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Abstract Introduction The study was to assess the myocardial protection effects of the histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) solution and the 4:1 blood cardioplegia (BC) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who were subjected to valvular replacement concomitant with the Cox maze III surgery. Methods A cohort of 148 individuals afflicted with AF, who received valve replacement surgery in conjunction with the Cox maze III procedure at our clinic within the period extending from 2015 to 2023, were enrolled. Subsequent to adjustment by propensity score matching (PSM), the patients were categorized into two distinct groups: the HTK group and the BC group. The primary end points assessed inotropic support requirements, complications, troponin trend, mechanical ventilation time and the intensive care unit stay. Arrhythmias, aortic cross-clamp and cardiopulmonary bypass times, and other clinical perioperative variables were considered as secondary end points. Results No substantive disparities were observed concerning mortality rates, arrhythmias, neurological events, or renal complications. The duration of cardiopulmonary bypass and the aortic cross-clamp time did not demonstrate any marked variations between both groups, with p-values of 0.71 and 0.05, respectively. The time required for weaning from mechanical ventilation and the length of postoperative hospitalization were notably less in the group receiving HTK solution (p

The extraction of forest vertical structural parameters plays a crucial role in forest inventory. In recent years, light detection and ranging (LiDAR) has been widely applied in forest inventories due to its powerful 3-D reconstruction capabilities. The backpack laser scanning (BLS) is a lightweight LiDAR platform that significantly enhances the efficiency and accuracy of forest inventory. To address the issues of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signal occlusion and LiDAR scanning blind areas under the canopy, a multisensors fusion Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) algorithm has been proposed, and a BLS device has been set up. The proposed SLAM algorithm fuses both horizontal and vertical LiDAR data by extracting the planar surface models. In addition, the proposed similar stem features are added to the feature point extraction in forest mapping. The accuracy of the results is validated through standing tree position, diameter at breast height (DBH) and tree height. When compared to other classic SLAM methods, the proposed method achieves 100% accuracy in standing tree extraction, reduces the error in DBH extraction by 85.56% (with an error of 2.05 cm), and decreases the error in tree height extraction by 83.44% (with an error of 0.79 m). The results show that the problem of poor GNSS under the canopy can be effectively addressed by the proposed SLAM algorithm in the study. Furthermore, multisensor data fusion and stem feature addition can provide more complete data support and more robust matching constraints, ultimately resulting in more accurate point cloud mapping.

Vegetation net primary productivity (NPP) plays an important role in investigating carbon cycle and NPP provided by forest constitutes the main component of terrestrial vegetation NPP. Since late 1990s, a series of policies for protecting forest have been implemented in Heilongjiang Province, China, directly leading to the continuous change of forest area and growth environment. As a result, analysis of spatiotemporal characteristics of NPP after the implementation of protection policies was conducted in this study, and influencing factors leading to the distribution and spatiotemporal heterogeneity of NPP was also compared quantitatively, aiming to reveal the changing characteristics and influencing factors of NPP in a large area over a longer time span. In this study, multi-source data including MOD17A3 NPP product, meteorological data, topographic data and land-use data was selected, and then the spatiotemporal characteristics of NPP from 2001 to 2020 were analyzed through commonly-used spatiotemporal analysis indices and methods. Finally, influencing factors leading to the distribution and spatiotemporal heterogeneity of NPP in the study area were quantitatively compared and analyzed. Results show that the total amount of NPP in Heilongjiang Province has a fluctuating trend with an increasing rate of 23.47% over the past twenty years, and the increase/decrease scenarios of NPP usually can be found in forest regions with high forest coverage and urban regions experiencing dramatic urbanization processes, respectively. Meanwhile, this study also finds that there is no absolute dominant factor can be responsible for the difference in spatial distribution of NPP, but the conversion between forest and other land-use types are the main factors leading to the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of NPP in the study area. The conclusions in this study may provide guiding significance for formulating forestry protection policies in forest regions and designing land-use plans in the future, aiming to achieve the balance between ecological protection and urban development.

Obstacle avoidance plays a crucial role in ensuring the safe path planning of quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicles (QUAVs). In this study, we propose a hierarchical framework for obstacle avoidance, which combines the use of artificial potential field (APF) and deep reinforcement learning (DRL) for training low-level motion controllers. Unlike traditional potential field methods, our approach modifies the state information received by the motion controllers using the outputs of the APF path planner. Specifically, the assumed target position is pushed away from obstacles, resulting in adjustments to the perceived position errors. Additionally, we address path oscillations by incorporating the target’s velocity information, which is calculated based on the time-derivative of the repulsive force. Experimental results have validated the effectiveness of our proposed framework in avoiding collisions with obstacles and reducing oscillations.

Abstract Objectives Type A acute aortic dissection (TAAAD) complicated with cerebral malperfusion (CM) is a life-threatening condition associated with high mortality, poor outcomes, and the optimal surgical management remains controversial. The aim of this review was to report the current results of surgical interventions of these patients. Methods A systematic review was performed using PubMed and MEDLINE search for cases underwent surgical repair for TAAAD with CM. Demographics, neurological symptom, the time from onset of symptoms to operation, operation data, mortality, neurological outcome, and follow-up were reviewed. Results A total of 363 patients with mean age of 65.7 ± 13 years underwent surgical repair for TAAAD with CM were identified in 12 retrospective studies. In-hospital mortality was 20.1%. Mean duration of follow-up was 40.1 ± 37.6 months. The involved supra-aortic branch vessels were RCCA (n = 99), LCCA (n = 25), B-CCA (n = 52), CCA (n = 131), IA (n = 19), and LSA (n = 8). Time from onset of neurological symptoms to surgery was 13.3 h. Antegrade and/or retrograde cerebral perfusion were applied. Postoperatively, improved, unchanged and worsened neurological status was occurred in 54.3%, 27.1%, and 8.5%, respectively in 199 patients. Conclusion The outcomes of surgical treatment of TAAAD complicated with CM indicate acceptable early mortality and morbidity. It is reasonable to perform lifesaving surgery on these patients. Early central surgical repair and reperfusion of brain may improve the outcomes.

