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The aim of this study was to use mid-infrared spectroscopy coupled with multiple model population analysis based on Monte Carlo-uninformative variable elimination for rapidly estimating the copper content of Tegillarca granosa . Copper-specific wavelengths were first extracted from the whole spectra, and subsequently, a least square-support vector machine was used to develop the prediction models. Compared with the prediction model based on full wavelengths, models that used 100 multiple MC-UVE selected wavelengths without and with bin operation showed comparable performances with Rp (root mean square error of Prediction) of 0.97 (14.60 mg/kg) and 0.94 (20.85 mg/kg) versus 0.96 (17.27 mg/kg), as well as ratio of percent deviation (number of wavelength) of 2.77 (407) and 1.84 (45) versus 2.32 (1762). The obtained results demonstrated that the mid-infrared technique could be used for estimating copper content in T. granosa . In addition, the proposed multiple model population analysis can eliminate uninformative, weakly informative and interfering wavelengths effectively, that substantially reduced the model complexity and computation time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment on compressive microscopic imaging with single-pixel detector and single-arm has been performed on the basis of “positive–negative” (differential) light modulation of a digital micromirror device (DMD). A magnified image of micron-sized objects illuminated by the microscope's own incandescent lamp has been successfully acquired. The image quality is improved by one more orders of magnitude compared with that obtained by conventional single-pixel imaging scheme with normal modulation using the same sampling rate, and moreover, the system is robust against the instability of light source and may be applied to very weak light condition. Its nature and the analysis of noise sources is discussed deeply. The realization of this technique represents a big step to the practical applications of compressive microscopic imaging in the fields of biology and materials science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new type of compressive spectroscopy technique employing a complementary sampling strategy is reported. In a single sequence of spectral compressive sampling, positive and negative measurements are performed, in which sensing matrices with a complementary relationship are used. The restricted isometry property condition necessary for accurate recovery of compressive sampling theory is satisfied mathematically. Compared with the conventional single-pixel spectroscopy technique, the complementary compressive sampling strategy can achieve spectral recovery of considerably higher quality within a shorter sampling time. We also investigate the influence of the sampling ratio and integration time on the recovery quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experimental demonstration of spectral imaging with measurement dimensions compressed has been performed. With the method of dual compressed sensing (CS) we derive, the spectral image of a colored object can be obtained with only a single point detector, and sub-sampling is achieved in both spatial and spectral domains. The performances of dual CS spectral imaging are analyzed, including the effects of dual modulation numbers and measurement noise on the imaging quality. Our scheme provides a stable, high-flux measurement approach of spectral imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report an experimental demonstration of spectral imaging with a spectrometer without any scanning. The spatial resolution is provided by spatial light modulation based on the theory of compressed sensing. Objects with both continuous and discrete spectrum are used to demonstrate the performance of our system, which shows wide-spectrum and high efficient spectral imaging ability. The spatial and spectral resolutions of our imaging system are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we analyze the hovering control operation of a target in an elliptical orbit based on frozen parameter. The relative dynamics of spacecraft in eccentric orbits can be described as linear time-varying systems with periodic parameters. Those periodic parameters are the orbital radius, angular velocity and angular acceleration. The time-varying characteristics of these periodic parameters were analyzed via a performance index which is obtained analytically with small fixed time interval. Then, the frozen time interval was obtained with a fixed performance index using a numerical method. A series of constant coefficient linear systems are then obtained to represent the periodic linear system, namely the relative motion dynamics. In the frozen time interval, the hovering control scheme was designed based on a Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR). Numerical simulations showed that the hovering control performance is good, except the vicinity near the apogee and perigee, both of which exhibit a relative large performance index. Decreasing the performance index from 0.01 to 0.001 reduces the position errors from 5 m to 0.5 m during steady state. It is shown that this approach can save propellant and eliminate chatter during the convergence compared to Control Lyapunov Functions (CLF) approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Production of more than 20 million tons of epoxides per year from olefins suffers from low atom economy due to the use of oxidants and complex catalysts with unsatisfactory selectivity, leading to huge environmental and economic costs. We present a proof‐of‐concept application of electron‐rich RuO2 nanocrystals to boost the highly selective epoxidation of cyclooctene via direct oxygen transfer from water as the sole oxygen source under mild conditions. The enhanced electron enrichment of RuO2 nanocrystals via the Schottky effect with nitrogen‐doped carbons largely promotes the capture and activation of cyclooctene to give a high turnover frequency (260 h−1) of cyclooctene oxide, far surpassing the reported values (<20 h−1) of benchmarked catalysts at room temperature with oxidants. Our electron‐rich RuO2 electrocatalysts enable efficient and durable hydrogen production (Faradaic efficiency >90 %) on the cathode without impacting on the selectivity to epoxide (>99 %) on the anode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Polymer–drug conjugates provide a new platform for drug discovery. [•] We discuss recent advances in five key classes of polymer–drug conjugates. [•] Promising approaches to future development of polymer–drug conjugates are indicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Any plants grown during long-term space missions will inevitably experience an extremely low magnetic field (i.e. a hypogeomagnetic field, HGMF). It is possible that the innate adaptation of plants to the earth’s magnetic field (i.e. the geomagnetic field, GMF) would be disrupted. Effects of the HGMF on plant physiological and metabolic processes are unclear. In this study we established a hypogeomagnetic incubation system on the ground and investigated the effects of the HGMF on the gravitropism and germination of soybean seeds. The gravitropism angle, germination percentage, germination speed, water absorbance ratio, seed weight, radicle length, radicle weight, and radicle weight ratio of soybean seeds grown in the local field and the HGMF were compared. In general, the gravitropism angle in the HGMF was smaller than that in the local field when seeds were positioned before emergence in such a way that the direction of the radicle was opposite to that of gravity. The germination percentage, germination speed, and radicle weight ratio increased in the HGMF compared to the control. Our results indicate that the germination and gravitropism of soybean seeds are affected by elimination of the geomagnetic field. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Single-pixel imaging technology has significant imaging advantages in the invisible wavelength and low light environment. Considering the energy compressive characteristic of discrete cosine spectrum, a single-pixel microscopic compressive imaging method based on the two-dimensional discrete cosine transform is proposed. In this method, a digital micro-mirror device is used for high-speed binary differential modulation of discrete cosine basis patterns; and the zigzag sorting is adopted to perform the under-sampling. The discrete cosine spectrum is generated by calculating the weighted sum of the light intensities measured by a single-pixel detector, and the object is reconstructed by two-dimensional inverse discrete cosine transform. The proposed method is verified by both computational simulations and laboratory experiments. The effects of different sampling rates, binary quantization level and compressive sampling modes on imaging results are discussed. The results show that the proposed method can realize high quality and high efficiency imaging. The method is suitable for microscopic imaging applications. • Deterministic discrete cosine basis patterns form a orthogonal set with real number. • Zigzag-based under-sampling provides best matching to energy compression of DCT. • Binary modulation provides an improvement of detection efficiency to gray pattern. • Reconstruction is accurate, simple and fast by utilizing inverse DCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robotic percutaneous coronary intervention (R-PCI) is a novel technology in which operators can manipulate guidewires and catheter devices in interventional cardiology. This approach provides great benefits to interventional cardiologists in terms of reducing both radiation exposure and orthopedic injuries. Several large, high-quality cohort studies have confirmed the short-term safety and high technical success rate of R-PCI. However, randomized long-term data are still needed before adopting them as part of standard coronary interventions. Furthermore, tele-stenting for complex coronary lesions has significant potential for R-PCI. We need to overcome the present relevant challenges for its application such as inherent delays, bedside care for unstable patients from R-PCIs to manual PCIs (M-PCIs), incompatibility for a thrombus aspiration catheter and heavily calcified lesions. There is a great future in laboratory workflow teams, 3D-printed anatomical models and multiple joint collaborative control algorithms. This narrative review summarizes the latest developments in R-PCI, with a focus on developments in robotic technology, and discusses the current and future potential use of R-PCI in clinical practice globally., (© 2024 JGC All rights reserved; www.jgc301.com.)

