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While substantial amounts of antibiotics and pesticides are applied to maintain orchard yields, their influence on the dissemination and risk of antibiotic resisitome in the orchard food chain remains poorly understood. In this study, we characterized the bacterial and fungal communities and differentiated both antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and virulence factor genes (VFGs) in the soil, Chinese bayberry (matured and fallen), and fruit fly gut, collected from five geographic locations. Our results showed that fruit fly guts and soils exhibit a higher abundance of ARGs and VFGs compared with bayberry fruits. We identified 112 shared ARGs and 75 shared VFGs, with aminoglycoside and adherence factor genes being among the most abundant. The co-occurrence network revealed some shared microbes, such as Bacillusand Candida, as potential hosts of ARGs, highlighting the vector risks for both above- and below-ground parts of the orchard food chain. Notably, the elevated levels of antibiotics and pesticide residues in orchard soils increase ARGs, mobile genetic elements (MGEs), and VFGs in the soil-bayberry-fruit fly food chain. Our study highlighted that agricultural management, including the overuse of antibiotics and pesticides, could be the key factor in accumulating resistomes in the orchard food chain.

Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are ancient but have become a modern critical threat to health. Gut microbiota, a dynamic reservoir for ARGs, transfer resistance between individuals. Surveillance of the antibiotic resistome in the gut during different host growth phases is critical to understanding the dynamics of the resistome in this ecosystem. Herein, we disentangled the ARG profiles and the dynamic mechanism of ARGs in the egg and adult phases of Tetramorium caespitum. Experimental results showed a remarkable difference in both gut microbiota and gut resistome with the development of T. caespitum. Meta-based metagenomic results of gut microbiota indicated the generalizability of gut antibiotic resistome dynamics during host development. By using Raman spectroscopy and metabolomics, the metabolic phenotype and metabolites indicated that the biotic phase significantly changed lipid metabolism as T. caespitumaged. Lipid metabolites were demonstrated as the main factor driving the enrichment of ARGs in T. caespitum. Cuminaldehyde, the antibacterial lipid metabolite that displayed a remarkable increase in the adult phase, was demonstrated to strongly induce ARG abundance. Our findings show that the gut resistome is host developmental stage-dependent and likely modulated by metabolites, offering novel insights into possible steps to reduce ARG dissemination in the soil food chain.

Metabolic disorders of cancer cells create opportunities for metabolic interventions aimed at selectively eliminating cancer cells. Nevertheless, achieving this goal is challenging due to cellular plasticity and metabolic heterogeneity of cancer cells. This study presents a dual-drug-loaded, macrophage membrane-coated polymeric nanovesicle designed to reprogram cancer metabolism with high specificity through integrated extracellular and intracellular interventions. This nanoformulation can target cancer cells and largely reduce their glucose intake, while the fate of intracellular glucose internalized otherwise is redirected at the specially introduced oxidation reaction instead of inherent cancer glycolysis. Meanwhile, it inhibits cellular citrate intake, further reinforcing metabolic intervention. Furthermore, the nanoformulation causes not only H2O2production, but also NADPH down-regulation, intensifying redox damage to cancer cells. Consequently, this nanoformulation displays highly selective toxicity to cancer cells and minimal harm to normal cells mainly due to metabolic vulnerability of the former. Once administered into tumor-bearing mice, this nanoformulation is found to induce the transformation of pro-tumor tumor associated macrophages into the tumor-suppressive phenotype and completely inhibit tumor growth with favourable biosafety.

The soil priming effect (PE), defined as the modification of soil organic matter decomposition by labile carbon (C) inputs, is known to influence C storage in terrestrial ecosystems. However, how chronic nutrient addition, particularly in leguminous and non-leguminous forests, will affect PE through interaction with nutrient (e.g., nitrogen and phosphorus) availability is still unclear. Therefore, we collected soils from leguminous and non-leguminous subtropical plantations across a suite of historical nutrient addition regimes. We added 13C-labeled glucose to investigate how background soil nutrient conditions and microbial communities affect priming and its potential microbial mechanisms. Glucose addition increased soil organic matter decomposition and prompted positive priming in all soils, regardless of dominant overstory tree species or fertilizer treatment. In non-leguminous soil, only combined nitrogen and phosphorus addition led to a higher positive priming than the control. Conversely, soils beneath N-fixing leguminous plants responded positively to P addition alone, as well as to joint NP addition compared to control. Using DNA stable-isotope probing, high-throughput quantitative PCR, enzyme assays and microbial C substrate utilization, we found that positive PE was associated with increased microbial C utilization, accompanied by an increase in microbial community activity, nutrient-related gene abundance, and enzyme activities. Our findings suggest that the balance between soil available N and P effects on the PE,  was dependent on rhizosphere microbial community composition. Furthermore, these findings highlight the roles of the interaction between plants and their symbiotic microbial communities in affecting soil priming and improve our understanding of the potential microbial pathways underlying soil PEs.

