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The overuse of antibiotics currently results in the presence of various antibiotics being detected in water bodies, which poses potential risks to human health and the environment. Therefore, it is highly significant to remove antibiotics from water. In this study, we developed novel rod-like NiCo-phyllosilicate hybrid catalysts on calcined natural zeolite (NiCo@C-zeolite) via a facile one-pot process. The presence of the zeolite served as both a silicon source and a support, maintaining a high specific surface area of the NiCo@C-zeolite. Remarkably, NiCo@C-zeolite exhibited outstanding catalytic performance in antibiotic degradation under PMS activation. Within just 5 min, the degradation rate of metronidazole (MNZ) reached 96.14%, ultimately achieving a final degradation rate of 99.28%. Furthermore, we investigated the influence of catalyst dosage, PMS dosage, MNZ concentration, initial pH value, and various inorganic anions on the degradation efficiency of MNZ. The results demonstrated that NiCo@C-zeolite displayed outstanding efficacy in degrading MNZ under diverse conditions and maintained a degradation rate of 94.86% at 60 min after three consecutive cycles of degradation. Free radical quenching experiments revealed that SO•−4 played a significant role in the presence of NiCo@C-zeolite-PMS system. These findings indicate that the novel rod-like NiCo-phyllosilicate hybrid catalysts had excellent performance in antibiotic degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Investigating plant responses to climate change is key to develop suitable adaptation strategies. However, whether changes in land management can alleviate increasing drought threats to crops in the future is still unclear.We conducted a management × drought experiment with winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to study plant water and vegetative traits in response to drought and management (conventional vs organic farming, with intensive vs conservation tillage). Water traits (root water uptake pattern, stem metaxylem area, leaf water potential, stomatal conductance) and vegetative traits (plant height, leaf area, leaf Chl content) were considered simultaneously to characterise the variability of multiple traits in a trait space, using principal component analysis.Management could not alleviate the drought impacts on plant water traits as it mainly affected vegetative traits, with yields ultimately being affected by both management and drought. Trait spaces were clearly separated between organic and conventional management as well as between drought and control conditions. Moreover, changes in trait space triggered by management and drought were independent from each other.Neither organic management nor conservation tillage eased drought impacts on winter wheat. Thus, our study raised concerns about the effectiveness of these management options as adaptation strategies to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Although human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (HU-MSCs) have attracted increasing attention because of their pivotal functions in the process of wound healing, the underlying molecular mechanisms have been poorly understood. It has been shown that the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway plays an important role in the process of scar formation. The present study focused on exploring whether HU-MSCs improve uterine incision healing after cesarean delivery in rats via the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway. Study Design: Pregnant rats were randomly assigned to three groups, including the NP group, incision-injected group (HU-MSCs1 group), and tail vein-injected group (HU-MSCs2 group), and 30 days after cesarean section, sampling was carried out to further explore the specific mechanisms from tissue and protein levels. Results: HU-MSCs secretion could inhibit the fibrosis of scar tissue. We observed that the TGF-β induced expression of TGF-β1, Smad2, and Smad3 was attenuated upon HU-MSCs treatment in scar tissue, while the decrease in TGF-β3 expression was enhanced by HU-MSCs. Furthermore, HU-MSCs treatment accelerated wound healing and attenuated collagen deposition in a damaged uterine rat model, leading to the promoting of uterine incision scarring. In addition, the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (a-SMA) was enhanced by HU-MSCs treatment. Conclusion: HU-MSCs transplantation promotes rat cesarean section uterine incision scar healing by modulating the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer–ceramic composites are widely used in refractory cables. The ceramic fillers provide high temperature and fire resistance, while the polymer matrix provides flexibility and improved electrical insulation. The properties of the polymer–ceramic composites are determined by the ceramization‐forming properties of the corresponding ceramifying powders. Properties such as shrinkage, density, and porosity were characterized to compare the effects of different contents of glass powder. The sintering activation energy was calculated using the logarithmic relationship between shrinkage and holding time. The microstructure, cross‐section, and crystalline phases were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X‐ray diffraction analysis (XRD) to explore the ceramization process of sericite ceramifying powder. The ceramization process of ceramifying powder is proposed. The results show that during low‐temperature sintering, the glass powder and muscovite phases melt and partially transform into α‐quartz and albite low during cooling down. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have received great attention due to their low weight, high power ratio, and potential applications in wearable electronic products. The efficiency and stability of flexible PSCs are directly affected by the carrier extraction and transport capabilities of electron transport layer. Herein, efficient flexible PSCs are prepared through incorporating 2,5‐Furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) multifunctional intermediate layer between tin oxide (SnO2) and perovskite, which can effectively eliminate defects at the interfacial to increase the electron mobility of the SnO2 layer, modify the surface of SnO2 to shift the conduction band upward to improve interface charge extraction, passivate the buried interface of perovskite to induce larger perovskite crystal growth, and establish a bridge between SnO2 and perovskite to improve charge collection efficiency. As a result, the rigid PSCs with FDCA display a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 24.53% with a high open circuit voltage (VOC) of 1.204 V. Furthermore, the flexible device with FDCA achieves a high PCE of 22.10%, and preserve 90% of its initial PCE after aging for 500 h at ambient condition without encapsulation, and maintain 81% of its original PCE after 10,000 bending cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a novel approach for investigating the shrinkage dynamics of 3D‐printed nanoarchitectures during isothermal pyrolysis, utilizing in situ electron microscopy. For the first time, the temporal evolution of 3D structures is tracked continuously until a quasi‐stationary state is reached. By subjecting the 3D objects to different temperatures and atmospheric conditions, significant changes in the resulting kinetic parameters and morphological textures of the 3D objects are observed, particularly those possessing varying surface‐to‐volume ratios. Its results reveal that the effective activation energy required for pyrolysis‐induced morphological shrinkage is approximately four times larger under vacuum conditions than in a nitrogen atmosphere (2.6 eV vs. 0.5–0.9 eV, respectively). Additionally, a subtle enrichment of oxygen on the surfaces of the structures for pyrolysis in nitrogen is found through a postmortem electron energy loss spectroscopy study, differentiating the vacuum pyrolysis. These findings are examined in the context of the underlying process parameters, and a mechanistic model is proposed. As a result, understanding and controlling pyrolysis in 3D structures of different geometrical dimensions not only enables precise modification of shrinkage and the creation of tensegrity structures, but also promotes pyrolytic carbon development with custom architectures and properties, especially in the field of carbon micro‐ and nano‐electromechanical systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discontinuous geographic distribution pattern of plants in the north temperate zone has been a focus of biogeographic research, especially concerning the mechanisms behind the formation of such a pattern and the spatial and temporal evolution of this intermittent distribution pattern. Hypotheses of boreotropical origin, land bridge migration, and out‐of‐Tibet have been proposed to explain the formation of the discontinuous distribution pattern. The distribution of Lonicera shows a typical Europe–Asia–North America discontinuous distribution, which makes for a good case study to investigate the above three hypotheses. In this study, we inferred the phylogeny based on plastid genomes and a nuclear data set with broad taxon sampling, covering 83 species representing two subgenera and four sections. Both nuclear and plastid phylogenetic analyses