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Abstract Background The role of ELAVL1 in the progression of various tumors has been demonstrated. Our research aims to investigate how ELAVL1 controls the glycolytic process in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells through the HMGB3/β-catenin pathway. Methods The expression of ELAVL1 was detected in clinical tumor samples and nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines. A subcutaneous tumor model was established in nude mice to investigate the role of ELAVL1 in tumor progression. The relationship between HMGB3 and ELAVL1 was validated by RNA pull down and RIP assays. TOPFlash/FOPFlash reporter assay was used to detect β-catenin activity. Assay kits were utilized to measure glucose consumption, lactate production, and G6PD activity in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. Western blot was conducted to detect the expression of glycolysis-related proteins. The glycolytic capacity was analyzed through extracellular acidification rate (ECAR). Results In both clinical samples and nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines, the expression levels of ELAVL1 mRNA and protein were found to be upregulated. Knockdown of ELAVL1 significantly inhibited the in vivo proliferation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and suppressed the glycolytic capacity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. ELAVL1 interacts with HMGB3, leading to an increase in the stability of HMGB3 mRNA. Overexpression of HMGB3 elevated the reduced β-catenin activity caused by sh-ELAVL1 and reversed the inhibitory effect of sh-ELAVL1 on cellular glycolytic capacity. Treatment with β-catenin inhibitor (FH535) effectively suppressed the promotion of glycolytic capacity induced by HMGB3 overexpression. Conclusions ELAVL1 promotes glycolysis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells by interacting with HMGB3 to stabilize HMGB3 mRNA, thereby activating β-catenin pathway. Therefore, targeting the ELAVL1-HMGB3-β-catenin axis has the potential to be a novel approach for treating nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Clematis serratifolia has high medicinal and ornamental value. In this study, we characterize and report, for the first time, the complete chloroplast genome sequence of C. serratifolia based on high-throughput sequence dates. The whole chloroplast genome of C. serratifolia is a circular molecule of 159,648 bp in length, consisting of a large single-copy (LSC) region of 79,394 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,112 bp, and two inverted repeat (IR) regions of 31,071 bp. The overall GC content of the chloroplast genome is 38%, while that in the LSC, SSC, and IR regions is 36.3%, 31.3%, and 42.1%, respectively. The chloroplast genome of C. serratifolia contains 133 genes, including 89 coding genes, 8 ribosomal RNAs, and 36 transfer RNAs. Among them, 14 protein-coding genes have a single intron, and 2 genes have two introns. The phylogenetic analysis showed a close relationship between C. serratifolia and C. heracleifolia.

Abstract Silicon-vacancy (SiV) centers in diamond are emerging as promising quantum emitters in applications such as quantum communication and quantum information processing. Here, we demonstrate a sub-μs pulsed annealing treatment that dramatically increases the photoluminescence of SiV centers in diamond. Using a silane-functionalized adamantane precursor and a laser-heated diamond anvil cell, the temperature and energy conditions required to form SiV centers in diamond were mapped out via an optical thermometry system with an accuracy of ±50 K and a 1 μs temporal resolution. Annealing scheme studies reveal that pulsed annealing can obviously minimize the migration of SiV centers out of the diamond lattice, and a 2.5-fold increase in the number of emitting centers was achieved using a series of 200-ns pulses at a 50 kHz repetition rate via acousto-optic modulation. Our study provides a novel pulsed annealing treatment approach to improve the efficiency of the creation of SiV centers in diamond.

Abstract All-optical diffractive neural networks, as analog artificial intelligence accelerators, leverage parallelism and analog computation for complex data processing. However, their low space transmission efficiency or large spatial dimensions hinder miniaturization and broader application. Here, we propose a terahertz spoof plasmonic neural network on a planar diffractive platform for direct multi-target recognition. Our approach employs a spoof surface plasmon polariton coupler array to construct a diffractive network layer, resulting in a compact, efficient, and easily integrable architecture. We designed three schemes: basis vector classification, multi-user recognition, and MNIST handwritten digit classification. Experimental results reveal that the terahertz spoof plasmonic neural network successfully classifies basis vectors, recognizes multi-user orientation information, and directly processes handwritten digits using a designed input framework comprising a metal grating array, transmitters, and receivers. This work broadens the application of terahertz plasmonic metamaterials, paving the way for terahertz on-chip integration, intelligent communication, and advanced computing systems.

Abstract DNA hydroxymethylation (5hmC), the most abundant oxidative derivative of DNA methylation, is typically enriched at enhancers and gene bodies of transcriptionally active and tissue-specific genes. Although aberrant genomic 5hmC has been implicated in age-related diseases, its functional role in aging remains unknown. Here, using mouse liver and cerebellum as model organs, we show that 5hmC accumulates in gene bodies associated with tissue-specific function and restricts the magnitude of gene expression changes with age. Mechanistically, 5hmC decreases the binding of splicing associated factors and correlates with age-related alternative splicing events. We found that various age-related contexts, such as prolonged quiescence and senescence, drive the accumulation of 5hmC with age. We provide evidence that this age-related transcriptionally restrictive function is conserved in mouse and human tissues. Our findings reveal that 5hmC regulates tissue-specific function and may play a role in longevity.

Abstract Microstructural changes in conductive materials induced by electric current treatments, such as electromigration and electroplasticity, are critical in semiconductor and metal processing. However, owing to the inevitable thermal effect (Joule heating), the athermal effect on microstructural modifications remains obscure. This paper presents an approach of utilizing pre-micromachined structures, which obstruct current flow but maintain a thermal history similar to that of the matrix, effectively disentangling the thermal and athermal effects. A duplex stainless-steel material is selected to validate the feasibility of this method. Microstructural characterizations show that the athermal effect, especially the electron wind force (EWF), primarily governs the element diffusion and phase transformation in this study. Moreover, many σ phases (Cr-enriched) are precipitated in the micromachined structures, whereas no precipitation occurred in the matrix, suggesting that the directional EWF disrupts the Cr aggregation caused by Joule heating. Furthermore, we present a critical formula for determining the dimensions of micromachined structures of commonly used metallic materials. The proposed method may serve as an effective and powerful tool for unveiling the athermal effect on microstructural alterations.

