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We systematically investigated the role of additional liquid source (LS) which creates a liquid-rich nucleation environment and influences the growth kinetic energy. It enables a significant decrease in maximum processing temperature (T max) even close to the peritectic decomposition temperature (T p), hence optimizing the distribution and size of the Gd 2 BaCuO 5 (Gd211) particles. By exploiting this combined LS and low T max (LS+LT max) growth method, the performance of GdBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-δ (GdBCO) single-grain superconductors has been greatly improved. Therefore, the maximum trapped magnetic fields reach 0.746 T and 1.140 T for the 18- and 25-mm-diameter samples at 77 K. Meanwhile, superior flux pinning performance has been observed at the growth section boundaries (GSBs) with a decreased density of Gd211 particles in the LS+LT max samples. These results indicate that the LS+LT max technology can fabricate high-performance single-grain superconductors with improved reliability which is considered important for engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New and efficient sensors of nerve agents are urgently demanded to prevent them from causing mass casualties in war or terrorist attacks. So, in this work, a novel hierarchical nanoheterostructure was synthesized via the direct growth of α-Fe2O3 nanorods onto multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) backbones. Then, the composites were functionalized with hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) and successfully applied to detect dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP)-sarin simulant gas. The observations show that the HFIP-α-Fe2O3@MWCNT hybrids exhibit outstanding DMMP-sensing performance, including low operating temperature (220 °C), high response (6.0 to 0.1 ppm DMMP), short response/recovery time (8.7 s/11.9 s), as well as low detection limit (63.92 ppb). The analysis of the sensing mechanism demonstrates that the perfect sensing performance is mainly due to the synergistic effect of the chemical interaction of DMMP with the heterostructure and the physical adsorption of DMMP by hydrogen bonds with HFIP that are grafted on the α-Fe2O3@MWCNTs composite. The huge specific surface area of HFIP-α-Fe2O3@MWCNTs composite is also one of the reasons for this enhanced performance. This work not only offers a promising and effective method for synthesizing sensitive materials for high-performance gas sensors but also provides insight into the sensing mechanism of DMMP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyze the reasons for the mismatch between forward and reverse typing of ABO blood types and the mismatch between cross matching. When the forward and reverse typing do not match, use physiological saline method, polyamine method, anti human globulin method, and anti screening positive samples are used for antibody identification. The factors contributing to discrepancies in blood typing between forward and reverse typing include weakened serum typing, condensation, monoclonal immunoglobulin influence, bone marrow transplantation, and blood type subtypes. The causes of cross matching incompatibility include homologous antibody, warm Autoantibody, cold Autoantibody and daretozumab. Regular red blood cell homologous antibody screening should be conducted based on disease type, blood transfusion history, and medication history. Antigen matched red blood cells should be selected for cross matching, and different experimental methods should be used for testing to ensure the safety of clinical blood transfusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In general, majority of MOFs are powder, which limit their applications. In this study, the highly stable Zr-based MOF-808 and its thiol-modified MOF-808-SH were selected as precursors, and then they were wrapped by sodium alginate hydrogel via a dripping strategy. Based on these, MOF/hydrogel composite beads (Alg-MOF-808, Alg-MOF-808-SH) with 3D network structure were prepared successfully. Due to its excellent adsorption properties and easy recovery, they were employed as effective environmental functional materials for the adsorption of Hg (II). The adsorption capacities of Hg (II) were 170.52 ​mg‧g−1 and 221.73 ​mg‧g−1 respectively and they can achieve adsorption equilibrium in a short time. The adsorption stability of Alg-MOF-808-SH was studied at different pH as well. In addition, the removal efficiency of composite beads for Hg (II) was almost unaffected by other coexisting ions, displaying good adsorption selectivity. Furthermore, the removal efficiency only decreased by 10.4% after 5 cycles, indicating that the as-prepared materials have high recycling efficiency. The results demonstrated that the MOF/hydrogel composite beads have a certain application potential for mercury removal in actual wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Occlusion