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Working stress is an important indicator reflecting the health status of structures. Passive-monitoring technology using the piezoelectric effect can effectively monitor the dynamic stress of structures. However, under static loads, the charge generated by the piezoelectric devices can only be preserved when the external circuit impedance is infinitely large, which means passive-monitoring techniques are unable to monitor static and quasi-static stress caused by slow-changing actions. In current studies, experimental observations have shown that the impedance characteristics of piezoelectric devices are affected by external static loads, yet the underlying mechanisms remain inadequately explained. This is because the impedance characteristics of piezoelectric devices are actually dynamic characteristics under alternating voltage. Most existing impedance analysis models are based on linear elastic dynamics. Within this framework, the impact of static stress on dynamic characteristics, including impedance characteristics, cannot be addressed. Accounting for static stress in impedance modeling is a challenging problem. In this study, the static stress applied on an embedded piezoelectric plate is abstracted as the initial stress of the piezoelectric plate. Based on nonlinear elastic dynamic governing equations, using the displacement method, an impedance analysis model of an embedded piezoelectric plate considering initial stress is established and verified through a fundamental experiment and a finite element analysis. Based on this, the explicit analytical relation between initial stress and impedance characterizations is provided, the mechanism of the effect of initial stress on the impedance characterizations is revealed, and procedures to identify static stress using impedance characterizations is proposed. Moreover, the sensitivities of the impedance characterizations in response to the initial stress are thoroughly discussed. This study mainly provides a theoretical basis for monitoring static stress using the electromechanical impedance of an embedded piezoelectric plate. And the results of the present study can help with the performance prediction and design optimization of piezoelectric-based static stress sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Methods Results Conclusions Level of Evidence This study aimed to clarify the characteristics of delaminated rotator cuff tears (RCTs) and evaluate the clinical outcomes of a modified arthroscopic en masse suture bridge repair for delaminated RCTs.Patients with full‐thickness RCTs, who underwent arthroscopic suture bridge repair with a minimum 2‐year follow‐up, were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were categorized into two groups based on the presence of delamination. Delaminated RCTs were treated using a modified en masse suture bridge technique, while nondelaminated RCTs received a conventional suture bridge technique. Preoperative and postoperative Constant scores and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) scores were determined to evaluate clinical outcomes. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was carried out to identify the integrity and retear of the repaired rotator cuff.A total of 172 patients were included in our study cohort, in which 67 (39%) delaminated RCTs were confirmed intraoperatively. The prevalence of delamination was significantly higher in large tears (53/102, 52%) compared to medium tears (14/70, 20%) (p < 0.001). No significant differences in age (n.s.) or gender (n.s.) were observed between the two groups. Both groups showed significant improvements in Constant and ASES scores postoperatively (both p < 0.001), with no significant differences between the groups (n.s.). The retear rates were 2/67 (3.0%) in the delamination group and 3/105 (2.9%) in the nondelamination group, showing no significant difference (n.s.).The modified arthroscopic en masse suture bridge technique was effective for repairing delaminated RCTs, yielding favourable clinical outcomes comparable to those of nondelaminated tears.Level IV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current electromechanical model of cantilevered piezoelectric energy harvesters, the assumption of uniform electric field strength within the piezoelectric layer is commonly made. This uniform electric field assumption seems reasonable since the piezoelectric layer looks like a parallel-plate capacitor. However, for a piezoelectric bender, the strain distribution along the thickness direction is not uniform, which means the internal electric field generated by the spontaneous polarization cannot be uniform. In the present study, a non-uniform electric field in the piezoelectric layer is resolved using electrostatic equilibrium equations. Based on these, the traditional distributed parameter electromechanical model is corrected and simplified to a practical single mode one. Compared with a traditional model adopting a uniform electric field, the bending stiffness term involved in the electromechanical governing equations is explicitly corrected. Through comparisons of predicted power output with two-dimensional finite element analysis, the results show that the present model can better predict the power output performance compared with the traditional model. It is found that the relative corrections to traditional model have nothing to do with the absolute dimensions of the harvesters, but only relate to three dimensionless parameters, i.e., the ratio of the elastic layer's to the piezoelectric layer's thickness; the ratio of the elastic modulus of the elastic layer to the piezoelectric layer; and the piezoelectric materials' electromechanical coupling coefficient squared, k 31 2 . It is also found that the upper-limit relative corrections are only related to k 31 2 , i.e., the higher k 31 2 is, the larger the upper-limit relative corrections will be. For a PZT-5 unimorph harvester, the relative corrections of bending stiffness and corresponding resonant frequency are up to 17.8% and 8.5%, respectively. An inverse problem to identify the material parameters based on experimentally obtained power output performance is also investigated. The results show that the accuracy of material parameters identification is improved when considering a non-uniform electric field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalysts with located surface plasmon resonance effects (LSPRs) have been studied in recent years due to their superior light harvesting capacity and photocatalytic performance in solving environmental problems and energy shortages. Plasmonic-noble-based photocatalysts are limited in terms of their practical application on account of their high cost, fixed plasma frequency, and low abundance. In order to solve these shortcomings, non-noble metal and nonmetallic plasmonic photocatalysts with LSPRs and advantages such as a lower cost and wider light adsorption range from the UV to NIR region have been developed. This paper reviews the recent development of non-noble metal and nonmetallic plasmonic photocatalysts and advances the research direction of plasmonic photocatalysts to achieve high photocatalytic activity and stability, providing guidance for photocatalysis to solve environmental problems and energy shortages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concrete is customarily subjected to a complex triaxial stress state in structures under service. True triaxial experiments using cubic specimens in laboratory settings often utilize shims marginally smaller than the specimen surface for loading purposes. However, the influence of shim dimensions on the triaxial mechanical characteristics of concrete remains obscure. Therefore, in this study, for urea-formaldehyde (UF)/epoxy microcapsule-based self-healing concrete, shims of varying sizes were designed to conduct true triaxial compression experiments, examining the effects of loading area size and microcapsule content on triaxial mechanical behavior. The crack damage morphology was observed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), the rupture of microcapsules was analyzed through energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and the micropore structure was determined via nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The research findings reveal that reducing the loading area induces stress concentration near the shim edge, significantly decreasing the first peak strength with a maximum reduction of 37 %; while also increasing the second peak strength, with a maximum increase of 52 %. Notably, a "sleeve-like" delamination occurs when the loading area is below 95 % of the specimen surface area. Incorporating microcapsules into concrete enhances ductility and porosity, achieving a maximum 1.9 % increase in first peak strain and 1.98 % in porosity. This study may offer valuable insights and data for the optimization of concrete materials and structural design, thereby contributing to the safety and durability of engineering structures. • The impact of loading area size on the triaxial mechanical properties of microcapsule self-healing concrete was investigated. • Reduced loading area induces stress concentration, affecting the concrete's first and second peak strengths differently. • Microcapsule inclusion enhances concrete ductility and alters pore structures. • Identified "sleeve-like" failure at loading areas below 95 %, contrasting with conventional failures in triaxial tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevailing view holds that polycarboxylate ether-based (PCE) superplasticizers exhibit diminished efficacy in seawater concrete, yet the underlying mechanisms remain obscure. This study employs molecular dynamics simulation to investigate the conformational changes of water-reducing and slump-retaining superplasticizers in concrete. The reliability of the model is