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Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have recently shown great potential for photocatalytic hydrogen production. Currently almost all reports are focused on two‐dimensional (2D) COFs, while the 3D counterparts are rarely explored due to their non‐conjugated frameworks derived from the sp3 carbon based tetrahedral building blocks. Here, we rationally designed and synthesized a series of fully conjugated 3D COFs by using the saddle‐shaped cyclooctatetrathiophene derivative as the building block. Through molecular engineering strategies, we thoroughly discussed the influences of key factors including the donor‐acceptor structure, hydrophilicity, specific surface areas, as well as the conjugated/non‐conjugated structures on their photocatalytic hydrogen evolution properties. The as‐synthesized fully conjugated 3D COFs could generate the hydrogen up to 40.36 mmol h−1 g−1. This is the first report on intrinsic metal‐free 3D COFs in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution application. Our work provides insight on the structure design of 3D COFs for highly‐efficient photocatalysis, and also reveals that the semiconducting fully conjugated 3D COFs could be a useful platform in clear energy‐related fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have recently shown great potential for photocatalytic hydrogen production. Currently almost all reports are focused on two‐dimensional (2D) COFs, while the 3D counterparts are rarely explored due to their non‐conjugated frameworks derived from the sp3 carbon based tetrahedral building blocks. Here, we rationally designed and synthesized a series of fully conjugated 3D COFs by using the saddle‐shaped cyclooctatetrathiophene derivative as the building block. Through molecular engineering strategies, we thoroughly discussed the influences of key factors including the donor‐acceptor structure, hydrophilicity, specific surface areas, as well as the conjugated/non‐conjugated structures on their photocatalytic hydrogen evolution properties. The as‐synthesized fully conjugated 3D COFs could generate the hydrogen up to 40.36 mmol h−1 g−1. This is the first report on intrinsic metal‐free 3D COFs in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution application. Our work provides insight on the structure design of 3D COFs for highly‐efficient photocatalysis, and also reveals that the semiconducting fully conjugated 3D COFs could be a useful platform in clear energy‐related fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emojis in digital communication have drawn increasing academic attention. Qualitative studies mainly rely on a presumption that emojis share similar properties with units of natural language. It remains to be explored with quantitative methods whether emojis exhibit the same or similar behaviour from linguistic units (like words, morphemes). This study investigates emoji features in relation to language properties based on Zipf’s law and linear regression models. Results show that, firstly, the rank frequency distribution of emojis can be well fitted by Zipf’s law, and the parameters of emoji distribution are closer to those of written language. Secondly, most emoji categories tend to occur in the latter half of the tweet; while in some cases, they can also be at the beginning or in the middle of a tweet. Thirdly, the relative position of the more frequently-used emojis will be further back in the tweet. When emojis’ frequencies are relatively greater, their categories vary more in terms of their positions. In general, our quantitative findings suggest that emojis display linguistic properties to some extent. Our exploratory study demonstrates the value of applying linguistic laws and quantitative methods to investigate emoji features, extending the application of quantitative linguistic methods into emoji studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving low resistance ohmic connections is one of the significant factors in improving the performance of optoelectric and semiconductor devices. In this work, we examined the decrease in specific contact resistance (ρc) after high-temperature annealing and vanadium thickness variation on an n-type AlGaN epitaxial layer with a high aluminum concentration (75%). To measure it, we prepared rectangular transmission line model electrodes and measured the specific contact resistance at annealing temperatures ranging between 800 and 950 °C. The results showed that the minimum specific contact resistance achieved was 4.12 × 10−2 Ω cm2 at an annealing temperature of 850 °C, which was two times lower compared to that of surface contact mode. It is also demonstrated how the contact resistance of the epitaxial n-type AlGaN layer varies as the vanadium thickness changes from 2 to 15 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first-principles electronic structure calculation was applied to investigate the electronic properties of the LaAlO 3 /SrTiO 3 (001) heterostructure system (HSs) under strain. The results show that the distorted structure at the interface determines the occupied orbitals of 2DEG, further resulting in different sensitivities of interfacial charge carrier density, electron effective mass, electron mobility, and electrical conductivity on strain. The interfacial metallic states of tensile-strained and biaxial-compressive-strained LaAlO 3 /SrTiO 3 (001) HSs mainly occupy Ti 3d x y orbitals, which is the same for unstrained HSs. Then, the electron effective mass slightly decreases with tensile strain, which leads to a higher electrical conductivity. Different from biaxial-compressive-strained LaAlO 3 /SrTiO 3 (001) HSs with Ti 3d x y occupied orbitals, the Ti 3d y z orbitals are occupied for uniaxial-compressive-strained HSs, thus leading to a remarkably increased electron effective mass and sharply decreased electrical conductivity. These results give us a guidance to effectively modify the interfacial electronic characteristics of LaAlO 3 /SrTiO 3 (001) HSs by strain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depressive symptoms have a considerable negative impact on mental health. This study aimed to understand the relationship between the protein-enriched and anti-inflammatory dietary index scores, modified healthy lifestyle index scores (Modified HLIS), and depressive symptoms. This study used convenience sampling to conduct a single-center cross-sectional survey. From January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2020, a total of 287,945 Chinese adults from a health management center of a general hospital completed an online self-reported health questionnaire, which included demographic characteristics, the Dietary Diversity Scale, the Modified Healthy Lifestyle Index Scores and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. The higher anti-inflammatory dietary index scores (POR = 0.87; 95 % CI: 0.86–0.87; p < 0.001), moderate modified healthy lifestyle index scores (POR = 0.76; 95 % CI: 0.75–0.78; p < 0.001) and sufficient modified healthy lifestyle index scores (POR = 0.53; 95 % CI: 0.52–0.54; p < 0.001) were negatively associated with depressive symptoms, while the higher protein-enriched dietary index scores (POR = 1.01; 95 % CI: 1.01–1.02; p < 0.001) was positively correlated with depressive symptoms. This study demonstrated that protein-enriched and anti-inflammatory dietary index scores, and multiple healthy lifestyles are associated depressive symptoms in adults. • Multiple healthy lifestyles are associated depressive symptoms in adults. • The higher protein-enriched dietary index was positively correlated with depressive symptoms in adults, while the higher anti-inflammatory dietary index was negatively associated with them. • Factors affecting depressive symptoms include age ≥ 45 years, married, female, ethnic minority, BMI <30.0 kg/m2 and smoking history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ixeris denticulata is a perennial herbal plant with important medical and economic value. In this study, a novel rhabdovirus from I. denticulata with leaf curling and mottle symptoms was identified through next-generation sequencing and molecular cloning approaches. Based on the host species and properties of this virus, it was tentatively named "Ixeris denticulata-associated rhabdovirus" (IdaRV). IdaRV has a negative-sense RNA genome that is 12,705 nucleotides in length and has five open reading frames (ORFs) in the order 3’-nucleoprotein -phosphoprotein -movement protein -matrix protein -large RNA-dependent RNA polymerase-5’. Pairwise sequence comparisons showed that IdaRV had 42.2–53.0% sequence identity to members of the genera Cytorhabdovirus, Varicosavirus, Betanucleorhabdovirus, Gammanucleorhabdovirus, Dichorhavirus, and Alphanucleorhabdovirus in the subfamily Betarhabdovirinae. BLASTp searches indicated that putative products of ORF1, ORF2, ORF3, ORF4, and ORF5 of IdaRV are most closely related to those of rudbeckia virus 1 (RudV1, GenBank accession number ON185810), with 32.1%, 21.3%, 52.4%, 37.6%, and 57.1% amino acid sequence identity, respectively, at the protein level. Phylogenetic analysis showed that IdaRV forms a smaller branch with RudV1, which belongs to the genus Cytorhabdovirus. These results establish IdaRV as a novel rhabdovirus in the genus Cytorhabdovirus of the family Rhabdoviridae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Glucokinase (GK) plays a pivotal role in maintaining glucose homeostasis; globalagliatin, a newly developed drug, is a GK activator (GKA). This study constitutes a randomized, open-label, two-cycle, two-crossover, single-dose, phase I clinical trial conducted at a single center with healthy Chinese volunteers, aiming to examine the influence of a high-fat meal on the pharmacokinetics (PK) of orally administered globalagliatin. Methods: Twenty-four healthy volunteers were randomly divided into two groups, with a washout period of 16 days between the two cycles. The first cycle involved Group 1 volunteers who were orally administered globalagliatin 80 mg with 240 mL of water while fasting on Day 1. In contrast, Group 2 volunteers began oral administration of globalagliatin 80 mg with 240 mL of water, 30 min after consuming a high-fat meal (where high-fat content contributed to 54% of the total calories; the high-calorie meal amounted to 988.4 kcal). After the washout period, both groups