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Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignancy predominantly found in the salivary, lacrimal, upper gastrointestinal, and respiratory mucosal glands; adenoid cystic carcinoma of the external auditory canal (EAC) is particularly rare. Characterized by a proclivity for recurrence and metastasis, advanced adenoid cystic carcinoma often proves refractory to conventional chemotherapy. Novel therapeutic approaches, notably targeted therapies, are imperative to enhance treatment response rates in advanced adenoid cystic carcinoma patients. Herein, we present a case of primary adenoid cystic carcinoma affecting the right external auditory canal in a 56-year-old male presenting with symptoms of pruritus, swelling, pain, and hearing loss in the affected ear. Despite multiple attempts with diverse chemotherapy regimens yielding no success, the patient developed advanced lung metastases, prompting the utilization of anlotinib-targeted therapy. Subsequent administration of anlotinib led to a partial remission (PR), resulting in approximately 8 months of progression-free survival (PFS) in this individual.

Abstract Acquiring multi-dimensional optical information, such as intensity, spectrum, polarization, and phase, can significantly enhance the performance of photodetectors. Incorporating these dimensions allows for improved image contrast, enhanced recognition capabilities, reduced interference, and better adaptation to complex environments. However, the challenge lies in obtaining these dimensions on a single photodetector. Here we propose a misaligned unipolar barrier photodetector based on van der Waals heterojunction to address this issue. This structure enables spectral detection by switching between two absorbing layers with different cut-off wavelengths for dual-band detection. For polarization detection, anisotropic semiconductors like black phosphorus and black arsenic phosphorus inherently possess polarization-detection capabilities without additional complex elements. By manipulating the crystal direction of these materials during heterojunction fabrication, the device becomes sensitive to incident light at different polarization angles. This research showcases the potential of the misaligned unipolar barrier photodetector in capturing multi-dimensional optical information, paving the way for next-generation photodetectors.

Implant-related osteomyelitis is a formidable hurdle in the clinical setting and is characterized by inflammation, infection, and consequential bone destruction. Therefore, effective reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, bacterial killing, and subsequent bone tissue repair are urgently needed for the treatment of difficult-to-heal osteomyelitis. Herein, we utilized the eddy-thermal effect of magnesium (Mg) implants under an alternating magnetic field (AMF) for the controlled release of H2 gas and ions (OH− and Mg2+) for the treatment of osteomyelitis. H2 released by Mg rods under AMFs effectively scavenged cytotoxic ROS, exhibiting anti-inflammatory effects and consequently disrupting the environment of bacterial infections. In addition, the OH− hindered the energy metabolism of bacteria by effectively neutralizing protons within the microenvironment. Moreover, H2 impaired the permeability of bacterial membranes and expedited the damage induced by OH−. This synergistic AMF-induced H2 and proton depletion treatment approach not only killed both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria but also effectively treated bacterial infections (abscesses and osteomyelitis). Moreover, Mg2+ released from the Mg rods enhanced and accelerated the process of bone osteogenesis. Overall, our work cleverly exploited the eddy-thermal effect and chemical activity of Mg implants under AMFs, aiming to eliminate the inflammatory environment and combat bacterial infections by the simultaneous release of H2, OH−, and Mg2+, thereby facilitating tissue regeneration. This therapeutic strategy achieved multiple benefits in one, thus presenting a promising avenue for clinical application.

Gut serves as the largest interface between humans and the environment, playing a crucial role in nutrient absorption and protection against harmful substances. The intestinal barrier acts as the initial defense mechanism against non-specific infections, with its integrity directly impacting the homeostasis and health of the human body. The primary factor attributed to the impairment of the intestinal barrier in previous studies has always centered on the gastrointestinal tract itself. In recent years, the concept of the “gut-organ” axis has gained significant popularity, revealing a profound interconnection between the gut and other organs. It speculates that disruption of these axes plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis and progression of intestinal barrier damage. The evaluation of intestinal barrier function and detection of enterogenic endotoxins can serve as “detecting agents” for identifying early functional alterations in the heart, kidney, and liver, thereby facilitating timely intervention in the disorders. Simultaneously, consolidating intestinal barrier integrity may also present a potential therapeutic approach to attenuate damage in other organs. Studies have demonstrated that diverse signaling pathways and their corresponding key molecules are extensively involved in the pathophysiological regulation of the intestinal barrier. Aberrant activation of these signaling pathways and dysregulated expression of key molecules play a pivotal role in the process of intestinal barrier impairment. Microgravity, being the predominant characteristic of space, can potentially exert a significant influence on diverse intestinal barriers. We will discuss the interaction between the “gut-organ” axes and intestinal barrier damage, further elucidate the signaling pathways underlying intestinal barrier damage, and summarize alterations in various components of the intestinal barrier under microgravity. This review aims to offer a novel perspective for comprehending the etiology and molecular mechanisms of intestinal barrier injury as well as the prevention and management of intestinal barrier injury under microgravity environment.

Abstract Mercury (Hg), a potent neurotoxin posing risks to human health, is cycled through vegetation uptake, which is susceptible to climate change impacts. However, the extent and pattern of these impacts are largely unknown, obstructing predictions of Hg’s fate in terrestrial ecosystems. Here, we evaluate the effects of climate change on vegetation elemental Hg [Hg(0)] uptake using a state-of-the-art global terrestrial Hg model (CLM5-Hg) that incorporates plant physiology. In a business-as-usual scenario, the terrestrial Hg(0) sink is predicted to decrease by 1870 Mg yr−1 in 2100, that is ~60% lower than the present-day condition. We find a potential decoupling between the trends of CO2 assimilation and Hg(0) uptake process by vegetation in the 21st century, caused by the decreased stomatal conductance with increasing CO2. This implies a substantial influx of Hg into aquatic ecosystems, posing an elevated threat that warrants consideration during the evaluation of the effectiveness of the Minamata Convention.

Abstract Background This study intends to explore the role and molecular mechanism of hsa_circ_0005519 in acute kidney injury (AKI). Methods We conducted reverse transcription-qPCR for human serum to determine levels of hsa_circ_0005519 in AKI patients and healthy controls. Hsa_circ_0005519 was inhibited for expression in HK-2 cells using specific siRNAs. A number of techniques, MTT and ELISA assays, were used to analyze the potential role of hsa_circ_0005519 in cell viability, oxidative stress, and inflammation of LPS-induced HK-2 cells. results The serum of patients with AKI exhibited a significant increase in hsa_circ_0005519 expression, compared with healthy controls. Hsa_circ_0005519 was knockdown by siRNA, and its knockdown led to cell viability increase in LPS-induced HK-2 cells. Inhibition of hsa_circ_0005519 can reverse the TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β increase in LPS-induced HK-2 cells. Inhibiting hsa_circ_0005519 led to downregulation of MPO and MDA levels. MiR-98-5p was a downstream miRNA for hsa_circ_0005519. MiR-98-5p can offset the effects of hsa_circ_0005519 on LPS-induced HK-2 cells. IFG1R was a target gene for miR-98-5p. Conclusions These findings indicate that the highly expressed hsa_circ_0005519 plays a promoting role in AKI.

