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Abstract Oncogenic KRAS mutations are major drivers of lung adenocarcinoma (LAC), yet the direct therapeutic targeting of KRAS has been problematic. Here, we reveal an obligate requirement by oncogenic KRAS for the ADAM17 protease in LAC. In genetically engineered and xenograft (human cell line and patient‐derived) KrasG12D‐driven LAC models, the specific blockade of ADAM17, including with a non‐toxic prodomain inhibitor, suppressed tumor burden by reducing cellular proliferation. The pro‐tumorigenic activity of ADAM17 was dependent upon its threonine phosphorylation by p38 MAPK, along with the preferential shedding of the ADAM17 substrate, IL‐6R, to release soluble IL‐6R that drives IL‐6 trans‐signaling via the ERK1/2 MAPK pathway. The requirement for ADAM17 in KrasG12D‐driven LAC was independent of bone marrow‐derived immune cells. Furthermore, in KRAS mutant human LAC, there was a significant positive correlation between augmented phospho‐ADAM17 levels, observed primarily in epithelial rather than immune cells, and activation of ERK and p38 MAPK pathways. Collectively, these findings identify ADAM17 as a druggable target for oncogenic KRAS‐driven LAC and provide the rationale to employ ADAM17‐based therapeutic strategies for targeting KRAS mutant cancers.

Infrasound generated during the formation and movement of debris flows exhibits long propagation distance and slow energy attenuation, rendering it ideal for remote monitoring of debris flows. However, accurately identifying the infrasound signals of debris flows is challenging because of the complexity of background noise interference and variations in signal characteristics linked to the event's specific characteristics. In this study, the infrasound signal is preprocessed using high and low-pass filters, wavelet soft threshold denoising to mitigate noise interference, and then time-frequency transformed into a two-dimensional image, which is then input into a deep learning model fused with ResNet18 and Vision Transformer for training. The fusion model offers a potent feature extraction capability and the ability to generalize models, which leads to a better understanding of the details of the infrasound signals from debris flows. The experimental results show that the recognition accuracy of the proposed method is up to 88.60%, which is able to effectively predict and warn about the upcoming debris flow events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater containing phosphorus is often added by industrial activities, which is bad for the environment. In this study, composite biochar (PG-RS700) was prepared from phosphogypsum (PG) and rape straw (RS) for the treatment of phosphate in wastewater. SEM, FTIR, XRD and XPS characterization results showed that PG and RS were successfully combined. When PG-RS700 was dosed at 1.5 g/L and the phosphate solution concentration was 50 mg/L and pH = 8, the phosphate removal rate was 100% and the adsorption capacity was three times higher than the corresponding pure PG and RS. The quasi-secondary kinetic model indicated that the adsorption mechanism was chemisorption, and the maximum adsorption capacity for phosphate in the Langmuir isotherm model was 102.25 mg/g. Through pot experiment, the phosphorus adsorbed material obviously promoted the growth of plants. PG-RS700 can be used as a powerful adsorbent to treat phosphate in water and return it to soil as phosphate fertilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As methanol can be derived from either CO2 or methane, methanol economy can play an important role in combating climate change. In this scenario, rapid utilization of methanol by an industrial microorganism is the first and crucial step for efficient utilization of the C1 feedstock chemical. Here, we report the development of a methylotrophic E. coli strain with a doubling time of 3.5 hours under optimal conditions, comparable or faster than native model methylotrophs Methylorubrum extorquens AM1 (Td~4hr) and Bacillus methanolicus at 37°C (Td~5hr). To accomplish this, we develop a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) with dynamic copy number variation (CNV) to facilitate overcoming the formaldehyde-induced DNA-protein cross-linking (DPC) problem in the evolution process. We track the genome variations of 75 cultures along the evolution process by next-generation sequencing, and identified the features of the fast-growing strain. After stabilization, the final strain (SM8) grows to 20 g/L of cell mass within 77 hrs in a bioreactor. This study illustrates the potential of dynamic CNV as an evolution tool and synthetic methylotrophs as a platform for sustainable biotechnological applications. Growth rate is critical for the efficiency of engineered methylotrophic microbes for bioproduction. Here, the authors report the development of a methylotrophic E. coli strain with a doubling time that is comparable or faster than native model methylotrophs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep convection in the Indo-Pacific warm pool is vital in driving global atmospheric overturning circulations. Year-to-year variations in the strength and location of warm pool precipitation can lead to significant local and downstream hydroclimatic impacts, including floods and droughts. While the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is recognized as a key factor in modulating interannual precipitation variations in this region, atmospheric internal variability is often as important. Here, through targeted atmospheric model experiments, we identify an intrinsic low-frequency atmospheric mode in the warm pool region during the austral summer, and show that its impact on seasonal rainfall is comparable to ENSO. This mode resembles the horizontal structure of the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), and may play a role in initiating ENSO as stochastic forcing. We show that this mode is not merely an episodic manifestation of MJO events but primarily arises from barotropic energy conversion aided by positive feedback between convection and circulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: SARS-CoV-2 continues to mutate over time, and reports on children infected with Omicron BA.5 are limited. We aimed to analyze the specific symptoms of Omicron-infected children and to improve patient care. Methods: We selected 315 consecutively hospitalized children with Omicron BA.5 and 16,744 non-Omicron-infected febrile children visiting the fever clinic at our hospital between December 8 and 30, 2022. Specific convulsions and body temperatures were compared between the two cohorts. We analyzed potential associations between convulsions and vaccination, and additionally evaluated the brain damage among severe Omicron-infected children. Results: Convulsion rates (97.5% vs. 4.3%, P < 0.001) and frequencies (median: 2.0 vs. 1.6, P < 0.001) significantly differed between Omicron-infected and non-Omicron-infected febrile children. The body temperatures of Omicron-infected children were significantly higher during convulsions than when they were not convulsing and those of non-Omicron-infected febrile children during convulsions (median: 39.5 vs. 38.2 and 38.6 °C, both P < 0.001). In the three Omicron-subgroups, the temperature during convulsions was proportional to the percentage of patients and significantly differed (P < 0.001), while not in the three non-Omicron-subgroups (P = 0.244). The convulsion frequency was lower in the 55 vaccinated children compared to the 260 non-vaccinated children (average: 1.8 vs. 2.1, P < 0.001). The vaccination dose and convulsion frequency in Omicron-infected children were significantly correlated (P < 0.001). Fifteen of the 112 severe Omicron cases had brain damage. Conclusions: Omicron-infected children experience higher body temperatures and frequencies during convulsions than those of non-Omicron-infected febrile children. We additionally found evidence of brain damage caused by infection with omicron BA.5. Vaccination and prompt fever reduction may relieve symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rare Metals is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The type and morphology of inclusions