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Summary: In this paper, a multiphase digital control called digital integration constant on‐time (DICOT) control is proposed, which applies the concept of signal accumulation, solves the drawbacks of ripple‐based digital COT control that the switching frequency and transient performance are affected by the A/D sample delay and sampling noise. Besides, the multiphase interleaving approach of the proposed DICOT control is well‐suitable for digital control and no higher calculation frequency is required compared to single‐phase. In the aspect of the current balance, almost all existing researches work on analog COT current balance scheme and few works are investigating the resolution improvement of digital COT current balance. In this paper, the current balance model of multiphase COT control is derived and can be applied in the Buck system with an arbitrary number of phases, the delay‐line‐based high‐resolution COT current balance scheme is proposed to enhance the control resolution. Finally, the two‐phase DICOT control is tested on the multiphase Buck system, the transient performance is tested of 100 A load step with the slew rate of 1000 A/μs, and the voltage undershoot and overshoot are 20 and 36 mV, respectively. The current balance is tested and the errors are 0.01% and 0.11% at the light and heavy loads, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel four-wing chaotic system is constructed based on the Sprott-A system. The novel system contains three nonlinearly quadratic terms, which have rich dynamics such as four-wing hidden attractors, hidden extreme multistability and transient transitions. It is found that this system has high complexity by spectral entropy analysis. In addition, a corresponding hardware analog circuit is designed based on this system by operational amplifiers and multipliers. The experimental results agree with those of the theoretical analysis and confirm that this system is practically feasible. This system will have a good application value in secure communication and cryptography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving polarizability is an important strategy for designing high‐performance mid‐infrared (mid‐IR) nonlinear optical (NLO) materials. The substitution of equivalent or aliovalent atoms can manipulate the polarizability by adjusting the symmetry of the polyhedron. Herein, the Li+ and Cd2+ are introduced into the Cu3PS4 as the equivalent and aliovalent dopants for the Cu site. As a result, Li+ can significantly improve the bandgap (Eg) of LixCu3−xPS4 from 2.38 to 2.88 eV, leading to a higher laser‐induced damage threshold (LIDT) of 4.9 times than AgGaS2 (AGS) with a comparable second harmonic generation (SHG) response of AGS (26−45 µm). Interestingly, Cd2+ can improve the SHG response and enlarge the Eg simultaneously. As a result, Cd0.4Cu2.2PS4 has a large SHG response of 10 × AGS at 2050 nm (26−45 µm) and a LIDT of 2.6 × AGS. Theoretical calculations reveal that lattice vacancies induced by Cd2+ significantly boost polarizability compared to LixCu3−xPS4 with no vacancy, leading to a strong NLO response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Traumatic fractures occur frequently worldwide. However, research remains limited on the association between short-term exposure to temperature and traumatic fractures. This study aims to explore the impact of apparent temperature (AT) on emergency visits (EVs) due to traumatic fractures. Methods: Based on EVs data for traumatic fractures and the contemporary meteorological data, a generalized Poisson regression model along with a distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM) were undertaken to determine the impact of AT on traumatic fracture EVs. Subgroup analysis by gender and age and sensitivity analysis were also performed. Results: A total of 25,094 EVs for traumatic fractures were included in the study. We observed a wide "J"-shaped relationship between AT and risk of traumatic fractures, with AT above 9.5 °C positively associated with EVs due to traumatic fractures. The heat effects became significant at cumulative lag 0–11 days, and the relative risk (RR) for moderate heat (95th percentile, 35.7 °C) and extreme heat (99.5th percentile, 38.8 °C) effect was 1.311 (95% CI: 1.132–1.518) and 1.418 (95% CI: 1.191–1.688) at cumulative lag 0–14 days, respectively. The cold effects were consistently non-significant on single or cumulative lag days across 0–14 days. The heat effects were higher among male and those aged 18–65 years old. The sensitivity analysis results remained robust. Conclusion: Higher AT is associated with cumulative and delayed higher traumatic fracture EVs. The male and those aged 18–65 years are more susceptible to higher AT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effects of different pasteurization processes (85 °C for 20 min and 75 °C for 30 min) on the edible quality and shelf life of white cut chicken, the samples were stored at 0~4 °C for 0-30-40 d, and the pH, color, texture, volatile flavor substances, volatile salt base nitrogen (TVB-N), total number of colonies, and sensory quality were determined. Results indicated that the pH value of white cut chicken treated by pasteurization process was stable, the total colony count was lower, and the generation of TVB-N was lower. After comparing with the control group, neither of the two groups of different treatments of the pasteurization process would have a significant trending effect on the eating characteristics of white cut chicken such as color, hardness and chewiness, and the sensory scores were not significantly different from those of the control group (P>0.05). Meanwhile, this study compared the relative superiority of two different pasteurization processes and demonstrated that the process condition of 85 °C pasteurization treatment for 20 min had a significant effect on inhibiting microbial growth in the product, prolonging