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Background: Microglia, the main innate immune cells in the central nervous system, are key drivers of neuroinflammation, which plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. The Sin3/histone deacetylase (HDAC) complex, a highly conserved multiprotein co-repressor complex, primarily performs transcriptional repression via deacetylase activity; however, the function of SDS3, which maintains the integrity of the complex, in microglia remains unclear. Methods: To uncover the regulatory role of the transcriptional co-repressor SDS3 in microglial inflammation, we used chromatin immunoprecipitation to identify SDS3 target genes and combined with transcriptomics and proteomics analysis to explore expression changes in cells following SDS3 knocking down. Subsequently, we validated our findings through experimental assays. Results: Our analysis revealed that SDS3 modulates the expression of the upstream kinase ASK1 of the p38 MAPK pathway, thus regulating the activation of signaling pathways and ultimately influencing inflammation. Conclusions: Our findings provide important evidence of the contributions of SDS3 toward microglial inflammation and offer new insights into the regulatory mechanisms of microglial inflammatory responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seawater electrolysis for hydrogen production represents a substantial opportunity to curtail production expenditures and exhibits considerable potential for various industrial applications. Platinum-based precious metals exhibit excellent activity for water electrolysis. However, their limited reserves and high costs impede their widespread use on a large scale. Single-atom catalysts, characterized by low loading and high utilization efficiency, represent a viable alternative, and the development of simple synthesis methods can facilitate their practical application. In this work, we report the facile synthesis of a single-atom Pt-loaded NiCoFeSx (Pt@NiCoFeSx) bifunctional catalytic electrode using a simple impregnation method on a nickel foam substrate. The resulting electrode exhibits low overpotentials for both HER (60 mV@10 mA cm−2) and OER (201 mV@10 mA cm−2) in alkaline seawater electrolytes. When incorporated into a seawater electrolyzer, this electrode achieves a direct current energy consumption of only 4.18 kWh/Nm3H2 over a 100 h test period with negligible decay. These findings demonstrate the potential of our approach for industrial-scale seawater electrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Narrow‐band deep‐blue light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) (CIEy coordinate<0.08, full width at half maximum (FWHM)<20 nm) are important for the next generation of LED‐based displays. It remains a significant challenge for the design of narrow‐band deep‐blue emitters. Herein, a new strategy is proposed for constructing narrow‐band deep‐blue LEDs that are not dependent on the narrow‐band deep‐blue emitter, but only need to dope n‐type carbon dots (n‐CDs) in the active emission layer (EML) of the wide‐band blue LEDs. The n‐CDs‐LEDs show an ultra‐narrow deep‐blue emission at 430 nm with the color coordinates of (0.15, 0.04) and the FWHM of 19 nm. Wherein the EML is constructed by doping n‐CDs in Poly(9,9‐dioctylfluorene‐co‐N‐(4‐butylphenyl) diphenylamine) (TFB), which neither changes the band structure of TFB nor produces new energy levels. Transient photovoltage (TPV) and various photoelectrochemical characterizations jointly reveal that n‐CDs can trap holes to realize the carrier injection into a single energy level of TFB and achieve ultra‐narrow deep‐blue light emission. This work provides a brand‐new and simple way to realize the narrow‐band deep‐blue LEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the cruise status of an underwater high-speed vehicle, the flow around the vehicle's head typically transitions from a laminar to a turbulent state, triggering flow noise that can interfere with the normal operation of sonar. In order to accurately investigate this flow noise through numerical simulation, a high-fidelity turbulent flow field solution is essential. Common traditional turbulence numerical simulation methods, such as unsteady Reynolds-averaged simulation and large eddy simulation (LES), struggle to capture high-frequency turbulent fluctuations accurately due to their inability to directly resolve small-scale eddy structures, which results in compromising the simulation accuracy of high-frequency flow noise. To address this issue, this paper employs direct numerical simulation (DNS) to achieve high-fidelity resolution of the turbulent flow field, thereby enabling a more accurate assessment of flow noise distribution on the vehicle's surface. Meanwhile, considering significant computational resources required to solve the entire flow field in an underwater high Reynolds number environment, this study also incorporates the fixed transition modeling method and stability theory to confine the DNS computational domain to the vicinity of the transitional zone to improve simulation efficiency. Comparative analysis of flow noise monitoring results in the laminar, transitional, and turbulent zones revealed that the flow noise source in the laminar zone exhibits the lowest amplitude across all frequencies, while the flow noise source in the transitional zone features the highest amplitude, approximately 10 dB higher than that in the turbulent zone. Moreover, significant amplitudes in high-frequency components (above 30 kHz) are detected in both the transition and turbulent zones. Additionally, this study employs LES with the Smagorinsky model to simulate the flow field within the same computational domain as DNS, demonstrating the limitations of the Smagorinsky model-based LES in capturing high-frequency flow noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkaline seawater electrolysis has garnered significant attention as an efficient, green, and sustainable method for producing green hydrogen in recent years. However, the lack of highly active anodes in seawater electrolysis to prevent chloride oxidation reactions has limited its commercial application. In this study, Au single atoms were deposited on NiCoFeS through the electrochemical deposition method. The optimized catalyst exhibited significantly enhanced activity in seawater electrolyte; the Au@NiCoFeS catalyst achieved a current density of 10 mA/cm2 with only 183 mV and maintained its performance without degradation for 250 h at a current density of 200 mA/cm2, with no corrosion observed on either the catalyst or the substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhododendron is the largest genus in Ericaceae and is well known for its diversity and beauty of flowers present in different species, making it a much‐revered lineage of ornamental plants. Many species of Rhododendron are intolerant of high temperatures, which are becoming more common and intense in urban areas under global climate change. Therefore, the discovery and description of genes from heat‐tolerant Rhododendron lineages are essential in the development of new climate‐resilient cultivars. One such species known to be heat tolerant is Rhododendron × pulchrum Sweet. To better understand the genomics of heat tolerance in this species, we assembled a haplotype‐resolved and chromosome‐scale genome for R. × pulchrum, which had a genome size of 509 Mb; a scaffold N50 of 37 251 370 bp; and contained 35 610 genes. In addition, based on the same reannotation pipeline, we conducted pan‐genomic analyses for all seven available chromosome‐scale Rhododendron genomes and found 14 415 gene groups shared across all species and 18 018 gene groups distributed in the other species, including 1879 gene groups found in only a single species. Finally, we analyzed the transcriptomic data from heat‐treated and non‐heat‐treated R. × pulchrum plants to quantify the genes that are most important during heat stress in an effort to inform the development of climate‐resilient cultivars. This study provides insight into the genome diversity in Rhododendron and targets several genes related to agronomic traits that may help in further analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy barrier between the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) of the emission layer (EML) and the hole transport layer material (HTL) restricts the development of carbon dots (CDs) based light‐emitting diodes (LEDs). Here, the fabrication of red fluorescent CDs (RCDs) by a one‐step solvothermal method is reported. These RCDs have a photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 47.97% and a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 26 nm. This study also shows the RCDs‐based LEDs fabrication with Poly(9,9‐dioctylfluorene‐co‐N‐(4‐butylphenyl) diphenylamine (TFB) as HTL. In normal case, these devices are not able to work due to the large interfacial energy barrier between RCDs and TFB. While, the RCDs‐LEDs can overcome through interfacial energy barriers and achieve stable carrier injecting by a simple in situ electric excitation at the current of 50 mA cm−2. This work provides a new strategy to overcome the obstacle of mismatch of interfacial energy levels in the LEDs by an in situ electric excitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high‐resolution wave model is crucial