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Container ports and hinterland manufacturing are two important forces of the local participation in economic globalization. This study, taking the Pearl River Delta (PRD), China with an export-oriented economy as an example, applies Huff and panel regression models to evaluate the impact of hinterland manufacturing on the development of container ports during the period of 1993–2019. The results show that 1) the spatial patterns of hinterlands for hub ports help to determine the distribution range and scale of economic variables that affect port throughput; 2) the hinterland's gross manufacturing output has universally positive influence on port throughput, wherein export-oriented processing and the entire manufacturing industry have significantly positive impact on port throughput in 1993–2011 and 2001–2019, respectively; 3) the two internal structural factors related to an export-oriented economy, labor-intensive sectors and foreign-funded terminals, have positively moderate the direct influence of hinterland manufacturing on port throughput. Our results highlight the importance of local context in understanding port-manufacturing relationship in developing economies. Based on our findings, policy implications are further proposed to enhance port network organization in PRD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is caused by NF1 gene mutations. Patients with NF1 often have complications with tumors, such as neurofibroma. In order to investigate the pathogenesis of human neurofibroma, a systematic comparison of protein expression levels between Schwann cell-like sNF96.2 cells, which originated from malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST), and normal Schwann cells was performed using 4-D label-free proteomic analysis. In addition, the expression levels and localization of dysregulated proteins were confirmed using a Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) transcriptomic dataset, Western blot analysis, and immunofluorescence labeling. The effects of SRY-box transcription factor 9 (SOX9) in the neurofibroma and surrounding microenvironment were evaluated in vivo using a tumor transplantation model. The present study observed that SOX9 and procollagen C-endopeptidase enhancer (PCOLCE) were significantly altered. NF1 mutation promoted the nuclear translocation and transcriptional activity of SOX9 in neurofibromas. SOX9 increased collagen VI secretions by enhancing the activation of PCOLCE in neurofibroma cells. These findings might provide new perspectives on the pathophysiological significance of SOX9 in neurofibromas and elucidate a novel molecular mechanism underlying neurofibromas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A group of massive galaxies at redshifts of z ≳ 7 have been recently detected by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), which were unexpected to form at such an early time within the standard Big Bang cosmology. In this work, we propose that this puzzle can be explained by the presence of some primordial black holes (PBHs) with a mass of ∼ 1000M⊙. These PBHs act as seeds for early galaxy formation with masses of ∼ 108–1010M⊙ at high redshift, hence accounting for the JWST observations. We use a hierarchical Bayesian inference framework to constrain the PBH mass distribution models, and find that the Lognormal model with the Mc ∼ 750M⊙ is preferred over other hypotheses. These rapidly growing BHs are expected to have strong radiation and may appear as high-redshift compact objects, similar to those recently discovered by JWST. Although we focused on PBHs in this work, the bound on the initial mass of the seed black holes remains robust even if they were formed through astrophysical channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blasting is the primary method for ultra-deep roadway engineering, which is facing the challenge of low footage caused by unsatisfactory blasting effects. Among all the evaluation indicators, the blast-hole utilization rate is the most important index for measuring blasting effect. Consequently, accurately predicting this index is essential for improving roadway excavation efficiency. In recent decades, the field applications of artificial intelligence have emerged as the prime method, yet the issue of data loss and large errors in large-scale data processing remains unresolved. In this study, novel Structured Nonlinear Support Vector Machine (SNSVM) is introduced as the primary research tool. To enhance prediction performance and accuracy, Genetic Algorithm (GA), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Sparrow Search Algorithm (SSA) are utilized to optimize the hyperparameters of SNSVM. The prediction models comprise fourteen influencing factors, constituting the comprehensive blasting effect prediction system based on artificial intelligence. The principal criteria for assessing the performance of various models are the error correlation coefficients (Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE), R-Square (R2)) and the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve (standard deviation rate (γ)). Among the models considered, SSA-SNSVM exhibited the greatest capability when the swarm size is 90. The RMSE, MAPE and R2 values of training datasets are 0.0070, 15.54% and 0.9295, respectively. The RMSE, MAPE and R2 values of testing datasets are 0.0086, 16.37% and 0.9490, respectively. Furthermore, the minimum standard deviation rate of SSA-SNSVM serves as the vital index for measuring the accuracy, with a value of 0.11. Subsequently, the sensitivity analysis results indicate that the most sensitive factor of blast-hole utilization rate is the surrounding rock itself. The comprehensive blasting effect evaluation is of significant importance for the dynamic adjustment of on-site blasting schemes, including roadway excavation, shaft excavation, or pressure-relief engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deep integration of computer field and coal mining field is the only way to coal mine intellectualization. A variety of artificial intelligence tools have been applied in open-pit and shallow coal mines. However, with the geometric increase of coal demand, the contradiction between supply and demand is becoming more and more serious, and the exploitation of resources from shallow layer (> 600 m) has become an inevitable trend. Well then, as a new engineering scene, the harsh conditions of "three high and one disturbance" seriously threaten the safety of personnel. The superposition of complex mining environment makes the number of input factors increase sharply, which leads to the application of artificial intelligence in deep coal mine roadway engineering. The guidance is not mature, the construction of various databases is missing, and there are still some problems in universality and applicability. To this end, this paper starts with the introduction of the operating characteristics of various artificial intelligence tools, and conducts a comprehensive study of the relevant high-level articles published in top journals. It systematically sorts out the research progress that has successfully solved the five directions of rock mechanics strength, surrounding rock stability, rock-burst, roof fall risks and micro-seismic events. While objectively evaluating the comprehensive performance of different tools, it also expounds its own views on key research and results. Literature review shows that whether as a development tool or a comparative model, the application of ANN in the field of coal mining is more than 98%, and it performs extremely well in the direction of surrounding rock stability and roof fall risk, with an accuracy rate of more than 90%. As the most mature direction of AI tools application, rock mechanical strength has experienced the development process from "SVM → ANN → DL → XGBoost → RF". The dataset is from small samples (< 100) to big samples (> 1000), and the R2 of tree-based models can be stabilized at more than 95%. The research on rock-burst prediction mainly focuses on field factors and micro-seismic monitoring data. Whether it is a small sample or a large-scale data model, the accuracy of BN remains above 85%. The prediction and evaluation of micro-seismic events is a new direction in recent years. The image processing and application of CNN is extremely important. The signal recognition and classification accounts for more than 90%, and the research potential of source location needs to be further explored. In general, the nature of the rock itself is the first choice for almost all influencing factors. At the same time, the update iteration of monitoring methods (micro-seismic, ground sound, separation, deformation, etc.) expands the development of the database, making it possible to obtain the data due to threat to life and cost of equipment, which is very difficult to obtain before. In the process of parameter selection at the input end, the method of combining lithology conditions, geological environment and monitoring data will gradually become the first choice for research. Finally, in the follow-up work collation and on-the-spot investigation, it mainly focuses on the existing problems of deep coal mines, explores the application potential of artificial intelligence in deep coal mine roadway engineering, puts forward the possible research focus and challenging problems in the future, and gives its own opinions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to explore the shared molecular pathogenesis of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and