found section Isika polyphyletic, while sections Nintooa, Isoxylosteum, and Coelxylosteum were monophyletic in subgenus Chamaecerasus. Based on the nuclear and chloroplast phylogeny, we suggest transferring Lonicera maximowiczii and Lonicera tangutica into section Nintooa. Reconstruction of ancestral areas suggests that Lonicera originated in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP) and/or Asia, and subsequently dispersed to other regions. The aridification of the Asian interior may have facilitated the rapid radiation of Lonicera in the region. At the same time, the uplifts of the Tibetan Plateau appear to have triggered the spread and recent rapid diversification of the genus on the QTP and adjacent areas. Overall, our results deepen the understanding of the evolutionary diversification history of Lonicera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water in the shale obstructs the enrichment and transportation of shale gas, so it is crucial to identify the occurrence mechanism of water in shale. In this work, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation had been performed to explore the occurrence state, dynamic characteristics, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation properties of confined water in shale inorganic nanopores (quartz). The results show that the number of adsorbed layers, diffusion coefficients (D) and rotational correlation time (τc) of water in quartz pores are strongly influenced by pore width (H). Layer analysis of water held in confinement indicates that the D value increases and the τc value decreases as the water approaches the centre of the pore. Furthermore, varying occurrence states lead to different NMR relaxation mechanisms. With the increase of H, the transverse relaxation time of adsorbed water is basically stable at 10−1 s. Finally, an exponential formula for evaluating pore size distribution is established. The total thickness of the water layer with the ratio of the intramolecular relaxation rate to the total relaxation rate less than 40% is defined as the thickness of the adsorbed water film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc borate/ammonium polyphosphate (ZB/APP) was added to polyethylene/wollastonite fiber (PE/WF) composite to further improve ceramifiable properties. The effect of ZB/APP on the mechanical properties, shape stability, and self‐supporting properties of residues was investigated. The residue formed at 1000°C had a flexural strength of 30.5 MPa for the PE composite with addition of ZB/APP, which showed a significant improvement compared to the corresponding values of PE/WF/ZB and PE/WF/APP. In terms of shape stability, the PE/WF/ZB/APP system exhibited better dimensional stability and maintained its original shape after heat treatment. The bending angles of PE/WF/ZB/APP composite after being fired at 1000°C were less than 15°. The ceramifying process was studied by XRD, FTIR, SEM, and TG. During the heat treatment process, a phosphate glassy phase containing PO43− groups was formed by the reaction between ZB and APP. And then glassy phase reacted with WF to generate hydroxyapatite (Ca5(PO4)3OH). The reaction between ZB and APP inhibited eutectic reactions between each other as well as with WF, thereby stabilizing the crystallinity of the residue at high temperature. Moreover, the viscosity of the phosphate glassy phase produced by their reaction was higher than that of the APP melt, which improved both the mechanical and self‐supporting properties of the residue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Li-rich manganese-based oxide (LRMO) cathode materials are considered to be one of the most promising candidates for next-generation lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) because of their high specific capacity (250 mAh g−1) and low cost. However, the inevitable irreversible structural transformation during cycling leads to large irreversible capacity loss, poor rate performance, energy decay, voltage decay, etc. Based on the recent research into LRMO for LIBs, this review highlights the research progress of LRMO in terms of crystal structure, charging/discharging mechanism investigations, and the prospects of the solution of current key problems. Meanwhile, this review summarizes the specific modification strategies and their merits and demerits, i.e., surface coating, elemental doping, micro/nano structural design, introduction of high entropy, etc. Further, the future development trend and business prospect of LRMO are presented and discussed, which may inspire researchers to create more opportunities and new ideas for the future development of LRMO for LIBs with high energy density and an extended lifespan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to explore the associations between serum retinol and all-cause mortality among people with prediabetes and diabetes. The study included 2582 participants with prediabetes and 1654 with diabetes aged ≥40 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001–2006. Serum retinol was collected from laboratory tests and categorized into five groups, including <50, 50–60, 60–70, 70–80, and ≥80 μg/dL. Deaths were obtained by linkage to National Death Index up to December 31, 2019. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the associations between serum retinol and all-cause mortality. During the follow-up, 993 participants with prediabetes died and 874 participants with diabetes died. There were U-shaped associations between serum retinol and mortality among participants with prediabetes and diabetes, separately. Among participants with prediabetes, compared to serum retinol levels of 50–60 μg/dL, the hazard ratio (HR) (95% confidence interval [CI]) of mortality was 1.40 (95% CI 1.11 to 1.76) and 1.26 (95% CI 1.00 to 1.57) for serum retinol <50 or ≥80 μg/dL, respectively. Among participants with diabetes, compared to serum retinol levels of 50–60 μg/dL, the hazard ratio (HR) (95% confidence interval [CI]) of mortality was 1.25 (95% CI 0.96 to 1.62) and 1.21 (95% CI 0.91 to 1.62) for serum retinol <50 or ≥80 μg/dL, respectively. The U-shaped associations between serum retinol and mortality still existed among participants aged ≥60 years with prediabetes or diabetes but were not statistically significant among those aged 40–59 years with prediabetes or diabetes. In conclusion, both low and excessive serum retinol tended to be with higher mortality risk among people with abnormal blood glucose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An adaptive impedance control method based on dexterity for compliant interaction is proposed for the problem of compliance and motion performance of the human's healthy side interacting with the manipulator in bilateral mirror rehabilitation motion-assisted training, and constructs a local virtual force field to hinder the movement of the manipulator to the low motion performance region, thus improving the motion performance of the manipulator. Firstly, the dynamic model of the manipulator and the human–robot interaction model based on impedance control are established. Then, a dexterity index based on the condition number is established, and an adaptive impedance control method based on the dexterity is proposed to construct a local virtual force field to hinder the movement of the manipulator to the low motion performance region. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated by experiments. The results have shown that the adaptive impedance control method based on dexterity can construct a local virtual force field, which can constrain the motion of the manipulator and keep the robot with good motion performance. It also laid the foundation for the training strategy of bilateral mirror rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) of non-medical students regarding impacted teeth and the factors associated with KAP. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled non-medical students at two universities (Northeastern University and Shenyang Conservatory of Music) in northeastern China between December 2022 and February 2023. Scores > 70% were defined as adequate knowledge, positive attitudes, and proactive practice. Results: A total of 519 non-medical students participated in this study. Most participants were male (54.72%), ≤ 20 years of age (72.83%), and freshmen (36.03%). The mean knowledge score was 4.98 ± 3.46 (possible range: 0–10), indicating poor knowledge (49.80%). The multivariable analysis showed that having impacted teeth were independently associated with adequate knowledge (OR = 3.114, 95% CI: 1.589–6.103, P = 0.001). The mean attitude score was 24.65 ± 3.78 (possible range: 7–35), indicating favorable attitudes (70.43%). The knowledge (OR = 1.182, 95% CI: 1.116–1.251, P < 0.001), junior grade (OR = 0.541, 95% CI: 0.327–0.895, P = 0.017), senior grade and above (OR = 0.477, 95% CI: 0.274–0.829, P = 0.009), and a history of impacted tooth extraction (OR = 2.386, 95% CI: 1.048–5.436, P = 0.038) were independently associated with the good attitudes. The mean practice score was 21.45 ± 5.64 (possible range: 6–30), indicating positive practice (71.50%). The knowledge (OR = 1.074, 95% CI: 1.017–1.133, P = 0.010) and female (OR = 1.501, 95% CI: 1.052–2.141, P = 0.025) were independently associated with the proactive practices. Conclusions: Non-medical students had poor knowledge but