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Metal‐free synthesis of heterocycles is highly sought after in the pharmaceutical industry and has garnered widespread attention due to eliminating the need to remove trace metal catalysts from the reaction. We report a radical 6‐endo addition method for pyridine synthesis from cyclopropylamides and alkynes under metal‐free conditions. Various terminal and substituted alkynes are inserted as C2 units into cyclopropylamides to synthesize versatile pyridines with 57 examples. Mechanistic investigations and computational studies indicate the unprecedented 6‐endo‐trig addition of vinyl radicals to the imine nitrogen atom rather than the conventional 5‐exo‐trig addition to the imine carbon atom, in which the hypervalent iodine(III) plays a critical role. This reaction easily scales up with excellent functional group compatibility and suits the late‐stage pyridine installation on complex molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent years have witnessed notable advancements in medical image segmentation through deep convolutional neural networks. However, a notable limitation lies in the local operation of convolution, which hinders the ability to fully exploit global semantic information. To overcome the challenges prevalent in medical image segmentation, the feature ensemble network with multi‐scale atrous transformer is proposed. At the core of the approach lies the multi‐scale contextual integration module, which is based on the multi‐scale atrous transformer and facilitates contextual integration of multi‐level features. To extract discriminative fine‐grained features of the target region, a hybrid attention mechanism that synergistically combines spatial and channel attention, thereby sharpening the model's focus on crucial target information within high‐level features, is incorporated. Additionally, the channel‐aware feature reconstruction module is introduced as an innovative component engineered to tackle feature similarity issues across different categories. This module performs feature reconstruction based on channel perception, effectively widening the feature gap between categories and enhancing the segmentation capability. It is worth mentioning that our approach surpasses the state‐of‐the‐art method using three benchmark datasets in medical image segmentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We recently encountered a Rhnull phenotype proband within one family in the Chinese population. Rhnull is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by the absence of the Rh antigens on the erythrocyte membrane, resulting in chronic hemolytic anemia. This study described the serological and molecular analysis of a Chinese Rhnull proband and his immediate family. Methods: Red blood cells antigen phenotyping and antibody screening/identification were conducted. RHD, RHCE, and RHAG were analyzed using genomic DNA by polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis. Results: Serologic tests showed a D–C–E–c–e– phenotype in the proband associated with the suspicion of anti‐Rh29 (titer 16). Molecular analyses showed a new mutation (c.406dupA) in exon 3 of RHAG. This duplication introduced a reading frameshift (p.Thr136AsnfsTer21). The RHAG mutation was found in the homozygous state for the proband and heterozygous state for his parents. Conclusion: We identified a novel RHAG mutation resulting in the Rhnull phenotype of the regulator type. Inheritance of the novel allele was shown by family study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we establish discrete Hardy–Rellich inequalities on N$\mathbb {N}$ with Δℓ2$\Delta ^\frac{\ell }{2}$ and optimal constants, for any ℓ⩾1$\ell \geqslant 1$. As far as we are aware, these sharp inequalities are new for ℓ⩾3$\ell \geqslant 3$. Our approach is to use weighted equalities to get some sharp Hardy inequalities using shifting weights, then to settle the higher order cases by iteration. We provide also a new Hardy–Leray–type inequality on N${\mathbb {N}}$ with the same constant as the continuous setting. Furthermore, the main ideas work also for general graphs or the ℓp$\ell ^p$ setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of a novel and reliable surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate for the surface corrosion analysis of bronze relics is an attractive research topic in cultural relic protection. A high‐performance SERS substrate was developed in the current investigation using Ag/ZIF‐8/Polyacrylonitrile (Ag/ZIF‐8/PAN) nanofibers. Silver nanoparticles were grown in situ by zeolite imidazolate framework‐8 (ZIF‐8) nanoparticles, and the substrate was examined in the surface corrosion analysis of bronze relics. In situ, growth of silver nanoparticles was ensured by the porous structure and active centers on ZIF‐8, coated on PAN nanofibers. Simultaneously, the adsorption of harmful rust‐alkaline copper chloride was enhanced on the surface of bronze relics. The extensive metal network was perturbed by the deposits, which substantially increased the intensity of the Raman characteristic peaks of the test objects. The signal strength of alkaline copper chloride at 118 cm−1 on the bronze surface increased from 1094 to 20,790. The exceptional SERS performance of silver nanoparticles with sharp edges demonstrates that the synergistic effect of ZIF‐8 nanoparticles and PAN nanofibers offers a considerable number of Raman‐enhanced hot spots. These results indicate that MOF‐based nanostructures offer a novel approach to enhancing the morphology of silver nanoparticles and expanding their potential applications in the field of cultural relic protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the asynchronous control of delayed switched neural networks via a dynamic event‐triggering mechanism (DETM) and a merging signal scheme. Firstly, an improved DETM is proposed through adding an exponential decaying term into the triggering condition, which is proved to have a larger lower bound by comparison with the static event‐triggering mechanism (SETM) and the existing DETM. Next, a merging signal is constructed by introducing a time‐varying delay to combine the system switching signal with the controller switching signal, which is convenient to deal with the synchronous and asynchronous switching in a unified framework. Then, the closed‐loop system which integrates the proposed DETM with the merging signal is formulated. Moreover, by constructing multiple time‐dependent Lyapunov functionals, sufficient conditions which ensure the asymptotical stability of the resulting closed‐loop system are derived, and a design algorithm for the feedback controller is designed consequently. Finally, the validity and superiority of the proposed results are demonstrated by numerical examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many gaps remain in our understanding of the immune and molecular characteristics that underlie activated phosphoinositide 3‐kinase delta syndrome (APDS). Methods: We performed RNA sequencing of peripheral blood leukocytes obtained from a child with APDS and his healthy parents and deconvoluted bulk transcriptional data to assess immune cell status. Results: Pathway enrichment analysis suggested signaling pathways enriched in virus infection as well as the PI3K, mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK), natural killer cell‐mediated cytotoxicity, and nucleotide‐binding oligomerization domain (NOD)‐like receptor signaling pathways. The proportion of B cells memory, T cells CD4 memory resting and dendritic cells activated were reduced, whereas B cells naïve, T cells CD8, NK cells resting, monocytes and macrophages M2 were increased in the child. Top 10 