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Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3 (LATP) is one of the most attractive solid‐state electrolytes (SSEs) for application in all‐solid‐state lithium batteries (ASSLBs) due to its advantages of high ionic conductivity, air stability and low cost. However, the poor interfacial contact and slow Li‐ion migration have greatly limited its practical application. Herein, a composite ion‐conducting layer is designed at the Li/LATP interface, which a MoS2 film is constructed on LATP via chemical vapor deposition, followed by the introduction of a solid polymer (SP) liquid precursor to form a MoS2@SP protective layer. This protective layer not only achieves a lower Li‐ion migration energy barrier, but also adsorbs more Li‐ion, which is able to promote interfacial ion transport and improve interfacial contacts. Thanks to the improved migration and adsorption of Li‐ion, the Li symmetric cell containing LATP‐MoS2@SP exhibits a stable cycle of more than 1200 h at 0.1 mA cm−2. More remarkably, the capacity retention of the full cell assembled with LiFePO4 cathode is as high as 86.2% after 400 cycles at 1 C. This work provides a design strategy for significantly improving unstable interfaces of SSEs and realizing high‐performance ASSLBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of eco-friendly and biodegradable biopolymer composites has become increasingly important. In this study, acetylated lignin (ACL) was synthesized, and its potential as an effective additive for biodegradable polymers was investigated. ACL was synthesized through a one-step acetylation process in which hydroxyl groups of lignin were substituted with acetyl groups. ACL exhibited enhanced molecular weight and thermal stability, along with improved solubility in organic solvents compared to unmodified kraft lignin (KL). Hydrophobic ACL was uniformly dispersed in a mixture of a polycaprolactone (PCL) polymer and organic solvent, leading to the successful fabrication of a fibrous mat using electrospinning. The ACL/PCL fibrous mat demonstrated enhanced mechanical strength and hydrophobicity, notably indicating a substantially high-water contact angle of 143.3 ± 1.4°. Subsequently, it was utilized as a water/oil separator, showing a separation efficiency exceeding 90% for oil within a short time, effectively addressing water/oil emulsions. Biodegradability results demonstrated enhanced hydrolysis degradation efficiency with the incorporation of ACL into PCL fibers. Consequently, this study proposes a feasible approach to enhance the efficacy of ACL as a biodegradable polymer additive, while presenting promising opportunities for membrane applications targeting water/oil separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reaction-bonded boron carbide composites were fabricated by molten silicon infiltration of diamond-containing boron carbide preforms. The effects of diamond particle size on the microstructure, mechanical and tribological properties of reaction-bonded boron carbide composites were investigated. Fine diamond particles (≤7.7 µm) completely reacted with silicon generating nano silicon carbide particles, which bonded the boron carbide particles forming a 3-D ceramic skeleton and improving the flexural strength of the composites. Coarser diamond (≥24 µm) particles were retained protected by a dense SiC layer generated from the reaction of diamond and molten silicon. A "core-shell" structure with the retained diamond as the "core" and with the reaction formed silicon carbide as the "shell" formed. Relief structures were established on the composites' surface during the wear process, greatly reducing the friction coefficient and improving the wear resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe present design practices of laterally loaded monopiles tends to discretize the pile into a series of beam elements and connect each element to uncoupled non-linear springs, or P-y curves, to represent soil reactions. The prevailing design codes tend to support the use of a universal P-y curve irrespective of pile configuration, flexural rigidity, and soil rigidity index. However, accumulating evidence suggests otherwise, underscoring the imperative to revise formulas, especially for large diameter rigid monopiles. This study conducts a thorough examination of load transfer and failure mechanisms in large diameter monopiles subjected to monotonic lateral loading in clayey soil. A refined formula is proposed to estimate ultimate net soil resistance, rectifying deficiencies in prevailing design codes prone to underestimation. Findings reveal significant influence of soil rigidity index on the P-y curve of rigid monopiles. Consequently, endeavours are undertaken to develop a new P-y formulation integrating the pivotal role of soil rigidity index. The newly devised P-y curve is anticipated to propel advancements in the design of large diameter monopiles, pivotal in offshore renewable energy exploitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperature, concentration and pore size constitute critical factors influencing adsorption and diffusion in tobacco. Investigating the adsorption and diffusion behavior of tobacco not only advances fundamental theory but also provides practical guidance for the tobacco industry to optimize cigarette quality and performance through adjustments in production conditions. This study reports a multiscale simulation framework exploring the adsorption and diffusion of water, propylene glycol, glycerol and nicotine under the influence of these key factors. First-principles density functional theory calculations reveal the preference of H2O to adsorb on O-top rather than H-top sites due to weak hydrogen bond interactions. Additionally, molecular dynamics simulations demonstrate that with increase in temperature, the diffusion properties of H2O and other components enhance, attributed to intensified thermal vibrations and increased kinetic energy of the adsorbent. Intriguingly, with increase in concentration, the diffusion properties of all adsorbents initially increase and then decrease, intricately linked to hydrogen bond effects on system stability and the availability of accommodation space in the porous structure of cellulose. Furthermore, as pore size enlarges, the diffusion of adsorbents significantly increases due to the expansion of free space. In summary, the objective of this study is to provide a profound theoretical understanding for the cigarette industry, thereby contributing to the improvement of cigarette quality and flavor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reaction-bonded boron carbide (RBBC) composites have broad application prospects due to their low cost and net size sintering. The microstructure, reaction mechanism of boron carbide with molten silicon (Si), and mechanical properties have been substantially studied. However, the mechanical properties strengthening mechanism of reaction-bonded boron carbide composites are still pending question. In this study, dense boron carbide ceramics were fabricated by liquid Si infiltration of B4C-C preforms with dispersed carbon black (CB) as the carbon source. Polyethyleneimine (PEI) with a molecular weight of 1800 was used as the dispersant. CB powders uniformly distributed around boron carbide particles and efficiently protected them from reacting with molten Si. The uniformly distributed CB powders in situ reacted with molten Si and formed uniformly distributed SiC grains, thus forming a continuous boron carbide–SiC ceramic skeleton. Meanwhile, the Si content of the composites was reduced. Using PEI-dispersed CB powders as additional carbon source, the composites' flexural strength, fracture toughness, and Vickers hardness reach up to 470 MPa, 4.6 MPa·m1/2, and 22 GPa, which were increased by 44%, 15%, and 10%, respectively. The mechanisms of mechanical properties strengthening were also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Excessive and unresolved neuroinflammation plays an important role in the pathophysiology of many neurological disorders, such as ischemic stroke, yet there are no effective treatments. Tripartite motif-containing 67 (TRIM67) plays a crucial role in the control of inflammatory disease and pathogen infection-induced inflammation; however, the role of TRIM67 in cerebral ischemia‒reperfusion injury remains poorly understood. Results: In the present study, we demonstrated that the expression level of TRIM67 was significantly reduced in middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion (MCAO/R) mice and primary cultured microglia subjected to oxygen–glucose deprivation and reperfusion. Furthermore, a significant reduction in infarct size and neurological deficits was observed in mice after TRIM67 upregulation. Interestingly, TRIM67 upregulation alleviated neuroinflammation and cell death after cerebral ischemia‒reperfusion injury in MCAO/R mice. A mechanistic study showed that TRIM67 bound to IκBα, reduced K48-linked ubiquitination and increased K63-linked ubiquitination, thereby inhibiting its degradation and promoting the stability of IκBα, ultimately inhibiting NF-κB activity after cerebral ischemia. Conclusion: Taken together, this study demonstrated a previously unidentified mechanism whereby TRIM67 regulates neuroinflammation and neuronal apoptosis and strongly indicates that upregulation of TRIM67 may provide therapeutic benefits for ischemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detecting volatile organic compounds is essential to improving the environment and human health. This study prepared a novel composite of hollow SnO 2 /ZnO cubes using a self-template hydrothermal method followed by a calcination process. The morphology and structure of the composites were characterized using a series of analysis techniques, and the formation mechanism of a hollow cube-like structure