high-grade glioma and investigate the mechanism of propofol (PF) as a potential protective agent. By analyzing the Chinese glioma genome atlas (CGGA) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases, we compared the transcriptomic data of high-grade glioma and TBI patients to identify common pathological mechanisms. Through bioinformatics analysis, in vitro experiments and in vivo TBI model, we investigated the regulatory effect of PF on extracellular matrix (ECM)-related genes through Prrx1 under oxidative stress. The impact of PF on BBB integrity under oxidative stress was investigated using a dual-layer BBB model, and we explored the protective effect of PF on tight junction proteins and ECM-related genes in mice after TBI. The study found that high-grade glioma and TBI share ECM instability as an important molecular pathological mechanism. PF stabilizes the ECM and protects the BBB by directly binding to Prrx1 or indirectly regulating Prrx1 through miRNAs. In addition, PF reduces intracellular calcium ions and ROS levels under oxidative stress, thereby preserving BBB integrity. In a TBI mouse model, PF protected BBB integrity through up-regulated tight junction proteins and stabilized the expression of ECM-related genes. Our study reveals the shared molecular pathogenesis between TBI and glioblastoma and demonstrate the potential of PF as a protective agent of BBB. This provides new targets and approaches for the development of novel neurotrauma therapeutic drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the paper, near-net shape fabrication (ball milling, cold pressing, and microwave sintering) of Fe-6.5 wt%Si steel strip was carried out on the basis of the rapid solidification single-roll spinning, and the micromorphology transformation, texture evolution, mechanical and magnetic properties of the obtained samples were studied. This process could not only prepare samples with good mechanical and magnetic properties, but also achieve near-clean shape treatment. The results show that the refinement and homogenization of grain and the evolution of texture (the disappearance of γ-texture and the formation of Goss texture) play a good role in improving the mechanical and magnetic properties. The sample prepared by 1200 °C microwave sintering has excellent magnetic properties of Ms = 232.54 emu/g, Hc = 32.27 Oe, and Mr = 3.13 emu/g, and it also has the highest Vickers hardness of 212.32HV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many studies have shown that drinking coffee and tea may be associated with the risk of hypertension and dementia. Limited research exists on their impact on dementia risk in hypertensive patients. This study aimed to determine the association between coffee and tea consumption and the risk of dementia development in hypertensive population by utilizing Cox proportional risk modeling with 453,913 participants from a UK biobank. Our findings reveal a J-shaped and U-shaped association between the risk of all-cause dementia and the consumption of coffee and tea respectively in hypertensive people. The hypertensive patients who drink 0.5–1 cup of coffee or 4–5 cups of tea per day have the lowest risk of dementia. A U-shaped relationship was observed between daily caffeine consumption and the risk of developing all-cause dementia and vascular dementia in the hypertensive population. Furthermore, the significant association between the amount of coffee and tea consumed and the risk of all-cause and vascular dementia were more likely to be found in hypertensive patients than in the non-hypertensive population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the correlation between ossific nucleus volume and avascular necrosis (AVN) in pediatric patients diagnosed with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). Analyzing 211 cases, including 119 open reduction (OR) and 92 closed reduction (CR) procedures, we quantified ossific nucleus volume using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Categorizing the OR group based on ossific nucleus volume revealed no statistically significant difference in AVN incidence. Similarly, in the CR cohort, there was no significant discrepancy in AVN occurrence between subgroups with or without the ossific nucleus. Logistic regression in CR identified the international hip dysplasia institute (IHDI) grade as a significant AVN risk factor (p = 0.007). IHDI grades 3 and 4 exhibited a 6.94 times higher likelihood of AVN compared to grades 1 and 2. Across CR and OR, neither initial age nor ossific nucleus volume emerged as AVN risk factors. In conclusion, ossific nucleus volume does not pose a risk for AVN in DDH children undergoing CR or OR, emphasizing the clinical significance of IHDI grading in predicting AVN risk during CR and the importance of early intervention to prevent treatment delays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dementia affects cognitive functions of adults, including memory, language, and behaviour. Standard diagnostic biomarkers such as MRI are costly, whilst neuropsychological tests suffer from sensitivity issues in detecting dementia onset. The analysis of speech and language has emerged as a promising and non-intrusive technology to diagnose and monitor dementia. Currently, most work in this direction ignores the multi-modal nature of human communication and interactive aspects of everyday conversational interaction. Moreover, most studies ignore changes in cognitive status over time due to the lack of consistent longitudinal data. Here we introduce a novel fine-grained longitudinal multi-modal corpus collected in a natural setting from healthy controls and people with dementia over two phases, each spanning 28 sessions. The corpus consists of spoken conversations, a subset of which are transcribed, as well as typed and written thoughts and associated extra-linguistic information such as pen strokes and keystrokes. We present the data collection process and describe the corpus in detail. Furthermore, we establish baselines for capturing longitudinal changes in language across different modalities for two cohorts, healthy controls and people with dementia, outlining future research directions enabled by the corpus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This research aims to construct and verify an accurate nomogram for forecasting the 3-, 5-, and 7-year outcomes in pediatric patients afflicted with spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: Pediatric patients with SCI from multiple hospitals in China, diagnosed between Jan 2005 and Jan 2020, were incorporated into this research. Half of these patients were arbitrarily chosen for training sets, and the other half were designated for external validation sets. The Cox hazard model was employed to pinpoint potential prognosis determinants related to the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) and Functional Independence Assessment (FIM) index. These determinants were then employed to formulate the prognostic nomogram. Subsequently, the bootstrap technique was applied to validate the derived model internally. Results: In total, 224 children with SCI were considered for the final evaluation, having a median monitoring duration of 68.0 months. The predictive nomogram showcased superior differentiation capabilities, yielding a refined C-index of 0.924 (95% CI: 0.883–0.965) for the training cohort and a C-index of 0.863 (95% CI: 0.735–0.933) for the external verification group. Additionally, when applying the aforementioned model to prognostic predictions as classified by the FIM, it demonstrated a high predictive value with a C-index of 0.908 (95% CI: 0.863–0.953). Moreover, the calibration diagrams indicated a consistent match between the projected and genuine ASIA outcomes across both sets. Conclusion: The crafted and verified prognostic nomogram emerges as a dependable instrument to foresee the 3-, 5-, and 7-year ASIA and FIM outcomes for children suffering from SCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remote detection of trace explosives and hazardous chemicals has been an ongoing challenge and a critical issue in defense science, public safety, and counterterrorism. Raman spectroscopy, a form of inelastic scattering, acts as a "fingerprint" analysis method for substance identification with high confidence in the detection of chemicals based on their vibrational modes. Here, we present a portable stand-off time-gated Raman spectroscopy, which consists of a passive Q-switched pulsed laser, a designed gated ICMOS, a spectrometer, and a telescope, with an overall size of 476.5 × 321.5 × 219.3 mm and a weight of 23.2 kg, which is much more compact and portable than reported previously. To confirm the effectiveness of the designed portable time-gated Raman spectroscopy, detections at different working distances and various amounts of substances are carried out. High levels of Raman identification are acquired even for 0.1 mg at a 10-m distance. Furthermore, we simulate realistic encounters in a possible war-zone scenario by testing the system's ability to recognize urea samples on different substrates such as an aluminum plate, woodblock, cardboard, black cloth, and leaf; good characteristic recognition is shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of a bioabsorbable cage consisting of magnesium and magnesium phosphate cement (MPC) in a porcine lumbar interbody fusion model. Methods: Twelve male Ba-Ma mini pigs underwent lumbar discectomy and fusion with an Mg−MPC cage or a PEEK cage at the L3/L4 and L4/L5 level. Computed