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Considering the electromagnetic pollution in harsh environments, it is vital to prepare multifunctional microwave absorbers to broaden their application fields. Herein, fire-resistant iron-based phosphates/phosphorus-doped carbon composites were annealed from phytic acid-treated metal organic frameworks. Through tailoring the dosage of phytic acid used in the preparation process, composites with diverse morphologies, crystal structures, electric and microwave absorption properties are obtained. When the dosage of phytic acid used reaches 4 mL, the obtained composite, Fe 2 P 4 O 12 /phosphorus-doped carbon, possesses the best microwave absorption performance with a minimum reflection loss of −67.6 dB (2.0 mm) and an effective absorption bandwidth of 5.76 GHz (2.1 mm, 12.24–18 GHz). The microwave attenuation could be mainly attributed to the high conductivity brought by phosphorus-doped carbon, and polarization relaxations triggered by dipoles, functional groups, and unbalanced charges at interfaces. Specifically, the charge density distribution, obtained with density functional theory (DFT), suggests the occurrence of intense charge transfer and formation of internal electric field at P-carbon, O-carbon, and iron-based phosphates/phosphorus-doped carbon interfaces. Meanwhile, the as-prepared iron-based phosphates/phosphorus-doped carbon composites possess good fire-resistant property. The work provides a novel idea to construct multifunctional materials with high-efficient microwave absorption to broaden their application fields. [Display omitted] • Facile synthesis of iron-based phosphates/phosphorus-doped carbon composites. • Compositions can be regulated by tailoring the dosage of phytic acid used to treat the precursor. • A minimum R L of −67.6 dB (2.0 mm) and an EAB of 5.76 GHz (2.1 mm, 12.24–18 GHz) is achieved. • High conductivity and strong polarization contribute to microwave absorption. • The composites demonstrate excellent fire-resistant property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Designing multifunctional microwave absorption materials is crucial in practical application. Herein, the iron-based cores@graphitic carbon@amorphous carbon composites with diverse phase compositions were annealed from urea-modulated metal organic frameworks (MOFs), MIL-88A, as precursors. By simply varying the mass ratio of urea and MIL-88A, the chemical compositions of as-prepared samples were well adjusted, which brought the variation of interfacial polarization, dipole polarization, and magnetic response. Meanwhile, the structure with outer-layered amorphous carbon and inner-layered graphitic carbon enhanced impedance matching. Therefore, with stronger microwave attenuation brought by polarization loss and better impedance matching, the high-efficient microwave absorption performance with a minimum reflection loss (R L) of −67.81 dB at 12.5 GHz and an effective absorption bandwidth of 5.76 GHz was obtained with S-05 (Fe/Fe 3 C/Fe 15.1 C@graphitic carbon@amorphous carbon), which was prepared with the weight ratio of MIL-88A and urea at 2:1. Meanwhile, the iron-based cores@graphitic carbon@amorphous carbon composites possess good heat-resistant properties due to the existence of protecting carbon layers. Thus, urea-assisted treatment paves a way for acquiring multifunctional absorbers derived from MOFs with enhanced microwave absorption performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selective laser melting (SLM) is a promising technique for achieving function-driven design as well as unique performances of parts. This article focuses on the frictional behavior of the SLMed brake disc under high-speed conditions, aiming to reveal the inherent wear mechanisms. A bench test of the SLMed disc was conducted using a full-scale flywheel brake dynamometer. The initial braking speed ranged from 50 km/h to 380 km/h, and the clamping force was from 18 kN to 37 kN. The relationship between instantaneous friction coefficient and multiple variables was explored, including clamping force, initial braking speed, and temperature. With rising temperature, the wear mechanism shifted from abrasive wear to adhesive wear. Compared to a cast disc, SLMed disc is better for high-speed conditions, as it exhibits a more stable friction coefficient, shorter braking distance, and higher braking energy efficiency. The average friction coefficient distribution of the SLMed disc is relatively more concentrated, ranging from 0.333 to 0.417, while it is from 0.277 to 0.426 for cast disc. The braking distance of the SLMed disc is 20% shorter when clamping force is 37 kN. Moreover, the braking amplification factor is proposed to enhance the accuracy of brake performance evaluation. Additionally, a preliminary utilization principle is established for SLMed discs. [Display omitted] • Frictional behavior is explored for SLMed component under high-speed conditions. • Transition of wear mechanism in SLMed part is discussed with increasing velocity. • SLM part has higher and more stable friction coefficients to suit severe condition. • Braking amplification factor is proposed to enhance braking evaluation accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We aimed to assess the prevalence of poor sleep quality during early pregnancy and its risk factors, and to explore the association between sleep quality and adverse pregnancy outcomes.Methods: This was a prospective birth cohort study that included 4352 pregnant women. Sleep quality were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The risk factors for poor sleep quality were analyzed by a logistic regression model. Log-binomial regression models were used to analyze the association between sleep quality and pregnancy outcomes.Results: The prevalence of maternal poor sleep quality during early pregnancy was 34.14%. The multivariate logistic model showed that stillbirth history (OR = 2.45; 95% CI: 1.34, 4.47), history of induced abortion (OR = 1.26; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.49), general health-related quality of life (OR = 3.98; 95% CI: 2.97, 5.34), insufficient physical activity (OR = 1.18; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.36), smoking (OR = 1.59; 95% CI: 1.18, 2.15), and vegetarian (OR = 2.18; 95% CI: 1.54, 3.08) were risk factors for poor sleep quality, while taking folic acid consistently before pregnancy (OR = 0.83; 95% CI: 0.72,0.97) was the protective factor. After controlling for all the confounders, poor sleep quality during early pregnancy increased the risk of premature rupture of membranes by 12% (95% CI: 1.00, 1.25).Conclusion: Pregnant women with a history of stillbirth and induced abortion, general health-related quality of life, insufficient physical activity, smoking, and a vegetarian diet tended to have poor sleep quality. More attention should be paid to healthy lifestyle of pregnant women to improve sleep quality and better pregnancy outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: China has the world's largest burden of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. However, there are few studies reported on the latest prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) among pregnant women in China. We aimed to assess the prevalence of HBV infection and its associated risk factors among pregnant women in Yunnan, which is a province with relatively high prevalence of blood-borne viruses.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 15,641 pregnant women who underwent routine antenatal screening for HBsAg in Yunnan between 2013 and 2016. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine the associations between HBV infection and risk factors.Results: Overall, 7.89% (95% confidence interval (CI), 7.47%-8.31%) of the 15,641 pregnant women tested positive for HBsAg. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that advanced age (≥35 years old; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.43-2.59), Hani ethnicity (aOR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.22-3.17), unemployed women (aOR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.30-2.72), multigravidas (aOR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.05-1.40), and multiparas (aOR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.10-1.49) were more likely to be infected with HBV. HBV infection was associated with cesarean section and preterm birth, with aORs of 1.31 (1.17-1.48) and 1.23 (1.00-1.51), respectively. In the subgroup analysis, the association between Hani ethnicity and HBV infection was significantly higher in women aged 35 years or older (aOR = 5.15; 95% CI, 1.51-17.55) than in women younger than 35 years of age (aOR = 1.69; 95% CI, 1.00-2.86).Conclusions: HBV infection among 15,641 pregnant women was of high-intermediate endemicity in Yunnan, China. Advanced age, Hani ethnicity, unemployment, and multigravid and multiparous statuses were associated with an increased prevalence of HBV infection. High-risk pregnant women should be paid more attention during routine antenatal examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microwave absorbers have been applied extensively to attenuate harmful electromagnetic radiation. In this study, efficient microwave absorbers are successfully prepared using metal-organic frameworks as precursors through a convenient in-situ growth and selenization approach in which NiSe nanoparticles are embedded in rod-like carbon networks decorated with graphitic carbon bubbles. The chemical composition, microstructure, graphitization degree, and corresponding microwave absorption performance are well controlled by changing the selenization condition. Remarkably, the reflection loss of the NiSe/C composite