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Background: Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a common interstitial pneumonia disease, also occurred in post-COVID-19 survivors. The mechanism underlying the anti-PF effect of Qing Fei Hua Xian Decotion (QFHXD), a traditional Chinese medicine formula applied for treating PF in COVID-19 survivors, is unclear. This study aimed to uncover the mechanisms related to the anti-PF effect of QFHXD through analysis of network pharmacology and experimental verification. Methods: The candidate chemical compounds of QFHXD and its putative targets for treating PF were achieved from public databases, thereby we established the corresponding "herb-compound-target" network of QFHXD. The protein–protein interaction network of potential targets was also constructed to screen the core targets. Furthermore, Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were used to predict targets, and pathways, then validated by in vivo experiments. Results: A total of 188 active compounds in QFHXD and 50 target genes were identified from databases. The key therapeutic targets of QFHXD, such as PI3K/Akt, IL-6, TNF, IL-1β, STAT3, MMP-9, and TGF-β1 were identified by KEGG and GO analysis. Anti-PF effects of QFHXD (in a dose-dependent manner) and prednisone were confirmed by HE, Masson staining, and Sirius red staining as well as in vivo Micro-CT and immunohistochemical analysis in a rat model of bleomycin-induced PF. Besides, QFXHD remarkably inhibits the activity of PI3K/Akt/NF-κB and TGF-β1/Smad2/3. Conclusions: QFXHD significantly attenuated bleomycin-induced PF via inhibiting inflammation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. PI3K/Akt/NF-κB and TGF-β1/Smad2/3 pathways might be the potential therapeutic effects of QFHXD for treating PF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The porous structures of the catalyst layer (CL) for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells were reconstructed using the sphere-based simulated annealing (SA) method, in which different carbon sphere diameters, carbon phase fractions, ionomer loadings, and porosities were achieved to simulate different samples. The pore-scale simulation model based on the random walk algorithm was developed to evaluate the tortuosity in the CL. The results show that the carbon phase fraction, particularly the carbon sphere diameter, significantly influences the tortuosities in both pores and ionomer. Larger carbon spheres contribute to tightening the solid phase and enlarging the pore size within the CL, thereby affecting the pore structure and the ionomer distribution. The tortuosity obtained from the random walk algorithm aligns well with those from pore-scale diffusion and flow simulations using the Lattice–Boltzmann method (LBM). The random walk algorithm has the highest efficiency of the three methods in calculating the tortuosity of the CL when the porosity is less than 0.2, demonstrating its wider applicability. This study further proposes formulas for predicting the tortuosities in both pores and ionomer, which are closer to actual CLs than empirical equations. In addition, the present work confirms that the structural randomness resulting from the reconstruction method used in this work has little effect on the tortuosity, indicating that a small number of reconstructed samples suffice for investigating transport processes in the CL. Overall, our research contributes to the prediction of the properties of real porous media in energy engineering. Practical Applications: This manuscript reports on the reconstruction of the catalyst layer in proton exchange membrane fuel cells using the simulated annealing method under some appropriate assumptions. A pore-scale simulation using a random walk algorithm was performed to compute the tortuosity both in the pores and in the ionomer, which is compared with pore-scale diffusion and flow simulations using the Lattice–Boltzmann method. A parametric study for several geometric parameters was carried out. Some conclusions are drawn from the results of the pore-scale simulations, and several formulas are proposed accordingly. This study helps to predict the tortuosity in the porous structure closer to the actual porous medium than the empirical equations. Meanwhile, the proposed tortuosity formulas improve the accuracy of the macroscopic models compared to using the assumed transmission parameter values. In addition, structural randomness analysis is explored, which will further reduce the workload in actual engineering calculations and improve computational efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel photocatalytic nanomaterial, Ho2YSbO7, was successfully synthesized for the first time using the solvothermal synthesis technique. In addition, a Ho2YSbO7/Bi2MoO6 heterojunction photocatalyst (HBHP) was prepared via the hydrothermal fabrication technique. Extensive characterizations of the synthesized samples were conducted using various instruments, such as an X-ray diffractometer, a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, a Raman spectrometer, a UV-visible spectrophotometer, an X-ray photoelectron spectrometer, and a transmission electron microscope, as well as X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, a photocurrent test, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, and electron paramagnetic resonance. The photocatalytic activity of the HBHP was evaluated for the degradation of diuron (DRN) and the mineralization of total organic carbon (TOC) under visible light exposure for 152 min. Remarkable removal efficiencies were achieved, with 99.78% for DRN and 97.19% for TOC. Comparative analysis demonstrated that the HBHP exhibited markedly higher removal efficiencies for DRN compared to Ho2YSbO7, Bi2MoO6, or N-doped TiO2 photocatalyst, with removal efficiencies 1.13 times, 1.21 times, or 2.95 times higher, respectively. Similarly, the HBHP demonstrated significantly higher removal efficiencies for TOC compared to Ho2YSbO7, Bi2MoO6, or N-doped TiO2 photocatalyst, with removal efficiencies 1.17 times, 1.25 times, or 3.39 times higher, respectively. Furthermore, the HBHP demonstrated excellent stability and reusability. The mechanisms which could enhance the photocatalytic activity remarkably and the involvement of the major active species were comprehensively discussed, with superoxide radicals identified as the primary active species, followed by hydroxyl radicals and holes. The results of this study contribute to the advancement of efficient heterostructural materials and offer valuable insights into the development of sustainable remediation strategies for addressing DRN contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis) has a long cultivation history and is one of the vegetable crops with the largest cultivation area in China. However, salt stress severely damages photosynthesis and hormone metabolism, nutritional balances, and results in ion toxicity in plants. To better understand the mechanisms of salt-induced growth inhibition in Chinese cabbage, RNA-seq and physiological index determination were conducted to explore the impacts of salt stress on carbon cycle metabolism and photosynthesis in Chinese cabbage. Here, we found that the number of thylakoids and grana lamellae and the content of starch granules and chlorophyll in the leaves of Chinese cabbage under salt stress showed a time-dependent response, first increasing and then decreasing. Chinese cabbage increased the transcript levels of genes related to the photosynthetic apparatus and carbon metabolism under salt stress, probably in an attempt to alleviate damage to the photosynthetic system and enhance CO2 fixation and energy metabolism. The transcription of genes related to starch and sucrose synthesis and degradation were also enhanced; this might have been an attempt to maintain intracellular osmotic pressure by increasing soluble sugar concentrations. Soluble sugars could also be used as potential reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers, in concert with peroxidase (POD) enzymes, to eliminate ROS that accumulate during metabolic processes. Our study characterizes the synergistic response network of carbon metabolism and photosynthesis under salt stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Low-income families are exposed to adverse childhood experiences and psychosocial risks that impact child development. At the KK Women's and Children's Hospital in Singapore, Kids Integrated Development Service (KIDS0-3) is a home visitation programme that aims to optimise the development of children from low-income families. Method: Data comprising family demographics, maternal psychosocial risks and outcomes of child development were collated through a chart review of 469 mother-child dyads enrolled from June 2014 to October 2022. Results: Based on the Family and Adult Support Tool, 312 families (67%) were identified as moderate or high-risk. Children from moderate and high-risk families had poorer Bayley cognitive (mean 95.88 [SD 8.25] versus [vs] 98.44 [SD 8.72], P=0.014) and language scores (mean 87.38 [SD 10.35] vs 90.43 [SD 9.61], P=0.016] at 24 months of age, compared to the low-risk group. Children of teenage mothers had lower Bayley cognitive scores (mean 95.16 [SD 8.42] vs 97.76 [SD 8.55], P=0.037), and children of mothers who experienced sexual abuse had lower Bayley cognitive scores (mean 93.1 [SD 5.68] vs 99.7 [SD 8.17], P=0.013) and language scores (mean 82.3 [SD 12.87] vs 91.3 [SD 10.86], P=0.021]. Antenatal enrolment yielded better child language (mean 90.1 [SD 9.37] vs 87.13 [SD 10.79], P=0.04) and motor outcomes (mean 99.62 [SD 9.45] vs 94.72 [SD 9.51], P=0 .001) than postnatal enrolment. Conclusion: Psychosocial risks impact the development of children from low-income families in Singapore. Findings underscore the importance of early, integrated intervention for vulnerable families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an experimental investigation of the flow pattern regime and unsteady characteristics of ventilated cavities with different headform shapes. The test model consists of a removable headform with three different forebodies (the conical, the blunt, and the hemispherical) and a common cylinder rear body. Experiments are conducted in a closed-loop cavitation tunnel. First, the flow pattern regimes on the ventilated cavity for different headforms are discussed in detail, and the dimensions of several flow patterns are measured. The results show that the cavity dimension and the regime are strongly dependent on the headform shape, and all typical flow patterns are introduced by schematic illustrations. Second, the ventilation hysteresis that happened during the flow pattern transition is pointed out. A quantitative gas leakage model is employed to explain the cause of hysteresis and flow pattern transition, and the results show the Strouhal number for different headforms is approximately ∼0.21. However, the blunt presented stronger gas leakage with a large constant parameter, K = 0.80. Finally, the unsteady characteristics of the ventilated cavity around different tested headforms are involved through descriptions of developments of the recirculating vortex and transparent cavity. In addition, an estimated cavitation number is applied to investigate the unsteady characteristics, and the maximum cavitation number and the strongest characteristic are obtained by the blunt headform due to the large drag coefficient and strong flow separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An unprecedented photocatalyst, Sm2EuSbO7, was successfully fabricated in this paper, through a high-temperature solid-state calcination method, which represented its first ever synthesis. Additionally, using the solvothermal method, the Sm2EuSbO7/ZnBiSbO5 heterojunction photocatalyst (SZHP) was fabricated, marking its debut in this study. XRD analysis confirmed that both Sm2EuSbO7 and ZnBiSbO5 exhibited pyrochlore-type crystal structures with a cubic lattice, belonging to the Fd3m space group. The crystal cell parameter was determined to be 10.5682 Å or 10.2943 Å for Sm2EuSbO7 or ZnBiSbO5, respectively. The band gap width measured for Sm2EuSbO7 or ZnBiSbO5 was 2.73 eV or 2.61 eV, respectively. Under visible light irradiation for 150 min (VLTI-150 min), SZHP exhibited remarkable photocatalytic activity, achieving 100% removal of parathion methyl (PM) concentration and 99.45% removal of total organic carbon (TOC) concentration. The kinetic constant (k) for PM degradation and visible light illumination treatment was determined to be 0.0206 min−1, with a similar constant k of 0.0202 min−1 observed for TOC degradation. Remarkably, SZHP exhibited superior PM removal rates compared with Sm2EuSbO7, ZnBiSbO5, or N-doped TiO2 photocatalyst, accompanied by removal rates 1.09 times, 1.20 times, or 2.38 times higher, respectively. Furthermore, the study investigated the oxidizing capability of free radicals through the use of trapping agents. The results showed that hydroxyl radicals had the strongest oxidative capability, followed by superoxide anions and holes. These findings provide a solid scientific foundation for future research and development of efficient heterojunction compound catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vortex generator (VG) is one of the potential technical tools to reduce the aerodynamic resistance of high-speed trains. The passive control resistance reduction research of a high-speed train is carried out by using VG. Three typical installation locations, including flow separation point, boundary layer mutation and streamline transition location, and several nearby locations were selected to study the effect of VG location on the train aerodynamic characteristics. The results show that the tail car drag is significantly reduced when the VG is arranged at the boundary layer mutation, the tail car's resistance can be reduced by 15.42%. The tail car reduces resistance by 3.87% when VG is set at the flow separation point. By analyzing the flow field structure, we found that the VG arranged in front of the separation point triggers the flow separation, which destroys the balance between the separation and longitudinal vortex. It effectively reduces the strength of the separation vortex, thereby reducing the tail car's aerodynamic drag. The research provides a new thought for the aerodynamic resistance reduction of high-speed trains, and is of great significance to break the limitations of traditional aerodynamic drag reduction technology of trains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The resulting CoC x structure induces the in-situ reconstruction of the NiCo-LDH lattice by weakening the coordination of Co O bonds, which creates abundant oxygen vacancies (octahedral Co2+ sites) that serve as electroactive sites for redox reactions and significantly improve electron transfer efficiency. [Display omitted] Battery-like electrode materials are characterized by large theoretical capacitance but suffer from poor surface reactivity and insufficient electroactive sites thus limiting their practical charge storage capacity. To overcome this challenge, an effective strategy for vacancy modulation on battery-like electrode materials is necessary. Herein, we report for the first time an elaborately designed three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical heterostructure consisting of CoC x @NiCo-LDH on conductive nickel foam as a freestanding supercapacitor electrode. Benefiting from the weakening of the coordination of Co O bonds, the CoC x structure induces in-situ reconstruction of the NiCo-LDH lattice, resulting in the formation of abundant oxygen vacancies (interfacial octahedral Co2+ sites) that lower the OH− adsorption energy as determined by the density functional theory (DFT) calculation. The resulting CoC x @NiCo-LDH/NF electrode exhibits an ultrahigh rate capability (2330 mF cm−2 at 0.3 mA cm−2, with capacitance retention of 51.5 % at 30 mA cm−2) and remarkable cycling performance (capacitance retention of 81.6 % after 10,000 cycles). Additionally, the assembled asymmetric devices deliver an extremely high energy density of 246 μWh cm−2 at the power density of 798 μW cm−2, with 87.8 % capacitance retention after 10,000 cycles at 8 mA cm−2. Overall, this study presents a simple yet effective strategy to construct high-performance battery-like electrodes for potential applications in energy storage, transportation, and communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A TTPP probe was developed to distinguish G-quadruplexes (G4s) from other nucleic acid topologies through longer fluorescence lifetimes and higher quantum yields. In fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy, TTPP enabled the visualization of cytoplasmic G4s in live cells, and showed the potential to detect cell apoptosis and ferroptosis by tracking cytoplasmic G4s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patched homolog 1 (PTCH1) has been proven to facilitate cell proliferation and self-renewal in esophageal cancer (EC). The present study intended to exploit the influence of PTCH1 on EC cells and the potential mechanisms. PTCH1 and methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) expression were examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot in EC cell lines. Following the loss- and gain-of-function assays, cell proliferation was examined by cell counting kit (CCK)-8 and clone formation assays, invasion and migration by Transwell and scratch assays, and the sphere-forming ability of stem cells by cell sphere-forming assay. The expression of stemness genes NANOG homeobox protein (NANOG), octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (Oct4), and sex-determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2) was detected by Western blot. Methylated RNA immunoprecipitation (Me-RIP) assay was performed to test N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification levels of PTCH1 mRNA, RIP and photoactivatable ribonucleoside-enhanced crosslinking and immunoprecipitation (PAR-CLIP) assays to assess the binding of METTL3 to PTCH1, and actinomycin D treatment to examine PTCH1 mRNA stability. A xenograft tumor model in nude mice was established for further in vivo verification. PTCH1 and METTL3 expression was high in EC cells. Knockdown of METTL3 reduced m6A level and stability of PTCH1 mRNA. Knockdown of PTCH1 or METTL3 declined invasion, proliferation, migration, and NANOG, Oct4, and SOX2 levels in EC cells, and reduced sphere-forming abilities of EC stem cells. Overexpression of PTCH1 abolished the suppressive effect of METTL3 knockdown on EC cells in vitro. METTL3 knockdown repressed tumor growth in nude mice, which was negated by further overexpressing PTCH1. METTL3 facilitated growth and stemness of EC cells via upregulation of PTCH1 expression by enhancing PTCH1 m6A modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extractant tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) was used for the separation of Pu(IV) and U(VI) in the PUREX process, which brings phosphorus pollution problems. The ligands in accordance with the "CHON" principle will be helpful to reduce environmental pollution and pressure of subsequent waste treatment. In this work, three environmentally friendly BisDGA ligands in accordance with the "CHON" principle were used for the selective extraction Pu(IV) form U(VI) in 1-octanol system. These ligands showed highly extraction ability for Pu(IV), but hardly extracted U(VI) even under high acidity, which proves that the applicability of these extraction systems for selective separation of Pu(IV) from U(VI). The coordination chemistry of Pu(IV) by slope analyses confirmed that the ligands generated both M:L = 1:1 complexes with Pu(IV). The properties and thermodynamics of the PuL(NO3)4 complexes formed with Pu(IV) and BisDGA ligands were also investigated with the density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and the results verified the relevant experimental conclusion that the affinity of THi-PE-BisDGA for Pu(IV) is better than the other two ligands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