tomography (CT) scans were made to evaluate the distractive property by comparing average disc space height (DSH) before and at 6, 12, and 24 weeks after the operation. After the lumbar spines were harvested at 6 or 24 weeks after the operation, micro-CT examination was conducted to analyze the fusion rate, and stiffness of motion segments was investigated through mechanical tests. A histological study was performed to evaluate the tissue type, inflammation, and osteolysis in the intervertebral space. Results: CT scans showed no significant difference between the two groups in average DSH at each time point. Micro-CT scans revealed an equal fusion rate in both groups (0% at 6 weeks, 83.3% at 24 weeks). Both groups showed time-dependent increases in stability, the Mg−MPC cages achieved an inferior stiffness at 6 weeks and a comparable stiffness at 24 weeks. Histologic evaluation showed the presence of newly formed bone in both groups. However, empty spaces were observed at the interface or around the Mg−MPC cages. Conclusion: Compared with the PEEK cages, the Mg−MPC cages achieved comparable distraction, fusion rate, and spinal stability at 24 weeks after the operation. However, due to inferior stiffness at the early stage and fast degradation, further modification of material composition and design are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a common foodborne pathogen, posing a serious threat to public health. Consequently, it is crucial to establish a platform for sensitive and specific determination of S. aureus in food. Herein, phage SapYZUH5, isolated by our lab, was covalently immobilized on Co3O4 to synthesize SapYZUH5@Co3O4. Notably, SapYZUH5@Co3O4 exhibited remarkable oxidase-like activity, enabling the catalysis of dissolved oxygen to generate superoxide anion free radicals and accelerate the TMB chromogenic reaction. Upon introduction of S. aureus, specific capture by SapYZUH5@Co3O4 resulted in inhibiting its oxidase-like activity and decelerating the 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) chromogenic reaction. Moreover, S. aureus can be lysed to release the reductive bacterial contents, which can further inhibit the TMB chromogenic reaction. Based on this principle, SapYZUH5@Co3O4 + TMB reaction system was employed for detection with enhanced sensitivity of S. aureus, yielding an equation: A = − 0.092 Log (CSA) + 0.79 (R2 = 0.987), with an ultralow limit of detection (LOD) of 28 CFU mL−1. This system exhibited remarkable specificity and anti-interfere towards S. aureus, owing to the excellent affinity of SapYZUH5 towards S. aureus. In addition, S. aureus in the actual food samples was detected using this system, yielding recoveries ranging from 96.34 to 109.43%, demonstrating its exceptional accuracy. Hence, our proposed covalent immobilization of phage on the nanozyme can realize sensitive and specific colorimetric determination of S. aureus in food samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As studied in previous works, dynamic compliance presents widespread antiresonances in its spectrum, which could trap gradient-based topology optimization for minimum dynamic compliance and cause the optimization procedure to converge prematurely. In order to solve this problem, a novel method for predicting the frequencies that correspond to points of antiresonance in dynamic compliance spectrum is presented in this paper. By leveraging this eigenvalue formulation method, a strategy for introducing antiresonant frequency constraint is developed to solve one-material topology design for minimum dynamic compliance under high-frequency (above the first resonance of the initial design) excitations. In order to facilitate the exploitation of antiresonances, accurate track and eigenvalue sensitivity analysis for the prescribed antiresonant frequency are also discussed in detail. Numerical results show that the proposed method can achieve well-defined topologies with excellent dynamic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile edge computing (MEC) is considered one of the key technologies for large-scale network services. Task scheduling helps to improve the task completion rate of MEC, by properly mapping tasks generated by devices onto MEC resources. However, the mobility of devices introduces complexities, potentially resulting in failed task offloading or unavailable task results. To tackle this issue, we propose a mobile-aware task scheduling scheme. We first model the trajectory of mobile devices and introduce a strategy for the fastest task offloading, coupled with an efficient result return method. Subsequently, to improve the task completion rate, we present a task scheduling model based on task migration and formulate the relevant problem as a Mixed Integer Non-linear Programming (MINLP) problem. To achieve a solution within a reasonable time complexity, we propose a Particle Swarm Optimization and Genetic Algorithm with a Rescheduling operator (PSOGAR). In PSOGAR, particles update their positions using a mating operator, while maintaining diversity by a mutation operator. In addition, a rescheduling operator is used to further improve the task completion rate. Finally, through simulation experiments, compare PSOGAR with state-of-the-art and classic algorithms. The experimental results show that PSOGAR can improve the task completion rate by 18–31% and can be applied to scenarios with tight task deadlines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Glioma stem cells (GSCs), which are known for their therapy resistance, play a substantial role in treatment inefficacy for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). TRIM37, a member of the tripartite motif (TRIM) protein family initially linked to a rare growth disorder, has been recognized for its oncogenic role. However, the mechanism by which TRIM37 regulates tumor growth in glioma and GSCs is unclear. Methods: For the in vitro experiments, gene expression was measured by western blotting, RT-qPCR, and immunofluorescence. Cell viability was detected by CCK‐8, and cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. The interaction between Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 (EZH2) and TRIM37 was verified by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP). The interaction between EZH2 and the PTCH1 promoter was verified using dual‐luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). For the in vivo experiments, an orthotopically implanted glioma mouse model was used to validate tumor growth. Results: The expression of TRIM37 is higher in GSCs compared with matched non-GSCs. TRIM37 knockdown promotes apoptosis, decreased stemness in GSCs, and reduces tumor growth in GSCs xenografts of nude mice. TRIM37 and EZH2 co-localize in the nucleus and interact with each other. TRIM37 knockdown or EZH2 inhibition downregulates the protein expressions associated with the Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) pathway. EZH2 epigenetically downregulates PTCH1 to activate SHH pathway in GSCs. Conclusions: TRIM37 maintains the cell growth and stemness in GSCs through the interaction with EZH2. EZH2 activates SHH stem cell signaling pathway by downregulating the expression of SHH pathway suppressor PTCH1. Our findings suggest that TRIM37 may be a potential therapeutic target for GBM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photoelectrocatalytic seawater splitting is a promising low-cost method to produce green hydrogen in a large scale. The effects of Cl− ions in seawater on the performance of a photoanode have been reported in previous studies. However, few researches have been done on the roles of Cl− ions in a photocathode. Herein, for the first time, we find that Cl− ions in the electrolyte improve the photocurrent of a Si/In2S3 photocathode by 50% at −0.6 VRHE. An in-situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) characterization combined with the time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometry by simulating photoelectrochemical conditions was used to investigate the interface charge transfer mechanism. The results suggest that there is an In2+3S3−x(OH)2x layer on the surface of In2S3 in the phosphate buffer solution (PBS) electrolyte, which plays a role as an interface charge transfer mediator in the Si/In2S3 photocathode. The In2+3S3−x(OH)2x surface layer becomes In2+3S3−x(Cl)2x in the PBS electrolyte with NaCl and accelerates the charge transfer rate at the In2S3/electrolyte interface. These results offer a new concept of regulating interface charge transfer mediator to enhance the performance of photoelectrocatalytic seawater splitting for hydrogen production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease (NIID) exhibited significant clinical heterogeneities. However, the clinical features, radiographic changes, and prognosis of patients with encephalitis-like NIID have yet to be systematically elucidated. Methods: Clinical data including medical history, physical examination, and laboratory examinations were collected and analyzed. Skin and sural nerve biopsies were conducted on the patient. Repeat-primed PCR (RP-PCR) and fluorescence amplicon length PCR (AL-PCR) were used to detect the expansion of CGG repeat. We also reviewed the clinical and genetic data of NIID patients with cortical enhancement. Results: A 54-year-old woman presented with encephalitis-like NIID, characterized by severe headache and agitative psychiatric symptoms. The brain MRI showed cortical swelling in the temporo-occipital lobes and significant enhancement of the cortical surface and dura, but without