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[Display omitted] Self-assembled hyaluronic acid-based nanogels are versatile drug carriers due to their biodegradable nature and gentle preparation conditions, making them particularly interesting for delivery of peptide therapeutics. This study aims to elucidate the relation between peptide structure and encapsulation in a nanogel. Key peptide properties that affect encapsulation in octenyl succinic anhydride-modified hyaluronic acid nanogels were identified as we explored the effect on nanogel characteristics using 12 peptides with varying charge and hydrophobicity. The size and surface properties of the microfluidics-assembled peptide-loaded nanogels were evaluated using dynamic light scattering, laser Doppler electrophoresis, and small angle neutron scattering. Additionally, the change in peptide secondary structure upon encapsulation in nanogels, their release from the nanogels, and the in vitro antimicrobial activity were assessed. In conclusion, the more hydrophobic peptides showed stronger binding to the nanogel carrier and localized internally rather than on the surface of the nanogel, resulting in more spherical nanogels with smoother surfaces and slower release profiles. In contrast, cationic and hydrophilic peptides localized at the nanogel surface resulting in fluffier nanogel structures and quick and more complete release in biorelevant medium. These findings emphasize that the advantages of nanogel delivery systems for different applications depend on the therapeutic peptide properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High‐silica granitoids record the formation and evolution of the continental crust. A new intrusive complex has been recognized among silicic volcanic rocks of the Weixi arc, Southwest China. The intrusions consist of granites, granitic porphyries, and granodiorites. Zircon U‐Pb age data indicate that the Weixi granitoids formed at 248–240 Ma and were coeval with silicic volcanic rocks of the Weixi arc. The Weixi granitoids are enriched in Rb, Th, and U, depleted in Ba, Sr, Nb, Ta, and Ti, and have high light/heavy rare earth element ratios and slightly negative Eu anomalies. The Weixi granitoids have negative εNd(t) values (–9.8 to –7.8) and negative zircon εHf(t) values (–12.02 to –5.11). The geochemical and isotopic features suggest the Weixi granitoids were derived by partial melting of ancient crustal material. The Weixi granitoids and silicic volcanic rocks were derived from the same magma by crystal accumulation and melt extraction, respectively, and they record the formation of a continental arc in the central Sanjiang orogenic belt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND RESULTS CONCLUSION Monascus pigment (MP) is a natural food coloring with vital physiological functions but prone to degradation and color fading under light conditions.This study investigated the effect of complex formation of soybean protein isolate (SPI), maltodextrin (MD), and MP on the photostability of MP. Light stability was assessed through retention rate and color difference. Fluorescence spectroscopy (FS), circular dichroism (CD), Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) explored MP, SPI, and MD interactions, clarifying the MP–SPI–MD complex mechanism on the light stability of MP. Microstructure and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyzed the morphology and thermal properties. The retention rate of MP increased to approximately 80%, and minimal color difference was observed when adding SPI and MD simultaneously. FS revealed hydrophobic interaction between MP and SPI. FTIR analysis showed intensity changes and peak shifts in amide I band and amide II band, which proved the hydrophobic interaction. CD showed a decrease in α‐helix content and an increase in β‐sheet content after complex formation, indicating strengthened hydrogen bonding interactions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis demonstrated that MP was attached to the surface and interior of complexes. XRD showed MP as crystalline, while SPI and MD were amorphous, complexes exhibited weakened or absent peaks, suggesting MP encapsulation. The results of DSC were consistent with XRD.SPI and MD enveloped MP through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction, ultimately enhancing its light stability and providing insights for pigment–protein–polysaccharide interactions and improving pigment stability in the food industry. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tai Chi, originating in China, is a mind–body exercise that integrates mind training, Qi training, and body training. While Tai Chi practice has demonstrated beneficial physical and psychological health benefits, how it achieves effects has been less studied. In recent years, some researchers have begun to explore the potential of heart rate variability (HRV) changes as balancing the autonomic nervous system (ANS) to achieve results, but only a few studies have directly tested how Tai Chi impacts HRV, and results have been mixed. Objective: This study systematically evaluates the effects of Tai Chi on HRV. Methods: Electronic databases including Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and EBSCOhost direct from inception until December 2020 were searched to obtain eligible studies. The primary outcomes examined were HRV parameters (time domain and frequency domain), and secondary analysis was whether breathing was emphasized during Tai Chi interventions. Results: Based on the 11 randomized controlled trials included comparing Tai Chi with non-active control condition, meta-analyses showed significantly beneficial effects on HRV parameters (low-frequency power [LF], mean difference [MD] = −200.40, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 365.31 to −35.49, p = 0.02; normalized low-frequency power [nLF], MD = −7.39, 95% CI: −12.48 to −2.29, p = 0.004; total power [TP], MD = −649.82, 95% CI: −1180.54 to −119.11, p = 0.02; very low-frequency power [VLF], MD = −200.55, 95% CI: −349.63 to −51.46, p = 0.008; root mean square of the square sum of the difference between adjacent normal heartbeat intervals [RMSSD], MD = 2.59, 95% CI: −7.23 to 12.41, p < 0.0001; standard deviation of the heartbeat interval [SDNN], MD = 8.33, 95% CI: 0.69 to 15.98, p = 0.03). The effect of Tai Chi on certain HRV parameters compared with active control conditions was less favorable (nLF, MD = 6.42, 95% CI: 3.74 to 9.09, p < 0.00001; normalized high-frequency power [nHF], MD: −6.13, 95% CI: −8.76 to −3.50, p < 0.00001; low-frequency/high-frequency power ratio [LF/HF], MD = 1.00, 95% CI: 0.68 to 1.33, p < 0.00001). In addition, studies describing an emphasis on breathing in the Tai Chi intervention showed positive impact on HRV (nLF, MD = −3.22, 95% CI: −5.32 to −1.12, p = 0.003; nHF, MD = 3.80, 95% CI: 0.80 to 6.81, p = 0.01; SDNN, MD = 5.55, 95% CI: 4.85 to 6.25, p < 0.00001). Conclusions: Meta-analysis results showed that Tai Chi compared with non-active control conditions has a positive impact on key HRV parameters associated with the ANS balance. However, active control condition comparisons showed greater HRV improvements than for Tai Chi. Considering the limited number of studies and their heterogeneity, further robust studies are necessary to verify findings and investigate differential effects of Tai Chi on HRV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In order to improve the monitoring efficiency of the multivariable autocorrelation process and reduce the cost of process control, an economic design method of residual Multivariate Exponentially Weighted Moving Average (MEWMA) control charts with variable sample size and sampling intervals (VSSIs) was proposed. First, residual MEWMA control charts with VSSI were designed for monitoring multivariable autocorrelation processes. Second, the economic model of the VSSI residual MEWMA control chart was established, and a data example was given. The optimal design parameters of the control chart were obtained by using a genetic algorithm to minimize the expected cost per unit time. Third, using orthogonal experimental design and regression analysis, a sensitivity analysis of the economic model was carried out to get the relationship between the model parameters and the design parameters of the control chart. Finally, through the optimality analysis, it was verified that the proposed economic model was superior to the models established by the variable sampling intervals strategy and the variable sample size strategy and had less expected cost per unit time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The water retention curve (WRC) defines the relationship between matric suction and saturation and is a key function for determining the hydro-mechanical behavior of unsaturated soils. We investigate possible microscopic origins of the water retention behavior of granular soils using both computed tomography (CT) experiment and multiphase lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM). We conduct a CT