidation and heterogeneous reactions dominated at night. In winter, stagnant weather conditions, high pollutant levels and relatively high RH were in favor of particle growing and aging through enhancing secondary particle formation and heterogeneous reactions. The wet scavenging of precipitation reduced greatly CCN amount by scouring pre-existing particles in winter, and during post-rain period the photochemical reactions did not promote the burst of secondary particle formation in the absence of ozone, compared with summer. The results may provide insights into the relationship between aerosol moisture absorption and pollution that may be useful for improving air quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of C-C chemokine receptor type 3 (CCR3) gene knockout on allergic rhinitis (AR) in mice, as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms. Ovalbumin was administrated to CCR3+/+ and CCR3−/− BALB/c mice to establish an AR model. The mice were divided into four groups: i) Normal control (CG), ii) AR model (AR), iii) CCR3 knockout CG (CCR3−/−CG) and iv) AR model with CCR3 knockout (CCR3−/−AR). Histological sections of nasal mucosae were examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining, which revealed that CCR3 knockout suppressed the invasion of inflammatory cells and relieved the damage of nasal mucosae. Peripheral blood smear and nasal-washing smears were evaluated by Wright's staining. Eosinophil (EOS) numbers in nasal mucosae, peripheral blood, and nasal washings of the various groups were ranked in the order: AR>CCR3−/−AR>CG>CCR3−/−. mRNA expression levels of CCR3, EOS peroxidase (EPO), EOS cationic protein (ECP), and major basic protein (MBP) in the peripheral serum and nasal washings were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, and immunoglobulin E (IgE) protein levels in the peripheral serum and nasal washings were investigated by ELISA. CCR3 mRNA expression was not detected in the CCR3−/− and CCR3−/−AR groups, whereas expression levels in the AR group were markedly higher compared with expression in the CG group. Compared with the CG-associated groups (i.e., the CG and CCR3−/−CG groups), the levels of EPO, ECP, MBP, IL-4, and IgE were significantly increased in the AR-associated groups (that is, R and CCR3−/−AR). In addition, the CCR3−/−AR group mice produced significantly lower levels of EPO, ECP, MBP, IL-4 and IgE compared with the AR group, whereas the expression levels of IFN-γ and IL-10 were increased. CCR3 gene knockout may alleviate EOS invasion and the inflammatory response in AR model mice by reducing the expression levels of EPO, ECP, MBP, IL-4, and IgE, and increasing the expression of IL-10 and IFN-γ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The OVA sensitized AR mouse model and EOL-1 cells model are established. • The level of miR-223-3p is up-regulated in AR patients and AR mice. • MiR-223-3p affects AR inflammatory response by promoting eosinophil degranulation. • FBXW7 is a target gene of miR-223-3p, and its expression is low in AR group. • MiR-223-3p affects eosinophil degranulation and AR inflammation by targeting FBXW7. MiR-223-3p is a multifunctional microRNA regulated by multiple transcription factors and plays a critical role in inflammation. This paper was designed to investigate the regulatory role and mechanism of miR-223-3p in eosinophils degranulation and allergic rhinitis (AR) inflammation. OVA sensitized AR mouse model and EOL-1 cells model were established. RT-qPCR and FISH were performed to detect the miR-223-3p expression. ELISA and WB were utilized to evaluate mRNA and protein expression. HE staining and transmission electron microscopy were applied to observe the morphological changes in nasal mucosa. Flow cytometry and immunofluorescence staining were performed to measure the proportion of eosinophils and eosinophilic major basic protein expression. The targeting relationship between miR-223-3p and FBXW7 was verified by bioinformatic analysis and dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. The expression of FBXW7 was detected by immunohistochemistry. The level of miR-223-3p in nasal mucosa was significantly up-regulated in AR group. The expression of miR-223-3p, ECP, MBP, and EPO were increased in EOL-1 cells, further increasing the miR-223-3p level could promote the ECP and EPO mRNA expression. Upregulation of miR-223-3p increased eosinophils granule protein expression, aggravated mucosal destruction and enhanced AR inflammation. Luciferase assay verified miR-223-3p directly target the 3ʹ-UTR of FBXW7. In vitro, overexpression of FBXW7 could reverse the increase in MBP expression caused by the up-regulation of miR-223-3p. In vivo, knockdown of FBXW7 could reverse the down-regulation in granule protein level caused by the down-regulation of