InSAR observation is widely used for mapping the coseismic deformation and estimating the earthquake source model. However, atmospheric delay noise reduces the accuracy of the mapped coseismic surface deformation, which results in the significant uncertainty of the InSAR-derived faulting model. Therefore, it is significant to mitigate the negative effect of atmospheric noise and improve the InSAR data inversion performance of earthquake source modeling. In this study, a new method of fault slip inversion is proposed, in which InSAR deformation differencing vector (IDV) is utilized as an independent constraint on source modeling instead of the original InSAR observation. According to the experimental result obtained from the simulated InSAR data, the proposed method significantly mitigates the negative effect of atmospheric noise, and the slip residual is reduced by up to ~ 65% when compared to the estimate based on the original InSAR observation. Then, the proposed method is applied to investigate the coseismic faulting of the 2014 Napa, California earthquake. It is found that the surface deformation predicted by the IDV-derived faulting model is more consistent with the GPS observation than the result obtained through the original InSAR-derived faulting model, and that the accuracy is improved by ~ 28%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel nanofluid of modified carbon black (MCB) nanoparticles was initially developed for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in low permeability reservoirs. The MCB nanoparticles were obtained via a three-step reaction involving modification by oxidation, acyl chlorination, and activated grafting. MCB nanoparticles were spherically dispersed, with an average size of 72.3 nm. Compared with carbon black (CB) nanoparticles, dispersed MCB nanoparticles can effectively reduce the oil--water interfacial tension (IFT) to 10-2 mN/m and change the surface wettability of sand particles. Based on the results of core flooding experiments, the MCB nanoparticles exhibited a better EOR capacity than surfactants and CB nanoparticles, and the final oil recovery was significantly increased by 27.27%. The core scanning test showed that the MCB nanoparticles could plug high permeability channels by adsorbing onto the surfaces of sand particles and forming larger aggregates that bridge across pores or throats, resulting in a higher swept volume. The synergistic effects of improved swept volume and oil displacement efficiency were the EOR mechanisms of the MCB nanoparticles. The studies indicate that these MCB nanoparticles have excellent potential for EOR in low permeability reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Headward erosion breaching a formerly closed paleolake has been interpreted as an integration process between individual drainage networks. However, the rarity of well-documented cases of this process makes it difficult to explore the fluvial response or its mechanism. Fortunately, dated deposits from a former paleolake in the Fenwei Basin, coupled with fluvial terraces along the Sanmen Gorge of the Yellow River, provide ample opportunities to replicate the upstream integration process and associated landform response. Herein, we applied terrace correlation and age constraints to construct dated longitudinal profiles throughout the Fenwei Basin and the downstream Sanmen Gorge. We identified two age models in longitudinal profiles: (1) relatively high diachronous terraces (Terrace series A) aged headward from ca. 621 ka to 336 ka, localized in the Sanmen Gorge; and (2) relatively low isochronous terraces (Terrace series B) capped by S2 paleosol (ca. 245-190 ka) developed throughout the basin and the gorge. This study hypothesized these two terrace series to have emerged as a mid-Pleistocene bottom-up integration event. In this event, headward incision initiated at least at ca. 621 ka, progressed upstream at a rate of 79.8 mm/a, and breached the Fenwei Basin at ca. 245 ka. This event is likely ascribed to tectonic subsidence of the North China Plain, and may be the latest integration process between the middle and lower reach of the Yellow River. We synthesize comprehensive models to describe terrace genesis and responses in tectonic, climatic, and bottom-up integration processes, which could widen our understanding of long-term large river behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasingly serious burden of osteoarthritis (OA) on modern society, it is urgent to propose novel diagnostic biomarkers and differentiation models for OA. 7-methylguanosine (m7G), as one of the most common base modification forms in post transcriptional regulation, through which the seventh position N of guanine (G) of messenger RNA is modified by methyl under the action of methyltransferase; it has been found that it plays a crucial role in different diseases. Therefore, we explored the relationship between OA and m7G. Based on the expression level of 18 m7G-related regulators, we identified nine significant regulators. Then, via a series of methods of machine learning, such as support vector machine recursive feature elimination, random forest and lasso-cox regression analysis, a total of four significant regulators were further identified (DCP2, EIF4E2, LARP1 and SNUPN). Additionally, according to the expression level of the above four regulators, two different m7G-related clusters were divided via consensus cluster analysis. Furthermore, via immune infiltration, differential expression analysis and enrichment analysis, we explored the characteristic of the above two different clusters. An m7G-related scoring model was constructed via the PCA algorithm. Meanwhile, there was a different immune status and correlation for immune checkpoint inhibitors between the above two clusters. The expression difference of the above four regulators was verified via real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Overall, a total of four biomarkers were identified and two different m7G-related subsets of OA with different immune microenvironment were obtained. Meanwhile, the construction of m7G-related Scoring model may provide some new strategies and insights for the therapy and diagnosis of OA patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate the coupled dynamics of a collapsing bubble and the motion of a nearby elastic plate at different initial distances. This was achieved using a combination of experimental and computational models. In the experiments, high-speed photography was used to record the temporal and spatial evolution of the collapse of a single bubble near an elastic boundary under normalized standoff distances γ ranging from 1.0 to 3.3. Digital image correlation was used to synchronously record the motion of the elastic plate. For the numerical simulations, taking the fluid compressibility and boundary motion into account, the immersed-boundary method was introduced to simulate the interaction between the elastic plate and bubble collapse. The results show that, with different initial distances, the dynamic behaviors of the bubble, including oscillation time, impact mode, and energy conversion, are different, and this is caused by the elastic rebound of the plate. In addition, the direction and amplitude of the deformation of the elastic plate are also influenced by the impact effects during bubble oscillation and rebound. The combined form of these impact behaviors changes with initial distance, and there are three typical impact patterns: the shock-wave effect, jet-effect, and hybrid shock-wave and jet-effect modes. In particular, when γ < 1.5, the jet effect and hybrid impact forms, which are dominated by the high-speed jet, can result in asymmetric deformation and cause greater local damage to the elastic plate. Finally, we summarize the combined mechanisms that govern the impact of a collapsing bubble on an elastic plate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a pore-scale simulation of the capillary condensation of water in the cathode catalyst layer (CCL) of