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Intrinsic silicon (Si) is forbidden for infrared (IR) sensing at the communication wavelength like 1.31 or 1.55 µm due to the well‐known bandgap limitation. In this work, an unexpected physical picture of using argon (Ar) is identified, which is usually inert to the surrounding chemical environment and used as a protective agent in semiconductor processing, to overcome the IR‐sensing‐forbidden problem in Si. Here, it is shown by an analysis of a dynamic secondary ion mass spectrometer that such a Si, when exposed to laser pulse in Ar gas, can contain a very high dose of Ar up to 1020 cm−3 even after 1300 days. First‐principles calculations, molecular dynamics, and Hall effect measurements reveal that, due to both steric and dynamic repulsions by Ar orbitals to Si dangling bonds, the Ar‐filled‐vacancy produces a much wider defect band inside the gap, which is not only responsible for strong infrared absorption, but also causes a significant increase in n‐type conductivity, both in line with experiments. The study proves that originally inert elements in fact can act as active impurities in semiconductors for advanced applications, which updates the current knowledge of defect physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid‐state batteries (SSBs) are regarded as the most promising next‐generation energy storage devices due to their potential to achieve higher safety performance and energy density. However, the troubles in the preparation of ultrathin solid‐state electrolytes (SEs) as well as the resultant compromise in mechanical strength greatly limit the safety application of SSBs. Herein, a novel in situ polymerized integrated ultrathin SE/cathode design is developed. The ultrathin ceramic layer supported on the cathode serves not only as a rigid scaffold to prevent direct contact between the cathode and anode but also as active inorganic fillers to enhance the mechanical properties of in situ polymerized SE film. The unique Li‐ion coordination environments as well as the Li hopping mechanism profoundly promote fast ion transport in composite SEs. The in situ polymerized SEs simultaneously achieve the balance in ultrathin thickness (10 µm), fast ion transport (0.65 mS cm−1), superior Young's modulus (66.8 GPa), and excellent interface contact. The pouch cells with practical Li||LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 configuration achieve an ultrahigh volumetric energy density of 1018 Wh L−1 and safety performance. The in situ polymerized integrated ultrathin SE/cathode design exhibits great promise for the practical application of SSBs with high energy density and safety performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD) is subclassified into iMCD‐thrombocytopenia, anasarca, reticulin fibrosis, renal dysfunction, organomegaly (TAFRO) and iMCD‐not otherwise specified (NOS) according to the Castleman Disease Collaborative Network (CDCN) consensus criteria. With a deeper understanding of iMCD, a group of patients with iMCD‐NOS characterised by polyclonal hypergammaglobulinaemia, plasmacytic/mixed‐type lymph node histopathology and thrombocytosis has attracted attention. This group of patients has been previously described as having idiopathic plasmacytic lymphadenopathy (IPL). Whether these patients should be excluded from the current classification system lacks sufficient evidence. This retrospective analysis of 228 patients with iMCD‐NOS identified 103 (45.2%) patients with iMCD‐IPL. The clinical features and outcomes of patients with iMCD‐IPL and iMCD‐NOS without IPL were compared. Patients with iMCD‐IPL showed a significantly higher inflammatory state but longer overall survival. No significant difference in overall survival was observed between severe and non‐severe patients in the iMCD‐IPL group according to the CDCN severity classification. Compared with lymphoma‐like treatments, multiple myeloma‐like and IL‐6‐blocking treatment approaches in the iMCD‐IPL group resulted in significantly higher response rates and longer time to the next treatment. These findings highlight the particularities of iMCD‐IPL and suggest that it should be considered a new subtype of iMCD‐NOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of noble metals and transition metal oxides is a feasible way to improve the catalytic performance of NH3-SCO catalysts, but it is still a great challenge to further promote N2 selectivity. Herein, the effects of various rare-earth element modification on comprehensive NH3-SCO performance of V0.5/Pt0.04/TiO2 catalyst (denoted as V/PT) were compared, and the results indicated that Er-modified V/PT catalyst exhibited superior low-temperature NH3 conversion performance and N2 selectivity over other catalysts. Er0.5V/PT catalyst achieved completely NH3 removal and > 80% of N2 selectivity in a wide temperature range of 225–450 °C. Furthermore, a series of characterization tools were performed to reveal the influence of Er modification on NH3-SCO performance of V/PT catalysts. The results indicated that Er element mainly acted as an acidity promoter in V/PT catalysts. The introduction of Er resulted in abundant Lewis acids sites and Brønsted acid sites on the surface of Er0.5V/PT catalyst, which might be ascribed to the formation of ErVO3 species. It was beneficial for both adsorption and activation of NH3, thus facilitating NH3-SCO reactions. The introduction of Er might also induce –NH2 species actively participated in internal SCR (i-SCR) reactions on the surface of Er0.5V/PT catalyst, which was favorable for N2 formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building organisational resilience capacity is crucial for firms’ survival in the pandemic context. Using data from 205 Chinese firms during the COVID-19 pandemic, we investigate the relationships between two types of green innovations and organisational resilience capacity, and their contingencies upon firms’ customer ties and supplier ties. The empirical findings show that: green product innovation and green process innovation positively impact organisational resilience capacity; customer ties/supplier ties positively/negatively moderate the green product innovation–organisational resilience capacity, and negatively/positively moderate the relation between green process innovation and organisational resilience capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the difficulty in recovering powder materials and the low photocatalytic efficiency, we have developed a series of Fe-MOFs (MIL-53(Fe), NH2-MIL-53(Fe), MIL-101(Fe), NH2-MIL-101(Fe) and MIL-100(Fe)) on pure iron mesh. In this study, the growth of Fe@MILs on the iron mesh was confirmed through SEM, XRD, and FT-IR characterizations. Among the photocatalytic experiments, Fe@NH2-MIL-53(Fe) and Fe@NH2-MIL-101(Fe), which are amine-functionalized, showed improved photocatalytic activity. This improvement is believed to be due to the combination of NH2 functionality and electron transfer to the Fe–O cluster centre, resulting in dual excitation pathways. Furthermore, Fe@MIL-100(Fe) showed the highest performance for the removal of Cr(VI), with over 92% of Cr(VI) being removed in the fifth photocatalytic cycle. The mechanism indicated the close connection between the compact structure of Fe-MOFs and effective electron migration. Additionally, sacrificial reagent experiments identified two important species for Cr(VI) reduction: electrons (e−) and superoxide radicals (˙O2−). The photocatalytic recovery tests showed a 97% recovery rate of Cr(VI). This work offers a novel solution for the treatment of water sources contaminated with Cr(VI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on thermal and electrical conduction properties of polypropylene (PP)-based nanocomposite used for high voltage direct current cable insulation. To improve the thermal conductivity of the PP/propylene-based elastomer (PBE) blend (noted as PB), boron nitride (BN) nanosheets with high thermal conductivity are added. The pretreatment process through template method is to obtain a three-dimensional (3D) network structure composed of BN nanosheets (noted as 3DBN). Then the 3DBN is added into the PP/ PBE blend, in which the 3D networks are locally arranged and the other BN nanosheets are randomly dispersed. Thermal conductivity is estimated, while electrical conductivity is measured under electric fields of 5–40 kV mm−1 at various temperatures. Carrier trap distribution is derived from isothermal surface potential decay method. In addition, the microstructure and crystallization characteristics of the nanocomposites are measured. The results show that the thermal conductivity of the PP/PBE blend is improved obviously by the addition of the locally arranged 3DBN, and that of PB-3DBN-10 is increased by 16% compared with that of PB. Deep traps are introduced by the dispersed BN nanosheets and the electrical conduction is reduced, which becomes increasingly evident with the filler content and temperature. It is suggested that the