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Previous studies showed different risk effects on exposure of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) mass for cardiovascular disease (CVD) globally, which is likely due to different constituents of PM 2.5. This study aimed to investigate the association between short-term exposure of PM 2.5 constituents and hospital admissions of CVD. Daily counts of city-specific hospital admissions for CVD in 18 cities in China between 2014 and 2017 were extracted from the national Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance database and the Beijing Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning Information Center database. Directly measured PM 2.5 constituents, including ions and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, were collected by the Chinese Environmental Public Health Tracking system. We used the time-stratified case-crossover design to estimate the association between PM 2.5 constituents and hospital admissions of CVD. Concentrations of ions accounted for the majority of the detected constituents. Excess risk (ER) of average ions concentrations for CVD was highest as 2.30% (95% CI: 1.62–2.99%) for NH 4 +, whose major sources are residential and agricultural emissions. This was followed by 1.85% (1.30–2.41%) for NO 3 - (generally from vehicles), 0.95% (0.28–1.63%) for SO 4 2- (often from fossil fuel burning) respectively. The association for ions were generally consistent with ischemic heart disease (IHD) and ischemic stroke, e.g., NH 4 + was associated with IHD (2.50%; 1.52–3.48%) and ischemic stroke (1.77%; 0.65–2.9%). For polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), mainly from coal and vehicle-related oil combustion, the constituents were all associated with ischemic stroke but not for IHD. The ER for ischemic stroke was highest at 1.69% (0.99–2.39%) for indeno (123-cd) pyrene. Thus, in terms of the subtypes of CVD, the risks of hospital admissions varied with exposure to different PM 2.5 constituents. Exposed to NH 4 + had the highest risk to IHD and ischemic stroke, whereas PAHs were predominately associated with ischemic stroke only. • Certain ions were consistently associated with CVD, IHD and ischemic stroke. • PAHs were predominately associated with ischemic stroke only. • Exposed to NH 4 + brought the highest risk of CVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ti immobilization process is directly modulated by the THF migration, which reduces the aggregation of TiCl 4 and enhances the formation of active species. [Display omitted] • Formation mechanism of the active species are traced by the in-situ spectra. • Active species distribution of the Ziegler-Natta catalyst is modulated by the THF migration. • The polyethylene with a narrow distribution is synthesized with a high activity owing to the synchronous migration of THF and immobilization of TiCl 4. Manipulating the interplay between electron donor and catalytic species is a major approach of optimizing Ziegler-Natta catalysts. To this end, it is essential to reveal the correlation between the involved dynamic processes. In this work, a greatly enhanced mobility of the internal donor tetrahydrofuran (THF) is realized even at room temperature in the MgCl 2 substrate modified with MgCl functionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS-MgCl). A series of spectroscopic characterizations evidence that, thanks to the high mobility of THF, the immobilization of catalytic Ti species and the migration of THF occurs synchronously and leads to a nearly homogenous distribution of Ti sites. In addition, the incorporation of POSS-MgCl promotes the formation of 4-coordinated Mg sites in the substrate. The modified Ziegler-Natta catalyst shows the remarkable performance toward ethylene polymerization, featured by the high catalytic activity (21.6 × 106 g PE(mol Ti·h)−1) as well as a narrow polydiversity index (3.1) of the synthesized polyethylene. Based on these results, we propose that the Ti immobilization process is directly modulated by the THF migration in this system, which reduces the aggregation of TiCl 4 and enhances the formation of active species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Binary metallic organic frameworks can always play excellent functions for pollutants removal. One binary MOFs, UiO-66(Fe/Zr)), was newly synthesized and applied to remove aquatic selenite (SeIV) and selenate (SeVI). The adsorption behaviors and mechanisms were investigated using batch experiments, spectroscopic analyses, and theoretical calculations (DFT). The characterization results showed that the material inherited the topological structure of UiO-66 and excellent thermal stability. The large specific surface area (467.52 m2/g) and uniform mesoporous structures of the synthesized MOFs resulted in fast adsorption efficiency and high adsorption capacity for selenium species. The adsorbent kept high adsorption efficiency in a wide pH range from 2 to 11 with good anti-interference ability. The maximum adsorption capacity for Se(IV) and Se(VI) reached as high as 196 mg/g at pH 3 and 258 mg/g at pH 5, respectively. The process was conformed to fit pseudo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir isotherm, and could be explained by the formation of Fe/Zr-O-Se bond on the material surface, which was interpreted by the results of XPS, FTIR and DFT calculation. The regeneration and TCLP experiments demonstrated that UiO-66(Fe/Zr) could be regenerated for five cycles without obvious decrease of efficiencies, and the leaching rate of the adsorbed Se(IV) and Se(VI) in the spent adsorbent were only 4.8% and 2.3%. More than 99% of original Se(IV) and Se(VI) in the lake and tap water samples (1.0 mg/L of Se) could be removed in 2.0 h. • A binary UiO-66(Fe/Zr) was synthesized and applied to remove aquatic Se(IV) and Se(VI) with good stability. • The combination of Fe/Zr bimetallic nodes contributed to the exceptional adsorption capacities for Se(VI). • The adsorbent played excellent performances in a wide pH range with good anti-interference ability. • The selenium species could be immobilized on the adsorbent with very low leaching ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the massive electronic medical records (EMRs) have supported the development of intelligent medical services such as treatment recommendations. However, existing treatment recommendations usually follow the traditional sequential recommendation strategies, ignoring the partial temporality of the practical process and the patient's diagnostic features. To this end, in this paper, we propose a new Dual-level Diagnostic Feature Learning with Recurrent Neural Network for treatment sequence recommendation (DDFL-RNN), where the dual-level diagnostic features including patients' historical medical records and current treatment results. Firstly, we divide the dataset into several sequential sets of treatment item based on the patient's treatment days. Secondly, we propose two kinds of attention mechanisms to learn diagnostic features, including the elemental attention mechanism and the sequential attention mechanism. Finally, the dual-level learned diagnostic features are brought into the recurrent neural network for encoding and recommendation. Extensive experiments on a breast cancer dataset from a first-rate hospital have shown that our model achieves significantly better performance than several classical and state-of-the-art baseline methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methanogens have been significant for the achievement of carbon neutrality in wastewater treatment plants due to their crucial roles in the anaerobic digestion of sludge. Nevertheless, the phylogenetic diversity of methanogens and their versatile metabolism have been continuously investigated, the current scientific knowledge regarding these microbes appears inadequate and requires more evaluations. This study is considered an endeavor in which functional genes sequencing was used to reveal the diversity of methanogens in the sludge process of the wastewater treatment plant. The information obtained was substantially more than that employing 16s sequencing. The methanogenic microbial resources were appropriate to sustain a self-inoculated energy recovery with a potential ability to boost methane production. A constancy was observed in 16 S rRNA gene and mcrA gene sequencing results, where the bacterial or Methanosaeta concilii dominated community of DS (digest sludge) was distinct from the inoculum sources TS (total sludge), CTS (concentrated total sludge), and HTS (hydrolysis total sludge), indicating the independent development of DS. A quantitative cross-network was constructed by coupling the absolute quantify of 16 S rRNA and mcrA sequences. The Methanobacterium petrolearium actively interacted with bacteria in the DS community rather than the dominant species (Methanosaeta concilii). Moreover, the unclassified methanogens were identified to be significantly prevalent in all communities, suggesting that unknown methanogenic taxa might be imperative in accomplishing community functions. Collectively, the findings of this research study will shed light on the comprehensive knowledge of microbial communities, especially the methanogenic microbiota. This will further enhance the exploration of the phylogenetic diversity of methanogens and their corresponding impacts in energy recovery from wastewater treatment plants. • The diversity of methanogens is beyond the expectation by 16 S rRNA gene sequencing. • Methanosaeta concilii dominated but the hub species was Methanobacterium petrolearium. • The potential role of unknown methanogenic taxa could be inescapable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The functional bearing is one kind of the seismic isolation merging the advantages of the sliding system and the bearing system and it is widely used in Taiwan. To evaluate the performance of the functional bearing in a bridge effectively, a simple but accurate model is appreciated. The present paper attempts to model a bridge with functional bearing taking into account that the rate-dependent pier with hardening behavior. The proposed model is viscoelastoplastic and contains four phases including a viscoelastic-sticking, a viscoelastic-sliding, a viscoplastic-sticking, and a viscoplastic-sliding