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Quantum metrology, including quantum sensing and imaging, offers significant advantages over classical methods in terms of sensitivity and accuracy. This paper presents its potential applications and challenges in civil engineering. We discuss recent advances and highlight how quantum technologies can improve engineering monitoring practices. Despite the infancy of quantum sensing and imaging in outdoor civil engineering applications, their high precision makes them promising for overcoming traditional limitations. We further suggest future directions for integrating quantum metrology into civil engineering projects to improve safety and efficiency. • Quantum metrology, including sensing and imaging, presents promising utility in civil engineering with high-precision detection capabilities. • Quantum sensing technology has the potential to go beyond classical detection limits, offering significant advantages for monitoring. • Quantum imaging technology enables remote and extreme condition monitoring, improving our ability to assess structural integrity. • Although this technology is still in its infancy, more research and funding is needed to fully exploit its benefits in civil engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FeCrAl alloy has excellent mechanical properties and is of great significance in nuclear fuel cladding materials. The effects of microalloying elements Re and Be on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Fe-13Cr-6Al-0.5Nb-2Mo-0.1Y alloy were investigated. The results indicated that Nb is substituted by a small amount of Re in the Laves phase, while Be aggregates near the Laves phase. The addition of Re and Be can improve the hardness and strength of Fe-13Cr-6Al-0.5Nb-2Mo-0.1Y alloy, refine its grain size, and also increase the recrystallization temperature. Due to the addition of Be, the fracture mode of the alloy was changed from ductile fracture to cleavage fracture, while the Re -containing alloy still maintained ductile fracture. The results provide guidance for further development of FeCrAl nuclear fuel cladding materials. [Display omitted] • Nb is substituted by Re in the Laves phase and Be aggregates near the Laves phase. • The addition of Re and Be can improve mechanical properties. • The fracture mode was changed due to the addition of Be. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infectious disease caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) seriously threatens public health. The design of antimicrobial peptide mimics (AMPMs) based on natural products (NPs) is a new strategy to kill MRSA and slow the development of drug resistance recently. Here, we reported the design and synthesis of novel AMPMs based on harmane skeleton. Notably, compound 9b exhibited comparable or even better anti-MRSA activity in vitro and in vivo with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.5–2 μg/mL than the positive drug vancomycin. The highly active compound 9b not only showed low cytotoxicity, no obvious hemolysis and good plasma stability, but also presented low tendency of developing resistance. Anti-MRSA mechanism revealed that compound 9b could destroy cell wall structure by interacting with lipoteichoic acid and peptidoglycan, cause membrane damage by depolarization, increased permeability and destructed integrity, reduce cell metabolic activity by binding to lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), interfere cellular redox homeostasis, and bind to DNA. Overall, compound 9b killed the MRSA by multi-target mechanism, which provide a promising light for combating the growing MRSA resistance. [Display omitted] • Quaternized AMPMs based on harmane are designed and synthesized. • Compound 9b possess remarkable anti-MRSA effects in vitro and in vivo. • Compound 9b slow down the development of drug resistance by multi-target mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The giant short-faced hyena, Pachycrocuta brevirostris , was the largest and most spectacular bone-cracking hyena that ever existed. Although already extinct long ago, it was extensively distributed across Eurasia during the Early and Middle Pleistocene. P. brevirostris is remarkable for a series of iconic craniodental adaptations in sway with a commitment to scavenging off carcasses of other large herbivores, such as the powerfully built skull and massive premolars, yet the most eye-catching aspect is the enormous size as emphasized by its vernacular name. The largest hitherto known skull of this species is the holotype from Sainzelles in Auvergne, France, discovered over a century ago. We hereby report a new discovery from Jinyuan Cave in Dalian, China, which slightly surpasses the holotype in craniodental dimension, posing a new record in Pachycrocuta body size. Three skull fragments of the same individual unearthed from the site are described in detail