Abstract Aim To develop a comprehensive training course for training ICU nurses in prone positioning. Design A mixed study combining semi‐structured interviews and two rounds of Delphi surveys. Methods We constructed a questionnaire after collecting data through a literature review and semi‐structured interviews. We used the Delphi expert correspondence method to conduct two rounds of research among 17 experts in the field of critical illness. Data collection took place between May and August 2022. Results The effective questionnaire recovery rate was 88.2%. The expert authority coefficient was 0.876; the Kendall coordination coefficient was 0.402; the average importance score for each index ranged from 4.00 to 4.93; and the coefficient of variation for each index ranged from 0.05 to 0.19. We established 13 second‐level indicators and 41 third‐level indicators on prone position ventilation training according to three aspects: training contents, training methods and training assessment. The training system of prone mechanical ventilation for ICU nurses established in this study will provide an effective framework for training and evaluating the practical ability of prone mechanical ventilation for ICU nurses.

Abstract Land use and land cover changes (LULCCs) can influence surface temperature through local and nonlocal biophysical processes, which remain inadequately addressed. In this study, we separate the local and nonlocal effects of historical (1850–2014) LULCCs based on model outputs from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6. We also attempt to explore the sources of intermodel differences in the effects of LULCCs. The multimodel mean shows a cooling effect of −0.05°C (with an intermodel range of −0.24–0.06°C) at the global scale due to cropland and pastureland expansion, consisting of dominant nonlocal cooling of −0.06°C (with an intermodel range of −0.26–0.06°C) and slight local warming of 0.01°C (with an intermodel range of −0.01–0.05°C). The modeling results show some clear consistency in the effects of LULCCs despite considerable intermodel uncertainties. The local effects cause warming at low latitudes and cooling in boreal regions via changes in upward shortwave radiation and sensible and latent heat fluxes. The nonlocal effects mainly cause cooling via decreases in downward longwave radiation and increases in upward shortwave radiation. Intermodel differences in the total effects are dominated by those in the nonlocal effects, which are further attributed to divergent changes in downward longwave radiation and sensible heat flux across the models. This study highlights the importance of the nonlocal effects of LULCCs in terms of strength and intermodel uncertainty, with implications for designing land‐based solutions aimed at climate change mitigation.

In embedded feature selection methods, one criterion for evaluating features is the Feature Contribution to Each Class (FCEC). Unlike traditional feature contribution, it focuses more on the ability of features to represent each class, aiding in understanding the dependency of recognition tasks on different features. However, current feature selection methods often cannot fully utilize the FCEC when evaluating features, resulting in insufficient accuracy in feature evaluation. To address this problem, this paper proposes a novel supervised Feature Selection with Orthogonal Regression and Mountain Range Area (FORMRA). Specifically, orthogonal regression can retain more discriminative information, thereby obtaining more accurate FCEC. We employ a Projection-based Non-monotonic Line Search (PNMLS) method to solve the objective function of orthogonal regression and propose a multi-vector linear fusion search direction on this basis to improve convergence speed. After the objective function converges, we map the FCEC onto mountain ranges in a two-dimensional coordinate system, employing area calculation that is more sensitive to data distribution and shape for feature assessment, thus achieving the full utilization of FCEC. We conducted experiments on eight publicly available datasets, and the results indicate that compared to currently advanced feature selection methods, this approach can provide a more accurate evaluation of features, thereby selecting superior feature subsets and achieving higher model recognition rates.

Since the fault dynamic of droop-controlled inverter is different from synchronous generators (SGs), protection devices may become invalid, and the fault overcurrent may damage power electronic devices and threaten the safety of the microgrid. Therefore, it is imperative to conduct a comprehensive fault analysis of the inverter to guide the design of protection schemes. However, due to the complexity of droop control strategy, existing literatures have simplified asymmetric fault analysis of droop-controlled inverters to varying degrees. Therefore, accurate fault analysis of a droop-controlled inverter is needed. In this paper, by analyzing the control system, an accurate fault model is established. Based on this, a calculation method for instantaneous asymmetrical fault current is proposed. In addition, the current components and current characteristics are analyzed. It was determined that fault currents are affected by control loops, fault types, fault distance and nonlinear limiters. In particular, the influences of limiters on the fault model, fault current calculation and fault current characteristics were analyzed. Through detailed analysis, it was found that dynamics of the control loop cannot be ignored, the fault type and fault distance determine fault current level, and part of the limiters will totally change the fault current trend. Finally, calculation and experimental results verify the correctness of the proposed method.

Breast cancer, the most prevalent malignant tumor among women globally, is significantly influenced by the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which plays a crucial role in its initiation and progression. While conventional chemotherapy, the standard clinical treatment, suffers from significant drawbacks like severe side effects, high toxicity, and limited prognostic efficacy, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) provides a promising alternative. TCM employs a multi-targeted therapeutic approach, which results in fewer side effects and offers a high potential for effective treatment. This paper presents a detailed analysis of the therapeutic impacts of TCM on various subtypes of breast cancer, focusing on its interaction with the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Additionally, it explores the effectiveness of both monomeric and compound forms of TCM in the management of breast cancer. We also discuss the potential of establishing biomarkers for breast cancer treatment based on key proteins within the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Our aim is to offer new insights into the prevention and treatment of breast cancer and to contribute to the standardization of TCM.

Abstract The utilization of hot carriers as a means to surpass the Shockley‐Queasier limit represents a promising strategy for advancing highly efficient photovoltaic devices. Quantum dots, owing to their discrete energy states and limited multi‐phonon cooling process, are regarded as one of the most promising materials. However, in practical implementations, the presence of numerous defects and discontinuities in colloidal quantum dot (CQD) films significantly curtails the transport distance of hot carriers. In this study, the harnessing of excess energies from hot‐carriers is successfully demonstrated and a world‐record carrier diffusion length of 15 µm is observed for the first time in colloidal systems, surpassing existing hot‐carrier materials by more than tenfold. The observed phenomenon is attributed to the specifically designed honeycomb‐like topological structures in a HgTe CQD superlattice, with its long‐range periodicity confirmed by High‐Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy(HR‐TEM), Selected Area Electron Diffraction(SAED) patterns, and low‐angle X‐ray diffraction (XRD). In such a superlattice, nonlocal hot carrier transport is supported by three unique physical properties: the wavelength‐independent responsivity, linear output characteristics and microsecond fast photoresponse. These findings underscore the potential of HgTe CQD superlattices as a feasible approach for efficient hot carrier collection, thereby paving the way for practical applications in highly sensitive photodetection and solar energy harvesting.