of volunteers entered the second cycle of drug administration, with meals and medication being swapped on Day 17. Each volunteer collected blood samples at the following time points: 0 h (within 1 h before administration), and 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, and 168 h after administration on both trial Day 1 and Day 17. The primary and secondary PK parameters were collected. The validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was used to determine the concentration of globalagliatin in collected plasma samples, and the results were analyzed using Phoenix WinNonlin software. Safety evaluation was conducted by detecting or observing various adverse events (AEs) and serious AEs (SAEs). Results: All 24 healthy Chinese volunteers enrolled completed the study and underwent PK analysis. The maximum concentration (Cmax; ng/mL), area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) from time zero to time of the last quantifiable concentration (AUCt; h·ng/mL), and AUC from time zero extrapolated to infinity (AUC∞; h·ng/mL) of fasting administration were 22.35 ± 7.02, 725.74 ± 303.04, and 774.07 ± 343.89, respectively, while the Cmax, AUCt, and AUC∞ administered after a high-fat meal were 28.95 ± 12.60, 964.84 ± 333.99, and 1031.28 ± 392.80, respectively. The geometric mean ratios of Cmax, AUCt, and AUC∞ for high-fat meal/fasting administration of globalagliatin were 124.81%, 135.24%, and 135.42%, respectively, with 90% confidence intervals of 109.97–141.65, 124.24–147.20, and 124.42–147.39, respectively. Compared with the fasting state, healthy volunteers who consumed a high-fat meal showed a 24.8% increase in Cmax, a 35.2% increase in AUCt, and a 35.4% increase in AUC∞. The geometric mean of Tmax was 4.69 h under fasting conditions and 5.93 h in a high-fat state, with a median of 4.98 h. Among the 24 enrolled volunteers, 9 cases (37.5%) had 11 AEs, and 6 cases (25.0%) had 7 adverse drug reactions (ADRs) after medication, all of which were cured or improved without taking any treatment measures. There were no SAEs in this study, no volunteers withdrew from the study due to AEs or ADRs, and no hypoglycemic events occurred during the trial. Conclusion: A high-fat meal increased the Cmax, AUCt, and AUC∞ of globalagliatin compared with fasting conditions in healthy Chinese adult volunteers. Meanwhile, globalagliatin showed favorable safety and tolerability under fasting or high-fat meal conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The substantial challenge posed by inherent hydrological forecasting uncertainty has critical implications for the optimization of real-time reservoir operations. In response, this study introduces a stochastic framework explicitly devised to comprehensively quantify the ramifications of hydrological forecasting uncertainty, notably its temporal correlations, on the outcomes of real-time reservoir optimization and risk assessment. Furthermore, this framework seeks to delineate the pivotal influence of incorporating or neglecting these temporal dynamics on the eventual results, while concurrently elucidating the underlying mechanisms governing these discernible influences. The framework adopts a comprehensive approach to simulating hydrological forecast uncertainty through ensemble forecasts and scenario trees, employing three methods (two Monte Carlo sampling-based methods and one Gaussian copula method) to generate inflow forecast ensembles. To improve the adaptability to uncertainties in inflow forecasts, the framework incorporates a transformation of the generated ensembles into scenario trees, serving as input for a stochastic optimization model that derives the final optimal decision based on optimizing the expected value of the objective function for all scenarios. Additionally, a parallel differential evolution algorithm is proposed to solve the stochastic optimization model efficiently. Risk assessment is performed to capture the uncertainty and corresponding risk associated with the reservoir optimal decision. The proposed framework is demonstrated in a flood control reservoir system in China, where several numerical experiments are conducted to explore the effect of forecast uncertainty level and temporal correlation on real-time reservoir optimal operation. Results show that the temporal correlation of inflows must be considered in both inflow stochastic simulation and reservoir stochastic optimization to avoid overestimating or underestimating operational risk, potentially leading to operation failures. By examining the risk simulation surface, reservoir operators can evaluate the robustness of operational decisions and make more reliable final decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing efficient CuO/CeO 2 catalysts for CO preferential oxidation in H 2 -rich atmosphere (CO PROX) is essential for removing residual CO in the reformate gas. However, achieving robust performance in a wide working temperature window is still a great challenge. Herein, SiO 2 was introduced to modify the CuO/CeO 2 catalysts and the best catalyst exhibited 100 % of CO conversion and >50 % of CO 2 selectivity from 120 to 220 °C over CO PROX reaction. Combined characterization techniques demonstrate the enhanced interaction between copper species and CeO 2 support after deposition of SiO 2 , promoting the generation of active Cu+ sites as well as the reactivity of lattice oxygen in CeO 2 for CO conversion. Besides, in presence of SiO 2 , the main intermediates changed from carbonates to formate species. More importantly, the active Cu+ sites were stabilized by SiO 2 due to formation of Cu+-O-SiO x interface, retarding the competitive H 2 oxidation at high temperatures. [Display omitted] • Silica promotes the interaction between CuO and CeO 2. • High temperature CO 2 selectivity of CuO/CeO 2 catalysts for CO PROX reaction was improved. • Hydroxyl groups of SiO 2 facilitates formation of formate species. • Active Cu+ cations were stabilized by the establishment of Cu+-O-SiO x interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geminiviruses are a group of circular single-stranded DNA viruses that cause severe diseases in many crop plants. However, there is still no fluorescent protein tag suitable for labeling viral proteins endogenously due to the limited genomic space and structure of geminiviruses for foreign gene fragment insertion. Here, we established a split super-folder green fluorescent protein (sfGFP)-based imaging system that provides a platform to visualize the subcellular localization of geminiviral proteins in Nicotiana benthamiana. A short fragment of the GFP- coding sequence (GFP11) was inserted into a specific locus of the geminiviral genome, while the remainder of the GFP (GFP1–10) was transiently or constitutively expressed in N. benthamiana. Consequently, complementation fluorescence enables the examination of the subcellular localization of viral proteins in particular cells. Using this split sfGFP system, we examined the subcellular localization of the coat protein and BV1 protein of tomato golden mosaic virus (TGMV) and further monitored its intercellular and long-distance movement in N. benthamiana during viral infection. This approach allows us to study endogenously the subcellular localization and viral movement of geminiviruses in N. benthamiana. This new split sfGFP system may also hold the potential to provide orthogonal fluorescent proteins usable for geminiviral genome tagging in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N-terminal acetylation (N -acetylation) is one of the most common protein modifications and plays crucial roles in viability and stress responses in animals and plants. However, very little is known about N -acetylation of viral proteins. Here, we identified the Thr residue at position 2 (Thr-2) in the βC1 protein encoded by the betasatellite of tomato yellow leaf curl China virus (TYLCCNB-βC1) as a novel N -acetylation site. Furthermore, the effects of TYLCCNB-βC1 N -acetylation on its function as a pathogenicity factor were determined via N -acetylation mutants in Nicotiana benthamiana plants. We found that N -acetylation of TYLCCNB-βC1 is critical for its self-interaction in the nucleus and viral pathogenesis, and that removal of N -acetylation of TYLCCNB-βC1 attenuated tomato yellow leaf curl China virus-induced symptoms and led to accelerated degradation of TYLCCNB-βC1 through the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Our data reveal a protective effect of N -acetylation of TYLCCNB-βC1 on its pathogenesis and demonstrate an antagonistic crosstalk between N -acetylation and ubiquitination in this geminiviral protein. • N-terminal acetylation (N -acetylation) is one of the most common protein modifications and plays crucial roles in viability and stress responses in animals and plants. • The Thr residue at position 2 (Thr-2) in the βC1 protein encoded by the betasatellite of tomato yellow leaf curl China virus (TYLCCNB-βC1) as a novel N -acetylation site. • N -acetylation of TYLCCNB-βC1 is critical for viral pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sepsis is a significant contributor to organ function damage or failure that results in intestinal dysfunction. Emodin (Emo) has received much attention for its notable anti‐inflammatory and antibacterial properties. We aimed to explore the function of Emo on sepsis. Methods: Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were pretreated with 20 or 40 mg/kg of Emo, followed by using cecal ligation and perforation to establish sepsis models. Hereafter, blood glucose levels, biochemical parameters, and inflammatory cytokines were measured. Additionally, ileal myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity was also measured. Diamine oxidase (DAO) level in plasma, fluorescein isothiocyanate‐dextran 40 (FD‐40) level in serum, bacteria number in blood and peritoneal fluid, histopathological changes of ileum, and tight junction (TJ) protein expressions in ileum were tested to evaluate the barrier function. Furthermore, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells' percentages were evaluated by flow cytometry. Finally, rats' survival rate was calculated as live rats divided by the total number of rats. Results: Emo pretreatment not only decreased blood glucose level, but also downregulated triglyceride (TG), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) contents for sepsis rats, especially for the high dose of Emo (p <.05). Furthermore, Emo inhibited MPO activity and inflammatory factor release (p <.05). Crucially, after Emo administration, the barrier function of ileum was enhanced, evidenced by the reduced DAO, FD‐40 levels, decreased bacteria number, alleviated pathological damage in ileum and increased TJ protein expressions (p <.05). Rats treated with Emo exhibited increased percentages of CD8+ and CD4+ T cells (p <.05), as well as an improved survival rate. Conclusion: Emo exhibited a remarkable ability to attenuate sepsis by restoring intestinal dysfunction and improving survival rates, and the mechanism was closely related to anti‐inflammatory properties, which provided new solid evidence for the use of Emo in treating sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite extensive studies on the interaction between dark septate endophytes (DSE) and host plants, little is known about the effects of mixed inoculation of DSE and ericoid mycorrhizal fungi (ERMF) on plants. We assessed the effects of mixed inoculation of five species of ERMF and five species of DSE on soil factors and growth and physiological functions of blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L. 