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The Ruderman–Kittel–Kasuya–Yosida (RKKY) theory of oscillatory exchange interaction in synthetic antiferromagnetic multilayers results in the oscillation behavior of giant magnetoresistance ratio. In addition, the formation of Yu–Shiba–Rusinov (YSR) bound states will induce an extra antiferromagnetic interaction, which is expected to mediate stronger exchange coupling than conventional RKKY interaction. However, the YSR bound states have only been studied in some superconducting hosts with magnetic impurities. The narrow range of material systems that are not compatible with the device integration architecture limits the practical application of YSR interaction. Here, we observe the RKKY interaction and provide the evidence for YSR interaction in Pt/(Co/Pt)2/Nb/(Pt/Co)2/Pt synthetic antiferromagnetic multilayers by quantitatively determining the coupling energy via ferromagnetic resonance technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate inclusion properties in a ∗-ring. It is proven that for two {1, 3}-invertible elements a and b in a ∗-ring, a = b if and only if a{1, 3} = b{1, 3}. For two {1, 2, 3}-invertible elements a and b, a{1, 2, 3} = b{1, 2, 3} if and only if (a − b)Ra = (a − b)Rb = 0. Moreover, we give a characterization of {3}-inverses, and the absorption law for {3}-inverses is studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The relationship between circulating bile acids (BAs) and kidney function among patients with type 2 diabetes is unclear. We aimed to investigate the associations of circulating concentrations of BAs, particularly individual BA subtypes, with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients of newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we included 1234 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes who participated in an ongoing prospective study, the Dongfeng-Tongji cohort. Circulating primary and secondary unconjugated BAs and their taurine- or glycine-conjugates were measured using ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. CKD was defined as eGFR < 60 ml/min per 1.73 m2. Logistic regression model was used to compute odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: After adjusting for multiple testing, higher levels of total primary BAs (OR per standard deviation [SD] increment: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.65–0.92), cholate (OR per SD: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.66–0.92), chenodeoxycholate (OR per SD: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.69–0.96), glycocholate (OR per SD: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.68–0.96), and glycochenodeoxycholate (OR per SD: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.69–0.97) were associated with a lower likelihood of having CKD in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. No significant relationships between secondary BAs and odds of CKD were observed. Conclusions: Our findings showed that higher concentrations of circulating unconjugated primary BAs and their glycine-conjugates, but not taurine-conjugates or secondary BAs, were associated with lower odds of having CKD in patients with type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depression is a global health issue, associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and premature death, but whether the association varied across different socioeconomic status (SES), and mechanisms responsible for this association is unclear. We aimed to evaluate the association of depressive symptoms with the risk of incident CVD and mortality in people of low, medium, and high SES, and determine the extent to which lifestyle behaviors could explain the association. This study included 314,800 participants from the UK Biobank. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2). Information on socioeconomic status and lifestyle was obtained from baseline assessment. During 12 years of follow-up, 29,074 incident CVD cases and 16,673 deaths were documented. The increased CVD risk in participants with depressive symptoms (versus without) was more pronounced as SES decreased, with hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of 1.30 (1.22, 1.39), 1.27 (1.17, 1.37), and 1.17 (0.97, 1.41) in participants of low, medium, and high SES, respectively. The corresponding HRs (95% CIs) for all-cause mortality were 1.16 (1.07, 1.26), 1.21 (1.08, 1.36), and 1.24 (0.95, 1.61). In addition, multiple lifestyle factors together explained 14.4% to 32.8% of the elevated CVD and mortality risk due to depressive symptoms. Moderate sensitivity of PHQ-2, lacked information on the severity of depression, baseline measurement of lifestyle. Depressive symptoms were associated with higher risks of incident CVD and mortality, especially in low SES groups, and lifestyle behaviors only explained a moderate proportion of the association. These findings indicated that health policies targeting healthy lifestyle promotion alone might not be sufficient, and other measures tackling social inequity are warranted to attenuate the elevated health risk due to depression. • Depressive symptoms were associated with higher risk of CVD and mortality especially in low socioeconomic status group. • Multiple lifestyle factors explained a moderate proportion of the elevated risk of CVD and mortality due to depression. • Tackling socioeconomic inequity is of great importance in the prevention of CVD and premature death due to depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A direct synthesis of N‐heterocyclic olefins (NHOs) and their mesoionic congeners (mNHOs) from N‐heterocyclic carbenes and N‐aziridinylimines is reported. The reaction provided diverse functionalized (m)NHOs and π‐extended analogues. The prepared NHOs initiated the ring‐opening polymerization of β‐butyrolactone, and insertion of aldehyde and nitrile into an NHO‐B(C6F5)3 adduct was demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rational immobilization of fragile enzymes on a scaffold is an efficient protocol to achieve robust biocatalyst, yet the construction remains challenging due to the trade‐off between enzyme activity and framework environment. Herein, an enzyme‐engineered assembly strategy enabling the in situ fusion of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) into Zn‐based metal‐organic frameworks (Zn‐MOF‐74) during the rapid nucleation and crystal defect growth process, is demonstrated. The Zn‐MOF‐74 composites can offer a hydrophilic framework microenvironment for maintaining the biological state of AChE, with flower‐like porous structure that allows for boosting the mass transfer process of substrates and products. Impressively, the apparent activity of AChE can be well maintained 90% after encapsulation, and the AChE@Zn‐MOF‐74 composites produced excellent stability in inhospitable environments. Given the structural integration, a robust AChE@Zn‐MOF‐74‐based biosensor is constructed for the sensitive detection of chlorpyrifos (organophosphorus pesticides) with a detection limit of 1.0 ng mL−1, enabling the monitoring of pesticide degradation extent in the water body. This study is anticipated to offer valuable insight into understanding the structure‐activity relationship of enzyme@MOF to encourage applications in the construction of robust biosensors for precision agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively examine the associations of habitual calcium supplementation with cardiovascular disease (CVD) events and mortality in individuals with and without diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The main analysis included 434,374 participants from the UK Biobank. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs. Interactions of calcium supplement use with diabetes status were tested on multiplicative and additive scales. RESULTS: Over a median follow-up of 8.1 and 11.2 years, 26,374 incident CVD events and 20,526 deaths were documented, respectively. After multivariable adjustment, habitual calcium supplementation was significantly associated with higher risks of CVD incidence (HR 1.34; 95% CI 1.14, 1.57), CVD mortality (HR 1.67; 95% CI 1.19, 2.33), and all-cause mortality (HR 1.44; 95% CI 1.20, 1.72) in participants with diabetes, whereas no significant association was observed in participants without diabetes (HR 0.97 [95% CI 0.92, 1.03] for CVD incidence; HR 1.05 [95% CI 0.90, 1.23] for CVD mortality; HR 1.02 [95% CI 0.96, 1.09] for all-cause mortality). Significant multiplicative and additive interactions were found between habitual calcium supplementation and diabetes status on risks of CVD events and mortality (all Pinteraction < 0.05). In contrast, no significant interactions were observed between dietary or serum calcium and diabetes status. CONCLUSIONS: Habitual use of calcium supplements was significantly associated with higher risk of CVD events and mortality in people with diabetes but not in people without diabetes. Further studies are needed to balance potentially adverse effects of calcium supplement against likely benefits, particularly among patients with diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclo[18]carbon has received considerable attention thanks to its novel geometric configuration and special electronic structure. Superalkalis have low ionization energy. Doping a superalkali in cyclo[18]carbon is an effective method to improve the optical properties of the system because considerable electron transfer occurs. In this paper, the geometry, bonding properties, electronic structure, absorption