Multi-omics analysis reveals the biosynthesis of flavonoids during the browning process of Malus sieversii explants

Malus sieversii is a precious apple germplasm resource. Browning of explants is one of the most important factors limiting the survival rate of plant tissue culture. In order to explore the molecular mechanism of the browning degree of different strains of Malus sieversii, we compared the dynamic changes of Malus sieversii and Malus robusta Rehd. during the whole browning process using a multi-group method. A total of 44 048 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by transcriptome analysis on the DNBSEQ-T7 sequencing platform. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the DEGs were significantly enriched in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway. In addition, metabonomic analysis showed that (-)-epicatechin, astragalin, chrysin, irigenin, isoquercitrin, naringenin, neobavaisoflavone and prunin exhibited different degrees of free radical scavenging ability in the tissue culture browning process, and their accumulation in different varieties led to differences in the browning degree among varieties. Comprehensive transcriptome and metabonomics analysis of the data related to flavonoid biosynthesis showed that PAL, 4CL, F3H, CYP73A, CHS, CHI, ANS, DFR and PGT1 were the key genes for flavonoid accumulation during browning. In addition, WGCNA analysis revealed a strong correlation between the known flavonoid structure genes and the selected transcriptional genes. Protein interaction predictions demonstrated that 19 transcription factors (7 MYBs and 12 bHLHs) and 8 flavonoid structural genes had targeted relationships. The results show that the interspecific differential expression of flavonoid genes is the key influencing factor of the difference in browning degree between Malus sieversii and Malus robusta Rehd., providing a theoretical basis for further study on the regulation of flavonoid biosynthesis.

Analysis of flavonoid metabolism of compounds in succulent fruits and leaves of three different colors of Rosaceae

Red flesh apple (Malus pumila var. medzwetzkyana Dieck), purple leaf plum (Prunus cerasifera Ehrhar f), and purple leaf peach (Prunus persica 'Atropurpurea') are significant ornamental plants within the Rosaceae family. The coloration of their fruits and leaves is crucial in their appearance and nutritional quality. However, qualitative and quantitative studies on flavonoids in the succulent fruits and leaves of multicolored Rosaceae plants are lacking. To unveil the diversity and variety-specificity of flavonoids in these three varieties, we conducted a comparative analysis of flavonoid metabolic components using ultra-high-performance liquid phase mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The results revealed the detection of 311 metabolites, including 47 flavonoids, 105 flavonols, 16 chalcones, 37 dihydroflavonoids, 8 dihydroflavonols, 30 anthocyanins, 14 flavonoid carbon glycosides, 23 flavanols, 8 isoflavones, 11 tannins, and 12 proanthocyanidins. Notably, although the purple plum and peach leaves exhibited distinct anthocyanin compounds, paeoniflorin and corythrin glycosides were common but displayed varying glycosylation levels. While the green purple leaf peach fruit (PEF) and red flesh apple leaf (AL) possessed the lowest anthocyanin content, they exhibited the highest total flavonoid content. Conversely, the red flesh apple fruit (AF) displayed the highest anthocyanin content and a diverse range of anthocyanin glycosylation modifications, indicating that anthocyanins predominantly influenced the fruit's color. Purple PLF, PLL, and PEL showcased varying concentrations of anthocyanins, suggesting that their colors result from the co-color interaction between specific types of anthocyanins and secondary metabolites, such as flavonols, flavonoids, and dihydroflavonoids. This study provides novel insights into the variations in tissue metabolites among Rosaceae plants with distinct fruit and leaf colors.

Relationship and integrated development of low-carbon economy, food safety, and agricultural mechanization

The organic integration of food security and agricultural mechanization has become a challenge to realize a low-carbon economy, which helps promote carbon peaking and carbon neutralization. In this work, a simultaneous equation model has developed to analyze the relationship between food security, agricultural automation, and agricultural carbon emissions in China. The ordinary least square method was used to verify the method. The logarithmic mean Divisia index decomposition was used to decompose further the influencing factors of agricultural carbon emissions. Results show that the organic coupling of a low-carbon economy, food security, and agricultural mechanization positively affects environmental protection. In which, unit fertilizer usage and crop sown area have the greatest impact on carbon emission intensity, followed by agricultural diesel fuel and agricultural plastic film. It is worth noting that the bottom line of the grain sown area cannot be touched. It is a prerequisite for ensuring grain production. Finally, this paper presents suggestions based on China's achievements, where the top-level design is crucial.

Prognostic value of microRNAs in heart failure: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Reported studies have shown that expression levels of microRNAs (miRNAs) are related to survival time of patients with heart failure (HF). A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to study circulating miRNAs expression and patient outcome.

METHODS

Meta-analysis estimating expression levels of circulating miRNAs in HF patients from January 2010 until June 30, 2018, through conducting online searches in Pub Med, Cochrane Database of Systematic, EMBASE and Web of Science and reviewed by 2 independent researchers. Using pooled hazard ratio with a 95% confidence interval to assess the correlation between miRNAs expression levels and overall survival.

RESULTS

Four relevant articles assessing 19 circulating miRNAs in 867 patients were included. In conclusion, the meta-analysis results suggest that HF patients with low expression of serum miR-1, miR-423-5p, miR-126, miR-21, miR-23, miR-30d, miR-18a-5p, miR-16-5p, miR-18b-5p, miR-27a-3p, miR-26b-5p, miR-30e-5p, miR-106a-5p, miR-233-3P, miR-301a-3p, miR-423-3P, and miR-128 have significantly worse overall survival (P  <  .05). Among them, miR-18a-5p, miR-18b-5p, miR-30d, miR-30e-5p, and miR-423-5p are strong biomarkers of prognosis in HF.

