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Some core designs integrate high-enriched fuel and moderator materials to enhance neutron utilization. This combination results in a broad spectrum within the system, posing challenges in resonance calculation. This paper introduces a general framework to realize resonance self-shielding treatment in broad-spectrum fuel lattice problems. The framework consists of three components. First, a new energy group structure is devised to support resonance calculation in the entire energy range and capture spectral transition and thermalization effects during eigenvalue calculation. Second, the subgroup method based on narrow approximation is selected as a universal method to perform resonance calculation. Finally, transport equations for each fissionable region are solved for neutron flux to collapse the fission spectrum. The proposed method is verified against fast, intermediate, and thermal spectrum pin cell problems and an assembly problem featuring a fast-thermal coupled spectrum. Numerical results affirm the accuracy of the proposed method in handling these scenarios, with eigenvalue errors below 154 pcm for pin cell problems and 106 pcm for the assembly problem. The verification results revealed that the proposed method enables accurate resonance self-shielding treatment for broad-spectrum problems.

Photosynthetic bacteria (PSB) has shown significant potential as a drug or drug delivery system owing to their photothermal capabilities and antioxidant properties. Nevertheless, the actualization of their potential is impeded by inherent constraints, including their considerable size, heightened immunogenicity and compromised biosafety. Conquering these obstacles and pursuing more effective solutions remains a top priority. Similar to extracellular vesicles, bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) have demonstrated a great potential in biomedical applications. OMVs from PSB encapsulate a rich array of bioactive constituents, including proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids inherited from their parent cells. Consequently, they emerge as a promising and practical alternative. Unfortunately, OMVs have suffered from low yield and inconsistent particle sizes. In response, bacteria-derived nanovesicles (BNVs), created through controlled extrusion, adeptly overcome the challenges associated with OMVs. However, the differences, both in composition and subsequent biological effects, between OMVs and BNVs remain enigmatic. In a groundbreaking endeavor, our study meticulously cultivates PSB-derived OMVs and BNVs, dissecting their nuances. Despite minimal differences in morphology and size between PSB-derived OMVs and BNVs, the latter contains a higher concentration of active ingredients and metabolites. Particularly noteworthy is the elevated levels of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) found in BNVs, known for its ability to enhance cell proliferation and initiate downstream signaling pathways that promote angiogenesis and epithelialization. Importantly, our results indicate that BNVs can accelerate wound closure more effectively by orchestrating a harmonious balance of cell proliferation and migration within NIH-3T3 cells, while also activating the EGFR/AKT/PI3K pathway. In contrast, OMVs have a pronounced aptitude in anti-cancer efforts, driving macrophages toward the M1 phenotype and promoting the release of inflammatory cytokines. Thus, our findings not only provide a promising methodological framework but also establish a definitive criterion for discerning the optimal application of OMVs and BNVs in addressing a wide range of medical conditions.

Summary: Drug nanocrystals have received significant attention in drug development due to their enhanced dissolution rate and improved water solubility, making them effective in overcoming issues related to drug hydrophobicity, thereby improving drug bioavailability and treatment effectiveness. Recent advances in preparation techniques have facilitated research on drug surface properties, leading to valuable surface engineering strategies. Surface modification can stabilize drug nanocrystals, making them suitable for versatile drug delivery platforms. Functionalized ligands further enhance the potential for targeted delivery, enabling precision medicine. This review focuses on the surface engineering of drug nanocrystals, discussing various preparation methods, surface ligand design strategies, and their applications in targeted drug delivery, especially for cancer treatments. Finally, challenges and future directions are also discussed to promote the development of drug nanocrystals. The surface engineering of drug nanocrystals promises new opportunities for treating complex and chronic diseases while broadening the application of drug delivery systems.

Abstract In situ precise detection of bioactive molecules with high sensitivity and spatiotemporal resolution is essential for studying physiological events and disease diagnosis. The utilization of versatile fluorescent probes in fluorescence imaging offers a powerful tool for in vivo imaging of biomarkers closely associated with pathological conditions. However, the dynamic behavior leading to rapid clearance of small molecule probes from regions of interest severely compromises their potential for precise imaging. Notably, self‐immobilizing fluorescent probes that selectively recognize diseased tissues while improving in situ retention and enrichment enable accurate high‐fidelity fluorescence imaging. In this review, we aim to summarize the strategies employed for recent advances in the performance and precision of in vivo fluorescence imaging using self‐immobilizing techniques. Lastly, we discuss the prospects and potential challenges associated with self‐immobilizing fluorescent probes to promote further development and application of more delicate fluorescent probes.

Guizhou Province has many multi-layer, thin-thick coal seams; however, complex geology, incomplete reservoir characterization, and sweet-spot selection technology prevent large-scale coalbed methane (CBM) development. This study evaluates the CBM reservoir properties within the Dahebian block using logging data, coal sample analysis, and well-testing data and develops a 3D static reservoir properties model to analyze their spatial and vertical propagation. A sweet spot evaluation model was established using a multi-level fuzzy method based on 9 parameters extracted from a 3D static reservoir properties model. The coal measure has 22 coal seams, and seams >2 m thick have 2 or 3 thin non-coal layers intercalated. Coal seams 1#, 7#, and 11# are thin to thick, deeply buried, widely distributed, and have high gas content and saturation. Undeformed and cataclastic coal predominates the coal seam 1# and 7#, whereas coal seam 11# is dominated by cataclastic and granulated coal. The southern and central parts of coal seam 7# and 11# have less tectonically deformed coal (TDC). Coal seams 1# and 7# have low permeability relative to seam 11# and are localized, while coal seams 11# have high permeability, are extensively distributed, and contain substantial gas concentrations. Comparative analysis of evaluation scores and CBM production statistics shows that high scores indicate sweet spots for CBM development. Sweet-spot potential was classified as high, medium, and low. Scattered sweet spots are found in single layers, while combined development (1# + 7#+11#) reveals a wider high-potential area in the south-central region. This area, featuring deep, thick coal seams, high permeability, gas saturation, reservoir pressure, and low TDC proportion, indicates significant development potential. This study validates CBM development statistics, identifies future development areas, and guides the development of geologically complex Guizhou CBM.