validated by comparing the simulation results with experimental data. In addition to analyzing concentration distribution, gyration radius, and backbone end-to-end distance, this study examined the radial distribution function and conducted pull-out simulations to reveal the differences in adsorption conformation and performance between tap water and seawater environments, elucidating the mechanisms of PCE in seawater concrete. Compared to tap water, in seawater, the carboxyl groups on the PCE backbone form a cationic layer, which reduces the gyration radius and backbone end-to-end distance of PCE, leading to a more spherical adsorption conformation. Radial distribution function analysis indicates that cations present in seawater alter the PCE adsorption mode from combined adsorption of the backbone's carboxyl and the side chain's hydroxyl groups to adsorption relying solely on the backbone's carboxyl groups. This shift results in a decreased adsorption strength during pull-out simulations. The conformational coiling and shift in adsorption mode contribute to the attenuated efficacy of PCE in seawater. This study may provide a mechanistic explanation for the PCE behaviors in seawater concrete. • Reveal the reasons behind the reduced effectiveness of PCE in seawater concrete. • The adsorption mechanisms of PCE in seawater differ from those in tap water. • Cations both promote and hinder the adsorption of PCE. • The multi-layer ion layer on the surface of C-S-H makes PCE easier to detach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants in the Crassulaceae family are rich in flavonoids, which may contribute to their high antioxidant activity and strong tolerance to abiotic stresses. Kalanchoe spp. are known to have high antioxidant activity, but the main components responsible for this activity and the mechanisms that control antioxidant accumulation in these plants are unknown. In this study, we identified the dominant flavonoid and investigated the mechanisms of its accumulation in Kalanchoe leaves. A wide metabolomics analysis showed that flavonoids were the most enriched metabolites in the leaves of Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam.) Pers, Kalanchoe delagoensis (Eckl. et Zeyh.) Druce, and Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi 'Rosy Dawn'. Among these metabolites, levels of quercitrin were significantly higher in K. pinnata (Lam.) Pers than in the other two species. RNA-seq and targeted metabolomics analyses conducted on four different K. pinnata (Lam.) Pers tissues indicated that UDP-glycosyltransferase regulates the synthesis of quercitrin. Using in vitro enzyme assays and overexpression in tobacco we demonstrated that KpUGT74F catalyzes glycosylation of quercetin to produce quercitrin. This study identified the major antioxidant substances and their key regulatory mechanisms in Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam.) Pers to provide an important theoretical basis for understanding the high stress tolerance of these plants. • K. pinnata (Lam.) Pers shows stronger antioxidant capacity than the other two Kalanchoe species. • K. pinnata (Lam.) Pers is rich in quercitrin. • KpUGT74F catalyzes quercetin to produce quercitrin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Adult zebrafish are more sensitive to F-53B than embryos, with a lower 96 h LC50. • F-53B exposure impairs the gill structure of zebrafish. • F-53B exposure leads to an increase in erythrocyte numbers in zebrafish. • F-53B decreases egg production and increases the GSI in zebrafish. • F-53B disrupts steroidogenic gene expression and sex hormone production in zebrafish. 6:2 Chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate, commonly known as F-53B, is widely used as a mist suppressant in various industries and is frequently detected in the environment. Despite its prevalent presence, the adverse effects of F-53B are not well understood and require future investigation. This study utilized zebrafish embryos and adults to examine the toxic effects of F-53B. Our findings revealed that F-53B impaired gill structure and increased erythrocyte numbers in adult zebrafish. Notably, F-53B demonstrated a higher sensitivity for inducing mortality (LC 50 at 96 h) in adult zebrafish compared to embryos. Additionally, F-53B disrupted the expression of critical steroidogenic genes and hindered sex hormone production, which negatively affecting egg production. In conclusion, this study underscores the detrimental impact of F-53B on gill structure and reproductive toxicity in zebrafish, providing valuable insights into its overall toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to global temperature increases and frequent extreme weather events, outdoor personal comfort is becoming more critical to human health and sustainable development. Nanoengineered textiles for highly efficient outdoor personal cooling and drying have been rapidly developing in academia and industry over the past decades. Herein, the recent nanoengineered textile advancements, which allow effective and energy‐free personal cooling and drying in various outdoor environments, are reviewed. The techniques used for nanoengineered textiles, including nanoporous coating/laminating, direct nanofiber spinning, and nanomaterial coating/embedding, are comprehensively discussed. The detailed heat dissipation and water transport mechanisms are analyzed to provide insights into the synergistic effect of the personal cooling and drying processes, which can create a comfortable microenvironment for the human body. This review highlights the existing gaps in the practical applications and the perspectives on future developments to motivate the development of next‐generation nanoengineered textiles. This review of nanoengineered textiles for outdoor personal cooling and drying will further promote the improvement of outdoor space living quality and labor productivity, conducive to satisfying the increasing demands for health, safety, and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Repetitive self-healing is important for ensuring the long-term effectiveness of cementitious materials. However, research on in-situ preservation and carbonisation of ammonia water (NH 3 ∙H 2 O) to enhance repetitive self-healing of ammonium bicarbonate (NH 4 HCO 3) has not yet been conducted. Attempted to strengthen the preservation and carbonisation of NH 3 ∙H 2 O with superabsorbent polymer (SAP) and modified biochar (BC) in this study. Capturing carbon dioxide (CO 2) and preserving NH 3 ∙H 2 O were maximally achieved and multidimensionally analysed. Physical characteristics were found to be vital in the physicochemical mechanism of CO 2 capture. Through modifications involving acid, alkali, urea, and deionised water in various types of BC (bamboo, corn straw, rice husk ash), rice husk ash was sensitive to pore structure and specific areas whereas bamboo was insensitive to physical characteristics. Furthermore, the optimised particle size range of SAP was selected through a stable equilibrium water absorption rate, achieving maximum retention of NH 3 ∙H 2 O repeatedly. Subsequently, composite artificial aggregates (CAAs) were prepared by appropriately mixing BCs, SAPs, and NH 4 HCO 3 to accelerate carbonisation. 7 % CAAs minimised autogenous shrinkage within 60 days, while 5 % CAAs maximised the healing percentage after 60 days, further elaborating on the unifying healing relationship between the individual and the entirety. • Multidimensional analysis identified sensitive factors of BCs in absorbing carbon. • The stable equilibrium water absorption rate of SAPs maximised NH 3 ∙H 2 O retention. • Increased the regeneration potential of NH 4 HCO 3 through SAPs and BCs. • CAA mitigated shrinkage and enhanced repetitive self-healing simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy-intensive industrial sector (EIIS) occupies a majority of global CO2 emissions, but spatially monitoring the spatiotemporal dynamics of these emissions remains challenging. In this study, we used the Chinese province with the largest carbon emissions, Shandong Province, as an example to investigate the capacity of remotely sensed thermal anomaly products to identify annual industrial heat source (IHS) patterns at a 1 km resolution and estimated the carbon emissions of these sources using auxiliary datasets and the boosting regression tree (BRT) model. The IHS identification accuracy was evaluated based on two IHS references and further attributed according to corporate inventory data. We followed a bottom-up approach to estimate carbon emissions for each IHS object and conducted model fitting using the explanatory strength of the annual population density, nighttime light (NTL), and relevant thermal characteristic information derived from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS). We generated a time series of IHS distributions from 2012 to 2020 containing a total of over 3700 IHS pixels exhibiting better alignment with the reference data than that obtained in previous work. The results indicated that the identified IHSs mostly belonged to the EIIS, such as energy-related industries (e.g., thermal power plants) and heavy manufacturing industries (e.g., chemistry and cement plants), that primarily use coal and coke as fuel sources. The BRT model exhibited a good performance, explaining 61.9% of the variance in the inventory-based carbon emissions and possessing an index of agreement (IOA) of 0.83, suggesting a feasible goodness of fit of the model when simulating carbon emissions. Explanatory variables such as the population density, thermal power radiation, NTL, and remotely sensed thermal anomaly durations were found to be important factors for improving carbon emissions modeling. The method proposed in this study is useful to aid management agencies and policymakers in tracking the carbon footprint of the EIIS and regulating high-emission corporations to achieve