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To investigate the impact of deficiency of LIG4 gene on site-specific integration in CHO cells.CHO cells are considered the most valuable mammalian cells in the manufacture of biological medicines, and genetic engineering of CHO cells can improve product yield and stability. The traditional method of inserting foreign genes by random integration (RI) requires multiple rounds of screening and selection, which may lead to location effects and gene silencing, making it difficult to obtain stable, high-yielding cell lines. Although site-specific integration (SSI) techniques may overcome the challenges with RI, its feasibility is limited by the very low efficiency of the technique. Recently, SSI efficiency has been enhanced in other mammalian cell types by inhibiting DNA ligase IV (Lig4) activity, which is indispensable in DNA double-strand break repair by NHEJ. However, this approach has not been evaluated in CHO cells. In this study, the LIG4 gene was knocked out of CHO cells using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing. Efficiency of gene targeting in LIG4Deficiency of LIG4 represents a feasible strategy to improve SSI efficiency and suggests it can be applied to develop and engineer CHO cell lines in the future.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of eriodictyol on spinal cord injury (SCI) and its underlying mechanism of action.Methods: Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to sham, SCI, and eriodictyol-treated groups (SCI + Eri; 10, 20, and 50 mg/kg). Moderate spinal cord contusion injury was induced to model SCI. Locomotor recovery was assessed based on Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) score. Pain wasevaluated by paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) and latency (PWL), and spinal cord water content was measured. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Immunoassay was used to determine malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) levels while Western blotting was employed to evaluate nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), and phosphorylated NF-κB (p-NF-κB) levels.Results: Eriodictyol elevated BBB score, PWT, and PWL in SCI rats but reduced spinal cord water content (p < 0.05). Eriodictyol treatment down-regulated TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and MDA, whereas SOD, GSH, and GSH-PX levels were elevated (p < 0.05). Eriodictyol administration increased Nrf2 and HO-1 levels but reduced p-NF-κB/NF-κB.Conclusion: This study provides a potential therapy to promote long-term functional recovery following SCI. Keywords: Spinal cord injury, Eriodictyol, Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, NF-κB signaling pathway, Polymerase chain reaction, Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan score

We fabricated heterogeneous iron-nickel compound/reduced graphene oxide (RGO) composites to obtain lightweight and high-efficiency microwave absorption materials with tunable absorption frequency. Using a facile hydrothermal route in combination with calcination at varying temperatures of 500-700 °C, the magnetic components Fe0.64Ni0.36, Fe0.64Ni0.36@Fe2Ni2N, and Fe2Ni2N were obtained. Due to strong interfacial polarization and dipole polarization as well as the conductive network formed by the substantial number of interfaces, all the magnetic RGO hybrids presented remarkable electromagnetic wave attenuation ability even when the filler content was only 5.2 wt%. More importantly, the optimization of reflection loss and tunable absorption frequency could be successfully realized by tuning the hybrid architecture and electromagnetic properties. This work reveals the mechanism of polarization-related dielectric relaxation of RGO, which provides new opportunities for designing lightweight and highly efficient microwave-absorbing materials by fully utilizing the hetero-interfacial effects.

Essential oils (EOs), as unique natural products, are promising resources for the discovery of green agrochemicals. Geraniol was found to exhibit substantial fungicidal activities within citronella oil in this study. A series of novel geranyl benzenesulfonamide compounds were synthesized and found to display considerable fungicidal activities. Some aromatic geranyl sulfonamide derivatives were further optimized and then evaluated the bioactivities against six phytopathogenic fungi. Geranyl thiofuran-sulfonamide compounds 4d-1 (median effective concentration (EC50) against Rhizoctonia solani: 24.97 mg/L and EC50 against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum: 27.26 mg/L), 4d-2 (EC50 against S. sclerotiorum: 18.53 mg/L) and Geranyl pyridine-sulfonamide compound 4e-2 (EC50 against R. solani: 29.31 mg/L and EC50 against S. sclerotiorum: 29.98 mg/L) were screened as “star molecules” with highly efficient fungicidal activities. The structure-activity relationship (SAR) study revealed that the electron-rich thiofuran ring and chlorine-substituted piperidine played remarkable roles on increasing the fungicidal activities. The molecular mechanisms of the “star molecules” were also clarified by performing molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and these geranyl sulfonamide compounds were identified as potential Complex III inhibitors. The main component originating from the natural plant EOs ought to be studied to discover novel pathogenic fungicidal candidates used to control agricultural plant diseases.