Reporting quality of clinical practice guidelines regarding gout and hyperuricemia according to the RIGHT checklist: systematic review

BACKGROUND

The Reporting Items for Practice Guidelines in Healthcare (RIGHT) checklist was used to assess the reporting quality of 2009-2019 clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) regarding gout and hyperuricemia, aimed to improve the reporting quality of future guidelines.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, the Chinese Biomedical Literature database, the Wanfang Database, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure from January 2009 to June 2019 for guidelines regarding gout and hyperuricemia. We also searched the websites of guideline development organizations (the Guidelines International Network, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, the American College of Rheumatology, and the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR)). Furthermore, supplementary guidelines reported in included articles were systematically searched, as well as Google Scholar.

RESULTS

Seventeen guidelines were included, of which one was in Chinese and 16 were in English. The mean reporting rate of the 35 items specified was 14.9 (42.5%); only five CPGs (29.4%) had a reporting rate >50%. Of the 35 items, three were very frequently reported. The reporting proportion of the seven domains (basic information, background, evidence, recommendations, review and quality assurance, funding and declaration and management of interests, and other information) were 64.7%, 36.8%, 50.6%, 42.9%, 8.82%, 33.8%, and 31.4%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The reporting quality of the present guidelines for gout and hyperuricemia is relatively poor. We suggest that the RIGHT reporting checklist should be used by CPG developers to ensure higher reporting quality of future guidelines.

Ginkgolic acid and anacardic acid are specific covalent inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 cysteine proteases

BACKGROUND

In the urgent campaign to develop therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2, natural products have been an important source of new lead compounds.

RESULTS

We herein identified two natural products, ginkgolic acid and anacardic acid, as inhibitors using a high-throughput screen targeting the SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease (PLpro). Moreover, our study demonstrated that the two hit compounds are dual inhibitors targeting the SARS-CoV-2 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro) in addition to PLpro. A mechanism of action study using enzyme kinetics further characterized the two compounds as irreversible inhibitors against both 3CLpro and PLpro. Significantly, both identified compounds inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro at nontoxic concentrations.

CONCLUSIONS

Our finding provides two novel natural products as promising SARS-CoV-2 antivirals.

Antibacterial properties of recoverable CuZnO@Fe3O4@GO composites in water treatment

The growth of bacteria will lead to water quality deterioration and equipment damage. Therefore, it is necessary to control the growth and reproduction of microorganisms in water treatment. A new type of magnetic recoverable CuZnO@Fe3O4@GO composites was prepared by ultrasonic method, and the composites were characterized and analyzed by SEM, TEM, XPS, and other methods. The optimum mass ratio of composites was determined by orthogonal experiment, and the antibacterial properties and mechanism of the composite were investigated by gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli. Finally, the antibacterial properties of the composites in the effluent of the secondary sedimentation tank were researched. It was shown that the optimum mass ratio of the composites was GO:Fe3O4:CuZnO =1:2:3. When the dosage of composites was 180 mg L-1 and the action time was 100 min, the antibacterial rate against S. aureus and E. coli reached more than 99.5%. The composites could destroy the cell structure of two kinds of bacteria, increase the content of active oxygen in bacteria cells, and enhance the leakage rate of protein by more than 9 times in 150 min, thereby causing the death of the bacteria. And the antibacterial rate of the composites in effluent of the secondary sedimentation tank could reach 99%, and the magnetic recovery rate could reach more than 98%. After 5 cycles of use, the antibacterial rate could still exceed 90%.

Research progress of near-infrared fluorescence probes based on indole heptamethine cyanine dyes in vivo and in vitro

Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging is a noninvasive technique that provides numerous advantages for the real-time in vivo monitoring of biological information in living subjects without the use of ionizing radiation. Near-infrared fluorescent (NIRF) dyes are widely used as fluorescent imaging probes. These fluorescent dyes remarkably decrease the interference caused by the self-absorption of substances and autofluorescence, increase detection selectivity and sensitivity, and reduce damage to the human body. Thus, they are beneficial for bioassays. Indole heptamethine cyanine dyes are widely investigated in the field of near-infrared fluorescence imaging. They are mainly composed of indole heterocyclics, heptamethine chains, and N-substituent side chains. With indole heptamethine cyanine dyes as the parent, introducing reactive groups to the parent compounds or changing their structures can make fluorescent probes have different functions like labeling protein and tumor, detecting intracellular metal cations, which has become the hotspot in the field of fluorescence imaging of biological research. Therefore, this study reviewed the applications of indole heptamethine cyanine fluorescent probes to metal cation detection, pH, molecules, tumor imaging, and protein in vivo. The distribution, imaging results, and metabolism of the probes in vivo and in vitro were described. The biological application trends and existing problems of fluorescent probes were discussed.

Estimating sparse functional brain networks with spatial constraints for MCI identification

Functional brain network (FBN), estimated with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), has become a potentially useful way of diagnosing neurological disorders in their early stages by comparing the connectivity patterns between different brain regions across subjects. However, this depends, to a great extent, on the quality of the estimated FBNs, indicating that FBN estimation is a key step for the subsequent task of disorder identification. In the past decades, researchers have developed many methods to estimate FBNs, including Pearson’s correlation and (regularized) partial correlation, etc. Despite their widespread applications in current studies, most of the existing methods estimate FBNs only based on the dependency between the measured blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signals, which ignores spatial relationship of signals associated with different brain regions. Due to the space and material parsimony principle of our brain, we believe that the spatial distance between brain regions has an important influence on FBN topology. Therefore, in this paper, we assume that spatially neighboring brain regions tend to have stronger connections and/or share similar connections with others; based on this assumption, we propose two novel methods to estimate FBNs by incorporating the information of brain region distance into the estimation model. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed methods, we use the estimated FBNs to identify subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) from normal controls (NCs). Experimental results show that the proposed methods are better than the baseline methods in the sense of MCI identification accuracy.

