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Objective: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common malignant tumour in the oral cavity. OSCC is aggressive and prone to metastasis; it is associated with high mortality and short survival. In this study, we investigated the function of the long non‐coding RNA LINC00525 in OSCC progression and the molecular mechanisms through in vitro and in vivo experiments. Materials and Methods: CCK8 assay was used to detect the effect of LINC00525 on cell viability; transwell migration and invasion assays and scratch assay were used to examine the role of LINC00525 in cell migration and invasion. Flow cytometry, RT‐PCR and western blot were used to detect apoptosis indexes. Tumorigenic effects were investigated using mouse xenograft tumour models. Results: LINC00525 was associated with OSCC survival and prognosis. LINC00525 knockdown decreased cell viability and epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) properties and increased apoptosis and also shortened the cell cycle of OSCC cells in vitro. The downregulation of LINC00525 reduced the growth of OSCC tumour in vivo. LINC00525 can regulate OSCC cells via the apoptotic signalling pathway. Conclusion: Our results indicate that LINC00525 exhibits oncogenic functions in OSCC. LINC00525 may be a new promising and potential target for the treatment of OSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crocin is a unique water-soluble carotenoid found in crocus and gardenia flowers. Crocin has been shown to have a variety of pharmacological activities, such as antioxidant, anti-cancer, memory improvement, antidepressant, anti-ischemia, blood pressure lowering and aphrodisiac, gene protection and detoxification activities. Due to their amphiphilicity, crocin molecules form concentration-dependent self-associates (micelles) in a water solution. In the present study, using various NMR techniques (T2 relaxation and selective gradient NOESY), we have demonstrated that crocin forms mixed micelles with water-soluble drug delivery system glycyrrhizin and linoleic acid molecules. Note, that the spin–spin T2 relaxation time and NOESY spectroscopy are very sensitive to intermolecular interactions and molecular diffusion mobility. The second purpose of this work was the elucidation of the interaction of crocin with a model lipid membrane using NMR techniques and a molecular dynamics simulation and its effects on lipid oxidation. It was shown that the crocin molecule is located near the surface of the lipid bilayer and effectively protects lipids from oxidation by peroxyl radicals. The role of glycyrrhizin and vitamin C in metal-induced lipid oxidation was also elucidated. The results of this study may be useful for expanding the field of application of crocin in medicine and in the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loki is a state-of-the-art adaptive bitrate algorithm for the transmission of real-time-communication (RTC) video. It fuses traditional heuristic methods with a learning-based model to maximize the quality of experience (QoE) under diverse network conditions. However, a recurring rebound pattern is observed in Loki’s decision-making process where the decision frequently oscillates between the two boundaries of the action space, making Loki fail to adapt to the fluctuating network bandwidth. To address this issue, we propose Loki+, which improves both the fusion mechanism and the design of the learning-based actor. Specifically, we replace the element-wise multiplication with a simple but effective trend fusion and further optimize the design of reward and loss functions for training Loki+. Extensive simulation results show that Loki+ significantly improves the QoE in the aspects of reducing the stall rate by 20% ∼ 60% and the frame delay by 3.5% ∼ 30.5% while maintaining a similar sending bitrate or video quality, compared with Loki. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Microcystic urothelial carcinoma (MUC) is a rare variant of urothelial carcinoma with histological appearances similar to begin lesions. Thus far, approximately 50 cases have been reported. Here, we investigated the clinicopathological features of MUC. Methods: Clinical data and paraffin-embedded tissue blocks were collected. Immunohistochemical staining and polymerase chain reaction–Sanger sequencing were performed to detect the phenotype and TERT mutation status of MUC, respectively. Results: The mean patient age was 58.8 ± 14.5 years, with a male predominance (8:2). The pathological stage was T1 in one case, T2 in three cases, T3 in four cases, and T4 in two cases. Tumor metastases or death occurred in all five patients who were followed up within 1–3 years. Histological analyses revealed microcystic, tubular, cribriform, and occasionally cord-like structures, which generally lacked interstitial reactions. The lumens were empty, contained eosinophilic secretion, or were filled with mucin. The microcysts/tubules/cribriform patterns were lined by flat, cuboid, signet ring, or columnar types of epithelia. The cuboid, signet ring, and columnar types represented "glandular metaplasia" or glandular differentiation of urothelial carcinoma. Immunohistochemistry analyses revealed distinct co-expression patterns involving the luminal markers FOXA1 and GATA3, as well as the basal markers CK5/6 and CD44. All 10 cases exhibited a luminal phenotype according to the GATA3+/CK14- criterion, whereas nine cases exhibited a luminal phenotype according to the FOXA1+/CK14- criterion. The telomerase reverse transcriptase-C228T mutation was detected in seven cases. Conclusions: MUC is a rare variant with a deceptively benign form of urothelial carcinoma, which is generally identified as a late-stage tumor with a poor prognosis. It exhibits distinct co-expression of luminal and basal markers, along with the TERT-C228T mutation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural bioactive compounds have recently emerged as a current strategy for Alzheimer's disease treatment. Carotenoids, including astaxanthin, lycopene, lutein, fucoxanthin, crocin and others are natural pigments and antioxidants, and can be used to treat a variety of diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. However, carotenoids, as oil-soluble substances with additional unsaturated groups, suffer from low solubility, poor stability and poor bioavailability. Therefore, the preparation of various nano-drug delivery systems from carotenoids is a current measure to achieve efficient application of carotenoids. Different carotenoid delivery systems can improve the solubility, stability, permeability and bioavailability of carotenoids to a certain extent to achieve Alzheimer's disease efficacy. This review summarizes recent data on different carotenoid nano-drug delivery systems for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, including polymer, lipid, inorganic and hybrid nano-drug delivery systems. These drug delivery systems have been shown to have a beneficial therapeutic effect on Alzheimer's disease to a certain extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common reproductive endocrine disease, has clinically heterogeneous characteristics. Recently, cuproptosis causes several diseases by killing cells. Hence, we aimed to explore cuproptosis-related molecular clusters in PCOS and construct a prediction model. Based on the GSE5090, GSE43264, GSE98421, and GSE124226 datasets, an analysis of cuproptosis regulators and immune features in PCOS was conducted. In 25 cases of PCOS, the molecular clusters of cuproptosis-related genes and the immune cell infiltration associated with PCOS were investigated. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis was used to identify differentially expressed genes within clusters. Next, we compared the performance of the random forest model, support vector machine model, generalized linear model, and eXtreme Gradient Boosting for deciding the optimum machine model. Validation of the predictive effectiveness was accomplished through nomogram, calibration curve, decision curve analysis, and using other two datasets. PCOS and non-PCOS controls differed in the dysregulation of cuproptosis-related genes and the activation of immunoreaction. Two cuproptosis-related molecular clusters associated with PCOS were identified. Significant heterogeneity was noted in immunity between the two clusters based on the analysis of immune infiltration. The immune-related pathways related to cluster-specific differentially expressed genes in Cluster1 were revealed by functional analysis. With a relatively low residual error and root mean square error and a higher area under the curve (1.000), the support vector machine model demonstrated optimal discriminative performance. An ultimate 5-gene-based support vector machine model was noted to perform satisfactorily in the other two validation datasets (area under the curve = 1.000 for both). Moreover, the nomogram, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis showed that PCOS subtypes can be