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While negative life events (NLEs) have been linked to an increased risk of sleep disturbance among adolescents, the mechanisms of this impact still lack further examination. The current study aimed to explore whether intolerance of uncertainty (IU), a dispositional transdiagnostic vulnerability factor for psychopathology, could act as a mediator and/or moderator in the link from NLEs to sleep disturbance. A longitudinal nested subsample of 54,240 Chinese adolescents (aged 9–19) were surveyed at baseline (Timepoint 1) and six months later (Timepoint 2). They completed questionnaires to assess their IU, NLEs, sleep disturbance and sociodemographic characteristics. Mediation and moderation analyses were conducted to test our hypotheses. Upon adjusting for covariates, IU was found to mediate the relationship between NLEs and residual changes in sleep disturbance over a six-month period, with the mediation effect accounting for 31.8%. Additionally, the moderating role of IU in this relationship was also identified, suggesting that a high level of IU exacerbated the effect of NLEs on sleep disturbance. In conclusion, our findings shed light on the dual roles of IU in the link from NLEs to sleep disturbance, holding significant practical implications for preventing and intervening in sleep disturbance among adolescents. To mitigate the risk of sleep disturbance among adolescents experiencing NLEs, timely assessments of IU and tailored interventions to enhance uncertainty tolerance are necessary. • IU could magnify the effects of NLEs on sleep disturbance. • NLEs could strengthen IU, thereby doing harm to sleep. • The dual roles of IU need attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is a transdiagnostic risk factor for mental disorders. However, reliable and valid measurements of IU among Chinese adolescents are still lacking. This study aimed to develop and validate the Intolerance of Uncertainty Index-A for Children (IUI-A-C) in a large sample of Chinese adolescents. Methods: A total of 108,540 adolescents provided data regarding sociodemographic information, IU, and other constructs theoretically related to IU via an online platform. Item analyses, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, validity analyses, reliability analyses, and measurement invariance analyses were used to examine the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the IUI-A-C (CIUI-A-C). Results: Eight items of the CIUI-A-C with poor psychometric properties were discarded, yielding the revised 7-item CIUI-A-C (RCIUI-A-C). Factor analyses revealed and supported a one-factor structure for the RCIUI-A-C, which also evidenced robust reliability as well as satisfactory convergent validity. Furthermore, measurement invariance analyses indicated that the one-factor structure was stable across gender and age. Conclusions: The RCIUI-A-C is a valid and reliable measurement for Chinese adolescents of different genders and ages, which allows for efficient and rapid evaluation of IU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pea protein isolate (PPI), a high‐concentration protein ingredient derived from peas, is increasingly utilized in food applications, including beverages, meat or dairy alternatives, and baked goods. The protein extraction process typically used to manufacture PPI renders the protein highly denatured, which can have a negative impact on its functionality. Therefore, it is critical to understand how to prepare and utilize PPI to maximize its functionality. The current study evaluates the effect of select reconstitution conditions on the structure and functionality of PPI, across a range of protein concentrations (4%–10%) relevant to a variety of food applications. Temperature during reconstitution with water and hydration time impacted both protein hydration and its functionality. Increasing reconstitution temperature from 20 to 60°C and increasing hydration time from 10 to 40 min decreased PPI particle size in solution and increased PPI solubility. Viscosity of PPI solutions also increased with mild heating and longer hydration time, whereas their flow behavior was highly dependent on protein concentration. Experimental data demonstrates that reconstitution conditions have a significant impact on PPI functionality. These findings can help food formulators develop high‐quality food products that utilize PPI as a functional ingredient. Practical Application: Protein in commercially available pea protein isolates (PPIs) is usually highly denatured, and thus, it is important to find ways to maximize its functionality in practical applications. The findings of this study inform food scientists how to leverage PPI at various protein concentrations with optimal reconstitution conditions to develop high‐quality products. Generally, mild heating and longer hydration times improve PPI functional performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The excessive formation of peroxynitrite (ONOO−) in mitochondria has been implicated in various pathophysiological processes and diseases. However, owing to short emission wavelengths and small Stokes shifts, previously reported fluorescent probes pose significant challenges for mitochondrial ONOO− imaging in biological systems. In this study, a near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe, denoted as DCO-POT, is designed for the visual monitoring of mitochondrial ONOO−, displaying a remarkable Stokes shift of 170 nm. The NIR fluorophore of DCO-CHO is released by DCO-POT upon the addition of ONOO−, resulting in off–on NIR fluorescence at 670 nm. This phenomenon facilitates the high-resolution confocal laser scanning imaging of ONOO− generated in biological systems. The practical applications of DCO-POT as an efficient fluorescence imaging tool are verified in this study. DCO-POT enables the fluorometric visualization of ONOO− in organelles, cells, and organisms. In particular, ONOO− generation is analyzed during cellular and organism-level (zebrafish) inflammation during ferroptosis and in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model. The excellent visual monitoring performance of DCO-POT in vivo makes it a promising tool for exploring the pathophysiological effects of ONOO−. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crystallization selectivity is an important principle in polymorph control. Ribavirin Form I, Form II, DMSO solvate, and amorphous ribavirin are prepared, and the short-range order similarities between these solid forms and ribavirin aqueous solution and DMSO solution are compared via mid-frequency Raman difference spectra (MFRDS). The crystallization process from amorphous ribavirin to Form I and from solution to amorphous phase is explained. Reasons for the difficulty in preparing the DMSO solvate are proposed. The rationale provided for the crystallization selectivity provides a foundation for the synthesis of metastable phases with a robust and convenient method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microstructural and textural evolution of 60% cold-rolling-deformation Er metal (purity ≥ 99.7%) during annealing were investigated by electron-backscattered diffraction (EBSD) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The research results showed that the texture of the (0001) plane orientation was strengthened, but there was no apparent enhancement of the (01 1 ¯ 0) and ( 1 ¯ 2 1 ¯ 0) plane orientations with increasing the annealing temperature. The recrystallization frequency and grain sizes gradually stabilized after the annealing duration of more than 1 h at 740 °C; the annealing duration and the recrystallization frequency were fitted to the equation: y = 1   −   exp   (− 0 . 3269 x 0. 2506 ) . HAGBs were predominant, and the distribution of grain sizes was the most uniform after annealing at 740 °C × 1 h, which was the optimal annealing process of the Er metal with 60% cold-rolling deformation. However, the recrystallization was transferred to the substructure due to grain boundary migration and twining under an excessive annealing temperature and duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the reliability of the stability and bearing capacity of grid shells, we proposed a novel sequential two-level stochastic optimization based on the regional sensitivity difference (SRSD) for obtaining a structure with a low sensitivity to imperfections. The stable bearing capacities obtained by this method and the conventional method were compared. The minimum ultimate buckling load obtained using the former method was found to be larger with a lower coefficient of variation. Thus, this structure has a higher stable carrying capacity and lower sensitivity. Moreover, applying the SRSD method is efficient and convenient for unskilled designers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FeSx (1 ≤ x ≤ 1.14) is one of the most promising conversion-type cathodes as lithium metal batteries due to its low-cost and high energy density. Nevertheless, it suffers from heavy volume change, which brings in fast capacity decay. In this study, we employ four different binders (PVDF, PAN, SBR/CMC, and PAA/CMC) to improve their electrochemical performance. It is found that PAN demonstrates the best performance from 559.5 mAh/g (first) to 458.5 mAh/g (100th) at 0.2 C in the voltage window of 1.0 − 3.0 V. This can be ascribed to its high adhesion strength, good electrical conductivity, low swelling properties, high polarity, and good mechanical stability. The findings highlight the importance of a binder material to guide good cycling stabilities for conversion-type or high-volume change cathodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) poses a significant global health concern, necessitating precise diagnostic tools and effective treatment strategies. Peroxynitrite (ONOO−), a reactive oxygen species, plays a pivotal role in NAFLD pathogenesis, highlighting its potential as a biomarker for disease diagnosis and therapeutic evaluation. This study reports on the development of a near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe, designated DRP-O, for the selective detection of ONOO− with high sensitivity and photostability. DRP-O exhibits rapid response kinetics (within 2 min) and an impressive detection limit of 2.3 nM, enabling real-time monitoring of ONOO− dynamics in living cells. Notably, DRP-O demonstrates excellent photostability under continuous laser irradiation, ensuring reliable long-term monitoring in complex biological systems. We apply DRP-O to visualize endogenous ONOO− in living cells, demonstrating its potential for diagnosing and monitoring NAFLD-related oxidative stress. Furthermore, DRP-O effectively evaluates the efficacy of therapeutic drugs in NAFLD cell models, underscoring its potential utility in drug screening studies. Moreover, we confirm DRP-O to enable selective identification of fatty liver tissues in a mouse model of NAFLD, indicating its potential for the early diagnosis of NAFLD. Collectively, DRP-O represents a valuable tool for studying ONOO− dynamics, evaluating drug efficacy, and diagnosing NAFLD, offering insights into novel therapeutic strategies for this prevalent liver disorder. [Display omitted] • Development of a near-infrared fluorescent probe peroxynitrite detection. • The probe has high selectivity, good photostability, and rapid response kinetics. • The probe can diagnose and monitor NAFLD-related oxidative stress. • The probe can evaluate the efficacy of therapeutic drugs for treating NAFLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Coercivity and corrosion resistance of Nd-Fe-B magnets was simultaneously enhanced. • Partial substitution of Co by Ni can promote the infiltration of Dy into the magnet. • The Dy-Co-Ni diffusion source exhibits high efficiency and high cost-efficiency. • The coordination effects of Dy and Co/Ni ratio were clarified. Commercial Nd-Fe-B magnets without heavy rare earths (HREs) exhibit low coercivity and poor chemical resistance. Here, the coercivity and anti-corrosion performance of sintered Nd-Fe-B magnets have been successfully improved by grain boundary diffusion of Ni alloyed Dy-Co alloy. Starting from Dy-Co binary alloy, the composition of diffusion source was optimized by modifying Dy/Co ratio and Ni substitution for Co. The coercivity of the magnet was enhanced by Dy 60 Co 10 Ni 30 diffusion with relatively low Dy content from 1362 to 1853 kA/m, which is even 104 and 91 kA/m higher than those of the Dy 80 Co 20 and Dy 70 Co 15 Ni 15 diffused magnets, respectively. The formation of higher anisotropic field of (Nd,Dy) 2 Fe 14 B and deep diffusion of Dy are the main reasons for the significantly enhanced coercivity. Partial substitution of Co by Ni cannot only promote the infiltration of Dy into the magnet, but also reduce the cost and improve the performance/cost ratio of diffused magnet. Meanwhile, Dy 60 Co 10 Ni 30 diffusion also improves the corrosion resistance of the magnet by minishing the corrosion electric current density from 9.93 to 3.45 μA·cm−2. The present results indicate that Ni in diffusion source is conducive to simultaneously improving coercivity and chemical stability. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the path of industrial eco-efficiency (IEE) needs to be re-examined from a multi-dimensional perspective, this research opens the internal "black box" of China's industrial eco-economic system driven by sustainable development goals (SDGs) and decomposes IEE into industrial production and sustainable development stages. It further divides the industrial production stage into two parallel subsystems of water use efficiency (WUE) and energy efficiency (EE) and derives SDG6 efficiency (SDG 6 E) and SDG7 efficiency (SDG 7 E) in the sustainable development stage respectively. The paper proposes a meta two-stage parallel entropy dynamic DDF-DEA model to re-measure IEE of 30 provinces in China from 2015 to 2021, discusses the relationship between overall efficiency and stage efficiency, and by using the Tobit model explores various types of influencing factors by subregion. The results show that the modified DDF-DEA model can explore China's IEE more accurately under SDGs. China's IEE is more stable from 2015 to 2021, with the efficiency value always fluctuating between 0.59 and 0.64, the overall level is low, and there is more room for improvement. There are significant inter-provincial differences in IEE and efficiency inertia. In more than 75% of the provinces SDG 7 E constrains IEE improvement, while the dynamic evolution of IEE and its subsystem efficiency varies across regions. Environmental regulation is a common factor affecting IEE across the country and in the east, central, and west regions, whereas the level of economic development, openness to the outside world, and urbanization rate are differential factors affecting IEE across the country and in the three major regions. This study offers new perspectives for exploring the path of IEE enhancement and providing empirical references for the collaborative construction of industrial ecological civilization. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Both coercivity and mechanical strength are enhanced by grain boundary diffusion. • Heavy rare earth are not used for lower cost of diffused Nd-Fe-B magnets. • Continuous grain boundary layers form after the diffusion of Pr-Al-Cu and AlCu. In addition to magnetic properties, mechanical strength is also an important factor in the stability of Nd-Fe-B magnets during service. Here, we proposed a strategy to simultaneously enhance magnetic and mechanical properties by grain boundary diffusion (GBD) without using heavy rare earths (HRE). For a 4.5 mm thick sintered magnet, the coercivity of Pr 70 Al 20 Cu 10 and Al 75 Cu 25 (at.%) diffused magnets can enhance from 1000 to 1346 and 1089 kA/m, respectively, due to the formation of continuous grain boundary (GB) layers for magnetic decoupling, respectively. The increased compressive strength and surface hardness of the magnet mainly result from the enhanced connection between 2:14:1 grains. Since the diffusion of HRE-free alloys improves GB phase by both increasing the wettability of GB phase and reducing the defects at the interface of 2:14:1 phase, more energy is required for the crack propagation which results in an increase in mechanical properties. Furthermore, this work generalizes the difference between the HRE and non-HRE diffusion sources in enhancement mechanisms of coercivity and mechanical strength. It is thus believed that GBD can be used to improve not only magnetic properties but also the other properties of magnets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The degradation of submodule (SM) insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) in a modular multilevel converter (MMC) can be monitored through their on-state voltages. This paper proposes a scheme to calculate the IGBT on-state voltages at rated current and normal junction temperature. The equations of on-state resistances are established based on Kirchhoff voltage laws (KVL) in one MMC arm for positive and negative current directions separately. The arm current, arm voltage, capacitor voltages, gate signals, and junction temperatures are utilized in the equations, and most of the signals are known for the control system. The dimension of the equation set is reduced to make it solvable based on an assumption that all the on-state resistances of diodes remain equal. In addition, the Kalman filter (KF) is used to improve the stability and accuracy of the calculation results. The calculated results are converted to the normal condition based on the current-voltage (I–V) and resistance-temperature (R–T) characteristics of SM IGBTs and diodes. The scheme is verified by using the simulation of a five-level three-phase MMC model. The errors of the calculated VCE are within 0.3%, and the calculation accuracy is good enough for the estimation of IGBT degradation. Furthermore, the influences of the measurement accuracy and the equal diode voltage assumption on the calculation accuracy are analyzed. The proposed scheme is expected to be applicable in online condition monitoring of SM IGBTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was to evaluate workplace violence and examine its effect on job burnout and turnover attempt among medical staff in China. A total of 2,020 medical employees were selected from Fujian province by using stratified cluster sampling method. The Chinese version of the Workplace Violence Scale and the Maslach Burnout Inventory–General Survey were used to measure the workplace violence and job burnout, respectively. Other potential influencing factors for job burnout and turnover attempt were collected using a structured questionnaire. The incidence of workplace violence among medical staff was 48.0%. Workplace violence had a positive correlation with emotional exhaustion and cynicism and