hub genes were screened and showed moderate to strong relatedness with immune cell proportions. Conclusion: Deconvolution of bulk RNA sequencing to assess immune cells status can provide further insight into the alterations in immunological features underlying APDS and other rare diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the exponential stabilization of an asynchronously switched linear system with constant time‐delay is studied by using continuous event‐triggered control. Aiming at reducing the communication and guaranteeing a satisfactory system performance, an observer‐based event‐triggered scheme is proposed with the introduction of an upper bound for the trigger interval. The cases of no trigger and multiple triggers within an interval of system switching are considered, respectively. Taking the system switching interval as a reference interval, the above two cases are modeled to establish a unified augmented closed‐loop system. A set of multiple Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functionals (LKFs) is constructed, the exponential stabilization of the switched system is studied based on the average dwell time (ADT) method and the constructed LKFs. Meanwhile, a LMI‐based design algorithm for the observer gain and the controller gain is given, respectively. In addition, the minimum lower bound of the trigger interval is determined to exclude the Zeno behavior. Two simulation examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioprinted scaffolds have broad applications in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. 3D bioprinting can prepare complex structures and shapes, and the fabrication of high‐performance bioinks is the key to technological progress. This study selected gelatin, chitosan quaternary ammonium salt, and sodium cromoglycate as substrates to design and characterize two groups of hydrogel materials for bioprinting. Two hydrogels were prepared by extrusion bioprinting: Gel/HACC/DSCG hydrogel and GelMA/HACC‐DSCG hydrogel. The physicochemical and liquid crystal properties of hydrogels were characterized. The effect of liquid crystal on cell proliferation and orientation was evaluated by culturing human umbilical vein endothelial cells. The Gel/HACC/DSCG hydrogels showed inducibility to orientated cell growth. The GelMA/HACC‐DSCG hydrogels had lesser damaged cells and stronger mechanical strength and stability in printing, however, the liquid crystal properties were weakened, and the effect on cell growth orientation was not significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK) signaling is a master regulator of cell behavior, life, and fate. Although ERK pathway is shown to be involved in T‐cell activation, little is known about its role in the development of allograft rejection. Here, it is reported that ERK signaling pathway is activated in allograft‐infiltrating T cells. On the basis of surface plasmon resonance technology, lycorine is identified as an ERK‐specific inhibitor. ERK inhibition by lycorine significantly prolongs allograft survival in a stringent mouse cardiac allotransplant model. As compared to untreated mice, lycorine‐treated mice show a decrease in the number and activation of allograft‐infiltrated T cells. It is further confirmed that lycorine‐treated mouse and human T cells are less responsive to stimulation in vitro, as indicated by their low proliferative rates and decreased cytokine production. Mechanistic studies reveal that T cells treated with lycorine exhibit mitochondrial dysfunction, resulting in metabolic reprogramming upon stimulation. Transcriptome analysis of lycorine‐treated T cells reveals an enrichment in a series of downregulated terms related to immune response, the mitogen‐activated protein kinase cascade, and metabolic processes. These findings offer new insights into the development of immunosuppressive agents by targeting the ERK pathway involved in T‐cell activation and allograft rejection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: No systematic study has measured the incidence of adverse reactions (ARs) to blood donation at the national level in China before 2019. The objective of this study was to establish an effective reporting system to collect information on ARs to blood donation in China. Materials and Methods: The status of donor haemovigilance (DHV) in blood collection facilities in China was evaluated, and an online DHV system was established to collect data on ARs to blood donation in July 2019. The definitions of ARs were based on the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) standards. The prevalence and data quality of ARs from 2019 to 2021 were analysed. Results: A standard online reporting system has been established for ARs to blood donation. In total, 61, 62 and 81 participating sites were included in this pilot study in 2019, 2020 and 2021, respectively. From July 2019 to December 2021, 21,502 cases of whole‐blood‐related ARs and 1114 cases of apheresis platelet‐related ARs were reported, with an incidence of 3.8‰ and 2.2‰, respectively. Data completeness for key reporting elements improved from 41.7% (15/36) in 2019 to 74.4% (29/39) in 2020. Data quality analysis for the year 2021 yielded similar results as for 2020. Conclusion: The construction and continuous improvement of the blood donor safety monitoring system prompted the establishment of the DHV system. Improvements have been made to the DHV system in China, with a significant increase in sentinels and higher data quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Raman Deuterium Isotope Probing (Raman‐DIP) method was applied to study the response of human breast adenocarcinoma cells (the MCF‐7 cells) to the GSK2334470 drug in vitro. The cytotoxicity level of the GSK2334470 to the MCF‐7 cell evaluated by the Raman‐DIP method and CCK‐8 assay was highly matched, as both methods suggested that 10 μM was the cytotoxic concentration for inhibition of cell regeneration. In additional, the relationship between drug dose and the cell response (RSI) were fitted, showing that our experimental data were consistent with the dose–response relationship, and the Raman‐DIP could be applied for sensitivity testing of targeted anti‐cancer drugs. The variation of the bio‐macromolecules reflected by the Raman signal in the fingerprint range was closely related to the GSK2334470 concentration. The Raman‐DIP method can monitor the inhibition of the GSK2334470 to the MCF‐7 cell proliferation with high accuracy as the CCK‐8 assay. The combination of Raman‐DIP results and fingerprint range information can effectively improve the evaluation, serving as a supplement for the existing anti‐cancer drug sensibility assay. This method is valuable to reveal the intracellular macromolecules changes related to the drug treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acetylation of extracellular proteins has been observed in many independent studies where particular attention has been given to the dynamic change of the microenvironmental protein post‐translational modifications. While extracellular proteins can be acetylated within the cells prior to their micro‐environmental distribution, their deacetylation in a tumor microenvironment remains elusive. Here it is described that multiple acetyl‐vWA domain‐carrying proteins including integrin β3 (ITGB3) and collagen 6A (COL6A) are deacetylated by Sirtuin family member SIRT2 in extracellular space. SIRT2 is secreted by macrophages following toll‐like receptor (TLR) family member TLR4 or TLR2 activation. TLR‐activated SIRT2 undergoes autophagosome translocation. TNF receptor associated factor 6 (TRAF6)‐mediated autophagy flux in response to TLR2/4 activation can then pump SIRT2 into the microenvironment