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In this work, C@Fe3O4 composites were prepared through a typical template method with emulsified asphalt as carbon source, ammonium ferric citrate as transition metal oxide precursor, and NaCl as template. As an anode for lithium-ion batteries, the optimized C@Fe3O4-1:2 composite exhibits an excellent reversible capacity of 856.6 mA·h·g−1 after 100 cycles at 0.1 A·g−1 and a high capacity of 531.1 mA·h·g−1 after 300 cycles at 1 A·g−1, much better than those of bulk carbon/Fe3O4 prepared without NaCl. Such remarkable cycling performance mainly benefits from its well-designed structure: Fe3O4 nanoparticles generated from ammonium ferric citrate during pyrolysis are homogenously encapsulated in graphitized and in-plane porous carbon nanocages derived from petroleum asphalt. The carbon nanocages not only improve the conductivity of Fe3O4, but also suppress the volume expansion of Fe3O4 effectively during the charge–discharge cycle, thus delivering a robust electrochemical stability. This work realizes the high value-added utilization of low-cost petroleum asphalt, and can be extended to application of other transition-metal oxides-based anodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apolipoprotein E (APOE) regulates lipid metabolism, associated with the development of various cancers. However, its precise prognostic significance and functions in alternative splicing and the tumor immune microenvironment remain unclear. In this study, we extracted APOE expression in pan-cancer from TCGA and analyzed mRNA transcriptome, cell lines, and protein levels. Furthermore, we analyzed the alternative splicing expression of the APOE gene transcript with prognostic profiles using the OncoSplicing database. We obtained 73 common APOE genes to perform functional enrichment analysis, assess the correlation between genes and immune cells using TIMER, EPIC, and ssGSEA methods, and examine the prognostic significance using the UALCAN database. Finally, single-cell data was employed to assess the correlation between APOE genes and cell functions. Our findings revealed that APOE expression varies across different tumor types and cancer cell lines. The alternative splicing analysis demonstrated that APOE transcript expression levels have prognostic value in cancers such as LGG, KIRC, and KIRP. Functional enrichment analysis indicated significant associations between APOE and various immune cells, such as macrophages, CD8 T cells, and NK cells, with significant implications for prognosis. Moreover, single-cell data indicated that APOE was primarily expressed in renal epithelial cells among stromal cells and in macrophages among immune cells, significantly negatively correlated with five functional states. Our study represents the first comprehensive exploration of APOE's function in pan-cancers and identifies APOE as a potential biomarker in cancer pathogenesis, prognosis, and immune therapeutic target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A S135 drill pipe experienced severe corrosion failure only after several cycles in a well. In this paper, a series of experiments were conducted to analyze the causes of corrosion failure of drill pipe, including nondestructive testing, chemical and physical properties, macroscopic and microscopic analysis, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The results showed that the corrosion failure of the external thread joint and pipe body of the S135 drill pipe belonged to oxygen corrosion, and a large amount of Cl− in the environmental medium accelerates the corrosion. The external threaded joint of the drill pipe was more severely corroded than pipe body due to the following two reasons. Firstly, vortexing flow was easy to form at the drill pipe joints with single shoulder threads. Secondly, the drill pipe external thread joint had 3.0-grade banded structure segregation, forming a local small electrode potential difference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent climate change has caused an increase in warming-driven erosion and sediment transport processes on the Tibetan Plateau (TP). Yet a lack of measurements hinders our understanding of basin-scale sediment dynamics and associated spatiotemporal changes. Here, using satellite-based estimates of suspended sediment, we reconstruct the quantitative history and patterns of erosion and sediment transport in major headwater basins from 1986 to 2021. Out of 13 warming-affected headwater regions, 63% of the rivers have experienced significant increases in sediment flux. Despite such intensified erosion, we find that 30% of the total suspended sediment flux has been temporarily deposited within rivers. Our findings reveal a pronounced spatiotemporal heterogeneity within and across basins. The recurrent fluctuations in erosion-deposition patterns within river channels not only result in the underestimation of erosion magnitude but also drive