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The Covid-19 pandemic has precipitated a global shift to a ‘new normal’ of online and hybrid learning, significantly affecting language education. This study investigates the impact of emergency remote teaching on language learners’ anxiety, examining their preferences for teaching modes and the reasons behind them. Diverging from prior research conducted in well-established digital environments, this inquiry delves into the improvised and stressful context of emergency remote teaching during a pandemic, shedding light on the unexplored facets of the online learning experience. This study, through a quantitative lens, assesses the experiences of 376 English as a foreign language (EFL) students in China, 65 Chinese as a foreign language (CFL) students in Vietnam, and 44 Chinese as a second language (CSL) students enrolled at universities in mainland China. These groups navigated foreign language learning in their home countries amid pandemic constraints, offering a varied landscape of language learning experiences. Our results indicate that different factors trigger anxiety across different groups, despite a general preference for face-to-face learning, which contrasts with the notion that online learning may offer a more relaxed environment. The findings address critical issues that surfaced during the pandemic and explore implications for language education practices in the post-pandemic context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2‐Nitroglycals are important synthons for biological active 2‐aminoglycosides, glycoconjugates and natural products synthesis. Herein, we summarized the recent advances of 2‐nitroglycals including its synthetic methods and its applications. Using 2‐nitroglycals, 2‐aminoglycosides, nitro‐polyol derivatives, sugar‐furan derivatives, sugar‐pyrrole molecules, 2,3‐diaminoglycosides and 2‐amino‐1,3‐dithioglycosides were obtained via Michael–type addition, retro‐Henry‐type reaction, C1/C3‐Ferrier rearrangement and [3+2] N‐heterocyclic addition. Most of these conversions are achieved via mild organo‐catalysis glycosylation methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the average Kolmogorov σ –widths and the average linear σ –widths of multivariate isotropic and anisotropic Besov classes in Orlicz spaces and give the weak asymptotic estimates of these two widths. At the same time, we also give the asymptotic property of the optimal recovery of isotropic Besov classes in Orlicz spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface modification technique is applied in microfluidic devices to modify wettability and achieve different flow velocities. Currently available methods for poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) surfaces may reliably induce wettability changes, but only one area can be altered at a time. This work introduces the controlled gradient oxygen plasma modification (CGPM) technique, which layers several resin masks with varying porosities on top of the PDMS surface. Selective wettability of the PDMS surface can be achieved by varying the oxygen plasma density above the modified material's surface by manipulation of the porosity value. Through the implementation of the COMSOL plasma module, the impact of the mask's porosity, through-hole size, distribution, and distance from the PDMS surface on wettability was studied. The suggested CGPM approach was characterized by contact angle measurements. During the 25-second CGPM procedure, the PDMS surface's contact angle continually changed from 8.77° to 76.98°. An integrated microfluidic device was created and manufactured to identify D-dimers to illustrate this method. In comparison with standard oxygen plasma treatment, the D-dimer assay was finished in 10 minutes and had a dynamic range of 1–1000 ng mL−1, with a peak fluorescence signal augmentation of 78.3% and an average fluorescence intensity enhancement of 31.1%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the differences in risk perception among various groups is crucial for policy development, and the cultural theory of risk provides significant insights into these group variations. Utilising data from Mainland China during the COVID-19 pandemic, we constructed a structural model that encompasses occupational background, risk culture, and risk perception, examining the interplay between these elements. Our findings reveal that risk culture, as initially conceptualised by Mary Douglas, acts as a mediating factor between occupational roles and the differences in risk perception, offering a deeper understanding of how diverse risk perceptions are shaped across distinct demographic groups. This study underscores the importance of considering cultural factors in risk perception and provides valuable guidance for the development of targeted risk communication and intervention policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The topological simulation of acoustic waves has induced unconventional propagation characteristics, thereby offering extensive application potential in the field of acoustics. In this paper, we propose a machine learning-assisted method for the inverse design of acoustic wave topological edge states and demonstrate its practical applicability. Leveraging the predictions from a trained artificial neural network algorithm, the design of wide-bandwidth topological insulators is achieved, with simulation results indicating an approximately 2.8-fold enlargement of the single-cell topological bandgap. Further investigation into their wide-bandwidth topological transport properties is conducted. Additionally, two distinct functional acoustic routing devices are devised. Superior performance of the wide-bandwidth acoustic topological devices has been verified through simulation experiments. This approach provides an efficient and viable avenue for the design and optimization of acoustic devices, with the potential to enhance the management and control efficiency of acoustic signal propagation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of optical topological insulators (PTIs) has revealed intriguing optical properties that diversify the ways in which light can be manipulated, offering significant potential for a wide range of applications. This paper presents a machine learning (ML)-based approach for the reverse design of optical PTIs. Using finite element methods, the paper addresses the challenge of computing the band structure of a dual-band model, enabling the construction of a dataset suitable for ML training. With the goal of maximizing dual-band bandgaps, the study employs the random forest algorithm to predict target parameters and further designs topological edge states. Leveraging these boundary state patterns, two different optical PTI beam splitters are devised, and their transmission coefficients and losses are computed. The results demonstrate that optical devices designed using topological boundary states exhibit enhanced stability and robustness. This approach offers a reliable solution for applications in fields such as optical communication and optical sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The objective of this study was to examine the potential induction of senescence in vascular endothelial cells (VECs) by chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH), a defining characteristic of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This investigation seeks to elucidate the underlying mechanisms that contribute to the development of cardiovascular diseases in patients with OSA, with a particular focus on CIH-induced vascular aging. Methods: The BioSpherix-OxyCycler system was used to establish models of CIH in both rats and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). To assess VECs' senescence, various methods were employed including EdU incorporation assay, cell cycle analysis, senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) staining, and senescence protein testing. Vascular aging was evaluated through measurements of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, intima-media thickness, and Ki67 immunohistochemical staining. In order to identify the molecular mechanisms associated with CIH-induced senescence in VECs, a bioinformatics study was conducted utilizing the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Results: Under conditions of CIH, HUVECs exhibited inhibited proliferation, arrested cell cycle, increased activity of SA-β-gal, and elevated expression levels of p53 and p21 compared to HUVECs under normoxic conditions. Similarly, rats exposed to CIH displayed increased carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, intima-media thickness, vascular permeability, and SA-β-gal activity in VECs, along with decreased expression of arterial Ki67. BTG3-associated protein (BANP) was found to be highly expressed in CIH-induced VECs. Furthermore, the overexpression of BANP resulted in the senescence of VECs, along with elevated levels of p53 phosphorylation and nuclear localization. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that CIH can induce VECs senescence and contribute to vascular aging. Additionally, BANP can induce VECs senescence by promoting p53 phosphorylation and nuclear retention. These discoveries offer novel insights into the increased cardiovascular risk associated with OSA, thereby presenting new possibilities for therapeutic intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The common carp (Cyprinus carpio) might best represent the domesticated allopolyploid animals. Although subgenome divergence which is well-known to be a key to allopolyploid domestication has been comprehensively characterized in common carps, the link between genetic architecture underlying agronomic traits and subgenome divergence is unknown in the selective breeding of common carps globally. Results: We utilized a comprehensive SNP dataset in 13 representative common carp strains worldwide to detect genome-wide genetic variations associated with scale reduction, vibrant skin color, and high growth rate in common carp domestication. We identified numerous novel candidate genes underlie the three agronomically most desirable traits in domesticated common carps, providing potential molecular targets for future genetic improvement in the selective breeding of common carps. We found that independently selective breeding of the same agronomic trait (e.g., fast growing) in common carp domestication could result from completely different genetic variations, indicating the potential advantage of allopolyploid in domestication. We observed that candidate genes associated with scale reduction, vibrant skin color, and/or high growth rate are repeatedly enriched in the immune system, suggesting that domestication of common carps was often accompanied by the disease resistance improvement. Conclusions: In common carp domestication, asymmetric subgenome selection is prevalent, while parallel subgenome selection occurs in selective breeding of common carps. This observation is not due to asymmetric gene retention/loss between subgenomes but might be better explained by reduced pleiotropy through transposable element-mediated expression divergence between ohnologs. Our results demonstrate that domestication benefits from polyploidy not only in plants but also in animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bond between deformed steel rebar and concrete plays a critical role against seismic action, thus it is important to capture the dynamic bond loss and establish the bond-slip model with cyclic loading. To explain the macroscale performance such as bond-slip relationship and establish the bond strength model, it is meaningful to capture the mesoscale and local behaviors between ribs and concrete. In this paper, pull-out specimens with rebar embedded in concrete and small windows excavated in the cover concrete are adopted with DIC technique to monitor the strain variation and crack development along the interfaces under static and reversed loading of different amplitude. From the test, it is found that DIC is an effective approach to obtain the localized characteristics including the normal and shear deformations. Through parametric study, the effects of concrete cover depth and the existence of stirrups on bond deterioration in terms of both global and local behaviors are studied. Interestingly, the global slip and local crack-width show synchronically increase under the pulling-out action, which demonstrates that the macroscale behaviors could be clarified from mesoscale measurement with the aid of DIC technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The skin is a multi‐layered structure composed of the epidermis, dermis and hypodermis. The epidermis originates entirely from the ectoderm, whereas the dermis originates from various germ layers depending on its anatomical location; thus, there are different developmental patterns of the skin. Although the regulatory mechanisms of epidermal formation are well understood, mechanisms regulating dermis development are not clear owing to the complex origin. It has been shown that several morphogenetic pathways regulate dermis development. Of these, transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signalling pathways are the main modulators regulating skin cell induction, fate decision, migration and differentiation. Recently, the successful generation of human skin by modulating TGF‐β and FGF signals further demonstrated the irreplaceable roles of these pathways in skin regeneration. This review provides evidence of the role of TGF‐β and FGF signalling pathways in the development of different skin layers, especially the disparate dermis of different body regions. This review also provides new perspectives on the distinct developmental patterns of skin and explores new ideas for clinical applications in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research has revealed that the dynamics of autumn phenology play a decisive role in the inter-annual changes in the carbon cycle. However, to date, the shifts in autumn phenology (EGS) and the elements that govern it have not garnered unanimous acknowledgment. This paper focuses on the Yellow River Basin (YRB) ecosystem and systematically analyzes the dynamic characteristics of EGS and its multiple controls across the entire region and biomes from 1982 to 2015 based on the long-term GIMMS NDVI3g dataset. The results demonstrated that a trend toward a significant delay in EGS (p < 0.05) was detected and this delay was consistently observed across all biomes. By using the geographical detector model, the association between EGS and several main driving factors was quantified. The spring phenology (SGS) had the largest explanatory power among the interannual variations of EGS across the YRB, followed by preseason temperature. For different vegetation types, SGS and preseason precipitation were the dominant driving factors for the EGS in woody plants and grasslands, respectively, whereas the explanatory power for each driving factor on cultivated land was very weak. Furthermore, the EGS was controlled by drought at different timescales and the dominant timescales were concentrated in 1–3 accumulated months. Grasslands were more significantly influenced by drought than woody plants at the biome level. These findings validate the significance of SGS on the EGS in the YRB as well as highlight that both drought and SGS should be considered in autumn fall phenology models for improving the prediction accuracy under future climate change scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Certain polymers, such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyimide (PI), and poly (phthalazinone ether sulfone ketone) (PPESK), are commonly used separator materials in batteries. However, during the thermal runaway (TR) processing of batteries, significant heat is released by the combustion of the polymer separator. Therefore, analysis of the fire behaviors of polymer separator materials will facilitate a more comprehensive quantitative evaluation of battery thermal risk. This paper investigated the combustion properties of three types of polymers, namely, PVDF, PI, and PPESK, as potential separator materials by cone calorimetry and thermogravimetry (TG). A series of characteristic parameters, including ignition time (TTI), heat release rate (HRR), smoke production rate (SPR), and total heat release (THR), were evaluated for three polymers and blends (PI/PVDF, PPESK/PVDF) under an external heat flux of 45 or 60 kW/m2, respectively. The combustion characteristics and fire hazards of the three polymers and corresponding mixtures were analyzed through the comparative analysis of experimental data and phenomena. Under 60 kW/m2, the HRR curves of all polymers presented two peaks, while PI/PVDF and PPESK/PVDF mixtures exhibited one obvious peak. Moreover, the peak HRR (pHRR) for the mixed polymers was higher, indicating a relatively higher fire risk. However, in the application scenario, the mixed state represents the main polymer form as the active separator materials in batteries. The results showed that the specific coupling behaviors were related primarily to the component type. This work will help evaluate the fire risk of polymeric separator materials based on the combustion characteristics to predict the safety of mixtures in batteries and develop new methods for fire suppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the sheet forming process, the final bending angle is mostly determined based on experience rather than based on a reliable theoretical framework. Furthermore, the local bent areas tend to decrease in thickness. Thus, it is difficult to control the quality of the final products. In this study, we developed an optimized bending angle function by combining segment boundaries to improve the final sheet forming quality and reduce the local thinning defects. The finite element submodel method was used to establish a high-definition thickness-sensitive numerical model for the bottom bending area of the hat-shaped part. This method accurately simulated the thickness variation law of the bending area of roll forming and analyzed the optimization function of the bending angle of the segment boundary as well as the process parameters for local thinning. Finally, roll-bending experiments were conducted to analyze the bending angle distribution conditions and the change law with respect to the process parameters of the cap-shaped parts in case of local thinning defects to verify the accuracy of the finite element simulation process. The results showed that the local thinning defect in the bending area of the hat-shaped part was smaller during roll bending, and the forming quality obtained was better than