obtained at 700 °C reached −59.70 dB at 7.89 GHz and the effective absorption bandwidth was 4.67 GHz. In the as-prepared composite, pervasive carbon networks help improve conductive loss. The homogeneous interfaces between metal selenides and carbon, as well as the abundant defects and interfaces in the graphitic carbon bubbles, boost interfacial polarization and accelerate electron transfer, contributing to the high-performance absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there is a growing interest for new lead-free oxides with reversible antiferroelectric (AFE)-ferroelectric (FE) phase transition for high-power energy-storage applications. NaNbO 3 -based ceramics are particularly attractive due to their easy synthesis and cost-effectiveness. In order to stabilize reversible AFE-FE phase transition, NaNbO 3 is doped with a combination of heterovalent substitutions, although the underlying structural mechanism for the same is poorly understood. Here, we investigated local and average structures of Ca/Zr doped NaNbO 3 using neutron total scattering. We show that Ca/Zr doping increases the average AFE phase (Pbma) fraction, however, the material remains as a composite of both FE (P 2 1 ma) and AFE regions. Analysis of local structure suggests that increase in the long-range AFE phase results from more extensive twinning of local FE regions, due to introduced charge disorder. We propose that enhanced energy-storage properties of Ca/Zr-doped NaNbO 3 arises from localized twin boundary motion between the defect-induced pinning centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Z-scheme InVO 4 /CuBi 2 O 4 /BiVO 4 composites were fabricated with hydrothermal synthesis. • Interfacial Bi O bonds boosted the charge transfer from InVO 4 and BiVO 4 to CuBi 2 O 4. • O vacancies brought by orthovanadates enhanced 1O 2 production through energy transfer. • InVO 4 /CuBi 2 O 4 /BiVO 4 showed good photocatalytic activity for tetracycline degradation. • The composite had good reusability, stability, and performed well in natural water. Dual Z-scheme InVO 4 /CuBi 2 O 4 /BiVO 4 (CuInBi) composites with rich oxygen vacancies and chemical bonds at the heterojunction interfaces were fabricated, for the first time, through hydrothermal method with post annealing treatment, in which CuBi 2 O 4 acts as a bridge to connect InVO 4 and BiVO 4. The as-prepared composites exhibited superior photocatalytic activity compared with the individual semiconductors. Specifically, the degradation rate of tetracycline (20 mg/L) in the presence of CuInBi-1 (1.0 g/L) was up to 5.4, 2.8, and 3.1 times faster than those in the presence of CuBi 2 O 4 , InVO 4 , and BiVO 4 , respectively. The enhanced photocatalytic performance could be partially attributed to the good light absorption of CuBi 2 O 4 , which broadens the visible light response of the InVO 4 /CuBi 2 O 4 /BiVO 4 composites. Meanwhile, the interfacial chemical bonds in the dual Z-scheme heterojunction help accelerate charge separation and maintain strong redox activity. In addition, the oxygen vacancies, induced mainly by the low-valent vanadium atoms, facilitate the production of singlet oxygen (1O 2) through energy transfer, which easily attacks the electron-rich groups, including phenolic group, dimethylamino group, amine group, and double bonds, in tetracycline. The InVO 4 /CuBi 2 O 4 /BiVO 4 composite exhibited excellent reusability and stability, and performed well in photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline in river water and under natural sunlight, demonstrating great potential for practical application. The probable photocatalytic mechanism of InVO 4 /CuBi 2 O 4 /BiVO 4 composite was proposed according to the results of density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and the reactive oxygen species (ROSs) and major degradation intermediates detected in the photocatalytic system. This work demonstrates the important roles of oxygen vacancies and interfacial chemical bonds in boosting the photocatalytic activity of Z-scheme heterojunctions and provides a reference for the construction of high-activity photocatalysts for efficient degradation of antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Tris (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBOEP) is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant due to its overuse. TBOEP has been found to cause reproductive toxicity and endocrine disruption during acute toxic experiment. In this study, we examined the effects of TBOEP on growth in initial generation (F0) zebrafish and transgenerational effects on growth of first generation (F1) larvae after parental long-term exposure (120 d) to environmentally relevant concentrations (0, 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 μg/L). Exposure to TBOEP resulted in significantly less growth as measured by body length, body weight and gonadosomatic index (GSI) in F0 females but not F0 males. Furthermore, the bioaccumulation of TBOEP in gonad, the alteration of the gene transcriptions in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, and the delay in gonadal development in both female and male zebrafish were demonstrated. In addition, the residues of TBOEP were detected in F1 larvae after parental exposure, resulting in lower survival and shorter body length, as well as faster heart rate. And no significant changes in gene expressions along the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor (GH/IGF) axis and the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis were found in F1 larvae. In conclusion, these results indicated that long-term parental exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of TBOEP could inhibit the development of progeny by parental gonadal impairment and by TBOEP transfer to offspring, instead of gene transcription in GH/IGF and HPT axes. Highlights • TBOEP caused significantly less growth in F0 females but not F0 males. • TBOEP at environmentally relevant concentrations caused gonadal impairment. • The residues of TBOEP were detected in F1 larvae after exposure of parents. • Long-term parental exposure to TBOEP inhibited the development of progeny. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Hollow tubular In 2 O 3 /AgI photocatalysts with oxygen vacancies were synthesized. • A BIEF with e- flowing from AgI to In 2 O 3 helps the formation of Z-scheme structure. • In 2 O 3 /AgI (2:1, molar) performed well as a photocatalyst for tetracycline degradation. • 1O 2 , h+, •O 2 −, and •OH were the key reactive species in the photocatalytic system. • In 2 O 3 /AgI photocatalysts exhibited excellent structural stability and reusability. A novel In 2 O 3 /AgI heterojunction, which has a hollow tubular structure with AgI particles distributed evenly on the outer and inner surfaces of In 2 O 3 microtubes, was fabricated from annealing of AgI adhered to MIL-68(In). The as-prepared heterojunction exhibited much higher photocatalytic activity towards tetracycline degradation compared to In 2 O 3 and AgI. The presence of InAg-1 (1.0 g/L), which has a In 2 O 3 :AgI mole ratio of 2:1, could achieve 98.4% removal of tetracycline (20 mg/L) from the solution phase under visible light illumination in 10 min, and it had excellent reusability and stability. The In 2 O 3 /AgI heterojunction also exhibited excellent performance in photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline in different types of water matrices and under natural sunlight illumination, demonstrating its potential in practical application. The superior photocatalytic activity of InAg-1 is attributed to the heterojunction formation and generation of oxygen vacancies (OVs), which improve the separation efficiency of photoinduced e−-h+ pairs. Meanwhile, the built-in electric field (BIEF) formed with e- flowing from AgI to In 2 O 3 , which is confirmed by density functional theory calculations, helps the formation of a Z-scheme, instead of type II, heterojunction between In 2 O 3 and AgI. Results of radical trapping experiments and electron spin resonance spectra reveal that 1O 2 , h+, •O 2 −, and •OH were the key reactive species involved in the photocatalytic degradation process. These findings indicate that Z-scheme photocatalysts with OVs could efficiently activate molecular oxygen and thus have excellent photocatalytic activity towards degradation of organic pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous Nb-Ti-Ta (at.%) alloys with the pore size of 100–600 μm and the porosity of 50%–80% were fabricated by the combination of the sponge impregnation technique and sintering method. The results revealed that the pores were well connected with three-dimensional (3D) network structure, which showed morphological similarity to the anisotropic porous structure of human bones. The results also showed that the alloys could provide the compressive Young's modulus of 0.11 ± 0.01 GPa to 2.08 ± 0.09 GPa and the strength of 17.45 ± 2.76 MPa to 121.67 ± 1.76 MPa at different level of porosity, indicating that the mechanical properties of the alloys are similar to those of human bones. Pore structure on the compressive properties was also discussed on the basis of the deformation mode. The relationship between compressive properties and porosity was well consistent with the Gibson-Ashby model. The mechanical properties could be tailored to match different requirements of the human bones. Moreover, the alloys had good biocompatibility due to the porous structure with higher surface, which were suitable for apatite formation and cell adhesion. In conclusion, the porous Nb-Ti-Ta alloy is potentially useful in the hard tissue implants for the appropriate mechanical properties as well as the good biocompatible properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microstructures, mechanical properties, apatite-forming ability and in vitro experiments were studied for Nb-25Ti-xTa (x = 10, 15, 20, 25, 35 at.