Accurate prediction of electric vehicle (EV) charging loads is a foundational step in the establishment of expressway charging infrastructures. This study introduces an approach to enhance the precision of expressway EV charging load predictions. The method considers both the battery dynamic state-of-charge (SOC) and user charging decisions. Expressway network nodes were first extracted using the open Gaode Map API to establish a model that incorporates the expressway network and traffic flow features. A Gaussian mixture model is then employed to construct a SOC distribution model for mixed traffic flow. An innovative SOC dynamic translation model is then introduced to capture the dynamic characteristics of traffic flow SOC values. Based on this foundation, an EV charging decision model was developed which considers expressway node distinctions. EV travel characteristics are extracted from the NHTS2017 datasets to assist in constructing the model. Differentiated decision-making is achieved by utilizing improved Lognormal and Sigmoid functions. Finally, the proposed method is applied to a case study of the Lian-Huo expressway. An analysis of EV charging power converges with historical data and shows that the method accurately predicts the charging loads of EVs on expressways, thus revealing the efficacy of the proposed approach in predicting EV charging dynamics under expressway scenarios.

Agro-based small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are currently receiving top priority among policymakers of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) nations due to their great contribution to employment and GDP growth. This study examines the impact of financial literacy on the sustainable competitive performance of agro-based SMEs, with a focus on the mediating role of access to digital finance and the moderating role of business experience. Using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM), we analysed data from 345 SME owner-managers. The results indicate that financial literacy positively affects sustainable competitive performance, with access to digital finance serving as a significant mediator. However, business experience does not moderate the relationship between financial literacy and access to digital finance. These findings suggest that improving financial literacy and enhancing digital finance access are critical for the sustainable development of agro-based SMEs in the SAARC region.

The safety and efficiency of lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) suggest a promising future for this technology, particularly in the automobile industry. However, thermal runaway—wherein a LIB undergoes an uncontrollable increase in temperature that may result in smoke, fire, or explosion—represents an important and widely studied failure type. Since the electrodes of LIBs are manufactured from porous composite materials, their heterogeneity can significantly influence the effective material characteristics and microscale behaviors of LIBs during operation. Microstructure geometric and electrochemical–thermal models are typically used to investigate these impacts. Herein, a microstructure geometric model is constructed of LIB's electrodes. A virtual multiphysics model is used to simulate the overcharging thermal runaway condition. The model's accuracy is validated through real‐world experiments. The model shows greater accuracy compared to the result from a conventional homogeneous geometric model and better reflects the heterogeneous internal phenomenon. The model is applied to a variable analysis in order to investigate how the varying heterogeneity of the cathode's porosity impacts the cell during overcharging thermal runaway behavior. Our results indicate that decreasing porosity heterogeneity at the cathode may delay thermal runaway, owing to the heterogeneous impact on particle diffusion behaviors and the side reaction rate.

Studying regional water resources carrying capacity (WRCC) is an important way to find out and solve regional water resources problems. Analyzing the spatial difference of WRCC and diagnosing its driving factors is the basis for the implementation of the water control policy named “spatial balance”. This study selects evaluation indicators for WRCC from three aspects: water resources, social economy, and ecological environment. The weights of indicators were determined by fuzzy analytic hierarchy process based on accelerated genetic algorithm (FAHP-AGA), and an evaluation method for WRCC was constructed based on set pair analysis (SPA). On this basis, the spatial difference analysis of regional WRCC and its key driving factor diagnosis model was established, and the empirical study was carried out in Anhui Province as an example. The results show that from 2011 to 2020, the WRCC of Anhui Province was increasing, with the average increase of each city reaching more than 0.3. The spatial difference of WRCC decreased, and the Gini coefficient decreased from 0.16 to 0.08. The key driving factors leading to the spatial difference of WRCC in Anhui Province include water resources module, water consumption per 10,000 yuan of GDP, equilibrium degree of water use structure, per capita GDP, population density, percentage of forest cover, and amount of chemical fertilizer applied per unit of effective irrigated area. Compared with common WRCC evaluation models, this model improves the comparability of the evaluation results. In addition, this model can further analyze the influence of multiple factor interactions on the evaluation results based on the common single factor analysis. The driving factor diagnosis results can provide theoretical guidance for the formulation of regulation measures for regional WRCC and the implementation of the “spatial equilibrium” water control policy.

IntroductionContinuous drought stress aggravates agricultural losses and threats food security. However, the responses of crops to continuous drought stress remain uncertain.MethodsTo make up the limitations of field experiment and achieve the setting of multiple continuous drought stress scenarios, AquaCrop model is calibrated and validated using field experiment data of summer maize in 2017 and 2018 seasons. Then, the whole growth processes under different continuous drought stress scenarios at two growth stages of maize are simulated. The quantitative responses of transpiration (Tr), biomass accumulation, and yield formation to continuous drought stress are analyzed.Results and discussionThe results show that when the maize encounters serious drought at the seedling stage, the reduction rates of Tr at the jointing stage, the tasseling stage, and the milking stage are 57.45%, 43.61%, and 5.24%, respectively. Drought stress at a growth stage of maize not only have negative impacts on transpiration and biomass accumulation at this stage, but also have after-effects on these elements at the subsequent stages. In addition, continuous serious drought at the seedling and jointing stages reduces yield by 100%, which is higher than the sum of the loss rates at these two stages [>33.30% + 24.16%)], while the loss rate due to continuous light drought is lower than the sum [20.66%

Abstract Electrochemical carbon dioxide/carbon monoxide reduction reaction offers a promising route to synthesize fuels and value-added chemicals, unfortunately their activities and selectivities remain unsatisfactory. Here, we present a general surface molecular tuning strategy by modifying Cu2O with a molecular pyridine-derivative. The surface modified Cu2O nanocubes by 4-mercaptopyridine display a high Faradaic efficiency of greater than 60% in electrochemical carbon monoxide reduction reaction to acetate with a current density as large as 380 mA/cm2 in a liquid electrolyte flow cell. In-situ attenuated total reflectance surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy reveals stronger *CO signal with bridge configuration and stronger *OCCHO signal over modified Cu2O nanocubes by 4-mercaptopyridine than unmodified Cu2O nanocubes during electrochemical CO reduction. Density function theory calculations disclose that local molecular tuning can effectively regulate the electronic structure of copper catalyst, enhancing *CO and *CHO intermediates adsorption by the stabilization effect through hydrogen bonding, which can greatly promote asymmetric *CO-*CHO coupling in electrochemical carbon monoxide reduction reaction.

