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Digital technologies are reshaping the landscape of agriculture. In 2021, around 10% of agricultural products in China were distributed through the Internet. As small farmers are traditionally subsumed by commercial capital in the sphere of circulation, this article investigates what difference online marketing has made to this relationship. Using qualitative data collected from a county in China, we examine the experiences of small farmer e‐tailers. We find that agricultural e‐commerce provides them with an alternative marketing channel and a larger customer base, increases the efficiency of product distribution and allows them to retain a greater share of the value they produce. However, while extant literature suggests that agricultural e‐commerce has increased farmers' autonomy and income, we find that small farmers' vertical expansion into e‐commerce by becoming agricultural e‐tailers fails to alleviate their subsumption by commercial capital and subjects them to more oppressive forms of commercial capital in three ways. First, small farmer e‐tailers are controlled by agricultural e‐commerce platforms, as their transactions rely on these platforms that are quasi‐monopolies in China. Second, these e‐tailers are increasingly exploited by platforms and other cybermediaries whom they are forced to pay for Internet traffic. Finally, small farmers are being excluded from being e‐tailers as platforms are becoming e‐tailers and they cannot compete with corporate e‐tailers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To overcome the drawbacks of oral administration of insulin, a surface-modified insulin-loaded nanocomposite was designed and prepared in this work. Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) were employed to improve the insulin encapsulation, PEG-CS and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose phthalate (HPMCP) were selected to surface modify the insulin-loaded HNTs to adjust the release of insulin. As a result, the insulin-loaded HNTs/PEG-CS/HPMCP NCs had good biocompatibility, relatively high drug loading, and pH-sensitive release properties. Oral administration of the NCs produced an effective and relative long-time hypoglycemic effect. Therefore, these NCs can be a promising delivery system to improve the oral bioavailability of insulin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The failure analysis of coal specimens containing preexisting fault and roadways under confined compression are investigated. • Effects of changes in roadways arrangement on deviatoric fabric, magnitudes, coordination numbers, energy and source types. • For the two-dimensional Fourier transformation of the hole area, the damage area is converted into frequency domain analysis, and targeted deformation analysis of coal pillars and key areas of instability. • The disturbance mechanism of through-fault stress wave on the surrounding rocks of roadways is presented, and recommend appropriate roadway arrangement to reduce post-disaster losses. After the stress wave penetrates the fault, it changes the stress direction and destroys the stress balance of the deep underground mining surface and roadway during mining activities, causing the roadway and underground equipment to collapse. To reveal the failure mechanism, we studied the precursor characteristics of unstable failure of rocks in deep roadway groups. With conducting two PFC numerical models based on common roadway layouts, we studied crack development and failure conditions of surrounding rocks near roadway groups by investigating the force chain fracture, coordination number, energy evolution, and acoustic emission moment tensor in the models. The results show that the overall deformation failure of the roadway group first occurs in the upper roadway, and the weak force chain break in the force chain field of the lower roadway is obvious, especially before and after the peak value, accompanied by the coordination number in the direction of 80° with the joint plane significantly reduced. At the same time, obvious force patterns were observed in the roadway group area: irregular gathering (>90°) and swirl (<90°). These findings clarify the mechanism of fault disturbance in roadways surrounding rocks and help to better understand the deformation failure feature and energy evolution process of coal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the effects and mechanisms of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on pregnancy outcomes in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF)-embryo transfer (ET). Design, setting, and participants: This efficacy study was a multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trial (RCT) in women receiving IVF-ET. The mechanistic study was a single-center RCT. Interventions: The participants received TEAS vs. no TEAS treatment. Main outcome measures: In the efficacy study, the primary outcomes were the rates of clinical pregnancy, embryo implantation, and live birth. In the mechanistic study, sex hormones and endometrial protein expression were examined. Results: Ultimately, 739 participants were enrolled (367 and 372 in the TEAS and control groups, respectively). The clinical pregnancy rate was higher in the TEAS group than in the controls (55.1% vs. 46.7%, P = 0.03). There were no significant differences in embryo implantation, biochemical pregnancy, and live birth rates between the two groups (all P > 0.05) in the study population. In women > 35 years, the clinical pregnancy rates, embryo implantation rates and live birth rates in the TEAS and control groups were 48.9% vs. 23.7% (P = 0.004),30.8 vs. 13.9% (P = 0.001) and 34.0% vs. 19.7% (P = 0.06) respectively. In the mechanistic study with 120 participants, on the theoretical embryo implantation day, better developed endometrial pinopodes, elevated endometrial integrin α1β1/αVβ3, leukemia inhibitory factor, and elevated serum progesterone levels were found in the TEAS group compared with controls. Conclusion: TEAS significantly improved the clinical pregnancy rate in women undergoing IVF-ET, especially in women of older age. It might be due to improved endometrial receptivity. Trial registration: ChiCTR-TRC-13003950. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 1‐year mortality and health consequences of COVID‐19 in cancer patients are relatively underexplored. In this multicenter cohort study, 166 COVID‐19 patients with cancer were compared with 498 non‐cancer COVID‐19 patients and 498 non‐COVID cancer patients. The 1‐year all‐cause mortality and hospital mortality rates in Cancer COVID‐19 Cohort (30% and 20%) were significantly higher than those in COVID‐19 Cohort (9% and 8%, both P <.001) and Cancer Cohort (16% and 2%, both P < 0.001). The 12‐month all‐cause post‐discharge mortality rate in survival discharged Cancer COVID‐19 Cohort (8%) was higher than that in COVID‐19 Cohort (0.4%, P <.001) but similar to that in Cancer Cohort (15%, P =.084). The incidence of sequelae in Cancer COVID‐19 Cohort (23%, 26/114) is similar to that in COVID‐19 Cohort (30%, 130/432, P =.13). The 1‐year all‐cause mortality was high among patients with hematologic malignancies (59%), followed by those who have nasopharyngeal, brain, and skin tumors (45%), digestive system neoplasm (43%), and lung cancers (32%). The rate was moderate among patients with genitourinary (14%), female genital (13%), breast (11%), and thyroid tumors (0). COVID‐19 patients with cancer showed a high rate of in‐hospital mortality and 1‐year all‐cause mortality, but the 12‐month all‐cause post‐discharge mortality rate in survival discharged cancer COVID‐19 patients was similar to that in Cancer Cohort. Comparing to COVID‐19 Cohort, risk stratification showed that hematologic, nasopharyngeal, brain, digestive system, and lung tumors were high risk (44% vs 9%, P < 0.001), while genitourinary, female genital, breast, and thyroid tumors had moderate risk (10% vs 9%, P =.85) in COVID‐19 Cancer Cohort. Different tumor subtypes had different effects on COVID‐19. But if cancer patients with COVID‐19 manage to survive their COVID‐19 infections, then long‐term mortality appears to be similar to the cancer patients without COVID‐19, and their long‐term clinical sequelae were similar to the COVID‐19 patients without cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research field of labour precarity is loaded with largely isolated empirical studies focusing on specific forms of precarious labour. This article is a preliminary attempt towards a more systematic understanding of the general causes and modulators of labour precarity under contemporary capitalism. It reviews how different traditions of classical theories explain the dynamics of labour precarity under capitalism and how empirical studies on labour precarity exemplify these explanations. It distinguishes three exploratory approaches: namely exploitation, exclusion, and commodification. They comprise distinct models of causation of labour precarity and corresponding proposals to reduce it. It also discusses the relationship between these approaches and suggests the possibility of selectively integrating certain elements of them in future research. Such integration refuses the reductionist temptation to attribute the occurrence of labour precarity to a single mechanism which is popular in the existing literature and provides a powerful tool for comparative historical studies of labour precarity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marijuana (cannabis) can cause cardiovascular side effects, yet the mechanisms and treatments remain poorly understood. In a recent study published in Cell , Wei et al. discovered that soy isoflavone genistein attenuates Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC, a main constituent from marijuana)-induced endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis by directly antagonizing peripheral cannabinoid receptor 1, demonstrating a therapeutic potential for ameliorating the cardiovascular side effects of cannabis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acupuncture has pain-relief effects, but no data were available on the use of transcutaneous electric acupoint stimulation (TEAS) in pain relief during oocyte retrieval. This study was designed to examine the effect of TEAS for pain relief in women undergoing transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte aspiration. This single-blinded, multicenter, randomized controlled trial was performed in China between May 2013 and May 2015. The subjects were randomized to mock TEAS and TEAS. TEAS or mock TEAS was administered 30 min before oocyte retrieval until the end of the operation. The primary and secondary endpoints were the pain measured using the visual analog scale (VAS) within 1 min and 1 hour after oocyte retrieval, respectively. Serum β-endorphin levels were tested in the first 50 patients/group. 