Enhancement of Colorimetric pH-Sensitive Film Incorporating Amomum tsao-ko Essential Oil as Antibacterial for Mantis Shrimp Spoilage Tracking and Fresh-Keeping.

Anthocyanin-based smart packaging has been widely used for food freshness monitoring, but it cannot meet the requirements of smart films with antibacterial properties. This study aimed to enhance the antibacterial properties of intelligent films by incorporating Amomum tsao-ko essential oil (AEO) for mantis shrimp spoilage tracking and keeping the product fresh. A smart film was designed by introducing AEO and purple potato anthocyanin (PPA) to a polyvinyl alcohol/cellulose nanocrystal (PVA/CNC) polymer matrix. Our findings revealed that APP and AEO imparted the smart film with a favorable oxygen barrier, UV protection, mechanical properties, and antioxidant and pH/NH3-sensitive functions. Interestingly, the PVA/CNC-AEO-PPA film achieved 45.41% and 48.25% bactericidal efficacy against S. putrefaciens and V. parahaemolyticus, respectively. Furthermore, a visual observation confirmed that the target film (PVA/CNC-AEO-PPA) changed color significantly during mantis shrimp spoilage: rose red-light red-pink-light gray-dark gray. Meanwhile, the PVA/CNC-AEO-PPA film retarded the quality deterioration of the mantis shrimp effectively. The PVA/CNC-AEO-PPA film shows great application potential in mantis shrimp preservation and freshness monitoring; it is expected to become a rapid sensor for detecting seafood quality non-destructively and a multifunctional film for better preservation of product quality.

Fabrication, characterization, and bioactivity of self-assembled carrier-free colloidal dispersions from Citrus × Limon 'Rosso' essential oil and tea polyphenols.

Carrier-free nanodelivery systems are fully self-assembled from active ingredients through interactions, offering the advantages of green, safe, and large-scale manufacturing. To improve the dispersion of Citrus × limon 'Rosso' peel essential oil (CEO) in water and boost the biological activity of CEO and tea polyphenols (TP), self-assembled CEO-TP colloidal dispersions (CEO-TP Colloids) were fabricated through sonication without surfactants or carriers. The optimal CEO and TP concentrations in the CEO-TP Colloids were determined to be 10.0 and 20.0 mg/mL by particle size and stability analyzer, respectively. The CEO self-assembled with TP to form spherical nanoparticles through hydrophobic and hydrogen-bonding interactions, whereas the CEO in CEO-TP Colloids weakened TP intramolecular aggregation. Meanwhile, the CEO-TP Colloids showed synergistic effects with better antibacterial, cellular antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities than single components. This study opens up the possibility of carrier-free co-delivery of hydrophobic and hydrophilic active components developed into food-grade formulations with multiple bioactivities.

Exploring transvaginal sonographic characteristics of the levator ani muscle in women with postpartum pelvic floor myofascial pain.

BACKGROUND: Pelvic floor myofascial pain is one of the pelvic floor dysfunction diseases disturbing women after delivery. There is a lack of objective standardization for the diagnosis of pelvic floor myofascial pain due to the various symptoms and the dependence on the palpating evaluation. Ultrasound imaging has the advantages of safety, simplicity, economy and high resolution, which makes it an ideal tool for the assistant diagnosis of pelvic floor myofascial pain and evaluation after treatment. METHODS: This is a retrospective case-control study including women accepting evaluation of pelvic floor function at 6 weeks to 1 year postpartum. They were divided into pelvic floor myofascial pain group and normal control group. A BCL 10-5 biplane transducer was applied to observed their puborectalis. The length, minimum width, area, deficiency, deficiency length, deficiency width, deficiency area, rate of deficiency area, local thickening,angle between the tendinous arch of levator ani muscle and puborectalis of corresponding puborectalis in different groups were observed and measured. RESULTS: A total of 220 postpartum women participated in the study, with 77 in the pelvic floor myofascial pain group and 143 in the normal control group. The Intraclass correlation coefficient value was over 0.750, and Kappa ranged from 0.600 to 0.800. puborectalis deficiency (adjusted odds ratio = 11.625, 95% confidence interval = 4.557-29.658) and focal thickening (adjusted odds ratio = 16.891, 95% confidence interval = 1.819-156.805) were significantly associated with higher odds of having postpartum pelvic floor myofascial pain. Grayscale or the angle between the arch tendineus levator ani and puborectalis measurements on the pain side tended to be smaller than on the non-pain side in patients with unilateral puborectalis or iliococcygeus pain (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that transvaginal ultrasound was a potentially efficient technique for evaluating postpartum pelvic floor myofascial pain due to its ability to assess various sonographic characteristics of the levator ani muscles.