Background: Several studies have proved the safety and feasibility of robot-assisted percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in reducing the occupational hazards of interventionists while achieving precision medicine. However, an independently developed robot-assisted system for PCI in China has not yet emerged. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and feasibility of a robot-assisted system for elective PCI in China., Methods: This preclinical trial included 22 experimental pigs and preliminarily supported the safety and feasibility of the ETcath200 robot-assisted system for PCI. Then, eleven patients with coronary heart disease who met the inclusion criteria and had clinical indications for elective PCI were enrolled. PCI was performed using a robot-assisted system. The primary outcomes were clinical success (defined as visual estimated residual stenosis < 30% after PCI and no major adverse cardiovascular events during hospitalization and within 30 days after PCI) and technical success (defined as the ability to use the robot-assisted system to complete PCI successfully without conversion to the traditional manual PCI)., Results: Eleven patients were included in this clinical trial. A drug-eluting stent with a diameter of 3 mm (interquartile range: 2.75-3.5 mm) and a length of 26 mm (interquartile range: 22-28 mm) was deployed in all patients. The clinical success rate was 100%, with no PCI-related complications and no in-hospital or 30-day major adverse cardiovascular events, and the technical success rate was 100%., Conclusions: The results strongly suggest that the use of the independently developed robot-assisted system in China for elective PCI is feasible, safe, and effective., (© 2022 JGC All rights reserved; www.jgc301.com.)

