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Afterglow materials have attracted much attention owing to their long luminescence lifetimes, large Stokes shifts, and emission without real‐time excitation. Compared with traditional organic afterglow materials, carbon dots (CDs), as a new afterglow material, have superior properties such as easy preparation, low toxicity, and low cost. The emission color of afterglow CDs can be regulated by external factors such as excitation wavelength, temperature, and time, which is highly significant for expanding the diversified applications to make them available for biotechnology and information applications. This review summarizes the research progress of multicolor afterglow CDs in recent years, including luminescence regulation strategies, preparation methods, and applications. First, the multicolor afterglow CDs are classified into three strategies: multicolor room temperature phosphorescence (RTP), thermally activated delayed fluorescence converted to RTP, and delayed fluorescence based on Förster resonance energy transfer, and the strategies for regulating their luminescence properties are analyzed. Second, the preparation methods of achieving multicolor afterglow CDs are summarized in both matrix‐free and matrix‐confined aspects. Then, applications in anticounterfeiting and information encryption, sensing and bioimaging are introduced in detail. Finally, the future challenges and opportunities of multicolor afterglow CDs are prospected to provide ideas for their controlled design and wide application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractAsymptotic analysis based on the fluids governing equations with the exponential model of thermophysical properties is introduced to quantify the influence of each property on the heat and mass transfer behavior of the near-critical fluid. The one-dimensional asymptotic model finds the different behavior in boundary layers and bulk regions controlled by the diffusion and wave mode, respectively. From the asymptotic model, three characteristic parameters are found: nondimensional wave velocity for wave mode, nondimensional diffusion coefficient for diffusion mode, and nondimensional mass transport coefficient for the coupling in between. Larger thermal conductivity, fluid compressibility, and lower specific heat are found to enhance the thermal wave. However, the efficiency of heat transfer by thermal waves is irrelevant to the thermal diffusivity but related to the fluid compressibility. From the calculation of the asymptotic model for supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2), such efficiency is 0.150, which indicates that most of the thermal energy is accumulated in the boundary layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a new method for the layered equivalent modeling of slot winding in the stator of a flat wire motor to accurately study the thermal performance under steady-state conditions. The conventional equivalent model for flat wire winding involves treating the slot winding as a single copper rod for temperature analysis. This method is not applicable to flat wire motors under high-power density operating conditions. As the power density of the motor increases, the flat wire winding is more affected by skin effect and proximity effect, resulting in a sharp increase in AC loss and uneven distribution of losses in the slot winding. The conductor losses are highest near the slot opening, a characteristic that conventional model is unable to reflect. The proposed layered modeling method fully takes into account the characteristics of flat wire winding. This method involves adding interlayer insulation to divide the overall modeled conductor into layers and fully considers the thermal parameters, heat transfer characteristics, and distribution of materials within the slot to establish a new equivalent model for flat wire winding. Finally, the comparison of the results with the actual model and experimental tests demonstrates that this method effectively improves the calculation accuracy by 2.2% of the flat wire winding equivalent model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceramic thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) with high toughness and low thermal conductivity are important for developing aero engines with high thrust‐to‐weight ratio and thermal efficiency. In this work, the properties of tantalate Y1/6Yb5/6TaO4 (YYT) were optimized by introducing 8 wt.% yttria‐stabilized zirconia (8YSZ), synthesized using spark plasma sintering, as a second‐phase ceramic. The highest toughness (3.57 MPa m1/2) of the YYT/8YSZ composite ceramics was due to multiple toughening mechanisms. The underlying mechanisms of these processes were revealed based on the microstructures and residual stress of the YYT/8YSZ composite ceramics. A shift from an intergranular fracture to a transgranular fracture was caused by the difference between soft‐grain YYT and hard‐grain 8YSZ, which consumed the fracture energy. Furthermore, the formation of microcracks, crack deflection, bridging, and branching were analyzed based on the differences in Young's moduli and thermal expansion coefficients of YYT and 8YSZ. Internal defects and weak connections between the YYT and 8YSZ grains reduced the thermal conductivity of the composites until it reached its lowest value at 1.4 W m−1 K−1. The studied toughening mechanisms could be applied to various composites. Moreover, herein, we provide a new strategy to design and synthesize TBCs with enhanced performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise: Theories of plant–herbivore interactions hold that seedlings are more vulnerable to herbivory in warmer and more stable climates at lower elevations. Hypotheses of plant apparency, resource concentration, and resource availability have been proposed to explain variability in leaf herbivory. However, seasonal differences in the effects of these hypotheses on leaf herbivory on seedlings remain unclear. Methods: We evaluated the three herbivory hypotheses by comparing the percentage and frequency of leaf herbivory in understory broadleaf seedlings in a subtropical forest in May (spring) and October (autumn) along an elevational gradient (290–1370 m a.s.l.). In total, we measured 2890 leaves across 696 seedlings belonging to 95 species and used beta regressions to test the effects of plant apparency (e.g., leaf area, seedling height), resource concentration (e.g., plant species diversity), and resource availability (e.g., canopy openness, soil available N and P) on leaf herbivory. Results: Seedlings exhibited unimodal patterns of leaf herbivory along elevation, with drivers of leaf herbivory varying by the month. Variation in the frequency of leaf herbivory was best explained by the resource concentration hypothesis (e.g., plant species diversity) in both months, and herbivory was lower on seedlings in sites with higher plant diversity. Plant apparency hypothesis (e.g., leaf area, seedling height) was weakly supported only in spring, and the evidence for resource availability hypothesis (e.g., canopy openness, soil nutrients) was mixed. Conclusions: This study supports the resource concentration hypothesis and reveals the importance of seasonal difference on understanding leaf herbivory patterns and the drivers of plant diversity in subtropical forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-carbon life is spreading to every corner of the world, but also offers new challenges to the internal combustion engine (ICE). Ammonia (NH 3), as a hydrogen carrier and carbon-free fuel, is the key for ICE to being zero-carbon. Hydrogen turbulent jet ignition (HTJI) is thought as an optimal method to overcome the poor combustion performance of ammonia. In this study, the combustion characteristics of a neat ammonia engine with HTJI are numerically studied by addressing the orifice diameter and pre-chamber reactivity. The results show that an optimal orifice diameter is needed to maximize the promoting effect of HTJI on ammonia combustion. The jet flame quenches under small orifice conditions, and no jet flame products under large orifice conditions. When considering the pre-chamber reactivity, the scavenging process leads to a low degree of H 2 in the pre-chamber during the compression, which results in low-efficiency ammonia combustion. By increasing the pre-chamber reactivity (hydrogen quantity) of the pre-chamber, the jet flame is advanced and much