One-step electroreduction preparation of multilayered reduced graphene oxide/gold-palladium nanohybrid as a proficient electrocatalyst for development of sensitive hydrazine sensor.

A facile and green method for preparation of gold/palladium (Au/Pd) bimetallic nanoparticles interleaved reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composite was presented. One-step electroreduction of Au/Pd precursors and graphene oxide synergistically produced a multilayered and well-structured nanohybrid on glassy carbon electrode, which was explored as a highly efficient electrocatalyst. This operation is easy and controllable, as compared with time-consuming and procedure-tedious hydrothermal synthesis.

Effect of calcium addition in plasma catalysis for toluene removal by Ni/ZSM-5 : Acidity/basicity, catalytic activity and reaction mechanism.

The effect of Ca modification on the Ni/ZSM-5 catalyst for efficient toluene oxidation was studied in a plasma-catalytic system. The Ni/ZSM-5 and Ca-Ni/ZSM-5 catalysts were prepared by a wet impregnation method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Pyridine-FTIR spectroscopy and temperature programmed desorption of ammonia (NH-TPD). Among the catalysts tested, the Ca-Ni/ZSM-5 sample showed the best potential for toluene conversion (90.

A high-sucrose diet aggravates Alzheimer's disease pathology, attenuates hypothalamic leptin signaling, and impairs food-anticipatory activity in APPswe/PS1dE9 mice.

High-fat and high-sugar diets contribute to the prevalence of type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although the impact of high-fat diets on AD pathogenesis has been established, the effect of high-sucrose diets (HSDs) on AD pathogenesis remains unclear. This study sought to determine the impact of HSDs on AD-related pathologies.

Catalytic Performance of Toluene Combustion over Pt Nanoparticles Supported on Pore-Modified Macro-Meso-Microporous Zeolite Foam.

Herein, to investigate the pore effect on toluene catalytic oxidation activity, novel supports for Pt nanoparticles-ZSM-5 foam (ZF) fabricated using polyurethane foam (PUF) templates and pore-modified ZSM-5 foam (ZF-D) treated by acid etching, comparing with conventional ZSM-5 and pore-modified ZSM-5 (ZSM-5-D), were successfully synthesized. Pt nanoparticles were loaded on series ZSM-5 supports by the impregnation method. The Pt loaded on ZF-D (Pt/ZF-D) showed the highest activity of toluene catalytic combustion (i.

The Ubiquitin-Specific Protease 18 Promotes Hepatitis C Virus Production by Increasing Viral Infectivity.

Background And Aims: Ubiquitin-specific protease 18 (USP18) is involved in immunoregulation and response to interferon- (IFN-) based treatment in patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). We investigated whether and how its upregulation alters HCV infection.

Methods: Overexpression of wild-type (USP18 WT) or catalytically inactive mutant (USP18 C64S) USP18 was examined for effects on HCV replication in the absence and presence of IFN or IFN using both the HCV-infective model and replicon cells.

Sequence isomerism-dependent self-assembly of glycopeptide mimetics with switchable antibiofilm properties.

In biological systems, diverse amino acid sequences and functional decorations endow proteins with specific functions. Functionally modified oligopeptides are attractive building blocks to assemble stimuli-responsive biomimetic superstructures for mimicking soft structures in nature and biomaterial applications. In this work, we selectively synthesized the structurally simplest isomeric tripeptides (, Ala-Gly-Gly-OH, Gly-Ala-Gly-OH and Gly-Gly-Ala-OH) to demonstrate how the subtlest change in sequence isomerism influences the self-assembly of glycopeptides.

Inorganic nitrite increases the susceptibility of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) leucocytes to Streptococcus agalactiae.

Deteriorating water quality, especially from high concentrations of nitrite, is currently largely blamed for disease outbreaks in farmed tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). In this study, the underlying mechanism of nitrite on the susceptibility of tilapia leucocytes to Streptococcus agalactiae (S. agalactiae) was studied.

