Publications by authors named "K-Q Liu"

Objective: To assess the viability of using ultra-low radiation and contrast medium (CM) dosage in aortic computed tomography angiography (CTA) through the application of low tube voltage (60kVp) and a novel deep learning image reconstruction algorithm (ClearInfinity, DLIR-CI).

Methods: Iodine attenuation curves obtained from a phantom study informed the administration of CM protocols. Non-obese participants undergoing aortic CTA were prospectively allocated into two groups and then obtained three reconstruction groups.

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Ergothioneine (EGT) has attracted great attention due to its extremely potent antioxidant properties, universally acknowledged as 'longevity vitamin'. In order to comprehensive understanding of its pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics, the binding mechanism of EGT with human serum albumin (HSA) was clarified by cutting-edged multi-spectroscopic approaches and in silico molecular docking coupled with molecular dynamic simulation. Our fluorescence quenching results revealed that the binding of EGT to HSA was in a static quenching mode validated by the descending Stern-Volmer constant (K) values (2.

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We consider the periodic behavior of the generalized Chazy differential equation x⃛+|x|qx¨+k|x|qxx˙2=0, where q is a positive integer and k is a real number. We give a pure analysis on the existence of non-trivial periodic solutions for k=q+1 and the non-existence of them for k≠q+1. Our method is based on considering the projections of the orbits onto the phase plane (x,x˙).

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Background: Surgical risk assessment is intriguing for clinical decision-making of brainstem cavernous malformation (BSCM) treatment. While the BSCM grading scale, encompassing size, developmental venous anomaly, crossing axial midpoint, age, and timing of intervention, is increasingly utilized, the clinical relevance of neurological fluctuation and recurrent hemorrhage has not been incorporated. This study aimed to propose a supplementary grading scale with enhanced predictive efficacy.

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Background: Endothelial cells regulate their cell cycle as blood vessels remodel and transition to quiescence downstream of blood flow-induced mechanotransduction. Laminar blood flow leads to quiescence, but how flow-mediated quiescence is established and maintained is poorly understood.

Methods: Primary human endothelial cells were exposed to laminar flow regimens and gene expression manipulations, and quiescence depth was analyzed via time-to-cell cycle reentry after flow cessation.

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Intratumor heterogeneity (ITH) of bladder cancer (BLCA) contributes to therapy resistance and immune evasion affecting clinical prognosis. The molecular and cellular mechanisms contributing to BLCA ITH generation remain elusive. It is found that a TM4SF1-positive cancer subpopulation (TPCS) can generate ITH in BLCA, evidenced by integrative single cell atlas analysis.

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To alleviate the application limitations of cement-stabilized soil in impermeable engineering and promote the recycling of waste rubber tires, crumb rubber produced from waste rubber tires was used to improve the engineering properties of the soil. The effect of crumb rubber on the permeability of the soil under different conditions was investigated using compression, compaction, and permeability tests. Crumb rubber can effectively improve the impermeability of cement-stabilized soil.

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Direct seawater electrolysis is promising for sustainable hydrogen gas (H) production. However, the chloride ions in seawater lead to side reactions and corrosion, which result in a low efficiency and poor stability of the electrocatalyst and hinder the use of seawater electrolysis technology. Here we report a corrosion-resistant RuMoNi electrocatalyst, in which the in situ-formed molybdate ions on its surface repel chloride ions.

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Camel milk is known for its exceptional medical uses. It has been used since ancient times to treat infant diarrhea, hepatitis, insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM), lactose intolerance, alcohol-induced liver damage, allergies, and autism. It has the power to treat several diseases, with cancer being the most significant.

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Background: Pathological cardiac hypertrophy is one of the leading causes of heart failure with highly complicated pathogeneses. The E3 ligase TRIM16 (tripartite motif-containing protein 16) has been recognized as a pivotal regulator to control cell survival, immune response, and oxidativestress. However, the role of Trim16 in cardiac hypertrophy is unknown.

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We assessed physicians' experiences of prescribing once-weekly (OW) semaglutide to patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Canada. Physicians who had prescribed OW semaglutide to ≥2 patients with T2D in the past 12 months and had been doing so for ≥3 months were surveyed during 1-17 October 2018. Prescribing reasons, treatment satisfaction and reasons for discontinuation were assessed.

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Objective: Endothelial cells (ECs) that form the innermost layer of all vessels exhibit heterogeneous cell behaviors and responses to pro-angiogenic signals that are critical for vascular sprouting and angiogenesis. Once vessels form, remodeling and blood flow lead to EC quiescence, and homogeneity in cell behaviors and signaling responses. These changes are important for the function of mature vessels, but whether and at what level ECs regulate overall expression heterogeneity during this transition is poorly understood.