modeling is critical for light field depth estimation, since occlusion destroys the photo-consistency assumption, which most depth estimation methods hold. Previous works always detect the occlusion points on the basis of Canny detector, which can leave some occlusion points out. Occlusion handling, especially for multi-occluder occlusion, is still challenging. In this paper, we propose a novel occlusion-aware depth estimation method, which can better solve the occlusion problem. We design two novel consistency costs based on the photo-consistency for depth estimation. According to the consistency costs, we analyze the influence of the occlusion and propose an occlusion detection technique based on depth consistency, which can detect the occlusion points more accurately. For the occlusion point, we adopt a new data cost to select the un-occluded views, which are used to determine the depth. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method is superior to the other compared algorithms, especially in multi-occluder occlusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Botrytis cinerea causes gray mold disease of strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa) and is a globally important pathogen that causes fruit rot both in the field and after harvest. Commercial strawberry production involves the use of plastic mulches made from non-degradable polyethylene (PE), with weedmat made from woven PE and soil-biodegradable plastic mulch (BDM) as emerging mulch technologies that may enhance sustainable production. Little is known regarding how these plastic mulches impact splash dispersal of B. cinerea conidia. The objective of this study was to investigate splash dispersal dynamics of B. cinerea when exposed to various plastic mulch surfaces. Mulch surface physical characteristics and conidial splash dispersal patterns were evaluated for the three mulches. Micrographs revealed different surface characteristics that have the potential to influence splash dispersal: PE had a flat, smooth surface, whereas weedmat had large ridges and BDM had an embossed surface. Both PE mulch and BDM were impermeable to water whereas weedmat was semi-permeable. Results generated using an enclosed rain simulator system showed that as the horizontal distance from the inoculum source increased, the number of splash dispersed B. cinerea conidia captured per plate decreased for all mulch treatments. More than 50% and approximately 80% of the total number of dispersed conidia were found on plates 10 and 16 cm away from the inoculum source across all treatments, respectively. A significant correlation between the total and germinated conidia on plates across all mulch treatments was detected (P<0.01). Irrespective of distance from the inoculum source, embossed BDM facilitated higher total and germinated splashed conidia (P<0.001) compared to PE mulch and weedmat (P = 0.43 and P = 0.23, respectively), indicating BDM's or embossed film's potential for enhancing B. cinerea inoculum availability in strawberry production under plasticulture. However, differences in conidial concentrations observed among treatments were low and may not be pathologically relevant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare and aggressive cancer affecting the pleural lining of the lungs. Celastrol (Cela), a pentacyclic triterpenoid, has demonstrated promising therapeutic potential as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective agent, and anti-cancer agent. In this study, we developed inhaled surface-modified Cela-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) microparticles (Cela MPs) for the treatment of MPM using a double emulsion solvent evaporation method. The optimized Cela MPs exhibited high entrapment efficiency (72.8 ± 6.1%) and possessed a wrinkled surface with a mean geometric diameter of ~2 µm and an aerodynamic diameter of 4.5 ± 0.1 µm, suggesting them to be suitable for pulmonary delivery. A subsequent release study showed an initial burst release up to 59.9 ± 2.9%, followed by sustained release. The therapeutic efficacy of Cela MPs was evaluated against four mesothelioma cell lines, where Cela MP exhibited significant reduction in IC50 values, and blank MPs produced no toxicity to normal cells. Additionally, a 3D-spheroid study was performed where a single dose of Cela MP at 1.0 µM significantly inhibited spheroid growth. Cela MP was also able to retain the antioxidant activity of Cela only while mechanistic studies revealed triggered autophagy and an induction of apoptosis. Therefore, these studies highlight the anti-mesothelioma activity of Cela and demonstrate that Cela MPs are a promising inhalable medicine for MPM treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a global concern as one of the leading causes of cancer deaths. The treatment options for NSCLC are limited to systemic chemotherapy, administered either orally or intravenously, with no local chemotherapies to target NSCLC. In this