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To address the problems of low accuracy, poor stability and weak generalization ability used in the traditional model when solving the problem of imbalanced data classification, a sequential three-way derision multi-granulation ensemble classification algorithm is proposed. A binary relationship is adopted to realize the dynamic division of the granular layer. The threshold value is calculated according to the cost matrix and a multilayer granular structure is constructed. The data of each granular layer is divided into a positive domain, a boundary domain, and a negative domain, and the derision on each granular layer is recombined according to positive and negative domains, positive and boundary domains, and negative and boundary domains to form a new data subset. A base is built on each data subset to achieve the ensemble classification of imbalanced data. Simulation results show that the algorithm can effectively reduce the imbalance ratio of data subsets and improve the difference of the base classify in ensemble earning. Under the two evaluation indexes of G-rriean and F-measure-i, the classification performance is better or partially better than other ensemble classification algorithms. The new algorithm effectively improves the classification accuracy and stability of the classification model, and provides new research thoughts for ensemble earning of imbalanced data sets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • PTSD-like behavioral deficits were induced by single prolonged stress. • Estazolam produced the anti-PTSD-like effects. • Estazolam promoted biosynthesis of allopregnanolone. • The anti-PTSD-like effects of estazolam were associated with allopregnanolone. Abstract Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious psychiatric disorder. Estazolam has been shown to produce anxiolytic-, hypnotic-, amnestic-, and sedative-like effects. However, few studies are concerned about its anti-PTSD-like effects. The anti-PTSD-like effects of estazolam were evaluated by single prolonged stress animal model. After exposure to single prolonged stress, rats (Sprague-Dawley, male, 8 weeks) were administered by estazolam (0.5, 1 and 2 mg/kg, i.p.) from day 2 to 13 once daily. The behavioral assessments were performed during treatment with drugs. After the behavioral evaluation, the role of allopregnanolone in the anti-PTSD-like effects of estazolam was also evaluated via astrocyte cells and brain tissues (e.g. prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala). The PTSD-like behavioral deficits were significantly blocked by estazolam (1 and 2 mg/kg, i.p.) without affecting locomotor activity. Consistently, the levels on allopregnanolone were increased by estazolam (1 and 2 mg/kg, i.p.) in prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala. The levels of allopregnanolone were increased by sertraline (1 µmoL/L) and estazolam (4 µmoL/L), while the effects were antagonized by trilostane (1 µmoL/L) and finasteride (1 µmoL/L) in astrocyte cells, respectively. Collectively, the anxiety-like behavior deficits were ameliorated by estazolam in the single prolonged stress animal model that was associated with biosynthesis of allopregnanolone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SIFT is one of the most robust and widely used image matching algorithms based on local features. However, the computational and matching complexity of the descriptor with 128 dimensions Is too high. In order to speed up image matching, an image matching algorithm Is proposed. Firstly, measures such as constructing scale spaces, detecting extrema and confirming key-points are carried out to create the key feature points. Secondly, the key feature points are described by the rotation-invariant LTP which Is formed by the patches around the key-points, and by the relative grayscale histogram. Lastly, rotation invariant descriptors are formed, and the city-block distance Is adopted for image matching. Experimental results prove that the robust method improves the matching speed and matching precision even under the condition of illumination transformation, scale transformation, and rotation transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The removal of Cr (VI) from aqueous solutions using black carbon (BC) isolated from the burning residues of wheat straw was investigated as a function of pH, contact time, reaction temperature, supporting electrolyte concentration and analytical initial Cr (VI) concentration in batch studies. The effect of surface properties on the adsorption behavior of Cr (VI) was investigated with scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with the energy dispersive X-ray spectroscope (EDS) and Fourier transform-infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The removal mechanism of Cr (VI) onto the BC was investigated and the result showed that the adsorption reaction consumed a large amount of protons along the reduction of Cr (VI) to Cr (III). The oxidation of the BC took place concurrently to the chromium reduction and led to the formation of hydroxyl and carboxyl functions. An initial solution pH of 1.0 was most favorable for Cr (VI) removal. The adsorption process followed the pseudo-second order equation and Freundlich isotherm very well. The Cr (VI) adsorption was temperature-dependent and almost independent on the sodium chloride concentrations. The maximum adsorption capacity for Cr (VI) was found at 21.34mg/g in an acidic medium, which is comparable to other low-cost adsorbents. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Tetrahexahedral copper nanocrystals with high-index facets were prepared for the first time. • The Cu nanocrystals were enclosed with {5 2 0} high-index facets. • Tetrahexahedral Cu nanocrystals exhibited high performance in electroreduction of nitrate to ammonia. • The Faradaic efficiency reached 98.3% and the yield rate of ammonia was up to 9.13 mmol h−1 cm−2. Here we successfully synthesized tetrahexahedral copper nanocrystals enclosed with {5 2 0} high-index facets (THH Cu{5 2 0}) by electrochemical square-wave potential method without the utilization of additional capping agents. The THH Cu{5 2 0} exhibited outstanding performance in electroreduction of nitrate to ammonia, achieving a high Faradaic efficiency of 98.3% and a yield rate of up to 9.13 mmol h−1 cm−2 at −0.90 V (vs. RHE) in neutral solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The present paper is in two-fold. The first fold is devoted to the existence theory of equilibria for generalized abstract economy with a lower semicontinuous constraint correspondence and a fuzzy constraint correspondence defined on a noncompact/nonparacompact strategy set. In the second fold, we consider systems of generalized vector quasi-equilibrium problems for multivalued maps (for short, SGVQEPs) which contain systems of vector quasi-equilibrium problems, systems of generalized mixed vector quasi-variational inequalities and Debreu-type equilibrium problems for vector valued functions as special cases. By using the results of first fold, we establish some existence results for solutions of SGVQEPs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Tungsten-substituted mesoporous SBA-15 materials have been synthesized by using a direct co-condensation sol–gel method. These resultant materials have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), 29Si MAS NMR and UV–Visible spectroscopy. Results of these analysis indicated that these materials had high surface area, uniform hexagonal channels and thick framework walls which were similar to that of SBA-15 and the tungsten species were highly dispersed in the silica-based framework structure. The tungsten-substituted mesoporous SBA-15 materials were used as catalysts for 1-butene metathesis for the first time, and they showed excellent catalytic performance. Such outstanding catalytic performance should be attributed to the proper content of tungsten species and its high dispersion. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Plant viruses in the genus Curtovirus (family Geminiviridae) are vectored by the beet leafhopper (Circulifer tenellus) and cause curly top disease in a wide range of dicotyledonous plants. An infectious clone of an isolate of Beet mild curly top virus (BMCTV-[W4]), associated with an outbreak of curly top in pepper and tomato crops, was characterized and used to investigate the role of the capsid protein (CP) in viral biology and pathogenesis. Frameshift mutations were introduced into the overlapping CP and V2 genes, and a series of CP alanine scanning mutations were generated. All mutants replicated in tobacco protoplasts or systemically infected plants, consistent with these gene products not being required for viral DNA replication. The CP frameshift mutant and most C-terminal alanine scanning mutants did not systemically infect Nicotiana benthamiana plants or form detectable virions, and were not leafhopper-transmitted. In contrast, most N-terminal alanine scanning mutants systemically infected N. benthamiana and induced disease symptoms, formed virions and were leafhopper-transmissible; thus, these substitution mutations did not significantly alter the functional properties of this region. One N-terminal mutant (CP49-51) systemically infected N. benthamiana, but did not form detectable virions; whereas another (CP25-28) systemically infected N. benthamiana and formed virions, but was not insect-transmissible. These mutants may reveal regions involved in virus movement through the plant and/or leafhopper vector. Together, these results indicate an important role for virions in systemic infection (long-distance movement) and insect transmission, and strongly suggest that virions are the form in which BMCTV moves, long distance, in the phloem. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In the western United States, curly top disease (CTD) is caused by beet curly top virus (BCTV). In California, CTD causes economic loss to processing tomato production in central and southern areas but, historically, not in the north. Here, we document unusual CTD outbreaks in processing tomato fields in the northern production area in 2021 and 2022, and show that these were caused by the rare spinach curly top strain (BCTV-SpCT). These outbreaks were associated with proximity of fields to foothills and unusually hot, dry, and windy spring weather conditions, possibly by altering migrations of the beet leafhopper (BLH) vector from locations with BCTV-SpCT reservoirs. Support for this hypothesis came from the failure to observe CTD outbreaks and BLH migrations in 2023, when spring weather conditions were cool and wet. Our results show the climate-induced