stronger, resulting in better engine performance. For nitrogen-based emissions, the unburned NH 3 emissions mainly depend on combustion efficiency, while NO emissions show an opposite trend. The current results can help find the optimization method of the ammonia engine with HTJI. • Effect of HTJI on ammonia combustion was numerically studied. • An optimal orifice diameter is needed to maximize the promoting effect of HTJI. • The scavenging process leads to a low degree of H 2 in the pre-chamber. • High pre-chamber reactivity results in better engine performance. • Unburned NH 3 emissions mainly depend on combustion efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The liquid cooling system (LCS) of the proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell suffers from large time delay, coupling, uncertainties, and various disturbances, making it susceptible to temperature regulation overshoot and control oscillation. This article focuses on a composite control scheme for the LCS that has effectively addressed the aforementioned issues. We first propose a two-layer control approach for the pump to minimize coupling, and an average delay model (ADM) for radiator whose parameter uncertainties are removed by equilibrium optimizer (EO). To overcome disturbances, an adaptive sliding mode control (ASMC) based on extended state observer (ESO) is presented, and its finite-time convergence is demonstrated. Additionally, the indirect regulation for the stack temperature is designed to considerably reduce the time delay in the fan control loop. Co-simulation results indicate that the proposed ASMC significantly suppresses the chattering phenomenon compared with regular sliding mode control (SMC). In contrast to incremental fuzzy control, the proposed scheme possesses superiorities in response speed, tracking accuracy, anti-disturbance, as well as suppression of overshoot and oscillation. • A two-layer control approach is developed for the coolant pump. • An average delay model is presented for the radiator. • An adaptive sliding mode control is proposed for the cooling fan. • An indirect regulation method significantly reduces the time delay in the fan control loop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilization of renewable energies for catalytically generating value-added chemicals is highly desirable in this era of rising energy demands and climate change impacts. Artificial photosynthetic systems or photocatalysts utilize light to convert abundant CO2, H2O, and O2 to fuels, such as carbohydrates and hydrogen, thus converting light energy to storable chemical resources. The emergence of intense X-ray pulses from synchrotrons, ultrafast X-ray pulses from X-ray free electron lasers, and table-top laser-driven sources over the past decades opens new frontiers in deciphering photoinduced catalytic reaction mechanisms on the multiple temporal and spatial scales. Operando X-ray spectroscopic methods offer a new set of electronic transitions in probing the oxidation states, coordinating geometry, and spin states of the metal catalytic center and photosensitizers with unprecedented energy and time resolution. Operando X-ray scattering methods enable previously elusive reaction steps to be characterized on different length scales and time scales. The methodological progress and their application examples collected in this review will offer a glimpse into the accomplishments and current state in deciphering reaction mechanisms for both natural and synthetic systems. Looking forward, there are still many challenges and opportunities at the frontier of catalytic research that will require further advancement of the characterization techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractWith the gradual penetration of the Internet into the study and life of college students, the Internet not only brings convenience to young adults but also becomes a new channel for them to engage in deviant behaviors. This study explores the relationship between stressful life events and college students’ online deviant behaviors, as well as the mediating role of negative automatic thoughts and the moderating role of perceived social support. Data is drawn from 448 college students (Mage = 20.10, SDage = 1.74). Results showed that stressful life events were significantly positively correlated with online deviant behaviors, and negative automatic thoughts mediated the relationship between stressful life events and online deviant behaviors. The relationship between stressful life events and online deviant behaviors, as well as that between negative automatic thoughts and online deviant behaviors, were both moderated by perceived social support. This study provides a practical guiding value for effectively preventing and intervening in college students’ online deviant behaviors and maintaining the regular order of the online society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface‐Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) technique is used to fabricate the gas sensor, which is developed for the visualization of the spatial distribution of gas evaporating from odor source. The 3 × 3 SERS sensor array is put on the odor source and then scanned by the home‐made detection system to obtain the Raman spectra of the odor. The intensities of the characteristic peaks from the collected spectra are used to draw a heatmap graph. After the heatmap graph is processed by the noise reduction, the localization of the odor source can be clearly identified through the resulting graph. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How public policies convey dementia is an important source of the public’s understanding of dementia, and newspapers are critical to depicting and disseminating this information to the public. The present study used topic modeling strategies to analyze Chinese newspaper portrayals of dementia from 2005 to 2020 to trace changes in key areas of dementia knowledge in relevant policies. Using WiseNews, the largest Chinese media database, we chose 45 newspapers from mainland China and identified 12,719 articles related to dementia. Using latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA), we performed a topic modeling analysis and identified the six most prevalent topics on dementia across articles: lifestyle recommendations, neighborhood life, foundational scientific research, celebrity and media portrayals, dementia caregiving, and pharmaceutical innovations – all related to the dementia knowledge scale’s four dimensions. Findings suggest a steady increase in the number of articles on dementia caregiving and a decline in lifestyle recommendations from 2005 to 2020. However, newspapers continued to stigmatize aging by regularly co-depicting dementia and old age and by using biased terminology. Among the first to investigate dementia’s portrayals in mainland Chinese newspapers, this study illuminates the need for expanding mass media campaigns to raise the country’s dementia knowledge to foster a dementia-inclusive society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Cyclophosphamide (Cy) is a frequently used chemotherapeutic drug, but long‐term Cy treatment can cause immunosuppression and intestinal mucosal damage. The intestinal mucosal barrier and gut flora play important roles in regulating host metabolism, maintaining physiological functions and protecting immune homeostasis. Dysbiosis of the intestinal flora affects the development of the intestinal microenvironment, as well as the development of various external systemic diseases and metabolic syndrome. RESULTS: The present study investigated the influence of sciadonic acid (SA) on Cy‐induced immunosuppression in mice. The results showed that SA gavage significantly alleviated Cy‐induced immune damage by improving the immune system organ index, immune response and oxidative stress. Moreover, SA restored intestinal morphology, improved villus integrity and activated the nuclear factor κB signaling pathway, stimulated cytokine production, and reduced serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels. Furthermore, gut microbiota analysis indicated that SA increased t beneficial bacteria (Alistipes, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Rikenella and Odoribacter) and decreased pathogenic bacteria (norank‐f‐Oscillospiraceae, Ruminococcus and Desulfovibrio) to maintain intestinal homeostasis. CONCLUSION: The present study provided new insights into the SA regulation of intestinal flora to enhance immune responses. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Human estrogen-related receptor γ (hERRγ) is a key protein involved in various endocrines and metabolic signaling. Numerous environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can impact related physiological activities through receptor signaling pathways. Focused on hERRγ with 4-isopropylphenol, bisphenol-F (BPF), and BP(2,2)(Un) complexes, we executed molecular docking and multiple molecular dynamics (MD) simulations along with molecular mechanics/Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM-PBSA) and solvation interaction energy (SIE) calculation to study the detailed dynamical structural characteristics and interactions between them. Molecular docking showed that hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions were the prime interactions to keep the stability of BPF-hERRγ and hERRγ-BP(2,2)(Un) complexes. Through MD simulations, we observed that all complexes reach equilibrium during the initial 50 ns of simulation, but these three EDCs lead to local structure changes in hERRγ. Energy results further identified key residues L268, V313, L345, and F435 around the binding pockets through CH-π, π-π, and hydrogen bonds interactions play an important stabilizing role in the recognition with EDCs. And most noticeable of all, hydrophobic methoxide groups in BP(2,2)(Un) is useful for decreasing the binding ability between EDCs and hERRγ. These results may contribute to evaluate latent diseases associated with EDCs exposure at the micro level and find potential substitutes. Method: Autodock4.2 was used to conduct the molecular docking, sietraj program was performed to calculate the energy, and VMD software was used to visualize the structure. Amber18 was conducted to perform the MD simulation and other analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean (Glycine max) is a vital food crop, serving as a major source of high-quality protein for human and animal consumption. Stem diameter is one of the primary determinants of the stem lodging resistance of a given plant, but there has been relatively little research to date focused on genes associated with this trait. To address this gap in the literature, 207 chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) were generated in the present study through the crossing and backcrossing of the improved Suinong14 and the wild ZYD00006 soybean varieties. These CSSLs were then used for the mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with stem diameter in two-year field planting materials, leading to the identification of nine QTLs. Whole genome resequencing, RNA-seq, and qPCR were then used to evaluate candidate genes associated with stem diameter within these QTL intervals, ultimately leading to the selection of Glyma.04G004100 as a stem diameter-related gene. Subsequent qPCR analyses revealed that Glyma.04g004100 was upregulated in soybean plants with larger stem diameters, and haplotype analyses yielded results consistent with these stem diameter data in the population used to conduct this study. In summary, a series of QTLs associated with stem diameter were identified in the present study, resulting in the establishment of Glyma.04g004100 as a stem diameter-related gene. Together, these results offer a theoretical foundation for the future molecular-assisted breeding of lodging-resistant soybean varieties, and future functional research focused on Glyma.04g004100 may elucidate the molecular mechanisms and key signaling networks involved in soybean stem development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fetal electrocardiogram (FECG) records changes in the graph of fetal cardiac action potential during conduction, reflecting the developmental status of the fetus in utero and its physiological cardiac activity. Morphological alterations in the FECG can indicate intrauterine hypoxia, fetal distress, and neonatal asphyxia early on, enhancing maternal and fetal safety through prompt clinical intervention, thereby reducing neonatal morbidity and mortality. To reconstruct FECG signals with clear morphological information, this paper proposes a novel deep learning model, CBLS-CycleGAN. The model's generator combines spatial features extracted by the CNN with temporal features extracted by the BiLSTM network, thus ensuring that the reconstructed signals possess combined features with spatial and temporal dependencies. The model's discriminator utilizes PatchGAN, employing small segments of the signal as discriminative inputs to concentrate the training process on capturing signal details. Evaluating the model using two real FECG signal databases, namely "Abdominal and Direct Fetal ECG Database" and "Fetal Electrocardiograms, Direct and Abdominal with Reference Heartbeat Annotations", resulted in a mean MSE and MAE of 0.019 and 0.006, respectively. It detects the FQRS compound wave with a sensitivity, positive predictive value, and F1 of 99.51%, 99.57%, and 99.54%, respectively. This paper's model effectively preserves the morphological information of FECG signals, capturing not only the FQRS compound wave but also the fetal P-wave, T-wave, P-R interval, and ST segment information, providing clinicians with crucial diagnostic insights and a scientific foundation for developing rational treatment protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer-related cachexia is a metabolic syndrome characterized by weight loss, adipose tissue decomposition, and progressive skeletal muscle atrophy. It is a major complication of many advanced cancers and seriously affects the quality of life and survival of cancer patients. However, the specific molecules that mediate cancer-related cachexia remain elusive, and the fundamental cellular and molecular mechanisms associated with muscle atrophy and lipidolysis in cancer patients still need to be investigated. Exosomes, a newly discovered class of small extracellular vesicles that facilitate intercellular communication, have a significant role in the onset and development of various cancers. Studies have shown that exosomes play a role in the onset and progression of cancer-related cachexia by transporting active molecules such as nucleic acids and proteins. This review aimed to provide an overview of exosome developments in cancer-induced skeletal muscle atrophy and adipose tissue degradation. More importantly, exosomes were shown to have potential as diagnostic markers or therapeutic strategies for cachexia and were prospected, providing novel strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer-related cachexia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work investigates the impact of pressure on the structural, optical properties, and electronic structure of CsPbBr3 quantum dots (QDs) using steady‐state photoluminescence, steady‐state absorption, and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, reaching a maximum pressure of 3.38 GPa. The experimental results indicate that CsPbBr3 QDs undergo electronic state (ES) transitions from ES‐I to ES‐II and ES‐II to ES‐III at 0.38 and 1.08 GPa, respectively. Intriguingly, a mixed state of ES‐II and ES‐III is observed within the pressure range of 1.08–1.68 GPa. The pressure‐induced fluorescence quenching in ES‐II is attributed to enhanced defect trapping and reduced radiative recombination. Above 1.68 GPa, fluorescence vanishes entirely, attributed to the complete phase transformation from ES‐II to ES‐III in which radiative recombination becomes non‐existent. Notably, owing to stronger quantum confinement effects, CsPbBr3 QDs exhibit an impressive bandgap tuning range of 0.497 eV from 0 to 2.08 GPa, outperforming nanocrystals by 1.4 times and bulk counterparts by 11.3 times. Furthermore, this work analyzes various carrier dynamics processes in the pressure‐induced bandgap evolution and electron state transitions, and systematically studies the microphysical mechanisms of optical properties in CsPbBr3 QDs under pressure, offering insights for optimizing optical properties and designing novel materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) possesses a complex aroma and is widely grown in tropical and subtropical areas. Here, we conducted the de novo assembly, annotation, and comparison of PPF (P. edulis Sims) and YPF (P. edulis f. flavicarpa) reference genomes using PacBio, Illumina, and Hi-C technologies. Notably, we discovered evidence of recent whole-genome duplication events in