Composing functional food from agro-forest wastes: Selectively extracting bioactive compounds using supercritical fluid extraction.

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) employing carbon dioxide (SC-CO) is an efficient method to extract bioactive compounds from agro-forest wastes. These compounds maintain and/or improve food nutrition, safety, freshness, taste, and health and are employed as natural functional food components. To highlight the potential of this technology, we focus on the following current advances: (I) parameters affecting solubility in SFE (pressure, temperature, SC-CO flow rate, extraction time, and co-solvents); (II) extraction spectra and yield obtained according to proportion and composition of co-solvents; (III) extract bioactivity for functional food production.

Coupling dynamic response of saturated soil with anisotropic thermal conductivity under fractional order thermoelastic theory.

In this paper, a two-dimensional (2D) thermo-hydro-mechanical dynamic (THMD) coupling analysis in the presence of a half-space medium is studied using Ezzat's fractional order generalized theory of thermoelasticity. Using normal mode analysis (NMA), the influence of the anisotropy of the thermal conduction coefficient, fractional derivatives, and frequency on the THMD response of anisotropy, fully saturated, and poroelastic subgrade is then analyzed with a time-harmonic load including mechanical load and thermal source subjected to the surface. The general relationships among the dimensionless physical variables such as the vertical displacement, excess pore water pressure, vertical stress, and temperature distribution are graphically illustrated.

Improved solar-driven water purification using an eco-friendly and cost-effective aerogel-based interfacial evaporator with exceptional photocatalytic capabilities.

As a promising solution to address the global challenge of freshwater scarcity, solar-powered interfacial steam generation has undergone notable advancements. This study introduces a novel solar-driven interfacial evaporation membrane (ZnInS@SiO/ACSA, ZSAS) comprising a ZnInS@SiO composite and a black sodium alginate aerogel infused with activated carbon. The ZSAS membrane demonstrates exceptional light absorption and thermal insulation, leading to elevated surface temperatures and reduced heat dissipation into the bulk water.

Endogenous retrovirus-derived enhancers confer the transcriptional regulation of human trophoblast syncytialization.

Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) have been proposed as a driving force for the evolution of the mammalian placenta, however, the contribution of ERVs to placental development and the underlying regulatory mechanism remain largely elusive. A key process of placental development is the formation of multinucleated syncytiotrophoblasts (STBs) in direct contact with maternal blood, through which constitutes the maternal-fetal interface critical for nutrient allocation, hormone production and immunological modulation during pregnancy. We delineate that ERVs profoundly rewire the transcriptional program of trophoblast syncytialization.

Regulation of endogenous retrovirus-derived regulatory elements by GATA2/3 and MSX2 in human trophoblast stem cells.

The placenta is an organ with extraordinary phenotypic diversity in eutherian mammals. Recent evidence suggests that numerous human placental enhancers are evolved from lineage-specific insertions of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), yet the transcription factors (TFs) underlying their regulation remain largely elusive. Here, by first focusing on MER41, a primate-specific ERV family previously linked to placenta and innate immunity, we uncover the binding motifs of multiple crucial trophoblast TFs (GATA2/3, MSX2, GRHL2) in addition to innate immunity TFs STAT1 and IRF1.

Transcriptome and co-expression network analyses of key genes and pathways associated with differential abscisic acid accumulation during maize seed maturation.

Background: Currently, mechanical maize kernel harvesting has not been fully utilized in developing countries including China, partly due to the absence of suitable cultivars capable of rapid desiccation during seed maturation. The initiation of rapid desiccation during seed maturation is regulated by abscisic acid (ABA). For further characterization of ABA-regulated key genes and cellular events, it is necessary to perform transcriptome analysis of maize developing embryos.

A new Ni-diaminoglyoxime-g-CN complex towards efficient photocatalytic ethanol splitting via a ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) mechanism.

We report a novel Ni-diaminoglyoxime-g-CN (Ni-DAG-CN) complex for H evolution through photocatalytic ethanol splitting. Compared to that of pristine g-CN, Ni-DAG-CN exhibits a 21-fold enhancement of photocatalytic activity (296.1 μmol h g) under irradiation with excellent stability.

