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The formation of hazardous substances, heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) and two representative advanced glycation end products (AGEs), Nε-carboxymethyl-lysine (CML) and Nε-carboxyethyl-lysine (CEL) in five kinds of fish with different fat contents during thermal processing was investigated. The results indicated that HAAs, AGEs produced is related to the lipids in varying degrees. The variation of key precursors were examined to explain the relationship between fat oxidation and molecular pathway of HAAs and AGEs formation. The current research may help us better understand the overall generation of hazardous substances in food systems, and provide new ideas for formulating prevention in future production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect and chemical intervention mechanism of edible oregano and clove essential oils (EOs) on heterocyclic amine (HA) formation in roasted large yellow croaker. The results indicated that all oregano and clove EOs minimize the amount of HAs, especially high‐concentration oregano EO, which can reduce Norharman by 99.97% (from 876.3333 ± 11.8462 to 0.2927 ± 0.0038 ng/g), and led other HAs below the detection limit. The addition of EOs, meanwhile, can protect the large yellow croaker against lipid and protein oxidation due to their ability to scavenge peroxyl radicals. We also examined the variation of HA precursors and attempted to explain molecular pathway of EOs inhibiting HA formation. The results provide theoretical support to develop technologies of HA inhibition during fish processing, which is important for food manufacturers and consumers for producing healthier meat products. Novelty impact statement: A novel inhibition method on heterocyclic amines based on edible oregano and clove essential oils was exploited, and the possible chemical intervention mechanism was explained, which is important for food manufacturers and consumers for producing healthier meat products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of grape seed extract (GSE), acerola cherry extract (ACE), and blueberry extract (BBE) on the physicochemical properties and structure of the yellow croaker surimi gel. In addition, molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation were utilized to study the binding mechanism of yellow croaker's fibrillin and fruit extracts. Surimi gel with 1.5% GSE, ACE, and BBE had the highest water holding capacity, hardness, chewability, cohesion, breaking force, breaking distance, gel strength, and densest 3D network structure, according to the experiment's findings. Nevertheless, the cross‐linking of proteins in surimi was blocked with the further increase of fruit extract (1.5%–2.0%), and the existing network of surimi was weakened or even destroyed. Three fruit extracts had little effect on the secondary structure of the surimi gel. Besides, hydrophobic and disulfide bonds are the main chemical bonds of croaker surimi. Molecular docking showed that B‐type procyanidine (BP) interacted with ASN‐183, SER‐571, ASP‐525, ARG‐350, LYS‐188, GLU‐349, CYS‐353, and other active amino acids in croaker protein. Moreover, it can form strong hydrogen bond interaction with ASN‐183, SER‐571, ASP‐525, and ARG‐350 at the active sites of protein. The BP‐Larimichthys crocea protein system's MD simulation was carried out, and calculations for the simulation's root mean square deviation, root mean square fluctuation, radius of gyration, solvent accessible surface area, and hydrogen bonds were made. It was found that these indices can demonstrate that the BP binding contributes to the stability of the yellow croaker structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel route was developed to inhibit HAAs and AGEs in roasted mackerel by adding vegetable extracts. • Vegetable extracts can not only promoting quality and avoiding nutrition loss of mackerel. • Variation of precursors revealed the involved HAAs inhibition mechanism. The formation of hazardous substances, heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) and advanced glycation end products (AGEs), in roasted mackerel with different cooking temperatures (180, 210, 240 °C) and vegetable extracts (celery, carrot and yam extracts) in a preheated oven was investigated. The results indicated that the introduction of vegetable extracts had inhibitory effects on HAAs and AGEs during thermal processing, especially celery extracts. Benefiting from the addition of vegetable extracts, the roasted mackerel keep high quality against lipid/protein oxidation, avoids nutrition loss of polyunsaturated fatty acids, and flavor is promoted. We also examined the variation of key precursors, including creatine, creatinine, reducing sugars, amino acids and attempted to explain the molecular pathway of inhibition of the formation of the hazardous substances by vegetable extracts. The results provide theoretical support to develop technologies for inhibiting hazardous substances formation during fish processing, which is important for food manufacturers and consumers for producing healthier meat products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A reverse dispersion fiber (RDF) with depressed core-index profile