Topography and physical properties of carboxymethyl cellulose films assembled with calcium and gelatin at different temperature and humidity.

Effects of the environmental temperature and relative humidity of drying conditions on the surface ultrastructure of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) films were investigated by atomic force microscopy. The mechanical and water vapor barrier properties of the films were also evaluated. The results showed that CMC molecules self-assembled into a uniform network at the solution of 5% calcium chloride.

RETRACTED: Skin cancer diagnosis based on a hybrid AlexNet/extreme learning machine optimized by Fractional-order Red Fox Optimization algorithm.

Skin cancer is known as one of the most usual malignant cancer in the human body. Statistics show that each year above one million people are added to the who has this cancer. There are different types of skin cancer, where, the main difference is on the type of cell that is developing cancer.

Purification and characterization of dextranase from Penicillium cyclopium CICC-4022 and its degradation of dextran.

A dextranase was purified from Penicillium cyclopium CICC-4022 by ammonium sulfate fractionation and secondary tangential flow filtration, and the enzymatic properties were studied. The purified dextranase was used to regulated the molecular mass and homogeneity of dextran. Weight-average molecular mass (Mw) and polydispersity index (Mw/Mn) of dextran were measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) coupled with a triple-detector array (GPC-TDA), which is composed of a multiple-angle light scattering, a viscometer, and a refractive-index detector.

Development and Validation of a Personalized Prognostic Prediction Model for Patients With Spinal Cord Astrocytoma.

Background: The study aimed to investigate the prognostic factors of spinal cord astrocytoma (SCA) and establish a nomogram prognostic model for the management of patients with SCA.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with SCA between 1975 and 2016 were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database and randomly divided into training and testing datasets (7:3). The primary outcomes of this study were overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS).

Tunable photosalient behaviours within coordination polymers functional molecular prearrangements.

Four Cd(II)/diene coordination polymers (CPs) with similar 1D chain motifs exhibit different photosalient (PS) behaviours in response to UV light. The [2+2] photoreaction between the CC groups within these CPs results in diverse PS behaviours of their crystals with different CC pair arrangements. The interesting PS behaviours of these CPs can be applied in design and fabrication of advanced photoactuating materials.

Synthesis, structure and aromaticity of metallapyridinium complexes.

The first rhena-analogues of pyridinium (cyclopropametalla-2-isoquinolinium complexes) are obtained from -ethynyl benzonitriles. Structural analysis and DFT calculations confirm their aromatic nature. Compared to rhenapyrylium, rhenapyridinium has a slightly stronger Hückel π-aromaticity, while a chlorine substituent on the rhenapyridinium ring decreases its aromaticity, which is revealed by NICS, EDDB, MCI and ΔBV(ELF) analysis.

Transmission Channels and Impacts of Energy Use on Health Outcomes in Asia.

Today, the developing economies continue to tackle the penalties of the energy use and its influence on their environmental and socio-economic prosperity, and the developed economies are concentrating on promoting programs and policies to improve and sustain the endowment of adequate energy consumption that pledges less carbon emissions and threats to human health. Currently, millions of people face a dearth of access to reliable, affordable, and clean energy to fulfill their daily requirements. Thus, the mounting need for energy use portends hazardous consequences on human health.

Exploration of interaction between angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) and the inhibitory peptide from Wakame (Undaria pinnatifida).

The interaction between angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) and the inhibitory peptide KNFL from Wakame was explored using isothermal titration calorimetry, multiple spectroscopic techniques and molecular dynamics simulations, and an inhibition model was established based on free energy binding theory. The experiments revealed that the binding of KNFL to ACE was a spontaneous exothermic process driven by enthalpy and entropy and occurred via multiple binding sites to form stable complexes. The complexes may be formed through multiple steps of inducing fit and conformational selection.

Accuracy and Timeliness of Knowledge Dissemination on COVID-19 Among People in Rural and Remote Regions of China at the Early Stage of Outbreak.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spread throughout China in January 2020. To contain the virus outbreak, the Chinese government took extraordinary measures in terms of public policy, wherein accurate and timely dissemination of information plays a crucial role. Despite all of the efforts toward studying this health emergency, little is known about the effectiveness of public policies that support health communication during such a crisis to disseminate knowledge for self-protection.