Production of more than 20 million tons of epoxides per year from olefins suffers from low atom economy due to the use of oxidants and complex catalysts with unsatisfactory selectivity, leading to huge environmental and economic costs. We present a proof-of-concept application of electron-rich RuO 2 nanocrystals to boost the highly selective epoxidation of cyclooctene via direct oxygen transfer from water as the sole oxygen source under mild conditions. The enhanced electron enrichment of RuO 2 nanocrystals via the Schottky effect with nitrogen-doped carbons largely promotes the capture and activation of cyclooctene to give a high turnover frequency (260 h -1 ) of cyclooctene oxide, far surpassing the reported values (<20 h -1 ) of benchmarked catalysts at room temperature with oxidants. Our electron-rich RuO 2 electrocatalysts enable efficient and durable hydrogen production (Faradaic efficiency >90 %) on the cathode without impacting on the selectivity to epoxide (>99 %) on the anode., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

High-flux measurement characteristics of compressed sensing (CS) imaging causes the imaging system prone to be disturbed by quantization. To realize high-quality CS imaging with limited detector bits, an improved imaging method combining sparse measurements and multiple dithers is proposed to reduce the dynamic range of the measured signals and increase that of effective detection. Simulations and experiments show that compared with traditional CS imaging, the proposed system decreases reconstruction errors caused by quantization distortions and may reduce the required number of detector bits to 1. The effects of detector noise and system parameters are discussed to validate the feasibility and performance of this method.

Solar-driven production of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), as an important industrial chemical oxidant with an extensive range of applications, from oxygen reduction is a sustainable alternative to mainstream anthraquinone oxidation and direct hydrogenation of dioxygen methods. The efficiency of solar to hydrogen peroxide over semiconductor-based photocatalysts is still largely limited by the narrow light absorption to visible light. Here, the authors proposed and demonstrate the proof-of-concept application of light-generated hot electrons in a graphene/semiconductor (exemplified with widely used TiO 2 ) dyad to largely extend visible light spectra up to 800 nm for efficient H 2 O 2 production. The well-designed graphene/semiconductor heterojunction has a rectifying interface with a zero barrier for the hot electron injection, largely boosting excited hot electrons with an average lifetime of ≈0.5 ps into charge carriers with a long fluorescent lifetime (4.0 ns) for subsequent H 2 O 2 production. The optimized dyadic photocatalyst can provide an H 2 O 2 yield of 0.67 mm g -1  h -1 under visible light irradiation (λ ≥ 400 nm), which is 20 times of the state-of-the-art noble-metal-free titanium oxide-based photocatalyst, and even achieves an H 2 O 2 yield of 0.14 mm g -1  h -1 upon photoexcitation by near-infrared-region light (≈800 nm)., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), procalcitonin (PCT), and combined detection for sepsis infection in patients with closed abdominal injury complicated with severe multiple abdominal injuries., Patients and Methods: One hundred forty patients with closed abdominal injury complicated with severe multiple abdominal injuries who were diagnosed and treated from 2015 to 2020 were divided into a sepsis group ( n = 70) and an infection group ( n = 70)., Results: The levels of sIL-2R, TNF-α, and PCT in the sepsis group were higher than those in the infection group ( p < 0.05). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that the areas under the ROC curve (AUCs) of sIL-2R, TNF-α, PCT and sIL-2R+TNF-a+PCT were 0.827, 0.781, 0.821, and 0.846, respectively, which were higher than those of white blood cells (WBC, 0.712), C-reactive protein (CRP, 0.766), serum amyloid A (SAA, 0.666), and IL-6 (0.735). The AUC of the three combined tests was higher than that of TNF-α, and the difference was statistically significant ( p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the AUCs of sIL-2R and TNF-α, sIL-2R and PCT, TNF-α and PCT, the three combined tests and sIL-2R, and the three combined tests and PCT ( p > 0.05). When the median was used as the cut point, the corrected sIL-2R, TNF-α, and PCT of the high-level group were not better than those of the low-level group ( p > 0.05). When the four groups were classified by using quantile as the cut point, the OR risk values of high levels of TNF-α and PCT (Q4) and the low level of PCT (Q1) after correction were 7.991 and 21.76, respectively, with statistical significance ( p < 0.05)., Conclusions: The detection of sIL-2R, TNF-α, and PCT has good value in the diagnosis of sepsis infection in patients with closed abdominal injury complicated with severe multiple abdominal injuries. The high concentrations of PCT and TNF-α can be used as predictors of the risk of septic infection., 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 © 2021 Zhai, Zhang, Xiang, He, Wang, Wu and Shang.)

Quercetin is a naturally occurring phytochemical with good bioactivity, which mainly exists in the form of glycoside in vegetables, fruits, tea, and wine and exhibits beneficial health effects. Quercetin is a dietary polyphenol that exerts the protective effects through diet or use as a food supplement. Compared with chemical agents, quercetin is widely available and safe. Quercetin has been extensively studied for its anti-diabetic, anti-hypertensive, anti-Alzheimer's disease, anti-arthritic, anti-influenza virus, anti-microbial infection, anti-aging, autophagy-regulating, and cardiovascular protective effects. Studies on its activities against different can-cer cell lines have also been reported recently. However, the poor water solubility, rapid in vivo metabolism, and short half-life of quercetin have led to its low bioavailability, thus limiting its application in the field of medicine. Quercetin nanoparticles and nanoparticle drug delivery system have been effectively utilized for enhancing its bioavailability. This paper reviewed the therapeutic potential of quercetin from both preclinical and clinical aspects and proposed solutions to improve its bioavailability, so as to provide a reference for the therapeutic application of natural compounds in the field of medicine.

