Search

High fish predation pressure can trigger “induced defense” in Daphniaspecies, resulting in phenotypic plasticity in morphology, behavior, or life-history traits. The molecular mechanisms of defense morphogenesis (e.g., the tail spine and helmet) in Daphniaremain unclear. In the present study, the tail spine, helmet, and body of Daphnia galeataunder fish and non-fish kairomones conditions were collected for transcriptome analysis. A total of 24 candidate genes related to the morphological defense of D. galeatawere identified, including 2 trypsin, one cuticle protein, 1 C1qDC protein, and 2 ferritin genes. The function of the Dagcutgene (D. galeatacuticle protein gene) in relation to tail spine morphology was assessed using RNA interference (RNAi). Compared with the EGFP (Enhanced green fluorescent protein) treatment, after RNAi, the expression levels of the Dagcutgene (D. galeatacuticle protein gene) showed a significant decrease. Correspondingly, the tail spines of the offspring produced by D. galeataafter RNAi of the Dagcutgene appeared curved during the experiment. In whole-mount in situ hybridization, a clear signal site was detected on the tail spine of D. galeatabefore RNAi which disappeared after RNAi. Our results suggest that the Dagcutgene may play an important role in tail spine formation of D. galeata, and will provide a theoretical basis for studying the molecular mechanisms of the morphological plasticity in cladocera in the future.

This article explores the asymmetric Michael addition reaction of 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone and indole-3-ones catalyzed by cinchona alkaloids. This strategy utilizes 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone and easily prepared indole-3-one as substrates, resulting in the synthesis of 23 unprecedented indolin-3-ones bearing a 1,4-naphthoquinone unit at the C2 position of indole under simple and mild reaction conditions, with up to 88% yield, 98% ee, and >20:1 dr.

• The effect of varying WO 3 dimensions on the hydrogen-generating capacity of metal sulfide. • The metal sulfide as photocatalyst for hydrogen evolution has been studied systematically. • Selection of catalyst combinations with different morphologies. In the field of photocatalytic hydrogen production, metal sulfides are frequently utilized, particularly Cd sulfides, which have the benefits of a narrow band gap and a sufficient band gap. Other photocatalysts are required to enhance the situation because it still has a high photogenic carrier recombination rate and has flaws like photocorrosion that need to be fixed. The best morphology combination must be chosen since, as we are all aware, the morphology of the catalyst can significantly alter its activity. To choose the best morphology, we chose maple leaf CdS and WO 3 with various morphologies to construct the S-Scheme heterojunctions, and WO 3 was then applied to other metal sulfides. It is concluded that granular WO 3 –0D and CdS-F have the highest hydrogen evolution activity, which may indicate that 0D has the highest loading capacity and may play a certain supporting role for the catalyst that is easy to agglomerate, exposing more hydrogen evolution active sites to enhance hydrogen production. At the same time, the main hydrogen evolution active crystal face of the metal sulfide in the paper is (1 0 0) crystal face. When the crystal face is exposed, the metal sulfide in the paper has good hydrogen evolution activity, and the hydrogen evolution activity will be greatly reduced after the crystal face is covered. The established spatial angle between the (1 0 0) crystal face exposed by CdS-F and the (1 1 1) crystal face exposed by WO 3 –0D is large, so the highly active crystal face and active site are preserved as much as possible. On the other hand, WO 3 decreases the recombination rate of electron-hole pairs in metal sulfide, resulting in a greater contribution of photogenerated electrons to the hydrogen evolution reaction. The Tafel clearly demonstrates the variation of hydrogen production rate control steps. This offers some suggestions for choosing the photocatalyst's morphological configuration. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photocatalytic conversion of solar energy to hydrogen is a promising pathway toward clean fuel production, yet it requires advancement to meet industrial-scale demands. This study demonstrates that the interface engineering of heterojunctions is a viable strategy to enhance the photocatalytic performance of CuInS2/Mo2S3. Specifically, CuInS2nanoparticles are incorporated into Mo2S3nanospheres via a wet impregnation technique to form an S-scheme heterojunction. This configuration facilitates directional electron transfer, optimizing electron utilization and fostering efficient photocatalytic processes. The presence of an S-scheme heterojunction in CuInS2/Mo2S3is corroborated by in situ irradiation X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory analyses, which confirm the directional movement of electrons at the interface of heterojunction. Comprehensive characterization of the heterojunction photocatalyst, including phase, structural, and photoelectric property assessments, reveals a significant specific surface area and light absorption capability. These attributes augment the number of active sites available in CuInS2/Mo2S3for proton reduction reactions. This study offers a pragmatic approach for designing metal sulfide-based photocatalysts via strategic interface engineering, potentially advancing the field toward sustainable hydrogen production.

The El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) provides most of the global seasonal climate forecast skill1–3, yet, quantifying the sources of skilful predictions is a long-standing challenge4–7. Different sources of predictability affect ENSO evolution, leading to distinct global effects. Artificial intelligence forecasts offer promising advancements but linking their skill to specific physical processes is not yet possible8–10, limiting our understanding of the dynamics underpinning the advancements. Here we show that an extended nonlinear recharge oscillator (XRO) model shows skilful ENSO forecasts at lead times up to 16–18 months, better than global climate models and comparable to the most skilful artificial intelligence forecasts. The XRO parsimoniously incorporates the core ENSO dynamics and ENSO’s seasonally modulated interactions with other modes of variability in the global oceans. The intrinsic enhancement of ENSO’s long-range forecast skill is traceable to the initial conditions of other climate modes by means of their memory and interactions with ENSO and is quantifiable in terms of these modes’ contributions to ENSO amplitude. Reforecasts using the XRO trained on climate model output show that reduced biases in both model ENSO dynamics and in climate mode interactions can lead to more skilful ENSO forecasts. The XRO framework’s holistic treatment of ENSO’s global multi-timescale interactions highlights promising targets for improving ENSO simulations and forecasts.

