Concomitant Crystallization in Propylene/Ethylene Random Copolymer with Strong Flow at Elevated Temperatures

Flow-induced crystallization of α- and γ-phases was studied for a propylene/ethylene random copolymer with 3.4 mol % ethylene at two high temperatures of 132 and 142 °C by combining a pressure-driven slit flow device with real-time synchrotron wide-angle X-ray diffraction. At 132 °C, it was found that both α- and γ-phases were generated at shear stresses ranging from 0.091 to 0.110 MPa and that the γ-phase always appeared later than the α-phase. However, for 142 °C and the same stresses, only the α-phase formed. Only upon cooling the partially crystallized copolymer did the γ-phase emerge. The lack of γ-crystals obtained at 142 °C is opposite to the behavior reported for quiescent crystallization under pressure, for which increasing temperature results in more and even pure γ-crystals. In the current study, the absence of γ-phase at 142 °C is tentatively associated with lack of epitaxial nucleation on α-lamellae and to relatively low growth rate of γ-crystals

Molecular Quantum Dot Cellular Automata Based on Diboryl Monoradical Anions

Field-effect transistor (FET)-based microelectronics is approaching its size limit due to unacceptable power dissipation and short-channel effects. Molecular quantum dot cellular automata (MQCA) is a promising transistorless paradigm that encodes binary information with bistable charge configurations instead of currents and voltages. However, it still remains a challenge to find appropriate candidate molecules for MQCA operation. Inspired by recent progress in boron radical chemistry, we theoretically predicted a series of new MQCA candidates built from diboryl monoradical anions. The unpaired electron resides mainly on one boron center and can be shifted to the other by an electrostatic stimulus, forming bistable charge configurations required by MQCA. By investigating various bridge units with different substitutions (ortho-, meta-, and para-), we suggested several candidate molecules that have potential MQCA applications

Air-soil diffusive exchange of PAHs in an urban park of Shanghai based on polyethylene passive sampling: Vertical distribution, vegetation influence and diffusive flux

Compared with dry and wet deposition rates, air-soil exchange fluxes cannot be directly measured experimentally. Polyethylene passive sampling was applied to assess transport directions and to measure concentration gradients in order to calculate diffusive fluxes of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) across the air-soil interface in an urban park of Shanghai, China. Seven campaigns with high spatial resolution sampling at 18 heights between 0 and 200 cm above the ground were conducted in 2017–2018. Air-to-soil deposition was observed, e.g. for phenanthrene, and soil-to-air volatilization for high molecular weight compounds, such as benzo[b]fluoranthene. Significant linear correlations between gaseous PAH concentration and log-transformed height were observed. Influence of vegetation on vertical concentration gradients of gaseous PAHs was insignificant in most cases except during the growing season. Local micrometeorological conditions resulted in a directional eddy diffusion in air and then influenced vertical diffusion of gaseous PAHs. Furthermore, the vertical eddy diffusivity was estimated as a function of distance to the air-soil surface. Air-soil exchange fluxes based on the Mackay\u27s fugacity approach were calculated and confirmed by diffusive fluxes within air layer based on vertical concentration gradient of PAHs and eddy/molecular diffusion. Polyethylene passive sampling technology provides a useful tool to investigate air-soil exchange process

EFFECTS OF MATRINE ON JAK-STAT SIGNALING TRANSDUCTION PATHWAYS IN BLEOMYCIN-INDUCED PULMONARY FIBROSIS

The current study aims to investigate the effects of matrine on the JAK-STAT signaling transduction pathways in bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and to explore its action mechanism. A total of 72 male C57BL/6 mice were randomized into the control, model, and treatment groups. PF models were established by instilling BLM intratracheally. The treatment group was given daily matrine through gastric lavage. Six mice were sacrificed in each group at 3, 7, 14, and 28 days. The lung tissues were observed using hematoxylin-eosin staining. The expression of JAK, STAT1, and STAT3 was observed using immunohistochemistry and then determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Alveolitis and PF significantly improved in the treatment group compared with the model group (P < 0.05). The expression of JAK, STAT1, and STAT3 in the model group increased at day 7, peaked at day 14 and then decreased, but the expression was still higher than that in the control group at day 28 (P < 0.05). The three indices in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the model group at any detection time point (P < 0.05). PF causes high expression of JAK, STAT1, and STAT3. Matrine exerts an anti-PF effect by inhibiting the JAK-STAT signaling transduction pathways

