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Food traceability and authentication systems play an important role in ensuring food quality and safety. Current techniques mainly rely on direct measurement by instrumental analysis, which is usually designed for one or a group of specific foods, not available for various food categories. To develop a general strategy for food identification and discrimination, a novel method based on fluorescence sensor arrays is proposed, composed of supramolecular assemblies regulated by non‐covalent interactions as an information conversion system. The stimuli‐responsiveness and tunability of supramolecular assemblies provided an excellent platform for interacting with various molecules in different foods. In this work, five sensor arrays constructed by supramolecular assemblies composed of pyrene derivatives and perylene derivatives are designed and prepared. Assembly behavior and sensing mechanisms are investigated systematically by spectroscopy techniques. The traceability and authentication effects on several kinds of food from different origins or grades are evaluated and verified by linear discriminant analysis (LDA). It is confirmed that the cross‐reactive signals from different sensor units encompassing all molecular interactions can generate a unique fingerprint pattern for each food and can be used for traceability and authentication toward universal food categories with 100% accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In brief, the mitochondrial genome of L. ikeae has a total length of 16,498 bp and encodes 13 PCGs, 22 transfer RNA genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, and a D-loop (control) region. Gene rearrangement is not observed. The mitochondrial genome of L. ikeae exhibits an AT preference, with AT skew > 0 and GC skew < 0 across the entire genome. The phylogenetic relationships of Sicydiinae based on 13 mitochondrial PCG sequences are Sicydium + (Stiphodon + (Sicyopus + Lentipes)) + Sicyopterus, indicating that Sicydium, Sicyopterus, Lentipes, and Stiphodon are all monophyletic groups. We sequenced and analyzed the complete mitochondrial genome of Lentipes ikeae and explored the phylogenetic relationships among Sicydiinae based on mitochondrial genome sequences. The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of L. ikeae was determined using the Illumina HiSeq X Ten sequencing platform, and the gene structural characteristics and base composition were analyzed. Based on the mitochondrial genome sequences of 28 Sicydiinae species published in GenBank and mitochondrial protein-coding genes (PCGs), Acanthogobius flavimanus (Gobionellinae) was selected as an outgroup to construct phylogenetic trees of Sicydiinae using the maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods. The mitochondrial genome of L. ikeae (GenBank number: OP764680) has a total length of 16,498 bp and encodes 13 PCGs, 22 transfer RNA genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, and a D-loop (control) region. Gene rearrangement is not observed. The mitochondrial genome of L. ikeae exhibits an AT preference, with AT skew > 0 and GC skew < 0 across the entire genome. The phylogenetic relationships of Sicydiinae based on 13 mitochondrial PCG sequences are Sicydium + (Stiphodon + (Sicyopus + Lentipes)) + Sicyopterus, indicating that Sicydium, Sicyopterus, Lentipes, and Stiphodon are all monophyletic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smiliogastrinae are recognized for their high nutritional and ornamental value. In this study, we employed high-throughput sequencing technology to acquire the complete mitochondrial genome sequences of Dawkinsia filamentosa and Pethia nigrofasciata. The gene composition and arrangement order in these species were similar to those of typical vertebrates, comprising 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, and 1 non-coding region. The mitochondrial genomes of D. filamentosa and P. nigrofasciata measure 16,598 and 16,948 bp, respectively. Both D. filamentosa and P. nigrofasciata exhibit a significant preference for AT bases and an anti-G bias. Notably, the AT and GC skew values of the ND6 gene fluctuated markedly, suggesting that the selection and mutation pressures on this gene may differ from those affecting other genes. Phylogenetic analysis, based on the complete mitochondrial genomes of 23 Cyprinidae fishes, revealed that D. filamentosa is closely related to the sister group comprising Dawkinsia denisonii and Sahyadria chalakkudiensis. Similarly, P. nigrofasciata forms a sister group with Pethia ticto and Pethia stoliczkana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unique properties of ionic liquids (ILs), such as structural tunability, good solubility, chemical/thermal stability, favorable biocompatibility, and simplicity of preparation, have led to a wide range of applications in the pharmaceutical and biomedical fields. ILs can not only speed up the chemical reaction process, improve the yield, and reduce environmental pollution but also improve many problems in the field of medicine, such as the poor drug solubility, product crystal instability, poor biological activity, and low drug delivery efficiency. This paper presents a systematic and concise analysis of the recent advancements and further applications of ILs in the pharmaceutical field from the aspects of drug synthesis, drug analysis, drug solubilization, and drug crystal engineering. Additionally, it explores the biomedical field, covering aspects such as drug carriers, stabilization of proteins, antimicrobials, and bioactive ionic liquids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main nucleating vapor in the atmosphere is thought to be sulfuric acid (H2SO4), stabilized by ammonia (NH3). However, in marine and polar regions, NH3 is generally low, and H2SO4 is frequently found together with iodine oxoacids [HIOx, i.e., iodic acid (HIO3) and iodous acid (HIO2)]. In experiments performed with the CERN CLOUD (Cosmics Leaving OUtdoor Droplets) chamber, we investigated the interplay of H2SO4 and HIOx during atmospheric particle nucleation. We found that HIOx greatly enhances H2SO4(-NH3) nucleation through two different interactions. First, HIO3 strongly binds with H2SO4 in charged clusters so they drive particle nucleation synergistically. Second, HIO2 substitutes for NH3, forming strongly bound H2SO4-HIO2 acid-base pairs in molecular clusters. Global observations imply that HIOx is enhancing H2SO4(-NH3) nucleation rates 10- to 10,000-fold in marine and polar regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Polygonatum genus, belonging to the Liliaceae family, with significant medicinal and nutritional value. In China, this species is a traditional medicinal and edible herb with a long history of application and is widely appreciated by the people. However, as the demand for medicinal herbs continues to grow, excessive harvesting has led to the depletion of wild resources and the risk of genetic erosion. In addition, the chaotic cultivation of varieties and the lack of high quality germplasm resources have led to inconsistent quality of medical materials. Therefore, it is urgent to conduct genetic diversity evaluation of this species and establish a sound conservation plan. This study assessed the genetic diversity and population structure of 96 samples collected from seven regions in China using the simple sequence repeat (SSR) molecular marker technology. In this study, a total of 60 alleles (Na) were detected across the 10 polymorphic SSR markers used, with an average of 6.0 alleles generated per locus. The values of polymorphic information content (PIC) values ranged from 0.3396 to 0.8794, with an average value of 0.6430. The average value of the effective number of alleles (Ne) was 2.761, and the average value of the Shannon's information index (I) was 1.196. The population structure analysis indicates that the Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua germplasm can be classified into three subpopulations (JZ, QY, JD) at the molecular level, which corresponds to the previous subgroups identified based on individual plant phenotypic traits. Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) showed that 74% of the genetic variation was between individuals within populations in different regions. The phylogenetic analysis of the 96 germplasm samples divided them into three main populations. The QY and JD subpopulations are largely clustered together, which could be attributed to their mountainous distribution and the local climate environment. The genetic differentiation coefficient (Fst) value was low at 0.065, indicating relatively low population differentiation. The ratio of the genetic differentiation coefficient (Fst) between the JZ population and the other two populations (QY and JD) is much higher than the ratio between the QY and JD populations. Based on the clustering results and the ratio of the genetic differentiation coefficient (Fst), it can be inferred that the genetic relationship between the QY and JD subpopulations is closer, with a certain degree of genetic differentiation from the JZ subpopulation. This study supports the conservation of germplasm resources of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua in China and provides new parental material for germplasm genetic improvement and breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prognosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is unpredictable. This study aimed to examine the regulatory mechanism of the AHR/TET2/NT5E pathway during SLE progression. The AHR, TET2 and NT5E expression levels were examined in T regulatory cells (Tregs) of patients with SLE. The correlation of AHR, TET2 or NT5E expression levels with the immunosuppressive functions of Tregs was analysed. In patients with SLE, the number of CD4+IL2RA−FOXP3+ T cell subset was positively correlated with the SLE disease activity index value and negatively correlated with the AHR and TET2 expression levels in CD4+IL2RA+FOXP3+ Tregs. Transcriptional profiles of 79 patients with SLE obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database (GSE61635 dataset) revealed a significant positive correlation between the mRNA expression levels of AHR and TET2. In silico analysis predicted that the TET2 promoter comprises an AHR‐binding site. Kynurenine (KYN) promoted the binding of AHR to the TET2 promoter in Tregs of patients with SLE and Jurkat T cell lines. Furthermore, NT5E expression was significantly downregulated in Tregs of patients with SLE, which can be attributed to the dysregulation of NT5E promoter methylation status induced by downregulated TET2 activity. Furthermore, the Treg immunosuppressive activity, which is mediated through the TET2 and A2AR‐adenosine pathways, in the KYN‐treated group was approximately two‐fold higher than that in the control group. The AHR/TET2/NT5E axis mediates the Treg immunosuppressive activity. These findings provide novel insights for the development of therapeutic approaches for SLE and related autoimmune diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multi-scheme chemical ionisation inlet 1 (MION1) allows fast switching between measuring atmospheric ions without chemical ionisation and neutral molecules by multiple chemical ionisation methods. In this study, the upgraded multischeme chemical ionisation inlet 2 (MION2) is presented. The new design features improved ion optics that increase the reagent ion concentration, a generally more robust operation and the possibility to run multiple chemical ionisation methods with the same ionisation time. To simplify the regular calibration of MION2, we developed an open-source flow reactor chemistry model (MARFORCE) to quantify the chemical production of sulfuric acid (H2SO4), hypoiodous acid (HOI) and hydroperoxyl radical (HO2). MARFORCE simulates convection-diffusion-reaction processes inside typical cylindrical flow reactors with uniform inner diameters. The model also provides options to simulate the chemical processes 1) when two flow reactors with different inner diameters are connected together and 2) when two flows are merged into one (connected by a Y-shape tee), but with reduced accuracy. Additionally, the chemical mechanism files in the model are compatible with the widely-used Master Chemical Mechanism, thus allowing future adaptation to simulate other chemical processes in flow reactors. We further carried out detailed characterisation of the bromide (Br-) and nitrate (NO3-) chemical ionisation methods with different ionisation times. We calibrated H2SO4, HOI and HO2 by combining gas kinetic experiments with the MARFORCE model. Sulfur dioxide (SO2), water (H2O) and molecular iodine (I2) were evaluated using dilution experiments from a gas cylinder (SO2), dew point mirror measurements (H2O), and a derivatization approach in combination with high-performance liquid chromatography quantification (I2), respectively. We find that the detection limit is negatively correlated with the fragmentation enthalpy of the analyte-reagent ion (Br-) cluster, i.e., a stronger binding (larger fragmentation enthalpy) leads to a lower detection limit. Additionally, a moderately longer reaction time enhances the detection sensitivity thus decreasing the detection limit. For example, the detection limit for H2SO4 is estimated to be 2.9x104 molec. cm-3 with a 300 ms ionisation time. A direct comparison suggests that this is even better than the widely-used Eisele-type chemical ionisation inlet. While the NO3- chemical ionisation method is generally more robust, we find that the Br- chemical ionisation method (Br--MION2) is significantly affected by air water content. Higher air water content results in lower sensitivity for HO2 and SO2 within the examined conditions. On the other hand, a steep sensitivity drop of H2SO4, HOI and I2 is only observed when the dew point is greater than 0.5-10.5 °C (equivalent to 20-40 % RH; calculated at 25 °C hereafter). Future studies utilising atmospheric pressure Br- chemical ionisation method, including Br--MION2, should carefully address the humidity effect on a molecular basis. By combining methods such as water-insensitive NO3--MION2 with Br--MION2, MION2 should be able to provide greater details of air composition than either of these methods alone. Combining instrument voltage-scanning, chemical kinetic experiments and quantum chemical calculations, we find that the HIO3 detection is not interfered with by iodine oxides under atmospherically relevant conditions. The IO3-, HIO3NO3- and HIO3Br- ions measured using the Br- and NO3- chemical ionisation methods are primarily, if not exclusively, produced from gaseous HIO3 molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine the inhibitory effect of curcumin on the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in hippocampus of mice with sleep deprivation. Methods: Expressions of BDNF and miRNA-206 were evaluated using quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in a sleep-deprived mouse model. Interaction of BDNF and miRNA-206 was assessed by dual luciferase and qPCR) assays. The effect of curcumin on BDNF and miRNA-206 was also determined by qRT-PCR. Results: Expressions of BDNF and miRNA-206 were significantly suppressed in hippocampus of mice in sleep deprivation group compared with control mice (p < 0.05). Treatment with miRNA-206 significantly suppressed the luciferase activity of wild type (WT) BDNF reporter gene vector (p < 0.05) rather than the mutated (mut) vectors. Inhibition of miRNA-206 upregulated RNA and protein levels of BDNF (p < 0.05), while curcumin treatment inhibited BDNF expression (p < 0.01) and upregulated miRNA-206 level (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Curcumin inhibits BDNF expression by upregulating miRNA-206 level in hippocampus tissues of mice in the sleep deprivation model. The relationship between BDNF and miRNA-206 might provide a new direction for the development of new therapeutics for sleep deprivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Scomberomorus is economically important; however, the taxonomic status and phylogenetic relationships in this genus are not clearly resolved, making it difficult to effectively protect and exploit fish resources. To clarify the taxonomic status of Scomberomorus species, mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene sequences of 150 samples were analyzed. The average genetic distance among 14 species was approximately 11 times greater than the distances within species, in accordance with the '10x rule' of species identification. Five of the 14 species did not form monophyletic clades based on a Bayesian inference gene tree. The application of four DNA-based species delimitation methods (automatic barcode gap discovery, barcode index numbers, Poisson tree process, and the K/θ method) yielded several key results. (1) Cryptic species were detected within Scomberomorus commerson. (2) A Scomberomorus queenslandicus sample from Australia was misidentified as S. commerson in the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD). (3) Specimens originally identified as Scomberomorus guttatus was differentiated into four OTUs or species, two in the Yellow, South China, and Java seas, and two in geographically distant areas, one each in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. (4) Six specimens