Combination of carrageenan with sodium alginate, gum arabic, and locust bean gum: Effects on rheological properties and quiescent stabilities of partially crystalline emulsions.

In the present study, carrageenan (CG) was combined with sodium alginate (SA), gum arabic (GA), and locust bean gum (LBG) to obtain four gum combinations (CG, CG + SA, CG + GA, and CG + LBG). The effects of different combinations on rheological properties and quiescent stabilities of PCEs were systematically investigated through characterization of fresh emulsion related parameters (rheological properties, forces between proteins, zeta potentials, surface tensions, interfacial adsorption properties, and multiple light scattering) and storage related parameters (visual appearance, creaming index, viscosities, particle sizes, and microscopic morphology). Rheological results indicated that CG PCEs had the highest apparent viscosities of 7.77-41.91 Pa·s at 0.01 s-1, followed by CG + SA PCEs (2.35-30.62 Pa·s), CG + GA PCEs (2.37-21.16 Pa·s), and CG + LBG PCEs (2.06-19.93 Pa·s). At low thickener concentration (0.02 %), CG PCE exhibited weak gel structure due to higher G' than G″ at all frequencies, while CG + SA, CG + GA, and CG + LBG PCEs had entangled network due to intersection between G' and G″. After three months of storage, CG + SA PCEs showed the lowest creaming index values (11.47-17.75 %), which were significantly lower than CG PCEs (15.35-20.85 %), CG + GA PCEs (15.97-24.42 %), and CG + LBG PCEs (17.13-21.71 %). Meanwhile, all the samples except for 0.02 % CG + SA PCE completely lost fluidity, and their viscosities were above 14,000 mPa·s. It was further found that CG stabilized emulsions showed severe droplet flocculation induced by hydrophobic interactions among adsorbed proteins. Combination of CG with SA, GA, and LBG, especially CG + SA, formed strong network structure and reduced contribution of hydrophobic interactions, which effectively inhibited flocculation of fat droplets, thereby improving rheological properties and storage stabilities of PCEs.

Dietary Supplementation with Different Types of Potassium and Magnesium during Late Gestation and Lactation Modulates the Reproductive Performance, Antioxidant Capacity, and Immune Function of Sows.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with different types of potassium and magnesium on the reproductive performance, antioxidant capacity, and immunity of sows. Forty-five Landrace × Yorkshire sows at the late gestation stage (85 d) were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 15). Sows in the control group (CON), potassium chloride and magnesium sulfate group (PM), and potassium-magnesium sulfate group (PMS) were fed with a basal diet, a basal diet supplemented with magnesium sulfate (0.20%) and potassium chloride (0.15%), or a basal diet supplemented with potassium-magnesium sulfate (0.45%), respectively. The results showed that dietary supplementation with PMS did not yield significant effects on the reproductive performance compared with the CON group (p > 0.05). However, it significantly elevated the level of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in plasma and immunoglobulin A (IgA) in colostrum (p < 0.05). Furthermore, PMS significantly augmented the activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) while reducing the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in comparison to the CON group (p < 0.05). Compared with the PM group, the PMS group significantly reduced the incidence rate of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) (p < 0.05) and significantly decreased the concentration of the proinflammatory cytokine (TNF-α) level in plasma (p < 0.05). These results indicated that dietary supplementation with PMS during late gestation could enhance sows' antioxidant capacity and the IgA level in colostrum. These findings will provide a theoretical reference for the use of magnesium and potassium in sow production to improve sows' health.

Whole exome sequencing identified a novel compound heterozygous variation in COL7A1 gene causing dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.

Dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB) is a series of severe genetic conditions affecting skin and nails caused by mutations in the COL7A1 gene. DEB has a strong phenotypic variability. In the present study, we recruited a case with a boy exhibiting typical DEB indication, and performed a clinical, genetic, and experimental investigation, followed by a prenatal diagnosis on their current pregnancy. Whole exome sequencing identified a novel compound heterozygous variation in COL7A1, consisting of two variants, namely c.191T>C (p.Leu64Pro) and c.5124G>A (p.Leu1708=) in the proband. In vitro study by minigene system indicated that c.5124G>A would result in an increased ratio of a transcript with exon-skipping, which supported its pathogenicity. Further prenatal detection confirmed the genotype-phenotye co-separation in this family. In conclusion, the findings in our study expanded the mutation spectrum of DEB, and emphasized the importance of paying attention to specific synonymous variants in the filtering process.

Double Trigonal Pyramidal {SeO3} Groups Bridged 2-Picolinic Acid Modified Cerium-Inlaid Polyoxometalate Including Mixed Selenotungstate Subunits for Electrochemically Sensing Ochratoxin A.