to function as extracellular SIRT2 (eSIRT2). In the extracellular space, eSIRT2 deacetylates ITGB3 on aK416 involved in cell attachment and migration, leading to a promotion of cancer cell metastasis. In lung cancer patients, significantly increased serum eSIRT2 level correlates with dramatically decreased ITGB3‐K416 acetylation in cancer cells. Thus, the extracellular space is a subcellular organelle‐like arena where eSIRT2 promotes cancer cell metastasis via catalyzing extracellular protein deacetylation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pretreatment individualized assessment of tumor response to induction chemotherapy (ICT) is a need in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LANPC). Imaging method plays vital role in tumor response assessment. However, powerful imaging method for ICT response prediction in LANPC is insufficient. Purpose: To establish a robust model for predicting response to ICT in LANPC by comparing the performance of back propagation neural network (BPNN) model with logistic regression model. Study Type: Retrospective. Population: A total of 286 LANPC patients were assigned to training (N = 200, 43.8 ± 10.9 years, 152 male) and testing (N = 86, 43.5 ± 11.3 years, 57 male) cohorts. Field Strength/Sequence: T2‐weighted imaging, contrast enhanced‐T1‐weighted imaging using fast spin echo sequences at 1.5 T scanner. Assessment: Predictive clinical factors were selected by univariate and multivariate logistic models. Radiomic features were screened by interclass correlation coefficient, single‐factor analysis, and the least absolute shrinkage selection operator (LASSO). Four models based on clinical factors (Modelclinic), radiomics features (Modelradiomics), and clinical factors + radiomics signatures using logistic (Modelcombined), and BPNN (ModelBPNN) methods were established, and model performances were compared. Statistical Tests: Student's t‐test, Mann–Whitney U‐test, and Chi‐square test or Fisher's exact test were used for comparison analysis. The performance of models was assessed by area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) and Delong test. P < 0.05 was considered statistical significance. Results: Three significant clinical factors: Epstein–Barr virus‐DNA (odds ratio [OR] = 1.748; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.969–3.171), sex (OR = 2.883; 95% CI, 1.364–6.745), and T stage (OR = 1.853; 95% CI, 1.201–3.052) were identified via univariate and multivariate logistic models. Twenty‐four radiomics features were associated with treatment response. ModelBPNN demonstrated the highest performance among Modelcombined, Modelradiomics, and Modelclinic (AUC of training cohort: 0.917 vs. 0.808 vs. 0.795 vs. 0.707; testing cohort: 0.897 vs. 0.755 vs. 0.698 vs. 0.695). Conclusion: A machine‐learning approach using BPNN showed better ability than logistic regression model to predict tumor response to ICT in LANPC. Evidence Level: 3 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adult males living in a one‐male multi‐female social group are expected to try to monopolize copulations with resident females to increase reproductive fitness. Gibbons have traditionally been described as living in monogamous groups, with the sole resident adult male assumed to sire all of the group's offspring. Here, we used microsatellite analyses and behavioral observations to examine rates of extra‐group paternity (EGP) over 16 years in a population of crested gibbons (Nomascus concolor) that form stable and long‐term one‐male two‐female social units. Forty percent of offspring (N = 14) were sired by extra‐group males. To understand this high level of EGP, we tested whether inbreeding avoidance was related to EGP. Females who engaged in EGP did not show larger pairwise relatedness with their resident male compared to females who did not engage in EGP. Nevertheless, the standardized heterozygosity of EGP offspring was significantly higher than for offspring sired by the group's resident male. These results provide partial support for the inbreeding avoidance hypothesis. It appears that resident male crested gibbons are unable to monopolize resident females' matings. Our results indicate that long‐term social partners are often distinct from sexual partners in this population. Clearly, the breeding system of crested gibbons is more flexible than previously thought, indicating a need for integrating long‐term behavioral data and genetic research to re‐evaluate gibbon social and sexual relationships derived from concepts of monogamy and pair‐bonding. Highlights: First study of reproductive strategies in a gibbon population with stable one‐male two‐female groups.Confirmed unexpectedly high rate of extra‐group paternity.Females engaged in extra‐group paternity to increase offspring heterozygosity.High flexibility in gibbon breeding systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of cost‐effective and long‐life rechargeable aluminium ion batteries (AIBs) shows promising prospects for sustainable energy storage applications. Here, we report a heteroatom π‐conjugated polymer featuring synergistic C=O and C=N active centres as a new cathode material in AIBs using a low‐cost AlCl3/urea electrolyte. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal the fused C=N sites in the polymer not only benefit good π‐conjugation but also enhance the redox reactivity of C=O sites, which enables the polymer to accommodate four AlCl2(urea)2+ per repeating unit. By integrating the polymer with carbon nanotubes, the hybrid cathode exhibits a high discharge capacity and a long cycle life (295 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 and 85 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1 over 4000 cycles). The achieved specific energy density of 413 Wh kg−1 outperforms most Al–organic batteries reported to date. The synergistic redox‐active sites strategy sheds light on the rational design of organic electrode materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This brief focuses on the local Mittag–Leffler stabilisation of fractional‐order neural networks via quantised control with input saturation. First, a refined sector condition is put forward, which can deal with the problem of the simultaneous existence of quantiser effect and actuator constraint. With the aid of refined sector condition, theoretical analysis on the local Mittag–Leffler stabilisation of the resulting closed‐loop systems is carried out by using some inequality techniques on Mittag–Leffler function and fractional‐order Lyapunov theory. In addition, two convex optimisation schemes are respectively developed to minimise the cost of actuators and to enlarge the admissible initial region. Finally, a three‐neurons fractional‐order neural networks is applied to illustrate the effectiveness of the derived results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, aperiodic sampled‐data controller design problem is solved for stochastic Markovian jump systems (SMJSs). By introducing mode‐dependent one‐sided loop‐based Lyapunov functional and mode‐dependent two‐sided loop‐based Lyapunov functional and using Itô formula, two different stochastic stability conditions for SMJSs under aperiodic sampled‐data control are presented, respectively. Based on these two stability conditions, corresponding mode‐dependent aperiodic sampled‐data controller is designed for SMJSs. Finally, practical aircraft model are applied to illustrate the effectiveness of the method. It is also shown that mode‐dependent two‐sided loop‐based Lyapunov functional can obtain a larger upper bound of the sampling interval than mode‐dependent one‐sided loop‐based Lyapunov functional. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non‐reducing oligosaccharides with α‐1,1‐ linkages possess unique physicochemical properties, including emulsion stabilizing, moisturizing, pH, and thermal stability. Owing to their non‐reducing quality, they generate fewer colors and flavors when heated through participation in the Maillard reaction. In this study, an enzymatic preparation of non‐reducing maltooligosyl trehalose from maltodextrins, and 3‐O‐α‐d‐glucosyl trehalose from nigerooligosaccharides (NOS) is developed using maltooligosyltrehalose synthase (MTSase). The non‐reducing oligosaccharides are analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the decrease in reducing sugar is determined by 3, 5‐dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) method. The results showed that maltooligosyl trehalose is prepared from commercial maltodextrin, and the loading of 500 U g–1 maltodextrin of MTSase helps ensure that a large proportion of maltotriose is transformed into the glucosyl trehalose. In addition, the reducing power dropped between 61–78%, which indicates that MTSase has a high application potential in the preparation of maltooligosyl trehalose. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first report using MTSase to directly prepare maltooligosyl trehalose from commercial maltodextrin. However, 3‐O‐α‐d‐glucosyl trehalose is barely detected through HPLC. Therefore, the approach to obtain maltooligosyl trehalose from maltodextrins is achieved, while the attempt to obtain 3‐O‐α‐d‐glucosyl trehalose from NOS is not successful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The benefit of Se supplementation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been tested in clinical trials, but results remain inconclusive. The objective of this study was to specifically investigate the potential benefit of supranutritional Se by examining human samples from an area with supranutritional Se intake and testing a mouse model of RA. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from RA patients (N = 57) and healthy controls (HC, N = 71) from an area of supranutritional Se intake (Enshi, Hubei, China) were analysed by flow cytometry. Serum cytokine and Se levels were measured by cytometric beads array (CBA) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS), respectively. With sufficient or supranutritional selenium intake, mice were induced with collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA) and examined for disease activity and immunopathology. The influence of Se supplementation in the generation of RANKL‐expressing osteoclastogenic CD4+ T cells was investigated by in vitro assays. Results: In Enshi city, HC showed the above‐normal concentrations of serum Se concentrations while RA patients were enriched in the normal range (70–150 ng mL−1) or below. RA patients with higher Se levels demonstrated milder disease and lower levels of C‐reactive protein, IL‐6, RANKL and Th17 cells. In the mouse CIA model, supranutritional Se supplementation delayed disease onset, ameliorated joint pathology and reduced CD4+CD44+RANKL+ T cells. Se supplementation could suppress RANKL expression in cultured mouse Th17 cells. Conclusion: Supranutritional Se suppresses RANKL‐expressing osteoclastogenic CD4+ T cells and could be beneficial to RA, which warrants formal testing in randomised clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, passivity‐based sampled‐data control for Markovian jump systems (MJSs) with stochastic sampling is conducted by virtue of the looped‐functional approach. First, based on the input delay approach, the MJS under stochastic sampled‐data control is modeled as a time‐varying continuous‐time system with a random variable. Second, a time‐dependent looped‐functional is developed, which only requires its positive definiteness at the sampling instants and takes full use of the state information. Moreover, a free‐matrix‐based integral inequality is used to derive some less conservative passivity conditions expressed in terms of linear matrix inequality (LMIs). Meanwhile, a design algorithm for the mode‐dependent stochastic sampled‐data controller is provided. A numerical example is given to demonstrate the validity and superiority of the proposed analysis method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, bandgap of the two‐dimensional (2D) TiO2, a transition‐metal oxide, was obtained by the diffusion Monte Carlo (DMC) method for the first time. This genuine 2D monolayer material that includes transition elements has been proven to be very challenging for reliable prediction of the bandgap. In order to improve the description of correlation effects, the DMC method was used to calculate the bandgaps of 2D‐TiO2 in α‐ and β‐phases, and the obtained results were compared with the density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The DMC results obtained from the infinite periodic superlattices predict ∆f of the 2D‐TiO2 in the α‐ and β‐phases to be about 5.54(4) and 5.69(2) eV, respectively, indicating that the available DFT results significantly underestimated the bandgaps of 2D‐TiO2 nanosheets. Considering the recently reported linear scaling relationship between the bandgap ∆f and the exciton binding energy ∆e of 2D semiconductors, (∆e ≈ 0.28∆f), the optical bandgap ∆o was further predicted to be ~3.99 eV for the α‐phase TiO2, and it is consistent with the experimental value (~3.84 eV). The successful application of the quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) method on the 2D‐TiO2 systems implies that QMC may serve as a feasible tool to investigate the electronic properties of the freestanding 2D transition‐metal oxides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Mouse incisor mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have self‐renewal ability and osteo/odontogenic differentiation potential. However, the mechanism controlling the continuous self‐renewal and osteo/odontogenic differentiation of mouse incisor MSCs remains unclear. Special AT‐rich sequence‐binding protein 2 (SATB2) positively regulates craniofacial patterning, bone development and regeneration, whereas SATB2 deletion or mutation leads to craniomaxillofacial dysplasia and delayed tooth and root development, similar to bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) loss‐of‐function phenotypes. However, the detailed mechanism underlying the SATB2 role in odontogenic MSCs is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate whether SATB2 can regulate self‐renewal and osteo/odontogenic differentiation of odontogenic MSCs. Materials and methods: Satb2 expression was detected in the rapidly renewing mouse incisor mesenchyme by immunofluorescence staining, quantitative RT‐PCR and Western blot analysis. Ad‐Satb2 and Ad‐siSatb2 were constructed to evaluate the effect of Satb2 on odontogenic MSCs self‐renewal and osteo/odontogenic differentiation properties and the potential role of Satb2 with the osteogenic factor bone morphogenetic protein 9 (Bmp9) in vitro and in vivo. Results: Satb2 was found to be expressed in mesenchymal cells and pre‐odontoblasts/odontoblasts. We further discovered that Satb2 effectively enhances mouse incisor MSCs self‐renewal. Satb2 acted synergistically with the potent osteogenic factor Bmp9 in inducing osteo/odontogenic differentiation of mouse incisor MSCs in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions: Satb2 promotes self‐renewal and osteo/odontogenic differentiation of mouse incisor MSCs. Thus, Satb2 can cooperate with Bmp9 as a new efficacious bio‐factor for osteogenic regeneration and tooth engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local oxidation lithography has the potential for patterning proteins on conductive substrates such as silicon with nanometer accuracy, guided by and extending the nanoscale architectures found in native bioenergetic membranes. Such membranes foster energy and electron transfers between two or more types of protein complex, so the potential of this lithographic technique is investigated for copatterning multiple types of protein complex. Composite patterns consisting of light‐harvesting 2 (LH2) and reaction center‐light‐harvesting 1‐PufX (RCLH1) complexes purified from Rhodobacter (Rba.) sphaeroides, and light‐harvesting complex II (LHCII) purified from spinach, are fabricated. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images demonstrate the successful sequential deposition of single‐molecule layers of RCLH1 and LH2 molecules. In the case of LHCII, a mixture of single‐layer and multilayer patterns is found on the silicon substrate. Experimental conditions are established for the most efficient substrate surface modification and for protein immobilization. Spectral imaging and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) show that the immobilized photosynthetic complexes retain their native light‐harvesting and energy transfer functions, and provide evidence for excitation energy transfer from LH2 to RCLH1. Local oxidation lithography has the capacity to pattern proteins singly, or in small domains, for fabricating bioinspired nanoscale architectures for biosensors and solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing demand for high‐performance rechargeable energy storage systems has stimulated the exploration of advanced electrode materials. MXenes are a class of two‐dimensional (2D) inorganic transition metal carbides/nitrides, which are promising candidates in electrodes. The layered structure facilitates ion insertion/extraction, which offers promising electrochemical characteristics for electrochemical energy storage. However, the low capacity accompanied by sluggish electrochemical kinetics of electrodes as well as interlayer restacking and collapse significantly impede their practical applications. Recently, interlayer space engineering of MXenes by different chemical strategies have been widely investigated in designing functional materials for various applications. In this review, an overview of the most recent progress of 2D MXenes engineering by intercalation, surface modification as well as heterostructures design is provided. Moreover, some critical challenges in future research on MXene‐based electrodes have been also proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In this article, the exponential stabilization for a class of switched nonlinear delayed systems is addressed via aperiodic sampled‐data control with asynchronous switching. A new type of looped multiple Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functionals (LKFs) is developed, which depend both on the system modes and on the controller modes. Moreover, the constructed looped LKFs are discontinuous and relax restrictions on positive definiteness that is only required at the sampling instants and at the switching instants of system modes. Based on the looped multiple LKFs, the average dwell time approach, and some estimation techniques, a less conservative stability criterion is derived to ensure the exponential stability of the closed‐loop system. Furthermore, by decoupling the matrix inequalities in the stability criterion, a LMI‐based design algorithm for the control gains is developed, which gets further refined and becomes more flexible due to the introduction of the two adjustable parameters. Two simulation examples are finally provided to validate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed functionals and the obtained results over some existing ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deregulated glucose and lipid metabolism are the primary underlying manifestations associated with diabetes mellitus (DM) and non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study aims to investigate the role of Gm10804, a novel long non‐coding RNA (lncRNA), in regulating hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism in DM complicated with NAFLD (DM‐NAFLD). Mouse primary hepatocytes exposed to high glucose (HG) were used as a cell model. A mouse DM‐NAFLD model was established by high‐energy feeding combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. The results showed that Gm10804 expression was upregulated in HG‐treated hepatocytes and livers from DM‐NAFLD mice. Results in hepatocytes in vitro demonstrated that Gm10804 overexpression aggravated, whereas Gm10804 silencing abrogated HG‐induced increase in intracellular triglyceride (TG) content, lipid accumulation and expression of hepatic lipogenic proteins (sterol regulatory element‐binding proteins 1‐c [SREBP‐1c] and fatty acid synthase [FAS]) and enzymes for gluconeogenesis (phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase [PEPCK] and glucose‐6‐phosphatase [G6Pase]). Further in vivo assays showed that lentivirus‐mediated hepatic knockdown of Gm10804 alleviated hepatic steatosis and lipid accumulation, and decreased expression of hepatic PEPCK, G6Pase, SREBP‐1c and FAS in DM‐NAFLD mice. In summary, Gm10804 knockdown attenuates hepatic lipid accumulation by ameliorating disorders of hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism in DM‐NAFLD. Significance of the study: We first discovered that Gm10804 knockdown attenuated hepatic lipid accumulation by ameliorating disorders of hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism in DM‐NAFLD. These results help to understand the pathogenesis and development of DM‐NAFLD and provide some clues for further understanding the regulation of lncRNAs in glucose and lipid metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Both the complement and the coagulation systems play important roles in the development of hyperacute or acute antibody‐mediated xenograft rejection. Atrase B is a novel metalloproteinase isolated from the venom of Naja atra. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of atrase B on complement activation and coagulation, as well as the effect on xenograft survival in a discordant xenotransplantation model. Methods: The in vitro anti‐complement activity of atrase B was evaluated using a normal human serum (NHS)‐mediated complement‐dependent cytotoxicity model with an immortalized porcine aortic endothelial cell line (iPEC) as the target. The in vivo inhibitory effects on complement activity and coagulation function were measured in rats after the administration of atrase B. Guinea pig hearts were transplanted heterotopically into Wistar rats with or without atrase B pre‐treatment. Results: Pre‐treatment of the NHS with atrase B inhibited the cell lysis of iPECs in a dose‐dependent manner. FACS analysis showed that atrase B potently suppressed the deposition of C5b‐9, but not C3c and C4c, on iPECs. In vivo, atrase B‐treated rats showed a significant reduction in serum complement activity; markedly prolonged PT, APTT, and TT; and a decreased plasma level of fibrinogen. When compared to PBS treatment evaluated at study endpoint, atrase B treatment significantly delayed xenograft rejection and attenuated pathologic damage, the formation of platelet microthrombi, and the deposition of fibrin and C5b‐9. Conclusions: The dual activities of anti‐complement and anti‐coagulation make atrase B a potential adjuvant therapeutic drug for use in xenotransplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study concentrates on the filtering for the slow‐sampling jumping singularly perturbed systems, in which the situation that the filter mode is inconsistent with the system mode is taken into consideration. Based on the hidden‐Markov model (HMM), such