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Regulation of the complex structure is greatly significant for the preparation of single-molecule magnets (SMMs). In this work, a multidentate ligand of N,N′-bis(3-carboxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetradicarboximide (H4NDISA) has been synthesized and reacted with dysprosium(III) salt. By controlling the ratio of metal ions to the ligand and reaction temperature, three new dysprosium(III) complexes are obtained, namely, [Dy2(H2NDISA)3(DMF)3(H2O)10]·1.4DMF·2.6H2O (1), {[Dy(H2NDISA)1.5(DMF)(H2O)4]·3DMF·4H2O}n (2), and {[Dy(HNDISA)(H2O)2]·4H2O}n (3). Their structures are determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Crystallographic data demonstrate that complex 1 is a dinuclear dysprosium(III) complex linked by the bidentate ligand of H4NDISA. The intramolecular Dy(III)⋯Dy(III) distance is 23.0861(7) Å. In complex 2, the carboxyl group in one of the ligands adopts a μ-η2:η1 bridging mode to connect two Dy(III) ions, resulting in a Dy(III)⋯Dy(III) distance of 5.2611(5) Å. The other ligand adopts a tetradentate coordination mode to bridge two Dy(III) ions, forming an infinite one-dimensional chain structure along the c axis. Complex 3 displays a two-dimensional network structure. One carboxyl group in the ligand adopts a μ-η1:η1 bridging mode growing along the c axis. Another carboxyl group in the ligand adopts a μ-η2:η1 bridging mode. The shortest distance of Dy(III)⋯Dy(III) is 4.6138(5) Å. DC and alternating current (AC) magnetic susceptibilities of complexes 1–3 were measured. AC magnetic susceptibility measurements show that complexes 1–3 exhibit frequency-dependent ac susceptibilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is globally prevalent with high recurrence, low survival rate, and poor quality of life for patients. Derived from PAC-1, SM-1 can activate procaspase-3 and induce apoptosis in cancer cells to exert anti-tumor effects. However, the inhibitory effect of SM-1 on HNSCC after combination with radiation are unclear. This study aims to investigate the radiosensitizing effect of SM-1 on HNSCC in vitro and in vivo. Methods: MTT method was used to detect the effect of SM-1 on the viability of HNSCC cell lines (HONE1, HSC-2, and CAL27). The effects of SM-1 combined with radiation on the survival index of HONE1, HSC-2, and CAL27 cell lines were determined by colony formation assay. Flow cytometry was used to investigate the effects of SM-1 and radiation combination on cell apoptosis and cell cycle, and western blot experiments were performed to detect the expression of apoptosis and cell cycle-related proteins. Finally, a xenograft tumor model of CAL27 was established to evaluate the anti-tumor effect of SM-1 combined with radiation in vivo. Results: In vitro, SM-1 effectively inhibited the activity of HNSCC cell lines HONE1, HSC-2, and CAL27 cells, and synergistically showed anti-proliferation activity during combined irradiation. Meanwhile, anti-tumor effect of SM-1 on HNSCC was higher than that of Debio1143, and the radiosensitivity of cells was greatly increased. Flow cytometry and western blot analysis showed that SM-1 induced G2/M phase arrest of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells via inhibiting the expression of CyclinB1 and CDC2. Moreover, SM-1 activated caspase-3 activity and up-regulated the cleaved form of PARP1 to induce cell apoptosis. In vivo, SM-1 combined irradiation showed a good anti-tumor effect. Conclusion: SM-1 enhances HNSCC cell radiation sensitivity in vitro and in vivo, supporting its potential as a radiosensitizer for clinical trials in combination with radiotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rare Metals is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Nutritional programming has the potential to enhance digestible carbohydrate utilization in fish; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The present study compared the metabolome, glucose metabolism-related gene expressions, and global DNA methylation between yellow catfish larvae, which were parental programmed by a high carbohydrate diet (HC) or not (CON). In total, 1509 differentially altered metabolites (DAMs) were identified. Among them, the contents of key intermediates of TCA cycle and pentose phosphate pathway, citrate, and D-glycero-L-galacto-octulose were higher in HC than in CON. Meanwhile, the contents of two epigenetic modification-related metabolites, 2-hydroxyglutaric acid and N1-acetylspermidine, differed significantly between HC and CON. Thirteen KEGG pathways were significantly enriched and were mainly linked to amino acid and lipid metabolism. Additionally, the pentose phosphate pathway was enriched. The mRNA expressions of glycolytic genes gk, pk, and pfk, as well as the glucose transport gene sglt1, were significantly higher in HC than in CON. Global DNA methylation was significantly higher in HC than in CON. These results suggested that high carbohydrate programming could improve glucose utilization in yellow catfish larvae by modulating the TCA cycle and pentose phosphate pathway, and enhancing the conversion of glucose to amino acids. Epigenetic modifications might be the underlying mechanisms by which nutritional programming affects glucose metabolism in fish, while 2-hydroxyglutaric acid and N1-acetylspermidine are two critical metabolites that mediate epigenetic modifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of astaxanthin, a carotenoid supplement, on the physiology and coloration of juvenile blood parrotfish cultured in a recirculating aquaculture system. Fish were divided into three groups: a control group fed a basal diet for 84 days, a coloration (ASX) group fed an astaxanthin-enriched diet for 84 days, and a decoloration (ASX-) group initially fed an astaxanthin-enriched diet for 42 days and then switched to a basal diet for another 42 days. The results showed that astaxanthin increased the density of erythrophore cells in the skin of the fish, leading to increased (P < 0.05) redness (a*), yellowness (b*), chroma (Cab*), and hue (H°ab) in the skin and muscle of the ASX group compared to the ASX- and control groups. It also led to increased (P < 0.05) villus height and muscular thickness in the anterior, mid, and posterior intestines, as well as increased production of Kupffer cells in the liver and red pulp in the spleen compared to those fed ASX- and control diets. Additionally, astaxanthin improved the concentration of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in the blood plasma and lowered low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in the liver. The study concluded that astaxanthin significantly improved the concentration of pigment cells, chromatic parameters, villus height, and muscular thickness in blood parrotfish. The differences observed in the groups were attributed to short-term changes in the group that switched from an astaxanthin-enriched diet to a basal diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To examine if pregnancy affects the prognosis of uveal melanoma (UM) patients undergoing plaque brachytherapy (PBT) and to assess if PBT has any subsequent impact on pregnancy outcomes. Methods: A retrospective, single-center study was carried out at Beijing Tongren Hospital, focusing on women of childbearing age diagnosed with UM and treated with iodine-125 plaque brachytherapy. Both the outcomes of pregnancies and the health status of the fetuses were monitored. Survival analyses were conducted using the Kaplan-Meier method, with endpoints being metastasis and death. Results: A total of 13 patients who had full-term pregnancies and 96 non-pregnant women matched by age and tumor size were included. The mean follow-up time was 67.0 ± 27.7 months (median:66.0 months, range:21.0 to 116.0 months). In the pregnant group, two patients developed metastases, one of whom died shortly after delivery; local recurrence of UM occurred in 2 patients after or during delivery, and 2 other patients developed secondary glaucoma due to radiation retinopathy. None of the other pregnant patients reported any signs of disease progression. In the control group, 18 metastasis cases including 12 deaths were documented. Pregnant patients and matched control subjects showed no statistical difference in both Metastasis-free survival (hazard ratio (HR): 0.66, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.15–2.86; P = 0.576) and overall survival (HR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.06–3.66; P = 0.464). All pregnant patients carried the pregnancy to term and delivered healthy children with no report of placental or infant metastases to date. Conclusion: Pregnancy does not appear to negatively impact the prognosis of UM patients undergoing PBT. PBT showed no observable detriment to maternal fertility and exhibited no teratogenic effects on the fetus. However, the long-term implications