for accurate modeling of sediment and organic material transports, but its computational costs hinder direct coupling to an ecosystem model. We developed a machine learning model using long short‐term memory to simulate large‐scale, high‐resolution waves. Trained with numerical wave model (NWM) outputs and wind data from nine locations, our model successfully replicates NWM results for daily mean significant wave height and period in Chesapeake Bay with identical spatial resolution. Compared to the NWM, the data‐driven model has root‐mean‐square errors below 6 cm for daily mean significant wave height and 1 s for the wave period in the bay. It demonstrates excellent model skills and can accurately forecast daily mean significant wave height and period at NOAA wave stations comparable to NWMs. Using minimal wind data and having a short runtime, our data‐driven model shows promise as an alternative for wave forecasting and coupling with sediment and ecological models. Plain Language Summary: Accurately modeling sediment and organic transport necessitates the use of a high‐resolution numerical wave model (NWM). However, the computational expenses of running an NWM within an ecosystem model pose significant challenges. We conducted a study using a machine learning approach based on long short‐term memory to replicate the results of an NWM. The data‐driven wave model (DWM) was trained with the NWM outputs and wind data from nine locations. The trained DWM can replicate the NWM results of daily mean significant wave height and period in Chesapeake Bay with identical spatial resolution and the same predictive skill with a root‐mean‐square error of less than 6 cm and 1 s, respectively for the model domain. The model successfully forecasted daily mean significant wave height and period at NOAA wave stations, showing great forward prediction capability. Notably, the DWM only relied on a minimal amount of wind data from selected locations and had a short runtime. These findings indicate that machine learning is promising as an alternative approach to NWM for wave forecasting. Moreover, it can serve as an alternative wave model and be coupled to ecological models for simulating sediment transport, light attenuation, and resuspension of organic materials. Key Points: A machine learning‐based wave model reproduces the numerical wave model (NWM) results at the same spatial resolution with good accuracyThe data‐driven model, trained on daily significant wave height and period using NWM outputs, has comparable wave prediction skillThe fast‐running data wave model, driven by wind data from nine locations, can forecast waves and couple with sediment and ecological models [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiplexing holography with metasurfaces using different degrees of freedom of light has enabled recent applications in display and information processing. In terms of polarization‐multiplexed holograms, the most general form is an arbitrary Jones matrix profile in storing the maximum amount of information. It requires a relaxation to bianisotropic metasurfaces from a conventional single‐layer implementation of nanostructures, but it will also complicate both the inverse design of the nanostructures and the hologram generation algorithm. Here, an integrated neural network approach, being extended from the recent DeepCGH algorithm, is developed to obtain metasurface structural profiles directly from independent holograms from an arbitrary set of polarizations to another, with maximally four different co‐ and cross‐polarization conversion channels. Such an information‐driven approach enables designing complex polarization holograms directly from an existing metamaterial library without detailed physical knowledge on the constraints, and can be extended to other multiplexing holograms to further facilitate an efficient usage of the information stored on a metasurface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing requirements for biogas desulfurization, the LO-CAT process design needed to be optimized to meet the production requirements. The purpose of this study was to establish a joint optimization model based on two-film theory and response surface methodology (RSM) to investigate the gas-liquid flow, mass transfer, and chemical reaction processes of the biogas reactor and to obtain the optimal operating conditions. The model was validated based on the measured data of the biogas reactor in a 355 KW desulfurization unit at the landfill. It was revealed that the optimal parameters for the gas-liquid flow field were a particle diameter of 3100 µm, a liquid/gas ratio of 19 L/m3, a nozzle angle of 55°, and an inlet velocity of 16 m/s. The effect of inlet velocity was most significant in the LO-CAT process due to its internal extended entrance. The synergistic modulation between gas and liquid then improved the homogeneity of the flow field through vortices, increasing flow field uniformity by 20.8%. The absorption of H 2 S was closely related to the change in flow pattern; the mass transfer process was mainly limited by the "liquid membrane limitation." Optimized parameter desulphurization efficiency increased by 28.76%. This study provided practical significance for the rational design and optimized operation of industrial biogas purification plants based on multiphase flow reaction transfer. [Display omitted] • A mass transfer model is established based on the two-film theory. • Inertial force induced mass transfer between droplet and gas is found to play a key role on the reaction kinetics. • Desulfurization efficiency is increased by 28.76% via multiparameter optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The genus Oides belongs to the subfamily Galerucinae and is widely distributed in the Old World. In this study, Chinese species of the genus Oides were revised based on comparative morphological characteristics. In total, seven new species and a new record in China are described. A key to all the Chinese Oides species is provided. In this study, 25 species of Oides Weber from China were reviewed. Among them, the following seven new species are described: Oides angustasp. nov., O. cystoprocessasp. nov., O. paraborerisp. nov., O. parabowringiisp. nov., O. parathibettanasp. nov., O. shimenensissp. nov., and O. yunnanensissp. nov.; Oides innocua Gahan has been recorded in China for the first time. A key to all the Chinese Oides species is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the fabrication of white light emitting diodes (WLEDs) strongly depends on white fluorescent emission materials. The conventional method, which is a direct way from the designed fluorescent emission material to the device, is regarded as a fundamental principle in this field. Here, a brand‐new approach is shown for the design of WLEDs with a simple device‐to‐device transform based on monochromatic carbon dots (CDs). In this work, the WLEDs based on the blue fluorescent CDs achieve the in situ generation of bright white light emission in the device, originating from the oxidation of functional groups involving S element in CDs caused by strong electrical treatment. These CDs‐based WLEDs possess the luminance of 533 cd m−2, Commission Internationale d'Eclairage coordinates located at (0.38, 0.38), a correlated color temperature of 4072 K, and a color render index up to 95. This work opens a brand‐new gate for achieving high‐purity and bright WLEDs through the strategy of transforming from device to device rather than material to device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: We investigated the mechanism, whereby tumor necrosis factor‐like ligand 1A (TL1A) mediates the A1 differentiation of astrocytes in postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). Methods: The cognitive and behavioral abilities of mice were assessed by Morris water maze and open field tests, while the levels of key A1 and A2 astrocyte factors were detected by RT‐qPCR. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was used to examine the expression of GFAP, western blot was used to assay the levels of related proteins, and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the levels of inflammatory cytokines. Results: The results showed that TL1A could promote the progression of cognitive dysfunction in mice. Astrocytes differentiated into A1 phenotype, while unobvious changes were noted in astrocyte A2 biomarkers. Knockout of NLRP3 or intervention with NLRP3 inhibitor could inhibit the effect of TL1A, improving the cognitive dysfunction and suppressing the A1 differentiation. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that TL1A plays an important role in POCD in mice, which promotes the A1 differentiation of astrocytes through NLRP3, thereby exacerbating the progression of cognitive dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an explicit boundary-type numerical procedure, including a constraint-type fictitious time integration method (FTIM) and a two-point boundary solution of the Lie-group shooting method (LGSM), is constructed to tackle nonlinear nonhomogeneous backward heat conduction problems (BHCPs). Conventional methods cannot effectively overcome numerical instability to solve inverse problems that lack initial conditions and take a long time to calculate, even using different variable transformations and regularization techniques. Therefore, an explicit-type numerical procedure is developed from the FTIM and the LGSM to avoid numerical instability and numerical iterations. First, a two-point boundary solution of the LGSM is introduced into the numerical algorithm. Then, the maximum and minimum values of the initial guess value can be determined linearly from the boundary conditions at the initial and final times. Finally, an explicit-type boundary-type numerical procedure, including a boundary value solution and constraint-type FTIM, can directly avoid the numerical iterative problems of BHCPs. Several nonlinear examples are tested. Based on the numerical results shown, this boundary-type numerical procedure using a two-point solution can directly obtain an approximated solution and can achieve stable convergence to boundary conditions, even if numerical iterations occur. Furthermore, the numerical efficiency and accuracy are better than in the previous literature, even with an increased computational time span without the regularization technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a novel method for precisely determining the QCD running coupling from Ruds measurements in electron-positron annihilation. When calculating the fixed-order perturbative QCD (pQCD) approximant of Ruds, its effective coupling constant α s Q ∗ 2 is determined by using the principle of maximum conformality, a systematic scale-setting method for gauge theories, whose resultant pQCD series satisfies all the requirements of renormalization group. Contribution due to the uncalculated higher-order (UHO) terms is estimated by using the Bayesian analysis. Using Ruds data measured by the KEDR detector at 22 centre-of-mass energies between 1.84 GeV and 3.72 GeV, we obtain α s M Z 2 = 0.1227 − 0.0132 + 0.0117 exp. ± 0.0016 the. , where the theoretical uncertainty (the.) is negligible compared to the experimental one (exp.). Numerical analyses confirm that the new method for calculating Ruds removes conventional renormalization scale ambiguity, and the residual scale dependence due to the UHO-terms will also be highly suppressed due to a more convergent pQCD series. This leads to a significant stabilization of the perturbative series, and a significant reduction of theoretical uncertainty. It thus provides a reliable theoretical basis for precise determination of the QCD running coupling from Ruds measurements at future Tau-Charm Facility. It can also be applied for the precise determination of the hadronic contributions to muon g − 2 and QED coupling α M Z 2 within the tau-charm energy range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of SiBNC–M (M is metal element) multinary ceramic precursors has mainly been through chemical modification of the SiBNC ceramic precursors with the introduction of the metal element/compound. This misses the simplicity, efficiency, and combined benefits of single reactor synthesis routes. We herein adopt a one‐pot method to synthesize SiBNC–Hf ceramic precursors (PBSHZ) from different Hf sources, and with varying Hf content. The starting materials include hafnium tetrachloride, hafnium dichloride, trichlorosilane, hexamethyldisilazane, and boron trichloride. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and thermogravimetric analysis are employed to characterize the structures and properties of the PBSHZ. The results reveal the successful incorporation of Hf into the precursors. Compared to the hafnium tetrachloride source, the precursor synthesized from hafnium dichloride yields more ceramics and shows better solubility, due to fewer Hf–Cl bonds available for reaction. Meanwhile, there is a positive correlation between the rise in the Hf content of PBSHZ and the ceramic yield. However, the solubility and processability of the precursors decline, due to the multiplication of the cross‐linking degree in the molecular structure. Further FT‐IR, NMR, XPS, and thermogravimetry–mass spectrometry (TG–MS) analysis indicate a full polymer‐to‐ceramic transformation at 1000°C pyrolysis temperature. At this point, the SiBNC–Hf ceramics mainly consist of an Si–B–N skeleton, HfN, and free carbon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly efficient strategy to construct benzo[d][1,3]diazepines via selective C−H bond activation of N‐aryl amidines and coupling with alkynyl cyclobutyl acetates was achieved successfully by RuII‐catalyzed [5+2] cyclization. This protocol features excellent regioselectivity, wide substrate tolerance, mild reaction conditions, which might be potentially applied in the discovery of lead compounds for the developing new drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To determine the effects of circSPECC1 (hsa_circ_0000745) on the proliferation and migration of LNCaP prostate cancer cells and to explore the potential molecular mechanism. Methods. Stable circSPECC1 shRNA-expressing and circSPECC1-overexpressing LNCaP cell lines were constructed, and relative gene expression levels were determined by RT-PCR. MTT and clonogenic assays were used to assess proliferative ability while a scratch test was used to analyze cell migration. Western blotting was used to determine protein expression levels. The effects of circSPECC1 on the proliferation of LNCaP prostate cancer cells were observed in vivo. Results. circSPECC1 was found to be derived from the SPECC1 (sperm antigen with calponin homology and coiled-coil domains 1) parent gene and to form a loop. Overexpression of circSPECC1 promoted the proliferation and migration of the LNCaP cells, whereas decreased expression of circSPECC1 inhibited these properties. Overexpression of circSPECC1 promoted the expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, VEGF, vimentin, and N-cad but downregulated the expression of E-cad. Decreased expression of circSPECC1 inhibited the expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, VEGF, vimentin, and N-cad but increased the expression of E-cad. Conclusion. circSPECC1 promotes cell proliferation and migration by affecting the epithelial-mesenchymal transition of LNCaP prostate cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, considering the multifactor influence of the knowledge dissemination process, a new ignorant-knower-spreader-forgetter (IKSF) knowledge dissemination model is proposed, which considers internalization mechanism, degradation mechanism, communication, and willingness, as well as time-varying and uncertain parameters. First, we prove that the knowledge loss equilibrium of the model is globally asymptotically stable when the basic reproduction number R 0 < 1 , and knowledge is permanent when R 0 > 1. Next, improving the willingness of knower individuals and reducing the knowledge degradation function of spreader individuals can make the best effect of propagation; a hierarchical control strategy is designed. At the upper layer, an effective optimal control mechanism of the IKSF knowledge dissemination model is studied to provide optimal control action and minimization costs. At the lower layer, to guarantee robustness control performance and track the control targets, an intervention optimal guaranteed cost control strategy for the IKSF knowledge dissemination system with uncertain parameters is studied. Converting the controller's design problem into a minimization problem with linear matrix inequalities, not only the impact of uncertain parameters is reduced but also the propagation effect of the knowledge dissemination model is guaranteed. Simulation results confirm our method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The indispensable role of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) in the viral replication cycle and its dissimilarity to human proteases make Mpro a promising drug target. In order to identify the non-covalent Mpro inhibitors, we performed a comprehensive study using a combined computational strategy. We first screened the ZINC purchasable compound database using the pharmacophore model generated from the reference crystal structure of Mpro complexed with the inhibitor ML188. The hit compounds were then filtered by molecular docking and predicted parameters of drug-likeness and pharmacokinetics. The final molecular dynamics (MD) simulations identified three effective candidate inhibitors (ECIs) capable of maintaining binding within the substrate-binding cavity of Mpro. We further performed comparative analyses of the reference and effective complexes in terms of dynamics, thermodynamics, binding free energy (BFE), and interaction energies and modes. The results reveal that, when compared to the inter-molecular electrostatic forces/interactions, the inter-molecular van der Waals (vdW) forces/interactions are far more important in maintaining the association and determining the high affinity. Given the un-favorable effects of the inter-molecular electrostatic interactions—association destabilization by the competitive hydrogen bond (HB) interactions and the reduced binding affinity arising from the un-compensable increase in the electrostatic desolvation penalty—we suggest that enhancing the inter-molecular vdW interactions while avoiding introducing the deeply buried HBs may be a promising strategy in future inhibitor optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Power consumption of photonic integrated circuits becomes a critical consideration. A new platform is proposed for ultralow‐power tuning in silicon photonics