have an important influence on the properties of high strength oil casing steel. In this paper, laboratory experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of cerium (Ce) alloying and holding time on inclusion modification of oil casing steel. The results show that with the increase of Ce content and the holding time, inclusions gradually changed from irregular shape to ellipsoidal shape. During the modification process, inclusions underwent the following transformations: Ca–Al–O + Al2O3 + Al–Mn–Si–O → Ca–Ce–Al–O + Ce (Mn, Si)–Al–O → CeAlO3 → CaO-Ce2O3 + Ce2O3. When the holding time was 5 minutes, the average size of inclusions decreased from 1.26 to 1.14 μm with Ce content increased from 0 to 77 ppm. Nevertheless, when the holding time was over 20 minutes, the average size of inclusions firstly exhibited a decrease trend while it then showed an increase trend with an increased Ce addition. In addition, the number density of inclusions in molten steel was gradually reduced with Ce content increased from 0 to 77 ppm. For the ingot samples cooled down to room temperature within the furnace, the transformation of inclusions evolved the following characteristics with an increased Ce content in steel: Al2O3 + xCaO·yAl2O3 → Ca–Ce–Al–O → CeAlO3 + CeAl11O18→CeAlO3 → CeAlO3 + Ce2O3. In this study, the optimum modification time and Ce content in Rare Earth Metal (REM) modified high-strength oil casing steel of inclusions was 20 minutes and above 60 ppm, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric vapor pressure deficit (VPD) increases with climate warming and may limit plant growth. However, gross primary production (GPP) responses to VPD remain a mystery, offering a significant source of uncertainty in the estimation of global terrestrial ecosystems carbon dynamics. In this study, in-situ measurements, satellite-derived data, and Earth System Models (ESMs) simulations were analysed to show that the GPP of most ecosystems has a similar threshold in response to VPD: first increasing and then declining. When VPD exceeds these thresholds, atmospheric drought stress reduces soil moisture and stomatal conductance, thereby decreasing the productivity of terrestrial ecosystems. Current ESMs underscore CO2 fertilization effects but predict significant GPP decline in low-latitude ecosystems when VPD exceeds the thresholds. These results emphasize the impacts of climate warming on VPD and propose limitations to future ecosystems productivity caused by increased atmospheric water demand. Incorporating VPD, soil moisture, and canopy conductance interactions into ESMs enhances the prediction of terrestrial ecosystem responses to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research on the effect of calcareous cementation on rock resistivity has been limited to qualitative analysis, while quantitative research has been lacking. Therefore, a quantitative study on the effect of calcium on rock resistivity is carried out based on the effective medium H-B theory; then, a new electrical conduction model suitable for the evaluation on oil–gas potential of calcium-bearing shaly formations is established accordingly. First, the repeatability of two parallel artificial cores is analyzed with petrophysical parameters to insure the accuracy of the artificial core technology. Then, 51 artificial rock samples with different calcium and clay content but basically with consistent quartz particle size distribution are made using artificial core technology, and the resistivity of these artificial rock samples saturated with different salinity water is measured experimentally. Next, considering the salt exclusion effect of clay pore water and its dispersion distribution, the effective medium Hanai-Bruggeman resistivity model is improved by treating the clay pore water as a dispersed phase. The improved model is more accurate and reasonable when compared with the oil testing results and the sealed coring results. Then, based on the improved effective medium Hanai-Bruggeman resistivity model, the relationship between the cementation exponent and calcium content and that between the cementation exponent with clay content was established. Meanwhile, the relationship among the cementation exponent, calcium content and clay content was established. These were done using the resistivity experimental data of the artificial cores with different clay and calcium contents, while being saturated with water of different salinities. Finally, treating the calcareous particles as a dispersed phase, the established relationship among the cementation exponent, calcium content and clay content was added to the improved model, after which a new electrical conduction model suitable for calcium-bearing shaly sandstone formation was formed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considerable uncertainty remains regarding the associations of multiple factors with brain health. We aimed to conduct an exposome-wide association study on neurodegenerative disease and neuropsychiatry disorders using data of participants from the UK Biobank. Multivariable Cox regression models with the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator technique as well as principal component analyses were used to evaluate the exposures in relation to common disorders of central nervous system (CNS). Restricted cubic splines were conducted to explore potential nonlinear correlations. Then, weighted standardized scores were generated based on the coefficients to calculate the joint effects of risk factors. We also estimated the potential impact of eliminating the unfavorable profiles of risk domains on CNS disorders using population attributable fraction (PAF). Finally, sensitivity analyses were performed to reduce the risk of reverse causality. The current study discovered the significantly associated exposures fell into six primary exposome categories. The joint effects of identified risk factors demonstrated higher risks for common disorders of CNS (HR = 1.278 ~ 3.743, p < 2e-16). The PAF varied by exposome categories, with lifestyle and medical history contributing to majority of disease cases. In total, we estimated that up to 3.7 ~ 64.1% of disease cases could be prevented. This study yielded modifiable variables of different categories and assessed their joint effects on common disorders of CNS. Targeting the identified exposures might help formulate effective strategies for maintaining brain health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, four novel hydrazine fluorescent probes X1–X4 with bis-chalcone structure were designed and synthesized. Through the measurement of its optical properties, it is found that it can quickly identify hydrazine, high sensitivity, low detection limit, and good anti-interference ability. The recognition of hydrazine by probes X1–X4 is not affected in the pH range of 4–10, X2 has the highest sensitivity, and the detection limit is as low as 0.336 × 10−7 M. Through Gaussian quantization calculation of probe molecules and their reaction products with hydrazine, it is speculated that the recognition mechanism is the closure of intramolecular charge transfer effect. In addition, the cytotoxicity and imaging of HeLa cells were tested, which showed that probes X1–X4 could be used to detect hydrazine in cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aging is a natural process associated with chronic inflammation in the development of vascular dysfunction. We hypothesized that chemokine C-C motif ligands 4 (CCL4) might play a vital role in aging-related vascular dysfunction. Circulating CCL4 was up-regulated in elderly subjects and in aged animals. CCL4 inhibition reduced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), attenuated inflammation, and restored cell functions in endothelial progenitor cells from elderly subjects and in aged human aortic endothelial cells. CCL4 promoted cell aging, with impaired cell functioning, by activating ROS production and inflammation. CCL4 knockout mice and therapeutic administration of anti-CCL4 neutralizing antibodies exhibited vascular and dermal anti-aging effects, with improved wound healing, via the down-regulation of inflammatory proteins and the activation of angiogenic proteins. Altogether, our findings