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Limited-angle computed tomography (CT) image reconstruction is a challenging problem in the field of CT imaging. In some special applications, limited by the geometric space and mechanical structure of the imaging system, projections can only be collected with a scanning range of less than 90°. We call this kind of serious limited-angle problem the ultra-limited-angle problem, which is difficult to effectively alleviate by traditional iterative reconstruction algorithms. With the development of deep learning, the generative adversarial network (GAN) performs well in image inpainting tasks and can add effective image information to restore missing parts of an image. In this study, given the characteristic of GAN to generate missing information, the sinogram-inpainting-GAN (SI-GAN) is proposed to restore missing sinogram data to suppress the singularity of the truncated sinogram for ultra-limited-angle reconstruction. We propose the U-Net generator and patch-design discriminator in SI-GAN to make the network suitable for standard medical CT images. Furthermore, we propose a joint projection domain and image domain loss function, in which the weighted image domain loss can be added by the back-projection operation. Then, by inputting a paired limited-angle/180° sinogram into the network for training, we can obtain the trained model, which has extracted the continuity feature of sinogram data. Finally, the classic CT reconstruction method is used to reconstruct the images after obtaining the estimated sinograms. The simulation studies and actual data experiments indicate that the proposed method performed well to reduce the serious artifacts caused by ultra-limited-angle scanning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study systematically investigated the binding of the subunits and spike (S) proteins of SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV to heparan sulfate (HS) and sialic acid-containing glycans. Our results revealed that all the tested protein molecules can bind to HS in a sulfation-dependent manner and no binding with sialic acid residues was detected. Overall, this work suggests that HS binding may be a general mechanism for the attachment of these coronaviruses to host cells, and supports the potential importance of HS in infection and in the development of antiviral agents against these viruses. [Display omitted] The pandemic of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a high number of deaths in the world. To combat it, it is necessary to develop a better understanding of how the virus infects host cells. Infection normally starts with the attachment of the virus to cell-surface glycans like heparan sulfate (HS) and sialic acid-containing glycolipids/glycoproteins. In this study, we examined and compared the binding of the subunits and spike (S) proteins of SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and Middle East respiratory disease (MERS)-CoV to these glycans. Our results revealed that the S proteins and subunits can bind to HS in a sulfation-dependent manner and no binding with sialic acid residues was detected. Overall, this work suggests that HS binding may be a general mechanism for the attachment of these coronaviruses to host cells, and supports the potential importance of HS in infection and in the development of antiviral agents against these viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Introduce an evaluation approach for the Ecological Service Value of Water (ESV-W). • Improve the assessment of Ecosystem Services Value (ESV) by introducing the Agricultural Price Index (API) into the Equivalence Factor (EF). • Improve the Water Allocation and Simulation Model (WAS) to simulate and quantify the 'natural-artificial' soil water cycle. • Analysis of the ESV and ESV-W in the Yangtze River Basin from 2005 to 2020. This paper introduces an evaluation approach for the Ecological Service Value of Water (ESV-W) by coupling the assessment of Ecosystem Services Value (ESV) with the Water Allocation and Simulation Model (WAS). The proposed method is applied to evaluate ESV and ESV-W in the Yangtze River Basin from 2005 to 2020. Firstly, an improved Equivalence Factor (EF) method is employed to estimate ESV by considering different land use types and service categories. Then, the enhanced WAS model is used to quantify and identify the role of the 'natural-artificial' soil water cycle in supporting the ecological service functions. Finally, by integrating the ESV evaluation system with the WAS model, the evaluation method for ESV-W is established. The results indicated that from 2005 to 2020, the total ESV increased from 4.0 to 5.6 trillion US Dollars, with forests being the primary contributor among land use types (about 52%), and regulating services are dominating among service categories (about 70%). The spatial distribution of the ESV showed a decreasing trend from southeast to northwest in the Yangtze River Basin, while the ESV-W exhibited high values concentrated along the main stream of the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and lower in the middle. The ESV-W of the 'natural' soil water cycle still dominates (over 96%), but the ESV-W of the 'artificial' soil water cycle has been rapidly increasing in recent years. In 2020, the ESV-W per unit water of precipitation, irrigation, and ecological water were 4.0 Dollars/ m 3 , 0.7 Dollars/ m 3 , and 32.4 Dollars/ m 3 , respectively. This study aims to provide references for the protection of water ecosystems and the sustainable utilization of water resources. It also serves as a reference for improving the evaluation system of ESV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A life cycle costing method was developed to optimize the cow raising system. • Using manure as fertilizer yields the greatest environmental and economic benefits. • Manure management choices are responsible for 58% of the carbon footprint variation. • Investment in fertilizer utilization yields up to a 3-fold environmental benefit. • Chinese milk production may reach a carbon peak value of 69 Mt CO 2 eq by 2057. Waste management signifies an equilibrium between environmental and economic factors. However, a comprehensive understanding of the integrated life cycle environmental-economic performance of waste management activities remains unclear. To facilitate a systematic linkage between the economic and environmental sectors, a regionalized life cycle assessment-based life cycle costing method was developed based on China's actual status quo. The cow manure utilization was set as an entry point to explored long-term environmental-economic performance of milk production under various manure utilization pathways. The results show that trade-offs were observed between internal and external costs as well as various environmental indicators. The choice of waste utilization is the focal point of environmental-economic trade-offs in the cow raising system. The optimal environmental-economic performance was achieved through the manure fertilizer utilization pathway, yielding a remarkable three-fold increase in marginal environmental benefits. Compared with fertilizer utilization, the manure direct returning to field reduced the carbon footprint by 12% while induced an external cost of $14.3. The wastewater treatment pathway is $ 5.5 lower in internal costs but $ 11.7 higher in external costs than those of fertilizer utilization. Overall, utilizing manure has potential to mitigate the upward trend of carbon footprint and external costs. However, achieving the carbon peak