proton exchange membrane fuel cells by the lattice Boltzmann method. Based on the reconstructed CCL, the capillary condensation process in CCL is simulated under different humidity conditions, and the effects of porosity and especially wettability on the liquid water distribution in CCL are studied. The influence of liquid water on the void pore size distribution and pore connectivity in CCL is evaluated, and the results show that the hydrophilic CCL is more prone to be flooded. Subsequently, the effective transport coefficients of oxygen and proton in partially saturated CCL are investigated. The results reveal that the hydrophobic CCL is beneficial for reducing the gas transport tortuosity but simultaneously causes a higher Knudsen diffusion resistance. By comprehensively considering the changes in tortuosity and Knudsen resistance caused by liquid water, a more practical correlation of effective diffusivity for the partially saturated CCL is proposed. Moreover, this work proves the vital role of liquid water in the proton conduction in CCL. The simulated effective proton conductivity in CCL is more agree with the measurements if the contribution of liquid water to proton transport is considered. [Display omitted] • Capillary condensation in the CCL is simulated at the pore scale. • A correlation of effective diffusivity to porosity and saturation is proposed. • Liquid water significantly increases the effective proton conductivity in the CCL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an effective method to improve the load capacity of the oil-film bearing, a kind of nano-scale magnetic fluid (MF) by taking silicon oil as carrier fluid was prepared using the chemical coprecipitation method. The microstructure and magnetism of the magnetic particles (MPs) were analyzed based on SEM, VSM, and TGA. It is shown that the MPs are spherical particles with an average diameter of 20 nm, and the MPs behave superparamagnetism. A natural sedimentation control group was developed to investigate the sedimentation stability of the MF. The results indicated that the prepared MF presents good sedimentation stability. The viscosity of MF was measured from temperature and magnetic field by a single factor experiment, and the data was regressed according to the Herschel-Bulkley (H-B) model. According to the regression results, the effects of temperature and magnetic field intensity on the properties of MF were investigated. It is found that the yield stress τ0, viscosity coefficient K, and the shear thinning effect n of the MF were increased by 38–54%, 7–11%, and 6–9%, respectively, as the current increased from 0 to 2.0 A. The increase in temperature (from 20 to 80 ℃) reduces the yield stress and viscosity coefficient of MF by 3–6.85% and 1.13–1.36% and aggravates the shear thinning effect by 1.03–1.06%. Furthermore, the regression analysis of the H-B model parameters vs. temperature was carried out, and the equation of viscosity, η = f(T, γ), was obtained, which can be directly used to predict the lubrication state of MF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyroptosis is an inflammatory form of programmed cell death that is linked with invading intracellular pathogens. Cardiac pyroptosis has a significant role in coronary microembolization (CME), thus causing myocardial injury. Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) has powerful cardioprotective effects. Hence, this study aimed to identify the effect of Tan IIA on CME and its underlying mechanism. Forty Sprague--Dawley (SD) rats were randomly grouped into sham, CME, CME + low-dose Tan IIA, and CME + high-dose Tan IIA groups. Except for the sham group, polyethylene microspheres (42 µm) were injected to establish the CME model. The Tan-L and Tan-H groups received intraperitoneal Tan IIA for 7 days before CME. After CME, cardiac function, myocardial histopathology, and serum myocardial injury markers were assessed. The expression of pyroptosis-associated molecules and TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB/NLRP3 cascade was evaluated by qRT-PCR, Western blotting, ELISA, and IHC. Relative to the sham group, CME group's cardiac functions were significantly reduced, with a high level of serum myocardial injury markers, and microinfarct area. Also, the levels of caspase-1 p20, GSDMD-N, IL-18, IL-1β, TLR4, MyD88, p-NF-κB p65, NLRP3, and ASC expression were increased. Relative to the CME group, the Tan-H and Tan-L groups had considerably improved cardiac functions, with a considerably low level of serum myocardial injury markers and microinfarct area. Tan IIA can reduce the levels of pyroptosis-associated mRNA and protein, which may be caused by inhibiting TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB/NLRP3 cascade. In conclusion, Tanshinone IIA can suppress cardiomyocyte pyroptosis probably through modulating the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB/NLRP3 cascade, lowering cardiac dysfunction, and myocardial damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current omnidirectional circularly polarized (CP) antennas meet the difficulty of limited bandwidth and bulky configuration. An exact analytical far-field solution for a conventional tilted dipole array (TDA) has been proposed, where the origin of axial ratio (AR) bandwidth limitation has been investigated. Then, it has been shown that the AR bandwidth can be efficiently improved when a conventional straight dipole is folded into a multi-segment one, where the deviation of two perpendicular far-field components, $E_{\theta }$ and $E_{\phi }$ , can be reduced at both the lower and higher frequencies. The dipole was further modified to be of a parabolic shape, a continuous and optimized variation for the multisegment one, which brings about an even wider AR bandwidth. For a compatible wide impedance bandwidth, several impedance matching techniques like radiator tapering, parasitic loading, and feeding network design have been applied. Measured results show the proposed TDA has a 3 dB AR bandwidth (also the antenna usable bandwidth) of 65%, within which the desired omnidirectional radiation is well maintained. Compared with the performances of some recent omnidirectional CP antennas, our design has a much wider usable bandwidth, and is also superior in the compact size, simple structure, and ease of fabrication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Gas crossover significantly affects the cold start process of PEMFCs. • Gas crossover is more important at lower current densities. • The ice formation rate may increase by 54.5 % by gas crossover at 0.04 A cm−2. • Anode pressure affects the cold start process more significantly. • Water increases faster in thinner membranes by considering the gas crossover. This study develops a transient three-dimensional model to investigate the effect of reactant gas crossover through the membrane on the cold start process of PEM fuel cells. Key operating and structure parameters such as current density, anode/cathode inlet pressure, and membrane thickness are explored. The results reveal that gas crossover enhances ice formation rate and cell temperature rise due to additional hydrogen–oxygen side reactions, increasing both heat and water generations. The dominance of the ice formation rate over the temperature rise rate by gas crossover adds complexity to successful cold starts. Notably, the influence of gas crossover is more pronounced at a lower current density. As the operating current density increases from 0.04 A cm−2 to 0.12 A cm−2, the contribution of gas crossover to the temperature rise rate and ice formation rate decrease from 31.6 % to 11.3 % and from 54.5 % to 16.8 %, respectively. The increase of anode inlet pressure accelerates ice formation and temperature rise, whereas cathode inlet pressure has minimal effect. A thicker membrane mitigates gas crossover and is beneficial to cold start success, especially under a wet initial condition. This study emphasizes the significant role of gas crossover in the PEM fuel cell cold start process, highlighting the imperative consideration of gas crossover in both cold start models and strategy developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) is overexpressed in many cancer types. Herein, a CAIX targeting and binding-enhanced ruthenium-based photodegrader, Ru-dppz-CAi, is constructed by conjugating the photosensitizer with the inhibiting group via a rotatable moiety. The binding of Ru-dppz-CAi and CAIX leads to significant enhancement in the emission and photosensitizing properties. Ru-dppz-CAi can photodegrade CAIX both in vitro and in living cells, which significantly inhibits its catalytic activity. The protein photodegradation method may provide new strategies for the development of tools for protein functional studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) degradation by autophagy (ER-phagy) is a recently revealed selective autophagy pathway that plays important roles in organelle turnover and protein degradation, but the biological functions of ER-phagy are largely unknown. Here, we present an ER-targeting Re(I) tricarbonyl complex (Re-ERLAD) that can accumulate in the ER, induce ER-to-lysosome-associated degradation (ERLAD) upon visible light irradiation, and label ER buds and track their morphological alterations during ER-phagy. The emission of Re-ERLAD is sensitive to viscosity, which is a key parameter reflecting the