Tape Eyelid Closure: An Effective Solution for Nocturnal Lagophthalmos in Patients with Ptosis and Poor Bell's Phenomenon.

BACKGROUND: Poor Bell's phenomenon is often considered a relative contraindication for ptosis surgery, as it increases the risk of corneal exposure and dry eye symptoms after surgery. However, the Bell's phenomenon may vary in different individuals and sleep stages, making it inaccurate to predict the position of the eye during sleep based on awake examination. This study aimed to investigate the role of Bell's phenomenon in ptosis surgery and the management of nocturnal lagophthalmos. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective case series of 23 patients with ptosis and poor Bell's phenomenon who underwent different surgical techniques at Xijing Hospital from April 2020 to June 2021. We assessed Bell's phenomenon at different stages of sleep and collected data on ptosis degree, surgical approach, lagophthalmos, complications, and outcomes. RESULTS: Of the total 23 patients originally considered for study, 9 with frontalis muscle advancement technique, 8 with conjoint fascial sheath suspension, 4 with levator resection technique, and 2 with levator aponeurosis plication technique. All patients achieved satisfactory correction of ptosis. One patient had prolonged lagophthalmos and underwent reoperation to lower the eyelid height. Other complications were minor and resolved with conservative treatment. CONCLUSION: We conclude that poor Bell's phenomenon is not a relative contraindication for ptosis surgery. Nocturnal lagophthalmos should be monitored after ptosis surgery regardless of the Bell's phenomenon results. Tape eyelid closure can be an effective solution to protect the corneal surface during nocturnal lagophthalmos. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Tape Tarsorrhaphy in the Management of Lagophthalmos Caused by Severe Congenital Blepharoptosis Procedures.

BACKGROUND: Lagophthalmos, a common complication after blepharoptosis correction, has plagued oculoplastic surgeons. The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of tape eyelid closure on reducing the occurrence of lagophthalmos after blepharoptosis correction. METHODS: From April 2020 to June 2021, a total of 112 patients with severe congenital ptosis received corrective surgery at the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University. Of these, 48 underwent frontalis muscle advancement technique and 64 underwent conjoint fascial sheath suspension. Preoperative data collected included demographics, levator function, Bell's phenomenon, and marginal reflex distance 1 (MRD1). Postoperative data included surgery type, MRD1, eyelid closure function, aesthetic outcomes (including eyelid contour, eyelid symmetry, and eyelid crease), keratitis, and other complications. RESULTS: Frontalis muscle advancement technique group: the median of safe eye closure time was 7.3 months (positive Bell's phenomenon; interquartile range [IQR], 3.8-10.8 months) and 13.9 months (poor Bell's phenomenon; IQR, 11.6-16.1 months). There was a significant improvement between the preoperative and postoperative MRD1 (-1.52 ± 0.82 vs 3.85 ± 0.58 mm, P < 0.05). Conjoint fascial sheath suspension group: the median of safe eye closure time was 5.7 months (positive Bell's phenomenon; IQR, 2.9-8.5 months) and 12.4 months (poor Bell's phenomenon; IQR, 8.1-16.7 months). There was a significant improvement between the preoperative and postoperative MRD1 (-1.02 ± 0.91 vs 4.15 ± 1.03 mm, P < 0.05). All patients/guardians were satisfied with the aesthetic outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Tape tarsorrhaphy is a safe, easy-to-learn method for treating lagophthalmos with a good aesthetic outcome.

The Aesthetic Evaluation of the Brow-Eye Continuum After Correction of Severe Congenital Ptosis in Children With Extended Frontalis Muscle Advancement Technique.

