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Photocatalytic water splitting provides a green method to solve the energy shortage issue. Combine two-dimensional carbon nitride nano sheets with other two-dimensional semiconductors can effectively increase the construct area and improve the utilization of photogenerated charges. Herein, 2D-2D NiCo-LDH/g-C 3 N 4 composites were successfully prepared by a simple hydrothermal method. The lamellar NiCo-LDH was grown in situ on g-C 3 N 4 , in which way the hydrogen production rate was enhanced by about 21 times, reaching 755 μmol·g−1·h−1. According to the results of density functional theory （DFT） calculations, an S-type heterojunction is successfully constructed, which achieves the spatial separation of semiconductor photogenerated electron-hole with guaranteed strong redox capability. This work emphasizes that effective transport channels for transfer and separation of photogenerated charges can be created through efficient interfacial regulation strategy. • The 2D-2D S-type heterojunction increases the charge transfer channel. • The hydrogen production rate of 20 LDH/CN is 21 times than that of g-C 3 N 4. • The Gibbs free energy of hydrogen adsorption of 20 LDH/CN is close zero. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of high-performance cathodes with low polarization resistance and good tolerance to CO 2 are important issues for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). In this work, we synthesized LaSrCoO 4 –Ce 0.9 Mn 0.1 O 2 (LSCO4-CMO) composite cathode materials by the citric acid-nitrate method. The composite cathode sintered at 950 °C for 4 h shows large porous morphology and superior electrochemical activity of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Electrochemical properties analysis suggests that LSCO4-35 wt% CMO (L-35C) exhibits the lowest polarization resistance (R p) at 800 °C and the value of R p is 0.14 Ω cm2 which is far lower than that of pure LSCO4 (0.77 Ω cm2). It is found that the LSCO4-CMO has unique microstructure and more active sites for ORR. Moreover, the doping of CMO offers more oxygen ions transport channels as the concentration of oxygen vacancies increases. The study of the effect of oxygen partial pressure on R p reveals that as the temperature rises, the rate of dissociation of oxygen molecules is significantly accelerated, indicating that the charge transfer of oxygen atoms becomes the main rate-limiting step. A high oxygen reduction catalytic activity and excellent CO 2 tolerance were demonstrated in L-35C by O 2 -TPD and CO 2 -TPD tests, making LSCO4-CMO a potential candidate for SOFC cathode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reverse distribution of renewable energy resources and load centers makes exploring the optimal transmission mode of long-distance and large-scale renewable hydrogen the key to solving the bottleneck of renewable hydrogen development. This study incorporates hydrogen pipeline (HGP), natural gas pipeline (NGP), and Ultra High Voltage (UHV) into an optimal planning model framework and analyzes the optimal transmission mode, quantity, network, and cost of large-scale renewable hydrogen in China. Constructing a sensitivity analysis framework, this study also investigates the optimal transmission mode changes under different scenarios. The results show that the optimal mode of large-scale renewable hydrogen transmission in the province is NGP, and 5.4% of supply level is the critical point to export renewable hydrogen inter-provincially. It switches to the combination of NGP and HGP when the unit transmission costs of these elements decrease to a certain proportion simultaneously or switches to HGP when the unit transmission cost of HGP decreases more than that of NGP. The complementary transmission mode of NGP and UHV is the optimal mode for inter-provincial transmission, and the HGP can be put into use for inter-provincial transmission only when the unit transmission cost of which is reduced to less than 25%. Jilin is the key node in the NGP network, and Tibet and Gansu are the key nodes in UHV network, and the participation or absence of which will have significant impact on the renewable hydrogen transmission system. Only minor adjustments to the transmission technical parameters of NGP or HGP can promote the qualitative overflight of the optimal transmission volume of them so as to achieve the target optimization at the minimum cost. • Optimal planning model framework for renewable hydrogen transmission is proposed. • The optimal transmission mode, network, and cost of renewable hydrogen are analyzed. • Thresholds and spatial features of the optimal plan vary with hydrogen supply level. • Renewable hydrogen will be transmitted inter-provincially at 5.4% of supply level. • Multiple equilibria for modes selection are observed by cost sensitivity analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orifice plates, as a representative type of resistance grid, have been widely adopted in scaled ventilation models of tunnels, since they can cause equivalent pressure loss effectively to simulate the friction resistance of long tunnels and thus reduce the length of the scaled tunnel. In this work, a combined experimental–numerical investigation comprising the effects of porosity n (ranged within 0.2–0.8) and relative thickness t / d (within 0.03–1.17, t the plate thickness and d the hole diameter) is carried out, which aims to characterize the key design parameters, i.e. pressure loss coefficient ξ and affecting length l , of thin orifice plates applied in scaled tunnels. Results show that previous models of ξ established for thick plates are not applicable any more because of the flow pattern transition when t / d ≤ 0.2, and an improved model is established to account for the flow characteristics of thin orifice plates by modifying the contraction coefficient C c and thickness coefficient C 0 via experiments. The affecting length l is defined as the distance required for the axial jet velocity to decay to 1.05 times the inlet velocity u i n after benchmark tests on different criteria, and an innovative predictive formula of l is then constructed based on jet theory. Finally, a systematic design guideline is proposed by fully evaluating the effects of t , d and n on ξ and l of orifice plates, which would benefit the superior configuration of resistance grids utilized in scaled tunnels. • The depressurization mechanism of orifice-plate resistance grids is elaborated. • An improved formula is proposed to estimate the local pressure loss of orifice plates. • A novel model characterizing the affecting length of orifice plates is established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Directly converting syngas to α-olefins via the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction serves as a competitive alternative to the traditional petroleum route, which has attracted much recent attention. However, achieving high catalytic activity over the iron-based catalyst remains a grand challenge, due to the easy oxidation of the iron carbides active phase by the water produced during reaction. Herein, we present a porous graphite-carbon encapsulated iron-based catalyst, in which the iron carbides remain stable even under harsh reaction conditions of high CO conversion or high reaction temperature. Due to the excellent anti-oxidation ability of active phase, an ultrahigh activity for producing C 4+ α-olefins of 11.35 g·g cat −1·h−1 can be obtained. This work provides a promising strategy to develop iron-based Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalysts with high catalytic activity and stability by rationally stabilizing iron carbides. [Display omitted] • A strategy to stabilize iron carbides during syngas to α-olefins was proposed. • Porous graphite-carbon encapsulated pure iron carbides was successfully prepared. • The rigid graphite-carbon protected iron carbides from oxidation by water. • Ultrahigh activity for producing C 4+ α-olefins of 11.35 g·g cat −1·h−1 was achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought is a major environmental constraint to plant productivity, and plants cope with water limitation using drought avoidance and/or tolerance strategies. Mesoxerophyte Astragalus mongholicus displayed better drought resistance than the mesophyte A. membranaceus. However, the underlying response mechanisms are still elusive. In this study, we characterized the morphological, physiological, molecular, and metabolic responses to drought stress to reveal the different response strategies in the two Astragalus species. The susceptible A. membranaceus , with a larger leaf area, showed significant stomatal closure at moderate drought stress, indicating drought avoidance strategy to minimize transpiration. A. mongholicus , with a smaller leaf area, was better in maintaining photosynthesis and activating antioxidant enzymes than A. membranaceus towards the drought tolerance strategy. Drought has greater disturbance on gene expression in A. membranaceus , compared to A. mongholicus , indicating that A. membranaceus was more sensitive in the face of drought. Meanwhile, highly conserved osmotic stress signal transduction pathways were discovered in two Astragalus species under drought treatment. The up-regulation of dehydration-responsive element-binding gene (DREB) expression in A. mongholicus , initiating a series of stress response pathways to help plants adapt and cope with water limitation, showed better "tolerance" than in A. membranaceus. An increase of compatible solutes in A. membranaceus indicates a positive response in regulating osmotic homeostasis in response to drought. The greater investment in antioxidant supplementation phenolic compounds of A. mongholicus suggests the "Tolerance" strategy. Furthermore, the greater antioxidant investment of A. mongholicus is evidenced by higher antioxidant efficacies in terms of antiradical activity. In summary, we conclude that the "Tolerance" strategy of A. mongholicus and the "Avoidance" strategy of A. membranaceus in the face of drought stress can be established. • The conserved osmotic stress signal transduction pathway was discovered in two Astragalus species. • The response of A. mongholicus suggests the "Tolerance" strategy to drought. • The response of A. membranaceus suggests the "Avoidance" strategy to drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C. perfringens type D strains are the leading cause of enterotoxaemia in ruminants such as goats, sheep, and cattle. However, there has been no prior research on the genomic characteristics of C. perfringens type D strains from various regions in China. Here, we investigated the antibiotic resistance, genomic characteristics, and phylogenetic relationship of C. perfringens type D isolates recovered from goat farms in Shaanxi, Gansu, and Ningxia provinces. The antibiotic resistance test indicated that the isolates displayed high minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values to sulfafurazole, whereas the other antibiotics tested, such as penicillin, enrofloxacin, and florfenicol, worked well on them. Additionally, only tetracycline resistance genes [ tetA (P) and tetB (P)] were identified from the isolates. A collective of 13 toxin genes, including etx and cpe were detected among the isolates. Sequence comparison revealed that the etx and cpe genes shared high sequence identities, and they could coexist on a pCW3-like plasmid, representing a potential risk to both animal breeding and public health. Phylogenetic analysis using core genome multi-locus sequence typing (cgMLST) and core genome single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) revealed the close genetic relationship and potential regional/transregional transmission of the C. perfringens type D isolates in Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. Furthermore, pan-genomic analysis suggested the functional differences at the protein-coding gene level, although isolates from the same source shared a close genetic relationship. In conclusion, this study indicated the antibiotic resistance, virulence markers, potential transregional transmission, and genomic diversity of C. perfringens type D strains from various regions in China, which could provide references for the prevention of C. perfringens foodborne diseases and further research. • This study investigated genomic features of C. perfringens type D. • etx and cpe could co-exist on pCW3-like plasmids. • Genomic analysis indicated the potential transregional transmission of C. perfringens type D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A series of sophisticated 3D discontinuous contact numerical models were established. • The tunnel structure exhibits three typical failure modes: face bulge, local sliding failure, and overall sliding collapse. • Structural damage assessment and failure modes of submarine tunnels have been revealed. Fault fracture zones represent unfavorable geological conditions that are often encountered in cross-sea tunnels. When such a tunnel crosses a fault, the sliding action of the fault easily results in significant tensile, compressive, and shear failure of the lining, thereby causing local buckling and even fractures. Therefore, in this study, a series of sophisticated 3D discontinuous contact numerical models were established; these models account for the underground rock stratum, hydrostatic pressure, and nonlinear behavior of materials. The developed models realistically reproduced the construction process for earth pressure balance shield tunnels, such as the jack force, grouting pressure, and grout hardening over time. The simulation results suggest that the relative spatial location and morphology of the fault fracture zone strongly influence the failure mode of the tunnel. The tunnel structure exhibits three typical failure modes: face bulge, local sliding failure, and overall sliding collapse. The dip angle and crossing angle of the fault will lead to the readjustment of shear forces and bending moments in the tunnel, leading to uneven displacement and localized torsional deformation of the adjacent lining. Additionally, increasing the ratio of diameter to thickness will decrease the overall rigidity and torsional resistance of the tunnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Epigenetic regulation is a crucial mechanism for maintaining cardiac homeostasis. • Dysregulation of histone modifications is a predisposing factor for cardiomyopathies. • The impact of different histone marks on the activation of transcription factors is conflicting. • Epigenetic drug discovery brings unique challenges to the discovery and development process. Pathological cardiac hypertrophy is a common response of the heart to various pathological stimuli. In recent years, various histone modifications, including acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation and ubiquitination, have been identified to have crucial roles in regulating chromatin remodeling and cardiac hypertrophy. Novel drugs targeting these epigenetic changes have emerged as potential treatments for pathological cardiac hypertrophy. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of the roles of histone modifications in regulating the development of pathological cardiac hypertrophy, and discuss potential therapeutic targets that could be utilized for its treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compliant Mechanisms (CMs) have presented their inherently advantageous properties since the nature of CMs is to utilize elastic deformation of the built-in elementary flexible members to transfer motion, force and energy. To predict the performances of CMs and optimize their designs, modeling CMs turns out to be a major concern in this field, particularly, such as high-precision flexure-based CMs. Reported in the literature, the well-known Beam Constraint Model (BCM) expressed in Cartesian coordinate system serves as an effective tool to model the deflection of flexures. Inspired by BCM, in this paper, we take one step further to propose a Body-frame Beam Constraint Model (BBCM) to handle buckling and intermediate-range deflections under typical beam-end loading conditions. Numerical and analytical analysis also proves that BBCM can also provide reliable accuracy in complex loading conditions and complex beam geometries within small-to-intermediate-range deflections and may accurately characterize large deflections under some specific loading conditions as well. • We propose a body-frame beam constraint model for intermediate-range deflections. • The proposed model is analytical, closed-form and concise. • The proposed model considers buckling initiation and intermediate-range buckling. • The proposed model considers different types of loading besides beam-end loading. • The proposed model considers continuous deflected beam shapes and the energy stored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignin-based slow-release fertilizers (SRFs) have attracted widespread attention due to their ability to enhance nutrient utilization efficiency and reduce environmental pollution in agricultural production. However, the extraction and separation processes of lignin from biomass sources are intricate, involving substantial quantities of non-reusable toxic reagents. Here, a sustainable and eco-friendly approach using deep eutectic solvents (DES) was employed to treat rice straw, effectively dissolving the lignin present. Subsequently, the in-situ lignin regeneration was facilitated through the addition of a zinc chloride solution. The regenerated lignin was