Search

The tensile test and low-cycle fatigue test of HTRB630 high-strength steel bars after high-temperature exposure were investigated. Based on the plastic strain energy density theory of mashing behaviours, the values of parameters K and n in the Ramberg--Osgood stress--strain relationship were obtained. The Coffin--Manson model was modified for further modelling of specimens exposed to different temperatures. A fitted formula for the relationship between the plastic strain energy density and fatigue life of HTRB630 high-strength steel bar specimens was established. The parameters obtained in this study can provide a reference for further investigation of the seismic performance of HTRB630 steel bars reinforced concrete structures after exposure to high temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Only by improving the production capacity of domestic herbal edible oil can China ensure the safety of the supply chain of the important industrial chain of vegetable edible oil in China and practice the big food concept. In addition to rice, maize, and soybean for using as grain and oil, there are eight kinds of herbaceous edible oil crops in Hubei Province, including rape, peanut, sesame, sunflower, perilla ( perilla seed), cotton, linen and tiger nut ( Cyperus esculentus). This paper studies the main industries of herbaceous edible oil crops and their intellectual property resources in Hubei Province, and analyzes the main problems of its inheritance, innovation and high-quality development under the strategy of strengthening the country with intellectual property. Finally, it proposes the countermeasures of carrying forward and inheriting traditional knowledge and traditional culture, maintaining the biodiversity of crops, strengthening the creation of new plant varieties and breeding patents, and opening up the whole chain of intellectual property rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various naphthalenediimide (NDI) based electron donor–acceptor coordination polymers (D–A CPs) have been constructed and used to explore charge transfer (CT) and electron transfer (ET) behaviors. Up to now, significant progress has been made in the interface contact and electron donor–acceptor ability matching mechanism, while the electronic density effect of the electron donors on the CT and ET behaviors is still not known. Herein, two NDI-based D–A CPs, [Cd2(H2NDI)(IPA)2(H2O)2] (1) and [Cd2(H2NDI)(IPA-OH)2(H2O)2] (2), are constructed using an NDI-based ligand and two aromatic carboxylic acid ligands (H2NDI = 2,7-bis(3,5-dimethyl) dipyrazol-1,4,5,8-naphthalene tetracarboxydiimide, H2IPA = isophthalic acid; and H2IPA-OH = 5-hydroxyisophthalic acid). UV-vis and EPR spectroscopy and DFT calculations analyses reveal that the occurrence of themal electron transfer (TET) in 1 and 2 results from the HOMO of the IPA and IPA-OH lying higher than the LUMO of the NDI. Meanwhile, compared to 1, the UV-vis absorption spectrum of 2 exhibits a significant red shift, which suggests higher electron density of the donor and more electron transfer pathways are beneficial for the occurrence of intermolecular CT. After UV light irradiation, the comparison of the photochromic behavior of 1 and 2 confirms the negative effect of the stronger CT on photoinduced electron transfer (PET). The present study illustrates the delicate modulating effect of electron density on the CT and ET behaviors in D–A CPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Only by developing woody edible oilseeds industry can we ensure the safety of the important industrial chain and supply chain of vegetable edible oil in China. There are 13 kinds of woody edible oil plants in Hubei, including Camellia oleifera Abel (oil tea), Juglans regia L. (walnut), Olea europaea L. (olive) and Paconia suffruticosa (oil peony). This paper studies the main industries of woody edible oilseeds in Hubei Province and their intellectual property resources, and analyzes the main problems in their intellectual property protection, inherit- ance, innovation and development. Finally, it proposes some strategies, including carrying forward the traditional knowledge related to woody edible oilseeds, innovating the "agricultural chip", creating key counties of national woody edible oil seeds, and developing industrial clusters with national advantages and characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate, as a representative amyloid inhibitors, has shown a promising ability against A β fibrillation by directly degradating the mature fibrils. Most previous studies have been focusing on its functional mechanisms, meanwhile its optimal dosage has been seldom considered. To solve this critical issue, we refer to the generalized Logistic model for amyloid fibrillation and inhibition and adopt the optimal control theory to balance the effectiveness and cost (or toxicity) of inhibitors. The optimal control trajectory of inhibitors is analytically solved, based on which the influence of model parameters, the difference between the optimal control strategy and several other traditional drug dosing strategies are systematically compared and validated through experiments. It is found that the strategy of multiple-times adding is more suitable for a long-term disease treatment, while single high-dose therapy is preferred for a short-term treatment. We hope our findings can shed light on the rational usage of amyloid inhibitors in clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Composition of high‐density lipoproteins (HDL) is emerging as an important determinant in the development of microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Dutch South Asian (DSA) individuals with T2DM display an increased risk of microvascular complications compared with Dutch white Caucasian (DwC) individuals with T2DM. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether changes in HDL composition associate with increased microvascular risk in this ethnic group and lead to new lipoprotein biomarkers. Materials and Methods: Using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and Bruker IVDr Lipoprotein Subclass Analysis (B.I.LISA) software, plasma lipoprotein changes were determined in 51 healthy individuals (30 DwC, 21 DSA) and 92 individuals with T2DM (45 DwC, 47 DSA) in a cross‐sectional, case‐control study. Differential HDL subfractions were investigated using multinomial logistic regression analyses, adjusting for possible confounders including BMI and diabetes duration. Results: We identified HDL compositional differences between healthy and diabetic individuals in both ethnic groups. Specifically, levels of apolipoprotein A2 and HDL‐4 subfractions were lower in DSA compared with DwC with T2DM. Apolipoprotein A2 and HDL‐4 subfractions also negatively correlated with waist circumference, waist‐to‐hip ratio, haemoglobin A1c, glucose levels and disease duration in DSA with T2DM, and associated with increased incidence of microvascular complications. Conclusion: While HDL composition differed between controls and T2DM in both ethnic groups, the lower levels of lipid content in the smallest HDL subclass (HDL‐4) in DSA with T2DM appeared to be more clinically relevant, with higher odds of having diabetes‐related pan‐microvascular complications such as retinopathy and neuropathy. These typical differences in HDL could be used as ethnicity‐specific T2DM biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Axially chiral biaryls widely exist in natural products and pharmaceuticals and are used as chiral ligands and catalysts in asymmetric synthesis. Compared to the well‐established axially chiral 6‐membered biaryl skeletons, examples of 5‐membered biaryls have been quite scarce, and mono‐substituted 3‐arylpyrrole atropisomers have not been reported. Here, we disclose a copper‐catalyzed atroposelective diyne cyclization for the construction of a range of axially chiral arylpyrrole biaryls in good to excellent yields with generally excellent enantioselectivities via oxidation and X−H insertion of vinyl cations. Importantly, this protocol not only represents the first synthesis of mono‐substituted 3‐arylpyrrole atropisomers, but also constitutes the first example of atroposelective diyne cyclization and the first atropisomer construction via vinyl cations. Theoretical calculations further support the mechanism of vinyl