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• Soil acidification increased soil Cd availability up to 48.5% and Cd accumulation in rice to 218%. • When the pH value decreased by 0.2 units, the flow rate of Cd2+ increased 52.86 pmol·cm−2·s−1. • The simulated fertilization acidification was the most significant increase on Cd activity by 23.4%. • Different soil acidification processes affecting on Cd activity were explored. Soil acidifications become one of the main causes restricting the sustainable development of agriculture and causing issues of agricultural product safety. In order to explore the effect of different acidification on soil cadmium (Cd) availability, soil pot culture and hydroponic (soil potting solution extraction) were applied, and non-invasive micro-test technique (NMT) was combined. Here three different soil acidification processes were simulated, including direct acidification by adding sulfuric acid (AP1), acid rain acidification (AP2) by adding artificial simulated acid rain and excessive fertilization acidification by adding (NH 4) 2 SO 4 (AP3). The results showed that for direct acidification (AP1), DTPA-Cd concentration in field soils in Liaoning (S1) and Zhejiang (S2) increased by 0.167 - 0.217 mg/kg and 0.181 - 0.346 mg/kg, respectively, compared with control group. When soil pH decreased by 0.45 units in S1, the Cd content of rice stems, leaves and roots increased by 0.48 to 6.04 mg/kg and 2.58 to 12.84 mg/kg, respectively, When the pH value of soil S1 and S2 decreased by 0.20 units, the average velocity of Cd2+ at 200 µm increased by 10.03 - 33.11 pmol/cm2/sec and 21.33 -52.86 pmol/cm2/sec, respectively, and followed the order of AP3 > AP2 > AP1. In summary, different acidification measures would improve the effectiveness of Cd, under the same pH reduction condition, fertilization acidification increased Cd availability most significantly. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder, and its strongest risk factor is aging. A few studies have explored the relationship between aging and AD, while the underlying mechanism remains unclear. We assembled data across multi‐omics (i.e., epigenetics, transcriptomics, and proteomics, based on frozen tissues from the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) and neuropathological and clinical traits from the Religious Orders Study and Rush Memory and Aging Project (ROSMAP). Aging was assessed using six DNA methylation clocks (including the Horvath clock, Hannum clock, Levine clock, HorvathSkin clock, Lin clock, and Cortical clock) that capture mortality risk in literature. After accounting for age, we first identified a gene module (including 263 genes) that was related to the integrated aging measure of six clocks, as well as three neuropathological traits of AD (i.e., β‐amyloid, Tau tangles, and tangle density). Interestingly, among 20 key genes with top intramodular connectivity of the module, PBXIP1 was the only one that was significantly associated with all three neuropathological traits of AD at the protein level after Bonferroni correction. Furthermore, PBXIP1 was associated with the clinical diagnosis of AD in both ROSMAP and three independent datasets. Moreover, PBXIP1 may be related to AD through its role in astrocytes and hippocampal neurons, and the mTOR pathway. The results suggest the critical role of PBXIP1 in AD and support the potential and feasibility of using multi‐omics data to investigate mechanisms of complex diseases. However, more validations in different populations and experiments in vitro and in vivo are required in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a highly heterogeneous disorder that typically emerges in adolescence and can occur throughout adulthood. Studies aimed at quantitatively uncovering the heterogeneity of individual functional connectome abnormalities in MDD and identifying reproducibly distinct neurophysiological MDD subtypes across the lifespan, which could provide promising insights for precise diagnosis and treatment prediction, are still lacking. Leveraging resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 1148 patients with MDD and 1079 healthy control participants (ages 11–93), we conducted the largest multisite analysis to date for neurophysiological MDD subtyping. First, we characterized typical lifespan trajectories of functional connectivity strength based on the normative model and quantitatively mapped the heterogeneous individual deviations among patients with MDD. Then, we identified neurobiological MDD subtypes using an unsupervised clustering algorithm and evaluated intersite reproducibility. Finally, we validated the subtype differences in baseline clinical variables and longitudinal treatment predictive capacity. Our findings indicated great intersubject heterogeneity in the spatial distribution and severity of functional connectome deviations among patients with MDD, which inspired the identification of 2 reproducible neurophysiological subtypes. Subtype 1 showed severe deviations, with positive deviations in the default mode, limbic, and subcortical areas and negative deviations in the sensorimotor and attention areas. Subtype 2 showed a moderate but converse deviation pattern. More importantly, subtype differences were observed in depressive item scores and the predictive ability of baseline deviations for antidepressant treatment outcomes. These findings shed light on our understanding of different neurobiological mechanisms underlying the clinical heterogeneity of MDD and are essential for developing personalized treatments for this disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To simply, quickly, and efficiently separate circulating tumor cells from blood has always been an enormous challenge. Leveraging the principle of inertial focusing, we here designed a simply structured microfluidic chip that maintained excellent CTC separation efficiency with high robustness and low velocity sensitivity across a broad velocity range. The parameter configuration of the chip was systematically examined, especially the most influential parameters such as the arc radius and arc angle. With optimal parameters, the designed chip achieved an outstanding particle separation efficiency of 99.8% and, more importantly, enabled the efficient separation and enrichment of CTCs in blood samples. This design can be readily integrated with other functional modules for further sample processing, serving as a promising tool for cancer diagnosis and therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trisilanolphenyl-polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane titanium (Ti-Ph-POSS) was synthesized through the corner-capping reaction, and Ti-Ph-POSS was dispersed in benzoxazine (BZ) to prepare Ti-Ph-POSS/PBZ composite materials. Ti-Ph-POSS could catalyze the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of BZ and reduce the curing temperature of benzoxazine. In addition, Ti immobilized on the Ti-Ph-POSS cage could form covalent bonds with the N or O atoms on polybenzoxazine, improving the thermal stability of PBZ. The catalytic activity of the Ti-Ph-POSS/BZ mixtures was assessed and identified through 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analyses, while thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) were used to determine the thermal properties of the composite. It was found that PBZ exhibited a higher glass transition temperature (Tg) and better thermal stability when Ti-Ph-POSS was added. The curing behavior of the Ti-Ph-POSS/BZ mixtures showed that the initial (Ti) and peak (Tp) curing temperatures sharply decreased as the content of Ti-Ph-POSS and the heating rate increased. The curing kinetics of these Ti-Ph-POSS/BZ systems were analyzed using the Kissinger method, and the morphology of Ti-Ph-POSS/PBZ was determined via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was found that the Ti-Ph-POSS particles were well distributed in the composites. When the content exceeded 2 wt%, several Ti-Ph-POSS particles could not react with benzoxazine and were only dispersed within the PBZ matrix, resulting in aggregation of the Ti-Ph-POSS molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thus, each author gives a different perspective on how certain media are examples of transmedia and a brief analysis. Routledge: London, 2020; 270 pp.; ISBN 9780367246549, hbk $42.36 In Chapter 1 of I Transmedia Storytelling in East Asia i , Dal Yong Jin argues that transmedia is a growing trend not only in Asia but globally (p. 2). Chapters 2 to 13 are a collection of chapters and other authors that talk about transmedia and storytelling. [Extracted from the article]

