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Due to a shortage of qualified professionals, many international cities have implemented a range of policies to attract skilled migrants and retain them for permanent work in destination cities, aiming to take advantage of the globalized competition. Despite being relatively understudied, the role of housing is of utmost importance, especially if skilled migrants can be attracted to work and live in destination cities permanently. This study conceptualized housing wellbeing as subjective housing feelings and objective housing outcomes, aiming to disentangle the relationship between housing wellbeing and settlement intentions. Based on the 2019 questionnaire survey in Guangzhou, this study found that skilled migrants who have become homeowners in Guangzhou have a higher propensity to settle in Guangzhou than those without homeownership. Also, this study found an inverted U-shaped relationship between the number of rooms and settlement intentions. Moreover, when the housing size per person is between 16 and 20 m2, housing size per person is positively associated with settlement intentions; nevertheless, when the housing size per person is below 16 m2 or above 20 m2, there is nil relation between housing size per person and settlement intentions. Finally, although skilled migrants are not satisfied with the current housing situation, they are still willing to settle in Guangzhou permanently. This study has extended the knowledge of housing wellbeing and contributed to profoundly understanding the complex settlement intentions of skilled migrants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a class of Caputo–Hadamard fractional stochastic differential equation (FSDEs) with time-delays and impulses is considered. With the help of contraction mapping principle, we derive the existence and uniqueness of the solutions to the purposed system. Subsequently, by virtue of the stochastic analysis techniques and generalized Gr o ¨ nwall inequality, the Ulam–Hyers stability (U–Hs) of the addressed system is established. Finally, we present an example to illustrate the theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continuous expansion of the scale of the industrial Internet, edge computing has become an indispensable part of the industrial Internet. In order to quickly handle the massive computation tasks of production devices and monitoring devices in industrial production and ensure the safety and efficiency of industrial production. This article considers the Joint Task Offloading and Resource Allocation (JTORA) optimization problem, which is measured by the weighted sum of task completion time and energy consumption, and includes the joint optimization of task offloading decision, uplink power allocation, and computing resource allocation. Also further decompose the JTORA problem into (i) a Resource Allocation (RA) problem with fixed task offloading decision and (ii) a Task Offloading (TO) problem that optimizes the optimal-value function corresponding to the RA problem for hierarchical optimization. This paper adopts Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) algorithm to solve the RA problem and a heuristic algorithm for the TO problem. Simulation experimental results show that the proposed JTORA optimization scheme can significantly reduce the production time and device energy consumption in industrial production over traditional approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glycolysis is a shared feature in various cancers including lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Testis Expressed 19 (TEX19) is correlated with cancer progression. But its effect on LUAD remains an unanswered question. The focus of our study was primarily to investigate how TEX19 works exactly in LUAD. We first downloaded mRNA data from TCGA-LUAD and performed differential expression analysis. Then, we performed a Kaplan–Meier analysis to analyze the relationship between mRNA expression and patients' prognoses. hTFtarget database was utilized for the prediction of upstream transcription factors of mRNA. Next, qRT-PCR was employed for detecting TEX19 and Forkhead box A1 (FOXA1) expression. Western blot was adopted to detect the expression of glycolysis-related proteins. We also used CCK-8, colony formation, and flow cytometry assays to detect cell viability, proliferation, and apoptosis. Seahorse XF Extracellular Flux Analyzers were introduced to analyze extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) and oxygen consumption rate (OCR). Detection kits were used to detect pyruvate, lactate, citric acid, and malic acid. TEX19 was highly expressed in LUAD tissues. Real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) assay showed that TEX19 was significantly overexpressed in LUAD cell lines compared with normal bronchial epithelial cells BEAS-2B. Knockdown of TEX19 remarkably inhibited cell activity and proliferation, and promoted cell apoptosis, TEX19 was enriched in the glycolytic pathway. Meanwhile, the knockdown of TEX19 significantly hampered the contents of pyruvate, lactate, citric acid, and malic acid. The bioinformatics analysis, dual luciferase reporter experiment, and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay showed that FOXA1 was bound with TEX19. FOXA1 had a high expression level in LUAD. The rescue assay demonstrated that FOXA1, by activating TEX19 expression, enhanced glycolysis and proliferation and inhibited apoptosis of LUAD cells. In summary, FOXA1 promoted glycolysis and proliferation of LUAD cells by activating TEX19. This result can provide a theoretical basis for future research on LUAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The climate change in the Qaidam Basin has significant impacts on local humans and ecological environment. However, the humidity variation and relationship between climate factors in the Qaidam Basin remain insufficient. Here we study the modern climate change in the Qaidam Basin. The mean annual temperature in the Qaidam Basin has increased rapidly by 0.5 °C/10a between 1959 and 2022, exhibiting cycles of 9.1 a and 3.2 a. Concurrently, the pattern of precipitation variations has displayed an upward trend, with a rate of increase amounting to 9.2 mm/10a and a cycle of 2.5 a. The Qaidam Basin has witnessed a considerable increase in temperature since 1977, as indicated by the Mann–Kendall mutation test. Within the Qaidam Basin, the mutation point at which precipitation transitioned from a lesser amount to a more volume occurred in 2001. Furthermore, a reduction in the variation of evaporation was observed between 1959 and 2003, possibly attributed to decreased sunshine and wind speed within the basin. The moist coefficient (precipitation/evaporation) and absolute humidity serve as direct indicators of the level of humidity in the environment. The moist coefficient has displayed an upward trend, accompanied by a corresponding increase in absolute humidity. The lake area and vegetation coverage are indirect indicators that reflect the level of humidity in the environment. In the Qaidam Basin, the lakes have expanded in surface area and there has been a noticeable increase in vegetation coverage. Collectively, these indicators unambiguously show that the Qaidam Basin is undergoing a process of increased moisture levels. Thus, it can be deduced that the modern Qaidam Basin is both experiencing warming and becoming wet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic cerebral ischemia (CCI) is a common neurological disorder, characterized by progressive cognitive impairment. Acupoint catgut embedding (ACE) represents a modern acupuncture form that has shown neuroprotective effects; nevertheless, its effects on CCI and the mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we aimed to explore the therapeutic action of ACE in CCI-induced cognitive impairment and its mechanisms. The cognitive