Coalbed methane represents an important kind of natural gas resource in many countries. However, the low-concentration property of coalbed methane limits its applications. To gain insight into the combustion kinetics of coalbed methane and facilitate its combustion utilization, this work reports an experimental and kinetic simulation study on the autoignition properties of methane at ultra-lean and lean conditions. A shock-tube (ST) facility is used for ignition delay time (IDT) measurements with equivalence ratios at 0.5, 0.1, and 0.05 with pressure at 2 and 10 bar under the temperature ranging from 1320 to 1850 K. The measured IDTs can be correlated into a general Arrhenius expression, and the equivalence ratio effect on IDTs is then analyzed. Seven detailed chemical kinetic mechanisms are employed to predict the IDTs and statistical error indicators are used to evaluate their performance. Detailed kinetic analysis via sensitivity and reaction path analysis is performed to uncover the kinetic differences among the seven mechanisms. It is shown that some of the reaction paths only exist in the NUIGMech1.3 mechanism, while the other detailed mechanisms do not consider them. Reaction path analysis indicates that the reactions related to O2, OH and O species become more important compared to the reactions involving CH3 and H radicals as the equivalence ratio decreases from lean to ultra-lean conditions. Detailed chemical kinetics analysis is also conducted to demonstrate the uncertainty of key reactions. The present work should be valuable to gain insight into the methane ignition characteristics and to facilitate kinetic mechanism optimization of methane combustion.

We propose a broadband noise test method (10 Hz–1 MHz) using a direct power method to measure the excess noise of InGaAs/InP avalanche photodiodes (APDs) with a separate absorption, grading, charge, and multiplication structure. By this means, the impact ionization coefficient ratio (the k value) can be accurately determined. Compared with previous studies, this method can distinguish between low-frequency noise and excess noise, so for an appropriate high frequency spectral range, the excess noise can be analyzed without mixing in other noise information. Three different APDs fabricated in-house with different diameters (12, 25, and 60 µm) were investigated using the above-mentioned method under temperatures varying from −10 to −40 °C. Our findings showed that the k value of the APDs decreased as the temperature decreased. When the temperature decreased to −40 °C, the k value of the 12, 25, and 60 µm diameter diodes was as low as 0.1, 0.3, and 0.2, respectively. The measurement results are consistent with our device design and not only provide useful information for the future selection of device materials and structures but also demonstrate the feasibility of the broadband noise measurement method in the accurate determination of the k value. It indicates that low excess noise can be achieved by utilizing the temperature dependence of k.

Summary: Nucleic acid therapeutics offer tremendous promise for addressing a wide range of common public health conditions. However, the in vivo nucleic acids delivery faces significant biological challenges. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) possess several advantages, such as simple preparation, high stability, efficient cellular uptake, endosome escape capabilities, etc., making them suitable for delivery vectors. However, the extensive hepatic accumulation of LNPs poses a challenge for successful development of LNPs-based nucleic acid therapeutics for extrahepatic diseases. To overcome this hurdle, researchers have been focusing on modifying the surface properties of LNPs to achieve precise delivery. The review aims to provide current insights into strategies for LNPs-based organ-selective nucleic acid delivery. In addition, it delves into the general design principles, targeting mechanisms, and clinical development of organ-selective LNPs. In conclusion, this review provides a comprehensive overview to provide guidance and valuable insights for further research and development of organ-selective nucleic acid delivery systems.

Laser metal deposition (LMD) is a technology for the production of near-net-shape components. It is necessary to control the manufacturing process to obtain good geometrical accuracy and metallurgical properties. In the present study, a closed-loop control method of melt pool temperature for the deposition of small Ti6Al4V blocks in open environment was proposed. Based on the developed melt pool temperature sensor and deposition height sensor, a closed-loop control system and proportional-integral (PI) controller were developed and tested. The results show that with a PI temperature controller, the melt pool temperature tends to the desired value and remains stable. Compared to the deposition block without the controller, a flatter surface and no oxidation phenomenon are obtained with the controller.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) is an important pathway for China to achieve its “2060 carbon neutrality” strategy. Geological sequestration of CO2 in deep coals is one of the methods of CCUS. Here, the No. 3 anthracite in the Qinshui Basin was studied using the superposition of each CO2 geological storage category to construct models for theoretical CO2 geological storage capacity (TCGSC) assessment, and CO2 adsorption capacity variation with depth. CO2 geological storage potential of No. 3 anthracite coal was assessed by integrating the adsorption capacity with the static storage and dissolution capacities. The results show that (1) CO2 adsorption capacities of XJ and SH coals initially increased with depth, peaked at 47.7 cm3/g and 41.5 cm3/g around 1000 m, and later decreased with depth. (2) four assessment areas and their geological model parameters were established based on CO2 phase variation and spatial distribution of coal thickness, (3) the abundance of CO2 geological storage capacity (ACGSC), which averages 40 cm3/g, shows an analogous circularity-sharp distribution, with the high abundance area influenced by depth and coal rank, and (4) the TCGSC and the effective CO2 geological storage capacity (ECGSC) are 9.72 Gt and 6.54 Gt; the gas subcritical area accounted for 76.41% of the total TCGSC. Although adsorption-related storage capacity accounted for more than 90% of total TCGSC, its proportion, however, decreased with depth. Future CO2-ECBM project should focus on high-rank coals in gas subcritical and gas-like supercritical areas. Such research will provide significant reference for assessment of CO2 geological storage capacity in deep coals.

Abstract Oceanic eddy-induced meridional heat transport (EHT) is an important process in the Southern Ocean heat budget, the variability of which significantly modulates global meridional overturning circulation (MOC) and Antarctic sea-ice extent. Although it is recognized that mesoscale eddies with scales of ~40–300 km greatly contribute to the EHT, the role of submesoscale eddies with scales of ~1–40 km remains unclear. Here, using two state-of-the-art high-resolution simulations (resolutions of 1/48° and 1/24°), we find that submesoscale eddies significantly enhance the total poleward EHT in the Southern Ocean with an enhancement percentage reaching 19–48% in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current band. By comparing the eddy energy budgets between the two simulations, we detect that the primary role of submesoscale eddies is to strengthen mesoscale eddies (and thus their heat transport capability) through inverse energy cascade rather than directly through submesoscale heat fluxes. Due to the submesoscale-mediated enhancement of mesoscale eddies in the 1/48° simulation, the clockwise upper cell and anti-clockwise lower cell of the residual-mean MOC in the Southern Ocean are weakened and strengthened, respectively. This finding identifies a potential route to improve the mesoscale parameterization in climate models for more accurate simulations of the MOC and sea ice variability in the Southern Ocean.

