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Although whey protein hydrolysate (WPH) possesses good physiological functionality, its bitter taste and hygroscopic property limit its direct utilization as food ingredient. The aim of this work was to encapsulate whey protein hydrolysate by spray drying using maltodextrin or maltodextrin/ β -cyclodextrin mixture as wall materials to attenuate the bitter taste and enhance the stability of whey protein hydrolysate. Hygroscopicity, glass transition temperature, bitter taste, and morphology of non-encapsulated WPH and encapsulated WPH were evaluated. Solubility, particle size, bulk density, and moisture content were also measured. Compared with the non-encapsulated WPH, the encapsulated WPH exhibited significantly lower hygroscopicity and higher glass transition temperature. The bitterness of both maltodextrin-encapsulated WPH and maltodextrin/ β -cyclodextrin-encapsulated WPH was significantly lower than that of the original non-encapsulated WPH. Morphological analysis by scanning electron microscopy showed that the microcapsules of the spray-dried encapsulated WPH were matrix-type with less link bridge and had a continuous wall with many concavities. In addition, encapsulation process did not exert negative effect on the solubility of whey protein hydrolysate. The results indicated that encapsulation with maltodextrin and β -cyclodextrin as carriers was helpful to attenuate the bitter taste and enhance the stability of whey protein hydrolysate.

Background： Endometriosis is a challenging disease with symptoms such as dysmenorrhea and infertility. However, its etiology is still vague and there is still no effective markers or treatment. This study aimed to profile the circular RNAs （circRNAs） expressed in eutopic endometrium from patients with ovarian endometriosis and explore potential clues to the pathogenesis of endometriosis, providing an evidence for clinical diagnosis and treatment. Methods： A total of 63 clinical samples, including control endometrium 01 = 22） and eutopic endoxnetrium （n = 41）, were collected from Peking Union Medical College Hospital between May 1,2016, and December 31,2016. Of them, four samples in each group were used for circRNA microarray. Then, tbur upregulated circRNAs were screened out for quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction （qRT-PCR） validation. After that, bioinformatics analysis was pertbrmed to predict miRNAs targeted by validated circRNAs and investigate the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA interactions. Results： Among 88 differentially expressed circRNAs, 11 were upregulated and 77 were downregulated in eutopic endometrium of patients with endometriosis, qRT-PCR validation results for two upregulated circRNAs （circ0004712 and circ_O002198） matched the microarray results. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of circ_0002198 for distinguishing ovarian endometriosis was 0.846 （95% confidence interval [C1]： 0.752-0.939; P 〈 0.001 ） while that ofcitv_O004712 was 0.704 （95% CI： 0.571-0.837; P = 0.008）. On the basis of target prediction, we depicted the molecular interactions between the identified circRNAs and their dominant target miRNAs, as well as constructed a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network. Conclusions： This study provides evidence that circRNAs are differentially expressed between eutopic and normal endometrium, which suggests that circRNAs are candidate factors in the activation ofendometriosis, circ_0002198 and circ0004712 may be potential novel biomarkers for the diagnosis of ovarian endometriosis.

Land surface temperature (LST) is an important variable in the physics of land–surface processes controlling the heat and water fluxes over the interface between the Earth’s surface and the atmosphere. Space-borne remote sensing provides the only feasible way for acquiring high-precision LST at temporal and spatial domain over the entire globe. Passive microwave (PMW) satellite observations have the capability to penetrate through clouds and can provide data under both clear and cloud conditions. Nonetheless, compared with thermal infrared data, PMW data suffer from lower spatial resolution and LST retrieval accuracy. Various methods for estimating LST from PMW satellite observations were proposed in the past few decades. This paper provides an extensive overview of these methods. We first present the theoretical basis for retrieving LST from PMW observations and then review the existing LST retrieval methods. These methods are mainly categorized into four types, i.e., empirical methods, semi-empirical methods, physically-based methods, and neural network methods. Advantages, limitations, and assumptions associated with each method are discussed. Prospects for future development to improve the performance of LST retrieval methods from PMW satellite observations are also recommended.