An organic-inorganic hybrid trigonal pyramidal {SeO3} group, bridged cerium-inlaid polyoxometalate (POM) Na16[Se2Ce4(H2O)8W4(HPIC)4O10][B-ß-SeW8O30]2[Se2W12O46]2·60H2O (1) (HPIC = 2-picolinic acid), containing two disparate selenotungstate (ST) building blocks was synthesized by a one-step assembly strategy, which is established by two asymmetric sandwich-type {[Ce2(H2O)4W2(HPIC)2O4][B-ß-SeW8O30][Se2W12O46]}10- moieties joined by double trigonal pyramidal {SeO3} groups. Its outstanding structural trait is that it contains two types of ST building blocks, Keggin-type [B-ß-SeW8O30]8- and Dawson-like [Se2W12O46]12-, which are extremely rare in ST chemistry. Remarkably, [Se2W12O46]12- is first obtained in lanthanide-inlaid STs. Furthermore, 1@PPy conductive film (PPy = polypyrrole) was prepared by electrochemical polymerization and served as the electrode material, and then nano-gold particles (NGPs) were deposited on the surface of 1@PPy conductive film by an electrochemical deposition method in order to immobilize the aptamer of ochratoxin A. With the help of exonuclease I (EN I), the oxidation peak of the metalized Ag works as the detection signal to achieve the detection of ochratoxin A (OTXA). This study offers an available approach for creating organic-inorganic hybrid heteroatom-bridged lanthanide-inlaid POMs and reveals the likelihood of extending heteroatom-bridged lanthanide-inlaid POMs into electrochemical biosensing applications.

Analysis of 17 Prenatal Cases with the Chromosomal 1q21.1 Copy Number Variation.

Copy number variations (CNVs) at the chromosomal 1q21.1 region represent a group of hot-spot recurrent rearrangements in human genome, which have been detected in hundreds of patients with variable clinical manifestations. Yet, report of such CNVs in prenatal scenario was relatively scattered. In this study, 17 prenatal cases involving the 1q21.1 microdeletion or duplication were recruited. The clinical survey and imaging examination were performed; and genetic detection with karyotyping and CNV analysis using chromosomal microarray (CMA) or CNVseq were subsequently carried out. These cases were all positive with 1q21.1 CNV, yet presented with exceedingly various clinical and utrasonographic indications. Among them, 12 pregnancies carried 1q21.1 deletions, while the other 5 carried 1q21.1 duplications, all of which were within the previously defined breaking point (BP) regions. According to the verification results, 9 CNVs were de novo, 7 were familial, and the other 1 was not certain. We summarized the clinical information of these cases, and the size and distribution of CNVs, and attempted to analyze the association between these two aspects. The findings in our study may provide important basis for the prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling on such conditions in the future.

Adaptive Neural Network Control for a Class of Fractional-Order Nonstrict-Feedback Nonlinear Systems With Full-State Constraints and Input Saturation.

This article addresses an adaptive neural network (NN) constraint control scheme for a class of fractional-order uncertain nonlinear nonstrict-feedback systems with full-state constraints and input saturation. The radial basis function (RBF) NNs are used to deal with the algebraic loop problem from the nonstrict-feedback formation based on the approximation structure. In order to overcome the problem of input saturation nonlinearity, a smooth nonaffine function is applied to approach the saturation function. To arrest the violation of full-state constraints, the barrier Lyapunov function (BLF) is introduced in each step of the backstepping procedure. By using the fractional-order Lyapunov stability theory and the given conditions, it proves that all the states remain in their constraint bounds, the tracking error converges to a bounded compact set containing the origin, and all signals in the closed-loop system are ensured to be bounded. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme is verified by two simulation examples.

Tracking control of state constrained fractional order nonlinear systems.

This article investigates adaptive output-feedback control problems for full-state constrained fractional order uncertain strict-feedback systems with unmeasured states and input saturation. By considering the structure of the systems, a fractional order observer is framed to estimate unmeasurable states. By using the backstepping procedure and barrier Lyapunov function, the adaptive controller with adaptation laws are proposed in each step. With the Lyapunov stability theory for fractional order systems, it proves all the states remain in their constraint bounds and the error system converges to a bounded set containing the origin. In the end, Two examples are presented to show the effectiveness of the designed control scheme.

Whole Exome Sequencing Facilitated the Identification of a Mosaic Small Supernumerary Marker Chromosome (sSMC).

