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With the gradual expansion of aquaculture industry in China, the frequent occurrence of diseases in aquatic animal aquaculture and the pollution of aquatic water are becoming more and more serious. The long-term use of antibiotics and traditional vaccines in aquaculture has caused water pollution, drug-resistant strains, antibiotic residues, and other problems, which restricts the healthy development of aquaculture industry. Plant polysaccharides play an important role in replacing antibiotics. Plant polysaccharides exist in the leaves, flowers, roots, stems, and fruits of plants. They are macromolecular polymers that connect various monosaccharides by glycosidic bonds. Plant polysaccharides have the advantages of safety, high efficiency, low residue and no drug resistance. Plant polysaccharides have many biological functions, such as regulating immunity, anti-oxidation, lowering blood sugar, anti-tumor, and improving intestinal health. The application of plant polysaccharides in animal production can improve body health, enhance immunity and antioxidant capacity, and improve production performance. Therefore, this paper mainly reviewed the physicochemical properties, biological functions of plant polysaccharides and their application in aquaculture, so as to provide a reference for their further promotion and application in aquaculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Chloraminated EfOM and NOM induce intracellular RNS and ROS. • Damage to macromolecules including 8-OH(d)G and protein carbonyl increases. • Cell cycle arrests at G2 phase and cell necrosis occurs. • Chloraminated EfOM has high cytotoxicity by causing irreversible damage. Disinfection by chloramination produces toxic byproducts and the difference in toxicity of reclaimed and drinking water treated by chloramination remains unclear. This study investigated cytotoxic effects at the same concentrations of dissolved organic matter and showed that chloraminated effluent organic matter (EfOM) induced 1.7 times higher cytotoxicity than chloraminated natural organic matter (NOM) applied to simulate drinking water. Chloraminated EfOM induced more reactive nitrogen species than chloraminated NOM, and chloraminated EfOM and NOM induced similar and higher levels of reactive oxygen species than the negative control, respectively. Consequently, intracellular macromolecule damage indicated by DNA/RNA damage marker 8‑hydroxy-(deoxy)guanosine and the intracellular protein carbonyl concentration induced by chloraminated EfOM was higher and slightly more than that induced by chloraminated NOM, respectively. These data were consistent with the effects on cell physiological processes. Cell cycle arrest mainly occurred in G2 phase by chloraminated EfOM and NOM. Early apoptotic cells, which could return to normal, increased upon exposure to high concentrations of chloraminated EfOM and NOM. Moreover, necrotic cells were significantly increased from 0.5% to 2.5% when the concentration increased from 20- to 60-fold chloraminated EfOM, but were not obviously changed by chloraminated NOM. These results indicated that the comprehensive intracellular changes induced by toxic substances in chloraminated EfOM were more irreversible and induced more cell death than chloraminated NOM. [Display omitted] Chloraminated effluent organic matter induced severer toxicity effects than chloraminated natural organic matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperature and humidity (TH) post‐treatment is a relatively mild way to change the silk fibroin (SF) secondary structure. Here, urease is immobilized in SF scaffold (SFS) by TH post‐treatment, and the effects of annealing on the immobilized urease activity are examined. Fourier transform infrared indicates that the SFS secondary structure started to transform when the scaffold is annealed at 35 °C with 100% relative humidity for 20 min. The higher the temperature, the lower the treatment time is required to change SFS structure. Compared to methanol annealing, TH post‐treatment maintains the original form of the sample, and the scaffold shows better water‐binding abilities. The maximum recovery ratio of immobilized urease is 98.4 ± 7.0%, which is obtained after the scaffold is postprocessed at 35 °C for 60 min, and the relative recovery ratio of the urease activity is still as high as 80.6 ± 12.1% after repeatedly measuring 10 times. In addition, the relative recovery ratio of urease is not significantly decrease within 4 weeks of storage. Therefore, TH annealing is a relatively mild and effective way to immobilize urease in SFS. The urease‐immobilized SFS with hydrophilic properties and prolonged enzyme activity may be used for peritoneal dialysate regeneration systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Thermal therapy induces an immune response in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the dynamic characteristics of the natural killer (NK) cell immune response post-thermal ablation remain unclear. We conducted a prospective longitudinal cohort study to observe the dynamic changes of phenotype and function of NK cells in peripheral blood before and after thermal ablation of hepatitis B-associated HCC and their correlation with tumor recurrence. Methods: Fifty-six patients clinically and pathologically confirmed with hepatitis B-associated HCC were selected for thermal ablation. Peripheral blood was collected on day 0, day 7, and month 1. NK cell subsets, receptors, and killing function were detected by flow cytometry, and the LDH levels were examined. Overall recurrence and associated variables were estimated using Kaplan–Meier, log-rank, and Cox proportional-hazards analyses. Results: The frequency of CD3−CD56+ cells was increased on day 7 (P < 0.01) without significant differences between D0 and M1. NKG2D, NKp44, NKp30, CD159a, and CD158a expression was increased on M1 (all P < 0.05). The granzyme B and IFN-γ expression in NK cells were higher on M1 vs. D0 (P < 0.05). On day 7, the NK cell lysis activity of the target K562 cells was increased (P < 0.01) but decreased on M1 (P < 0.05). Survival analysis showed that CD158a expression and IFN-γ and perforin release on day 0 were associated with the risk of HCC recurrence. Cox regression analysis showed that the expression changes in CD56, NKp46, granzyme B, and perforin (D7-D0) induced by thermal ablation were associated with recurrence-free survival (RFS) of patients with HCC. Conclusion: Thermal ablation increased the frequency and function of CD3−CD56+ NK cells in the peripheral blood of patients with HCC. These cells tended to be more differentiated and activated. Notably, expression levels of NK cell receptors NKp46, perforin, and granzyme B were associated with RFS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rational utilization of the rich light‐bio‐matter interplay taking place in single‐cell analysis represents a new technological direction in the field. The light‐fueled operation is expected to achieve advanced photoelectrochemical (PEC) single‐cell analysis with unknown possibilities. Here, a PEC nanoreactor capable of single‐cell sampling and near zero‐background Faradaic detection of intracellular microRNA (miR) is devised by the construction of a small reaction chamber accommodating the target‐triggered hybridization chain reaction for binding the metallointercalator of [Ru(bpy)2(dppz)]2+ as the signal reporter. Light stimulation of the dsDNA/metallointercalator adduct will induce the generation of photocurrents, underpinning a zero‐biased and near zero‐background PEC method toward Faradaic detection of non‐electrogenic miR at the single‐cell level. Using this nanotool, lower miR concentration in the near‐nucleus region than that in the main cytosol was revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rational utilization of the rich light‐bio‐matter interplay taking place in single‐cell analysis represents a new technological direction in the field. The light‐fueled operation is expected to achieve advanced photoelectrochemical (PEC) single‐cell analysis with unknown possibilities. Here, a PEC nanoreactor capable of single‐cell sampling and near zero‐background Faradaic detection of intracellular microRNA (miR) is