Abstract Background Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has evolved considerably over the past two decades and has been gradually utilized in severe trauma. However, the indications for the use of ECMO in trauma remain uncertain and the clinical outcomes are different. We performed a systematic review to provide an overall estimate of the current performance of ECMO in the treatment of trauma patients. Materials and methods We searched PubMed and MEDLINE databases up to the end of December 2019 for studies on ECMO in trauma. The PRISMA statement was followed. Data on demographics of the patient, mechanism of injury, injury severity scores (ISS), details of ECMO strategies, and clinical outcome were extracted. Results A total of 58 articles (19 retrospective reports and 39 case reports) were deemed eligible and included. In total, 548 patients received ECMO treatment for severe trauma (adult 517; children 31; mean age of adults 34.9 ± 12.3 years). Blunt trauma (85.4%) was the primary injury mechanism, and 128 patients had traumatic brain injury (TBI). The mean ISS was 38.1 ± 15.0. A total of 71.3% of patients were initially treated with VV ECMO, and 24.5% were placed on VA ECMO. The median time on ECMO was 9.6 days, and the median time to ECMO was 5.7 days. A total of 60% of patients received initially heparin anticoagulation. Bleeding (22.9%) and thrombosis (19%) were the most common complications. Ischemia of the lower extremities occurred in 9 patients. The overall hospital mortality was 30.3%. Conclusions ECMO has been gradually utilized in a lifesaving capacity in severe trauma patients, and the feasibility and advantages of this technique are becoming widely accepted. The safety and effectiveness of ECMO in trauma require further study. Several problems with ECMO in trauma, including the role of VA-ECMO, the time to institute ECMO, and the anticoagulation strategy remain controversial and must be solved in future studies.

Background: Surgical treatment strategy for acute type A aortic dissection (aTAAD) with mesenteric malperfusion (MMP) is quite challenging as it is often associated with poor patient outcomes, and optimal management strategies remain controversial. Methods: We conducted MEDLINE and EMBASE database searches up to December 31, 2021 for studies on aTAAD with MMP. Data on study design, patient demographics, patient management strategy, mortality, complications, and follow-up were extracted, analyzed, and investigated. Results: Our literature search identified 941 potentially relevant studies, of which 19 were deemed eligible for this study. A total of 352 patients, mean age: 58.4 ± 11.9 years, diagnosed with aTAAD complicated with MMP were included with an overall prevalence of 4%. Patients for which MMP was observed preoperatively were also included in this analysis. The overall in-hospital mortality amongst these patients was 43.5%, and bowel necrosis and/or multiorgan failure were the major causes of death. Four management strategies for first-line treatment were recognized and these included central aortic repair (191, 54.3%), reperfusion of superior mesenteric artery (SMA) (121, 34.3%), exclusively endo-intervention (11, 3.1%), and exclusively medical intervention (29, 8.2%). These various first-line strategies showed mortality rates of 40.3%, 33.9%, 72.7% and 93.1%, respectively. There was no significant difference in the mortality rate between central aortic repair and reperfusion of SMA as first-line therapies (χ2 = 1.302, p = 0.254). When compared with central aortic repair and reperfusion of SMA, exclusively medical care exhibited a significantly greater mortality rate (p < 0.01). Conclusions: aTAAD complicated with MMP is a rare complication that carries a high mortality rate. Central aortic repair and reperfusion of SMA as first-line treatment strategies appear to be associated with better outcomes compared with exclusively endo-intervention and medical care. Clinical decisions may have introduced biases as no differences were indicated in regards to the way patients were being prioritized for the central aortic repair versus reperfusion of SMA. In regards to variable clinical features and pathology of aTAAD complicated with MMP, an individualized approach is recommended.

Spaceborne LiDAR has been widely used to obtain forest canopy heights over large areas, but it is still a challenge to obtain spatio-continuous forest canopy heights with this technology. In order to make up for this deficiency and take advantage of the complementary for multi-source remote sensing data in forest canopy height mapping, a new method to estimate forest canopy height was proposed by synergizing the spaceborne LiDAR (ICESat-2) data, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data, multi-spectral images, and topographic data considering forest types. In this study, National Geographical Condition Monitoring (NGCM) data was used to extract the distributions of coniferous forest (CF), broadleaf forest (BF), and mixed forest (MF) in Hua’ nan forest area in Heilongjiang Province, China. Accordingly, the forest canopy height estimation models for whole forest (all forests together without distinguishing types, WF), CF, BF, and MF were established, respectively, by Radom Forest (RF) and Gradient Boosting Decision Tree (GBDT). The accuracy for established models and the forest canopy height obtained based on estimation models were validated consequently. The results showed that the forest canopy height estimation models considering forest types had better performance than the model grouping all types of forest together. Compared with GBDT, RF with optimal variables had better performance in forest canopy height estimation with Pearson’s correlation coefficient (R) and the root-mean-squared error (RMSE) values for CF, BF, and MF of 0.72, 0.59, 0.62, and 3.15, 3.37, 3.26 m, respectively. It has been validated that a synergy of ICESat-2 with other remote sensing data can make a crucial contribution to spatio-continuous forest canopy height mapping, especially for areas covered by different types of forest.

Abstract To understand the ecology of species and promote biotechnology through beneficial strain selection for improving starch yield in maize wet-milling steeping, bacterial diversity and community structure during the counter-current steeping process in a commercial steeping system were characterized and investigated. The microbial diversity in the steeping liquor, which consisted of 16 phyla, 131 families, and 290 genera, was more abundant compared to those present on the surface of unsteeped maize. As the counter-current steeping progressed, exposing newer maize to the older steepwater, Lactobacillus dominated, replacing Rahnella, Pseudomonas, Pantoea, and Serratia. The thermophilic and acidophilic microbial consortia were enriched through adaptive evolution engineering and employed to improve starch yield. Several steeping strategies were evaluated, including water alone, SO2 alone, mono-culture of B. coagulans, microbial consortia, and a combination of consortium and SO2. Combining the microbial consortium with SO2 significantly increased the starch yield to, about 66.4 ± 0.5%, a 22% and 46% increase over SO2 alone and the consortium alone, respectively. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) of steeped maize structure indicated that the combination of consortium and SO2 disrupted the protein matrix and widened gaps between starch granules in maize endosperm. This released proteins into the steepwater and left starch granules in the aleurone layer. The steeping strategy of using thermophilic and acidophilic microbial consortium as additives shows potential application as an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional maize steeping procedures.