emergence of a rare plant virus strain to cause an economically important disease in a new crop and location. • Curly top disease (CTD) in the western US is caused by beet curly top virus (BCTV). • CTD affects processing tomato production economically in central and southern California, historically sparing the north. • Unprecedented CTD emerged in northern California in 2021 and 2022, involving a rare BCTV spinach curly top strain. • The lack of CTD in 2023 with cool, wet spring weather conditions highlight climate's role in virus emergence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The class imbalance problem is one of the main challenges that hinders classifiers from identifying unknown instances. When class distribution imbalance and class overlap coexist in the same data set, the recognition of minority instances by traditional classifiers will be seriously affected. In the binary classification problem, the relationship between the majority class and the minority class is clear, and the overlap problem between classes can be well solved by removing the majority instances in the class-overlap area. However, for multi-class imbalance problems, the relationships between classes will become complex. Clustering techniques are effective methods for identifying overlapping instances; however, a single clustering method cannot effectively identify clusters of different shapes. Therefore, in this paper, a H eterogeneous C lustering E nsemble learning method for M ultiple C lass-overlap D etection (HCE-MCD) is proposed for multi-class imbalance problems. This method uses a genetic algorithm to select a combination of heterogeneous clustering techniques with the best fitness function from a pool of clustering algorithms and uses majority voting to fuse the results of the clustering algorithm. Furthermore, instances located near the decision boundary are more likely to be overlapping instances. Therefore, according to the clustering results of the heterogeneous clustering ensemble method, we can identify the overlapping instances existing in the data set, thereby eliminating the class overlap problem in the multi-class dataset. Experimental results on 19 open-access datasets show that our proposed method outperforms or partially outperforms state-of-the-art research protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Comparison of chelating agent and surfactant as surface impregnation agents. [•] Mechanisms of EDTA and SDS impregnation proposed. [•] Batch and column tests for lead adsorption and chemical regeneration were studied. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Chemotherapy for brain cancer tumors remains a big challenge for clinical medicine due to the inability to transport sufficient drug across the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and the poor penetration of drug into the tumors. To effectively treat brain tumors and reduce side effects on normal tissues, both des-octanoyl ghrelin and folate conjugated with polymersomal doxorubicin (GFP-D) was developed in this study to help transport across the BBB and target the tumor as well. The size measurements revealed that this BBB-penetrating cancer cell-targeting GFP-D was about 85 nm. In-vitro experiments with a BBB model and C6 glioma cells demonstrated that GFP-D owned a robust penetrating-targeting function for drug delivery. In C6 cell viability tests, GFP-D exhibited an inhibitory effect significantly different from the unmodified polymersomal doxorubicin (P-D). In-vivo antitumor experiments showed that GFP-D performed a much better anti-glioma effect and presented a significant improvement in the overall survival of the tumor-bearing mice as compared to the treatments with free doxorubicin (Dox), liposomal doxorubicin (L-D), P-D, or single ligand conjugated P-D. In addition, Cy5.5 was used as a probe to investigate the delivery property of this penetrating-targeting delivery system. The overall experimental results indicate that this BBB-penetrating cancer cell-targeting GFP is a highly potential nanocarrier for the treatment of brain tumors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Hypericum perforatum L. (HPL) has been used as a beneficial herb on menopause related syndromes for many years due to its antioxidant activity by inhibiting lipid oxidation. The major bioactive gradients of HPL are flavonoids. To date, extensive researches have been focused on its antioxidant effects, however, their exact antioxidant properties remain unclear. For this purpose, this study monitored the antioxidant ability of four common and representative HPL flavonols (rutin, hyperoside, quercitrin and quercetin) to interfere with the reaction of 2, 2′-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) free radical (ABTS+) based on the kinetic spectrophotometric free radical processing measurement method. In addition, to characterize the antioxidant reaction paths, the above-mentioned products were identified by high performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization/mass spectrometer triple quad (HPLC–ESI/MS QQQ) analysis, which was superior to gas chromatography–mass spectrometer (GC–MS) in that no derivation resulted. After the adduct products were identified in the MS2 scan mode, a multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) based LC–MS method for the ABTS+ scavenging determination was