remains a significant challenge. A promising solution is the recycling of straw resources within cropping systems, particularly in hotspot regions (e.g., Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Hebei, and Shandong). A comprehensive analysis of the dynamic interplay between cropping systems and cow raising systems is critical steps towards realizing a carbon-neutral future within the dairy production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exploration of novel ultrawide bandgap (UWBG) semiconductors is becoming a challenging and compelling research focus on semiconductor physics, materials, and device applications. Ternary B–C–N compounds have attracted much attention because their electronic structure and semiconductor properties are quite different depending on the chemical composition and atomic arrangement of boron, carbon, and nitrogen elements in the lattice. However, the lack of well-controlled high-quality B–C–N crystals has limited their potential as UWBG devices. In this study, B–C–N compounds are synthesized in bulks from graphite and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) using ball milling and high-pressure high temperature technique. The synthesized B–C–N compounds produced are highly crystallized layered-materials with intercalated graphene layers in C-doped h-BN layers. The doped carbon atoms occupy boron sites and nitrogen sites of the h-BN layers unbalanced, giving rise to the n-type conductivity of the B-C-N layered compounds. The measured optical bandgaps range from 3.4 to 6.0 eV, which can be regulated by the carbon content. Their electronic properties are also tunable. Our work is expected to initiate potential applications of the B–C–N material as UWBG semiconductors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The textile industry, associated with substantial resource consumption, has posed crucial environmental challenges, mainly in climate change, energy, and water crisis. Considering that cotton is the most manufactured natural fiber and that textile dyeing plays an indispensable role in serving people's demand for fashion and aesthetics, this study conducted an integrated impact-oriented carbon–water–energy (CWE) footprint analysis of dyed cotton fabric production in China from a cradle-to-gate perspective. Results showed that the carbon, energy, and freshwater ecotoxicity footprints of dyeing 1 ton of pure cotton fabrics were 15627.20 kg CO 2 eq, 3405.30 kg oil eq, and 2.01 × 105 PAF·m3·d, respectively. Fiber production, chemical production, and direct emissions were identified as the major contributors to CWE footprints. Cotton straw mulching, advanced dyeing technology, and national power structure optimization were explored to foster sustainable optimization of the cotton-made textile industry. At the conventional wet-processing stage, the dyeing phase had the greatest contribution (56.3%–85.6%) to the environmental impacts from chemicals, followed by pretreatment with a 13.8%–28.3% share. Nonaqueous dyeing routes reduced carbon footprint by 49.1% and water scarcity by 75% compared with water-based dyeing processes, with noticeable increases in noncarcinogen and carcinogen categories. Comprehensive wastewater discharge regulations should be further developed, and the scientific layout between regions along the supply chain from the upstream link to dyeing areas should be strengthened to effectively manage environmental pressures in the textile dyeing industry. • A carbon–water–energy footprint analysis of cotton fabric dyeing is conducted. • Fiber cultivation, chemicals, and direct emissions dominated the footprint. • Heavy metals discharged to water played a 31.8% role on freshwater ecotoxicity. • Sodium sulfate and dyes prevailed in the footprint of chemicals for wet-processing. • Straw utilization and renewable energy utilization yield environmental benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When organic molecules are detected by gas-sensitive test, an oxidation-reduction reaction is triggered to consume adsorbed oxygen, and the change of material conductance resulting from the consumption of adsorbed oxygen is detected. In this paper, the molecular adsorption and gas-sensitive behavior of WO 3 (200) and (002) crystal planes are investigated. Density functional theory (DFT) simulations reveals that ethanol (C 2 H 5 OH) and oxygen molecules (O 2) have different adsorption active sites on the (200) and (002) crystal planes, there is no adsorption competition between C 2 H 5 OH molecules and O 2 molecules on the crystal plane, resulting the two crystal planes exhibit excellent selectivity for ethanol gas. Compared with other molecules, acetone (C 2 H 6 CO) and O 2 occupy the closest adsorption active sites on the (200) crystal plane, resulting in increased adsorption competition, which prolongs the response time and reduces the gas-sensitive selectivity. The molecular adsorption behavior holds important theoretical significance for studying the gas-sensitivity properties of materials. • The co-adsorption of ethanol and O 2 molecules makes selectivity of ethanol better. • Acetone molecules produce competitive adsorption with O 2 molecules. • WO 3 (200) and (002) crystal planes have different gas-sensitive selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potatoes, as a crucial crop for future food security, face challenges due to environmental externalities throughout their production process, which may impede the industry's environmental and economic sustainability. However, knowledge gaps persist regarding the integrated environmental-economic performance of potato production systems. This study aims to (1) construct the linkages among potato agronomic activities, pollution emissions, environmental impacts, and economic input and output, (2) evaluate the environmental-economic burden flows of potato production across 26 provinces in China from 2011 to 2020, (3) explore the spatiotemporal variation of environmental–economic performance, and (4) provide feasible recommendation for sustainable potato production. This study developed an integrated life cycle environmental-economic assessment framework that combines life cycle environmental impact assessment, economic assessment, and life cycle costing methods. Chinese status quo (e.g., temperature, precipitation, population, life expectancy, geographic location, and resource conditions) and field remediation projects were considered. The results reveal that in 2020, the external costs associated with potato production amounted to $3.3 billion, constituting 17.2% of the total costs (including actual and external costs). Predominantly, these external costs are predominantly attributable to the global warming impact, with an estimated 172.1 kg CO 2 eq per ton of potatoes produced. Accounting for external costs, the profitability of potato production is projected to decrease by 35.7%. Targeted reduction in fertilizer and electricity inputs could mitigate external costs by 1.5 and 2 times, respectively. Although the potential exists for sustainability improvements, our analysis indicates current potato production has environmental-economic merits compared with major crops. Consuming 100 g of cooked potatoes can help avoid approximately 1.29 min of health damage. Temporal variations highlight a positive trend in potato production in China, wherein a harmonious balance between economic development and environmental protection is observed. Nonetheless, regional disparities in environmental-economic performance are evident, with high-output areas primarily concentrated in the central region (between 100°E and 110°E), yet seldom achieving high efficiency. This study underscores the importance of leveraging the potential of potato production in regions like Shanxi, Shandong, and the Yangtze River basin to enhance overall environmental-economic sustainability in the potato industry and foster sustainable agricultural development in China. [Display omitted] • A life cycle environmental–economic assessment of potato production is conducted. • Environmental burden of potato production potentially reduces profitability by 36%. • Reducing input in fertilizer use yields environmental benefits by 1.5 times. • Eating potato has environmental–economy–nutrition benefits compared to staple foods. • Energy utilization of potato straw has environmental–economic synergistic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined microbialites deposited near the Permian–Triassic boundary (PTB) at the Xiejiacao section of South China, including the size and morphology of pyrite framboids, carbonate carbon isotopes (δ13C carb), carbonate associated sulfur isotope (δ34S CAS), major and trace elements, and total organic carbon (TOC) concentrations. The microbialite unit is much thicker than the PTB beds in deeper water sections, providing more detailed geochemical records from that time. A prominent negative δ13C carb excursion was recognized in association with the second phase of the Permian–Triassic mass extinction (PTME), comparable with that of several other shallow platform facies sections worldwide. δ34S CAS stratigraphic profiles also show a negative excursion, with minimum values occurring slightly later than those of δ13C carb. The minimum peak can be calibrated to the middle part of the conodont Isarcicella staeschei Zone, corresponding to the second phase of PTME. Over all, the carbon and sulfur isotopes demonstrate a coupled long-term relationship with large negative excursions during the Permian–Triassic transition followed by gradual recovery in the lowest Triassic, represented an extremely low concentration of sulfate in the ocean during this period. In contrast, the C S isotopes are strongly decoupled within the microbialite unit, which could be linked with the oxygen-poor conditions and microbial sulfate reduction (MSR: Sulfate reducing microorganisms facilitated the precipitation of sulfide and carbonate, such as SO 4 2− + 2CH 2 O → H 2 S + 2HCO 3 −). The second phase of PTME was calibrated to the top of the microbialite unit, which was marked by the second δ13C carb -δ34S CAS negative excursions. The distinct marine oxygen deficiency was indicated by the small pyrite framboids, relatively high values of U EF (>1) and Ce/Ce* (>0.8). Combined with the previous biostratigraphic work, we propose that continuous volcanic activity induced intensified marine anoxia, leading to biotic mortality in the second phase of the PTME. Overall, our isotopic and geochemical data, integrated with results of previous studies, provided a new explanation for the carbon and sulfur isotope variations and additional evidences into the concurrent environmental changes during the Permian–Triassic transition. • Despite showing a coupled long-term relationship during the P–Tr transition, C-S isotopes were decoupled within microbialite. • Decoupled C-S isotopes within microbialite could be linked with oxygen-poor condition and active microbial sulfate reduction. • The 2nd phase of PTME is marked by δ13C carb and δ34S CAS negative excursions and marine anoxia induced by volcanic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overcoming resistance to alkylating agents has important clinical significance in glioma. Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) has a tumor-suppressive effect on tumor cells. However, whether it plays a role in temozolomide resistance in glioma is still unclear. We constructed a TMZ-resistant LN-18/TR glioma cell line, observed the effect of C3G on TMZ resistance in this cell line, and explored the role of miR-214-5p in chemoresistance. Results showed that β-catenin and MGMT were significantly upregulated in LN-18/TR cells. C3G upregulated miR-214-5p and enhanced the cytotoxic effect of temozolomide on LN-18/TR cells. Contrarily, C3G downregulated β-catenin and MGMT. Moreover, the miR-214-5p mimic downregulated β-catenin and MGMT in LN-18/TR cells, whereas the miR-214-5p inhibitor had the opposite effect; the miR-214-5p inhibitor significantly blocked the C3G-induced downregulation of β-catenin and MGMT. C3G or the miR-214-5p mimic enhanced temozolomide-induced apoptosis in LN-18/TR cells, whereas the miR-214-5p inhibitor blocked this effect. Furthermore, C3G or miR-214-5p agomir combined with TMZ significantly inhibited the growth of LN-18/TR tumors. Collectively, our research discovered the potential signaling mechanism associated with C3G-mediated suppression of TMZ resistance in LN-18/TR cells through miR-214-5p, which can facilitate the treatment of MGMT-induced resistance in glioma cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three novel chromophores B - D have been synthesized based on thiophene derivatived donors, including 5-(methyl(phenyl)amino)thiophene 5-(bis(4-methoxyphenyl)amino)thiophene 5-((4-methoxyphenyl)(methyl)amino)thiophene groups respectively, with the same isophorone-derived bridge and tricyanovinyldihydrofuran (TCF) acceptors. A new strategy was proposed to improve the electron donating ability of the chromophore, thienyl groups were explored as a replacement for the phenyl unit in the donor part of the chromophore. Density functional theory calculations suggested that the first hyperpolarizability of (arylamino) thiophene donor-containing chromophore B - D is about 20% higher than that of 4-(dialkylamino) phenyl counterpart chromophore A. At least 50% enhancement in bulk nonlinearity (r 33) is realized as the donor subunits were changed from alkylaniline to (arylamino) thiophene donors. Polymeric thin films doped with 25 wt% chromophore B - D have been poled to afford large r 33 values of 131, 143 and 138 p.m./V at 1.31 μm, respectively, which is much higher than the EO activity of chromophore A (88 pm/V). [Display omitted] • Three novel chromophores B-D with different thiophene-derived donor had been synthesized. • The r 33 value of film-C/PMMA and D/PMMA is 143 and 138 p.m./V, respectively, at 1.31 μm. • The decomposition temperatures of chromophores B-D are higher than 240 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facilitated transport membrane with fixed and mobile carriers is essential yet challenging to improve the CO 2 capture. Herein, a facilitated transport membrane with continuous pathway was constructed by the in-situ interlinkage of mobile aniline with the fixed carriers distributing along electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers. In this membrane, fixed amine carriers are introduced through the alkalinous hydrolysis of PAN fibers (HPAN), and are distributed along the HPAN fibers to construct a long-range continuous transport pathway for CO 2. The mobile aniline carriers are introduced into the interfibrous voids of the HPAN nanofibers mat (NFM) by in-situ polymerization of Poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA), which interlink the fixed amine carriers to achieve the facilitated transport pathway continuous completely. And the fixed amine and mobile aniline carriers are demonstrated to co-exist in the An/PEO@HPAN membrane (NFCM) by the FTIR and XPS results. Meanwhile, the XRD and DSC results indicate that the introduction of aniline increases the free volume of PEO matrix, which is beneficial for