spectrum, and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of superalkaline M 3O (M = Li, Na)-doped cyclo[18]carbon were studied by using density functional theory. M 3O and the C18 rings are not coplanar. The C18 ring still exhibits alternating long and short bonds. The charge transfer between M 3O and C18 forms stable [ M 3O]+[C18]− ionic complexes. C18 M 3O (M = Li, Na) shows striking optical nonlinearity, i.e., their first- and second-order hyperpolarizability (β vec and γ ||) increase considerably at λ = 1907 nm and 1460 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Proteases secreted by Trichinella spiralis intestinal infective larvae (IIL) play an important role in larval invasion and pathogenesis. However, the mechanism through which proteases mediate larval invasion of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) remains unclear. A novel T. spiralis trypsin (TsTryp) was identified in IIL excretory/secretory (ES) proteins. It was an early and highly expressed protease at IIL stage, and had the potential as an early diagnostic antigen. The aim of this study was to investigate the biological characteristics of this novel TsTryp, its role in larval invasion of gut epithelium, and the mechanisms involved. Methodology/Principal finding: TsTryp with C-terminal domain was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3), and the rTsTryp had the enzymatic activity of natural trypsin, but it could not directly degrade gut tight junctions (TJs) proteins. qPCR and western blotting showed that TsTryp was highly expressed at the invasive IIL stage. Immunofluorescence assay (IFA), ELISA and Far Western blotting revealed that rTsTryp specifically bound to IECs, and confocal microscopy showed that the binding of rTsTryp with IECs was mainly localized in the cytomembrane. Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) confirmed that rTsTryp bound to protease activated receptors 2 (PAR2) in Caco-2 cells. rTsTryp binding to PAR2 resulted in decreased expression levels of ZO-1 and occludin and increased paracellular permeability in Caco-2 monolayers by activating the extracellular regulated protein kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) pathway. rTsTryp decreased TJs expression and increased epithelial permeability, which could be abrogated by the PAR2 antagonist AZ3451 and ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059. rTsTryp facilitated larval invasion of IECs, and anti-rTsTryp antibodies inhibited invasion. Both inhibitors impeded larval invasion and alleviated intestinal inflammation in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions: TsTryp binding to PAR2 activated the ERK1/2 pathway, decreased the expression of gut TJs proteins, disrupted epithelial integrity and barrier function, and consequently mediated larval invasion of the gut mucosa. Therefore, rTsTryp could be regarded as a potential vaccine target for blocking T. spiralis invasion and infection. Author summary: Trichinella spiralis is an important foodborne parasitic nematode, and the intestinal infective larvae (IIL) invasion of host's intestinal mucosa is the key step in T. spiralis infection. But the mechanism of the IIL invasion of gut epithelium has not been completely elucidated. Characterization of interaction between the IIL invasive proteins and their receptors in intestinal epithelium cells will be valuable to understand larval invasion mechanism, and contribute in development of preventive veterinary vaccines against T. spiralis infection. Our results indicated that a novel T. spiralis trypsin (TsTryp) binding to PAR2 in intestinal epithelium activated ERK1/2 pathway, decreased expression of gut tight junctions (TJs) proteins, disrupted gut epithelial integrity and barrier function, and consequently mediated larval invasion of gut mucosa. Therefore, TsTryp may be regarded as a potential vaccine target to block T. spiralis infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The excretory/secretory (ES) antigen of Trichinella spiralis muscle larvae (ML) is currently the most widely used diagnostic antigen to detect T. spiralis infection. However, this antigen has certain drawbacks, such as a complicated ES antigen preparation process and lower sensitivity during the early phase of infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the features of a novel T. spiralis trypsin (TsTryp) and evaluate its potential diagnostic value for trichinellosis. Methods: The TsTryp gene was cloned and recombinant TsTryp (rTsTryp) expressed. Western blotting and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were performed to confirm the antigenicity of rTsTryp. The expression pattern and distribution signature of TsTryp at various life-cycle stages of T. spiralis were analyzed by quantitative PCR, western blotting and the immunofluorescence test. An ELISA with rTsTryp and ML ES antigens was used to detect immunoglobulins G and M (IgG, IgM) in serum samples of infected mice, swine and humans. The seropositive results were further confirmed by western blot with rTsTryp and ML ES antigens. Results: TsTryp expression was observed in diverse T. spiralis life-cycle phases, with particularly high expression in the early developmental phase (intestinal infectious larvae and adults), with distribution observed mainly at the nematode outer cuticle and stichosome. rTsTryp was identified by T. spiralis-infected mouse sera and anti-rTsTryp sera. Natural TsTryp protease was detected in somatic soluble and ES antigens of the nematode. In mice infected with 200 T. spiralis ML, serum-specific IgG was first detected by rTsTryp-ELISA at 8 days post-infection (dpi), reaching 100% positivity at 12 dpi, and first detected by ES-ELISA at 10 dpi, reaching 100% positivity at 14 dpi. Specific IgG was detected by rTsTryp 2 days earlier than by ES antigens. When specific IgG was determined in serum samples from trichinellosis patients, the sensitivity of rTsTryp-ELISA and ES antigens-ELISA was 98.1% (51/52 samples) and 94.2% (49/52 samples), respectively (P = 0.308), but the specificity of rTsTryp was significantly higher than that of ES antigens (98.7% vs. 95.4%; P = 0.030). Additionally, rTsTryp conferred a lower cross-reaction, with only three serum samples in total testing positive from 11 clonorchiasis, 20 cysticercosis and 24 echinococcosis patients (1 sample from each patient group). Conclusions: TsTryp was shown to be an early and highly expressed antigen at intestinal T. spiralis stages, indicating that rTsTryp represents a valuable diagnostic antigen for the serodiagnosis of early Trichinella infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe integration of ChatGPT as a supplementary tool for writing instruction has gained traction. However, uncertainties persist regarding how ChatGPT complements teacher assessment and the overall effectiveness of this combined approach. To address this, we conducted a mixed-methods investigation involving 46 undergraduate students from a research university in southern China, engaging them in a Chinese academic writing task. The intraclass correlation coefficient results revealed ChatGPT’s efficiency in scoring students’ writing, showing moderate to good consistency with teacher evaluations. A paired sample t-test unveiled significant differences in feedback quantity and types between ChatGPT and teacher assessments. Drawing from both interview data and quantitative findings, the study uncovers three ways in which ChatGPT complements teacher assessment, benefiting students with various writing proficiency levels: (1) fostering deeper comprehension of teacher assessments among students, (2) encouraging students to make judgments regarding feedback, and (3) promoting independent thinking about revisions. This study contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the role of ChatGPT within the context of a combined assessment approach. It underscores that certain inherent weaknesses in ChatGPT’s functioning can paradoxically lead to favorable outcomes. By shedding light on the synergy between ChatGPT and teacher assessments, this research seeks to inform and enhance writing instruction in higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve a fundamental reduction in the carbon emissions associated with grinding machines, it is imperative to systematically explore low-carbon considerations in the design phase. The spindle is a significant contributor to carbon emissions in grinding machines, and an effective approach for reducing carbon emissions is the structural optimization of the spindle. Most of the current optimization methods aim at improving processability without considering the reduction of carbon emissions. In this context, the present study addresses the issue of carbon emissions within the spindle design phase. Initially, the determination of the spindle's carbon emissions function and the selection of the optimization objective were undertaken. The structural factors that have a significant influence on the optimization objective were identified as optimization variables. Subsequently, the optimization objective function was established through the application of the fitting method. Finally, the proposed model was refined through the utilization of an enhanced whale algorithm. The findings indicate an 8.22% reduction in carbon emissions associated with the spindle, accompanied by marginal enhancements in both static and dynamic spindle performance. The concluding section of this paper deliberates on the impact of structural parameters on the specified objectives, thereby providing insights for the optimal design of the