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In 2007, the year Apple first started making iPhones in China, the country was better known for cheap labor than for technological sophistication. At the time, Chinese firms were unable [...]

A porphyrin-containing nanoscale covalent organic polymer (COP) was fabricated from 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin (TCPP) and cystamine via an acylation reaction. On the one hand, TCPP can induce tumor cell death by laser irradiation. Due to the presence of disulfide bonds of cystamine which can react with glutathione, it exhibits depletion of glutathione and accumulation of peroxides in tumor cells. Ultimately by the hyaluronic acid to encapsulate the COP to get S-COP@HA, the nanoparticle with a size of 168.6 nm also exhibits good tumor accumulation and biosafety. Significant inhibition of tumor cell growth was observed after two consecutive doses of S-COP@HA at relatively low laser densities. This combination therapy was proved to reduce the level of reduced glutathione in tumor cells, where ferroptosis occurs after photodynamic treatment. Overall, this study presents a potent, good therapeutic option for the effective enhancement of photodynamic therapy by glutathione depletion.

Neurotoxins pose significant challenges in defense and healthcare due to their disruptive effects on nervous tissues. Their extreme potency and enormous structural diversity have hindered the development of effective antidotes. Motivated by the properties of cell membrane-derived nanodiscs, such as their ultrasmall size, disc shape, and inherent cell membrane functions, here, we develop neuronal membrane-derived nanodiscs (denoted “Neuron-NDs”) as a countermeasure nanomedicine for broad-spectrum neurotoxin detoxification. We fabricate Neuron-NDs using the plasma membrane of human SH-SY5Y neurons and demonstrate their effectiveness in detoxifying tetrodotoxin (TTX) and botulinum toxin (BoNT), two model toxins with distinct mechanisms of action. Cell-based assays confirm the ability of Neuron-NDs to inhibit TTX-induced ion channel blockage and BoNT-mediated inhibition of synaptic vesicle recycling. In mouse models of TTX and BoNT intoxication, treatment with Neuron-NDs effectively improves survival rates in both therapeutic and preventative settings. Importantly, high-dose administration of Neuron-NDs shows no observable acute toxicity in mice, indicating its safety profile. Overall, our study highlights the facile fabrication of Neuron-NDs and their broad-spectrum detoxification capabilities, offering promising solutions for neurotoxin-related challenges in biodefense and therapeutic applications.

The Sayram ketteki yogurt cubes fortified with RES were prepared.The RES changed into non-crystalline form after emulsification and encapsulation.The RES encapsulated in Sayram ketteki yogurt had significantly better stability.The 2H-pyrano-2 ketone enriched a rich coconut flavor to the fortified yogurt.

With more flexible active sites and intermetal interaction, dual-atom catalysts (DACs) have emerged as a new frontier in various electrocatalytic reactions. Constructing a typical p-d orbital hybridization between p-block and d-block metal atoms may bring new avenues for manipulating the electronic properties and thus boosting the electrocatalytic activities. Herein, we report a distinctive heteronuclear dual-metal atom catalyst with asymmetrical FeSn dual atom sites embedded on a two-dimensional C2N nanosheet (FeSn–C2N), which displays excellent oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance with a half-wave potential of 0.914 V in an alkaline electrolyte. Theoretical calculations further unveil the powerful p-d orbital hybridization between p-block stannum and d-block ferrum in FeSn dual atom sites, which triggers electron delocalization and lowers the energy barrier of *OH protonation, consequently enhancing the ORR activity. In addition, the FeSn–C2N-based Zn–air battery provides a high maximum power density (265.5 mW cm–2) and a high specific capacity (754.6 mA h g–1). Consequently, this work validates the immense potential of p-d orbital hybridization along dual-metal atom catalysts and provides new perception into the logical design of heteronuclear DACs.

An intelligent delivery nanoformulation could enhance the utilization efficacy, uptake, and translocation of pesticides in plants. Herein, a redox/pH-triggered and fluorescent smart delivery nanoformulation was designed and constructed by using hollow mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles (HMONs) and ZnO quantum dots as the nanocarrier and capping agent, respectively. Boscalid was further loaded to generate Boscalid@HMONs@ZnO with a loading rate of 9.8% for controlling Botrytis cinerea(B. cinerea). The quantity of boscalid released by Boscalid@HMONs@ZnO in a glutathione environment or at pH 3.0 was 1.3-fold and 1.9-fold higher than that in a neutral condition. Boscalid@HMONs@ZnO has 1.7-fold the toxicity index of boscalid technical against B. cinereain antifungal experiments. Pot experiments revealed that the efficacy of Boscalid@HMONs@ZnO was significantly enhanced more than 1.27-fold compared to commercially available water-dispersible granules of boscalid. Due to the fluorescence properties of Boscalid@HMONs@ZnO, pesticide transport’s real-time monitoring of pesticide translocation in tomato plants could be observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Fluorescence images revealed that HMONs@ZnO had been effectively transported via treated leaves or roots in tomato plants. This research showed the successful application of HMONs@ZnO as a nanocarrier for controlling disease and offered an effective avenue to explore the real-time tracking of pesticide translocation in plants.