Development and evaluation of a hydrogenated rosin (β-acryloxyl ethyl) ester-bonded silica stationary phase for high-performance liquid chromatography separation of paclitaxel from yew bark.

Paclitaxel (PTX) is a complex diterpenoid anticancer drug whose separation from yew biomass poses a significant challenge. In this study, a new stationary phase comprising hydrogenated rosin (β-acryloxyl ethyl) ester (HRE)-bonded silica (HRE@SiO) is developed to separate and purify PTX from crude yew-bark extract using high-performance liquid chromatography. In HRE@SiO, HRE molecules, which are functional ligands, are bonded to the surface of a silica gel matrix using a coupling agent, (3-mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane.

A Fresh Evidence of Income Inequality and Health Outcomes Asymmetric Linkages in Emerging Asian Economies.

During the last few decades, income inequality in emerging Asian economies has been increased dramatically. It is widely recognized that income inequality has severely impacted population health. This study attempts to estimate the impact of income inequality on health outcomes in emerging Asian economies for a time horizon ranging from 1991 to 2019.

Factors Influencing the Accessibility and Reliability of Health Information in the Face of the COVID-19 Outbreak-A Study in Rural China.

Rural residents have been shown to have limited access to reliable health information and therefore may be at higher risks for the adverse health effects of the COVID-19. The aim of this research is 2-fold: (1) to explore the impacts of demographic factors on the accessibility of health information; and (2) to assess the impacts of information channels on the reliability of health information accessed by rural residents in China during the COVID-19 outbreak. Mixed methods research was performed to provide a relatively complete picture about the accessibility and reliability of health information in rural China in the face of the COVID-19.

Flexible photoelectrochemical sensor for highly sensitive chloramphenicol detection based on M-TiO-CdTe QDs/CdS QDs composite.

Chloramphenicol (CAP) is widely used in the food industry and animal husbandry due to its effective antibiotic effect active against gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms. However, research shows that it can cause serious adverse reactions and side effects in the human body. In order to effectively monitor the residues of CAP, a novel and simple photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensor for sensitive detection of CAP is fabricated based on M-TiO-CdTe QDs/CdS QDs composite.

Integration of a capacitor to a 3-D DNA walker and a biofuel cell-based self-powered system for ultrasensitive bioassays of microRNAs.

A self-powered microRNA biosensor with triple signal amplification systems was assembled through the integration of three-dimensional DNA walkers, enzymatic biofuel cells and a capacitor. The DNA walker is designed from an enzyme-free target triggered catalytic hairpin assembly of modified gold nanoparticles. When triggered by the target microRNA, the DNA walker will move along the catalytic hairpin track, resulting in a payload release of glucose oxidase.

Humulane-Type Macrocyclic Sesquiterpenoids From the Endophytic Fungus sp. of .

Three new humulane-type sesquiterpenoids, penirolide A (), penirolide B (), and 10-acetyl-phomanoxide (), together with three known compounds aurasperone A (), pughiinin A (), and cyclo(l-Leu-l-Phe) () were isolated from the endophytic fungus sp derived from the leaves of L. Their structures including their absolute configurations were determined based on the analysis of NMR and HRESIMS spectra, NMR chemical shifts, and ECD calculations. Compounds , , , and significantly inhibited glucagon-induced hepatic glucose production, with EC values of 33.

Metabolites From the Mangrove-Derived Fungus sp. HNWSW-1.

Two new benzoic acids, cladoslide A () and cladoslide B (); one new β-carboline derivative, cladospomine (); and one new pyridin-2(1)-one, cladoslide C (), were isolated from the fermentation cultures of the mangrove-derived fungus sp. HNWSW-1, along with the previously reported -acetyl-β-oxotryptamine (), (4,5,11)--cladospolide B (), (4,5,11)--cladospolide B (), and (4,5,11)--cladospolide B (). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, Rh(OCOCF)-induced ECD experiments, and Marfey's method.