study, we have prepared nanoemulsions of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), erlotinib, using the single step, continuous manufacturing, and easily scalable hot melt extrusion (HME) technique without additional size reduction step. The formulated nanoemulsions were optimized and evaluated for their physiochemical properties, in vitro aerosol deposition behavior, and therapeutic activity against NSCLC cell lines both in vitro and ex vivo. The optimized nanoemulsion showed suitable aerosolization characteristics for deep lung deposition. The in vitro anti-cancer activity was tested against the NSCLC A549 cell line which exhibited 2.8-fold lower IC50 for erlotinib-loaded nanoemulsion, as compared to erlotinib-free solution. Furthermore, ex vivo studies using a 3D spheroid model also revealed higher efficacy of erlotinib-loaded nanoemulsion against NSCLC. Hence, inhalable nanoemulsion can be considered as a potential therapeutic approach for the local lung delivery of erlotinib to NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Layer-by-Layer (LbL) assembly of polyelectrolytes on a solid core particle is a well-established technique used to deliver drugs, proteins, regenerative medicines, combinatorial therapy, etc. It is a multifunctional delivery system which can be engineered using various core template particles and coating polymers. This study reports the development and in-vitro evaluation of LbL assembled particles for non-invasive inhaled delivery to the lungs. The LbL assembled particles were prepared by successively coating polyelectrolyte macromolecules, glycol chitosan and bovine serum albumin on 0.5- and 4.5-μm polystyrene particles. The LbL assembly of polyelectrolytes was confirmed by reversible change in zeta potential and sequential increase in the particle size after accumulation of the layer. The prepared LbL particles were further assessed for aerodynamic properties using two distinct nebulizers, and toxicity assessment in normal lung cells. The in-vitro aerosolization study performed using next generation impactor coupled with Pari LC Plus and Aeroeclipse nebulizer showed that both the LbL assembled 0.5 and 4.5-μm particles had MMAD <5 μm confirming suitable aerodynamic properties for non-invasive lung delivery. The in-vitro cytotoxicity, and TEER integrity following treatment with the LbL assembled particles in normal lung epithelial and fibroblasts showed no significant cytotoxicity rendering the LbL assembled particles safe. This study extends the efficiency of LbL assembled particles for novel applications towards delivery of small and large molecules into the lungs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The productivity of a specific research field hinges on the periodic examination of both the knowledge produced and the knowledge production activities. By harnessing the strength of traditional bibliometric analyses and a variety of Natural language processing (NLP) techniques, this study portrayed a holistic landscape of higher education internationalisation (HEI) research that incorporated time and region through a spatial lens. The findings reveal the field's evolution into establishment, significant regional variations in research focus, and the expansion of networks for disseminating knowledge. These factors collectively contribute to a diverse ‘lived’ space of HEI research. However, the dominance of Western-centric key concepts, theories, and discourses highlights a homogenous ‘conceived’ space, pointing to an underlying tension between these spaces. Despite these challenges, opportunities for breakthroughs exist. Additionally, the study underscores the immense potential of NLP techniques in facilitating the exploration of how research fields evolve, further enriching our understanding of HEI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical fiber bending, deformation or shape sensing are important measurement technologies and have been widely deployed in various applications including healthcare, structural monitoring and robotics. However, existing optical fiber bending sensors require complex sensor structures and interrogation systems. Here, inspired by the recent renewed interest in information-rich multimode optical fibers, we show that the multimode fiber (MMF) output speckles contain the three-dimensional (3D) geometric shape information of the MMF itself. We demonstrate proof-of-concept 3D multi-point deformation sensing via a single multimode fiber by using k-nearest neighbor (KNN) machine learning algorithm, and achieve a classification accuracy close to 100%. Our results show that a single MMF based deformation sensor is excellent in terms of system simplicity, resolution and sensitivity, and can be a promising candidate in deformation monitoring or shape-sensing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of internet finance, building a "tourism + finance" ecosystem is gradually becoming a theme of reform in the tourism