Search

The coupling of photovoltaic power generation with water electrolyzer is advantageous for enhancing solar energy utilization and generating green hydrogen. In this work, an off-grid photovoltaic-based hydrogen production system consisting of photovoltaic, electrolyzer, battery energy storage system and supercapacitor was developed. A coordinated operation strategy is designed to manage the power of each unit in the system to avoid significant fluctuations in working power and frequent start-stop operations of the electrolyzer unit. Firstly, the coordinated operation strategy sets five operation modes for the photovoltaic-based hydrogen production system, and the fuzzy logic control algorithm is used to choose the operation mode to determine the reference power of each unit. On this basis, the state of charge feedback-based first-order low-pass filter algorithm is used to achieve the power allocation to mitigate deep charging and discharging of the supercapacitor. The proposed solution is extensively assessed through comparative simulation experiments based on three typical test days. The numerical results confirm its effectiveness and demonstrate the potential for achieving high system efficiency. [Display omitted] • Five operation modes for off-grid PV hydrogen production system is proposed. • Fuzzy logic control algorithm is used to choose the operation mode. • The SOC feedback-based FLF algorithm is used to achieve the power allocation. • Hydrogen production is improved and deep charging and discharging of SC is mitigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To study the relationship between the ablation range and applied energy of laser ablation (LA) and microwave ablation (MWA) in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). Methods: A total of 201 PTMC patients were treated with LA (n = 102) or MWA (n = 99) with single-applicator fixed ablation. The ablation range was determined by contrast-enhanced ultrasound. The ratios of ablation volume, longitudinal diameter, and orthogonal diameter to ablation energy (RAV/E, RAL/E, RAO/E) were analyzed and compared between MWA and LA. The effects of PTMC characteristics and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) on ablation efficiency were evaluated by linear regression. Results: The RAV/E was 0.72 (0.65–0.84) mm3/J for MWA and 0.48 (0.39–0.54) mm3/J for LA. HT was significantly correlated with RAV/E of LA (coefficient = − 0.367, p < 0.0001). RAL/E did not differ significantly between MWA and LA (MWA 0.026 mm/J, LA 0.025 mm/J; p = 0.957). However, MWA had a greater RAO/E than LA (MWA 0.014 mm/J, LA 0.012 mm/J; p < 0.0001). The plateau values of MWA and LA on the ablation orthogonal diameter were 10.7 mm and 8.69 mm, respectively. Conclusions: MWA showed a higher RAV/E than LA. More intuitively, MWA had a better ablation performance than LA on the orthogonal axis rather than the longitudinal axis. Theoretically, MWA and LA could achieve complete ablation of ≤ 6.70 mm and ≤ 4.69 mm PTMC separately by single-applicator fixed ablation considering a unilateral 2-mm safe margin. HT had a negative effect on LA but not on MWA. Clinical relevance statement: This study establishes strong connections between ablation energy and ablation range in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) in vivo, possibly contributing to the supplementation of the PTMC Ablation Consensus or Guidelines and providing a scientific basis for choosing clinical ablation parameters in PTMC. Key Points: • Both microwave ablation (MWA) and laser ablation (LA) have excellent performance on the ablation longitudinal axis (easily exceeding 10 mm) for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). • MWA performed much better than LA on the ablation orthogonal axis. • MWA and LA are expected to achieve complete ablation of ≤ 6.70 mm and ≤ 4.69 mm PTMC separately by single-applicator fixed ablation considering a unilateral 2-mm safe margin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zirconia toughened alumina (ZTA) ceramics are commonly used in various industries. Adding suitable additives is an effective way to improve the performance of ZTA ceramics. However, the common reinforcement in ZTA, chromia (Cr2O3), tends to volatilize at high temperature in the presence of oxygen, limiting ceramic densification. Consequently, additional amounts of Cr2O3 are typically limited to below 1 wt%. In this study, spark plasma sintering was utilized to inhibit the volatilization of Cr2O3. Dense ZTA ceramics with high Cr2O3 content (from 1 to 10 wt%) were prepared at 1350 °C. The impact of the solid solution on the structure and properties of the ceramics was investigated. The findings demonstrate that the high Cr2O3 solution can regulate the grain size in the matrix, leading to an enhancement in both hardness and fracture toughness. The optimum performance of the sample was obtained with a 5 wt% dosage of Cr2O3, where the maximum values of Vickers hardness and fracture toughness were 20.66 GPa and 6.37 MPa m1/2, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is to blame for about 60% of dementia cases worldwide. The blood–brain barrier (BBB) prevents many medications for AD from having clinical therapeutic effects that can be used to treat the affected area. Many researchers have turned their attention to cell membrane biomimetic nanoparticles (NPs) to solve this situation. Among them, NPs can extend the half-life of drugs in the body as the "core" of the wrapped drug, and the cell membrane acts as the "shell" of the wrapped NPs to functionalize the NPs, which can further improve the delivery efficiency of nano-drug delivery systems. Researchers are learning that cell membrane biomimetic NPs can circumvent the BBB's restriction, prevent harm to the body's immune system, extend the period that NPs spend in circulation, and have good biocompatibility and cytotoxicity, which increases efficacy of drug release. This review summarized the detailed production process and features of core NPs and further introduced the extraction methods of cell membrane and fusion methods of cell membrane biomimetic NPs. In addition, the targeting peptides for modifying biomimetic NPs to target the BBB to demonstrate the broad prospects of cell membrane biomimetic NPs drug delivery systems were summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aging is a process of progressive deterioration of multiple physiological functions within an organism. This study investigated the anti-aging effects of polysaccharides extracted from ginsenoside residues (GRP) in Caenorhabditis elegans using physiological, microbiomic, and transcriptomic approaches. GRP treatment prolonged the mean lifespan of C. elegans by 58.60 % (19.64 days) and did not affect locomotive behaviors. It reduced levels of lipofuscin and reactive oxygen species (ROS), and increased superoxide dismutase activity, which prevented oxidative damage caused by aging. Microbiomic data indicated that GRP administration significantly altered the composition of gut flora and increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria. Transcriptomic analyses identified 201 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). GRP treatment may enhance fatty acid degradation and induce preferential synthesis of beneficial fatty acids. It may also activate the metabolism of certain amino acids. The transcriptomic data were reliably reproduced using seven vital DEGs, which were confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis. These findings show that GRP has positive effects that prolong lifespan and alleviate aging in C. elegans. GRP should be explored as an effective dietary supplement for the development of functional foods. We propose a potentially novel mechanism that more fully describes the anti-aging mechanisms induced by GRP. GRP played an anti-aging role mainly by enhancing antioxidant activity to avoid oxidative damage, modulating gut microbiota, improving the metabolic pathways of fatty acids to provide energy, and preferentially synthesizing beneficial fatty acids. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, thermal ablation has played an increasingly important role in treating various tumors in the clinic. A practical thermochromic phantom model can provide a favorable platform for clinical thermotherapy training of young physicians or calibration and optimization of thermal devices without risk to animals or human participants. To date, many tissue-mimicking thermal phantoms have been developed and are well liked, especially the polyacrylamide gel (PAG)-based phantoms. This review summarizes the PAG-based phantoms in the field of thermotherapy, details their advantages and disadvantages and provides a direction for further optimization. The relevant physical parameters (such as electrical, acoustic, and thermal properties) of these phantoms are also presented in this review, which can assist operators in a deeper understanding of these phantoms and selection of the proper recipes for phantom fabrication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving rapid, cost effective, and intelligent identification and quantification of flavonoids is challenging. For fast and uncomplicated flavonoid determination, a sensing platform of smartphone-coupled colorimetric sensor arrays (electronic noses) was developed, relying on the differential competitive inhibition of hesperidin, nobiletin, and tangeretin on the oxidation reactions of nanozymes with a 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine substrate. First, density functional theory calculations predicted the enhanced peroxidase-like activities of CeO 2 nanozymes after doping with Mn, Co, and Fe, which was then confirmed by experiments. The self-designed mobile application, Quick Viewer, enabled a rapid evaluation of the red, green, and blue values of colorimetric images using a multi-hole parallel acquisition strategy. The sensor array based on three channels of CeMn, CeFe, and CeCo was able to discriminate between different flavonoids from various categories, concentrations, mixtures, and the various storage durations of flavonoid-rich Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium through a linear discriminant analysis. Furthermore, the integration of a "segmentation−extraction−regression" deep learning algorithm enabled single-hole images to be obtained by segmenting from a 3 × 4 sensing array to augment the featured information of array images. The MobileNetV3-small neural network was trained on 37,488 single-well images and achieved an excellent predictive capability for flavonoid concentrations (R2 = 0.97). Finally, MobileNetV3-small was integrated into a smartphone as an application (Intelligent Analysis Master), to achieve the one-click output of three concentrations. This study developed an innovative approach for the qualitative and simultaneous multi-ingredient quantitative analysis of flavonoids. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the antitumor efficacy of microwave ablation combined with dendritic cell-derived exosomes (Dex) or dendritic cells (DC) in treating hepatocellular carcinoma using a tumor-bearing mouse model. We used a bilateral tumor-bearing mouse model treated with MWA, MWA + DC (DC-combined group) or MWA + Dex (Dex-combined group). Following tumor ablation on one side, the tumor volume on the contralateral side was monitored. The proportions of CD8+ (cytotoxic) T cells and regulatory T (Treg) cells in the spleen were analyzed by flow cytometry, and the number of CD8+ T cells and Treg cells in tumor sites was detected by immunohistochemistry. The concentration of interleukin-10 and interferon-γ in plasma was identified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The combination therapy significantly inhibited tumor growth compared with MWA monotherapy. In addition, the tumor immune microenvironment was significantly improved in HCC mice in the combination therapy groups compared to MWA group demonstrated by an increased number of CD8+ T cells and a decreased number of Treg cells in tumor sites. A lower proportion of Treg cells were observed in the spleen in the combination therapy groups compared to MWA group. Moreover, the concentration of plasma IFN-γ increased, and the concentration of plasma IL-10 decreased in the combination therapy groups compared to the MWA group. However, there was no statistical difference between the Dex-combined group and the DC-combined group in the comparisons mentioned above. Our results provide evidence that MWA combined with Dex can significantly inhibit tumor growth and improve the immune microenvironment compared to MWA alone. Furthermore, the immune-enhancing effect of Dex and DC was equivalent in our combination therapy strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Before predicting the vibration characteristics of a tractor/implement system with front axle hydro-pneumatic suspension, it is essential to develop a dynamic model. The nonlinear stiffness and damping calculation equations for hydro-pneumatic suspension are derived and the complete three dimensional multibody dynamic model of the wheeled tractor/implement system is presented in this paper. The construction of the model considers the effect of implement and passive rub cabin suspension as well as front axle hydro-pneumatic suspension together. The vibration responses and the corresponding power spectral densities (PSD) of driver seat, cabin, chassis and implement under different forward speed and field road conditions gathered from the simulation using the models are in good agreement with experimental results, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed model. A comparative investigation on the dynamic effects of a passive cabin suspension, implement and front axle hydro-pneumatic suspension under four cases was made. The effects of front axle suspension and the implement on the rollover limit chart for the tractor system were also studied. Simulation results showed that the front axle hydro-pneumatic suspension will deteriorate the ride comfort of drivers but will improve pitch and roll stability. Passive cabin suspension plays a more important role in improving the ride comfort of drivers than the front axle hydro-pneumatic suspension does, while compromising the pitch stability to some extent. The implement will raise the riding comfort of drivers and the pitch stability of tractors, but dramatically worsen the roll stability. The presence of the front axle suspension and the implement improves the minimum slope angle and reduces the maximum slope angle. Furthermore, the effect of the initial nitrogen volume, the pressure of energy accumulators, and the orifice diameter of the small throttle valves on the vibration characteristics of the tractor system with the large throttle valve closed or fully opened is also investigated. Image 1 • The front axle suspension will deteriorate the ride comfort but improve the pitch and roll stability obviously. • The passive cabin suspension plays an important role in improving the ride comfort, while aggravating pitch stability. • The implement will raise the comfortableness and pitch stability of tractor, and worsen the roll stability. • The front axle suspension and implement improves this minimum slope angle and reduces the maximum slope angle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is considered to be a distinct clinical entity from psoriasis vulgaris (PV), with different clinical and histological manifestations. The pathogenesis of GPP has not been thoroughly elucidated, especially in those patients lacking interleukin (IL)36RN. In present study, we performed RNA sequence analysis on skin lesions from 10 GPP patients (4 with and 6 without IL36RN mutation) and 10 PV patients without IL36RN mutation. Compared with PV, significantly overexpressed genes in GPP patients were enriched in IL‐17 signalling pathway (MMP1, MMP3, DEFB4A and DEFB4B, etc.) and associated with neutrophil infiltration (MMP1, MMP3, ANXA and SERPINB, etc.). GPP with IL36RN mutations evidenced WNT11 upregulation and IL36RN downregulation in comparison to those GPP without IL36RN mutations. The expression of