390 women were undergoing oocyte retrieval. Pain levels evaluated using VAS within 1 min (18.6 ± 1.3 vs. 24.4 ± 1.7, P < 0.01) and 1 h after oocyte aspiration (4.6 ± 0.7 vs. 6.8 ± 0.8, P < 0.05) were lower in the TEAS group than in the mock TEAS group. Nausea assessment revealed a significantly lower VAS score in the TEAS group within 1 min (1.2 ± 0.4 vs. 2.9 ± 0.7, P < 0.033). Serum β-endorphin levels were significantly higher in the TEAS group than in the mock TEAS group (11.4 ± 0.5 vs. 9.1 ± 0.4, P < 0.001) after retrieval. Serum β-endorphin levels were higher in the TEAS group after the procedure than baseline (11.4 ± 0.5 vs. 9.1 ± 0.3, P < 0.001). Oocyte retrieval causes pain and discomfort, but TEAS is effective and safe for suppressing the pain and alleviating nausea associated with the operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3D thermo-mechanical models have been constructed to explore the influence of pre-existing faults on the temporal-spatial distribution of high-grade amphibolite-granulite facies metamorphic rocks during extension. The different dip amounts of three pre-existing faults (refer to the Bole-Nangodi shear zones, the Jirapa shear zone and the Bulenga shear zone in the study area) are studied in models. The results show the lower crust exhumes occur at a relatively low rate prior to attaining a Stretching Factor = 4.2%. The partially molten lower crustal rocks tend to move (up to 20 km) towards the center of the model and focus exhumation in regions where pre-existing faults intersect. The high-strain corridors in models are used to understand the loci of exhumation in the Bole-Bulenga domain of NW Ghana. Accordingly, in the eastern and western parts of the high-grade rock corridors in NW Ghana, partially molten rocks exhumed from the lower into middle-upper crustal levels are interpreted to have been dominantly facilitated by the km-scale high-strain corridors. In the central part of the Bole-Bulenga domain, the high-grade rocks are interpreted to have been exhumed because of a coupling between two mechanisms: (1) The exhumation of partially molten rocks between the Jirapa and Bole-Nangodi faults increases in spatially due to the reduction in space from north to south. (2) The exhumation of lower partially molten rocks in the central part, as a result of inherited orthogonal (E-W) structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring the propagation of stress waves in rocks with preexisting discontinuities is of great importance to reveal rock and geological engineering problems, particularly dynamic disasters like earthquakes and rockbursts in underground coal mining. In this paper, six 3D models established with COMSOL Multiphysics are employed to explore the influence of two preexisting faults with different orientations on the propagation process of explosion-induced stress waves and the reflection effect. Considering the propagation process of stress waves, the interactive effect between two different size faults is discussed. The results show that the dip angles of the preexisting fault and the differences of the elastic modulus, density, and Poisson's ratio between faults and rocks have great influence on the distribution of stresses and strain-energy density. Immediately after the stress wave induced by blasting arrived at preexisting fault A, a relatively high concentration of the strain-energy density was observed at the last wave before passing through fault A. The presence of faults leads to the reflection of most of the blast energy. When the stress wave propagates across fault A, the strain energy stored in the stress wave becomes attenuated; thus, most strain energy was absorbed by the fault's domain. Finally, the modeling results were implicated in Chaoyang Coal Mine to account for the distribution of the observed seismic events. This study has guiding significance for the attenuation law of stress waves passing through joint/fissure zones in geological engineering, earthquake engineering, and underground mining engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-grade (amphibolite–granulite facies) tectono-metamorphic domains in the Sefwi terrane of Ghana are separated from adjacent lower-grade (greenschist facies) greenstone belts by two main shear zones. The high-grade rocks presumably exhumed along the sinistral shear zones during the D2 ENE-WSW transtension (~2073 Ma). To better understand the role boundary conditions and the spatial relationship of faults play in the exhumation of partially molten lower crust in the Sefwi terrane, ten 3D thermomechanical models have been constructed. The results show that the normal component of velocity boundary conditions mainly controls the exhumation (8–10 km) of the lower crust along pre-existing faults, while the exhumation in the relay zones between faults is controlled by the obliquity between the applied extensional velocity vector and the vertical wall on which it is applied. The strike of the exhumation belt made of partially molten lower crust rocks in the relay zone is sub-orthogonal to the horizontal maximum stretching axis. The isostatic compensation from low-density upper mantle to overlying crust (thinning) is higher under transtension than under extension. The lower crust exhumation influenced by inherited shear zones (ductile) can be used to better understand the loci of the high-grade rocks in the Sefwi terrane. We suggest that the Kukuom-Juaboso domain composed of amphibolite–migmatite facies rocks probably resulted from the concentration of partially molten rocks in the relay zone between the Ketesso and Kenyase shear zones during the D2 ENE-WSW transtension. The two shear zones probably underwent two main stages for growth and maturation from the D1 to D2 phases. The regional exhumation of the high-grade rocks in the Sefwi terrane probably occurred within < 5 Ma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article develops an integrated perspective to study whether formalization can significantly reduce precariousness for informal workers. This perspective combines the analysis of employment dualism with that of rural–urban dualism and the analysis of the production sphere with that of the social reproduction sphere. By applying this integrated framework to the case of a state-owned enterprise (SOE) in China, this article finds that formalization does little to reduce precariousness for the migrant agency workers there. Migrant agency workers in China are in a precarious position not only because of their employment status but also because of their incomplete citizenship and the commodification of social reproduction materials. With the compensation gap between formal and agency workers narrowed primarily owing to the deterioration of formal employment, formalization has little effect on increasing the income of agency workers or alleviating the financial pressure upon them in the sphere of social reproduction; neither can formalization raise migrants up to full citizenship or reduce related precariousness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Abstract Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are the main cause of mortality worldwide, currently with less than optimum therapeutic options. Danhong injection (DHI) is a medicinal preparation based on two eminent Chinese herbal medicines, Salviae Miltiorrhizae (Dan Shen; family: Lamiaceae) and Flos Carthami (Hong Hua; family: Compositae/Asteraceae). DHI has been mainly used in the clinical therapy of cardiovascular (such as acute coronary syndrome and angina pectoris) and cerebrovascular diseases (such as stroke) in China for many years. The pharmacological properties of DHI include anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-coagulatory, hypolipidemic, anti-apoptotic, vasodilatory, and angiogenesis-promoting actions. DHI offers a safe and effective therapeutic agent against cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases by modulating multiple disease-relevant signaling pathways and molecular targets. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review of the phytochemistry, therapeutic effects, molecular mechanisms, and adverse reactions of DHI in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. We also highlight the latest pharmacological advances and therapeutic potential of this promising herb-derived cardiovascular drug preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A simple and effective fluorescent sensor bearing pyridine units was designed and synthesized. The sensor can detect Zn2+ with high selectivity accompanied by a distinct fluorescence turn-on response, inducing the fluorescent color markedly changed from darkness to bright green. The limit of detection (LOD) was calculated as 8.56 × 10−9 M with a good linearity (R = 0.95943). In addition, the chelate of sensor with Zn2+ can further recognize H 2 PO 4 −/HSO 4 − with notable fluorescence quenching behaviors over other anions and the LODs were as low as 3.44 × 10−6 M (R = 0.99762) and 3.84 × 10−6 M (R = 0.99315), respectively. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • An effective and simple chemosensor T bearing pyridine units was successfully synthesized for the first time. • Probe T can detect the presence of Zn2+ with high sensitivity in nM level. • A unique fluorescence turn-on signal was observed only when Zn2+ was added to T. • Complex T -Zn2+ can further explore the existence of HSO 4 −/H 2 PO 4 − with notable fluorescence turn-off behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Earth's continental crust constitutes a major interface between the inner and outer envelops of the planet, controlling the differentiation of magmas produced in the mantle and their transfer to the surface. This close link facilitates the use of different chemical proxies to qualitatively unravel the crustal thickness related to fossil magmatic systems based on the message carried by magmas. This paper aims to bridge different results of statistical petrology, recently obtained at different scales of observation, in a global geodynamic model. Statistical analyses applied to a large multidimensional database of magmatic rocks show that crustal thickness could actually exert a first-order control on the composition of magmas, which become more calc-alkaline and comparatively less tholeiitic with increasing crustal thickness. Using this correlation, we document the progressive build-up of a thick (>40 km) Jurassic to Cretaceous accretionary belt along the Circum-Pacific Orogenic Belts (CPOB) that bounded the Panthalassa Ocean. The destruction of this thick belt started at ca. 125 Ma and was initially recorded by the thinnest magmatic systems hosting amphibole-bearing magma. Thinning of the CPOB became widespread in the northern regions of western America and in the western Pacific after ca. 75 Ma, possibly in response to oceanic plate segmentation, which triggered slab rollback and overriding plate extension. This chemical evolution is superimposed on a more global evolution of magma controlled by the temperature of the mantle that has gradually decreased since 200 Ma. Although the relative contribution of crust vs mantle cooling in the chemical signature of magmatic rocks should be further explored in the future, our results offer a new global perspective of the magmatic history of Pangea, the last supercontinent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell signaling has been recognized as a highly dynamic process. How to capture such dynamics with changes of chemical microenvironment at single cell resolution among cells population without interfering with adjacent cells has been still an immense challenge. Here, we proposed a precision guided microfluidic chemical perfusion strategy for investigating chemical-activated cell signaling via dynamic imaging with high temporal (∼12 ms), spatial resolutions and precision. Theory for the microfluidic operation was first established and validated by both numerical simulations and experiments. A computer-aided multi-channel pressure control system was constructed to automatically implement chemical perturbations with various microperfusion times, relaxation times and number of cycles. The width and the position of the chemical microflow could also be precisely controlled with high reliability and accuracy. Investigations of intracellular and intercellular calcium signaling were successfully demonstrated using the proposed method. These results revealed that the precision guided microfluidic chemical perfusion strategy provided a versatile means for cell signaling analysis, which is potentially meaningful in chemical biology, cell biology and pharmacology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greenstone belts in the West African Craton (WAC) are separated by several generations of granitoids intruded at ca. 2.18-1.98 Ga. Simultaneous folding and exhumation play an important role in the formation of greenstone-granitoid belts. However, the overall tectonic regime and origin of granitoids remain controversial. In this study, we present the estimates of the mantle potential temperature (Tp) for the WAC, which yields values of about 1500-1600 °C, pressure estimates of initial and final melting yield values of about 3.7-5.2 GPa and 1-1.3 GPa, respectively. Subsequently, 2D thermo-mechanical models have been constructed to explore the width of volcano-sedimentary basin on spatial-temporal evolution of diapirs that emplaced in the lower-middle crust during compression. The models show that the width of the volcano-sediment layer plays an important role in the formation mechanisms of greenstone-granitoid belts. The lower crust beneath sedimentary sequences is deformed into a buckle fold during the first compressional stage, through which relief uplifts slowly. Subsequently, the buckle fold is further deformed into several individual folds. Diapirs made of lower crust rocks ascend and emplace in the middle-upper crust resulting from instability. Benefitting from the mantle temperature, the pressure estimates and the numerical modelling results, a new geodynamic model was constructed. This model indicates that a series of sheet-like granitoids possibly derived from either subducted mélanges, lower crust and/or mantle melting that are accumulated at depths of the subcontinental mantle would channel along diapirs before feeding the upper crust. When the granitoids arrive at the solidified lids of the diapirs, they would favour migrating horizontally and intrude into the upper crust through weakening zones between the diapirs. Our geodynamic model also suggests an asymmetry of structures between the upper and middle-lower crust, with the dome-like granitoids overlying high-grade sedimentary synforms and high-grade diapirs underlying low-grade greenstone belts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the mechanism driving China's soaring labor unrest from the perspective of management. It demonstrates how Foxconn adjusts in response to the dynamics of the global production network and China's labor market, and how such practices are inextricably linked to growing workplace conflicts. Foxconn's elementary management is characterized by coercion, which is reinforced by the management techniques it has forged as a contract manufacturer in the global supply chain facing the increasing costs of raw materials, labor, and so on. The widespread dissent generated in this process is aggravated by the changing composition and the worsening financial condition of its labor force -- predominantly the new generation of migrant workers. Although Foxconn has attempted to develop consent on the shop floor, its efforts have largely failed because of the power asymmetry in the global electronics industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Coal compresses along the incidence axial and dilates along the minimum principal stress. • Crack and fragment damage show an S-shaped and a J-shaped trend with time, respectively. • The strong chain fabric transmits stress wave and from axial compression to radial expansion. • At peak stress, dissipated energy grows with high creep, strain energy ratio drops with impact. When coal under creep deterioration is disturbed by impact load, it is easy to induce catastrophic instability disasters, rock burst. To analysis the fracture and failure evolution of coal considering the effect of creep damage under dynamic loading, the SHPB simulation experiment under different creep and impact stress was carried out, and the mesoscopic mechanism, damage degree, force chain fabric and energy evolution were analyzed. The results show that coal mesoscopic particles move inward along the axial direction and outward along the minimum principal stress, and there are most tensile shear cracks near the incident end face, the most shear cracks along axial direction, the main tension cracks along radial direction. Crack damage shows an S-shaped trend with time, increasing significantly during the pre-peak stress stage and growing linearly with dynamic stress at the peak stage. Fragment damage shows a J-shaped trend with time, rising significantly after the peak and increasing linearly with the creep stress at the peak stress. The strong fabric mainly transmits stress waves, and changes from axial compression to radial expansion at the peak stress. The aggregation distribution and strength enhancement of strong chains destroy the coal mesoscopic bond and cause macroscopic cracks expanding and penetrating. During the creep and pre-peak stage, there is most external energy changed into strain energy. At peak stress, sliding and dashpot energy grows significantly under high creep stress, and the strain energy ratio decreases with dynamic stress. The study can theoretically describe mesoscopic coal failure evolution and reveal deep mining disasters process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fault-slip burst has the features of high frequency, considerable damage and complex mechanisms, because mining activities break the balance of energy in the system of the fault and rock stratum. This disruption of balance causes the sudden activation and slip of the fault with an enormous release of energy and abruptly destroys the excavation space. To identify the mechanical behavior and