continuous transformations in valley morphology, thereby endangering local ecosystems, landscape stability, and infrastructure project safety. Climate change intensifies erosion and sediment transport in rivers of the Tibetan Plateau. Satellite data unveil unprecedented patterns of sediment deposition in rivers. Pronounced spatiotemporal heterogeneities within and across basins are found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on a few studies, heart failure patients with breast cancer were assessed to find potential biomarkers for doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. However, key immune-related transcriptional markers linked to doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in breast cancer patients have not been thoroughly investigated. We used GSE40447, GSE76314, and TCGA BRCA cohorts to perform this study. Then, we performed various bioinformatics approaches to identify the key immune-related transcriptional markers and their association with doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in patients with breast cancer. We found 255 upregulated genes and 286 downregulated genes in patients with doxorubicin-induced heart failure in breast cancer. We discovered that in patients with breast cancer comorbidity doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity, the 58 immunological genes are elevated (such as CPA3, VSIG4, GATA2, RFX2, IL3RA, and LRP1), and the 60 genes are significantly suppressed (such as MS4A1, FCRL1, CD200, FCRLA, FCRL2, and CD79A). Furthermore, we revealed that the immune-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) are substantially associated with the enrichment of KEGG pathways, including B-cell receptor signaling pathway, primary immunodeficiency, chemokine signaling pathway, hematopoietic cell lineage, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, focal adhesion, dilated cardiomyopathy, cell adhesion molecule, etc. Moreover, we discovered that the doxorubicin-induced immune-related genes are crucially involved in the protein–protein interaction and gene clusters. The immune-related genes, including IFIT5, XCL1, SPIB, BTLA, MS4A1, CD19, TCL1A, CD83, CD200, FCRLA, CD79A, BIRC3, and IGF2R are significantly associated with a poor survival prognosis of breast cancer patients and showed diagnostic efficacy in patients with breast cancer and heart failure. Molecular docking revealed that the survival-associated genes interact with the doxorubicin with appreciable binding affinity. Finally, we validated the expression level of immune-related genes in breast cancer patients-derived cardiomyocytes with doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity and found that the level of RAD9A, HSPA1B, GATA2, IGF2R, CD200, ERCC8, and BCL11A genes are consistently dysregulated. Our findings offered a basis for understanding the mechanism and pathogenesis of the cardiotoxicity caused by doxorubicin in breast cancer patients and predicted the interaction of immune-related potential biomarkers with doxorubicin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroelectrics are considered excellent photocatalytic candidates for solar fuel production because of the unidirectional charge separation and above-gap photovoltage. Nevertheless, the performance of ferroelectric photocatalysts is often moderate. A few studies showed that these types of photocatalysts could achieve overall water splitting. This paper proposes an approach to fabricating interfacial charge-collecting nanostructures on positive and negative domains of ferroelectric, enabling water splitting in ferroelectric photocatalysts. The present study observes efficient accumulations of photogenerated electrons and holes within their thermalization length (~50 nm) around Au nanoparticles located in the positive and negative domains of a BaTiO3 single crystal. Photocatalytic overall water splitting is observed on a ferroelectric BaTiO3 single crystal after assembling oxidation and reduction cocatalysts on the positively and negatively charged Au nanoparticles, respectively. The fabrication of bipolar charge-collecting structures on ferroelectrics to achieve overall water splitting offers a way to utilize the energetic photogenerated charges in solar energy conversion. While ferroelectric materials are promising candidates for solar water splitting, most examples show poor activities. Here, authors prepare charge-collecting nanostructures on the positive and negative domains of BaTiO3 and demonstrate photocatalytic overall water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chicken blastoderm cells (cBCs) obtained from stage X (EG&K) embryos are easily available materials for the study of cell development. However, cBCs are not widely used because they are hard to maintain in long-term culture in vitro. To solve this problem, ascorbic acid (AA; also known as vitamin C (VC)) and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) were added into