phase. The theoretical analysis in the state-space space enables us to obtain an exact solution for each phase. In order to simulate the exact behavior of the bridge system, the phase switching criteria with four conditions are derived and four computing modules for computations in four phases as well as four pull-back modules to direct toward to an exact module are developed. The four-phase model and the exact arrangement of computation qualitatively and quantitatively provide the exact duration of each phase and the proper indices for the plastic degradation of the pier as well as the consumption of the friction interface. One comparison between the simulation and the experimental result of a bridge's shaking table test demonstrates the accuracy of the proposed model and its algorithm for the response of the bridge with functional bearing. Three numerical demonstrations show the performance of the proposed incremental analysis and the capability of the proposed model to distinguish the behavior of the bridge system under the near-fault and the far-fault earthquake. The duration of each of the four phases is accurately determined and the plastic degradation of the pier as well as the consumption of the friction interface are exactly evaluated. The difference of the behavior of the bridge system under the near-fault and the far-fault earthquake is qualitatively and quantitatively recognized. [Display omitted] • A simple but accurate model of a bridge with a functional bearing is proposed. • Rate-dependent piers with hardening behavior are considered in the model. • The model is equal to a four-phase and time-invariant system with switching criteria. • We evaluate piers' plastic degradation and friction interface consumption. • We recognize the influence of near-fault/far-fault earthquakes on the bridge system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Termites are often exposed to a variety of pathogens during their life cycle, which has led to the development of an innate immune system to resist these pathogens. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) play a crucial role in the innate immune system in insects. However, clear information on AMPs in termites has not been obtained. Therefore, exploring the function of AMPs in the subterranean termite Odontotermes formosanus (Shiraki) can lead to the development of novel termite control strategies that integrate RNA interference (RNAi) and pathogens. Here we first obtained two Oftermicins from O. formosanus and observed that the expression of these Oftermicin genes was significantly upregulated at the mRNA level after treatment with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or Serratia marcescens Bizio (SM1). Interestingly, the expression of these Oftermicins increased not only in the donor termites but also in the recipient termites through transmission experiments. Bioassay experiments showed that the mortality of O. formosanus treated with SM1 after RNAi was significantly higher than that of other groups. In summary, ds Oftermicins are important immunosuppressants for termite control and Oftermicins are optimal targets for termite control based on the combined use of RNAi and pathogens. [Display omitted] • Oftermicins were first induced by SM1 in not only the donor but also the recipient • Two Oftermicin s were first confirmed to affect the immunity of O. formosanus • Oftermicin s were first confirmed to play an important role in resistance to SM1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterivorous nematodes are abundant in petroleum-contaminated soils. However, the ecological functions of bacterivorous nematodes and their impacts together with the addition of organic materials on the activity and diversity of microorganisms in petroleum-contaminated soils remain unknown. To assess such effects, six treatments were established in this study, including uncontaminated nematodes-free soil (Control), petroleum-contaminated soil (PC), petroleum-contaminated soil + 5 nematodes per gram dry soil (PCN), and petroleum-contaminated soil + 5 nematodes per gram dry soil + 1% wheat straw (PCNW), or + 1% rapeseed cake (PCNR), or + 1% biochar (PCNB). Results showed that the enzyme activities in the six treatments generally increased firstly and then decreased during the incubation period. Compared with Control, the invertase activity in PCNW, PCNR, and PCNB increased by 80.6%, 313.5%, and 12.4%, respectively, whereas the urease activity in PC, PCN, PCNW, PCNR, and PCNW increased by 1.2%, 25.5%, 124.3%, 105.3%, and 25.5%, respectively. Petroleum pollution, inoculation of bacterivorous nematodes, and the addition of organic materials all significantly boosted the concentrations of phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) of soil bacteria, actinobacteria, and total microorganisms, and increased the concentrations of both G+ and G− bacteria PLFAs and the ratio of G−/G+. The concentration of fungi PLFAs and the ratio of fungi to bacteria were significantly higher in PCNW and PCNR than those in other treatments. Overall, adding bacterivorous nematodes and organic materials to the petroleum-contaminated soil significantly improved soil microbial activity and community structure, suggesting that bacterivorous nematodes could be used for the bioremediation in petroleum contaminated soils. • The feeding of C. elegans can change soil microbial community in oil-polluted soil. • The addition of organic matters also changed the microbial activity and community. • C. elegans and organic matter additions improved the quality of contaminated soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The antifungal mechanism was analyzed by transcriptomics and proteomics techniques. • Bacillus subtilis CF-3 VOCs affect the growth of M. fructicola in many ways. • Some DEGs and DEPs involved in the pathogenicity of M. fructicola were affected. Monilinia fructicola is the causal agent of brown rot disease in several species of fruit crops. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by some microorganisms have been shown to inhibit postharvest disease development in fruit crops and are being explored for use in disease management. Our previous studies have shown that Bacillus subtilis, strain CF-3 VOCs can inhibit the growth of M. fructicola [ACCC 36262]. In the present study, the effect of B. subtilis CF-3 VOCs on M. fructicola was subjected to transcriptomic and proteomic analyses to provide a theoretical basis for the mechanism of action of CF-3 VOCs. A total of 1,602 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 1,008 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified by quantitative transcriptome (RNA-sequencing) and quantitative proteomics (Tandem Mass Tag, TMT). The DEGs and DEPs were mainly associated with the GO and KEGG categories cell wall, cell membrane, extracellular enzyme, energy metabolism, and ribosome biosynthesis. Our results indicate that CF-3 VOCs influence both the growth and pathogenicity of M. fructicola and provide a theoretical basis for the potential mechanism of action of B. subtilis CF-3 in the protection of fruits against M. fructicola and perhaps other pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aflatoxin B 1 (AFB 1), a mycotoxin contaminating food and feed, can trigger liver immune toxicity and threaten the poultry industry. Phillygenin (PHI) is a natural lignan derived primarily from Forsythia suspensa with hepatoprotective pharmacological and medicinal properties. This research aimed to investigate the preventive effects of PHI on the toxicity of AFB 1 in the liver of chickens. Chickens were administered with AFB 1 (2.8 mg/kg) and/or treated with PHI (24 mg/kg) for 33 days. The histopathological changes, serum biochemical indices, oxidative damage, inflammatory mediators, apoptosis, and activation of the NF-κB and Nrf2 signaling pathways were measured. Results revealed that dietary PHI ameliorated liver function indicators, reduced the malondialdehyde and inflammatory mediator production and the apoptotic cell number, and increased the antioxidant enzyme contents and Bcl-2 level. The quantitative realtime PCR and Western blot results revealed that PHI reduced p53, cytochrome c, Bax, caspase-9, and caspase-3 levels, normalized the NF-κB p65 phosphorylation, and upregulated the Nrf2 and its downstream genes expression in chicken liver. These results indicated that PHI has beneficial effects on AFB 1 -induced liver damage, oxidative damage, inflammatory response, apoptosis, and immunotoxicity by inhibiting NF-κB and activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway in chickens. This study provides new insight into the therapeutic uses of PHI. [Display omitted] • Phillygenin(PHI) ameliorates aflatoxin B 1 - induced liver damage in chicken. • PHI inhibits oxidative stress and inflammation in the AFB 1 -induced liver damage. • PHI reduces AFB 1 -induced hepatocytes apoptosis in the liver of chicken. • PHI alleviates AFB 1 toxicity by the NF-κB and Nrf2 signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Transient response of a cylindrical cavity in an unsaturated porous medium is studied. • Axisymmetric transient solutions for the cavity in infinite space are presented. • The solution is verified by comparing with the COMSOL numerical solution. • Permeable and impermeable boundary conditions are considered. • Effects of saturation on the dynamic responses at the cavity surface are studied. In this study, the transient response of an infinite unsaturated poroelastic medium with an infinitely long uniform cylindrical cavity subjected to axially symmetric transient radial tractions is investigated. Using the Laplace transform, analytical solutions are obtained for three different types of prescribed transient radial pressures (step, gradually applied step, and triangular pulse loads) acting on the surface of a permeable cavity and that of an impermeable cavity. The time histories of the radial displacement, stresses, pore pressure, and discharge are derived by inverting the Laplace domain solutions using a reliable numerical scheme. The solution can be simplified to one in which the infinite medium is assumed to be a saturated poroelastic medium. The validity of the solution was confirmed by comparison with COMSOL numerical solutions. A detailed parametric study is presented to illustrate the influence of the saturation