instability characteristics of the critical stage (meta-instability stage) before fault instability, 5 uniaxial static load experiments are conducted to investigate the count and energy characteristics of acoustic emission (AE), and 15 numerical models are carried out with PFC to analyze the distributional characteristics of the stress, displacement, fracture and force chain fields. The evolutional process of energies is monitored in the models. The results show that the AE signal is the most abundant in the meta-instability stage during the whole loading process, and that the AE count and energy account for 37.27% and 39.18%, respectively, of the whole process. The proportion of cracks matured in the meta-instability stage is negatively correlated with the inclination angle of the preexisting crack and positively correlated with the width of the preexisting crack and the speed of graded loading. The distribution of new cracks changes from the reverse airfoil to the airfoil with an increasing inclination angle of the precrack. During the failure process, energy is primarily released in the form of parallel bond strain energy. In the meta-instability stage, energy accounts for more than 49% of the whole process. The trends for the slip energy and dashpot energy are separated at the beginning of the meta-instability stage, which can be considered as a precursor of failure. The distribution of stress around the precrack is transmitted counterclockwise, forming a deformation pattern in which strain energy is released in the center. The research results provide theoretical support for the identification of the meta-instability stage of fault-slip bursts and are beneficial to research on the risk assessment of coal and rock dynamic disasters. • The AE signal is released most abundantly in the meta-instability stage, which reflects the deformation synergy. • Precracks affect the stress and failure mode; the proportion of cracks in the meta-instability stage is the highest. • Energy is primarily released in the form of pbstrain energy, and the coal is mainly damaged in a shearing slip manner. • Stress transmits counterclockwise and evolves from low-level uniformity to local concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The breakup of supercontinents is accompanied by the emplacement of continental flood basalts and dike swarms, the origin of which is often attributed to mantle plumes. However, convection modeling has showed that the formation of supercontinents result in the warming of the sub-continental asthenospheric mantle (SCAM), which could also explain syn-breakup volcanism. Temperature variations during the formation then breakup of supercontinents are therefore fundamental to understand volcanism related to supercontinent cycles. Magmatic minerals record the thermal state of their magmatic sources. Here we present a data mining analysis on the first global compilation of chemical information on magmatic rocks and minerals formed over the past 600 million years: a time period spanning the aggregation and breakup of Pangea, the last supercontinent. We show that following a period of increasingly hotter Mgrich magmatism with dominant tholeiitic affinity during the aggregation of Pangea, lower-temperature minerals crystallized within Mg-poorer magma with a dominant calc-alkaline affinity during Pangea disassembly. These trends reflect temporal changes in global mantle climate and global plate tectonics in response to continental masses assembly and dispersal. We also show that the final amalgamation of Pangea at ~300 Myr led to a long period of lithospheric collapse and cooling until the major step of Pangea disassembly started at ~125 Myr. The geological control on the geosphere magma budget has implications on the oxidation state and temperature of the Earth's outer envelopes in the Phanerozoic and may have exerted indirect influence on the evolution of climate and life on Earth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new microfluidic approach, termed as gated pinched-flow (GPF), was developed for investigating cell-to-cell signaling dynamics coupling with optical imaging. It takes both advantages of conventional hydrodynamic gating and focusing, enabling precise on-chip chemical stimulation or perfusion upon targeted single cells among cells populations with high temporal (<50 ms) and spatial resolution. Theoretical model for GPF was first established and further validated by both numerical simulations and experiments. Stimulation of single HeLa cells was investigated to demonstrate the capability of the GPF for localized chemical stimulations of target single cells without interfering with adjacent cells. Guided by GPF, ATP-activated propagation of intercellular calcium waves (ICWs) among the seeded NIH-3T3 cells in the microchannel was then imaged with high repeatability. Inhibition investigations verified that those cell-to-cell calcium signals depended upon direct cytosolic transfer of molecules via gap junctions. The developed microfluidic method opens up a new avenue for cell-to-cell signaling studies and drug screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tectonic inheritance acquired from past geological events can control the formation of new plate boundaries. The aim of this paper is to explore the role of inherited NE and NW trending fabrics and their rheological influence on the propagation of Oligocene–Miocene strike-slip faulting that matured to become the Australian-Pacific plate boundary fault in southern New Zealand. Strain weakening plays a significant role in controlling the formation, growth and evolution of strain localization. In this study, three-dimensional thermo-mechanical models have been used to explore the effect of strain weakening on the Oligocene–Miocene self-organization of strain localization. Strain weakening is simulated through decreasing either the coefficient of friction of upper crust, its cohesion, or the rheological viscosity contrast between the inherited structures and their surrounding wall rocks. Viscosity contrast is obtained by varying the viscosity of inherited structures. Softening coefficient ( α ) is a measure of strain weakening. Our experiments robustly demonstrate that a primary boundary shear zone becomes mature quicker when softening coefficients are increased. Deformation is focused along narrow high-strain shear zones in the centre of the model when the softening coefficients are high, whereas the strain is more diffuse with many shear zones spread over the model and possibly some high-strain shear zones focused near one border at lower softening coefficients. Varying the viscosity contrast has less effect on the distribution of maximum finite strain. Under simple-shear boundary conditions, NW trending inherited structures make a major contribution to forming early zones of highly focused strain, up to a shear strain of about γ = 3.7. During this process, most NE-trending structures move and rotate passively, accommodate less strain, or even be abandoned through time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-strain zones bound and separate the high-grade tectono-metamorphic terranes from low-grade greenstone belts in the North-Western parts of Ghana. These belts are bounded by granitoid domains characterized by two main episodic pulses of magmatic intrusive events, which occurred between 2213 Ma and 2086 Ma. High-strain zones are thought to play a significant role in creating fluid pathways, particularly for partially molten material from lower crustal sources to the upper crust. In this study, a three-dimensional thermo-mechanical model has been used to explore the evolution of high-strain zones and relief under compressional and simple shear boundary conditions. Different orientations of a system of branched strike-slip faults were tested. The effects of the frictional angle and density contrast on the evolution of relief were also compared in this study. The resulting model indicates domains of tensile vs. compressional strain as well as shear zones. This shows that the internal fault zones as well as the host rock in between the faults behave as relatively weaker domains than the external regions. Under both applied compressive and simple shear boundary conditions, these weakened domains constitute preferential zones of tensile and shear strain accommodations in the upper crust, which may favour infilling by deeper partially molten rocks. This processes is suggested by the authors as the most likely processes to have occurred in pre-existing branched shear zones systems in North-Western Ghana during the Eburnean orogeny (around 2.20–2.10 Ga). The orientations of faults in these models play an important role in controlling the evolution of relief and localized deformation. In particular, greatest the largest relief is obtained when faults dip parallel to each other and when they are inclined at depth, as they thus facilitate strain rotation and material transfer from depth. The host rock density does not play a primary role in producing relief compared to variations in friction angle at crustal scale of our model. Relief increases by 200–300 m when the host rock density is increased by 200 kg/m 3 , whereas relief reduces by about 1200 m when decreasing the host rock friction from φ = 20° to 10°. This study suggests a model for interpreting the evolution and locus of exhumation of partially molten rocks in North-Western Ghana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on ovarian reserve in patients with diminished ovarian reserve undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. Material and Methods: A total of 240 patients were randomly divided into the Han's acupoint nerve stimulator TEAS treatment (TES), comforting