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Introduction. To evaluate the changes of lens antidilatation, antiedema, and antienzymolysis ability after different concentrations of 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide and N-hydroxysuccinimide (EDC-NHS)-induced collagen cross-linking. Methods. Corneal stromal lenticules (n = 100) obtained from small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) procedures were divided into 5 groups: no treatment (control); EDC/NHS (5%/2.5%); EDC/NHS(5%/5%); EDC/NHS (10%/5%); riboflavin and ultraviolet-A light (UVA). Collagen crosslinking was induced using EDC-NHS and UVA. Biomechanical assessments including inflation test, enzymatic degradation resistance, and light transmittance were evaluated posttreatment. Results. (1) Lenticule apex displacement ranked: control Group > UVA Group > Group (5%/5%) > Group (5%/2.5%) > Group (10%/5%) (Friedman test, p < 0.0001). (2) Light transmittance was significantly higher in the crosslinked groups versus control, with EDC/NHS superior to UVA riboflavin. After 15 minutes in PBS, light transmittance decreased due to swelling; however, crosslinked groups maintained significantly higher transmittance versus control. (3) Following crosslinking, enzymatic resistance improved significantly, with the EDC-NHS crosslinking group was significantly better than the UVA cross-linking group. Conclusions. EDC/NHS crosslinking enhanced lenticule stiffness, antiedema, and enzymatic resistance and without compromising the transparency of the lens. Moreover, EDC/NHS crosslinking efficacy exceeded UVA riboflavin crosslinking in improving lenticule biomechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combining photocatalytic nitrogen fixation with antibiotic wastewater degradation reaction is of great significance. As a metal-free photocatalyst, g-C3N4 has great application prospect in the field of bifunctional photocatalytic reaction because of its abundant raw materials, simple preparation method, low toxicity, and high stability. However, the further development of g-C3N4 is limited by its wide band gap (2.7 eV) and high recombination rate of carriers. In this paper, AgInS2 nanospheres modified g-C3N4 nanosheets were successfully prepared by a simple hydrothermal method. The photocatalytic nitrogen fixation activity of the obtained AgInS2-g-C3N4 hybrid was nearly two times (91 μmol/h/g) higher than that of g-C3N4. In addition, by adding a proper amount of tetracycline pollutant into the photocatalytic system, the photocatalytic nitrogen fixation activity was further increased to 248 μmol/h/g, and the synergistic degradation of tetracycline environmental pollutants was realized. Through a series of experimental characterization and theoretical calculation, the morphology and carrier dynamics of photocatalyst were systematically explored. The results show that the introduction of AgInS2 nanospheres improves the utilization rate of sunlight, surface active sites and carrier transport rate of g-C3N4. This work provides references for the design of environmentally friendly photocatalysts and their applications in the fields of environmental purification and energy conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Field data and simulated results were used to reveal ecological impacts of OWFs. • OWFs have direct and indirect impacts on the marine species at each trophic level. • Marine ecosystem evolves into more complex state due to OWFs installation. • Ecological risk management and life-cycle-assessment of OWFs have been suggested. • Carbon emission and deposition caused by OWFs in marine ecosystem should be assessed. The global demand for renewable energy has resulted in a rapid expansion of offshore wind farms (OWFs) and increased attention to the ecological impacts of OWFs on the marine ecosystem. Previous reviews mainly focused on the OWFs' impacts on individual species like birds, bats, or mammals. This review collected numerous field-measured data and simulated results to summarize the ecological impacts on phytoplankton, zooplankton, zoobenthos, fishes, and mammals from each trophic level and also analyze their interactions in the marine food chain. Phytoplankton and zooplankton are positively or adversely affected by the 'wave effect', 'shading effect', oxygen depletion and predation pressure, leading to a ± 10% fluctuation of primary production. Although zoobenthos are threatened transiently by habitat destruction with a reduction of around 60% in biomass in the construction stage, their abundance exhibited an over 90% increase, dominated by sessile species, due to the 'reef effect' in the operation stage. Marine fishes and mammals are to endure the interferences of noise and electromagnetic, but they are also aggregated around OWFs by the 'reef effect' and 'reserve effect'. Furthermore, the complexity of marine ecosystem would increase with a promotion of the total system biomass by 40% through trophic cascade effects strengthen and resource partitioning alternation triggered by the proliferation of filter-feeders. The suitable site selection, long-term monitoring, and life-cycle-assessment of ecological impacts of OWFs that are lacking in current literature have been described in this review, as well as the carbon emission and deposition. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quantitative assessment of human error risk in computerized aircraft cockpit need a comprehensive understanding of performance shaping factor (PSF) effects on interaction tasks and the dependency between PSFs. This study employed stepwise logistic regression analysis and mediating effect analysis to explore PSF dependencies based on 872 air accident report data. Among the 14 PSFs of the established PSF taxonomy, five PSFs have significant influences on crew error. Further dependency analysis shows that a significant mediating effect exists in 16 PSF combinations, however, only 8 combinations should be considered in the actual human reliability analysis (HRA) process (indirect effect exceeds 20%). The study proposes an empirical method for identifying and assessing PSF dependencies. The results can be used to develop new or modify existing HRA methods according to the civil aviation context, as well as provide guidance to human error risk prevention and mitigation from broader perspectives in addition to interface facet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring the utilisation of flour in ancient Xinjiang is crucial for understanding the use of different grain crops as staple comestibles. In this study, multiple analyses were applied to identify five flour food remnants discovered in the Wupu Cemetery (1100–400 BCE) in Hami, Xinjiang. Results show that two of the samples were comprised of broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum) mixed with wheat (Triticum aestivum) and barley (Hordeum spp.), one of wheat and barley, and the remaining two primarily of broomcorn millet with a low quantity of foxtail millet (Setaria italica). Plant microfossils analysis and microscopic observation of cross‐sections of the five samples indicate that these crop materials were coarsely ground into flour and then probably baked without fermentation. These findings provide the earliest evidence that broomcorn millet, wheat, and barley were processed as cakes in Hami 3000 years ago. Moreover, the findings in this study also emphasise the reassessment of the role of foxtail millet in the dietary consumption of the ancient Wupu inhabitants, as foxtail millet was abundant in tombs, but scarce in comestible food sources. This research sheds light on and contributes to a more precise reconstruction of the dietary patterns of ancient indigenous people in Hami. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) has garnered considerable attention because of its promising prospects in electrochemical energy conversion applications, but a significant challenge is faced by the insufficient understanding of sluggish OER kinetics. In fact, the intrinsic "acceptance-donation" process of electrons between active sites and reactants is responsible for improving OER activity. Herein, we suggest a multielement hybridization strategy to rematch spin electron occupation and energy splitting in high-entropy perovskites with multiple orbital coordination. In this concept, electronic hopping between t 2g and e g orbitals among particular catalytic sites can be obviously enforced due to introducing more favorable energy levels from neighboring metal sites, which can demonstrate multistage orbital hybridization reaction activity. As a result, our proposed multistage-hybridized high-entropy perovskites display an impressive activity of 199.8 mA cm−2 as an overpotential of ∼0.46 V, which is ∼5.3 times that of pristine perovskite. Different from traditional catalyst designs, this study focuses on multistage orbital hybridization and electron exchange interactions through a multisite coordination mechanism to construct a fast reaction pathway. Our findings provide a new strategy for accelerating OER catalytic kinetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the difficulty in dealing with non-stationary and nonlinear vibration signals using the single decomposition method, it is difficult to extract weak fault features from complex noise; therefore, this paper proposes a fault feature extraction method for rolling bearings based on complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise (CEEMDAN) and variational mode decomposition (VMD) methods. CEEMDAN was used to decompose the signal, and the signal was then screened and reconstructed according to the component envelope kurtosis. Based on the kurtosis of the maximum envelope spectrum as the fitness