NO x - reduction acts a pivotal part in sustaining globally balanced nitrogen cycle and restoring ecological environment, ammonia (NH 3 ) is an excellent energy carrier and the most valuable product among all the products of NO x - reduction reaction, the selectivity of which is far from satisfaction due to the intrinsic complexity of multiple-electron NO x - -to-NH 3 process. Here, we utilize the Schottky barrier-induced surface electric field, by the construction of high density of electron-deficient Ni nanoparticles inside nitrogen-rich carbons, to facilitate the enrichment and fixation of all NO x - anions on the electrode surface, including NO 3 - and NO 2 - , and thus ensure the final selectivity to NH 3 . Both theoretical and experimental results demonstrate that NO x - anions were continuously captured by the electrode with largely enhanced surface electric field, providing excellent Faradaic efficiency of 99 % from both electrocatalytic NO 3 - and NO 2 - reduction. Remarkably, the NH 3 yield rate could reach the maximum of 25.1 mg h -1  cm -2 in electrocatalytic NO 2 - reduction reaction, outperforming the maximum in the literature by a factor of 6.3 in neutral solution. With the universality of our electrocatalyst, all sorts of available electrolytes containing NO x - pollutants, including seawater or wastewater, could be directly used for ammonia production in potential through sustainable electrochemical technology., (© 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Compounds derived from natural products present satisfactory efficacy in disease prevention and treatment. The use of chemical substances in plants to promote healthhas increasingly attracted people's attention. Rutin, a typical flavonoid, is mainly found in various vegetables, fruits and Chinese herbal medicines. As a natural antioxidant, it features many pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammation, anti-virus, anti-tumor, and prevention and treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. However, the low bioavailability and poor water solubility limit its clinical application. In view of this, its structure is optimized and modified to afford rutin derivatives with good solubility, high bioavailability, stable metabolism and small toxic side effects. So far, a large number of rutin ethers, esters, and complexes have been synthesized and undergone activity testing. This paper reviews the structural modification of rutin in recent years, and the obtained derivatives have excellent properties and significant biological activity.

This study aimed to investigate the value of multidisciplinary team (MDT) management in minimally invasive treatment of complex intrahepatic bile duct stones (IHDs) by laparoscopy, choledochoscopy and percutaneous choledochoscopy. The characteristics, perioperative index, complication rate and minimally invasive rate of patients in MDT group (n = 75) and non-MDT group (n = 70) were compared. The members of MDT include doctors in ultrasound, imaging, hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, anaesthesia and intensive care medicine. The results showed that minimally invasive surgery reduced the incidence of postoperative residual stones, OR (95% CI) = 0.365 (0.141-0.940) (p = 0.037). MDT reduced the operation time, OR (95% CI) = 0.406 (0.207-0.796) (p = 0.009). Minimally invasive surgery significantly reduced intraoperative bleeding, OR (95% CI) = 0.267 (0.133-0.534) (p < 0.001). Minimally invasive surgery also reduced hospitalization time, OR (95% CI) = 0.295 (0.142-0.611) (p = 0.001). The stone clearance rates of MDT group and non-MDT group were 81.33% and 81.43% respectively. In the MDT group, the operative time was less than that in the non-MDT group (p = 0.010); the intraoperative bleeding volume was significantly less than that in the non-MDT group (p < 0.001); the hospitalization time was less than that in the non-MDT group (p = 0.001). Minimally invasive operation rate:48 cases (64.00%) in MDT group were significantly higher than 17 cases (24.29%) in non-MDT group (p < 0.001). In conclusion, minimally invasive procedures can be selected more through MDT. MDT can shorten the operation time, and minimally invasive surgery can reduce the incidence of residual stones, reduce intraoperative bleeding, and may shorten hospital stay. Therefore, MDT management model can provide personalized and minimally invasive surgical protocol for patients with complex IHD, which has high application value.

The activation of C-H bonds is a central challenge in organic chemistry and usually a key step for the retro-synthesis of functional natural products due to the high chemical stability of C-H bonds. Electrochemical methods are a powerful alternative for C-H activation, but this approach usually requires high overpotential and homogeneous mediators. Here, we design electron-deficient W 2 C nanocrystal-based electrodes to boost the heterogeneous activation of C-H bonds under mild conditions via an additive-free, purely heterogeneous electrocatalytic strategy. The electron density of W 2 C nanocrystals is tuned by constructing Schottky heterojunctions with nitrogen-doped carbon support to facilitate the preadsorption and activation of benzylic C-H bonds of ethylbenzene on the W 2 C surface, enabling a high turnover frequency (18.8 h -1 ) at a comparably low work potential (2 V versus SCE). The pronounced electron deficiency of the W 2 C nanocatalysts substantially facilitates the direct deprotonation process to ensure electrode durability without self-oxidation. The efficient oxidation process also boosts the balancing hydrogen production from as-formed protons on the cathode by a factor of 10 compared to an inert reference electrode. The whole process meets the requirements of atomic economy and electric energy utilization in terms of sustainable chemical synthesis.