BACKGROUND: Severe congenital ptosis is a common ocular deformity in pediatric patients that can significantly impact visual development and aesthetic appearance, leading to negative psychosocial outcomes. The frontalis muscle advancement technique is a well-established surgical treatment for severe congenital ptosis. Aesthetic changes of the brow-eye continuum often plays an important role in ptosis surgery. METHODS: We conducted a single-center retrospective case series study of patients with severe congenital ptosis who underwent the frontalis muscle advancement technique at the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University between April 2020 and June 2021. The study aimed to evaluate the aesthetic changes of the eyebrow-eyelid continuum after surgery. The main outcome measurements included marginal reflex distance 1, palpebral fissure height, eyebrow position, upper eyelid to lower eyebrow distance, lower eyelid to upper eyebrow distance, and nasal base to lower eyelid distance. RESULTS: The study included 48 patients (66 eyelids), with 30 unilateral and 18 bilateral patients. Our analysis found that eyebrow height decreased by an average of 4.8% postoperatively relative to preoperatively in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: The frontalis muscle advancement technique has demonstrated effectiveness in achieving aesthetically pleasing outcomes in children with severe ptosis. It is crucial to pay careful attention to the brow-eye continuum during the correction process, as its harmony can greatly impact the final result.

Purification and characterization of a glycoprotein from Sipunculus nudus and its immune-enhancing activity to RAW 264.7 macrophages.

Sipunculus nudus, an edible marine invertebrate, has long been used as traditional Chinese medicine in folk remedies. In order to assess the immunoregulatory activity of glycoproteins in Sipunculus nudus and conduct a structure-activity relationship, a glycoprotein (SGP1) with molecular mass of 9.26 kDa was purified from Sipunculus nudus, and its chemical structure as well as immune-enhancing activity was investigated in this study. Structure analysis revealed that SGP1, a protein-dominate glycoprotein with O-glycosidic bonds, contained 92.8 % protein and 3.1 % saccharide. GC-MS result indicated that the saccharide moieties of SGP1 basically consisted of lyxose (Lyx), xylose (Xyl) as well as glucose (Glu) at a molar proportion of 0.87:4.16:1.36. The fourier transform infrared specoscopy (FT-IR) result proved that SGP1 have a typical characteristic of glycoprotein. Besides, circular dichroism (CD) result showed that SGP1 contained 4.1 % α-helix, 42.5 % ß-sheet, 21.4 % ß-turn, and 32.0 % random coil, indicating it's mainly a ß-sheet glycoprotein. The amino acid sequence of SGP1 shared a similarity to the Myohemerythrin (sp|Q5K473|HEMTM) with protein sequence coverage of 28.3 %. Moreover, the activity evaluation results showed that SGP1 exhibited significant immune-enhancing activity to the RAW 264.7 macrophages by promoting macrophages proliferation, enhancing phagocytic capacity, and simultaneously stimulating the secretions of nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) via NF-κB pathways. In this study, SGP1 as a novel glycoprotein had an obvious immune-enhancing activity to macrophages, and thus could be applied in the functional foods as a potential immunopotentiator for the hypoimmune population.

Insights into Selective Mechanism of NiO-TiO2 Heterojunction to H2 and CO.

The construction of p-n heterojunctions has become a widely adopted strategy for achieving the selective detection of reducing gases, including H2 and CO. Nevertheless, the elucidation of the gas selectivity mechanism at the nanoscale remains elusive. First-principle calculations provide an attractive avenue for comprehending the influence of coordination structures on gas-sensitive selectivity, thereby unveiling the structure-activity relationship of p-n heterojunction sites. In this study, we investigate the selective adsorption behavior of H2 and CO on a NiO-TiO2 heterojunction using density functional theory. The results of d-band center analysis confirm that the NiO-TiO2 heterojunction with adsorbed oxygen significantly enhances the adsorption stability of reducing gases. Intriguingly, our calculations reveal that H2 has a higher affinity for adsorbed oxygen on the heterojunction surface compared to that of CO, corresponding to a lower H2 adsorption energy. Density of states (DOS) results indicate that the NiO-TiO2 heterojunction, with preadsorbed oxygen, exhibits ultrahigh selectivity with an n-type gas-sensitive response to H2, effectively eliminating the cross-sensitivity observed with CO, as confirmed by gas-sensitive characterization research. The sensing mechanism of the NiO-TiO2 heterojunction's selective detection of H2 without interference from CO can be visually explained by electron transfer and potential barrier changes, paving the way for future developments in novel, selective gas-sensitive materials.

Modified Levator Resection Technique for Moderate Congenital Blepharoptosis.

