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Catalytic reduction of NO by material surface attracts growing interests due to its promising applications in air purification. Here, the adsorption and dissociation behaviors of single NO molecule on the Be(0001) surface were systematically investigated using first-principles calculations. Through potential energy surface calculations, we found that NO molecule can adsorb on the surface without any energy barrier along the vertical channels with N end-on orientation, among which adsorption on the hcp hollow site of the Be(0001) surface is the most energetically favorable. Moreover, the dissociation of NO molecule along the fcc hollow channel was investigated, and it was found that the dissociation process of NO is an activated type with an energy barrier of 0.34 eV, indicating that the reduction of NO on the Be(0001) surface is energetically probable. The electronic structure analyzing of the most stable chemisorption state that locates on the hcp site, along with the sizeable charge redistribution, reveals that the chemisorption of NO on the Be(0001) surface is dominated by the interaction between the molecular orbital 2 π ∗ of NO molecule and electronic state p of surface Be atom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

First-principles calculations based on the density functional theory were performed to systematically study the electronic properties of the thin film of antimony in (111) orientation. By considering the spinâ€"orbit interaction, for stoichiometric surface, the topological states keep robust for six-bilayer case, and can be recovered in the three-bilayer film, which are guaranteed by time-reversal symmetry and inverse symmetry. For reduced surface doped by non-magnetic Bi or magnetic Mn atom, localized three-fold symmetric features can be identified. Moreover, band structures show that the non-trivial topological states stand for non-magnetic substitutional Bi atom, while can be eliminated by adsorbed or substitutional magnetic Mn atom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is an open question to learn an over-complete dictionary from a limited number of face samples, and the inherent attributes of the samples are underutilized. Besides, the recognition performance may be adversely affected by the noise (and outliers), and the strict binary label based linear classifier is not appropriate for face recognition. To solve above problems, we propose a virtual samples based robust block-diagonal dictionary learning for face recognition. In the proposed model, the original samples and virtual samples are combined to solve the small sample size problem, and both the structure constraint and the low rank constraint are exploited to preserve the intrinsic attributes of the samples. In addition, the fidelity term can effectively reduce negative effects of noise (and outliers), and the ε -dragging is utilized to promote the performance of the linear classifier. Finally, extensive experiments are conducted in comparison with many state-of-the-art methods on benchmark face datasets, and experimental results demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common disease and a significant burden worldwide. The clinical symptoms of this disease include progressive dyspnea, cough, expectoration, and wheezing, among others. At present, the primary focus has been on reducing the frequency of acute exacerbations and improving lung function and dyspnea symptoms, and limited attention has been paid to cough and expectoration symptoms, which may be associated with a decrease in lung function, more acute exacerbations, and hospitalizations. Therefore, this outcomes in patients with COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Gaussian kernel function is widely used to encode the nonlinear correlations of the face images. However, some issues greatly limit its superiority, for example, it is sensitive to the parameter setting because of its definition based on the exponential operation, on the other hand, the Gaussian kernel needs costly computational time. Besides, the hidden information such as the distance information of the samples is conducive to improving the performance of face recognition. To overcome the above problems, we propose a reciprocal kernel-based weighted collaborative–competitive representation for face recognition. Different from other methods, a new reciprocal kernel is designed to realize the nonlinear representation of the samples. Moreover, a new weight based on the reciprocal kernel is imposed on coding coefficients to disclose the hidden information of the samples in the nonlinear space. With the help of the collaborative–competitive method, the proposed method can well achieve the trade-off between collaborative and competitive representation to promote the performance of face recognition. These factors explicitly encourage the proposed method to be a better representation-type classifier. Finally, extensive experiments are conducted on five benchmark datasets, and the experimental results show that the proposed approach outperforms many state-of-the-art approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adsorption properties of isolated H2O molecule on stoichiometric and reduced ceria(111) surfaces are theoretically investigated by first-principles calculations and molecular dynamics simulations. We find that the most stable adsorption configurations form two hydrogen bonds between the adsorbate and substrate. The water molecule is very inert on the stoichiometric surface unless up to a high temperature of 600 K. For the reduced surface, we find that the oxygen vacancy enhances the interaction. Moreover, simulations at low temperature of 100 K confirm that it is facilitated for water to dissociate into H and OH species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study of the native defects in transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) is of fundamental interest and potential technological importance. The atomic and electronic structures of native defects with charge states in ZrSe 2 are systematically investigated for the first time based on first-principles