spindle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Relationship between surface antigen differentiation cluster 274 (CD274) gene polymorphism and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) risk is limited. This study aims to discuss whether in a Chinese Han population, CD274 gene polymorphisms may relate to SLE susceptibility. Methods: Three hundred and ten SLE patients and 390 healthy controls were included in this case–control study. Using the Kompetitive Allele‐Specific PCR (KASP) approach, five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), including rs2890658, rs4143815, rs822339, rs2282055, and rs2297137, were genotyped for CD274 gene polymorphisms. Correlation between the polymorphisms and clinical, laboratory features in SLE patients were discussed. Results: Frequency of C allele was substantially lower in SLE patients than in healthy controls (p =.015), and CC genotype was significantly negatively related to developing SLE at locus rs4143815 (p =.013). At locus rs822339, frequency of GA genotype was higher than that of the healthy controls (p =.006). At locus rs2282055, frequency of GG genotype was lower than that of healthy controls (p =.024). According to subgroup analysis, the CD274 gene polymorphisms rs2890658, rs4143815, rs822339, rs2282055, and rs2297137 were partly linked to some clinical symptoms of SLE patients, such as Complement 4 (C4), C‐reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Conclusion: CD274 gene polymorphisms may be susceptible to SLE in the Chinese Han people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-heme mononuclear iron complexes, especially when supported by tripodal tetradentate ligands, show promising C–H bond activation efficiency in catalytic reactions. Nevertheless, they intrinsically decay readily to their dinuclear form, and the dimerization process is inevitable in homogenous solution, which dramatically hinders their further application. Hence, we demonstrate that the mononuclear iron complex [(TPA)FeII-2L]2+ (L = labile ligands, mainly solvent molecules) was successfully encapsulated in a highly robust metal–organic framework UiO-66 via a two-step "ship-in-a-bottle" strategy. The nearly perfect size matching of the octahedral cages of the host UiO-66 provides ideal space confinement for the guest complex to protect from dimerization and dramatically increases the mono-nuclear complex stability compared to its un-confined state. The successful encapsulation of [(TPA)FeII-2L]2+ in UiO-66 was verified thoroughly by spectroscopy, microscopy, N2 adsorption, and electrochemistry characterization techniques. This work shows that encapsulating an unstable molecular complex in MOFs via a two-step "ship-in-a-bottle" strategy highlights opportunities for extending the heterogenization of homogeneous complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photodynamic therapy is known for its non-invasiveness to significantly reduce undesired side effects on patients. However, the infiltration and invasiveness of tumor growth are still beyond the specificity of traditional light-controlled photodynamic therapy (PDT), which lacks cellular-level accuracy to tumor cells, possibly leading to "off-target" damage to healthy tissues such as the skin or immune cells infiltrated. Here, upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) were co-encapsulated with manganese dioxide (MnO2) by amphiphilic polymers poly(styrene-co-methyl acrylate) (PSMA) and further coated with photosensitizer (riboflavin)-loaded mesoporous silica (C@S/V). The C@S/V nanoprobes exhibited shielded upconversion luminescence in normal conditions (pH 7.4, no hydroperoxide (H2O2)) under 980-nm irradiation and thus minimal reactive oxygen production from riboflavin. However, the excess H2O2 (1 mM) and acidic environment (pH 5.5) could decompose the MnO2 within the C@S/V, resulting in remarkable enhancement of upconversion luminescence and a favorable hypoxia-relieving condition for PDT, providing a spatiotemporal signal for therapy initiation. The C@S/V nanoprobes were applied to the co-culture of normal cells (HEK293) and pancreatic cancer cells (Panc02) and performed a selective killing on Panc02 under the 980-nm irradiation. By using the "double-safety" strategy, a responsive C@S/V nanoprobe was designed by the selective activation of acidic and H2O2-rich conditions and 980-nm irradiation for spatiotemporally selective photodynamic therapy with cellular-level accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein hydrolysates (PHs) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are environmentally friendly biostimulants that effectively promote crop growth and alleviate the damage from abiotic stress. However, the physiological and molecular regulatory mechanisms are still unclear. This study aimed to explore the effects of PHs and AMF on growth, mineral nutrient absorption, and expression of Aquaporins and SOSs in Goutoucheng (Citrus aurantium) under salt stress. Results showed that PH application and AMF inoculation significantly promoted plant growth and enhanced mineral element absorption and sodium effluxion in citrus under salt stress. The biomass, root activity, leaves mineral nutrition contents in PHs, AMF, and combined (PHs and AMF) treatments were significantly higher than those of control. Leaves sodium content in three treatments was significantly lower than in the control. AMF and combined treatments showed dominant effects than PHs alone. Besides, PHs interacted with AMF on growth, nutrient absorption, and sodium effluxion. Importantly, AMF and PHs induced stress-responsive genes. PIP1, PIP3, SOS1, and SOS3 expression in PHs and AMF treatments was significantly higher than control. Thus, it was concluded that AMF and PHs enhanced the salt tolerance of citrus by promoting nutrient absorption and sodium effluxion via up-regulating the expression of PIPs and SOSs. The mixed application of PHs and AMF had a better effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To investigate the risk factors for new vertebral compression fractures (NVCFs) after percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) and to create a nomogram to predict the occurrence of new postoperative fractures. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 529 OVCF patients who received PKP treatment in our hospital from June 2017 to June 2020. Based on whether there were new fractures within 2 years after surgery, the patients were divided into a new fracture group and a nonnew fracture group. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine the risk factors for the occurrence of NVCFs after surgery. The data were randomly divided into a training set (75%) and a testing set (25%). Nomograms predicting the risk of NVCF occurrence were created based on the results of the multivariate analysis, and performance was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves (ROCs), calibration curves, and decision curve analyses (DCAs). A web calculator was created to give clinicians a more convenient interactive experience. Results: A total of 56 patients (10.6%) had NVCFs after surgery. The univariate analysis showed significant differences in sex and the incidences of cerebrovascular disease, a positive fracture history, and bone cement intervertebral leakage between the two groups (P < 0.05). The multivariate analysis showed that sex [OR = 2.621, 95% CI (1.030–6.673), P = 0.043], cerebrovascular disease [OR = 28.522, 95% CI (8.749–92.989), P = 0.000], fracture history [OR = 12.298, 95% CI (6.250–24.199), P = 0.000], and bone cement intervertebral leakage [OR = 2.501, 95% CI (1.029–6.082), P = 0.043] were independent risk factors that were positively associated with the occurrence of NVCFs. The AUCs of the model were 0.795 (95% CI: 0.716–0.874) and 0.861 (95% CI: 0.749–0.974) in the training and testing sets, respectively, and the calibration curves showed high agreement between the predicted and actual states. The areas under the decision curve were 0.021 and 0.036, respectively. Conclusion: Female sex, cerebrovascular disease, fracture history and bone cement intervertebral leakage are risk factors for NVCF after PKP. Based on this, a highly accurate nomogram was developed, and a webpage calculator (https://new-fracture.shinyapps.io/DynNomapp/) was created. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intravenous administration of drugs is a widely used cancer therapy approach. However, the efficacy of these drugs is often hindered by various biological barriers, including circulation, accumulation, and penetration, resulting in poor delivery to solid tumors. Recently, cell-based drug delivery platforms have emerged as promising solutions to overcome these limitations. These platforms offer several advantages, including prolonged circulation time, active targeting, controlled release, and excellent biocompatibility. Cell-based delivery systems encompass cell membrane coating, intracellular loading, and extracellular backpacking. These innovative platforms hold the potential to revolutionize cancer diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment, presenting a plethora of opportunities for the advancement and integration of pharmaceuticals, medicine, and materials science. Nevertheless, several technological, ethical, and financial barriers must be addressed to facilitate the translation of these platforms into clinical practice. In this review, we explore the emerging strategies to overcome these challenges, focusing specifically on the functions and advantages of cell-mediated drug delivery in cancer treatment. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Converting and storing solar energy directly as chemical energy through photoelectrochemical devices are promising strategies to replace fossil fuels. Metal oxides are commonly used as photoanode materials, but they still encounter challenges such as limited light absorption, inefficient charge separation, sluggish surface reactions, and insufficient stability. The regulation of surface oxygen species on metal oxide photoanodes has emerged as a critical strategy to modulate molecular and charge dynamics at the reaction interface. However, the precise role of surface oxygen species in metal oxide photoanodes remains ambiguous. The review focuses on elucidating the formation and regulation mechanisms of various surface oxygen species in metal oxides, their advantages and disadvantages in photoelectrochemical reactions, and the characterization methods employed to investigate them. Additionally, the article discusses emerging opportunities and potential hurdles in the regulation of surface oxygen species. By shedding light on the significance of surface oxygen species, this review aims to advance our understanding of their impact on metal oxide photoanodes, paving the way for the design of more efficient and stable photoelectrochemical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past 45 years, China has accomplished great achievements in carrying out "Three-North" project. Through largescale vegetation construction, the trends of land desertification, soil salinization, soil erosion and the deterioration of people's living environment in the "Three-North" areas have been effectively restrained. The people in the desert area are getting rid of poverty and living a healthy life. In the new era, the "Three-North" project has encountered new demands, new challenges and new opportunities, and it is urgent to achieve a significant transform and upgrade and to improve quality and efficiency. This paper summarizes the current situation of the "Three-North" project construction, focuses on the three-north project general planning and the sixth phase planning and the realization path of the "three transformations", interprets the strategic planning of the "three iconic battles" in the next ten years, and describes the strategic vision of "New Three-North" in the future. A series of specific policy suggestions are put forward such as strengthening institution and capacity building, demonstration zone planning and strengthening scientific and technological support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is an important tool for measuring soil water content (SWC) at the field scale. The amplitude analysis of the early time signal (ETS) of GPR may provide a rapid way to estimate SWC. By assuming a homogeneous medium, various studies have been conducted on the relationship between the amplitude of ETS and the topsoil layer's electromagnetic parameters (dielectric permittivity and conductivity) through numerical simulations, laboratory experiments, and field experiments. Soil is a typical inhomogeneous medium, and soil cultivation is a factor affecting its heterogeneity. In this context, we discuss the ability of the amplitude of ETS to estimate the water content of heterogeneous soil. First, we establish a multi-scale stochastic medium model with the inhomogeneous distribution of dielectric permittivity and conductivity and simulate the GPR response by the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method to observe the influence of medium heterogeneity on the GPR response. The heterogeneity of the soil models is evaluated by a geostatistical analysis described by two parameters, correlation length and variability. Then, we analyze the relationship between variability and the average envelope amplitude (AEA) of ETS. A strong soil heterogeneity increases the error of the AEA method in estimating SWC. Finally, the AEA method is used to estimate the SWC of two adjacent fields with different heterogeneities, which were caused by different cultivation methods. The results of the numerical simulation and field experiment indicate that the soil heterogeneity can have an impact on the estimation of SWC using EST, with an error lower than 3% within a depth range of 1/2 λ to λ (wavelength). This suggests that the EST of GPR can be applied to soil layers with relatively large lateral changes in water content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface‐initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI‐ATRP) is one of the most popular methods for surface modifications with functional polymer films, which has attracted significant attention in recent years. Herein, a facile method of gallium‐based liquid metal (GLM) nanodroplets mediated SI‐ATRP to prepare polymer brushes on GLM surfaces is reported. The ATRP initiator modified GLM (GLM‐Br) nanodroplets act as a substrate for the in situ SI‐ATRP and participate as a reducing agent to reduce Cu(II) deactivators to Cu(I) activators. UV–vis spectra confirm the feasibility of the in situ SI‐ATRP and indicate that the thickness and density of polymer brushes play an important role in performing a successful ATRP on GLM nanodroplets surfaces. Homo‐ and block copolymers, poly(3‐sulfopropyl methacrylate potassium salt) (PSPMA) and poly((2‐dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate‐b‐(3‐sulfopropyl methacrylate potassium salt)) P(DMAEMA‐b‐SPMA) are successfully grafted to the GLM nanodroplets. Polymer brushes modified GLM nanodroplets show potential applications such as friction reduction and oil‐water emulsion separation. GLM nanodroplets mediated SI‐ATRP provides a novel and robust approach to preparing multifunctional GLM nanodroplets for different applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the presence of the Suginome reagent (PhMe2Si-Bpin), a large panel of electron-withdrawing alkenes was successfully converted into the hydrosilylated product in good to excellent yields. This direct electrochemical hydrosilylation does not require exogenous oxidants and catalysts. Preliminary mechanistic study supported the involvement of a silyl radical, which reacted on the alkene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivation Histones are the chief protein components of chromatin, and the chemical modifications on histones crucially influence the transcriptional state of related genes. Histone modifying enzyme (HME), responsible for adding or removing the chemical labels, has emerged as a very important class of drug target, with a few HME inhibitors launched as anti-cancerous drugs and tens of molecules under clinical trials. To accelerate the drug discovery process of HME inhibitors, machine learning-based predictive models have been developed to enrich the active molecules from vast chemical space. However, the number of compounds with known activity distributed largely unbalanced among different HMEs, particularly with many targets of less than a hundred active samples. In this case, it is difficult to build effective virtual screening models directly based on machine learning. Results To this end, we propose a new Meta-learning-based Histone Modifying Enzymes I nhibitor prediction method (MetaHMEI). Our proposed MetaHMEI first uses a self-supervised pre-training approach to obtain high-quality molecular substructure embeddings from a large unlabeled chemical dataset. Then, MetaHMEI exploits a Transformer-based encoder and meta-learning framework to build a prediction model. MetaHMEI allows the effective transfer of the prior knowledge learned from HMEs with sufficient samples to HMEs with a small number of samples, so the proposed model can produce accurate predictions for HMEs with limited data. Extensive experimental results on our collected and curated HMEs datasets show that MetaHMEI is better than other methods in the case of few-shot learning. Furthermore, we applied MetaHMEI in the virtual screening process of histone JMJD3 inhibitors and successfully obtained three small molecule inhibitors, further supporting the validity of our model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of vacancies on Mg 2 NiH 4 hydrogen desorption and capture are investigated by first principles calculations and the crystal structure, enthalpy and electronic structure are discussed in this work. The introduction of vacancies reduces the thermodynamic stability, and the dehydrogenation enthalpies of Mg 2 NiH 4 -V m (m = Mg1, Mg2, Mg3 and Ni) are lower than that of Mg 2 NiH 4. The dangling bonds are generated in Mg 2 NiH 4 –V Mg2 and Mg 2 NiH 4 –V Mg3 , corresponding to smaller changes of crystal structures and lower stabilities. The trapping of H atoms in Mg 2 NiH 4 -V m (m = Mg1, Mg2 and Mg3) can proceed spontaneously. The captured hydrogen atom H33 and the nearby N i H 4 4 − group forms a Ni–5H group in Mg 2 NiH 4 -V m (m = Mg1, Mg2 and Mg3). The weak hybridization of H33 with Ni d orbital and the generation of free electrons are responsible for the much higher formation enthalpy of Mg 16 Ni 8 H 33 –V Mg1 than Mg 16 Ni 8 H 33 –V Mg2 and Mg 16 Ni 8 H 33 –V Mg3. The strong hybridization between the H33 atom and the free H3 atom in Mg 16 Ni 8 H 33 –V Ni indicates that the addition of H33 leads to the transition of the electrons, and this process cannot take place spontaneously. This work confirms the positive effects of vacancies on Mg 2 NiH 4 and provides a new research perspective to control the hydrogen storage capacities of Mg-based alloys. • The effects of vacancies on Mg 2 NiH 4 hydrogen desorption and capture were investigated by first principles calculations. • The