an asynchronous phenomenon between the system mode and the filter mode is depicted. Additionally, the unreliable communication channel resulting in packet loss is described through the assistance of a random variable. The authors' purpose is to design a filter that ensures the error system is extended stochastically dissipative. Moreover, with the aid of the Lyapunov stability theory and linear matrix inequality approach, a set of ϵ ‐independent conditions are derived to obtain the filter gains. Eventually, the effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated by a numerical example and a modified tunnel diode circuit model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus in China (SARS‐CoV‐2) that began in December 2019 presents a significant and urgent threat to global health. This study was conducted to provide the international community with a deeper understanding of this new infectious disease. Epidemiological, clinical features, laboratory findings, radiological characteristics, treatment, and clinical outcomes of 135 patients in northeast Chongqing were collected and analyzed in this study. A total of 135 hospitalized patients with COVID‐19 were enrolled. The median age was 47 years (interquartile range, 36‐55), and there was no significant gender difference (53.3% men). The majority of patients had contact with people from the Wuhan area. Forty‐three (31.9%) patients had underlying disease, primarily hypertension (13 [9.6%]), diabetes (12 [8.9%]), cardiovascular disease (7 [5.2%]), and malignancy (4 [3.0%]). Common symptoms included fever (120 [88.9%]), cough (102 [76.5%]), and fatigue (44 [32.5%]). Chest computed tomography scans showed bilateral patchy shadows or ground glass opacity in the lungs of all the patients. All patients received antiviral therapy (135 [100%]) (Kaletra and interferon were both used), antibacterial therapy (59 [43.7%]), and corticosteroids (36 [26.7%]). In addition, many patients received traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) (124 [91.8%]). It is suggested that patients should receive Kaletra early and should be treated by a combination of Western and Chinese medicines. Compared to the mild cases, the severe ones had lower lymphocyte counts and higher plasma levels of Pt, APTT, d‐dimer, lactate dehydrogenase, PCT, ALB, C‐reactive protein, and aspartate aminotransferase. This study demonstrates the clinic features and therapies of 135 COVID‐19 patients. Kaletra and TCM played an important role in the treatment of the viral pneumonia. Further studies are required to explore the role of Kaletra and TCM in the treatment of COVID‐19. Research Highlights: 83.7% of the patients had contact history in Wuhan or had been to Wuhan or had contact with people from Wuhan.Common symptoms included fever, cough, and fatigue. Other symptoms include myalgia, fatigue, dyspnea, anorexia, etc.Common complications of the patients include acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute cardiac injury, acute kidney injury, secondary infection and shock. ICU patients were more likely to have these complications than non‐ICU patients.Compared with non‐ICU patients, ICU patients had lower lymphocyte count, and higher plasma levels of the Pt, APTT, D‐dimer, LDH, PCT, ALB, CRP, AST.All patients received antiviral therapy (kaletra or interferon), antibacterial therapy and corticosteroid and many received traditional chinese medicine. It was suggested that patients should use kaletra early. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of oil‐repellent surfaces in liquid environments has received considerable attention because of the urgent demand for antifouling coatings in marine industry. Inspired by the unique nanostructure surface of filefish scale, hierarchical films that consist of poly(pentafluorophenyl acrylate) free standing micropillars grafted with pH responsive poly(methacrylic acid) nanobrushes are fabricated by anodic aluminum oxide templating method combined with a subsequent post‐polymerization modification strategy. The obtained films exhibit constantly underwater superoleophobicity, furthermore, a pH sensitive functionality, which enables reversible switching between low and high oil adhesion as a result of the adjustable oil sliding angle. This particular study provides a very mild method for the facile fabrication of bioinspired nanostructures with excellent oil‐repellent performance and switchable oil‐adhesion properties, thus paving the way toward novel functional materials with smart structures for promising applications, such as smart microfluidics, controllable bioadhesion, and intelligent materials for oil removal treatment and marine antifouling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High‐throughput sequencing of circulating cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) is critical for targeted therapy selection and monitoring in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. However, low quantities of cfDNA in the blood and assay artifacts limit the sensitivity and specificity of next‐generation sequencing (NGS) test. This study develops a novel amplicon‐based NGS technology, CLAmp‐seq (circular ligation amplification and sequencing), with a concatemer‐based error correction strategy, which effectively removes polymerase errors from the first round of amplification. Analytical validation shows median detection rate of 100% at a mutant allele frequency (MAF) of 0.1% for 20 ng of input. The assay achieves 99.8% and 99.5% concordance of repeatability and reproducibility for 0.1% MAF, respectively, and both 100% for 0.5% MAF cfDNA standards. A comparative analysis of 134 NSCLC patient plasma samples demonstrates strong concordance (97.4%) and linearity (R2 = 0.95) between the CLAmp‐seq NGS readouts and droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) results. The detection of mutants in cfDNA obtained from pretreatment plasma samples shows 94.8% concordance with tissue genotyping results. No mutation is detected in noncancerous control samples. It shows that CLAmp‐seq NGS assay can offer an easy‐to‐use, fast, and accurate molecular diagnostic tool with multiplex capacity that is well‐suited for clinical in vitro diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Accurately segmenting organs‐at‐risk (OARs) is a key step in the effective planning of radiation therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treatment. In OAR segmentation of the head and neck computed tomography (CT), the low‐contrast and surrounding adhesion tissues of the parotids, thyroids, and optic nerves result in the difficulty in segmentation and lower accuracy of automatic segmentation for these organs than the other organs. In this paper, we propose a cascaded network structure to delineate these three OARs for NPC radiotherapy by combining deep learning and Boosting algorithm. Materials and methods: The CT images of 140 NPC patients treated with radiotherapy were collected, and each of the three OAR annotations was respectively delineated by an experienced rater and reviewed by a professional radiologist (with 10 yr of experience). The datasets (140 patients) were divided into a training set (100 patients), a validation set (20 patients), and a test set (20 patients). From the Boosting method for combining multiple classifiers, three cascaded CNNs for segmentation were combined. The first network was trained with the traditional approach. The second one was trained on patterns (pixels) filtered by the first net. That is, the second machine recognized a mix of patterns (pixels), 50% of which was accurately identified by the first net. Finally, the third net was trained on the new patterns (pixels) screened jointly by the first and