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Adipose tissue transplantation shows great therapeutic potential in reversing localized scleroderma‐associated skin fibrosis. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) can specifically secrete various cytokines against fibrosis, but its therapeutic potential in improving skin fibrosis has not yet been demonstrated. In this study, we have demonstrated the superior therapeutic efficacy of BAT transplantation for sclerotic skin by transplanting two distinct types of adipose tissue. In comparison to the white adipose tissue (WAT) group, mice treated with BAT transplantation exhibited a significant reduction in dermal thickness. BAT transplantation effectively reverses skin sclerosis through mechanisms involving inflammation reduction, promotion of angiogenesis, inhibition of myofibroblast accumulation, and collagen deposition. This therapeutic effect can be attributed to its unique paracrine effects. Furthermore, transcriptome sequencing (RNA‐Seq) revealed upregulation of pathways associated with lipogenesis and fatty acid metabolism in BAT while downregulating pathways are related to transforming growth factor β(TGF‐β), epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), and inflammatory response. These findings suggest that BAT transplantation holds great promise as a novel approach for localized scleroderma treatment.Excellent efficacy of brown adipose tissue transplantation for localized scleroderma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The complications of large‐volume fat grafting (LVFG) for breast augmentation remain unpredictable and include palpable breast nodules, oil cysts, and calcifications. Aims: This study was aimed to provide an optimal treatment option for breast nodules after LVFG and evaluate their pathological characteristics. Patients/Methods: We effectively performed complete resection of breast nodules in 29 patients after LVFG using a minimal skin incision with the vacuum‐assisted breast biopsy (VABB) system under ultrasound guidance. And we further carried on histologic examination of excised nodules and evaluated their pathological characteristics. Results: The breast nodules were excised thoroughly with cosmetic effect satisfactorily. Interestingly, subsequent histologic examination showed that type I and VI collagens were strongly expressed in the fibrotic area and type IV collagen were positively expressed around the blood vessel. Furthermore, we found that the type VI collagen+ area appeared around mac2+ macrophages and α‐SMA+ myofibroblasts. Conclusions: The VABB system may be the optimal treatment option for breast nodules after LVFG. And type VI collagens may serve as a biomarker of grafted adipose tissue fibrosis. The relationship between macrophages, fibroblasts, and collagen formation may be therapeutic targets for regulating fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The processing of tea leaves plays a crucial role in the formation of the taste of the resulting tea. In order to study the compositions of and changes in taste-related substances during the processing of Rizhao green tea, non-targeted metabolomics was used, based on UHPLC-Q Exactive MS. Totals of 529, 349, and 206 non-volatile metabolites were identified using three different detection modes, of which 112 secondary metabolites were significantly changed. Significant variations in secondary metabolites were observed during processing, especially during the drying stage, and the conversion intensity levels of non-volatile metabolites were consistent with the law of "Drying > Fixation > Rolling". The DOT method was used to screen tea-quality-related compounds that contributed significantly to the taste of Rizhao green tea, including (−)-epicatechin gallate, (−)-epicatechin gallate, gallic acid, L-theanine, and L-leucine, which make important contributions to taste profiles, such as umami and bitterness. Metabolic pathway analysis revealed that purine metabolism, caffeine metabolism, and tyrosine metabolism perform key roles in the processing of Rizhao green tea in different processing stages. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for tea processing and practical advice for the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Late blight disease (LBD) caused by the pathogen Phytophthora infestans (PI), is the most devastating disease limiting potato (Solanum tuberosum) production globally. Currently, this disease pathogen is re-emerging and appearing in new areas at a very high intensity. A better understanding of the natural defense mechanisms against PI in different potato cultivars especially at the protein level is still lacking. Therefore, to elucidate potato proteome response to PI, we investigated changes in the proteome and leaf morphology of three potato cultivars, namely; Favorita (FA), Mira (MA), and E-malingshu N0.14 (E14) infected with PI by using the iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomics analysis. Results: A total of 3306 proteins were found in the three potato genotypes, and 2044 proteins were quantified. Cluster analysis revealed MA and E14 clustered together separately from FA. The protein profile and related functions revealed that the cultivars shared a typical hypersensitive response to PI, including induction of elicitors, oxidative burst, and suppression of photosynthesis in the potato leaves. Meanwhile, MA and E14 deployed additional specific response mechanism different from FA, involving high induction of protease inhibitors, serine/threonine kinases, terpenoid, hormone signaling, and transport, which contributed to MA tolerance of LBD. Furthermore, inductions of pathogenesis-related proteins, LRR receptor-like kinases, mitogen-activated protein kinase, WRKY transcription factors, jasmonic acid, and phenolic compounds mediate E14 resistance against LBD. These proteins were confirmed at the transcription level by a quantitative polymerase chain reaction and at the translation level by western-blot. Conclusions: We found several proteins that were differentially abundant among the cultivars, that includes common and cultivar specific proteins which highlighted similarities and significant differences between FA, MA, and E14 in terms of their defense response to PI. Here the specific accumulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase, Serine/threonine kinases, WRKY transcription played a positive role in E14 immunity against PI. The candidate proteins identified reported in this study will form the basis of future studies and may improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of late blight disease resistance in potato. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

River‐dominated marginal seas are important carbon sinks on Earth. However, their carbon sequestration capacities are changing due to increased anthropogenic perturbations. Herein, we employ substantial datasets to study the characteristics of organic carbon (OC) from the East China Sea (ECS) in 2006 and 2018 and reveal the impacts of reservoir construction on the OC deposition in this region. We show that the distribution of sedimentary OC in the ECS is primarily controlled by riverine input and seabed erosion processes. Hydrodynamic processes influence the OC deposition due to both the scouring of fine‐grained sediments and selective degradation of OC associated with the sediment mobilization. The deposition flux of OC in the ECS decreased by 48% after reservoir construction. These findings demonstrate that reservoir construction seriously affected the OC deposition in the ECS and may be applicable to river‐dominated continental shelves worldwide. Key Points: Reservoir construction changed the transport process and deposition pattern of organic carbon in the East China SeaThe deposition flux of organic carbon in the East China Sea decreased by 48% due to reservoir constructionDeposition flux reduction threatens river‐dominated margins worldwide and should be taken seriously [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cisplatin-based chemotherapeutics represent a mainstay of lung cancer therapy, but resistance limits their curative potential. In the current study, we reported that Pidotimod, which is an immunostimulant and used for the prevention of acute respiratory infections, elevated cisplatin sensitivity, leading to the synergistic attenuation of tumor growth in mouse lewis lung cancer (LLC) model. With further exploration, we found that Pidotimod enhanced the anti-growth effect of cisplatin on LLC via promoting anti-tumor response, such as increased infiltration of dendrite cells (DCs) and CD8+ T cells as well as enhancement of IFN-γ and Granzyme B expression. In summary, Pidotimod affects the anti-tumor function of cisplatin via promoting anti-tumor immune response and these findings provide a novel approach for the development of therapeutic strategies for lung cancer. • Pidotimod treatment lead to the synergistic attenuation of and tumor growth in mice with cisplatin. • Pidotimod treatment promoted infiltration of DCs and CD8+ T cells in tumor tissue. • Pidotimod treatment lead to elevated expression of IFN-γ and Granzyme B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endometriosis is a common reproductive system disease worldwide that mainly causes chronic pelvic pain and infertility. Despite its high prevalence, the diagnosis of some patients with endometriosis is delayed for several years, which may be because the gold standard for diagnosis is an expensive and invasive surgical assessment by laparoscopy or laparotomy. Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in a wide range of diseases, including endometriosis, and have been discovered to be potential diagnostic markers. This meta-analysis, which was designed to investigate the diagnostic value of circulating miRNAs for endometriosis, summarizes miRNA articles that met a set of inclusion criteria. Using a bivariate model, we calculated the sensitivities, specificities, and area under the curve (AUC) values of individual miRNAs and miRNA panels. The pooled diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve were 0.86 (95% CI 0.79–0.90), 0.88 (95% CI 0.80–0.93), 7.05 (95% CI 4.20–11.84), 0.16 (95% CI 11–0.24), and 0.93, respectively. Taken together, these findings indicate that circulating microRNAs may serve as potential noninvasive biomarkers of endometriosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • An evaluation model of estuarine landscape ecological sensitivity was established. • The model was formed based on landscape pattern across temporal and spatial scales. • Two indices were proposed to reflect spatiotemporal variations of landscape ecosystem. • The application in Chongming Island verified the model's effectiveness and applicability. • The 200 m scale balanced all the demands and was the optimal scale to apply the model. Abstract Evaluating landscape ecological sensitivity in estuarine areas is important for providing reference for landscape optimization and ecological conservation, however, the comprehensive characteristics of the landscape ecological sensitivity, including the changes under various disturbances, the spatiotemporal heterogeneities, and the multiple scale effects, have received insufficient attention. A model to evaluate estuarine landscape ecological sensitivity was established based on landscape pattern across temporal and spatial scales. Two new indices, namely, landscape ecological condition index (LECI) and landscape ecological sensitivity index (LESI), were proposed using remote sensing and geographic information system methods. Chongming Island, a typical and important estuarine area in China, was selected as the study area to demonstrate the model. Evaluation factors were integrated following the landscape pattern; different years and periods in the last 30 years were used to reflect the temporal scales; and spatial scales of 100 m, 200 m, 400 m, and 800 m, which refer to the evaluation unit size, were adopted to validate the spatial scale effect and seek the optimal scale to apply the model. Results indicated that the LECI initially slightly decreased and then increased from 1988 to 2017, and the LESI continuously increased along the periods. The two indices exhibited distinct spatiotemporal heterogeneities, which were driven by different development goals and strategies of the island in different periods. Along the scales from 100 m to 800 m, the LECI and LESI in the entire study area gradually decreased; they tended to be homogenizing, and the details were lost in the spatial distributions. The 200 m scale balanced all the demands of accuracy, spatial heterogeneity, and appropriate data volume, and was the optimal spatial scale to apply the model. The application of the model in Chongming Island verified its effectiveness to represent the comprehensive characteristics of the estuarine landscape ecological sensitivity, and the model can be widely used in different estuarine areas because of its high applicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in two 210Pb-dated sediment cores collected from mud deposits along the southeastern coast of the Liaodong Peninsula were investigated to reconstruct the sedimentary records of PAHs and their relationship with anthropogenic and natural activities. The concentrations of 16 PAHs (∑PAHs) were low and remained stable before the year 1820, reflecting an autarkic agricultural civilization. From 1820 to 1900, with the gradual lifting of prohibition, people migrated into Northeast China, resulting in the release of large amounts of ∑PAHs into the environment. At the beginning of the 1900s, the ∑PAH levels in the two cores displayed increasing trends with significant fluctuations, linked to a period of social turbulence with continuous wars in Northeast China. After 1949, vertical ∑PAH trends in the cores predominantly reflected trends in economic development. Based on the different PAH composition trends (2–3-ring and 4–6-ring PAHs), we consider that historical energy usage in Northeast China can be divided into three stages: biomass fuel use dominated before 1920, biomass and fossil fuels co-existed from 1920 to 1980, and fossil fuels dominated after 1980. In addition, this study also demonstrates that the PAH concentrations (2–3-ring PAHs) in these two sediment cores can be used, to a certain extent, to identify anthropogenic fire events. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • We explored historical PAH records in coastal mud deposits of the North Yellow Sea. • Sedimentary records of PAHs reflect trends in socio-economic development. • Sedimentary PAH records can reflect historical transformations in energy sources. • Sedimentary records of PAHs can also reflect the fire events over a regional scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plutonium (Pu) isotopes were first determined in surface and core sediment samples collected from the northern North Yellow Sea (NYS) to elucidate their source terms and deposition process as well as the response to catchment environmental changes of inflow rivers. 240 Pu/ 239 Pu atom ratios in all sediments showed the typical global fallout value of ∼0.18 without any influences from the nuclear weapons tests conducted recently in the North Korea or early in the Pacific Proving Ground. The large variation of 239+240 Pu activities (0.022–0.515 mBq/g) observed in surface sediments should be mainly attributed to the re-suspension and transportation of fine sediments influenced by the Liaonan Costal Current. Based on the two 239+249 Pu depth profiles with easily observed onset fallout levels (1952) and global fallout peaks (1963), 239+240 Pu served as a valid time mark in the coastal sedimentary system. Riverine input Pu contributed only 15–27% to the total global fallout inventory (92.5–108.8 Bq/m 2 ) in the northern NYS, much lower than that in the Yangtze River estuary (77–80%), indicating a better soil conservation in the northeast China due to higher forest coverage compared to the Yangtze River's drainage basin. The increase of riverine input Pu after 1980s reflected the more intense soil erosion degree caused by the land use and cover change due to the increment of human activities in the northeast China at the same period. Our results demonstrated that plutonium is a good indicator for studying sedimentary process and its response to the environment in the coastal area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single crystals of Sr3P3O10Cl are grown from a 2:1:3 molar mixture of MgO, SrO, and P2O5 in a molten equimolar SrCl2/NaCl flux (evacuated quartz tubes, 850 °C, 12 h; cooling to 300 °C at a rate of 0.1 °C/min). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single crystals of the salt-inclusion phosphates Na2Mn3 (P2O7)2·CsCl (I), Na2Mn3 (P2O7)2·RbCl (II), Na2Fe3 (P2O7)2·CsCl (III), Na2Fe3 (P2O7)2·RbCl (IV), K2Mn3 (P2O7)2·CsCl (V), and K2Fe3 (P2O7)2·CsCl (VI) are grown in reactive molten chloride flux using e.g. MnO (1.6 mmol) and P4O10 (0.5 mmol) in a RbCl/NaCl eutectic mixture (750 °C, 12 h, controlled cooling; 30-50% yield). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the effect of hydrogen bonding on organic semiconductors, four novel benzo[ b ]thiophene-benzo[ b ]furan analogues with contorted configuration were synthesized and exhibited good solubility in normal solvents. The optical, electrochemical characteristics and DFT simulated calculations demonstrates that the configuration feature of molecule plays an important role in modulating the π-conjugated delocalized degree. The X-ray crystallography further revealed the significant effect of hydrogen bonding on the planarity and aggregation mode of the molecular solid-state structure. The single-crystalline field effect transistor (FET) devices were fabricated and both compounds exhibit excellent FET performance with mobility over 0.8 cm 2 V −1 s −1 . All the results suggest that it would be an effective method to balance the solubility and electrical properties of organic π -conjugated compounds through regulating the molecular configuration by introduction of the hydrogen bonds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the source-to-sink sediment transport processes from the Changjiang River to the estuarine coastal shelf area by analyzing the clay mineral assemblages in suspended sediment samples from the Changjiang River catchment and surface samples from the estuarine coastal shelf area following the impoundment of the Three Gorges Dam (TGD) in 2003. The results indicate that the clay mineral compositions throughout the study area are dominated by illite, with less abundant kaolinite and chlorite and scarce smectite. The clay minerals display distinct differences in the tributaries and exhibit obvious changes in the trunk stream compared with the periods before 2003, and the source of sediment has largely shifted to the mid- to lower reaches of the river after 2003. Spatially, the clay mineral assemblages in the estuarine area define two compositionally distinct provinces. Province I covers the mud area of the Changjiang River estuary and the Zhe-Min coastal region, where sediment is primarily supplied by the Changjiang River. Province II includes part of the Changjiang River estuary and the southeastern portion of the study area, where the sediment is composed of terrestrial material from the Changjiang River and re-suspended material from the Huanghe River carried by the Jiangsu coastal current. Moreover, the other smaller rivers in China (including the Oujiang and Minjiang rivers of mainland China and the rivers of West Taiwan) also contribut sediments to the estuarine and inner shelf areas. In general, the clay mineral assemblages in the Changjiang River estuarine area are have mainly been controlled by sediment supplied from upstream of the Changjiang River tributaries. However, since the completion of the TGD in 2003, the mid- to downstream tributaries have become the main source of sediments from the Changjiang catchment into the East China Sea. These analyses further demonstrate that the coastal currents and the decrease in the sediment load of the river have the greatest impacts on the distribution and transport of clay minerals assemblages in the sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For a multi-stack fuel cell system (MFCS), the optimal