Abstract Coherent perfect absorption (CPA) and amplification of electromagnetic waves are converse phenomena, where incoming radiations are coherently dissipated or amplified by structured incidences. Realizing such two phenomena simultaneously in a single device may benefit various applications such as biological sensing, photo detection, radar stealth, solar-thermal energy sharing, and wireless communications. However, previous experimental realizations of CPA and amplification generally require precise controls to the loss and gain of a system, making dynamic switching between the absorption and amplification states a challenge. To this end, we propose a nonlinear approach to realize CPA and parametric amplification (PA) simultaneously at the same frequency and demonstrate experimentally dynamic switch from the CPA to PA states in a judiciously designed nonlinear spoof plasmonic waveguide. The measured output signal gain can be continuously tuned from −33 dB to 22 dB in a propagation length of 9.2 wavelengths. Compared to the traditional linear CPA, our approach relaxes the stringent requirements on device dimensions and material losses, opening a new route to actively modulate the electromagnetic waves with giant amplification-to-absorption contrast in a compact platform. The proposed nonlinear plasmonic platform has potential applications in on-chip systems and wireless communications.

Purpose: Ischemia and hypoxia are the main factors limiting limb replantation and transplantation. Static cold storage (SCS), a common preservation method for tissues and organs, can only prolong limb ischemia time to 4 – 6 h. The normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) is a promising method for the preservation of tissues and organs, which can extend the preservation time in vitro by providing continuous oxygen and nutrients. This study aimed to evaluate the difference in the efficacy of the 2 limb preservation methods. Methods: The 6 forelimbs from beagle dogs were divided into 2 groups. In the SCS group (n = 3), the limbs were preserved in a sterile refrigerator at 4 °C for 24 h, and in the NMP group (n = 3), the perfusate prepared with autologous blood was used for the oxygenated machine perfusion at physiological temperature for 24 h, and the solution was changed every 6 h. The effects of limb storage were evaluated by weight gain, perfusate biochemical analysis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and histological analysis. All statistical analyses and graphs were performed using GraphPad Prism 9.0 one-way or two-way analysis of variance. The p value of less than 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance. Results: In the NMP group, the weight gained percentage was 11.72% ± 4.06%; the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α contents showed no significant changes; the shape of muscle fibers was normal; the gap between muscle fibers slightly increased, showing the intercellular distance of (30.19 ± 2.83) μm; and the vascular α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) contents were lower than those in the normal blood vessels. The creatine kinase level in the perfusate of the NMP group increased from the beginning of perfusion, decreased after each perfusate change, and remained stable at the end of perfusion showing a peak level of 4097.6 U/L. The lactate dehydrogenase level of the NMP group increased near the end of perfusion and reached the peak level of 374.4 U/L. In the SCS group, the percentage of weight gain was 0.18% ± 0.10%, and the contents of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α increased gradually and reached the maximum level of (164.85 ± 20.75) pg/mL at the end of the experiment. The muscle fibers lost their normal shape and the gap between muscle fibers increased, showing an intercellular distance of (41.66 ± 5.38) μm. The contents of vascular α-SMA were much lower in the SCS group as compared to normal blood vessels. Conclusions: NMP caused lesser muscle damage and contained more vascular α-SMA as compared to SCS. This study demonstrated that NMP of the amputated limb with perfusate solution based on autologous blood could maintain the physiological activities of the limb for at least 24 h.

Wind turbine generator output cables are subjected to alternating torsional loads during long-term operation, combined with electrothermal stress, which may lead to insulation failure and other serious issues. Currently, the electrothermal aging mechanism under torsional stress is not fully understood. This study explores the synergistic degradation mechanism of electrothermal aging and nonlinear torsion by constructing a multi-stress aging test platform in the laboratory environment. This study involved accelerated aging tests with thermal, electrothermal, and electrothermal–torsional alternating stresses. The aged cable samples were analyzed for their physical and chemical properties using differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, while dielectric spectroscopy and mechanical tests were employed to evaluate their dielectric and mechanical performance. The results indicate that torsional stress induces physical changes at the molecular level in the ethylene–propylene rubber (EPR), leading to reduced strength, hardening, and increased brittleness, resulting in decreased mechanical strength. In addition, torsional stress promotes oxidation reactions and chain scission processes in the insulation layer, reducing crystallinity and causing a decline in mechanical performance. Increased oxidation and chain scission reactions result in an increase in polar groups, leading to an increase in the dielectric loss factor of the EPR. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for the design, manufacturing, and operational monitoring of wind turbine generator output cables.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a growing prevalence of mental disorders, particularly in China, where anti-epidemic measures have been more stringent compared to other countries. This has resulted in a heightened psychological burden on individuals. However, the actual psychological impacts of COVID-19 on Chinese residents have not been clearly established. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of various factors, including personal and household characteristics, social networks, and epidemic-related variables (such as rural residents' knowledge of COVID-19 virus transmission and prevention), on rural residents' depression. Using a two-year balanced panel dataset encompassing 152 villages and 676 samples in both 2019 and 2020, we employed the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) model to estimate the influence of these factors and compare their coefficients to examine the changes in rural residents' depression between the pre-epidemic and during-epidemic periods. Our study highlights significant factors contributing to rural residents' depression during the COVID-19 pandemic, including isolation (2.063, p