enhancing CO 2 permeation. Therefore, the 10 wt% An/PEO@HPAN-3h NFCM presents 90.81 % and 13.15 % increases in CO 2 permeability and CO 2 /N 2 selectivity under mixed gas at 0.3 MPa in contrast with the membrane without mobile aniline carriers. Under mixed gas conditions, this NFCM exhibits CO 2 permeability of 202.93 Barrer and CO 2 /N 2 selectivity of 83.89 at 0.1 MPa, reaching the 2019 McKeown upper bound. [Display omitted] • Fixed amine carriers are distributed along the HPAN nanofibers. • Mobile aniline carriers are introduced with in-situ polymerization of PEGDA. • Aniline interlinks the long-range continuous transport pathway in short range. • Continuous facilitated transport pathway improves CO 2 permeability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given its health benefits for the human body, chlorogenic acid (CA) offers promising applications in the food industry. However, the instability and low bioavailability of CA remain to be solved. In this paper, a starch-based film prepared by the homogenization and solution-casting method was used as an effective carrier to alleviate these problems. Homogenization (10–50 MPa) reduced the starch paste viscosity and its particle sizes from 21.64 to 7.68 μm, which promoted the starch recrystallization and induced chemical cross-links between starch-CA, as confirmed by the FTIR result with an appearance of a new C O peak at about 1716 cm−1. Accordingly, the rapidly digestible starch content of the film was reduced to 27.83 % and the CA encapsulation efficiency was increased to 99.08 % (from 65.88 %). As a result, the film system extended CA's release time beyond 4 h and significantly increased the heat-treated CA's antioxidant activity. Besides, the tensile strength and elastic modulus of the film were also improved to 6.29 MPa (from 1.63 MPa) and 160.98 MPa (from 12.02 MPa), respectively, by homogenization. In conclusion, the developed active starch-based film could be used as an edible film for the production of functional food or active food packaging. • The film was developed with starch homogenization and chlorogenic acid encapsulation. • Homogenization reduced particle size and paste viscosity of starch. • Esterification crosslinking was formed between starch and chlorogenic acid molecules. • The homogenized film had a more uniform crystal structure and improved properties. • Chlorogenic acid was not completely released from the film after 4 h of digestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel oil storage method utilizing flexible oil bladders to store oil in waters is proposed. The proposed method has the advantages of conserving land resources and economic cost, high fire and explosion protection performance. And it does not require an oil-water displacement method. However, the application of the proposed method is severely limited by oil pollution. To overtake the limitation, the permeation-diffusion combination action mechanism of flexible oil storage in waters is investigated. The analytical solution of oil concentration distribution in water under the permeation-diffusion combination action is presented, of which the accuracy is verified by model experiment and numerical simulation. The results indicate the oil concentration in water can quickly reach a stable value that is directly proportional to the oil permeation rate of membrane material. Simultaneously, the oil permeation rate standard of ellipsoid bladder is suggested to be 1.436 × 10−6g/m2s and the interval between oil bladders is set at 1.5 times of the bladders diameter. Furthermore, a relationship equation has been given between the thickness of membrane and oil permeation rate. This study offers theoretical and engineering guidance for the application of flexible oil storage in waters and has certain significance for the development of underwater oil storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The protracted oxygenation of the ocean-atmosphere system is one of the most fundamental changes to the Earth system through its history. The uranium isotopic composition (238U/235U, denoted as δ238U) of marine carbonates has been developed as a proxy to quantitatively track the timing, duration, and extent of global marine redox chemistry changes. This proxy has been applied to many critical evolutionary intervals in the last decade, significantly advancing our understanding of how life on Earth and its environment have co-evolved through geological history. Successful application of the uranium isotope paleoredox proxy requires a thorough understanding of the marine uranium budget, the processes by which seawater U-isotope signatures are recorded in marine carbonates, and the potential for alteration of these primary signatures by syn- and post-depositional diagenetic processes. Here, we provide a critical review of the U isotope proxy in marine carbonates with a focus on the current problems and areas where future work is needed to further develop this proxy. We also use a recently developed global C-P-U cycle model to illustrate that when the carbon cycle is perturbed by volcanic carbon injections, the ensuing transient relationship between seafloor anoxic area and δ238U can be complex and sometimes counter-intuitive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By the aid of transient photovoltage, photo-generated carrier transfer mechanism of SnS 2 /g-C 3 N 4 composite has been suggested by interfacial electric field direction. Constructing heterojunction is an effective way to improve the photo-generated carrier separation efficiency and photocatalytic activity. Here, we construct SnS 2 /g-C 3 N 4 heterojunctions by in-situ growth of SnS 2 on the g-C 3 N 4. By adjusting annealing temperatures, the SnS 2 /g-C 3 N 4 -180 and SnS 2 /g-C 3 N 4 -120 samples could meet Z-scheme carrier transfer mechanism and conventional type-II charge transfer mechanism, respectively. By the aid of surface photovoltage spectra, the photo-generated carrier transfer direction and the driving force of the charge transfer are suggested. This difference in these two charge transfer mechanisms is supposed to be mainly related to the discrepancy in work functions of the SnS 2 treated at different temperatures. This work provides an effective method to understand the Z-scheme carrier transfer mechanism, which could help us to design Z-scheme photocatalysts for higher hydrogen evolution activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Nitrogen vacancies were introduced to regulate the microstructure of carbon nitrogen and facilitate co-catalyst loading. • Nitrogen vacancies were beneficial to capture [PtCl6]2- and reduce [PtCl6]2- by photo-generated electrons, hence stabilizing Pt ultra-small clusters. • The interaction between nitrogen vacancies and Pt ultra-small clusters was unveiled by test of field scanning steady state surface photovoltage (fs-SPV). • The interaction between nitrogen vacancies and Pt ultra-small clusters improves the sluggish kinetics of electron transfer, boosting photocatalytic hydrogen production. Tuning the microstructure of the catalyst surface is crucial for the loading of the co-catalyst, especially influencing the electron transfer and the size of the co-catalyst. However, influence of co-catalyst loading, related to the surface structure of the catalysts, is largely ignored. Here in, nitrogen vacancies were introduced to regulate the microstructure of carbon nitrogen and using this amorphous carbon nitride (ACN) with nitrogen vacancies as a substrate to provide atomic anchoring sites as well as electron sink to prevent Pt from further agglomeration. Experimental