via piezo‐optomechanical coupling using hafnium‐oxide actuators. As an example of the potential of the platform, a tunable silicon‐hafnium‐oxide hybrid microring, where hafnium‐oxide film acts as an active optical and piezoelectric layer, is demonstrated. The hybrid microring is capable of linear bidirectional tuning with a wavelength tuning efficiency of 8.4 pm V−1 and a power efficiency of 0.12 nW pm−1. The estimated power consumption for tuning a free spectral range (FSR) in hybrid microring is 3.07 µW per FSR. The hybrid silicon‐hafnium‐oxide technology with complementary metal‐oxide‐semiconductor (CMOS) compatibility advances the field of ultralow‐power integrated photonic devices and can find applications in optical communications, computing, and spaces under cryogenic temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an efficient and straightforward numerical procedure is constructed to solve multi-dimensional linear and nonlinear elliptic partial differential equations (PDEs). Although the numerical procedure for the constraint-type fictitious time integration method overcomes the numerical stability problem, the parameter's definition, numerical accuracy and computational efficiency have not been resolved, and the lack of initial guess values results in reduced computational efficiency. Therefore, the normalized two-point boundary value solution of the Lie-group shooting method is proposed and considered in the numerical procedure to avoid the problem of the initial guess value. Then, a space-time variable, including the minimal fictitious time step and convergence rate factor, is introduced to study the relationship between the initial guess value and convergence rate factor. Some benchmark numerical examples are tested. As the results show, this numerical procedure using the normalized boundary value solution can significantly converge within one step, and the numerical accuracy is better than that demonstrated in the previous literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have great advantages in the domain of energy storage because of their exchangeable anions and large specific surface area. Nevertheless, the shortcomings of their poor electrical conductivity, easy stacking of nanosheets, and large volume variation in the cycling processes lead to unsatisfactory cycling stability and rate performance, which severely limits their further application. Therefore, we generated homogeneous nanoarrays of NiFe-LDH on the surface of Ti3C2Tx-MXene by a refluxing process. The resulting NiFe-LDH/MXene-500 hybrid material was applied as an anode of a lithium-ion battery (LIB) and exhibited a discharge capacity of 894.8 mA h g−1 at 200 mA g−1 (over 300 cycles) and could maintain a reversible capacity of 547.1 mA h g−1 even at 1 A g−1. With the addition of MXene, the volume increases of the NiFe-LDH/MXene hybrid materials were also significantly alleviated. The thickness of the NiFe-LDH/MXene-500 electrode only increased by 31% after 50 cycles, which was far better than the prepared NiFe-LDH electrode. On the hand, the synergistic interaction of NiFe-LDH and MXene could stabilize the structure, reduce the activation barrier of ion/electron diffusion, and promote electron transfer in the electrode. MXene with high conductivity can be used as electrical and ionic conductance media to promote the transformation reaction of NiFe-LDH. According to the detailed kinetic analysis, the capacitance control behavior is the main electrochemical reaction of NiFe-LDH/MXene electrodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asymmetric hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) represents arguably one of the most straightforward access to the significant chiral tertiary carbon centers, however, remains a long‐standing challenge. Herein, the first example of catalytic coordination‐induced asymmetric HAT reaction has been developed relying on a sequential (salen)TiIII‐initiated radical generation and (salen)TiIV‐controlled enantioselective HAT process. The reaction transforms easily accessible glycidic esters, thioesters and amides to synthetically valuable formal formaldehyde aldol adducts in an enantioconvergent manner, along with broad scope and highly regio‐ and enantioselectivities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asymmetric hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) represents arguably one of the most straightforward access to the significant chiral tertiary carbon centers, however, remains a long‐standing challenge. Herein, the first example of catalytic coordination‐induced asymmetric HAT reaction has been developed relying on a sequential (salen)TiIII‐initiated radical generation and (salen)TiIV‐controlled enantioselective HAT process. The reaction transforms easily accessible glycidic esters, thioesters and amides to synthetically valuable formal formaldehyde aldol adducts in an enantioconvergent manner, along with broad scope and highly regio‐ and enantioselectivities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the influence of sea‐level rise (SLR) on seasonal hypoxia and phytoplankton production in Chesapeake Bay is investigated using a 3D unstructured grid model. Three SLR scenarios (0.17, 0.5, and 1.0 m) were conducted from 1991 to 1995. Results show that the summer hypoxic volume (HV) increases about 2%, 8%, and 16%, respectively, for these three scenarios, compared with Base Scenario. The contributions of physical and biological processes on the increase in the HV were analyzed. With the projected SLR, enhanced gravitational circulation transports more oxygen‐rich water in the bottom layer from the mouth. However, the pycnocline moves upwards along with increasing water depth, which largely prolongs the time for dissolved oxygen (DO) to be transported to the bottom. The altered physical processes contribute greatly to a larger HV bay‐wide. Besides, SLR increases the whole Bay phytoplankton production, with a larger increase in shallow areas (e.g., 53% in areas with depth <1 m under SLR of 0.5 m). Enhanced light availability is suggested to be the major driver of blooming phytoplankton under SLR in shallow areas. While increased DO production over the euphotic zone is mostly released to the atmosphere and transported downstream, the increase in settled organic matter greatly promotes DO consumption in the water column. The increased respiration is another major cause of the HV increase besides the physical contributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Pancreatic cancer is the fourth most lethal human malignancy. One-third of pancreatic cancer cases are diagnosed as locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC); however, the optimal treatment of LAPC remains to be elucidated. Irreversible electroporation (IRE) has been applied as the treatment LAPC, but the safety and efficacy of IRE against LAPC need to be further clarified. In this study, we evaluate the safety and efficacy of IRE against LAPC, as well as exploring its impact on the immune response. The rate of major complications in the IRE group was similar to that in those undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy with concurrent vascular resection (VR group), but higher than patients undergoing palliative surgery (PS group). The overall survival of the IRE group was shorter than that of the VR group, but longer than that of the PS group. The survival advantage in IRE-treated patients may be attributed to tumor ablation and immune modulation effects. Therefore, IRE is a feasible treatment for patients with LAPC. Irreversible electroporation (IRE) has emerged as a promising treatment for patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC). Therefore, in this study, we evaluate the safety and efficacy of IRE against LAPC, as well as exploring its impact on anti-tumor immunity. A retrospective analysis was conducted in consecutive patients at a single institution. Eligible patients were assigned to IRE, palliative surgery (PS), or vascular resection (VR) groups, according to their respective treatments. The IRE group consisted of LAPC patients. One-to-one propensity score matching was performed, in order to compare the incidence of complications and median overall survival (mOS). Serum and intratumoral cytokines, as well as intratumoral immune cells, were analyzed in order to identify changes in immunity after IRE. A total of 210 patients were included. After matching, the rate of major complications (Clavien–Dindo III–V), intra-abdominal hemorrhage, and re-intervention in the IRE group were similar to those in the VR group (p > 0.05). The mOS of the IRE group (13.0 months) was shorter than that of the VR group (15.0 months), but longer than that of the PS group (8.0 months) (p < 0.05). Patients in the IRE group had elevated serum levels of immunogenic cytokines, including IL-2, IL-6, and TNF-α, which were related to anti-tumor immunity. The survival advantage in IRE-treated patients was attributed to tumor ablation and immune modulation effects. Overall, IRE can be considered a feasible treatment for patients with LAPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-temperature water electrolysis through solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOEC) will play a key role in building a hydrogen economy in the future. However, the delamination between the air electrode and the electrolyte