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This study presents a collaborative experimental and theoretical investigation into the structures and electronic properties of niobium-doped germanium clusters. Anion photoelectron spectra for Nb1–2Gen− (n = 3–7) clusters were acquired using 266 nm photon energies, enabling the determination of adiabatic detachment energies and vertical detachment energies. In conjunction with these experimental measurements, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were conducted to validate the experimentally obtained electron detachment energies and elucidate the geometric and electronic structures of each anionic cluster. The agreement between DFT calculations and experimental data establishes a solid foundation for assessing the structural evolution and electronic properties of niobium-doped germanium clusters. It is noted that both neutral and anionic clusters exhibit predominantly similar overall structural characteristics, with the exception of Nb2Ge6− and Nb2Ge6. Furthermore, this investigation emphasizes the exceptional chemical stability of the D3d symmetric chair-shaped structure in Nb2Ge6−, providing insights into its bonding characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon clusters infused with transition metals, notably gold, exhibit distinct characteristics crucial for advancing microelectronics, catalysts, and energy storage technologies. This investigation delves into the structural and bonding attributes of gold-infused silicon clusters, specifically AuSi2− and AuSi3−. Utilizing anion photoelectron spectroscopy and ab initio computations, we explored the most stable isomers of these clusters. The analysis incorporated Natural Population Analysis, electron localization function, molecular orbital diagrams, adaptive natural density partitioning, and Wiberg bond index for a comprehensive bond assessment. Our discoveries reveal that cyclic configurations with the Au atom atop the Si–Si linkage within the fundamental Si2 and Si3 clusters offer the most energetically favorable structures for AuSi2− and AuSi3− anions, alongside their neutral counterparts. These anions exhibit notable highest occupied molecular orbital–lowest unoccupied molecular orbital gaps and significant σ and π bonding patterns, contributing to their chemical stability. Furthermore, AuSi2− demonstrates π aromaticity, while AuSi3− showcases a distinctive blend of σ antiaromaticity and π aromaticity, crucial for their structural robustness. These revelations expand our comprehension of gold-infused silicon clusters, laying a theoretical groundwork for their potential applications in high-performance solar cells and advanced functional materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To further expand the application range of cold-formed steel (CFS) members in practical engineering, a novel fold-fastened multi-cellular steel wall (FMSW) was introduced and investigated in detail. The FMSWs were mechanically connected by the hook-shaped and groove-shaped regions at both ends of the single limb members, by which the assembly efficiency was greatly improved. In this paper, a total of 10 slender FMSW specimens were subjected to axial compressive loadings, and the failure mode, load–vertical displacement curves, load–lateral displacement curves, and bearing capacity of the specimens were obtained. According to the experimental results, the development and failure modes of the local-global interactive buckling of FMSWs were revealed. All specimens experienced local buckling initially, followed by global buckling, and ultimately interactive buckling. The load–displacement curves exhibited similar trends, being characterized by three stages: the elastic stage, the elastic-plastic stage, and the descending stage. Furthermore, the nonlinear ascending segment was short, indicating that the failure was sudden. By comparing the bearing capacities among specimens, it was recognized that the ultimate resistance of FMSWs could be obtained by the superposition of the cells, and the bearing capacity was rarely affected by the height-to-thickness ratio. Based on the experimental results, refined finite element (FE) models were established and the accuracy and effectiveness of the modeling method were verified. Valuable reference could be provided by the research achievements of this paper for the subsequent research of CFS built-up members and their application in practical engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In industrial applications of laser welding of aluminum alloys, it is often a challenge to find optimal process parameters to produce welded joints of good quality. This study investigates the effect of changes in welding parameters on the resulting welding defects and tensile properties of laser-welded aluminum alloy joints. A high-power disk laser was used for welding 2.54 mm thick AA6061-T6 sheets with four different sets of process parameters. X-ray computed microtomography and full-field microhardness mapping were first used to characterize the as-welded joints. Surface strain mapping based on digital image correlation and a two-mirror optical setup was applied to tensile testing of welded joints up to ductile failure. It was found that the fusion zone of all four laser-welded joints has similar microhardness levels and spatial distributions. Small pores were detected in all four weld joints, except one had a few large pores. Both microstructural heterogeneities and surface geometric irregularities were found to induce highly non-uniform local tensile deformation in laser-welded joints. One set of laser welding parameters was identified to produce the aluminum welds with the best tensile properties even though its weld joint may contain a few relatively large pores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of surgical site infection (SSI) after lumbar spinal fusion is a serious complication. Therefore, an increasing number of clinicians are applying vancomycin powder topically in the surgical field to reduce the incidence of SSI. However, there is concern that topical vancomycin powder application may affect intervertebral fusion. The purpose of this study was to analyse the effect of clinically relevant topical vancomycin doses on the rate of intervertebral fusion after lumbar fusion and to further investigate the effect of vancomycin powder on the prevention of SSI. The clinical data of 192 patients with degenerative lumbar spine disease admitted from January 2019 to June 2022, all of whom underwent posterior lumbar fusion, were retrospectively analysed. According to the infection prevention protocol, they were divided into a vancomycin group and a control group (no vancomycin), and the vancomycin group was sub-divided into 0.5 g, 1.0 g, and 1.5 g vancomycin groups. General information and surgical evaluation indexes were compared between the control and vancomycin groups and intervertebral fusion was compared between the vancomycin groups at 6 months and 12 months, postoperatively. The rate of SSI in the vancomycin group was 0.0%, which was significantly lower than that in the control group (5.3%, P < 0.05), and intervertebral fusion was good in all 3 vancomycin groups at 6 months and 12 months postoperatively, with no statistically-significant differences (P > 0.05). Topical application of 0.5 g, 1.0 g, or 1.5 g vancomycin powder did not affect the rates of intervertebral fusion after lumbar fusion. In addition, topical application of vancomycin powder significantly reduced the rates of SSI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to examine whether and how the effect of intimate relationships with micro-influencers on customer behaviour is interrupted by external cues such as sponsorship disclosures and negative electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM). Design/methodology/approach: The study worked with Instagram micro-influences to conduct a vignette survey with four experimental scenarios. Findings: The benefits of parasocial relationships (PSR) in enhancing customer engagement (CE), brand preference (BP) and purchase intention (PI) cannot be sustained in the presence of external interruptive cues. For micro-influencers, whilst sponsorship