herein and compared with other P. brevirostris discoveries from both Europe and Asia. Thorough comparative studies show that the newly discovered materials are very close to the holotype from Sainzelles both metrically and morphologically, which fully indicates that the European morphotype, namely Pachycrocuta brevirostris brevirostris , surprisingly appeared in Northeast Asia as well, and further challenges the conventional concept of the population or subspecies. The giant hyenas from Asia were originally proposed as independent species, such as Pachycrocuta licenti or P. sinensis , but now broadly accepted as conspecifics of the European Pachycrocuta brevirostris , forming only different subspecies. The occurrence of P. b. brevirostris in Northeast Asia forcefully demonstrates that the differentiation is more of temporal than geographical significance, i.e., the subspecies of Eurasia basically constituted an ancestor-descendant sequence, from licenti to sinensis via brevirostris. Moreover, represented by the newly discovered specimens, the forerunner of P. b. brevirostris with transitional features appeared in Northeast Asia as early as 2.0 Ma, which implies the population of Europe most likely originated and dispersed from Northeast Asia. A hypothesis of "out of Northeast Asia" is hereby proposed for P. b. brevirostris. In the present paper, a series of diagnostic craniodental characters, such as carnassial morphology, the accessory cuspids of the premolars and the shape of the skull profile, are also discussed and re-valuated to investigate their potential significance in phylogenetic analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to address Solid oxide fuel cells(SOFC) the issues of uneven gas distribution and low fuel utilization rate in conventional straight-channel. In this research, a connected cable-type channel with enhanced connectivity and broader radiation coverage was developed. The research revealed that in a singular flow channel scenario, the distribution of oxygen on the electrode within the connected cable-type channel exhibited greater uniformity compared to the conventional straight-channel design. The gas utilization rate is increased by 2.38% compared with the conventional straight-channel, and the output power density is increased by 8.55%. In the flow field, it is observed that the gas distribution on the cathode side of connected cable-type channel is significantly superior to that of the conventional straight-channel. In the case of a parallel flow field, the output power of the connected cable channel increases by 8.39% compared to the conventional straight channel, while the serpentine channel shows an increase of 11.65% in output power. Then, the impact of the flow field combination on the flow field was investigated. It was discovered that the output power of the cell could reach up to 5158.17 W/m2 when the serpentine-parallel staggered flow field distribution structure was utilized. This output was 11.33% higher than that of the parallel flow field. • A new type of connected cable-type channel was designed to increase the gas diffusion range at the electrode. • Expand the new flow channel into the flow field for a comprehensive study. • Find the optimal geometric arrangement and further optimize the new channel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elucidating the complex relationships between mRNA and protein expression at high spatiotemporal resolution is critical for unraveling multilevel gene regulation and enhancing mRNA-based developmental analyses. In this study, we conduct a single-cell analysis of mRNA and protein expression of transcription factors throughout C. elegans embryogenesis. Initially, cellular co-presence of mRNA and protein is low, increasing to a medium-high level (73%) upon factoring in delayed protein synthesis and long-term protein persistence. These factors substantially affect mRNA-protein concordance, leading to potential inaccuracies in mRNA-reliant gene detection and specificity characterization. Building on the learned relationship, we infer protein presence from mRNA expression and demonstrate its utility in identifying tissue-specific genes and elucidating relationships between genes and cells. This approach facilitates identifying the role of sptf-1/SP7 in neuronal lineage development. Collectively, this study provides insights into gene expression dynamics during rapid embryogenesis and approaches for improving the efficacy of transcriptome-based developmental analyses. [Display omitted] • Analyzing single-cell mRNA and protein concordance during C. elegans embryogenesis • Delayed protein synthesis and prolonged persistence diminish mRNA-protein concordance • Identifying limitations of mRNA expression in developmental gene characterization • Inferring protein expression enhances mRNA-based developmental analyses Fan et al. conduct a cell-by-cell comparison of mRNA