miR-223-3p, thereby aggravating AR inflammation. Collected evidence elucidated that miR-223-3p could regulate the eosinophil degranulation and enhances the inflammation in AR by targeting FBXW7. The miR-223-3p/FBXW7 axis may provide a novel approach for AR treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to explore the microRNA‑let‑7e (miR‑let‑7e) expression in allergic rhinitis (AR), and to investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms. miR‑let‑7e expression in the nasal mucosa of mice and patients with AR were detected. The expression levels of three inflammatory factors, including histamine, immunoglobulin E and tumor necrosis factor‑α (TNF‑α), in the blood of AR mice and in interleukin (IL)‑13‑stimulated nasal epithelial cells (NECs) were also measured. Furthermore, the target gene of miR‑let‑7e was predicted and validated using a luciferase reporter assay. The expression levels of Janus kinase 1 (JAK1) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) were detected. The results demonstrated that miR‑let‑7e was downregulated in patients and mice with AR compared with the controls. In addition, the expression levels of inflammatory factors were higher in the blood of mice with AR compared with the control group, while miR‑let‑7e overexpression inhibited these levels in AR mice and IL‑13‑stimulated NECs. Furthermore, suppressor of cytokine signaling 4 (SOCS4) was revealed as a potential target gene of miR‑let‑7e and was negatively regulated by miR‑let‑7e. Overexpression of SOCS4 abrogated the anti‑inflammatory activity of miR‑let‑7e overexpression. Finally, miR‑let‑7e overexpression activated the JAK1/STAT3 signaling pathway. In conclusion, miR‑let‑7e may serve an important role in the progression and development of AR, while overexpression of miR‑let‑7e had an anti‑inflammatory effect by targeting SOCS4, which may be achieved by activation of the JAK1/STAT3 signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), condensation nuclei (CN) and aerosol chemical composition were measured simultaneously at an urban site of Guangzhou from July to August 2015 and in January 2016, and the seasonal variations of aerosol activated fractions (N CCN /N CN ) as well as their relevant influence factors were further studied accordingly. N CN is generally higher in winter (dry season), whereas N CCN and N CCN /N CN are mostly higher in summer (wet season) instead. In particular, N CCN and N CCN /N CN are much lower at smaller supersaturation levels (SS < 0.2) in winter. In spite of similar diurnal variations for N CCN and N CN , N CCN /N CN indicates an opposite tendency, relatively lower at midday, dusk and before midnight. Other than the size of particles as well as their chemical composition, some other factors, such as mass, gas precursors, pollutant transportation, meteorological conditions, etc., also contribute to the variations of N CCN and N CCN /N CN. Particles from the local source or local-oceanic combination source cast influence on CN and CCN significantly, while the pollutants originating from and crossing over distant polluted areas contribute largely to CCN/CN. N CN and N CCN are relatively higher under pollution-free conditions in summertime and polluted conditions in wintertime, but N CCN /N CN is just the opposite. On various polluted conditions, aerosol CCN activities are greatly discrepant between summer and winter, especially during mist or heavy haze periods. The results imply that anthropogenic pollutants exert critical impacts on aerosol CCN activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• CCR3-/- mice were constructed by NBRI using the Cre-LoxP system to knock out CCR3 target genes in bone marrow cells. • The proliferative activity of EOS, expression of EPO and p-Akt in the WT EOS group were higher than those in CCR3-/- EOS group (all P < 0.05). • The number of migrated cells in the WT EOS group were higher than those in CCR3-/- EOS group (P < 0.05). • After adding eotaxin, the WT EOS group was higher than the other three groups (all P < 0.05). • CCR3-/- inhibited EOS's proliferation, migration and degranulation by downregulating PI3K/Akt pathway. This study aimed to investigate the effects of CCR3 knockdown (CCR3-/-) on the proliferation, migration, and degranulation of the bone marrow eosinophils (EOS) in mice. Bone marrow cells from wild-type mice (WT) were harvested for primary culture and differentiated into mature EOS, which were then randomly divided into the control, 740Y-P, and LY294002 group. The effects of different concentrations of LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor) and 740Y-P (PI3K agonist) on the proliferation viability of EOS, expressions of EPO, Akt, and p-Akt proteins, and migration changes of EOS were detected. CCR3-/- mice were identified. Then, bone marrow