Search

Background: For medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) with no positive findings in the lateral neck before surgery, whether prophylactic lateral neck dissection (LND) is needed remains controversial. A better way to predict occult metastasis in the lateral neck is needed. Methods: From January 2010 to January 2022, patients who were diagnosed with MTC and underwent primary surgery at our hospital were retrospectively reviewed. We collected the patients' baseline characteristics, surgical procedure, and rescored the ultrasound images of the primary lesions using American College of Radiology (ACR) Thyroid Imaging, Reporting and Data System (TI‐RADS). Regularized logistic regression, 5‐fold cross‐validation and decision curve analysis was applied for lateral lymph node metastasis (LLNM) model's development and validation. Then, we tested the predictive ability of the LLNM model for occult LLNM in cN0−1a patients. Results: A total of 218 patients were enrolled. Five baseline characteristics and two TI‐RADS features were identified as high‐risk factors for LLNM: gender, baseline calcitonin (Ctn), tumor size, multifocality, and central lymph node (CLN) status, as well as TI‐RADS margin and level. A LLNM model was developed and showed a good discrimination with 5‐fold cross‐validation mean area under curve (AUC) = 0.92 ± 0.03 in the test dataset. Among cN0−1a patients, our LLNM model achieved an AUC of 0.91 (95% CI, 0.88–0.94) for predicting occult LLNM, which was significantly higher than the AUCs of baseline Ctn (0.83) and CLN status (0.64). Conclusions: We developed a LLNM prediction model for MTC using machine learning based on clinical baseline characteristics and TI‐RADS. Our model can predict occult LLNM for cN0−1a patients more accurately, then benefit the decision of prophylactic LND. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seam tracking technology is an important part of the intelligent welding field. In this paper, a laser vision-based real-time seam tracking system was built. The system consists of a self-developed laser vision sensor, a six-axis robot, a gas metal arc welding system, and an industrial computer. After building the system, the system calibration was performed. During the seam tracking, the arc light, spatter, and other welding noise have a negative impact on the image processing algorithm to extract the weld feature points, and even lead to system drift and algorithm failure. To this end, a two-stage extraction and restoration model (ERM) was proposed for processing real-time welding images to improve the robustness and accuracy of the seam tracking system. In the ERM, the region of interest was first detected and extracted by the YOLOv5s model, then the extracted images were restored by the conditional generation adversarial network. After using the ERM model, a series of image processing was performed to obtain the coordinates of the weld feature points. The total time consumed by the algorithm is 37 ms per frame on average, which meets the real-time requirement. Moreover, the experimental results show that the seam tracking system based on the ERM can achieve real-time tracking for different types of planar V-bevel welds, and the average error is 0.21 mm, which meets the requirements for actual welding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study systematically analyses the nonlinear relationship between China's outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) and reverse green technological progress (RGTP) using fixed effects (FE) model based on panel data for 31 Chinese provinces from 2001 to 2020. We find that the link between China's OFDI and RGTP is an inverted U-shaped curve. In addition, environmental regulation and technology gaps all reduce the height of the inverted U-shaped inflection point. Environmental regulation prolongs the "climb" stage while technology gaps compress the "climb" stage of the inverted U-curve relationship significantly. This result is verified in further robustness tests. The four transmission mechanisms of China's OFDI on RGTP play a positive role: these findings may help policymakers to design more flexible and effective OFDI policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We prepared cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) films with broadband reflective properties by admixing organic dye UV-327 into inorganic zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), utilizing the principle of pitch distribution from a large to a small gradient along the film thickness direction, leading to broadband reflection. ZnO NPs are poorly dispersed and easy to gather, but they do not decompose easily. The addition of UV-327 makes up for the above shortcomings. UV-327 is an organic compound with good compatibility and dispersion with liquid crystal systems. Therefore, we used the method of mixing two UV-absorbing dyes (UV-327 and ZnO NPs) to obtain CLC films. UV-absorbing dyes (UV-327 and ZnO NPs) made the liquid crystal films form a UV intensity gradient in the direction of thickness, prompting the polymerizable monomers to polymerize faster on the stronger side of the light, leading to the relative diffusion of chiral molecules and polymerizable monomers, forming the concentration gradient of chiral molecules in the direction of thickness. The pitch has a gradient distribution as the chiral concentration varies. Then, anchored by the polymer network, the pitch gradient distribution no longer changes. Broadened reflective bandwidth can reach up to 881 nm. Furthermore, the film covers the near-infrared wavelength band well, which can be applied to future smart windows or laser shielding for medical and military applications. It is also believed that this achievement will optimize the preparation technology of broadband reflective CLC films in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors have become a reliable strategy for delivering gene therapies. As rAAV capsid content is known to be heterogeneous, methods for rAAV characterization are critical for assessing the efficacy and safety of drug products. Multiplex digital PCR (dPCR) has emerged as a popular molecular approach for characterizing capsid content due to its high level of throughput, accuracy, and replicability. Despite growing popularity, tools to accurately analyze multiplexed data are scarce. Here, we introduce a novel statistical model to estimate genome integrity from duplex dPCR assays. This work demonstrates that use of a Poisson-multinomial mixture distribution significantly improves the accuracy and quantifiable range of duplex dPCR assays over currently available models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatment guidelines recommend integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI)-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens for treatment naïve people living with HIV (PLWH) in the United States (US). This retrospective database study compared weight changes following initiation of INSTI-, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-, or protease inhibitor (PI)-based ART in treatment-naïve PLWH. Adult (≥18 years) PLWH initiated on INSTI, NNRTI, or PI plus ≥2 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) between 1 January 2014 to 31 August 2019 were identified in IQVIA's Ambulatory Electronic Medical Records (AEMR) linked to prescription drug claims (LRx). Weight changes over up to 36 months (M) of follow-up were compared among PLWH on INSTI- vs. NNRTI- and PI-based ART separately using non-linear mixed effect models, adjusting for demographics and baseline clinical characteristics. The INSTI, NNRTI, and PI cohorts included 931, 245, and 124 PLWH, respectively. For all three cohorts, the majority were male (78.2–81.2%) and overweight/obese (53.6–61.6%) at baseline; 40.8–45.2% of the groups were African American. The INSTI vs. NNRTI/PI cohorts were younger (median age: 38 years vs. 44 years/46 years), had lower weight at ART initiation (mean: 80.9 kg vs. 85.7 kg/85.0 kg), and had higher TAF usage during follow-up (55.6% vs. 24.1%/25.8%; all p <.05). Multivariate models showed higher weight gain among PLWH in INSTI vs. NNRTI and PI cohorts during treated follow-up (estimated weight gain after 36 M: 7.1 kg vs. 3.8 kg and 3.8 kg, both p <.05). Study findings highlight the need to monitor an increase in weight and potential metabolic complications among PLWH starting ART with INSTI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the effects of proteins on the properties of soy protein concentrate‐based meat analogs under high‐moisture extrusion conditions. The rheological properties of soy protein concentration‐sodium alginate (SPC‐SA) and soy protein isolate‐SPC‐SA (SPI‐SPC‐SA), pea protein isolate‐SPC‐SA (PPI‐SPC‐SA), and zein‐SPC‐SA were evaluated, and the texture properties, microstructure, water absorption, and cooking properties of the resulting protein–meat analogs were characterized after addition of the protein raw materials. Results obtained indicated that the raw material containing 30% SPI had the best viscoelasticity, and the hardness and chewiness of resulting meat analog analogs were the highest when 30% SPI was added, along with the largest volume and best water absorption after cooking. The degree of texturization and toughness of meat analogs were the highest when PPI and zein were 30 and 50%, respectively. Results from this study showed that the texture properties of soy protein concentrate‐based meat analogs were improved by adding proteins to raw material, thus providing a theoretical basis for further development of soy protein concentrate‐based meat analogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composed of a fluidic and an optical system, flow cytometry has been widely used for biosensing. The fluidic flow enables its automatic high-throughput sample loading and sorting while the optical system works for molecular detection by fluorescence for micron-level cells and particles. This technology is quite powerful and highly developed; however, it requires a sample in the form of a suspension and thus only works in vitro. In this study, we report a simple scheme to construct a flow cytometry based on a confocal microscope without any modifications. We demonstrate that line scanning of microscopy can effectively excite fluorescence of flowing microbeads or cells in a capillary tube in vitro and in blood vessels of live mice in vivo. This method can resolve microbeads at several microns and the results are comparable to a classic flow cytometer. The absolute diameter of flowing samples can be indicated directly. The sampling limitations and variations of this method is carefully analyzed. This scheme can be easily accomplished by any commercial confocal microscope systems, expands the function of them, and is of promising potential for simultaneous confocal microscopy and in vivo detection of cells in blood vessels of live animals by a single system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fabrication of transparent or pore‐free oxide ceramics usually requires sintering in a vacuum or reducing atmosphere. In the present paper, a near‐infrared transparent Dy2Zr2O7 ceramic was prepared by ordinary pressureless sintering under the air atmosphere, with a controlled pre‐calcining of raw powders process. The key point of the process is to control the content of the phases by pre‐calcination of the starting mixture of ZrO2 and Dy2O3 powders. The influence of pre‐calcining temperature on the content of phases, the particle sizes, on the sinterability of the mixture of Dy2O3 and ZrO2 powders has been investigated. It was found that when the pre‐calcination was conducted at 1200°C for 2 h, the powder contains 4 mol% Dy2Zr2O7, 18 mol% m‐ZrO2, 30 mol% Dy2O3, and about 50 mol% t/c‐ZrO2 which is beneficial for the sintering of pore‐free Dy2Zr2O7 ceramics. The mechanism is discussed in the paper. The transparency of the sintered Dy2Zr2O7 ceramic was measured, and their transmittance is about 63% at 1450 nm and 73% at 1900 nm. This work provides a simple and convenient way to prepare the near‐infrared transparency ceramic without special sintering facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • CO 2 exhibits distinct binding characteristics onto lattice and non-stoichiometric oxygen on unsupported NiO catalysts. • Surface non-stoichiometric and lattice oxygens are quantified by analyzing adsorption isotherm data. • CO 2 titrates only non-stoichiometric, not lattice oxygen, under reaction conditions. • Non-stoichiometric oxygen containing sites are (on average) more active and selective than lattice oxygen sites. Catalytic implications of local deviations from nominal oxide stoichiometry remain critical to consider yet challenging to elucidate in the context of bulk oxide-mediated light alkane oxidation reactions, in part due to a lack of a priori knowledge of surface active oxygen site counts. Carbonate dimorphism, i.e., differences in carbonate speciation resulting from CO 2 adsorption onto unsupported nickel oxide surfaces, can be exploited toward quantifying the surface density of lattice and excess oxygens, and to further deconvolute their respective contributions toward specific steps within the ethane oxidation reaction network. Density functional theory, volumetric gas sorption, in situ titration, in situ spectroscopy, and transient kinetic data interpreted in light of quantitative estimates of surface excess oxygen density confirm the involvement of excess oxygen in partial oxidative turnovers producing ethene from ethane and O 2. These collective studies cast a more nuanced interpretation of site requirements pertaining to nickel oxide-mediated alkane oxidation. Our findings reveal that excess oxygen atoms can be titrated under reaction conditions, and that these sites are (on average) more selective to ethene than lattice oxygens. Tools and methodologies employed herein connect seemingly disparate elements of bulk oxide catalysis research – the need for quantitative estimates of oxide surface non-stoichiometry on the one hand, and the propensity of unsupported oxides toward carbonate formation on the other – and provide a template for the possible broader application of quantitative analyses of probe-molecule binding characteristics toward elucidation of active site density and speciation in catalytic partial oxidation reaction systems of commercial relevance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real-time tracking welding with the assistance of structured light vision enhances the intelligence of robotic welding, which significantly shortens teaching time and guarantees accuracy for user-customized product welding. However, the robustness of most image processing algorithms is deficient during welding practice, and the security regime for tracking welding is not considered in most trajectory recognition and control algorithms. For these two problems, an adaptive feature extraction algorithm was proposed, which can accurately extract the seam center from the continuous, discontinuous or fluctuating laser stripes identified and located by the CNN model, while the prior model can quickly remove a large amount of noise and interference except the stripes, greatly improving the extraction accuracy and processing speed of the algorithm. Additionally, the embedded Pauta criterion was used to segmentally process the center point data stream and to cyclically eliminate outliers and further ensure the accuracy of the welding reference point. Experimental results showed that under the guarantee of the above-mentioned seam center point extraction and correction algorithms, the tracking average error was 0.1 mm, and even if abnormal trajectory points existed, they did not cause welding torch shaking, system interruption or other accidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Forty PaCRKs have been identified from sweet cherry and overexpression PaCRK1 in sweet cherry enhances its resistance to salt stress. Cysteine-rich receptor-like kinases (CRKs), a large subgroup of the receptor-like kinases, play an important role in plant development and stress response. However, knowledge about CRKs and its function against adverse environmental stresses in sweet cherry were lacking. In this study, 40 PaCRKs were identified from sweet cherry (Prunus avium) genome database. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that PaCRKs could be classified into six subgroups. Transcriptome analysis showed that the expression levels of most PaCRKs were changed under external environmental stresses. Functional study showed that PaCRK1 overexpression could enhance Arabidopsis and sweet cherry tolerance to salt stress. Moreover, biochemical analysis showed that PaCRK1 increased salt tolerance of sweet cherry by regulating the expression of antioxidation-related genes and their enzyme activities. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of PaCRKs in sweet cherry and elucidates the potential role of PaCRKs in response to various environmental stimuli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical cyclone (TC) intensity has been shown to have limited predictability in numerical weather prediction models; therefore, ensemble forecasting may be critical. An ensemble prediction system (EPS) should ideally cover all sources of uncertainty; however, most meso- and convective-scale EPSs typically consider initial-condition uncertainty alone, with limited treatment of model uncertainty, even though the evolution of mesoscale features is highly dependent on uncertain parameterization schemes. The role of stochastic treatment of model error in the Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting (HWRF) EPS is evaluated by applying independent stochastically perturbed parameterization (iSPPT) scheme to individual parameterization schemes for four TCs from 2017 to 2018. Experiments with Hurricane Irma (2017) indicate that TC intensity ensemble standard deviation is most sensitive to the amplitude of the stochastic perturbation field, with smaller impact from adjusting the decorrelation time scale and spatial length scale. Results from all four TC cases show that stochastic perturbations to the turbulent mixing scheme can increase the ensemble standard deviation in intensity metrics over a 72-h simulation without introducing significant differences in mean error or bias. By contrast, stochastic perturbations to the microphysics, radiation, and cumulus tendencies have negligible effects on intensity standard deviation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Homocysteine is an amino acid present in plasma, which is an important intermediate product in the metabolism of methionine and cysteine. Acute cerebral infarction (CI) is called acute CI of stroke. It is one of the most common diseases in neurology and has a serious impact, affecting people's lives. This article is aimed at studying the effect of data mining algorithms based on medical big data and the improved apriori algorithm on the analysis of the correlation between collateral compensation and homocysteine levels in patients with acute CI. This article proposes that there are many factors in patients with acute CI, among which are collateral compensation and homocysteine levels that are not easily determined. From the data in the tables in the experiment of this article, it can be seen that the collateral circulation of patients with acute CI is 8%, and the collateral circulation of patients without acute CI is 35%. The results indicate that both collateral compensation and homocysteine levels affect patients with acute CI. The higher the homocysteine level, the greater the probability of acute CI, and the better the state of collateral circulation, the less likely it is to suffer from acute CI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photoperiod sensitivity is crucial for soybean flowering, adaptation, and yield. In soybean, photoperiod sensitivity centers around the evening complex (EC) that regulates the transcriptional level of the core transcription factor E1, thereby regulating flowering. However, little is known about the regulation of the activity of EC. Our study identifies how E2/GIGANTEA (GI) and its homologs modulate photoperiod sensitivity through interactions with the EC. During long days, E2 interacts with the blue-light receptor flavin-binding, kelch repeat, F box 1 (FKF1), leading to the degradation of J/ELF3, an EC component. EC also suppresses E2 expression by binding to its promoter. This interplay forms a photoperiod regulatory loop, maintaining sensitivity to photoperiod. Disruption of this loop leads to losing sensitivity, affecting soybean's adaptability and yield. Understanding this loop's dynamics is vital for molecular breeding to reduce soybean's photoperiod sensitivity and develop cultivars with better adaptability and higher yields, potentially leading to the creation of photoperiod-insensitive varieties for broader agricultural applications. [Display omitted] • E2 and FKF1 form a complex to degrade evening complex component J • LUX and J bind to E2 gene body to inhibit its transcription • E2 and EC are crucial members in regulating photoperiod sensitivity Photoperiod sensitivity, essential for crop adaptation and productivity, is regulated in soybean by a feedback mechanism demonstrated by Zhao et al. where E2 and FKF1 degrade the evening complex, and the evening complex suppresses E2 transcription. This feedback loop is critical for establishing soybean's sensitivity to photoperiod. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Recent studies have explored the prognostic role of the C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) in patients with bile duct cancer (BTC), but the results have been inconsistent. This study aimed to provide insight into the prognostic significance of the CAR in BTC prior to treatment using a meta-analysis. Summarized hazard ratios (HRs) or odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for prognosis and clinicopathological features using fixed or random effects models. Fourteen studies with a total of 1,543 subjects were included in this meta-analysis. Elevated CAR was significantly associated with poor overall survival (HR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.81–2.60, P < 0.001) and decreased disease-free survival or recurrence-free survival (HR = 2.53, 95% CI = 1.98–3.25, P < 0.001) in BTC. In addition, high CAR was significantly associated with the presence of lymph node metastasis (OR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.12– 2.13, P = 0.008), bile duct invasion (OR = 2.64, 95% CI = 1.54–4.54, P < 0.001), and tumor stages III–IV (OR = 3.11, 95% CI = 1.05–9.20, P = 0.040). However, there was no significant association between CAR and sex, microvascular invasion, or resection. An elevated CAR was significantly related to worse long-term and short-term survival and advanced clinicopathological features of BTC. CAR could serve as a valuable, noninvasive prognostic marker in patients with BTC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Mach 5 boundary layer transition flow induced by distributed roughness elements of ramp shape is studied using implicit large eddy simulation. Wall blowing/suction is introduced into the boundary layer with different values of frequency and amplitude for the investigation of its effect mechanism on the transition process dominated by the influences of distributed roughness elements. The wall blowing/suction disturbances with frequencies close to the fundamental mode, derived by linear stability theory (LST) analysis of local profiles, are shown to lead to an upstream shift of the transition location, which is strongly relevant to the disturbance growth in the sharp shear layer induced by the roughness elements, with a greater amplitude causes a more notable acceleration of the transition. As for those with frequencies further away from the fundamental mode, the control efficiencies are inapparent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study examined MDD treatment regimens received during the first observed and treated major depressive episode (MDE) among US veterans.Methods: This retrospective study, conducted using the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) database, supplemented with Medicare Part A/B/D data, included adults with ≥1 MDD diagnosis (index date) between 10/1/2015-2/28/2017 and ≥1 line of therapy (LOT) within the first observed complete MDE. Patient baseline (6-month pre-index) characteristics and up to six LOTs received during the first observed and treated MDE were assessed.Results: Of 40,240 veterans with MDD identified (mean age: 50.9 years, 83.9% male, 63.4% White, 88.6% non-Hispanic), hypertension (27.5%), hyperlipidemia (20.8%), and post-traumatic stress disorder (17.5%) were the most common baseline comorbidities. During the first observed and treated MDE, patients received a mean of 1.6 ± 1.0 LOTs, with 14.6% of patients receiving ≥3 LOTs. SSRI-monotherapy was the most commonly observed regimen in the first six LOTs, followed by SNRI-monotherapy in LOT 1 and antidepressants augmented by anticonvulsants in the remaining five LOTs. The antidepressant class of the previous LOT was commonly used in the subsequent LOT. SSRI-SSRI-SSRI was the most common LOT1-to-LOT3 sequencing pattern among patients receiving ≥3 LOTs.Limitations: The study findings are limited to data in the VHA database and may not be generalizable to the non-veteran US population.Conclusions: During the first observed and treated MDE, SSRI-monotherapy was the most common therapy in the first six LOTs. Cycling within SSRI class was the leading sequencing pattern of the first three LOTs among veterans who received ≥3 LOTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To further understand the mechanisms of muramyl dipeptide (MDP) sensing by NOD2, we evaluated key properties involved in the formation of the Arf6–MDP–NOD2 complex in mammalian cells. We found that the conserved Arf aromatic triad is crucial for binding to MDP–NOD2. Mutation of Arf6 N-myristoylation and NOD2 S-palmitoylation also abrogated the formation of the Arf6–MDP–NOD2 complex. Notably, lipid-modified MDP (L18-MDP) increased Arf6–NOD2 assembly. Our results indicate recruitment