experiment on Hamburg sand to obtain its WRC and then run LBM simulations based on the CT grain skeleton. The multiphase LBM simulations capture the hysteresis and pore-scale behaviors of WRC observed in the CT experiment. Using LBM, we observe that the spatial distribution and morphology of gas clusters varies between drainage and imbibition paths and is the underlying source of the hysteresis. During drainage, gas clusters congregate at the grain surface; the local suction increases when gas clusters enter through small pore openings and decreases when gas clusters enter through large pore openings. Whereas, during imbibition, gas clusters disperse in the liquid, the local suction decreases uniformly. Large pores empty first during drainage and small pores fill first during imbibition. The pore-based WRC shows that an increase in pore size causes a decrease in suction during drainage and imbibition, and an increase in hysteresis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrospinning has contributed substantially to the construction of nanofibrous scaffolds for potential tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. However, conventional electrospinning only has the ability to generate and collect nanofiber scaffolds with a randomly oriented fibrous pattern, which lack the necessary cell alignment guidance function. In this study, a novel electrospinning fiber-collecting device was designed and developed by setting a series of small pin-ring-structured collectors on a large plain plate. Specifically, we demonstrated that the pin-ring-structured collectors, which were constructed by inserting a metal pin into the center of a metal ring, could collect the as-electrospun nanofibers with radially oriented structures in an innovative manner. We first investigated the suitable polymeric concentration for electrospinning poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), and the optimum electrospinning concentration of PHBV was found to be 12% (w/v) PHBV dissolved in hexafluoroisopropyl alcohol (HFIP). Then, 12% (w/v) PHBV solution was electrospun into radially oriented nanofiber scaffolds using our novel electrospinning strategy, and their various performances were further compared with conventionally randomly oriented nanofiber scaffolds that were also produced from 12% (w/v) PHBV solution. The results showed that the radially oriented PHBV nanofiber scaffolds exhibited obviously enhanced mechanical properties and decreased hydrophobicity compared with the randomly oriented PHBV nanofiber scaffold controls. Importantly, the biological properties of radially oriented PHBV nanofiber scaffolds were also demonstrated to be enhanced, compared with randomly oriented PHBV nanofiber scaffolds, by effectively inducing cell alignment and significantly promoting cell proliferation. In sum, the present study indicates that our as-prepared nanofiber scaffolds with a radially oriented pattern are of great interest for advanced applications, such as wound dressings and tissue-engineered scaffolds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common type of cardiac arrhythmias and a major cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related deaths globally. RNA methylation is the most frequent posttranscriptional modification in the eukaryotic RNAs. Previous studies have demonstrated close associations between the status of RNA methylation and CVD. Methods. We comprehensively evaluated the relationship between RNA methylation and AF. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression analysis was used to establish a risk score model in AF. Biological functional analysis was used to explore the relationship between RNA methylation related signatures and immune microenvironment characteristics. Machine learning was used to recognize the outstanding RNA methylation regulators in AF. Results. There was a significant variant of the mRNA expression of RNA methylation regulators in AF. RNA methylation related risk score could predict the onset of AF and closely associated with immune microenvironment features. XG-Boost algorithm and SHAP recognized that NSUN3 and DCPS might play a key role in the development of AF. Meanwhile, NSUN3 and DCPS had potential diagnostic value in AF. Conclusion. RNA methylation regulatory genes are associated with the onset of AF by modulating the immune microenvironment. The nine AF risk-related RNA methylation regulatory gene signature is a potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for AF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the effects of two fat-to-lean ratios (7:3 and 6:4) and five cooking times (30 min, 60 min, 90 min, 120 min and 150 min) on water migration in and the nutritional quality and fatty acid composition of traditional Chinese pork meatballs. Accordingly, this work has established a quality control reference for the industrial-scale research and development of pork meatball production. Low-field nuclear magnetic resonance was used to determine the distribution and migration of water in pork meatballs during the cooking process, and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was used to determine the fatty acid composition of pork meatballs. The results show that the water in pork meatballs migrated and thus became more strongly bound as the cooking time increased. The relaxation time of water in pork meatballs with a fat-to-lean ratio of 7:3 was significantly higher than that of water in pork meatballs with a fat-to-lean ratio of 6:4 (P <.05). The length of cooking time did not have a significant effect on the protein or fat content of pork meatballs (P >.05). When the pork meatballs were cooked for 150 min, the calorie value of pork meatballs with a fat-to-lean ratio of 7:3 was significantly greater than that of pork meatballs with a fat-to-lean ratio of 6:4. The hardness and tenderness of pork meatballs with a fat-to-lean ratio of 7:3 were significantly lower than those of pork meatball with a fat-to-lean ratio of 6:4 (P <.05), but the elasticity and chewiness of the former were greater than that of the latter. During cooking, the improvement in the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (fat oxidation) value of pork meatballs with a fat-to-lean ratio of 6:4 was greater than that of pork meatballs with a fat-to-lean ratio of 7:3. The main fatty acids in both types of pork meatballs were oleic acid (C18:1 n9c), linoleic acid (C18: 2), palmitic acid (C16:0) and stearic acid (C18:0), with oleic acid (C18:1n9c) being predominant. These results show that in terms of taste and textural requirements, and unsaturated fatty acid content, pork meatballs with a fat-to-lean ratio of 7:3 and a cooking time of 150 min can best meet the texture preferences and nutritional needs of consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A pseudo two-dimensional fuel cell model with magnetic calculation is developed. • Current reconstruction method based on convolutional neural network is proposed. • Reconstruction of current density in healthy and faulty state is highly accurate. • This study contributes to the applicability of magnetotomography. The reliable and consistent functioning of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) requires comprehension of current distribution. In this study, we propose a current distribution reconstruction method from external magnetic field based on convolutional neural network. A pseudo two-dimensional fuel cell simulation model with magnetic calculation is developed and network model is validated with root mean square error of 0.0422 and mean absolute percentage error of 2.24 %. In healthy state, it is discovered that the alteration of fuel cell operating parameters has a monotonous effect on the magnetic field, with the sensors in the vicinity of the outlet area showing the most significant variance. The reconstruction of current density in healthy state is highly accurate, exhibiting an average relative error not exceeding 1.50 %. In faulty state, three situations involving dehydration, flooding, and aging are modelled with results indicating that dehydration has the most significant effect on the magnetic flux density, followed by aging and flooding. Sensors situated in close proximity to the faulty location can significantly reflect the fault impact, while the reconstruction of current density under faulty state can predict the grade and locations with great precision. Overall, our proposed method can effectively reconstruct current density distribution in healthy and faulty states from magnetic fields, which contributes to the practicality of in-situ evaluation in PEMFC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the non-steady electrochemical model on stress corrosion cracking (SCC) was established, which was verified by SCC of 304 SS with various microstructures. SCC mechanism depends on applied potentials including anodic dissolution (AD), hydrogen embrittlement (HE) and AD+HE, and the potential range for each mechanism was determined with the critical potentials on slow/fast scan