This research delves into unexplored territories of Foreign Language Anxiety (FLA), going beyond the traditional focus on language proficiency. We examined the nuanced roles of language exposure and individual differences in cognitive control abilities in shaping FLA. By engaging 46 English learners in a comprehensive assessment, our analysis uncovered significant yet distinct contributions of these factors to various aspects of FLA. Notably, proficiency predicted communication and overall anxiety, exposure influenced evaluation anxiety, while inhibition and mental set shifting abilities significantly predicted communication and test anxiety respectively. These findings illuminate the complexity of FLA, revealing that it stems from a multifaceted interplay of language proficiency, exposure, and cognitive control. This holistic understanding offers valuable insights for educators and learners alike, emphasizing the importance of tailored strategies that address not just language proficiency but also exposure opportunities and cognitive strengths.

Abstract As an alternative to antibiotics in response to antimicrobial-resistant infections, bacteriophages (phages) are garnering renewed interest in recent years. However, the massive preparation of phage is restricted using traditional pathogens as host cells, which incurs additional costs and contamination. In this study, an opportunistic pathogen, Klebsiella pneumoniae used to convert glycerol to 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO), was reused to prepare phage after fermentation. The phage infection showed that the fed-batch fermentation broth containing 71.6 g/L 1,3-PDO can be directly used for preparation of phage with a titer of 1 × 108 pfu/mL. Then, the two-step salting-out extraction was adopted to remove most impurities, e.g. acetic acid (93.5%), ethanol (91.5%) and cells (99.4%) at the first step, and obtain 1,3-PDO (56.6%) in the top phase as well as phage (97.4%) in the middle phase at the second step. This integrated process provides a cheap and environment-friendly manner for coproduction of 1,3-PDO and phage. Graphical abstract

Abstract Baicalein is a natural flavonoid abundant in various foods and dietary plants, including Tuber aestivum and Oroxylum indicum. In this study, we investigated the role of baicalein in enhancing the insulin‐sensitizing effect of metformin in mice with prediabetes. Baicalein, when combined with 25% of normal‐dose metformin, achieved a diabetes‐reversion rate of 80%, which was 1.86‐fold that of normal‐dose metformin. Mechanistically, baicalein enhanced the insulin‐sensitizing effect of metformin on lipid metabolism by inhibiting de novo lipogenesis through the AMP‐activated protein kinase/SREBP‐1c/FASN pathway and by inducing fatty‐acid β‐oxidation through the upregulation of ACSL1, CPT1A, EHHADH, and acyl‐CoA dehydrogenases (ACADL/ACADM/ACADS). Meanwhile, baicalein enhanced the insulin‐sensitizing effect of metformin via the modulation of the gut microenvironment by enriching probiotics, especially Akkermansia by 53.4‐fold, depleting opportunistic pathogens, and strengthening the intestinal barrier. The improved gut microenvironment led to the alleviation of chronic endotoxemia, as evidenced by decreased levels of lipopolysaccharide and proinflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, baicalein enhanced the effect of metformin on decreasing the circulating level of branched‐chain amino acids (BCAAs), which further improved insulin sensitivity by normalizing the mTORC1/p70S6K/IRS1 signaling pathway and de novo lipogenesis. Moreover, the role of baicalein in enhancing the insulin‐sensitizing effect of metformin was verified by an oleic acid‐induced steatosis model and a BCAA‐induced insulin resistance model in hepatocytes. Our study laid a theoretical foundation for developing baicalein into a dietary supplement for diabetes prevention. The diverse mechanisms of food‐derived flavonoids can be applied in the development of dietary supplements to enhance the efficacy of oral hyperglycemic agents currently used in clinics.

The self-healing capability and susceptibility to salt solution erosion in ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) significantly influence the mechanical properties and long-term durability of concrete structures within coastal or underground environments. Acknowledging the intricacies of real-world environments, this study focuses on UHPC that has endured high-temperature damage at 800 °C. The research aims to analyze the property variations within 28 days following exposure to diverse dry and wet conditions, as well as salt solution environments. The findings demonstrate a substantial recovery in both mechanical and transport properties of the high-temperature-damaged UHPC, attributed to its inherent self-healing capability. Among the dry and wet conditions, the optimal performance recovery of UHPC specimens is observed when they are subjected to submerged and immersed environmental conditions. Furthermore, when immersed in a salt solution environment, the beneficial impacts attributed to the self-healing property tend to outweigh the detrimental effects of salt solution erosion. All scenarios exhibit a trend of enhanced properties, with the presence of chloride salts being particularly conducive to the recovery process. However, exposure to a sulfate-rich environment induces deterioration in transport properties and pore structure, resulting in a partial incongruity with the mechanical property results. Microscopic analysis techniques reveal that the primary contributors to enhanced properties encompass a range of hydration products formed due to the interaction between water, salt solutions, and the compromised UHPC. Nevertheless, owing to the intricate nature of the environment, disparities arise in both the type and quantity of hydration products, contributing to variations in the extent of property alterations.