disclosures do not moderate the influence of PSR, customers are considerably sensitive to negative eWOM or when the two cues co-occur. Originality/value: This study focusses on micro-influencers and investigates whether the follower–micro-influencer bond can be moderated by external cues including sponsorship disclosure and negative eWOM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The elderly frequently present impaired blood–brain barrier which is closely associated with various neurodegenerative diseases. However, how the albumin, the most abundant protein in the plasma, leaking through the disrupted BBB, contributes to the neuropathology remains poorly understood. We here demonstrated that mouse serum albumin-activated microglia induced astrocytes to A1 phenotype to remarkably increase levels of Elovl1, an astrocytic synthase for very long-chain saturated fatty acids, significantly promoting VLSFAs secretion and causing neuronal lippoapoptosis through endoplasmic reticulum stress response pathway. Moreover, MSA-activated microglia triggered remarkable tau phosphorylation at multiple sites through NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. Intracerebroventricular injection of MSA into the brains of C57BL/6J mice to a similar concentration as in patient brains induced neuronal apoptosis, neuroinflammation, increased tau phosphorylation, and decreased the spatial learning and memory abilities, while Elovl1 knockdown significantly prevented the deleterious effect of MSA. Overall, our study here revealed that MSA induced tau phosphorylation and neuron apoptosis based on MSA-activated microglia and astrocytes, respectively, showing the critical roles of MSA in initiating the occurrence of tauopathies and cognitive decline, and providing potential therapeutic targets for MSA-induced neuropathology in multiple neurodegenerative disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer-based actuators have gained extensive attention owing to their potential applications in aerospace, soft robotics, etc. However, poor mechanical properties, the inability of multi-stimuli response and programmable deformation, and the costly fabrication procedure have significantly hindered their practical application. Herein, these issues are overcome via a simple and scalable one-step molding method. The actuator is fabricated by hot-pressing commercial unidirectional carbon fiber/epoxy prepregs with a commodity PC membrane. Notable CTE differences between the CF and PC layers endow the bilayer actuator with fast and reliable actuation deformation. Benefiting from the high strength of CF, the actuator exhibits excellent mechanical performance. Moreover, the anisotropy of CF endows the actuator with design flexibility. Furthermore, the multifunction of CF makes the actuator capable of responding to thermal, optical, and electrical stimulation simultaneously. Based on the bilayer actuator, we successfully fabricated intelligent devices such as light-driven biomimetic flowers, intelligent grippers, and gesture-simulating apparatuses, which further validate the programmability and multi-stimuli response characteristics of this actuator. Strikingly, the prepared gripper possesses a grasping capacity approximately 31.2 times its own weight. It is thus believed that the concept presented paves the way for building next-generation robust robotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic macrocyclic complexes composed of polyoxometalates (POMs) and cyclodextrins based on host–guest interactions have garnered significant attention. Herein, we report the assemblies by blending inorganic POMs and a complex macrocycle. Utilizing silver-coordinated bridge connections, four distinct POM-based silver-bisphosphine (Ag2dppp2) (dppp = 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane) macrocyclic hybrids: [Ag4(dppp)4(Mo8O26)] (1), {[Ag4(dppp)4(PW12O40)]NO3} (2), [Ag3(dppp)3(PMo12O40)] (3), and [Ag2(dppp)2(CH3CN)2(Mo6O19)] (4) have successfully been synthesized. The self-assemblies of hybrids involve sandwich and tubular structures that depend on the size, charge of POMs, anions and coordination solvent. Interactions of the silver-bisphosphine macrocycle and POMs in solution were further examined by 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Dye adsorption behavior has been investigated for the structure–activity relationship of surface structures of the hybrids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc cushions intraarticular stress during mandibular movements. While mechanical overloading is related to cartilage degeneration, the pathogenesis of TMJ disc degeneration is unclear. Here, we determined the regulatory role of mechanoinductive transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) in mechanical overload‐induced TMJ disc degeneration. Methods: We explored the effect of mechanical overload on the TMJ discs in a rat occlusal interference model in vivo, and by applying sustained compressive force in vitro. TRPV4 inhibition was delivered by small interfering RNA or GSK2193874; TRPV4 activation was delivered by GSK1016790A. The protective effect of TRPV4 inhibition was validated in the rat occlusal interference model. Results: Occlusal interference induced TMJ disc degeneration with enhanced extracellular matrix degradation in vivo and mechanical overload promoted inflammatory responses in the TMJ disc cells via Ca2+ influx with significantly upregulated TRPV4. TRPV4 inhibition reversed mechanical overload‐induced inflammatory responses; TRPV4 activation simulated mechanical overload‐induced inflammatory responses. Moreover, TRPV4 inhibition alleviated TMJ disc degeneration in the rat occlusal interference model. Conclusion: Our findings suggest TRPV4 plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of mechanical overload‐induced TMJ disc degeneration and may be a promising target for the treatment of degenerative changes of the TMJ disc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate the viscoelastic wave equation with variable coefficients and a delay, which is subject to nonlinear and nonlocal boundary dissipation. The existence of strong and weak solutions is obtained by means of Faedo-Galerkin approximation and denseness argument. By introducing an equivalent energy functional and using the Riemannian geometry method, we show the general decay rate of energy when kernel function satisfies some sufficient small conditions that we provide the range accurately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the flexural bearing behavior of corroded reinforced concrete (RC) beams reinforced with U-type Textile Reinforced Concrete (TRC) was investigated using a four-point bending loading method. Nine test beams were produced: one original beam, three RC beams with corrosion alone, and five corroded beams strengthened with U-type TRC. The analysis focuses on assessing the impacts of the steel corrosion degree and the number of textile layers on various aspects of the bending behavior, such as failure modes, bearing capacity, and load displacement curves, in U-type TRC-strengthened corroded beams. The experimental results revealed three distinct failure modes in the U-type TRC-strengthened corroded beams. TRC effectively enhanced the bearing capacity. With sufficient textile layers, it can be restored to the level of the original RC beams. Moreover, in the cases of severe corrosion in RC beams, the bearing capacity increased more significantly. The TRC also enhanced the ductility. Finally, a calculation equation for the ultimate bearing capacity of U-type TRC-strengthened corroded beams was presented and validated, demonstrating consistent alignment with the experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of the times, the importance of labor education has been highlighted, and the return of the body has gradually become the direction of the continuous deepening of labor education. By deconstructing the essence of labor education, we can find the body implication embedded in it. The body, as the essence of labor, has been neglected in labor education. The labor education goals are instrumentalized, the labor education content is superficial, the labor education implementations are