This study investigates the magnetic memory and magnetocaloric effects of Sn0.6Cr0.1Ge0.3Te solid solution synthesized by a sealed tube solid-state reaction. Sn0.6Cr0.1Ge0.3Te exhibits ferromagnetic order at Curie temperature (TC= 182 K) and a super spin-glass structure below the blocking temperature. The magnetic memory effect is observed below the spin-glass state, and the change in magnetic entropy is estimated for various magnetic fields. At a magnetic field strength of 60 kOe, the refrigerant capacity, relative cooling power, and the maximum change in magnetic entropy (−ΔSM) values are measured to be 5.5 J/kg, 7.5 J/kg, and 0.107 J/kg-K, respectively. These findings indicate that the Sn0.6Cr0.1Ge0.3Te sample holds great promise as a candidate for applications involving the magnetic memory effect.

An assessment of modifying the SchNET model for the predictions of experimental molecular photophysical properties, including absorption energy (ΔEabs), emission energy (ΔEemi), and photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY), was reported. The solution environment was properly introduced outside the interaction layers of SchNET for not overly amplifying the solute–solvent interactions, particularly being supported by the changes of prediction errors between the presence and absence of the solvent effect. Two featurization schemes under the framework of the Schnet-bondstep approach, with featuring the concepts of reduced-atomic-number and reduced-atomic-neighbor, were demonstrated. These featurized models can consequently provide fine predictions for ΔEabsand ΔEemiwith errors less than 0.1 eV. The corresponding predictions of PLQY were shown to be comparable to the previous graph convolution network model.

ABSTRACTBackgroundPanoramic views of post-marketing safety profiles, such as cancer signal, of phosphodiesterase 5A (PDE5A) inhibitors have yet to be fully evaluated.Research design and methodsData from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) concerning the timeframe between January 1st, 2004 to 30 June 2022 was analyzed through a disproportionality study to understand the association between sildenafil, tadalafil, and vardenafil and cancer. This association was identified using the Reporting odds ratio (ROR) and Bayesian Confidence Propagation Neural Network (BCPNN) approaches.ResultsSildenafil associated ROR values and IC025ranged from 9.19 (95% CI 7.72–10.94, IC0252.77) for metastatic malignant melanoma to 132.23 (95% CI 95.49–183.11, IC0254.69) for malignant melanoma stage II. Tadalafil associated ROR and IC025ranged from 6.79 (95% CI 5.41–8.54, IC0252.27) for metastatic malignant melanoma to 180.17 (95% CI 130.11–249.50, IC0254.89) for malignant melanoma stage II. Vardenafil associated ROR and IC025ranged from 23.38 (95% CI 15.20–35.96, IC0252.63) for metastatic malignant melanoma to 245.77 (95% CI 154.42–391.16, IC0252.10) for malignant melanoma stage III.ConclusionsThis study supports the association between sildenafil, tadalafil, and vardenafil with skin cancer signal in erectile dysfunction (ED) patients.

This study comprehensively investigates the structural, microstructural, vibrational, magnetic, and magnetocaloric properties of novelty Sn0.6Mn0.1Ge0.3Te alloys synthesized using the sealed tube solid-state reaction method. The observed magnetic behavior showcases a transition from paramagnetic (PM) to ferromagnetic (FM) phases at the Curie temperature TC = 29 K. Notably, magnetic entropy change (−ΔSM), relative cooling power (RCP), and refrigerant capacity (RC) are calculated as 1.5 J/kg-K, 42.05 J/kg, and 37.39 J/kg, respectively, under a magnetic field of 60 kOe. Arrott curve analysis further validates the magnetic phase transition, affirming a second-order transition between FM and PM phases. Critical exponents (β, γ, and δ) are derived from field-dependent magnetic entropy changes around the second-order transition and strongly agree with the mean field model. These critical exponents establish a clear correlation between critical behavior and magnetocaloric effects, reinforcing the potential of Sn0.6Mn0.1Ge0.3Te alloys for magnetocaloric applications. Investigations into the electrochemical properties of the alloy have indicated that it exhibits a specific capacitance of 152.9 F/g at a scan rate of 20 mV/s, demonstrating a predominantly pseudocapacitive charge storage mechanism. Additionally, the alloy has proven to be highly stable, retaining 94.2 % of its specific capacitance after 10,000 cycles.

Rivaroxaban, a direct factor Xa inhibitor, is widely used for stroke prevention in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). The aim of this study was to conduct a population pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) analysis of rivaroxaban in Chinese patients with NVAF to assess ethnic differences and provide model-based precision dosing. A total of 256 rivaroxaban plasma concentrations and 244 prothrombin time (PT) measurements were obtained from 195 Chinese NVAF patients from a prospective clinical trial. The population PK-PD model was developed using nonlinear mixed effects modeling (NONMEM) software. The PK of rivaroxaban was adequately described using a one-compartment model with first-order adsorption and elimination. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was identified as a major covariate for apparent clearance. No single nucleotide polymorphism was identified as a significant covariate. PT exhibited a linear relationship with rivaroxaban concentration. Total bilirubin (TBIL) and eGFR were identified as significant covariates for baseline PT. According to the Monte Carlo simulation, 15 mg for Chinese patients with eGFR ≥50 mL/min and normal liver function yielded an exposure comparable to 20 mg for Caucasian patients. Patients with moderately impaired renal function may require a lower dose of rivaroxaban to avoid overexposure. Moreover, there was an approximate 26% increase in PT levels in patients with TBIL of 34 μmol/L and eGFR of 30 mL/min, which could increase the risk of major bleeding. The established population PK-PD model could inform individualized dosing for Chinese NVAF patients who are administered rivaroxaban.