introduction of thermal conductive fillers with a 3D network structure and well-dispersed state can synergistically enhance the thermal conductivity and insulation performances of the PP-based material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Objectives Methods Results and Conclusions Both socially regulated learning and cognitive quality are important factors affecting collaborative knowledge building, but the current research lacks a joint quantified evaluation method that combines these two aspects.Based on the existing framework, we proposed a joint evaluation method for regulated learning and cognitive quality in collaborative knowledge building, and further extracted the evaluation indicators.This study involved 74 learners enrolled in a course named ‘the Application of Modern Educational Technology’ as the subject of study, and made a case analysis with this method.First, the indicators of this joint evaluation method could complement the indicators of traditional frequency statistics methods and facilitate an analysis of regulated learning and cognitive quality in collaborative knowledge building. Second, the group with a higher proportion of high‐level cognitive quality and socially shared regulation in collaborative knowledge building achieved better final scores. Finally, four types of groups were obtained through clustering: excellent, risky, mixed group, and highly collaborative group. This study introduced a joint evaluation method for regulated learning and cognitive quality in collaborative knowledge building and provides suggestions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate deformation monitoring of geotechnical infrastructures using distributed fiber optic sensing requires a strong interfacial bond between strain sensing cables and surrounding soil. Micro-anchors provide a straightforward solution to enhance the interlocking effect at the cable–soil interface, but their anchorage mechanism remains unclear. This paper presents an experimental study on the interfacial behavior of anchored strain sensing cables embedded in soil. A series of pullout tests were conducted to investigate the effect of various factors on interfacial performance, including anchor spacing, anchor diameter, and confining pressure. The test results indicate that the anchor spacing and confining pressure substantially influenced the pullout resistance of anchored cables, while the anchor diameter had a minor effect. In contrast with unanchored cables, anchored cables exhibited strain hardening behavior during the pullout process instead of strain softening. The micro-anchors on cables played a reinforcing role sequentially with increasing pullout displacements, and those closer to the cable head exerted reinforcing effect earlier. Due to the pullout resistance of micro-anchors, the anchored cables have unique step-like strain profiles throughout the pullout tests, and they are not prone to interface decoupling under large deformation conditions. However, for closely spaced micro-anchors, the overlapping of interfacial shear zones led to a loss in the pullout resistance, which becomes insignificant with increasing anchor spacing. This study not only provides improved insight into the interpretation of fiber optic strain measurements but also sheds light on soil–inclusion interaction mechanisms in geotechnical analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The excavation and utilization of dormancy loci in breeding are effective endeavors for enhancing the resistance to pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) of wheat varieties. CH1539 is a wheat breeding line with high-level seed dormancy. To clarify the dormant loci carried by CH1539 and obtain linked molecular markers, in this study, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from the cross of weak dormant SY95-71 and strong dormant CH1539 was genotyped using the Wheat17K single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array, and a high-density genetic map covering 21 chromosomes and consisting of 2437 SNP markers was constructed. Then, the germination percentage (GP) and germination index (GI) of the seeds from each RIL were estimated. Two QTLs for GP on chromosomes 5A and 6B, and four QTLs for GI on chromosomes 5A, 6B, 6D and 7A were identified. Among them, the QTL on chromosomes 6B controlling both GP and GI, temporarily named QGp/Gi.sxau-6B, is a major QTL for seed dormancy with the maximum phenotypic variance explained of 17.66~34.11%. One PCR-based diagnostic marker Ger6B-3 for QGp/Gi.sxau-6B was developed, and the genetic effect of QGp/Gi.sxau-6B on the RIL population and a set of wheat germplasm comprising 97 accessions was successfully confirmed. QGp/Gi.sxau-6B located in the 28.7~30.9 Mbp physical position is different from all the known dormancy loci on chromosomes 6B, and within the interval, there are 30 high-confidence annotated genes. Our results revealed a novel QTL QGp/Gi.sxau-6B whose CH1539 allele had a strong and broad effect on seed dormancy, which will be useful in further PHS-resistant wheat breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dilute magnetic semiconductors (DMSs) with both charge and spin degrees of freedom have emerged as promising candidates in the spintronic industry. However, the Curie temperature below room temperature and uncertainty about the origin of ferromagnetism hinder the application of DMSs. To address these issues, we explored a better SnO2-based co-doped method (Fe, V + VSn) using ab initio calculations. The calculation results show that the Sn13FeVO32 (Fe, V + VSn) has a high Curie temperature (716 K), good ferromagnetic properties, stronger covalency of bonds, and better optical transparency in the visible light range. In addition, the holes or electrons generated by the complexes in the (Fe, V + VO/VSn) co-doped system cause a spin-polarized double exchange effect in the Fe-3d, V-3d, and O-2p orbitals, which leads to magnetism of the co-doped systems. The static dielectric constant ɛ1(0) of the system increases after doping. Among them, Sn14FeVO31 (Fe, V + VO) has the largest ɛ1(0), indicating that Sn14FeVO31 has the strongest polarization ability and better photocatalytic properties. In Sn14FeVO31, the imaginary part of the dielectric function and the absorption spectrum all have new peaks in the low-energy region, which are caused by the jump of electrons from the guide band of the spin-polarized impurity energy level. This paper proposes a new method for preparing dilute magnetic semiconductors in spin electronic devices with high room temperature ferromagnetic properties and excellent optical properties through the (Fe, V + VO/VSn) co-doped SnO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adjustment of crystal symmetry and intramolecular magnetic coupling is of great importance for the construction of high-performance single-molecule magnets. By using an aggregation-induced-emission-active pyridine-carbohydrazone-based Schiff base ligand and phosphine oxides, four dinuclear and one one-dimensional DyIII-based complexes, [Dy2(TPE-pc)2(Bu3PO)2Cl2]·2CH3CN·2H2O (1), [Dy2(TPE-pc)2(Cy3PO)2Cl2] (2), [Dy2(TPE-pc)2(MePA)2Cl2]·2CH3OH (3), [Dy2(TPE-pc)2(Ph3PO)2Cl2]2 (4) and [Dy2(TPE-pc)2(DPPO)Cl2]n (5) (H2TPE-pc = (E)-N′-(2-hydroxy-5-(1,2,2-triphenylvinyl)benzylidene)picolinohydrazide, MePA = N-phenyl-N′,N′′-bis(morpholinyl) phosphoric triamide, DPPO = piperazine-1,4-diylbis(diphenyl phosphine oxide)), were isolated. All complexes are made up of an enol oxygen-bridged Dy2 unit, where DyIII ions possess a pentagonal bipyramidal geometry with pseudo D5h symmetry. Magnetic measurements reveal that intramolecular DyIII–DyIII couplings are ferromagnetic and all complexes display a significant slow magnetic relaxation phenomenon below 30 K under a zero dc field. Ab initio calculations indicate that the anisotropic magnetic axes of all DyIII ions are approximately perpendicular to the higher-order symmetric axes in all complexes, and that DyIII–DyIII magnetic couplings along the magnetic axes effectively suppress the ground state quantum tunneling effect of magnetization and promote the occurrence of slow magnetic relaxation. Raman relaxation prevails in all complexes. In addition, the H2TPE-pc ligand shows an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) effect; however, all complexes exhibit an aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we explored the hydrothermal synthesize and crystallization process of SAPO‐34 zeolites from two‐dimensional layered silicate magadiite by using tetraethylammonium hydroxide (TEAOH) as a templating agent. Comprehensive characterization was conducted by XRD, SEM, FTIR, Raman, and BET. Time‐resolved PXRD analysis revealed that SAPO‐34 zeolite exhibited a steep growth curve when the crystallization time was 30 h, and the crystallinity reached 98.65 % at 48 h. Specifically, the disruption of the magadiite layer exposed charged silanol groups on the surface, fostering an affinity for AlO4 and PO4 species, thereby initiating