function of CCI rats was determined using Morris water maze test, and histopathological changes in the brain were assessed through hematoxylin–eosin (HE) staining. To further explore the molecular mechanisms, the expression levels of oxidative stress markers and the Ang II/AT1R/NOX axis-associated molecules in the hippocampus were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. Here, we observed that ACE treatment alleviated cognitive dysfunction and histopathological injury in CCI rats. Intriguingly, candesartan (an AT1R blocker) enhanced the beneficial effects of ACE on ameliorating cognitive impairment in CCI rats. Mechanistically, ACE treatment blocked the Ang II/AT1R/NOX pathway and subsequently suppressed oxidative stress, thus mitigating cognitive impairment in CCI. Our findings first reveal that ACE treatment could suppress cognitive impairment in CCI, which might be partly due to the suppression of Ang II/AT1R/NOX axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article mainly tackles the finite-time time-varying formation tracking (Fin-TVFT) problem and fixed-time time-varying formation tracking (Fix-TVFT) problem of multiple Euler-Lagrange systems (MELSs) subject to the external disturbances under the directed interaction topology. The distributed estimator-based hierarchical control (EBHC) algorithms are respectively formulated to achieve the foregoing problems. Note that the settling time of Fin-TVFT depends on the initial values, but the convergence time of Fix-TVFT is independent of the initial conditions. According to the Lyapunov stability analysis, several sufficient conditions for accomplishing the Fin-TVFT and Fix-TVFT are derived. Eventually, the simulation results are exhibited in order to illustrate the feasibility of the designed algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental disturbances acting on marine surface vessels are naturally stochastic. The control performance may be seriously deteriorated if the stochastic sea loads are ignored in control design. In this paper, the trajectory tracking control problem for uncertain underactuated surface vessels exposed to stochastic disturbances under prescribed performance constraints was addressed. By introducing a novel tan-type quartic barrier Lyapunov function (BLF) into the control design, such that (i) the Hessian terms induced by stochastic differentiation rule can be handled, and (ii) the prescribed transient and steady-state performance of tracking errors in probability can be guaranteed. To overcome the difficulties caused by underactuation and nonzero off-diagonal terms in system matrices, we develop a transverse function control method to introduce an additional controller. An important role of the design method is that it is not necessary to prove the stability of the sway dynamics separately in theory. Finally, simulation studies are carried out to validate the effectiveness of the proposed control protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroptosis, characterized by lipid peroxidation, plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis (AP). While sterol O-acyltransferase 2 (Soat2) is known for its crucial regulatory role in cholesterol homeostasis, its involvement in the development of AP remains unreported. We conducted this study to identify the pivotal role of Soat2 in AP using transcriptomic databases. Subsequently, we confirmed its alterations through both in vitro and in vivo experimental models. Furthermore, we performed intervention with the Soat2 inhibitor avasimibe to evaluate pancreatic tissue pathology and serum enzymatic levels and observe inflammatory cell infiltration through immunohistochemistry. Additionally, changes in indicators related to ferroptosis were also observed. The results showed that in the AP mouse model, the protein and mRNA levels of Soat2 were significantly increased. Following avasimibe administration, there was a decrease in serum amylase levels, reduction in pancreatic tissue pathological damage, and attenuation of inflammatory cell infiltration. Furthermore, avasimibe administration resulted in downregulation of ferroptosis-related indicators. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the Soat2 inhibitor avasimibe protects against AP in mice through inhibition of the ferroptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we deal with the following fractional p & q -Laplacian problem: { (− Δ) p s u + (− Δ) q s u = λ a (x) | u | θ − 2 u + μ b (x) | u | r − 2 u in Ω , u (x) = 0 in R N ∖ Ω , where Ω ⊂ R N is a bounded domain with smooth boundary, s ∈ (0 , 1) , (− Δ) m s (m ∈ { p , q }) is the fractional m-Laplacian operator, p , q , r , θ ∈ (1 , p s ∗ ] , p s ∗ = N p N − s p , λ , μ > 0 , and the weights a (x) and b (x) are possibly sign changing. Using the concentration compactness principle for fractional Sobolev spaces and the Ekeland variational principle, we prove that the problem admits a nonnegative solution for the critical case r = p s ∗ . Moreover, for the subcritical case r < p s ∗ , we obtain two existence results by applying the Ekeland variational principle and the mountain pass theorem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is prototypical autoimmune disease driven by pathological T cell–B cell interactions1,2. Expansion of T follicular helper (TFH) and T peripheral helper (TPH) cells, two T cell populations that provide help to B cells, is a prominent feature of SLE3,4. Human TFH and TPH cells characteristically produce high levels of the B cell chemoattractant CXCL13 (refs. 5,6), yet regulation of T cell CXCL13 production and the relationship between CXCL13+ T cells and other T cell states remains unclear. Here, we identify an imbalance in CD4+ T cell phenotypes in patients with SLE, with expansion of PD-1+/ICOS+ CXCL13+ T cells and reduction of CD96hi IL-22+ T cells. Using CRISPR screens, we identify the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) as a potent negative regulator of CXCL13 production by human CD4+ T cells. Transcriptomic, epigenetic and functional studies demonstrate that AHR coordinates with AP-1 family member JUN to prevent CXCL13+ TPH/TFH cell differentiation and promote an IL-22+ phenotype. Type I interferon, a pathogenic driver of SLE7, opposes AHR and JUN to promote T cell production of CXCL13. These results place CXCL13+ TPH/TFH cells on a polarization axis opposite from T helper 22 (TH22) cells and reveal AHR, JUN and interferon as key regulators of these divergent T cell states.Insufficient AHR activation has been suggested in SLE, and augmenting AHR activation therapeutically may prevent CXCL13+ TPH/TFH differentiation and the subsequent recruitment of B cells and formation of lymphoid aggregates in inflamed tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Password-based authentication is one of the most prevailing access control mechanism. Typical password-authenticated key exchange (PAKE) protocols are single-server settings and are therefore vulnerable to server compromise attack. To defend against such attack, multi-server PAKE schemes have been advanced, but most of which are built on non-quantum-secure hardness assumptions. Lattice-based cryptosystems are regarded as the most promising one for post-quantum eara by NIST, while the known multi-server password-based authentication solution over lattices achieves merely key transport and is public key infrastructure (PKI)-based, resulting in low efficiency and poor deployability. In this work, we resort to distributed smooth projective hash function (SPHF) to bridge the gap between multi-server PAKE protocol and quantum-security. We first design an exact SPHF and derive the first distributed SPHF over lattices by leveraging the additive homomorphic property of the strong learning with errors (LWE) problem. In particular, the relevant parameters of the public key encryption (PKE) scheme it predicates on are identified, thus eliminating