Two A2B2-type zinc(II) porphyrin-modified organic polymers Poly(ZnEtPpI2/BDDA) and Poly(ZnMePpI2/BDDA) were synthesized by the free-radical copolymerization of flexible 1,4-butanediol diacrylate (BDDA) with novel A2B2-type zinc(II) porphyrins ZnEtPpI2and ZnMePpI2, respectively. The characterizations of both were carried out successfully. The two organic polymers had abundant dual-function sites (Zn2+and I–) and excellent adsorption capacity for solvent, showing high catalytic activity for the CO2fixation to cyclic carbonate under the conditions of 120 °C and 1.0 MPa CO2. Specifically, Poly(ZnEtPpI2/BDDA) displayed the highest catalytic activity with a TOF of 1480 h–1for the cycloaddition of CO2and epichlorohydrin (ECH) and wide applicability for different epoxides. Moreover, the Poly(ZnEtPpI2/BDDA) showed excellent stability and could be recycled at least 7 times. Finally, the kinetic experiments confirmed that Poly(ZnEtPpI2/BDDA) was a promising catalyst with a relatively low activation energy (35.3 kJ/mol) for the fixation of CO2to cyclic carbonate.

It is crucial to develop cost-effective and high-efficiency catalysts for electrochemical water splitting. High-entropy oxides (HEOs) are promising emerging catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with outstanding catalytic activity and remarkable durability because of their flexibility and structural stability, as well as the synergistic effect of various elements. Herein, a panoramic view of the mechanism of the OER of HEO and the evaluation criteria for the performance of the OER of HEO are discussed. A sequence of key discoveries and achievements of HEO-based OER electrocatalysts with different structures such as perovskite, spinel, and rock-salt structures has been summarized, together with special focuses on the modification strategies including increasing the number of sites with active edges, adjusting the structure of electrocatalysts, and the improvement of electrical conductivity. Then the main preparation methods of HEO electrocatalysts are reviewed. Moreover, theoretical calculations applied in the production of OER catalysts are summarized to guide material design and understand the catalytic mechanism. Finally, this review highlights existing challenges and future design directions of HEO-based OER electrocatalysts.

The B-doped high-entropy oxide cathodes demonstrate rapid ion diffusion kinetics, minimal volumetric changes, and superior electrochemical performance in the temperature range of −20 to 60 °C.

Byline: Hao. Zhang, Su-Hong. Yang, Ting. Chen, Mei-Xia. Kang, Dan-Yan. Liu, Dan. Wang, Jing. Hao, Miao. Wang, Zhou. Yang, Xu. Han, Han. Su Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the [...]

The main purpose of this article is to elaborate on the limitations of using frequency-domain passivity theories in analyzing grid-inverter interactions within the low-frequency range. It primarily covers three levels of limitations: 1) the limitations and selection criteria of two kinds of passivity index, 2) potential conflicts between different passivity index tuning methods, and 3) the relationship between the frequency range of negative passivity index and system stability robustness. The findings suggest that caution should be exercised when applying passivity theory, particularly in the low-frequency range.

Guided by the developmental niche framework, this ethnographic study aimed to explore immigrant Chinese parenting beliefs and practices in the Midwestern United States. Nine immigrant Chinese parents (eight mothers and one father) living in two Midwestern states were interviewed for their caretaking practices, expectations for children, understanding of cultural influences on parenting, and perceived challenges and resources in the community. Qualitative thematic analyses revealed five themes of immigrant Chinese parenting in the Midwest, including (1) teaching children Chinese language and culture; (2) integrating American and Chinese parenting; (3) communicating expectations with children; (4) adjusting parenting in the Midwestern context; and (5) maintaining connections to Chinese families and friends. Findings emphasized the dynamic nature of parenting in the shifting contexts and highlighted the importance of including settings, childrearing customs, and the unique caregiver psychology in immigrant parenting studies. Limitations and implications for future research were discussed.

3,3,3-trifluoropropene (R1243zf), which has good environmental and cycling characteristics, is a very promising fourth generation new working fluid. However, it is flammable, so studying its combustion characteristics and how to suppress its flammability are of great significance. Firstly, the flammability limits of three binary mixtures composed of a combustible substance (R1243zf) and three flame retardants (R245fa, R1216, and R13I1) were experimentally studied. The results showed that as the proportion of flame retardants increased, the lower flammability limit of the mixture increased, while the upper flammability limit decreased except for R245fa. The critical suppression ratios of R245fa, R1216, and R13I1 on R1243zf were 4, 0.538, and 0.538, respectively. Then, the improved group contribution method was used to predict the minimum inhibitory concentration of R1243zf, with an error of only 4.57 % compared to the experimental values. Finally, the influence of variable ambient temperature (25–100℃) on the flammability of R1243zf was studied, and the calculated adiabatic flame temperature method was used to predict the flammability limit at different temperatures. The error between the predicted values and the experimental values is only 1.7 %. The relevant results are of great significance for the safe application of R1243zf and new binary mixed working fluids.

This article investigates an adversarial domain protection scenario involving multiple defending underactuated autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs) against an equal number of attacking ASVs in an obstructive environment. The defending ASVs can only obtain the positions of the attacking ASVs susceptible of stochastic measurement noises. A three-layer attack-defense guidance structure is proposed such that the defending ASVs are able to intercept the attacking ASVs with collision-free behaviors. In the first layer, an auction theory is utilized to achieve the attack-defense matching that efficiently assigns multiple defending ASVs to corresponding attacking ASVs in a distributed manner. In the second layer, an adaptive attack-defense guidance method is proposed, enabling each underactuated defending ASV to implement the appropriate guidance law aligned with the optimal interception point. In the last layer, a quadratic programming problem is formulated using speed-heading-constraint control barrier functions, and a neurodynamics optimization approach is employed to achieve real-time resolution of the optimal attack-defense guidance signal. The stability and safety analyses show that the system error is practically stochastic input-to-state stable, and the system is guaranteed to be safe. Experiment results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed neurodynamics-based attack-defense guidance method for domain protection.

