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[Display omitted] Non-precious metals have shown attractive catalytic prospects in hydrogen production from ammonia borane hydrolysis. However, the sluggish reaction kinetics in the hydrolysis process remains a challenge. Herein, P-bridged Fe-X-Co coupled sites in hollow carbon spheres (Fe-CoP@C) has been synthesized through in situ template solvothermal and subsequent surface-phosphorization. Benefiting from the optimized electronic structure induced by Fe doping to enhance the specific activity of Co sites, bimetallic synergy and hollow structure, the as-prepared Fe-CoP@C exhibits superior performances with a turnover frequency (TOF) of 183.5 min−1, and stability of over 5 cycles for ammonia borane hydrolysis, comparable to noble metal catalysts. Theoretical calculations reveal that the P-bridged Fe-X-Co coupled sites on the Fe-CoP@C catalyst surfaces is beneficial to adsorb reactant molecules and reduce their reaction barrier. This strategy of constructing hollow P-bridged bimetallic coupled sites may open new avenues for non-precious metal catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Although solar steam generation is promising for seawater desalination, it is less effective in purifying wastewater with both salt/heavy metal ions and organic contaminants. It is thus imperative to develop multifunctional integrated solar-driven water purification systems with high solar-thermal evaporation and photocatalytic degradation efficiencies. Herein, a lamellar reduced graphene oxide (L-RGO) foam with the vertical lamellar structure is fabricated by bidirectional-freezing, lyophilization, and slight chemical reduction for water purification. The unique vertical lamellar structure not only accelerates upward transport of water for facilitating water evaporation but also endows the L-RGO foam with superb high elasticity for tuning the interlayer distance and varying interactions between the oxygen-containing groups and water molecules to adjust water energy state. As a result, the L-RGO foam achieves a superb water evaporation rate of 2.40 kg m−2 h−1 along with an energy efficiency of 95.3 % under the compressive strain of 44.7 % under 1-sun irradiation. Equally importantly, the decoration of L-RGO foam with polypyrrole is capable of efficiently degrading organic pollutants while retaining high solar steam generation performances, exhibiting great potential in the comprehensive treatment of various water sources for relieving freshwater crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Lignin-derived carbon materials are widely used as electrode materials for supercapacitors. However, the electrochemical performance of these materials is limited by the surface chemistry and pore structure characteristics. Herein, a novel and sustainable strategy was proposed to prepare heteroatom-doped lignin-derived carbon material (Fe-NLC) with well-developed pore size distributions and enhanced graphitization structure via a facile lignin-Fe coordination method followed by carbonization. During carbonization, Fe3+ in lignin-metal complexes evolve into nanoparticles, which act as templates to introduce porous structures in carbon materials. Also, the lignin-Fe coordination structure endows the material with a higher graphitization during carbonization, thereby improving the structural properties of the carbon materials. Due to the removal of Fe 3 O 4 template, the obtained Fe-NLC possessed reasonable pore distribution and nitrigen/oxygen (N/O) functional groups, which can improve the wettability of materials and introduce pseudocapacitance. Accordingly, Fe-NLC possesses a notable specific capacitance of 264 F/g at 0.5 A/g. Furthermore, a symmetric supercapacitor Fe-NLC//Fe-NLC with a high voltage window (1.8 V) was constructed. The symmetric supercapacitor exhibits a maximum energy density of 15.97 Wh/kg at 450 W/kg, demonstrating well application prospects. This paper proposes a novel approach for preparing carbon materials via lignin-metal coordination to provide an alternative way to explore sustainable and low-cost energy storage materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anchoring of single-atom Pt2+ and Pt0 on the surface of Sb 2 S 3 NRs highly benefits to the formation of metal (Pt)-semiconductor (Sb 2 S 3) electric interaction, which synergistically improves the broadband light harvesting and promotes the Sb 2 S 3 -to-Pt electron transfer following inhibited photoexciton recombination kinetics and enhanced H proton adsorption capacity, resulting higher and more durable photoactivity for H 2 O-to-H 2 conversion. [Display omitted] • Single atomic Pt2+/Pt0 active sites were successfully anchored on the Sb 2 S 3 nanorods. • The metal (Pt)-semiconductor (Sb 2 S 3) electric interaction was formed. • The optimal composite catalyst possesses enhanced H proton adsorption capacity. • Higher and more durable photoactivity for H 2 O-to-H 2 conversion were achieved. • The mechanism of multisite cocatalysis for photoactivity improvement was elucidated. Single atomic metal (SAM) cocatalysis is a potential strategy to improve the performance of photocatalytic materials. However, the cocatalytic mechanism of SAM sites in different valence states is rarely reported. Herein, single atomic Pt2+/Pt0 active sites were anchored on Sb 2 S 3 nanorods to synergistically improve the photoactivity for hydrogen production under simulated sunlight. Experimental results and density functional theory calculations indicated that the coexistence of single atomic Pt2+/Pt0 sites synergistically improves the broadband light harvesting and promotes the Sb 2 S 3 -to-Pt electron transfer following inhibited photoexciton recombination kinetics and enhanced H proton adsorption capacity, resulting higher and more durable photoactivity for hydrogen production. Therefore, the optimal Sb 2 S 3 -Pt 0.9‰ composite catalyst achieved remarkably enhanced hydrogen evolution rate of 1.37 mmol∙g−1∙h−1 (about 105-fold greater of that of Sb 2 S 3 NRs) under faintly alkaline condition, and about 5.41 % of apparent quantum yield (AQY 700 nm) was achieved, which shows obvious superiority in hydrogen production by contrasting with the reported Sb 2 S 3 -based photocatalysts and conventional semiconductor photocatalytic materials modified with noble metals. This study elucidate a well-defined mechanism of multisite cocatalysis for photoactivity improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] The exploration of highly efficient sunlight-assisted photocatalyst for photodegradation of organic contaminants or energy conversion is strongly encouraged. In this work, we designed a novel three-dimensional spindle-like Sv-ZIS@NMFe heterojunction made of amino functionalized NH 2 -MIL-88B(Fe) (NMFe) and ZnIn 2 S 4 nanosheets with abundant sulfur vacancies (Sv-ZIS). The structural properties of NMFe materials, such as a clearly defined system of pores and cavities, were retained by the Sv-ZIS@NMFe composites. Additionally, the incorporation of sulfur vacancies, –NH 2 functional groups, and well-matched energy level positions led to various synergistic effects that considerably enhanced internal electron transformation and migration, as well as improved adsorption performance. Consequently, under visible light irradiation, the optimized sample exhibited superior hydrogen production activity and tetracycline hydrochloride photodegradation performance. At last, density functional theory calculations was used to further elucidated the possible photoreactivity mechanism. This study demonstrates that the Sv-ZIS@NMFe heterojunction materials formed by ZnIn 2 S 4 with suitable sulfur vacancies and amino functionalized Fe-MOFs have promising applications in photocatalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are Type-II, S-Scheme, and Type-I heterojunctions in 4-Methyl-5-vinylthiazole (MVTh) modified Ni-MOF/g-C 3 N 4 /CdS. The aforementioned three heterojunctions form a closed-loop path for electron migration, and MVTh can accelerate the electron migration within the closed-loop path by facilitating the electron migration within Ni-MOF. The photocatalytic H 2 evolution rate of Ni-MOF/g-C 3 N 4 /MVTh/CdS is up to 17.844 mmol·g−1·h−1 without precious cocatalysts. [Display omitted] • We pioneered the use of Ni-MOF (BTC) in the photocatalytic hydrogen production. • 4-Methyl-5-vinyl thiazole can drive the directional electron transfer in Ni-MOF (BTC). • A triangular closed-loop path for electron transport was first designed. • The H 2 production rate is up to 17.844 mmol·g−1·h−1 without precious cocatalysts. The construction of heterojunction systems is an effective way to efficiently generate hydrogen by water photolysis. In this work, Ni-MOF (trimesic acid, (BTC)) and g-C 3 N 4 (denoted as CN) were combined, and then Ni-MOF/CN was modified by 4-Methyl-5-vinyl thiazole (denoted as MVTh). Finally, CdS was loaded on the surface of Ni-MOF/CN/MVTh to prepare the photocatalyst Ni-MOF/g-C 3 N 4 /MVTh/CdS (denoted as Ni/CN/M/Cd) with a triangular closed-loop path heterojunction for the first time. As a photocatalyst without precious metal cocatalysts, Ni/CN/M/Cd displayed high H 2 evolution (17.844 mmol·g−1·h−1) under an optimum CdS loading of 40 wt%. The H 2 evolution rate was approximately 79 times that of Ni-MOF/CN and exceeded those of almost all catalysts based on MOF/CN in the literature. The triangular closed-loop heterojunction formed between Ni-MOF, g-C 3 N 4 , and CdS could realize the directional migration of photocarriers and significantly diminished the transfer resistance of carriers. The Ni2+ in Ni-MOF provided many cocatalytic sites for H 2 evolution via g-C 3 N 4 and CdS. Furthermore, charge carrier separation in Ni-MOF/CN/CdS improved after the innovative addition of MVTh. This study provides a reference for the construction of a closed-loop heterojunction system without precious metal cocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A facile self-templated carbonization strategy is developed for fabrication of a bifunctional electrocatalyst with uniform distribution of F, N heteroatoms, mesoporous channels and abundant edge-defect by direct pyrolysis of F, N -containing covalent organic framework (F-COF) precursor. The designed catalyst exhibits excellent bifunctional catalytic activity with a small OER-ORR potential gap of 0.79 V. The assembled ZAB delivers a high peak density of 206.3 mW cm−2 and good cyclic stability. [Display omitted] • F, N co-doped porous carbon (F-NPC) was facile prepared by in situ pyrolysis of fluoric COF precursor. • Experiments combined with theoretical calculation confirmed the significant contribution of F in boosting the catalytic reactivity. • The designed F-NPC catalyst shows superior ORR and OER activity. • The assembled ZAB using F-NPC catalyst displays high peak power density and excellent durability. The construction of heteroatom-doped metal-free carbon catalysts with bifunctional catalytic activity for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is highly desired for Zn-air batteries, but remains a great challenge owing to the sluggish kinetics of OER and ORR. Herein, a self-sacrificing template engineering strategy was employed to fabricate fluorine (F), nitrogen (N) co-doped porous carbon (F-NPC) catalyst by direct pyrolysis of F, N containing covalent organic framework (F-COF). The predesigned F and N elements were integrated into the skeletons of COF precursor, thus achieving uniformly distributed heteroatom active sites. The introduction of F is beneficial for the formation of edge-defects, contributing to the enhancement of the electrocatalytic activity. Attributing to the porous feature, abundant defect sites induced by F doping, as well as the strong synergistic effect between N and F atoms to afford a high intrinsic catalytic activity, the resulting F-NPC catalyst exhibits excellent bifunctional catalytic activities for both ORR and OER in alkaline mediums. Furthermore, the assembled Zn-air battery with F-NPC catalyst shows a high peak power density of 206.3 mW cm−2 and great stability, surpassing the commercial Pt/C + RuO 2 catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the Lüroth problem for partial differential fields. The main result is the following partial differential analog of generalized Lüroth's theorem: Let F be a differential field of characteristic 0 with m commuting derivation operators, u = u 1 , ... , u n a set of differential indeterminates over F. We prove that an intermediate differential field G between F and F 〈 u 〉 is a simple differential extension of F if and only if the differential dimension polynomial of u over G is of the form ω u / G (t) = n ( t + m m ) − ( t + m − s m ) for some s ∈ N. This result generalizes the classical differential Lüroth's theorem proved by Ritt and Kolchin in the case m = n = 1. We then present an algorithm to decide whether a given finitely generated differential extension field of F contained in F 〈 u 〉 is a simple extension, and in the affirmative case, to compute a Lüroth generator. As an application, we solve the proper re-parameterization problem for unirational differential curves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tripartite motif (TRIM) family proteins exhibit oncogenic or anti-oncogenic roles in various cancers. As a TRIM family member, TRIM36 is expressed in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), but its roles remain unexplored. Here, we set to investigate the clinical relevance and the biological actions of TRIM36 in LUAD. mRNA levels of TRIM36 and the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis for patients with LUAD were analyzed from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Real-time PCR and western blotting were utilized to measure TRIM36 levels both in vivo and in vitro. We demonstrated that TRIM36 levels were significantly decreased in LUAD patients. The low expression of TRIM36 was correlated with a poor prognosis. Overexpression and knock-down studies illustrated that TRIM36 inhibits cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis in LUAD cell lines. LUAD cells were irradiated with 60Co. In addition, TRIM36 enhanced radiosensitivity in LUAD cell lines. Moreover, we found that TRIM36 expression was negatively associated with RAD51. Co-overexpressing RAD51 blocked TRIM36's effects on proliferation and apoptosis. TRIM36 formed a complex with RAD51, promoting its ubiquitination. Inhibiting hsa-miR-376a-5p enhanced apoptosis and the effects were mediated by TRIM36 in response to radiation. In conclusion, our results indicated that TRIM36 is anti-oncogenic in LUAD by promoting RAD1 ubiquitination. Hsa-miR-376a-5p acts upstream of TRIM36. TRIM36 and RAD1 may serve as prognostic indicators for LUAD. The interactions between TRIM36, RAD1 and hsa-miR-376a-5p can be future therapeutic targets to increase radiation sensitivity in LUAD patients. • Downregulation of TRIM36 contributed to the poor prognosis of LUAD. • TRIM36 inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis in LUAD cells. • TRIM36 was negatively related to DNA repair in LUAD cells. • TRIM36 increased radiation-sensitivity by promoting RAD51 ubiquitination. • miR-376a-5p acted as an upstream regulator of TRIM36. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A robust immobilization strategy is proposed by the self-assembly of POSS and TiCl 4 molecules, where a flexible double-Ti structure shows the most reduced energy barrier for ethylene insertion. [Display omitted] • A highly active molecular catalyst toward ethylene polymerization was synthesized according to the self-assembly of POSS and TiCl 4. • A flexible double-Ti structure coordinated to Si-O-Si shows the most reduced energy barrier for ethylene insertion. • Catalytic nanoparticles show robust resistance to H 2 , enhanced incorporation of comonomer, and reduced entanglements of the synthesized polymer. Heterogeneous catalysis plays a crucial role in industrial olefin polymerization. Mechanistic understanding and optimization of Ziegler-Natta (ZN) catalyst are limited by the considerable complexity resulting from the multiple ingredients and complicated structures. Re-designing ZN catalytic systems with reduced complexity and adequate performance is of great interest. Here, we show that self-assembled polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS)@TiCl 4 nanoparticles can effectively immobilize TiCl 4 molecules in n -heptane solution, achieving the exceptional utilization of active centres. This uncomplicated system exhibits heterogeneous-like catalytic performance in ethylene polymerization, featured by high activities, fouling-free polymerization and a series of desirable properties of the nascent polymers such as reduced entanglement and spherical morphology. In addition, these catalytic nanoparticles show robust resistance to H 2 , and enhanced incorporation of comonomer towards ethylene/1-hexene copolymerization. By using DFT calculations the possible structures of the Ti active centres are proposed, of which a flexible double-Ti structure coordinated to Si-O-Si shows the most reduced energy barrier for ethylene insertion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The comparison of bone ingrowth between two types of porous titanium alloy rods with different micro-architectures including diamond crystal lattice (Re-rod) and biogenic lamellar configurations (Bi-rod) on femoral condyles was investigated in this study. Twelve rabbits were used. Re-rod (Re-rod group) and Bi-rod (Bi-rod group) were implanted randomly in femoral condyles of each rabbits respectively. Bone ingrowth of these two rods were investigated and compared. 4 and 12 weeks after the operation, X-ray, micro-CT and histological examinations were performed. No femoral condyle fracture and rod defluxion in the two groups was noted in the X-ray images during the observation period. Micro-CT images showed that all metal trabeculae in the Bi-rod group were covered by new bone at 4 and 12 weeks, whereas partial metal trabeculae in the Re-rod group were still uncovered at 12 weeks. Histological images showed that there was new bone growth in the centre and periphery of Bi-rods at 4 and 12 weeks, and there were several areas without new bone ingrowth at 4 and 12 weeks in the centre of Re-rods. In micro-CT analysis, the bone volume to total volume (BV/TV) of the volume of interest (VOI) of the Bi-rod group was higher than in the Re-rod group [(0.0794 ± 0.0021) % Vs (0.0521 ± 0.0032) % and (0.0875 ± 0.0039) % Vs (0.0702 ± 0.0028) % respectively, P < 0.05] at 4 weeks and 12 weeks. Whereas, the mean trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) values of VOI between the two groups were not significantly statistically different at 4 and 12 weeks. In histological analysis, the BV/TV of the VOI of the Bi-rod group was higher than in the Re-rod group [(0.0624 ± 0.0021) % Vs (0.0435 ± 0.0028) % and (0.0675 ± 0.0024) % Vs (0.0476 ± 0.0031) % respectively, P < 0.05] at 4 weeks and 12 weeks. These results showed that Bi-rods got better bone ingrowth in femoral condyles of rabbits compared with Re-rods. • Porous Titanium Alloy Rods with Biogenic Lamellar or Diamond Crystal Lattice Micro-architecture. • Get Better Bone Ingrowth or Osteointegration. • Femoral Condyle of the Rabbits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are key players in cellular physiology through posttranscriptional regulation of the expression of target RNA transcripts. By modulating the processing, stability and translation of cancer-related messenger RNA (mRNA) transcripts, a large set of RBPs play essential roles in various types of cancers. Perturbations in RBP activity have been causally associated with cancer development, tumor metabolism, drug resistance, cancer stem cell self-renewal, and tumor immune evasion. Here, we summarize the recent advances in cancer pathological roles and mechanisms of RBPs in regulating mRNA stability and translation with an emphasis on the emerging category of RNA modification-associated RBPs. The functional diversity of RBPs in different types of cancers and the therapeutic potential of targeting dysregulated RBPs for cancer treatment are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are key players in cellular physiology through posttranscriptional regulation of the expression of target RNA transcripts. By modulating the processing, stability and translation of cancer-related messenger RNA (mRNA) transcripts, a large set of RBPs play essential roles in various types of cancers. Perturbations in RBP activity have been causally associated with cancer development, tumor metabolism, drug resistance, cancer stem cell self-renewal, and tumor immune evasion. Here, we summarize the recent advances in cancer pathological roles and mechanisms of RBPs in regulating mRNA stability and translation with an emphasis on the emerging category of RNA modification-associated RBPs. The functional diversity of RBPs in different types of cancers and the therapeutic potential of targeting dysregulated RBPs for cancer treatment are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

E-cigarette flavors can create sensations of sweetness and coolness while masking the aversiveness of nicotine. Recently, non-tobacco nicotine (NTN) products were introduced to the market, but little is known about flavors in NTN e-cigarette use. We examined associations between flavors (i.e., sweet, mint/menthol) and susceptibility to and use of NTN e-cigarettes. 1239 US young adults (18–25 years) completed an anonymous, online survey in Fall 2021. The analytic sample included 520 participants who had used e-cigarettes and heard of NTN. Multinomial logistic regression models analyzed associations of flavored e-cigarette use (sweet and mint/menthol) with NTN e-cigarette use status (i.e., current [past-month] use, past [ever but not current] use, susceptible to use, and non-susceptible to use [reference]). Overall, 46.2% of participants reported current NTN use, 14.8% reported past use, 16.7% were susceptible to use, and 22.3% reported no susceptibility. Participants reported dual-use of sweet and mint/menthol NTN e-cigarette flavors (56.5%), sweet flavors use (24.8%), and mint/menthol flavor use (1.7%). Ever dual use of sweet and mint/menthol flavors was associated with current (OR = 9.64, 95%CI: 3.21–28.98) and past NTN e-cigarette use (8.30, [2.10–32.80]). Ever sweet flavor use was associated with current NTN use (3.80, 95%CI: 1.44–10.03) and susceptibility to future use (4.25, [1.53–11.81]). Similar findings were observed for mint/menthol flavors (current: 5.03, [1.41–17.99]; susceptible: 5.65, [1.64–19.51]). The use of sweet and mint/menthol flavors was significantly associated with NTN e-cigarette use among US young adults, highlighting the need for ongoing surveillance of flavored NTN e-cigarettes and appropriate regulations to discourage use. • Sweet flavor use was related to current use and susceptibility to NTN e-cigarettes. • Mint/menthol flavor use was related to current use and susceptibility to NTN e-cigarettes. • Dual sweet and mint/menthol flavor use was related to current and past NTN e-cigarette use. • Regulating sweet and mint/menthol flavors may help to reduce NTN product use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel ternary photocatalyst Ni 3 S 4 @ZIS@C 3 N 5 with type II and Z-type heterojunctions was synthesized for the first time by hydrothermal and electrostatic self-assembly methods, effectively avoiding the thermal decomposition of C 3 N 5 during the synthesis of the complex. The best ternary catalyst Ni 3 S 4 @ZIS@C 3 N 5 is