Yak milk is a dietary source of high-quality protein in the plateau region of China but as yet uncharacterized oxidative changes occur during heat treatment. Therefore, oxidation of and proteomic changes to milk proteins from plateau pasture-fed yaks after at different temperatures were investigated. Content of carbonyl groups, surface hydrophobicity increased, and total sulfhydryl, disulfide bond content decreased. Endogenous fluorescence intensity decreased after at increasing temperatures, indicating increased particle size, and absolute values of the zeta potential decreased. Analysis by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed changes of the secondary structure, with relative content of α-helices increasing and then decreasing, β-sheet showed a trend of decreasing and then increasing while the relative content of random curl did not change. The close range of the β-turn gradually decreased, breaking the protein microstructure, and folding stacking occurred. Proteomics analyses showed a temperature dependent effect. Sixty-two proteins were suppressed and 49 elevated with 4 pathways up-regulated and 7 down-regulated at 65 °C. Thirty-one proteins were suppressed and 37 elevated with 5 pathways up-regulated and 4 down-regulated at 90 °C. The most extensive changes were observed at 120 °C, when 327 proteins were suppressed and 308 elevated with 11 pathways up-regulated and 33 down-regulated.

Dairy products are susceptible to modifications in protein oxidation during heat processing, which can lead to changes in protein function, subsequently affecting intestinal health. Despite being a unique nutritional source, yak milk has not been thoroughly examined for the effects of its oxidized proteins on intestinal microbiota and metabolism. Hence, this study employed different heat treatment methods (low-temperature pasteurization, high-temperature pasteurization, and high-temperature sterilization) to induce oxidation in yak milk proteins. The study then assessed the degree of oxidation in these proteins and utilized mice as research subjects. Using metagenomics and metabolomics methods, this study examined the structure of intestinal microbial communities and metabolic products in mice consuming oxidized yak milk. The results showed a decrease in carbonyl and total thiol contents of yak milk proteins after different heat treatments, indicating that heat treatment causes oxidation in yak milk proteins. Metagenomic analysis of mouse intestinal microbiota revealed significant changes in 66 genera. In the high-temperature sterilization group (H), key differential genera included Verrucomicrobiales, Verrucomicrobiae, Akkermansiaceae, and 28 others. The high-temperature pasteurization group (M) mainly consisted of Latilactobacillus, Bacillus, and Romboutsia. The low-temperature pasteurization group (L) primarily comprised of Faecalibacterium, Chaetomium, Paenibacillaceae, Eggerthella, Sordariales, and 33 others. Functionally, compared to the control group (C), the H group upregulated translation and energy metabolism functions, the L group the M group significantly upregulated metabolism of other amino acids, translation, and cell replication and repair functions. Based on metabolomic analysis, differential changes in mouse metabolites could affect multiple metabolic pathways in the body. The most significantly affected metabolic pathways were phenylalanine metabolism, vitamin B6 metabolism, steroid hormone biosynthesis, and pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis. The changes were similar to the functional pathway analysis of mouse metagenomics, affecting amino acid and energy metabolism in mice. In summary, moderate oxidation of yak milk proteins exhibits a positive effect on mouse intestinal microbiota and metabolism. In conclusion, yak milk has a positive effect on mouse intestinal microflora and metabolism, and this study provides a scientific basis for optimizing dairy processing technology and further developing and applying yak milk.

Unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) is a common liquid propellant widely used in rocket engines and other applications. The safety of UDMH in service is affected by its slow oxidation during long-term storage to form impurities such as dimethylamine (DMA) and formaldehyde dimethylhydrazone (FDH). How these impurities affect combustion performance is not known, and in order to assess these effects, the present experiments investigated the combustion characteristics of self-igniting fuels and carried out ignition delay time measurements and flame propagation velocity measurements of pure UDMH and its denatured mixtures in a nitrogen tetroxide (NTO) atmosphere. This experiment was carried out to measure the delay time of hedge ignition of pure UDMH and qualitative analysis of its flame propagation properties under vacuum conditions at room temperature (T = 293 K). Ignition delay time measurements and flame propagation characterization were performed under the same experimental conditions for UDMH mixed with 1%, 5% and 10% FDH, UDMH mixed with 1%, 5% and 10% H2O, UDMH mixed with 1%, 5% and 10% DMA, as well as for UDMH mixed with the same proportions of the three substances (1%, 5% and 10%). The flame propagation characteristics were analyzed. The results showed that the incorporation of DMA, H2O and FDH in different proportions could inhibit the combustion of UDMH to varying degrees and prolong its ignition delay time. It is worth noting that the introduction of FDH had the least effect on it, and the least effect was observed at a concentration of 1%. In contrast, the effect of DMA on UDMH is more obvious, and the addition of H2O has the largest increase in the ignition delay time of UDMH. In the flame propagation experiment, the flame of the experimental group adding H2O can no longer fill the whole experimental window, while the other experimental groups can still make the window full of flame. Combined with the measurements of the ignition delay time, it can be seen that the moisture content has the greatest effect on the combustion characteristics.