Neurotoxins are known for their extreme lethality. However, due to their enormous diversity, effective and broad-spectrum countermeasures are lacking. This study presents a dual-modal cellular nanoparticle (CNP) formulation engineered for continuous neurotoxin neutralization. The formulation involves encapsulating the metabolic enzyme N-sulfotransferase (SxtN) into metal–organic framework (MOF) nanoparticle cores and coating them with a natural neuronal membrane, termed “Neuron-MOF/SxtN-NPs”. The resulting nanoparticles combine membrane-enabled broad-spectrum neurotoxin neutralization with enzyme payload-enabled continuous neurotoxin neutralization. The studies confirm the protection of the enzyme payload by the MOF core and validate the continuous neutralization of saxitoxin (STX). In vivostudies conducted using a mouse model of STX intoxication reveal markedly improved survival rates compared with control groups. Furthermore, acute toxicity assessments show no adverse effects associated with the administration of Neuron-MOF/SxtN-NPs in healthy mice. Overall, Neuron-MOF/SxtN-NPs represent a unique biomimetic nanomedicine platform poised to effectively neutralize neurotoxins, marking an important advancement in the field of countermeasure nanomedicine.

Multi-fountional hollow structures have emerged as promising platforms for intelligent drug delivery due to their unique properties, such as high loading capacities and programmed drug release. In particular, hollow multishell structures (HoMSs) with multilevel shell and space can regulate the molecular-level interaction between drugs and materials, so as to achieve the temporal-spatial order and sequential release of drugs. The anisotropic hollow structures can control the drug diffusion process by inducing the macroscopic interface flow through autonomous movement, realizing the targeted drug transport and release. In this paper, a key focus will be HoMSs with their temporal-ordered architectures and anisotropic hollow carriers with directional movement. Their synthesis mechanisms, structure-property relationships, smartly programmed drug delivery and biomedical applications will be discussed, providing insights into designing next-generation intelligent drug carriers.

Hollow multi-shelled structures (HoMS) have made significant strides across a wide spectrum of scientific investigations since the inception of the sequential templating approach (STA) in 2009, revealing distinctive temporal-spatial ordering properties. The recent establishment of a mathematical model for STA has not only demystified the formation of concentration waves within the STA process but also extended its relevance to gentler solution-based systems, thereby broadening the HoMS landscape. Herein, focusing on photoelectric applications, this review first summarizes the unique temporal-spatial ordering features of HoMS. Subsequentially, the greatly enhanced properties of light capture and absorption, exciton separation, and transfer are deeply discussed. Finally, we conclude with a perspective on the potential challenges and burgeoning opportunities that lie ahead in the advancement of HoMS development.

Due to its highest theoretical capacity and its lowest redox potential, lithium (Li) metal has been considered as the ultimate anode choice for high-energy-density rechargeable batteries. However, its commercialization is severely hindered by its poor cyclic stability and safety issues. Diverse material structure design concepts have been raised to address these failure models, wherein, hollow structure has shown great power in solving the challenges. Especially, a hollow multishelled structure (HoMS) featured with two or more shells has been proved to be more efficient to improve Li metal anode than their single-shelled counterparts. Herein, this up-to-date review summarizes the recent progress of the application of HoMS in Li metal anode, including their adoption as Li metal host, artificial solid electrolyte interphase film, electrolyte additive, solid state electrolyte, etc. HoMS offers unique advantages, such as suppressing Li dendrite growth, stabilizing electrode-electrolyte interface, and improving overall battery performance. Future research directions are outlined, emphasizing the need for multifunctional integrated smart HoMS design and large-scale fabrication of HoMS through low-cost accurate method to further advance the commercialization of Li metal batteries.

A significant clinical challenge in large-to-massive rotator cuff tendon injuries is the need for sustaining high mechanical demands despite limited tissue regeneration, which often results in clinical repair failure with high retear rates and long-term functional deficiencies. To address this, an innovative tendon substitute named “BioTenoForce” is engineered, which uses (i) tendon extracellular matrix (tECM)'s rich biocomplexity for tendon-specific regeneration and (ii) a mechanically robust, slow degradation polyurethane elastomer to mimic native tendon's physical attributes for sustaining long-term shoulder movement. Comprehensive assessments revealed outstanding performance of BioTenoForce, characterized by robust core-shell interfacial bonding, human rotator cuff tendon-like mechanical properties, excellent suture retention, biocompatibility, and tendon differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells. Importantly, BioTenoForce, when used as an interpositional tendon substitute, demonstrated successful integration with regenerative tissue, exhibiting remarkable efficacy in repairing large-to-massive tendon injuries in two animal models. Noteworthy outcomes include durable repair and sustained functionality with no observed breakage/rupture, accelerated recovery of rat gait performance, and >1 cm rabbit tendon regeneration with native tendon-like biomechanical attributes. The regenerated tissues showed tendon-like, wavy, aligned matrix structure, which starkly contrasts with the typical disorganized scar tissue observed after tendon injury, and was strongly correlated with tissue stiffness. Our simple yet versatile approach offers a dual-pronged, broadly applicable strategy that overcomes the limitations of poor regeneration and stringent biomechanical requirements, particularly essential for substantial defects in tendon and other load-bearing tissues.