Small supernumerary marker chromosomes (sSMCs) are a group of rare chromosomal anomalies, which pose challenges in the clinical practice of prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling. This study enrolled an extended family with an underage male patient displaying infantile seizures, intellectual disability, and retarded speech and psychomotor function. A series of multiplatform genetic detections was conducted to explore the diagnostic variation. Whole exome sequencing (WES) and chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) indicated a mosaic sSMC derived from the pericentromeric region of chromosome 8 in the patient, which was confirmed using cytogenetic methods. The proband and his mother, who carried this mosaic variant, exhibited strong phenotypic variability. We also ruled out the pathogenicity of a KDM5C variant by extended validation. Our results emphasized the capacity of WES to detect mosaic SMCs and the importance of mosaic ratios in the appearance and severity of symptomatic phenotypes.

Multiple antibiotics distribution in drinking water and their co-adsorption behaviors by different size fractions of natural particles.

In recent years, natural particles in drinking water have attracted attention due to their carry of toxic organic matter. However, the adsorption behavior of multiple antibiotics at very low concentrations on different sized particles has not been revealed. Here, the content of 17 antibiotics in water samples collected from four process stages of the water supply plant was detected. Results showed the concentration of antibiotics in water plant was in the range of 0-69.24 ng L-1. Characterization of natural particles obtained directly from raw water of waterworks showed that the surface of large particles (>1 µm) was rougher and the composition was more complex than that of small particles (0.05-1 µm). Besides, the adsorption experiments of four antibiotics (nalidixic acid (NAL), trimethoprim (TMP), roxithromycin (ROX), and penicillin G potassium salt (PG)) on small (0.05-1 µm) and large (>1 µm) natural particles were studied. The results indicated that in the binary antibiotic system, the competition and synergy between antibiotics made a greater proportion of antibiotics soluble in water comparing with single systems, and the particle-water partition coefficient (kp-w) of the total antibiotics ranged from 1.13-1.78 was reduced to 0.57-0.84. The competitive adsorption of antibiotics appeared in the binary system showed that ROX and PG had a higher adsorption capacity than NAL and TMP. Furthermore, in the binary antibiotic systems, small particles played an important role in adsorption, suggesting the urgency of their removing. This work could help predict the possible risks of drinking water and provide some insights into future drinking water treatment.

Cotransport and deposition of colloidal polystyrene microplastic particles and tetracycline in porous media: The impact of ionic strength and cationic types.

The cotransport behaviors of colloidal polystyrene microplastic particles (PSMPs) and tetracycline (TC) (20 mg/L) were investigated in saturated porous media in KCl and CaCl2 solutions of various ionic strengths (1, 10, 50, 100 mM). Furthermore, the effects of TC concentration (0, 1, 5, 10, 20 mg/L) on the cotransport behaviors of PSMPs and TC in 100 mM KCl solution were assessed. The cotransport behaviors were analyzed by comparing the individual transport behaviors of PSMPs or TC. When cotransported, the presence of TC (20 mg/L) slightly inhibited PSMPs mobility in K+ solutions (the C/C0 decreased in the range of 0-5.9%), but facilitated it in Ca2+ solutions (the C/C0 increased in the range of 6.7-42.6%). In KCl solutions, although the presence of TC (PSMPs) did not significantly affect the transport behaviors of PSMPs (TC), the attachment efficiencies of both PSMPs and TC showed a non-linear and non-monotonic change with increase in ionic strength. However, in CaCl2 solutions, the effects of TC (PSMPs) on the transport behaviors of PSMPs (TC) were remarkable and a non-linear non-monotonic change was observed. The adsorption of TC on PSMPs might play a critical role during the cotransport. Thus, the balance between the transport-inhibiting (e.g., the reduction in electrostatic repulsive force) and transport-facilitating effects (e.g., the effects on hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of PSMPs due to TC adsorption) may be responsible for the observed changes. Overall, the results demonstrated that the cotransport behaviors of PSMPs and TC were more complicated than their individual transport behaviors in porous media, which might vary considerably with environmental conditions. This work could greatly improve our understanding of complex cotransport behaviors and environmental risk of PSMPs.