BACKGROUND: For moderate ptosis associated with fair levator function (LF), the levator resection is the most commonly used procedure. However, the levator resection technique still has some disadvantages, such as residual lagophthalmos (RL), undercorrection, conjunctival prolapse, and eyelid contour abnormality. To solve the above problems, our team have made modifications to the levator resection technique in three aspects: releasing the levator muscle sufficiently, preserving the supporting structure of the conjunctiva, and placing multiple suture sites. METHODS: Fifty-seven patients (81 eyes) underwent the modified levator resection technique and were enrolled in the study. Preoperative data collected included age, sex, margin reflex distance 1 (MRD1), and LF. Postoperative data collected included MRD1, RL, patient satisfaction, complications, and length of follow-up. RESULTS: Mean MRD1 significantly increased from 1.45 ± 0.65 mm preoperatively to 3.57 ± 0.51 mm postoperatively. Mean LF significantly increased from 6.49 ± 1.12 mm preoperatively to 9.48 ± 1.39 mm postoperatively. Successful correction was obtained in 77 eyes (95.1%). Mean RL was 1.09 ± 0.57 and 72 eyes (88.9%) showed excellent or good eyelid closure function. Fifty-four patients (94.7%) were completely satisfied with the final result. Complications such as hematoma, infection, conjunctival prolapse, suture exposure, corneal abrasion, and keratitis were not found in any cases during follow-up. CONCLUSION: This modified levator resection technique introduced in this study is effective in correcting moderate congenital blepharoptosis, while minimizing RL, undercorrection, conjunctival prolapse, eyelid contour abnormality by releasing the levator muscle sufficiently, preserving the supporting structure of the conjunctiva, and placing multiple suture sites. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors 42 assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full 43 description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, 44 please refer to the Table of Contents or the online 45 Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Dual function of the CHS3-CSA1 immune receptor pair.

Plant nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) receptors mediate specific recognition of pathogen effectors to initiate effector-triggered immunity. Recently, studies by Schulze et al., Yang et al., and Gu et al. collectively show that the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) NLR pair CHS3-CSA1 acts through two distinct activation modes to recognize different pathogen effectors, thus revealing the dual function of the CHS3-CSA1 pair in plant disease resistance.

An EPFL peptide signaling pathway promotes stamen elongation via enhancing filament cell proliferation to ensure successful self-pollination in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Proper stamen filament elongation is essential for plant self-pollination and reproduction. Several phytohormones such as jasmonate and gibberellin play important roles in controlling filament elongation, but other endogenous signals involved in this developmental process remain unknown. We report here that three EPIDERMAL PATTERNING FACTOR-LIKE (EPFL) family peptides, EPFL4, EPFL5 and EPFL6, act redundantly to promote stamen filament elongation via enhancing filament cell proliferation in Arabidopsis thaliana. Knockout of EPFL4-6 genes led to shortened filaments due to defective filament cell proliferation, resulting in pollination failure and male sterility. Further genetic and biochemical analyses indicated that the ERECTA family and the SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS RECEPTOR KINASE (SERK) family RLKs form receptor complexes to perceive EPFL4-6 peptides and promote filament cell proliferation. Moreover, based on both loss- and gain-of-function genetic analyses, the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade MKK4/MKK5-MPK6 was shown to function downstream of EPFL4-6 to positively regulate cell proliferation in stamen filaments. Together, this study reveals that an EPFL peptide signaling pathway composed of the EPFL4-6 peptide ligands, the ERECTA-SERK receptor complexes and the downstream MKK4/MKK5-MPK6 cascade promotes stamen filament elongation via enhancing filament cell proliferation to ensure successful self-pollination and normal fertility in Arabidopsis.

A SARS-CoV-2 vaccine based on conjugation of SARS-CoV-2 RBD with IC28 peptide and mannan.

SARS-CoV-2 is a particularly transmissible virus that causes a severe respiratory disease known as COVID-19. Safe and effective vaccines are urgently needed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein elicits most neutralizing antibodies during viral infection and is an ideal antigen for vaccine development. In particular, RBD expressed by E. coli is amenable to low cost and high-yield manufacturability. The adjuvant is necessitated to improve the immunogenicity of RBD. IC28, a TLR5-dependent adjuvant, is a peptide from bacterial flagellin. Mannan is a ligand of TLR-4 or TLR-2 and a polysaccharide adjuvant. Here, IC28 and mannan were both covalently conjugated with RBD from E. coli. The conjugate (RBD-IC28-M) elicited high RBD-specific IgG titers, and a neutralization antibody titer of 201.4. It induced high levels of Th1-type cytokines (IFN-γ) and Th2-type cytokines (IL-5 and IL-10), along with high antigenicity and no apparent toxicity to the organs. The mouse sera of the RBD-IC28-M group competitively interfered with the interaction of RBD and ACE2. Thus, conjugation with IC28 and mannan additively enhanced the humoral and cellular immunity. Our study was expected to provide the feasibility to develop an affordable, easily scalable, effective vaccine SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.