remains a critical issue to be addressed. Previously, it was hypothesized that Co migration may improve the catalytic activity of the SrZrO 3 second phase at the LSCF-YSZ interface, eventually leading to the delamination. In this work, the LSCF-YSZ interfaces sintered at different temperatures were examined in detail. The activation behaviors of the LSCF electrodes upon application with electrolysis current were characterized under different conditions. Further, samples containing purposely added SrZrO 3 interlayer with and without cobalt were fabricated and compared. The activation process is less significant for the sample with cobalt-added SrZrO 3 interlayer than the sample with pure SrZrO 3 layer, supporting the hypothesis that Co migration may lead to the activation behavior. [Display omitted] • LSCF-YSZ interface was examined thoroughly using SEM and XRD for SrZrO 3 formation. • Electrolysis current was applied on LSCF electrode to study the activation behavior. • Higher current density or sintering temperature causes more significant activation. • Two samples were fabricated containing SrZrO 3 layers with and without cobalt. • Co-added SrZrO 3 hinders the activation, associating the activation to Co migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abscisic acid (ABA) is a phytohormone that inhibits airway inflammation in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) mouse models. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this phenomenon remains unclear. Methods : Serum ABA level in patients and mice was measured via liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). In-depth molecular mechanism was investigated through transmission electron microscopy, RNA-sequencing, and molecular docking in ARDS mice and cultured primary alveolar macrophages (AMs). We found that the serum ABA level was remarkably decreased in ARDS mice and patients. ABA inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced airway inflammation in mice; moreover, it downregulated genes associated with pyroptosis, as shown by RNA-sequencing and lung protein immunoblots. ABA inhibited the formation of membrane pores in AMs and suppressed the cleavage of gasdermin D (GSDMD) and the activation of caspase-11 and caspase-1 in vivo and in vitro ; however, the overexpression of caspase-11 reversed the protective effect of ABA on LPS-induced pyroptosis of primary AMs. ABA inhibited intra-AM LPS accumulation while increasing the level of acyloxyacyl hydrolase (AOAH) in AMs, whereas AOAH deficiency abrogated the suppressive action of ABA on inflammation, pyroptosis, and intra-AM LPS accumulation in vivo and in vitro. Importantly, ABA promoted its intracellular receptor lanthionine C-like receptor 2 interacting with transcription factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, which ultimately leading to increase AOAH expression to inactivate LPS and inhibit pyroptosis in AMs. ABA protected against LPS-induced lung injury by inhibiting pyroptosis in AMs via proliferator-activated receptor γ-mediated AOAH expression. Mechanism scheme. ABA promotes the formation of a complex of LANCL2 and PPARγ and increases AOAH expression for cytosolic LPS inactivation, which ultimately leading to inhibition of alveolar macrophages pyroptosis. Black arrows: the classical pathway that had been studied previously. Red arrows: the new GSDMD signal pathway of ABA suppressing ARDS that we discovered in our study. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have demonstrated that in women with breast cancer treated with breast-conserving surgery (BCS), intraoperative frozen section analysis of lumpectomy margins results in a decrease in reoperation rates for margin control. However, the value of intraoperative frozen margin evaluation (FME) in re-excision margin analysis was not fully understood. We conducted a retrospective review of patients who underwent attempted breast-conserving surgery for breast cancer with routine intraoperative frozen margin evaluation at our institution between January 1998 and May 2016. The number of frozen margin evaluation was analyzed. We additionally analyzed factors associated with positive re-excised margins to identify correlations with patient characteristics. A total of 760 patients who underwent attempted breast-conserving surgery were routinely conducted intraoperative frozen margin evaluation, frozen sections were obtained from the initial margin only in 82.5% (n = 627), the initial margin as well as a one-time re-excision analysis in 15.8% (n = 120), or the initial margin and two or more re-excision analyses in 1.7% (n-13). Based on the results of frozen margin evaluation, 727 (95.6%) of the patients underwent breast-conserving surgery, while the remaining 33 (4.4%) converted to mastectomy. Among the patients who underwent breast-conserving surgery, 112 (15.4%) had an initial positive margin on a frozen margin evaluation, underwent one-time margin re-excision and achieved a margin-free status, while 1.6% underwent a second margin resection due to a positive result on the first re-excised margin. In total, 72.7% of the conversions to mastectomy were due to a positive initial margin. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that patients with the ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) histological type were more likely to have repeatedly positive re-excised margins during breast-conserving surgery. Routine intraoperative frozen margin evaluation of re-excised margins provided only limited value in patients who underwent attempted breast-conserving surgery; this method may be beneficial in the subgroup of patients with the ductal carcinoma in situ histological type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the advantages of transition metal oxides (TMOs) include low cost, convenient synthesis and high capacity, the severe volume expansion and modest conductivity restrain their extensive applications. In this work, we introduced carbon sources into MoO2/Ni materials by high temperature annealing, and successfully obtained MoO2/Ni/C composites with a three-dimensional (3D) flower-like structure. In addition, the outermost carbon coating can efficaciously boost the electrical conductivity of the MoO2/Ni/C and buffer its volumetric expansion. As expected, the MoO2/Ni/C sample shows a high lithium storage capacity of 808 mA h g−1 after 200 cycles at 200 mA g−1 when utilized as a lithium-ion battery (LIB) anode. Therefore, it also provides guidance for the construction and optimization of carbon-coated TMO anode materials for LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Osteoporosis (OP) is a metabolic disease that involves microstructure destruction and fracture damage. The present study probed into the significance of miR-215-5p in OP progression.Methods: Serum samples were collected from surgical patients and healthy controls. qRT-PCR analysis was utilized to determine the miR-215-5p level in clinical samples and human bone mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) induced by β-glycerol phosphate. A dual luciferase reporter assay was exploited to examine the targeted relationship between miR-215-5p and XIAP. The mineralization and calcium deposition of hBMSCs were assessed by detection of ALP activity, Alizarin red staining, and osteoblast marker expression. Protein expression was determined by western blot analysis.Results: MiR-215-5p was significantly reduced in patients with OP and increased in hBMSCs treated with β-glycerophosphate. Enhanced miR-215-5p level triggered augment in osteoblast markers (Alkaline phosphatase/ ALP, Osteocalcin/ OCN, and Runt-Related Transcription Factor 2/ Runx2), which was accompanied by the increase of ALP activity in hBMSCs and accumulation of Calcium. Functional experiments show that XIAP was a target of miR-215-5p and negatively modulated by miR-215-5p. XIAP expression levels were increased in OP samples, and decreased XIAP in β-glycerophosphate-treated hBMSCs inhibited its' osteogenic differentiation. Functional loss and acquisition experiments depicted that miR-215-5p promoted the differentiation of hBMSCs by inhibiting the XIAP level, playing a protective role in the pathogenesis of OP.Conclusions: β-glycerophosphate promoted the osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs, increased miR-215-5p level, and decreased XIAP. miR-215-5p stimulated osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs by targeting XIAP, shedding new insights for the detection and therapy of OP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The smart ammunition formation (SAF) system model usually has the characteristics of complexity, time variation, and nonlinearity. With the consideration of random factors, such as sensor error and environmental disturbance, the system model cannot be modeled accurately. To deal with this problem, this paper investigated an intelligent deep Q -network- (DQN-) based control algorithm for the SAF collaborative control, which deals with the high dynamics and uncertainty in the SAF flight environment. In the environment description of the SAF, we built a dynamic model to represent the system joint states, which referred to the smart ammunition's velocity, the trajectory inclination angle, the ballistic deflection angle, and the relative position between different formation nodes. Next, we describe the SAF collaborative control