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Although high-temperature solid-phase methods have become the dominant route for manufacturing layered oxide cathode materials in industry, severe Li+/Ni2+ cation mixing problems caused by high-temperature processes still prevent the realization of high-performance lithium-ion batteries. Herein, a wet chemical lithiation method by stepwise lithium intercalation to reduce and shorten the sintering temperature and time of the post-treatment process is proposed. Li 0.6 H x Ni 0.52 Co 0.19 Mn 0.29 O 2 stepwise products with lithiation efficiencies exceeding 60% were obtained at reaction temperatures below 200 °C. The as-prepared LiNi 0.52 Co 0.19 Mn 0.29 O 2 (HT-52-S) exhibits low Li+/Ni2+ cation mixing and good comprehensive electrochemical performance after subsequent heat treatment to complete all lithiation. Compared with LiNi 0.52 Co 0.19 Mn 0.29 O 2 (SS-52) prepared by the conventional high-temperature solid-phase method, the Li+/Ni2+ cation mixing of HT-52-S was relatively reduced by 57.9%, and the capacity retention after 100 cycles at 1 C was relatively improved by 22.1%. We believe that this work can serve as a useful reference to develop manufacturing processes for high-performance layered oxide cathode materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND RESULTS CONCLUSIONS The total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB‐N) is the main indicator for evaluating the freshness of fish meal, and accurate detection and monitoring of TVB‐N is of great significance for the health of animals and humans. Here, to realize fast and accurate identification of TVB‐N, in this article, a self‐developed electronic nose (e‐nose) was used, and the mapping relationship between the gas sensor response characteristic information and TVB‐N value was established to complete the freshness detection.The TVB‐N variation curve was decomposed into seven subsequences with different frequency scales by means of variational mode decomposition (VMD). Each subsequence was modelled using different long short‐term memory (LSTM) models, and finally, the final TVB‐N prediction result was obtained by adding the prediction results based on different frequency components. To improve the performance of the LSTM, the sparrow search algorithm (SSA) was used to optimize the number of hidden units, learning rate and regularization coefficient of LSTM. The prediction results indicated that the high accuracy was obtained by the VMD‐LSTM model optimized by SSA in predicting TVB‐N. The coefficient of determination (R2), the root‐mean‐squared error (RMSE) and relative standard deviation (RSD) between the predicted value and the actual value of TVBN were 0.91, 0.115 and 6.39%, respectively.This method improves the performance of e‐nose in detecting the freshness of fish meal and provides a reference for the quality detection of e‐nose in other materials. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this contribution, a series of unsymmetric α‐diimine nickel complexes are synthesized. One side of these nickel complexes is the 2,4‐dimethyl‐6‐diphenylmethylaniline unit, and the steric effects are tuned by changing another aniline unit. These nickel complexes have high catalytic activities in ethylene (>106 g mol−1 h−1) and 1‐octene (104–105 g mol−1 h−1) polymerization, generating high‐molecular‐weight polyolefins (Mn > 104 g mol−1) with tunable branching densities (59–91/1000C). Steric effects and polymerization temperature can significantly affect the catalytic performance of the catalyst. Most importantly, catalysts with different steric hindrances have different temperature sensitivity. In general, catalysts with larger steric hindrances are more sensitive to temperature. This may be due to the fact that the rotation of some chemical bonds is blocked at low temperatures due to the larger volume of the substituents, resulting in more significant temperature sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adverse experiences in early life can induce maladaptive responses to acute stress in later life. Chronic social isolation during adolescence is an early life adversity that can precipitate stress‐related psychiatric disorders. We found that male mice after 8 weeks of adolescent social isolation (SI) have markedly increased aggression after being exposed to 2 h of restraint stress (RS), which was accompanied by a significant increase of AMPA receptor‐ and NMDA receptor‐mediated synaptic transmission in prefrontal cortex (PFC) pyramidal neurons of SIRS males. Compared to group‐housed counterparts, SIRS males exhibited a significantly decreased level of histone H3 acetylation in PFC. Systemic administration of class I histone deacetylase inhibitors, romidepsin or MS‐275, ameliorated the aggressive behaviour, as well as general social interaction deficits, of SIRS males. Electrophysiological recordings also found normalization of PFC glutamatergic currents by romidepsin treatment of SIRS male mice. These results revealed an epigenetic mechanism and intervention avenue for aggression induced by chronic social isolation. Key points: Adolescent chronic social isolation can precipitate stress‐related psychiatric disorders.A significant increase of glutamatergic transmission is found in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of socially isolated male mice exposed to an acute stress (SIRS).Treatment with class I histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors ameliorates the aggressive behaviour and social interaction deficits of SIRS males, and normalizes glutamatergic currents in PFC neurons.It provides an epigenetic mechanism and intervention avenue for aberrant stress responses induced by chronic social isolation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient detection of chemical oxygen demand (COD) is crucial for effective pollution prevention. Traditional Cu‐based electrodes, widely utilized for COD sensors suffer from issues related to low activity and stability. This study introduced a novel approach by employing a copper foam‐supported metal‐organic frameworks (Cu‐MOF), synthesized through a solvothermal method, which is subsequently pyrolyzed to yield a carbon‐capsulated CuOx/Cu foam electrode. Cyclic voltammetry analysis demonstrated that the carbon‐capsulated CuOx/Cu foam electrode exhibited superior redox activity, notably generating an increased amount of Cu(III) species. This enhancement significantly contributed to the electrocatalytic oxidation of organic compounds. The developed electrode demonstrated a wide linear detection range of 5–600 ppm, with a low detection limit of 0.96 ppm (S/N=3) for COD sensing. Notably, the sensor exhibited excellent anti‐interference capabilities, desirable reproducibility, and stability. The proposed method was successfully applied to determine COD in real water samples. Comparative analysis with the standard potassium dichromate method revealed high accuracy and a low relative error (2.89 %–6.72 %). This innovative approach holds promise for rapid and accurate COD detection, presenting a valuable contribution to environmental monitoring and water quality assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in pediatric patients, leading to long-term physical, cognitive, and psychological impairments. Blood lactate and fibrinogen levels have emerged as potential biomarkers associated with tissue hypoperfusion and coagulation dysfunction, respectively. However, limited research has specifically focused on the significance of these biomarkers in pediatric TBI. This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of blood lactate and fibrinogen levels upon admission in pediatric patients with traumatic brain injury. Methods: The medical records of 80 children with a traumatic brain injury who were admitted from January 2017 to January 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The two groups were compared according to whether the blood lactate in the admission arterial blood gas increased and the fibrinogen content in the coagulation function decreased. The clinical data of the children in the two groups were different, and then they were divided into a good prognosis group and a poor prognosis group according to the GOS prognostic score, and the differences in the clinical indicators of the two groups were compared. Results: Among the 80 patients, 33 had elevated blood lactate levels, 34 had decreased fibrinogen levels, and 29 had an unfavorable outcome (GOS < 4). Compared to the normal blood lactate group, there were no statistically significant differences in age, sex ratio, or platelet count in the elevated blood lactate group (P > 0.05). However, the elevated blood lactate group had lower Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores upon admission, higher blood lactate levels, lower fibrinogen levels, longer hospital stay, lower GOS scores, and a higher proportion of GOS < 4 (P < 0.05). Compared to the normal fibrinogen group, there were no statistically significant differences in age, sex ratio, or platelet count in the decreased fibrinogen group (P > 0.05). However, the decreased fibrinogen group had lower GCS scores upon admission, higher blood lactate levels, lower fibrinogen levels, longer hospital stays, lower GOS scores, and a higher proportion of GOS < 4 (P < 0.05). Compared to the favorable outcome group, there were no statistically significant differences in age, sex ratio, or platelet count in the unfavorable outcome group (P > 0.05). However, the unfavorable outcome group had lower GCS scores upon admission, higher blood lactate levels, lower fibrinogen levels, longer hospital stays, a higher incidence of pulmonary infection, a higher incidence of stress ulcers, and lower GOS scores (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The levels of blood lactate and fibrinogen may represent the severity of children with traumatic brain injury and may be risk factors for poor prognosis of children with traumatic brain injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanoluminescent materials, which are capable of converting some ignored mechanical stimuli like friction, pressure, and distortion into useful photons, are gathering increasing attention nowadays, especially considering that a new round of energy crisis is sweeping across the globe. However, the wavelength of mechanoluminescence (ML) reported so far overlaps seriously with the solar spectrum, limiting the practical applications of mechanoluminescent materials to some extent. Here, we report the ultraviolet-C (UVC) ML from NaYF4:Pr3+ with the central wavelength at ∼250 nm, which is one of the shortest wavelengths for ML and is ascribed to the 1S0 → 3F4 transition of Pr3+. After being charged by x rays, NaYF4:Pr3+ is able to emit ML under the stimulation of external stress. The presence of UVC ML has been confirmed by both a spectrometer and a solar-blind camera. We confirm that the UVC ML belongs to the trap-controlled ML via thermoluminescence and related trap-filling-emptying measurements. With the aid of the density functional theory, we discuss the possible mechanism of the UVC ML from NaYF4:Pr3+. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shale gas exploration has achieved global success in marine shales. This study analysed geochemical, mineralogical, porosity, permeability and gas‐bearing parameters of organic‐rich shales in the Permian Wujiaping Formation in the Sichuan Basin. A comprehensive comparison was conducted with the Longtan Formation transitional shales and typical commercially developed marine shales. The results showed that: (1) siliceous shale within the Wujiaping Formation exhibits total organic carbon content ranging from 0.60% to 9.53% (average 4.45%) and vitrinite reflectance (Ro) ranging from 1.83% to 2.14% (average 1.98%), indicating an overmature stage of hydrocarbon generation. Porosity varies from 0.48% to 11.8% (average 4.94%), with an average content of 51.4% brittle minerals (quartz+calcite+dolomite) and calculating gas content exceeding 3 m3/t based on logging data. Effective sealing is achieved by the overlying carbonate of the Changxing Formation and the underlying carbonate of the Maokou Formation. (2) The primary storage space of the siliceous shale in the Wujiaping Formation encompasses diverse organic matter pores, clay mineral pores and microfractures. The porosity and permeability of the Wujiaping Formation marine shale ranges from 0.48% to 11.8% and 0.0053 to 0.8450 mD. Total gas content was estimated between 3 to 12 m3/t averaging 6 m3/t. (3) By comparing Permian Wujiaping Formation shales with Longtan Formation transitional shales, Wufeng Formation‐Longmaxi Formation shales and the typical North American marine gas shales (such as Barnett, Ohio, Antrim, New Albany, etc.), we conclude that marine siliceous shales within the Wujiaping Formation exhibit enrichment conditions comparable to established marine shales and superior to Permian transitional shales. The favourable upper and lower seals of the Wujiaping Formation resemble those of the Barnett shale gas reservoirs. In conclusion, the marine shale in Wujiaping Formation holds potential for substantial shale gas reservoirs and is poised for strategic exploration and development breakthroughs in the northeast and east Sichuan Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of information networks, the entities from different network domains interact with each other more and more frequently. Therefore, identity management and authentication are essential in cross-domain setting. The traditional Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) architecture has some problems, including single point of failure, inefficient certificate revocation status management and also lack of privacy protection, which cannot meet the demand of cross-domain identity authentication. Blockchain is suitable for multi-participant collaboration in multi-trust domain scenarios. In this paper, a cross-domain certificate management scheme CD-BCM based on the consortium blockchain is proposed. For the issue of Certificate Authority's single point of failure, we design a multi-signature algorithm. In addition, we propose a unified structure for batch certificates verification and conversion, which improve the efficiency of erroneous certificate identification. Finally, by comparing with current related schemes, our scheme achieves good functionality and scalability in the scenario of cross-domain certificate management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, we assessed mortality after major bleeding events in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients taking four direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). Drawing data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database between 2016 and 2019, we focused on AF patients on DOACs who had major bleeding episodes. Using propensity score stabilized weighting, we established four comparable pseudo-DOAC groups. Among 2770 patients (460 dabigatran, 1322 rivaroxaban, 548 apixaban, 440 edoxaban), 85.3% were prescribed low-dose regimens. The 7-day mortality rate was 9.0%, surging to 16.0% by the 30th day. Compared with dabigatran, there was a distinct divergence in 7-day mortality of factor Xa inhibitors (p = 0.012), with hazard ratios of 1.83 (95% CI 1.11–3.00, p = 0.017) for rivaroxaban, 2.13 (95% CI 1.23–3.66, p = 0.007) for apixaban, and 2.41 (95% CI 1.39–4.19, p = 0.002) for edoxaban. This pattern remained consistent when analyzing the subgroup that received lower dosages of DOACs. In conclusion, factor Xa inhibitors were associated with a significantly higher risk of 7-day mortality following major bleeding events than dabigatran among AF patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic water splitting, a process aimed at hydrogen production, is considered a pivotal clean energy sources to achieve environmental friendliness and high energy efficiency in the future. The crux of achieving this objective lies in the design of stable and efficient catalysts. Herein, we proposed a novel type-II band alignment GaSe/YAlS 3 van der Waals heterostructure with robust stability for photocatalytic water splitting. The intrinsic electric field of YAlS 3 monolayer can break the requirement of band gap (>1.23 eV) in traditional photocatalytic water splitting theory and significantly enhancing the utilization of solar energy. Encouragingly, compared to individual monolayers GaSe or YAlS 3 , the optical absorption coefficients of the GaSe/YAlS 3 heterostructure are significantly improved and the corrected solar-to-hydrogen (STH) efficiency is improved by 406% and 132%, respectively, reaching an impressive 29.73% efficiency. Furthermore, the heterostructure demonstrates exceptional overall water splitting performance across a broad pH range and maintains a consistently high STH efficiency (25.41%∼34.71%) under a wide range biaxial strain (−6%–5%). In addition, the designed GaSe/YAlS 3 heterostructure showcases enhanced absorption of visible as well as partial absorption of infrared light for photocatalytic water splitting. These compelling findings unequivocally establish GaSe/YAlS 3 heterostructure as an excellent and promising candidate for photocatalytic water splitting. [Display omitted] • The GaSe/YAlS 3 heterostructure is a stable type-II van der Waals semiconductor with large intrinsic electric field. • The GaSe/YAlS 3 heterostructure has a high STH efficiency of 29.73% and can be further enhanced by biaxial tensile strain. • The optical absorption intensity of GaSe/YAlS 3 heterostructure has greatly enhanced in infrared and visible light range. • The GaSe/YAlS 3 heterostructure is a promising water-splitting photocatalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing works in the optimization of five-axis machining mainly focus on the efficiency, precision, or dynamic performance of the machine tools, while the performance of other equipment which assists the machining process has not been considered. This paper takes the robot assisted supporting machining of thin-walled blades as the research objective and proposes an axial-sensitivity-reduction based five-axis toolpath re-scheduling method for facilitating the collaborative support machining with a machine-tool and a robot. The input of the method is lenient, merely including the original toolpath and the workpiece point-cloud model. The output of the method is the re-scheduled toolpath which requires lower motion ability of the assisted support equipment. This is realized by the following approaches. First, an axial sensitivity concept is defined, which quantificationally reflects the influence extent of the machine-tool axis motion on the assisted supporter motion, thus the most sensitive axis which affects the assisted process maximally can be identified. Then, an optimal-partition dual-domain-assisted-fitting method is provided to reconstruct the parameterized geometrical model of blades according to the point-cloud model, thus the multi-value property of the blades which troubles the surface construction is solved. After that, a sensitive-axis-calming bidirectional-tangent-bug-searching method is proposed to re-schedule the toolpath of five-axis machining, thus reducing the sensitivity of the most-sensitive axis. The whole method is universal, because a general cutter model is used and the cutter-contact point keeps invariant after re-scheduling. The correctness and effectiveness of the proposed method are verified by illustration machining tests of a steam turbine blade using an AB-type five-axis machine tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc batteries hold promise for grid‐scale energy storage due to their safety and low cost. A key challenge for the field is identifying cathode materials that can undergo reversible redox reactions at the extreme potentials required for realizing high energy density devices. While organic materials have been extensively explored as cathode materials due to their structural tunability and eco‐friendliness, most reported zinc‐organic batteries exhibit a voltage lower than 1.2 V. In this report, by employing rational molecular design and synthesis, computational analysis, and electrochemical evaluation, the well‐studied neutral p‐type N‐centered is redesigned, triphenylamine organic cathode by replacing three phenyl rings with the smallest aromatic system – cationic cyclopropenium. This results in a novel class of cathode materials with simultaneously enhanced potential, capacity, and stability. The resultant full battery exhibits a high discharge voltage of 1.7 V and an outstanding capacity retention of 95% after 10000 cycles at a discharge capacity of 157.5 mAh g−1cation (103.9 mAh g−1salt). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports the synthesis and structural characterization of a series of novel acetamide-derived compounds containing a methylsulfonyl unit. The in vitro antibacterial activity results demonstrated that compound 2-((4-fluorophenyl)sulfonyl)-N-(4-(methylsulfonyl)phenyl)acetamide (6b) exhibited superior antibacterial activities against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicolaby (Xoc), Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), and Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri (Xac) at 100 μg/mL concentration, with the inhibition rates of 86.24%, 81.59%, and 75.65%, respectively, compared to Bismerthiazol and Thiodiazole copper. Meanwhile, the in vitro antifungal activities of all target compounds were found to be lower against Mucor fragilis (M. fragilis), Mucor bainieri (M. bainieri), and Trichoderma atroviride (T. atroviride) at 50 μg/mL concentration, with the inhibition rates of 0–45.21%, 0–30.24%, and 0–12.65%, respectively, compared to Carbendazim. Moreover, bioassay results of the target compounds against prostate cancer (PC3), hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2), and leukemia (K562) cells at 10 μM concentration demonstrated that, compared to 5-fluorouracil, compound 2-((4-fluorophenyl)thio)-N-(4-(methylsulfonyl)phenyl)acetamide (4c) illustrated obvious antitumor activity (56.87%) against K562. This work first highlights the effect of the modification of the acetamide-derived compounds bearing a methylsulfonyl unit on the bioactivity evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy of mandibular advancement device (MAD) for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and explore the effect of different positions on MAD for OSA. The Embase, PubMed, Medline, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for relevant studies evaluating the effect of MAD on the treatment of OSA from database inception to November 2022. The Bayesian random-effects mode was used to calculate the pooled outcome. Subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis were applied to investigate the heterogeneity. A total of 6 studies enrolling 643 patients were eligible for further analysis. MAD treatment led to improvements in total apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) for both positional OSA(POSA) and Non-POSA groups, but there was no significant difference in the effect of MAD on Non-POSA and POSA (MD = −1.46,95%CI [-4.89,1.97], P = 0.40). In the supine position, AHI improvement after MAD treatment in POSA group was more than that in Non-POSA group by 15 events/hour in average (MD = 14.82, 95%CI [11.43,18.22], P＜0.00001), while in the non-supine position, the change of AHI in Non-POSA group was significantly better than that in POSA group by approximately 8 events/hour (MD = −7.55,95%CI[-10.73,-4.38],p < 0.00001). MAD is more suitable for POSA compared to Non-POSA in patients with habitual sleep in the supine or supine predominant position. While for patients with habitual sleep in the non-supine position, MAD is an effective treatment option for Non-POSA. • MAD treatment led to improvements in total AHI for both POSA and Non-POSA patients. • MAD is more suitable for POSA in patients with habitual sleep in the supine or supine predominant position. • For patients with habitual sleep in the non-supine position, MAD is an effective treatment option for Non-POSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The HLA‐DRB1*16:76 allele differs from HLA‐DRB1*16:02:01 by one nucleotide substitution (A > G) at position 37 in exon 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated teacher emotions and individual students' engagement in real-time classrooms and considered the role of teachers' involvement level. The sample included 20 teachers in Taiwanese public primary schools and four target students for each teacher (80 target students in all). Teachers reported their own emotions and each student's engagement at the end of each lesson for a calendar week (n ti = 249). T-tests showed that teacher-student relationships are a reflection of teachers being relatively more involved with students they had both close and conflictual relationships with. For students with whom the teacher was relatively more involved, multilevel structural equation models (MSEM) showed they were more engaged in lessons and had a stronger effect on teachers' positive and negative emotions. This study expands the understanding of teacher-student dyads in the real-time classroom by demonstrating the effect of individual students' engagement on teachers' positive and negative emotions by taking teachers' involvement levels into consideration. • Four target students were selected according to teachers' past involvement level. • Higher teacher involvement is associated with a closer teacher-student relationship. • Higher teacher involvement is associated with a more conflictual relationship. • Teacher involvement level predicts perceived student engagement level. • Relationships between involvement and student engagement predict teacher emotions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper evaluates a three-dimensional scene construction algorithm that assigns CALIPSO-observed profiles to receiving pixels in MODIS imagery through spectral radiance matching (SRM), so that a limited number of vertically resolved aerosol observations can be expanded into a regionally continuous three-dimensional aerosol structure. The SRM algorithm was tested using moderate resolution imaging spectro-radiometer (MODIS) and cloud-aerosol lidar and infrared pathfinder satellite observation (CALIPSO) data for the period of April 10–25, 2015. First, the spectral radiance channel and the surface reflectance channel were selected for combination tests to select the best channel combination 01-04-07-26 for the application of SRM algorithm in the field of aerosol three-dimensional reconstruction. The average aerosol matching rate for this channel combination can reach 90.57%, 81.64%, 78.6%, 74.12%, and 65.96% at extended distances of 5, 20, 30, 50, and 100 km, respectively. In addition, the combination of the average correct match rate and the reconstructed aerosol structure revealed that the most suitable extension distance is up to 100 km. Then, for the reconstruction profile validation, lidar sites under four weather conditions (clean sky, aerosol loading, thin clouds, and thick clouds) were selected for validation. The comparison results reveal that the average relative errors are about 30%, 60%, 30%–60%, and 70% for these four conditions, respectively. Overall, the average relative error of the reconstructed profiles within 100 km of the orbital track of CALIPSO (except under thick cloud conditions) is less than 60%, which is within a reasonable error envelop. There are also some limitations that can be improved later by adding more constraints: 1) it is difficult to reconstruct some short-time, small-scale aerosol or cloud features; 2) it is difficult to reconstruct some hierarchical structures under thick clouds due to signal attenuation caused by thick clouds; 3) there is an underestimation of the attenuated backscatter coefficient under clouds. Finally, for aerosol optical depth (AOD), the SRM algorithm largely underestimates AOD. The reconstructed AOD is in good agreement with aerosol robotic network (AERONET), with R 2 = 0.8231 after removal of outliers. [Display omitted] • The average relative error of the 3D reconstructed profiles is between 30% and 70%. • Adding layer information can effectively enhance the reconstruction. • The reconstructed AOD is in good agreement with AeroNet observations, R 2 = 0.8231. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advancements in two-dimensional materials, particularly MXenes, have spurred the development of innovative composites through their integration with natural polymers such as sodium alginate (SA). Mxenes exhibit a broad specific surface area, excellent electrical conductivity, and an abundance of surface terminations, which can be combined with SA to maximize the synergistic effect of the materials. This article provides a comprehensive review of state-of-the-art techniques in the fabrication of SA/MXene composites, analyzing the resulting structural and functional enhancements with a specific focus on advancing the design of these composites for practical applications. A detailed exploration of SA/MXene composites is provided, highlighting their utility in various sectors, such as wearable electronics, wastewater treatment, biomedical applications, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. The review identifies the unique advantages conferred by incorporating MXene in these composites, examines the current challenges, and proposes future research directions to understand and optimize these promising materials thoroughly. The remarkable properties of MXenes are emphasized as crucial for advancing the performance of SA-based composites, indicating significant potential for developing high-performance composite materials. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two novel anthracene-triphenylamine emitters, TPA- t BuANT and TPA-PyrANT , were synthesized efficiently by the coupling reactions of anthracene and triphenylamine derivatives. They emit blue-green light in the diluted solutions, having emission peaks at 488 and 510 nm, and exhibit high photoluminescence fluorescence quantum efficiency (PLQY) of 53% and 80%, respectively. Their PLQY were 19% and 49% in solid states at 470 and 487 nm, respectively. Employing TPA- t BuANT as an emitter, the maximum external quantum efficiencies (EQEs) were up to 4.1% in the non-doped devices of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) and 5.2% in the doped devices. The maximum EQEs of the devices based on TPA-PyrANT were 4.5% for non-doped devices and 5.6% for the doped devices. The devices all exhibit negligible efficiency roll-off. TPA- t BuANT and TPA-PyrANT exhibit good luminous efficiency in both diluted solutions and solid states. Both non-doped and doped OLED devices show high EQEs and negligible efficiency roll-off. [Display omitted] • TPA- t BuANT and TPA-PyrANT exhibit high luminous efficiency both in diluted solutions and solid states. • Both non-doped and doped OLED devices show high EQEs and negligible efficiency roll-off. • Two fluorophores were synthesized by coupling reactions of triphenylamine and anthracene derivatives with high yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium-doped Diamond-like carbon (Ti-DLC) has been previously used in photodetectors. However, these photodetectors suffer from large dark currents and long response times, limiting their practicality. In this study, we propose a Ti-DLC/Au/Si Schottky junction photodetector. We effectively suppressed the dark current by incorporating a thin layer of gold while enhancing the light current. The results showed the device shows the optimal performance when the gold is at 3 nm and the Ti-DLC thickness is 68 nm, the specific detectivity of the device reaches 1.8 × 1011 Jones and an optical-to-dark ratio exceeding 105 at zero bias voltage, and the response speed is in the range of tens of microseconds, significantly improving its performance. With its ability to suppress dark current, this Schottky junction photodetector holds excellent potential for various applications in the market. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) claimed the lives of nearly 21 million people worldwide in 2021, accounting for 30% of global deaths. However, one in five CVD patients is unaware that they have the disease, emphasizing the need for accurate biomarker monitoring. Herein we developed an integrated microfluidic system (IMS) for rapid quantification of four CVD biomarkers, including N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), fibrinogen, cardiac troponin I (cTnI), and C-reactive protein (CRP)- via aptamer-coated interdigitated electrodes (IDE) with integrated circuits (IC) and a self-driven IMS for sample treatment. The device was composed of plasma filtration, metering, and fluidic delay modules, and the former could extract 45% of plasma from a 20-μL blood sample; the metering module could quantify 5 μL of plasma within 90 s. Subsequently, the plasma was transported to a detection chamber, where IC-based IDE sensors made measurements within 5 min. The entire 15-min process allowed us to evaluate biomarkers across a wide dynamic range: NT-proBNP (0.1–10,000 pg/mL), fibrinogen (50-1,000 mg/dL), cTnI (0.1–10,000 pg/mL), and CRP (0.5-9 mg/L). Given that spiked blood samples were measured with reasonable accuracy (>80%), the IMS could see utility in CVD risk assessment and personalized medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) are closely related pathogenic mycobacteria known to cause chronic pulmonary infections in both humans and animals. Despite sharing nearly identical genomes and virulence factors, these two bacteria display variations in host tropism, epidemiology, and clinical presentations. M. bovis Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) is an attenuated strain of M. bovis commonly utilized as a vaccine for tuberculosis (TB). Nevertheless, the molecular underpinnings of these distinctions and the intricacies of host-pathogen interactions remain areas of ongoing research. In this study, a comparative transcriptomic analysis was conducted on human leukemia macrophages (THP-1) infected with either MTB H37Rv or M. bovis BCG (Tokyo strain) to elucidate common and strain-specific responses at the transcriptional level. RNA sequencing was utilized to characterize the transcriptomes of human primary macrophages infected with MTB or BCG at 6 and 24 h post-infection. The findings indicate that both MTB and BCG induce substantial and dynamic alterations in the transcriptomes of THP-1, with a notable overlap in the quantity and extent of differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Moreover, gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis unveiled shared pathways related to immune response, cytokine signaling, and apoptosis. The immune response of macrophages to bacterial infections at 6 h exhibited significantly greater intensity compared to that at 24 h. Furthermore, distinct gene sets displaying notable variances between MTB and BCG infections were identified. The profound impact of MTB infection on macrophage gene expression, particularly within the initial 6 h, was evident. Additionally, downregulation of pathways such as Focal adhesion, Rap1 signaling pathway, and Regulation of actin cytoskeleton was observed. The pathways associated with inflammation reactions and cell apoptosis exhibited significant differences, with BCG triggering macrophage apoptosis and MTB enhancing the survival of intracellular bacteria. Our findings reveal that MTB and BCG provoke similar yet distinct transcriptional responses in human macrophages, indicating variations in their pathogenesis and ability to adapt to host environments. These results offer novel insights into the molecular mechanisms governing host-pathogen interactions and may contribute to a deeper understanding of TB pathogenesis. • Both MTB and BCG trigger robust and dynamic changes in the transcriptomes of THP-1. • Dramatic impact of MTB infection on macrophage gene expression within 6 hpi. • Classical signaling pathways are crucial in mediating immunity during MTB infection. • BCG induces apoptosis in macrophages at early stage. • MTB shows stronger anti-phagocytosis and anti-macrophage cytotoxicity abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate whether pentoxifylline (PTX) attenuates cerebral ischaemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) in rats by inhibiting ferroptosis and to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. Cerebral IRI was induced in male Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats using middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The effects of PTX on cerebral ischaemia-reperfusion brain samples were detected through neurological deficit score, staining and electron microscopy; levels of ferroptosis biomarkers from brain samples were detected using kits. Additionally, the expression levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), transferrin receptor protein 1, divalent metal transporter 1, solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) were determined by immunohistochemistry, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. Pre-treatment with PTX was found to improve neurological function, evidenced by reduced neurological deficit scores, decreased infarct volume and alleviated pathological features post-MCAO. This improvement was accompanied by reduced lipid peroxidation levels and mitigated mitochondrial damage. Notably, PTX's inhibitory effect on ferroptosis was characterised by enhanced Nrf2 nuclear translocation and regulation of ferroptosis-related proteins. Moreover, inhibition of Nrf2 using ML385 (an Nrf2-specific inhibitor) reversed PTX's neuroprotective effect on MCAO-induced ferroptosis via the SLC7A11/GPX4 signalling pathway. Ferroptosis is evident following cerebral ischaemia-reperfusion in rats. Pentoxifylline confers protection against IRI in rats by inhibiting ferroptosis through the Nrf2/SLC7A11/GPX4 signalling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When environmental regulations do not explicitly target agriculture, it becomes difficult to predict if and how this sector will react. In this study, we delve into this issue by scrutinizing China's flagship program designed to control industrial sulfur dioxide emissions. We employ the difference-in-differences method to analyze extensive agricultural data, quantifying the policy's impact on agriculture from both the intensive and extensive margins. Our results indicate that the policy led to an approximately 9% increase in agricultural value added. This growth mainly stemmed from shifts in land allocation and subsequent changes in fertilizer use, rather than from crop yield improvements. Variations in composite grain yields occurred due to shifts in the crop mix, not from yield improvements in specific crops. Overall, our study found that the policy boosted rural per capita net income by 11.6%. • Industrial pollution control impacts agriculture, as shown in China's SO 2 program. • Policy led to 9% increase in ag value added, driven by land allocation and fertilizer. • Changes at the extensive margin dominate agricultural responses. • Tech adoption is vital for policy success, explains spatial impact. • Future research should focus on the impact of the labor market on policy implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Epitaxial TbIG/EuIG bilayers show perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. • The R AHE 0 sign in TbIG/EuIG/Pt systems show two cross-over points. • The Fe TbIG -Fe EuIG across the TbIG/EuIG interface are ferromagnetically coupled. • The tunability of compensation temperature by designing appropriate ReIG-based multilayers. Rare-earth ion garnets (ReIG) with magnetization compensation are being extensively studied, such as in the ferrimagnetic insulator (FMI)/heavy metal (HM) heterostructures, with primary focus on the interface effect between single-layer garnets and HM. Here, we study the anomalous Hall behavior of bilayer garnet in Tb 3 Fe 5 O 12 (TbIG)/Eu 3 Fe 5 O 12 (EuIG)/Pt system. TbIG (30 nm)/EuIG (t nm) films with strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) were deposited on single-crystal Gd 3 Ga 5 O 12 (GGG) (1 1 1) substrates using pulsed laser deposition. Subsequently, a 5-nm Pt layer was sputtered and patterned into Hall bars. Tunable compensation temperature (T comp) was achieved in the system by changing the thickness of EuIG, which is ascribed to the ferromagnetic coupling of Fe sublattices in the two different garnets. This study provides guidance for designing garnet spintronic devices with controllable compensation behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease primarily driven by host inflammation and plaque-induced immune responses. Controlling the host inflammatory response and improving the periodontal inflammatory microenvironment are crucial to promoting periodontal tissue regeneration. In this study, the blended nanofiber membranes previously prepared by our research group were improved, and we developed multifunctional chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol/graphene oxide/astaxanthin coaxial nanofiber membranes. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the prepared nanofibers had a smooth surface and a uniform diameter distribution. The mechanical property test results showed that the coaxial nanofiber membranes exhibited higher tensile strength compared to the blended nanofiber membranes, which increased from 4.50 ± 0.32 and 3.70 ± 0.45 MPa to 7.12 ± 0.22 and 5.62 ± 0.79 MPa respectively. Drug release studies indicated that the "shell-core" structure of coaxial nanofibers significantly reduced the initial burst release of astaxanthin (ASTA), with only 13.49 % and 10.71 % release in the first 24 h, and drug release lasted for over a week. Animal experiments confirmed that the coaxial nanofiber membranes loaded with ASTA promoted periodontal bone defect repair while inhibiting periodontal inflammation. In conclusion, the prepared coaxial nanofiber membranes are a promising sustained-release drug system for treating periodontitis. • Astaxanthin played an anti-inflammatory role by regulating M1 and M2 macrophages. • Drug system with anti-inflammatory & osteogenic effects for periodontitis treatment • Coaxial nanofiber membranes reduce initial burst release, prolong drug release period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Multiscale topology optimization with Direct FE2 is performed as a single topology optimization without iteration between two scales. • Multiscale Direct FE2 topology optimization can be implemented on commercial finite element codes using the Direct FE2 approach. • Direct FE2 topology optimization achieves comparable results to traditional DNS with reduced computing time. Together with the rapid development in manufacturing technology, multiscale structural topology optimization presents opportunities for the design of components at both the structural and sub-structural scales. A few works on topological optimization based on FE2 computational homogenization to concurrently evolve the structure and sub-structure have been reported. However, significant expertise and coding are required in the conventional implementation of FE2. It is shown that multiscale FE2 optimization can be readily implemented on commercial finite element codes using the Direct FE2 approach. The multiscale analysis is carried out as a single topology optimization job on commercial FE software. Numerical example problems are solved using ABAQUS to demonstrate the proposed method for stiffness optimization. It is shown that Direct FE2 optimization takes only a fraction of the computational time required for optimization with a fine mesh and yet gives comparable optimized stiffness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) has increased in prevalence in recent years, thus researchers have evaluated alternative medicine therapies. Fructus Ligustri Lucidi (FLL) can inhibit bone loss, and ferroptosis serves an important role in osteoporosis. Therefore, the present study assessed the presence of ferroptosis in PMOP and whether FLL could inhibit ferroptosis to improve bone microstructure in ovariectomized rats. Ovariectomized rats were treated with FLL (1.56 g/kg/day) for 12 weeks. Micro-CT was performed to evaluate the bone microstructure and bone mineral density. Western blotting and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR were performed to assess the relative expression levels of proteins and mRNA. Subsequently, malondialdehyde (MDA) and Fe2+ assay kits were used to quantify the MDA and Fe2+ content, respectively. The results demonstrated that ovariectomy (OVX) resulted in iron overload and the accumulation of lipid peroxide. Furthermore, the expression of key factors that inhibited ferroptosis, glutathione peroxidase 4 and solute carrier family 7 member 11 was significantly downregulated in ovariectomized rats, which was significantly reversed by FLL treatment. Furthermore, bone formation was assessed using the expression of osteogenesis-related genes, runt-related transcription factor 2 and osterix, which revealed significantly higher levels in FLL-treated rats compared with ovariectomized rats. The levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were also significantly recovered following FLL treatment. In the present study, OVX of postmenopausal osteoporotic rats was found to induce ferroptosis by enhancing lipid peroxidation and Fe2+ levels. FLL significantly suppressed ferroptosis, protected the osteogenic ability of ovariectomized rats and promoted the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • New highly oxygenated and polycyclic andrastin-type meroterpenoids isolated from the cold seep-derived fungus were described. • Bialorastins A and B are rare 17- nor -andrastins with unique skeletons. • Bialorastin C exhibited significant proangiogenic activity in transgenic zebrafish. • Molecular dockings were performed to predict the intermolecular interaction of bialorastin C with VEGFR2. • Quantitative RT-PCR results indicated that bialorastin C could activate VEGFR2 and its downstream signaling pathways. Six new highly oxygenated and polycyclic andrastin-type meroterpenoids, namely, bialorastins A–F (1 – 6), were discovered from the culture of Penicillium bialowiezense CS-283, a fungus isolated from the deep-sea cold seep squat lobster Shinkaia crosnieri. The planar structures and absolute configurations of these compounds were determined by detailed analysis of spectroscopic data, single crystal X-ray diffraction, and TDDFT-ECD calculations. Structurally, bialorastin A (1) represents a rare 17- nor -andrastin that possesses an unusual 2-oxaspiro[4.5]decane-1,4-dione moiety with a unique 6/6/6/6/5 polycyclic system, while bialorastin B (2) is also a 17- nor -andrastin featuring a gem -propane-1,2-dione moiety. Additionally, bialorastins C–E (3 – 5) possess a 6/6/6/6/5/5 fused hexacyclic skeleton, characterized by distinctive 3,23-acetal/lactone-bridged functionalities. All isolated compounds were evaluated for their proangiogenic activities in transgenic zebrafish. Compound 3 exhibited significant proangiogenic activity, which notably increased the number and length of intersegmental blood vessels in model zebrafish in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations of 20 and 40 μM. On a molecular scale, the tested compounds were modeled through molecular docking to have insight into the interactions with the possible target VEGFR2. Mechanistically, RT-qPCR results revealed that compound 3 could promote angiogenesis via activating VEGFR2 and subsequently activating the downstream PI3K/AKT and MAPK signaling pathways. These findings indicate that 3 could be a potential lead compound for developing angiogenesis agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead selenide (PbSe) detectors have garnered widespread utility in infrared detection due to their advantages of low-Russian compounding and uncooled operation. In this study, PbSe thin films were firstly deposited on glass using selenourea (SeC(NH 2) 2) as the selenium source by chemical bath deposition. The changes in morphology, composition, structure, and photoelectric properties of PbSe films thermally sensitized in 4 atm of O 2 , N 2 , O 2 /I 2 , and N 2 /I 2 were investigated. It was discovered that PbI 2 was supplied to the film surface following thermal sensitization in the I 2 atmosphere to create a PbSe/PbI 2 separation model, promoting photogenerated charge separation and enhancing PbSe optoelectronics' performance. The device's dark current is decreased to 1/136 before annealing, the on-off ratio is increased by 18.7 times, the reaction time is only a few tens of μs, and the response speed is increased by 105 times after N 2 /I 2 thermal sensitization. • Deposition of high-quality PbSe films by chemical bath deposition using selenourea as the selenium source. • The changes in morphology and components of PbSe thin films after annealing with four different atmospheres were studied. • The photoelectric properties and gain mechanisms of PbSe films have been investigated at the 1550 nm wavelength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuberculosis remains a threat to public health. The only approved vaccine, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), is administered intradermally and provides limited protection, and its effect on innate immunity via the respiratory route has not been fully elucidated. A mouse model with genetically depleted TREM1 and seven-color flow cytometry staining were used to characterize the comprehensive immune response induced by respiratory BCG, through evaluating organ bacterial loads, lung histopathology, and lung immunohistochemistry. During respiratory BCG infection, the murine lungs displayed effective bacterial clearance. Notably, marked differences in neutrophils were observed between thymus and bone marrow cells, characterized by a significant increase in the expression