potentiodynamic curves. The quantitative relationship of SCC susceptibility and applied potentials is acquired with the model, which is effective for assessing SCC. It was verified by 304 SS with various microstructures, which presents similar non-steady electrochemical characteristics and SCC susceptibility. • 304 SS with various microstructure is SCC susceptible under cathodic polarization. • The non-steady electrochemical characteristics of 304 SS with various microstructure is similar. • SCC susceptibility is dependent on applied potentials, and the quantitative relationship is revealed. • The corrected non-steady electrochemical model was established for assessing SCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of freeze-thaw cycling on the quality of pre-fermented red bean steamed bun (RBSB) dough and the cooked product were explored. For frozen dough samples, the changes in water distribution, frozen water content, starch crystallinity, layered structure, and protein secondary structure of the dough during freeze-thaw cycling were analyzed. The textures, colors, and relative amino acids contents of RBSBs, which were steamed from frozen dough, were analyzed. The results showed that the transverse relaxation time of weakly bound water,T22,increased as the number of freeze–thaw cycles increased, and the freezable water content reached its highest value (14.68%) after 1 cycle. The relative crystallinity of starch was increased by 13.6% compared with the control after 4 freeze-thaw cycles. The lamellar structure of starch increased by 4.33% after more than 5 freezing cycles. Freeze-thaw treatments caused significant and irregular changes in the secondary structure of the frozen dough. Freeze-thaw cycling accelerated an increase in the hardness of RBSB products. The brightness (L*) of RBSBs decreased significantly with increases in the number of freeze-thaw cycles, and these cycles also affected the amino acid contents of RBSBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Work in recent decades has established that metabolic hormones released by endocrine cells and diverse other cell types serve to regulate nutrient intake and energy homeostasis. Tsukushi (TSK) is a leucine-rich repeat-containing protein secreted primarily by the liver that exerts an inhibitory effect on brown fat sympathetic innervation and thermogenesis. Despite this, physiological regulation of TSK and the mechanisms underlying its effects on energy balance remain poorly understood. Here we show that hepatic expression and plasma concentrations of TSK are induced by feeding and regulated by melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) signaling. We generated TSK and MC4R-double-knockout mice to elucidate the nature of cross talk between TSK and the central regulatory circuit of energy balance. Remarkably, TSK inactivation restores energy balance, ameliorates hyperphagia, and improves metabolic health in MC4R-deficient mice. TSK ablation enhances thermogenic gene expression in brown fat, dampens obesity-association inflammation in the liver and adipose tissue, and protects MC4R-null mice from diet-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. At the cellular level, TSK deficiency augments feeding-induced c-Fos expression in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. These results illustrate physiological cross talk between TSK and the central regulatory circuit in maintaining energy balance and metabolic homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In this study, pre‐fermented frozen raw dough (PFRD) was subjected to freeze–thaw cycling (FTC) to explore the deterioration mechanism of PFRD, after which the physical quality, chemical properties and in vitro digestion characteristics of starch in the dough were analysed. The results showed that after the 5th FTC, the surface area of the dough and starch exhibited obvious depression deformation, and the damaged starch content increased by 38.21%. The random mechanical damage caused by ice crystals also had no significant regularity in the water retention and the short‐range order of starch. Moreover, the breakdown of the double helix structure of starch led to the dissolution of amylose, and the expansion and gelatinization enthalpy increased. In addition, the in vitro digestion results showed that freeze–thaw cycle twice increased the digestibility of the starch, and the hydrolysis rate reached 75.16%, Therefore, the effects of FTC twice on the starch of PFRD are controllable. This study provides a theoretical basis for the development of prefabricated frozen starch food industry technology in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose bromo-isobutyl ester was prepared using filter paper as raw material through esterification reaction with 2-Bromoisobutyryl bromide (BIBB) in N, N-Dimethyl-formamide (DMF). Cellulose esters with different degree of substitution were obtained. FTIR result indicated the successful introduction of bromo isobutyryl group in cellulose to obtain cellulose ester (Cell-Br). The surface of modified filter paper become rough and grooves could be observed by SEM. The thermal stability of the cellulose ester decreased in comparison with unmodified filter paper. Besides, the hydrophobicity of the filter paper was improved and the water contact angle increased from 73.4° to 116.5° with increasing degree of substitution. The water vapor barrier property was improved by 26 %. Furthermore, it was also found the modified filter paper possessed antibacterial activity against S. aureus bacteria. The modified filter paper obtained could be potentially used in food packaging fields and the results provide a simple method to prepare functional filter paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complexity of fractures in rocks results in heterogeneity and anisotropy of their hydraulic properties. The existence of hydraulic conductivity representative elementary volume (KREV) is a fundamental question in comprehending the hydraulic behavior of fractured rock masses. This article introduces an analytical procedure for determining the existence of KREV in fractured rock masses, which considers the distribution of underground apertures using a discrete fracture network (DFN) model. The procedure follows four basic steps: inverse modeling to generate a 3D DFN; calibration of the effective aperture by combining the results of packer tests and flow simulation using finite difference methods; calculation of the equivalent conductivities in 10 domains and 31 different flow directions; analysis of the fit error between the conductivity ellipsoid to determine the existence of KREV. The proposed approach is applied to the fractured rocks surrounding the 3013 exploration adit near the underground powerhouse of the Three Gorges Project as a case study. The results show that most fractures in the study area have apertures ranging from 0.06 to 0.25 mm and follow a lognormal distribution. The KREV size is 14–16 times the fracture spacing. Investigation of this model has significant implications for understanding flow through fracture networks in related fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A new D-shape fiber long period fiber grating (DLPFG) curvature sensor has been experimentally proposed and theoretically investigated, LPFG was directly inscribed on polished area of D-shape fiber by high-frequency CO 2 laser, who has a high curvature sensitivity of 17.6 nm/m−1. The sensitivity is higher than that of other types of LPFGs inscribed on D-shape SMF. • The influence of high-frequency CO 2 laser polishing on resonance peak loss, wavelength position and curvature sensitivity has been investigated. • The proposed DLPFG curvature sensor also has deep resonant peak, good linearity, reproducibility, repeatability and low temperature crosstalk. In this paper, a D-shape fiber long period fiber grating (DLPFG) curvature sensor has been theoretically and experimentally investigated. Different from previous reported long period fiber grating (LPFG) curvature sensor based on D-shape single mode fiber (SMF), the fabrication of DLPFG is divided into two steps: LPFG with a low coupling efficiency is firstly written on a SMF by high-frequency CO 2 laser, and then the grating area is subsequently polished to induce deeper resonance peaks and D-shape structure simultaneously. The polishing greatly enhances the fiber asymmetric modulation and thus results in the improvement of curvature sensitivity. Experiments show that the DLPFG has a high curvature sensitivity of 17.6 nm/m−1 and −11.9 nm/m−1 in two opposite directions within the plane perpendicular to CO 2 laser-irradiated direction, which has exceeded that of the other reported LPFGs based on D-shape SMF. Besides, the temperature sensitivity is 45 pm/°C in range of −20 °C to 50 °C, and the temperature cross sensitivity is 2.58 × 10-3 m−1/°C. Therefore, this proposed DLPFG sensor with advantages of low-cost, easy-fabrication, high-reproducibility and high-sensitivity is promising for curvature measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Building a defect detection system of aircraft cable insulation layer. • Using ultrasonic guided waves to detect multiple defects simultaneously. • Using deep forest method to identify defect categories. Due to the special internal environment of aircraft, cable damage is inevitable, which usually starts from insulation layer defects and may cause major economic losses, and even seriously threaten the life of people on board. According to the above issue, a defect detection system for aircraft cable insulation layer based on ultrasonic guided waves (UGWs) is built in this paper. In order to ensure the complete coupling between the sensor and the insulation layer of the aircraft cable, the macro fiber composite (MFC) flexible sensor is employed in the system. Both simulation and experimental results show that this method can simultaneously monitor four different types (abrasion, cut, semi-stripping and full-stripping) of cable insulation layer defects at different locations on the same cable. The reflection signals of different types of defects are extremely similar and difficult to distinguish directly. In this paper, a classification method for four types of defects based on the deep forest method is proposed. This method requires a small sample size, and the classification performance is not affected by network structure and parameters. The recognition accuracy can reach 100%, avoiding the problem of traditional deep learning classification relying on a large number of samples and requiring parameter adjustment. The proposed method in this paper is proven to be able to effectively carry out online monitoring and accurately classify defect types, which has guiding significance for aircraft maintenance personnel to take corresponding measures in time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glacier melt in High Mountain Asia (HMA) is an indicator of climate change and has a major impact on the regional hydrology and freshwater supply. We determined the recent status of HMA glaciers based on the first analysis of Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite‐2 (ICESat‐2) data. We used the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and GRACE Follow‐On (FO) data to complement ICESat‐1,2 data and validate them independently. We find a good agreement between ICESat‐1,2 and GRACE/GRACE‐FO data, which demonstrates the high reliability of results. Based on our results, the continuous glacier mass change from 2003 to 2019 is −28 ± 6 Gt yr−1, which is more negative than stereo imagery‐based studies. The regional variability of the glaciers ranges from −1.07 ± 0.10 m yr−1 in southeastern Nyaingentanglha to +0.16 ± 0.10 m yr−1 in West Kunlun. ICESat‐2 data enable new insight into the continuous measurement of HMA glacier elevation change. Plain Language Summary: High Mountain Asia (HMA) is the largest ice‐covered region outside the polar regions. Glaciers have been melting for the past decades due to global warming and will probably continue in the coming decades. This threatens the water availability in downstream basins and affects the regional or global climate. Thus, it is important to continuously monitor the states of the glaciers. In this study, the first analysis of data released after the launch of the second generation of the Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite (ICESat‐2) is provided. The data were used to survey the glacier thickness and mass change in HMA. We used independent gravity satellite data to fill the gap of ICESat, and the two independent data sets agree with respect to the continuous glacier mass change, which indicates the high reliability of the results. We estimate a total mass change of HMA glaciers is −28 ± 6 Gt yr−1 (Gt = 109 t water) or −0.34 ± 0.07 m yr−1 from 2003 to 2019. The spatial variability of the glacier elevation change rates indicates rapid thinning in Nyaingentanglha, but a slight increase in West Kunlun. Key Points: We provide the first look of ICESat‐2 data on glacier thickness and mass changes in High Mountain AsiaWe use independent data from satellite gravimetry to fill data gap of ICESat and obtain nearly continuous glacier mass changesThere is a quantitative agreement between satellite gravimetry and satellite altimetry, which show high reliability of result and data [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paranoid Personality Disorder (PPD) results from a complex synergy between genetic and environmental factors. Childhood abuse is one of risk factors. Nitric Oxide Synthase 1 Adaptor Protein (NOS1AP) is a candidate gene of schizophrenia, which has similar pathophysiology to PPD. This study investigated the role of NOS1AP gene polymorphisms and a history of childhood abuse in predicting PPD features among male violent offenders in the Chinese Han population. Four NOS1AP Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), rs4145621, rs3751284, rs348624 and rs6680461 were genotyped in a sample of 423 male prisoners. Participant evaluations included demographic information, measures of childhood abuse (Child Trauma Questionnaire, CTQ), and PPD features (Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-4, PDQ-4). Participants were divided into a PPD group and non-PPD group assessed by PDQ-4. Regression analysis revealed that emotional abuse, NOS1AP SNPs rs348624 and rs4145621 predicted PPD features (P < 0.05) among prison samples. Significant interactions between childhood abuse history and NOS1AP SNPs rs3751284 and rs6680461 were also observed. Individuals carrying the C allele of rs3751284 were susceptible to PPD features when exposed to higher levels of emotional neglect (P < 0.05); Individuals with the G allele of rs6680461 were susceptible to PPD features when exposed to higher levels of emotional, physical and sexual abuse (P < 0.01). These results suggest that the interaction between childhood abuse and NOS1AP gene polymorphisms may have an influence on PPD features, at least in male violent offenders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As innovation and technological change have become increasingly important for the competitiveness and sustainable growth of firms, cooperative innovation is now crucial for traditional industries in the context of globalization. This paper proposes a framework for analyzing the spatial pattern of cooperative innovation for traditional industries in developing countries. Based on in-depth interviews with 35 firms in the oil equipment manufacturing industry in Dongying City, China, this study argues that different firms in the innovation pyramid have various innovation activity preferences and spatial patterns. Firms with high innovation abilities tend to cooperate with various partners that are geographically dispersed and continuously expanding, while firms with inferior abilities usually cooperate with nearby fixed partners. Due to the differences in innovation environment and actor locations, firms tend to make different choices regarding innovation types and models, which highlight the importance of personnel training and basic scientific research at the global scale and practical product research and development at the national scale. Additionally, talent flow is the most important way to realize relationships for firm innovation activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been shown that milk infrared (IR) spectroscopy can be used to predict detailed milk fat composition. In addition, polymorphisms with substantial effects on milk fat composition have been identified. In this study, we investigated the combined use of milk IR spectroscopy and genotypes of dairy cows on the accuracy of predicting milk fat composition. Milk fat composition data based on gas chromatography and milk IR spectra were available for 1,456 Dutch Holstein Friesian cows. In addition, genotypes for the diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) K232A and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) A293V polymorphisms and a SNP located in an intron of the fatty acid synthase (FASN) gene were available. Adding SCD1 genotypes to the milk IR spectra resulted in a considerable improvement of the prediction accuracy for the unsaturated fatty acids C10:1, C12:1, C14:1 cis -9, and C16:1 cis -9 and their corresponding unsaturation indices. Adding DGAT1 genotypes to the milk IR spectra resulted in an improvement of the prediction accuracy for C16:1 cis -9 and C16 index. Adding genotypes of the FASN SNP to the IR spectra did not improve prediction of milk fat composition. This study demonstrated the potential of combining milk IR spectra with genotypic information from 3 polymorphisms to predict milk fat composition. We hypothesize that prediction accuracy of milk fat composition can be further improved by combining milk IR spectra with genomic breeding values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emissions from thermal power plants have always been the central consideration for environmental protection. Existing optical sensors in thermal