process as a Markov decision process (MDP) with the application of the reinforcement learning (RL) technique. Then, the basic framework ε -imitation action-selecting strategy and the algorithm details were developed to address the SAF control problem based on the DQN scheme. Finally, the numerical simulation was carried out to verify the effectiveness and portability of the DQN-based algorithm. The average total reward curve showed a reasonable convergence, and the relative kinematic relationship among the formation nodes met the requirements of the controller design. It illustrated that the DQN-based algorithm obtained a novel performance in the SAF collaborative control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hypertension is known as a major factor for global mortality. We aimed to investigate the role of Cullin3 (CUL3) in the regulation of hypertension.Material and Methods: Human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were treated with Angiotensin II (Ang II) to establish a hypertension in vitro model. Cell viability was detected by a cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. The content of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was evaluated by kit. Transwell assay and TUNEL staining were, respectively, used to assess cell migration and apoptosis. Additionally, the expression of sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling-related proteins (SHH, smoothened homolog (Smo) and glioblastoma (Gli)) and CUL3 was tested with western blotting. Following treatment with Cyclopamine (Cycl), an inhibitor of SHH signaling, in Ang II-induced VSMCs, cell viability, migration, apoptosis and ROS content were determined again. Then, VSMCs were transfected with CUL3 plasmid or/and treated with sonic hedgehog signaling agonist (SAG) to explore the impacts on Ang II-induced VSMCs damage. In vivo, a hypertensive mouse model was established. Systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were determined. The histopathologic changes of abdominal aortic tissues were examined using H&E staining. The expression of SHH, Smo, Gli and CUL3 was tested with western blotting.Results: Significantly increased proliferation, migration and apoptosis of VSMCs were observed after Ang II exposure. Moreover, Ang II induced upregulated SHH, Smo and Gli expression, whereas limited increase in CUL3 expression was observed. The content of ROS in Ang II-stimulated VSMCs presented the same results. Following Cycl treatment, the high levels of proliferation and migration in Ang II-treated VSMCs were notably remedied while the apoptosis and ROS concentration were further increased. Moreover, Cycl downregulated SHH, Smo, Gli and CUL3 expression. Above-mentioned changes caused by Ang II were reversed following SAG addition. Indeed, SAG treatment combined with restoration of CUL3 expression inhibited proliferation, migration, apoptosis and ROS level in Ang II-stimulated VSMCs. In vivo, SAG aggravated the histopathological changes of the aorta and with a worse tendency after both SAG intervention and CUL3 silencing. By contrast, SAG treatment and rebound in CUL3 expression alleviated the vascular damage.Conclusions: Collectively, restoration of CUL3 gene expression protected against hypertension through enhancing the effects of SHH activation in inhibition of apoptosis and oxidative stress for hypertension and alleviating the dysfunction of VSMCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generally, PV (photovoltaic) modules are known as devices which are used semi-permanently for more than 20 years, but the electrical performance and lifespan of PV modules can be significantly degraded due to various environmental factors. Thus, a proper evaluation method for aging phenomenon of PV modules is required. Although there already are methods which compare adjusted PV output power based on STC (standard test condition) with initial PV module specification, or perform direct comparison by conducting the test under STC, there are issues with objectivity or efficiency in the existing evaluation method of aging phenomenon due to the data distortion while adjusting measured data or difficulties in implementation. Therefore, in order to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantage of the existing evaluation method for deterioration in PV modules and evaluate the aging characteristics of PV modules based on on-site measurement data in an accurate and efficient manner, this paper implements a test device for aging diagnosis to measure and collect actual data from a PV module section, and presents a modeling of data analysis for aging phenomenon with MATLAB S/W in order to minimize the variability of PV output, communication error, delay, etc. Furthermore, this paper confirms the usefulness of the presented test device for aging diagnosis of the PV modules which is accurately evaluated by considering on-site measurement of PV output power by season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over extended periods of application, a beneficial carbon material, biochar, undergos a series of physical and chemical changes collectively referred to as the aging process, which result from exposure to various environmental factors. The potential long-term threats to the local environment are tied to the influence of interactions between biochar and contaminants, such as Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA). The objective is to examine the thermodynamic changes in freeze-thaw cycles to explore the long-term behaviors of with biochar-contaminants under environmental interactions. The results revealed that freeze-thaw aging and the involvement of dissolved organic matters (DOMs) were the major factors affecting the immobilization behaviors of biochar, shifting the interactive energy from −2.92 ∼ 13.75 to −18.04 ∼ 76.39 KJ/mol. The surface functionality of the biochar underwent significant alterations, with DOMs and TBBPA in long-term applications. As the migration of TBBPA on biochar culminates in a dissipation process, The study also revealed that the energy required for TBBPA dissipation was higher in a freeze-thaw environment and in systems enriched with DOMs elevating from 33.29 ∼ 75.97–53.75 ∼ 76.39 KJ/mol. In comparison, the high pyrolyzed surface showed low variations as alteration from 39.25 ∼ 58.08–32.10 ∼ 69.76 KJ/mol. This implies that in regions where biochar is applied to soils rich in biomass and nutrients, a more substantial energy is necessary to overcome the dissipation of TBBPA compared to regions with less fertile soils. The findings of this study suggest that the enrichment of contaminants may be facilitated in areas where biochar is applied to nutrient-rich soils. [Display omitted] • DOMs were the major factors affecting the immobilization behaviors of biochar. • Freeze-thaw aging was found to alter the functionality of biochar surface. • Energy required for TBBPA dissipation was notably higher in a freeze-thaw environment. • Energy required for TBBPA dissipation was notably higher in systems enriched with DOMs. • More energy is needed for the migration of TBBPA compared to regions with less fertile soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acetic acid sensing materials for environmental and related food quality control requiring high sensitivity and selectivity, and ppb-level detection limit, remain challenging. Double-shell ZnO hollow microspheres were prepared by a surfactant assisted template method, and the resultant gas sensor showed excellent acetic acid sensing performance. The sensor response reached 116 to 100 ppm acetic acid at 270°C with a short response time of 3.2 s. The relationship between acetic acid concentration and the response was established, and the detection limit reached 100 ppb. DFT theory computational results demonstrated the highest adsorption energy of the ZnO gas sensor to acetic acid among all tested gases, proving its high selectivity to acetic acid. Besides, the unique double-shell hollow structure with abundant oxygen vacancy and large surface area might be the other factors that gave rise to its excellent acetic acid gas sensing performance. Based on the gas sensor, a method for fast quantitative detection of acetic acid content in vinegar was developed. The linear relationship between sensor response and acetic acid gas concentration of vaporized white vinegar was established, and the acetic acid content in the vinegar can be quickly determined. The result proved our acetic acid sensor to be a promising candidate for practical applications. • A new method was developed for synthesizing double-shell ZnO hollow microspheres. • The synthesized porous ZnO showed high acetic acid gas sensing performance. • The gas sensing mechanism was discussed based on XPS and DFT theory calcination. • The gas sensor was used for the determination of acetic acid content in vinegar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steroid estrogens (SEs) have garnered global attention because of their potential hazards to human health and aquatic organisms at low concentrations (ng/L). The ecosystems of plateau freshwater lakes are fragile, the water lag time is long, and pollutants easily accumulate, making them more vulnerable to the impact of SEs. However, the knowledge of the impact of SEs on the growth and decomposition of phytoplankton communities in plateau lakes and the