There is an increasing interest in the use of spore-forming Bacillus spp. as probiotic ingredients on the market. However, probiotics Bacillus species are insufficient, and more safe Bacillus species were required. In the study, traditional fermented foods and soil samples were collected from more than ten provinces in China, and 506 Bacillus were selected from 109 samples. Using the optimized procedure, we screened nine strains, which successfully passed the acid, alkali, bile salt, and trypsin resistance test. Drug sensitivity test results showed that three Bacillus out of the nine isolates exhibited antibiotic sensitivity to more than 29 antibiotics. The three strains sensitive to antibiotics were identified by 16S ribosomal RNA, recA, and gyrB gene analysis, two isolates (38,327 and 38,328) belong to the species Lysinibacillus capsici and one isolate (37,326) belong to Bacillus halotolerans. Moreover, the three strains were confirmed safe through animal experiments. Finally, L. capsici 38,327 and 38,328 showed protections in the Salmonella typhimurium infection mouse model, which slowed down weight loss, reduced bacterial load, and improved antioxidant capacity. Altogether, our data demonstrated that selected L. capsici strains can be used as novel probiotics for intestinal health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article investigates the factors influencing changes in finances and employment among families who have adopted a child from local authority care. The study examines the impact of various factors, including the child's pre-placement experiences and mental health, family structure, and parent's mental health, on household income and parent employment status.

In this study a new type of bifunctional epoxy compound (DDSQ-EP) based on double-decker silsesquioxane (DDSQ) was synthesized by process of alkaline hydrolysis condensation of phenyltrimethoxysilane and corner capping reaction with dichloromethylvinylsilane, followed by epoxidation reaction of vinyl groups. The resultant structures were confirmed using Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry and time-of-flight mass spectrometry, respectively. The DDSQ-EP was incorporated into polybenzoxazine to obtain the PBZ/DDSQ-EP nanocomposites. The uniform dispersion of DDSQ-EP in the nanocomposites was verified by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope. The reactions occurred during the curing of the composites and were investigated using infrared spectroscopy of segmented cures. Dynamic mechanical analysis and thermal gravimetric analysis indicated that the storage modulus, glass transition temperature and thermal stability of PBZ/DDSQ-EP were increased in comparison with pure benzoxazine resins. Assessment of dielectric properties demonstrated that the dielectric permittivity and dielectric loss of polybenzoxazine decreased slightly because of the addition of DDSQ-EP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finally, in Chapter 8, Jin revisits the idea of Western domination and examines the way that the unique positioning of East Asia in the Global South can help to disrupt the reach of the Global North. Jin, Dal Yong Global South Discourse in East Asian Media Studies. Jin explains that this structure prioritizes Western perspectives even in non-Western nations, and moreover relegates those non-Western nations to the status of peripheral markets for Western cultural production. [Extracted from the article]

In order to obtain the three-dimensional model, five mono-sized particles, i. e. 3. 35 -- 4. 75 mm, 4. 75 -- 6. 70 mm, 6. 70-- 9. 50 mm, 9. 50 -- 13. 20 mm, 13. 20 -- 16. 00 mm, were selected to investigate its physical property parameters by high-accuracy three-dimensional scanning technology,and the particle model of iron ore was established based on the multisphere method. Results show that the volume and the surface area of five mono-sized parties follow the log-normal distributions as well as the particle sphericity. These sphericities are approximately identical with a median-sphericity of 0. 794. With the sphere clump method,the volume parameter error and the mean parameter error of the mass distribution in the main direction decrease exponentially, and the filing accuracy Increases. When the number of filed spheres is greater than 30,the maximum errors of the two error parameters are 3. 4% and 2. 7%. In order to take into account the filing accuracy and numerical calculation lime,the number of filed pariide spheres ss determined to be 30. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-term effects of oxytetracycline (OTC) with a high concentration on the anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox) process were evaluated, and the role of static magnetic field (SMF) was further explored. The stress of OTC at 50 mg/L had little effect on the nitrogen removal of anammox process at the first 16 days. With the continuous addition of OTC and the increase of nitrogen loading, the OTC inhibited the nitrogen removal and anammox activity severely. During the 32 days of recovery period without OTC addition, the nitrogen removal was further deteriorated, indicating the inhibition of OTC on anammox activity was irreversible and persistent. The application of SMF alleviated the inhibition of OTC on anammox to some extent, and the specific anammox activity was enhanced by 47.1% compared to the system without SMF during the OTC stress stage. Antibiotic efflux was the major resistance mechanism in the anammox process, and tetA , tetG and rpsJ were the main functional antibiotic resistance genes. The addition of OTC weakened the metabolic interactions between the anammox bacteria and the symbiotic bacteria involved in the metabolism of cofactors and secondary metabolites, leading to the poor anammox activity. The adaptability of microbes to the OTC stress was improved by the application of SMF, which can enhance the metabolic pathways related to bacterial growth and resistance to environmental stress. [Display omitted] • Oxytetracycline inhibited the anammox process severely. • The inhibition on anammox was irreversible and persistent. • Antibiotic efflux was the major antibiotic resistance mechanism. • Magnetic field alleviated the inhibition of oxytetracycline on anammox. • Oxytetracycline weakened the metabolic interactions of the anammox consortia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The durability of fuel cells is significantly impaired by chemical and mechanical degradations of perfluorosulfonic-acid membranes. However, how the mechanical degradation, especially the fatigue crack propagation behavior, is impacted by chemical degradation is not clear. In this paper, the fatigue crack propagation behavior of Nafion 212 and Nafion XL composite membranes after chemical degradation are investigated. The fluoride release rates of Nafion 212 and Nafion XL membrane are 0.335 and 0.095 μmol cm−2 h−1, respectively. Likewise, the fatigue crack propagation rate of Nafion 212 membrane is also larger, which is attributed to two fatigue crack propagation mechanisms induced by chemical degradation, including bubble collapsing and pore interconnecting. By contrast, the fatigue crack propagation mechanism of Nafion XL membrane is not significantly changed where chemical degradation only accelerates crack growth in exterior surface layers. These findings provide new insights into the failure mechanisms under combined chemical and mechanical degradations. Image 