ABSTRACT In this study, fly- and scrubber-ash from a municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) were mixed uniformly in their production weight proportions; then, the mixture was added to waste glass [...]

This study investigates the relationship between point defect density and magnetic properties in nickel oxide (NiO) nanoparticles (NPs). Specifically, we explore the effects of 0.5 % trivalent rare-earth ion (RE3+: Ce3+, Pr3+, Nd3+, Sm3+, and Dy3+) doping on NiO NPs, considering the influence of RE3+ionic radius on structural modulation and magnetic properties. Our findings reveal important trends: increased microstrain (0.08 %–0.17 %) and decreased crystalline size (36–17 nm) with increasing ionic radius (r = 0.91 to 1.01 Å), along with a preference for growth along the (1 1 1) plane over (2 0 0). Additionally, multivalent point defects increase with the increase of ionic radius. Substituting Ni2+site with RE3+ion promotes nearest-neighbor weak ferromagnetic interaction over next-nearest-neighbor strong antiferromagnetic (AF) interaction. This leads to a redshift of two magnons (2 M) frequency by 50 cm−1and enhanced room temperature (RT) magnetization (0.23–0.43 emu/g) with increasing ionic radius. Ce-doped NiO (r = 1.01 Å) shows the smallest crystalline size (17 nm), maximum 2 M redshift, and enhanced RT magnetization (0.43 emu/g) based on interacting bound magnetic polaron model. Ce-, Pr-, Nd-, and Sm-doped NiO NPs exhibit RT magnetic memory effects, while Dy-doped NiO NPs (r = 0.912 Å) display AF properties. Our analysis provides valuable insights for designing RT magnetic memory materials with tailored properties through suitable RE3+ion substitutions.

ABSTRACTDrug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) is a chronic condition derived from spontaneous changes and regulatory effects in the epileptic brain. As demethylation factors, ten-eleven translocation (TET) family members have become a focus in recent studies of neurological disorders. Here, we quantified and localized TET1, TET2 and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) in the temporal lobe cortex of DRE patients (n = 27) and traumatic brain hemorrhage controls (n = 10) by immunochemical staining. TET2 and ATP binding cassette subfamily B member 1 (ABCB1) expression patterns were determined in the isolated brain capillaries of DRE patients. TET2 expression was significantly increased in the temporal cortical tissue of DRE patients with or without hippocampal sclerosis (HS) compared to control patients, while TET1 and 5-hmC showed no differences in expression. We also found that a particularly strong expression of TET2 in the vascular tissue of DRE patients. ABCB1 and TET2 have evidently higher expression in the vascular endothelium from the neocortex of DRE patients. In blood–brain barrier (BBB) model, TET2 depletion can cause attenuated expression and function of ABCB1. Data from a cohort study and experiments in a BBB model suggest that TET2 has a specific regulatory effect on ABCB1, which may serve as a potential mechanism and target in DRE.

ABSTRACTObjectivesReal world studies have started to emerged on occurrence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) with cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 (CDK4/6) inhibitors, but still deserve constant surveillance and evaluation. This study was to analyze this association.MethodsAdverse event cases were acquired from the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database betweenJanuary 1st 2015 and December 31st 2020.Signals indicating association between CDK 4/6 inhibitors and VTE were identified by reporting odds ratio (ROR)Results CDK 4/6 inhibitors had a total of 631 reports of VTE (ROR 1.44, 95% CI 1.33-1.55) compared with non-CDK 4/6 inhibitors. Palbociclib (ROR 1.42, 95% CI 1.09-1.88) demonstratedthe highest number of VTE reports, followed by ribociclib (ROR 1.41, 95% CI 1.29-1.54) and abemaciclib (ROR 0.92, 95% CI 0.72-1.17).ConclusionsAlthough it is not able to confirm the casual relationship between VTE and CDK4/6 inhibitors, this study suggested signal of VTE reporting in patients receiving CDK4/6 inhibitors, which is likely to reflect a potential association. The results may enhance physicians’ awareness of the potential side effect of VTE associated with CDK 4/6 inhibitors. An early recognition of VTE signs/symptoms could decrease the morbidity and severity of such adverse events.

The collapse of a cavitation bubble is an interesting topic and it has many applications in the engineering fields. Due to its compressible nature, the modelling of a cavitation bubble is not easy by the Lagrangian method, like the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH), as there is large variation of particle volume. Currently, there are two kinds of method that have been proposed to deal with this problem: the particle regeneration technique (PRT) and the volume adaptive scheme (VAS). They have all been validated via several numerical tests of compressible flow in the past studies. As is based on totally different concept, the ultimate simulation results and properties may differ. Here, we intend to compare these two methods based on the Riemann-based SPH solver with monotone upwind-centered scheme for conservation laws (MUSCL) reconstruction via several numerical tests. The characteristics of these two methods are discussed and the applicable scope for them are also commented for further usage.

Reported herein is a method for the efficient syntheses of optically active 1-alkyl homoallylic amines in yields up to 95%, 13.5:1 dr, and 98% ee under mild, aqueous reaction conditions, via the Rh-catalyzed asymmetric allylation of aliphatic aldimines. This method provides a streamlined synthetic platform for the preparation of indolizidine and piperidine alkaloids, thus demonstrating its usefulness.