tightly wrapped around and connected to cellulose micro/nanofibers, forming a homogeneous slurry. A simple coating technique was employed to uniformly coat urea particles with the lignocellulosic slurry, yielding lignocellulose-based SRFs. Results revealed that the nutrient release of the lignocellulose-based coated fertilizers in water exceeded 56 days. A pot trial demonstrated that the application of lignocellulose-based SRFs significantly promoted the growth of rice and improved grain yield (by 10.7 %) and nitrogen use efficiency (by 34.4 %) compared to the urea treatment in rice production. Furthermore, the DES demonstrated consistently high efficiency in biomass processing even after four cycles of reuse. This green strategy offers a novel approach for the preparation of SRFs coating materials, promoting agricultural sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present higher Chern-Simons-Antoniadis-Savvidy (ChSAS) forms based on crossed modules. We start from introducing a generalized multilinear symmetric invariant polynomial for the differential crossed modules and constructing a metric independent, higher gauge invariant, and closed form using the higher curvature forms. Then, we establish the higher Chern-Weil theorem and prove that the higher ChSAS forms are a special case of this theorem. Finally, we get the link of two independent higher ChSAS theories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy (IAIC) utilizing cisplatin could benefit patients with bladder cancer. • Following IAIC, fibrocytic-MDSCs (f-MDSCs) were the immune cell type that were most significantly reduced in number. • The f-MDSCs were found to promote tumor proliferation and metastasis in the BC immune environment. • Cisplatin mediates the immunomodulatory effects of G-CSF by decreasing methylation. • Cisplatin decreased the number of f-MDSCs during IAIC, by blocking G-CSF methylation via targeting METTL3. Intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy (IAIC), using immunomodulatory cisplatin, is a novel treatment for bladder cancer (BC) that allows the delivery of specific drugs to the local malignant lesion. To explore the immunomodulatory effect of cisplatin during IAIC, we detected the proportion of immunosuppressed cells in BC tissue from eight BC patients, with the reduction of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), more specifically fibrocytic-MDSCs (f-MDSCs). Further, we demonstrated that cisplatin inhibits their proliferation and immunosuppressive activity. f-MDSCs promote tumor proliferation and metastasis in the BC immune environment. Then, we analyzed the genetic differences detected in samples before and after chemotherapy and found that granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSF) decreased after IAIC. Furthermore, G-CSF methylation decreased following treatment with cisplatin. Specifically, treatment with cisplatin decreased the methylase (METTL3) levels in BC cells, which is important for G-CSF production. Collectively, cisplatin decreased the number of f-MDSCs during IAIC, by blocking G-CSF methylation via targeting METTL3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel fixed abrasive tool namely grain boundary cohesion fixed abrasive pellet (GBCFAP) which is able to provide higher finishing efficiency as well as better surface/subsurface quality of sapphire substrate during the chemo-mechanical grinding (CMG) process. The manufacturing procedures of GBCFAP are introduced in detail in this paper. It is found that the sintering temperature plays an important role to the strength of GBCFAP, and the strength of GBFCAP could be flexibly adjusted by sintering temperature. The experiment result suggests that the recommended sintering temperature ranges from 600 to 650 °C according to current CMG conditions. Meanwhile, comparing with conventional resin bound CMG wheel, 600 °C sintered GBCFAP CMG wheel performs better in terms of material removal rate and surface/subsurface quality since the chemical effect and mechanical effect during CMG process are well balanced. Meanwhile, the solid phase reaction between sapphire and Cr 2 O 3 abrasive is demonstrated by TEM observation and XPS quantification. • Develop a novel grain boundary cohesion fixed abrasive pellet for sapphire. • Grain boundary cohesion fixed abrasive pellet efficiently produces sapphire with high quality. • Strength adjustment of grain boundary cohesion fixed abrasive pellet is realized by sintering process. • Solid phase reaction during chemo-mechanical grinding process is demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Long-term, steady pool boiling experiments is conducted in normal and micro- gravity. • Single-phase convection can occur in microgravity, and keep consistent with classical correlation predictions. • Curves of nucleate boiling in normal and microgravity partially overlap. The initial boiling under microgravity conditions corresponds to a lower heat flux than that of on the ground. • Liquid subcooling has a significant effect on nucleate boiling in microgravity. A series of experimental studies on the heat transfer characteristics of pool boiling were conducted aboard the Chinese satellite SJ-10 in April 2016. Ground comparative experiments under the same conditions were carried out using the same apparatus. FC-72 was used as the working fluid containing non-condensable gas. The total quasi-stable-state acceleration aboard satellite SJ-10 during its in-orbit flight is approximately 2 × 10−6 g 0. The integrated microheater fabricated by the microelectromechanical system (MEMS) technique was used to investigate the boiling characteristics. The boiling surface of the integrated microheater is on top of a flat plate quartz glass wafer substrate 2 mm thick, heated by a serpentine Pt thin film (main heater) below the substrate. The effective area of the boiling surface in direct contact with FC-72 is 5.5 mm in diameter. Ten temperature sensors are located around the boiling surface center and uniformly distributed in the circumferential direction. The experimental results show that single-phase convection could still be maintained under lower Rayleigh number conditions, showing consistency with the predictions based on the available correlations. The generated bubble volume determines the boiling state. At high liquid subcooling, the bubbles formed after the liquid vaporizes are relatively small, and steam condensation at the bubble cap promotes the phase change efficiency, which maintains nucleate boiling in microgravity. When subcooling is low, bubbles are larger and cover most of the heating surface, nucleate boiling is difficult to maintain, and the boiling becomes transition boiling. High liquid subcooling improves the heat transfer efficiency, thereby contributing to maintaining the progress of nucleate boiling in microgravity. However, boiling is less affected by liquid subcooling on the ground than in microgravity. A comparison of pool boiling curves between microgravity and normal gravity experiments indicates that nucleate boiling curves under the same subcooling partially overlap, while the heat flux corresponding to the initiation of the nucleate state is lower than that on the ground. In microgravity, lower liquid subcooling and higher heating power will result in larger bubble volumes and easier complete coverage of the heating surface, resulting in an easier transition from nucleate boiling to film boiling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Encapsulating glabridin with liposome technology can contribute to the bioavailability and application in cosmetic formulations. At the same time, the small particle size of liposomes makes it feasible to penetrate the stratum corneum and enhance the dermal delivery of glabridin. Confocal Raman spectroscopy (CRS) can be employed to monitor the dermal penetration of cosmetic actives for topical applications. The method of CRS allows qualitatively and semi-quantitatively in vivo analysis of cosmetic actives based on the position and intensity of peaks in the Raman spectrum. In this work, CRS was used to evaluate epidermal penetration of glabridin and glabridin-containing liposome components. First, glabridin liposomes (GL), glabridin liposome essence (GLE), and glabridin essence (GE) were evenly applied on the forearms of six randomly-selected volunteers. Then, in vivo dermal penetration and of delivery mechanism of glabridin was clinically assessed at 0.5 h and 2 h with the non-invasive devices, confocal Raman spectrometer. The findings indicated that the glabridin transported by liposomes could penetrate the stratum corneum and reach deep layers of human skin, while the content of penetrated glabridin increased with time. Compared to the penetration of GLE and GE through the skin, it was found that the dermal