of PBT on pregnancy remain uncertain, necessitating additional, prolonged follow-up studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cervical and upper thoracic esophageal cancer (ESCA) presents treatment challenges due to limited clinical evidence. This multi-center study (ChC&UES) explores radical radio(chemo)therapy efficacy and safety, especially focusing on radiation dose. Method: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data from 1,422 cases across 8 medical centers. According to the radiation dose for primary gross tumor, patients were divided into standard dose radiotherapy (SD, 50–55 Gy) or high dose (HD, > 55 Gy) radiotherapy. HD was further subdivided into conventional- high-dose group (HD-conventional, 55–63 Gy) and ultra-high-dose group (HD-ultra, ≥ 63 Gy). Primary outcome was Overall Survival (OS). Results: The median OS was 33.0 months (95% CI: 29.401–36.521) in the whole cohort. Compared with SD, HD shown significant improved survival in cervical ESCA in Kaplan-Meier (P = 0.029) and cox multivariate regression analysis (P = 0.024) while shown comparable survival in upper thoracic ESCA (P = 0.735). No significant difference existed between HD-conventional and HD-ultra in cervical (P = 0.976) and upper thoracic (P = 0.610) ESCA. Incidences of radiation esophagitis and pneumonia from HD were comparable to SD (P = 0.097, 0.240), while myosuppression risk was higher(P = 0.039). The Bonferroni method revealed that, for both cervical and upper thoracic ESCA, HD-ultra enhance the objective response rate (ORR) compared to SD (P < 0.05). Conclusion: HD radiotherapy benefits cervical but not upper thoracic ESCA, while increasing bone marrow suppression risk. Further dose escalating (≥ 63 Gy) doesn't improve survival but enhances ORR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Author summary: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) models are increasingly deployed on biomedical and health data to shed insights on biological mechanism, predict disease outcomes, and support clinical decision-making. However, ensuring model validity is challenging. The 10 quick tips described here discuss useful practices on how to check AI/ML models from 2 perspectives—the user and the developer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The self-rectifying memristor (SRM) is a promising device prototype for high-density three-dimensional (3D) integration and high-efficiency in-memory computing (IMC) by virtue of its ability to effectively suppress sneak current, simple device structure, and low energy consumption. Theoretically understanding the intrinsic mechanisms of SRM is a matter of concern. Here, we fabricated a Ta/TaOx/HfO2/Pt-stacked SRM exhibiting >103 on/off ratio, rectification ratio, and nonlinearity. The SRM can be repeatedly programmed by more than 106 pulses and demonstrates robust retention and high scalability (∼59 Mbit). A reasonable interface model for this SRM is established based on first-principles calculations. Using self-energy corrected density function theory, we calculate the barrier heights at each interface. Detailed I–V curve fitting and energy band analysis are performed and computationally verified to explain the intrinsic reasons for resistive switching, self-rectifying, and nonlinear behaviors. The work may advance the development of SRM prototype to enable energy-efficient 3D IMC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manganese-based layered transition metal oxides exhibit inherent advantages such as a low and high voltage plateau. However, they suffer from complex structural transformations and transition metal migration during cycling, and their energy density and lifespan cannot satisfy the increasing demand. The orbital and electronic structure of the octahedral center metal element are crucial for maintaining octahedral structural integrity and improving K + diffusivity through the introduced heterogeneous [Me–O] chemical bonding. Herein, inspired by the orbital bonding possibility arising from tungsten's abundant configuration of extranuclear electrons and large ionic radius, P3-type K0.5Mn0.95W0.05O2 (KMWO) was synthesized and employed as a cathode material for potassium-ion batteries. Experimental results indicate that the incorporation of tungsten significantly enhances cycling stability. After 1000 cycles, the capacity retention rate reached 90.5% at a current density of 200 mA g−1. Hexavalent tungsten substitution is proven to shorten the detrimental phase transition process, effectively suppressing the movement of transition metal layers and the rearrangement from the P3-type structure to the O3-type structure, thereby reinforcing structural stability. This work not only demonstrates a straightforward and reliable potassium-ion battery cathode material but also provides novel design insights for the future exploration of advanced potassium-ion layered oxide cathode materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of triphenol‐diamine‐type hyperbranched benzoxazines are synthesized by using polyformaldehyde, 1,1,1‐tri(4‐hydroxyphenyl) ethane, and primary amines such as p‐phenylenediamine, 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylmethane, polyetheramine, and bifuranocyclic diamine via Mannich condensation. Then, copolymers with bifunctional benzoxazine (BA‐a) are prepared to obtain superior properties. The polymerization behavior of the copolymers examined using a differential scanning calorimeter and a Fourier transform infrared indicates that the introduction of hyperbranched benzoxazines facilitates the benzoxazine curing reaction, decreasing the onset and peak temperatures of the curing process. Thermogravimetric analysis results suggest the cured hyperbranched benzoxazine demonstrates good thermal stability and can improve the heat resistance of benzoxazine. In addition, dynamic mechanical analysis suggests the glass transition temperature of the copolymers with BA‐a was increased after copolymerization, thus making all the copolymers obtain higher service temperatures. The test results from the universal testing machine and the fracture morphologies of copolymers indicate the hyperbranched benzoxazines with branched structures cause dendritic folds to appear on the surface of copolymers upon polymerization, preventing rapid cracking and spreading of the thermoset resin by dissipating more impact energy through this irregular dendritic appearance, thus obtaining strength and toughness superior to that of BA‐a resins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) driven by clean electricity to obtain valuable chemicals is a feasible way to achieve carbon neutrality and is thus attracting increasing attention. Among different transition metal-based CO2RR catalysts, Pd is the unique one because of its potential-dependent 2e− reduction product distribution is tunable from formate to CO. Moreover, the interconversion between CO2 and HCOOH can be achieved at equilibrium potential only on Pd surfaces. Considering these advantages, this review summarizes recent research progress on Pd-catalyzed CO2RR in the past five years, including the new mechanistic understanding on Pd surfaces, and the rational design of Pd-based electrocatalysts. For mechanism studies, reaction pathways, adsorption configurations for the formate intermediate, and roles of adsorbed CO species are discussed. For catalyst discovery, both monometallic Pd and Pd-based catalysts with secondary metal and metalloid elements are overviewed. At the end, we put forward the possibility of utilizing Pd-based catalysts in electrolyzers to bridge the fundamental research and actual application of such catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is an interstitial lung disease characterized by inflammation and fibrotic changes, with an unknown cause. In the early stages of PF, severe inflammation leads to the destruction of lung tissue, followed by upregulation of fibrotic factors like Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), which disrupt normal tissue repair. Geniposide, a natural iridoid glycoside primarily derived from the fruits of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, possesses various pharmacological activities, including liver protection, choleretic effects, and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we investigated the effects of Geniposide on chronic inflammation and fibrosis induced by bleomycin (BLM) in mice with pulmonary fibrosis (PF). PF was induced by intratracheal instillation of bleomycin, and Geniposide(100/50/25mg•kg-1) was orally administered to the mice once a day until euthanasia(14 day/28 day). The Raw264.7 cell inflammation induced by LPS was used to evaluate the effect of Geniposide on the activation of macrophage. Our results demonstrated that Geniposide reduced lung coefficients, decreased the content of Hydroxyproline, and improved