stacks allocation result with a single optimization index cannot meet the MFCS requirements under various operating conditions. In this work, an MFCS stacks multi-objective allocation optimization method is proposed. A multi-objective optimization model of MFCS stacks allocation with boundary conditions is established to obtain the optimal MFCS stacks allocation scheme. The minimum life-cycle cost (LCC) is selected as an optimization objective to investigate the mathematical modeling process of the stacks optimization allocation problem. The different optimization indexes, application scenarios, stack unit cost trends, hydrogen and stack retail prices, stack characteristics, and hydrogen unit usage cost weights have an impact on the minimum LCC-based MFCS stacks allocation results. As a result, compared to the conventional equal allocation MFCS, the minimum LCC-based stacks allocation MFCS could save 0.06 kg per 100 km of hydrogen for a 240 kW MFCS under the C-WTVC driving cycle. Finally, the multi-objective optimization method for determining the optimal MFCS stacks allocation scheme is discussed. • The MFCS optimal stacks allocation scheme can be obtained by the multi-objective optimization model. • A case study is performed to validate the viability of the proposed multi-objective optimization method. • Various impact factors of the minimum LCC-based MFCS stacks allocation result are analyzed. • The MFCS LCC is improved by the proposed minimum LCC-based MFCS stacks allocation method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new title compound is hydrothermally prepared from aqueous mixtures of ZnO, Li2CO3, and HIO3 (autoclave, 200 °C, 7 d, 80% yield). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Foxtail millet (Setaria italica) harbors the small diploid genome (~ 450 Mb) and shows the high inbreeding rate and close relationship to several major foods, feed, fuel and bioenergy grasses. Previously, we created a mini foxtail millet, xiaomi, with an Arabidopsis-like life cycle. The de novo assembled genome data with high-quality and an efficient Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation system made xiaomi an ideal C4 model system. The mini foxtail millet has been widely shared in the research community and as a result there is a growing need for a user-friendly portal and intuitive interface to perform exploratory analysis of the data. Results: Here, we built a Multi-omics Database for Setaria italica (MDSi, http://sky.sxau.edu.cn/MDSi.htm), that contains xiaomi genome of 161,844 annotations, 34,436 protein-coding genes and their expression information in 29 different tissues of xiaomi (6) and JG21 (23) samples that can be showed as an Electronic Fluorescent Pictograph (xEFP) in-situ. Moreover, the whole-genome resequencing (WGS) data of 398 germplasms, including 360 foxtail millets and 38 green foxtails and the corresponding metabolic data were available in MDSi. The SNPs and Indels of these germplasms were called in advance and can be searched and compared in an interactive manner. Common tools including BLAST, GBrowse, JBrowse, map viewer, and data downloads were implemented in MDSi. Conclusion: The MDSi constructed in this study integrated and visualized data from three levels of genomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics, and also provides information on the variation of hundreds of germplasm resources that can satisfies the mainstream requirements and supports the corresponding research community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of the East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM) during the Holocene remains controversial because of the lack of reliable proxies. In this study, a link between cross‐front transport and the EAWM was found in the North Yellow Sea, and the EAWM intensity could be imprinted in the leaked sediment, which permits reliable reconstruction of the EAWM on well‐preserved offshore deposition. By comparison with instrumental data, the wind speed of the EAWM since 4.4 ka was quantitatively reconstructed for the first time at high resolution (∼5 yr). The results show that the EAWM gradually weakened in the mid‐to‐late Holocene, which was likely controlled by solar insolation, and that there has been a negative relationship between the EAWM and temperature on the centennial scale since ∼2.0 ka; this relationship was reversed by increasing CO2 emissions during the Current Warm Period. Plain Language Summary: The East Asian monsoon is characterized by a distinct seasonal reversal of monsoon flow driven by temperature differences between the Pacific Ocean and the East Asian continent. It influences more than 2 billion people around East Asia by regulating the risk of drought or flooding. However, the evolution of the East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM) in the mid‐to‐late Holocene remains elusive, limiting our understanding of its driving force and projections under climate change. This study analyzed sediment transport dynamics under varying winter monsoons in the North Yellow Sea. It was found that coastal sediments could be transported offshore, and their pathways differed under different strengths of the winter monsoon. Based on the sedimentary records of offshore muddy deposition, the EAWM proxy was extracted, and the wind speed of the EAWM from 4.4 ka was quantitatively reconstructed. A gradual weakening trend during 4.4–0.7 ka and a dramatic strengthening after 0.2 ka were found in the EAWM; the EAWM was negatively related to the temperature on the centennial scale since ∼2.0 ka, but this relationship was reversed by an increase in CO2 emissions since ∼1800 CE, indicating a shift in the controlling mechanism. Key Points: A link between cross‐front transport and the East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM) was found in the shelf sea, and the leaked sediment was used to reconstruct the EAWMThe wind speed of the EAWM since 4.4 ka was quantitatively reconstructed at high resolution (∼5 yr) for the first timeCorrelation between the EAWM and the temperature on the centennial scale since ∼2.0 ka was reversed by the increasing CO2 at the Current Warm Period [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tea processing plays an important role in the formation of tea aroma. In order to explore the composition and variation in aroma during Rizhao green tea processing, gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry was employed to investigate the formation and changes of tea aroma in four processing stages. A total of 62 volatile compounds were identified, including alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, esters, terpenes, and oxygen compounds. Relative odor activity value was used to identify 17 characteristic aroma compounds. The main aromatic compounds of chestnut-like aroma were linalool, pentanal, hexanal, heptanal, octanal, nonanal, 2-methylbutanal, 3-methylbutanal, 3-methylthiopropanal, and methyl 2-methylbutanoate. There were significant changes in the volatile components at different processing stages. Samples of tea leaves and green tea had special aroma characteristics, while samples of fixated and rolled leaves had similar aroma compounds. The results are beneficial for the improvement of the flavor and quality of Rizhao green tea. Practical Application. Tea is the world's most consumed nonalcoholic beverage, with a multitude of health-promoting benefits, such as antioxidant, antiobesity, and antiallergic activities. At present, the research on the aroma compounds of Rizhao green tea mainly focuses on the aroma characteristics of finished tea and the aroma differences of different kinds of commercial tea. This study explored the effects of the processes on aroma compounds, and the results provide a theoretical reference for the improvement of tea processing technology, tea quality control, and evaluation methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secretory signal peptides (SPs) can increase enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) expression in cytosol. In this study, SPs Iasp (Cry1Ia), Vasp (Vip3A), and their local sequences were used as fusion tags to compare their effects on eGFP expression in Escherichia coli MC4100 and Pichia pastoris GS115. In E coli , the solubility was almost opposite between the proteins encoded by Vegfp and Iegfp. This may be because the overall hydrophobicity of the SPs differed. When the hydrophobic H-region and C-region were removed, the negative effects on eGFP solubility of the N-regions of both SPs (IaN and VN) were significantly reduced without compromise on the expression level. IaN promotes eGFP protein yield 7.1-fold more than Iasp, and using this peptide in tandem (Ia3N) further enhanced fluorescent fusion protein solubility with an efficacy similar to that of a polycationic tag. Furthermore, the GS-IaNeGFP strain produced the highest fluorescent signal intensity when these fusion proteins were expressed in P. pastoris , and the expression was higher than in other strains, including eGFP. In conclusion, we revealed the potential of the N-region of Iasp as a fusion tag in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and further demonstrated the value of the N-regions of abundant SPs. • Secretory peptide Iasp with lower hydrophobicity scale facilitates the solubility of recombinant protein. • Removal of H- and C-regions improved the solubility further. • The hydrophilic N-regions of secretory peptides can be employed as fusion tags. • The fusion tag would be applicable in Pichia pastoris GS115. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore how the different intermolecular non-covalent interactions synergistically affect the molecular packing and properties when they existed at the same molecules. A series of new pyrene derivatives with chalcogen atoms as bridges were designed and synthesized. The single crystal structures of the compounds revealed the significant effect of different intermolecular non-covalent interactions on the molecular packing. The thin film transistor devices were fabricated and exhibit high mobility over 0.04 cm 2 V −1 s −1 . The distinct difference of the OFETs performance suggests that the intermolecular non-covalent interactions have very important effect on gearing the molecular packing and properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal lagoons with small catchment basins are highly sensitive to natural processes and anthropogenic activities. To figure out the environmental changes of a coastal lagoon and its contribution to carbon burial, two sediment cores were collected in Xincun Lagoon, southeastern Hainan Island and Pb activities, grain size parameters, total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), total inorganic carbon (TIC) and stable carbon isotopes (δC) were measured. The results show that in 1770-1815, the decreasing water exchange capacity with outer open water, probably caused by the shifting and narrowing of the tidal inlet, not only diminished the currents and fined the sediments in the lagoon, but also reduced the organic matter of marine sources. From 1815 to 1950, the sedimentary environment of Xincun Lagoon was frequently influenced by storm events. These extreme events resulted in the high fluctuation of sediment grain size and sorting, as well as the great variation in contributions of terrestrial (higher plants, soils) and marine sources (phytoplankton, algae, seagrass). The extremely high content of TIC, compared to TOC before 1950 could be attributed to the large-scale coverage of coral reefs. However, with the boost of seawater aquaculture activities after 1970, the health growth of coral species was severely threatened, and corresponding production and inorganic carbon burial flux reduced. The apparent enhanced inorganic carbon burial rate after 1990 might result from the concomitant carbonate debris produced by seawater aquaculture. This result is important for local government long-term coastal management and environmental planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although extreme weather events make a strong impact in shallow marine sedimentary environments, there is still a paucity of past records for the Holocene period. Estuarine-inner shelf mud regions deposited from rivers that transport a large amount of suspended sediment represent an important archive of the Holocene. Two cores (S5-2 and JC07) retrieved from the estuarine-inner shelf regions of the East China Sea provided an opportunity to use sensitive grain size and 210Pb dating to reconstruct a history of extreme weather events in the Yangtze River basin. Here, we show that the average sedimentation rates of the two cores, S5-2 (1930–2013) and JC07 (1910–2013), were estimated to be 3.11 and 1.56 cm/yr, respectively. The results indicated that sediment supply played an important role in sedimentation of the estuarine-inner shelf mud region of the East China Sea. Sand content strongly increased in the late 1980s, a result of downstream riverbed erosion of the Yangtze River and submerged deltas. The grain size versus the standard deviation method was used to identify grain-size intervals with the highest variability along a sedimentary sequence. The Yangtze estuary mud area coarse population correlated well with historical literature on Yangtze River floods since AD 1930. Extreme storm events corresponded well with historical literature on the Zhe-Min mud region of the East China Sea. The spectral analyses of the sample core coastal population demonstrated that flood and storm events were consistent with a ~3–8 a periodic change of El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), suggesting that the flood events usually follow ENSO years in the Yangtze River. Consequently, sediment records preserved in the two cores demonstrated different sedimentary responses to Yangtze River floods and storms, which is important to recover centennial scale flood events, to infer extreme precipitation, and to understand climate change in the estuarine-inner shelf of the East China Sea. Nevertheless, more efforts are still needed to simulate paleo-flood and predict future flood events in the context of global warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eu 3+ -activated red emitting phosphors based on the layered perovskite ion conductors A 2 La 2 Ti 3 O 10 :Eu 3+ (A = Na, K) were successfully synthesized by a modified sol-gel method. Photoluminescence excitation (PLE), emission (PL) spectra and cathode-luminescence (CL) spectra were used to characterize the luminescent properties of samples A 2 La 2 Ti 3 O 10 :Eu 3+ (A = Na, K). The band gap and electronic structure of A 2 La 2 Ti 3 O 10 (A = Na, K) were analyzed by the density functional theory (DFT) calculation using the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The temperature-dependent PL spectra were measured to investigate the thermal stabilities. Their conductivities have also been characterized by the measurements of alternating current (AC) impedance in the range of 200–500 °C over a frequency of 40 Hz–110 MHz, and the diffusional pathways of K and Na ions were also proposed using the bond valence maps (BVM). Results indicates that the phosphor K 2 La 1.0 Eu 1.0 Ti 3 O 10 offers more excellent performance in quantum efficiency, thermal stability and conductivity than those of Na 2 La 1.0 Eu 1.0 Ti 3 O 10 , which shows their potential applications in LEDs and FEDs as a suitable red-emitting phosphor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are mainly produced by incomplete combustion and are used as indicators of anthropogenic activities on the environment. This study analyses the PAHs level in the Yangtze River Estuary (YRE), an important component of Yangtze River and a developed and populated region in China. Surface sediments were collected from 77 sites at the YRE and its adjacent coastal zone (IACZ) for a comprehensive study of PAHs. Kriging interpolation technology and Positive matrix factorization (PMF) model were applied to explore the spatial distribution and sources of PAHs. Concentrations of 16 PAHs (ΣPAHs) varied from 27.2 ng g −1 to 621.6 ng g −1 dry weight, with an average value of 158.2 ng g −1 . Spatially, ΣPAHs exhibited wide fluctuation and exhibited an increasing tendency from north to south. In addition, ΣPAHs exhibited a decreasing trend with increasing distance between the estuary and IACZ. The deposition flux of PAHs indicated that more than 107.8 t a −1 PAHs was deposited in the study area annually. The results of the PMF model revealed that anthropogenic activities were the main sources of PAHs in the study area. Vehicle emissions and marine engines were the most important sources and accounted for 40.9% of the pollution. Coal combustion, petrogenic sources, and wood combustion were other sources that contributed 23.9%, 23.6%, and 11.5%, respectively. The distribution patterns of PAHs in the YRE and IACZ were influenced by many complicated factors such as sediment grain size, hydrodynamics and so on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical therapeutic efficacy of anti-snake venom serum blockade in treating local tissue necrosis caused by Chinese cobra (Naja atra) bites. Methods: Patients bitten by a Chinese cobra (Naja atra) (n = 50) that met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into two groups: the experimental group (n = 25) and the control group (n = 25). The experimental group received regular as well as anti-snake venom serum blocking treatment, whereas regular treatment plus chymotrypsin blocking therapy was given to the control group. The necrotic volumes around snake wounds in these groups were detected on the first, third and seventh days. On the third day of treatment, some local tissues in the wounds were randomly selected for pathological biopsy, and the necrosis volume of the local tissue was observed. Furthermore, the amount of time required for wound healing was recorded. Results: On the third and seventh days post-treatment, the necrotic volume of the wound of the experimental group was much smaller than that of the control group, and the experimental group's wound healing time was shorter than that of the control group (all p < 0.05). Moreover, the pathological biopsies taken from the control group showed nuclear pyknosis, fragmentation, sparse nuclear density, and blurred edges, and the degree of necrosis was much higher than that of the experimental group. Conclusions: Anti-snake venom blocking therapy is a new and improved therapy with good clinical effect on local tissue necrosis caused by Chinese cobra bites; moreover, it is superior to conventional chymotrypsin blocking therapy in the treatment of cobra bites. It can better neutralize and prevent the spread of the toxin, reduce tissue necrosis, and shorten the course of the disease by promoting healing of the wound. Furthermore, this treatment plan is also applicable to wound necrosis caused by other snake toxins, such as tissue necrosis caused by elapidae and viper families. Clinical Trial Registration: This trial is registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, a primary registry of International Clinical Trial Registry Platform, World Health Organization (Registration No. ChiCTR2200059070; trial URL:http://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=134353&htm=4). Author summary: Chinese cobra bites often cause local tissue necrosis and lead to physical disability, which is the difficulty of treatment. Considering that the cytotoxin in cobra is the main pathogenic factor causing local tissue necrosis, we proposed injecting anti-snake venom locally to increase its concentration in the wound, so as to neutralize the cytolytic activity of snake venom. In order to verify the clinical efficacy of the therapy, a randomized controlled trial were conducted: the experimental group was treated with anti-snake venom blocking therapy, while the control group was treated with chymotrypsin blocking therapy. The clinical efficacy was evaluated by comparing the local wound necrosis, wound healing time, etc. as the indicators. Then, the results showed that the experimental group had smaller wound necrosis area and also much shorter healing time than the control group, which clearly indicated that the local blocking treatment with anti-snake venom serum has much better clinical efficacy. Meanwhile, theoretically, the