The coordination chemistry of cationic divalent pnictogen ligands, such as nitrenium and phosphenium, has been well-explored in recent years. However, corresponding studies of a heavier congener, stibenium ion, are rare. To better facilitate a Sb+–metal interaction, a tridentate P-Sb+-P ligand with two phosphine buttresses was designed and synthesized, and its coordination chemistry toward late transition metals was investigated. The stibenium ligand was delivered as an activated P(SbCl)P-AgOTf complex (2) that releases AgCl and the P-Sb+-P ligand upon the treatment with transition metals. Reacting 2with Rh(I) and Ir(I) metals yielded the anticipated stibenium–transition-metal complexes [(Rh(COD)Cl)2(μ-PSb+P)] OTf ([3][OTf]) and [(Ir(COD)Cl)2(μ-PSb+P)] OTf ([4][OTf]). The M–Sb+–M bridging structure was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray crystallography, and the bonding situation was examined computationally. Theoretical studies revealed the presence of three-center delocalized M–Sb+–M bonding interactions in [3][OTf] and [4][OTf].

An epigenetic effect mainly refers to a heritable modulation in gene expression in the short term but does not involve alterations in the DNA itself. Epigenetic molecular mechanisms include DNA methylation, histone modification, and untranslated RNA regulation. Antiepileptic drugs have drawn attention to biological and translational medicine because their impact on epigenetic mechanisms will lead to the identification of novel biomarkers and possible therapeutic strategies for the prevention and treatment of various diseases ranging from neuropsychological disorders to cancers and other chronic conditions. However, these transcriptional and posttranscriptional alterations can also result in adverse reactions and toxicity in vitro and in vivo. Hence, in this review, we focus on recent findings showing epigenetic processes mediated by antiepileptic drugs to elucidate their application in medical experiments and shed light on epigenetic research for medicinal purposes.

Ginsenoside Rb1, a known phytoestrogen, is a major pharmacologically active component in ginseng. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of ginsenoside Rb1 on fetal bovine serum (FBS)-induced proliferation and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-evoked inflammatory responses in cultured rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). The data showed that Rb1 potently inhibited VSMC proliferation and cell growth induced by 5% FBS. These inhibitory effects were associated with G1cell cycle arrest and down-regulation of cell cycle proteins. Treatment with Rb1 reduced FBS-induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylation. Furthermore, TNF-α-evoked inflammatory responses were inhibited by Rb1. Reporter gene assay indicated that Rb1 could transactivate ERβ especially. Moreover, Rb1-mediated inhibition of VSMCs proliferation was greatly blocked by transfection of ERβ siRNA. These results suggest that Rb1 inhibits FBS-induced proliferation and TNF-α-evoked inflammatory responses in VSMCs. The findings presented here highlight the possible therapeutic use of Rb1 in cardiovascular disease.

This study explores the influence of Bi-doping on Co1-xBixCr2O4(x = 0–0.2) nanoparticles synthesized via the solution combustion method, focusing on humidity sensing and magnetocaloric effects. The investigation reveals two magnetic transitions: the Curie temperature (TC) marks the paramagnetic to ferrimagnetic shift, while the spiral transition temperature (TS) indicates a spiral spin order transition. Magnetization measurements demonstrate that −ΔSMand relative cooling power (RCP) values vary with Bi concentration, making these nanoparticles viable for magnetic refrigeration above liquid nitrogen temperatures. Analyzing magnetic entropy variation, the modified Arrott plots and Kouvel-Fisher approach affirm second-order phase transitions. The sensing response exhibits growth alongside relative humidity (RH) and Bi concentration, culminating in an impressive ∼97.56 % sensing response for the 20 % Bi-doped sample. This heightened humidity sensing performance with increased Bi content can be attributed to synergistic effects. These results highlight the potential of 20 % Bi-doped Co1-xBixCr2O4nanoparticles as promising contenders for enduring and practical humidity sensing applications.

Tin perovskite nanomaterial is one of the promising candidates to replace organic lead halide perovskites in lighting applications. Unfortunately, the performance of tin-based systems is markedly inferior to those featuring toxic Pb salts. In an effort to improve the emission quantum efficiency of nanoscale 2D layered tin iodide perovskites through fine-tuning the electronic property of organic ammonium salts, we came to unveil the relationship between dielectric confinement and the photoluminescent properties of tin iodide perovskite nanodisks. Our results show that increasing the dielectric contrast for organic versus inorganic layers leads to a bathochromic shift in emission peak wavelength, a decrease of exciton recombination time, and importantly a significant boost in the emission efficiency. Under optimized conditions, a leap in emission quantum yield to a record high 21% was accomplished for the nanoscale thienylethylammonium tin iodide perovskite (TEA2SnI4). The as-prepared TEA2SnI4also possessed superior photostability, showing no sign of degradation under continuous irradiation (10 mW/cm2) over a period of 120 h.

A chiral rhodium(I)–diene catalyst enabled the one-step synthesis of β-aryl β-imido sulfones under mild reaction conditions. By selection of the chiral diene ligand L1aor L2, each enantiomer of the chiral β-aryl β-imido sulfone target can be accessed with high stereoselectivity. Demonstration of the scope of the reaction, which includes the synthesis of an N-protected chiral β-amino β-phenyl sulfone, culminated with the efficient synthesis of the heteroatom-rich active pharmaceutical ingredient apremilast.