pathological changes in lung tissue. It also reduced the number of inflammatory cells and levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of bleomycin-induced PF mice. At the molecular level, Geniposide significantly down-regulated the expression of TGF-β1, Smad2/3, p38, and CTGF in lung tissues of PF mice induced by bleomycin. Molecular docking results revealed that Geniposide exhibited good binding activity with TGF-β1, Smad2, Smad3, and p38. In vitro study showed Geniposide directly inhibited the activation of macrophage induced by LPS. In conclusion, our findings suggest that Geniposide can ameliorate bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice by inhibiting the TGF-β/Smad and p38MAPK signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To systematically review the clinical efficacy (pain, function, quality of life) and safety of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in the treatment of frozen shoulder through meta-analysis, and provide evidence-based medical evidence for the effectiveness of PRP in the treatment of frozen shoulder. Methods: A search was conducted on international databases (Pubmed, Web of science, Embase) and Chinese databases (CNKI, Wanfang, VIP) to search the clinical studies on the efficacy of platelet-rich plasma in treating frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis/periarthritis/50 shoulder) and their corresponding references published from inception until January 2024. Thoroughly excluded literature not meeting the predetermined inclusion criteria, extracted relevant data from the literature, and input it into RevMan5.4 for meta-analysis. Results: This study ultimately included 14 RCTs, with a total of 1024 patients. The results showed that PRP has significant advantages compared with control groups in VAS (mean difference (MD) =-0.38, 95% confidence interval(CI)(-0.73, -0.03), P = 0.03), UCLA (MD = 3.31, 95% CI (1.02,5.60),P = 0.005), DASH (MD = -4.94,95% CI (-9.34, -0.53),P = 0.03), SPADI (SPADI Total: MD =-16.87, 95% CI (-22.84, -10.91), P < 0.00001; SPADI Pain: MD =-5.38, 95% CI (-7.80, -2.97), P < 0.0001; SPADI Disability: MD =-11.00, 95% CI (-13.61,-8.39), P < 0.00001), and the active and passive Range of Motion (active flexion: MD = 12.70, 95% CI (7.44, 17.95), P < 0.00001; passive flexion: MD = 9.47, 95% CI(3.80, 15.14), P = 0.001; active extension: MD = 3.45, 95% CI(2.39, 4.50), P < 0.00001; active abduction: MD = 13.54, 95% CI(8.42, 18.67), P < 0.00001; passive abduction: MD = 14.26, 95% CI (5.97, 22.56), P = 0.0008; active internal rotation: MD = 5.16, 95% CI (1.84, 8.48), P = 0.002; passive internal rotation: MD = 3.65, 95% CI(1.15, 6.15), P = 0.004; active external rotation: MD = 10.50, 95% CI(5.47, 15.53), P < 0.0001; passive external rotation: MD = 6.00, 95% CI (1.82, 10.19), P = 0.005) except passive extension (MD = 2.25, 95% CI (-0.77, 5.28), P = 0.14). In terms of safety, most studies reported no adverse effects, and only one study reported common complications of joint puncture such as swelling and pain after treatment in both PRP and control groups. Previous studies have shown a risk of osteonecrosis caused by corticosteroids. Therefore, the safety of PRP treatment is more reliable. Conclusion: The results showed that PRP was more durable and safer than corticosteroids and other control groups in the treatment of frozen shoulder. Study Design: Systematic review. Trial registration: PROSPERO CRD42022359444, date of registration: 22-09-2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rare Metals is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: While intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is crucial in numerous spinally related illnesses and is common among the elderly, the complete understanding of its pathogenic mechanisms is still an area of ongoing study. In recent years, it has revealed that liposomes are crucial in the initiation and progression of IVDD. However, their intrinsic mediators and related mechanisms remain unclear. With the development of genomics, an increasing amount of data points to the contribution of genetics in the etiology of disease. Accordingly, this study explored the causality between liposomes and IVDD by Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis and deeply investigated the intermediary roles of undetected metabolites. Methods: According to MR analysis, 179 liposomes and 1400 metabolites were evaluated for their causal association with IVDD. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are strongly associated with the concentrations of liposomes and metabolites. Consequently, they were employed as instrumental variables (IVs) to deduce if they constituted risk elements or protective elements for IVDD. Furthermore, mediation analysis was conducted to pinpoint possible metabolic mediators that link liposomes to IVDD. The inverse variance weighting (IVW) was the main analytical technique. Various confidence tests in the causality estimates were performed, including consistency, heterogeneity, pleiotropy, and sensitivity analyses. Inverse MR analysis was also utilized to estimate potential reverse causality. Results: MR analysis identified 13 liposomes and 79 metabolites markedly relevant to IVDD. Moreover, the mediation analysis was carried out by choosing the liposome, specifically the triacylglycerol (48:2) levels, which were found to be most notably associated with an increased risk of IVDD. In all, three metabolite-associated mediators were identified (3-methylcytidine levels, inosine 5'-monophosphate (IMP) to phosphate ratio, and adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP) to glycine ratio). Conclusion: The analysis's findings suggested possible causal connections between liposomes, metabolites, and IVDD, which could act as both forecast and prognosis clinical indicators, thereby aiding in the exploration of the pathogenesis behind IVDD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lamiales, comprising over 23,755 species across 24 families, stands as a highly diverse and prolific plant group, playing a significant role in the cultivation of horticultural, ornamental, and medicinal plant varieties. Whole-genome duplication (WGD) and its subsequent post-polyploid diploidization (PPD) process represent the most drastic type of karyotype evolution, injecting significant potential for promoting the diversity of this lineage. However, polyploidization histories, as well as genome and subgenome fractionation following WGD events in Lamiales species, are still not well investigated. In this study, we constructed a chromosome-level genome assembly of Lindenbergia philippensis (Orobanchaceae) and conducted comparative genomic analyses with 14 other Lamiales species. L. philippensis is positioned closest to the parasitic lineage within Orobanchaceae and has a conserved karyotype. Through a combination of Ks analysis and syntenic depth analysis, we reconstructed and validated polyploidization histories of Lamiales species. Our results indicated that Primulina huaijiensis underwent three rounds of diploidization events following the γ-WGT event, rather than two rounds as reported. Besides, we reconfirmed that most Lamiales species shared a common diploidization event (L-WGD). Subsequently, we constructed the Lamiales Ancestral Karyotype (LAK), comprising 11 proto-chromosomes, and elucidated its evolutionary trajectory, highlighting the highly flexible reshuffling of the Lamiales paleogenome. We identified biased fractionation of subgenomes following the L-WGD event across eight species, and highlighted the positive impacts of non-WGD genes on gene family expansion. This study provides novel genomic resources and insights into polyploidy and karyotype remodeling of Lamiales species, essential for advancing our understanding of species diversification and genome evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhein, a component derived from rhubarb, has been proven to possess anti-inflammatory properties. Here, we show that rhein mitigates obesity by promoting adipose tissue thermogenesis in diet-induced obese mice. We construct a macrophage-adipocyte co-culture system and demonstrate that rhein promotes adipocyte thermogenesis through inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation in macrophages. Moreover, clues from acetylome analysis identify SIRT2 as a potential drug target of rhein. We further verify that rhein directly interacts with SIRT2 and inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation in a SIRT2-dependent way. Myeloid knockdown of SIRT2 abrogates adipose tissue thermogenesis and metabolic benefits in obese mice induced by rhein. Together, our findings elucidate that rhein inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation in macrophages by regulating SIRT2, and thus promotes white adipose tissue thermogenesis during obesity. These findings uncover the molecular