carbon neutrality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Traditional Chinese medicine polysaccharides (TCMPs) are plentiful and renewable resources with properties such as biocompatibility, hydrophilicity, biodegradability, and low cytotoxicity. Because the polysaccharide molecular chain contains a variety of active groups, different polysaccharide derivatives can be easily produced through chemical modification. They have been increasingly used in drug delivery systems (DDS). However, the potential of polysaccharides is usually ignored due to their structural complexity, poor stability or ambiguity of mechanisms of actions. This review summarized the applications of TCMPs in DDS around four main aspects. The general characteristics of TCMPs as drug delivery carriers, as well as the relationships between structure and function of them were summarized. Meanwhile, the direction of preparing multifunctional drug delivery materials with synergistic effect by using TCMPs was discussed. This review aims to become a reference for further research of TCMPs and their derivatives, especially applications of them as carriers in pharmaceutical preparation industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZIF-67-derived Co nanoparticles supported on N-doped carbon skeletons have been prepared from melamine foam (Co-NPs/NCs) for non-enzymatic electrochemical H2O2 detection. The synthesis of Co-NPs/NCs was demonstrated via calcination treatment using melamine foam (MF) and ZIF-67 as precursors. The experimental results show that Co-NPs/NCs composites exhibit eminent catalytic activity toward specific determination of H2O2 with high selectivity and sensitivity (252.43 and 203.88 μA mM−1 cm−2), low LOD (0.12 μM), and wide linear ranges (10–2080 and 2080–11,800 μM). The excellent performance might be ascribed to the synergetic effects of MOF and N-doped carbon skeletons. The carbon skeletons serve as a conductive bridge and provide a large specific surface area, which can facilitate electron transfer and well disperse nanoparticles. This non-enzymatic electrochemical sensor based on Co-NPs/NCs can successfully detect H2O2 secreted by living cells, indicating its great potential in the early diagnosis and pathological exploration of disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The small time-step due to the small size of microcapsules using the discrete element method (DEM) requires a significant number of computations when analyzing the force condition of microcapsules for mixing self-healing concrete. In this study, a speed-up method with a reduced Young's modulus is proposed to correct the particle contact force after establishing the relationship between the maximum contact force and the Young's modulus of particles in the collision process by using theoretical derivations and data fitting. The proposed method was verified using a stirred box model with the DEM and a stirred tank model with computational fluid dynamics–DEM. The effects of different particle numbers, impeller speeds, and time-step sizes on the accuracy of the proposed method were investigated. The results demonstrated the feasibility of analyzing the maximum contact force between particles using the speed-up method with a reduced Young's modulus. [Display omitted] • The relationship between maximum contact force and Young's modulus was obtained. • A speed-up method for CFD-DEM simulation of contact force was proposed. • The applicability and accuracy of the speed-up method was verified. • The computational efficiency was significantly improved due to the speed-up method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the ongoing battle against BCR-ABL+ leukemia, despite significant advances with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), the persistent challenges of drug resistance and the enduring presence of leukemic stem cells (LSCs) remain formidable barriers to achieving a cure. Methods: In this study, we demonstrated that Disulfiram (DSF) induces ferroptosis to synergize with TKIs in inhibiting BCR-ABL+ cells, particularly targeting resistant cells and LSCs, using cell models, mouse models, and primary cells from patients. We elucidated the mechanism by which DSF promotes GPX4 degradation to induce ferroptosis through immunofluorescence, co-immunoprecipitation (CO-IP), RNA sequencing, lipid peroxidation assays, and rescue experiments. Results: Here, we present compelling evidence elucidating the sensitivity of DSF, an USA FDA-approved drug for alcohol dependence, towards BCR-ABL+ cells. Our findings underscore DSF's ability to selectively induce a potent cytotoxic effect on BCR-ABL+ cell lines and effectively inhibit primary BCR-ABL+ leukemia cells. Crucially, the combined treatment of DSF with TKIs selectively eradicates TKI-insensitive stem cells and resistant cells. Of particular note is DSF's capacity to disrupt GPX4 stability, elevate the labile iron pool, and intensify lipid peroxidation, ultimately leading to ferroptotic cell death. Our investigation shows that BCR-ABL expression induces alterations in cellular iron metabolism and increases GPX4 expression. Additionally, we demonstrate the indispensability of GPX4 for LSC development and the initiation/maintenance of BCR-ABL+ leukemia. Mechanical analysis further elucidates DSF's capacity to overcome resistance by reducing GPX4 levels through the disruption of its binding with HSPA8, thereby promoting STUB1-mediated GPX4 ubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation. Furthermore, the combined treatment of DSF with TKIs effectively targets both BCR-ABL+ blast cells and drug-insensitive LSCs, conferring a significant survival advantage in mouse models. Conclusion: In summary, the dual inhibition of GPX4 and BCR-ABL presents a promising therapeutic strategy to synergistically target blast cells and drug-insensitive LSCs in patients, offering potential avenues for advancing leukemia treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant species recognition is a critical step in protecting plant diversity. Leaf-based plant species recognition research is important and challenging due to the large within-class difference and between-class similarity of leaves and the rich inconsistent leaves with different sizes, colors, shapes, textures, and venations. Most existing plant leaf recognition methods typically normalize all leaf images to the same size and then recognize them at one scale, which results in unsatisfactory performances. A novel multiscale convolutional neural network with attention (AMSCNN) model is constructed for plant species recognition. In AMSCNN, multiscale convolution is used to learn the low-frequency and high-frequency features of the input images, and an attention mechanism is utilized to capture rich contextual relationships for better feature extraction and improving network training. Extensive experiments on the plant leaf dataset demonstrate the remarkable performance of AMSCNN compared with the hand-crafted feature-based methods and deep-neural network-based methods. The maximum accuracy attained along with AMSCNN is 95.28%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Biodegradable microfiber materials for sustainable air filtration were developed. • A novel fiber toughening strategy inspired by earthworms was proposed. • The mechanical properties of microfiber materials were significantly improved. • The filter materials have suitable filtration efficiency and low pressure drop. Fully renewable and biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) microfiber filters are attractive candidates for traditional unsustainable filters due to their unique advantages of maintaining mechanical strength while in service and rapidly degrading after waste. However, the toughness of sustainable PLA melt-blown microfibers (PLAMFs) with high polymeric chain orientation is poor, which makes it difficult to meet the requirements of air filtration applications. Here, a facile but effective polymeric chain limited domain rearrangement (PLR) strategy inspired by earthworms is developed to toughen PLAMFs. In this process, the short-time and high-temperature heat treatment can quickly break the original hydrogen bonds between polymeric chains and form new ones, which stimulates the thermal movement of polymeric chains from the low entropy position to the high entropy position, resulting in the intrinsically toughening of PLAMFs while maintaining strength. The resulting PLR-PLAMFs and PLR PLA melt-blown nonwovens (PLR-PLAMNs) exhibit enhanced toughness of 146.32 MJ m−3 (an increase of 143.99 %) and 0.80 MJ m−3 (an increase of 66.67 %), respectively. Moreover, toughened PLA melt-blown nonwovens (PLAMNs) after corona electret (CE) treatment exhibit high filtration efficiency (>90.00 % PM 0.3 removal) and extremely low pressure drop (<0.02 % atmospheric pressure), which is highly promising for application in sustainable air filtration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early-age creep of seawater sea sand concrete has a profound effect on construction engineering. This study investigates the ramifications of seawater and sea sand on the early-age creep behavior of concrete subjected to different compressive stresses. To discern the impact of seawater and sea sand on deformation, creep tests were conducted. In parallel, mechanical tests, shrinkage deformation tests, and capillary water absorption tests were conducted to elucidate the influence of seawater and sea sand on macroscopic performance. Moreover, mercury intrusion porosimetry and scanning electron microscopy were deployed to scrutinize the concrete's pore structure and microstructure. The findings reveal that seawater and sea sand precipitate augmented shrinkage and creep deformations in concrete, with seawater exerting a more pronounced effect. Furthermore, seawater and sea sand diminish the porosity of concrete, optimizing its pore structure by curtailing the