from South Africa originally identified as S. plurilineatus most likely do not belong to the species. (5) Specimens identified as S. maculatus and S. regalis were conspecific; however, introgression cannot be ruled out. Our findings revealed cryptic diversity and difficulties in morphological identification of species in the genus Scomberomorus. This study provides scientifically based support for the conservation of germplasm resources of the genus Scomberomorus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wedge-tailed green pigeon (Treron sphenurus) has a protective value in the evolution of the family Columbidae. In this study, the complete mitogenome of T. sphenurus from Baise City, China, which represents the first sequenced species of the genus Treron in Tribe Treronini, is reported. This was accomplished using PCR-based methods and a primer-walking sequencing strategy with genus-specific primers. The mitogenome was found to be 18,919 bp in length comprising 37 genes, including 13 protein-coding genes, two rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes, and one control region. In terms of structure and composition, many similarities were found between the T. sphenurus and Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae (New Zealand pigeon) mitogenomes. This was further supported by phylogenetic analysis showing that T. sphenurus has a close evolutionary relationship with H. novaeseelandiae. The complete mitogenome of T. sphenurus reported here is expected to provide valuable molecular information for further studies on the phylogeny of the genus Treron and for analyses of the taxonomic status of the family Columbidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Northwest Pacific marginal waters comprising the South China Sea, East China Sea, Yellow Sea, and the Sea of Japan have unique geomorphic features. The Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus, which is endemic to the Northwest Pacific, has high nutritional, economic, and ecological value. To allow the examination of the demographic history and population structure of the most common P. olivaceus species range over the five marginal seas (East China Sea, Yellow Sea, Bohai Sea, Northwest Pacific Ocean, and the Sea of Japan), the mitochondrial DNA control region of 91 individuals from six populations in China was sequenced. These sequences were combined with 233 sequences from four populations distributed in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean for analysis. Higher levels of nucleotide diversity (0.032 ± 0.016) and haplotype diversity (0.996 ± 0.001) were observed. The peripheral Fuqing population in the East China Sea had the relatively lowest genetic diversity and highest differentiation. Furthermore, when the results of the isolation by distance test, spatial analysis of molecular variation and geographic barrier analysis are also considered, there is a clear need to prioritize resource conservation and enhancement measures in this area. The phylogenetic trees, structure assignment test, and haplotypes network revealed no significant differences in the genealogical structure among ten populations. Mismatch distribution analysis, Bayesian skyline plots, and neutrality tests suggested that P. olivaceus experienced population expansion during the Pleistocene. Ocean currents and climate change play important roles in shaping the geographical distribution and genetic population structure of P. olivaceus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is a common gynecological cancer among women worldwide. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of 6 MV and 10 MV volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) photon beams on the target volume (TV) planning and critical organs in cases of cervical cancer. METHODS: Fifty patients with carcinoma of the cervix who underwent radiotherapy were selected. The transverse diameter (T) of the cross section of the upper edge of the sacroiliac joint on computerized tomography (CT) images of the patients was measured, and the mean value was calculated as 34 cm. All patients were divided into two groups: Group A (T < 34 cm) and Group B (T > 34 cm). The VMAT plans were generated using 6 MV and 10 MV plans separately. The prescription dose was 47.5 Gy, and the daily dose was 1.9 Gy. RESULTS: In Group A, the planning target volume (PTV) dose assessment parameters of 6 MV and 10 MV plans and their homogeneity and conformity indices were not statistically significantly different. A significant difference was observed between the 6 MV and 10 MV plans for the PTV dose assessment parameters and the homogeneity index of the plans for Group B. The monitor units (MUs) of the 10 MV plans were lower than in the 6 MV plans in both Groups A and B, and the difference was statistically significant. The assessment parameter V40 Gy of both the rectum and bladder in the 6 MV plans was smaller than the corresponding parameter in the 10 MV plans in Group A; in Group B, the assessment parameter V50 Gy of the rectum in the 10 MV plans was smaller than in the 6 MV plans. CONCLUSION: When T < 34 cm, 6 MV energy is more suitable for the external irradiation of cervical cancer. When T > 34 cm, 10 MV energy is more suitable for cervical cancer radiotherapy. Therefore, 10 MV should be considered for patients with a large abdominal size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a numerical compact model for describing the drain current in ballistic mode by using an expression to represent the transmission coefficients for all operating regions. This model is based on our previous study of an analytic compact model for the subthreshold region in which the DIBL and source-to-drain tunneling effects were both taken into account. This paper introduces an approach to establishing the smoothing function for expressing the critical parameters in the model's overall operating regions. The resulting compact model was tested in a TCAD NEGF simulation, demonstrating good consistency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, two different strategies are combined to optimize the phase current control for switched reluctance motor (SRM). Firstly, considering the sampling and computation delay, a current prediction chopping control method is proposed to alleviate the current ripple during the entire excitation phase chopping process. Secondly, in order to cut down the large current ripple in the initial stage of phase current establishment and the excessive output current of the battery, a partitioned current control method is proposed to control the phase current with different control logic at different rotor zones. Finally, the two control strategies are combined to further optimize the phase current. In order to verify the proposed combined control strategy, a three-phase 12/8 poles SRM simulation model and experimental platform are built. The simulations and experiments are carried out to verify the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, an integrated drive converter of segmented double-stator switched reluctance machine (SDS-SRM) with isolation and nonisolation charging capabilities for electric vehicle (EV) is presented. The proposed converter can not only reduce the number of the power switches, but also implement multiple operation modes. In nonisolation charging mode, the motor windings and existing power switches constitute a buck/boost converter to charge the battery. The appropriate rotor positions are obtained to achieve torque-free control, and the interleaved phase currents control method is introduced to reduce the charging current ripples. In isolation charging mode, the inner-stator is powered by the utility grid to drive the middle-rotor, and converts electrical energy into mechanical energy, while the outer-stator is operated in generation mode to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. The SDS-SRM is served as a rotating transformer to transfer the electric power to charge the battery with the galvanic isolation function. A low power proof-of-concept prototype platform is built and experiments are carried out to verify the effectiveness of the proposed integrated drive converter and the corresponding control schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Restricted rate capability is the key bottleneck for the large‐scale energy storage of battery‐type supercapacitor cathode due to its sluggish reaction kinetics. Herein, Ni(Co)Se2@Co(Ni)Se2 semicoherent heterojunctions with rich Se vacancies (Vr‐Ni(Co)Se2@Co(Ni)Se2) as cathode are first constructed. Such a vacancy and heterointerface manipulation can not only essentially regulate the electronic structure and enhance ions adsorption