Abstract Itinerant kagome lattice magnets exhibit many novel correlated and topological quantum electronic states with broken time-reversal symmetry. Superconductivity, however, has not been observed in this class of materials, presenting a roadblock in a promising path toward topological superconductivity. Here, we report that novel superconductivity can emerge at the interface of kagome Chern magnet TbMn6Sn6 and metal heterostructures when elemental metallic thin films are deposited on either the top (001) surface or the side surfaces. Superconductivity is also successfully induced and systematically studied by using various types of metallic tips on different TbMn6Sn6 surfaces in point-contact measurements. The anisotropy of the superconducting upper critical field suggests that the emergent superconductivity is quasi-two-dimensional. Remarkably, the interface superconductor couples to the magnetic order of the kagome metal and exhibits a hysteretic magnetoresistance in the superconducting states. Taking into account the spin-orbit coupling, the observed interface superconductivity can be a surprising and more realistic realization of the p-wave topological superconductors theoretically proposed for two-dimensional semiconductors proximity-coupled to s-wave superconductors and insulating ferromagnets. Our findings of robust superconductivity in topological-Chern-magnet/metal heterostructures offer a new direction for investigating spin-triplet pairing and topological superconductivity.

Abstract Enzymes achieve high catalytic activity with their elaborate arrangements of amino acid residues in confined optimized spaces. Nevertheless, when exposed to complicated environmental implementation scenarios, including high acidity, organic solvent and high ionic strength, enzymes exhibit low operational stability and poor activity. Here, we report a metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)-based artificial enzyme system via second coordination sphere engineering to achieve high hydrolytic activity under mild conditions. Experiments and theoretical calculations reveal that amide cleavage catalyzed by MOFs follows two distinct catalytic mechanisms, Lewis acid- and hydrogen bonding-mediated hydrolytic processes. The hydrogen bond formed in the secondary coordination sphere exhibits 11-fold higher hydrolytic activity than the Lewis acidic zinc ions. The MOFs exhibit satisfactory degradation performance of toxins and high stability under extreme working conditions, including complicated fermentation broth and high ethanol environments, and display broad substrate specificity. These findings hold great promise for designing artificial enzymes for environmental remediation.

Abstract Background In recent years, neoadjuvant immunotherapy with chemotherapy has shown increasing promise for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, to establish its clinical efficacy and safety, it is imperative to amass more real-world clinical data. This retrospective study aims to assess the safety and effectiveness of combing sintilimab, a PD-1 inhibitor, with chemotherapy as a neoadjuvant treatment modality in patients diagnosed with potentially resectable NSCLC. Methods We retrospectively reviewed patients with stage II-III NSCLC receiving neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy in Sichuan Cancer Hospital between February 2021 and February 2023. Sintilimab injection (intravenously,200 mg, iv, d1, q3w) and platinum-based chemotherapy were administered intravenously every 3 weeks, with radical lung cancer resection planned approximately 4–11 weeks after the last dose. The primary endpoint of the study was pathologic complete response (pCR). The secondary endpoints were objective response rate (ORR), and safety. Result Thirteen patients were enrolled, they were mostly diagnosed with stage III NSCLC (IIB 15.4% IIIA 38.5%; IIIB 46.2%). Most of them had pathologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma (69.2%). All patients received sintilimab combined with platinum-based chemotherapy for 2 to 4 cycles. Notably, none of the patients necessitated a reduction in initial dosages or treatment postponement due to intolerable adverse events. Then, all of them underwent surgical operation. Impressively, nine patients (69.2%) achieved a pathologic complete response. The objective response rate (ORR) stood at 46.15%. Nine patients experienced neoadjuvant treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs), with only one patient (7.6%) encountering a grade 4 neoadjuvant TRAE. Conclusion Therefore, the current study suggested that neoadjuvant sintilimab plus platinum-based chemotherapy can be a safe approach in increasing the efficiency of treatment and hopefully improving the prognosis of patients with potentially resectable locally advanced NSCLC.

Encapsulating enzymes in a tailored scaffold is of great potential in industrial enzymatic catalysis, which can enhance the stability of enzymes thus expanding their applications. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are emerging as promising candidates for enzyme encapsulation due to their precise pore structure, ease of synthesis and good biocompatibility. Despite the fact that enzymes encapsulated in MOFs can obtain enhanced stability, there has been little discussion about the thermal stability of enzyme-MOF composites in solid state under extremely high temperatures. Herein, we fabricated the enzyme-MOF composites, CALB-ZIF-8, via a convenient coprecipitation method in aqueous solution, which exhibited good thermal stability at 180 °C. It was found that the activity of CALB encapsulated in ZIF-8 retained nearly ~80% after heating for 10 min at 180 °C. A finite element method was applied to investigate the heat transfer process within a ZIF-8 model, indicating that the air filled in cavities of ZIF-8 played a significant role in hindering the heat transfer and this may be an important reason for the outstanding thermal stability of CALB-ZIF-8 at 180 °C, which paves a new path for expanding the industrial application of enzyme-MOF composites.

The malignancy of breast cancer poses a global challenge, with existing treatments often falling short of desired efficacy. Extensive research has underscored the effectiveness of targeting the metabolism of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), a pivotal molecule crucial for cancer cell survival and growth, as a promising anticancer strategy. Within mammalian cells, sustaining optimal NAD concentrations relies on two key enzymes, namely nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) and poly(ADP-ribose) polymer 1 (PARP1). Recent studies have accentuated the potential benefits of combining NAMPT inhibitors and PARP1 inhibitors to enhance therapeutic outcomes, particularly in breast cancer. In this study, we designed and synthesized eleven novel NAMPT/PARP1 dual-target inhibitors. Among them, compound DDY02 exhibited acceptable inhibitory activities against both NAMPT and PARP1, with IC50 values of 0.01 and 0.05 µM, respectively. Moreover, in vitro evaluations revealed that treatment with DDY02 resulted in proliferation inhibition, NAD depletion, DNA damage, apoptosis, and migration inhibition in MDA-MB-468 cells. These results posit DDY02, by targeting NAD metabolism through inhibiting both NAMPT and PARP1, as a promising lead compound for the development of breast cancer therapy.