amount of unfolded protein in the ER. Quantitative detection using two-photon fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy shows that ER viscosity initially increases and then decreases during ERLAD, which reveals that ERLAD is a pathway for alleviating ER stress caused by unfolded proteins. In conclusion, our work presents the first specific photoinducer and tracker of ERLAD, which can be used in studying the regulatory mechanism and function of this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding of the mechanism of supernovae explosions has become a critical question since the detailed observation of SN1987A neutrinos. The influence of strong electron screening (SES) on electron capture (EC) plays a key role in supernovae explosions. Based on the random phase approximation (RPA) theory, using the shell-model Monte Carlo (SMMC) method, we have investigated the influence of SES on EC of iron group nuclei by the linear response theory model (LRTM) and the plasma sphere theory model (PSTM). The main highlight is that we discuss the EC by considering the corrections of the Q-value, the electron chemical potential, electron energy, the Coulomb wave correction factor and nuclear binding energy by SES. The screening rates decrease by ∼ 19.99 % and ∼ 36.50 % by PSTM and LRTM, respectively. We compare our screening results by LRTM with those of Fuller et al. (1980, 1982, 1985), Aufderheide et al. (1994), Nabi & Klapdor-Kleingrothaus (1999) and Martinez-Pinedo et al. (2000). Our screening rates can be lower about by one, two, two orders of magnitude and 31.58% than those of Aufderheide et al. (1994); Fuller et al. (1982), Nabi & Klapdor-Kleingrothaus (1999) and Martinez-Pinedo et al. (2000), respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High electrical and thermal conductive metals (HETCM) play a key role in smart electronics, green energy, modern communications and healthcare, however, typical HETCM (e.g., Ag, Au, Cu) usually have relatively low mechanical strength, hindering further applications. Selective laser melting (SLM) is a potentially transformative manufacturing technology that is expected to address the issue. Ag is the metal with the highest thermal conductivity, which induces microscale grain refinement, but also leads to high internal stresses by SLM. Here, we select Ag7.5Cu alloy as an example to demonstrate that multi-scale (micro/meso/macro) synergies can take advantage of high thermal conductivity and internal stresses to effectively strengthen Ag alloy. The mimicry of metal-hardened structures (e.g., large-angle boundary) is extended to the mesoscale by controlling the laser energy density and laser scanning strategy to manipulate the macroscale internal stress intensity and mesoscale internal stress direction, respectively, to form mesoscale large-angle "grains", resulting in multiple mutual perpendicular shear bands during fracture. The presented approach achieved a significant enhancement of yield strength (+ 145%) and ductility (+ 28%) without post-treatment. The results not only break the strength-ductility trade-off of conventional SLM alloys, but also demonstrate a multi-scale synergistic enhancement strategy that exploits high thermal conductivity and internal stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A biomass-derived hydrogel solar evaporator is constructed by PVA, SLS and CNT. • Evaporator shows an evaporation rate of 2.09 kg m−2 h−1 under 1 Sun illumination. • Evaporator can precisely adjust the type of water and reduce the vapor enthalpy. • The remarkable antibacterial performance is realized by the addition of SLS. • It shows high performance in outdoor solar desalination to produce freshwater. Hydrogel has been regarded as one of the most promising candidates for next-generation solar evaporation technology to produce freshwater from non-potable water. However, synthesizing hydrogel absorbers that can precisely regulate water state and significantly reduce the water vaporization enthalpy remains a grand challenge. Herein, we report the rational design of a novel hydrogel hybrid solar evaporator constructed by poly(vinyl alcohol) and sodium lignosulfonate (SLS), with addition of carbon nanotube as a light absorption material. The abundant sulfonate and hydroxyl groups of SLS enhance the interplay between hydrogel and water molecule through electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bond. As such, the presence of SLS not only remarkably promotes the hydrophilicity and water transport of hydrogel, but also precisely tunes the state of water molecule and the content of intermediate water for reducing the water vaporization enthalpy. The combined advantageous features endow the as-prepared hydrogel with an evaporation rate up to 2.09 kg m−2 h−1 under 1 Sun illumination, along with good anti-acid/basic abilities, antibacterial property, high salt-tolerance, and self-cleaning capability in purifying different types of wastewater. Finally, an outdoor solar seawater desalination device is designed to generate drinking water from seawater. The daily drinking water production amount per square meter is ca. 13 kg, which satifies the five adults' daily water consumption (12.5 kg). The present study highlights that rationally constructing the molecular architecture of hydrogel and tuning the interplay between water and hydrogel are effective strategies to fabricate advanced hydrogel solar evaporators for addressing the global freshwater shortage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A hybrid model of Li-O 2 battery is developed with the morphological evolution of the cathode pore structure. • Mechanisms of discharge failure under different conditions are revealed. • Evolution of the cathode pore structure morphology needs to be considered for the cathode made of small-sized CNP or CNT. A comprehensive model for lithium-oxygen (Li-O 2) batteries is proposed and the discharge performance across varying cathode thickness, porosity, and pore structural evolution modes is thoroughly investigated. The results reveal that the cathode surface passivation restricts the discharge capacity but promotes the uniform distribution of lithium peroxide (Li 2 O 2), especially near the O 2 side. The electrode thickness of 255 μm serves as the boundary point between the two limiting mechanisms, with thicker electrodes primarily governed by O 2 diffusion and thinner ones by surface passivation. In addition, a novel hybrid model is proposed with the morphological change of the cathode pore structure, which can predict the discharge performance made of different carbon materials, proving its superiority over the commonly used Single model. The maximum discharge capacities of carbon nanoparticle (CNP)- and carbon nanotube (CNT)-based cathodes are obtained at the radius of CNP and CNT of 30 nm and 20 nm, respectively. The superiority of discharge performance of the CNP-based cathode over the CNT-based cathodes becomes more pronounced as the carbon material radius increases. The evolution of the cathode pore structure morphology needs to be considered for the cathode made of small-sized CNP or CNT, such as r CNP = 10 nm and r CNT = 20 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the transport mechanism in catalyst layer (CL) agglomerates is crucial to enhance Pt utilization and overall fuel cell performance. In this study, high-resolution porous agglomerates are stochastically reconstructed, and capillary condensation of water in agglomerates is directly simulated using a lattice Boltzmann pseudopotential model. On this basis, a pore-scale electrochemical model is developed to investigate the effects of agglomerate structure and operating humidity on local transport resistance and agglomerate effectiveness at different Pt loadings. The results reveal that liquid water formed above 70%RH improves the electrochemical surface area (ECSA) of agglomerates with low ionomer content. An optimum I/C of 0.4 in agglomerates is determined by balancing the activated ECSA and oxygen transport resistance. Through the comparison of local transport resistance with limiting current data, an additional oxygen dissolution resistance of 60–350 s m−1 at the pore/ionomer or ionomer/Pt interface is quantified. The lowest local transport resistance of the agglomerate is achieved at about 70%RH, while condensed water at higher humidities hampers oxygen diffusion within the agglomerate, leading to reduced Pt utilization. Agglomerate size significantly affects the local transport resistance only when excessive ionomer or liquid water severely blocks primary pores. Finally, a novel multiscale coupling strategy integrating the porous agglomerate sub-model with a continuous-scale CL model is proposed, offering innovative insights into comprehending the relationship between CL structure and the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. • High-resolution porous structures of the agglomerate are reconstructed. • Quantify the interfacial dissolute resistance and permeability reduction of ionomer. • Condensed water formed above 70%RH degrades the oxygen diffusion process. • Agglomerate size affects the transport resistance when primary pores are blocked. • A multiscale coupling strategy for the pore-scale agglomerate model is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of strong electron screening (SES) on electron capture (EC) plays a key role in supernovae explosions. We investigate the influence of SES on EC of iron group nuclei by the linear response theory model (LRTM) and the plasma sphere theory model (PSTM). The corrections of the Q-value, the electron chemical potential, electron energy, the Coulomb wave correction factor, and nuclear blinding energy by SES are considered. The screening rates even decrease by ∼ 8 1. 