accurately predicted. Our study results helped demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the complex relationship between cuproptosis and PCOS and establish a promising prediction model for assessing the risk of cuproptosis in patients with PCOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We develop a transmission planning framework for coupled natural gas and electric power systems facing geographically correlated failures. The framework uses a stochastic optimization method incorporating uncertainty in the locations of the geographically correlated failures. We compare the proposed planning framework with the traditional N-k method which plans for geographically uncorrelated failures in terms of improving resilience effectively against geographically correlated failures. The proposed planning framework is illustrated using a small test system, but is scalable to larger system sizes and portable to other coupled-infrastructure contexts. We illustrate how planning for geographically correlated failures can enhance system-wide robustness by reinforcing the network connectivity between supply and demand locations instead of addressing local vulnerability at specific locations when planning for geographically uncorrelated failures. Planning for geographically correlated failures improves system resilience to both geographically correlated and uncorrelated failures significantly, but the converse is not true in our case study. • Propose a planning method for coupled systems with spatially correlated failures. • Planning for correlated failures enhances network connectivity and resilience. • Planning for uncorrelated failures addresses more local vulnerabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the vascular protective effect of anti-diabetic agents has been receiving much attention. Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors had demonstrated reductions in cardiovascular (CV) events. However, the therapeutic effect of dapagliflozin on angiogenesis in peripheral arterial disease was unclear. This study aimed to explore the effect and mechanism of dapagliflozin on angiogenesis after hindlimb ischemia. We first evaluated the effect of dapagliflozin on post-ischemic angiogenesis in the hindlimbs of rats. Laser doppler imaging was used to detect the hindlimb blood perfusion. In addition, we used immunohistochemistry to detect the density of new capillaries after ischemia. The relevant signaling pathways of dapagliflozin affecting post-ischemic angiogenesis were screened through phosphoproteomic detection, and then the mechanism of dapagliflozin affecting post-ischemic angiogenesis was verified at the level of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). After subjection to excision of the left femoral artery, all rats were randomly distributed into two groups: the dapagliflozin group (left femoral artery resection, receiving intragastric feeding with dapagliflozin (1 mg/kg/d), for 21 consecutive days) and the model group, that is, the positive control group (left femoral artery resection, receiving intragastric feeding with citric acid–sodium citrate buffer solution (1 mg/kg/d), for 21 consecutive days). In addition, the control group, that is the negative control group (without left femoral artery resection, receiving intragastric feeding with citric acid–sodium citrate buffer solution (1 mg/kg/d), for 21 consecutive days) was added. At day 21 post-surgery, the dapagliflozin-treatment group had the greatest blood perfusion, accompanied by elevated capillary density. The results showed that dapagliflozin could promote angiogenesis after hindlimb ischemia. Then, the ischemic hindlimb adductor-muscle tissue samples from three rats of model group and dapagliflozin group were taken for phosphoproteomic testing. The results showed that the PI3K-Akt-eNOS signaling pathway was closely related to the effect of dapagliflozin on post-ischemic angiogenesis. Our study intended to verify this mechanism from the perspective of endothelial cells. In vitro, dapagliflozin enhanced the tube formation, migration, and proliferation of HUVECs under ischemic and hypoxic conditions. Additionally, the dapagliflozin administration upregulated the expression of angiogenic factors phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) and phosphorylated endothelial nitric oxide synthase (p-eNOS), as well as vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), both in vivo and in vitro. These benefits could be blocked by either phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) or eNOS inhibitor. dapagliflozin could promote angiogenesis after ischemia. This effect might be achieved by promoting the activation of the PI3K-Akt-eNOS signaling pathway. This study provided a new perspective, new ideas, and a theoretical basis for the treatment of peripheral arterial disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to overcome the challenges of the current oral targeted drug delivery system, such as the complex preparation process, poor biocompatibility, and delayed drug release. Methods: Here, a non-covalent polymer hydrogel was prepared using the mechanochemical method, and the solid phase loading of 5-amino salicylic acid (5-ASA) was realized. Results: The results obtained from the thermodynamics study, particle size analysis, and electron microscopy show that chitosan (CS) and sodium alginate (SA) form a pH-sensitive hydrogel under the mechanochemical force and also maintain good stability in aqueous solution. Fluorescent tracers study showed that the pH-sensitive hydrogel could achieve the targeted drug release in the colon and the retention time was over 12 h. Next, in vivo efficacy studies, change in mice body weight, DAI (disease activity index) score, thymus, and spleen index, and the diseased state of the mice colon revealed that the pH-sensitive hydrogel is an improved drug delivery system over 5-ASA API commercial preparations as observed in the efficacy and toxicological studies. Conclusion: This method uses an innovative preparation technology that without the need of cross-linking agent to produce an efficient colon-targeted drug delivery system for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endometriosis (EMT) is a prevalent gynecological disorder characterized by pain and infertility associated with the menstrual cycle. Pyroptosis, an emerging cell death mechanism, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diverse diseases, highlighting its pivotal role in disease progression. Therefore, our study aimed to investigate the impact of pyroptosis in EMT using a comprehensive bioinformatics approach. We initially obtained two datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and performed differential expression analysis to identify pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs) that were differentially expressed between EMT and non-EMT samples. Subsequently, several machine learning algorithms, namely least absolute shrinkage selection operator regression, support vector machine-recursive feature elimination, and random forest algorithms were used to identify a hub gene to construct an effective diagnostic model for EMT. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, nomogram, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis were applied to validate the performance of the model. Based on the selected hub gene, differential expression analysis between high- and low-expression groups was conducted to explore the functions and signaling pathways related to it. Additionally, the correlation between the hub gene and immune cells was investigated to gain insights into the immune microenvironment of EMT. Finally, a pyroptosis-related competing endogenous RNA network was constructed to elucidate the regulatory interactions of the hub gene. Our study revealed the potential contribution of a specific PRG to the pathogenesis of EMT, providing a novel perspective for clinical diagnosis and treatment of EMT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a moderate method for efficient zero-waste utilization and reforming from shrimp shell waste was developed by means of mechanochemistry. The method enables the conversion of shrimp shell waste into astaxanthin, chitin, small peptides, amino acids, and lipids for zero waste; the method uses green mechano-enzymatic hydrolysis and mechanical solid organic acid treatment of shrimp shell waste to achieve zero consumption of strong acids alkali, and organic solvent. The underlying mechanism was revealed by thermodynamic determination, spectroscopic analysis, and electron microscopy observation of the extraction process. In the research, a green economic reuse approach for crustacean waste is proposed to achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 3, 6, 12 and 14 with the concept of circular economy(Sutherland et al., 2021), and this study proposes a green economic reuse method of crustacean waste. [Display omitted] • A moderate method for efficient zero-waste utilization and reforming from shrimp shell waste. • The method to achieve