Effects of matrine on JAK-STAT signaling transduction pathways in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis

The current study aims to investigate the effects of matrine on the JAK-STAT signaling transduction pathways in bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and to explore its action mechanism. A total of 72 male C57BL/6 mice were randomized into the control, model, and treatment groups. PF models were established by instilling BLM intratracheally. The treatment group was given daily matrine through gastric lavage. Six mice were sacrificed in each group at 3, 7, 14, and 28 days. The lung tissues were observed using hematoxylin-eosin staining. The expression of JAK, STAT1, and STAT3 was observed using immunohistochemistry and then determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Alveolitis and PF significantly improved in the treatment group compared with the model group (P < 0.05). The expression of JAK, STAT1, and STAT3 in the model group increased at day 7, peaked at day 14 and then decreased, but the expression was still higher than that in the control group at day 28 (P < 0.05). The three indices in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the model group at any detection time point (P < 0.05). PF causes high expression of JAK, STAT1, and STAT3. Matrine exerts an anti-PF effect by inhibiting the JAK-STAT signaling transduction pathways

Physiological adaptations to osmotic stress and characterization of a polyethylene glycol-responsive gene in Braya humilis

Braya humilis (Brassicaceae) is a widely distributed plant in arid and semi-arid regions of northern Asia. This plant is well adapted to extremely arid conditions and is a promising candidate species to discover novel drought tolerance strategies. However, not much information about the mechanism(s) mediating drought resistance in this species is currently available. Therefore, the present study aimed to characterize the physiological traits and expression patterns of a polyethylene glycol (PEG)-responsive gene in B. humilis responding to different levels of osmotic stress induced by PEG-6000. Several important physiological parameters were examined, including the levels of relative water content, soluble protein, malondialdehyde, and antioxidant enzyme activity. A tolerance threshold between 20 and 30% PEG-6000 was identified for B. humilis. The water status and oxidative damage below this threshold were maintained at a relatively constant level during the 12 h of treatment. However, once the threshold was exceeded, the water status and oxidative damage were obviously affected after treatment for 4 h. The soluble protein results suggest that B. humilis maintains a vigorous resistance to osmotic stress and that it may play a greater role in osmotic regulation at late stages of stress. Moreover, superoxide dismutase and catalase may be important at preventing oxidative damage in plants at early stages of stress, while peroxidase may be more involved in some biological processes that resist osmotic stress at the late stage, especially in severely damaged plants. Furthermore, a PEG-responsive gene, BhCIPK12, was identified by differential display reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR), cloned, and characterized by quantitative real-time PCR. We hypothesized that this gene may play an important role in mediating osmotic stress or drought resistance in plants. Altogether, these results provide valuable insights into the mechanism(s) mediating drought tolerance in B. humilis

Post-traumatic stress disorder and depressive symptoms among firefighters: a network analysis