IL‐17A/IL‐36 in skin or serum and the origin of IL‐17A in skin were also investigated. IL‐17A expression in skin was significantly higher in GPP than PV patients, whereas, there were no differences in skin IL‐36α/IL‐36γ/IL‐36RA or serum IL‐17A/IL‐36α/IL‐36γ between GPP than PV. Besides, double immunofluorescence staining of MPO/IL‐17A or CD3/IL‐17A further confirmed that the majority of IL‐17A in GPP skin was derived from neutrophils, but not T cells. These data emphasized the role of neutrophil‐derived IL‐17A in the pathogenesis of GPP with or without IL36RN mutations. Targeting neutrophil‐derived IL‐17A might be a promising treatment for GPP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The "Shock and Kill" method is being considered as a potential treatment for eradicating HIV-1 and achieving a functional cure for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). This approach involves using latency-reversing agents (LRAs) to activate human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) transcription in latent cells, followed by treatment with antiviral drugs to kill these cells. Although LRAs have shown promise in HIV-1 patient research, their widespread clinical use is hindered by side effects and limitations. In this review, we categorize and explain the mechanisms of these agonists in activating HIV-1 in vivo and discuss their advantages and disadvantages. In the future, combining different HIV-1 LRAs may overcome their respective shortcomings and facilitate a functional cure for HIV-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pore throat structure of sandy conglomerate reservoirs is more complex than that of conventional sandstone reservoirs. At present, research on the modal pore throat structure of sandy conglomerate reservoirs mainly focuses on tight reservoirs with diagenesis controlled, while research on weakly cemented reservoirs is limited. Taking the newly discovered Cretaceous Guyang Formation reservoir on the western edge of the Hetao Basin as the research object, the modal pore throat structure of this weakly cemented sandy conglomerate reservoir is studied. The petrological and pore throat characteristics are studied by performing various tests. Based on the inflection points of the multifractal curve of the pore throat radius of the studied sandy conglomerate reservoir, the pore throat structures of a sample are divided into three types: macrothroats, mesothroats and microthroats. The pore throat structures of every sample are composed of these three pore throat structures. The heterogeneity at the microscale is controlled by the proportions of these three pore throat types. Based on the proportions of macrothroats, mesothroats and microthroats, the modal pore throat structures of the studied sandy conglomerate reservoir are analyzed for the first time. The modal pore throat structures of the corresponding samples are characterized into unimodal, bimodal and multimodal structures. When the pore throat structure of the sandy conglomerate reservoirs of the Cretaceous Guyang Formation in the western margin of the Hetao Basin includes more microthroats, it is more homogeneous, resulting in a poorer reservoir quality. The fundamental reason for the development of the modal pore throat structure is the mixed deposition of grain sizes, and the modal pore throat structure is controlled by the combination of macrothroats, mesothroats and microthroats. • The modal pore throat structure is characterized as unimodal, bimodal and multimodal. • The modal characteristics are analyzed by macrothroats, mesothroats and microthroats. • The fundamental cause of modal characteristics is mixed deposition of grain sizes. • The direct origins are the combination of macrothroats, mesothroats and microthroats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The pore throat structure is classified based on inflection points of fractal curves. • The heterogeneity is caused by the varying proportions of micro-structure types. • The water flooding is mainly affected by the heterogeneity of pore throat structure. The complexity of the pore throat structures of heterogeneous low-permeability reservoirs causes uneven water flooding, resulting in the retention of a considerable amount of residual oil. Therefore, it is necessary to characterize pore throat structures and the effects of these structures on water flooding. Such structures and effects were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), cast thin sections (CTS), high-pressure mercury intrusion (HPMI) and microvisualization seepage experimentations. In the fractal dimension curves, there were two relatively close inflection points, corresponding to pore throat radii of approximately 3 µm and 0.02 µm. On this basis, the pore throat structures of all the samples were categorized into macrothroats, mesothroats and microthroats. All the samples contained these three types of pore throat structures. The heterogeneity of the pore throat structure was caused by the varying proportions of the different pore throat structure types. This was the first analysis of the effects of these varying proportions of pore throat structure types in one sample on water flooding. The influences of the proportions and pore throat radii of the different pore throat structures on water flooding were notable. Through this study, the effects of the pore throat structures on water flooding were found to be controlled by the proportions of the different pore throat structure types. This finding is of great significance to the efficient development of heterogeneous low-permeability reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Two-stage hydrothermal methods were first introduced for sludge to carbon dots. • The carbon dots can detect heavy metals Fe3+ and Hg2+ in power plant wastewater. • The quenching mechanism of Fe3+ is related to the internal filtration effect. • The "turn off-on" mode of Hg2+ is mainly determined by static quenching. • The oxygen-containing functional group is the sensitive factor to Hg2+ detection. With the widespread application of sewage biological treatment technology, a large amount of sewage sludge is generated during the sewage treatment process, which not only poses a threat to the environment but also results in wastage of C and N resources. In this study, the nitrogen self-doped fluorescent carbon dots (N-CDs) with an average particle size of 3.43 nm were synthesized green through a two-stage hydrothermal method. It was found that N-CDs can detect Fe3+ through internal filtration effect (IFE), with a linear detection range of 0–250 μM and a detection limit of 2.207 μM. Furthermore, N-CDs can also serve as a "turn off–on" probe for monitoring Hg2+, with a linear detection range of 2–10 μM and a detection limit of 0.989 μM. Interestingly, oxygen-containing groups were shown to be sensitive to Hg2+, which has been demonstrated for the first time. Moreover, the practical application of N-CDs as a double ion sensor in the detection of Fe3+ and Hg2+ has achieved good results for real power plant wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The permeability decrease caused by the increase in effective stress notably influences the development of tight sandstone reservoirs. Therefore, it is necessary to study permeability stress sensitivity characteristics. Permeability stress sensitivity evaluation experiments of tight sandstone were conducted. On this basis, the influencing factors were analyzed by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), cast thin section (CTS) and high-pressure mercury intrusion (HPMI). The results show that permeability decreases with increasing effective stress and that the decreasing trend gradually slows. After the effective stress is restored, permeability cannot be fully recovered. The microscopic pore structure has an important influence on stress sensitivity. According to the characteristics of the capillary force curve, the pore structure can be divided into three types: intergranular, dissolved and micro pore types. Reservoirs of the intergranular pore type have a low permeability stress sensitivity, and permeability slightly decreases with increasing effective stress, followed by reservoirs of the dissolved pore type, and those of the micro pore type have the highest permeability stress sensitivity. In addition, petrological characteristics also influence permeability stress sensitivity. The contents of flexible lithic fragments and clay mineral interstitial material are positively correlated with reservoir permeability stress sensitivity, and those of quartz skeleton particles and siliceous interstitial material are negatively correlated with the latter. A better understanding of permeability stress sensitivity and its influencing factors can provide a reference for the development of tight sandstone reservoirs influenced by it. • The permeability of tight sandstone decreases significantly with the increase of effective stress. • The compression resistance of rock components can affect stress sensitivity of permeability. • The microscopic pore structure is analyzed by means of SEM, CTS and HPMI. • Permeability is significantly affected by stress in the pore structure with small pore-throat radius. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Plants can retain atmospheric particulate matter (PM) through their unique foliar microstructures, which has a profound impact on the phyllosphere microbial communities. Yet, the underlying mechanisms linking atmospheric particulate matter (PM) retention by foliar microstructures to variations in the phyllosphere microbial communities remain a mystery. In this study, we conducted a field experiment with ten Ulmus lines. A series of analytical techniques, including scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and high-throughput amplicon sequencing, were applied to examine the relationship between foliar surface microstructures, PM retention, and phyllosphere microbial diversity of Ulmus L. Results: We characterized the leaf microstructures across the ten Ulmus lines. Chun exhibited a highly undulated abaxial surface and dense stomatal distribution. Langya and Xingshan possessed dense abaxial trichomes, while Lieye, Zuiweng, and Daguo had sparsely distributed, short abaxial trichomes. Duomai, Qingyun, and Lang were characterized by sparse stomata and flat abaxial surfaces, whereas Jinye had sparsely distributed but extensive stomata. The mean leaf retention values for total suspended particulate (TSP), PM2.5, PM2.5-10, PM10-100, and PM> 100 were 135.76, 6.60, 20.10, 90.98, and 13.08 µg·cm− 2, respectively. Trichomes substantially contributed to PM2.5 retention, while larger undulations enhanced PM2.5-10 retention, as evidenced by positive correlations between PM2.5 and abaxial trichome density and between PM2.5-10 and the adaxial raw microroughness values. Phyllosphere microbial diversity patterns varied among lines, with bacteria dominated by Sediminibacterium and fungi by Mycosphaerella, Alternaria, and Cladosporium. Redundancy analysis confirmed that dense leaf trichomes facilitated the capture of PM2.5-associated fungi, while bacteria were less impacted by PM and struggled to adhere to leaf microstructures. Long and dense trichomes provided ideal microhabitats for retaining PM-borne microbes, as evidenced by positive feedback loops between PM2.5, trichome characteristics, and the relative abundances of microorganisms like Trichoderma and Aspergillus. Conclusions: Based on our findings, a three-factor network profile was constructed, which provides a foundation for further exploration into how different plants retain PM through foliar microstructures, thereby impacting phyllosphere microbial communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the effect of injection–production coupling development to improve crude oil recovery in complex fault-block reservoirs, we carried out a physical simulation experiment based on a sandpack model of transforming water-driven development into injection–production coupling development and quantitatively evaluated the influence of rounds of injection pressure coupling on the crude oil mobilization in reservoirs with different permeability levels and on oil recovery. Meanwhile, the characteristics of residual oil were studied via a numerical simulation method. The mechanism of increased oil production via injection–production coupling development was revealed by analyzing the water and oil contents, formation pressure, and streamline fields through the establishment of mechanism models. The results of the physical experiment show that injection–production coupling can improve the recovery effect of medium- and low-permeability reservoirs by 55.66%. With an increase in the injection pressure, the oil recovery percentage of the low-permeability sandpack model at 20 MPa is 100%, and this study finds that injection–production coupling is the main way to develop the recoverable oil in a low-permeability reservoir. The numerical simulation results show that among the four remaining oil distribution types (interwell-enriched, low-permeability zone-enriched, well network imperfection, and mismatch between injection and production), the interwell-enriched type of the remaining oil reserves accounts for the highest proportion (48.52%). The simulation results of the mechanism model show that water-driven development easily leads to streamline solidification, resulting in ineffective circulation of the injected water. Compared with conventional water-driven development, the pressure propagation range is significantly increased in injection–production coupling development. The reservoir streamline distribution is more continuous and uniform, and the flooding wave is wider in volume and range. This research provides a theoretical basis for the injection–production coupling technology policy in complex fault-block reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution of second phase particles in the microstructure of composite ceramics affects the mechanical properties, and the intragranular structures often result in better properties compared to the intergranular structures. However, it is difficult to obtain composite ceramics with intragranular structure by conventional route. To produce composite ceramics with an intragranular structure in a simpler route. In this work, starting powders with different phase compositions were obtained by the co-precipitation method, and zirconia toughened alumina (ZTA) composite ceramics were prepared with these starting powders by spark plasma sintering (SPS). The results show that it is easier to fabricate ZTA composite ceramics with an intragranular structure by using composite powders containing amorphous or transition phase Al2O3 as starting materials. The phase composition of the powder prepared by the co-precipitation method after calcination at 1100 °C is θ-Al2O3 and t-ZrO2, and the average grain size after sintering at 1500 °C is 1.04 ± 0.28 µm, and the maximum Vickers hardness and fracture toughness of the specimens reach 19.37 ± 0.43 GPa and 6.18 ± 0.06 MPa·m1/2, respectively. The ZrO2 particles were the core of crystallization and grow together with the Al2O3 matrix, forming the intragranular structure of ZTA ceramics. This work may provide a new idea for preparing composite ceramics with intragranular structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common pathological type of thyroid cancer. PTC patients with extrathyroidal extension (ETE) are associated with poor prognoses. The preoperative accurate prediction of ETE is crucial for helping the surgeon decide on the surgical plan. This study aimed to establish a novel clinical-radiomics nomogram based on B-mode ultrasound (BMUS) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for the prediction of ETE in PTC. A total of 216 patients with PTC between January 2018 and June 2020 were collected and divided into the training set (n = 152) and the validation set (n = 64). The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm was applied for radiomics feature selection. Univariate analysis was performed to find clinical risk factors for predicting ETE. The BMUS