introduction of vacancies reduced the thermodynamic stability and the desorption enthalpy of the hydride Mg 2 NiH 4. • The trapping of H atoms in Mg 2 NiH 4 -V m (m = Mg1, Mg2 and Mg3) can proceed spontaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microorganisms associated with the phyllosphere play a crucial role in protecting plants from diseases, and their composition and diversity are strongly influenced by heavy metal contaminants. Dioecious plants are known to exhibit sexual dimorphism in metal accumulation and tolerance between male and female individuals. Hence, in this study we used male and female full-siblings of Populus deltoides to investigate whether the two sexes present differences in their phyllosphere microbiome structures and in their associated resistance to the leaf pathogenic fungus Pestalotiopsis microspora after exposure to excess soil cadmium (Cd). We found that Cd-treated male plants grew better and accumulated more leaf Cd than females. Cd stress reduced the lesion areas on leaves of both sexes after pathogen infection, but male plants exhibited better resistance than females. More importantly, Cd exposure differentially altered the structure and function of the phyllosphere microbiomes between the male and female plants, with more abundant ecologically beneficial microbes and decreased pathogenic fungal taxa harbored by male plants. In vitro toxicity tests suggested that the sexual difference in pathogen resistance could be attribute to both direct Cd toxicity and indirect shifts in the phyllosphere microbiome. This study provides new information relevant for understanding the underlying mechanisms of the effects of heavy metals involved in plant–pathogen interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrated a method for in situ temporal characterization of an intense femtosecond laser pulse around its focus where the laser intensity exceeds 1014 W/cm2. Our method is based on the second harmonic generation (SHG) by a relatively weak femtosecond probe pulse and the intense femtosecond pulses under analysis in the gas plasma. With the increase in the gas pressure, it was found that the incident pulse evolves from a Gaussian profile to a more complicated structure featured by multiple peaks in the temporal domain. Numerical simulations of filamentation propagation support the experimental observations of temporal evolution. This simple method can be applied to many situations involving femtosecond laser–gas interaction, when the temporal profile of the femtosecond pump laser pulse with an intensity above 1014 W/cm2 cannot be measured in traditional ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by UV radiation can lead to lipid, protein, nucleic acid, and organelle damage, one of the core mechanisms mediating skin aging. In the photoaging process, how ROS drives the imbalance of the body's complex repair system to induce senescence‐like features is not fully understood. Methods: We irradiated human epidermal keratinocytes with 12 J/cm2 of UVA to establish an in vitro photoaging model. Then we employed whole‐transcriptome sequencing and O2K mitochondrial function assay to reveal the photoprotective mechanisms of liquiritigenin (LQ). Discussion: We found that skin reduces endogenous ROS by promoting mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation uncoupling in response to UVA‐induced damage. However, this also causes excessive consumption and idling of nutrients, leading to the inhibition of cell proliferation, and ultimately accelerating the skin aging process. Here, we demonstrated that LQ can reduce stress in keratinocytes, increase oxidative phosphorylation and ATP production efficiency, and block the massive loss of skin nutrients and net energy stress. Furthermore, LQ can promote collagen synthesis and keratinocyte proliferation through the PI3K‐AKT pathway, thereby reversing photoaging. Conclusion: This work provides a new skin aging mechanism and solution strategy with high clinical translation value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intelligent manufacturing is the main direction of manufacturing transformation and upgrading in developing countries. However, the issue of how to systematically improve the level of intelligent manufacturing in enterprises has not been effectively solved. The analyses in this study are based on data collected from a sample of 45 manufacturing companies in China from 2016 to 2018, and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) was used to explore the impact of R&D, policy support, and enterprise characteristics on the level of intelligent manufacturing. The results find that three modes and four configurations for enterprises achieve high-level intelligent manufacturing. Specifically, firstly, enterprises with larger scale and better benefits can achieve high-level intelligent manufacturing with less R&D investment. Secondly, large enterprises with a high leverage ratio and high R&D capital investment can sacrifice short-term profitability and complete intelligent transformation through lower human capital investment. With the help of policy support, we maintain a high human capital investment and accelerate the completion of the intelligent upgrade. Thirdly, small companies can use higher R&D human capital investment to achieve the goal of intelligence. These findings provide valuable insights for enterprises to effectively achieve intelligent transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lifestyle management is a fundamental aspect of diabetes care to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, the underlying metabolic mechanism is not well established. We aimed to identify metabolites associated with different lifestyle factors, and estimate their mediating roles between lifestyle and CVD risk among people with diabetes. Lifestyle and metabolomic data were available for 5072 participants with diabetes who were free of CVD at baseline in the UK Biobank. The healthy level of 5 lifestyle factors was defined as non-central obesity, non-current smoking, moderate alcohol intake, physically active, and healthy diet. A total of 44 biomarkers across 7 metabolic pathways including lipoprotein particles, fatty acids, amino acids, fluid balance, inflammation, ketone bodies, and glycolysis were quantified by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. All 44 assayed metabolites were significantly associated with at least one lifestyle factor. Approximately half of metabolites, which were mostly lipoprotein particles and fatty acids, showed a mediating effect between at least one lifestyle factor and CVD risk. NMR metabolites jointly mediated 43.4%, 30.0%, 16.8%, 43.4%, and 65.5% of the association of non-central obesity, non-current smoking, moderate alcohol intake, physically active, and healthy diet with lower CVD risk, respectively. In general, though metabolites that significantly associated with lifestyle were mostly different across the 5 lifestyle factors, the pattern of association was consistent between fatty acids and all 5 lifestyle factors. Further, fatty acids showed significant mediating effects in the association between all 5 lifestyle factors and CVD risk with mediation proportion ranging from 12.2% to 26.8%. There were large-scale differences in circulating NMR metabolites between individuals with diabetes who adhered to a healthy lifestyle and those did not. Differences in metabolites, especial fatty acids, could partially explain the association between adherence to multiple healthy lifestyle and lower CVD risk among people with diabetes. [Display omitted] • Healthy lifestyle is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among diabetic subjects. • Adherence to multiple healthy lifestyle factors was associated with improved nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolites from different pathways. • Fatty acids showed mediating effects in the association of multiple lifestyle factors with CVD risk. • Targeting shared mediators may facilitate effective CVD prevention strategies among people with diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) of different varieties and origins, is a popular aquatic product in Asian countries as a result of its unique flavor. Additionally, different genders and edible parts produce diverse volatile compounds that affect consumers' choices and preferences. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate these differences to determine the factors impacting consumer preferences. This study explored the influence of exogenous and endogenous factors on volatile compounds and the sensory quality of farmed crabs from different rearing conditions and varieties. The volatile compounds differed among different origins and significantly influenced consumer preferences. Consumers' perception of volatiles determines their preferences and choices of food. Furthermore, various factors, such as varieties, origin, gender, and edible parts, may influence volatiles. The perception of edible parts of E. sinensis in two origins (Chongming and Taixing) regarding overall hedonic score (9-points), just-about-right scale (5-points), and intensity of attributes (7-points) were analyzed. The results showed that consumers preferred the hepatopancreas odor of female crabs in Chongming, with an overall preference of 6.84 and RMAT (calculate the R-index by matrix) values >52.93%. The crabs' origin (different feeding and rearing condition) was the primary reason for the odor profiles. The appropriate meaty and toasted odor in the hepatopancreas increased the overall preference by approximately 14.65–20.60%. Furthermore, 2-acetylthiazole, a volatile compound with a fatty odor, may significantly affect preferences and consumption behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The use of machine learning has the potential to estimate the probability of a second classification event more accurately than traditional statistical methods, and few previous studies on predicting new fractures after osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) have focussed on this point. The aim of this study was to explore whether several different machine learning models could produce better predictions than logistic regression models and to select an optimal model. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 529 patients who underwent percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) for OVCFs at our institution between June 2017 and June 2020 was performed. The patient data were used to create machine learning (including decision trees (DT), random forests (RF), support vector machines (SVM), gradient boosting machines (GBM), neural networks (NNET), and regularized discriminant analysis (RDA)) and logistic regression models (LR) to estimate the probability of new fractures occurring after surgery. The dataset was divided into a training set (75%) and a test set (25%), and machine learning models were built in the training set after ten cross-validations, after which each model was evaluated in the test set, and model performance was assessed by comparing the area under the curve (AUC) of each model. Results: Among the six machine learning algorithms, except that the AUC of DT [0.775 (95% CI 0.728–0.822)] was lower than that of LR [0.831 (95% CI 0.783–0.878)], RA [0.953 (95% CI 0.927–0.980)], GBM [0.941 (95% CI 0.911–0.971)], SVM [0.869 (95% CI 0.827–0.910), NNET [0.869 (95% CI 0.826–0.912)], and RDA [0.890 (95% CI 0.851–0.929)] were all better than LR. Conclusions: For prediction of the probability of new fracture after PKP, machine learning algorithms outperformed logistic regression, with random forest having the strongest predictive power. Highlights: Machine learning significantly outperformed logistic regression models in predicting new fractures after osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. The random forest model performs best among these machine learning models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose and Methods: A global search for the lowest energy structure of CoB192− clusters was conducted. Results: Its ground state is a quasi-planar structure with the Co atom surrounded by a B8 ring. The central Co atom has an oxidation state of +1 with d8 electron configuration. The wave function analysis showed that the Co–B interaction is not a covalent bond. The bonding strength of peripheral B–B bonds is stronger than that of inner ones. The inner B8 ring bonds with outer boron atoms via σ- and π-type bonds. Conclusion: CoB192− shows remarkable aromatic character. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constructing novel heterostructures is an effective way for enhancing the oxygen electrocatalytic properties of the catalysts. In this work, a class of Janus homologous heterostructures, compositing transition metal alloys with their corresponding sulfides (TM/TMS), are controllably synthesized through an ultrafast high‐temperature shock (HTS) strategy. The ultrafast sintering rate and carbothermal reduction reaction lead to the formation of sulfides and partial reduction of sulfides to alloys, while the ultrafast cooling rate keeps the homologous heterostructure of TM/TMS stable. The components of TMs in the composites can be well controlled from unary to quaternary. Moreover, benefiting from the synergistic effect of the metallic sites in the interfaces, the adsorption and desorption energy barrier of the active intermediates are significantly optimized and thus leading to the enhanced oxygen catalytic performance. Impressively, the aqueous zinc‐air battery (ZAB) using the binary homologous nanocomposite FeCo/(FeCo)S as air cathodes achieves impressive durability (> 470 cycles) and power density (261.8 mW cm−2). The as‐assembled flexible ZAB can well power the wearable devices and can work for at least 300 cycles without obvious degradation. This work opens a new chemical space for designing homologous heterostructures for their application in energy storage and conversion systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)), an anthropogenic heavy metal pollutant, is harmful to human beings, due to its carcinogenicity. In this study, a tourmaline–biochar composite (TMBC) was synthesized to remove Cr (VI) from an aqueous solution. The effects of different ratios (TM:BC) and pyrolysis temperatures on TMBC adsorption performance were compared. The TMBC samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and scanning electron microscope–energy-dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS). The kinetics and thermodynamics were analyzed to investigate the sorption mechanism. The results showed that the proper pyrolysis temperature was 650 °C, and the ratio of TM:BC was 1:3. SEM results showed the TM was well attached to the BC which assisted tourmaline dispersion. The adsorption kinetics were well fitted by the pseudo-second-order model, indicating that the sorption was related to chemical absorption. Langmuir adsorption isotherms suggested monolayer adsorption between the Cr (VI) and the TMBC, and the maximum adsorption capacity of the TMBC for Cr (VI) was 43.64 mg/g, which was more than twice the amount for the pristine TM (17.84 mg/g). The automatic polarization of water caused by tourmaline was the unique adsorption property of the TMBC. Therefore, TMBCs can be used as an economic adsorbent in the remediation of heavy metal pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Convallaria (Asparagaceae) comprises three herbaceous perennial species that are widely distributed in the understory of temperate deciduous forests in the Northern Hemisphere. Although Convallaria species have high medicinal and horticultural values, studies related to the phylogenetic analysis of this genus are few. In the present study, we assembled and reported five complete chloroplast (cp) sequences of three Convallaria species (two of C. keiskei Miq., two of C. majalis L., and one of C. montana Raf.) using Illumina paired-end sequencing data. The cp genomes were highly similar in overall size (161,365–162,972 bp), and all consisted of a pair of inverted repeats (IR) regions (29,140–29,486 bp) separated by a large single-copy (LSC) (85,183–85,521 bp) and a small single-copy (SSC) region (17,877–18,502 bp). Each cp genome contained the same 113 unique genes, including 78 protein-coding genes, 30 transfer RNA genes, and 4 ribosomal RNA genes. Gene content, gene order, AT content and IR/SC boundary structure were nearly identical among all of the Convallaria cp genomes. However, their lengths varied due to contraction/expansion at the IR/LSC borders. Simple sequence repeat (SSR) analyses indicated that the richest SSRs are A/T mononucleotides. Three highly variable regions (petA-psbJ, psbI-trnS and ccsA-ndhD) were identified as valuable molecular markers. Phylogenetic analysis of the family Asparagaceae using 48 cp genome sequences supported the monophyly of Convallaria, which formed a sister clade to the genus Rohdea. Our study provides a robust phylogeny of the Asparagaceae family. The complete cp genome sequences will contribute to further studies in the molecular identification, genetic diversity, and phylogeny of Convallaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distiller's grain is rich in natural active ingredients and can be used as an excellent antioxidant feed for goats. The current study aimed to assess the feeding value of four different types of distiller's grains with an in vitro gas production trial. The chemical composition, total phenols, total anthocyanins, dry matter degradability, methane, hydrogen, and rumen fermentation parameters were evaluated. The results indicated that red distiller's grain and glutinous rice distiller's grain had higher (p < 0.05) levels of crude protein than the other two types. There were significantly (p < 0.05) higher concentrations of dry matter, ether extract, hemicellulose, and total carbohydrate in corn distiller's grain than in the other three types of distiller's grain. In addition, red distiller's grain showed a higher (p < 0.05) gas production rate constant (c) and ruminal outflow rate, as well as higher (p < 0.05) concentrations of total phenol, total anthocyanins and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity, than the other three types of distiller's grains. In contrast, red distiller's grain displayed the lowest (p < 0.05) immediately soluble fraction (a) and half the time of maximum gas production relative to the other samples. In particular, the levels of methane (%) in white distiller's grain and glutinous rice distiller's grain were greater (p < 0.05) than that in red distiller's grain. Moreover, the ammonia nitrogen content in red distiller's grain was greater (p < 0.05) than that in white distiller's grain and corn distiller's grain. In contrast, red distiller's grain exhibited a lower (p < 0.05) level of ruminal fluid acetic acid relative to that found in white distiller's grain and corn distiller's grain. Taken together, the results showed that red distiller's grain and glutinous rice distiller's grain could be used as protein feed, red distiller's grain had higher levels of total phenols and total anthocyanins and a high DPPH scavenging