basic culture medium to promote cell growth. Results suggested that cultured cBCs possessed strongly proliferative activity and maintained their pluripotency on the support of chicken embryonic fibroblast (CEF) feeder. Moreover, when VC or/and ATRA was added, the number and area of cBC colonies increased significantly compared with the control group. The expression of pluripotency genes (Sox2 and Nanog) and cell cycle–regulated genes (CCND1 and CDK6) was upregulated obviously. Furthermore, results showed that 5hmC levels in VC and RA groups increased significantly by DNA dot blot and immunofluorescence staining. These results provide strong evidence that VC and ATRA induced DNA demethylation and enhanced 5hmC level. The level of H3K27me3 was raised, while the level of H3K9me2 was reduced by addition of VC and ATRA. Finally, the expression of Tet1 and Dnmt3b was upregulated remarkably. Therefore, these results indicated that VC and ATRA enhanced DNA demethylation and then promoted cBC survival and proliferation in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two compounds containing carbazole and sulfone groups with different alkyl chain lengths have been designed and synthesized. The sulfone group has strong absorption characteristics and the alkoxy chain and carbazole group are electron-rich, forming D-δ-A-type symmetrical molecules. The molecules have the characteristics of charge transfer and high thermal stability, and the molecules stack to form a layered staggered stack, reducing the intermolecular π–π interactions. The target compounds also exhibit strong ultraviolet-fluorescent emission in the solid state at room temperature, and they are expected to be good luminescent materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased bacterial resistance to antibiotics is a major threat to human health, and it is particularly important to develop novel antibiotic drugs. Here, we designed a series of Schiff base thiosemicarbazone derivatives containing an adamantane moiety, and carried out the structural characterization of the compounds and in vitro antibacterial activity tests. Compound 7e was as effective as the commonly used antibiotic ampicillin against the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli, and compound 7g had a good inhibitory effect against Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis. These findings provide data for the development of better thiosemicarbazone antibacterial agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The operational safety of subsea risers is challenged due to the complex environmental loads such as a current and seismic wave. This paper presents a comprehensive stress analysis of subsea risers under the combined action of wave and seismic waves. Considering the effect of wave and seismic wave load on maximum axial stress and bending stress of subsea risers, the force and the restraint on subsea risers are simplified. The time-dependent wave force on subsea risers is calculated, and the motion equation of subsea risers passing through a strong seismic zone is obtained. Then, the influencing factors of maximum axial stress and bending stress on subsea risers are studied using the finite-element model. The influence of subsea riser stress on shear wave velocity, diameter, wall thickness, bending angle, and properties of subsea soil is investigated. The results exhibit that the maximum stress appears at the elbow of the riser in the combined effect and the axial stress becomes greater than Mises stress. It is observed that the outcome can provide technical support for site construction in a specific area, and it is of great significance for pipe selection and optimization of subsea riser geometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-destructive imaging strategies to monitor long-term cultures is essential for vascular engineering. The goal of this study is to investigate whether optical coherence tomography (OCT) can be a suitable approach to monitor the long-term remodeling process of biodegradable polymeric scaffold-based tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVG) after pulsatile stimulation and to observe polymeric scaffold degradation during bioreactor cultivation. In the present study, a perfusion system driven by a ventricular assist device was provided for a three-dimensional culture system as a pulsatile force. We characterized the structural features of wall thickness and polyglycolic acid degradation based on optical signal attenuation using catheter-based OCT. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed morphological changes. Also, polymer degradation and the detection of different types of collagen was visualized after 4 weeks of culture by means of polarized microscopy. Findings on OCT imaging correlated with those on histological examination and revealed the effects of pulsatile stimulation on the development of engineered vessels. This finding demonstrated that real-time imaging with OCT may be a promising tool for monitoring the growth and remodeling characterization of TEVG and provide a basis to promote the ideal and long-term culture of vascular tissue engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gliomas are the most common and aggressive brain tumors, and a poor prognosis is correlated with its World Health Organization (WHO) grade. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) may serve as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in gliomas. In the present study, we collected plasma samples from patients with gliomas to evaluate the expression of miR-122 and analyzed the role of miR-122 in the diagnosis and prognosis of gliomas. We found that the expression of miR-122 in the plasma of patients with gliomas was significantly down-regulated compared to that in healthy individuals. In addition, the expression of miR-122, which was significantly correlated with WHO grade, decreased along with the development of gliomas. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed high sensitivity and specificity of miR-122 for diagnosing gliomas (sensitivity 91.9%; specificity 81.1%; area under the curve 0.939). Finally, we found that lower expression of miR-122 was correlated with poor prognosis, and miR-122 was an independent prognostic parameter indicating poor prognosis for gliomas. In conclusion, our results showed that plasma miR-122 expression might act as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for gliomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-efficiency photocatalysis requires wide photoresponse range and effective separation of photogenerated charges to fully utilize solar energy. Exploring the simple and cheap methods to synthesize efficient photocatalysts is still a challenging issue. Herein, we report a facile and simple room-temperature hydrolysis method using glucose as carbon source to prepare visible light-active C-doped TiO photocatalyst. This approach features low-cost, reliable, and easily upscalable. It is found that C atoms have been incorporated into the interstitial position of anatase TiO lattice and distributed homogeneously throughout the surface of TiO nanoparticles. The appropriate C doping can greatly improve the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs in C-doped TiO. The C-doped TiO samples exhibit enhanced photocatalytic activity with the degradation efficiency under UV and visible light irradiation, which is much faster than that of pure TiO. The mechanism of the enhanced photocatalytic activity is discussed in detail, which is confirmed by using different scavengers. The work provides a simple and useful way to prepare C-doped wide-gap semiconductors with enhanced photocatalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By means of the end-quenching technique, we investigated the relationship between quenching rate and hardness as well as exfoliation corrosion rating for Al-2.21 Zn-3.59 Mg-0.45 Cu-0.038 Zr (at%) alloy plate. In order to achieve an exfoliation corrosion rating of P or EA, the quenching rate must be greater than approximately 460 °C/min and 300 °C/min, respectively, and the drop degree in hardness should simultaneously be lower than approximately 2.0% and 3.5%, respectively. The results of microstructural and microchemical examination using a scanning transmission electron microscope indicate that a lower quenching rate leads to a higher content of Zn, Mg, and Cu in the grain-boundary particles and a greater width of precipitate-free zones near grain boundaries; therefore, grain-boundary particles with Zn and Mg contents less than approximately 13.39% and 10.23% (at%), respectively, and precipitate-free zones near grain boundaries with widths less than about 107 nm can contribute to an exfoliation corrosion rating better than EA. The amount of quench-induced η-phase particles, which lead to lower hardness, increases with decreasing quenching rate, and the area fraction of these particles is approximately 2.9% at a quenching rate of 300 °C/min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 37/67-kDa laminin receptor precursor (LRP)/laminin receptor (LR) is a cell surface receptor for cellular prion proteins and misfolded pathological prions. Previous research has shown that blocking or decreasing LRP/LP levels by anti-LRP/LR antibodies or small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) can prolong the incubation phase of experimental prion infection. This study aimed to investigate potential mechanisms contributing to prion resistance/susceptibility by using the rabbit, a species unsusceptible to prion infection, as a model. We investigated the expression level and distribution of LRP/LR in rabbit tissues by real-time polymerase chain reaction and by immunochemical analysis with a monoclonal anti-67 kDa LR antibody. Our results showed LRP/LR mRNA expression in all the tissues examined. Very low LRP/LR expression levels