and theoretical results show that nitrogen vacancies were electron acceptors, which beneficial to reduce [PtCl 6 ]2− by photo-generated electrons and consequently stabilize Pt ultra-small clusters located on the ACN. Furthermore, by combing structure and carrier behaviors, we infer that Pt ultra-small clusters stable location comes from the strong interaction between Pt and nitrogen vacancies. Pt ultra-small clusters improve electron transfer and boost photocatalytic hydrogen production. A delicate design modulates the catalyst microstructure to enhance interaction between the catalyst and the co-catalyst, resulting in a smaller co-catalyst size and provides a mean to create and optimize small size Pt-loaded and highly active photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The commitment to waste management has gained increasing momentum as global waste generation continues to skyrocket and threaten the environment. However, detailed assessments and clear insights remain absent to address the global waste utilization conundrum. This study evaluated the impact-oriented energy, carbon, and water (ECW) footprints of three typical scenarios for a waste recycling activity (i.e., waste rubber recycling) from environmental and economic dimensions, and explored key factors, nexus characteristics, and optimization measures. Results indicated that the rubber powder as an asphalt modifier scenario had a 93% greater environmental impact and 87% higher economic cost compared with the pyrolysis and reclaimed rubber production scenarios. Key processes, such as direct processes, electricity generation, and transportation, were identified as the major contributors to the ECW footprints, with the internal costs of raw materials, equipment, and taxes coupled with the external costs of human health dominating the economic impact. The nexus analysis results highlighted the urgent need to optimize the energy system for waste rubber recycling. Greening the production process revealed the benefits, with natural additives mitigating 85% of the environmental burden and 97% of the external costs compared with conventional additives. Industrial green microgrids, clean energy generation, proximity waste management, and electrified transportation were explored to foster sustainable optimization of waste rubber recycling systems. Moreover, a joint tax-subsidy mechanism for rubber production-recycling systems can stimulate recycling-oriented product design and increase the motivation to recycle waste rubber. • Energy-carbon-water footprint nexus of waste rubber recycling routes was dissected. • Impact-oriented environmental and economic footprint analysis was adopted. • Direct emissions, electricity generation, and transport dominated the footprint. • Greening the recycling process can yield environmental and external cost benefits. • Green microgrids, proximity principle, and joint tax-subsidy model were proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prefabrication is regarded as a pivot for realizing sustainable building construction. Nevertheless, the sustainable manufacture level of prefabricated components remains unclear. To fill this gap, this study analyzed the environmental impact and optimization potential of prefabricated components via a life cycle assessment (LCA) method. Additionally, social and economic cost were assessed through LCA-based life cycle costing method to reveal the sustainability of prefabricated components. Results indicated that prefabrication rates of 50% and 30% could reduce the potential global warming impact by 31.78% and 13.94%, respectively, compared with the conventional construction method. However, prefabricated components production in China generated up to $ 4.35 × 109 social cost, with critical optimization areas focused on the provinces of Shandong and Hubei. By using artificial neural network estimation, 30% replacement of concrete by demolished concrete lumps could reduce potential fossil depletion and social cost by 10%, decreasing 5.08 × 109 kg CO 2 eq potential global warming for China. Meanwhile, partial replacement of fuels with refuse-derived fuels and improved steel scrap utilization could contribute to further improving environmental performance. • Prefabricated component sustainability was analyzed via a life cycle approach. • Social cost of prefabricated components accounted for 25% in life cycle cost. • A prefabrication rate of 50% can reduce potential global warming by 31.78%. • Reusing demolished concrete lumps can yield around 10% of ecosystem benefits. • Employing refuse-derived fuels and improved adoption steel scrap are eco-friendly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C 3 land plants dominated the Paleozoic landscape since the Devonian and played an essential role in enhancing continental chemical weathering. Vast amount of organic carbon isotope data exist from Paleozoic-aged sediments deposited in fluvial, lacustrine, and floodplain environments. These carbon isotope data are measured from well-preserved plant fossils, paleosols, coals, charcoals, and bulk organic matter within the sediments. They are often used for age correlations with contemporaneous marine sections as a stratigraphic correlation tool, and are interpreted as indicators of the global carbon cycle. Here, we review the stable carbon isotope records of C 3 land plants (δ13C plant) in various forms in Paleozoic sediments (mostly Devonian, Carboniferous, and Permian), as well as marine carbonate carbon isotopes (δ13C carb), and interpret them in the context of global carbon cycle. The increasing trend of δ13C in both marine carbonates and terrestrial organic matter suggests an increase in organic carbon burial in the form of coal or petroleum, which is controlled by sea level, nutrient availability, and innovation of life. This compilation allows for the reconstruction of a new high-resolution atmospheric p CO 2 from 423 to 252 Ma. We noted that the p CO 2 was ~2000 ppmv in the Devonian, then lowered to ~850 ppmv in the Carboniferous, and peaked at ~7600 ppmv during the Late Permian. This trend is broadly consistent with p CO 2 reconstructed from other proxies, including pedogenic carbonate proxy, stomatal proxy, and phytane proxy, with the exception of the Late Devonian when our reconstructed p CO 2 is significantly higher than the other proxy records. Proxy-based paleotemperature records suggest higher p CO 2 in the Late Devonian is more consistent with the elevated paleotemperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The interface and the related electronic properties in n-Al0.35Ga0.65N/GaN heterostructure were studied non-destructively by the spectral and transient photovoltage (PV) technique. A defect level as recombination center was observed in the buffer layer of GaN at the side close to the substrate. It was found that the GaN layer of 3 μm was completely depleted owing to the formation of two-dimensional electron gas. When the sample was illuminated at the front or the back side, with a laser radiation of 355 nm, the electron-hole pairs were generated in GaN layer and then separated there. By the action of the electric field in GaN layer, the holes moved to the substrate, while the electrons moved to the AlGaN/GaN interface. In the PV transients under the front illumination, a fast and a slow component, related to the initiative separation of the electron-hole pairs and the drift of the resultant holes, respectively, were observed. At higher illumination intensities, the bimolecular recombination happened to the fast component, while in that period of time it