Identification of the Eutrema salsugineum EsMYB90 gene important for anthocyanin biosynthesis

BACKGROUND

Anthocyanins contribute to coloration and antioxidation effects in different plant tissues. MYB transcription factors have been demonstrated to be a key regulator for anthocyanin synthesis in many plants. However, little information was available about the MYB genes in the halophyte species Eutrema salsugineum.

RESULT

Here we report the identification of an important anthocyanin biosynthesis regulator EsMYB90 from Eutrema salsugineum, which is a halophyte tolerant to multiple abiotic stresses. Our phylogenetic and localization analyses supported that EsMYB90 is an R2R3 type of MYB transcription factor. Ectopic expression of EsMYB90 in tobacco and Arabidopsis enhanced pigmentation and anthocyanin accumulation in various organs. The transcriptome analysis revealed that 42 genes upregulated by EsMYB90 in 35S:EsMYB90 tobacco transgenic plants are required for anthocyanin biosynthesis. Moreover, our qRT-PCR results showed that EsMYB90 promoted expression of early (PAL, CHS, and CHI) and late (DFR, ANS, and UFGT) anthocyanin biosynthesis genes in stems, leaves, and flowers of 35S:EsMYB90 tobacco transgenic plants.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicated that EsMYB90 is a MYB transcription factor, which regulates anthocyanin biosynthesis genes to control anthocyanin biosynthesis. Our work provides a new tool to enhance anthocyanin production in various plants.

A cost-sensitive online learning method for peptide identification

BACKGROUND

Post-database search is a key procedure in peptide identification with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) strategies for refining peptide-spectrum matches (PSMs) generated by database search engines. Although many statistical and machine learning-based methods have been developed to improve the accuracy of peptide identification, the challenge remains on large-scale datasets and datasets with a distribution of unbalanced PSMs. A more efficient learning strategy is required for improving the accuracy of peptide identification on challenging datasets. While complex learning models have larger power of classification, they may cause overfitting problems and introduce computational complexity on large-scale datasets. Kernel methods map data from the sample space to high dimensional spaces where data relationships can be simplified for modeling.

RESULTS

In order to tackle the computational challenge of using the kernel-based learning model for practical peptide identification problems, we present an online learning algorithm, OLCS-Ranker, which iteratively feeds only one training sample into the learning model at each round, and, as a result, the memory requirement for computation is significantly reduced. Meanwhile, we propose a cost-sensitive learning model for OLCS-Ranker by using a larger loss of decoy PSMs than that of target PSMs in the loss function.

CONCLUSIONS

The new model can reduce its false discovery rate on datasets with a distribution of unbalanced PSMs. Experimental studies show that OLCS-Ranker outperforms other methods in terms of accuracy and stability, especially on datasets with a distribution of unbalanced PSMs. Furthermore, OLCS-Ranker is 15-85 times faster than CRanker.

Role of STAT3 signaling pathway in breast cancer

Breast cancer has grown to be the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women. Only a few treatment options are available for breast cancer due to the widespread occurrence of chemoresistance, which emphasizes the need to discover and develop new methods to treat this disease. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is an early tumor diagnostic marker and is known to promote breast cancer malignancy. Recent clinical and preclinical data indicate the involvement of overexpressed and constitutively activated STAT3 in the progression, proliferation, metastasis and chemoresistance of breast cancer. Moreover, new pathways comprised of upstream regulators and downstream targets of STAT3 have been discovered. In addition, small molecule inhibitors targeting STAT3 activation have been found to be efficient for therapeutic treatment of breast cancer. This systematic review discusses the advances in the discovery of the STAT3 pathways and drugs targeting STAT3 in breast cancer. Video abstract.

Preparation and characterization of dissolving hyaluronic acid composite microneedles loaded micelles for delivery of curcumin

In order to improve the bioavailability of curcumin (Cur) and patient compliance, a type of novel hyaluronic acid (HA) composite microneedles containing Cur-loaded micelles was designed in this paper. On the one hand, the microneedles matrix solution was prepared by screening the optimal concentration of HA and the better proportion of HA to sodium carboxymethyl starch (CMS-Na). On the other hand, the amphiphilic polymer, named as Quercetin-Dithiodipropionic Acid-Oligomeric Hyaluronic Acid (Que-DA-oHA), was synthesized and characterized using ¹H-NMR. Subsequently, the dialysis method was used to prepare Cur-loaded Que-DA-oHA micelles with an average size of 172.6 ± 11.4 nm and zeta potential of - 33.71 ± 0.45 mV. A micromolding process was used to prepare the micelle-loaded HA composite microneedles. It had been found that when the concentration of HA was 200 mg/mL and the mass ratio of HA to CMS-Na was 2:1, the prepared HA composite microneedles had good mechanical strength. In-skin dissolution kinetics showed that the micelle-loaded HA composite microneedles could dissolve quickly in the skin. In vitro permeation study indicated that the microneedles delivered 74.7% of their drug load over 6 h, which exhibited remarkable drug permeation properties in a short time. Here, we creatively combined micellar technology with microneedle technology to rapidly deliver Cur transdermally for diseases treatment such as melanoma. Graphical abstract.