penetration of liposome-encapsulated glabridin in the essence dosage form was 3.8 times higher than that of unencapsulated glabridin. From qualitative and semi-quantitative perspectives, it was demonstrated that glabridin liposomes have good skin permeability and a gradual release effect and the liposome encapsulation can efficiently enhance the poor dermal absorption and bioavailability of glabridin. We believe this in vivo confocal Raman spectroscopy research is benefit for revealing the permeability of glabridin and liposome formulations in cosmetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Importance of accurate protein structure prediction for small molecule drug design. • Key structural features and properties used in small molecule drug design. • Computational tools and methods for predicting and optimizing small molecule structures. • Examples of successful small molecule drug design based on molecular structure. In this review, we outline recent advancements in small molecule drug design from a structural perspective. We compare protein structure prediction methods and explore the role of the ligand binding pocket in structure-based drug design. We examine various structural features used to optimize drug candidates, including functional groups, stereochemistry, and molecular weight. Computational tools such as molecular docking and virtual screening are discussed for predicting and optimizing drug candidate structures. We present examples of drug candidates designed based on their molecular structure and discuss future directions in the field. By effectively integrating structural information with other valuable data sources, we can improve the drug discovery process, leading to the identification of novel therapeutics with improved efficacy, specificity, and safety profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by various factors such as neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neuronal apoptosis. Recent studies have shown that H 2 S supplementation reverses neuronal loss and mitigates motor deficits in PD patients through anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, improved mitochondrial function and proautophagic. Therefore, the discovery and use of H 2 S donors may be an exciting and intriguing strategy for the treatment of PD. Herein, we report a red emission mitochondria-targetable fluorescent probe, Rho-H 2 S , which can specifically and sensitively detect H 2 S with a limit of detection of 62.5 nM. Bioimaging experiments have shown that the probe has excellent mitochondrial targeting and good imaging capabilities for the detection of exogenous and endogenous H 2 S in cells. More importantly, based on the Rho-H 2 S probe, we first confirmed the sulforaphane (SFN) among 15 glucosinolate and isothiocyanate compounds from cruciferous vegetables with an outstanding ability to release H 2 S and we further proved that SFN could alleviate the symptoms of PD in vivo. All results demonstrate that Rho-H 2 S could be an effective tool for screening H 2 S donors and can contribute to the development of new therapeutic strategies for PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• NSCs induces microglial polarization from M1 to M2 phenotype in the brain of ICH mice. • IGF-1R inhibition attenuates the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects of NSCs. • NSCs down-regulates the expressions of TLR4/NF-κB. • IGF-1 mediates microglial polarization via the TLR4/NF-κB pathway. • rhIGF-1 modulates microglial polarization and inhibits inflammation in ICH mice. Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a common neurological disease, causing severe disability and even deaths. Stem cell transplantation has been increasingly used in stroke therapy, and neural stem cells (NSCs) are a good source for stem cell transplantation. However, the regulatory mechanism of NSCs remains unclear. In this study, we examined the impact of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) secreted by NSCs on microglial polarization following ICH in adult C57BL/6 mice. Mouse models of ICH were established by collagenase injection. ICH mice received NSC transplantation 1 h after model establishment. Firstly, the changes of microglial polarization in cerebral tissues of ICH mice were detected by immunofluorescence and ELISA. Secondly, the molecular mechanism underlying the microglial polarization was evaluated repeatedly with the application of IGF-1R siRNA and IGF-1R-mediated inhibition. We assessed the brain water content and behavioral deficits of ICH mice 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after surgery. The survival of neurons in the brain was examined using Nissl staining and TUNEL staining at 72 h. The TLR4/NF-κB pathway implicated in ICH-induced inflammation was profiled by Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. Finally, the changes in microglia after ICH in mice were re-examined under different doses of rhIGF-1. In summary, NSC transplantation changed microglial polarization in ICH mice. IGF-1R inhibition and knockdown reversed the therapeutic effect of NSCs, and rhIGF-1 had an anti-inflammatory effect. The results of this study suggest that IGF-1R stimulation is a potential target for stem cell-based treatment of cerebral hemorrhage and may attenuate inflammatory response in the brain after bleeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Effect of five extractants on yield and properties of hydrochar were investigated. • Polar solvent extracted bio-oil absorbed on exterior and interior hydrochar surface. • Polar extractant caused more mass loss of hydrochar than nonpolar extractant. • Demethanation tendency during extracting can enhance the hydrochar stability. • More disperse spherical microparticles were found after polar solvent extracting. Hydrothermal treatment for dairy manure into value-added hydrochar and bio-oil is a potential technology for its resource utilization. During the process of treatment, extractant is applied to the separation of hydrochar and bio-oil. In this study, three polar extractants (ethyl acetate, dichloromethane, diethyl ether) and two nonpolar extractants (n-hexane and petroleum ether) were used, and the physico-chemical properties of hydrochar and the composition of bio-oil were investigated. Compared with nonpolar extractants, polar extractants could extract the bio-oil absorbed on the hydrochar exterior and interior surface, resulting in more mass loss of hydrochar and better extraction performance on the production of bio-oil. The decrease of H/C atomic ratio and the increase of O/C atomic ratio indicated the demethanation tendency to occur during the extraction process, and enhanced the hydrochar stability. The scanning electron microscope and specific surface area analysis revealed that polar extractant had a more positive effect than nonpolar extractant on the occurrence of disperse spherical microparticles and the augment of hydrochar specific surface area. The bio-oil from polar extractant mainly consisted of N-containing compounds, ketones, phenols and acids, while the bio-oil from nonpolar extractant mainly consisted of esters, alkanes and aromatics. These results reveal that the hydrochar extracted by polar solvent exerts a greater potential for the production of carbon-based material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• S100B is overexpressed in various malignant tumors. • S100B exerts its biofunctions by physical interactions with other molecules. • Interfering with S100B-effector protein interactions is a potential strategy for cancer therapy. • Virtual screening is an efficient approach to identify protein–protein interactions inhibitor. S100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B) is overexpressed in various malignant tumors, where it regulates cancer cell proliferation and metabolism by physical interactions with other molecules. Interfering with S100B–effector protein interactions is a potential strategy to treat malignant tumors. Although some S100B inhibitors have been discovered by virtual screening (VS), most target the S100B–p53 interaction. Hence, there is scope for the discovery of other S100B–effector protein interaction modulators for malignant tumors. In this review, we provide an overview of S100B–effector protein interaction inhibitor discovery using VS and discuss promising S100B–effector protein interaction targets that permit in silico analysis for drug discovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemo-mechanical-grinding (CMG) is a fixed abrasive process by integrating chemical reaction and mechanical grinding for sapphire wafer finishing, and shows advantages in surface integrity, geometric controllability and waste disposal. However, the material removal rate (MRR) obtained by the traditional CMG