Industrial activity away from plate boundaries can induce earthquakes and has evolved into a global issue. Much of the induced seismicity in the United States' midcontinent is attributed to a direct pressure increase from deep wastewater disposal. This mechanism is not applicable where deep basement faults are hydraulically isolated from shallow injection aquifers, leading to a debate about the mechanisms for induced seismicity. Here, we compile industrial, seismic, geodetic, and geological data within the Delaware Basin, western Texas, and calculate stress and pressure changes at seismogenic depth using a coupled poroelastic model. We show that the widespread deep seismicity is mainly driven by shallow wastewater injection through the transmission of poroelastic stresses assuming that unfractured shales are hydraulic barriers over decadal time scales. A zone of seismic quiescence to the north, where injection-induced stress changes would promote seismicity, suggests a regional tectonic control on the occurrence of induced earthquakes. Comparing the poroelastic responses from injection and extraction operations, we find that the basement stress is most sensitive to shallow reservoir hydrogeological parameters, particularly hydraulic diffusivity. These results demonstrate that intraplate seismicity can be caused by shallow human activities that poroelastically perturb stresses at hydraulically isolated seismogenic depths, with impacts on seismicity that are preconditioned by regional tectonics., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interest.

Background: M1 polarization of macrophages is an important pathological process in myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury, which is the major obstacle for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction. Currently, the strategies and mechanisms of inhibiting M1 polarization are poorly explored. This study aims to investigate the role of soluble death receptor 5-Fc (sDR5-Fc) in regulating M1 polarization of macrophages under extreme conditions and explore the mechanisms from the aspect of glycolysis., Methods: Extreme conditions were induced in RAW264.7 cells. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot were used to detect the expression of mRNA and proteins, respectively. Cell counting kit-8 was used to investigate the proliferation activity of cells. Expression levels of inflammatory cytokines were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay., Results: We found that sDR5-Fc rescues the proliferation of macrophages under extreme conditions, including nutrition deficiency, excessive peroxide, and ultraviolet irradiation. In addition, administration of sDR5-Fc inhibits the M1 polarization of macrophages induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), as the expression of M1 polarization markers CD86, CXC motif chemokine ligand 10, matrix metalloproteinase 9, and tumor necrosis factor-α, as well as the secretion of inflammatory factors interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6, were significantly decreased. By further investigation of the mechanisms, the results showed that sDR5-Fc can recover the LPS and IFN-γ induced pH reduction, lactic acid elevation, and increased expression of hexokinase 2 and glucose transporter 1, which were markers of glycolysis in macrophages., Conclusions: sDR5-Fc inhibits the M1 polarization of macrophages by blocking the glycolysis, which provides a new direction for the development of strategies in the treatment of myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury., (Copyright and License information: Journal of Geriatric Cardiology 2021.)

Stille cross-coupling reactions catalysed by an ideal catalyst combining the high activity of homogeneous catalysts and the reusability of heterogeneous catalysts are of great interest for C-C bond formation, which is a widely used reaction in fine chemistry. Despite great effort to increase the utilization ratio of surface metal atoms, the activity of heterogeneous catalysts under mild conditions remains unsatisfactory. Herein, we design a proof-of-concept strategy to trigger the room-temperature activity of heterogeneous Au catalysts by decreasing the electron density at the interface of a rationally designed Schottky heterojunction of Au metals and boron-doped carbons. The electron-deficient Au nanoparticles formed as a result of the rectifying contact with boron-doped carbons facilitate the autocleavage of C-Br bonds for highly efficient C-C coupling reactions of alkylbromides and allylstannanes with a TOF value of 5199 h-1 at room temperature, surpassing that of the state-of-the-art homogeneous catalyst.

A stable artificial solid electrolyte interphase (ASEI) containing phosphazene and perfluoroalkoxy groups was designed to protect Li anodes. The ASEI with high ionic conductivity and mechanical robustness successfully suppressed the growth of Li dendrites, significantly enhancing the electrochemical performance of the Li-O2 batteries.

Quercetin is a kind of typical flavonoid, mainly found in various vegetables, fruits and Chinese herbs that are consumed daily, with the functions of anti-oxidation, anti-tumor, prevention and treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Quercetin is a natural compound with defined anti-tumor activity. Due to its low bioavailability and poor water solubility, quercetin has limitations in clinical application. The quercetin derivatives with good solubility, high bioavailability, metabolic stability, and low toxicity have been obtained through modification of quercetin structure. In recent years, a large number of quercetin ethers, esters, complexes, C-4 carbonyloxy substituted derivatives, A,B-ring modified compounds and other derivatives have been synthesized and tested for in vitro anticancer activity. The quercetin derivatives with anti-tumor activity synthesized in the last 5 years were reviewed in this paper.

A single-pixel compressive imaging technique that uses differential modulation based on the transformation of discrete orthogonal Krawtchouk moments is proposed. In this method, two sets of Krawtchouk basis patterns are used to differentially modulate the light source, then the Krawtchouk moments of the target object are acquired from the light intensities measured by a single-pixel detector. The target image is reconstructed by applying an inverse Krawtchouk moment transform represented in the matrix form. The proposed technique is verified by both computational simulations and laboratory experiments. The results show that this technique can retrieve an image from compressive measurements and the real-time reconstruction. The background noise can be removed by the differential measurement to realize the excellent image quality. Moreover, the proposed technique is especially suitable for the single-pixel imaging application that requires the extraction of the characteristics at the region-of-interest.

