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Background: Viral myocarditis (VMC) plays a significant role in heart failure, and there is currently a shortage of available targeted treatments. Macrophage phenotype and function are closely associated with the beta‐2 adrenergic receptor (β2‐AR). Method: This research employed a BALB/c mouse model of VMC generated using Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3), and the β2‐AR agonist formoterol was administered as treatment. A bioinformatic analysis was conducted to identify the β2‐AR in CCR2+MHCIIhigh monocyte‐derived macrophages (MoMFs). Echocardiography and histopathological assessments were utilized to evaluate cardiac function and inflammation. The enzymatic activity of glutaminase (GLS) was quantified. Flow cytometry was employed to characterize the phenotype and function of the macrophages. Result: Our study revealed that formoterol treatment effectively mitigated cardiac inflammation and fibrosis, improved cardiac function, and prolonged survival compared to the VMC group. Formoterol reduced the infiltration of CCR2+MHCIIhigh MoMFs in the heart, inhibited M1 phenotypic expression and activity, and reduced the percentage of Ly6Chigh monocytes in circulation. Additionally, formoterol stimulated M2 phenotypic expression and activity and increased the percentage of Ly6Clow monocytes in circulation. Additionally, the combination of NICB3344, a C‐C motif chemokine receptor 2 inhibitor, with formoterol did not exhibit synergistic effects on reducing cardiac pathological scores or enhancing cardiac function. In vitro studies involving the use of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced bone marrow‐derived macrophages, revealed the ability of formoterol to suppress the M1 phenotype and functions induced by LPS while promoting the M2 phenotype and functions. Nevertheless, the observed effects were negated by the introduction of the GLS inhibitor BPTES. Conclusion: Formoterol potentially serves as a significant metabolic regulator in the differentiation process of cardiac MoMFs, influencing this process by controlling GLS activity. Targeting β2‐AR exhibits potential as an effective approach for managing VMC. It is essential to acknowledge that these findings were derived under specific experimental conditions, with the current conclusions predominantly based on animal models. Future research is necessary to further investigate the feasibility of formoterol in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Methods Results Interpretation To determine common network alterations in focal cortical dysplasia pharmacoresistant epilepsy (FCD‐PRE) using functional connectivity analysis of resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI).This is a retrospective imaging cohort from Children's National Hospital (Washington, DC, USA) from January, 2011 to January, 2022. Patients with 3‐T MRI‐confirmed FCD‐PRE underwent rsfMRI as part of routine clinical care. Patients were included if they were age 5–22 years at the time of the scan, and had a minimum of 18 months of follow‐up. Healthy, typically‐developing controls were included from Children's National Hospital (n = 16) and matched from Human Connectome Project‐Development public dataset (n = 100).A total of 42 FCD‐PRE patients (20 M:22 F, aged 14.2 ± 4.1 years) and 116 healthy controls (56 M:60 F, aged 13.7 ± 3.3 years) with rsfMRI were included. Seed‐based functional connectivity maps were generated for each FCD, and each seed was used to generate a patient‐specific z‐scored connectivity map on 116 controls. FCD‐PRE patients had mutual altered connectivity in regions of dorsal attention, default mode, and control networks. Functional connectivity was diminished within the FCD dominant functional network, as well as in homotopic regions. Cluster specific connectivity patterns varied by pathological subtype. Higher FCD connectivity to the limbic network was associated with increased odds of Engel I outcome.This study demonstrates diminished functional connectivity patterns in FCD‐PRE, which may represent a neuromarker for the disease, independent of FCD location, involving the dorsal attention, default mode, and control functional networks. Higher connectivity to the limbic network is associated with a seizure‐free outcome. Future multicenter, prospective studies are needed to allow for much earlier detection of signatures of treatment‐resistant epilepsy. ANN NEUROL 2024 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ENN Science and Technology Development Co., Ltd. (ENN) is committed to generating fusion energy in an environmentally friendly and cost-effective manner, which requires abundant aneutronic fuel. Proton-boron (p-11B or p-B) fusion is considered an ideal choice for this purpose. Recent studies have suggested that p-B fusion, although challenging, is feasible based on new cross section data, provided that a hot ion mode and high wall reflection can be achieved to reduce electron radiation loss. The high beta and good confinement of the spherical torus (ST) make it an ideal candidate for p-B fusion. By utilizing the new spherical torus energy confinement scaling law, a reactor with a major radius R 0 = 4 m, central magnetic field B 0 = 6 T, central temperature T i 0 = 150 keV, plasma current I p = 30 MA, and hot ion mode T i / T e = 4 can yield p-B fusion with Q > 10. A roadmap for p-B fusion has been developed, with the next-generation device named EHL-2. EHL stands for ENN He-Long, which literally means "peaceful Chinese Loong." The main target parameters include R 0 ≃ 1.05 m, A ≃ 1.85 , B 0 ≃ 3 T, T i 0 ≃ 30 keV, I p ≃ 3 MA, and T i / T e ≥ 2. The existing ST device EXL-50 was simultaneously upgraded to provide experimental support for the new roadmap, involving the installation and upgrading of the central solenoid, vacuum chamber, and magnetic systems. The construction of the upgraded ST fusion device, EXL-50U, was completed at the end of 2023, and it achieved its first plasma in January 2024. The construction of EHL-2 is estimated to be completed by 2026. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the low separation efficiency of actinide nuclide (An) and fission product (FP) in the separation process of high‐level radioactive waste, as well as the large amount of secondary waste. A novel Ln(1‐x)SrxZrO(3.5‐0.5x) (0 ≤ x ≤1) multiphase ceramic waste form (Nd3+ simulating An3+), which can cure both An and Sr simultaneously, was in‐situ synthesized by sol‐gel spray pyrolysis method. The series of multiphase ceramics are composed of cubic pyrochlore phase Nd2Zr2O7 (NZO) and orthorhombic perovskite phase SrZrO3 (SZO), without any accompanying impurities. The two phases exhibit excellent compatibility, and their content can change regularly with the change of x. Nd and Sr occupy their most stable crystal lattice positions, with low transposition doping levels. The density of the composite ceramics is high, and the measured density is as high as 88 % of the theoretical density. The above experimental results confirm that the new multiphase ceramics can cure An and Sr simultaneously and separately, showing strong adaptability to waste components and high chemical stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antidepressant medications yield unsatisfactory treatment outcomes in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) with modest advantages over the placebo, partly due to the elusive mechanisms of antidepressant responses and unexplained heterogeneity in patient's response to treatment. Here we develop a novel normative modeling framework to quantify individual deviations in psychopathological dimensions that offers a promising avenue for the personalized treatment for psychiatric disorders. We built a normative model with resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) connectivity data from healthy controls of three independent cohorts. We characterized the individual deviation of MDD patients from the healthy norms, based on which we trained sparse predictive models for treatment responses of MDD patients (102 sertraline-medicated and 119 placebo-medicated). Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD-17) was assessed at both baseline and after the eight-week antidepressant treatment. We successfully predicted treatment outcomes for patients receiving sertraline (r = 0.43, p < 0.001) and placebo (r = 0.33, p < 0.001). We also showed that the normative modeling framework successfully distinguished subclinical and diagnostic variabilities among subjects. From the predictive models, we identified key connectivity signatures in resting-state EEG for antidepressant treatment, suggesting differences in neural circuit involvement between sertraline and placebo responses. Our findings and highly generalizable framework advance the neurobiological understanding in the potential pathways of antidepressant responses, enabling more targeted and effective personalized MDD treatment. Establishing Moderators and Biosignatures of Antidepressant Response for Clinical Care for Depression (EMBARC), NCT#01407094. • A framework quantifying individual deviations from normative neural connectivity • Individual deviations predict sertraline and placebo response for MDD patients. • Individual deviations can distinguish diagnostic and subclinical variability. • Sertraline and placebo responses show distinct involvement with brain gradients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a quick and affordable experimental technique, the heavy ion irradiation method may quickly learn about the correlation between the degree of amorphization and structural modification of samples with varying ion implantation. Using the heavy ion irradiation technique, the irradiation stability of multiphase ceramic waste made of Ln 2 Zr 2 O 7 /SrZrO 3 was assessed. Here, we found that multiphase ceramic waste forms still exhibit excellent radiation resistance while achieving high capacity and weak selectivity for immobilization of actinide nuclides (simulated by lanthanide elements) and fission products 90Sr (replaced by 89Sr). The analysis of grazing incidence and Raman spectroscopy provides evidence for explaining the radiation damage mechanism caused by 84Kr15+ heavy ions. Analysis of grazing incidence offers proof of the manner and extent of radiation damage brought on by 84Kr15+ ions. The impact and mechanism of crystal structure on radiation resistance in multiphase ceramics are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a surface hopping approach in which the implemented linear vibronic coupling Hamiltonian is constructed and the electronic wavefunction is propagated in the reciprocal space. The parameters of the linear vibronic coupling model, including onsite energies, phonon frequencies, and electron–phonon couplings, are calculated with density-functional theory and density-functional perturbation theory and interpolated in fine sampling points of the Brillouin zone with maximally localized Wannier functions. Using this approach, we studied the relaxation dynamics of the photo-excited hot carrier in a one-dimensional periodic carbon chain. The results show that the completeness of the number of Hilbert space k points and the number of phonon q points plays an important role in the hot carrier relaxation processes. By calculating the relaxation times of hot carriers under different reciprocal space sampling and extrapolating with the stretched–compressed exponential function, the relaxation times of hot electrons and holes in the quasi-continuous energy band are obtained. By considering the feedback effect in the hopping processes and analyzing the time-dependent phonon energy in different normal modes, we found that the long-wave longitudinal optical phonons play a major role in the relaxation dynamics of hot electrons and holes. We, therefore, provided herein an efficient and accurate approach for modeling the photophysical processes in periodic solid-state material systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for more efficient gas turbines relies heavily on the development of new environmental‐thermal barrier coatings (ETBCs). However, there is still uncertainty about which alloys and composites will be used for the next generation of turbine blades, as well as the most promising coating materials. Herein, an ETBCs development strategy is presented by integrating the coating design, synthesis, and screening using an ultrafast high temperature sintering (UHS) technique to accelerate coating improvements. The initial basis for composition selection is their thermal expansion mismatch with the substrate alloys; for which a temperature‐dependent coefficient of thermal expansion database is created. By combining tape casting method with the UHS technique a high‐throughput synthesis of single and multi‐layer coatings are realized with different compositions, layer stacking sequences, and layer thicknesses. To evaluate the coatings, thermal cycling tests from room temperature to 1300 °C are conducted. The approach enabled coatings on objects with complex geometries, multi‐layer ETBCs, and porosity tailoring by using staged UHS that runs with different temperatures and durations. The fast iteration strategy is more cost‐effective for the screening of ETBCs compared to conventional methods and greater throughput which can be further extended for rapid optimization of other materials systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computer art has recently become a vital part of the artistic process of creating digital versions of illustrations. Digital painting is an example. It has become a new phenomenon in Chinese art, transforming technique, aesthetics and culture. Thus, this study determines the impact of digital tools on the digital painting skills of students with different painting levels. The study involved 90 students from the Zhengzhou Preschool Education College in China. The study used a quasi-experimental design with a single-group pre-test/post-test design. The research findings indicated that there were improvements in painting skills for the groups with poor and medium achievements. The considered painting skills included composition, colour theory, interpretation and creativity. The resulting data validate the positive impact of digital tools on learning and creating paintings. The research described in this article is valuable for creating and implementing innovative courses in digital painting. Future studies should focus on the design and development of computer-aided painting courses and their impact on art students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Many patients with biliary atresia (BA) after the Kasai procedure (KP) progress to death or require liver transplantation to achieve long-term survival; however, most cases of death/liver transplantation (D/LT) occur in the early period after KP (usually within 1 year). This study was designed to construct a convenient nomogram for predicting early D/LT in patients with BA after KP. Methods: A BA cohort was established in May 2017, and up to May 2023, 112 patients with 1–5 years of follow-up were enrolled in the study and randomly (ratio, 3:1) divided into a training cohort for constructing a nomogram (n = 84) and a validation cohort (n = 28) for externally validating the discrimination and calibration. The training cohort was divided into two groups: the early D/LT group (patients who died or had undergone LT within 1 year after KP [n = 35]) and the control group (patients who survived through the native liver more than 1 year after KP [n = 49]). Multivariate logistic regression and stepwise regression were applied to detect variables with the best predictive ability for the construction of the nomogram. The discrimination and calibration of the nomogram were internally and externally validated. Results: The Kaplan–Meier (K-M) curve showed an actual 1-year native liver transplantation (NLS) rate of 57.1% and an estimated 2-year NLS rate of 55.2%. By multivariate regression and stepwise regression, age at KP, jaundice clearance (JC) speed 1 month after KP, early-onset PC (initial time < 36.5 days) after KP, sex, aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), and weight at KP were identified as the independent variables with the best ability to predict early D/LT and were used to construct a nomogram. The developed nomogram based on these independent variables showed relatively good discrimination and calibration according to internal and external validation. Conclusion: Most D/LTs were early D/LTs that occurred within 1 year after KP. The established nomogram based on predictors, including sex, weight at the KP, the APRI, age at the KP, JC speed 1 month after the KP, and early PC, may be useful for predicting early D/LT and may be helpful for counseling BA patients about patient prognosis after KP. This study was retrospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05909033) in June 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) is the most frequent etiology of operable pharmacoresistant epilepsy in children. There is burgeoning evidence that FCD‐related epilepsy is a disorder that involves distributed brain networks. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a tool that allows one to infer neuronal activity and to noninvasively map whole‐brain functional networks. Despite its relatively widespread availability at most epilepsy centers, the clinical application of fMRI remains mostly task‐based in epilepsy. Another approach is to map and characterize cortical functional networks of individuals using resting state fMRI (rsfMRI). The focus of this scoping review is to summarize the evidence to date of investigations of the network basis of FCD‐related epilepsy, and to highlight numerous potential future applications of rsfMRI in the exploration of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for FCD‐related epilepsy. There are numerous studies demonstrating a global disruption of cortical functional networks in FCD‐related epilepsy. The underlying pathological subtypes of FCD influence overall functional network patterns. There is evidence that cortical functional network mapping may help to predict postsurgical seizure outcomes, highlighting the translational potential of these findings. Additionally, several studies emphasize the important effect of FCD interaction with cortical networks and the expression of epilepsy and its comorbidities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) is the most common etiology of surgically‐remediable epilepsy in children. Eighty‐seven percent of patients with FCD develop epilepsy (75% is pharmacoresistant epilepsy [PRE]). Focal to bilateral tonic–clonic (FTBTC) seizures are associated with worse surgical outcomes. We hypothesized that children with FCD‐related epilepsy with FTBTC seizures are more likely to develop PRE due to lesion interaction with restricted cortical neural networks. Methods: Patients were selected retrospectively from radiology and surgical databases from Children's National Hospital. Inclusion criteria: 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)–confirmed FCD from January 2011 to January 2020; ages 0 days to 22 years at MRI; and 18 months of documented follow‐up. FCD dominant network (Yeo 7‐network parcellation) was determined. Association of FTBTC seizures with epilepsy severity, surgical outcome, and dominant network was tested. Binomial regression was used to evaluate predictors (FTBTC seizures, age at seizure onset, pathology, hemisphere, lobe) of pharmacoresistance and Engel outcome. Regression was used to evaluate predictors (age at seizure onset, pathology, lobe, percentage default mode network [DMN] overlap) of FTBTC seizures. Results: One hundred seventeen patients had a median age at seizure onset of 3.00 years (interquartile range [IQR].42–5.59 years). Eighty‐three patients had PRE (71%); 34 had pharmacosensitive epilepsy (PSE) (29%). Twenty patients (17%) had FTBTC seizures. Seventy‐three patients underwent epilepsy surgery. Multivariate regression showed that FTBTC seizures are associated with an increased risk of PRE (odds ratio [OR] 6.41, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.21–33.98, p =.02). FCD hemisphere/lobe was not associated with PRE. Percentage DMN overlap predicts FTBTC seizures. Seventy‐two percent (n = 52) overall and 53% (n = 9) of patients with FTBTC seizures achieved Engel class I outcome. Significance: In a heterogeneous population of surgical and non‐operated patients with FCD‐related epilepsy, the presence of FTBTC seizures is associated with a tremendous risk of PRE. This finding is a recognizable marker to help neurologists identify those children with FCD‐related epilepsy at high risk of PRE and can flag patients for earlier consideration of potentially curative surgery. The FCD‐dominant network also contributes to FTBTC seizure clinical expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of new Nd(1-x)SrxZrO(3.5–0.5x) (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) multiphase ceramic waste forms, which can simultaneously immobilize An and Sr (with Nd3+ simulating An3+), were synthesized in situ by a sol-spray pyrolysis method. These multiphase ceramics are composed of a cubic pyrochlore phase Nd2Zr2O7(NZO) and an orthogonal perovskite phase SrZrO3(SZO) without any impurities. The content of the two phases can change regularly with the change of x. Nd and Sr can occupy the ceramics' most stable lattice sites. The measured density of multiphase ceramics can reach more than 88% of the theoretical density. At the same time, the leaching rates of target Nd, Sr and Zr elements reached ~ 10−5 g·m−2·d−1, ~ 10−3 g·m−2·d−1, and ~ 10−7 g·m−2·d−1 at 90 ℃ and deionized water for 72 days, respectively, which shows that the multiphase ceramics had strong leaching resistance. The experimental results confirm that the new multiphase ceramics can immobilize An and Sr simultaneously and separately, and they have high chemical stability and strong adaptability to waste components. The multiphase ceramics is expected to be an ideal candidate waste form for An and Sr. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy deposition of electron cyclotron waves in a dipole-confined plasma is investigated for the RT-1 device, specifically including the effects of high-energy electrons and the electron Bernstein wave (EBW) excitation and absorption. Simulations of wave trajectories with various injection locations and angles indicate that the energy deposition of ordinary mode (O-mode) and extraordinary modes (X-mode) is small in low-temperature plasmas. The high-energy electrons in the plasma increase the energy deposition of the X-mode but have little effect on the O-mode. Meanwhile, the energy deposition of the slow X-EBW conversion and O-X-EBW conversion to excite EBW is also discussed. The results show that the converted EBW in an over-dense plasma is easily obtained, but it may not always have efficient energy deposition. Finally, the possible mechanism for the plasma production and heating by using electron cyclotron waves is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The wasp Coeloides qinglingensis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) parasitizes insects that damage pine trees, so it is a potential biocontrol agent. Here, we used scanning electron microscopy to examine the fine morphology of the antennae of the adults, as well as the type, shape, and distribution of antennal sensilla. We detected sexual dimorphism in antennal flagellar length, and observed nine morphological types of antennal sensilla. Importantly, dome-shaped sensilla and sensilla auricillica are reported for the first time for C. qinlingensis in this study. Their shape differs from that of sensilla described in other parasitic wasp species. We discuss the potential functions of the sensilla of C. qinlingensis through comparisons with those of sensilla of other parasitic wasps, including braconid wasps that parasitize concealed insect hosts. This information provides a solid foundation for further studies on the chemical communication and behavior of C. qinlingensis. Coeloides qinlingensis Dang et Yang, 1989 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a biocontrol agent of several scolytid pine pests in Southwest China. We examined the fine morphology of the antennae of adult C. qinlingensis, as well as the type, shape, and distribution of antennal sensilla, via scanning electron microscopy. The antennae of female and male C. qinlingensis are filiform and comprise a scape, pedicel, and 31–36 flagellomeres. We detected sexual dimorphism in antennal flagellar length but not in the length of other subsegments. A total of nine morphological types of antennal sensilla varying in cuticular pore structure are present in both sexes, including nonporous types (sensilla trichodea, sensilla chaetica (2 subtypes), and sensilla coeloconica); apical pore types (sensilla basiconica and sensilla auricillica); and multiporous types (dome-shaped sensilla and sensilla placodea (2 subtypes)). Dome-shaped sensilla and sensilla auricillica are reported for the first time for C. qinlingensis, and their shape differs from that of sensilla in other parasitic wasps. The functional morphology of the sensilla of C. qinlingensis was compared with that of the sensilla of other parasitic wasps, including those that parasitize concealed insects. This information provides a foundation for further research on the chemical communication and behavior of C. qinlingensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary administration of a copper chelator, cuprizone (CPZ), has long been reported to induce intense and reproducible demyelination of several brain structures such as the corpus callosum. Despite the widespread use of CPZ as an animal model for demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), the mechanism by which it induces demyelination and then allows robust remyelination is still unclear. An intensive mapping of the cell dynamics of oligodendrocyte (OL) lineage during the de- and remyelination course would be particularly important for a deeper understanding of this model. Here, using a panel of OL lineage cell markers as in situ hybridization (ISH) probes, including Pdgfra, Plp, Mbp, Mog, Enpp6 , combined with immunofluorescence staining of CC1, SOX10, we provide a detailed dynamic profile of OL lineage cells during the entire course of the model from 1, 2, 3.5 days, 1, 2, 3, 4,5 weeks of CPZ treatment, as well as after 1, 2, 3, 4 weeks of recovery from CPZ treatment. The result showed an unexpected early death of mature OLs and response of OL progenitor cells (OPCs) in vivo upon CPZ challenge, and a prolonged upregulation of myelin-forming OLs compared to the intact control even 4 weeks after CPZ withdrawal. These data may serve as a basic reference system for future studies of the effects of any intervention on de- and remyelination using the CPZ model, and imply the need to optimize the timing windows for the introduction of pro-remyelination therapies in demyelinating diseases such as MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variants in NAA15 are closely related to neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). In this study, we investigated the spectrum and clinical features of NAA15 variants in a Chinese NDD cohort of 769 children. Four novel NAA15 pathogenic variants were detected by whole-exome sequencing, including three de novo variants and one maternal variant. The in vitro minigene splicing assay confirmed one noncanonical splicing variant (c.1410+5G>C), which resulted in abnormal mRNA splicing. All affected children presented mild developmental delay, and catch-up trajectories were noted in three patients based on their developmental