activity; corn distiller's grain might be considered as an alternative energy source feed, and white distiller's grain exhibited higher total gas production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alvania wangi Xu, Qi & Kong, sp. nov. (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Littorinimorpha, Rissoidae) was discovered within the intertidal zone in the Nanji Islands and Zhoushan Islands, Zhejiang Province, China. It has a radula characteristic of Alvania Risso, 1826, a protoconch sculptured with micro pits and lamellae between spiral lirae, and a teleoconch with growth lines and subobsolete cords. Specimens were examined using an integrative taxonomic approach incorporating morphological observations and phylogenetic analyses of concatenated mitochondrial 16S rRNA and nuclear 28S rRNA gene sequences. The findings suggest that the new species is sister to Alvania circinata A. Adams, 1861 and is probably endemic to the shallow waters of the East China Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical composition and spectra of untreated and heat-treated rubies from Mozambique and Madagascar were analyzed by an electron probe microscopy analysis, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma quadrupole mass spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and UV-visible spectroscopy. Due to the different content of Fe and different inclusions, rubies from Madagascar belong to alkaline basalt deposit, while rubies from Mozambique belong to amphibole metamorphic rock. The ruby samples were heated to 900 °C to change their color. As Fe and Ti ions can be transferred into different valences and diffused into the interior of rubies, Cr ions in cracks or cleavages entered the crystal lattice during heat treatment and the content of Fe and Ti decreased, while the content of Cr increased in heat-treated rubies. After heating, blue-purple decreased and the red hue increased, while the blue color band disappeared and yellow appeared in the cracks of the samples because of the chemical changes. Compared with untreated rubies, the infrared absorption peaks of 2123 cm−1 and 1990 cm−1 related to inclusions disappeared, and the existence of 3236 cm−1 and 3186 cm−1 absorption peaks was a typical characteristic of heat-treated ruby, which was produced by changes in its inclusion. In addition, due to the weakened charge transfer of Fe2+ and Ti4+ and the increasing reaction of Fe2+ → Fe3+ along with the heat treatment, the UV-visible absorption peak at 400 nm shifted to purple. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Methyl-substituted decalin was synthesized by one-step alkylation reaction. • The synthesized fuel possesses high density and well cryogenic properties. • The pseudo reaction kinetics of alkylation reactions are investigated in detail. • A mechanism of decalin methylation reaction with solvent and catalyst was proposed. Alkyl decalins are promising jet fuel components with high density and well cryogenic properties, but are difficult to obtain. Here we bring up a facile approach to synthesize methyl-substituted decalins including methyl decalin, dimethyl decalin and trimethyl decalin via catalytic alkylation reaction. The reaction conditions are optimized to obtain the high decalin conversion of 83.1 %. Based on a series of experiments, it is indicated that the intermediate complex formed by tetramethylsilane, aluminum chloride and dichloroethane is the key to accelerate the reaction rate, and the reaction mechanism is proposed. Moreover, a pseudo-first-order irreversible reaction dynamics is studied, and the reaction kinetics parameters and reaction rate equati andons are obtained. After vacuum distillation, the fuel product shows high density (0.872 g/cm3) and high volumetric neat heat of combustion (36.9 MJ/L), much higher than those of RP-3 fuel. This work provides a facile method to synthesize high-performance jet fuel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of stable neutral metal endohedral cyclo[n]carbon is helpful for discovering single-molecule devices. Extensive structural search and density functional theory calculations performed here indicate that the perfect planar alkaline metal-doped complexes Sr@C 14 possess the well-defined global minima of the system with the metal atom located exactly at the center of the carbon ring. The configuration and bonding properties of C 14 are different from those of pristine cyclo [14]carbon. The significant stabilization when forming Sr@C 14 predominantly originates from the electrostatic interaction between Sr2+ and C 14 2−. The detailed molecular orbital, nucleus-independent chemical shift (NICS), and ring current analyses indicate that Sr@C 14 is aromatic in nature. The NICS values of Sr@C 14 are considerably larger than those of benzene. Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations at different temperatures reveal that this system exhibits certain stability at low or moderate temperatures. The findings of this study effectively enrich the chemical structures and bonding patterns of metal-doped cyclo[n]carbon and provide the knowledge required to obtain novel structures of Sr@C 14 in future experiments. The ground state of neutral Sr@C 14 compounds are metal-centered monocyclic carbon ring structures. Charge transfer between strontium and C 14 forms stable [Sr]2+[C 14 ]2− ionic complexes. Sr@C 14 exhibits significant aromaticity and thermodynamic stability. [Display omitted] • The ground state of neutral Sr@C 14 compounds are metal-centered monocyclic carbon ring structures. • Charge transfer between strontium and C 14 forms stable [Sr]2+[C 14 ]2− ionic complexes. • Sr@C 14 exhibits significant aromaticity and thermodynamic stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have suggested that prenatal exposure to organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) may have adverse effect on early neurodevelopment, but limited data are available in China, and the overall effects of OPFRs mixture are still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between prenatal exposure to OPFR metabolites mixture and the neurodevelopment of 1-year-old infants. A total of 270 mother-infant pairs were recruited from the Laizhou Wan (Bay) Birth Cohort in China. Ten OPFR metabolites were measured in maternal urine. Neurodevelopment of 1-year-old infants was assessed using the Gesell Developmental Schedules (GDS) and presented by the developmental quotient (DQ) score. Multivariate linear regression and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression models were conducted to estimate the association of prenatal exposure to seven individual OPFR metabolites and their mixture with infant neurodevelopment. The positive rates of seven OPFR metabolites in the urine of pregnant women were greater than 70% with the median concentration ranged within 0.13–3.53 μg/g creatinine. The multivariate linear regression model showed significant negative associations between bis (1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BCIPP), din-butyl phosphate (DnBP), and total OPFR metabolites exposure and neurodevelopment in all infants. Results from the WQS model consistently revealed that the OPFR metabolites mixture was inversely associated with infant neurodevelopment. Each quartile increased in the seven OPFR metabolites mixture was associated with a 1.59 decrease (95% CI: 2.96, −0.21) in gross motor DQ scores, a 1.41 decrease (95% CI: 2.38, −0.43) in adaptive DQ scores, and a 1.08 decrease (95% CI: 2.15, −0.02) in social DQ scores, among which BCIPP, bis (1, 3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BDCIPP) and DnBP were the main contributors. Prenatal exposure to a mixture of OPFRs was negatively associated with early infant neurodevelopment, particularly in gross motor, adaptive, and social domains. • The relationship between prenatal OPFRs exposure and infant neurodevelopment were assessed in a Chinese birth cohort. • Prenatal exposure to a mixture of OPFR was negatively associated with early infant neurodevelopment. • BCIPP, BDCIPP and DnBP were the main contributors to the effects of OPFR metabolites mixture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alcohol intake provokes severe organ injuries including alcoholic cardiomyopathy with hallmarks of cardiac remodeling and contractile defects. This study examined the toxicity of facilitated ethanol metabolism in alcoholism-evoked changes in myocardial morphology and contractile function, insulin signaling and various cell death domains using cardiac-selective overexpression of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). WT and ADH mice were offered an alcohol liquid diet for 12 weeks prior to assessment of cardiac geometry, function, ER stress, apoptosis and ferroptosis. Alcohol intake provoked pronounced glucose intolerance, cardiac remodeling and contractile anomalies with apoptosis, ER stress, and ferroptosis, the effects were accentuated by ADH with the exception of global glucose intolerance. Hearts from alcohol ingesting mice displayed dampened insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of insulin receptor (tyr1146) and IRS-1 (tyrosine) along with elevated IRS-1 serine phosphorylation, the effect was augmented by ADH. Alcohol challenge dampened phosphorylation of Akt and GSK-3β, and increased phosphorylation of c-Jun and JNK, the effects were accentuated by ADH. Alcohol challenge promoted ER stress, FK506 binding protein 5 (FKBP5), YAP, apoptosis and ferroptosis, the effects were exaggerated by ADH. Using a short-term ethanol challenge model (3 g/kg, i.p., twice in three days), we found that inhibition of FKBP5-YAP signaling or facilitated ethanol detoxification by Alda-1 alleviated ethanol cardiotoxicity. In vitro study revealed that the ethanol metabolite acetaldehyde evoked cardiac contractile anomalies, lipid peroxidation, and apoptosis, the effects of which were mitigated by Alda-1, inhibition of ER stress, FKBP5 and YAP. These data suggest that facilitated ethanol metabolism via ADH exacerbates alcohol-evoked myocardial remodeling, functional defects, and insulin insensitivity possibly through a FKBP5-YAP-associated regulation of ER stress and ferroptosis. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A superimposed model applicable for predicting the growth rates of both stationary and sliding bubbles is proposed. • The force balance model for predicting bubble departure diameter and lift-off diameter is modified. • Present modified model predicts both departure and lift-off diameters with mean absolute percentage errors of 25.0 % and 24.0 %, respectively. The calculation of heat flux for each component in the wall heat flux distribution model involves a crucial parameter, namely the characteristic bubble diameter. The bubble departure diameter and lift-off diameter are two of the most significant characteristic bubble diameters. In this paper, the bubble growth rate and bubble force analysis in subcooled flow boiling under various inclination angles of the heating surface are investigated, and the bubble departure and lift-off diameters are calculated based on force balance. According to the energy balance method, a superimposed bubble growth model is proposed that incorporates the effects of superheated layer evaporation around the bubble, microlayer evaporation, and condensation at the top of the bubble on the bubble growth rate. This paper proposes a force balance model for heating surfaces with varying inclination angles, based on accurate calculations of wall superheat. The model has been validated by a large amount of experimental data and exhibits superior accuracy and stability compared to existing models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivated by the inevitable trend of the Internet of Everything, human-machine interaction technology has gradually been permeated into people's daily life. Receptive devices that capture human behaviors and responsive devices that provide machine feedback are key components of human-machine interface. While it is a great challenge to integrate receptive and responsive devices in a well-organized way due to the limitations of material properties and device structures. In this work, we investigate the formation of laser-induced graphene on Nomex paper and propose an efficient interactive strategy based on its piezoresistive and thermoacoustic effects. Functional integration of receiving instructions (pressure-sensing capability) and providing feedback (sound-emitting capability) can be achieved by simply assembling three layers of Nomex paper that have been laser-customized on both sides. The integrated device not only has a sensitive response (∼12 relative current change and ∼50 ms response time) to the pressure similar to a gentle finger press (∼10 kPa), but also can emit a high-quality sound signal with larger sound pressure levels (∼70 dB at 1 W/cm2 power density). Furthermore, two proof-of-concept demonstrations, a press-to-audio pad and a command-responding thermo-earphone, are presented to substantiate the feasibility in information exchange activities. [Display omitted] • Laser-induced graphene layers with favorable electrical conductivity are formed on Nomex paper. • Different conductive properties between double-sided laser-induced graphene across Nomex substrate are obtained by regulating laser power. • Pressure-sensing and sound-emitting capabilities are realized taking advantage of piezoresistive and thermoacoustic effects of laser-induced graphene. • Multifunctional integration is implemented by assembling three-layer Nomex paper that feature double-sided laser-induced graphene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Bambusa belongs to the subtribe Bambusinae and the subfamily Bambusoideae. The subgenera of Bambusa has not been satisfactorily circumscribed, and this remains a major taxonomic issue. Simultaneously, genera such as Dendrocalamus and Gigantochloa have not been confidently assigned to Bambusa. Here, the phylogenetic relationships among subgenera were investigated using five chloroplast DNA markers (rpl32-trnL, rpl16, matK, rbcL, and trnH-psbA) for a sample of 50 ingroup and 16 outgroup species. A total of 186 key morphological descriptors were studied for the 50 ingroup species. The results indicated that five chloroplast DNA markers were possible to distinguish Bambusa species from other species and divide them into several clusters. Phylogenetic analyses conducted using morphological descriptors and a combined marker (rpl32-trnL+rpl16) revealed three and five distinct lineages, respectively, among the currently recognized Bambusa species. The branching pattern of the dendrogram was not completely consistent with the classical taxonomic classification of Bambusa. In addition, not all varieties and cultivars were clustered with McClure classifications. As the maximum parsimony topology and morphological analyses were inconsistent, some clustering results overlapped. Overall, the results obtained here do not support the current classification of the Bambusa subgenera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Source apportionment studies have struggled to quantitatively link secondary organic aerosol (SOA) to its precursor sources, due largely to instrument limitations. For example, aerosol mass spectrometers (AMS) provide quantitative measurements of the total SOA fraction, but lack the chemical resolution to resolve most SOA sources. In contrast, instruments based on soft ionisation techniques, such as extractive electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (EESI, e.g., the EESI time of flight mass spectrometer, EESI-TOF), have demonstrated the resolution to identify specific SOA sources but provide only a semi-quantitative apportionment due to uncertainties in the dependence of instrument sensitivity on molecular identity. We address this challenge by presenting a method for positive matrix factorisation (PMF) analysis on a single dataset which includes measurements from both AMS and EESI-TOF instruments, denoted "combined PMF" (cPMF). Because each factor profile includes both AMS and EESI-TOF components, the cPMF analysis maintains the source resolution capability of the EESI-TOF, while also providing quantitative factor mass concentrations. Therefore, the bulk EESI-TOF sensitivity to each factor can also be directly determined from the analysis. We present metrics for ensuring both instruments are well-represented in the solution, a method for optionally constraining factor profile contributions for one or both instruments, and a protocol for uncertainty analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, solitary wave solutions of particle mechanical metamaterials are studied, in which the mass-in-mass structure with local resonators is considered. The Hertzian contact theory is used to describe adjacent particles in a precompressed granular chain. The governing wave equations are decoupled, and the expressions of bright, dark, and peaked solitary waves are derived, respectively. According to the results, both the wave velocity and prestress can affect the propagation of solitary waves. The amplitudes of bright and peaked solitary waves are smaller when a larger prestress is applied, which are different from the dark solitons. Furthermore, the wave widths become larger as the prestress increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the effect of stigma on social participation in community-dwelling Chinese patients with stroke sequelae. Design: A cross-sectional survey study. Setting: The study was conducted in two community centres in Tianjin, China. Subjects: Community-dwelling Chinese patients with stroke sequelae. Measures: Chinese version of Stigma Scale for Chronic Illness, Chinese version of Impact on Participation and Autonomy, Modified Barthel index, Self-Rating Depression Scale, Social Support Rating Scale, Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire, background and disease-related questions. Pearson's correlation coefficients were computed between stigma and social participation. The impact of stigma on social participation was estimated by hierarchical multiple regression analysis after controlling for demographic, physical and psychosocial characteristics. Results: In total, 136 patients with stroke sequelae were included in this study, with a mean age of 67.8 years. The Chinese version of the Stigma Scale for Chronic Illness had a mean score of 48.4 (SD 16.9), and the Chinese version of the Impact on Participation and Autonomy was 67.1 (SD 21.1). Significant correlations were found between stigma and social participation. Pearson's correlation coefficient ranged from 0.354 to 0.605 (P < 0.01). Enacted stigma provided a significant explanation for the variance of social participation by 1.1% (P < 0.05). Felt stigma provided a significant explanation for the variance of social participation by 2.9% (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Felt stigma and enacted stigma have independent associations with social participation. Patients with stroke sequelae who reported higher stigma experienced a lower level of social participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]