was explored. Compared to the hollow SnO 2 cube sensor, the hollow SnO 2 /ZnO cube sensor exhibited a strong response (148–100 ppm formaldehyde), fast response/recovery time (15 s/25 s), good linearity (R2 = 0.995), good repeatability, and excellent stability. The superior gas sensing property of the hollow SnO 2 /ZnO cubes was attributed to the combined advantages of hollow structures and heterojunctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A competitive kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) model for gas‐phase epitaxy growth of 4H‐SiC and 6H‐SiC crystals is established based on polytype transformation and the Monte Carlo algorithm. The competitive growth processes of the two polytypes are simulated, and the effect of deposition flux on the polytype competition is analyzed. The 4H‐SiC competitive growth is promoted by the increase in deposition rate, and the effect of the Si/C ratio on polytypic competition is suppressed by the high deposition rate. Moreover, competitive growth is affected by deposition flux by changing the ratio of diffusion rate to deposition rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Microglia-induced excessive neuroinflammation plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of multiple neurological diseases, such as ischaemic stroke. Controlling inflammatory responses is considered a promising therapeutic approach. Sirtuin 5 (SIRT5) mediates lysine desuccinylation, which is involved in various critical biological processes, but its role in ischaemic stroke remains poorly understood. This research systematically explored the function and potential mechanism of SIRT5 in microglia-induced neuroinflammation in ischaemic stroke. Methods: Mice subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion were established as the animal model, and primary cultured microglia treated with oxygen–glucose deprivation and reperfusion were established as the cell model of ischaemic stroke. SIRT5 short hairpin RNA, adenovirus and adeno-associated virus techniques were employed to modulate SIRT5 expression in microglia both in vitro and in vivo. Coimmunoprecipitation, western blot and quantitative real-time PCR assays were performed to reveal the molecular mechanism. Results: In the current study, we showed that SIRT5 expression in microglia was increased in the early phase of ischaemic stroke. SIRT5 interacts with and desuccinylates Annexin A1 (ANXA1) at K166, which in turn decreases its SUMOylation level. Notably, the desuccinylation of ANXA1 blocks its membrane recruitment and extracellular secretion, resulting in the hyperactivation of microglia and excessive expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, ultimately leading to neuronal cell damage after ischaemic stroke. Further investigation showed that microglia-specific forced overexpression of SIRT5 worsened ischaemic brain injury, whereas downregulation of SIRT5 exhibited neuroprotective and cognitive-preserving effects against ischaemic brain injury, as proven by the decreased infarct area, reduced neurological deficit scores, and improved cognitive function. Conclusions: Collectively, these data identify SIRT5 as a novel regulator of microglia-induced neuroinflammation and neuronal damage after cerebral ischaemia. Interventions targeting SIRT5 expression may represent a potential therapeutic target for ischaemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and laser particle size methods were employed. The surface of the particle obtained from the cyclonic-static microbubble flotation column (FCSMC) concentrate was coated with numerous small particles when compared to the clean coal collected from the Denver flotation cell. Even though the mass recovery of FCMSC concentrate (51.13%) was approximately twice the mass yield of Denver flotation cell concentrate (26.66%), the ash content in FCSMC concentrate (33.07%) was higher than that of the Denver flotation cell concentrate (14.88%). This result can be attributed to the advantages of FCSMC in small coal particle flotation, and this resulted in the misplacement of coarser particles with lower ash content in the tailing. The highest mass recovery of 0.250–0.500 mm in magnesium ion solution was 95.39%, which was slightly high than that (92.84%) in calcium ion solution. However, the concentrate ash content with 0.250–0.500 mm coarse size fraction in magnesium ion solution was 11.41%, which was higher than that (11.14%) in calcium ion solution. Flotation performances of different size fractions in rougher-cleaner flowsheet indicated that flotation responses in calcium ion solution were better than that in magnesium solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: We aimed to evaluate US treatment patterns and, more specifically, switch patterns among patients with psoriasis (PsO) who initiated treatment with targeted therapy (TT) and subsequently switched to another therapy. Methods: This retrospective study used IBM® MarketScan® Commercial and Medicare Databases (1/1/2006–3/31/2020) to evaluate treatment patterns in biologic- and apremilast-naive patients with PsO. TT included apremilast, adalimumab, etanercept, infliximab, ustekinumab, or other biologics (certolizumab pegol, secukinumab, brodalumab, ixekizumab, guselkumab, or tildrakizumab). Adults with ≥ 1 prescription for a TT, ≥ 2 PsO claims separated by ≥ 1 day on or before the index date (date of first TT prescription), and continuous medical and pharmacy enrollment for 1 year before and 2 years after the index date were eligible. Non-targeted therapy (NTT) was defined as non-targeted oral systemic treatment, topical treatment, phototherapy, or no treatment. Kaplan–Meier (KM) analysis was used to estimate time to reinitiation of TT (24-month continuous enrollment post-index was not required). Results: A total of 11,526 patients with PsO were included; mean [standard deviation (SD)] age and Charlson Comorbidity Index score were 48.3 (12.8) years and 0.9 (1.43), respectively. During the follow-up, 69.2% of the patients were treated with NTT. Median time to first NTT, for those who received NTT, was 205 days (longest: adalimumab, 252 days). Among patients who switched to NTT after initiating treatment with TT, 52.6% reinitiated treatment with TT (least common: apremilast, 45.6%), with a median time to reinitiation of 106 days (longest: other biologics, 136 days). For all patients on NTT, the probability of reinitiating any TT was 60.7% at 24 months. Conclusions: PsO treatment is often cyclical in nature. Patients frequently experience drug holidays or transition back to TT after using NTT. The consideration of real-world treatment patterns in future economic models may provide new insights into the clinical effectiveness and value of PsO treatments. Plain Language Summary: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that affects 3.0% of adults or an estimated 7.56 million Americans. The most common type of psoriasis is called plaque psoriasis because of its appearance with red patches and silvery scales on the skin. A major concern of medical providers is that not all patients continue their treatment as prescribed. Many patients discontinue, switch, and often restart treatment. To develop effective psoriasis treatment plans for shared decision-making among medical providers and patients, it is important to look at how treatments are used in the real world. This can be done by conducting studies using insurance claims data from healthcare insurance providers. In this study, we evaluated treatment patterns and, more specifically, patterns in changes of treatment in US patients who began their psoriasis treatment with a targeted therapy (biologics or apremilast) and then changed to another therapy. We found that patients often took drug holidays (days with no treatment) and returned back to using a targeted therapy after using a non-targeted therapy (e.g., other oral therapy, topical treatment, phototherapy, or no treatment). Findings from this real-world study may support future studies on the clinical effectiveness and value of current and future treatments for psoriasis—especially within these targeted to non-targeted transitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous data have reported that Sentrin/SUMO-specific protease 6 (SENP6) is involved in ischaemic brain injury and induces neuronal apoptosis after cerebral ischaemia, but the role of SENP6 in microglia-induced neuroinflammation and its underlying mechanism remain poorly understood. This research systematically explored the function and potential mechanism of SENP6 in microglia-induced neuroinflammation after ischaemic stroke. Results: We first identified an increased protein level of SENP6 in microglia after cerebral ischaemia. Then, we demonstrated that SENP6 promoted detrimental microglial phenotype polarization. Specifically, SENP6-mediated de-SUMOylation of ANXA1 targeted the IκB kinase (IKK) complex and selectively inhibited the autophagic degradation of IKKα in an NBR1-dependent manner, activating the NF-κB pathway and enhancing proinflammatory cytokine expression. In addition, downregulation of SENP6 in microglia effectively reduced cocultured neuronal damage induced by ischaemic stroke. More importantly, we employed an AAV-based technique to specifically knockdown SENP6 in microglia/macrophages, and in vivo experiments showed that SENP6 inhibition in microglia/macrophages notably lessened brain ischaemic infarct size, decreased neurological deficit scores, and ameliorated motor and cognitive function in mice subjected to cerebral ischaemia surgery. Conclusion: We demonstrated a previously unidentified mechanism by which SENP6-mediated ANXA1 de-SUMOylation regulates microglial polarization and our results strongly indicated that in microglia, inhibition of SENP6 may be a crucial beneficial therapeutic strategy for ischaemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintaining the ecological security of arid Central Asia (CA) is essential for the sustainable development of arid CA. Based on the moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) data stored on the Google Earth Engine (GEE), this paper investigated the spatiotemporal changes and factors related to ecological environment quality (EEQ) in CA from 2000 to 2020 using the remote sensing ecological index (RSEI). The RSEI values in CA during 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020 were 0.379, 0.376, 0.349, 0.360, and 0.327, respectively; the unchanged/improved/deteriorated areas during 2000–2005, 2005–2010, 2010–2015, and 2015–2020 were about 83.21/7.66%/9.13%, 77.28/6.68%/16.04%, 79.03/11.99%/8.98%, and 81.29/2.16%/16.55%, respectively, which indicated that the EEQ of CA was poor and presented a trend of gradual deterioration. Consistent with the RSEI trend, Moran's I index values in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020 were 0.905, 0.893, 0.901, 0.898, and 0.884, respectively, revealing that the spatial distribution of the EEQ was clustered rather than random. The high–high (H-H) areas were mainly located in mountainous areas, and the low–low (L-L) areas were mainly distributed in deserts. Significant regions were mainly located in H-H and L-L, and most reached the significance level of 0.01, indicating that EEQ exhibited strong correlation. The EEQ in CA is affected by both natural and human factors. Among the natural factors, greenness and wetness promoted the EEQ, while heat and dryness reduced the EEQ, and heat had greater effects than the other three indexes. Human factors such as population growth, overgrazing, and hydropower development are important factors affecting the EEQ. This study provides important data for environmental protection and regional planning in arid and semi-arid regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Irrigation is the dominant section of human water use, exerting essential impacts on hydrological processes and water resources. To more realistically simulate irrigation processes in water‐rich regions, an irrigation scheme is incorporated into a land surface‐hydrological model. It calculates the irrigation water requirement according to meteorological conditions, cropping area and growing stage, and root‐zone soil moisture, and determines the irrigation water withdrawal based on the available water resources as well as describing water extraction and irrigation processes in the model. The coupled model is applied to the Yangtze River Basin (YRB) in China, and verified using the observed daily river discharge from 1987 to 1990, evapotranspiration and irrigation amounts from 1999 to 2003. The results first show that the model can well reproduce hydrological processes within the basin, and the simulated irrigation largely agrees with the observation, in terms of annual irrigation and its spatial pattern. Second, inclusion of irrigation processes allows the model to better estimate evapotranspiration, with relative biases decreased from about −10% to −3%. It is also found that in comparison to arid/semi‐arid areas, although presenting a less effect on river discharge and groundwater, the irrigation in the YRB significantly alters hydrological processes through water redistribution. The irrigation‐induced evapotranspiration increment and runoff decrease indicate a shift in the surface water and energy balance, implying a potential effect on the atmosphere. Therefore, representing irrigation processes properly is important, particularly for understanding the coupling effect of the nature‐human system and improving the hydrological prediction accuracy. Plain Language Summary: As the human population has dramatically increased, the agricultural irrigation has grown rapidly over the past 200 years. The critical implications of irrigation on water resources exert through impact on hydrological processes and further influence on weather and climate via the surface energy balance. Representing irrigation processes in the hydrological models or in the climate models is meaningful for improving accuracy of hydrological predictions. Therefore, we described irrigation processes in a land surface‐hydrological model, and the coupled model was used for the YRB in China and verified. It has confirmed that the model appropriately reproduces the hydrological processes impacted by climate variability and human activities. In the future, we intend to use the model to study the coupling effect of the nature‐human systems, which is expected to contribute to sustainable water resources management. Key Points: We developed a land surface‐hydrological model that describes irrigation processes by incorporating an irrigation schemeWe used the Global Crop Water Model method to more realistically estimate irrigation and described water extraction and irrigation processesWe conducted verification in terms of river discharge, evapotranspiration, and irrigation water amount to evaluate model performance [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Thrombosis is a major complication and is responsible for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The majority of CVDs like stroke, coronary syndrome, and vascular ailments are tightly connected to venous/arterial blood clots. The present research work was planned to address the curative benefits of pinocembrin against thrombosis in the experimental animal model. Materials and methods: The male Wistar rats were employed in this research work and the thrombosis was provoked to the rats via electrical shock by standard method. Animals were treated with 25 and 50 mg/kg of pinocembrin orally. The 20 mg/kg of aspirin was used as a positive control. The level of thrombin-provoked platelet aggregation was performed using the standard method. The plasma coagulation parameters were examined using an automated blood coagulation analyzer. The status of tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI), thromboxane-B2 (TX-B2), 6-keto-PGF1α, and TXB2/6-keto-PGF1α (T/K) was investigated using assay kits. The levels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA), tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), PAI-1, and t-PA/PAI-1 were quantified using assay kits. Results: The pinocembrin treatment appreciably prolonged the coagulation parameter time periods like activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, and TP. Pinocembrin also elevated the TFPI, 6-Keto-PGF1α, u-PA, and t-PA status and reduced the platelet aggregation, TX-B2, T/K, PAI-1, and t-PA/PAI-1 levels in the experimental rats. Conclusion: The findings of this work suggested that the pinocembrin exhibited potent antithrombotic activity and it could be a potential candidate to treat the thrombosis in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reaction-bonded boron carbide (RBBC) composites have great potential for large-scale industrial production owing to their low cost and flexible product size. In this work, RBBC composites with various carbon additions were fabricated by liquid Si infiltration. The morphology of carbon sources is decisive for the morphology of reaction-formed SiC grains at 1550 °C. The effects of carbon sources on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the composites were studied. The as-prepared composites achieve a flexural strength of up to 575 MPa and a fracture toughness of up to 5.1 MPa/m2. The enhancement of the strength and toughness was attributed to the formation of defects-containing nano-SiC grains and continuous ceramic skeletons composed of boron carbide and nano-SiC. In addition, high aspect ratio plate-like SiC grains also allow a considerable improvement in the mechanical properties, even if they are not uniformly distributed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kraft lignin (KL) holds significant potential as a renewable resource for the development of innovative materials that are currently not fully utilized. In this study, a novel iminated lignin (IL) was synthesized by grafting primary amine lignin (N−KL) onto salicylaldehyde. The effects of the dosage and reaction temperature on the nitrogen content of N-KL were evaluated. The maximum nitrogen content in N-KL reached to 3.32 %. Characterization by spectroscopy techniques (FT-IR, XPS, and NMR), elemental analysis, and gel permeation chromatography confirmed the imination of lignin. Additionally, the antioxidant activity of the lignin samples was investigated using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging ability. Moreover, the DPPH radical scavenging capacity of IL-6 (IC 50 = 38.6 ± 3.9 μg/mL) was close to that of commercial antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) (IC 50 = 37.7 ± 4.5 μg/mL). Furthermore, the adsorption equilibrium results indicated that IL-6 had a maximum uptake of 115.6 mg/g Pb2+, which was 3.2-fold higher than that of KL. Kinetic adsorption experiments suggested that IL-6 adsorption follows a pseudo-second-order model. Therefore, the synthesized iminated lignin is a promising candidate for the development of environmentally friendly materials with applications as an antioxidant and lead-ion adsorbent. [Display omitted] • The developed synthesis process for iminated lignin is facile and green. • Introducing amino and imine groups into kraft lignin boosts its antioxidant activity. • Iminated lignin demonstrates a notable ability to scavenge lead ions. • Pb(II) adsorption on iminated lignin relies mainly on its chelation with N atoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The influence of enamel matrix derivative (EMD) on proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) was explored in high glucose (HG) microenvironment with interaction of Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Materials and Methods: Extraction of BMSCs from Sprague–Dawley rats, culture, and identification were