‘Zhengmei’: A new early-ripening table grape

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'Brilliant Seedless': A new medium-ripening seedless table grape

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Aluminate red phosphor in light-emitting diodes : theoretical calculations, charge varieties and high-pressure luminescence analysis

This work was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of Taiwan (Contract Nos. MOST 104-2113-M- 002-012-MY3 and MOST 104-2923-M-002-007-MY3). This research was also supported by National Centre for Re- search and Development, Poland (Grant No. PL- TW2/8/2015).Searching for a non-rare earth-based oxide red-emitting phosphor is crucial for phosphor-converted light- emitting diodes (LEDs). In this study, we optimized a blue and UV-light excited Sr4Al14O25:Mn phosphor exhibiting red emission peaked at ~653 nm, which was successfully synthesized by solid-state reaction. The crystal structure, micromorphology, and luminescent properties of Sr4Al14O25:Mn phosphors were characterized by X-ray Rietveld refinement, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and photoluminescence spectra. The band gap and electronic structure of Sr4Al14O25 were analyzed by density functional theory calculation using the hybrid exchange- correlation functional. The crystal field environment effect of Al sites from introducing activator Mn ions was investigated with the aid of Raman 27Al nuclear magnetic resonance spectra and electron spin resonance. The pressure dependent on the luminescent properties and decay time of this compound were presented. The tricolor display spectrum by combining blue InGaN chips, commercial β-SiAlON:Eu2+ green phosphor, and Sr4Al14O25:Mn red phosphor were evaluated for commercial applications: using the present Sr4Al14O25:Mn red phosphor converted LED as backlighting source.PostprintPeer reviewe

Amelioration of cholesterol sulfate for lead-induced CTX cell apoptosis based on BDNF signaling pathway mediated cholesterol metabolism

Lead (Pb), as a deleterious heavy metal, ubiquitously exists in environment and industry, which engenders multi-organ disfunction, especially the brain of infants who are vulnerable to attack from lead-induced neurotoxicity. Although cholesterol sulfate (CS) is crucial constituent of cell membranes and precursor of neurosteroids, which maintains the function and survival of neurons, the role of CS in lead-induced neurological damage still remains incomplete. In this work, Rat Brain Astrocytes cell line (CTX cells) was applied into exploration that protective effects of CS on CTX cell apoptosis induced by lead via the regulation of BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway mediated cholesterol metabolism. We found that CTX cells exposed to lead manifested apparent cytotoxicity, where the viability of CTX cells was significantly suppressed, accompanied with the elevation of apoptosis, in response to a trend towards increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and pro-apoptotic protein Cleaved-caspase3, synchronized with the decline in anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Moreover, accumulation of lead in CTX cells showed a dose-dependent increase, and meanwhile, decrements in cholesterol content occurred along with increase in lead exposure, in which expressions of cholesterol metabolism related proteins and transcriptions of its genes (SREBP2, LDLR, and HMGCR) were diminished. Furthermore, BDNF signaling pathway was obviously blocked after lead exposure, down-regulating expressions of proteins BDNF and TrkB. However, pretreatment with CS detoxified the negative impacts of lead-invoked CTX cell damage, acting as an effective remedy for apoptosis, imbalance of cholesterol metabolism and inhibition of BDNF signaling pathway. In addition, the relationship between BDNF signaling pathway and cholesterol metabolism was further verified, in which cholesterol metabolism related proteins and genes were promoted significantly after the activation of BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway using 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF), thereby detoxifying lead-induced CTX cell injury. However, the pretreatment of TrkB inhibitor ANA-12 offset the promotion of 7,8-DHF and ultimately inhibit cholesterol metabolism. Overall, our study demonstrated that CS could initiate the BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway, regulating the cholesterol metabolism against CTX cell apoptosis invoked by lead

Improving hand hygiene compliance among healthcare workers: an intervention study in a Hospital in Guizhou Province, China

Objective: Hand hygiene (HH) is a critical component for controlling hospital-acquired infection (HAI). The present study was designed to develop an intervention approach to improve compliance with HH among healthcare workers in a hospital setting. Methods: The HH intervention study was conducted in Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, China and organized by its Department of HAI Management. It was an observational, prospective, quasiexperimental (before-after intervention) study. The study was divided into two phases: the baseline phase and the intervention phase. The investigative team included clinical monitoring staff and infection control practitioners who received a series of instructions on HH compliance, monitoring skills, and measurement of the use of HH products. Results: Based on 27,852 observations in a 17-month period, the rate of compliance with HH improved from 37.78% at baseline to 75.90% after intervention. Significant improvement in compliance and an increase in consumption of HH products was observed after intervention. The per patient-day consumption of alcohol-based hand rub products and handwash agents increased by 4.75 mL and 4.55 mL, respectively. The consumption of paper towels increased 3.41 sheets per patient-day. During the same period, the prevalence rate of HAI decreased 0.83%. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that a significant improvement in compliance with HH can be achieved through a systemic, multidimensional intervention approach involving all categories of healthcare workers in a hospital setting, which may result in a decrease of the HAI rate. Keywords: Hand hygiene, Compliance, Hospital-acquired infectio

Genome-wide association study of berry-related traits in grape [Vitis vinifera L.] based on genotyping-by-sequencing markers

Grapes: The genetic basis of fruit traits Genetic analysis of 179 types of vine has revealed regions of the genome and associated genes and proteins that control many of the key traits in the grapes. These traits are crucial for determining fruit quality and yield, in addition to conferring flavors that are highly valued by consumers and wine makers. Researchers in China, led by Da-Long Guo at Henan University of Science and Technology, used DNA sequencing to analyze genetic markers in a mixture of ancient, traditionally cultivated and modern grape varieties. The analysis identified specific regions of the genome linked to grape fruit development, weight, texture, skin color and flavor. The molecular basis of the effects of the identified genetic regions were also explored. The findings will help generate new varieties of grapes for the food and wine industries