of Arf6 may explain enhanced activity of lipidated MDP analogues and membrane targeting may be important in developing next-generation NOD2 agonists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the pressure‐induced emission enhancement paradigms, harvesting enhanced emission on the basis of original color is still largely hampered due to the recovery or decrement of emission intensity upon decompression. Here, a pressure‐treated strategy is reported to achieve the remarkable green emission enhancement of organic–inorganic metal halide (OIMH) [PP14]2[MnBr4] (N‐butyl‐N‐methylpiperidinium [PP14]+) at ambient conditions. After a cycle of 1 atm to 15.2 GPa, the [PP14]2[MnBr4] shows a 1.67‐fold enhancement in the photoluminescence quantum yield from 54.5% to 90.8%, and green emission monochromaticity is unexpectedly retained. The restriction of motion freedom of [MnBr4]2− by increased Br···H interactions is highly responsible for the intense emission. Furthermore, [PP14]2[MnBr4] exhibits significant piezochromism that shifts from green to red, and an ultrabroad tunability of 185 nm is observed below 12.5 GPa. The enhancement of the crystal field splitting energy and the reduction of the relaxation from the low‐energy excited state 4T1 to the ground state 6A1 that is caused by the shrinkage of MnBr bond result in the red shift of emission. This work sheds light on the effects of pressure treatment in boosting emission enhancement and facilitates the design of new OIMHs with the desired emission properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: In this paper, we explore if Donald Trump's electoral success in 2016 led to heightened levels of stress for sexual harassment survivors. Methods: Logistic regression models predicting voter stress using original survey data collected in the weeks following the 2016 election were utilized. Results: We find that women survivors of sexual harassment experienced elevated stres when compared to women who were never harassed. Conclusion: Female survivors of sexual harassment may be concerned that their well‐being was under attack due to the triumph of hostile sexism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Improving potato productivity and quality plays an important role in enhancing global food security and human health. However, inappropriate fertilizer management negatively affects potato growth and tuber development, especially in developing countries where there are large numbers of smallholders without modern soil testing equipment. Nutrient Expert (NE), a new and convenient fertilization decision system, was evaluated in the present study by conducting four site‐years field experiments in Northeast China, aiming to determine its effectiveness and applicability for potato production relative to local farmers' practice (FP) and fertilizer recommendation based on soil testing (ST). RESULTS: The excessive fertilization at planting promoted seedling growth for potato plants in FP. Nevertheless, superior plant growth and tuber development were observed in NE at the middle and later growing stages, by optimizing fertilizer input and implementing split fertilization. Overall, compared to FP, the NE system increased total and marketable tuber yields by 12–15% and 16–26%, respectively, at the same time as obtaining 19–31% higher net returns and enhanced fertilizer use efficiencies. Moreover, NE improved tuber quality by increasing the contents of starch, soluble protein and vitamin C and decreasing reducing sugar content relative to FP, as well as increasing starch yields by 23–52%. The ST method also showed comprehensive improvements in potato performances compared to FP, although it did not show any advantages compared to NE system. CONCLUSION: The NE system improved potato productivity and tuber quality by optimizing fertilization management, which is an effective and promising alternative to the ST method for potato production in China and other developing countries. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) alternatives, hexafluoropropylene oxide dimeric acid (HFPO-DA) and hexafluoropropylene oxide trimeric acid (HFPO-TA) have been increasingly used and caused considerable water pollution. However, their toxicities to aquatic organisms are still not well known. Therefore, in this study, zebrafish embryos were exposed to PFOA (0, 1.5, 3 and 6 mg/L), HFPO-DA (0, 3, 6 and 12 mg/L) and HFPO-TA (0, 1, 2 and 4 mg/L) to comparatively investigate their thyroid disrupting effects and the developmental toxicity. Results demonstrated that waterborne exposure to PFOA and its two alternatives decreased T4 contents, the heart rate and swirl-escape rate of zebrafish embryos/larvae. The transcription levels of genes related to thyroid hormone regulation (crh), biosynthesis (tpo and tg), function (trα and trβ), transport (transthyretin, ttr), and metabolism (dio1 , dio2 and ugt1ab), were differently altered after the exposures, which induced the thyroid disrupting effects and decreased the heart rate. In addition, the transcription levels of some genes related to the nervous system development were also significantly affected, which was associated with the thyroid disrupting effects and consequently affected the locomotor activity of zebrafish. Therefore, HFPO-DA and HFPO-TA could not be safe alternatives to PFOA. Further studies to uncover the underlying mechanisms of these adverse effects are warranted. [Display omitted] • PFOA, HFPO-DA and HFPO-TA decreased T4 contents and the heart rate of zebrafish. • These PFASs caused thyroid disrupting effects in zebrafish. • These PFASs significantly altered expression of some genes related to the HPT axis. • These PFASs inhibited the swirl-escape rate of zebrafish larvae. • These PFASs also affected expression of genes related to the nervous development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unexpected success of China's PV industry in technology catch-up has been noted. However, existing research has overlooked the multidimensional nonlinear complexities in its underlying mechanisms. This study introduces the "Seven-Element Diamond Model" theoretical framework and employs machine learning (ML) methods to address this. Using observed data from 84 listed China's PV companies from 2000 to 2021, we systematically examine the intricate mechanisms of technology catch-up in China's PV industry. Key findings include: 1) The self-enhancing mechanism stemming from R&D effort, government subsidies, and domestic demand is pivotal for the successful technology catch-up of China's PV industry. 2) Key regulatory directions are identified from R&D effort to market competition, technology spillover, productivity, and government subsidies. 3) R&D effort forms the underlying logic of China's PV industry technology catch-up, and domestic market demand is an extremely important driver for China's PV technology catch-up. Government subsidies exhibit a "blowout" incentive effect, and the synergistic coupling between key variables is also significant in driving China's PV technology catch-up. This study offers valuable insights into the catch-up of clean energy or sustainable technologies in China and other emerging economies. [Display omitted] • Constructed the theoretical framework of the Seven-Element Diamond Model. • The self-reinforcing mechanism among R&D efforts, government subsidies, and domestic demand are investigated. • Key regulatory directions from R&D efforts to market competitiveness, technology spillovers, productivity, and government subsidies are identified. • R&D efforts are the underlying logic of China's photovoltaic industry technology catch-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Studied the weldability of 304 CMT additive manufacturing stainless steel successfully. • Welding along the traveling direction can obtain welded joints with better performance. • Welding along the traveling direction, ∂ 1 = 0.919, ∂ 2 = 0.869, and the elongation is 37.7 % after welding. In this study, 304 stainless steel thin-wall component were obtained by wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) as one of the methods of additive manufacturing. In view of the limits that the WAAM technology can not produce large and complex components at one time, TIG welding was chosen during secondary processing to achieve the effectively connection. Weldability, microstructure, texture strength and mechanical properties were particularly investigated when welding along the traveling and building direction. The results show that welding along the traveling direction gained better performance weld joints than building direction including higher tensile and yield strength, greater elongation and lower texture strength. Besides, the grain orientation changed from [0 0 1] before