that obtained using other previously reported methods. The experimental data were consistent with the simulation data, verifying the accuracy of our proposed approach. Moreover, the thickness of the thinning defect was influenced by the process parameters; the plate bending radius and yield strength increased, and thickness thinning gradually decreased. Furthermore, the local thinning defects increased with the increasing plate thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insect pathogenic fungi, also known as entomopathogenic fungi, are one of the largest insect pathogenic microorganism communities, represented by Beauveria spp. and Metarhizium spp. Entomopathogenic fungi have been proved to be a great substitute for chemical pesticide in agriculture. In fact, a lot of functional genes were also already characterized in entomopathogenic fungi, but more depth of exploration is still needed to reveal their complicated pathogenic mechanism to insects. Metarhizium rileyi (Nomuraea rileyi) is a great potential biocontrol fungus that can parasitize more than 40 distinct species (mainly Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to cause large-scale infectious diseases within insect population. In this study, a comparative analysis of transcriptome profile was performed with topical inoculation and hemolymph injection to character the infectious pattern of M. rileyi. Appressorium and multiple hydrolases are indispensable constituents to break the insect host primary cuticle defense in entomopathogenic fungi. Within our transcriptome data, numerous transcripts related to destruction of insect cuticle rather growth regulations were obtained. Most importantly, some unreported ribosomal protein genes and novel unannotated protein (hypothetical protein) genes were proved to participate in the course of pathogenic regulation. Our current data provide a higher efficiency gene library for virulence factors screen in M. rileyi, and this library may be also useful for furnishing valuable information on entomopathogenic fungal pathogenic mechanisms to host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hadal sediments are recognized as organic carbon depocenters with intensified microbial activity compared to adjacent abyssal sites due to focusing of relatively labile organic materials. However, the sources and turnover of hadopelagic organic carbon and its linkages to microbial activities have not been studied. We present the first synergic research on particulate organic carbon, dark carbon fixation, and size‐fractionated microbial community respiration proxy over the Atacama Trench. The results demonstrate that all parameters attenuate rapidly from surface to mesopelagic water (~ 1000 m). Progressing deeper, values remain relatively stable throughout bathypelagic (~ 4000 m) and abyssopelagic (~ 6000 m) waters. However, in the hadopelagic zone (> 6000 m), highly variable values indicate dynamic organic carbon sources and microbial activities in the deepest trench. On average, 71% of the microbial community respiration proxy is attributable to particle‐associated communities, indicating importance of particles for microbial metabolism. No apparent relationship was observed between the microbial community respiration proxy and microbial 16S rRNA gene abundance below the epipelagic depth, indicating variable supply and quality of organic carbon likely constrained heterotrophic activities rather than microbial abundances in the deep ocean. The depth‐integrated dark carbon fixation (> 1000 m) accounts for 11.5% ± 7.6% of the surface net primary production, of which 2.9% ± 0.4% is from hadopelagic depth. Dark carbon fixation is thus an important in situ organic carbon source for hadal life. This study suggests that high variability in organic carbon sources and microbial activities in the hadopelagic trench cannot be simply extrapolated from findings in the shallower dark ocean (e.g., 1000–6000 m). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, all-inorganic cesium lead bromide (CsPbBr3) perovskites have garnered considerable attention for their prospective applications in green photonics and optoelectronic devices. However, the development of efficient and economical methods to obtain high-quality micron-sized single-crystalline CsPbBr3 microplatelets (MPs) has become a challenge. Here, we report the synthesis of CsPbBr3 MPs on Si/SiO2 substrate by optimizing the ultrafast antisolvent method (FAS). This technique is able to produce well-dispersed, uniformly sized, and morphologically regular tetragonal phase single crystals, which can give strong green emission at room temperature, with excellent stability and excitonic character. Moreover, the crystals demonstrated lasing with a whispering gallery mode with a low threshold. These results suggest that the single-crystalline CsPbBr3 MPs synthesized by this method are of high optical quality, holding vast potential for future applications in photonic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The composite films filled with anisotropic flaky powders usually have excellent in-plane thermal conductivity, but poor through-plane thermal conductivity. To improve the through-plane thermal conductivity, vertically aligned boron nitride (BN) platelets are scaffolded through electrostatic flocking together with flexible epoxy resin. 17.57 wt% BN loading of the BN/epoxy complexes exhibit 0.65 W/m K of through-plane thermal conductivity, which is 18.6% higher than the random BN/epoxy. The method effectively utilizes each anisotropy of the two-dimensional material BN, exploiting the higher thermal conductivity of BN in-plane, and providing a new strategy for the preparation of thermal interface materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A microwave atmospheric pressure plasma jet (MW‐APPJ) generator based on a substrate‐integrated waveguide (SIW) resonator is proposed. A thin, straight plasma needle with a length of 9 cm could be obtained. Higher than 90% of microwave feeding efficiency is obtained under a wide range of gas flow rates without a microwave matching network. As the gas flow increased from 1 to 14 L/min, a transition from laminar to turbulent mode is observed in the plasma jet's morphology. Furthermore, a preliminary surface treatment was tested for the device. The polyimide film became super hydrophilic after a 5‐min treatment with the developed SIW‐based plasma generator. Generally, the SIW‐based MW‐APPJ is low‐cost, electrodeless, and low‐profile along the plasma jet length direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dysregulation of the Notch signaling pathway, which is highly conserved across species, can drive aberrant epigenetic modification, transcription, and translation. Defective gene regulation caused by dysregulated Notch signaling often affects networks controlling oncogenesis and tumor progression. Meanwhile, Notch signaling can modulate immune cells involved in anti- or pro-tumor responses and tumor immunogenicity. A comprehensive understanding of these processes can help with designing new drugs that target Notch signaling, thereby enhancing the effects of cancer immunotherapy. Here, we provide an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of how Notch signaling intrinsically regulates immune cells and how alterations in Notch signaling in tumor cells or stromal cells extrinsically regulate immune responses in the tumor microenvironment (TME). We also discuss the potential role of Notch signaling in tumor immunity mediated by gut microbiota. Finally, we propose strategies for targeting Notch signaling in cancer immunotherapy. These include oncolytic virotherapy combined with inhibition of Notch signaling, nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with Notch signaling regulators to specifically target tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) to repolarize their functions and remodel the TME, combining specific and efficient inhibitors or activators of Notch signaling with immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs) for synergistic anti-tumor therapy, and implementing a customized and effective synNotch circuit system to enhance safety of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) immune cells. Collectively, this review aims to summarize how Notch signaling intrinsically and extrinsically shapes immune responses to improve immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reverse design method of acoustic structure based on a deep learning algorithm has been developed as an important means of metamaterial design. In this paper, a multi-band acoustic topological insulator is designed, and the improved competitive search algorithm Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) algorithm model is used to predict its potential optimal parameter combination to assist the on-demand design of the working frequency band of the multi-band acoustic topology insulator. Finally, the numerical simulation model is established using the optimized structural parameters, and the topologically protected boundary state is studied, which verifies the effectiveness of the method. The research results provide a reference for the on-demand design of multi-band antennas, sound absorption, sound insulation, and other acoustic communication functional devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) sensing platform (termed