In order to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of crude polysaccharide from Tibetan Opuntia ficus-indica stems, the impacts of crude polysaccharide contents on the foot swelling in mice caused by carrageenin, and on the contents of inflammatory factors in mice’s plasma were studied, through the infrared spectroscopy analysis of the crude polysaccharide from Opuntia ficus-indica stems, and the determination of the molecular weight and contents of total sugar as well as monosaccharide composition and contents. The results showed that the characteristic groups of crude polysaccharide from Tibetan Opuntia ficus-indica stems were mainly centered on stretching vibration and bending vibration. The stretching vibration was manifested as primary amine and -NH stretching vibration of primary amine, -C=C- and C-O stretching vibration; the bending vibration as -OH bending vibration, C-O asymmetric shrinking vibration and C-CO-C bending vibration in plane. The contents of total sugar was 405.724 mg/g, the molecular peak (Mp) of total sugar was 24915 Da, and the monosaccharide was mainly composed of D-glucose (Glc). In the range of 100~400 mg/kg, with the increasing of the polysaccharide dose, the degree of foot swelling of mice decreased and the inhibitory rate of foot swelling increased. The inhibitory rate of polysaccharide from the stem of Tibetan Opuntia ficus-indica on mouse foot swelling was better, showing a dose-dependent trend. The expression levels of IL-1β, IFN-γ and TNF-α inflammatory factors in the high-dose team of crude polysaccharide from stems were closest to the expression levels in its positive control dexamethasone acetate team. The expression levels of IL-1β, IFN-γ and TNF-α inflammatory factors decreased as the concentration of crude polysaccharide from stems increased, which explained that crude polysaccharide from Tibetan Opuntia ficus-indica stems had a favorable anti-inflammatory effect.

Abstract Background As an antioxidant, hydrogen (H2) can selectively react with the highly toxic hydroxyl radical (·OH) in tumor cells to break the balance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cause oxidative stress. However, due to the high diffusibility and storage difficulty of hydrogen, it is impossible to achieve long-term release at the tumor site, which highly limited their therapeutic effect. Results Photosynthetic bacteria (PSB) release a large amount of hydrogen to break the balance of oxidative stress. In addition, as a nontoxic bacterium, PSB could stimulate the immune response and increase the infiltration of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. More interestingly, we found that hydrogen therapy induced by our live PSB did not lead to the up-regulation of PD-L1 after stimulating the immune response, which could avoid the tumor immune escape. Conclusion Hydrogen-immunotherapy significantly kills tumor cells. We believe that our live microbial hydrogen production system provides a new strategy for cancer hydrogen treatment combining with enhanced immunotherapy without up-regulating PD-L1. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Oceanic submesoscale processes (submesoscales) with O(1–10) km horizontal scale can generate strong vertical buoyancy flux (VBF) that significantly modulate upper‐ocean stratification. Because submesoscales cannot be resolved by the prevailing ocean models, their VBFs have to be properly parameterized in order to improve model performance. Here, based on theoretical scaling analysis, we propose a new parameterization of submesoscale VBF by simultaneously considering mixed‐layer baroclinic instability (MLI) and strain‐induced frontogenesis, which are two leading generation mechanisms of submesoscales that typically co‐occur in open ocean. Compared with the parameterization of Fox‐Kemper et al. (2008, https://doi.org/10.1175/2007jpo3792.1; F08) that only considers the MLI, the new parameterization includes mesoscale strain rate and improves vertical structure function. Diagnostic validations based on submesoscale permitting simulation outputs suggest that the newly parameterized VBFs are more realistic than F08 in regard to three‐dimension distributions. How to incorporate this new parameterization into coarser‐grid ocean models, however, needs further studies.

By distinguishing between two types of neutralizing antibodies that either exhibit or lack antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) activity, FcγRIIB and bivalent binding are shown to be required for ADE in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Moist-induced electricity generators (MEGs) that harvest electric energy from water or moist has been considered as an efficient and sustainable technique to meet the increasingly serious energy crisis. However, the low output performance, non-degradability and complicated preparation processes of current MEGs have hindered their practical application. Herein, we report a highly-efficient, green and easily fabricated wood-derived moist-induced electricity generator (WMEG) by simply soaking natural wood in the Chinese ink. The generated electricity based on streaming potential comes from when water molecules flow through the charged channel surface of ink-coated wood driven by capillary force and evaporation. As a result, a continuous open-circuit voltage of about 250 mV was achieved from a single WMEG under ambient conditions, and the electrical signal could maintain stale for over 72 h. Moreover, the power output performance of the obtained wood generator can be enhanced by simple series or parallel connection for practical applications, and an electronic calculator can be powered by six-series-connected devices. This current study provides insights for the development of low-cost and sustainable MEGs without complex chemical reaction.

AbstractIn recent years, Neural Machine Translation (NMT) has achieved notable results in various translation tasks. However, the word-by-word generation manner determined by the autoregressive mechanism leads to high translation latency of the NMT and restricts its low-latency applications. Non-Autoregressive Neural Machine Translation (NAT) removes the autoregressive mechanism and achieves significant decoding speedup by generating target words independently and simultaneously. Nevertheless, NAT still takes the word-level cross-entropy loss as the training objective, which is not optimal because the output of NAT cannot be properly evaluated due to the multimodality problem. In this article, we propose using sequence-level training objectives to train NAT models, which evaluate the NAT outputs as a whole and correlates well with the real translation quality. First, we propose training NAT models to optimize sequence-level evaluation metrics (e.g., BLEU) based on several novel reinforcement algorithms customized for NAT, which outperform the conventional method by reducing the variance of gradient estimation. Second, we introduce a novel training objective for NAT models, which aims to minimize the Bag-of-N-grams (BoN) difference between the model output and the reference sentence. The BoN training objective is differentiable and can be calculated efficiently without doing any approximations. Finally, we apply a three-stage training strategy to combine these two methods to train the NAT model. We validate our approach on four translation tasks (WMT14 En↔De, WMT16 En↔Ro), which shows that our approach largely outperforms NAT baselines and achieves remarkable performance on all translation tasks. The source code is available at https://github.com/ictnlp/Seq-NAT.