function, the sparrow search algorithm (SSA) was used to perform adaptive parameter optimization for VMD, which decomposed the reconstructed signal into several IMF components. According to the kurtosis value of the envelope spectrum, the optimal component was selected for an envelope demodulation analysis to realize fault feature extraction for rolling bearings. Finally, by using open data sets and experimental data, the accuracy of envelope kurtosis and envelope spectrum kurtosis as a component selection index was verified, and the superiority of the proposed feature extraction method for rolling bearings was confirmed by comparing it with other methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their symmetrized dot pattern, rolling bearings are more susceptible to noise than time–frequency characteristics. Therefore, this article proposes a symmetrized dot pattern extraction method based on the Frobenius and nuclear hybrid norm penalized robust principal component analysis (FNHN-RPCA) as well as decomposition and reconstruction. This method focuses on denoising the vibration signal before calculating the symmetric dot pattern. Firstly, the FNHN-RPCA is used to remove the non-correlation between variables to realize the separation of feature information and interference noise. After, the residual interference noise, irrelevant information, and fault features in the separated signal are clearly located in different frequency bands. Then, the ensemble empirical mode decomposition is applied to decompose this information into different intrinsic mode function components, and the improved DPR/KLdiv criterion is used to select components containing fault features for reconstruction. In addition, the symmetrized dot pattern is used to visualize the reconstructed signal. Finally, method validation and comparative analysis are conducted on the CWRU datasets and experimental bench data, respectively. The results show that the improved criteria can accurately complete the screening task, and the proposed method can effectively reduce the impact of strong noise interference on SDPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural nitrate pollutants infiltrate into the subsurface and contaminate groundwater. The redox environment in the subsurface is important for the natural removal of nitrate by denitrification. Detailed knowledge of the redox conditions is needed in order to make better-targeted nitrogen regulations for farmers. However, unveiling three-dimensional (3D) redox architectures is challenging because one only observes redox conditions in boreholes. Therefore, this work proposes a combination of towed transient electromagnetic resistivity (tTEM) geophysical surveys and redox boreholes to model 3D redox architecture stochastically. The tTEM survey reveals the geological structure in high resolution. However, the tTEM survey and redox boreholes are often non-colocated. To address this issue, geostatistical simulations are performed to generate multiple resistivity data colocated with redox boreholes. Then, a statistical learning method, namely multinomial logistic regression, is leveraged to predict multiple 3D redox architectures given the uncertain surrounding resistivity structures. In this way, the aggregated prediction of multiple redox architectures has a higher prediction accuracy than a redox prediction model with interpolated resistivity. The trained statistical model can also identify significant resistivity structures for redox predictions. An inverse problem has also been formulated to better match the redox borehole data. In summary, the proposed workflow models 3D resistivity and redox architecture jointly, aggregates to a highly accurate redox architecture, and provides important resistivity structures for domain experts. The highly accurate redox architecture supports a better agricultural regulation decision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a nontoxic and cost‐effective material, copper pastes have attracted great attention in both academia and industry. However, achieving the long‐term stability of copper pastes remains challenging due to their susceptibility to oxidation. Therefore, stable copper nanoparticles with a Cu(0)–Cu(I) core–shell structure containing a surface passivation layer of formate ions‐involved Cu(I) coordination polymers are developed. Based on the self‐reducing nature of the passivation layer, the nanoparticle‐based copper pastes can be sintered in <1 min, showing high electrical conductivity (220 000 S cm−1), mechanical flexibility, and long‐term stability after sintering. The excellent properties of the developed copper pastes are even comparable with the ones of silver pastes. These stable copper pastes have broad applications in printed electronics (e.g., glucose sensors, RFID tags, and electromagnetic shielding films), showing great potential in the fabrication of flexible printed electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The establishment of vascularization is the basic prerequisite for the survival and functionalization of three-dimensional (3 D) tissue-engineered constructs. The application of hydrogel to tissue regeneration has promoted the research and development of regenerative medicine. In this study, we fabricated the composite scaffold composed of gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) and proved the potential of the scaffold to promote angiogenesis. To characterize the physical properties of the composite scaffold, the mechanical strength, swelling ratio and internal microstructure were tested. The biocompatibility of the GelMA/CMCS scaffold was evaluated by live/dead test and CCK-8. To evaluate the cell distribution, CD31 expression and endothelial differentiation of seeded rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on the scaffolds, the cytoskeletal staining, immunofluorescence staining and real-time PCR were performed. The composite GelMA/CMCS scaffolds seeded with BMSCs showed excellent mechanical properties, CD31 expression and vasculogenesis genes expression, compared with the pure GelMA scaffold. Furthermore, the activity of BMSCs in 3 D printed GelMA/CMCS scaffolds proved the feasibility of the bioprinting of cells-laden GelMA/CMCS composite scaffolds. In conclusion, our study demonstrated the potential of GelMA/CMCS composite scaffolds for vascular tissue engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regenerating jute into high-tech nanofibers is an alternative way to use jute fibers. In this work, trifluoro acetic acid (TFA) was used as a solvent to dissolve jute fibers for fabricating nanofibers via electrospinning. Nanofibers from raw jute (JNFs) and treated jute fibers (TJNFs) were successfully fabricated from a needle-based electrospinning unit, and electrospinning parameters, such as polymer concentration, flow rate, and applied voltage, were investigated. The morphology of the electrospun JNFs and TJNFs was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and their chemical structure by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis. To understand the thermal stability and decomposition behavior, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of the electrospun nanofibers was performed. SEM analysis showed there are no significant difference in surface morphology between JNFs and TJNFs. The TGA results confirmed that the as-spun nanofibers have excellent thermal stability which makes them less prone to degradation. This work provides insights into converting jute fibers into high-performance nanofibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has proven that light treatment, specifically red light radiation, can provide more clinical benefits to human health. Our investigation was firstly conducted to characterize the tissue morphology of mouse breast post 660 nm laser radiation with low power and long-term exposure. RNA sequencing results revealed that light exposure with a higher intervention dosage could cause a number of differentially expressed genes compared with a low intervention dosage. Gene ontology analysis, protein–protein interaction network analysis, and gene set enrichment analysis results suggested that 660 nm light exposure can activate more transcription-related pathways in HC11 breast epithelial cells, and these pathways may involve modulating critical gene expression. To consider the critical role of the Wnt/T-catenin pathway in light-induced modulation, we hypothesized that this pathway might play a major role in response to 660 nm light exposure. To validate our hypothesis, we conducted qRT-PCR, immunofluorescence staining, and Western blot assays, and relative results corroborated that laser radiation could promote expression levels of β-catenin and relative phosphorylation. Significant changes in metabolites and pathway analysis revealed that 660 nm laser could affect nucleotide metabolism by regulating purine metabolism. These findings suggest that the Wnt/β-catenin pathway may be the major sensor for 660 nm laser radiation, and it may be helpful to rescue drawbacks or side effects of 660 nm light exposure through relative interventional agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inorganic perovskite ferroelectric-based nanomaterials as sustainable new energy materials, due to their intrinsic ferroelectricity and environmental compatibility, are intended to play a crucial role in photoelectrochemical field as major functional materials. Because of versatile physical properties and excellent optoelectronic properties, ferroelectric-based nanomaterials attract much attention in the field of photocatalysis, photoelectrochemical water splitting and photovoltaic. The aim of this review is to cover the recent advances by stating the