of the triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1 (TREM1). Subsequently, upon depletion of TREM1, a reduction in pulmonary neutrophils was observed, which further exacerbated bacterial loads and resulted in worsened pathology following respiratory BCG infection. In summary, up-regulated expression of TREM1 in rapidly increasing circulating neutrophil by pulmonary BCG is required for an efficient host response to BCG infection, and suggests the important role of TREM1 in neutrophil-related pulmonary bacteria clearance and pathology. • Effective bacterial clearance in murine lungs following respiratory BCG infection. • Intranasal BCG induces circulating neutrophils that aid in clearing mycobacteria. • Heightened expression of TREM1 on systemic neutrophils from BMCs. • Worsened pathological changes and bacterial loads observed after TREM1 deletion. • TREM1 is essential for coordinating an efficient response during intranasal BCG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although chickpea have great potential in the treatment of obesity and diabetes, the bioactive components and therapeutic targets of chickpea to prevent insulin resistance (IR) are still unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the chemical and pharmacological characteristics of chickpea on IR through serum pharmacochemistry and network pharmacology. The results revealed that compared with other polar fractions, the ethyl acetate extract of chickpea (CE) had the definitive performance on enhancing the capacities of glucose consumption and glycogen synthesis. In addition, we analyzed the components of CE in vivo and in vitro based on UPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS technology. There were 28 kinds of in vitro chemical components, among which the isoflavones included biochanin A, formononetin, ononin, sissotrin, and astragalin, etc. Concerningly, the chief prototype components of CE absorbed into the blood were biochanin A, formononetin, loliolide, and lenticin, etc. Furthermore, a total of 209 common targets between IR and active components of CE were screened out by network pharmacology, among which the key targets involved PI3K p85, NF-κB p65 and estrogen receptor 1, etc. Specifically, KEGG pathway analysis indicated that PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, HIF-1 signaling pathway, and AGE-RAGE signaling pathway may play critical roles in the IR remission by CE. Finally, the in vitro validation experiments disclosed that CE significantly balanced the oxidative stress state of IR-HepG2 cells and inhibited expressions of inflammatory cytokines. In conclusion, the present study will be an important reference for clarifying the pharmacodynamic substance basis and underlying mechanism of chickpea to alleviate IR. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Double crush syndrome (DCS) of the ulnar nerve, including cubital tunnel syndrome with ulnar tunnel syndrome (UTS), is uncommon. This study compares the postoperative outcomes of patients with isolated ulnar tunnel syndrome versus those with double crush syndrome of the elbow and ulnar tunnel. This study enrolled 22 patients: 12 underwent cubital tunnel surgery and ulnar tunnel surgery (double crush group); and 10 underwent only ulnar tunnel decompression (isolated UTS group). Postoperative effect evaluation of patients in both groups after at least 2.6 years (mean, 5.1 years and 5.7 years, respectively). Statistical analysis compared postoperative function, physical examination, and patient-reported satisfaction between groups. In terms of postoperative grip strength, there was no difference between the postoperative states of the two groups (0.88 ± 0.04 versus 0.87 ± 0.05), while there was statistical difference in terms of the increment of the grip strength (p = 0.036); the two-point discrimination of isolated UTS group is better than the double crush group (90% versus 83.3%); double crush patients reported lower satisfaction than the UTS group (90% versus 83.3%). At a minimum of 2.6 years after the nerve decompression, the patients of isolated UTS group are likely to have superior grip strength increment than patients with a history of double crush surgery, and there is no big difference in the final recovery situation. The sensation and satisfaction of isolated UTS group after nerve release were better compared with patients following double crush surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of connected automated vehicles (CAVs), the trajectory control of CAVs has become a focus in traffic engineering. This paper proposes a distributed deep reinforcement learning-based longitudinal control strategy for CAVs combining attention mechanism, which enhances the stability of mixed traffic, car-following efficiency, energy efficiency, and safety. A longitudinal control strategy is built using a deep reinforcement learning model. The CAVs gradually learn optimal car-following strategy in training process to improve safety, stability, fuel economy, mobility, and driving comfort. To further capture the interactions among vehicles in each platoon, the graph attention network is introduced to facilitate the car-following control strategy. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, a comparative analysis is conducted, which indicates that the proposed method can dramatically dampen oscillations, enhance traffic efficiency, reduce fuel consumption, and improve driving safety under different scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The supply of metal materials for mintage is important for state governance, and the patterns of which appear to reflect the rise and decline of the central authority to some extent. Many details about this issue in the early western Han dynasty, China, still need to be verified, such as what is the pattern of metal supply for mintage and whether other sources exist in addition to the domestically exploited raw metal? In this paper, 15 early Western Han Banliang半两 coins excavated from the Guanghuacun光华村 cemetery, Chengdu city, Southwest China, were studied via scientific analyses (SEM–EDS, ICP–AES and MC-ICP-MS etc.). The results reveal three types of alloys and might constitute the first scientific identification of Cu-Sb-As alloyed ancient Chinese coins. By combining the comparisons of alloying techniques and lead isotopic ratios, with the archaeological context and historical texts, it can be inferred that many coins should be made of domestically exploited metal from the Xiaoqinling region, which was also the main provenance of the material for the Banliang coins of the Qin dynasty, while the materials of others are probably derived from the Sichuan-Yunnan-Guizhou Rhombic Block region, Southwest China, which was outside of Han’s control. This finding provides new insight into the weakness of the central government in the early stage of the Han empire and reflects the communication between the Central Plains dynasty and the culture in Southwest China in this era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research shows that the origin and distribution of formation overpressure are governed by several dominant factors including disequilibrium compaction, hydrocarbon generation, tectonic compression and diagenesis, influenced by salt components and their concentration, but it is unclear how salts affect formation overpressure in saline lacustrine basins. This paper investigated the effect of salts on formation overpressure based on organic geochemistry, rock mineralogy, logging curve comparison and wave velocity-density cross-plot by combining the sedimentary and structural background. In the Western Qaidam Basin, the proportion of abnormally high pressures rises from the Neogene to the Paleogene. The top surface of the overpressure is between 2300 and 2500 m deep. As the subsidence and sedimentary centers of the basin moved eastward, the centers of the overpressure migrated from west to east. In the Upper Oligocene, the overpressure is developed in the deep and semi-deep lacustrine facies, and the pressure coefficient is 1.8–2.0. Disequilibrium compaction is the primary control factor with a contribution rate of more than 60% in the intersalt and subsalt strata, followed by tectonic compression with a contribution rate of 20–30%. Fracture reducing by salt filling and fluid volume expanding by gypsum dehydration increase the fluid volume in the formation, which promotes formation overpressure. The gypsum salt rocks also have strong plasticity and sealing effect, thus providing a closed environment for the formation overpressure. Through providing the primary migration driven force and sealing conditions for oil and gas, the overpressure is meaningful to petroleum accumulation and preservation in saline lacustrine formation of the Paleogene and Neogene in the Western Qaidam Basin, NW China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to explore the protective effect and mechanism of naringin (NG) on radiation‐induced heart disease (RIHD) in rats. Rats were divided into four x‐ray (XR) irradiation groups with different absorbed doses (0/10/15/20 Gy), or into three groups (control, XR, and XR + NG groups). Subsequently, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus was adopted to assess and compare the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS), left ventricular internal diameter at end diastole (LVIDd), and left ventricular internal diameter at end systole (LVIDs) in rats. Hematoxylin–eosin (H&E) staining and Masson staining were applied to detect the pathological damage and fibrosis of heart tissue. Western blot was used to measure the expression levels of myocardial fibrosis‐related proteins, endoplasmic reticulum stress‐related proteins, and Sirt1 (silent information regulator 1)/NF‐κB (nuclear factor kappa‐B) signaling pathway‐related proteins in cardiac tissues. Additionally, enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay was utilized to detect the activities of pro‐inflammatory