cation‐involved cyclization and elucidate the origin of enantioselectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Axially chiral biaryls widely exist in natural products and pharmaceuticals and are used as chiral ligands and catalysts in asymmetric synthesis. Compared to the well‐established axially chiral 6‐membered biaryl skeletons, examples of 5‐membered biaryls have been quite scarce, and mono‐substituted 3‐arylpyrrole atropisomers have not been reported. Here, we disclose a copper‐catalyzed atroposelective diyne cyclization for the construction of a range of axially chiral arylpyrrole biaryls in good to excellent yields with generally excellent enantioselectivities via oxidation and X−H insertion of vinyl cations. Importantly, this protocol not only represents the first synthesis of mono‐substituted 3‐arylpyrrole atropisomers, but also constitutes the first example of atroposelective diyne cyclization and the first atropisomer construction via vinyl cations. Theoretical calculations further support the mechanism of vinyl cation‐involved cyclization and elucidate the origin of enantioselectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As China's largest oil crop, rape occupies a central position in ensuring the safety of China's cooking oil supply. This paper introduced China's rapeseed industry from the rape type, rapeseed production, planting area, national rapeseed production protected area, rape national dominant characteristic industrial clusters, and rapeseed industry, etc. Besides, from the aspects of geographical indication products, geographical indication trademarks, and geographical indications of agricultural products, this paper discussed the intellectual property protection of geographical indications of rape, rapeseed, and rapeseed oil in China. It analyzed the main problems such as the lag in the formulation of relevant standards for geographical indications and the low use of special signs for geographical indications, and finally came up with recommendations including building a public brand of geographical indications and expanding foreign exchanges of geographical indications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the data monitoring and information management capabilities of membrane gas measure device indirect metering terminals, a sensor network based data monitoring method for membrane gas measure device indirect metering terminals was proposed. The distributed and centralized sensor network node deployment method is used to achieve data collection for membrane gas measure device indirect metering terminals, and the collected membrane gas measure device indirect metering terminal data is segmented, fused, and reorganized. The distributed energy storage and constant volume two-level optimal control method is used to analyze the operation status of gas measure device indirect metering terminal data. The ZigBee networking protocol is used to build a network structure model for gas measure device indirect metering terminals, an integrated high-precision temperature and pressure sensor arranged parallel to the inner wall of the valve body is used to detect the temperature and pressure at the outlet of the membrane gas measure device. The temperature information is stored in DSP, and the user's expenses, system operation and maintenance, and peak shaving and valley filling benefits are taken as the parameters of the energy storage and constant volume outer layer model. The output stability of the indirect metering terminal data of the membrane gas measure device is analyzed in the high switching frequency mode. Combined with adaptive parameter adjustment, the indirect metering terminal control and data dynamic collection of the membrane gas measure device are realized. Realize dynamic monitoring of metering terminal data in wireless sensor network networking control mode. The test results show that using this method for indirect metering terminal data monitoring of gas measure devices has good output stability, strong dynamic fusion of sensing information, reduced metering errors, and improved metering accuracy of gas measure devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rape is the third largest oil crop in the world and the first one in China. The national average rapeseed yield is only 2 077. 5 kg/hm², and the rapeseed oil yield is 894 kg/hm². This paper introduced the main types, germplasm resources, breeding bases and breeding progress of Chinese rape, and studied its high-quality varieties, breeding patents and new varieties of agricultural plants. We analyzed the main problems such as serious loss of germplasm resources in Brassica campestris L. and Brasica juncea (L.) Czern. et Cus and weak "agricultural chip" in rape field, and put forward strategies such as strengthening the protection of rape germplasm resources, encouraging the development of " agricultural chip" in rape industry clusters with national advantages and characteristics, and strengthening the protection of agricultural intellectual property rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green sand is a mixture of silica sand, bentonite, water and coal powder, and other additives. Moisture content is an important index to characterize the properties of green sand. Based on the dielectric characteristics of green sand and transmission line theory, a method for rapidly measuring the moisture content of green sand by means of a low frequency multiprobe detector was proposed. A system was constructed, where six detectors with different arrangements and probes were designed. The experimental results showed that the voltage difference of transmission line increases with the increasing frequency before 29 MHz while decreases after 35 MHz. A voltage difference platform occurs in the range of 29-35 MHz, which is suitable for measuring the moisture content due to its insensitivity to frequency. The electric field intensity gradually decreases with the increase of the probe depth, and the intensity of central probe is always greater than that of the edge probe. When the distance of the probe away from the sand sample surface is 80 mm, the electric field intensity of the edge probe is found to be very weak. The optimal excitation frequency for measuring the moisture content of green sand is 29-33 MHz. The optimal detector is the one with one center probe and three edge probes, and their lengths are 80 mm and 60 mm, respectively. The distance between the center and edge probes is 25 mm, and the diameter of probes is 5 mm. Taking the voltage difference of transmission line, bentonite content, coal powder content and compactability as parameters of the input layer, and the moisture content as a parameter of the output layer, a three-layer BP artificial neural network model for predicting the moisture content of green sand was constructed according to the experimental results at 33 MHz. The prediction error of the model is not higher than 3.3% when the moisture content of green sand is within the range of 3wt.%-7wt.%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[2,3]‐Sigmatropic rearrangement reaction involving sulfonium ylide (Doyle–Kirmse reaction) generated from metal carbenes represents one of the powerful methods for the construction of C(sp3)−S and C−C bonds. Although significant advances have been achieved, the asymmetric versions via the generation of sulfonium ylides from metal carbenes have been rarely reported to date, and they have so far been limited to diazo compounds as metal carbene precursors. Here, we describe a copper‐catalyzed enantioselective Doyle–Kirmse reaction via azide‐ynamide cyclization, leading to the practical and divergent assembly of an array of chiral [1,4]thiazino[3,2‐b]indoles bearing a quaternary carbon stereocenter in generally moderate to excellent yields and excellent enantioselectivities. Importantly, this protocol represents a unique catalytic asymmetric Doyle–Kirmse reaction via a non‐diazo approach and an unprecedented asymmetric [2,3]‐sigmatropic rearrangement via α‐imino metal carbenes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[2,3]‐Sigmatropic rearrangement reaction involving sulfonium ylide (Doyle–Kirmse reaction) generated from metal carbenes represents one of the powerful methods for the construction of C(sp3)−S and C−C bonds. Although significant advances have been