the shelf-life of the white cut chicken, and reducing the deterioration of the edible quality of the chicken meat during storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The l 2 regularization is usually used to deal with the problems of under-determinacy and measurement noise for the conventional sensitivity-based model updating damage detection methods. However, the l 2 regularization technique often provides overly smooth solutions and thus cannot exhibit the sparsity of the structural damage due to the promotion of the 2-norm term on smoothness. In the study, a structural damage detection method is proposed based on an improved modal flexibility sensitivity function and an iterative reweighted l p (IR l p) regularization. Specifically, the sensitivity function is established by introducing changes in the mode shapes into the derivative of eigenvalue and can be applied to identify the localized damage more accurately. Additionally, IR l p regularization is proposed to deal with the ill-posed problem of damage detection in a noisy environment. The proposed IR l p regularization is compared with the l 1 and l 2 regularizations through a numerical and an experimental examples. The numerical and experimental results indicate that the IR l p regularization can more accurately locate and quantify the single and multiple damages under the noise situation. The maximum identification errors are only 5.16% and 5.67%, respectively. Moreover, compared to the basic modal flexibility sensitivity function, the improved function is more sensitive to the damage. The maximum identification error of the improved function is less than 6%, while the relative errors are significantly larger in the basic function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an important interaction among organic cations containing aromatic rings, the π–π stacking interaction is a crucial factor determining the crystal structure of organic–inorganic hybrid metal halides (OIMHs). However, the relationship between π–π interaction and optical properties of luminescent OIMHs is yet to be studied. (C10H10N2)Cd1−xZnxCl4 (23-Cd1−xZnxCl4) crystals with 0D structures are synthesized by using optically active 2,3′-bipyridine as the organic ligand. When x ≤ 0.2, there is no π–π interaction among 2,3′-bipyridinium cations in 23-Cd1−xZnxCl4 crystals. When x > 0.2, π–π interaction among organic cations occurs and enhances as the Zn2+ content increases. The tailoring of the π–π interaction endows 23-Cd1−xZnxCl4 with tunable light emitting properties, resulting in a broad band emission involving blue and orange species. The blue emission dominates when there is no π–π interaction, while the orange emission enhances and finally becomes dominant as the strength of π–π interaction increases. The π–π interaction promotes the energy transfer from the higher energy valley to the lower one of the S1 state of the organic cation, resulting in the enhancement of orange emission. Notably, the 23-ZnCl crystal exhibits a photo-luminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 32%. This is the highest reported value to date among the Zn-based OIMHs, which have optical emission originating from the organic component. The mechanism of π–π stacking induced tunable light emission revealed in our work provides new guidance for the design of luminescent OIMHs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fabrication of SrFe 12 O 19 ferrite powders with good magnetic properties is a key process in the industrial production of permanent magnets. Remanence and coercivity of the powders was seriously decreased due to the generation of surface lattice defects produced during the crushing of pre-sintered ferrite powders. And the traditionally applied high-temperature annealing above 800 °C can only partially restore the magnetic properties. In this work, the effects of types, adding mode and contents of surfactant (hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide, triethanolamine) on the magnetic properties of crushed powders of the pre-sintered SrFe 12 O 19 ferrite under a low-temperature annealing of 400 °C process were systematically explored. The results showed that surfactants are beneficial to restore or even enhance the magnetic properties of the crushed powders compared with the pre-sintered ferrite due to the refinement of the particles and repairing the surface defects. The surfactant-assisted low-temperature annealing process proposed in this work will promote the commercial production of high performance ferrite powders and ferrite magnets, which can also effectively reduce the production energy consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we attempted to use melatonin combined with germination treatment to remove pesticide residues from contaminated grains. High levels of pesticide residues were detected in soybean seeds after soaking with chlorothalonil (10 mM) and malathion (1 mM) for 2 hours. Treatment with 50 μM melatonin for 5 days completely removed the pesticide residues, while in the control group, only 61–71% of pesticide residues were removed from soybean sprouts. Compared with the control, melatonin treatment for 7 days further increased the content of ascorbic acid (by 48–66%), total phenolics (by 52–68%), isoflavones (by 22–34%), the total antioxidant capacity (by 37–40%), and the accumulated levels of unsaturated fatty acids (C18:1, C18:2, and C18:3) (by 17–30%) in soybean sprouts. Moreover, melatonin treatment further increased the accumulation of ten components of phenols and isoflavones in soybean sprouts relative to those in the control. The ability of melatonin to accelerate the degradation of pesticide residues and promote the accumulation of antioxidant metabolites might be related to its ability to trigger the glutathione detoxification system in soybean sprouts. Melatonin promoted glutathione synthesis (by 49–139%) and elevated the activities of glutathione-S-transferase (by 24–78%) and