Abstract Finding materials exhibiting superconductivity at room temperature has long been one of the ultimate goals in physics and material science. Recently, room-temperature superconducting properties have been claimed in a copper substituted lead phosphate apatite (Pb10-xCux(PO4)6O, or called LK-99) (Lee et al. in J. Korean Cryst. Growth Cryst. Technol. 33:61, 2023; Lee et al. in The first room-temperature ambient-pressure superconductor, 2023; Lee et al. in Superconductor Pb10-xCux(PO4)6O showing levitation at room temperature and atmospheric pressure and mechanism, 2023). Using a similar approach, we have prepared LK-99 like samples and confirmed the half-levitation behaviors in some small specimens under the influence of a magnet at room temperature. To examine the magnetic properties of our samples, we have performed systematic magnetization measurements on the as-grown LK-99 like samples, including the half-levitated and non-levitated samples. The magnetization measurements show the coexistence of soft-ferromagnetic and diamagnetic signals in both half-levitated and non-levitated samples. The electrical transport measurements on the as-grown LK-99 like samples including both half-levitated and non-levitated samples show an insulating behavior characterized by the increasing resistivity with the decreasing temperature.

Osteosarcoma (OS) patients have a poor prognosis due to its high degree of heterogeneity and high rate of metastasis. Magnetic hyperthermia therapy (MHT) combined with immunotherapy is an effective strategy to treat solid and metastatic tumors. Here, we combined biodegradable magnesium (Mg) macroscale rods, which acted as an eddy thermo-magnetic agent under a low external alternating magnetic field, and immunotherapy to achieve a radical cure for OS. The eddy thermal effect (ETE) of the Mg rods (MgR) showed outstanding cytotoxic effects and enhanced the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs), and the mild MHT induced the immunogenic cell death (ICD) in the OS cells. Combined with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy, we obtained an excellent curative effect against OS, and a further evaluation demonstrated that the local MHT induced by the MgR increased T cells infiltration and the polarization of M1 macrophages. Interestingly, the biodegradable MgR also promoted bone osteogenesis. Our work highlighted the uneven ETE mediated by the biodegradable MgR induced a comprehensive immunologic activation in the OS tumor microenvironment (TME), which would inspire the application of MHT for the effective treatment of OS.

Abstract Tibetan Plateau (TP) snow cover is featured by sub‐seasonal changes, affecting weather and climate in surrounding and downstream areas. Previous studies emphasize the effect of background atmospheric circulation on rapid changes of TP snow cover as a whole. However, spatial discrepant changes of snow cover over the TP with complex topography and uneven snowfall remain unaddressed. Our research indicates that snow cover fraction dominates the rapid changes of surface albedo across the TP, and snow depth also significantly influences surface albedo changes through modulating snow albedo in central and eastern TP with shallow snow. However, the excessive snow amount and empirical snow cover fraction schemes introduce spatially divergent biases of surface albedo changes in simulations. Our research highlights the instant response of TP surface albedo to both snow coverage and depth in snow season, and provides a promising perspective for improving TP snow and surface albedo simulations.

The task of question matching/retrieval focuses on determining whether two questions are semantically equivalent. It has garnered significant attention in the field of natural language processing (NLP) due to its commercial value. While neural network models have made great strides and achieved human-level accuracy, they still face challenges when handling complex scenarios. In this paper, we delve into the utilization of different specializations encoded in different layers of large-scale pre-trained language models (PTMs). We propose a novel attention-based model called ERNIE-ATT that effectively integrates the diverse levels of semantics acquired by PTMs, thereby enhancing robustness. Experimental evaluations on two challenging datasets showcase the superior performance of our proposed model. It outperforms not only traditional models that do not use PTMs but also exhibits a significant improvement over strong PTM-based models. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach in enhancing the robustness of question matching/retrieval systems.

Abstract 2D materials are considered as potential candidates for the next generation of optoelectronic materials. However, their optical absorption is typically weak due to thickness limitations, greatly restricting the photodetection capabilities of devices. To enhance the photoelectric gain of 2D materials or devices and improve detection sensitivity, various modulation methods such as strain, electric field, and magnetic field are commonly introduced. Among them, surface acoustic wave (SAW) represents a unique and effective modulation approach. In this study, photodetectors are fabricated based on few‐layer MoS2 on a SAW delay line on a LiTaO3 substrate. The interaction between SAW and MoS2 successfully manipulates the optoelectronic performance of the MoS2‐based devices. Under the influence of SAW, the dark current of the devices is significantly reduced by more than two orders of magnitude, while the photocurrent remains almost unchanged, resulting in excellent photoresponse performance. The devices provide a promising pathway for high‐performance optoelectronic applications and reveal a new possibility for acoustic devices in optoelectronics.

Abstract Performing CO2 reduction in acidic conditions enables high single-pass CO2 conversion efficiency. However, a faster kinetics of the hydrogen evolution reaction compared to CO2 reduction limits the selectivity toward multicarbon products. Prior studies have shown that adsorbed hydroxide on the Cu surface promotes CO2 reduction in neutral and alkaline conditions. We posited that limited adsorbed hydroxide species in acidic CO2 reduction could contribute to a low selectivity to multicarbon products. Here we report an electrodeposited Cu catalyst that suppresses hydrogen formation and promotes selective CO2 reduction in acidic conditions. Using in situ time-resolved Raman spectroscopy, we show that a high concentration of CO and OH on the catalyst surface promotes C-C coupling, a finding that we correlate with evidence of increased CO residence time. The optimized electrodeposited Cu catalyst achieves a 60% faradaic efficiency for ethylene and 90% for multicarbon products. When deployed in a slim flow cell, the catalyst attains a 20% energy efficiency to ethylene, and 30% to multicarbon products.

Abstract Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) in nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) promote extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation and cellular inflammatory responses by activating a variety of cellular pathways, ultimately inducing cell apoptosis and leading to the development of low back pain. Here, we designed and fabricated an isoginkgetin-loaded ROS-responsive delivery system (IGK@SeNP) based on diselenide block copolymers. Successfully encapsulated IGK was released intelligently and rapidly in a microenvironment with high ROS levels in degenerative disc. Controlled-release IGK not only efficiently scavenged ROS from the intervertebral disc together with diselenide block copolymers but also effectively enhanced autophagy in NPCs to inhibit ECM degradation and cell apoptosis, and showed significant therapeutic effects in the rat intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) model. Overall, the synergistic effects of IGK@SeNP in ROS scavenging and autophagy enhancement endowed it with an attractive therapeutic strategy for IDD treatment.