Abstract Background Common chronic wounds include diabetic ulcers, venous ulcers, and pressure ulcers. The traditional Chinese medicine Huiyang Shengji decoction (HYSJD) has been shown to promote the healing of diabetic chronic wounds, however, its pharmacological mechanism is still unclear. Purpose This study aimed to determine the mechanism of HYSJD in promoting the healing of diabetic chronic skin ulcers. Methods Ultra-performance liquid chromatography was combined with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) to analyze the main components of HYSJD and the absorbed components in mouse serum at 30 min after oral administration of HYSJD. db/db mouse models for chronic skin ulcers were constructed by full-thickness skin resection. Wound tissues at day 7 post wound formation were used to perform microarray analysis of growth factors and chemokine expression. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis was performed on differentially expressed proteins. ELISA assays were used to measure differential expressed cytokines in the serum and Western blot analysis was used to determine the expression levels of related pathway proteins in the skin wounds. Results UPLC-MS/MS analysis showed that the main chemical components of HYSJD were flavonoids, terpenes, alkaloids, phenylpropanoids, and carbohydrates. At 30 min after oral administration of HYSJD, five absorbed components were detected in the serum, these included formononetin, calycosin, hypaconitine, calycosin-7-glucoside, and sinapic acid. HYSJD was found to increase the wound healing rate in chronic skin ulcers in db/db mice at days 3, 7, and 14 post wound formation, and promote the proliferation of epidermal cells. Two proteins that were differentially expressed between the different groups, i.e., IGF-1 and EGFR, were further validated. Serum ELISA assays showed that serum EGFR in the HYSJD treatment group was significantly increased. KEGG pathway analysis suggested that the PI3K/AKT pathway involved in HYSJD promoting the proliferation of epidermal cells in chronic wounds in db/db mice. Experimental verification showed that HYSJD activated the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in mouse wound skin. Conclusion HYSJD promotes the proliferation of epidermal cells in chronic diabetic wounds by increasing EGFR expression in the wounds and activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Our study provides an experimental basis for the pharmacological mechanism of HYSJD.

Immunological adjuvants are a crucial component of cancer vaccines. Here the authors design a light-activable immunological adjuvant, based on hypoxia-responsive amphiphilic dendrimer nanoparticles loaded with a photodynamic agent, promoting anti-tumor immune responses in preclinical cancer models.

Abstract One of the imperative medical requirements for cancer treatment is how to establish an imaging‐guided nanocarrier that combines therapeutic and imaging agents into one system. siRNA therapeutics have shown promising prospects in controlling life‐threatening diseases. However, it is still challenging to develop siRNA formulations with excellent cellular entry capability, efficient endosomal escape, and simultaneous visualization. Herein, we fabricated multifunctional ionizable lipid nanoparticles (iLNPs) for targeted delivery of siRNA and MRI contrast agent. The iLNPs comprises DSPC, cholesterol, PEGylated lipid, contrast agent DTPA‐BSA (Gd), and ionizable lipid termed iBL0104. siRNA‐loaded iLNPs (iLNPs/siRNA) could be decorated with a tumor targeting cyclic peptide (c(GRGDSPKC)) (termed GARP), or without targeting modification (termed GAP). Data revealed that GARP/siRNA iLNPs exhibited significantly higher cellular entry efficiency than GAP/siRNA iLNPs. GARP/siRNA iLNPs rapidly and effectively escaped from endosome and lysosome after internalization. Compared with GAP/siPLK1, GARP/siPLK1 exhibited better tumor inhibition efficacy in both cell‐line derived xenograft and liver cancer patient derived xenograft murine models. In addition, GARP formulation displayed ideal MRI effect in tumor‐bearing mice, and was well tolerated by testing animals. Therefore, this study provides an excellent example for achieving imaging‐guided and tumor‐targeted siRNA delivery and cancer treatment, highlighting its promising potential for translational medicine application.

Tumor recurrence after surgery is the main cause of treatment failure. However, the initial stage of recurrence is not easy to detect, and it is difficult to cure in the late stage. In order to improve the life quality of postoperative patients, an efficient synergistic immunotherapy was developed to achieve early diagnosis and treatment of post-surgical tumor recurrence, simultaneously. In this paper, two kinds of theranostic agents based on gold nanorods (AuNRs) platform were prepared. AuNRs and quantum dots (QDs) in one agent was used for the detection of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) technology to indicate the occurrence of in situ recurrence, while AuNRs in the other agent was used for photothermal therapy (PTT), together with anti-PDL1 mediated immunotherapy to alleviate the process of tumor metastasis. A series of assays indicated that this synergistic immunotherapy could induce tumor cell death and the increased generation of CD3+/CD4+ T-lymphocytes and CD3+/CD8+ T-lymphocytes. Besides, more immune factors (IL-2, IL-6, and IFN-γ) produced by synergistic immunotherapy were secreted than mono-immunotherapy. This cooperative immunotherapy strategy could be utilized for diagnosis and treatment of postoperative tumor recurrence at the same time, providing a new perspective for basic and clinical research.

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, several variants of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have emerged and have consistently replaced the previous dominant variant. Therapeutics against variants of SARS-CoV-2 are urgently needed. Ideal SARS-CoV-2 therapeutic antibodies would have high potency in viral neutralization against several emerging variants. Neutralization antibodies targeting SARS-CoV-2 could provide immediate protection after SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially for the most vulnerable populations. In this work, we comprehensively characterize the breadth and efficacy of SARS-CoV-2 RBD-targeting fully human monoclonal antibody (mAb) MW3321. MW3321 retains full neutralization activity to all tested 12 variants that have arisen in the human population, which are assigned as VOC (Variants of Concern) and VOI (Variants of Interest) due to their impacts on public health. Escape mutation experiments using replicating SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus show that escape mutants were not generated until passage 6 for MW3321, which is much more resistant to escape mutation compared with another clinical staged SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing mAb MW3311. MW3321 could effectively reduce viral burden in hACE2-transgenic mice challenged with either wild-type or Delta SARS-CoV-2 strains through viral neutralization and Fc-mediated effector functions. Moreover, MW3321 exhibits a typical hIgG1 pharmacokinetic and safety profile in cynomolgus monkeys. These data support the development of MW3321 as a monotherapy or cocktail against SARS-CoV-2-related diseases.

During loading pattern (LP) optimization and reactor design, a lot of time consumption spent on evaluation is one of the key issues. In order to solve this issue, the surrogate models are investigated in this paper. The convolutional neural network (CNN) and fully convolutional network (FCN) are adopted to predict the eigenvalue and the assembly-wise power distribution (PD) for a simplified pressurized water reactor (PWR) during depletion, respectively. For the eigenvalue prediction during depletion, the error in the begin of cycle (BOC) and middle of cycle (MOC) is higher than that in the end of cycle (EOC). For the BOC and MOC, the samples with discrepancy over 500 pcm are less than 1%, except four burnup points. For the EOC, the fraction of samples with error over 500 pcm is less than 1%. As for the error of assembly power, the average absolute error is on the same level for all test cases. The average absolute relative error in the center region and the peripheral region is higher than that in the inter-ring region. The prediction results indicate the capability of neural network to predict core parameters.