second networks. During the test, the outputs of the three nets were considered to obtain the final output. Dice similarity coefficient (DSC), 95th percentile of the Hausdorff distance (95% HD), and volume overlap error (VOE) were used to assess the method performance. Results: The mean DSC (%) values were above 92.26 for the parotids, above 92.29 for the thyroids, and above 89.37 for the optic nerves. The mean 95% HDs (mm) were approximately 3.08 for the parotids, 2.64 for the thyroids, and 2.03 for the optic nerves. The mean VOE (%) values were approximately 14.16 for the parotids, 14.94 for the thyroids, and 19.07 for the optic nerves. Conclusions: The proposed cascaded deep learning structure could achieve high performance compared with existing single‐network or other segmentation algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work strives for the issue of generalised dissipative asynchronous output feedback control for Markov jump repeated scalar non‐linear systems with time‐varying delay. The objective is to design an asynchronous output feedback controller, which ensures that the closed‐loop system is generalised stochastically dissipative. Meanwhile, such an asynchronous controller covers not only the asynchronous controller but also the mode‐independent one. By means of a stochastic analysis technique and a modified matrix decoupling method, sufficient conditions are given for deriving the desired controller. At length, an illustrative example is provided to demonstrate the availability of the presented approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The work is interested in the extended dissipative filtering issue for switched singular discrete‐time systems with sensor failures. The persistent dwell‐time switching regularity is utilised to describe the successive occurrence of slow switching and fast switching in a switched singular system. A set of variables, which take values in a fixed interval, are utilised for the quantitative analysis of the sensor failures. The main objective is centred on designing a reliable mode‐dependent filter which can ensure that the resulting filtering error system is exponentially admissible and simultaneously satisfies the extended dissipative property in the presence of sensor failures. By adopting suitable decoupling methods and introducing reasonable matrix transformation techniques, some relaxed sufficient conditions are derived. The filter gains can be obtained by solving a convex optimisation problem in terms of linear matrix inequalities. Finally, an illustrative example is presented to verify the applicability of the designed filter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel nanofibrous mat featuring an ultraviolet (UV)‐induced CO2‐responsive behavior was fabricated via electrospinning and used as a controlled drug release system. First, a random copolymer for electrospinning, poly(N,N‐diethylaminoethyl acrylamide‐co‐N‐benzylacrylamide‐co‐N,N‐dimethyl‐N‐(2‐nitrobenzyl)‐ethaneamine acrylamide‐co‐4‐acryloyloxy benzophenone) [P(DEEA‐co‐BA‐co‐DMNOBA‐co‐ABP)], was prepared based on pentafluorophenyl esters via an "active ester‐amine" chemistry reaction. Subsequently, doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX)‐loaded P(DEEA‐co‐BA‐co‐DMNOBA‐co‐ABP) nanofibers were fabricated, yielding a new drug‐loaded nanofibrous mat as a potential wound dressing. These DOX‐loaded nanofibers can respond to UV irradiation and CO2 stimulation. Interestingly, without UV irradiation, the fabricated nanofibers cannot exhibit any responsiveness. Therefore, the majority of the DOX was steadily stored in the nanofibers, even in the presence of CO2. However, upon UV irradiation, the CO2‐responsive behavior of the nanofibers was activated and the prepared nanofibers swelled slightly, resulting in the release of around 42% DOX from the nanofibers. Upon further purging with CO2, the release amount of DOX from the nanofibers could reach up to approximately 85%, followed by the morphological transition from a nanofibrous mat to a porous hydrogel film. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 1580–1586 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the study, the authors are interested in investigating the stability analysis and state estimation of Markov jump static neural networks subject to time delays by the feat of Bessel–Legendre inequality. A canonical Bessel–Legendre inequality, which converts the limited interval [−h,0] required in traditional Bessel–Legendre inequality to a general interval [a,b] is employed. Accordingly, compared with the existing results, the restriction is naturally relaxed and the less conservative criterion is presented. The stability analysis is complicated after constructing an enhanced Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional suitable for the canonical Bessel–Legendre inequality. Furthermore, taking account of the information of system mode, the mode‐dependent scheme is applied to the design of a state estimator. Corresponding results to the stability of the estimation error system and the acquisition of the desired observer are presented. In the end, an example, which proves the validity of the method is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is the most common histiocytosis with constitutive activation of the RAS–RAF–MEK–ERK (MAPKinase) cell signaling pathway. We analyzed 89 cases of BRAF and MAP2K1 mutations by Sanger sequencing, of which 18 cases showed that these two gene mutations are negative. Whole genome sequencing of suitable specimens in these negative cases revealed a translocation from the 3 intron of PLEKHA6 to the 13 intron of NTRK3 in one case. We identified that this translocation could cause a novel fusion mutation, PLEKHA6‐NTRK3. Overexpression of the PLEKHA6‐NTRK3 mutant in NIH 3T3 cells enhanced MAPKinase pathway activation, promote cell growth. Our result suggested that a new mutation need be included in LCH molecular screening panel to better define its prevalence in LCH. What's new? Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare immune and neoplastic disorder. While it is known as the most common histiocytosis with constitutive activation of the RAS‐RAF‐MEK‐ERK (MAPKinase) cell signaling pathway, its pathogenesis remains obscure. Here, whole‐genome sequencing of BRAF V600E‐negative and MAP2K1‐negative LCH cases revealed a translocation from the intron 3 of PLEKHA6 to the intron 13 of NTRK3 in one patient, identifying a novel fusion mutation. Overexpression of PLEKHA6‐NTRK3 in vitro enhanced MAPKinase pathway activation, promoting cell growth. The results support the inclusion of the fusion mutation in LCH molecular screening panel to better define its prevalence in patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To fulfil the potential of Li–S batteries (LSBs) with high energy density and low cost, multiple challenges need to be addressed simultaneously. Most research in LSBs has been focused on the sulfur cathode design, although the performance is also known to be sensitive to other parameters such as binder, current collector, separator, lithium anode, and electrolyte. Here, an integrated LSB system based on the understanding of the different roles of binder, current collector, and separator is developed. By using the cross‐linked carboxymethyl cellulose–citric acid (CMC‐CA) binder, Toray carbon paper current collector, and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) coated separator, LSBs achieve a high capacity of 960 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles (2.5 mg cm−2) and 930 mAh g−1 after 50 cycles (5 mg cm−2) at 0.1 C. Moreover, the failure mechanism at a high sulfur loading with characteristics of fast capacity decay and infinite charging is discussed. This work highlights the synergistic effect of different components and the challenges towards more reliable LSBs with high sulfur loading. Lithium–sulfur batteries: The practical application of lithium–sulfur batteries depends on systematic optimization of the complicated system. A facile integrated approach based on the synergy between the current collector, binder, and separator is developed to improve the performance of batteries. The synergistic effect of different components and the failure mechanism of batteries with high sulfur loading are discussed (see scheme). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diverse pigmentation patterns of flower corollas probably result from pollinator-mediated selection. Previous studies demonstrated that R2R3- MYB factors may have been recruited in the regulation of corolla pigmentation. However, how R2R3-MYBs became so diverse in their regulation of different pigmentation patterns remains unclear., Here, we studied a Lamiales species, Torenia fournieri, which has elaborate zygomorphic flowers with dorsal-ventral asymmetries in corolla pigmentation. We found recent gene duplication events in CYCLOIDEA-like ( CYC-like) and RADIALIS-like ( RAD-like) genes, and functionally analyzed three dorsal-specific expression factors: Tf CYC1, Tf CYC2, and Tf RAD1., We found that the CYC- RAD module coordinates petal shape and corolla pigmentation, as ectopic expression of Tf CYC2 or Tf RAD1 disrupted the asymmetric corolla pigmentation pattern and produced strongly dorsalized flowers. Dorsal petal identity was lost when Tf CYC2 was down-regulated or when Tf RAD1 was knocked out. In T. fournieri, the diversified CYC and RAD genes have evolved regulatory loops, and Tf CYC2 binds directly to the regulatory regions of an R2R3- MYB factor gene, Tf MYB1, which might lead to its asymmetric expression and ultimately establish the asymmetric pigmentation pattern., These findings support the existence of a regulatory module that integrates dorsal-ventral patterning and asymmetric corolla pigmentation in T. fournieri. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the problem of quasi‐synchronisation of fractional‐order memristor‐based neural networks (FMNNs) with time delay in the presence of parameter mismatches. Under the framework of fractional‐order differential inclusions and set‐valued maps, quasi‐synchronisation of delayed FMNNs is discussed and quasi‐synchronisation criteria are established by means of constructing suitable Lyapunov function, together with introducing some fractional‐order differential inequalities. A new lemma on the estimate of Mittag–Leffler function is derived first, which extends the application of Mittag–Leffler function and plays a key role in the estimate of synchronisation error bound. Then, linear state feedback combined with delayed state feedback control law is designed, which guarantees that for a predetermined synchronisation error bound, quasi‐synchronisation of two FMNNs with mismatched parameters will be achieved provided that the feedback gains satisfy the newly‐proposed criteria. The obtained results extend and improve some previous published works on synchronisation of FMNNs. Finally, two numerical examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the obtained results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) can generate electricity from the oxidation of organic substrates using anodic exoelectrogenic bacteria and have great potential for harvesting electric energy from wastewater. Improving oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance at a neutral pH is needed for efficient energy production. Here we show a nitrogen doped (≈4 wt%) ionothermal carbon aerogel (NDC) with a high surface area, large pore volume, and hierarchical porosity, with good electrocatalytic properties for ORR in MFCs. The MFCs using NDC air cathodes achieved a high maximum power density of 2300 mW m−2, which was 1.7 times higher than the most commonly used Pt/C air cathodes and also higher than most state-of-the-art ORR catalyst air cathodes. Rotating disk electrode measurements verified the superior electrocatalytic activity of NDC with an efficient four-electron transfer pathway ( n=3.9). These findings highlight NDC as a better-performing and cost-efficient catalyst compared with Pt/C, making it highly viable for MFC applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose To measure retinal vessel oxygen saturation in a healthy young Chinese population and to determine the effects of multiple factors (gender, age, dioptre, vessel diameter and ocular perfusion pressure - OPP) on retinal oxygen saturation. Methods A total of 126 healthy Chinese individuals aged from 19 to 30 were included in this study. A retinal oximeter ( Oxymap T1) was used to measure retinal vessel oxygen saturation by retinal imaging at two different wavelengths. The mean retinal vessel oxygen saturation ( Sat_ O2) of arterioles, venules and arteriovenous ( AV) difference overall and in four separate quadrants were measured. Intra-ocular pressure, blood pressure, finger pulse oximetry value, vessel diameter and dioptre were also measured. The correlations between OPP and dioptre, OPP and vessel diameter, and dioptre and vessel diameter were analysed. And the effects of multiple factors on the retinal oxygen saturation were analysed. Results The mean oxygen saturation was 93.2 ± 6.3% in the retinal arterioles, 60.4 ± 5.3% in venules and 32.9 ± 6.4% in AV difference. The temporal quadrants had lower measurements of arteriolar and venular oxygen saturation and AV difference compared with nasal quadrants (p < 0.001). The oxygen saturation of the arterioles, venules and AV difference were unaffected by any unique factor. Arteriolar and venular retinal oxygen saturation correlated negatively with the product of dioptre and OPP. Arteriolar retinal oxygen saturation correlated positively with the product of dioptre and vessel diameter. Conclusions This study provided a normal reference of Sat_ O2 in healthy young Chinese individuals. It was a reflection of the normal state of retinal oxygen metabolism affected by several factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fenton oxidation using an aqueous mixture of Fe2+ and H2O2 is a promising environmental remediation strategy. However, the difficulty of storage and shipment of concentrated H2O2 and the generation of iron sludge limit its broad application. Therefore, highly efficient and cost-effective electrocatalysts are in great need. Herein, a graphene catalyst is proposed for the electro-Fenton process, in which H2O2 is generated in situ by the two-electron reduction of the dissolved O2 on the cathode and then decomposes to generate .OH in acidic solution with Fe2+. The π bond of the oxygen is broken whereas the σ bond is generally preserved on the metal-free reduced graphene oxide owing to the high free energy change. Consequently, the oxygen is reduced to H2O2 through a two-electron pathway. The thermally reduced graphene with a high specific surface area (308.8 m2 g−1) and a large oxygen content (10.3 at %) exhibits excellent reactivity for the two-electron oxygen reduction reaction to H2O2. A highly efficient peroxide yield (64.2 %) and a remarkable decolorization of methylene blue (12 mg L−1) of over 97 % in 160 min are obtained. The degradation of methylene blue with hydroxyl radicals generated in situ is described by a pseudo first-order kinetics model. This provides a proof-of-concept of an environmentally friendly electro-Fenton process using graphene for the oxygen reduction reaction in an acidic solution to generate H2O2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]