calculations with the optB86R-vdW and HSE06 functionals. We identify the configurations of relatively stable defects including Zr interstitial (Zr int), Se vacancy (V Se) and Zr antisite (Zr Se). The positive charged Zr interstitial defect (Zr int 2 +) has the lowest formation energy and thus is most commonly seen in ZrSe 2 , which is in good agreement with experimental observation. The Zr Se defect is found to form a DX-like configuration. Moreover, the non-interacting Zr Frenkel pairs are the most favorable form of intrinsic defects. The electronic structure analyses of these defects reveal that the extra Zr atoms adjacent to the defects act as donors, which are responsible for the native n-type conductivity of as-grown ZrSe 2. Our study can provide an insight into understanding the properties of native defects in ZrSe 2. • Native defects in ZrSe 2 are investigated for the first time by taking into account both the vdW and HSE06 functionals. • The atomic and electronic structures of native defects are discussed in detail. • Our results show that the native defects dominate the n-type doping of ZrSe 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of rosmarinic acid (RA) (12, 60 and 300 μM/g protein) on the textural properties and stability of oxidized myofibrillar protein (MP) emulsion gels were investigated. A low dose (12 µM/g) of RA significantly prevented the loss of thiol and ε-NH 2 groups and the unfolding of the oxidized MP. However, a high dose of RA (300 µM/g) covalently and non-covalently interacted with the MPs, which induced a significant loss of thiol and ε-NH 2 groups and aggregation of the MPs, causing decreased solubility, resulting in a poor three-dimensional emulsion gel network, and hence, higher cooking loss and lower gel strength. Moreover, the emulsifying properties of the MP emulsion gel were jeopardized by 300 µM/g RA. A high concentration of NaCl (0.6 M) enhanced the interaction between RA and MPs, increasing deterioration of the internal structure and leading to extremely unstable emulsifying properties of the MP emulsion gel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The adsorption configuration of water dimer on the α -Pu 2 O 3 (111) surface is identified by first-principles calculations. • The dissociations of water clusters on the α -Pu 2 O 3 (111) surface are investigated by ab-initial molecular dynamics simulation. • The hydrogen-bonding interaction within the clusters and hydrogen-transfer reaction facilitate the dissociation process of water dimer and trimer. Study of the water-plutonium oxide interaction is of fundamental importance in the corrosion of plutonium materials. In the present work, we report the results of adsorption and dissociation of water molecules on the α -Pu 2 O 3 (111) surface with ab-initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations. We identify the stable adsorption configuration of water dimer on the α -Pu 2 O 3 (111) surface. Also, we find that one water molecule in the dimer can dissociate into hydrogen atom and hydroxyl group, and the reaction energy barrier is calculated to be 0.21 eV using climbing image nudged elastic band (CINEB) method. Electronic structure analysis shows a strong interaction between the dissociated hydrogen atom and the surface oxygen atom. Moreover, AIMD simulations at 300K and 600K confirm that the hydrogen-bonding interaction within the water clusters including dimer and trimer, as well as the hydrogen-transfer reaction, facilitates the dissociation of water clusters on the α -Pu 2 O 3 (111) surface. The obtained results can provide a way to understand the corrosion of plutonium enhanced by moisture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is attempt to enhance the thermal conductivity of Al 2 O 3 /glass by introducing one-dimensional materials into the Al 2 O 3 /glass composite which are fired at 850 °C. The influences of AlN whiskers, carbon fibers and copper fibers on the thermal conductivity of Al 2 O 3 /30 vol% glass composites were studied by the laser thermal conductance instrument, XRD and SEM. The results show that the adding of one-dimensional materials with excellent thermal conductivity remarkably enhances the thermal property of the composites. The oxidation of AlN or copper was not detected when the composites were sintered at 850 °C with 25 MPa for 45 min in a nitrogen atmosphere. Fibers are more effective to enhance the densification of the composites than the whiskers. The highest value of the thermal conductivity of Al 2 O 3 /glass/copper fiber achieves 38.9 W (mK) −1 , an increase of about 500%. The clear enhancement of the thermal conductivity is due to the bridging network formed by the one-dimensional materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smoking is the only modifiable risk factor that is associated with the development, expansion and rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). However, the causative link between cigarette smoke and AAA is unknown. Here we report a causative link between smoking and AAA in vivo. Acute infusion of angiotensin II (AngII) or nicotine, a major component of cigarette smoke, markedly increased the incidence of AAA in apolipoprotein E (apoE) knockout (Apoe?/?) mice and in mice deficient in both apoE and the AMP-activated kinase ?1 subunit (AMPK-?1) (Apoe?/?; Prkaa1?/? mice). In contrast, genetic deletion of AMPK-?2 (Apoe?/?; Prkaa2?/? mice) ablated nicotine- or AngII-triggered AAA in vivo. Mechanistically, we found that both nicotine and AngII activated AMPK-?2 in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), resulting in the phosphorylation of activator protein 2? (AP-2?) and consequent matrix metallopeptidase 2 (MMP2) gene expression. We conclude that smoking (through nicotine) instigates AAA through AMPK-?2-mediated AP-2?