devised by the construction of a small reaction chamber accommodating the target‐triggered hybridization chain reaction for binding the metallointercalator of [Ru(bpy)2(dppz)]2+ as the signal reporter. Light stimulation of the dsDNA/metallointercalator adduct will induce the generation of photocurrents, underpinning a zero‐biased and near zero‐background PEC method toward Faradaic detection of non‐electrogenic miR at the single‐cell level. Using this nanotool, lower miR concentration in the near‐nucleus region than that in the main cytosol was revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predicting the chances mortality within 1 year in non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy patients can be very useful in clinical decision-making. This study has developed and validated a risk-prediction model for identifying factors contributing to mortality within 1 year in such patients. The predictive nomogram was constructed using a retrospective cohort study, with 615 of patients hospitalized in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University between October 2012 and May 2020. A variety of factors, including presence of comorbidities, demographics, results of laboratory tests, echocardiography data, medication strategies, and instances of heart transplant or death were collected from electronic medical records and follow-up telephonic consultations. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator and logistic regression analyses were used to identify the critical clinical factors for constructing the nomogram. Calibration, discrimination, and clinical usefulness of the predictive model were assessed using the calibration plot, C-index and decision curve analysis. Internal validation was assessed with bootstrapping validation. Among the patients from whom follow-up data were obtained, the incidence of an end event (deaths or heart transplantation within 1 year) was 171 cases per 1000 person-years (105 out of 615). The main predictors included in the nomogram were pulse pressure, red blood cell count, left ventricular end-diastolic dimension, levels of N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide, medical history, in-hospital worsening heart failure, and use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers. The model showed excellent discrimination with a C-index of 0.839 (95% CI 0.799–0.879), and the calibration curve demonstrated good agreement. The C-index of internal validation was 0.826, which demonstrated that the model was quite efficacious. A decision curve analysis confirmed that our nomogram was clinically useful. In this study, we have developed a nomogram that can predict the risk of death within 1 year in patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. This will be useful in the early identification of patients in the terminal stages for better individualized clinical decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silk fibroin (SF) from the silkworm Bombyx mori is a fibrous protein identified as a widely suitable biomaterial due to its biocompatibility, tunable degradation, and mechanical strength. Various modifications of SF protein can give SF fibers new properties and functions, broadening their applications in textile and biomedical industries. A diverse array of functional modifications on various forms of SF has been reported. In order to provide researchers with a more systematic understanding of the types of functional modifications of SF protein, as well as the corresponding applications, we comprehensively review the different types of functional modifications, including transgenic modification, modifications with chemical groups or biologically active substance, cross-linking and copolymerization without chemical reactions, their specific modification methods and applications. Furthermore, recent applications of SF in various medical biomaterials are briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The geometric structures of anionic La H n − (n = 2 − 20) clusters are predicted by CALYPSO cluster structural search method and first-principles calculations. The low-lying isomers for each size of La H n − (n = 2 − 20) clusters are further reoptimized at B3LYP level by setting all-electron 6-311G + + (d, p) basis set for H atoms and SDD basis set for La atom, respectively. The photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) of the ground-state structures are simulated by time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) method. It is found that the anionic La H 8 − cluster with D 2 d symmetry is the most stable structure and its hydrogen storage capacity arrives at 5.4 wt%. The stability of anionic La H 8 − cluster is mainly affected by the strong interaction between H 1 s orbital and La 5 d orbital. The present results provide insights into the further exploration and discovery of novel rare-earth based hydrogen storage nanomaterials. [Display omitted] • The geometrical structures of LaH n −(n = 2–20) clusters are determined by CALYPSO cluster structural search method. • The maximum number of hydrogen atoms adsorbed on LaH n −(n = 2–20) clusters is 14. • The LaH 8 − cluster with high stability and hydrogen storage capacity of 5.4 wt% is discovered. • The high stability of LaH 8 − cluster is mainly due to the interaction of H 1s and La 5d orbital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Follicular helper T cells (Tfh) regulate the differentiation of germinal center B cells and maintain humoral immunity. Notably, imbalances in Tfh differentiation often lead to the development of autoimmune diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Curcumin, a natural product derived from Curcuma longa, is effective in relieving IBD in humans and animals, and its mechanisms of immune regulation need further elaboration. In this study, dextran sodium sulfate induced ulcerative colitis in BALB/c mice, and curcumin was administered simultaneously for 7 days. Curcumin effectively upregulated the change rate of mouse weight, colonic length, down-regulated colonic weight, index of colonic weight, colonic damage score and the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-12, IL-23 and TGF- β 1 in colonic tissues of colitis mice. Importantly, curcumin regulated the differentiation balance of Tfh and their subpopulation in colitis mice; the percentages of Tfh (CD4 + CXCR5 + BCL-6 + , CD4 + CXCR5 + PD-1 + , CD4 + CXCR5 + PD-L1 + , CD4 + CXCR5 + ICOS +) , Tfh17 and Tem-Tfh were downregulated significantly, while CD4 + CXCR5 + Blimp-1 + , Tfh1, Tfh10, Tfh21, Tfr, Tcm-Tfh and Tem-GC Tfh were upregulated. In addition, curcumin inhibited the expression of Tfh-related transcription factors BCL-6, p-STAT3, Foxp1, Roquin-1, Roquin-2 and SAP, and significantly upregulated the protein levels of Blimp-1 and STAT3 in colon tissue. In conclusion, curcumin may be effective in alleviating dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis by regulating Tfh differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the metal ion chelating agent (DL‐malic acid) inhibiting oxidation characteristics of residual coal in goaf, the microscopic thermal transformation characteristics of the treated coal samples were obtained using apparent morphology, infrared spectroscopy, free radical testing, and thermal analysis. The results demonstrate that after the addition of malic acid, the sphericity and roundness of the coal samples decrease, and the small fractured particles accumulate in the pores of the oxidized coal samples and, thereby, reduce the number of coal–oxygen contact sites. The addition of 10% malic acid promotes the conversion of functional groups (FG) and free radicals in pre‐oxidized coal, inhibits the catalytic effect of metal ions, generates more active sites, and increases the total heat release during the combustion process. There are strong endothermic points in the malic acid‐treated coal samples, and the free water evaporation blocked by small particles in the holes delays the initial heat release temperature of the coal samples. Pre‐oxidation can promote changes in the valence state of metal ions in coal, increase the adhesion between broken pre‐oxidized coal particles via malic acid chelation, and lose the catalytic effect of metal ions; this