Health is becoming an increasingly important indicator for displays, especially after suffering the CODIV‐19 in past years. This manuscript is reporting a novel anti‐bacteria and anti‐virus liquid crystals display which is using an optimized antibacterial and anti‐virus materials on displays with certain technical processes. The antibacterial ratio can reach to 99.99% for both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Moreover, its anti‐virus ratio can attain above 91.36% for H3N2 and 96.45% for H1N1 viruses, respectively. Its optical properties such as transmission and reflection are all quite similar as the one without antibacterial and anti‐virus treatment. This kind of technology can be used for touching and interacting displays, such as tablet personal computer, cellphones, as well as public interaction screens, and so on.

The design of aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) that have high specific capacity and long-term stability is essential for future large-scale energy storage systems. Cathode materials with extended π-conjugation and abundant active sites are desirable to enhance the charge storage performance and the cycling stability of the aqueous ZIB. Based on this concept, 6,9-dihydropyrazino[2,3-g]quinoxaline-2,3,7,8(1H,4H)-tetrone was chosen as the monomer to be electropolymerized onto carbon cloth (PDHPQ-Tetrone/CC). When used as the cathode material for aqueous ZIBs, an exceptional cycling life (>20,000 cycles) at a current density of 10 A g–1was achieved, with the specific capacity maintained at 82.8% and with the Coulombic efficiency at around 100% throughout cycling. At the charge–discharge current density of 0.1 A g–1, the ZIB with PDHPQ-Tetrone/CC achieved a high specific capacity of 248 mAh g–1. Kinetic analyses showed that both surface-capacitive-controlled processes and semi-infinite diffusion-controlled processes contribute to the stored charge. The charge storage mechanism was investigated with ex situ characterizations and involves the redox processes of carbonyl/hydroxyl and amino/imino groups coupled with insertion and extraction of both Zn2+and H+.

In multicellular organisms, individual cells are coordinated through complex communication networks to accomplish various physiological tasks. Aiming to establish new biological functions in the multicellular community, we used DNA as the building block to develop a cascade of nongenetic reaction circuits to establish a dynamic cell–cell communication network. Utilizing membrane-anchored amphiphilic DNA tetrahedra (TDN) as the nanoscaffold, reaction circuits were incorporated into three unrelated cells in order to uniquely regulate their sense-and-response behaviors. As a proof-of-concept, this step enabled these cells to simulate significant biological events involved in T cell-mediated anticancer immunity. Such events included cancer-associated antigen recognition and the presentation of antigen-presenting cells (APCs), APC-facilitated T cell activation and dissociation, and T cell-mediated cancer targeting and killing. By combining the excellent programmability and molecular recognition ability of DNA, our cell-surface reaction circuits hold promise for mimicking and manipulating many biological processes.

Fms-like tyrosine receptor kinase 3 (FLT3) proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) represent a promising approach to eliminate the resistance of FLT3 inhibitors. However, due to the poor druggability of PROTACs, the development of orally bioavailable FLT3-PROTACs faces great challenges. Herein, a novel orally bioavailable FLT3-ITD degrader A20with excellent pharmacokinetic properties was discovered through reasonable design. A20selectively inhibited the proliferation of FLT3-ITD mutant acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells and potently induced FLT3-ITD degradation through the ubiquitin–proteasome system. Notably, oral administration of A20resulted in complete tumor regression on subcutaneous AML xenograft models. Furthermore, on systemic AML xenograft models, A20could completely eliminate the CD45+CD33+human leukemic cells in murine and significantly prolonged the survival time of mice. Most importantly, A20exerted significantly improved antiproliferative activity against drug-resistant AML cells compared to existing FLT3 inhibitors. These findings suggested that A20could serve as a promising drug candidate for relapsed or refractory AML.

This study focuses on conducting friction-stir processing (FSP) on 3 mm thick LA141 alloy using different tools. Under low heat input conditions of 600 rpm and 200 mm/min, the use of the WC-Co cemented carbide tool successfully produced a defect-free stir zone. This stir zone exhibited an ultrafine grain structure resulting from continuous dynamic recrystallization. Additionally, the stir zone introduced massive grain boundaries, nanoscale MgAlLi2particles, and stacking faults. The stir zone displayed a favorable balance of strength and ductility. The enhanced strength is attributed to the inhibitory effect of nanoscale MgAlLi2particles, grain boundaries, and Lomer-Cottrell locks on dislocation movement. The improved work hardening ability and ductility can be attributed to the increase in stacking faults, Lomer-Cottrell locks, and deformation twins during deformation. Furthermore, the stir zone showed improved corrosion resistance, characterized by lower corrosion current density and larger polarization resistance. This improvement in corrosion resistance can be attributed to multiple factors. These include the reduced defect density, refined and evenly distributed MgLiAl2particles that weakened galvanic corrosion effects, and the presence of more stable Li2CO3and Al2O3compounds that resulted in a compact and protective film.