wheel is not high enough to meet the requirement from the mass production of sapphire wafers. As a potential solution, a new CMG wheel with extremely high abrasive concentration has been proposed. This paper targets on developing of binder-free abrasive pellets (BAP) with 100 wt% abrasive as well as investigating the performance of BAP in sapphire wafer finishing. The results of CMG experiment reveal that the MRR and surface roughness (Ra) of sapphire wafer finished by BAP constructed CMG wheel are able to reach 1.311 μm/h and 0.993 nm respectively. The characterization by Raman microscope indicates that the finished sapphire wafer also owns excellent subsurface integrity. • The binder-free abrasive pellet with 100 wt% Cr 2 O 3 abrasives has been successfully developed. • Both MRR and wheel/pellet wear ratio increase as the Cr 2 O 3 abrasives concentration becomes higher. • The developed BAP-CMG wheel provides a finishing capability of sapphire with MRR = 1.311 μm/h and Ra < 1 nm. • The developed BAP-CMG wheel grants high surface/subsurface integrity of sapphire wafer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the discovery of a less soluble crystalline form (form 2) of cyclosporine (CsA), risks in solubility and physical stability of these formulations need to be revisited. This work focused on understanding the solubility behavior of various CsA forms in different media, including water, castor oil, and selected cosolvent micellar systems. In water, form 2 was approximately 8-9 times less soluble than form 1 (aka. tetragonal dihydrate). In neat nonaqueous solvent, for example, castor oil, form 3 (aka. orthorhombic hydrate) was found to have the lowest solubility and therefore the most stable form. In addition, the solubility-temperature relationship of CsA is complex and solvent-dependent. In aqueous vehicles, retrograde temperature dependence of solubility was observed in aqueous vehicles, that is, the solubility of CsA decreased with temperature, which was attributed to the effect of temperature on the strength of hydrogen bonding interactions; conversely, the solubility of CsA increased with temperature in nonaqueous solvents. In addition, the solubility of these CsA forms was very sensitive to temperature. Temperature-dependent form transformation was also observed in the media studied, with faster form conversion occurring at elevated temperatures. These studies provided key information to support the risk assessment for topical ophthalmic formulation development of CsA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are an important biomarker for various types of cancers. As CTCs are extremely rare in the bloodstream, the accurate analysis and efficient separation of CTCs is a challenging task. In order to develop new diagnostic approaches for cancer research, understanding the functional characteristics of biomolecules at the single-molecule level in individual cancer cells is required. Meanwhile, microfluidic platforms have emerged as a promising technology for analyzing single molecules and single cells. In this review, we discuss some label-free techniques for biomolecule detection and highlight some reports that have employed combined label-free techniques with microfluidics for individual molecule or cancer cell analysis. Finally, we offer our perspective of the integration of label-free techniques with microfluidic technology on future applications. • Label-free techniques were utilized for biomolecules detection. • Microfluidic were utilized for analyzing single molecules and single cells. • Analysis of biomolecule and CTCs based on label-free techniques with microfluidic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The symmetric functions Y λ (x) are a generalization of Schur functions S λ (x) , and Y λ (x) are symmetric about the x -axis and y -axis. As the Schur functions can be used to describe the tau functions of the KP hierarchy, in this paper, we define the symmetric KP hierarchy whose tau functions can be represented by Y λ (x). The method we use is affine Yangian of gl (1). We also define the Boson-Fermion correspondence in the symmetric KP hierarchy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The Bi 2 WO 6 /BiOBr composites were synthesized via a simple one-step solvothermal method by using reactable ionic liquid of [C 16 mim]Br as Br source. XRD, XPS, SEM, and TEM were used to characterize the structure and morphology of the composites. Because of the IL, the Bi 2 WO 6 nanoparticles uniformly covered on the surface of flower-like BiOBr, forming special flower-like Bi 2 WO 6 /BiOBr composites. The photoactivity of Bi 2 WO 6 /BiOBr was evaluted by the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamineB (RhB), methylene blue (MB), and colorless tetracycline hydrochloride (TC). The UV–vis DRS spectra indicated that the composites displayed enhanced visible light absorption. The photoelectrochemical and PL measurements confirmed the improved spatial transfer and separation of the charge carries and suppressed recombination of the charge carries. Because of enhanced light absorption and improved spatial transfer and separation of the charge carries, caused by construction of the Type II heterojuction and using [C 16 mim]Br as Br source, the composites showed dramatic photocatalytic activity. Based on the radical-trapping experiments, a possible photocatalytic mechanism has been proposed. Highlights • Composites were prepared by one step using reactable ionic liquid. • Composite exhibits enhanced visible absorption and separation of carries. • Synergetic effect of heterojunction and ionic liquid was studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We construct the multi-variable realizations of the W 1 + ∞ algebra such that they lead to the W 1 + ∞ n -algebra. Based on our realizations of the W 1 + ∞ algebra, we derive the W 1 + ∞ constraints for the hermitian one-matrix model. The constraint operators yield not only the W 1 + ∞ algebra but also the closed W 1 + ∞ n -algebra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This paper studies the imaging scheduling issue for China's L-band differential interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) satellite formation which can work in different observation modes to satisfy different imaging requests. Previous imaging scheduling mainly focuses on maximizing the total revenue of selected targets but ignores that different types of targets actually have different demands. Therefore, a constraint satisfaction model which classifies targets into three types according to targets' size and number of observations is established, meanwhile, three objective functions are considered to satisfy demands of different types of targets. Furthermore, an imaging scheduling method based on improved non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm III (NSGA-III) is proposed to obtain a set of well-converged and well-diversified non-dominating solutions. New Niche-Preservation operation with the same penalty value for convergence and diversity performance is adopted in NSGA-III. Numerical comparison simulations on walking fish group (WFG) test suits and three imaging scheduling instances of different size show the superiority of the proposed methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this paper, we consider the existence of nodal solutions of the following Kirchhoff problem (KP) − (a + b ∫ R N | ∇ u | 2 d x) Δ u + u = g (u) , in R N , where a , b > 0 and N ≥ 3. We first prove that (KP) is equivalent to the following system with respect to (u , λ) : (F λ) − Δ u + u = g (u) , λ − a − b λ N − 2 2 ∫ R N | ∇ u | 2 d x = 0 , in R N × R +. For every integer k > 0 , radial solutions of (KP) with exactly k nodes are obtained by dealing with the system (F λ) under some suitable assumptions. Moreover, nonexistence results are proved if N ≥ 4 and b is sufficiently large. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This work highlights a new orthorhombic hydrate (Form 2) of cyclosporine (CsA), a widely used immunosuppressant. The uniqueness of this new form was established by powder X-ray diffractometry, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The crystal structure of this form was solved (P 2 1 2 1 2 1 , a = 12.639 Å, b = 19.758 Å, c = 29.568 Å, Z = 4). In addition, the solid-state properties of Form 2 were compared with other known crystalline forms of CsA by thermal analysis, water vapor sorption analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and so on. These studies suggest that Form 2 is a nonstoichiometric hydrate with distinctive hydrogen bonding modes. More importantly, Form 2 is about an order of magnitude less soluble than the commercially available tetragonal form (Form 1). An interconversion map among various CsA solid forms was built by slurry experiments. Form 2 was the most stable form in aqueous systems, whereas the previously known orthorhombic hydrate (Form 3) was the predominant form in nonaqueous vehicles. While Form 2 as a lower solubility form poses greater challenge in bioavailability enhancement, the solid-state properties of this unique hydrate may provide new drug delivery opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Hyperspectral image (HSI) target detection is an important technology, but is faced with the critical challenge of complex background interference. The background clutter is difficult to effectively suppress, which often results in a relatively poor detection performance being obtained. To address this problem, a new target detection method via integrated background suppression with adaptive weight selection (TDIBS_AWS) is proposed in this paper. TDIBS_AWS has the following capabilities: (1) it explores the great difference between the target and background with two different background suppression strategies: principal component analysis (PCA) and spectral unmixing (SU); (2) it applies adaptive weight selection based on the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm to optimize the weighting coefficient of the integrated background suppression model; and (3) it takes full advantage of support vector data description (SVDD) to improve the target detection performance for the rest of the information, after the background and noise have been removed. Experiments were undertaken using synthetic data and a real HSI, and it was found that TDIBS_AWS generally shows a better detection performance than the other state-of-the-art target detection methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new three dimensional framework {[Cd 2 (BPDPE) 2 (chdc) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ]·4H 2 O} n ( 1 ) (BPDPE = 4,4′-bis(pyridyl)diphenyl ether H 2 chdc = 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid) has been successfully synthesized and characterized. In this complex, the chdc 2− adopts tran - configuration, was linked by three types of Cd ions to form wave-like 2D layer with hexagonal grids. The 2D layers are linked by meso-helical chains Cd n (BPDPE) n to form a 3D framework. It is surprised find that complex 1 can highly sensitive sense 2, 4, 6-trinitrophenol (TNP) through luminescence quenching effect, the quenching constant is up to 2.794 × 10 5 M −1 . In addition, complex 1 also presents highly sensitive fluorescent sensor for detecting Fe 3+ and Ag + ions. The quenching constants are 2.893 × 10 4 M −1 and 1.483 × 10 4 M −1 . Furthermore, the quenching mechanisms of complex 1 as multifunctional sensor have been studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new 3D supermolecular coordination polymer [Mg(H 2 TPTC) 2 ·2H 2 O] n ( 1 ) was synthesized under solvothermal condition by a rigid rich electronic ligand H 4 TPTC ([1:1′:4′,1″-terphengl]-3,3″,5,5″-tetracarboxylic) and Mg(II) ion. Complex 1 presents an excellent fluorescent Mg-MOF sensor for highly sensitive and selective detecting TNP, the K sv is up to 3.869 × 10 4  M −1 . Furthermore, complex 1 can be quickly regenerated by simple washing with acetonitrile, exhibiting good recyclability for detecting TNP. The quench mechanisms of complex 1 for sensing nitro aromatic explosives were studied as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We construct the generalized W 1 + ∞ algebra with the multi-variable realization and derive its n -algebra which is the generalized Lie algebra for even n case. Then we reinvestigate the elliptic hermitian matrix model and present the generalized q - W ∞ constraints, where the abelian current operators are truncated. By applying the strategy of carrying out the action of the operators on the partition function, the generalized q - W ∞ n -algebra arises as a deformation of the generalized W ∞ n -algebra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Friction stir welding (FSW) was used to weld the 205 A aluminum alloy parts fabricated by wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM). The microstructure characteristic, phase structure and dislocation were systematically investigated, and the mechanical properties of the FSW joint were evaluated. The results show that the pores in the weld were almost eliminated, and the fine recrystallized grains with a size of about 5 μm were obtained in the stir zone. Under the effects of severe plastic deformation and heat, the θ phases were broken and partially dissolved in the weld during the FSW process, and the θ′ strengthening phases were precipitated by the promotion of Cd. Compared to the WAAM-fabricated 205 A base material, the FSW joint maintained high strength and improved plasticity because of the precipitation strengthening of θ′ phases and the grain boundary strengthening of fine recrystallized grains. • The WAAM-fabricated 205 A aluminum parts were first welded by FSW. • θ′ phases were precipitated in the weld promoted by Cd element. • The mechanical properties of the FSW joint were better than BM. • The strength was improved by the θ′ phases and fine recrystallized grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hollow structures have attracted attention because of high specific surface area, advantages of light scattering, and shortening the charge transfer distance. In this study, hollow CdS nanocubes (H-CdS) were successfully synthesized by PBA self-template method, and CoP x nanoparticles were decorated on H-CdS surfaces. The unique topography and the introduction of CoP x not only greatly improve the light utilization, but also make the photogenerated carriers to be efficiently separated. It can be found that the 1.0 wt% CoP x /H-CdS sample presents highest hydrogen production rate of 1710.4 μmol·g−1·h−1 with apparent quantum yield of 9.1% under irradiation of 420 nm monochromatic light. The characterization results further explored the kinetics of the photoinduced charge carrier transfer and separation pathways, density functional theory (DFT) calculations showed that CoP x could effectively inhibit the photogenerated carrier recombination and reduce the activation energy of H 2 generation. This work provides a new perspective for designing high performance photocatalysts. A facile strategy is developed to synthesize CoP x /H-CdS photocatalysts with high efficient photocatalytic performance, and CoP x has the ability to capture electrons, which promotes the separation efficiency of photogenerated charge carriers. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficiently harvesting lithium from seawater remains a challenge due to the extremely dilute concentration of lithium ions (Li+) and the existence of many foreign metal ions that are far more abundant. Here, a hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent (HDES)-based two-step liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) strategy is developed for the first time that realizes the separation of dilute Li+ (<1 mg/L) from solutions with a high concentration of sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium ions. This strategy contains the removal of divalent cations and selective recovery of Li+, which minimizes the influence of coexisting metal ions. In the first LLE step, the unwanted divalent cations are removed with a negligible loss of Li+ by the bis(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate/kerosene (DEHPA/KERO) system. Then, the DEHPA/HDES system can selectively extract Li+ from monovalent cations. All solvents used are readily available and low cost with methyltrioctylammonium chloride and decanoic acid at a 1:2 mol ratio (N 8881 Cl/2DecA) as the main extractant. Extraction equilibrium is reached within 10 s. The single extraction efficiency of Li+ is 66.4%, and the separation coefficient of lithium and sodium (β Li/Na) reaches 11.6 at the optimized extraction conditions. Finally, the proposed two-step LLE strategy is applied to the simulated seawater. The extraction performance of N 8881 Cl/2DecA-DEHPA was not significantly weakened after being reused ten times. • The HDES-based liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) strategy was proposed, for the first time, to realize the separation of dilute Li+ (<1 mg/L) from alkali and alkaline earth metal ions. • This strategy contains the removal of divalent cations and selective recovery of Li+, which minimizes the influence of coexisting metal ions. • The effects of operating conditions on the selectivity of Li+ extraction were studied. • All solvents used are easily available and low cost. • Extraction equilibrium is reached within 10 s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fault detection might effectively enhance the operational reliability and safety of industrial robot (IR). Data-driven intelligent detection