of the unsaturated poroelastic medium on the response of the radial displacement, hoop stress, and pore fluid pressure at the cavity surface under different boundary conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Figure 2(a) in Jiawei Li (2020) [1] contains typos which are corrected in this corrigendum. Furthermore, new conclusion is added for the proposed system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Both infant attention at 4 months and maternal sensitivity at 14 months were associated with infant working memory and inhibition at 14 months. • Contributions of precursors (4-month infant attention, maternal and paternal sensitivity) of early cognitive abilities were similar across the Netherlands and China. • The predictive effect of maternal sensitivity on infant working memory was stronger than that of paternal sensitivity which was nonsignificant. • The predictive effect of maternal sensitivity on infant was inhibition significant, whereas the effect of paternal sensitivity was not. Infant attention and parental sensitivity are important predictors of later child executive function (EF). However, most studies have investigated infant and parent factors in relation to child EF separately and included only mothers from Western samples. The current study examined whether both infant attention at 4 months and parental sensitivity at 4 and 14 months were related to infant EF (i.e., inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility) at 14 months among 124 Dutch and 63 Chinese first-time mothers and fathers and their infants. Findings revealed that parental sensitivity at 4 months was not correlated with infant EF abilities at 14 months. However, infant attention at 4 months was significantly related to 14-month working memory, but not to inhibition and cognitive flexibility. Maternal sensitivity at 14 months was significantly related to 14-month inhibition, but not to working memory and cognitive flexibility. No country differences were found in the relation among 4-month infant attention, parental sensitivity, and EF outcomes. Results show that both infant and parent factors are associated with early EF development and that these correlates of early EF skills may be similar in Western and non-Western samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the paper, for the Cauchy problem on the non-cutoff Boltzmann equation in torus, we establish the global-in-time Gevrey smoothness in velocity and space variables for a class of low-regularity mild solutions near Maxwellians with the Gevrey index depending only on the angular singularity. This together with [24] provides a self-contained well-posedness theory for both existence and regularity of global solutions for initial data of low regularity in the framework of perturbations. For the proof we treat in a subtle way the commutator between the regularization operators and the Boltzmann collision operator involving rough coefficients, and this enables us to combine the classical Hörmander's hypoelliptic techniques together with the global symbolic calculus established for the linearized Boltzmann operator so as to improve the regularity of solutions at positive time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) use has dramatically increased in the US. This study aimed to characterize changes in ENDS harm perception over time and associated predictors among US adolescents. Data from the 2013-2018 Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study (PATH) for adolescents (12-17 years) were utilized. Trend analyses were employed to delineate changes in comparative and absolute ENDS harm perception over a four-year interval. We applied a time-varying effect model (TVEM) to examine the associations between the changes in harm perception and associated predictors. The results suggest that perception of ENDS as less harmful than cigarettes significantly decreased from 54.3% at Wave 1 (2013) to 30.4% at Wave 4 (2018) (P < 0.001). Perception of ENDS as no or little harm decreased from 35.9% at Wave 1 to 16.9% at Wave 4 (P < 0.001). These changes in harm perception were less robust among males, adolescents who did not have positive tobacco-related attitudes, and those with smoke-free home rules (P's < 0.05). Additionally, having ever used ENDS or alcohol were more likely to be associated with reduced ENDS-related harm perception over time (P's < 0.05). Our results show that while ENDS-related harm perception have generally increased, this does not appear to be equally experienced across all adolescents, potentially highlighting the importance of at-risk groups and targets for intervention. This study can help identify individuals at risk of ENDS initiation because of their favorable ENDS harm perception profile, as well as guide the development of ENDS risk communication interventions for adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumor necrosis has been associated with poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients undergoing liver resection (LR). However, more evidence is needed to clarify this issue. Patients who underwent upfront LR between 2010 and 2018 for newly diagnosed HCC without undergoing neoadjuvant therapy were enrolled in this retrospective study. Tumor necrosis was classified as present or absent according to retrospective examinations. The association between tumor necrosis, pathologic characteristics, overall survival (OS), and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were analyzed. Among 756 patients who underwent LR for HCC, tumor necrosis was present in 279 (36.9%) patients. Compared with patients without tumor necrosis, patients with tumor necrosis had higher proportions of tumors sized >5.0 cm (P < 0.001), multiple tumors (P < 0.001), microvascular or macrovascular invasion (P < 0.001), poorly differentiated or undifferentiated tumors (P < 0.001), and T stage 3 or 4 (P < 0.001) on pathological examination. The presence of tumor necrosis was associated with worse OS and RFS compared with the absence of tumor necrosis: 5-y OS was 56% versus 78% (P < 0.001); 5-y RFS was 42% versus 55% (P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, the presence of tumor necrosis was an independent factor associated with worse OS (hazard ratio: 1.956; 95% confidence interval: 1.409–2.716; P < 0.001) and RFS (hazard ratio: 1.422; 95% confidence interval: 1.085–1.865; P = 0.011). Tumor necrosis was associated with worse OS and RFS among patients who underwent LR for HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Biomolecular condensates regulate all steps in gene expression pathway in nucleus. • Biophysical properties of condensates are determined by intrinsic protein sequences and regulated by other factors. • Biophysical properties of nuclear protein condensates regulate gene expression. Our understanding of the spatiotemporal regulation of eukaryotic gene expression has recently been greatly stimulated by the findings that many of the regulators of chromatin, transcription, and RNA processing form biomolecular condensates often assembled through liquid-liquid phase separation. Increasing number of reports suggest that these condensates functionally regulate gene expression, largely by concentrating the relevant biomolecules in the liquid-like micro-compartments. However, it remains poorly understood how the physicochemical properties, especially the material properties, of the condensates regulate gene expression activity. In this review, we discuss current data on various nuclear condensates and their biophysical properties with the underlying molecular interactions, and how they may functionally impact gene expression at the level of chromatin organization and activities, transcription, and RNA processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil pollution poses a great threat to environments and makes the remediation of oil-contaminated soils an urgent task. Microorganisms are the main biological factor for oil removal in the environment but microbial remediation is greatly affected by environmental factors. For our research, we inoculated three species of bacterivorous nematodes into oil-contaminated soil to explore how bacterivorous nematodes affect soil microbial activities and community structure in contaminated soil, as well as how efficiently different nematodes remove oil pollution from the soil. Six treatments were set in this experiment: sterilized oil-contaminated soil (SOC); nematode-free soil (S); oil-contaminated soil (OC); oil-contaminated soil + Caenorhabditis elegans (OCN1); oil-contaminated soil + Cephalobus persegnis (OCN2); oil-contaminated soil + Rhabditis marina (OCN3) for a 168-day incubation experiment. After the experiment was done, the oil contents in SOC, OC, OCN1, OCN2, and OCN3 were reduced by 6.5%, 32.3%, 38.2%, 42.8%, and 40.2%, respectively, compared with the beginning of the experiment. The amount of phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) of Gram-negative bacteria in OC, OCN1, OCN2, and OCN3 was increased by 50.9%, 43.4%, 37.7%, and 47.9%, respectively, compared with that of S. During the 168-day incubation period, the maximum growth of the number of nematodes in OCN1, OCN2, and OCN3 compared with the initial number of the nematodes were 2.25-, 1.52-, and 1.65-fold, respectively. The amount of oil residue in the contaminated soil negatively correlated with the populations of nematodes, total microorganisms, Gram-negative bacteria, actinomycetes, and eukaryotes. Thus, oil pollution increased the number of Gram-negative bacteria, decreased the ratio of Gram-positive bacteria/Gram-negative bacteria and Fungi/Bacteria significantly, and altered the community structure of soil microorganisms. Each species of bacterivorous nematodes has got its unique effect on the microbial activity and community structure in oil contaminated soils, but those tested can promote oil degradation and thus improve the environment of oil contaminated soils. [Display omitted] • C. elegans , C. persegnis and R. marina were inoculated into oil-contaminated soil. • The additions of different species nematodes enhanced the oil degradation. • The three nematodes species increased the abundance of Gram-negative bacteria. • The nematodes had different impacts on microbial community in contaminated soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been widely applied for pollutants