BackgroundRecent evidence suggested that platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) may play a role in the pathophysiology of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), but the results are controversial. This study aimed to explore the relationship between PLR and mortality in patients with ICH.MethodsAll data were extracted from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC) III database. The study outcome was 90-day mortality. Multivariable Cox regression analyses were used to calculate the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI), and curve-fitting (restricted cubic spline) was used to assess the non-linear relationship.ResultsOf 1,442 patients, 1,043 patients with ICH were included. The overall 90-day mortality was 29.8% (311/1,043). When PLR was assessed in quartiles, the risk of 90-day mortality for ICH was lowest for quartile 2 (120.9 to

Methylglyoxal-induced ROS elevation is the primary cause of neuronal damage. Metformin is a traditional hypoglycemic drug that has been reported to be beneficial to the nervous system. In this study, flavonoids were found to enhance the protective effect of metformin when added at a molar concentration of 0.5%. The structure–activity relationship (SAR) analysis indicated that ortho- substitution in the B ring, and the absence of double bonds between the 2 and 3 position combined with the gallate substitution with R configuration at the 3 position in the C ring played crucial roles in the synergistic effects, which could be beneficial for designing a combination of the compounds. Additionally, the mechanism study revealed that a typical flavonoid, EGCG, enhanced ROS scavenging and anti-apoptotic ability via the BCL2/Bax/Cyto C/Caspase-3 pathway, and synergistically inhibited the expression of GSK-3β, BACE-1, and APP in PC-12 cells when used in combination with metformin. The dose of metformin used in the combination was only 1/4 of the conventional dose when used alone. These results suggested that ROS-mediated apoptosis and the pathways related to amyloid plaques (Aβ) formation can be the targets for the synergistic neuroprotective effects of flavonoids and metformin.

Objective: By screening the core genes in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) with bioinformatics, our study evaluated its prognosis value and role in infiltration process of immune cells. Methods: Using GEO database, we screened 5 gene chips, including GSE11072, GSE32863, GSE43458, GSE115002, and GSE116959. Then, we obtained the corresponding differentially expressed genes by analyzed 5 gene chips online by GEO2R (P 1). Then, through DAVID online platform, Cytoscape 3.6.1 software and PPI network analysis, the network was visualized and obtain the final core genes. Next, we plan to use the GEPIA, UALCAN, Kaplan–Meier plotter and Time 2.0 database for corresponding analysis. The GEPIA database was used to verify the expression of core genes in LUAD and normal lung tissues, and survival analysis was used to evaluate the value of core genes in the prognosis of LUAD patients. UALCAN was used to verify the expression of the LUAD core gene and promoter methylation status, and the predictive value of core genes was evaluated in LUAD patients by the Kaplan–Meier plotter online tool. Then, we used the Time 2.0 database to identify the relationship to immune infiltration in LUAD. Finally, we used the human protein atlas (HPA) database for online immunohistochemical analysis of the expressed proteins. Results: The expression of CCNB2 and CDC20 in LUAD were higher than those in normal lung tissues, their increased expression was negatively correlated with the overall survival rate of LUAD, and they were involved in cell cycle signal transduction, oocyte meiosis signal transduction as well as the infiltration process of immune cells in LUAD. The expression proteins of CCNB2 and CDC20 were also different in lung cancer tissue and normal lung tissue. Therefore, CCNB2 and CDC20 were identified as the vital core genes. Conclusion: CCNB2 and CDC20 are essential genes that may constitute prognostic biomarkers in LUAD, they also participate the immune infiltration process and protein expression process of LUAD, and might provides basis for clinical anti-tumor drug research.

Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) are ubiquitous in living organisms and are promising drug targets for cancer, diabetes/obesity, and autoimmune disorders. In this study, a histone deacetylase inhibitor called suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) was added to a culture of marine fungi (Aspergillus sydowii DL1045) to identify potential drug candidates related to PTP inhibition. Then, the profile of the induced metabolites was characterized using an integrated metabolomics strategy. In total, 46% of the total SMs were regulated secondary metabolites (SMs), among which 20 newly biosynthesized metabolites (10% of the total SMs) were identified only in chemical epigenetic regulation (CER) broth. One was identified as a novel compound, and fourteen compounds were identified from Aspergillus sydowii first. SAHA derivatives were also biotransformed by A. sydowii DL1045, and five of these derivatives were identified. Based on the bioassay, some of the newly synthesized metabolites exhibited inhibitory effects on PTPs. The novel compound sydowimide A (A11) inhibited Src homology region 2 domain-containing phosphatase-1 (SHP1), T-cell protein tyrosine phosphatase (TCPTP) and leukocyte common antigen (CD45), with IC50 values of 1.5, 2.4 and 18.83 μM, respectively. Diorcinol (A3) displayed the strongest inhibitory effect on SHP1, with an IC50 value of 0.96 μM. The structure–activity relationship analysis and docking studies of A3 analogs indicated that the substitution of the carboxyl group reduced the activity of A3. Research has demonstrated that CER positively impacts changes in the secondary metabolic patterns of A. sydowii DL1045. The compounds produced through this approach will provide valuable insights for the creation and advancement of novel drug candidates related to PTP inhibition.

Highlights IL-based sugaring-out extraction was applied to separate LA from fermentation broth Different ILs and saccharides consisting systems were examined The ability to form ATPS is in the order of [Hmim]BF4 ≈ [Bmim]BF4˃[Emim]BF4 The partition behaviors of LA, [Bmim]BF4, and saccharides were evaluated LA recovery of 89.8% was obtained with removal of 68.4% cells and 65.4% pigments

Abstract Background Lignocellulosic feedstocks have attracted much attention as a potential carbon source for lactic acid (LA) production because of their ready availability, sustainability, and renewability. However, there are at least two major technical challenges to producing LA from lignocellulose. Inhibitors derived from lignocellulose pretreatment have a negative impact on the growth of cells producing LA. Furthermore, pentose sugars produced from the pretreatment are difficultly utilized by most LA producers, which is known as the carbon catabolite repression (CCR) effect. This complex feedstock can be utilized by a robust microbial consortium with high bioconversion efficiency. Results In this study, a thermophilic consortium DUT50 producing LA was enriched and employed to improve corn stover (CS) utilization. Enterococcus was the dominant family in the consortium DUT50, accounting for 93.66% of the total abundance, with Lactobacillus, Bacillus, Lactococcus, and Trichococcus accounted for the remaining 2.68%. This consortium could be resistant to inhibitors concentration up to 9.74 g/L (2.88 g/L acetic acid, 2.46 g/L furfural, 2.20 g/L 5-HMF, and 2.20 g/L vanillin derived from pretreatment of CS), and simultaneously metabolizes hexose and pentose without CCR effect. Based on the promising consortium features, an efficient process of simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation (SSCF) was developed to produce LA from acid pretreated corn stover, in which solid–liquid separation and detoxification were avoided. The key influencing factors were investigated and optimized, including dry biomass and cellulase loading, corn steep liquor powder concentration, and the pre-hydrolysis time. The highest LA titer of 71.04 g/L with a yield of 0.49 g/g-CS was achieved at a dry biomass loading of 20% (w/v), which is the highest LA production from non-detoxified acid pretreated corn stover via the SSCF process without wastewater generation reported to date. The simultaneous metabolism of hexose and pentose revealed collaboration between Enterococcus in the consortium, whereas xylose may be efficiently metabolized by Lactobacillus and Bacillus with low abundance via the pentose phosphate pathway. Conclusions The experimental results demonstrated the potential advantage of symbiosis in microbial consortia used for LA production from lignocellulosic biomass.