Fiber-reinforced polymer composite (FRPC) 3D printing is revolutionizing the manufacturing of complex composite structures. Grid-stiffened composites are one of the applications that prized for their high specific stiffness and buckling resistance. However, the discrepancies between design and manufacturing and their influence on the properties of as-fabricated structures are often insufficiently considered. Herein, the manufacturing discrepancies are taken into account during the design stage by developing a novel path-planning approach specifically tailored for FRPC 3D printing of grid-stiffened composite structures with curved stiffeners. Firstly, an Euler graph-based technique is applied to obtain continuous paths that are well aligned with curved stiffeners and possess minimum fiber cutting frequency and printing time. These continuous paths are further optimized for buckling resistance using inexpensive yet accurate updated finite element models. These computational models are coupled with experimental characterization results to provide evaluations that consider manufacturing imperfections and as-fabricated properties. Within this performance-aware process, buckling resistance is optimized based on a fixed input geometry, with joint configurations as variables. Finally, the proposed path-planning approach is experimentally validated and proven to be effective in integrating performance considerations into both the design and manufacturing stages, leading to a more efficient and performance-optimized fabrication process for grid-stiffened composite structures.

Developing highly active yet stable catalysts for the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) in alkaline media remains a significant challenge. Herein, we designed a novel catalyst of atomic PtPd-layer shelled ultrasmall PdCu hollow nanoparticles (HPdCu NPs) on partially unzipped carbon nanotubes (PtPd@HPdCu/W-CNTs), which can achieve a high mass activity, 5 times that of the benchmark Pt/C, and show exceptional stability with negligible decay after 20,000 cycles of accelerated degradation test. The atomically thin PtPd shell serves as the primary active site for the HOR and a protective layer that prevents Cu leaching. Additionally, the HPdCu substrate not only tunes the adsorption properties of the PtPd layer but also prevents corrosive Pt from reaching the interface between NPs and the carbon support, thereby mitigating carbon corrosion. This work introduces a new strategy that leverages the distinct advantages of multiple components to address the challenges associated with slow kinetics and poor durability toward the HOR.

A palladium-catalyzed iodine-assisted carbonylation reaction of indoles with readily available ClCF2CO2Na and alcohols has been developed. This protocol provides a practical and efficient approach to highly regioselective indole-3-carboxylates via a preiodination strategy of indoles. Different from classic carbonylation using toxic and difficult-to-handle carbon monoxide, this operationally simple and scalable reaction employed difluorocarbene as the carbonyl surrogate.

Ecological water conveyance (EWC) is a crucial measure to address ecological degradation in arid regions. To scientifically formulate ecological water conveyance pattern (WCP), and provide a basis for ecological flow management of reservoirs, this study proposes a framework to assess the effect of EWC, and applied it to the Irtysh River basin as a case study. Following the framework, we first developed a calculation method to assess the evolution of the reproduction and growth of riparian forests caused by hydrological variations. Additionally, simulations of surface water and groundwater conditions under different scenarios of water resources development were conducted based on hydrodynamic and groundwater models. The study further predicted the long-term evolution of riparian forest reproduction and growth based on the simulation results. The results indicated that when EWC was not carried out (reservoirs operating according to the designed rules), after 30 years, floodplain flood (FF) inundation area decreased by 47%, duration shortened by 73%, and groundwater levels in 80% of the region declined by 1.5–2 m, causing severe and moderate impacts on the reproduction and growth of riparian forests, respectively. Alternatively, adopting EWC (reservoirs operating according to ecological rules) led to a 24% decrease in FF inundation area, a 63% reduction in its duration, and a groundwater level decline of 0.5–1 m in 87% of the region, and these changes caused severe impacts on riparian forest reproduction, while growth remained unaffected. These findings indicate that the current EWC effectively safeguards the growth of riparian forests but fall short of mitigating the impacts of water conservancy project construction and operation on the reproduction of riparian forests. Given the current trajectory, riparian forests are anticipated to undergo a gradual decline. Consequently, a sustainable EWC should ensure that the water volume discharged into the region exceeds 53% of the natural inflow and urgently requires measures to extend the duration of FF inundation. This study can provide new insights for the early evaluation, comparison and optimization of various WCPs before their implementation.

2-(4-tert-Butylphenyl)-5-(4-biphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (PBD) is one of the most widely used electron transport layer materials in optoelectronic devices, and studies on the solubility of PBD in various solvents are critical for development of solution-processable roll-to-roll electronic devices. In this study, the isothermal saturation method is used to determine the solubility data of PBD in 12 commonly used organic solvents. The experimental solubility of PBD increases gradually with enhanced temperature for the examined temperature range of 283.15–323.15 K in n-hexane, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, tetrahydrofuran (THF), acetonitrile, ethyl acetate, N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP), toluene, and chlorobenzene, while the temperature ranges were 293.15–333.15 K and 273.15–303.15 K for dimethyl sulfoxide and dichloromethane, respectively. The obtained solubility values of PBD are correlated by three models including the modified Apelblat equation, λhequation, and Yaws equation. Comparison of the calculated Akaike information criterion values resulted in selecting the optimal model for each solvent. Of the five solvents calculated, n-hexane, methanol, toluene, THF, and NMP, the λhequation provides an optimal fit. Both the modified Apelblat equation and the Yaws equation work well in chlorobenzene. Among the other six solvents, the fit of the Yaws equation is the best. These results of solubility provide the basic data for the synthesis of PBD nanoparticles via high-gravity-assisted antisolvent precipitation processing.