inhibits the process of oxidative re‐ignition of coal samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New tools for single‐cell interrogation enable deeper understanding of cellular heterogeneity and associated cellular behaviors and functions. Information of RNA expression in single cell could contribute to our knowledge of the genetic regulatory circuits and molecular mechanism of disease development. Although significant progresses have been made for intracellular RNA analysis, existing methods have a trade‐off between operational complexity and practical feasibility. We address this challenge by combining the ionic current rectification property of nanopipette reactor with duplex‐specific nuclease‐assisted hybridization chain reaction for signal amplification to realize a simple and practical intracellular nanosensor with minimal invasiveness, which enables single‐cell collection and electrochemical detection of intracellular RNA with cell‐context preservation. Systematic studies on differentiation of oncogenic miR‐10b expression levels in non‐malignant breast cells, metastatic breast cancer cells as well as non‐metastatic breast cancer cells were then realized by this nanotool accompanied by assessment of different drugs effects. This work has unveiled the ability of electrochemistry to probe intracellular RNA and opened new opportunities to study the gene expression and heterogeneous complexity under physiological conditions down to single‐cell level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New tools for single‐cell interrogation enable deeper understanding of cellular heterogeneity and associated cellular behaviors and functions. Information of RNA expression in single cell could contribute to our knowledge of the genetic regulatory circuits and molecular mechanism of disease development. Although significant progresses have been made for intracellular RNA analysis, existing methods have a trade‐off between operational complexity and practical feasibility. We address this challenge by combining the ionic current rectification property of nanopipette reactor with duplex‐specific nuclease‐assisted hybridization chain reaction for signal amplification to realize a simple and practical intracellular nanosensor with minimal invasiveness, which enables single‐cell collection and electrochemical detection of intracellular RNA with cell‐context preservation. Systematic studies on differentiation of oncogenic miR‐10b expression levels in non‐malignant breast cells, metastatic breast cancer cells as well as non‐metastatic breast cancer cells were then realized by this nanotool accompanied by assessment of different drugs effects. This work has unveiled the ability of electrochemistry to probe intracellular RNA and opened new opportunities to study the gene expression and heterogeneous complexity under physiological conditions down to single‐cell level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, silk fibroin (SF) from silkworm Bombyx mori has been extensively researched and applied in several fields, including: cosmetics, biomedicine and biomaterials. The dissolution and regeneration of SF fibers is the key and prerequisite step for the application of silk protein-based materials. Various solvents and dissolving systems have been reported to dissolve SF fibers. However, the dissolution process directly affects the characteristics of SF and particularly impacts the mechanical properties of the resulting silk biomaterials in subsequent processing. The purpose of this review is to summarize the common solvents, the dissolution methods for silk protein, the properties of the resulting SF protein. The suitable use of SF dissolved in the corresponding solvent was also briefly introduced. Recent applications of SF in various biomaterials are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The silk fibroin (SF) regeneration process significantly affects the resulting biomaterials, unfortunately, there has been insufficient study regarding the most suitable regeneration method for SF. In this study, we prepared undegraded SF (uSF) and degraded SF (dSF) by common regeneration methods and studied their difference in detail. The results demonstrated that the degradation degree of SF peptide chain had little influence on the secondary structure and thermal stability of SF materials. While, uSF solution showed higher viscosity and surface tension than dSF solution. The uSF membrane (uSFM) could be elongated approximately 134%, 1.6 times the degraded SF membrane (dSFM). SEM implied that both uSF and dSF existed in aqueous solution as micelles with a diameter of approximately 30 nm. dSF could directly form SF nanoparticles (dSFNPs) when poured into acetone while uSF could only form nanoparticles (uSFNP) with the addition of SDS. Glucose oxidase embedded into dSFM and dSFNP showed high catalytic activities, but uSFNP demonstrated nearly no activity. In addition, the dSFM was more appropriate for L929 cell culture. Considering the obvious difference between the two SF proteins, our results are significant in guiding the application of appropriate SF proteins in tissue engineering materials, bioactive materials, bioink, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the influence of age on the function and morphology of patients with myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV) and to evaluate the effect and prognostic factors of recurrence of Conbercept treatment on mCNV patients over 50 years. A total of 64 patients (64 eyes) with mCNV were enrolled in this retrospective study. The differences in baseline best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and morphological features on imaging between the younger group (˂ 50 years) and the older group (≥ 50 years) were analyzed. Of all, 21 eyes of 21 mCNV patients aged over 50 years who received Conbercept injection were further analyzed. Between the younger and the older group, significant differences were shown in mean BCVA (0.58 ± 0.28 vs 0.77 ± 0.31), subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) (108.17 ± 78.32 μm vs 54.68 ± 39.03 μm) and frequency of vitreoretinal interface abnormalities (VIA) (2 vs 13), respectively (P < 0.05). After treated with Conbercept, the mean BCVA of 21 older mCNV patients increased from 0.83 ± 0.30 at baseline to 0.49 ± 0.24 at one year. Baseline BCVA, external limiting membrane damage, CNV area and CNV location correlated with the visual acuity at the 1-year follow-up. There were 7 (33.3%) recurrent cases during the follow-up and the risk of recurrence in patients with baseline central macular thickness (CMT) ≥ 262.86 μm was 14 times greater than that of patients with CMT < 262.86 μm. The risk of recurrence increased 1.84 times for every 100-μm increment in the CMT. Patients over 50 years with mCNV had a worse BCVA, thinner choroid, and higher risk of VIA than young mCNV patients. The standard Conbercept treatment strategy was safe and effective in mCNV patients over 50 years. As patients over 50 years with a greater CMT have a high risk of recurrence, more attention should be paid on these patients by following them up closely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new heterometallic coordination polymers formulated as {[LaCo(2.5-pydc)2(H2O)4]Cl·4H2O}n (1, 2,5-H2pydc = pyridine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid) and {[LaCo2Cl3(4,4′-bpdc)2(H2O)3]·H2O}n (2, 4,4′-H2bpdc = 2,2′-bipyridyl-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid) have been solvothermally synthesized using the coordination between rare earth/transition metal ions and pyridinedicarboxylic acids. To develop new candidates for enhancing the therapeutic effect of improved negative pressure suction for diabetic foot, the activities of compounds 1 and 2 were studied. First, the ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) detection kit was used and the inflammatory cytokines in the plantar tissue were measured. Besides, the TLR-4-NF-κB signaling pathway was measured with real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oysters have been thought to significantly improve the male sexual function for thousands of years. To explore the effects of an enzymatic hydrolysate of oyster preparation on erectile dysfunction (ED), hemicastrated