industry. In this study, the technology acceptance model (TAM) is used to explore which factors, in addition to perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use, influence consumers' intentions to purchase tourism financial products. The study conducts a questionnaire survey including basic questions and a Likert scale with 19 indicators covering 5 dimensions. The results are drawn from a structural equation model that supports five out of six proposed hypotheses. The findings suggest that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, trust, and perceived risk significantly influence purchase intentions. Additionally, perceived ease of use has a significant impact on perceived usefulness. Suggestions regarding future tourism financial products development are made, and the study's limitations are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nucleic acid test (NAT) could effectively control the spread of COVID-19 caused by large-scale sports competitions. However, quantitative analysis on the appropriate frequency of NAT is scarce, and the cost-effectiveness and necessity of high-frequency NAT remain to be fully explored and validated. This study aims to optimize the COVID-19 surveillance strategies through cost-effectiveness analysis for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and the upcoming Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games. Methods: A total of 18 scenarios were designed regarding the NAT frequency, symptom monitoring, and strengthening close-contact control. An agent-based stochastic dynamic model was used to compare the cost-effectiveness of different NAT scenarios and optimize the surveillance strategies. The dynamics of the proposed model included the arrival and departure of agents, transmission of the disease according to Poisson processes, and quarantine of agents based on regular NATs and symptom onset. Accumulative infections, cost, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) were simulated in the frame of the model. ICER was used to compare the cost-effectiveness of different scenarios. Univariate sensitivity analysis was performed to test the robustness of the results. Results: In Scenario 16, where the competition-related personnel (CRP) received NAT daily and national sports delegation (NSD) with quarantined infections accepted an additional NAT daily, accumulative infection was 320.90 (90 initial infections), the total cost was (United States Dollar) USD 8 920 000, and the cost of detecting out each infection was USD 27 800. Scenario 16 would reduce the total cost by USD 22 570 000 (avoid 569.61 infections), USD 1 420 000 (avoid 47.2 infections) compared with Scenario 10 (weekly NAT, strengthened close contact control) and Scenario 7 (daily NAT, no strengthened close contact control), respectively. Sensitivity analysis showed that the result was most sensitive to the change in basic reproductive number. Conclusions: High-frequency NATs such as bidaily, daily, and twice a day were cost-effective. NAT daily for CRP with strengthening close-contact control could be prioritized in defense against COVID-19 at large-scale sports competitions. This study could assist policymakers by assessing the cost-effectiveness of NAT scenarios and provide the host country with an optimal COVID-19 surveillance strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing penetration of renewable energy resources into regional‐integrated energy systems (RIES) holds higher standards on operational flexibility. To alleviate the negative effects of insufficient operational flexibility, this paper proposes a joint market equilibrium model to obtain flexible resources in microgrids (MGs) and district heating networks (DHNs) through economic incentives. Based on the incorporation of the flexiramp (FRP) into the energy markets, a joint market mechanism is first established. Through multi‐energy synergy, the FRP provisions on the supply and demand sides in MGs are then introduced. Considering the flexibility exploitation of DHNs, a collaborative FRP supply method is developed to formulate the optimal bidding strategy for MGs. Moreover, a hierarchical model is designed to achieve joint market equilibrium, where MGs strategically bid in the external layer and the RIES operator optimally clears the market in the internal layer. The combined utilization of the Q‐learning algorithm and path‐tracking interior point method is applied to solve the hierarchical model efficiently. The performance of the proposed approach is verified by case studies. The results demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed approach for operational flexibility improvement through minimizing renewable energy curtailment, the overall cost, and the average energy prices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The architecture of rice plant represents important and complex agronomic traits, such as panicles morphology, which directly influence the microclimate of rice population