The dearomatization at the hydrophobic tail of the boscalid was carried out to construct a series of novel pyrazole-4-carboxamide derivatives containing an oxime ether fragment. By using fungicide-likeness analyses and virtual screening, 24 target compounds with theoretical strong inhibitory effects against fungal succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) were designed and synthesized. Antifungal bioassays showed that the target compound E1could selectively inhibit the in vitrogrowth of R. solani, with the EC50value of 1.1 μg/mL that was superior to that of the agricultural fungicide boscalid (2.2 μg/mL). The observations by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) demonstrated that E1could reduce mycelial density and significantly increase the mitochondrial number in mycelia cytoplasm, which was similar to the phenomenon treated with boscalid. Enzyme activity assay showed that the E1had the significant inhibitory effect against the SDH from R. solani, with the IC50value of 3.3 μM that was superior to that of boscalid (7.9 μM). The mode of action of the target compound E1with SDH was further analyzed by molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation studies. Among them, the number of hydrogen bonds was significantly more in the SDH-E1complex than that in the SDH-boscalid complex. This research on the dearomatization strategy of the benzene ring for constructing pyrazole-4-carboxamides containing an oxime ether fragment provides a unique thought to design new antifungal drugs targeting SDH.

The global oceans absorb most of the surplus heat from anthropogenic warming, but it is unclear how this heat accumulation will affect the Earth’s climate under climate mitigation scenarios. Here we show that this stored heat will be released at a much slower rate than its accumulation, resulting in a robust pattern of surface ocean warming and consequent regional precipitation. The surface ocean warming is pronounced over subpolar to polar regions and the equatorial eastern Pacific where oceans are weakly stratified to allow vigorous heat release from the deep ocean to the surface layer. We also demonstrate that this ocean warming pattern largely explains changes in the precipitation pattern, including the southward shift of the Intertropical Convergence Zone and more moistening in high latitudes. This study suggests that deep ocean warming may hinder climate recovery in some regions, even if carbon neutrality or net negative emissions are successfully achieved.

The micro-morphology and molecular stacking play a key role in determining the charge transport process and nonradiative energy loss, thus impacting the performances of organic solar cells (OSCs). To address this issue, a non-fullerene acceptor PhC6-IC-Fwith alkylbenzene side-chain, possessing optimized molecular stacking, complementary absorption spectra and forming a cascade energy level alignment in the PM6:BTP-eC9 blend, is introduced as guest acceptor to improve efficiency of ternary OSCs. The bulky phenyl in the side-chain can regulate crystallinity and optimizing phase separation between receptors in ternary blend films, resulting in the optimal phase separations in the ternary films. As a result, high efficiencies of 18.33% as photovoltaic layer are obtained for PhC6-IC-F-based ternary devices with excellent fill factor (FF) of 78.92%. Impressively, the ternary system produces a significantly improved open circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.857 V compared with the binary device, contributing to the reduced density of trap states and suppressed non-radiative recombination result in lower energy loss. This work demonstrates an effective approach for adjusting the aggregation, molecular packing and fine phase separation morphology to increase Vocand FF, paving the way toward high-efficiency OSCs.

Organic solar cells (OSCs) with high performance were prepared using poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and [2-(3,6-dibromo-9H-carbazol-9-yl)ethyl]phosphonic acid (Br-2PACz) double-layer films as the anode interface. By spin-coating a layer of Br-2PACz on PEDOT:PSS to form a PEDOT:PSS/Br-2PACz dual-anode interface, both the Jscand FF of the device can be increased simultaneously, resulting in a high Jscof 27.84 mA cm–2and a high FF of 78.18%. The promising result indicates that the PEDOT:PSS/Br-2PACz dual-anode interface is an effective way to improve the performance of OSCs. The improvement of device performance is mainly attributed to (1) improved interface conductivity; (2) increased hole mobility and more balanced carrier transport efficiency; and (3) optimized morphology, which well explains the increase of Jscand FF of the device. In addition, the OSC based on the PEDOT:PSS/Br-2PACz dual-anode interface exhibits exceptional stability, as it can maintain 94.7% of its initial efficiency even after 500 h of storage in a nitrogen environment. This work provides a promising strategy for improving the efficiency and stability of OSCs by dual-anode interface modulation.

Graphical Abstract: A schematic illustration depicting the utilization of styrene-block-butadiene-block-styrene (SBS) fibers as a self-assembly nanoconfinement carrier for phenylalanine dipeptide (FF) has been provided, showcasing the formation mechanism of elastic FF crystal fibers featuring a distinctive Mortise-Tenon structure.

