A low power 60-GHz on-off-keying (OOK) receiver has been implemented in a commercial 90 nm RF CMOS process. By employing a novel on-chip antenna together with architecture optimization, the receiver ...achieves a sensitivity of -47 dBm at a bit-error rate (BER) of less than 10 -3 . Using a commercial transmitter with transmit power of 1.5 dBm, a transmission distance of 5 cm can be achieved at 1.2 Gbps data rate. In this design, the on-chip antenna minimizes the packaging loss, while energy detection at RF allows architecture simplification. Both techniques contribute to the receiver's low power consumption of 51 mW, excluding test buffers. This leads to a bit energy efficiency of 28 pj/bit at 1.8 Gbps. The total die area is 3.8 mm 2 with the on-chip antenna occupying almost half of it.
Rice straw residue management is still facing many problems worldwide. This study used two environmentally friendly methods to investigate the effects of rice straw burning activity on ...water-extracted carbohydrate content in long-term paddy soil. Soil samples were collected at a depth within 0–15 cm at the paddy field before and after burning rice straw (pre-burning and post-burning), then extracted by distilled water at the ratio of 1:10 (soil: water) for measuring hot water (at 80 °C) and water extracted carbohydrate (at 25 °C) (HECH and WECH). The results showed that burning rice straw did not alter soil organic carbon (SOC); however, soil pH increased approximately 8.3%. Meanwhile, WECH and HECH ranged from 233 to 630 mg kg−1, with the highest HECH in Pre-burning treatment, while the lowest amount addressed WECH of Post-burning treatment. Extracted carbohydrate decreased after burning rice straw compared to Pre-burning soil. On the other hand, hot water increased 39–58% of carbohydrates compared to water extraction. We conclude that burning rice straw did not affect SOC but tends to reduce their labile carbon pools, and the heating process likely degrade part of SOC when extracted at high temperatures.
Display omitted
•Burning rice straw residue did not alter soil organic carbon storage.•Burning rice straw declines soil labile carbon pool.•Burning rice straw residue increased soil pH.•Burning rice straw residue enhance soil degradability.
Shigella flexneri is the most common cause of bacterial dysentery in low-income countries. Despite this, S. flexneri remains largely unexplored from a genomic standpoint and is still described using ...a vocabulary based on serotyping reactions developed over half-a-century ago. Here we combine whole genome sequencing with geographical and temporal data to examine the natural history of the species. Our analysis subdivides S. flexneri into seven phylogenetic groups (PGs); each containing two-or-more serotypes and characterised by distinct virulence gene complement and geographic range. Within the S. flexneri PGs we identify geographically restricted sub-lineages that appear to have persistently colonised regions for many decades to over 100 years. Although we found abundant evidence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) determinant acquisition, our dataset shows no evidence of subsequent intercontinental spread of antimicrobial resistant strains. The pattern of colonisation and AMR gene acquisition suggest that S. flexneri has a distinct life-cycle involving local persistence.
2‐(2‐Bromovinyl)‐ and 2‐(2‐bromoaryl)‐4,7‐dimethoxybenzimidazoles react with carbon monoxide (10 atm) in toluene in the presence of a catalytic amount of PdCl2 and PPh3 along with NaOAc to produce ...the corresponding pyrrolone‐ and isoindolinone‐fused 4,7‐dimethoxybenzimidazoles, respectively, in good yields. Oxidation of such binuclear N‐fused hybrid scaffolds with ceric ammonium nitrate in acetonitrile‐H2O gives unprecedented pyrrolone‐ and isoindolinone‐fused benzimidazole‐4,7‐diones in high yields.
N‐fused rings: The finding presented here is the synthesis of binuclear N‐fused hybrid scaffolds, pyrrolone‐ and isoindolinone‐fused benzimidazole‐4,7‐diones by stepwise palladium‐catalyzed carbonylative cyclization and oxidation.
Background
Activated eosinophils release extracellular traps (EETs), which contribute to airway inflammation in severe asthma (SA). However, the role of EETs in innate immunity has not yet been ...completely determined. The present study aimed to demonstrate the mechanism of airway inflammation in SA mediated by EETs.