favorable attitudes and good practice toward impacted teeth. Non-medical students require additional education and awareness about the importance of early detection and management of impacted teeth. Clinical relevance: The study highlights the need for improved education and awareness among non-medical students regarding impacted teeth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Up to date, few studies on the dynamic characteristics analysis and model updating of large-size ultrahigh-voltage (UHV) transmission towers with long cross arms have been conducted due to the lack of onsite measurement data. In this paper, a framework for vibration test–based dynamic characteristics analysis and model updating of UHV transmission towers is proposed using a fast Bayesian fast Fourier transform (FFT) method with an interactive optimization approach. The dynamic response of a T-shaped ±800-kV UHV transmission tower is achieved by performing an ambient vibration test. The dynamic characteristic parameters (frequencies, damping ratios, and mode shapes) of the structure are obtained by using the fast Bayesian FFT method. Meanwhile, the relevant uncertainty of the identified parameters is also quantified. Then, an interactive optimization approach is presented to update the model using a set of automatic model correction schemes based on the particle swarm optimization algorithm. The interactive optimization approach is implemented by the continuous iteration process between the software MATLAB and ANSYS. The proposed interacting pattern could be well applied to the model updating of the transmission towers. This study could provide a reference for the field test, structural design, and safety evaluation of UHV transmission towers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The brain neuromechanism in maintenance hemodialysis patients (MHD) with cognitive impairment (CI) remains unclear. The study aimed to probe the relationship between spontaneous brain activity and CI by using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data. Here, 55 MHD patients with CI and 28 healthy controls were recruited. For baseline data, qualitative data were compared between groups using the χ2 test; quantitative data were compared between groups using the independent samples t-test, ANOVA test, Mann–Whitney U-test, or Kruskal–Wallis test. Comparisons of ALFF/fALFF/ReHo values among the three groups were calculated by using the DPABI toolbox, and then analyzing the correlation with clinical variables. p <.05 was considered a statistically significant difference. Furthermore, back propagation neural network (BPNN) was utilized to predict cognitive function. Compared with the MHD-NCI group, the patients with MHD-CI had more severe anemia and higher urea nitrogen levels, lower mALFF values in the left postcentral gyrus, lower mfALFF values in the left inferior temporal gyrus, and greater mALFF values in the right caudate nucleus (p <.05). The above-altered indicators were correlated with MOCA scores. BPNN prediction models indicated that the diagnostic efficacy of the model which inputs were hemoglobin, urea nitrogen, and mALFF value in the left central posterior gyrus was optimal (R2 = 0.8054), validation cohort (R2 = 0.7328). The rs-fMRI can reveal the neurophysiological mechanism of cognitive impairment in MHD patients. In addition, it can serve as a neuroimaging marker for diagnosing and evaluating cognitive impairment in MHD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drip tape layout and flow rate are crucial variables that impact the effects of drip fertigation. To investigate the influence of drip tape layout and flow rate on the soil water and nitrogen transport in summer maize in sandy tidal soil, field experiments were conducted for two years. Two drip tape layouts were set: one tape serving for two crop rows (N) and one tape serving for each crop row (E), with two levels of drip flow rate, i.e., high (2 L/h; H) and low (1.3 L/h; L). The results show that under the same drip tape layout, the lower the drip emitter flow rate, the more upright the shape of wetted soil volume. The maximum vertical and horizontal water transport distance under NL treatment was higher than that under NH, EH, and EL treatments. After surface drip fertigation, nitrate nitrogen accumulated near and at the edge of the wetted soil volume. In 2020, under NL treatment, nitrate nitrogen transported to a 55 cm soil layer, which was 22.22%, 71.42%, and 57.14% deeper than that under NH, EH, and EL treatments, respectively. In 2021, nitrate nitrogen could transport to a 60 cm soil layer in both NL and NH treatments. The maximum concentration of ammonium nitrogen was nearby the emitter. Under NL treatment, ammonium nitrogen was transported to 48 and 60 cm soil layers below the emitter in 2020 and 2021, respectively, which was deeper than that observed under NH, EH, and EL treatments. The soil inorganic nitrogen residue of the NL was lower than that of the NH, EH, and EL treatments. Compared with NH, EH, and EL treatments, the two-year maize yield under NL treatment increased by 11.09%, 13.47%, and 8.66% on average, respectively. NL treatment exhibited the highest water use efficiency and nitrogen fertilizer productivity. Therefore, NL treatment (one drip tape serving for two rows with 1.3 L/h flow rate) could promote the absorption of water and nutrients, reduce inorganic nitrogen residue, and to obtain high maize yield in sandy tidal soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

EmbR, a substrate of pknH in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), is related to the ethambutol (EMB) resistance. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between acetylation of pknH and the resistance of EMB mono-resistant Mtb. The EMB mono-resistant Mtb strain was constructed based on the MYCOTB and the Löwenstein–Jensen (LJ) proportion method. The growth kinetics was used to evaluate the bacterial growth. Escherichia coli, as the host of Mtb, was used for cloning and protein purification. Moreover, the immunoprecipitation was performed along with western blot to evaluate the EmbR phosphorylation and pknH acetylation. Each independent experiment was conducted in triplicate. EMB mono-resistant Mtb strain was successfully constructed according to the results of MIC values of 14 anti-Mtb drugs. The EMB resistant (ER) Mtb strain showed faster growth than the wild-type (WT) Mtb strain, and the difference was statistically significant. Moreover, pknH robustly phosphorylates EmbR, and pknH and acetylated pknH protein levels were downregulated in ER strain. The acetylation of pknH may reduce the phosphorylation of EmbR to inhibit the growth of Mtb strain. Enhancing the acetylation of pknH may be a promising method to inhibit the EMB resistance against Mtb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible perovskite solar cells (FPSCs) are attracting widespread research and attention for their benefits as the next‐generation wearable electronic products. However, there are still many challenges in the quest to achieve dense, pinhole‐free, high crystal quality, low defect, and stable perovskite films, which limit further improvement in the efficiency and stability of FPSCs. Herein, a novel technique for the incorporation of quaternary ammonium halide (QAH) additives to prepare fluffy porous lead iodide layers by using a two‐step sequential deposition method, is reported. Benefiting from the good diffusion of organic amine salts on porous PbI2 layers, flat and dense perovskite films are produced with large particle sizes, few defects, and high crystal quality. Finally, the champion rigid and flexible p‐i‐n PSCs with the 2‐(acetyloxy)‐N,N,N‐trimethylethanium chloride (AtaCl) additive achieves exciting power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of 23.40% and 21.10%, respectively. The device with the AtaCl additive retains over 90% of its original PCE under ambient conditions (40 ± 5% relative humidity (RH)) over 1000 h of aging without encapsulation. In addition, the flexible device with the AtaCl additive shows excellent stability under mechanical bending conditions, retaining ≈85% of its original PCE after 10 000 cycles (bending radius = 5 mm). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To observe the application effect of double‐tube negative pressure drainage in the repair of refractory wounds. Methods: From January 2020 to April 2023, 50 patients undergoing refractory wound repair in the Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery of Jingjiang People's Hospital, Jiangsu were selected. According to different treatment methods, they were divided into an observation group and a control group, with 25 patients in each group. The observation group was treated with double‐tube negative pressure drainage inside and outside the wound, while the control group was treated with negative pressure drainage inside the wound. By two‐week observation, the wound healing status and complication rate after treatment, as well as the wound bacterial clearance rate, wound pain score and patient satisfaction 3, 7 and 14 d after treatment were compared between the two groups. Statistical analysis was carried out to determine the efficacy. Results: After treatment for two weeks, the observation group showed a higher grade A healing rate (92% vs. 60%, X2 = 7.018, P = 0.008), a higher wound bacterial clearance rate (100% vs. 76%, X2 = 6.818, P = 0.03), a lower pain score (1.44 ± 0.51 vs. 2.36 ± 0.49, t = ‐6.53, P < 0.01), a higher patient satisfaction score (8.48 ± 0.96 vs. 6.64 ± 0.95, t = 6.80, P < 0.01), and a lower complication rate (8% vs. 40%, X2= 7.018, P = 0.008) compared with the control group. Conclusion: Double‐tube negative pressure drainage has a significant application effect in the repair of refractory wounds. It can accelerate wound healing, shorten treatment time, effectively eliminate bacteria, relieve wound infection, reduce complications, alleviate pain and improve patient satisfaction. Therefore, the application, promotion and research of double‐tube negative pressure drainage should be strengthened in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: All-inside anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) repair using anchors is frequently used to manage chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI) with satisfactory functional outcomes. It remains unclear whether there are differences in the functional results between the use of one or two double-loaded anchors. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 59 CLAI patients who underwent an all-inside arthroscopic ATFL repair procedure from 2017 to 2019. Patients were divided into two groups according to the number of anchors used. In the one-anchor group (n = 32), the ATFL was repaired with one double-loaded suture anchor. In the two-anchors group (n = 27), the ATFL was repaired with two double-loaded suture anchors. At the last follow-up time point, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores, American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores, Karlsson Ankle Function Score (KAFS), Anterior Talar Translation (ATT), Active Joint Position Sense (AJPS), and the rate of return to sports in both groups were compared. Results: All the patients were followed up for at least 24 months. Improvement in the functional results (VAS, AOFAS, KAFS, ATT, and AJPS) were recorded at the final follow-up time point. No significant differences were observed regarding VAS, AOFAS, KAFS, ATT, and AJPS between the two groups. Conclusion: In patients with CLAI undergoing all-inside arthroscopic ATFL repair, the use of either one or two double-loaded suture anchors produces comparable and predictably good functional outcomes. Level of evidence: Level III. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Talaromyces purpurogenus, an endophytic fungus, exhibits beneficial effects on plants during plant–fungus interactions. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying plants' responses to T. purpurogenus under low-phosphorous (P) stress are not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the transcriptomic changes in maize with low-P-sensitive (31778) and -tolerant (CCM454) genotypes under low-P stress and its symbiotic interaction with T. purpurogenus. Its colonization enhanced plant growth and facilitated P uptake, particularly in 31778. Transcriptome sequencing revealed that 135 DEGs from CCM454 and 389 from 31778 were identified, and that only 6 DEGs were common. This suggested that CCM454 and 31778 exhibited distinct molecular responses to T. purpurogenus inoculation. GO and KEGG analysis revealed that DEGs in 31778 were associated with nicotianamine biosynthesis, organic acid metabolic process, inorganic anion transport, biosynthesis of various secondary metabolites and nitrogen metabolism. In CCM454, DEGs were associated with anthocyanin biosynthesis, diterpenoid biosynthesis and metabolic process. After T. purpurogenus inoculation, the genes associated with phosphate transporter, phosphatase, peroxidase and high-affinity nitrate transporter were upregulated in 31778, whereas AP2-EREBP-transcription factors were detected at significantly higher levels in CCM454. This study provided insights on the molecular mechanisms underlying plant–endophytic fungus symbiosis and low-P stress in maize with low-P-sensitive and -tolerant genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When the terminal upper limb rehabilitation robot is used for motion-assisted training, collisions between the manipulator links and the human upper limb may occur due to the null-space self-motion of the redundant manipulator. A null-space impedance control method based on a dynamic reference arm plane is proposed to realize collision avoidance during human–robot physical interaction motion for the collision problem between the manipulator links and the human upper limb. Firstly, a dynamic model and a Cartesian impedance controller of the manipulator are established. Then, the null-space impedance controller of the redundant manipulator is established based on the dynamic reference plane, which manages the null-space self-motion of the redundant manipulator to prevent collision between the manipulator links and the human upper limb. Finally, it is experimentally verified that the method proposed in this paper can effectively manage the null-space self-motion of the redundant manipulator, and thus achieve collision avoidance during the human–robot physical interaction motion. This research has significant potential in improving the safety and feasibility of motion-assisted training with rehabilitation robots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nocardia species can cause local or disseminated infection. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment of nocardiosis are required, because it can cause significant morbidity and mortality. Knowledge of local species distribution and susceptibility patterns is important to appropriate empiric therapy. However, knowledge on the epidemiology and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of clinical Nocardia species remains limited in China. Methods: The data of isolation of Nocardia species were collected from databases such as Pubmed, Web of Science, Embase as well as Chinese databases (CNKI, Wanfang and VIP). Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software. Random effect models were used and tested with Cochran's Q and I2 statistics taking into account the possibility of heterogeneity between studies. Results: In total, 791 Nocardia isolates were identified to 19 species levels among all the recruited studies. The most common species were N. farcinica (29.1%, 230/791), followed by N. cyriacigeorgica (25.3%, 200/791), N. brasiliensis (11.8%, 93/791) and N. otitidiscaviarum (7.8%, 62/791). N. farcinica and N. cyriacigeorgica are widely distributed, N. brasiliensis mainly prevalent in the Southern, N. otitidiscaviarum mainly distributed in the east coastal provinces of China. Totally, 70.4% (223/317) Nocardia were cultured from respiratory tract specimens, 16.4% (52/317) from extra-pulmonary specimens, and 13.3% (42/317) from disseminated infection. The proportion of susceptible isolates as follows: linezolid 99.5% (197/198), amikacin 96.0% (190/198), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole 92.9% (184/198), imipenem 64.7% (128/198). Susceptibility varied by species of Nocardia. Conclusions: N. farcinica and N. cyriacigeorgica are the most frequently isolated species, which are widely distributed in China. Pulmonary nocardiosis is the most common type of infection. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole can still be the preferred agent for initial Nocardia infection therapy due to the low resistance rate, linezolid and amikacin could be an alternative to treat nocardiosis or a choice in a combination regimen. Author summary: Nocardiosis is a neglected tropical disease caused by Nocardia and potentially lifethreatening infection. Despite increasing attention towards the Nocardia infections, the overall epidemiological information and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of clinical Nocardia species remains limited for China. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted using data of 42 qualified publications. Our pooled analysis of these studies demonstrated that N. farcinica and N. cyriacigeorgica are the most frequently isolated species, which are widely distributed in China. Totally, 70.4% (223/317) Nocardia were cultured from respiratory tract specimens. Susceptibility varied by species of Nocardia. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole can still be the preferred agent for initial Nocardia infection therapy due to the low resistance rate, linezolid and amikacin could be an alternative to treat nocardiosis or a choice in a combination regimen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membrane technology greatly boosts the quick collection process of clean-water from oily wastewater. Although a great amount of research has been devoted to fabricating super wetting membranes to efficiently separate waste oil/water mixtures, the environmental friendliness of the membrane and the durable separation performance of the membrane have still obstructed the development of this field. Preparing a kind of membrane with environmental friendliness and excellent antifouling properties is therefore necessary. Herein, a kind of underwater superoleophobic polyethylene glycol (PEG) grafted polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane (PPG membrane) was fabricated through a simple, environmentally friendly and energy-saving surface grafting method by activating PVDF membrane with aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and then grafting PEG on its surface. The PPG membrane could efficiently separate various kinds of oil-in-water emulsions even including high-viscosity crude oil, and a separation efficiency up to 99.6% as well as a permeation flux of 1130 L m−2 h−1 are reached. Moreover, the as-prepared PPG membrane displayed excellent mechanical and chemical stabilities after the mechanical test (100 times of abrasion) and chemical test (soaking in 1 M HCl, and 1 M NaOH and 3.5 wt% NaCl solutions for 12 h). As a result, the various advantages of the PPG membrane laid a solid foundation for oily wastewater applications in real-world environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The excessive consumption of take-out food has increased the risk of nutrition-related chronic diseases. Nutrition literacy (NL) is an important influencing factor of food choice. This study aimed to explore the relationship between nutrition literacy and take-out food consumption. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 2130 college students in Bengbu, China. A self-reported questionnaire that included demographic information, lifestyle behavior, take-out food consumption, and nutrition literacy scale was used. Ordinal logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between nutrition literacy and take-out food consumption. Results: Of the students surveyed, 61.5% consumed take-out food at least once a week. NL was significantly associated with the frequency of take-out food consumption ≥ 4 times/week (OR = 0.995, 95% CI = 0.990-1.000); the difference specifically was discovered for applying skills, interactive skills, and critical skills. Moreover, students with high level NL ate less (Spicy) hot pot (OR = 0.996, 95% CI = 0.992-1.000), but more vegetable and fruit salad (OR = 1.009, 95% CI = 1.002–1.015). Conclusions: NL, especially in applying skills, interactive skills, and critical skills, is not only associated with consumption frequency of take-out food among college students, but also links with types of take-out food consumption. Our findings emphasize that targeted interventions on nutritional skills literacy should be needed to improve dietary behaviors for student's good health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A wide variety of deposit types formed in the late Palaeozoic-Mesozoic of eastern NE China and adjacent Russian Far East of the eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). However, outstanding questions remain on the (1) number of magmatic and metallogenic phases, and their respective space–time distribution; (2) geochemical (incl. isotopic) signature and fertility of each magmatic phase; and (3) tectonic link with these magmato-metallogenic events. We present new data (zircon U-Pb dating, geochemistry, and Sr-Nd isotopes) on the Yangjingou W and Xiaoxi'nancha Au-Cu deposits, and compile published data from major ore deposits in the region. We have newly summarized four magmato-mineralization phases: (1) Middle Permian (ca. 273–259 Ma) Cu-Au-Pb-Zn, (2) Latest Permian-Early Triassic (ca. 253–247 Ma) W-Cu-Mo-Au, (3) Earliest-Middle Jurassic (ca. 201–162 Ma) Mo-Au-Fe-W-Pb-Zn, and (4) Cretaceous (ca. 129–83 Ma) W-Sn-Mo-Cu-Au mineralization. Cretaceous ore-causative granitoids are mainly I-type arc-related, whereas those for the three older mineralization phases are largely adakite-like or adakite-normal arc transitional. These granitoids were mostly derived from partial melting of juvenile crust, and to a lesser extent from a mixture of juvenile and ancient crust. We propose that the Middle Permian subduction of the Paleo-Asian and Panthalassa oceans formed the Au/Cu-Pb-Zn skarn and cryptoexplosive breccia-hosted Pb-Zn ± Ag deposits. Subsequently, the latest Permian-Early Triassic Paleo-Asian Ocean closure likely formed the porphyry-skarn Cu-Mo, orogenic Au, and vein-type W deposits in the Songliao and eastern Liaoyuan terranes. In the Early-Middle Jurassic, Paleo-Pacific subduction may have formed the Jiapigou orogenic Au belt and the Fe-polymetallic skarn deposits in the northern Songliao terrane, as well as porphyry Mo deposits along the Mudanjiang fault. Subsequently, Cretaceous W-Sn-Au-Cu metallogeny was controlled by Paleo-Pacific subduction rollback, and in the Russia Far East by partial melting of redox accretionary complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the energy density and voltage window of supercapacitors cannot match that of lithium-ion batteries, supercapacitors are far from replacing batteries but can only be seen as a supplement to battery charge storage or transmission devices. The design of transition metal oxide-based electrodes with high cycling capacitance retention is very important for the development of supercapacitors. In this study, flower-like SAC@NiCoMn-LDH electrode materials with different Mn doping ratios were prepared by a hydrothermal method with mesoporous carbon (SAC) as the substrate. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirm that Mn doping can enhance the adsorption of OH− and the desorption of the H proton. In addition, Mn doping increases the density of states of LDH near the Fermi level and increases the number of active electrons, which is conducive to the occurrence of electrochemical reactions. In the three-electrode system, SAC@Ni2Co0.95Mn0.05-LDH with optimal doping ratio increased the specific capacitance by three times compared to that of NiCo-LDH and displayed an excellent cycling stability (83.76% capacitance retention after 50 000 cycles). Moreover, the prepared SAC@Ni2Co0.95Mn0.05-LDH and commercial activated carbon (AC) were made into electrode plates and then assembled into a SAC@Ni2Co0.95Mn0.05-LDH//AC asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC). The ASC exhibited high energy density (23.68 W h kg−1 at 325 W kg−1) and excellent specific capacitance retention (85.32% after 50 000 cycles), making it well suited for efficient wind energy storage and conversion with promising practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discrete organopalladium coordination cages have shown great potential in applications ranging from molecular recognition and sensing, drug delivery to enzymatic catalysis. While many of the known organopalladium cages are homoleptic structures with regular polyhedral shapes and symmetric inner cavities, heteroleptic cages with complex architectures and new functions coming from their anisotropic cavities have received an increasing attention recently. In this concept article, we discuss a powerful combinatorial coordination self‐assembly strategy toward the construction of a family of organopalladium cages, including both homoleptic and heteroleptic ones, from a given library of ligands. Within such a cage family, the heteroleptic cages often feature systematically fine‐tuned structures and emergent properties, distinct from their parent homoleptic counterparts. We hope the concepts and examples provided in this article can offer some rational guidance for the design of new coordination cages toward advanced functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our studies indicate that the longevity factor SIRT1 is implicated in metabolic disease; however, whether and how hepatocyte‐specific SIRT1 signaling is involved in liver fibrosis remains undefined. We characterized a functional link of age‐mediated defects in SIRT1 to the NLRP3 inflammasome during age‐related liver fibrosis. In multiple experimental murine models of liver fibrosis, we compared the development of liver fibrosis in young and old mice, as well as in liver‐specific SIRT1 knockout (SIRT1 LKO) mice and wild‐type (WT) mice. Liver injury, fibrosis, and inflammation were assessed histologically and quantified by real‐time PCR analysis. In a model of hepatotoxin‐induced liver fibrosis, old mice displayed more severe and persistent liver fibrosis than young mice during liver injury and after injury cessation, as characterized by inhibition of SIRT1, induction of NLRP3, infiltration of macrophages and neutrophils, activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), and excessive deposition and remodeling of the extracellular matrix. Mechanistically, deletion of SIRT1 in hepatocytes resulted in NLRP3 and IL‐1β induction, pro‐inflammatory response, and severe liver fibrosis in young mice, mimicking the ability of aging to impair the resolution of established fibrosis. In an aging mouse model, chronic‐plus‐binge alcohol feeding‐induced liver fibrosis was attenuated by treatment with MCC950, a selective NLRP3 inhibitor. NLRP3 inhibition ameliorated alcoholic liver fibrosis in old mice by repressing inflammation and reducing hepatocyte‐derived danger signaling—ASK1 and HMGB1. In conclusion, age‐dependent SIRT1 defects lead to NLRP3 activation and inflammation, which in turn impairs the capacity to resolve fibrosis during aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tillage practices can directly affect soil quality, influencing soil properties, crop growth, and soil microbial community characteristics. However, the influence of long-term tillage practices on the rhizosphere bacterial community in lime concretion black soil remains largely unknown. In this study, the effects of nine-year rotary tillage (RT), no-tillage (NT), subsoiling tillage (ST), and plow tillage (PT) on soil chemical properties, microbial community structure, and correlations between bacterial communities and soil properties in the maize rhizosphere were investigated. The results revealed that the maize yield in ST and PT was higher by 10.61% and 10.26% than that in RT and by 10.25% and 9.90% than that in NT, respectively. The soil organic matter (SOM) and total nitrogen (TN) contents in NT and ST were significantly higher than those in RT and PT, whereas the available phosphorus (AP) content in ST and PT was significantly higher than that in NT and RT. The diversity and richness of the soil bacterial communities exhibited a trend of NT > RT > PT > ST. The principal component analysis revealed that the soil bacterial community differed among treatments. Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) analysis demonstrated that Proteobacteria, Armatimonadetes, Verrucomicrobia, and Chloroflexi could serve as crucial biomarkers. Phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states (PICRUSt) results revealed that genes involved in carbon, lipid, and xenobiotic metabolism were enriched under ST and PT, whereas those involved in nitrogen and carbon fixation were enriched under NT. Besides, Proteobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, and Armatimonadetes were positively associated with AP levels and negatively associated with pH; however, Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Planctomycetes exhibited an opposite trend. Overall, ST and PT improved the soil properties and environmental suitability by increasing the bacterial keystone taxa; thus, these practices improved crop yield. These findings could enhance our understanding of the rhizosphere functional microbial community in lime concretion black soil for winter wheat–summer maize double-cropping system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminum (Al) toxicity is the primary factor limiting agricultural productivity in acid soils. The cell wall is mainly composed of saccharides and the first barrier for aluminum (Al) to enter plant root cells, but it is unknown whether and how root saccharide components are involved in regulating the Al tolerance of Lespedeza that is well adapted to acid soils. Here, we used Al-tolerant Lespedeza bicolor and Al-sensitive Lespedeza cuneata to examine the association of root saccharide components with Lespedeza Al tolerance through analyzing the saccharide changes of roots exposed to Al toxicity. Al-sensitive Lespedeza accumulated more Al and pectin but less hemicellulose in the root cell walls than Al-tolerant Lespedeza. Al treatment decreased the amounts of total sugar secreted from and within the roots of only Al-tolerant Lespedeza. Al treatment decreased the content of root monosaccharides including glucose and mannose in both Lespedeza species, but increased the xylose contents in only Al-sensitive Lespedeza. Taken together, less cell wall pectin rather than hemicellulose is responsible for less root Al accumulation, and Al-decreased root saccharide contents may enhance root organic-acid secretion to chelate toxic Al, both of which contribute to Lespedeza Al tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-density polyethylene (HDPE)/phosphogypsum (PG) or polypropylene (PP)/PG composites were produced using mass-produced PG powders and a twin screw extruder. The modification effect of calcium stearate was studied by oil absorption value, contact angle, and FTIR. XRD analysis indicated that the PG phase was affected by different calcination temperatures. The mechanical properties of the composite materials were evaluated by tensile and impact tests. The dispersion of PG in the matrix was showed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Within the weight fraction range studied (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 wt%), the Young's modulus and tensile strength of the PG/HDPE composites increased significantly, but the impact strength and elongation at break decreased remarkably. Young's modulus and impact strength of PG/PP composites increase prominently, but tensile strength and elongation at break are significantly reduced. Thermodynamic analysis showed that PG can improve the thermal stability of composite materials. The apparent density indicated that the composite material filled with PG has the property of being lighter in weight. In these experiments, the mechanical properties of compounding PG powder with HDPE or PP were significantly improved, but the toughness of composites decreased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Huang-Huai-Hai Plain is the most important region for grain production in China. In this area, long-term rotary tillage in winter wheat and no tillage in summer maize have significantly increased soil bulk density, which impede maize root growth and reduce the grain yield. Subsoiling tillage is an effective practice to improve soil properties and crop growth. The objective of this study was to investigate the integrated effects of subsoiling tillage in both winter wheat and summer maize seasons on soil bulk density, maize root growth and spatial distribution. A two-year field experiment was conducted in winter wheat–summer maize rotation system. Tillage treatments included rotary tillage (RT) and subsoiling tillage (ST) in wheat season, and no tillage (NT), inter–row subsoiling tillage (STIR), and on–row subsoiling tillage (STOR) in maize season. It was found that in the second year, i.e., in 2018, ST decreased soil bulk density by 3.87% and increased porosity by 5.86% at 30–40 cm soil depth at maize maturity. Meanwhile, maize root length density at 40–50 cm depth increased by 30.00% and grain yield increased by 4.70% under ST. In maize season tillage treatments, STOR decreased soil bulk density by 4.52% and increased soil porosity by 6.96% at 20–30 cm soil depth. Compared with NT, the STOR significantly increased maize root length density at 20–30 cm soil depth by 78.45%, and increased root length density in a horizontal area 0–10 cm for both years, with a significant increase of 58.89% in 2018. Therefore, this study demonstrated that in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain, which has a tidal soil type, subsoiling tillage in winter wheat season and on–row subsoiling tillage in maize season can loosen the soil and improve vertical extension of maize root system in the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the development of composite materials composed of magnetic materials and MXene has attracted significant attention. However, the thickness and microwave absorption performance of the composite is still barely satisfactory. In this work, the C-N@NiFe2O4@MXene/Ni nanocomposites were successfully synthesized in situ by hydrothermal and calcination methods. Benefiting from the introduction of the carbon-nitrogen(C-N) network structure, the overall dielectric properties are improved effectively, consequently reducing the thickness of the composite while maintaining excellent absorption performance. As a result, the minimum reflection loss of C-N@NiFe2O4@MXene/Ni can reach −50.51 dB at 17.3 GHz at an ultralow thickness of 1.5 mm, with an effective absorption bandwidth of 4.95 GHz (13.02–18 GHz). This research provides a novel strategy for materials to maintain good absorption performance at an ultralow thickness level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat/soybean rotation is an important double-cropping system in the Huang-Huai-Hai plain of China. Continuous soybean cropping could cause soil quality deterioration and plant growth inhibition. However, the effects of continuous wheat/soybean cropping on soybean rhizosphere microbes remain largely unknown. In this study, we compared the soybean yield and rhizosphere soil microbial community between continuous winter wheat/summer soybean (W/S) with two harvests in one year and winter wheat/summer soybean-winter wheat/summer maize (W/S-W/M) with four harvests in two years. The results showed that the soybean yield in the W/S group significantly (p < 0.05) declined within the first two years. The W/S-W/M showed higher soybean yield and soil fertility index than the W/S group. The sequencing results revealed that cropping rotation had a higher impact on the fungal community than the bacterial community. The W/S group showed 22.08–23.01% higher alpha diversity of the fungal community, but the alpha diversity of the bacterial group did not vary significantly in this group. The fungal community composition in the W/S and W/S-W/M groups differed significantly. In the W/S-W/M group, a higher relative abundance of plant growth-promoting fungi (e.g., Mortierella), nematophagous fungi (e.g., Plectosphaerella), and biological control fungi (e.g., Coniothyrium) was observed. In the W/S group, a higher relative abundance of lignocellulose-degrading fungi (e.g., Trechispora, Myceliophthora, Botryotrichum, and Coniochaeta) and pathogenic fungi (e.g., Pyrenochaetopsis and Cyphellophora) was observed. LEfSe analysis demonstrated that Mortierella, Myceliophthora, and Trechispora could serve as crucial biomarkers. Mortierella was positively associated with available P levels and negatively associated with NO3−-N levels and pH while Trechispora showed the opposite trend. The findings of this study could enhance the current understanding of the mechanisms associated with the