restricted, and the labor education evaluation is formalized. These questions have led to the body being weakened, fragmented, besieged, and obscured, and its status in labor education has gradually diminished. We should follow the principle of holistic development of body and mind, the principle of dominant body subjectivity, and the principle of multi-dimensional expansion of body space. And we should provide a way out for labor education to get rid of the problem of body by establishing a concept of labor education that integrates body and mind, improving the long-term organization mechanism of labor education, comprehensively expanding the body space of labor education, and strengthening the foundation guarantee of labor education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is devoted to second-order optimality conditions of constrained vector optimization problems with continuously Fréchet differentiable data. Different from conventional approaches, we employ a new one, image space analysis, to establish suitable regularity conditions and then present new second-order necessary optimality conditions that depend on one single KKT multiplier for all critical directions. Moreover, we propose one more regularity condition for the multiobjective case and compare it with the previous one. Besides, we compare the main regularity conditions with the existing ones in the literature for the scalar case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin disease that often co‐occurs with psychological morbidities such as anxiety and depression, and psychosocial issues also lead psoriasis patients to avoid other people. However, the precise mechanism underlying the comorbidity of psoriasis and anxiety is unknown. Also, whether the social avoidance phenomenon seen in human patients also exists in psoriasis‐like animal models remains unknown. In the present study, anxiety‐like behaviours and social avoidance‐like behaviours were observed in an imiquimod‐induced psoriasis‐like C57‐BL6 mouse model along with typical psoriasis‐like dermatitis and itch‐like behaviours. The 11.7T resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging showed differences in brain regions between the model and control group, and voxel‐based morphometry showed that the grey matter volume changed in the basal forebrain region, anterior commissure intrabulbar and striatum in the psoriasis‐like mice. Seed‐based resting state functional connectivity analysis revealed connectivity changes in the amygdala, periaqueductal gray, raphe nuclei and lateral septum. We conclude that the imiquimod‐induced psoriasis‐like C57‐BL6 mouse model is well suited for mechanistic studies and for performing preclinical therapeutic trials for treating anxiety and pathological social avoidance in psoriasis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of ultratransparent medium has not yet solved the problem of transmission loss caused by reflection in negative refraction (NR) devices. In this study, theoretical analysis and simulation verification are carried out and an ultratransparent medium with wide-angle NR-index is proposed; the imaging with its flat lens is discussed. A photonic crystal (PC) is designed as an instance of the medium, and the rationality was analyzed. The PC can realize NR within 50° as well as positive refraction (PR) within 75° with transmittances over 99%. It is an ideal material for multifunctional NR/PR devices with ultra-low loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Phenazine compounds are widely used in agricultural control and the medicine industry. Synthesizing phenazine compounds through microbial fermentation often requires a complex and relatively expensive culture medium, which greatly limits the large-scale industrial production of phenazine compounds by fermentation. Therefore, a cost-effective minimal medium (GDM) for the efficient synthesis of phenazine compounds by Pseudomonas chlororaphis was developed in this work. Using the GDM, the production of phenazine compounds by P. chlororaphis reached 1073.5 mg/L, which was 1.3 times that achieved using a complex medium, while the cost of the GDM was only 10% that of a complex medium (e.g., the KB medium). To improve the utilization of glycerol in the GDM, the glycerol metabolic pathway was enhanced by the genetic engineering of the strain, and the titer of phenazine-1-carboxylic acid of the engineered strain was further improved, which is a promising process for industrial production. Phenazine compounds are widely used in agricultural control and the medicine industry due to their high inhibitory activity against pathogens and antitumor activity. The green and sustainable method of synthesizing phenazine compounds through microbial fermentation often requires a complex culture medium containing tryptone and yeast extract, and its cost is relatively high, which greatly limits the large-scale industrial production of phenazine compounds by fermentation. The aim of this study was to develop a cost-effective minimal medium for the efficient synthesis of phenazine compounds by Pseudomonas chlororaphis. Through testing the minimum medium commonly used by Pseudomonas, an ME medium for P. chlororaphis with a high production of phenazine compounds was obtained. Then, the components of the ME medium and the other medium were compared and replaced to verify the beneficial promoting effect of Fe2+ and NH4+ on phenazine compounds. A cost-effective general defined medium (GDM) using glycerol as the sole carbon source was obtained by optimizing the composition of the ME medium. Using the GDM, the production of phenazine compounds by P. chlororaphis reached 1073.5 mg/L, which was 1.3 times that achieved using a complex medium, while the cost of the GDM was only 10% that of a complex medium (e.g., the KB medium). Finally, by engineering the glycerol metabolic pathway, the titer of phenazine-1-carboxylic acid reached the highest level achieved using a minimum medium so far. This work demonstrates how we systematically analyzed and optimized the composition of the medium and integrated a metabolic engineering method to obtain the most cost-effective fermentation strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper concentrates on uncertain multiobjective optimization problems with an arbitrary number of uncertain constraints under nonconvex and nonsmooth assumptions. We analyse the properties of robust infinite constraints and arrive at the Clarke subdifferential of the double supremum function. Subsequently, we employ the obtained subdifferential rules to study KKT robust necessary and sufficient optimality conditions for two types of uncertain multiobjective optimization problems. Simultaneously, some illustrative examples are provided to show the validity of the main results. Our results are new and generalize several corresponding results in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper concentrates on robust duality relations for uncertain cone-constrained vector optimization problems in more general nonconvex settings. First, different from the existing results, a new class of generalized Lagrange functions of the considered problem is introduced by combining the image space analysis method and scalarization technique. Then, the Lagrange robust vector dual problem is formulated. Subsequently, the results of robust weak duality, strong duality and converse duality are given respectively, which characterize vector dual relations between the primal worst and dual best problems. Simultaneously, some examples are given to illustrate our results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, a thermophilic Clostridiales consortium was enriched with pretreated sugarcane bagasse (PSCB). Then the hydrogen production of Clostridiales consortium through dark fermentation had been greatly improved through two-step strengthening. Firstly, food waste was added to optimize C/N ratio of substrate to 10.47. Secondly, Fe–Mn impregnated biochars (Fe·Mn·SB) were supplemented to the co-substrate fermentation system to further improve hydrogen production. Overall, the hydrogen production (1.71 mL H 2 /mL-culture) and yield (586.19 mL H 2 /g-carbohydrate) of Clostridiales were increased by 113.75% and 32.48% compared with that of fermentation from single PSCB, respectively. The mechanism of Fe·Mn·SB promoting hydrogen production was further elucidated. Microbial community analysis demonstrated that Fe·Mn·SB could increase the relative abundances of dominant hydrogenogen and stabilize community structure. PICRUSt analysis indicated Fe·Mn·SB boosted substrate degradation and carbon metabolism. Electrochemical analysis implied Fe·Mn·SB promoted reducing power and release of cytochrome c , stimulating extracellular electron transfer (an 18.39% increase in power density). Carbon metabolism analysis indicated that Fe·Mn·SB enhanced hydrogen-producing pathways and suppressed hydrogen-consuming pathways. The present work established a feasible process for hydrogen production by Clostridiales consortium fermentation from co-substrate, deepened the understanding of metal-modified biochars improving hydrogen production, and provided references for future research. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we study the stabilization of semilinear wave equations with time-dependent variable coefficients and memory in the nonlinear boundary feedback. We obtain the energy decay rate of the solution by an equivalent energy approach in the framework of Riemannian geometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) commonly have co-morbidities requiring anticoagulation. However, the optimal post-procedural anticoagulation regimen is not well-established. This meta-analysis investigates safety and efficacy outcomes of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and Vitamin K Antagonist (VKA), with or without concomitant antiplatelet therapy. We searched EMBASE and MEDLINE for appropriate studies. Subgroup analyses were performed for anticoagulant monotherapy and combined therapy with antiplatelet agents. Eleven studies (6359 patients) were included. Overall, there were no differences between DOACs and VKA for all-cause mortality (Odds Ratio [OR]:.69; Credible Interval [CrI]:.40–1.06), cardiovascular-related mortality (OR:.76; Crl:.13–3.47), bleeding (OR:.95; CrI:.75–1.17), stroke (OR: 1.04; CrI:.65–1.63), myocardial infarction (OR: 1.51; CrI:.55–3.84), and valve thrombosis (OR:.29; CrI:.01–3.54). For DOACs vs VKA monotherapy subgroup, there were no differences in outcomes. For the combined therapy subgroup, there was decreased odds of all-cause mortality in the DOACs group compared with the VKA group (OR:.13; CrI:.02–.65), but no differences for bleeding and stroke. DOACs and VKA have similar safety and efficacy profiles for post-TAVI patients with anticoagulation indication. However, if concomitant antiplatelet therapy is required, DOACs were more favorable than VKA for all-cause mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The catalytic hydrogenation of biomass-derived chemicals is essential in chemical industry due to the growing demand for sustainable and renewable energy sources. In this study, we present a comprehensive theoretical investigation regarding the hydrogenation of glycolaldehyde to ethylene glycol over a Ru/C catalyst by employing density functional theory and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. With inclusion of explicit solvation, we have demonstrated that the glycolaldehyde hydrogenation is significantly improved due to the fast proton transfer through the hydrogen bond network. The enhanced activity could be attributed to the participation of the solvent water as the hydrogen source and the highly positively charged state of a Ru cluster in an aqueous phase, which are critical for the activation of aldehyde groups and proton-assisted hydrogenation. Overall, our findings provide valuable insights into glycolaldehyde hydrogenation over Ru/C catalysts in the aqueous phase, highlighting the importance of solvation effects in the biomass conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a combined anion photoelectron spectroscopic and quantum chemical investigation on the structures and bonding properties of CPt2−/0 and CPt2H−/0. The experimental vertical detachment energies of CPt2− and CPt2H− are measured to be 1.91 ± 0.08 and 3.54 ± 0.08 eV, respectively. CPt2− is identified as a C2v symmetric Pt—C—Pt bent structure, and CPt2 has a D∞h symmetric Pt—C—Pt linear structure. Both anionic and neutral CPt2H adopt a Pt—C—Pt—H chain-shaped structure, in which the ∠PtCPt and ∠CPtH bond angles of CPt2H− are larger than those of CPt2H. The Pt—C bonds in CPt2−/0 and CPt2H−/0 exhibit covalent double bonding characters. The Pt=C bonds are much stronger than the C—H bond that may explain why the C atom CPt2H−/0 prefers to form Pt=C bonds rather than C—H bonds. It may also explain why platinum can insert into the C—H bond to activate the C—H bond as reported in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyroptosis, characterized by inflammasome activation, membrane Gasdermin D (GSDMD)‐pore formulation, and the rapid release of inflammatory cytokines, can induce plaque instability and atherosclerosis progression. Nevertheless, insights into the precise antiatherosclerosis therapies targeting pyroptosis remain limited. Here, a novel biomedical application of natural polyphenol melanin as a theranostic antipyroptosis defense nanoplatform for atherosclerosis is reported. Ultrasmall melanin nanoparticles are easily fabricated and functionalized with cyclo‐Arg‐Gly‐Asp‐d‐Tyr‐Lys conjugated polyethylene glycol to yield cRGD‐PEG‐MNPs (RpMPs) to target plaque neovascularization, which is confirmed by fluorescence imaging. Importantly, RpMPs act like cell patches to suppress pyroptosis in lipopolysaccharide‐stimulated macrophages by scavenging reactive oxygen species, downregulating the expression levels of pyroptosis‐related proteins (NLRP3, Caspase 1, and GSDMD) and reducing the leakage of inflammatory cytokines (interleukin‐1β, interleukin‐6, and tumor necrosis factor‐α). In vivo studies further reveal that RpMPs can ameliorate the development and improve the stability of atherosclerotic plaques via attenuating NLRP3‐stimulated pyroptosis and inducing an anti‐inflammatory phenotype in the aorta of ApoE−/− mice. Moreover, chelator‐free Gd3+‐RpMPs exhibit persistent T1‐weighted contrast‐enhanced efficiency and plaque resident on a 9.4 T Micro magnetic resonance scanner in murine atherosclerosis model. Overall, this study suggests the potential for using melanin to develop natural multifunctional nanoplatforms for molecular theranostic in atherosclerosis and other pyroptosis‐related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

301L stainless steel (SS) ingots were prepared via aluminothermic reaction. In order to investigate effect of different content Ni addition on microstructure and mechanical properties of cold rolled 301L SS plate, real industrial process was simulated heat treatment and subsequent rolling process used. The results indicated that the tensile strength increased first and then decreased with the increasing of Ni content from 6.34% to 7.22%. The peak of tensile strength approximately reached 1275 MPa. The hardness remained basically unchanged at first and then decreased significantly to 305 HV. Fracture elongation tended to increase to 13.33%. It was found that when the Ni content reached 6.75%, the best mechanical property matching with strength of 1275 MPa and fracture elongation of 8.46% was obtained after rolling. The results provided experimental basis and theoretical support for the composition design of 301L SS for rail vehicles with both high strength and good plasticity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural phenazines are important secondary metabolites that generally exhibit broad antimicrobial bioactivities. However, the bioactivity diversity of phenazines is relatively narrow due to the limited substitution of side groups. In this study, Streptomyces lomondensis S015 was confirmed with capability of catalyzing phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA) to 5-(2-hydroxyacetyl)− 5,10-dihydrophenazine-1-carboxylic acid (HDPCA) based on substrate feeding, UPLC-MS and NMR analysis. Besides antimicrobial activity, HDPCA exhibited potent antioxidant activity compared with PCA and the antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Furthermore, an