P. edulis genomes. Comparative analysis revealed 7.6∼8.1 million single nucleotide polymorphisms, 1 million insertions/deletions, and over 142 Mb presence/absence variations among different P. edulis genomes. During the ripening of yellow passion fruit, metabolites related to flavor, aroma, and color were substantially accumulated or changed. Through joint analysis of genomic variations, differentially expressed genes, and accumulated metabolites, we explored candidate genes associated with flavor, aroma, and color distinctions. Flavonoid biosynthesis pathways, anthocyanin biosynthesis pathways, and related metabolites are pivotal factors affecting the coloration of passion fruit, and terpenoid metabolites accumulated more in PPF. Finally, by heterologous expression in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), we functionally characterized 12 terpene synthases. Our findings revealed that certain TPS homologs in both YPF and PPF varieties produce identical terpene products, while others yield distinct compounds or even lose their functionality. These discoveries revealed the genetic and metabolic basis of unique characteristics in aroma and flavor between the 2 passion fruit varieties. This study provides resources for better understanding the genome architecture and accelerating genetic improvement of passion fruits. The annotated reference genomes from yellow and purple passion fruit identify candidate genes for terpene synthases that may account for differences in flavor and color between the 2 varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional building materials have some drawbacks in the construction industry, particularly in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption. Biomaterials derived from renewable sources are a promising alternative, significantly reducing the greenhouse effect and enhancing energy efficiency. However, traditional materials still dominate the construction sector, and there is a lack of understanding among some policymakers and developers regarding biomaterials. Here, we review building biomaterials and their policies and life cycle assessment through case studies. Bio-based materials have the potential to reduce over 320,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. They also exhibit advantages like decreasing water absorption by 40%, reducing energy consumption by 8.7%, enhancing acoustic absorption by 6.7%, and improving mechanical properties. We summarize recent advancements in mycelial materials, bioconcrete, natural fibers, and fiber-reinforced composites. We also explore the contributions of nanotechnology and microalgae technology in enhancing biomaterials' thermal insulation and eco-friendliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building construction requires important amounts of freshwater, thus depleting the already stressed natural water resources. This issue could be addressed by using recycled water in construction and in building systems. However, integrating greywater recycling systems is limited by complexity, costs, vulnerability to environmental fluctuations, and coordination of policymakers, developers, and construction practitioners. Here, we review recycled water systems in buildings with focus on case studies of successful implementations, policies, recycled water treatment in buildings, and health aspects. Compared to conventional tap water, the incorporation of recycled water enhances the consistency and workability of reclaimed water concrete by 12–14%, and it increases concrete viscosity by 11% and yield stress by 25%. We discuss the intricacies of building water recycling systems, with emphasizing on conserving water, mitigating environmental impact, and enhancing economic efficiency. Challenges include water quality assurance, dual piping infrastructure, and regulatory compliance. Government interventions, including incentives, mandates, and subsidy policies, emerge as drivers for widespread adoption. Technological advancements, such as membrane filtration and advanced oxidation processes, are examined for strengths and limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The building sector is significantly contributing to climate change, pollution, and energy crises, thus requiring a rapid shift to more sustainable construction practices. Here, we review the emerging practices of integrating renewable energies in the construction sector, with a focus on energy types, policies, innovations, and perspectives. The energy sources include solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass fuels. Case studies in Seattle, USA, and Manama, Bahrain, are presented. Perspectives comprise self-sufficiency, microgrids, carbon neutrality, intelligent buildings, cost reduction, energy storage, policy support, and market recognition. Incorporating wind energy into buildings can fulfill about 15% of a building's energy requirements, while solar energy integration can elevate the renewable contribution to 83%. Financial incentives, such as a 30% subsidy for the adoption of renewable technologies, augment the appeal of these innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel multitask learning framework for palmprint biometrics, which optimizes classification and hashing branches jointly. The classification branch within our framework facilitates the concurrent execution of three distinct tasks: identity recognition and classification of soft biometrics, encompassing gender and chirality. On the other hand, the hashing branch enables the generation of palmprint hash codes, optimizing for minimal storage as templates and efficient matching. The hashing branch derives the complementary information from these tasks by amalgamating knowledge acquired from the classification branch. This approach leads to superior overall performance compared to individual tasks in isolation. To enhance the effectiveness of multitask learning, two additional modules, an attention mechanism module and a customized gate control module, are introduced. These modules are vital in allocating higher weights to crucial channels and facilitating task-specific expert knowledge integration. Furthermore, an automatic weight adjustment module is incorporated to optimize the learning process further. This module fine-tunes the weights assigned to different tasks, improving performance. Integrating the three modules above has shown promising accuracies across various classification tasks and has notably improved authentication accuracy. The extensive experimental results validate the efficacy of our proposed framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Co-MoWTiO 2 removed 93.44 % NO, 94.14 % C 6 H 6 , and 97.62 % C 7 H 8 from coal-fired flue. • Multi-active center played essential roles in NH 3 -SCR and VOCs oxidation process. • Co sites have the lowest NH 3 and O 2 adsorption energies by DFT calculation. • SO 2 induces electron exchange between W6+ and Co2+ to form W5+ and Co3+. • Possible mechanisms of multi-pollution control of NO and VOCs was speculated. Previous studies have indicated the potential of monometallic-modified TiO 2 catalysts in controlling nitrogen oxide (NO x) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in coal-fired flue gas. Unfortunately, increasing selective catalytic reduction (SCR) activity under complicated coal-fired flue gas status is tricky. In this study, modified Co-MoWTiO 2 catalysts with multiple active sites were synthesized using the wet impregnation method, which exhibited excellent multi-pollution control ability of NO, benzene and toluene under low oxygen and high SO 2 concentrations. The modification of Mo and Co achieved high dispersion and electron transfer. The interaction between W5+/W6+ and Co2+/Co3+ promoted gas-phase O 2 adsorption on the catalyst surface, forming of reactive oxygen species (O α). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations informed that the doping of Co effectively enhanced the NH 3 and O 2 adsorption capacity of the catalyst, and Co possessed the maximum adsorption energy for NH 3 and O 2. Possible pathways of multi-pollution control of NO, C 6 H 6 , and C 7 H 8 were speculated. NH 3 /NH 4 + on the Lewis/Bronsted acid site is reacted with intermediates of NO (e.g., NO 2 , nitrite, nitrate) via the Langmuir-Hinshelwood and Eley-Rideal mechanism. The introduction of NO and NH 3 did not disrupt the oxidation pathways of benzene and toluene. Following the Mars-van Krevelen mechanism, C 6 H 6 and C 7 H 8 were progressively mineralized by O α into CO 2 and H 2 O. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The differences between existing preclinical models and the tumor microenvironment in vivo are one of the significant challenges hindering cancer therapy development. Patient‐derived tumor organoids (PDTO) can highly retain tumor heterogeneity. Thus, it provides a more reliable platform for research in tumor biology, new drug screening, and precision medicine. Methods: We conducted a systematic review to summarise the characteristics of the existing preclinical models, the advantages of patient‐derived tumor organoids in reconstructing the tumor microenvironment, and the latest research progress. Moreover, this study deciphers organoid culture technology in the clinical precision treatment of head and neck cancer to achieve better transformation. Studies were identified through a comprehensive search of Ovid MEDLINE (Wolters Kluwer), PubMed (National Library of Medicine), web of Science (Thomson Reuters) and, Scopus (Elsevier) databases, without publication date or language restrictions. Results: In tumor development, the interaction between cellular and non‐cellular components in the tumor microenvironment (TME) has a crucial role. Co‐culture, Air‐liquid interface culture, microfluidics, and decellularized matrix have depicted great potential in reconstructing the tumor microenvironment and simulating tumor genesis, development, and metastasis. Conclusion: An accurate determination of stromal cells, immune cells, and extracellular matrix can be achieved by reconstructing the head and neck cancer tumor microenvironment using the PDTO model. Moreover, the interaction between head and neck cancer cells can also play an essential role in implementing the individualized precision treatment of head and neck cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce the notion of σ-symmetric amenability of Banach algebras and investigate some hereditary properties of them. We also apply our results to several abstract Segal algebras and group algebras. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A three‐component phase‐transfer catalytic domino reaction involving cyclohexane‐1,3‐dione‐derived enaminones, 5‐alkenyl rhodanines, and haloalkanes has been developed. This protocol produces a wide range of 3‐thioquinoline‐2,5‐diones in yields of 52–81%. The construction of a C−S bond at the C‐3 position of the quinoline‐2,5‐dione framework expands its structural diversity. Studies into the reaction mechanism revealed that the reaction undergoes a conjugate addition, ammonolysis, elimination, and nucleophilic substitution sequence. The synthetic potential of the reaction was demonstrated by the gram‐scale syntheses of representative products. Chloroalkyl chains were installed on the sulfur atoms of most products obtained in this reaction. Diversified product derivatives were obtained by exploiting the favorable leaving nature of the chloride moiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a sodium-ion battery anode design using red phosphorus encapsulated in nitrogen-doped porous carbon nanofibers that mitigates volume expansion and poor conductivity issues, enhancing battery performance. Density functional theory calculations suggest nitrogen doping promotes robust phosphorus interactions, and finite element analysis indicates the design controls volume expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean (Glycine max) plants first emerged in China, and they have since been established as an economically important oil crop and a major source of daily protein for individuals throughout the world. Seed emergence height is the first factor that ensures seedling adaptability to field management practices, and it is closely related to epicotyl length. In the present study, the Suinong 14 and ZYD00006 soybean lines were used as parents to construct chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) for quantitative trait loci (QTL) identification. Seven QTLs were identified using two years of epicotyl length measurement data. The insertion region of the ZYD00006 fragment was identified through whole genome resequencing, with candidate gene screening and validation being performed through RNA-Seq and qPCR, and Glyma.08G142400 was ultimately selected as an epicotyl length-related gene. Through combined analyses of phenotypic data from the study population, Glyma.08G142400 expression was found to be elevated in those varieties exhibiting longer epicotyl length. Haplotype data analyses revealed that epicotyl data were consistent with haplotype typing. In summary, the QTLs found to be associated with the epicotyl length identified herein provide a valuable foundation for future molecular marker-assisted breeding efforts aimed at improving soybean emergence height in the field, with the Glyma.08G142400 gene serving as a regulator of epicotyl length, offering new insight into the mechanisms that govern epicotyl development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The innovative cutting mechanism of multi-dimensional teeth presents a groundbreaking approach to drill bit design, particularly optimizing drilling efficiency in challenging geological formations such as interlayers and gravel-rich layers within the Changqing Oilfield. Nevertheless, compared to conventional flat-tooth PDC drill bits, several aspects of the cutting mechanism and design parameters for multi-dimensional teeth require further elucidation. This article employs a linear cutting finite element model to establish cutting models for traditional flat teeth and two distinct types of multi-dimensional teeth, designated as Ridge and Benz. It systematically investigates the influence of varying cutting parameters on the effectiveness of rock-crushing within the multi-dimensional tooth-cutting mechanism. This study conducts laboratory-based single-tooth rock-crushing experiments to validate the numerical simulation results. Furthermore, applying principles derived from soil plastic mechanics contrasts the stress states experienced by rocks during the rock-crushing process between multi-dimensional teeth and conventional flat teeth, shedding light on the rock-crushing mechanism employed by multi-dimensional teeth. This research categorizes PDC cutting teeth on the drill bit into two groups: those near the center and those near the outer shoulder. A linear cutting model for teeth positioned near the outer shoulder is developed to analyze the impacts of different rake angles, side clearance angles, and welding errors on the tooth helix angle and the rock-crushing efficiency of the Benz tooth. This comprehensive study is a valuable reference for tailored drill bit design and holds potential for publication in a prestigious scientific journal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impact force identification has always been of significance for structure health monitoring especially on the applications involving composite materials. As a typical inverse problem, impact force reconstruction and localization is undoubtedly a challenging task. The well-known ℓ 1 sparse regularization has a tendency to underestimate the amplitude of impact forces. To alleviate this limitation, we propose an accelerated generalized minimax-concave (AGMC) for sparse regularization that employs a non-convex generalized minimax-concave (GMC) penalty as the regularizer and incorporates an acceleration technique to expedite the attainment of the global minimum. Compared with the classic ℓ 1-norm penalty, the GMC penalty can not only induce sparsity in the estimation, but also maintain the convexity of the cost function, so that the global optimal solution can be obtained through convex optimization algorithms. This method is applied to solve the impact force identification problem with unknown force locations to simultaneously reconstruct and localize impact forces in the under-determined case utilizing a limited number of sensors. Meanwhile, K-sparsity criterion is used to adaptively select regularization parameters by taking advantage of the sparse prior knowledge on impact forces. Simulations and experiments are conducted on a composite plate to verify the computational efficiency and robustness of the AGMC method in terms of impact force reconstruction and localization, particularly in the presence of noise. Results demonstrate that the proposed AGMC method achieves faster convergence and provides more accurate and