removal in water. However, the powdered MOFs are always suffered from aggregation during use and difficult collection after use. These problems discount their efficiency and inhibit their reusability. In this work, Zr-based MOF (UiO-66) was successfully imprisoned into a water-stable polyacrylonitrile (PAN) substrate by electrospinning. The containing UiO-66 hybrid membrane was confirmed by instrumental characterizations and its stability was also investigated by ICP-OES analysis. The obtained composite membrane can efficiently remove both arsenite (AsIII) and arsenate (AsV) from water under natural pH conditions. The adsorption kinetic fitted well with pseudo-second-order model and was dominated by chemisorption. Its adsorption isotherm can be described by Langmuir model. The maximal adsorption capacities of the hybrid membrane for As(V) and As(III) were 42.17 mg/g and 32.90 mg/g, respectively. Our results demonstrated that the MOFs-dispersed electrospun nanofiber membrane can greatly inherit the MOFs' original adsorption properties and exhibits good regenerability without loss of MOFs. Electrospinning is an effective and practical method for the preparation of MOFs hybrid membrane, which makes the composite very easy to be collected after use. Electrospun MOFs hybrid nanofibers remove arsenic efficiently. [Display omitted] ● A stable MOFs containing hybrid membrane was prepared by electrospinning. ● The membrane exhibited efficient adsorption ability for both As(III) and As(V). ● The inherit properties of the contained MOFs can be remained without loss from the fibers. ● The hybrid membrane can be easily collected and environment-friendly recycled after use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS), as a surfactant, is widely applied in the agricultural production activities and has become a potential menace to human health. The mechanism of its effect on the maturation of mammalian oocytes is unclear. This study explored the toxic effect of PFOS on mouse oocyte maturation in vitro. The results revealed that PFOS under a concentration of 600 μM could significantly reduce the polar body extrusion rate (PBE) of mouse oocytes and cause symmetrical cell division. Further experiments showed that PFOS resulted in the abnormal cytoskeleton of the oocytes, causing the abnormal spindles and misplaced chromosomes, as well as the impaired dynamics of actin. Moreover, PFOS exposure inhibited the process of oocyte meiosis, which reflected in the slower spindle migration and continuous activation of spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC), then ultimately increased the probability of aneuploidy. Most importantly, PFOS exposure reduced the quality of oocytes, specifically by disrupting the function of mitochondria, inducing cell oxidative stress, and triggering early apoptosis. Furthermore, the level of methylation of histones is additionally influenced. In summary, our findings showed that PFOS exposure interfered with the maturation of mouse oocytes through affecting cytoskeletal dynamics, meiotic progression, oocyte quality, and histone modifications. [Display omitted] • PFOS of 600 μM has obvious toxic effects on mouse oocytes in vitro. • PFOS destroys the cytodynamic skeleton of mouse oocytes. • PFOS leads to oxidative stress and apoptosis induced by mitochondrial dysfunction. • PFOS inhibits the spindle migration and increases aneuploidy rate during meiosis. • PFOS alteres the expression of methylation modifier genes in mouse oocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The health effects of air pollution on heart failure (HF) patients have not been adequately studied. We assessed the associations between long-term air pollution exposure and prognosis in HF patients. HF patients were prospectively recruited from 52 hospitals throughout China between August 2016 and May 2018. The participants were followed up for 12 months after discharge from index hospitalization. Long-term air pollution was calculated as annual average level of air pollution before the date of the index hospitalization. Outcomes were defined as HF readmission, cardiovascular death, and composite events. Cox proportional hazards model was applied to quantify the associations between air pollution exposure and clinical outcomes. Of 4866 patients included in the analysis, mean age was 65.2 ± 13.5 years, and 62.5% were male. During 1-year follow-up, 1577 (32.4%) participants were readmitted for HF and 550 (11.3%) died from cardiovascular disease. Though no associations between long-term air pollution and HF readmission in the overall participants, geographic and age heterogeneity in the long-term effects of air pollutants on HF readmission was observed. Air pollutants included PM 2.5 [HR (hazard ratio) = 1.146, 95% CI (confidence interval): 1.044, 1.259], PM 10 (HR = 1.120, 95% CI: 1.043, 1.203), SO 2 (HR = 1.808, 95% CI: 1.190, 2.747), and CO (HR = 3.596, 95% CI: 1.792, 7.218) were associated with higher risk of HF readmission in South China, but not in North China, where people spend less time outdoors and have limited indoor-outdoor ventilation. PM 2.5 , PM 10, O 3 , and CO among patients ≥ 65 years were found to be associated with higher risk of HF readmission. The effects on composite outcomes were broadly consistent with that of HF readmission. Cardiovascular death was not significantly associated with air pollution in the overall or subgroups. Among HF patients who were older, living in South China, more HF readmissions occurred with higher long-term air pollution exposure. The findings suggest that the elderly patients and those living in South China should particularly enhance their personal protection against air pollution. ● This is the first nationwide study in China to assess the effects of air pollution on prognosis of HF patients. ● More HF readmissions occurred with higher long-term air pollution exposure. ● HF patients aged ≥ 65 years appeared to be vulnerable to ambient air pollution. ● There was north-south disparity in the long-term effects of air pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-carbohydrate diet could achieve cost-sparing effect in aquafeed, but it may cause adverse effects on the growth condition or health status of fish. In order to reduce the adverse effects caused by high carbohydrate diet, mannan oligosaccharides (MOS), a commonly used prebiotics, was used as the feed additive to feed juvenile Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) (1.19 ± 0.01g) for ten weeks. Three treatments including CON (35% carbohydrate diet), HC (45% carbohydrate diet) and HM (45% carbohydrate supplemented diet with 5 g/kg MOS) were involved. The results showed that MOS supplementation increased the weight gain and body length of juvenile Nile tilapia compared with the HC group. Addition of MOS decreased serum glucose and liver glycogen by increasing enzymes activity related to glycolysis. Furthermore, supplementation of MOS decreased the high carbohydrate diet induced triglycerides accumulation in liver by reducing the expression level of genes related to TG synthesis. Dietary MOS also down-regulated the gene expression level of inflammation factors in liver. Intestinal bacterial composition analyses showed that supplementation of MOS in high carbohydrate diet altered the gut microbial composition and enriched pathways related to the glucose metabolism based on KEGG analyses. In general, our results demonstrated that MOS supplementation in high carbohydrate diet could regulate glucose and lipid homeostasis which may be related to the alteration of gut microbiota. These findings shed light on the application of prebiotics to increase the growth performance, alleviate the metabolic disorders and regulate inflammatory response in aquaculture. • MOS increased growth condition. • MOS alleviated metabolism disorders. • MOS attenuated inflammatory response. • MOS altered gut microbial composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Eighteen undescribed triterpenoids (1 − 18) were isolated from Sabia limoniacea. • Sabialimon A (1) possesses a rare ring system (6/6/6/7/7) with an oxygen-bearing bridge between C-17 and C-18. • Sabialimon P (16) showed the most effective anti-inflammatory activity. Eighteen new oleanane-type triterpenoids were isolated from the stems of Sabia limoniacea , including sabialimon A (1), a triterpenoid with an unprecedented 6/6/6/7/7 pentacyclic skeleton and seventeen undescribed triterpenoids, sabialimons B−R (2 − 18), along with six previously described analogs (19 − 24). Their structures were fully elucidated via extensive spectroscopic analysis including 1D and 2D NMR, high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HRESIMS), experimental electronic circular dichroism measurements and X-ray crystallographic studies. Compound 1 is the first triterpenoid that possesses a rare ring system (6/6/6/7/7) with an oxygen-bearing bridge between C-17 and C-18 and a hemiketal form at C-17, which is generated a larger ring by the degradation of C-28 and D/E-ring expansion. Biological evaluation revealed that sabialimon I (9), sabialimon K (11), sabialimon P (16) and 11,13(18)-oleanadien-28-hydroxymethyl 3-one (20) exhibited significantly inhibitory activities against nitric oxide (NO) release with IC 50 values of 29.65, 23.41, 18.12 and 26.64 μM, respectively, as compared with the positive control (dexamethasone, IC 50 value: 40.35 μM). Furthermore, sabialimon P markedly decreased the secretion of TNF- α , iNOS, IL-6 and NF- κ B and inhibited the expression of COX–2 and NF- κ B/p65 in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a pleiotropic growth factor that binds a broad spectrum of cell types and regulates diverse cellular processes, including angiogenesis, growth and survival. However, it is technically difficult to quantify VEGF-cell binding activity because of reversible nature of ligand-receptor interactions. Here we used T7 bacteriophage display to quantify and compare binding activity of three human VEGF-A (hVEGF) isoforms, including hVEGF111, 165 and 206. All three isoforms bound equally well to immobilized aflibercept, a decoy VEGF receptor. hVEGF111-Phage exhibited minimal binding to immobilized heparan sulfate, whereas hVEGF206-Phage and hVEGF165-Phage had the highest and intermediate binding to heparan, respectively. In vitro studies revealed that all three isoforms bound