manifested. The cells were treated with different concentration of EMD in HG to figure out the most available concentration for proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. Then, observation of cell growth curve and cell cycle changes, and detection of Osterix, runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), COL-I, early osteogenic indexes, Calcium salt deposition, and β-catenin protein in Wnt/β-catenin pathway were assured. After adding Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibitor (XAV-939) in the cells with osteogenesis induction, detection of binding of β-catenin to Osterix was clarified. Results: Via identification BMSCs cultured in vitro was qualified. Different concentrations of EMD could accelerate cell proliferation in HG and osteogenesis induction, and 75 μg/mL EMD had the best effect. The HG augmented BMSCs proliferation and the propidium iodide index of flow cytometry cycle was elevated in HG, which were strengthened via the EMD. After BMSCs' osteogenesis induction, Osterix, Runx2, CoL-1, early osteogenic indexes, and calcium salt deposition were reduced, but elevated via EMD. β-Catenin was the lowest in the HG, but elevated after EMD. After addition of XAV-939, reduction of β-catenin and the downstream (Osterix and Runx2) were manifested. Detection of binding protein bands was in β-catenin and Osterix of the HG after EMD treatment. Conclusion: EMD may facilitate the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs via activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in HG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Shared epitope (SE) is present in high proportions of anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA) + patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and is associated with poor prognosis. We assessed the role of SE in RA prognosis, in relation to ACPA positivity. Methods: Patients enrolled in the Brigham and Women's RA Sequential Study were included. Changes from baseline in disease activity (Disease Activity Score in 28 joints using C-reactive protein [DAS28 (CRP)], Clinical Disease Activity Index [CDAI], Simplified Disease Activity Index [SDAI]) to 1 year were assessed. Baseline characteristics were compared by SE and ACPA status (±; chi-squared, Kruskal-Wallis). Association between number of SE alleles and ACPA status (logistic regression models), relationships between baseline characteristics and changes in disease activity (adjusted linear regression model), and effect of ACPA on the association between SE and changes in disease activity (mediation analysis) were studied. Results: Nine hundred twenty-six patients were included. SE + versus SE − patients had significantly longer disease duration and higher disease activity scores and were more likely to have erosive disease, have higher comorbidity burden, and be RF + (all p < 0.05). Among patients with one or two SE alleles (vs. 0), odds of being ACPA + were 1.97 (p = 0.0003) and 3.82 (p < 0.0001), respectively. SE + versus SE − patients had worse disease activity scores as indicated by mean increases in DAS28 (CRP) of 0.22, CDAI of 2.07, and SDAI of 2.43 over 1 year (all p < 0.05). Direct effect of SE + accounted for 76.4–80.1% of total effect in disease activity increases. Conclusions: SE is strongly associated with ACPA positivity and higher disease activity in patients with RA. SE was associated with greater increases in disease activity over 1 year, which was partially mediated by the presence of ACPA. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01793103; registration date: February 15, 2013, retrospectively registered. Plain Language Summary: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) experience inflamed and damaged joints. RA is an autoimmune disease where proteins called autoantibodies in the blood of patients with RA target the patient's own joint tissue and organs by mistake. This causes inflammation. Patients with certain autoantibodies, such as anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs), may experience worse symptoms. There are certain genetic risk factors that may mean a person is more likely to develop RA. One example of a genetic risk factor is having the shared epitope (SE). Our study looked at almost 1000 patients with RA in the general population. It explored the impact of having SE and ACPAs on changes in RA disease activity. Patients with SE had RA for a longer time, had more severe disease, and were more likely to have other diseases compared with patients without SE. Patients with SE were also more likely to have ACPAs. Over the course of one year, patients with SE had larger increases in RA disease activity than those patients without SE, even though they were taking the same treatments. These results suggest that patients with the genetic risk factor, SE often have RA that is harder to treat. Doctors should take this into account when selecting treatment for RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• For the first time prevent the dissolution and reaction loss of boron carbide particles by using carbon-coated boron carbide particles as raw materials in the reaction-bonding of boron carbide by Si infiltration. • A ceramic skeleton of the nano-SiC particles-coated and -bonded boron carbide particles and resultant mechanical properties. • In situ reaction to form nano silicon carbide particles in reaction bonded boron carbide composites. To tackle the dissolution problem of boron carbide particles in silicon infiltration process, carbon-coated boron carbide particles were fabricated for the preparation of the reaction-bonded boron carbide composites. The carbon coating can effectively protect the boron carbide from reacting with liquid Si and their dissolution, thus maintaining the irregular shape of boron carbide particles and preventing the growth of boron carbide particles and reaction formed SiC regions. Furthermore, the nano-SiC particles, originated from the reaction of the carbon coating and the infiltrated Si, uniformly coated on the surfaces of boron carbide particles, thus forming a ceramic skeleton of the nano-SiC particles-coated and -bonded boron carbide particles. The Vickers hardness, flexural strength and fracture toughness of the composites can be increased by 26 %, 45 %, and 37 % respectively, by using carbon-coated boron carbide particles as raw materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SiC colloidal inks for the novel robocasting forming method were prepared using a two-step method, namely creating well-dispersed suspensions followed by inducing gelation via changing the pH values towards isoelectric points (IEPs). The effect of the adsorption behaviour of Polyethylene imine (PEI) on the rheological properties was systematically investigated for the both steps. Coincidentally, as SiC particles were saturated adsorbed with PEI, their respective rheological properties exhibited the optimum. For the first step, the strongest electrostatic repulsion was exhibited between SiC particles, and the corresponding suspension displayed the optimum dispersibility with a low shear viscosity (η0) of 27.86 Pa. For the second step, the colloidal gel presented the strongest elastic properties with an equilibrium storage modulus (G′) of 13,381.87 Pa and shear yield stress (τy) of 355.89 Pa. The colloidal gel ink with solid loading as high as 51 vol.% behaved in a yield-pseudoplastic manner and was successfully utilized to fabricate 3-D periodic lattice structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new heterocyclic compound 2-((6-chloro-2-methylpyrimidin-4-yl)amino)-N-(2-chloro-6-methylphenyl) thiazole-5-carboxamide (1), designed using 2-chloro-N-(2-chloro-6-methylphenyl)thiazole-5-carboxamide (2) as start material, was successfully obtained via multistep synthesis route and finally characterized by IR (infrared radiation), 1H NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance), and single crystal X-ray crystallography. The inhibitory effect of compound 1 on human breast tumor cell line BS524 was further explored. The MTT (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) and IC50 (half maximal inhibitory concentration) values suggested that compound 1 has significant anti-proliferation activity on BS524 cells and with low side effect. Then, serial experiments, such as the Annexin V-FITC/PI assay, TUNEL staining and autophagy detection revealed that compound 1 could inhibit cell proliferation via induce cells apoptosis, and the apoptosis is induced by (reactive oxygen species) ROS generation in BS524 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dots (CDs) have been used to quench the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of a Ru(bpy)32+–tripropylamine (TPA) system for the first time. In addition, this phenomenon has been coupled with duplex specific nuclease-assisted target recycling amplification to develop a highly sensitive ECL biosensor for microRNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the epidemic outbreak of 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19), general population may experience psychological distress. Evidence has suggested that negative coping styles may be related to subsequent mental illness. Therefore, we investigate the general population's psychological distress and coping styles in the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak. A cross-sectional battery of surveys was conducted from February 1–4, 2020. The Kessler 6 psychological distress scale, the simplified coping style questionnaire and a general information questionnaire were administered on-line to a convenience sample of 1599 in China. A multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify the influence factors of psychological distress. General population's psychological distress were significant differences based on age, marriage, epidemic contact characteristics, concern with