scores at different ages. Meanwhile, the literature review also showed that half of the reported patients with NAA15 variants presented mild/moderate developmental delay or intellectual disability, and possible catch-up sign was indicated for three affected patients. Taken together, our study expanded the spectrum of NAA15 variants in NDD patients. The affected patients presented mild developmental delay, and possible catch-up developmental trajectories were suggested. Studying the natural neurodevelopmental trajectories of NDD patients with pathogenic variants and their benefits from physical rehabilitations are needed in the future for precise genetic counseling and clinical management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying rice water requirements (ET c) and area is crucial for developing irrigation schedules and adjusting crop structures. The cold rice cultivation region is China's main high-quality rice production base and has the lowest temperature, highest latitude, and greatest sensitivity to climate. However, little research has focused on its past rice distributions and ET c , and its future variations are not yet clear. Past ET c was calculated by the Penman–Monteith and crop-corrected coefficient method, and past rice distribution patterns were analyzed based on the annual paddy rice planting area datasets. Future reference crop evapotranspiration (ET 0) was projected by the statistical downscaling model (SDSM) based on the CMIP6 ensemble of daily predictor variables. The food and agriculture projections to 2050 datasets were used to project future rice areas, and the patch-generating land use simulation (PLUS) model simulated rice distribution. Finally, we projected future rice water supply demand. The results showed that ET c showed a decreasing trend, and the total rice area and production increased by 4.52 and 5.49 times from 1990 to 2020. Both in the past and future, rice was densely distributed in and expanded into the Sanjiang and Songnen Plains, and the spatial characteristic of ET c was as follows: the west was larger than the east, the north was larger than the south, and the central was in between. In the four future periods, the total ET c demonstrated an upward trend, increasing by 7.44–21.04, 15.64–34.74, 24.74–45.84, and 16.14–41.14 mm under the SSP126, SSP245, SSP370, and SSP585 scenarios, respectively, compared to the historical period. And it is generally ranked as SSP370 > SSP245 > SSP126. Finally, we projected future rice water supply meet the demand caused by rice area expansion. • Rice area and production increased by 4.52, and 5.49 times in past, respectively. • Future ETo and precipitation were predicted by SDSM model based on CMIP6 data. • ETc was estimated by the crop corrected-coefficient method. • ETc showed a decreasing trend in past, and an increasing trend in future scenario. • Future agricultural irrigation will meet the demand caused by rice area expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superhydrophobic coatings have great potential for anti-icing compared with conventional techniques (e.g., thermal melting, chemical release and mechanical vibration), but suffer from short water freezing time, environment-unfriendliness, low stability, etc. Here, we report the preparation of waterborne, non-fluorinated and durable anti-icing superhydrophobic coatings based on diatomaceous earth (DE). The coatings are prepared by sequentially spray-coating a waterborne polyurethane aqueous solution and a hexadecyl polysiloxane modified DE aqueous suspension onto various substrates with waterborne polyurethane as the adhesive layer. The coatings have excellent superhydrophobicity (contact angle = 168.1 ± 1.6°, sliding angle = 4.9 ± 0.7°). Moreover, the coatings show excellent mechanical, chemical and environmental stability. Furthermore, the coatings on the Mg alloy plate significantly increase the water freezing time to 361 s and reduce the ice adhesion strength to 73.9 kPa at −15 °C due to the air cushion trapped in the micro-/nanostructure with low surface energy. The air cushion prevents heat transfer from the substrates to water in the icing process, minimizes the mechanical anchoring effect of ice on the coating, and generates a loose ice structure. The coatings are very promising for practical anti-icing due to the excellent anti-icing performance, high stability and the environmentally friendly preparation method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Currently, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is raging around the world. However, the transmission of its pathogen, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is not fully clear. It is still controversial whether the ocular transmission of SARS-CoV-2 exists. This review aimed to summarize the evidence of SARS-CoV-2 ocular transmission. Methods: Online articles were searched till October 23, 2020 in Pubmed, Embase, and websites of World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19, American Academy of Ophthalmology, and American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery under the search strategy of (((("COVID-19"[Mesh]) OR ("SARS-CoV-2"[Mesh])) OR (2019 novel coronavirus)) OR (2019-nCoV)) AND (((("Conjunctivitis"[Mesh]) OR (Ocular Surface)) OR ("Eye"[Mesh])) OR ("Ophthalmology"[Mesh])). The language was not restricted. After screening, 1445 records were excluded and 168 references original articles were finally included. Results: Cells of ocular surface express both the receptor of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2), offering molecular bases for the ocular susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2. Accumulated COVID-19 patients presented conjunctivitis as the initial or the only symptom. Whether COVID-19 patients had ocular symptoms or not, SARS-CoV-2 was detectable on the ocular surface, and the isolated virus was infectious, proving that the ocular surface can not only be a reservoir but also a source of contagion. SARS-CoV-2 may reach the ocular surface by hand-eye contact and aerosols. Once SARS-CoV-2 reaches the ocular surface, it may transfer to other systems through the nasolacrimal system or hematogenous metastasis. Conclusion: The ocular surface can serve as a reservoir and source of contagion for SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted to the ocular surface through hand-eye contact and aerosols, and then transfer to other systems through nasolacrimal route and hematogenous metastasis. The possibility of ocular transmission of SARS-CoV-2 cannot be ignored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 (VKORC1) plays an important role in bone development and bone metabolism by influencing the vitamin K cycle. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between VKORC1 gene polymorphisms and bone mineral density and the risk of osteoporosis. We determined VKORC1 gene polymorphisms (rs9923231 and rs9934488) by using polymerase chain reaction-restriction and Sanger sequencing method in 606 postmenopausal women including 288 osteoporosis patients and 318 healthy controls. No significant differences were observed in the rs9934488 polymorphisms between the osteoporosis group and controls. Subgroup analyses also indicated no positive result. VKORC1 rs9923231 polymorphism increased the risk of osteoporosis in the homozygous and allelic models. A significant correlation was observed in a subgroup of the elderly (age ≥55 years). Additionally, the genotypes of the rs9923231 polymorphism were significantly associated with low body mass index, and T-score, but not with age, serum calcium, or phosphorus. In conclusion, VKORC1 rs9923231 polymorphism is a genetic contributor to osteoporosis risk and it should be confirmed in large well-designed studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZnGeP2 crystal has several absorption peaks in 1 µm to 2. 5 µm, which are mainly caused by point defect VP, GeZn and VZn. These optical absorption seriously affect the applied performance in optical parametric oscillator. Therefore, theoretical calculation of electron irradiation based on the electron-nucleus scattering theory were executed to understand the effective experiment condition. The ZnGeP2 single crystal was grown by Bridgman method, then the infrared absorption spectrum, Hall coefficient and carrier concentration of as grown ZnGeP2, annealed ZnGeP2 and irradiated ZnGeP2 were tested by infrared spectrometer and physical performance mearsurement system. The results show that annealed treatment can effectively reduce the optical absorption of ZnGeP2 crystal near 1. 2 µm and 1. 4 µm, while electron irradiation treatment is beneficial to reduce the optical absorption of ZnGeP2 crystal near 2. 