-dependent MMP2 expression in VSMCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE--The activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) has been reported to improve endothelial function. However, the targets of AMPK in endothelial cells remain poorly defined. The aim of this study was to test whether AMPK suppresses the degradation of GTP-cyclohydrolase (GTPCH I), a key event in vascular endothelial dysfunction in diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS--Both human umbilical vein endothelial cells and aortas isolated from streptozotocin-injected diabetic mice were assayed for phospho-AMPK (Thr172), GTPCH I, tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), and endothelial functions. RESULTS--Oral administration of metformin (300 mg ⋅ kg[sup -1] ⋅ day[sup -1], 4 weeks) in streptozotocin-injected mice significantly blunted the diabetes-induced reduction of AMPK phosphorylation at Thr172. Metformin treatment also normalized acetylcholine-induced endothelial relaxation and increased the levels of GTPCH I and BH4. The administration of AICAR, an AMPK activator, or adenoviral overexpression of a constitutively active mutant of AMPK abolished the high-glucose-induced (30 mmol/l) reduction of GTPCH I, biopeterins, and BH4 but had no effect on GTPCH I mRNA. Furthermore, AICAR or overexpression of AMPK inhibited the high-glucose-enhanced 26S proteasome activity. Consistently, inhibition of the proteasome by MG132 abolished high-glucose-induced reduction of GTPCH I in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Further, aortas isolated from AMPKα2[sup -/-] mice, which exhibited elevated 26S proteasome activity, had reduced levels of GTPCH I and BH4. Finally, either administration of MG132 or supplementation of L-sepiapterin normalized the impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation in aortas isolated from AMPKα2[sup -/-] mice. CONCLUSIONS--We conclude that AMPK activation normalizes vascular endothelial function by suppressing 26S proteasome-mediated GTPCH I degradation in diabetes. Diabetes 58:1893-1901, 2009 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several platinum(II) isocyanide complexes of the type PtI2(CNC6H2-2,6-R2-4-CC-(C6H2-3,5-R′2-4-(R or S)-OCHMeCn−1(H2(n−1)CH3))2 have been prepared and their mesomorphic properties have been investigated. The complexes with R=Me, R′=H, and n=4–7 exhibit a broader N* phase than the corresponding complexes with R=R′=H, indicating that the methyl substituents on the phenylisocyanide group improve the liquid crystal properties by creating a smooth transition between the bulky PtI2 center and the more slender organic units. The complexes with R=Me and R′=Me exhibit a SmA phase. The presence of methyl groups in the R′-positions in addition to the methyl groups in the R-positions increases the melting point, but does not significantly change the clearing temperature. For the complexes with R=Me and R′=H the temperature-dependent pitches of the N* phase range from 350 to 400 nm. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The optical wavelength between 1000 and 1700 nm, commonly referred to as the second near-infrared (NIR-II) window, has become a highly popular optical region for multifunctional bioimaging. Compared to both of visible (400–700 nm) and traditional NIR-I (700–900 nm) light, NIR-II bioimaging has numerous advantages, including higher spatial resolution, deeper penetration, and minimized tissue autofluorescence. Thus, the use of fluorophores in the NIR-II window has attracted increasing attention for multifunctional bioimaging, especially in vivo imaging. In this review, we attempt to summarize the rational design of various small-molecule NIR-II fluorophores and their recent developments. Furthermore, we will also discuss their challenges and prospects in the following clinical application. • Recent development of small-molecule NIR-II fluorophores for bioimaging. • The design mechanism of various small-molecule NIR-II fluorophores. • The challenges and prospects of small-molecule NIR-II fluorophores in clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The atomic hydrogen adsorption on Zr(0001) surface is systematically investigated by using density functional theory within the generalized gradient approximation and a supercell approach. The coverage dependence of the adsorption structures and energetics is studied in detail for a wide range from 0.11 to 2.0 monolayer. At low coverage of 0<Θ≤1.0, the most stable adsorption site is identified as the on-surface hcp site followed by the fcc site, and the adsorption energy gradually increases with the coverage, thus, indicating the higher stability of on-surface adsorption and the tendency to form H clusters. The origin of this stability is carefully analyzed by the projected density of states and the charge distribution showing the Zr-H chemical bonding with a mixed ionic/covalent feature during the surface hydrogenation. In addition, the minimum energy paths as well as the activation barriers of the on-surface diffusion and the penetration from on-surface sites to subsurface sites are also calculated. At high coverage of 1.0<Θ≤2.0, it is found that the co-adsorption configuration with 1.0 monolayer H residing on the surface hcp sites and the remaining (Θ-1) monolayer H occupying the sub-surface octahedral sites is most energetically favorable. The electronic structure properties of the resultant H-Zr-H sandwich structures at the coverage range of 1.0<Θ≤2.0 reveal the similar characteristics to the bulk hydride ZrH2, providing a detailed microscopic understanding for the Zr surface hydrogenation phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The naturally grown Bi 2 Se 3 is always n -type doped by native point defects, although the p -type Bi 2 Se 3 is much desirable as a promising thermoelectric material and topological insulator. We use first-principles calculations to identify the origin of the n -type tendency in bulk Bi 2 Se 3 : The Se vacancies (V S e 1 and V S e 2) and Se B i antisite dominate the donorlike doping with low formation energy, while the predisposed Bi S e 1 defect results in the pair of V S e 1 and Bi interstitial, which is also a donor rather than an acceptor. For Bi 2 Se 3 (111) surface, by calculating the defect formation energy and surface charge density distribution, we find that the band structures modulated by the defects explicitly account for the existing experimental observations of n -type preference. Moreover, the topological surface states can