Analysis of center of mass acceleration and muscle activation in hemiplegic paralysis during quiet standing

Hemiplegic paralysis after stroke may augment postural instability and decrease the balance control ability for standing. The center of mass acceleration (COMacc) is considered to be an effective indicator of postural stability for standing balance control. However, it is less studied how the COMacc could be affected by the muscle activities on lower-limbs in post-stroke hemiplegic patients. This study aimed to examine the effects of hemiplegic paralysis in post-stroke individuals on the amplitude and structural variabilities of COMacc and surface electromyography (sEMG) signals during quiet standing. Eleven post-stroke hemiplegic patients and the same number of gender- and age-matched healthy volunteers participated in the experiment. The sEMG signals of tibialis anterior (TA) and lateral gastrocnemius (LG) muscles of the both limbs, and the COMacc in the anterior-posterior direction with and without visual feedback (VF vs. NVF) were recorded simultaneously during quiet standing. The sEMG and COMacc were analyzed using root mean square (RMS) or standard deviation (SD), and a modified detrended fluctuation analysis based on empirical mode decomposition (EMD-DFA). Results showed that the SD and the scale exponent α of EMD-DFA of the COMacc from the patients were significantly higher than the values from the controls under both VF (p < 0.01) and NVF (p < 0.001) conditions. The RMSs of TA and LG on the non-paretic limbs were significantly higher than those on paretic limbs (p < 0.05) for both the patients and controls (p < 0.05). The TA of both the paretic and non-paretic limbs of the patients showed augmented α values than the TA of the controls (p < 0.05). The α of the TA and LG of non-paretic limbs, and the α of COMacc were significantly increased after removing visual feedback in patients (p < 0.05). These results suggested an increased amplitude variability but decreased structural variability of COMacc, associated with asymmetric muscle contraction between the paretic and the non-paretic limbs in hemiplegic paralysis, revealing a deficiency in integration of sensorimotor information and a loss of flexibility of postural control due to stroke.

Computer-Aided Diagnosis (CAD) of Pulmonary Nodule of Thoracic CT Image Using Transfer Learning

Computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) has already been widely used in medical image processing. We recently make another trial to implement convolutional neural network (CNN) on the classification of pulmonary nodules of thoracic CT images. The biggest challenge in medical image classification with the help of CNN is the difficulty of acquiring enough samples, and overfitting is a common problem when there are not enough images for training. Transfer learning has been verified as reasonable in dealing with such problems with an acceptable loss value. We use the classic LeNet-5 model to classify pulmonary nodules of thoracic CT images, including benign and malignant pulmonary nodules, and different malignancies of the malignant nodules. The CT images are obtained from Lung Image Database Consortium and Image Database Resource Initiative (LIDC-IDRI) where both pulmonary nodule scanning and nodule annotations are available. These images are labeled and stored in a medical images knowledge base (KB), which is designed and implemented in our previous work. We implement the 10-folder cross validation (CV) to testify the robustness of the classification model we trained. The result demonstrates that the transfer learning of the LeNet-5 is good for classifying pulmonary nodules of thoracic CT images, and the average values of Top-1 accuracy are 97.041% and 96.685% respectively. We believe that our work is beneficial and has potential for practical diagnosis of lung nodules.

Classification, Synthesis, and Application of Luminescent Silica Nanoparticles: a Review

Luminescent materials are of worldwide interest because of their unique optical properties. Silica, which is transparent to light, is an ideal matrix for luminescent materials. Luminescent silica nanoparticles (LSNs) have broad applications because of their enhanced chemical and thermal stability. Silica spheres of various sizes could be synthesized by different methods to satisfy specific requirements. Diverse luminescent dyes have potential for different applications. Subject to many factors such as quenchers, their performance was not quite satisfying. This review thus discusses the development of LSNs including their classification, synthesis, and application. It is the highlight that how silica improves the properties of luminescent dye and what role silica plays in the system. Further, their applications in biology, display, and sensors are also described.

Molecular characterization of a new recombinant brassica yellows virus infecting tobacco in China

Brassica yellows virus (BrYV), prevalently distributed throughout mainland China and South Korea while triggering serious diseases in cruciferous crops, is proposed to be a new species in the genus Polerovirus within the family Luteoviridae. There are three distinct genotypes (BrYV-A, BrYV-B and BrYV-C) reported in cabbage and radish. Here, we describe a new BrYV isolate infecting tobacco plants in the field, which was named BrYV-NtabQJ. The complete genome sequence of BrYV-NtabQJ is 5741 nt in length, and 89% of the sequence shares higher sequence identities (about 90%) with different BrYV isolates. However, it possesses a quite divergent region within ORF5, which is more close to Beet western yellows virus (BWYV), Beet mild yellowing virus (BMYV) and Beet chlorosis virus (BChV). A significant recombination event was then detected among BrYV-NtabQJ, BrYV-B Beijng isolate (BrYV-BBJ) and BWYV Leonurus sibiricus isolate (BWYV-LS). It is proposed that BrYV-NtabQJ might be an interspecific recombinant between BrYV-BBJ and BWYV-LS, and the recombination might result in the successful aphid transmission of BrYV from cruciferous crops to tobacco. And it also poses new challenges for BrYV diagnosis and the vegetable production.

High-fat and high-glucose microenvironment decreases Runx2 and TAZ expression and inhibits bone regeneration in the mouse

BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hyperlipidemia are negatively related to bone regeneration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of high-fat and high-glucose microenvironment on bone regeneration and to detect the expression of runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) and transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding domain (TAZ) during this process.

METHODS

After establishing a high-fat and high-glucose mouse model, a 1 mm × 1.5 mm bone defect was developed in the mandible. On days 7, 14, and 28 after operation, bone regeneration was evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin staining, Masson staining, TRAP staining, and immunohistochemistry, while Runx2 and TAZ expression were detected by immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR, and Western blot analysis.

RESULTS

Our results showed that the inhibition of bone regeneration in high-fat and high-glucose group was the highest among the four groups. In addition, the expression of Runx2 in high-fat, high-glucose, and high-fat and high-glucose groups was weaker than that in the control group, but the expression of TAZ only showed a decreasing trend in the high-fat and high-glucose group during bone regeneration.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, these results suggest that high-fat and high-glucose microenvironment inhibits bone regeneration, which may be related to the inhibition of Runx2 and TAZ expression.