Composite electrocatalysts have exhibited high activities toward water electrolysis, but the catalytically active sites really in charge of the reaction are still debatable while the conventional in situ X-ray spectroscopies are not capable of conclusively identifying the interaction of these materials with the electrolyte because of the complexity of catalysis. In this work, by utilization of operando Kβ1,3high-energy resolution fluorescence-detected X-ray absorption spectroscopy (HERFD-XAS) with a small incident angle, the operando quadrupole transition obviously showed that oxygen directly interacted with 3d orbitals of Co ions rather than that of Fe ions. Most importantly, Fe ions can promote the stabilization of the Co ions under a higher valent state during water oxidation, which may lead to a stable intermediate of reactant and its superior intrinsic activity. Accompanied by the first-principle calculations, the intermediates between 3d orbitals for surface Co ions and O 2p orbitals for the attaching hydroxide ions were ascribed to this orbital hybridization. Because of the unvaried structural features in conventional in situ techniques, operando HERFD-XAS revealed the remarkable change of chemical status to correlate with the orbital interaction rather than with the structural variation. This operando HERFD-XAS approach corresponding to the local orbital interaction in reactant/catalyst interface can potentially offer synergetic strategies toward realizing the chemical reactions or reaction pathways in various fields.

In order to make an efficient analysis of muzzle disturbance influenced by projectile mass, mass eccentricity, dynamic unbalance, load deviation, and clearance between projectile and bore, the orthogonal test method is extended to analyze the launch dynamics. Taking a tank as the research object, the launch dynamics equations of a tank system are established. Based on the stochastic simulation principle, the tank launch dynamic simulation system is constructed and through the development of the orthogonal test method, the influence of projectile on muzzle disturbance is studied. The study results provided both theoretical foundation and simulation approaches for improving the firing dispersion of the tank.

The highly enantioselective conjugate addition of a variety of arylboronic acids to β-nitroacrylates is reported to provide optically active α-aryl β-nitropropionates in up to 70% yields and >99.5% ee’s, which are useful building blocks for preparing chiral β2-amino acids. The applicability of this transformation is demonstrated by converting 3aainto the β2-amino acid 5and transforming 3apto β-amino ester 7via reduction and reductive N-alkylation. The latter compound is a precursor for preparing ent-ipatasertib.

This paper introduces the latest achievements of the South China University of Technology in basic research on selective laser melting (SLM), applications of SLM manufacturing equipment, and biomedical metallic materials manufactured by SLM. First, we describe the use of DiMetal-100 equipment to study the process parameters, microstructure, and mechanical properties of three kinds of metal medical materials manufactured by SLM, including 316L stainless steel, CoCrMo, and Ti6Al4V. Second, we describe the application of 316L stainless steel manufactured by SLM to personalized lingual orthodontic brackets and surgical guide plates, the application of CoCrMo manufactured by SLM to knee prostheses and dental crowns and bridges, and the research results of Ti6Al4V manufactured by SLM in the treatment of pelvic fracture bone plates and personalized cranial prostheses. Finally, we introduce the development directions and research plans for SLM technology at the South China University of Technology, including the manufacture of a new porous structure by SLM directly, the manufacture by SLM of various material products simultaneously, SLM + material-reducing hybrid manufacturing, improving the negative feedback systems of SLM equipment, and developing SLM manufacturing processes using ceramics and new metals.

A universal strategy was reported that enables functional group-capped nanostructures with various morphologies and compositions to be coated by porphyrin metal–organic framework (MOF). Based on the nanostructure-induced heterogeneous nucleation, the controlled growth of MOF shell on the surface of nanostructures can be realized. It was demonstrated that this modification strategy can realize controlled growth of porphyrin MOF on a series of organic and inorganic nanostructures, such as polydopamine (PDA) nanoparticles, PDA@Ptnanoparticles, graphene oxide sheets, and Au nanorods. The as-prepared composites exhibit excellent catalytic and optical properties that originate from the nanostructure as well as the coated porphyrin MOF. We further explored the potential applications of PDA@MOFand PDA@Pt@MOFin nanomedicine and photocatalysis.

The effect of bridge vibrationinduced bylive loads such as vehicles and pedestrians is an important factor of bridge fatigue damage. It takes much labor and material resource to perform vibration experiments on bridges subjected by real moving loads in field. In order to carry out laboratory experiments on bridges subjected by moving loads, a fixed load with harmonic vibration simulates a moving load on bridge in the beam theory. A simply supported bridge is considered in the present study. The dynamic responses of bridge under different loads are established by the analytic method. Amplitude and frequency of the simulated load are generated on the principle of equal displacements due to both a moving load and a fixed harmonic load impacting on a simply supported beam. Comparisons of numerical results of two types of load on the same beam indicate that the harmonic load can simulate a moving load effectively. It is possible that the field test on bridge can be carried out indoors.