the influence of incomplete lattice homomorphism on the correctness of our SPHFs. Pertinent lattice-based multi-server PAKE protocols are further proposed on both transparent and non-transparent transmission modes by integrating our distributed SPHF into the multi-server framework of Raimondo and Gennaro (EUROCRYPT'03). Our PAKE constructions are able to resist both quantum and sever compromise attacks as well as avoid the expensive cryptographic primitives, including non-interactive zero knowledge (NIZK) proofs, signature/verification, secret sharing and fully homomorphic encryption. Experimental results demonstrate that our SPHFs and PAKE protocols offer better efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, for the first time, we isolated a naringinase-producing strain from the Citrus aurantium L. var. amara Engl flower soil and identified it as Serratia marcescens C10. In order to improve naringinase activity for its industrial application, single-factor experiments were carried out to obtain the factors that greatly affect naringinase activity, and based on three factors and three levels of Box-Behnken Designs (BBD), response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the culture conditions consisting of naringin concentration, inoculation size and fermentation time. Results showed that naringin concentration and fermentation time had a highly significant influence and significant influence on naringinase activity, respectively. Additionally, inoculation size and fermentation time had an interaction with naringinase activity. The optimized conditions were a naringin concentration of 0.09 mg/mL, an inoculation size of 5.5%, and a fermentation time of 60 h. Under optimal culture conditions, the experiment naringinase activity was 30.81 U/mL, which was close to the predicted theoretical value of 31.23 U/mL. The optimized naringinase was used to remove naringin in grapefruit juice, and the removal rate was 88.85% under optimal reaction conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In practice, simultaneous impact localization and time history reconstruction can hardly be achieved, due to the ill-posed and under-determined problems induced by the constrained and harsh measuring conditions. Although ℓ 1 regularization can be used to obtain sparse solutions, it tends to underestimate solution amplitudes as a biased estimator. To address this issue, a novel impact force identification method with ℓ p regularization is proposed in this paper, using the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM). By decomposing the complex primal problem into sub-problems solvable in parallel via proximal operators, ADMM can address the challenge effectively. To mitigate the sensitivity to regularization parameters, an adaptive regularization parameter is derived based on the K-sparsity strategy. Then, an ADMM-based sparse regularization method is developed, which is capable of handling ℓ p regularization with arbitrary p values using adaptively-updated parameters. The effectiveness and performance of the proposed method are validated on an aircraft skin-like composite structure. Additionally, an investigation into the optimal p value for achieving high-accuracy solutions via ℓ p regularization is conducted. It turns out that ℓ 0.6 regularization consistently yields sparser and more accurate solutions for impact force identification compared to the classic ℓ 1 regularization method. The impact force identification method proposed in this paper can simultaneously reconstruct impact time history with high accuracy and accurately localize the impact using an under-determined sensor configuration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Characterizing the 6 × 6 complex Hadamard matrices (CHMs) is an open problem in linear algebra and quantum information. We name the 6 × 6 CHMs except the H 2 -reducible matrices and the Tao matrix as the non- H 2 -reducible matrices. As far as we know, no non- H 2 -reducible matrices with analytic form have been found. In this paper, we find some non- H 2 -reducible matrices with analytic form. We also characterize some special 6 × 6 CHMs. Using our result one can further narrow the range of MUB trio (a set of four MUBs in C 6 consists of an MUB trio and the identity). Our results may lead to the complete classification of 6 × 6 CHMs and the solution of MUB problem in C 6 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The post-peak behaviors of rocks significantly impact safety assessments and structural designs in underground civil engineering. However, accurately quantifying these behaviors remains challenging due to the complex nature of modeling rock shear-cracking processes. This paper focuses on quantifying the post-peak mechanical behaviors of rocks exhibiting type-I, type-II, and mixed fractures within continuum mechanics. Our study introduces a novel approach quasi-state-based peridynamics to facilitate concurrent computation of the force density function and bond stress tensor. The force density function determination involves characterizing deformation within horizontal, vertical, and inclined bonds, adaptive allocation of directional components, and correction for volume loss. Fracture criteria, guided by the bond stress tensor, facilitate crack propagation description, incorporating the maximum tensile stress criterion and Mohr–Coulomb criterion to distinguish between tensile and shear fractures. In addition, a single linear fictitious crack model simulates the gradual weakening behavior of brittle rocks. The analysis employs an improved volume correction factor and volumetric method, validated through various numerical tests and experiments. These include fundamental tests, shear tests on specimens with prefabricated cracks, and uniaxial tests on specimens with three inclined cracks. Results unequivocally demonstrate the method's effectiveness in accurately modeling post-peak fracturing across various fracture types while maintaining high precision and minimizing computational costs. This research establishes a theoretical framework for diverse fracture criteria and fictitious crack models in rock cracking using peridynamics. It serves as a valuable reference for applying bond-based peridynamics in simulating tensile and shear fractures on a rock mass scale, offering a significant contribution to understanding rock behavior at reduced computational expenses. Highlights: Quasi-state-based peridynamics with stress and strains are developed to model the post-peak fracturing process of rocks in compression and shear. Force density and stress tensor are introduced in peridynamics to quantify the mechanical behaviors of brittle rocks during fracturing. Type-I, -II, and the mixed fractures in rocks are simulated at high accuracy and low computing cost. Numerical results agree well with experimental data on different types of rock cracks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we have designed and simulated all-optical logic gates with multi-functionalities based on two-dimensional photonic crystals. All-optical logic gates such as AND, OR, XOR, NOR and NAND are designed, simulated and optimized at 1550 nm wavelength. The operations of the proposed logic gates are based on the phenomenon of interference of optical waves and resonance in the cavity and analyzed with performance parameters such as contrast ratio, transmittance ratio and insertion loss. Based on the identical scheme of photonic crystal structure, multi-functionalities can be realized through tuning refractive index induced by applying voltage or manipulating the initial phase of the input optical wave signals. As a result, the proposed all-optical logic gates with multi-functionalities may contribute to the design of advanced photonic integrated devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aims to evaluate the short-term efficacy for locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC) who