and protein expression throughout embryogenesis, characterizing that delayed protein synthesis and long-term protein persistence compromise developmental analyses that rely solely on mRNA. They further show that inferring protein expression from mRNA data enhances developmental analyses at both gene and cell levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) as an archetypal representative of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is ubiquitously distributed in the environment and extensively detected in human bodies. Although accumulating evidence is suggestive of the deleterious effects of PFOS on male reproduction, the direct toxicity of PFOS towards spermatogenic cells and the relevant mechanisms remain poorly understood. The aims of the present study were to explore the direct effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of PFOS on spermatogenesis. Through integrating animal study, transcriptome profiling, in silico toxicological approaches, and in vitro validation study, we identified the molecular initiating event and key events contributing to PFOS-induced spermatogenic impairments. The mouse experiments revealed that spermatocytes were involved in PFOS-induced spermatogenic disorders and the activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta (PPARδ) was linked to spermatocyte loss in PFOS-administrated mice. GC-2spd(ts) cells were treated with an increased gradient of PFOS, which was relevant to environmental and occupational exposure levels of PFOS in populations. Following 72-h treatment, cells was harvested for RNA sequencing. The transcriptome profiling and benchmark dose (BMD) modeling identified endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress as the key event for PFOS-mediated spermatocyte apoptosis and determined the point-of-departure (PoD) for perturbations of ER stress signaling. Based on the calculated PoD value, further bioinformatics analyses combined with in vitro and in vivo validations showed that PFOS caused metabolic stress by activating PPARδ in mouse spermatocytes, which was responsible for Beclin 1-involved inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R) sensitization. The disruption of IP3R-mediated ER calcium homeostasis triggered ER calcium depletion, leading to ER stress and apoptosis in mouse spermatocytes exposed to PFOS. This study systematically investigated the direct impacts of PFOS on spermatogenesis and unveiled the relevant molecular mechanism of PFOS-induced spermatogenic disorders, providing novel insights and potential preventive/therapeutic targets for PFAS-associated male reproductive toxicity. [Display omitted] • Mouse spermatocytes are involved in PFOS-induced spermatogenic disorders. • PFOS-activated PPARδ triggers metabolic stress in mouse spermatocytes. • PFOS-induced metabolic stress causes IP3R sensitization via upregulating Beclin 1. • Disruption of IP3R-mediated Ca2+ homeostasis induces ER stress with PFOS treatment. • PFOS impair spermatogenesis via causing ER stress-related spermatocyte apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a three-dimensional Multiphysics field model of a planar solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is established based on computational fluid dynamics methods. The study introduces a new interconnector design known as the triangular interconnector. The results indicate that compared with the conventional interconnector, the discrete arrangement of ribs has a positive impact on the uniformity of oxygen distribution and hydrogen consumption rate. Furthermore, the triangular interconnector under counter-flow effectively increases the value of current density under the ribs, and the triangular interconnector achieved optimal performance in counter-flow configuration. Compared with conventional interconnector in counter-flow, the peak power increased by 28.64%, even when considering pressure drop, the increased parasitic power only accounts for 4.19% of the cell output power. Moreover, compared to the conventional interconnector structure; the activation overpotential, concentration overpotential, ohmic overpotential, and contact overpotential of the triangular interconnector structure under counter-flow configuration are reduced by 27.6%, 63.9%, 39.3%, and 20%, respectively. In addition, the total overpotential is reduced by 42.6%, indicating that optimizing fuel cell performance by rearranging the ribs is a reliable method. • Design a triangular interconnector to enhance the oxygen concentration under the ribs. • The flow distribution dominates the temperature distribution, but the interconnector influences the highest temperature. • Triangular interconnectors improve both cell power and net power. • Triangular interconnectors under counter-flow reduce overpotential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canis mosbachensis is a widely distributed species from the Early to Middle