male rats were divided into control, positive control and oyster hydrolysate high dose group (0.617 g/kg body weight per day), medium dose group (0.308 g/kg) and low dose group (0.103 g/kg), respectively. After castration, the growth, development and the organ indexes of accessory sex glands and immune organs of the rats were significantly decreased than those of normal rats. Oyster hydrolysate significantly shortens the latency of penile erection induced by electrical stimulation in a dose-dependent manner, indicating that oyster hydrolysate also has significant effects on alleviating ED. Further analysis revealed that the serum levels of testosterone and luteinizing hormone and NO were significantly higher than those in the castrated model group, and were similar to those in the normal control group, indicating that oyster hydrolysate promotes the synthesis of testosterone by stimulating the synthesis of luteinizing hormone, which then increased the serum NO content through the NO-cGMP signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dissolution of silk fibroin in highly concentrated neutral salt solution and the subsequent long time-costing desalination have long inhibited silk regeneration. Here, a 4-fold volume of acetone was first added into a silk fibroin of 9.3 M LiBr solution (SF-LBS) to extract the dissolved silk protein. In fact, acetone extracted the salt and water from SF-LBS rather than silk protein. The extracted protein has less than half of the original amount of LiBr and could be redissolved easily in water. The dialysis time of the extracted protein could reduce the original dialysis time by approximately half. SDS-PAGE revealed that acetone extraction didn't induce any breakage to the peptide chains of the extracted silk fibroin. FTIR indicated that the structure of the extracted fibroin was very similar to that of the unextracted fibroin, and displayed predominantly a mixture of random coil and α-helices. X-ray diffraction also showed that acetone extraction had no effect on the crystal structure of the fibroin. In addition, both acetone and LiBr from the processing waste could easily be recycled for silk regeneration. This novel method can significantly enhance the desalination efficiency of highly concentrated LiBr solution containing silk protein without affecting its structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dissolution and regeneration of silk fibre have long been an issue for producers of silk. The high solubility of silk fibroin (SF) in ionic liquids (ILs) is a promising new avenue in silk dissolution and regeneration as it may allow for a significant reduction in operational steps required for SF regeneration and the subsequent formation of SF biomaterials. The regenerated SF solution can be prepared by dissolving directly SF in ILs without the tedious steps of degumming, dissolution and dialysis. Besides, the regenerated SF solution can simply form different SF biomaterials with the help of coagulant, and ILs can be separated from SF biomaterials easily during SF solidification. The goal of this work is to summarize the commonly used ILs for dissolving silk protein and their dissolution methods and to present the potential application of SF/ILs mixed solution in medical biomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of linear molecules (G1, G2 and G3) containing a long alkyl (decane) bispyridinium ethylene and an imidazole moiety bearing aliphatic substituents at the imidazole nitrogen were synthesized as an axle. Mixing cucurbituril (Q[7]) and these axle molecules in aqueous solution led to the spontaneous formation of Q[7]‐wheeled [3]pseudorotaxanes, [4]pseudorotaxanes and [5]pseudorotaxanes, which were studied by 1H NMR, UV, and fluorescence spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy, and DLS. These Q[7]‐based pseudorotaxanes could be manipulated by controlling the amount of Q[7]. For G1 and G2 systems, increasing the amount of Q[7] altered the host‐guest interaction from a dumbbell‐shaped structure ([3]pseudorotaxanes) to a [4]pseudorotaxane structure. For the G3 system, increasing the amount of Q[7] changed the dumbbell‐shaped structure into a [5]pseudorotaxane structure. This indicated that the alkyl chain attached to the imidazole nitrogen could also influence the mode of pseudorotaxanes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: OsIAAGLU could catalyze the reaction of IAA with glucose to generate IAA-glucose. Overexpression of OsIAAGLU in rice resulted in altered rice shoot architecture and root gravitropism. The distribution and levels of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) within plant tissues are well known to play vital roles in plant growth and development. An important mechanism of regulating free IAA levels in monocots is formation of IAA ester conjugates. In this study, a cytosol-localized protein encoded by the rice gene of indole-3-acetic acid glucosyltransferase (OsIAAGLU) was found to catalyze the reaction of free IAA with glucose to generate IAA-glucose. Expression of OsIAAGLU could be induced by IAA and NAA. The number of tillers and leaf angle was significantly increased with a concomitant decrease in plant height and panicle length in the transgenic rice lines overexpressing OsIAAGLU compared to the wild-type (WT) plants. Phenotypes of iaaglu mutants constructed using the CRISPR/Cas9 system had no obvious differences with WT plants. Furthermore, overexpression of OsIAAGLU resulted in reduced sensitivity to IAA/NAA and altered gravitropic response of the roots in the transgenic plants. Free IAA contents in the leaves, root tips, and lamina joint of OsIAAGLU-overexpressing transgenic lines were lower than those of WT plants. These results support that OsIAAGLU could play a regulatory role in IAA homeostasis and rice architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a terpyridyl derivative 2-(6-(pyridin-2-yl)-4-(4-((E)-2-(pyridin-4-yl)-vinyl)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl)pyridine (abbreviated as PYTPY) has been designed and prepared with an A–π–A architecture (A = electron acceptor), whose spontaneous aggregation style can be triggered by different external conditions. Mathematical modelling through time dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) provides a quantitative understanding of the equilibrium molecular geometries at the aggregated state between adjacent PYTPY molecules with addition of different additives, such as water, H+, and Ag+ ions. The vertical electronic excitations and the related UV-vis absorbing character of PYTPY under different conditions were also forecasted, which was verified by the examined absorption spectra. Our method of calculating intermolecular interactions between adjacent molecules and predicting spontaneous aggregation style and absorption performance under an external environment is generally applicable to design and create other functional organic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To explore the effects of acupoint application therapy (AAT) with TianGui Powder (TGP) on the expressions of the transforming growth factor β1 (TGF‐β1) and Smad‐2/3 signaling pathway in ovariectomized osteoporosis rats. Methods: Sixty rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal group (group A), model group (group B), TGP group (group C), and Western medicine group (group D). Group A had only the corresponding amount of adipose tissue around the ovary removed; rats in the other groups had bilateral ovariectomies. After 1 week, groups A and B were given 1 mL/100 mg normal saline solution by gavage, group C was treated with AAT with TGP on ShenQue acupoint (0.2 piece/rat, 6 h/time, 1 time/d) and group D was given calcium carbonate vitamin D3 (36 mg/kg/d) and alfacalcidol (0.05 μg/kg/d) tablet suspension. In this study, the bone mineral density (BMD) , the levels of BALP, TRAP‐5b, and BGP in serum and the changes in bone histomorphology was detected. For acquiring lumbar experimental data, the expression of TGF‐β1, Smad‐2/3 proteins and mRNA of TGF‐β1and Smad‐2/3 were assessed. After 12 weeks, the data were collected for analysis. Results: Compared with group A, the bone trabecula was thinner and significantly reduced in other groups. The result of BMD