Methods
Peripheral counts of EET+ eosinophils and type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) were evaluated in patients with SA (n = 13), nonsevere asthma (NSA, n = 17), and healthy control subjects (HC, n = 8). To confirm the effect of EETs, airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and adapted/innate immune responses were assessed in mice. Furthermore, the effects of anti‐IL‐33/TSLP antibody were tested.
Results
The numbers of EET+ eosinophils and ILC2s were significantly elevated in SA, with a positive correlation between these two cells (r = .539, P < .001). When mice were injected with EETs, we observed significant increases in epithelium‐derived cytokines (IL‐1α, IL‐1β, CXCL‐1, CCL24, IL‐33, and TSLP) and eosinophil/neutrophil count in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) as well as an increased proportion of IL‐5‐ or IL‐13‐producing ILC2s in the lungs. When Rag1−/− mice receiving ILC2s were treated with EETs, increased AHR and IL‐5/IL‐13 levels in BALF were noted, which were effectively suppressed by anti‐IL‐33 or anti‐TSLP antibody.
Conclusion
EETs could enhance innate and type 2 immune responses in SA, in which epithelium‐targeting biologics (anti‐IL‐33/TSLP antibody) may have a potential benefit.
The numbers of EET+ eosinophils and type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) are significantly elevated in severe asthma. EETs treatment in mice induces significant increase of epithelium‐derived cytokines (IL‐1α, IL‐1β, CXCL‐1, CCL24, IL‐33, and TSLP) and eosinophil/neutrophil count in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. EETs activate IL‐5 or IL‐13‐producing ILC2s through stimulating airway epithelium.Abbreviations: EETs, Eosinophil extracellular traps; TSLP, Thymic stromal lymphopoietin
β-Bromo-α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and 2-bromobenzaldehydes react with 4,7-dimethoxy-1H-benzodimidazole-2-amine by microwave irradiation in dimethylformamide in the presence of a base to give the ...corresponding dimethoxy-substituted benzo4,5imidazo1,2-apyrimidines and benzo4,5imidazo1,2-aquinazolines, respectively, in moderate to good yields. Oxidation of such N-fused hybrid scaffolds by aqueous ceric ammonium nitrate affords pyrimidine- and quinazoline-fused benzimidazole-4,7-diones in high yields.
The present research aims to study the long-term impacts of soil extractable carbohydrate content from the conversion of forest to paddy field, using three environmentally friendly methods: ...ultrasound assist (37 Hz/30 min), hot water (80 °C/4 h), and cold water (25 °C/30 min). Soil samples collected at the depth of 0–15 cm from natural forest, rice paddy, and border area were extracted by distilled water at the ratio 1:10 (soil: water). Contents of soil organic carbon (SOC) and extracted carbohydrate (ECH) in the natural forest and rice paddy were similar, and higher than in border area by 50%. Results showed the highest content of ECH was extracted using hot water (304–691 mg.Carbohydrate/kg soil, 4% of SOC), followed by ultrasound (102–305 mg.Carbohydrate/kg soil, 1.7% of SOC), and the lowest amount addressed to cold-water extraction (65–252 mg.Carbohydrate/kg soil, 1.2% of SOC). The ECH/SOC ratios in three soil types were the same and ranged from 0.9% to 4.2%. We conclude the long-term conversion of forest to rice paddy maintain both SOC and ECH, furthermore, hot water extraction at 80 °C/4 h is the optimum method for extraction of carbohydrate using non-chemical solvents.
Display omitted
•Effects of soil carbohydrate content in long-term rice paddy cultivation.•First study to compare three sustainable methods of soil carbohydrate extraction.•Long-term rice paddy cultivation does not affect carbohydrate content in the soil.•Hot water extraction method of 80 °C/4 h showed the highest soil carbohydrate.
While the radioprotective activity of curcumin against genotoxicity has been well established, its poor oral bioavailability has limited its successful clinical applications. Nanoscale formulations, ...including liposomes, have been demonstrated to improve curcumin bioavailability. The objective of the present work was (1) to prepare and characterize curcumin-encapsulated liposomes (i.e. size, colloidal stability, encapsulation efficiency, and payload), and (2) subsequently to evaluate their radioprotective activity against genotoxicity in human blood cells caused by Gamma Cobalt-60 irradiation.