the nucleation process. Under the guidance of TEAOH, these nucleation sites transformed into SAPO‐34 nuclei, gradually advancing towards crystallization. FTIR and Raman analyses affirmed the presence of 6Rs, followed by D6R and 4Rs SBUs, along with the characteristic CHA structure. Combined with 29Si NMR established that disaggregated silicate minerals served as zeolite synthesis “seeds”, enhancing nucleation sites and overall crystallization efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To understand how liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) respond to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Methods: We profiled single-LSEC from livers of control and MCD-fed mice. The functions of C-Kit+-LSECs were determined using coculture and bone marrow transplantation (BMT) methods. Results: Three special clusters of single-LSEC were differentiated. C-Kit+-LSECs of cluster 0, Msr1+-LSECs of cluster 1 and Bmp4+Selp+-VECs of cluster 2 were revealed, and these cells with diverse ectopic expressions of genes participated in regulation of endothelial, fibrosis and lipid metabolism in NASH. The number of C-Kit+-primary LSECs isolated from MCD mice was lower than control mice. Immunofluorescence co-staining of CD31 and C-KIT showed C-Kit+-LSECs located in hepatic sinusoid were also reduced in NASH patients and MCD mice, compared to AIH patients and control mice respectively. Interestingly, lipotoxic hepatocytes/HSCs cocultured with C-Kit+-LSECs or the livers of MCD mice receipting of C-Kit+-BMCs (bone marrow cells) showed less steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis, higher expression of prolipolytic FXR and PPAR-α, lower expression of TNF-α and α-SMA. Furthermore, coculturing or BMT of C-Kit+-endothelial derived cells could increase the levels of hepatic mitochondrial LC3B, decrease the degree of mitochondrial damage and ROS production through activating Pink1-mediated mitophagy pathway in NASH. Conclusions: Hence, a novel transcriptomic view of LSECs was revealed to have heterogeneity and complexity in NASH. Importantly, a cluster of C-Kit+-LSECs was confirmed to recovery Pink1-related mitophagy and NASH progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is associated with inflammation and abnormal lipid metabolism. However, a single inflammatory index or a single lipid index cannot accurately predict the prognosis of CVD independently because it is prone to be affected by various confounding factors. Methods: This population-based cohort study included 6,554 participants from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) to investigate correlations. In the present study, the occurrence of CVD events such as stroke and heart disease was evaluated by considering self-reported diagnoses at the beginning of the study and during wave 4, and a restricted cubic spline model was used to investigate potential nonlinear relationships in addition to multivariate logistic regression models. Stratified analyses were performed to examine how sociodemographic characteristics may influence the results. Results: Seven years of follow-up (2011–2018) revealed that 786 people (11.99%) developed CVD. According to the adjusted model, the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio is a contributing factor to CVD risk (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.05–1.64). In addition, a nonlinear relationship was observed between the hs-CRP/HDL-C ratio and the occurrence of new CVD, stroke, or cardiac issues (Poverall <0.05, Pnonlinear <0.05). Moreover, noteworthy associations between the hs-CRP/HDL-C ratio and age were detected in the stratified analysis (P = 0.048), indicating that younger participants had more negative effects of a high hs-CRP/HDL-C ratio. Conclusions: According to the present cohort study, a high hs-CRP/HDL-C ratio is a significant risk factor for CVD, new stroke, and heart problems. Early intervention in patients with increased hs-CRP/HDL-C ratios may further reduce the incidence of CVD, in addition to focusing on independent lipid markers or independent inflammatory markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the clinical results and radiological parameters changes after unilateral-approach endoscopic lumbar interbody fusion (Endo-LIF) for lumbar spondylolisthesis with bilateral symptoms. Methods: 43 single-level lumbar spondylolisthesis patients with bilateral lower limb symptoms were included from June 2020 to May 2022. All patients underwent unilateral-approach Endo-LIF and postoperative computed tomography. Radiological parameters including disk height (DH), degree of upper vertebral slip (DUVS), and foramen intervertebral parameters including bilateral foraminal height (FH), contralateral foraminal areas (FA) were evaluated. The clinical outcomes including low back pain and bilateral leg pain were evaluated using Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) before and after surgery. Results: All cases were successfully completed surgery and followed for average 15.16 ± 5.2 months. DH (44% ± 11%) and DUVS were significantly improvement postoperatively compared with preoperatively (p < 0.05). Statistically significant increases in bilateral FH (25% ± 11% on the surgical side, 17% ± 8% on the contralateral side) and contralateral FA (26% ± 6%) were observed (p < 0.05). The VAS and the ODI scores were significantly decreased in comparison with the preoperative scores (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Unilateral-approach with contralateral indirect decompression in Endo-LIF can acquire satisfactory clinical outcomes. Therefore, unilateral-approach Endo-LIF may be a promising option for lumbar spondylolisthesis with bilateral symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) have emerged as pivotal contributors throughout all phases of atherosclerotic plaque development, effectively dispelling prior underestimations of their prevalence and significance. Recent lineage tracing studies have unveiled the clonal nature and remarkable adaptability inherent to VSMCs, thereby illuminating their intricate and multifaceted roles in the context of atherosclerosis. This comprehensive review provides an in-depth exploration of the intricate mechanisms and distinctive characteristics that define VSMCs across various physiological processes, firmly underscoring their paramount importance in shaping the course of atherosclerosis. Furthermore, this review offers a thorough examination of the significant strides made over the past two decades in advancing imaging techniques and therapeutic strategies with a precise focus on targeting VSMCs within atherosclerotic plaques, notably spotlighting meticulously engineered nanoparticles as a promising avenue. We envision the potential of VSMC-targeted nanoparticles, thoughtfully loaded with medications or combination therapies, to effectively mitigate pro-atherogenic VSMC processes. These advancements are poised to contribute significantly to the pivotal objective of modulating VSMC phenotypes and enhancing plaque stability. Moreover, our paper also delves into recent breakthroughs in VSMC-targeted imaging technologies, showcasing their remarkable precision in locating microcalcifications, dynamically monitoring plaque fibrous cap integrity, and assessing the therapeutic efficacy of medical interventions. Lastly, we conscientiously explore the opportunities and challenges inherent in this innovative approach, providing a holistic perspective on the potential of VSMC-targeted strategies in the evolving landscape of atherosclerosis research and treatment. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malignant melanomas (MMs) are the abnormal proliferation of melanocytes and are one of the lethal skin cancers in humans, equines, and canines. Accordingly, MMs in companion animals can serve as naturally occurring animal models, completing conventional cancer models. The common constitutive activation of the MAPK and PI3K pathways in MMs has been described in all three species. Targeting the related pathways is considered a potential option in comparative oncologic approaches. Herein, we present a cross-species comparative analysis exposing a set of ten melanoma cell lines (one human, three equine, and six canine) derived from primary tumors or metastasis to a pan-RAF and RAF dimer inhibitor (LY3009120). Cellular response (proliferation, biomass, metabolism, early and late apoptosis/necrosis, and morphology) and the presence of pathogenic single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) within the mutational hotspot genes BRAF exon 11 and 15, NRAS exon 2 and 3, KRAS exon 2, and KIT exon 11 were analyzed. This study showed that equine malignant melanoma (EMM) cells (MelDuWi) harbor the KRAS p.Q61H mutation, while canine malignant melanoma (CMM) cells (cRGO1 and cRGO1.2) carry NRAS p.G13R. Except for EMM metastasis cells eRGO6 (wild type of the above-mentioned hotspot genes), all melanoma cell lines exhibited a decrease in dose dependence after 48 and 72 h of exposure