were observed in central nervous system (CNS) tissues, whereas high expression levels were observed in reproductive and digestive tissues, which differed from the expression patterns that have been reported for prion-susceptible animals. The immunochemical staining results were generally consistent with the mRNA findings, although no LR protein was detected in CNS tissues. Our findings provide a basis for further studies on prion resistance in rabbits and other animal species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different organic molecules were covalently grafted on glassy carbon electrodes (GCEs) by an electrochemical reduction or potentiostatic process of several in situ-generated diazonium cations in acidic aqueous solution containing NaNO. The cyclic voltammetry implemented in 0.1 M KCl aqueous solution containing 5 mM Fe(CN) or Ru(NH) confirmed the blocking properties of the modified GCEs. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) performed in 0.1 M KCl aqueous solution containing 5 mM Fe(CN) was used to measure the surface coverage of the modifiers on GCE; the results showed that the modified layers on GCEs are very compact. The linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) was employed to investigate the electrochemical sensing properties of the bare and modified GCEs toward paracetamol (PCT) in sulfuric acid solution of pH 1.02, and the corresponding calibration plots were obtained, respectively. The results indicated there is an oxidation peak of PCT in the linear sweep voltammograms on the bare and modified GCEs with the active terminal groups such as −OPOH, −SOH, −COOH, and so on, but do not appear on GCEs modified with the inert terminal groups such as −NO and −Br. These imply that the GCEs modified with the active terminal groups display an electrochemical behavior like bulk GCE; however, those with the inert terminal groups present an electrochemical behavior like microelectrode. The varying electrochemical sensitivity of all the electrodes toward PCT was explained according to electronegativity and p K of the terminal groups of the modifiers on the electrodes and hydrogen bond between the modifiers and PCT. Apparent standard rate constants of PCT oxidation reaction on the bare and modified GCEs were obtained from the Laviron's approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A tetranuclear LiCr acetylide precursor complex, [Li(Tp)Cr(C≡CSiMe)(µ-pz)]·( n-pentane) (Tp = hydridotris(pyrazolyl) borate, pz = pyrazolate) ( 1) has been synthesized and characterized. The X-ray structure analysis shows that the complex contains a LiCr core bridged by two µ-pyrazolates. The magnetic data exhibit the existence of weak antiferromagnetic interaction in the cluster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High vocal center (HVC) can produce single sound with one or two syllables by the single-type vocal control pattern in songbirds ruddy bunting ( Emberiza rutila). It obviously shows left-side dominance in controlling double syllables, principal frequency (PF) and increasing sound intensity of the evoked calls. Meanwhile, the complex-type control pattern can produce complex calls with multisyllable, and also shows significant left-side dominance in controlling the number of syllables, tone changing and sound intensity. These indicate that left-side HVC controls higher frequency and complicated sentence structure. The basic vocal center, dorsomedial nucleus of the intercollicular complex (DM), controls the monosyllable sound in songbirds, and shows left-side dominance in controlling both the number of syllable and sound intensity. These results not only provide some direct evidence for left-side dominance in high vocal center, but also indicate that there is some internal connection between the high and basic vocal centers in songbirds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses how the retained curve in one-trial passive avoidance task (OTPAT) of day-old chicks hatching from natural geomagnetic field is consistent with the acknowledged three-phase model. How the two dips are at the 20th min and the 60 min, and the avoidance rates (AR) to the red bead in short- and intermediate-term memory at 68.4% on average; Findings that the OTPAT retained curve of day-old chicks hatching from hypomagnetic field space (experimental groups) presents the marked timing effect; Consideration of how the two dips were at the 25th min and the 50th min; Reference to the avoidance rates to the red bead in the short- and intermediate-term memory; Evidence of fluctuations in the long-term memory; Findings that the deviation coefficient in experimental groups were decreased by 25.3% and increased by 1.3 times, respectively; Conclusion that both the memory ability and stability in the experimental chicks declined; How the result shows that the hypomagnetic field space has a negative effect on the development of chick brain function, and that cannot be negligible.