capable of achieving an optimal hydrogen evolution rate of 9750 mmol g−1 h−1, which is approximately 10.89 times as high as that of C 3 N 5 , indicating that the complex effectively enhanced the photocatalytic properties of the monomer. The coexistence of two types of heterojunctions in the complex effectively enhances photocatalytic performance, in which the monomer ZIS constructs type II scheme with Ni 3 S 4 and Z-type scheme with C 3 N 5 , respectively. The two heterojunctions complement each other and jointly promote the rapid electron transfer from Ni 3 S 4 and C 3 N 5 to the ZIS surface. In conclusion, the cooperation of the two heterojunctions efficiently facilitates the migration of photogenerated carriers, thus enhancing the photocatalytic hydrogen generation performance of Ni 3 S 4 @ZIS@C 3 N 5. • The ternary composite photocatalyst Ni 3 S 4 @ZIS@C 3 N 5 was successfully synthesized for the first time. • The thermal decomposition of C 3 N 5 was effectively avoided by electrostatic self-assembly. • The cooperation of type II and Z-type heterojunction enhanced the photocatalytic hydrogen production performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stress granules (SGs) are formed when untranslated messenger ribonucleoproteins (mRNPs) accumulate in cells under stress, and are thought to minimize stress-induced damage and promote cell survival. RBM24 (RNA-binding motif protein 24) is an RNA-binding protein that plays pivotal roles in regulating the stability or translation initiation of target mRNAs as well as alternative splicing of target pre-mRNAs. Its important physiological functions are highlighted by the fact that Rbm24 knockout mice or zebrafish suffer from dysfunction of heart, eye, and inner ear. Here we show that RBM24 is recruited into SGs under various stress conditions, suggesting that it might protect its target RNAs in cells under stress. However, SG formation is unaffected when Rbm24 expression is down-regulated. Nevertheless, RBM24 overexpression in cultured cells is sufficient to induce SG formation, suggesting that RBM24 might play an important role in SG formation. In conclusion, our present work reveals that RBM24 is a SG component, which implies that RBM24 could protect its target mRNAs in stressed cells. • RBM24 is recruited into SGs under various stress conditions. • SG formation is unaffected when Rbm24 expression is down-regulated. • RBM24 overexpression is sufficient to induce SG formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A super-alcohol-repellent coating is presented. • The loss-free light-controlled manipulation of alcohol droplets for amino acid detection is demonstrated. • The uncrosslinked perfluoroalkyl silane leads to the failure of alcohol-repellency. • Annealing procedure promotes the condensation of silanol groups. Although a lot of fluorinated coatings exhibit super-repellency to oils with low surface tensions, most of them are readily wetted by alcohols with high surface tensions, wherein the un-crosslinked fluorinated silane is expected to result in the failure of alcohol-repellency. Hence, the coating could be super-repellent to alcohols if the fluorinated silane is fully crosslinked by annealing. We fabricate the super-alcohol-repellent coating via covering sintered hollow silica nanospheres with perfluoroalkyl silane, followed by a simple two-step annealing. The surface chemistry of the coating is further examined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The super-alcohol-repellent coating is remarkably super-repellent to diverse alcohols of surface tension from 20.9 to 64.8 mN m−1 and thus enables loss-free manipulation of alcohol droplets for amino acid detection. More importantly, we reveal that the annealing procedure could promote the condensation of silanol groups, showing the key role played by heat-mediated crosslinking of perfluoroalkyl silane in preparing alcohol-repellent coatings. Such annealing strategy is also proved to be effective for other fluorinated coatings to achieve super alcohol-repellency. Together with its super-repellency to virtually all liquids, the coating enables loss-free processing of diverse liquids, thus being of significant value for biological, chemical and medical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vascular disease is the prime determinant to cardiovascular morbidities and mortalities, which comprises the early vascular damage and subsequent cardiovascular events. Non-alcohol Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a systemic metabolic disorder that drives the progression of vascular disease through complex interactions. Although a causal relationship between NAFLD and cardiovascular disease (CVD) has not been established, a growing number of epidemiological studies have demonstrated an independent association between NAFLD and early vascular disease and subsequent cardiovascular events. In addition, mechanistic studies suggest that NAFLD initiates and accelerates vascular injury by increasing systemic inflammation and oxidative stress, impairing insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism, and modulating epigenetics, the intestinal flora and hepatic autonomic nervous system; thus, NAFLD is a putative driving force for CVD progression. In this review, we summarize the clinical evidence supporting the association of NAFLD with subclinical vascular disease and cardiovascular events and discuss the potential mechanisms by which NAFLD promotes the progression of vascular disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Image features in low-light scenes become hard to distinguish and full of noise, which makes the performance of current popular instance segmentation models drastically degraded. We propose a two-stage approach for instance segmentation of low-light images with enhancement followed by segmentation. Stage-I corresponds to the Low-Light Image Enhancement (LLIE) process. We propose a post-processing Detail Enhancement Denoising Module (DEDM) to suppress degradation effects caused by the enhancement in the preprocessing stage. Stage-II represents the segmentation process of enhanced images. We construct the W-BCNet instance segmentation network and design a Wavelet Feature Fusion Module (WFFM) in the feature extraction stage to preserve more fine-grained features. We achieve great segmentation results on LIS, detailed comparative experiments and ablation studies show the advantages and excellent generalization ability of our model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) production during composting can impact the environment and human health. Especially during the thermophilic phase, H 2 S is discharged in large quantities. However, in sludge composting, the contributions of different sulfur-containing precursors to H 2 S fluxes, key functional microorganisms, and key environmental parameters for reducing H 2 S flux remain unclear. Analysis of cysteine (Cys), methionine (Met), and sulfate (SO 4 2−) concentrations, multiple stepwise regression analysis, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) annotation analysis of metagenomes showed that Cys was the main contributor to the production of H 2 S and that Met was among the main sources during the first three days of composting, while the SO 4 2− contribution to H 2 S was negligible. Fifteen functional genera involved in the conversion of precursors to H 2 S were identified by co-occurrence network analysis. Only Bacillus showed high temperature resistance (>50 °C) and the ability to reduce H 2 S. Redundancy analysis showed that total carbon (64.0 %) and pH (23.3 %) had significant effects on functional bacteria. H 2 S had a quadratic relationship with sulfur-containing precursors. All microbial network sulfur-containing precursors metabolism modules showed a highly significant relationship with Cys. [Display omitted] • Cysteine was the main