cells of WT and CCR3-/- mice were differentiated into mature EOS and grouped into WT EOS, WT EOS + eotaxin (100 ng/mL), CCR3-/- EOS, and CCR3-/- EOS + eotaxin (100 ng/mL) group. The changes in EOS proliferation, migration, as well as expressions of EPO, Akt, and p-Akt proteins were detected. The number of migrated cells (P < 0.01) and expression of EPO (p < 0.05) in the 740Y-P group were higher than those in the control group, while opposite trends were observed for the LY294002 group. Expression levels of p-Akt and Akt in the LY294002 group were significantly lower than in the control group (all P < 0.01). Also, the expression of p-Akt in the 740Y-P group was significantly higher than that in the control group (p < 0.05). The proliferative activity of EOS, expression of EPO and p-Akt, and the number of migrated cells in the WT EOS group were higher than those in CCR3-/- EOS group (all P < 0.05). After adding eotaxin, the WT EOS group was higher than the other three groups (all P < 0.05). Mechanistically, CCR3-/- inhibited EOS's proliferation, migration, and degranulation by downregulating PI3K/Akt pathway. This data suggests that the knockout of the CCR3 gene in bone marrow cells may inhibit the function of EOS by downregulating the PI3K/Akt pathway, thereby affecting AR; thus, the CCR3 gene may be a target gene for AR therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• CCR3-/- mice were constructed by NBRI using the Cre-LoxP system to knock out CCR3 target genes in bone marrow cells. • The proliferative activity of EOS, expression of EPO and p-Akt in the WT EOS group were higher than those in CCR3-/- EOS group (all P < 0.05). • The number of migrated cells in the WT EOS group were higher than those in CCR3-/- EOS group (P < 0.05). • After adding eotaxin, the WT EOS group was higher than the other three groups (all P < 0.05). • CCR3-/- inhibited EOS's proliferation, migration and degranulation by downregulating PI3K/Akt pathway. This study aimed to investigate the effects of CCR3 knockdown (CCR3-/-) on the proliferation, migration, and degranulation of the bone marrow eosinophils (EOS) in mice. Bone marrow cells from wild-type mice (WT) were harvested for primary culture and differentiated into mature EOS, which were then randomly divided into the control, 740Y-P, and LY294002 group. The effects of different concentrations of LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor) and 740Y-P (PI3K agonist) on the proliferation viability of EOS, expressions of EPO, Akt, and p-Akt proteins, and migration changes of EOS were detected. CCR3-/- mice were identified. Then, bone marrow cells of WT and CCR3-/- mice were differentiated into mature EOS and grouped into WT EOS, WT EOS + eotaxin (100 ng/mL), CCR3-/- EOS, and CCR3-/- EOS + eotaxin (100 ng/mL) group. The changes in EOS proliferation, migration, as well as expressions of EPO, Akt, and p-Akt proteins were detected. The number of migrated cells (P < 0.01) and expression of EPO (p < 0.05) in the 740Y-P group were higher than those in the control group, while opposite trends were observed for the LY294002 group. Expression levels of p-Akt and Akt in the LY294002 group were significantly lower than in the control group (all P < 0.01). Also, the expression of p-Akt in the 740Y-P group was significantly higher than that in the control group (p < 0.05). The proliferative activity of EOS, expression of EPO and p-Akt, and the number of migrated cells in the WT EOS group were higher than those in CCR3-/- EOS group (all P < 0.05). After adding eotaxin, the WT EOS group was higher than the other three groups (all P < 0.05). Mechanistically, CCR3-/- inhibited EOS's proliferation, migration, and degranulation by downregulating PI3K/Akt pathway. This data suggests that the knockout of the CCR3 gene in bone marrow cells may inhibit the function of EOS by downregulating the PI3K/Akt pathway, thereby affecting AR; thus, the CCR3 gene may be a target gene for AR therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cassava-alcohol fermentation process employing cassava requires nitrogen source to maximize yields by a commercial strain of S. cerevisiae TG1348. In this study, a factorial experimental design was used to assess a suitable nitrogen source for growth and fermentative performance of S. cerevisiae in cassava-ethanol fermentation. The alcohol fermentation time was about 39 h for urea and ammonium acetate, which was 48 h for ammonium chloride and ammonium sulphate. The fermentation time was reduced by 19 % when using urea and ammonium acetate as nitrogen source. Ammonium acetate leaded to the highest alcohol yield, which was 4% higher than for ammonium sulphate. In addition, byproduct formation differed obviously between the nitrogen sources. The glycerol yields were similar for urea, ammonium sulphate and