Construction of consolidated bio-saccharification biocatalyst and process optimization for highly efficient lignocellulose solubilization

BACKGROUND

The industrial conversion of biomass to high-value biofuels and biochemical is mainly restricted by lignocellulose solubilization. Consolidated bio-saccharification (CBS) is considered a promising process for lignocellulose solubilization depending on whole-cell biocatalysts that simultaneously perform effective cellulase production and hydrolysis. However, it usually takes a long time to reach a high saccharification level using the current CBS biocatalyst and process.

RESULTS

To promote the saccharification efficiency and reduce the cost, a Clostridium thermocellum recombinant strain ∆pyrF::KBm was constructed as a new CBS biocatalyst in this study. The key CBS factors, including the medium, inoculum size and cultivation, and substrate load, were investigated and optimized. The saccharification process was also stimulated by adding free hemicellulases, suggesting the need to further enhance hemicellulase activity of the whole-cell catalyst. Under the optimal conditions, the CBS process was shortened by 50% with pretreated wheat straw as the substrate. The sugar yield reached 0.795 g/g and the saccharification level was 89.3%.

CONCLUSIONS

This work provided a new biocatalyst and an optimized process of CBS and confirmed that CBS is a feasible strategy for cost-efficient solubilization of lignocellulose, which will greatly promote the industrial utilization of lignocellulosic biomass.

Modified hybrid decomposition of the augmented Lagrangian method with larger step size for three-block separable convex programming

The Jacobian decomposition and the Gauss-Seidel decomposition of augmented Lagrangian method (ALM) are two popular methods for separable convex programming. However, their convergence is not guaranteed for three-block separable convex programming. In this paper, we present a modified hybrid decomposition of ALM (MHD-ALM) for three-block separable convex programming, which first updates all variables by a hybrid decomposition of ALM, and then corrects the output by a correction step with constant step size α ∈ ( 0 , 2 - 2 ) which is much less restricted than the step sizes in similar methods. Furthermore, we show that 2 - 2 is the optimal upper bound of the constant step size α. The rationality of MHD-ALM is testified by theoretical analysis, including global convergence, ergodic convergence rate, nonergodic convergence rate, and refined ergodic convergence rate. MHD-ALM is applied to solve video background extraction problem, and numerical results indicate that it is numerically reliable and requires less computation.

Effects of hydrogel injection on borderzone contractility post-myocardial infarction

Injectable hydrogels are a potential therapy for mitigating adverse left ventricular (LV) remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI). Previous studies using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have shown that hydrogel treatment improves systolic strain in the borderzone (BZ) region surrounding the infarct. However, the corresponding contractile properties of the BZ myocardium are still unknown. The goal of the current study was to quantify the in vivo contractile properties of the BZ myocardium post-MI in an ovine model treated with an injectable hydrogel. Contractile properties were determined 8 weeks following posterolateral MI by minimizing the difference between in vivo strains and volume calculated from MRI and finite element model predicted strains and volume. This was accomplished by using a combination of MRI, catheterization, finite element modeling, and numerical optimization. Results show contractility in the BZ of animals treated with hydrogel injection was significantly higher than untreated controls. End-systolic (ES) fiber stress was also greatly reduced in the BZ of treated animals. The passive stiffness of the treated infarct region was found to be greater than the untreated control. Additionally, the wall thickness in the infarct and BZ regions was found to be significantly higher in the treated animals. Treatment with hydrogel injection significantly improved BZ function and reduced LV remodeling, via altered MI properties. These changes are linked to a reduction in the ES fiber stress in the BZ myocardium surrounding the infarct. The current results imply that injectable hydrogels could be a viable therapy for maintaining LV function post-MI.

Transcriptional profiling reveals that a MYB transcription factor MsMYB4 contributes to the salinity stress response of alfalfa

MYB transcription factors are important regulators of the plant response to abiotic stress. Their participation in the salinity stress of the key forage legume species alfalfa (Medicago sativa) was investigated here by comparing the transcriptomes of the two cultivars Dryland (DL) and Sundory (SD), which differed with respect to their ability to tolerate salinity stress. When challenged by the stress, DL plants were better able than SD ones to scavenge reactive oxygen species. A large number of genes encoding transcription regulators, signal transducers and proteins involved in both primary and secondary metabolism were differentially transcribed in the two cultivars, especially when plants were subjected to salinity stress. The set of induced genes included 17 MYB family of transcription factors, all of which were subsequently isolated. The effect of constitutively expressing these genes on the salinity tolerance expressed by Arabidopsis thaliana was investigated. The introduction of MsMYB4 significantly increased the plants’ salinity tolerance in an abscisic acid-dependent manner. A sub-cellular localization experiment and a transactivation assay indicated that MsMYB4 was deposited in the nucleus and was able to activate transcription in yeast. Based on this information, we propose that the MsMYB4 products is likely directly involved in alfalfa’s response to salinity stress.

Melatonin inhibits 17β-estradiol-induced migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in normal and endometriotic endometrial epithelial cells

BACKGROUND

Melatonin is a potential therapeutic agent for endometriosis, but its molecular mechanism is unclear. Here, we investigated the effect of melatonin on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in endometriotic endometrial epithelial cells and explored the pathway that might be involved.

METHODS

This hospital-based study included 60 women of reproductive age using the endometrium for immunohistochemistry, 6 women of reproductive age undergoing bilateral tubal ligation and 6 patients with endometriosis for isolation of endometrial epithelial cells or subsequent analysis, respectively. We examined the expression of Notch1/Numb signaling and EMT markers by immunohistochemistry analysis and western blot analysis, the invasion and migration of endometrial epithelial cells by transwell assays, and the cell proliferation by CCK8 assays.