false Han's placebo (FHP), artificial endometrial cycle treatment (AEC), and control (CON) groups. Results: Fifty-six patients in TES, 56 in FHP, 54 in AEC, and 60 in CON fulfilled the study, respectively. Antral follicle count and anti-Müllerian hormone levels were increased, whereas the estradiol level, follicle-stimulating hormone level, and follicle-stimulating hormone/luteinizing hormone ratio were significantly decreased after treatment in the TES and AEC groups. After treatment, the number of oocytes retrieved and average number of embryos transferred were higher in the TES and AEC than in the CON and FHP groups. Clinical pregnancy rate in the TES group was markedly higher than values obtained for the other three groups. Conclusion: TEAS and AEC treatments could improve basal endocrine levels in patients, and increase the number of oocytes retrieved and high-quality embryos. TEAS treatment could improve the clinical pregnancy rate in patients with decreased ovarian reserve during in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microfluidic technology has shown advantages of low sample consumption, reduced analysis time, high throughput, and potential for integration and automation. Coupling microfluidic chips to mass spectrometry (Chip-MS) can greatly improve the overall analytical performance of MS-based approaches and expand their potential applications. In this article, we review the advances of Chip-MS in the past decade, covering innovations in microchip fabrication, microchips coupled to electrospray ionization (ESI)-MS and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)-MS. Development of integrated microfluidic systems for automated MS analysis will be further documented, as well as recent applications of Chip-MS in proteomics, metabolomics, cell analysis, and clinical diagnosis. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Mass Spec Rev 34: 535-557, 2015. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Active control over the cell gradient is essential for understanding biological systems and the reconstitution of the functionality of many types of tissues, particularly for organ-on-a-chip. Here, we propose a three-dimensional (3D) microfluidic strategy for generating controllable cell gradients. In this approach, a homogeneous cell suspension is loaded into a 3D stair-shaped PDMS microchannel to generate a cell gradient within 10 min by sedimentation. We demonstrate that cell gradients of various profiles (exponential and piecewise linear) can be achieved by precisely controlling the height of each layer during the fabrication. With sequential seeding, we further demonstrate the generation of two overlapping cell gradients on the same glass substrate with pre-defined designs. The cell gradient-based QD cytotoxicity assay also demonstrated that cell behaviors and resistances were regulated by the changes in cell density. These results reveal that the proposed 3D microfluidic strategy provides a simple and versatile means for establishing controllable gradients in cell density, opening up a new avenue for reconstructing functional tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three rare earth metal supramolecular complexes, {[Tb( L)](ClO)⋅2HO( 1), [Eu( L)(HO)] (ClO)( 2) and [Gd(NO)( L)] ⋅2CH CHOH( 3) ( L = 3-Dimethylamino-1-pyridin-2-yl-propenone), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal structure analysis reveals that the coordination numbers of three complexes ( 1-3) are 8, 9 and 10, respectively. Three complexes assembled into 3D frameworks based on C-H ⋯O, O-H ⋯O hydrogen bond linkages. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the maturation of microfluidic technologies, microchip electrophoresis has been widely employed for amino acid analysis owing to its advantages of low sample consumption, reduced analysis time, high throughput, and potential for integration and automation. In this article, we review the recent progress in amino acid analysis using microchip electrophoresis during the period from 2007 to 2012. Innovations in microchip materials, surface modification, sample introduction, microchip electrophoresis, and detection methods are documented, as well as nascent applications of amino acid analysis in single-cell analysis, microdialysis sampling, food analysis, and extraterrestrial exploration. Without doubt, more applications of microchip electrophoresis in amino acid analysis may be expected soon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of deep, underground coal mines in China, the failure mechanism of the rocks surrounding roadways is becoming increasingly complicated and the deformational control is also significantly difficult. In this study, based on the temporal and spatial deformational distribution of the deep roadway area in the 2233 working face of Fuxin Hengda Coal Mine, factors affecting the deformation and failure mechanism of deep-buried roadways, such as cohesion (c), tensile strength ( σ t ), internal friction angle (φ), vertical ground stress (p), and the horizontal-to-vertical stress ratio (λ), were analyzed using orthogonal numerical experiments. The stress and electromagnetic radiation monitoring data were used to locate areas of highly concentrated deformation in the roadway and surrounding rocks. The results show that the order of the degree of influence of the surrounding rock and geometric parameters on the deformation of the deep-buried roadway is φ > p > σ t > λ > c. The vertical stress of the roof and the horizontal stress of the two sides are negatively correlated with the tensile strength and horizontal-to-vertical stress ratio, respectively, and mainly shear failure occurs in the area. The higher the level of the surrounding rock, the more serious is the deterioration and deformation. The electromagnetic radiation reflects the distribution range of the high-stress concentration area and strength deterioration area. The test results accurately describe the deformation–deterioration-failure laws of rock surrounding deep-buried roadways influenced by different factors. The results are of great significance for analyzing the deformation and failure characteristics of rocks surrounding roadways, preventing rockburst, and supporting the parameter optimization of roadways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Conventional neuronal analysis at the single neuron level usually involves culturing of neurons in vitro and analysis of neuronal activities by electrophysiological or pharmacological methods. However, the extracellular environments of in vitro neuronal analysis cannot mimic the exact surroundings of the neurons. Here, we report a microfluidic worm-chip for in vivo analysis of neuronal activities upon dynamic chemical stimulations. A comb-shaped microvalve was developed to immobilize whole animal for high-resolution imaging of neuronal activities. Using a sequential sample introduction system, multiple chemical stimuli were delivered to an individual Caenorhabditis elegans nose tip based on programmed interface shifting of laminar flows. ASH sensory neuron responses to various stimuli in individual C. elegans were quantitatively evaluated, and mutants were significantly defective in neuronal responses to certain stimulus in comparison to others. Sensory reduction in the magnitude of the response to repetitive chemical stimulation with different durations was also found. Our study explored the possibility of real-time detection of neuronal activities in individual animals upon multiple stimulations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Membrane proteins play essential roles in regulating various fundamental cellular functions. To investigate membrane proteins, extraction and purification are usually prerequisite steps. Here, we demonstrated a microfluidic aqueous PEG/detergent two-phase system for the purification of membrane proteins from crude cell extract, which replaced the conventional discontinuous agitation method with continuous extraction in laminar flows, resulting in significantly increased extraction speed and efficiency. To evaluate this system, different separation and detection methods were used to identify the purified proteins, such as capillary electrophoresis, SDS-PAGE and nano-HPLC–MS/MS. Swiss-Prot database with Mascot search engine was used to search for membrane proteins from random selected bands of SDS-PAGE. Results indicated that efficient purification of membrane proteins can be achieved within 5–7s and approximately 90% of the purified proteins were membrane proteins (the highest extraction efficiency reported up to date), including membrane-associated proteins and integral membrane proteins with multiple transmembrane domains. Compared to conventional approaches, this new method had advantages of greater specific surface area, minimal emulsification, reduced sample consumption and analysis time. We expect the developed method to be potentially useful in membrane protein purifications, facilitating the investigation of membrane proteomics. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Microfluidic cell sorter allows efficient separation of small number of cells, which is beneficial in handling cells, especially primary cells that cannot be expanded to large populations. Here, we demonstrate a microfluidic fluorescence-activated cell sorter (μFACS) with a novel sorting mechanism, in which automatic on-chip sorting is realized by turning on/off the hydrodynamic gating valve when a fluorescent target is detected. Formation of the hydrodynamic gating valve was investigated by both numerical simulation and flow visualization experiment. Separation of fluorescent polystyrene beads was then conducted to evaluate this sorting mechanism and to optimize the separation conditions. Isolation of fluorescent HeLa-DsRed cells was further demonstrated with high purity and recovery rate. Viability of the sorted cells was also examined, suggesting a survival rate of more than 90%. We expect this sorting approach to find widespread applications in bioanalysis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Systems biology advocates the understanding of biology at the systems-level, which requires massive information of correlations among individual components in complex biological systems. Such comprehensive investigation entails the use of high-throughput analytical tools. Microfluidic technology holds high promise to facilitate the progress of biology by enabling miniaturization and upgrading of current biological research tools due to its advantages such as low sample consumption, reduced analysis time, high-throughput and compatible sizes with most biological samples. In this article, we documented the recent applications of microfluidic chips in biological researches at the molecular level, cellular level and organism level, serving the purpose for systems-level understanding of biology. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study explores the feasibility of using a bullfrog fibroblast cell line (FT cells) expressing G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) as the basis for a living cell-based biosensor. We have fabricated gold microelectrode arrays on a silicon dioxide substrate that supports long term, robust growth of the cells at room temperature and under ambient atmospheric conditions. Activation of an endogenous GPCR to ATP was monitored with an optical method that detects rises in intracellular calcium and with an electrochemical method that monitors the increased secretion of pre-loaded norepinephrine on a MEMS device. FT cells were also transfected to express reporter genes driven by several different promoters, raising the possibility that they could be modified genetically to express novel GPCRs as well. The ability to harness GPCRs for BioMEMS applications by using cells that are easy to grow on MEMS devices and to modify genetically opens the way for a new generation of devices based on these naturally selective and highly sensitive chemoreceptors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Given the commercial and ecological importance of the dwindling Chesapeake Bay blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) population there is a surprising scarcity of information concerning the molecular ecology of this species. The few studies published to date are based on allozyme data and indicate a single, panmictic population along the Atlantic coast. To address this short-coming we have initiated the development of genetic markers from both the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes of the blue crab. Here we report the entire nucleotide sequence for the blue crab mitochondrial genome (mtDNA), which is a 16,263 bp in length, circular, and A+T-rich (69.1%). We have identified all of the normal complement of 37 genes (for 13 proteins, 22 tRNAs, and two rRNAs) plus a large (1434 bp), hypervariable putative control region that is 78.2% A+T. Gene order and arrangement is similar to other arthropods (e.g. Artemia) but dramatically different from the hermit crab, which has a unique gene order among arthropods. As in the mtDNA of the swimming crab, Portunus trituberculatus, trnH is located between the trnE and trnF genes, rather than at its primitive position upstream of nad5. Genetic variation is matrilineally inherited based on parent/offspring screening for nucleotide variation in the putative control region. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Delayed coal and gas outbursts strongly relate to the transformation from creep deformation to rapid failure after extracting operations. However, the quantitative characterization of creep deformation and instability failure process of gas-bearing coal is insufficient. Hence, the long-term strain of coal samples under loading was measured under different axial, confining and gas pressures to analyse the creep damage, nonlinear deformation and catastrophic failure of the coal. It is found that the degree of creep deformation of the coal samples is closely related to the applied stress. When the applied stress is lower than the long-term strength of the samples, only decelerated and steady-state creep deformations can occur in the coal samples. The steady-state creep rate increases in the form of a power function with the creep time. However, accelerated creep failure occurs during long-term loading at a stress level exceeding the long-term strength of the sample. The gas pressure effects significantly change the creep characteristics of coal. The steady-state creep rate of coal without gas exponentially increases with increasing axial pressure, while that of gas-bearing coal linearly increases. The adsorption-induced expansion stress is proposed based on the principle of effective stress of porous media. A triaxial creep damage and catastrophic failure model for gas-bearing coal is constructed by considering the influences of damage accumulation on creep deformation. This model can quantitatively characterize the creep damage process of a coal mass under specific conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cascade structure of fiber Bragg grating and gap-coupled cladding waveguide Mach-Zehnder interferometer. • Temperature and relative humidity dual-parameter measurement ability. • Compact structure direct inscribed by femtosecond laser. • Can be used for breath monitoring. A femtosecond (fs) laser inscribed cascade structure of a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) and a gap-coupled cladding waveguide Mach-Zehnder interferometer (CWMZI) is proposed and demonstrated, which can be used to simultaneously measure temperature and relative humidity. The structure can also be used as a breathing sensor. Transmission dip wavelength of the FBG is used for the temperature monitoring based on its temperature response. Meanwhile, gap-coupled CWMZI is used for relative humidity monitoring because the gap part of the CWMZI is very close to the cladding surface, it is very sensitive to refractive changes caused by ambient humidity variations. Experiments show a temperature sensitivity of 0.01104 nm/°C in a temperature range of 20 °C to 125 °C, and a high relative humidity sensitivity response of −0.0793 nm/%RH in a relative humidity range of 50 % to 80 %. Breathing signal monitoring is also successfully demonstrated using the FBG-CWMZI cascading structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Risk assessment of the propagation of stress waves induced by blast loading is an important aspect engineering design and practice. Pre-existing geological structures affect the propagation of stress waves in the rock masses/strata. For homogenous materials, the wave energy scatters in the forms of wave reflection, refraction, diffraction, and mode conversion. The coefficient of absorption and scattering losses can help to understand the structural (joints, cracks, and large-scale faults) and physical properties (strength, lithology) of the rock masses/strata. Therefore, to explore the influence of interacting faults on the propagation of blast loading-induced stress waves, six 3D high-resolution numerical models were developed and run on with COMSOL Multiphysics software to test the influence of the Young's Modulus (E) of two pre-existing and interacting faults on the attenuation, superposition, and reflection of nonlinear stress waves. The results show that propagation of the stress waves through the domain in between the two faults amplified the stress energy. Moreover, and the stress wave intensity increased noticeably as they entered and left the tips of the interacting faults. The optimal propagation path of the stress waves lie within the materials whose E differ the least from that of the surrounding rocks. The fluctuation of the displacement along fault A was relatively large when the E of fault A was small (R = 0.1). The maximum strain energy density (S E D) dropped by 84.2% from 3396 J/m3 to 536 J/m3 from the beginning tip to the middle domain of fault A; and further dropped by 28.9% as the waves traveled from the middle part to the tail of fault A. he reduction in the SED is in agreement to the power function (y = 3409 x −0.406, R = 0.9994). The time interval (△ FP) for having obtained the different △ SED between the neighboring crest and trough of the frequency is significantly different. △ FP yielded approximately 0.002, 0.0022 and 0.0325 s at an equal propagation distance from the beginning tip to the tail of the faults, respectively. This indicates that the energy loss during the first stage is large, and the stress wave decays quickly. This paper contributes significantly to our contemporary understanding of the attenuation, superposition, and reflection effects of the blast-loading induced stress wave propagation between the interacting tips of adjacent faults. • Coefficient of absorption and scattering losses can help to understand the structural and physical properties of rock masses. • The optimal propagation path of the stress waves lie within the rocks was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) is an important enzyme linking carbohydrate to lipid metabolism by generating acetyl-CoA from citrate for fatty acid and cholesterol biosynthesis. Mendelian randomization of large human cohorts has validated ACLY as a promising target for low-density-lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) lowering and cardiovascular protection. Among current ACLY inhibitors, Bempedoic acid (ETC-1002) is