Emoticons are pictorial/textual depictions of facial expressions used in marketing communications. Little is known about how customers interpret positive or negative emoticons used by customer ...service employees in service failure contexts. We investigate the impact of emoticon type on customer satisfaction and re-purchasing intention, and examine the sequential mediating role of perceived sincerity and willingness to forgive. Results show that the use of a negative emoticon in a response leads to a higher level of customer satisfaction and re-purchasing intention than responses with a positive emoticon. We further demonstrate that customers perceive that the presence of a negative emoticon in a response is more sincere and generates a higher level of forgiveness than those responses that use positive emoticons, but only when the communal relationship is salient in the customer’s mind. Our findings offer important theoretical and practical implications in service failure contexts.
Plant disease caused by fungus is one of the major threats to global food security, and understanding fungus-plant interactions is important for plant disease control. Research devoted to revealing ...the mechanisms of fungal pathogen-plant interactions has been conducted using genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. Metabolomics research based on mass spectrometric techniques is an important part of systems biology. In the past decade, the emerging field of metabolomics in plant pathogenic fungi has received wide attention. It not only provides a qualitative and quantitative approach for determining the pathogenesis of pathogenic fungi but also helps to elucidate the defense mechanisms of their host plants. This review focuses on the methods and progress of metabolomics research in fungal pathogen-plant interactions. In addition, the prospects and challenges of metabolomics research in plant pathogenic fungi and their hosts are addressed.
Urchin-like microparticles/nanoparticles assembled from radial nanorods have a good appearance and high specific surface area, providing more exposed active sites and shortening the diffusion path of ...photoexcited carriers from the interior to the surface. The interfacial interaction and physical and chemical properties of the materials can be improved by the interfacial porous network induced by interlacing nano-branches. In addition, multiple reflections of the layered microstructure can absorb more incident light and improve the photocatalytic performance. Therefore, the synthesis and functionalization of three-dimensional urchin-like nanostructures with controllable size, shape, and hierarchy have attracted extensive attention. This review aims to provide an overview to summarize the structures, mechanism, and application of urchin-like microparticles/nanoparticles derived from diverse synthesis methods and decoration types. Firstly, the synthesis methods of solid urchin-like micro-/nanoparticles are listed, with emphasis on the hydrothermal/solvothermal method and the reaction mechanism of several typical examples. Subsequently, the preparation method of composite urchin-like micro-/nanoparticles is described from the perspective of coating and doping. Then, the research progress of urchin-like hollow microspheres is reviewed from the perspective of the step-by-step method and synchronous method, and the formation mechanism of forming urchin-like hollow microspheres is discussed. Finally, the application progress of sea urchin-like particles in the fields of photocatalysis, electrochemistry, electromagnetic wave absorption, electrorheological, and gas sensors is summarized.
Abstract
Aims
Esketamine upregulates Zn
2+
-dependent matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) and increases the neuronal apoptosis in retinal ganglion cell layer during the early development. We aimed to ...test whether albumin can alleviate esketamine-induced apoptosis through downregulating Zn
2+
-dependent MMP9.
Methods
We investigate the role of Zn
2+
in esketamine-induced neuronal apoptosis by immunofluorescence. MMP9 protein expression and enzyme activity were investigated by zymography in situ
.
, western blot and immunofluorescence. Whole-mount retinas from P7 Sprague-Dawley rats were used.
Results
We demonstrated that esketamine exposure increased Zn
2+
in the retinal GCL during the early development. Zn
2+
-dependent MMP9 expression and enzyme activity up-regulated, which eventually aggravated apoptosis. Albumin effectively down-regulated MMP9 expression and activity via binding of free zinc, ultimately protected neurons from apoptosis. Meanwhile albumin treatment promoted activated microglia into multi-nucleated macrophagocytes and decreased the inflammation.
Conclusion
Albumin alleviates esketamine-induced neuronal apoptosis through decreasing Zn
2+
accumulation in GCL and downregulating Zn
2+
-dependent MMP9.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Carbapenem-resistant
Klebsiella pneumoniae
(CRKP), a pathogen that causes severe nosocomial infections and yields a high mortality rate, poses a serious threat to global public health due to its high ...antimicrobial resistance. Bacteriophages encode polysaccharide-degrading enzymes referred to as depolymerases that cleave the capsular polysaccharide (CPS), one of the main virulence factors of
K. pneumoniae
. In this study, we identified and characterized a new capsule depolymerase K19-Dpo41 from
K. pneumoniae
bacteriophage SH-KP156570. Our characterization of K19-Dpo41 demonstrated that this depolymerase showed specific activities against K19-type
K. pneumoniae
. K19-Dpo41-mediated treatments promoted the sensitivity of a multidrug-resistant K19-type
K. pneumoniae
strain to the bactericidal effect of human serum and significantly increased the survival rate of
Galleria mellonella
infected with K19-type
K. pneumoniae
. Our results provided strong primary evidence that K19-Dpo41 was not only effective in capsular typing of K19-type
K. pneumoniae
but promising in terms of developing new alternative therapeutic strategies against K19-type CRKP infections in the future.
Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) has caused wide dissemination among pediatric patients globally and thus has aroused public concern. Here, we investigated the clinical ...epidemiological characteristics of 140 nonreplicate clinical K. pneumoniae strains isolated from pediatric patients between January and December 2021. Of all isolates, 16.43% (23 of 140) were CRKP strains, which predominantly contained KPC carbapenemase.
sequencing demonstrated that KL47 (65.22%, 15 of 23) was the most frequent capsular type, followed by KL64 (17.39%, 4 of 23). A total of 23 CRKP strains were classified into three different O-genotypes, including OL101 (65.22%, 15 of 23), O1 (26.09%, 6 of 23), and O3 (8.7%, 2 of 23). Interestingly, KL47 strains were strongly associated with OL101, while KL64 strains were all linked with O1. Some capsule-deficient strains were identified by serological typing, phage-typing, depolymerase-typing, and uronic acid assay. In this study, compared with healthy children, higher titers of anti-capsular polysaccharides (CPS) IgG were first detected in the sera of K47 and K64 K. pneumoniae-infected children, which had the effective bactericidal activity against corresponding serotype K. pneumoniae strains. These findings will facilitate the development of novel therapeutic and vaccine strategies against K. pneumoniae infection in children.
The emergence of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) strains resistant to numerous antibiotics and the limited therapeutic options available have become an urgent health threat to the immunocompromised pediatric population. Vaccines and antibodies, especially those targeting capsular polysaccharides, may be novel and effective prevention and treatment options. Thus, it is important to understand the spread of CRKP in pediatric populations. This research presents OL101:KL47 and O1:KL64 as the predominant combinations among CRKP strains in children in Shanghai, China. The primary carbapenemase gene is KPC in CRKP strains. Additionally, this study found elevated levels of anti-CPS IgG against K47 and K64 K. pneumoniae strains in pediatric patients for the first time. The significant bactericidal activity of these anti-CPS IgGs was confirmed.
Carbapenem-resistant
(CRKP), one of the major nosocomial pathogens, is increasingly becoming a serious threat to global public health. There is an urgent need to develop effective therapeutic and ...preventive approaches to combat the pathogen. Here, we identified and characterized a novel capsule depolymerase (K64-ORF41) derived from
phage SH-KP152410, which showed specific activities for
K64-serotype. We showed that this depolymerase could be used in the identification of K64 serotypes based on the capsular typing, and the results agreed well with those from the conventional serotyping method using antisera. From this study, we also identified K64 mutant strains, which showed typing discrepancy between
-sequencing based genotyping and depolymerase-based or antiserum-based typing methods. Further investigation indicated that the mutant strain has an insertion sequence (IS) in
, which led to the alteration of the capsular serotype structure. We further demonstrated that K64-ORF41 depolymerase could sensitize the bacteria to serum or neutrophil killing by degrading the capsular polysaccharide. In summary, the identified K64 depolymerase proves to be an accurate and reliable tool for capsular typing, which will facilitate the preventive intervention such as vaccine development. In addition, the polymerase may represent a potential and promising therapeutic biologics against CRKP-K64 infections.
► Energy density rather than microwave power level is an important factor. ► Relationship between extraction rate and energy density is a Gauss function. ► We provided mathematical models of solution ...temperature. ► We used citric acid+water solution as environmental-friend extraction solvent. ► We presented the sensitivity analysis of extraction rate.
In order to verify the sensitivity of anthocyanins (Acys) yield of grape peel to the energy density (microwave power for a given unit of volume) and citric acid concentration in microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) process, the effect of energy density and citric acid concentration in MAE process were investigated. The results indicated that, Acys yield was more sensitive to energy density than to microwave power. The correlation between Acys yield and energy density follows well Gaussian function, suggested by higher R squares (R2>0.9399). Exponential decay model can well describe the correlation between Acys yield and citric acid concentration, or between solution temperature rise and energy density. The solution temperature was a linear function of citric acid concentration and extraction time. Energy density was the most significant factor affecting the Acys yield, followed by citric acid concentration, ratio of liquid to solid and extraction time (p<0.05).
In this article, the effect of the chitosan molecular weight (MW) on the characteristics of methotrexate (MTX)-encapsulated non-cross-linked chitosan microspheres was studied. Microspheres composed ...of low-molecular-weight (LMW, 40,000 Da), medium-molecular-weight (MMW, 480,000 Da) and high-molecular-weight (HMW, 850,000 Da) chitosan with the same degree of deacetylation (96%) were obtained by a simple spray-drying method. The MW of chitosan had a noticeable influence on the size distribution, encapsulation efficiency, micromeritic properties (angle of repose and bulk density), controlled release behavior, and mucoadhesive properties. The entrapment efficiencies were in the range of 90-99%. Spray-dried microspheres had a D50 value of 3.3-4.9 μm, which was suitable for nasal insufflations. The microspheres with LMW chitosan have the best flowability and highest bulk density but were found to be poor in terms of adhesion and in controlling the release behavior of MTX. The MMW chitosan microspheres exhibited the strongest adhesion to the mucosal surface, and the angle of repose values were between 34 and 47 degrees. They could control the release rate by modifying the drug polymer ratios. Microspheres with HMW chitosan exhibited a lower adhesion than MMW chitosan and a lower release rate of MTX. The physical state of MTX in the chitosan matrix was studied by differential scanning calorimetry, which indicated the presence of a solid dispersion of the amorphous drug in the chitosan matrix. Nasal ciliotoxity showed only minor cilia irritation due to the microspheres, and consequently, they are suitable for nasal drug delivery.
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