to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), HEK293 epithelial and SK-N-AS neuronal cells. hVEGF111-Phage has the lowest binding activity, while hVEGF206-Phage has the highest binding. hVEGF206-Phage was the most sensitive to detect VEGF-cell binding, albeit with the highest background binding to SK-N-AS cells. These results suggest that hVEGF206-Phage is the best-suited isoform to quantify VEGF-cell binding even though VEGF165 is the most biologically active. Furthermore, this study demonstrates the utility of T7 phage display as a platform for rapid and convenient ligand-cell binding quantification with pros and cons discussed. • A method to quickly quantify VEGF binding to cells, receptor and heparan. • All three VEGF isoforms, including VEGF111, 165 and 206, can be readily quantified. • VEGF206 isoform shows the highest binding to cells and heparan sulfate. • VEGF165 isoform has the intermediate binding to cells and heparan. • VEGF111 isoform show the lowest binding to cells and heparan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Transcriptomic analysis reveals MDM2 overexpression in certain cases of glioblastoma (GBM). • MDM2 negatively regulates the tumor suppressor p53, making the MDM2-p53 interaction a promising target for cancer therapy. • A peptide-based inhibition strategy for GBM treatment has been identified in this study. • Molecular structural dynamics analysis validates the stability of the MDM2-peptide interaction, as indicated by trajectories such as RMSD, RMSF, and RoG. MDM2 is a gene that encodes a protein involved in cell survival, growth, and DNA repair. It has been implicated in the development and progression of glioblastoma (GBM). Inhibition of the MDM2-p53 interaction has emerged as a promising strategy for treating GBM. In this study, we performed comprehensive transcriptomic expression analysis from diverse datasets and observed MDM2 overexpression in a subset of GBM cases. MDM2 negatively regulates the major onco-suppressor p53. The interaction between MDM2 and p53 is a promising target for cancer therapy, as it can trigger p53-mediated cell death in response to different stress conditions, such as oncogene activation or DNA damage. In this study, we have identified a peptide-based inhibition of MDM2 as a therapeutic strategy for GBM. We have further validated the stability of the MDM2-peptide interaction using a molecular structural dynamics approach. The major trajectories, including root mean square of deviation (RMSD), root mean square of fluctuation (RMSF), and radius of gyration (RoG), indicate that the candidate peptides have a more stable binding compared to the native ligand and control drug. The stability of the binding interaction was further estimated by MMGBSA analysis, which also suggests that MDM2 has a stable binding with both peptide molecules. Based on these results, peptides P-1843 and P-3837 could be tested further for experimental validation to confirm their targeted inhibition of MDM-2. This approach could provide a highly selective and efficient inhibitor with potentially fewer side effects and less toxicity compared to small drug-based molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Silica with hydrophobic hyperbranched structure was obtained. • Excellent defoaming and antifoaming effects were obtained in PDMS. • Hyperbranched microstructure exhibit superior "needle effect". • The "interface − coordination" defoaming mechanism is proposed. Hydrophobic nano silica powder is a kind of important synergist to silicone defoaming agents. The large pore volume and branched chain conformation of silica nanoparticles present superior effects on defoaming properties. However, silica nanoparticles synthesized by liquid phase easily aggregate and pore collapse because of their high surface activity and polarity, leading to poorer dispersity and limited practicability. In this paper, a novel hydrophobic silica with a hyperbranched structure was designed through in-situ modifying method with hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) in the liquid phase. The trimethylsilanol generated by HMDS hydrolysis reacts quickly with the highly active hydroxyl groups on the silica, causing the surface properties of the nanoparticles to transform from polar to non-polar properties. The steric hindrance of the trimethyl silicon and the reduction of the surface polarity effectively prevent silica pores from collapsing and maintain the macropore structures to realize the hyperbranched silica. At the same time, the −Si (CH 3) 2 − from PDMS endowed the hyperbranched silica with excellent hydrophobicity. When applied in the defoaming agent, the hydrophobicity of silica contributes to dewetting the foams, and the hyperbranched spatial structures play an enhanced needling effect. Therefore, this hydrophobic hyperbranched silica exhibited a surprising defoaming effect, which significantly reduced the defoaming time from 464.4 s to less than 2 s, superior to commercial defoaming silica (155.3 s). The defoaming efficiency reached 100 % within 2 s of the end of the shaking, and the defoamer antifoaming ability was improved to reach 27.5 min, which was 77 % higher than that of commercial defoamer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) causes a highly transmissible disease of significant concern in the pig industry. Previous studies have demonstrated that the XM-2020 strain (a lineage 1.8 PRRSV IA/2012/NADC30) can induce special hemorrhagic injury in the small intestines. However, the specific mechanism underlying this injurious effect remains incompletely understood. In this study, we examined the pathogenic properties of XM-2020 and YC-2020 strains (a lineage 1.5 PRRSV IA/2014/NADC34) in piglets. Animal pathogenic tests revealed that with either Lineage 1 PRRSVs strains XM-2020 or YC-2020 demonstrated pronounced intestinal hemorrhage and suppression of peripheral immunological organs, comparing to JXA1 infection. Transcriptome analysis of diseased small intestines unveiled that PRRSV infection stimulated oxidative and inflammatory reactions. Remarkably, we also observed activation of the complement system alongside a notable down-regulation of complement and coagulation cascade pathways in the Lineage 1 PRRSVs infection group. Based on these findings, we propose that the primary mechanism driving the hemorrhagic injury of the small intestine caused by Lineage 1 PRRSVs is the suppression of complement and coagulation cascades resulting from immunosuppression. This discovery deepens our understanding of the pathogenicity of PRRSV in the small intestine and provides promising ways out for the development of innovative strategies aimed at controlling PRRSV. • Lineage-1 PRRSV can cause hemorrhagic injury to the small intestines and has a stronger immunosuppressive ability. • PRRSV can trigger oxidative and inflammatory reactions that could lead to intestinal injury. • The primary mechanism underlying the severe hemorrhagic injury of the small intestine caused by lineage-1 PRRSV infection may be the down-regulation of complement coagulation function brought on by immunosuppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce a hybrid LBM-FVM solver for two-phase fluid flow simulations in which interface dynamics is modeled by a conservative phase-field equation. Integrating fluid equations over time is achieved through a velocity-based lattice Boltzmann solver which is improved by a central-moment multiple-relaxation-time collision model to reach higher accuracy. For interface evolution, we propose a finite-volume-based numerical treatment for the integration of the phase-field equation: we show that the second-order isotropic centered stencils for diffusive and separation fluxes combined with the WENO-5 stencils for advective fluxes achieve similar and sometimes even higher accuracy than the state-of-the-art double-distribution-function LBM methods as well as the DUGKS-based method, while requiring less computations and a smaller amount of memory. Benchmark tests (such as the 2D diagonal translation of a circular interface), along with quantitative evaluations on more complex tests (such as the rising bubble and Rayleigh-Taylor instability simulations) allowing comparisons with prior numerical methods and/or experimental data, are presented to validate the advantage of our hybrid solver. Moreover, 3D simulations (including a dam break simulation) are also compared to the time-lapse photography of physical experiments in order to allow for more qualitative evaluations. • This paper proposes a new hybrid LBM-FVM solver to simulate two-phase flows which reduces memory consumption and improves computational accuracy and efficiency. • The momentum equation is solved by a set of lattice Boltzmann equations with a velocity-based high-order CM-MRT model, while the phase-field equation is solved by a WENO-based finite-volume approach. • Our solver is validated through benchmark tests, comparisons, and validation examples, both quantitatively and qualitatively. • Our massively-parallel implementation on GPU offers efficient simulation of two-phase flows for a low memory footprint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was performed to study the effects of dietary levels of black soldier fly larva meal (BSFLM) on the growth performance, immunity and disease resistance of juvenile grouper (Epinephelus coioides). Four isoproteic and isoenergetic diets were formulated with dietary BSFLM levels of 0 g/kg (T0), 25 g/kg (T2.5), 50 g/kg (T5) and 100 g/kg (T10). Each diet was randomly fed to triplicate groups, each containing 40 fish. The results of the 30-day study indicated that fish growth performance was not affected in the T2.5 and T5 groups compared with the T0 group. In the group with a dietary BSFLM level of 100 g/kg, the feed coefficient was significantly higher than that in the other three groups. The superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, lysozyme activity, and malondialdehyde content in the liver, and the interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), gamma interferon (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) expression in the gills, head kidney, liver and spleen remained consistent in all groups. In addition, no significant differences in the cumulative mortality or parasite abundance in groupers after Vibrio harveyi and Cryptocaryon