improved significantly in both groups C and D compared to group B after intervention (P < 0.05). In contrast, compared to group B, the levels of BALP, TRAP‐5b, and BGP significantly declined in both groups C and D. In group C, the results of protein expressions in TGF‐β1, Smad‐2/3 were 2.870 ± 0.270, 1.552 ± 0.111, and 1.420 ± 0.079, respectively. In groups C and D, those indications significantly declined compared to group B (P < 0.01). In group C, the level of mRNA expressions of TGF‐β1, Smad‐2/3 were 1.872 ± 0.177, 1.672 ± 0.086, and 1.790 ± 0.136, respectively. Compared with group B, those indications had significant difference in groups C and D (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Acupoint application therapy with TGP could significantly improve the BMD. The TGF‐β1 and Smad‐2/3 signaling pathway could be a therapeutic target of TGP in postmenopausal osteoporosis rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel dual-template epitope imprinting polymer coated on magnetic carbon nanotubes (MCNTs@D-EMIP) was successfully prepared for specific recognition of porcine serum albumin (PSA) via dual-template epitope imprinting, metal chelation imprinting and distillation-precipitation polymerization (DPP). C-terminal peptides and N-terminal peptides of PSA were selected as templates simultaneously, and zinc acrylate and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) were used as functional monomer and cross-linker, respectively. The epitope templates were immobilized by metal chelation and six-membered ring formed with zinc acrylate. Finally, MCNTs@D-EMIP was synthesized by DPP in only 30 min, which was much shorter than those of other polymerization methods. The prepared MCNTs@D-EMIP displayed specific recognition ability toward PSA and its adsorption amount and imprinting factor were 45.05 mg g −1 and 4.50, which were much higher than those of single template epitope imprinting polymers. Besides, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of PSA in porcine blood serum real sample indicated that the specificity was not affected by other competitive proteins, which forcefully stated that the MCNTs@D-EMIP had potential to be applied in bio-separation area. In addition, the results of cross-reactivity experiment proved that this strategy had generality to prepare dual-template epitope imprinting polymer for recognition of target protein. In summary, this study provided an efficient protocol to recognize target protein in complex sample via dual-template epitope imprinting approach, metal chelation imprinting and distillation-precipitation polymerization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high molecular weight sericin recovered by using degumming method of high-temperature and high-pressure water was subjected to a Maillard reaction (MR) with xylose, and the resulting xylosylated sericin (XS) has good water solubility. A mechanically robust, soft, and transparent PVA hydrogel composite membrane (PVA-XS) was obtained by mixing XS (20 w%) into an aqueous PVA solution based on unidirectional nanopore dehydration (UND). The mechanical strength, elongation, and elastic modulus of PVA-XS reached 1.68 MPa, 519.83%, and 0.27 MPa, respectively. UND at 85 °C yielded a hydrogel composite membrane with stronger mechanical properties; these values were 9.94 MPa, 627.20%, and 1.49 MPa. These composite hydrogels have 3D porous structures with pore sizes ranging from 2 to 20 μm, and there was no phase separation. Murine L-929 cells adhered, grew, and proliferated normally on the scaffold. The digestion rates of PVA-XS in both trypsin and alkaline protease were faster than that of high temperature-annealed cast PVA-XS (acPVA-XS). Implantation in vivo did not induce an obvious tissue immune response. The mechanical properties and enzymatic degradation rate of PVA-XS were controlled by UND temperature and XS incorporation. Therefore, the UND-based composite hydrogel has potential applications in the implantation, repair, and regeneration of biological tissues. • The glycation of the high molecular weight sericin peptides with xylose can enhance its water-soluble. • A mechanically robust, soft, and transparent PVA-glycated sericin membrane (PVA-XS) was obtained based on UND. • The UND temperature and XS incorporation could control the mechanical properties and enzymatic degradation rate of PVA-XS. • The UND-based composite hydrogel has potential applications in biological tissue engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photoreceptor cell death, primarily through apoptosis, related to retinal disorders like retinitis pigmentosa (RP), would result in vision loss. The pathological processes and crucial mutant conditions preceding photoreceptor cell demise are not well understood. This study aims to conduct an in-depth examination of early-stage changes in the widely utilized Pde6brd1/rd1 (rd1) mouse model, which has Pde6b gene mutations representing autosomal recessive RP disorder. We investigated the morphology and ultrastructure of retinal cells, including second-order neurons, during the initial phase of disease progression. Our findings revealed that mitochondrial alterations in rod photoreceptors were present as a predeath mutant state as early as postnatal day 3 (P3). The bipolar and horizontal cells from the rd1 mouse retina exhibited significant morphological changes in response to loss of photoreceptor cells, indicating that second-order neurons rely on these cells for their structures. Subsequent oral administration of idebenone, a mitochondria-protective agent, enhanced retinal function and promoted both photoreceptor cell survival and inner retinal second-order synaptogenesis in rd1 mice at P14. Our findings offer a mechanistic framework, suggesting that mitochondrial damage acts as an early driver for photoreceptor cell death in retinal degeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raman spectra and ultraviolet-visible absorption spectra of four different geographic origins of Radix Astragali were collected. These data were analyzed using kernel principal component analysis combined with sparse representation classification. The results showed that the recognition rate reached 70.44% using Raman spectra for data input and 90.34% using ultraviolet-visible absorption spectra for data input. A new fusion method based on Raman combined with ultraviolet-visible data was investigated and the recognition rate was increased to 96.43%. The experimental results suggested that the proposed data fusion method effectively improved the utilization rate of the original data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detection of nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) is essential for the environment and human health. Tin dioxide (SnO 2 ) based sensors have demonstrated capabilities to detect NO 2 , while their response, response/recover speed and selectivity are not good enough for their practical applications. To address these issues, the SnO 2 nanoparticles doped with reduced graphene oxides (rGO) have been synthesized by using a facile microwave-assisted gas-liquid interfacial solvothermal method in this work. The NO 2 sensing performances have been greatly enhanced after the doping of rGO due to the improved electronic conductivity and the formation of the p-n junction in the as-synthesized SnO 2 /rGO nanocomposites. Moreover, our results demonstrate that the sensors based on the SnO 2 /(0.3%)rGO nanocomposites (with an average diameter about 10–15 nm) exhibit the best overall performance with the high response of 247.8 to 10 ppm NO 2 , fast response/recovery speed (39 s/15 s) and the excellent selectivity at the working temperature of 200 ℃. Remarkably, the SnO 2 /(0.3%)rGO sensors still exhibit a good gas sensing performance to NO 2 even at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The posterior anatomical locking plate has obtained excellent fixing performance in the treatment of complex fractures of the distal tibia; however, there are many drawbacks such as nail and plate broken, and the related rules are never reported. OBJECTIVE: To establish a finite element model of posterior anatomical locking plate for distal tibia and to provide references for its design and improvement. METHODS: The imaging data of a male patient aged 34 years old (body mass: 68 kg) with fracture on the left distal tibia were imported into Mimics16.01 software, and the proposed reconstruction parts were determined based on the default threshold of the software. The files were imported into the Ansys11.0 software, the distal tibial surface was fixed, and a force of 340 N was vertically loaded on the supine surface of the horizontal section of the large tibial shaft. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: There was completely connected with the stepped surface of nut and screw thread portion in locking steel plate. The strain on the plate depended on the stress values. The posterior anatomical locking plate for distal tibia was more favorable for the fixation at the fracture site and could reduce the fixed plate and screws loosening, both of which could affect the fixed efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the paper, we investigate the transport properties of coupled flashing ratchets in viscoelastic media. Using generalized Langevin equation, subvelocity V α , subdiffusive coefficient D α and generalized Peclet number P e α are calculated as functions of the temperature T and the flashing period τ with different subdiffusive exponents α . The results show that the transport of coupled flashing ratchets can be optimized in viscoelastic media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondria are a crucial energy source for maintaining neuronal growth and synaptic function. Neurons possess unique morphological characteristics, which make the proper regulation of mitochondrial transport essential for meeting their energy demands. Syntaphilin (SNPH) is capable of specifically targeting the outer membrane of axonal mitochondria, anchoring them to microtubules, and thereby preventing their transport. SNPH also interacts with other mitochondrial proteins to regulate mitochondrial transport. The regulation of mitochondrial transport and anchoring mediated by SNPH is indispensable for axonal growth during neuronal development, maintenance of ATP levels during neuronal synaptic activity, and regeneration of mature neurons following damage. Precise blocking of SNPH may be an effective therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases and related mental disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we report a novel chitosan hydrogel membrane (CHM) created by an improved electrophoretic deposition. Unlike a traditional CHM by electrophoretic deposition, the CHM was formed on a nanoporous film as a barrier using a homemade device at a high DC voltage (60 V DC ). The CHM maximum recovery of 81.7% could be achieved after 1 h of electrophoretic deposition. The transparent CHM with an elongation of 42.46% and swelling index of 538.86% was a mixture of type I and type II crystal structures. SEM revealed that the CHM had an irregular net structure. The CHM was sufficient for L-929 mouse fibroblast cell adhesion and growth. To demonstrate immunocompatibility with host tissues, H&E and TGF-β 1 were observed and the expressions of TNF-α and NF-κB were measured up to 3 weeks post-implantation. Although these scaffolds demonstrated an initial pro-inflammatory response, the amount of inflammatory cells and the expressions of TGF-β 1 returned to baseline control values at 3 weeks. The expressions of TNF-α and NF-κB had no significant difference between the experimental and control groups. Animal experiments showed that the CHM did not incite serious inflammatory reactions. Thus, the CHM is a promising medical biomaterial candidate for loading appropriate cells for use as artificial skin or in transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Acrophialophora belongs to the family Chaetomiaceae. With the addition of new species and transferred species from other genera, the genus Acrophialophora has expanded. In this study, eight new species related to Acrophialophora were isolated from soil samples in China. Using muti-locus phylogenetic (ITS, LSU, tub2 and RPB2) analysis combined with morphological characteristics, eight new species (Acrophialophora curvata, A. fujianensis, A. guangdongensis, A. longicatenata, A. minuta, A. multiforma, A. rhombica, and A. yunnanensis) are described. Descriptions, illustrations, and notes of the new species are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The α-hemolysin (αHL) nanopore is capable of analyzing DNA duplex and DNA aptamer as they can be electrophoretically driven into the vestibule from the cis entrance. The current study describes the competitive interaction induced by Pb that changes the secondary structure of DNA duplex in asymmetrical electrolyte solution. DNA duplex formed by the partial complementary DNA and DNA aptamer sequence produced unzipping blockages with the dwell unzipping time lasting 2.84 ± 0.7 ms. By cation-DNA interaction with Pb, the DNA duplex will unwind and then form Pb-stabilized-DNA aptamer, which will be captured and unfolded in vestibule. The pore conductance were reduced to 54 % and 94 % with mean dwell unfolding times of 165 ± 12 ms. The competitive behavior between Pb and single-strand DNA was further utilized to detect Pb in solution with a detection limit of 0.5 nM. This nanopore platform also provides a powerful tool for studying the cation-DNA interactions in DNA aptamer conformational changes. Thus, the results drawn from these studies provide insights into the applications of α-hemolysin nanopore as a molecular sieve to different DNA secondary structure in future application of nanopore analysis. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To determine the efficacy of letrozole alone or with recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (rFSH) for ovarian induction in anovulatory women. Methods: A total of 322 patients undergoing intrauterine insemination (IUI) were included in this retrospective study. Letrozole (2.5 or 5.0 mg) was administered from days 5 to 9 of menses, alone or followed with rFSH started on day 9 until the day of human chorionic gonadotropin administration. A single IUI was performed 24 h after ovulation. Results: The number of follicles, endometrial thickness and serum estradiol levels were significantly higher in the letrozole + rFSH groups than in the letrozole-alone groups (p < 0.05), but no significant difference was found between the two doses of letrozole, whether alone or with rFSH. Women treated with 5.0 mg/day of letrozole + rFSH required a total dose of rFSH similar to women treated with 2.5 mg/day of letrozole + rFSH (230.77 ± 118.29 vs. 258.55 ± 130.13 IU, respectively; p = 0.205). There was no significant difference in pregnancy rates between the two doses of letrozole, whether alone or with rFSH. Conclusion: Treatment with letrozole + rFSH was more efficacious than letrozole alone for pregnancy in the IUI program; however, the effect of 5.0 mg/day of letrozole versus 2.5 mg/day of letrozole on ovulation was equivalent, regardless of whether rFSH was used. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carrying out studies on risk assessment has very important significance to improving the safety level on the civil aviation. Traditional analyzing object of system failure risk assessment is failure mode. In practice, one of the failure modes usually serves as the reason and influence of another failure mode. Failure affect is a gradually changed process. To evaluate the risk of system failure more accurately and objectively, this article describes the process of failure modes' spread as a failure link. The various fault sequence, which the failure modes lead to, is inference based on the SDG model. It regards the failure modes and the other follow-up failure sequences as the grey system, and treats the process of risk assessment as a grey system project. Using the grey clustering decision to evaluate the risk of these sequences solve the problem in the risk assessing process, which is about confirming and quantifying the evaluation index, and lack of systematicness and consistency of risk analysis and assessment. According to application examples, the assessment method based on grey clustering and SDG is able to utilize in fault risk assessment of civil airciaft. The research results of this