Multidisciplinary respiratory rehabilitation in combination with non-invasive positive pressure ventilation in the treatment of elderly patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effectiveness of multidisciplinary comprehensive respiratory rehabilitation in combination with non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) in the treatment of elderly patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: Eighty-eight elderly patients with severe COPD who were admitted by the hospital between February 2016 and April 2017 were enrolled and grouped into a control group (n=29), intervention Group-A (n=30) and intervention Group-B (n=29) according to random sampling. Patients in the control group were given medicines and oxygen therapy; intervention Group-A was given NIPVV in addition to medicines and oxygen therapy; intervention Group-B was given multidisciplinary comprehensive respiratory rehabilitation in addition to the treatment as the intervention Group-A. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing, body mass index, BODE index score (airflow obstruction, dyspnea, and exercise capacity index), scoring of quality of life and arterial blood gas analysis were performed before treatment and in the 3rd month after treatment. RESULTS: The maximum exercise power (Wmax), maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max), six minutes walking distance (6MWD), modified British Medical Research Council (MMRC), BODE index, score of quality of life, arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) and arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) of intervention Group-A and b were significantly improved after treatment (P<0.05); the differences with the control group had statistical significance (P<0.05). The improvement of 6MWD, MMRC, score of quality of life, PaO2 and PaCO2 of intervention Group-B was superior to that of intervention Group-A. (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Multidisciplinary comprehensive respiratory rehabilitation in combination with NIPPV can further relieve dyspnea of patients, enhance exercise tolerance and quality of life, and facilitate recovery; hence it is worth application and promotion.

Intermittent injection of Methylprednisolone Sodium Succinate in the treatment of Cervical Spinal Cord injury complicated with incomplete paraplegia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of intermittent injection of methylprednisolone sodium succinate in the treatment of cervical spinal cord injury complicated with incomplete paraplegia. METHODS: Seventy-eight patients with cervical spinal cord injury complicated with incomplete paraplegia who were admitted between August 2016 and December 2017 were enrolled and grouped into an observation group and a control group using random number table, 39 in each group. Patients in the control group were given vertebral body decompression and bone grafting and internal fixation according to the severity of spinal cord compression, while patients in the observation group were treated by methylprednisolone sodium succinate in addition to the same treatment as the control group. The clinical efficacy and medicine associated adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The cure rate of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group (46.2% (18/39) vs. 20.5% (8/39)). After the treatment, the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score and American Spinal Cord Injury Association (ASIA) score of the two groups after treatment were significantly higher compared to before treatment, and the scores of the observation group were much higher than those of the control group (P<0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions of the observation and control groups was 15.4% and 17.9% respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Intermittent injection of methylprednisolone sodium succinate has definite efficacy in treating cervical spinal cord injury complicated with incomplete paraplegia, with a low incidence of adverse reactions; hence it is worth promotion.

Controlled blood pressure elevation and limited fluid resuscitation in the treatment of multiple injuries in combination with shock.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effectiveness of controlled blood pressure elevation and limited fluid resuscitation in treating patients with multiple injuries in combination with shock in Intensive Care Unit (ICU). METHODS: One hundred and sixty-four patients with multiple injuries in combination with shock who were admitted into the ICU of the hospital between June 2014 and November 2017 were selected and divided into an observation group and a control group using random number table, 82 each group. Controlled blood pressure elevation was given to both groups. Moreover, the control group was given conventional fluid resuscitation, while the observation group was given limited fluid resuscitation. The treatment effectiveness and complications were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The resuscitation time, post-resuscitation PT and post-resuscitation C-reactive protein level of the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P<0.05). The post-resuscitation hemoglobin level of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). The lactate clearance rate (LCR) of the observation group was (0.22±0.01) and (0.37±0.06) respectively three and six hours after fluid resuscitation, which was remarkably different with that of the control group ((0.27±0.03) and (0.51±0.08)) (P<0.05), but the difference became insignificant 24 h after fluid resuscitation (P>0.05). The observation group had significantly lower incidences of complications such as disseminated intravascular coagulation, respiratory distress syndrome and multiple organ dysfunction syndromes of the observation group and death rate than the control group, and the differences had statistical significance (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Controlled blood pressure elevation in combination with limited fluid resuscitation is more effective than conventional fluid resuscitation in the treatment of patients with multiple injuries and shock in ICU as it can shorten recovery time, improve microcirculation perfusion and prognosis, and reduce related complications and fatality rate.

Influence of psychological intervention on pain and immune functions of patients receiving lung cancer surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of psychological intervention on pain, immune system and adrenocortical functions of patients receiving lung cancer surgery. METHODS: We selected 124 patients who received surgery for treating stage I or II lung cancer and divided into experimental group and control group. The experimental group received comprehensive psychological intervention while the control group was given conventional nursing intervention. Pain of patients in two groups was evaluated by visual analog scale (VAS). Before and after intervention, CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+), CD4(+)/CD8(+) and free cortisol level in serum were measured. Moreover, QLQ-C30, a life quality measurement scale developed by European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) was used. RESULTS: Compared to control group, VAS of patients in experimental group remarkably decreased before anesthesia, 6 hour, 12 hour 24 hour and 48 hour after surgery (P<0.05), and moreover, OLQ-C30 score and various factor scores (except physical symptoms) in experimental group were much higher (P<0.05). No statistical significant difference was found in immune index between two groups before intervention (P>0.05). Differences of CD3(+) and CD4(+) before and after intervention were both statistically significant (P<0.05), so did free cortisol level (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Comprehensive psychological intervention can effectively relieve pain, improve immune functions and enhance quality of life for patients suffering from lung cancer surgery.