achieved, the asymmetric versions via the generation of sulfonium ylides from metal carbenes have been rarely reported to date, and they have so far been limited to diazo compounds as metal carbene precursors. Here, we describe a copper‐catalyzed enantioselective Doyle–Kirmse reaction via azide‐ynamide cyclization, leading to the practical and divergent assembly of an array of chiral [1,4]thiazino[3,2‐b]indoles bearing a quaternary carbon stereocenter in generally moderate to excellent yields and excellent enantioselectivities. Importantly, this protocol represents a unique catalytic asymmetric Doyle–Kirmse reaction via a non‐diazo approach and an unprecedented asymmetric [2,3]‐sigmatropic rearrangement via α‐imino metal carbenes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extent of fracture development is associated with the degree of enrichment of a natural gas reservoir and its productivity. Based on numerical simulation results of the paleotectonic stress field, a set of evaluation methods for determining the degree of development of reservoir tectonic fractures were established using rock rupture criteria. Taking the fourth member of the Leikoupo Formation in the Pengzhou area of western Sichuan as an example, a finite element (FE) method was employed to simulate the paleo-tectonic stress field during the period of fracture development, and the degree of tectonic fracture development was further evaluated using the above methods. The results indicated that effective fractures were created in the Himalayan period. In this time, mainly NE–NEE and nearly E–W strike tectonic fractures were developed in the target layer. The fractures were mainly low-angle and oblique fractures, while the high-angle fractures were less developed. According to the integrative fracture index (F), five typical fracture development areas were determined: the fault zone, and the northern, eastern, southeastern, and central regions of the study area. The reliability of the fracture prediction results was verified using fracture distribution statistics and gas production test results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas drilling technology is an effective method to protect low permeability tight sandstone reservoirs from damage. However, using this technology to drill high-pressure fractured reservoirs, the fluid flow characteristics are extremely complex, leading to drilling safety challenges. Therefore, based on the conservation equations of mass, momentum, and energy, a new transient coupled flow model in matrix-fracture is established for high-pressure gas reservoirs opened by gas drilling, considering convection term and energy equation, to research the pressure and flow velocity transient behaviors. This model is solved by Shaher Momani's algorithm and CyabJiBe format, and the type curves of the pressure and flow velocity are plotted. The three flow stages are developed, and the impact of parameters and equation terms on the transient flow behavior is analyzed and discussed, such as the energy equation, the matrix permeability (k), the fracture aperture ( L f ), and the fracture outlet pressure. It is found that the energy equation term of the model has a great influence on the transient characteristics such as velocity and pressure, which cannot be ignored. In the first flow stage, the flow velocity characteristics are not affected by the matrix parameters being extremely unstable, but in the second and third stages, the influence of the gas supplied to fracture cannot be ignored. The proposed transient coupled flow model provides a new understanding of the transient flow behavior in matrix-fracture for high-pressure reservoirs during gas drilling, which can be used to interpret the characteristics of pressure and velocity more realistically, to provide support for safe drilling of gas drilling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type I interferon (IFN) response is the first line of host-based innate immune defense against viral infections. However, viruses have developed multiple strategies to counter host IFN responses, so they may continue infecting hosts via effective replication. Avian reovirus (ARV), an RNA virus, causes viral arthritis or tenosynovitis in chickens. Previous studies have shown that ARV is highly resistant to the antiviral effects of IFN. However, the underlying mechanisms that enable ARV to block the IFN pathway remain unclear. In this study, we found that ectopic expression of ARV protein, σA, significantly inhibited the production of IFN-β induced by melanoma-differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) and poly(I·C). Knockdown of σA during ARV infection enhances the IFN-β response and suppresses viral replication. ARV σA inhibited the MDA5-mediated IFN-β activation by targeting interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF7). Further studies demonstrated that σA interacts with IRF7, thereby blocking IRF7 dimerization and nuclear translocation, finally leading to the inhibition of IFN-β production. These findings reveal a novel mechanism that allows ARV to evade host antiviral immunity.IMPORTANCE ARV, the causative agent of viral arthritis or tenosynovitis in chickens, has a significant economic impact as it results in poor weight gain and increased feed conversion ratios. The MDA5-mediated IFN-β signal pathway plays an important role in host antiviral defense. Therefore, RNA viruses have developed mechanisms to counter this signaling pathway and successfully establish infection. However, the strategies adopted by ARV to block MDA5-IRF7 signaling remain unclear. In the current study, we demonstrated that ARV σA inhibits this pathway by binding to IRF7, which blocked IRF7 dimerization and nuclear translocation. Our findings may provide insights into how avian reovirus counteracts the innate antiviral immunity of the host to ensure viral replication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In singleton pregnancies, maternal complications, such as preeclampsia and thyroid dysfunction are associated with small for gestational age (SGA). However, data on the association between SGA and maternal complications in twin pregnancies are limited and conflicting. Small sample size and the application of singleton birth weight reference (SBWR) to define SGA in twins may be reasons for the inconsistent conclusions. Purpose of this study was to define SGA in dichorionic diamniotic (DCDA) and monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) twin pregnancies using both SBWR and twin birth weight reference (TBWR) and to determine whether certain maternal complications are associated with SGA in twin pregnancies. Materials and methods: This retrospective cohort study included all twins delivered in a single tertiary center between 2013 and 2018. SGA was defined as a twin with birth weight <10th centile for gestational age using either SBWR or TBWR. The association between SGA and maternal complications was analyzed separately for DCDA and MCDA twin pregnancies, expressed as odds ratio (OR) and adjusted odds ratio (aOR) with 95% confidence interval (95%-CI). Results: A total of 2005 DCDA and 467 MCDA twin pregnancies were enrolled. In DCDA pregnancies, SGA was significantly associated with PE according to TBWR (22.73 vs. 14.56%, aOR 1.823, 95%-CI 1.137–2.922). This association was even more pronounced between SGA and severe PE (9.09 vs. 4.54%, aOR 2.234, 95%-CI 1.115–4.479). In turn, PE was associated with higher risk of SGA defined according to TBWR (8.31 vs. 4.99%, aOR 1.825, 95%-CI 1.139–2.925). No association was detected between SGA and other maternal complications. Using SBWR, no association was found between preeclampsia and SGA. In MCDA pregnancies, according to TBWR, SGA was associated only with severe PE (12.5 vs. 4.06%, aOR 3.470, 95%-CI 1.256–9.587) and lower risk of PROM (aOR 0.067, 95%-CI 0.014–0.322). Conclusion: PE was associated with SGA in DCDA pregnancies only when TBWR was used, suggesting that DCDA pregnancies complicated with PE should be closely monitored for signs of SGA and vice versa. In MCDA pregnancies, SGA defined according to TBWR was associated with only severe PE (but not with all PE) and lower risk of PROM. More basic experiments are needed to investigate the mechanisms underlying PE and SGA in DCDA and MCDA twin pregnancies respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS), a key DNA sensor, detects cytosolic viral DNA and activates the adaptor protein stimulator of interferon genes (STING) to initiate interferon (IFN) production and host innate antiviral responses. Duck enteritis virus (DEV) is a duck alphaherpesvirus that causes an acute and contagious disease with high mortality in waterfowl. In the present study, we found that DEV inhibits host innate immune responses during the late phase of viral infection. Furthermore, we screened DEV proteins for their ability to inhibit the cGAS-STING DNA-sensing pathway and identified multiple viral proteins, including UL41, US3, UL28, UL53, and UL24, which block IFN-b activation through this pathway. The DEV tegument protein UL41, which exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect, selectively downregulated the expression of interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF7) by reducing its mRNA accumulation, thereby inhibiting the DNA-sensing pathway. Ectopic expression of UL41 markedly reduced viral DNA-triggered IFN-β production and promoted viral replication, whereas deficiency of UL41 in the context of DEV infection increased the IFN-β response to DEV and suppressed viral replication. In addition, ectopic expression of IRF7 inhibited the replication of the UL41-deficient virus, whereas IRF7 knockdown facilitated its replication. This study is the first report identifying multiple viral proteins encoded by a duck DNA virus, which inhibit the cGAS-STING DNA-sensing pathway. These findings expand our knowledge of DNA sensing in ducks and reveal a mechanism through which DEV antagonizes the host innate immune response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen production by electrochemical water splitting suffers from high kinetic barriers in the anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER), which limits the overall efficiency. Herein, we report a structural and electronic engineering strategy by integrating self-standing Fe-doped Ni3S2 (denoted by Fe-Ni3S2) nanosheet arrays with Ni(OH)2 subunits to form heterostructured Fe-Ni3S2/Ni(OH)2 on a Ni Foam substrate. The strong electronic interaction between the Fe-Ni3S2 and Ni(OH)2 constituents contributes abundant catalytic sites and ensures high electron transfer. Moreover, the combined experimental and theoretical study revealed that the coupling of Ni(OH)2 onto the Fe-Ni3S2 is favorable for lowering the activation energy of water oxidation for favorable OER kinetics and upshifting the Ni d-band center to facilitate the adsorption of O-containing intermediates. Consequently, the optimized Fe-Ni3S2/Ni(OH)2 hybrid catalyst exhibits excellent OER performance in alkaline electrolytes with an ultralow overpotential of 202 mV at 10 mA cm−2, a small Tafel slope of 50.6 mV dec−1, and long-term durability under high current density (0.25 A cm−2) for up to 60 h without significant deactivation. Moreover, a two-electrode Fe-Ni3S2/Ni(OH)2‖‖Pt/C electrolyzer requires only a low voltage of 1.54 V at 10 mA cm−2 for overall water splitting. This study emphasizes the importance of interface and surface engineering in achieving highly efficient electrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite numerous studies on transcriptional level regulation by single genes in drug producing Actinomyces, the global regulation based on epigenetic modification is not well explored. N4-methylcytosine (m4C), an abundant epigenetic marker in Actinomycetes’ genome, but its regulatory mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we identify a m4C methyltransferase (SroLm3) in Streptomyces roseosporus L30 and multi-omics studies were performed and revealed SroLm3 as a global regulator of secondary metabolism. Notably, three BGCs in ΔsroLm3 strain exhibited decreased expression compared to wild type. In-frame deletion of sroLm3 in S.roseosporus L30 further revealed its role in enhancing daptomycin production. In summary, we characterized a m4C methyltransferase, revealed the function of m4C in secondary metabolism regulation and biosynthesis of red pigment, and mapped a series of novel regulators for daptomycin biosynthesis dominated by m4C methylation. Our research further indicated that m4C DNA methylation may contribute to a metabolic switch from primary to secondary metabolism in Actinomyces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: Better understanding the determining factors of dynamic magnetic relaxation in polynuclear lanthanide based single‐molecule magnets (SMMs) remains a challenge due to the complexity of such architectures involving interactions between the magnetic centers. To address this issue, two structurally related heterometal DyIII2ZnII2 SMMs, [Zn2Dy2(L)4(Ac)2(DMF)(CH3OH)]·CH3OH·2H2O (1) and [Zn2Dy2(L)4(Ac)2(DMF)2]·4CH3CN (2) (H2L = (E)‐2‐((2‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxybenzylidene)amino)‐4‐methyphenol, DMF = N,N‐dimethylformamide), are introduced and investigated. Through modifying the auxiliary ligands on one DyIII site while retaining that on the other DyIII, the intramolecular magnetic interactions and relaxation dynamics in these two heterometallic‐DyIII2ZnII2 SMMs can be tuned, demonstrating a dramatic change in the magnet relaxation behavior with energy barrier changing from a negligible value for 1 to 305 K for 2. Ab initio calculations reveal that changing the coordination geometries on the DyIII sites can significantly affect the magnetic interactions as well as single‐ion anisotropy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xianning City of Hubei Province is one of the five major traditional osmanthus producing areas in the world and the hometown of osmanthus in China. Xianning is constructing China Osmanthus City in the whole city. This paper first introduces the main characteristics of the osmanthus industry in Xianning City, and analyzes the characteristics of traditional knowledge, biological genetic resources, new plant varieties, patents, geographical indications, and trademarks. Then, it studies the intellectual property resources of the osmanthus industry, and analyzes the main problems existing in the construction of China Osmanthus City and intellectual property right protection. Finally, it comes up with constructive recommendations including applying for China and Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems, developing colored-leaf osmanthus varieties, creating a regional public brand of osmanthus specialty products, and building a new development pattern of osmanthus industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feeling inhibited and socially not at ease is reflected in the trait social inhibition (SI). SI is associated with psychopathology that arises in young adulthood, such as anxiety. We aim for a better insight into the genetic and environmental contributions to SI across the life span, and as such examine their contributions to SI stability and change across adolescent and adult life span. We analyzed cohort-sequential longitudinal data from the Netherlands Twin Register (NTR), spanning a period of 25 years (Men (N, %): 17855,37.4%; Age (Median, IQR): 19 years, 16-26 years: 7474 complete MZ twins and 8799 complete DZ twins). The data were organized into 7 age groups: <14 (preadolescence), 15-16 (early adolescence), 17-18 (mid adolescence), 19-20 Cite adolescence), 21-30 (young adulthood), 31-40 (adulthood), 41+ (middle-age--older adulthood). SI was assessed with the ASEBA-based proxy questionnaire. Phenotypic stability was established across the entire age range. Next, a longitudinal genetic simplex model was fitted to estimate the genetic and environmental contributions to the observed phenotypic stability. Results showed SI correlated well across follow-up of a single decade (.44 ≤ r ≤ .59) and moderately across the 25 years (.23 - .32) from adolescence to middle-age and older. Broad-sense heritability (h² was between 40 and 48% across the 7 age groups, Additive and nonadditive genetic effects together explained most of the stability of SI across the life span (about 60-90% of the phenotypic correlation between ages), whereas environmental effects played a lesser role (about 10-40%). Concluding, SI, known to increase the risk of internalizing psychopathology, is phenotypically stable across the life span, which is largely attributable to