A lightweight semi-active ankle exoskeleton utilized NiTiCu-based shape memory alloys for energy storage.

Nowadays, exoskeletons have a place in many fields, such as industrial production, medical rehabilitation, and military. However, there are still many shortcomings in the existing exoskeleton, such as heavyweight and complex structures for active exoskeleton. The driving ability of passive exoskeletons is limited.

Cross-domain additive learning of new knowledge rather than replacement.

In medical clinical scenarios for reasons such as patient privacy, information protection and data migration, when domain adaptation is needed for real scenarios, the source-domain data is often inaccessible and only the pre-trained source model on the source-domain is available. Existing solutions for this type of problem tend to forget the rich task experience previously learned on the source domain after adapting, which means that the model simply overfits the target-domain data when adapting and does not learn robust features that facilitate real task decisions. We address this problem by exploring the particular application of source-free domain adaptation in medical image segmentation and propose a two-stage additive source-free adaptation framework.

Understanding the differences in heat-induced gel properties of twelve legume proteins: A comparative study.

This study aimed to investigate the rheological and textural properties of heat-induced gels from twelve legume protein isolates at pH 3.0 and 7.0, including black kidney bean (BKPI), speckled kidney bean (SKPI), panda bean (PDPI), cowpea (CPPI), mung bean (MPI), adzuki bean (API), rice bean (RPI), black soybean (BPI), soybean (SPI), chickpea (CPI), broad bean (BRPI) and pea (PPI).

Fibrillization kinetics and rheological properties of panda bean (Vigna umbellata (Thunb.) Ohwi et Ohashi) protein isolate at pH 2.0.

Recently, research interests are growing regarding the formation and mechanisms of amyloid fibrils from plant proteins. This study investigated the fibrillization kinetics and rheological behaviors of panda bean protein isolate (PBPI) at pH 2.0 and 90 °C for various heating times (0-24 h).

Heat-induced pea protein isolate gels reinforced by panda bean protein amyloid fibrils: Gelling properties and formation mechanism.

The roles of panda bean protein amyloid fibrils (PDPF) in modifying the textural and rheological properties of heat-induced pea protein isolate (PPI) gels were investigated. It was found that the incorporation of PDPF significantly enhanced (p < 0.05) the strength of PPI gel.

Heat shock protein-70 is elevated in childhood primary immune thrombocytopenia.

Background: Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an acquired autoimmune disorder characterized by the destruction of the platelets resulting from autoimmune recognition and subsequent attack. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are directly associated with progression and pathogenesis in some specific autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the serum expression of HSP-70 in ITP children and healthy controls.

Introducing panda bean (Vigna umbellata (Thunb.) Ohwi et Ohashi) protein isolate as an alternative source of legume protein: Physicochemical, functional and nutritional characteristics.

Panda bean protein isolate (PDPI), a legume-protein with Chinese characteristics, was investigated as an alternative potential food protein source. The physicochemical characteristics, functional properties and amino-acid composition of PDPI were determined and compared with soybean (SPI) and pea protein isolate (PPI). Results showed that PDPI was rich in phaseolin (mainly 7S vicilin), and its molecular weight was lower than that of SPI and PPI which were rich in legumin and vicilin.

Long non-coding RNA SDCBP2-AS1 delays the progression of ovarian cancer via microRNA-100-5p-targeted EPDR1.

Background: Dysregulation of long non-coding RNAs has been implied to connect with cancer progression. This research was to decipher the mechanism of long non-coding RNA SDCBP2-AS1 in ovarian cancer (OC) through regulation of microRNA (miR)-100-5p and ependymin-related protein 1 (EPDR1).

Methods: LncRNA SDCBP2-AS1 and EPDR1 levels in OC were assessed by Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis.

Recent advances in the structure, synthesis, and applications of natural polymeric hydrogels.

Hydrogels, polymeric network materials, are capable of swelling and holding the bulk of water in their three-dimensional structures upon swelling. In recent years, hydrogels have witnessed increased attention in food and biomedical applications. In this paper, the available literature related to the design concepts, types, functionalities, and applications of hydrogels with special emphasis on food applications was reviewed.

The health benefits, functional properties, modifications, and applications of pea (Pisum sativum L.) protein: Current status, challenges, and perspectives.

In recent years, the development and application of plant proteins have drawn increasing scientific and industrial interests. Pea (Pisum sativum L.) is an important source of high-quality vegetable protein in the human diet.

Modulation of oligoguluronate on the microstructure and properties of Ca-dependent soy protein gels.