capability, but also rationalize the chemical affinities of OH– ions in diffusion pathway revealed by systematic characterization analysis and first‐principle calculations. The as‐prepared cathode delivers large specific capacity of 264.5 mAh g–1 at 1 A g–1 and excellent cycle stability. Surprisingly, it presents ultrahigh rate with the retention of 159.7 mAh g–1 even at 250 A g–1. Moreover, the single phase transition mechanism of the cathode is elucidated systematically using series of ex situ techniques. In addition, contributed by the unique cathode and the self‐synthesized N/S co‐doped corncob‐derived porous carbon (N/S‐BPC, 316.1 F g–1 at 1 A g–1) anode, a high‐performance hybrid supercapacitor (HSC) is developed, which shows the energy density of 68.1 Wh kg–1 at 0.75 kW kg–1 and a superior cycle performance. The findings highlight a coordination strategy for the rational design of ultrahigh‐rate battery‐type HSC cathode, greatly pushing their commercial application processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adipocytic tumors are the most common subtype of soft tissue tumors. In current clinical practice, distinguishing benign lipomas from well-differentiated liposarcomas (WDLPS), as well as dedifferentiated liposarcomas (DDLPS) from their morphologic mimics, remains a significant diagnostic challenge. This is especially so when examining small biopsy samples and without the aid of additional ancillary tests. Recognizing the important role that microRNAs (miRNAs) play in tumorigenesis and their potential utility in tumor classification, we analyzed routine clinical tissue samples of benign and malignant lipomatous tumors, as well as other sarcoma mimics, to identify distinguishing miRNA-based signatures that can aid in the differential diagnosis of these entities. We discovered a 6-miRNA signature that separated lipomas from WDLPS with high confidence (AUC of 0.963), as well as a separate 6-miRNA signature that distinguished DDLPS from their more aggressive histologic mimics (AUC of 0.740). Functional enrichment analysis unveiled possible mechanistic involvement of these predictive miRNAs in adipocytic cancer-related biological processes and pathways such as PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MAPK signaling, further supporting the relevance of these miRNAs as biomarkers for adipocytic tumors. Our results demonstrate that miRNA expression profiling may potentially be used as an adjunctive tool for the diagnosis of benign and malignant adipocytic tumors. Further validation studies are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mume Fructus is an important traditional Chinese medicine that has been widely used in the treatment of intestinal diseases and asthma for thousands of years. In order to evaluate the quality of Mume Fructus in different processing methods, the main chemical components in Mume Fructus were investigated and a method was established for simultaneous quantification of organic acids of Mume Fructus. First, an optimized ultra‐performance liquid chromatography‐quadrupole‐time of flight tandem‐mass spectrometry method was used to identify the structures of main components in Mume Fructus. A total of 41 chemical compounds were identified, including 11 organic acids, 13 flavonoids, and three fatty acids. The contents of 11 organic acids in 18 batches of Mume Fructus from different processing methods were simultaneously determined by a liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method. The results of quantitative and hierarchical cluster analysis indicated that Mume Fructus under different processing methods were rich in the above 11 organic acids and the contents were obviously different. Taken together, the proposed quality evaluation method was fast and comprehensively reflects the content of the main chemical components in Mume Fructus under different processing methods, and provides a useful reference for the quality control and evaluation of Mume Fructus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasma-activated medium (PAM) has a broad prospect in the medical field. However, how to define the plasma dose of PAM and what is the dose–response relationship of PAM on cells are still open questions of plasma medicine. In this paper, the plasma dose of PAM based on equivalent total oxidation potential (ETOP) is introduced, and the S-logistic model is used to describe the relationship between PAM dose and the corresponding lethal effects of cells. Experiments of PAM on A875/HaCaT cell viabilities indicate that ETOP as a plasma dose is suitable for PAM. Evidence of dose discrepancies in 50% response intensity suggests that ETOP can be used to maximize the lethality difference between normal/cancer cells. Further validation by the published literature again indicates that ETOP may provide a well-defined strategy in evaluating the selectivity of PAM treatment on different cell types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the design methods and performance optimization of segmented-double-stator switched reluctance machine (SDS-SRM). First, two segmented U-shaped single-stator SRMs are introduced, including inner-rotor and outer-rotor constructions. In order to enhance the torque and power density, these two kinds of single-stator SRMs are combined together to constitute an SDS-SRM. Then, the relationships of torque ripple coefficient with the mechanical offset angles of the inner and outer rotor teeth are investigated to obtain the optimal rotor structure, and the corresponding conduction phase sequences for double-stator excitation mode are also analyzed. Furthermore, the flux distributions of the inner and outer stators with different coil magnetic polarities configurations are researched, and it reveals that the phase windings both on inner and outer stators with NSSNNSSN polarities have better magnetic field decoupling characteristics. To evaluate the final topology of the proposed SDS-SRM, the static magnetic characteristics and dynamic performances are presented. Finally, the SDS-SRM prototype is manufactured and tested to validate the theory and simulation analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) are currently considered as the standard therapy for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have EGFR-activating mutations. However, despite an initially profound response to these drugs, these patients ultimately develop drug resistance. The most common resistance mechanism is the development of a secondary mutation in EGFR (T790M), although activation of the MNNG/HOS transforming gene (MET), amplification of the Erb-B2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2 gene and histological transformation to small cell lung cancer may also lead to resistance. In addition, there may be additional, rare mechanisms leading to resistance that remain unidentified. Mutations in the EGFR kinase domain duplication (EGFR-KDD) are rare, although they act as oncogenic drivers in NSCLC. To the best of our knowledge, all studies to date have reported EGFR-KDD as the primary mutation in NSCLC. The aim of the present study was to report the case of an EGFR-KDD mutation in a patient with NSCLC who developed acquired resistance to gefi- tinib, but responded well to afatinib. Therefore, EGFR-KDD mutation is an additional potential mechanism underlying the development of acquired resistance to EGFR-TKIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corydoras is a speciose catfish genus from South America with widely investigated phylogenetic and evolutionary relationships. The complete mitogenomes of C. aeneus and C. paleatus were sequenced, assembled, and annotated using next-generation sequencing. The genome arrangements, gene contents, genome structures, base compositions, evolutionary features, codon usage, and tRNA structures of the two mitogenomes were compared and analyzed with nine published mitogenomes of Corydoras. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using concatenated nucleotide sequences with 13 protein-coding genes and two rRNAs with 44 mitogenomes of Siluriformes. These results provide information on the mitogenomes of eleven Corydoras species and evolutionary relationships within the suborder Loricarioidei, which may be applicable for further phylogenetic and taxonomic studies on Siluriformes and Loricarioidei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cretaceous-Cenozoic basins developed in the NE Tibetan Plateau contain key archives to unravel the growth history of the plateau in response to the India-Eurasia collision. Here we present magnetostratigraphic results of a Late Cretaceous to Paleogene succession of the Zhongba section outcropping at the southern margin of the eastern Xining basin. This succession consists of three lithological units punctuated by two stratigraphic unconformities, which best recorded the deformation history of this foreland basin. Detailed magnetostratigraphic investigation show that the lower terrestrial sedimentary rock unit, the Minhe Group, was deposited in latest Cretaceous in the time span of ca. 74.5-69.2 Ma; the middle unit was deposited in Paleogene in the time span of ca. 49.3-22 Ma; and the upper conglomeratic unit, not dated, possibly was deposited in early Miocene. Accordingly, the Cretaceous-Paleogene unconformity, widely observed in the foreland basins of NE Tibet, represents a sedimentary hiatus duration of ~19.9 m.y., from ca. 69.2 Ma to ca. 49.3 Ma, which possibly recorded the far-field response to the tectonic transition from Neo-Tethys oceanic plate subduction to the India-Eurasia collision in southern Tibet. Changes in provenance, sedimentary accumulation rate, and mean susceptibility value at ca. 33-30 Ma, and the total prolate anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) ellipsoids and provenance shifting since ca. 23-19 Ma, point to the pulsed growth of West Qinling, and rapid uplift of Laji Shan, respectively, indicating an enhanced effect of the India-Eurasia collision in Oligocene and early Miocene. AMS results show a clockwise rotation of the shortening direction from NEN-SWS in latest Cretaceous to NE-SW in Paleogene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes an integrated multifunctional power converter topology, where a traction battery charger (TBC), an auxiliary battery charger (ABC), and a motor drive converter (MDC) merge into an effective system. Traction battery charging, auxiliary battery charging, and motor driving operation modes can be realized by sharing power components. For the battery charging mode, a single-phase power supply charges the traction battery, and the circuit is capable of power factor correction (PFC) and active power decoupling (APD) (G2V mode). For the purpose of enhancing its charging power, the traction battery can also be connected to a three-phase power supply. For the battery discharging mode, the traction battery can feed energy back to a single-phase grid or a three-phase grid (V2G mode). When necessary, the traction battery can charge an auxiliary battery through a DC–DC converter (T2A mode). In the motor driving mode, the energy of the traction battery is used to drive a motor (T2M mode). Each of the charging modes can be implemented under the galvanic isolated condition. Power relays are used to switch the operating modes of the proposed topology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis) is one of the most endangered cranes in the world, and its wild population is still declining. To characterize the genetic resources of East Asian migratory populations, we studied the genetic variation in wild red-crowned cranes at the Yancheng reserve. Based on a partial Cyt b gene sequence, 32 wild red-crowned crane samples were screened from 100 feathers with unknown sample information. Twelve haplotypes were detected using 32 wild red-crowned crane samples. Six pairs of published microsatellite primers were selected for genotyping. A total of 47 alleles were obtained, with an average of 7.8 alleles per locus. All microsatellite loci were highly polymorphic; the average polymorphic information content and expected heterozygosity were 0.721 ± 0.080 and 0.768 ± 0.071, respectively. These results show that the East Asian migratory population of wild red-crowned cranes exhibits high polymorphism. These data are useful for informing reintroduction efforts. The study results provide a basis for understanding the population genetic properties of an endangered crane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As he noted, peroxynitrite is satisfactorily stable for several days in strongly alkaline solutions, so higher pH could slower the decomposition of ONOO SP - sp , because of this mechanism, the strong antibacterial effect of PAW could be extended in high pH conditions. According to Goldstein's report in Ref. [4], the decay of ONOOH is followed as a function of [H SP + sp ]: This H SP + sp -catalyzed decomposition of ONOOH will become the dominant mechanism at high acidities.[4] It is interesting to note that yields of ONOOH decomposition into about 70% nitrites and 30% OH/NO SB 2 sb .[4] The decomposition of ONOOH/ONOO SP - sp is very complicated. With respect to Ref. [2], which was probably wrongly quoted in Ref. [3], we have traced to the source literature and found that there was indeed no relevant statement in Ref. [2] on "low pH values may contribute to the stabilization of some reactive chemicals present in plasma-activated water (PAW).". [Extracted from the article]

We wanted to explore a new method for the determination of monosaccharides in Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua polysaccharide using the ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography quadrupole trap tandem mass spectrometry. In this study, hydrochloric acid was used instead of trifluoroacetic acid to hydrolyze polysaccharides, and hydrolysis time was greatly reduced from 5–9 h to 1 h. The 1‐phenyl‐3‐methyl‐5‐pyrazolone was used for pre‐column derivatization of monosaccharides. The parameters of linearity (R2 > 0.999), stability (1.63–2.52%), intra‐day and inter‐day precision (0.69–0.95%, 1.81–2.77%), repeatability (1.89–2.65%), and recovery (97.63–102.24%) of the method were verified. Satisfactory validation results showed this method could be used to determine the target components. The results indicated the polysaccharide contained glucose, mannose, rhamnose, galactose, ribose, and arabinose. Technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution and principal component analysis were used to build an evaluation model based on the monosaccharide composition. The evaluation results showed that the samples from the Qingyang County of Anhui Province were the best when the monosaccharides were used as the evaluation index. Therefore, a new method was established to detect the monosaccharide content of polysaccharides from Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua and comprehensively evaluate the quality of Chinese medicines with polysaccharides as the main active ingredient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous articles have focused on the diagnosis and treatment of acute hematogenous osteomyelitis. Here, we present a case of chronic hematogenous osteomyelitis in a 2-month-old girl. The diagnostic procedure was unusual and difficult due to negative culture results.Case Presentation: A girl aged 2 months and 23 days had fever and swelling in her right lower leg for 7 days. On the basis of her medical history, physical, and histological examination results; and radiologic and magnetic resonance imaging findings, a diagnosis of chronic osteomyelitis was made. The patient underwent surgical treatment and was discharged successfully. The patient showed good recovery and no sequelae at the 12-month follow-up.Conclusion: Hematogenous osteomyelitis in babyhood is different from that at any other age. Hematogenous osteomyelitis-related bone destruction in babyhood is more serious and occurs faster. The transition from acute hematogenous osteomyelitis to chronic hematogenous osteomyelitis takes only 7 days. To the best of our knowledge, this chronic hematogenous osteomyelitis patient is the youngest ever reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To evaluate the clinical value of preoperative markers in predicting occult metastases in resectable pancreatic body and tail cancer judged by a recent multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) scan of the abdomen. Methods: The data from a retrospective collected database from 2010 to 2019 with 699 patients who had MDCT scan predicted resectable mass in pancreatic body and tail and were pathological confirmed as adenocarcinoma after surgery. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted for serum CA19-9, CA125, CEA and tumor size measured by MDCT. The optimal cut-off point-related sensitivity and specificity were calculated, respectively. Results: Occult metastases were found in 73 (73/699, 10.4%) pancreatic body and tail cancer patients underwent exploration. The area under curve (AUC) for CA19-9, CA125, CEA and tumor size were 0.624, 0.733, 0.561 and 0.697, respectively. The optimal cut-off for CA19-9, CA125 and tumor size is 226 U/ml, 22.1 U/ml and 3.3 cm, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of CA19-9 for predicting occult metastases were 67.1% and 60.4%, 72.6% and 64.7% for CA125, 80.8% and 51.4% for tumor size. Conclusion: CA125 is superior to CA19-9 and tumor size for predicting occulting metastases in MDCT scan suggested resectable pancreatic body and tail cancer. The high level of CA125 (≥ 22.1 U/ml) is regarded as high risk for occulting metastases, and laparoscopy should be applied for these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonthermal plasma (NTP) provides a novel approach to developing renewable and efficient nitrogen fixation (NF) technology. However, the efficiency optimization of NTP-assisted NF (NTP-NF) remains challenging due to the elusive ultra-fast plasma process, especially in packed-bed dielectric barrier discharge (PB-DBD). Our work presents a unique view on how to optimize the efficiency of NTP-NF based on precise studies of plasma dynamics and chemistry by developing a novel nanosecond pulse driving PB-DBD model. 2D plasma dynamics show that the plasma propagates in the form of surface ionization waves coupled with filamentary micro-discharge. Electron heating by high instantaneously applied power determines the development of ionization waves and NO production. Plasma chemistry shows that selectively enhancing the energy of electronically excited dissociation to produce N* is the most efficient way to increase the production of NO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A transportable fountain clock with high reliability is important for high-precision time-frequency measurements. Because of its relatively small cold atoms' collision frequency shift and ease of attaining high quantum state preparation efficiency, the rubidium atomic fountain clock has an indicated higher stability and reliability. This paper reports the design and operation of a transportable rubidium atomic fountain clock developed by the Shanghai Institute of Optical and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Science. After being transported more than 1000 km from Shanghai to the Changping Campus of the National Institute of Metrology, China, the optical platform and other hardware of the fountain clock did not need to be adjusted. The rubidium fountain clock maintained a stability of 4.0 × 10−13τ1/2, reaching 5.0 × 10−16 at 300 000 s. After transportation, the rubidium fountain clock and a cesium fountain clock (NIM5) were operated together against the reference frequency of a hydrogen maser. In three separate operating periods, over a total of nearly three months, the average frequency repeatability of the rubidium fountain was less than 3.8 × 10−15. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

aim of the present study was to investigate the D-loop gene mutation and microsatellite instability in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and the correlation with the clinical and pathological parameters in laryngeal cancer. Methods: The tumor tissues and paratumor tissues in 60 cases of laryngeal cancer were selected, and DNA was extracted from these tissues. The D-loop region in mtDNA was amplified by PCR with the gene sequence of the amplified product being detected. The gene sequence of the detected region was compared with the revised Cambridge Reference Sequence (rCRS) and the related database by using the Mitomaster software. The correlation between the D-loop gene mutation and the clinical and pathological parameters was investigated. Results: A total of 174 mutations across 38 sites were detected in 51 (85%) of samples. Most of the mutations were concentrated in the high various (HV) I region, and the main types of mutations were the substitution of a single base or insertion and deletion of a single base. There was also microsatellite instability in the D310 region. The statistical results showed that there was no correlation between the age, gender, tumor diameter, and TNM stage, and the number of the D-loop mutations in mtDNA (P > 0.05). Conclusion: There existed high-frequency mutation of the D-loop gene in mtDNA in laryngeal cancer, which might play an important role in the pathogenesis of laryngeal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the development of a new type of covalent organic framework (COF) that can improve photocatalytic efficiency under green light. The researchers synthesized two COFs, NapTz-COF and NapBz-COF, and compared their properties. They found that NapTz-COF had better photoelectric properties and higher yields in catalytic reactions compared to NapBz-COF. This study demonstrates the potential of using naphthalene-based COFs as effective photocatalysts. The research was supported by various funding sources. [Extracted from the article]

BACKGROUND: Although ambient temperature has been linked with injury incidence, there have been few nationwide studies to quantify the temperature-related risk and burden of cause-specific injury hospitalizations. Additionally, the impact of human-induced climate change to injury burden remains unknown. OBJECTIVES: Our objectives are to examine the associations between ambient temperature and injury hospitalizations from various causes and to quantify the contribution of human-induced warming to the heat-related burden. METHODS: We collected injury hospitalization data from a nationwide hospital-based registry in China during 2000–2019. Using a time-stratified case-crossover design, we investigated the associations between daily mean temperature (°C) and cause-specific injury hospitalizations. We also quantified the burden of heat-related injuries under the scenarios with and without anthropogenic forcing, using the Detection and Attribution Model Intercomparison Project to assess the contribution of human-induced warming. RESULTS: Our study included a total of 988,087 patients with hospitalization records for injuries. Overall, compared to the temperature at minimum risk of hospitalization (-12:1°C), the relative risk of hospitalization at extreme hot temperature (30.8°C, 97.5th percentile) was 1.18 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.14, 1.22], with an approximately linear association between temperature and hospitalization. Vulnerability to heat-related injuries was more pronounced among males, young (<18 years of age) or middle-aged (45–64 years of age) individuals, and those living in the North. The heatrelated attributable fraction increased from 23.2% in the 2000s to 23.6% in the 2010s, with a corresponding increase in the contribution of humaninduced change over time. In the 2010s, the heat-related attributable fractions for specific causes of injury ranged from 12.4% to 54.4%, with humaninduced change accounting for 6.7% to 10.6% of the burden. DISCUSSION: This nationwide study presents new evidence of significant associations between temperature and cause-specific injury hospitalizations in China and highlights the increasing contribution of human-induced warming to the injury burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the formation of high-barrier Au contact to Si nanowires (SiNWs) with sulfide treatment. The discrepancy in Schottky barrier height (q[lowercase_phi_synonym]B) extracted from current-voltage (I-V) and capacitance-voltage (C-V) characteristics was studied. A high q[lowercase_phi_synonym]B of 1.03 eV is achieved between the 60 s-sulfide-treated SiNW surface and Au, which is confirmed by C-V measurements. For Au/SiNWs/n-type Si Schottky diodes, q[lowercase_phi_synonym]B determined from C-V measurements is higher than that determined from I-V measurements, owing to the image-force lowering and the larger ideality factor than 2. However, for Au/60 s-sulfide-treated SiNWs/n-type Si Schottky diodes, the lower q[lowercase_phi_synonym]B determined from I-V measurements than that determined from C-V measurements is attributed to a combined effect of the image-force lowering and the interfacial dipole. Note, a suitable sulfide treatment time is an important issue for producing high-quality Schottky diodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iodine species are important in the marine atmosphere for oxidation and new-particle formation. Understanding iodine chemistry and iodine new-particle formation requires high time resolution, high sensitivity, and simultaneous measurements of many iodine species. Here, we describe the application of bromide chemical ionization mass spectrometers (Br-CIMS) to this task. During iodine new-particle formation experiments in the Cosmics Leaving OUtdoor Droplets (CLOUD) chamber, we have measured gas-phase iodine species and sulfuric acid using two Br-CIMS, one coupled to a Multi-scheme chemical IONization inlet (Br-MION-CIMS) and the other to a Filter Inlet for Gasses and AEROsols inlet (Br-FIGAERO-CIMS). From offline calibrations and inter-comparisons with other