Most single-component photocatalysts are affected by their own characteristics, such as poor light absorption performance or fast photogenerated carrier recombination rate, resulting in low photocatalytic activity. Due to the unique structural interactions and electron transfer behaviour between different components, two-component catalysts exhibit catalytic activity with greater application potential. In this work, a Cd0.9La0.1S/graphdiyne (GDY) dual-component photocatalyst has been prepared. The introduction of GDY into Cd0.9La0.1S effectively enhances the light absorption range of Cd0.9La0.1S and reduces the photogenerated carrier recombination rate, increasing the hydrogen production of Cd0.9La0.1S. The presence of GDY large lamellae has effectively reduced the aggregation degree of Cd0.9La0.1S nanoparticles. The increased dispersion has also exposed more active sites, resulting in a larger reactive area for hydrogen production. Hydrogen production of Cd0.9La0.1S/GDY is approximately 23 times higher than that of pure Cd0.9La0.1S. In addition, it is proposed that the formation of a type-II heterojunction between Cd0.9La0.1S and GDY could be the cause of the increase in hydrogen production.

Multimodal land use/cover classification using optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images has attracted significant attention because the unique radiation and geometric characteristics of these images provide complementary information regarding land properties. However, the significant differences between these modalities create a large semantic gap, posing challenges for effective feature fusion in multimodal learning. Moreover, missing modalities often occur in practical applications due to weather constraints or sensor malfunctions, posing challenges to achieving high performance in cross-modal learning. In this study, we proposed a multimodal online knowledge distillation (MMOKD) framework, designed for land use/cover classification of optical and SAR images using either full or missing modalities. This framework trains one modality-fusion network alongside two modality-specific networks in an end-to-end manner, facilitating both multimodal and cross-modal learning. More specifically, we developed a multimodal feature fusion (MFF) module for integrating heterogeneous features and a single-modal feature generation (SFG) module for encapsulating cross-modal complementary information. In addition, we proposed the joint distillation with multitype fusion knowledge (JD-MFK) method, guiding the modality-specific student networks to comprehensively learn the modality-fusion teacher network. Notably, we adopted an online distillation strategy for real-time feedback and synchronous updates of both modality-fusion and modality-specific networks. Finally, we conducted extensive experiments on two multimodal land use/classification datasets with advanced multimodal fusion, cross-modal distillation, and specific baseline networks for comparison. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed MMODD, which not only outperforms the other networks in both full- and missing-modality scenarios but also significantly improves model training efficiency.

ABSTRACT Ground granulated blast furnace slag (GCBS) is widely used to stabilize soils due to its environmental and economic merits. The strength and durability of reactive MgO activated GGBS (GGBS-MgO) [...]

ABSTRACT Synthetic hydroxyapatite (HA) is an efficient and environment-friendly material for the remediation of heavy metal contaminated soils. However, the application of conventional HA powder in stabilizing contaminated soils is [...]

ABSTRACT A system of alkali-activated fly ash (FA)/slag (AAFS) mixtures as a clinkerless cement was investigated with different dosages of [Na.sub.2]C[O.sub.3], as a sustainable activator. The effect of incorporating various [...]

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the potential of combining [Na.sub.2]C[O.sub.3] and reactive MgO as a sustainable activator for ground granulated blastfurnace slag. Two very different reactivity MgOs were added at 5-10 [...]

Although many dielectric polymers exhibit high energy storage density (Ue) with enhanced dipolar polarization at room temperature, the substantially increased electric conduction loss at high applied electric fields and high temperatures remains a great challenge. Here, we report a strategy that high contents of medium-polar ester group and end-group (St) modification are introduced into a biodegradable polymer polylactic acid (PLA) to synergistically reduce the loss and enhance Ueand charge-discharge efficiency (η). The resultant St-modified PLA polymer (PLA-St) exhibits an Ueof 6.5 J/cm3with an ultra-high η(95.4%), far outperforming the best reported dielectric polymers. It is worth noting that the modified molecular structures can generate deep trap centers and restrict the local dipole motions in the polymer, which are responsible for the reduction of conduction loss and improvements in high-temperature capacitive performance. In addition, the PLA-St polymer shows intrinsically excellent self-healing ability and cyclic stability surviving over 500 000 charge-discharge cycles. This work offers an efficient route to next-generation eco-friendly dielectric polymers with high energy density, low loss, and long-term stability.

ABSTRACT Since alkali-activated slag using conventional activators suffers from economical and technical problems, other alternative activators should be explored. This paper reports the results of an investigation into the activation [...]

ABSTRACT Both reactive MgO and CaO are alternative activators for ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS). In this study natural dolomite, as a source of MgO and CaO, was calcined [...]

ABSTRACT Conventional alkali-activated slag (AAS) cements suffer from significant drying shrinkage which hinders their widespread application. This paper investigates the potential of using commercial reactive MgO to reduce the drying [...]

The dynamic mechanical properties of basalt affected by microwave were investigated by performing dynamic compressive tests using the SHPB system. Meanwhile, the thermal damage of the treated basalt was characterized by ultrasonic non-destructive testing and nuclear magnetic resonance technology. The results show that with the increase of microwave power and exposure time, the P-wave velocity, dynamic compressive strength and elastic modulus decrease continuously, and the dynamic failure mode tends to be a more complex fracturing. The increase in microwave power and exposure time can enhance the temperature difference and transfer coefficient among minerals, hence intensifying the rock damage induced by thermal shock.