media reports, and perceived impacts of the epidemic outbreak (all p <0.001) except gender (p = 0.316). The population with younger age (F = 102.04), unmarried (t = 15.28), with history of visiting Wuhan in the past month (t = -40.86), with history of epidemics occurring in the community (t = -10.25), more concern with media reports (F = 21.84), perceived more impacts of the epidemic outbreak (changes over living situations, F = 331.71; emotional control, F = 1863.07; epidemic-related dreams, F = 1642.78) and negative coping style (t = 37.41) had higher level of psychological distress. Multivariate analysis found that marriage, epidemic contact characteristics, perceived impacts of the epidemic and coping style were the influence factors of psychological distress (all p <0.001). Epidemic of COVID-19 caused high level of psychological distress. The general mainland Chinese population with unmarried, history of visiting Wuhan in the past month, perceived more impacts of the epidemic and negative coping style had higher level of psychological distress in the early stages of COVID-19 epidemic. Psychological interventions should be implemented early, especially for those general population with such characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We calculate particle acceleration during coronal mass ejection (CME) eruptions using combined magnetohydrodynamic and test-particle models. The 2.5D/3D CMEs are generated via the breakout mechanism. In this scenario a reconnection at the "breakout" current sheet (CS) above the flux rope initiates the CME eruption by destabilizing a quasi-static force balance. Reconnection at the flare CS below the erupting flux rope drives the fast acceleration of the CME, which forms flare loops below and produces the energetic particles observed in flares. For test-particle simulations, two times are selected during the impulsive and decay phases of the eruption. Particles are revealed to be accelerated more efficiently in the flare CS rather than in the breakout CS even in the presence of large magnetic islands. Particles are first accelerated in the CSs (with or without magnetic islands) by the reconnection electric field mainly through particle curvature drift. We find, as expected, that accelerated particles precipitate into the chromosphere, become trapped in the loop top by magnetic mirrors, or escape to interplanetary space along open field lines. Some trapped particles are reaccelerated, either via reinjection to the flare CS or through a local Betatron-type acceleration associated with compression of the magnetic field. The energetic particles produce relatively hard energy spectra during the impulsive phase. During the gradual phase, the relaxation of magnetic field shear reduces the guiding field in the flare CS, which leads to a decrease in particle energization efficiency. Important implications of our results for observations of particle acceleration in the solar coronal jets are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The first‐line standard treatment of non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR mutation is EGFR‐tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). However, most patients will develop acquired resistance after 9–13 months. This study investigated novel molecular mechanisms of acquired resistance to EGFR‐TKIs to identify a potential new treatment for EGFR‐TKI resistant NSCLC patients. Methods: We established an EGFR‐TKI resistant cell line (HCC827‐TR) by culturing the HCC827‐P cell line through continuous erlotinib culture. We used Sanger sequencing, RT‐PCR, and western blot to rule out known resistance mechanisms in HCC827‐TR cells, including EGFR‐T790M and MET, PTEN, or EGFR expression changes. Next‐generation sequencing was performed and identified differentially expressed genes between two cell lines and examined the genes with GO and KEGG pathway database analyses. We also examined the molecular alterations in COSMIC and GDSC databases and performed hazard predictions using SIFT, PolyPhen‐2, Mutation Taster, and CADD. Results: Our results identified FGF2 as a differentially expressed gene with a G101T point mutation in HCC827‐TR cells that showed high mutation frequency and hazard score. HCC827‐TR cells showed elevated FGF2 compared to parental cells. It is noteworthy that treatment with the FGFR inhibitor AZD4547 could restore the sensitivity of HCC872‐TR cells to erlotinib. Conclusions: An erlotinib‐resistant cell line HCC827‐TR was successfully constructed and we identified the EGFR‐TKI resistance mechanism involving the FGF2 gene mutation. Targeted inhibition of the FGF2/FGFR signaling pathway may effectively restore the sensitivity of the resistant cells to erlotinib. These results suggest a novel treatment strategy for EGFR‐TKI resistant NSCLC patients. Key points: Significant findings of the study: Identifies a novel molecular mechanism for EGFR‐TKI acquired resistance.What this study adds: A potential novel strategy for the treatment of EGFR‐TKI resistant NSCLC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The overwhelming number of interrogations reveals the implication of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in diverse malignancies, little is unveiled about lncRNAs participation in the abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). The study aimed to monitor the role and responsible mechanism of LUCAT1 in AAA. The cellular function of LUCAT1 on smooth muscle cells (SMCs) proliferation and apoptosis were examined through the conduction of CCK‐8, EdU, TUNEL, and caspase‐3 activity assays. LUCAT1 depletion was observed to boost SMCs proliferation or suppress SMCs apoptosis. The opposite results on SMCs proliferation and apoptosis were achieved in response to LUCAT1 promotion. The abundance of LUCAT1 in the cytoplasm was ascertained by subcellular fractionation and FISH analyses on the basis of LncLocator prediction. The binding of LUCAT1 to miR‐199a‐5p predicted by DIANA and starbase was certified by luciferase reporter assay and RIP analysis. Besides, multiple prediction tools unveiled the interaction between miR‐199a‐5p and myelin regulatory factor (MYRF). Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction uncovered the suppressive effect of miR‐199a‐5p and the positive regulation of LUCAT1 on MYRF expression. Rescue experiments revealed that LUCAT1 depletion pose suppression on SMCs apoptosis and MYRF elevation abrogated this suppression induced by LUCAT1 inhibition. These findings unmasked that the pro‐apoptosis impact of LUCAT1 in SMCs via directly targeting miR‐199a‐5p to elevate MYRF expression, which may provide valuable information on AAA prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depression is a debilitating mental illness that affects up to 120 million people worldwide; it is currently determined based on subjective diagnostic schemes that are limited by high uncertainty. Hence, there is an urgent need to identify effective and reliable biomarkers to increase diagnostic accuracy. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) constitute a recently discovered class of non-coding RNAs that play a key role in the regulation of gene expression by modulating translation, messenger RNA (mRNA) degradation, or stability of mRNA targets. Dysregulated expression of miRNAs is being investigated as a clinical biomarker for a variety of diseases, including depression. Accumulating evidence has shown that miRNAs participate in many aspects of neural plasticity, neurogenesis, and the stress response. This is supported by more direct studies based on human postmortem brain tissue that strongly indicate that miRNAs not only play a key role in the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder, but also present potential for the development of therapeutic targets. miRNAs in the peripheral and central nervous system are being considered as potential biomarkers in the diagnosis of depression and in monitoring the therapeutic response to antidepressants, owing to their stability, tissue-specificity, and disease-specific expression. In this review, we focus on various miRNAs in tissues and fluids that could be employed as diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers in patients with depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) nanostructures are used widely in acetone sensors, but pure MOS sensors usually have poor selectivity and low sensitivity. In this study, various Sn-doped Fe 2 O 3 (Sn-Fe 2 O 3) microflowers were obtained using FeOOH microflowers as precursors using a liquid hydrolysis reaction followed by a calcination process. Various characterization techniques verified the morphologies and composition of the products. The microflower-like 17.0 wt% Sn-Fe 2 O 3 possessed a specific surface area of 138.9 m2 g−1. Employed as a sensing material, the 17.0 wt% Sn-Fe 2 O 3 microflowers exhibited a strong response of 107.7 for 100 ppm acetone with short response/recovery times of 8/12 s. Furthermore, the 17.0 wt% Sn-Fe 2 O 3 microflower sensor displayed good selectivity and high stability for acetone vapor with a detection limit of 114 ppb. The in-situ Raman spectrum verified that the Sn-Fe 2 O 3 microflowers improved the adsorption of the acetone molecules, resulting in enhanced sensing performance. [Display omitted] • Sn-doped Fe 2 O 3 (Sn-Fe 2 O 3) microflowers were obtained using FeOOH microflowers as precursors. • It involves a liquid hydrolysis reaction followed by a calcination process. • The microflower-like 17.0 wt% Sn-Fe 2 O 3 exhibit superior sensing property for acetone. • High performance is due to the hierarchical structure, high specific surface area and Sn dopants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of alkali and alkali earth metals on pyrolysis behavior of tobacco was revealed in this paper. Four alkali and alkali earth metal ions (Na+, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+) were