%) alloys fabricated by powder metallurgy. It is confirmed that the alloys could achieve a relative density over 80%. Meanwhile, the increase in Ta content enhances the tensile strength, elastic modulus and hardness of the as-sintered alloys. When increasing the sintering temperatures, the microstructure became more homogeneous for β phase, resulting in a decrease in the modulus and strength. Moreover, the alloys showed a good biocompatibility due to the absence of cytotoxic elements, and were suitable for apatite formation and cell adhesion. In conclusion, Nb-25Ti-xTa alloys are potentially useful in biomedical applications with their mechanical and biological properties being evaluated in this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • An integrated method is proposed to improve the forming quality of large-size alloy steel parts fabricated by ML-SLM. • Optimize process parameters of 24CrNiMo taking into account forming quality and productivity of large-sized parts. • Specimens in different regions and statuses have good consistency in the mechanical properties for ML-SLM. • Bench test reveals SLM-disc meets harsh working conditions due to better tribological properties and more uniform temperature distribution. Additive manufacturing of large-sized parts remains challenging due to large residual stress and performance consistency. In this paper, a method of combining process, structure and performance was proposed to control the forming quality, and the brake disc for high-speed railways was chosen as a validation example. Meanwhile, multi-laser selective laser melting (ML-SLM) was adopted to prepare large-sized products. Research mainly includes process parameters optimization, mechanical properties distribution, and structural design. Process parameters of 24CrNiMo were optimized by exploring the influence of laser power and scanning speed on porosity, pore characteristics, and forming efficiency. Results show excessive heat input could reduce forming quality, causing an increase in either porosity or pore size. Mechanical properties research reveals that 24CrNiMo parts fabricated by ML-SLM have good consistency and overcome the strength-toughness tradeoff. The ultimate tensile strength reached 1255.25 MPa and impact energy was 101 J for single-laser regions. Furthermore, the new brake disc was redesigned with an innovative hollow self-supporting heat rib structure to enable a lightweight design and simplify post-processing. Finally, the qualified product was produced, and bench tests showed SLM-disc had higher performance. The work shows this method is effective and provides an engineering example for large-sized parts fabricated by ML-SLM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is highly endemic (7-8% prevalence) in rural China, causing high mortality and societal burden. Data from men of reproductive age is scarce and last reported in 2006. We assessed the seroepidemiology of men in rural China, aiming to provide updated baseline data for the prevalence of HBV infection.Methods: We established prevalence of HBV infection from data gathered through a nationwide population-based study of Chinese rural men aged 21-49 years. Data were obtained from a physical check-up programme for couples of reproductive age, the National Free Preconception Health Examination Project, that covered 31 provinces from 2010-12. We tested serological samples with ELISA and categorised participants' HBV status based on presence of HBsAg, anti-HBV core antibody (anti-HBc), and anti-HBV surface antibody (anti-HBs).Findings: 2 030 083 men were recruited into the database from Jan 1, 2010, to Dec 31, 2012, and 1 966 013 men provided serum samples for analysis. 124 274 men (6%) tested positive for HBsAg, 178 559 (9%) tested positive for anti-HBc, and 583 923 (30%) tested positive for anti-HBs. Isolated anti-HBs (an indicator of vaccine-mediated immunity) were present in 527 566 men (27%). And 1 234 127 men (63%) were negative for all HBV makers (susceptible population). HBsAg prevalence was higher in men aged 25-39 years (6·35-6·47%) than in other age groups (5·54-5·78%; p<0·0001). HBV markers were all more prevalent in the eastern region of China than in the central or western regions (all p<0·0001). 32 326 (26%) of 124 274 HBsAg-positive men tested positive for HBeAg (suggesting high infectiousness); this decreased with increasing age (p<0·0001).Interpretation: HBV prevalence in men in rural China has changed from highly endemic into intermediate endemic in the past two decades. However, the absolute number of HBV-infected men and the susceptible population is still very large.Funding: Chinese Association of Maternal and Child Health Studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Hyperglycemia leads to spatial memory deficits. • Hyperglycemia causes dendritic spine loss and impaired synaptic plasticity. • AGEs decrease mushroom-shaped dendritic spine formation. • circ-Nbea/miR-128-3p axis may be involved in regulating the pathogenesis and progression of DE. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play key roles in various pathogenic and biological processes in human disease. However, the effect of circRNAs on the development of diabetic encephalopathy (DE) remains largely unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate changes in the expression of circRNAs and their potential mechanism in DE formation. Compared with db/m mice, spatial learning/memory, dendritic spines, and synaptic plasticity were all impaired in the hippocampus of the db/db mice. In addition, the dendritic spine density of neurons was significantly decreased after treatment with advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). We used high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) to detect circRNA expression in DE, and the results revealed that 183 circRNAs were significantly altered in primary hippocampal neurons treated with AGEs. Three circRNAs were chosen for detection using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT–PCR), including circ-Smox (chr2: 131511984–131516443), circ-Nbea (mmu-chr3: 56079859–56091120), and circ-Setbp1 (chr18: 79086551–79087180), and circ-Nbea expression was significantly decreased. According to the bioinformatics prediction and detection using qRT–PCR and double luciferase assays, circ-Nbea sponges miR-128-3p. Based on these results, we speculated that a newly identified circRNA, circ-Nbea, may play an important role in the development of DE, and the mechanism is mediated by sponging miR-128-3p. This study provides new insight into the treatment of DE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Recent work has demonstrated that a phosphatidylinositol (PI)-linked D1 dopamine receptor selective agonist, SKF83959, mediates phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis via activation of phospholipase Cβ in brain. Specific contributions of SKF83959 to synaptic plasticity have not been well elucidated. The aim of the current investigation was to characterize the role of SKF83959 on long-term depression (LTD) in the CA1 region of rat hippocampal slices and to explore the molecular events leading to these changes. The results indicated that SKF83959 stimulation significantly depressed field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) in a dose-dependent manner and facilitated the induction of LTD by LFS. SKF83959-facilitated LTD required activation of phospholipase C (PLC). NMDA receptors were involved in this response. Calcium chelator, BAPTA-AM prevented SKF83959-facilitated LTD, indicating that cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) elevation could account for this response. Furthermore, SKF83959-facilitated LTD was significantly depressed in the presence of calcineurin (PP2B) inhibitors cyclosporin A (CsA) and associated with a persistent increase in the expression of calcineurin A. Taken together, these findings demonstrate a novel role for PI-linked D1 dopamine receptor in the neuromodulation of hippocampal LTD. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aims: We aimed to explore the mediating role of plasma retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) in the relationship between sleep quality and insulin resistance (IR) among pregnant women.