'O'Neal') seedlings. The strains were isolated from blueberries in several regions of Guizhou Province. The fungi suspension root irrigation method was used to inoculate the seedlings. Six inoculation treatments, i.e. D (Cladosporium cladosporioides), N (Oidiodendron citrinum), D1N1 (D : N, 1:1), D1N2 (D : N, 1:2), D2N1 (D : N, 2:1) and CK (not inoculated) were conducted. Samples were collected two months after inoculation. The mixed inoculation of DSE and ERMF significantly promoted the height, stem diameter, shoot dry weight, total biomass, root activity and total chlorophyll content of the blueberry seedlings and enhanced their absorption capacity to mineral nutrients. The mixed inoculation also improved the activities of soil enzymes such as urease and acid phosphatase. The effect of mixed inoculation was better than that of single inoculation or CK. Combining the analysis results of the membership function, we concluded that D1N2 and D2N1 most significantly promoted the growth of blueberry seedlings. These data provide a basis for the potential application of DSE and ERMF mixed inoculation for promoting the growth of seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanical properties of the ultra-great workability concrete (UGWC) are deeply related to the weights of components, curing period and condition, and occasionally property of admixtures. This study aimed to appraise the usefulness of the adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) technique for forecasting the compressive strength of UGWC and enhancing the accuracy of the literature. To outline the forecasting process, two improved ANFIS were suggested, in which determinative variables of them were determined by metaheuristic algorithms named imperialist competitive algorithm (ICA) and multi-verse optimizer (MVO) algorithms. For this purpose, 170 data samples were collected from published literature separated accidentally for the train and test phase. The calculated performance criteria for proposed ANFIS models demonstrate that both ICA-ANFIS and MVO-ANFIS models can result in justifiable workability for fc of the UGWC prediction procedure. The MVO-ANFIS model could outperform ICA-ANFIS regarding all criteria. For instance, the value of R2 and VAF for the ICA-ANFIS model are roughly smaller than the MVO-ANFIS model, at 0.9012 and 90% in the training dataset and 0.8973 and 89% in the testing stage, respectively. While the best values of criteria have belonged to the MVO-ANFIS model, with R2 at 0.937 and 0.944 for the train and test phases, respectively. Overall, the hybrid MVO-ANFIS model can obtain higher workability than ICA-ANFIS and literature (R2 at 0.801), where causes are recognized as the proposed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food systems worldwide have become industrialized over the past century with impacts on diets, nutrition and health. The trade-offs between affordability and higher-quality diets can be exemplified by industrially produced, refined wheat bread. There is substantial demand for designing healthier bread, and host-microbiota commensalism has emerged as a key factor in food product development aiming to deliver health benefits. Based on pre-clinical and clinical studies, this review provides an overview of main strategies for designing healthy bread from the microbiota perspective. We also discuss how microbiota-based precision nutrition can be harnessed in the design of healthy bread tailored to specific individuals or populations. In addition to being an important source of dietary fiber and phytochemicals, bread is the largest contributor to the intake of common food additives in the countries consuming Western-like diets with ramifications in health and disease via the gut microbiota. Pre-clinical and small-scale clinical studies suggest that the use of alternative grains, supplementation of bread to induce functional properties and sourdough fermentation hold great potential in reducing the risk factors associated with diet-related non-communicable diseases by modulating the gut microbiota. Nevertheless, functional ingredients formulated in bread may need to be applied in a targeted and individual-specific manner to deliver expected benefits and avoid potentially detrimental consequences. Overall, we identify major knowledge gaps and research opportunities for developing gut-friendly breads with scientifically validated health benefits. • Gut microbiome-based strategies for breadmaking to reduce disease risk. • Emerging evidence of microbiome-mediated effects of food additives and compounds in breadmaking on health. • More clinical studies needed in non-Western and pediatric populations. • Potential benefits of development of bread products guided by precision nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to analyze the ultrasound characteristics of fetal congenital vertical talus (CVT) to provide a detailed basis for the prenatal diagnosis of CVT. We retrospectively analyzed the ultrasonographic findings of fetuses with CVT confirmed by X-ray, surgery, or autopsy from 2010 to 2020. Clinical characteristics and ultrasonographic findings of CVT, including foot morphology, ossification center of the calcaneus and talus, associated deformities, and chromosomal test results, were recorded. Thirteen patients diagnosed with CVT by prenatal ultrasound were confirmed postpartum. Nine cases were bilateral, and four were unilateral. Under two-dimensional ultrasound, 13/13 cases had abnormal foot morphology, and 10 of 13 cases (76.9%) showed that the ossification center of the talus moved downward, and the calcaneus moved laterally. Under three-dimensional ultrasound, 11 cases (84.6%) presented a "rocking chair" appearance, and two cases did not obtain satisfactory three-dimensional image due to oligohydramnios and fetal position. In this group of cases, two cases (15.4%) were isolated CVT, and the other 11 cases (84.6%) were complicated with other abnormalities. Eleven cases of non-isolated CVT and 1 case of isolated CVT were induced, and another patient with isolated CVT had undergone postnatal surgery, which had been followed up for 8 years and recovered well. The combination of fetal foot morphology, ossification center position of the calcaneus and talus, and three-dimensional ultrasound can provide a reliable diagnosis of CVT. Furthermore, we should pay more attention to the evaluation of other systemic and chromosomal abnormalities in CVT cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Begomoviruses cause significant losses to a wide range of crops worldwide, and a great progress has been made in characterizing some noncanonical proteins encoded by begomoviruses. In the present study, a novel viral protein, C6, was detected in Nicotiana benthamiana plants infected with tomato leaf curl China virus (ToLCCNV). Sequence analyses revealed that the C6 ORF is on the complementary strand of approximately 36% reported begomovirus sequences with conserved amino acid sequence. ToLCCNV C6 specifically localizes to mitochondria. Analysis of deletion mutants showed that C6 possesses an internal mitochondrial targeting signal. Overall, these data uncover a novel begomovirus-encoded protein targeting distinct plant cell organelles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Some previous studies showed abnormal pathological and vascular changes in the retina of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, whether retinal microvascular density is a diagnostic indicator for AD remains unclear.Objective: This study evaluated the macular vessel density (m-VD) in the superficial capillary plexus and fovea avascular zone (FAZ) area in AD, explored their correlations with clinical parameters, and finally confirmed an optimal machine learning model for AD diagnosis.Methods: 77 patients with AD and 145 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled. The m-VD and the FAZ area were measured using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in all participants. Additionally, AD underwent neuropsychological assessment, brain magnetic resonance imaging scan, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker detection, and APOE ɛ4 genotyping. Finally, the performance of machine learning algorithms based on the OCTA measurements was evaluated by Python programming language.Results: The m-VD was noticeably decreased in AD compared with HCs. Moreover, m-VD in the fovea, superior inner, inferior inner, nasal inner subfields, and the whole inner ring declined significantly in mild AD, while it was more serious in moderate/severe AD. However, no significant difference in the FAZ was noted between AD and HCs. Furthermore, we found that m-VD exhibited a significant correlation with cognitive function, medial temporal atrophy and Fazekas scores, and APOE ɛ4 genotypes. No significant correlations were observed between m-VD and CSF biomarkers. Furthermore, results revealed the Adaptive boosting algorithm exhibited the best diagnostic performance for AD.Conclusion: Macular vascular density could serve as a diagnostic biomarker for AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese listed manufacturing companies face more serious