zero consumption of strong acids, alkali and organic solvent. • The method is low-energy input and mild conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an improved TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) retrieval of formaldehyde (HCHO) over China. The new retrieval optimizes the slant column density (SCD) retrieval and air mass factor (AMF) calculation for TROPOMI observations of HCHO over China. Retrieval of HCHO differential SCDs (DSCDs) is improved using the basic optical differential spectroscopy (BOAS) technique resulting in lower noise and smaller random error, while AMFs are improved with a priori HCHO profiles from a higher resolution regional chemistry transport model. Compared to the operational product, the new TROPOMI HCHO retrieval shows better agreement with ground-based Multi-AXis Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) measurements in Beijing. The improvements are mainly related to the AMF calculation with more precise a priori profiles in winter. Using more precise a priori profiles in general reduces HCHO vertical column densities (VCDs) by 52.37 % (± 27.09 %) in winter. Considering the aerosol effect in AMF calculation reduces the operational product by 11.46 % (± 1.48 %) and our retrieval by 17.61 % (± 1.92 %) in winter. The improved and operational HCHO are also used to investigate the spatial–temporal characteristics of HCHO over China. The result shows that both improved and operational HCHO VCDs reach maximum in summer and minimum in winter. High HCHO VCDs mainly located over populated areas, i.e., Sichuan Basin and central and eastern China, indicate a significant contribution of anthropogenic emissions. The hotspots are more obvious on the map of the improved HCHO retrieval than the operational product. The result indicates that the improved TROPOMI HCHO retrieval is more suitable for the analysis of regional- and city-scale pollution in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the improved retrieval of TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) tropospheric formaldehyde (HCHO) over China. The new retrieval optimizes the slant column density (SCD) retrieval and air mass factor (AMF) calculation for TROPOMI observations of HCHO over China. HCHO SCDs are retrieved using the basic optical differential spectroscopy (BOAS) technique, while AMFs are calculated with a priori HCHO profile from a higher resolution regional chemistry transport model. Compared to the operational product, the new TROPOMI HCHO retrieval shows better agreement with the ground based Multi-AXis Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) measurements in China. The operational product in general overestimates HCHO VCDs by 14.01 %, while the improved HCHO only shows an underestimation of 3.67 %. The improvements are mainly related to the AMF calculation with higher resolution a priori profile (61.11 %), while the SCD retrieval only shows a minor effect of 0.15 %. The improved HCHO is also used to investigate the spatial-temporal characteristic of HCHO over China. The result shows that HCHO VCDs reach maximum in summer and minimum in winter. High HCHO VCDs mainly located over populated areas, i.e., Sichuan Basin, Central and Eastern China, indicating a significant contribution of anthropogenic emissions. The result indicates the improved TROPOMI HCHO is more suitable for the analysis of regional and city scale pollution in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a novel additive-manufacturing technique to obtain high-resolution selective-ink-deposition on complex 3-D objects, packages, and modules for 5G applications. The technique consists of embossing the desired pattern directly on the 3-D printed dielectric surface and then applying ink with a suitable tool. This approach is tested in combination with stereolithography 3-D printing technology to obtain selectively metallized 3-D circuits. In particular, the “clear” resin from FormLab is utilized for the 3-D printed dielectric, while the metallization is performed with silver nanoparticle ink from Suntronic. As a preliminary study, test samples containing lines with different widths are manufactured, demonstrating a pitch down to $135~\mu \text {m}$ and satisfactory sheet resistance of $0.011~\Omega /\text {sq.}$ (the electromagnetic characterization of the dielectric resin is reported in the Appendix). Then, two broadband multiport RF structures are developed to show the versatility of the proposed technology. First, an ultrawideband 3-D crossover, operating in the range 100 MHz–5 GHz, is conceived to test the suitability of the proposed technology to perform selective metallization on curved semienclosed areas. Then, the technology is applied to a multiple-input–multiple-output (MIMO) antenna system, based on four proximity-fed annular slot antennas, arranged on the lateral sides of a cube and decoupled by introducing a cross-shaped structure in the interior of the cube. This circuit offers a broad range of metallization challenges, as it features embossed and engraved parts, high-resolution patterns (line widths down to 0.7 mm) and sharp edges. Each slot radiates unidirectionally with the same polarization and uses the cube and its internal cross-shaped structure as a resonant cavity. The antenna system is designed to operate in the band 3.4–3.8 GHz, which is one of the sub-6-GHz 5G bands in Europe, and it is thought for hotspot and access-point applications. The final antenna topology is composed of only two blocks, weighs 21.29 g, and occupies a volume of $44.4\times 45.8\times 45.8\,\,\text {mm}^{3}$ , featuring an envelope correlation coefficient (ECC) lower than 0.005 and a total active reflection coefficient (TARC) lower than −6 dB in all the bands of interests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By combining radio-frequency identification (RFID) and paper-microfluidics technologies, a low-cost first-of-its-kind platform for comprehensive liquid sensing, i.e., the “smart test strip,” is presented, which enables portable wireless real-time liquid sensing with handhold devices (e.g., cell phones), and integration of various multifunctional electrical and chemical sensors, for numerous Lab-on-Chip applications, including manufacturing control, environmental monitoring, and point-of-care medical diagnostics. The fabrication of RFID tags and two types of microfluidics are accomplished by a single inkjet-printing process in a cost-effective environmental-friendly additive manufacturing approach, which makes possible the production of disposable, lightweight, and flexible sensing platforms. Taking advantage of the proposed smart test strips platforms, we demonstrate two proof-of-concept high-performance electrical sensors based on interdigitated electrode topologies: a resistivity-based sensor with a 1782 $\Omega$/( $\Omega$*m) sensitivity; nevertheless, the proposed permittivity-based sensor with a 15%/$\epsilon _r$ sensitivity, but the proposed integrated wireless platform, can facilitate the integration of even more chemical and electrical sensors. In addition, two on-strip antenna prototypes have been designed, optimized, and tested to work at 2.4 GHz and 13.56 MHz, respectively. Furthermore, the wireless interrogation of a complete proof-of-concept smart test strip is presented, which shows an excellent sensing resolution of 1.33 $\Omega$ over the range of 0–1371 $\Omega$. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

[Display omitted] • A new-type porous carbon-supported LiFePO 4 electrode was prepared. • In-situ polymerization and synchronous conversion method was developed. • High hydrophilicity, stability and electrochemical performance were obtained. • The intercalation capacity was nearly twice that of the traditional electrode. Electrochemical method is a green lithium extraction method, but this technology is limited by the stability and capacity of the electrodes. Herein, a new strategy for the preparation of highly stable and high-capacity electrodes by in-situ polymerization and synchronous conversion was developed. It was found that when resorcinol and formaldehyde containing soluble Li, Fe, and P sources were polymerized in-situ and then carbonized at 700 °C, the Li, Fe, and P sources were successfully converted into LiFePO 4 and uniformly dispersed in the carbon matrix. The carbon in the material formed a three-dimensional (3D) skeleton in the form of interconnected carbon spheres, and the LiFePO 4 was grown in-situ on the 3D carbon skeleton. Since no polymer binder was used, the electrode exhibited high hydrophilicity and stability. Especially, the unique hierarchical porous structure of the electrode makes it have high electrochemical and lithium extraction performance. Even for Li+ with a concentration of only 100 mg·L−1, the intercalation capacity reached 5.13 mg·cm−3, which was nearly twice that of the electrode prepared by the traditional method. The equilibrium time for Li+ intercalation was only 45 min, and the dissolution loss rate of Fe3+ was no more than 0.23 % after 50 CV cycles. Based on