Sand erosion is a phenomenon that solid particles impinging to a wall cause serious mechanical damages to its surface. It's tough to be a machine in the desert: particles of dirt and sand work their way into moving parts, where they abrade helicopter propellers, airplane rotor blades, pipes and other equipments. However, the desert scorpion (Androctonus australis) live their entire lives subjected to blowing sand, yet they never appear to be eroded. In this study, the anti–erosion characteristic rules of the scorpion surfaces under aerodynamics effect of gas/solid mixed media were studied. Biomimetic linear–cutted surfaces consisting of an array of three types of grooves, square–type, V–type and U–type, were designed and investigated to quantify their erosion wear resistance properties. A smooth surface sample was fabricated for comparison. The ANSYS-Fluent simulation of biomimetic models showed that the V-type groove sample, inspired by the desert organism's surface with different morphologies, exhibited the best erosion resistance. It also indicated the anti-erosion property of biomimetic samples could be attributed to the rotating flow in the grooves that reduces the impact speed of particles. The synchronized erosion test confirmed the conclusions. Furthermore, an application exploring of bionic blades on a centrifugal fan was conducted. The blades with optimum parameters could effectively improve anti-erosion property by 29%. We envision that more opportunities for biomimetic application in improving the anti–erosion performance of parts that work under dirt and sand particle environment will be proposed.

We present a mechanism by which a metamaterial surface, or metasurface, can act as an ideal phase-controlled rotatable linear polarizer. Using coupled-mode theory and the idea of coherent perfect absorption into auxiliary polarization channels, we show how the losses and near-held couplings on the metasurface can be balanced so that, with equal-power linearly polarized beams incident on each side, varying the relative phase rotates the polarization angles of the output beams while maintaining zero ellipticity. The system can be described by a non-Hermitian effective Hamiltonian which is parity-time (PT) symmetric, although there is no actual gain present; perfect polarization conversion occurs at the eigenfrequencies of this Hamiltonian, and the polarization rotating behavior occurs at the critical point of its PT-breaking transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With more and more precise calculation and analysis to the bridge, and its carrying capacity assessment and repair reinforcement universal attention, it is necessary to acquire the influence line of bridge responses corresponding with moving-load position. A method is presented to obtain the influence line by experiment. A laser rangefinder with large range is added to original test instruments. The moving load position parameter can be looked on as displacement after the signal conversion, which can be synchronously collected together with the response signal. The inverse function principle is introduced to process the data. The examples indicate that the present approach can accurately measure the influence line.

We show that metamaterials can be used as a testing ground to investigate spontaneous symmetry breaking associated with non-Hermitian quantum systems. By exploring the interplay between near-field dipolar coupling and material absorption or gain, we demonstrate various spontaneous breaking processes of the PT symmetry for a series of effective Hamiltonians associated with the scattering matrix. By tuning the coupling parameter, coherent perfect absorption, laser action, and gain-induced complete reflection (π reflector) by using an ultrathin metamaterial can be obtained. Moreover, an ideal PT symmetry can be established effectively in a passive system by exploring the balance between scattering and absorption loss using metamaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction and mechanism for CO oxidation on the Mn/CeO2(111) surface have been studied by using periodic density functional theory calculations corrected with the on-site Coulomb interaction via a Hubbard term (DFT + U). It is found that the Mn dopant facilitates oxygen vacancy formation, while the Mn adatoms may restrain oxygen vacancy formation. In addition, physisorbed CO, physisorbed CO2,and chemisorbed CO (carbonite, CO2–) species are observed on the Mn-doped CeO2(111) surface, in contrast, only physisorbed CO is found on the pure CeO2(111) surface. The vibrational frequency calculations as well as the calculated adsorption energies are carried to characterize these species. The Mn dopant promotes CO oxidation without any activation energy leading to O vacancy formation and CO2desorption. The Bader charge analysis is carried to characterize the oxidation state of Mn ions along the catalytic cycle.

The system of a simply continuous beam was looked on as one span beam with several internal elastic supports of inexhaustible stiffness. There were two types of models such as the dynamic models by a moving concentrated force and by a moving mass. A three-span beam was introduced as example solved with the present model by a moving concentrated force and FEM, which verified that the present model was correct. Two cases of the example bridge by a moving concentrated force and by a moving mass were considered. The results indicate that mass of the moving load has little influence over the dynamic responses of the simply continuous beam bridge.

This paper established three-dimensional calculation model of three large space shear wall structures of different thickness,using finite element software ANSYS to analyze the wind loads and vertical loads of the internal force. And analyze the displacement, internal force distribution pattern. Under the wind loads and vertical loads of three different thickness wall of the large space wall structure.

Established three-dimensional calculation model of three large space shear wall structures of different thickness, using finite element software ANSYS to calculate the seismic response analysis of these models,obtained time-displacement curves and stress distribution under earthquake structures of three large space shear walls of different thickness, and its comparative analysis; shows practical significance of large space shear wall structure.