to LY3009120, independent of the mutation hotspot landscape. Furthermore, LY3009120 caused significant early apoptosis and late apoptosis/necrosis in all melanoma cell lines except for eRGO6. The anti-tumor effects of LY3009120 were observed in nine melanoma cell lines, indicating the potential feasibility of experimental trials with LY3009120. The present study reveals that the irradiation-resistant canine metastasis cells (cRGO1.2) harboring the NRAS p.G13R mutation are significantly LY3009120-sensitive, while the equine metastases-derived eRGO6 cells show significant resistance to LY3009120, which make them both valuable tools for studying resistance mechanisms in comparative oncology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractBreast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) play a key role in therapeutic resistance in breast cancer treatments and disease recurrence. This study aimed to develop a combination therapy loaded with pH-sensitive liposomes to kill both BCSCs and the okbulk cancer cells using trastuzumab-sensitive and resistant human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive (HER2+) breast cancer cell models. The anti-BCSCs effect and cytotoxicity of all-trans retinoic acid, salinomycin, and bufalin alone or in combination with doxorubicin were compared in HER2+ cell line BT-474 and a validated trastuzumab-resistant cell line, BT-474R. The most potent anti-BCSC agent was selected and loaded into a pH-sensitive liposome system. The effects of the liposomal combination on BCSCs and bulk cancer cells were assessed. Compared with BT-474, the aldehyde dehydrogenase positive BCSC population was elevated in BT-474R (3.9 vs. 23.1%). Bufalin was the most potent agent and suppressed tumorigenesis of BCSCs by ∼50%, and showed strong synergism with doxorubicin in both BT-474 and BT-474R cell lines. The liposomal combination of bufalin and doxorubicin significantly reduced the BCSC population size by 85%, and inhibited both tumorigenesis and self-renewal, although it had little effect on the migration and invasiveness. The cytotoxicity against the bulk cancer cells was also enhanced by the liposomal combination than either formulation alone in both cell lines (p < 0.001). The liposomal bufalin and doxorubicin combination therapy may effectively target both BCSCs and bulk cancer cells for a better outcome in trastuzumab-resistant HER2+ breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The epidermis of fish is covered with a layer of mucus secreted by epidermal mucus cells. Epidermal mucus serves as a physical and immune barrier between fish and the external water environment, and its composition and secretion are affected by the distribution, quantity, development stage of epidermal mucus cells and the changes in the external environment. With the development of the aquaculture industry both at home and abroad, the application research on fish epidermal mucus has gradually increased. In the paper, the composition, function and application of fish epidermal mucus are reviewed, in order to provide reference for the extraction, development and industrial application of the active components in fish epidermal mucus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myocardial infarction (MI) remains a major threat to human health due to the limited energy supply, disordered cell metabolism, massive cardiomyocyte death, and restricted regeneration. Although currently available therapies may relieve myocardial damage, restoring the dysregulated energy metabolism to normal levels has not yet been achieved. MOTS‐c has recently been identified as a regulator of biological metabolism to combat aging; however, its role in reprogramming cardiac metabolism remains to be elucidated. Here, MOTS‐c is chemically conjugated to self‐assembling Q11 peptide to fabricate an injectable hydrogel (MQgel) aimed to improve mitochondria function and cardiomyocyte metabolism post‐MI. It is observed that MQgel effectively protects mitochondria from oxidative damage and normalized cardiomyocyte metabolism, including glucose uptake, glycolysis, and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, thereby inhibiting cardiomyocyte death and enhancing cardiomyocyte activity. In a rat MI model, intramyocardial injection of MQgel successfully minimizes the infarct area and fibrosis, promotes angiogenesis, suppresses myocardial hypertrophy, and improves cardiomyocyte survival and metabolic enzyme activity, all of which collaboratively attenuate the maladaptive cardiac remodeling and boost cardiac function and tissue repair. The findings suggest that the self‐assembled mitochondria metabolism‐regulatory peptide hydrogel effectively treats MI, and cellular bioenergy modulation provides a new therapeutic approach for tissue repair after injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to promote the sustainable use of resources and reduce the waste of waste glass and tailings resources. The present study focuses on a fluorite mine as the research subject, utilizing coarse tailings, fine tailings, cement substitute-curing agent, and recycled waste glass as the primary raw materials. It investigates the changes in compressive strength of coarse tailing with varying sand- binder ratios and glass content at 3-day, 7-day, and 28-day intervals when the filling slurry concentration is set at 77% and the ratio of coarse tailings to fine tailings is maintained at 2:1. The findings indicate that there is minimal impact on the compressive strength of test blocks when using a sand binder ratio of 4:1 and a glass sand content below 10%. However, once the glass sand content exceeds 10%, a significant decline in compressive strength occurs. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images reveal ettringite crystal formation in test blocks with both 0% and 25% glass sand content due to high levels of Na2O in the glass sand. This leads to internal expansion within test blocks resulting in reduced strength. Notably, when using a sand-binder ratio of 8:1 along with a glass sand content of 25%, early strength characteristics are observed for test blocks. Furthermore, incorporating glass sand has little influence on late-stage strength for backfill when employing either an 8:1 or 12:1 sand-binder ratio. Based on this experiment conducted under conditions including mass concentration of 77%, the optimal waste-glass-to-mine-tailings-filling-sand-binder-ratio is determined as 8:1with a corresponding glass content of 25%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Design: Retrospective cohort. Objective: The purpose of this study is to assess the potential of utilizing the MRI-based vertebral bone quality (VBQ) score as a predictive tool for pedicle screw loosening (PSL) in patients who have undergone pedicle screw fixation and to identify risk factors associated with VBQ scores. Methods: One hundred and sixteen patients who had undergone pedicle screw fixation between December 2019 and January 2021 and had more than a year of follow-up were divided into two groups of PSL and non-PSL. The radiological and clinical parameters investigated were age, gender, body mass index, the VBQ score, length of fusion and the DXA T-score. Results: Of the 116 patients included in the study, 22 patients developed pedicle screw loosening after surgery (18.97%). VBQ score of PSL group was higher than the non-PSL group (3.61 ± 0.63 vs. 2. 86 ± 0.43, p < 0.001). According to logistic regression, PSL was independently linked with a higher VBQ score (OR = 3.555, 95% confidence interval [1.620–7.802], p < 0.005). The AUC of predicting screw loosening was 0.774 (p < 0.001) for VBQ score, and the best threshold was 3.055 (sensitivity, 81.8%; specificity, 71.3%). High VBQ score was associated with age (r (114) = 0.29, p = 0.002), while it was not negatively correlated with T-scores of each part. Conclusion: VBQ score is an independent predictor of pedicle screw loosening, with higher scores indicating a greater risk. Our results showed that older patients and women had higher VBQ scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic wounds (DW) are a complication of diabetes and slow wound healing is the main manifestation. Methylene blue (MB) has been shown to exhibit therapeutic effects on diabetes-related diseases. To investigate the mechanisms of action of MB-nanoemulsion (NE) in the treatment of DW. The concentration of MB-NE used in the in vivo and in vitro experiments was 0.1 mg/mL. Streptozocin-induced diabetic mice were used as models. The mice were separated into nondiabetic, diabetic, MB-NE treated, and NE-treated groups. Intervention of high glucose-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells using MB-NE. The mechanism by which MB-NE promotes DW healing is investigated by combining histological analysis, immunofluorescence analysis, TUNEL and ROS assays and western blotting. In diabetic mice, the MB-NE accelerated DW healing (p < 0.05), promoted the expression of endothelial cell markers (α-SMA, CD31 and VEGF) (p < 