financing constraints. Considering financing constraints and uncertainties, an accurate assessment of the innovation efficiency of China's listed manufacturing industry can provide decision support for China to become an innovation nation. We construct a heterogeneous stochastic frontier model to analyze the overall innovation efficiency, innovation quality efficiency, and innovation quantity efficiency of the Chinese manufacturing industry, using Chinese A-share listed manufacturing companies as a research sample from 2011–2019. The research results show that (1) Financing constraints make enterprises deviate from innovation efficiency, and internal financing significantly reduces enterprise financing constraints and does not bring uncertainty to subsequent financing, commercial credit, and external financing; although it can alleviate enterprise financing constraints, it will increase the uncertainty of subsequent financing constraints and the enterprise size.. (2) Internal financing, commercial credit financing, external financing, and firm size can effectively alleviate the financing constraint for firms to carry out quality innovation activities of invention patents and quantitative innovation activities of utility patents; internal financing, external financing, and firm size can effectively alleviate the financing constraint for quantitative innovation activities of design patents, while commercial credit financing has no significant effect. (3) The influence of factors such as financing constraints makes the real innovation efficiency of China's listed manufacturing industry only about 20%, and enterprises face more serious financing constraints. (4) The heterogeneity results found that the overall innovation efficiency, innovation quality efficiency, and innovation quantity efficiency in the eastern region are the highest, and the innovation efficiency level is higher than the national average, followed by the central and western regions. The overall innovation efficiency, innovation quality efficiency, and innovation quantity efficiency of the central region are higher than the national average, but the innovation quality efficiency and innovation quantity efficiency of the western region are lower than the national average; the overall innovation efficiency, innovation quality efficiency, and innovation quantity efficiency of large-scale enterprises are the highest and even higher than the average value of the whole sample, while the innovation efficiency of medium and small-scale enterprises are lower than the average value of the whole sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Following lung cancer surgery, patients often experience severe symptoms which are not properly assessed at discharge. The aim of this study was to identify the clinical presentation at discharge and the influencing factors of postoperative symptoms in patients who have undergone lung cancer surgery.Methods: This cross-sectional study analysed data from patients who participated in a prospective cohort study that enrolled patients who underwent lung cancer surgery at six tertiary hospitals in the People's Republic of China, from November 2017 to January 2020. Patient symptoms at discharge were measured using the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory Lung Cancer module. The five core symptoms were defined according to ratings of moderate to severe symptoms (≥ 4 on a 0-10 scale). A multivariate linear regression model was used to identify the influencing factors of each symptom at discharge.Results: Among the 366 participants, 51.9% were male and the mean (SD) age was 55.81 (10.43) years. At discharge, the core symptoms were cough (36.4%), pain (28.2%), disturbed sleep (26.3%), shortness of breath (25.8%), and fatigue (24.3%), and more than half of the participants (54.6%) had one to five of the core symptoms, with moderate to severe severity. A low annual income and the use of two chest tubes were significantly associated (P = 0.030 and 0.014, respectively) with higher mean scores of the core symptoms.Conclusion: Though clinically eligible for discharge, more than half of the participants had severe symptoms at discharge after lung cancer surgery. Special attention should be given to patients who have two chest tubes after surgery and those who have a low annual income. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the feasibility of applying magnetorheological fluids (MRFs) in the field of noise control, the influence of the magnetic field intensity and direction on the sound transmission loss (STL) of a unit filled with MRF (MRF unit) were investigated in this study. First, two types of test sample containing the MRF unit were designed and fabricated. The magnetic field applied to the MRF was provided by the permanent magnets used in pairs. The direction of the magnetic field was perpendicular or parallel to the direction of the sound wave propagation. The distribution of the magnetic field intensity of the two types of test samples was simulated using magnetostatic finite element analysis and validated with the magnetic field intensity measured using a Teslameter. For comparison, test samples containing air and water units were also prepared. Then, the STL of the two types of test samples were measured under different magnetic field intensities using the impedance tube method. Finally, the STL curves of the two types of test samples were presented, and the influence of magnetic field intensity and direction on the STL were discussed. The results demonstrate that the magnetic field direction has a significant influence on the STL of the MRF unit. In addition, when the magnetic field direction is parallel to the sound propagation direction, the STL of the test sample containing MRF unit significantly increases with the increase of the magnetic field intensity at low and middle frequencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vesicle-associated membrane protein (VAMP) belongs to the receptor protein on the membrane of the secretory transport vesicle and involves in host immune function. The intracellular pathogen Spiroplasma eriocheiris could cause Eriocheir sinensis tremor disease. In a previous study, it was found E. sinensis VAMP (EsVAMP) was differently expressed in S. eriocheiris infection by proteomics analysis. This study mainly aims at the function of EsVAMP in the process of the S. eriocheiris infection. The length of EsVAMP gene was 1681 bp, which contained a 395 bp open reading frame, 90 bp 5′-non-coding region (UTR) and 1277 bp 3′-UTR. The results of qPCR showed that EsVAMP was expressed highly in hemocytes and nerves, followed by gills, intestines and hepatopancreas, and lowly expressed in heart and muscles. EsVAMP in hemocytes was up-regulated after S. eriocheiris infection. After EsVAMP over-expression and S. eriocheiris infection, the RAW264.7 cell morphology and cell viability of the experiment group were significantly better than the control group. Meanwhile, the copy number of S. eriocheiris in the experiment group was significantly lower than that in the control group. After EsVAMP and pCMV-Cre-mCherry were ligated and transfected into RAW264.7 cells, it was found that EsVAMP and lysosome co-localized. Meanwhile, the phagocytosed inactivated S. eriocheiris number and phagocytosed efficiency in RAW264.7 cells were increased significantly. The interference experiment was carried out by synthesizing EsVAMP dsRNA to verify that the EsVAMP transcriptions were successfully suppressed. The S. eriocheiris copy number and the mortality of crab increased significantly after EsVAMP RNAi and S. eriocheiris infection. Meanwhile, the phagocytosed inactivated S. eriocheiris number and phagocytosed efficiency in hemocytes decreased significantly after EsVAMP RNAi and S. eriocheiris infection. These results showed that VAMP was involved in the cell phagocytosis to resist pathogen infection. • A vesicle-associated membrane protein, EsVAMP, was obtained from Eriocheir sinensis and related with Spiroplasma eriocheiris infection. • The cell morphology, cell viability was induced to resist S. eriocheiris infection after EsVAMP over-expression in RAW264.7 cells. • EsVAMP and lysosome was co-localized to increase the phagocytosis of RAW264.7 cells after EsVAMP over-expression in RAW264.7 cells. • The S. eriocheiris copy number and the mortality of crab was increased significantly and the hemocytes phagocytosis to inactivated S.eriocheiris decreased significantly after EsVAMP RNAi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Prepare flake Al powder with controllable thickness and particle size by physical vapor deposition and ultrasonic crushing. • Analyze the infrared emissivity of coatings dependent on the real surface morphology by the BRDF calculation. • Explain the change of infrared emissivity for coatings through the Kubelka layer model optimized by rough surface model. • Predict that the coating exhibits lowest infrared emissivity when the thickness of Al powder is 400 nm. Flake Al pigment is the main component of infrared low emissivity coatings, which plays an important role in controlling the coating's infrared optical properties. To clarify this influence mechanism, the flake Al powder with controllable thickness and particle size were prepared by the method of physical vapor deposition combined with ultrasonic crushing. The effects of structure parameters for flake Al powder, such as thickness and particle size, on the surface morphology and infrared emissivity of the coating was systematically studied. The results show that the smaller particle size leads to poorer directional arrangement degree of flake Al powder and increased edge scattering. The thinner thickness results in more absorption probability from resin to infrared radiation, thereby decreasing the infrared reflectivity and increasing the infrared emissivity of coating. These experimental phenomena are effectively elucidated by the calculation of bidirectional reflectance distribution function based on the Comsol software. Moreover, the Kubelka layer model optimized by the rough surface model was used to explain and predict the correlation between the infrared emissivity of the coating and the particle size and thickness of the flake Al powder. Based on the measured surface roughness of the coating and the complex refractive index of the flake Al powder, the error between the experimental