be significantly affected by the n -type tendency of Bi 2 Se 3. • The Se vacancies and Se Bi antisite dominate the donorlike doping of Bi 2 Se 3. • The electronic structures of the native point defects are discussed in detail. • Surface charge density distributions of defected Bi 2 Se 3 (111) are presented. • Defects have dramatic influence on the surface states of Bi 2 Se 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceramic-Al substrates with co-continuous ceramic and metal phases, which exhibit high thermal conductivity and compatible coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), have been widely investigated through the process of die-casting. In this research, a kind of powder sintering process was proposed for fabricating ceramic-Cu composite substrates with co-continuous phases. Copper fiber (Cuf) has excellent thermal conductivity and large aspect ratio, making it an ideal material to form bridging network structures in the ceramic-Cu composite. To maintain the large aspect ratio of Cuf, and densify the composite substrate, ZnO-SiO2-CaO glass was introduced as a sintering additive. Both Al2O3/glass/Cuf and Al2O3/30glass/Cup composite substrates were hot-pressed at 850 °C under 25 MPa. Experimental results showed that the thermal conductivity of Al2O3/30glass/30Cuf composite substrate was as high as 38.9 W/mK, which was about 6 times that of Al2O3/30glass; in contrast, the thermal conductivity of Al2O3/30glass/30Cup composite substrate was only 25.9 W/mK. Microstructure observation showed that, influenced by hot press and corrosion of molten ZnO-SiO2-CaO glass, the copper fibers were deformed under hot-pressing, and some local melting-like phenomena occurred on the surface of copper fiber at 850 °C under 25 MPa. The molten phase originating from surface of Cuf welded the overlapping node of copper fibers during cooling process. Finally, the interconnecting metal bridging in ceramic matrix was formed and behaved as a rapid heat-dissipating channel, which is similar to substrates prepared through die-casting process by porous ceramic and melted Al. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterogeneous reactions of toluene/NO 2 with and without O 3 on α-Fe 2 O 3 particles was studied as a function of temperature by using in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectrometry (DRIFTS). The results show that the formation of R-ONO 2 group is identified on the α-Fe 2 O 3 particles surface, indicating the formation of benzyl nitrate in the presence of toluene/NO 2 with or without O 3 at different temperatures from 253 K to 298 K. From the analysis of the spectral changes, the reaction kinetics, such as reaction rate and uptake coefficient are sensitive to temperature. During the heterogeneous reaction of toluene/NO 2 , the formation rate of organic nitrate increases from (2.38 ± 0.07) × 1017 ions g−1 s−1 to (5.95 ± 0.09) × 1017 ions g−1 s−1 when the temperature decreases from 278 K to 253 K. When the trace gases were toluene/NO 2 /O 3 , the reaction rate increases about 3 folds with the increasing of temperature from 253 K to 298 K. In the absence of ozone, nitrification from heterogeneous reaction is exothermic process. However, the addition of ozone dominates the whole reaction process, resulting the different change trends of formation rate at similar range of temperatures. Furthermore, reactive uptake coefficient increases from (6.73 ± 0.02) × 10−7 to (1.64 ± 0.05) × 10−6 with decreasing temperature from 278 K to 253 K during the heterogeneous reaction of toluene/NO 2 on α-Fe 2 O 3 particles. The values of activation energy for the heterogeneous reaction of toluene/NO 2 and toluene/NO 2 /O 3 are determined to be −8.60 ± 0.91 kJ mol−1 and 15.14 ± 2.51 kJ mol−1, respectively. It implies that the heat change is an important factor in affecting the heterogeneous reaction under the seasonal temperature changes. [Display omitted] • Heterogeneous reaction kinetics was studied for NOCs formation with changes of temperature. • Low temperature promotes the heterogeneous reaction of toluene/NO 2. • Oxidation of O 3 dominates the heterogeneous reaction of toluene/NO 2 at high temperature. • The values of activation energy play a key role in the formation processes of NOCs in atmosphere environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inorganic lead halide perovskite is one of the most excellent fluorescent materials, and it plays an essential role in high-definition display and visible light communication (VLC). Its photochromic properties and stability determine the final performance of light-emitting devices. However, efficiently synthesizing perovskite with high quality and stability remains a significant challenge. Here, we develop a facile and environmentally friendly method for preparing high-stability and strong-emission CsPbBr3/Cs4PbBr6 composites using ultrasonication and liquid paraffin. Tuning the contents of liquid paraffin, bright-emission CsPbBr3/Cs4PbBr6 composite powders with a maximum PLQY of 74% were achieved. Thanks to the protection of the Cs4PbBr6 matrix and liquid paraffin, the photostability, thermostability, and polar solvent stability of CsPbBr3/Cs4PbBr6-LP are significantly improved compared to CsPbBr3 quantum dots and CsPbBr3/Cs4PbBr6 composites that were prepared without liquid paraffin. Moreover, the fabricated CsPbBr3/Cs4PbBr6-LP-based WLEDs show excellent luminescent performance with a power efficiency of 129.5 lm/W and a wide color gamut, with 121% of the NTSC and 94% of the Rec. 2020, demonstrating a promising candidate for displays. In addition, the CsPbBr3/Cs4PbBr6-LP-based WLEDs were also demonstrated in a VLC system. The results suggested the great potential of these high-performance WLEDs as an excitation light source to achieve VLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to inducing tumor cell apoptosis, tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) shows broad biological functions both in vitro and in vivo. TRAIL gene deletion enhanced atherogenesis in hyperlipidemic mice, supporting that endogenous TRAIL has protective actions in maintaining blood vessel homeostasis and repressing atherosclerosis. The