has been developed successfully by using plasma chemical vapor deposition (PCVD) process. The fabricated RDF has a core-effective-area of 45μm2, a dispersion of −19.65ps/nm/km and a dispersion slope of −0.132ps/nm2/km while maintaining the low bending induced attenuation and low PMD value. The dispersion-managed pairs, which consisted of RDF and non-zero dispersion shifted fiber with ultra large effective core-area (ULAF), have the ultra low dispersion slope of less than 0.006ps/nm2/km at the wavelength range of 1530–1625nm, and the largest dispersion value is lower than 0.2ps/nm/km. Moreover, the attenuation characteristic also shows a remarkable flatness over the broadband wavelength, the attenuation at 1550nm is only 0.224dB/km. The dispersion-managed pairs are suitable for large capacity, high bit-rate long-haul wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) transmission system without using dispersion compensation mode. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Based on the biomimetic route the metal material with tree-like fractal structure was prepared, which showed a rough surface observed by scanning electron microscopy. According to the electrochemical experiments, the formed material exhibited the strong catalytic capability as an electrode in hydrogen evolution reaction, comparing with other conventional structure materials under comparable scales. We suggested this promotion of property arose from the contribution of the great surface area and the excellent connectivity offered from the fractal structure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A non-zero dispersion-shifted fiber based on a depressed core-index for the large capacities and high bit-rate transmission system is designed and fabricated. The fiber with this structure has the effective-core-area (Aeff) of more than 100 μm2 and dispersion slope of less than 0.065 ps/nm2/km at 1.55 μm wavelength simultaneously while maintaining the good bending loss. The zero-dispersion wavelength is shifted to lower than 1430 nm, so this fiber can be used on not only the conventional C-band (1530–1565 nm), but also S-band (1460–1530 nm) and L-band (1565–1625 nm) for dense wavelength division multiplexing. In addition, the designed fiber has a low polarization mode dispersion of about 0.04 ps/√ of km and an attenuation of around 0.21 dB/km at 1550 nm, the splice loss with conventional single mode fiber is less than 0.11 dB. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Al/a-Si:H bilayer thin films were deposited on glass substrate by thermal evaporation and plasma-enhanced chemical-vapor-deposition in a specially designed one-chamber deposition apparatus. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to study the morphology, crystallization and the shift of Si2p binding energy, respectively. The crystalline silicon was formed at a low temperature of approximately 250 °C in the Al/a-Si:H bilayer thin film. The intermixed layer of (Al)–(a-Si:H) plays an important role in the crystallization of silicon. The content of crystalline Si, which is related to a dome-like microstructure, increases with increasing thickness of the intermixed layer formed due to the high diffusion rate of Al atoms at high temperature or larger amounts of Al diffused into a-Si:H layer with the increase in thickness of the Al sublayer. The Si2p binding energy of c-Si is approximately 99.23 eV while a-Si:H energy shifts from approximately 98.66 to 98.87 eV in the Al/a-Si:H bilayer thin films with different thickness of the Al sublayer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Observation impact studies have received increasing amounts of research attention. The impacts of observations on numerical weather prediction (NWP) are highly dependent on assimilation algorithm, prediction system, and observation source. Therefore, the major NWP centers worldwide have each developed their own diagnostic techniques to assess observation impacts. However, similar diagnostic techniques have not yet been developed in China. In this study, a diagnostic technique was exploited with the randomized perturbation method in the Global/Regional Assimilation and Prediction System (GRAPES) 3DVAR system, and then applied to evaluate observation impacts for various regions of the world. It was found that a reasonable and stable estimation could be obtained when the number of perturbations was greater than 15. Because of differences in observations in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, refractivity data from GNSS radio occultation (GNSS-RO), satellite radiance, and atmospheric motion vector data had more impact in the Southern Hemisphere than in the Northern Hemisphere. However, radiosonde data, aircraft, and surface data were more important in the Northern Hemisphere. Low-impact observation points were located in data-rich areas, whereas high-impact observation points were located in data-poor areas. In the equatorial region, the contributions of observations to the analysis were smaller than those in the nonequatorial regions because of the lack of proper mass–wind balance relationship. Radiosondes contributed the largest impact in China and its surrounding regions, with contributions of radiosondes and GNSS-RO data exceeding 