accepted laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) after neoadjuvant SOX versus SOX plus immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Methods: LAGC patients who accepted LG after neoadjuvant SOX (SOX-LG, n = 169) and SOX plus ICIs (SOX + ICIs-LG, n = 140) in three medical centers between Jan 2020 and Mar 2024 were analyzed. We compared the tumor regression, treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs), perioperative safety between two groups, and explored the risk factors of postoperative complications (POCs) for LG after neoadjuvant therapy. Results: The baseline characteristics were comparable between two groups (P > 0.05). SOX + ICIs-LG group acquired a higher proportion of objective response (63.6% vs. 46.7%, P = 0.003), major pathological response (43.6% vs. 31.4%, P = 0.001), and pathological complete response (17.9% vs. 9.5%, P = 0.030). There were no significant differences in the TRAEs rates, operation time, R0 resection, retrieved lymph nodes, postoperative first flatus, and hospitalized days, overall and severe POCs between two groups (P > 0.05). Patients in the SOX-ICIs-LG group had lower estimated blood loss (EBL) compared with SOX-LG (P = 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that more EBL (P = 0.003) and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) < 40 (P = 0.005) were independent risk factors of POCs for LG after neoadjuvant therapy. Conclusion: Neoadjuvant SOX plus ICIs brings better tumor regression and similar TRAEs compared with SOX alone for LAGC. SOX + ICIs-LG is safe and feasible to conduct with less EBL. Surgeons should focus on the perioperative management to control POCs for patients with PNI < 40 and more EBL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a new method for the layered equivalent modeling of slot winding in the stator of a flat wire motor to accurately study the thermal performance under steady-state conditions. The conventional equivalent model for flat wire winding involves treating the slot winding as a single copper rod for temperature analysis. This method is not applicable to flat wire motors under high-power density operating conditions. As the power density of the motor increases, the flat wire winding is more affected by skin effect and proximity effect, resulting in a sharp increase in AC loss and uneven distribution of losses in the slot winding. The conductor losses are highest near the slot opening, a characteristic that conventional model is unable to reflect. The proposed layered modeling method fully takes into account the characteristics of flat wire winding. This method involves adding interlayer insulation to divide the overall modeled conductor into layers and fully considers the thermal parameters, heat transfer characteristics, and distribution of materials within the slot to establish a new equivalent model for flat wire winding. Finally, the comparison of the results with the actual model and experimental tests demonstrates that this method effectively improves the calculation accuracy by 2.2% of the flat wire winding equivalent model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying active compounds for target proteins is fundamental in early drug discovery. Recently, data-driven computational methods have demonstrated promising potential in predicting compound activities. However, there lacks a well-designed benchmark to comprehensively evaluate these methods from a practical perspective. To fill this gap, we propose a Compound Activity benchmark for Real-world Applications (CARA). Through carefully distinguishing assay types, designing train-test splitting schemes and selecting evaluation metrics, CARA can consider the biased distribution of current real-world compound activity data and avoid overestimation of model performances. We observed that although current models can make successful predictions for certain proportions of assays, their performances varied across different assays. In addition, evaluation of several few-shot training strategies demonstrated different performances related to task types. Overall, we provide a high-quality dataset for developing and evaluating compound activity prediction models, and the analyses in this work may inspire better applications of data-driven models in drug discovery. Data-driven computational methods have demonstrated promising potential in predicting compound activities from chemical structures, however, unbiased practical applications remain challenging due to the lack of proper benchmarking methods. Here, the authors develop a benchmark termed CARA to eliminate the biases in current compound activity data by using new train-test splitting schemes and evaluation metrics, revealing accurate and informative model performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reflectance spectroscopy is rapid, inexpensive, and non-destructive and can provide important information about the mineralogy of rocks and sediments. We measured the reflectance spectroscopy of Miocene red clay deposits on the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, with the aim of developing a rapid methodology for detecting paleoclimatic changes. We obtained visible/near-infrared (VNIR) and short-wave infrared (SWIR) spectroscopy data from the red clay in the Jianzha Basin, and analyzed their relationship with independent paleoclimatic records, including mineral contents and environmental magnetic parameters. The results show that the VNIR parameters, including D500, D900, R500, and R900 (where D and R represent the depth and reflectance of the absorption peaks around 500 and 900 nm, respectively) are temperature-sensitive and correlated with the magnetic susceptibility, frequency-dependent magnetic susceptibility, and the marine δ18O record. The results of frequency-domain analysis of the VNIR parameters show that they reflect climate change on orbital timescales. SWIR parameters, such as AS1400, D1400/D1900 and D1900 (where AS represents the asymmetry of the absorption peaks around 1400 nm), are correlated with the illite and montmorillonite content, and they are sensitive to the weathering intensity. The spectral parameters of the eolian red clay in the Jianzha Basin reflect regional climatic changes caused by the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau at ∼8.5 Ma and global climatic cooling at ∼7.2 Ma, and thus they are applicable as both regional and global paleoenvironmental indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: MEK inhibitors have immunomodulatory activity and potential for synergistic activity when combined with PD-1 inhibitors. We evaluated selumetinib (inhibitor of MEK1/2) plus pembrolizumab (anti‒PD-1 antibody) in patients with advanced/metastatic solid tumors. In this phase 1b study, adults with previously treated advanced/metastatic solid tumors received pembrolizumab 200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks plus selumetinib on days 1‒14 per 3-week cycle (2 weeks on/1 week off); selumetinib dosing began at 50 mg orally twice daily with escalation in 25 mg increments for ≤ 35 cycles. Primary endpoints were dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs), adverse events (AEs), and treatment discontinuations due to AEs. Thirty-two patients were enrolled. Dose escalation was completed up to selumetinib 125 mg twice daily. The target DLT rate of 30% was not reached at any dose level. In the selumetinib 100 mg group, 2/11 patients (18.2%) experienced DLTs (n = 1 grade 3 diarrhea, n = 1 grade 3 fatigue). In the selumetinib 125 mg group, 3/14 (21.4%) experienced DLTs (n = 1 grade 2 retinal detachment, n = 1 grade 3 retinopathy, n = 1 grade 3 stomatitis). Dose-related changes in pharmacokinetic exposures were observed for selumetinib and N-desmethyl selumetinib up to 100 mg (saturation at 125 mg). Two patients achieved partial responses (1 each with selumetinib 75 mg and 125 mg) for an objective response rate of 6%. The study was stopped early because of insufficient efficacy. Although the target DLT rate was not reached at any dose level and no new safety signals were identified, selumetinib plus pembrolizumab had limited antitumor activity in this population. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03833427. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional computing structures are blocked by the von Neumann bottleneck, and neuromorphic computing devices inspired by the human brain which integrate storage and computation have received more and more attention. Here, a flexible organic device with 2,7-dioctyl[1] benzothieno [3,2-b][1] benzothiophene (C8-BTBT) and 2,9-didecyldinaphtho [2,3-b:2′,3′-f] thieno [3,2-b] thiophene (C10-DNTT) heterostructural channel having excellent synaptic behaviors was fabricated on muscovite (MICA) substrate, which has a memory window greater than 20 V. This device shows better electrical characteristics than organic field effect transistors with single organic semiconductor channel. Furthermore, the device simulates organism synaptic behaviors successfully, such as paired-pulse facilitation (PPF), long-term potentiation/depression (LTP/LTD) process, and transition from short-term memory (STM) to long-term memory (LTM) by optical and electrical modulations. Importantly, the neuromorphic computing function was verified using the Modified National Institute of Standards and Technology (MNIST) pattern recognition, with a recognition rate nearly 100% without noise. This research proposes a flexible organic heterojunction with the ultra-high recognition rate in MNIST pattern recognition and provides the possibility for future flexible wearable neuromorphic computing devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The study, using data from Chongqing, China, and employing Mendelian randomization along with bioinformatics, establishes a causal link between asthma and osteoporosis, beyond glucocorticoid effects. Asthma may contribute to osteoporosis by accelerating bone turnover through inflammatory factors, disrupting the coupling between osteoblasts and osteoclasts, ultimately leading to osteoporosis. Introduction: Asthma and osteoporosis are prevalent health conditions with substantial public health implications. However, their potential interplay and the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Previous research has primarily focused on the impact of glucocorticoids on osteoporosis, often overlooking the role of asthma itself. Methods: We conducted a multi-stage stratified random sampling in Chongqing, China and excluded individuals with a history of glucocorticoid use. Participants underwent comprehensive health examinations, and their clinical data, including asthma status, were recorded. Logistic regression and Mendelian randomization were employed to investigate the causal link between asthma and osteoporosis. Furthermore, bioinformatics analyses and serum biomarker assessments were conducted to explore potential mechanistic pathways. Results: We found a significant association between asthma and osteoporosis, suggesting a potential causal link. Mendelian Randomization analysis provided further support for this causal link. Bioinformatics analyses revealed that several molecular pathways might mediate the impact of asthma on bone health. Serum alkaline phosphatase levels were significantly elevated in the asthma group, suggesting potential involvement in bone turnover. Conclusion: Our study confirms a causal link between asthma and osteoporosis and highlights the importance of considering asthma in osteoporosis prediction models. It also suggests that asthma may accelerate osteoporosis by increasing bone turnover through inflammatory factors, disrupting the coupling between osteoblasts and osteoclasts, ultimately leading to bone loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global expansion of the bioenergy industry raises concerns, emphasizing the need for careful evaluation and sustainable management. To facilitate this, life cycle assessments beyond greenhouse gas emissions and energy balance are essential, along with the standardization of assessment methodologies to enable meaningful comparisons. Here, we review life cycle assessment, chemical aspects, and policy implication of bioenergy production. We discuss life cycle assessment in terms of concepts, methods, impacts, greenhouse gases, land use, water consumption, bioethanol, biodiesel, biogas, and techno-economic analysis. Chemical aspects comprise reaction processes and means to improve efficiency. Concerning policies, tools, and frameworks that encourage sustainable energy production are presented. We found that carbon dioxide removal ranges from 45 to 99% in various bioenergy processes. The review also emphasizes the importance of chemistry in advancing sustainable bioenergy production for a more sustainable and secure energy future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyze the allocation of face masks to minimize mortality during a pandemic through airborne transmission. When the initial distribution of masks is private information, the optimal allocation achieved by a sophisticated mechanism in most cases maximizes the coverage rate by incentivizing individuals who initially own a mask to reveal this information in exchange for a better chance to receive masks in the future. We propose a novel and simple mechanism, which reduces death by a sizable number compared with simple random assignment. Our simulation shows that, for low to medium early coverage rates, the new mechanism approximately attains the minimum mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of interbasin linkage on the weather/climate and ecosystems is significantly broader and profounder than that of only appearing in an individual basin. Here, we reveal that a decadal linkage of sea surface temperature (SST) has emerged between western Australian coast and western–central tropical Pacific since 1985, associated with continuous intensification of decadal variabilities (8–16 years). The rapid SST changes in both tropical Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific warm pool in association to greenhouse gases and volcanoes are emerging factors resulting in enhanced decadal co-variabilities between these two regions since 1985. These SST changes induce enhanced convection variability over the Maritime Continent, leading to stronger easterlies in the western–central tropical Pacific during the warm phase off western Australian coast. The above changes bring about cooling in the western–central tropical Pacific and strengthened Leeuwin Current and anomalous cyclonic wind off western Australian coast, and ultimately resulting in enhanced coupling between these two regions. Our results suggest that enhanced decadal interbasin connections can offer further understanding of decadal changes under future warmer conditions.This study identifies a decadal link between sea surface temperatures off Western Australia and the western-central tropical Pacific that has emerged since 1985. Driven by external forcings and the rapid changes in the Indo-Pacific warm pool, it may impact future climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prediabetes is an important stage in the development of diabetes. It is necessary to find a safe, effective and sustainable way to delay and reverse the progression of prediabetes. Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila) is one of the key bacteria associated with glucose metabolism. Recent studies mainly focus on the effect of A. muciniphila on obesity and insulin resistance, but there is no research on the effect of A. muciniphila on pancreatic β-cell function and its mechanism in prediabetes. In this study, we investigated the effects of A. muciniphila on β-cell function, apoptosis and differentiation, as well as its effects on the gut microbiome, intestinal barrier, metaflammation and the expression of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced prediabetic rat model. The effect of A. muciniphila was compared with dietary intervention. The results showed both A. muciniphila treatment and dietary intervention can reduce metaflammation by repairing the intestinal barrier in rats with prediabetes induced by an HFD and improve β-cell secretory function, apoptosis and differentiation through signaling pathways mediated by TLR2 and TLR4. Additionally, A. muciniphila can further elevate β-cell secretion, attenuate apoptosis and improve differentiation and the TLR signaling pathway on the basis of diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Human estrogen-related receptor γ (hERRγ) is a key protein involved in various endocrines and metabolic signaling. Numerous environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can impact related physiological activities through receptor signaling pathways. Focused on hERRγ with 4-isopropylphenol, bisphenol-F (BPF), and BP(2,2)(Un) complexes, we executed molecular docking and multiple molecular dynamics (MD) simulations along with molecular mechanics/Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM-PBSA) and solvation interaction energy (SIE) calculation to study the detailed dynamical structural characteristics and interactions between them. Molecular docking showed that hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions were the prime interactions to keep the stability of BPF-hERRγ and hERRγ-BP(2,2)(Un) complexes. Through MD simulations, we observed that all complexes reach equilibrium during the initial 50 ns of simulation, but these three EDCs lead to local structure changes in hERRγ. Energy results further identified key residues L268, V313, L345, and F435 around the binding pockets through CH-π, π-π, and hydrogen bonds interactions play an important stabilizing role in the recognition with EDCs. And most noticeable of all, hydrophobic methoxide groups in BP(2,2)(Un) is useful for decreasing the binding ability between EDCs and hERRγ. These results may contribute to evaluate latent diseases associated with EDCs exposure at the micro level and find potential substitutes. Method: Autodock4.2 was used to conduct the molecular docking, sietraj program was performed to calculate the energy, and VMD software was used to visualize the structure. Amber18 was conducted to perform the MD simulation and other analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Late Cretaceous to Paleogene Laramide orogen in the North American Cordillera involved deformation >1,000 km from the plate margin that has been attributed to either plate-boundary end loading or basal traction exerted on the upper plate from the subducted Farallon flat slab. Prevailing tectonic models fail to explain the relative absence of Laramide-aged (ca. 90–60 Ma) contractional deformation within the Cordillera hinterland. Based on Raman spectroscopy of carbonaceous material thermometry and literature data from the restored upper 15–20 km of the Cordilleran crust we reconstruct the Late Cretaceous thermal architecture of the hinterland. Interpolation of compiled temperature data (n = 200) through a vertical crustal column reveals that the hinterland experienced a continuous but regionally elevated, upper-crustal geothermal gradient of >40 °C/km during Laramide orogenesis, consistent with peak metamorphic conditions and synchronous peraluminous granitic plutonism. The hot and partially melted hinterland promoted lower crust mobility and crust-mantle decoupling during flat-slab traction. Researchers test geodynamic models for far-field continental deformation during the Laramide orogeny. New and existing thermal data show that the hot hinterland crust promoted lower crust mobility and crust-mantle decoupling during flat-slab traction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective and mild activation of O2 is essential but challenging for aerobic oxidation. In heterogeneous catalysis, high-valence manganese oxide (e.g., +4) is known to be active for the oxidation, whereas divalent MnO is ineffective due to its limited capacity to supply surface oxygen and its thermodynamically unstable structure when binding O2 in reaction conditions. Inspired by natural enzymes that rely on divalent Mn2+, we discovered that confining Mn2+ onto the Mn2O3 surface through a dedicated calcination process creates highly active catalysts for the aerobic oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, benzyl alcohol, and CO. The Mn2O3-confined Mn2+ is undercoordinated and efficiently mediates O2 activation, resulting in 2–3 orders of magnitude higher activity than Mn2O3 alone. Through low-temperature infrared spectroscopy, we distinguished low-content Mn2+ sites at Mn2O3 surface, which are difficult to be differentiated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The combination of in-situ energy-dispersive X-ray absorption spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction further provides insights into the formation of the newly identified active Mn2+ sites. By optimizing the calcination step, we were able to increase the catalytic activity threefold further. The finding offers promising frontiers for exploring active oxidation catalysts by utilizing the confinement of Mn2+ and often-ignored calcination skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wax gourd (Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn., 2n = 2x = 24) is an economically important vegetable crop cultivated widely in many tropical and subtropical regions, including China, India, and Japan. Both fruit and seeds are prized agronomic attributes in wax gourd breeding and production. However, the genetic mechanisms underlying these traits remain largely unexplored. In this study, we observed a strong correlation between fruit size and seed size variation in our mapping population, indicating genetic control by a single gene, BhLS, with large size being dominant over small. Through bulk segregant analysis sequencing and fine mapping with a large F2 population, we precisely located the BhLS gene within a 47.098-kb physical interval on Chromosome 10. Within this interval, only one gene, Bhi10M000649, was identified, showing homology to Arabidopsis HOOKLESS1. A nonsynonymous mutation (G to C) in the second exon of Bhi10M000649 was found to be significantly associated with both fruit and seed size variation in wax gourd. These findings collectively highlight the pleiotropic effect of the BhLS gene in regulating fruit and seed size in wax gourd. Our results offer molecular insights into the variation of fruit and seed size in wax gourd and establish a fundamental framework for breeding wax gourd cultivars with desired traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The corn variety “Zhenghong 507”, which is widely cultivated in hilly and mountainous areas of Southwest China, was assigned as the research object. The discrete element model of the mid-section of the corn ear that can be threshed was established by integrating the Hertz-Mindlin with the bonding V2 contact model, and the crucial bonding parameters were simulated and calibrated. With the measured normal threshing force (6.34 N) and tangential threshing force (4.75 N) of a single kernel as target values, the parameters of bonding characteristics between the kernel and the cob of corn ear were screened and optimized for significance via the Placket-Burman test, steepest ascent test, and the central composite design. The results indicate that the optimal parameter combinations for the normal stiffness and shear stiffness per unit area, normal strength, shear strength, contact radius between kernels, contact radius between cobs, and bonded disk scale were 3.4 × 108 N·m−3, 2.238 × 108 N·m−3, 0.6 × 106 Pa, 0.364 × 106 Pa, 1.87 mm, 16.5 mm and 1.321. Finally, the accuracy of the