anti-snake venom blocking therapy is also suitable for the treatment against other snake bites. So, in future we expect to conduct more clinical studies on this, which will provide information on new treatments with much better clinical efficacy for patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Sb 2 S 3 /CdS/CdIn 2 S 4 cascaded S-scheme heterojunction was successfully fabricated by hydrothermal method, chemical bath deposition method and microwave hydrothermal method. • Sb 2 S 3 /CdS/CdIn 2 S 4 photoelectrode exhibited 4.20 mA/cm2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE in neutral electrolytes, which was 1.3 times higher than that of the Sb 2 S 3 /CdIn 2 S 4 photoelectrode (3.29 mA/cm2) and 3.2 times higher than that of monomer Sb 2 S 3 photoelectrode (1.32 mA/cm2). • Compared with the S-scheme heterojunction composed of Sb 2 S 3 /CdIn 2 S 4 , the better PEC performance of Sb 2 S 3 /CdS/CdIn 2 S 4 cascaded S-scheme heterojunction is attributed to the CdS energy platform, which promotes charge transfer. Antimony sulfide (Sb 2 S 3) is a relatively abundant and environmentally friendly emerging photovoltaic material, which has been gradually applied in solar cells and photocatalysis. It has high light absorption capacity, but it suffers many deep-level defects and is prone to recombination of electron-hole pairs within itself. Here, by constructing the Sb 2 S 3 /CdIn 2 S 4 S-scheme heterojunction, we avoided the problem that electrons and holes cannot be separated and transported effectively due to many Sb 2 S 3 defects (more recombination centers), and improved its application in the field of photoelectrochemical water splitting. Meanwhile, in order to further improve the performance of Sb 2 S 3 /CdIn 2 S 4 photoelectrode, we introduced CdS energy platform between Sb 2 S 3 and CdIn 2 S 4 to form a Sb 2 S 3 /CdS/CdIn 2 S 4 cascaded S-scheme heterojunction. Compared with Sb 2 S 3 monomer, Sb 2 S 3 /CdS/CdIn 2 S 4 had higher absorbance intensity, IPCE value, ABPE value, and lower charge transfer resistance. In addition, the photocurrent density of the Sb 2 S 3 /CdS/CdIn 2 S 4 photoelectrode was about 4.20 mA/cm2 (1.23 V vs. RHE), which was 1.3 times higher than that of the Sb 2 S 3 /CdIn 2 S 4 photoelectrode (3.29 mA/cm2) and 3.2 times higher than that of monomer Sb 2 S 3 photoelectrode (1.32 mA/cm2). This method offers new prospects for optimizing the performance of antimony chalcogenides photoelectrodes for photoelectrochemical water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marginal seas are major sinks of fluvial sediments. Identifying the sources and quantifying the contributions of different sources are essential to studying the transport and distribution of terrestrial sediments on the shelves of marginal seas. The South Yellow Sea (SYS) to the east of the Asian continent receives sediment discharged by the Huanghe (Yellow) and Changjiang (Yangtze) rivers, and it is a favorable location for studying the provenance of marginal sea deposits. In this study, we tested the geochemistry of amphibole in different grain-size fractions (very fine sand and coarse silt) of the SYS sediments, and compared this geochemistry with those of fractions in the Huanghe River (HH) and the Changjiang River (CJ) to quantify the terrestrial provenance of the sea. The results show that for the very fine sand fraction, Zr, Be, Ga, Ge, Nb, Cd, and Hf in amphibole can be used as indicators to discriminate between the HH and CJ sediments. For the coarse silt fraction, the trace elements of Ba, Zr, Li, Rb, and Hf in amphibole can be used to distinguish the sediment of the two rivers. The mean contribution of the HH sediment to the very fine sand and coarse silt fractions of SYS is 45.0% ± 6.7% and 57.6% ± 5.9%, respectively, compared with 54.8% ± 6.7% and 42.4% ± 5.9% for the CJ, respectively. Provenance analysis of amphibole reveals spatial variation in the supply of terrigenous sediment to different parts of the SYS: the nearshore area of the Shandong Peninsula and the sea areas adjacent to the abandoned Huanghe River (FHH) estuary are supplied mainly by the HH, whereas the South and eastern parts of the SYS are supplied predominantly by the CJ. In the SYS sediment of very fine sand, a line extending from 34°N, 121°E to 35°N, 123°E demarcates the boundary between areas supplied by the HH (north) and the CJ (south), while coarse silt has a longer transport distance and higher mixing degree compared with very fine sand. This study demonstrates that quantitative analysis of the trace-element geochemistry of detrital amphibole can discriminate terrigenous sediment provenance in the mixed area of the marginal sea. • Provenance analysis new strategy: the geochemical elements of amphibole • The tracer indexes are selected to distinguish the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers • Quantification and transport diffusion of fluvial materials in marginal sea [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical unpredictability and variability following fat grafting remain non‐negligible problems due to the unknown mechanism of grafted fat retention. The role of the extracellular matrix (ECM), which renders cells with structural and biochemical support, has been ignored. This study aimed to clarify the ECM remodeling process, related cellular events, and the spatiotemporal relationship between ECM remodeling and adipocyte survival and adipogenesis after fat grafting. Labeled Coleman fat by the matrix‐tracing technique was grafted in nude mice. The ECM remodeling process and cellular events were assessed in vivo. The related cytokines were evaluated by qRT‐PCR. An in vitro cell migration assay was performed to verify the chemotactic effect of M2‐like macrophages on fibroblasts. The results demonstrated that in the periphery, most of the adipocytes of the graft survived or regenerated, and the graft‐derived ECM was gradually replaced by the newly‐formed ECM. In the central parts, most adipocytes in the grafts died shortly after, and a small part of the graft‐derived and newly‐formed ECM was expressed with irregular morphology. Adipose ECM remodeling is associated with increased infiltration of macrophages and fibroblasts, as well as up‐regulated expression of cytokines in the adipose tissue. To sum up, our results describe the various preservation mode of fat grafts after transplantation and underscore the importance of macrophage‐mediated ECM remodeling in graft preservation after fat grafting. The appreciation and manipulation of underlying mechanisms that are operant in this setting stand to explore new therapeutic approaches and improve clinical outcomes of fat grafting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Endometriosis is one of the most common gynecological diseases, and seriously reduces the quality of life of patients. However, the pathogenesis of this disease is unclear. Therefore, more studies are needed to elucidate its pathogenesis. Our previous publication found that the Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) signaling pathway was activated in endometriosis. This study tested whether SHH signaling in endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) was critical for the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Methods: To examine the effect of inhibiting the SHH signaling pathway on endometriosis, we first isolated ESCs from eutopic endometrial tissues of patients with or without endometriosis and identified the extracted cells by morphological observation and immunofluorescence. Then, we treated ESCs with the GLI inhibitor GANT61 and used CCK-8, wound healing and invasion assays to detect cell activities, such as proliferation, invasion and metastasis. Furthermore, we detected the expression of key proteins and proliferation markers of the SHH signaling pathway in the lesions of nude mice using immunochemistry. Results: We demonstrated that higher concentrations of GANT61 decreased the proliferation rate and migration distance of ESCs. We observed that GANT61 inhibited the invasion of ESCs. In addition, blockage of the SHH signaling pathway significantly reduced cell proliferation in vitro. Conclusions: Our study suggested that inhibition of the SHH pathway is involved in cell proliferation and invasive growth in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An adipose tissue engineering chamber model of spontaneous adipose tissue generation from an existing fat flap has been described. However, the chamber does not completely fill with adipose tissue in this model. Here, the effect of adipose tissue extract (ATE) on adipose tissue regeneration was investigated. In vitro, the adipogenic and angiogenic capacities of ATE were evaluated using Oil Red O and tube formation assays on adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) and rat aortic endothelial cells (RAECs), respectively. In vivo, saline or ATE was injected into the adipose tissue engineering chamber 1 week after its implantation. At different time points post-injection, the contents were morphometrically, histologically, and immunohistochemically evaluated, and the expression of growth factors and adipogenic genes was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and quantitative real-time PCR. With the exception of the baseline control group, in which fat flaps were not inserted into a chamber, the total volume of fat flap tissue increased significantly in all groups, especially in the ATE group. Better morphology and structure, a thinner capsule, and more vessels were observed in the ATE group than in the control group. Expression of angiogenic growth factors and adipogenic markers were significantly higher in the ATE group. ATE therefore significantly promoted adipose tissue regeneration and reduced capsule formation in an adipose tissue engineering chamber model. These data suggest that ATE provides a more angiogenic and adipogenic microenvironment for adipose tissue formation by releasing various cytokines and growth factors that also inhibit capsule formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on data from the Datong hydrological station and 147 meteorological stations, the influences of