glutathione reductase (by 38–61%). In summary, we report a new method in which combined treatment by melatonin and germination rapidly degrades pesticide residues in contaminated grains and improves the nutritional quality of food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To solve the challenges of low recognition accuracy, slow speed, and weak generalization ability inherent in traditional methods for multi‐damage recognition of concrete bridges, this paper proposed an efficient lightweight damage recognition model, constructed by improving the you only look once v4 (YOLOv4) with MobileNetv3 and fused inverted residual blocks, named YOLOMF. First, a novel lightweight network named MobileNetv3 with fused inverted residual (MobileNetv3‐FusedIR) is constructed as the backbone network for YOLOMF. This is achieved by integrating the fused mobile inverted bottleneck convolution (Fused‐MBConv) into the shallow layers of MobileNetv3. Second, the standard convolution in YOLOv4 is replaced with the depthwise separable convolution, resulting in a reduction in the number of parameters and complexity of the model. Third, the effects of different activation functions on the damage recognition performance of YOLOMF are thoroughly investigated. Finally, to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method in complex environments, a data enhancement library named Imgaug is used to simulate concrete bridge damage images under challenging conditions such as motion blur, fog, rain, snow, noise, and color variations. The results indicate that the YOLOMF shows excellent multi‐damage recognition proficiency for concrete bridges across varying field‐of‐view sizes as well as complex environmental conditions. The detection speed of YOLOMF reaches 85f/s, facilitating effective real‐time multi‐damage detection for concrete bridges under complex environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) functionalized with sparse surface chemical groups are promising for a variety of optical applications such as quantum information and bio-imaging. However, the luminescence efficiencies and stability, two key aspects, undoubtedly govern their practical usage. Herein, we assess the surface migration of oxygen and triazine groups on as-modified SWCNT fragments by adopting transition state theory and explore the de-excitation of oxygen-functionalized SWCNT fragments by performing non-adiabatic excited-state dynamics simulations. According to the predicted moderate or even small reaction barriers, the migration of both oxygen and triazine groups is feasible from an sp3 defect configuration forming an energetically more stable sp2 configuration at moderate or even room temperatures. Such isomerization leads to drastically different light emission capabilities as indicated by the large or zero oscillator strengths. During the dynamics simulations, the lowest excited singlet (S1) state rapidly decays in energy within 20 fs and then fluctuates until the end, providing insights into the emission mechanism of SWCNTs. This study highlights the potential intrinsic limitations of surface-functionalized SWCNTs for luminescence applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a class of emerging photoluminescent materials, hybrid halide crystals have drawn research attention for their potential application in the fields of light‐emitting, security, and waveguide. Nevertheless, hybrid halide crystals containing antimony with long‐term stability and tunable light emission are still increasingly in demand. In this work, serial new hybrid halide crystals (BZA)2ZnCl4·2H2O:xSb3+ (x = 0–0.2, x represents the reaction ratio) and (BZA)2SbCl5 are synthesized (BZA = 2,4‐diamino‐6‐phenyl‐1,3,5‐triazine). In (BZA)2ZnCl4·2H2O:xSb3+ crystals, Sb3+ cations replace partial Zn2+ cations to form [SbCl4]− tetrahedron. Red light emission caused by the substitution of Sb3+ for Zn2+ enhances as the doping rate increases, resulting in the tunable emission from light blue to pink and finally to dark red. There are two kinds of Sb3+ in (BZA)2SbCl5 crystal. Sb(1) has a sixfold coordination with Cl to form a [Sb(1)Cl5]∞ 1D zigzag chain. Sb(2) atom adopts a fivefold coordination with Cl and is separated from each other by BZA+ cations. (BZA)2SbCl5 crystal shows bright orange‐yellow light emission with a photoluminescence quantum yield of 45%. Moreover, the organic–inorganic hybrid metal halide crystals containing antimony have excellent long‐term stability, with phase and luminescence keeping nearly unchanged after more than six months in ambient air. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio) butanoic acid isopropyl ester (HMBi), a rumen protective methionine, has been extensively studied in dairy cows and beef cattle and has been shown to regulate gastrointestinal microbiota and improve production performance. However, knowledge of the application of HMBi on cashmere goats and the simultaneous study of rumen and hindgut microbiota is still limited. In this study, HMBi supplementation increased the concentration of total serum protein, the production of microbial protein in the rumen and feces, as well as butyrate production in the feces. The results of PCoA and PERMANOVA showed no significant difference between the rumen microbiota, but there was a dramatic difference between the fecal microbiota of the two groups of Cashmere goats after the HMBi supplementation. Specifically, in the rumen, HMBi significantly increased the relative abundance of some fiber-degrading bacteria (such as Fibrobacter) compared with the CON group. In the feces, as well as a similar effect as in the rumen (increasing the relative abundance of some fiber-degrading bacteria, such as Lachnospiraceae FCS020 group and ASV32), HMBi diets also increased the proliferation of butyrate-producing bacteria (including Oscillospiraceae UCG-005 and Christensenellaceae R-7 group). Overall, these results demonstrated that HMBi could regulate the rumen and