8 9 % and ∼ 7 8. 3 2 % by PSTM and LRTM, respectively. We compare our screening results with those of Fuller et al. (FFN), Aufderheide et al. (AUFD), Nabi et al. (NKK), and Martinez-Pinedo et al. (MLD). Our screening rates can be lowered about by 1 ∼ 2 , 2, and 1 orders of magnitude than those of AUFD (FFN), NKK, and MLD, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing demand of wearable device and the irreplaceable roles in stealth technique have boosted the exploration of high-performance flexible microwave absorbers. Herein, a novel flexible honeycomb structural absorber (FHSA) of carbon fiber (CF)/polyamide (PA)/carbonyl iron (CIP) composite was successfully fabricated via selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D-printing. The CFs arrangement and unit-structure were rationally controlled during the SLS 3D printing process for acquiring enhanced microwave absorption (MA) property, especially for the high bending angles. Therefore, under the high bending angle of 150°, the minimum reflection loss of the designed FHSA can reach −47 dB at 16.2 GHz with a broadband absorption of 13.2 GHz, covering the whole C 2 , X, and Ku bands, which breaks the traditional restraints that the flexible absorbers can only have the high MA property in tiling or minor bending status. In addition, the FHSA also showed the advantages of highly flexible deformation, self-recovery and no-crease damage in repeated bending, which could largely improve the environment applicability. This work provides a controllable strategy for the design of flexible microwave absorber, showing potential applications in wearable functional devices and military stealth protection. [Display omitted] • Carbon fiber (CF)/polyamide (PA)-based flexible absorber is prepared by 3D printing. • CF/PA-based flexible microwave absorber can improve environment applicability. • Enhanced microwave absorption property is achieved by controlling CFs arrangement. • Under the bending angle of 150°, the broad effective bandwidth can reach 13.2 GHz. • Multimaterials, structures and fabrication method achieve effective collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flow and freezing process of liquid water in the gas diffusion layer (GDL) is studied using a proposed lattice Boltzmann method that integrates the multi-component pseudo-potential model and the enthalpy-based method. The evolution of liquid water, ice, and temperature distributions inside the GDL during this process is specifically analyzed, and the effect of GDL porous structure, such as porosity and carbon fiber diameter, is discussed. Results indicate that liquid water exhibits a propensity to break through the GDL through the regions characterized by larger pores, subsequently forming a liquid droplet on the GDL surface and beginning to freeze. The freezing process extends from the droplets to the CL side through the liquid pathways within the GDL. In addition, liquid water is more prone to freezing around carbon fibers. Due to the released latent heat during freezing, the temperature at the liquid water/ice interface stabilizes at 273 K. Moreover, it is also demonstrated that a large porosity and coarse carbon fibers both facilitate the flow of liquid water into the GDL where it then freezes, leading to more serious blockage of pores by ice and liquid water. • A lattice Boltzmann model for three-phase flow and phase transition is proposed. • The dynamic process of liquid water flow and freezing in the GDL is simulated. • Large porosity and coarse carbon fiber facilitate the flow of liquid water into GDL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use the electrochemical deposition method to couple anodized MoO3 films with MoS2 and g-C3N4 (graphitic carbon nitride). The XRD, SEM, and XPS results show that MoS2/MoO3 and g-C3N4/MoO3 heterojunctions form. The coupling with MoS2 or g-C3N4 remarkably enhances the UV and visible light absorption and slightly increases the bandgap of the MoO3 film. Meanwhile, the loading amounts of MoS2 and g-C3N4 have little impact on their optical properties. The coupling with MoS2 or g-C3N4 facilitates the separation and transfer of the photogenerated charges in the MoO3 films. The photocatalytic activity of the MoO3 films is increased by 2.74 and 3.11 times by coupling with MoS2 and g-C3N4, respectively. The photocatalytic activity improvement should ascribe to the Z-scheme systems' formation. In the Z-scheme systems, photogenerated holes in the valence bands of MoS2 and g-C3N4 would combine with photogenerated electrons in the conduction band of MoO3. The separation of photogenerated electrons in the conduction bands of MoS2 and g-C3N4 and photoexcited holes in the valence band of MoO3 is achieved spatially. The slight performance difference of MoS2/MoO3 and g-C3N4/MoO3 composite films should attribute to the oxidizing ability difference of the photogenerated electrons in the conduction bands of MoS2 and g-C3N4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a non-aqueous Li-air battery model that considers the side reactions of lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) formation from both electrolyte decomposition and carbon dioxide (CO2) in the ambient air. The deposition and decomposition behaviors of discharge products, the voltage, and capacity evolutions during the cycling operation of the Li-air batteries are investigated. The deposition behavior analysis implies that the Li2CO3 generated by electrolyte decomposition is mainly distributed near the separator side, while it is dominantly generated by Li-O2/CO2 reaction near the air side. The formation of Li2CO3 by side reactions makes the Li-air batteries exhibit a peak discharge deposition inside the cathode. Moreover, Li2CO3 is difficult to decompose and gradually accumulates with cycles, especially near the air side. The severe accumulation of Li2CO3 near the air side significantly reduces the O2 diffusion into the electrode, which induces severe cycling performance decay of the Li-air batteries. According to the distribution and evolution of the deposition, three simple hierarchical cathode structures with high porosities near the air side are finally studied. The simulation results indicate that the increase of the local porosity near the air side substantially improves the cycling performance of the Li-air batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rupture of the rotator cuff is a common injury of the shoulder joint in sports professionals. In addition, research on repair of the rotator cuff has gained popularity over the recent years. Given the high rate of re-tear after surgery, it is necessary to design and prepare biodegradable materials with good mechanical properties, for the management of the condition. Consequently, the present study conducted surface modification of the simvastatin factor-loaded silk fibroin for the repair of chronic rotator cuff injury in SD rats. The in vitro experiments were analyzed through scanning electron microscopy and the water contact angle. Additionally, the CCK-8 assay was used to observe the effect of the intervention on the proliferation of BMSCs. Moreover, the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs was detected through the ALP and ARS assays while the expression of osteogenic genes was examined using qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Furthermore, a model for repairing chronic rotator cuff tears in SD rats was established in vivo. Thereafter, rotator cuff repair and healing were evaluated through HE staining while Masson and Sirius staining was used to detect the collagen formation ratio. Additionally, the study analyzed the mechanism underlying the effect of simvastatin-loaded silk fibroin. The results showed that the simvastatin-loaded silk fibroin membrane had better biocompatibility and the in vitro experiments confirmed that it could promote the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. In addition, the in vivo HE staining experiments similarly confirmed that it could enhance tendon bone healing and alleviate inflammation in chronic rotator cuff injuries. On the other hand, Masson and Sirius staining showed that the simvastatin-loaded silk fibroin could promote the formation of collagen. Further analysis also revealed that it could promote the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs by activating the β-catenin signaling pathway. In general, these findings suggested that surface modification of the simvastatin factor-loaded silk fibroin was a potential means of improving the healing of rotator cuff injuries and can be implemented in clinical practice in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a dilemma for omnidirectional antennas between a narrow beam on the elevation plane and a low-profile antenna configuration. In this communication, an annular loading of parasitic elements mechanism is proposed to circumvent the difficulty. A study for the proposed analytical model shows that the radiation from the parasitic elements can sufficiently cancel the original one