did not to the slow one owing to the long separation distance between the electrons and the holes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We have developed three nonlinear optical chromophores A-C with the same diethylaminophenyl donor and tricyanovinyldihydrofuran acceptor coupled through isophorone bridge. The donor and bridge moiety of chromophores B and C are modified with functional group pentafluorobenzene and alkylaniline cyanoacetate (C1), respectively. In particular, the alkylaniline cyanoacetate group is not only a steric group, but also a short chromophore. Except for the steric effect, two C1 groups with considerable dipole moment will greatly weaken the electrostatic interaction between molecules by electrostatic screening effect before poling thus increasing the poling efficiency. Electro-optical films doped with chromophore A-C have been poled to give quite different r 33 values of 69, 115 and 166 p.m./V at 1.31 μm, respectively. The normalized r 33 value of chromphore C was up to 8.16 × 10−19 p.m. cc per (V molecules) which is more than four times higher than that of chromophore A without functional group. Image 1 • Three chromophores A-C with different isolation groups had been synthesized. • The r 33 value of film-A/PMMA and C/PMMA is 69 and 166 p.m./V, respectively, at 1.31 μm. • The decomposition temperatures of chromophore C are higher than 270 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two series of nonlinear optical chromophores G1–G4 and J1-J4 based on diethylaminophenyl or julolidinyl-based donor and tricyanovinyldihydrofuran acceptor have been synthesized. Compared to the unmodified isophorone bridge of chromophore G1 and J1, the bridges of chromophores G2/J2 and G3-G4/J3-J4 were modified with tert -butyldimethylsilyl (TBDMS) groups and fluorene group, respectively. In addition, we introduced bulky tert -butyldiphenylsilyl (TBDPS) groups to the donor of chromophore G4 and J4 to further increase poling efficiency. The results show that the chromophores G3-G4/J3-J4 modified with fluorene groups on the bridge have higher stability and larger electro-optic coefficient than chromophores G1-G2 and J1-J2. Electro-optical films doped with chromophore G1-G4 and J1-J4 have been poled to give r 33 values of 69, 96, 118, 133, 143, 201, 240 and 261 pm/V at 1.31 μm, respectively. All these provide valuable insight into understanding of the impact of an isolation group on the performance of chromophores. Image 1 • Eight chromophores with different modified isophorone-derived bridge had been synthesized. • The r 33 value of film-J3/PMMA and J4/PMMA is 240 and 261 pm/V, respectively, at 1.31 μm. • The decomposition temperatures of chromophores G3-G4 and J3-J4 are higher than 270 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Smithian-Spathian boundary (SSB) transition was recently identified as a major biocrisis on the road to marine ecosystem recovery following the end-Permian mass extinction. Marine anoxia is hypothesized to have played an important role in the SSB biocrisis. However, an understanding of the relationship of this biocrisis to contemporaneous marine redox conditions has been hampered by limited knowledge of the timing, duration, and extent of anoxia during the Smithian-Spathian (S-S) transition. Here, we present a high-resolution carbonate U-isotope record from the Jiarong section of South China that spans the mid-Smithian to mid-Spathian interval. This record shows persistent negativeδ238U values (averaging −0.56‰) in the late Smithian, followed by a rapid positive shift (from −0.78‰ to −0.10‰) across the SSB, and then a more gradual shift back to lower δ238U values in the early to mid-Spathian. U isotope mass balance modeling suggests that the global area of anoxic seafloor expanded strongly during the late Smithian and the early to mid-Spathian but contracted sharply during the S-S transition. This redox pattern shows an excellent correspondence to previously published tropical sea-surface temperature (SST) records, with peak oceanic anoxia coinciding with the Smithian Thermal Maximum (STM) and diminished anoxia during a pronounced global cooling event at the SSB. Although paleontological records commonly do not distinguish between terminations during the late Smithian and SSB, we hypothesize that the SSB biocrisis, which was marked by sharp diversity losses among conodonts, ammonoids, and other marine invertebrates, was primarily associated with the STM, in which case oceanic anoxia is likely to have been a major stressor of mid-Olenekian marine biotas. • First high-resolution δ238U carb record for the mid-Smithian to the mid-Spathian. • δ238U carb profile shows rapid positive shift across the SSB. • Global seafloor anoxia declines from 30-60% to 0.2–0.6% during the SSB transition. • Peak anoxia coincided with the STM and contracted anoxia with the SSB cooling event. • Variation in SSTs and ocean redox condition together affect biological evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anchoring sites of metal single atoms are closely related to photogenerated carrier dynamics and surface reactions. Achieving smooth photogenerated charge transfer through precise design of single-atom anchoring sites is an effective strategy to enhance the activity of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. In this study, Pt single atoms were loaded onto ultra-thin carbon nitride with two-coordination nitrogen vacancies (V N2c -UCN-Pt) and ultra-thin carbon nitride with three-coordination nitrogen vacancies (V N3c -UCN-Pt). This paper investigated the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance and photogenerated carrier behavior of Pt single atoms at different anchoring sites. Surface photovoltage measurements indicated that V N2c -UCN-Pt exhibits a superior carrier separation efficiency compared to V N3c -UCN-Pt. More importantly, the surface photovoltage signal under the presence of H 2 O molecules revealed a significant decrease. Theoretical calculations suggest that V N2c -UCN-Pt exhibits superior capabilities in adsorbing and activating H 2 O molecules. Consequently, the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution efficiency of V N2c -UCN-Pt reaches 1774 µmol g -1 h -1 , which is 1.8 times that of V N3c -UCN-Pt with the same Pt loading. This work emphasized the structure-activity relationship between single-atom anchoring sites and photocatalytic activity, providing a new perspective for designing precisely dispersed single-atom sites to achieve efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Papain-like protease (PLpro) is a promising therapeutic target for its pivotal role in the life cycle of SARS-CoV-2. A series of 1,2,4-oxadiazole derivatives was designed and synthesized via a ring formation strategy based on SARS-CoV-2 PLpro-GRL0617 complex structure. Systematic structure-activity relationship studies revealed that introducing oxadiazole and aryl carboxylic acid moieties to GRL0617 enhanced the enzymatic inhibition activity, affinity, and deubiquitination capacity toward PLpro. 1,2,4-Oxadiazole compounds 13f and 26r , which had PLpro inhibition activity (IC 50 = 1.8 and 1.0 μM) and antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 (EC 50 = 5.4 and 4.3 μM), exhibited good metabolic stability ( t 1/2 > 93.2 min) and higher plasma exposure (AUC 0-t = 17,380.08 and 24,289.76 ng·h/mL) in mice. Especially, compound 26r with moderate oral bioavailability of 39.1% and potent antiviral activity is worthy of further studies in vivo . Our findings provide a new insight for the discovery of antiviral agents targeting PLpro.