0 µm, which is consistent with the calculated results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are a group of disorders with high genetic and phenotypic heterogeneities. The 16p11.2 microdeletion has been implicated as an important genetic risk factor for NDDs. Methods: Multiple genetic tests were used to detect the 16p11.2 microdeletion from 918 Chinese children with NDDs. Targeted sequencing of genes in the 16p11.2 interval was performed in all carriers of the 16p11.2 microdeletion, and whole‐genome expression profiling analysis was performed for the patient carriers and normal carriers in their intra‐family. Results: Three patients carrying the 16p11.2 microdeletion were screened out, indicating a frequency of 0.33% for the 16p11.2 microdeletion in this cohort. We reviewed the neurodevelopmental trajectories of the 16p11.2 microdeletion carriers from childhood to puberty and confirmed that this microdeletion was associated with abnormal neurodevelopment, with varied neurodevelopmental phenotypes. A differential PRRT2 genotype (rs10204, T>C) was identified between patients and normal carriers of the 16p11.2 microdeletion. Moreover, the determination of differential whole‐genome expression profiling demonstrated the destruction of the top‐ranked network in neurogenesis and accounted for observation of abnormal neurodevelopmental phenotypes in the 16p11.2 microdeletion carriers. Conclusions: We have provided the frequency of the 16p11.2 microdeletion in a Chinese pediatric NDD cohort with a variable NDD phenotype from childhood to puberty, which is useful for Chinese geneticists/pediatricians to conduct the 16p11.2 microdeletion testing in children with NDDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effects of the pyrochlore content on the phase, structure, and properties of uranium-rich glass ceramics were studied by modifying the mass ratio of the uranium pyrochlore in the glass ceramics. The results indicate that U has a high occupancy rate of approximately 0.7 f.u. at the A position of pyrochlore, and the crystal pyrochlore phase in the glass matrix can increase or decrease according to the U amount in the waste. Specifically, at a high occupancy rate and crystallization amount, the U loads reach 20 wt% in the sample, which exceeds the reported 16 wt% maximal U loads of pyrochlore-based glass ceramics. Furthermore, all the samples have excellent mechanical properties and chemical stabilities. The bulk density of each sample is more than 90% the theoretical density, which is 10–20% higher than those of the glass ceramics prepared by pressure sintering. Moreover, the Vickers hardness values of all samples exceed 6 GPa, and the U leaching rate after 21 days is only 6.7 × 10−5 g m−2 d−1, which is an order of magnitude lower than those of brannerite glass ceramics under equal leaching conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been reported that heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is upregulated during hepatocyte proliferation. Herein, we used a half-size liver transplantation (HSLT) model to study the impact of HO-1 on liver grafts proliferation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that HO-1 has been characterized as a regulator of liver graft regeneration. Saline and tin protoporphyrin (SnPP, a HO-1 competitive inhibitor) were separately administered in vehicle and SnPP group before rats HSLT. Plasma samples were collected at 0, 1, 3, and 5 days after HSLT for liver function analysis. Liver tissues were obtained at 0, 1, 3, and 5 days after HSLT for analyses of histologic, apoptosis, and proliferation index by immunohistochemical, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and Western blotting. HO-1 level was upregulated by the treatment of HSLT along with accelerated liver proliferation, which was reversed by SnPP. The reduced regeneration by SnPP lead to higher Suzuki's scores, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase levels. The interleukin-6 levels, p-Stat3/t-Stat3, c-myc, and c-jun were decreased in the SnPP group than the vehicle group. Our findings suggest that inhibition of HO-1 mitigates liver regeneration in part by downregulation of an interleukin-6/Stat3 axis. Targeted specific pharmacologic induction of HO-1 may be applicable in clinical practice. • We used a half-size liver transplantation model in vivo to study liver graft proliferation. • We studied the role of HO-1 in recovering liver regeneration of liver induced-size transplantation model. • This is the first time that HO-1 has been characterized as a regulator of liver graft regeneration ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photodetachment of platinum carbonyl anions Pt(CO)n- (n = 1, 3) had been previously investigated using traditional photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) [G. S. Icking-Konert, H. Handschuh, G. Ganteför, and W. Eberhardt, Phys. Rev. Lett. 76, 1047 (1996); B. Chatterjee, F. A. Akin, C. C. Jarrold, and K. Raghavachari, J. Chem. Phys. 119, 10591 (2003)]. Here, we studied Pt(CO)n- (n = 1-3) using photoelectron velocity-map imaging method and extensive theoretical calculations. Vibrationally resolved spectra from photoelectron imaging experiments allow determination of the electron affinities of Pt(CO)n, which are 1.196 ± 0.034, 0.930 ± 0.042, and 1.253 ± 0.032 eV for n = 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Two vibrational progressions are resolved for the ground states of Pt(CO) and Pt(CO)3, while only one is resolved for that of Pt(CO)2. The frequencies are determined to be 2089 ± 91 and 581 ± 21 cm-1 for Pt(CO), 2173 ± 115 cm-1 for Pt(CO)2 and 2119 ± 88 and 444 ± 18 cm-1 for Pt(CO)3. Results from density functional theory and ab initio calculations agreed well with the experimental observations. The spectra were well reproduced by Franck-Condon fitting on the basis of the optimized geometries and the theoretical frequencies. The well-resolved PES also provided valuable benchmarks for various density functionals (B3LYP, BP86, and PW91PW91) for the platinum carbonyls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A set of silver-doped lead Zintl anions, Ag@Pbn- (n = 5-12), have been studied using photoelectron velocity-map imaging spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculation. The structures of Ag@Pbn- (n = 7-9, 11) built upon a square pyramid base, hitherto not considered, were assigned. Overall agreement between the experimental and calculated photoelectron spectra as well as vertical detachment energies allows for structural evolution to be established. The silver atom prefers to stay outside in the n ≤ 6 clusters and intends to be encapsulated by the lead atoms in n > 6. A stable endohedral cage with bicapped square antiprism structure is formed at n = 10, the endohedral structure of which persists for the larger clusters. Especially, these Ag@Pbn- anions have been found to undergo a transition between square pyramid and pentagonal pyramid molecular structures at n = 11. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural and electronic properties of silver hydride cluster anions (AgnH-; n = 1-3) have been explored by combining the negative ion photoelectron imaging spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. The photoelectron spectrum of AgH- exhibits transitions from AgH- 2Σ+ to AgH 1Σ+ and AgH 3Σ+, with the electron affinity (EA) 0.57(3) eV. For Ag2H-, the only observed transition is from Ag2H- (C∞v) 1Σ+ to Ag2H (C2v) 2A′ and the electron affinity is 2.56(5) eV. Two obvious electron bands are observed in photoelectron imaging of Ag3H-, which are assigned to the transitions from Ag3H- (C2v-T, which means C2v geometry with top site hydrogen) 2B2 to Ag3H (C2v-T) 1A1 and Ag3H (C2v-T) 3B2. The electron affinity is determined to be 1.61(9) eV. The Ag-H stretching modes in the ground states of AgH and Ag2H are experimentally resolved and their frequencies are measured to be 1710(80) and 1650(100) cm-1, respectively. Aside from the above EAs and the vibrational frequencies, the vertical detachment energies to all ground states and some excited states of AgnH (n = 1-3) are also obtained. Theoretical calculations reproduce the experimental energies quite well, and the results are used to assign the geometries and electronic states for all related species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly reactive fission product cesium may volatilize at high temperatures. PbO–B 2 O 3 –ZnO glass with low melting temperature and excellent chemical durability can be used as a potential matrix for immobilizing Cs. In this work, five PbO–B 2 O 3 –ZnO glasses with different contents of Pb were synthesized via a melt-quenching process. These specimens were characterized with XRD, Raman, DTA and viscosity measurements. The results showed that the melting temperature decreases, viscosity decreases and structural polymerization increases with increasing lead content. Cs-doped 35PbO–60B 2 O 3 –5ZnO glasses were synthesized at low temperatures. XRD results revealed the amorphous nature of the glass solidified bodies. EDS and ICP-MS studies confirmed that Cs is retained in the glass. Clear vitrified waste products containing up to 13.6 wt% Cs were obtained. The chemical durability of the samples was evaluated via PCT-A and MCC-1 method. For the glass solidified body comprising a Cs/matrix ratio of 0.136, the leaching rate of Cs was 1.6 × 10−1 g m−2 d−1 from the PCT test, which indicates that it has a good chemical stability. 