The traditional NH 3 production method (Haber-Bosch process) is currently complemented by electrochemical synthesis at ambient conditions, but the rather low selectivity (as indicated by the Faradaic efficiency) for the electrochemical reduction of molecular N 2 into NH 3 impedes the progress. Here, we present a powerful method to significantly boost the Faradaic efficiency of Au electrocatalysts to 67.8% for the nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) by increasing their electron density through the construction of inorganic donor-acceptor couples of Ni and Au nanoparticles. The unique role of the electron-rich Au centers in facilitating the fixation and activation of N 2 was also investigated via theoretical simulation methods and then confirmed by experimental results. The highly coupled Au and Ni nanoparticles supported on nitrogen-doped carbon are stable for reuse and long-term performance of the NRR, making the electrochemical process more sustainable for practical application.

The prediction of clinical outcome for patients with infiltrative gliomas is challenging. Although preoperative hematological markers have been proposed as predictors of survival in glioma and other cancers, systematic investigations that combine these data with other relevant clinical variables are needed to improve prognostic accuracy and patient outcomes. We investigated the prognostic value of preoperative hematological markers, alone and in combination with molecular pathology, for the survival of 592 patients with Grade II-IV diffuse gliomas. On univariate analysis, increased neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and decreased albumin-to-globulin ratio (AGR), all predicted poor prognosis in Grade II/III gliomas. Multivariate analysis incorporating tumor status based on the presence of IDH mutations, TERT promoter mutations, and 1p/19q codeletion showed that in lower-grade gliomas, high NLR predicted poorer survival for the triple-negative, IDH mutation only, TERT mutation only, and IDH and TERT mutation groups. NLR was an independent prognostic factor in Grade IV glioma. We therefore propose a prognostic model for diffuse gliomas based on the presence of IDH and TERT promoter mutations, 1p/19q codeletion, and NLR. This model classifies lower-grade gliomas into nine subgroups that can be combined into four main risk groups based on survival projections.

Induced seismicity linked to geothermal resource exploitation, hydraulic fracturing, and wastewater disposal is evolving into a global issue because of the increasing energy demand. Moderate to large induced earthquakes, causing widespread hazards, are often related to fluid injection into deep permeable formations that are hydraulically connected to the underlying crystalline basement. Using injection data combined with a physics-based linear poroelastic model and rate-and-state friction law, we compute the changes in crustal stress and seismicity rate in Oklahoma. This model can be used to assess earthquake potential on specific fault segments. The regional magnitude-time distribution of the observed magnitude (M) 3+ earthquakes during 2008-2017 is reproducible and is the same for the 2 optimal, conjugate fault orientations suggested for Oklahoma. At the regional scale, the timing of predicted seismicity rate, as opposed to its pattern and amplitude, is insensitive to hydrogeological and nucleation parameters in Oklahoma. Poroelastic stress changes alone have a small effect on the seismic hazard. However, their addition to pore-pressure changes can increase the seismicity rate by 6-fold and 2-fold for central and western Oklahoma, respectively. The injection-rate reduction in 2016 mitigates the exceedance probability of M5.0 by 22% in western Oklahoma, while that of central Oklahoma remains unchanged. A hypothetical injection shut-in in April 2017 causes the earthquake probability to approach its background level by ∼2025. We conclude that stress perturbation on prestressed faults due to pore-pressure diffusion, enhanced by poroelastic effects, is the primary driver of the induced earthquakes in Oklahoma., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2019 the Author(s). Published by PNAS.)

Compressive sensing (CS) has been used in LiDAR systems utilizing one single-photon-counting avalanche diode. We demonstrate an unexpected grayscale inversed image of an object at an unchosen depth, which appears in the reconstruction of the infrared single-pixel LiDAR system due to the pile-up effect. A correction algorithm and the sparse measurement are proposed and experimentally verified to effectively reduce the photon pile-up influence, so that the negative images can be completely removed. The correction methods in this research can improve the accuracy and the flexibility of the single-pixel LiDAR systems employing detectors with a low maximum light count.

We described an effective way to generate a Co 3 O 4 mesocrystal array with well-developed porosity, simply by uniting a coupled interface with hydrazine treatment. Due to the fast electron transfer and sufficient active sites, the Ti mesh-supported Co 3 O 4 nanoneedles electrode could provide a current density of 49.9 mA cm -2 at 570 mV OER overpotential and has exceptionally high stability.