Annular laser metal deposition (ALMD) is a rising technology that fabricates near-net-shaped components. In this research, a single factor experiment with 18 groups was designed to study the influence of process parameters on the geometric characteristics (bead width, bead height, fusion depth, and fusion line) and thermal history of Ti6Al4V tracks. The results show that discontinuous and uneven tracks with pores or large-sized incomplete fusion defects were observed when the laser power was less than 800 W or the defocus distance was −5 mm. The laser power had a positive effect on the bead width and height, while the scanning speed had the opposite effect. The shape of the fusion line varied at different defocus distances, and the straight fusion line could be obtained with the appropriate process parameters. The scanning speed was the parameter that had the greatest effect on the molten pool lifetime and solidification time as well as the cooling rate. In addition, the microstructure and microhardness of the thin wall sample were also studied. Many clusters with various sizes in different zones were distributed within the crystal. The microhardness ranged from 330 HV to 370 HV.

MW33 is a fully humanized IgG1κ monoclonal neutralizing antibody, and may be used for the prevention and treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-dose, dose-escalation Phase 1 study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), and immunogenicity of MW33. Healthy adults aged 18–45 years were sequentially enrolled into the 4, 10, 20, 40, and 60 mg/kg dose groups and infused with MW33 over 60 ± 15 min and followed for 85 days. All 42 enrolled participants completed the MW33 infusion, and 40 participants completed the 85-day follow-up period. 34 participants received a single infusion of 4 (n = 2), 10 (n = 8), 20 (n = 8), 40 (n = 8), and 60 mg/kg (n = 8) of MW33. 27 subjects in the test groups experienced 78 adverse events (AEs) post-dose, with an incidence of 79.4% (27/34). The most common AEs included abnormal laboratory test results, vascular and lymphatic disorders, and infectious diseases. The severity of AEs was mainly Grade 1 (92 AEs), and three Grade 2 and one Grade 4. The main PK parameters, maximum concentration (Cmax), and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC0–t, and AUC0–∞) in 34 subjects showed a linear kinetic relationship in the range of 10–60 mg/kg. The plasma half-life was approximately 25 days. The positive rates of serum ADAs and antibody titres were low with no evidence of an impact on safety or PK. In conclusion, MW33 was well-tolerated, demonstrated linear PK, with a lower positive rate of serum ADAs and antibody titres in healthy subjects.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04427501.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04533048.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04627584.

Here the authors characterize a monoclonal antibody from a COVID-19 convalescent patient that interferes with SARS-CoV-2 spike binding to ACE2 and has prophylactic and therapeutic activity in non-human primates. Antibody-dependent enhancement of infection is prevented by mutating the Fc region of the antibody.

Achilles tendon injury has become a common sports injury clinically, and its treatment and rehabilitation are essential, while the regenerative capacity of the Achilles tendon in adult mammals is limited. Therefore, it is necessary to promote the repair and remodelling of the Achilles tendon through efficient interventions. Biodegradable polymer materials are one of the most popular in the treatment and repair of soft tissues, ligaments, muscles, and organs injured by organisms to enhance the function of their wounded sites. Thus, it plays a specific role in “compensation” and is widely used in clinical medicine and rehabilitation. This review summarized the progress of poly (ε-caprolactone), polylactic acid, poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid), poly (trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC), and polydioxanone (PDS) in repairing Achilles tendon injury, indicating that the biodegradable polymers have succeeded in improving and treating Achilles tendon injuries. However, some problems such as lack of good affinity with cells and uncontrollable degradation of the biodegradable polymers should be overcome in repairing Achilles tendon injury. Therefore, the development of modified biodegradable polymers to make them an ideal repair material that meets the requirements is vital in improving Achilles tendon injuries. With the continuous development and close cooperation of life sciences and material sciences, excellent materials for repairing Achilles tendon injuries will undoubtedly be produced. The treatment of Achilles tendon injuries will be more straightforward, which will be a boon for many athletes.

Summary: Tumor immunotherapy has been convincingly demonstrated as a feasible approach for treating cancers. Although promising, the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) has been recognized as a major obstacle in tumor immunotherapy. It is highly desirable to release an immunosuppressive “brake” for improving cancer immunotherapy. Among tumor-infiltrated immune cells, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play an important role in the growth, invasion, and metastasis of tumors. The polarization of TAMs (M2) into the M1 type can alleviate the immunosuppression of the TME and enhance the effect of immunotherapy. Inspired by this, we constructed a therapeutic exosomal vaccine from antigen-stimulated M1-type macrophages (M1OVA-Exos). M1OVA-Exos are capable of polarizing TAMs into M1 type through downregulation of the Wnt signaling pathway. Mediating the TME further activates the immune response and inhibits tumor growth and metastasis via the exosomal vaccine. Our study provides a new strategy for the polarization of TAMs, which augments cancer vaccine therapy efficacy.

Abstract Background Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated disorder with chronic plaque psoriasis being the primary manifestation during the remission stage. Patients often have a slow course and long history of the disease. The refractory type of psoriasis is a stubborn rash that does not subside easily. We designed this randomized controlled trial to compare the effectiveness and relapse rates of plaque psoriasis in patients treated with either acupuncture, moxibustion or calcipotriol ointment. The ultimate aim of the study is to select an effective traditional Chinese medicine therapy for patients with plaque psoriasis. Methods The study will be a multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled trial that compares the effectiveness of fire needle therapy, moxibustion and calcipotriol ointment. In total, 160 patients with plaque psoriasis who meet the inclusion criteria will be recruited from three hospitals in Beijing and then randomly assigned to receive either fire needle therapy (group A1), moxibustion (group A2) or calcipotriol ointment (group B). All participants will receive an 8-week treatment and will then be followed up for another 24 weeks, with time points at weeks 12 and 24 after treatment completion. The primary outcomes to be measured are relapse rates and psoriasis area and severity index score of the target lesions. In addition, the target lesion onset time, dermatology life quality index, traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score, and the relapse interval of the target lesion will be measured. Adverse events will be recorded for safety assessment. Discussion The aim of this study is to determine whether fire needle therapy or moxibustion could improve the clinical effectiveness for psoriasis lesions and reduce the relapse rate. Once completed, it will provide information regarding therapeutic evaluation on fire needle therapy or moxibustion for plaque psoriasis, which will assist clinicians in selecting the most effective treatment options for patients. Trial registration International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP), ChiCTR1800019588. Registered on 19 November 2018.