count of large pores and augmenting the number of gel pores and capillary pores, thereby bolstering its durability. Seawater also reduces the critical stress threshold for the manifestation of nonlinear creep in early-age concrete, while sea sand exerts a minimal influence. These insights hold substantial implications for comprehending the influence of seawater and sea sand on the early-age creep of concrete and offer valuable guidance for their practical deployment in engineering projects. • Creep in seawater sea sand concrete under varying stress levels was investigated. • Seawater exerted a more pronounced effect of shrinkage and creep deformations. • Seawater curtailed large pores, and augmented gel pores and capillary pores. • The seawater's pronounced effect on durability of concrete was revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) share similar symptoms with influenza A (IA), but it is more worthwhile to understand the disparities of the two infections regarding their clinical characteristics on admission.Methods: A total of 71 age-matched pediatric IA and COVID-19 patient pairs were formed and their clinical data on admission were compared.Results: Fever, cough, nasal congestion and nausea/vomiting were the most common symptoms on admission for both infections but occurred less often in COVID-19. The IA patients were more likely to have lower-than-normal levels of lymphocyte count and percentage and to have higher-than-normal levels of activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, serum C-reactive protein, and serum procalcitonin, while the COVID-19 patients had higher odds of having lower-than-normal levels of neutrophil count and percentage.Conclusions: This study suggests that influenza A is more symptomatic than COVID-19 for children and might be an overall more severe infection at the time of admission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient sweat release and heat dissipation are required for functional textiles that improve comfort and productivity while being worn in daily life. However, the porous structure of textiles exhibits an opposite effect on water transport and heat transfer capacities, leading to a longstanding bottleneck for the design of multifunctional drying and cooling textiles. Here, a biomimetic transpiration textile based on the hierarchical and interconnected network of vascular plants is demonstrated for highly efficient personal drying and cooling. The transpiration‐inspired design offers a textile with distinct advantages, including a desired one‐way water transport index (1072%), rapid water evaporation rate (0.36 g h−1), and outstanding through‐plane (0.182 W m−1 K−1) and in‐plane (1.137 W m−1 K−1) thermal conductivities. Moreover, based on the optimized performance, plausible mechanisms are proposed and calculated to provide insight into the water transport and heat transfer within the hierarchical and interconnected network, which provide promising benefits to the development of multifunctional drying and cooling textiles. Overall, the successful synthesis of this biomimetic transpiration textile provides a comfortable microclimate to the human body, thus satisfying the growing demand for better health, productivity, and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To simulate clinical deployment, evaluate performance, and establish quality assurance of a deep learning algorithm (U-Net) for detection, localization, and segmentation of clinically significant prostate cancer (sPC), ISUP grade group ≥ 2, using bi-parametric MRI. Methods: In 2017, 284 consecutive men in active surveillance, biopsy-naïve or pre-biopsied, received targeted and extended systematic MRI/transrectal US-fusion biopsy, after examination on a single MRI scanner (3 T). A prospective adjustment scheme was evaluated comparing the performance of the Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) and U-Net using sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and the Dice coefficient. Results: In the 259 eligible men (median 64 [IQR 61–72] years), PI-RADS had a sensitivity of 98% [106/108]/84% [91/108] with a specificity of 17% [25/151]/58% [88/151], for thresholds at ≥ 3/≥ 4 respectively. U-Net using dynamic threshold adjustment had a sensitivity of 99% [107/108]/83% [90/108] (p > 0.99/> 0.99) with a specificity of 24% [36/151]/55% [83/151] (p > 0.99/> 0.99) for probability thresholds d3 and d4 emulating PI-RADS ≥ 3 and ≥ 4 decisions respectively, not statistically different from PI-RADS. Co-occurrence of a radiological PI-RADS ≥ 4 examination and U-Net ≥ d3 assessment significantly improved the positive predictive value from 59 to 63% (p = 0.03), on a per-patient basis. Conclusions: U-Net has similar performance to PI-RADS in simulated continued clinical use. Regular quality assurance should be implemented to ensure desired performance. Key Points: • U-Net maintained similar diagnostic performance compared to radiological assessment of PI-RADS ≥ 4 when applied in a simulated clinical deployment. • Application of our proposed prospective dynamic calibration method successfully adjusted U-Net performance within acceptable limits of the PI-RADS reference over time, while not being limited to PI-RADS as a reference. • Simultaneous detection by U-Net and radiological assessment significantly improved the positive predictive value on a per-patient and per-lesion basis, while the negative predictive value remained unchanged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemin as the organic linker ligand and Cu (II) as the metal center were applied to prepare a copper-metal-organic framework (Cu-hemin-MOF) via one-step hydrothermal method. Characterization using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) demonstrate that the acquired Cu-hemin-MOF possesses the appearance of 3D ball-flower shape with the existence of C, N, O, Fe, and Cu on the surface. Further study found that this 3D ball-flower shaped Cu-hemin-MOF exhibits peroxidase-like activity, which can catalyze the peroxidase substrate of o-phenylenediamine (OPD) to generate 2,3-diaminophenazine (DAP) in the presence of H2O2. DAP has a yellow color and also emits a strong fluorescence when excited by ultraviolet light. Interestingly, Cu-hemin-MOF’s peroxidase-like activity can be strongly inhibited by glutathione (GSH). In view of this, a dual readout (fluorescence and colorimetry) was proposed to detect GSH for the first time. Under optimal conditions, the proposed method exhibits good linear relationship between the signal response (fluorescence and colorimetry) and the concentration of GSH, and low limits of detection (LOD) of 2.3 and 26.6 nM, respectively. Graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-performance analysis of heavy metal ions is great importance in both environment and food safety. In this work, a facile and reliable colorimetric sensor was presented for simultaneous detection of Cu2+ and Cr3+ based on indicator-displacement assay (IDA). As a typical silicate nanomaterials, ZnSiO 3 hollow nanosphere (ZSHS) exhibited an outstanding ion exchange capacity. Zincon was incorporated with the ZSHS to form a zincon/ZSHS hybrid ionophore with a blue color. Upon the addition of Cr3+, IDA reaction and selective ion exchange occurred with the color change of zincon/ZSHS ionophore from blue to yellow. With such a design, colorimetric measurement of Cr3+ was realized. The linear concentration for Cr3+ detection ranged from 0.5 μM to 75 μM with the LOD of 83.2 nM. Furthermore, we also screened different kinds of complexing agents that may respond with zincon/ZSHS ionophore and various metal ions. It was found that tartaric acid (TA) showed the chelation capability of Zn2+-TA is stronger than that of Zn2+-zincon. Thus zincon/ZSHS/TA presented a yellow color due to the chelation reaction of Zn2+-TA, releasing the zincon as a free state. After addition of Cu2+, a stronger chelation reaction of Cu2+-zincon occurred. This process involved in the color change from yellow to blue and realized colorimetric measurement of Cu2+. The detection limit of Cu2+ was calculated to be 43.7 nM with linear range from 0.1 to 20 μM. In addition, the zincon/ZSHS nanoprobe was successfully applied for simultaneous measurement of Cu2+ and Cr3+ in sorghum and river water, indicating that the zincon/ZSHS nanoprobe provided a promising sensing platform in environment and food safety. Image 1 • ZSHS were introduced for colorimetric measurement of Cr3+ and Cu2+ within 5 min. • ZSHS exhibited an outstanding ion exchange capacity to Cr3+. • Tartaric acid was successfully screened to overcome the disadvantages of traditional IDA-strategy in selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanical parameters and deterioration mechanisms of sandstone specimens obtained from the hydrofluctuation belt in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region of China were investigated under a combination of freeze-thaw cycles and different chemical solutions. The degradation in several mechanical characteristics was discussed, and the degree of freeze-thaw deterioration of the mechanical behaviors was quantitatively analyzed based on the crack propagation radii and a damage variable that reflects the changes in porosity. The results showed that the mechanical parameters of sandstone had a significant damage deteriorating trend under freeze-thaw cycles and different chemical solutions. And the degree of damage deterioration of fracture toughness KIC was the greatest, followed by that of tensile strength; that of compression strength was the smallest. There was obvious consistency among fracture toughness KIC, tensile strength, and compression strength of sandstone under a combination of freeze-thaw cycles and different chemical solutions; those were obvious linear relationship. The crack propagation radii for the various effects of freeze-thaw cycles and chemical solutions were smaller than those of the