used to impregnate acid-washed tobacco. The addition of alkali and alkali earth metal ions in acid-washed tobacco increases the relative content of ketones, acids, nitrogen containing compounds, and esters, while inhibit the formation of anhydro sugars and aldehydes. The generation of solid residues is enhanced by the presence of alkali and alkali earth metal ions and the increase of K+ concentration. The addition of 0.5 mmol K+/g can increase the yield of solid residues from 13.7 wt% to 20.2 wt%. The increase of K+ concentration promotes the conversion of anhydro sugars to ketones. The effect of hot water-wash, acid-wash, and acid-infuse, which can control the concentration of alkali and alkali earth metal ions in the tobacco, on the product distribution of tobacco pyrolysis were also discussed. Acid-wash method and hot water-wash method promote the production of carbohydrate derivatives and inhibit the generation of nitrogen-containing products. After nitric acid-wash and hot water-wash pretreatment, the relative content of nitrogen-containing products decreased from 52.1% to 6.2% and 4.3%, respectively. Compared with inorganic acid-wash pretreatment method, organic acid-wash pretreatment method has weaker inhibition on nitrogen-containing products. Organic acid-wash pretreatment method promoted the formation of aromatics and aldehydes. Prewash methods facilitate the thermal decomposition of tobacco. The results from this study suggests that feedstock pretreatment could be used as a strategy of controlling aroma compounds formation from tobacco. • The effect of alkali and alkali earth metals on tobacco pyrolysis were investigated. • The presence of all types of AAEMs enhanced the generation of solid residues during tobacco pyrolysis. • The increase of K+ concentration promoted the conversion of anhydro sugars to ketones. • The mitigation methods including prewash and acid infusion were also discussed. • Organic acid-wash pretreatment method greatly promoted the formation of aroma compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates six precipitation reanalysis products for the Yellow River Basin using gridded rain gauge data, runoff data and the Atmospheric and Hydrological Modelling System (AHMS) simulations. The assessment begins with comparing the annual, seasonal, monthly and daily precipitation of the products with gridded rain gauge data. The AHMS is then run with each of the precipitation reanalysis products under two scenarios: one with calibrated rainfall-runoff and the other without. The simulated streamflow is then compared with the corresponding observations. It is found that non-gauge-corrected products tend to overestimate precipitation, especially for mountainous regions. Amongst the six products evaluated, the China Meteorological Forcing Dataset (CMFD) and WATCH Forcing Data methodology applied to ERA5 (WFDE5/CRU+GPCC) are identified as the most accurate products, supported by both statistical and hydrological comparisons. This consistency in statistical and hydrological comparisons suggests the potential applicability of the hydrological comparison method using the AHMS in ungagged catchments, even in the presence of significant anthropogenic impacts. Furthermore, the calibration of the hydrological model significantly impacts the model's response to precipitation, effectively compensating for deficiencies in rainfall data within certain limits. This study highlights accurate representation of extreme rainfall events in precipitation products has a significant impact on calibrated soil parameters and is particularly important in hydrological modelling. It enhances our understanding of the reliability of hydrological simulations and provides valuable insights for the assessment of precipitation reanalysis products in large arid and semiarid basins affected by human activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following a step excitation, chlorophyll fluorescence (ChlF) from photosystem II (PSII) of a dark‐adapted photosynthetic organism exhibits the well‐known OJIP pattern. The OJIP induction has been widely used in plant science and agriculture engineering. While the J and I phases are related to transitions of photochemical reaction redox states, characteristic fluorescence intensities at the two phases (Fj and Fi) are often treated at fixed time points in routine measurement and thus do not account for variations in plant and experimental conditions, this (1) neglects the differences in the time of appearance of these phases, which is potentially useful information for characterizing plant status and environmental factors, and (2) leads to errors in measured Fj and Fi values in the many publications. In this work, an alternative method for consistent measurement of Fj and Fi was presented. The proposed method measures the curvatures in the OJIP curve and automatically tracks the characteristic transition points under variable sample and experimental conditions. Experiments were carried out to demonstrate the concept and classification capabilities of the method. This research has established a new framework to analyze ChlF and has enhanced the application capability of ChlF. It is expect useful in analysis ChlF from PSII. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the impact of traffic environmental microvibration on buildings, this paper studies indoor vibration isolation, a method applicable to existing buildings. The vibration isolation scheme is designed based on the residential buildings adjacent to metro lines in Shanghai. By using the dynamic theory, the effective range of vibration isolation stiffness is analyzed. The effectiveness of the indoor vibration isolation method is verified through theoretical calculations and comparison of field measurements before and after isolation. A detailed numerical model is established to analyze the indoor isolation and the effect after parameter optimization from the slab thickness, filling material, and isolator stiffness. The results show that the isolation effect is proportional to the thickness of the total slab thickness of the isolation system and inversely proportional to the stiffness of the isolator. And when concrete is used as the filling material, the isolation effect is best. The isolation effect of the midspan position is better than that of the wall-floor junction. The vibration isolation effect is more obvious after the parameters are optimized. With its convenient construction technology, short cycle, and low cost, this method is worth promoting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The goal of this study was to identify the physiological factors related to the blood concentration of lithium in Chinese Han patients with bipolar disorder (BD). Materials and methods: A total of 186 Chinese Han patients with BD were assessed. Patients were recruited from the Anhui Mental Health Center. The concentrations of serum lithium were measured by a Dimension RxL Max biochemistry analyzer. Physiological factors, including body weight, body mass index (BMI), and routine laboratory parameters, were collected. Relationships between the serum lithium concentration and relevant clinical data were analyzed by Pearson correlation tests, and the independent relationships were determined by multivariate linear regression analysis. Results: Pearson correlation analysis showed that serum lithium concentrations were positively correlated with creatinine concentrations (r=0.147, P=0.046), Mg2+ concentrations (r=0.151, P=0.04), and the percentage of neutrophils (r=0.178, P=0.015) and negatively correlated with high-density lipoprotein (HDL) concentrations (r=−0.142, P=0.05), apolipoprotein A1 concentrations (r=−0.169, P=0.02), and Na+ concentrations (r=−0.148, P=0.046) in 186 patients with BD. Furthermore, multivariate linear regression analysis showed that serum lithium concentrations were negatively associated with Na+ concentrations and positively associated with the percentage of neutrophils. Conclusion: These results suggest that physiological factors, including creatinine, HDL, apolipoprotein A1, Na+, and Mg2+ concentrations and percentage of neutrophils, might be related to serum lithium concentrations and provide a basis for parameter selection of lithium population pharmacokinetics in Chinese Han patients with BD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct numerical simulation of a spatially developing turbulent boundary layer over a compliant wall with anisotropic wall material properties is performed. The Reynolds number varies from 300 to approximately 860 along the streamwise direction, based on the external flow velocity and the momentum thickness. Eight typical cases are selected for numerical investigation under the guidance of monoharmonic analysis. The instantaneous flow fields exhibit a traveling wavy motion of the compliant wall, and the frequency-wavenumber power spectrum of wall pressure fluctuation is computed to quantify the mutual influence of the wall compliance and the turbulent flow at different wave numbers. It is shown that the Reynolds shear stress and the pressure fluctuation are generally enhanced by the wall compliance with the parameters considered in the present study. A dynamical decomposition of the skin-friction coefficient is derived, and a new term (CW) appears due to the wall-induced Reynolds shear stress. The influence of the anisotropic compliant wall motion on the turbulent boundary layer through the wall-induced negative Reynolds shear stress is discussed. To elucidate the underlying mechanism, the budget analysis of the Reynolds stress transportation is further carried out. The impact of the wall compliance on the turbulent flow is disclosed by examining the variations of the diffusion and velocity–pressure correlation terms. It is shown that an increase of the Reynolds stress inside the flow domain