mechanisms of this beneficial effect are not understood. It remains to be determined whether the athero-protective action of TRAIL is via direct impacts on residential vascular cells or indirectly by modulating systemic immune functions. However, in vitro experiments indicate that excessive TRAIL may stimulate endothelial cell apoptosis, smooth muscle proliferation and migration, and inflammatory responses. Moreover, TRAIL can stimulate lipid uptake and foam cell formation in cultured macrophages. Here we provide a critical review on the potential relationships between TRAIL and atherosclerosis. We propose that increased TRAIL production may also have potential detrimental effects on vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis. Further in vivo experiments are warranted to elucidate the effects of exogenous TRAIL on atherogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel method for precise detection of allergen-specific IgE via immobilizing His-tagged allergens to paper-based device To the Editor, Allergic diseases are characterized by elevated specific IgE (sIgE) serum levels against certain allergens.1,2 Thus, the fast and precise detection of sIgE is necessary for the diagnosis of allergic diseases. The features of this strategy for allergen immobilization were highlighted with strong and specific binding site, particularly the preservation of sIgE-binding activity without covering any IgE-binding epitopes of allergens (Figure 1B). [Extracted from the article]

Endothelial cell senescence is one of the main risk factors contributing to vascular diseases. As increasing number of "epigenetic drugs" entering clinical trials, understanding the mechanism of epigenetic regulation in vascular aging has significant implications in finding targets to cure vascular diseases. However, the epigenetic regulation of endothelial senescence remains unclear. Based on the findings that increased protein level of histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) methyltransferase Smyd3 and elevated H3K4me3 modification happened in angiotensin II (Ang II)‐induced senescence in rat endothelial cells, we are curious about whether and how Smyd3 can regulate endothelial senescence. We found that an increase of Smyd3 alone promoted senescence‐associated phenotypes, while knockdown of Smyd3 blocked senescence in endothelial cells. Furthermore, Smyd3‐specific inhibitor reversed vascular senescence‐associated phenotypes at cellular level. Importantly, Ang II‐induced vascular senescence can be greatly alleviated in Smyd3 knockout (KO) mice and those treated with Smyd3 inhibitor. Mechanistically, Smyd3 directly bound to the promoter region of Cdkn1a (coding for p21), then caused its increased H3K4me3 level and elevated gene expression, and ultimately gave rise to senescence‐associated phenotypes. Intriguingly, Smyd3‐mediated p21 upregulated expression also exists in human tissues of vascular disease, indicating it is probably an evolutionarily conserved mechanism in regulating vascular senescence. Thus, Smyd3 can act as a novel factor regulating endothelial senescence through transcriptionally promoting p21 expression. Blocking the Smyd3‐p21 signaling axis may also have potential medical implications in treating diseases related to vascular aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Vascular dementia is the second leading cause of dementia, which is strongly associated with diabetes. Ectopic expression of miR-133a in endothelial cells is involved in endothelial dysfunction in diabetes. Whether berberine, as a natural product in Coptis chinensis, improves vascular dementia induced by diabetes remains unknown. Methods: Diabetes and subsequent vascular dementia were induced in rats by injecting streptozotocin (50 mg/kg/day) for five consecutive days. The expression of miR-133a was determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization. The learning and memory were evaluated by step-down, step-through, and morris water maze (MWM) tests. Results: In streptozotocin-injected rats, hyperglycemia dramatically induced miR-133a ectopic expressions in vascular endothelium, reduced GTPCH1 gene expressions and BH4 levels, which were reversed by berberine administration (1.0 g/kg/day, 8 weeks). Hyperglycemia also inhibited acetylcholine-induced vasorelaxation in middle cerebral artery and reduced blood supply to the brain, which were bypassed by berberine. Ex vivo studies indicated that miR-133a agomirs abolished these beneficial effects of berberine on acetylcholine-induced vasorelaxation, while supplement of L-sepiapterin prevented endothelial dysfunction in middle cerebral artery isolated from rats. By performing step-down, step-through, and MWM tests, we observed that hyperglycemia significantly caused the impairments of learning and memory in streptozotocin-injected rats. Importantly, these aberrant phenotypes in diabetic rats were normalized by berberine therapy. Finally, berberine reduced miR-133a expression, and increased both BH4 levels and NO production in cultured endothelial cells treated with high glucose. Conclusion: Berberine improves vascular dementia in diabetes, which is possibly related to the suppression of miR-133a ectopic expression in endothelial cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgrounds and aims: Increased arterial stiffness may increase cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers (ARBs) are potentially useful in controlling the central blood pressure and arterial stiffness in mild to moderate essential hypertension, while the effects of ARBs in aged patients with essential hypertension are not entirely investigated. Methods: The carotid-femoral arterial pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured in aged patients with essential hypertension. Results: In a cross-sectional study, PWV value was significantly higher in these old patients with essential hypertension, compared to patients without essential hypertension. In correlation analysis, PWV was associated positively with age, hypertension duration, and carotid atherosclerosis. However, there was no relationship between PWV and gender in aged patients with essential