BackgroundMajor depressive disorder (MDD) is the leading cause of disability among all mental illnesses with increasing prevalence. The diagnosis of MDD is susceptible to interference by several factors, which has led to a trend of exploring objective biomarkers. Electroencephalography (EEG) is a non-invasive procedure that is being gradually applied to detect and diagnose MDD through some features such as functional connectivity (FC).MethodsIn this research, we analyzed the resting-state EEG of patients with MDD and healthy controls (HCs) in both eyes-open (EO) and eyes-closed (EC) conditions. The phase locking value (PLV) method was utilized to explore the connection and synchronization of neuronal activities spatiotemporally between different brain regions. We compared the PLV between participants with MDD and HCs in five frequency bands (theta, 4–8 Hz; alpha, 8–12 Hz; beta1, 12–16 Hz; beta2, 16–24 Hz; and beta3, 24–40 Hz) and further analyzed the correlation between the PLV of connections with significant differences and the severity of depression (via the scores of 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, HDRS-17).ResultsDuring the EO period, lower PLVs were found in the right temporal-left midline occipital cortex (RT-LMOC; theta, alpha, beta1, and beta2) and posterior parietal-right temporal cortex (PP-RT; beta1 and beta2) in the MDD group compared with the HC group, while PLVs were higher in the MDD group in LT-LMOC (beta2). During the EC period, for the MDD group, lower theta and beta (beta1, beta2, and beta3) PLVs were found in PP-RT, as well as lower theta, alpha, and beta (beta1, beta2, and beta3) PLVs in RT-LMOC. Additionally, in the left midline frontal cortex-right temporal cortex (LMFC-RT) and posterior parietal cortex-right temporal cortex (PP-RMOC), higher PLVs were observed in beta2. There were no significant correlations between PLVs and HDRS-17 scores when connections with significantly different PLVs (all p > 0.05) were checked.ConclusionOur study confirmed the presence of differences in FC between patients with MDD and healthy individuals. Lower PLVs in the connection of the right temporal-left occipital cortex were mostly observed, whereas an increase in PLVs was observed in patients with MDD in the connections of the left temporal with occipital lobe (EO), the circuits of the frontal-temporal lobe, and the parietal-occipital lobe. The trends in FC involved in this study were not correlated with the level of depression.LimitationsThe study was limited due to the lack of further analysis of confounding factors and follow-up data. Future studies with large-sampled and long-term designs are needed to further explore the distinguishable features of EEG FC in individuals with MDD.

This study employs artificial neural networks (ANNs) to predict the structural compliance of randomly generated irregular geometries derived from Finite Element (FE) calculations. By imposing volume constraints, the scope of the study is confined to applying ANNs for learning from structural data generated by considering either multiple random walks of a circle or a set of randomly placed circles with allowed overlaps. Numerical results indicate that the learning outcomes of the former approach are more satisfactory than those of the latter. This suggests that the effectiveness of employing ANNs for predicting the structural compliance of irregular geometries is contingent upon how the random geometries are generated and the material volume ratio. The learning outcomes of irregular structures generated by the former approach with a higher volume ratio exhibit greater satisfaction due to a higher degree of structural connectivity.

Accurate monitoring of alpine wetland areas and scientific evaluation of alpine wetland restorability play important roles in revealing the changing mechanism of the ecological environment. However, because of the complexity and lack of spatial data, few studies on evaluation index system of restorability of alpine wetland considered wild animal habitat, such as habitat suitability index of black necked crane. Based on Landsat images of seven periods from 1990 to 2020, this study adopts the methods of spectral mixture analysis and change vector analysis to quantitatively demonstrate the variations and distribution patterns of alpine wetland ecosystem in the eastern edge of Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. The study focuses on determining the abundance of water, vegetation and soil, which the interannual variations represent as the shapes of ‘√’, mirror ‘N’ and normal ‘N’, respectively. In terms of natural ecological condition and human activity interference, we construct a comprehensive evaluation model of restorability of alpine wetland, separate the restorability district and construct the Bayesian network model to discuss the causal relationship between the restorability value and evaluation factor. Results show that the regions of alpine wetland in the study area changed most drastically from 1995 to 2000 and from 2000 to 2005. In addition, the total areas classified as suitable, relatively suitable and suitable for restoration account for 63.69 % of the study area, with a large potential for wetland restorability. Moreover, the prioritisation scheme of wetland restoration action includes the valley swamps of Heihe River in the middle, followed by the flat wetlands and grasslands in the south and lastly by uneven wetlands in the north.

In order to play the important role of safety culture in accident prevention, we use the method of safety culture improvement based on accident causation “2-4” model (24Model) to study the status quo of safety culture construction in a coal enterprise and put forward improvement measures. Firstly, the applicability of the safety culture level improvement method in our country under the vision of 24Model is clarified. Then, starting with the current situation of safety culture level and safety concepts, we carry out practical research. Finally, the improvement measures are put forward. The results show that the safety culture level of the enterprise is generally better than that of the domestic or the same industry with poor safety performance, and worse than that of the enterprise with good safety performance; the enterprise’s safety concepts involves 13 aspects of 32 elements; the first-line workers, monitors, professionals and management of the enterprise have a poor understanding of some elements, and only elements 3, 4, 6, 13 and 16 of these poorly understood elements are reflected in the enterprise’s safety concepts; fourteen improved safety concepts are proposed to improve the enterprise’s safety culture level.

Abstract Objective To identify the distinct profiles of work alienation among Chinese nurses, examine the demographic factors associated with profile memberships, and then explore the relationship between latent categories of work alienation and job embeddedness. Methods A cross-sectional survey of 523 nurses was conducted from July to August 2023. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was performed to identify distinct profiles of nurses based on three aspects: powerlessness, helplessness, and meaningfulness. A multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the predictors of profile membership. Hierarchical regression analysis was carried out to examine the association between profile memberships and job embeddedness. Results Three subgroups of work alienation of nurses were identified: 23.1%, 57.8%, and 19.1% in the low work alienation group (profile 1), the moderate work alienation group (profile 3), and the high work alienation group (profile 2), respectively. Nurses with college degrees were more likely to be grouped into moderate work alienation. Nurses who did not work night shifts were more likely to have low or moderate levels of work alienation. Nurses earning 2,000–3,000 and 3,001–5,000 yuan per month were likely to be in the low work alienation group. The different categories of work alienation significantly predicted job embeddedness among nurses (ΔR 2 = 0.103, p

Abstract The Li-S battery is a promising next-generation battery chemistry that offers high energy density and low cost. The Li-S battery has a unique chemistry with intermediate sulphur species readily solvated in electrolytes, and understanding their implications is important from both practical and fundamental perspectives. In this study, we utilise the solvation free energy of electrolytes as a metric to formulate solvation-property relationships in various electrolytes and investigate their impact on the solvated lithium polysulphides. We find that solvation free energy influences Li-S battery voltage profile, lithium polysulphide solubility, Li-S battery cyclability and the Li metal anode; weaker solvation leads to lower 1st plateau voltage, higher 2nd plateau voltage, lower lithium polysulphide solubility, and superior cyclability of Li-S full cells and Li metal anodes. We believe that relationships delineated in this study can guide the design of high-performance electrolytes for Li-S batteries.