35PbO–60B 2 O 3 –5ZnO glass was expected to be a suitable matrix for Cs immobilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: A single-stage pull-through (SSPT) is the most commonly performed procedure for Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) and has been shown to be better than multi-stage procedures. However, performing a SSPT in the neonatal period or early in infancy is a risk factor for an inaccurate diagnosis, post-operative enterocolitis, and a protracted post-operative recovery. The present study was primarily designed to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of home rectal irrigation in the neonatal period and early in infancy, followed by a delayed and planned SSPT in a prospective cohort with HSCR.Methods: Between January 2014 and December 2016, a total of 147 neonates diagnosed with HSCR were enrolled in the study. Six patients were excluded as a result of ganglion cells found in second rectal biopsies after the neonatal period. One hundred twenty-two patients successfully underwent 2-4 months of home rectal irrigation during the neonatal period, followed by a SSPT procedure after the neonatal period (group A, n = 122). Nineteen patients were not candidates for home rectal irrigation, and thus, colostomies were performed during the neonatal period followed by multi-stage procedures after the neonatal period (group B, n = 19). One hundred twenty-two healthy children, age- and gender-matched to group A were enrolled as the healthy control group for assessment of nutrition status (group C, n = 122). The birth weight, gender ratio, aganglionic segment, age, and Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis (HAEC) score at the time of HSCR diagnosis were measured to evaluate the feasibility of home rectal irrigation in neonates and early in infancy. The nutritional indices, including weight, body length, serum albumin, serum prealbumin, serum retinol-binding protein, and incidence of HAEC after 2-4 successful home rectal irrigation, were used to assess the efficacy of home rectal irrigation. Anastomotic strictures or leakage, perianal excoriation, frequency of defecation, and morbidity of post-operative HAEC were recorded to evaluate the beneficial effects to pull through (PT), which were facilitated by home rectal irrigation.Results: Higher HAEC scores and older age at the time of diagnosis of HSCR were associated with group B, compared to group A (4.34 ± 1.25 vs. 11.0 ± 2.56 [t = 18.20, p < 0.05] and 2.8 ± 1.46 days vs. 12.1 ± 5.3 days [t = 16.10, p < 0.05], respectively). The ratio of rectosigmoid HSCR to non-rectosigmoid HSCR was higher in group A than group B (104/18 vs. 4/15 [χ2 = 34.29, p < 0.05]). There were no differences in birth weight, weight at the time of diagnosis of HSCR, and gender ratio between groups A and B. There were no differences in birth weight, birth length, post-home rectal irrigation age, post-home rectal irrigation weight, post-home rectal irrigation length, and post-home rectal irrigation serum albumin between groups A and C (3.47 ± 0.42 kg vs. 3.48 ± 0.40 kg [t = 0.10, p > 0.05], 50.02 ± 0.49 cm vs. 50.05 ± 0.46 cm [t = 0.61, p > 0.05], 98.59 ± 13.34 days vs. 97.83 ± 13.58 days [t = 0.44, p > 0.05], 6.77 ± 0.66 kg vs. 6.97 ± 0.87 kg [t = 1.95, p > 0.05], 61.55 ± 2.14 cm vs. 61.70 ± 2.07 cm [t = 0.59, p > 0.05], and 41.78 ± 2.42 g/L vs. 41.85 ± 2.37 g/L [t = 0.22, p > 0.05], respectively). The rate of HAEC in the period of home rectal irrigation in group A was low; however, the post-home rectal irrigation serum prealbumin level and retinol-binding protein were significantly lower in group A than group C (0.15 ± 0.04 g/L vs. 0.17 ± 0.05 g/L [t = 3.50, p < 0.05] and 22.51 ± 7.53 g/L vs. 30.57 ± 9.26 g/L [t = 7.46, p < 0.05], respectively). There were no anastomotic strictures or leakage after definitive PT performed in group A. The frequency of defecation ranged from 2-6 times per day, 10 patients had perianal excoriation 3 months after PT, and 11 patients had post-operative HAEC during 6 months of follow-up after PT.Conclusion: Home rectal irrigation in neonates and early in infancy, followed by a delayed and planned SSPT is feasible and effective in patients with HSCR, and could be beneficial to definitive PT. However, for patients with an extended aganglionic segment, older age, or high HAEC score at the time of diagnosis of HSCR, rectal irrigation maybe not suitable.Trial Registration: This was a prospective comparative study designed to evaluate the effects of home rectal irrigation for facilitating and enhancing recovery after PT, and was registered at Clinical Trials.gov as NCT02776176. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, pyrochlore glass-ceramics (GCs)for uranium immobilization were synthesized by a pretreatment and melting-heat treatment method. The effects of different uranium contents on the phase composition, microstructure, uranium valence and chemical durability of the glass-ceramics were systematically investigated. With increasing uranium content, pyrochlore was always the dominant phase internally crystallized in the glass. CaAl 2 Si 2 O 8 , UTi 2 O 6 and U 3 O 8 were gradually observed as minor phases in the glass-ceramics. The growth of pyrochlore enriched with uranium at different uranium contents and the overall distribution of uranium in the glass-ceramics were revealed by SEM. The uranium valence states in the samples were confirmed by XPS to be a mixture of tetravalent and hexavalent states. In addition, the GC3 sample with a high uranium waste content of 16.96 wt% exhibited a low uranium leaching rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developmental research has found that children's creative thinking ability tends to decline during middle childhood. However, this decline has not been consistently demonstrated, and the underlying neural and behavioral factors that affect fluctuations in children's creative thinking ability remain uncharacterized. Using a longitudinal cohort-sequential experimental design, we investigated the neurobehavioral basis of creative thinking ability during middle childhood in a sample of 48 children (n = 21 starting 3rd grade, n = 27 starting 4th grade) assessed longitudinally at three time-points across one year. For the first time, we used data-driven methods to reveal distinct trajectories in creative thinking ability during middle childhood. We found that although some children show a classic decline in creative ability, others exhibit a significant increase in creativity over time. These trajectories were not associated with differences in intelligence, age, or sex, but rather other developmentally-relevant constructs, including heightened externalizing behavior (i.e., rule-breaking and aggression). Using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) in a smaller cohort (n = 26), we examined longitudinal changes in bilateral frontal neural connectivity and found that increased right lateral frontal segregation or functional specialization tracked developmental improvements in creative thinking ability. Taken together, the findings reveal distinct profiles of change in creative thinking ability during middle childhood and identify behavioral and neural mechanisms potentially underlying changes in children's ability to think creatively. • Studied neurobehavioral basis of creativity thinking during middle childhood. • Using data-driven methods, revealed three trajectories of creativity development. • Functional segregation of right frontal regions tracked creativity development. • Heightened (normative) externalizing behavior was associated with creativity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hyperuricemia is recently reported to be associated with hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and vascular damage. (-)-Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is a major polyphenol component of green tea involving in potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. The study assessed the effect of EGCG on uric acid (UA)-induced vascular damage. Materials and Methods: The cell viability and angiogenic formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) treated with UA and EGCG were determined by methylthiazol tetrazolium and tube formation assays, respectively. The expression level of inflammatory cytokine and vascular factor, including nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), cycloxygenase-2, tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), induced nitric oxide synthetase (iNOS), endothelin-1 (ET-1), and von Willebrand factor, were examined by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The expression of P65 in HUVECs treated with UA in different time points or different concentrations was detected by Western blotting. Results: EGCG suppressed UA-inducing HUVEC cells death. UA treatment of HUVEC significantly increases the expression of P65. EGCG significantly inhibited the UA-induced mRNA expression of NF-κB, MCP-1, ICAM-1, TNF-α, iNOS, and ET-1 in HUVECs. Functional analysis of angiogenic inhibition showed that pretreatment with EGCG improved the vascular tube formation. Conclusion: Our results suggested that UA-induced inflammatory cytokine production and impaired endothelial cell function in HUVECs were attenuated by EGCG. These data indicated that EGCG has a therapeutic potential for UA-mediated endothelial damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Giant panda MC3R cDNA was cloned and phylogenetic analyses were performed. • Giant panda MC3R pharmacology was studied using five agonists. • Giant panda MC3R activated Gs/cAMP and ERK1/2. The