60% of the total contributions, except for wind speed below 700 hPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In brain MR images, the noise and low-contrast significantly deteriorate the segmentation results. In this paper, we propose an automatic unsupervised segmentation method integrating dual-tree complex wavelet transform (DT-CWT) with K-mean algorithm for brain MR image. Firstly, a multi-dimensional feature vector is constructed based on the intensity, the low-frequency subband of DT-CWT and spatial position information. Then, a spatial constrained K-mean algorithm is presented as the segmentation system. The proposed method is validated by extensive experiments using both simulated and real T1-weighted MR images, and compared with the state-of-the-art algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea) is one of the most commercially important marine fish in China and is a fixture at Chinese tables. Herein, we determined the formation of heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) in roasted yellow croaker and evaluated the inhibitory effect of natural fruits extracts (blueberry extract, acerola cherry extract and grape seed extract) on the formation of HAAs in roast yellow croaker. All the three fruit extracts treatments minimize the amount of HAAs and the addition of blueberries extracts is the most effective approach on reducing the total HAAs content, which caused a signification reduction of 94.85% and 71.15% of the Norhaman and PhIP content, respectively, led IQ, 8-MeIQX, 4,8-DiMeIQX below the detected limitation, compared to the control group. Furthermore, antioxidant index of fruits extracts, precursors (free amino acids, creatine, creatinine and glucose) of HAAs, lipid and protein oxidation, flavor changes are evaluated to determine the mechanism and physical/chemical changes of fruit extracts on the formation of HAAs. This research develops a new method to minimize the amount of HAAs, which is helpful to food manufacturers for the production of healthier yellow croaker products and may be applicable to various meat systems. • The formation of HAAs in roasted large yellow croaker was determined. • Various fruits extracts could inhibit HAAs in roast large yellow croaker. • Fruits extracts positively affected lipid/protein oxidation and content of precursors. • Flavor changes are introduced to determine the possible mechanism involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have demonstrated that neuroinflammation is the key to perioperative neurocognitive disorders (PND); however, the specific mechanism postsurgery and anesthesia has not yet been fully clarified. The present study is aimed at exploring the effects of P2X4/NLRP3 signaling pathway in neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment after surgery. 12–14-month-old male C57BL/6 mice undergoing open tibial fracture surgery by sevoflurane anesthesia were administered P2X4R inhibitor 5-BDBD or saline was intraperitoneally for 3 consecutive days after surgery. Then, the animals were subjected to Morris water maze test or sacrificed to collect the hippocampus. The level of P2X4R and NLRP3 was estimated by Western blot, the activation of microglia was detected via immunohistochemistry, and the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. These results indicated that tibial surgery caused cognitive impairment, increased the expression of P2X4R and NLRP3, and aggravated the neuroinflammation and microglia activation. However, intraperitoneal injection of 5-BDBD attenuated these effects. In conclusion, these findings indicated that the P2X4/NLRP3 pathway might be involved in the pathophysiology of PND. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influences of minor amounts of scandium on the microstructure and mechanical properties of as-cast ZA27 alloy have been experimentally investigated. The experimental results show that as far as the Sc addition is individually concerned, the refinement result of the as-cast ZA27 alloy with 0.5wt.%Sc addition is comparatively better. After alloying with minor amounts of Sc, the coarse dendrites of the ZA27 alloy are refined and transformed into the uniform and small equiaxed grain microstructure; also the eutectics among the grain boundaries become finer. The test results of mechanical properties show that the tensile strength and hardness of the as-cast ZA27 alloy containing 0.5wt.%Sc approach 495 MPa and 120.2 HB, increase by 28.5% and 33.1%, respectively, compared with those of the ZA27 alloy with no addition of Sc element, while the elongation of the alloy is improved to 7.6% from 2.7%. The SEM, EDAX and XRD analyses show that in the ZA27 alloy, the trace element Sc combines with Al to form the square AI3Sc phase particles, which serve as heterogeneous nuclei, facilitating the refinement of the microstructure and the improvement of the mechanical properties of the alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We report on normal incidence p–i–n heterojunction photodiodes operating in the near-infrared region and realized in pure germanium on planar silicon substrate. The diodes were fabricated by ultrahigh vacuum chemical vapor deposition at 600°C without thermal annealing and allowing the integration with standard silicon processes. Due to the 0.14% residual tensile strain generated by the thermal expansion mismatch between Ge and Si, an efficiency enhancement of nearly 3-fold at 1.55μm and the absorption edge shifting to longer wavelength of about 40nm are achieved in the epitaxial Ge films. The diode with a responsivity of 0.23A/W at 1.55μm wavelength and a bulk dark current density of 10mA/cm2 is demonstrated. These diodes with high performances and full compatibility with the CMOS processes enable monolithically integrating microphotonics and microelectronics on the same chip. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A multifunctional supramolecular complex is reported for the integrated multiple magnetic resonance imaging/computed X-ray tomography (MRI/CT) imaging and photothermal therapy, wherein a gadolinium-substituted paramagnetic polyoxometalate cluster and food-borne antioxidant peptides identified from the trepang protein hydrolysates are introduced. The as-prepared complex maintained an uniform particle size and much better biocompatibility, and is an ideal candidate for the in vivo applications. The complex allows for T1-weighted MR imaging and a high Hounsfield unit value for enhanced CT imaging. Interestingly, we demonstrate that the complex possesses outstanding photothermal cancer-killing effects due to its high photothermal conversion efficiency under the exposure of an NIR laser and enhanced antibacterial activity to avoid bacterial infection from the thermal therapeutic process. These results indicate that the supramolecular complex platform exhibit potential for accurate medical diagnosis at an early stage and effective eradication of the tumor cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to investigate the role of pericytes in the pathogenesis of perioperative neurocognitive disorder (PND). In this study, we established a PND model via sevoflurane anesthesia and tibial fracture surgery in 2-month-old and 16-month-old male C57BL/6 mice. On the third postoperative day, the mice were subjected to behavioral testing or sacrificed to collect brain tissue. The progression of hippocampal blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption and neuroinflammation was detected using transmission electron microscope and immunofluorescence. We also used western blotting to measure the levels of plasma-derived protein immunoglobulin G (IgG) and albumin in the hippocampus to assess the leakage of the BBB. Aged mice did not experience age-related cognitive decline and BBB disruption compared with younger mice but only increased glial cell activity. Anesthesia/Surgery damaged cognitive function, reduced pericyte coverage, decreased the length of capillaries and levels of occludin and claudin-5, destroyed the structure of the BBB, exacerbated IgG and albumin accumulation in the hippocampus, and enhanced the activation of microglia and astrocytes in the hippocampus of aged mice. However, these negative effects did not occur in young mice. Our study showed that the loss of pericytes led to increased BBB permeability and neuroinflammation after anesthesia/surgery in aged mice, ultimately resulting in cognitive dysfunction. • Anesthesia/surgery results in loss of pericyte in the hippocampus of aged mice. • Anaesthesia/surgery had little effect on pericyte coverage in young mice. • The destruction of blood-brain barrier after surgery is related to the pericyte loss. • Postoperative cognitive dysfunction is caused by pericyte loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In the present work, we intended to explore the function of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) in modulated anesthetic reagent bupivacaine-induced neuronal apoptosis in spinal cord dorsal root ganglia (DRG).Methods: Murine DRG explant was treated with 5 mM bupivacaine in vitro to induce neuronal apoptosis, which was examined by a TUNEL assay. Protein and mRNA expressions of EZH2 in bupivacaine-treated DRG were examined by western blot and qRT-PCR assays. EZH2 was downregulated by siRNA in bupivacaine-treated DRG. Its functional role in protecting bupivacaine-induced neuronal apoptosis was examined. In addition, apoptotic protein caspase-9 and EZH2-associated signaling pathway, and tropomyosin receptor kinase C (TrkC) were further investigated, by western blot assay, in EZH2-downregulated and bupivacaine-injured DRG.Results: In vitro treatment of bupivacaine-induced DRG neuronal apoptosis, and upregulated EZH2 at both protein and mRNA levels. SiRNA transfection successfully downregulated EZH2, as confirmed by western blot and qRT-PCR assays. Examination of TUNEL assay showed that EZH2 downregulation rescued bupivacaine-induced DRG neuronal apoptosis. Moreover, in bupivacaine-injured DRG, EZH2 downregulation reduced caspase-9, whereas upregulated TrkC and phosphorylated-TrkC (p-TrkC).Conclusion: EZH2 is upregulated, whereas inhibiting EZH2 exerted rescuing effect in anesthetics (bupivacaine)-induced spinal cord DRG. The possible downstream target of EZH2 inhibition may interact with caspase and TrkC signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the mechanism by which Newcastle disease virus (NDV) affects eggshell quality. Thirty-week-old specific pathogen free (SPF) egg-laying