hyperintensities along the corticomedullary junction on diffusion-weighted image (DWI). A biopsy of the sural nerve revealed a demyelinating pathological change. The intranuclear inclusions were detected in nerve and skin tissues using the p62 antibody and electron microscopy. RP-PCR and AL-PCR unveiled the pathogenic expansion of CGG repeats in the NOTCH2NLC gene. A review of the literature indicated that nine out of the 16 patients with cortical lesions and linear enhancement exhibited encephalitis-like NIID. Conclusion: This study indicated that patients with encephalitis-like NIID typically exhibited headache and excitatory psychiatric symptoms, often accompanied by cortical edema and enhancement of posterior lobes, and responded well to glucocorticoid treatment. Furthermore, some patients may not exhibit hyperintensities along the corticomedullary junction on DWI, potentially leading to misdiagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A key factor affecting the energy storage performance of antiferroelectric materials is their electrical breakdown strength. Nanocomposition is one of the effective methods to improve the electrical breakdown strength of dielectric thin films. In this study, PbZrO3‒Al2O3 nanoparticle composite films were prepared by combining chemical solution deposition of PbZrO3 and vacuum evaporation deposition of Al, and the influence of size and distribution of Al2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) on electrical properties was investigated. The results show that the Al2O3 NPs are distributed in a layered form on the PZO matrix, and their distribution can be controlled by changing the thickness of PZO coatings. As the coating thickness decreases and the coating interface increases, the distribution of Al2O3 NPs becomes more uniform, resulting in a significant increase in maximum polarization and electrical breakdown strength, and a decrease in leakage current density, thereby enhancing the energy storage performance of the PbZrO3-Al2O3 composite films. The results indicate that the regulation of the microstructure of dielectric composite films is of great significance for improving their energy storage performance. Highlights: PbZrO3‒Al2O3 nanoparticle composite films were prepared by combining chemical solution deposition of PbZrO3 and vacuum evaporation deposition of Al. The distribution of Al2O3 NPs can be controlled by changing the thickness of the PbZrO3 coating. The energy storage performance of the PbZrO3-Al2O3 composite films can be effectively improved by adjusting the distribution of Al2O3 NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Superconductivity in a highly correlated kagome system has been theoretically proposed for years (refs. 1–5), yet the experimental realization is hard to achieve6,7. The recently discovered vanadium-based kagome materials8, which exhibit both superconductivity9–11 and charge-density-wave orders12–14, are nonmagnetic8,9 and weakly correlated15,16. Thus these materials are unlikely to host the exotic superconductivity theoretically proposed. Here we report the discovery of a chromium-based kagome metal, CsCr3Sb5, which is contrastingly featured with strong electron correlations, frustrated magnetism and characteristic flat bands close to the Fermi level. Under ambient pressure, this kagome metal undergoes a concurrent structural and magnetic phase transition at 55 K, with a stripe-like 4a0 structural modulation. At high pressure, the phase transition evolves into two transitions, possibly associated with charge-density-wave and antiferromagnetic spin-density-wave orderings. These density-wave-like orders are gradually suppressed with pressure and, remarkably, a superconducting dome emerges at 3.65–8.0 GPa. The maximum of the superconducting transition temperature, Tcmax = 6.4 K, appears when the density-wave-like orders are completely suppressed at 4.2 GPa, and the normal state exhibits a non-Fermi-liquid behaviour, reminiscent of unconventional superconductivity and quantum criticality in iron-based superconductors17,18. Our work offers an unprecedented platform for investigating superconductivity in correlated kagome systems.The emergence of superconductivity under pressure is reported in a chromium-based kagome metal, CsCr3Sb5, which has strong electron correlations, frustrated magnetism and characteristic flat bands close to the Fermi level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It's imperative to create a more ideal biological scaffold for bone defect repair. Calcium phosphate bone cements (CPC) could be used as a scaffold. Some ingredients and osteogenic factors could be added to improve its poor mechanical properties and biological activity. As a macromolecule extracted from traditional Chinese medicine, Hedysarum polysaccharides (HPS) would significantly promote the osteogenic activity of bone biomaterials. Zirconium oxide and starch were added to the solid phase and citric acid was added to the liquid phase to optimize CPC. HPS was loaded onto the scaffold as an osteogenic factor, and the prepared CPS + HPS was characterized. Further, the cytocompatibility of CPS + HPS was assessed according to activity, differentiation, and calcification in neonatal rat calvarial osteoblasts, and the biosafety of CPS + HPS was evaluated according to acute toxicity, pyrogen, sensitization, and hemolysis. The success of CPS + HPS in repairing bone defects was evaluated by using a rabbit femur implantation experiment. After optimization, CPS-20-CA-5 containing 10% starch and 5% citric acid displayed the highest mechanical strength of 28.96 ± 0.03 MPa. HPS-50 was demonstrated to exert the best osteogenic effect. The combination of CPS + HPS achieved HPS-loaded CPC. Material characterization, cytocompatibility, biosafety, and femoral implantation experiments indicated that CPS + HPS possessed better pressure resistance and improved osteogenic ability in bone defect repair.CPS + HPS demonstrated effective pressure resistance and superior osteogenic ability, which may be of great significance for bone defects and bone tissue engineering to promote bone regeneration and repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has not yet been proven whether sepsis affects the tissue around the anal canal. To address this issue, we established three-dimensional models for various types of anorectal abscesses and utilize 3D reconstruction of Magnetic Resonance Imaging scans to assess the extent of muscle damage caused by anorectal abscesses. Patients diagnosed with anorectal abscess, selected from January 2019 to January 2022 underwent pre- and post-operative scanning of pelvic floor and perianal tissues. The aforementioned structures were segmented for the reconstruction of a three-dimensional visual model and measurement of volumes for the abscess as well as the internal and external sphincters and levator ani muscle. The study included a total of 42 patients. Three-dimensional visualization models were created for different types of anorectal abscesses, including perianal, intersphincteric, ischiorectal, and supralevator abscesses. No statistically significant differences were observed in the volume of the internal sphincter, external sphincter, and levator ani muscle between pre- and post-operative patients. The 3D model of anorectal abscess, reconstructed from MRI data, offers a precise and direct visualization of the anatomical structures associated with various types of anorectal abscesses. The infection did not result in any damage to the internal and external anal sphincter and levator ani muscle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occlusion problem remains a crucial challenge in optical flow estimation (OFE). Despite the recent significant progress brought about by deep learning, most existing deep learning OFE methods still struggle to handle occlusions; in particular, those based on two frames cannot correctly handle occlusions because occluded regions have no visual correspondences. However, there is still hope in multi-frame settings, which can potentially mitigate the occlusion issue in OFE. Unfortunately, multi-frame OFE (MOFE) remains underexplored, and the limited studies on it are mainly specially designed for pyramid backbones or else obtain the aligned previous frame's features, such as correlation volume and optical flow, through time-consuming backward flow calculation or non-differentiable forward warping transformation. This study proposes an efficient MOFE framework named SplatFlow to address these shortcomings. SplatFlow introduces the differentiable splatting transformation to align the previous frame's motion feature and designs a Final-to-All embedding method to input the aligned motion feature into the current frame's estimation, thus remodeling the existing two-frame backbones. The proposed SplatFlow is efficient yet more accurate, as it can handle occlusions properly. Extensive experimental evaluations show that SplatFlow substantially outperforms all published methods on the KITTI2015 and Sintel benchmarks. Especially on the Sintel benchmark, SplatFlow achieves errors of 1.12 (clean pass) and 2.07 (final pass), with surprisingly significant 19.4% and 16.2% error reductions, respectively, from the previous best results submitted. The code for SplatFlow is available at https://github.com/wwsource/SplatFlow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate literature evidences about the efficacy and safety of anti-angiogenesis agents plus chemoradiotherapy versus chemoradiotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods: The relevant