suggested that CCL4 may contribute to aging-related vascular dysfunction via activating oxidative stress and endothelial inflammation. CCL4 may be a potential therapeutic target for vascular protections during aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optical appearance of the numerically black hole solutions within the higher derivative gravity illuminated by an accretion disk context is discussed. We obtain solutions for non-Schwarzschild black holes with r 0 = 1 , r 0 = 2 , and r 0 = 3 . Further analysis of spacetime trajectories reveals properties similar to Schwarzschild black holes, while the r 0 = 2 black hole exhibits significant differences. The results reveal the presence of a repulsive potential barrier for the black hole, allowing only particles with energies exceeding a certain threshold to approach it, providing a unique gravitational scenario for non-Schwarzschild black holes. Additionally, the optical images are derived through numerical simulations by discussing the trajectories of photons in the black hole spacetime. The distribution of radiation flux and the effects of gravitational redshift and Doppler shift on the observed radiation flux are considered. Interestingly, previous analyses of the optical appearance of black holes were conducted within the framework of analytic solutions, whereas the analysis of numerical black hole solutions first appears in our analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been enduring debate on how attention alters contrast appearance. Recent research indicates that exogenous attention enhances contrast appearance for low-contrast stimuli but attenuates it for high-contrast stimuli. Similarly, one study has demonstrated that endogenous attention heightens perceived contrast for low-contrast stimuli, yet none have explored its impact on high-contrast stimuli. In this study, we investigated how endogenous attention alters contrast appearance, with a specific focus on high-contrast stimuli. In Experiment 1, we utilized the rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) paradigm to direct endogenous attention, revealing that contrast appearance was enhanced for both low- and high-contrast stimuli. To eliminate potential influences from the confined attention field in the RSVP paradigm, Experiment 2 adopted the letter identification paradigm, deploying attention across a broader visual field. Results consistently indicated that endogenous attention increased perceived contrast for high-contrast stimuli. Experiment 3 employed equiluminant chromatic letters as stimuli in the letter identification task to eliminate potential interference from contrast adaption, which might have occurred in Experiment 2. Remarkably, the boosting effect of endogenous attention persisted. Combining the results from these experiments, we propose that endogenous attention consistently enhances contrast appearance, irrespective of stimulus contrast levels. This stands in contrast to the effects of exogenous attention, suggesting that mechanisms through which endogenous attention alters contrast appearance may differ from those of exogenous attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the exclusive J / ψ production at the future Electron-ion collider in China by utilizing the eSTARlight event generator. We model the cross-section and kinematics by fitting to the world data of J / ψ photoproduction. Projected statistical uncertainties on J / ψ production are based on the design of a central detector, which consists of a tracker and vertex subsystem. The precision of the pseudo-data allows us to probe the near-threshold mechanism, e.g. the re-scattering effect. The significance of the forward amplitudes is discussed as well. The design and optimization of the detector enhance the potential for exploring the near-threshold region and the realm of high four-momentum transfer squared, which is of particular interest on several physics topics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although birth defects are of great concern globally, the latest national prevalence has not yet been quantified in China. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the perinatal prevalence of birth defects in the Mainland of China between 2000 and 2021. Methods: We performed a systematic literature search of six databases for relevant articles published between January 1, 2000, and March 1, 2023. We included published studies that reported data on the perinatal prevalence of birth defects in the Mainland of China. The DerSimonian and Laird random-effects models were used to estimate the pooled prevalence and its 95% confidence interval (CI). We also conducted subgroup analyses and univariable meta-regressions to explore differences in prevalence by time period, geographic region, and other characteristics. Results: We included 254 studies reporting the perinatal prevalence of birth defects and 86 studies reporting only the prevalence of specific types of birth defects. Based on 254 studies covering 74,307,037 perinatal births and 985,115 cases with birth defects, the pooled perinatal prevalence of birth defects was 122.54 (95% CI 116.20–128.89) per 10,000 perinatal births in the Mainland of China during 2000–2021. Overall, the perinatal prevalence of birth defects increased from 95.60 (86.51–104.69) per 10,000 in 2000–2004 to 208.94 (175.67–242.22) per 10,000 in 2020–2021. There were also significant disparities among different geographical regions. Congenital heart defects (33.35 per 10,000), clefts of the lip and/or palate (13.52 per 10,000), polydactyly (12.82 per 10,000), neural tube defects (12.82 per 10,000), and inborn errors of metabolism (11.41 per 10,000) were the five most common types of birth defects. The perinatal prevalence among males was significantly higher than that among females (β = 2.44 × 10−3, P = 0.003); a higher perinatal prevalence of birth defects was observed among perinatal births whose mothers were ≥ 35 years (β = 4.34 × 10−3, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Comprehensive and sustained efforts are needed to strengthen surveillance and detection of birth defects, improve prenatal and postnatal healthcare, and promote rehabilitation, especially in underdeveloped areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arctic amplification (AA), the greater Arctic surface warming compared to the global average, has been widely attributed to increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHG). However, less is known about the impacts of other forcings - notably, anthropogenic aerosols (AER) - and how they may compare to the impacts of GHG. Here we analyze sets of climate model simulations, specifically designed to isolate the AER and GHG effects on global climate. Surprisingly, we find stronger AA produced by AER than by GHG during the 1955–1984 period, when the strongest global AER increase. This stronger AER-induced AA is due to a greater sensitivity of Arctic sea ice, and associated changes in ocean-to-atmosphere heat exchange, to AER forcing. Our findings highlight the asymmetric Arctic climate response to GHG and AER forcings, and show that clean air policies which have reduced aerosol emissions may have exacerbated the Arctic warming over the past few decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the representative theory of consumer/firm is widely used in particular forms of utility and production functions, is the optimal growth model adequately supported by a multi-regional microeconomic base in a "general form of utility and production functions"? Is the "optimization of macro-aggregate functions" consistent with the "summation of micro-optimal outcomes"? Economists have explored the problem of summation of macro-variables in a special form of production and utility function setting to find some theoretical foundations of macroeconomics in the case of heterogeneous representative consumers. However, heterogeneous representative producers have not been studied enough, and the conclusions are too dependent on the functional form. This study searches for the conditions for macroeconomics to reach micro-foundations in the framework of heterogeneous producers and general functions. Linking the entire macroeconomy through inter-regional capital flows, we distinguish between using and equity capital, construct a multi-regional dynamic optimal growth model in a homogeneous representative consumer and heterogeneous representative manufacturers, compare the summation of the regional dynamics with the aggregate macro-dynamics, and find that (A) the regional and macro-perspectives are generally inconsistent in their optimization results; (B) if the population growth rate is the same across regions, the macro-steady state is a weighted summation of the steady states; and (C) if the inverse of the absolute risk aversion is linearly additive to consumption, the model is reliable. In particular, CARA and CRRA-type utility functions are eligible. The eligible utility function can only be an exponential utility function or a power function utility function (the logarithmic utility function can be considered a degenerate power function utility). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rare Metals is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Bi-adhesive repair method is one of several repair technologies that use the adhesive bonding approach for patch-repaired composites. However, these repairs are subject to matrix-cracking and interface debonding damage. Furthermore, a change in the length ratio (the length of the rigid adhesive region divided by the length of the overall repaired region) also produces a change in the damage modes, which has a significant impact on the repair performance. Hence, this study aims to evaluate the effects of four different length ratios (0, 0.2, 0.5, 1) on the behavior of damage evolution in bi-adhesive repaired composites. The acoustic emission damage identification and micro-CT characterization are carried out based on the machine learning method. A simple prediction method is employed to distinguish damage modes in bi-adhesive repaired composites, achieving a prediction accuracy over 90%. The results demonstrated that the length ratio has a substantial effect on matrix-cracking, fiber-matrix debonding, and their interaction in bi-adhesive repaired composites. These acquired characteristics information of acoustic emission signals provide insights into the impact of length ratio on the progression of damage evolution. Additionally, the visualization of interior damage offers insights into the variations in failure characteristics within distinct bi-adhesive repaired composites, thereby supporting the conclusions gained from acoustic emission studies. This research effectively achieves the real-time monitoring of damage modes in bi-adhesive repaired composites, contributing to the comprehension of the relationship between length ratio and damage mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epigenetic mechanisms bridge genetic and environmental factors that contribute to the pathogenesis of major depression disorder (MDD). However, the cellular specificity and sensitivity of environmental stress on brain epitranscriptomics and its impact on depression remain unclear. Here, we found that ALKBH5, an RNA demethylase of N6-methyladenosine (m6A), was increased in MDD patients' blood and depression models. ALKBH5 in astrocytes was more sensitive to stress than that in neurons and endothelial cells. Selective deletion of ALKBH5 in astrocytes, but not in neurons and endothelial cells, produced antidepressant-like behaviors. Astrocytic ALKBH5 in the mPFC regulated depression-related behaviors bidirectionally. Meanwhile, ALKBH5 modulated glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1) m6A modification and increased the expression of GLT-1 in astrocytes. ALKBH5 astrocyte-specific knockout preserved stress-induced disruption of glutamatergic synaptic transmission, neuronal atrophy and defective Ca2+ activity. Moreover, enhanced m6A modification with S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) produced antidepressant-like effects. Our findings indicate that astrocytic epitranscriptomics contribute to depressive-like behaviors and that astrocytic ALKBH5 may be a therapeutic target for depression. The regulatory mechanism and function of astrocytic epigenetic effects on depression remain to be explored. Here, the authors show astrocytic ALKBH5 contributes to depressive-like behaviors via the m6A RNA methylation of GLT-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is a typical climacteric fruit with a brief shelf life due to the rapid degradation of quality during post-ripening, necessitating appropriate postharvest management to address this challenge. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of thyme oil nanoemulsion (TO-NE) coating and utilize its benefits for preserving papaya. This study also investigated the physiological properties and quality changes of papaya storage at 20 ℃ and, in parallel, examined the effects of TO-NE coating to mitigate microbial infection of papaya during storage. The postharvest papaya was soaked in different concentrations (0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 mg/g) of TO-NE for coating. At the same time, the decay loss rate and effective shelf life were also evaluated. This study revealed that polygalacturonase (PG) and pectinesterase (PME) activities were inhibited during the storage of papaya treated with 0.25 mg/g TO-NE coated compared to the control group. This resulted in the preservation of the firmness of papaya fruits, in addition to a higher ascorbic acid content, delayed total soluble solids (TSS) accumulation, and total chlorophyll content (TCC) degradation, with a lagging color change for two days. The respiration rate and ethylene production were suppressed, while the 0.25 mg/g TO-NE coated group at day 14 (ethylene peak) were 63.2 mg CO2 kg−1 h−1 and 7.3 µL kg−1 h−1, lower than control. The 0.25 mg/g TO-NE coating treatment significantly reduced the decay rate for 10 days of storage, preserving their appearance and facilitating ripening. This is a viable option for extending Tainung No.2 papaya shelf life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the effect of ER2209 multi-stranded wire compared to single wire on the microstructure and pitting resistance of 2205 duplex stainless steel submerged arc welded joints was studied using electron backscatter diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy spectrum analysis, electrochemistry and other detection techniques. Compared with single-wire welding of duplex stainless steel, the multi-stranded wire deposited more metal and doubled the welding efficiency with the same heat input, while increasing the elemental concentration of Ni in the weld metal and the proportion of austenite in the heat-affected zone. Compared with single-wire welding, multi-stranded wire welding promotes the diffusion of the main alloying elements (Cr, Mo, Ni, N) in the welded joint and improves the mechanical properties and pitting resistance of the welded joint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Virtual reality (VR) has been widely used in education and training, but few studies have used it in education on construction site planning. Accordingly, this study developed an immersive VR-based education system for construction site planning and evaluated it in classroom-based tests with 114 students. Statistical analyses revealed that the VR system improved students' learning outcomes compared when conventional paper-based learning. Specifically, students with lower pretest subject knowledge achieved similar scores to top-ranked students after undergoing VR education. Moreover, VR education was more effective for learning concepts than it was for memorization. A single-source teaching approach was also more effective in improving learning outcomes than a multisource approach for VR learning. In summary, this study investigated three previously unexplored areas: targeting the ideal recipients for VR education and training, determining the appropriate problem types for VR education and training, and identifying the effectiveness of VR education and training for construction site planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dye molecules often change colors (so-called "chromism") according to the environment variation. However, they are rarely induced by a catalytic amount of cavity. Through encapsulation in the cavity of a porous coordination cage (PCC-2), Rhodamine B (1) is transformed from red quinonoid form (1q) into colorless lactone form (1l) in aprotic polar solutions. The μ4-OH groups in the cavity of PCC-2 are shown to stabilize the uncommon zwitterion intermediate (1z), followed by converting to 1l, thus accelerating the equilibrium. The chromism is catalyzed by 0.25 mol% of PCC-2, and the reaction rate is improved by 80,400 times. 