In heavy-ion collisions, the measurements of anisotropic flow coefficients ( v n ) offer insights into collective hydrodynamic expansion and transport properties of the produced medium at higher ...collision energies, while also being sensitive to the compressibility of the nuclear matter and nuclear equation of state at lower collision energies. In this contribution, we present the measurement of charged particle v 1 over ten units of pseudorapidity (η) in Au+Au collisions at √ S NN = 27 and 19.6 GeV and compare it with multiple model calculations. Only UrQMD was able to reproduce a sizable v 1 at the forward pseudorapidity as observed in the experiment. We also present the results of v 1 and v 3 at √ S NN = 3 - 3.9 GeV for identified hadrons and light nuclei with respect to Ψ 1 . The results are compared with theoretical models to identify the source of nonzero v 3 {Ψ 1 } and to demonstrate its vital connection to the equation of state.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Ternary polymer solar cells are fabricated based on one donor PBDB‐T and two acceptors (a methyl‐modified small‐molecular acceptor (IT‐M) and a bis‐adduct of Bis70PCBM). A high power conversion ...efficiency of 12.2% can be achieved. The photovoltaic performance of the ternary polymer solar cells is not sensitive to the composition of the blend.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
In this correspondence, we propose a novel method to extract illumination insensitive features for face recognition under varying lighting called the gradient faces. Theoretical analysis shows ...gradient faces is an illumination insensitive measure, and robust to different illumination, including uncontrolled, natural lighting. In addition, gradient faces is derived from the image gradient domain such that it can discover underlying inherent structure of face images since the gradient domain explicitly considers the relationships between neighboring pixel points. Therefore, gradient faces has more discriminating power than the illumination insensitive measure extracted from the pixel domain. Recognition rates of 99.83% achieved on PIE database of 68 subjects, 98.96% achieved on Yale B of ten subjects, and 95.61% achieved on Outdoor database of 132 subjects under uncontrolled natural lighting conditions show that gradient faces is an effective method for face recognition under varying illumination. Furthermore, the experimental results on Yale database validate that gradient faces is also insensitive to image noise and object artifacts (such as facial expressions).
Activation of microglia and expression of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 (IL-1) in the CNS have become almost synonymous with neuroinflammation. In numerous studies, increased CNS IL-1 ...expression and altered microglial morphology have been used as hallmarks of CNS inflammation. A central concept of how CNS IL-1 and microglia influence functions of the nervous system was derived from the notion initially generated in the peripheral immune system: IL-1 stimulates monocyte/macrophage (the peripheral counterparts of microglia) to amplify inflammation. It is increasingly clear, however, CNS IL-1 acts on other targets in the CNS and microglia participates in many neural functions that are not related to immunological activities. Further, CNS exhibits immunological privilege (although not as absolute as previously thought), rendering amplification of inflammation within CNS under stringent control. This review will analyze current literature to evaluate the contribution of immunological and non-immunological aspects of microglia/IL-1 interaction in the CNS to gain insights for how these aspects might affect health and disease in the nervous tissue.
With the development of analytical technology, more emerging disinfection by-products (DBPs) have been identified and detected. Among them, aromatic DBPs, especially heterocyclic DBPs, possess ...relatively high toxicity compared with regulated DBPs, which has been proved by bioassays. Thus, the occurrence of aromatic DBPs is of great concern. This article provides a comprehensive review and summary of the characteristics, occurrence, transformation pathways and control of aromatic DBPs. Aromatic DBPs are frequently detected in drinking water, wastewater and swimming pool water, among which swimming pool water illustrates highest concentration. Considering the relatively high concentration and toxicity, halophenylacetonitriles (HPANs) and halonitrophenols (HNPs) are more likely to be toxicity driver among frequently detected phenyl DBPs. Aromatic DBPs can be viewed as important intermediate products of dissolved organic matter (DOM) during chlor(am)ination. High molecular weight DOM could convert to aromatic DBPs via direct or indirect pathways, and they can further decompose into regulated aliphatic DBPs such as trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs) by ring opening and side chain cleavage. Even though no single DBPs control strategy is efficient to all aromatic DBPs, the decrease of overall toxicity may be achieved by several methods including absorption, solar radiation and boiling. By systematically considering aromatic DBPs and aliphatic DBPs, a better trade-off can be made to reduce health risk induced by DBPs.