0.05), and reduced TUNEL levels. In vitro, MB accelerated the migration rate of cells (p < 0.05); promoted the expression of CD31, VEGF, anti-apoptotic protein Bcl2 (p < 0.05) and decreased the expression of the pro-apoptotic proteins cleaved caspase-3 and Bax (p < 0.05). MB upregulated the expression of Nrf2, catalase, HO-1 and SOD2 (p < 0.05). In addition, MB reduced the immunofluorescence intensity of TUNEL and ROS in cells and reduced apoptosis. The therapeutic effect of MB was attenuated after treatment with an Nrf2 inhibitor (ML385). This study provides a foundation for the application of MB-NE in the treatment of DW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a decentralised ledger and data management technology, blockchain has attracted increasing interest and has been effectively applied in various areas. Despite its promising potential, there are few studies proposing effective strategies for promoting blockchain, particularly in providing a strategic analysis of blockchain in China's construction management. This study aims to investigate the external and internal environments of blockchain application and determine the roadmaps and strategies for blockchain application in construction management in China. A strength, weaknesses, opportunity, and threat (SWOT) analysis is employed to draw a panorama of the blockchain development status. Six roadmaps and strategies for blockchain application are proposed. By using the Analytic Network Process (ANP), a quantitative analysis was conducted to determine the ranking of SWOT sub-factors and roadmaps and strategies. The results show that 'traceability of information', 'high application threshold', 'national policy support', and 'low informatization level of the construction industry' are the most important sub-factors in strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats respectively. The best roadmaps and strategies are 'improving the informatization level of the construction industry', followed by 'promoting the technological innovation of blockchain' and 'providing standard'. This study facilitates an in-depth understanding of the blockchain application in China's construction management. It will not only help researchers to conduct targeted blockchain research for more efficient project management, but also help practitioners to develop effective strategies for adopting blockchain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cantharidin (CTD) is the active ingredient of Chinese medicine, which has been traditionally used in multiple cancers treatment, especially in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, a comprehensive analysis of the CTD-related molecular mechanism is still necessary to understand its functions in HCC treatment. This study aimed to reveal the novel molecular targets and regulatory networks of CTD in HCC. Methods: A model of H22 tumour-bearing mice was constructed, and the function of CTD in tumour growth was evaluated. An integrated approach of CTD associated transcriptional profiling and biological systems analysis was used to identify key regulators involved in antitumour pathways. The identified differential expression patterns were supported by the results of Gene Ontology (GO) term and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyse, and by protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction. The relationships between gene expression and tumour immunity were evaluated using Tumour Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER). Prognostic value was analyzed with Kaplan-Meier plotter. Results: In the present study, the therapeutic effect of CTD on HCC was evaluated in vivo. We obtained the CTD-related transcriptional profiles, systematically and intuitively illustrated its possible pharmacological mechanisms in HCC through multiple targets and signalling pathways. These results revealed that the CTD-related differentially expressed genes were involved in autophagy, transcription factors (TFs) related transcriptional regulation, fatty acid metabolism and immune response in HCC. We found that MAPT, TOP2A, CENPF and MEFV were hub genes of CTD targets involved in autophagy regulation. Totally, 14 TFs have been confirmed to be critical for transcriptional regulation, and 33 TF targets were identified as the hub genes in transcriptional mis-regulation pathway in cancer. These TFs were associated with the immune response and immune cell infiltration. In addition, the downregulated genes were significantly enriched in metabolic regulation pathways, especially fatty acid metabolism after CTD treatment. Furthermore, the network of CTD associated miRNAs with these fatty acid metabolism-related targets was constructed in HCC. Conclusions: Taken together, our results comprehensively elucidated that CTD could act on multiple targets in HCC therapy, affecting autophagy, transcriptional regulation, the immune response and fatty acid metabolism. Our results provide a foundation for the study of the molecular mechanistic of CTD and its clinical application in the treatment of HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective Method Results Conclusions \nHIGHLIGHTS Many people at risk of suicide do not actively seek help. Suicide prevention efforts need to involve the general public to provide appropriate support to those in need. It is important to investigate the intention to help those at risk of suicide and the factors associated with helping intentions in the general population. We aimed to assess the intention to help people at risk and associated factors using a national representative sample.We conducted a national telephone survey of 1,087 Taiwanese adults and collected data regarding participants’ socio-demographic characteristics, mental health status, helping intentions, misconceptions about suicide, and attitudes toward suicide and suicide prevention.The prevalence of high intentions to help people at risk of suicide was 56.5%. Helping intentions did not differ by sex, educational level, employment status, marital status, or mental health status. Those with high helping intentions were younger, less likely to have misconceptions about suicide or agree that suicide is a personal choice, and more likely to believe that suicide is preventable and support suicide prevention measures.Suicide prevention education programs aimed to enhance helping intentions may usefully target debunking misconceptions about suicide and cultivating positive attitudes toward suicide prevention.The prevalence of high intentions to help people at risk of suicide was 56.5%.Individuals with high intentions to help were less likely to hold misconceptions about suicide.Individuals with high intentions to help were less likely to believe that suicide is a personal choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explore the axionic dark matter search sensitivity with a narrow-band detection scheme aimed at the axion-photon conversion by a static electric field inside a cylindrical capacitor. An alternating magnetic field signal is induced by effective currents as the axion dark matter wind flows perpendicularly through the electric field. At low axion masses, such as in a KKLT scenario, front-end narrow band filtering is provided by using LC resonance with a high Q factor, which enhances the detectability of the tiny magnetic field signal and leads to thermal noise as the major background that can be reduced under cryogenic conditions. We demonstrate that high g a γ sensitivity can be achieved by using a strong electric field E ∼ MVm - 1 . The QCD axion theoretical parameter space would require a high E ∼ GVm - 1 field strength. Using the static electric field scheme essentially avoids exposing the sensitive superconducting pickup to an applied laboratory magnetic field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of nanomaterials in agriculture has considerable advantages, but its impact on the dynamic change of soil nutrients is still unclear. In the two-year experiment, the effects of nanocarbon (NC) and nano calcium carbonate (NCC) on the dynamic changes of soil nutrients in the wheat field were studied by setting the ratio of different nanomaterials and fertilizers. All treatments with NC and NCC applications positively affected soil nutrient effectiveness at 0–35 d after wheat anthesis, and the effect of NC+NCC was more significant. At 35 days after anthesis, soil available phosphorus (P), available potassium (K), organic matter (OM), and alkaline hydrolysis nitrogen (N) were elevated by 77.9%, 21.9%, 11.7%, and 7.0%, respectively, in the first year and 44.3%, 10.2%, 9.0%, and 7.6%, respectively, in the second year of treatment with 100% CF (complex fertilizer) + 50% NC + 50% NCC compared with control. The treatment with reduced fertilizer application also demonstrated a greater advantage. At 35 d after anthesis, 70% CF + 35% NC + 35% NCC had 54.3%, 11.5%, 8.4%, and 5.8% higher soil available P, available K, OM, and alkaline hydrolysis N, respectively, compared with the control, and 41.05%, 6.4%, 