contributor to H 2 S release during sludge composting. • Met was one of the main sources during first three days of composting. • SO 4 2− contribution to H 2 S was negligible. • Bacillus was the only thermotolerant core bacteria that can reduce H 2 S to cysteine. • Total carbon (TC) (64.0 %) and pH (23.3 %) significantly affect functional bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Effortful control correlate with children's EF performance. • Effortful control influences working memory and inhibitory control training effects. • Effortful control affects the transfer effects of both training protocols. In recent years, the question of whether executive function (EF) is malleable has been widely documented. Despite using the same training tasks, transfer effects remain uncertain. Researchers suggested that the inconsistency might be attributed to individual differences in temperamental traits. In the current study, we investigated how effortful control, a temperamental trait, would affect EF training outcomes in children. Based on parent rating, 79 6-year-old preschoolers were identified as having higher or lower effort control and were assigned to three conditions: working memory (WM) training, inhibitory control (IC) training, and a business-as-usual control group. Children completed assessments at baseline, 1 week after intervention (posttest), and 3 months after intervention (follow-up). As compared with the control group, the WM and IC training groups showed improvement in both trained tasks and nontrained measures. At baseline, children with higher effortful control scores showed greater WM capacity and better IC. Furthermore, effortful control was positively correlated with training gain in both training groups, with children with higher effortful control benefitting more through training. In the WM training group, effortful control was positively correlated with near transfer on WM outcomes both immediately and longitudinally. At posttest, the WM and IC training groups showed a positive correlation between effortful control and fluid intelligence performance. Our results underscore the importance of individual differences in training benefits, in particular the role of effortful control, and further illustrate the potential avenues for designing more effective individualized cognitive training programs to foster learning and optimize children's development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Although solar energy is promising for water purification, there is still a room for further improving the solar steam generation efficiency. Herein, an environmental energy-enhanced solar steam evaporator is fabricated by immersing a cellulose acetate fiber-based cigarette filter (CF) in an aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) followed by freeze-drying and decorating with MXene sheets. The presence of MXene is to absorb solar light and convert solar energy to thermal energy for efficient water evaporation, while the porous PVA network generated inside the pores of the filter during the freeze-drying process accommodates the dispersed MXene sheets and interconnects the CF and MXene. Because of the constructed PVA/MXene network inside the CF porous architecture and the hydrophilic feature of both MXene and PVA, the resultant MXene/PVA modified CF (MPCF) is highly hydrophilic and competent for rapid upward transfer of water. Interestingly, in addition to the normal energy input by the incident solar light, the large-area sidewall of MPCF gains thermal energy from the environment in the forms of heat convection and heat radiation to enhance the solar steam generation efficiency, resulting in an ultrahigh water evaporation rate of 3.38 kg m−2 h−1 with an outstanding evaporation efficiency of 132.9%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] The rational design and preparation of advanced electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) under alkaline conditions is the key to achieving sustainable hydrogen production. Herein, a new type of nitrogen-doped porous carbon nanosheets (NPCN) loaded with platinum group metals (Pd, Pt or Ru) were prepared. The introduction of melamine not only realized the doping of N -species, but also optimized the morphology and surface functional groups of the prepared catalysts. The prepared Pd-NPCN, Pt-NPCN and Ru-NPCN with a metal loading of about 10 wt% showed outstanding HER activity (21, 9 and 11 mv at 10 mA cm−2 current density), small Tafel slopes (49, 30 and 30 mV dec−1) and good stability in 1.0 M KOH. In addition, the mechanism of the introduction of melamine to improve the catalytic performance of HER was also discussed. Therefore, this work provides promising alternatives to traditional Pt-based catalysts, and is instructive for the design of high-efficiency alkaline HER catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient Ce3+ → Tb3+ energy transfer induced bright green emissions in the Ca 2 LuHf 2 (AlO 4) 3 :Ce3+,Tb3+ garnet phosphors, and these phosphors were demonstrated to possess great potential to be used as a green component for fabricating near-UV-excited warm-white LEDs with high color rendering index. [Display omitted] • Ca 2 LuHf 2 Al 3 O 12 :Ce3+,Tb3+ garnet phosphors were prepared by high-temperature solid-state method. • Efficient energy transfer from Ce3+ to Tb3+ ions was observed. • Ce3+ co-doping induced great enhancement in the Tb3+ green luminescence. • They exhibited an intense broad absorption band in the 300–470 nm range peaking at 408 nm. • Under 408 nm excitation, they showed bright green emissions with IQE = 77.1% and EQE = 55.8%. • A high color-rendering warm-white LED (Ra = 93.7) was fabricated by using Ca 2 LuHf 2 Al 3 O 12 :Ce3+,Tb3+ as color converter. White light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are widely used in lighting and display devices, and the exploration of phosphors with excellent luminescence performance and good stability is the key to the development of white LEDs. In this work, we reported novel near-UV-excited green-emitting Ca 2 LuHf 2 (AlO 4) 3 :Ce3+,Tb3+ garnet phosphors with efficient Ce3+ → Tb3+ energy transfer. The CLHA:Ce3+,Tb3+ green phosphors were successfully synthesized by a high-temperature solid-state method, and the phosphors were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, elemental mapping, photoluminescence excitation and photoluminescence spectra, the Commission International de I'Eclairage (CIE) chromaticity coordinates, quantum efficiency and temperature-dependent emission spectra. Due to the spin-allowed 4f → 5d transition of Ce3+ ions, the CLHA:Ce3+,Tb3+ phosphors exhibited a strong broad excitation band in the 300–470 nm near-ultraviolet (near-UV) range. Under 408 nm excitation, the CLHA:Ce3+,Tb3+ phosphors showed strong green light with emission center at 543 nm. The mechanism of energy transfer from Ce3+ to Tb3+ ions was attributed to quadruple-quadruple interaction. Impressively, the internal quantum efficiency and external quantum efficiency of the optimal CLHA:0.02Ce3+,0.5Tb3+ green phosphors were measured to be 77.1% and 55.8%, respectively. Finally, using the CLHA:0.02Ce3+,0.5Tb3+ phosphors as green-emitting color converter, a near-UV-pumped white LED device was fabricated, and under 80 mA driving current the LED device demonstrated bright warm-white light with high color rendering index (93.7), low correlated color temperature (3574 K), CIE chromaticity coordinates (0.3922, 0.3633), and high luminous efficacy (29.35 lm/W). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The toxic effect of dietary histamine on the intestine of aquatic animals has been demonstrated, but reports on the morphological observation of the intestine are limited. Thus, a feeding trial was conducted to determine the effect of dietary histamine on intestinal histology, inflammatory status and gut microbiota of yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco). Here, we showed that histamine-rich diets caused severe abnormality and damage to the intestine, including a decreased villi length and reduced villi number. In addition, the quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) demonstrates that histamine-rich diets increased the expression of pro-inflammatory genes (Tnfα , Il1β , and Il8) and decreased the expression of an anti-inflammatory gene (Il10). Furthermore, the alpha-diversity (observed OTUs, Chao1, Shannon and Simpson) and beta-diversity (non-metric multidimensional scaling, with the stress value of 0.17) demonstrated that histamine-rich diets caused alterations in gut microbiota composition and diversity. Co-occurrence networks analysis of the gut microbiota community showed that the histamine influenced the number and the relationship between bacteria species in the phyla of Acidobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes, which caused the instability of the intestinal microbiota community. Additionally, random forest selected six bacterial species as the biomarkers to separate the three groups, which are Lachnospiraceae Blautia (V520), Bacteroidales S24.7 (V235), Chloroplast Streptophyta (V368), Actinomycetales Streptomycetaceae (V152), Clostridia Clostridiales (V491) and Paraprevotellaceae Prevotella (V245). Finally, Pearson correlation analysis demonstrated that V520, V235, and V491 were negatively correlated with pro-inflammatory factors (Tnfα , Il1β , and Il8) and positively correlated with an anti-inflammatory factor (Il10), which indicated that V520, V235, and V491 might be anti-inflammatory. These findings improved our understanding of the toxic effect of dietary histamine to intestinal histological damage, the induction of mucosa inflammatory status, and the alteration of gut microbiota. • Dietary histamine caused severe abnormality and damage to the intestine. • Dietary histamine effected the expression of inflammatory genes. • Dietary histamine altered the gut microbiota composition and diversity. • Three key gut microbiota bacterial taxa might reduce inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intraflagellar transport (IFT) is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism essential for the assembly and maintenance of most eukaryotic cilia and flagella, including mammalian sperm tails. Depletion of IFT27, a component of the IFT complex, in male germ cells results in infertility associated with disrupted sperm flagella structure and motility. Leucine zipper transcription factor-like 1 (LZTFL1) is an IFT27 associated protein. LZTFL1, also known as BBS17, is a Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) associated protein. Patients carrying biallelic variants of LZTFL1 gene exhibit the common BBS phenotypes. The global Lztfl1 knockout mice showed abnormal growth rate and retinal degeneration, typical of BBS phenotype. However, it is not clear if Lztfl1 has a role in male fertility. The LZTFL1 protein is highly and predominantly expressed in mouse testis. During the first wave of spermatogenesis, the protein is only expressed during spermiogenesis phase from the round spermatid stage and displays a cytoplasmic localization with a vesicular distribution pattern. At the elongated spermatid stage, LZTFL1 is present in the developing flagella and appears also close to the manchette. Fertility of Lztfl1 knockout mice was significantly reduced and associated with low sperm motility and a high level of abnormal sperm (astheno-teratozoospermia). In vitro assessment of fertility revealed reduced fertilization and embryonic development when using sperm from homozygous mutant mice. In addition, we observed a significant decrease of the testicular IFT27 protein level in Lztfl1 mutant mice contrasting with a stable expression levels of other IFT proteins, including IFT20, IFT81, IFT88 and IFT140. Overall, our results support strongly the important role of LZTFL1 in mouse spermatogenesis and male fertility. [Display omitted] • LZTFL1 is required for normal male fertility in mice. • Deficiency of LZTFL1 results in abnormal sperm. • LZTFL1 is possibly a downstream molecule of IFT27 in mouse testis. LZTFL1 is required for mouse spermatogenesis and particularly in maintaining normal sperm function and male fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a new framework in which agents with limited and heterogeneous cognitive ability—modeled as finite depths of reasoning—learn from their neighbors in social networks. Each agent tracks old information using Bayes-like formulas, and uses a shortcut when reasoning on behalf of multiple neighbors exceeds her cognitive ability. Surprisingly, agents with moderate cognitive ability are capable of partialing out old information and learn correctly in social quilts , a tree-like union of cliques (fully-connected subnetworks). Agents with low cognitive ability may fail to learn in any network, even when they receive a large number of signals. We also identify a critical cutoff level of cognitive ability, determined by the network structure, above which an agent's learning outcome remains the same even when her cognitive ability increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Au@RuO x core–shell nanostructures are fabricated to amplify the Raman signals. • Electroreduction of RuO x is in-situ studied using the borrowing SERS strategy. • Direct evidences of OH intermediate are obtained during RuO x electroreduction. • A two-step molecular pathway is proposed for RuO 2 electroreduction. RuO 2 is one of the most promising catalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER), a key reaction in water electrolysis. However, the fundamental insights about the structural evolution of RuO 2 under different electrochemical environments remain unclear. Herein, the molecular reaction pathways of the electroreduction of RuO x in alkaline and neutral conditions are identified using in-situ electrochemical surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Au@RuO 2 core–shell nanostructures are fabricated to amplify the Raman signals of species adsorbed on RuO x surfaces. Using such core–shell nanostructures, direct spectroscopic evidences of OH intermediate during the RuO 2 electroreduction process are obtained, which is further confirmed by D 2 O isotopic substitution experiments. A molecular pathway that RuO 2 is reduced to Ru through a two-step reduction process has been proposed. This work provides insightful information on the structural evolution of RuO x with electrochemical environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yongchuan douchi is a famous soybean product that is widely used as a condiment in China due to its attractive aroma and can be categorized into traditional and rapid Yongchuan douchi (TYD and RYD). However, the key aroma compounds in TYD and RYD and their differences remain poorly understood. In the present study, the key aroma compounds in TYD and RYD were characterized and compared by a molecular sensory approach. The results obtained by multidimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry/olfactometry (MDGC−MS/O) demonstrated that a total of 125 volatiles and 71 aroma-active compounds were identified. Moreover, 36 aroma-active compounds with relative odor activity values (rOAVs) ≥ 1 and flavor dilution (FD) ≥ 16 were screened and quantified by an external standard method. The recombination and omission experiments revealed that TYD and RYD contained 18 and 13 key aroma compounds, respectively. TYD and RYD contained 10 identical compounds, whereas 8 (ethyl 2-methylbutyrate, ethyl 3-methylbutyrate, ethyl isobutyrate, ethyl caproate, ethyl acetate, ethyl benzoate, 4-methyl-2-phenyl-2-pentenal, acetophenone) and 3 (phenylacetaldehyde, 4-ethyl guaiacol, 4-hydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-3(2H)-furanone) were unique