We theoretically and numerically investigate the interaction of an electromagnetic wave with structured metamaterial under the excitation of linearly polarized light. A polarization map of the transmitted electromagnetic wave can reveal electromagnetic spin-to-orbital angular momentum conversion. The spatial splitting of spin states described by the Stokes parameter S3 may be viewed as the photonic version of a Stern-Gerlach experiment in the absence of a magnetic field. Our idea is ideally suitable for demonstration of electromagnetic spin-to-orbital angular momentum conversion, which offers an alternative way to comprehend the conversion. Moreover, it could enrich a variety of optical phenomena in subwavelength structured metallic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tensile test of NOL ring composites with different interply hybrid ratio is simulated by finite element software. The relationship between the stress of Naval Ordnance Laboratory(NOL) ring and the volume fraction of UHMWPEF is linear when the matrix suffering from the equal loading, but tower suddenly appears at the point of 56.25% which is about the critical volume fraction. The critical volume fraction of hybrid NOL ring is figured out on the basis of the constant strain model. By contrast, the results of the Finite Element Method (FEM) and constant strain model have subtle differences. Tooth contact analysis can exactly predict the stress of the interply hybrid NOL ring and the critical volume fraction of GF in interply hybrid NOL ring which has lower breaking strain than UHMWPEF does.

A near-field phase singularity (NFPS) depending on the spin state of the incident electromagnetic (EM) radiation is very fascinating because it can enrich the functionality of the EM radiation in metamaterials. Here we present a microscopic dipole model to describe the NFPS effect under the time-harmonic quasistatic limit. The results reveal that NFPS exists for the longitudinal components of both electric and magnetic fields as well as the transverse component of time-averaged Poynting vector. The localized surface plasmon polariton in the subwavelength metallic structure contributes to enhance the generation efficiency of NFPS by introducing the resonance of the electric dipole. This effect not only is promising for microtrapping and manipulation but also enriches the functionality of the existing metamaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an efficient multi-objective artificial bee colony optimization algorithm based on Pareto dominance called PC_MOABC is proposed to tackle the QoS based route optimization problem. The concepts of Pareto strength and crowding distance are introduced into this algorithm, and are combined together effectively to improve the algorithm’s efficiency and generate a set of evenly distributed solutions. The proposed algorithm was evaluated on a set of different scale test problems and compared with the recently proposed popular NSGA-II based multi-objective optimization algorithm. The experimental results reveal very encouraging results in terms of the solution quality and the processing time required.

The pin-rack gearing is a particular type of cycloidal gearing which transforms a rotation motion to a linear one. Comparing with rack and pinion gearing and hydraulic swing cylinder, the pin-rack gearing has a more compact structure, less mass and lower cost. Nevertheless, designers always worry about vibration, noise and low use life as pin-rack mechanism working caused by deficiency of design theory. The present research derived the pin-rack gearing tooth profile equation and studied the geometry relationship among design parameters. The results can help to improve the pin-rack gearing design.

As is well recognized, source mask optimization (SMO) is a highly effective means of extending the lifetime of a certain photolithography generation without an expensive upgrade to the next generation optical system. More than an academic theory, source optimization first found practical applications in the debut of the pixel-like programmable illuminator in 2009 for producing near freeform illumination. Based on programmed illumination, related studies have demonstrated a nearly identical optical performance to that generated by the conventionally adopted diffractive optical element (DOE) device without the prolonged manufacturing time and relatively high cost of stocking up various DOEs. By using a commercially available pixel-like programmable illuminator from ASML, i.e. the FlexRay, this study investigates the effectiveness of FlexRay in enhancing image contrast and common process window. Before wafer exposure, full SMO and source-only (SO) optimization are implemented by Tachyon SMO software to select the optimum illumination source. Wafer exposure is performed by ASML XT:1950i scanner equipped with a FlexRay illuminator on a critical layer of DRAM process with known hotspots of resist peeling. Pupil information is collected by a sensor embedded in the scanner to confirm the produced source shape against the programmed source and the optically simulated CD. When the FlexRay illuminator is used, experimental results indicate that lithography hotspots are eliminated and depth of focus is improved by as much as 50% in comparison with those from a traditional AERIAL illuminator. Regular focus-exposure matrix (FEM) and the subsequent critical defects scanning reveal that the common process window of the tight-pitched array and the periphery can be enhanced simultaneously with no hotspot identified. Therefore, a programmed source is undoubtedly invaluable in terms of additional manufacturing flexibility and lower cost of ownership when attempting to improve product yield in high volume production.

Introduction The concept of local sleep refers to the phenomenon of local brain activity that modifies neural networks during unresponsive global sleep. Such network rewiring may differ across spatial scales, however, the global and local alterations in brain systems remain elusive in human sleep. Methods Therefore, we examined cross-scale changes of brain networks in sleep. Functional magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired from 28 healthy participants during sleep. We adopted both metrics of connectivity (functional connectivity [FC] and regional homogeneity [ReHo]) and complexity (multiscale entropy) to explore the global and local functionality of the neural assembly across non-rapid eye movement sleep stages. Results Long-range FC decreased with sleep depth, whereas local ReHo peaked at the N2 stage and reached its lowest level at the N3 stage. Entropy exhibited a general decline at the local scale (Scale 1) as sleep deepened, whereas the coarse-scale entropy (Scale 3) was consistent across stages. Discussion The negative correlation between Scale-1 entropy and ReHo reflects the enhanced signal regularity and synchronization in sleep, identifying the information exchange at the local scale. The N2 stage showed a distinctive pattern toward local information processing with scrambled long-distance information exchange, indicating a specific time window for network reorganization. Collectively, the multidimensional metrics indicated an imbalanced global-local relationship among brain functional networks across sleep-wake stages.