Abstract The meticulous design of active sites and light absorbers holds the key to the development of high-performance photothermal catalysts for CO2 hydrogenation. Here, we report a nonmetallic plasmonic catalyst of Mo2N/MoO2-x nanosheets by integrating a localized surface plasmon resonance effect with two distinct types of active sites for CO2 hydrogenation. Leveraging the synergism of dual active sites, H2 and CO2 molecules can be simultaneously adsorbed and activated on N atom and O vacancy, respectively. Meanwhile, the plasmonic effect of this noble-metal-free catalyst signifies its promising ability to convert photon energy into localized heat. Consequently, Mo2N/MoO2-x nanosheets exhibit remarkable photothermal catalytic performance in reverse water-gas shift reaction. Under continuous full-spectrum light irradiation (3 W·cm−2) for a duration of 168 h, the nanosheets achieve a CO yield rate of 355 mmol·gcat−1·h−1 in a flow reactor with a selectivity exceeding 99%. This work offers valuable insights into the precise design of noble-metal-free active sites and the development of plasmonic catalysts for reducing carbon footprints.

Abstract Background Lipids are regulators of insulitis and β-cell death in type 1 diabetes development, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we investigated how the islet lipid composition and downstream signaling regulate β-cell death. Methods We performed lipidomics using three models of insulitis: human islets and EndoC-βH1 β cells treated with the pro-inflammatory cytokines interlukine-1β and interferon-γ, and islets from pre-diabetic non-obese mice. We also performed mass spectrometry and fluorescence imaging to determine the localization of lipids and enzyme in islets. RNAi, apoptotic assay, and qPCR were performed to determine the role of a specific factor in lipid-mediated cytokine signaling. Results Across all three models, lipidomic analyses showed a consistent increase of lysophosphatidylcholine species and phosphatidylcholines with polyunsaturated fatty acids and a reduction of triacylglycerol species. Imaging assays showed that phosphatidylcholines with polyunsaturated fatty acids and their hydrolyzing enzyme phospholipase PLA2G6 are enriched in islets. In downstream signaling, omega-3 fatty acids reduce cytokine-induced β-cell death by improving the expression of ADP-ribosylhydrolase ARH3. The mechanism involves omega-3 fatty acid-mediated reduction of the histone methylation polycomb complex PRC2 component Suz12, upregulating the expression of Arh3, which in turn decreases cell apoptosis. Conclusions Our data provide insights into the change of lipidomics landscape in β cells during insulitis and identify a protective mechanism by omega-3 fatty acids. Video Abstract

Over the past few decades, the Internet has rapidly diffused across China. The spread of the Internet has had a profound economic and social impact on Chinese rural areas. Existing research shows that Internet access significantly impacts agricultural production and improves smallholder farmers’ income. Beyond these, the Internet can affect other dimensions of social welfare. However, research about the impact of Internet access on dietary quality in rural China remains scarce. This study utilizes multi-period panel data from Fixed Observation Point in rural China from 2009 to 2015 to estimate the impact of Internet access on dietary quality and food consumption of rural households and conducts a causal analysis. Regression models with time and household fixed effects allow robust estimation while reducing potential issues of unobserved heterogeneity. The estimates show that Internet access has significantly increased rural household dietary quality (measured by the Chinese Diet Balance Index). Further research finds that Internet access has increased the consumption of animal products, such as aquatic and dairy products. We also examine the underlying mechanisms. Internet access improves dietary quality and food consumption mainly through increasing household income and food expenditure. These results encourage the promotion of Internet access as a valuable tool for nutritional improvements, especially in rural areas.

Abstract Optoelectronic properties of semiconductors are significantly modified by impurities at trace level. Oxygen, a prevalent impurity in organic semiconductors (OSCs), has long been considered charge-carrier traps, leading to mobility degradation and stability problems. However, this understanding relies on the conventional deoxygenation methods, by which oxygen residues in OSCs are inevitable. It implies that the current understanding is questionable. Here, we develop a non-destructive deoxygenation method (i.e., de-doping) for OSCs by a soft plasma treatment, and thus reveal that trace oxygen significantly pre-empties the donor-like traps in OSCs, which is the origin of p-type characteristics exhibited by the majority of these materials. This insight is completely opposite to the previously reported carrier trapping and can clarify some previously unexplained organic electronics phenomena. Furthermore, the de-doping results in the disappearance of p-type behaviors and significant increase of n-type properties, while re-doping (under light irradiation in O2) can controllably reverse the process. Benefiting from this, the key electronic characteristics (e.g., polarity, conductivity, threshold voltage, and mobility) can be precisely modulated in a nondestructive way, expanding the explorable property space for all known OSC materials.

Abstract General reductions in lubricant viscosities and increasing loads in machine components highlight the role of tribofilms in providing surface protection against scuffing. However, the relationship between the scuffing process and the growth and removal of tribofilm is not well understood. In this study, a multiphysics coupling model, which includes hydrodynamic lubrication, asperity contact, thermal effect, tribochemistry reaction, friction, and surface wear, was developed to capture the initiation of surface scuffing. Simulations and experiments for a piston ring and cylinder liner contact were conducted following a step-load sequence under different temperature conditions. The results show that high temperature and extreme load could induce the lubricant film collapse, which in turn triggers the breakdown of the tribofilm due to the significantly increased removal process. The failures of both lubricant film and tribofilm progress instantaneously in a coupling way, which finally leads to severe scuffing.