power plants usually measure the total mass concentration of the particulate matter (PM) by a single-wavelength laser, bearing intrinsic errors owing to the variation in particle size distribution (PSD). However, the total mass concentration alone cannot characterize all the harmful effects of the air pollution caused by the power plant. Therefore, it is necessary to measure the mass concentration and PSD simultaneously, based on which we can obtain multi-particle-size channel mass concentration. To achieve this, we designed an optical sensor based on the three-wavelength technique and tested its performance in a practical environment. Results showed that the prototype cannot only correctly measure the mass concentration of the emitted PM but also determine the mean diameter and standard deviation of the PSDs. Hence, the mass concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, and PM1 are calculated, and the air pollutants emission by a thermal power plant can be estimated comprehensively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the asymptotic behavior for multiscale dynamical systems. Using the Poisson equation with parameters, we derive a hierarchy of approximation equations which are able to approximate the slow motion in the L p -sense and achieve order ɛ k / 2 with any p ⩾ 1 and k ∈ N + . This generalizes the averaged equation prescribed by the averaging principle, which results in order ɛ 1 / 2 approximation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To review current publications to examine safety of tai chi (TC). Cochrane Library, EBSCO host and MEDLINE/PubMed were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) including TC as the core intervention and reporting adverse events (AEs). Data were extracted considering active vs. inactive control group comparisons and presence of an AE monitoring protocol. Meta-analyses were conducted for overall results as well as control group and reporting specific conditions. In 256 RCTs of TC, 24 met eligibility criteria (1794 participants) and were assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. The frequency of non-serious, serious and intervention-related AEs were not found to be significantly different between TC and inactive or active control conditions. In studies with an AE monitoring protocol, more non-serious adverse events (RD = 0.05; 95% CI: 0.00, 0.10; P = 0.05) were reported for TC compared to inactive interventions. Given the higher overall AE risks related to studies of participants with heart failure, additional analyses examined this set separately. More serious AEs were found for inactive interventions compared with TC in studies with heart failure participants (RD = −0.11; 95% CI: −0.20, −0.03; P = 0.01). Findings indicate that TC does not result in more AEs than active and inactive control conditions, and produces fewer AEs than inactive control conditions for heart failure patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of the environmental impact of methane (CH 4), it is of great interest to reduce CH 4 emission of dairy cattle and selective breeding might contribute to this. However, this approach requires a rapid and inexpensive measurement technique that can be used to quantify CH 4 emission for a large number of individual dairy cows. Milk infrared (IR) spectroscopy has been proposed as a predictor for CH 4 emission. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of milk IR spectra to predict breath sensor–measured CH 4 of 801 dairy cows on 10 commercial farms. To evaluate the prediction equation, we used random and block cross validation. Using random cross validation, we found a validation coefficient of determination (R2val) of 0.49, which suggests that milk IR spectra are informative in predicting CH 4 emission. However, based on block cross validation, with farms as blocks, a negligible R2val of 0.01 was obtained, indicating that milk IR spectra cannot be used to predict CH 4 emission. Random cross validation thus results in an overoptimistic view of the ability of milk IR spectra to predict CH 4 emission of dairy cows. The difference between the validation strategies could be due to the confounding of farm and date of milk IR analysis, which introduces a correlation between batch effects on the IR analyses and farm-average CH 4. Breath sensor–measured CH 4 is strongly influenced by farm-specific conditions, which magnifies the problem. Milk IR wavenumbers from water absorption regions, which are generally considered uninformative, showed moderate accuracy (R2val = 0.25) when based on random cross validation, but not when based on block cross validation (R2val = 0.03). These results indicate, therefore, that in the current study, random cross validation results in an overoptimistic view on the ability of milk IR spectra to predict CH 4 emission. We suggest prediction based on wavenumbers from water absorption regions as a negative control to identify potential dependence structures in the data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the leading chronic liver disease, with a worldwide prevalence of more than 25%, and there is no approved drug for NAFLD specifically. In our previous study, the synthetic peptide AWRK6 was found to ameliorate NAFLD in mice. However, the mechanisms involved are still largely unknown. Here, AWRK6 treatment presented an alleviative effect on lipid accumulation induced by oleic acid in hepatocytes. Meanwhile, miR-5100 and miR-505 were found to be elevated by oleic acid induction and reversed by AWRK6 incubation. Further, the miR-5100 inhibitor inhibited oleic acid-induced lipid accumulation, and the alleviation effect of AWRK6 was partially counteracted by miR-5100 mimics. The screening of potential target genes revealed that a catalytic subunit of G6Pase G6PC was significantly inhibited by miR-5100 mimics transfection in both mRNA and protein levels. The direct targeting of miR-5100 on G6PC was verified by a Dual-Luciferase Reporter Assay. Moreover, the mRNA and protein levels of G6PC were found to be significantly increased by AWRK6 treatment. These results suggested that the peptide AWRK6 could alleviate lipid accumulation in hepatocytes, partly through reducing miR-5100 to restore one of its targets: G6PC. Thus, AWRK6 has the potential to treat NAFLD. Additionally, miR-5100 is a mediator of lipid accumulation in hepatocytes, which could be targeted by AWRK6. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individual wavenumbers of the infrared (IR) spectra of bovine milk have been shown to be moderately to highly heritable. The objective of this study was to identify genomic regions associated with individual milk IR wavenumbers. This is expected to provide information about the genetic background of milk composition and give insight in the relation between IR wavenumbers and milk components. For this purpose, a genome-wide association study was performed for a selected set of 50 individual IR wavenumbers measured on 1,748 Dutch Holstein cows. Significant associations were detected for 28 of the 50 wavenumbers. In total, 24 genomic regions distributed over 16 bovine chromosomes were identified. Major genomic regions associated with milk IR wavenumbers were identified on chromosomes 1, 5, 6, 14, 19, and 20. Most of these regions also showed significant associations with fat, protein, or lactose percentage. However, we also identified some new regions that were not associated with any one of these routinely collected milk composition traits. On chromosome 1, we identified 2 new genomic regions and hypothesized that they are related to variation in milk phosphorus content and orotic acid, respectively. On chromosome 20, we identified a new genomic region that seems to be related to citric acid. Identification of genomic regions associated with milk phosphorus content, orotic acid, and citric acid suggest that the milk IR spectra contain direct information on these milk components. Consequently milk IR analyses probably can be used to predict these milk components, which have low concentrations in milk; this can lead to novel applications of milk IR spectroscopy for dairy cattle breeding and herd management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are major outer membrane components of Gram-negative bacteria and produce strong inflammatory responses in animals. Most antibiotics have shown little clinical anti-endotoxin activity while some antimicrobial peptides have proved to be effective in blocking LPS. Here, the anti-LPS activity of the synthetic peptide AWRK6, which is derived from antimicrobial peptide dybowskin-2CDYa, has been investigated in vitro and in vivo. The positively charged α-helical AWRK6 was found to be effective in blocking the binding of LBP (LPS binding protein) with LPS in vitro using ELISA. In a murine endotoxemia model, AWRK6 offered satisfactory protection efficiency against endotoxemia death, and the serum levels of LPS, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α were found to be attenuated using ELISA. Further, histopathological