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2009.08.051 Byline: Shang Dong Xu (a), Fang Jiong Huang (a), Jin Fei Yang (a), Zhi Zhong Li (b), Sheng Yang (a), Jia Hui Du (c), Zhao Guang Zhang (a) Abbreviations: CTA, computed tomographic angiography; LSCA, left subclavian artery; TEVAR, thoracic endovascular aortic repair Abstract: The optimal treatment for chronic type B dissection remains controversial. This study reports early and midterm results of thoracic endovascular aortic repair for chronic type B aortic dissection. Author Affiliation: (a) Division of Cardiac Surgery, Beijing Institute of Heart, Lung & Vascular Diseases, Capital Medical University, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Beijing, China (b) Division of Cardiology, Beijing Institute of Heart, Lung & Vascular Diseases, Capital Medical University, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Beijing, China (c) Division of Radiology, Beijing Institute of Heart, Lung & Vascular Diseases, Capital Medical University, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Beijing, China Article History: Received 28 March 2009; Revised 30 July 2009; Accepted 23 August 2009 Article Note: (footnote) Disclosures: None.

Methanol steam reforming manifests great potential for generating hydrogen owing to its lower reaction temperature (200–300 °C) and higher hydrogen/carbon ratio comparing with ethanol and methane reforming. In this case, methanol steam reforming is applied in various renewable energy systems to assist the energy conversion and improve the system efficiency. The performance of methanol steam reforming reaction strongly depends on the catalysts and reactor structure. In this paper, the development of the copper-based, the noble metal–based and the nanomaterial catalysts were summarized by analyzing the effects of different modification methods, which indicates that cutting the cost and simplifying the manufacturing process are the future goal of catalyst modification. Moreover, the reaction mechanism of different catalyst types was discussed. For the reactor performance, conventional, miniature, micro, and membrane reactors were discussed and compared, where conventional reactor with high CO tolerance is more suitable for industrial application while membrane reactor with high H2purity and compact structure is ideal for fuel cell technology. The integration of the methanol steam reforming system into renewable power systems was reviewed as well. Methanol steam reforming technology is of great potential in exhaust heat recovery, cogeneration system and other renewable energy field, where more comprehensive researches should be performed.

The ecological systems services or multi-functionality of paddy rice cultivation are critical to the functioning of the Earth's life-support system. We estimated the ecosystem services value (ESV) of paddy rice during 1980–2014 across China. The results indicated that the ESV of the paddy field in China showed an upward trend during this period. The share of ESV on CO2sequestration was the highest, followed by ESV on temperature cooling and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission. The yield-scaled ESVs of Zones II (southern rice–upland crops rotation regions) and III (southern double rice production regions) were similar and significantly higher than the ESVs of Zones I (northeastern single rice production regions) and IV (Southwest rice–upland crops rotation regions). Between 1980 and 2014, the ESV of each region increased to varying degrees, except for the ESVs of Guangxi, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong. Such effects suggest the existence of a significant spatial–temporal variation in the total amount, structure, and density of ESV of paddy fields in China, which can further guide the development of future options for the adaptation of healthy rice production in China.

Metastasis accounts for the major cause of cancer-related mortality. How disseminated tumor cells survive under suspension conditions and avoid anoikis is largely unknown. Here, using a metabolic enzyme-centered CRISPR-Cas9 genetic screen, we identified methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase, cyclohydrolase and formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase 1 (MTHFD1) as a novel suppressor of anoikis. MTHFD1 depletion obviously restrained the capacity of cellular antioxidant defense and inhibited tumor distant metastasis. Mechanistically, MTHFD1 was found to bind the protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) and then undergo symmetric dimethylation on R173 by PRMT5. Under suspension conditions, the interaction between MTHFD1 and PRMT5 was strengthened, which increased the symmetric dimethylation of MTHFD1. The elevated methylation of MTHFD1 largely augmented its metabolic activity to generate NADPH, therefore leading to anoikis resistance and distant organ metastasis. Therapeutically, genetic depletion or pharmacological inhibition of PRMT5 declined tumor distant metastasis. And R173 symmetric dimethylation status was associated with metastasis and prognosis of ESCC patients. In conclusion, our study uncovered a novel regulatory role and therapeutic implications of PRMT5/MTHFD1 axis in facilitating anoikis resistance and cancer metastasis.

Correction for ‘An E-selectin targeting and MMP-2-responsive dextran–curcumin polymeric prodrug for targeted therapy of acute kidney injury’ by Jing-Bo Hu et al., Biomater. Sci., 2018, 6, 3397–3409, https://doi.org/10.1039/C8BM00813B.

Extremely limited drug retention and depigmentation represent the greatest barriers against vitiligo treatment advancement. Here, inspired by biological melanosomes, the primary melanin transporter, we developed biomimetic melanosomes to combat reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated melanocyte damage and depigmentation. Briefly, methylprednisolone (MPS) and melanin-mimicking polydopamine (PDA) were encapsulated inside lysine–proline–valine (KPV)-modified deformable liposomes (KPV-Lipos). Owing to their phospholipid bilayer flexibility and the specific affinity for melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), KPV-Lipos exhibited 1.43-fold greater skin deposition than traditional liposomes. The binding of KPV and its receptor also contributed to activating the cAMP–tyrosinase (TYR) signaling pathway, improving the endogenous melanin content. In addition, PDA mimicked melanosomes as it effectively increased the exogenous melanin content and scavenged ROS. Meanwhile, MPS inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion, limiting the depigmented area. Ultimately, the biomimetic melanosomes affected the skin color of mice with H2O2-induced vitiligo. These melanosomes show potential as a universal platform for the self-supply of melanin by self-driven melanin synthesis with exogenous supplementation. Furthermore, this study offers ideas for the production of artificial packed melanosome substitutes for melanocyte-related diseases.