corn ear DEM model was validated by comparing the simulation to the physical test using the threshing rate as an evaluation index combined with the quality distribution of kernels after threshing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work found that rectorite (REC) has a good adsorption effect on cationic pollutants such as ciprofloxacin (CIP), with a maximum adsorption capacity of 79.73 mg/g for CIP. The zeta potential analysis showed that the electronegativity of the REC surface would be weakened after CIP adsorption under acidic conditions. Through adsorption kinetics, isotherm study, XRD, FTIR, and other characterizations, the phenomenon of reduced negative charge on the surface of REC adsorbed with CIP under acidic conditions was explained. Based on the Langmuir and Temkin models, the adsorption process of CIP on REC is a spontaneous endothermic adsorption process. The adsorption kinetics can be better described using a pseudo-second-order model, indicating that the adsorption rate is mainly controlled by chemical adsorption. The characterization further proved that REC adsorbed ciprofloxacin mainly through hydrogen bonding, cation exchange, and electrostatic gravitational interaction. CIP, as an emerging contaminant discharged into the water environment, will be harmful to the ecological environment and human health. Therefore, the utilization of REC for the removal of CIP from an aqueous solution has potential prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron is an essential element for plants growth and development. Biofortification has become an efficient way for iron accumulation in grains to enhance the nutritional quality of crops. Both iron and sucrose are transported via phloem during grain filling in rice. However, the relationship between iron and sucrose transport remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the relationship between sucrose transport and iron accumulation in rice. We first found that the efficient iron accumulated stage and sucrose unloading stage overlapped at 5–10 DAF during grain filling. The close relationship was further validated by transgenic lines (Y2 and Y6) overexpressing yeast (Y) invertase (INV). The sucrose efflux rate in phloem decreased by 40.1% and 30.6%, and the iron efflux rate in phloem was also reduced by 73.7% and 51.0% in Y2 and Y6, respectively. Thus, the iron content in grains was decreased. The transcriptome analysis on grains of WT and Y2 at 10 DAF was used to compare the difference in carbohydrate and iron metabolism. Seven upregulated DEGs and twenty-four downregulated DEGs related to carbohydrate metabolism were identified in Y2. The expression levels of starch synthesis and sugar transport genes in Y2 were lower than those in WT. The expression levels of iron-related genes, including OsTOM1, OsNAS1, OsNAS2, OsIRT1, OsYSL9, and OsOPT7, were significantly downregulated in Y2. These results indicated that blocking photoassimilates allocation between source and sink reduces iron accumulation in grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have shown that the springtime Arctic Oscillation (AO) has a strong influence on the subsequent Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Nevertheless, not every AO is followed by IOD and ENSO. This study divides the spring AO into three types: followed by both IOD and ENSO (AO-Both), followed by ENSO only (AO-ENSO), and followed by IOD only (AO-IOD). In the AO-Both type, the Pacific component of the AO, which is characterized by a dipole pattern, induces sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the subtropical North Pacific that extend southward to the tropical Pacific via a wind-evaporation-SST (WES) feedback. The generated tropical SST anomalies influence subsequent ENSO via tropical air-sea interaction and impact autumn IOD via modulation of the tropical Walker circulation. In the AO-ENSO type, the Pacific component of the AO is featured by a mono-pole anomaly pattern with a center over the mid-latitude northeast Pacific. The northeast Pacific atmospheric anomalies propagate southward and lead to surface zonal wind anomalies in the tropical central Pacific via the WES feedback that influence subsequent ENSO via tropical air-sea interaction. In the AO-IOD type, the Pacific component of the AO is weak. Spring AO-related atmospheric heating anomalies over the North Atlantic excite a wave train extending from the North Atlantic to the western Pacific. The associated low-level wind anomalies induce SST anomalies around the Maritime Continent, which play a crucial role in influencing subsequent IOD. This study suggests that the spatial pattern of the AO plays a critical role in determining its impact on tropical climate variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building construction requires important amounts of freshwater, thus depleting the already stressed natural water resources. This issue could be addressed by using recycled water in construction and in building systems. However, integrating greywater recycling systems is limited by complexity, costs, vulnerability to environmental fluctuations, and coordination of policymakers, developers, and construction practitioners. Here, we review recycled water systems in buildings with focus on case studies of successful implementations, policies, recycled water treatment in buildings, and health aspects. Compared to conventional tap water, the incorporation of recycled water enhances the consistency and workability of reclaimed water concrete by 12–14%, and it increases concrete viscosity by 11% and yield stress by 25%. We discuss the intricacies of building water recycling systems, with emphasizing on conserving water, mitigating environmental impact, and enhancing economic efficiency. Challenges include water quality assurance, dual piping infrastructure, and regulatory compliance. Government interventions, including incentives, mandates, and subsidy policies, emerge as drivers for widespread adoption. Technological advancements, such as membrane filtration and advanced oxidation processes, are examined for strengths and limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional building materials have some drawbacks in the construction industry, particularly in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption. Biomaterials derived from renewable sources are a promising alternative, significantly reducing the greenhouse effect and enhancing energy efficiency. However, traditional materials still dominate the construction sector, and there is a lack of understanding among some policymakers and developers regarding biomaterials. Here, we review building biomaterials and their policies and life cycle assessment through case studies. Bio-based materials have the potential to reduce over 320,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. They also exhibit advantages like decreasing water absorption by 40%, reducing energy consumption by 8.7%, enhancing acoustic absorption by 6.7%, and improving mechanical properties. We summarize recent advancements in mycelial materials, bioconcrete, natural fibers, and fiber-reinforced composites. We also explore the contributions of nanotechnology and microalgae technology in enhancing biomaterials' thermal insulation and eco-friendliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The building sector is significantly contributing to climate change, pollution, and energy crises, thus requiring a rapid shift to more sustainable construction practices. Here, we review the emerging practices of integrating renewable energies in the construction sector, with a focus on energy types, policies, innovations, and perspectives. The energy sources include solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass fuels. Case studies in Seattle, USA, and Manama, Bahrain, are presented. Perspectives comprise self-sufficiency, microgrids, carbon neutrality, intelligent