Land surface temperature (LST) is a key variable influencing the energy balance between the land surface and the atmosphere. In this work, a split-window algorithm was used to calculate LST from Sentinel-3A Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometer (SLSTR) thermal infrared data. The National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis atmospheric profiles combined with the radiation transport model MODerate resolution atmospheric TRANsmission version 5.2 (MODTRAN 5.2) were utilized to obtain atmospheric water vapor content (WVC). The ASTER Global Emissivity Database Version 3 (ASTER GED v3) product was utilized to estimate surface emissivity in order to improve the accuracy of LST estimation over barren surfaces. Using a simulation database, the coefficients of the algorithm were fitted and the performance of the algorithm was evaluated. The root-mean-square error (RMSE) values of the differences between the estimated LST and the actual LST of the MODTRAN radiative transfer simulation at each WVC subrange of 0–6.5 g/cm2 were less than 1.0 K. To validate the retrieval accuracy, ground-based LST measurements were collected at two relatively homogeneous desert study sites in Dalad Banner and Wuhai, Inner Mongolia, China. The bias between the retrieved LST and the in situ LST was about 0.2 K and the RMSE was about 1.3 K at the Dalad Banner site, whereas they were approximately -0.4 and 1.0 K at the Wuhai site. As a reference, the retrieved LST was compared with the operational SLSTR LST product in this study. The bias between the SLSTR LST product and the in situ LST was approximately 1 K and the RMSE was approximately 2 K at the Dalad Banner site, whereas they were approximately 1.1 and 1.4 K at the Wuhai site. The results demonstrate that the split-window algorithm combined with improved emissivity estimation based on the ASTER GED product can distinctly obtain better accuracy of LST over barren surfaces.

Previous studies have suggested that the Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) pathway is involved in hyperglycemia-induced lung injury. The present study aimed to investigate the roles of suppressor of cytokine signaling3 (SOCS3) in the regulation of JAK2/STAT3 activation following high glucose (HG) treatment in A549 human pulmonary epithelial cells. Cell viability was evaluated using Cell Counting Kit-8 and lactate dehydrogenase assays. HG-induced inflammatory injury in A549 cells was assessed through the evaluation of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels using ELISA. The protein expression levels of SOCS3, JAK2, STAT3, phosphorylated (p)-JAK2 and p-STAT3 were determined using western blot analysis. Cellular viability was significantly decreased, whereas IL-6 and TNF-α levels were significantly increased, following HG stimulation of A549 cells. In addition, the protein levels of SOCS3, p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 were significantly increased in HG-treated cells. Treatment with the JAK2/STAT3 inhibitor tyrphostin AG490, or SOCS3 overexpression, appeared to prevent the HG-induced alterations in protein expression. Furthermore, cellular viability was enhanced, whereas the levels of proinflammatory cytokines were suppressed. These finding suggested the involvement of the SOCS3/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in HG-induced responses in lung cells. Therefore, it may be hypothesized that the inhibition of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway through SOCS3 overexpression may prevent hyperglycemia-induced lung injury, and may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of patients with diabetic lung injury.

Blunt chest trauma with hemorrhagic shock (THS) frequently induces pulmonary inflammation that leads to acute lung injury (ALI). Penehyclidine hydrochloride (PHC) possesses anti-inflammatory properties that may attenuate the systemic inflammatory response. The present study aimed to evaluate the molecular mechanism of PHC in modifying THS-induced ALI in rats. Rats underwent either THS or a sham procedure. At 6 h subsequent to blunt chest trauma, arterial blood was drawn for blood gas and pro-inflammatory factors analyses, and lung tissue samples were collected to examine pulmonary histopathological alterations, the wet/dry weight ratio, myeloperoxidase activity, and the protein expression levels of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), phosphorylated (p-)p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), nuclear factor (NF)-κB and activator protein-1 (AP-1). THS caused significant reductions in heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure, and was associated with significant increases in tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, p-p38MAPK, NF-κB and AP-1 activation, in addition to TLR4 expression, in the lung. PHC effectively attenuated THS-induced ALI, and inhibited TLR4 expression, reduced the activation of p-p38MAPK, NF-κB and AP-1, and downregulated the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators. In conclusion, the results of the present study demonstrated that PHC may exert an anti-inflammatory effect and attenuate THS-induced ALI by inhibiting the TLR4 signaling pathway. These preclinical findings may offer a novel therapeutic strategy to restrict TLR4 overactivation in ALI.