Radscore, CEUS Radscore, clinical model, and clinical-radiomics model were established using multivariate backward stepwise logistic regression (LR) based on BMUS radiomics features, CEUS radiomics features, clinical risk factors, and the combination of those features, respectively. The diagnostic efficacy of the models was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and the DeLong test. The model with the best performance was then selected to develop a nomogram. The results show that the clinical-radiomics model, which is constructed by age, CEUS-reported ETE, BMUS Radscore, and CEUS Radscore, showed the best diagnostic efficiency in both the training set (AUC = 0.843) and validation set (AUC = 0.792). Moreover, a clinical-radiomics nomogram was established for easier clinical practices. The Hosmer–Lemeshow test and the calibration curves demonstrated satisfactory calibration. The decision curve analysis (DCA) showed that the clinical-radiomics nomogram had substantial clinical benefits. The clinical-radiomics nomogram constructed from the dual-modal ultrasound can be exploited as a promising tool for the pre-operative prediction of ETE in PTC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Tilapia skin collagen hydrolysates (TSCHs) are the product of enzymatic hydrolysis of collagen, which is mainly extracted from tilapia skin. The components of TSCHs have recently been reported to play a preventive role in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)‐induced ulcerative colitis (UC). However, it has not been illustrated whether TSCHs can prevent against DSS‐induced UC via the gut microbiota and its derived metabolites. RESULTS: TSCHs are mainly composed of amino acids, which have similar characteristics to collagen, with most having a molecular weight below 5 kDa. In a mouse model of UC, TSCHs had no toxic effect at a dose of 60 g kg−1 and could reduce body weight changes, colon length, histopathological changes and score, and the level of the serum inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)‐6. Concurrently, 16 S rRNA sequencing showed that TSCHs significantly reduced the abundance of Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria at the phylum level and norank_f__Muribaculaceae and Escherichia‐Shigella at the genus level, while they increased the abundance of Firmicutes at the phylum level and Lachnoclostridium, Allobaculum, Enterorhabdus, and unclassified__f__Ruminococcaceae at the genus level. Target metabolomic analysis showed that TSCHs elevated the concentration of total acid, acetic acid, propanoic acid, and butanoic acid, but reduced isovaleric acid concentrations. Moreover, Pearson correlation analysis revealed that Allobaculum, unclassified_Ruminococcaceae, and Enterorhabdus were positively correlated with acetic acid and butyric acid, but not Escherichia‐Shigella. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that TSCHs can prevent UC by modulating gut microbial and microbiota‐derived metabolites. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has proven that light treatment, specifically red light radiation, can provide more clinical benefits to human health. Our investigation was firstly conducted to characterize the tissue morphology of mouse breast post 660 nm laser radiation with low power and long-term exposure. RNA sequencing results revealed that light exposure with a higher intervention dosage could cause a number of differentially expressed genes compared with a low intervention dosage. Gene ontology analysis, protein–protein interaction network analysis, and gene set enrichment analysis results suggested that 660 nm light exposure can activate more transcription-related pathways in HC11 breast epithelial cells, and these pathways may involve modulating critical gene expression. To consider the critical role of the Wnt/T-catenin pathway in light-induced modulation, we hypothesized that this pathway might play a major role in response to 660 nm light exposure. To validate our hypothesis, we conducted qRT-PCR, immunofluorescence staining, and Western blot assays, and relative results corroborated that laser radiation could promote expression levels of β-catenin and relative phosphorylation. Significant changes in metabolites and pathway analysis revealed that 660 nm laser could affect nucleotide metabolism by regulating purine metabolism. These findings suggest that the Wnt/β-catenin pathway may be the major sensor for 660 nm laser radiation, and it may be helpful to rescue drawbacks or side effects of 660 nm light exposure through relative interventional agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerebrovascular disease is the leading cause of disability and death, and ischemic stroke accounts for most stroke cases. However, few effective drugs are available for the treatment of ischemic stroke; thus, there is an urgent need to develop effective drugs to treat ischemic stroke. DL-3-n-butylphthalide (NBP) is clinically approved as an anti-ischemic drug in China, but its potential hepatotoxicity limits its use. G-3702 (a structural analogue of NBP) is synthesized with the boron hydroxyl group replacing carbonyl group. G-3702 significantly enhanced the survival of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rats, decreased neurobehavioral deficit scores and cerebral infarct volume, comparable with NBP, which was also supported by tissue damage assessment, immunohistochemistry staining, biochemical parameters and ELISA assay. G-3702 showed better anti-stroke activity than NBP according to 1H NMR spectroscopy-based metabolomics analysis, demonstrating the feasibility of metabolomics approach to assess drug efficacy. G-3702 markedly ameliorated energy metabolism, attenuated oxidative and inflammatory stress during ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). G-3702 exhibited good neuroprotective effects against I/R induced injury and favorable little possibility of hepatotoxicity, which made it a promising anti-stroke drug and better NBP alternative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Developed smart, bioactive electrospun dressing through co-electrospinning. • Dressing with waterproofing, breathability, and fluid absorption properties. • Metabolomics analysis emphasizes bioactive compounds' role in healing. • Multifunctional dressing is a promising candidate for tissue engineering applications. The biosafe plant extract, rich in bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, significantly contributes to wound healing by promoting tissue repair and regeneration. However, the powdered forms of these extracts face several limitations including poor water solubility, limited release in vitro, and compromised waterproofing and breathability. This study successfully developed a smart and bioactive wound dressing through co-electrospinning hydrophobic polylactic acid- H. rhamnoides L. petroleum ether extract with hydrophilic polyvinyl alcohol-Ag (PLA PEE /PVA Ag). This innovative dressing exhibits robust properties such as anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities primarily derived from bioactive compounds in PEE and Ag nanoparticles decorated within PVA nanofibers respectively. Additionally, the dressing's intelligent waterproofing, breathability, and interstitial fluid absorption create a moist environment that accelerates wound healing. Metabolomics analysis highlights the significance of glycolysis, the TCA cycle, arginine metabolism, linoleic acid/arachidonic acid metabolism, and glutaminolysis in wound healing. These enriched pathways not only stimulate extracellular matrix synthesis specifically collagen but also demonstrate anti-inflammatory properties while promoting angiogenesis thereby enhancing the wound healing process. As an innovative medical dressing, this smart bioactive solution holds immense potential for accelerating wound healing and tissue regeneration while paving a promising path for future advancements in personalized therapeutic strategies for enhanced wound care management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The hydrogels can be made into precise structures by 3D printing with blue light. • The hydrogels show great water absorption, hemostatic and antibacterial properties. • The 3D printed hydrogels can achieve better curative effect in precision medicine. 