literature was systematically searched from the date of establishment to April 2023 in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Biological Medicine, Wanfang and VIP database. Search terms included: Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms, Angiogenesis inhibitors, Endostar, Anlotinib, Apatinib, Bevacizumab, Sunitinib, Pazopanib, Chemoradiotherapy. The literature was strictly screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and 8 eligible studies were finally included in our meta-analysis (4 randomized controlled trials and 4 retrospective studies). Results: A total of 642 patients were included, with 316 in the anti-angiogenesis agents plus chemoradiotherapy group and 326 in the chemoradiotherapy group. The results of our meta-analysis showed that compared with chemoradiotherapy group, the complete response rate (RR = 1.35, 95% CI 1.05–1.74, P = 0.02), objective response rate (RR = 1.26, 95% CI 1.12–1.43, P = 0.0002) in the anti-angiogenesis agents plus chemoradiotherapy group were significantly improved. In terms of safety, there was a higher incidence of cardiac arrhythmia (RR = 3.63, 95% CI 1.16–11.37, P = 0.03) and hypertension (RR = 1.85, 95% CI 1.04–3.27, P = 0.004) in the anti-angiogenesis agents plus chemoradiotherapy group, while no statistically significant differences were reported in other adverse reactions (all P > 0.05). Conclusion: Compared with chemoradiotherapy, anti-angiogenesis agents plus chemoradiotherapy could bring more benefits in terms of short-term efficacy, particularly by notably improving both complete response rate and objective response rate, and overall adverse reactions were acceptable. Anti-angiogenesis agents plus chemoradiotherapy may provide a promising direction for the treatment of locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Systematic Review Registration: https://inplasy.com/inplasy-2023-8-0076/, registration number INPLASY202380076. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precisely designing atomic metal-nitrogen-carbon (M-N-C) catalysts with asymmetric diatomic configurations and studying their structure–activity relationships for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are important for zinc-air batteries (ZABs). Herein, a dual-atomic-site catalyst (DASC) with CoN3S-MnN2S2 configuration was prepared for the cathodes of ZABs. Compared with Co-N-C (Mn-free) and CoMn-N-C (S-free doping), CoMn-N/S-C exhibits excellent half-wave potential (0.883 V) and turnover frequency (1.54 e·s−1·site−1), surpassing most of the reported state-of-the-art Pt-free ORR catalysts. The CoMn-N/S-C-based ZABs achieve extremely high specific capacity (959 mAh·g−1) and good stability (350 h@5 mA·cm−2). Density functional theory (DFT) calculation shows that the introduction of Mn and S can break the electron configuration symmetry of the original Co 3d orbital, lower the d-band center of the Co site, and optimize the desorption behavior of ⋆OH intermediate, thereby increasing the ORR activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of catalyst depends on the intrinsic activity of active sites and the structural characteristics of the support. Here, we simultaneously integrate single nickel (Ni) sites and platinum-nickel (PtNi) alloy nanoparticles (NPs) on a two-dimensional (2D) porous carbon nanosheet, demonstrating remarkable catalytic performance in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The single Ni sites can activate the oxygen molecules into key oxygen-containing intermediate that is further efficiently transferred to the adjacent PtNi alloy NPs and rapidly reduced to H2O, which establishes a relay catalysis between active sites. The porous structure on the carbon nanosheet support promotes the transfer of active intermediates between these active sites, which assists the relay catalysis by improving mass diffusion. Remarkably, the obtained catalyst demonstrates a half-wave potential of up to 0.942 V, a high mass activity of 0.54 A·mgPt−1, and negligible decay of activity after 30,000 cycles, which are all superior to the commercial Pt/C catalysts with comparable loading of Pt. The theoretical calculation results reveal that the obtained catalyst with defect structure of carbon support presents enhanced relay catalytic effect of PtNi alloy NPs and single Ni sites, ultimately realizing improved catalytic performance. This work provides valuable inspiration for developing low platinum loading catalyst, integrating single atoms and alloy with outstanding performance in fuel cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jumbo phages are a group of tailed bacteriophages with large genomes and capsids. As a prototype of jumbo phage, ΦKZ infects Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a multi-drug-resistant (MDR) opportunistic pathogen leading to acute or chronic infection in immunocompromised individuals. It holds potential to be used as an antimicrobial agent and as a model for uncovering basic phage biology. Although previous low-resolution structural studies have indicated that jumbo phages may have more complicated capsid structures than smaller phages such as HK97, the detailed structures and the assembly mechanism of their capsids remain largely unknown. Here, we report a 3.5-Å-resolution cryo-EM structure of the ΦKZ capsid. The structure unveiled ten minor capsid proteins, with some decorating the outer surface of the capsid and the others forming a complex network attached to the capsid's inner surface. This network seems to play roles in driving capsid assembly and capsid stabilization. Similar mechanisms of capsid assembly and stabilization are probably employed by many other jumbo viruses. Here, the authors present the 3.5-Å-resolution cryo-EM structure of the jumbo phage ΦKZ capsid, revealing ten minor capsid proteins that are hypothesized to contribute to capsid assembly and stabilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the glass transition temperature and ultraviolet shielding properties of poly(butylene 2,5-thiophenedicarboxylate) (PBTF), a series of poly(butylene 2,5-thiophenedicarboxylate-co-butylene 4,4′-biphenyldicarboxylate) (PBTFBs) were synthesized from 2,5-thiophenedicarboxylic acid (TDCA), 1,4-butanediol (BDO), and dimethyl 4,4′-biphenyldicarboxylate (BDD). The composition and molecular weights of PBTFBs were investigated by 1H NMR,.13C NMR and GPC. The results showed that the glass transition temperature of PBTFBs gradually increased, and the thermogravimetric analysis results also showed that the thermal stability gradually increased with increasing the BDD content. Compared with PBTF, the polyester with 40% butylene 4,4′-biphenyldicarboxylate unit (PBTFB40) showed a higher Young's modulus (1166.8 MPa) and tensile strength (25.8 MPa). In addition, the ultraviolet (UV) shielding ability of PBTF was greatly enhanced, and the UV transmittance at 350 nm decreased from 19.66% (PBTF) to 6.22% (PBTFB30). The average transmittance at wavelengths of 320–400 nm decreased from 26.25 to 15.20%. The gas permeability coefficient of CO2 decreased from 0.3120 barrer to 0.0321 barrer. Because the biphenyl structure was successfully introduced into PBTF, the rigidity of the chain segment was improved, and excellent thermal stability, mechanical properties and UV shielding properties were obtained. PBTFB30 has potential application in outdoor products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the seismic performance of a fully assembled framework consisting of prefabricated autoclaved lightweight concrete (ALC) wall panels with partially encased concrete T-shaped columns, a horizontal low-cycle reciprocating load test was conducted on a non-open hole ALC wall panel specimen and an ALC wall panel specimen with a rectangular opening. The influence of the opening on the structure was analyzed, and a comparative discussion is carried out in this article on hysteresis curves and skeleton curves. The experimental results showed that a wall panel opening weakened the overall integrity of the wall, resulting in stress concentration around the door opening and accelerated the damage to the infill wall. In addition, a numerical model was established for analysis, and the finite element results were cross-verified with the experimental results. Based on the experimentally validated numerical model, the influence of different opening parameters on the lateral resistance performance of the framework combination was analyzed, providing theoretical references for engineering construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this preclinical study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of transcatheter endocardial alginate hydrogel injection (TEAi) in a large animal model, utilizing the high-stiffness XDROP® alginate hydrogel in combination with the dedicated EndoWings® catheter-based system. All swine (n = 9) successfully underwent TEAi without complications. Acute results from a subset of animals (n = 5) demonstrated the ability of the catheter to access a wide range of endomyocardial areas and achieve consecutive circumferential hydrogel distribution patterns within the mid-left ventricular wall. Histological examinations at 6 months (n = 4) demonstrated that the XDROP® remained localized within the cardiac tissue. In addition, serial echocardiographic imaging showed that XDROP® had no adverse impacts on LV systolic and diastolic functions. In conclusion, this innovative combination technology has the potential to overcome the translational barriers related to alginate hydrogel delivery to the