instruments attached to the CLOUD chamber, we have quantified the sensitivities of the Br-MION-CIMS to HOI, I2, and H2SO4 and obtain detection limits of 5.8 x 106, 6.3 x 105, and 2.0 x 105 molec cm-3, respectively, for a 2-min integration time. From binding energy calculations, we estimate the detection limit for HIO3 to be 1.2 x 105 molec cm-3, based on an assumption of maximum sensitivity. Detection limits in the Br-FIGAERO-CIMS are around one order of magnitude higher than those in the Br-MION-CIMS; for example, the detection limits for HOI and HIO3 are 3.3 x 107 and 5.1 x 106 molec cm-3, respectively. Our comparisons of the performance of the MION inlet and the FIGAERO inlet show that bromide chemical ionization mass spectrometers using either atmospheric pressure or reduced pressure interfaces are well-matched to measuring iodine species and sulfuric acid in marine environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Germinomas (IG) account for up to 50% of all intracranial germ cell tumours. These tumours are reputed to be more prevalent in Oriental populations in comparison to Western cohorts. Biological characteristics of IG in other ethnic groups are unknown. Singapore is a multi-ethnic country with diverse cultures. Owing to inter-racial heterogeneity, the authors hypothesize there are molecular differences between paediatric IG patients in our local population. The aims of this study are exploratory: firstly, to identify molecular characteristics in this tumour type and circulating CSF unique to different racial cohorts; and next, to corroborate our findings with published literature.Methods: This is a single-institution, retrospective study of prospectively collected data. Inclusion criteria encompass all paediatric patients with histologically confirmed IG. Excess CSF and brain tumour tissues are collected for molecular analysis. Tumour tissues are subjected to a next generation sequencing (NGS) targeted panel for KIT and PDGRA. All CSF samples are profiled via a high-throughput miRNA multiplexed workflow. Results are then corroborated with existing literature and public databases.Results: In our cohort of 14 patients, there are KIT exon variants in the tumour tissues and CSF miRNAs corroborative with published studies. Separately, there are also KIT exon variants and miRNAs not previously highlighted in IG. A subgroup analysis demonstrates differential CSF miRNAs between Chinese and Malay IG patients.Conclusion: This is the first in-depth molecular study of a mixed ethnic population of paediatric IGs from a Southeast Asian cohort. Validation studies are required to assess the relevance of novel findings in our study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advantages of less carbon dioxide emissions and high fuel efficiency, plug-in hybrid electrical vehicle (PHEV) is an attractive means of transportation. This article presents an electrified powertrain for PHEV containing switched reluctance generator (SRG), switched reluctance motor (SRM), and integrated power converters, which could achieve various driving and flexible on-board charging functions. The operation states of SRG and SRM with the integrated topology is analyzed. Five driving modes for PHEV are implemented and can be smoothly switched by controlling the front-end converter according to the load conditions. For the PHEV charging mode, a single-phase ac–dc rectifier is constituted by the windings and power converter of SRG with the capability of input power factor correction. The traction and auxiliary batteries chargers are formed by the windings and power converter of SRM. Three charging modes also are achieved and no complex control strategies are required to avoid the rotation of rotors. The three-phase 12/8 poles SRG and SRM experimental platform are built. The experiments are carried out to verify the effectiveness of proposed integrated powertrain and the corresponding control schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Management of chronic calcaneal osteomyelitis is challenging. At present, there is still no widely accepted, simple, and effective surgical method to eradicate the infection and prevent osteomyelitis recurrence. The objective of this study was to assess the outcomes of one-stage treatment of chronic calcaneal osteomyelitis with a shape-preserving debridement technique combined with antibiotic-loaded calcium sulphate.Methods: Between 2012 and 2018, 33 patients (33 limbs) with chronic calcaneal osteomyelitis were treated with a novel debridement technique, named "eggshell-like debridement", plus antibiotic-impregnated calcium sulphate. The infection remission rate, recurrence rate, and amputation rate were analyzed. The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle and hindfoot score was used to assess postoperative hindfoot function.Results: 26 patients (81.8%) achieved infection remission without recurrence. In the patients with osteomyelitis remission, pain, limitation of movement, sinus tracts, and typical redness and swelling were generally eliminated. Most of the patients could tolerate full weight-bearing without pain. The average AOFAS ankle and hindfoot score was 88 points (range, 67-100 points), implying the foot function was mostly restored. 6 patients (18.2%) had osteomyelitis recurrence but no amputation was required to elimilate the infection.Conclusions: Eggshell-like debridement combined with antibiotic-loaded calcium sulphate is an effective method for one-stage management of chronic calcaneal osteomyelitis. With the application of this technique, secondary autogenous bone or muscle flap grafts are unnecessary. The surgical procedure can be simplified whlie the hindfoot function is well preserved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The conversion of ns pulse PB-DBD is 10%, and the energy efficiency is 5%, higher than those of AC driving DBD and PB-DBD. • The CO and H 2 density of ns pulse PB-DBD are 1 or 2 order magnitude higher than those of other plasma catalysis ways. • The high instantaneous power is the key reason for the higher conversion rate and energy efficiency of ns pulse PB-DBD. CO 2 conversion into value-added chemicals and fuels is one of the greatest challenges of human society. Plasma-assisted catalysis is an emerging and rapidly expanding field of research offering promising solutions to this problem. However, conversion rates and energy efficiency of the plasma processes remain insufficient for widespread industrial adoption. The key reasons are highly-complex and ultra-fast reaction kinetics in the gas phase and at the interface with catalytic and supporting materials, which form intricate 3D micro-porous structures, especially in packed bed dielectric barrier discharge (PB-DBD). Our work fills this critical gap in knowledge by developing a novel simulation approach to maximize the conversion rates and energy efficiency of the ns pulse driving PB-DBD based on precise studies of plasma dynamics with sub-ns and sub-μm resolution. The high instantaneous power leads to the expansion of plasma is in the form of surface ionization waves coupled with filamentary microdischarges. The strong electron dissociation reaction in these discharge region results in CO and H 2 density of ns pulse PB-DBD are higher than those of other approaches to plasma catalysis. The extremely low duty cycle of ns pulse also decreases the backward recombination reaction. Therefore, the conversion rate and the energy efficiency of plasma catalysis are improved. This approach is generic, is validated by experimental results, and can be applied to other plasma catalysis systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the influence of Cr doping on magnetic properties of α-RuCl3single crystals in detail. With increasing Cr content, the c-axial lattice parameter increases gradually, implying that the Cr doping may weaken the interlayer interactions. The magnetism of Ru1 – xCrxCl3single crystals evolves from a long-range AFM order to a possible spin-glass state with Cr doping. The appearance of a possible spin-glass state can be explained by the introduction of FM interaction by Cr3+ions, which competes with the AFM interaction between Ru3+ions. Moreover, the larger magnetic moment of Cr3+ion with S = 3/2 than Ru3+ion with Jeff = 1/2 also results in a monotonic increase of the effective moment of Ru1 – xCrxCl3single crystal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a new insight into the fundamentals of plasma medicine: The definition of "plasma dose." Based on the dominant role of reactive oxygen nitrogen species (RONS) in plasma biological effects, we first propose the equivalent total oxidation potential (ETOP) as the definition of plasma