these excellent properties, the porous carbon-supported LiFePO 4 electrode prepared will has a broad application prospect for lithium recovery from aqueous solutions by the green electrochemical technology, and the preparation strategy developed in this work also provides a new prospective for the preparation of high-performance lithium extraction electrodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is a challenge to design optimal, distributed traffic control mechanisms in a network where the link capacities and Class of Service (CoS) requirements may vary with time, such as a virtual network, an overlay network, or a wireless network. In this paper, we develop a family of optimization-based distributed traffic control laws to meet this challenge. This family of control laws enables Quality of Service (QoS), Traffic Engineering (TE), and Failure Recovery (FR) features simultaneously in a network where the link capacities and CoS requirement may vary with time. The approach taken relies on the concept of Sliding Modes to solve the resulting time-varying optimization problem. Running at the edge of a network, a set of control laws selected from this family enables class-of-service-based multi-path load balancing and/or rate adaptation to respond to network congestion, CoS requirement variation and link failures. The only nonlocal information needed as input to the control laws is the number of congested links along a forwarding path. This family of control laws is particularly viable to be implemented in a software-defined network (SDN) where the available underlying resources may not be accurately predictable and vary with time, due to, e.g., network virtualization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formaldehyde (HCHO) is a toxic and hazardous air pollutant that widely exists in atmosphere. Insufficient spatial and temporal coverage of surface HCHO measurements is limiting studies on surface HCHO-related air quality management and health risk assessment. This study develops a method to derive global ground-level HCHO concentrations from satellite-based tropospheric HCHO columns using TM5-simulated surface-to-column conversion factor with coarse spatial resolution. The method improves the factor more representative in finer grids by constraining TM5-simulated vertical profile shapes with satellite HCHO columns. The surface HCHO concentrations derived by the Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS) show good correlation with in situ HCHO measurements (R = 0.59) from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency surface network. We investigated how surface HCHO relates to urbanization and population aggregation over seven regions with high HCHO pollution. The results show urban HCHO increases as a power function with population size in China, India, and West Asia. HCHO concentrations in rural aeras also present strong log–log relationship with population aggregation in China, India, the United States, and Europe. Moreover, OMPS-derived ground-level HCHO concentrations were used to estimate global cancer burden caused by long-term outdoor HCHO exposure. The results show that up to 418188 more people worldwide will develop this cancer during the human life cycle. The global cancer burden is mainly from the South-East Asia region (33.11 %) and the Western Pacific region (22.95 %). This cancer occurrence in India and China is ranked 1st and 2nd in the world due to the large population size and serious HCHO pollution. Besides, global surface HCHO concentrations and cancer burden derived from the Environmental Trace Gases Monitoring Instrument which is China's first hyperspectral space-based spectrometer are found similar patterns with that from OMPS. Our results provide new insight into the impact of population urbanization on HCHO pollution and global outdoor HCHO-caused health risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper demonstrates the first-of-its-kind additively manufactured microfluidics-based flexible RF sensor, combining microfluidics, inkjet-printing technology, and soft lithography, which could potentially enable the first “real-world” wearable “smart skin” applications. A low-cost, rapid, low-temperature, and zero-waste fabrication process is introduced, which can be used to realize complex microfluidic channel networks with virtually any type of sensing element embedded. For proof-of-concept purposes, a reusable and flexible microfluidics sensor was prototyped using this process, which only requires 0.6- \mu \text L fluid volume to produce a 44% frequency shift between an empty ( \epsilon r=1 ) and a water-filled channel ( \epsilon r=73 ), demonstrating a sensitivity that is higher than most previously reported microfluidics-based microwave sensors. Seven different fluids were used to measure the sensitivity of the prototype and an overall sensitivity of 24\%/ \log (\epsilon r) was observed. The “peel-and-replace” capability of the presented sensor not only facilitates the cleaning process for sensor reusability, but it also enables sensitivity tunability. For bent/conformed configurations, the sensor’s functionality is good even for a bending radius down to 7 mm, demonstrating its great flexibility. After bending multiple times, the sensor still exhibits a very good performance repeatability, which verifies its reusability feature. The introduced additively manufactured RF microfluidics-based sensor would be well suited for numerous wearable and conformal fluid sensing applications (e.g., bodily fluids analyzing and food monitoring), while it could also be utilized in a variety of microfluidics-reconfigurable microwave components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RAF protein kinases are effectors of the GTP-bound form of small guanosine triphosphatase RAS and function by phosphorylating MEK. We showed here that the expression of ARAF activated RAS in a kinase-independent manner. Binding of ARAF to RAS displaced the GTPase-activating protein NF1 and antagonized NF1-mediated inhibition of RAS. This reduced ERK-dependent inhibition of RAS and increased RAS-GTP. By this mechanism, ARAF regulated the duration and consequences of RTK-induced RAS activation and supported the RAS output of RTK-dependent tumor cells. In human lung cancers with EGFR mutation, amplification of ARAF was associated with acquired resistance to EGFR inhibitors, which was overcome by combining EGFR inhibitors with an inhibitor of the protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP2 to enhance inhibition of nucleotide exchange and RAS activation. [Display omitted] • ARAF activates RAS by antagonizing its interaction with NF1 • ARAF controls the duration and consequences of receptor-activated ERK signaling • Increased ARAF expression in lung cancer causes acquired resistance to EGFR inhibitors Su et al. reveal that ARAF activates RAS by antagonizing its binding to the NF1 RASGAP. By this mechanism, the abundance of ARAF determines RAS-GTP levels and the duration and biologic consequences of RTK activation of RAS signaling. Moreover, ARAF amplification causes resistance of lung cancers to EGFR inhibition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are key precursors of PM 2.5 and ozone. Glyoxal can be utilized as an indicator of VOC emission sources and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation. In this study, the high-resolution satellite observations of glyoxal were utilized to identify anthropogenic VOC sources, which can be utilized to formulate pollution control policies. Glyoxal vertical column densities were firstly retrieved by the TROPOspheric monitoring instrument (TROPOMI) onboard the Copernicus Sentinel-5 Precursor satellite. Glyoxal retrieval is sensitive to wavelength; therefore, four different areas were studied, and the optimum wavelength range of 435–462 nm was determined and applied in the wavelength sensitivity test. Glyoxal slant column density was corrected by utilizing the daily stripe-correction in the Sahara region which reduces the error by approximately 2.2 × 1014 molec/cm2. Glyoxal vertical column densities computed using TROPOMI were validated via multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy measurements obtained at three sites; the daily normalized mean bias and standard deviation for the three sites were -27.5 % ± 6.5%, 1.8% ± 7.5%, and −6.6 % ± 17.3%, respectively. Monthly averaged data shows good correlation with Pearson correlation coefficients (R) of 0.90, 0.78 and 0.92, at three MAX-DOSA sites, respectively. The global spatial distribution of glyoxal showed large areas of high-concentration glyoxal distributed over tropical rainforests near the equator, which were attributed to biomass combustion and biogenic processes. Numerous urban hotspots were identified to be mainly concentrated in developing countries, especially those in East Asia and the Middle East. The highest glyoxal vertical column densities were observed over eastern China, and the high-glyoxal concentration areas were mainly located over urban and industrial areas, indicating