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By introducing halogens to the A/Ga/Q (A = Na, K; Q = S, Se) system, one new chalcohalide namely NaGaSCl was successfully obtained. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Cmcm (63). NaGaSCl has a layered structure consisting of two dimensional [GaS] layers which are stacked in "face to face" and "back to back" arrays and separated by Na and Cl ions.

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The neutron spin resonance is generally regarded as a key to understanding the magnetically mediated Cooper pairing in unconventional superconductors. Here, we report an inelastic neutron scattering study on the low-energy spin excitations in a quasi-two-dimensional iron-based superconductor KCa_{2}Fe_{4}As_{4}F_{2}. We have discovered a two-dimensional spin resonant mode with downward dispersions, a behavior closely resembling the low branch of the hourglass-type spin resonance in cuprates.

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NOX5 (NADPH oxidase 5) is a homolog of the gp91 subunit of the phagocyte NOX, which generates reactive oxygen species. NOX5 is involved in sperm motility and vascular contraction and has been implicated in diabetic nephropathy, atherosclerosis, and stroke. The function of NOX5 in the cardiac hypertrophy is unknown.

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We extracted and purified oxyresveratrol (OXY) from Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. and identified its structure. The kinetics and mechanisms of OXY-induced mushroom tyrosinase inhibition were studied using fluorescence spectroscopy, copper ion chelation, and circular dichroism (CD).

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Beryllium has recently been discovered to harbor a Dirac nodal line (DNL) in its bulk phase and the DNL-induced nontrivial surface states (DNSSs) on its (0001) surface, rationalizing several already-existing historic puzzles [Phys. Rev. Lett.

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Four triphenylamine (TPA)-appended cyclometallated iridium(III) complexes were designed and synthesized. Photophysical properties of these complexes were studied, and density functional theory (DFT) was utilized to analyze the influence of the ancillary ligands (TPA-modified bipyridine) to these complexes. The introduction of TPA units could effectively adjust the lipid solubility of complexes (logP), and endowed complexes with potential bioactivity (anticancer, antibacterial and bactericidal activity), especially in the field of anticancer (the best value of IC is 4.

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Background and Purpose- High-resolution vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging is a promising technique for assessing wall structures of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs). However, the relationship between aneurysmal high-resolution vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging features and their histopathologic mechanism remains poorly understood. Methods- From February 2016 to February 2018, a total of 19 men and 28 women with 54 UIAs treated surgically were prospectively enrolled.

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The ricexip gene, which encodes the rice xylanase-inhibiting protein (riceXIP), was recombinantly expressed in Pichia pastoris GS115 under the control of AOX1 promoter. Recombinant riceXIP (rePriceXIP) was secreted into the supernatant and purified to homogeneity with the use of Ni-affinity resin. The molecular mass of rePriceXIP was approximately 44.

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The interaction between Gd@C(OH) and serum albumin (HSA and BSA) were investigated by spectroscopic analysis. From the characteristic feature of fluorescence quenching spectra at different temperatures, the inherent binding information including quenching mechanism, association constants, number of binding site, fraction of initial fluorescence and basic thermodynamic parameters were calculated. The binding of Gd@C(OH) to serum albumin caused strong quenching of protein intrinsic fluorescence and the structural changes of serum albumin.

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Seven sucrose esters, physakengoses K-Q (1-7) were isolated from the aerial parts of Physalis alkekengi var. franchetii. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses and chemical methods.

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The photochemical reaction between 1,2-naphthoquinone (NQ) and adenine was investigated using nanosecond time-resolved laser flash photolysis. With photolysis at 355 nm, the lowest triplet state T of NQ was produced via intersystem crossing from its singlet excited state. The triplet-triplet absorption of the state contributes three bands of transient spectra at 374, 596 and 650 nm, respectively, in pure acetonitrile and binary water-acetonitrile solutions.

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Trypsin is a kind of protease for digestion and food processing, whose activity can be inhibited by phenolic acids in plant foods. However, most reports explained the inhibitory difference of phenolic acids based on the number and position of substituent groups, which failed to reveal the comprehensive inhibitory mechanism. In this work, the inhibitory effects of 11 common phenolic acids on trypsin were investigated.

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Background: High altitude is a challenging condition caused by insufficient oxygen supply. Inability to adjust to hypoxia may lead to pulmonary edema, stroke, cardiovascular dysfunction, and even death. Thus, understanding the molecular basis of adaptation to high altitude may reveal novel therapeutics to counteract the detrimental consequences of hypoxia.

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