to TYD and RYD, respectively. This is the first report of key aroma compounds in TYD and RYD, and it provides insights into improving the aroma of Yongchuan douchi. • The key aroma-active compounds between traditional and rapid Yongchuan douchi were revealed. • Traditional Yongchuan douchi has 8 unique aroma-active compounds and 6 of them were esters. • Aldehydes and acids were the most important aroma-active compounds in rapid Yongchuan douchi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel low-temperature cross-sensitivity strain sensor based on a microbubble Fabry-Pérot interferometer is proposed. • The ACFPI sensor is investigated through a combination of experiments and simulations. • The sensor is fabricated by splicing two segments of the single-mode fiber and several arc discharges to form an approximately circular bubble with an average wall thickness of 1.73 μm and diameter of 68 μm. • This sensor has a high strain sensitivity of 10.78 pm/με. • The temperature sensitivity of the sensor is 1.24 pm/°C and the temperature cross-sensitivity is 0.115 με/°C in the temperature range of 25 to 200 °C. • The experimental results show that the sensor has good stability and repeatability. A Fabry-Pérot interferometer (FPI) strain sensor with low-temperature cross-sensitivity is prepared by a simple, cost-effective, and safe process. The sensor is fabricated by splicing two segments of the single-mode fiber and several arc discharges to form a unique circular bubble and a thin wall. The thin air-bubble wall deforms more easily under stress due to the good stress concentration ability of the tapered structure, resulting in a high strain sensitivity of 10.78 pm/µε. The temperature sensitivity of the sensor is 1.24 pm/°C and the temperature cross-sensitivity is 0.115 με/°C in the temperature range of 25 to 200 °C, which reduces the temperature-induced measurement error. The experimental results show that the sensor with good stability and repeatability has large commercial potential in measuring strain in complex environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preventing postoperative bleb scar formation is an effective way of improving glaucoma filtration surgery (GFS) outcome. Use of more effective antifibrotic drugs with fewer adverse effects may be a good way to address the problem. In the present study, we use a primary cell model, consisting of Tenon's fibroblasts obtained from patients with glaucoma, which were stimulated with TGF-β1 to induce the fibrotic phenotype. We explored the effects of niclosamide on TGF-β1-induced fibrosis in these cells and examined its underlying mechanism of action. A transcriptome sequencing assay was used to explore possible signaling pathways involved. Niclosamide inhibited cell proliferation and migration, and decreased the levels of alpha-smooth muscle actin, type I and type III collagen in human Tenon's fibroblasts induced by TGF-β1. Niclosamide also induced apoptosis and counteracted TGF-β1-induced cytoskeletal changes and extracellular matrix accumulation. Moreover, niclosamide decreased TGF-β1-induced phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (p-ERK1/2) protein expression in human Tenon's fibroblasts. The results indicate that niclosamide inhibits TGF-β1-induced fibrosis in human Tenon's fibroblasts by blocking the MAPK-ERK1/2 signaling pathway. Thus, niclosamide is a potentially promising antifibrotic drug that could improve glaucoma filtration surgery success rate. • Human tenon fibroblasts (HFTs) from glaucoma surgery samples were cultured in vitro. • Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) induced profibrotic changes in HFTs. • Niclosamide prevented TGF-β1-induced changes in HFTs. • The niclosamide effects were mediated by modulation of the MAPK-ERK1/2 pathway. • Niclosamide represents a novel antifibrotic drug candidate to improve the success rate of glaucoma filtration surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For traditional Fenton processes, the quenching behavior of radical contenders (e.g., most aliphatic hydrocarbons) on hydroxyl radicals (·OH) usually hinders the removal of target refractory pollutants (aromatic/heterocyclic hydrocarbons) in chemical industrial wastewater, leading to excess energy consumption. Herein, we proposed an electrocatalytic-assisted chelation-Fenton (EACF) process, with no extra-chelator addition, to significantly enhance target refractory pollutant (pyrazole as a representative) removal under high ·OH contender (glyoxal) levels. Experiments and theoretical calculations proved that superoxide radical ( · O 2 −) and anodic direct electron transfer (DET) effectively converted the strong ·OH-quenching substance (glyoxal) to a weak radical competitor (oxalate) during the electrocatalytic oxidation process, promoting Fe2+ chelation and therefore increasing radical utilization for pyrazole degradation (reached maximum of ∼43-fold value upon traditional Fenton), which appeared more obviously in neutral/alkaline Fenton conditions. For actual pharmaceutical tailwater treatment, the EACF achieved 2-folds higher oriented-oxidation capability and ∼78% lower operation cost per pyrazole removal than the traditional Fenton process, demonstrating promising potential for future practical applications. [Display omitted] • The ·OH utilization for target pollutant removal was greatly enhanced by EACF. • Extra-chelator-free Fenton was realized by in-situ pollutant-to-chelator conversion. • Mechanism of EO assisted Fenton was proposed based on DFT calculations. • High oriented oxidation ability and low energy input were found in EACF system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Converging evidence points to the crucial role of brain connectivity involved in aberrant behavioral control and reward reactivity in the onset and maintenance of binge eating. However, the directional interaction pattern between brain's reward and inhibitory control systems in people with binge eating episodes is largely unknown. Resting-state fMRI data were collected from 36 adults with binge eating episodes (age: 19.05 ± 0.90) and 36 well-matched controls (age: 18.88 ± 0.78). We applied spectral dynamic causal modeling approach to estimate effective connectivity of the executive control network (ECN) and reward network (RN) with 15 predefined regions of interest, and investigate the between-group differences in directional connectivity. Compared with controls, the positive connections within the ECN were significantly strengthened in individuals with binge eating episodes, while the negative connections from the ECN to RN and from the RN to ECN were significantly weakened. In adults with binge eating episodes, the RN→ECN connectivity was positively related to binge frequency even controlling for age, sex, and body mass index. This study represents an important first step in addressing the role of directional integration between reward and inhibitory control networks in binge eating, and provides novel evidence that the ability of people with binge eating episodes to maintain a balance between inhibitory control and reward reactivity is decreased, as reflected by diminished bidirectional negative effects of prefrontal-subcortical circuitry at rest. • This study examined the altered directional interaction between reward and inhibitory control networks in people with binge eating episodes using spectral dynamic causal modeling. • Compared with controls, the positive connections within the executive control network were significantly strengthened in adults with binge eating episodes, while the negative connections from the executive control network to reward network and from the reward network to executive control network were significantly weakened. • This study provides novel evidence that the ability of people with binge eating episodes to maintain a balance between inhibitory control and reward reactivity is decreased, as reflected by diminished bidirectional negative effects of prefrontal-subcortical circuitry at rest. [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]