1 • Fatigue crack propagation behavior after chemical degradation are investigated. • Fluoride release and fatigue crack propagation rate of two membranes are compared. • Two new fatigue crack propagation mechanisms are identified for Nafion 212 membrane. • Chemical degradation does not change crack growth mechanism of Nafion XL membrane. • The role of reinforcement layer is more important with increasing degradation level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing studies of protest outcomes have focused on the effects of organizational characteristics, disruptive tactics, and political opportunity structures. However, most studies, especially those situated in Western democracies, fail to adequately account for the paths to successful protests in authoritarian regimes like China because of the structural differences between the two types of regimes. By incorporating insights from studies of protests in China and communication studies, this article extends the political mediation model and argues that the success of protests is shaped by the tripartite relations among protest forcefulness, favorable political contexts, and media exposure. In face of joint occurrence of elite support and media exposure, large size of protest is sufficient, whilst large size and disruptive actions are required when media exposure is present but elite support is absent. This result shows that the effectiveness of protest characteristics is dually mediated by political and media conditions. This study not only enhances our understandings of protest outcomes in China but also brings scholarly dialogue between social movement studies and communication studies so as to enrich the literature of protest outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban space plays an important role in shaping the meaning-making process in relation to urban activism, especially for disorganized, spontaneous, and short-lived protests occurring in authoritarian regimes. Taking protests against locally unwanted land use (LULU) projects as an example, this article examines how urban space shapes the meaning-making process in relation to 2 anti-paraxylene (PX) protests in Kunming and Maoming. Particular attention is paid to how residents' interpretations of the hazards of PX shaped the meaning-making process on social media. In the case of Kunming, a city with a long history of natural environmental conservation, the primary frame employed by residents was environment and health risks. In the case of Maoming, a large petrochemical industrial center with severe air pollution, residents expressed their opposition toward the PX project by emphasizing strong distrust in local government. Participants' differentiated meaning-making processes were shaped by the dual space of cities, namely physical conditions and associated meanings and place-bounded historical memories of daily life. This article contributes to the scholarship on cities and social movements by integrating the theories of space/place and the theory of framing to analyze the spatial meaning-making process in relation to urban activism in China and in transitional economies in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous Zn‐ion batteries (AZIBs) show great potential in new energy storage devices due to low cost, inherent safety, and environmental friendliness. However, the severe dendrites and side reactions on the anode greatly constrain their practical application. Herein, a novel colloidal electrolyte composed of ZnSO4 and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC‐Na) has been developed for inhibiting dendrite growth on Zn anode. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation confirms that CMC‐Na alters the electric double layer (EDL) structure of Zn anode surface to reduce the content of water and SO42− and inhibit side reactions. More importantly, an organic/inorganic hybrid solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer is in situ constructed during the cycling, which enables ultrastable Zn plating/stripping (> 2000 h) under high current density (5 mA cm−2, 5 mAh cm−2) and high coulombic efficiency (99.8%) for more than 1000 cycles. Meanwhile, zinc‐ion hybrid capacitors (ZIHCs) with the colloidal electrolyte exhibit a favorable capacitance retention of 97% after 15000 cycles at the current density of 2 A g−1. Even at a high current density of 5 A g−1, it still has a capacitance retention of 96% after 30000 cycles. This study presents a novel electrolyte strategy for the formation of ultrastable electrode‐electrolyte interfaces in AZIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Short-segment Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is the predominant type of HSCR that affects approximately 75% of patients. Whether single-stage endorectal pull-through (ERPT) surgery is appropriate for neonatal patients with HSCR has not been definitively determined. This retrospective cohort study concerning infants with short-segment HSCR investigated the optimal age for single-stage ERPT surgery, regardless of the operative approach.Methods: The 198 patients were stratified by operative age ≤ 3 or > 3 months (groups A or B, respectively, n = 62 and 136, respectively). Diagnoses of short-segment HSCR were conducted by preoperative contrast enema and rectal suction biopsy with acetylcholinesterase immunohistochemical staining. The perioperative clinical course for all patients was reviewed and the accuracy rate of the preoperative diagnoses and postoperative short- and midterm outcomes were assessed.Results: The rates of diagnostic accuracy, according to the results of the preoperative contrast enema or rectal suction biopsy, were lower in group A (67.2 and 93.5%, respectively) than in group B (81.4 and 94.9%, respectively). In groups A and B, 49 (79.1%) and 108 (79.4%) infants, respectively, completed follow-up examinations. The short-term outcomes were postoperative HSCR-associated enterocolitis, adhesive bowel obstruction, anastomosis leakage, and anal stenosis during the first 12 months after surgery. The midterm outcomes were incontinence and constipation at ~24 months after surgery. Compared with group B, group A experienced more incidences of anastomotic leakage in the short-term and more soiling in the midterm. In groups A and B, the rates of constipation recurrence were nil and 1.9%, respectively.Conclusion: Infants with HSCR ≤3 months old at the time of single-stage ERPT surgery showed lower rates of accurate and conclusive diagnostic results and poorer postoperative outcomes. Waiting to perform this surgery until infants are older might be more beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Creation of organic luminescent materials with high solid-state efficiency is of vital importance for their applications in optoelectronic fields. Here, a series of AIE luminogens (AIE gens), (Z)-2,3-bis(4-(9,9-bis(6-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)hexyl)-9H-fluoren-2-yl)phenyl)-3-phenylacrylonitrile (SFC), and 2,3-bis(4-(9,9-bis(6-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)hexyl)-9H-fluoren-2-yl)phenyl)fumaronitrile (DFC), utilizing 2,3,3-triphenylacrylonitrile and 2,3-diphenylfumaronitrile as respective centers, are designed and synthesized by Suzuki coupling reactions with high yields. The cis- and trans-isomers of DFC are also successfully obtained. All of them are thermally stable and show good solubility in common organic solvents. They all emit weakly in solution, but become strong emitters when fabricated into solid films. It is found introduction of one additional cyano group in DFC induced a big red-shift in solid-state emission, owing to its high electron-withdrawing ability. The cis- and trans-DFC show similar photophysical and Cyclic voltammogram (CV) behaviors. Non-doped solution-processed organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) using the three compounds as light-emitting layers are fabricated. SFC gives the best device performance with a maximum luminance of 5201 cd m-2, a maximum current efficiency of 3.67 cd A-1 and a maximum