eutrophication process is limited. This study investigated the effects and mechanisms of SEs exposure on dominant algal communities and the expression of typical algal functional genes in Erhai Lake using indoor simulations and molecular biological methods. The results showed that phytoplankton were sensitive to 17β-estradiol (E2β) pollution, with a concentration of 50, and 100 ng/L E2β exposure promoting the growth of cyanophyta and chlorophyta in the short term; this poses an ecological risk of inducing algal blooms. E2β of 1000 ng/L exposure led to cross-effects of estrogenic effects and toxicity, with most phytoplankton being inhibited. However, small filamentous cyanobacteria and diatoms exhibited greater tolerance; Melosira sp. even exhibited "low inhibition, high promotion" behavior. Exposure to E2β reduced the Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H'), Pielou index (J), and the number of dominant algal species (S) in phytoplankton communities, leading to instability in community succession. E2β of 50 ng/L enhanced the expression levels of relevant functional genes, such as ftsH , psaB , atpB , and prx , related to Microcystis aeruginosa. E2β of 50 ng/L and 5 mg/L can promote the transcription of Microcystis toxins (MC) related genes (mcyA), leading to more MC production by algal cells. [Display omitted] • E2β at the ng/L level posed the ecological risk of inducing algal blooms. • E2β exhibited a "low suppressing and high promoting" effect on Melosira sp. • The community structure of phytoplankton was sensitive to E2β pollution. • E2β enhanced the expression level of key genes related to Microcysis aeruginosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selective ion-doped core–shell bioceramic fibrous granules were developed, featuring a versatile granule morphology and shell-porosity-tailoring design. This design allows for fine-tuning the release of functional ions to enhance the repair of osteoporotic bone defects, particularly in complex three-dimensional anatomical pathological bone defects. [Display omitted] • Core-shell bioceramic fibers were prepared through extuding the strontium- or zinc-doping wollastonite slurry. • The micropore structures in shell layer could be tuned by varying PS porogen content in bioceramic slurry. • Core-shell fiber-cut granules exhibited tailorable ion release and bio-dissolution in pH-buffered solution. • Core-shell granules with appropriate micropores in shell layer readily intrigue the early bone regeneration in osteoporosis. • Core-shell-structuring bioceramic design is promising for osteo-stimulating pathological bone defect repair. Osteoporotic bone defect repair is one of the challenges in orthopedics because there are no preferable biomaterials to readily initiate new bone regeneration in critical-size pathological bone damage. Our previous studies revealed that core–shell Ca-phosphate/silicate microspheres can tune time-evolving biodegradation, which is beneficial for modulating bone repair. Herein, we expanded this strategy to develop core–shell-type 5 % Sr- and 8 % Zn-doped wollastonite fiber-derived granules with different porosities (0 %, 10 %, 20 %) in the shell layer. Physicochemical analyses indicated that granules with higher porosity in the shell layer exhibited more appreciable Sr and Zn ion release and biodissolution in vitro. Osteoporotic femoral bony defects in rabbits were used to verify the osteogenic efficacy of the core–shell granules. The granules with 10 % porosity could initiate more osteogenesis within 6 weeks, and the new bone tissue could grow into the defect region, while the new bone tissue only migrated into the periphery pores under the other granule conditions. Histological evaluation also revealed appreciable new bone ingrowth in the granules with 10 % porosity, whereas the other implant groups had limited new bone tissue. These findings demonstrate that bone repair initiation can be enhanced by finely designed local porosity in specific components of core–shell bioceramic fiber-tailoring granules to control bioactive ion release and osteo-stimulation in vivo ; moreover, such bioceramic fabrication is promising for developing osteo-stimulative implants to resolve clinically challenging bone defect repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil salinization is a major environmental hazard that limits land availability. Human-induced salt pollutants (HISPs) are regularly presented in large quantities on the contaminated site (such as brine leakages and salt-water spills), causing a devastating shock with high salt stress to the ecosystem. For instance, Saskatchewan resulted in a 48% drop in wheat production and a 0.3% decline in provincial GDP. As the calcium-modified biochar can potentially ameliorate the negative effects of HISPs on plants and improve the plant, phytoremediation with calcium-modified biochar can have increased detoxification of hazardous pollutants from sites. Therefore, the objective of our study was to develop a biochar-assisted phytoremediation employing diverse approaches to calcium modification for the sustainable removal of HISPs. The co-pyrolyzed calcium biochar achieved a remarkable removal rate of 18.06%, reducing salinity from 9.44 to 7.81 dS/m. During a 90-day long-term phytoremediation, the overall reduction rate of calcium-modified biochar stimulated the germination and growth of Thinopyrum ponticum. The result of post-treatment further indicated that co-pyrolyzed biochar with Ca transferred salt into the plant compared to Ca-coated biochar, which only immobilized HISPs on its surface. These results offer two different treatment approaches for diverse situations involving HISPs contamination, addressing current in-situ spills and providing a calcium-related biochar technology for further research in desalination. [Display omitted] • Ca-coated and Ca-copyrolyzed biochar for phytoremediation of saline soil were investigated. • Ca-modified biochars generated from copyrolysis and coating. • Ca-modified biochars displayed enhanced capability in direct removing salt from brine water • In a 90-day phytoremediation, Ca-modified biochar reduced salinity and improved soil quality • Ca-copyrolyzed and Ca-coated biochar have diverse roles in salt migration into vegetations [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suicide is commonly found in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), while the associations among depressive symptoms and their relationships with suicidal risk remain unclear. This study identified the symptoms associated with suicidal risk and the most central symptoms in the MDD networks based on both self‐reported and clinical‐interview scales. A total of 446 outpatients with MDD were recruited. The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) was used to assess the suicidal risk. The 13‐item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI‐13) and 17‐item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD‐17) were used to measure the depressive symptoms. Network analysis was used to estimate the network models. Ten symptoms in the BDI‐13 network were related to suicidal risk, among which sadness had the strongest association. Among the six symptoms in the HAMD‐17 network that were associated with suicidal risk, guilty feeling was the strongest. Sense of failure was the most central symptom in the BDI‐13 network, while depressed mood had the highest centrality in the HAMD‐17 network. The depressive symptoms related to suicide risk and the clinical features of MDD showed different characteristics based on different assessment types. Combining self‐reported and clinician‐rated assessments in future studies and clinical practice might lead to some new findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreatic cancer is a deadly disease with little response to standard therapies. Irreversible electroporation (IRE) has emerged as a novel ablative technique for the clinical treatment of pancreatic cancer. Combinations of IRE and immunotherapies, including anti‐programmed death 1 (αPD1) immune checkpoint blockade, have shown promising efficacy in both preclinical and clinical studies. However, tumor recurrence remains an obstacle that needs to be overcome. It herein is shown that IRE induces a substantial infiltration of neutrophils into pancreatic tumors. These neutrophils are then polarized into a protumor phenotype by immunosuppressive cues, in particular transforming growth factor β (TGF‐β). Using glutathione‐responsive degradable mesoporous silica nanoparticles loaded with SB525334, an inhibitor of TGF‐β1 receptor, it is demonstrated that local inhibition of TGF‐β within the tumor microenvironment promotes neutrophil polarization into an antitumor phenotype, enhances pancreatic cancer response to combined IRE and αPD1 therapy, and induces long‐term antitumor memory. The therapeutic efficacy is also attributed to tumor infiltration by CD8+ cytotoxic T cells, depletion of regulatory T cells, and maturation of antigen‐presenting dendritic cells. Thus, modulating neutrophil polarization with nanomedicine is a promising strategy for treating pancreatic cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple mathematical models are derived from mass balances for water and transported substance to provide insight into the relationships between import, export, transport, and internal removal for