different kinds of ferroelectrics separately in the photoelectrochemical field as well as discussing how ferroelectric polarization will impact functioning of photo-induced carrier separation and transportation in the interface of the compounded semiconductors. In addition, the future prospects of ferroelectric-based nanomaterials are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) faces an increasing water erosion throughout the 21st century. • Effect of improved vegetation on water erosion control in the QTP is impaired under climate change. • Climate change mitigation is more essential than improving vegetation to address the QTP erosion. Water erosion is a wide ecosystem degradation threat for the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) region and surrounding areas. Climate wetting and vegetation greening in the QTP could have complex impacts on water erosion. However, there is limited information about the erosion dynamics under climate change and the effects of vegetation improvement on erosion control in this alpine region. By calibrating the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model, we estimated water erosion in the QTP and simulated future changes using different Shared Socioeconomic Pathway-Representative Concentration Pathway (SSP) scenarios. We showed intensified erosion and that the benefits of vegetation improvement to erosion control was impaired under climate change. Under the SSP585 scenario, annual water erosion in the QTP was predicted to increase by 0.35 t∙ha−1∙yr−1 and be dominated by an accelerative rise of rainfall erosivity (R factor of RUSLE). Compared with historical observations, the C factor of RUSLE under the SSP585 scenario was believed to reduce by 4.35 % on average during the 2081–2100 period, but predicted soil loss will increase by more than 90 %. Although more considerable vegetation improvement could occur under high climate forcing, there may also be more intensified rainfall erosivity and water erosion across the QTP than those under SSP126 and SSP245 scenarios. Our results suggest that mitigating climate change rather than vegetation improvement is essential to address climate-dominated ecosystem degradation threats such as water erosion in the QTP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent studies have indicated that some members of the tripartite motif (TRIM) proteins function as important regulators for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), However, the regulatory mechanism underpinning aberrant expression of TRIM in NSCLC remains unclear. Here we report that TRIM15 plays important roles in NSCLC progression through modulating Keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway. Methods: TRIM15 expression was evaluated by western blot analysis, tissue microarray-based immunohistochemistry analysis. The interactions between TRIM15 and Keap1 were analyzed by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and immunofluorescence co-localization assay. The correlation between TRIM15 and Keap1 was measured by Co-IP and ubiquitination analysis in vitro. Gain- and lost-of-function experiments were used to detect TRIM15 promotes proliferation and invasion of NSCLC cells both in vitro and vivo. Results: Here, we revealed that TRIM15 was frequently upregulated in NSCLC samples and associated with poor prognosis. Functionally, TRIM15 knockdown resulted in decreased cancer cell proliferation and metastasis, whereas ectopic TRIM15 expression facilitated tumor cancer cell proliferation and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, TRIM15 promoted cell proliferation and metastasis depends on its E3 ubiquitin ligase. Mechanistically, TRIM15 directly targeted Keap1 by ubiquitination and degradation, the principal regulator of Nrf2 degradation, leading to Nrf2 escaping from Keap1-mediated degradation, subsequently promoting antioxidant response and tumor progression. Conclusions: Therefore, our study characterizes the pivotal roles of TRIM15 promotes NSCLC progression via Nrf2 stability mediated by promoting Keap1 ubiquitination and degradation and could be a valuable prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target in NSCLC. 44ozmiCbiGVX1qU1k16dGv Video Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agropastoralism has prevailed in Inner Asia since the Bronze Age. It is an optimal subsistence strategy of inhabitants for adaptation to arid marginal environment. However, previous studies paid little attention to different development trajectories of this mixed economy within similar habitat. The Turpan and Hami Basins, located in eastern Tianshan Mountains of Xinjiang, are two typical desert oases with extremely dry climate, providing us with an appropriate region to investigate the issue. In present study, radiocarbon dates (n = 154) of eight typical sites in these two basins were reviewed and used to reconstruct the prehistoric chronology sequence prior to Han Dynasty (2200 cal BP). Then the data of botanical and faunal remains and stable isotope analyses (n = 159) of human diets from these sites were also reviewed for reliably revealing the subsistence economy pattern. Combining the time scale with multiple biological proxies, results show that, from the Bronze Age to early Iron Age, inhabitant subsistence in the Turpan Basin was dominated by livestock herding and supplemented by low-investment cereal crop cultivation, while the agriculture in Turpan Basin has developed significantly by the later period of Subeixi Culture. In contrast, agriculture-based economy was continuously developed in the Hami oases. Although the climate is very dry in both basins, temperature in warm seasons is much higher in the Turpan Basin. Besides thermal condition, size, range and convenient availability of highland pasture located at the southern flank of the Tianshan Mountains, are main driving factors leading to differentiated development trajectories of agropastoralism. Apart from that, cultural factors like economy, culture and technology communication along with population migration also impact local subsistence economy pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a persistent antibiotic, tetracycline is widely used in medical and livestock farming fields. However, the long-term accumulation effect of tetracycline has a significant impact on the ecosystem. In this research, we integrated the processes of adsorption-photocatalytic degradation for organic pollutants by combining Sichuan Pepper shell biochar adsorption, TiO 2 Nanorods photocatalytic oxidation, and Au nanoparticles Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance. The findings demonstrated that the specific surface area of Au nanoparticles/TiO 2 nanorods/biochar has increased by 1287.6 m2/g compared to TiO 2. Furthermore, when TiO 2 is compounded with biochar, its particle size reduces by approximately half and forms C-Ti and N-Ti bonds. The composite catalyst exhibited the highest removal rate for tetracycline, nearly four times that of commercial TiO 2 (P25), showing excellent application prospects. The enhanced composite structure improved its ability to capture sunlight, leading to more effective photocatalysis. This research explains the composite and synergistic mechanism of biochar, TiO 2 nanorods, and Au nanoparticles, which could guide the removal of organic pollutants. [Display omitted] • Au/TiO 2 /BCP can achieve cooperative control over the adsorption and photocatalysis of organic pollutants. • Revealing the technical value and potential of Sichuan pepper shell as an adsorbent. • Exploring the coupling mechanism after functionalization with TiO 2 nanorods and Au-NPs. • A systematic study of photocatalytic mechanism is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface defects were introduced into La 2 TiO 5 nanoparticles, which possessed the following obvious advantages: (1) improving the absorption capacity of visible light and broadening the spectral response range; (2) the formation of defect energy levels is conducive to the transition of electrons; (3) oxygen vacancy can further improve the photocatalytic activity. The yield of photocatalytic nitrogen fixation under simulated sunlight could reach 158.13 μmol·g−1·h−1 and the photocatalytic mechanism was systematically studied. [Display omitted] • Defective La 2 TiO 5 nanpparticles with broad visible light absorption were obtained. • Without any precious metal co-catalyst, the NH 3 yield of photocatalyst under simulated sunlight irradiation was 158.13 μmol·g−1·h−1. Highly active and efficient photocatalysts are crucial for the exploration of ammonia synthesis because of the serious problem of energy deficiency. La 2 TiO 5 (LTO) perovskite materials have great advantages in the field of photocatalytic nitrogen fixation because of the broadly diversified properties. The rational design of surface defect is a valid method to modulate photoinduced charge traps and create defect energy levels, especially it is an effective way to suppress the photoinduced charge recombination. Herein, LTO was obtained by a simple sol-gel method and was further reduced by NaBH 4 to introduce oxygen defect on its surface. UV–vis spectra proved that the surface defects could reduce the band gap value of samples, which is beneficial for improving photocatalytic nitrogen fixation activity. For the best photocatalytic samples with good cycle stability, the nitrogen fixation rate is 158.13 μmol·g−1·h−1. The mechanism of photocatalytic nitrogen fixation was proposed by the PL, XPS, and PEC results, which provided possibilities for exploring more promising perovskite catalysts in the field of nitrogen fixation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZnFe 2 O 4 -BP 3D core-shell microcavity structure