a significant anthropogenic glyoxal source. Kilometer-level TROPOMI can identify factory emission sources that are undetectable by Ozone Monitoring Instrument due to the higher resolution of TROPOMI. • Realizing the global kilometer-level glyoxal observation for the first time. • Indicating of volatile organic compounds emission sources and secondary organic aerosol formation. • Utilizing glyoxal results to realize identification of factory sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α) is closely related with chemoresistance of solid tumors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of noscapine to inhibit HIF-1α and sensitize ovarian cancer cells to cisplatin (DDP) under hypoxic conditions. Herein, we report that noscapine sensitized cobalt-induced chemoresistant ovarian cancer cells to DDP-induced apoptosis and inhibition of cell proliferation. Noscapine also promoted proteasome-mediated degradation of cobalt-stabilized HIF-1α protein, with subsequent inhibition of HIF-1 transcriptional activity. These data establish noscapine as a small molecule inhibitor of HIF-1α and provide an evidence for its combination with DDP in combating ovarian cancer chemoresistance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] This research aimed to overcome the current challenges in the application of natural carotenoid antioxidants, such as their complex preparation processes, low bioavailability and poor drug stability. Herein, a mechanochemical method was used to prepare an inclusion complex (IC) that self-assembles into micelles in aqueous solution and achieves solid-phase loading of astaxanthin (AST). The NMR analysis, thermodynamics study, particle size analysis and electron microscopy image results showed that AST, hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrin (HPβ-CD) and glyceryl monostearate (GMS) formed self-assembled micelles and maintained good stability in aqueous solution. The antioxidant performance experiments showed that the formation of IC increases free radical scavenging activity. The pharmacokinetic studies showed that the bioavailability of the astaxanthin inclusion complex increased 4-fold. The tissue distribution experiments showed that the astaxanthin inclusion complex targets the liver to exert its antioxidant effects. The proposed method uses an innovative preparation technology to produce an efficient drug delivery system without solvents, and it exerts powerful antioxidant activity against astaxanthin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological source areas play a pivotal role in nature preservation and soil conservation. These areas are critical in optimizing land-use patterns and fostering the establishment facilitating the establishment of protected ecological source areas. In this study, two types of state layers of ecological source area change were extracted based on land cover data and integrated with an intelligent algorithm to analyze the role of ecological factors contributing to land change. Recommendations are proposed to enhance the optimization of the ecological spatial pattern within the Yellow River Basin. The results indicate key findings: (1) The ecological source areas in the Daxia River Basin experienced Fluctuations between 1990 and 2020 due to the interconversion of grassland and unused land. The change was relatively smooth during 1990–2000, with the ecological source areas increasing slightly by 16.016 km2. From 2000 to 2010, the proportion of unutilized land transferred to grassland was 6.3%, which is significantly higher than the annual transfer average of 1.6%. This is mainly due to the ecological protection measures in the cities of Linxia and Hezuo. Between 2010 and 2020, economic construction resulted in the loss of grassland, and the percentage of grassland turned out was 7.3%, which was significantly higher than the annual average of 1.8%. (2) In the Daxia River Basin, rainfall, sunlight intensity, temperature, and elevation had a greater impact on land change during the period from 1990 to 2020, with contributions of −0.4, 0.09, 0.08, and −0.26, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanisms that enable immune evasion at metastatic sites are poorly understood. We show that the Polycomb Repressor Complex 1 (PRC1) drives colonization of the bones and visceral organs in double-negative prostate cancer (DNPC). In vivo genetic screening identifies CCL 2 as the top prometastatic gene induced by PRC1. CCL2 governs self-renewal and induces the recruitment of M2-like tumor-associated macrophages and regulatory T cells, thus coordinating metastasis initiation with immune suppression and neoangiogenesis. A catalytic inhibitor of PRC1 cooperates with immune checkpoint therapy to reverse these processes and suppress metastasis in genetically engineered mouse transplantation models of DNPC. These results reveal that PRC1 coordinates stemness with immune evasion and neoangiogenesis and point to the potential clinical utility of targeting PRC1 in DNPC. • PRC1 promotes metastatic outgrowth by inducing expression of CCL2 • CCL2 promotes self-renewal by binding to CCR4 on prostate cancer cells • CCL2 recruits M2-like TAMs and Tregs, inducing immune suppression and angiogenesis • PRC1 inhibitor cooperates with checkpoint immunotherapy to suppress metastasis Su et al. show that PRC1 drives metastasis of androgen receptor and neuroendocrine double-negative prostate cancers by regulating CCL2 expression. CCL2 governs self-renewal and recruitment of TAM and Treg. PRC1 inhibition combined with immune checkpoint blockade reverses these processes and suppresses metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Calculate ecological quality using the Ensemble Learning method. • Gridding the regional space and proposing an Ecological Information State Layer (EISL). • Semi-supervised learning has better portability in ecological computing. • Analyze the weight of ecological factor characteristics to provide recommendations for ecological conservation. Habitat quality is an indicator of the ecological evolution of a region, and evaluating habitat quality utilizing Machine Learning approaches can reflect the ecological status of a region more objectively. Gridded statistical ecological factors in the study region were utilized to build the Ecological Information State Layer (EISL) in the grid space. Calculate the Environmental Quality Index (EQI) of the sampled grid to evaluate the performance index of the models on the sampled grid. The model with the optimal performance index is selected for the task of habitat quality classification in the research region, and then especially decision-making advice is offered by inverting the degree of influence of ecological elements on habitat quality. The results show that: (1) The Semi-supervised Ensemble Learning model (Tri-training) Accuracy, Kappa coefficient, and F1-score are 0.93, 0.89, and 0.92, respectively, as the optimal model for the habitat quality classification task. (2) Based on the results of the ecological categories calculation, the current ecosystem quality of the southwestern section of the Daxia River Basin is maintained as a positive indicator. the ecosystem quality inside the living space centered on the cities of Linxia and Hezuo shows negative indicator changes. (3) The calculation results of the inverse importance of ecological factors show that vegetation index and human population density are the key factors impacting the habitat quality of the Daxia River Basin. In the ecological management of Daxia River Basin, the degree of spatial aggregation of people's settlements should be reduced while preserving and expanding vegetation cover. Using Tri-training's comprehensive analysis of multiple ecological factors, regional habitat quality can be accurately assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α) is closely related to chemoresistance of ovarian cancers. Although it is reported that HIF-1α can be regulated by Sentrin/SUMO-specific protease 1 (SENP1), the effects of SENP1 on HIF-1α is still controversial. In this study, we identified that SENP1 positively regulated the expression of HIF-1α by deSUMOylation and weakened the sensitivity of hypoxic ovarian cancer cells to cisplatin. These results indicate that SENP1 is a positive regulator of HIF-1α and plays a negative role in ovarian cancer chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We experimentally investigate trap-loss spectra of the cesium 6S1/2(F = 4) → 71P3/2 Rydberg transition by combining the cesium atomic magneto-optical trap with the narrow-linewidth, continuously tunable 318.6 nm ultraviolet laser. Specifically, the atoms in the magneto-optical trap are excited to the Rydberg state due to the ultraviolet laser single-step Rydberg excitation, which leads to the reduction of atomic fluorescence. Based on the trap-loss spectroscopy technology, the Autler–Townes (AT) splitting due to a strong cooling laser is observed, and the parameter dependence of the AT splitting interval of trap-loss spectroscopy is investigated. The effective