Stimuli-responsive functional materials, especially the light stimulation color change and tunable fluorescent materials, have received considerable attention because of their broad applications in smart materials. Herein, a series of lanthanide-based [Ln = Nd(III) (1), Sm(III) (2), Eu(III) (3), Gd(III) (4), Tb(III) (5), Yb(III) (6), and Lu(III) (7)] crystalline complexes were attained by simply adding the aqueous lanthanide nitrate solution to the water-soluble naphthalenediimide derivative. The obtained lanthanide-based crystalline materials not only show significant photochromism but also possess reactive organic radicals under ambient conditions. Intriguingly, photoswitchable near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence was realized in the crystalline complex 1. The structures of these crystalline materials were systematically studied to clarify the weak interaction-assisted charge-transfer process. The underlying multiple-interaction-assisted supramolecular self-assembly, the radical-doped nature, and the corresponding photochromic mechanism were thoroughly unearthed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, in situ solid-state UV–vis diffuse reflectance, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometric analysis.

Kidney diseases, including acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD), have become a global public health concern associated with high morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. However, at present, very few effective and specific drug therapies are available, owing to the poor therapeutic efficacy and systemic side effects. Kidney-targeted drug delivery, as a potential strategy for solving these problems, has received great attention in the fields of AKI and CKD in recent years. Here, we review the literature on renal targeted, more specifically, renal cell-targeted formulations of AKI and CKD that offered biodistribution data. First, we provide a broad overview of the unique structural characteristics and injured cells of acute and chronic injured kidneys. We then separately summarize literature examples of renal targeted formulations according to the difference of target cells and elaborate on the appropriate formulation design criteria for AKI and CKD. Finally, we propose a hypothetic strategy to improve the renal accumulation of glomerular cell-targeted formulation by escaping the uptake of the reticuloendothelial system and provide some perspectives for future studies.

In this work, the (1-x)CaWO4-xNa2WO4(x = 0.1, 0.2, denoted as 0.9CW-0.1NW and 0.8CW-0.2NW, respectively) ultralow-loss microwave dielectric ceramics were prepared via solid-state reaction method. Using low melting-point Na2WO4as sintering aid to prepare CaWO4Na2WO4composite ceramics, the sintering temperature of CaWO4was successfully reduced while maintaining excellent microwave performance. The optimal microwave dielectric properties have been achieved at 900 °C for 0.9CW-0.1NW ceramic: εr = 9.0, Q × f = 105660 GHz, tanδ = 1.1 × 10−4and τf = −35.4 ppm/°C at a frequency of 12.0 GHz. For the 0.8CW-0.2NW ceramic, the optimal microwave dielectric properties have been obtained at 740 °C, with εr = 8.5, Q × f = 97014 GHz, tanδ = 1.2 × 10−4and τf = −37.4 ppm/°C at a frequency of 11.8 GHz. In summary, both composite ceramics exhibit low sintering temperatures, excellent dielectric properties and chemical compatibility with the Ag electrode. The findings of this study provide an effective approach to prepare novel composite ceramics as promising candidates for LTCC applications.

Background. Much evidence has suggested that vascular density reflects the clinical behavior of cancer. in this study, the intratumoral blood flow in cervical carcinomas was assessed by transvaginal color Doppler uttrasound, and its clinical significance was evaluated. Methods. Sixty-five patients with Stage Ib-IIb cervical carcinoma exhibiting visible cervical tumor by transvaginal ultrasound were enrolled. All patients were scheduled for radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection. Transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound was performed before surgery to search for blood flow signals from the tumor and the main uterine artery. The corresponding arterial resistance index (RI) was calculated. Clinical and pathologic data were recorded. A cytokinetic study was performed by propidium iodide staining and flow cytometry. The human papillomavirus (HPV) status was assessed by polymerase chain reaction. Results. Intratumoral blood flow was detected by color Doppler ultrasound in 46.2% (30/65) of the tumors. Patients with detectable intratumoral blood flow exhibited significantly more pelvic lymph node metastasis (10/ 30 vs. 2/35, P = 0.005), a higher percentage of cancer cells in the S- + [G.sub.2]M-phase (30.02 [+ or -]18.54% vs. 19.35[+ or -]11.21%, P < 0.005), and a higher prevalence of HPV infection (30/ 30 vs. 25/35, P = 0.001) when compared with those without intratumoral blood flow. No significant difference was observed concerning the patient's age, tumor size, clinical staging, histologic type, and DNA ploidy status between these two groups. Regression analysis of the intratumoral RI value on the S- + [G.sub.2]M-phase fraction showed linear regression (n = 30, [r.sup.2] = 0.501, P < 0.01). The RI values of the main uterine artery showed no significant difference between these two groups. Conclusion. The intratumoral blood flow by transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound correlated well with a higher proliferation index, higher incidence of HPV infection, and pelvic lymph node metastasis in cervical carcinoma. Cancer 1995;75:2518-22. Key words: cervical carcinoma, color Doppler ultrasound, cytokinetics, metastasis, human papillomavirus.

Fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO), an N6-methyladenosine (m6A) demethylase, participates in tumor progression and metastasis in many malignancies, but its role in colorectal cancer (CRC) is still unclear. Here, we found that FTO protein levels, but not RNA levels, were downregulated in CRC tissues. Reduced FTO protein expression was correlated with a high recurrence rate and poor prognosis in resectable CRC patients. Moreover, we demonstrated that hypoxia restrained FTO protein expression, mainly due to an increase in ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation. The serine/threonine kinase receptor associated protein (STRAP) might served as the E3 ligase and K216 was the major ubiquitination site responsible for hypoxia-induced FTO degradation. FTO inhibited CRC metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, FTO exerted a tumor suppressive role by inhibiting metastasis-associated protein 1 (MTA1) expression in an m6A-dependent manner. Methylated MTA1transcripts were recognized by an m6A “reader”, insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2), which then stabilized its mRNA. Together, our findings highlight the critical role of FTO in CRC metastasis and reveal a novel epigenetic mechanism by which the hypoxic tumor microenvironment promotes CRC metastasis.