3D printing hydrogels are widely used in biomedicine because of their unique flexibility, water richness, biocompatibility, and most importantly, the ability to manufacture customized complex structures. Among the various 3D printing technologies for hydrogels, Digital Light Processing (DLP) is advantageous due to its fast speed and high precision. However, the high-energy ultraviolet (UV) light used in most DLP can damage the bio-materials, which limits their application in biomedicine. Herein, by introduction of multiple strengthening mechanisms (nanofibers, hydrogen bonds and coordination bonds) and double photo-initiators, we designed a 2-acrylamide-2-methyl-propanesulfonic acid (AMPS)-based hydrogel, which can be manufactured into various high-precision structures through 3D printing with blue light (450 nm). The printed hydrogel has good mechanical properties, high water absorption capacity, and strong water retention property. Vitro and in vivo experiments revealed that the printed hydrogels show excellent biocompatibility, hemostasis effect and antibacterial properties. We further expand the application of 3D printing in the field of precision medicine. The use of 3D printed hydrogels can achieve accurate fitting and wound repair according to the structure of the patient's wound, providing better curative effect to the patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Effect of the local microenvironment on the nitrogen transformation and NO evolution is revealed. • Targeted regulation of local microenvironment around fuel-N is realized by selective oxidation. • Attack of free radicals on nitrogen-containing heterocycles promotes the conversion of fuel-N to HCN. • PAA selective oxidation can reduce NO emission from air combustion by 31.72% – 34.30%. Developing a novel high-efficiency coal combustion technology with ultra-low NOx emission is urgently needed to sustain the good ecological environment. Here, the targeted regulation of local microenvironment around fuel-N, such as functional groups, radicals, molecular configurations, and reaction atmosphere, is realized by the selective oxidation. The molecular configurations, including pore networks and microcrystalline structure in coal, are well characterized through synchrotron radiation-induced SAXS (small angle X-ray scattering) and WAXS (wide angle X-ray scattering) simultaneously. Furthermore, by combining density functional theory (DFT) and experiments, the effects of the local microenvironment on the nitrogen transformation and NO evolution during the thermal conversion are focused on. The results indicate that for the PPA oxidation, the H radicals attack the adjacent carbon to pyrrole/pyridine nitrogen, promoting the conversion of fuel-N to HCN. On the other hand, for the H 2 O 2 oxidation, disrupting the π bond electron cloud by the C O and C = O on the ortho carbon of pyrrole/pyridine dominates the NH 3 generation. Additionally, the increased L a (average graphene layer extent), a 3 (average interlayer spacing), σ 3 (standard deviation of interlayer spacing) and σ 1 (standard deviation of the first-neighbor distribution) induce massive smaller pores, promoting the generation of abundant reaction defects inside the particles. Importantly, the intensified adsorption on abundant active sites lead to the decreased HCN and increased NH 3 evolution, which is adverse for the interaction between homogeneous and heterogeneous NO reduction. Interestingly, the PAA selective oxidation can reduce NO emission by 31.72 % - 34.30 % during the air combustion, which is far better than the H 2 O 2 oxidation. Overall, the attack of free radicals on nitrogen-containing heterocycles promotes the conversion of fuel-N to HCN, the adsorption of which on char surfaces can further enhance the heterogeneous reduction in a lean oxygen atmosphere. The work here provides a novel route for developing high-efficiency and low-NOx combustion technologies. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flavonoid compounds are considered important components of new sources of natural antioxidants. This study was performed to optimize the ultrasound-assisted extraction processes of flavonoids from date plum persimmon (DPP) fruits, along with the in vitro antioxidant capacities and identities of those components. First, the effects of liquid/solid ratio, ethanol concentration, extraction time, and extraction temperature on flavonoid yields were investigated by independent variables analysis. Then the response surface methodology was used to optimize the extraction process, and the maximum flavonoid content was 3.05 ± 0.03 mg/g DW under the conditions of liquid/solid ratio 27:1 (mL/g), 74 mL ethanol/100 mL, extraction time 27 min, and extraction temperature 80 °C. Moreover, by DPPH and ABTS assays, the crude extracts of flavonoids in DPP fruits exhibited robust scavenging capacities with IC 50 values of 1.76 and 0.82 μg/mL, respectively. In addition, 17 bioactive compounds of DPP were isolated and identified by HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS, among which two were phenolic acid derivatives, two were flavanones, eight were flavones, four were pentacyclic triterpenoids and one was xanthone. This study provided information regarding the phytochemical composition and functional properties of DPP fruits, supporting future research to facilitate the development and utilization of DPP as a functional food. • Effects of extract parameters on flavonoid yield were studied by single factor test. • The optimal conditions of flavonoid extraction were selected by RSM. • The flavonoid in DPP had robust abilities to scavenge DPPH and ABTS free radicals. • Bioactive compounds of flavonoids were identified by HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is increasing global concern regarding the pervasive issue of plastic pollution. We investigated the response of Populus × euramericana cv. '74/76' to nanoplastic toxicity via phenotypic, microanatomical, physiological, transcriptomic, and metabolomic approaches. Polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) were distributed throughout the test plants after the application of PS-NPs. Nanoplastics principally accumulated in the roots; minimal fractions were translocated to the leaves. In leaves, however, PS-NPs easily penetrated membranes and became concentrated in chloroplasts, causing thylakoid disintegration and chlorophyll degradation. Finally, oxidant damage from the influx of PS-NPs led to diminished photosynthesis, stunted growth, and etiolation and/or wilting. By integrating dual-omics data, we found that plants could counteract mild PS-NP-induced oxidative stress through the antioxidant enzyme system without initiating secondary metabolic defense mechanisms. In contrast, severe PS-NP treatments promoted a shift in metabolic pattern from primary metabolism to secondary metabolic defense mechanisms, an effect that was particularly pronounced during the upregulation of flavonoid biosynthesis. Our findings provide a useful framework from which to further clarify the roles of key biochemical pathways in plant responses to nanoplastic toxicity. Our work also supports the development of effective strategies to mitigate the environmental risks of nanoplastics by biologically immobilizing them in contaminated lands. [Display omitted] • Polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) are toxic to the woody model plant Poplar. • PS-NPs accumulated mainly in roots, with minimal amounts reaching leaves. • PS-NPs easily penetrated membranes systems, causing thylakoid disintegration. • PS-NPs caused shifts in metabolic patterns in a dose-dependent manner. • Flavonoids are crucial for defending poplar against a severe PS-NPs toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Proposed a model to calculate closed porosity, integrating synchrotron radiation SAXS