Enhancing wound healing through sonodynamic silver/barium titanate heterostructures-loading gelatin/PCL nanodressings.

Bacterial infections present a formidable challenge in surgical procedures, and are a major threat to wound healing. Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is a non-invasive approach for fighting pathogens; however, it is hindered by the efficiency of sonosensitizers and effective antibacterial time. In this study, we developed a biocompatible nanodressing to improve the antibacterial efficacy and accelerate wound healing via SDT.

Metagenomic analysis reveals specific BTEX degrading microorganisms of a bacterial consortium.

Petroleum hydrocarbon contamination is of environmental and public health concerns due to its toxic components. Bioremediation utilizes microbial organisms to metabolism and remove these contaminants. The aim of this study was to enrich a microbial community and examine its potential to degrade petroleum hydrocarbon.

Subcortical structural covariance predicts symptoms in children with different subtypes of ADHD.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder has increasingly been conceptualized as a disorder of abnormal brain connectivity. However, far less is known about the structural covariance in different subtypes of this disorder and how those differences may contribute to the symptomology of these subtypes. In this study, we used a combined volumetric-based methodology and structural covariance approach to investigate structural covariance of subcortical brain volume in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder-combined and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder-inattentive patients.

Structural Brain Changes and Associated Symptoms of ADHD Subtypes in Children.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is presumed to be heterogeneous, but the best way to characterize this heterogeneity remains unclear. Although considerable evidence suggests that the 2 different types of ADHD, inattention and combined, have different cognitive and behavioral profiles, and underlying neurobiologies, we currently lack information on whether these subtypes reflect separated brain structure changes. Structural magnetic resonance imaging scans (N = 234), diagnostic, and demographic information were obtained from the ADHD-200 database.

[Evolution of Material Metabolism in China's Pulp and Paper Industry].

The pulp and paper industry is an important industry that is closely related to national socioeconomic development. To understand the historical trends of resource consumption and environmental pollution, we conducted an economy-wide material flow analysis and quantitatively evaluated the dynamic characteristics of input-output balances, material metabolism intensity, and resource recycling rate of China's pulp and paper industry, from 2005 to 2017. The results indicate downward trends in the material inputs and outputs of China's pulp and paper industry from 2005 to 2017, with water contributing over 90% of the totals.

Discovery and preliminary mechanism of 1-carbamoyl β-carbolines as new antifungal candidates.

Natural β-carboline alkaloids are ideal models for the discovery of pharmaceutically important entities. Various 1-substituted β-carbolines were synthesized from commercially inexpensive tryptophan and demonstrated significant in vitro antifungal activity against G. graminis.

A novel Rap-Phr system in Bacillus velezensis NAU-B3 regulates surfactin production and sporulation via interaction with ComA.

Several quorum sensing systems occurring in Bacillus subtilis, e.g. Rap-Phr systems, were reported to interact with major regulatory proteins, such as ComA, DegU, and Spo0A, in order to regulate competence, sporulation, and synthesis of secondary metabolites.

Effects of ANP on pulmonary vein electrophysiology, Ca homeostasis and adrenergic arrhythmogenesis via PKA.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common form of arrhythmia and increases the risk of stroke and heart failure (HF). Pulmonary veins (PVs) are important sources of triggers that generate AF, and calcium (Ca ) overload participates in PV arrhythmogenesis. Neurohormonal activation is an important cause of AF.

[Concentrations and pollution assessment of mercury in farmland soil of Xinqiao Mining Area of Tongling, Anhui, China.].

To investigate the effects of mining activities on mercury (Hg) enrichment in farmland soil, soil samples were collected from four villages (Xinjian Village, Yehu Village, Xinhu Village and Hucheng Village) in the vicinity of Xinqiao Mining Area, Tongling. Hg concentration was measured by atomic fluorescence spectrophotometer. The geo-accumulation index was used to evaluate the Hg pollution level of the soils.

Ultrathin Planar Cavity Metasurfaces.

An ultrathin planar cavity metasurface is proposed based on ultrathin film interference and its practicability for light manipulation in visible region is experimentally demonstrated. Phase of reflected light is modulated by finely adjusting the thickness of amorphous silicon (a-Si) by a few nanometers on an aluminum (Al) substrate via nontrivial phase shifts at the interfaces and interference of multireflections generated from the planar cavity. A phase shift of π, the basic requirement for two-level phase metasurface systems, can be accomplished with an 8 nm thick difference.

Preparation of Nanofibrous Silver/Poly(vinylidene fluoride) Composite Membrane with Enhanced Infrared Extinction and Controllable Wetting Property.

Nanofibrous silver (Ag)/poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) composite membranes were obtained from a two-step preparation method. In the first step, the electrospun silver nitrate (AgNO3)/PVDF membranes were prepared and the influence of the AgNO3 content on the electrospinning process was studied. According to scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results, when the electrospinning solution contained AgNO3 in the range between 3 to 7 wt.

The effectiveness and safety of dual antiplatelet therapy in ischemic cerebrovascular disease with intracranial and extracranial arteriostenosis in Chinese patients: A randomized and controlled trail.

Background: There are limited data on the effect of dual antiplatelet treatment with clopidogrel plus aspirin in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease and intracranial and extracranial arteriostenosis. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of aspirin plus clopidogrel in the treatment of ischemic cerebrovascular disease with intracranial and extracranial arteriostenosis.

Methods: Patients with clinically evident acute cerebral infarction or transient ischemic attack combined with intracranial and extracranial arteriostenosis (greater than 50%) who were unsuitable or reluctance to perform stent implantation were enrolled in this study.