climate change and human activities on temporal changes in water discharge and sediment load were examined in the Yangtze River basin from 1953 to 2010. The Mann–Kendall test, abrupt change test (Mann–Kendall and cumulative anomaly test), and Morlet wavelet method were employed to analyze the water discharge and sediment load data measured at the Datong hydrological station. The results indicated that the annual mean precipitation and water discharge exhibited decreasing trends of − 0.0064 mm/10 yr and − 1.41 × 10 8 m 3 /yr, respectively, and that the water sediment load showed a significant decreasing trend of − 46.5 × 10 6 t/yr. Meanwhile, an abrupt change in the water discharge occurred in 2003. The sediment load also exhibited an abrupt change in 1985. From 1970 to 2010, the climate change and human activities contributed 72% and 28%, respectively, to the water discharge reduction. The human-induced decrease in the sediment load was 914.03 × 10 6 t/yr during the 1970s and 3301.79 × 10 6 t/yr during the 2000s. The contribution from human activities also increased from 71% to 92%, especially in the 1990s, when the value increased to 92%. Climate change and human activities contributed 14% and 86%, respectively, to the sediment load reduction. Inter-annual variations in water discharge and sediment load were affected by climate oscillations and human activities. The effect of human activities on the sediment load was considerably greater than those on water discharge in the Yangtze River basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advances in structural fat transplantation technology have significantly improved the survival rate and stability of grafts. This study investigated the importance of the spatial structural integrity of adipose tissue for adipose regeneration after fat transplantation. We sought to enhance understanding of structural fat transplantation and optimize procedures used for the clinical acquisition, purification, and transplantation of adipose tissue. In an inactivated structuration adipose tissue model established by freezing at −20 °C for 3 days, nearly all cells were dead but the structure was intact. We transplanted this adipose tissue model (group A) or non-treated adipose tissue (group B) into GFP-expressing mice. Group B showed a higher graft survival percentage and less fibrosis than group A. The macrophage infiltration (F4/80) peak period was longer in group A than in group B. The change in vessel density (CD31) was similar in the two groups: it peaked at 4 weeks after transplantation and decreased thereafter. In both groups, the number of Ki67+ cells showed a similar trend. In comparison to group B, group A had more Ki67+ cells at 4-8 weeks after transplantation, but fewer of these cells at 12 weeks after transplantation. The intact spatial structure of adipose tissue, which is supported by adipocytes and extracellular matrix, provides a niche for adipogenesis and angiogenesis after fat transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perovskite compounds are always the focus in the material research field. Herein, the polycrystalline samples and single crystals of Na 2 ZrTeO 6 , a B-site ordered double-perovskite compound, were prepared successfully. Single crystal X-ray diffraction demonstrated that Na 2 ZrTeO 6 crystallizes in the cubic space group Fm-3m (No. 225) with unit parameters of a = b = c = 7.80360(10) Å. The crystal structure of Na 2 ZrTeO 6 , formed by ZrO 6 and TeO 6 octahedra through sharing the corner oxygen atoms, belongs to the typical rock-salt-type perovskite structure. The density functional theory calculations show that Na 2 ZrTeO 6 has a direct band gap with band gap of 3.21 eV, which is lower than the experimental value of 3.85 eV. Interestingly, the powder samples of Na 2 ZrTeO 6 exhibit a self-activated near-infrared emission centered at 780 nm under ultraviolet light excitation. And a strong luminescence thermal stability was also observed. Compared to room temperature, the luminescence intensity can maintain 64 % at 200 °C. [Display omitted] • The high-purity double-perovskite Na 2 ZrTeO 6 samples were synthesized by wet chemical method. • Structure analysis indicate that Na 2 ZrTeO 6 belongs to the typical rock-salt-type perovskite structure. • Na 2 ZrTeO 6 exhibits self-activated near-infrared emission centered at 780 nm excited by 308 nm. • The sample's emission intensity maintained 64 % of its room temperature peak intensity at 200 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Wave attenuation across various complex seabed types has undergone extensive evaluation based on field measurements. • Significant positive feedback effects exist between wave attenuation and fluid mud. • The Hilbert-Huang Transform (HHT) can effectively analyze the internal structure of non-linear and non-stationary waves. • The "jacking effect" of tidal currents inhibits the transformation of wind waves into low-energy, high-frequency waves during the ebb tide. Understanding wave processes within the coastal system is crucial for the appropriate design of coastal prevention engineering and offshore structures. To address the limitations of field observations and traditional methods, an array of pressure sensors and optical instruments were deployed across a shoreward intertidal flat consisting of the fluid muddy seabed, bare flat, and salt marsh in a highly turbid coastal area. We found that the Spartina alterniflora salt marsh has the strongest wave dissipation capacity. Although bare flats have the weakest wave dissipation capacity, they are the most extensive within the intertidal zone, resulting in substantial total wave energy dissipation. A noteworthy positive feedback between fluid mud and wave dissipation is observed. Additionally, the incident waves undergo complex transitions during propagation, which are strongly modulated by tidal influences. In particular, when the wave propagation direction is opposite to the tidal current, there is an amplification of wave energy within the tidal flat. This amplification is attributed to the "jacking effect" of the tidal current, hindering the transformation of the wind waves into the low-energy capillary waves. It is important to note that the high-energy infragravity waves are gradually released and steadily increase as the incident waves propagate shoreward. This implies their potentially significant role in nearshore processes, especially during extreme dynamic events or along extensive coastlines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sulfur isotopic composition (δ34S) of Carbonate Associated Sulfate (CAS) is widely used to track changes in the isotopic composition of ancient seawater sulfate which signify the global sulfur cycle, Earth's surface redox evolution, and biological activity. However, our understanding of to what extent the isotopic composition of CAS records ambient seawater sulfate is primarily deduced from modern calcifying species. A few studies have examined modern bulk carbonate sediments which are important analogs for sedimentary carbonate rocks in the geologic record. To evaluate the fidelity of bulk carbonate sediments in recording ambient seawater δ34S values, we extracted CAS component and provided δ34S CAS results of five modern corals from the Hainan Island and 74 core-top unlithified carbonate sediments from the Nansha Islands in the South China Sea. Modern coral samples show a uniform δ34S CAS range from 21.5‰ to 21.7‰ close to previously published δ34S values for modern coral and seawater in other open oceans, consistent with globally homogeneous seawater δ34S compositions (i.e., δ34S sw = 21.2 ± 0.2‰). The δ34S CAS values of core-top carbonate sediments vary within a narrow range from 21.1‰ to 22.1‰, which is fractionated from the overlying seawater by 0.4‰ ± 0.2‰. We suggest that these irregularly positive but small S-isotope fractionations (<1‰) are potentially due to the varying proportions of various calcifying organism granules with species-dependent sulfur isotopic fractionation. Overall, our data indicate that the CAS of bulk carbonate sediments from the open ocean settings is a reliable archive of seawater δ34S composition, provided the isotopic compositions have not been altered by post-depositional diagenesis. • New and detailed δ34S CAS data of bulk carbonate sediments in the South China Sea. • Modern corals data confirms globally homogeneous δ34S sw composition. • Small positive δ34S fractionation (<1‰) from seawater has been shown in carbonates. • Calcifying organisms with species-dependent fractionation may lead to δ34S offset. • Bulk carbonates can be used as reliable archives for ancient seawater δ34S value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Bungarus multicinctus is one of the top ten venomous snakes in China. Its venom is mainly neurotoxin-based. Novel antivenom drugs need to be further researched and developed. Objective. This study aimed to explore the molecular mechanism of Cynanchum paniculatum in treating Bungarus multicinctus bites based on network pharmacology. Material and methods. The potential active ingredients of Cynanchum paniculatum were screened and their SDF structures were obtained using the PubChem database and imported into the SwissTargetPrediction database, and targets were obtained for the antitoxin effects of Cynanchum paniculatum in the treatment of Bungarus multicinctus bites. The Cynanchum paniculatum-active compound-potential target network and protein-protein interaction network were constructed by using Cytoscape software, and then biological function analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were performed using the DAVID. Results. Seven potential active components (cynapanoside C, cynatratoside B, tomentolide A, sitosterol, sarcostin, tomentogenin, and paeonol) and 286 drug targets were obtained, including 30 key targets for the treatment of bungarotoxin toxicity. The active components mainly acted on PIK3CA, MAPK1, MAP2K1, JAK2, FYN, ACHE, CHRNA7, CHRNA4, and CHRNB2, and they antagonized the inhibitory effect of bungarotoxin on the nervous system through cholinergic synapses and the neurotrophin signaling pathway. Conclusions. Cynanchum