hypertension. In a perspective study, 6–12 months administration of ARBs (losartan, 50 mg/day; telmisartan, 40 mg/day; valsartan 80 mg/day; irbesartan, 150 mg/day) remarkably reduced PWV in aged patients with essential hypertension. Regression analyses of multiple factors indicated that the effects of ARBs on arterial stiffness were not associated with the reduction of blood pressure. Conclusion: ARB treatment is a negative risk factor of arterial stiffness in aged patients with essential hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Aim Selenium, a trace element involved in important enzymatic activities inside the body, has protective effects against cardiovascular diseases including atherosclerosis. The safe dose of selenium in the organism is very narrow, limiting the supplementation of selenium in diet. The aim of this study is to explore whether selenium quantum dots (SeQDs) prevent atherosclerosis and to investigate the potential mechanisms. Methods An amorphous form of SeQDs (A-SeQDs) and a crystalline form of SeQDs (C-SeQDs) were prepared through self-redox decomposition of selenosulfate precursor. Endothelial dysfunction was induced by balloon injury plus high fat diet (HFD) in rats. Atherosclerotic model was established by feeding Apoe −/− mice with HFD. Results Administrations of A-SeQDs but not C-SeQDs dramatically improved endothelium-dependent relaxation, and accelerated would healing in primary endothelial cells isolated from rats, which was comprised by co-treatment of LiCl. Lentivirus-mediated knockdown of Na+/H+ exchanger 1 (NHE1) abolished LiCl-induced endothelial dysfunction in rats. In cultured endothelial cells, A-SeQDs, as well as cariporide, inhibited NHE1 activities, decreased intracellular pH value and Ca2+ concentration, and reduced calpain activity increased by ox-LDL. These protective effects of A-SeQDs were reversed by LiCl treatment in endothelial cells. In Apoe −/− mice feeding with HFD, A-SeQDs prevented endothelial dysfunction and reduced the size of atherosclerotic plaque in aortic arteries. Further, lentivirus-mediated NHE1 gene overexpression abolished the protective effects of A-SeQDs against endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis in Apoe −/− mice. Conclusion A-SeQDs prevents endothelial dysfunction and the growth of atherosclerotic plaque through NHE1 inhibition and subsequent inactivation of Ca2+/calpain signaling. Clinically, the administration of A-SeQDs is an effective approach to treat atherosclerosis. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work undertakes research problem on prediction of state of battery modules used in electric vehicle. Past studies focussed extensively on the estimation of state of charge and state of health of a single cell/battery. However, the focus on the estimation of state of entire battery module is hardly studied. During the actual operation of electric vehicle, the environmental conditions (road slope and climate) and factors such as abnormal voltage and temperature conditions causes the deviations among the battery modules from its equilibrium state. As a result, its power efficiency and the life‐cycle decreases. One of the reasons of deviation is the defects in manufacturing of a battery module. For this purpose, the evaluation and estimation of state of battery modules is a priority to have information on which module among the given ones should be discharged first. Therefore, this study proposes the methodology for the evaluation of state of battery modules based on its current and temperature. Firstly, the rules are defined based on experiments to determine the priority for the discharge of each of the six modules. Dataset of 6000 samples obtained comprises of the 12 inputs (temperature and current) and 6 outputs (on‐off state of switch). Each output represents the priority of module to be discharged. To analyze this multi‐input multi‐output dataset, the popular artificial intelligence algorithm namely, artificial neural network with three training algorithms (Levenberg, Scaled conjugate and Bayesian regularization), using a number of neurons from 2 to 20 in the hidden layer is used. It was found that the model obtained using Levenberg algorithm performs the best. Past studies focussed extensively on the estimation of state of charge and state of health of a single cell/battery. This study paid emphasis on measurement and estimation of states of entire battery modules (stacked energy storage system) connected in parallel or series. Artificial intelligence approach is proposed to predict the state of battery modules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Best modification effect is achieved by titanate coupling agent M3. • Activation index and oil absorption value of modified nanoparticles are improved. • FT-IR analysis showed that the coupling agent was attached to the nanoparticles. • Modification of nanoparticles improved the quality of the micro-nano green tape. Nanoparticles are widely used for the fabrication of advanced ceramics. Unfortunately, nanoparticles tend to agglomerate when added to ceramic slurries for tape casting. In this study, the surface modification process of alumina nanoparticles was studied. Coupling agents were introduced to modify the surface of alumina nanoparticles to prevent their agglomeration in ceramic slurry during tape casting. The effects of variation in the modifier dosage, modification temperature, and modification time on the activation index and oil absorption value of modified alumina nanoparticles were investigated. The influence of the modification process on microstructure and properties of the micro-nano green tapes was also investigated. Experimental results showed that the best modification effect was achieved via modification of the alumina nanoparticles with 2.5 wt% of titanate coupling agent at 60 °C for 20 min. The activation index increased from 2% for the raw alumina nanoparticles to 94.9% for the modified alumina nanoparticles, while the oil absorption value decreased from 75.2 mL/100 g to 55.8 mL/100 g. The sedimentation rate of the slurry decreased from 26% to 4% after modification of the nanoparticles, and the volume