Combined De Novo Transcriptome and Metabolome Analysis of Common Bean Response to f. sp. Infection.

Molecular changes elicited by common bean ( L.) in response to f. sp.

Distribution, Trafficking, and in Vitro Photodynamic Therapy Efficacy of Cholesterol Silicon(IV) Phthalocyanine and Its Nanoparticles in Breast Cancer Cells.

A cholesterol silicon(IV) phthalocyanine (Chol-Pc) and a water-soluble Chol-Pc based nanoparticle (DSPE@Chol-Pc), which was prepared using 1,2-distearoyl--glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine--[methoxy(poly(ethylene glycol))-2000] (DSPE-PEG) as a nanocarrier were developed. Chol-Pc readily distributed within the cholesterol-rich domains and was preferentially localized in the Golgi apparatus after being transported into the cells. The trafficking of DSPE@Chol-Pc in breast cancer cells was visualized by tracking the fluorescence of Chol-Pc and FITC-labeled DSPE-PEG through two-photonic imaging in real-time.

Electrostatically mediated layer-by-layer assembly of nitrogen-doped graphene/PDDA/gold nanoparticle composites for electrochemical detection of uric acid.

A layer-by-layer self-assembled nitrogen-doped graphene/PDDA/gold nanoparticle (NDG/PDDA/GNP) composite was described. Citrate-stabilizing gold nanoparticle colloids (GNPs) were electrostatically adsorbed onto NDG nanosheets using a cationic polyelectrolyte, polydiallyldimethylammonium (PDDA), as the linker, thereby creating a high-performance electrochemical interface. The morphology and chemical composition were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy.

A preliminary survey of Zika virus infection by nucleic acid test in the volunteer blood donor samples in Shenzhen China.

Although Zika virus (ZIKV) infection is mainly transmitted through mosquito bite, it can also be transmitted through blood transfusion. More than 500 000 cases of ZIKV infection were reported in the Americas from 2015 to 2016. Up till now, over 10 cases of imported ZIKV infection have been reported due to frequent international exchanges in the Shenzhen city of Guangdong Province, China.

Reliability of Assessing Non-severe Elevation of Intracranial Pressure Using Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter and Transcranial Doppler Parameters.

Non-invasive measurement of intracranial pressure (ICP) using ultrasound has garnered increasing attention. This study aimed to compare the reliability of ultrasonographic measurement of optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) and transcranial Doppler (TCD) in detecting potential ICP elevations. Patients who needed lumbar puncture (LP) in the Department of Neurology were recruited from December 2016 to July 2017.

A Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Modulator Ameliorates Polycystic Kidney Disease in Han:SPRD Rats.

Background: Inflammation plays an important role in polycystic kidney disease (PKD). Cordyceps sinensis, a prized -Chinese medicinal herb, exerts anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory and anti-metastatic effects and benefits patients with kidney diseases. The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of FTY720, an immunosuppressant derived from C.

Switchable modulation of bacterial growth and biofilm formation based on supramolecular tripeptide amphiphiles.

Design and fabrication of smart supramolecular peptide systems is an effective strategy to develop antibacterial agents that can be selectively activated/inactivated by external stimuli for combating bacterial resistance. In this work, we selectively synthesized isomeric tripeptides (i.e.

Dendritic cell-based vaccine targeting aspartate-β-hydroxylas represents a promising therapeutic strategy for HCC.

Dendritic cells (DCs)-mediated immunotherapy has been considered as a promising antitumor method. Aspartate-β-hydroxylase () is a potential immunotherapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). C57BL/6 mice were immunized by AAH-DCs vaccine constructed .

HBV cccDNA and Its Potential as a Therapeutic Target.

Chronic hepatitis B virus infection continues to be a major health burden worldwide. It can cause various degrees of liver damage and is strongly associated with the development of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Covalently closed circular DNA in the nucleus of infected cells cannot be disabled by present therapies which may lead to HBV persistence and relapse.