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•Halophenylacetonitriles and halonitrophenols are important potential toxicity drivers among phenyl DBPs.•In vitro and in vivo toxicological bioassays on aromatic DBPs are compared.•DOM from diverse sources forms aromatic DBPs with different characteristics.•Aromatic DBPs convert to aliphatic DBPs through ring opening or side chain cleavage.•N and halogen atoms in aliphatic DBPs originate from both aromatic DBPs and Cl2/NH2Cl.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Abstract
LINC01207 is involved in the progression of some cancers. This study was designed to delve into the biological function and mechanism of LINC01207 in gastric cancer. Quantitative polymerase ...chain reaction (qPCR) was adopted to examine the expression levels of LINC01207, miR-671-5p, dead-box polypeptide 5 (DDX5) mRNA in gastric cancer tissues and cells. After LINC01207 was overexpressed or depleted, MTT and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) assays were conducted to detect cell proliferation. Transwell assay was employed to detect cell migration and invasion. Western blot was used to detect the expression of DDX5 protein in cells. Bioinformatics analysis, luciferase reporter assay and RNA pull-down assay were performed to predict and validate the binding site between miR-671-5p and LINC01207 or DDX5. LINC01207 and DDX5 mRNA were upregulated in gastric cancer, while miR-671-5p was downregulated; high expression of LINC01207 and transfection of miR-671-5p inhibitors facilitated the proliferation of gastric cancer cells; however, knocking down LINC01207 and the overexpression of miR-671-5p mimics had opposite biological effects. LINC01207 and miR-671-5p were interacted and miR-671-5p was negatively regulated by LINC01207. MiR-671-5p could reverse the function of LINC01207. DDX5 was a downstream target of miR-671-5p and was positively modulated by LINC01207. LINC01207 promotes the proliferation and metastasis of gastric cancer cells by regulating miR-671-5p/DDX5 axis.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Abstract
Regenerable nanozymes with high catalytic stability and sustainability are promising substitutes for naturally-occurring enzymes but are limited by insufficient and non-selective catalytic ...activities. Herein, we developed single-atom nanozymes of RhN
4
, VN
4
, and Fe-Cu-N
6
with catalytic activities surpassing natural enzymes. Notably, Rh/VN
4
preferably forms an Rh/V-O-N
4
active center to decrease reaction energy barriers and mediates a “two-sided oxygen-linked” reaction path, showing 4 and 5-fold higher affinities in peroxidase-like activity than the FeN
4
and natural horseradish peroxidase. Furthermore, RhN
4
presents a 20-fold improved affinity in the catalase-like activity compared to the natural catalase; Fe-Cu-N
6
displays selectivity towards the superoxide dismutase-like activity; VN
4
favors a 7-fold higher glutathione peroxidase-like activity than the natural glutathione peroxidase. Bioactive sutures with Rh/VN
4
show recyclable catalytic features without apparent decay in 1 month and accelerate the scalp healing from brain trauma by promoting the vascular endothelial growth factor, regulating the immune cells like macrophages, and diminishing inflammation.
Vegetation, which is a good indicator of the impacts of climate variability and human activities, can reflect desert ecosystem dynamics. To reveal the vegetation variations in China's deserts, trends ...in the monthly, seasonal, and annual normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) from 2000 to 2017 were measured both temporally and spatially by the Theil-Sen estimator and Mann-Kendall test. Additionally, correlation coefficients and residual analysis were employed to evaluate the correlations between the NDVI and climatic factors and to distinguish the impacts of climate variability and human activities. The results showed that China's deserts underwent greening. The annual NDVI showed a significant increasing trend at a rate of 0.0018/yr, with values of 0.094 in 2000 and 0.126 in 2017. Significant increasing trends in NDVI were observed in all four seasons. The NDVI were higher in summer and autumn than in spring and winter. Both the monthly NDVI and its trends showed an inverted U-shaped curve during the year. Spatially, the greening trends were mainly distributed on the southern edge of the Gurbantunggut Desert, in the northwestern part of the Taklimakan Desert, and in the Kubuqi Desert. The correlations between the NDVI and climatic factors at the monthly and seasonal scales were stronger than those at the annual scale. Temperature and precipitation had positive effects on NDVI at the monthly and seasonal scales, but only precipitation had a positive effect at the annual scale. Human activities, especially oasis expansion and sand stabilization measures, were two major causes of large increasing areas of desert greening in China indicated by the NDVI.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Cinnamon essential oil (EO) exhibited effective antibacterial activity against foodborne spoilage and pathogenic bacteria in model systems using Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus. The minimum ...inhibition concentration (MIC) of cinnamon EO was similar for both bacteria (1.0 mg/ml) while the minimum bactericide concentration (MBC) were 4.0 mg/ml and 2.0 mg/ml for E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus. GC–MS analysis confirmed that cinnamaldehyde was the major constituent in cinnamon EO (92.40%). Much effort was focused on elucidating the mechanism of antibacterial action of cinnamon EO against E. coli and S. aureus by observing the changes of cell microstructure using scanning electron microscope, determination of cell permeability, membrane integrity and membrane potential. After adding cinnamon EO at MIC level, there were obvious changes in the morphology of bacteria cells indicating cell damage. When cinnamon EO were added at MBC levels, the cells were destroyed. Cinnamon EO led to leakage of small electrolytes, causing rapid increase in the electric conductivity of samples at the first few hours. The values for E. coli and S. aureus reached 60% and 79.4% respectively at 7 h. Moreover, the concentration of proteins and nucleic acids in cell suspension also rose with increased cinnamon EO. Bacterial metabolic activity was decreased 3–5 folds as reflected by the results of membrane potential. Overall, S. aureus was more susceptible to cinnamon EO than E. coli.
•We tested cinnamon EO exhibited effective antibacterial against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.•The mechanism relies on cinnamon EO effects cell membrane structure.•Cinnamon EO results in irregular cell metabolic activity.•Cinnamon EO changes membrane permeability and membrane integrity.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPUK, ZRSKP
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