melanocortin-3 receptor (MC3R) is a member of the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily that plays a critical role in controlling energy balance and metabolism. Although pharmacological characterization of MC3R has been reported previously in several other species, there is no report on the MC3R from giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca). This ancient species is known as a 'living fossil' and is among the most endangered animals in the world. Giant panda survive on a specialized diet of bamboo despite possessing a typical carnivorous digestive system. We report herein the molecular cloning and pharmacological characterization of amMC3R. Homology and phylogenetic analysis showed that amMC3R was highly homologous (>85%) to several other mammalian MC3Rs. Using human MC3R (hMC3R) as a control, the binding of five agonists, [Nle4, D-Phe7]-α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (NDP-MSH), α-, β-, γ-, and D-Trp8-γ-MSH, was investigated, as well as Gs-cAMP and pERK1/2 signaling. The results showed that amMC3R bound NDP- and D-Trp8-γ-MSH with the highest affinity, followed by α-, β-, and γ-MSH, with the same rank order as hMC3R. When stimulated with agonists, amMC3R displayed increased intracellular cAMP and activation of pERK1/2. These data suggest that the cloned amMC3R was a functional receptor. The availability of amMC3R and knowledge of its pharmacological functions will assist further investigation of its role in controlling energy balance and metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Given the dynamic nature of the human brain, there has been an increasing interest in investigating short-term temporal changes in functional connectivity, also known as dynamic functional connectivity (dFC), i.e., the time-varying inter-regional statistical dependence of blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signal within the constraints of a single scan. Numerous methodologies have been proposed to characterize dFC during rest and task, but few studies have compared them in terms of their efficacy to capture behavioral and clinically relevant dynamics. This is mostly due to lack of a well-defined ground truth, especially for rest scans. In this study, with a multitask dataset (rest, memory, video, and math) serving as ground truth, we investigated the efficacy of several dFC estimation techniques at capturing cognitively relevant dFC modulation induced by external tasks. We evaluated two framewise methods (dFC estimates for a single time point): dynamic conditional correlation (DCC) and jackknife correlation (JC); and five window-based methods: sliding window correlation (SWC), sliding window correlation with L1-regularization (SWC_L1), a combination of DCC and SWC called moving average DCC (DCC_MA), multiplication of temporal derivatives (MTD), and a variant of jackknife correlation called delete-d jackknife correlation (dJC). The efficacy is defined as each dFC metric's ability to successfully subdivide multitask scans into cognitively homogenous segments (even if those segments are not temporally continuous). We found that all window-based dFC methods performed well for commonly used window lengths (WL ≥ 30sec), with sliding window methods (SWC , SWC_L1) as well as the hybrid DCC_MA approach performing slightly better. For shorter window lengths (WL ≤ 15sec), DCC_MA and dJC produced the best results. Neither framewise method (i.e., DCC and JC) led to dFC estimates with high accuracy. Highlights • Efficacy of 7 dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) metrics is evaluated. • Moving average dynamic conditional correlation shows best overall efficacy. • All window-based dFC metrics show high efficacy with window lengths ≥ 30sec. • Framewise (single time point) dFC metrics show low efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Locally applied radiation to the tumor is reported to stimulate systemic immune response. During radiotherapy to the abdominal cancer, spleen often receives certain dose, though as an important immune organ, little is known about the impact of splenic irradiation (SI) on systemic immune and local tumor control. Through a mice model, we found that the combination of SI with tumor irradiation (TI) helped in local control. The analysis of the tumor infiltrating leucocytes demonstrated that SI plus TI brought more T cell aggregation in the tumor microenvironment (TME), which helped in tumor control. Increased T cell infiltration may be partly due to higher expression of T cell chemokine in the TME and more expression of CXCR3 on the T cells in the spleen after SI. SI produced more IL-1β in the spleen, IL-1β stimulated the expression of CXCR3 on the T cells, and enhanced their migration ability. Taken together, radiation to the spleen combined with TI helped in local control through promoting T cell infiltration, and may be a considerable means to enhance the immunomodulatory of radiotherapy. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Splenic irradiation helps in tumor control when combined with radiotherapy to the tumor. • T cells aggregation in the tumor microenvironment are observed after radiation to the tumor lesion and spleen. • CD3+ T cells from irradiated spleen have higher homing ability and higher expression of CXCR3. • Splenic irradiation upregulates the expression of IL-1β in the spleen, IL-1β is a positive regulator of CXCR3 expression on the T cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermal insulating performance of plasma-sprayed thermal barrier coatings (PS-TBCs) depends dominantly on inter-splat pores, which would be inevitably healed during high temperature exposure. The sintering kinetics of TBCs appears to be highly stage-sensitive. However, the ultrafast sintering kinetics during the initial sintering stage is not yet well understood. In this study, the sintering behavior of PS-TBCs was investigated in a scale-progressive (from nano- to micro-scale) way. Moreover, a novel healing mechanism suitable for lamellar TBCs was proposed based on a combined-effect of material and pore structure. Regarding the changing behavior of material, nano-scale roughening can be found at the as-deposited smooth pore surface after thermal exposure. Regarding the 2D featured inter-splat pores, the roughening behavior facilitates multiple contacts between the counter-surfaces of inter-splat pores. As a result, micro-scale bridge-connection can be observed at the healed parts. This multiple contacts mechanism caused by scale-progressive healing behavior significantly accelerated the matter transfer, resulting in ultrafast sintering kinetics at the initial sintering stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Song, J.; Xie, H., and Feng, Y., 2018. Correlation analysis method for ocean monitoring big data in a cloud environment. In: Ashraf, M.A. and Chowdhury, A.J.K. (eds.), Coastal Ecosystem Responses to Human and Climatic Changes throughout Asia. The current correlation analysis method for ocean monitoring big data is time consuming, and stability is poor. A new method is proposed to overcome these problems. The ocean monitoring big data were divided into eight categories and analyzed individually, and then ocean monitoring data model, data model, ocean coast big data model, and ocean monitoring data sets were analyzed and calculated according to the spatial correlation function to determine the ocean monitoring big data spatial correlation coefficient and collect spatial correlation of ocean monitoring big data characteristic elements. Experimental results showed that the proposed method improved the speed and stability of the correlation analysis of ocean monitoring big data, and advanced the classification accuracy of ocean monitoring data by about 30%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper assesses the potential role of investments in irrigation in Sub-Saharan Africa in improving food security and self-sufficiency in the region. Focusing on the region’s drylands, the study identifies a potential for expanded irrigated area of 6-14 million hectares (ha), depending on technology costs and other factors. Linkage of these results with a global agricultural trade model shows that accelerated irrigation investment can effectively reduce growing food import dependency from 54% under a business-as-usual scenario to a much smaller 17-40%; and can also reduce the population at risk of hunger and child under-nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existence of kinetic ballooning mode (KBM) high order (non-ground) eigenstates for tokamak plasmas with a steep gradient is demonstrated via gyrokinetic electromagnetic eigenvalue solutions, which reveals that eigenmode parity transition is an intrinsic property of electromagnetic plasmas. The eigenstates with quantum number l = 0 for ground state and l = 1, 2, 3…for non-ground states are found to coexist and the most unstable one can be the high order states (l ≠ 0). The conventional KBM is the l = 0 state. It is shown that the l = 1 KBM has the same mode structure parity as the micro-tearing mode (MTM). In contrast to the MTM, the l = 1 KBM can be driven by the pressure gradient even without collisions and the electron temperature gradient. The relevance between various