external quantum efficiencies (EQE) of 1.37%. Red-shifted EL spectra are observed for cis- and trans-DFC-based device, and the OLED using trans-DFC as active layer exhibits better performance, which might derive from their different conformation in film state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the literature on Chinese environmental politics tends to examine NGO actions and popular protests as two separate facets of environmental activism, such a tendency runs the risk of missing the linkages that have begun to emerge among environmental forces. This new phenomenon is highlighted with a case study of local opposition against the siting of an oil refining plant in Kunming through the lens of political opportunity theory. Two forms of linkages are identified, namely the linkages between local communities and local NGOs and the linkages between local and supra-local NGOs. These linkages emerged and developed through dynamic interactions between political opportunities and contentious actions. Citizen-initiated protests in Kunming pressured the local government to adopt a receptive attitude for the purpose of maintaining social stability, which paradoxically expanded political opportunities for NGO participation. The structural political environment of the locality indirectly facilitated collaboration between local and supra-local environmental NGOs by activating prior social networks among key NGO members. The analysis of the dynamic linkages among environmental forces reflects the prospects of a broader environmental movement and its relation to political contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Derivation of ecological risk threshold (the threshold concentration value that protect a certain proportion of species within the acceptable hazard level) of lead (Pb) is a yardstick and plays a key role in formulating soil protection policies, while the research about deducing soil Pb ecological risk threshold is still limited. In this study, toxicological data of Pb based on 30 different test endpoints was collected from our experiment and literature, and applied into interspecific extrapolation by species sensitivity distribution (SSD) method to derive the hazard concentration for 5% of species (HC 5 , that can protect 95% of species), the prediction models according to different soil properties were established. The results showed that EC 10 (the effective concentrations of Pb that inhibit 10% of endpoint bioactivity) ranged from 205.6 to 1596.3 mg kg 1, and hormesis induced by Pb were up to 118%. Toxicity data were corrected by leaching and aging process before SSD curves fitting. HC 5 was then derived and prediction model was developed, as LogHC 5 = 0.134 pH + 0.315 LogOC + 0.324 LogCEC + 1.077. The prediction model was well verified in the field test, indicating that can correctly estimate Pb ecotoxicity thresholds in different soils. This study provides a scientific frame for deriving the ecological risk threshold of Pb and is of great significance for ecological species protection. [Display omitted] • Prediction model established can correctly predict soil Pb ecotoxicity. • EC 10 of Pb derived from dose-response curves ranged from 205.6 to 1596.3 mg∙kg 1. • Exogenous Pb induced hormetic dose-response relationship and the maximum stimulation was more than 118%. • Toxicity threshold of Pb was corrected by leaching and aging process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Voriconazole (VRC) incorporated in composited polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) blended nanofibers were produced via electrospinning for efficient ophthalmic delivery. The VRC loading capacity increased with increasing HPβCD content. The optimal solution for electrospinning consisted of 8% (w/v) PVA, 4% (w/v) HPβCD and 0.5% (w/v) VRC. The nanofibers exhibited bead-free average fiber diameters of 307±31 nm and VRC was released in vitro in a sustained manner. The VRC nanofibers were characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) was used to analyze the molar ratio of HPβCD/VRC in the nanofibers. Compared with a VRC solution, the nanofibers significantly prolonged the half life, and increased the bioavailability of VRC in rabbit tears. No obvious signs of irritation were observed after application in the conjunctival sac. VRC nanofibers are promising for ophthalmic drug delivery and further pharmacodynamics studies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study intends to enrich the literature of comparative studies on growth machine and urban regime through contextualized analyses of growth politics in Shanghai, China. An analytical framework is developed to advance our understanding of the variation of growth politics in a different urban setting. In particular, this study contends that local government’s dual goals of promoting economic growth and managing development-related conflicts are the key to making sense of growth politics in Shanghai. This specific configuration of institutions suggests that growth coalition has to extend itself spatially into neighborhood level and temporally into postdevelopment phase to sustain urban growth. This extension requires pro-growth players to exploit infrastructural power to contain homeowners’ activism. This research calls for attention to the nexus between economic and political dimensions of urban growth, a refined conceptualization of local states, and the interaction between pro-growth and antigrowth forces which shapes the forms and dynamics of urban regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Sodium salts with Cl− and SO42− anions promoted Cd translocation into wheat tissues. • High levels of sodium salts in the soil triggered an up-regulation of the TCA cycle. • Accumulation of organic acids in the rhizosphere facilitated migration of soil Cd. • Salts altered Cd mobility by mediating soil metabolite profiles and physicochemical properties. Soil salinity is known to improve cadmium (Cd) mobility, especially in arid soils. However, the mechanisms involved in how salt stress-associated metabolic profiles participate in mediating Cd transport in the soil-plant system remain poorly understood. This study was designed to investigate the effects of salinity-induced changes in soil metabolites on Cd bioavailability. Sodium salts in different combinations according to molar ratio (NaCl:Na 2 SO 4 =1:1; NaCl:Na 2 SO 4 :NaHCO 3 =1:2:1; NaCl:Na 2 SO 4 :NaHCO 3 :Na 2 CO 3 =1:9:9:1; NaCl:Na 2 SO 4 :NaHCO 3 :Na 2 CO 3 =1:1:1:1) were applied to the Cd-contaminated soils, which increased soil Cd availability by 22.36% and the Cd content in wheat grains by 36.61%, compared to the control. Salt stress resulted in soil metabolic reprogramming, which might explain the decreased growth of wheat plants and increased Cd transport from the soil into wheat tissues. For example, down-regulation of starch and sucrose metabolism reduced the production of sugars, which adversely affected growth; up-regulation of fatty acid metabolism allowed wheat plants to maintain a normal intracellular environment under saline conditions; up-regulation of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle was triggered, causing an increase in organic acid synthesis and the accumulation of organic acids, which facilitated the migration of soil Cd into wheat tissues. In summary, salt stress can facilitate Cd transport into wheat tissues by the direct effect of salt-based ions and the combined effect of altered soil physicochemical properties and soil metabolic profiles in Cd-contaminated soils. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional connectome studies have revealed widespread connectivity alterations in major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the low frequency bandpass filtering (0.01–0.08 Hz or 0.01–0.1 Hz) in most studies have impeded our understanding on whether and how these alterations are affected by frequency of interest. Here, we performed frequency-resolved (0.01–0.06 Hz, 0.06–0.16 Hz and 0.16–0.24 Hz) connectome analyses using a large-sample resting-state functional MRI dataset of 1002 MDD patients and 924 healthy controls from seven independent centers. We reported significant frequency-dependent connectome alterations in MDD in left inferior parietal, inferior temporal, precentral, and fusiform cortices and bilateral precuneus. These frequency-dependent connectome alterations are mainly derived by abnormalities of medium- and long-distance connections and are brain network-dependent. Moreover, the connectome alteration of left precuneus in high frequency band (0.16–0.24 Hz) is significantly associated with illness duration. Multisite harmonization model only removed linear site effects. Neurobiological underpinning of alterations in higher frequency (0.16–0.24 Hz) should be further examined by combining fMRI data with respiration, heartbeat and blood flow recordings in future studies. These results highlight the frequency-dependency of connectome alterations in MDD and the benefit of examining connectome alteration in MDD under a wider frequency band. • FCS in the low frequency band (0.01-0.06 Hz) is highly reproducible, and is more sensitive to MDD alterations. • Frequency-resolved FCS alterations of MDD consisted by altered medium-/long-distance, inter-network functional connections. • FCS alterations of MDD in higher frequency are associated with illness duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Pectin oligosaccharides include both high and medium molecular weight products. • Pectin oligosaccharides improved the storage stability of infant formulas. • Pectin oligosaccharides inhibited the Maillard reactions in infant formulas. • Pectin oligosaccharides inhibited the intestinal absorption of advanced glycation end products. Pectin oligosaccharides with a molecular weight greater than 700 Da was obtained from the pomace of kiwi (Actinidia arguta). Based on characteristics analysis and inhibitory activity of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) formation in vitro , the target pectin oligosaccharides was added to infant formulas and then subjected to accelerated storage. Results showed that pectin oligosaccharides supplementation inhibited the browning of infant formulas and glassy transition of lactose, and slowed down the increase of water activity under accelerated storage conditions. Pectin oligosaccharides also inhibited the formation of AGEs in infant formulas, such as 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural, Nε-carboxymethyl-lysine, Nε-carboxyethyl-lysine, methylglyoxal hydromidazolones, glyoxal hydromidazolones, glyoxal-lysine dimer, methylglyoxal-lysine dimer and pyrraline. Besides, permeability studies using Caco-2 cell monolayer also showed that pectin oligosaccharides supplementation inhibited the intestinal absorption of AGEs, especially 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural, Nε-carboxymethyl-lysine, Nε-carboxyethyl-lysine and glyoxal hydromidazolones. These results provide a reliable theoretical basis for the application of pectin oligosaccharides in infant formulas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A probable problem of disconnection between chemical fingerprints and drug effects for TCMs would be contrary to the original intention of fingerprint research, and limits the development and application of fingerprints. In this study, Shenmai injection, as a treatment dosage form of coronary heart disease, shock, and viral myocarditis clinically, was applied as the research object. The fingerprint of Shenmai injection was constructed, and the pharmacodynamic test of antioxidant effect was carried out to obtain quantitative characteristics and pharmacodynamic data. On this basis, a monitoring model based on the HPLC pharmacodynamic fingerprint was established to evaluate the quality of Shenmai injections from different batches and different manufacturers. Results showed that the optimized HPLC method had good repeatability, precision, and stability. A total of 28 characteristic peaks were identified to provide more chemical information. Furthermore, 13 ginsenosides and notoginsenoside have been selected as characteristic components of LC/MS fingerprint method. 8 peaks closely related to antioxidant properties by multiple linear regression method, which were identified as Rg1, Re, Rf, Rb1, and some other ginsenosides using MS analysis. The monitoring model based on HPLC pharmacodynamic fingerprint could successfully identify quality differences for Shenmai injections. Based on the case study of Shenmai injection, the novel and practical fingerprint analytical strategy could be further applied to monitor or predict the quality of TCMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines information diffusion and the follower network among a group of Sina Weibo users interested in homeowner associations. Using social network analysis techniques, this paper explores the network structure, the formation of follower relations and information diffusion. It reveals that micro-blogging is an important online platform because it can conveniently and inexpensively foster public online issue-networks beyond geographical boundaries. Specifically, Weibo has the potential to enable cross-province networking and communication, although geographical proximity is still at work; the trustworthiness of micro-blog users indirectly contributes to information diffusion by facilitating the formation of follower relations; and issue-specific follower networks facilitate information diffusion pertinent to the issue at stake. These findings suggest that micro-blogging services might have long-term effects on collective action by fostering issue-networks among civil society organizations or activists in different provinces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoencapsulation is a promising method to improve thebioavailabilityof tea polyphenol (TPP). In this work, we adopted a green processto develop a new kind of complex coacervation core micelles (C3Ms)based on biopolymers for efficient tea polyphenol delivery. First,gelatin–dextran conjugate was synthesized using Maillard reaction.Then the C3Ms were produced by mixing gelatin–dextran conjugatewith TPP. Variable factors on the self-assembly of the C3Ms were investigated.Under optimal conditions, the obtained C3Ms are of nanosize (average86 nm in diameter) with narrow distribution. The formation of theC3Ms is attributed to hydrophobic interaction and hydrogen bondinginstead of electrostatic interaction. Transmission electron microscope(TEM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) results showed that C3Mshave a spherical shape with core–shell structure. ζ-Potentialmeasurement suggested that the core is composed of gelatin with TPP,whereas the shell is composed of dextran segments. The encapsulationefficiency of the C3Ms is pH-independent, but the loading capacityis controllable and as high as 360 wt % (weight/weight of protein).In addition, the C3Ms show sustained release of TPP in vitro. MTTassay revealed that the C3Ms have comparable or even stronger cytotoxicityagainst MCF-7 cells than free TPP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Transfection efficiency of non-viral gene vectors is influenced by many factors, including chemical makeup, cellular uptake pathway and intracellular delivery. To investigate the effect of lipid saturation on transfection efficiency of polycation liposomes (PCLs), a soybean phospholipids (SPL), egg phospholipids (EPL) and hydrogenated soybean phosphatidylcholine (HSPC) series was used to prepare PCLs. Testing these PCLs in a luciferase assay indicated that with increasing saturation (SPL

Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) leads a loss of epithelial barrier function, decline in epithelial cell (EC) proliferation, and decreased expression of E-cadherin. As a large portion of intracellular β-catenin is tightly associated with E-cadherin, we hypothesized that the loss of E-cadherin would result in a redistribution of intracellular β-catenin, and could be a contributing mechanism for this TPN-associated loss of EC proliferation. An assessment of small bowel epithelium was performed in mice given either enteral nutrition (Control) or intravenous nutrition (TPN). TPN significantly down-regulated E-cadherin and β-catenin expression, and resulted in a loss of a colocalization of these factors. TPN also up-regulated phosphorylated (p)-β-catenin (Ser31/33,Thr41) and down-regulated (p)-β-catenin(Ser552) expression. To further address mechanisms driving this, we observed a significant decrease in the abundance of p-AKT and p-GSK3β expression, and an associated decline in tcf-4 transcription factors (cyclin D1, c-myc and Axin2), as well as a loss of EC proliferation by 7 days. To address whether the mechanism driving these changes was the absence of nutritional factors, glutamine was added to the TPN solution. This resulted in a partial restoration of β-catenin expression and EC proliferation, suggesting that an alteration in nutrient delivery may affect many of these changes. Based on these findings, the loss of EC proliferation with TPN may well be due to a loss of total β-catenin, as well as a concomintant change in the differential expression of β-catenin phosphorylation sites, and a reduction in β-catenin mediated tcf-4 transcription. This potential pathway may well explain many of the findings of mucosal atrophy associated with TPN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The synthesis of ABC triblock copolymer poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(methyl methacrylate)-block-polystyrene (PEO-b-PMMA-b-PS) via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is reported. First, a PEO–Br macroinitiator was synthesized by esterification of PEO with 2-bromoisobutyryl bromide, which was subsequently used in the preparation of halo-terminated poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PEO-b-PMMA) diblock copolymers under ATRP conditions. Then PEO-b-PMMA-b-PS triblock copolymer was synthesized by ATRP of styrene using PEO-b-PMMA as a macroinitiator. The structures and molecular characteristics of the PEO-b-PMMA-b-PS triblock copolymers were studied by FT-IR, GPC and 1H NMR. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Chemical and mechanical degradations of perfluorosulfonic-acid membranes are two factors contributing to the reduced durability of fuel cells. While the mechanisms of isolated chemical or mechanical degradation are extensively investigated, the impact of chemical degradation on mechanical degradation is not fully understood. In this paper, the fracture behavior of Nafion 212 membranes with different chemical degradation levels are investigated. To characterize the degradation level and probe the molecular origins of chemical degradation, fluoride release, Fourier-transformer infrared spectra, conductivity and swelling behavior are measured. It is found that chemical degradation causes predominant loss of side-chains. A transition from ductile to brittle fracture is observed with increasing degradation level. In addition, the cross-sections are examined to link fracture behavior with microstructure changes. While the decreased fracture toughness is attributed to reduced mechanical properties such as Young's modulus and break strain, the decreased crack propagation resistance is ascribed to reduced plastic zone size ahead of crack tip, which reduces the plastic energy dissipation. These findings not only provide new mechanical dataset of degraded membranes for performance and durability modelling to take into account of chemical degradation effect but also improve the understanding of membrane durability. Image 1 • Fracture behavior of Nafion membranes are explored after chemical degradation. • Chemical degradation causes predominant loss of side chains. • Crack transforms from ductile to brittle fracture with increasing degradation level. • Stretch zone size from cross-section observation is related to crack propagation. • Reduced crack propagation resistance is ascribed to decreased plastic zone size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With two well‐validated aging measures capturing mortality and morbidity risk, this study examined whether and to what extent aging mediates the associations of unhealthy lifestyles with adverse health outcomes. Methods: Data were from 405,944 adults (40–69 years) from UK Biobank (UKB) and 9972 adults (20–84 years) from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). An unhealthy lifestyles score (range: 0–5) was constructed based on five factors (smoking, drinking, physical inactivity, unhealthy body mass index, and unhealthy diet). Two aging measures, Phenotypic Age Acceleration (PhenoAgeAccel) and Biological Age Acceleration (BioAgeAccel) were calculated using nine and seven blood biomarkers, respectively, with a higher value indicating the acceleration of aging. The outcomes included incident cardiovascular disease (CVD), incident cancer, and all‐cause mortality in UKB; CVD mortality, cancer mortality, and all‐cause mortality in NHANES. A general linear regression model, Cox proportional hazards model, and formal mediation analysis were performed. Results: The unhealthy lifestyles score was positively associated with PhenoAgeAccel (UKB: β = 0.741; NHANES: β = 0.874, all p < 0.001). We further confirmed the respective associations of PhenoAgeAccel and unhealthy lifestyles with the outcomes in UKB and NHANES. The mediation proportion of PhenoAgeAccel in associations of unhealthy lifestyles with incident CVD, incident cancer, and all‐cause mortality were 20.0%, 17.8%, and 26.6% (all p < 0.001) in UKB, respectively. Similar results were found in NHANES. The findings were robust when using another aging measure—BioAgeAccel. Conclusions: Accelerated aging partially mediated the associations of lifestyles with CVD, cancer, and mortality in UK and US populations. The findings reveal a novel pathway and the potential of geroprotective programs in mitigating health inequality in late life beyond lifestyle interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, poly(3-acrylaminophenylboronic acid) modified graphene oxide (GO-PAAPBA) has been prepared by polymerization of 3-acrylaminophenylboronic acid (AAPBA) on the surface of GO. The –O · free radical was formed by γ-ray radiation, which initiated the polymerization of AAPBA. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy were employed to characterize the structure of GO-PAAPBA. The grafting density of poly(3-acrylaminophenylboronic acid) is increased with increasing of the absorbed dose. The GO-PAAPBA was added into vinyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (Vi-PDMS) to prepare room temperature cured silicon rubber composites (SR/GO-PAAPBA). The GO-PAAPBA exhibits better dispersion performance than pure GO, which is contribute to improve thermal conductivity and mechanical properties. Significantly, with grafting density of PAAPBA increasing, the comprehensive performances of SR/GO-PAAPBA are more remarkable. SR/GO-PAAPBA-1.88 with outstanding thermal and mechanical abilities exhibits beat neutron shielding property. The neutron transmission of SR/GO-PAAPBA-1.88 is 10% lower than that of SR. The SR nanocomposite with efficient thermal conductivity and neutron shielding ability has a promising prospect to be applied as advanced flexible shielding material. • Boronic acid with vinyl group was polymerized on GO by γ-ray radiation. • GO-PAAPBA was blended with Vi-PDMS to prepare SR/GO-PAAPBA at room temperature. • SR/GO-PAAPBA-1.88 exhibited outstanding beat neutron shielding property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate Weibo users' political ideologies in China. It argues that a left-right spectrum cannot adequately depict the ideological landscape, and proposes a typological framework to guide the analysis of competing ideologies. Based on a sample of 3440 Weibo users, this article uses latent class model to identify sub-types of ideologues. It discerns five ideological groups, namely Maoists, regime defenders, full-fledged liberals, economic liberals, and political liberals, as well as one politically silent group. The results