continuous wheat/soybean cropping obstacles and ensure the sustainability of agricultural production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shrinkage is a common phenomenon during the drying of fruits and vegetables. The research aimed to study the mechanism of drying shrinkage and investigate the potential use of low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) for online monitoring changes in shrinkage. The effects of drying parameters (temperature, power, and vacuum) on shrinkage of three types of materials banana (fruit), carrot (vegetable), and Pleurotus eryngii (an edible fungus) were studied in the different drying processes of hot air drying (HAD), microwave vacuum drying (MVD), infrared drying (IRD), and infrared freeze-drying (IFD). During drying, material shrinkage mainly occurred in the early and middle drying stages with different characteristics of retention volume and shrinkage equilibrium point of moisture content. The drying shrinkage was significantly related to the change of MC in vacuolar compartment (p < 0.05). Reducing the drying time from drying beginning to the LF-NMR A23/A22(1), i.e., when the water content between vacuolar compartment and cytoplasm was equal, was beneficial for reducing shrinkage, and the volume retention rate increased by 39.13%. The shrinkage model of BP-ANN based on LF-NMR had a high prediction accuracy of shrinkage more than 95% and was excellent with the R2 of 0.9989 and RMSE of 0.0087. The shrinkage control strategy based on LF-NMR provided a reference for the development of artificial intelligence drying equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the available building blocks are limited, improving the structural complexity of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) is still challenging. In this work, a new three-component COF synthesis strategy is established by using 4-aminobenzaldehyde as the bifunctional linker. The lattice parameters, crystallinity, and porosity of these COFs can be efficiently tuned by varying the amount of this linker. This work provides a new way to expand the structural diversity and complexity of imine-linked COFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gut microbiome is essential for processing complex food compounds and synthesizing nutrients that the host cannot digest or produce, respectively. New model systems are needed to study how the metabolic capacity provided by the gut microbiome impacts the nutritional status of the host, and to explore possibilities for altering host metabolic capacity via the microbiome. Here, we colonized the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans gut with cellulolytic bacteria that enabled C. elegans to utilize cellulose, an otherwise indigestible substrate, as a carbon source. Cellulolytic bacteria as a community component in the worm gut can also support additional bacterial species with specialized roles, which we demonstrate by using Lactobacillus plantarum to protect C. elegans against Salmonella enterica infection. This work shows that engineered microbiome communities can be used to endow host organisms with novel functions, such as the ability to utilize alternate nutrient sources or to better fight pathogenic bacteria. Synopsis: A microbe‐host interaction model is developed by colonizing C. elegans with functional bacteria that allow digesting long‐chain cellulose. Direct benefits include increased host larval yield and protection of other gut species against pathogens.Heterologous bacteria (e.g. Pseudomonas cellulosa) in the gut can help C. elegans to digest cellulose, an otherwise indigestible carbon substrate.Cellulolytic bacteria can also support other bacterial species with specialized roles: Lactobacillus protected the worms against Salmonella infection, and interspecies synergy between P. cellulosa and L. plantarum conferred benefit to the host.Engineered microbiome communities may provide host organisms with novel functions, including the ability to use complex nutrient sources and to fight pathogens.C. elegans colonized with bacteria provides a model system for studying microbiome‐host interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The southern Great Xing'an Range (SGXR), located in the eastern segment of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB), is one of the most economically important Cu–Mo–Fe–Sn–Pb–Zn–Ag metallogenic provinces in China. The newly discovered Panjiaduan Cu–Pb–Zn deposit (9.3 Mt; at 1.36% Cu, 2.90% Pb, 3.80% Zn and 38.12 g/t Ag), located in the SE segment of the SGXR, is primarily hosted in fracture zones in volcanic rocks and granodiorite of the Manitu Formation. Four paragenetic stages of metallic mineralization are identified: (I) quartz-pyrite-arsenopyrite; (II) quartz-polymetallic sulphide; (III) quartz-galena-sphalerite-argentite; and (IV) quartz-calcite-minor sulphide. The hydrothermal quartz contains three types of primary fluid inclusion (FIs): vapour-rich two-phase liquid-vapour (LV-type), liquid-rich two-phase liquid-vapour (VL-type) and three-phase liquid-vapour-solid FIs (SL-type). Stages I and II contain all types with homogenization temperatures (Th) of 324–386 °C and 276–334 °C as well as salinities of 0.7–38.0 wt% and 0.9–34.7 wt%, respectively, whereas stage III is composed of VL- and LV-type FIs with Th of 210–269 °C and salinities of 0.5–7.2 wt%. Only VL-type FIs occur in stage IV, with Th of 139–185 °C and salinities of 1.6–4.2 wt%. The δ18OH2O and δD values vary from −15.7 to 2.6‰ and −132.7 to −110.2‰, respectively, indicating predominant meteoric water with an initial magmatic source. The He–Ar isotopic compositions of the pyrite inclusions from the Panjiaduan Cu–Pb–Zn veins suggest that fluids were derived from the crust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Getah virus (GETV), in the genus Alphavirus and the family Togaviridae, has been detected throughout the world. GETV causes high morbidity and mortality in newborn piglets, entailing serious economic losses. Therefore, the experimental work on GETV detection is necessary. However, due to the influence of a variety of unavoidable factors, the ELISA test for the primary screening of animal diseases has low accuracy in detection results. Therefore, we optimized a recombinant E2 (rE2) protein-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of GETV antibodies in pig serum. The E2 protein was successfully expressed and purified with SDS-PAGE. A Western blotting analysis of sera from infected pigs showed strong reaction with a viral antigen of ~46 KDa corresponding to the E2 glycoproteins. By using chessboard titration and comparing the P/N values, we found that the optimal concentration of coated antigen was found to be 24.5 μg/mL, and the optimal dilution of serum specimens was 1:100. The best working dilution of the horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-conjugated goat anti-pig immunoglobulin (IgG) was 1:5000. The optimal coating conditions were 12 h at 4 °C. The optimal incubation conditions for serum specimens, blocking, and reaction with the secondary antibody were all 1 h at 37 °C. We also investigated the seroprevalence of GETV in 133 serum specimens collected in Eastern China, and 37.59% of the samples tested positive for anti-GETV IgG antibodies, indicating that the seroprevalence of GETV is high in pig populations in China. The seroprevalence was significantly lower in spring (April; 24.24%, 16/66) than in autumn (October; 50.75%, 34/67), which suggested that the presence of anti-GETV antibodies in pigs was seasonal. In conclusion, we improved an rE2 ELISA that detected pig antibodies against GETV after experimental and natural infections. This should be useful in the diagnosis and surveillance of GETV infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optical properties of semispherical Ag-SiO2 nanocaps (Ag-SiO2-NCs) with Ag layers thinner than 20 nm are studied by a method of finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations. The Ag-SiO2-NCs exhibit the enhanced extinction basically appearing in infrared band and the plasmon resonance can be almost linearly tuned to any given wavelength by changing the SiO2 radius. With the decrease in the thickness of Ag layers from 20 to 4 nm, the Ag-SiO2-NCs enable the local electric fields to be extremely enhanced as high as more than three orders of magnitude and to be extended into the substrate region deep to ~ 50 nm, exhibiting a great potential in the applications of enhancing infrared fluorescence. Due to the coupling of localized plasmons, the local electric fields in the gap regions between two Ag-SiO2-NCs will be further enhanced, about one order of magnitude higher than those enhanced by pure Ag nanoparticles with the same sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have disclosed an alkenes dicarbofunctionalization method to introduce alkyl and electron‐rich aryl across the C=C bond of styrenes under copper catalyst and oxidative conditions, leading to construct C(sp3)‐C(sp2)/C(sp3)‐C(sp3) bonds via dual C−H functionalization. This method realizes the synthesis of 1,1‐diarylalkanes, which are very important skeleton in natural products and drug molecules, through the grafting of electron‐rich aromatics, including indoles, pyrroles, trisubstituted aromatic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The automatic extraction