a first-in-class, prodrug-based direct competitive inhibitor of ACLY which regulates lipid metabolism by upregulating hepatic LDL receptor (LDLr) expression and activity. ACLY deficiency in hepatocytes protects from hepatic steatosis and dyslipidemia. In addition, pharmacological inhibition of ACLY by bempedoic acid, prevents dyslipidemia and attenuates atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic ApoE−/− mice, LDLr−/− mice, and LDLr−/− miniature pigs. Convincing data from clinical trials have revealed that bempedoic acid significantly lowers LDL-C as monotherapy, combination therapy, and add-on with statin therapy in statin-intolerant patients. More recently, a phase 3 CLEAR Harmony clinical trial ("Safety and Efficacy of Bempedoic Acid to Reduce LDL Cholesterol") has shown that bempedoic acid reduces the level of LDL-C in hypercholesterolemic patients receiving guideline-recommended statin therapy with a good safety profile. Hereby, we provide a updated review of the expression, regulation, genetics, functions of ACLY in lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis, and highlight the therapeutic potential of ACLY inhibitors (such as bempedoic acid, SB-204990, and other naturally-occuring inhibitors) to treat atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. It must be pointed out that long-term large-scale clinical trials in high-risk patients, are warranted to validate whether ACLY represent a promising therapeutic target for pharmaceutic intervention of dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis; and assess the safety and efficacy profile of ACLY inhibitors in improving cardiovascular outcome of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In microbiological research, traditional methods for bacterial screening and antibiotic susceptibility testing are resource‐intensive. Microfluidics offers an efficient alternative with rapid results and minimal sample consumption, but the demand for cost‐effective, user‐friendly platforms persists in communities and hospitals. Inspired by the Magdeburg hemispheres, the strategy adapts to local conditions, leveraging omnipresent atmospheric pressure for self‐sealing of Rotation‐SlipChip (RSC) equipped with a 3D circular Christmas tree‐like microfluidic concentration gradient generator. This innovative approach provides an accessible and adaptable platform for microbiological research and testing in diverse settings. The RSC can avoid leakage concerns during multiple concentration gradient generation, chip‐rotating, and final long‐term incubation reaction (≥24 h). Furtherly, RSC subtypes adapted to different reactions can be fabricated in less than 15 min with cost less than $1, the result can be read through designated observational windows by naked‐eye. Moreover, the RSC demonstrates its capability for evaluating bacterial biomarker activity, enabling the rapid assessment of β‐galactosidase concentration and enzyme activity within 30 min, and the limit of detection can be reduced by 10‐fold. It also rapidly determines the minimum antibiotic inhibitory concentration and antibiotic combined medications results within 4 h. Overall, these low‐cost and user‐friendly RSC make them invaluable tools in determinations at previously impractical environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underground rock is often subjected to the coupled action of acid sulfate, chloride ion corrosion, and external dynamic disturbance: the degree of corrosion and dynamic load can significantly affect the pore structure and mechanical behavior of rock. To quantify the microscopic pore structure changes and macro-dynamic behavior characteristics of acidified corroded sandstone, first, a mixed acidic solution of NaHSO4 and HCl with different pH values was used for immersion corrosion of sandstone; second, the pore structure of sandstone before and after corrosion was quantitatively evaluated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), dynamic loading tests of corroded sandstone were conducted on an SHPB experimental system and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe the morphology of corroded sandstone section; and finally, the mechanism of water–rock interaction and damage and fracture of acid-corroded sandstone were analyzed. The results show that, after acidizing corrosion of sandstone, the macropores increase significantly in number and volume, the boundary of the pore structure tends to be fuzzy; the effective porosity, the number of effective pores, and the total porosity increase significantly; the residual porosity, the number of residual pores, and T2 cut-off value decrease. The proportion accounted for by the elastic stage in stress–strain curves of corroded sandstone is lowered; the proportion accounted for by the plastic yield stage is increased; and post-peak rebound is diminished. With the decrease of pH value, the peak stress on acid-corroded sandstone decreases and the peak strain increases. The peak stress on corroded sandstone is negatively correlated with effective porosity and the number of effective pores, but positively correlated with residual porosity, the number of residual pores, and the T2 cut-off value. The reaction of acidic solution with sandstone minerals causes the free fluid space to increase, the bound fluid space decreases, and the number of pores increases, resulting in a decrease in the dynamic strength of acidified sandstone. The fracture of original sandstone after impact failure has no obvious directionality, and the failure mode of grain is the coexistence of intergranular fracture and trans-granular fracture. The fracture of sandstone after acidizing corrosion is obviously directional after impact damage, and the fracture form is single, which is intergranular fracture. The research results can provide a certain reference for the protection of rock engineering under acidic water chemical environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) play a pivotal role in intercellular communication, regulating gene expression in target cells, and hold significant promise as cancer biomarkers for early detection and screening. However, achieving precise and viable detection of exosomal miRNAs remains a challenge. This paper proposes an all-in-one detection strategy for breast cancer-derived exosomal miRNA-21 on a pen-based paper chip (PPC). The PPC is constructed using a modified automatic pen and lateral flow assay (LFA), which results in a cost-effective fabrication process. The user only needs to add the sample and trigger the top of the self-contained PPC after a period of time to complete the entire detection process. To enhance the sensitivity of exosomal miRNA testing, an enzyme-free catalyzed hairpin assembly (CHA) is further introduced, enabling highly sensitive detection of miRNA-21 with a limit of detection (LOD) of 25 fmol. Additionally, the detection of miRNAs in differentially-expressed cells and clinical samples has also been successfully achieved with high specificity. Overall, the proposed PPC provides an effective tool for detecting early cancer, monitoring diseases, and establishing point of care testing (POCT). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving higher and faster energy release processes is a major research goal for energetic materials (EMs). Typically, EMs enhance their overall performance by incorporating catalysts. The novel two-dimensional layered MXenes, such as Ti 3 C 2 T x , have shown significant potential as additives for ammonium perchlorate (AP). However, there is limited research on the impact of the exfoliation degree and high temperature oxidation of Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene catalyst on the pyrolysis and combustion of different types of EMs. In this study, ultrathin Ti 3 C 2 T x (U–Ti 3 C 2 T x) MXene with a high exfoliation degree of approximately 20–80 nm was obtained through hydrofluoric acid (HF) etching, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-assisted layer expansion and ultrasonic peeling. The catalytic performance of MXenes on the thermal decomposition of three types of EMs (dihydroxylammonium 5, 5′-bistetrazole-1, 1′-diolate (TKX-50), cyclotetramethylene tetranitroamine (HMX), and AP) was evaluated. Results showed that 4 wt% U–Ti 3 C 2 T x can reduce the decomposition peak of TKX-50 by 33.6 °C and decreases the high temperature decomposition (HTD) peak of AP by 45.5 °C, indicating superior catalytic performance compared to non-exfoliated Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene. However, it had insignificant effect on HMX. Surface chemical analysis, electrochemical characterization, thermal decomposition of gaseous products analysis and material studio simulation all confirmed that high exfoliation U–Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene exhibited better stability and electrical conductivity, facilitating the acceleration of the H+ transfer process and rapid gas release from EMs. Additionally, ignition tests demonstrated that high exfoliation U–Ti 3 C 2 T x could effectively participate in the ignition process of EMs. The characterization and thermal analysis of Ti 3 C 2 T x products after high temperature and oxidation treatment indicated that the catalytic activity is weakened due to high temperature crystal collapse and surface oxidation to TiO x metamorphism. This study provides new insights for the application of MXene catalysts in EMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving higher and faster energy release processes is a major research goal for energetic materials (EMs). Typically, EMs enhance their overall performance by incorporating catalysts. The novel two-dimensional layered MXenes, such as Ti 3 C 2 T x , have