analysis suggested that AWRK6 could improve the healing of liver and lung injury in endotoxemia mice. The results of real-time PCR and Western blotting showed that AWRK6 significantly reversed LPS-induced TLR4 overexpression and IκB depression, as well as the enhanced IκB phosphorylation. Additionally, AWRK6 did not produce any significant toxicity in vivo and in vitro. In summary, AWRK6 showed efficacious protection from LPS challenges in vivo and in vitro, by blocking LPS binding to LBP, without obvious toxicity, providing a promising strategy against LPS-induced inflammatory responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, increased efforts have been made to estimate the mass budgets of glaciers in High Mountain Asia (HMA). However, seasonal changes in glaciers are poorly understood, despite the fact that seasonal meltwater released from glaciers is a crucial local water resource in HMA. Utilizing satellite altimetry and gravimetry data, we constructed annual changes in glacier elevation and identified two general patterns of the seasonality of glacier elevation changes. Glaciers in the periphery of HMA (except for those in the eastern Himalayas) thicken from approximately December to April-June, thus exhibiting winter and spring accumulation. Glaciers in the inner Tibetan Plateau, especially those in Western Kunlun and Tanggula, accumulate from approximately March to approximately August, thus exhibiting spring and summer accumulation. The amounts of seasonal glacier ablation were obtained using a new approach of direct observations of glacier changes, rather than inferring changes using a climate model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The review of sensing mechanisms, signal demodulation, fabrication and origin and recent development of biosensors based on LPFG has been focused on. Besides, the methods for improving detection limits such as reducing cladding diameter, working near dispersion turning point (DTP), and within mode transition (MT) region was discussed. Applications on the detection of glucose, bacteria, immunoglobulins, biotin, DNA, hemoglobin, virus, drugs and so on were also classified and summarized in detail. • The problems in practical applications for LPFG biosensors have been summarized and discussed, such as temperature cross-sensitivity and wavelength demodulation, which need to be solved, and these problems also pointed out the directions of development for LPFG biosensors in future. For these two problems, some solutions have been discussed and a biosensing system that can be adapted for future needs was conceived. • The comprehensive and careful review written by us covers almost all sensing characteristics of LPFG and biological detection in recent years. And the research prospects of LPFG biosensors have been outlooked, in which we should promote the integration, miniaturization and portability of LPFG biosensor and apply it to medical monitoring, environmental inspection, and food safety in future development. Nowadays, there have been extensive applications of biosensors for industrial production, environment monitoring, disease diagnosis, and food safety. Attributed to periodically refractive index modulation, long period fiber grating (LPFG) can couple the core mode to forward propagating cladding modes at specific wavelengths, so it is sensitive to the variations of environmental refractive index. In addition, LPFG sensors have been ubiquitous in the biological detecting field with advantages of high sensitivity, compact structure, resistance to electromagnetic interference, and long-distance monitoring. In this paper, we focus on the review of sensing mechanisms, signal demodulation, fabrication and origin and recent development of biosensors based on LPFG. Besides, we discuss the methods for improving detection limits such as reducing cladding diameter, working near dispersion turning point (DTP), and within mode transition (MT) region. Applications on the detection of glucose, bacteria, immunoglobulins, biotin, DNA, hemoglobin, virus, drugs and so on are also classified and summarized in detail. Finally, several problems that hinder the practical use of LPFG biosensors are presented and some possible solutions are proposed, and the future development of biosensors is conceived. Over the past few years, biosensors based on LPFG have made remarkable achievements in the diversification of detected objects and improvement of extreme sensitivity. However, there are still some problems in practical applications for LPFG biosensors, such as temperature cross-sensitivity and stable wavelength demodulation, which need to be solved in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • NaHCO 3 medium-extracted rice bran OBs had natural structure and better stability. • Exogenous proteins interacted with interfacial proteins to remodel OBs interface. • Rice bran OBs altered rheological properties depending on the extraction methods. • The protein secondary structure and membrane compositions differed. • Spectroscopy confirmed the interactions between the main components. The isolated plant oil bodies (OBs) have shown promising applications as natural pre-emulsified O/W emulsions. Rice bran OBs can be used as a new type plant-based resource with superior fatty acids composition and abundant γ-oryzanol. This paper investigated the method of extracting structurally intact and stable rice bran OBs. Due to the adequate steric hindrance and electrostatic repulsion effects, rice bran OBs extracted by NaHCO 3 medium had smaller particle size, better physical stability, and natural structure. The protein profile of NaHCO 3 -extracted rice bran OBs showed oleosin-L and oleosin-H, while exogenous proteins in PBS and enzyme-assisted- extracted rice bran OBs could interact with interfacial proteins through hydrophobic forces to aggregate adjacent OBs, further remodeling the OBs interface. It was also found that the small-sized rice bran OBs could adsorb on the interface of the larger-sized rice bran OBs like Pickering stabilizers. Rice bran OBs exhibited pseudoplastic fluids characteristic, but underwent a transition from solid-like to liquid-like behavior depending on the extraction method. The disorder of NaHCO 3 -extracted rice bran OBs protein molecules increased their surface hydrophobicity. The random coil structure favored more proteins adsorption at the interface of rice bran OBs extracted by PBS. Enzyme-assisted extraction of rice bran OBs had the highest content of β-sheet structure, which facilitated the stretching and aggregation of protein spatial structure. It was also confirmed the hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction between the triacylglycerol or phospholipid and proteins molecules, and the membrane compositions of rice bran OBs differed between extraction methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this study is to propose, then analyze, and later test a spectral gradient algorithm for solving a convex minimization problem. The considered problem covers the matrix ℓ2,1-norm regularized least squares which is widely used in multi-task learning for capturing the joint feature among each task. To solve the problem, we firstly minimize a quadratic approximated model of the objective function to derive a search direction at current iteration. We show that this direction descends automatically and reduces to the original spectral gradient direction if the regularized term is removed. Secondly, we incorporate a nonmonotone line search along this direction to improve the algorithm’s numerical performance. Furthermore, we show that the proposed algorithm converges to a critical point under some mild conditions. The attractive feature of the proposed algorithm is that it is easily performable and only requires the gradient of the smooth function and the objective function’s values at each and every step. Finally, we operate some experiments on synthetic data, which verifies that the proposed algorithm works quite well and performs better than the compared ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper mainly gives some sufficient and necessary conditions for an element in a ring to be EP , partial isometry and strongly EP by some equalities, using the solutions of certain equations and constructing the invertible elements in a ring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variations of seawater salinity often cause ocean internal waves, water masses and stratification, which affect the stability of the ocean environment. Therefore, the study of seawater salinity is significant for the prediction of changes in the ocean environment. However, existing methods for measuring seawater salinity generally have the disadvantages of low sensitivity and low accuracy. In this work, we proposed a seawater salinity sensor based on long period fiber grating (LPFG) in the dispersion turning point (DTP), which has demonstrated the possibility to fabricate LPFG with a shorter grating period by CO2 laser in a thin single mode fiber (SMF) of 80 μm