methods are dependent on a certain number of fault samples. However, the fault samples of the IR are difficult to be obtained and even unavailable. To overcome the mentioned shortcomings, a newly residual shrinkage transformer relation network (RSTRN) is proposed in the paper for fault detection of the IR. In this method, a residual shrinkage network is applied to eliminate interference features hidden in the input signals and extract representative features. And, the feature sample pair is created to describe relationship between the health state and other states. Then, the transformer relation network is constructed to evaluate the similarity relations between the sample pair to determine their types. In addition, an auxiliary sample library is built to help the RSTRN in extracting more firm health features. Finally, the effectiveness of the RSTRN method is verified by using self-built IR experiments. The experimental results show that detection accuracy and recall of the RSTRN method is at least 25% higher than that of existing methods, and its noise immunity is also improved. • A new RSTRN is proposed for fault detection under zero-fault samples. • A transformer relation network is built to reveal the commonality and uniqueness of health category. • A residual shrinkage network is applied to effectively eliminate interference features hidden in the input signals. • The built auxiliary sample library can assist the RSTRN to extract more representative and firm health features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Curcumae L ongae R hizoma (CLR) is a safe natural herbal medicine, and which has been widely used for centuries as functional food and health products, but its effects on angiogenesis and related underlying mechanism remain unclear. The abnormal angiogenesis is closely related with various diseases, and therefore the precise control of angiogenesis is of great importance. The well-known angiogenic factor, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), mediates angiogenesis and induces multiple signalling pathways via binding to VEGF receptor (VEGFR). The attenuation of VEGF-triggered angiogenic-related signalling pathways may relieve various diseases through suppression of angiogenesis. Here, we aimed to elucidate that CLR extract could exert striking anti-angiogenic activities both in vitro and in vivo. The viability of human umbilical vascular endothelial cell (HUVEC) was examined by LDH and MTT assays. Migrative and invasive ability of the endothelial cells were independently evaluated by wound healing and transwell assays. The activities of CLR extract on in vitro angiogenesis was tested by tube formation assay. In vivo vascularization was determined by using zebrafish embryo model in the present of CLR extract. Western blotting was applied to determine the phosphorylated levels of VEGFR2, PI3K, AKT and eNOS. Besides, the levels of nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were separately evaluated by Griess assay and 2′7′-dichlorofluorescein diacetate reaction. In addition, the cell migrative ability of cancer cell was estimated by using cultured human colon carcinoma cells (HT-29 cell line), and immunofluorescence assay was applied to evaluate the effect of CLR extract on nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 subunit in the VEGF-treated HT-29 cultures. CLR extract significantly suppressed a series of VEGF-mediated angiogenic responses, including endothelial cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and tube formation. Moreover, CLR extract reduced in vivo sub-intestinal vessel formation in zebrafish embryo model. Mechanistically, the extract of CLR attenuated the VEGF-triggered signalling, as demonstrated by decreased level of phosphorylated VEGFR2 and subsequently inactivated its downstream regulators, e.g. phospho-PI3K, phospho-AKT and phospho-eNOS. The production of NO and formation of ROS were markedly inhibited in HUVECs. Furthermore, CLR extract suppressed cell migration and NF-κB translocation in cultured HT-29 cells. These preclinical findings demonstrate that the extract of CLR remarkably attenuates angiogenesis and which has great potential as a natural drug candidate with excellent anti-angiogenic activity. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Maximal nitrogen removal was obtained at 200 °C for 1 h during the first-stage HTT. • Higher energy recovery of hydrochars could be obtained from the two-stage HTT. • Microspheres with better thermostability and larger size were found at two-stage HTT. • Lower N -containing compounds content was detected in bio-oils from the two-stage HTT. In this study, a two-stage hydrothermal treatment (HTT) method was used to increase nitrogen removal to aqueous phase and reduce N -containing compounds in dairy manure bio-oil. The physico-chemical properties of hydrochar were also investigated. During the first-stage HTT process, the maximal nitrogen removal of 48.11 % was obtained at 200 °C for 1 h. The retained solids were subjected to the second-stage HTT process at 240–320 °C for 0.5–4 h. The results showed that the energy recovery (43.91–67.86 %) and the nitrogen recovery (54.35–69.43 %) of hydrochars obtained from the two-stage HTT were significantly higher than that from the direct HTT of dairy manure. The changes of H/C and O/C atom ratio indicated that decarboxylation reaction predominated in the second-stage HTT with the temperature increased from 240 to 280 °C. Decarboxylation and dehydration played a dominate role in the second-stage hydrothermal process with the residence time increased from 0.5 to 4 h. The scanning electron microscope analysis revealed that microspheres with better thermostability and larger size could be obtained from the two-stage HTT process. And the reaction temperature has more remarkable effect on the surface morphology of hydrochars than the residence time. Additionally, the N -containing compounds content of bio-oil from the two-stage HTT process was significantly lower than that from the direct HTT of dairy manure. Meanwhile, more acids and aldehydes compounds could be detected. These findings suggest that the two-stage HTT could be considered as a potential technology for treating dairy manure and producing value-added hydrochar, low nitrogen bio-oil and N-rich aqueous phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Iridium based-luminescent probe for screening BRD4 inhibitors in cellulo was developed for cancer treatment. • K293 probe presents high selectivity and binding affinity with BRD4 in living cancer cells. • The long luminescence lifetime of K293 probe allows its luminescence signal to be distinguished from interfering fluorescence. • The K293 probe has successfully been applied to screen BRD4 inhibitors in living cells. Bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) is a reader of acetylated histones that regulates the invasion, metastasis and proliferation of cancer. Inhibition of BRD4 activity is an emerging strategy for anticancer. In this study, an iridium based-luminescent probe for screening BRD4 inhibitors in cellulo was developed. The K293 probe was designed by linking a BRD4 nuclear translocation inhibitor as a "binding unit" to an iridium complex as a luminescent "signal unit". K293 selectively binds to BRD4 in living cancer cells. Candidate compounds compete with K293 for BRD4, resulting in a decrease in luminescence signal. The long luminescence lifetime of K293 allows its luminescence signal to be distinguished from interfering fluorescence using time-resolved techniques in order to improve sensitivity. Hence, even potential BRD4 inhibitors that are undetectable by conventional fluorescence methods can be identified. As a proof-of-concept, Azelastine, an FDA-approved histamine 1 (H 1) antagonist was identified to be a potential BRD4 inhibitor using the K293 probe. Azelastine binds to BRD4 protein in the cytoplasm to prevent its translocation into the nucleus, and suppresses cancer cell growth and migration. The results demonstrated that the probe could be useful for the future drug repurposing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen energy is vital important for solving pollution of environment and energy shortage. Hydrogen production via solar energy and semiconductor photo-splitting water is one of the most environmentally friendly strategies at present. In this work, Co-N-C, a non-noble metal-based ZIF-67 derivative, was employed as a co-catalyst to achieve an in situ growth of spherical CdS via simple one-step hydrothermal. Due to the large specific surface area of Co-N-C, the agglomeration of CdS is avoided and the photocorrosion phenomenon is weakened. Under irradiation of visible light, the hydrogen generation activity of Co-N-C/CdS was achieved 905 μmol g−1 h−1. It is 6 times that of