were prepared with Zn-P bonds as the carrier transfer bridge. This design strategy has the following significant advantages: (1) strengthening the interaction between the two semiconductors through the construction of Zn-P bonds; (2) providing the carrier transfer channel and reaction active center to improve the carrier separation ability; (3) optimizing the gibbs free energy of BP fundamentally by the regulation of electronic configuration; (4) maintaining the multiple reflections of sunlight inside the catalyst thanks to the construction of microcavity structure. As a result, an optimized photocatalytic hydrogen production activity of 2160 μmol h-1g−1 under sunlight irradiation and 560 µmol h-1g−1 under near-infrared light (>820 nm) can be achieved. The photocatalytic mechanism is systematically investigated based on a series of experimental characterization and theoretical calculation. [Display omitted] Black phosphorus (BP) is one of the most promising visible-near-infrared light-driven photocatalysts with favorite photoelectric properties and unique tunable direct band gap. Nevertheless, the further development of BP is hindered by the fast carrier recombination rate and high Gibbs free energy. Herein, an innovative strategy is developed for the controllable construction of Zn-P bonds induced zinc ferrite/black phosphorus (ZnFe 2 O 4 -BP) three dimensions (3D) microcavity structure. The Zn-P bonds serve as an efficient channel to optimize the carrier transport and Gibbs free energy of BP simultaneously. Besides, the unique 3D core-shell microcavity structure maintains the multiple reflections of sunlight inside the catalysts, which greatly improves the sunlight utilization upon photocatalysis. An optimized photocatalytic hydrogen production rate of 560 µmol h-1g-1 under near-infrared light (>820 nm) is achieved. A possible photocatalytic mechanism is proposed based on a series of experimental characterizations and theoretical calculations, this work provides a new sight to design high-quantity BP-based full-spectrum photocatalysts for solar energy conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of death globally. Inflammation plays a crucial role in COPD development. Pyroptosis, an inflammatory form of cell death, may involve in the pathogenesis of COPD. This study aims to explore the role and action mechanism of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1 (TREM-1) in COPD. Methods: Here, cigarette smoke stimulation was used to establish COPD model in mice. Cigarette smoke extract combined with lipopolysaccharide was used to stimulate RAW264.7 cells for COPD model in vitro. QRT-PCR and Western blot were performed to detect the expression of mRNA and proteins, respectively, in the lung tissues and cells. Concentration of cytokines was measured using ELISA. H&E staining was used to analyze the pathological changes in lung tissues. The number of infiltrated macrophage was examined using immunofluorescence. LP17 was used to silence the expression of TREM-1. Results: The results showed that TREM-1 was highly expressed in COPD. In vivo, inhibition of TREM-1 effectively improved the injury in lung tissues of COPD mouse, and reduced the infiltration of macrophages. Moreover, inhibition of TREM-1 in vivo and in vitro notably suppressed the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and pyroptosis. Rescue experiment demonstrated that TREM-1 activated pyroptosis via regulating NLRP3 inflammasome. Conclusion: Overall, our results proved that TREM-1 promoted the lung injury and inflammation in COPD mouse through activation of NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis. Our data indicated a novel mechanism of TREM-1 in COPD development, and maybe provide a novel therapeutic target for COPD treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yarn hairiness affects yarn and fabric quality. The existing hairiness detection methods cannot discriminate crossover fibers or hairs. In order to accurately separate and detect crossover fibers, an algorithm of separating crossover hairs is proposed. By obtaining refined hair skeletons after image pretreatment, the positions of fiber intersection point were determined, and a hair information table according to the characteristics of the hair cross-point was constructed. After classifying each hair branch skeleton and screening out the hair common skeleton, the branch hair matching table by using the two end points of the true common hair skeleton adjacent to the hair branch was constructed. Through pairing the same cross-hair branch with the principle of the closest slope at the adjacent cross-end, each complete cross-hair skeleton was defined for hair count in a field of view. The detection results show that compared with the existing photoelectric hairiness detection instrument, the algorithm can realize the crossover hair separation, and calculate the length of complete crossover hairs and curved hairs with high accuracy. On average, the developed algorithm measures hair length about 11.1% longer than the manually measured results, while commercial apparatus would report hair length 62.5% shorter than the actual hair length. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Injection of water-based hydraulic fracturing fluid (HFF) into tight shale gas/oil formations can increase formation permeability and enhance production rates, but this process frequently causes mineral scale formation that can occlude pore space and hinder flow. To identify the most important factors that control the formation of mineral scales, we applied a novel global sensitivity analysis method—distance-based generalized sensitivity analysis (DGSA)—to a reactive transport model (RTM) that was previously built and calibrated to simulate precipitation of barite [BaSO4] and iron (hydr)oxide [Fe(OH)3] in shale matrices and on fracture surfaces. Reactive transport simulations were run with model parameters randomly sampled based on assigned uncertainties. Modeling results for barite and Fe(OH)3 formation were clustered using machine-learning algorithms. A list of ranked critical input parameters was obtained after statistical quantification of cumulative distribution functions of input parameters. We found that barite formation is most sensitive to the rate of sulfate ion generation, which is determined by the pyrite dissolution rate coefficient and oxidant availability. In addition, barite formation is sensitive to the initial amounts of barite in HFF and shale, followed by barite thermodynamics/kinetics. For Fe(OH)3 formation, the ranked factors are Fe(OH)3 precipitation rate coefficients, initial HFF pH, initial Fe(OH)3 amount in HFF, and oxidant availability. Our results provide insights into managing mineral scale formation during hydraulic fracturing to enhance production. Meanwhile, this study serves as an example of global sensitivity analysis of RTMs using the efficient, straightforward, and open-source DGSA method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring ancient socio-economic adaptation is a basic issue of human-environment interaction. Xinjiang in northwest China is a region of high geographic diversity. Past human adaptations to this arid marginal area is a current focus of research interest but still lacks in-depth study. This article presents data from the Wupu Cemetery, located in the extremely arid Hami Basin in the eastern Tianshan Mountains. Archaeobotanical analysis is used to reconstruct the local environment niche and the subsistence economy of inhabitants. Radiocarbon dating results indicate the cemetery was occupied between 3000 and 2400 cal BP, during the late Bronze Age and early Iron Age. In total 16 species of the plant remains are identified, including four cereal crops, foxtail millet (Setaria italica), broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum), naked barley (Hordeum vulgare var. coeleste), wheat (Triticum aestivum) and 12 wild types. The riparian plant Populus euphratica and aquatic plant Typha sp. indicate inhabitants lived in an oasis near the cemetery. Environmental interpretation of this data compares well with other seven sites in arid southern Xinjiang. In addition to faunal remains from the site, it is assumed that a flexible system of multi-crop farming and herding was the subsistence pattern around Wupu. This system was widespread across Inner Asia and appears to have played a central role in adapting to different marginal environments during the Bronze Age and Iron Age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contamination of soil and groundwater presents a widespread global problem, significantly impacting both human well-being and environmental stability. Conventional models employed for estimating pollutant concentrations under varying climatic conditions demand extensive computational power and high-performance computing resources. In response to this issue, we have devised an innovative method utilizing a physics-informed machine learning technique, known as the U-Net Enhanced Fourier Neural Operator (U-FNO), to generate rapid surrogate models for flow and transport. These models are capable of forecasting groundwater pollution levels under diverse climatic situations and subsurface characteristics without necessitating a supercomputer. In our research, we centered our attention on the Department of Energy's Savannah River Site (SRS) F-Area and established two time-dependent structures: U-FNOB and U-FNOB-R. Both frameworks incorporate a tailored loss function, including specific physical constraints of groundwater flow and transport such as spatial derivatives, and contaminant boundary conditions. The findings of our study indicate that the U-FNO models can consistently foresee spatialtemporal fluctuations