Food quality and safety are related to the health and safety of people, and food hazards are important influencing factors affecting food safety. It is strongly necessary to develop food safety rapid detection technology to ensure food safety. As a new detection technology, artificial nanochannel-based electrochemical and other methods have the advantages of being real-time, simple, and sensitive and are widely used in the detection of food hazards. In this paper, we review artificial nanochannel sensors as a new detection technology in food safety for different types of food hazards: biological hazards (bacteria, toxins, viruses) and chemical hazards (heavy metals, organic pollutants, food additives). At the same time, we critically discuss the advantages and disadvantages of artificial nanochannel sensor detection, as well as the restrictions and solutions of detection, and finally look forward to the challenges and development prospects of food safety detection technology based on the limitations of artificial nanochannel detection. We expect to provide a theoretical basis and inspiration for the development of rapid real-time detection technology for food hazards and the production of portable detection equipment in the future.

Integrated monolithic electrodes (IMEs) free of inactive components demonstrate great potential in boosting energy-power densities and cycling life of lithium-ion batteries. However, their practical applications are significantly limited by low active substance loading (< 4.0 mg cm -2 and 1.0 g cm -3 ), complicated manufacturing process, and high fabrication cost. Herein, employing industrial Cu-Mn alloy foil as a precursor, a simple neutral salt solution-mediated electrochemical dealloying strategy is proposed to address such problems. The resultant Cu-Mn IMEs achieve not only a significantly larger active material loading due to the in situ generated Cu 2 O and MnO x (ca. 16.0 mg cm -2 and 1.78 g cm -3 ), simultaneously fast transport of ions and electrons due to the well-formed nanoporous structure and built-in Cu current collector, but also high structural stability due to the interconnected ligaments and suitable free space to relieve the volume expansion upon lithiation. As a result, they demonstrate remarkable performances including large specific capacities (> 5.7 mAh cm -2 ), remarkable pseudocapacitive effect despite the battery-type constitutes, long cycling life, and good working condition in a lithium-ion full cell. This study sheds new light on the further development of IMEs, enriches the existing dealloying techniques, and builds a bridge between the two., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Fungicides have been widely used to protect crops from the disease of pythium aphanidermatum (PA). However, excessive use of synthetic fungicides can lead to fungal pathogens developing microbicide resistance. Recently, biomimetic nano-delivery systems have been used for controlled release, reducing the overuse of fungicides, and thereby protecting the environment. In this paper, inspired by chloroplast membranes, visible light biomimetic channels are constructed by using retinal, the main component of green pigment on chloroplasts in plants, which can achieve the precise controlled release of the model fungicide methylene blue (MB). The experimental results show that the biomimetic channels have good circularity after and before light conditions. In addition, it is also found that the release of MB in visible light by the retinal-modified channels is 8.78 µmol·m -2· h -1 , which is four times higher than that in the before light conditions. Furthermore, MB, a bactericide drug model released under visible light, can effectively inhibit the growth of PA, reaching a 97% inhibition effect. The biomimetic nanochannels can realize the controlled release of the fungicide MB, which provides a new way for the treatment of PA on the leaves surface of cucumber, further expanding the application field of biomimetic nanomembrane carrier materials., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Although naturally Streptococcus suis serotype 2 (SS2) causes meningitis resulting in death or sequela of neurological symptoms in pigs and humans, severely threatening public health in the world, it has been difficult to build up and confirm experimental meningitis mouse models with obvious neurological syndrome for about two decades, which strongly hampers the in-depth study on the control measures and mechanisms of SS2-induced meningitis. In this study, a typical meningitis mouse model of SS2 was successfully established, as confirmed by the behavioral indicators of balance beam test, suspension test, and gait analysis. With bacteria gathering in the brain, distinguishable unique features including meningeal thickening, vacuolization of the Nissl body, brain barrier damage, glial cell activation, and more infiltration of T cells, macrophages, and DCs are observed in SS2 meningitis mice with typical neurological signs. Some meningitis mice were also accompanied by identical nephritis, ophthalmia, and cochlearitis. Investigation of the metabolic features demonstrated the downregulated cholic acid and upregulated 2-hydroxyvaleric acid, tetrahydrocortisone, nicotinic acid, and lauric acid in blood serum of mice and piglets with meningitis. And feeding trials show that lauric acid can promote meningitis by promoting the infiltration of immune cells into brain. These findings demonstrated that infection of ICR (improved castle road) mice with SS2 was able to induce typical meningitis accompanied by immune cell infiltration and lauric acid upregulation. These data provide a basis for the deep study of SS2 meningitis., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most prevalent dementia in the world. Wearable technology has been useful in the computer-aided diagnosis and long-term monitoring of PD in recent years. The fundamental issue remains how to assess the severity of PD using wearable devices in an efficient and accurate manner. However, in the real-world free-living environment, there are two difficult issues, poor annotation and class imbalance, both of which could potentially impede the automatic assessment of PD. To address these challenges, we propose a novel framework for assessing the severity of PD patient's in a free-living environment. Specifically, we use clustering methods to learn latent categories from the same activities, while latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) topic models are utilized to capture latent features from multiple activities. Then, to mitigate the impact of data imbalance, we augment bag-level data while retaining key instance prototypes. To comprehensively demonstrate the efficacy of our proposed framework, we collected a dataset containing wearable-sensor signals from 83 individuals in real-life free-living conditions. The experimental results show that our framework achieves an astounding 73.48% accuracy in the fine-grained (normal, mild, moderate, severe) classification of PD severity based on hand movements. Overall, this study contributes to more accurate PD self-diagnosis in the wild, allowing doctors to provide remote drug intervention guidance.