Pleistocene in Europe. In Eastern Asia, Canis variabilis was supposed to be a local subspecies of C. mosbachensis , but such hypothesis has never been tested in details. Here we restudied the Canis materials from type locality, Loc.1 of ZKD (Zhoukoudian) of Middle Pleistocene, as well as other localities that produced important materials of this taxon (e.g. Loc.13 of ZKD). To better evaluate the variability of the Pleistocene Canis , a series of morphotypes are described. Based on morphotype and morphometric, the present study reveals there is only one species present at Loc.1 and Loc.13 of ZKD, which is quite similar to European C. mosbachensis and should be revised as a subspecies of C. mosbachensis , namely C. mosbachensis variabilis . C. m. variabilis is more derived and less hypercarnivorous than the Early Pleistocene Canis chihliensis (as well as European Canis etruscus and Canis arnensis ) in craniodental characters, whereas it is less derived and less hypercarnivorous than Canis lupus . A review of fossil records of C. m. variabilis in China was made based on these different characters. Canids from Gongwangling, Lantian of Shaanxi Province (middle or late Early Pleistocene) are the earliest known representatives of C. mosbachensis in China, which are still more primitive than C. m. variabilis from the Middle Pleistocene sites of ZKD. Reliable records of C. mosbachensis are only known from the Early Pleistocene to the late Middle Pleistocene in Northern China. C. m. variabilis is not direct ancestor to C. lupus but a close relative of the latter, while it is far from the Early Pleistocene C. chihliensis . The latter remains more primitive characters that are more similar to those of European Canis etruscus and Canis arnensis . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing evidence shows that impaired telomere function is associated with male infertility, and various environmental factors are believed to play a pivotal role in telomerase deficiency and telomere shortening. Benzo[ a ]pyrene (B[ a ]P), a ubiquitous pollutant of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), can act as a reproductive toxicant; however, the adverse effect of B[ a ]P on telomeres in male reproductive cells has never been studied, and the related mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we explored the effects of benzo[ a ]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide (BPDE), the active metabolite of B[ a ]P, on telomere dysfunction in mouse spermatocyte-derived cells (GC-2) and also the potential role of telomerase in BPDE-induced spermatogenic cell damage. The results showed that BPDE induced cell viability inhibition, senescence, and apoptosis in GC-2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Shortened telomeres, telomere-associated DNA damage, reduced telomerase activity, and TERT expression were also observed in BPDE-treated cells, accompanied with the activation of DNA damage response pathway (ATM/Chk1/p53/p21). Moreover, by establishing the TERT knockdown and re-expression cell models, we found that TERT regulated telomere length and the expression of DNA damage response-related proteins to influence senescence and apoptosis in GC-2 cells. These in vitro findings were further confirmed in vivo in the testicular cells of rats orally administrated with B[ a ]P for 7 days. B[ a ]P treatment resulted in histological lesions, apoptosis, and senescence in the testes of rats, which were accompanied by shortened telomeres, reduced levels of TERT protein, and increased expression of DNA damage response-related proteins. In conclusion, it can be concluded that TERT-mediated telomere dysfunction contributes to B[ a ]P- and BPDE-induced senescence and apoptosis through DNA damage response in male reproductive cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widespread environmental pollutants that have adverse effects on the male reproductive function. Many studies have confirmed that PAHs preferentially accumulate in mitochondria DNA relative to nuclear DNA and disrupt mitochondrial functions. However, it is rare whether exposure to PAHs is associated with mitochondrial damage and dysfunction in sperm. To evaluate the effects of PAHs on sperm mitochondria, we measured mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) and mtDNA integrity in 666 individuals from the Male Reproductive Health in Chongqing College Students (MARHCS) study. PAHs exposure was estimated by measuring eight urinary PAH metabolites (1-OHNap, 2-OHNap, 1-OHPhe, 2-OHPhe, 3-OHPhe, 4-OHPhe, 2-OHFlu and 1-OHPyr). The subjects were divided into low, median and high exposure groups using the tertile levels of urinary PAH metabolites. In univariate analyses, the results showed that increased levels of 2-OHPhe, 3-OHPhe, ∑Phe metabolites and 2-OHFlu were found to be associated with decreased sperm mtDNAcn. After adjusting for potential confounders, significantly