fecal microbial composition of Liaoning cashmere goats and benefit the host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present eBiBa (enhanced BiBa), a hash-based signature scheme with the smallest possible signature size, while ensuring high feasibility and security in a specific application model. Our scheme is tailored to address the communication requirement of a large-scale public data stream continuously disseminated between two participants while ensuring data source and data integrity authentication. To achieve these goals, firstly, we optimized the classical hash tree mode into a hybrid mode to efficiently perform public key authentication and eliminate the need for an authenticated channel to transmit large amounts of data, unlike the initial BiBa-based broadcast authentication protocol. Secondly, we employed a specific tweakable hash chain function to digest a batch of messages, reducing the required conditions for post-quantum existential unforgeability under adaptive chosen message attack (EUCMA) of eBiBa to a second-pre-image-resistance-like property instead of collision resistance. This results in reduced pre-computation in both key and signature generations. Thirdly, we utilized a forward-secure pseudorandom function to achieve forward-secure of the proposed scheme. Finally, we minimize the signature size through a series of procedures. Firstly, we select BiBa few-time signature as the underlying signature scheme since it is currently the few-time hash-based signature with the smallest signature size that we are aware of; in addition, the hybrid approach we employed can also significantly reduce the signature size compared to using a hash tree solely; for the hash tree structure, we design a specific authentication path in combination with the related communication model to further minimize the signature size; finally, we optimize the authentication approach to achieve the minimum signature size in a single transmission. Our construction minimizes the signature size in the aforementioned model, achieving a compression rate of 0.017 to 0.828 based on distinct values of parameters, as compared to XMSS-256. We also demonstrated that eBiBa can achieve post-quantum forward-secure and EUCMA security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the paper, a novel four-wing chaotic system was constructed based on a Lorenz-like system. The novel chaotic system had rich dynamic characteristics such as four-wing attractors, widely chaotic regions, high SE complexity, and multiple transient transitions. Meanwhile, the weak chaotic attractors with single-wing and double-wing can be observed through changing the system parameters. NIST tests showed that the system had high complexity, which will have a good application value in secure communication and cryptography. In addition, a corresponding hardware analog circuit was designed based on the novel chaotic system with operational amplifiers and multipliers. The experimental results were agreed with the theoretical analysis, which verified that the novel chaotic system was practical feasibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) senses aberrant DNA during infection, cancer and inflammatory disease, and initiates potent innate immune responses through the synthesis of 2′3′-cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP)1–7. The indiscriminate activity of cGAS towards DNA demands tight regulatory mechanisms that are necessary to maintain cell and tissue homeostasis under normal conditions. Inside the cell nucleus, anchoring to nucleosomes and competition with chromatin architectural proteins jointly prohibit cGAS activation by genomic DNA8–15. However, the fate of nuclear cGAS and its role in cell physiology remains unclear. Here we show that the ubiquitin proteasomal system (UPS) degrades nuclear cGAS in cycling cells. We identify SPSB3 as the cGAS-targeting substrate receptor that associates with the cullin–RING ubiquitin ligase 5 (CRL5) complex to ligate ubiquitin onto nuclear cGAS. A cryo-electron microscopy structure of nucleosome-bound cGAS in a complex with SPSB3 reveals a highly conserved Asn-Asn (NN) minimal degron motif at the C terminus of cGAS that directs SPSB3 recruitment, ubiquitylation and cGAS protein stability. Interference with SPSB3-regulated nuclear cGAS degradation primes cells for type I interferon signalling, conferring heightened protection against infection by DNA viruses. Our research defines protein degradation as a determinant of cGAS regulation in the nucleus and provides structural insights into an element of cGAS that is amenable to therapeutic exploitation.The ubiquitin proteasomal system degrades nuclear cGAS in cycling cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To analyze the changes of spoilage bacteria on the carcasses of broiler during the slaughtering of yellow feather broiler, the diversity of spoilage bacteria in the processing environment and on the carcass surface during the efficient slaughter of yellow feather broiler was determined by the plate pouring method and Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing. The results showed that the main contamination procedure for the growth of bacteria of yellow feather broilers was eviscerating, pre-cooling and grading procedure, and the grading scale, in which the grading scale, workers' gloves from grading workshop, pre-cooling tank and workers' gloves from eviscerating manual gloves were contamination sources in the three processes aforementioned. Moreover, grading scale and workers' gloves in the decomposition workshop were the main source of contaminated flora of yellow feather broilers carcasses. The growth rate of total viable counts (TVC) and Pseudomonas on the surface of yellow feather broilers carcasses was as high as 24.13% and 41.27%, respectively. The TVC of yellow feather broilers increased to 4.63 lg(CFU/g) after grading scale and grading workshop worker's hands (P<0.05). Streptococcus, Escherichia