and calculated results is only 1.2 %. The calculated model predicts that the coating exhibits lowest infrared emissivity when the thickness of flake Al powder is 400 nm. This work holds a significant guidance for the subsequent preparation of infrared low-emissivity coatings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study produced dextran both in situ by fermentation with Weissella confusa A16 and in vitro by isolated W. confusa A16 dextransucrase enzyme, and investigated its effects on the flavor properties of faba bean protein concentrate (FPC) and the corresponding extrudates prepared by high moisture extrusion. Descriptive sensory profiling revealed that the FPC and extrudates had an intense pea odor and flavor, bitter taste, and astringency. Partial least squares regression analysis suggested that the pea flavor was related to the presence of lipid-oxidation products such as hexanal, heptanal, and nonanal, whereas the bitterness and astringency were likely linked to vicine, convicine, condensed tannins, and arginine. Fermentation under optimized conditions resulted in low acid formation and sufficient dextran production (1.2% end-product basis), which was effective in masking pea and bitter off-notes and enhancing pleasant flavors in FPC (sweet and fruity) and extrudates (sweet and umami). The sweetness was related to fructose produced during fermentation, and the fruity odor was linked to the generated isoamyl isovalerate and ethyl acetate. The masking effect on pea and bitter off-notes was further confirmed by adding enzymatically synthesized dextran in FPC (1.2% dextran) and extrudates (1% dextran). Overall, fermentation with W. confusa A16 or addition of the enzymatically produced dextran showed potential for masking off-flavors of faba bean-based ingredients and extruded meat alternatives. Furthermore, the fermentation method was associated with nutritional benefits (reduction of anti-nutritional factors, e.g., condensed tannins and verbascose) and the generation of flavor compounds/precursors (e.g., esters and free amino acids). [Display omitted] • Dextran was produced in high quantities by fermentation or dextransucrase enzymes. • Dextran reduced pea flavor and bitter taste of faba bean proteins and extrudates. • Relation was established between the sensory properties and chemical profiles. • Optimization of fermentation conditions avoided intense sourness and aftertaste. • Fermentation reduced antinutrient levels and generated flavor volatiles/precursors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a systematic review with meta-analysis of non-prospective and prospective clinical studies to assess the effects of circulating branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), including Isoleucine, Valine and Leucine, on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane and CNKI databases were searched for publications reporting the relationship between BCAAs and CVD. Relative risk (RR) and odd ratios (OR) were extracted and pooled. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression were performed to identify potential sources of heterogeneity, sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the robustness of pooled estimates. 11 non-prospective studies involving 2806 participants and 10 prospective studies involving 43,895 participants reported correlations between BCAAs and CVD risk. Levels of circulating BCAAs changed in individuals with CVD compared with those in the control group. Nine prospective studies were meta-analyzed and highlighted a 10% higher risk of CVD per study-specific SD difference for Isoleucine (pooled relative risk 1.10 [1.03–1.18]; I 2 = 63.5%). Valine and Leucine do not appear to be associated with CVD incidence. Subgroup analysis based on age suggested that among adults ≤60 years, there is a 15%, 13%, and 9% higher risk of developing CVD per study-specific SD difference for Isoleucine (RR 1.15 [1.11–1.19]; I 2 = 0.0%), Valine (RR 1.13 [1.09–1.17]; I 2 = 0.0%), and Leucine (RR 1.09 [1.03–1.16]; I 2 = 40.5%), respectively. No such associations were observed for adults older than 60 years. Evidence suggests that elevated concentrations of circulating Isoleucine were associated with increased risks of CVD, independent of traditional risk factors. [Display omitted] • Higher circulating level of Isoleucine is associated with an increased risk of CVD, whereas Valine and Leucine are not. • Studies involving younger people (≤ 60 years old) exhibit significant associations between higher Valine, Leucine and Isoleucine levels with increased risk of CVD, while elder people (>60 years old) not. • Alterations in circulating BCAAs may be therapeutic targets for CVD risk, especially for people younger than 60 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twitter is a newly emerged computer-mediated discourse (CMD) genre in recent years for exchanging short textual messages with the 140-character constraint. Little explicitly quantitative attention has been given to the syntactic structure of twitter, though. Under the framework of dependency grammar, the present study intends to investigate the syntactic characteristics of twitter based on quantitative methods by a comparison with traditional written genres and CMD genres. Results show that (1) most tweets are syntactically easy to understand, shaped by the principle of least effort. With the shortest sentence length, twitter has more syntactically difficult sentences than do traditional fictions, which somehow contradicts the common belief. (2) The word order of twitter demonstrates a different distribution from that of the other genres. (3) Twitter's distribution of dependency types in relation to all the other genres shows a dynamic property. Some of the frequencies of syntactic relations of twitter are similar to those of traditional fiction and others close to those of traditional news. To summarize, creative linguistic features of twitter interestingly complicate syntactic characteristics, through which we may obtain new insights regarding twitter syntax as well as possible contextual factors behind that. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring new catalytic strategies for achieving efficient CO2 hydrogenation under mild conditions is of great significance for environmental remediation. Herein, a composite photocatalyst Zr‐based MOF encapsulated plasmonic AuPt alloy nanoparticles (AuPt@UiO‐66‐NH2) was successfully constructed for the efficient photothermal catalysis of CO2 hydrogenation. Under light irradiation at 150 °C, AuPt@UiO‐66‐NH2 achieved a CO production rate of 1451 μmol gmetal−1 h−1 with 91 % selectivity, which far exceeded those obtained by Au@Pt@UiO‐66‐NH2 with Pt shell on Au (599 μmol gmetal−1 h−1) and Au@UiO‐66‐NH2 (218 μmol gmetal−1 h−1). The outstanding performances of AuPt@UiO‐66‐NH2 were attributed to the synergetic effect originating from the plasmonic metal Au, doped active metal Pt, and encapsulation structure of UiO‐66‐NH2 shell. This work provides a new way for photothermal catalysis of CO2 and a reference for the design of high‐performance plasmonic catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xinjiang has a serious wind erosion problem due to its fragile ecological condition and sensitivity to climate change. Wind erosion climatic erosivity is a measure of climatic factors influencing wind erosion; evaluating its spatiotemporal variations and relationship with the large-scale circulation pattern can contribute to the understanding of the climate change effect on wind erosion risk. Thus, this study quantified the wind erosion climatic erosivity and examined the connections between climatic erosivity and climate indices using trend analysis, geo-statistical analysis, and cross-wavelet analysis based on the observed daily meteorological data from 64 weather stations in Xinjiang, China during 1969–2019 (50 years). The results indicated that the climatic erosivity showed a significant downward trend at seasonal and annual scales over the past 50 years. Strong seasonality in the C-factor was found, with its highest values in the spring and summer and its lowest values in the winter. The average climatic erosivity was weaker during El Niño events than during La Niña events. The impact of El Niño events on climatic erosivity in Xinjiang continued from the beginning of the event to two months after the end of the events. The La Niña events had a lag effect on the climatic erosivity in Xinjiang, with a lag period of 4 months. From a statistical perspective, the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), and Arctic Oscillation (AO) indices showed relationships to the climatic erosivity in Xinjiang in terms of their correlation and periodicity. The relationships between the climatic erosivity and ENSO were not clearly positive or negative, with many correlations advanced or delayed in phase. The NAO and AO indices showed a consistent in-phase relationship with climatic erosivity on significant bands, whereas the profound mechanisms involved in this require further study. The results of this study provide a preliminary perspective on the effect of large-scale atmospheric circulation on wind erosion risk in arid and semi-arid regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant raw materials, such as oat bran concentrate (OBC), oat flour (OF), and hemp protein concentrate (HP), are significant sources of dietary fibers and proteins with high nutritional quality. Exopolysaccharides (EPS) synthesized by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) during fermentation are natural texturing agents that can replace hydrocolloid additives (e.g., carrageenan, guar gum, and pectin). This study aimed to evaluate EPS synthesis in OBC, OF, and HP during fermentation with Levilactobacillus brevis AM7 supplemented with glucose. Monosaccharide analysis identified that EPS from L. brevis AM7 was a heteropolysaccharide (HePS) consisting of rhamnose, mannose, glucose, and glucose-amine. Rheological analysis revealed that HePS production led to increased viscosity and viscoelastic moduli (G′ and G″) of the fermented materials compared to control. Fermented OBC exhibited the most stable structure among the three materials. Fermented OBC also showed the lowest acidity level, whereas fermented HP exhibited intensive acidification. This was likely due to the more abundant flour endogenous sugars (sucrose, raffinose, and