developed and validated. The results of free radical scavenging kinetic evaluation showed that the ABTS+ scavenging process of the four flavonols was relatively slow and steady. The degradation products of reactions between flavonols and ABTS+ were mainly a combination of flavonols with the ABTS molecule by reducing 3-ethyl-6-benzothiazolinone imine. Flavonols substituted by glycosides tended to follow a RDA cleavage fragmentation path. With a good linearity regression coefficient (r2 =0.995) and a good accuracy of 96.5–106.2%, the free radical scavenging ability of rutin, hyperoside, quercitrin and quercetin was 19.0%, 36.1%, 40.2% and 39.5%, respectively. The kinetic scavenging features and specific fragment features deduced here of the four flavonols in vitro could shed light on HPL's antioxidant properties. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The effective protection of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) from tight junctions and efflux transport systems ultimately results in the limited entry of 95% of drug/gene candidates, which are potentially beneficial for central nervous system (CNS) diseases. In order to enhance the brain-specific delivery, in this study we developed a targeting carrier system, which consists of poly(carboxyl ethylene glycol-g-glutamate)-co-poly(distearin-g-glutamate) (CPEGGM-PDSGM) polymersomes with the conjugation of des-octanoyl ghrelin. Des-octanoyl ghrelin across the BBB was reported to be unidirectional (blood-to-brain direction). However, there is no report about the conjugation of des-octanoyl ghrelin to a drug carrier system to confer the BBB targeting property through des-octanoyl ghrelin binding sites mediated endocytosis. To qualitatively and quantitatively investigate this carrier's properties, coumarin 6, Cy5.5 and met-enkephalin were individually encapsulated in these polymersomes. The experimental results showed that the cellular uptake was significantly higher for des-octanoyl ghrelin-conjugated polymersomes (GPs) than unconjugated polymersomes when co-incubated with the BBB cells. In addition, an enhanced accumulation in brain together with a reduced accumulation in liver and spleen was observed in animal study, indicating better brain selectivity for the GPs. In a hot-plate test, a significant inhibition of nociceptive response could be achieved for an intravenous injection of GPs encapsulated with met-enkephalin. The overall results demonstrated that GPs own a great potential for targeting delivery of drug across the BBB to treat CNS diseases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Tungsten-substituted mesoporous SBA-15 materials have been successfully synthesized in a one-step co-condensation sol–gel method. The resultant materials have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), 29Si MAS NMR, UV–Visible spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Results of these analyses indicate that the tungsten oxide species are highly dispersed in the silica-based framework structure. The tungsten-substituted mesoporous SBA-15 catalysts show excellent catalytic performance in the metathesis of 1-butene to high value olefins. The conversion of 1-butene is as high as 92.6% with metathesis selectivity reaching 68.3% which is more than double that of amorphous silica supported tungsten oxide catalyst (25.4%) prepared by the conventional impregnation method. The high dispersibility of tungsten oxide species, strong interaction between tungsten oxide species and silica as well as the pore structure of the tungsten-substituted mesoporous SBA-15 are critical factors leading to the excellent catalytic behavior. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In order to obtain a TiO 2 composite film with improved photoelectrochemical properties, a TiO 2 nanotube array (NTA) film was constructed on a Ti substrate via anodization, then Ag nanoparticles (NPs) and carbon quantum dots (CQDs) were successively deposited on the TiO 2 NTA film by pulse current deposition and hydrothermal treatment, respectively. After the sensitization by CQDs and Ag NPs, the light absorption of the TiO 2 composite film was extended to the visible region. Under white light irradiation, the photocurrent density of the composite film in a 0.5 M Na 2 SO 4 solution reached 110 μA cm−2, much higher than that (60 μA cm−2) of the single TiO 2 film. The CQDs/Ag/TiO 2 composite film as a photoanode showed an improved photocathodic protection effect, which made the potential of the coupled 403 stainless steel (403SS) in the 0.5 M NaCl solution drop by 400 mV relative to its corrosion potential. Image 1 • A carbon quantum dot and Ag nanoparticle modified TiO 2 nanotube film was fabricated. • Photoresponse of the CQDs/Ag/TiO 2 film was extended into the visible light region. • The CQDs/Ag/TiO 2 composite film showed an enhanced photoelectrochemical performance. • The CQDs/Ag/TiO 2 film provided effective photocathodic protection for 403SS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many studies have attempted to clarify the association between TNF-a -308G/A polymorphism and pneumoconiosis, but there has been no definite consensus to date. To further assess the effects of TNF-a -308G/A polymorphism on the risk of pneumoconiosis, a meta-analysis was performed in Chinese population. Methods: We searched the related literature in PubMed and Chinese