MOF-Derived ZnO/Ni3ZnC0.7/C Hybrids Yolk-Shell Microspheres with Excellent Electrochemical Performances for Lithium Ion Batteries.

In this study, ZnO/Ni3ZnC0.7/C spheres were synthesized successfully via a simple method based on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). The experimental results show that the reaction time has a great influence on the structure of the material.

First Identification of the Toxicity of Microcystins on Pancreatic Islet Function in Humans and the Involved Potential Biomarkers.

Microcystins (MCs) produced by cyanobacteria have been recognized as a major public health threat. However, the toxicity of MCs to humans is still largely unknown. In this study, we examined the changes in pancreatic islet function in fishers exposed to ambient levels of MCs at Lake Taihu and, using a mouse model, explored the molecular mechanisms involved in toxicity.

Nanoparticle Decorated Ultrathin Porous Nanosheets as Hierarchical Co3O4 Nanostructures for Lithium Ion Battery Anode Materials.

We report a facile synthesis of a novel cobalt oxide (Co3O4) hierarchical nanostructure, in which crystalline core-amorphous shell Co3O4 nanoparticles with a bimodal size distribution are uniformly dispersed on ultrathin Co3O4 nanosheets. When tested as anode materials for lithium ion batteries, the as-prepared Co3O4 hierarchical electrodes delivered high lithium storage properties comparing to the other Co3O4 nanostructures, including a high reversible capacity of 1053.1 mAhg(-1) after 50 cycles at a current density of 0.

Chromatographic evaluation and application of silica based azide-modified stationary phase under hydrophilic interaction liquid Chromatography mode.

Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) has attracted more and more interests in recent years. However, the stationary phases for HILIC are still scarce. More stationary phases and separation methods should be developed.

Adenovirus-mediated delivery of herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase administration improves outcome of recurrent high-grade glioma.

Background: This randomized, open-label, multicenter, phase II clinical trial was conducted to assess the anti-tumor efficacy and safety of replication-deficient adenovirus mutant thymidine kinase (ADV-TK) in combination with ganciclovir administration in patients with recurrent high-grade glioma (HGG).

Patients And Methods: 53 patients with recurrent HGG were randomly allocated to receive intra-arterial cerebral infusion of ADV-TK or conventional treatments. The primary end point was 6-month progression-free survival (PFS-6).

Antifungal effect and action mechanism of antimicrobial peptide polybia-CP.

The incidence of life-threatening invasive fungal infections increased significantly in recent years. However, the antifungal therapeutic options are very limited. Antimicrobial peptides are a class of potential lead chemical for the development of novel antifungal agents.

Dioscin alleviates alcoholic liver fibrosis by attenuating hepatic stellate cell activation via the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.

The present work aimed to investigate the activities and underlying mechanisms of dioscin against alcoholic liver fibrosis (ALF). In vivo liver fibrosis in mice was induced by an alcoholic liquid diet, and in vitro studies were performed on activated HSC-T6 and LX2 cells treated with lipopolysaccharide. Our results showed that dioscin significantly attenuated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation, improved collagen accumulation, and attenuated inflammation through down-regulating the levels of myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6 and tumour necrosis factor-α by decreasing Toll-like receptor (TLR)4 expression both in vivo and in vitro.

Effects of partial hydrolysis and subsequent cross-linking on wheat gluten physicochemical properties and structure.

The rheological behavior and thermal properties of wheat gluten following partial hydrolysis using Alcalase and subsequent microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) cross-linking were investigated. The wheat gluten storage modulus (G') and thermal denaturation temperature (Tg) were significantly increased from 2.26 kPa and 54.

Effects of microwave pretreatment and transglutaminase crosslinking on the gelation properties of soybean protein isolate and wheat gluten mixtures.

Background: The integration of soybean protein isolate (SPI) with wheat gluten (WG) crosslinked via microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) may enhance the formation of ϵ-(γ-glutamyl)lysine covalent bonds, because SPI is rich in lysine and WG contains more glutamine. Microwave pretreatment may accelerate enzymatic reactions. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the effects of microwave pretreatment on the gelation properties of SPI and WG crosslinked with MTGase.

The miRNAs and their regulatory networks responsible for pollen abortion in Ogura-CMS Chinese cabbage revealed by high-throughput sequencing of miRNAs, degradomes, and transcriptomes.

Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis) is one of the most important vegetables in Asia and is cultivated across the world. Ogura-type cytoplasmic male sterility (Ogura-CMS) has been widely used in the hybrid breeding industry for Chinese cabbage and many other cruciferous vegetables.

Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation for adult patients who underwent post-cardiac surgery.

Background: Refractory cardiac arrest (CA) occasionally develops in patients after cardiac surgery.

Objective: To examine the clinical outcomes of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) in adult patients with post-cardiotomy CA.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of the 9-year experience (from January 2004 to May 2012) of the Beijing Anzhen Hospital with ECPR in adult patients with post-cardiotomy CA.

Up-Regulation of Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression by Cobalt Chloride Through a HIF-1α Mechanism in Neuroblastoma Cells.

Nitric oxide (NO) plays a dual role in response to neural hypoxia. NO is synthesized by three isoforms of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), among which the neuronal NOS (nNOS) is predominant in the nervous system. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is a transcription factor that is induced under hypoxic conditions, but its correlation with nNOS remains unclear.

Assembly of multicomponent nanoframes via the synergistic actions of graphene oxide space confinement effect and oriented cation exchange.