ABSTRACTSeneca Valley virus (SVV) causes vesicular disease in pigs, posing a threat to global pork production. OPTN (optineurin) is a macroautophagy/autophagy receptor that restricts microbial propagation by targeting specific viral or bacterial proteins for degradation. OPTN is degraded and cleaved at glutamine 513 following SVV infection via the activity of viral 3C protease (3C[pro]), resulting in N-terminal and a C-terminal OPTN fragments. Moreover, OPTN interacts with VP1 and targets VP1 for degradation to inhibit viral replication. The N-terminal cleaved OPTN sustained its interaction with VP1, whereas the degradation capacity targeting VP1 decreased. The inhibitory effect of N-terminal OPTN against SVV infection was significantly reduced, C-terminal OPTN failed to inhibit viral replication, and degradation of VP1 was blocked. The knockdown of OPTN resulted in reduced TBK1 activation and phosphorylation of IRF3, whereas overexpression of OPTN led to increased TBK1-IRF3 signaling. Additionally, the N-terminal OPTN diminished the activation of the type I IFN (interferon) pathway. These results show that SVV 3C[pro] targets OPTN because its cleavage impairs its function in selective autophagy and type I IFN production, revealing a novel model in which the virus develops diverse strategies for evading host autophagic machinery and type I IFN response for survival.Abbreviations: Co-IP: co-immunoprecipitation; GFP-green fluorescent protein; hpi: hours post-infection; HRP: horseradish peroxidase; IFN: interferon; IFNB/IFN-β: interferon beta; IRF3: interferon regulatory factor 3; LIR: LC3-interacting region; MAP1LC3/LC3: microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3; MOI: multiplicity of infection; OPTN: optineurin; PBS: phosphate-buffered saline; SVV: Seneca Valley virus; SQSTM1: sequestosome 1; TAX1BP1: Tax1 binding protein 1; TBK1: TANK binding kinase 1; TCID50: 50% tissue culture infectious doses; UBAN: ubiquitin binding in TNIP/ABIN (TNFAIP3/A20 and inhibitor of NFKB/NF-kB) and IKBKG/NEMO; UBD: ubiquitin-binding domain; ZnF: zinc finger.

The design of advanced electrolytes hinges critically on a comprehensive comprehension of lithium-ion migration mechanisms within these electrochemical systems. Fluorination generally improves the stability and reduces the reactivity of organic compounds, making them potentially suitable for use in harsh conditions such as those found in a battery electrolyte. However, the specific properties, such as the solvation power, diffusivity, ion mobility, and so forth, would depend on the exact nature and extent of the fluorination. In this work, we introduce a theoretical framework designed to facilitate the autonomous creation of electrolyte molecular structures and craft methodologies to compute transport coefficients, providing a physical interpretation of fluoride systems. Taking fluorinated-1,2-diethoxyethanes as electrolyte solvents, we present and analyze the relationship between the electronic properties and atomic structures, and further correlate these properties to the transport coefficients, resulting in a good alignment with the experimental diffusion behaviors and Li-solvation structures. The insights derived from this research contribute to the methodological basis for high-throughput evaluation of prospective electrolyte systems, and consequently, propose strategic directions for the improvement of electrochemical cycle characteristics. This comprehensive exploration of the transport mechanisms enhances our understanding, offering avenues for further advancements in the field of lithium-ion battery technology.

With the advantages of eco-friendliness, low cost, and low density, Mg2(Si,Sn) solid solutions are promising candidates for thermoelectric applications. In this work, Sb-doped Mg2Si0.4Sn0.6bulks were prepared with a combined method of solid-state reaction and high pressure synthesis, followed by spark plasma sintering. Our investigations show that Sb doping optimizes the carrier concentration, while Si/Sn alloying effectively suppresses the lattice thermal conductivity and induces a convergence of the two lowest-lying conduction bands. Additionally, numerous coherent Sn-rich nanoprecipitates are formed within micron-sized grains. All these factors contribute synergistically to improving the thermoelectric properties of Mg2Si0.4Sn0.6. The optimal Mg2(Si0.4Sn0.6)0.985Sb0.015exhibits a power factor higher than 4 000 μW·m−1·K−2and a lattice thermal conductivity less than 0.8 W·m−1·K−1at temperatures higher than 600 K, leading to the highest ZTof 1.61 at 823 K. Current work demonstrates an effective approach to enhancing the thermoelectric performance of n-type Mg2X solid solutions through doping, alloying, and microstructure modification.

Regulating folding/unfolding of gene promoter G-quadruplexes (G4s) is important for understanding the topological changes in genomic DNAs and the biological effects of such changes on important cellular events. Although many G4-stabilizing ligands have been screened out, effective G4-destabilizing ligands are extremely rare, posing a great challenge for illustrating how G4 destabilization affects gene function in living cells under stress, a long-standing question in neuroscience. Herein, we report a distinct methodology able to destabilize gene promoter G4s in ischemia-stressed neural cells by mitigating the ischemia-induced accumulation of intracellular K+with an artificial membrane-spanning DNA framework channel (DFC). We also show that ischemia-triggered K+influx is positively correlated to anomalous stabilization of promoter G4s and downregulation of Bcl-2, an antiapoptotic gene with neuroprotective effects against ischemic injury. Intriguingly, the DFC enables rapid transmembrane transport of excessive K+mediated by the internal G4 filter, leading to the destabilization of endogenous promoter G4 in Bcl-2 and subsequent turnover of gene expression at both transcription and translation levels under ischemia. Consequently, this work enriches our understanding of the biological roles of endogenous G4s and may offer important clues to study the cellular behaviors in response to stress.