7.8%, and 5.4% higher the following year, respectively. In acidic soils, positively charged NC and NCC have a lasting effect on maintaining soil nutrients by adsorbing acid ions. Therefore, NC and NCC with compound fertilizer have favorable effects in maintaining soil nutrient content and improving fertilizer utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pharmacokinetic properties of the new benzodiazepine remimazolam have been studied only in adults. We investigated the pharmacokinetics of remimazolam after i.v. infusion in anaesthetised paediatric patients. Twenty-four children (2–6 yr, ASA physical status 1–2, BMI 15–18 kg m−2) undergoing general anaesthesia with sevoflurane were enrolled. During surgery, remimazolam was administered as an i.v. infusion over 1 h at 5 mg kg−1 h−1 for 5 min, followed by 1.5 mg kg−1 h−1 for 55 min. Plasma concentrations of remimazolam and its metabolite CNS7054 were determined from arterial blood samples using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. Pharmacokinetic modelling was performed by population analysis. Pharmacokinetics were best described by a three-compartment model for remimazolam and a two-compartment model for CNS7054 linked by a transit compartment. Remimazolam showed a high clearance of 15.9 (12.9, 18.2) ml kg−1 min−1 (median, Q 25 , Q 75), a small central volume of distribution of 0.11 (0.08, 0.14) L kg−1 and a short terminal half-life of 67 (49, 85) min. The context-sensitive half-time after an infusion of 4 h was 17 (12, 21) min. The metabolite CNS7054 showed a low clearance of 0.89 (0.33, 1.40) ml kg−1 min−1, a small central volume of distribution of 0.011 (0.005, 0.016) L kg−1, and a long terminal half-life of 321 (230, 770) min. Remimazolam in children was characterised by a high clearance and short context-sensitive half-time. When normalised to weight, pharmacokinetic properties were similar to those reported for adults. ChiCTR2200057629. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Halide ions have emerged as important surface active species that regulate the growth of nanomaterials and concomitant physicochemical properties. However, there are very few reports concerning anion exchange of halide ions for the growth and conversion of nanocrystals or nanoclusters. Herein, we present the transformations of silver(I) chalcogenide clusters induced by doping halide ions, which are particularly of interest because of individual pathways controlled by ion species and amounts. Based on the cluster transformation, we further developed a luminescence turn-on sensor with high selectivity, detecting Cl− and Br−. This work opens a new way of understanding the growth of clusters and developing their luminescence sensing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple and efficient protocol for oxidative cleavage of aryl C(OH)−C bonds to acids was reported. In this protocol, KOtBu was found to be able to transform aryl alcohols and ketones to the desired benzoic acids without any other additives using 4 MPa O2 in mesitylene. Substrates with either electron‐donating or electron‐withdrawing groups could be transformed to the according benzoic acids in moderate to excellent yield. All these findings indicated that this oxidation of aryl secondary C(OH)−C bonds might proceed through a radical mechanism. And the represent lignin dimer model compound was successfully transformed to the benzoic acid, which indicated this protocol might has the potential to transform nature lignin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lipid metabolism affects type 2 immunity; however, the association between plasma lipids and eosinophilic inflammation in humans is uncertain. This study analysed the relationship between plasma lipids and peripheral eosinophils and whether patterns differ with different body mass indexes (BMI). Methods: A cross-sectional survey including 62,441 healthy participants recruited from a regular health screening programme was conducted. Participants were divided into normal weight, overweight and obese subgroups according to BMI. Results: Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that elevated logarithmic-transformed eosinophil counts (log(EOS)) significantly correlated with high total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), and low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C)levels in the overall population, as well as in men and women, while certain associations between peripheral blood eosinophil percentage and serum lipids varied by gender. These correlations existed across almost all BMI subgroups, and standardised β values decreased sequentially with increasing BMI. HDL-C had the most significant effect on eosinophils in obese women. Two-factor analysis of variance showed log(EOS) increased with higher BMI and hyperlipidemia whether in male or female and a synergistic effect exists of lipid levels (TG and LDL-C) and BMI in men. Conclusions: Blood eosinophil counts were correlated with blood lipid levels and modified by body mass index status. The effects of lipid levels and body mass index on blood eosinophil counts were synergistic. Therefore, lipid metabolism may be involved in systemic eosinophil inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The large gap between a galactic dark matter subhalo's velocity and its own gravitational binding velocity creates the situation that small subhalos can be evaporated before dark matter thermalize with baryons due to the low binding velocity. In case dark matter acquires an electromagnetic dipole moment, the survival of low-mass subhalos requires stringent limits on the photon-mediated soft scattering. The current stringent direct detection limits indicate for a small dipole moment, which lets DM decouple early and allows small subhalos to form. We calculate the DM kinetic decoupling temperature in the Early Universe and evaluate the smallest protohalo mass. In the late Universe, low-mass subhalos can be evaporated via soft collision by ionized gas and accelerated cosmic rays. We calculate the subhalos evaporation rate and show that subhalos lighter than 10 - 5 M ⊙ in the gaseous inner galactic region are subject to evaporation via dark matter's effective electric and magnetic dipole moments below current direct detection limits, which potentially affects the low-mass subhalos distribution in the galactic center. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is very challenging for robots to perform grinding and polishing tasks on surfaces with unknown geometry. Most existing methods solve this problem by modeling the relationship between the force sensing information and surface normal vectors by analyzing the forces on special end tools such as spherical tools and cylindrical tools and simplified friction model. In this paper, we propose a normal vectors learning method to simultaneously control end-effector force and direction on unknown surfaces. First, the relation that mapping the force sensing information to the surface normal vectors is learned from the demonstrated data on the known plane using locally weighted regression. Next, the learned relation is used to estimate surface normal vectors on the unknown surface. To improve the force control precision on the unknown geometry surface, the adaptive force control is developed. To improve the direction control precision due to friction, the iterative learning control is developed. The proposed method is verified by comparative simulations and experiments using the Franka robot. Results show that the end-effector can be controlled perpendicular to the surface with a certain force. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study a one dimensional nonlinear equation with diffusion − ν (− ∂ x x ) α 2 for 0 ≤ α ≤ 2 and ν > 0. We use a viscous-splitting algorithm to obtain global nonnegative weak solutions in space L 1 (R) ∩ H 1 / 2 (R) when 0 ≤ α ≤ 2. For the subcritical case 1 < α ≤ 2 and critical case α = 1, we obtain the global existence and uniqueness of nonnegative spatial analytic solutions. We use a fractional bootstrapping method to improve the regularity of mild solutions in the Bessel potential spaces for the subcritical case 1 < α ≤ 2. Then, we show that the solutions are spatial analytic and can be extended globally. For the critical case α = 1, if the initial data ρ0 satisfies −ν < inf ρ0 < 0, we use the method of characteristics for complex Burgers equation to obtain a unique spatial analytic solution to our target equation in some bounded time interval. If ρ0 ≥ 0, the solution exists globally and converges to steady state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use a sticky particle method to show global existence of (energy) conservative sticky N -peakon solutions to the modified Camassa-Holm equation. A dispersion regularization is provided as a selection principle for the uniqueness of conservative N -peakon solutions. The dispersion limit avoids the collision between peakons, and numerical results show that the dispersion limit is exactly the