as USP), comprised of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) as the energy donor and Cy5 as the energy acceptor, has been synthesized for cathepsin B (CTSB) activity detection in vitro and in vivo. When Cy5-modified peptide substrate (peptide-Cy5) of CTSB is covalently linked on the surface of UCNPs, the FRET between the UCNPs (excitation: 980 nm; emission: 541 nm/655 nm) and Cy5 (excitation: 645 nm) leads to a reduction in the red upconversion luminescence (UCL) signal intensity of UCNPs. Cy5 can be liberated from UCNPs in the presence of CTSB through the cleavage of peptide-Cy5 by CTSB, leading to the recovery of the red UCL signal of UCNPs. Because the green UCL signal of UCNPs remains constant during the CTSB digestion, it can be considered as an internal reference. The findings demonstrate the ability of USP to detect CTSB with the linear detection ranges of 1 to 100 ng·mL−1 in buffer and 2 × 103 to 1 × 105 cells in 0.2 mL cell lysates. The limits of detection (LODs) are 0.30 ng·mL−1 in buffer and 887 cells in 0.2 mL of cell lysates (S/N = 3). The viability of USP to detect CTSB activity in tumor-bearing mice is has further been investigated using in vivo fluorescent imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacteria can obtain antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) through multiple transmission routes, including horizontal gene transfer mediated by phages. Sequence-based metagenomics can detect novel phage-derived ARGs and avoid spending a great deal of time on phage isolation. Here, a metagenomic method was applied to explore the presence of ARGs in phages in freshwater samples. Two novel β-lactamase-encoding genes, bla ORF88 and bla ORF47 , were identified and characterized in phage genomes for the first time in this study. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that bla ORF88 is a member of the class C β-lactamase family, while bla ORF47 formed an independent branch away from the class C β-lactamases. The average absolute abundance of bla ORF88 in phage DNA and bacterial DNA was as high as 5.14 log GC/100 ml and 5.73 log GC/ml, respectively. The bla ORF47 gene detected in bacterial DNA was found at the highest concentration, particularly in urban sewage samples, with 5.32 log GC/ml. Our findings raise concerns that phages might carry unknown or novel ARGs, which may spread into bacteria, leading to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the environment, and we urgently need effective strategies to avoid the health risks caused by ARGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chromobox (CBX) proteins are essential components of polycomb group proteins and perform essential functions in bladder cancer (BLCA). However, research on CBX proteins is still limited, and the function of CBXs in BLCA has not been well illustrated. Methods and Results: We analyzed the expression of CBX family members in BLCA patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. By Cox regression analysis and survival analysis, CBX6 and CBX7 were identified as potential prognostic factors. Subsequently, we identified genes associated with CBX6/7 and performed enrichment analysis, and they were enriched in urothelial carcinoma and transitional carcinoma. Mutation rates of TP53 and TTN correlate with expression of CBX6/7. In addition, differential analysis indicated that the roles played by CBX6 and CBX7 may be related to immune checkpoints. The CIBERSORT algorithm was used to screen out immune cells that play a role in the prognosis of bladder cancer patients. Multiplex immunohistochemistry staining confirmed a negative correlation between CBX6 and M1 macrophages, as well as a consistent alteration in CBX6 and regulatory T cells (Tregs), a positive correlation between CBX7 and resting mast cells, and a negative correlation between CBX7 and M0 macrophages. Conclusions: CBX6 and CBX7 expression levels may assist in predicting the prognosis of BLCA patients. CBX6 may contribute to a poor prognosis in patients by inhibiting M1 polarization and promoting Treg recruitment in the tumor microenvironment, while CBX7 may contribute to a better prognosis in patients by increasing resting mast cell numbers and decreasing macrophage M0 content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we report a RhI3-catalyzed intramolecular carboamination reaction to access polysubstituted indoles. The protocol features a broad substrate scope (>20 examples), good functional-group compatibility, and a low catalyst loading (5 mol% Rh). Good to excellent yields (up to 98%) were obtained. An unprecedented C–N bond-cleavage mode via a six-membered transition state σ-bond metathesis mechanism was proposed based on control experiments. A series of C3-allylated indole derivatives were accessed, proving that the system provides an alternative catalytic route to polysubstituted indoles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wall attachment has great potential in a broad range of applications such as robotic grasping, transfer printing, and asteroid sampling. Herein, a new type of underactuated bionic microspines gripper is proposed to attach to an irregular, rough wall. Experimental results revealed that the gripper, profiting from its flexible structure and underactuated linkage mechanism, is capable of adapting submillimeter scale roughness to centimeter scale geometry irregularity in both normal and tangential attachment. The rigid-flexible coupling simulation analysis validated that the rough adaptation was achieved by the passive deformation of the zigzag flexible structure, while the centimeter-scale irregularity adaptation come from the underactuated design. The attachment test of a spine confirmed that a 5 mm sliding distance of the spine tip on the fine brick wall promises a saturated tangential attachment force, which can guide the stiffness design of flexible structure and parameter selection of underactuated linkage. Furthermore, the developed microspines gripper was successfully demonstrated to grasp irregular rocks, tree trunks, and granite plates. This work presents a generally applicable and dexterous passive adaption design to achieve rough wall attachment for flat and curved objects, which promotes the understanding and application of wall attachment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resolvin D1 (RvD1) suppresses inflammatory, postoperative, and neuropathic pain. The present study assessed the roles and mechanisms of RvD1 in mechanical allodynia after burn injury. A rat model of burn injury was established for analyses, and RvD1 was injected intraperitoneally. Pain behavior and the expression levels of spinal dorsal horn Iba-1 (microglia marker), GFAP (astrocyte marker), p -p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) were detected by behavioral and immunocytochemical assays. The results showed that RvD1 attenuated mechanical allodynia after burn injury, prevented microglial and astroglial activation, and downregulated p -p38 MAPK in microglia and BDNF/TrkB following burn injury. Similarly, inhibition of p38 MAPK and BDNF/TrkB signaling attenuated mechanical allodynia after burn injury. In addition, inhibition of p38 MAPK prevented spinal microglial activation and downregulated BDNF/TrkB following burn injury. Furthermore, inhibition of BDNF/TrkB signaling prevented spinal microglial activation and downregulated p -p38 MAPK within spinal microglia. Taken together, this study demonstrated that RvD1 might attenuate mechanical allodynia after burn injury by inhibiting spinal cord glial activation, microglial p38 MAPK, and BDNF/TrkB signaling in the spinal dorsal horn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health issue worldwide, which is characterized by irreversible loss of nephron and renal function. However, the molecular mechanism of CKD remains underexplored. Methods: This study integrated three transcriptional profile datasets to investigate the molecular mechanism of CKD. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between Sham control (Con) and unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-operated mice were analyzed by utilizing the limma package in R. The shared DEGs were analyzed by Gene Ontology and functional enrichment. Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) were constructed by utilizing the STRING database. Hub genes were analyzed by MCODE and Cytohubba. We further validated the gene expression by using the other dataset and mouse UUO model. Results: A total of 315 shared DEGs between Con and UUO samples were identified. Gene function and KEGG pathway enrichment revealed that DEGs were mainly enriched in inflammatory response, immune system process, and chemokine signaling pathway. Two modules were clustered based on PPI network analysis. Module 1 contained 13 genes related to macrophage activation, migration, and chemotaxis. Ten hub genes were identified by PPI network analysis. Subsequently, the expression levels of hub genes were validated with the other dataset. Finally, these four validated hub genes were further confirmed by our UUO mice. Three validated hub genes, Gng2, Pf4, and Ccl9, showed significant response to UUO. Conclusion: Our study reveals the coordination of genes during UUO and provides a promising gene panel for CKD treatment. GNG2 and PF4 were identified as potential targets for developing CKD drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of waste apple-wood as a source of sawdust to cultivate the mushrooms Pleurotus ostreatus and Lentinula edodes is a common practice, but it is imperative to ensure that the wood does not contain unsafe amounts of heavy-metals or pesticide residues. In this study, we sampled and investigated the pollution of heavy metals and pesticide residues in apple-wood from Yantai, Shandong, China and cultivated P. ostreatus and L. edodes using apple-wood as substrate. Heavy metals, pesticide residues, mineral elements, and biological efficiency were measured. Heavy metals were more commonly detected in the 73 apple-wood samples, but serious pollution was only an isolated phenomenon. No Pb was detected in P. ostreatus and L. edodes. The contents of Hg, As, Cd, and Cr were at safe levels. The contents of Ni were equivalent to those of wild mushrooms. Most notably, chlorpyrifos was detected in all the apple-wood tested. However, chlorpyrifos was only detected in L. edodes cultivated with apple sawdust. No other pesticide residues were detected in the other mushroom samples. The biological efficiency of P. ostreatus cultivated by apple sawdust was 89%, which was 80% of the control. The biological efficiency of L. edodes cultivated with apple sawdust was 81%, which did not differ significantly from the control. Apple-wood can replace wild oak as the material for L. edodes cultivation, but producers should ensure that the raw materials are safe. The main materials chosen to cultivate P. ostreatus should balance the two factors of raw material price and biological efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is a biodegradable material that can be degraded under natural conditions. In this study, a sustained-release agent (SRA) was prepared from calcium compounds and PVA (PVA-Ca) to effectively degrade long-chain fatty acids in food waste (FW) and improve the performance of anaerobic digestion (AD). The most appropriate materials and conditions for synthesizing Ca-SRA were chosen according to the characteristics of the sample and changes in the electrical conductivity of a solution of the SRA. The calcium release kinetics were analyzed by curve fitting. Moreover, analytical methods were used to analyze the formation mechanism of PVA-Ca. Finally, the effect of PVA-Ca on the performance of AD was investigated. The results showed that the most suitable materials for preparing the Ca-SRA were Ca(OH) 2 powder and PVA1799. The most suitable synthesis conditions were freezing for 24 h at −20 °C and thawing for 24 h with one freeze–thaw cycle. PVA-Ca achieved rapid release during the first 48 h, which corresponded to first-order kinetics (k = 0.0354 h−1). The release of Ca2+ corresponded to changes in pH and the concentration of volatile fatty acids during hydrolysis and acidification of FW. After PVA-Ca was added, the duration of the system lag phase was significantly shortened to 10 days, the methane yield per unit load was increased from 238.2 to 489.3 mL g−1 volatile solids(VS), and the kinetic constant of AD of FW was 0.083 day−1. Adding PVA-Ca could increase the methane yield by 98.82%. Moreover, the value of T 90 was reduced to a maximum of about 16 days. PVA-Ca was successfully employed in the AD of FW for the first time. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical and experimental data hints that prolonged and repeated epileptic seizures can lead to molecular, biochemical, metabolic, and structural changes in the brain, a continuous process of chronic brain injury that ultimately leads to neuronal death. The histological characteristics of hippocampal structure determine its high sensitivity to excitotoxicity and present different types of neuronal death, including apoptosis, necroptosis, autophagy, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis. Hippocampal neuronal death promotes the progression of epileptogenesis, seizures, and epilepsy and is closely related to the impairment of cognitive function. Massive evidence indicates that oxidative stress plays a critical role in different forms of neuronal death induced by epileptic seizures. The brain is particularly vulnerable to damage caused by oxidative stress, and an increase in oxidative stress biomarkers was found in various epilepsy types. The purpose of this review is to elucidate the molecular mechanism of neuronal death and explore the moderating effect of oxidative stress on epileptic seizure-induced neuronal death patterns so as to find potential intervention targets for neuroprotective treatment after epileptic seizures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Aimed to explore more practical interventions for handwashing compliance (HWC) and protect the minor' health with the pandemic background, this study tested whether micro architectural interventions would promote HWC of adolescents through active experience. Background: Despite the well-documented benefits of handwashing (HW), low compliance is common among adolescents. HW space in schools has always been treated as attached spaces of little matter, which is unfavorable to public health. According to environment behavior perspective, personal motivation of HWC may be motivated by active environment. Method: A school-based investigation and a 30-week environmental behavior experiment were conducted when students returned to school after the COVID-19 pandemic closure in 2020 in China to evaluate the effects of active environment interventions selected by previous survey on promoting adolescents' HW rate. Digital infrared counters were used to unobtrusively document their behavior. Results: Results in summer revealed a positive effect on all intervention groups. The effects of combined interventions were higher than the effect of any single intervention. However, HW rates of all groups declined sharply in the coldest month and the between-group differences decreased. Significant correlations were found between HW rates and satisfaction with the intervention schemes. Conclusions: Findings suggest that architectural environmental intervention may potentially be a positive, friendly, and one-time investment mean to expand the HWC intervention scope from passive policies to positive experience, and HW space design for adolescents should be treated as a public health strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Penicillium subrubescens has an expanded set of genes encoding putative endoxylanases (Ps XLNs) compared to most other Penicillia and other fungi. In this study, all GH10 and GH11 Ps XLNs were produced heterologously in Pichia pastoris and characterized. They were active towards beech wood xylan (BWX) and wheat flour arabinoxylan (WAX), and showed stability over a wide pH range. Additionally, Ps XLNs released distinct oligosaccharides from WAX, and showed significant cooperative action with P. subrubescens α- L -arabinofuranosidases (Ps ABFs) from GH51 or GH54 for WAX degradation, giving insight into a more diverse XLN and ABF system for the efficient degradation of complex hemicelluloses. Homology modeling analysis pointed out differences in the catalytic center of Ps XLNs, which are discussed in view of the different modes of action observed. These findings facilitate understanding of structural requirements for substrate recognition to contribute to recombinant XLN engineering for biotechnological applications. [Display omitted] • The P. subrubescens genome harbors an expanded set of genes encoding endoxylanases. • P. subrubescens endoxylanases (Ps XLNs) are xylan-specific and base-tolerant. • Ps XLNs display a diverse hydrolysis pattern and 3D-structure. • The diversity amongst Ps XLNs is attractive for various biotechnology applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to establish the model of the cryptocurrency price trend based on a financial theory using the Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks model with multiple combinations between the window length and the predicting horizons. The Random Walk model is also applied with different parameter settings. The object of this study is the cryptocurrency and medical issues, primarily the Bitcoin and Ethereum and the COVID-19. Quantitative analysis is adopted as the method of this dissertation. The research tool is Python programming language, and the TensorFlow package is employed to model and analyze research topics. The results of this study show the limitations of the LSTM and Random Walk model for price prediction while demonstrating the different characteristics of both models with different parameter settings, providing a balance between the model's accuracy and the model's practicality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Broadband surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates can achieve strong SERS enhancement at multiple excitation wavelengths, which is highly desirable in diverse fields. Here, a facile and reliable interfacial layer-by-layer self-assembly technique was proposed to construct broadband and sensitive Au@Ag nanorod (NR) monolayer film over nanosphere (MFON) substrate. The Au@Ag NR MFON substrate with ultra-broad spectrum from visible to near-infrared region was achieved by varying the shape of plasmonic nanoparticles, which exhibits excellent SERS activity at different excitation wavelengths. Besides, the size of Au@Ag NRs and polystyrene spheres, and the layer numbers of Au@Ag