In this work, the titanium nitride (TiN) ceramic fibers with average diameter of ~ 1 μm and length of tens of micrometer range were synthesized by electrospinning followed by thermal nitridation reaction. And their dielectric property and EM wave absorption performance were investigated in the GHz range. Due to the strong high-frequency polarization effect resulted from the large surface contact area of the obtained TiN fibers, satisfactory EM wave attenuation was achieved with a low absorbent content of only 14.5 wt%. Specifically, the composite TiN fibers displayed an ultrawide effective absorption bandwidth of 4.1 GHz with > 90% EM attenuation and an optimal reflection loss as high as − 47.2 dB at the thickness of 2 mm. The combined excellent EM absorption property with high-temperature and corrosion resistance, simple production procedure and low cost endow TiN fibers as a promising candidate for lightweight microwave absorption materials suitable for harsh application conditions.

AIM To explore the correlation between the expression of miRNA-135a and Bach1 in colorectal cancer tissue and the patient's clinical information. Methods 60 patients with colorectal carcinoma were treated as a control group. Real-time quantitative PCR assays and immunohistochemistry method were performed to detect the expression of miRNA-135a and Bach1 in 60 colorectal carcinoma and adjacent normal tissues, and the clinical and pathological classifications had also been investigated. The SPSS 19.00 software was used. All data represent mean±SD of three independent experiments. P

The ternary RGO/Fe3O4/SiO2 composites were prepared through a hydrothermal method and an annealing process. The Fe3O4 and SiO2 particles were in situ grown on the surface of reduced graphene oxide (RGO). The RGO, Fe3O4, and SiO2 were properly assembled to realize comprehensive electromagnetic wave-absorbing performance, which not only achieve synergy between the dielectric loss and the magnetic loss, but also possess satisfactory impedance matching. Based on the analysis of absorbing properties, the RGO/Fe3O4/SiO2-0.5 composite exhibits the optimal wave absorbing performance with the maximum reflection loss of −34.36 dB and an effective absorption bandwidth of 7.76 GHz at a matching thickness of 2.9 mm. The introduction of wave transparent and insulated SiO2 increases the propagation paths and optimizes the conductivity. Meanwhile, the construction of a heterogeneous interface promotes the interfacial polarization. The appropriate conductive network and the defect sites of RGO guarantee the conduction loss and dipole polarization. The natural resonance and exchange resonance from Fe3O4 jointly contribute to the magnetic loss. Therefore, this work provides a simple and flexible method for the synthesis and design of the heterostructure with multiple dissipation mechanism as a high-efficiency absorbent.

This work is to answer an important question: which parameter, surface concentration or surface excess, dominates the surface tension of multicomponent mixtures? Two series of solutions have been chosen to inspect the dependence of solution surface tension on surface concentration and surface excess of the solutes. The solutions are separately 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) in 3-hydroxypropionitrile and tetrabutylphosphonium bromide (TBPBr) in formamide. The surface tension data of these two series of binary solutions have been respectively correlated to the Gibbs surface excess and the surface concentration of the solutes. Both surface excess and surface concentration are experimentally determined by Neutral Impact Ion Scattering Spectroscopy (NICISS). The surface tension of POPC solutions is linearly dependent on the surface concentrations of POPC; whereas, the surface tension of TBPBr solutions depends piecewise linearly on surface concentration but irregularly upon surface excess of TBPBr. The intrinsic linear relationships between surface tension and surface concentration found in those two series of solutions are consistent to those results found in previous work. This observation evidences that the dominant factor to the surface tension of solutions is the surface concentration of solute to which both the surface fraction and the molecular orientation are subject.

Eye movement interaction is more natural and intelligent than traditional input by mouse and keyboard, and has a wide range of application scenarios. Menu, as an important user input and selection mechanism, designed and interacted with eye movement input modality can greatly improve user interaction efficiency. An eye movement menu usability evaluation index system based on analytic hierarchy process was proposed in this paper. In addition, combined with experiments and questionnaires, a quantitative and qualitative combination study on eye movement types (fisheye linear menu, marking menu) and eye movement selection mechanisms (time delay selection mechanism, select sub-selection reconfirmation mechanism) was conducted. The problems of easy fatigue and “Midas Touch” in eye movement interaction were also discussed in the paper. The conclusions reached at the end of this paper have a guiding role in the design and evaluation of the eye movement menu.