negative associations of these metabolites remained (p = 0.039, 0.012, 0.01, 0.035, respectively). Each 1 μg/g creatinine increase in 2-OHPhe, 3-OHPhe, ∑Phe metabolites and 2-OHFlu was associated with a decrease in sperm mtDNAcn of 9.427%, 11.488%, 9.635% and 11.692%, respectively. There were no significant associations between urinary PAH metabolites and sperm MMP or mtDNA integrity. The results indicated that the low exposure levels of PAHs can cause abnormities in sperm mitochondria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Simulation models of various ice types with different structural characteristics are established. • A cascaded ice detection model based on machine learning algorithms is built and evaluated. • High-accuracy and instant identification of four typical ice types is implemented. • The cascade method shows higher stability and potential advantages in atmospheric icing detection. For the detection of atmospheric icing process, an ice type recognition and thickness measurement method based on optical fiber sensor is proposed and evaluated. Finite element models based on different structures are built for the four corresponding typical ice types in the atmospheric icing environment. Finite element analysis results show the characteristics of sensor response for different ice types and the potential of real-time ice type recognition using optical fiber sensor. In the laboratory test, under the atmospheric icing conditions, 1655 sets of valid data including glazed ice, mixed ice, rime ice and frost are collected. Cascade models based on machine learning algorithms are built and evaluated using a round-robin leave-one-out method. The model realizes instant ice type recognition and thickness measurement without relying on time-domain curve information. The evaluation results show that the proposed method achieves 92.8 % ice type recognition accuracy and 0.27 mm RMSE for ice thickness measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanism of low thermal expansion phenomenon in antiferromagnetic FeMn alloys needs to be revealed. In this work, the evolution of lattice thermal expansion and internal stress in FeMn alloys was investigated by in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction during thermal cycling. Preceding the martensitic transformation, the coefficient of lattice thermal expansion (CLTE) decreased and the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the diffraction peaks broadened abnormally. The evolution of the lattice thermal expansion and the FWHM were both reversible and isotropic. The additional reflection spots around the fundamental diffraction spots in the electron diffraction patterns of austenite and the dispersed nano-scale martensite embryos in austenite observed in the dark field TEM images proves the existence of premartensitic transformation. Similar phenomena were found in FeMn Invar alloy, which indicate that the Invar effect is closely related to the internal stress evolution caused by premartensitic transformation. • Both Fe27Mn and Fe24Mn exhibited low CTE and broadening of diffraction peaks upon cooling. • The evolution of thermal lattice strain and FWHM of diffraction peaks were reversible and isotropic. • Martensite embryos were observed in austenite phase during Invar effect of Fe27Mn and premartensitic transformation of Fe24Mn. • These similar phenomena imply a close relationship between Invar effect and the premartensitic transformation in FeMn alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The effects of temperature and mixed phase in the icing process are modeled and analyzed. • Identification of 5 conditions is achieved based on the relaxation polarization principle and thin film structure. • Recognition of atmospheric icing condition significantly improves the measurement accuracy. • Performance of impedance sensor is evaluated in wind tunnel with positive results. To solve the detection problem in icing process, a thin film impedance sensor for atmospheric icing environment is proposed and evaluated. The sensor identifies rapid icing process and static ice layer as different conditions. A theoretical model of temperature-dependent impedance icing detection is built to describe the polarization effect. And the finite element simulation in the case of water film covering ice layer is carried out. The impedance curve distortion caused by phase mixing and temperature gradient during atmospheric icing is analyzed, and 9 related features are extracted. The evaluation experiments of the sensor involve 5 surface conditions, and totally 3143 impedance curves are obtained. The classification results of various models indicate that support vector machine achieves the highest recognition accuracy, reaching 93.1 %. And in atmospheric icing conditions, the RMSE of ice thickness measurement using neural network reaches 0.25 mm in the laboratory tests and 0.51 mm