Intelligent pH-sensing film based on polyvinyl alcohol/cellulose nanocrystal with purple cabbage anthocyanins for visually monitoring shrimp freshness.

We aimed to prepare a new pH-sensing film based on the immobilization of purple cabbage anthocyanins (PCA) into Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) reinforced by cellulose nanocrystals (CNC). FT-IR, XRD and TGA were used to assess the intermolecular interactions and thermo-stability of films. The addition of CNC and PCA resulted in an enhancement in UV-vis barrier, mechanical properties and moisture resistance. Inclusion of PCA imparted intelligent properties to the films. PCA-loaded films displayed strong visually detectable colorimetric responses to pH (2-13) and volatile ammonia. When applied to monitor shrimp freshness at 4 °C, PVA/CNC films containing 0.6 % PCA exhibited conspicuous color fluctuations from purple to gray blue upon deterioration. As a result, PVA/CNC-PCA colorimetric films were considered as intelligent packaging labels with significant mechanical, water vapor barrier properties and pH-sensing qualities for visual quality evaluation of fresh seafood products.

Nano-encapsulation of polyphenols in starch nanoparticles: fabrication, characterization and evaluation.

Nanoparticles are more promising than microcapsules as drug carriers because they can be absorbed directly by intestinal epithelial cells, significantly increasing the uptake and bioaccessibility of polyphenols. Our study aimed to use catechin (CC), epicatechin (EC) and proanthocyanidin (PAC) adsorption onto tapioca starch nanoparticles (TSNs), which were prepared by a physical method. These TSN loaded-polyphenols were subjected to adsorption kinetic, adsorption isotherm, adsorption capacity, antioxidant activity, and in vitro release analyses. The maximum adsorption capacities of TSNs for CC, EC and PACs were 179.39 mg g-1, 109.29 mg g-1 and 287.19 mg g-1, respectively. The adsorption dynamics and isotherms of polyphenols on TSNs conformed well to the pseudo-second-order kinetics and the Freundlich isotherms. Moreover, TSN loaded-polyphenols have low cytotoxicity and can continuously be released under stimulated gastric and intestinal conditions. Antioxidant activity tests showed that TSN loaded-polyphenols can remarkably scavenge DPPH free radicals; the IC50 of TSNs-CC, TSNs-EC and TSNs-PAC were 16.11, 16.59 and 16.93 µg mL-1, respectively.

Phosphorylation of an ethylene response factor by MPK3/MPK6 mediates negative feedback regulation of pathogen-induced ethylene biosynthesis in Arabidopsis.

Plants under pathogen attack produce high levels of the gaseous phytohormone ethylene to induce plant defense responses via the ethylene signaling pathway. The 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase (ACS) is a critical rate-limiting enzyme of ethylene biosynthesis. Transcriptional and post-translational upregulation of ACS2 and ACS6 by the mitogen-activated protein kinases MPK3 and MPK6 are previously shown to be crucial for pathogen-induced ethylene biosynthesis in Arabidopsis. Here, we report that the fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea-induced ethylene biosynthesis in Arabidopsis is under the negative feedback regulation by ethylene signaling pathway. The ethylene response factor ERF1A is further found to act downstream of ethylene signaling to negatively regulate the B. cinerea-induced ethylene biosynthesis via indirectly suppressing the expression of ACS2 and ACS6. Interestingly, ERF1A is shown to also upregulate defensin genes directly and therefore promote Arabidopsis resistance to B. cinerea. Furthermore, ERF1A is identified to be a substrate of MPK3 and MPK6, which phosphoactivate ERF1A to enhance its functions in suppressing ethylene biosynthesis and inducing defensin gene expression. Taken together, our data reveal that ERF1A and its phosphorylation by MPK3/MPK6 not only mediate the negative-feedback regulation of the B. cinerea-induced ethylene biosynthesis, but also upregulate defensin gene expression to increase Arabidopsis resistance to B. cinerea.

Multilayered synergistic regulation of phytoalexin biosynthesis by ethylene, jasmonate, and MAPK signaling pathways in Arabidopsis.