stachyose) in HP and their fast utilization during fermentation. A yogurt alternative product was prepared from fermented OBC milk, showing a high LAB cell density, a pH of 4.2, and a significantly higher viscosity than the chemically acidified control. The in situ synthesized HePS counteracted the viscosity loss and inhibited syneresis of the yogurt alternative product during four days of storage at 4 °C. Overall, the use of L. brevis AM7 producing HePS enabled improved techno-functional properties of plant raw materials and showed potential for application in yogurt alternatives. [Display omitted] • Three types of plant raw materials were fermented with L. brevis AM7. • Heteropolysaccharide (HePS) was produced in situ during fermentation. • HePS increased viscosity and viscoelastic moduli of the fermented materials. • Fermented oat bran concentrate showed lower acidity and improved texture. • HePS acted as a thickener and stabilizer in the yogurt alternative prototype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since their discovery, the systematic placement of two shrimp taxa, Amphionides and Procarididae, has been controversial. Both exhibit primitive features yet also possessing caridean traits. Amphionides was initially classified as a monotypic genus in the order Amphionidacea, while Procarididae was the only family in the superfamily Procaridoidea. Recent molecular studies have presented evidence that Amphionides is a larval form of pandalid shrimp, while Procaridoidea is elevated to an infraorder of Decapoda. To confirm the systematic status of the two shrimps, we report here the complete mitogenome sequences of Amphionides reynaudii and Procaris hawaiana. The phylogenetic tree of mitochondrial protein‐coding genes from all decapod infraorders provides strong support for the systematic position of procaridid shrimp as the sister of Caridea, and the evolutionary divergence of the sequences substantiates the infraordinal status of Procarididae. The tree also verifies Amphionides as a caridean genus in Pandalidae, and further analysis using eight gene markers from the family indicates the sister relationship between Amphionides and Dorodotes. We also review the morphological characters of these two taxa and identify morphological features in support of their respective systematic status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, most organic semiconducting materials (OSMs) are π‐conjugated structures in one or two dimension (2D), where the lack of layer‐layer π‐conjugation connection greatly blocks their electron delocalization and transport. The 3D fully conjugated materials could solve this issue because they can provide efficient charge‐transport pathways throughout the whole 3D skeleton, in which the suitable 3D building block is the key to the development of fully conjugated 3D OSMs. Cyclooctatetraene (COT) and its derivatives are good candidates due to their π‐conjugation with 3D saddle‐shaped architecture. In this Concept, we discuss the key features of saddle‐shaped COT‐based derivatives and their synthetic strategy, then we present the current development of using the COT derivatives as building blocks to construct the 3D fully conjugated organic small compound‐ and polymer‐based OSMs. The properties and perspectives of these OSMs in photovoltaics, electro‐catalysis and electrical conductivities are also discussed. These recent advances in the developing 3D fully conjugated materials could potentially open up a new frontier in the design of OSMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades are involved in host defense against pathogens and are often activated by upstream plasma membrane leucine‐rich repeat receptor‐like kinases (LRR‐RLKs).ERECTA (ER) is an LRR‐RLK that regulates plant developmental processes through activating MAPK cascades.Tomato leaf curl Yunnan virus (TLCYnV) C4 protein interacts with BKI1, stabilizes it at the plasma membrane and impairs ER autophosphorylation through suppressing the dissociation of the BKI1/ER complex, and then inhibits the activation of downstream MAPK cascades, which ultimately creates a favorable environment for TLCYnV infection.This study provides a novel viral strategy to impair MAPK activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of grains as an alternative to wheat in breadmaking has rapidly grown in the last few years, driven by the Sustainable Development Goals toward improving food security and promoting sustainable agriculture. Flours from legumes, pseudo-cereals, minor cereals and milling by-products, such as bran, are of particular interest. The production of partially substituted or wheat-free bread is, however, a challenging task in terms of texture and flavour attributes. The present review covers recent advances in the application of dextrans in improving dough rheology, baking performance and bread flavour characteristics. Emphasis has been given to in situ application of dextran via sourdough technology as a 'clean label' alternative to commercial hydrocolloid additives. In-situ dextran production leads to bread with higher specific volume, softer crumbs and increased moisture content. Dextran also provides an anti-staling effect attributable to its ability to reduce water mobility and retard starch retrogradation. A structure–function relationship has suggested that dextran with high molecular weight and less branching is superior in enhancing bread quality. Furthermore, mild acidification favours the functionality of dextran in dough and bread systems, while intensive acidification results in adverse effects. Lactic acid bacterial strains belonging to the genus Weissella exhibiting mild acidification are therefore appreciated in regard to the utilisation of in-situ produced dextran. This review highlights the novel application of dextran as a flavour masking agent to minimise off-flavours (e.g. beany flavour, bitter taste, and aftertaste) originating from non-wheat grains, consequently improving the acceptability of the final products. • Producing high quality breads from non-wheat flours is a technological challenge. • In situ produced dextran is a clean label alternative to commercial hydrocolloids. • Dextrans modify dough rheology and improves bread textural quality and shelf-life. • Dextrans can mask the off-flavours originating from non-wheat flours. • Dextran structure and dough acidity are critical factors for in situ application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce a new viscosity iterative method for solving the split null point and common fixed point problems for maximal monotone operators and multivalued demicontractive mappings in Hilbert spaces, and we obtain some strong convergence results under some suitable assumptions. As applications, we apply our results to the split feasibility problem and the split minimization problem. The results obtained in this paper generalize and improve the recent ones announced by many authors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternative splicing (AS) is an important regulatory mode at the post‐transcriptional level, through which many flowering genes regulate floral transition by producing multiple transcripts, and splicing factors have essential roles in this process. Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) is a newly found gasotransmitter that has critical physiological roles in plants, and one of its potential modes of action is via persulfidation of target proteins at specific cysteine sites. Previously, it has been shown that both the splicing factor AtU2AF65a and H2S are involved in the regulation of plant flowering. This study found that, in Arabidopsis, the promoting effect of H2S on flowering was abolished in atu2af65a‐4 mutants. Transcriptome analyses showed that when AtU2AF65a contained mutations, the regulatory function of H2S during the AS of many flowering genes (including SPA1, LUH, LUG and MAF3) was inhibited. The persulfidation assay showed that AtU2AF65a can be persulfidated by H2S, and the RNA immunoprecipitation data indicated that H2S could alter the binding affinity of AtU2AF65a to the precursor messenger RNA of the above‐mentioned flowering genes. Overall, our results suggest that H2S may regulate the AS of flowering‐related genes through persulfidation of splicing factor AtU2AF65a and thus lead to early flowering in plants. Summary statement: This study describes a novel pathway through which hydrogen sulphide promotes the flowering of Arabidopsis via persulfidation of the splicing factor, AtU2AF65a. AtU2AF65a persulfidation changes the alternative splicing patterns of several downstream flowering genes, ultimately affecting the flowering time of Arabidopsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The cost of hydrogen production by PEMWE in China was calculated and forecasted. • The capital cost and electricity cost were calculated in three scenarios respectively. • The capital cost of PEM electrolyzer system reduces from 4450 $/kW to 812 $/kW. • The calculated cost of hydrogen production reduces from 7.26 $/kg to 2.60 $/kg. • 2.60 $/kg will show a cost advantage when the carbon tax of gray hydrogen is imposed. The production and utilization of green hydrogen is of utmost importance to achieve the dual carbon national strategy of China, i.e., carbon peaking in 2030 and carbon neutrality in 2060. The proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE), with the advantage of the fast dynamic operation adapting to the non-uniformity and intermittency of renewable energy, is capable of producing hydrogen with higher purity. To calculate hydrogen production costs from 2020 to 2040, we used the bottom-up method to determine the capital cost of PEM electrolyzers, which is brought into the H2A model along with electricity price predicted for China. In 2040–2060, the learning curve was used to predict the decline of the capital cost of the electrolyzer. We analyzed two scenarios during this period, considering whether the operational performance of the electrolyzer such as voltage and current density is improved. The calculated cost of hydrogen production will reduce from 7.26 $/kg to 2.60 $/kg mainly because of the capital cost reduction of the electrolyzer system from 4450 $/kW to 812 $/kW and the decline of the electricity cost. The capital cost and electricity cost account for 47.6% and 34.7% of the current total cost, respectively, while the electricity