Sand erosion is a phenomenon that solid particles impinging to a wall cause serious mechanical damages to its surface. It's tough to be a machine in the desert: particles of dirt and sand work their way into moving parts, where they abrade helicopter propellers, airplane rotor blades, pipes and other equipments. However, the desert scorpion (Androctonus australis) live their entire lives subjected to blowing sand, yet they never appear to be eroded. In this study, the anti–erosion characteristic rules of the scorpion surfaces under aerodynamics effect of gas/solid mixed media were studied. Biomimetic linear–cutted surfaces consisting of an array of three types of grooves, square–type, V–type and U–type, were designed and investigated to quantify their erosion wear resistance properties. A smooth surface sample was fabricated for comparison. The ANSYS-Fluent simulation of biomimetic models showed that the V-type groove sample, inspired by the desert organism's surface with different morphologies, exhibited the best erosion resistance. It also indicated the anti-erosion property of biomimetic samples could be attributed to the rotating flow in the grooves that reduces the impact speed of particles. The synchronized erosion test confirmed the conclusions. Furthermore, an application exploring of bionic blades on a centrifugal fan was conducted. The blades with optimum parameters could effectively improve anti-erosion property by 29%. We envision that more opportunities for biomimetic application in improving the anti–erosion performance of parts that work under dirt and sand particle environment will be proposed.

To investigate the pharmacokinetic profile of carbamazepine (CBZ) in Chinese epilepsy patients.

Previous studies have demonstrated a significant reduction in the oral bioavailability of trovafloxacin and ciprofloxacin when administered concomitantly with an intravenous opiate such as morphine. This decrease in absorption results in a 36% and 50% lower AUC for trovafloxacin and ciprofloxacin, respectively, which could cause clinical failures. The authors investigated the possibility of a similar interaction between oxycodone and levofloxacin. Eight healthy volunteers were randomized in an open‐label, two‐way crossover study to receive oxycodone, 5 mg po Q4H, and levofloxacin, 500 mg po 1 hour after starting the oxycodone or levofloxacin 500 mg po alone. Blood samples were drawn at 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 18, and 24 hours for Cmax, tmax, and AUC determinations. There was not a significant difference (p < 0.05) in AUC (48.59 ± 8.52 vs. 49.9 ± 9.93), Cmax(7.73 ± 2.6 vs. 6.6 ± 2.0), and tmax(1.1 ± 0.6 vs. 1.6 ± 1.1) for levofloxacin versus levofloxacin/oxycodone regimens. It was concluded that oral oxycodone and levofloxacin can be administered concomitantly without a significant decrease in AUC, Cmax, or tmax.

By using the gain-phase margin tester, the parameter-plane method for the nonlinear control system is extended to frequency-domain related to gain margin and phase margin. The stability and self-excited oscillation are investigated with respect to the adjustable parameters. The useful information concerning the effects of adjustable parameters can be obtained, after the describing function curves and the boundaries of constant gain margin and constant phase margin are plotted in the parameter plane. Some interesting consequences are offered by employing the practical control system of a material testing reactor.<>

This paper deals with the problem on the periodic solution for the singularly perturbed differential equations of parabolic type originating from chemical kinetics in stratified media. A uniformly valid asymptotic solution is constructed and the related asymptotic estimate is given.

The Central Asian sea buckthorn growing in the province of Kansu in China (Hippophaë rhamnoides L.,subsp. turkestanica Rousi) [1] has been studied for the presence of biochemical substances: amino acids, microelements, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, free fatty acids, vitamins A and C, and flavonoids. A comparison of it with Chinese sea buckthorn in relation to a number of biochemical components has been made.

An exceptional point (EP) is a degeneracy occurring in a non-energy-conserving system, in which two eigenvectors of a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian coalesce. We explore how EPs can be realized in a metamaterial surface, or metasurface, consisting of a pair of lossy coupled linear antennas in each unit cell. EPs appear in the eigenvectors of the transmission matrix by tuning the frequency and the coupling and loss rates of the metasurface. Each EP is associated with the appearance of a circularly polarized transmission eigenstate; hence, within the parameter space of the system, the EPs lie along pairs of curves with distinct chirality. Our results are obtained using finite-difference time-domain simulations, as well as a fitted coupled-mode theory. The coupled-mode theory agrees well with the numerical results and is capable of accurately predicting the EP f curves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cross-species amplification of 55 microsatellite loci developed in european chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) and japanese chestnut (C. crenata Sieb & Zucc.) was tested in three chestnut species from China [C. mollissima Blume, C. seguinii Dode, and C. henryi (Skan.) Rehder & Wilson]. Among all the tested loci, 47 (85.5%), 47 (85.5%), and 44 (80%) were successfully amplified in each of the three Chinese species, respectively. All microsatellite loci tested from C. crenata successfully amplified in the Chinese species, while only 80.5%, 80.5%, and 73.2% of the loci originating from C. sativa amplified in the three Chinese species. The level of polymorphism and mean number of alleles was 58.2% and 4.12 for C. mollissima, 60% and 4.64 for C. seguinii, and 60% and 4.76 for C. henryi, with mean observed heterozygosity ranging from 0.440 to 0.549 and mean expected heterozygosity ranging from 0.506 to 0.615. Transferability of Castanea Mill. microsatellites provides a powerful tool for chestnut breeding programs and conservation genetic studies of Castanea species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]