Cats with diabetic ketosis or ketoacidosis DK(A) require intensive glucose monitoring. The aim of this study was to assess the agreement between a portable blood glucose meter (PBGM) and a flash glucose monitoring system (FGMS; FreeStyle Libre 2.0 Abbott®) measuring interstitial glucose in cats with DK(A). Ten client-owned cats with naturally occurring DK(A) were prospectively enrolled. Glucose concentrations were assessed with both methods every 1–3 h until resolution of DK(A), and every 4–8 h thereafter. While the median FGMS measured glucose concentration (14.3 mmol/L) was significantly lower than the median PBGM measured glucose concentration (19 mmol/L) (p < 0.001), the overall correlation between the FGMS and PBGM was high (r = 0.88; p < 0.001). In the Parkes error grid analysis, 98.3% of measurements fell in zones A and B. Bland–Altman plot analysis demonstrated that in the low glycaemic range (BG < 5.5 mmol/L), 50% of FGMS measurements deviated more than ±0.83 mmol/L, and in the high glycaemic range (BG > 5.5 mmol/L), 81% of results deviated >15% from the PBGM measurements. There was significant inter-individual variation in the difference between glucose concentrations measured by the FGMS and PBGM (p < 0.001). In spite of being more easily tolerated and easier to use, currently this method cannot be recommended for routine monitoring of cats with DK(A).

Taste and odor (T&O) compounds have emerged as crucial parameters for assessing water quality. Therefore, identifying effective methodologies for the removal of these compounds is imperative. In this study, an effective approach utilizing laccase assisted by a micro-electric field was developed for the degradation of 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB). For this purpose, the optimal conditions for the laccase-catalyzed degradation of 2-MIB were determined, and they were pH 4.0, 25 °C, 150 rpm, 0.1 U/mL of laccase, and 200 ng/L of 2-MIB. Under these specified conditions, the degradation efficiency of 2-MIB was approximately 78% after a 4 h reaction period. Subsequently, the introduction of an electric field yielded a synergistic effect with the enzyme for 2-MIB degradation. At an electric current intensity of 0.04 A over a 4 h duration, the degradation efficiency increased to 90.78%. An analysis using SPME-GC/MS provided information on the degradation intermediates of 2-MIB resulting from laccase-catalyzed degradation, electrocatalytic degradation, and micro-electric-assisted laccase degradation. The potential degradation pathways of 2-MIB illustrated that these three methods result in common degradation products, such as capric aldehyde, nonylaldehyde, and 2-ethylhexanol, and their final products include 3-pentanone, acetone, and 2-butanone. This study provides an enzyme–electrochemical method for the efficient and rapid degradation and removal of 2-MIB. The strategy of laccase catalysis assisted by a micro-electric field has good potential for the removal of pollutants from the natural environment.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of developmental diseases characterized by social dysfunction and repetitive stereotype behaviors. Besides genetic mutations, environmental factors play important roles in the development of ASD. Valproic acid (VPA) is widely used for modeling environmental factor induced ASD in rodents. However, traditional VPA modeling is low-in-efficiency and the phenotypes often vary among different batches of experiments. To optimize this ASD-modeling method, we tested “two-hit” hypothesis by single or double exposure of VPA and poly:IC at the critical time points of embryonic and postnatal stage. The autistic-like behaviors of mice treated with two-hit schemes (embryonic VPA plus postnatal poly:IC, embryonic poly:IC plus postnatal VPA, embryonic VPA plus poly: IC, or postnatal VPA plus poly:IC) were compared with mice treated with traditional VPA protocol. The results showed that all single-hit and two-hit schemes produced core ASD phenotypes as VPA single treatment did. Only one group, namely, mice double-hit by VPA and poly:IC simultaneously at E12.5 showed severe impairment of social preference, social interaction and ultrasonic communication, as well as significant increase of grooming activity and anxiety-like behaviors, in comparation with mice treated with the traditional VPA protocol. These data demonstrated that embryonic two-hit of VPA and poly:IC is more efficient in producing ASD phenotypes in mice than the single-hit of VPA, indicating this two-hit scheme could be utilized for modeling environmental factors induced ASD.

High-grade gliomas (HGG) pose significant challenges in modern tumour therapy due to the distinct biological properties and limitations of the blood-brain barrier. This review discusses recent advancements in HGG treatment, particularly in the context of immunotherapy and cellular therapy. Initially, treatment strategies focus on targeting tumour cells guided by the molecular characteristics of various gliomas, encompassing chemotherapy, radiotherapy and targeted therapy for enhanced precision. Additionally, technological enhancements are augmenting traditional treatment modalities. Furthermore, immunotherapy, emphasising comprehensive tumour management, has gained widespread attention. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, vaccines and CAR-T cells exhibit promising efficacy against recurrent HGG. Moreover, emerging therapies such as tumour treating fields (TTFields) offer additional treatment avenues for patients with HGG. The combination of diverse treatments holds promise for improving the prognosis of HGG, particularly in cases of recurrence.

This study focuses on the ecological and environmental safety of Ta-pieh Mountain. Drought episodes can lead to ecological problems such as vegetation damage. Therefore, quantifying the response of vegetation to drought is essential for ecological management. The study utilized normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and precipitation datasets from 1999 to 2019 to derive seasonal NDVI and standardized precipitation index (SPI) data. Using Theil-Sen median trend analysis and Mann-Kendall significance test analysis, we initially examined the characteristics of vegetation and drought for the 21-year time series. SPI is used to investigate and assess the occurrence and severity of drought in the research region. Then, the strength and variability of cropland, woodland, and grassland drought resistance in the Ta-pieh Mountains were discussed using the ratio of coefficient of variation (RCV). Finally, the cross-spectrum was used to calculate the vegetation lag time to drought. The study found that NDVI increased across all seasons, while SPI increased in spring and autumn and decreased in summer and winter. The spring drought had the most significant impact on vegetation. Cropland showed the highest improvement in drought tolerance and woodland showed the highest drought tolerance. The lagged response periods of cropland, woodlands, and grassland to drought were 1.62 months, 8.94 months, and 2.49 months, respectively. These findings provide a scientific basis for the management and preservation of the ecology of the Ta-pieh Mountains. HIGHLIGHTS Ecological function of the Ta-pieh Mountain is important but receives less attention.; Study on the effect of drought on vegetation in different seasons.; Study on the change of drought resistance of vegetation.; The phase spectrum in cross-spectrum analysis was used to calculate the lagged response time of vegetation and drought.;