BackgroundFirefighters, as first responders with a high risk of occupational exposure to traumatic events and heavy working stress, have a high prevalence of PTSD symptoms and depressive symptoms. But no previous studies analyzed the relationships and hierarchies of PTSD and depressive symptoms among firefighters. Network analysis is a novel and effective method for investigating the complex interactions of mental disorders at the symptom level and providing a new understanding of psychopathology. The current study was designed to characterize the PTSD and depressive symptoms network structure in the Chinese firefighters.MethodThe Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5) and the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) were applied to assess PTSD and depressive symptoms, respectively. The network structure of PTSD and depressive symptoms was characterized using “expected influence (EI)” and “bridge EI” as centrality indices. The Walktrap algorithm was conducted to identify communities in the PTSD and depressive symptoms network. Finally, Network accuracy and stability were examined using the Bootstrapped test and the case-dropping procedure.ResultsA total of 1,768 firefighters were enrolled in our research. Network analysis revealed that the relationship between PTSD symptoms, “Flashback” and “Avoidance,” was the strongest. “Life emptiness” was the most central symptom with the highest EI in the PTSD and depression network model. Followed by “Fatigue” and “Interest loss.” Bridge symptoms connecting PTSD and depressive symptoms in our study were “Numb,” “High alertness,” “Sad mood,” and “Compunction and blame,” successively. The data-driven community detection suggested the differences in PTSD symptoms in the clustering process. The reliability of the network was approved by both stability and accuracy tests.ConclusionTo the best of our knowledge, the current study first demonstrated the network structure of PTSD and depressive symptoms among Chinese firefighters, identifying the central and bridge symptoms. Targeting interventions to the symptoms mentioned above may effectively treat firefighters suffering from PTSD and depressive symptoms

Soybean \u3ci\u3eGm\u3c/i\u3eSAUL1, a Bona Fide U-Box E3 Ligase, Negatively Regulates Immunity Likely through Repressing the Activation of \u3ci\u3eGm\u3c/i\u3eMPK3

E3 ubiquitin ligases play important roles in plant immunity, but their role in soybean has not been investigated previously. Here, we used Bean pod mottle virus (BPMV)-mediated virusinduced gene silencing (VIGS) to investigate the function of GmSAUL1 (Senescence-Associated E3 Ubiquitin Ligase 1) homologs in soybean. When two closely related SAUL1 homologs were silenced simultaneously, the soybean plants displayed autoimmune phenotypes, which were significantly alleviated by high temperature, suggesting that GmSAUL1a/1b might be guarded by an R protein. Interestingly, silencing GmSAUL1a/1b resulted in the decreased activation of GmMPK6, but increased activation of GmMPK3 in response to flg22, suggesting that the activation of GmMPK3 is most likely responsible for the activated immunity observed in the GmSAUL1a/1b-silenced plants. Furthermore, we provided evidence that GmSAUL1a is a bona fide E3 ligase. Collectively, our results indicated that GmSAUL1 plays a negative role in regulating cell death and immunity in soybean

Measuring Coverage in MNCH:A Validation Study Linking Population Survey Derived Coverage to Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Care Records in Rural China

Accurate data on coverage of key maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) interventions are crucial for monitoring progress toward the Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5. Coverage estimates are primarily obtained from routine population surveys through self-reporting, the validity of which is not well understood. We aimed to examine the validity of the coverage of selected MNCH interventions in Gongcheng County, China.We conducted a validation study by comparing women's self-reported coverage of MNCH interventions relating to antenatal and postnatal care, mode of delivery, and child vaccinations in a community survey with their paper- and electronic-based health care records, treating the health care records as the reference standard. Of 936 women recruited, 914 (97.6%) completed the survey. Results show that self-reported coverage of these interventions had moderate to high sensitivity (0.57 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.50-0.63] to 0.99 [95% CI: 0.98-1.00]) and low to high specificity (0 to 0.83 [95% CI: 0.80-0.86]). Despite varying overall validity, with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) ranging between 0.49 [95% CI: 0.39-0.57] and 0.90 [95% CI: 0.88-0.92], bias in the coverage estimates at the population level was small to moderate, with the test to actual positive (TAP) ratio ranging between 0.8 and 1.5 for 24 of the 28 indicators examined. Our ability to accurately estimate validity was affected by several caveats associated with the reference standard. Caution should be exercised when generalizing the results to other settings.The overall validity of self-reported coverage was moderate across selected MNCH indicators. However, at the population level, self-reported coverage appears to have small to moderate degree of bias. Accuracy of the coverage was particularly high for indicators with high recorded coverage or low recorded coverage but high specificity. The study provides insights into the accuracy of self-reports based on a population survey in low- and middle-income countries. Similar studies applying an improved reference standard are warranted in the future