genetic contributions to individual differences in SI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xianning City is a main tea producing area in Hubei Province, the capital of "border-selling tea" in China, and an important starting point for the Ten-Thousand-Mile Tea Road across the Eurasian continent. This paper studies the tea industry in Xianning from the aspects of top 100 counties of tea industry, important agricultural cultural heritage, famous Chinese historical and cultural villages, China's time-honored brands, major brands, and designated production enterprises of border-selling tea. Besides, it introduces intellectual property resources of the tea industry from traditional knowledge, biological genetic resources, new plant varieties, patents, geographical indications, trademarks, etc. Then, it analyzes major problems in the inheritance, innovation and high-quality development of Xianning tea, especially the border-selling tea. Finally, it comes up with constructive recommendations of starting the cultural inheritance and development project and upgrade project of the tea industry to build the capital of China's border-selling tea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative evaluation of fracability is essential for hydraulic fracturing design, with the distribution of in situ stress being a key parameter. This study focused on evaluating fracability based on three-dimensional (3D) geological numerical simulation of in situ stress. First, a 3D geological model was established based on seismic data and the geological setting of a field of interest. Thereafter, the anisotropy of the mechanical parameters and boundary conditions was used to calculate the in situ stress on the 3D model. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method was then used to calculate the fracability related to the horizontal stress difference coefficient, rock mechanical brittleness, silicon content, cohesion, and internal friction angle. The horizontal stress difference coefficient was obtained by 3D geological numerical simulation, and the remaining parameters were obtained from logging data. The results revealed that the mechanical parameters exhibited significant anisotropy within the field of interest. The in situ stress depended on the structural depth and anisotropy of the mechanical parameters. The fracability index along the well trajectory differed at different well depths. The calculation results were verified using the Meijer G-function. With the parameters used in the AHP method, the in situ stress was determined by a 3D geological numerical simulation, logging data, and laboratory experiments, from which the fracability index was obtained. The results verified by the Meijer G-function indicated that obtaining the fracability index based on the 3D geological numerical simulation of in situ stress was advantageous with respect to complex formations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The measurement of anisotropic residual dipolar couplings (RDCs) parameters for the structure elucidation of organic molecules relies on suitable alignment media. Employment of self‐assembled liquid crystalline systems to create anisotropic alignment can be an effective way to realize aligned samples and acquire RDCs. This Mini‐review highlights the recent advances on amino acid‐based helical polymers and supramolecular oligomers forming rigid, rod‐like structures that aggregate into ordered liquid crystalline phases, including amino acid‐based helical polyisocyanides, polyacetylenes, polypeptides, and oligopeptides assembled alignment media. The methodology for the determination of anisotropic liquid crystals is briefly discussed, and a summary of recent research progress in the enantiodifferentiation of helical polymers aligned media is followed. In addition, the self‐assembled mechanism of oligopeptides and their RDCs structural analysis are also described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein kinases are involved in almost all biological activities. The activities of different kinases reflect the normal or abnormal status of the human body. Therefore, detecting the activities of different kinases is important for disease diagnosis and drug discovery. Fluorescent probes offer opportunities for studying kinase behaviors at different times and spatial locations. In this review, we summarize different kinds of fluorescent chemosensors that have been used to detect the activities of many different kinases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we developed a versatile strategy for biocatalytic resolution of racemates to produce enantiopure a-hydroxyphosphonates. Under mild conditions, a series of racemic a-hydroxyphosphonates were acetylized to S-acetates in approximately 50% yields and 499% ee. The reactions were catalyzed using lipase B from Candida antarctica (CALB), which is commercially available, and conditions for the reactions involving the enzyme have been established. The catalytic efficiency and enantioselectivity of CALB depend on the a-carbon substituents. The enzyme-substrate binding mode was established and the high enantioselectivity of CALB was revealed through docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trichomonascaceae is the largest family of ascomycetous yeast in the order Saccharomycetales. In spite of the extensive body of research on Trichomonascaceae in China, there remain new species to be discovered. Here, we describe four new species isolated from several rotting wood samples from Henan Province, Central China. Phylogenetic analysis of a combined ITS and nrLSU dataset with morphological studies revealed four new species in the Trichomonascaceae: Diddensiella luoyangensis, Sugiyamaella cylindrica, Su. robnettiae, and Zygoascus detingensis. Clustering in the Diddensiella clade, D. luoyangensis’ closest neighbour was D. transvaalensis. Meanwhile, Su. cylindrica clustered in the Sugiyamaella clade closest to Su. marilandica and Su. qingdaonensis. Also clustering in the Sugiyamaella clade, Su. robnettiae was most closely related to Su. chuxiongensis. Finally, Z. detingensis occupied a distinct and separated basal branch from the other species of the genus Zygoascus. These results indicate a high species diversity of Trichomonascaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Test of independence between random vectors X and Y is an essential task in statistical inference. One type of testing methods is based on the minimal spanning tree of variables X and Y. The main idea is to generate the minimal spanning tree for one random vector X, and for each edges in minimal spanning tree, the corresponding rank number can be calculated based on another random vector Y. The resulting test statistics are constructed by these rank numbers. However, the existed statistics are not symmetrical tests about the random vectors X and Y such that the power performance from minimal spanning tree of X is not the same as that from minimal spanning tree of Y. In addition, the conclusion from minimal spanning tree of X might conflict with that from minimal spanning tree of Y. In order to solve these problems, we propose several symmetrical independence tests for X and Y. The exact distributions of test statistics are investigated when the sample size is small. Also, we study the asymptotic properties of the statistics. A permutation method is introduced for getting critical values of the statistics. Compared with the existing methods, our proposed methods are more efficient demonstrated by numerical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bevacizumab (BV) has an inhibitory effect on tumor growth including lung adenocarcinoma. However, its efficacy is greatly affected by drug resistance. Astragaloside IV (AST‐IV) is effective in combination with other drugs is effective to treat cancer. This study aimed to investigate the effect of AST‐IV on enhancing the sensibility of lung adenocarcinoma cells to BV. A549 cells were treated by different concentrations of BV and AST‐IV. Cell viability, cell cycle, and apoptosis were detected by thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and flow cytometry, respectively. Quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) and western blotting were performed to detect the expression levels of autophagy‐ and apoptosis‐related