myocardium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern industrial products feature complex structures, multiple sub-structural systems, and high-reliability requirements, especially for aerospace products. For the reliability analysis (RA) of these products, even if the analysis error of single sub-structural systems is small, the one of global reliability may be very large, therefore, it is challenging to meet the reliability requirements for whole products. With regard to the high-reliability and multiple failure mode problems, this paper proposes a novel null-hypothesis approximation method (NHA) of limit surface function (LSF). It can obtain the points on LSF in the feasible domain. Then, a new RA framework is established by combining the convex point cloud model (CPCM) with NHA. CPCM can obtain the volume of the point cloud by focusing on the points on LSF in the feasible domain. Compared with traditional RA methods, the new RA framework is suitable for complex structural systems with high-reliability, and it can mitigate the analysis error that is caused by traditional RA methods that only concentrate on curvature in proximity to MPP. Finally, three numerical examples and an engineering example are used to test the performance of the proposed method. Results indicate that the proposed method has similar accuracy to the Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) for rare event probability, and the computational cost is acceptable for complex engineering problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Re-poling of unexpected partially depoled piezoelectric materials conventionally needs to be first fully depoled through annealing above their Curie temperature to revive piezoelectric performances. Here, we investigated de-poling and re-poling of Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3-Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 single crystals under electric fields at room temperature. We found that alternating current electric fields with amplitudes near the coercive field at low frequencies (<10 Hz) can be employed to successfully depolarize poled crystals at room temperature. We also demonstrated a reversible polarization switching process with a relaxor-PbTiO3 single crystal ultrasound transducer without device performance degradations. This experimental observation is supported by phase-field simulation, showing that alternating current electric fields can readily induce de-poling at room temperature, while direct current electric fields induce a transient depoled state only within an uncontrollable short period of time. The findings suggest new strategies for unprecedented in-device tailoring of the polarization states of ferroelectric materials. The authors find that alternating current electric fields with amplitudes near the coercive field at low frequencies (<10 Hz) can be employed to depolarize poled relaxor-PbTiO3 single crystals at room temperature, without conventional heat treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionizable lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are seeing widespread use in mRNA delivery, notably in SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines. However, the expansion of mRNA therapies beyond COVID-19 is impeded by the absence of LNPs tailored for diverse cell types. In this study, we present the AI-Guided Ionizable Lipid Engineering (AGILE) platform, a synergistic combination of deep learning and combinatorial chemistry. AGILE streamlines ionizable lipid development with efficient library design, in silico lipid screening via deep neural networks, and adaptability to diverse cell lines. Using AGILE, we rapidly design, synthesize, and evaluate ionizable lipids for mRNA delivery, selecting from a vast library. Intriguingly, AGILE reveals cell-specific preferences for ionizable lipids, indicating tailoring for optimal delivery to varying cell types. These highlight AGILE's potential in expediting the development of customized LNPs, addressing the complex needs of mRNA delivery in clinical practice, thereby broadening the scope and efficacy of mRNA therapies. In this work, the authors develop a platform called AGILE or AI Guided Ionizable Lipid Engineering, which streamlines ionizable lipid development. Using AGILE, they rapidly design, synthesize, and evaluate ionizable lipids for mRNA delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the issuance of the Notice on Further Optimizing the Implementation of COVID-19 Prevention and Control Measures on December 7, 2022, employees have returned to work and production after completing remote home office. In the process, employees face infection with COVID-19, which has an impact on their mentality and work behavior. Due to the lack of research on this content at present. In order to reveal the influence of employees' psychological stress on their work and life after the epidemic, this paper collects data by combining interview with open random survey and open questionnaire published by Credamo research platform, and then analyzes the relationship between employees' psychology and behavior by combining the collected interviews and questionnaires with demographic variables. The results showed that the individual characteristics of employees had an impact on work attitude and behavior. During the process of recovering from remote office to on-site office, employees will strengthen personal protection. Most employees will choose to respond to the call of the state and cooperate with the requirements of the enterprise to work seriously even if they are worried about possible infection in the work, due to the multiple factors such as improving work efficiency and work quality, social and economic pressure of life, but there will be a low-profile reaction for a period of time. At the same time, some employees choose to face the challenges with a positive attitude after feeling the economic fluctuations and enterprise crisis, showing the improvement of psychological resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pneumatic actuators exhibit significant potential across various applications owing to their compliance, yet achieving precise motion control remains challenging due to rate-dependent and asymmetric hysteresis. While the Prandtl–Ishlinskii model adeptly captures intricate hysteresis traits, its practical control usage often necessitates intricate inversions, resulting in elevated computational burden and limited accommodation of system uncertainties and model inaccuracies. This study introduces an online, rate-dependent modified generalized Prandtl–Ishlinskii model derived via the gradient descent algorithm. This model is seamlessly amalgamated with a model predictive control strategy, addressing the inversion challenge inherent in the Prandtl–Ishlinskii model. Leveraging integration with a three-layer fuzzy neural network controller, the proposed approach achieves closed-loop trajectory tracking control for a soft bending pneumatic muscle. Convergence analysis, grounded in Lyapunov theory, underscores the efficacy of the proposed model. Comprehensive real-world comparative experiments affirm the approach's effectiveness and reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of high-power-density electronic devices, interface thermal resistance has become a critical barrier for effective heat management in high-performance electronic products. Therefore, there is an urgent demand for advanced thermal interface materials (TIMs) with high cross-plane thermal conductivity and excellent compressibility to withstand increasingly complex operating conditions. To achieve this aim, a promising strategy involves vertically arranging highly thermoconductive graphene on polymers. However, with the currently available methods, achieving a balance between low interfacial thermal resistance, bidirectional high thermal conductivity, and large-scale production is challenging. Herein, we prepared a graphene framework with continuous filler structures in in-plane and cross-plane directions by bonding corrugated graphene to planar graphene paper. The interface interaction between the graphene paper framework and polymer matrix was enhanced via surface functionalization to reduce the interface thermal resistance. The resulting three-dimensional thermal framework endows the polymer composite material with a cross-plane thermal conductivity of 14.4 W·m−1·K−1 and in-plane thermal conductivity of 130 W·m−1·K−1 when the thermal filler loading is 10.1 wt%, with a thermal conductivity enhancement per 1 wt% filler loading of 831%, outperforming various graphene structures as fillers. Given its high thermal conductivity, low contact thermal resistance, and low compressive modulus, the developed highly thermoconductive composite material demonstrates superior performance in TIM testing compared with TFLEX-700, an advanced commercial TIM, effectively solving the interfacial heat transfer issues in electronic systems. This novel filler structure framework also provides a solution for achieving a balance between efficient thermal management and ease of processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main cable bent around the saddle of the suspension bridge is subjected to the wind, the vehicle, the bridge's own weight and the corrosive media. The coupling of the three loads and the environments causes the friction, the corrosion, and the fatigue (tribo-corrosion-fatigue) among the wires inside the main cable. In this paper, a wire bending tribo-corrosion-fatigue test rig was designed and developed. The effect of fatigue load on the bending friction