a negative correlation with professional efficacy. Workplace violence, marital status, employment type, working time (≥ 10 h/day), performance recognition, and life satisfaction were significant predictors for turnover attempt among Chinese medical staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Cementitious materials was prepared by FA, TG, CCR based on RSM under ambient curing. • The influences of FA, TG, CCR or their interaction on different ages was analyzed. • The transformation behavior of Fe3+ in FTC system was observed. • The hydration mechanism, environmental performance of FTC materials was investigated. Titanium gypsum (TG), fly ash (FA) and calcium carbide residue (CCR) are harmful industrial by-products that need to be addressed. In this study, TG, FA and CCR were selected to prepare the eco-friendly FA-TG-CCR (FTC) cementitious materials. Respond surface methodology (RSM) was undertaken to optimize and understand the influence of design factors of m(TG/FA), m(CCR/FA) and W/B on compressive strength, and the mechanical properties, microstructure, hydration mechanism and environmental performance of FTC cementitious materials were investigated. The morphology and structure were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry- differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC) and Scanning electron microscopy energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX), the concentration of hazardous elements was determined via inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). The results show that the optimal mixture with RSM methodology (m(TG/FA) = 30.80 %, m(CCR/FA) = 27.85 %, W/B = 0.62) reached 18.93 MPa at 28 days of curing, which confirmed via experimental verification. The FTC cementitious materials are mainly consist with C-(A)-S-H, ettringite; the existence of Fe3+ was disadvantageous to early age strength, however partial Fe3+ participated in the formation of Fe-ettringite as the curing time increased, which is beneficial to later age strength. The leaching results indicate that the FTC materials can effectively consolidate the heavy metal ions in raw materials, and the leaching concentration of ions all meet the Chinese Standard for Pollution Control on the Landfill Site of Municipal Solid Waste. Therefore, the synergistic of FTC material offers a novel approach to the efficient utilization of original TG and other industrial by-product wastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Erbium metal with purity ≥ 99% was cold rolled to 30%, 40%, 50%, and 60% deformations and the Er metal of 60% deformation was annealed at different temperatures for 1 h. The effect of cold rolling deformation and annealing on the microstructure and texture evolution of Er metal was investigated by XRD, EBSD, Microhardness tester, and OM. P is the orientation index, which is used to judge the preferred orientation. The research results showed that grains were broken and refined gradually with increasing deformation, the average grain size was 3.37 µm, and the orientation distribution was uniform for 60% deformation; deformation twins appeared in the grain when the deformation was less than 40%, which contributed to the generation of (0001) plane orientation. Comparing with the initial state, the (01 1 − 0) plane orientation gradually weakened and the (11 1 − 0) plane orientation had a trend of further strengthening with the increasing deformation; the ( 1 − 2 1 − 0) plane orientation remained unchanged, but there was a gradual weakening trend when the deformation was greater than 50%. For 60% deformation of Er metal, the deformed microstructure was replaced by fine equiaxed grains with the increasing annealing temperature, and the high-performance Er metal with fine and uniform equiaxed grains can be obtained under annealing at 740 °C for 1 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The utilization of radioactive iodine‐131I (RAI) has long been established as a cost‐effective and conventional treatment for managing Graves' disease (GD). However, the accurate prediction of the clinical response to RAI treatment remains difficult. The successful resolution of GD through RAI therapy is typically characterized by the induction of hypothyroidism or euthyroidism. Thus, the principal aim of this study was to identify plausible predictors of RAI efficacy in the treatment of GD. Methods: The clinical data of 613 GD patients, who underwent RAI treatment for the first time, were retrospectively analyzed, including age, gender, duration of hyperthyroidism, presence or absence of ocular signs, thyroid volume, thyroid weight, thyroid function (FT3, FT4, and TSH), radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU) at 2 h/6 h/24 h (2‐h/6‐h/24‐h RAIU) prior to RAI treatment, the highest RAIU (RAIUmax), and administered activity of 131I and 131I activity per gram of thyroid tissue. Success of RAI treatment was defined as achieving hypothyroidism or euthyroidism for more than 1 year after the initial treatment. Univariate and multivariate logistics regression analyses were conducted to identify factors that influence the efficacy of RAI treatment for GD. And at last, based on the results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis, a nomogram model was established. Results: In this study, the success rate of RAI treatment for GD was 91.2% (559/613). Univariate analysis demonstrated that several factors, including age (p = 0.005), thyroid volume (p = 0.001), thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH, p = 0.042), ratio of RAIU at 6 h to 24 h (6‐h/24‐h RAIU, p = 0.048), total 131I activity (p = 0.026), and 131I activity per gram of thyroid tissue (p = 0.001), were significantly associated with treatment outcome. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated thyroid volume and 131I activity per gram of thyroid tissue as significant independent predictors of radioactive iodine therapy (RIT) efficacy. The area under the ROC curve of the established nomogram model was 0.769 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.692–0.846), indicating that the model has good discriminatory ability. Conclusion: Calculated‐dose RAI is effective in the treatment of GD. The smaller thyroid volume and the higher 131I activity per gram of thyroid tissue are predictors of RAI efficacy in the treatment of GD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of intolerance of uncertainty (IU) in the acquisition, maintenance, and treatment of various psychopathologies highlights the critical need for reliable assessment tools. However, the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (Short Form) for Children (IUSC-12), a recently developed self-reported questionnaire specifically designed to assess IU in children and adolescents, has received limited examination, particularly in non-Western countries. This current study aims to evaluate the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the IUSC-12 (CIUSC-12) in 5672 Chinese adolescents. Confirmatory factor analyses favored the bifactor model for the CIUSC-12, showing stable gender invariance. Moreover, the CIUSC-12 demonstrated robust reliability and exhibited favorable convergent validity and predictive validity through its correlations with measures of anxiety and depression. These findings collectively support the CIUSC-12 as a well-validated measure and a promising tool for assessing IU in Chinese adolescents. Using the total score of the CIUSC-12 is recommended for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glycosylation and phosphorylation rank as paramount post‐translational modifications, and their analysis heavily relies on enrichment techniques. In this work, a facile approach was developed for the one‐step simultaneous enrichment and stepwise elution of glycoproteins and phosphoproteins. The core of this approach was the application of the novel titanium (IV) ion immobilized poly(glycidyl methacrylate) microparticles functionalized with dendrimer polyethylenimine and phytic acid. The microparticles possessed dual enrichment capabilities due to their abundant titanium ions and hydroxyl groups on the surface. They demonstrate rapid adsorption equilibrium (within 30 min) and exceptional adsorption capacity for β‐casein (1107.7 mg/g) and horseradish peroxidase (438.6 mg/g), surpassing that of bovine serum albumin (91.7 mg/g). Furthermore, sodium dodecyl sulfate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was conducted to validate the enrichment capability. Experimental results across various biological samples, including standard protein mixtures, non‐fat milk, and human serum, demonstrated the remarkable ability of these microparticles to enrich low‐abundance glycoproteins and phosphoproteins from biological samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is widely considered a transdiagnostic risk and maintaining factor for psychiatric disorders. However, little is known about the overall nature and profile of IU among adolescents. This study aims to investigate the profiles of IU among Chinese adolescents and explore their associations with sociodemographic characteristics and mental health problems. A sample of 108,540 adolescents provided data on IU, sociodemographic characteristics, and mental health via an online platform. Latent profile analysis revealed three profiles: Low IU, Medium IU, and High IU. Girls, older adolescents, and those with specific sociodemographics were more likely to belong to the “High IU” profile. Furthermore, the “High IU” profile was associated with the highest risk of several mental health problems. These findings provided valuable information for early prevention and intervention strategies targeting IU and highlighted the importance of IU-based interventions for mental health among adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein glycosylation and phosphorylation are two important post-translational modifications and play significant roles in various biological processes. However, both glycoproteins and phosphoproteins are in low abundance in complex samples, which hinders their characterization. In this work, we developed a novel method for the simultaneous adsorption of glycoproteins and phosphoproteins based on solid phase extraction. By virtue of the unique structure of hydrophilic titanium (IV) ion immobilized cotton fiber functionalized with phytic acid (denoted as Ti4+-PA-cotton), glycoproteins, and phosphoproteins could be efficiently enriched in one-step incubation and eluted in sequence. The newly prepared Ti4+-PA-cotton was well characterized, and the adsorption isotherms and kinetics were studied. The maximum adsorption capacities of Ti4+-PA-cotton for β-casein and HRP were 833.3 mg/g and 384.6 mg/g with the adsorption rate of 259.1 and 63.1 mg/g·min. Standard protein mixture of BSA, HRP, and β-casein was used to test the enrichment ability as a proof of concept. The SDS-PAGE results demonstrated that Ti4+-PA-cotton had an excellent enrichment performance and possessed an outstanding application potential in the analysis of glycoproteins and phosphoproteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viscosity changes in mitochondria are closely associated with numerous cellular processes and diseases. Currently available fluorescence probes used in mitochondrial viscosity imaging are not very photostable or sufficiently permeable. Herein, a highly photostable and permeable mitochondria-targeting red fluorescent probe (Mito-DDP) was designed and synthesized for viscosity sensing. Viscosity was imaged in living cells using a confocal laser scanning microscope, and the results suggested that Mito-DDP penetrated the membrane and stained the living cells. Importantly, practical applications of Mito-DDP were demonstrated: viscosity visualization was realized for mitochondrial malfunction, cellular and zebrafish inflammation, and Drosophila Alzheimer's disease models, i.e., for subcellular organelles, cells, and organisms. The excellent analytical and bioimaging performance of Mito-DDP in vivo makes it an effective tool for exploring the physiological and pathological effects of viscosity. [Display omitted] • Development of a mitochondria-targeting red fluorescent probe (Mito-DDP). • The probe exhibited excellent photostability and permeability. • The probe is highly sensitive and selective to viscosity. • Mito-DDP was used to visualize viscosity changes caused by various factors. • LO2 cells, HepG2 cells, zebrafish, and AD Drosophila brains were all imaged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of lanthanum addition on the formation behaviors of inclusions in Q355B weathering steel was investigated by laboratory experiments and thermodynamic calculations. The results demonstrate that the main inclusions in weathering steel without La addition are large-sized irregular Al2O3 and MnS, with an average size of about 5.35 μm. As La content increases from 0.0075 to 0.0184 wt.