temperature of cold atoms is measured by using simplified time-of-flight fluorescence imaging. In addition, closed-loop feedback power stabilization of 318.6 nm ultraviolet laser is carried out. This lays the foundation for further experimental research related to the Rydberg atoms using ultraviolet lasers, which is of great significance for the development of quantum computing and quantum information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Phyllodes tumors belong to a spectrum of biphasic fibroepithelial lesions and are most commonly found in the breast. They are extremely rare in the urinary tract and only one case of bladder phyllodes tumor has been reported. Case presentation: We present a 69-year-old man with gross hematuria without an apparent cause. Computed tomography-urography and cystoscopic examination revealed a 5 × 4 cm lesion in the right ureteral orifice. He underwent a laparoscopic nephroureterectomy and partial cystectomy. Postoperative pathology confirmed a leaf-like structure consisting of myxoid stroma and peripheral urothelium. Stromal cells were spindle-shaped and stellate in appearance with no conspicuous cytological atypia or mitosis. The outlining urothelium had varying degrees of dysplasia, while in areas with moderate-to-severe dysplasia, active mitotic activity, abnormal giant cells, and focal early infiltration were observed. Overall, this case had the morphological features of benign phyllodes tumors and concomitant invasive urothelial carcinoma inside. The patient remained disease-free at 7 months after surgery. Conclusion: We report the first ureteral tumor with the morphological characteristics of a phyllodes tumor and concomitant invasive urothelial carcinoma inside. Considering the potential for local recurrence of phyllodes tumors and invasive urothelial carcinoma, long-term clinical and radiological follow-up of such lesions are advisable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the changes of pyrolysis behaviors from xylophyta to herbage, pyrolysis properties of red pepper stalks (RPS) as a representative kind of biomass of high lignin content of agricultural residues were studied by using TGA and Py-GC/MS. The results indicated that contents of cellulose, 43.2 wt.%, and of lignin, 24.7 wt.% were higher than those of corn stalks, wheat stalks and cotton stalks, but closer to those of the poplar wood. The pyrolysis process mainly occurred in three stages, and with an increasing heating rate from 10 °C/min to 30 °C/min, the TGA curves shifted to a lower temperature. With an increase in pyrolysis temperature, the contents of sugars, phenols and furans decreased from 3.96%, 13.54% and 10.13% to 1.09%, 7.13% and 1.65%, respectively. The contents of hydroxyacetaldehyde and acetone reached a maximum 13.71% and 20.05% at 500 °C. At 300 °C levoglucose, pentanal and methyl furan content reached maxima of 3.63%, 13.09% and 7.49%, respectively. Different chemical components could account for the changes of pyrolytic behaviors from xylophyta to herbage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the status quo that haze weather continuously appeared in every area of China, and air quality sharply declined in recent years, we summarized research progress on PM2.5 in China, introduced the concept of PM2.5, pointed out the adverse effects of PM2.5 on atmospheric environment and human health, and simply summarized monitoring method of PM2.5. At present, China's researches about PM2.5 mainly concentrated in the impact on atmospheric environment, comparative analysis between PM2.5 and PM10, and analysis on various components of PM2.5. Finally, we put forward some suggestions strengthening technique research and improving atmospheric environment in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) simulated by current air quality and climate models still have large uncertainties, which can influence atmospheric chemistry and secondary pollutant formation. These modeling sensitivities are primarily due to two sources. One originates from different treatments in the physical and chemical processes associated with the emission rates of BVOCs. The other is errors in the specification of vegetation types and their distribution over a specific region. In this study, the version of the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) updated by the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC version of WRF-Chem) from the public WRF-Chem(v3.6) is used. The modeling results over eastern China with different versions (v1.0, v2.0, v3.0) of the Model of Emissions of Gases and Aerosols from Nature (MEGAN) in WRF-Chem are examined or documented. Sensitivity experiments with these three versions of MEGAN and two vegetation datasets are conducted to investigate the difference of three MEGAN versions in modeling BVOCs and its dependence on the vegetation distributions. The experiments are also conducted for spring (April) and summer (July) to examine the seasonality of the modeling results. The results indicate that MEGAN v3.0 simulates the largest amount of biogenic isoprene emissions over eastern China. The different performance among MEGAN versions is primarily due to their different treatments of applying emission factors and vegetation types. In particular, the results highlight the importance of considering the sub-grid vegetation fraction in estimating BVOC emissions over eastern China, which has a large area of urbanization. Among all activity factors, the temperature-dependent factor dominates the seasonal change of activity factor in all three versions of MEGAN, while the different response to the leaf area index (LAI) change determines the difference among the three versions in seasonal variation of BVOC emissions. The simulated surface ozone concentration due to BVOCs can be significantly different (ranging from 1 to more than 10 ppbv in some regions) among the experiments with three versions of MEGAN, which is mainly due to their impacts on surface VOCs and NO x concentrations. Theoretically MEGAN v3.0 that is coupled with the land surface scheme and considers the sub-grid vegetation effect should overcome previous versions of MEGAN in WRF-Chem. However, considering uncertainties of retrievals and anthropogenic emissions over eastern China, it is still difficult to apply satellite retrievals of formaldehyde and/or limited sparse in situ observations to constrain the uncertain parameters or functions in BVOC emission schemes and their impacts on photochemistry and ozone production. More accurate vegetation distribution and measurements of biogenic emission fluxes and species concentrations are still needed to better evaluate and optimize models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen dioxide (NO 2) in the lower marine atmosphere, mainly emitted by maritime shipping, plays a crucial role in air pollution formation and global human health. However, few measurements of marine atmospheric NO 2 hinder knowledge of trace gas trends and atmospheric chemistry evolution due to shipping emissions. In this study, we use long-term satellite observations of tropospheric NO 2 column from the European TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) and the Chinese Environmental trace gases Monitoring Instrument (EMI) to analyze marine atmospheric NO 2 variations, especially during the global COVID-19 pandemic and escalating geopolitical crises. First, we demonstrate the detection of NO 2 enhancements along shipping routes, including the North Atlantic route, the North Pacific route, and the Cape route, indicating significant emissions of atmospheric NO 2 from on-ocean shipping. Second, we observe and quantify the response of marine atmospheric NO 2 concentrations to major shipping events, such as the Suez Canal blockage, the Los Angeles-Long Beach port congestion, and the Russia-Ukraine war, resulting in local NO 2 concentration variations of approximately 40% decrease to 70% increase. Long-term analysis reveals reduced NO 2 concentrations in most coastal ports and maritime shipping routes during the COVID-19 lockdown, with reductions exceeding 50% or durations lasting up to 200 days. However, some rapidly developing ports, such as Beibu Gulf (China) and Dakar (Senegal), did not experience a decrease in NO 2 concentrations, suggesting that local authorities need to pay more attention to these fast-growing yet underestimated emission sources. In addition, by excluding the impact of meteorology using statistical models, we find that the current Emission Control Area (ECA) policies have effectively reduced NO 2 concentrations in Chinese coastal ports. These results contribute to understanding spatiotemporal characteristics of marine atmospheric NO 2 , including ports and open-sea shipping routes, and guide further ECA policies to control marine NO 2 pollution. • New-generation satellites including TROPOMI and EMI can detect enhanced NO 2 pollution over maritime shipping routes. • Major shipping events have led to from −40% to 70% variations in local marine atmospheric NO 2 concentrations. • The