behaviors between the cable wires in ultrapure water and 3.5% NaCl solution was explored. The tribological properties and electrochemical corrosion behaviors under different fatigue loading ranges were investigated. The tribo-corrosion-fatigue interaction between the cable wires was quantitatively characterized, and the mechanism of the interaction was analyzed. The results demonstrate that the increasing fatigue load exacerbates the coupling damage of the cable wires attributed to the enhanced interaction. The findings carry theoretical importance when assessing the main cable's deterioration and the load-bearing safety of a suspension bridge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High moisture in Chinese medicine residues (CMR) can decrease the energy efficiency of thermochemical conversion, which necessitates the pre-drying. Owing to the complex constituents and decoction, CMR may possess distinct drying characteristics. It is necessary to understand its drying behaviors, effective moisture diffusivity, and pollutant emissions for future design and optimization of an industrial-level dryer. In this study, the drying of four types of typical CMR in hot nitrogen was performed. Their condensate and exhaust gas were collected and characterized. The results indicated that their drying process was dominated by internal moisture transport mechanism with a long falling rate stage. Drying temperature influenced their drying process more greatly than N2 velocity did. Residual sum of squares, root mean square error, and coefficient of determination indicated that Weibull model demonstrated their drying process best. Their effective moisture diffusivity was in the range of 1.224 × 10–8 to 4.868 × 10–8 m2/s, while their drying activation energy ranged from 16.93 to 30.39 kJ/mol. The acidic condensate had high chemical oxygen demand and total nitrogen concentration and yet low total phosphorus concentration. The concentration of total volatile organic compounds, non-methane hydrocarbons, H2S, and NH3 in the exhaust gas met the national emission limitation, while the deodorization of exhaust gas was required to remove odor smell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sorafenib, as a first-line drug for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), could trigger ferroptosis by inhibiting cystine/glutamate transporter. However, low-level intracellular iron and insufficient activation of adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) confer impaired response to sorafenib. In this study, a unique sorafenib nanocomposite dexterously modified with Fe-Material of Institut Lavoisier (sora@Fe-MIL) was synthesized to escalate intracellular iron level and activate AMPK, further potentiating the ferroptotic effect of sorafenib. Remarkably, this strategic deployment of sora@Fe-MIL triggered an extensive demise of cancer cells, while manifesting negligible deleterious impact on normal cells. Two prominent ferroptosis biomarkers, glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), underwent pronounced downregulation, underscoring the efficacy of this strategy in inducing ferroptosis. Furthermore, the bioactivity of AMPK was considerably elevated, and its downstream targets were conspicuously inhibited by the treatment with sora@Fe-MIL. Using orthotopic HCC animal models, we observed a substantial suppression of primary in situ tumor growth, and ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing elucidated an elevated degree of ferroptosis and AMPK activation with the treatment of sora@Fe-MIL. In conclusion, we proposed that the meticulously designed strategy for secure and efficacious iron release and AMPK activation could significantly potentiate the ferroptotic impact of sorafenib, thus resuscitating its therapeutic response in HCC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Correlating dynamic structural transformation of catalysts with the surface intermediate species under operating conditions is critical for updating the understanding of structure–performance relationships. Here, we probe the electrochemical potential-dependent surface structures and adsorbed intermediates on PtRu binary alloy nanocatalysts to revisit its synergistic mechanisms for CO electrooxidation enhanced activity. In-situ spectral characteristics by using modified shell-isolated nanoparticle-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, show that in acidic solution, when the potential is positively scanned from 0.1 V to 1.5 V relative to reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), the surface of the alloy catalyst evolves from metallic PtRu to adsorbed oxygen gradually covering and accumulating on Ru sites (denoted as PtRuOx, x⩽2), forming segregated RuO2, and finally forming a three-dimensional oxide layer (denoted as 3D PtRuO4). Moreover, molecular evidence associated with periodic density functional theory calculations reveals that electronic effects promote ruthenium to become more oxidizable and oxophilic. In particular, we found here that *O and *OH at surface RuOx sites are highly efficient CO oxidation active species in comparison to the same entities adsorbed on metallic Ru sites. This work sheds light on the complex surface dynamic process of practical Pt-based binary nanocatalysts and improves the understanding of synergistic mechanism for the development of fuel cell devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demonstrating the temporal changes in PM2.5 pollution risk in regions facing serious PM2.5 pollution problems can provide scientific evidence for the air pollution control of the region. However, research on the variation of PM2.5 pollution risk on a fine temporal scale is very limited. Therefore, we developed a method for quantitative characterizing PM2.5 pollution risk based on the supply and demand of PM2.5 removal services, analyzed the time series characteristics of PM2.5 pollution risk, and explored the reasons for the temporal changes using the urban areas of Beijing as the case study area. The results show that the PM2.5 pollution risk in the urban areas of Beijing was close between 2008 and 2012, decreased by approximately 16.3% in 2016 compared to 2012, and further decreased by approximately 13.2% in 2021 compared to 2016. The temporal variation pattern of the PM2.5 pollution risk in 2016 and 2021 showed significant differences, including an increase in the number of risk-free days, a decrease in the number of heavily polluted days, and an increase in the stability of the risk day sequence. The significant reduction in risk level was mainly attributed to Beijing's air pollution control measures, supplemented by the impact of COVID-19 control measures in 2021. The results of PM2.5 pollution risk decomposition indicate that compared to the previous 2 years, the stability and predictability of the risk variation in 2016 increased, but the overall characteristics of high risk from November to February and low risk from April to September did not change. The high risk from November to February was mainly due to the demand for coal heating during this period, a decrease in PM2.5 removal service supply caused by plant leaf fall, and the common occurrence of temperature inversions in winter, which hinders the diffusion of air pollutants. This study provides a method for the analysis of PM2.5 pollution risk on fine temporal scales and may provide a reference for the PM2.5 pollution control in the urban areas of Beijing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RNA genomes from coronavirus have a length as long as 32 kilobases, and the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that caused the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has long sequences which made the analysis difficult. Over 20,000 sequences have been submitted to GISAID, and the number is growing fast each day which increased the difficulties in data analysis; however, genome sequence analysis is critical in understanding the COVID-19 and preventing the spread of the disease. In this study, a principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to the aligned large size genome sequences and the numerical numbers were converted from the letters using a published method designed for protein sequence cluster analysis. The study initialized with a shortlist sequence testing, and the PCA score plot showed high tolerance with low-quality data, and the major virus sequences from humans were separated from the pangolin and bat samples. Our study also successfully built a model for a large number of sequences with more than 20,000 sequences which indicate the potential mutation directions for the COVID-19 which can be served as a pretreatment method for detailed studies such as decision tree-based methods. In summary, our study provided a fast tool to analyze the high-volume genome sequences such as the COVID-19 and successfully applied to more than 20,000 sequences which may provide mutation direction information for COVID-19 studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhodamine B (RhB), an alkaline cationic organic dye, poses a significant threat to natural water environments. In this investigation, composites of Co3O4 and BiOBr/BiOI were synthesized and evaluated for degradation of RhB under visible light irradiation. The photocatalyst (CBB-2) with a 10wt% Co3O4 composite exhibited superior degradation efficiency, achieving 99.5% within 80 min and maintaining robust stability over four cycles. Meanwhile, after 90 min of light exposure, the mineralization rate of RhB reached 57.23%. A suite of characterization