ABSTRACTBackgroundRotavirus infections, prevalent in human populations, are caused mostly by group A viruses. Immunization against rotaviruses in infancy is currently the most effective and economical strategy to prevent rotavirus infection. This study evaluated the safety of a novel hexavalent rotavirus vaccine and analyzed its dose and immunogenicity.MethodsThis randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled phase I clinical trial enrolled healthy adults, toddlers, and infants in Zhengding County, Hebei Province, northern China. 40 adults and 40 children were assigned in a 2:1:1 ratio to receive one vaccine dose, placebo 1, and placebo 2, respectively. 120 6–12 week old infants were assigned equivalently into 3 groups. The infants in each group were assigned in a 2:1:1 ratio to receive three doses of vaccine, placebo 1, and placebo 2, at a 28-day interval. Adverse events (AEs) until 28 days after each dose and serious adverse events (SAEs) until 6 months after the third dose were reported. Virus shedding until 14 days after each dose in infants was tested. Geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) and seroconversion rates were measured for anti-rotavirus IgA by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).ResultsThe solicited and unsolicited AE frequencies and laboratory indexes were similar among the treatment groups. No vaccine-related SAEs were reported. The average percentage of rotavirus vaccine shedding in the infant vaccine groups was 5.00%. The post-3rd dose anti-rotavirus IgA antibody geometric mean concentrations (GMC) and seroconversion rate were higher in the vaccine groups than in the placebo groups.ConclusionsThe novel oral hexavalent rotavirus vaccine was generally well-tolerated in all adults, toddlers and infants, and the vaccine was immunogenic in infants.

Infective endocarditis is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition. The valve leaflets and annulus are the most commonly affected sites, but involvement of the papillary muscles is extremely rare. We present the case of a 69-year-old woman who had infective endocarditis only involving the papillary muscle on 18F-FDG PET/CT.

Monometallic cyanide clusterfullerenes (CYCFs) represent a unique branch of endohedral clusterfullerenes with merely one metal atom encapsulated, offering a model system for elucidating structure–property correlation, while up to now only C82and C76cages have been isolated for the pristine CYCFs. C84is one of the most abundant fullerenes and has 24 isomers obeying the isolated pentagon rule (IPR), among which 14 isomers have been already isolated, whereas the C2v(17)-C84isomer has lower relative energy than several isolated isomers but never been found for empty and endohedral fullerenes. Herein, four novel C84-based pristine CYCFs with variable encapsulated metals and isomeric cages, including MCN@C2(13)-C84(M = Y, Dy, Tb) and DyCN@C2v(17)-C84, have been synthesized and isolated, fulfilling the first identification of the missing C2v(17)-C84isomer, which can be interconverted from the C2(13)-C84isomer through two steps of Stone–Wales transformation. The molecular structures of these four C84-based CYCFs are determined unambiguously by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Surprisingly, although the ionic radii of Y3+, Dy3+, and Tb3+differ slightly by only 0.01 Å, such a subtle difference leads to an obvious change in the metal–cage interactions, as inferred from the distance between the metal atom and the nearest hexagon center of the C2(13)-C84cage. On the other hand, upon altering the isomeric cage from DyCN@C2(13)-C84to DyCN@C2v(17)-C84, the Dy–cage distance changes as well, indicating the interplay between the encapsulated DyCN cluster and the outer cage. Therefore, we demonstrate that the metal–cage interactions within CYCFs can be steered via both internal and external routes.

The redox cycle of doped CaMnO3−δhas emerged as an attractive way for cost-effective thermochemical energy storage (TCES) at high temperatures in concentrating solar power. The role of dopants is mainly to improve the thermal stability of CaMnO3−δat high temperatures and the overall TCES density of the material. Herein, Co-doped CaMnO3−δ(CaCoxMn1–xO3−δ, x= 0–0.5) perovskites have been proposed as a promising candidate for TCES materials for the first time. The phase compositions, redox capacities, TCES densities, reaction rates, and redox chemistry of the samples have been explored via experimental analysis and theoretical calculations. The results demonstrate that CaCo0.05Mn0.95O3−δshowed an enhanced redox capacity (1000 °C at pO2= 10–5bar) without decomposition and provided the highest TCES density of ∼571 kJ kg–1reported so far. The effective Co doping tended to increase the valence states of B-site cations in perovskite and facilitate the diffusion of the lattice oxygen atoms into the surface-active oxygen sites. Furthermore, the high cooling rates deteriorated the microstructure of CaCo0.05Mn0.95O3−δparticles and resulted in incomplete heat release, which is instructive to the design and operation of the TCES systems.