Modular bioreactors can provide a flexible platform for constructing complex multi-step pathways, which may be a solution for maximizing reactions and overcoming the complexity of multi-enzyme systems. Here, we selected wood-derived cellulose scaffold as a support for enzyme immobilization and constructed the modular bioreactor. Cellulose scaffold was prepared after removing lignin from wood, followed by citric acid functionalization and the addition of glutaraldehyde finally allowed the cross-linking of enzymes. Three enzymes, horseradish peroxidase (HRP), glucose oxidase (GOD), and catalase (CAT), were separately immobilized, resulting in the immobilized enzyme amount to over 40 mg/g. The introduction of carboxyl groups from citric acid facilitated the rapid enzyme adsorption on the support surface and immobilized enzymes possess ∼65% expressed activity. Modular bioreactors were constructed by using the immobilized enzymes. With the immobilized HRP module, reactor showed desired catalytic performance with the phenol degradation rate of > 90%. Also, a pH regulation can occur in the bioreactors for preserving enzyme activities and neutralizing acid products. In the GOD/CAT modular bioreactor, the cascade reaction with adjusting pH values can achieve a 95% yield of sodium gluconate and exhibit a favorable reusability of 5 operation cycles.

BRD4 inhibitors have demonstrated promising potential in cancer therapy. However, their therapeutic efficacy in breast cancer varies depending on the breast cancer subtype, particularly in the treatment of TNBC. In this study, we designed and synthesized 94 derivatives of 4-(3-(3,5-dimethylisoxazol-4-yl)benzyl)phthalazin-1(2H)-one to evaluate their inhibitory activities against BRD4. Notably, compound DDT26 exhibited the most potent inhibitory effect on BRD4, with an IC50 value of 0.237 ± 0.093 μM. DDT26 demonstrated significant anti-proliferative activity against both TNBC cell lines and MCF-7 cells. Intriguingly, the phthalazinone moiety of DDT26 mimicked the PAPR1 substrate, resulting in DDT26 displaying a moderate inhibitory effect on PARP1 with an IC50 value of 4.289 ± 1.807 μM. Further, DDT26 was shown to modulate the expression of c-MYC and γ-H2AX, induce DNA damage, inhibit cell migration and colony formation, and arrest the cell cycle at the G1 phase in MCF-7 cells. Our findings present potential lead compounds for the development of potent anti-breast cancer agents targeting BRD4.

Background Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) encompasses a spectrum of liver disorders resulting from prolonged alcohol consumption and is influenced by factors such as oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1) plays a pivotal role in ALD due to its involvement in inflammation and immune responses. Another key factor, Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), an NAD+-dependent deacetylase, is known for its roles in cellular stress responses and metabolic regulation. Despite individual studies on HMGB1 and SIRT1 in ALD, their specific molecular interactions and combined effects on disease advancement remain incompletely understood. Methods Alcohol-induced liver injury (ALI) models were established using HepG2 cells and male C57BL/6 mice. HMGB1 and SIRT1 expressions were assessed at the mRNA and protein levels usingreverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blot, and immunofluorescence staining. The physical interaction between HMGB1 and SIRT1 was investigated using co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence co-expression analyses. Cellular viability was evaluated using the CCK-8 assay. Results In patients with clinical ALI, HMGB1 mRNA levels were elevated, while SIRT1 expression was reduced, indicating a negative correlation between the two. ALI models were successfully established in cells and mice, as evidenced by increased markers of cellular and liver damage. HMGB1 acetylation and translocation were observed in both ALI cells and mouse models. Treatment with the SIRT1 agonist, SRT1720, reversed the upregulation of HMGB1 acetylation, nuclear translocation, and release in the ethyl alcohol (EtOH) group. Furthermore, SIRT1 significantly attenuated ALI. Importantly, in vivo binding was confirmed between SIRT1 and HMGB1. Conclusions SIRT1 alleviates HMGB1 acetylation and translocation, thereby ameliorating ALI.

Abstract The development of lithium‐sulfur (Li‐S) batteries is severely limited by the shuttle effect and instability of Li‐metal anode. Constructing Li‐ion S batteries (LISBs), by using more stable commercial graphite (Gr) anode instead of Li‐metal, is an effective way to realize long‐cycle‐life Li‐S batteries. However, Gr electrode is usually incompatible with the ether‐based electrolytes commonly used for Li‐S batteries due to the Li+‐ether complex co‐intercalation into Gr interlayers. Herein, a solvent molecule structure regulation strategy is provided to weaken the Li+‐solvent binding by increasing steric hindrance and electronegativity, to accelerate Li+ de‐solvation process and prevent Li+‐ether complex co‐intercalation into Gr anode. Meanwhile, the weakly solvating power of solvent can suppress the shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides and makes more anions participate in Li+ solvation structure to generate a stable anion‐derived solid electrolyte interface on Gr surface. Therefore, a LISB coin‐cell consisting of lithiated graphite anode and S@C cathode displays a stable capacity of ≈770 mAh g−1 within 200 cycles. Furthermore, an unprecedented practical LISB pouch‐cell with a high Gr loading (≈10.5 mg cm−2) also delivers a high initial capacity of 802.3 mAh g−1 and releases a stable capacity of 499.1 mAh g−1 with a high Coulombic efficiency (≈95.9%) after 120 cycles.

Background:. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of CO2 fractional laser combined with Mebo burn ointment in treating facial postoperative scars. Methods:. Sixty patients with facial postoperative scars in the department of plastic surgery of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital from January 2020 to June 2022 were divided into a control group (30 cases) and a study group (30 cases). Both groups received CO2 fractional laser treatment, but the study group also received Mebo burn ointment application. Results:. The study found that both methods resulted in a significant decrease in Sawada score and a significant increase in Investigator Global Assessment score after treatment (P < 0.05), with the study group showing a more significant improvement and higher patient satisfaction (P < 0.05). All patients experienced varying degrees of bleeding, swelling, and erythema immediately after treatment, with two cases of pigmentation and two cases of persistent erythema in the control group, and one case of pigmentation and one case of persistent erythema in the study group. Adverse reactions were minimal, with the study group showing better tolerance. Conclusions:. The study suggests that CO2 fractional laser combined with Mebo burn ointment is an effective and safe treatment for facial postoperative scars.