NR film were altered to optimize the sensitivity of SERS substrates. Notably, the SERS intensity of the optimally designed Au@Ag NR MFON substrate is 25-fold larger than that of Au@Ag NR monolayer film deposition on the plane Si wafer. Furthermore, the optimal Au@Ag NR MFON substrate presents excellent reproducibility and a much wider quantitative detection range, which enables a wide-linear-range analysis of thiram in grape juice by a portable Raman spectrometer. Therefore, we envision that this study opens a new avenue toward the design of ultra-sensitive and broadband SERS platforms with widespread applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) provides sufficient nitrogen (N) to meet most legume nutrition demands. In return, host plants feed symbionts carbohydrates produced in shoots. However, the molecular dialogue between shoots and symbionts remains largely mysterious. Here, we report the map-based cloning and characterization of a natural variation in GmNN1, the ortholog of Arabidopsis thaliana FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT2a) that simultaneously triggers nodulation in soybean and modulates leaf N nutrition. A 43-bp insertion in the promoter region of GmNN1/FT2a significantly decreased its transcription level and yielded N deficiency phenotypes. Manipulating GmNN1/GmFT2a significantly enhanced soybean nodulation, plant growth, and N nutrition. The near-isogenic lines (NILs) carrying low mRNA abundance alleles of GmNN1/FT2a, along with stable transgenic soybeans with CRISPR/Cas9 knockouts of GmNN1/FT2a, had yellower leaves, lower N concentrations, and fewer nodules than wild-type control plants. Grafting together with split-root experiments demonstrated that only shoot GmNN1/FT2a was responsible for regulating nodulation and thereby N nutrition through shoot-to-root translocation, and this process depends on rhizobial infection. After translocating into roots, shoot-derived GmNN1/FT2a was found to interact with GmNFYA-C (nuclear factor-Y subunit A-C) to activate symbiotic signaling through the previously reported GmNFYA-C-ENOD40 module. In short, the description of the critical soybean nodulation regulatory pathway outlined herein sheds novel insights into the shoot-to-root signaling required for communications between host plants and root nodulating symbionts. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation provides a vital nitrogen source in agroecosystems but nodulation is tightly controlled by a long-distance signaling system. This study uses map-based cloning to reveal GmNN1/FT2a as a new shoot-to-root mobile protein that significantly regulates nodule formation and thus nitrogen nutrition in soybean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Superhydrophobic surface has been investigated on polyurethane coating of GFRP using femtosecond laser texturing. • The contacting models between water droplets and substrates have been demonstrated. • Hydrophobicity and anti-icing performance of laser-treated surface have been largely improved at a low temperature. • The superhydrophobic surface has exhibited excellent self-cleaning effect and stability. Polyurethane coating has been commonly used in aerospace and construction, and enhancing anti-icing capabilities in low temperatures is crucial for preventing mechanical failures and reducing energy consumption. Utilizing a superhydrophobic surface was considered an important option to improve anti-icing performance. In this study, femtosecond laser treatment has applied to polyurethane coating on glass fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP) to transform from hydrophilic to superhydrophobic. Results have indicated that laser treatment significantly reduced the solid–liquid contact area compared to the original surface. The non-polar groups on the surface contributed greatly to the enhancement of hydrophobicity. In comparison to the original surface, the freezing temperature of droplets on the superhydrophobic surface with improved anti-icing performance was reduced from −4.5 °C to −9.2 °C, while the freezing time was extended from 65 s to 269 s. This improvement was attributed to the reduction of solid–liquid contact area, resulting in a low heat transfer rate and a low heterogeneous nucleation rate. Additionally, the laser-treated surface exhibited excellent self-cleaning effects, along with mechanical and chemical stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fiber flexible strain sensors have the characteristics of small volume, light weight, good flexibility, easy deformation/recovery, and easy weaving. They can conform to various complex surfaces and endure various deformations, such as twisting and bending. Furthermore, the simple preparation process of fiber sensors lowers the production cost significantly. These features make them promising candidates for applications in motion monitoring, human-machine interface, and flexible intelligent products. However, the low sensitivity and narrow sensing range of existing sensors are still major challenges for their further development. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a MXene/MXene:MWCNTs@TPU fiber sensor, which adopts a two-step pre-stretching strategy to modify the porous TPU fiber surface with MXene and MWCNTs. The graded porous TPU fibers obtained by wet spinning can achieve 805 % stretching, providing a reliable substrate support for the fiber sensor, the combination of multi-dimensional conductive materials and the introduction of cracks and wrinkles enhance the sensitivity 277 and sensing range 510 % of the fiber sensor. The fiber sensor can detect various human motions and gestures by directly attaching to the skin or weaving into textiles, and can also be applied to information encryption transmission, demonstrating its huge potential in human health monitoring, intelligent flexible electronic products and encrypted communication. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A comprehensive HLA gene expression profile in human skin at single-cell resolution. • The cell type-specific variation in HLA expression was revealed among skin populations. • HLA expression changed dynamically among fetal skin populations with cell type-dependent variation during development. • Immune-privileged properties of hair follicle were illustrated at the cell type-specific transcriptomic level. Skin, the largest organ of body, is a highly immunogenic tissue with a diverse collection of immune cells. Highly polymorphic human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules have a central role in coordinating immune responses as recognition molecules. Nevertheless, HLA gene expression patterns among diverse cell types within a specific organ, like the skin, have yet to be thoroughly investigated, with stromal cells attracting much less attention than immune cells. To illustrate HLA expression profiles across different cell types in the skin, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analyses on skin datasets, covering adult and fetal skin, and hair follicles as the skin appendages. We revealed the variation in HLA expression between different skin populations by examining normal adult skin datasets. Moreover, we evaluated the potential immunogenicity of multiple skin populations based on the expression of classical HLA class I genes, which were well represented in all cell types. Furthermore, we generated scRNA-seq data of developing skin from fetuses of 15 post conception weeks (PCW), 17 PCW, and 22 PCW, delineating the dynamic expression of HLA genes with cell type-dependent variation among various cell types during development. Notably, the pseudotime trajectory analysis unraveled the significant variance in HLA genes during the evolution of vascular endothelial cells. Moreover, we uncovered the immune-privileged properties of hair follicles at single-cell resolution. Our study presents a comprehensive single-cell transcriptomic landscape of HLA genes in the skin, which provides new insights into variation in HLA molecules and offers a clue for allogeneic skin transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare the accuracy of 14 formulas in calculating intraocular lens (IOL) power in extremely long eyes with axial length (AL) over 30.0 mm.In this retrospective study, 211 eyes (211 patients) with ALs > 30.0 mm were successfully treated with cataract surgery without complications. Ocular biometric parameters were obtained from IOLMaster 700. Fourteen formulas were evaluated using the optimized A constants: Barrett Universal II (BUII), Kane, Emmetropia Verifying Optical (EVO) 2.0, PEARL-DGS, T2, SRK/T, Holladay 1, Holladay 2, Haigis and Wang-Koch AL adjusted formulas (SRK/Tmodified-W/K, Holladay 1modified-W/K, Holladay 1NP-modified-W/K, Holladay 2modified-W/K, Holladay 2NP-modified-W/K). The mean prediction error (PE) and standard deviation (SD), mean absolute errors (MAE), median absolute errors (MedAE), and the percentage of prediction errors (PEs) within ± 0.25 D, ± 0.50 D, ± 1.00 D were analyzed.The Kane formula had the smallest MAE (0.43 D) and MedAE (0.34 D). The highest percentage of PE within ± 0.25 D was for EVO 2.0 (37.91%) and the Holladay 1NP-modified-W/K formulas (37.91%). The Kane formula had the highest percentage of PEs in the range of ± 0.50, ± 0.75, ± 1.00, and ± 2.00 D. There was no significant difference in PEs within ± 0.25, ± 0.50 ± 0.75 and ± 