Camalexin, an indolic antimicrobial metabolite, is the major phytoalexin in Arabidopsis thaliana, and plays a crucial role in pathogen resistance. Our previous studies revealed that the Arabidopsis mitogen-activated protein kinases MPK3 and MPK6 positively regulate pathogen-induced camalexin biosynthesis via phosphoactivating the transcription factor WRKY33. Here, we report that the ethylene and jasmonate (JA) pathways act synergistically with the MPK3/MPK6-WRKY33 module at multiple levels to induce camalexin biosynthesis in Arabidopsis upon pathogen infection. The ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR1 (ERF1) transcription factor integrates the ethylene and JA pathways to induce camalexin biosynthesis via directly upregulating camalexin biosynthetic genes. ERF1 also interacts with and depends on WRKY33 to upregulate camalexin biosynthetic genes, indicating that ERF1 and WRKY33 form transcriptional complexes to cooperatively activate camalexin biosynthetic genes, thereby mediating the synergy of ethylene/JA and MPK3/MPK6 signaling pathways to induce camalexin biosynthesis. Moreover, as an integrator of the ethylene and JA pathways, ERF1 also acts as a substrate of MPK3/MPK6, which phosphorylate ERF1 to increase its transactivation activity and therefore further cooperate with the ethylene/JA pathways to induce camalexin biosynthesis. Taken together, our data reveal the multilayered synergistic regulation of camalexin biosynthesis by ethylene, JA, and MPK3/MPK6 signaling pathways via ERF1 and WRKY33 transcription factors in Arabidopsis.

Differential modulation of C. elegans motor behavior by NALCN and two-pore domain potassium channels.

Two-pore domain potassium channels (K2P) are a large family of "background" channels that allow outward "leak" of potassium ions. The NALCN/UNC80/UNC79 complex is a non-selective channel that allows inward flow of sodium and other cations. It is unclear how K2Ps and NALCN differentially modulate animal behavior. Here, we found that loss of function (lf) in the K2P gene twk-40 suppressed the reduced body curvatures of C. elegans NALCN(lf) mutants. twk-40(lf) caused a deep body curvature and extended backward locomotion, and these phenotypes appeared to be associated with neuron-specific expression of twk-40 and distinct twk-40 transcript isoforms. To survey the functions of other less studied K2P channels, we examined loss-of-function mutants of 13 additional twk genes expressed in the motor circuit and detected defective body curvature and/or locomotion in mutants of twk-2, twk-17, twk-30, twk-48, unc-58, and the previously reported twk-7. We generated presumptive gain-of-function (gf) mutations in twk-40, twk-2, twk-7, and unc-58 and found that they caused paralysis. Further analyses detected variable genetic interactions between twk-40 and other twk genes, an interdependence between twk-40 and twk-2, and opposite behavioral effects between NALCN and twk-2, twk-7, or unc-58. Finally, we found that the hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity property of TWK-40 residue 159 could affect the channel activity. Together, our study identified twk-40 as a novel modulator of the motor behavior, uncovered potential behavioral effects of five other K2P genes and suggests that NALCN and some K2Ps can oppositely affect C. elegans behavior.

Aesthetic Changes of Brow-Eyelid Continuum After Correction of Moderate-Severe Blepharoptosis with Conjoint Fascial Sheath Suspension.