in groundwater flow and pollutant transportation properties, such as contaminant concentration, hydraulic head, and Darcy's velocity. Our research reveals that the U-FNOB-R architecture is especially adept at predicting the effects of alterations in recharge rates on groundwater contamination sites, delivering superior time-dependent forecasts compared to the U-FNOB structure. Our novel approach holds the potential to revolutionize environmental monitoring and remediation efforts by providing rapid, precise, and cost-efficient estimations of groundwater pollution levels under uncertain climate conditions. • Efficient U-FNOB/R models predict groundwater contamination, aiding cost-effective analysis • U-FNOB-R predicts recharge rate impact on sites, enhancing forecast accuracy. • Physics-informed ML models estimate contamination in uncertain climates practically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a wastewater treatment technology, the activity of advanced oxidation process (AOPs) is strongly dependent on pH value. Herein, considering the low activity of AOPs under alkaline conditions, the acid organic ligand (nitrilotriacetic acid, NTA) was chosen to design Co-NTA metal-organic catalyst for efficient photo-Fenton reaction at full pH range. The experimental results indicate the acid ligands in Co-NTA offers more·OH that can achieve high activity under alkaline conditions. To further enhance the electron injection ability and redox cycles of Co(II)/Co(III), Ferrocene (Fc) nanoparticles was introduced to form bimetallic organic catalyst Fc-Co-NTA. The mechanism study indicates that the synergistic effect between Co-NTA and Fc promotes the activation of potassium persulfate and improves the stability of the catalyst under extreme pH conditions, while the π-π interaction between TC and Fc-Co-NTA can improve the electron injection capability and accelerate the production of·OH/SO 4 •-, so as to accelerate the redox cycles of Fe(II)/Fe(III) and Co(II)/Co(III), bringing about prolonged carrier lifetime and better photocatalytic activity. The possible degradation pathway of TC was investigated by Fukui function and LC-MS. A machine learning model is used to optimize the synthesis and photocatalytic parameters of Fc-Co-NTA. This study provides a new design idea to prepare highly efficient and stable photo-Fenton advanced oxidation technology at full pH range. ● Fc-Co-NTA with nitrilotriacetic acid ligands and aromatic rings was designed. ● The nitrilotriacetic acid ligands offers more·OH under alkaline conditions. ● Machine learning is used to optimize the experiment parameters of Fc-Co-NTA. ● An efficient photo-Fenton degradation of tetracycline at full pH range is achieved. ● A systematic study of photocatalytic mechanism is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent years, many scholars have been greatly intrigued by the large amounts of emerging antibiotics pollutants (such as tetracycline, penicillin, etc.) in natural water environments. Photo-Fenton oxidation, a highly advanced oxidation technique, has been seen as a promising way to effectively break down these pollutants by generating a great deal of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Herein, iron phthalocyanine nanodots (FePc)/ultra-thin porous carbon nitride (UPCN) nanocomposites were successfully prepared by thermal polymerization and calcination processes. In the system with a small amount (10 μL) of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) and natural pH conditions, the 1%-FePc/UPCN nanocatalcatalyst had the best degradation effect, and the TC removal rate reached 89% within 20 min and 99% within 60 min. The excellent performance of the nano-composites is ascribed to the large surface area, multiple active sites, small pore size, easy excitation and fast transfers of photogenerated carriers induced by π - π bond. In addition, the improvement of the degradation of TC is also due to the synergistic effect of the photocatalytic reaction center dominated by UPCN and Fenton reaction center dominated by FePc in the system, simultaneously. In this study, a synergistic dual-reaction center catalytic system was constructed to provide new insights and strategies for the degradation of organic pollutants in natural water environments. [Display omitted] • FePc/UPCN nanocomposite was successfully prepared by loading FePc nanodots on UPCN. • A small amount of H 2 O 2 (10 μL) was required for optimal performance. • At natural pH, 1%-FePc/UPCN photocatalyst showed the highest Photo-Fenton performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brain glucose hypometabolism is a significant manifestation of Alzheimer's disease (AD). 27-hydroxycholesterol (27-OHC) and the gut microbiota have been recognized as factors possibly influencing the pathogenesis of AD. This study aimed to investigate the link between 27-OHC, the gut microbiota, and brain glucose uptake in AD. Here, 6-month-old male C57BL/6 J mice were treated with sterile water or antibiotic cocktails, with or without 27-OHC and/or 27-OHC synthetic enzyme CYP27A1 inhibitor anastrozole (ANS). The gut microbiota, brain glucose uptake levels, and memory ability were measured. We observed that 27-OHC altered microbiota composition, damaged brain tissue structures, decreased the 2-deoxy-2-[18 F] fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) uptake value, downregulated the gene expression of glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4), reduced the colocalization of GLUT1/glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the hippocampus, and impaired spatial memory. ANS reversed the effects of 27-OHC. The antibiotic-treated mice did not exhibit similar results after 27-OHC treatment. This study reveals a potential molecular mechanism wherein 27-OHC-induced memory impairment might be linked to reduced brain glucose uptake, mediated by the gut microbiota. [Display omitted] • 27-OHC affects gut microbiota composition and induces gut microbiota dysbiosis. • 27-OHC decreases brain glucose uptake and induces memory impairment of mice. • 27-OHC did not decrease brain glucose uptake in microbiota-depleted mice. • GLUT1 and GLUT4 are important factors in the regulation of brain glucose uptake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic hydrogen (H 2) evolution from water is considered as a prospective approach, which can convert inexhaustible solar energy into chemical energy to alleviate energy crisis and environmental problems. Herein, the N-defective g-C 3 N 4 with porous structure was firstly synthesized in a sealed crucible by one-step thermal polymerization method. The experimental data showed that the yield of the catalyst was obviously increased under sealing condition. Moreover, the N-defective g-C 3 N 4 prepared from urea precursor under sealed condition reached an optimum photocatalytic H 2 production rate of 597.4 μmol/h and an apparent quantum efficiency of 15.6% at wavelength of 420 nm. This enhanced photocatalytic H 2 production performance is mainly ascribed to the introduction of N-defects, which not only extended of the visible light absorption, but also acted as the electron trap centers to suppress the recombination of the photogenerated electron and hole pairs. This work offers one-step facile strategy for the introduction of N-defects to prepare N-defective g-C 3 N 4 with superior photocatalytic activity, which is also a great substitute for the high-energy consuming and complicated synthetic routes. • N-defective g-C 3 N 4 was prepared via one-step sealed ammonia self-etching strategy. • Produced ammonia molecules can etch the g-C 3 N 4 to form a porous thinner nanosheet. • N-defective g-C 3 N 4 can provide more reaction active sites for photocatalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To examine the antiproliferative effects of 1‐(4‐((5‐chloro‐4‐((2‐(isopropylsulfonyl)phenyl)amino)pyrimidin‐2‐yl)amino)‐3‐methoxyphenyl)‐3‐(2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl)imidazolidin‐2‐one (ZX‐42) on the echinoderm microtubule‐associated protein‐4/anaplastic lymphoma kinase fusion gene (EML4‐ALK) positive lung cancer cell line H2228 and its underlying mechanism. Methods: The MTT assay was used to study the effect of ZX‐42 on H2228 cell growth. Propidium iodide (PI) staining and Western blotting were used to investigate the cell cycle changes. ZX‐42‐induced cell apoptosis was determined using the Annexin V‐FITC/PI (AV/PI) apoptotic assay kit, acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) and Hoechst 33258 staining, Rhodamine 123 (Rh 123) fluorescence assay and Western blotting. ZX‐42‐induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was examined by ROS assay kit. Transmission electron microscope, monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining and the AV/PI apoptotic assay kit were used to demonstrate the relationship between autophagy and apoptosis. Key findings: ZX‐42 had good cell viability inhibitory effect on H2228 cells. ZX‐42 dramatically inhibited ALK and its downstream pathways. ZX‐42 also blocked H2228 cell cycle at G1 phase and then induced apoptosis by activating the mitochondrial pathway. Next, ZX‐42 induced the production of ROS, and antioxidant N‐acetylcysteine (NAC) reduced ROS production and also decreased apoptotic rates. We also found that ZX‐42 induced protective autophagy in H2228 cells. Conclusions: In summary, ZX‐42 is a novel ALK inhibitor that significantly inhibits the cell viability of H2228 cells and ultimately induces apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway, in which autophagy plays a protective role. Therefore, inhibition of autophagy might enhance the anti‐cancer effect of ZX‐42. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an experimental technique that can accurately measure the high-order photon correlations of various light fields based on double Hanbury Brown–Twiss scheme. The system consists of four conventional binary response single-photon counting modules which are non-photon-number-resolving detectors. We theoretically analyze the effects of the experimental conditions on the high-order photon correlations of coherent, chaotic thermal, Fock and squeezed vacuum states with considering the overall efficiency and background noise. In experiment, we determine the proper resolution time from 29 = 512 ns to 211 = 2048 ns and counting rate from 10 kc s−1 to 100 kc s−1 for characterizing the exact second-, third- and fourth-order photon correlations of chaotic thermal state. At complete time delays, we also observe the third- and fourth-order photon correlations of chaotic thermal state, with the maximum high-order correlation values of 5.99 ± 0.02 and 23.9 ± 0.2 respectively, which are in good agreement with the theoretical values of 6 and 24. The demonstrated experimental technique with high accuracy is a promising tool for investigating quantum optical coherence and ghost imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare the effectiveness of the Cook vaginal cervical ripening balloon (CCRB) with prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) insert for induction of labor in late pregnancy in primipara.Methods: We evaluated the effectiveness and safety of induction of labor using the improved Bishop score after CCRB or PGE2 administration, total stage of labor, hours until delivery (hours from placement of CCRB or PGE2 insert to parturition and delivery), delivery rate within 24 h, spontaneous delivery rate, successful induction rate, overstimulation syndrome, urgent delivery rate, pain scores, cesarean section rate, and outcomes related to delivery and perinatal morbidity, such as puerperal infection rate, total cost, satisfaction survey, and so on.Results: The improved Bishop Score and delivery rate within 24 h in the CCRB group were significantly higher than in the PGE2 group. The total stage of labor and hours until delivery in the CCRB group were significantly shorter than that in the PGE2 group. Rate of overstimulation syndrome and pain scores in the CCRB group were significantly lower than in the PGE2 group. Compared with the PGE2 group, the mean duration of hospitalization in the CCRB group was shorter and the total cost was less. No difference in satisfaction between the PGE2 and CCRB groups was observed.Conclusions: Compared with PGE2, CCRB reduced the total stage of labor, hours until delivery, pain scores, mean length of hospitalization, and total cost. CCRB increased the rate of delivery within 24 h with similar safety and maternal satisfaction compared with PGE2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cluster of melon seeds (Cucumis melo L.) has recently been unearthed in the principal tomb (M1) of Haihun Marquis in Jiangxi Province, China. These seeds were very well preserved in a waterlogged and anoxic condition with clear archaeological strata, which not only provide new evidence to explore the utilization of melons in ancient times but also provide a new perspective in the study of the lifestyle of Liu He, the tomb owner. The seeds were discovered in the food cellar of the main tomb chamber (M1), as well as in the different parts of Liu He's body found in the inner coffin, which indicates that melon was one of his favorite fruits, even probably part of his last meal. Moreover, the seeds also provide perfect samples to explore the time of Liu He's burial. Combined with the ripening season of melon and mume, it can be ascertained that the time of Liu He's burial was most probably in July. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This paper aims to provide an overview of concepts, progress, and challenges of life preservers, which may promote the importance of life preservers, and present several urgent issues on life preservers. Background: Although life preservers are required on an airplane in some overwater operations by the regulations of many countries, some airlines and many passengers have ignored life preservers. Method: Different requirements for life preservers are presented and compared. Then the progress on life preservers is analyzed. Based on these analyses, two problems of existing life preservers are summarized, and corresponding challenges are also proposed. Results: The difficulty of donning life preservers has been repeatedly proved through some major attempts to solve the problem. Furthermore, existing life preservers may make the passengers at risk of flight over cold water due to lack of thermal protection. Conclusion: Life preservers play a vital role in ensuring passenger safety in awater-related accident, but several urgent issues must be addressed on further improvement of life preservers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and squamous cell lung carcinoma (SCC) are smoking-related diseases. However, the connection between the two is poorly understood. Microarray gene expression profiles in bronchial epithelium from patients with SCC with or without COPD were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus repository. Differentially expressed genes associated with COPD and SCC were identified and visualized using the Advanced Network Merger module in Cytoscape. COPD-associated genes in SCC progression were further identified using the BisoGenet plug-in in Cytoscape. The genetic interaction network was predicted using the Network Analysis function. Heat shock protein 90 α family class A member 1 (HSP90AA1), adrenoceptor β2 (ADRB2), transducin β like 1 X-linked receptor 1 (TBL1XR1) and heat shock protein family B (small) member 1 (HSPB1) were identified to be differentially expressed in SCC and COPD cases. The overall survival rate associated with the gene signatures was investigated using clinical samples from patients with SCC and COPD from the PROGgene database. The results suggest that the pathogenesis of SCC caused by COPD is regulated by HSP90AA1, ADRB2, TBL1XR1 and HSPB1. These genes may serve as potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of patients with COPD-related SCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research has designed and prepared a protective clothing layer by integrating porous silica aerogel with nonwoven fabrics for simultaneous chemical and thermal protection. Protective interlining having resistance to heat and liquid chemical penetration was developed by sandwiching randomly distributed aerogel particles between viscose nonwoven fabric layers. The nonwoven layer and aerogel particle layer were explored by analysing fabric surface morphology. Physical characterization of the test specimens revealed that the weight and thickness of fabric increased after the integration of aerogel particles. Consequently, improved chemical resistance and thermal resistance were observed in the aerogel–nonwoven fabrics with higher aerogel concentration. For clothing comfort, the high air permeability indicated sufficient breathability by transferring air and water vapour from the body to the atmosphere and vice versa through apparel. Improved evaporative transmittance and cooling index of aerogel–fabrics suggested that the fabric will create a favourable thermal comfort microenvironment between the skin and apparel. For wear comfort regarding wet clinginess, the high water uptake and evaporation rate of the fabric specimens indicated their ability to retain and evaporate large amounts of perspiration vapour in a hot and humid atmosphere. The overall performance of the aerogel–nonwoven fabrics suggested that the integration of silica aerogel with viscose nonwoven fabric is a prospective approach for developing protective interlining that will provide reliable chemical and thermal protection as well as adequate clothing comfort to the wearer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infectious diseases such as Influenza and Ebola pose a serious threat to everyone but certain demographics and cohorts face a higher risk of infection than others. This research provides a computational framework for studying health disparities among cohorts based on individual level features, such as age, gender, income, etc. We apply this framework to find health disparities among subpopulations in an influenza epidemic and evaluate vaccination prioritization strategies to achieve specific objectives. We explore the heterogeneities in individuals' demographic and socioeconomic attributes as the potential cause of health disparities. An agent-based model is used to simulate an influenza epidemic over a synthetic social contact network of the Montgomery County in Southwest Virginia to identify infected cases which are then labeled with a specific clinical outcome by using a predefined probability distribution based on age and risk level. We divide the population into age and income based cohorts and measure the direct and indirect economic impact of vaccination for each cohort. Simulation-based results find strong health disparities across age and income groups. Various vaccine distribution strategies are considered and outcomes are measured through metrics such as death count, total number of infections, net return per capita, net return per dollar spent and net return per vaccinated person. The results, framework, and methodology developed here can assist public health policy makers in efficiently allocating limited pharmaceutical resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of individuals infected with HIV-1 among men who have sex with men (MSM) has risen rapidly in recent years in China, and the subtypes CRF01_AE, CRF07_BC, and B, as