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study including 263 pregnant women in the first trimester. Sleep quality was evaluated by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The ELISA and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) was used to analyze plasma RBP4 and estimate IR. The mediating model was used to analyze the mediating role of RBP4 in the relationship between PSQI score and IR.Results: In the multivariable linear regression model, the three terms were positively related with each other, PSQI score was positively associated with IR levels (β = 0.55, p < 0.05). In the mediating model, RBP4 levels mediated completely the relationship between PSQI scores and IR levels (β = 0.29, p < 0.0001). The indirect effect of RBP4 in the relation between sleep quality and IR explained 89.10% of total effect.Conclusions: RPB4 may play a complete mediating role in the relation between sleep quality and insulin resistance in early pregnancy. Improvements in sleep quality in the first trimester may provide a pathway to reduce plasma RBP4, which is beneficial for less IR and GDM prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) is a promising anticancer therapeutic target; however, the application of GPX4 inhibitors (GPX4i) is limited owing to intrinsic or acquired drug resistance. Hence, understanding the mechanisms underlying drug resistance and discovering molecules that can overcome drug resistance are crucial. Herein, we demonstrated that GPX4i killed bladder cancer cells by inducing lipid reactive oxygen species-mediated ferroptosis and apoptosis, and cisplatin-resistant bladder cancer cells were also resistant to GPX4i, representing a higher half-maximal inhibitory concentration value than that of parent bladder cancer cells. In addition, thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR1) overexpression was responsible for GPX4i resistance in cisplatin-resistant bladder cancer cells, and inhibiting TrxR1 restored the sensitivity of these cells to GPX4i. In vitro and in vivo studies revealed that Jolkinolide B (JB), a natural diterpenoid and previously identified as a TrxR1 inhibitor, potentiated the antiproliferative efficacy of GPX4i (RSL3 and ML162) against cisplatin-resistant bladder cancer cells. Furthermore, GPX4 knockdown and inhibition could augment JB-induced paraptosis and apoptosis. Our results suggest that inhibiting TrxR1 can effectively improve GPX4 inhibition-based anticancer therapy. A combination of JB and GPX4i, which is well-tolerated and has several anticancer mechanisms, may serve as a promising therapy for treating bladder cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Miscanthus was rapidly fractionated by benzenesulfonic acid at 80 °C. • 90.8 % of lignin and 75.5 % of xylan were removed at atmospheric pressure. • Near-complete enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency was achieved. Enhanced enzymatic saccharification of Miscanthus (MC) biomass, based on a novel benzenesulfonic acid (BA)-induced fractionation at mild condition as the pretreatment, gives a good example for the efficient transformation of energy crops into value-added products with minimal environmental impact. The results indicated that BA could facilitate the rapid and high solubilization of both lignin and hemicellulose, approximately 90.8 % of lignin and 75.5 % of hemicellulose were removed at 80 °C within 20 min. Consequently, the subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency was greatly enhanced to obtain an improved enzymatic digestibility with a high glucose yield of 97.9 %. Our study opens up an innovative avenue for the efficient valorization of the recalcitrant energy crops as MC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Powder metallurgical (PM) Nb-25Ta-xTi alloys (x = 5, 15, 25, 35 at.%) were fabricated by the elemental powder sintering technology. Effects of alloying elements and annealing treatment on the microstructural evolution and mechanical properties were investigated by conducting various tests, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron probe microanalyses (EPMA), electron back scattered diffraction detector (EBSD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and tensile tests. The results indicated that the alloys showed a unique Nb-rich and Ta-rich dual structure due to the insufficient diffusion between powders. With the increase of Ti content, the β phase was always retained and the alloys exhibited a relatively high density in the range of 82.4% to 90.5%. Furthermore, owing to a higher diffusion coefficient of Ti and the strengthening effect of solid solution, the volume shrinkage and tensile strength both increased along with the increase of Ti content. After the annealing treatment was introduced, the microstructure became more homogeneous and fine equiaxed grains appeared, which induced a decrease in modulus and better ductility. The Nb-25Ta-25Ti alloys exhibited a good in vitro biocompatibility due to the chemical components and the introduce of surface pores. The PM Nb-Ta-Ti alloys were promising for biomedical applications in tissue engineering after evaluated both mechanical properties and in vitro biocompatibility. • Nb-25Ta-xTi alloys with a dual structure were fabricated by partial diffusion. • Effect of alloying elements on microstructure and mechanical properties of Nb-Ta-Ti alloys was investigated. • Effect of annealing treatment on microstructure and mechanical properties of Nb-Ta-Ti alloys was investigated. • Nb-Ta-Ti alloys are promising as a new candidate of biomedical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microcystin-LR (MCLR) was commonly regarded as a potent hepatotoxin and has been reported to cause neurotoxicity. This study was aimed to investigate how maternal MCLR exposure during pregnancy alters behavioral responses in offspring mice and the possible molecular mechanism involved in this procedure. Three doses of MCLR solutions (0, 3 or 15 μg/kg body weight) were administered subcutaneously to pregnant C57bl/6 from gestation day (GD) 6–19. Our results showed that MCLR prenatal exposure led to the impairment of learning and memory function in offspring on postnatal days (PND) 35, accompanied by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and neuronal apoptosis in hippocampal CA1 regions of mice. Sixteen miRNAs in hippocampus of pups on PND 35 were significantly affected by MCLR exposure with the markedly decreased transcription of miR-181a-5p. We then found that miR-181a-5p was down-regulated, accompanied by activation of ER stress after prenatal exposure to MCLR using qPCR analysis. Furthermore, glucose-regulated protein, 78kDa/binding immunoglobulin protein (Grp78/BIP), a major ER chaperone and signaling regulator, was identified as a target of miR-181a-5p. Our study showed that miR-181a could lead to a decrease in the mRNA expression and protein levels of Grp78 by directly binding to its 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) in primary hippocampal neurons. Our findings indicate that the up-regulation of Grp78 mediated by inhibition of miR-181a-5p is a possible mechanism resulting in ER stress and cognitive impairment in pups following prenatal MCLR exposure. • Maternal MC-LR exposure altered behavioral responses in offspring mice. • MC-LR prenatal exposure led to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and neuronal apoptosis in offspring. • Inhibition in miR-181a resulted in the activation of ER stress and subsequent apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The global incidence of female depression showed a downward trend. • Incidence of female depression showed an upward trend in the high SDI region. • UHCI were negative correlated with EAPC of incidence rate. • SDI=sociodemographic index; UHCI=universal health coverage index; EAPC=estimated annual percentage change. Depression is a common mental disorder and more women are affected by depression than men. In this study, we aimed to analyze the trends in the incidence of depression among women from 1990 to 2019 and their associations with sociodemographic and universal health coverage indices based on data from the Global Burden of Disease study 2019. It was observed that while the incidence rate of depression among women decreased by an average of 0.35% per year at the global level, the incidence rate increased at the regional level for the high sociodemographic index region by an average of 0.39% per year from 1990 to 2019. And the global downward trend in incidence rate from 1990 to 2019 was contributed by the downward trend from 2000 to 2009. In Spearman correlation analyzes at the level of country/territory, a negative correlation between the estimated annual percentage change in the incidence rate and the universal health coverage index was found (ρ =-0.15). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water electrolysis using the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is a promising method for sustainable hydrogen production. Platinum-based catalysts have traditionally been the most efficient HER catalysts, but their scarcity and sluggish water dissociation limit their practical applications. Here we report on a novel superhydrophilic catalyst of nickel supported on nickel molybdenum nitride (Ni/Ni 0.8 Mo 4.2 N 6) that outperforms platinum-based nanomaterials. Despite the low catalytic activity of Ni or Ni 0.8 Mo 4.2 N 6 alone, their optimized composite exhibits exceptional HER activity, with respective 500% and 150% increases in the exchange current and turnover frequency compared to commercial Pt/C. Density of states calculations reveal a decrease in electron density of the supported nickel in Ni/Ni 0.8 Mo 4.2 N 6 , leading to a lower free energy of the HER. These findings demonstrate a powerful electron-engineering strategy for designing supported electrocatalysts with outstanding performance for the HER and related processes. [Display omitted] • A metal nitride catalyst with excellent HER activity (20 mV @ 10 mA cm-2) and high stability (≥ 1000 h) was prepared. • The Ni/Ni 0.8 Mo 4.2 N 6 was accurately resolved using neutron diffraction techniques for crystal structure determination. • The catalyst showed 500 % higher exchange current density and 150 % higher turnover frequency than commercial Pt/C. • This study offers a potent effective strategy for electronic engineering in developing outstanding HER catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environment-friendly Fe-based material@N-doped carbon nanoparticles imbedded in polylactic acid (PLA) matrix are prepared and applied in microwave absorption field. In the synthesis process, polydopamine (PDA) in the precursor could rationally regulate the phases of the iron-based particles and carbon contents. It turns out that optimizing the chemical composition plays a vital role in modulating microwave absorption performance. For instance, the maximum reflection loss (R Lmax) for Fe@N-doped carbon particles (S-120) reaches −61.6 dB (12.56 GHz, 2.1 mm), and the effective bandwidth is 4.48 GHz (from 13.52 GHz to 18 GHz) with a thickness of only 1.7 mm. The excellent microwave absorption performance could be attributed to perfect impedance matching brought by the synergies of multiple components. Moreover, the microwave absorbers display not only high microwave absorption performance but also environment-friendly characteristics that can avoid leaving stubborn waste after failure. The preparation process of the composite is pollution-free and the PLA in the composite can almost be naturally degraded within one month under simulated marine environment. This work may provide a new perspective on preparing high-efficient functional materials which are also harmless to the environment. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Infection with rubella virus during pregnancy can result in congenital defects and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The risk of rubella infection is greatly determined by the level of rubella antibodies in the serum. A survey of rubella antibody seronegativity rates was conducted in 780 000 women in rural China who were planning a pregnancy, in order to evaluate the herd susceptibility in different age groups and by high, middle, and low GDP per capita regions. Methods In order to evaluate the herd susceptibility to rubella, a nationwide population-based study of rural Chinese women who were planning to have a baby and who were aged 21–49 years was instigated. As a part of the National Free Pre-conception Health Examination Project covering 29 provinces in 2012, a physical check-up program was provided to women who planned to become pregnant within the next 6 months. All medical data were from serological samples tested by ELISA, and the participants’ immunity status was categorized based on levels of rubella antibodies. Economic data were also collected to explore the association between herd susceptibility and socioeconomic characteristics in the women of childbearing age. Results A total 264 306 of 782 293 recruited women preparing for pregnancy tested susceptible to rubella (33.79%). The seronegativity rate in women with a history of vaccination was significantly lower than that in women who had not received the vaccination or did not know their vaccination history (23.76%, 33.70%, and 35.68%, respectively). The seronegativity rates were 26.89%, 37.86%, and 32.61% in high, middle, and low GDP per capita areas, respectively. After stratified analysis and adjusting for other factors by multiple logistic regression, the lower seronegativity rates in women in high GDP per capita regions compared to women in middle and low GDP per capita regions remained in the different age groups and subgroups of immunization history. Conclusions There is a clear difference in rubella-specific susceptibility among rural women preparing for pregnancy of different sociodemographic and economic backgrounds. The number of rubella-susceptible rural women preparing for pregnancy, especially in relatively low GDP per capita regions in China, was high. Offering rubella vaccination to women who are rubella-susceptible and who plan to become pregnant should become one of the priorities in the field of public health work in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The duration of viable virus shedding of the Omicron variant was 5.16 days. • The average duration of polymerase chain reaction positivity of the Omicron variant was 10.82 days. • The duration in symptomatic patients was higher than that in asymptomatic patients. • Some studies found a difference between the Omicron and Delta variant infections. To assess the duration of viable virus shedding and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positivity of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in the upper respiratory tract. We systematically searched PubMed, Cochrane, and Web of Science for original articles reporting the duration of viable virus shedding and PCR positivity of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in the upper respiratory tract from November 11, 2021 to December 11, 2022. This meta-analysis was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022357349). We used the DerSimonian-Laird random-effects meta-analyses to obtain the pooled value and the 95% confidence intervals. We included 29 studies and 230,227 patients. The pooled duration of viable virus shedding of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in the upper respiratory tract was 5.16 days (95% CI: 4.18-6.14), and the average duration of PCR positivity was 10.82 days (95% CI: 10.23-11.42). The duration of viable virus shedding and PCR positivity of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in symptomatic patients was slightly higher than that in asymptomatic patients, but the difference was not significant (P >0.05). The current study improves our understanding of the status of the literature on the duration of viable virus shedding and PCR positivity of Omicron in the upper respiratory tract. Our findings have implications for pandemic control strategies and infection control measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different lithium salt (lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl) imide (LiFSI)/LiPF 6 9/1 mol ratio) concentrations in carbonate electrolyte were studied on the fast charging performance of LiNi 0.6 Mn 0.2 Co 0.2 O 2 (NMC622)/graphite pouch cells. The cells with electrolyte concentration from 0.75 M to 1.50 M showed similar fast charging capabilities. Further increase of the concentration to 1.75 M and 2.00 M decreased the attainable capacity in fast charging. In the long-term cycling test, the capacity retention after 200 fast charging cycles increased with the increase of salt concentration in electrolyte. Cells with 1.5 M electrolyte showed the best overall performance in fast charging capacity and long-term cycling. Li platings were observed in the cells with 0.75 M, 1.00 M and 1.25 M electrolyte. It was improved with greatly reduced Li plating area in 1.50 M, and no Li plating at all in 1.75 M and 2.00 M electrolyte. Post-mortem analysis such as neutron powder diffraction (NPD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to characterize the electrode after cycling. It suggests that electrolyte concentration needs to be optimized for a given cell configuration with specific electrode and loading. • Effect of electrolyte concentrations on fast charging performance was studied. • Cells with 1.5 M electrolyte showed the best overall performance. • Li plating can be alleviated with increase of salt concentration for fast charging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Common iron (hydr)oxides could promot transformation of TC under sunlight irradiation. • Production of HO• and phototransformation of TC were controlled by H 2 O 2 generation. • H 2 O 2 was produced through a two-electron reduction pathway on crystalline Hem and Goe. • H 2 O 2 was produced through O 2 reduction and Fe2+ oxidation on poorly crystalline Fh. • TC phototransformed faster under alkaline conditions in presence of iron (hydr)oxides. Iron (hydr)oxides are abundant in surface environment, and actively participate in the transformation of organic pollutants due to their large specific surface areas and redox activity. This work investigated the transformation of tetracycline (TC) in the presence of three common iron (hydr)oxides, hematite (Hem), goethite (Goe), and ferrihydrite (Fh), under simulated sunlight irradiation. These iron (hydr)oxides exhibited photoactivity and facilitated the transformation of TC with the initial phototransformation rates decreasing in the order of: Hem > Fh > Goe. The linear correlation between TC removal efficiency and the yield of HO• suggests that HO• dominated TC transformation. The HO• was produced by UV-induced decomposition of self-generated H 2 O 2 and surface Fe2+-triggered photo-Fenton reaction. The experimental results indicate that the generation of HO• was controlled by H 2 O 2 , while surface Fe2+ was in excess. Sunlight-driven H 2 O 2 production in the presence of the highly crystalline Hem and Goe occurred through a one-step two-electron reduction pathway, while the process was contributed by both O 2 -induced Fe2+ oxidation and direct reduction of O 2 by electrons on the conduction band in the presence of the poorly crystalline Fh. These findings demonstrate that sunlight may significantly accelerate the degradation of organic pollutants in the presence of iron (hydr)oxides. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore the associations between air pollution and male sexual function. A total of 5047 male subjects in China were included in this study. The average air pollution exposure (PM 2.5 , PM 10 , SO 2 , CO, NO 2 , and O 3) for the preceding 1, 3, 6, and 12 months before the participants' response was assessed. Male sexual function was evaluated using the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) and the Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT). Generalized linear models were utilized to explore the associations between air pollution and male sexual function. K-prototype algorithm was conducted to identify the association among specific populations. Significant adverse effects on the IIEF-5 score were observed with NO 2 exposure during the preceding 1, 3, and 6 months (1 m: β = −5.26E-05; 3 m: β = −4.83E-05; 6 m: β = −4.23E-05, P < 0.05). PM 2.5 exposure during the preceding 12 months was found to significantly negatively affect the PEDT after adjusting for confounding variables. Our research indicated negative correlations between air pollutant exposures and male sexual function for the first time. Furthermore, these associations were more pronounced among specific participants who maintain a normal BMI, exhibit extroverted traits, and currently engage in smoking and alcohol consumption. [Display omitted] • Average NO 2 exposure was negatively associated with IIEF-5 scores. • PM 2.5 exposure over the preceding 12 months negatively impacted the PEDT. • Reducing air pollution exposure is important for male sexual function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A global dataset with 254,738 AMR-related manuscripts was complied. • An AI information retrieval system based on NLP was developed to extract knowledge. • Global foci and current knowledge gaps of AMR research were characterized. • More intersectoral AMR research is urgently needed to guide One Health AMR solutions. • Intrasectoral and intersectoral AMR research co-occurrence networks were constructed. The global health crisis posed by increasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) implicitly requires solutions based a One Health approach, yet multisectoral, multidisciplinary research on AMR is rare and huge knowledge gaps exist to guide integrated action. This is partly because a comprehensive survey of past research activity has never performed due to the massive scale and diversity of published information. Here we compiled 254,738 articles on AMR using Artificial Intelligence (AI; i.e., Natural Language Processing, NLP) methods to create a database and information retrieval system for knowledge extraction on research perfomed over the last 20 years. Global maps were created that describe regional, methodological, and sectoral AMR research activities that confirm limited intersectoral research has been performed, which is key to guiding science-informed policy solutions to AMR, especially in low-income countries (LICs). Further, we show greater harmonisation in research methods across sectors and regions is urgently needed. For example, differences in analytical methods used among sectors in AMR research, such as employing culture-based versus genomic methods, results in poor communication between sectors and partially explains why One Health-based solutions are not ensuing. Therefore, our analysis suggest that performing culture-based and genomic AMR analysis in tandem in all sectors is crucial for data integration and holistic One Health solutions. Finally, increased investment in capacity development in LICs should be prioritised as they are places where the AMR burden is often greatest. Our open-access database and AI methodology can be used to further develop, disseminate, and create new tools and practices for AMR knowledge and information sharing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

WC–6(Co, Ni) composite powders with different Co/Ni ratios were fabricated through hydrogen reduction of WC–(Co, Ni)C 2 O 4 ·2H 2 O precursor. The effects of Ni on the sintering behavior, microstructures, corrosion resistance and mechanical properties of WC–6(Co, Ni) cemented carbides were investigated using dilatometer, scanning electron microscope, electrochemical test and mechanical properties tests. The results show that the mixing of WC powders and Co–Ni prealloyed powders can be integrated in the preparation of Co–Ni prealloyed powders. The liquid phase temperature and corrosion resistance of WC–6(Co, Ni) cemented carbides increase with the increase of Ni content. When 20 wt.% Co is substituted by Ni, the average WC grain size decreases from 1.67 μm to 1.48 μm, the hardness and the transverse rupture strength increase from 1445HV 30 , 2182 MPa to 1470HV 30 , 2276 MPa, respectively, while the corrosion rate decreases from 176.23×10 −2 mm/a to 89.94×10 −2 mm/a. In this case, it is feasible that Co is partly substituted by Ni if the novel WC–6(Co, Ni) composite powders are applied in the preparation of WC–6Co cemented carbides containing Ni. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Porous TiNi binary and TiNiNb ternary alloys of four compositions (Ti50Ni47.5Nb2.5, Ti50Ni45Nb5, Ti50Ni42.5Nb7.5, and Ti50Ni40Nb10) were fabricated by the elemental powder sintering process. The effects of Nb addition on microstructure and mechanical properties of TiNi(Nb) alloys were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and tensile tests, respectively. With the increase of Nb contents, the TiNi matrix as the main phase is always retained, while the intensity of its diffraction peak gradually became weak with the appearance of β-Nb and TiNb phases. Most Nb particles are well-distributed in the TiNi matrix and (Ti,Nb)2Ni phase is found in the binding domain between Nb phase and TiNi phase. The tensile strength and elastic modulus of TiNiNb alloys increase with the increase of Nb contents, due to the solid solution strengthening effect of Nb-rich particles, the enlarged sintering neck and the strengthened bond between particles. Consequently, Nb plays a crucial role in adjusting composition and improving microstructure and mechanical properties of TiNiNb alloys. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is an acute, highly contagious animal disease caused by FMD virus (FMDV). Although FMDV-induced immunosuppression in host has been well established, the exact molecular mechanism for such induction is not very clear. We report here the identification of FMDV VP1 as an interferon-suppressor by interacting with soluble resistance-related calcium binding protein (sorcin). We found that VP1 suppressed tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α or Sendai virus (SeV)-induced type I interferon response in HEK293T cells, and that this suppression could be completely abolished by knockdown of sorcin by shRNA. Furthermore, overexpression of sorcin inhibited type I interferon response. Conversely, TNF- or SeV-induced type I interferon response increased when sorcin knocked down, leading to inhibition of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) replication. Thus, VP1-induced suppression of type I interferon is mediated by interacting with sorcin, a protein that appears to regulate cell response to viral infections. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Shenfu injection (SFI) is a well-known Chinese herbal medicine widely used in the treatment of septic shock in China. To explore the clinical safety and effectiveness of combined application of Shenfu injection in the treatment of septic shock on the basis of routine western medical treatment. Randomized controlled trials published before February 28, 2022 in patients with septic shock were searched in the Chinese Biomedical Literature Service System (SinoMed), Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Library, WOS, Scopus. Stata 15.0 and R 4.2.2 were used to meta-analyze sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, case fatality rate, mean arterial pressure (MAP), arterial lactate (Lac). Adverse effects were analyzed by description. A total of 904 articles were searched and 56 RCTs were included, with a total of 4279 participants. Among them, there were 2148 cases in the SFI group and 2131 cases in the control group. The meta-analysis showed that, comparing with routine western medical therapy, the combined use of SFI could effectively reduce 24 h SOFA (MD = −0.79, 95%CI: (−1.12) - (−0.46)), 72 h SOFA (MD = −1.53, 95%CI: (−1.89) - (−1.17)) and 7 d SOFA (MD = −1.55; 95%CI: (−2.86) - (−0.24)). Besides, combined use of SFI could reduce 14 d case fatality rate (RR = 0.16, 95% CI: 0.07–0.37) and 28 d case fatality rate (RR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.71–0.95). While SFI group showed almost the same effect in 7 d case fatality rate as control (RR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.42–1.37; P = 0.37). SFI could increase 6 h MAP (MD = 6.40, 95% CI: 3.43–9.37) and 24 h MAP (MD = 4.79, 95% CI: 1.62–7.95). Additionally, SFI could decrease 6 h Lac (MD = −0.90, 95% CI: (−1.34) - (−0.45)), 24 h Lac (MD = −0.80, 95% CI: (−1.20) - (−0.40)), 48 h Lac (MD = −0.67, 95% CI: (-1.05) - (−0.29)). Shenfu injection combined with RWT showed better therapeutic effect than RWT. SFI plus RWT can improve clinical prognosis of patients with septic shock. [Display omitted] • Efficacy and safety of Shenfu injection (SFI) in septic shock patients were systematically reviewed. • SFI is effective in reducing case fatality and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score. • SFI increases Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) and reduces blood arterial lactate (Lac). • SFI plus routine western medical therapy (RWT) do not lead to more adverse effects than with RWT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) 2C, is one of the most highly-conserved viral proteins among the serotypes of FMDV. However, its effect on host cells is not very clear. Using yeast two-hybrid system and immunoprecipitation approaches, we found that FMDV 2C interacted with the N-myc and STAT interactor (Nmi) protein. When expressed in cells, FMDV 2C is mainly associated with endoplasmic reticulum in the forms of speckles. In the absence of FMDV 2C, Nmi was distributed diffusely in the cytoplasm. However, upon FMDV 2C overexpression Nmi was recruited into FMDV 2C containing speckles where both proteins are co-localized. In addition, FMDV 2C induced apoptosis in BHK-21 cells, which was markedly inhibited by Nmi knockdown, suggesting that Nmi may play a critical role in FMDV 2C-induced apoptosis. These findings may help to further understand the molecular mechanism of pathogenesis of FMDV infection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Influenza increased the risk of stillbirth, with no effect on the other four outcomes. • The association was evident in studies conducted during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. • The effect of influenza on preterm