pure CdS with excellent stability. At the contact interface of the Co-N-C and CdS, the transfer and the separation of photoinduced carriers had been enhanced by a great many of channels. DFT calculation further showed that Co nanoclusters, as the active sites of hydrogen production, significantly enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity. Therefore, Co-N-C not only acts as electron acceptor, but also serves as support of highly dispersed CdS to promote the stability of system during photocatalytic hydrogen generation. This work demonstrates the advantages of CdS binding MOF derivatives to construct composite photocatalysts with enhanced dispersibility and hydrogen production activity. [Display omitted] • Co-N-C/CdS were fabricated via a simple one-step hydrothermal method. • Co-N-C as a dispersion support reduces the size of CdS. • Co nanoclusters promote hydrogen evolution as active sites. • A photoelectron transport channel is formed at the interface between Co-N-C and CdS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A method to reconstruct the HDR moving object. • Address the HDR issue without projecting multiple-level intensity. • The feature of the HDR moving object is analyzed. High quality 3D reconstruction of HDR object can be achieved by projecting extra fringe patterns with different intensity. However, it requires the object to be kept static. The object motion not only introduces phase shift among the fringe patterns, but also changes the position of the overexposure pixels. This paper proposes a new method to reconstruct the moving HDR object by utilizing the features of motion. For the specific point on the object, overexposure will not happen among all the fringe patterns as the overexposure position is changed with the motion. The unsaturation fringe patterns are selected from the captured fringe patterns and the correct phase information is retrieved based on unequal phase shift algorithm. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is verified by the experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to establish the dynamic equations of the rigid-flexible coupled robotic mechanisms with large beam-deformations over the horizontal plane, a thorough modeling technique founded on the virtual work concept has been proposed. Based on the transformed full-actuated model, the predefined-time robust sliding mode control strategy is developed to track the prescribed angular positions of the rigid-flexible coupled robotic mechanisms. In addition to compensating the time-varying external disturbances, the nonlinear disturbance observer is also integrated and resolved into predefined-time robust sliding mode schemes. By introducing the virtual input, the robust linear quadratic state feedback controller is developed to eliminate the tracking errors and vibration modes of the rigid-flexible coupled robotic mechanisms simultaneously. Furthermore, it is proved that the tracking errors and vibration modes can be uniformly stable under the developed scheme based on Lyapunov's stability theory. Finally, three numerical examples are conducted to access the effectiveness and excellence of the presented nonlinear disturbance observer-based predefined-time robust sliding mode and robust linear quadratic state feedback strategies in comparison to nonlinear disturbance observer-based backstepping control and slide mode control schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An economical route has been developed to prepare high purity titanium carbide from Panzhihua ilmenite, which has high contents of Mg and Si. In this paper, high purity (>99 wt%) TiC particle was prepared by vacuum carbothermal reduction followed with acid leaching and alkali leaching processes. The current process has a lower reaction temperature, and a shorter reaction time, meanwhile the used raw materials are much cheaper than the industrial method of preparing TiC which used TiO 2 and C as the raw materials. Effects of atmosphere, reduction temperature and carbon ratio were studied and the purification mechanisms of elements Mg, Mn, Ca, Si, Al were put forward. Mg and Mn could be separated in gaseous state during vacuum carbothermal reduction. Al was reduced to Al 4 C 3 after reduction and then was removed in acid leaching process. Meanwhile, CaO was also removed in the acid leaching process. SiO 2 was reduced to the dissolved silicon in liquid iron firstly, then formed amorphous silicon after acid leaching, and finally was removed in alkali leaching process. The as-prepared TiC powder had a narrow particle size distribution within 1–20 μm and D v 50 was 5.29 μm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemo-mechanical-grinding (CMG) is a fixed abrasive process by integrating both chemical reaction and mechanical grinding. This paper targets on studying the finishing ability of dry CMG processes for mono-crystal sapphire and understanding the underlying abrasives-sapphire interaction. The experiment results suggest that dry CMG processes by applying either Cr 2 O 3 or SiO 2 are able to produce sapphire substrate with an excellent surface quality and subsurface integrity, meanwhile, maintain the geometric accuracy. The underlying abrasives-sapphire interaction termed as solid phase reaction is demonstrated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscope (XPS) analysis. It is suggested that Cr 2 O 3 abrasives is more chemically active against sapphire (Al 2 O 3 ) when compared with SiO 2 abrasives. Combined with a higher mechanical effect provided by Cr 2 O 3 abrasives, the finishing efficiency of Cr 2 O 3 abrasives is almost 2 times higher than traditional SiO 2 abrasives. The subsurface integrity characterization by using Raman microscope and transmission electron microscope reveals that Cr 2 O 3 abrasives introduces a shallow damage layer (about 100 nm) on the top surface of sapphire substrate since the chemical effect is not sufficient enough to meet the balance with mechanical effect. With a better mechanical-chemical balance achieved by SiO 2 abrasives, a damage free subsurface is obtained. Therefore, besides of traditional SiO 2 abrasives, Cr 2 O 3 abrasives is suggested to be another potential candidate for finishing sapphire substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the existence of radial solutions for the quasilinear Schrödinger equation − △ u + V ( | x | ) u − κ u △ u 2 = | u | p − 2 u , x ∈ R N . where κ > 0 , N ≥ 3 , 2 < p < 2 2 ∗ and V ∈ C 1 ( R ) . Here we are interested in the case that 2 < p ≤ 4 since the existence of solutions for 4 < p < 2 2 ∗ can be easily obtained by a standard variational argument. Our method is based on the Pohožaev type identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the existence of ground state solutions for the Kirchhoff type problem − ( a + b ∫ R N | ∇ u | 2 d x ) △ u + V ( x ) u = | u | p − 2 u , x ∈ R N , u ∈ H 1 ( R N ) , where a , b > 0 , N = 1 , 2 , 3 and 2 < p < 2 ∗ . Here we are interested in the case that 2 < p ≤ 4 since the existence of ground state for 4 < p ≤ 2 ∗ is easily obtained by a standard variational argument. Our method is based on a Poho z ̆ aev type identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cycle life of Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 -based lithium ion batteries (LIBs) is closely related to the quality of the protective passivation film formed on Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 anode, which is elaborately constructed during formation process. In this work, the passivation film formation on Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 anodes during Li + intercalation/deintercalation processes and at different lithiation states is investigated. Passivation film formed in the lithiation state of Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 is more efficient than delithiation state. The film formation is related to the concentration of Ti 3+ active sites on the surface of Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 particles. There is an optimum range of lithiation degree of Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 for the completion of uniform passivation film formation on the electrodes. Excessively high lithiation state is proved unnecessary or even detrimental for effective surface layer construction. Compared with traditional formation protocols with fully charge-discharge cycles, simply storing Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 -based LIBs in the optimized lithiation range at high temperature can construct efficient and stable passivation film. Such a formation protocol can greatly reduce the cost and simplify the manipulation process of Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 -based batteries for the LIBs enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]