The invention of bulk metallic glasses has stimulated extensive interest, due to their possible technological applications in a variety of industrial fields and their scientific importance in ...understanding related condensed matter physics. Among all types of BMGs, Fe-based BMGs are a unique yet important family due to their high mechanical strength, good thermal stability, strong corrosion resistance, excellent soft magnetic properties, and relatively low production costs. Since the first synthesis of the Fe-Al-Ga-P-C-B BMG reported in 1995, a vast body of literature regarding Fe-based BMGs has been published. However, until now, a full and systematic description of the development status and future prospects of Fe-based BMGs has been missing. Therefore, this article presents the research development and achievements of Fe-based BMGs in the past few decades, including their preparation, glass-forming ability, crystallization characteristics, mechanical properties, corrosion behaviors, soft and hard magnetic properties, and industrial applications. In addition, future developments of Fe-based BMGs are also proposed.
•As of March 10, 2020, Italy had reported 9172 COVID-19 cases with 463 deaths.•We report the real-time reproductive numbers (R(t)) and case fatality rates for selected European countries (Italy, ...France, Germany, and Spain) by March 9, 2020.•The R(t) was greater than 2 in the selected European countries, indicating that the outbreak will continue.
As a global pandemic is inevitable, real-time monitoring of transmission is vital for containing the spread of COVID-19. The main objective of this study was to report the real-time effective reproduction numbers (R(t)) and case fatality rates (CFR) in Europe.
Data for this study were obtained mainly from the World Health Organization website, up to March 9, 2020. R(t) were estimated by exponential growth rate (EG) and time-dependent (TD) methods. ‘R0’ package in R was employed to estimate R(t) by fitting the existing epidemic curve. Both the naïve CFR (nCFR) and adjusted CFR (aCFR) were estimated.
With the EG method, R(t) was 3.27 (95% confidence interval (CI) 3.17–3.38) for Italy, 6.32 (95% CI 5.72–6.99) for France, 6.07 (95% CI 5.51–6.69) for Germany, and 5.08 (95% CI 4.51–5.74) for Spain. With the TD method, the R value for March 9 was 3.10 (95% CI 2.21–4.11) for Italy, 6.56 (95% CI 2.04–12.26) for France, 4.43 (95% CI 1.83–7.92) for Germany, and 3.95 (95% CI 0–10.19) for Spain.
This study provides important findings on the early outbreak of COVID-19 in Europe. Due to the recent rapid increase in new cases of COVID-19, real-time monitoring of the transmissibility and mortality in Spain and France is a priority.
Aim
In the study, we investigated the regulatory effects of these genes (codY, comA, degU and spo0A) on the biosynthesis of three lipopeptides (bacillomycin D, fengycin and surfactin) in Bacillus ...amyloliquefaciens.
Methods and Results
The codY, comA, degU and spo0A genes in B. amyloliquefaciens fmbJ were knocked out. The results showed that the productions of bacillomycin D were significantly reduced compared with that of fmbJ. Their deletion induced great changes in the levels of transcripts specifying metabolic pathways, quorum sensing system and substance transport system in fmbJ. Moreover, overexpression of these genes improved the productions of bacillomycin D. In particular, the overexpression of spo0A enhanced bacillomycin D yield up to 648·9 ± 60·9 mg l−1 from 277·3 ± 30·5 mg l−1. In addition, the yields of surfactin in fmbJΔcodY and fmbJΔdegU were significantly improved, and the regulatory factor CodY had no significant effect on the synthesis of fengycin.
Conclusions
These genes positively regulated the expression of bacillomycin D and fengycin synthase genes in strain fmbJ. However, codY and degU negatively regulated surfactin biosynthesis. Moreover, it was found that CodY had a concentration dependence on bacillomycin D synthesis. Spo0A might play a direct regulatory role in the synthesis and secretion of bacillomycin D.
Significance and Impact of the Study
This study indicated that genetic engineering of regulatory genes was an effective strategy to improve the yields of antimicrobial lipopeptides and provided promising strains for industrial production of lipopeptides.
Aim To explore the altered spontaneous cerebral activity patterns and impaired functional regions in patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging ...(rs-fMRI) based on the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) algorithm. Materials and methods Twenty-one patients with DR (mean age, 54.9±9.9 years; 11 females) and 17 healthy control subjects (54.8±5.7 years; 9 females) were prospectively studied. The DR patients underwent laboratory tests. All individuals underwent a neuropsychological test. The differences in the ALFF values between the two groups were compared. The relationships between ALFF values and clinical measurements were analysed using a multiple-factor analysis. Results Compared to the controls, the DR group showed significantly increased ALFF values in the bilateral occipital gyrus, right lingual gyrus, and precuneus, and decreased values in the right posterior/anterior cerebellar lobe and the parahippocampal, fusiform, superior temporal, inferior parietal, and angular gyrus. Furthermore, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores were negatively correlated with decreased ALFF values in the right occipital lobe of the DR group, while increased ALFF values in the right precuneus and lingual gyrus were found to be positively correlated with glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. Conclusions Patients with DR showed spontaneous cerebral activity abnormalities in many cerebral regions that were associated with cognitive impairments. HbA1c levels altered spontaneous cerebral activity in DR patients.