and Aeromonas were the main dominant bacteria in yellow feather broilers carcasses after plucking (DM), evisceration (JH) and disinfection (CH). The abundance of Aeromonas increased substantially in yellow feather broilers after pre-cooling, followed by Streptococcus. After the grading scale, Acinetobacter was the dominant bacterium in the yellow feather broilers carcasses, followed by Macrococcus. As the abundance of Aeromonas and Streptococcus decreased significantly on the carcasses of yellow feather broilers treated with slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW), it indicated that the disinfecting effect of SAEW was obvious. The results of the present investigation could provide data support and theoretical reference for environmental control, product quality maintenance and shelf-life extension in yellow feather broilers slaughterhouse by analyzing the microbial distribution during the slaughter of yellow feather broilers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Excessive influx of manganese (Mn) into the brain across the blood–brain barrier induces neurodegeneration. CYP1B1 is involved in the metabolism of arachidonic acid (AA) that affects vascular homeostasis. We aimed to investigate the effect of brain CYP1B1 on Mn‐induced neurotoxicity. Method: Brain Mn concentrations and α‐synuclein accumulation were measured in wild‐type and CYP1B1 knockout mice treated with MnCl2 (30 mg/kg) and biotin (0.2 g/kg) for 21 continuous days. Tight junctions and oxidative stress were analyzed in hCMEC/D3 and SH‐SY5Y cells after the treatment with MnCl2 (200 μM) and CYP1B1‐derived AA metabolites (HETEs and EETs). Results: Mn exposure inhibited brain CYP1B1, and CYP1B1 deficiency increased brain Mn concentrations and accelerated α‐synuclein deposition in the striatum. CYP1B1 deficiency disrupted the integrity of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and increased the ratio of 3, 4‐dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) to dopamine in the striatum. HETEs attenuated Mn‐induced inhibition of tight junctions by activating PPARγ in endothelial cells. Additionally, EETs attenuated Mn‐induced up‐regulation of the KLF/MAO‐B axis and down‐regulation of NRF2 in neuronal cells. Biotin up‐regulated brain CYP1B1 and reduced Mn‐induced neurotoxicity in mice. Conclusions: Brain CYP1B1 plays a critical role in both cerebrovascular and dopamine homeostasis, which might serve as a novel therapeutic target for the prevention of Mn‐induced neurotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CO2 fixation plays a key role to make biobased production cost competitive. Here, we use 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP) to showcase how CO2 fixation enables approaching theoretical-yield production. Using genome-scale metabolic models to calculate the production envelope, we demonstrate that the provision of bicarbonate, formed from CO2, restricts previous attempts for high yield production of 3-HP. We thus develop multiple strategies for bicarbonate uptake, including the identification of Sul1 as a potential bicarbonate transporter, domain swapping of malonyl-CoA reductase, identification of Esbp6 as a potential 3-HP exporter, and deletion of Uga1 to prevent 3-HP degradation. The combined rational engineering increases 3-HP production from 0.14 g/L to 11.25 g/L in shake flask using 20 g/L glucose, approaching the maximum theoretical yield with concurrent biomass formation. The engineered yeast forms the basis for commercialization of bio-acrylic acid, while our CO2 fixation strategies pave the way for CO2 being used as the sole carbon source. CO2 fixation plays an important role to make bioproduction cost competitive. Here, the authors take 3-hydroxypropionic acid as an example to showcase how to achieve high carbon yield production through increasing the accessible bicarbonate, minimizing native CO2 release and avoiding carbon waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulforaphane (SFN) is a natural isothiocyanate compound widely abundant in cruciferous vegetables with multiple bioactive functions. However, traditional analytical methods for the extraction and determination of SFN are cumbersome, time-consuming, and low sensitivity with large amounts of organic solvents. Herein, novel magnetic COF-on-COFs (MB-COFs) were fabricated using Fe3O4 as a magnetic core and COFs-1 grown with COFs-2 as a shell, and they were used as efficient adsorbents of magnetic dispersive solid-phase extraction for rapid quantification of SFN in cruciferous vegetables by combining with HPLC-MS/MS. At the optimal ratio of COFs-1 to COFs-2, MB-COFs had a spherical cluster-like structure and a rough surface, with a sufficient magnetic response for rapid magnetic separation (1 min). Due to the introduction of Fe3O4 and COFs-2, MB-COFs exhibited outstanding extraction efficiencies for SFN (92.5–97.3%), which was about 18–72% higher than that of the bare COFs. Moreover, MB-COFs showed good adsorption capacity (Qm of 18.0 mg/g), rapid adsorption (5 min) and desorption (30 s) to SFN, and favorable reusability (≥7 cycles) by virtue of their unique hierarchical porous structure. The adsorption kinetic data were well fitted by the pseudo-second-order, Ritchie-second-order, intra-particle diffusion, and Elovich models, while the adsorption isotherm data were highly consistent with the Langmuir, Temkin, and Redlich–Peterson models. Finally, under the optimized conditions, the developed method showed a wide linear range (0.001–0.5 mg/L), high sensitivity (limits of quantification of 0.18–0.31 μg/L), satisfactory recoveries (82.2–96.2%) and precisions (1.8–7.9%), and a negligible matrix effect (0.82–0.97). Compared to previous methods, the proposed method is faster and more sensitive and significantly reduces the use of organic solvents, which can achieve the efficient detection of large-scale samples in practical scenarios. This work reveals the high practical