Most previous studies focused on foreign language learning anxiety, whereas relatively few have ever examined the foreign language teaching anxiety (FLTA), particularly experienced by pre-service EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teachers. By administering the “Foreign Language Teaching Anxiety Scale” (FLTAS) and a semi-structured interview, the current study examined whether the EFL teaching practicum had an influence on FLTA by comparing the differences of FLTA between pre-service EFL teachers who had 4 months of practicum experience and those without the practicum, and explored the potential factors contributing to FLTA. Results of descriptive analyses showed that overall the pre-service teachers had a relatively high level of FLTA. Results of independent sample t -test analyses indicated that the practicum group had significantly higher FLTA compared to the non-practicum group. Furthermore, within the two groups, female teachers consistently showed higher FLTA than the male teachers. Results of the interview content analyses revealed that anxiety-provoking factors primarily originated from fear of negative evaluation, low self-perception of language proficiency, and teaching inexperience. The findings of the current study provide insights of anxiety research in EFL context and implications for teachers to better reduce anxiety in English teaching practice.

Objectives We examined the relationship between statin use during hospitalisation and mortality in patients with intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH).Design Retrospective propensity-matched cohort study.Setting Patients with ICH (≥18 years old) admitted to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Boston, Massachusetts, USA) from 2001 to 2012 registered in the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III database.Participants 1043 patients with ICH (≥18 years) were evaluated for the relationship between statin use during hospitalisation and mortality.Interventions Statin use.Primary and secondary outcome measures The primary outcome was 90-day mortality. We used multivariable Cox regression analyses to calculate the adjusted HR with 95% CI and used propensity score analysis and an inverse probability weighting (IPW) model to ensure the robustness of our findings.Results We included 1043 patients with ICH (362 and 681 were statins and non-statin users, respectively) between 2001 and 2012. The overall 90-day mortality was 29.8% (311/1043); it was 33.3% (227/681) and 23.2% (84/362) for non-statin and statin users, respectively. After adjusted for potential confounders, we found that statin use was associated with 29% lower of 90-day mortality (HR=0.71, 95% CI 0.52 to 0.97, p

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicon) is a widely produced and consumed fruit vegetable worldwide. Silicon (Si) and selenium (Se) can promote crop growth and development. However, the effects of these elements on tomato fruit quality have not been investigated comprehensively, nor are their combined effects on yield and quality clear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of foliar application of Si and Se on tomato growth, yield and fruit quality. The tomato plants were foliarly applied with 1 mM Si and 25 μM Se individually or in combination, and the experiment was carried out in a plastic arch shed at Yangling in spring. Our results demonstrated improved plant growth by application of Si and Se, with the effect of combined treatment being more obvious. Application of Si individually or in combination with Se increased the yield. Se addition increased the concentrations of soluble sugars, vitamin C, phenols, anthocyanin, lycopene, carotenoids, Se and protein, and decreased the nitrate level, but did not affect the concentration of total organic acids in the fruit. Si application induced similar changes to Se addition in the levels of sucrose and protein in the fruit, but had no effect on other quality traits. The combined Si and Se treatment did not show significant superior effects on the fruit quality over their individual applications. Our results suggest that Si and Se application improved the tomato plant growth. Si and Se application, respectively, had obvious effects in the yield increase and quality improvement, and the combined treatment had positive effects on both aspects. The study may provide a theoretical base for the application of Se and Si fertilizers in tomato production.

Few studies have examined the role of cognitive control in processing ambiguity, let alone the roles of different components of cognitive control. In the current study, the English (L2) Sentence Processing Task and a series of cognitive control tasks were administered among 111 young adult Chinese–English bilinguals to investigate the influence of different components of cognitive control on garden path sentence comprehension, with other factors such as age, socio-economic status, and language proficiency strictly matched. Data analysis results showed a significant garden path effect on response times (RTs) and accuracy among all the participants. The results of independent t-test analyses revealed that the high working memory (WM) group was faster in ambiguity resolution, and so was the high monitoring group. However, there were no differences between the high and low inhibition and shifting groups in ambiguity resolution. These findings reveal that only certain aspects of cognitive control influence garden path sentence comprehension.

Dendrobium officinale polysaccharide (DOP), which serves as a prebiotic, exhibits a variety of biological activities, including hypoglycemic activities. However, the effects of DOP on diabetes prevention and its hypoglycemic mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, the effects of DOP treatment on the prediabetic mice model were studied and the mechanism was investigated. The results showed that 200 mg/kg/d of DOP reduced the relative risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) from prediabetes by 63.7%. Meanwhile, DOP decreased the level of LPS and inhibited the expression of TLR4 by regulating the composition of the gut microbiota, consequently relieving the inflammation and alleviating insulin resistance. In addition, DOP increased the abundance of SCFA (short chain fatty acid)-producing bacteria in the intestine, increased the levels of intestinal SCFAs, promoted the expression of short-chain fatty acid receptors FFAR2/FFAR3, and increased the secretion of the intestinal hormones GLP-1 and PYY, which helped to repair islet damage, suppress appetite, and improve insulin resistance. Our results suggested that DOP is a promising functional food supplement for the prevention of T2DM.