Root-Derived Endophytic Diazotrophic Bacteria AF1 and EF1 Promote Nitrogen Assimilation and Growth in Sugarcane.

Excessive, long-term application of chemical fertilizers in sugarcane crops disrupts soil microbial flora and causes environmental pollution and yield decline. The role of endophytic bacteria in improving crop production is now well-documented. In this study, we have isolated and identified several endophytic bacterial strains from the root tissues of five sugarcane species.

Organic pollutant degradation by UV/peroxydisulfate process: Impacts of UV light source and phosphate buffer.

In recent years, ultraviolet (UV) based advanced oxidation processes have been extensively studied for degradation of refractory organic pollutants in water and wastewater, and selection of an appropriate UV light source is an important issue. In this study, bench-scale tests were conducted on a mini-fluidic photoreaction system (MFPS) to determine the degradation kinetics of methylene blue (MB) by UV/peroxydisulfate (UV/PDS) process equipped with a low-pressure UV (LPUV), vacuum UV (VUV)/LPUV, or medium-pressure UV (MPUV) mercury vapor lamp. Results indicate that MB degradation by UV/PDS with various light sources all followed the pseudo-first order kinetics, and the photon fluence-based rate constant (k) had a descending order of: VUV/LPUV/PDS ≫ MPUV/PDS > LPUV/PDS.

Antioxidant Activity and Mechanism of Resveratrol and Polydatin Isolated from Mulberry ( L.).

Natural stilbenes have unique physiological effects, such as anti-senile dementia, anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, lowering blood lipid, and other important biological functions, which have attracted great attention from scholars in recent years. In this study, two stilbene compounds, resveratrol (RES) and polydatin (PD), were isolated from Mulberry ( L.), and their antioxidant activity and mechanism were investigated.

Design of a Superhydrophobic Strain Sensor with a Multilayer Structure for Human Motion Monitoring.

A flexible strain sensor is of significant importance in wearable electronics since it can help monitor the physical signals from the human body. Among various strain sensors, the polyurethane (PU)-based ones have received widespread attention owing to their excellent toughness, large working range, and nice gas permeability. However, the hydrophobicity of these sensors is not good enough, which may affect their use life and sensitivity.

Identification of mitochondria-related hub genes in sarcopenia and functional regulation of MFG-E8 on ROS-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction and cell cycle arrest.

Sarcopenia has high prevalence in the elderly population, but the genes and pathways related to aging in elderly patients with sarcopenia are poorly understood. Milk fat globule epidermal growth factor 8 (MFG-E8) is a peripheral membrane glycoprotein isolated from the milk fat globule membrane (MFGM). It has been found to exhibit various nutritional effects, including antibacterial, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, anti-sarcopenia, and improving brain development and cognitive effects.

Nakamurella leprariae sp. nov., isolated from a lichen sample.

A novel actinobacterium, YIM 132084, was isolated from Lepraria sp. lichen collected from Yunnan province, south-west PR China and identified by a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The strain was Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, catalase-positive, oxidase-negative, non-motile and coccus-shaped.

Metalla-phenalene complexes: synthesis, structure and aromaticity.

Metallaaromatics show a diversity of aromaticity. In this work, we report the synthesis and structural characterization of the first rhena-phenalene complexes. In addition to the Hückel aromaticity and σ-aromaticity, pseudo π anti-aromaticity is observed.

Total syntheses of ericifolione and its analogues a biomimetic inverse-electron-demand Diels-Alder reaction.

Driven by bioinspiration and appreciation of the structure of ericifolione, a biomimetic tautomerization/intermolecular inverse-electron-demand hetero Diels-Alder reaction cascade sequence promoted by sodium acetate to rapidly construct sterically hindered dihydropyran scaffolds was established, which allowed the first straightforward biomimetic total syntheses of ericifolione and its analogues with high simplicity. Moreover, this methodology set the stage for the preparation of relevant natural products or derivatives.