1@PCC-2 can be further fabricated to a sol-gel that exhibits ion recognition properties. The resulting encapsulation and stabilization of an unconventional intermediate by a catalytic amount of the coordination cage provides fundamental insights into molecular isomerization and has potential use in chemical sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extraction and separation of trivalent transuranic actinide ions are crucial areas of research in nuclear energy development. Various organic ligands have been designed and studied for this purpose. In this study, we investigated the bonding properties of the 3,3′-sulfonyldithiophene ligand based on a tetrahedral bonding S center with trivalent transuranic actinide elements, including Np, Pu, Am, Cm, and Bk, as well as their separation efficiency for these actinide (III) ions. We optimized the geometric structures of the 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3 complexes A n L (NO 3) 3 , [ A n L 2 NO 3 2 ] + , and [ A n L 3 (N O 3) ] 2 + formed by the ligand and the actinide (III) ions at the theoretical level of PBE0/6-31G(d)&RECP. We studied the bonding properties of the actinide (III) ions with the ligand using natural bond orbital analysis and quantum theory of atoms in molecule. The results show that the M–O(L) bond lengths decreased with the number of ligand, as well as in the order of Np, Pu, Am, Cm, and Bk. NBO analysis revealed that the 5f orbital has varying levels of importance for different actinide (III) ions. Thermodynamic analysis showed that the solvation effect, the spatial structure of the ligand, and the ratio of metal to ligand in the complex have significant effects on the extraction and separation of actinide (III) ions. Overall, we speculate that under solvent conditions, the S-center tetrahedral bonding structure of the ligand may impede coordination bonding with actinide (III) ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interplay between innate and adaptive immune cells is important for the antitumor immune response. However, the tumor microenvironment may turn immune suppressive, and tumor associated macrophages are playing a role in this transition. Here, we show that CD276, expressed on tumor-associated macrophages (TAM), play a role in diminishing the immune response against tumors. Using a model of tumors induced by N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine in BLCA male mice we show that genetic ablation of CD276 in TAMs blocks efferocytosis and enhances the expression of the major histocompatibility complex class II (MHCII) of TAMs. This in turn increases CD4 + and cytotoxic CD8 + T cell infiltration of the tumor. Combined single cell RNA sequencing and functional experiments reveal that CD276 activates the lysosomal signaling pathway and the transcription factor JUN to regulate the expression of AXL and MerTK, resulting in enhanced efferocytosis in TAMs. Proving the principle, we show that simultaneous blockade of CD276 and PD-1 restrain tumor growth better than any of the components as a single intervention. Taken together, our study supports a role for CD276 in efferocytosis by TAMs, which is potentially targetable for combination immune therapy. Tumor associated macrophages (TAM) are playing an active role in tumor immune evasion in multiple cancer type. Here authors show that CD276 expression by TAMs may underpin this immune-suppressive role via promoting efferocytosis and suppressing MHC class II expression, which result in decreased CD4+ and CD8 + T cell infiltration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To develop a bimodal nomogram to reduce unnecessary biopsies in breast lesions with discordant ultrasound (US) and mammography (MG) Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) assessments. Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 706 women following opportunistic screening or diagnosis with discordant US and MG BI-RADS assessments (where one assessed a lesion as BI-RADS 4 or 5, while the other assessed the same lesion as BI-RADS 0, 2, or 3) from two medical centres between June 2019 and June 2021. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to develop the nomogram. DeLong's and McNemar's tests were used to assess the model's performance. Results: Age, MG features (margin, shape, and density in masses, suspicious calcifications, and architectural distortion), and US features (margin and shape in masses as well as calcifications) were independent risk factors for breast cancer. The nomogram obtained an area under the curve of 0.87 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.83–0.91), 0.91 (95% CI, 0.87 – 0.96), and 0.92 (95% CI, 0.86–0.98) in the training, internal validation, and external testing samples, respectively, and demonstrated consistency in calibration curves. Coupling the nomogram with US reduced unnecessary biopsies from 74 to 44% and the missed malignancies rate from 13 to 2%. Similarly, coupling with MG reduced missed malignancies from 20 to 6%, and 63% of patients avoided unnecessary biopsies. Interobserver agreement between US and MG increased from – 0.708 (poor agreement) to 0.700 (substantial agreement) with the nomogram. Conclusion: When US and MG BI-RADS assessments are discordant, incorporating the nomogram may improve the diagnostic accuracy, avoid unnecessary breast biopsies, and minimise missed diagnoses. Clinical relevance statement: The nomogram developed in this study could be used as a computer program to assist radiologists with detecting breast cancer and ensuring more precise management and improved treatment decisions for breast lesions with discordant assessments in clinical practice. Key Points: • Coupling the nomogram with US and mammography improves the detection of breast cancers without the risk of unnecessary biopsy or missed malignancies. • The nomogram increases mammography and US interobserver agreement and enhances the consistency of decision-making. • The nomogram has the potential to be a computer program to assist radiologists in identifying breast cancer and making optimal decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IL-6 plays an important role in oogenesis in humans. However, at the preimplantation stage, IL-6 production and the role in embryo development remain unclear. In this study, IL-6 concentrations in single-embryo media were analyzed. In addition, the association between IL-6 production and blastocyst formation was investigated. Single-embryo culture media from 194 embryos were collected on day 6 after fertilization and divided into four groups according to the developmental stage of the corresponding embryo, as follows: cleavage stage group, morula-early blastocyst group, unavailable full blastocyst group, and available full blastocyst group. IL-6 concentrations were significantly lower in the cleavage stage group than in the morula-early blastocyst group (p = 0.009), in the unavailable full blastocyst group (p = 0.003), and in the available full blastocyst group (p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that IL-6 concentration in single-embryo medium was significantly associated with blastocyst formation (odds ratios β1 = 1.876, 95% CI 1.433 to 2.644, p < 0.0001). Therefore, IL-6 was produced by human preimplantation embryos throughout the preimplantation stage and may play a role in embryo development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the current incidence of pulmonary hemorrhage and the potential factors contributing to its increased risk after percutaneous CT-guided pulmonary nodule biopsy and to summarize the technical recommendations for its treatment. In this observational study, patient data were collected from ten medical centers from April 2021 to April 2022. The incidence of pulmonary hemorrhage was as follows: grade 0, 36.1% (214/593); grade 1, 36.8% (218/593); grade 2, 18.9% (112/593); grade 3, 3.5% (21/593); and grade 4, 4.7% (28/593). High-grade hemorrhage (HGH) occurred in 27.2% (161/593) of the patients. The use of preoperative breathing exercises (PBE, p =0.000), semiautomatic cutting needles (SCN, p = 0.004), immediate contrast enhancement (ICE, p =0.021), and the coaxial technique (CoT, p = 0.000) were found to be protective factors for HGH. A greater length of puncture (p =0.021), the presence of hilar nodules (p = 0.001), the presence of intermediate nodules (p = 0.026), a main pulmonary artery diameter (mPAD) larger than 29 mm (p = 0.015), and a small nodule size (p = 0.014) were risk factors for high-grade hemorrhage. The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.783. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the risks associated with percutaneous CT-guided pulmonary nodule biopsy and provide valuable insights for developing strategies to minimize pulmonary hemorrhage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the most important pathogens causing respiratory tract infection in humans, especially in infants and the elderly. The identification and structural resolution of the potent neutralizing epitopes on RSV fusion (F) protein enable an "epitope-focused" vaccine design. However, the display of RSV F epitope II on the surface of the widely-used human hepatitis B virus core antigen (HBcAg) has failed to induce neutralizing antibody response in mice. Here, we used the hepadnavirus core protein (HcAg) from different mammalian hosts as scaffolds to construct chimeric virus-like particles (VLPs) presenting the RSV F epitope II. Mouse immunization showed that different HcAg-based chimeric VLPs elicited significantly different neutralizing antibody responses, among which the HcAg derived from roundleaf bat (RBHcAg) is the most immunogenic. Furthermore, RBHcAg was used as the scaffold platform to present multiple RSV F epitopes, and the immunogenicity was further improved in comparison to that displaying a single epitope II. The designed RBHcAg-based multiple-epitope-presenting VLP formulated with MF59-like adjuvant elicited a potent and balanced Th1/Th2 immune response, and offered substantial protection in mice against the challenge of live RSV A2 virus. The designed chimeric VLPs may serve as the potential starting point for developing epitope-focused vaccines against RSV. Our study also demonstrated that RBHcAg is an effective VLP carrier for presenting foreign epitopes, providing a promising platform for epitope-focused vaccine design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interrupted tensile tests were conducted on FSWed AZ31 Mg alloy to reveal the non-uniform tensile deformation and underlying deformation mechanisms along welding joint. During tensile test, plastic deformation is inhomogeneous along tensile sample. Tensile deformation concentrates at the welding joint, especially at the intermediate zone between NZ and TMAZ. Depending on texture variation, different deformation mechanisms are concluded to be responsible for such inhomogeneous deformation. The activation stress of each deformation mechanism changes gradually from advancing side to retreating side. { 10 1 ¯ 2 } Twinning, prismatic slip and basal slip are the dominating deformation mechanisms in TMAZ, NZ and their intermediate zones, respectively. Thus, inhomogeneous deformation was found along the center line of welding joint, and producing different working hardening. It is verified through micro-hardness distribution along the center line where the intermediate zone has the highest micro-hardness improvement. The results presented in this study give a clear exposition on deformation mechanisms induced inhomogeneous deformation in Mg alloy welding joint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruitlet core rot (FCR) is a worldwide fungal disease of pineapple, which occasionally occurs on susceptible cultivars in Taiwan. This study describes the fungal pathogens of FCR and their occurrence in Taiwan for the first time. A total of 51 fungal isolates were obtained from diseased fruitlets and blossom cups of 'TN20', a susceptible cultivar planted in Taiwan. These isolates were identified as the Talaromyces species T. amestolkiae, T. funiculosus, and T. stollii and Fusarium species F. ananatum, F. oxysporum, and F. annulatum based on phylogenetic analyses. All of them have been described as FCR pathogens in other countries, if considering that F. annulatum has often been misidentified as F. proliferatum. To facilitate identification, four pairs of species-specific primers were developed, which enabled rapid identification of T. amestolkiae, T. funiculosus, and T. stollii by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and F. ananatum by PCR. Two types of diseased fruitlets, "wet" and "dry", were observed on 'TN20', and T. amestolkiae, T. funiculosus, T. stollii, and F. ananatum could be isolated from both types. In addition, Talaromyces and Fusarium species were isolated from blossom cups at high frequencies, but few fungi were isolated from healthy tissues. The specific primers designed in this study could provide a useful tool to study FCR in the future, and the findings could provide a better understanding of the ecology and epidemiology of FCR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To solve the problem of difficulty in fault feature extraction for rolling bearings under strong noise conditions, a K-value calculation method of variational mode decomposition (VMD) based on singular value kurtosis difference spectrum is proposed, which is combined with the improved maximum correlation kurtosis deconvolution (MCKD) to achieve fault diagnosis. Firstly, the singular value decomposition (SVD) algorithm is used to denoise the strong noise rolling bearing fault signals, and then, the optimal number of decomposition layers is determined according to the center frequency distance between the singular value kurtosis spectrum and the decomposed intrinsic modal function (IMF). Filtering IMFs and reconstructing faulty signals by correlation and kurtosis criteria. Optimizing the filter length L and the number of shifts M of the MCKD using the dung beetle optimizer (DBO) to enhance the signal characteristics. Finally, the envelope spectrum is used to extract the eigenfrequencies for fault diagnosis of rolling bearings and to determine the fault location. Experimentally, it is shown that the method can effectively extract the fault characteristics of rolling bearings and carry out fault diagnosis under strong noise interference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supercritical airfoils are critical components in the design of commercial wide-body aircraft wings due to their ability to enhance aerodynamic performance in transonic flow regimes. However, traditional design methods for supercritical airfoils can be time-consuming and require significant manual effort, not to mention the high cost associated with computational fluid dynamics analysis. To address these challenges, this paper introduces a highly automated approach for supercritical airfoil design, called Evolutionary Generative Design (EvoGD). The EvoGD approach is based on the framework of Evolutionary Computation and employs a series of sophisticated data-driven generative models incorporated with physical information to iteratively refine initial airfoil shapes, resulting in improved aerodynamic performances and reduced constraint violations. Moreover, to speed up the evaluation of the generated airfoils, a series of accurate and efficient data-driven predictors are utilized. The efficacy of the EvoGD approach was demonstrated through experiments on a dataset of 501 supercritical airfoils, including one baseline design and 500 randomly perturbed airfoils. On average, the generated airfoils showed improved performance in terms of buffet lift coefficient, cruise lift-to-drag ratio, and thickness by 5%, 4%, and 1%, respectively. The best generated airfoil outperformed the baseline design in terms of critical buffet lift coefficient and cruise lift-to-drag ratio by 7.1% and 6.4%, respectively. The entire design process was completed in less than an hour on a personal computer, highlighting the high efficiency and scalability of the EvoGD approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Unexpected hypermetabolic activity is often encountered in the gastrointestinal tract when PET/CT is performed for various indications, prompting endoscopic evaluation. Our aim was to characterize the types of lesions seen in segments of the gastrointestinal tract with unexpected PET/CT abnormalities as well as clinically significant lesions seen on endoscopy which did not produce a PET/CT abnormality to guide the endoscopist tasked with evaluating these imaging findings. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed a database of endoscopies performed at City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center between January 1, 2016 and September 30, 2021 for an indication of "abnormal PET." We divided the gastrointestinal tract into segments and defined categories of endoscopic/histologic findings for each segment. We counted the number of segments with an abnormal PET/CT finding and corresponding endoscopic/histologic abnormality as well as the number of segments with an endoscopic/histologic abnormality but normal PET/CT. Results: PET/CT identified 209 segments with hypermetabolic activity, 109 of which had corresponding endoscopic/histologic abnormalities. In the jejunum and ileum, all corresponding lesions were malignant. Seventy-three percent of corresponding lesions in the stomach were H. pylori positive. PET/CT failed to detect 34.7% of clinically significant lesions diagnosed endoscopically, including 1 malignancy in the transverse colon and many inflammatory or low-risk premalignant lesions. Conclusion: PET/CT abnormalities seen in the small bowel should be evaluated urgently as nearly all correlates were malignant, while abnormalities in the stomach should prompt workup for H. pylori. Most lesions missed by PET/CT were inflammatory or low-risk premalignant yet clinically significant, confirming the need to inspect the entirety of the upper or lower gastrointestinal tract during endoscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, black TiO2 (BTiO2) loaded on black red mud (BRM) was successfully prepared with the conversion of Fe2O3 into magnetic Fe3O4 in red mud and the reduction of partial Ti4+ to Ti3+ in TiO2 via the facile sol–gel method and H2 reduction treatment. The obtained low-cost BRM/BTiO2 composites exhibit remarkable photocatalytic degradation toward rhodamine B (91.2%) and tetracycline (83.6%) under visible light irradiation, much better than pristine TiO2. This enhancement is attributed to the narrow bandgap with the desired solar-light excitation, the black color with good solar-light absorption, and the heterojunctions with the efficient separation of photogenerated electron–hole pairs. Moreover, the desired magnetic separation of BRM/BTiO2 composites realizes the recycle and recovery of photocatalysts, favoring practical applications in environment. This work provides a cost-efficiency way to prepare RM-supported TiO2 composites for treating organic pollutants in the wastewater, which is of great significance to the comprehensive utilization of RM waste, the cost saving of the photocatalyst, and the visible-light active enhancement of TiO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of GPU (graphics processing unit) technologies and neural networks, we can explore more appropriate data structures and algorithms. Recent progress shows that neural networks can partly replace traditional data structures. In this paper, we proposed a novel DNN (deep neural network)-based learned locality-sensitive hashing, called LLSH, to efficiently and flexibly map high-dimensional data to low-dimensional space. LLSH replaces the traditional LSH (locality-sensitive hashing) function families with parallel multi-layer neural networks, which reduces the time and memory consumption and guarantees query accuracy simultaneously. The proposed LLSH demonstrate the feasibility of replacing the hash index with learning-based neural networks and open a new door for developers to design and configure data organization more accurately to improve information-searching performance. Extensive experiments on different types of data sets show the superiority of the proposed method in query accuracy, time consumption, and memory usage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, theoretical and experimental research was conducted on the laser cleaning of SiO2 particles on the surface of a silicon substrate via a nanosecond pulsed laser. The adhesion force between SiO2 particles of different sizes and the silicon substrate was obtained via theoretical calculations. Numerical simulations were used to analyze the temperature rise and thermal expansion force of the silicon substrate after absorbing laser energy to quantify the cleaning force on the particles and predict the cleaning threshold of the particles and damage threshold of the silicon substrate. The results showed that the cleaning thresholds of 1-μm and 5-μm SiO2 particles on the silicon surface were 7.69 J/cm2 and 0.342 J/cm2, respectively, and the damage threshold of the silicon substrate was 8.12 J/cm2. The removal rate of SiO2 particles on the silicon surface gradually increased with increases in the laser energy density. Based on the premise of not damaging the silicon substrate, the SiO2 particles with particle size above 1 μm can be completely removed. The surface roughness of the cleaned silicon was 1 nm, which was close to that of the original silicon surface. The surface crystal spacing and lattice constant of the laser-cleaned silicon substrate exceeded those of the original silicon sample. In the nanosecond laser cleaning of SiO2 particles on the surface of silicon, particle removal mechanisms include the silicon substrate thermal absorption expansion and near-field-enhancement effect. The light intensity below the SiO2 particles was approximately 17.45 times the laser input light intensity when the near-field effect occurred. Additionally, the simultaneous removal of particles easily led to the generation of pits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to apply a potent deep learning network, NAFNet, to predict adverse pathology events and biochemical recurrence-free survival (bRFS) based on pre-treatment MRI imaging. 514 prostate cancer patients from six tertiary hospitals throughout China from 2017 and 2021 were included. A total of 367 patients from Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center with whole-mount histopathology of radical prostatectomy specimens were assigned to the internal set, and cancer lesions were delineated with whole-mount pathology as the reference. The external test set included 147 patients with BCR data from five other institutes. The prediction model (NAFNet-classifier) and integrated nomogram (DL-nomogram) were constructed based on NAFNet. We then compared DL-nomogram with radiology score (PI-RADS), and clinical score (Cancer of the Prostate Risk Assessment score (CAPRA)). After training and validation in the internal set, ROC curves in the external test set showed that NAFNet-classifier alone outperformed ResNet50 in predicting adverse pathology. The DL-nomogram, including the NAFNet-classifier, clinical T stage and biopsy results, showed the highest AUC (0.915, 95% CI: 0.871–0.959) and accuracy (0.850) compared with the PI-RADS and CAPRA scores. Additionally, the DL-nomogram outperformed the CAPRA score with a higher C-index (0.732, P < 0.001) in predicting bRFS. Based on this newly-developed deep learning network, NAFNet, our DL-nomogram could accurately predict adverse pathology and poor prognosis, providing a potential AI tools in medical imaging risk stratification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The graphene sheets (GNs) and toluene-soluble component of pitch (TS) are used as the mixed carbon source in the synthesis of LiMn0.8Fe0.2PO4@C@GNs through different carbon-coating methods. The results show that the ball–milling (BM) method is more favorable for the uniform dispersion of GNs and reduction of agglomeration compared to mechanical agitation (MA). The bridging effect of GNs and the pyrolytic carbon of TS with a high graphitization degree constructs an intact carbon skeleton on the surface of LiMn0.8Fe0.2PO4 crystal, thus greatly improving the structural stability and electronic conductivity. Sample BM–1.5 containing 1.5 wt.