mechanism underlying the anti-inflammatory and anti-obesity effects of rhein, and suggest that rhein may become a potential drug for treating obesity. Zhou et al. reveal that rhein improves adipose tissue thermogenesis via suppressing the NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages during obesity. They further identify that rhein directly binds to SIRT2 and inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome by activating SIRT2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurately imaging seismogenic structures is crucial for seismic hazard assessment. This is especially important around the deformation front (DF) region off SW Taiwan, where seismic potential is high but the fault structure and seismic activity are still poorly understood. Here, we present a comprehensive delineation of seismogenic structures along the onshore and offshore DF of SW Taiwan, utilizing hypocenter relocations and first-motion focal mechanism solutions from January 1991 to March 2019. Five distinctive seismogenic structures are delineated. Particularly, the energetic seismic activity initialled after the 2017 Mw5.3 Tainan earthquake and migrated northeastward along the western side of the DF. The offshore trace of the DF could serve as a boundary delimiting the seismic activity driven by the flexural stress of the subducted Eurasia Plate to the west of the DF. This observation could constrain the magnitude estimation of future earthquakes offshore SW Taiwan. Meanwhile, the areas with higher seismic moment release are located near the DF rather than known faults, indicating that the DF may dominate the seismic moment release. However, further study is warranted into the intricate relationship among seismic strain variation, the structure of DF, and seismic activity to further understand the seismic potential. Our first-motion focal mechanism solutions show that several earthquakes in SW Taiwan were characterized by P-axis orientations parallel to the strike of the Taiwan orogeny. Those events are preferably explained by the lateral compression induced by the ongoing collision between the Eurasia and Philippine Sea plates. Key Points: The deformation front has high seismic potential but seismogenic structure remains unclear. The deformation front confined seismic activity and released relatively large seismic moments. The role of the deformation front must be considered in seismic hazard assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flueggea virosa (Roxb. ex Willd.) Royle, an evergreen shrub and small tree in the Phyllanthaceae family, holds significant potential in garden landscaping and pharmacological applications. However, the lack of genomic data has hindered further scientific understanding of its horticultural and medicinal values. In this study, we have assembled a haplotype-resolved genome of F. virosa for the first time. The two haploid genomes, named haplotype A genome and haplotype B genome, are 487.33 Mb and 477.53 Mb in size, respectively, with contig N50 lengths of 31.45 Mb and 32.81 Mb. More than 99% of the assembled sequences were anchored to 13 pairs of pseudo-chromosomes. Furthermore, 21,587 and 21,533 protein-coding genes were predicted in haplotype A and haplotype B genomes, respectively. The availability of this chromosome-level genome fills the gap in genomic data for F. virosa and provides valuable resources for molecular studies of this species, supporting future research on speciation, functional genomics, and comparative genomics within the Phyllanthaceae family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dracaena cambodiana Pierre ex Gagn. (Asparagaceae) is the source plant of Dragon's blood and has high ornamental values in gardening. Currently, this species is classified as the second-class state-protected species in the National Key Protected Wild Plants (NKPWP) of China. However, limited genomic data has hindered a more comprehensive scientific understanding of the processes involved in the production of Dragon's blood and the related conservation genomics research. In this study, we assembled a haplotype-resolved genome of D. cambodiana. The haploid genomes, haplotype A and haplotype B, are 1,015.22 Mb and 1,003.13 Mb in size, respectively. The completeness of haplotype A and haplotype B genomes was 98.60% and 98.20%, respectively, using the "embryophyta_10" dataset. Haplotype A and haplotype B genomes contained 27,361 and 27,066 protein-coding genes, respectively, with nearly all being functionally annotated. These findings provide new insights into the genomic characteristics of D. cambodiana and will offer additional genomic resources for studying the biosynthesis mechanism of Dragon's blood and the horticultural application of Dragon trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies in small samples have identified inconsistent cortical abnormalities in major depressive disorder (MDD). Despite genetic influences on MDD and the brain, it is unclear how genetic risk for MDD is translated into spatially patterned cortical vulnerability. Here, we initially examined voxel-wise differences in cortical function and structure using the largest multi-modal MRI data from 1660 MDD patients and 1341 controls. Combined with the Allen Human Brain Atlas, we then adopted transcription-neuroimaging spatial correlation and the newly developed ensemble-based gene category enrichment analysis to identify gene categories with expression related to cortical changes in MDD. Results showed that patients had relatively circumscribed impairments in local functional properties and broadly distributed disruptions in global functional connectivity, consistently characterized by hyper-function in associative areas and hypo-function in primary regions. Moreover, the local functional alterations were correlated with genes enriched for biological functions related to MDD in general (e.g., endoplasmic reticulum stress, mitogen-activated protein kinase, histone acetylation, and DNA methylation); and the global functional connectivity changes were associated with not only MDD-general, but also brain-relevant genes (e.g., neuron, synapse, axon, glial cell, and neurotransmitters). Our findings may provide important insights into the transcriptomic signatures of regional cortical vulnerability to MDD. Our combined large-scale neuroimaging and brain transcriptome study demonstrates genetic substrates underlying cortical functional abnormalities in depression, suggesting transcriptomic decoding of regional cortical vulnerability to depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blood transfusions save lives and improve health every day. Despite the matching of blood types being stricter than it ever has been, emergency transfusions among incompatible blood types are still inevitable in the clinic when there is a lack of acceptable blood types for recipients. Here to overcome this, a counter measure nanoplatform consisting of a polymeric core coated by a red blood cell (RBC) membrane is developed. With A‐type or B‐type RBC membrane camouflaging, the nanoplatform is capable of specifically capturing anti‐A or anti‐B IgM antibodies within B‐type or A‐type whole blood, thereby decreasing the corresponding IgM antibody levels and then allowing the incompatible blood transfusions. In addition to IgM, the anti‐RBC IgG antibody in a passive immunization murine model can likewise be neutralized by this nanoplatform, leading to prolonged circulation time of incompatible donor RBCs. Noteworthily, nanoplatform made by expired RBCs (>42 days stored hypothermically) and then subjected to lyophilization does not impair their effect on antibody neutralization. Most importantly, antibody‐captured RBC‐NP do not exacerbate the risk of inflammation, complement activation, and coagulopathy in an acute hemorrhagic shock murine model. Overall, this biomimetic nanoplatform can safely neutralize the antibody to enable incompatible blood transfusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Glioblastoma (GBM) poses a significant challenge in oncology, with median survival times barely extending beyond a year due to resistance to standard therapies like temozolomide (TMZ). This study introduces a novel therapeutic strategy combining progesterone (Prog) and abiraterone (Abi) aimed at enhancing GBM treatment efficacy by modulating the tumor microenvironment and augmenting NK cell-mediated immunity. Methods: We employed in vitro and in vivo GBM models to assess the effects of Prog and Abi on cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, and the immune microenvironment. Techniques included cell viability assays, Glo-caspase 3/7 apoptosis assays, RNA-seq and qPCR for gene expression, Seahorse analysis for mitochondrial function, HPLC-MS for metabolomics analysis, and immune analysis by flow cytometry to quantify NK cell infiltration. Results: Prog significantly reduced the IC50 of