proteins, protein kinase B (AKT), and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). The results showed that BV or AST‐IV could inhibit the viability and promote the apoptosis of A549 cells in a concentration‐dependent manner. Moreover, BV or AST‐IV inhibited Bcl‐2 expression and increased the expressions of Bax and Cleaved caspase‐3, and promoted apoptosis. BV and AST‐IV in combination acted synergistically on viability and apoptosis of A549 cells. However, BV alone down‐regulated P62 expression, LC3I/LC3II level, the number of cells arrested at S phase and the phosphorylation levels of AKT and mTOR, but upregulated the number of cells arrested at G0/G1 phase and Beclin1 expression, whereas AST‐IV alone could reverse the effect of BV on autophagy‐related proteins, the phosphorylation levels of AKT and mTOR. This paper demonstrates that AST‐IV enhances the effect of BV on inhibiting proliferation and promoting apoptosis of lung adenocarcinoma cells through inhibiting autophagy pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kodamaea includes a growing number of interesting yeasts of the family Debaryomycetacae that are widely distributed in temperate, subtropical and tropical regions of different continents. During recent yeast collections in Henan and Yunnan Province in China, several isolates of Kodamaea were obtained from rotting wood, all of which represent undescribed taxa. Based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses (ITS and LSU rDNA), three new species are proposed: K. hongheensis f.a., sp. nov., K. ovata f.a., sp. nov. and K. yamadae f.a., sp. nov. In addition, sixteen Candida species, which are members of the Kodamaea clade based on phylogenetic analysis, are transferred to Kodamaea as new combinations. Our results indicate high species diversity of Kodamaea waiting to be discovered in rotting wood from tropical and subtropical China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryotherapy is one of the most common treatments for warts; however, pain during treatment and relatively high recurrence rates limit its use. Local hyperthermia has also been used successfully in the treatment of plantar warts. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical effectiveness of local hyperthermia vs cryotherapy for the treatment of plantar warts. This multicentre, open, 2-arm, non-randomized concurrent controlled trial included 1,027 patients, who received either cryotherapy or local hyperthermia treatment. Three months after treatment, local hyperthermia and cryotherapy achieved complete clearance rates of 50.9% and 54.3%, respectively. Recurrence rates were 0.8% and 12%, respectively. Pain scores during local hyperthermia were significantly lower than for cryotherapy. Both local hyperthermia and cryotherapy demonstrated similar efficacy for clearance of plantar warts; while local hyperthermia had a lower recurrence rate and lower pain sensation during treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Melanin can be used in biomedical nanomaterials, but its solubility in water and bioavailability are low. Aim: Melanin nanoparticles were prepared and then PEG-natural melanin nanoparticles (NMNP-PEG) were obtained with good performance and optimize their (water solubility, dispersion stability, chelating metal ions, photothermal stability, drug delivery, and biocompatibility), therefore improve the water solubility of melanin and broaden its application scope in biology, medicine, food, and other fields. Methods: MFAK (melanin from apricot kernels) and NMNP-PEG were prepared and characterized using ultravioletvisible spectrophotometry (UV-Vis), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and electron microscopy. The chelation rate of metal ions, photothermal effect, doxorubicin loading, and cytotoxicity (MCF-7 cells) were examined. Results: UV-Vis, HPLC, FTIR, and NMR indicated that NMNPs contained melanin. NMNPs could be successfully modified using PEG. Under physiological pH conditions (pH 7.4), the metal ion chelation rate of NMNP-PEG increased with time and peaked at 12 h. The photothermal assay showed a temperature enhancement of 26.3°C with 1 mg/mL NMNP-PEG, compared with 1.9 with water. The NMNP-PEGs had a typical peak for doxorubicin in the FTIR spectrum, and the peak intensity was proportional to the drug loading. The release of doxorubicin in an acidic buffer was 40.8% at 24 h, almost threefold that in a neutral buffer (11.9%). There was no obvious cytotoxicity from NMNP-PEG. Conclusion: NMNP-PEG displays good stability, high metal ion chelation ability, efficient photothermal conversion potential, drug-retaining capability, sustained controlled drug release, and biocompatibility. This study provides a theoretical basis for NMNP-PEG applications in medicine (targeting specific sites to diagnose and treat diseases), food (extending the shelf life of food), and biology (as metal ion chelating agents to remove heavy metals from wastewater). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humans spend the greater part of the day in a postprandial state. However, the genetic basis of postprandial blood measures is relatively uncharted territory. We examined the genetics of variation in concentrations of postprandial metabolites (t = 150 min) in response to a liquid mixed meal through genome-wide association studies (GWAS) performed in the Netherlands Epidemiology of Obesity (NEO) study (n = 5,705). The metabolite response GWAS identified an association between glucose change and rs10830963:G in the melatonin receptor 1B (β [SE] -0.23 [0.03], P = 2.15 × 10-19). In addition, the ANKRD55 locus led by rs458741:C showed strong associations with extremely large VLDL (XXLVLDL) particle response (XXLVLDL total cholesterol: β [SE] 0.17 [0.03], P = 5.76 × 10-10; XXLVLDL cholesterol ester: β [SE] 0.17 [0.03], P = 9.74 × 10-10), which also revealed strong associations with body composition and diabetes in the UK Biobank (P < 5 × 10-8). Furthermore, the associations between XXLVLDL response and insulinogenic index, HOMA-β, Matsuda insulin sensitivity index, and HbA1c in the NEO study implied the role of chylomicron synthesis in diabetes (with false discovery rate-corrected q <0.05). To conclude, genetic studies of metabolomics change after a liquid meal illuminate novel pathways for glucose and lipid metabolism. Further studies are warranted to corroborate biological pathways of the ANKRD55 locus underlying diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The N-doped carbon materials have natural advantages as the potential catalyst of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). However, the lack of practical synthesis techniques for enabling highly efficient ORR performance hinders the go-ahead of robust carbocatalysts. Here, we design and synthesize nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheets (N–CN-Fd) with abundant activate sites from Sterculia lychnophora via a brief freeze-drying technology. This universal route promotes the specific surface areas, strengthens the degree of graphitization and increases the atom ratio of electron-donating groups of N–CN-Fd. The obtained N–CN-Fd displays an onset potential of 0.91 V, a half-wave potential of 0.79 V, and a limited-diffusion current density of 3.6 mA/cm2 for ORR under alkaline conditions, comparable to commercial Pt/C. Meanwhile, a four-electron ORR pathway is revealed and N–CN-Fd maintains higher stability than Pt/C in chronoamperometric response. Moreover, the advantage of the N–CN-Fd catalyst in increasing the discharge-charge capacity and improving the cycling stability of the Li–O 2 battery is demonstrated. The theoretical calculation result illustrates that the abundant electron-donating surface groups on the samples able to accomplish the activation of ortho-C atoms, which endow N–CN-Fd the excellent ORR activity. Our findings provide guidelines for designing various carbon-based electrocatalysts with multiple active sites through freeze-drying crafts. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four naphthalene diimide (NDI)-derived coordination polymers (CPs), [Cd(3-DPNDI)(o-BDC)] (1), [Cd(3-DPNDI)2(p-BDC)(NO3)] (2), [Cd(3-DPNDI)(NDC)(H2O)2] (3), [Cd(3-DPNDI)(BPC)(H2O)] (4) (3-DPNDI = N,N'-di-(3-pyridyl)-1,4,5,8-naphthalene diimide, o-BDC = phthalic acid, p-BDC = terephthalic acid, NDC = 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, BPC = biphenyl-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid), have been designed and prepared. The usage of carboxylic acid ligands with different sizes, shapes and charge densities leads to the distinct resultant architectures of four CPs and divergent weak interactions (lone pair⋯π, π⋯π and C–H⋯π interactions) of electron donors/acceptors, which further lead to the completely different photoinduced electron transfer (PET) and consequent photochromic properties. More specifically, 1 and 2 display excellent photochromic behaviors with a fast photoresponsive rate and high coloration contrast, which are attributed to the suitable interfacial contacts of electron donors/acceptors. However, 3 and 4 are basically optical inert, which could be attributed to the negative effect of the stronger charge transfer (CT) on PET. The present study illustrates the delicate modulating effect of carboxylic acid ligands on the resultant networks, interfacial relationship and PET together with photoresponsive behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women. Cancer driver gene-mediated alterations in the tumor microenvironment are critical factors affecting the biological behavior of breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to identify the expression characteristics and prognostic value of cancer driver genes in breast cancer. Methods: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets are used as the training and test sets. Classified according to cancer and paracancerous tissues, we identified differentially expressed cancer driver genes. We further screened prognosis-associated genes, and candidate genes were submitted for the construction of a risk signature. Functional enrichment analysis and transcriptional regulatory networks were performed to search for possible mechanisms by which cancer driver genes affect breast cancer prognosis. Results: We identified more than 200 differentially expressed driver genes and 27 prognosis-related genes. High-risk group patients had a lower survival rate compared to the low-risk group (P<0.05), and risk signature showed high specificity and sensitivity in predicting the patient prognosis (AUC 0.790). Multivariate regression analysis suggested that risk scores can independently predict patient prognosis. Further, we found differences in PD-1 expression, immune score, and stromal score among different risk groups. Conclusion: Our study confirms the critical prognosis role of cancer driver genes in breast cancer. The cancer driver gene risk signature may provide a novel biomarker for clinical treatment strategy and survival prediction of breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yamadazyma is one of the largest genera in the family Debaryomycetaceae (Saccharomycetales, Saccharomycetes) with species mainly found in rotting wood, insects and their resulting frass, but also recovered from flowers, leaves, fruits, tree bark, mushrooms, sea water, minerals, and the atmosphere. In the present study, several strains obtained from rotting wood in Henan and Yunnan Provinces of China were isolated. Based on morphology and a molecular phylogeny of the rDNA internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit (LSU) rDNA, these strains were identified as three new species: Yamadazyma luoyangensis, Y. ovata and Y. paraaseri; and three previously described species, Y. insectorum, Y. akitaensis, and Y. olivae. The three new species are illustrated and their morphology and phylogenetic relationships with other Yamadazyma species are discussed. Our results indicate a high undiscovered diversity of Yamadazyma spp. inhabiting rotting wood in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing the interactions between tryptophan, methyl viologen and cucurbit[8]uril, we found that the distance between the targeted peptides/protein and the reactive peptide was shortened, which facilitated the Michael addition reaction between cysteine and dehydroalanine. The highest acceleration was observed on cysteines with suitable pKa and spatial location to tryptophan, suggesting that our system can be used for regioselective cysteine modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A quantitative understanding of physiological thermal responses is vital for forecasting species distributional shifts in response to climate change. Many studies have focused on metabolic rate as a global metric for analyzing the sublethal effects of changing environments on physiology. Thermal performance curves (TPCs) have been suggested as a viable analytical framework, but standard TPCs may not fully capture physiological responses, due in part to failure to consider the process of metabolic depression. We derived a model based on the nonlinear regression of biological temperature‐dependent rate processes and built a heart rate data set for 26 species of intertidal molluscs distributed from 33°S to ~40°N. We then calculated physiological thermal performance limits with continuous heating using T1/2H, the temperature at which heart rate is decreased to 50% of the maximal rate, as a more realistic measure of upper thermal limits. Results indicate that heat‐induced metabolic depression of cardiac performance is a common adaptive response that allows tolerance of harsh environments. Furthermore, our model accounted for the high inter‐individual variability in the shape of cardiac TPCs. We then used these TPCs to calculate physiological thermal safety margins (pTSM), the difference between the maximal operative temperature (95th percentile of field temperatures) and T1/2H of each individual. Using pTSMs, we developed a physiological species distribution model (pSDM) to forecast future geographic distributions. pSDM results indicate that climate‐induced species range shifts are potentially less severe than predicted by a simple correlative SDM. Species with metabolic depression below the optimum temperature will be more thermal resistant at their warm trailing edges. High intraspecific variability further suggests that models based on species‐level vulnerability to environmental change may be problematic. This multi‐scale, mechanistic understanding that incorporates metabolic depression and inter‐individual variability in thermal response enables better predictions about the relationship between thermal stress and species distributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid gelation and on‐demand dissolution are key characteristics governing the effectiveness of clinic hydrogel wound dressings. Here, an injectable self‐healing hydrogel with rapid gelation and cysteine‐specific on‐demand dissolution is designed to be used as wound dressings. The hydrogel is prepared based on the formation of tandem dynamic covalent bonds comprised of CC double bonds produced through the catalysis‐free Knoevenagel condensation reaction and boronate ester linkages. The prepared hydrogel displays excellent injectability and self‐healing ability, showing rapid cysteine‐triggered on‐demand dissolution owing to the formation of the thiazolidino boronate complex. When used as dressings for healing full‐thickness wounds, the hydrogel shows favorable biocompatibility, achieves rapid wound closure in seconds, and fast on‐demand dissolution for dressing changes. These data highlight the utility of the designed tandem dynamic covalent bonds‐based hydrogel dressings for promising wound healing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterogeneous catalysis involves solid-state catalysts, among which metal nanoparticles occupy an important position. Unfortunately, no two nanoparticles from conventional synthesis are the same at the atomic level, though such regular nanoparticles can be highly uniform at the nanometer level (e.g., size distribution ∼5%). In the long pursuit of well-defined nanocatalysts, a recent success is the synthesis of atomically precise metal nanoclusters protected by ligands in the size range from tens to hundreds of metal atoms (equivalently 1–3 nm in core diameter). More importantly, such nanoclusters have been crystallographically characterized, just like the protein structures in enzyme catalysis. Such atomically precise metal nanoclusters merge the features of well-defined homogeneous catalysts (e.g., ligand-protected metal centers) and enzymes (e.g., protein-encapsulated