in the wind tunnel tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the association and effects of air pollution level on male semen quality in urban and rural areas, this study examines the outdoor concentrations of particulate matter (PM10), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrous dioxide (NO2) and semen quality outcomes for 1346 volunteers in both urban and rural areas in Chongqing, China. We found the urban area has a higher pollution level than the rural area, contrasted with better semen quality in the rural residents, especially for sperm morphology and computer assistant semen analysis (CASA) motility parameters. A multivariate linear regression analysis demonstrates that concentrations of PM10, SO2, and NO2 significantly and negatively are associated with normal sperm morphology percentage (P < 0.001) and sperm kinetic parameters. In conclusion, exposure to higher concentrations of PM10, SO2, and NO2 in urban ambient air may account for worse semen quality in urban males. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: To test the possibility if the earliest human settlements in Eurasia could be earlier than commonly accepted 1.7 Ma, large mammals from the Tuozidong cave deposits from eastern China were analyzed. Tuozidong deposits were discovered in 2000 and excavated again in 2007. Compared with other Eurasian Early Pleistocene faunas, the Tuozidong fauna is similar to Yuanmou and Gongwangling faunas associated with Homo erectus, indicating that the environments of Tuozidong fauna were suitable for habitation of early humans. It is similar to the Longgupo and Renzidong faunas associated with putative Paleolithic industry around 2 Ma in China. It is also similar in some degree to the Saint Vallier and Chilhac faunas in France, which indicates the existence of faunal exchanges between East Asia and West Europe, and the environment barriers between Eurasian continents were not unconquerable in the early Pleistocene for mammal migrations. Based on the capability of good mammal migrators, the earliest tool-makers of 2.6 Ma in East Africa should have been able to expand or migrate to Eurasia within 600 ky. The putative Paleolithic industries from Longgupo and Renzidong in East Asia and those from Riwat in South Asia might be the witness of earliest human settlements in Eurasia around 1.9–2 Ma. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Examines the expression and deletion of EcoRII restriction endonuclease and methyltransferase gene in China. Construction of unidirectional deletion subclones; Determination of deletion sites by sequencing; Components of the restriction-modification system.

• Incorporate parallel sinusoidal wave-like channels into the performance analysis of HT-PEMFC for design and optimization. • Targeted optimization of net power density of HT-PEMFC combined with the optimization framework of genetic algorithm. • Numerical simulation results show that the parallel sinusoidal wave-like channel can improve the mass transfer capacity and net power density of HT-PEMFC. Designing and optimizing the channel structure improves the performance of high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFCs). This work introduced a parallel sinusoidal wave-like channel design. Investigated the influence of the amplitude of the channel center and the number of sinusoidal periods of a parallel sinusoidal wave-like channel on the characteristics of fuel cells using a three-dimensional simulation model created with COMSOL Multiphysics. The research findings demonstrate that, compared to the conventional straight channels in HT-PEMFCs, the mass transfer capabilities of the parallel sinusoidal wave-like channels are superior, effectively enhancing the comprehensive performance of fuel cells. In addition, a genetic algorithm (GA) was employed to selectively improve the waveforms of the parallel sinusoidal wave-like channels based on the output power and pumping power consumption of cells. According to the ultimate optimization results indicate that when the center amplitude is 0.2915 mm and the number of sinusoidal periods is 25.9743, the net power density of the parallel sinusoidal wave-like channel increases by 6.16%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to outdoor fine particulate matter (PM 2.5)-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is linked to reproductive dysfunction. However, it is unclear which component of PAHs is responsible for the adverse outcomes. In the Male Reproductive Health in Chongqing College Students (MARHCS) cohort study, we measured the exposure levels of 16 PAHs by collecting air PM 2.5 particles and assessed eight PAHs metabolites from four parent PAHs, including naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, and pyrene in urine samples. We investigated compositional profiles and variation characteristics for 16 PAHs in PM 2.5 , and then assessed the