eigenstates of the KBM under a steep gradient and edge plasma physics is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Solid‐state electrolytes are a promising candidate for the next‐generation lithium‐ion battery, as they have the advantages of eliminating the leakage hazard of liquid solvent and elevating stability. However, inherent limitations such as the low ionic conductivity of solid polymer electrolytes and the high brittleness of inorganic ceramic electrolytes severally impede their practical application. Here, an inexpensive, facile, and scalable strategy to fabricate a hybrid Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO) and poly(ethylene oxide)‐based electrolyte by exploiting bacterial cellulose as a template is reported. The well‐organized LLZO network significantly enhances the ionic conductivity by extending long transport pathways for Li ions, exhibiting an elevated conductivity of 1.12 × 10−4 S cm−1. In addition, the hybrid electrolyte presents a structural flexibility, with minor impedance increase after bending. The facile and applicable approach establishes new principles for the strategy of designing scalable and flexible hybrid polymer electrolytes that can be utilized for high‐energy‐density batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transcription factor Forkhead box protein M1 (FOXM1) plays critical roles in cancer development and progression, including human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the regulatory role and underlying mechanisms of FOXM1 is still limited. Here, we found that the high level expression of FOXM1 and CCNB1 is closely associated with poor prognosis in HCC patients. And FOXM1 and CCNB1 were overexpressed concomitantly in liver tumor tissues. Knockdown of FOXM1 significantly inhibited the expression levels of CCNB1 in HCC cell lines at both the mRNA and protein levels. Mechanistic studies revealed that FOXM1 binds directly to the promoter region of CCNB1 and regulates the expression levels of the CCNB1 gene in the transcriptional level. Furthermore, the loss of functional and rescue experiments showed that CCNB1 is essential for FOXM1-driven proliferation in HCC cells. In the present study, our results partially explained the dysregulated expression of FOXM1 play an important role in proliferation of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells via transcriptional activation of CCNB1 expression. And it also highlights a FOXM1/CCNB1 axis could be a potential target for the treatment of HCCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon carbide (SiC)/carbon nanocomposites exhibit outstanding physical properties as well as chemical stability and can be utilized in a variety of potential applications. To synthesize SiC/C nanocomposites requires high specific surface area, moderate agglomeration, and good interfacial interaction with the substrate. However, the synthesis of these desired SiC/C nanocomposites requires amelioration in two critical aspects—improving the bond strength between C and SiC and dispersing SiC homogenously to avoid agglomeration. In this work, a Joule heating method is used to synthesize SiC/C necklace‐like nanocomposite fibers from electrospun C/Si nanofibers. A controlled current is induced to heat the C/Si nanofibers to ≈2000 K, promoting the in situ reaction between Si nanoparticles and carbon fibers to create SiC nanoparticles. SiC nanoparticles are uniformly formed in the composites with high specific surface area and strong bonding with the carbon nanofibers. The synthesis of SiC demonstrates feasibility toward in situ fabrication of unagglomerated carbide nanoparticles on a carbon‐based nanofiber with desirable interconnection bond strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

VEGFR2 (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2) is the main trigger of VEGF-mediated angiogenic signal and targeting VEGFR2 pathway to inhibit tumor angiogenesis represents a promising strategy for cancer therapy. We elucidated that a novel compound, PBA2 exhibited potent anti-tumor effects both in vitro and in vivo with limited toxicity. ELISA assay revealed that PBA2 had a strong suppressive activity against VEGFR2 related to angiogenesis. Furthermore, PBA2 considerably disrupted tube formation of endothelial cells in vitro and systemic administration of PBA2 exerted decreased tumor angiogenesis in vivo. Functional tests demonstrated that PBA2 concentration-dependently impeded the migration and proliferation of endothelial cells. PBA2 had no effects on the expression level of VEGF both in the detected cancer cells and endothelial cells. VEGFR2 and its downstream Akt and Erk pathways were blocked by PBA2 in a concentration-dependent manner both in vitro and in vivo . Overall, we first demonstrated that PBA2, targeting VEGFR2 related to angiogenesis, presented remarkable anti-angiogenic and anti-tumor activities through attenuating VEGFR2 mediated pathway in vitro and in vivo with limited toxicity. These observations posed that PBA2 could be a potential drug candidate for developing anti-angiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitor in cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior studies have demonstrated that phosphatase of regenerating liver‑3 (PRL‑3) serves avital function in cell proliferation and metastasis in breast cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the function of PRL‑3 in breast cancer remain unknown. PRL‑3 expression was analyzed in 24 pairs of breast cancer and normal tissues using the reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. The results of the present study identified that the expression of PLR‑3 in breast cancer tissues was increased 4.2‑fold, compared with normal tissues. Notably, overexpression of PRL‑3 significantly promoted the proliferation of cancer cells and inhibited endogenous p53 expression by downregulating the expression level of p14 alternate reading frame (p14ARF). In addition, decreased expression levels of PRL‑3 resulted in decreased breast cancer cell proliferation and increased expression level of p14ARF. These results suggested that PRL‑3 enhances cell proliferation by downregulating p14ARF expression, which results in decreased levels ofp53. The results of the present study demonstrated that PRL‑3 promotes tumor proliferation by affecting the p14ARF‑p53 axis, and that it may serve as a prognostic marker for patients with breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical bonding and electronic structure of heteronuclear metal-nickel carbonyls MNi(CO)n− (M = Sc, Y; n = 2-6) have been investigated by mass-selected photoelectron velocity map imaging spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations. Two CO bonding modes (side-on-bonded and terminal carbonyls) are involved in the n = 2 cluster. The building block composed of three kinds of different CO modes (side-on-bonded, bridging, and terminal carbonyls) is favored at n = 3, the structure of which persists up to n = 6. The additional CO ligands are preferentially coordinated in the terminal mode to the Sc atom and then to the Ni atom in the larger clusters. The present findings would promote the understanding of CO molecule activation and chemisorbed CO molecules on metal surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The high theoretical specific capacity of lithium (Li) metal and the nonflammability of solid‐state electrolytes (SSEs) make the solid‐state Li metal battery a promising option to develop safe batteries with high energy density. To make the switch from liquid to solid‐state electrolyte, the high interfacial resistance resulting from the poor solid–solid contacts between Li metal and SSEs needs to be addressed. Herein, a one‐step soldering technique to quickly coat molten Li onto different substrates including metals, ceramics, and polymers is presented. It is deduced that the surface energy and viscosity of the molten Li can be tuned by adding alloy elements, which improves the wettability against various substrates. When soldered onto the surface of garnet‐based SSEs, the Li alloys exhibit significantly improved contact, which leads to an interface resistance as low as ≈7 Ω cm2. While cycling under high loads, the newly plated Li still maintains tight contact with the garnet surface and demonstrates excellent electrochemical stability. Several Li binary alloys as well as sodium (Na) binary alloys are successfully tested on various substrates to demonstrate the versatility of this soldering technique for potential battery applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current risk data generated by network attack data is lack of predictability, in this paper, a fast association rule mining algorithm for network attack data is proposed. Based on the related data, the fuzzy theory is used to introduce the frequency of network attack events into the association rules, and based on the genetic algorithm, the concept of interest degree and approximation are introduced to improve the membership function which can establish the network attack data association rules to achieve rapid data mining. The experimental results showed that the proposed algorithm has certain accuracy and efficiency advantages. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]