Abstract Background Dietary management has been recommended as the cornerstone of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) management. However, low adherence to dietary recommendations has been identified in both developed and developing countries. Previous research suggests that inhibitory control influences eating behavior, but few studies have been conducted in patients with T2DM. Thus, we aimed to explore the relationship between inhibitory control and dietary adherence among patients with T2DM. Methods A total of 393 patients with T2DM from the endocrinology departments of three tertiary hospitals in China were enrolled by the convenience sampling method. Dietary adherence was measured by the Dietary Behavior Adherence Scale for Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Additionally, inhibitory control was subjectively measured by the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult version (BRIEF-A) and objectively assessed by the stop signal task (SST) and the Stroop task. The relationship between inhibitory control and dietary adherence was analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis and hierarchical regression analysis. Results Subjectively measured inhibitory control had a significant predictive effect for dietary adherence after controlling for demographic and clinical variables. Adding the inhibitory control variable to the regression equation resulted in the following values: overall model F (19, 373) = 7.096, p

Objective: To broaden the selection of strains for fermenting fresh rice noodle and develop the application of different strains in fresh rice noodle （FRN）. Methods: With gelatinization, texture, cooking stretching, electronic nose, electronic tongue and sensory evaluation as evaluation indexes, and L. fermentum FR-21, A. orientalis AO-21, L. plantarum YI-Y2013 and blank samples as influencing factors, the eating quality of FRN fermented by different strains was analyzed. Results: L. fermentum FR-21 fermentation improved the gelatinization indexes of indica rice flour, such as valley viscosity, disintegration value, final viscosity and retrogradation value, and reduced the texture viscosity of FRN, and improved its sensory hardness and typical fermented flavor （smell 4.0 points）. The FRN fermented by A. orientalis AO-21 had the lowest cooking loss （1.63%）, high texture hardness and chewability, relatively strong aftertaste, and obvious acidic odor （smell 3.7 points）. L. plantarum YI-Y2013 was similar to L. fermentum FR-21 in gelatinization index and textural viscosity, such as valley viscosity, disintegration value, final viscosity and retrogradation value （P＜0.05）, while the FRN fermented by L. plantarum YI-Y2013 had the highest extensibility （48.83±1.00）, and the smell was fragrant and pure （smell 4.6 points）. Conclusion: The controlled fermentation of three different strains can make FRN present different taste qualities, and rice noodles with different flavor qualities can be produced by using their fermentation characteristics.

Abstract The lack of available protons severely lowers the activity of alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction process than that in acids, which can be efficiently accelerated by tuning the coverage and chemical environment of protons on catalyst surface. However, the cycling of active sites by proton transfer is largely dependent on the utilization of noble metal catalysts because of the appealing electronic interaction between noble metal atoms and protons. Herein, an all-non-noble W/WO2 metallic heterostructure serving as an efficient solid-acid catalyst exhibits remarkable hydrogen evolution reaction performance with an ultra-low overpotential of −35 mV at −10 mA/cm2 and a small Tafel slope (−34 mV/dec), as well as long-term durability of hydrogen production (>50 h) at current densities of −10 and −50 mA/cm2 in alkaline electrolyte. Multiple in situ and ex situ spectroscopy characterizations combining with first-principle density functional theory calculations discover that a dynamic proton-concentrated surface can be constructed on W/WO2 solid-acid catalyst under ultra-low overpotentials, which enables W/WO2 catalyzing alkaline hydrogen production to follow a kinetically fast Volmer-Tafel pathway with two neighboring protons recombining into a hydrogen molecule. Our strategy of solid-acid catalyst and utilization of multiple spectroscopy characterizations may provide an interesting route for designing advanced all-non-noble catalytic system towards boosting hydrogen evolution reaction performance in alkaline electrolyte.

AlGaN/GaN high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) are widely used in high-frequency and high-power applications owing to the high two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) concentration. However, the microscopic origin of the 2DEG remains unclear. This hinders the development of device fabrication technologies, such as threshold voltage modulation, current collapse suppression, and 2DEG concentration enhancement technologies, as well as AlGaN/GaN sensors with very high sensitivity to polar liquids. To clarify the 2DEG microscopic origin, we studied the effects of gas molecules on AlGaN/GaN surfaces through various experiments and first-principles calculations. The results indicated that the adsorption of gas molecules on the AlGaN/GaN surface is an important phenomenon, clarifying the microscopic origin of the 2DEG. This study elucidates the properties of AlGaN/GaN heterojunctions and promotes the development of new fabrication technologies for AlGaN/GaN devices.

To effectively reveal the disaster-causing mechanism between water stress and yield loss under different drought combinations during multiple growth periods of winter wheat, based on biennial wheat drought experiments, a crop growth analysis method was used to quantitatively identify and assess wheat yield loss sensitivity. The results showed that there was a significant negative correlation between the total dry matter relative growth rate (RGR) of wheat and the daily average degree of drought stress. The average determination coefficients of logarithmic fitting for 2017 and 2018 were 0.7935 and 0.7683, respectively. Wheat dry matter accumulation differed under the different drought combination scenarios. The yield loss sensitivity response relationship between the decrease in the RGR of wheat dry matter (relative to no drought stress) and the daily average degree of drought stress could be quantitatively identified by an S-shaped curve, and the 2017 and 2018 average coefficients of determination R2 were 0.859 and 0.849, respectively. Mild drought stress at the tillering stage stimulates adaptability and has little effect on yield. The soil water content (SWC) can be controlled to 65–75% of the field water holding capacity; the SWC at the jointing and booting stage can be controlled to be higher than the field water holding capacity of 55%. The SWC was maintained at a level higher than 75% of the field water holding capacity during the heading and flowering stages and the grain-filling and milky stages to achieve a harmonization of yields and water savings. In addition, during the production process, continuous severe drought during the jointing and booting stage and the heading and flowering stage should be avoided. This study elucidates the response relationship between drought intensity and drought-induced losses from the perspective of physical genesis, provides effective irrigation guidance for regional wheat planting, lays the foundation for the construction of quantitative agricultural drought loss risk curves, and provides technical support for predicting the trend of yield losses in wheat under different drought stresses.