association between PAHs exposure and semen routine parameters, sperm chromatin structure, and serum hormone levels in 1452 samples. The results showed that naphthalene (95% CI : −17.989, −8.101), chrysene (95% CI : −64.894, −47.575), benzo[a]anthracene (95% CI : −63.227, −45.936) and all the high molecular weight (HMW) PAHs in PM 2.5 were negatively associated with sperm normal morphology. Most of the low molecular weight (LMW) PAHs, such as acenaphthylene, fluorene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, pyrene, chrysene, benzo[a]anthracene, ∑LMW PAHs and ∑16 PAHs, were correlated with increased sperm motility (all corrected P < 0.05). On the other hand, sperm normal morphology was all negatively associated with urinary metabolites of ∑OH-Nap (95% CI : −5.611, −0.536), ∑OH-Phe (95% CI : −5.741, −0.957), and ∑OH-PAHs (95% CI : −5.274, −0.361). Urinary concentrations of ∑OH-PAHs were found to be negatively associated with sperm high DNA stainability (HDS) (P = 0.023), while ∑OH-Phe were negatively associated with serum testosterone level and sperm HDS (P = 0.004). Spearman correlation analysis showed that except for the urinary OH-Nap metabolites, the rest of the urinary OH-PAHs metabolites were negatively correlated with their parent PAHs in air. The results of this study suggest that various PAHs' components may affect reproductive parameters differently. Inhalation of PAHs in air, especially HMW PAHs, may be a potential risk factor for male reproductive health. [Display omitted] • High molecular weight (HMW) PAHs exposure negatively associated with sperm normal morphology. • PAHs exposure also associated with reproductive hormone such as estradiol, LH, prolactin and testosterone. • Various PAHs component may have different effectiveness on reproductive parameters. • Assessment of urinary OH-PAHs metabolites may not predict PAHs in air. • Inhalation of HMW PAHs in air may be a potential risk factor for male reproductive health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Shanshenmiaozui (SSMZ) fauna from Nihewan Basin, Canis chihliensis , Nyctereutes sp., Homotherium sp., Acinonyx sp., Lynx shansius and Pachycrocuta licenti have been identified. C. chihliensis is the dominant and best represented species whose fossil materials include crania, mandibles and postcranials, including nearly complete manus and pes. The giant cheetah Acinonyx sp. is only represented by postcranial skeletons (scapula, radius, proximal ulna and an almost complete manus), which represent the richest collection for its kind ever known in China. Nyctereutes sp. is only represented by a partial cranium and distal part of a humerus. Homotherium sp. is only represented by a partial lower m1. Lynx shansius is represented by a nearly complete mandible with p3 and m1 preserved in situ. The fossil materials of Pachycrocuta licenti include a juvenile mandible with dp2–4 and m1 attached, an isolated dp4 and a partial ascending ramus. The SSMZ carnivoran guild resembles those of the classic Nihewan fauna (CNF) and the Dmanisi fauna, which means they probably have a similar geologic age or slightly younger of the SSMZ fauna; and they also share the same open grassland/shrubland habitat. The postcranial bones of C. chihliensis and Acinonyx sp. from SSMZ represent the first records for their kinds in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severely diabetic patients need insulin input to maintain the body's glycemic balance. However, traditional injection methods are often associated with poor adherence and an increased risk of hypoglycemia. Microneedle technology offers a promising solution by minimizing pain and trauma during insulin administration. Nonetheless, achieving prolonged glycemic control by microneedle with high insulin loading remains a significant challenge. Herein, we introduce an innovative microneedle patch that draws inspiration from the elegant light-induced blooming of water lily petals. The patch features a glucose-responsive hydrogel network crafted from two modified polysaccharide polymers, which enables the delivery of long-acting insulin without depending on glucose oxidase. By incorporating phenylboronic acid-modified sodium alginate, quaternary ammonium chitosan, and polyvinyl alcohol into a hydrogel matrix, we have created a microneedle system that harbors dynamic borate ester linkages and electrostatic attractions, resulting in heightened sensitivity to blood glucose levels. The electrostatic interaction acts as a relatively stable crosslinking point, balancing the dynamic reproducibility response based on the borate ester bond. This self-adaptive hydrogel can regulate insulin-controlled release by responding to changes in glucose concentration. Herein, we achieved massive insulin loading (20 IU) with long lasting glycaemic control (48 h) in a single treatment of diabetic SD rats. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]