sparse reconstruction and localization of impact forces compared to other state-of-the-art sparse regularization methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is now a major threat to human health and life. Although a number of clinical approaches to cancer treatment have been developed in recent years, tumor recurrence and metastasis remain a challenge. As the "seed" for the formation of tumor metastasis, Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) can not only grow and spread in the primary site, but also spread to other parts of the body through various ways. The close connection between CTCs and tumor progression makes them a focus of clinical and basic research attention, and it not only has an important guide for the clinical treatment of patients, but also a window into the occurrence and development of distant metastases. The identification and detection of CTCs have an important clinical significance in the assessment of the prognosis of cancer, efficacy prediction, efficacy evaluation, and the study of recurrent metastasis and drug resistance mechanisms of cancer patients. Therefore, this review not only introduces the source, attributes, transfer, and harm of CTCs, but also highlights the progress and latest technologies for the identification and capture and elimination strategies of CTCs and presents prospects for future research of CTCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: As an endemic and vulnerable fish from the upper Yangtze River in China, Schizothorax kozlovi holds significant scientific and ecological importance, yet it has received little attention so far. In this paper, we reported the characterization of the mitochondrial genome of S. kozlovi, and further investigated the phylogenetic relationships of Schizothorax. The results showed that the mitochondrial genome of S. kozlovi had a total size of 16,585 bp, a circular arrangement, and contained 13 PCGs, 22 tRNAs, two rRNAs, and two non-coding regions. Moreover, the phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that Schizothorax could be classified into four clades, and S. kozlovi was closely related to Schizothorax chongi. The present study enriched the basic biological data for S. kozlovi and provided fundamental references for the conservation of S. kozlovi and Schizothorax. Schizothorax kozlovi is an endemic and vulnerable fish species found in the upper Yangtze River in China. Over the past few years, the population resources of S. kozlovi have been nearly completely depleted owing to multiple contributing threats. While the complete mitochondrial genomes serve as important molecular markers for phylogenetic and genetic studies, the mitochondrial genome of S. kozlovi has still received little attention. In this study, we analyzed the characterization of the mitochondrial genome of S. kozlovi and investigated the phylogenetic relationships of Schizothorax. The complete mitochondrial genome of S. kozlovi was 16,585 bp in length, which contained thirty-seven genes (thirteen protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), twenty-two transfer RNA genes (tRNAs)) and two non-coding regions for the origin of light strand (OL) and the control region (CR). There were nine overlapping regions and seventeen intergenic spacers regions in the mitochondrial genome. The genome also showed a bias towards A + T content (55.01%) and had a positive AT-skew (0.08) and a negative GC-skew (−0.20). All the PCGs employed the ATG or GTG as the start codon and TAA, TAG, or single T as the stop codon. Additionally, all of the tRNAs displayed a typical cloverleaf secondary structure, except trnS1 which lacked the D arm. The phylogenetic analysis, based on the maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods, revealed that the topologies of the phylogenetic tree divided the Schizothorax into four clades and did not support the classification of Schizothorax based on morphology. The phylogenetic status of S. kozlovi was closely related to that of S. chongi. The present study provides valuable genomic information for S. kozlovi and new insights in phylogenetic relationships of Schizothorax. These data could also offer fundamental references and guidelines for the management and conservation of S. kozlovi and other species of Schizothorax. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This perspective outlines the research directions of ferroelastic rare‐earth (RE) tantalates (RETaO4), which have been studied as multifunctional thermal/environmental barrier coatings (T/EBCs) with working temperatures above 1600°C. Ferroelastic RETaO4 ceramics exhibit several distinct features, including the reversible second‐order ferroelastic phase transition, high toughness, low thermal conductivity, low oxygen ion conductivity, and adjustable thermal expansion coefficients. This perspective provides a concise summary of the research progress on tantalate coatings synthesized via air plasma spraying and electron beam physical vapor deposition. The service performance of tantalate coatings is typically evaluated through thermal fatigue and shock measurements. Uncovering the failure mechanisms and understanding influencing factors are key aspects for future studies. In this regard, establishing the synthesis‐structure‐property relationship of RETaO4 coatings is essential. This brief perspective can serve as a guide for future work on RETaO4 coatings and further advancements in their applications across various fields, including aviation engines and gas turbines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bamboo pith ring (BPR) is regarded as a particular tissue affecting bamboo processing and is usually discarded, resulting in waste and low utilization of bamboo. To improve the utilization of bamboo and make full use of BPR, the fundamental properties, including morphology, chemical properties, and mechanical properties of BPR by confocal laser-scanning microscope, SEM, IR-image, and nanoindentation, were investigated in this study. On the macroscale, the stone cells in BPR are round or square and closely arranged, and the average thickness of BPR is 404.6 μm. On the cell scale, with the increase in distance from the pith cavity, stone cells show different shapes and sizes. On the cell wall scale, the stone cell in BPR show a multi-layer structure with alternating thick and thin walls, and there are dense pits on the wall layer. Stone cell is mainly composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, and hemicellulose and lignin contents are higher than parenchyma cell. The elastic modulus and hardness of the stone cell wall were 6.98 GPa and 491.8 MPa, respectively. Studying BPR morphology, chemical, and mechanical properties are expected to lay a foundation for, among others, bamboo gluing, mechanics research, and drying cracking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low hardness and high abradability are often required for abradable seal coating (ASC) to protect the blade tip of gas turbines and aeroengines. However, the low bonding strength often lead to spallation failure. In this paper, a novel abradable seal coating with thin-wall porous spheres was designed and prepared. Results show that this coating has both a low hardness of 48.6 HR15Y and a high bonding strength of 25.4 MPa. The abradability and erosion resistance of this coating are 4 times and 63 times higher than reported metal-based coatings. In addition, no surface densification occurs after incursion due to the novel abradable mechanism of crushing of thin-wall sphere. This demonstrates the coating can retain excellent abradability during service and have a long lifetime. The combination of durable excellent abradability and adhesive strength contribute to a long lifetime required by next-generation gas turbines and aeroengines towards higher efficiency and reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Damped outrigger is a viable means for reducing dynamic responses of tall buildings. This study focuses on generalized damped outrigger (GDO) systems. A GDO is composed of a damper for energy dissipation, a negative stiffness device and an inerter for damping enhancement. The GDO system incorporates GDOs at different floors of the tall building optimized to varied structural modes. Frequency equation of a tall building simplified as a cantilever beam with multiple GDOs is first derived by complex modal analysis. A finite different model of such a system is used for verification. Parametric