High-volume, hydraulic fracturing (HVHF) is widely applied for natural gas and oil production from shales, coals, or tight sandstone formations in the United States, Canada, and Australia, and is ...being widely considered by other countries with similar unconventional energy resources. Secure retention of fluids (natural gas, saline formation waters, oil, HVHF fluids) during and after well stimulation is important to prevent unintended environmental contamination, and release of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Here, we critically review state-of-the-art techniques and promising new approaches for identifying oil and gas production from unconventional reservoirs to resolve whether they are the source of fugitive methane and associated contaminants into shallow aquifers. We highlight future research needs and propose a phased program, from generic baseline to highly specific analyses, to inform HVHF and unconventional oil and gas production and impact assessment studies. These approaches may also be applied to broader subsurface exploration and development issues (e.g., groundwater resources), or new frontiers of low-carbon energy alternatives (e.g., subsurface H
storage, nuclear waste isolation, geologic CO
sequestration).
Thermogenic brown and beige adipose tissues dissipate chemical energy as heat, and their thermogenic activities can combat obesity and diabetes. Herein the functional adaptations to cold of brown and ...beige adipose depots are examined using quantitative mitochondrial proteomics. We identify arginine/creatine metabolism as a beige adipose signature and demonstrate that creatine enhances respiration in beige-fat mitochondria when ADP is limiting. In murine beige fat, cold exposure stimulates mitochondrial creatine kinase activity and induces coordinated expression of genes associated with creatine metabolism. Pharmacological reduction of creatine levels decreases whole-body energy expenditure after administration of a β3-agonist and reduces beige and brown adipose metabolic rate. Genes of creatine metabolism are compensatorily induced when UCP1-dependent thermogenesis is ablated, and creatine reduction in Ucp1-deficient mice reduces core body temperature. These findings link a futile cycle of creatine metabolism to adipose tissue energy expenditure and thermal homeostasis.
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•Quantitative proteomics identifies a creatine enzyme signature in beige fat•Creatine-driven substrate cycling enhances beige-fat mitochondrial respiration•Genes and proteins of creatine metabolism exhibit a reciprocal relationship with Ucp1•Creatine reduction decreases energy expenditure in mice and human brown adipocytes
Beige fat uses creatine to dissipate energy and stimulate mitochondrial ATP demand, thereby promoting cold adaptation.
Noble gas radionuclides, including 81Kr (t1/2=229,000years), 85Kr (t1/2=10.8years), and 39Ar (t1/2=269years), possess nearly ideal chemical and physical properties for studies of earth and ...environmental processes. Recent advances in Atom Trap Trace Analysis (ATTA), a laser-based atom counting method, have enabled routine measurements of the radiokrypton isotopes, as well as the demonstration of the ability to measure 39Ar in environmental samples. Here we provide an overview of the ATTA technique, and a survey of recent progress made in several laboratories worldwide. We review the application of noble gas radionuclides in the geosciences and discuss how ATTA can help advance these fields, specifically: determination of groundwater residence times using 81Kr, 85Kr, and 39Ar; dating old glacial ice using 81Kr; and an 39Ar survey of the main water masses of the oceans, to study circulation pathways and estimate mean residence times. Other scientific questions involving a deeper circulation of fluids in the Earth's crust and mantle are also within the scope of future applications. We conclude that the geoscience community would greatly benefit from an ATTA facility dedicated to this field, with instrumentation for routine measurements, as well as for research on further development of ATTA methods.
Field pea is one of the most important leguminous crops over the world. Pea protein is a relatively new type of plant proteins and has been used as a functional ingredient in global food industry. ...Pea protein includes four major classes (globulin, albumin, prolamin, and glutelin), in which globulin and albumin are major storage proteins in pea seeds. Globulin is soluble in salt solutions and can be further classified into legumin and vicilin. Albumin is soluble in water and regarded as metabolic and enzymatic proteins with cytosolic functions. Pea protein has a well-balanced amino acid profile with high level of lysine. The composition and structure of pea protein, as well as the processing conditions, significantly affect its physical and chemical properties, such as hydration, rheological characteristics, and surface characteristics. With its availability, low cost, nutritional values and health benefits, pea protein can be used as a novel and effective alternative to substitute for soybean or animal proteins in functional food applications.
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