efficient whole cells biotransformation system was developed by screening carbon sources and optimizing reaction conditions. Using S. lomondensis S015 cells prepared from glucose as the biocatalyst, the production of HDPCA achieved 1.38 mM (392.0 mg/L) under a rotation rate of 220 rpm, 32 °C, pH 7.0, and 3.6 g/L dry cell weight for 36 h. This work not only identified the intriguing bioactivity of HDPCA but provide an environmentally friendly strategy for the biocatalysis of phenazines. [Display omitted] • Phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA) can be biotransformed to 5-(2-hydroxyacetyl)-5,10-dihydrophenazine-1-carboxylic acid (HDPCA). • HDPCA exhibit potent antioxidative activity. • An efficient whole cells biotransformation system was developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we study the stabilization of semilinear wave equations with time-dependent variable coefficients and memory in the nonlinear boundary feedback. We obtain the energy decay rate of the solution by an equivalent energy approach in the framework of Riemannian geometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Trichinella spiralis is a foodborne parasitic nematode which is a serious risk to meat safety. Development of anti-Trichinella vaccine is needed to control Trichinella infection in food animals. In this study, two novel T. spiralis genes (calreticulin and serine protease 1.1) in combination were used to construct oral DNA vaccines, and their induced protective immunity was evaluated in a murine model. Methodology/Principal findings: TsCRT+TsSP1.1, TsCRT and TsSP1.1 DNA were transformed into attenuated Salmonella typhimurium ΔcyaSL1344. Oral vaccination of mice with TsCRT+TsSP1.1, TsCRT and TsSP1.1 DNA vaccines elicited a gut local mucosal sIgA response and systemic Th1/Th2 mixed response. Oral vaccination with TsCRT+TsSP1.1 induced obviously higher level of serum specific antibodies, mucosal sIgA and cellular immune response than either of single TsCRT or TsSP1.1 DNA vaccination. Oral vaccination of mice with TsCRT+TsSP1.1 exhibited a 53.4% reduction of enteral adult worms and a 46.05% reduction of muscle larvae, conferred a higher immune protection than either of individual TsCRT (44.28 and 42.46%) or TsSP1.1 DNA vaccine (35.43 and 29.29%) alone. Oral vaccination with TsCRT+TsSP1.1, TsCRT and TsSP1.1 also obviously ameliorated inflammation of intestinal mucosa and skeletal muscles of vaccinated mice after challenge. Conclusions: TsCRT and TsSP1.1 might be regarded the novel potential targets for anti-Trichinella vaccines. Attenuated Salmonella-delivered DNA vaccine provided a prospective approach to control T. spiralis infection in food animals. Author summary: In this study, the fusion gene TsCRT+TsSP1.1 was designed and synthesized, the fusion gene TsCRT+TsSP1.1, individual TsCRT or TsSP1.1 was used to construct the DNA vaccines. Oral vaccination with TsCRT+TsSP1.1 in combination elicited obviously higher level of serum specific antibody, mucosal sIgA and cellular response, and immune protection than either of single TsCRT or TsSP1.1 DNA vaccination. Moreover, vaccination with TsCRT+TsSP1.1, TsCRT and TsSP1.1 also obviously relieved intestinal and muscle inflammatory reaction in vaccinated mice after challenge. The results indicated that TsCRT and TsSP1.1 might be regarded as the novel potential targets for anti-Trichinella vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Phenazines, such as phenazine‐1‐carboxylic acid (PCA), phenazine‐1‐carboxamide (PCN), 2‐hydroxyphenazine‐1‐carboxylic acid (2‐OH‐PCA), 2‐hydroxyphenazine (2‐OH‐PHZ), are a class of secondary metabolites secreted by plant‐beneficial Pseudomonas. Ps. chlororaphis GP72 utilizes glycerol to synthesize PCA, 2‐OH‐PCA and 2‐OH‐PHZ, exhibiting broad‐spectrum antifungal activity. Previous studies showed that the addition of dithiothreitol (DTT) could increase the phenazines production in Ps. chlororaphis GP72AN. However, the mechanism of high yield of phenazine by adding DTT is still unclear. Methods and Results: In this study, untargeted and targeted metabolomic analysis were adopted to determine the content of metabolites. The results showed that the addition of DTT to GP72AN affected the content of metabolites of central carbon metabolism, shikimate pathway and phenazine competitive pathway. Transcriptome analysis was conducted to investigate the changed cellular process, and the result indicated that the addition of DTT affected the expression of genes involved in phenazine biosynthetic cluster and genes involved in phenazine competitive pathway, driving more carbon flux into phenazine biosynthetic pathway. Furthermore, genes involved in antioxidative stress, phosphate transport system and mexGHI‐opmD efflux pump were also affected by adding DTT. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the addition of DTT altered the expression of genes related to phenazine biosynthesis, resulting in the change of metabolites involved in central carbon metabolism, shikimate pathway and phenazine competitive pathway. Significance and Impact of the Study: This work expands the understanding of high yield of phenazine by the addition of DTT and provides several targets for increasing phenazine production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Size-selected anion photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical calculations were used to investigate the structural evolution and bonding properties of BSin−/0 (n = 4–12) clusters. The results showed that the B atom in BSi4–12−/0 prefers to occupy the high coordination sites to form more B–Si bonds. The lowest-lying isomers of BSi4–7−/0 primarily adopt bowl-shaped based geometries, while those of BSi8–12−/0 are mainly dominated by prismatic based geometries. For anionic clusters, BSi11− is the critical size of the endohedral structure, whereas BSin neutrals form the B-endohedral structure at n = 9. Interestingly, both anionic and neutral BSi11 have a D3h symmetric tricapped tetragonal antiprism structure with the B atom at the center and exhibit 3D aromaticity. The BSi11− anion possesses σ plus π doubly delocalized bonding characters. The natural population analysis charge distributions on the B atom are related with the structural evolution of BSin− and the B–Si interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structural and bonding properties of gas-phase M4C6 (M = Cu, Ag, and Au) clusters and their anions have been investigated by quantum chemical calculations. Theoretical results indicate that the lowest-energy isomers of Cu4C6−/0 clusters possess ring-like configurations. The binding motifs in the most stable isomers of Ag4C6−/0 and Au4C6−/0 clusters adopt similar linear cumulenic chain-shaped configurations. The chemical bonding analysis indicates that the M4C6−/0 (M = Cu, Ag, and Au) complexes have σ plus π double delocalized bonding characters and the C atoms exhibit strong covalent bonding interactions, especially for Ag4C6−/0 and Au4C6−/0 clusters. The molecular orbital analysis shows that M4C6 neutrals have shell-closed electronic structures with large HOMO−LUMO gaps, indicating that their high stability and chemical inertness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Esophagogastric variceal bleeding is the most common lethal factor for patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension. We firstly developed a laparoscopic splenectomy and azygoportal disconnection (LSD) with intraoperative endoscopic variceal ligation (LSDL) technique. In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether LSDL is feasible and safe and whether LSDL can effectively prevent esophagogastric variceal re-bleeding (EVR), as compared with single LSD. Methods: In this randomized controlled single-center study, 88 patients with cirrhosis who had esophagogastric variceal bleeding and hypersplenism were randomly assigned to receive either LSD (n = 44) or LSDL (n = 44) between January 2020 and December 2021. The primary outcome was EVR. Results: No patients withdrew from the study. There were no significant differences in estimated blood loss, incidence of blood transfusion, time to first flatus and off-bed activity, or postoperative hospital stay between the two groups. Compared with that in the LSD group, operation time was significantly longer in the LSDL group (138.5 ± 19.4 min vs. 150.3 ± 19.0 min, P < 0.05); however, LSDL was associated with a significantly decreased EVR rate at 1-year follow-up (8/44 vs. 1/44, P < 0.05). Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression revealed that LSDL was a significant independent protective factor against EVR in comparison with LSD (relative risk: 0.105, 95% confidence interval 0.012–0.877; P = 0.037). Conclusions: Our newly developed LSDL procedure is not only technically feasible and safe; it also contributed to lowering the EVR risk more so than single LSD. Trial Registration: We registered our research at https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/. The name of research registered is "Laparoscopic Splenectomy and Azygoportal Disconnection with Intraoperative Endoscopic Variceal Ligation." The trial registration identifier at clinicaltrials.gov is NCT04244487. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Pseudomonas chlororaphis is a non‐pathogenic, plant growth‐promoting rhizobacterium that secretes phenazine compounds with broad‐spectrum antibiotic activity. Currently available genome‐editing methods for P. chlororaphis are based on homologous recombination (HR)‐dependent allelic exchange, which requires both exogenous DNA repair proteins (e.g. λ‐Red–like systems) and endogenous functions (e.g. RecA) for HR and/or providing donor DNA templates. In general, these procedures are time‐consuming, laborious and inefficient. Here, we established a CRISPR‐assisted base‐editing (CBE) system based on the fusion of a rat cytidine deaminase (rAPOBEC1), enhanced‐specificity Cas9 nickase (eSpCas9ppD10A) and uracil DNA glycosylase inhibitor (UGI). This CBE system converts C:G into T:A without DNA strands breaks or any donor DNA template. By engineering a premature STOP codon in target spacers, the hmgA and phzO genes of P. chlororaphis were successfully interrupted at high efficiency. The phzO‐inactivated strain obtained by base editing exhibited identical phenotypic features as compared with a mutant obtained by HR‐based allelic exchange. The use of this CBE system was extended to other P. chlororaphis strains (subspecies LX24 and HT66) and also to P. fluorescens 10586, with an equally high editing efficiency. The wide applicability of this CBE method will accelerate bacterial physiology research and metabolic engineering of non‐traditional bacterial hosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This communication presents a compact dual-band dual-polarized filtering antenna for base-station applications. The proposed dual-band antenna consists of a high-band (HB) dipole element and a low-band (LB) patch element, both with filtering responses. The HB element is embedded into the LB element, minimizing the overall size. The strong mutual coupling between the HB and LB elements is reduced by employing filtering HB and LB elements. For demonstration, a prototype of the dual-band antenna operating at LTE band 41 (2.5–2.7 GHz) as well as LTE bands 42 and 43 (3.3–3.8 GHz) is fabricated and measured. The antenna features a compact size of 41 $\times\,\,41$ mm2 ($0.52\,\,\lambda _{hh} \,\,\times0.52\,\,\lambda _{hh}$ , where $\lambda _{hh}$ denotes the guided wavelength at the highest frequency of HB). The cross-band isolation is higher than 27 dB without using extra filtering or decoupling circuits. In addition, a measured average gain of 7.8 dBi in LB and 7.7 dBi in HB is achieved. These merits make the proposed antenna suitable for 5G multiband aperture-shared array application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the investigation of fatigue damage behavior of textile reinforced concrete (TRC)-strengthened RC beams, in this study, eight RC beams were fabricated, and five of them were strengthened with TRC and tested under fatigue loading until failure, using a four-point bending setup. Research parameters included reinforcement ratio, textile ratio, and strengthening methods (single-side and U-wrapped). The failure mode, fatigue life, fatigue deformation, and other properties of TRC-strengthened beams were analyzed. Experimental results revealed that there were two fatigue failure modes for TRC-strengthened RC beams. In the first mode, the textile was snapped, but the steel bars did not rupture. In the second mode, both the textile and steel bars broke. Fatigue failure modes depended on the textile ratio. The TRC-strengthened beam's fatigue life was significantly higher than the non-strengthened RC beam. At the same textile ratio, the TRC-strengthened beam's fatigue life using the single-side method was longer than that using the U-wrapped method. With the increase in fatigue loading time, the midspan deflection of the TRC-strengthened beam was developed in three stages, namely rapid development stage, stable development stage, and destabilized development stage. The residual deflection and strain damage accumulation of tensile steel bars of TRC-strengthened beams were significantly reduced with the increase in textile or reinforcement ratios; thus, the beam's fatigue life was prolonged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One-pot dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) has garnered considerable attention for its potential to generate enantiomerically pure compounds in high yields and simplifying operation. However, the challenge lies in achieving compatibility between enzymes and metals due to their distinct operating conditions. In this study, we present a novel cascade catalytic platform for the DKR of amines to address this issue. Pd nanoparticles were immobilized on lysine-decorated lipase nanogels, forming isolated metal-enzyme catalysts. The microwave-assisted one-pot DKR of amines was carried out under non-pressurized conditions at 50 °C for 5 h. The metal-enzyme nanogel biochemical composite exhibited excellent performances, with a high conversion rate of 98% and enantiomeric excess values exceeding 99%. This innovative approach demonstrates the potential of constructing a multifunctional metalloenzyme catalytic platform with a distinctive three-dimensional structure, which offers promising prospects for DKR applications. The metal-enzyme nanogel biochemical composite exhibits excellent catalytic performance in non-pressurized microwave conditions at 50 °C, achieving an outstanding 98% conversion rate and ee value＞99%. [Display omitted] • A novel Pd@CALB-Lys-nanogels cascade catalytic platform was developed. • Lysine modification reduces the size of enzyme nanogels and can promotes the dispersion of metal. • The catalyst exhibited high activity and selectivity in microwave-assisted Dynamic Kinetic Resolution. • The catalyst can spontaneously catalyze reactions at mild temperatures without the need for hydrogen pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• PtO 2 ˉ anion has two energetically degenerate isomers. • The D ∞h symmetric linear structure competed with C 2v symmetric bent structure. • PtO 2 ˉ anion indicate that its σ and π double bonding patterns. • PtO 2 neutral exhibits σ and π antiaromaticity. This study investigates the structures and bonding properties of gas-phase PtO 2 ˉ anion and PtO 2 neutral using anion photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. Notably, both species adopt a D ∞h symmetric linear O−Pt−O structure, with PtO 2 neutral featuring notably shorter Pt–O bond lengths. Charge transfer from the central Pt atom to the terminal O 2 motifs is evident in both clusters, as indicated by Natural Population Analysis (NPA). Chemical bonding analysis reveals σ and π double bonding patterns in PtO 2 ˉ anion, while PtO 2 neutral demonstrates σ and π antiaromaticity. This research enhances our understanding of platinum oxide clusters and their potential in developing co-catalysts for efficient solar-driven water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A special Y-type connection structure was found in graphene powder. • Y-type connection structure and defects served to link the graphene sheets. • The bulk material exhibited superior strength and comprehensive properties. • MD simulations proved the