in unwanted directions and thus reduce the beamwidth sufficiently. This array-based mechanism is validated for an omnidirectional circular patch antenna. With a proper design of the coplanar parasitic elements, a beamwidth reduction of 50° for the maximum radiation toward the ground plane and 73° for the maximum radiation toward the direction of 45° above the ground plane has been achieved, respectively. Both antennas have a simple configuration, and the total antenna thicknesses are only 0.06 and 0.01 guide wavelength, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Since methylotrophic yeasts such as Ogataea methanolica can use methanol as a sole carbon feedstock, they could be applied to produce valuable products from methanol, a next‐generation energy source synthesized from natural gases, using genetic engineering tools. In this study, metabolite profiling of O. methanolica was conducted under glucose (Glc) and low and high methanol (L‐ and H‐MeOH) conditions to show the adaptation mechanism to a H‐MeOH environment. The yeast strain responded not only to the presence of methanol but also to its concentration based on the growth condition. Under H‐MeOH conditions, O. methanolica downregulated the methanol utilization, glycolytic pathway and alcohol oxidase (AOD) isozymes and dihydroxyacetone synthase (DAS) expression compared with L‐MeOH‐grown cells. However, levels of energy carriers, such as ATP, were maintained to support cell survival. In H‐MeOH‐grown cells, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were significantly elevated. Along with increasing ROS levels, ROS scavenging system expression was significantly increased in H‐MeOH‐grown cells. Thus, we concluded that formaldehyde and H2O2, which are products of methanol oxidation by AOD isozymes in the peroxisome, are overproduced in H‐MeOH‐grown cells, and excessive ROS derived from these cells is generated in the cytosol, resulting in upregulation of the antioxidant system and downregulation of the methanol‐utilizing pathway to suppress overproduction of toxic intermediates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A flexible TiO 2 nanograss array film on Ti wire mesh was prepared by a mild chemical reaction. To overcome its shortcoming of almost no absorption of visible light, successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) was executed to decorate the prepared TiO 2 film with BiOI. The results of XRD and SEM measurements showed that BiOI nanoflakes formed on the surface of TiO 2 film, and the loading amounts of BiOI nanoflakes increased with the increase in SILAR cycles. The XPS results confirmed the heterojunction formation of BiOI-TiO 2. The photocurrent measurement suggests that a moderate loading amount of BiOI nanoflakes is beneficial to improve the charge separation efficiency, which is ascribed to the heterojunction formation of BiOI-TiO 2. The BiOI-decorated TiO 2 film with SILAR cycles of seven showed the most excellent visible-light photocatalytic activity among all the samples. Compared with the bareTiO 2 nanograss array film, its visible-light photocatalytic activity increased by 11.7 times. The flexible BiOI-decorated TiO 2 nanograss array film with high photocatalytic activity shows great applications in air pollution and the pollution caused by offshore oil spills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coupling evolutions of stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) and Raman rescattering (re-SRS) are investigated under the parameter conditions of relevance to the gas-filled hohlraum experiments at the National Ignition Facility by using the nonenveloped fluid code FLAME. It is found that re-SRS works as a frequency filter of the backscattered light of SRS in the gas region. The low frequency modes of scattered light originated from a higher density region would stimulate re-SRS and be heavily depleted by re-SRS near the region of their quarter critical density. The energy in daughter waves of re-SRS is deposited in the gas plasmas. The large amplitude of the daughter Langmuir wave of re-SRS would stimulate cascade Langmuir decay instabilities and induce obvious low frequency density modulations, which can further result in the inflation of high frequency modes of scattered light of SRS at densities lower than the growth region of re-SRS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rutile TiO2 forms on TiC coatings (TiO2/TiC coatings) during carbon-embedding heat treatment (cHT) for TiC coatings. The photocatalytic activity of TiO2/TiC coatings has been significantly enhanced, especially under visible light. The influence of cHT temperature for TiC and Ti coatings on surface morphology, formed compounds, and photocatalytic activity has also been investigated. In general, rutile TiO2 forms on TiC coatings, whereas TiCxOy forms on Ti coatings. By raising the cHT temperature for TiC coatings, the surface morphology of TiO2/TiC coatings with a pore-like structure significantly changes from nano-size to micro-size, inevitably resulting in the reduction of the accessible surface area. However, the influence of cHT temperature on the Ti coatings is insignificant, demonstrating a smooth surface morphology. Notably, owing to the increased accessible surface area and formed heterojunction of TiO2/TiC, the photocatalytic activity of TiO2/TiC coatings has been significantly enhanced approximately 6 times especially under visible light, compared with that of TiCxOy/Ti coatings. Furthermore, when the cHT temperature has been raised, the photocatalytic activity of TiO2/TiC coatings initially increases and then decreases, achieving their most satisfaction at 1073 K, which is attributed to the narrowed band gap of TiO2 owing to the shifted O 1s spectra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fluorine-doped In 2 O 3 film was prepared for the first time. • The doping decreased the bandgap and recombination of photogenerated carriers. • The doping promoted the formation of a porous morphology, enhancing dye adsorption. • The doping increased the photocatalytic activity of the In 2 O 3 film by 7.6 times. We prepared In 2 O 3 film on the wire mesh of stainless steel by a facile hydrothermal method followed by annealing. To enhance the visible-light-responsive photocatalytic activity of the prepared In 2 O 3 film, we in-situ doped the element fluorine by adding FTO glass as the fluorine source during the hydrothermal process. The prepared In 2 O 3 and F-doped In 2 O 3 films were characterized by XRD, SEM, HRTEM, XPS, UV–vis spectra, PL, and electrochemical measurement. The results show that In 2 O 3 octagonal pyramids of cubic phase were formed. The fluorine doping promoted to growth of In 2 O 3 pyramids and porous In 2 O 3 pyramids help to adsorb RhB dye molecules. Beside, the fluorine doping introduced a new impurity level between the VB and CB of In 2 O 3 , thereby, decreasing the bandgap value from 2.84 to 2.60 eV. As a result, it extended the visible light absorption range and more photoinduced electrons and holes can be excited under simulated sunlight. Moreover, the doping inhibited the recombination of photogenerated carriers. It is worth noting that the fluorine doping changed the surface state of In 2 O 3 and enhanced the chemical adsorption of dissociated oxygen species. It finally made RhB dye molecules strongly adsorbed the surface of F-doped In 2 O 3 film. The photocatalytic activity of the F-doped In 2 O 3 film was increased by 7.6 times compared with the pristine In 2 O 3 film because of the combined action of the above reasons. The importance of active groups for RhB photodegradation is O 2 • − > h+ > e− > • OH. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A seamless all-carbon graphdiyne layer on CoNi 2 S 4 yolk-shell spheres (CoNi 2 S 4 /GDY YSSs) provides a unique structure of a flawless "donor–bridge–acceptor" interface, where Ni atoms and Co atoms serve as electron donors and acceptors, respectively, connected by the sp-C–Ni and sp-C–Co bonds as bridges. [Display omitted] • A unique structure of a flawless "donor–bridge–acceptor" interface. • The seamless all-carbon graphdiyne layer greatly enhances the structural and interfacial stabilities. • The interface can facilitate effective electron transfer from the Ni atoms to the Co atoms. The intrinsic electrochemical activity and active sites of the battery-like electrode in supercapacitors originate from efficient charge transfer at the interface. A seamless all-carbon graphdiyne layer on CoNi 2 S 4 yolk-shell spheres (CoNi 2 S 4 /GDY YSSs) provides a unique structure of a flawless "donor–bridge–acceptor" interface, where Ni atoms and Co atoms serve as electron donors and acceptors, respectively, connected by the sp-C–Ni and sp-C–Co bonds as bridges. Importantly, this particular can facilitate effective electron transfer from the Ni atoms to the Co atoms, resulting in more interfacial Co2+ active sites and reversible redox coupling of Co-S/Co-S-OH and Co-S-OH/Co-S-O to increase the specific capacitance. Additionally, the seamless all-carbon graphdiyne layer greatly enhances the structural and interfacial stability of CoNi 2 S 4 yolk-shell spheres, effectively avoiding structural deterioration to enhance cycling stability performance. Profiting from its structural merits, the CoNi 2 S 4 /GDY YSSs electrode delivers a considerable capacitance of 856C/g at 1 A/g, along with exceptional rate capability (61.9 % for 50-fold current density increase). Furthermore, an asymmetric supercapacitor with the CoNi 2 S 4 /GDY YSSs electrode cathode achieves a remarkable maximum energy density of 91.7 Wh/kg at a power density of 793 W/kg. Furthermore, the strategy proposed in this study has the potential to open up new pathways for the battery-like electrode design with realistic supercapacitor applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An in-depth understanding of the structure-performance relationship of the catalyst layer is crucial for its optimal design. In this work, the effects of carbon aggregation and ionomer distribution morphologies on the performance of the catalyst layer are investigated by pore-scale simulation. First, an optimized stochastic algorithm that can control the carbon aggregation degree and ionomer morphology is proposed to reconstruct realistic catalyst layer structures. The structural characteristics of the catalyst layer, such as pore size distribution, agglomerate size, and ionomer connectivity, are analyzed. A pore-scale model based on the lattice Boltzmann method is developed to simulate the reactive transport processes in the catalyst layer. The results indicate that the reasonable aggregation degree of carbon supports can balance the pore and cross-ionomer transport resistances of the oxygen to achieve optimal catalyst layer performance. The uniform ionomer coating in the catalyst layer can further improve the performance, and the optimal ionomer content is determined by balancing the electrochemical active surface area and the oxygen transport resistance. Based on the simulation results, a key principle for the optimal design of the catalyst layer is also proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 1D transient model was proposed to investigate the effects of the current density operating modes on the cold-start process of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. The temperature evolution of the cell is solved by considering the reversible heat, reaction heat, Joule heat, and phase change heat. Four current density operating modes were studied based on this model: constant mode, gradually increasing mode, stepwise increasing mode, and zigzag mode. The results show that there is a threshold for the initial current density that influences the relationship between the successful cold start and current density. The cell can successfully start at a lower operating temperature by increasing the initial current density when the initial current density is below this threshold value. However, the lowest temperature for successful cold start increases if the initial current density exceeds the threshold value. Finally, a chart was plotted to indicate the regions of successful and failed self-start processes at different operating temperatures for the studied current density operating modes, respectively. The chart suggests that the cells with gradually and stepwise increasing current density modes have nearly equivalent cold-start performance, and are both better than the constant and zigzag modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the wetting states and wetting transition of droplets on the microstructured surfaces are investigated using the multiphase lattice Boltzmann method. The Cassie-Baxter (Cassie) and Wenzel wetting states on the rough surfaces are captured through the simulations, and the stability of Cassie state and the wetting transition are then studied and discussed by simulating the evaporation of droplets on several specified microstructured surfaces. The simulated apparent contact angles of the droplet on various rough surfaces fit the theoretical predictions very well. The results also present the coexistence of the Wenzel and Cassie states when the substrate is moderately hydrophobic with its Young's angle smaller than the critical angle. In addition, the "De-pinning" wetting transition from Cassie to Wenzel state is observed for the moderately hydrophobic substrate once the droplet reduces to its critical radius, while the stable Cassie state is obtained when the substrate's Young's angle larger than the critical angle. The simulated critical radii for wetting transition are in quantitative agreements with the analytical values for different surface geometries and Young's angles. This work provides mesoscopic information necessary for understanding the wetting phenomena on microstructured rough surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A number of five GIS-based indices, such as stream slope (Ss), surface roughness (Sr), asymmetric factor (Af), hypsometry integral (Hi), and stream-length gradient (SL), were summarised to examine the intensity of the index of tectonic activity (IAT) in 43 subbasins of Hingol Basin at the northern edge of the triple junction in southwest Pakistan. In addition, tectonic influences were identified by knickpoints spatial distribution and field surveys. The majority of the indices are consistent and display roughly the same classifications. The uncertain results have a less substantial impact on the obtained results in most of the 43 subbasins. Using these indices, the relative active tectonic index value (IAT) was calculated, revealing that tectonic activity is high along the north of the Awaran Fault and between the Nai Rud and Ornach-Nal faults, while other regions show moderate to low tectonic activity. Additionally, the knickpoint examinations showed higher tectonic intensity throughout the basin. The findings revealed a good relationship between the field surveys, past seismic analysis, and calculated geomorphic parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the purpose of enhancing the photocatalytic activity of titania (TiO2) coatings with low cost, a method of sulfuric-acid-bath pretreatment followed by simple oxidation in air has been proposed to fabricate TiO2 coatings. The effect of oxidation temperature on the crystal structure, surface morphologies and photocatalytic activity of TiO2 coatings was investigated, to figure out the suitable oxidation temperature. XRD and Raman's results show that the phase transformation of TiO2 starts at 773 K. The surface morphologies of TiO2 coatings clearly show the porous-like structure at lower than 873 K. With raising the temperature, the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 coatings firstly increases, then decreases, and reaches the highest at relatively low oxidation temperature of 773 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two D–A type Zn(II) coordination complexes ([Zn2(L1)2(MeCN)(MeOH)]·(MeCN) (1) and [ZnL2(H2O)] (2)) were synthesized from diaminomaleonitrile-based (DMN) Schiff-base ligands (L1 = 2-amino-3-[(2-hydroxynaphthalen-1-ylmethylene)-amino]-but-2-enedinitrile, L2 = 2-[(4-chloro-2-hydroxybenzylidene)-amino]-3-[(2-hydroxynaphthalen-1-ylmethylene)-amino]-but-2-enedinitrile). Based on the weak blue fluorescence in THF solution and the bright yellow fluorescence in the solid state, the ligand L1 shows obvious aggregation induced emission (AIE) in a THF–H2O solvent system. The fluorescence emission of complexes 1 and 2 exhibits a significant red-shift relative to that of the ligand in THF solution. Interestingly, because of aggregation caused by the interaction between L1 and iodide (I−), complexes 1 and 2 exhibit excellent selectivity for fluorescence detecting iodide, and the quenching efficiency of 2 with iodide is higher than that of 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The study aims to explore the composition and microstructure of clay functionally graded materials under the process of double-gradient direct ink writing (DIW). Design/methodology/approach: The investigation focused specifically on the pore characteristics of barite-kaolin clay composite after three-dimensional (3D) printing and sintering as well as its bionic application in geophysical model. Findings: The model with pore and material variations brought about spatial and nonlinear mechanical properties. Moreover, the vertical gradient and connected pores in the upper kaolin part simulated the natural phenomenon of the landslide model (take Chinese Majiagou landslides as an example). Both the thermal debinding behavior and the kaolin powder particles characteristics [large pore volume (0.019 cm3g–1) and pore size (29.20 nm)] were attributed to the interconnection channels. Originality/value: Hence, the macroscopic and microscopic pores achieved by dual-gradient DIW process make it possible to control the permeability and details of properties, precisely in the geological model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Base oils containing different nanoparticles with varying concentrations are prepared, in which SiO2, TiO2 and ZnO (20 nm) nanoparticles are employed to improve the lubrication performance. Their tribological properties are evaluated on a ball-on-disk tribometer. The results show that the nano-additive lubricants exhibit a good friction reduction and anti-wear ability at the optimal concentration of 1.0 wt.%, in which SiO2 nanoparticles can reduce the coefficient of friction (COF) and the area of wear scar (AWS) by 45.6% and 35%, respectively. The SiO2 nanoparticles exhibit the best potential additive tested. The lubrication mechanisms of the nanoparticles can be attributed to the rolling, mending and the protective films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]