is caused by enhancement of the velocity–pressure correlation term, possibly through the long-range influence of the wall compliance on the pressure field, rather than diffusion of the wall-induced Reynolds shear stress into the fluid flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • This review systematically analyzes the effect of interface issues on solid-state electrolytes for lithium batteries. • Two-dimensional materials-based modification strategy for solid-state electrolytes and mechanisms are presented. • The current challenges and issues of solid-state electrolytes in lithium batteries are addressed. Lithium-ion batteries have been widely used in mobile electronic devices and electric vehicles, but the safety issues of lithium-ion batteries have become increasingly prominent owing to the risk of leak out and explosion with liquid electrolytes. Solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) with high ionic conductivity and low cost are considered as one of the most attractive alternatives to replacing liquid electrolytes. However, the poor interfacial compatibilities of SSE in lithium batteries lead to the failure, which severely hinders their development. Recent studies have shown that two-dimensional (2D) layered materials can improve the interface stability of SSE to lithium metal. In this Review, we will mainly introduce the fundamentals of SSEs and interface issues, and then summarize 2D materials-based modification strategy for SSEs. Recent advances have been highlighted in the aspects of using 2D materials for improving the interface of SSEs, which are very promising for energy applications. The availability of the 2D materials offers a rich playground, which not only improves the electrochemical performance of solid-state lithium batteries, but also conceives deep understanding the mechanism of interface modulation. Lastly, the perspective is provided to address the current challenges and issues of SSEs in lithium batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Evaluation of the fatigue performance of ancient brick masonry structures. • The fatigue stress–strain curve presented obvious three-stage development characteristics of sparse–dense–sparse. • The fatigue strain evolution curve showed a typical " S " structure with three distinct stages. In this study, a low-cycle fatigue test was conducted using an MTS793 electro-hydraulic servo fatigue testing machine and a VIC-3D image acquisition system to explore the effects of different loading frequencies and upper limit stress amplitudes on the fatigue damage characteristics of ancient brick masonry. The test results indicated prominent fatigue damage characteristics and shaping of the ancient brick masonry under cyclic load. The axial deformation development of ancient brick masonry consists of three stages that result in fatigue damage evolution and macroscopic fracture. These stages include a large maximum cyclic stress amplitude, low loading frequency, and a larger hysteresis loopback during the loading and unloading area. The plastic stress variable of each loop increases, and the fatigue life of the specimen decreases with the increase in the sample fatigue damage rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The whole world is looking for imperative technologies that can produce clean water, clean energy and clean environments with low energy consumption and small footprint. Membrane technology stands out as a potential solution for different applications because of its beneficial advantages. The revolutionary dual-layer (DL) membranes are composed of two layers formed by co-extruding or co-casting two different dope solutions simultaneously in one step. With the advances in dual-layer concept, one can effectively design the membranes with the maximal performance from various polymeric pairs. As a result, DL membranes are increasingly being studied for gas-phase and liquid-phase separations. However, challenges still exist such as parameters or conditions affecting the adhesion/delamination in DL membranes, the methods to fabricate delamination-free membranes, the knowledge to bridge the fabrication conditions and their influence on membrane performance. Therefore, this review not only summarizes the state-of-the-art research on DL membranes but also provides critical insights on these scientific challenges and potential solutions. A future perspective on this technology including other challenges is also given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Evaluation of the fatigue performance of ancient brick masonry structures. • The curves of p–S–N fatigue equation based on Weibull distribution was established. • The fatigue stress–strain curve presented obvious three-stage development characteristics of sparse–dense–sparse. • The fatigue strain evolution curve showed a typical " S " structure with three distinct stages. Urban expansion and diversified traffic aggravate the damage and deterioration of ancient buildings. It is crucial to evaluate the long-term fatigue performance of ancient brick masonry structures for the safety and maintenance of ancient buildings. A series of indoor tests were conducted on the ancient brick masonry. The images for the whole process of the test were collected using VIC-3D technology. The relationship between the stress level and the number of failure cycles under compressive fatigue load and the stress–strain evolution under different stress levels were determined. A mathematical model of p-S-N fatigue life prediction based on probability was proposed, which comprehensively considered the maximum stress level, stress range, number of load cycles, and survival probability. The equivalent fatigue life of ancient brick masonry specimens under each failure probability obeys Weibull distribution, and then the fatigue life of masonry can be predicted at any expected confidence level. The test results provide reliable theoretical and data support for fatigue deterioration and life prediction of ancient masonry structures in service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Chlorophyll fluorescence (ChlF) was used to develop a photosynthesis-based drought measure. • Light of pseudo-random binary sequence (PRBS) was used to excite ChlF. • A drought stress-sensing method based on wavelet entropy of ChlF excited with PRBS was developed. • The performance of the developed method was higher than traditional ChlF-based methods. Drought stress is one of the most important environmental factors limiting photosynthesis and agriculture yield, but photosynthesis-based drought stress measures are still not well developed. Chlorophyll a fluorescence (ChlF) from photosynthesis II (PSII) tightly couples with photosynthesis and may potentially serve as a measure of drought stress. Traditional ChlF measurement is usually based on a step or pulse excitation, and may not perturb the complex photochemical reactions to show strong ChlF difference under drought stress conditions and limit the sensitivity and robustness of using ChlF to sense drought stress. In this work, a drought stress-sensing technique based on ChlF excited by pseudo-random binary sequence (PRBS) and analyzed by wavelet entropy was established. Four different rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties with 120 samples for each variety and thirty spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) samples were measured under different drought stress durations to validate the proposed method. Results show that the proposed wavelet-entropy-based ChlF measure could differentiate all the different drought stress durations for all rice varieties and spinach but the commonly used OJIP-based ChlF induction analysis could not. This work provides a new plant-physiology-based drought stress measurement method and ChlF analysis technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A three-dimensional kinetic Monte Carlo model is proposed to study three-dimensional critical nucleation mechanisms. • Three-dimensional critical nucleation time is earlier at higher growth temperature, lower deposition rate, and higher Ehrlich-Schwoebel barriers. • Surface roughness at three-dimensional critical nucleation decreases with the increase of growth temperature and decrease of deposition rate. The growth quality of 3C-SiC crystal is affected by the three-dimensional critical nucleation. A three-dimensional kinetic Monte Carlo model for 3C-SiC crystal growth on a planar substrate has been established. The effects of growth conditions on three-dimensional critical nucleation characteristics are studied. The results show that three-dimensional critical nucleation time is earlier, surface roughness is smaller, and the ratio of average spacing and average size of two-dimensional clusters are greater at a higher growth temperature or a lower deposition rate. In addition, the three-dimensional critical nucleation time is affected by the Ehrlich-Schwoebel barrier. There is a critical Ehrlich-Schwoebel barrier, and the three-dimensional critical nucleation time changes little with the Ehrlich-Schwoebel barrier when the value of Ehrlich-Schwoebel barrier is greater than the critical value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research investigates the solution to solve the delamination issue and control the morphology of dual-layer membranes fabricated from polymer/solvent binary systems without additives, post-treatment and other complicated processes. First, Extem®, Ultem®, polysulfone (PSf) and polyethersulfone (PES) were used to study the mechanism behind the adhesion/delamination phenomenon. It was found that adhesion of dual-layer membranes has nothing to do with the similar functional group of top and bottom polymers. Dual-layer membranes with excellent adhesion can be obtained by a newly proposed hydrophilicity control mechanism. More specifically, to obtain a delamination-free