Abi in TMZ-resistant GBM cell, suggesting the enhanced cytotoxicity. Treatment induced greater apoptosis than either agent alone, suppressed tumor growth, and prolonged survival in mouse models. Notably, there was an increase in CD3−/CD19−/CD56+/NK1.1+ NK cell infiltration in treated tumors, indicating a shift towards an anti-tumor immune microenvironment. The combination therapy also resulted in a reduction of MGMT expression and a suppression of mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis in GBM cells. Conclusion: The combination of Prog and Abi represents a promising therapeutic approach for GBM, showing potential in suppressing tumor growth, extending survival, and modulating the immune microenvironment. These findings warrant further exploration into the clinical applicability of this strategy to improve outcomes for GBM patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical conversion of nitrate to ammonia under ambient conditions, a potential substitute for the conventional Haber–Bosch process, features a considerably sluggish reaction kinetics and thermodynamic complexity due to its eight-electron process coupled with nine protons, which should be responsible for the poor ammonia yield rate and low faradaic efficiency. Consequently, exploring and developing highly efficient electrocatalysts with high selectivity towards ammonia from nitrate is necessary to accelerate the cleanliness and efficiency of the ammonia industry. Herein, we propose a typical defect-rich Mo1.33C0.9B0.1 MXene electrocatalyst synthesized through selective etching of the (Mo2/3Y1/3)2AlC0.9B0.1 MAX phase, which exhibits an excellent faradaic efficiency of 91% and ammonia yield rate of 1.7 mmol h−1 mgcat.−1 in 1 M KOH containing 0.1 M KNO3 at −0.35 V vs. RHE, superior to the majority of electrocatalysts reported to our knowledge. The results demonstrate that the synergistic effect between high-valence Mo sites and the empty-orbital-rich B dopant boosts the electrocatalytic performance of Mo1.33C0.9B0.1 by enhanced NO3− adsorption and activation, which can significantly accelerate the multiple-electron transfer dynamics. The novel understanding based on the active sites paves a new way toward designing and modulating electrocatalysts for industrial ammonia production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the scaled boundary finite element method (SBFEM) is first applied to the forced vibration analysis of partially liquid-filled composite laminated shell structure considering fluid–structure interaction. In comparison with the finite element method, the SBFEM only requires discretization of the boundary of the solution domain, which can reduce the spatial dimension of the problem by one and provide the radial analytical expressions for the variables within the solution domain. The structure consists of a multi-layered fiber-reinforced composite laminated shell and incompressible, inviscid, and irrotational liquid. After separately describing the basic expressions for the fluid and composite laminated shell, which includes the transformation of three coordinate systems and the establishment of the constitutive equations for the shell, the governing equations for the fluid and shell structure using the scaled boundary finite element method and modified SBFEM based on scaling surface transformation are formulated, respectively. Meanwhile, the Newmark method and synchronous solution algorithm are employed for the fluid–structure interaction analysis. Subsequently, two validation cases are conducted to assess the accuracy and convergence of the model. Finally, two numerical examples are employed to perform a parameter analysis on the model, involving the response of the system to ground horizontal harmonic excitation and seismic load. The results indicate that the SBFEM, as a semi-analytical high-precision numerical method, can be effectively used to simulate fluid–structure interaction problem of partially liquid-filled laminated composite shell structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The prognostic value of traditional clinical indicators for locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma is limited because of their inability to reflect intratumor heterogeneity. We aimed to develop a radiomic signature to reveal tumor immune heterogeneity and predict survival in locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods This multicenter, retrospective study included 921 patients with locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma. A machine learning signature and nomogram based on pretreatment magnetic resonance imaging features were developed for predicting overall survival in a training cohort and validated in 2 independent cohorts. A clinical nomogram and an integrated nomogram were constructed for comparison. Nomogram performance was evaluated by concordance index and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Accordingly, patients were classified into risk groups. The biological characteristics and immune infiltration of the signature were explored by RNA-sequencing analysis. Results The machine learning signature and nomogram demonstrated comparable prognostic ability to a clinical nomogram, achieving concordance indexes of 0.729, 0.718, and 0.731 in the training, internal, and external validation cohorts, respectively. Integration of the signature and clinical variables statistically improved the predictive performance. The proposed signature effectively distinguished patients between risk groups with statistically distinct overall survival rates. Subgroup analysis indicated the recommendation of local salvage treatments for low-risk patients. Exploratory RNA-sequencing analysis revealed differences in interferon response and lymphocyte infiltration between risk groups. Conclusions A magnetic resonance imaging–based radiomic signature predicted overall survival more accurately. The proposed signature associated with tumor immune heterogeneity may serve as a valuable tool to facilitate prognostic stratification and guide individualized management for locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent years have witnessed the transformative impact from the integration of artificial intelligence with organic and polymer synthesis. This synergy offers innovative and intelligent solutions to a range of classic problems in synthetic chemistry. These exciting advancements include the prediction of molecular property, multi-step retrosynthetic pathway planning, elucidation of the structure-performance relationship of single-step transformation, establishment of the quantitative linkage between polymer structures and their functions, design and optimization of polymerization process, prediction of the structure and sequence of biological macromolecules, as well as automated and intelligent synthesis platforms. Chemists can now explore synthetic chemistry with unprecedented precision and efficiency, creating novel reactions, catalysts, and polymer materials under the data-driven paradigm. Despite these thrilling developments, the field of artificial intelligence (AI) synthetic chemistry is still in its infancy, facing challenges and limitations in terms of data openness, model interpretability, as well as software and hardware support. This review aims to provide an overview of the current progress, key challenges, and future development suggestions in the interdisciplinary field between AI and synthetic chemistry. It is hoped that this overview will offer readers a comprehensive understanding of this emerging field, inspiring and promoting further scientific research and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: During the brewing of soy sauce, the conversion of multiple substances is driven by various microorganisms and their secreted enzyme systems. Soy sauce mash is an important source of enzyme systems during moromi fermentation, but the changes of enzyme systems in soy sauce mash during moromi fermentation are poorly understood. In order to explore the predominant enzyme systems existing during moromi fermentation and to explain the characteristics of the enzyme system changes, an enzymatic activities assay and 4D‐label‐free proteomics analysis were conducted on soy sauce mash at different stages of fermentation. RESULTS: The activities of hydrolytic enzymes in soy sauce mash decreased continuously throughout the fermentation process, while most of the characteristic physicochemical substances in soy sauce mash supernatant had already accumulated at the early stage of fermentation. Four hydrolytic enzymes were found to be positively correlated with important physicochemical indexes by principal component analysis and Pearson correlation analysis. The proteomics analysis revealed three highly upregulated enzymes and two enzymes that were present in important metabolic pathways throughout the fermentation process. Furthermore, it was found that Aspergillus oryzae was able to accumulate various nutrients in the soy sauce mash by downregulating most of its metabolic pathways. CONCLUSION: Enzymes present with excellent properties during the moromi fermentation period could be obtained from these results. Meanwhile, the characterization of the metabolic pathways of microorganisms during the moromi fermentation period was revealed. The results provide a basis for more scientific and purposeful improvement of moromi fermentation in the future. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open-ended pre-stressed high-strength concrete (PHC) pipe piles are susceptible to progressive distortion and even failure in the vicinity of the pile toe during driving into stiff soil or rock strata. This paper presents an experimental investigation conducted as part of a power plant construction in Huainan, China. After 50 piles were driven in the initial phase, the toe of 9 piles were detected as damaged using the sonic echo testing method. In the second construction phase, four piles were instrumented with longitudinal and circumferential fiber optic cables, as well as discrete strain gauges. The recorded responses of pipe piles throughout their driving process are analyzed to reveal the causes of damages. The results show that a maximum circumferential tensile stress developed at a distance of 1/6 pile length above the pile toe, with its value three times greater than that in other cross-sections. This high circumferential stress results in transverse cracks and the failure of open-ended PHC piles and is believed to be related to the formation of soil plugs. The findings provide valuable insights into performance evaluation of driven open-ended PHC piles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore inflammation of soft tissue around the upper third molar as a prevalent cause of limited mouth opening, identify the clinical and radiographic features, and summarize the therapeutic effectiveness of tooth extraction. Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis of data from 264 patients with limited mouth opening over the last five years was performed. Results: Among the 264 patients, 24 (9.1%) had inflammation of the soft tissue around the upper third molar, which was the second most common cause of limited mouth opening. Twenty-one of the twenty-four affected patients, with an average mouth opening of 19.1 ± 7.6 mm, underwent upper third molar extraction. Gingival tenderness around the upper third molar or maxillary tuberosity mucosa was a characteristic clinical manifestation (p < 0.05). The characteristic features on maxillofacial CT included soft tissue swelling around the upper third molar and gap narrowing between the maxillary nodules and the mandibular ascending branch. Post extraction, the average mouth opening increased to 31.4 ± 4.9 mm (p < 0.05), and follow-up CT demonstrated regression of the inflammatory soft tissue around the upper third molar. Conclusions: Inflammation of soft tissue around the upper third molar is a common cause of limited mouth opening. Symptoms of pain associated with the upper third molar and distinctive findings on enhanced maxillofacial CT scans are crucial for diagnosis. Upper third molar extraction yields favorable therapeutic outcomes. Clinical relevance: Inflammation of the soft tissue around the maxillary third molar commonly causes limited mouth opening, but this phenomenon has long been overlooked. Clarifying this etiology can reduce the number of misdiagnosed patients with restricted mouth opening and enable more efficient treatment for patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A wide spectrum of state-of-the-art characterization techniques have been devised to monitor the electrode–electrolyte interface that dictates the performance of electrochemical devices. However, coupling multiple characterization techniques to realize in situ multidimensional analysis of electrochemical interfaces remains a challenge. Herein, we presented a hyphenated differential electrochemical mass spectrometry and attenuated total reflection surface enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy analytical method via a specially designed electrochemical cell that enables a simultaneous detection of deposited and volatile interface species under electrochemical reaction conditions, especially suitable for non-aqueous, electrolyte-based energy devices. As a proof of concept, we demonstrated the capability of the homemade setup and obtained the valuable reaction mechanisms, by taking the tantalizing reactions in non-aqueous lithium-ion batteries (i.e., oxidation and reduction processes of carbonate-based electrolytes on Li1+xNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 and graphite surfaces) and lithium-oxygen batteries (i.e., reversibility of the oxygen reaction) as model reactions. Overall, we believe that the coupled and complementary techniques reported here will provide important insights into the interfacial electrochemistry of energy storage materials (i.e., in situ, multi-dimensional information in one single experiment) and generate much interest in the electrochemistry community and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been shown that the high expression of human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) in most lung cancers is related to the poor prognosis of patients, but the mechanism of pathological transformation of HE4 in lung cancer is still unclear. The current study is expected to clarify the function and mechanism of HE4 in the occurrence and metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Immunoblotting evaluated HE4 expression in lung cancer cell lines and biopsies, and through analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset. Frequent HE4 overexpression was demonstrated in LUAD, but not in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC), indicating that HE4 can serve as a biomarker to distinguish between LUAD and LUSC. HE4 knockdown significantly inhibited cell growth, colony formation, wound healing, and invasion, and blocked the G1-phase of the cell cycle in LUAD cell lines through inactivation of the EGFR signaling downstream including PI3K/AKT/mTOR and RAF/MAPK pathways. The first-line EGFR inhibitor gefitinib and HE4 shRNA had no synergistic inhibitory effect on the growth of lung adenocarcinoma cells, while the third-line EGFR inhibitor osimertinib showed additive anti-proliferative effects. Moreover, we provided evidence that HE4 regulated EGFR expression by transcription regulation and protein interaction in LUAD. Our findings suggest that HE4 positively modulates the EGFR signaling pathway to promote growth and invasiveness in LUAD and highlight that targeting HE4 could be a novel strategy for LUAD treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new benzophenone derivatives (1 and 2), named Pogonatone C and pogonatone D, were isolated from the moss Pogonatum spinulosum. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data analyses. The cytotoxicity of compounds for HepG2, HCT-116, A-549 and PANC-1 cells line was also evaluated by using the MTT method. Pogonatone C (1) displays high cytotoxicity on PANC-1 cell with IC50 value of 9.2 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this research was to examine the bamboo fiber preforming procedures and the effects of preforming on the mechanical properties. The bamboo fibers were bent to an angular shape by using mold compression. Different moisture contents were applied to the bamboo fibers before bending. Next, tensile tests were conducted on the preformed bent fibers to investigate the strength degradation caused by fiber damage during the forming process. Additionally, the vacuum preforming method, limited to a pressure of 1 atm, was used for bamboo fiber bending preforming. Different fillet radii of the angled shapes were used in the experiments to investigate the impact of the angle curvature at the bending points on the strength of the bent bamboo fibers. Unidirectional bamboo fiber mats were manually woven using polyester fiber lines and preformed with a closed mold. The fabrication of the unidirectional bamboo fiber/epoxy resin composites was conducted by vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM). In this study, valuable insights into the design of the bamboo fiber preforming and composite manufacturing processes are provided, and our results can be used to contribute to the progress and utilization of the bamboo fibers in composite materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precise electrochemical synthesis of commodity chemicals and fuels from CO21 building blocks provides a promising route to close the anthropogenic carbon cycle, in which renewable but intermittent electricity could be stored within the greenhouse gas molecules. Here, we report state-of-the-art