Abstract Composited cable terminals are critical for reliable power delivery of traditional and traction power supply systems. During its operation, the cable terminal continually undergoes complex circumstances where humidity, temperature, field strength, mechanical stress and other factors continuously change at different levels. In extreme cases, defects or even failures may occur in the cable terminals, leading to catastrophic accidents. This makes the condition monitoring and defect detection of composited cable terminals become an imperative need for the power industry. The “state‐of‐the‐art” technology of cable terminal condition assessment is focussed and a systematic review of the current research progress of cable terminal condition assessment from the operation circumstances to failure mechanisms is provided. It covers both online/offline condition monitoring methods and defects detection approaches. In addition, challenges and future research directions for cable terminal condition assessment are also addressed. It is concluded that the non‐destructive and non‐intrusive methods like terahertz imaging and ultrasonic testing, and multi‐source information fusion methods as well as the digital twin technology have been gaining popularity for cable terminal defect inspection. It is expected the presented work can provide a global field of vision for further advancement of both scholars and industrial engineers in this field.

Abstract The solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) plays crucial roles for the reversible operation of lithium metal batteries. However, fundamental understanding of the mechanisms of SEI formation and evolution is still limited. Herein, we develop a depth-sensitive plasmon-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (DS-PERS) method to enable in-situ and nondestructive characterization of the nanostructure and chemistry of SEI, based on synergistic enhancements of localized surface plasmons from nanostructured Cu, shell-isolated Au nanoparticles and Li deposits at different depths. We monitor the sequential formation of SEI in both ether-based and carbonate-based dual-salt electrolytes on a Cu current collector and then on freshly deposited Li, with dramatic chemical reconstruction. The molecular-level insights from the DS-PERS study unravel the profound influences of Li in modifying SEI formation and in turn the roles of SEI in regulating the Li-ion desolvation and the subsequent Li deposition at SEI-coupled interfaces. Last, we develop a cycling protocol that promotes a favorable direct SEI formation route, which significantly enhances the performance of anode-free Li metal batteries.

The augmented prevalence of Se (Se) pollution can be attributed to various human activities, such as mining, coal combustion, oil extraction and refining, and agricultural irrigation. Although Se is vital for animals, humans, and microorganisms, excessive concentrations of this element can give rise to potential hazards. Consequently, numerous approaches have been devised to mitigate Se pollution, encompassing physicochemical techniques and bioremediation. The recognition of Se volatilization as a potential strategy for mitigating Se pollution in contaminated environments is underscored in this review. This study delves into the volatilization mechanisms in various organisms, including plants, microalgae, and microorganisms. By assessing the efficacy of Se removal and identifying the rate-limiting steps associated with volatilization, this paper provides insightful recommendations for Se mitigation. Constructed wetlands are a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative in the treatment of Se volatilization. The fate, behavior, bioavailability, and toxicity of Se within complex environmental systems are comprehensively reviewed. This knowledge forms the basis for developing management plans that aimed at mitigating Se contamination in wetlands and protecting the associated ecosystems.

BackgroundMajor Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a pervasive mental health issue with significant diagnostic challenges. Electroencephalography (EEG) offers a non-invasive window into the neural dynamics associated with MDD, yet the diagnostic efficacy is contingent upon the appropriate selection of EEG features and brain regions.MethodsIn this study, resting-state EEG signals from both eyes-closed and eyes-open conditions were analyzed. We examined band power across various brain regions, assessed the asymmetry of band power between the hemispheres, and integrated these features with clinical characteristics of MDD into a diagnostic regression model.ResultsRegression analysis found significant predictors of MDD to be beta2 (16–24 Hz) power in the Prefrontal Cortex (PFC) with eyes open (B = 20.092, p = 0.011), beta3 (24–40 Hz) power in the Medial Occipital Cortex (MOC) (B = −12.050, p

Background. Diabetic keratopathy (DK) poses a significant challenge in diabetes mellitus, yet its molecular pathways and effective treatments remain elusive. The aim of our research was to explore the pyroptosis-related genes in the corneal epithelium of the streptozocin-induced diabetic rats. Methods. After sixteen weeks of streptozocin intraperitoneal injection, corneal epithelium from three diabetic rats and three normal groups underwent whole-transcriptome sequencing. An integrated bioinformatics pipeline, including differentially expressed gene (DEG) identification, enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, coexpression, drug prediction, and immune deconvolution analyses, identified hub genes and key drivers in DK pathogenesis. These hub genes were subsequently validated in vivo through RT-qPCR. Results. A total of 459 DEGs were screened out from the diabetic group and nondiabetic controls. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis highlighted significant enrichment of the NOD-like receptor, Toll-like receptor, and NF-kappa B signaling pathways. Intersection of DEGs and pyroptosis-related datasets showed 33 differentially expressed pyroptosis-related genes (DEPRGs) associated with pathways such as IL-17, NOD-like receptor, TNF, and Toll-like receptor signaling. A competing endogenous RNA network comprising 16 DEPRGs, 22 lncRNAs, 13 miRNAs, and 3 circRNAs was constructed. After PPI network, five hub genes (Nfkb1, Casp8, Traf6, Ptgs2, and Il18) were identified as upregulated in the diabetic group, and their expression was validated by RT-qPCR in streptozocin-induced rats. Immune infiltration characterization showed that diabetic corneas owned a higher proportion of resting mast cells, activated NK cells, and memory-resting CD4 T cells. Finally, several small compounds including all-trans-retinoic acid, Chaihu Shugan San, dexamethasone, and resveratrol were suggested as potential therapies targeting these hub genes for DK. Conclusions. The identified and validated hub genes, Nfkb1, Casp8, Traf6, Ptgs2, and Il18, may play crucial roles in DK pathogenesis and serve as therapeutic targets.