RESULTS

Compared with normal endometrium, the endometriotic eutopic endometrium showed increased expression of Notch1, Slug, Snail, and N-cadherin, and decreased expression of E-cadherin and Numb. Melatonin or Notch inhibition by specific inhibitor blocked 17β-estradiol-induced cell proliferation, invasion, migration and EMT-related markers in both normal and endometriotic epithelial cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that aberrant expression of Notch1/Numb signaling and the EMT is present in endometriotic endometrium. Melatonin may block 17β-estradiol-induced migration, invasion and EMT in normal and endometriotic epithelial cells by upregulating Numb expression and decreasing the activity of the Notch signaling pathway.

Smoothing approximation to the lower order exact penalty function for inequality constrained optimization

For inequality constrained optimization problem, we first propose a new smoothing method to the lower order exact penalty function, and then show that an approximate global solution of the original problem can be obtained by solving a global solution of a smooth lower order exact penalty problem. We propose an algorithm based on the smoothed lower order exact penalty function. The global convergence of the algorithm is proved under some mild conditions. Some numerical experiments show the efficiency of the proposed method.

Actin filaments regulate the adhesion between the plasma membrane and the cell wall of tobacco guard cells

During the opening and closing of stomata, guard cells undergo rapid and reversible changes in their volume and shape, which affects the adhesion of the plasma membrane (PM) to the cell wall (CW). The dynamics of actin filaments in guard cells are involved in stomatal movement by regulating structural changes and intracellular signaling. However, it is unclear whether actin dynamics regulate the adhesion of the PM to the CW. In this study, we investigated the relationship between actin dynamics and PM-CW adhesion by the hyperosmotic-induced plasmolysis of tobacco guard cells. We found that actin filaments in guard cells were depolymerized during mannitol-induced plasmolysis. The inhibition of actin dynamics by treatment with latrunculin B or jasplakinolide and the disruption of the adhesion between the PM and the CW by treatment with RGDS peptide (Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser) enhanced guard cell plasmolysis. However, treatment with latrunculin B alleviated the RGDS peptide-induced plasmolysis and endocytosis. Our results reveal that the actin depolymerization is involved in the regulation of the PW-CW adhesion during hyperosmotic-induced plasmolysis in tobacco guard cells.

Highly Enhanced H2 Sensing Performance of Few-Layer MoS2/SiO2/Si Heterojunctions by Surface Decoration of Pd Nanoparticles

A novel few-layer MoS₂/SiO₂/Si heterojunction is fabricated via DC magnetron sputtering technique, and Pd nanoparticles are further synthesized on the device surface. The results demonstrate that the fabricated sensor exhibits highly enhanced responses to H₂ at room temperature due to the decoration of Pd nanoparticles. For example, the Pd-decorated MoS₂/SiO₂/Si heterojunction shows an excellent response of 9.2 × 10³% to H₂, which is much higher than the values for the Pd/SiO₂/Si and MoS₂/SiO₂/Si heterojunctions. In addition, the H₂ sensing properties of the fabricated heterojunction are dependent largely on the thickness of the Pd-nanoparticle layer and there is an optimized Pd thickness for the device to achieve the best sensing characteristics. Based on the microstructure characterization and electrical measurements, the sensing mechanisms of the Pd-decorated MoS₂/SiO₂/Si heterojunction are proposed. These results indicate that the Pd decoration of few-layer MoS₂/SiO₂/Si heterojunctions presents an effective strategy for the scalable fabrication of high-performance H₂ sensors.

Accuracy of Xpert Clostridium difficile assay for the diagnosis of Clostridium difficile infection: A meta analysis

Background

There is an urgent need for rapid and accurate microbiological diagnostic assay for detection of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). We assessed the diagnostic accuracy of the Xpert Clostridium difficile assay (Xpert CD) for the diagnosis of CDI.

Methods

We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases to identify studies according to predetermined criteria. STATA 13.0 software was used to analyze the tests for sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, diagnostic odds ratio, and area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC). QUADAS-2 was used to assess the quality of included studies with RevMan 5.2. Heterogeneity in accuracy measures was tested with Spearman correlation coefficient and Chi-square.

Results

A total of 22 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity (95% confidence intervals [CI]) was 0.97 (0.95–0.99) and specificity was 0.95 (0.94–0.96). The AUC was 0.99 (0.97–0.99). Significant heterogeneity was observed when we pooled most of the accuracy measures of selected studies.

Conclusions

The Xpert CD assay is a useful diagnostic tool with high sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing toxigenic CDI, and this method has excellent usability due to its rapidity and simplicity.

Substrate-Coated Illumination Droplet Spray Ionization: Real-Time Monitoring of Photocatalytic Reactions

Real-time monitoring of photocatalytic reactions facilitates the elucidation of the mechanisms of the reactions. However, suitable tools for real-time monitoring are lacking. Herein, a novel method based on droplet spray ionization named substrate-coated illumination droplet spray ionization (SCI-DSI) for direct analysis of photocatalytic reaction solution is reported. SCI-DSI addresses many of the analytical limitations of electrospray ionization (ESI) for analysis of photocatalytic-reaction intermediates, and has potential for both in situ analysis and real-time monitoring of photocatalytic reactions. In SCI-DSI-mass spectrometry (MS), a photocatalytic reaction occurs by loading sample solutions onto the substrate-coated cover slip and by applying UV light above the modified slip; one corner of this slip adjacent to the inlet of a mass spectrometer is the high-electric-field location for launching a charged-droplet spray. After both testing and optimizing the performance of SCI-DSI, the value of this method for in situ analysis and real-time monitoring of photocatalytic reactions was demonstrated by the removal of cyclophosphamide (CP) in TiO₂/UV. Reaction times ranged from seconds to minutes, and the proposed reaction intermediates were captured and identified by tandem mass spectrometry. Moreover, the free hydroxyl radical (·OH) was identified as the main radicals for CP removal. These results show that SCI-DSI is suitable for in situ analysis and real-time monitoring of CP removal under TiO₂-based photocatalytic reactions. SCI-DSI is also a potential tool for in situ analysis and real-time assessment of the roles of radicals during CP removal under TiO₂-based photocatalytic reactions.Graphical Abstract.