Naturally-sourced oligoguluronate (GB) has Ca-binding ability and can be employed to modulate Ca-dependent gels. Here soy protein isolate (SPI) gel was used as a model to investigate the influence of GB on the microstructure and properties of Ca-dependent food gels. The results showed that GB significantly decreased the storage modulus (G'), mechanical strength, elasticity, hardness and chewiness of SPI gels.

Nanocomplexes composed of chitosan derivatives and β-Lactoglobulin as a carrier for anthocyanins: Preparation, stability and bioavailability in vitro.

To improve sustained-release property, stability and bioavailability of anthocyanins (ACNs) in vitro, we fabricated the nanocomplexes with chitosan hydrochloride (CHC), carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) and β-Lactoglobulin (β-Lg). Response surface methodology (RSM) combined with desirability function was employed to optimize ACNs-loaded chitosan/β-Lg (CHC/CMC expressed with chitosan) nanocomplexes with maximum anthocyanins retention rate, preferred particle size and high encapsulation efficiency. The result suggested that the optimized conditions were 5.

Identification of Conserved and Novel MicroRNAs in Blueberry.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small endogenous RNAs that play important regulatory roles in cells by negatively affecting gene expression at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. There have been extensive studies aiming to identify miRNAs and to elucidate their functions in various plant species. In the present study, we employed the high-throughput sequencing technology to profile miRNAs in blueberry fruits.

Loading of anthocyanins on chitosan nanoparticles influences anthocyanin degradation in gastrointestinal fluids and stability in a beverage.

The optimal preparation parameters to create anthocyanin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles was predicted using response surface methodology (RSM). A Box-Behnken design was used to determine the preparation parameters that would achieve the preferred particle size and high encapsulation efficiency. The result suggested that the optimized conditions were 2.

Identification of human exercise-induced physiological function changes based on bioinformatics analysis.

Background: This study aimed to explore the physiological functions that were significantly affected by the exercise training.

Methods: Microarray dataset of GSE53598 was downloaded and preprocessed to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between pre- and post-exercise muscle biopsies. Then hierarchical clustering, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction and functional enrichment analysis were conducted.

Low-dose anisomycin sensitizes glucocorticoid-resistant T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia CEM-C1 cells to dexamethasone-induced apoptosis through activation of glucocorticoid receptor and p38-MAPK/JNK.

Glucocorticoid (GC) resistance in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) usually resulted in the failure of treatment. Exploring new agents to overcome GC resistance is important. Here we reported for the first time that low-dose anisomycin has the potential to sensitize GC-resistant T-ALL CEM-C1 cells to dexamethasone (DEX).

Resveratrol induces apoptosis and autophagy in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells by inhibiting Akt/mTOR and activating p38-MAPK.

Objective: To explore the effects of resveratrol-induced apoptosis and autophagy in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cells and potential molecular mechanisms.

Methods: The anti-proliferation effect of resveratrol-induced, apoptosis and autophagy on T-ALL cells were detected by using MTT test, immunofluorescence, electronic microscope, and flow cytometry, respectively. Western blotting was performed for detecting changes of apoptosis-associated proteins, cell cycle regulatory proteins and state of activation of Akt, mTOR, p70S6K, 4E-BP1, and p38-MAPK.

Planar cell polarity signaling pathway in congenital heart diseases.

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a common cardiac disorder in humans. Despite many advances in the understanding of CHD and the identification of many associated genes, the fundamental etiology for the majority of cases remains unclear. The planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling pathway, responsible for tissue polarity in Drosophila and gastrulation movements and cardiogenesis in vertebrates, has been shown to play multiple roles during cardiac differentiation and development.

Destructive pulmonary staphylococcal infection in a boy with hyper-IgE syndrome: a novel mutation in the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) gene (p.Y657S).

Unlabelled: Hyper IgE syndrome (HIES) is a rare primary immunodeficiency disorder, characterized by eczema, recurrent skin and lung infections, and significantly elevated serum IgE level. It was previously diagnosed based on clinical manifestations and laboratory markers that were not specific to the disease. Recent studies have demonstrated that mutations in signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) cause the autosomal dominant or sporadic HIES, which make the disease definitively characterized at molecular level.

Pro-apoptotic protein BIM in apoptosis of glucocorticoid-sensitive and -resistant acute lymphoblastic leukemia CEM cells.

Although glucocorticoids (GCs) have been used to treat acute lymphoblast leukemia (ALL) for decades, the mechanisms of GC sensitivity and resistance in ALL cells are poorly understood. This study investigated the role and mechanisms of pro-apoptotic protein BIM in apoptosis of GC-sensitive and- resistant ALL cells. The dramatic apoptosis was observed in GC-sensitive CEM-C7 cells after incubated with DEX for 48 h, while not in GC-resistant CEM-C1 cells.