% GNs prepared by ball–milling has a small (111) grain size, large specific surface area (48.32 m2·g−1), and mesoporous volume (0.099 cm3·g−1). Cathode BM–1.5 delivers the discharge-specific capacity of 150.9, 150.4, and 115.7 mAh·g−1 at the rate of 0.1 , 1, and 5 C, respectively, which are the optimal values of all samples. Moreover, the capacity in BM–1.5 at 1 C is well maintained at the retention of 95.7% after 100 cycles. And no obvious crack appears in the cathode film, showing excellent structural stability. LiMn0.8Fe0.2PO4@C@GNs prepared by ball-milling with the toluene-soluble component of pitch and graphene sheet as the mixed carbon source has excellent electrochemical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease that is mainly in middle-aged people and elderly people, and the pathogenesis of PD is complex and diverse. The ubiquitin–proteasome system (UPS) is a master regulator of neural development and the maintenance of brain structure and function. Dysfunction of components and substrates of this UPS has been linked to neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. Moreover, UPS can regulate α-synuclein misfolding and aggregation, mitophagy, neuroinflammation and oxidative stress to affect the development of PD. In the present study, we review the role of several related E3 ubiquitin ligases and deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) on the pathogenesis of PD such as Parkin, CHIP, USP8, etc. On this basis, we summarize the connections and differences of different E3 ubiquitin ligases in the pathogenesis, and elaborate on the regulatory progress of different DUBs on the pathogenesis of PD. Therefore, we can better understand their relationships and provide feasible and valuable therapeutic clues for UPS-related PD treatment research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, Bi2MoO6 with adjustable rich oxygen vacancies was prepared by a novel and simple solvothermal-photoreduction method which might be suitable for a large-scale production. The experiment results show that Bi2MoO6 with rich oxygen vacancies is an excellent photocatalyst. The photocatalytic ability of BMO-10 is 0.3 and 3.5 times higher than that of the pristine Bi2MoO6 for Rhodamine B degradation and Cr(VI) reduction, respectively. The results display that the band energy of the samples with oxygen vacancies was narrowed and the light absorption was broadened. Meanwhile, the efficiency of photogenerated electron-holes was increased and the separation and transfer speed of photogenerated carriers were improved. Therefore, this work provides a convenient and efficient method to prepare potential adjustable oxygen vacancy based photocatalysts to eliminate the pollution of dyes and Cr(VI) in water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there is an urgent need for safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines to protect children and adolescents. This study aims to provide scientific evidence and recommendations for the application of COVID-19 vaccines in children and adolescents by analyzing the latest studies. Methods: We systematically searched MEDLINE (accessed through PubMed), Embase, and Web of Science from January 1, 2020, to October 8, 2022. Eligible clinical trials, cohort studies, case‒control studies, and cross-sectional studies with extractable data were included in immunogenicity, effectiveness, and safety analyses. According to the heterogeneity, we chose a fixed-effect model (when I2 ≤ 50) or a random-effects model (when I2 > 50) to pool effect values. Results: A total of 88 articles were included. The seroconversion rates after the first, second, and third doses of the vaccines were 86.10%, 96.52%, and 99.87%, respectively. After the first and second doses, vaccine effectiveness (VE) against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection was 42.87% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 27.09%–58.65%] and 63.33% (95% CI = 52.09%–74.56%), respectively. After the first and second doses, VE against COVID-19 was 60.65% (95% CI = 44.80%–76.50%) and 75.77% (95% CI = 63.99%–87.56%), respectively. VE against hospitalization due to COVID-19 after the first and second doses was 72.74% (95% CI = 51.48%–94.01%) and 82.78% (95% CI = 75.78%–89.78%), respectively. The most common adverse events were injection site pain, fatigue/asthenia/tiredness, headache, myalgia/muscle pain, and chills. The incidence rate of myocarditis or pericarditis was 2.42/100,000 people. In addition, the subgroup analysis showed that children aged ≤ 5 years had the lowest incidence of adverse events, and the incidence rate of adverse events was higher for mRNA vaccines than for inactivated vaccines. Conclusions: COVID-19 vaccines have good immunogenicity, effectiveness, and safety among children and adolescents. We recommend that children and adolescents be vaccinated as soon as possible to protect them and slow the spread of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In current work, myrrh residue, a special type of natural biomass, was used as the feedstock for carbon dots (CDs) preparation for the first time. The effect of synthesis conditions including ethylenediamine addition, reaction temperature, and reaction time on the CDs fluorescence intensity was investigated to construct a proper synthesis system. Under the suitable condition, CDs with an average particle size of 6.35 ± 1.07 nm and excitation wavelength dependence were prepared, and the CDs yield and the CDs quantum yield were 3.78% and 10.63%, respectively. The CDs obtained were used for the detection of various metal ions, and Fe3+ could be detected most sensitively due to its significant quenching effect. For low Fe3+ concentrations (0.2–1 mM), it had a good linear relationship with F0/F (the relative fluorescence intensity) that a standard curve (y = 0.3553x + 0.926) was built with R2 of 0.997 and the limit of detection (LOD) of 24.62 μM. While for high Fe3+ concentrations (1–15 mM), it also had a good linear relationship with F0/F that a standard curve (y = 0.3232x + 0.7636) was built with R2 of 0.991 and LOD of 27.06 μM. The CDs was used for the real samples detection with the recoveries ranged from 92.71 to 103.84%. The fluorescence quenching mechanism of CDs by Fe3+ was learned and the static quenching was the possible mechanism. In addition, based on the antioxidant properties of myrrh itself, the myrrh residue derived CDs also had antioxidant activities and thus had potential for antioxidant application. On the whole, this work can provide an attractive technology for chemical conversion from low-cost myrrh residue to functional CDs which can be applied for Fe3+ detection and antioxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrodynamic instabilities induced by a shock wave can be observed in both natural phenomena and engineering applications, and are frequently employed to study gas dynamics, vortex dynamics, and turbulence. Controlling these instabilities is very desirable, but remains a challenge in applications such as inertial confinement fusion. The field of “shock-gas-layer interaction” has experienced rapid development, driven by advances in experimental and numerical techniques as well as theoretical understanding. This domain has uncovered a diverse array of wave patterns and hydrodynamic instabilities, such as reverberating waves, feedthrough, abnormal and freeze-out Richtmyer-Meshkov instability, among others. Studies have shown that it is possible to suppress these instabilities by appropriately configuring a gas layer. Here we review the recent progress in theories, experiments, and simulations of shock-gas-layer interactions, and the feedthrough mechanism, the reverberating waves and their induced additional instabilities, as well as the convergent geometry and reshock effects, are focused. The conditions for suppressing hydrodynamic instabilities are summarized. The review concludes by highlighting the challenges and prospects for future research in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]