of lake water is one of the research hotspots in the field of remote sensing image processing. Due to the small interclass variance between lakes and other ground objects, and the complex texture characteristics of lake boundaries, existing methods often have problems such as over-segmentation and inaccurate boundary segmentation when segmenting lake water bodies. To alleviate these problems, this article designs an end-to-end semantic segmentation network [noise-canceling transformer network (NT-Net)] for the automatic extraction of lake water bodies from remote sensing images. Aiming at the problem of over-segmentation caused by nonlake objects, an interference attenuation module is designed in the network. This module can model the key features that are distinguishable and suitable for segmenting lake water by analyzing the difference in feature representation between lakes and other ground objects, thus suppressing the feature representation of nonlake objects. To more accurately segment the lake boundary, a multilevel transformer module is designed. This module can capture the context association of boundary information and enhance the feature representation of boundary information by using the self-attention mechanism. The comparative experimental results show that, compared with the current mainstream semantic segmentation networks, the method in this article has advantages in extracting lake water bodies comprehensively and coherently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A kind of pollution known as electromagnetic interference (EMI), which results from ubiquitous usage of various electronic communication and military radar equipment, has received increasing attention recently. However, it is still a big challenge to obtain good EMI shielding in transparent and/or curved surfaces. In this paper, a light, ultrathin, transparent, and flexible EMI shielding film based on woven silver nanowire (Ag‐NW) 3D networks is successfully prepared via a room‐temperature template production method. For transparent application scenario, Ag‐NWs with 91% transmittance in visible range show ≈27 dB shielding efficiency. This sample shows ≈27 dB shielding efficiency, although with a low density of Ag‐NWs (≈0.0168 mg cm−2), which implies that this material has a cost‐effectiveness. Moreover, total shielding as high as ≈40 dB is obtained by using thickened Ag‐NW grids. The EMI has not changed remarkedly after bended 1200 times, which indicates the as‐prepared flexible film has a relative stability of the EMI performance. Considering the facile production technology, this material can be readily applied in transparent EMI shielding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical loading, such as fluid shear stress (FSS), is regarded as the main factor that regulates the biological responses of bone cells. Our previous studies have demonstrated that the RAW264.7 osteoclast precursors migrate toward the low-FSS region under the gradient FSS field by a cone-and-plate flow chamber, in which the FSS in the outer region is larger than that in the inner region along the radial direction. Whether the FSS distribution on a cell depends on the gradient direction of FSS field should be clarified to explain this experimental observation. In this study, the finite element models of the discretely distributed or closely packed cells adherent on the bottom plate in a cone-and-plate flow chamber were constructed, and cells were regarded as compressible isotropic Hookean solid. Results showed that the average FSS of each discretely distributed cell at the quarter sector far from the center (SFC) was about 0.1% greater than that at the quarter sector near the center (SNC). In the bands with different orientations for a cell, the relative difference between the average FSS in the SFC and the SNC becomes smaller with increased band height. For the hexagonal closely packed cells, the relative value of SFC and SNC increases with increasing cell spacing. The difference between the local wall FSS in the SFC and the SNC may activate mechanosensitive ion channels and further regulate the migration of osteoclast precursors toward the low-FSS region under the gradient FSS field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we successfully report the design and synthesis of fluorapatite ceramic composites using phosphate glass and wollastonite as raw materials via a simple sintering method. The effects of MgF 2 additives in phase composition, microstructure, densification, and mechanical properties are investigated at various temperatures from 600 °C to 900 °C, and characterized by SEM/EDS, XRD, FTIR, linear shrinkage and water absorption, flexural strength analysis. It shows that the densification and mechanical behavior of composites increase with both the sintering temperature and MgF 2 content. Especially, the sample SCPF-7 exhibits the highest densification and optimal mechanical properties at 900 °C. At these conditions, the water absorption of fluorapatite ceramic composite is less than 0.20%, and the flexural strength is over 70 MPa. For the microstructure analysis, the formation of fluorapatite with a rod-like microstructure is enhanced with the increase of MgF 2 content. The amelioration of these properties is due to the formation of a new phase which helps to the formation of compact microstructure. The findings in this work provide a feasible strategy for the preparation of fluorapatite ceramic composites from available phosphate glass and wollastonite at a lower temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The purpose of the study was to establish a mathematical model to help rank the order of blastocysts and assist selection of which blastocysts to warm in vitrified‐thawed embryo transfer cycles. Design A total of 2862 women who underwent first vitrified‐thawed single blastocyst transfer (SBT) between July 2015 and July 2019 were retrospectively recruited and randomized into a training set (n = 2289) and testing set (n = 573). Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was used to screen the factors critical to live birth (LB). Subsequently, a nomogram model was established to convert the effect of each factor on LB into a measurable score. The efficacy of the model was then evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic and calibration curve. The performance of the model was also internally tested in the testing set. Results: Maternal age, endometrial thickness, oocyte number, day‐3 embryo quality, blastocyst morphology, and blastulation day were selected as the critical predictors of LB in the vitrified‐thawed SBT cycle and fitted into a nomogram model. The area under the curve (AUC) of the model was 0.67, and the AUC in the testing set was 0.64, which indicates moderate discrimination. The calibration curve showed good concordance between prediction and observation. Importantly, the score of each variable in the nomogram helped to rank the order of the blastocysts resulting in LB. Conclusions: The nomogram model can provide guidance for embryo selection in vitrified‐thawed blastocyst transfer cycles, which may help to optimize the LB rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vibration-based energy harvesters consisting of a laminated piezoelectric cantilever have recently attracted attention for their potential applications. Current studies have mostly focused on the harvesting capacity of piezoelectric harvesters under various conditions, and have given less attention to the electromechanical characteristics that are, in fact, crucial to a deeper understanding of the intrinsic mechanism of piezoelectric harvesting. In addition, the current related models have mostly been suitable for harvesting systems with very specific parameters and have not been applicable if the parameters were vague or unknown. Drawing on the available background information, in this study, we conduct research on a vibration-based cantilever beam of composite-laminated piezoelectric patches through an experimental study of its characteristics as well as a modeling study of energy harvesting. In the experimental study, we set out to investigate the harvesting capacity of the system, as well as the electromechanical (voltage/current-strain and power-strain relationships) characteristics of the cantilever harvester. In addition, we summarize some pivotal rules with regard to several design variables, which provide configuration design suggestions for maximizing energy conversion of this type of harvesting system. In the modeling study, we propose a coupled electromechanical model with a set of updated parameters by using an optimization program. The preceding experimental data are used to verify the superiority of the model for accurately predicting the amount of harvested energy, while effectively imitating the characteristics of a cantilever harvesters. The model also has merit since it is suitable for diversified harvesters with vague or even unknown parameters, which cannot be dealt with by using traditional modeling methods. Overall, the experimental study provides information on a comprehensive way to enhance the harvesting capacity of piezoelectric cantilever transducers, and the modeling study provides a wide scope of applications for cantilever harvesters even if precise information is lacking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]