show that liberal leaning Weibo users are not a homogeneous group, and should not be holistically conceived as regime challengers in opposition to regime defenders. To a certain degree, economic liberals are more similar to regime defenders than Maoists, and this can be better understood from a typological perspective than a spectrum perspective. This article concludes with a discussion on the political implications of the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stimuli-responsive peptide gels are a growing class of functional biomaterials that are involved in many applications in research. Here, we present a novel di-peptide hydrogel from the compound Boc–Phe–Trp–OH in various buffer and pH conditions. We examine the effects of different stimuli, including temperature and pH, on the mechanical strength of the gels through frequency rheology studies. We found that this hydrogelator is highly pH dependent, only forming a gel in a narrow range of pH 6–7. This hydrogelator hold promise for the development of new stimuli-responsive biomaterials for specific applications that require this type of specific stimuli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Resting-state functional MRI (R-fMRI) studies have demonstrated widespread alterations in brain function in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, a clear and consistent conclusion regarding a repeatable pattern of MDD-relevant alterations is still limited due to the scarcity of large-sample, multisite datasets. Here, we address this issue by including a large R-fMRI dataset with 1434 participants (709 patients with MDD and 725 healthy controls) from five centers in China. Individual functional activity maps that represent very local to long-range connections are computed using the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations, regional homogeneity and distance-related functional connectivity strength. The reproducibility analyses involve different statistical strategies, global signal regression, across-center consistency, clinical variables, and sample size. We observed significant hypoactivity in the orbitofrontal, sensorimotor, and visual cortices and hyperactivity in the frontoparietal cortices in MDD patients compared to the controls. These alterations are not affected by different statistical analysis strategies, global signal regression and medication status and are generally reproducible across centers. However, these between-group differences are partially influenced by the episode status and the age of disease onset in patients, and the brain-clinical variable relationship exhibits poor cross-center reproducibility. Bootstrap analyses reveal that at least 400 subjects in each group are required to replicate significant alterations (an extent threshold of P <.05 and a height threshold of P <.001) at 50% reproducibility. Together, these results highlight reproducible patterns of functional alterations in MDD and relevant influencing factors, which provides crucial guidance for future neuroimaging studies of this disorder. Highlights • Significant hypoactivity in primary regions and orbitofrontal regions in MDD. • Significant hyperactivity in frontoparietal cortices in MDD. • Functional alterations are not affected by statistical method and medication statue. • Correlations between brain and clinics have a poor across-center reproducibility. • At least 400 subjects in each group are needed to replicate significant alterations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel double-hydrophilic supramolecular hyperbranched polyamidoamine–dextran (HPAM–Dex) conjugate was synthesized via host–guest interactions of hyperbranched polyamidoamine containing β-cyclodextrin (HPAM-CD) and adamantyl-modified dextran (Dex-Ad). Then, supramolecular polymeric micelles, EGCG–HPAM–Dex, were prepared by directly mixing HPAM–Dex conjugates with hydrophilic (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) in aqueous solution. Variable factors on the self-assembly of the EGCG–HPAM–Dex micelles were investigated. Under optimal conditions, the obtained EGCG–HPAM–Dex micelles had an average diameter of 100–200 nm with controllable size and narrow distribution. 1H NMR, TEM and SEM results indicated that the EGCG–HPAM–Dex micelles were spherical with a core–shell structure. The formation of EGCG–HPAM–Dex micelles is attributed to electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. The MTT assay reveals that the HPAM–Dex conjugates have lower cytotoxicity than pristine HPAM owing to the introduction of dextran. The stability and the drug loading and release behaviors of the EGCG–HPAM–Dex micelles were also studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A technique for the determination of tannin content in traditional Chinese medicine injections (TCMI) was developed based on ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy. Chemometrics were used to construct a mathematical model of absorption spectrum and tannin reference content of Danshen and Guanxinning injections, and the model was verified and applied. The results showed that the established UV-based spectral partial least squares regression (PLS) tannin content model performed well with a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.952, root mean square error of calibration (RMSEC) of 0.476 μ g/ml, root mean square error of validation (RMSEV) of 1.171 μ g/ml, and root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of 0.465 μ g/ml. Pattern recognition models using linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and k nearest neighbor (k -NN) classifiers based on UV spectrum could successfully classify different types of injections and different manufacturers. The established method to measure tannin content based on UV spectroscopy is simple, rapid and reliable and provides technical support for quality control of tannin in Chinese medicine injections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The real-time simulation of a line-commutated converter-high voltage direct current (LCC-HVDC) system based on a field programmable gate array (FPGA) is proposed to meet the increasingly complex dynamic characteristics and real-time simulation requirements of HVDCs. In addition, a real-time simulation platform based on a CPU + FPGA is established for simulation verification. First, a simulation model of the 12-pulse rectifier of an LCC-HVDC is established using the compact nodal analysis method (C-NAM). When compared with the traditional node analysis method, C-NAM reduces the number of multiplication executions in a single simulation step, and the degree of program serialization is significantly reduced, which greatly improves the real-time simulation speed of a FPGA. Then, this simulation model is programmed in a FPGA, and the optimization algorithm further shortens the simulation step size. Finally, a 12-pulse LCC-HVDC is compared and verified with a 1 µs simulation step on a FPGA real-time simulation platform, and a simulation analysis verifies the accuracy of the model. This method can improve the simulation scale of an LCC-HVDC system, and enhance the versatility of the LCC-HVDC real-time simulator based on a FPGA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) infrequently involves the sigmoid colon, and has not previously been described in an infant sigmoid colon. An inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor arose from the sigmoid colon of an 11-month-old boy, confirmed by anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), smooth muscle actin (SMA) and desmin immunohistochemical staining. The patient recovered well after complete resection of the tumor. Sigmoid IMT can occur in infancy. This eighth case is the youngest so far. The child did well after surgical resection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Daji block is an important arear of producing and energy in Lifen block of coalbed gas. There are the natural leak-causing crack, water in the formation, narrow security density window, serious leakage and poor plugging in this area. In order to solve the problems, this paper adopted the compound gel plugging technology, which has the advantages of both supramolecular organic gel and inorganic gel, to prevent leakage in this well area. Laboratory tests show that the safe construction time of the composite gel can be controlled within 1-1.5 hours, and the pressure bearing capacity of cracks of 4.0 × 3.5 mm and 3.0 × 2.5 mm can respectively reach 3.3 and 4.5 MPa. It has strong cementing ability to rock particles, and the pressure bearing capacity of 14cm squeezed into the 6-8 mesh sand filling pipe can be 5.6 MPa. Field application show that the special gel technology have the characteristics of easy pump injection and simple construction as well as improve the plugging effect of Daji block. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A DL-based harmonization framework was established with a traveling subject dataset. • Site and brain factors were learned by the proposed framework from gray matter volumes. • Better harmonization performance was achieved relative to that of statistics-based methods. • The proposed harmonization method offered flexible expandability for adding new sites. The accumulation of multisite large-sample MRI datasets collected during large brain research projects in the last decade has provided critical resources for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms underlying cognitive functions and brain disorders. However, the significant site effects observed in imaging data and their derived structural and functional features have prevented the derivation of consistent findings across multiple studies. The development of harmonization methods that can effectively eliminate complex site effects while maintaining biological characteristics in neuroimaging data has become a vital and urgent requirement for multisite imaging studies. Here, we propose a deep learning-based framework to harmonize imaging data obtained from pairs of sites, in which site factors and brain features can be disentangled and encoded. We trained the proposed framework with a publicly available traveling subject dataset from the Strategic Research Program for Brain Sciences (SRPBS) and harmonized the gray matter volume maps derived from eight source sites to a target site. The proposed framework significantly eliminated intersite differences in gray matter volumes. The embedded encoders successfully captured both the abstract textures of site factors and the concrete brain features. Moreover, the proposed framework exhibited outstanding performance relative to conventional statistical harmonization methods in terms of site effect removal, data distribution homogenization, and intrasubject similarity improvement. Finally, the proposed harmonization network provided fixable expandability, through which new sites could be linked to the target site via indirect schema without retraining the whole model. Together, the proposed method offers a powerful and interpretable deep learning-based harmonization framework for multisite neuroimaging data that can enhance reliability and reproducibility in multisite studies regarding brain development and brain disorders. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MXene, a family of two-dimensional transition metal carbides/nitrides, is one of the most attractive photothermal materials due to its unique hydrophilicity, tunable surface activity, and outstanding photothermal conversion performance by absorbing near-infrared light or solar light. The integration of MXene into three-dimensional polymer hydrogels opens up new possibilities for developing advanced material platforms. In this review, we summarize the synthesis of MXene-based hydrogels and highlight their recent progress in photothermal applications. Challenges and perspectives for future research are also outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Gait disorders are common in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), and objective, quantifiable, and portable evaluation methods are needed in clinical practice. We assessed the differences in gait characteristics between patients with PD and healthy controls (HCs) using two-dimensional (2D) video and explored the diagnostic value of 2D video for early-stage PD.Methods: Sixty-eight patients with PD and 48 HCs were recruited. All participants walked a standard 5-m track while recorded using mobile phones. The differences in gait characteristics between the groups and gait parameters of patients with early-stage PD were analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to evaluate the discrimination activity of gait parameters.Results: Compared with HCs, patients with PD had shorter step length (S/M, p < 0.001/0.001), faster cadence (p = 0.044), slower walking speed (p < 0.001), smaller arm-swing angle (S/M, p < 0.001/0.001), slower arm-swing velocity (S/M, p < 0.001/0.001), and greater variability and asymmetry. The patients with early-stage PD had similar characteristics. After combined step length and variability and asymmetry of arm-swing angle, diagnostic sensitivity and specificity reached 84.6% and 89.6%, respectively, and an area under the curve of 0.91 (0.84-0.97).Conclusion: We proposed a new method to improve the sensitivity of early-stage PD diagnosis using 2D video, which, as a portable and objective method, could be used to evaluate gait disorders in PD, including in early-stage PD. Combined diagnostic analysis of step length and variability and asymmetry of arm-swing angle could improve the sensitivity of PD diagnosis and was helpful in distinguishing patients with early-stage PD from HCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the increasing concern over Cd contamination of agricultural soils in China, reducing the availability of the toxic metal has become an important remedial strategy. However, the lack of a unified evaluation framework complicates the assessment of remediation efficiency of different practices. Here, we evaluated the general extraction method (GEM) of available Cd in nine typical soil types by comparing extraction agents, including CaCl 2 , EDTA, Mehlich-Ⅲ, HCl and DTPA. The safe grain concentration of different agricultural products from National Food Safety Standards Limits of Contaminants in Food (GB 2762-2022) was then applied to understand soil limited available Cd concentration based on dose-response curves. We also derived environmental risk threshold (HC 5) values for Cd remediation in agricultural soils by constructing species sensitivity distribution (SSD) curves. The results showed that Mehlich-Ⅲ best predicted Cd accumulation in crops (with 76.5% of explanation of grain Cd) and was selected as the GEM of soil available Cd for subsequent analyses. The regression coefficient (R2) of dose-response curves fitting between Cd absorption in crop tissues and soil available Cd extracted by GEM based on 30 different crop species varied from 51.0% to 79.5%, and the derived limit concentration of soil available Cd based on standard GB 2762-2022 was 0.18–0.76 mg‧kg−1. An HC 5 of 0.19 mg‧kg−1 was then calculated, meaning that a concentration of available Cd in agricultural soil below 0.19 mg‧kg−1 ensures that 95% of agricultural products meet the quality and safety requirements of standard GB 2762-2022. The prediction model was well verified in the field test, indicating that can correctly estimate the soil available Cd based on the content of Cd in plant. This study provides a robust scientific framework for deriving the risk threshold for Cd remediation in agricultural soils and could be quite useful for establishing soil remediation standards. [Display omitted] • A scientific frame for deriving Cd remediation threshold in farmland soils was proposed. • Mehlich-Ⅲ can best predict Cd accumulation in crop grains based on soil available Cd (with 76.5% of explanation). • The soil available Cd limits varied from 0.18 to 0.76 mg‧kg−1 was derived based on standard GB 2762. • The deduced HC 5 for Cd remediation in farmland soils was 0.19 mg‧kg−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]