potential of MB-COFs as adsorbents for efficient extraction and sensitive analysis of SFN in cruciferous vegetables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have attracted tremendous attention due to their superparamagnetic properties, large specific surface area, high biocompatibility, non–toxicity, large–scale production, and recyclability. More importantly, numerous hydroxyl groups (–OH) on the surface of Fe3O4 MNPs can provide coupling sites for various modifiers, forming versatile nanocomposites for applications in the energy, biomedicine, and environmental fields. With the development of science and technology, the potential of nanotechnology in the food industry has also gradually become prominent. However, the application of composite Fe3O4 MNPs in the food industry has not been systematically summarized. Herein, this article reviews composite Fe3O4 MNPs, including their properties, modifications, and physical functions, as well as their applications in the entire food industry from production to processing, storage, and detection. This review lays a solid foundation for promoting food innovation and improving food quality and safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposed a model of a porous media-assisted flat-plate solar collector (FPSC) using nanofluid flow. The heightened thermal efficiency of FPSC undergoes numerical scrutiny, incorporating various factors for analysis, including aspects like the configuration of the porous block introduced, Darcy number (Da = 10−5~10−2), types of nanoparticles, volume fraction (φ), and mixing ratio (φc). The numerical findings indicate that the dominant factor in the channel is the global Nusselt number (Nug). As the Darcy number rises, there is an improvement in the heat transfer performance within the channel. Simultaneously, for the case of Re = 234, φ = 3%, and φc = 100%, the Nug in the channel reaches a maximum value of 6.80, and the thermal efficiency can be increased to 70.5% with the insertion of rectangular porous blocks of Da = 10−2. Finally, the performance evaluation criteria (PEC) are employed for a comprehensive assessment of the thermal performance of FPSC. This analysis considers both the improved heat transfer and the pressure drop in the collector channel. The FPSC registered a maximum PEC value of 1.8 when rectangular porous blocks were inserted under conditions of Da = 10−2 and Re = 234 and the nanofluid concentrations of φ = 3% and φc = 100%. The findings can be provided to technically support the future commercial applications of FPSC. The findings may serve as a technical foundation for FPSC in upcoming porous media and support commercial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of rapid and continuous mutations of severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) spike glycoprotein that increased with the Omicron variant points out the necessity to anticipate such mutations for conceiving specific and adaptable therapies to avoid another pandemic. The crucial target for the antibody treatment and vaccine design is the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS‐CoV‐2 spike. It is also the site where the virus has shown its high ability to mutate and consequently escape immune response. We developed a robust and simple method for generating a large number of functional SARS‐CoV‐2 spike RBD mutants by error‐prone PCR and a novel nonreplicative lentivirus‐based system. We prepared anti‐RBD wild type (WT) polyclonal antibodies and used them to screen and select for mutant libraries that escape inhibition of virion entry into recipient cells expressing human angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 and transmembrane serine protease 2. We isolated, cloned, and sequenced six mutants totally bearing nine mutation sites. Eight mutations were found in successive WT variants, including Omicron and other recombinants, whereas one is novel. These results, together with the detailed functional analyses of two mutants provided the proof of concept for our approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Carbon spheres decorated with SnS 2 nanosheets were assembled using common reagents and a simple solvothermal method. • SnS 2 @CS composite was used as counter electrode for DSSC. • The DSSC using SnS 2 @CS composite CE yielded a high average PCE value of 7.12%. In order to utilize the synergistic effect of SnS 2 and CS and further improve the electrochemical performance of SnS 2 , We prepared monodisperse SnS 2 @CS composite using common reagents and a simple solvothermal method, and studied its electrochemical performance as counter electrode (CE) of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). During the preparation process, glucose was used as the carbon source, thioacetamide as the reducing agent and sulfur source, and SnS 2 @CS composite with a shell structure was finally obtained. The results indicate that, compared to SnS 2 , the electrocatalytic performance of SnS 2 @CS composite has significantly improved. The DSSC using SnS 2 @CS composite CE yielded a high average PCE value of 7.12%, which is significantly higher than that of DSSC based on SnS 2 ′s CE (just 5.59%). The enhanced performance is mainly attributed to the addition of carbon spheres, which can improve the conductivity and increase the number of active catalytic sites on the SnS 2 @CS CE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• TLR2 signalling pathway can regulate acute rejection of heart transplantation. • TLR2 signalling pathway can regulate the production of alloreactive γδT17 cells. • TLR2 signalling pathway regulates the production of γδT17 cells by regulating the function of DCs to secrete IL-1β. Homograft rejection is the main cause of heart transplantation failure. The role of TLR2, a major member of the toll-like receptor (TLR) family, in transplantation rejection is has yet to be elucidated. In this study, we used a mouse model of acute cardiac transplantation