analyses are then performed to compare damping effects of different GDO systems. It is found that a negative stiffness damped outrigger (NSDO) or inerter damped outrigger (IDO) needs to be optimized for maximizing damping of a specific mode. GDOs, respectively, tuned to different modes can largely improve the multimode damping effects. The optimal parameters of the GDOs are slightly different from those in the case when they are installed separately. With both negative stiffness and nonzero inertance, a GDO still needs to be tuned to a specific mode because multimode damping is sensitive to the damper coefficient. The combination of an NSDO optimized to the first mode and an IDO tuned to a higher mode seems the best solution. The IDO additionally improves the first mode damping provided by the NSDO and the two-mode damping is not sensitive to the damper coefficient of the NSDO. The findings are confirmed through seismic response analyses of a tall building with different GDO systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: School bullying is prevalent in children and adolescents. Bullying victims are seen higher risk of negative psychological outcomes. Previously published studies suggested that social indicators may pose significant influence on bullying victimization. However, the association between social poverty and bullying victimization has not been exclusively discussed. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed the association between 6 commonly used social poverty indicators (Poverty Headcount Ratio, PHR; Poverty Gap, PG; Squared Poverty Gap, SPG; monthly household per capita income, PCI; Watts' Poverty Index, WPI; the Gini Index, Gini) and the prevalence of school bullying at country level by using the Global school-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) database. Results: Altogether 16 countries were included into the final analysis, with school bullying victimization prevalence ranged from 12.9 to 47.5%. Bubble plots revealed statistically significant associations between the three indicators measuring absolute poverty level (PHR, PCI, WPI) and bullying victimization. Subsequently performed principal component regression indicated that, for all types of bullying victimization, the increase of absolute poverty level was related to elevated prevalence rates, and the association was particularly strong for verbal bullying victimization. Conclusions: Our study results may suggest that absolute social poverty is an important parameter for constructing and implementing school bullying victimization intervention strategies and measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chimerism results from the fusion of two zygotes in a single embryo, whereas mosaicism results from mitotic errors in a single zygote. True human chimerism is rare, with fewer than 100 cases reported in the literature. Here, we report a case in which the fetus was identified as having tetragametic chimerism based on short tandem repeat - polymerase chain reaction analysis of the family observed during amniocentesis for advanced maternal age. The chimerism occurred via the fertilization of two ova by two spermatozoa, followed by the fusion of early embryos. The genotypes of the two amniotic fluid samples obtained successively by one puncture were completely different, and the sex chromosomes were XY. Karyotyping and copy number variation sequencing showed no abnormalities. The fetus was delivered at term and the phenotype of the newborn was normal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This review is focused on the role of root exudates on beneficial rhizobacterial colonization. The dynamic interaction between root exudates and rhizobacteria is influenced by plant genotype, development, environmental biotic factors, and abiotic factors. Bacterial-specific metabolism plays crucial roles in rhizosphere competence and rhizobacterial colonization ability. Diverse types of root exudates serve as nutrients, signals, or antimicrobial substances, facilitating root colonization by beneficial bacteria. Certain secondary metabolites selectively promote root colonization by bacteria with specialized functions. Soil-beneficial microbes in the rhizosphere play important roles in improving plant growth and health. Root exudates play key roles in plant–microbe interactions and rhizobacterial colonization. This review describes the factors influencing the dynamic interactions between root exudates and the soil microbiome in the rhizosphere, including plant genotype, plant development, and environmental abiotic and biotic factors. We also discuss the roles of specific metabolic mechanisms, regulators, and signals of beneficial soil bacteria in terms of colonization ability. We highlight the latest research progress on the roles of root exudates in regulating beneficial rhizobacterial colonization. Organic acids, amino acids, sugars, sugar alcohols, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, volatiles, and other secondary metabolites are discussed in detail. Finally, we propose future research objectives that will help us better understand the role of root exudates in root colonization by rhizobacteria and promote the sustainable development of agriculture and forestry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BI-X, a therapeutic protein under development for the treatment of human ocular disease via intravitreal administration, binds to its therapeutic targets and endogenous albumin in the vitreous humor. A monkey ocular pharmacokinetic (PK) study following BI-X administration was conducted to measure drug and albumin levels in plasma, the vitreous humor, the aqueous humor, and retina tissue at various timepoints post-dose. A comprehensive bioanalytical approach was implemented in support of this study. Five immunocapture-LC-MS/MS assays were developed and qualified for quantitating BI-X in different matrices, while ELISA was used for albumin measurement. Immunocapture at the protein or peptide level was evaluated to achieve adequate assay sensitivity. Drug and albumin assays were applied for the analysis of the monkey study samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mathematical and computational models in engineering applications commonly have multiple outputs, so it is critical to develop global sensitivity analysis (GSA) for multivariate outputs, which can be used to explore the effect of input parameters on output responses. Amongst the existing sensitivity analysis, the covariance-based method is one of the most widely used methods due to its understandability and validity. However, traditional GSA is calculated by Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS), leading to huge computational cost and large sample demand. In this study, the generalized hybrid metamodel using radial basis function (RBF) and sparse polynomial chaos expansion (PCE) is applied for covariance-based GSA. To improve the efficiency and performance of RBF-PCE in mult-models, an efficient sequential sampling method is proposed based on the local variance density of sample points. Three analytical functions and two engineering problems are employed to demonstrate the accuracy and validity of the proposed method. The results indicate that the proposed method has a significant improvement in accuracy and efficiency compared with the existing GSA methods, and the sample demand is reduced by three orders of magnitude compared with MCS-based Sobol' indices. • Generalize RBF-PCE hybrid metamodels to cases with different input distribution. • Sequentially sample based on local variance and space distance for mult-metamodels. • Apply the proposed metamodel for multivariate global sensitivity analysis. • The proposed method can perform sensitivity analysis accurately with small sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Point‐to‐point (P2P) flexible transceivers are the key technical enabler to cost‐effectively offer fast, dynamic, and 'just‐the‐right‐size' ultra‐dense P2P connectivity for various applications including remote equipment control and distributed fibre networks. However, existing flexible transceivers originally designed for hub‐and‐spoke traffic patterns are sub‐optimal. To effectively address such technical issue, a P2P flexible transceiver incorporating a cascaded inverse fast fourier transform/fast fourier transform‐based multi‐channel aggregation/de‐aggregation technique and analogue in‐phase and quadrature (IQ) mixers