The long-term spatial-temporal trends and burden of esophageal cancer in one high-risk area: A population-registered study in Feicheng, China

BACKGROUND

Feicheng County is a high-risk area for esophageal cancer in Shandong province, China. It is important to determine the long-term spatio-temporal trends in epidemiological characteristics and the burden of esophageal cancer, especially since the implementation of the national esophageal cancer screening program for early detection and treatment in 2005.

METHODS

The data collected in Feicheng County from 2001 to 2012 was extracted from the whole-population cancer registry system. The incidence, mortality, disability-adjusted life years (DALY) and changing trends in esophageal cancer according to age and sex were calculated and described.

RESULTS

The incidence rate of esophageal cancer in Feicheng was consistently high, and increased significantly for male, but not for female from 2001 to 2012, according to the joinpoint regression analysis. The highest and lowest yearly crude incidence rates were 160.78 and 95.97 per 100000 for males, and 81.36 and 52.17 per 100000 for females. The highest and lowest crude yearly mortality rates were 122.26 and 94.40 per 100000 for males, and 60.75 and 49.35 per 100000for females. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was the main pathology type and the tumor location changed significantly from 2001 to 2012. Overall, the DALY remained roughly stable and was estimated as 11.50 for males and 4.90 for females per 1000 people. The burden was mainly caused by premature death. There is an obvious spatial pattern in the distribution of incidence density and burden.

CONCLUSION

Esophageal cancer remains a public health issue in Feicheng County with a high incidence, mortality and disease burden. The incidence and burden have obvious spatial heterogeneity, and further studies should be conducted to identify geographical risk factors for precise local prevention and control measures.

Circulating C1q complement/TNF-related protein (CTRP) 1, CTRP9, CTRP12 and CTRP13 concentrations in Type 2 diabetes mellitus: In vivo regulation by glucose

OBJECTIVES

The C1q complement/TNF-related protein (CTRP) superfamily, which includes the adipokine adiponectin, has been shown in animal models to have positive metabolic and cardiovascular effects. We sought to investigate circulating CTRP1, CTRP9, CTRP12 and CTRP13 concentrations in persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), with age and BMI matched controls, and to examine the effects of a 2 hour 75g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) on serum CTRP1, CTRP9, CTRP12 and CTRP13 levels in persons with T2DM.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study [newly diagnosed T2DM (n = 124) and control (n = 139) participants]. Serum CTRP1, CTRP9, CTRP12 and CTRP13 were measured by ELISA.

RESULTS

Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol (TCH), Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, triglycerides, TCH/High-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio, triglycerides/HDL ratio, glucose, insulin, homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), C-reactive protein and endothelial lipase were significantly higher, whereas leptin and adiponectin were significantly lower in T2DM participants. Serum CTRP1 were significantly higher and CTRP12 significantly lower in T2DM participants. Age, diastolic blood pressure, glucose and CTRP12 were predictive of serum CTRP1; leptin was predictive of serum CTRP9; glucose and CTRP1 were predictive of serum CTRP12; endothelial lipase was predictive of serum CTRP13. Finally, serum CTRP1 were significantly higher and CTRP12 significantly lower in T2DM participants after a 2 hour 75g OGTT.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data supports CTRP1 and CTRP12 as potential novel biomarkers for the prediction and early diagnosis of T2DM. Furthermore, pharmacological agents that target CTRP1 and CTRP12 could represent a new strategy in the treatment of T2DM.

Genetic Variants in MTHFR Gene Predict ≥ 2 Radiation Pneumonitis in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients Treated with Thoracic Radiotherapy

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), formed as an indirect production of radiotherapy (RT), could cause DNA damage of normal tissues. Meanwhile, our body possesses the ability to restore the damage by DNA repair pathways. The imbalance between the two systems could finally result in radiation injury. Therefore, in this prospective cohort study, we explored the association of genetic variants in ROS metabolism and DNA repair pathway-related genes with radiation pneumonitis (RP). A total of 265 locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients receiving RT in Chinese Han population were enrolled. Five functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs1695 in GSTP1; rs4880 in SOD2; rs3957356 in GSTA1; and rs1801131, rs1801133 in MTHFR) were genotyped using the MassArray system, and rs1801131 was found to be a predictor of ≥ 2 RP. Our results showed that, compared with TT genotype, patients with GG/GT genotypes of rs1801131 had a notably lower risk of developing ≥ 2 RP (HR = 0.339, 95% CI = 0.137–0.839, P = 0.019). Further independent studies are required to confirm this findings.

5-HMF attenuates striatum oxidative damage via Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway following transient global cerebral ischemia

Recent studies have shown 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural (5-HMF) has favorable biological effects, and its neuroprotection in a variety of neurological diseases has been noted. Our previous study showed that treatment of 5-HMF led to protection against permanent global cerebral ischemia. However, the underlying mechanisms in cerebral ischemic injury are not fully understood. This study was conducted to investigate the neuroprotective effect of 5-HMF and elucidate the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/antioxidant response element (ARE) signaling pathway mechanism in the striatum after transient global cerebral ischemia. C57BL/6 mice were subjected to bilateral common carotid artery occlusion for 20 min and sacrificed 24 h after reperfusion. 5-HMF (12 mg/kg) or an equal volume of vehicle was intraperitoneally injected 30 min before ischemia and 5 min after the onset of reperfusion. At 24 h after reperfusion, neurological function was evaluated by neurological disability status scale, locomotor activity test and inclined beam walking test. Histological injury of the striatum was observed by cresyl violet staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dNTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining. Oxidative stress was evaluated by the carbonyl groups introduced into proteins, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based measurement was used to detect Nrf2 DNA binding activity. Nrf2 and its downstream ARE pathway protein expression such as heme oxygenase-1, NAD (P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1, glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit and glutamate-cysteine ligase modulatory subunit were detected by western blot. Our results showed that 5-HMF treatment significantly ameliorated neurological deficits, reduced brain water content, attenuated striatum neuronal damage, decreased the carbonyl groups and MDA levels, and activated Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway. Taken together, these results demonstrated that 5-HMF exerted significant antioxidant and neuroprotective effects following transient cerebral ischemia, possibly through the activation of the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway.