well as many novel unique recombinant forms (URFs) are prevalent among them. Co-circulation of strains among MSM populations allows the generation of circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) and URFs. In this study, we identified two new URFs from two HIV-1-positive subjects who were infected through homosexual contact in Hebei, China. Analysis of near-full-length genome sequences, using phylogenetic and recombination analysis showed that the two URFs originated from CRF01_AE, CRF07_BC, and B, and CRF01_AE segments in the backbone of the URFs were derived from cluster 4 of CRF01_AE. The CRF07_BC segments of two URFs were clustered with 07BC_N in a phylogenetic tree. The identification of novel URFs with complex genomic structures shows that it is necessary to strengthen surveillance of HIV-1 variants in MSM populations in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modeling complex geological interfaces is a common task in geosciences. Many data sources are available for geological interface modeling, including borehole data and geophysical surveys. Geological knowledge, such as the delineation from geologists, is difficult to quantify but likely adds value to geological interface modeling. To integrate all information, we present a data-knowledge-driven trend surface analysis method to construct stochastic geological interfaces. We design a Metropolis–Hastings sampling framework to sample stochastic trend interfaces and quantify the uncertainty of geological interfaces given all information sources. This method is suitable for both explicit and implicit representations of geological interfaces. We demonstrate our method in three different test cases: modeling stochastic interfaces of Greenland subglacial topography, magmatic intrusion, and buried river valleys in Australia. • This new trend surface analysis method integrates various data types and geological knowledge. • A Markov chain Monte Carlo sampler is used for explicit and implicit geological interfaces. • Stochastic geological interfaces are sampled in three studies: subglacial topography, magmatic intrusion, and palaeovalley modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Peroxymonosulfate was activated to single oxygen with high selectivity (86.91 %). • New advanced oxidation shows great prospects in treating practical wastewater. • Activation route can be efficiently regulated by crystal structure of catalysts. • Non-radical activation mechanisms are explained by experiment and theory. Single oxygen (1O 2) generated in peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation parades great prospects in substituting common free radicals (∙OH/∙SO 4 −) for remediating wastewater. Unlike traditional modified approach, our study focused on optimizing partial atom orbital hybridization interaction with defects and altering charge transfer from catalysts to PMS, committed to pursue high selectivity of 1O 2 (non-radical activation). Herein, Co x Ni 3-x S 2 -V nanoparticles are synthesized in situ on nickel foams (NF) through a hydrothermal/Joule heating method and applied to PMS activation as immobilized catalysts. The result indicates that the Co 0.50 Ni 2.50 S 2 -V sample can totally activate PMS to mineralize ciprofloxacin with highest kinetic constant (0.2236 min−1) and excellent resistance to environment factors. Assisted by quantitative tests, singlet oxygen (1O 2) was verified as the dominant active species and the proportion of non-radical activation was increased to 86.91 %. Furthermore, theorical calculation revealed that this precise pathway regulation is attributed to the adsorption state adjustment and the reduction of Gibbs free energy for *O (transition state) and *1O 2 production. Our research provides novel insights into selective regulation of 1O 2 for efficient and sustainable wastewater remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to create both protective performance and thermal comfort of polyurethane (PU)-coated clothing by integrating a superabsorbent polymer (SAP) on cotton fabric. A protective surface on the fabric against chemical and water penetration was developed by coating the fabric with PU and SAP and characterised by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Surface wettability and liquid chemical-resistant properties of the coated fabrics were evaluated by measuring water contact angle, water repellency rating and chemical penetration through fabric. The experimental results demonstrated that SAP-coated cotton fabrics have almost the same water and chemical resistance properties, with no or slight deterioration in protection performance. Moreover, the coating of SAP on cotton fabric lead to improved heat and vapour transmittance that conferred much greater thermal comfort because of less sweat accumulation on the skin or inner clothing. In addition, a slight improvement in air permeability and unchanged moisture management profiles of SAP-coated fabrics indicates moisture vapour can only be diffused through coating due to strong hydrophilic nature of SAP. Integration of superabsorbent polymer on cotton fabric is a promising approach to develop protective clothing that provides simultaneous protection and thermophysiological comfort to the wearer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • A breathable and protective coating was developed on cotton fabric by integrating aerogel with polyurethane. • Polyurethane–aerogel coating is a better option than polyurethane coating only for chemical protective clothing. • Aerogel coating resists to liquid chemical penetration by adsorbing the chemicals through aerogel pores. • Aerogel coating has improved water resistance properties compared with polyurethane coating only. • Aerogel coating has improved vapour and air transmittance for thermophysiological comfort of the coated fabric. Abstract This research aims to create a coated surface by integrating porous silica aerogel particles with polyurethane (PU) binder having simultaneous thermal comfort and protective performance. A surface layer on cotton fabric was developed by coating the fabric with PU and aerogel particles to protect against penetration of water and certain chemicals. Infrared spectroscopy characterisation of coated specimens revealed a stable coating on the fabric surface due to interfacial adhesion between cotton fibre and PU binder. The surface morphology of dispersed aerogel particles in the coating was analysed through scanning electron microscopy. Protective performance, including surface wettability and chemical resistance properties of coated fabrics, was assessed by measuring the water contact angle, water repellency rating and resistance to chemical penetration. The results showed that contact angles formed on PU–aerogel coated fabrics were similar to PU coated fabrics. The PU-aerogel coated fabrics, however, exhibited a higher water repellency rating due to increased hydrophobicity. Similar chemical resistance properties, with no decline in protective performance, were observed after the integration of porous aerogel particles. However, instead of liquid repellency resembling a PU coating, most of the chemicals were adsorbed in the aerogel coating. In the case of clothing comfort, no significant change of resistance to dry heat transfer was observed for the fabrics coated with aerogel particles. Moreover, a gradual improvement of moisture vapour transfer and air permeability with higher aerogel particle concentration led to improved perspiration transmittance that conferred better thermal comfort. The unchanged moisture management profiles of coated specimens, after incorporating aerogel particles, indicated that moisture vapour was diffused through uncovered aerogel pores. Integration of silica aerogel with PU binder in the coating on cotton fabric is a promising approach to developing protective clothing that will provide chemical protection as well as thermal comfort to the wearer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Hydroxyl decorated 0D g-C 3 N 4 NPs were synthesized via a simple hydrothermal method. • The NPs possess narrowed bandgap, increased surface area and better hydrophily than bulk g-C 3 N 4. • ZnS-g-C 3 N 4 photocatalysts present a high photocatalytic activity of 112 μmol h−1. • Theoretical calculations are carried out to explain the high photocatalytic activity. • A systematic investigation of photocatalytic mechanism is proposed. Abstract Zero-dimensional graphitic carbon nitride nanoparticles (0D g-C 3 N 4 NPs) possess the advantages of non-toxicity, metal-free, and rich surface catalytic active sites. However, the complex preparation process, wide bandgap structure, easily particle aggregation and rapid carriers' recombination still limit their development in photocatalysis. Herein, these issues are addressed by synthesizing a novel hydroxyl (-OH) modified g-C 3 N 4 NPs with a simple hydrothermal method without using any etching agents. Besides the high hydrophily and small particle size, the OH decorated 0D g-C 3 N 4 NPs possess obvious narrowed bandgap and high reduction potential. To further improve their dispersity and carriers' separation rate, 0D/3D g-C 3 N 4 NPs/ZnS type II heterojunction is fabricated, which simultaneously improves the hydrophily, passivates the surface defects and extends the sunlight absorption range of ZnS. As a result, a high and cyclable photocatalytic activity of 112 μmol h−1 (5.6 mmol h−1 g−1) is achieved under visible light irradiation without any co-catalysts, which is 140 times higher than that of pure ZnS and much better than the pure 0D g-C 3 N 4 NPs. A systematic study of photocatalytic mechanism is proposed by combining the theoretical calculations and experimental results. This work offers a new