Introduction: Klebsiella pneumoniae ( K. pneumoniae ) is an important opportunistic and zoonotic pathogen which is associated with many diseases in humans and animals. However, the pathogenicity of K. pneumoniae has been neglected and the prevalence of K. pneumoniae is poorly studied due to the lack of rapid and sensitive diagnosis techniques., Methods: In this study, we infected mice and pigs with K. pneumoniae strain from a human patient. An indirect ELISA was established using the KHE protein as the coating protein for the detection of K. pneumoniae specific antibody in clinical samples. A nested PCR method to detect nuclei acids of K. pneumoniae was also developed., Results: We showed that infection with K. pneumoniae strain from a human patient led to mild lung injury of pigs. For the ELISA, the optimal coating concentration of KHE protein was 10 µg/mL. The optimal dilutions of serum samples and secondary antibody were 1:100 and 1:2500, respectively. The analytical sensitivity was 1:800, with no cross-reaction between the coated antigen and porcine serum positive for antibodies against other bacteria. The intra-assay and inter-assay reproducibility coefficients of variation are less than 10%. Detection of 920 clinical porcine serum samples revealed a high K. pneumoniae infection rate by established indirect ELISA (27.28%) and nested PCR (19.13%). Moreover, correlation analysis demonstrated infection rate is positively correlated with gross population, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and domestic tourists., Discussion: In conclusion, K. pneumoniae is highly prevalent among pigs in China. Our study highlights the role of K. pneumoniae in pig health, which provides a reference for the prevention and control of diseases associated with K. pneumoniae ., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wu, Li, Li, Wang, Liu, Qi, Wei, Wu, Guo, Zhu, Jiang, Xue, Sun, Feng, Gu, Han, Li and Lei.)

Neutrophils, the most abundant type of white blood cells, are pivotal in fighting bacterial infections due to their immunological and anti-infection capabilities. In recent years, scientists have discovered a novel mechanism known as neutrophil extracellular traps, which are fibrous networks primarily released by neutrophils that combat bacterial infections. There is a growing interest in studying NETs and their role in human infectious diseases, particularly in neonates susceptible to bacterial infections. NETs and their components have been found in various samples from neonatal-infected patients, providing a new route for early diagnosis of neonatal infectious diseases. This paper aims to summarize the studies on NETs in adult diseases and mainly discuss NETs in neonatal sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, and purulent meningitis, to provide scientific evidence for early monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment of neonatal infections., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

In higher plants, cuticular wax deposited on the surface of epidermal cells plays an important role in protecting the plant from biotic and abiotic stresses; however, the molecular mechanism of cuticular wax production is not completely understood. In this study, we identified a glossy green mutant (98-1030gl) from the glaucous cabbage inbred line 98-1030. Scanning electron microscopy indicated that the amount of leaf cuticular wax significantly decreased in 98-1030gl. Genetic analysis showed that the glossy green trait was controlled by a single recessive gene. Bulked segregant analysis coupled with whole genome sequencing revealed that the candidate gene for the glossy green trait was located at 13,860,000-25,070,000 bp (11.21 Mb) on Chromosome 5. Based on the resequencing data of two parents and the F2 population, insertion-deletion markers were developed and used to reduce the candidate mapping region. The candidate gene ( Bol026949 ) was then mapped in a 50.97 kb interval. Bol026949 belongs to the Agenet/Tudor domain protein family, whose members are predicted to be involved in chromatin remodeling and RNA transcription. Sequence analysis showed that a single nucleotide polymorphism mutation (C → G) in the second exon of Bol026949 could result in the premature termination of its protein translation in 98-1030gl. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Bol026949 is relatively conserved in cruciferous plants. Transcriptome profiling indicated that Bol026949 might participate in cuticular wax production by regulating the transcript levels of genes involved in the post-translational cellular process and phytohormone signaling. Our findings provide an important clue for dissecting the regulatory mechanisms of cuticular wax production in cruciferous crops.

SARS-CoV-2 nsp3 is essential for viral replication and host responses. The SARS-unique domain (SUD) of nsp3 exerts its function through binding to viral and host proteins and RNAs. Herein, we show that SARS-CoV-2 SUD is highly flexible in solution. The intramolecular disulfide bond of SARS-CoV SUD is absent in SARS-CoV-2 SUD. Incorporating this bond in SARS-CoV-2 SUD allowed crystal structure determination to 1.35 Å resolution. However, introducing this bond in SARS-CoV-2 genome was lethal for the virus. Using biolayer interferometry, we screened compounds directly binding to SARS-CoV-2 SUD and identified theaflavin 3,3'-digallate (TF3) as a potent binder, K d 2.8 µM. TF3 disrupted the SUD-guanine quadruplex interactions and exhibited anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity in Vero E6-TMPRSS2 cells with an EC 50 of 5.9 µM and CC 50 of 98.5 µM. In this work, we provide evidence that SARS-CoV-2 SUD harbors druggable sites for antiviral development., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) belongs to a subgroup of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with an increasing incidence all over the world. Tanshinone IIA (TSA), an active compound of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge., has been found to have anti-tumor effects on many tumors, but its anti-LUAD effect and its mechanism have not been reported yet. In this study, bio-information analysis was applied to characterize the potential mechanism of TSA on LUA, biological experiments were used to verify the mechanisms involved. TCGA, Pubchem, SwissTargetPrediction, Venny2.1.0, STRING, DAVID, Cytoscape 3.7.2, Omicshare, GEPIA, RSCBPDB, Chem Draw, AutoDockTools, and PyMOL were utilized for analysis in the bio-information analysis and network pharmacology. Our experiments in vitro focused on the anti-LUAD effects and mechanisms of TSA on LUAD cells (A549 and NCI-H1975 cells) via MTT, plate cloning, Annexin V-FITC and PI dual staining, flow cytometry, and western blot assays. A total of 64 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of TSA for treatment of LUAD were screened out. Gene ontology and pathway analysis revealed characteristic of the DEGs network. After GEPIA-based DEGs confirmation, 46 genes were considered having significant differences. Further, 10 key DEGs (BTK, HSD11B1, ADAM33, TNNC1, THRA, CCNA2, AURKA, MIF, PLK1, and SORD) were identified as the most likely relevant genes from overall survival analysis. Molecular Docking results showed that CCNA2, CDK2 and PLK1 had the lowest docking energy. MTT and plate cloning assays results showed that TSA inhibited the proliferation of LUAD cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Annexin V-FITC and PI dual staining and flow cytometry assays results told that TSA promoted the apoptosis of the two LUAD cells in different degrees, and induced cycle arrest in the G1/S phase. Western blot results showed that TSA significantly down-regulated the expression of CCNA2, CDK2, AURKA, PLK1, and p-ERK. In summary, TSA could suppress the progression of LUAD by inducing cell apoptosis and arresting cell cycle, and these were done by regulating CCNA2-CDK2 complex and AURKA/PLK1 pathway. These findings are the first to demonstrate the molecular mechanism of TSA in treatment of LUAD combination of network bio-information analysis and biological experiments in vitro., (© 2021. The Author(s).)