CO2-to-HCOOH valorization performance over a multiscale optimized Cu-Bi cathodic architecture, delivering a formate Faradaic efficiency exceeding 95% within an aqueous electrolyzer, a C-basis HCOOH purity above 99.8% within a solid-state electrolyzer operated at 100 mA cm-2 for 200 h and an energy efficiency of 39.2%, as well as a tunable aqueous HCOOH concentration ranging from 2.7 to 92.1 wt%. Via a combined two-dimensional reaction phase diagram and finite element analysis, we highlight the role of local geometries of Cu and Bi in branching the adsorption strength for key intermediates like *COOH and *OCHO for CO2 reduction, while the crystal orbital Hamiltonian population analysis rationalizes the vital contribution from moderate binding strength of η²(O,O)-OCHO on Cu-doped Bi surface in promoting HCOOH electrosynthesis. The findings of this study not only shed light on the tuning knobs for precise CO2 valorization, but also provide a different research paradigm for advancing the activity and selectivity optimization in a broad range of electrosynthetic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two lanthanide complexes with formulae [DyIII(LN5)(pentafluoro-PhO)3] (1) and [DyIII(LN5)(2,6-difluoro-PhO)2](BPh4) (2) (LN5 = 2,14-dimethyl-3,6,10,13,19-pentaazabicyclo[13.3.1]nonadecal (19),2,13,15,17-pentaene) were structurally and magnetically characterized. DyIII ions lie in the cavity of a five coordinate nitrogen macrocycle, and in combination with the introduction of multi-fluorinated monodentate phenoxyl coligands a high axiality coordination symmetry is built. Using the pentafluorophenol co-ligand, complex 1 with a D2d coordination environment, is obtained and displays moderate single-molecule magnets (SMMs) behavior. When difluorophenol co-ligands were used, a higher local axisymmetric pentagonal bipyramidal coordination geometry was observed in complex 2, which displays apparent slow magnetic relaxation behavior with a hysteresis temperature of up to 5 K. Further magnetic studies of diluted samples combined with ab initio calculations indicate that the high axiality plays a crucial role in suppressing quantum tunneling of magnetization (QTM) and consequently results in good slow magnetic relaxation behavior. Different fluoro-substituted phenoxyl co-ligands have phenoloxy oxygen atoms with different electrostatic potentials as well as a different number of phenoloxy coligands along the magnetic axis, resulting in different ligand field strengths and coordination symmetries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manganese based layer-structured transition-metal oxides are regarded as excellent cathode materials for potassium-ion batteries (KIBs) due to their excellent industrial processing feasibility and high voltage platform. However, the energy density and cycling lifetime cannot simultaneously satisfy the basic requirements of the market for energy storage systems. One of the primary causes results from the complex structural transformation and transition metal migration during the potassium intercalation/deintercalation process. Constructing a low-strain host with minimal lattice volume change, maintaining the Mn3+/Mn4+ valence state balance and suppressing the Jahn–Teller effect, has emerged as an excellent approach to improving structural and electrochemical stability. A P3-K0.5Mn0.87Co0.05Fe0.05Li0.03O2 was synthesized and employed as a cathode material. It effectively preserves the orbital and electronic integrity of octahedral center metal elements, mitigating the Jahn–Teller distortion caused by Mn3+ and stabilizing the lamellar structure by suppressing harmful phase transitions. Excellent rate performance over a wide voltage range of 1.5 to 4.0 V was exhibited. It has initial specific capacities of 107.1 and 100.87 mA h g−1 at 20 and 50 mA g−1, with capacity retentions of 82.3% and 99.2% after 100 cycles, respectively. Even at the high current densities of 200 mA g−1 and 500 mA g−1, the initial capacity retention reached 88.5% and 74.56% after 300 and 900 cycles, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a novel semi-analytical model for nonlinear liquid sloshing response of two-dimensional (2D) liquid storage tanks in the context of the scaled boundary finite element method (SBFEM). The potential flow in the tank is governed by the 2D Laplace equation, with the free surface considered as a nonlinear boundary condition. To trace the motions of the liquid-free surface, the semi-Lagrange (SL) method is employed, and two Cartesian coordinate systems are established, including a fixed inertial system and a moving system. Meanwhile, a fourth-order Runge–Kutta (RK4) algorithm is employed for achieving updates of the physical variables and their gradients. A scaled boundary coordinate system is established, encompassing circumferential and radial directions. Within this framework, the SBFEM equation in form of second-order ordinary differential equation is derived by using the weighted residual method. Subsequently, a dual variable comprising nodal potential and flux, along with an eigenfunction expansion method, is introduced into the solution procedure. The proposed approach combines the strengths of both boundary element and finite element methods, requiring only boundary discretization for numerical simulation, thus reducing the spatial dimension by one, and the solution possesses analytical properties in the radial direction. Importantly, the proposed SBFEM model does not require a fundamental solution, eliminating the need for treating singular integrations, as is common in traditional boundary element method. Numerical examples confirm the superior computational accuracy, convergence rate, and efficiency of our method compared to other numerical approaches. The method exhibits insensitivity to the time step selection and the computational accuracy can be further improved by increasing grid density or element order. Moreover, numerical experiments on U-shaped aqueducts demonstrate its applicability to analyzing nonlinear liquid sloshing in non-rectangular containers. Additionally, installing obstacles inside the container can significantly alter the liquid sloshing response, with vertical dimension changes exerting a greater influence than horizontal ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the fuel injection process, there is competition, merging, and entrainment between the Rayleigh–Taylor and Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities, eventually leading to the formation of jet turbulence. The associated vortex dynamics is crucial for understanding the micro-evolution of surface waves on fuel spray. Considering the characteristics of fuel jet with large density ratios, a pressure-corrected multiphase lattice Boltzmann flux solver is proposed in this study, coupled with the Cahn–Hilliard model, to capture the micro-scale evolution of diesel spray. The spray evolution during the primary breakup, under simulated engine operating conditions, is systematically conducted by defining the parameters of vortex dynamics. According to the growth feature of vortex velocity, the microscopic evolution during the primary breakup can be divided into five stages: diffusion growth, exponential growth, potential flow growth, re-acceleration, and chaotic mixing (CM), providing a theoretical basis for the instability analysis of spray breakup. The growth of the Rayleigh–Taylor instability is determined by the competitive relationship between buoyancy and viscous dissipation forces. In cases of higher density ratios, the buoyancy-driven Kelvin–Helmholtz and the secondary growth Rayleigh–Taylor waves mutually advance, elongate, disintegrate, and finally breakup. Therefore, the influence of the density ratio on tail velocities shows a scenario of first promoting and then inhibiting. As the density ratio increases, the instability reaches the CM stage of asymmetric development more quickly by undergoing complex vortical motions. At this stage, there is a complicated phenomenology associated with the evolution of spray interface, including multiscale curling, severe deformation, vortex disintegration, and droplet breakup, eventually leading to turbulence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Garcinia xanthochymus is a climax tree species growing in the Xishuangbanna tropical rainforests, which possesses a unique adaptation mechanism to the tropical monsoon climate, i.e., its seeds mature at the end of the rainy season and shed, mostly do not germinate until next rainy season, distinctly differing from most other climax species there. This study investigated the morphological structure, desiccation tolerance, and germination characteristics of G. xanthochymus seeds to understand their cytological basis and ecological adaptation. It was found that G. xanthochymus seeds germinate when incubated at temperatures between 20 and 35 °C, with