Chemical epigenetic regulation (CER) is an effective method to activate the silent pathway of fungal secondary metabolite synthesis. However, conventional methods for CER study are laborious and time-consuming. In the meantime, the overall profile of the secondary metabolites in the fungi treated by the CER reagent is not well characterized. In this study, suberohydroxamic acid (SBHA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, was added to a culture of Aspergillus aculeatus DL1011 and a new strategy based on LC-MS/MS analysis integrated with various metabolomic tools (MetaboAnalyst, MS-DIAL, SIRIUS and GNPS) was developed to characterize the profile of induced metabolites. As a result, 13.6%, 29.5% and 27.2% of metabolites were identified as newly biosynthesized, increasing and decreasing in abundance by CER, respectively. The structures of the 18 newly induced secondary metabolites were further identified by the new strategy to demonstrate that 72.2% of them (1 novel compound and 12 known compounds) were first discovered in A. aculeatus upon SBHA treatment. The accuracy of the new approach was confirmed by purification and NMR data analysis of major newly biosynthesized secondary metabolites. The bioassay showed that the newly biosynthesized compounds, roseopurpurin analogues, showed selective activities against DPPH scavenging, cytotoxicity and SHP1 inhibition. Our research demonstrated that CER was beneficial for changing the secondary metabolic profile of fungi and was an effective means of increasing the diversity of active metabolites. Our work also supplied a metabolomic strategy to characterize the profile changes and determine the newly induced compounds in the secondary metabolites of fungi treated with the chemical epigenetic regulator.

The study investigates whether learners’ demographics (e.g., age, education, and intelligence-IQ), language learning experience, and cognitive control predict Chinese (L2) reading comprehension in young adults. Thirty-four international students who studied mandarin Chinese in mainland China (10 females, 24 males) from Bangladesh, Burundi, Congo, Madagascar, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and Zimbabwe were tested on a series of measures including demographic questionnaires, IQ test, two cognitive control tasks [Flanker Task measuring inhibition and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) measuring mental set shifting], and a Chinese reading comprehension test (HSK level 4). The results of correlation analyses showed that education, L2 learning history, L2 proficiency, and previous category errors of the WCST were significantly correlated with Chinese reading comprehension. Further multiple regression analyses indicated that Chinese learning history, IQ, and previous category errors of the WCST significantly predicted Chinese reading comprehension. These findings reveal that aside from IQ and the time spent on L2 learning, the component mental set shifting of cognitive control also predicts reading outcomes, which suggests that cognitive control has a place in reading comprehension models over and above traditional predictors of language learning experience.

Baicalein is a dietary flavonoid that exhibits a variety of intestinal pharmacological activities with limited oral bioavailability. In the present study, the intestinal pharmacokinetics of baicalein was determined by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS and HPLC-PDA analysis. After oral administration, the intestinal concentration of baicalein was peaked at 1 h, and the amount of baicalein in the intestine corresponded to 87%, 45%, and 20% of the administered dose at 1 h, 8 h, and 12 h, respectively. Glucuronidation, sulfation, and methylation metabolites were the major metabolites of baicalein in the small intestine, including duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. Dehydroxylation, sulfation, and methylation metabolites were the major metabolites in the large intestine, including cecum and colon. In vitro, baicalein was transformed into its glucuronidation and methylation metabolites in hepatic and intestinal S9 fraction. The glucuronidation metabolites was hydrolyzed to baicalein by gut microbiota, but the dehydroxylation and methylation metabolites were stable during gut microbiota incubation.In conclusion, the intestinal concentration of baicalein can support its intestinal pharmacological activities, and the present study may provide useful information for understanding the bioactivities of flavonoids with limited systemic bioavailability.

Methylglyoxal-induced oxidative stress and cytotoxicity are the main factors causing neuronal death-related, diabetically induced memory impairment. Antioxidant and anti-apoptotic therapy are potential intervention strategies. In this study, 25 flavonoids with different substructures were assayed for protecting PC-12 cells from methylglyoxal-induced damage. A structure–activity relationship (SAR) analysis indicated that the absence of the double bond at C-2 and C-3, substitutions of the gallate group at the 3 position, the pyrogallol group at the B-ring, and the R configuration of the 3 position enhanced the protection of flavan-3-ols, and a hydroxyl substitution at the 4′ and meta-positions were important for the protection of flavonol. These SARs were further confirmed by molecular docking using the active site of the Keap1–Nrf2 complex as the receptor. The mechanistic study demonstrated that EGCG with the lowest EC50 protected the PC-12 cells from methylglyoxal-induced damage by reducing oxidative stress via the Nrf2/Keap1/HO-1 and Bcl-2/Bax signaling pathways. These results suggested that flavan-3-ols might be a potential dietary supplement for protection against diabetic encephalopathy.

This article aims to study the dynamic change of teachers’ beliefs among pre-service teachers. A longitudinal design was adopted to investigate English language teaching (ELT) pre-service teachers’ belief change after a 3-month teaching practicum by administering pretest and posttest questionnaires, semistructured interviews, and reflective journals. Repeated measures and paired sample t -test analyses showed significant differences across different aspects of beliefs in all the participants, but belief changes were significant after the practicum only within the experimental group, particularly in the aspects of student management, teaching evaluation, and student learning. In contrast, belief changes were not significant within the control group. Further inductive content analyses of semistructured interviews and reflective journals from the experimental group confirmed these changes and conclusively revealed some potential factors contributing to the changes. The results shed light on how pre-service teachers evolve in their career development and help educators adjust appropriate education policies to improve the quality of English teacher education, particularly in the Chinese context.