paniculatum exerts a therapeutic effect on Bungarus multicinctus bites through multiple active components, multiple targets, and multiple pathways. The findings provide a theoretical basis for the extraction of active components of Cynanchum paniculatum and for related antivenom experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop yield stability and soil mineral nitrogen (Nmin) have rarely been evaluated from a long-term perspective in the extremely arid cropland regions of China. Therefore, a nationwide experiment aimed to optimize fertilizer application and increase productivity and nitrogen use efficiency in gray desert soils was initiated in 1990. Eight combinations of chemical fertilizers (CK, N, NK, NP, and NPK), straw return (NPKS), and manure amendments (NPKM and NPKM+) were tested for 24 years on spring wheat, winter wheat, and maize. The results displayed that the yield of three crops from balanced fertilizer treatments (NPK, NPKS, NPKM, and NPKM+) did not differ significantly after 24 years; however, reliable yield stability due to lower coefficient of variation (CV) and higher nitrogen harvest index (NHI) were recorded for manure amendment treatments. Compared to NPKM, NHI was lower for the NPKM+ treatment, but crop yield and stability did not improve, suggesting that the appropriate choice for manure amendment is important for guaranteeing food security in extremely arid regions. Balanced fertilizer treatments resulted in lower Nmin residual in the 300 cm soil profile, compared to unbalanced fertilizer treatments. The NPKS treatment gave the lowest value. In the 0–100 cm soil profile, Nmin was higher in NPKM than in the NPK treatment, suggesting that straw or manure amendment can effectively maintain Nmin in the topsoil undercurrent cropland management in arid areas. The NPKM treatment had the highest crop nitrogen recovery rate and the lowest nitrogen losses, further illustrating that manure amendment has higher N retention potential. Overall, although Nmin residues are relatively high in these regions, balanced fertilizer treatments, especially NPKM and NPKS, are the optimum strategies in extremely arid regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] A novel thienoacene derivative C6-DBTTA is synthesized. [•] Thermal, optical and electrochemical properties of the C6-DBTTA were studied. [•] The field effect transistor based on the semiconductor C6-DBTTA was constructed and characterized. [•] The microstructure of thin films was characterized by XRD. [•] The morphology of thin films was characterized by AFM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exploitation and utilization of genetic variation in crop germplasm benefit genomics-informed breeding programs. The integration of genome-wide association study (GWAS) and genomic prediction (GP) holds promise for illustrating genetic basis of phenotypic variation. Currently, the use of this integrative approach for dissecting grain protein and amino acid traits remains limited in crop species. The research objectives were to identify significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with seed protein and amino acids and to assess the genomic predictive ability for nutritional traits in natural population of foxtail millet. In this study, the concentrations of seed protein and 17 amino acids were assessed in a training population consisting of 238 diverse accessions of foxtail millet. The significant SNPs associated with these phenotypes were identified by GWAS with a mix-linear model. Extensive cross-validation was performed to evaluate the accuracy of genomic prediction of seed nutritional traits. Furthermore, the genomic prediction model was optimized and externally validated in 211 untested materials with the most significant SNPs obtained from GWAS. A significant genotype variance was detected for seed protein and amino acids and broad-sense heritability (h 2 ) ranged from 0.45 to 0.87 (P < 0.05). The GWAS identified 39 significant SNPs associated with 15 amino acids (p < 1e-06), explaining an average of 12.2% phenotypic variation per locus. The number of significant SNPs ranged from 1 (Asp, Ile, Glu) to 23 for Phe amino acid, including six SNPs associated with one or multiple amino acids. In the training population, the prediction accuracies of protein and amino acids, tested using the 10-fold cross-validation model with whole genome-wide SNPs, ranged from 0.23 (Glu) to 0.60 (Lys) with an average value of 0.44%. Population structure had little effect on the prediction accuracy. In an empirical validation experiment involving 211 untested accessions, the averaged prediction accuracy increased by 12.3% across all traits when using the 1000 top SNPs obtained from GWAS, compared with the same number of randomly selected SNPs from the entire genome. Large variations of seed protein and amino acids were found in a natural population of foxtail millet. GWAS identified 39 significant SNPs associated with 15 amino acids, and six SNPs were linked to more than one trait. The 10-fold cross-validation model produced the relatively higher prediction accuracies in seed quality traits of diverse accessions. By applying the significant SNPs from GWAS to the untested accessions, the use of 1000 GWAS-top SNPs resulted in more powerful predictions for complex nutritional traits than those using the same number of randomly selected SNPs across the genome. The research highlights the importance and effectiveness of integrative GWAS and genomic prediction in revealing the genetic architecture of seed protein and amino acid variation in foxtail millet. The results provide valuable insights into assessment and improvement of germplasm resources for advancing precision crop phenotyping and enhancing breeding programs for crop nutritional traits. • Foxtail millet accessions showed large variations of seed protein and amino acids. • GWAS identified 39 SNP markers significantly associated with seed amino acids. • The 10-fold cross-validation model achieved high accuracy in predicting seed amino acids. • Using 1000 GWAS-top SNPs effectively predicted seed amino acids in untested accessions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• It is essential to utilize diverse sources of observational data for the validation of long-term morphological simulations. • The multiple underlayer settings of the Delft3D model enable its acquisition of decadal bed layer stratigraphy. • Wind and waves sort sediment based on grain size, smoothing out morphological changes induced by tides. • Sea level rise significantly influences regions characterized by intricate morphological features. • Radial sand ridges form under a radial regime with low tidal ellipticity, abundant sand, and minor cohesive sediment. The tidal sand ridges in the southwestern Yellow Sea are unique in the world characterized by radial morphology, significantly higher elevation above low water level, and fine-grained sediment deposits. Using a numerical model, we examined the morphological evolution of the radial sand ridge system from 1979 to 2059. The model was calibrated and validated using hydrodynamic and sediment transport data, seabed topography, and grain size distributions from sediment cores. Our findings reveal that tidal force is the primary driver of the ridges' evolution, and they will continue to expand in response to sediment supply from the abandoned Yellow River delta and the Yangtze delta, with the latter contributing more. The ridges are mainly composed of fine sand and mud, with finer sediment dominating in the north and coarser sediment dominating in the south. Wind and waves sort sediment, depositing sand on ridges and fine sediment in channels, leading to erosion of higher elevated lands and filling of deep channels. Sea-level rise increases regional erosion, which has a large impact on areas with complex morphology. The 500-year morphological evolution of sand ridge systems, simulated through an idealized model, illustrated that the formation of radial sand ridges is dependent upon specific conditions such as the radial tidal regime, sufficient sediment sand, and the presence of cohesive sediment. This study deepens our understanding of the long-term prediction of coastal morphology and interpretation of seabed stratigraphy, and offers insights for effective coastal management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cross-front transport is a vital process in the offshore transport of terrestrial materials. The factors influencing cross-front transport are multifaceted and exhibit regional variability. As important factors regulating material transport patterns in the shelf seas of eastern China, the East Asian Winter Monsoon (EAWM) and Kuroshio current (including its branches) vary on multiple time scales, yet their role in controlling offshore transport is not fully understood. In this paper, cross-front offshore transport in the North Yellow Sea is chosen to investigate the aforementioned issue using numerical simulation. By excluding other potential processes for offshore transport, frontal instability is identified as the primary mechanism for offshore transport, which is triggered by winter storms (bursts of the EAWM); hence, the intensity of offshore transport is highly associated with the strength of winter storms on synoptic scales. However, on the inter-annual scale, the intensity of offshore transport is more likely regulated by the strength of the Kuroshio current, and a warming Kuroshio facilitates offshore transport. Although the role of each factor in controlling the intensity of offshore transport is delineated, the interactive effects of the EAWM and Kuroshio current on offshore transport are quite intricate, and how to quantitatively estimate their roles on multiple time scales remains a challenge using modelling. The results obtained from this study can be applied to analyse cross-front transport throughout the eastern China seas and bear significant implications for future studies on pollutant diffusion, nutrient distribution, and sediment transport in the coastal area. • Cross-front transport around the Shandong Peninsula was revealed using a numerical model. • EAWM and Kuroshio affect the