rejection to investigate whether the TLR2 signalling pathway can regulate cardiac transplantation rejection by regulating alloreactive IL-17+γδT (γδT17) cells. We found that the expression of TLR2 on the surface of dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages increased during acute transplantation rejection. In addition, our investigation revealed that γδT17 cells exert a significant influence on acute cardiac transplantation rejection. TLR2 gene knockout resulted in an increase in alloreactive γδT17 cells in the spleen and heart grafts of recipient mice compared with wild-type recipient mice and an increase in the mRNA expression of IL-17, IL-1β, CCR6, and CCL20 in the heart grafts. In an in vitro experiment, a mixed lymphocyte reaction was conducted to assess the impact of TLR2 deficiency on the generation of γδT17 cells, which further substantiated a significant increase compared to that in wild-type controls. Furthermore, the mixed lymphocyte reaction showed that TLR2 regulated the production of γδT17 cells by regulating the ability of DCs to secrete IL-1β. These results suggest that TLR2 signalling is important for regulating the generation of γδT17 cells after cardiac allograft transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving polarizability is an important strategy for designing high‐performance mid‐infrared (mid‐IR) nonlinear optical (NLO) materials. The substitution of equivalent or aliovalent atoms can manipulate the polarizability by adjusting the symmetry of the polyhedron. Herein, the Li+ and Cd2+ are introduced into the Cu3PS4 as the equivalent and aliovalent dopants for the Cu site. As a result, Li+ can significantly improve the bandgap (Eg) of LixCu3−xPS4 from 2.38 to 2.88 eV, leading to a higher laser‐induced damage threshold (LIDT) of 4.9 times than AgGaS2 (AGS) with a comparable second harmonic generation (SHG) response of AGS (26−45 µm). Interestingly, Cd2+ can improve the SHG response and enlarge the Eg simultaneously. As a result, Cd0.4Cu2.2PS4 has a large SHG response of 10 × AGS at 2050 nm (26−45 µm) and a LIDT of 2.6 × AGS. Theoretical calculations reveal that lattice vacancies induced by Cd2+ significantly boost polarizability compared to LixCu3−xPS4 with no vacancy, leading to a strong NLO response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxychloride phosphors that contain active ions coordinated with both oxygen and chloride ions have garnered significant attention, but the application of oxychloride phosphors is yet limited because of their demanding synthesis condition of vacuum or reducing atmosphere. Herein, we synthesize a new serial oxychlorides of La 9 W 6 O 30 Cl (LWOC) and Er3+/Yb3+, Ho3+/Yb3+, Tm3+/Yb3+ doped LWOC through molten salt shielding method (MSS) in air, which is more efficient compared to the traditional method in vacuum. The compound of LWOC crystallizes in the tetragonal system space group P 4 2 / nmc (No. 137) with cell parameters a = b = 10.0445(1) Å, c = 12.6826(4) Å, V = 1279.57(5) Å3 and Z = 11. The asymmetric unit of LWOC includes three La atoms, one unique W atom, two disordered W atoms with occupancy factors of 0.16(5) and 0.84(5), respectively, one Cl atom and six O atoms. Under the excitation of 980 nm laser, all the Er3+/Yb3+, Ho3+/Yb3+ and Tm3+/Yb3+ co-doped LWOC phosphors have excellent upconversion (UC) luminescence with bright visible light emission. A fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) type temperature sensor is developed by using LWOC: Er3+, Yb3+ phosphor as sensing media, which has a maximum relative temperature sensitivity (S r) of 0.90 % K−1 at 300 K. • Oxychloride crystals were synthesized in air by molten salt shielding (MSS) method for the first time. • The effect of oxygen defect on crystal color is explained. • An optical temperature sensing device that can work in real environment is prepared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a cellular energy sensor regulating metabolic homeostasis. In this study, we investigated the role of AMPK in response to human herpesvirus 6A (HHV-6A) infection. We show that HHV-6A infection significantly downregulates the active phosphorylated state of AMPK in infected T cells. Pharmacological activation of AMPK highly attenuated HHV-6A propagation. Mechanistically, we found that the activation of AMPK by AICAR blocked HHV-6-induced glycolysis by inhibiting glucose metabolism and lactate secretion, as well as decreasing expressions of key glucose transporters and glycolytic enzymes. In addition, mTOR signaling has been inactivated in HHV-6A infected T cells by AICAR treatment. We also showed that HHV-6A infection of human umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMCs) reduced AMPK activity whereas the activation of AMPK by metformin drastically reduced HHV-6A DNA replication and virions production. Taken together, this study demonstrates that AMPK is a promising antiviral therapeutic target against HHV-6A infection. • HHV-6A infection inhibits AMPK activity in infected T cells. • Pharmacological activation of AMPK reduces HHV-6A replication. • Activation of AMPK by AICAR blocks HHV-6-induced glycolysis and mTOR signaling. • AMPK is a promising antiviral therapeutic target against HHV-6A infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional agricultural practices in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain have led to a decrease in groundwater level, coupled with frequent extreme rainfall in recent years, has seriously threatened grain production and sustainability. The objective of this study is to evaluate water footprint, groundwater table, and system productivity through a three-year field experiment that focuses on transitioning from the conventional winter wheat-maize (WM) to winter wheat-soybean (WS) system, while integrating suitable irrigation strategies. Micro-sprinkling irrigation strategies were applied during the winter wheat season, when the soil water content (SWC) of