Water-soluble acacetin prodrug confers significant cardioprotection against ischemia/reperfusion injury.

The morbidity and mortality of patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy resulted from ischemia/reperfusion injury are very high. The present study investigates whether our previously synthesized water-soluble phosphate prodrug of acacetin was cardioprotective against ischemia/reperfusion injury in an in vivo rat model. We found that intravenous administration of acacetin prodrug (10 mg/kg) decreased the ventricular arrhythmia score and duration, reduced ventricular fibrillation and infarct size, and improved the impaired heart function induced by myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in anesthetized rats.

[Soil nitrogen content and enzyme activities in rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere of summer maize under different nitrogen application rates.].

A field experiment was conducted on fluvo-aquic soil in the North China Plain to study the effects of nitrogen application rate on soil nitrogen contents and enzyme activities in rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere of summer maize. The results showed that the soil enzyme activities under different nitrogen application rates showed similar seasonal patterns. In comparison to no nitrogen ferti-lizer treatment, all nitrogen application treatments significantly increased NO-N contents in rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils, NH-N content in rhizosphere soil and the activities of β-N-acetylglucosaminidase, β-glucosidase, β-xylosidase and Cellobiohyrolase.

Novel Routes for Improving Biocontrol Activity of Bacillus Based Bioinoculants.

Biocontrol (BC) formulations prepared from plant-growth-promoting bacteria are increasingly applied in sustainable agriculture. Especially inoculants prepared from endospore-forming Bacillus strains have been proven as efficient and environmental-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides due to their long shelf life, which is comparable with that of agrochemicals. However, these formulations of the first generation are sometimes hampered in their action and do not fulfill in each case the expectations of the appliers.

Control of the Metal-Insulator Transition at Complex Oxide Heterointerfaces through Visible Light.

The coupling of the localized surface plasmon resonance of Au nanoparticles is utilized to deliver a visible-light stimulus to control conduction at the LaAlO3 /SrTiO3 interface. A giant photoresponse and the controllable metal-insulator transition are characterized at this heterointerface. This study paves a new route to optical control of the functionality at the heterointerfaces.

[Effects of long-term tillage measurements on soil aggregate characteristic and microbial diversity].

Soil aggregate stability and microbial diversity play important roles in nutrient recycling in soil-crop systems. This study investigated the impacts of different soil tillage systems on soil aggregation and soil microbial diversity based on a 15-year long-term experiment on loess soil in Henan Province of China. Treatments included reduced tillage (RT), no-tillage (NT), sub-soiling with mulch (SM), wheat-peanut two crops (TC), and conventional tillage (CT).

Plant growth promotion by spermidine-producing Bacillus subtilis OKB105.

The interaction between plants and plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) is a complex, reciprocal process. On the one hand, plant compounds such as carbohydrates and amino acids serve as energy sources for PGPR. On the other hand, PGPR promote plant growth by synthesizing plant hormones and increasing mineral availability in the soil.

Correction: Properties and Molecular Determinants of the Natural Flavone Acacetin for Blocking hKv4.3 Channels.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Functional transient receptor potential canonical type 1 channels in human atrial myocytes.

Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are not well understood in human atrium, and the present study was therefore designed to investigate whether TRPC channels would mediate the nonselective cation current reported previously and are involved in the formation of store-operated Ca(2+) entry (SOCE) channels in human atrial myocytes using approaches of whole-cell patch voltage-clamp, RT-PCR, Western blotting, co-immunoprecipitation, and confocal scanning approaches, etc. We found that a nonselective cation current was recorded under K(+)-free conditions in human atrial myocytes, and the current was inhibited by the TRP channel blocker La(3+). Thapsigargin enhanced the current, and its effect was suppressed by La(3+) and prevented by pipette inclusion of anti-TRPC1 antibody.

Properties and molecular determinants of the natural flavone acacetin for blocking hKv4.3 channels.

The natural flavone acacetin has been demonstrated to inhibit transient outward potassium current (Ito) in human atrial myocytes. However, the molecular determinants of acacetin for blocking Ito are unknown. The present study was designed to investigate the properties and molecular determinants of this compound for blocking hKv4.

Ionic mechanisms underlying cardiac toxicity of the organochloride solvent trichloromethane.

Trichloromethane (chloroform) is widely used for industrial chemical synthesis and also as an organic solvent in laboratories or ingredient of pesticides. Sudden death resulted from cardiac arrhythmias has been reported in clinic with acute trichloromethane intoxication. The present study was designed to investigate ionic mechanisms underlying arrhythmogenic effect (cardiac toxicity) of trichloromethane in isolated rat hearts and ventricular myocytes and HEK 293 cells stably expressing human Nav1.

Acacetin causes a frequency- and use-dependent blockade of hKv1.5 channels by binding to the S6 domain.

We have demonstrated that the natural flavone acacetin selectively inhibits ultra-rapid delayed rectifier potassium current (I(Kur)) in human atria. However, molecular determinants of this ion channel blocker are unknown. The present study was designed to investigate the molecular determinants underlying the ability of acacetin to block hKv1.

[Phosphorus flow analysis of civil food production and consumption system].

With the method of substance flow analysis (SFA), the study provided an analytical framework for phosphorus cycle on civil food production and consumption system that was demonstrated by four life stages-food production, food processing, consumption and waste handling. Furthermore, a case study was carried out in Hefei City, for the year 2008. The SFA results show that the total demand of phosphorus reaches 5 475.