sticky peakons. At last, when the splitting of peakons is allowed, we give an example to show the non-uniqueness of conservative solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microwave irradiation has been intensively studied for environmental remediation, e.g., for wastewater treatment, and for synthesis, to take advantages of the rapid heating at the molecular level and of the formation of hot spots on the surface of microwave absorbing materials. Microwave irradiation has successfully assisted catalytic oxidation to remove pollutants rapidly. Here, we review microwave applications with emphasis on synthesis and catalytic oxidation. Methods include microwave irradiation alone, microwave with catalysts, microwave-Fenton, microwave-peralcohol, microwave-photochemistry, microwave-electrochemistry and microwave-sonochemistry. Engineering for upscaling microwave irradiation is also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: The plant secondary cell wall is a thickened matrix of polysaccharides and lignin deposited at the cessation of growth in some cells. It forms the majority of carbon in lignocellulosic biomass, and it is an abundant and renewable source for forage, fiber, materials, fuels, and bioproducts. The complex structure and arrangement of the cell wall polymers mean that the carbon is difficult to access in an economical and sustainable way. One solution is to alter the cell wall polymer structure so that it is more suited to downstream processing. However, it remains difficult to predict what the effects of this engineering will be on the assembly, architecture, and properties of the cell wall. Here, we make use of Arabidopsis plants expressing a suite of genes to increase pectic galactan chain length in the secondary cell wall. Using multi‐dimensional solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance, we show that increasing galactan chain length enhances pectin–cellulose spatial contacts and increases cellulose crystallinity. We also found that the increased galactan content leads to fewer spatial contacts of cellulose with xyloglucan and the backbone of pectin. Hence, we propose that the elongated galactan side chains compete with xyloglucan and the pectic backbone for cellulose interactions. Due to the galactan topology, this may result in comparatively weak interactions and disrupt the cell wall architecture. Therefore, introduction of this strategy into trees or other bioenergy crops would benefit from cell‐specific expression strategies to avoid negative effects on plant growth. Significance Statement: We found that pectic galactan plays an important role in controlling pectin–cellulose interactions in secondary cell walls. This discovery is important for the rational engineering of improved bioenergy crops that combine excellent growth with improved downstream processing properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was used fermentation bed technology to study the effect of fermentation bed on diarrhea rate, growth performance and blood physicochemical indexes of lambs in winter. Three batches of experiments were carried out in a row, and 30 hybrid ewes who had just given birth and gave birth to two lambs in each batch were randomly assigned to two closed houses with windows and the same building structure, one floor was transformed into a fermentation bed (experimental group), and the other was used as a control group. The lambs were fed in a single pen for 7 d and then transferred out. Each group was randomly divided into three pens, transferred to semi-open houses, and continued to be fed until weaning at 60 d. The results showed that on 1~7 d, the diarrhea rate of lambs in experimental group was significantly lower than that in control group (P<0.05). From birth to weaning, the diarrhea rate and mortality of lambs in experimental group were decreased by 2.49% and 2.95% compared with control group (P<0.05). On 7 d of experiment, the body height, body length and chest circumference of lambs in experimental group were increased by 1.71, 0.56, 0.66 cm compared with control group, respectively (P<0.05). On 8~30 d, the average daily gain of lambs in experimental group was increased by 22.59% compared with control group ( P<0.05). The average daily gain of experimental group was significantly higher than that of control group during the whole experiment period (1~60 d) (P<0.05). At 60 d of age, the body weight of lambs in experimental group was increased by 13.42% compared with control group ( P<0.05). The percentage of lymphocyte in whole blood of lambs in experimental group was significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.05), and the content of GLU, TP and GLB in serum were increased by 8.45%, 3.34% and 10.49% compared with control group, respectively (P<0.05). The study indicates that using a fermentation bed feeding mode within 7 d of birth can reduce the rate of diarrhea and mortality before weaning, and improve the apparent digestibility and blood physicochemical indicators of lambs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Rh(III)‐catalyzed three‐component coupling reaction for the regioselective assembly of various monofluoroalkene derivatives was disclosed using readily available difluorovinyl tosylates as fluorinated coupling partners. This strategy was intended for the preparation of fluorovinyl heterocycles, and the main OTs intermediates could be further processed to various fluorinated alkenyl compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fuzzy sets provide an effective method for dealing with uncertain and imprecise problems. For data of intermediate fuzzy distribution, membership degrees of objects whose attribute values are larger or smaller than the normal value would be the same and carried out the same decision. However, objects with different values mean that the information they contain is different for the decision-making problem. The decision process of calculating membership degrees in fuzzy set will lose the information of data itself. Therefore, bilateral fuzzy sets and their three-way decisions are proposed. First, the deviation degree is proposed in order to distinguish these objects. Compared with the membership degree, the deviation degree extends the mapping range from [0, 1] to [- 1, 1]. For six typical membership functions, their corresponding deviation functions are discussed and deduced. Second, the concept of bilateral fuzzy sets is proposed and the corresponding operation rules are analyzed and proved. Then, three-way decisions and approximations based on bilateral fuzzy sets are constructed. Next, for the optimization of threshold, principle of least cost is extended to the three-way decisions model based on bilateral fuzzy sets, and theoretical derivation is carried out. Finally, based on probability statistics, the principle based on confidence interval is proposed, which provides a new perspective for threshold calculation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to systematically estimate the effectiveness and safety of annulus closure device (ACD) implantation in discectomy for patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Methods: A systematic search was performed on PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trial (RCT) from inception until April 16, 2022. Trials which investigated comparisons between with and without ACD implantation in discectomy for LDH patients were identified. Results: In total, five RCTs involving 2380 patients with LDH underwent discectomy were included. The included patients were divided into ACD group and control group (CTL). Significant differences were found in the rate of re-herniation (ACD: 7.40%, CTL: 17.58%), reoperation (ACD: 5.39%, CTL: 13.58%) and serious adverse event (ACD: 10.79%, CTL: 17.14%) between ACD group and CTL group. No significant difference was found in VAS-BACK, VAS-LEG, ODI and SF-12 PCS between ACD and CTL. The surgical time of ACD was longer than CTL with statistical significance. In subgroup analyses based on discectomy type, significant differences were found in the rate of re-herniation (ACD: 10.73%, CTL: 21.27%), reoperation (ACD: 4.96%, CTL: 13.82%) and serious adverse event (ACD: 7.59%, CTL: 16.89%) between ACD and CTL in limited lumbar discectomy (LLD). Conclusion: Discectomy either with or without ACD implantation is considered to achieve similar clinical outcomes. Whereas, the ACD implantation in LLD is associated with lower re-herniation and reoperation rate but prolonged surgical time for LDH patients. Researches on cost-effectiveness and effect of ACD implantation in different discectomy are needed in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It reflects the theoretical limitations of state rescaling theory in coping with the complexity and dynamism of China's state spatiality, which is further exacerbated by linguistic challenges in China studies. A key criticism of the book is that relying on state rescaling theory drawn from the neoliberal state experience leads to blindness to the historical processes and basic realities of Chinese state spatiality. [Extracted from the article]