databases through June 2018. The strength of the associations was assessed used pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Nine case-control studies including 730 silicosis cases, 457 coal workers pneumoconiosis cases and 2429 controls were identified according to the inclusion criteria. In the total analyses, a significantly elevated risk was found in allelic model (OR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.16-1.71). In the subgroup analyses by geographic area and type of pneumoconiosis, significant results were found both in North China (A versus G, OR = 1.33, CI = 1.05-1.69) and South China (A versus G, OR = 1.56, CI = 1.14-2.15); significant results were also found in silicosis (A versus G, OR = 1.40, CI = 1.11-1.78) and coal worker pneumoconiosis (A versus G, OR = 1.42, CI = 1.03-1.96). Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggested that TNF-a gene -308 G/A polymorphism is associated with increased silicosis and coal workers pneumoconiosis risk in the Chinese population, and further studies in other ethnic groups are required for definite conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Electrolyte effect on the Pt nanocrystal shape prepared by square-wave potential method were investigated. • H 2 SO 4 electrolyte is favor of the formation of high-index faceted Pt nanocrystals, while Na 2 SO 4 prefers to {1 1 1}-faceted octahedra. • Solution pH value plays a key role in shape evolution of Pt nanocrystals. • The hydrolysis of PtCl 6 2− in Na 2 SO 4 electrolyte decreases the growth rate of Pt nanocrystals and enhances the oxidative etching. Surface structures or shapes of metal nanocrystals (NCs) greatly affect their catalytic performance. Electrochemical square-wave potential (SWP) method shows great advantages in the shape-controlled synthesis of Pt-group metal nanocrystals with high reactive high-index facets, due to the ease in controlling the growth and oxidation (or etching) by potentials. The potential conditions have been investigated substantially for the SWP method previously. However, the effects of electrolytes on the shapes of NCs are rarely explored. Herein, we investigated the effect of electrolyte (H 2 SO 4 and Na 2 SO 4) on the shape evolution of Pt NCs prepared by electrochemical SWP method. We found that high-index faceted Pt NCs, including { hk 0}-faceted tetrahexahedral (THH) and { hkk }-faceted trapezohedral (TPH) Pt NCs can be obtained in 0.1 M H 2 SO 4 in broad potential window, while mainly low-index {1 1 1}-faceted octahedral Pt NCs are formed in 0.1 M Na 2 SO 4 electrolyte. Through evaluating the effects of cations, anions, and solution pH value, we observed that the pH value plays a key role in shape evolution. Low acidity in Na 2 SO 4 electrolyte enhances the oxygen adsorption on Pt on the one hand, and promotes the hydrolysis of PtCl 6 2− that decreases the growth rate of Pt NCs on the other hand. These two factors enhance the oxidative etching effect at upper potential limit of SWP, which can remove low-coordinated step atoms, and form flat low-index facets. This study shows insight into the electrolyte effects on electrochemical shape-controlled synthesis of Pt NCs, and helps to understand the growth mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The clinical application of chemotherapy for brain cancer tumors remains a challenge due to difficulties in the transport of therapeutic agents across the blood–brain barrier/blood–tumor barrier (BBB/BTB). In this study, we developed des-octanoyl ghrelin-conjugated microbubbles (GMB) loaded with TGFβ1 inhibitor (LY364947) (GMBL) to induce BBB/BTB disruption for ultrasound (US) sonication with GMBL. The in-vitro stability study showed that GMB was pretty stable over one month. The in-vivo study showed that the accumulation of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) in the sonicated tumor was significantly higher for focused US sonication in the presence of GMBL, indicating that GMBL/US can locally disrupt BBB/BTB to promote vascular permeability of nanoparticles. In addition, the combination of folate-conjugated polymersomal doxorubicin (FPD) and GMBL/US (FPD + GMBL/US) achieved the best anti-glioma effect and significant improvement in the overall survival time for brain tumor-bearing mice. When combined with focused US, GMBL facilitated local BBB/BTB disruption and simultaneously released LY364947 to decrease the pericyte coverage of the endothelium at the targeted brain tumor sites, resulting in enhanced accumulation and antitumor activity of FPD. The overall results indicate that GMBL/US owns a great potential for non-invasive targeting delivery of nanomedicine across the BBB to treat central nervous system (CNS) diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the asymmetric unit of the title structure, C13H14N2O2S, there are two independent molecules. All bond lengths and angles show normal values. The dihedral angles between the phenyl and pyrimidine rings in each molecule are 58.66 (9) and 57.88 (8)°, but these rings are rotated in opposite directions with respect to the S—C bond of the methylsulfanyl substituent. In the absence of hydrogen bonds, the crystal structure is stabilized by van der Waals forces and one weak C—H...π(arene) interaction, with H... Cg = 2.91 Å ( Cg is the centroid of the pyrimidine ring). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]