The lesion of nucleus robustus archistriatalis (RA) has no effect on normal short calls in the bramble finch, but affects significantly the temporal and acoustic features of learned long calls. It causes the principal frequency of basic sound in monotone long calls to increase 500 cents, and to lose two upper partials. The lesion of RA not only results in the increased sound length of loud-sound and shortened coda of variable-tone long calls by 13.4%–22.1% and 21.2%–24.2% on average, respectively, but also makes the frequency rising coefficient (FRC) of even order partial tone in loud-sound drop 18.5%–25.8% on an average, and the step-up rate decrease 22.7% –24.0% on an average with the increase of frequencies. These results show that the control of temporal and frequency features of learned calls by RA matches to each other. Moreover, the lesion of bilateral RA can confuse the vocal pattern, and the produced long call has the character of both the mono- and variable-tone long calls. The prelude shows rising frequency, and the loud sound is monotone sound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After sections of left or right tracheosyringeal nerve (NXIIts), greenfinches may repeat everyday calls, with no effect on temporal properties. It is suggested that either side of syrinx may produce sound alone and ipsilateral innerration of NXIIts for the syringeal muscles. After section of left NXIIts, the bird produces the vocal pattern of partial tone increase, and effects on the sound intensity and sentence length average 1.4 and 2.8 times those after section of right NXIIts, suggesting that the innervation of NXIIts has left side dominance. After bilateral section of NXIIts, the call rhythm in company with expiratory motions is 98–146 times/min, on an average, and lose all sentence types and syllable structure of normal call. But the call spectra produced by tympaniform membrane vibrations without innervation still reserve frequency components similar to the tonic frequency and harmonics of normal calls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the groundwater crisis in China and discusses the contamination of chemicals with groundwater.

Hematite has a great potential as a photoanode for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting by converting solar energy into hydrogen fuels, but the solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency of state-of-the-art hematite photoelectrodes are still far below the values required for practical hydrogen production. Here, we report a core-shell formation of gradient tantalum-doped hematite homojunction nanorods by combination of hydrothermal regrowth strategy and hybrid microwave annealing, which enhances the photocurrent density and reduces the turn-on voltage simultaneously. The unusual bi-functional effects originate from the passivation of the surface states and intrinsic built-in electric field by the homojunction formation. The additional driving force provided by the field can effectively suppress charge–carrier recombination both in the bulk and on the surface of hematite, especially at lower potentials. Moreover, the synthesized homojunction shows a remarkable synergy with NiFe(OH)x cocatalyst with significant additional improvements of photocurrent density and cathodic shift of turn-on voltage. The work has nicely demonstrated multiple collaborative strategies of gradient doping, homojunction formation, and cocatalyst modification, and the concept could shed light on designing and constructing the efficient nanostructures of semiconductor photoelectrodes in the field of solar energy conversion. Solar-to-fuel conversion represents a renewable means to harvest sunlight, but the most efficient materials are often expensive or rare. Here, authors demonstrate gradient tantalum-doped hematite homojunctions as a method to improve photoelectrochemical water splitting performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field observations were carried out in Qingtu Lake observation array on the vertical electric field (Ez), where the average spatial resolution can reach 1 m. Our results show that Ez can be approximately divided into six layers according to the direction of Ez, which may be caused by the stratification of the polarity of the charged dust particles, and this phenomenon is prevalent in development stage, stable stage and decay stage of dust storms. It demonstrates that the spatial distributions of Ez and charge to mass ratio of dust particles in different stages have the similar pattern. Moreover, the intensities of Ez in the development and decay stages are less than that in the stable stage, which may be caused by the difference of dust concentration. Our results show that the ambient temperature will also affect the vertical electric field besides the dust concentration during dust storms, i.e., Ez increases with the ambient temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]