Understanding service providers ' perceptions of family-centred care (FCC) is essential to improve the processes and outcomes of children's services in early intervention. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the research on the Measure of Processes of Care-Service Provider (MPOC-SP) were performed to determine the extent service-providers of children with developmental disabilities perceive while they provided FCC. A comprehensive literature search was conducted on three databases. A total of 446 studies were retrieved, and 14 met the criteria of the current research. Meta-analysis for 2,094 service-providers of children with developmental disabilities that were included in 14 studies was conducted based on the four scales of the MPOC-SP. The aggregated means of the four factors of the MPOC-SP, showing interpersonal sensitivity, providing general information, communicating specific information, and treating people respectfully, is from 4.26 to 5.77. The result shows that treating people respectfully has the highest score while providing general information has the lowest one. Service providers are encouraged to focus on children's and their families' needs for general information. Further research on better understanding inter-professional service providers' perspectives of providing family-centred care and engaging professionals in intervention processes are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pt–V bimetallic catalytic system may be a promising alternative to noble metal catalysts for selective catalytic oxidation (SCO) of NH3. But it is challenging to improve the NH3 conversion activity and N2 selectivity, as well as cost-economy. Herein, the influence of the deposition order of V and Pt components on NH3-SCO performance was investigated with constant loadings of 0.5 wt% V and 0.04 wt% Pt. The catalytic performance of the Pt–V system significantly depended on the combination mode between VOx and Pt species. The V0.5/Pt0.04/TiO2 catalyst exhibited outstanding NH3-SCO performance, giving complete NH3 conversion and 80.2% N2 selectivity at 225 °C. This was ascribed to a preferable synergistic effect between the upper layer of VOx species and the lower layer of Pt species supported on TiO2. This led to more abundant Pt0 species in the lower layer, which was favorable for oxidizing the diffused NH3 efficiently into N2, H2O and some NOx. The generated NOx would further react with fresh NH3 in an efficient way under the action of VOx species in the upper layer via selective catalytic reduction (SCR) reactions owing to the excellent redox ability of the V0.5/Pt0.04/TiO2 catalyst. –NH2 species and nitrate species were the main intermediates participating in the NH3-SCO reactions over the V0.5/Pt0.04/TiO2 catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we aimed to determine whether liraglutide could effectively reduce insulin resistance (IR) by regulating Sestrin2 (SESN2) expression in L6 rat skeletal muscle cells by examining its interactions with SESN2, autophagy, and IR. L6 cells were incubated with liraglutide (10–1000 nM) in the presence of palmitate (PA; 0.6 mM), and cell viability was detected using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. IR-related and autophagy-related proteins were detected using western blotting, and IR and autophagy-related genes were analyzed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Silencing SESN2 was used to inhibit the activities of SESN2. A reduction in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake was observed in PA-treated L6 cells, confirming IR. Meanwhile, PA decreased the levels of GLUT4 and phosphorylation of Akt and affected SESN2 expression. Further investigation revealed that autophagic activity decreased following PA treatment, but that liraglutide reversed this PA-induced reduction in autophagic activity. Additionally, silencing SESN2 inhibited the ability of liraglutide to up-regulate the expression of IR-related proteins and activate autophagy signals. In summary, the data showed that liraglutide improved PA-induced IR in L6 myotubes by increasing autophagy mediated by SESN2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yak milk is rich in essential milk proteins of nutritional and therapeutic value. In this study, whey proteins of milk from 3 yak breeds (Gannan, GN; Huanhu, HH; Maiwa, MW) in China were comprehensively identified and compared using a data-independent acquisition quantitative proteomics approach. A total of 632 proteins were identified in yak milk whey samples, in which immune-related proteins were abundant. Compared with other milks, more proteins were involved in oxidation-reduction process and with ATP binding. In addition, we identified 96, 155, and 164 differentially expressed proteins (DEP) for GN versus HH, GN versus MW, and HH versus MW, respectively. "Phagosome" and "complement and coagulation cascades" were the most significant pathways for DEP of GN versus HH and GN or HH versus MW yak milk based on the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis. Protein-protein interaction network analysis showed that DEP for the 3 comparisons had significant biological interactions but were associated with different functions. The results provide useful information on yak milk from different breeds in China, and elucidate the biological functions of yak milk proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The transmembrane receptor Kremen2 has been reported to participate in the tumorigenesis and metastasis of gastric cancer. However, the role of Kremen2 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the underlying mechanism remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the biological function and regulatory mechanism of Kremen2 in NSCLC. Methods: The correlation between Kremen2 expression and NSCLC was assessed by analyzing the public database and clinical tissue samples. Colony formation and EdU assays were performed to examine cell proliferation. Transwell and wound healing assays were used to observe cell migration ability. Tumor-bearing nude mice and metastatic tumor models were used to detect the in vivo tumorigenic and metastatic abilities of the NSCLC cells. An immunohistochemical assay was used to detect the expression of proliferation-related proteins in tissues. Western blot, immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence were conducted to elucidate the Kremen2 regulatory mechanisms in NSCLC. Results: Kremen2 was highly expressed in tumor tissues from NSCLC patients and was positively correlated with a poor patient prognosis. Knockout or knockdown of Kremen2 inhibited cell proliferation and migration ability of NSCLC cells. In vivo knockdown of Kremen2 inhibited the tumorigenicity and number of metastatic nodules of NSCLC cells in nude mice. Mechanistically, Kremen2 interacted with suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) to maintain the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) protein levels by preventing SOCS3-mediated ubiquitination and degradation of EGFR, which, in turn, promoted activation of the PI3K-AKT and JAK2-STAT3 signaling pathways. Conclusions: Our study identified Kremen2 as a candidate oncogene in NSCLC and may provide a potential target for NSCLC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The vesicoprostatic muscle (VPM) is a longitudinal smooth muscle that originates from the trigone of the bladder or the opening of the ureter and is involved in urination as part of the detrusor apron. We explored the effect of VPM reconstruction on immediate and early recovery of urinary continence in patients undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP). Patients and methods: A total of 523 patients with localized prostate cancer were enrolled from June 2018 to June 2020. All patients were diagnosed in our department based on magnetic resonance imaging and pathological findings on prostate biopsy. After 1:1 propensity score matching, 105 patient pairs were matched. The study was approved by our institutional review board and all surgeries were performed by three experienced high-volume surgeons. Demographic data, total operation time, pathological outcomes, the urinary continence rates of the two groups at different times after RALP, and factors influencing postoperative urinary continence after RALP were recorded. Student's t test was used to compare continuous variables and the Pearson χ2 test to compare categorical variables. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors affecting immediate and early postoperative urinary control. Results: VPM reconstruction promoted immediate and early recovery of urinary continence (immediate continence, 66.67 vs. 40.00%, P = 0.000; 3-month continence, 80.95 vs. 64.76%, P = 0.008). Conclusions: VPM reconstruction improved immediate and early urinary continence in patients who underwent RALP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]