birth was higher in studies with CFR of over 1.5%. Adverse pregnancy outcomes are risk factors for neonatal mortality and morbidity. While some studies have demonstrated notable associations between influenza and adverse pregnancy outcomes, the findings have contrasted with other studies. This meta-analysis was conducted to assess the effect of influenza infection on pregnancy outcomes. We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science from inception to 4 November 2020. Relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled using random-effects or fixed-effects models. A total of 17 studies involving 2,351,204 participants were included. Influenza infection increased the risk of stillbirth (RR = 3.62, 95% CI: 1.60−8.20), with no significant effect on preterm birth (RR = 1.17, 95%CI: 0.95−1.45), fetal death (RR = 0.93, 95%CI: 0.73−1.18), small for gestational age (SGA) (RR = 1.10, 95%CI: 0.98–1.24) and low birth weight (LBW) (RR = 1.88, 95%CI: 0.46−7.66). In a subgroup analysis of LBW, the association was evident in studies conducted during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic (RR = 2.28, 95%CI: 1.81−2.87), with no evidence of an association in pre-pandemic or post-pandemic studies. Influenza virus infection was associated with an increased risk of stillbirth, but its effect on preterm birth, fetal death, SGA and LBW is still uncertain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • NH 2 -MIL-53(Al) as modulator enhances fluorescence dual-emission of TpTt-COF. • Benzene ring of the probe recognizes tetracycline through π-π interactions. • Fluorescence quenching via N/O of the probe and −OH/−NH 2 of tetracycline. • Limit of detection of 0.014 μmol/L and recoveries of 94.39–105.67% are achieved. • The optosmart sensing system is applied to visual detection of tetracycline. Tetracycline residues in animal-derived food pose serious harm to human health, making it demanded to develop simple and sensitive method for detecting tetracycline. Herein, a dual-emission synchronous response fluorescence probe is reported based on amino-functionalized Al-MOF modulated TpTt-COF (donate as NMT). NMT exhibits excellent dual-emission at 455 and 575 nm under single excitation. Tetracycline is sensitively detected through quenching the dual-emission of NMT. NMT specifically recognizes tetracycline through intermolecular hydrogen bonding between –OH/−NH 2 of tetracycline and deprotonated O−/−NH−/C N of NMT. A calibration curve is built between the fluorescence ratio and the tetracycline concentration with a detection limit of 0.014 μmol/L. NMT is employed to detect tetracycline in milk, pork and chicken, and displays satisfactory recoveries of 94.39–105.67%, respectively. The optosmart sensor based on NMT and smartphone has been constructed for visually detecting tetracycline. This method provides routes to construct MOF-COF fluorescence probes and has good prospects in food analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• ChCl/ p -TsOH solvent system was successfully applied for biomass pretreatment. • Over 90% of lignin and xylan has been removed coupling NaOH post-treatment. • Near-complete of enzymatic digestibility was achieved of hardwood and herbage. A novel recyclable deep eutectic solvent (DES) consisting of p -toluene sulfonic acid (p -TsOH) and choline chloride (ChCl) was developed for efficient woody poplar sawdust (PL) and herbaceous miscanthus (MC) conversion at mild condition. The extraction of leftover lignin on the surface of DES pretreated residues using NaOH solution at room temperature greatly improved the enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency. Near complete cellulose conversion of PL and MC residues were obtained with a degree of delignification and xylan removal over 90% at 100 °C within 40 min. The strong correlations between xylan (R2 = 0.95) and lignin (R2 = 0.82) removal with cellulose conversion were observed in MC as well as positive correlations (R2 > 0.77) in PL. The results demonstrated that the DES system coupling NaOH post-treatment was a promising method to achieve an economically feasible biomass conversion process, which was effective for both woody PL residues and herbaceous MC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel direct Z-scheme NiGa 2 O 4 /CeO 2 nanocomposite was designed and prepared via simple sol-hydrothermal and calcination methods, and its sonocatalytic activity was tested by studying the degradation of a model antimicrobial agent, malachite green (MG), under ultrasonic irradiation. Near complete (96.2%) degradation of MG (at 10 mg/L) could be achieved by the NiGa 2 O 4 /CeO 2 nanocomposite (at 1.0 g/L) after ultrasonic irradiation (40 kHz, 300 W) for 60 min at 25 °C. Under the same conditions, only 51.2 and 72.0% of the MG degraded in the presence of NiGa 2 O 4 and CeO 2 (at 1.0 g/L), respectively. These results demonstrate that the direct Z-scheme NiGa 2 O 4 /CeO 2 nanocomposite has excellent sonocatalytic activity, which is attributed to the matching band-gaps between NiGa 2 O 4 and CeO 2. The sonocatalytic activity of NiGa 2 O 4 /CeO 2 nanocomposite decreased by 17% after four cycles of reuse, which is indicative of relatively good reusability. Scavenging experiments revealed that sonocatalytic degradation of MG results from the combined action of hydroxyl radicals (OH) and holes (h+), with the latter having a greater contribution. The pathways and mechanism of MG degradation were proposed based on the degradation intermediates detected. The results demonstrate that the prepared direct Z-scheme NiGa 2 O 4 /CeO 2 nanocomposite worked as designed and exhibited high and stable sonocatalytic activity during MG degradation, and could thus serve as a promising candidate in sonocatalytic treatment of other organic pollutants in wastewaters. The findings also provide new insights on the mechanism of sonocatalytic degradation and the design of efficient Z-scheme sonocatalysts. Unlabelled Image • A novel direct Z-scheme NiGa 2 O 4 /CeO 2 nanocomposite for sonocatalysis was prepared. • Catalytic activity is enhanced due to the matching band-gaps between NiGa 2 O 4 and CeO 2. • The prepared sonocatalyst performed well in the degradation of a model antimicrobial. • Sonocatalytic degradation pathways and mechanism of model antimicrobial were proposed. • Sonocatalytic degradation is promising for treating wastewater with poor transparency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Observational studies suggest that the risk of cardiovascular disease increases during menopause; however, the menopause-related risk of subclinical atherosclerosis is unclear. The aim of the current study is to evaluate menopause and the risk of subclinical carotid atherosclerosis through a retrospective analysis of data from a population-based prospective cohort study.Study Design: The study sample comprised 879 women in the Beijing community enrolled in the Chinese Multi-provincial Cohort Study at baseline study in 1992 and followed up to at least one carotid ultrasound examination at three on-site follow-up surveys. Age at menopause was categorized as <40 years (premature menopause), 40-44 years (early menopause), 45-49 years (relatively early menopause), 50-51 years (reference), and >51 years (relatively late menopause). Menopause staging at baseline was categorized as: reproductive, menopausal transition/perimenopause, early postmenopause, and late postmenopause. Menopause as a time-varying covariate was calculated using waiting time to menopause and menopause status at the last follow-up (2012).Main Outcome Measures: The main outcome measures included carotid plaque and intima-media thickening. Gray's test was performed to assess the equality of cumulative incidence functions between age groups at menopause and between menopause stages. Multivariate Cox regression models were used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) associated with menopause.Results: Of the 879 women included (mean [SD] age at baseline, 48.6 [8.1] years), 573 (65.2%) developed carotid plaques and 430 (48.9%) developed intima-media thickening during follow-up. Menopause was significantly associated with risk of developing carotid plaques (HR 1.93, 95% CI 1.05-3.54; P = 0.03) after adjustment for age at baseline, age at menopause, use of oral estrogen due to menopause, and traditional cardiovascular risk factors at baseline. No significant association was found between age at menopause and risk of carotid atherosclerosis.Conclusion: Menopausal women, irrespective of age at menopause, had an increased risk of carotid plaque. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is the defining global health crisis of our time and the greatest challenge facing the world. Meteorological parameters are reportedly crucial factors affecting respiratory infectious disease epidemics; however, the effect of meteorological parameters on COVID-19 remains controversial. This study investigated the effects of temperature and relative humidity on daily new cases and daily new deaths of COVID-19, which has useful implications for policymakers and the public. Daily data on meteorological conditions, new cases and new deaths of COVID-19 were collected for 166 countries (excluding China) as of March 27, 2020. Log-linear generalized additive model was used to analyze the effects of temperature and relative humidity on daily new cases and daily new deaths of COVID-19, with potential confounders controlled for, including wind speed, median age of the national population, Global Health Security Index, Human Development Index and population density. Our findings revealed that temperature and relative humidity were both negatively related to daily new cases and deaths. A 1 °C increase in temperature was associated with a 3.08% (95% CI: 1.53%, 4.63%) reduction in daily new cases and a 1.19% (95% CI: 0.44%, 1.95%) reduction in daily new deaths, whereas a 1% increase in relative humidity was associated with a 0.85% (95% CI: 0.51%, 1.19%) reduction in daily new cases and a 0.51% (95% CI: 0.34%, 0.67%) reduction in daily new deaths. The results remained robust when different lag structures and the sensitivity analysis were used. These findings provide preliminary evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic may be partially suppressed with temperature and humidity increases. However, active measures must be taken to control the source of infection, block transmission and prevent further spread of COVID-19. Unlabelled Image • First study to explore the effects of temperature and humidity on the daily new cases and deaths of COVID-19 worldwide. • We used log-linear GAM to analyze the effects. • We considered the lag effects and the cumulative effects of weather conditions. • Temperature and relative humidity were both negatively related to the daily new cases and daily new deaths of COVID-19 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