welding to [1 1 1] after welding in both traveling and building direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interpreting the biogeographic distribution and underlying mechanisms of functional traits not only contributes to revealing the spatiotemporal dynamics of species biodiversity but also helps to maintain ecological stability during environmental variations. However, little is known about the functional profiles of diatom communities over large river systems. Herein, we provided the first blueprints about the spatiotemporal distributions and driving forces of functional traits for both planktonic and sedimentary diatoms over the 6030 km continuum of the Yangtze River, with the help of the high-throughput sequencing and functional identification. By investigating the 28 functional traits affiliated into five categories, we found that planktonic diatom functions showed clearer landform-heterogeneity patterns (ANOSIM R = 0.336) than sedimentary functions (ANOSIM R = 0.172) along the river, represented by life-forms and ecological-guilds prominent in water-plateau as well as cell-sizes and life-forms particularly in sediment-plateau. Planktonic diatom functions also displayed higher richness and network complexity in plateau (richness: 58.70 ± 9.30, network edges: 65) than in non-plateau regions (23.82 ± 13.16, 16), promoting the stability and robustness of diatom functions against the high-radiation and low-temperature plateau environment. Environmental selection (mainly exerted by PAR, UV, and Tw) played crucial roles in determining the functional variations of planktonic diatoms (explaining 80.5%) rather than sedimentary diatoms (14.5%) between plateau and non-plateau regions. Meanwhile, planktonic diatom traits within life-forms were identified to be well responsive to the ecological environment quality (r = 0.56–0.60, P < 0.001) in the Yangtze. This study provided comprehensive insights into the multifunctionality of diatoms and their responses to environmental disturbance and environment quality, which helps to develop effective strategies for maintaining ecological stability in changing river environments. [Display omitted] • Diatoms exhibited strong relationships between taxonomy and function. • Planktonic diatom functions showed clearer landform-heterogeneity patterns. • Planktonic diatom functions displayed higher richness and complexity in plateau. • Planktonic diatom functions were more related to environmental selection. • Planktonic diatom functions well responded to the ecological environment quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A new method based on the extreme low heat input was employed to repair the TC4. • The arc was only used to melt the wire and not acted directly on the substrate. • Lower thickness of the HAZ than reported methods was obtained. • The repaired layer exhibited higher hardness than the substrate after repairing. An innovative wire arc additive repair approach based on the extreme low heat input was proposed to repair the defect of Ti-6Al-4 V in this study. Arc was ignited between the tungsten electrode and hydrocooling Cu pipe over the substrate, avoiding arc acting on the substrate directly and resulting in a smaller heat affected zone (HAZ) and finer grains. While the top and middle region of repaired layer exhibited coarser grains with α and α' martensite phases owing to the lower heat dissipation rate. Note that the thickness of HAZ was much lower than reported methods. And the hardness near fusion line was higher than other regions, attributed to the finer grains. The substrate was only affected by the molten droplet and little arc heat during repairing process, minimizing the thermal influence on the substrate. This study provided a novel perspective for wire arc additive repair technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Multifunctional textiles can be used as piezoelectric sensor and photodetector. • The piezoelectric sensor offers excellent sensitivity (1–10 kPa: 1.27 V/kPa). • The sensor can be applied to human health monitoring and voice recognition. • The photodetector is sensitive to sunlight tracking. In recent years, multifunctional sensors have attracted significant attention due to their ability to detect different types of signals. However, it still remains a challenge to develop flexible materials with multiple sensing functions. Herein, we propose a strategy to fabricate multifunctional flexible textiles (PCP) that can apply piezoelectric and piezo-phototronic effects to self-powered piezoelectric sensor and photodetector (PD) by utilizing the synergistic effect of polydopamine-coated cerium oxide (CeO 2 @PDA) nanoparticles and poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF). The CeO 2 @PDA nanoparticles served as local nucleating agents and photosensitizers for the PVDF, enhancing the polar crystalline phase and inducing piezoelectric effect, semiconductor, and optical process coupling in PCP textiles. The piezoelectric sensors consisting of PCP textiles produced extremely high sensitivity (1–10 kPa: 1.27 V/kPa; 10–50 kPa: 0.085 V/kPa; 50–100 kPa: 0.02 V/kPa) and significant electrical output (25.5 V and 0.37 μA). Besides, the piezoelectric sensor had extensive applications including pulse wave measurement, limb motion detection, and active voice recognition. It's especially noteworthy that the PD based on PCP textiles is sensitive for the detecting of sunlight illumination as confirmed by response time (t On = 2 s and t Off = 4.6 s). Meanwhile, the fabricated self-powered PD showed significant improvement in output current, confirming the realization of the piezo-phototronic effect in PCP textiles. In this work, the low-cost and high-efficiency multifunctional sensing materials were successfully prepared, providing a novel approach for the next generation of self-powered piezoelectric sensors and photodetectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ulva prolifera has been identified as the dominant species of the world's largest green tides occurring in the Yellow Sea, China, using the molecular markers of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and 5S ribosomal DNA (5S rDNA). In this study, these two markers were successfully located on the chromosomes of U. prolifera using the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique. The ITS rDNA probe was localized on chromosome number 1 of gametophytes and the 5S rDNA probe appeared on chromosome number 6. Dual-colour FISH was also performed, and the locations of the two markers were consistent with single-colour localization, indicating a precise gene location. The localization of these rDNAs using the FISH technique facilitated the identification of individual chromosomes and a karyotype analysis of Ulva, which is beneficial for understanding the blooming mechanism of green tides in the Yellow Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), herein China, was without involving the suburban communities, where the awareness of MCI still remains extremely weak.Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the prevalence of MCI in the Chinese residents aged ≥65 in the suburban communities of Shanghai, China, and study the awareness of MCI in terms of its symptom, prevention, and intervention.Methods: A total of 925 suburban community residents aged ≥65 were evaluated with a series of clinical examinations and scale questionnaire, and 600 participated in a five-dimension questionnaire survey pertaining to the awareness of MCI.Results: The prevalence of MCI was up to 29.8% and of dementia was 11.1%, respectively. A difference was observed among the three groups of dementia, MCI, and normal in each dimension of age, gender, education, being widowed, and living with the next generation (P < 0.05). The degree of cognitive impairment was linearly correlated with age (P < 0.001). The prevalence of MCI was higher in the females (P < 0.001), in the group of low educational level (P < 0.001), in the widowed residents (P < 0.01), and in those who did not live with their next generations (P < 0.01). The family's concern for MCI symptoms in the elderly accounted for 60%; the awareness rate of MCI symptoms, 25.5%; the awareness rate of MCI prevention, 15.5%; and the rate of taking MCI seniors to the doctor, 32%.Conclusions: The prevalence of MCI in the suburban communities of Shanghai was high but the awareness of MCI was low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant and animal intracellular nucleotide-binding and leucine-rich repeat (NLR) receptors play important roles in sensing pathogens and activating defense signaling. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the activation of host defense signaling by NLR proteins remain largely unknown. Many studies have determined that the coil–coil (CC) or Toll and interleukin-1 receptor/resistance protein (TIR) domain of NLR proteins and their dimerization/oligomerization are critical for activating downstream defense signaling. In this study, we demonstrated that, in tomato, the nucleotide-binding (NB) domain Sw-5b NLR alone can activate downstream defense signaling, leading to elicitor-independent cell death. Sw-5b NB domains can self-associate, and this self-association is crucial for activating cell death signaling. The self-association was strongly compromised after the introduction of a K568R mutation into the P-loop of the NB domain. Consequently, the NBK568R mutant induced cell death very weakly. The NBCΔ20 mutant lacking the C-terminal 20 amino acids can self-associate but cannot activate cell death signaling. The NBCΔ20 mutant also interfered with wild-type NB domain self-association, leading to compromised cell death induction. By contrast, the NBK568R mutant did not interfere with wild-type NB domain self-association and its ability to induce cell death. Structural modeling of Sw-5b suggests that NB domains associate with one another and likely participate in oligomerization. As Sw-5b-triggered cell death is dependent on helper NLR proteins, we propose that the Sw-5b NB domain acts as a nucleation point for the assembly of an oligomeric resistosome, probably by recruiting downstream helper partners, to trigger defense signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air plasma sprayed yttria‐stabilized zirconia thermal barrier coatings are widely applied in gas turbines and aviation engines, which usually contain multifarious and multiscale defects, such as pores, cracks, and amorphous layers. They all significantly lower the thermal conductivity of the coating but in drastically different ways depending on their morphologies and orientations. Establishing an accurate correlation between the microstructure and the thermal conductivity requires not only a precise separation and estimation of different kinds of defects but also a reasonable mathematic model to describe their effect on thermal conductivity. In this research, cross‐section ion polishing and image analysis were chosen as a reliable assembly for characterizing multifarious defects of porous coatings, which was almost undamaged compared with the traditionally mechanical polishing. The effect of different microscale defects on the thermal conductivity was respectively and quantitatively studied to build a mathematical model. A thermal resistance induced by amorphous layers was introduced into the model, which was found to have a linear relationship with the amorphous layer concentration. It was also found a linear relationship between the amorphous layer concentration and the spraying times. The predicted thermal conductivity of porous coatings by multifarious‐defect‐concerned model fits the data measured using the steady heat flow method very well. This research confirms the applicability of image‐analysis‐based modeling as a simple, reliable, and versatile method for thermal conductivity prediction of porous coating systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessment of the endometrium often necessitates a biopsy, which currently involves an invasive, transcervical procedure. Here, we present an alternative technique based on deriving organoids from menstrual flow. We demonstrate that organoids can be derived from gland fragments recovered from menstrual flow. To confirm they faithfully reflect the in vivo state we compared organoids derived from paired scratch biopsies and ensuing menstrual flow from patients undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF). We demonstrate that the two sets of organoids share the same transcriptome signature, derivation efficiency and proliferation rate. Furthermore, they respond similarly to sex steroids and early-pregnancy hormones, with changes in morphology, receptor expression, and production of 'uterine milk' proteins that mimic those during the late-secretory phase and early pregnancy. This technique has wide-ranging impact for non-invasive investigation and personalised approaches to treatment of common gynaecological conditions, such as endometriosis, and reproductive disorders, including failed implantation after IVF and recurrent miscarriage. Tereza Cindrova-Davies et al. present a method for deriving endometrial organoids using menstrual flow collected from women. The approach shows promise as a personalised and non-invasive way to investigate gynaecological conditions such as endometriosis and failed implantation following IVF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alterations in maternal physiological adaptation during pregnancy lead to complications, including abnormal birthweight and gestational diabetes. Maternal adaptations are driven by placental hormones, although the full identity of these is lacking. This study unbiasedly characterized the secretory output of mouse placental endocrine cells and examined whether these data could identify placental hormones important for determining pregnancy outcome in humans. Secretome and cell peptidome analyses were performed on cultured primary trophoblast and fluorescence-activated sorted endocrine trophoblasts from mice and a placental secretome map was generated. Proteins secreted from the placenta were detectable in the circulation of mice and showed a higher relative abundance in pregnancy. Bioinformatic analyses showed that placental secretome proteins are involved in metabolic, immune and growth modulation, are largely expressed by human placenta and several are dysregulated in pregnancy complications. Moreover, proof-of-concept studies found that secreted placental proteins (sFLT1/MIF and ANGPT2/MIF ratios) were increased in women prior to diagnosis of gestational diabetes. Thus, placental secretome analysis could lead to the identification of new placental biomarkers of pregnancy complications. Napso et al. identify proteins from mouse placental endocrine cells and create a comprehensive secretome map of the placenta. The authors compare this secretome map with human placental datasets from women with pregnancy complications and demonstrate the utility of this method in identifying placental protein candidates and transcription factors that could be useful as biomarkers for pregnancy complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Telemental health (TMH) is a promising approach to increase access to mental healthcare. This study examined the TMH adoption rates and associations with facility- and state-level factors among US mental health (MH) facilities.Methods: This retrospective, cross-sectional study used linked data for 2016 from the National Mental Health Services Survey (N = 11,833), Area Health Resources File, and national reports for broadband access and telehealth policies. The associations of facility and state-level characteristics with TMH adoption were examined with multi-level logistic regressions.Results: Overall, 25.9% had used TMH. Having veteran affiliation [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 18.53, 95% Confidence Interval (95%CI): 10.66-32.21] and greater Information Technology (IT) capacity [AOR(95%CI): 2.89(2.10-3.98)] were the strongest correlates of TMH adoption. Other facility characteristics associated with higher likelihood of TMH adoption were: public ownership, high patient volumes, having comprehensive MH treatments or Quality Improvement practices, having private or non-Medicaid public payers, and treating elderly patients (AORs: 1.16-2.41). TMH adoption was less likely among facilities treating more African Americans or patients with substance abuse disorders. TMH adoption varied substantially across states, with adoption more likely in states issuing special telehealth licences and those with more rural counties.Discussion: One in four MH facilities adopted TMH in 2016. TMH adoption varied by multiple facility- and state-level factors. Our findings suggest that: legal/regulatory burden and lower facility IT capacity may discourage TMH adoption; significant racial disparities exist in TMH adoption; and there is a need to increase TMH use for substance abuse disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frequency dynamics during primary frequency control is closely related to pre-disturbance operating conditions, the disturbance, and equipment characteristics. How to rigorously express such a relation in a frequency stability constrained optimal dispatch problem is still an open question. This paper presents an optimal power flow (OPF) model for generation re-dispatch that considers dynamic frequency response constraints to ensure frequency stability during primary frequency regulation. The distinct feature of