In-situ facile preparation of highly efficient copper/nickel bimetallic nanocatalyst on chemically grafted carbon nanotubes for nonenzymatic sensing of glucose.

Measuring glucose in a convenient and economical manner is crucial for diabetes diagnostics and surveillance. Ongoing efforts are devoted to nonenzymatic sensors using functional nanomaterials. Drawbacks due to costly and cumbersome process, however, hamper the practicality.

Metal-Free -Formylation of Amines with CO and Hydrosilane by Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Nanosheets.

-Formylation of amines with carbon dioxide (CO) as a carbonyl source is emerging as an important way for CO transformation into high-value-added chemicals; however, the developed catalytic systems mainly focused on transition-metal-based homogeneous catalysts. Herein, we reported rationally designed nitrogen-doped graphene nanosheets (NG) as metal-free catalysts for -formylation of various amines with CO and hydrosilane to formamide under mild conditions. The NG catalyst displayed a wide amine scope with the desired formamide yields up to >99%, demonstrating its comparable catalytic performance to the reported transition-metal-based catalysts.

Complete Genome Sequences of Brenneria rubrifaciens Strain 6D370 and Brenneria nigrifluens Strain ATCC 13028, Causative Agents of Bark Cankers in Walnut.

and , respectively, cause deep and shallow bark canker disease in walnut. exhibits quorum sensing-controlled virulence and rubrifacine pigment production. The complete genome sequences of these species will be useful for studying the role of genes regulated by quorum sensing, including pathways mediating pathogenesis.

MicroRNA-1181 supports the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma by repressing AXIN1.

Micro-RNAs regulate multiple biological behaviors of cancers, making them potential targets of new cancer therapies. MiR-1181 has been demonstrated to perform oncogenic or tumor-suppressing function in a tissue-dependent way, but its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was unclear. Here, we showed that miR-1181 was significantly overexpressed in HCC tissues when compared with tumor-adjacent normal ones or normal liver tissues from donated organ, and that inhibition of miR-1181 could repress the growth of HCC cells.

Reversible modulation of plasmonic chiral signals of achiral gold nanorods using a chiral supramolecular template.

We report here the fabrication of a multiple stimuli-responsive chiral plasmonic system based on the reversible self-assembly of phenylboronic acid-capped gold nanorods (PBA-Au NRs) guided by a supramolecular glycopeptide mimetic template. The plasmonic chiral signals of PBA-Au NRs can be reversibly switched on and off by temperature, light, pH and glucose concentration variations.

Alda-1 Prevents Pulmonary Epithelial Barrier Dysfunction following Severe Hemorrhagic Shock through Clearance of Reactive Aldehydes.

Severe hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation (HS/R) can lead to lung injury, resulting in respiratory insufficiency. We investigated whether treatment with Alda-1, an ALDH2 activator, decreased lung injury induced by severe HS/R in a rat model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into three groups, hemorrhagic shock + placebo, hemorrhagic shock + Alda-1, and sham.

The prevalence of intracranial stenosis in patients at low and moderate risk of stroke.

Background: Previous studies assessing the risk of stroke in the general population performed screening with Doppler ultrasonography only for high-risk patients and neglected low- and moderate-risk patients. The aims of this study were to explore the current prevalence of intracranial arterial stenosis (ICAS) and analyze its association with different levels of stroke risk and risk factors based on the risk assessment scale for stroke used in China.

Methods: A total of 3654 participants who underwent transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) were eligible for inclusion.

GATA-6 transcriptionally inhibits Shh to repress cell proliferation and migration in lung squamous cell carcinoma.

GATA-6 is a transcription factor that participates in cell lineage differentiation and organogenesis in many tissue types. The abnormal expression of GATA-6 is associated with the development of diverse cancers. GATA-6 acts as an oncogene or tumor suppressor based on tumor origin.