Background: The day-ahead load forecasting is an essential guideline for power generating, and it is of considerable significance in power dispatch. Objective: Most of the existing load probability prediction methods use historical data to predict a single area, and rarely use the correlation of load time and space to improve the accuracy of load prediction. Methods: This paper presents a method for day-ahead load probability prediction based on spacetime correction. Firstly, the kernel density estimation (KDE) is employed to model the prediction error of the long short-term memory (LSTM) model, and the residual distribution is obtained. The correlation value is then used to modify the time and space dimensions of the test set's partial period prediction values. Results: The experiment selected three years of load data in 10 areas of a city in northern China. The MAPE of the two modified models on their respective test sets can be reduced by an average of 10.2% and 6.1% compared to previous results. The interval coverage of the probability prediction can be increased by an average of 4.2% and 1.8% than before. Conclusion: The test results show that the proposed correction schemes are feasible.

The tropical climate response to GHG forcing is spatially non-uniform1–3. Even though enhanced equatorial and eastern Pacific warming is simulated by most climate models, the underlying mechanisms—including the relative roles of atmospheric and oceanic feedbacks—remain debated. Here, we use a climate model with idealized CO2-radiative forcing patterns to show that off-equatorial radiative forcing and corresponding coupled circulation/cloud adjustments are responsible for much of equatorial warming in response to global CO2forcing. For equatorial forcing, the atmosphere responds by enhancing atmospheric heat export to the extra-tropics, an associated strengthening of the ascending Hadley circulation branch and strong negative equatorial cloud feedbacks. These processes together greatly dampen equatorial surface warming. Intensification of the oceanic subtropical cells and increased cold subsurface water upwelling in the eastern tropical Pacific provide an additional negative feedback for surface temperatures. In contrast, applying off-equatorial forcing, the atmosphere responds by exporting less heat from the tropics, Hadley circulation weakening and weaker negative equatorial cloud feedbacks, while the subtropical cells slow down in the ocean. Our results demonstrate a delicate balance in the coupled climate system between remote circulation adjustments and regional feedbacks that create the patterns of future climate change.

ABSTRACTBackground: To assess the long-term protection conferred by plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine at 20–31y after primary immunization during infancy in Chinese rural community.Method: Participants born between 1986 and 1996, who received a full course of primary vaccination with plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine and had no experience with booster vaccination were enrolled. An epidemiological investigation was performed, and blood samples were collected to detect hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs), and hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc). The positive rate of HBsAg, anti-HBs, and anti-HBc were calculated to evaluate the long-term protection of the plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine.Results: A total of 949 participants were enrolled in the final analysis. Six subjects were detected to be HBsAg-positive, resulting in a HBsAg carrier rate of 0.63% (6/949). A total of 468 (52.41%) participants maintained a level of anti-HBs antibody ≥10 mIU/mL, with a GMC of 112.20 mIU/mL (95%CI: 97.72 ~ 128.82 mIU/mL). A significant downtrend was observed in the anti-HBs positive rate (P< .001). The average anti-HBc positive rate was 5.90% (56/949), increased with prolongation of immunization (P< .001).Conclusions: The plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine maintained satisfactory protection at 20–31 y after primary immunization. These results indicate that a booster dose is not necessary. Further studies on the immune memory induced by the plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine are needed.

•Carbonation of Mg(OH)2 slurry obtained from reject brine is studied.•Mg(OH)2:CO2 ratio and pH influence the type and amount of carbonates.•Formation of nesquehonite is observed at high Mg(OH)2:CO2 ratios and pH.•A “house of cards” texture is formed with an increase in pH and Mg(OH)2:CO2 ratio.•Carbonation of Mg(OH)2 slurry obtained from reject brine has a CCS efficiency of 82.6%.

The strength and hydraulic conductivity of vertical cutoff walls consisting of reactive magnesia-activated ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), bentonite, and soil (MSB) have been investigated in previous studies. However, there has been little comprehensive study of the influence of wet-dry cycles on the mechanical and microstructural properties of MSB backfills. In this paper, the durability of MSB backfills when exposed to wet-dry cycles is investigated. The variations in mass change, dry density, pH value, pore size distribution, and mineralogy are discussed. The results show that the mass change of ordinary Portland cement (OPC)-based and MSB backfills increases with respect to wet-dry cycles. The MSB backfills exhibit up to 8.2% higher mass change than OPC-based ones after 10 wet-dry cycles. The dry density, pH value, and unconfined compressive strength of MSB backfill decrease with the increasing number of wet-dry cycles. Increasing the GGBS-MgO content from 5% to 10% in MSB backfills results in 2.1–2.3 times higher strength, corresponding to a reduction of 2%–12% in cumulative pore volume; while increasing the bentonite content slightly reduces the strength of MSB mixtures, corresponding to an increase of cumulative pore volume by 4.6%–7.9%. The hydrotalcite-like phases and calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) are the primary hydration products in MSB backfills. Moreover, the continuous wet-dry cycles result in the precipitation of calcite and nesquehonite.

We present a control-oriented low-speed dynamic modeling and trade-off study framework for a conceptual air-breathing horizontal take-off and horizontal landing (HTHL) aerospace vehicle, which is powered by a turbine-based combined cycle engine. First, the 3D class/shape transformation method is modified to enhance the continuity property between different blocks, combined with the power function. Then, the panel method based on potential theory is employed to calculate the pressure distribution over discretized panel surfaces, resulting in the aerospace vehicle’s aerodynamic coefficients. To overcome the intractability of the physics-based model, stepwise regression analysis is adopted and simplified polynomials of aerodynamic coefficients are evaluated. Finally, stability and control analysis is conducted, aiming to find the proper center-of-gravity locations under different constraints. The proposed framework is verified through a conceptual aerospace vehicle simulation, with emphasis on horizontal take-off rotation and landing nose hold-off capabilities. Simulation results indicate that the proposed framework is capable of rapid control-oriented dynamic modeling and iterative design of HTHL aerospace vehicles.