COVID-19 pandemic reduced NO 2 pollution by > 50%, for a maximum of 200 days in the world's top ports. • Shipping emission control policies have effectively improved NO 2 pollution in Chinese ports since January 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the first time that an millimeter-wave (mm-wave) multichip module (MCM) with on-demand “smart” encapsulation has been fabricated utilizing additive manufacturing technologies. RF and dc interconnects were fabricated using inkjet printing, while the encapsulation was realized using 3-D printing. Inkjet-printed interconnects feature superior RF performance, better mechanical reliability, and on-demand, low-cost fabrication process. Numerous test vehicles were initially produced to evaluate these additive manufacturing technologies and compare them with traditional ribbon bonding, exhibiting a superior $|\text{S}21|$ performance throughout the whole operation range up to 40 GHz with a peak of 3.3 dB better gain for a Ka-band low noise amplifier (LNA). A fully functioning front-end MCM was fabricated using the same inkjet-printed interconnect technology, which features smart encapsulation technology fabricated using the 3-D printing and integrated on-demand “smart” encapsulation for electromagnetic interference (EMI) mitigation. The proof-of-concept MCM demonstrates exceptional performance taking advantage of a low-cost, on-demand additive manufacturing method that requires minimal tooling and process steps, which can drastically accelerate the time to market for future 5G and Internet-of-Things applications. The methodologies presented in this article could potentially enable rapid production of high-performance, high-frequency customizable circuit packaging structures with on-demand “smart” features, such as self-diagnostics, EMI/EMC filtering, and integrated sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, ship-based Multi-Axis Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) measurements were performed over the sea area between China and Korea during winter 2018 and spring 2019. Though the Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) technique analysis we obtain the spatial distribution of Vertical Column Densities (VCDs) of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and formaldehyde (HCHO) along the cruise of ship-based observation. In addition, the ship-based MAX-DOAS trace gases VCDs were compared with satellite observations of Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) and achieved a good agreement between two data sets. Besides the trace gases spatial distribution information, combine with the meteorological condition, we have also quantified the contributions of external transmission and local emission of pollutants. Meanwhile, the vertical profiles of these trace gases are achieved from the measured Differential Slant Column Densities (DSCDs) at different elevation angles using optimal estimation method. The retrieved profiles displayed the typical vertical distribution characteristics, which exhibits the low concentrations of trace gases in clean area of the marine boundary layer far from coast while the high value was detected close to the ports or even large ships. This study provided further understanding of the main air pollutants in the marine boundary layer of the sea area between China and Korea and also benefited to quantify the pollutants transport between the China and Korea continental region [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this paper, we present a quantitative determination of the NO x emission in Hefei using mobile Multi-Axis Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) measurements. The measurements were carried out during winter time from December 2016 to February 2017. The measured NO 2 vertical column densities (VCDs) show a strong spatial gradient with higher values within the city center, indicating the majority of NO x emission sources are located at the city center. A significant "holiday effect" was found by comparing measurements taken during weekdays and weekend. The weekend reduction is more significant in the suburban (∼28%) compared to the city center (∼13%). Mobile measurements of NO 2 vertical column densities (VCDs) were analyzed together with meteorological data to determine the NO x emission by applying the loop-integral method. Detailed error analysis of the NO x emission shows the variation of wind field and large measurement gap dominated the total error of NO x emission calculation. The result shows the NO x emission in Hefei during winter time varies in a wide range from 10 × 1024 to 40 × 1024molecs−1 with an average of 18.44 × 1024molecs−1. Our estimation is about 43% lower than the number reported in the previous emission inventory in 2012. The reduction of NO x emission reflects the successful implementation of emission control measures in recent years. Our result also shows about 73% of the total NO x in the city were transported from outside of the city during winter. The impacts of transported NO x are especially large when air masses originated from heavily polluted regions, i.e. North China Plain and Yangtze River Delta. The result presented provides a better understanding of the impacts of local emissions and transportation of pollutants on the local air quality of Hefei. Highlights • NO x emission in Hefei was determined using mobile MAX-DOAS measurements in 2017. • NO x emission in Hefei varies from 10 to 40 × 1024 molec/s during winter. • Our estimation is ∼43% lower compared to previous emission inventory in 2012. • About 73% of NO x measured in the city were transported from outside. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Environmental trace gas Monitoring Instrument (EMI) onboard the Chinese high-resolution remote sensing satellite GaoFen-5 is an ultraviolet–visible imaging spectrometer, aiming to quantify the global distribution of tropospheric and stratospheric trace gases and planned to be launched in spring 2018. The preflight calibration phase is essential to characterize the properties and performance of the EMI in order to provide information for data processing and trace gas retrievals. In this paper, we present the first EMI measurement of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from a gas absorption cell using scattered sunlight as the light source by the differential optical absorption spectroscopy technique. The retrieved NO2 column densities in the UV and Vis wavelength ranges are consistent with the column density in the gas cell calculated from the NO2 mixing ratio and the length of the gas cell. Furthermore, the differences of the retrieved NO2 column densities among the adjoining spatial rows of the detector are less than 3%. This variation is similar to the well-known “stripes-pattern” of the Ozone Monitoring Instrument and is probably caused by remaining systematic effects like a nonperfect description of the individual instrument functions. Finally, the signal-to-noise ratios of EMI in-orbit measurements of NO2 are estimated on the basis of on-ground scattered sunlight measurements and radiative transfer model simulations. Based on our results, we conclude that the EMI is capable of measuring the global distribution of the NO2 column with the retrieval precision and accuracy better than 3% for the tested wavelength ranges and viewing angles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bio-enabled, environmentally-friendly, and maximally mild layer-by-layer approach has been developed to surface modify inherently hydrophobic Kapton HN substrates to allow for great printability of both water- and organic solvent-based inks thus facilitating the full-inkjet-printing of flexible electronic devices. Different from the traditional Kapton surface modification approaches which are structure-compromising and use harsh conditions to target, and oxidize and/or remove part of, the surface polyimide of Kapton, the present Kapton surface modification approach targeted the surface electric charges borne by its additive particles, and was not only the first to utilize environmentally-friendly clinical biomolecules to build up a thin film of protamine-heparin complex on Kapton, but also the first to be conducted under minimally destructive and maximally mild conditions. Besides, for electrically charged ink particles, the present surface modification method can enhance the uniformity of the inkjet-printed films by reducing the 'coffee ring effect'. As a proof-of-concept demonstration, reduced graphene oxide-based gas sensors, which were flexible, ultra-lightweight, and miniature-sized, were fully-inkjet-printed on surface modified Kapton HN films and tested for their sensitivity to dimethyl methylphosphonate (a nerve agent simulant). Such fabricated sensors survived a Scotch-tape peel test and were found insensitive to repeated bending to a small 0.5 cm radius. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Curcumin (CUR) is a promising drug candidate based on its broad bioactivities and good antitumor effect, but the application of CUR is potentially restricted because of its poor solubility and bioavailability. Objective: This study aims at developing a simple and effective drug delivery system for CUR to enhance its solubility and bioavailability thus to improve its antitumor efficacy. Materials and methods:Curcumin nanosuspensions (CUR-NSps) were prepared by precipitation-ultrasonication method using mPEG2000-DSPE and soybean lecithin as a combined stabilizer. Results: CUR-NSps with a high drug payload of 67.07% were successfully prepared. The resultant CUR-NSps had a mean particle size of 186.33 ± 2.73 nm with a zeta potential of −19.00 ± 1.31 mV.In vitrocytotoxicity assay showed that CUR-NSps exhibited enhanced cytotoxicity compared to CUR solution. The pharmacokinetics results demonstrated that CUR-NSps exhibited a significantly greater AUC0–24and prolonged MRT compared to CUR injections after intravenous administration. In the biodistribution study, CUR-NSps demonstrated enhanced biodistribution compared with CUR injections in liver, spleen, kidney, brain, and tumor. The CUR-NSps also showed improved antitumor therapeutic efficacy over the injections (70.34% versus 40.03%,p < 0.01). Conclusions: These results suggest that CUR-NSps might represent a promising drug formulation for intravenous administration of CUR for the treatment of cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We identified the Rho GTPase Rnd1 as a candidate metastasis suppressor in basal-like and triple-negative breast cancer through bioinformatics analysis. Depletion of Rnd1 disrupted epithelial adhesion and polarity, induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and cooperated with deregulated expression of c-Myc or loss of p53 to cause neoplastic conversion. Mechanistic studies revealed that Rnd1 suppresses Ras signalling by activating the GAP domain of Plexin B1, which inhibits Rap1. Rap1 inhibition in turn led to derepression of p120 Ras-GAP, which was able to inhibit Ras. Inactivation of Rnd1 in mammary epithelial cells induced highly undifferentiated and invasive tumours in mice. Conversely, Rnd1 expression inhibited spontaneous and experimental lung colonization in mouse models of metastasis. Genomic studies indicated that gene deletion in combination with epigenetic silencing or, more rarely, point mutation inactivates RND1 in human breast cancer. These results reveal a previously unappreciated mechanism through which Rnd1 restrains activation of Ras-MAPK signalling and breast tumour initiation and progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new spirooxindole alkaloids spindomycins A ( 1 ) and B ( 2 ) were isolated from rhizosphere strain Streptomyces sp . xzqh-9. Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic analyses of NMR and MS data. The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were determined by experimental and theoretical calculation of electronic circular dichroism (ECD). Antitumor, lactate dehydrogenase, and tyrosine kinase inhibitory activities of two compounds were evaluated, while only spindomycin B ( 2 ) exhibited weak inhibitory activity against tyrosine kinase Bcr-Abl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric formaldehyde (HCHO) is considered as one of significant oxidization intermediate of most volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Previous studies using HCHO/NO 2 ratio for ozone formation sensitivity are based on the hypothesis that HCHO is a reliable indicator for total VOC reactivity (VOCR), while few studies focused on evaluating this hypothesis. To reassess this assumption, three fitting methods have been proposed for correlation analysis between the HCHO and VOCR, showing the Pearson correlation coefficient increased in the following order: logarithmic fitting < linear fitting < exponential fitting. Near-surface HCHO VMRs and the exponent-transformed VOCR showed good agreement during the entire daytime, indicating that HCHO concentrations primarily depend on VOCR, especially at midday and afternoon. High correlation coefficients are not only found between the HCHO and VOCR, but also between the HCHO and ozone formation potential (OFP), implying that HCHO is strongly influenced by the photochemical oxidation of VOCs and closely linked to ozone formation. Furthermore, good consistencies were exhibited between TROPOMI HCHO VCDs and the calculated photochemical property parameters of NMHCs (e.g., Total NMHCs, VOCR, and OFP), suggesting that satellite-based HCHO columns can infer the VOCs emissions over large spatial areas. We also make an attempt to convert the concentration of HCHO to total Prop-equiv concentration of NMHCs based on the linear regression analysis method, which overestimates the measured values by about 16%. Our findings imply that HCHO has the feasibility being a proxy for VOCs, which also indirectly proves the reasonability of HCHO/NO 2 ratio to indicate ozone sensitivity. [Display omitted] • HCHO concentrations primarily depend on VOCR especially at midday and afternoon. • Good consistency is found between the HCHO and ozone formation potential. • Ambient HCHO has the ability being a proxy for total NMHCs. • TROPOMI HCHO VCDs has the ability to infer the VOCs emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To utilized biomass for optimum application, sweet potato vine (SPV) was studied on its pyrolytic characteristics by TGA and Py-GC/MS analysis as a representative of biomass with low lignin content and high extractives content. Results indicated that lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose and extractives contents were 7.85 wt.%, 33.01 wt.%, 12.25 wt.% and 37.12 wt.%, respectively. In bio-oil, sugars content firstly increased from 8.76 wt.% (350 °C) to 13.97 wt.% (400 °C) and then decreased to 9.19 wt.% (500 °C); linear carbonyls and linear acids contents decreased from 16.58 wt.% and 17.45 wt.% to 5.26 wt.% and 4.03 wt.%, respectively; furans content increased from 7.10 wt.% to 15.47 wt.%. The content 11.86 wt.% of levoglucose at 400 °C, 15.41 wt.% of acetic acid at 350 °C and 6.94 wt.% of furfural at 500 °C suggested good pyrolysis selectivity of SPV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyzing vertical distribution characters of air pollutants is conducive to study the mechanisms under polluted atmospheric conditions. Nitrous acid (HONO) is a kind of crucial species in photochemical cycles. Exploring the influence and sources of HONO in air pollution at different altitudes offers some insights into the research of tropospheric oxidation chemistry processes. Ground-based multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) measurements were conducted in Shanghai, China, from December 2017 to March 2018 to investigate vertical distributions and diurnal variations of trace gases (NO2, HONO, HCHO, SO2, and water vapor) and aerosol extinction coefficient in the boundary layer. Aerosol and NO2 showed decreasing profile exponentially, SO2 and HCHO concentrations were observed relatively high values in the middle layer. SO2 was caused by industrial emissions, while HCHO was from secondary sources. As for HONO, below 0.82 km, the heterogeneous reactions of NO2 impacted on forming HONO, while in the upper layers, vertical diffusion might be the dominant source. The contribution of OH production from HONO photolysis at different altitudes was mainly controlled by the concentration of HONO. MAX-DOAS measurements characterize the vertical structure of air pollutants in Shanghai and provide further understanding for HONO formation, which can help deploy advanced measurement platforms of regional air pollution over eastern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the occurrence of fog and haze over China has increased. The retrieval of trace gases from the multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) is challenging under these conditions. In this study, various reported retrieval settings for formaldehyde (HCHO) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) are compared to evaluate the performance of these settings under different meteorological conditions (clear day, haze, and fog). The dataset from 1st December 2019 to 31st March 2020 over Nanjing, China, is used in this study. The results indicated that for HCHO, the optimal settings were in the 324.5–359 nm wavelength window with a polynomial order of five. At these settings, the fitting and root mean squared (RMS) errors for column density were considerably improved for haze and fog conditions, and the differential slant column densities (DSCDs) showed more accurate values compared to the DSCDs between 336.5 and 359 nm. For SO2, the optimal settings for retrieval were found to be at 307–328 nm with a polynomial order of five. Here, root mean square (RMS) and fitting errors were significantly lower under all conditions. The observed HCHO and SO2 vertical column densities were significantly lower on fog days compared to clear days, reflecting a decreased chemical production of HCHO and aqueous phase oxidation of SO2 in fog droplets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]