and nitrogen adsorption. • Pore size distribution, transmittance, and closed porosity trends for NMG coal all pivot at a 20 μm turning point. • Decreasing coal particle size shifts mechanical impact from pore destruction to pore formation. • Closed pores, categorized into dislocation, pressed, and plugged types, exhibit varying resistances to mechanical forces. Superfine pulverized coal exhibits extraordinary properties in thermal conversion processes like pyrolysis and combustion. The exploration of closed pores is of great significance for studying of the macromolecular structure, and developing advanced clean combustion technologies. In this work, the influences of coal rank and particle size on the mesopore characteristics (i.e., pore size, volume, and specific surface area), especially closed pores, were obtained by combining nitrogen adsorption and synchrotron-based small-angle X-ray radiation (SAXS). In addition, combined with the closed pore volume measured by He density and SAXS, research focuses on the formation and opening mechanisms of closed pores in different rank coals at a molecular level. The results indicate that both the bituminous (NMG) and anthracite coal (HN) have a few large open pores (>100 nm), with large amount of small mesopores and micropores (<2 nm). The HN coal has more open mesopores which have a smaller pore size than NMG coal. The closed pore proportion of HN coal in the studied pore size range is between 2 and 52 %, while that of NMG coal is between 47 and 67 %. In addition, both coals have a certain amount of closed pores formed by shear force and ash blockage, while the matrix compression also contribute to certain types of closed pores in NMG. These findings contribute to illustrating the closed pore structure in coal at the molecular level, which sheds light on constructing comprehensive macromolecular pore models of coal and thus promoting the development of clean coal utilization technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The sulfur transformations were quantitatively characterized combined XANES and XPS. • The mechanochemical activation and H 2 O 2 oxidation was employed for coal modification. • The synergistic mechanisms on the sulfur removal were elucidated. • The optimal particle size for the SO 2 emission was obtained. • A new desulfurization method with the high commercial feasibility was proposed. Exploiting efficient and low-cost oxidative desulfurization methods is urgently needed for promoting the development of novel desulfurization technologies. In this work, the sulfur speciation in the mechanochemically activated and H 2 O 2 oxidized coals was quantitatively characterized through X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The influences of H 2 O 2 concentration and particle size on the sulfur transformation were discussed. In addition, the synergistic mechanisms of mechanochemical activation and H 2 O 2 oxidation on the removal of organic sulfur were focused. Finally, combined with the sulfur speciation and deconvolution analysis, the main SO 2 precursors during the pyrolysis were elucidated. The results indicate that mechanochemical activation can promote the conversion from organic to inorganic sulfur by reducing the strength of C-S bond and accelerating the oxidation of thiophene and sulfide, which is beneficial to remove organic sulfur. On the other hand, the dissolution amount of sulfate in small particles decreases due to the decreased macropore volumes, complicated pore structure, and increased mass transfer resistance. Then, an optimal particle size around 20 μm (i.e., HN_23.9 and NMG_18.7) is observed for the studied coals, where the reduced amplitude of SO 2 after the chemical oxidation reaches the maximum. Besides, a dilute oxidant concentration is needed for low-rank coal during the chemical removal of sulfur, which is conducive to reduce the cost. The findings shed light on elucidating the origination of sulfur oxides from a molecular level and further exploiting the new efficient and low-cost desulfurization technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Increased S. aureus colonization with rich microbial diversity in EP patients. • AMPs for hBD2, LL-37, RNase7 in EP keratinocytes were lower than those in PV, but higher than AD. • Serum levels of hBD2, LL-37, RNase7 in EP were similar to those in PV but significantly lower than in AD. Erythrodermic psoriasis (EP) is a severe and rare condition characterized by prominent erythema and scaling over 75 % of the body surface area. Unlike psoriasis vulgaris (PV), EP carries high risk of systemic involvement, including superficial skin infections and sepsis, particularly those caused by Staphylococcus aureus. To explore the microecological characteristics of EP and detect the levels of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in both skin and serum of EP patients. In this study, skin microbiomes of 10 EP patients were analyzed through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The expressions of AMPs, Interleukin-4/13 (IL-4/13), Interleukin-17 (IL-17) and Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in skin were detected via immunohistochemical staining and serum levels of AMP were evaluated by ELISA. We also enrolled 10 AD and 10 PV patients as controls. EP patients retained rich microbial diversity, dominated by S. aureus. The AMPs of hBD2, LL-37, and RNase7 in EP keratinocytes were significantly lower than those in PV, but higher than those in AD. The expression levels of IL-4, IL-13 and IFN-γ in lesions are similar between EP and AD, but quite different from PV. What's more, the serum AMP levels in EP were similar to those in PV while significantly lower than in AD. We found EP patients have a rich microbial diversity dominated by S. aureus in lesions, while lower serum and skin AMPs expressions, which may account for the increased incidence of S. aureus cutaneous infections and sepsis in EP patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanisms and origins of week interaction and chelate effect-controlled regioselectivity for Rh(I)-catalyzed arylation reaction of indoles with aryl halides are explored theoretically. [Display omitted] • Mechanism for the cross-coupling reaction of indoles with aryl halides is elucidated. • The C-H activation process is superior to oxidative addition progress. • The reaction characters weak interaction and chelate effect-controlled regioselectivity. • The regioselectivity of C7 vs other active sites of N − PtBu 2 indole could be attributed to its strongest weak interactions. A density functional theory (DFT) study has been carried out to provide insight into the reaction mechanism of the rhodium(I)-catalyzed, P-directed selective C7 arylation of indoles with aryl halides. Our calculations suggest that it is more favorable for Rh(PPh 3) 2 OtBu, the real catalytical species for the reaction, to initially undergo C–H activation process with the indole to generate a five − membered rhodacycle intermediate than to proceed through oxidative addition with the aryl halide to yield a Rh(III) intermediate. Subsequently, the sequential C(aryl)−C(aryl) reductive elimination and catalyst regeneration progresses produce the final 7−arylindole product. The first C–H activation process is identified as rate- and regioselectivity-determining step with an energy barrier of 26.0 kcal/mol. The underlying origins and factors responsible for C7- vs C2-, C3-, and C6-regioselectivity is revealed by noncovalent interaction analysis. The results declare that the reaction characters weak interaction and chelate effect-controlled regioselectivity. Our study provides important mechanistic insights for the dehydrogenative cross-coupling reaction between indoles with aryl halides, and guides the design of efficient Rh-based catalyst for C–H functionalization of indoles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Synchrotron radiation-induced SAXS is introduced into the research of coal extraction process. • Fractal dimension, radius of gyration and pore size distribution are combined to study all extraction