1.00 D between BUII, Kane, EVO 2.0 and Wang-Koch AL adjusted formulas (P > .05) by using Cochran’s Q test. The Holladay 2modified-W/K formula has the lowest percentage of hyperopic outcomes (29.38%).The BUII, Kane, EVO 2.0 and Wang-Koch AL adjusted formulas have comparable accuracy for IOL power calculation in eyes with ALs > 30.0 mm.Methods: To compare the accuracy of 14 formulas in calculating intraocular lens (IOL) power in extremely long eyes with axial length (AL) over 30.0 mm.In this retrospective study, 211 eyes (211 patients) with ALs > 30.0 mm were successfully treated with cataract surgery without complications. Ocular biometric parameters were obtained from IOLMaster 700. Fourteen formulas were evaluated using the optimized A constants: Barrett Universal II (BUII), Kane, Emmetropia Verifying Optical (EVO) 2.0, PEARL-DGS, T2, SRK/T, Holladay 1, Holladay 2, Haigis and Wang-Koch AL adjusted formulas (SRK/Tmodified-W/K, Holladay 1modified-W/K, Holladay 1NP-modified-W/K, Holladay 2modified-W/K, Holladay 2NP-modified-W/K). The mean prediction error (PE) and standard deviation (SD), mean absolute errors (MAE), median absolute errors (MedAE), and the percentage of prediction errors (PEs) within ± 0.25 D, ± 0.50 D, ± 1.00 D were analyzed.The Kane formula had the smallest MAE (0.43 D) and MedAE (0.34 D). The highest percentage of PE within ± 0.25 D was for EVO 2.0 (37.91%) and the Holladay 1NP-modified-W/K formulas (37.91%). The Kane formula had the highest percentage of PEs in the range of ± 0.50, ± 0.75, ± 1.00, and ± 2.00 D. There was no significant difference in PEs within ± 0.25, ± 0.50 ± 0.75 and ± 1.00 D between BUII, Kane, EVO 2.0 and Wang-Koch AL adjusted formulas (P > .05) by using Cochran’s Q test. The Holladay 2modified-W/K formula has the lowest percentage of hyperopic outcomes (29.38%).The BUII, Kane, EVO 2.0 and Wang-Koch AL adjusted formulas have comparable accuracy for IOL power calculation in eyes with ALs > 30.0 mm.Results: To compare the accuracy of 14 formulas in calculating intraocular lens (IOL) power in extremely long eyes with axial length (AL) over 30.0 mm.In this retrospective study, 211 eyes (211 patients) with ALs > 30.0 mm were successfully treated with cataract surgery without complications. Ocular biometric parameters were obtained from IOLMaster 700. Fourteen formulas were evaluated using the optimized A constants: Barrett Universal II (BUII), Kane, Emmetropia Verifying Optical (EVO) 2.0, PEARL-DGS, T2, SRK/T, Holladay 1, Holladay 2, Haigis and Wang-Koch AL adjusted formulas (SRK/Tmodified-W/K, Holladay 1modified-W/K, Holladay 1NP-modified-W/K, Holladay 2modified-W/K, Holladay 2NP-modified-W/K). The mean prediction error (PE) and standard deviation (SD), mean absolute errors (MAE), median absolute errors (MedAE), and the percentage of prediction errors (PEs) within ± 0.25 D, ± 0.50 D, ± 1.00 D were analyzed.The Kane formula had the smallest MAE (0.43 D) and MedAE (0.34 D). The highest percentage of PE within ± 0.25 D was for EVO 2.0 (37.91%) and the Holladay 1NP-modified-W/K formulas (37.91%). The Kane formula had the highest percentage of PEs in the range of ± 0.50, ± 0.75, ± 1.00, and ± 2.00 D. There was no significant difference in PEs within ± 0.25, ± 0.50 ± 0.75 and ± 1.00 D between BUII, Kane, EVO 2.0 and Wang-Koch AL adjusted formulas (P > .05) by using Cochran’s Q test. The Holladay 2modified-W/K formula has the lowest percentage of hyperopic outcomes (29.38%).The BUII, Kane, EVO 2.0 and Wang-Koch AL adjusted formulas have comparable accuracy for IOL power calculation in eyes with ALs > 30.0 mm.Conclusions: To compare the accuracy of 14 formulas in calculating intraocular lens (IOL) power in extremely long eyes with axial length (AL) over 30.0 mm.In this retrospective study, 211 eyes (211 patients) with ALs > 30.0 mm were successfully treated with cataract surgery without complications. Ocular biometric parameters were obtained from IOLMaster 700. Fourteen formulas were evaluated using the optimized A constants: Barrett Universal II (BUII), Kane, Emmetropia Verifying Optical (EVO) 2.0, PEARL-DGS, T2, SRK/T, Holladay 1, Holladay 2, Haigis and Wang-Koch AL adjusted formulas (SRK/Tmodified-W/K, Holladay 1modified-W/K, Holladay 1NP-modified-W/K, Holladay 2modified-W/K, Holladay 2NP-modified-W/K). The mean prediction error (PE) and standard deviation (SD), mean absolute errors (MAE), median absolute errors (MedAE), and the percentage of prediction errors (PEs) within ± 0.25 D, ± 0.50 D, ± 1.00 D were analyzed.The Kane formula had the smallest MAE (0.43 D) and MedAE (0.34 D). The highest percentage of PE within ± 0.25 D was for EVO 2.0 (37.91%) and the Holladay 1NP-modified-W/K formulas (37.91%). The Kane formula had the highest percentage of PEs in the range of ± 0.50, ± 0.75, ± 1.00, and ± 2.00 D. There was no significant difference in PEs within ± 0.25, ± 0.50 ± 0.75 and ± 1.00 D between BUII, Kane, EVO 2.0 and Wang-Koch AL adjusted formulas (P > .05) by using Cochran’s Q test. The Holladay 2modified-W/K formula has the lowest percentage of hyperopic outcomes (29.38%).The BUII, Kane, EVO 2.0 and Wang-Koch AL adjusted formulas have comparable accuracy for IOL power calculation in eyes with ALs > 30.0 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Rare-earth cations with smaller sizes cause more significant framework dealumination. • Framework dealumination mainly occurs in the rehydration stage after calcination. • Smaller-sized rare-earth cations are inclined to migrate into the small cages of faujasite zeolite after calcination. • The hydride transfer activity of REX zeolites exhibits a parabolic relationship with the RE3+ radius. • The stability of REX zeolites in isobutane alkylation is more influenced by the acid concentration. A series of rare-earth cation-modified X zeolites (RE3+: La3+, Ce3+, Pr3+, Nd3+, Sm3+) were synthesized and evaluated for butene/isobutane alkylation. Based on the hypothesis that small RE3+ ions could more effectively polarize the tertiary C H bond of isobutane, the alkylation performances of REX zeolite are anticipated to improve as the RE3+ radius decreases. However, our study reveals an opposite result. With the exception of Ce3+, which underwent oxidation during calcination, small RE3+ ions showed greater efficacy in facilitating framework dealumination, resulting in lower relative crystallinities, micropore structures, and acid concentrations. Consequently, the stability of REX zeolite essentially declined as the RE3+ radius decreased. Furthermore, it was observed that small RE3+ ions exhibited a preference for occupying sites within small cages. As a result, the concentration of accessible RE3+ ions reduced with decreasing RE3+ radius. In conjunction with the escalating electrostatic field of small RE3+ ions, the hydride transfer activity of REX zeolites displayed a non-linear relationship with reducing RE3+ radius, following a parabolic trend. PrX showed the highest activity in the hydride transfer reaction, as evidenced by its remarkable selectivity towards n-butane and trimethylpentanes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascade is a widely existing signal transduction system in eukaryotes, and plays an important role in the signal transduction processes of plant cells in response to environmental stress. In this study, we screened MdMKK9, a gene in the MAPK family. This gene is directly related to changes in anthocyanin synthesis in the 'Daihong' variety of red-fleshed apple (Malus sieversii f neidzwetzkyana (Dieck) Langenf). MdMKK9 expression was up-regulated in 'Daihong' tissue culture seedlings cultured at low levels of nitrogen. This change in gene expression up-regulated the expression of genes related to anthocyanin synthesis and nitrogen transport, thus promoting anthocyanin synthesis and causing the tissue culture seedlings to appear red in color. To elucidate the function of MdMKK9, we used the CRISPR/Cas9 system to construct a gene editing vector for MdMKK9 and successfully introduced it into the calli of the 'Orin' apple. The MdMKK9 deletion mutants (MUT) calli could not respond to the low level of nitrogen signal, the expression level of anthocyanin synthesis-related genes was down-regulated, and the anthocyanin content was lower than that of the wild type (WT). In contrast, the MdMKK9-overexpressed calli up-regulated the expression level of anthocyanin synthesis-related genes and increased anthocyanin content, and appeared red in conditions of low level of nitrogen or nitrogen deficiency. These results show that MdMKK9 plays a role in the adaptation of red-fleshed apple to low levels of nitrogen by regulating the nitrogen status and anthocyanin accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasmonic photodetection based on the hot-electron generation in nanostructures is a promising strategy for sub-band detection due to the high conversion efficiencies; however, it is plagued with the high dark current. In this paper, we have demonstrated the plasmonic photodetection with dark current suppression to create a Si-based broadband photodetector with enhanced performance in the short-wavelength infrared (SWIR) region. By hybridizing a 3 nm Au layer with the spherical Au nanoparticles (NPs) formed by rapid thermal annealing (RTA) on Si substrate, a well-behaved ITO/Au/Au NPs/n-Si Schottky photodetector with suppressed dark current and enhanced absorption in the SWIR region is