Abstract Background This multicenter phase 1b/2 trial aimed to explore the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), activity, and safety of anlotinib plus chemotherapy in patients with T790M‐negative epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)‐mutant advanced nonsquamous non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after resistance to first‐ or second‐generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Methods In the phase 1b stage, patients received anlotinib (8/10/12 mg, days 1–14) combined with cisplatin (75 mg/m2, day 1) or carboplatin (AUC = 5, day 1) plus pemetrexed (500 mg/m2, day 1) for a 3‐week cycle based on a 3 + 3 dose‐escalation design. In the phase 2 single‐arm stage, anlotinib was administered at MTD combined with platinum plus pemetrexed for four cycles, followed by anlotinib maintenance therapy. The primary endpoint of the phase 2 stage was progression‐free survival (PFS). Results The study was prematurely terminated due to slow accrual after 19 patients had been enrolled between January 18, 2019, and March 21, 2021. The MTD of anlotinib was 12 mg. The median PFS was 5.75 (95% confidence interval, 4.37–7.52) months. The objective response rate was 47.4% (95% confidence interval, 24.5%–71.1%). In the 12 mg group, seven (58.3%) patients experienced grade 3–4 treatment‐related adverse events, and the most common ones were hypertension (6 [50.0%]), decreased platelet count (2 [16.7%]), and hypertriglyceridemia (1 [8.3%]). No treatment‐related deaths occurred. Conclusion Anlotinib plus platinum and pemetrexed showed promising antitumor activity with manageable toxicity in patients with T790M‐negative EGFR‐mutant advanced nonsquamous NSCLC after progression on first‐ or second‐generation EGFR TKIs.

A new study finds that deforestation in the northern extratropics can enhance horizontal temperature advection through biogeophysical processes, leading to higher local daily temperature variability, particularly in winter.

The structure of urban traffic network has a significant impact on the formation and spatio-temporal pattern propagation of traffic congestions.However, in studies based on traditional traffic models or deep learning models, the generation of traffic mode can only be described indirectly by traffic indicators, without considering the traffic network feature.This makes it very difficult to accurately describe the propagation dynamics both in temporal and spatial dimensions and lacks specificity.To tackle the above-mentioned problems, a novel traffic state prediction approach based on traffic pattern reasoning (TP2) framework was proposed.The framework modeled congestion propagation as a dynamically evolving temporal knowledge graph (TKG), and applied an inferencing framework (TPP-TKG) that was based on a novel aggregator called RGraAN.TPP-TKG captured the spatial-temporal propagation pattern of traffic congestion, and combined related road links to a given link, and constructed correlated sub region of the traffic network.Then a traffic state predicting based on graph neural network was employed to predict short-term speed evolution of road links in this sub region.Comparing to the state-of-the-art benchmark models, TP2 achieves 1% ~ 2% higher accuracy.

Introduction: Cell wall degradation and remodeling is the key factor causing fruit softening during ripening. Objectives: To explore the mechanism underlying postharvest cell wall metabolism, a transcriptome analysis method for more precious prediction on functional genes was needed. Methods: Kiwifruits treated by ethylene (a conventional and effective phytohormone to accelerate climacteric fruit ripening and softening as kiwifruits) or air were taken as materials. Here, Consensus Coexpression Network Analysis (CCNA), a procedure evolved from Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) package in R, was applied and generated 85 consensus clusters from twelve transcriptome libraries. Advanced and comprehensive modifications were achieved by combination of CCNA and WGCNA with introduction of physiological traits, including firmness, cell wall materials, cellulose, hemicellulose, water soluble pectin, covalent binding pectin and ionic soluble pectin. Results: As a result, six cell wall metabolisms related structural genes AdGAL1, AdMAN1, AdPL1, AdPL5, Adβ-Gal5, AdPME1 and four transcription factors AdZAT5, AdDOF3, AdNAC083, AdMYBR4 were identified as hub candidate genes for pectin degradation. Dual-luciferase system and electrophoretic mobility shift assays validated that promoters of AdPL5 and Adβ-Gal5 were recognized and trans-activated by transcription factor AdZAT5. The relatively higher enzyme activities of PL and β-Gal were observed in ethylene treated kiwifruit, further emphasized the critical roles of these two pectin related genes for fruit softening. Moreover, stable transient overexpression AdZAT5 in kiwifruit significantly enhanced AdPL5 and Adβ-Gal5 expression, which confirmed the in vivo regulations between transcription factor and pectin related genes. Conclusion: Thus, modification and application of CCNA would be powerful for the precious phishing the unknown regulators. It revealed that AdZAT5 is a key factor for pectin degradation by binding and regulating effector genes AdPL5 and Adβ-Gal5.

Abstract Background The combination of metal-catalyzed reactions and enzyme catalysis has been an essential tool for synthesizing chiral pharmaceutical intermediates in the field of drug synthesis. Metal catalysis commonly enables the highly efficient synthesis of molecular scaffolds under harsh organic conditions, whereas enzymes usually catalyze reactions in mild aqueous medium to obtain high selectivity. Since the incompatibility between metal and enzyme catalysis, there are limitations on the compatibility of reaction conditions that must be overcome. Findings We report a chemoenzymatic cascade reaction involved Palladium (Pd) catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura coupling and whole-cell catalyzed C = O asymmetric reduction for enantioselective synthesis of value-added chiral alcohol. The cell membrane serves as a natural barrier can protect intracellular enzymes from organic solvents. Conclusions With dual advantages of cascade catalysis and biocompatibility, our work provides a rational strategy to harvest chiral alcohols in high yield and excellent enantioselectivity, as a channel to establish chemoenzymatic catalysis.

α-Solanine, a natural small molecule compound, mainly derived from potato tubers with anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory effects. No studies have yet confirmed that α-solanine can act on tumor cells via ferroptosis, and its molecular mechanism is unclear. The present study aimed to study whether α-solanine could induce nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell death through ferroptosis and its specific molecular mechanism. Here, α-solanine was proven to trigger ferroptosis in NPC cells via targeting HSP90α directly. The primary manifestations of α-solanine-induced ferroptosis in NPC HK-1 and 5-8F cells were increased levels of ROS, MDA,iron and altered mitochondrial structure. Moreover, there was a noticeable decrease in SLC7A11 and GPX4 expression. Mechanistic study showed that α-solanine directly binds to HSP90α which promotes p53 expression and ultimately inhibits the level of SLC7A11 to inactivate GPX4. Collectively, our study revealed the potential application of α-solanine in the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma through ferroptosis.