Synergistic Effect of Dual Particle-Size AuNPs on TiO₂ for Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution.

Design of efficient catalysts for photocatalytic water-splitting hydrogen evolution is of fundamental importance for the production of sustainable clean energy. In this study, a dual particle-size AuNPs/TiO₂ composite containing both small (16.9 ± 5.

Biomarker microRNAs for prostate cancer metastasis: screened with a network vulnerability analysis model.

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) is a fatal malignant tumor among males in the world and the metastasis is a leading cause for PCa death. Biomarkers are therefore urgently needed to detect PCa metastatic signature at the early time. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs with the potential to be biomarkers for disease prediction.

[Application of Real-time Quantitative PCR in Detecting Atypical BCR/ABL mRNA Transcripts in Chronic Myelocytic Leukemia].

Objective: To detect atypical BCR/ABL mRNA transcript by real-time quantitative PCR in CML patients without e13a2/e14a2,e19a2 or e1a2 transcripts, and investigate its value of clinical application.

Methods: Twelve cases of CML with positive for t(9;22) translocation, but negative for common major and minor breakpoint cluster regions comfirmed by chromosome karyotyping or FISH analysis, were collected from July 2012 to December 2015. These 12 cases were then detected for b2a3(e13a3), b3a3(e14a3), e6a2, e8a2 and e1a3 fusion variants by real-time quantitative PCR.

Proteomic analysis and comparison of intra‑ and extracranial cerebral atherosclerosis responses to hyperlipidemia in rabbits.

The present study aimed to investigate protein expression levels of intra‑ and extracranial atherosclerosis in rabbits following administration of a high‑fat diet. Rabbits were randomly divided into control (group A; n=9) and high‑fat diet (group B; n=9) groups. At week 12, tissues were sectioned from the common carotid artery (CCA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA).

[Recent advances in miR-200c and fibrosis in organs].

In the fibrosis and pterygium of lung, liver, kidney, peritoneum or skin, miR-200c was aberrantly expressed. It has been shown that the regulatory effect of miR-200c on fibrosis in organ was involved in TGF-β-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition. The abnormal level of miR-200c in serum may be a basis for early diagnosis of lung fibrosis.

Distribution of ischemic infarction and stenosis of intra- and extracranial arteries in young Chinese patients with ischemic stroke.

Background: The distribution of cerebral ischemic infarction and stenosis in ischemic stroke may vary with age-group, race and gender. This study was conducted to understand the risk factors and characteristics of cerebral infarction and stenosis of vessels in young Chinese patients with ischemic stroke.

Methods: This was a retrospective study, from January 2007 to July 2012, of 123 patients ≤50 years diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke.

Effect of dyslipidemia on intima-media thickness of intra- and extracranial atherosclerosis by regulating the expression of hsp70 in rabbits.

The aim of this study was to explore the effect of dyslipidemia on intima-media thickness (IMT) of Intra- and extracranial atherosclerosis by regulating the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in rabbits. Twenty-seven male white rabbits were randomly divided into normal control group A, high fat group B and high fat + endothelial injury operation group C (each group was 9), we measured lipids and obtained tissues from different cerebral arteries including Bilateral common carotid artery (CCA), Internal carotid artery (ICA), middle cerebral artery (MCA) and vertebral artery (VA). Pathological analysis were done, western blot analysis was used to detect the expression of HSP70 in CCA and MCA.

Influence of internal carotid artery stenosis, blood pressure, glycated hemoglobin, and hemoglobin level on fMRI signals of stroke patients.

Objectives: To identify the effect of internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis, blood pressure (BP), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and hemoglobin level on blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) signals in stroke patients.

Methods: A total of 18 stroke patients with acute cerebral infarction (13 males and 5 females) and 13 age-matched healthy controls (5 males and 8 females) were recruited. Among 18 stroke patients, 8 had significant ICA stenosis (> 50%) and 10 had nonsignificant ICA stenosis (< 50%).

Three new species of the tribe Meconematini (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) from Taiwan.

The paper reported three new species from Taiwan, i.e. Xizicus (Eoxizicus) taiwanensis sp.