of nanoparticles increased appreciably from 35 vol% to 45 vol%. The surfaces of the green tapes prepared using slurries with modified alumina nanoparticles were smooth without visible defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High levels of polyphenols can interact with myofibrillar proteins (MPs), causing damage to a MP emulsion gel. In this study, β -cyclodextrins were used to reduce covalent and non-covalent interaction between epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and MPs under oxidative stress. The loss of both thiol and free amine groups and the unfolding of MPs caused by EGCG (80 μM/g protein) were significantly prevented by β -cyclodextrins, and the structural stability and solubility were improved. MP emulsion gel treated with EGCG (80 μM/g protein) had the highest cooking loss (68.64%) and gel strength (0.51 N). Addition of β -cyclodextrins significantly reduced cooking loss (26.24–58.20%) and improved gel strength (0.31–0.41 N) of MP emulsion gel jeopardized by EGCG under oxidative stress. Damage to the emulsifying properties of MPs caused by EGCG was significantly prevented by addition of β -cyclodextrins. β -cyclodextrins reduced interaction between EGCG and MPs in the order Methyl- β -cyclodextrin > (2-Hydroxypropyl)- β -cyclodextrin >  β -cyclodextrin. In absence of EGCG, addition of β -cyclodextrins partly protected MPs from oxidative attack and improved its solubility. It is concluded that β -cyclodextrins does not markedly reduce the antioxidant ability of EGCG according to carbonyl analysis, and can effectively increase EGCG loading to potentially provide more durable antioxidant effect for meat products during processing, transportation and storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design of effective multi-view subspace clustering (MSC) algorithms has recently garnered significant research attention. Herein, to effectively improve the recognition performance and anti-noise interference ability of an MSC model, we propose a novel MSC algorithm, termed as robust multi-view subspace enhancement representation, based on collaborative constraints and a Hilbert–Schmidt independence criterion (HSIC) induction method. To mine the complementary information between different views, we apply the HSIC as a diversity regularization term. Specifically, to enhance the diagonal block structure of a subspace representation, a new sparse constraint is introduced on the product of itself and the transpose of the subspace representation matrix in a multi-view subspace learning model. Furthermore, hypergraph regularization and a low-rank idea are considered to capture the local geometric structure and clean data. In addition, to optimize our model, we adopt an augmented Lagrangian multiplier method and discuss the convergence of the model. Extensive experiments on six challenging datasets reveal that the proposed method achieves a highly competent objective performance with and without noisy views, as compared with several state-of-the-art multi-view clustering methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) regulates plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels by promoting the degradation of hepatic LDL receptors (LDLRs). Current therapeutic approaches use antibodies that disrupt PCSK9 binding to LDLR to reduce circulating LDL-C concentrations or siRNA that reduces PCSK9 synthesis and thereby levels in circulation. Recent reports describe small molecules that, like therapeutic antibodies, interfere with PCSK9 binding to LDLR. We report an alternative approach to decrease circulating PCSK9 levels by accelerating PCSK9 clearance and degradation using heterobifunctional molecules that simultaneously bind to PCSK9 and the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR). Various formats, including bispecific antibodies, antibody-small molecule conjugates, and heterobifunctional small molecules, demonstrate binding in vitro and accelerated PCSK9 clearance in vivo. These molecules showcase a new approach to PCSK9 inhibition, targeted plasma protein degradation (TPPD), and demonstrate the feasibility of heterobifunctional small molecule ligands to accelerate the clearance and degradation of pathogenic proteins in circulation. [Display omitted] • ASGPR-targeting heterobifunctional molecules lead to the clearance of PCSK9 in vivo • PCSK9 is cleared by bispecific antibodies, antibody conjugates, and small molecules • PCSK9 clearance requires binding to both the ASGPR and to PCSK9 • Heterobifunctional molecules do not lead to significant degradation of LDLR or ASGPR Bagdanoff et al. describe heterobifunctional molecules that mediate in vivo clearance of the pathologically relevant plasma protein PCSK9 in mice, demonstrating rapid, ASGPR-dependent clearance using multiple classes of heterobifunctional constructs including bispecific antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, and small molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intracellular pathogen Brucella abortus ( B. abortus) survives and replicates inside host cells within the Brucella-containing vacuole, in which membrane contains a small GTPase Rab1. Here, we reported that Rab1 mediates B. abortus intracellular growth. Furthermore, B. abortus DnaK was identified to interact with Rab1 using GST pull-down and mass spectrometry analysis. This interaction was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence. Through DnaK-CyaA fusion protein translocation assay and immunofluorescence confocal microscopy, the B. abortus DnaK was proved to be a virB-dependent translocated substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our previous study showed that the downstream of kinase 3 (DOK3) is degraded during macrophage stimulation with CpG. However, the underlying mechanism and role in Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) signaling remains elusive. In this study, we demonstrate that CpG treatment leads to ubiquitin-mediated degradation of DOK3 via interaction with an E3 ligase TNFR-associated factor 6 (TRAF6). We also identified the 27th amino acid (lysine) of DOK3 is responsible for Ly48 polyubiquitination of DOK3. Furthermore, reintroduction