The curcumin-encapsulated liposomes were prepared by lipid-film hydration method using commercial phosphatidylcholine (i.e. Phospholipon
90G). The blood cells were obtained from healthy male donors (n = 3) under an approved ethics protocol. The cell uptake and the radioprotective activity of the curcumin-encapsulated liposomes were characterized by fluorescence microscopy and micronucleus assay, respectively.
Nanoscale curcumin-encapsulated liposomes exhibiting good physical characteristics and successful uptake by the human blood cells were successfully prepared. The radioprotective activity of the curcumin-encapsulated liposomes was found to be dependent on the curcumin concentration, where an optimal concentration existed (i.e. 30 μg/mL) independent of the irradiation dose, above which the radioprotective activity had become stagnant (i.e. no more reduction in the micronuclei frequency).
The present results established for the first time the radioprotective activity of curcumin-encapsulated liposomes in human blood cells, which coupled by its well-established bioavailability, boded well for its potential application as a nanoscale delivery system of other radioprotective phytochemicals.
To obtain a high rice yield and quality for animal feed without synthetic fertilizers, an experiment with bench-scale apparatus was conducted by applying continuous irrigation with treated municipal ...wastewater (TWW). Uniform rice seedlings of a high-yield variety (Oryza sativa L., cv. Bekoaoba) were transplanted in five treatments to examine different TWW irrigation directions (“bottom-to-top” and “top-to-top” irrigation) and fertilization practices (with and without P-synthetic fertilizers) as well as one control that simulated the irrigation and fertilization management of normal paddy fields. The highest rice yield (14.1 t ha−1), shoot dry mass (12.9 t ha−1), and protein content in brown rice (14.6%) were achieved using bottom-to-top irrigation, although synthetic fertilizers were not applied. In addition, this subsurface irrigation system could contribute to environmental protection by removing 85–90% of nitrogen from TWW more effectively than the top-to-top irrigation, which showed a removal efficiency of approximately 63%. No accumulation of heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cd, Ni, Pb, Cr, and As) in the paddy soils was observed after TWW irrigation for five months, and the contents of these metals in the harvested brown rice were lower than the permissible limits recommended by international standards. A microbial fuel cell system (MFC) was installed in the cultivation system using graphite-felt electrodes to test the capacity of electricity generation; however, the electricity output was much lower than that reported in normal paddy fields. Bottom-to-top irrigation with TWW can be considered a potential practice to meet both water and nutrient demand for rice cultivation in order to achieve a very high yield and nutritional quality of cultivated rice without necessitating the application of synthetic fertilizers.
Eosinophil extracellular traps (EETs), a complex of DNA fibers and cytotoxic granule proteins, are implicated in the development of asthma; however, the pathophysiological function of EETs in immune ...responses has not been fully determined. The present study investigated the characteristics of EETs from patients with non-severe asthma (NSA, n = 20) and severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA, n = 20) and evaluated EET function. The percentage of EET-forming peripheral blood eosinophils stimulated with IL-5 and LPS was significantly higher in patients with SEA than in those with NSA (P = 0.009). This percentage negatively correlated with baseline FEV
(r = -0.350, P = 0.027) and positively correlated with serum eosinophil-derived neurotoxin levels in asthmatic subjects (r = 0.437, P = 0.018). In addition, EET formation was markedly associated with reactive oxygen species production (r = 0.750, P < 0.001). These EETs exhibited an autocrine function to induce eosinophil degranulation, which led to granule protein production. Airway epithelial cells stimulated with EETs exhibited increased epithelial detachment and permeability and pro-inflammatory cytokine release. However, EETs were not significantly associated with mast cell activation. The present study suggests that peripheral blood eosinophils from patients with SEA may be more activated to produce EETs than those from patients with NSA, which further induces inflammation in asthmatic airways. Therefore, regulation of EET formation and function may be a novel therapeutic approach for asthma management.
PDF