cost is projected to be the dominant and will account for 56.4% of the total cost in the scenario of 2040–2060. The cost price of 2.60 $/kg will show an advantage when the carbon tax of 78.82 $/t CO 2 eq. for coal gasification and 107.48 $/t CO 2 eq. for steam-methane reforming are imposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Bioprocessing improved faba bean antifungal potential. • Antifungal activity depended on proteins and peptides released through bioprocessing. • The use of fermented faba bean as ingredient efficiently delayed fungal growth in bread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) have been reported to be associated with cholangitis and might possibly be carcinogenic. However, few studies have been conducted to investigate the association of PPIs with cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Thus, a hospital‐based case‐control study was carried out in China to explore the association between PPIs and CCA. Methods: In this study, 1468 CCA cases (826 intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and 642 extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC)) were included, which were observed at Beijing Friendship Hospital, from February 2002 to October 2018. We retrospectively extracted PPI use and other possible risk factors from clinical records, followed by an investigation of the relationship with CCA via calculation of odds ratios (ORs), adjusted odds ratios (AORs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using logistic regression analysis. Results: PPIs were used by 135 (9.2%) CCA cases and 173 (5.9%) controls. We found that PPI use was associated with a 1.61‐fold elevated CCA odds (P <.001) (AOR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.28‐2.05; P <.001). After stratification by CCA subtypes, the AORs of PPIs were consistent for both CCA subtypes, with ORs of 1.36 (AOR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.02‐1.83; P =.003) and 1.95 (AOR = 1.95, 95% CI = 1.46‐2.62; P <.001) for ICC and ECC respectively. Our results also showed that PPI use was slightly linked to the odds of CCA in a dose‐dependent manner. Conclusion: PPI use was correlated with a significant 61% increased odds of CCA, particularly in the ECC. However, the retrospective design and observational nature cannot establish causation. Larger scale, multi‐centre prospective studies are required for further validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In plants, cytosine DNA methylation is an efficient defense mechanism against geminiviruses, since methylation of the viral genome results in transcriptional gene silencing (TGS). As a counter-defense mechanism, geminiviruses encode viral proteins to suppress viral DNA methylation and TGS. However, the molecular mechanisms by which viral proteins contribute to TGS suppression remain incompletely understood. In this study, we found that the C4 protein encoded by tomato leaf curl Yunnan virus (TLCYnV) suppresses methylation of the viral genome through interacting with and impairing the DNA-binding ability of NbDRM2, a pivotal DNA methyltransferase in the methyl cycle. We show that NbDRM2 catalyzes the addition of methyl groups on specific cytosine sites of the viral genome, hence playing an important role in anti-viral defense. Underscoring the relevance of the C4-mediated suppression of NbDRM2 activity, plants infected by TLCYnV producing C4(S43A), a point mutant version of C4 unable to interact with NbDRM2, display milder symptoms and lower virus accumulation, concomitant with enhanced viral DNA methylation, than plants infected by wild-type TLCYnV. Expression of TLCYnV C4, but not of the NbDRM2-interaction compromised C4(S43A) mutant, in 16c-TGS Nicotiana benthamiana plants results in the recovery of GFP, a proxy for suppression of TGS. This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms by which geminiviruses suppress TGS, and uncovers a new viral strategy based on the inactivation of the methyltransferase NbDRM2. Author summary: Interfering with transcriptional gene silencing (TGS) is essential for DNA viruses to infect and replicate in plant cells. Some members of the Geminiviridae family encode a C4 protein capable of inhibiting TGS, hence promoting virulence. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the C4-mediated TGS suppression is still incompletely understood. This study demonstrates that the C4 protein encoded by tomato leaf curl Yunnan virus interacts with NbDRM2, a pivotal DNA methyltransferase in the methyl cycle, and interferes with its ability to bind the viral DNA. As a result, methylation of the viral genome is impaired, which in turn favours viral replication and spread. Our results uncover a novel strategy deployed by geminiviruses to counter anti-viral DNA methylation, hence shedding new light onto the arms race between viruses and hosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At early disease stages, Lewy body disorders are characterized by limbic vs. brainstem α‐synucleinopathy, but most preclinical studies have focused solely on the nigrostriatal pathway. Furthermore, male gender and advanced age are two major risk factors for this family of conditions, but their influence on the topographical extents of α‐synucleinopathy and the degree of cell loss are uncertain. To fill these gaps, we infused α‐synuclein fibrils in the olfactory bulb/anterior olfactory nucleus complex—one of the earliest and most frequently affected brain regions in Lewy body disorders—in 3‐month‐old female and male mice and in 11‐month‐old male mice. After 6 months, we observed that α‐synucleinopathy did not expand significantly beyond the limbic connectome in the 9‐month‐old male and female mice or in the 17‐month‐old male mice. However, the 9‐month‐old male mice had developed greater α‐synucleinopathy, smell impairment and cell loss than age‐matched females. By 10.5 months post‐infusion, fibril treatment hastened mortality in the 21.5‐month‐old males, but the inclusions remained centered in the limbic system in the survivors. Although fibril infusions reduced the number of cells expressing tyrosine hydroxylase in the substantia nigra of young males at 6 months post‐infusion, this was not attributable to true cell death. Furthermore, mesencephalic α‐synucleinopathy, if present, was centered in mesolimbic circuits (ventral tegmental area/accumbens) rather than within strict boundaries of the nigral pars compacta, which were defined here by tyrosine hydroxylase immunolabel. Nonprimate models cannot be expected to faithfully recapitulate human Lewy body disorders, but our murine model seems reasonably suited to (i) capture some aspects of Stage IIb of Lewy body disorders, which displays a heavier limbic than brainstem component compared to incipient Parkinson's disease; and (ii) leverage sex differences and the acceleration of mortality following induction of olfactory α‐synucleinopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein we report a facile and controlled synthesis of RGO/Pd/m-SiO 2 hollow microspheres with sandwich-like hybrid shell, which exhibit excellent catalytic performance. The development of easy-to-operate strategies for fabricating stable and efficient nanostructured catalysts based on noble metal nanoparticles is of great significance. Here we report a facile method to prepare the hollow microsphere with sandwich-like hybrid shell composed of an interlayer of palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) in between the inner shell of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and outer shell of mesoporous silica (m-SiO 2), denoted as RGO/Pd/m-SiO 2 hollow microsphere. Our approach involves the use of polystyrene microsphere as template to firstly deposit the RGO and then Pd NPs and finally to coat the hybrid SiO 2 containing porogens, followed by the calcination to simultaneously obtain interior cavity and mesoporous outer shell. Our method is facile because it avoids pretreatment of template surface and functionalization/modification of any of shell components. More importantly, the as-prepared RGO/Pd/m-SiO 2 hollow microspheres exhibit several distinguished advantages for catalytic applications, including the sandwich-like hybrid shell effectively preventing Pd NPs from aggregation and leaching, and the stabilizer-free surface of Pd NPs as well as the synergistic interaction of the Pd NPs and RGO. Consequently, these hollow microspheres show superior catalytic activity and stability in the reduction of p -nitrophenol by sodium borohydride. Moreover, it is also found that, the thickness and porosity of m-SiO 2 outer shell can influence the catalytic activity of the RGO/Pd/m-SiO 2 hollow microspheres. Overall, our results have provided important implications for rational design of hybrid shell of hollow microspheres with appropriate composition and configuration to boost the catalytic performance of noble metal NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Numerous clinical studies have evaluated valsartan and found more efficacious control of blood pressure (BP) variability when administered before sleep. The treatment leads to improved outcomes when compared to administration upon awakening. The mechanism underlying this etiology is not fully understood. The present study investigates the safety and efficacy of asleep administration of valsartan in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) with a non-dipping blood pressure pattern compared to SHRs receiving administration during awake time. Materials and Methods: 84 Male SHRs and 28 male Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) were kept under a strict alternating 12-h light/dark cycle. WKYs were utilized as a non-disease control. Meanwhile, SHRs were randomly divided into three groups: untreated, Valsartan asleep administration (VSA) and Valsartan awake administration (VWA) respectively. The VSA group was treated with valsartan (30 mg/kg/d) after the light onset, while the VWA group was treated with valsartan (30 mg/kg/d) after light offset. Both groups were treated for 6 weeks. Tail artery blood pressure was measured every 4 h via a noninvasive tail cuff blood pressure measurement method. HE and Masson staining were used to evaluate any damage within the target organs. ELISA was used to determine the 24-h plasma renin-angiotensin system (RAS) concentration at 4-h intervals. Results: Based on our findings, VSA significantly