buildings, cost reduction, energy storage, policy support, and market recognition. Incorporating wind energy into buildings can fulfill about 15% of a building's energy requirements, while solar energy integration can elevate the renewable contribution to 83%. Financial incentives, such as a 30% subsidy for the adoption of renewable technologies, augment the appeal of these innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive malignant brain tumor. Due to the infiltration and heterogeneity of GBM, the obstruction of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the unique immunosuppressive mechanism, it is hard to achieve significant effects of GBM treatment. Here, a kind of chemotactic nanomotor that loaded with glucose oxidase (GOx) and carboxylated cisplatin (Pt(IV)) prodrug on the L-arginine-derived polymer is proposed. The nanomotors are driven by catalysis of glucose decomposition and the positive chemotaxis towards the GBM microenvironment where inducible nitric oxide synthase and reactive oxygen species are highly expressed. This facilitates the BBB crossing and GBM targeting of the nanomotors. In addition, the released nitric oxide (NO) during propulsion as well as the loaded GOx and Pt(IV) can exert combined NO/starvation/chemotherapy. Meanwhile, it is able to induce and enhance the immune response through multiple pathways, thus better coping with the complexities of GBM treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs) are locally aggressive and have a high rate of recurrence, but the pathogenesis of OKCs is not fully understood. We aimed to investigate the serum metabolomic profile of OKCs and discover potential biomarkers. Methods: Metabolomic analysis was performed on 42 serum samples from 22 OKC patients and 20 healthy controls (HCs) using gas chromatography‒mass spectrometry to identify dysregulated metabolites in the OKC samples. LASSO regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were used to select and validate metabolic biomarkers and develop diagnostic models. Results: A total of 73 metabolites were identified in the serum samples, and 24 metabolites were dysregulated in the OKC samples, of which 4 were upregulated. Finally, a diagnostic panel of 10 metabolites was constructed that accurately diagnosed OKCs (sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 100%, area under the curve of 1.00). Conclusion: This study is the first to investigate the metabolic characteristics and potential metabolic biomarkers in the serum of OKC patients using GC‒MS. Our study provides further evidence to explore the pathogenesis of OKC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatment of bamboo defibered sheets is an effective method to increase the performance of bamboo scrimber. To enhance the performance of bamboo scrimber, this study investigated the effects of resin dosage and thermal treatment of surface layer defibered sheets on water resistance, wear resistance, and mechanical properties of bamboo scrimber. As the resin dosage and thermal treatment temperature increased in the surface layer defibered sheets, the water expansion rates in both the width and thickness of bamboo scrimber decreased, indicating the improvement in water resistance. The increase in resin dosage on surface layer defibered sheets improved wear resistance of the bamboo scrimber as a whole. However, higher thermal treatment temperatures decreased the wear resistance. The horizontal shear strength, MOR, and MOE initially increased and then decreased as the resin dosage increased, with the maximum mechanical strength appearing at the resin dosage of 16%. In contrast, the thermal treatment improved the horizontal shear strength, MOR, and MOE of bamboo scrimber, with the highest mechanical strength at 180 °C. Furthermore, as the treatment temperature increased, the surface color of the bamboo defibered sheets changed from light yellow to dark brown. The results of this study offered a theoretical foundation for the production of high-performance bamboo scrimber with acceptable cost by only treating the surface layer bamboo defibered sheets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CircRNAs are a class of highly stable noncoding RNAs that play an important role in the progression of many diseases, especially cancer. In this study, high-throughput sequencing was used to screen for abnormally expressed circRNAs, and we found that circGPC3 was overexpressed in HCC tissues. However, the underlying mechanism of circGPC3 in the development and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. In our study, we found that circGPC3 was significantly upregulated in HCC tissues and cells and that its overexpression was positively correlated with overall survival, TNM stage and lymph node metastasis. In vivo and in vitro experiments showed that circGPC3 knockdown repressed HCC cell migration, invasion and proliferation and promoted apoptosis. Mechanistically, circGPC3 promoted HCC proliferation and metastasis through the miR-578/RAB7A/PSME3 axis. Our results demonstrate that circGPC3 contributes to the progression of HCC and provides an intervention target for HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The manufacturing of high-performance Cu alloys by wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) presents significant challenges due to the high thermal conductivity. The key issues, such as forming regularity and height stability control, have not been completely solved. In this paper, the effect of current frequency and tungsten electrode distance (TD) on the forming characteristics and deposition process of CuCrZr were investigated. The results revealed that the forming was affected by the behaviors of molten pool and metal droplet. The molten pool was relatively stable at 1 kHz with a minimum height fluctuation. At 50 Hz, with the maximum height instability, a larger molten pool oscillation than at other frequencies resulted from the superposition of oscillations caused by the arc force and the metal droplet. On the other hand, the heat input, arc size increased and molten pool fluctuations were enhanced with the increase of TD, which ultimately affected the forming dimensions. And the droplet transfer behaviors changed from the continuous to discontinuous transition. Based on the above analysis, a height compensation control method was proposed by adjusting the TD according to the deposition height of the previous layer at 1 kHz frequency. The better forming stability indicated the effectiveness of control method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two kinds of carbon dots with the maximum fluorescence peak of 492 nm (named as G-CDs) and 607 nm (named as R-CDs) were synthesized. In the presence of MoO42− ions, the fluorescence of R-CDs at 607 nm can be quenched, which can probably be assigned to their aggregation caused by MoO42−, while that of G-CDs at 492 nm remained unchanged. For the first time, a ratiometric fluorescence probe was developed for MoO42− ions detection. In the range 0.25 ~ 100 μM, the fluorescence ratio (F492/F607) of the probe was linearly related to MoO42− concentration, and the detection limit was 61.5 nM, which fully meets the minimum detection requirements of MoO42− ions in drinking water. On the other hand, when MoO42− was introduced, a significant fading phenomenon of R-CDs can be observed with the naked eye; thereby, the colorimetric method can also be proposed. Based on above, the ratiometric fluorometric/colorimetric dual-mode sensing method was established for MoO42− anion quantification. Compared with the traditional analysis methods, the results obtained by multimodal sensing can be mutually verified, which effectively improves the accuracy and reliability. The dual-mode assay proposed in this work provides an alternative scheme to meet the need of sensing target compounds in complex matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]