Protein expression under sustained activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 in diethylnitrosamine-induced rat liver carcinogenesis.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression of proteins associated with the sustained activation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-3 pathway during diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced rat liver carcinogenesis. DEN was intermittently administered to rats to induce liver cancer, and light and electron microscopy were used to observe the morphological changes in the liver during carcinogenesis. Western blotting and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) were used to detect the expression of STAT-3, phosphorylated (p)-STAT-3, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-10, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), kinase insert domain receptor (KDR), hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1α, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and interleukin (IL)-10, in order to investigate the association between STAT-3 and p-STAT-3 expression and MMP-10, VEGF, KDR, HIF-1α, bFGF and IL-10. The western blotting and qPCR results revealed that the expression of STAT-3, p-STAT-3, MMP-10, VEGF, KDR, HIF-1α, bFGF and IL-10 proteins gradually increased during carcinogenesis. Furthermore, the STAT-3 and p-STAT-3 levels were found to positively correlate with MMP-10, VEGF, KDR, HIF-1α, bFGF and IL-10 protein expression. During DEN-induced rat liver carcinogenesis, STAT-3 protein continually activated MMP-10, VEGF, KDR, HIF-1α, bFGF and IL-10, and its expression was found to positively correlate with the expression of these proteins.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress in diethylnitrosamine-induced rat liver cancer.

To analyze the significance of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in the development of diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced liver cancer in rats, critical regulatory factors in ERS signaling pathways were investigated in the present study. The results showed that the expression of ERS-related proteins gradually increased in the early and mid-term stages of carcinogenesis, while in the later stages, the expression of these proteins did not change significantly after reaching a peak. ERS is involved in DEN-induced rat liver injury, the proliferation of liver cells and the occurrence and development of liver cirrhosis. However, ERS did not affect hepatoma cell growth following the formation of rat liver cancer in the current study.

In-vacuum projection of nanoparticles for on-chip tunneling spectroscopy.

Starting with a discussion of the percolation problem applied to the trapping of conducting nanoparticles between nanometer-spaced electrodes, we show that a good strategy to trap a single nanoparticle between the electrodes is to prepare chips with low coverage of nanoparticles to avoid percolating current paths. To increase the probability of trapping a single nanoparticle, we developed a new method where nanoparticles are projected in-vacuum on the chip, followed by a measure of the tunnel current, in a cycle that is repeated up to a few thousand times until a preset threshold value is reached. A plot of the tunneling current as a function of time allows discriminating between the two possible current paths, i.e., a single nanoparticle trapped between the electrodes or a percolating path across many nanoparticles. We applied the method to prepare chip circuits with single gold nanoparticles, as demonstrated by the observation of Coulomb blockade. Furthermore, we applied the method to trap single magnetite nanoparticles for the study of electric-field-induced switching from insulator to metal in single nanoparticles.

Inhibition of tumor angiogenesis by TTF1 from extract of herbal medicine.

AIM: To study the inhibition of tumor angiogenesis by 5,2,4´-trihydroxy-6,7,5´-trimethoxyflavone (TTF1) isolated from an extract of herbal medicine Sorbaria sorbifolia. METHODS: Angiogenic activity was assayed using the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) method. Microvessel density (MVD) was determined by staining tissue sections immunohistochemically for CD34 using the Weidner capillary counting method. The mRNA and protein levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), vascular endothelialgrowth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2, Flk-1/KDR), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2 and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting analysis. RESULTS: The TTF1 inhibition rates for CAM were 30.8%, 38.2% and 47.5% with treatment concentrations of 25, 50 and 100 µg/embryo × 5 d, respectively. The inhibitory rates for tumor size were 43.8%, 49.4% and 59.6% at TTF1 treatment concentrations of 5, 10, and 20 µmol/kg, respectively. The average MVD was 14.2, 11.2 and 8.5 at treatment concentrations of 5 µmol/kg, 10 µmol/kg and 20 µmol/kg TTF1, respectively. The mRNA and protein levels of VEGF, KDR, bFGF, COX-2 and HIF-1α in mice treated with TTF1 were significantly decreased. CONCLUSION: TTF1 can inhibit tumor angiogenesis, and the mechanism may be associated with the down-regulation of VEGF, KDR, bFGF, HIF-1α and COX-2.