As a new type of heterogeneous catalyst with "homogeneous-like" activity, single-site transition-metal materials are usually treated as integrated but separate active centers. A novel grouping effect is reported for single Ni-N 4 sites in nitrogen-doped carbon (Ni/NC), where an effective ligand-stabilized polycondensation method endows Ni/NC nanocatalysts with a high content of single-site Ni up to 9.5 wt %. The enhanced electron density at each single Ni-N 4 site promotes a highly efficient hydrogen transfer, which is exemplified by the coupling of benzyl alcohol and aniline into N-benzylaniline with a turnover frequency (TOF) value of 7.0 mol N-benzylaniline  mol metal -1  h -1 ; this TOF outpaces that of reported stable non-noble-metal-based catalysts by a factor of 2., (© 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Objective: To prepare curcumin-loaded lipid cubic liquid crystalline nanoparticles and evaluate its physiochemical properties., Methods: The nanoparticles were prepared using hot and high-pressure homogenization. The prescription and preparation process were optimized by uniform design with drug loading and entrapment efficiency as indexes., Results: The nanoparticles were spherical under transmission electron microscope (TEM) with average particle size of 176.1 nm, zeta potential of -25.19 mV, average drug loading of (1.5 +/- 0.2)% and entrapment efficiency of (95 +/- 1.8)%. The release equation: In (1-Q) = -0.0251t-0.0075. The cumulative release percentage was 60% at 36 h in vitro., Conclusion: The obtained curcumin-loaded lipid cubic liquid crystalline nanoparticles shows high entrapment efficiency and good sustain release property.

Objective: To prepare Apigemin-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (Api-NLCs) and evaluate their characteristics., Methods: Api-NLCs were prepared by the method of emulsion evaporation-solidification at low temperature. The physicochemical properties such as morphology, size distribution, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, drug loading and drug release in vitro were evaluated., Results: The obtained nanoparticles were spherical under transmission electron microscope. The mean diameter was 212.1 nm, the zeta potential was - 14.65 mV, the mean entrapment efficiency was 82.4% and the mean drug loading was 0.97%. The total drug release was 30% in 2 hours followed by a slow and sustained release in vitro., Conclusion: The optimal Api-NLCs show stable characteristics and broad prospects for application.

Introduction: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common disorder noted for affecting quality of life. Several studies have reported the influence of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) polymorphisms on ED susceptibility. However, results of association studies with individually low statistical power are conflicting., Aim: Our study aimed to carry out a meta-analysis estimating the association between eNOS variants and the risk of ED., Methods: Studies regarding the association between eNOS polymorphisms and ED were searched in Medline and Embase databases. The relevant studies that met the inclusion criteria were eligible for the analysis., Main Outcome Measures: Five genetic models and a generalized odds ratio (OR(G) ) were used to estimate the association between eNOS G894T and variable number of 27-bp tandem repeats in intron 4 (4 VNTR) and the risk of ED., Results: Nine articles were included in our meta-analysis. Overall, significant association between the 894T variant and an increased risk of ED was derived for all genetic contrasts except for the recessive model (allele contrast: OR = 1.64, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-2.60). The meta-analysis based on the OR(G) also produced significant results: OR(G) = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.03-2.61. Significant heterogeneity and publication bias were detected. The cumulative meta-analysis showed the OR increased from 2003 to 2009 and then declined in 2010. Instability in the relative change of OR was observed. Regarding 4 VNTR and its association with ED, the overall analysis showed a lack of significant association (OR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.72-1.28). No evidence for heterogeneity among studies was observed. Subgroup analysis by ethnicity and recruitment strategy also yielded nonsignificant results., Conclusion: The result supports that G894T variant is associated with an increase in the risk of ED. No evidence for a significant association between 4VNTR and ED is observed. The results of the present meta-analysis should be interpreted with caution. Further confirmation in large and well-designed studies is needed., (© 2010 International Society for Sexual Medicine.)

Objective: To prepare curcumin polybutylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles (Cur-PBCNs) and evaluate its characteristics., Methods: Cur-PBCNs were prepared by emulsion polymerization, and the formulation was optimized by L16 (4(3)) orthogonal design test with entrapment efficiency and drug loading as indices. In addition, its characteristics were investigated., Results: The nanoparticles were spherical in appearance under transmission electron microscope (TEM). The mean diameter of the nanoparticles was 93.8 nm, the mean entrapment efficiency was (50.4 +/- 2.2)%, the mean drug-loading was (33.5 +/- 0.9)% and the Zeta potential was -6.81 mV. The total drug release was 34.74% in 2 hours followed by a sustained release in vitro for Cur-PBCNs, and the in vitro release profile of the nanoparticles was fit for two phases kinetics equation: 100 - Q = 4.5235e(-0.1724t) + 4.1641e(-0.0114t)., Conclusion: The optimal Cur-PBCNs show good characteristics and sustained release character in vitro.