irritans infection were observed. These results suggested that BSFLM supplemented diets did not inhibit disease resistance in groupers. • This study is the first to evaluate the effects of BSFLM on grouper from the perspective of dietary supplementation. • A suitable BSFLM supplemented diets have no effect on growth performance of grouper, but inhibited whit high supplemented level. • The BSFLM supplemented diets doesn't inhibit disease resistance in the groupers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] The development of visible-light response photocatalysts with a high catalytic performance and long-term cyclic stability is of great significance in the field of energy and environmental protection. Inspired by photosynthesis, a novel three-dimensional coral zirconium-based metal organic framework (MOF) was synthesized using a double-ligand strategy. The optimal sample, Zr-TCPP-bpydc (2:1), (the ratio of tetra-(4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin to 2,2′-bipyridine-5,5′-dicarboxylic acid is 2:1) shows an excellent photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation, and the effects of the amount of photocatalyst, pH and concentration on the degradation rate were investigated under the optimum conditions. It has a high degradation rate of tetracycline (98.12% for tetracycline and 96.74% for ofloxacin), which is 2.11 times higher than that of single ligand Zr-bpydc (zirconium-based MOF containing only 2,2′-bipyridine-5,5′-dicarboxylic acid). More importantly, it also has a good H 2 evolution rate (213.68 μmol g−1h−1) and CO 2 reduction (35.81 μmol g−1h−1). In addition, the intermediate pathway of degradation, photocatalytic enhancement mechanism and cycle stability were deeply studied by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), electron spin resonance spectroscopy (ESR), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and recycling tests. The synthesis of a three-dimensional biomimetic coral zirconium-based MOF material will provide guidance for the development of new, promising, and natural ideal photocatalytic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A new method to synthesize PdNi, PdCu, and PdFe nanoalloy was proposed. • The Pd based nanoalloy was prepared through a carbon promoting method. • Carbon doping significantly accelerates the displacement rate of nickel. • This catalyst exhibited excellent catalytic performance for pollution treatment. • This catalyst showed high stability in the flow test. PdNi nanoalloy catalysts were prepared by a carbon-promoted galvanic replacement method. Characterizations and control experiments show the increased replacement rate of metal Ni with Pd2+ ion can be attributed to the higher electrode potential and smaller crystalline sizes caused by carbon doping. Introduction of carbon (C) into Ni particles not only accelerates the formation process of PdNi nanoalloys, but also enables C atoms to successfully enter the lattice interstices of PdNi nanoalloys. C regulates the surface electronic properties of PdNi nanoalloys by the electron transfer between different elements and improves their activity. The PdNi@C-650 exhibits extraordinary activity and long-term stability for hydrogenation reduction of hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)) and hydrodechlorination of chlorophenols in comparison with PdNi/CNTs (carbon nanotubes) and commercial Pd/C. Density functional theory calculations together with investigations of mechanism reveal that the high electron-deficient PdNi nanoalloys from the redistribution of electron between Ni, Pd and C of the PdNi@C-650 promote the surface adsorption of substrate molecules and H 2 , which accordingly enhances the hydrogenation activity. This study brings a new method for the design and preparation of high active noble metal nanoalloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A concept of multifunctional Li+ traffic controller is proposed. • The traffic controller can effectively regulate the distribution of Li+. • The traffic controller stabilizes the electrode-electrolyte interface. • The traffic controller layer enables ultra-low N/P ratio full cells. The performance of thin lithium metal anodes is affected due to issues that weaken the electrode-electrolyte interphase. In this work, a coating layer serving as a Li+ traffic controller based on hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bis(trifluoromethanesulphonyl)imide ([CTA][TFSI]) and poly (vinylidene difluoride co-hexafluoropropylene) (P(VDF-HFP)) is used to stabilize the thin lithium metal interface. The CTA+ ions in the coating layer can effectively regulate the distribution of Li+ concentration to promote uniform deposition of lithium. The anion of [CTA][TFSI] can optimize solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) with inorganic-rich components, which improve the ionic conductivity and reaction kinetics. Furthermore, the flexible polymer skeleton can fortify the fragile SEI, facilitating the consistent operation of the battery. Due to these improvements, a thin Li metal anode (4 mAh cm−2) with a coating layer in a Li||Li symmetric cell demonstrates a lifespan of 600 h at 1 mA cm−2 and 1 mAh cm−2. Notably, full cells with an ultra-low negative electrode/positive electrode = 1 (N/P = 1) demonstrate a stable performance over 200 cycles and 90 cycles at 0.5C and 1C (1C = 170 mA g−1), respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• For the first time, brain structural covariance in obesity was investigated in the present study. • Novel morphometric similarity network was used to construct individualized structural covariance network. • We observed opposite changes in morphometric similarity of medial reward and lateral non-reward orbitofrontal cortex circuits in obesity. • The key findings were validated in an independent sample. • The present study presents a novel mechanism that underlie the reward-control interaction imbalance in obesity, thus can inform future weight-management approaches. Obesity has a profound impact on metabolic health thereby adversely affecting brain structure and function. However, the majority of previous studies used a single structural index to investigate the link between brain structure and body mass index (BMI), which hinders our understanding of structural covariance between regions in obesity. This study aimed to examine the relationship between macroscale cortical organization and BMI using novel morphometric similarity networks (MSNs). The individual MSNs were first constructed from individual eight multimodal cortical morphometric features between brain regions. Then the relationship between BMI and MSNs within the discovery sample of 434 participants was assessed. The key findings were further validated in an independent sample of 192 participants. We observed that the lateral non-reward orbitofrontal cortex (lOFC) exhibited decoupling (i.e., reduction in integration) in obesity, which was mainly manifested by its decoupling with the cognitive systems (i.e., DMN and FPN) while the medial reward orbitofrontal cortex (mOFC) showed de-differentiation (i.e., decrease in distinctiveness) in obesity, which was mainly represented by its de-differentiation with the cognitive and attention systems (i.e., DMN and VAN). Additionally, the lOFC showed de-differentiation with the visual system in obesity, while the mOFC showed decoupling with the visual system and hyper-coupling with the sensory-motor system in obesity. As an important first step in revealing the role of underlying structural covariance in body mass variability, the present study presents a novel mechanism that underlies the reward-control interaction imbalance in obesity, thus can inform future weight-management approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remote sensing image scene classification has made great progress with deep learning. Due to complex backgrounds and the large number of objects with inhomogeneous sizes, remote sensing image scene classification still remains challenging. In fact, only a few parts of regions are expected to be representative of the scene. In this paper, we propose a dual-stream framework for remote sensing classification with the help of category-related regions. Swin Transformer-based global feature extractor is used to produce coarse classification results. A category-related key region localization module is developed to extract the representative region from the whole image. The ResNet50 is employed as a local feature extractor to mine critical features from prominent regions. Finally, the classification results is obtained with the shared weighted classify head on global-local features. Extensive experiments show that our method provides a promising approach for key region locations and performs best on three public remote sensing datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternating current field measurement (ACFM) technique is an emerging non-destructive testing method for detecting cracks in conductive material. However, the existence of lift-off effect brings great challenges to the identification and accurate quantification of cracks using ACFM technique. In this paper, crack identification and quantization methods are studied under the condition of lift-off effect using ACFM technique. A novel array image feature method based on a longitudinal array probe is proposed to identify the crack with lift-off variations. The influence of constant lift-off height on characteristic signal is studied. The Peak-Trough distance of the Bz signal is not affected by the lift-off height, which can be used to measure the length of cracks. A newfound attenuation coefficient is proposed to develop a lift-off compensation method for evaluation of the depth of crack at any constant lift-off height. The crack identification and quantification methods are verified by crack testing experiments in an aluminum workpiece. The results show that the crack can be identified effectively under the condition of lift-off variations using the array image feature method. The length and depth of cracks with different constant lift-off heights can be measured by the Bz Peak-Trough distance and the lift-off compensation method respectively. The measured errors of the crack depth and length are limited within 10% [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