the model is that the dynamic frequency response is formulated as a set of differential algebraic equations (DAEs), which allows considering the transient behavior of frequency and mechanical/electromagnetic power for each generator during primary frequency control period. Based on the solution of the optimization problem, a definition of the primary reserve for each unit is proposed according to the maximum of incremental mechanical power. This definition helps meet the adequacy requirement of primary frequency response and achieve partial frequency restoration. Simulation results on WSCC 3-machine 9-bus system, New England 10-machine 39-bus system and the modified IEEE 54-machine 118-bus system validate the effectiveness of the proposed model and reveal the strong coupling between frequency dynamics and the pre-disturbance generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constructing a highly efficient and stable photocatalyst is a promising strategy to protect the environment. In this work, we creatively synthesized a novel CdS/Bi4NbO8Cl heterostructured photocatalyst by in situ hydrothermal method. By using ciprofloxacin as target antibiotic residue pollutant, it is found that the CdS/Bi4NbO8Cl shows improved photocatalytic efficiency compared to bare CdS or Bi4NbO8Cl, and the photocatalytic activity of CdS/Bi4NbO8Cl with the molar ratio of 0.3 is the highest, reaching about 90%. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and transmission electron microscope were employed to study the composition, morphology, and structure of the composite photocatalysts, while UV–vis diffuse reflection (UV–vis DRS), photoluminescence, transient photocurrent response, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and Mott–Schottky plots together show that the significant improvement in photocatalytic activity is due to synergistic effects of enhanced light harvesting and separation of photo-induced charges carriers, caused by the intimate contact between CdS and Bi4NbO8Cl. It is expected that the facile, low-cost method and the excellent performance of the synthesized photocatalyst in this paper can contribute to the management of water pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To investigate the effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) administration to hypertension patients with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) induced pneumonia.Methods: We recorded the recovery status of 67 inpatients with hypertension and COVID-19 induced pneumonia in the Raytheon Mountain Hospital in Wuhan during February 12, 2020 and March 30, 2020. Patients treated with ACEI or ARBs were categorized in group A (n = 22), while patients who were not administered either ACEI or ARBs were categorized into group B (n = 45). We did a comparative analysis of various parameters such as the pneumonia progression, length-of-stay in the hospital, and the level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), serum creatinine (Cr), and creatine kinase (CK) between the day when these patients were admitted to the hospital and the day when the treatment ended.Results: These 67 hypertension cases counted for 33.17% of the total COVID-19 patients. There was no significant difference in the usage of drug treatment of COVID-19 between groups A and B (p > 0.05). During the treatment, 1 case in group A and 3 cases in group B progressed from mild pneumonia into severe pneumonia. Eventually, all patients were cured and discharged after treatment, and no recurrence of COVID-2019 induced pneumonia occurred after the discharge. The length of stays was shorter in group A as compared with group B, but there was no significant difference (p > 0.05). There was also no significant difference in other general parameters between the patients of the groups A and B on the day of admission to the hospital (p > 0.05). The ALT, CK, and Cr levels did not significantly differ between groups A and B on the day of admission and the day of discharge (p > 0.05).Conclusions: To treat the hypertension patients with COVID-19 caused pneumonia, anti-hypertensive drugs (ACEs and ARBs) may be used according to the relative guidelines. The treatment regimen with these drugs does not need to be altered for the COVID-19 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bulk metal oxide catalysts are key components of numerous large‐scale industrial processes that possess a high degree of complexity in bulk and surface structure. Such complexity manifests itself in the form of large uncertainties with respect to the nature, density, and efficacy of active sites responsible for catalytic turnovers. Faceted oxide crystals present the prospect of exposing well‐defined oxide surfaces while also being amenable for investigation at realistic pressures and temperatures. Despite the opportunity faceted oxide crystals present for developing more rigorous relationships between atomic‐level structure and catalytic function, their use remains far less prevalent compared to their metallic counterparts. This review, focused on cuprous oxide and cerium oxide crystals, seeks to examine and highlight challenges in controlling and rationalizing metal oxide crystallization, as well as limitations preventing elucidation of the relationships between atomic‐level structures and catalytic properties. We postulate that a clearer understanding of these challenges will encourage researchers to further pursue the study of catalytic properties of faceted oxide crystals, aiding not only an enhanced molecular‐level knowledge of bulk oxide catalysis, but also the development of improved materials for large‐scale catalytic processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) has great potential to revolutionize biomedical research and disease therapy. The specific and efficient genome editing strongly depends on high efficiency of delivery of the CRISPR payloads. However, optimization of CRISPR delivery vehicles still remains a major obstacle. Recently, various non-viral vectors have been utilized to deliver CRISPR tools. Many of these vectors have multi-layer structures assembled. In this review, we will introduce the development of CRISPR-Cas9 systems and their general therapeutic applications by summarizing current CRISPR-Cas9 based clinical trials. We will highlight the multi-layer nanoparticles (NPs) that have been developed to deliver CRISPR cargos in vitro and in vivo for various purposes, as well the potential building blocks of multi-layer NPs. We will also discuss the challenges in making the CRISPR tools into viable pharmaceutical products and provide potential solutions on efficiency and biosafety issues. Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ulva linza is one of the species that causes green tides in the Yellow Sea, China. Due to the difficulties in chromosomal preparation, the large numbers of chromosomes, and their relatively small sizes, there have been no reported studies on Ulva macroalgae chromosomes. The karyotypes and chromosomes in U. linza were observed after a series of treatments. The chromosomes were pretreated with 0.1% colchicine for 12 h and then mixed with enzymes. The samples were dropped from 30 cm height onto glass slides, which spread out the surface coat. These pretreatments were the optimal chromosomes preparation treatments. The prepared chromosomes were stained with 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), which is a fluorescent probe sensitive and specific to DNA. The chromosome number in the haploid male and female gametophytes was n=9, and was 2n=18 in the diploid sporophytes. The female gametophyte chromosomes were between 0.804 and 2.292 um in size, the male gametophyte chromosomes were between 0.917 and 2.916 µm, and the sporophyte chromosomes were between 0.912 and 2.167 µm. The relative sizes of the chromosomes were used to analyze the karyotypes of the female and male gametophyte chromosomes. The results provide a solid foundation for the basic technique that can be used to localize molecular markers of Ulva chromosomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We discovered two antibacterial bimetallic nanoparticles (AuRh and AuRu NPs), that possess antibacterial activities against multi-drug resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria and can cure wound infections. None of the nanoparticles comprising just one of these metals elements shows any antibiotic activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the impact of telemental health (TMH) use on total healthcare costs and mental health (MH)-related costs paid by a third party among adults with mental health conditions (MHC). This study employed a pre-post design with a non-equivalent control group. The cohort comprised adults with MHCs identified