cladding diameter without etching. For obtaining higher sensitivity that could meet the measurement requirement in practice, the proposed sensor was optimized by combining etching cladding and DTP. After the LPFG working near DTP was fabricated by a CO2 laser, the cladding diameter was reduced to 57.14 μm for making cladding mode LP1,7 work near DTP by hydrofluoric acid (HF) solutions. The experimental results have demonstrated that a sensitivity of 0.571 nm/‰ can be achieved when the salinity increases from 5.001‰ to 39.996‰, and the sensor shows good repeatability and stability. Based on its excellent performance, the optimized LPFG is a prospective sensor to monitor seawater salinity in real time. Meanwhile, a low-cost way was provided to make LPFG work near DTP instead of ultraviolet exposure and femtosecond laser writing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In autumn and winter, the climate is dry and human skin tends to become dry as a result. The application of hyaluronic acid to a fabric has a certain moisturizing effect, which can further improve the wearing comfort of the fabric. In this study, three knitted fabric structures including weft plain stitch, 1 + 1 mock rib, and 1 + 3 mock rib were designed. The face yarn adopted hyaluronic acid viscose fiber, graphene viscose fiber, nylon, and viscose with different interweaving ratios, and the inner yarn adopted nylon/spandex-coated wire. A total of 18 sample knitted fabrics were woven according to the experimental method of the full test. The effects of the fabric structure and fabric raw materials on skin moisturizing properties were studied and analyzed by testing the skin water content and trans-epidermal water loss before and after coating the fabric on the human skin. The results show that the most significant factor affecting the skin moisture content is the raw material used in the fabric. When the interweaving ratio of hyaluronic acid viscose fiber in the fabric decreases, the moisturizing performance of the fabric on human skin is weakened. The second is the fabric structure. In terms of structure, 1 + 1 mock rib fabric has better moisturizing performance for human skin. When the material adopts hyaluronic acid viscose fiber/graphene viscose fiber (100:0) and the structure adopts 1 + 1 mock rib, the moisturizing effect on human skin is better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] A reliable approach of determining the concentration of Ti2+ and Ti3+ was proposed. [•] The accurate values of the equilibrium constants between metallic titanium and titanium ions were calculated. [•] Effects of the concentration of LiCl on the equilibrium constants were investigated. [•] The effects of the polarizing power on the equilibrium constant and average valence of Ti ions were first discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The matrix nuclear norm minimization problem has received much attention in recent years, largely because its highly related to the matrix rank minimization problem arising from controller design, signal processing and model reduction. The alternating direction method is a very popular way to solve this problem due to its simplicity, low storage, practical computation efficiency and nice convergence properties. In this paper, we propose an alternating direction method, where one variable is determined explicitly, and the other variable is computed by a linear conjugate gradient algorithm. At each iteration, the method involves a singular value thresholding and its convergence result is guaranteed in this literature. Extensive experiments illustrate that the proposed algorithm compares favorable with the state-of-the-art algorithms FPCA and IADM_BB which were specifically designed in recent years. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Preparation of Ti5Si3 by electrolysis of TiO2/SiO2 composites in molten salt. [•] The mechanism of electro-deoxidation of TiO2/SiO2 composite was investigated. [•] Ti5Si3 was obtained through the electro-deoxidation of TiO2/SiO2 composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Titanium nitride (TiN) was used as consumable anode to produce metallic titanium in molten salts. The electrochemical dissolution of TiN was investigated. It was found that nitrogen (N2) was monitored at the anode during electrolysis. The titanium ion species was changed between Ti2+ and Ti3+ depending on the electrochemically dissolving potentials of TiN. Furthermore, the product on the cathode was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results show that pure titanium powders can be prepared by the TiN electro-refining in a molten salt bath. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Diabetes-induced hyperglycemia increases formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and metal-catalyzed production of free radicals. This study compared the antioxidant capacities of dark and light soy sauces of different brands and investigated their abilities to inhibit AGEs and whether their mechanism of action was pre- or post-Amadori or involved chelation of transition metals. The antioxidant capacities of soy sauces were compared using the 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) method and by measuring their total phenolic contents. Model proteins (lysozyme, albumin) were glycated using fructose with or without soy sauces with subsequent analysis of cross-linked AGEs by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The effect of soy sauces on pre- and post-Amadori inhibition of AGEs was investigated by measuring fructosamine and AGEs following reincubation of ribose-glycated (ribated) lysozyme, respectively. Dark soy sauces had higher antioxidant capacities and phenolic content and were more effective inhibitors of post-Amadori-derived cross-linked AGEs. However, light soy sauces were more effective at inhibiting fructosamine and had more potent metal chelation properties. This study reports the antiglycation properties of soy sauces, but further studies are required to determine the constituents responsible for this effect and whether soy sauce consumption can reduce oxidative stress and AGEs in diabetic subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper, we propose, analyze, and test a new method for solving -norm regularization problems arising from the spare solution recovery in compressed sensing, basis-pursuit problems, and linear inverse problems. The method aims to minimize a non-smooth minimization problem consisting of a least-squares data fitting term and a -norm regularization term. The problem is firstly formulated for a convex quadratic program problem, and then for an equivalent non-smooth equation. At each iteration, a spectral gradient method is applied to the resulting problem without requiring Jacobian matrix information. Convergence of the proposed method follows directly from the results which already exist. The algorithm is easily performed, where only the matrix–vector inner product is required at each and every step. Numerical experiments to decode a sparse signal arising in compressed sensing and image deconvolution are performed. The numerical results illustrate that the proposed method is practical and promising. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper, we give some notes on the two modified spectral gradient methods which were developed in . These notes present the relationship between their stepsize formulae and some new secant equations in the quasi-Newton method. In particular, we also introduce another two new choices of stepsize. By using an efficient nonmonotone line search technique, we propose some new spectral gradient methods. Under some mild conditions, we show that these proposed methods are globally convergent. Numerical experiments on a large number of test problems from the CUTEr library are also reported, which show that the efficiency of these proposed methods. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• The under-deposit corrosion mechanism of tubing steel is clarified in detail. • The synergistic effect of CO 2 and SRB causes under-deposit corrosion. • The enrichment of Cl - accelerates the localized corrosion process beneath the corrosion products. The tubing steel served for the injection and production wells of CO 2 flooding was investigated using various characterization methods. The results showed the corrosion failure of the tube was caused by the jointed action of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), CO 2 and chloride ions ( Cl -) during service. The corrosion product film formed on the tubing steel exhibited a bilayer structure. The outer layer was mainly composed of FeS and FeCO 3 , which was caused by SRB corrosion and CO 2 corrosion respectively, and the inner layer was primarily iron oxide and oxyhydroxide caused by Cl - enrichment and CO 2 corrosion. FeCO 3 was found in both layers. Accordingly, the synergistic effect of SRB and CO 2 resulted in the under-deposit corrosion, and the enrichment of Cl - accelerated the localized corrosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: PAX3 or PAX3-FKHR expression is implicated in cell transformation and tumourigenesis. Here, C2C12 myoblasts were transfected with a sense Pax3 vector and a pTet-On system to induce Pax3 expression, whereas to downregulate PAX3-FKHR, Rh18 was transfected with an antisense Pax3 with a pTet-On system. The inhibition of PAX3-FKHR in Rh18 induced upregulation of PTEN. Decreased resistance to apoptosis and increased transformation ability were observed in the Rh18 cells with PAX3-FKHR downregulation. Conversely, Pax3 induction in C2C12 cells downregulated the expression of PTEN and p27Kip1. These results indicate that the involvement of PAX3 and PAX3-FKHR in rhabdomyosarcoma tumourigenesis may be through downregulation of PTEN tumour suppressor gene, affecting the PTEN/AKT survival pathway. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Endocrine hormones released by peripheral tissues, such as adipose tissue, skeletal muscle and the liver, play an important role in metabolic crosstalk and homeostasis and contribute to disease pathogenesis. We recently identified Tsukushi (TSK) as a liver-enriched secreted factor that is highly inducible in response to increased energy expenditure. TSK null mice were resistant to diet-induced obesity, insulin resistance, and diet-induced NASH as a result of enhanced sympathetic activation and brown fat thermogenesis. However, the mechanisms underlying TSK action remain incompletely elucidated. Melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) is a key regulator of energy balance and its mutations represent the most common monogenic cause of obesity in human. In this study, we generated TSK/MC4R double knockout mice to explore potential crosstalk between the TSK and MC4R signaling pathways. While MC4R-null mice developed severe obesity when fed standard rodent chow, TSK inactivation nearly completely abolished the defects of energy balance caused by MC4R deficiency. Remarkably, ablation of TSK normalized food intake and corrected hepatic steatosis, adipose tissue inflammation, and insulin resistance in MC4R null mice. TSK deficiency also rescued the impairments of thermogenic gene expression caused by MC4R deficiency. Those results suggest that TSK likely acts downstream or in parallel to MC4R signaling to regulate feeding behavior and energy expenditure. Our work supports a rationale for therapeutic blockade of TSK for the treatment of obesity and metabolic disease caused by MC4R mutations. Disclosure: Q. Wang: None. J. Lin: None. Funding: National Institutes of Health (DK102456, AG055379, DK114220) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of oral cancer is increasing due to smoking, drinking, and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, while the current treatments are not satisfactory. Small interfering RNA (siRNA)-based therapy has brought hope, but an efficient delivery system is still needed. Here, polyethyleneimine (PEI)-modified magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles were prepared for the delivery of therapeutic siRNAs targeting B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL2) and Baculoviral IAP repeat-containing 5 (BIRC5) into Ca9-22 oral cancer cells. The cationic nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electronic microscopy (TEM), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). By gel retardation assay, the nanoparticles were found to block siRNA in a concentration-dependent manner. The cellular uptake of the nanoparticle/siRNA complexes under a magnetic field was visualized by Perl's Prussian blue staining and FAM labeling. High gene silencing efficiencies were determined by quantitative real-time PCR and western blotting. Furthermore, the nanoparticle-delivered siRNAs targeting BCL2 and BIRC5 were found to remarkably inhibit the viability and migration of Ca9-22 cells, by cell counting kit-8 assay and transwell assay. In this study, we have developed a novel siRNA-based therapeutic strategy targeting BCL2 and BIRC5 for oral cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We designed, synthesized, and characterized a tri‐block copolymer. Its hydrophobic part, a chain of histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) prodrug, was symmetrically flanked by two identical PEG blocks, whereas the built‐in HDACi was a linear molecule, terminated with a thiol at one end, and a hydroxyl group at the other. Such a feature facilitated end‐to‐end linkage of prodrugs through alternatively aligned disulfides and carbonates. The disulfides served dual roles: redox sensors of smart nanomedicine, and warheads of masked HDACi drugs. This approach, carefully designed to benefit both control‐release and efficacy, is conceptually novel for optimizing drug units in nanomedicine. Micelles from this designer polyprodrug released only PEG, CO2 and HDACi, and synergized with DOX against HCT116 cells, demonstrating its widespread potential in combination therapy. Our work highlights, for the first time, the unique advantage of thiol‐based drug molecules in nanomedicine design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two wild rice starches were isolated from Erhai in Dali, Yunnan Province (EWR) and Xinghua in Taizhou, Jiangsu Province (XWR), China, and compared with black rice (BR) starches, its structure, gelatinization and starch digestibility in vitro were studied. The results showed that the apparent amylose content of starches in EWR and XWR was 19.82% and 20.33%, respectively. The starch granules were irregular polygons and all were A-type crystals, with relative crystallinity of 25.6%~26.65%, similar short-range ordered structure and layered structure, and the thickness of the semi-crystalline layer ranged from 9.82 nm to 9.97 nm. XWR and EWR starches had exhibited the same gelatinization temperature range, enthalpy of gelatinization (ΔHgel) and swelling power, but XWR starches was higher than EWR in the gelatinization temperature and lower than EWR in the solubility. The rapidly digestible starch (RDS) content of wild rice starches in the two regions was low, only 3.63% and 37.32%, whether it was raw starches or gelatinized starches. After gelatinization, the RDS and slowly digestible starch (SDS) content were significantly increased and the resistant starch (RS) content was decreased, but the RS content was still higher than the common grains. Therefore, the wild rice starches are more suitable for processing and producing resistant starch products. Extracting starch from Chinese wild rice can provide guidance and reference for its application in edible and non-edible products, and promote the development and utilization of Chinese wild rice. Abbreviations: EWR, wild rice from Erhai in Dali, Yunnan Province; XWR, wild rice from Xinghua in Taizhou, Jiangsu Province; RDS, rapidly digestible starch; SDS, slowly digestible starch; RS resistant starch; TS, total starch; To, onset temperature of gelatinization; Tp, peak temperature of gelatinization; Tc, conclusion temperature of gelatinization; ∆Hgel, enthalpy of gelatinization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethylene (ET) is an important phytohormone that regulates plant growth, development and stress responses. The ethylene-insensitive3/ethylene-insensitive3-like (EIN3/EIL) transcription factor family, as a key regulator of the ET signal transduction pathway, plays an important role in regulating the expression of ET-responsive genes. Although studies of EIN3/EIL family members have been completed in many species, their role in doubled haploid (DH) poplar derived from another culture of diploid Populus simonii × P. nigra (donor tree, DT) remains ambiguous. In this study, a total of seven EIN3/EIL gene family members in the DH poplar genome were identified. Basic physical and chemical property analyses of these genes were performed, and these proteins were predicted to be localized to the nucleus. According to the phylogenetic relationship, EIN3/EIL genes were divided into two groups, and the genes in the same group had a similar gene structure and conserved motifs. The expression patterns of EIN3/EIL genes in the apical buds of different DH poplar plants were analyzed based on transcriptome data. At the same time, the expression patterns of PsnEIL1, PsnEIN3, PsnEIL4 and PsnEIL5 genes in different tissues of different DH plants were detected via RT-qPCR, including the apical buds, young leaves, functional leaves, xylem, cambium and roots. The findings presented above indicate notable variations in the expression levels of PsnEIL genes across various tissues of distinct DH plants. Finally, the PsnEIL1 gene was overexpressed in DT, and the transgenic plants showed a dwarf phenotype, indicating that the PsnEIL1 gene was involved in regulating the growth and development of poplar. In this study, the EIN3/EIL gene family of DH poplar was analyzed and functionally characterized, which provides a theoretical basis for the future exploration of the EIN3/EIL gene function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]