The interaction details of phenol with transition metal oxides are important for understanding the mechanisms of organic pollutant degradation as well as functionalization of oxide semiconductors through organic chromophores. In this work, we apply low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy in combination with density functional theory calculations to explore the adsorption structures and interface charge transfer of phenol on a ZnO(101̅0) surface. Distinct adsorption configurations of phenol are clearly determined. For low coverage conditions, the less-stable standing-up configuration of phenol prevails both at 77 K and room temperature (RT), but all transform into more stable lying-down configurations and assemble into a linear chain structure orientating along the [0001] direction at increased coverage. The lying-down phenols dominate in the two-dimensional structures formed at either RT or 400 K, presenting a c(2 × 2) periodicity at medium coverage or a p(2 × 1) superstructure at saturation coverage. Because different phenol configurations have distinct charging characteristics, their aggregation state hence plays a critical role in switching phenol from electron acceptors to electron donors relative to the ZnO surface. These results are believed to provide important inputs for the deepened understanding of catalytic removal of phenol pollutes as well as for the design of new ZnO–organic functional systems.

For effectively predicting the tank failure time and analyzing the key elements influencing the reliability of corroded bottom plates, this article presents a model for calculating the reliability of corroded tank bottom plates based on a hierarchical Bayesian corrosion growth model. Firstly, the growth of corrosion defect depth is expressed by the gamma process, and the hierarchical Bayesian model is used to calculate the corrosion depth growth. After that, the reliability calculation model of the corroded tank base plate is established by combining the results of the hierarchical Bayesian model with the stress-strength interference theory, and the three uncertain factors of the base plate thickness, radius, and yield strength are considered in the model. Finally, the reliability assessment and sensitivity analysis of corroded bottom plate are carried out. The results show that the proposed reliability calculation model can provide more accurate failure state prediction results than the reliability calculation model which only considers the influence of corrosion depth, and can provide reference for reducing the failure rate of tank floor and reasonably formulating the maintenance plan of tank floor.

Realtime model learning is a challenging task for autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs) sailing in a variable sea environment. Deep learning based on deep neural networks (DNNs) takes advantage of high representative capabilities. However, it is difficult to achieve stable learning control performance due to modeling errors or model bias. On the other hand, extended state observer (ESO) takes advantage of fast reconstructing unknown disturbances. In this paper, an online deep learning control method is presented for an ASV to achieve trajectory tracking. Specifically, a general DNN is constructed at first to learn the unknown ASV dynamics online with the collected data one by one at each time to improve scalability. Then, an ESO is designed to estimate the modeling errors of the DNN for improving the model learning accuracy further. Finally, a stable online deep learning trajectory tracking control law is designed based on the learned ASV dynamics from the DNN and the reconstructed modeling errors from the ESO. By using the cascade theory, it is proven that the closed-loop trajectory tracking control system is input-to-state stable and all signals are uniformly ultimately bounded. Simulation results of the circular trajectory tracking show that the proposed method improves the transient tracking performance compared with the DNN-based and ESO-based control methods. Moreover, an “8-type” trajectory tracking simulation is further provided to demonstrate the generalization capabilities of the proposed method for new trajectories and new environments.

Two novel metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), JLU-MOF130 ([In(NH2−BDC)(Imi)(1H−Imi)]·DMF·H2O, NH2−H2BDC=2-aminobenzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid, 1H−Imi=1H-imidazole, DMF=N,N-dimethylformamide) and JLU-MOF131 ([In(1,4-NDC)(Imi) (1H−Imi)]·DMF0.5, 1,4-H2NDC=1,4-naphthalene-dicarboxylic acid), were synthesized. JLU-MOF130 features a three-dimensional (3D) architecture with a nebtopology. JLU-MOF131 is characterized by a two-dimensional (2D) structure with an sqltopology. JLU-MOF130 has excellent fluorescence detection performance towards Fe3+, 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP), and 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP), but the fluorescence detection performance of JLU-MOF131 is further improved by converting NH2−H2BDC to more conjugated 1,4-H2NDC. The Stern-Volmer (SV) quenching constant (KSV) values of JLU-MOF130 sensing 2,4-DNP, TNP, and Fe3+are 5.24×104, 4.44×104, and 4.73×103L/mol, respectively. The corresponding limit of detection (LOD) values are 1.17, 1.36, and 14.59 µmol/L. The KSVvalues for JLU-MOF131 are 1.26×105, 9.02×104, and 8.48×103L/mol, and the corresponding LOD values are 0.35, 0.42, and 3.60 µmol/L, respectively. interestingly, the emission wavelengths of the two MOFs obviously shift as the fluorescence emission intensities decrease upon the addition of 2,4-DNP and TNP, which can be applied in selective detection.

High Definition (HD) maps have become core supporting components for autonomous driving. To date, their updates heavily depend on the vehicle fleets of the map vendors, which cannot scale and timely reflect the highly dynamic environment. To ensure the HD map quality, it is advocated social vehicles should be used. Nevertheless, there are privacy concerns and a lack of incentives for social vehicles to contribute data. In this paper, we leverage federated analytics (FA), a newly developed collaborative data analytics paradigm, where raw data are kept local and only the insights generated from local analytics are sent to a server for aggregation. We present a new Federated Analytics based HD map Updating model (FAUMap) to protect the privacy of social vehicles. To motivate social vehicles to contribute data and improve the HD map quality, we formulate an overlapping coalition formation game, OCFUMap, and develop an algorithm to find feasible coalitions. Simulations show that our approach can improve the quality of the updated HD map by 1.56 times. To study an end-to-end operation of the FAUMap model and OCFUMap game, we present a case of HD map updates of the Powell street in San Francisco using the autonomous driving simulator CarLA.