α-Conotoxin ImI is a selective antagonist of alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR) that is involved in cancer development. Human alpha fetoprotein domain 3 (AFP3) is a prototype of anticancer agents. In an effort to design drugs for anticancer treatments, we fused the ImI peptide to AFP3 as a fusion protein for testing. The fusion protein (ImI-AFP3) was highly expressed in the insect Bac-to-Bac system. The purified fusion protein was found to have improved anticancer activity and synergized with the drug gefitinib to inhibit the growth and migration of A549 and NCI-H1299 lung cancer cells. Our data have demonstrated that the recombinant protein ImI-AFP3 is a promising candidate for drug development to suppress lung cancer cell growth, especially to suppress hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the lung (HAL) cell growth. • α-Conotoxin Iml was recombined with human alpha fetoprotein domain 3 (AFP3) for cancer drug targeting. • Recombinant protein (Iml-AFP3) was highly expressed in the Bac-to Bac baculovirus expression system. • Recombinant protein (Iml-AFP3) was found to synergize with the drug gefitinib to inhibit growth and migration of lung cancer cells. • Recombine protein (Iml-AFP3) is a promising candidate for drug development to suppress lung cancer cell growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The type-II clathrates of Cs 8 Na 16 Ga 6 Ge 130 , Cs 8 Na 16 Si 22.0(3) Ge 114.0(3) and Rb 8 Na 16 Si 13.7(4) Ge 122.3(4) have been synthesized from elements. The structures were refined from the powder X-ray diffraction data using the WinCSD program. Cs 8 Na 16 Ga 6 Ge 130 , Cs 8 Na 16 Si 22.0(3) Ge 114.0(3) and Rb 8 Na 16 Si 13.7(4) Ge 122.3(4) crystallized in the space group F d 3 ‾ m with the lattice parameters of a = 15.48499 (3) Å, 15.44642(6) Å and 15.47489(5) Å, respectively. The theoretical calculation indicates the metallic features for Cs 8 Na 16 Ga 6 Ge 130 , Cs 8 Na 16 Si 22.0(3) Ge 114.0(3) and Rb 8 Na 16 Si 13.7(4) Ge 122.3(4. The heat capacity measurement shows a large electron contribution and a strong Einstein mode in Cs 8 Na 16 Ga 6 Ge 130. The magnetic measurement evidences a diamagnetic behaviour for Cs 8 Na 16 Si 22.0(3) Ge 114.0(3) in the temperature range of 1.8–300 K. The type-II clathrates of Cs 8 Na 16 Ga 6 Ge 130 , Cs 8 Na 16 Si 22.0(3) Ge 114.0(3) and Rb 8 Na 16 Si 13.7(4) Ge 122.3(4) were synthesized and characterized. [Display omitted] • Type-II clathrates of Cs 8 Na 16 Ga 6 Ge 130 , Cs 8 Na 16 Si 22.0(3) Ge 114.0(3) and Rb 8 Na 16 Si 13.7(4) Ge 122.3(4) were synthesized. • Theoretical calculation indicated metallic features for them. • The large electron contribution and the strong Einstein mode were found in Cs 8 Na 16 Ga 6 Ge 130. • The diamagnetic behavior was detected in Cs 8 Na 16 Si 22.0(3) Ge 114.0(3). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • PtRu catalysts composed of Pt and RuO 2 are synthesized via cyclic electrodeposition. • PtRu catalyst shows unprecedented performance for ECH of phenol to cyclohexanol. • PtRu catalyst possesses outstanding reusability in acidic electrolyte. • The activation of phenol is observed via in situ Raman spectroscopy. • The direct reduction mechanism with proton-coupled electron transfer is proposed. Electrocatalytic hydrogenation (ECH) of phenol has been recognized as a promising route towards facile and green production of cyclohexanol. However, the practical application is hindered by product selectivity and catalyst durability. Herein, a series of PtRu electrocatalysts composed of metallic Pt0 and RuO 2 species are in situ fabricated on carbon paper via cyclic electrodeposition, showing outstanding activity and stability for ECH of phenol. At ambient temperature and a current density of 10 mA cm−2, the optimal Pt3Ru3 catalyst achieves a 100 % selectivity to cyclohexanol at a 100 % conversion of phenol in 0.1 M H 2 SO 4. At 100 mA cm−2, Pt3Ru3 achieves an outstanding faradaic efficiency of ∼87 % and a cyclohexanol production of 52.6 mg cm−2 h−1. Two parallel ECH pathways from phenol to cyclohexanol are identified. In situ Raman spectroscopy and kinetic study reveal that phenol could be hydrogenated over Pt3Ru3 in acidic electrolyte via proton-coupled electron transfer with the destruction of conjugated π bond of aromatic ring. This work offers an effective approach for facile construction of durable electrode material and an efficient electrochemical strategy for phenol hydrogenation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optimal management strategy for pancreatic trauma remains unclear. We aimed to determine whether the initial nonoperative management (NOM) strategy based on percutaneous drainage combined with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography guided stent placement would improve outcomes for blunt high-grade pancreatic trauma. Patients with blunt abdominal trauma who were hemodynamically stable without signs of diffuse peritonitis were consecutively enrolled at a high-volume center. The primary outcome was the occurrence of severe complications (Clavien‒Dindo classification ≥ Ⅲ b) for patients who underwent initial laparotomy (LAP) versus NOM. Modified Poisson regression was used to model the primary outcome. Propensity score matching and weighting models were included into a regression-based sensitivity analysis. Of 119 patients with grade III/IV pancreatic trauma, 29 patients underwent initial NOM, and 90 underwent initial LAP. The incidence of severe complications in the LAP group was higher than that in the NOM group (65/90 [72.2%] versus 9/29 [31.0%], P < 0.001). In the multivariable modified Poisson regression model, the relative risk for severe complications was decreased in the NOM group (relative risk, 0.52; 95% confidence interval, 0.30-0.90; P = 0.020). The results of the sensitivity analysis were consistent with those of the multivariable analysis. The mean number of reinterventions per patient was 1.8 in the NOM group and 2.6 in the LAP group (P = 0.067). For blunt high-grade pancreatic trauma patients with stable hemodynamics and no diffuse peritonitis, the NOM strategy was associated with a lower risk of severe complications (Clavien‒Dindo classification ≥ Ⅲ b) and did not require more invasive reintervention procedures. In high-volume centers with sufficient expertise, percutaneous drainage combined with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography guided stent placement may serve as an initial reasonable option for selected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several biological enhancements were implemented in the aerobic tank to address the challenges of treating expressway service sewage (ESS) with low-carbon and high-ammonia nitrogen using A/O-MBR technology, aiming to improve TN removal efficiency and reduce excessive sludge production. A novel moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) inoculated with heterotrophic nitrification-aerobic denitrification (HN-AD) bacteria was developed for ESS, and the results showed that HN-AD bacteria significantly improved TN removal efficiency, with an increase of 65% compared to the traditional activated sludge system. High-throughput sequencing revealed that Bacteroidotas contributed significantly to MBBR denitrification, and the genes nirK and nosZ played a significant role in denitrification. The HN-AD biofilm-forming MBBR achieved the transition of ESS treatment from "normal-sludge" mode to the more environmentally-friendly "low-sludge" and "no-sludge" modes by reducing the sludge concentration. [Display omitted] • Bioaugmentation methods compared for low carbon, high nitrogen sewage treatment. • Bacterial biofilm carrier increases TN removal by 35% compared to sludge carrier. • Pure HN-AD biofilm in MBBR achieves simultaneous NH 4 +-N and TN removal aerobically. • Bacteroidota is essential for aerobic denitrification in pure HN-AD biofilm MBBR. • NirK and nosZ are essential genes for aerobic denitrification in pure biofilm MBBR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A series of pyrimidine derivatives containing sulfoxide structure were designed and (+)-8l was found as an effective inhibitor targeting the EGFR and ALK. • Dual target inhibitor (+)-8l potently suppresses NSCLC cell proliferation and migration through blocking phosphorylation of EGFR and ALK. • Compound (+)-8l significantly inhibits tumor growth in vivo without obvious toxicity. For non-small cell lung cancer patients with dual mutations in EGFR and ALK, there are currently no effective therapies. Consequently, novel EGFR/ALK dual-target inhibitors are urgently needed for the treatment of NSCLC. Here, we designed a series of highly effective small molecule dual inhibitors of ALK and EGFR. The biological evaluation highlighted that most of these new compounds could effectively inhibit both ALK and EGFR in enzymatic and cellular assays. Compound (+)-8l was investigated for its antitumor properties, and it was found that (+)-8l blocked the phosphorylation of EGFR and ALK induced by ligands and inhibited phosphorylation-ERK and phosphorylation-AKT induced by ligands. Furthermore, (+)-8l also induces apoptosis and G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in cancer cells and inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion. Notably, (+)-8l significantly suppressed tumor growth in the H1975 cell-inoculated xenograft model (20 mg/kg/d, TGI: 96.11%), PC9 cell-inoculated xenograft model (20 mg/kg/d, TGI: 96.61%) and EML4 ALK-Baf3 cell-inoculated xenograft model (30 mg/kg/d, TGI: 80.86%). These results highlight the differentiated potential of (+)-8l to inhibit ALK rearrangement and EGFR mutation in NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent outbreak of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been a severe threat to the global public health and economy, however, effective drugs to treat COVID-19 are still lacking. Here, we employ a deep learning-based drug repositioning strategy to systematically screen potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug candidates that target the cell entry mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 virus from 2635 FDA-approved drugs and 1062 active ingredients from Traditional Chinese Medicine herbs. In silico molecular docking analysis validates the interactions between the top compounds and host receptors or viral spike