membrane, bottom layer should be more hydrophilic than top layer. If not, a significant difference in precipitation rate of the two layers or replacing the coagulant with a milder medium was requested. Then, the method was further extended to prepare multi-layer membranes. Finally, desirable morphology of each layer of dual-layer membranes can be obtained by properly adjusting the thickness and solvent types of top and bottom layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of compliant wall with different parameters in a spatially developing turbulent boundary layer is investigated by direct numerical simulation. The Reynolds number based on the external flow velocity and the momentum thickness ranges from 300 to approximately 860. The compliant wall is placed in the region starting from 200 to 600 in the streamwise direction, scaled by the inlet momentum thickness. The monoharmonic analysis is carried out for selection of the parameters of compliant wall in numerical simulations. The instantaneous flow fields and the turbulence statistics are presented to show the impact of the compliant wall. A dynamical decomposition of the skin-friction coefficient C f is performed for examining the sources bringing the variations in C f . The spatial evolution of compliant wall motion is disclosed, which is a special feature of the boundary layer flow. The spatial–temporal self-correlation of the wall displacement is calculated for obtaining the convection velocity of the wavy motion of compliant wall. The frequency–wavenumber power spectrum of wall pressure fluctuation is presented for studying the interaction of the compliant wall and the above turbulent flow. The effect of the fixed boundaries of the compliant wall is also examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A biological method for synthesising silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was developed using the callus extracts from Artemisia annua L. under sunlight at 25,000 lx. The AgNPs were characterised using transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscope, X‐ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The AgNPs were mostly spherical with the size of 2.1 to 45.2 nm (average 10.9 nm). Pulse treatments of AgNPs at 125, 250 and 500 mg/l for 1 h extended vase life of cut carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus cv. Green Land) flowers. Four dominant bacteria strains Arthrobacter arilaitensis, Kocuria sp., Staphylococcus equorum and Microbacterium oxydans were isolated from the stem‐ends of cut D. caryophyllus flowers. AgNP pulse inhibited significantly bacterial growth in vase solution and cut stem ends during all of the vase period. The bacteria related blockage in the stem‐ends was significantly alleviated by AgNP pulse because of its higher antibacterial efficacy against the dominant bacteria. In addition, ethylene release of cut carnation flowers was inhibited in response to AgNP pulse. This is the first time that the biologically synthesised AgNPs could be applied as a promising preservative agent for cut carnation flowers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Lipiodol has been applied for decades in transarterial chemoembolization to treat liver malignancies, but its intrahepatic pathway through arterioportal shunt (APS) in the liver has not been histologically revealed. This rodent experiment was conducted to provide evidence for the pathway of Lipiodol delivered through the hepatic artery (HA) but found in the portal vein (PV) and to elucidate the observed unidirectional APS. Methods. Thirty rats were divided into 5 groups receiving systemic or local arterial infusion of red-stained iodized oil (RIO) or its hydrosoluble substitute barium sulfate suspension (BSS), or infusion of BSS via the PV, monitored by real-time digital radiography. Histomorphology of serial frozen and paraffin sections was performed and quantified. Results. After HA infusion, RIO and BSS appeared extensively in PV lumens with peribiliary vascular plexus (PVP) identified as the responsible anastomotic channel. After PV infusion, BSS appeared predominantly in the PV and surrounding sinusoids and to a much lesser extent in the PVP and HA (P<0.001). Fluid mechanics well explains the one-way-valve phenomenon of APS. Conclusions. Intravascularly injected rat livers provide histomorphologic evidences: (1) the PVP exists in between the HA and PV, which is responsible to the APS of Lipiodol; and (2) the intrahepatic vascular inflow appears HA-PVP-PV unidirectional without a physical one-way valve, which can be postulated by the fluid mechanics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional (2D) valley materials with valley-polarized band structures have received extensive discussions for their potential applications in the emerging valleytronics, while 2D materials with both spontaneous valley polarization and spin polarization are quite rare. Here, we predict a new 2D ferromagnetic semiconductor MnCoO 6 Bi 2 possessing spontaneous valley polarization by first-principles calculations. The results show that MnCoO 6 Bi 2 has large valley polarization strength of 254 meV and ferromagnetic Curie temperature of 214 K, which is sufficient for the observation of anomalous valley Hall effects. In addition, the band structure with valley polarization can be well maintained under external biaxial strains between −6% and 6%. Our findings provide an ideal platform for exploring the valleytronic physics in 2D magnetic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Increasing evidence suggests that abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a T-cell-mediated autoimmune condition. This study investigates the epigenetic modifications that occur in the T cells of AAA patients and evaluates the correlation of these modifications with disease development. Methods and Results: Peripheral T cells were collected from 101 AAA patients and 102 healthy controls (HCs). DNA methylation and histone acetylation levels were measured by ELISA. Methyl-CpG-binding domain, DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) mRNA levels were determined by real-time PCR. DNA from the T cells of the AAA patients exhibited significant hypomethylation compared with the HCs (1.6-fold, p < 0.0001). Expression of DNMT1 at the mRNA level in the T cells of the AAA patients was 1.52-fold lower than that of the HCs (p < 0.0001). The extent of DNA methylation in the AAA patients was negatively correlated with the corresponding aortic diameter (r = -0.498, p < 0.0001). H3 (1.59-fold, p < 0.0001) and H3K14 (2.15-fold, p < 0.0001) acetylation levels in the T cells of the AAA patients were higher than those of the HCs, but the HDAC1 mRNA level was 2.33-fold lower than that of the HCs (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: DNA methylation and the histone modification status are significantly altered in the T cells of AAA patients. These changes could play a pivotal role in the activation of pathological immune responses and may influence AAA development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Esophageal carcinoma (EC) is a lethal disease with high morbidity and mortality worldwide, and the incidence has been increasing in recent years. Although the diagnosis and treatment of EC have improved considerably, EC has rapidly progressed in the clinical setting and has a poor prognosis for its metastasis and recurrence. The general idea of cancer stem cells (CSCs) is primarily based on clinical and experimental observations, indicating the existence of a subpopulation of cells that can self-renew and differentiate. The EC stem cells, which can be isolated from normal pluripotent stem cells by applying similar biomarkers, may participate in promoting esophageal tumorigenesis through renewal and repair. In this review, major emphasis is given to CSC markers, altered CSC-specific pathways, and molecular targeting agents currently available to target CSCs of esophageal cancer. The roles of numerous markers (CD44, aldehyde dehydrogenase, CD133, and ATP-binding cassette subfamily G member 2) and developmental signaling pathways (Wnt/β-catenin, Notch, hedgehog, and Hippo) in isolating esophageal CSCs are discussed in detail. Targeting CSCs can be a logical strategy to treat EC, as these cells are responsible for carcinoma recurrence and chemoradiation resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of polyimide/titanium carbide (PI/TiC) composites with different TiC contents were prepared using the ultrasonic dispersion and in situ polymerization method. Atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), mechanical, and electrometer were used to characterize the structure and properties of the obtained composites. The morphological study of composites by AFM and SEM showed that TiC particles had a homogeneous dispersion in polyimide matrix with nanoscale at low filler dosage (≤10% volume content). X-ray diffractions (XRDs) indicated that the doping of TiC slightly reduced the packing density of polyimide and destructed the aggregation structure of polyimide molecules. Experimental results showed that the obtained PI/TiC composites exhibited appropriate mechanical properties and moderate electric breakdown strength. Dielectric investigation evidenced that the dielectric constant and the dielectric loss of these composites increased with the increase of the volume fraction of TiC particles. The composite with 20 vol% TiC particles showed a highest dielectric constant of 37 while retaining an appropriate dielectric loss of 0.026, as compared with the dielectric constant (3-4) of neat polyimide resin. In addition, the dielectric properties of the composites displayed good stability within a wide range of frequency. The results of this work demonstrate the potential use of a PI/TiC composite film in an embedded capacitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]