using diagnosis codes from de-identified claims data of the Optum Clinformatics DataMart (2010 January 01 to 2017 June 30). We identified mental health (MH) service users and TMH users (N = 348) based on procedure codes. Non-users (N = 238,595) were defined as those who only used in-person MH services. A Difference-in-Differences (DID) analysis was performed within a multivariable two-part model (TPM) framework to examine the impact of TMH use on adjusted standardized costs (2018 US $) of all healthcare services and MH services. Patient-level and state-level factors were adjusted in TPM. TMH use was associated with significantly higher MH-related costs [Marginal effect = $461.3, 95% confidence interval: $142.4–$780.2] and an excess of $370 increase in MH-related costs at follow-up as compared to baseline. However, TMH use was not associated with an increase in total third-party healthcare costs nor with changes in total costs from baseline to follow-up. Despite having a higher likelihood of MH services use and MH-related costs, TMH users did not have higher total costs as compared to adults using only in-person MH services. Our findings suggest that TMH can increase access to MH care without increasing total healthcare costs among adults with MHC. Future studies exploring whether TMH use can lead to cost-savings over a longer period are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the use of a reinforcement learning (RL) approach to find two online power allocation policies in a point to point EH-MIMO wireless communication system. In our study, we train the power allocation policies in order to learn the map between the environment and the agent. Particularly, in order to avoid “dimension disaster” problem which may happen in our proposed SARSA power allocation policy, we introduce a linear approximation method to get an approximate SARSA power allocation policy. The linear approximation can handle infinite number of states and trade-off between complexity and performance of power allocation is significantly improved. The simulation results show that the proposed SARSA and approximate SARSA power allocation policies have a considerable throughput increase compared with the benchmark policies, such as greedy, random and conservative policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer, miR-423, TNIP2, NF- B signaling pathway. [Extracted from the article]

Background: The urgent problem in the treatment of breast cancer is the recurrence induced by breast cancer stem cells (CSCs). Understanding the role and molecular mechanism of specific molecules in breast cancer stem cells can provide a theoretical basis for better treatment. TRIP6 is an adapter protein which belongs to the zyxin family of LIM proteins and is important in regulating the functions of CSCs. The present study aims to investigate the effects and mechanism of TRIP6 in breast cancer. Methods: TRIP6 expression in breast cancer cells and tissues were detected by Real-Time PCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry (IHC). MTT assays, colony formation assays, Xenografted tumor model and mammosphere formation assays were performed to investigate the oncogenic functions of TRIP6 in the tumorigenic capability and the tumor-initiating cell-like phenotype of breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Luciferase reporter, subcellular fractionation and immunofluorescence staining assays were performed to determine the underlying mechanism of TRIP6-mediated stemness of breast cancer cells. Results: TRIP6 expression was significantly upregulated in breast cancer, and was closely related to the clinicopathologic characteristics, poor overall survival (OS), relapse-free survival (RFS) and poor prognosis of breast cancer patients. Functional studies revealed that overexpression of TRIP6 significantly enhanced proliferative, tumorigenicity capability and the cancer stem cell-like properties of breast cancer in vitro and in vivo. On the contrary, silencing TRIP6 achieved the opposite results. Notably, we found that TRIP6 promoted Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in breast cancer to strengthen the tumor-initiating cell-like phenotype of breast cancer cells. Conclusions: This study indicates that TRIP6 plays an important role in maintaining the stem cell-like characteristics of breast cancer cells, supporting the significance of TRIP6 as a novel potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Defective mismatch repair (dMMR) and microsatellite instability (MSI) correlate with gastric cancer (GC) outcome. We hypothesized that MMR genetic polymorphisms that have low-penetrant effects but may cause heterogeneous MMR capability among individuals also affect GC outcome. Methods: The polymorphisms rs1800734 in MLH1, rs2303428 and rs3732183 in MSH2, rs735943 in EXO1, and rs11797 in TREX1 were selected and analyzed in independent discovery and validation sets that included 167 and 593 patients, respectively. MSI was determined. Results: In both the discovery and validation sets, the rs2303428 TC + CC genotype correlated with poor overall survival (OS) in non-cardia (P < 0.05) but not in cardia GC. Multivariate models showed that for OS of patients with non-cardia GC, the rs2303428 TC + CC genotype was an independent predictor in the validation set (HR 1.54; 95% CI 1.02–2.32; P = 0.040) and had a trend to be an independent predictor in the discovery set (HR 1.70; 95% CI 0.96–3.01; P = 0.067). Furthermore, in both patient sets, fluoropyrimidines-based adjuvant chemotherapy improved OS for non-cardia patients with the rs2303428 TC + CC genotype (HR 0.14; 95% CI 0.04–0.57; P = 0.006; and HR 0.29; 95% CI 0.15-0.58; P < 0.001, respectively) but not for those with the TT genotype. The rs2303428 genotypes were not associated with MSI frequency. The rs2303428 TC + CC genotype correlated with reduced expressions for thymidylate synthetase, P-glycoprotein and ERCC1 (P < 0.05) in non-cardia GC. Conclusions: The rs2303428 genotypes may predict prognosis and adjuvant chemotherapy benefit in non-cardia GC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, considering imperfect spectrum sensing in a cognitive cooperative system, we study the performance optimization for throughput maximization of secondary user (SU) and average delay minimization under maximum delay constraint of primary user (PU) with harvested energy from radio frequency signal of active PU by cooperative SU. We use a one-dimension linear search method to decompose the two optimization problems due to the non-convexity of the original optimization. We prove that the above maximization and minimization have same forms of solution under the same constraints. Simulation results indicate that the throughput performance of SU is higher than that of traditional cognitive system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generation of hierarchical zeolites is an effective way to enhance their diffusion-dependent catalytic properties. The fabrication of hierarchical zeolites with enhanced diffusion property, high hydrothermal stability, strong acidity in an inexpensive, facile and efficient way is particularly daunting. Here, a simple synthesis of hierarchical SSZ-13 zeolite in a biphasic water/toluene media under tumbling assisted by organosilane, i.e., trimethoxy[3-(phenylamino)propyl]silane, is proposed. The obtained material with tunable Si/Al from 10 to 30 consists of assembled crystallites of 20–30 nm that construct a hierarchical architecture with mesopores of ca. 7 nm opening to the external facets, and has low defect concentration and preserved strong acidity. Crystallization mechanism is disclosed to obey a non-classic attachment growth of nano building blocks mediated by Pickering emulsion, as organosilane modification changes their surface to be hydrophobic. Such a crystallization pathway has accelerated nucleation process and suppressed the growth of SSZ-13 crystals to micron size. Cu exchanged hierarchical SSZ-13 outperforms the standard sample in typical NH 3 -SCR process in both low and high temperature regimes as a result of enhanced diffusion property, as well as low defect concentrations. The synthesis is a cost-effective method for the generation of hierarchical zeolites mediated by the presence of a liquid/liquid interface, and could inspire more such explorations. Image 10 • A phase-transfer method to generate hierarchical SSZ-13 is presented. • The crystallization follows a Pickering emulsion mediated non-classic oriented assembly pathway. • Cu exchanged SSZ-13 shows superior catalytic NH 3 -SCR property at both high (>623 K) and low (<523 K) temperature. • Catalytic activity is enhanced by hierarchical structure owing to improved gas diffusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]