techniques verified the successful synthesis of the dual type-II heterojunction in the composite catalyst and the reinforced interactions among its components, thereby enhancing charge separation efficiency and photoresponsive performance. Free radical quenching experiments elucidated the critical role of •O2- and h+ as radicals in the photocatalytic reaction process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rosavin, a phenylpropanoid glycoside, is the specific index component and one of the main active components of Rhodiola rosea. Currently, there are few studies describing the antiaging effect of rosavin, and most of them are mainly based on in vitro antioxidant research. Our study aimed to investigate the antiaging activities and mechanisms of rosavin in Caenorhabditis elegans. Using Caenorhabditis elegans as the model, the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans under various stressors (heat and juglone) and normal conditions was studied, and the antioxidant activities of rosavin were discussed. To discover the underlying mechanisms, we analyzed daf-16 nuclear localization, the expression of the sod-3p::GFP fusion protein, mRNA levels, and loss-of-function mutants of IIS-associated genes. The results showed that rosavin significantly improved the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans under stress and normal conditions. Rosavin can increase the expression and activity of antioxidant enzymes and suppress the generation of malondialdehyde and ROS in nematodes. Additionally, it promotes the nuclear localization of daf-16 and improves the expression of the sod-3 gene in Caenorhabditis elegans. The data revealed that rosavin activated the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway by downregulating the upstream components daf-2 and age-1. In summary, these results verify that rosavin could increase the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans through the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shale oil development in Ordos Basin, China, primarily relies on the displacement of crude oil during the post-fracturing shut-in stage (PFSIS) of horizontal wells. Reservoir wettability significantly influences the shut-in duration and even the development approach. However, due to strong heterogeneity and super tight characteristics, the reservoir usually shows an mixed wettability, and it was usually hard to differentiate the wettability in different pore sizes. With this in mind, this study focuses on core samples from shale oil reservoir in the Longdong region of the Ordos basin to quantitatively analyze the reservoir wettability. Amott method combined with nuclear magnetic resonance is adopted in the paper to meed this end. And the optimal post-fracturing shut-in duration for Huachi and Heshui areas in the Longdong region are determined based on both wettability and field practice analysis as well as numerical simulations. Qualitative wettability evaluation reveals that the reservoir in the Longdong region is weakly oil-wet (oil-wet pores account for 58.9% and water-wet pores for 41.1%), and that larger pores are more water-wet, while smaller pores are more oil-wet. Field practice observes a noticeable two-stage decline in wellhead pressure, with pressure drop rates and water content decline rates following the order of neutral reservoir > weakly oil-wet reservoir > oil-wet reservoir during the post-fracturing shut-in stage. Numerical simulations indicate that the determination of the optimal post-fracturing shut-in duration for horizontal wells should consider reservoir properties, wettability, and injection volume. The final optimal shut-in durations for the Huachi and Heshui areas in the reservoir are determined to be 36 days and 43 days, respectively. Our study qualitatively distinguishes the wettability in different pores sizes and thus determines reasonable post-fracturing shut-in durations in different areas in Longdong region. The research has major implication for building a realistic method of wettability analysis in shale or tight oil reservoir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) communications are highly significant in military and civilian wireless communications because of its ability to resist narrowband interference, multipath interference and high security. However, under low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), the detection of DSSS signals becomes very difficult under non-cooperative communication. Therefore, in order to improve the detection performance of DSSS signals in fading channels with low SNR, a DSSS signal detection method based on an eigenvalues local binary patterns residual network (EL-ResNet) is proposed with an unknown spread spectrum sequence. Firstly, according to the characteristics of DSSS signals, the eigenvalues of the sample covariance matrix of the DSSS signals are used to construct the signal eigenvalue histograms. This method uses the strong contrast of eigenvalue energy and gradient change to enlarge the discrimination of images with or without DSSS signals. Then, EL-ResNet is built to distinguish between eigenvalue histograms with or without DSSS signals. The local binary patterns (LBPs) are introduced to constrain the loss function of the network, increasing the differentiation of the two types of eigenvalue histograms, and improving the DSSS signal detection performance of the network. Finally, the experimental results show that the performance of the DSSS signal detection method based on EL-ResNet is larger than fast Fourier transform (FFT), FFT-deep neural network (FFT-DNN), covariance matrix-convolutional neural network (CM-CNN) detection methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The data on myocardial perfusion of the percutaneous intramyocardial septal radiofrequency ablation (PIMSRA) for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HOCM) are still lacking, although PIMSRA have been proved to be of great safety and efficacy. The aim of this study was to quantitatively analyze the changes in myocardial perfusion after PIMSRA using myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE). 27 HOCM patients treated with PIMSRA were retrospectively analyzed, and their echocardiographic parameters and perfusion parameters of MCE were collected before and 12 months after PIMSRA. A reperfusion curve was used to quantify microvascular blood volume (A), microvascular flux rate (β), and microvascular blood flow (MBF) of each segment. Then the value difference (Δ) of parameters between post- and pre-operation were calculated. Finally, the correlation between the changes in MBF and in each echocardiographic parameter was analyzed. (1) Compared with baseline, the global A, β and MBF were significantly increased in HOCM patients after PIMSRA (all P < 0.001). The β, MBF were increased in the interventricular septum (P < 0.001, respectively), and the A, β, MBF were increased in the left ventricular wall (all P < 0.001). (2) Correlation analysis showed that the ΔMBF of interventricular septum was mainly negatively correlated with the maximum interventricular septum thickness (ΔIVSTmax, r=-0.670, P < 0.001), mean interventricular septum thickness (ΔIVSTmean, r=-0.690, P < 0.001), and left ventricular mass index (ΔLVMI, r=-0.774, P < 0.001), while the ΔMBF of left ventricular wall was positively correlated with left ventricular end-diastolic volume index (ΔLVEDVI, r = 0.621, P = 0.001) and stroke volume index (ΔSVI, r = 0.810, P < 0.001). Myocardial perfusion was improved at both interventricular septum and ventricular wall in HOCM patients after PIMSRA. MCE can provide a new dimension for the efficacy evaluation to PIMSRA procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our research endeavors are directed towards unraveling the stem cell characteristics of lower-grade glioma patients, with the ultimate goal of formulating personalized treatment strategies. We computed enrichment stemness scores and performed consensus clustering to categorize phenotypes. Subsequently, we constructed a prognostic risk model using weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA), random survival forest regression analysis as well as full subset regression analysis. To validate the expression differences of key genes, we employed experimental methods such as quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) and assessed cell line proliferation, migration, and invasion. Three subtypes were assigned to patients diagnosed with LGG. Notably, Cluster 2 (C2), exhibiting the poorest survival outcomes, manifested characteristics indicative of the subtype characterized by immunosuppression. This was marked by elevated levels of M1 macrophages, activated mast cells, along with higher immune and stromal scores. Four hub genes—CDCA8, ORC1, DLGAP5, and SMC4—were identified and validated through cell experiments and qPCR. Subsequently, these validated genes were utilized to construct a stemness risk signature. Which revealed that Lower-Grade Glioma (LGG) patients with lower scores were more inclined to demonstrate favorable responses to immune therapy. Our study illuminates the stemness characteristics of gliomas, which lays the foundation for developing therapeutic approaches targeting CSCs and enhancing the efficacy of current immunotherapies. By identifying the stemness subtype and its correlation with prognosis and TME patterns in glioma patients, we aim to advance the development of personalized treatments, enhancing the ability to predict and improve overall patient prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]