WC-10Co cemented carbides with plate-like WC grains were fabricated using ultrafine WC as seeds via the reaction among tungsten, cobalt and carbon. The effects of ultrafine WC contents on the microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties were investigated. Because the density of W is higher than that of complex carbide particles (Co x W y C z), some cracks could be existed in the thin flake W particles owing to the volume expansion, bringing about the formation of flake WC nuclei. Some flake WC nuclei aggregates could be seen in the alloys without the addition of ultrafine WC. The addition of ultrafine WC could bring about the gradually disappearance of flake WC nuclei aggregates and accelerate the formation of plate-like WC grains. The high content of plate-like WC could bring about high hardness. Furthermore, the palte-like WC grains could efficiently hinder the propagation of the cracks as the crack path deflection and crack bridging, and inevitably improve the transverse rupture strength. • Cemented carbides with plate-like WC grains were fabricated using ultrafine WC as seeds. • The addition of ultrafine WC could accelerate the formation of plate-like WC grains. • The high content of palte-like WC grains result in high properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Tris (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBOEP), as one of the most widely used organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs), is applied in nearly all manufactured items and materials. It has been reported that TBOEP could cause developmental impairments and disrupt the endocrine regulation of fish growth during acute toxic experiments. However, concentrations to which fish were exposed in these studies were greater than environmentally relevant concentrations ever reported. This study examined effects on growth associated with exposure of zebrafish to 0, 0.1, 1 and 10 μg/L TBOEP during 20–90 days post fertilization (dpf). The changes in growth indicators and bioaccumulation of TBOEP were examined along with the transcription of related genes in the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor (GH/IGF) axis and the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis. The average body contents of TBOEP were higher in females than in males in all the exposure groups. Exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of TBOEP significantly decreased body length and body mass and down-regulated expression of several genes involved in the GH/IGF and HPT axes. Exposure to TBOEP decreased plasma thyroxine (T4) content accompanied by decreased mRNA level of thyrotropin β-subunit (tshβ) in females at 60 dpf, but no effects were observed at 90 dpf. These results suggested that bioaccumulation of TBOEP and down-regulation of genes involved in the GH/IGF axis might be responsible for the observed growth inhibition in zebrafish exposed to TBOEP. Highlights • Growth of zebrafish was inhibited by environmentally relevant levels of TBOEP. • TBOEP had no persistent effect on concentrations of THs. • Bioaccumulation of TBOEP contributed to the growth inhibition. • Disruption of GH/IGF axis was induced by environmentally relevant levels of TBOEP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Carbon-encapsulated transitional metal sulfides are considered as a promising anode material candidate for lithium ion batteries. Herein, a simple process is developed to synthesize 3D orostachys-like cobalt sulfides/C composites. This process is associated with the rational design of metal organic frameworks (MOFs) and subsequent in-situ sulfurization. Benefit from its unique structures, this novel 3D orostachys-like cobalt sulfides@C composites delivers an excellent charge capacity of 791 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at 0.2 A g−1 as well as high stability of 667 mA g−1 after 700 cycles at 1 A g−1. Pseudocapacitive behaviors enhanced the electrochemical performance of 3D orostachys-like cobalt sulfides@C composites. Graphical abstract Scheme illustrating the benefit of hierarchical micro/nano-structure of Co 1-x S/C composites. Image 1 Highlights • Novel orostachys-like metal-organic frameworks were synthesized. • Cobalt sulfide nanoparticles uniformly embedded in hierarchical porous carbon network. • Several features of the hybrids lead to excellent lithium storage performance. • Pseudocapacitive behaviors enhanced the electrochemical performance of the hybrids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zero thermal expansion (ZTE) alloys are dimensionally stable under the influence of heat, which is critical in high-precision components but remains rare among single phase materials. This work reports a single phase and nearly isotropic ZTE alloy (Hf 0.8 Nb 0.2)Fe 2.5 over a wide temperature range of 5–460 K (α l ≈ 1.07 × 10−6 K −1) via non-stoichiometric regulation. The introduction of excess Fe breaks the dual-phase nature of parent alloy, extends the magnetic ordering temperature, and induces a spin reorientation. The evolution of magnetic structure versus temperature gives rise to the ZTE behavior. The design concept of changing the internal magnetic interaction through non-stoichiometric regulation provides support for the discovery of novel ZTE materials. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tris (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBOEP) is an environmental contaminant that poses serious risks to aquatic organisms and their associated ecosystem. Recently, the reproductive and developmental toxicology of TBOEP has been reported. However, fewer studies have assessed the neurotoxic effects in zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) larvae. In this study, zebrafish embryos were subjected to waterborne exposure of TBOEP at 0, 50, 500, 1500 and 2500 μg/L from 2 to 144-h post-fertilization (hpf). Behavioral measurements showed that TBOEP exposure reduced embryonic spontaneous movement and decreased swimming speed of larvae in response to dark stimulation. In accordance with these motor effects, TBOEP treatment reduced neuron-specific GFP expression in transgenic Tg ( HuC -GFP) zebrafish larvae and inhibited the growth of secondary motoneurons, as well as decreased expression of marker genes related to central nervous system development in TBOEP treated group. Furthermore, increased concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), as well as reduction of SOD activity were detected in TBOEP exposure group. The present results showed that the alteration in motor neuron and oxidative stress could together lead to the motor behavior alterations induced by TBOEP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • NH 2 of UiO-66-NH 2 covalent bonding linkage with CHO of TpTt-COF. • UiO-66-NH 2 attenuates the aggregation-caused quenching effect of TpTt-COF. • Benzene ring of TpTt-COF and tetracycline interact recognition by π-π stacking. • Fluorescence quenching via N/O of UiO-66-NH 2 @TpTt-COF and OH/ NH 2 of tetracycline. • LOD of 7.4 nmol/L and recoveries of 88.58–104.31% are achieved. Tetracycline residues are seriously hazardous to environment, it's urgent to develop sensors to detect tetracycline for environmental monitoring. A fluorescence sensor based on dual-emissions UiO-66-NH 2 @TpTt-COF (donate as UNT) composite is constructed by an interfacial growth method for detecting tetracycline. The import of UiO-66-NH 2 attenuates the aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) of TpTt-COF, which endows UNT emitting strong dual-emissions of 452 nm and 575 nm. Tetracycline is recognized by UNT through π-π stacking and interacts with triazine N and deprotonated O of UNT through intermolecular hydrogen bonds. These interactions impede the excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) and intramolecular charge transfer (ICT), and promote the photoinduced electron transfer (PET), inducing synchronous fluorescent quenching of the dual-emissions of UNT. The synchronous response of UNT enhances the specificity and displays excellent sensitivity toward tetracycline with a detection limit of 7.4 nmol/L. UNT is applied for the detection of tetracycline in soil and river water with recoveries of 92.96–98.44% and 88.58–104.31%, respectively. An optosmart sensing system has also been developed to enable visual detection of tetracycline. This work provides a novel synchronous response sensor for antibiotic detection and opens a new path for core-shell MOF@COF composites in the field of environmental monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]