Abstract The Loess Plateau of China has witnessed a remarkable greening trend due to vegetation restoration in recent decades. However, the precipitation response to greening remains unclear, and the hydrological effect of greening is controversial. Here, we revisited biophysical effects of greening on precipitation over the plateau during 2002–2015 using the state‐of‐the‐art water vapor tracer embedded in a regional coupled model. We find that greening can promote the growing season precipitation (0.45 mm·day−1), with 15% and 85% of the precipitation increment resulting from increases in the local evapotranspiration and the water vapor inflow from outside the plateau, respectively. As a consequence, the enhanced precipitation can compensate for the terrestrial water loss driven by the increased evapotranspiration, leading to a slight increase in the water yield. This study highlights the dominant role of the nonlocal effect in precipitation responses to greening in this region.

In order to know the effect of varied grousers on the reaction of soil, the reaction of soil by a plate at different angles of inclination using the two-dimensional discrete element method (DEM) has been investigated. Either the simulation or the experiment, a flat iron plate with 5 × 77 × 100 (mm) was used, and the inclination angle between the plate and the soil surface ranged from 0 to 60 degrees with 15-degree intervals. According to the result, the cohesive soil model introduced in the 2D DEM could successfully replicate the experimental results considering the effects of different inclination angles of the plate and the values of the root mean square error between the simulation and the experiment were found as 6.62, 36.60, 58.63, 60.84, and 66.25 N for inclination angles from 0 to 60 degrees in the horizontal direction. Moreover, the RMSE values of 127.91, 216.06, 75.88, 110.40, and 25.49 N were obtained for the vertical direction. Overall, a minimal discrepancy was observed between the results of DEM simulation and those of experiments in the vertical component of reaction force when the inclination angle of the plate was increased.

Exercise and diet interventions are treatments for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Here the authors report that in randomized, controlled trial in patients with NAFLD exercise and diet intervention were associated with diversified gut microbiome keystone taxa. Exploratory analysis suggests gut microbial network may be used to predict the individual liver fat response to exercise intervention, if validated in future studies.

Single atom catalysts have been described for efficient and selective metal catalysis, while enzymes have been known for their recognition and binding. In this manuscript, the authors develop a photochemical method to combine the two platforms in one, and demonstrate it by anchoring Pd atoms on Candida Antarctic lipase B, for highly efficient alkyl-alkyl cross-coupling reactions.

Abstract The vital role of insulin resistance (IR) in the pathogenesis of isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) has been expounded at the theoretical level. However, research on the correlation between some specific IR indicators and ISH is still rare, especially at different glycemic statuses. We conducted this study to explore the association between three IR indicators and ISH among young and middle-aged adults with normal fasting plasma glucose (NFG). This large cross-sectional study included 8246 young and middle-aged men with NFG and diastolic blood pressure

Abstract Background Numerous studies suggest that interpersonal relationships and social support influence the development of postpartum depression and sleep quality for women. However, the effect of support from the husband or the mother-in-law has not been thoroughly validated. The current study examined the relative contribution of marital satisfaction, perceived caring of the mother-in-law, and social support on postpartum depression and sleep quality simultaneously in a path model. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to June 2017 in Hebei, China, using a self-report questionnaire. A total of 817 women participated at 6 weeks postpartum. Sociodemographics and information about marital satisfaction, perceived caring of the mother-in-law, social support, postpartum depression, and sleep were collected. Path analysis was used to analyze the cross-sectional data. Results The final model had a highly satisfactory fit. Marital satisfaction and perceived caring of mother-in-law had both direct and indirect effects on postpartum depression through social support, but these two variables had only an indirect effect on sleep quality through social support and postpartum depression. Sleep quality is a consequence of postpartum depression at 6 weeks after delivery. The prevalence of minor and major postpartum depressive symptoms at 6 weeks postpartum was 41.49 and 23.13%, respectively. A total of 371 (45.41%) women experienced sleep disturbance at 6 weeks postpartum. Conclusions These findings suggest that interpersonal relationships with family members play important roles in postpartum depression and sleep quality through social support in Chinese women. Improving the relationship between new mothers and their husbands or mothers-in-law and then enhancing social support might reduce postpartum depression and sleep disturbance.

BackgroundPathological spine fractures caused by metastases of lung cancer have brought great suffering to patients. Percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) has been considered a preferred alternative for painful spinal metastases. The clinical efficacy and safety of PKP for metastatic spinal lesions are urgently to be evaluated.MethodsA cohort study was conducted on 54 cases with pathologic spine fractures caused by metastasis of lung cancer. The correction of kyphosis was assessed by the Cobb angle. The life dependence and quality of the patients were evaluated by the Barthel Index of activities of daily living (ADL) and the quality-adjusted life year (QALY). Patients' survival was carefully recorded.ResultsPKP significantly corrected the kyphosis compared with conservative treatment. The ratio of moderate dependence after fracture was clearly increased by PKP. QALY indicated a better life quality brought by PKP. However, PKP could not improve the survival rate of patients.ConclusionPKP can be used as an effective palliative care treatment for patients with metastatic pathologic spinal fractures of lung cancer.

A 3-cm-long optical reference cavity for transportable miniaturized ultra-stable laser is designed and analyzed using finite element analysis (FEA). Although the tiny cavity is formed in a conventional way, in which a cylinder spacer made of ultra-low expansion (ULE) glass is optically contacted with fused-silica mirror substrates and compensation rings, the compensation rings are specially designed in order to broaden the zero-thermal-expansion temperature tuning range. In addition, the cavity is capable of being rigidly fixed by clamping both end sections of the cylinder spacer along the axis. The thermodynamic analysis shows that a larger tuning span of the zero-thermal-expansion temperature varying from −10 K to + 23 K compared to all-ULE cavity is benefited, resulting in the whole optical reference cavity could work around room temperature. Meanwhile, the statics analysis indicates the design is insensitive to extrusion force and vibration so that it owns a potential of solid performance after transportation.

Machine game is a kind of artificial intelligence in which machines imitate the way people think and make decisions.It is currently the most challenging research direction in the field of artificial intelligence, whose research status largely represents the development level of artificial intelligence.The basic concepts, research status and typical applications of machine game were summarized, its challenges and development trends were discussed, and the possible applications of machine game on the social governance were analyzed.Then, a social cognitive parallel game method based on the parallel systems and the machine game were proposed, aiming at providing new ideas for the research of social governance.