shown significant potential as additives for ammonium perchlorate (AP). However, there is limited research on the impact of the exfoliation degree and high temperature oxidation of Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene catalyst on the pyrolysis and combustion of different types of EMs. In this study, ultrathin Ti 3 C 2 T x (U–Ti 3 C 2 T x) MXene with a high exfoliation degree of approximately 20–80 nm was obtained through hydrofluoric acid (HF) etching, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-assisted layer expansion and ultrasonic peeling. The catalytic performance of MXenes on the thermal decomposition of three types of EMs (dihydroxylammonium 5, 5′-bistetrazole-1, 1′-diolate (TKX-50), cyclotetramethylene tetranitroamine (HMX), and AP) was evaluated. Results showed that 4 wt% U–Ti 3 C 2 T x can reduce the decomposition peak of TKX-50 by 33.6 °C and decreases the high temperature decomposition (HTD) peak of AP by 45.5 °C, indicating superior catalytic performance compared to non-exfoliated Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene. However, it had insignificant effect on HMX. Surface chemical analysis, electrochemical characterization, thermal decomposition of gaseous products analysis and material studio simulation all confirmed that high exfoliation U–Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene exhibited better stability and electrical conductivity, facilitating the acceleration of the H+ transfer process and rapid gas release from EMs. Additionally, ignition tests demonstrated that high exfoliation U–Ti 3 C 2 T x could effectively participate in the ignition process of EMs. The characterization and thermal analysis of Ti 3 C 2 T x products after high temperature and oxidation treatment indicated that the catalytic activity is weakened due to high temperature crystal collapse and surface oxidation to TiO x metamorphism. This study provides new insights for the application of MXene catalysts in EMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the damage evolution behavior of coal under stress wave can provide a theoretical basis for preventing rock burst. In this work, the impact experiments of coal samples were carried out by split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB); the stress wave propagation characteristics were recorded by dynamic strain acquisition instrument; the evolution behaviors of coal samples’ surface displacement were analyzed by digital image correlation (DIC); the correlation between stress wave and displacement were discussed based on the multi-fractal theory. The results proved the stress wave propagates in the non-linear attenuation mode of multiple incidences, reflection, and transmission. Among them, the attenuation velocity of the incident wave is the largest, followed by the reflected wave, and the transmitted wave is the smallest. The incident and reflected stress waves are mainly dominated by high amplitude signals, while the transmitted stress waves are mainly dominated by low amplitude signals. The horizontal displacement on the coal sample surface is changed in the form of variable velocity, acceleration, and direction during the process of the stress wave propagation. The impact velocity is favorably linked with the amplitudes and attenuation velocities of incident, reflected, and transmitted waves as well as the surface displacement, displacement velocity, and acceleration of coal samples. The multi-fractal characteristic parameters of stress wave and displacement show that the proportional relationship and difference between the large- and small-scale displacement are influenced by those between the high- and low-intensity signal of the stress wave, and the transmission wave can exert greater influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, in order to study the interaction mechanism of mechanical activated energetic composites, molecular dynamics simulation was carried out to calculate the binding energy and the interaction mode of PTFE with different crystalline surfaces of Al and Al2O3. Then the mechanical activated energetic composites were prepared, the microscopic morphology and the surface element content of Al-PTFE composites before and after mechanical activation have been studied. At last, the reactivity was tested. The results show that the adsorption of PTFE on the (0 0 1), (0 1 0) and (1 0 0) surface of Al2O3 and Al is stable. PTFE interacts with Al2O3 mainly via electrostatic force, and PTFE interacts with Al mainly via Van der Waals’ force. After 40 min ball milling, Al and PTFE melt into a composite aggregate, the adsorption of PTFE on the surface of Al and Al2O3 is stable, the experimental results are in good agreement with the simulation results. Mechanical activation can remarkably reduce the diffusion distance, improve the reaction activity and the detonation velocity of Al-PTFE composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to prepare a nanodrug system for insulin delivery and controlled release with Poly(lactic acid-glycolic acid) (PLGA) as the shell and polyethylene glycol-chondroitin sulfate as the core to enhance its oral administration bioavailability. The insulin/CS-PLGA nanoparticles (NPs) with an average size of about 150 nm and regular spherical shape were obtained and showed good biocompatibility and relative high drug loading. Insulin can be controlled release according to the environmental pH and retained its original structure. The oral administration of insulin/CS-PLGA NPs showed a relatively higher hypoglycemic effect than that of insulin, indicating the NPs is a potential oral delivery system to enhance insulin bioavailability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weak currents can be stimulated from coal and rock materials under a load. To investigate the response characteristics of weak current to coal failure and mine seismicity, both laboratory experiments and field tests on weak current measurement of stressed coals were conducted. The response characteristics of weak current was analyzed, the quantitative relationship between weak current and mechanical behaviors was studied and the precursors of coal failure and mine seismicity based on weak current response were investigated. The results of laboratory experiments show that the weak current increases linearly with stress and strain in the elastic deformation stage and shows an accelerated increasing trend after entering the elastic deformation stage, reaching its peak value when the final failure occurs. A fracture is accompanied by a suddenly increased current (SIC), of which the intensity is proportional to the stress drop. The accelerated increase of weak current accompanied by fluctuations can be used as a precursor of coal failure. The weak current measured in an underground coal mine responds well to mine seismicity that occurs in the increasing process of a SIC. The continuously accelerated increase of weak current can be used as a precursor of mine seismicity, to which the weak current could respond few minutes in advance. It is feasible to use the weak current technique for rockburst prediction in mines and tunnels because of its strong anti-interference ability and early response to mine seismicity and coal/rock failure. • Weak current responds well to the mechanical behaviors and rupture of coal. • A fracture in coal is accompanied by a suddenly increased current. • Weak current can respond to mining seismicity in advance for few minutes. • Using weak current technique for rockburst prediction and early-warning is feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • NGF is wrapped and controlled release by the sphere-fiber nanotube through the mediated action of a thermosensitive hydrogel. • The composite tube can ensure enough time for SCI repair, and promote the growth and differentiation of nerve cells. • The co-encapsulation of tissue-engineered cells (BMSCs) in the composite tube can further improve the repair effect of SCI. Spinal cord injury is a serious disabling disease that not only causes physical defects, but also causes psychological problems for patients. In the current study, a novel multi-dimensional functional composite nanotube was prepared by simultaneously riveting nerve growth factor (NGF)-loaded PLGA microspheres and tissue-engineered cells (BMSCs) into the PLA fiber nanotube by a designed thermosensitive hydrogel to improve spinal cord injury (SCI) repair. The PLGA microspheres allow the protection and long-term controlled release of NGF to guarantee enough time and drug concentration to promote the growth and differentiation of cells into axons and promote axonal regeneration. Thermosensitive hydrogels are served not only to provide a tunable physiologically simulated microenvironment, but also as scaffolds to provide a suitable matrix for cells and drugs, and PLA nanotube ensures the seal of the released NGF in the nanotube to improve its drug bioavailability, as well as the supporting and guiding of the nerve growth. The physicochemical properties of the composite nanotube are investigated and the repair efficacy is evaluated according to the functional recovery, histological, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence examinations as well as the westernblot analysis. The administration of the composite nanotube in the SCI rat models obviously improves the regeneration of the neuron, axon, myelin sheath, neural stem cell and nissnei body but decreases the astrocytes formation, as well as enhances the integrity of the spinal cord tissue and the recovery of locomotor functions. This present work provides a future perspective for NGF application and a potential strategy for SCI repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]