cytokines, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) in cardiac tissue. The results showed that NG treatment significantly attenuated the 20 Gy XR‐induced decline of LVEF and LVFS and the elevation of LVIDs. Cardiac tissue damage and fibrosis caused by 20 Gy XR were significant improved after NG treatment. Meanwhile, in rats irradiated by XR, marked downregulation was identified in the expressions of fibrosis‐related proteins (Col I, collagen type I; α‐SMA, α‐smooth muscle actin; and TGF‐β1, transforming growth factor‐beta 1) and endoplasmic reticulum stress‐related proteins (GRP78, glucose regulatory protein 78; CHOP, C/EBP homologous protein; ATF6, activating transcription factor 6; and caspase 12) after NG treatment. Moreover, NG treatment also inhibited the production of pro‐inflammatory cytokines [interleukin‐6, interleukin‐1β, and monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1)], reduced the expression of MDA, and promoted the activities of SOD and CAT. Also, NG treatment promoted Sirt1 expression and inhibited p65 phosphorylation. Collectively, XR irradiation induced cardiac injury in rats in a dose‐dependent manner. NG could improve the cardiac injury induced by XR irradiation by inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress and activating Sirt1/NF‐κB signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Objective Materials and methods Results Conclusions A large number of studies have shown that leptin plays an important role in the regulation of fertility via the hypothalamus‐pituitary‐gonad axis. However, its peripheral function in epididymis was still elusive.The purpose of this study was to determine the pro‐secretion effect of leptin on the rat epididymal epithelium.In the present study, real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blot, and immunohistochemical analysis were employed to detect the expression pattern of leptin receptors in rat epididymis. The pro‐secretion effect of leptin on epididymal epithelial cells was measured by short‐circuit current, and the prostaglandin E2 and cyclic adenosine monophosphate level was evaluated by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.We verified that the leptin receptor was located on the epididymal epithelium, with a relatively high expression level in corpus and cauda epididymis. Ussing chamber experiments showed that leptin stimulated a significant rise of the short‐circuit current in rat epididymal epithelial cells, which could be abolished by the specific leptin receptor antagonist peptide Allo‐aca, or by removing the ambient Cl− and HCO3−. Furthermore, the leptin‐stimulated short‐circuit current response could be abrogated by blocking the apical cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator or the basolateral Na+‐K+‐2Cl− cotransporter. Our pharmacological experiments manifested that interfering with the prostaglandin H synthase‐2‐prostaglandin E2‐EP2/EP4‐adenylate cyclase pathways could significantly blunt the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator‐mediated anion secretion induced by leptin. The enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay demonstrated that leptin could induce a substantial increase in prostaglandin E2 release and cyclic adenosine monophosphate synthesis of primary cultured rat cauda epididymal epithelial cells. Our data also suggested that JAK2, ERK, and PI3K‐dependent phosphorylation may be involved in the activation of prostaglandin H synthase‐2 and the subsequent prostaglandin E2 production.The present study demonstrated the pro‐secretion function of leptin in rat epididymal epithelium via the activation of cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator and Na+‐K+‐2Cl− cotransporter, which was dependent on the paracrine/autocrine prostaglandin E2 stimulated EP2/EP4‐adenylate cyclase pathways, and thus contributed to the formation of an appropriate microenvironment essential for sperm maturation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to explore the relationship between different electric vehicle (EV) information sources and consumers’ psychological perceptions and purchase intentions for EVs. Based on the survey data from 1,311 respondents in pilot cities, the analysis results show that authority and peer sources are positively associated with economic, psychological, and environmental benefits and negatively correlated with financial, performance, and physical safety risks. Moreover, media sources are positively associated with the psychological and environmental benefits of EVs but negatively related to performance and physical safety risks. Beyond our expectation, media sources lack significant impact on financial risk and economic benefit. Furthermore, financial, performance, and physical safety risks are negatively associated with purchase intention; whereas psychological and economic benefits are positively related to purchase intention. Unfortunately, the relationship between environmental benefit and purchase intention has not been confirmed. Additionally, policy recommendations for the further promotion of EVs are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the effect of early swallowing training on postoperative outcomes of patients who had undergone oral cancer surgery plus free flap reconstruction. Subjects and Methods: In this prospective, randomized controlled trial, 121 patients who had undergone oral cancer surgery plus free flap reconstruction were randomly assigned to the control (n = 59) or intervention group (n = 62). The control group underwent routine nursing measures. The intervention group received swallowing training on the sixth postoperative day. On the 15th day and 1 month after surgery, the swallowing function (Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability‐Oral Cancer [MASA‐OC] score), weight loss rate, time of nasogastric tube removal, and quality of life were evaluated. Results: Patients in the intervention group had higher MASA‐OC scores and better weight loss rates than those in the control group on the 15th day (MASA‐OC: p = 0.014, weight loss: p < 0.001) and 1 month (both p < 0.001) after surgery. The time of nasogastric tube removal and the quality of life was statistically significant between groups (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Early swallowing training improves the swallowing function, nutritional status, and quality of life and shortens the indwelling time of nasogastric tube of patients who have undergone oral cancer surgery plus free flap reconstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Multiplexed Survey Telescope (MUST) project is led by Tsinghua University, which entrusted the European Industrial Engineering (EIE) GROUP with the design, manufacture, and assembly of the dome. Located on Saishiteng Mountain in Qinghai Province, MUST benefits from exceptional atmospheric seeing conditions etc. Local dome seeing may be comparable to atmospheric seeing and requires careful consideration. This research, based on numerical simulations, focuses on refining the dome structure and temperature regulation strategies to achieve optimal dome seeing. The existing simulations only consider nighttime dome seeing and overlook the impact of daytime dome heating on nighttime conditions. The Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) part mostly relies on a steady-state k − ε model, which cannot simulate transient processes or capture optical turbulence. In this study, a comprehensive multiphysics field coupling simulation was conducted, encompassing radiation heat transfer, fluid heat transfer, CFD, and ray tracing. Simulations include both daytime and nighttime scenarios, taking into account the daytime heating of the dome due to solar irradiation, as well as dome seeing under natural ventilation at night. The CFD utilizes the large eddy simulation model, enabling three-dimensional transient simulation and the simulation of optical turbulence. Ultimately, the broadening of the point spread function was statistically analysed after a certain integration time, facilitating a quantitative evaluation of dome seeing. This numerical simulation approach is closer to real world conditions, improving simulation accuracy and addressing the shortcomings of existing simulations. Some qualitative conclusions are consistent with practical engineering experience. In the end, the dome seeing was successfully regulated to 0.21 arcsec, meeting the observational requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toona ciliata, also known as Chinese mahogany, is a high-quality and fast-growing wood species with a high economic value. The wood properties of T. ciliata of different provenances vary significantly. In this study, we conducted comprehensive transcriptome and metabolome analyses of red and non-red T. ciliata wood cores of different provenances to compare their wood properties and explore the differential metabolites and genes that govern the variation in their wood properties. Through combined analyses, three differential genes and two metabolites were identified that are possibly related to lignin synthesis. The lignin content in wood cores from T. ciliata of different provenances shows significant variation following systematic measurement and comparisons. The gene Tci09G002190, one of the three differential genes, was identified as a member of the CAD (Cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase) gene family of T. ciliata, which is associated with lignin synthesis. Our data provide insights into the determinants of the wood properties in T. ciliata, providing a solid foundation for research into the subsequent mechanisms of the formation of T. ciliata wood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bladder cancer (BLCA) is a common malignant tumor in urinary system all over the world. However, due to its high recurrence rate and complex causes, clinicians often have limited options for surgical and drug treatments. Recent researchs on the molecular mechanism of BLCA have reveals its biological progress and potential for early