ammonium chloride but were 24 % lower for ammonium acetate. However, glycerol yield for ammonium carbonate was higher than for other nitrogen sources. Clearly, in batch cultures the ammonium acetate not only increased ethanol generation, but also decreased glycerol generation. In order to understand why ammonium acetate promotes alcohol fermentation, acetic acid was added to different nitrogen sources. The weight loss effect of ammonium sulphate adding acetic acid and ammonium acetate as nitrogen source was the same. The fermentation time was shortened by adding acetic acid. And pH was increased by addition of acetic acid when ammonium sulfate and urea were used as nitrogen sources. The results showed that the acetate root plays an important role in ammonium acetate. The results of this study could facilitate the development of new strategies to control fermentation performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a general approach for the synthesis of 5,6-dihydroindolo-naphthyridine ring system via an intramolecular cyclization of the indole NH to an alkene moiety as the key step. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• In this study, we revealed that the TP53INP1 expression was was inversely associated with miR-155-5p in ILC2s. • MiR-155-5p disrupted the Th1/Th2 cytokines expression balance and suppressed the apoptosis of ILC2s via targeting TP53INP1 in AR. • TP53INP1 might exert its anti-inflammatory roles via inhibition NF-κB signaling pathway in AR. • Taken together, these findings suggested that miR-155-5p aggravated the inflammatory response of AR dominated by ILC2s via targeting TP53INP1, which may aid in the development of novel therapeutic agents for AR. As a key component of innate immunity, group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) play a key role in Allergic rhinitis (AR). We previously demonstrated that both miR-155-5p and ILC2s are overexpressed in the nasal mucosa of AR patients, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. At present study, we revealed that miR-155-5p was highly expressed in ILC2s of AR patients. Moreover, miR-155-5p promoted the secretion of Th2 cytokines of ILC2s, while inhibited the secretion of Th1 cytokines and the apoptosis of ILC2s. Meanwhile, the TP53INP1 expression was poorly expressed in ILC2s of AR patients. A dual luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that TP53INP1 was a direct target of miR-155-5p, and its expression was inversely associated with miR-155-5p in ILC2s. Furthermore, TP53INP1 inhibited the secretion of Th2 cytokines of ILC2s, while promoted the secretion of Th1 cytokines and the apoptosis of ILC2s. Notably, rescue experiments demonstrated that overexpression of TP53INP1 could partially reverse the effect of miR-155-5p on ILC2s. Taken together, these findings suggested that miR-155-5p aggravated the inflammatory response of AR dominated by ILC2s via targeting TP53INP1, which may aid in the development of novel therapeutic agents for AR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The manuscript summarizes the molecular dynamics research progress of liquid wetting on solid surfaces. • The influence of the size of the nano droplets on the wetting of the solid surface is revealed, and the recommended size is proposed for simulation to obtain accurate results. • The contact angles for droplets at different levels of solid-liquid forces were quantitatively evaluated. The results show that there is an excellent linear correlation between them in the angle range of 28° to 167°. • Under a strong solid-liquid force, thin liquid film expansion in the three-phase line was found in nanometer-level simulations. The thin film spreading range increased with increasing solid-liquid force. The wetting of nanodroplets on solid surfaces was studied by molecular dynamics simulations. Through investigation of the contact angle of nanodroplets with different sizes, a relatively stable and accurate contact angle was obtained for a droplet radius of larger than 43 Å (1 Å = 10−10 m). The contact angles for droplets at different levels of solid-liquid forces were quantitatively evaluated. The results show that there is an excellent linear correlation between them in the angle range of 28° to 167°. Under a strong solid-liquid force, thin liquid film expansion in the three-phase line was found in nanometer-level simulations. The thin film spreading range increased with increasing solid-liquid force. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We report a general method for the synthesis of the substituted 6H-pyrido[2′,3′:5,6] [1,3]oxazino[3,4-a]indole ring system (structure 1) via the cyclization from an indoline precursor with aldehydes or ketones followed by oxidative re-aromatization. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]