Multicomponent nanoframes (NFs) with a hollow structural character have shown the potential to be applied in many fields. Here we report a novel strategy to synthesize Zn x Cd1-x S NFs via the synergistic actions of the graphene oxide (GO) confinement effect and oriented cation exchange. The obtained samples have been systematically characterized by x-ray diffractometry (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), x-ray photospectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectrometry.

[Application of quantitative fluorescence PCR for the prenatal diagnosis of common fetal chromosomal aneuploidies].

OBJECTIVE To assess the value of quantitative fluorescence PCR (QF-PCR) for the prenatal diagnosis of common fetal chromosomal aneuploidies. METHODS A total of 2436 amniotic fluid samples were collected at 18 to 22 gestational weeks. Multiplex QF-PCR was performed with fluorescence-labeled primers specific for 32 polymorphic short tandem repeat (STR) sites on chromosomes 21, 18, 13, X and Y.

Dioscin attenuates renal ischemia/reperfusion injury by inhibiting the TLR4/MyD88 signaling pathway via up-regulation of HSP70.

We previously reported the effect of dioscin against hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) in rats. However, little is known concerning the role of dioscin in renal IRI. In the present study, rats were subjected to IRI and dioscin was intragastrically administered for seven consecutive days before surgery.

24-Epibrassinoslide enhances plant tolerance to stress from low temperatures and poor light intensities in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.).

Brassinosteroids (Brs) are a newly recognized group of active steroidal hormones that occur at low concentrations in all plant parts and one of the active and stable forms is 24-epibrassinolide (EBR). We investigated the effect of EBR on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) and its mechanism when seedlings were exposed to low temperature and poor light stress conditions.

Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Microcystin Variants and Relationships with Environmental Parameters in Lake Taihu, China.

Excessive anthropogenically-caused nutrient loading from both external and internal sources has promoted the growth of cyanobacteria in Lake Taihu from 2005 to 2014, suggesting increased production and release of cyanotoxins. In order to explain the spatial distribution and temporal variation of microcystins (MCs), the intracellular concentrations of MCs (MC-LR, -RR and -YR, L, R and Y are abbreviations of leucine, arginine and tyrosine) were monitored monthly from July 2013 to June 2014. Three MC variants are present simultaneously in Lake Taihu; the MC-LR and -RR variants were dominant (accounting for 40% and 39% of the total), followed by MC-YR (21%).

Insertion of Trivalent Lanthanides into Uranyl Vanadate Layers and Frameworks.

Two new uranyl vanadates have been prepared from hydrothermal reactions and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The structure of (H3O)UO2VO4 (UVO-1) consists of anionic layers containing UO2(2+) pentagonal bipyramids coordinated by edge-sharing VO5 square pyramids, with the charge balanced by interlaminar H3O(+) cations. Vanadium in (UO2)3(VO4)2(H2O)3 (UVO-2) exists as monomeric VO4 tetrahedra coordinating to UO2(2+) pentagonal bipyramids, forming a 3D uranyl(VI) vanadate framework.

FoxP3 in papillary thyroid carcinoma induces NIS repression through activation of the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway.

Forkhead box P3 (FoxP3) expression in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is associated with resistance to radioiodine treatment. The sodium iodine symporter (NIS) is a plasma membrane glycoprotein, the repression of which may render the tumor refractive to radioiodine therapy. In this study, samples from 90 PTCs as well as 40 normal thyroid tissues were examined for FoxP3 and NIS by immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR.

Toll-like receptor 2 promotes T helper 17 cells response in hepatitis B virus infection.

Purpose: Innate and adaptive immune responses play vital roles in initiating and maintaining the immunological homeostasis in both physiological and pathological processes. However, the expression and function of the important cells and molecules as well as their interaction in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has not been well elucidated. The aim of the current study was to determine the pattern of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) in T cells in HBV infection and the function of TLR2 in regulation of T helper 17 (Th17) cells response.

Antimicrobial peptide protonectin disturbs the membrane integrity and induces ROS production in yeast cells.

Candidiasis is often observed in immunocompromised patients and is the 4th most common cause of bloodstream infections. However, antifungals are limited, so novel antifungal agents are urgently needed. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are considered as potential alternatives of conventional antibiotics.

Fluorescence enhancement effect of Eu(III)-thenoyltrifluoroacetone-cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide in water-dissolved organic matter extracted from wheat straw.

The fluorescence spectral characteristics of water-dissolved organic matter extracted from wheat straw (DOM-WS) were studied using three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix (3D-EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy. The results indicated that 3D-EEM spectra of DOM-WS showed four different fluorophores: humic-like, visible fulvic-like, UV fulvic-like and protein-like substances. It is interesting that DOM-WS can obviously enhance the fluorescence intensity of Eu(III)-thenoyltrifluoroacetone-cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide system.

Activation of FoxO1/ PGC-1α prevents mitochondrial dysfunction and ameliorates mesangial cell injury in diabetic rats.

The generation of hyperglycemia-induced mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a key event in diabetic nephropathy development. The forkhead-box class O1 (FoxO1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ co-activator 1α (PGC-1α) proteins are implicated in oxidative stress. We investigated the in vivo association of FoxO1 and PGC-1α in renal cortices from streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and in rat kidney mesangial cells (MCs) treated with high glucose, in vitro.

Aspect-object alignment with Integer Linear Programming in opinion mining.

Target extraction is an important task in opinion mining. In this task, a complete target consists of an aspect and its corresponding object. However, previous work has always simply regarded the aspect as the target itself and has ignored the important "object" element.