Anaplasma genus infects the blood cells of humans and animals by biting, causing zoonotic anaplasmosis. However, limited data are available on carrier animals for Anaplasma spp. antibodies in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau Area. Therefore, a serological indirect ELISA diagnostic method based on the major surface protein 5 (MSP5), derived from Anaplasma phagocytophilum, was developed in this study to analyze both IgG and IgM antibodies of Anaplasma spp. in a total of 3952 animals from the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, including yaks (Bos grunniens), cows (Bos taurus), cattle (Bos taurus domesticus), Tibetan sheep (Ovis aries), horses (Equus ferus caballus), pigs (Sus domesticus), chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus), donkeys (Equus asinus), stray dogs (Canis sp.), and stray cats (Felis sp.). The results showed that recombinant MSP5 protein was expressed and was successfully used to establish the indirect ELISA methods. The overall positivity for Anaplasma IgG and IgM antibodies was 14.6% (578/3952) and 7.9% (312/3952), respectively, and a total of 123 animals (3.1%) were both IgG- and IgM-positive. Moreover, the most prevalent Anaplasma IgG positivity was exhibited by donkeys (82.5%), followed by stray dogs, Tibetan sheep, pigs, chickens, horses, yaks, cows, cattle, and stray cats. The analysis for IgM antibody positivity revealed that IgM positivity was the most prevalent in the stray dogs (30.1%), followed by horses, yaks, Tibetan sheep, cows, stray cats, and cattle. Moreover, the results revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) at different altitudes in Anaplasma-specific IgG in the yaks, Tibetan sheep, and horses, and in IgM in the yaks and Tibetan sheep. In conclusion, this study is the first to demonstrate that yaks, cows, cattle, Tibetan sheep, horses, donkeys, stray dogs, stray cats, pigs, and chickens living in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau are carrier animals for Anaplasma spp. IgG or IgM antibodies. The current findings provide valuable current data on the seroepidemiology of anaplasmosis in China and for plateau areas of the world.

Memristive devices are novel electronic devices, which resistance can be tuned by an external voltage in a non-volatile way. Due to their analog resistive switching behavior, they are considered to emulate the behavior of synapses in neuronal networks. In this work, we investigate memristive devices based on the field-driven redox process between the p-conducting Pr0.7Ca0.3MnO3 (PCMO) and different tunnel barriers, namely, Al2O3, Ta2O5, and WO3. In contrast to the more common filamentary-type switching devices, the resistance range of these area-dependent switching devices can be adapted to the requirements of the surrounding circuit. We investigate the impact of the tunnel barrier layer on the switching performance including area scaling of the current and variability. Best performance with respect to the resistance window and the variability is observed for PCMO with a native Al2O3 tunnel oxide. For all different layer stacks, we demonstrate a spike timing dependent plasticity like behavior of the investigated PCMO cells. Furthermore, we can also tune the resistance in an analog fashion by repeated switching the device with voltage pulses of the same amplitude and polarity. Both measurements resemble the plasticity of biological synapses. We investigate in detail the impact of different pulse heights and pulse lengths on the shape of the stepwise SET and RESET curves. We use these measurements as input for the simulation of training and inference in a multilayer perceptron for pattern recognition, to show the use of PCMO-based ReRAM devices as weights in artificial neural networks which are trained by gradient descent methods. Based on this, we identify certain trends for the impact of the applied voltages and pulse length on the resulting shape of the measured curves and on the learning rate and accuracy of the multilayer perceptron.

Objective We assessed the clinical effects of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) oxygen therapy and a standard oxygen atomizer mask on the respiratory tract in patients with hypostatic pneumonia. Methods We included patients with hypostatic pneumonia in this retrospective cohort study. Patients were provided continuous airway humidification by continuous oxygen atomization using either an HFNC or standard oxygen mask. Arterial blood gas analysis, the dyspnea score, inflammatory-related parameters, and adverse events of patients in the two groups were compared. Results Fifty-five patients had HFNC delivery and 57 had a standard oxygen atomizer mask. After 7 days of treatment, patients in the HFNC group had a higher partial pressure of arterial blood oxygen/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio (268.12±28.44 vs 238.28±30.04) and lower partial pressure of arterial blood carbon dioxide (38.02±8.84 vs 49.27±7.84 mmHg) than those in the standard oxygen mask group. The dyspnea score and inflammatory-related parameters in the HFNC group were significantly lower than those in the standard oxygen mask group. The incidence of adverse events was lower in the HFNC group than in the standard oxygen mask group. Conclusion HFNC therapy relieves clinical symptoms more quickly than a standard oxygen mask and reduces the incidence of adverse events.

The global pandemic of COVID-19 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in widespread social and economic disruption. Effective interventions are urgently needed for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have demonstrated their prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy against SARS-CoV-2, and several have been granted authorization for emergency use. Here, we discover and characterize a fully human cross-reactive mAb, MW06, which binds to both SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) and disrupts their interaction with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors. Potential neutralization activity of MW06 was observed against both SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV in different assays. The complex structure determination and epitope alignment of SARS-CoV-2 RBD/MW06 revealed that the epitope recognized by MW06 is highly conserved among SARS-related coronavirus strains, indicating the potential broad neutralization activity of MW06. In in vitro assays, no antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of SARS-CoV-2 infection was observed for MW06. In addition, MW06 recognizes a different epitope from MW05, which shows high neutralization activity and has been in a Phase 2 clinical trial, supporting the development of the cocktail of MW05 and MW06 to prevent against future escaping variants. MW06 alone and the cocktail show good effects in preventing escape mutations, including a series of variants of concern, B.1.1.7, P.1, B.1.351, and B.1.617.1. These findings suggest that MW06 recognizes a conserved epitope on SARS-CoV-2, which provides insights for the development of a universal antibody-based therapy against SARS-related coronavirus and emerging variant strains, and may be an effective anti-SARS-CoV-2 agent.