Norovirus (NoV) has been recognized as a leading cause of gastroenteritis worldwide. This review estimates the prevalence and genotype distribution of NoV in China to provide a sound reference for vaccine development. Studies were searched up to October 2020 from CNKI database and inclusion criteria were study duration of at least one calendar year and population size of >100. The mean overall NoV prevalence in individuals with sporadic diarrhea/gastroenteritis was 16.68% (20796/124649, 95% CI 16.63–16.72), and the detection rate of NoV was the highest among children. Non-GII.4 strains have replaced GII.4 as the predominant caused multiple outbreaks since 2014. Especially the recombinant GII.P16-GII.2 increased sharply, and virologic data show that the polymerase GII.P16 rather than VP1 triggers pandemic. Due to genetic diversity and rapid evolution, predominant genotypes might change unexpectedly, which has become major obstacle for the development of effective NoV vaccines.

Abstract Background The latest European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire-Lung Cancer 29 (QLQ-LC29) has been translated and validated in several languages but not yet in simplified Chinese. This study aimed to translate this questionnaire into simplified Chinese and adapt it for use in Chinese patients with lung cancer. Methods The translation and adaptation process followed the EORTC translation procedure, and consisted of eight steps, namely, translation preparation, forward translations, reconciled translation, back translations, a back translation report, proofreading, pilot testing, and finalisation. The pilot testing included 10 patients with lung cancer. Results We obtained the permission to perform the EORTC QLQ-LC29 translation work on November 17, 2020. Thereafter, it took 3 weeks to complete the forward translations, reconciled translation, and back translations. After several rounds of discussion with the EORTC Translation Unit, 19 items used the existing translations from the EORTC Item Library (a database of EORTC questionnaire items and their translations), and 10 items were translated from scratch. The 10 patients included in the pilot testing phase had a median age of 64 years (range 31–69 years); five were male, five had an educational level of high school or above, and six had undergone surgery. Eight items received comments from patients (six items by one patient alone and the other two items by three patients). No patients commented on the instructions or the format used for responses. After discussion with the EORTC Translation Unit, we modified the Chinese wording in item 50 to ensure that the meaning of “lifeless” was clear. No changes were made to the remaining items. Conclusions The simplified Chinese version of the EORTC QLQ-LC29 is now available on the EORTC website. This translation may contribute to the application of the EORTC QLQ-LC29 scale in both research and clinical practice in the Chinese population with lung cancer. Further evaluation of the psychometric properties of the translated EORTC QLQ-LC29 is warranted.

Glycyrrhizin (GL) and Glycyrrhetic Acid 3-O-mono-β-D-glucuronide (GAMG) are the typical triterpenoid glycosides found in the root of licorice, a popular medicinal plant that exhibits diverse physiological effects and pharmacological manifestations. However, only few reports are available on the glycosylation enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of these valuable compounds with low conversion yield so far. In mammals, glycosyltransferases are involved in the phase II metabolism and may provide new solutions for us to engineer microbial strains to produce high valued compounds due to the substrate promiscuity of these glycosyltransferases. In this study, we mined the genomic databases of mammals and evaluated 22 candidate genes of O-glycosyltransferases by analyzing their catalytic potential for O-glycosylation of the native substrate, glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) for its glycodiversification. Out of 22 selected glycosyltransferases, only UGT1A1 exhibited high catalytic performance for biosynthesis of the key licorice compounds GL and GAMG. Molecular docking results proposed that the enzymatic activity of UGT1A1 was likely owing to the stable hydrogen bonding interactions and favorite conformations between the amino acid residues around substrate channels (P82~R85) and substrates. Furthermore, the complete biosynthesis pathway of GL was reconstructed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae for the first time, resulting in the production of 5.98 ± 0.47 mg/L and 2.31 ± 0.21 mg/L of GL and GAMG, respectively.

The performance of existing rice-paddy weeding machines is not optimal. In this study, the influence of the installation angle of the weeding-wheel blade on cutting resistance and soil-slippage ability was analyzed. The optimal blade angle of the weeding wheel (i.e., the angle at which the resistance to the weeding wheel is minimal and the disturbance speed of the soil maximal) was shown to be< 20°; numerical simulation showed the actual optimal value to be 0°. Different weeding depths (30, 40, and 50 mm), rotation speed of weeding wheel (120, 180, and 240 r/min), and weeder forward speeds (0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 m/s) were used as test factors, and the rates of seedling injury and weeding were used as performance-evaluation criteria to optimize the machine in a secondary orthogonal-rotation combination test. Field experiments showed that the weeding wheel can exhibit optimal working performance under the operating conditions of weeding depth of 39 mm, rotation speed of 175 r/min, and forward speed of 0.6 m/s. The seedling injury and weeding rates were 4.4% and 88.2%, respectively, which were consistent with the numerically predicted results and met the agronomic requirements. This study provides a technical reference for the improvement of paddy-field weeding components.

Quantum frequency standards are crucial for time measurement, satellite navigation, telecommunication, and other essential applications. Beijing Institute of Radio Metrology and Measurement (BIRMM) has been working on quantum frequency standards and their applications for tens of years. This paper introduces the latest progress on quantum frequency standards at BIRMM, including a calcium optical clock, an active hydrogen maser, and a mercury ion microwave clock. Based on the 1S0-3P1 transition of calcium atoms, a transportable optical clock prototype is built with a stability of 8 × 10–15 at 1 s. A compact active hydrogen maser has been developed for the Chinese space station. It will be used for scientific research such as examining Einstein’s theory of general relativity and has just been lunched. The preliminary frequency stability of the maser is 1.27 × 10–15 at 10000 s. Additionally, a prototype mercury ion microwave clock is developed using the hyperfine transition between 62S1/2, F = 0 and 62S1/2, F = 1. The trapped Hg+ ions are pumped by mercury discharge lamps and cooled by Helium gas. The measured clock transition linewidth is about 1 Hz, and frequency stability of 4 × 10–13 at 1 s and 4 × 10–14 at 1000 s is achieved.

Groundwater plays an integral role in land-atmosphere interactions by connecting the sub-surface storage of water to transpiration via interactions with the root zone. The role of groundwater in moderating heatwave intensity has rarely been examined in coupled climate simulations, as many models overlook this key component of the water cycle. We use a coupled land-atmosphere model with an explicit representation of groundwater dynamics to analyze three major heatwave events in southeast Australia. Groundwater moistens and cools the land surface, with impacts extending to the top of the atmospheric boundary layer during heatwaves. Associated with the cooling, an increase of net radiation and a reduction in the atmospheric boundary layer height occurred, primarily over areas with a shallow water table depth and woody vegetation. The maximum air temperatures were reduced by up to 3 °C at the surface and up to 1 °C through the atmospheric boundary layer. Our results point to an important influence of groundwater on heatwave intensity, implying the necessity of considering groundwater dynamics in climate models in the future heatwave predications.