miR-125b Enhances IL-8 Production in Early-Onset Severe Preeclampsia by Targeting Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Lyase 1

Preeclampsia (PE) is one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. One of the main hallmarks observed in PE is impaired inflammation state. In the current study, we found that miR-125b was deregulated in placental tissues and plasma derived from PE patients, which suggest a potential association between this miRNA and the pathogenesis of PE. Overexpression of miR-125b significantly reduced SGPL1 expression, and luciferase assays confirmed that SGPL1 is a direct target of miR-125b. We also found that miR-125b enhanced IL-8 production by directly targeting sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase 1 (SGPL1), and this effect could be reversed by SGPL1 overexpression. In placentas derived from PE patients, a negative correlation of miR-125b and SGPL1 was observed, and IL-8 was validated to be increased in the circulation of PE patients. Our data demonstrated a critical role of miR-125b in IL-8 production and the development of PE.

Synergistic Effects of Gold Nanocages in Hyperthermia and Radiotherapy Treatment

Gold nanocages (GNCs) are a promising material that not only converts near infrared (NIR) light to heat for the ablation of tumors but also acts as a radiosensitizer. The combination of hyperthermia and radiotherapy has a synergistic effect that can lead to significant tumor cell necrosis. In the current study, we synthesized GNCs that offered the combined effects of hyperthermia and radiotherapy. This combination strategy resulted in increased tumor cell apoptosis and significant tumor tissue necrosis. We propose that GNCs can be used for clinical treatment and to potentially overcome resistance to radiotherapy by clearly increasing the antitumor effect.

Metabolomics Revealed an Association of Metabolite Changes and Defective Growth in Methylobacterium extorquens AM1 Overexpressing ecm during Growth on Methanol

Methylobacterium extorquens AM1 is a facultative methylotroph capable of growth on both single-carbon and multi-carbon compounds. The ethylmalonyl-CoA (EMC) pathway is one of the central assimilatory pathways in M. extorquens during growth on C1 and C2 substrates. Previous studies had shown that ethylmalonyl-CoA mutase functioned as a control point during the transition from growth on succinate to growth on ethylamine. In this study we overexpressed ecm, phaA, mcmAB and found that upregulating ecm by expressing it from the strong constitutive mxaF promoter caused a 27% decrease in growth rate on methanol compared to the strain with an empty vector. Targeted metabolomics demonstrated that most of the central intermediates in the ecm over-expressing strain did not change significantly compared to the control strain; However, poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) was 4.5-fold lower and 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA was 1.6-fold higher. Moreover, glyoxylate, a toxic and highly regulated essential intermediate, was determined to be 2.6-fold higher when ecm was overexpressed. These results demonstrated that overexpressing ecm can manipulate carbon flux through the EMC pathway and divert it from the carbon and energy storage product PHB, leading to an accumulation of glyoxylate. Furthermore, untargeted metabolomics discovered two unusual metabolites, alanine (Ala)-meso-diaminopimelic acid (mDAP) and Ala-mDAP-Ala, each over 45-fold higher in the ecm over-expressing strain. These two peptides were also found to be highly produced in a dose-dependent manner when glyoxylate was added to the control strain. Overall, this work has explained a direct association of ecm overexpression with glyoxylate accumulation up to a toxic level, which inhibits cell growth on methanol. This research provides useful insight for manipulating the EMC pathway for efficiently producing high-value chemicals in M. extorquens.

Insights into the H2/CH4 Separation Through Two-Dimensional Graphene Channels: Influence of Edge Functionalization

A molecular simulation technique is employed to investigate the transport of H2/CH4 mixture through the two-dimensional (2D) channel between adjacent graphene layers. Pristine graphene membrane (GM) with pore width of 0.515~0.6 nm is found to only allow H2 molecules to enter rather than CH4, forming a molecular sieve. At pore widths of 0.64~1.366 nm, both H2 and CH4 molecules could fill into the GM channel, where the permeability of methane is more preferential than that of hydrogen with the largest CH4/H2 selectivity (1.89) at 0.728 nm. The edge functionalization by -H, -F, -OH, -NH2, and -COOH groups could significantly alter gas permeability by modifying the active surface area of the pore and tuning attractive and/or repulsive interaction with molecules at the entrance of channel. At the pore width of 0.6 nm, the H2 permeability of molecular sieve is enhanced by -H, -F, and -OH groups but restrained by -NH2, especially -COOH with a passing rate of zero. At pore widths of 0.64 and 0.728 nm, both -H and -F edge-functionalized GMs show a preferential selectivity of methane over hydrogen, while the favorable transport for GM-OH is changed from H2 molecules at 0.64 nm to CH4 molecules at 0.728 nm. For GM-NH2, it exhibits an excellent hydrogen molecular sieve at 0.64 nm and then turns into a significant H2/CH4 selectivity at 0.728 nm. Meanwhile, small H2 molecules start to enter the channel of GM-COOH at the pore width up to 0.728 nm. For the largest pore width of 1.336 nm, the influence of edge functionalization becomes small, and a comparable CH4/H2 selectivity is observed for all the considered membranes.