As the smartphone market gradually becomes mature, smartphone appearance has become a prime factor in the consumer’s decision-making process when purchasing a smartphone. Based on the methodology of Kansei engineering, this paper aims at constructing a Kansei image rating system to evaluate smartphone appearance. Firstly, an initial Kansei image scale was constructed containing 36 word pairs selected from over 700 emotional ideological words from Chinese literature and interview. Secondly, the semantic difference experiment was conducted over 50 subjects to evaluated six smartphones with different appearances using the initial scale. Thirdly, three statistical analyses were applied to the experimental data to further optimize and weight the Kansei image scale, including project analysis, factor analysis, and AMOS structural equation modeling. Finally, we applied the overall weighed Kansei image rating system to evaluate the performance of the six smartphones on four dimensions: exquisiteness, balance, color and reliability. The results show that our weighted Kansei image rating system can be applied to future smartphone appearance evaluation and marketing prediction.

With the pursuit of high-efficiency microwave absorbing materials (MAMs), biomass derived porous carbon (BPC)-based materials have attracted a great deal of attentions due to their plentiful resources, low density and highly environment-friendly. The microwave absorption of BPC composites is closely correlated to their composition, surface chemical activity, microstructures, and pore size, which are in turn decisively determined by the biomass precursors and subsequent carbonization or activation. In this article, we provide a timely and comprehensive review on recent achievements for the microwave absorption properties of various BPC-based MAMs. Firstly, the general synthesizing approaches for carbon materials from various biomass sources, especially in relation to the carbonization and activation are summarized. Then, based on the basic microwave absorption theory, the performances of pure BPC served as microwave absorber are presented. After that, the strategies to improve the microwave absorption properties of BPC including heteroatom doping and the formation of composites with magnetic metals, metal oxides, polymers, and so on, are discussed as well. Finally, we provide discussions and prospects for the development of BPC as lightweight and efficient MAMs in the further. It is believed that the current progress in experimental investigations combined with theoretical predictions will greatly promote the design and development of lightweight and efficient MAMs. Moreover, as an important type of MAMs, views on the challenges and prospects of BPC-based MAMs are proposed as well.

In this work, a series of BN/Ni nanocomposites were synthesized via a facile in-situ synthesis process for efficiency electromagnetic wave absorption (EWA). The incorporation of the insulative BN could not only reduce the size of Ni particles and prevent them from agglomeration, but also optimize the conductivity and impedance matching behaviours of the hybrids. Meanwhile, the large interface area of the hybrids facilitated the high-frequency polarization effect and contributed to the enhanced EWA performance. As a result, when the BN/Ni filler content was 48 wt%, the bandwidth for the relection loss (RL) values below −10 dB achieved in a wide frequency range of 12.7–15.7 GHz with a thickness of 1.7 mm, which meets the demand of wideband and efficiency characters of EWA materials. By considering both the structural design and electromagnetic regulation, it is expected that the as-fabricated BN/Ni hybrid can be a promising candidate as highly effective electromagnetic wave absorbing material.

Determination of dispersal strategies of alien species and its relationship with social and climatic factors are essential to understand the mechanisms of species invasion and adaption. Based on morphological trait, dispersal mode, and dispersal agent of diaspore of 562 alien species across China, we determined: (i) the proportions of five dispersal strategies (i.e., autochory, anemochory, hydrochory, zoochory, and anthropochory), (ii) the relationships between the dispersal strategies and socio-climatic factors in 34 administrative regions across China, and (iii) the correlations between different dispersal strategies. Anthropochory, zoochory, and anemochory account for nearly 90.0% of all the dispersal strategies of alien species. Mean frost days (MFD), mean annual humidity (MAH), and gross domestic product (GDP) were the main climatic and social factors that were correlated to different dispersal strategies. Zoochory was positively related to MFD, but negatively related to the autochory and anthropochory. MAH negatively influenced the anemochory, while GDP positively influenced the hydrochory. We classified the six dispersal strategies into two groups based on the correlations among dispersal strategies, group I included autochory and anthropochory, and group II included anemochory, hydrochory, and zoochory. Within a group, dispersal strategies were positively correlated, while between groups, dispersal strategies were negatively correlated. Positive correlation between different strategies might be co-owned while negative correlation between different strategies might not be co-owned by one alien species. Understanding the characteristics of the dispersal strategies of alien species is important for policy makers when controlling the dispersal of malignant invasive alien species, predicting the distribution, and decreasing or cutting off the dispersal pathways of invasive alien species.