natural state and the radii generally decreased with increasing freeze-thaw cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N-Doped silicon quantum dots (N-SiQD) were synthesized using N-[3-(trimethoxysily)propyl]-ethylenediamine and citric acid as silicon source and reduction agent, respectively. The N-SiQD shows a strong blue fluorescence with a high quantum yield of about 53%. It is found that a selective static quenching process occurs between N-SiQDs and Cu2+. Glyphosate can inhibit this phenomenon and trigger the rapid fluorescence enhancement of the quenched N-SiQDs/Cu2+ system due to the specific interaction between Cu2+ and glyphosate. With such a design, a turn-on fluorescent nanoprobe based on N-SiQD/Cu2+ system was established for rapid determination of glyphosate. The determination signal of N-SiQD/Cu2+ was measured at the optimum emission wavelength of 460 nm after excitation at 360 nm. Under optimal conditions, the turn-on nanoprobe showed a linear relationship between fluorescent response and glyphosate concentrations in the range 0.1 to 1 μg mL−1. The limit of determination was calculated to 7.8 ng mL−1 (3σ/S). Satisfactory recoveries were obtained in the determination of spiked water samples, indicating the potential use for environmental monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, direct detection of fluazinam was realized using a fluorescent sensor using disulfide quantum dots (MoS 2 QDs) via inner filter effect (IFE). The maximum excitation of as-prepared MoS 2 QDs presented a complementary spectral-overlap with the maximum absorption of fluazinam. Thus the occurrence of inner filter effect led to the significant fluorescence quenching of MoS 2 QDs. Additionally, fluorescent quenching efficiency of MoS 2 QDs could be enhanced by the effects of π-π stacking, hydrogen bond and electrostatic interaction between fluazinam and MoS 2 QDs, and these non-chemical bond responses also promoted the selectivity for fluazinam detection. Under the optimum conditions, the IFE-based fluorescent sensor exhibited a relative wide linear range from 50 nM to 25 μM with the LOD of 2.53 nM (S/N = 3). In addition, a paper-based sensor was established by cross-linking the MoS 2 QDs into cellulose membrane for naked-eyed detection and digital analysis of fluazinam. The paper-based sensor presented a liner range from 10 μM to 800 μM for fluazinam detection with the LOD of 2.26 μM. Additionally, the acceptable recoveries were obtained for fluazinam detection in the spiked samples of tomato, potato and cucumber, indicating that the proposed method provided an effective sensing platform for real applications of fluazinam detection in food safety. Image 1 • MoS 2 QDs were introduced as fluorescent readout for measurement of fluazinam. • A paper-based sensor was developed using MoS 2 QDs for fluazinam detection. • Nake-eyed and digital readout were realized by an IISV system. • This strategy presented a model to develop fluorescence sensors based on IFE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • CRISPR/Cas12a was used for colorimetric and fluorescent dual-identification of MRSA. • Our approach provides a universal platform for diagnosing various pathogenic microorganisms. • CRISPR/Cas12a and AuNPs-DNA probe enable rapid on-site pathogen detection. Accurate identification of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is crucial for food safety and clinical diagnosis. Particularly, identifying drug-resistant strains guides effective treatment and prevention of infectious diseases. Herein, we presented a highly efficient programmable CRISPR/Cas12a system for identification of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Genus-specific gene (spec gene) and methicillin-resistant gene (mecA gene) of S. aureus were amplified by PCR. According to the sequences of spec gene and mecA gene, corresponding programmable crRNAs were designed and prepared to construct CRISPR/Cas12a system, which recognized and bound to the PCR products through complementary interactions to activate the trans -cleavage activity of Cas12a. This led to the indiscriminate digestion of surrounding FQ-reporter, releasing a distinct fluorescence signal for MRSA identification. In addition, we devised a pair of AuNPs-DNA probes for colorimetric recognition of S. aureus. Target-triggered trans -cleavage for linker probe led to an non-aggregation of AuNPs-DNA probes pair. This led to a noticeable appearance of red color, enabling naked-eye detection. Thus, MRSA identification was realized with remarkable sensitivity and exceptional selectivity. Successful identification of MRSA in clinical samples validated the practical applications of the proposed CRISPR/Cas12a assay, establishing it as a universal platform for diagnosing pathogenic microorganisms with versatility and compatibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • AgNTs@AuNHs with Ag nano-triangle core and Au nano-hexagonal shell was firstly synthesized. • AgNTs@AuNHs has strong surface plasmon resonance. • AgNTs@AuNHs can be etched by Pb2+ and Cu2+ in the presence of Na 2 S 2 O 3. • AgNTs@AuNHs is applied for simultaneous detection of Pb2+ and Cu2+. A colorimetric gold nanohexagonals coated silver nanotriangles (AgNTs@AuNHs) nanoprobe has been constructed for the ultrasensitive detection of trace Pb2+ and Cu2+, based on the fact that Pb2+ and Cu2+ as the catalyzer can selectively enhance the etching rate of AgNTs@AuNHs by S 2 O 3 2−. In the presence of Pb2+, the inner AgNTs within the AgNTs@AuNHs undergo complete etching to form the hollow AuNHs, leading to the marked decrease in both absorbance and chrominance at 585 nm. In contrast, Cu2+ initiates an etching reaction on the AgNTs, subsequently extending to the AuNHs. These transformations give rise to the formation of hollow gold nanotriangles, accompanied by pronounced red-shifts in the absorption peaks of the detection system. The distinct optical responses induced by Pb2+ and Cu2+ in the AgNTs@AuNHs nanoprobe enable the sensitive and selective detection and quantification of these heavy metal ions. Furthermore, we successfully extracted RGB data from the color changes of AgNTs@AuNHs nanoprobe, enabling a straightforward visual readout for detection of Pb2+ and Cu2+. This method yields satisfactory recoveries when applied to the analysis of Pb2+ and Cu2+ in river water, rice, and onion samples, with detection results closely matching those obtained using ICP-MS. These results collectively underscore the practical applicability of the AgNTs@AuNHs nanoprobe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Mechanical properties of T9, T11, and T14 are calculated by molecular dynamics. • Deformation process of tobermorite is investigated through uniaxial tensile test. • T9 shows the strongest loading resistance compared to T11 and T14. • Water in the interlayer region decrease the tensile resistance of tobermorite. The calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) structure has been indicated its atomic structure in the early stage of hydration resembles the geometry of tobermorite which is a natural calcium silicate hydrate. The mechanical properties of tobermorite crystals were investigated based on molecular dynamics (MD) method in this study. Uniaxial tension simulation in the z-direction was performed to the layered structure of tobermorite 9 Å, 11 Å and 14 Å at molecular level. The stress–strain relationships were obtained, and the structure analysis of tobermorite was carried out in terms of the relative concentration profile and mean square displacement. It has been found that tobermorite 9 Å has the greatest tensile strength compared with tobermorite 11 Å and 14 Å. It also shows that strong interaction between interlayer Ca ions and silicon-oxygen tetrahedra will increase the resistance of tensile loading. These findings may contribute to have a deep knowledge of the intrinsic property of C-S-H. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An innovative phosphorescence probe based on Mn-doped ZnS quantum dots (Mn:ZnS QDs) was developed for selective detection of chloramphenicol (CAP) via inner-filter effect (IFE). Mn:ZnS QDs were synthesized by water method and modified with L-Cysteine for better stability, and the average diameter of the nanometer particle was 3.8 nm. With the excitation wavelength at 289 nm, the strong phosphorescence of Mn:ZnS QDs can be emitted at 583 nm. The excitation spectrum of Mn:ZnS QDs was substantially overlapped with the absorption spectrum of the target CAP. The excited light of Mn:ZnS QDs can be absorbed partially by CAP when they coexist, the phosphorescence intensity decreased with the increasing concentration of CAP, and it has a good linear relationship. Under optimal conditions, the linear relational concentration range achieved four orders of magnitude from 25 to 1. 2 × 1 0 5 ng ⋅ mL − 1 ( R 2 = 0. 9 9 9), with a detection limit (LOD; S ∕ N = 3) down to 0.81 ng ⋅ mL − 1 . The simple, rapid and low cost IFE phosphorescent probe exhibited satisfactory recoveries ranging from 88.9% to 98.5% for CAP analysis in spiked honey, which shows a potential for routine screening of CAP in ensuring the food safety. A phosphorescence probe for the detection of chloramphenicol (CAP) was established by using the internal filtration effect (IFE) of CAP on the room temperature phosphorescence signal of manganese-doped ZnS quantum dots (Mn:ZnS QDs). The quantitative detection of CAP can be realized by simply mixing the QDs solution with the solution of the samples to be tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, self-healing cementitious materials based on urea-formaldehyde microcapsules were investigated. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy tests were conducted on specimens with a single crack and a model describing the relationship between the impedance parameters and the degree of damage was established by equivalent circuit fitting. The model was applied to multi-crack specimens that were representative of actual engineering conditions and the coefficients of the model of the multi-crack specimens were determined. Based on this model, the trends of the repair rate for different self-healing times were obtained. The dynamic elastic modulus of all the specimens was tested for verifying the reliability of this model, and the repair rate of the dynamic elastic modulus was calculated according to a similar method. It is found that the repair rate of the dynamic elastic modulus and the damage repair rate were not uniform in value, but with a similar variation trend. The results demonstrated the reliability of the proposed non-destructive method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Microcapsules had dual effects on the mechanical properties of self-healing concrete. • With microcapsules incorporation, the chloride migration coefficient decreased obviously. • The influence on the long-term shrinkage of self-healing concrete was acceptable. • Microstructure of concrete was modified mainly due to the presence of microcapsules. • There is a need to balance the amount of microcapsules for the future practical application. Microcapsule-based self-healing concrete was used in a tunnel engineering project in the Qianhai area, Shenzhen and the concrete performance was investigated using laboratory and field tests. The physical properties of the microcapsules and the microstructure of the self-healing concrete were experimentally investigated. The effects of the microcapsules on the strength, permeability, and long-term shrinkage of the self-healing concrete were also investigated. The self-healing efficiency was evaluated using a compressive strength test and a rapid chloride migration (RCM) test. The results indicated that the self-healing functionality of the concrete containing 10% microcapsules gradually increased over time. The microcapsules had both positive and negative effects on the microstructure of the self-healing concrete. The use of the microcapsules resulted in a significant increase in the long-term shrinkage but the amount of shrinkage is acceptable for practical applications. No significant difference of the strain evolution was observed between the experimental and control groups in the field test, indicating that the use of microcapsule-based self-healing concrete is feasible and promising to improve the durability of concrete structures, especially in coastal civil engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon nanomaterials are widely produced and applied in biological and environmental fields because of their outstanding physical and chemical properties, which pose a threat to the safety of living organisms and the ecological environment. Therefore, understanding how carbon nanomaterials and their derivatives work on organisms is becoming important. In recent years, more and more researchers have explored the damage of carbon nanomaterials to organisms at the molecular level. This review pays special emphasis on how proteins response to the main carbon nanomaterials (fullerene, carbon nanotubes, graphene and their derivatives). In addition, how to use the interaction between carbon nanomaterials and proteins to do some beneficial things for human and the development of safe nanomaterials is simply discussed. Finally, some suggestions have been made to lay a theoretical foundation for future research. Unlabelled Image • Fullerene and their derivatives exhibit different effects on the structure or activity of the proteins • Both positive and negative impacts of CNTs on proteins were summarized. • The interactions of graphene and its derivatives with proteins are reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cracked mortar specimens subjected to dry-wet cycles in chemical solutions. • The softening trend of the specimens increased after dry-wet cycles. • A certain distinction existed in the damage degree of the specimens. • The crack propagation was perpendicular to the prefabricated crack orientation. The mechanical behaviors and failure characteristics of cracked mortar specimens subjected to dry-wet cycles in different chemical solutions were investigated in this paper. A non-penetrating crack with a certain inclination and length was prefabricated in each specimen by embedding a copper sheet when casting mortar and then removing it when the mortar initially set. Through our experiments, the stress-strain curve, peak strain and strength, crack position and crack orientation, failure characteristics and damage degradation mechanisms of cracked mortar specimens were measured and analyzed. To identify the degree of damage deterioration of the specimens, the damage variable was expressed in terms of changes in elasticity. The tests showed that the peak strength initially decreased and then increased with the continuous increase of the inclination angle. A remarkable weakening trend occurred in the specimens subjected to dry-wet cycles in different chemical solutions. The initial crack location, orientation and failure features of the cracked specimens were not affected by the chemical solutions and dry-wet cycles, but the crack inclination angle had very significant effect. The microcrack initiation of cracked specimens occurred earlier after dry-wet cycles than under natural condition, and the time of the microcrack extension after dry-wet cycles was longer than it was under the natural state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Let M be an n (> 2) -dimensional closed orientable submanifold in an (n + p) -dimensional space form R n + p (c). We obtain an optimal upper bound for the second eigenvalue of a class of elliptic operators on M defined by L T f = − div (T ∇ f) , where T is a general symmetric, positive definite and divergence-free (1 , 1) -tensor on M. The upper bound is given in terms of an integration involving tr T and | H T | 2 , where tr T is the trace of the tensor T and H T = ∑ i = 1 n A (T e i , e i) is a normal vector field associated with T and the second fundamental form A of M. Furthermore, we give the sufficient and necessary conditions when the upper bound is attained. Our main theorem can be viewed as an extension of the famous "Reilly inequality". The operator L T can be regarded as a natural generalization of the well-known operator L r which is the linearized operator of the first variation of the (r + 1) -th mean curvature for hypersurfaces in a space form. As applications of our main theorem, we generalize the results of Grosjean [17] and Li–Wang [20] in codimension one to arbitrary codimension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The well‐known Erzberg site represents the largest siderite (FeCO3) deposit in the world. It consists of various carbonates accounting for the formation of prominent CaCO3 (dominantly aragonite) precipitates filling vertical fractures of different width (centimetres to decimetres) and length (tens of metres). These commonly laminated precipitates are known as 'erzbergite'. This study focuses on the growth dynamics and environmental dependencies of these vein fillings. Samples recovered on‐site and from mineral collections were analyzed, and these analyses were further complemented by modern water analyses from different Erzberg sections. Isotopic signatures support meteoric water infiltration and sulphide oxidation as the principal hydrogeochemical mechanism of (Ca, Mg and Fe) carbonate host rock dissolution, mobilization and vein mineralization. Clumped isotope measurements revealed cool formation temperatures of ca 0 to 10°C for the aragonite, i.e. reflecting the elevated altitude Alpine setting, but unexpectedly low for aragonite nucleation. The 238U–234U–230Th dating yielded ages from 285·1 ± 3·9 to 1·03 ± 0·04 kyr bp and all samples collected on‐site formed after the Last Glacial Maximum. The observed CaCO3 polymorphism is primarily controlled by the high aqueous Mg/Ca ratios resulting from dissolution of Mg‐rich host rocks, with Mg/Ca further evolving during prior CaCO3 precipitation and CO2 outgassing in the fissured aquifer. Aragonite represents the 'normal' mode of erzbergite formation and most of the calcite is of diagenetic (replacing aragonite) origin. The characteristic lamination (millimetre‐scale) is an original growth feature and mostly associated with the deposition of stained (Fe‐rich) detrital particle layers. Broader zonations (centimetre‐scale) are commonly of diagenetic origin. Petrographic observations and radiometric dating support an irregular nature for most of the layering. Open fractures resulting from fault tectonics or gravitational mass movements provide water flow routes and fresh chemical reaction surfaces of the host rock carbonates and accessory sulphides. If these prerequisites are considered, including the hydrogeochemical mechanism, modern water compositions, young U‐Th ages and calculated precipitation rates, it seems unlikely that the fractures had stayed open over extended time intervals. Therefore, it is most likely that they are geologically young. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity increases morbidity and mortality in acute illnesses such as sepsis and septic shock. We showed previously that the early/hyper-inflammatory phase of sepsis is exaggerated in obese mice with sepsis; sirtuin 2 (SIRT2) modulates sepsis inflammation in obesity. Evidence suggests that obesity with sepsis is associated with increased oxidative stress. It is unknown whether exaggerated hyper-inflammation of obesity with sepsis modulates the SIRT2 function in return. We showed recently that SIRT6 oxidation during hyper-inflammation of sepsis modulates its glycolytic function. This study tested the hypothesis that increased oxidative stress and direct SIRT2 oxidation exaggerate hyper-inflammation in obesity with sepsis. Using spleen and liver tissue from mice with diet-induced obesity (DIO) we studied oxidized vs. total SIRT2 expression during hyper- and hypo-inflammation of sepsis. To elucidate the mechanism of SIRT2 oxidation (specific modifications of redox-sensitive cysteines) and its effect on inflammation, we performed site-directed mutations of redox-sensitive cysteines Cys221 and Cys224 on SIRT2 to serine (C221S and C224S), transfected HEK293 cells with mutants or WT SIRT2, and studied SIRT2 enzymatic activity and NFĸBp65 deacetylation. Finally, we studied the effect of SIRT2 mutation on LPS-induced inflammation using RAW 264.7 macrophages. In an inverse relationship, total SIRT2 decreased while oxidized SIRT2 expression increased during hyper-inflammation and SIRT2 was unable to deacetylate NFĸBp65 with increased oxidative stress of obesity with sepsis. Mechanistically, both the mutants (C221S and C224S) show decreased (1) SIRT2 enzymatic activity, (2) deacetylation of NFĸBp65, and (3) anti-inflammatory activity in response to LPS vs. WT SIRT2. Direct oxidation modulates SIRT2 function during hyper-inflammatory phase of obesity with sepsis via redox sensitive cysteines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract High-performance measurement of methyl parathion (MP) is of great importance in both agricultural and environmental surveillance. Herein, we presented a facile fluorescent biosensor to indirectly measure MP using N-doped carbon dots (N-CDS) based on the inner filter effect (IFE). Methyl parathion was employed as the substrate of alkaline-catalytic hydrolysis, and p-nitrophenol (p-NP) was obtained by rapid the hydrolysis reaction under strong alkaline conditions without enzymes. Interestingly, the absorption band of p-NP appeared at 403 nm, which presented an overlapping spectrum with the excitation of N-CDs (410 nm). Due to its strong molar absorptivity, p-NP played the part of a powerful absorber in IFE to influence the excitation of fluorophore (N-CDs). Through the competitive absorption, the fluorescence intensity of N-CDs decreased extremely. With optimum conditions selected, the fluorescent sensor presented a concentration-dependent fluorescent response (ΔF) to MP ranging from 0.075 to 15 ppm (R2 =0.9956). The limit of detection was calculated to be 1.87 ppb (S/N = 3) with good selectivity. Successful measurement of MP in spiked river water and apple samples demonstrated that as-proposed optical sensor provided an alternative strategy for real applications in environmental and food safety control. Graphical abstract fx1 Highlights • N-doped carbon dots were innovatively introduced as fluorescent signal readout for measurement of methyl parathion. • This strategy realized the quantitative analysis for MP via enzyme-free process rather than enzymatic hydrolysis of MP. • This work could serve as a good model for the design of new fluorescence biosensors based on inner filter effect. • MP was successfully measured in river water and apple sample with high selectivity and satisfactory detection limit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gemcitabine (GEM) is commonly used as the first-line chemotherapeutic agent for treating pancreatic cancer (PC) patients. However, drug resistance is a major hurdle in GEM-based chemotherapy for PC. Recent studies have shown that pyroptosis, a type of programmed death, plays a significant regulatory role in cancer development and therapy. In this study, we observed an increase in the expression of Caspase-1 (CASP1)/ Gasdermin-D (GSDMD) in PC and found that high expression of CASP1 and GSDMD was associated with poor overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of PC patients. Knockdown of either CASP1 or GSDMD resulted in the inhibition of cell viability and migration in PC cells. More importantly, the knockdown of CASP1 or GSDMD enhanced GEM-induced cell death in PC cells. Interestingly, subsequent investigations demonstrated that enzymatically active CASP1 promoted GEM-induced cell death in PC cells. The activation of CASP1 by the DPP8/DPP9 inhibitor (Val-boroPro, VbP) increased GEM-induced cell death by inducing pyroptosis. These findings suggest that inhibiting CASP1 to suppress its oncogenic effects or activating it to promote cell pyroptosis both enhance the sensitivity of PC cells to GEM therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Stress singularity, displacement and strain discontinuities were described by XFEM. • Crack propagation criterion for heterogeneous materials was proposed. • Failure pattern of microcapsule including rupture or debonding were realized. • Predictive model for microcapsule cracking was proposed based on XFEM and ML. The cracking behavior of microcapsules in cement-based self-healing materials is essential for releasing healing agents during crack healing. In this study, the extended finite element method and machine learning were combined to predict the competitive behavior of microcapsule debonding and rupture. The fracture criterion based on energy was developed to investigate the interaction of the crack and microcapsule for heterogeneous materials. The artificial neural network was trained on 1031 datasets from extended finite element method (XFEM) simulations, and the mean square error (MSE) was 3.7E-3 and the overall R 2 was 0.94 in 16 epochs. With the proposed model, the cracking behavior of microcapsules can be judged accurately and instantly without extensive computation, which can help clarify the release condition of healing agents encapsulated in microcapsules so as to guide the design of intelligent composite materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• DAA has both repetitive self-healing and autonomous compensation for shrinkage. • The dual functions of DAA are both independent and synergistic of each other. • Increasing available extracted calcium by the extrinsic supplement. A difunctional artificial aggregate (DAA) was developed to address autogenous shrinkage caused by self-desiccation of concrete during early hydration in this study. Through in-situ combination with a tri-component healing agent, comprising ammonium acetate CH 3 CCONH 4 , ammonium bicarbonate NH 4 HCO 3 , and ammonium carbamate NH 2 COONH 4 , repetitive self-healing for cracks can be achieved. The expansion product can provide additional free calcium to enhance the self-healing process. Compensatory self-healing is triggered by exposing the internal tri-component to over-expansion, where both expansion compensation and repetitive self-healing are independent but interact with each other. At a 2% DAA dosage, appropriate compensation for hydration expansion was achieved while maintaining specimen volume integrity. The compensatory self-healing of the 4% group was effective for 60 days, while the 8% group exhibited the lowest self-desiccation effect and densest pore structure. In the twice self-healing experiment involving the 0% and 2% groups, various measurements were taken to evaluate healing efficiency, including sound velocity, compressive strength, and quantitative characterisation of calcium carbonate (CaCO 3). Results showed a higher healing rate for the second self-healing compared to the first (167.13%, 37.76%, and 12.4% compared to 146.05%, 23.36%, and 7.2%, respectively). This confirmed that the self-healing efficiency increased with the regeneration of NH 4 HCO 3 , which increased with the number of self-healings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, experimental investigations were conducted on the self-healing potential of concrete. Sulfoaluminate based expansive agents (CSA), crystalline admixture (CA), and calcium hydrogen phosphate were used as part of cementitious materials, and porous ceramsites served as the carrier for sodium carbonate solution. The quantification of the widths/areas of the cracks was performed to examine the feasibility of the approach and optimize mix proportions. A gas permeability test was conducted on two preferred mixes to investigate the change in the gas permeability of pre-cracked samples. After curing in still water for 28 d, the pre-cracked specimens with ceramsites containing sodium carbonate, and appropriate dosages of additives exhibited considerable efficiency in surface crack closure and healing in gas permeability. The SEM results indicated the deeper formation of healing products (CaCO 3 ) in the cracks of the suggested mix when compared to that in the control mix. A healing mechanism was discussed based on the experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new type of microcapsule based on n-octadecane core and poly(melamine-formaldehyde)/silicon carbide (PMF/SiC) shell was designed for near-infrared light harvesting, light-heat conversion, thermal energy storage and heat-transfer enhancement. A series of hybrid microcapsules were successfully synthesized through in situ polymerization in an oil-in-water emulsion stabilized by sodium salt of styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer and SiC synergistically. The scanning electron microscopic investigation revealed that the microcapsules presented regular spherical morphology. The chemical compositions and crystalline structures of the resultant microcapsules were characterized by energy-dispersive X-ray, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction, confirming that SiC nanoparticles have been embedded in the PMF shell. Thermogravimetric analysis and a temperature-regulated test indicated that the prepared microcapsules possessed high thermal stability and good thermoregulating ability. Differential scanning calorimetry examination showed that the resulting hybrid microcapsules can maintain high effective core content and high encapsulation efficiency, and the supercooling crystallization was obviously suppressed after the incorporation of nano-SiC. Compared with PMF microcapsules, thermal transfer properties of the PMF/SiC microcapsules were significantly improved, and the thermal conductivity increased by 60.34% after the addition