a thermal optimum of 30 °C, but have a short period of dormancy (> 40 days even at 30 °C). The seeds were intolerant to desiccation, and completely lost viability when desiccated to 25% miosture content (fresh weight basis), exhibiting typical recalcitrant seed traits. However, they also possessed strong desiccation resistance, maintaining approximately 33% misture content and 50% viability even after 20 days of silica gel drying. Until germination, G. xanthochymus seeds did not exhibit visible structural differentiation. They are composed of a cluster of uniformly shaped, shallowly differentiated parenchymal cells possessing embryonic and storage functions. Thus, they germinate totipotently and can regenerate into seedlings even after being subjected to various cutting, which protects them from animal grazing. This explains how G. xanthochymus seeds withstand biotic and abiotic stresses during the dry season in Xishuangbanna, meanwhile implys that G. xanthochymus is more dependent on the forest environment and more sensitive to habitat changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The entanglement generation of two two‐level giant atoms coupled to a photonic waveguide, which is formed by a Su–Schrieffer–Heeger (SSH) type coupled‐cavity array is studied. Here, each atom is coupled to the waveguide through two coupling points.The two‐atom separate‐coupling case is studied, and 16 coupling configurations are considered for the coupling‐point distributions between the two atoms and the waveguide. Quantum master equations are derived to govern the evolution of the two atoms and characterize atomic entanglement by calculating the concurrence of the two‐atom states. It is found that the two giant‐atom entanglement depends on the coupling configurations and the coupling‐point distance of the giant atoms. In particular, the entanglement dynamics of the two giant atoms in 14 coupling configurations depend on the dimerization parameter of the SSH waveguide. According to the self‐energies of the two giant atoms, it is found that ten of these 16 coupling configurations can be divided into five pairs. It is also showed that the delayed sudden birth of entanglement between the two giant atoms is largely enhanced in these five pairs of coupling configurations. This work will promote the study of quantum effects and coherent manipulation in giant‐atom topological‐waveguide‐QED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pole-skipping refers to the special phenomenon that the pole and the zero of a retarded two-point Green’s function coincide at certain points in momentum space. We study the pole-skipping phenomenon in holographic Green’s functions of boundary operators that are dual to massive p-form fields and the dRGT massive gravitational fields in the AdS black hole background. Pole-skipping points for these systems are computed using the near horizon method. The relation between the pole-skipping points of massive fields and their massless counterparts is revealed. In particular, as the field mass m is varied from zero to non-zero, the pole-skipping phenomenon undergoes an abrupt change with doubled pole-skipping points found in the massive case. This arises from the breaking of gauge invariance due to the mass term and the consequent appearance of more degrees of freedom. We recover the gauge invariance using the Stueckelberg formalism by introducing auxiliary dynamical fields. The extra pole-skipping points are identified to be associated with the Stueckelberg fields. We also observe that, as the mass varies, some pole-skipping points of the wave number q may move from a non-physical region with complex q to a physical region with real q. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate a new proposal connecting the geometry at various radial scales in asymptotic AdS spacetime with entanglement structure at corresponding real-space length scales of the boundary theory. With this proposal, the bulk IR geometry encodes the long-scale entanglement structure of the dual quantum system. We consider two distinct types of IR geometries, namely the spherical case and the hyperbolic case, which are intimately related to the physics of differential entropy and brane-world holography separately. We explore the corresponding change in the dual long-scale entanglement structures, utilizing the tools of the Ryu-Takayanagi formula, conditional mutual information, and partial entanglement entropy. The results indicate that modifying the IR geometry leads to a redistribution of entanglement at scales longer than a critical length determined by the location of the IR region, with the two modified IR geometries corresponding to two opposite ways of redistribution. Furthermore, we establish the maximum amount of entanglement that can be modified, which is proportional to the area of the IR region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerebral ischemic preconditioning (CIP) has been shown to improve brain ischemic tolerance against subsequent lethal ischemia. Reactive astrocytes play important roles in cerebral ischemia–reperfusion. Recent studies have shown that reactive astrocytes can be polarized into neurotoxic A1 phenotype (C3d) and neuroprotective A2 phenotype (S100A10). However, their role in CIP remains unclear. Here, we focused on the role of N-myc downstream-regulated gene 2 (NDRG2) in regulating the transformation of A1/A2 astrocytes and promoting to brain ischemic tolerance induced by CIP. A Sprague Dawley rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) was used. Rats were divided into the following six groups: (1) sham group; (2) CIP group: left middle cerebral artery was blocked for 10 min; (3) MCAO/R group: left middle cerebral artery was blocked for 90 min; (4) CIP + MCAO/R group: CIP was performed 72 h before MCAO/R; (5) AAV-NDRG2 + CIP + MCAO/R group: adeno-associated virus (AAV) carrying NDRG2 was administered 14 days before CIP + MCAO/R; (6) AAV-Ctrl + CIP + MCAO/R group: empty control group. The rats were subjected to neurological evaluation 24 h after the above treatments, and then were sacrificed for 2, 3, 5-triphenyltetraolium chloride staining, thionin staining, immunofluorescence and western blot analysis. In CIP + MCAO/R group, the neurological deficit scores decreased, infarct volume reduced, and neuronal density increased compared with MCAO/R group. Notably, CIP significantly increased S100A10 expression and the number of S100A10+/GFAP+ cells, and also increased NDRG2 expression. MCAO/R significantly decreased S100A10 expression and the number of S100A10+/GFAP+ cells yet increased C3d expression and the number of C3d+/GFAP+ cells and NDRG2 expression, and these trends were reversed by CIP + MCAO/R. Furthermore, over-expression of NDRG2 before CIP + MCAO/R, the C3d expression and the number of C3d+/GFAP+ cells increased, while S100A10 expression and the number of S100A10+/GFAP+ cells decreased. Meanwhile, over-expression of NDRG2 blocked the CIP-induced brain ischemic tolerance. Taken together, these results suggest that CIP exerts neuroprotective effects against ischemic injury by suppressing A1 astrocyte polarization and promoting A2 astrocyte polarization via inhibiting NDRG2 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When drive-shaft systems move axially, the friction between rollers and raceways inside tripod joints will generate a plunging resistant force (PRF). Excessive PRF causes significant noise in vehicles. To reveal the generation mechanism, an analytical model of the PRF is proposed by analyzing the axial motion mechanism of a drive-shaft system. Based on the analytical model and fractal methods, a fractal model of the PRF is proposed to reveal influencing factors of the PRF more comprehensively. An effective method for correcting distribution of asperities between rollers and raceways is proposed to describe the contact state accurately. The fractal model shows that influencing factors of the PRF include the fractal dimension and the characteristic scale coefficient related to the roughness of contact surfaces, the material parameters, the working angle, and the correction coefficient for distribution of asperities. A measurement method for the PRF is subsequently proposed, and the fractal dimension and the characteristic scale coefficient are measured and determined. The effectiveness of the fractal model is verified based on the measurement of the PRF and the determined fractal dimension and characteristic scale coefficient. Numerical analysis results show that reducing Poisson's ratio, the yield strength, and the working angle, increasing the characteristic scale coefficient, the elastic modulus, and the correction coefficient, and selecting a fractal dimension lower than 1.544 or higher than 1.782 can effectively reduce the PRF, thereby reducing the noise caused by the PRF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]