obtained. This optimized detector shows a broad detection beyond 1200 nm and a high responsivity of 22.82 mA/W at 1310 nm at −1 V, as well as a low dark current density on the order of 10−5 A/cm2. Such a Si-based plasmon-enhanced detector with desirable performance in dark current will be a promising strategy for realization of the high SNR detector while keeping fabrication costs low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entropy indexes are widely used to measure the complexity of precipitation and its spatiotemporal variability, due to their advantages in quantifying the complex and nonlinear interactions of climate variables. However, different entropy indexes may provide different outcomes on the complexity of precipitation, thus causing difficulties in the assessment of actual complexity. In this study, we identified and chose the optimal entropy index from six entropy indexes based on the reliability and stability of entropy values, to assess the complexity of precipitation. The six entropy indexes considered are: information entropy (IE), fuzzy entropy (FE), approximate entropy (AE), sample entropy (SE), wavelet entropy (WE), and permutation entropy (PE). We implemented the approach on the monthly precipitation data observed over the period 1968–2017 at 58 meteorological stations in Beijing, China. The results indicated that the SE index was the optimal index with the best reliability and stability and, thus, was used to examine the complexity of the 58 monthly precipitation series in Beijing. The results also suggested that the complexity of precipitation can be viewed in terms of four sub-regions in Beijing. The precipitation in the 'Northern Mountain Area', with high complexity, was more affected by the interactions between the terrain and climate variability, compared with that in the 'Southern Mountain Area' with low complexity. The precipitation in the 'Central Urban Area' was more significantly impacted by the extensive urbanization than that in the 'Northeast Suburban Area', causing higher complexity in the former. At temporal scale, the complexity of precipitation in the 'Southern Mountain Area' exhibited the largest increasing rate due to the highest impacts of climate variability, followed by the 'Central Urban Area' with a moderate increasing rate of complexity of precipitation due to the impacts of human activities. However, the complexity of precipitation in the 'Northern Mountain Area' and 'Northeast Suburban Area' exhibited small changes due to relatively weak sensitivity to climate variability and human activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Fungal enzymes of GH30 are only present in four subfamilies based on phylogenetic analysis. • Products from fungal GH30 enzymes are mainly short non-digestible di- and oligosaccharides. • A novel xylobiohydrolase from GH30_SF7 shows potential for xylobiose production. Efficient bioconversion of agro-industrial side streams requires a wide range of enzyme activities. Glycoside Hydrolase family 30 (GH30) is a diverse family that contains various catalytic functions and has so far been divided into ten subfamilies (GH30_1-10). In this study, a GH30 phylogenetic tree using over 150 amino acid sequences was contructed. The members of GH30 cluster into four subfamilies and eleven candidates from these subfamilies were selected for biochemical characterization. Novel enzyme activities were identified in GH30. GH30_3 enzymes possess β-(1→6)-glucanase activity. GH30_5 targets β-(1→6)-galactan with mainly β-(1→6)-galactobiohydrolase catalytic behavior. β-(1→4)-Xylanolytic enzymes belong to GH30_7 targeting β-(1→4)-xylan with several activities (e.g. xylobiohydrolase, endoxylanase). Additionally, a new fungal subfamily in GH30 was proposed, i.e. GH30_11, which displays β-(1→6)-galactobiohydrolase. This study confirmed that GH30 fungal subfamilies harbor distinct polysaccharide specificity and have high potential for the production of short (non-digestible) di- and oligosaccharides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant epigenetic modification of RNA, and its dysregulation drives aberrant transcription and translation programs that promote cancer occurrence and progression. Although defective gene regulation resulting from m6A often affects oncogenic and tumor-suppressing networks, m6A can also modulate tumor immunogenicity and immune cells involved in anti-tumor responses. Understanding this counterintuitive concept can aid the design of new drugs that target m6A to potentially improve the outcomes of cancer immunotherapies. Here, we provide an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of how m6A modifications intrinsically affect immune cells and how alterations in tumor cell m6A modifications extrinsically affect immune cell responses in the tumor microenvironment (TME). We also review strategies for modulating endogenous anti-tumor immunity and discuss the challenge of reshaping the TME. Strategies include: combining specific and efficient inhibitors against m6A regulators with immune checkpoint blockers; generating an effective programmable m6A gene-editing system that enables efficient manipulation of individual m6A sites; establishing an effective m6A modification system to enhance anti-tumor immune responses in T cells or natural killer cells; and using nanoparticles that specifically target tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) to deliver messenger RNA or small interfering RNA of m6A-related molecules that repolarize TAMs, enabling them to remodel the TME. The goal of this review is to help the field understand how m6A modifications intrinsically and extrinsically shape immune responses in the TME so that better cancer immunotherapy can be designed and developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study constructs a coupling model and establishes an index system for the coupled and coordinate development between cross-border e-commerce supply chain system and economic system. The index system adopts supply chain, foreign trade, e-commerce, e-commerce logistics, economic development, social consumption, talent environment, and technological innovation as sequential covariates. The calculation shows that the first three batches of 35 cross-border e-commerce comprehensive pilot areas (CBECCPA in brief) in China, in 2017, are classified into three degrees of the coupled and coordinated development: superior, good, and moderate. The study provides useful recommendations for promoting cross-border e-commerce supply chain, such as to pursue high-quality balanced development, to cultivate professional composite talents, to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship, and to create a favorable economic environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distributed deep learning can effectively accelerate neural model training, which employs multiple workers at a cluster of nodes to train a neural network in a parallel way. In this paper, we propose InHAD, an asynchronous distributed deep learning protocol, whose key novelty lies in the design of hierarchical gradient communication and aggregation. The local aggregation is conducted inside a computing node to aggregate the gradients produced by local workers, while global aggregation is conducted at the parameter server to calculate new model parameters based on results of local aggregations. An iteration number-based mechanism is designed to guarantee the convergence of the training. Worker nodes keep sending IN to parameter server and the latter decides when to pull gradients from workers by counting IN and updates global model weights/parameters. With the IN-based hierarchical aggregation technique, InHAD can save communication cost by reducing the number of gradients transferred and speed up the convergence by limiting the staleness of gradients. We conduct extensive experiments at the Tianhe-2 supercomputer system to evaluate the performance of InHAD. Two neural networks are trained on two classical datasets, and similar protocols like Horovod and ASP are tested for comparisons. The results show that InHAD can achieve much higher acceleration than ASP and nearly the same accuracy as Horovod. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Question answering, serving as one of important tasks in natural language processing, enables machines to understand questions in natural language and answer the questions concisely. From web search to expert systems, question answering systems are widely applied to various domains in assisting information seeking. Deep learning methods have boosted various tasks of question answering and have demonstrated dramatic effects in performance improvement for essential steps of question answering. Thus, leveraging deep learning methods for question answering has drawn much attention from both academia and industry in recent years. This paper provides a systematic review of the recent development of deep learning methods for question answering. The survey covers the scope including methods, datasets, and applications. The methods are discussed in terms of network structure characteristics, methodology innovations, and their effectiveness. The survey is expected to be a contribution to the summarization of recent research progress and future directions of deep learning methods for question answering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]