products. • Influence of particle size on the evolution of coal microstructure during the extraction is focused on. • The work promotes thoroughly depicting the pore structure of coal and residue at a molecular level. Because of the unique physicochemical textures induced by reduced particle size, superfine pulverized coal presents attractive characteristics in different utilization processes, including solvent extraction. In this work, the synchrotron radiation-based small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) with high precision was used to quantitatively characterize all the products during the coal extraction process, including raw coal, extract, and residue. In addition, the evolutions of pore structures (solid state) and aggregate configurations (liquid state) were focused on. The results show that the fractal dimensions of pore surfaces are mainly related to the pore sizes and corresponding quantity distributions. When the particle size is less than 14 μm, the comminution induced mechanical effect on the pore surface gradually changes from impact to polish during the superfine grinding. Additionally, the fractal dimension decreases with the decline of particle size and ash content, whilst increases for the lower ranked coals. As for the extraction process, the extraction effect of tetrahydrofuran on anthracite coal is relatively better, while pyridine is more effective for bituminous coal. The diverse driving force caused by particle size effect leads to different radii of the gyration of the extracted aggregates, indicating the selected bituminous coal has active sites that are susceptible to reacting with aromatic compounds, while anthracite has a large number of active sites that accept electrons. Finally, the surface fractal dimension of the extraction residue declines about 2% and 4% for HN and NMG coal respectively, and the decreasing trend declines for larger coal particles. Interestingly, this decreasing trend of bituminous coal is more evident, which indicates the pore surface of bituminous coal is easier to react with solvent. The research sheds light on thoroughly depicting the pore structure of coal and residue at a molecular level, which promotes a better understanding of the solvent extraction mechanisms. The results also provide a new perspective for constructing more comprehensive coal molecular models in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • SS 13C NMR is introduced into the research for all coal extraction products. • Carbon skeleton characteristics are quantitatively analyzed for all extraction products. • Influence of particle size on the evolution of coal microstructure during the extraction is focused on. • The work promotes the thorough elucidation on the carbon skeleton structure for all extraction products at a molecular level. To better understand the molecular structure of superfine pulverized coal and promote its practical utilization, the NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) technology is adopted to study the structural information of all the products from the solvent extraction process, including raw coal, residue, and extract. The whole set of NMR spectra is resolved into different individual curves with specific linewidths, shapes, and intensities. According to the chemical shift, the carbon skeleton characteristics like the aromaticity, cluster size, and other structural lattice parameters are analyzed in detail. More importantly, the influences of coal maturity, coal size, and solvent on the carbon structural evolution during the extraction process are focused on. The results show that the aromatic ring stacking and aromatic ring exposure and fragmentation occur competitively during the superfine comminution, promoting the structural evolution of the coal. In addition, aliphatic carbon transfers more from raw coal into the extract than aromatic carbon in the whole extraction process, which is accompanied by the disappearance of carbonyl groups. Furthermore, the reduction of particle size can promote the extraction effect of the extractant on the coal powder, and reduce the proportion of aliphatic carbon in the residue. The work introduces the correlations among the raw coal, residue and extract from a carbon skeleton point of view, providing a reference for elucidating the solvent extraction mechanisms. The results shed light on better understanding the coal structure and its further molecular modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular structure of hyperbranched polyglycerols (hbPGs) strongly affected the thermal stability as the critical heat transfer medium to maintain thermal homeostasis during working of heat engine. Here, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)-fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)-gas chromatography (GC)-mass spectroscopy (MS) and reactive force-field (ReaxFF) techniques were utilized to identify major thermal decomposition products and explore the molecular mechanism. TGA-FTIR-GC/MS results showed that the major products were CO, CO 2 , water molecules and C3 organic moieties. To perform ReaxFF molecular dynamic simulation, timestep-dependent images revealed that C3 molecules were mainly originated from glycerol units and hydroxyl groups played an essential role in catalyzing thermal decomposition. To examine our hypothesis, different methoxylation levels of hbPGs were prepared, and TGA analysis of these methoxylated hbPGs polymers clearly corroborated that lower percentage of hydroxyl groups in the hbPGs can significantly increase maximum peak temperature from ∼400 °C to ∼460 °C. Our investigation clearly provided the molecular mechanism of hbPGs thermal decomposition and identified a potential way to improve thermal stability of hbPGs. • Major thermal decomposition products of hbPGs is C3 moieties, CO, CO2 and water molecules. • C3 moieties mainly produced from dissociation of glycerol units. • Water and hydroxyl groups catalyzed dissociation of glycerol units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Proposing a general strategy towards microwave-sensitive immune hydrogel. • Exhibiting large-scale production potential due to the mix-and-use manner. • Enabling both enhanced microwave ablation and robust antitumor immunity. • Achieving both elimination of primary tumor and inhibition of metastatic tumor. • Showing promising clinical translation due to the all FDA-approved components. The minimal invasive percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) combined with immunotherapy is a promising technique in clinic for the treatment of primary and metastatic tumors. However, elaborate encapsulation carrier designs, complex cellular engineering, and poor applicability are the vexing problems difficult to solve currently. Herein, a general strategy was proposed for the design of an injectable microwave-sensitive immune hydrogel for combined MWA and immunotherapy in vivo for the first time. The mix-and-use hydrogel composed Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved components were fabricated by introducing various immunostimulants regardless of hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity into the alginate (ALG)-Ca2+ hydrogel. As a proof of concept, an immunoadjuvant (R837) was employed to synthesize the R837-ALG-hydrogel for systematic studies. This immune hydrogel owns ultra-facile synthesis process, good microwave-sensitivity, adjuvant encapsulation efficiency of nearly 100%, good biocompatibility and syringeability, and large-scale production capability, which could be easily injected into the primary tumor for enhancing MWA. Moreover, the loaded R837 could motivate in situ vaccination by making the utmost of the tumor-associated antigens released after MWA, thereby inducing the robust tumor-specific antitumor immunity to suppress the distant metastatic tumor in vivo. The proposed injectable microwave-sensitive immune hydrogel paves a facile but general avenue with great clinical translation potential for the minimal invasive personalized oncotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]