of 7% nano-SiC. Furthermore, the synthesized hybrid microcapsules effectively absorbed near-infrared light and demonstrated good photothermal conversion performance under light radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The widespread use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has led to considerable concerns about the prevalence of transmitted drug resistance (TDR). Sexual contact, particularly men who have sex with men (MSM) was the most prevalent form of HIV transmission in Shijiazhuang. Hence, we conducted an epidemiological surveillance study on TDR among newly diagnosed individuals who infected-HIV through sexual contact in from 2014–2015. Methods: Genotypic resistance mutations were defined using the WHO-2009 surveillance list. Potential impact on antiretroviral drug was predicted according to the Stanford HIV db program version 7.0. The role of transmission clusters in drug resistant strains was evaluated by phylogenetic and network analyses. Results: In this study, 589 individuals were recruited and 542 samples were amplified and sequenced successfully. The over prevalence of TDR was 6.1%: 1.8% to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), 2.0% to non- NRTIs (NNRTIs) and 2.4% to protease inhibitors (PIs), respectively. We did not find significant differences in the TDR prevalence by demographic and clinical characteristics (p > 0.05). Using network and phylogenetic analysis, almost 60.0% sequences were clustered together. Of these clusters, 2 included at least two individuals carrying the same resistance mutation, accounting for 21.2% (7/33) individuals with TDR. No significant difference was observed in the clustering rate between the individuals with and without TDR. Conclusions: We obtained a moderate level TDR rate in studied region. These findings enhance our understanding of HIV-1 drug resistance prevalence in Shijiazhuang, and may be helpful for the comprehensive prevention and control of HIV-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Small particle size PE-MP and PS-MP inhibited Chlorella vulgaris colony formation. • PS-MP inhibited colony formation compared with PE-MPs exposure. • PS-MP decreased the photosynthetic pigment contents in Chlorella vulgaris. • High concentration of PE-MP decreased the photosynthetic efficiency and TSP contents. • Chlorella vulgaris could be colonized on microplastics. Microplastics, plastic particles and fragments smaller than 5 mm are ubiquitous in various aquatic environments, but the hazards of microplastics with different particle sizes, concentrations and materials are not well understood. This study investigated the toxicity of polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) with different concentrations and particle sizes or polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) on freshwater algae Chlorella vulgaris Beij (C. vulgaris) for 11 days. Results indicated that the growth, colony formation, photosynthetic pigment contents and soluble intracellular polysaccharides were unaffected, whereas the photosynthetic efficiency and the total soluble protein (TSP) contents were remarkably decreased at 11 d with the increased concentration of PE-MP exposure. The growth, photosynthetic efficiency, soluble intracellular polysaccharides and TSP contents were unaffected after exposure to PE-MPs with different particle sizes or PS-MPs. By contrast, the colony formation and photosynthetic pigment contents were remarkably decreased after exposure to PS-MPs compared with the control or PE-MPs with the same particle size. The C. vulgaris colonization on microplastics was proven by scanning electron microscopy, indicating that the adsorption effects were the main harmful pathways of different microplastics to algal. Our results suggested that microplastics have limited harmful effects on algae, mainly in adsorption and shading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to examine the effect of short-term changes in the concentration of particulate matter of diameter ≤2.5 µm (PM2.5) and ≤10 µm (PM10) on pediatric hospital admissions for pneumonia in Jinan, China. It explores confoundings factors of weather, season, and chemical pollutants. Information on pediatric hospital admissions for pneumonia in 2014 was extracted from the database of Jinan Qilu Hospital. The relative risk of pediatric hospital admissions for pneumonia was assessed using a case-crossover approach, controlling weather variables, day of the week, and seasonality. The single-pollutant model demonstrated that increased risk of pediatric hospital admissions for pneumonia was significantly associated with elevated PM2.5concentrations the day before hospital admission and elevated PM10concentrations 2 days before hospital admission. An increment of 10 μg/m3in PM2.5and PM10was correlated with a 6% (95% CI 1.02–-1.10) and 4% (95% CI 1.00–1.08) rise in number of admissions for pneumonia, respectively. In two pollutant models, PM2.5and PM10remained significant after inclusion of sulfur dioxide or nitrogen dioxide but not carbon monoxide. This study demonstrated that short-term exposure to atmospheric particulate matter (PM2.5/PM10) may be an important determinant of pediatric hospital admissions for pneumonia in Jinan, China. Implications: This study demonstrated that short-term exposure to atmospheric particulate matter (PM2.5/PM10) may be an important determinant of pediatric hospital admissions for pneumonia in Jinan, China, and suggested the relevance of pollutant exposure levels and their effects. As a specific group, children are sensitive to airborne particulate matter. This study estimated the short-term effects attribute to other air pollutants to provide references for relevant studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Sepsis and septic shock, the leading causes of death in noncoronary intensive care units, kill more than 200,000/year in the US alone. Circulating cell-endothelial cell interactions are the rate determining factor in sepsis inflammation. Sirtuin, a seven-member family of proteins (SIRT1-7), epigenetically controls inflammation. We have studied the roles of SIRTs 1, 3, and 6 in sepsis previously. In this project, we studied the role of SIRT2 on sepsis-related inflammation. Methods. Sepsis was induced in C57Bl/6 (WT), SIRT2 knockout (SIRT2KO), and SIRT2 overexpressing (SIRT2KI) mice by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). We studied leukocyte/platelet adhesion using intravital microscopy and E-selectin/ICAM-1 adhesion molecule expression in the small intestine with immunohistochemistry (IHC) six hours post-CLP/sham surgery. We also studied 7-day survival rates in WT, SIRT2KO, and SIRT2KI sepsis mice. Results. Compared to WT mice, SIRT2KO mice show exaggeration while SIRT2KI mice show attenuation of cellular adhesion with sepsis in the small intestine. We also show that the small intestinal E-selectin and ICAM-1 expressions increased in SIRT2KO and decreased in SIRT2KI mice versus those in WT sepsis mice. We show that the 7-day survival rate is decreased in SIRT2KO and increased in SIRT2KI sepsis mice. Conclusion. SIRT2 modulates microvascular inflammation in sepsis and affects survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A microcapsule fiber-reinforced cement-based composite was prepared. • The best combination of mechanical properties is obtained by range analysis. • The microcapsule content is the main factor influencing the mechanical properties. • SEM/EDS confirmed that the composite has self-healing capacity. This study combined the microcapsule self-healing system with fiber reinforced concrete (FRC), and investigated the effects of microcapsule content, mineral admixture type, mineral admixture content, and fiber type on tensile and compressive strength, ductility, and self-healing properties of the fiber-reinforced microcapsule self-healing cementitious composites by the orthogonal test method. For the uniaxial tensile and cubic compression tests, the optimum tensile strength group consists of a 2.2 mass ratio of GGBS, PE fiber, and no microcapsules. The optimum compressive strength group consists of a 2.2 mass ratio of GGBS, hybrid fiber, and no microcapsules. Microcapsule content and fiber type are the main factors affecting tensile properties, and an increase in the microcapsule content will reduce the tensile strength and compressive strength of the matrix. The optimum tensile strain group consists of 10% microcapsule content and a 2.2 mass ratio of GGBS and PE fiber. The results of the energy-based steady-state crack propagation test show that the fiber type is the most critical factor affecting the ductility, and the tensile ductility of the PE fiber group is higher than that of the PVA fiber group. The scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM/EDS) diagram proved the healing effect of the fiber-reinforced microcapsule self-healing cementitious composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the vibration characteristics of composite laminated plates with variable stiffness were studied using a modal analysis experiment based on the hammering method and a free vibration attenuation experiment. Twenty-five variable stiffness laminates fabricated from carbon fiber-reinforced resin matrix composite prepregs were manufactured via an automated fiber placement process. By varying the parameters, such as the fiber angle (<0°|15°>, <15°|30°>, <30°|45°>, <45°|60°>, <60°|75°>, <74°|89°>), curve ply ratio (0, 0.5, 1), and the number of layers (8, 12, 16), these laminates were tested in a dynamic signal analyzer to obtain their modal frequency and modal damping. These parameters were observed to significantly affect the modal parameters. As experimental investigations on the vibration characteristics of variable stiffness composite laminates are very rare, this study can be considered a reference for future work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]