The degradation conditions of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) by T. halophilus in MRS liquid culture were studied. The inoculum amount of T. halophilus, fermentation time, and fermentation temperature were recorded as experimental factors, and the degradation rate of AFB1 was measured as the experimental index. AFB1 degradation increased with the increase of temperature, with a maximum value of 75.9 ± 4.92%. When the temperature exceeded 32 °C, the degradation rate showed a downward trend. Experimental results showed that the degradation of AFB1 by T. halophilus was related to the starting concentration of the strain. The molecular weight of the extracellular enzymes that degraded AFB1 ranged from 55 KD to 70 KD,Zn2+ can promote the activity of AFB1 degradation by this enzyme, while Al3+, Ba2+, Ca2+ and Mn2+ can inhibit the activity of AFB1 degradation by this enzyme. Especially, the inhibitory effect of Ca2+ is the strongest, up to 48.54%, and the optimal temperature is 32 °C. The degradation products of AFB1 were identified as M/Z327.08 (C 17 H 10 O 7) and M/Z285.08 (C 16 H 12 O 5). Taken together, these results demonstrated that T. halophilus has application potential for AFB1 degradation. • Degradation of AFB1 by Tetralococcus halophiles. • The degradation of AFB1 by extracellular enzymes by Tetragenococcus halophilus. • Halophilus the degradation products and pathways of aflatoxins B1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamics of ecological sources and their impact on the resilience of ecological networks (ENs) have attracted increasing attention from both researchers and managers. Although a couple of studies have recognized the source-loss effects on network resilience, there is a knowledge gap in integrating spatiotemporal changes of the sources while constructing resilient ENs. Here, we propose the concept of dynamic stability (DS) to explore the sources' changes over a certain period and improve source identification by grading the DS in the largest urban agglomeration located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River in China. An investigation of the five selected ecosystem service (ES) indicators in 2000, 2010, and 2018 identified 49, 54, and 68 preliminary sources, respectively, from which 11, 14, and three sources were extracted, respectively, with high, moderate, and low levels of DS, respectively. A three-tier EN was constructed by considering both the ESs and DSs of the extracted sources. The constructed network was scale-free and featured in small world in topology analysis. Moreover, a carefully designed attack test found that this EN was of good resilience as the three critical nodes that might cause a marked decay of resilience were in high or moderate DSs and were preferentially protected by the Ecological Conservation Red Line policy in China. In conclusion, the improved approach of considering the DSs of sources may help to precisely identify and protect the critical nodes threatening network resilience, which is highly desired in constructing ENs facing various rapid changes, especially in large-scale urbanized areas. [Display omitted] • The identified sources exhibited dynamic changes over the past 19 years. • A stability grading method was proposed to portray the dynamics of the sources. • A network was constructed by considering the dynamic stability levels of the sources. • An attack test identified three critical nodes causing drastic decay in resilience. • The constructed network has good resilience as it ensures central node stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of EGFR and ALK dual inhibitors containing sulfoxide and cyclopropyl groups were synthesized and evaluated as anticancer agents. [Display omitted] • EGFR and ALK dual inhibitors containing sulfoxide and cyclopropyl groups were synthesized. • Compound 8a showed a significant activity against EGFR and ALK in both the enzymatic and cellular assays. • Compound 8a can significantly subside the tumor tissue of nude mice without obvious toxicity. A series of EGFR and ALK dual inhibitors containing sulfoxide and cyclopropyl groups were designed and synthesized. The lead compound 8a showed a significant activity against EGFR and ALK in both the enzymatic and cellular assays. The study of anti-tumor mechanism indicated that 8a could effectively block the phosphorylation of EGFR and ALK proteins, so as to effectively inhibiting the proliferation and inducing apoptosis of H1975 tumor cells, blocking the cell cycle and reducing the mitochondrial membrane potential inhibited the migration of H1975 cells. In vivo studies, compounds 8a and 8d can significantly subside the tumor tissue of nude mice without obvious toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the contamination of microplastics (MPs) in groundwater has been anticipated, their occurrence, distribution, and composition require further understanding. In this study, the occurrence and distributions of MPs were investigated in shallow groundwater from an important water source district in Tianjin city of northern China. The abundance, the physical morphology, the chemical composition, and the potential correlations of the determined MPs with human activities were thoroughly characterized. MPs were determined from all ten sampling sites with the abundance ranged between 17.0 ± 2.16 to 44.0 ± 1.63 n/L, revealing the ubiquitous existed MPs contamination. Based on the physical categorization, fiber (44.74%) was the most abundant shape, while blue (31.02%) and transparent (26.09%) were the most prevalent colors. The dominant size of MPs was smaller than 200 μm which accounted for 73.10%. A total of seven types of MPs were determined with polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polystyrene as the main types, of which, polypropylene showed strong positive correlations with polystyrene, indicating the possible similar sources of them. Besides, the determined MPs in groundwater were greater in areas with the high population density and strong population activity, indicating their high correlation with human activity. The study highlighted the presence of MPs in groundwater of drinking water source in northern China and provided useful information for evaluating the potential ecological effects on water quality safety and human health brought by MPs. • Microplastics were ubiquitously existed in groundwater at ten different points. • Seven polymer types were determined with PET as predominant. • Blue colored fibrous MPs with size of less than 200 μm were dominant. • Abundance of microplastics is closely related to human activity. [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] • 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]

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]

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]

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]

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor-in-Chief. It has been brought to our attention that the authors of the article "Parallel bimodal single-cell sequencing of transcriptome and methylome provides molecular and translational insights on oocyte maturation and maternal aging" cannot agree on who should be listed as an author of the article. Further inquiry by the journal revealed that the authorship was also changed at the revision stages of the article without notifying the handling Editor, which is contrary to the journal policy on changes to authorship. The journal considers this unacceptable practice, and the Editor-in-Chief decided to retract the article. [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]

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]