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a metabolic disease with multiple complications. Mulberry leaf extract (MLE) is rich in flavonoids and has great potential in alleviating glucose and lipid metabolism disorders. This study evaluated the effect and mechanism of MLE on the alleviation of MS. The components of the MLE were analyzed, and then the regulation of lipid metabolism by MLE in vitro and in vivo was determined. In a hepatocyte model of oleic acid-induced lipid accumulation, it was found that MLE alleviated lipid accumulation and decreased the expression of genes involved in lipogenesis. Furthermore, MLE improved obesity, insulin resistance, plasma lipid profile, and liver function in MS mice after a 15-week intervention. MLE decreased the expression of SREBP1, ACC, and FAS through the AMPK signaling pathway to inhibit lipid synthesis and increase the level of CPT1A to promote lipid decomposition to achieve its hypolipidemic effect. Meanwhile, MLE was also shown to affect the composition of the gut microbiota and the production of short-chain fatty acids, which contributed to the alleviation of lipid accumulation. Our results suggest that MLE can improve MS by improving lipid metabolism through multiple mechanisms and can be developed into dietary supplements for the improvement of MS.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of ethanol vapor on the inhibition of Alternaria alternata and Botrytis cinerea in postharvest blueberry and the induction of defense-related enzymes (DREs) activities in fungi-inoculated blueberries stored at 0±0.5°C for 16days. Results indicated that ethanol vapor markedly inhibited the mycelial growth of A. alternata and B. cinerea in a dose-dependent manner, with inhibition rates of 9.1% (250μlL−1), 36.4% (500μlL−1), and 5.5% (1,000μlL−1) on A. alternata and 14.2% (250μlL−1), 44.7% (500μlL−1), and 76.6% (1,000μlL−1) on B. cinerea, respectively. Meanwhile, ethanol vapor also enhanced the activities of DREs in fungi-inoculated blueberries, including β-1,3-glucanase (GLU), chitinase (CHI), phenylalnine ammonialyase (PAL), peroxidase (POD), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO). In particular, 500μlL−1 ethanol vapor increased the activities of DREs by 84.7% (GLU), 88.0% (CHI), 37.9% (PAL), 85.5% (POD), and 247.0% (PPO) in A. alternata-inoculated blueberries and 103.8% (GLU), 271.1% (CHI), 41.1% (PAL), 148.3% (POD), and 74.4% (PPO) in B. cinerea-inoculated blueberries, respectively. But, the activity of PPO was decreased by 55.2 and 31.9% in 500μlL−1 ethanol-treated blueberries inoculated with A. alternata and B. cinerea, respectively, after 8days of storage. Moreover, the surface structure and ultrastructure of 500μlL−1 ethanol-treated blueberry fruit cells were more integrated than those of other treatments. The findings of the present study suggest that ethanol could be used as an activator of defense responses in blueberry against Alternaria and Botrytis rots, by activating DREs, having practical application value in the preservation of postharvest fruit and vegetables.

Sauerkraut, one of the most popular traditional fermented vegetable foods in northern China, has been widely consumed for thousands of years. In this study, the physicochemical characteristics, microbial composition and succession, and metabolome profile were elucidated during the fermentation of traditional northeast sauerkraut sampled from different households. The microbial community structure as determined by high-throughput sequencing (HTS) technology demonstrated that Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were the predominant phyla and Weissella was the most abundant genus in all samples. Except for Weissella, higher relative abundance of Clostridium was observed in #1 sauerkraut, Clostridium and Enterobacter in #2 sauerkraut, and Lactobacillus in #3 sauerkraut, respectively. Meanwhile, Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed significant variances in the volatilome profile among different homemade sauerkraut. Acids and lactones were dominant in the #1 sauerkraut. The #2 sauerkraut had significantly higher contents of alcohols, aldehydes, esters, sulfides, and free amino acids (FAAs). In comparison, higher contents of terpenes and nitriles were found in the #3 sauerkraut. Furthermore, the potential correlations between the microbiota and volatilome profile were explored based on Spearman’s correlation analysis. Positive correlations were found between Clostridium, Enterobacter, Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc, Weissella and most volatile compounds. Pseudomonas, Chloroplast, Rhizobium, Aureimonas, and Sphingomonas were negatively correlated with volatile compounds in sauerkraut. This study provided a comprehensive picture of the dynamics of microbiota and metabolites profile during the fermentation of different homemade northeast sauerkraut. The elucidation of correlation between microbiota and volatile compounds is helpful for guiding future improvement of the fermentation process and manufacturing high-quality sauerkraut.

Baicalein, a dietary flavonoid, is the major constituent of Oroxylum indicum and Scutellaria baicalensis which are consumed as teas or dietary supplements in Asia, European, and the United States. The compound exhibits a variety of bioactivities despite its limited bioavailability. In the present work, 4-week treatment of baicalein significantly decreased the levels of blood glucose and circulating lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and improved insulin resistance, inflammation, and lipid profile in diabetic rats induced by STZ and high-fat-high-sugar-diet. These anti-diabetic effects were attributed to the increased SCFAs content and the increased thickness of gut mucus layer, and were associated with the modulation of gut microbiota. Among the key phylotypes, Bacteroides and Bacteroidales S24-7 had the highest relative abundance in the rats receiving high-dose baicalein and showed positive correlation with the phenotypes related to the improvement of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Our study supports the use of baicalein as a dietary supplement and a potential prebiotic for its ability to modify gut microbiota and to improve T2DM-related biochemical abnormalities.

Baicalein, a major component in Scutellaria baicalensis and Oroxylum indicum, is used as dietary supplement in Asia. In this study, we characterized the insulin-sensitizing activity of baicalein and found that baicalein improved insulin resistance by reducing the expression of SOCS3, increasing the phosphorylation of IRS1 and Akt1, reducing the phosphorylation of GSK3β and increasing hepatic glycogen level. We further evaluated the preventive effect of baicalein combined with acarbose in mice, aiming to enhance the therapeutic effect and reduce the side-effects of acarbose. The combination reduced the relative risk of progression from prediabetes to diabetes by 83.3% and the dose of acarbose by 80%. The underlying mechanisms include reducing postprandial hyperglycemia, improving insulin resistance, improving lipid metabolism, and reducing oxidative stress. Our results suggest that the consumption of 195–780 mg/d baicalein might improve the efficacy of acarbose on diabetes prevention and reduce the side-effects of acarbose in long-term acarbose users.