of DOK3 (K27R) into DOK3-deficient macrophages abolishes DOK3 degradation induced by CpG and suppresses the production of IL-6 and TNFα. More importantly, our study uncovers a novel role of an E3 ligase TRAF6, namely, TRAF6 is also able to catalyse Lys 48 polyubiquitylation of target protein except for Lys 63 polyubiquitylation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The calcium-dependent protease calpain2 is involved in macrophages apoptosis. Brucella infection-induced up-regulation of intracellular calcium level is an essential factor for the intracellular survival of Brucella within macrophages. Here, we hypothesize that calcium-dependent E3 ubiquitin ligase Nedd4 ubiquitinates calpain2 and inhibits Brucella infection-induced macrophage apoptosis via degradation of calpain2.Our results reveal that Brucella infection induces increases in Nedd4 activity in an intracellular calcium dependent manner. Furthermore, Brucella infection-induced degradation of calpain2 is mediated by Nedd4 ubiquitination of calpain2. Brucella infection-induced calpain2 degradation inhibited macrophages apoptosis. Treatment of Brucella infected macrophages with calcium chelator BAPTA or Nedd4 knock-down decreased Nedd4 activity, prevented calpain2 degradation, and resulted in macrophages apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the structural, electronic and optical properties of CuXY 2 (X = Si, Ge, Y = P, As) materials were computed via first-principles DFT calculations. The obtained results are quite consistent with the experimental data and previous theoretical data. CuSiP 2 , CuSiAs 2 , CuGeP 2 and CuGeAs 2 are direct and narrow band gap semiconductors with band gap energies of 0.80 eV, 0.62 eV, 0.53 eV and 0.35 eV, respectively. In the upper and lower bands, the s, p and d atomic orbitals were the main contributors. The s, p and d bonding orbitals contributed substantially to the total and partial density of states in the formation of the valence band and conduction band. The electronic charge density revealed that the bonding nature was a mixture of covalent and ionic bonds. The optical features of these materials were studied and discussed in terms of the dielectric function, refractive index, optical conductivity, reflectivity and loss function. The high reflectivity and direct band gap of these compounds in the ultraviolet and visible ranges of electromagnetic energy (photon) revealed the potential utilization of these materials in optoelectronic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fabry–Pérot interferometers (FPIs) are designed to work near and off the absorption resonance of an electro-optic (EO) polymer. The near-resonance EO activity (EO coefficient r13∼25.4 pm/V at ∼1086 nm) is enhanced over that off resonance (r13∼9.0 pm/V at ∼1526 nm). The full width at half maximum of the FPI transmission band is ∼16 nm near resonance compared to ∼22 nm off resonance. The modulation performance can, therefore, be improved with a modulation ratio increased to ∼78% near resonance (at 1064 nm) from ∼19% off resonance (at 1520 nm). The modulation speed is approximately megahertz and can be increased to greater than gigahertz with improved circuit design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) modulates low-density lipoprotein and cell membrane oxidation through the action of paraoxonase-1 (PON1). Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been linked to a wide range of human pathologies including diabetes, obesity, and atherosclerosis. Previous studies have reported that PON1 is glycated in diabetes. The aim of this study is to investigate whether and how PON1 glycation contributes to endothelial dysfunction in diabetes. ER stress markers were monitored by western blot. Endothelial function was determined by organ bath. Incubation of recombinant PON1 proteins with high glucose increased PON1 glycation and reduced PON1 activity. Exposure of HUVECs to glycated PON1 induced prolonged ER stress and reduced SERCA activity, which were abolished by tempol, apocynin, BAPTA, and p67 and p22 siRNAs. Chronic administration of amino guanidine or 4-PBA prevented endothelial dysfunction in STZ-injected rats. Importantly, injection of glycated PON1 but not native PON1 induced aberrant ER stress and endothelial dysfunction in rats, which were attenuated by tempol, BAPTA, and 4-PBA. In conclusion, glycation of PON1 by hyperglycemia induces endothelial dysfunction through ER stress. In perspectives, PON1 glycation is a novel risk factor of hyperglycemia-induced endothelial dysfunction. Therefore, inhibition of oxidative stress, chelating intracellular Ca2+, and ER chaperone would be considered to reduce vascular complications in diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) is an antioxidant compound which shows multiple cytoprotective actions. We evaluated the effects of TBHQ on pathological cardiac remodeling and dysfunction induced by chronic overload. Pressure overload was created by transverse aortic constriction (TAC) in male C57BL/6 mice. TBHQ was incorporated in the diet and administered for 4 weeks. TBHQ treatment prevented left ventricular dilatation and cardiac dysfunction induced by TAC, and decreased the prevalence of myocardial apoptosis. The beneficial effects of TBHQ were associated with an increase in Akt activation, but not related to activations of Nrf2 or AMP-activated protein kinase. TBHQ-induced Akt activation was accompanied by increased phosphorylation of Bad, glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Mechanistically, we showed that in cultured H9c2 cells and primary cardiac myocytes, TBHQ stimulated Akt phosphorylation and suppressed oxidant-induced apoptosis; this effect was abolished by wortmannin or an Akt inhibitor. Blockade of the Akt pathway in vivo accelerated cardiac dysfunction, and abrogated the protective effects of TBHQ. TBHQ also reduced the reactive aldehyde production and protein carbonylation in stressed myocardium. We suggest that TBHQ treatment may represent a novel strategy for timely activation of the cytoprotective Akt pathway in stressed myocardium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]