BACKGROUND: As periorbital aesthetic commonly improved in blepharoptosis patients after correction surgery, the aim of this study was to elaborate the brow-eyelid continuum changes in moderate-severe ptosis patients who underwent conjoint fascial sheath suspension systematically. METHODS: Patients with moderate-severe ptosis who underwent conjoint fascial sheath suspension were assessed by using pre- and post-operative digital photographs in the primary gaze position of the eye. The main outcome measurements included marginal reflex distance1 (MRD1), palpebral fissure height (PFH), eyebrow position, the symmetry of face and the horizontal forehead lines condition. RESULTS: There were 43 patients (53 eyelids) in our study, including 33 unilateral and 10 bilateral patients. The mean levator function was 3.00 ± 1.07 mm. Before surgery, the mean MRD1 and PFH were 0.60 ± 1.14 mm and 6.75 ± 1.71 mm, respectively. The mean eyebrow height at medial, center, lateral position was 33.16 ± 3.95 mm, 35.99 ± 4.02 mm and 34.35 ± 4.80 mm, respectively. It was found that MRD1 and PFH symmetry both were 23.26% and eyebrow symmetry was 62.79%. For forehead wrinkles, 48.84% of the patients was mild, 34.88% was moderate, and 16.28% was severe. The average follow-up was 12.78 months (ranged from 12 to 18 months). One month after surgery, the mean MRD1 and PFH were 5.68 ± 0.86 mm, 11.61 ± 0.97 mm, respectively, both of which improved significantly (P < 0.0001). The mean eyebrow height at medial, center, lateral position descended to 28.22 ± 4.77 mm (P = 0.017), 31.41 ± 4.58 mm (P = 0.033) and 30.28 ± 3.41 mm (P = 0.018), respectively. The result showed that the rate of patients with MRD1 symmetry was 32.56%, PFH symmetry was 30.23%, and eyebrow symmetry was 90.7%. For forehead wrinkles, 69.77% was mild and 30.23% was moderate. Then, patients' eyebrow gradually elevated, while their upper eyelid dropped. At the last follow-up, the mean MRD1 and PFH were 3.83 ± 0.98 mm and 9.84 ± 1.56 mm, respectively. The mean eyebrow height at medial, center, lateral position improved to 30.52 ± 4.59 mm (P = 0.031), 32.40 ± 4.68 mm (P = 0.033), 31.19 ± 4.16 mm (P = 0.028), respectively. The patients with MRD1 symmetry accounted for 86.05%, PFH symmetry 86.05%, and eyebrow symmetry 90.7%. For forehead wrinkles, 67.44% was mild and 32.56% was moderate. CONCLUSION: CFS suspension can effectively reconstruct moderate-severe ptosis patients' aesthetics of the brow-eyelid continuum by descending elevated eyebrow, improving facial symmetry and reducing forehead rhytids. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

First-principles calculations on the resistance and electronic properties of H2 adsorption on a CoO-SnO2 heterojunction surface.

Compared with pure metal oxides, heterojunctions greatly change the response to gas by the synergistic effect of the interface. In this work, density functional theory was used to reveal the adsorption performance of H2 on the heterojunction under oxygen conditions. First, we determined the most reasonable heterojunction structure based on the adhesion work. According to the adsorption energy, the presence of SnO2(100)(I)/CoO(110)(II) made the adsorption of H2 more stable. The DOS results showed that the resistance of the heterojunction increased with H2 adsorption, following the same trend as that of CoO(110) with H2 adsorption, although that of the heterojunction increased more. The electron density and electron density difference indicated that the heterojunction improved the reaction between H2 and oxygen ions on CoO(110). However, the resistance of CoO(110)(II)/SnO2(100)(II) increased after H2 adsorption, contrary to the resistance change of SnO2(100). Besides, the bonding energy between H2 and the adsorption site became worse. The above results demonstrated that the presence of the heterojunction could indeed change the response trend and the adsorption behavior of H2. Interestingly, the adsorption sites and effects of H2 were different when two metal oxides were used as the substrate of the heterojunction, respectively.

Conjugation of Zika virus EDIII with CRM197, 8-arm PEG and mannan for development of an effective Zika virus vaccine.

Zika virus (ZIKV) induces neurological and autoimmune complications such as microcephaly and Guillain-Barre syndrome. Effective vaccines are necessary to prevent the ZIKV infection. E protein of ZIKV is responsible for virus attachment, entry, and fusion. The domain III of E protein (EDIII) contains the neutralizing epitopes and is ideal to act as an antigen for ZIKV vaccine. However, EDIII is poorly immunogenic. CRM197 is a carrier protein and can activate T helper cells for EDIII. Mannan is a ligand of TLR-4 or TLR-2. Eight-arm PEG can link multiple EDIII molecules in one entity. In the present study, EDIII was covalently conjugated with CRM197, 8-arm PEG and mannan to improve the immunogenicity of EDIII. The conjugate (CRM-EDIII-PM) elicited high EDIII-specific antibody titers in the BALB/c mice. Th1-type cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-2) and Th2-type cytokines (IL-5 and IL-10) were secreted at a marked level. Thus, CRM-EDIII-PM could stimulate potent humoral and cellular immune response to EDIII. The serum exposure of CRM-EDIII-PM to the immune system was prolonged. Moreover, CRM-EDIII-PM did not lead to apparent toxicity to the organs. Therefore, CRM-EDIII-PM was expected as a promising vaccine candidate for its ability to induce strong immune responses.