%, the dominant inclusions transform from MnS, LaAlO3, and Al2O3-LaAlO3 into MnS, La2O3, and LaAlO3-La2O3. Meanwhile, the average size of inclusions significantly decreases from 3.4 to 2.48 μm and the distribution is more dispersive. When the La content increases to 0.0425 wt.%, the original MnS and Al2O3 inclusions are completely modified into La2O2S and La2O3 but the inclusions demonstrate serious agglomeration and growth. The thermodynamic calculations indicate that Al2O3 and various lanthanum-containing inclusions are formed in the liquid phase. As the La content in molten steel increases from 0 to 0.0425 wt.%, the Al2O3 inclusion is inclined to be modified into lanthanum oxide and lanthanum oxysulfide and the modification process is Al2O3 → LaAlO3 → La2O3 → La2O2S, which is very consistent with the experimental observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an important functional material, lanthanum fluoride (denoted as LaF3) shows promising application in infrared thermometry, infrared thermography and fluoride glass optical fiber, etc. Although great process has been obtained in preparing rare earth fluorides such as GdF3, YF3, and NdF3, the thermodynamic process and synthesis of LaF3 remain a challenge. Herein, the thermodynamic process is explored by theoretical calculation and cxs Δ r H <0, Δ r G <0, K p >109, indicating that the whole fluorination reaction is an exothermic reaction and can be fully carried out. Moreover, we now report an optimum fluorination process of LaF3. By exploring the effects of reaction temperature, holding time, material layer thickness and HF gas flow on fluorination rate k, the reliability of theoretical calculation has been verified, the best fluorination parameters have been obtained and the fluorination rate can reach more than 97%. This work may shed some light on the large-scale industrial production of high-grade LaF3, and promote its applications in infrared optical field, nuclear medicine and high-energy physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the recent trend toward collaborative governance, governmental and nongovernmental actors are actively engaged in the environmental governance in China, forming formal and informal networks in this process. While existing research has mostly examined the formation of either formal or informal networks, few studies have examined the influence of formal networks on the formation of informal networks. This article examines the collaborative environmental governance network in China by studying the relationship between formal networks and informal networks. We conduct the research in the empirical context of local water governance in Dongguan city of Guangdong province, China. With survey data collected from 31 municipal departments, 32 town governments, 9 water-related private business and 5 NGOs, we test the hypothesis with Quadratic Assignment Procedure (QAP) regression analysis. The results indicate that formal network does affect and contribute to the formation of informal network, and actors within the formal network are more likely to build informal relationships in environmental governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An acoustic method can provide a noninvasive, efficient and full-field reconstruction of aerodynamic fields in a furnace. A simple yet reasonable model is devised for reconstruction of a velocity field in a cross section of a tangential furnace from acoustic measurements based on typical physical characteristics of the field. The solenoidal component of the velocity field is modeled by a curved surface, derived by rotating a curve of Gaussian distribution, determined by six characteristic parameters, while the nonrotational component is governed by a priori knowledge. Thus the inverse problem is translated into determination of the characteristic parameters using a set of acoustic projection data. First numerical experiments were undertaken to simulate the acoustic measurement, so as to preliminarily validate the effectiveness of the model. Based on this, physical experiments under different operating conditions were performed in a pilot-scale setup to provide a further test. Hot-wire anemometry and strip floating were applied to compare with acoustic measurements. The acoustic measurements provided satisfactory consistency with both of these approaches. Nevertheless, for a field with a relatively large magnitude of air velocities, the acoustic measurement can give more reliable reconstructions. Extension of the model to measurements of hot tangential furnaces is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Abstract A series of novel tetracyclic core-containing HCV NS5A inhibitors has been discovered. Incorporation of tetrahydropyran-substituted amino acid moiety improved their potency and yielded HCV NS5A inhibitors with a minimum potency shift from the GT1a strain compared to other genotypes and mutants. Compounds 53 and 54 showed the best potency profile and had reasonable half-times in rat PK studies. However, further optimization of their oral bioavailability is still needed in order to advance them for further development. [BMCL ABSTRACT] ©2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macrocyclic α-helical peptides have emerged as a compelling new therapeutic modality to tackle targets confined to the intracellular compartment. Within the scope of hydrocarbon-stapling there has been significant progress to date, including the first stapled α-helical peptide to enter into clinical trials. The principal design concept of stapled α-helical peptides is to mimic a cognate (protein) ligand relative to binding its target via an α-helical interface. However, it was the proclivity of such stapled α-helical peptides to exhibit cell permeability and proteolytic stability that underscored their promise as unique macrocyclic peptide drugs for intracellular targets. This perspective highlights key learnings as well as challenges in basic research with respect to structure-based design, innovative