paper have an important referential significance for the failure risk analysis of complex systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silk derived from Bombyx mori silkworm cocoons was degummed in an aqueous sodium carbonate solution, and the resulting silk fibroin fibers were placed in an acidic aqueous solution and were treated with ultrasonication to obtain powdered micro- and nanofibers. The morphologies and spectral characteristics of these powdered silk fibers were investigated in detail. The shape, surface and structural features of the powdered fibers were affected by the ultrasonic power and media. Increasing the acidity of the ultrasonic solution and increasing the ultrasonic power increased the fiber breakage speed, resulting in shorter fiber lengths. Powdered microfibers could not be obtained in a formic acid solution, while powdered nanofibers whose diameter below 1 μm were obtained in a combined formic acid and hydrochloric acid ultrasonication solution. Observation via SEM and optical microscopy revealed that the microfiber diameters were approximately 5–10 μm, and those of the nanofibers were approximately 30–120 nm. The analysis of laser sizer showed that the microfiber sizes ranged mainly from 20 to 100 μm. FT-IR and XRD spectra demonstrated that the relative amount of β-sheets increased after the ultrasonic treatment. The ε-amino group content on the surface of the micro- and nanofibers increased significantly. These studies provide reliable methods for the preparation of nano-scale silk fibroin fibers by ultrasonication and open new avenues for the development of powdered silk fibers as advanced functional biomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For conflict problem on multi-agent collaboration of food quality chain, a method on conflict resolution is proposed based on negotiation. Firstly, essence of quality chain conflict is defined mathematically based on Pareto optimum solution. Secondly, profit models for food manufacturer, food supplier and food quality chain are proposed fully considering characteristic of food quality chain. Thirdly, procedure parameters for bargaining between both sides in conflict are determined as follows: quality level provided by food supplier, and the level of quality testing provided by food manufacturer according to cost and quality level of the other side. Negotiation procedure is constructed according to the goal of maximizing profits for both sides. Finally, an illustrative example for quality chain of dairy products is given. The results indicate that, not only each enterprise member but also the whole quality chain gains the greatest piofits using the proposed negotiation strategy, thereby solving conflict of food quality chain and improving quality level of food quality chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Milbemycin oxime has been commercialized as effective anthelmintics in the fields of animal health, agriculture, and human infections. Currently, milbemycin oxime is synthesized by a two-step chemical reaction, which involves the ketonization of milbemycins A3/A4 to yield the intermediates 5-oxomilbemycins A3/A4 using CrO as catalyst. Due to the low efficiency and environmental unfriendliness of the ketonization of milbemycins A3/A4, it is imperative to develop alternative strategies to produce 5-oxomilbemycins A3/A4. In this study, the atmospheric and room temperature plasma (ARTP) mutation system was first employed to treat milbemycin-producing strain Streptomyces bingchenggensis, and a mutant strain BC-120-4 producing milbemycins A3, A4, B2, and B3 as main components was obtained, which favors the construction of genetically engineered strains producing 5-oxomilbemycins. Importantly, the milbemycins A3/A4 yield of BC-120-4 reached 3,890 ± 52 g/l, which was approximately two times higher than that of the initial strain BC-109-6 (1,326 ± 37 g/l). The subsequent interruption of the gene milF encoding a C5-ketoreductase responsible for the ketonization of milbemycins led to strain BCJ60 ( ∆milF) with the production of 5-oxomilbemycins A3/A4 and the elimination of milbemycins A3, A4, B2, and B3. The high 5-oxomilbemycins A3/A4 yield (3,470 ± 147 g/l) and genetic stability of BCJ60 implied the potential use in industry to prepare 5-oxomilbemycins A3/A4 for the semisynthesis of milbemycins oxime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The water immersion residual coal tend to happen spontaneous combustion accidents after mining the coal seam. For exploring the oxidative re-ignition properties of high-temperature oxidized water-impregnated long-flame coal, the thermal evolution law toward each pre-oxidized coal soaked in water under varying heating rates (Rh) (5, 10, 15°C/min) has been analyzed by thermogravimetric differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC). The findings are as follows: the DTG at the critical temperature (T1) and maximum weight loss temperature (T5) increases, the activation energy (E) decreases, and the heat output increases (maximum 6391J/g) with the rising Rh. The violent oxidated reaction process of coal samples has been delayed as the Rh was 10°C/min. The water-immersed coal sample (I200) contains more free water on the surface, and the maximum (0.45 mW/mg) and total (178.8 J/g) heat absorption of are higher. Oxidation at 200°C and soaking in water (O200I200) reduced the ignition point temperature (minimum 399°C) and E (minimum 18.5 kJ/mol), and increased the total heat release (maximum 323 J/g) making it easier to oxidize and re-ignite. Under the same Rh, the oxidation and combustion traits of each pre-oxidized water-immersed coal (PWIC) remained unchanged. Reducing the Rh can effectively prevent spontaneous combustion of high-temperature oxidized water-soaked coal in shallow-buried and short-distance coal seams in northwest of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Residual coal is easily submerged and damaged by groundwater. In the course of mining underlying coal seam, coal belonging to the overlying gob area tends to spontaneously combust during draining water. To explore the effect of micro-functional group transformation in immersed coal on the coal spontaneous combustion (CSC) traits during the low-temperature oxidation process (LTO), the migrant law of special functional groups under varying oxygen concentration (Co) of immersed coal was discussed by infrared spectroscopy. The endothermal and exothermal properties of the function group inside of coal were studied via thermal analysis. It is shown that the higher Co, the more oxygenic function groups on the soaked, and by contrasted with the Co of 18% the 14% has a small increase and the chain length is shortened. The temperature increment together with the Co content determines the functional group content, the pyrolysis process produces some function group. The lower the Co, endothermic coefficient decreases and endothermic temperature increases, the higher the ignition temperature of coal oxy-combustion, the lower the total heat release. And the speed of the oxygen-absorbing weight gain and the conversion of the functional group would be improved followed by the burnout temperature rising. Below 14% Co, the oxidative combustion process will be greatly inhibited. Those findings complement a theoretical basis for preventing long-term water-soaked coal oxidative spontaneous combusting in shallow buried coal seams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Detection of the anaerobic Clostridia has always been a big challenge. [•] FPM is widely regarded as a complicated microbial ecosystem. [•] A novel Clostridia-specific primer set SJ-F/SJ-R was designed and verified. [•] Five unexpected clostridial genera in FPM were detected with the new primer set. [•] This method could monitor the clostridial population dynamics rapidly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduced the theoretical basis of support vector machine, in addition, it described some algorithms about SVM and analysed their advantages and disadvantages and development status. Then it introduced the application principle of SVM in the real life and its application status. Finally, it analysed the deficiency in the development of SVM and pointed out the research direction