Vernalization-induced flowering is a cold-relevant adaptation in many species, but little is known about the genetic basis behind in Orchidaceae species. Here, we reported a collection of 15017 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from the vernalized axillary buds of an Orchidaceae species, Dendrobium nobile, which were assembled for 9616 unique gene clusters. Functional enrichment analysis showed that genes in relation to the responses to stresses, especially in the form of low temperatures, and those involving in protein biosynthesis and chromatin assembly were significantly overrepresented during 40 days of vernalization. Additionally, a total of 59 putative flowering-relevant genes were recognized, including those homologous to known key players in vernalization pathways in temperate cereals or Arabidopsis, such as cereal VRN1, FT/VRN3, and Arabidopsis AGL19. Results from this study suggest that the networks regulating vernalization-induced floral transition are conserved, but just in a part, in D. nobile, temperate cereals, and Arabidopsis.

PurposePatients with localized prostate cancer can usually achieve initial response to conventional treatment. However, most of them will inevitably progress to advanced disease stage. There is a clear need to develop innovative and effective therapeutics for prostate cancer. Mouse survivin T34A (mS-T34A) is a phosphorylation-defective Thr34 → Ala dominant negative mutant, which represents a potential promising target for cancer gene therapy. This study was designed to determine whether mS-T34A plasmid encapsuled by DOTAP-chol liposome (Lip-mS) has the anti-tumor activity against prostate cancer, if so, to further investigate the possible mechanisms.MethodsIn vitro, TRAMP-C1 cells were transfected with Lip-mS and examined for apoptosis by PI staining and flow cytometric analysis. In vivo, subcutaneous prostate cancer models were established in C57BL/6 mice, which were randomly assigned into three groups to receive i.v. administrations of Lip-mS, pVITRO2-null plasmid complexed with DOTAP-chol liposome (Lip-null) or normal saline every 2 days for eight doses. Tumor volume was measured. Tumor tissues were inspected for apoptosis by TUNEL assay. Microvessel density (MVD) was determined by CD31 immunohistochemistry. Alginate-encapsulated tumor cell test was conducted to evaluate the treatment effect on angiogenesis.ResultsAdministration of Lip-mS resulted in significant inhibition in the growth of mouse TRAMP-C1 tumors. The anti-tumor response was associated with increased tumor cell apoptosis and decreased microvessel density.ConclusionsThe present study may be of importance in the exploration of the potential application of Lip-mS in the treatment of a broad spectrum of tumors.

Vernalization-induced flowering is a cold-relevant adaptation in many species, but little is known about the genetic basis behind in Orchidaceae species. Here, we reported a collection of 15017 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from the vernalized axillary buds of an Orchidaceae species, Dendrobium nobile, which were assembled for 9616 unique gene clusters. Functional enrichment analysis showed that genes in relation to the responses to stresses, especially in the form of low temperatures, and those involving in protein biosynthesis and chromatin assembly were significantly overrepresented during 40 days of vernalization. Additionally, a total of 59 putative flowering-relevant genes were recognized, including those homologous to known key players in vernalization pathways in temperate cereals or Arabidopsis, such as cereal VRN1, FT/VRN3, and Arabidopsis AGL19. Results from this study suggest that the networks regulating vernalization-induced floral transition are conserved, but just in a part, in D. nobile, temperate cereals, and Arabidopsis.

We present a novel cross-view classification algorithm where the gallery and probe data come from different views. A popular approach to tackle this problem is the multi-view subspace learning (MvSL) that aims to learn a latent subspace shared by multi-view data. Despite promising results obtained on some applications, the performance of existing methods deteriorates dramatically when the multi-view data is sampled from nonlinear manifolds or suffers from heavy outliers. To circumvent this drawback, motivated by the Divide-and-Conquer strategy, we propose Multi-view Hybrid Embedding (MvHE), a unique method of dividing the problem of cross-view classification into three subproblems and building one model for each subproblem. Specifically, the first model is designed to remove view discrepancy, whereas the second and third models attempt to discover the intrinsic nonlinear structure and to increase discriminability in intra-view and inter-view samples respectively. The kernel extension is conducted to further boost the representation power of MvHE. Extensive experiments are conducted on four benchmark datasets. Our methods demonstrate overwhelming advantages against the state-of-the-art MvSL based cross-view classification approaches in terms of classification accuracy and robustness.