Fresh foods are vulnerable to foodborne pathogens which cause foodborne illness and endanger people’s life and safety. The rapid detection of foodborne pathogens is crucial for food safety surveillance. An in situ-synthesized gene chip for the detection of foodborne pathogens on fresh-cut fruits and vegetables was developed. The target genes were identified and screened by comparing the specific sequences of Salmonella Typhimurium, Vibrio parahemolyticus, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli O157:H7 from the National Center for Biotechnology Information database. Tiling array probes were designed to target selected genes in an optimized hybridization system. A total of 141 specific probes were selected from 3,227 hybridization probes, comprising 26 L. monocytogenes, 24 S. aureus, 25 E. coli O157:H7, 20 Salmonella Typhimurium, and 46 V. parahemolyticus probes that are unique to this study. The optimized assay had strong amplification signals and high accuracy. The detection limit for the five target pathogens on fresh-cut cantaloupe and lettuce was approximately 3 log cfu/g without culturing and with a detection time of 24 h. The detection technology established in this study can rapidly detect and monitor the foodborne pathogens on fresh-cut fruits and vegetables throughout the logistical distribution chain, i.e., processing, cleaning, fresh-cutting, packaging, storage, transport, and sale, and represents a valuable technology that support the safety of fresh agricultural products.

Previous studies have suggested a bilingual advantage in cognitive control as a result of the bilinguals’ language experience. However, the results are controversial as there are various factors (language proficiency, SES, culture, and intelligence, etc.) affecting cognitive control. In the current study, after between-group comparisons, we adopted a within-group approach by multiple regressions to investigate whether the performance by 10-to-75-year-old participants (N = 91) of tasks measuring inhibition, monitoring, and mental set shifting could be predicted by bilingualism, or demographic factors, or both. The results of multiple stepwise regression analyses showed that L2 proficiency was a significant predictor for conflict monitoring and inhibition, education and age were significant predictors for mental set shifting, and SES was a minor predictor for inhibition. These findings provide evidence that cognitive control is affected by both bilingualism and demographic factors. Future studies are encouraged to further identify the relationship between bilingualism and cognitive control from specific bilingual experience.

Image compression and image encryption are two essential tasks in image processing. The former aims to reduce the cost for storage or transmission of images while the latter aims to change the positions or values of pixels to protect image content. Nowadays, an increasing number of researchers are focusing on the combination of these two tasks. In this paper, we propose a novel joint image compression and encryption approach that integrates a quantum chaotic system, sparse Bayesian learning (SBL) and a bit-level 3D Arnold cat map, so-called QSBLA, for such a purpose. Specifically, the QSBLA consists of 6 stages. First, a quantum chaotic system is employed to generate chaotic sequences for subsequent compression and encryption. Second, as one method of compressive sensing, SBL is used to compress images. Third, an operation of diffusion is performed on the compressed image. Fourth, the compressed and diffused image is transformed into several bit-level cubes. Fifth, 3D Arnold cat maps are used to permute each bit-level cube. Finally, all the bit-level cubes are integrated and transformed into a 2D pixel-level image, resulting in the compressed and encrypted image. Extensive experiments on 8 publicly-accessed images demonstrate that the proposed QSBLA is superior or comparable to some state-of-the-art approaches in terms of several measurement indices, indicating that the QSBLA is promising for joint image compression and encryption.

Based on the deterministic description of batch culture expressed in form of switched ordinary differential equations, we introduce a switched stochastic counterpart system with initial state difference together with uncertain switching instants and system parameters to model the process of glycerol biodissimilation to 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PD) induced by Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae). Important properties of the stochastic system are discussed. Our aim is to obtain the unified switched instants and system parameters under the condition of different initial states. To do this, we will formulate a system identification problem in which these uncertain switched instants and system parameters are regarded as decision variables to be chosen such that the relative error between experimental data and computational results is minimized. Such problem governed by the stochastic system is subject to continuous state inequality constraints and box constraints. By performing a time-scaling transformation as well as introducing the constraint transcription and local smoothing approximation techniques, we convert such problem into a sequence of approximation subproblems. Considering both the difficulty of finding analytical solutions and the complex nature of these subproblems, we develop a parallelized differential evolution (DE) algorithm to solve these approximation subproblems. From an extensive simulation, we show that the obtained optimal switched instants and system parameters are satisfactory with initial state difference.

As one of the most widely used media types, images play an important role in the era of the Internet. And hence how to enhance the security of images has become a hot topic in the field of information security. However, due to some intrinsic characteristics of images, image security is still a challenging task. For the purpose of coping with this issue, in this paper, we propose a novel algorithm that combines a hyperchaotic system, dynamic filtering, and bit cuboid operations, namely, DFBC, for image encryption. Specifically, the proposed DFBC consists of four steps: firstly, a 7D Lorenz hyperchaotic system is utilized to generate a pseudorandom sequence; secondly, variable 1D filters are derived from the pseudorandom sequence, and dynamic filtering is conducted on each pixel of an image; thirdly, a diffusion scheme is performed and then the image is transformed to a bit cuboid; and, finally, various types of permutation (rearranging, symmetry, rotation, zigzag, and global bit permutation) are performed on the bit cuboid. The experiments on several testing images demonstrate that the DFBC achieves state-of-the-art results in terms of several evaluation criteria, showing that the DFBC is promising for image encryption.

The current study investigates the influence of L2 proficiency on cognitive control among three matched groups of unbalanced Chinese-English bilinguals. Flanker task was administered to measure conflict monitoring and inhibition, and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) to measure mental set shifting. ANOVA analyses of the Flanker results showed no differences in inhibition across all groups and no interaction between group and condition. However, the Flanker results showed faster performance for the highest L2 proficiency group relative to the lowest L2 proficiency group in all conditions (incongruent, neutral, and congruent), which reflects better ability of conflict monitoring. Finally, ANOVA analyses of the WCST results showed no differences across all groups. These results altogether suggest that L2 proficiency has significant influence on cognitive control, but only in conflict monitoring, not in inhibition or mental set shifting.