the 40 cm soil layer dropped to 40% of its field capacity (FC). Specifically, W4 treatment irrigated until SWC reached 60% FC at a depth of 40 cm, while the W6 treatment irrigated to SWC reaching 80% FC at a 60 cm depth. In contrast, a rain-fed (W0) treatment served as the control. Field water consumption was simulated using the Water Heat Carbon Nitrogen Simulator (WHCNS) model. The results revealed that the WS system exhibited less variability in evapotranspiration (ETc) compared to WM system, with reductions ranging from 23.6% to 29.1%. Furthermore, the WS system contributed substantially to elevating the groundwater table by 58.4–146.4% while maintaining a higher and more stable annual wheat equivalent yield (WEY) compared to the WM system. The W4 treatment saved 97.9–98.2 mm of irrigation water compared to the W6 treatment, improved water productivity by 10.7–32.1%, and reduced the water footprint by 14.3–25.1%. Transitioning from the traditional WM cropping system to the WS system, and adapting an appropriate irrigation regime (W4) can counterbalance extreme weather impacts on crop yields. This study provides valuable insights into sustainable farming practices, and it may provide a practical framework for striking a balance between groundwater conservation and food security. [Display omitted] • Traditional farming practices declining groundwater, challenges for food production. • Winter wheat-soybean (WS) pattern increase system yield and water productivity. • WS pattern reduced water consumption and water footprint by 27.97% and 41.58%. • WS pattern with W4 irrigation gradient can relieve groundwater depletion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlling particle size presented challenges during cold pavement reclaiming machine operation. The entire milling rotor was investigated to overcome the limitations of single-tool research. Firstly, the discrete element method was employed to construct a model of milling particles and old-asphalt-pavement. Secondly, a multi-cutter rotor milling pavement model was established through complete factorial testing, exploring the influence of operating parameters on performance and particle size. Finally, a cold pavement reclaiming machine performance prediction system was developed. Results demonstrated that matched moving and rotor speeds effectively regulated particle size. For instance, at a milling depth of 80 mm, setting the rotor speed to 2.5 r/s and moving speed to 0.25 m/s was recommended. Furthermore, the prediction system precisely estimated particle bonding ratio, mixing flow rate, and average torque, with average prediction errors of 6.1%, 3.5%, and 9.4%, respectively. It effectively forecasted particle size when particle bonding ratio ranged from 10% to 25%. [Display omitted] • A project-consistent constitutive model for old asphalt pavement was developed. • A pavement model featuring a multi-cutter milling rotor was established. • The correlation between particle size and CPRM operational parameters was explored. • The optimal operational parameters for CPRM were determined. • Better particle size was achieved within the particle bonding ratio range of 10–25%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel biomineralized covalent organic framework material (BM-COF) was prepared. • Sulforaphane was separated by magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE) with BM-COFs. • BM-COFs were successfully applied to the enrichment and extraction of sulforaphane from cruciferous vegetables. • This method has the advantages of simple, efficient and eco-friendly. • The content of sulforaphane was analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS. A novel biomimetic mineralized covalent organic framework (BM-COF) was prepared based on magnetic silk fibroin and a new sulforaphane pretreatment technology was constructed. First, metal coordination was performed on the surface of silk fibroin, and nanoparticles were deposited by in-situ mineralization after co-precipitation. Then, biomineralized COFs were prepared by in-situ self-assembly of a COF layer on Fe 3 O 4 @silk fibroin surface guided by interfacial directional growth technology. The BM-COFs had a multilayer structure, large specific surface area and pore volume, and superparamagnetic properties, which make them an ideal adsorbent. The adsorption of sulforaphane by BM-COFs is mainly multi-molecular layer adsorption and chemisorption, there might be electrostatic action, π-stacking and hydrogen bonding in the adsorption process. The composite material was successfully used for the pretreatment of sulforaphane in cruciferous vegetables. An extraction time of 30 min gave extraction efficiencies as high as 92%, and the recovery could reach more than 73%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) senses calcium ion concentrations in vivo and is an important class of drug targets. Mutations in the receptor can lead to disorders of calcium homeostasis, including hypercalcemia and hypocalcemia. Here, 127 CaSR-targeted nanobodies were generated from camels, and four nanobodies with inhibitory function were further identified. Among these nanobodies, NB32 can effectively inhibit the mobilization of intracellular calcium ions (Ca2+ i) and suppress the G 12/13 and ERK 1/2 signaling pathways downstream of CaSR. Moreover, it enhanced the inhibitory effect of the calcilytics as a negative allosteric modulator (NAM). We determined the structure of complex and found NB32 bound to LB2 (Ligand-binding 2) domain of CaSR to prevent the interaction of LB2 domains of two protomers to stabilize the inactive state of CaSR. • 127 CaSR-targeting nanobodies were screened from camels. • NB32 effectively inhibit the mobilization of intracellular calcium ions. • NB32 enhanced the inhibitory effect of the calcilytics as a negative allosteric modulator (NAM). • Cryo-EM revealed that NB32 binds to the LB2 domain of CaSR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]