Objective: To study the preparation technology and physicochemical characterization of curcumin loaded gelatin microspheres for lung targeting., Methods: Curcumin loaded gelatin microspheres for lung targeting were prepared by the emulsion crosslinking method, and the preparation technology was optimized by orthogonal experimental design with biodegradable gelatin as the carrier, liquid paraffin as the oil phase, span 80 as the emulsifier., Results: The optimal curcumin loaded gelatin microspheres were global with smooth surface, 6.15% for the drug loading, 75.5% for the encapsulation efficiency. 86.6% of microspheres size was in the range of 5-30 microm. The release test in vitro showed that 50% of curcumin could release from gelatin microspheres in 22 h and 77% in 48 h., Conclusions: The preparation technology is good and stable, and the obtained microspheres can control the release of curcumin.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the preparation and characteristics of curcumin phospholipid complex, including the effects of reaction time, reaction solvent, reaction concentration and reaction temperature. Preparation technology resulted in that 0.5 g curcumin and 10 g soy phospholipid dissolved in 100 mL anhydrous alcohol, were stirred 1 h in 50 degrees C waterbath, then steamed alcohol in decompression, collected solid residue and vacuum dried for 12 h. The physicochemical properties for the new complex including IR spectrometer, mass spectrograph and HNMR equipment were detected. As a result, the formation of the complex is based on the reaction between phospholipid polar group rounding phosphorus atom and curcumin. This result gave the evidence for the formation mechanism of phospholipid complex.

Objective: To prepare and characterize the solid lipid nanoparticles containing norcantharidin., Methods: Entrapment efficiency was studied to choose the best method of preparing norcantharidin solid lipid nanoparticles. The physico-chemical properties of norcantharidin solid lipid nanoparticles were investigated., Results: The entrapment efficiency of norcantharidin in solid lipid nanoparticles was 54.6%, the average particle diameter was 190 nm, and it was stable at 4 degrees C for 3 months., Conclusion: Solid lipid nanoparticles of norcantharidin prepared has high entrapment efficiency and good stability.

Objective: To prepare puerarin liposome and study its oral absorption in rat., Methods: Liposome was prepared through the way of film dispersion-ultrasonic. Free puerarin in liposome suspension was separated from liposome through ultrafiltration, and then encapsulation ratio of liposome was determined. Micro-morphology of liposme particles was observed under electronic transmission microscope. Puerarin concentration in blood was determined by HPLC., Results: The encapsulation ratio of puerarin in liposome was 53%, and liposome particles were global or elliptical. The diameter range of liposome particies was from 50 nm to 300 nm. The relative availability of puerarin liposme suspension to puerarin solution was 168%., Conclusion: Liposome as a drug carrier can enhance the oral absorption of puerarin in rat.

The purpose of this study was to explore the frequency of apolipoprotein A5 (APOA5) -1131T/C polymorphism in Zhenjiang and its effects on lipid metabolism and insulin resistance in type II diabetes mellitus(DM) patients. The genotypes of APOA5 -1131T/C polymorphism were determined in 152 healthy individuals and 71 type II DM patients by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Serum levels of lipids, glucose and insulin in these subjects were also estimated by biochemical methods. The frequency of the APOA5-1131C allele in DM patients was significantly higher than that of the control group (0.430 vs 0.296, P = 0.006). When compared with the TT genotype, CC homozygotes had a significantly increased DM risk (OR=3.75, 95% CI: 1.57-8.92). In the DM group, the serum levels of triglyceride (TG) of C carriers (TC+CC) were significantly higher than those of non-C carriers (TT) (P 0.01), and serum levels of total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-c) in subjects with the CC genotype were also significantly higher than those with the TT genotype (P 0.05). However, there was no significance in profiles of insulin resistance in various genotypes in both groups. The APOA5 single nucleotide polymorphism was associ-ated with serum TG level in the population. The -1131C allele contributed to the increase of serum levels of TG, TC and LDL-c and but had no effect on profiles of insulin resistance in DM patients. The APOA5 -1131C allele may be associated with increased susceptibility to type II diabetes mellitus.

Objective: To prepare chitosan coated puerarin liposomes and investigate their physicochemical properties., Methods: Puerarin liposomes were prepared by reverse phase evaporation technique and then coated with chitosan. Using encapsulation efficiency as index of examination and designing an orthogonal experiment, the optimal formulation of liposomes was determined. The physicochemical properties of uncoatd and chitosan coated puerarin liposomes were investigated, respectively., Results: Uncoated and chitosan coated puerarin liposomes were spherelike and smooth. The mean particles size of uncoated and coated liposomes were 217. 3nm and 632. 6nm, respectively. The Zeta potential were -14.44 mV and +35.61 mV, respectively. The encapsulating efficency was 50. 6% and 51.1%, respectively., Conclusion: Puerarin liposomes can be prepared by reverse phase evaporation technique successfully. The chitosan coated purarin liposomes ware spherelike and smooth.

Objective: To prepare puerarin solid self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS)., Methods: Pseudo-ternary phase diagram was used to select the formula of microemulsion. The self-microemulsification efficiency was assessed, such as viscosity, conductance, refraction, zeta potential, size ditribution, dissolution were investigated. Puerarin were determined by UV to calculate the cumulative release at different time., Results: The optimum formulation of puerarin solid self-microemulsifying drug delivery system the consisted of puerarin-Tween 800 glycerinum-ethyl oleate-water-Gum Acacia-manicol at weight ratio of 1.7: 16. 6: 16. 6: 16. 6 : 1.3: 4.0: 39.9: 19.9; Average particle diameter was 30 nm; The dissolution was 94.29% at 10 min., Conclusion: Stability of puerarin solid self-microemulsion drug delvery system is good, potent in improving the dissolution of puerarin.