metal clusters of a few atoms bridged by ligands). The well-defined nanoclusters with their total structures available constitute a new class of model catalysts and hold great promise in fundamental catalysis research, including the atomically precise size dependent activity, control of catalytic selectivity by metal structure and surface ligands, structure–property relationships at the atomic-level, insights into molecular activation and catalytic mechanisms, and the identification of active sites on nanocatalysts. This Review summarizes the progress in the utilization of atomically precise metal nanoclusters for catalysis. These nanocluster-based model catalysts have enabled heterogeneous catalysis research at the single-atom and single-electron levels. Future efforts are expected to achieve more exciting progress in fundamental understanding of the catalytic mechanisms, the tailoring of active sites at the atomic level, and the design of new catalysts with high selectivity and activity under mild conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type D (Distressed) personality combines negative affectivity (NA) and social inhibition (SI) and is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. We aimed to (1) validate a new proxy based on the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA) for Type D personality and its NA and SI subcomponents and (2) estimate the heritability of the Type D proxy in an extended twin-pedigree design in the Netherlands Twin Register (NTR). Proxies for the dichotomous Type D classification, and continuous NA, SI, and NAxSI (the continuous measure of Type D) scales were created based on 12 ASEBA items for 30,433 NTR participants (16,449 twins and 13,984 relatives from 11,106 pedigrees) and sources of variation were analyzed in the 'Mendel' software package. We estimated additive and non-additive genetic variance components, shared household and unique environmental variance components and ran bivariate models to estimate the genetic and non-genetic covariance between NA and SI. The Type D proxy showed good reliability and construct validity. The best fitting genetic model included additive and non-additive genetic effects with broad-sense heritabilities for NA, SI and NAxSI estimated at 49%, 50% and 49%, respectively. Household effects showed small contributions (4–9%) to the total phenotypic variation. The genetic correlation between NA and SI was.66 (reflecting both additive and non-additive genetic components). Thus, Type D personality and its NA and SI subcomponents are heritable, with a shared genetic basis for the two subcomponents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Casing wear and casing corrosion are serious problems affecting casing integrity failure in deep and ultra-deep wells. This paper aims to predict the casing burst strength with considerations of both wear and corrosion. Firstly, the crescent wear shape is simplified into three categories according to common mathematical models. Then, based on the mechano-electrochemical (M-E) interaction, the prediction model of corrosion depth is built with worn depth as the initial condition, and the prediction models of burst strength of the worn casing and corroded casing are obtained. Secondly, the accuracy of different prediction models is validated by numerical simulation, and the main influence factors on casing strength are obtained. At last, the theoretical models are applied to an ultra-deep well in Northwest China, and the dangerous well sections caused by wear and corrosion are predicted, and the corrosion rate threshold to ensure the safety of casing is obtained. The results show that the existence of wear defects results in a stress concentration and enhanced M-E interaction on corrosion depth growth. The accuracy of different mathematical models is different: the slot ring model is most accurate for predicting corrosion depth, and the eccentric model is most accurate for predicting the burst strength of corroded casing. The burst strength of the casing will be overestimated by more than one-third if the M-E interaction is neglected, so the coupling effect of wear and corrosion should be sufficiently considered in casing integrity evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal analysis plays a key role in the online inspection of molten iron quality. Different solidification process of molten iron can be reflected by thermal analysis curves, and silicon is one of important elements affecting the solidification of molten iron. In this study, FeSi75 was added in one chamber of the dual-chamber sample cup, and the influences of FeSi75 additive on the characteristic values of thermal analysis curves and vermiculating rate were investigated. The results show that with the increase of FeSi75, the start temperature of austenite formation TAL firstly decreases and then increases, but the start temperature of eutectic growth TSEF, the lowest eutectic temperature TEU, temperature at maximum eutectic reaction rate TEM, and highest eutectic temperature TER keep always an increase. The temperature at final solidification point TES has little change. The FeSi75 additive has different influences on the vermiculating rate of molten iron with different vermiculation, and the vermiculating rate increases for lower vermiculation molten iron while decreases for higher one. According to the thermal analysis curves obtained by a dual-chamber sample cup with 0.30wt.% FeSi75 additive in one chamber, the vermiculating rate of molten iron can be evaluated by comparing the characteristic values of these curves. The time difference tER corresponding to the highest eutectic temperature TER has a closer relationship with the vermiculating rate, and a parabolic regression curve between the time difference tER and vermiculating rate? has been obtained within the range of 65% to 95%, which is suitable for the qualified melt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugarcane bagasse (SCB) and calcium oxide with ammonium hydrogen carbonate were reacted in an aqueous solution to obtain an SCB-calcium carbonate (SCB–CaCO 3) composite adsorbent, which was used to remove crystal violet (CV) from wastewater. The resulting adsorbent was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and surface-area and pore-size analyses. The removal of CV dye by using the SCB-CaCO 3 composite adsorbent was investigated at different pH levels, adsorbent dosages, contact times, initial dye concentrations, and temperatures. The equilibrium adsorption capacity of SCB-CaCO 3 for CV at 3.33 mg/mL SCB-CaCO 3 dosage, temperature of 313 K, pH 9.0, and initial dye concentration 1000 mg/L was 293.02 mg/g, and the corresponding removal rate reached 97.67%. The adsorption isotherms, kinetics, and thermodynamic parameters were evaluated in detail. Results showed that the adsorption isotherms of CV dye were consistent with the Langmuir model, so the adsorption was a monolayer process. The adsorption mechanism of CV can be described by a pseudo-second-order kinetic model, indicating that dye adsorption onto SCB-CaCO 3 was primarily affected by strong chemisorption through electrostatic interactions. Further thermodynamic studies revealed that the CV adsorption onto SCB-CaCO 3 was a spontaneous and endothermic reaction. We also demonstrated that the adsorption of dye by SCB-CaCO 3 involved intraparticle diffusion and hydrogen-bonding interactions to some extent. Overall, SCB-CaCO 3 was found to be an efficient, low-cost, green, and recyclable organic dye-removal material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, based on density functional theory (DFT), the structural, elastic and thermal properties of different structures of the quaternary compound Cu2ZnSiSe4 were studied theoretically. The structural parameters are found to be in good agreement with experimental results. The independent elastic constants are calculated and analyzed, the results show that the structures have mechanical stability. The bulk modulus, Poisson's ratio, and universal anisotropy index of Cu2ZnSiSe4 are obtained in detail. In order to accurately describe the thermodynamic properties of Cu2ZnSiSe4, the parameters of Debye temperature, thermal expansion coefficient, heat capacity and Cp were analyzed under different pressures and temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]