Guided depth map super-resolution (GDSR) is one of the mainstream methods in depth map super-resolution, as high-resolution color images can guide the reconstruction of the depth maps and are often easy to obtain. However, how to make full use of extracted guidance information of the color image to improve the depth map reconstruction remains a challenging problem. In this paper, we first design a multi-scale feedback module (MF) that extracts multi-scale features and alleviates the information loss in network propagation. We further propose a novel multi-scale feedback network (MSF-Net) for guided depth map super-resolution, which can better extract and refine the features by sequentially joining MF blocks. Specifically, our MF block uses parallel sampling layers and feedback links between multiple time steps to better learn information at different scales. Moreover, an inter-scale attention module (IA) is proposed to adaptively select and fuse important features at different scales. Meanwhile, depth features and corresponding color features are interacted using cross-domain attention conciliation module (CAC) after each MF block. We evaluate the performance of our proposed method on both synthetic and real captured datasets. Extensive experimental results validate that the proposed method achieves state-of-the-art performance in both objective and subjective quality.

This article investigates the yaw angle tracking control of an autonomous surface vehicle (ASV) subject to fully unknown internal dynamic, external disturbance, and unknown control input gain. A model-free adaptive antidisturbance autopilot control method is proposed for an ASV without using any model parameters. Specifically, by utilizing real-time and historical data, a data-driven concurrent learning extended state observer (CLESO) method is designed to estimate the unknown ASV model parameters and ensure the convergence of the estimation without requiring persistent excitation. Then, a model-free yaw angle tracking controller is designed based on the data-driven CLESO method. Through Lyapunov stability analysis, the closed-loop system is proven to be input-to-state stable. Simulation and experimental results validate the effectiveness of the proposed CLESO method for the yaw angle tracking of an ASV with fully unknown dynamic model.

In this study, we elaborate on a realization of fuzzy clustering and the construction of fuzzy rule-based models on the basis of vertically partitioned datasets in a privacy-preserving federated learning approach. The main focus of the overall design process is to construct a family of information granules (clusters) and the corresponding fuzzy rules in the presence of a collection of vertically partitioned datasets without compromising data privacy. These datasets are composed of the same data but are described by different features, and due to security considerations, data cannot be shared. The vertical federated fuzzy clustering can be realized as an iterative optimization process composed of successive cycles: 1) computation (update) of the prototypes and partition matrices performed on the basis of local datasets and 2) an integration of the local sources of knowledge carried out on a central coordinator-server. The update of the partition matrices can be completed using a distance-based or gradient-based approach. The communication of findings between local clients and the coordinator-server is realized through exchanging partition matrices, which are more general than numeric data and can avoid leakage of data privacy. Fuzzy models are optimized in a similar manner through exchanging the gradients of the performance index computed with respect to the parameters between the clients and the global coordinator. The proposed mechanism exhibits significant originality since the realization of fuzzy modeling in a vertical federated learning environment has not been studied. Experimental studies show that the proposed federated clustering and fuzzy model design could effectively reveal the structure of the entire dataset and achieve high performance compared with the results obtained in a centralized manner.

KRASG12D, the most frequent KRAS oncogenic mutation, is a promising target for cancer therapy. Herein, we report the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of a series of KRASG12DPROTACs by connecting the analogues of MRTX1133 and the VHL ligand. Structural modifications of the linker moiety and KRAS inhibitor part suggested a critical role of membrane permeability in the degradation activity of the KRASG12DPROTACs. Mechanism studies with the representative compound 8odemonstrated that the potent, rapid, and selective degradation of KRASG12Dinduced by 8owas via a VHL- and proteasome-dependent manner. This compound selectively and potently suppressed the growth of multiple KRASG12Dmutant cancer cells, displayed favorable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties in mice, and showed significant antitumor efficacy in the AsPC-1 xenograft mouse model. Further optimization of 8oappears to be promising for the development of a new chemotherapy for KRASG12D-driven cancers as the complementary therapeutic strategy to KRAS inhibition.

In this work, a functional group (boronic acid) was modified onto a covalent organic framework (COF) using the Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reaction to obtain a phenylboronic acid-functionalized covalent organic framework (BrCOF-PBA). This product was used as a selective adsorbent and largely as an efficient solid-phase extractant of flavonoids containing cis-diol structures like quercetin (QUE). Five or six-membered cyclic esters generated from the COF were characterized, and some physicochemical studies were performed, resulting in excellent chemical stability and crystallinity, high specific surface area, stable pore structure, and regular pore size. Unique selectivity of BrCOF-PBA was observed toward QUE and exhibited a huge adsorption capacity (213.96 mg g–1) in a relatively short time (90 min). In contrast, the adsorption properties of morin (MOR) and kaempferol (KAE) with a certain degree of chemical similarity to QUE were only 27.62 and 21.76 mg g–1, respectively. BrCOF-PBA also demonstrated good reusability and robustness, making it an attractive composite material for further analytical applicability.