nonconservative substances in an estuary. Extending previous work, our models explicitly include water and substance inputs from the ocean and are expressed in terms of timescales (i.e., mean residence time and the timescale for net removal). Steady‐state, timescale‐based expressions for ratios of export to import, retention to import, and net export to loading, as well as for loading and annually averaged concentration, are provided. The net export:loading model explains the underlying mechanisms for a well‐known empirical relationship between fractional net export and residence time derived by other authors. Although our simplified models are first‐order approximations, the relative importance of physical and biochemical processes influencing export or retention of a substance can be assessed using mean residence time and the timescale for net removal. Assumptions employed in deriving the simplified models (e.g., well‐mixed, dynamic steady state) may not be met for real estuaries. However, model application to Chesapeake Bay for 1985–2012 demonstrates that interannual variations in total nitrogen (TN) net export:loading can be evaluated, and annual nutrient loadings can be well estimated using numerically modeled time‐varying mean residence time, observation‐based mean concentration, freshwater inflow, and an appropriately estimated removal timescale. Our model shows that net fractional export of TN loading ranges from 0.3 to 0.5 over the 28‐yr period. The models can be employed for other substances and water bodies if the underlying assumptions are applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Promoting a hydro-dominated electricity market (HEM) is greatly challenging. This study analyzes impacts and challenges of electricity market on hydro-dominated power system operations. The analysis indicates that the HEM exhibits unique difficulties including spatiotemporal hydraulic coupling of cascaded hydropower plants, runoff uncertainties, nonlinear operation constraints, coordination of multiple time scales, as well as transprovincial and transregional power transmission. Two kinds of suggestions are presented to overcome these difficulties for different market objects. The hydropower enterprises are suggested to improve generation prediction level, reconstruct market-based operation rules, implement multiscale nested operations and bidding, strengthen collaborative bidding of different stakeholders, and analyze market demands and competitors. The goal is to improve their competitiveness. The market operators should make efforts to develop accuracy and efficiency of clearing models and predetermine feasible hydropower bidding intervals to ensure power balance and prevent unreasonable spillage. Moreover, a practical and convenient electricity trading platforms is required. It is implied that there is strong necessity to explore characteristic market theories and application technologies combined with hydropower characteristics and actual dispatching needs. • Promoting a hydro-dominated electricity market (HEM) is challenging for China. • The HEM involves complex hydraulic coupling and nonlinear operation constraints. • The impacts and challenges of electricity market on HPSs are described in detail. • Plants should improve the level of prediction, operation, and bidding in the HEM. • Market operators can make efforts to develop clearing models and trading platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcareous sand is a special geomaterial susceptible to breakage. In this study, calcareous gravelly sand (CGS) was subjected to multiple consolidated-drained triaxial shear tests under different relative densities (Dr) and effective confining pressures ( σ 3 ′ ). The purpose was to investigate the effects of particle breakage on the shear characteristics of calcareous sand. According to the results, the strain-softening and dilatancy characteristics of CGS gradually weakened with increasing σ 3 ′ and decreasing Dr. Within σ 3 ′ ≤ 400 kPa, the peak-state friction angle (φp) of calcareous sand collected from the island-reefs in the South China Sea had a range of 37.8–62.9°. Moreover, φp decreased with increasing σ 3 ′ and decreasing Dr. A physical model was built to predict the secant modulus (E50) of CGS based on its Dr and σ 3 ′ . Particles 1–2 mm in size had the largest breakage extent, and mainly broke into particles of 0.5–1 mm and 0.075–0.25 mm. The applicability of inverse proportional function for describing the relationship between plastic work and relative breakage ratio for CGS was validated. Neither Dr nor σ 3 ′ greatly affected their relationship. Increasing particle breakage weakened the strain-softening and dilatancy characteristics of CGS and reduced its φp but enhanced its deformation resistance. The findings of this study provide a theoretical basis for infrastructure construction on the island-reefs in the South China Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concern has been expressed in the recent decades about the corrosion prediction of concrete structures in a chloride environment. This paper summarises the corrosion prediction models developed for chloride-contaminated concrete, including both the empirical and electrochemical corrosion models. The definition methods of the steel de-passivation process for electrochemical models, such as anode–cathode ratio (Aa/Ac), critical chloride concentration (CCl,crit), modification of anodic Tafel slope (βa) or passive film resistance (Rf), are considered essential and discussed in detail. Furthermore, electrochemical parameters regarding the definition and selection in electrochemical models and experimental measurements are discussed. This study confirms that Aa/Ac and CCl,crit have been generally used in recent years, and that the modifications of βa and Rf related to free chloride concentration are technically feasible. In addition, the discreteness of electrochemical parameters in electrochemical models and experimental measurements are observed, and time-dependent characteristics of electrochemical parameters are scarcely presented in the existing literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A permanent magnet synchronous reluctance machine (PMSynRM) is studied in this article. It has a stack of surface-mounted permanent magnet (SPM) rotor and a stack of synchronous reluctance (SynR) rotor, which are axially combined on the shaft. Unlike the traditional PM-assisted SynR machine (PMASynRM), the magnets are not located in the flux barriers of the SynR rotor, and therefore, the magnets and flux barriers have no more geometric confliction between them. The two rotor stacks can be circumferentially shifted to any relative angle. Clearly, the shifting angle and the axial length ratio between the two rotor stacks, together with the phase angle of the armature current vector, influence the motor performance, and their optimal design is detailed in this article. Analysis of the prototypes shows that the studied PMSynRM evidently exhibits higher torque density than the conventional PMASynRM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel microwave limiter with non‐reciprocal limiting threshold is proposed in this paper to protect the transceiver switch or the transmitter. The directivity of the directional coupler is utilized to make the power of the received signal input to the detection circuit larger than that of the transmitted signal, thereby the detection circuit provides different DC bias voltages to the limiter circuit and changes the threshold level of the limiter diode. The test results show that this limiter has a threshold level of 35 dBm for the transmitted signal and 17 dBm for the received signal, which has a non‐reciprocal limiting threshold for high‐power signals input in both directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine the effect of diacerein on vascular dysfunction in type 2 diabetic rats and elucidate the mechanism of diacerein. In a rat model, type 2 diabetes was induced by high-fat diet and streptozotocin. Vascular function was assessed in vascular reactivity experiment. The effect of diacerein (10 or 20 mg/kg/day) on blood glucose, inflammation and insulin signaling, and modulators in vascular tissue in diabetic rats were investigated by molecular and biochemical approaches. In this study, diacerein inhibited diabetes-induced vascular dysfunction. Diacerein treatment normalized blood glucose, insulin tolerance test, inflammatory cytokine levels and nitric oxide synthases expression in diabetic rats. Moreover, diacerein inhibited NF-κB and NLRP3 pathways and activated insulin signaling pathway related proteins IRS-1 and AKT in diabetic rats. Diacerein improved vascular function effectively in diabetic rats by suppressing inflammation and reducing insulin resistance. These results suggest that diacerein may represent a novel therapy for patients with diabetes. • In our study, we found diacerein inhibited diabetes-induced vascular dysfunction for the first time. • Diacerein treatment normalized blood glucose, insulin resistance, inflammatory cytokine levels and endothelial nitric oxide synthase and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in diabetic rats. • Diacerein inhibited NF-κB and NLRP3 pathways and activated insulin signaling pathway related proteins IRS-1 and AKT in diabetic rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]