chemistry, cell permeability and proteolytic stability that are essential to fulfill the promise of stapled α-helical peptide drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composite insulators in valve tower of UHVDC converter station withstand combined ac-dc voltage. The flashover performance of silicone rubber under combined voltage is investigated in this paper. The voltages on the post insulator of valve tower under different operating conditions are simulated in PSCAD/EMTDC, and the harmonic components of the voltages are analyzed. The simulation results indicate that the ac frequencies of the voltage on the post insulator are mainly 50 Hz, 3n and 6n±1 times harmonics. The flashover voltages of silicone rubber under different combinations of ac and dc voltages are tested, including different single frequency ac voltages superimposed on different dc voltages, and different combined harmonic voltages superimposed on different dc voltages. The test results indicate that different ratios of dc voltage to ac voltage and different percentages of harmonics have various influences on the flashover voltage of silicone rubber. Moreover, argon atmosphere pressure plasma jet (Ar APPJ) is applied to modify the surface of the silicone rubber under different modification times and voltages. The flashover voltages and the surface morphologies of the silicone rubber before and after surface modification are compared. Surface modification by Ar APPJ can improve the surface resistivity of the silicone rubber significantly, and the flashover voltage also increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidative stress is closely related to the crop health status under stress conditions. H 2 O 2 is an important signaling molecule in plants under stress. Therefore, monitoring H 2 O 2 fluctuations is of great significance when risk-assessing oxidative stress. However, few fluorescent probes have been reported for the in situ tracking of H 2 O 2 fluctuations in crops. Herein, we designed a "turn-on" NIR fluorescent probe (DRP-B) to detect and in situ -image H 2 O 2 in living cells and crops. DRP-B exhibited good detection performance for H 2 O 2 and could image endogenous H 2 O 2 in living cells. More importantly, it could semi-quantitatively visualize H 2 O 2 in cabbage roots under abiotic stress. Visualization of H 2 O 2 in cabbage roots revealed H 2 O 2 upregulation in response to adverse environments (metals, flood, and drought). This study provides a new method for risk-assessing oxidative stress in plants under abiotic stress and is expected to provide guidance for the development of new antioxidant defense strategies to enhance plant resistance and crop productivity. [Display omitted] • A NIR fluorescent probe (DRP-B) for detecting and imaging H 2 O 2 was designed. • DRP-B was highly sensitive, H 2 O 2 -selective, colorimetric, and dual-signaling. • DRP-B visualized and monitored H 2 O 2 levels in living cells and cabbage roots. • DRP-B risk-assessed oxidative stress in cabbage roots subjected to various stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our research on hydantoin based TNF-α converting enzyme (TACE) inhibitors led to fused bi-heteroaryl hydantoin series that demonstrate sub-nanomolar potency (Ki) as well as excellent activity in human whole blood ( h WBA). However, lead compound 2 posed some formulation challenges which prevented it for further development. A prodrug approach was investigated to address this issue. The pivalate prodrug 3 can be formulated as stable neutral form and demonstrated improved DMPK properties when compared with parent compound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have identified a series of hydantoin-derived TNF-a converting enzyme (TACE) inhibitors containing a pendant fused bi-heteroaryl group, which demonstrate sub-nanomolar potency (Ki), excellent activity in human whole blood assay, and improved DMPK profiles over prior series. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The past decade has witnessed remarkable progress of the development and amelioration of thermoplastic polyether ester elastomer (TPEE), showing its promising wide-range utility. Herein we unraveled an unprecedented research to utilize β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) with perfect charring ability in TPEE in substitution of toxic halogen flame retardants. The TPEE/phosphorous–nitrogen flame retardants (P-N FR) (aluminum diethylphosphinate and melamine polyphosphate)/β-CD system was created and the flame retardance effects were determined using the limiting oxygen index (LOI) and the vertical burning test (UL94), while the charring effects of β-CD were measured by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), laser Raman spectroscopy (LRS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Besides, the mechanical properties and the morphology were tested by the universal testing machine and SEM. Results indicate that with 10 wt% of β-CD added to the TPEE/25 wt% P-N FR systems, the UL94 can reach to V-0 grade and the tensile strength of this blend was kept above 10 MPa, which can be applied in practice. To our delight, β-CD promoted the formation of stable and compact carbonaceous char, preventing the melt dripping and enhancing the properties and the charring mechanism was better studied by real-time Fourier transform infrared spectra. Being easy to construct, sustainable, and economic, the TPEE composite modified by β-CD and P-N FR is a reliable and widely applicable novel fire retardation material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: TNF-α converting enzyme (TACE) inhibitors are promising agents to treat inflammatory disorders and cancer. We have investigated novel tartrate diamide TACE inhibitors where the tartrate core binds to zinc in a unique tridentate fashion. Incorporating (R)-2-(2-N-alkylaminothiazol-4-yl)pyrrolidines into the left hand side amide of the tartrate scaffold led to the discovery of potent and selective TACE inhibitors, some of which exhibited good rat oral bioavailability. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • A 3D oxidized polyacrylonitrile/Ag framework is applied to realize a uniform and dense bottom-up Li deposition. • Electronic insulator polyacrylonitrile enforces a bottom-up lithium growth. • Ag nanoparticles significantly decrease Li nucleation barrier. • The as-designed 3D framework offers a long lifespan even at an ultrahigh current density. Lithium (Li) metal anode is considered as the "Holy Grail" for next-generation ultrahigh-energy-density lithium-ion batteries, but its application is tremendously limited by the demerits of uncontrolled dendrite growth, unrestricted volume expansion, and continuous side reactions. Herein, a 3D oxidized polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/Ag framework is designed to realize a bottom-up Li deposition and dendrite-free growth. The electronic insulator nature of the oxidized PAN guides a bottom-up lithium deposition to largely prevent volume expansion. In addition, the Ag nanoparticles on the PAN surface directly form a Li-Ag alloy with as-deposited Li, resulting in a low nucleation barrier. Furthermore, Li-Ag, as a Li+ conductor, induces a uniform and dense Li deposition. As a result, the oxidized PAN/Ag framework offers a long lifespan over 1200 h at a current density of 0.5 mA cm−2 and an areal capacity of 1 mAh cm−2. Moreover, in a full cell coupled with LiNi 0.9 Co 0.1 O 2 cathode, a capacity retention of 84% after 100 cycles is achieved. This study provides a guideline to fabricate stable Li metal anode and highlights the key role of controlling electronic and ionic transportation separately in the 3D framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The complete genomic sequence of HAdV4 isolated in southern China was firstly reported. • HAdV4 strain GZ01 was determined to be 4a1 genotype. • rAd4DsRed was generated and characterized. • A rapid method to test NAbs was established using rAd4DsRed and rAd3EGFP viruses. Human adenovirus type 4 (HAdV4) is an etiological agent of acute respiratory disease (ARD) in pediatric and adult patients. HAdV4 strains can be divided into two major genomic clusters, namely prototype (p)-like viruses and a-like viruses. Here, the complete genome sequence of HAdV4 strain GZ01, isolated from a child with ARD in southern China, is first reported and analyzed. This strain was determined to be of the 4a1 genome-type based on in silico restriction profiles. Then, a replication-competent rAd4DsRed virus, containing the HAdV4 GZ01 infectious genome and expressing the reporter molecule DsRed, was generated and characterized. Recombinant rAd4DsRed can infect AD293, hamster, and mouse cells in which DsRed protein was expressed. No changes in antigenicity and genome replication were detected for rAd4DsRed and wild-type HAdV4. Mice immunized with rAd4DsRed was elicited a marked antibody response to DsRed. A rapid method of testing neutralizing antibodies against HAdV3 and HAdV4 was also established using a mixture of rAd4DsRed and rAd3EGFP. Our results provide the foundation to develop HAdV4 vaccines, potential vector platforms for vaccine and gene therapy, and rapid methods for serological and antiviral screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stapled α-helical peptides represent an emerging superclass of macrocyclic molecules with drug-like properties, including high-affinity target binding, protease resistance, and membrane permeability. As a model system for probing the chemical space available for optimizing these properties, we focused on dual Mdm2/MdmX antagonist stapled peptides related to the p53 N-terminus. Specifically, we first generated a library of ATSP-7041 (Chang et al., 2013) analogs iteratively modified by L-Ala and D-amino acids. Single L-Ala substitutions beyond the Mdm2/(X) binding interfacial residues (i.e., Phe3, Trp7, and Cba10) had minimal effects on target binding, α-helical content, and cellular activity. Similar binding affinities and cellular activities were noted at non-interfacial positions when the template residues were substituted with their d-amino acid counterparts, despite the fact that d-amino acid residues typically 'break' right-handed α-helices. d-amino acid substitutions at the interfacial residues Phe3 and Cba10 resulted in the expected decreases in binding affinity and cellular activity. Surprisingly, substitution at the remaining interfacial position with its d-amino acid equivalent (i.e., Trp7 to d-Trp7) was fully tolerated, both in terms of its binding affinity and cellular activity. An X-ray structure of the d-Trp7-modified peptide was determined and revealed that the indole side chain was able to interact optimally with its Mdm2 binding site by a slight global re-orientation of the stapled peptide. To further investigate the comparative effects of d-amino acid substitutions we used linear analogs of ATSP-7041, where we replaced the stapling amino acids by Aib (i.e., R84 to Aib4 and S511 to Aib11) to retain the helix-inducing properties of α-methylation. The resultant analog sequence Ac–Leu–Thr–Phe–Aib–Glu–Tyr–Trp–Gln–Leu–Cba–Aib–Ser–Ala–Ala–NH2 exhibited high-affinity target binding (Mdm2 Kd = 43 nM) and significant α-helicity in circular dichroism studies. Relative to this linear ATSP-7041 analog, several d-amino acid substitutions at Mdm2(X) non-binding residues (e.g., d-Glu5, d-Gln8, and d-Leu9) demonstrated decreased binding and α-helicity. Importantly, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy showed that although helicity was indeed disrupted by d-amino acids in linear versions of our template sequence, stapled molecules tolerated these residues well. Further studies on stapled peptides incorporating N-methylated amino acids, l-Pro, or Gly substitutions showed that despite some positional dependence, these helix-breaking residues were also generally tolerated in terms of secondary structure, binding affinity, and cellular activity. Overall, macrocyclization by hydrocarbon stapling appears to overcome the destabilization of α-helicity by helix breaking residues and, in the specific case of d-Trp7-modification, a highly potent ATSP-7041 analog (Mdm2 Kd = 30 nM; cellular EC50 = 600 nM) was identified. Our findings provide incentive for future studies to expand the chemical diversity of macrocyclic α-helical peptides (e.g., d-amino acid modifications) to explore their biophysical properties and cellular permeability. Indeed, using the library of 50 peptides generated in this study, a good correlation between cellular permeability and lipophilicity was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]