strengthening effect of Y-type connection structure. The strategic design and assembly of bulk graphene materials represent a pivotal advancement for harnessing the inherent properties of graphene in practical applications. However, fabricating high-strength graphene-based bulk materials from graphene powders presents a significant challenge, primarily due to interlayer slippage between the graphene layers. Here, a unique Y-type connection structure was found in few-layer graphene synthesized by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) and subsequently retained in graphene-based bulk materials prepared by spark plasma sintering (SPS) process. The Y-type connection structure and defect-induced linkages serve to cross-link the graphene-based bulk materials. Consequently, the bulk material exhibited an ultra-high compressive strength, reaching 2.14 GPa, supported by Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations which demonstrated that the Y-type connection structure increases the shear modulus and the load transfer rate. The Y-type connection structure plays a vital role in reinforcing the strength of graphene-based bulk materials, offering valuable insights for the microstructural design and property augmentation of other graphene-derived materials. Besides it's ultra-high compressive strength, the graphene-based bulk material also performs a low thermal expansion coefficient (0.5 × 10−6 K−1), high electrical conductivity (1.47 × 105 S·m−1) and exceptional EMI shielding capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The HLPIZ-based mild PTT strategy exerted a unique hot spring effect during AS treatment. • The strategy can scavenge lipids, reduce inflammation, and repair injured ECs simultaneously. • The hot spring effect can anti-AS through multichannel regulation instead of inducing cell apoptosis. Atherosclerosis (AS), characterized by endothelial injury, progressive inflammation, and lipid deposition, can cause adverse cardiovascular events. However, effectively addressing all these pathological conditions simultaneously is challenging. To devise a comprehensive treatment strategy for AS, we developed a nanoparticle-based mild photothermal therapy (PTT) approach, which controlled the temperature within the range of 42–45 ℃, creating a unique 'hot spring' effect. The nanoparticles used in this therapy consist of a core made of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) nanoparticles loaded with indocyanine green (IR820), and an outer shell made of L-arginine (LA)-modified polydopamine (PDA), which is further modified with hyaluronic acid (HA) to target plaques. In vitro studies have demonstrated that mild PTT can open the TRPV1 channel in foam cells and regulate lipid metabolic diseases by maintaining a controlled temperature range of 42–45 ℃. Furthermore, the LA-PDA shell has anti-inflammatory properties, decreasing NLRP3 expression. Moreover, the eNOS/NO pathway was activated by LA, promoting the healing of injured endothelial cells (ECs). Additionally, the increased temperature enhances HSP90 expression, thereby helping to maintain eNOS. In vivo studies further confirmed that the HLPIZ-guided 'hot spring' effect has impressive anti-atherosclerotic capability by scavenging lipids, reducing inflammation, and repairing injured ECs simultaneously. In conclusion, our study confirmed that HLPIZ-guided mild PTT can exhibit a 'hot spring' effect, effectively regulating three key pathophysiological processes of AS, being a novel, potentially effective strategy for anti-AS therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photoelectron spectra of Au2Sin− (n = 1–7) clusters were measured, and the structural evolution and bonding properties of Au2Si1–7− anions and their corresponding neutral counterparts were investigated by theoretical calculations. The two Au atoms in Au2Si1–7−/0 prefer to occupy low coordinate sites and form fewer Au–Si bonds. The aurophilic interaction is fairly weak in these clusters. The most stable structures of both Au2Sin− anions and Au2Sin neutrals can be described as the two Au atoms interacting with the Sin frameworks. The most stable isomers of Au2Sin− anions are in spin doublet states, while those of the neutral clusters are in spin singlet states. The lowest-lying isomers of Au2Si1−/0 have C2v symmetric V-shaped structures. The global minimum of the Au2Si2− anion has a D2h symmetric planar rhombus structure, while that of the Au2Si2 neutral adopts a C2v symmetric dibridged structure. In Au2Si3−/0, the two Au atoms independently interact with the different Si–Si bonds of the Si3 triangular structure. The global minima of Au2Si4–7−/0 primarily adopt prismatic based geometries. Interestingly, Au2Si6−/0 have significant 3D aromaticity and possess σ plus π double bonding characters, which play important roles in their structural stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Upper protective seam mining has been widely applied in China, but the theory of long-distance multiple upper protective seam mining is not yet perfect. In order to investigate the overburden stress evolution law of repetitive mining of long-distance coal seam groups, an experimental study was conducted to simulate similar materials under repeated mining conditions in the long-distance double upper protective layer in the background of Pingmei Group 8th coal mine. By analyzing the roof-collapse structure and the stress evolution law of different layers of the floor during the superposition mining, the pressure-relief range of the protective layer after the mining of the double upper protective layer was determined. The study results showed that: the pressure relief of the protective layer in the long-distance upper protective layer mining was a dynamic process. After the mining of Group D coal seam, the maximum impact depth of the bottom plate could reach 182 m, and the pressure-relief angle of the upper side of Group E coal seam was 65°, and the pressure-relief angle of the lower side was 75°. The distance behind the vertical projection of the working face of Group D was 42 m. The overlapping back mining would affect the stress distribution of Group F coal seam. The pressure-relief angle of the upper side of Group F coal seam was 88°, and the pressure-relief angle of the lower side was greater than 78°. The distance behind the vertical projection of the working face of Group E was less than 61 m. The superposition and staggered mining of double protective layers could expand the protective layer. Through the verification of the measurement of gas parameters on site, it can be seen from the results that it has a certain protection effect. The research results can enrich the theory of long-distance multiple upper protective layer mining, and provide theoretical guidance for long-distance Coal Seam Group Mining in Pingmei coal-mine area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This communication presents a self-decoupled dual-band dual-polarized aperture-shared antenna array. The proposed dual-band array consists of a low-band (LB) antenna element interleaved into a $2\times 2$ high-band (HB) antenna array with compact elements spacing. To mitigate the blockage effect resulting from the LB element, shorted patches are loaded on the LB radiator for suppressing its scattering in the HB frequency range. In addition, high cross-band isolation between the closely spaced LB and HB elements is obtained due to their intrinsic filtering response. Moreover, the in-band mutual coupling between the HB elements is reduced by adding cross-shaped strips on them. As a result, the cross-band and in-band couplings and the antenna blockage effect can be simultaneously reduced without adding an extra decoupling component. A prototype of the proposed array operating in 1.71–2.17 GHz (LB) and 3.3–3.8 GHz (HB) is fabricated and measured. The radiation patterns of the LB and HB elements are almost unaffected by each other. Furthermore, all of the port-to-port isolations are higher than 20 dB. These merits make the proposed design suitable for the multiband base station. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Financial marketing is a method of risky investment, but in a shorter duration, the individual can expect a profit or loss, depending on the current market rate for the organization. Though it has a higher risk of getting a profit, many individuals are ready to take a chance to benefit. In the current era, much research is going on to provide a better prediction rate. Most researchers prefer Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) as a more trustworthy optimization algorithm among the existing optimization algorithms. In this research work, a novel optimization algorithm is proposed; it is a hybrid algorithm with Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) and financial marketing crisis prediction (FMCP) and is termed ACO-FMCP. This hybrid algorithm was applied to the economic sanctions dataset, and the results were generated. The results were compared with ACO and FMCP algorithms and it was found that the hybrid ACO-FMCP shows improved performance than the other two algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of multi-pass cold drawing on the evolution of microstructure, texture, and properties of Cu matrix composite, reinforced by in situ grown graphene, has been systematically investigated. Under continuous and severe plastic deformation, the grains in the composite were continuously refined to nanoscale. In addition, graphene in the composite could be gradually refined, exfoliated, and redispersed. Interestingly, dynamic recrystallization of the composite was formed after 80% drawing reduction and its formation mechanism was discussed. The texture of the as-drawn composite comprised a mixture of fiber textures with dominated <111> and minor <100> orientation after 99.7% severe drawing reduction. The tensile properties and electrical conductivity of the as-drawn composites were also investigated. This work provides a better guideline on the plastic deformation behavior of the advanced graphene/metal nanocomposite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Basic analysis, electronic senses and HS‐SPME/GC‐MS were used to evaluate the effects of single and mixed cultures of Lactobacillus acidophilus‐26 and Lactobacillus plantarum‐56 on the quality of fermented red globe grape (RGG) juice. The results showed that mixed culture fermentation was superior to single strain fermentation in terms of viable bacteria counts, consumption of total sugar (TS), total soluble solids, pH, functionality, and antioxidant properties of RGG juice (RGGJ). Whereas the aroma profiles of developing juices were dominated by abundant esters, acids, alcohols, aldehydes, and ketones. Compared with the single inoculation, co‐inoculation of the two species induced lactic acid fermentations, leading to accumulation of acetic acid, ethyl acetate, and 2‐hexenol significantly. Moreover, higher concentrations of ethyl acetate, benzoic acid ethyl ester, octanoic acid, sorbic acid, 2‐phenylethanol, and 2‐hexenol represented the characteristic flavours of juices. To sum up, these findings suggested that L. acidophilus‐26 and L. plantarum‐56 could be used as fermented strains to ferment and improve the quality of RGGJ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A quantum chemical calculation was performed to investigate the structural and bonding properties of B6C8− anion and B6C8 neutral. The geometries of the most stable isomers of both B6C8− anion and B6C8 neutral were found to be a planar dodecagon with four C2 units separated by four B atoms, which can be further reinforced by the central strong B−B single bond and aromaticity. The bond lengths, Wiberg bond orders, constant charge density surfaces, MOs, and AdNDP analyses were used to give insight into the chemical bonds in the C2h symmetric planar dodecagon of B6C8 neutral. The results showed that the most stable isomer of B6C8 has a closed-shell electronic structure with HOMO–LUMO gap of 2.20 eV and has σ plus π double delocalized bonding characters. More interestingly, the most stable isomer of B6C8 exhibits σ aromaticity and π antiaromaticity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a frequency selective surface (FSS)-based dual-band dual-polarized antenna with compact size and high gain. The proposed dual-band antenna consists of a low-band (LB) and high-band (HB) antenna elements. The HB element is coaxially located under the radiator of the LB element, minimizing the overall size. The proposed LB element consists of a two-layer-FSS-based radiator (FSS-radiator) and two pairs of differential feeding probes. Besides, the passband of the proposed FSS-radiator is designed to cover the operating band of the HB element. As a result, the radiation of the HB element can transmit through the FSS-radiator of the LB element. Without reducing HB element gain, instead, the average HB element gain can be improved more than 1 dB by the feeding probes of the LB element. For demonstration, a prototype of the dual-band antenna operating in the LB of 2.3–2.7 GHz and the HB of 3.3–3.8 GHz is fabricated and measured. The dual-band prototype features high gain (~9.1 dBi in the LB and ~8.6 dBi in the HB) in a compact radiation aperture of $0.32\lambda _{lc} \times 0.32\lambda _{lc}$ or $0.45\lambda _{hc} \times 0.45\lambda _{hc}$ (where $\lambda _{lc}$ and $\lambda _{hc}$ , respectively, denote the guided wavelengths at the central operating frequencies in LB and HB). Moreover, easy fabrication and low cost are achieved. These merits make the proposed antenna suitable for multiband aperture-shared array. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Chemotherapy damages cognitive function by injuring white matter integrity. • Clemastine can rescue chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment of mice. • Clemastine has ability of rescuing white matter injury induced by chemotherapy. With the improvement of cancer treatment techniques, increasing attention has been given to chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment through white matter injury. Clemastine fumarate has been shown to enhance white matter integrity in cuprizone- or hypoxia-induced demyelination mouse models. However, whether clemastine can be beneficial for reversing chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment remains unexplored. In this study, the mice received oral administration of clemastine after chemotherapy. The open-field test and Morris water maze test were used to evaluate their anxiety, locomotor activity and cognitive function. Luxol Fast Blue staining and transmission electron microscopy were used to detect the morphological damage to the myelin. Demyelination and damage to the mature oligodendrocytes and axons were observed by immunofluorescence and western blotting. Clemastine significantly improved their cognitive function and ameliorated white matter injury in the chemotherapy-treated mice. Clemastine enhanced myelination, promoted oligodendrocyte precursor cell differentiation and increased the neurofilament 200 protein levels in the corpus callosum and hippocampus. We concluded that clemastine rescues cognitive function damage caused by chemotherapy through improving white matter integrity. Remyelination, oligodendrocyte differentiation and the increase of neurofilament protein promoted by clemastine are potential strategies for reversing the cognitive dysfunction caused by chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main sources of metal ions in the flotation pulp of chalcopyrite are summarized and analyzed. The influence of Na+, Al3+,Ca2+,Mg2+,Cu2+,Fe3+ and other metal separators on flotation behavior of chalcopyrite and its corresponding mechanism are summarized. The results show that metal ions affect the surface charge performance of minerals by forming hydrophilic colloids or precipitation in flotation pulp,thus changing the surface properties of minerals and affecting the flotation effect of chalcopyrite. In addition,the concentration of metal ions and pulp environment will also affect the flotation behavior of metal ions in pulp. Finally,the paper points out that the mechanism of metal ions can be explored by advanced detection and quantum mechanics calculation, and the application prospect and development direction of metal ions in copper ore flotation are prospected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]