sight for the design of 0D g-C 3 N 4 NPs based photocatalysts for H 2 production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is considered to be an ailment of the lungs that cannot be cured, wherein the lung tissues are characterized by increased thickness and stiffness, and/or scars. Despite the fact that extensive success has been achieved regarding the molecular diagnostics and pathobiology, the basic pathogenesis associated with IPF has not yet been fully elucidated and requires further clarification. In the current research, the changes in microRNA (miRNA) and mRNA expression in IPF were investigated through an integrative network technique. The authentic miRNA and mRNA expression profiling datasets were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus, followed by identification of differentially expressed miRNAs and mRNAs with use of the Significance Analysis of Microarrays algorithm. Expansion of the molecular targets associated with miRNAs was performed with the use of CyTargetLinker in Cytoscape, which was succeeded by validation with the use of mRNA array expression profiling. The incorporated miRNA-mRNA network covered 27 genes, in addition to 22 miRNAs that were associated with IPF development. As revealed by the functional enrichment analysis, the cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and glycine, serine and threonine metabolism signalling pathways were extensively associated with IPF development. Overall, the present incorporated network illustrated the key link between miRNA and genes in IPF; in particular, it was elucidated that miR-409-5p and has-miR-376c, together with their target genes (C-C motif chemokine ligand 20 and oncostatin M), are likely candidates involved in the promotion of IPF initiation and progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional (2D) ZnS-SnS 2 porous nanosheets are designed as clean and low cost photocatalysts for water splitting. The composites successfully combine high photoelectron reduction potential of ZnS with the sufficient sunlight harvesting ability of SnS 2 . Moreover, SnS 2 acts as an effective electron transfer medium from ZnS to SnS 2 due to the construction of quasi-type II structure. This greatly promotes the transfer of electron-hole pairs and effectively inhibits their recombination. Especially, the unique porous nanosheets structure maintains them high specific surface area and countless reactive sites, which increases the reactants' contact area and facilitates the migration of carriers upon photocatalysis. This further suppresses the charge recombination and improves the photocatalysts' stability. As a result, an optimized specific surface area of 246.7 m 2  g −1 and photocatalytic H 2 generation rate of 536 μmol h −1 g −1 are achieved in the absence of a surfactant and co-catalyst, which is 10 times higher than ZnS and 17 times higher than SnS 2 . In addition, the porous nanosheets have fairly good photocatalytic stability and can be reused at least five cycles without obvious changes in activity and structure. This work successfully presents the potential of ZnS and SnS 2 -based photocatalyst for clean and low cost hydrogen production from water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Needleless electrospinning and electrospraying of aerogel particles in comparatively lower electric voltage (9 kV) have been demonstrated in the paper. Aerogel particles were dispersed in polymer solution and then needlelessly electrospun/sprayed by creating high electric charge at the syringe tip using a curved wire. FTIR spectra and SEM images proved that aerogel particles were deposited onto the base textile. In case of electrospinning, a nanofibre web holding the aerogel particles covered the fabric surface, whereas in case of electrospraying, aerogel particles deposited with the microdroplets of the polymer. The electrospraying process showed great potential for fabric surface functionalization due to the high amount of particle deposition on fabric. The new approach can be applicable for transferring other particulate materials on fabric surface through needleless electrospinning and electrospraying processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lithium κ1-enamides, Me2NSiMe2CHC(Ph)-{2,6-(R1)2-4-(R2)C6H2}NLi·3THF (R1 = iPr, R2 = H L1; R1 = Et, R2 = H L2; R1 = Me, R2 = H L3; R1 = R2 = Me L4; R1 = Et, R2 = Me L5), in the presence of titanium tetrachloride, undergo intermolecular rearrangement cyclization reactions resulting in 1,3-migration of the silicon groups and the elimination of dimethylamine affording five examples of bis-azasilicon-bridged heterocyclic arylamines, [{2,6-(R1)2-4-(R2)C6H2}N(Ph)CCSiMe2]2 (R1 = iPr, R2 = H D1; R1 = Et, R2 = H D2; R1 = Me, R2 = H D3; R1 = R2 = Me D4; R1 = Et, R2 = Me D5) in good yield, respectively. The molecular structures of D1–D5 show the two fused N–Si–C–C–C rings to be co-planar indicative of extended π-conjugation, while their photophysical properties reveal them to be green/blue emitting with high luminescence quantum yields (ΦF range: 75–99%). Furthermore, the compounds D serve as versatile reactants undergoing ring opening on hydrolysis to afford the saturated 1,4-diimines [{2,6-(R1)2-4-(R2)C6H2}N(Ph)C-CH2]2 (R1 = iPr, R2 = H E1; R1 = Et, R2 = H E2; R1 = Me, R2 = H E3; R1 = R2 = Me E4; R1 = Et, R2 = Me E5). Alternatively, D can be employed in a redox-promoted cascade reaction to afford the conjugated 1,4-diimines, (E)-[{2,6-(R1)2-4-(R2)C6H2}N=C(Ph)CH]2 (R1 = iPr, R2 = H F1; R1 = Et, R2 = H F2; R1 = Me, R2 = H F3; R1 = R2 = Me F4; R1 = Et, R2 = Me F5). In addition to D1–D5, E1–E3, E5, F2 and F3 have been the subject of single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distinguishing key features is crucial to design supercapacitor materials upon transition-metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes). Herein, the machine learning strategy was adopted to explore the structure-property based on 600 MXenes, including M 2 XT 2 (T = bare, O, S) and their doped systems. To ensure the quality of the data set, all the MXenes data were calculated individually through density functional theory. The sure independence screening and sparsifying operator (SISSO) method was subsequently used to develop pseudocapacitance formulas according to the refined key features in terms of stability and electronic structures. It is found that, on the group-free surfaces, both ion adsorption strength and density of states 1.0 eV above Fermi level play crucial roles to regulate pseudocapacitance. For the surface-functionalized cases, the parameters electronegativity and specific heat are the keys to determine pseudocapacitance. Furthermore, statistical results show that the elements, leading to high pseudocapacitance, are located in the upper left, lower left and upper right regions of the periodic table for group-free, O-functionalized and S-functionalized MXenes, respectively. The structure-property relationship provides theoretical insights into the development of MXenes-based pseudocapacitive materials from a statistical point of view. [Display omitted] • High pseudocapacitive M 2 X MXenes are screened through first-principles calculations. • Important factors to determine pseudocapaitance are revealed by screening key features. • The pseudocapaitance formulas of MXenes are developed through machine learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dimeric anilidolithium (ArHNLi·Et2O)2 (Ar=2,6- iPr2C6H3) reacted with zirconium tetrachloride in THF to give the heterometallic zirconium-lithium complex [(Et2O)2Li(μ-Cl)2(ArHN)(ArN=)Zr(μ-Cl)]2 ( C1) and with titanium tetrachloride in toluene to give the titanium complex [(ArN=)TiCl2·(Et2O)2] ( C2) each in good isolated yields. Their molecular structures in the solid state were confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. Upon activation with methylaluminoxane, both arylimido zirconium and titanium complexes exhibited good catalytic activities toward ethylene polymerization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of geo-engineering materials of chitosan modified local soil (MLS) on nutrient limitation was studied in comparable whole ponds in Lake Taihu in October 2013. After 20 kg MLS were sprayed in the whole water pond (400 m 2 ), the chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentration was decreased from 42 to 18 μg L −1 within 2 h and remained below 20 μg L −1 in the following 15 months, while the average Chl-a was 36 μg L −1 in the control pond throughout the experiment. In situ nutrient addition bioassay experiments indicated that the nutrient limitation was shifted from nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) co-limitation to P limitation after MLS treatment from October 2013 to March 2014 compared to the control pond. In the cyanobacterial bloom season of June 2014, N and P co-limitation remained and N was the primary limiting nutrient and P was a secondary one in the control pond where phytoplankton biomass showed significant increase by N addition and further increase by N + P additions, while both N and P became the limiting nutrient for phytoplankton growth where only combined N and P additions showed significant Chl-a stimulation in the treatment pond. In the next summer (June 2014), a cyanobacteria-dominated state still remained in the control pond but chlorophytes, bacillariophytes and cyanophytes distributed equally and submerged vegetation was largely restored in the treatment pond. Meanwhile, the upper limiting concentration of DIN was enhanced from 0.8 to 1.5 mg L −1 and SRP from 0.1 to 0.3 mg L −1 compared to the control pond. This study indicates that nutrient limitation can be manipulated by using MLS technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]