diagnosis. Serine hydroxymethyltransferase 1/2 (SHMT1/2) is a crucial enzyme in the one-carbon metabolism of tumor cells, and the expression levels of these isozymes have been found to be associated with the biological progression of various malignant tumors. However, the impact of SHMT1/2 on the biological progression of bladder cancer and its molecular regulation mechanism remain unclear. In this research utilizes BLCA clinical sample data, the TCGA database, and in vitro cell experiments to predict the expression levels of SHMT1/2 in BLCA. The findings indicate that SHMT1 remained unchanged, while SHMT2 expression is increased in BLCA, which was related to poor prognosis. Additionally, SHMT2 affects the growth, migration, and apoptosis of bladder cancer cells in vitro. It also influences the expression levels of E-cadherin and N-cadherin, ultimately impacting the malignant biological progression of bladder tumors. These results establish a correlation between SHMT2 and the malignant biological progression of BLCA, providing a theoretical basis for the early diagnosis and treatment of bladder cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to sp2‐hybridized graphene, graphdiynes (GDYs) composed of sp and sp2 carbon are highly promising as efficient catalysts for electrocatalytic oxygen reduction into oxygen peroxide because of the high catalytic reactivity of the electron‐rich sp‐carbon atoms. The desired catalytic capacity of GDY, such as catalytic selectivity and efficiency, can theoretically be achieved by strategically steering the sp‐carbon contents or the topological arrangement of the acetylenic linkages and aromatic bonds. Herein, we successfully tuned the electrocatalytic activity of GDYs by regulating the sp‐to‐sp2 carbon ratios with different organic monomer precursors. As the active sp‐carbon atoms possess electron‐sufficient π orbitals, they can donate electrons to the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) orbitals of O2 molecules and initiate subsequent O2 reduction, GDY with the high sp‐carbon content of 50 at % exhibits excellent capability of catalyzing O2 reduction into H2O2. It demonstrates exceptional H2O2 selectivity of over 95.0 % and impressive performance in practical H2O2 production, Faraday efficiency (FE) exceeding 99.0 %, and a yield of 83.3 nmol s−1 cm−2. Our work holds significant importance in effectively steering the inherent properties of GDYs by purposefully adjusting the sp‐to‐sp2 carbon ratio and highlights their immense potential for research and applications in catalysis and other fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This research is aimed to evaluate the correlation between Th9‐associated cytokine levels in MM patients, clinical features, and therapy. Methods: Peripheral blood samples were taken in 52 MM patients and 20 healthy volunteers matched by sex and age. The patients with MM were separated into two groups: the untreated group (27) and the remission group (25). An enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the IL‐9 plasma levels. The levels of Th9‐associated cytokines' mRNA expression (IL‐9, PU.1, and IRF4) were measured in RT‐qPCR. We also analyzed the correlations between the IL‐9 plasma levels and the clinical parameters of newly diagnosed MM patients. Results: The IL‐9 plasma levels and the Th9‐associated cytokines (IL‐9, PU.1, and IRF4) mRNA levels in newly diagnosed MM patients were significantly elevated than those in healthy volunteers and significantly decreased after achieving remission. Moreover, PU.1 and IRF4 had a positive correlation with the IL‐9 mRNA expression. Then, we found that the upregulation of IL‐9 plasma levels correlates with the severity of anemia and decreased albumin Levels. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that Th9/IL‐9 may be involved in the pathogenesis of MM and is correlated with worse patient conditions such as lower hemoglobin and serum albumin. More work is necessary to confirm whether they might serve as a useful therapeutic target and prognostic marker for MM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Healthcare-associated Gram-negative bacterial meningitis is a substantial clinical issue with poor outcomes, especially for neurosurgical patients. Here, we aimed to study the characteristics and treatment options of patients with healthcare-associated carbapenem-non-susceptible (Carba-NS) Gram-negative bacterial meningitis. Methods: This observational cohort study was conducted at a teaching hospital from 2004 to 2019. The clinical characteristics of patients with meningitis with Carba-NS and carbapenem-susceptible (Carba-S) bacilli were compared, and the antimicrobial chemotherapy regimens and outcomes for Carba-NS Gram-negative bacterial meningitis were analyzed. Results: A total of 505 patients were included, of whom 83.8% were post-neurosurgical patients. The most common isolates were Acinetobacter spp. and Klebsiella spp., which had meropenem-resistance rates of 50.6% and 42.5%, respectively, and showed a markedly growing carbapenem-resistance trend. Kaplan–Meier curve analysis revealed that Carba-NS Gram-negative bacilli were associated with a significantly higher in-hospital mortality rate (18.8%, 35/186) compared to the Carba-S group (7.4%, 9/122; P = 0.001). For Carba-NS Enterobacterales meningitis, aminoglycoside-based and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole-based regimens yielded significantly higher clinical efficacy rates than non-aminoglycoside-based and non-trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole-based regimens (69.0% vs. 38.7%, P = 0.019 and 81.8% vs. 46.9%, P = 0.036, respectively). For Carba-NS A. baumannii complex meningitis, tetracycline-based (including doxycycline, minocycline, or tigecycline) therapy achieved a significantly higher clinical efficacy rate (62.9%, 22/35) than the non-tetracycline-based therapy group (40.4%, 19/47; P = 0.044). Conclusions: Our findings revealed that Carba-NS Gram-negative bacilli are associated with higher in-hospital mortality in patients with healthcare-associated meningitis. The combination therapies involving particular old antibiotics may improve patients' outcome. Trial registration: This study was registered on the Chinese Clinical Trial Register under ChiCTR2000036572 (08/2020). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanoluminescent materials have gained considerable attention over the past two decades because of their ability to convert wasted mechanical actions, such as friction and compression, into useful light energy. Despite great advances in this field, host matrices that are considered for immobilizing luminescent centers to realize mechanoluminescence are limited mainly to sulfides, oxysalts, and oxysulfides to some extent. To address this shortcoming, a new series of mechanoluminescent materials, i.e., lanthanide‐doped MgF2 (Lanthanide = Yb3+,2+, Tm3+, Dy3+, Tb3+, Eu3+,2+, Sm3+, Ho3+, and Er3+) are presented. Upon stimulation with external mechanical stress, all the materials exhibit mechanoluminescence, covering the spectral range of 385 to 1000 nm. Based on this and transparent Ln‐doped MgF2@Elastomer, the potential value of these mechanoluminescent materials in dynamic pressure visualization is expanded for certain new applications, such as bungee jumping and trampolining. These findings are expected to provide valuable information to the materials community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reported herein is a Paternò–Büchi reaction of aromatic double bonds with quinones under visible light irradiation. The reactions of aromatics with quinones exposed to blue LED irradiation yielded oxetanes at −78 °C, which was attributed to both the activation of double bonds in aromatics and the stabilization of oxetanes by thiadiazole, oxadiazole, or selenadiazole groups. The addition of Cu(OTf)2 to the reaction system at room temperature resulted in the formation of diaryl ethers via the copper-catalyzed ring opening of oxetanes in situ. Notably, the substrate scope was extended to general aromatics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the widespread utilization of variable valence metals in electrochemistry, it is still a formidable challenge to enhance the valence conversion efficiency to achieve excellent catalytic activity without introducing heterophase elements. Herein, the in-situ precipitation of Co particles on Co 2 VO 4 not only enhanced the concentration of oxygen vacancies (Ov) but also generated a greater number of low-valence metals, thereby enabling efficient reduction towards Hg(II). The electroanalysis results demonstrate that the sensitivity of Co/Co 2 VO 4 towards Hg(II) was measured at an impressive value of 1987.74 μA μM−1 cm−2, significantly surpassing previously reported results. Further research reveals that Ov acted as the main adsorption site to capture Hg(II). The redox reactions of Co2+/Co3+ and V3+/V4+ played a synergistic role in the reduction of Hg(II), accompanied by the continuous supply of electrons from zero-valent Co to expedite the valence cycle. The Co/Co 2 VO 4 /GCE presented remarkable selectivity towards Hg(II), with excellent stability, reproducibility, and anti-interference capability. The electrode also exhibited minimal sensitivity fluctuations towards Hg(II) in real water samples, underscoring its practicality for environmental applications. This study elucidates the mechanism underlying the surface redox reaction of metal oxides facilitated by zero-valent metals, providing us with new strategies for further design of efficient and practical sensors. [Display omitted] • Zero-valent Co precipitates in situ on the surface of Co 2 VO 4. • The activated oxygen vacancy serves as the adsorption site. • The enhanced Co2+/Co3+ and V3+/V4+ dual cycles catalyze Hg(II) reduction. • The Co/Co 2 VO 4 achieves highly sensitive and selective detection towards Hg(II). • Synergies between oxygen vacancy and bimetallic ions cycle are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]