proteins. Using a SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus system, we further identify several drug candidates including Fostamatinib, Linagliptin, Lysergol and Sophoridine that can effectively block the cell entry of SARS-CoV-2 variants into human lung cells even at a nanomolar scale. These efforts not only illuminate the feasibility of applying deep learning-based drug repositioning for antiviral agents by targeting a specified mechanism, but also provide a valuable resource of promising drug candidates or lead compounds to treat COVID-19. • A host-directed drug repurposing targeting the cell entry mechanism of SARS-CoV-2. • Three independent deep learning methods for drug repurposing. • Thousands of approved drugs and natural compounds for repurposing. • Validation of top drug candidates by molecular docking and virus entry assay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recognition of intracellular nucleic acids is a vital step for host to mount prompt immune responses against microbial pathogens. However, inappropriate response to self-nucleic acids leads to sustained type I interferon (IFN) production, which is implicated in the development of several autoimmune diseases, such as Aicardi–Goutières syndrome (AGS). Therefore, effective confinement of intracellular nucleic acid-induced IFN expression is a potential strategy for the treatment of such autoimmune diseases. In this study, we found that rosmarinic acid (RA), a natural compound isolated from rosemary, inhibits intracellular nucleic acid-stimulated IFN expression. Mechanistic investigation revealed that RA binds to both G3BP1 and cGAS, and impairs cGAS activation through disrupting the binding of DNA with cGAS. More importantly, we showed that RA could effectively attenuate the expression of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) in the well-established cell models for AGS. Thus, our study provides a promising compound for the treatment of autoimmune responses induced by aberrant nucleic acid-sensing. • RA suppresses intracellular nucleic acid-induced IFN expression. • RA blocks the binding of DNA with cGAS and impairs cGAS activation. • RA ameliorates intracellular nucleic acid-mediated autoimmune responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis urges the development of new antibiotics. In the present work, we for the first time used bio-affinity ultrafiltration combined with HPLC-MS (UF-HPLC-MS) to examine the interaction between the outer membrane β-barrel proteins and natural products. Our results showed that natural product licochalcone A from licorice interacts with BamA and BamD with the enrichment factor of 6.38 ± 1.46 and 4.80 ± 1.23, respectively. The interaction was further confirmed by use of biacore analysis, which demonstrated that the Kd value between BamA/D and licochalcone was 6.63/28.27 μM, suggesting a good affinity. To examine the effect of licochalcone A on BamA/D function, the developed versatile in vitro reconstitution assay was used and the results showed that 128 μg/mL licochalcone A could reduce the outer membrane protein A integration efficiency to 20%. Although licochalcone A alone can not inhibit the growth of E. coli , but it can affect the membrane permeability, suggesting that licochalcone A holds the potential to be used as a sensitizer to combat AMR. • Licochalcone A from licorice interacts with BamA and BamD, the core components of BAM. • Licochalcone A reduces the outer membrane protein A integration efficiency. • Licochalcone A holds a great potential to be used as a sensitizer to combat AMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a common postoperative central nervous system (CNS) complication with a higher occurrence among aged individuals than among young individuals. The aim of this study was to explore the mechanisms by which POCD preferentially affects older individuals. We found here that exploratory laparotomy induced cognitive function decline in aged mice but not in young mice and that this decline was accompanied by inflammatory activation of microglia in the hippocampus. Furthermore, microglial depletion by feeding of a standard diet containing a colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) inhibitor (PLX5622) markedly protected aged mice from POCD. Notably, the expression of myocyte-specific enhancer 2C (Mef2C), an immune checkpoint that limits overactivation of microglia, was downregulated in aged microglia. Knocking down Mef2C induced a microglial priming phenotype in young mice, resulting in postoperative increases in the hippocampal levels of the inflammatory factors IL1-β, IL-6 and TNF-α that could impair cognition; these findings were consistent with the observations in aged mice. In vitro, BV2 cells lacking Mef2C released higher levels of inflammatory cytokines upon stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, a bacterial toxin) than Mef2C-sufficient cells. Moreover, upregulation of Mef2C in aged mice restrained postoperative microglial activation, attenuating the neuroinflammatory response and cognitive impairment. These results reveal that during aging, loss of Mef2C leads to microglial priming, amplifying postsurgical neuroinflammation and contributing to the vulnerability of elderly patients to POCD. Thus, targeting the immune checkpoint Mef2C in microglia may be a potential strategy for the prevention and treatment of POCD in aged individuals. • Mef2C is a key immune checkpoint that inhibits microglial priming. • Mef2C in microglia is lost with senescence. • Loss of Mef2C contributes to the vulnerability of elderly patients to POCD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The neuroprotective effects of hydrogen have been demonstrated, but the mechanism is still poorly understood. In a clinical trial of inhaled hydrogen in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), we found that hydrogen reduced the accumulation of lactic acid in the nervous system. There are no studies demonstrating the regulatory effect of hydrogen on lactate and in this study we hope to further clarify the mechanism by which hydrogen regulates lactate metabolism. In cell experiments, PCR and Western Blot showed that HIF-1α was the target related to lactic acid metabolism that changed the most before and after hydrogen intervention. HIF-1α levels were suppressed by hydrogen intervention treatment. Activation of HIF-1α inhibited the lactic acid-lowering effect of hydrogen. We have also demonstrated the lactic acid-lowering effect of hydrogen in animal studies. Our work clarifies that hydrogen can regulate lactate metabolism via the HIF-1αpathway, providing new insights into the neuroprotective mechanisms of hydrogen. • In clinical trials, hydrogen therapy reduced cerebrospinal fluid lactate levels in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. • HIF-1α is the target associated with the greatest change in lactate metabolism before and after hydrogen intervention. • Hydrogen regulates lactate metabolism after SAH via the HIF-1α pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute liver failure (ALF) is a clinical syndrome characterized by the accelerated development of hepatocyte necrosis and significant mortality. Given that liver transplantation is now the only curative treatment available for ALF, there is an urgent need to explore innovative therapies. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been applied in preclinical studies for ALF. It had been demonstrated that human embryonic stem cell-derived immunity-and-matrix regulatory cells (IMRCs) met the properties of MSCs and had been employed in a wide range of conditions. In this study, we conducted a preclinical evaluation of IMRCs in the treatment of ALF and investigated the mechanism involved. ALF was induced in C57BL/6 mice via intraperitoneal administration of 50% CCl 4 (6 mL/kg) mixed with corn oil, followed by intravenous injection of IMRCs (3 × 106 cells/each). IMRCs improved histopathological changes in the liver and reduced alanine transaminase (ALT) or aspartate transaminase (AST) levels in serum. IMRCs also promoted cell renewal in the liver and protected it from CCl 4 damage. Furthermore, our data indicated that IMRCs protected against CCl 4 -induced ALF by regulating the IGFBP2-mTOR-PTEN signaling pathway, which is associated with the repopulation of intrahepatic cells. Overall, IMRCs offered protection against CCl 4 -induced ALF and were capable of preventing apoptosis and necrosis in hepatocytes, which provided a new perspective for treating and improving the prognosis of ALF. • IMRCs protected mice from CCl 4 -induced acute liver failure. • IMRCs improved the structural integrity of the liver in CCl 4 -induced mice. • IMRCs treated acute liver failure by promoting intrahepatic cell renewal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Precise and nondestructive preparation of functional graphene materials with perfect lattice and well-defined chemical structure through graphite reduction mode. • Establishing clear structure–property relationships and engineering graphene electronic effects to regulate lithium-storage properties. • High-performance, electron-donating-group-functionalized graphene electrode for lithium-ion batteries. Organic functionalization of graphene framework was an effective means used to boost the storage performances of lithium, but it lacked a universal strategic guideline for introducing functional groups (electron-withdrawing and electron-donating modules are overall classified). It mainly entailed designing and synthesizing graphene derivatives, in which the interference functional groups were necessarily excluded. To this end, a unique synthetic methodology based on graphite reduction cascaded by electrophilic reaction was developed. The electron-withdrawing-type groups (Br; trifluoroacetyl: TFAc) and electron-donating-type counterparts (butyl: Bu; 4-methoxyphenyl: 4-MeOPh) were readily attached to graphene sheets at a comparable functionalization degree. As the electron density of carbon skeleton was enriched by electron-donating modules, particularly for Bu units, the lithium-storage capacity, rate capability and cyclability were appreciably boosted. For example, they had 512 and 286 mA h g−1 at 0.5C and 2C, respectively; and 88 % of capacity retention after 500 cycles at 1C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]