strength of cross-front transport on different time scales. • With global warming, the temperature of Kuroshio might gradually become the primary control of cross-front transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic field effect transistors (OFETs) have potential applications in gas sensing area, but the performance and diversity of n-type OFETs are still far behind that of p-type OFETs due to the poor stability in air atmosphere. Herein, a series of novel dicyanomethylene-terminated quinoids compounds were synthesized and characterized by using electron withdrawing aromatic heterocycles as the core structural units. The introduction of alkyl branch chain greatly improves the solubility, which is helpful to the preparation of thin film OFETs devices by low-cost solution method. These OFETs show typical n-channel FET characteristics with mobility ranging from 10−3∼10−1 cm2V−1s−1. Among them, the 3-T-TZCN based OFETs exhibit the best stability, in which the mobility decreased no more than 18 % after 90 days stored in air atmosphere, this is an outstanding performance compared with the previous researches. We further investigated the dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP, which is a substitute for detecting sarin) gas sensing performance of each material, the experimental results indicated that the sensitivity, recovery and stability of 3-T-TZCN are better than other materials, and the limit of detection can be lower to 10 ppb level. This general approach could offer new solution for constructing n-type OFET-based gas sensors with good stability in air atmosphere. [Display omitted] ● A series of novel dicyanomethylene-terminated quinoids compounds were synthesized. ● The solution-processed OFETs show good electron mobility up to 0.1 cm2V−1s−1. ● The OFETs exhibit good long-term ambient stability when placed in air for 90 days. ● The OFETs sensors show good sensitivity, selectivity and stability to DMMP gas. ● The limit of detection for DMMP gas can be lower to 10 ppb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Estuarine geomorphic units exhibit varying response mechanisms to river floods. • The fine-grained sediment of tidal flat logarithmically correlated with peak flow. • Dams modified the quantitative relationship of sedimentary record to river floods. Interpretation of sedimentary records is a crucial method for studying paleo-floods. However, the response intensity of sedimentary records to floods may be altered by reservoir storage. Therefore, depicting flood intensity in sedimentary records and alterations in the response relationship is the primary challenge in paleo-flood reconstruction. This study used the Yalu River catchment–estuary–coast as the research area and quantitatively reconstructed the response relationship between sediment grain size composition and flood intensity. This was conducted through a combination of forward simulation of the HYDROTREND hydrological model and reconstruction of sedimentary records, as well as evaluating the impact of reservoir regulation on the quantitative relationship. The findings showed that the lower Yalu River channel and tidal flat were both efficient at preserving flood records. However, there were significant differences in the response of different geomorphic units to floods. The river channel showed a significant increase in the coarse-sensitive component, whereas the tidal flat exhibited a substantial increase in the fine-sensitive component. Further study showed that there was a significant logarithmic relationship between the content of the fine-sensitive fraction and flood intensity. The sensitivity of the fine-sensitive fraction towards small floods was much higher than that toward extreme floods. In addition, reservoir construction caused a significant shift in the relationship between flood intensity and flood-related sensitive sediment fractions. Consequently, the reconstructed flood intensities of the pre-dam construction showed diverse levels of magnification based on the quantitative relationship between the sedimentary record and flood intensity of the post-dam. Meanwhile, this shift led to an increase in flood intensity corresponding to the critical value of the flood record that could be detected: from floods with a return period exceeding two years before dam construction to floods with a return period exceeding five years after dam construction. This study has quantitatively reconstructed the relationship between sediment grain size fractions and flood intensity and assessed the impact of reservoir construction on the quantitative relationship. It has also provided new ideas for more accurate reconstruction of paleo-flood intensity changes in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel two-dimensional organic semiconductor material [1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]benzothieno[2,1-b:3,4-b′:6,5-b′′:7,8-b′′′]tetra(benzothiophene) (BTBTTBT) which largely extends the scope of the π-conjugated framework of heteroarene through “H” configuration was synthesized and its thermal, optical and electrochemical properties were investigated. This 2D molecule enables the easy growth of single-crystalline microribbons by the physical vapor transport method, which were evidenced by XRD, SEM and TEM. The single-crystalline OFET devices were fabricated based on the individual BTBTTBT microribbon and the remarkable high mobility of 17.9 cm2 V−1 s−1 and on/off ratios of over 107 could be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To investigate the relationship between the S100P and the sensitivity of ovarian cancer to chemotherapeutics. Method: We established stable cell lines of ovarian cancer cells, SKOV3 and OVCAR3, that overexpress human S100P. We also transiently transfected the parent cell lines with S100P-targeted siRNA for down-regulation of S100P expression. The sensitivity of all transfected and untransfected cell lines to carboplatin and paclitaxel was detected by MTT assay. Results: For both cells, IC50s decreased to carboplatin and paclitaxel (p <0.05), with overexpression of S100P compared to untransfected cells. Alternatively, with down-regulation of S100P by siRNA, the IC50 to carboplatin and paclitaxel increased in each case (p <0.05), which was significantly higher compared to untransfected cells. Conclusion: Changes in expression levels of S100P in SKOV3 and OVCAR3 cells results in variable susceptibility to carboplatin and paclitaxel. These data suggest that S100P contributes to chemosensitivity to carboplatin and paclitaxel in ovarian cancer cells. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Nanoporous Al2O3 with well-defined pore structure, crystallized framework and spherical morphology has been prepared by a facile template-free approach, which involves the preparation via homogeneous precipitation and subsequent decomposition of spherical basic aluminium sulphate particles. The particle size of the spheres can be tuned by controlling the holding time from the beginning of precipitation, and a proper decomposition temperature is important to get high surface area, high pore volume and well-defined pore structures. By the similar way, nanoporous ZrO2 and TiO2 spherical particles can also be prepared. These nanoporous oxides all have moderately high surface area (50–70 m2/g) and well-defined nanopores of around 4–12 nm with very narrow pore size distribution. The frameworks of these oxide spheres consist of many small nanocrystallites, between which the nanopores exist. Compared with the soft and hard template routes, this decomposition strategy of sulphates for nanoporous oxides has the advantages of simplicity and low cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the case of a 12-year-old girl with an unusual "third upper extremity" developed in her back around the axis. Radiography, ultrasound, computed tomography scan, and magnetic resonance imaging revealed the development of a complex deformity comprised of long bones and fluid, largely resembling an upper limb; as well as a fluid-filled membrane sac whose contents favored a fetus in fetu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, needlelike and dispersible hillebrandite (Ca2(SiO3)(OH)2) and β-dicalcium silicate (β-Ca2SiO4) fibers, 1.0–1.5 μm in diameter and 15–25 μm in length were prepared by a modified hydrothermal method. In vitro bioactivity and dissolution of the two types of fibers were evaluated by soaking in the simulated body fluid (SBF) for various periods. Hydroxyapatite-like aggregates appeared on the fibers after soaking for 7 days, and uniform lathlike agglomerates with typical morphology of hydroxyapatite (HAp) formed after 14 days. It was observed that the fibers after soaking still kept stability in fibrous morphology with an aspect ratio in the range of 6–9. The Ca2(SiO3)(OH)2 and β-Ca2SiO4 fibers dissolved about 30.91 and 30.42%, respectively, within 14 days. The two types of fibers exhibited certain desirable characteristics including bioactivity, degradability and stability in morphology, and they are promising candidates as reinforcement reagents to develop novel bioactive composites for biomedical applications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The rare-earth intermetallic Dy3Al2 is a low-temperature permanent magnet with temperature-induced spin reorientation transition. In this work, we report the observation of magnetic domains in lamellae of Dy3Al2 using Liquid-Nitrogen cryo-Lorentz transmission electronic microscopy (cryo-LTEM) above TSR (70 K). We studied the magnetic field dependence of domain evolution from stripe domains at zero magnetic field to the saturation state. When the easy axis lies within the lamella plane, stripe domains gradually narrow and disappear as the applied field increases. The saturation field decreases with the increasing temperature. In the presence of misalignment between the easy axis and external field, stripe domains evolve into type-II magnetic bubbles (as small as 50–60 nm). The spin configuration was further verified by utilizing differential phase contrast scanning transmission microscopy and micromagnetic simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]