dose. The ETOP includes three parts: the item H, which is the ETOP of the RONS generated by plasma; the item T, which is associated with the reactive agents unrelated to RONS, such as UV/vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) emission of plasma; and the item f(H,T), which is related to the synergistic effects between H and T factors. To evaluate the feasibility of the ETOP as a plasma dose, the bacterial reduction factor (BRF), which is the log reduction of bacteria colony-forming units, is selected as the indicator of the plasma biological effect. A model establishing the relationship between the ETOP and BRF is presented. For the first try of this paper, a linear relationship between the lgETOP and BRF is assumed. The model is initially validated by the published data from the literature. Further simulation and experiment are also conducted, and the positive correlation between the ETOPs and BRFs in the model again suggests that the ETOP could be a reasonable solution as the plasma dose. Finally, the prospects for improving the ETOP, such as including RONS generated in liquid phase, evaluating the weight factor of each type RONS, and involving the effect of electrons, ions, and UV/VUV, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a multifunctional microporous metal–organic framework (MOF), [Cu2(BPDC)2(H2O)2]·5.6H2O ·DMA (1, BPDC = 5,5′-dicarboxylate-3,3′-dipyridine anion and DMA = dimethylacetamide), has been synthesized based on the ligand BPDC under solvothermal conditions. Single crystal X-ray analysis reveals that it possesses a non-interpenetrating binodal (4,4)-connected three-dimensional PtS-type network with the Schläfli point symbol of {4² ·84 }. Remarkably, the activated 1 (1a) with dual functionalities of open metal sites (OMSs) and O-rich Lewis basic sites (LBSs) exhibits excellent CO2 adsorption (193 cm³ g−1 at 298 K) and high-effect separation ability (41.5 for CO2/N2 = 15/85 and 9.7 for CO2/CH4 = 5/95 under 1 bar at 298 K). Additionally, 1a exhibits impressive performance for I2 sorption and release in solvents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New advances in molecular approaches for DNA analysis have enhanced our understanding of the phylogenetic relationship of birds. The Little Owl (Athene noctua) is of great significance for the integrated management of forest diseases and control of regional pests. Here, we sequenced and annotated the 17,772 bp complete mitogenome of A. noctua. The mitogenome encoded 37 typical mitochondrial genes: 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA, and one non-coding control region (D-loop). The organization and location of genes in the A. noctua mitogenome were consistent with those reported for other Strigidae birds. Phylogenetic relationships based on Bayesian inference and Maximum likelihood methods showed that A. noctua has close relationships with Athene brama and Glaucidium cuculoides, confirming that A. noctua belongs to the Strigidae family. The phylogenetic relationships among seven genera of the Strigidae family used in this study were: Ninox and the other six genera were far apart, Otus and the clade ((Bubo + Strix) + Asio) were clustered into one branch, and Athene and Glaucidium were clustered into one branch. This phylogenetic classification is consistent with prior taxonomic studies on the Strigidae family. Our results provide new mitogenomic data to support further phylogenetic and taxonomic studies of Strigidae. Unlabelled Image • The first complete mitogenome of the little owl Athene noctua has been assembled. • The Athene mitogenome is circular, as typical for other true owls. • Phylogenetic analyses confirm that A. noctua belongs to the Strigidae family. • These data are important for phylogenetic and taxonomic studies of Strigidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought stress is an important crop yield limiting factor worldwide. Plant physiological responses to drought stress are driven by changes in gene expression. While drought-responsive genes (DRGs) have been identified in maize, regulation patterns of gene expression during progressive water deficits remain to be elucidated. In this study, we generated time-series transcriptomic data from the maize inbred line B73 under well-watered and drought conditions. Comparisons between the two conditions identified 8,626 DRGs and the stages (early, middle, and late drought) at which DRGs occurred. Different functional groups of genes were regulated at the three stages. Specifically, early and middle DRGs display higher copy number variation among diverse Zea mays lines, and they exhibited stronger associations with drought tolerance as compared to late DRGs. In addition, correlation of expression between small RNAs (sRNAs) and DRGs from the same samples identified 201 negatively sRNA/DRG correlated pairs, including genes showing high levels of association with drought tolerance, such as two glutamine synthetase genes, gln2 and gln6. The characterization of dynamic gene responses to progressive drought stresses indicates important adaptive roles of early and middle DRGs, as well as roles played by sRNAs in gene expression regulation upon drought stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Kras mutation and abnormal immune status are associated with pancreatic cancer development and progression. In this study, we evaluated the Kras mutation status in circulating tumor DNA and circulating T cell subsets in a cohort of advanced pancreatic cancer patients. Methods: Samples were retrospectively obtained from a series of 210 pathological advanced pancreatic cancer patients between 2012 and 2014. The Kras mutation status was detected in cell‐free circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) by ddPCR and circulating T cell subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry. Results: Univariate analysis found that tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage, chemotherapy, circulating regulatory T cells, CA19‐9 levels, CA125 levels, and KrasG12D and KrasG12V mutations were significantly related to overall survival in advanced pancreatic cancer patients. Multivariate analysis identified that TNM stage (P =.03, HR:1.422), Tregs (P =.004, HR:1.522), CA19‐9 levels (P =.009, HR:1.488), KrasG12D mutation (P =.044, HR:1.353), and KrasG12V mutation (P =.001, HR:1.667) were independent prognostic markers. Furthermore, we found that KrasG12V mutation in ctDNA was correlated with high circulating proportion of Tregs, and patients with both KrasG12V mutation and high levels of Tregs were associated with extremely poor survival in advanced pancreatic cancer. Conclusion: KrasG12V mutation was associated with high circulating regulatory T cell levels, and both of them predicted worse prognosis in advanced pancreatic cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A new rib tube with petal-shaped internal fins is designed and tested for ORV. • Heat transfer characteristics in smooth and rib tube are experimentally studied. • The effects of different operating parameters on heat transfer are investigated. • Numerical simulation is conducted to further analyze the heat transfer behaviors. • A new correlation is developed to accurately predict the heat transfer coefficient. Open rack vaporizer (ORV), using seawater as heat source, is widely used in liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminals. In this study, a new rib tube, with petal-shaped internal fins and rectangular straight external fins, is designed and tested. A series experiments are conducted to investigate the heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics of the supercritical nitrogen flow in the new rib tube and the smooth tube. The heat transfer coefficient of the rib tube is 66.3% larger than that of the smooth tube, and the frictional pressure drop in the rib tube is also smaller compared to that of the smooth tube. Different control variables affecting the heat transfer characteristics in the rib tube are studied, including the temperature of the water, the mass flow rate and the pressure of the nitrogen. Meanwhile, numerical simulation is conducted to further analyze the heat transfer coefficients near the pseudo-critical region. A new correlation is developed to accurately predict the heat transfer coefficients of the supercritical fluid in the new rib tube based on the experimental and simulation data. The new correlation shows a good agreement as 95% of the experimental data captured with an error within 20%. This study may provide reference for the research on the supercritical fluid flow and the heat transfer enhancement of the tube in ORV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]