hens were inoculated with the velogenic genotype VIId NDV strain (infected group) or with inoculating media without virus (control group) by combined intraocular and intranasal routes. The levels of CaBP-D28k mRNA expression in the uterus, a gene related to eggshell quality, were examined by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The quality of eggshells was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The infected group showed a marked decline in egg production when compared to the control group. The NDV antigen was found more abundantly in the glandular epithelium of the infected hens' uteri from 1 to 15 d post-inoculation (dpi). The levels of CaBP-D28k mRNA expression in the uteri of infected hens were significantly lower than in the control hens from 3 to 15 dpi ( P < 0.05). The changes in the Ca concentrations in the eggshells were consistent with the expression of CaBP-D28k mRNA in the infected hens. Ultrastructural examination of eggshells showed significantly reduced shell thickness in the infected hens from 1 to 15 dpi ( P < 0.05). Furthermore, obvious changes in the structure of the external shell surface and shell membrane were detected in the infected hens compared with the control hens. In conclusion, the current study confirmed that velogenic genotype VIId NDV infection is associated with the deterioration of the eggshell quality of the laying hens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pain is a complex experience that comprises both sensory and affective dimensions. Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) plays an important role in the modulation of neuronal plasticity associated with the pathogenesis of pain sensation. However, the role of mTOR in pain affect is unclear. Using a formalin-induced conditioned place avoidance (F-CPA) test, the current study investigated the effects of the mTOR specific inhibitor rapamycin on noxious stimulation induced aversion in the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC). Intraplantar injection of 5% formalin was associated with significant activation of mTOR, as well as p70 ribosomal S6 protein (p70S6K), its downstream effector, in the rACC. The inhibition of mTOR activation with rapamycin disrupted pain-related aversion; however, this inhibition did not affect formalin-induced spontaneous nociceptive behaviors in rats. These findings demonstrated for the first time that mTOR and its downstream pathway in the rACC contribute to the induction of pain-related negative emotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) have become increasingly popular in energy storage devices on account of their high safety, low cost, high theoretical specific capacity and low redox potential. However, the practical application of ZIBs has been hindered by cathode materials that usually exhibit low capacity or poor cycling performance. In our work, sodium vanadium oxide (NaV 8 O 20) microflowers with nanosheet structure were prepared by hydrothermal method. As cathode materials of ZIBs, NaV 8 O 20 microflowers deliver a high initial specific capacity of 427.6 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1. Surprisingly, the capacity retention rate is about 77% after 7000 cycles at a high current density of 15 A g−1. These excellent electrochemical performances can be attributed to the pre-intercalation of Na+ ions to enhance the electrode stability and the nanosheet structure to increase the number of active sites, indicating that the aqueous ZIBs based on NaV 8 O 20 microflowers has potential application value for large-scale energy storage. • Sodium vanadate microflowers with nanosheet structure are prepared. • Sodium vanadate microflowers delivers a high initial specific capacity of 427.6 mAh g-1. • Even after 7000 cycles, the sodium vanadate microflowers possess a high capacity retention of 77%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultra-low-loss and large-effective-area fiber has been successfully applied in transoceanic transmission, which is considered as a promising candidate for 100 Gbit/s and beyond 100 Gbit/s coherent long-haul terrestrial optical networks. Several theoretical and experimental investigations have been reported, including provincial terrestrial field trial. To support long-haul terrestrial application, it is urgent to prove that the ultra-low-loss and large-effective-area fiber after terrestrial deployment can significantly enhance the performance of long-haul transmission over 1000 km compared with the conventional single mode fiber. In this paper, we extended our previous work and summarized design methods for complex terrestrial environment. To verify the fiber characteristics in long-haul terrestrial transmission, we installed the longest terrestrial ultra-low-loss and large-effective-area fiber link in the world with a total length of 1539.6 km. The results show that the transmission performances of wavelength-division-multiplexed signals with per-channel data rates of 100 Gbit/s, 200 Gbit/s, and 400 Gbit/s over the ultra-low-loss and large-effective-area fiber are all obviously improved, demonstrating that this fiber is more suitable for ultrahigh-speed long-haul terrestrial transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]