In this work, to meet the comprehensive demands for efficiency and lightweight electromagnetic wave absorption (EWA) material, boron nitride/reduced graphene oxide (BN/RGO) nanocomposites were prepared via a one-step thermal nitridation process. The insulative BN component in the obtained nano BN/RGO hybrids realized the regulation of conductivity and thus impedance matching, and the large interface area of the hybrids facilitated the high-frequency polarization effect and contributed to the enhanced EWA performance. Remarkably, the EWA performance of optimized BN/RGO hybrids reached a strong reflection loss (RL) of −48.9 dB in a broad effective absorption bandwidth of 4.2 GHz with a low filler content of 3.0 wt. % and at a thin thickness of 2.6 mm, which well outperforms that of most other reported dielectric absorption materials. Our results may light a new way on introducing light element component to produce high-efficiency RGO-based EWA materials with facile and low-cost production process.

The current paper reports a simulation study on the molecular structure of aqueous solutions of anionic surfactant under the environment of Material Studio 6.0. From the simulated configurations, the concentration-depth profiles of each constituent in the surface layer have been analyzed. With that, the structure of electrical double layer and molecular orientation of surface active dodecyl sulfate ion dependent on its surface density have been derived straightforward. Thereby, the surface pictures of the investigated solutions are mapped out in angstrom scale and become visible. The results demonstrate that the structure of electrical double layer is heavily dependent on the specific counter-ions. However, this dependence is opposite to its experimental counterpart and reversed to that found in the formamide solution. This contradictory finding can be explained by the salvation effect of the counter-ions. Additionally, the orientation of dodecyl sulfate ion is found only subjected to its surface density but hardly influenced by its counter-ion specificity, which keeps coincident to the past investigation on formamide solution.

Objective To study some problems of visual feedback on user cognition and satisfaction in virtual and real interaction with inconsistent input and output. Method Based on natural gestures, experiments were designed to study user’s perception of different visual feedback and satisfaction in virtual grasping, with the Ergo LAB physiological auxiliary testing equipment. Conclusion In the virtual and real interaction visual feedback, the feedback form of visual expression is superior to the performance of movement, and the color is the main form. The feedback form of movement performance is stronger in physiological stimulation, deformation is the most feedback way of human cognition, which can increase the sense of immersion. In the interaction involving a variety of visual feedback, it is suggested giving priority to the classification of the same form of expression.

The main goal of the current paper is to investigate the surface structure of ionic surfactant solutions at molecular level and the influences of the counter-ion in this course. The used methods are molecular dynamics simulation and neutral impact collision ion scattering spectroscopy. The surfactants are sodium dodecyl sulfate and cesium dodecyl sulfate. With Material Studio (MS), the concentration-depth profiles of all the components in the surface layer have been simulated. With those profiles, the surface pictures of the ionic surfactant solutions are mapped out in angstrom scale and the orientation of surface active dodecyl sulfate ion at the surface dependent on its surface density is derived. Simultaneously, neutral impact collision ion scattering spectroscopy is employed to investigate the same systems experimentally. The results indicate that the surface structure is profoundly influenced by surface density of the surfactant and specificity of the counter-ion; however, the orientation of the dodecyl sulfate ion on the surface is only subjected to its surface density but hardly affected by the properties of its counter-ion. The comparison between those simulated and experimental results reveals reasonable agreements, indicating the reliability of this investigation as well as the reliability of the simulation strategy applied in these systems.

In this study, titanium nitride (TiN)/reduced graphene oxide (RGO) composites were prepared via a facile hydrothermal and thermal nitridation process. Due to their favorable electromagnetic wave dissipation ability and appropriate electromagnetic (EM) impedance matching, the TiN/RGO flakes embodies distinct advantage as compared to single component RGO nanosheets and TiN nanoparticles. Moreover, the effective electromagnetic absorption frequency range of the TiN/RGO flakes could be designed by controlling the mass ratio of the precursor. When the mass ratio of nanosized titanic acid to graphene oxide is 1.4:1, the reflection loss of the TiN/RGO with only 2.0 wt% absorber loading reaches −42.85 dB at 8.88 GHz with a thickness of 4.0 mm and a broad effective absorption bandwidth (RL

We present the results that a suitable eddy current effect could act as an effective microwave dissipative mechanism for metallic magnet-based electromagnetic wave absorbents. With no need to introduce low or nonconductive components, the strongest absorption of −43.2 dB at 14.7 GHz could be achieved with a thin absorbent layer of 1.1 mm and at the mass fraction of the nickel fibers filler in the composite of 40 wt. %. This work utilizes the intrinsic dependence of electromagnetic wave dissipation on the eddy current effect and opens a simple and feasible way for designing of microwave absorption materials and composites.