reduced 24-h and evening mean BP and restored the abnormal circadian rhythm compared to VWA, which attenuated injuries in the majority of target organs except for the kidneys. Furthermore, VSA was found to activate RAS during the light cycle and inhibit it during the dark cycle. Conversely, VWA was found to deactivate RAS throughout the day which may be related to the circadian BP rhythm. Conclusion: VSA may be more efficacious than VWA in controlling BP, circadian BP rhythm and blood RAS rhythm. Recent cardiovascular outcome investigations substantiate that chronotherapy treatment might be a novel therapeutic strategy for hypertension therapy. Abbreviations: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE); Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs); Angiotensin II (ANG II); Analysis of variance (ANOVA); Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs); Blood Pressure (BP); Calcium Antagonists Calcium Channel Blockers (CCB); Chronic kidney diseases (CKD); Sodium carboxyl methyl cellulose (CMC-Na); Cardiac mass index (CMI); Cardiovascular diseases (CVD); Diastolic blood pressure (DBP); Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E); Kidney mass index (KMI); Liver mass index (LMI); Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP); Plasma renin concentration (PRC); Renin-angiotensin system (RAS); Rennin (REN); Systolic blood pressure (SBP); Student-Newman-Keuls q test (SNK-q test); Spontaneous hypertension rats (SHR); Valsartan asleep Administration (VSA); Valsartan awake Administration (VWA); Wistar-Kyoto (WKY); Mesor (M); Amplitude (A); Phase (φ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study modelled the online environment characteristics and message characteristics that predict news sharing among social media users. This study’s data were obtained from a cross-sectional national survey conducted in Nigeria. Qualtrics was used to recruit data from 1320 participants in Nigeria. The participants were recruited via a stratified quota sampling which reflected the country’s census statistics for gender and age. We found the message characteristics to predict news-sharing behaviour among social media users in Nigeria. By implication, the characteristics of a message encountered online influence the news-sharing behaviour of social media users. We also found that the online environment characteristics predict news-sharing behaviour, which implies that the external factor, that is, the relationship a user has with his network members, predicts sharing behaviour. Some theoretical and practical implications were provided to conclude the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fresh-cut produce yields mechanical damage and limits quality preservation. This research identifies the defence responses of fresh-cut broccoli (W (whole flower), F (floret), QF (quarterly-cut floret), FS (shredded floret)) during storage (0, 1, 2, 3 days) at room temperature. Consequently, changes during storage mainly occurred earlier (day 1), while fresh-cut changes primarily appeared at intense damage (FS). Uniquely accumulated quinic acid, 4-methoxyglucobrassicin, etc. were found in FS, while citric acid and glucose were exceptionally formed in W, F and QF. Importantly, a different glucosinolate breakdown system was identified in broccoli storage, encoded by myrosinases instead of TGGs in the pre-harvest system. Significant changes were also observed in the glucosinolates breakdown and de-novo biosynthesis as regulated by genes like PEN2/3, NIT, MYB122 and CYP81F1. Conclusively, candidate metabolites and genes identified in this study provide a reference for the precise preservation of cruciferous vegetables. • Unique organic acids were identified in different fresh-cut levels. • A new glucosinolate degrading system was discovered in postharvest broccoli. • Chlorogenic acid metabolism response immediately in fresh-cut broccoli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Bioprocessing increased free phenolic content and antioxidant activity of millet. • Bioprocessing led to a large quantity of dextran production in millet. • Dextran presence markedly enhanced dough rheology and bread quality parameters. • Amylopectin recrystallization was significantly hindered by the dextran produced. • Bioprocessing reduced the digestible starch and improved the digestible protein. Abstract The effect of dextran produced in situ by Weissella confusa on the structure and nutrition quality of whole grain pearl millet bread containing 50% of wheat flour was investigated. NMR spectroscopy analysis indicated that the dextran formed by the strain consisted of a α-(1 → 6)-linked linear backbone and 3% α-(1 → 3) branches, and had a molar mass of 3.3 × 106 g/mol. In situ production resulted in 3.5% dextran (DW) which significantly enhanced the dough extensional properties, increased the bread specific volume (∼13%) and decreased crumb firmness (∼43%), moisture loss (∼15%) and staling rate (∼10%), compared to the control millet bread. DSC analysis showed that amylopectin recrystallization was significantly reduced in the bread containing dextran. In situ dextran production altered the nutritional value of millet, leading to increased free phenolic content (∼30%) and antioxidant activity. It also markedly lowered the bread predicted glycemic index and improved in vitro protein digestibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Novel N-doped BiOIO 3 was synthesized by calcining BiOIO 3 and urea. • N-BiOIO 3 exhibited good visible-light absorption. • N-BiOIO 3 showed good electron-hole separation efficiency. • BiOIO 3 can photodegrade Rhodamine B, bisphenol A, tetracycline and ciprofloxacin. • N-BiOIO 3 showed higher photocatalytic activity than BiOIO 3 under LED light. Abstract Novel LED-light-active N-doped BiOIO 3 was synthesized successfully by calcination treatment of the mixture of BiOIO 3 and urea. It gave a fairly easy way to coordinate the control of bandgap engineering. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed the incorporation of nitrogen into the BiOIO 3. In UV–vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy (UV–vis), photocurrent-time measurement (PT) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), the N-doped BiOIO 3 exhibits enhanced visible-light absorption and improved photocurrent response compared to pure-BiOIO 3. The photocatalytic activity of the samples was evaluated via photodegradation of rhodamine B (RhB), bisphenol A (BPA), tetracycline (TC) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) under LED light irradiation. The N-doped BiOIO 3 showed higher photocatalytic activity than pure BiOIO 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zn–air batteries, promising energy storage equipment with high energy density, light weight and a compact structure, are a perfect power source for electric vehicles. For a Zn–air battery, the activity of the air cathode electrocatalyst plays an important role in its performance. Here, employing a coordination polymer as a precursor, a composite material built from Co3O4 and Co–N active centres with nitrogen-doped mesoporous carbon as a matrix has been synthesized successfully. This composite material possesses outstanding activity and stability in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) processes. It possesses a small half-wave potential (ORR1/2 = 0.786 V) and low overpotential (OER10 = 1.575 V) for the ORR and OER, respectively. With this composite material as an air cathode electrocatalyst, a rechargeable Zn–air battery was assembled successfully. During the discharge process, the maximum power density of this Zn–air battery is 122 mW cm−2 at 0.76 V. The specific capacity of this battery is 505 mA h g−1 at 25 mA cm−2. The voltage gap between the charge and discharge processes is only 0.744 V at 10 mA cm−2 and 1.308 V at 100 mA cm−2. This rechargeable battery also shows promising stability after long-term charge–discharge experiments. Furthermore, the composite material also exhibits outstanding microwave adsorption properties. Its maximum reflection loss (RL) arrives at −13.9 dB with a thickness of only 1.0 mm. Thus, we find that coordination polymers are an ideal precursor for Zn–air battery cathode electrocatalysts and microwave absorbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ubiquitin‐specific protease 7 (USP7), a member of the deubiquitinating (DUB) enzyme family, regulates protein stability and has a well‐characterized function in tumorigenesis. Given its critical role in growth and development, it was speculated to be involved in modulating processes in the female reproductive system but its exact role has not been elucidated. Decidualization is one of the key processes in pregnancy and aberrant decidualization is a cause of pregnancy failure. The uterine endometrium layer undergoes significant structural and functional changes during decidualization in preparation for and after embryo implantation. Here, we hypothesized that USP7 could be involved in mediating endometrial stromal cell (ESC) decidualization and set out to determine its function with a primary stromal cell culture. Using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical techniques, we observed increased USP7 expression during uterine decidualization and found that it was predominantly localized to the decidual zone in the post‐implantation uterus. Since the ovarian hormones, progesterone (P4) and estrogen (E2), function in promoting stroma decidualization, we investigated their relationship with USP7 expression and found that they exert minimal influence. Moreover, increased USP7 expression observed during deciduoma development was found to be independent of blastocyst attachment. Using a specific USP7 inhibitor, HBX19818, we demonstrated an additional novel role for USP7 in endometrial stroma decidualization in mice during early pregnancy. Our findings could potentially be applied towards future research and development in female infertility. Ubiquitin‐specific protease 7 (USP7), a 135kDa protein and a member of the DUB family, is known as its critical role in vital intracellular processes such as epigenetic regulation, cell cycle regulation, cell growth and survival. In this study, we demonstrated the spatiotemporal expression of USP7 in the uterus, and found its crucial role during uterine stromal cells decidualization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]