The coalbed methane (CBM) geology in Guizhou is characterized by a high gas content, pressure and resource abundance, indicating superior CBM resource potential. However, there are also many unfavorable factors, such as complex structure geology, significant regional differences in CBM geology, the widespread development of tectonically deformed coal, and the unclear understanding of the configuration of geological factors for CBM enrichment and high yield, which restrict the increase in CBM production and a large-scale development. Taking the Dahebian Block in Liupanshui coal field and the Dafang Block in Qianbei coal field as examples, this study presented the CBM geological differences between middle- and high-rank coals; their origins were analyzed and the effect of depth on gas content and permeability was discussed. A CBM enrichment and high-yield model was illustrated, and the geologic fitness-related exploration and development methods for Guizhou CBM were finally proposed. The results show that (1) significant differences between the middle- and high-rank coals occur in coal occurrence and distribution, coal qualities, and coal reservoir properties. Compared to Dahebian coal, Dafang coal has a higher coal rank, vitrinite content, and gas content, but a lower number of coal layers and permeability. (2) The sedimentary–tectonic evolution of the Longtan coal-bearing sequence is the fundamental reason for CBM geological differences between the Dadebian Block and Dafang Block, consisting of coal occurrence, qualities, maceral, rank, structure, and their associated reservoir properties. (3) The coordinated variation of gas content and permeability contributes to a greater depth for CBM enrichment and a high yield of the middle-rank coal. It is suggested that the best depths for CBM enrichment and high yield in Guizhou are 600–800 m for the middle-rank coal and 500 m for the high-rank coal, respectively. (4) Considering the bottleneck of inefficient CBM development in Guizhou, we proposed three CBM assessment and development technologies, including the CBM optimization of the classification–hierarchical optimization–analytical hierarchy, multiple coal seams commingling production with the pressure relief of tectonically deformed coal, and surface–underground CBM three-dimensional drainage development. The aim of this study was to provide new insights into the efficient exploration and development of CBM in Guizhou.

Background/Aims: Abnormal regulation of cholesterol homeostasis is associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and multiple other diseases. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) has unique effects on modulating hepatic lipid metabolism. However, the mechanism behind these is largely unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of GLP-1 on cholesterol-induced lipotoxicity in hepatocytes and examine the underlying mechanisms. Methods: Cell viability was determined by CCK-8. Caspase-3 detection was used to assess the effects of GLP-1 on cholesterol-induced apoptosis. TNF-α and IL-6 as the inflammatory markers were measured by ELISA. The alterations of miR-19b and ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) resulting from high-fat diet/cholesterol incubation or GLP-1 were detected by real-time PCR and western blot. Results: GLP-1 markedly up-regulated the expression of ABCA1 protein, but didn’t affect peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPAR-α) protein. The miR-19b levels were significantly down-regulated in GLP-1-treated groups. The inhibition and overexpression of miR-19b were established to explore the effects of a GLP-1-mediated alteration in miR-19b. Cholesterol transport assays revealed that treatment with GLP-1 alone or together with miR-19b inhibitor significantly enhanced ABCA1-dependent cholesterol efflux, resulting in reduced total cholesterol. Further, histological examination was used to detect lipid accumulation. Cholesterol significantly attenuated cell viability, promoted hepatic cell apoptosis, and facilitated lipid accumulation, and these effects could be reversed by GLP-1. Conclusion: GLP-1 may affect cholesterol homeostasis by regulating the expression of miR-19b and ABCA1.

Abstract Combined chemo/chemodynamic therapy is a promising strategy to achieve an improved anticancer effect. However, the hypoxic microenvironment and limited amount of H2O2 in most solid tumors severely restrict the efficacy of this treatment. Herein, the construction of a nanocatalytic medicine, CaO2@DOX@ZIF‐67, via a bottom‐up approach is described. CaO2@DOX@ZIF‐67 simultaneously supplies O2 and H2O2 to achieve improved chemo/chemodynamic therapy. In the weakly acidic environment within tumors, CaO2@DOX@ZIF‐67 is broken down to rapidly release the Fenton‐like catalyst Co2+ and the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin (DOX). The unprotected CaO2 reacts with H2O to generate both O2 and H2O2. The generated O2 relieves the hypoxia in the tumor and further improve the efficacy of DOX. Meanwhile, the generated H2O2 reacts with Co2+ ions to produce highly toxic •OH through a Fenton‐like reaction, resulting in improved chemodynamic therapy.

Objective: To test two theories from traditional Chinese medicine: “exterior–interior relationship between the lung and large intestine” and “treating from the intestine principle for lung disorders”. The influence of intestine-based treatment using Xuan Bai Cheng Qi Tang (XBCQT) on the concentration of three trace elements – copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and manganese (Mn) – was observed in the tissues of the lung, small intestine, large intestine, and stomach of rats suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: Thirty-five male Wistar rats were divided randomly and equally into five groups: control; model; Fei treatment (A); Chang treatment (B); and Fei–Chang treatment (C). A rat model of COPD was prepared by tracheal injection of lipopolysaccharide plus exposure to cigarette smoke. Treatments with medicinal herbs started day-22 of administration and exposure to cigarette smoke for 7 days. The control group and model group were administered physiologic (0.9%) saline solution via the stomach. After 7 days of intervention, the tissues of the lung, small intestine, large intestine, and stomach were removed. Inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy was used to detect the levels of Cu, Zn, and Mn in those tissues. Results: Compared with the control group, the Cu concentration in the tissues of the small intestine, large intestine, and stomach increased significantly in the model group (P

An equiatomic TiZrHfMoNb high-entropy alloy (HEA) was developed as a solar thermal energy storage material due to its outstanding performance of hydrogen absorption. The TiZrHfMoNb alloy transforms from a body-centered cubic (BCC) structure to a face-centered cubic (FCC) structure during hydrogen absorption and can reversibly transform back to the BCC structure after hydrogen desorption. The theoretical calculations demonstrated that before hydrogenation, the BCC structure for the alloy has more stable energy than the FCC structure while the FCC structure is preferred after hydrogenation. The outstanding hydrogen absorption of the reversible single-phase transformation during the hydrogen absorption⁻desorption cycle improves the hydrogen recycling rate and the energy efficiency, which indicates that the TiZrHfMoNb alloy could be an excellent candidate for solar thermal energy storage.