and prospects, and it put forward distributed support vector machine which as a direction could be make a deeper research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pen shell, Atrina pectinata, is one of the commercial bivalves in East Asia and thought to be recently affected by anthropogenic pressure (habitat destruction and/or fishing pressure). Information on its population genetic structure is crucial for the conservation of A. pectinata. Considering its long pelagic larval duration and iteroparity with high fecundity, the genetic structure for A. pectinata could be expected to be weak at a fine scale. However, the unusual oceanography in the coasts of China and Korea suggests potential for restricted dispersal of pelagic larvae and geographical differentiation. In addition, environmental changes associated with Pleistocene sea level fluctuations on the East China Sea continental shelf may also have strongly influenced historical population demography and genetic diversity of marine organisms. Here, partial sequences of the mitochondrial Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene and seven microsatellite loci were used to estimate population genetic structure and demographic history of seven samples from Northern China coast and one sample from North Korea coast. Despite high levels of genetic diversity within samples, there was no genetic differentiation among samples from Northern China coast and low but significant genetic differentiation between some of the Chinese samples and the North Korean sample. A late Pleistocene population expansion, probably after the Last Glacial Maximum, was also demonstrated for A. pectinata samples. No recent genetic bottleneck was detected in any of the eight samples. We concluded that both historical recolonization (through population range expansion and demographic expansion in the late Pleistocene) and current gene flow (through larval dispersal) were responsible for the weak level of genetic structure detected in A. pectinata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To analyze the oxidation kinetics reason that self-ignition tendency of coal with different metamorphic degree are different, based on the basic assumptions of coal adiabatic self-heating process, a oxidation kinetics analysis on the reaction characteristics of the process was made combined with the Arrhenius equation, then this paper studied four feature parameters: adiabatic process apparent activation energy (Ec), the critical temperature ( Tc) and the average heating rates each stages of the adiabatic process, (Rhm,Rjs), finally, the relationship between each characteristic parameter and coal metamorphic level was made by numerical fitting. It is show that the oxidation kinetics characteristics are characterized by the four parameters (Ec, Tc, Rhm and Rjs) in the difficulty degree of coal self-ignition reaction (Ec),the difficulty degree of control ( Tc) and the heating speed (Rhm and Rjs) ;with the increase of coal metamorphic grade, Ec has a logarithmic relation with it, Tc has a linear relation, however, Rhm and Rjs have a negative exponent relation. The difference of self-ignition tendency of coal with different metamorphic degree is studied on oxidation kinetics, and it is of great significance to self-ignition control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characteristic plasticity associated with the deformation of helium bubbles and voids in aluminium under shock compression is investigated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The scenarios indicate that the emission of shear dislocation loops rather than prismatic loops is the mechanism by which helium bubbles and voids collapse. The tendency to favour dislocation nucleation and emission at the trailing side of a void but at both sides of a helium bubble is attributed to the distribution of the resolved shear stress along (111) planes. Under the same loading strength, the resolved shear stress of the leading side of a helium bubble is larger than that of a void due to the internal pressure of the bubble; therefore, the dislocation nucleation at the leading side of a helium bubble is easier than that for a void. Based on the Virial theorem, we find that the locations of the calculated maximum resolved shear stress are in good agreement with the locations of dislocation nucleation. The elastic model clearly shows that the resolved shear stress increases with the internal pressure of the helium bubble but that the location of the maximum resolved shear stress is not affected. The results from the model nicely explain the scenarios that emerged in our MD simulations. The detailed studies of the microscopic mechanism of plastic deformation are important to deeply understand the mechanical properties of irradiated materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The transport properties of coupled Brownian particles in a two-dimensional rocking ratchet are investigated via Langevin simulation. The results show that the average center-of-mass velocity is multi-peaks function of the frequency of the driving force. Furthermore, in the 2D coupled Brownian motor system there are the collective effect and ratchet behavior, which can switch depending on the frequency of driving force. It turns out that the cooperative effect between the interaction of coupled particles and external rocking driving force facilitates collective directional motion and energy conversion. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Hierarchical dumbbell-shaped lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) mesocrystals were successfully fabricated via a simple one-step, rapid, additive-free solvothermal route. A mixture of dimethylformamide/ethylene glycol (DMF/EG) has been utilized as the co-solvent and found to play an important role in the formation of the hierarchical mesostructure. The obtained dumbbell-shaped mesocrystals consist of self-assembly LiFePO4 nanorods each with 2–3 μm in length and 30–50 nm in diameter. Further temperature treatment was applied to increase the crystallinity of the LiFePO4 mesocrystals. A high lithium ion intercalation capacity of 140 mA h g−1 was exhibited by the LiFePO4 mesocrystal when tested under a discharge rate of 17 mA g−1, which should be attributed to the fast intercalation reaction and easy mass and charge transfer offered by the large specific surface and short diffusion distance of dumbbell-shaped mesoporous composed of nano-sized LiFePO4 rods. The nanorods can be carbon coated in-situ by adding sucrose during the solvothermal process and the LiFePO4/C mesocrystals showed an improved electrochemical property at higher rates and good cyclic performance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Waste disposal facilities are kinds of typical "semi-desirable facilities". Some incompatible objectives such as cost and obnoxious effect etc. should be considered in the process of location and other related decisions of these facilities. The location-routing problem in waste logistics network in cities is one kind of typical periodic location routing problem (PLRP), for different population centers can be visited by different frequency in certain period, however, the multi-objective optimization of this problem is short of research. A multi-objective PLRP is studied in this paper, which combines the practical situation of waste logistics network in cities. A new method is proposed measuring negative effect based on the concept of dispersion distance; a mixed integer programming model concerning two objectives of average total cost and average negative effect is raised; a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm is devised to solve location-allocation problem, visiting scheduling problem and vehicle routing problem simultaneously. The global algorithm strengthens an extension local search deepening the search of feasible collection and transportation plans; a sub-algorithm termed DRECW-LS which strengthens the diversification, randomization and local search based on ECWA solves the periodic location-routing problem. The computing example shows: the algorithm can solve analogous large size problems and shows excellent quality and computing efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]