is proposed and numerically evaluated in a 56Gbps@20 km intensity modulation and direct detection transmission system. The proposed P2P flexible transceivers not only support adaptive and flexible variations in both channel count and channel line rate but also offer additional physical layer network security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entanglement witnesses (EWs) are a fundamental tool for the detection of entanglement. We investigate the inertia of bipartite EWs constructed by the partial transpose of NPT states. Furthermore, we find out most of the inertia of the partial transpose of the two-qutrit bipartite NPT states. As an application, we extend our results to high-dimensional states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: HSK7653 is a novel, ultralong-acting dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor, promising for type 2 diabetes mellitus with a dosing regimen of once every 2 weeks. This trial investigates the pharmacokinetics (PKs), pharmacodynamics (PDs),and safety of HSK7653 in outpatients with normal or impaired renal function. Methods: This is a multicenter, open-label, nonrandomized, parallel-controlled phase I clinical study that investigates the pharmacokinetic profiles of HSK7653 after a single oral administration in 42 subjects with mild (n = 8), moderate (n = 10), severe renal impairment (n = 10), and end-stage renal disease (without dialysis, n = 5) compared with matched control subjects with normal renal function (n = 9). Safety was evaluated throughout the study, and the pharmacodynamic effects were assessed on the basis of a DPP-4 inhibition rate. Results: HSK7653 exposure levels including the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax), area under the plasma concentration–time curve from zero to last time of quantifiable concentration (AUC0–t), and area under the plasma concentration–time curve from zero to infinity (AUC0–inf) showed no significant differences related to the severity of renal impairment. Renal clearance (CLR) showed a certain downtrend along with the severity of renal impairment. The CLR of the group with severe renal impairment and the group with end-stage renal disease were basically similar. The DPP-4 inhibition rate–time curve graph was similar among the renal function groups. All groups had favorable safety, and no serious adverse events occurred. Conclusions: HSK7653 is a potent oral DPP-4 inhibitor with a long plasma half-life, supporting a dosing regimen of once every 2 weeks. Impaired renal function does not appear to impact the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of HSK7653 after a single administration in Chinese subjects. HSK7653 is also well tolerated without an increase in adverse events with increasing renal impairment. These results indicate that dose adjustment of HSK7653 may not be required in patients with renal impairment. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05497297. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryo-electron microscopy was developed as a powerful tool for imaging biological specimens in near-native conditions. Nowadays, advances in technology, equipment and computations make it possible to obtain structures of biomolecules with near-atomic resolution. Furthermore, cryo-electron tomography combined with continuous specimen tilting allows structural analysis of heterogeneous biological specimens. In particular, when combined with a cryo-focused ion beam scanning electron microscope, it becomes possible to directly analyse the structure of the biomolecules within cells, a process known as in situ cryo-electron tomography. This technique has the potential to visualize cytoplasmic zoning, involving liquid–liquid phase separation, caused by biomolecular networks in aqueous solutions, which has been the subject of recent debate. Here, we review advances in structural studies of biomolecules to study cytoplasmic zoning by in situ cryo-electron tomography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bladder cancer (BLCA), a common primary malignancy, exhibits resistance to conventional chemotherapeutic agents. Sophoridine (SR) is a quinoline alkaloid derived from the traditional Chinese herb Sophora alopecuroides L., which belongs to the legume family Sophoraceae. SR is reported to exert growth‐inhibitory effects against several cancers. However, the mechanisms underlying the growth‐inhibitory effects of SR on BLCA have not been elucidated. This study performed molecular and cellular experiments to verify the growth‐inhibitory effects of SR on BLCA and the underlying mechanisms. SR inhibited cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis and G1‐phase arrest through the PI3K/AKT/FoxO3a signaling pathway. More interestingly, the effects of SR can be attributed to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vivo. ROS may be the upstream factor of this pathway. Additionally, SR inhibited the migration and invasion of BLCA cells in a concentration‐dependent or time‐dependent manner. This is the first study to demonstrate the ROS‐dependent PI3K/AKT/FoxO3a pathway‐mediated anticancer effect of SR and the anticancer mechanism of SR in BLCA. The correlation between SR‐induced ROS‐dependent cell proliferation inhibition, apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and PI3K/AKT/FoxO3a suggests that SR is a promising novel therapeutic for BLCA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spatial distribution of gas emitted from an odor source provides valuable information regarding the composition, size, and localization of the odor source. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) gas sensors exhibit ultra-high sensitivity, molecular specificity, rapid response, and large-area detection. In this paper, a SERS gas sensor array was developed for visualizing the spatial distribution of gas evaporated from benzaldehyde and 4-ethylbenzaldehyde odor sources. The SERS spectra of the gas were collected by scanning the sensor array using an automatic detection system. The non-negative matrix factorization algorithm was employed to extract feature and concentration information at each spot on the sensor array. A heatmap image was generated for visualizing the gas spatial distribution using concentration information. Gaussian fitting was applied to process the image for localizing the odor source. The size of the odor source was estimated using the processed image. Moreover, the spectra of benzaldehyde, 4-ethylbenzaldehyde, and their gas mixture were simultaneously detected using one SERS sensor array. The feature information was recognized using a convolutional neural network with an accuracy of 98.21%. As a result, the benzaldehyde and 4-ethylbenzaldehyde odor sources were identified and visualized. Our research findings have various potential applications, including odor source localization, environmental monitoring, and healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the identification of a novel frameshift mutation in the cathepsin C gene in a patient with coexisting Papillon-Lefevre syndrome (PLS) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). PLS is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by palmoplantar keratoderma and severe periodontitis, while RA is an inflammatory joint disease. The patient, a Taiwanese individual, exhibited dental and cutaneous features consistent with PLS and was later diagnosed with RA. Genetic testing revealed a homozygous frameshift mutation in the cathepsin C gene. The coexistence of PLS and RA in this patient is unique and suggests a complex relationship between the two conditions. Further research is needed to understand the pathogenic link between PLS and RA. [Extracted from the article]

Previously, only three species of the genus Neurigona Rondani of the subfamily Neurigoninae were known from Yunnan Province. Here, we reviewed the species of Neurigona from Yunnan and added the following seven new species: N. apicilata sp. nov., N. basicurva sp. nov., N. brevidigitata sp. nov., N. convexa sp. nov., N. huanglianshana sp. nov., N. quadrimaculata sp. nov., and N. ventriprocessa sp. nov. All seven new species are sympatric and were collected from below a reservoir in the Huanglianshan Nature Reserve in Yunnan using three Malaise traps in 2019. This suggests a very high species richness in the Yunnan fauna. A key to the species of Neurigona from Chinese mainland is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]