While the prominent influence of El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on the Indian Ocean Oscillation (IOD) is widely recognized, intricate relationships between them are often invoked that introduce challenges into seasonal predictions. Previous studies have shown that different flavors of El Niño exhibit distinct associations with the IOD. In this study, we demonstrate that La Niña's teleconnection to the IOD is primarily controlled by its longitudinal position. Westward‐displaced La Niña events tend to produce stronger negative convection anomalies in the central Pacific and more pronounced Walk Circulation anomalies, thereby triggering strong negative IOD events. In contrast, eastward‐displaced La Niña events are usually accompanied by feeble convection response due to the excessively cold conditions in the cold tongue, yielding insignificant IOD response. The pivotal role of La Niña's longitudinal position on the IOD's response is realistically reproduced by targeted pacemaker experiments, providing new insights into inter‐basin climate connections. The tropical Indian Ocean usually witnesses a dipolar pattern of sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies, which is commonly referred to as the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). The IOD phenomenon has received much attention due to its profound global impacts, yet its seasonal prediction remains a large challenge for the climate community. The year‐to‐year variability of IOD has usually been linked to the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the predominant interannual climate variability in the tropical Pacific. The relationship between El Niño (i.e., warm phase of ENSO) and the intensity of IOD has been demonstrated in previous studies, which is shown to be dependent on the different El Niño flavors. In this study, we show that the longitudinal position of negative SST anomalies during La Niña events (i.e., cold phase of ENSO) in shaping their connection with IOD. Different from westward‐displaced La Niña events that can drive robust negative IOD events, eastward‐displaced La Niña events do not yield significant IOD anomalies due to the excessively cold conditions prevalent in the eastern Pacific cold tongue region. We highlight the importance of La Niña's longitudinal position in its teleconnection to other ocean basins and the associated regional climate anomalies. The La Niña's regulation of Indian Ocean Oscillation (IOD) mainly depends on the La Niña longitudinal positionThe westward‐displaced La Niña events produce significant Walker Circulation anomalies, triggering robust negative IOD eventThe importance of La Niña longitudinal position on the IOD's response can be evidenced by the targeted pacemaker experiments The La Niña's regulation of Indian Ocean Oscillation (IOD) mainly depends on the La Niña longitudinal position The westward‐displaced La Niña events produce significant Walker Circulation anomalies, triggering robust negative IOD event The importance of La Niña longitudinal position on the IOD's response can be evidenced by the targeted pacemaker experiments

The effective separation ability of photogenic support plays a crucial role in catalytic hydrogen production. The establishment of heterojunction structure is an effective means to overcome the limited carrier separation ability of some single catalysts. In this paper, Cu, Graphdiyne (GDY) and NiCoMoO4were successfully coupled to construct a composite photocatalyst NCY-15 ​%. The addition of sheet GDY effectively prevented the aggregation of NiCoMoO4, increased the number of active sites, and enhanced the light-trapping ability of the composite catalyst. The synergistic interaction of S-scheme heterojunction and Ohmic junction heterojunctions between Cu, GDY and NiCoMoO4provides a unique transfer pathway for electrons, facilitating the rapid separation of photogenerated carriers and accelerating electron transfer, while retaining electrons with strong reducing capacity to participate in hydrogen production, thereby increasing the hydrogen evolution rate. This provides a new way for the development of GDY based photocatalysts.

Molecular ferroelastic materials have been widely studied because of their superior physical properties including lightweight, good biocompatibility, structural tunability, and low acoustic impedance. However, the discovery of molecular ferroelastic materials with desirable mechanical properties seems like looking for a needle in a haystack due to the lack of effective theories to control and optimize ferroelasticity. In this work, we successfully constructed the molecular ferroelastic material amantadine–pentafluorobenzoic acid (AM-PFBA) based on the chemical design strategy of perfluorinated substitution. AM-PFBA undergoes a ferroelastic phase transition with the Aizu notation of 2/mF1¯at 354 K. The stripe-shaped ferroelastic domains can be reoriented under temperature or stress. Notably, AM-PFBA shows good mechanical flexibility with a small elastic modulus (E) of 6.45 GPa and hardness (H) of 0.32 GPa, which is much smaller than that of most organic crystals. Such a unique mechanical property of AM-PFBA crystal may be attributed to the introduction of fluorine atoms. This work offers an efficient strategy for precisely designing high-performance molecular ferroelastic.

Carbide slag is a common industrial waste with a high calcium content. Herein, a new type of calcium-based absorbent was prepared via a wet process using calcium carbide slag as the calcium source and MnO2as the dopant. The results showed that when the concentration of ethanol was 60% and the molar ratio of calcium oxide, citric acid, and MnO2was 1:1.25:0.05, the carbonation conversion of the absorbent reached the highest conversion rate of 77%. After 50 carbonation/calcination cycles, the carbonation conversion of the modified absorbent was 11% higher than that of the unmodified pure calcium carbide slag. The synergistic effect of controlling the grain size of the absorbent and using citric acid to strengthen the structure was found to inhibit agglomeration and collapse of the composite absorbent, thus improving cycle stability. Through a range method, it was found that among the variables considered in this study, the ethanol concentration had the strongest influence on the carbonation conversion of composite materials. Mn2O3is formed when MnO2is doped in calcium carbide slag after calcination, which not only strengthens the surface structure of the composite absorbent but also enhances the optical absorption characteristics of the absorbent.