and consequently grain yield. To enhance yield, modification of plant architecture to create new hybrid cultivars is considered a sustainable approach. The current study includes an investigation of yield and microclimate response index under low to high plant density of two indica hybrid rice R498 (curved panicles) and R499 (erect panicles), from 2017 to 2018. The split-plot design included planting densities of 11.9–36.2 plant/m2. The results showed that compared with R498, R499 produced a higher grain yield of 8.02–8.83 t/ha at a higher planting density of 26.5–36.2 plant/m2. The response index of light intensity and relative humidity to the planting density of R499 was higher than that of R498 at the lower position of the rice population. However, the response index of temperature to the planting density of R499 was higher at the upper position (0.2–1.4%) than at the lower position. Compared with R498, R499 at a high planting density developed lower relative humidity (78–88%) and higher light intensity (9900–15,916 lx) at the lower position of the rice population. Our finding suggests that erect panicles are highly related to grain yield microclimatic contributors under a highly dense rice population, such as light intensity utilization, humidity, and temperature. The application of erect panicle rice type provides a potential strategy for yield improvement by increasing microclimatic conditions in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conics typically include ellipses, hyperbolas, and parabolas with equal eccentricities that intersect infinite line at absolute points. According to the imaging characteristics of conics under a pinhole camera, a dual image of the absolute points can be obtained. By analysing the representative coefficient matrix of the dual image, the algebraic relationship between the image of the centre of the conic and its projection matrix can be obtained; thus, the vanishing line can be determined by the pole-polar relationship of the dual image of the absolute points. A group of orthogonal vanishing points can be obtained to determine the camera intrinsic parameters by two conics with aligned principal axes. The feasibility and robustness of the algorithm are verified by simulation data and real experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of conventional electro-Fenton (EF) is limited by the narrow pH range and iron-containing sludge production, while the bifunctional cathodes in the heterogeneous electro-Fenton (HEF) can realize the synchronous generation and activation of H 2 O 2 , broaden the adaptable pH range and render catalyst easy to recycle, which has gained wide attention in electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOPs). In this review, we summarized the classification of bifunctional metallic composite cathodes in HEF, the preparation and loading methods of catalyst on the cathode, as well as the advantages and the corresponding characterization of the bifunctional cathodes. The approaches to enhance the catalysts performance for H 2 O 2 generation and activation and electrode stability were addressed. The origin, identification and transformation of reactive species in degradation mechanism were explored. Finally, the challenge and trend of bifunctional cathode for HEF was prospected. We hope this review can provide a useful guideline for the design and application of bifunctional cathodes in HEF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Preparation of single-atom nanozymes by pyrolysis of alkaline lignin. • The nanozyme is environmentally friendly and has excellent peroxidase-like activity. • The catalytic mechanism of nanozymes was explored to discover the production of OH. • Constructing a sensing strategy to detect organophosphorus with excellent results. Organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) are widely used in agriculture and their residues can pose a threat to human health. Therefore the monitoring of their residue content is necessary. In this study, a colorimetric sensing strategy was designed to detect OPs by combining nanozymes with natural enzymes. Among them, iron single-atom nanozymes (Fe-N/C) were prepared by a one-pot synthesis method by pyrolyzing alkaline lignin. Various characterization tools were used to elucidate the microstructure and reaction mechanism of the nanozymes. N in the material is mainly bound to Fe in the form of pyrrole nitrogen, catalytic H 2 O 2 will produce OH. Fe-N/C has good peroxidase-like activity and produces signals in UV detection upon the addition of 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB). Combining the catalytic properties of Fe-N/C and introducing acetylcholinesterase (AChE) for the detection of OPs in soil (take chlorpyrifos for example). The product of AChE catalyzed acetylcholine (ATCh) can inhibit the color signal. In contrast, the presence of chlorpyrifos destroys the activity of AChE and restores the reaction absorbance. The amount of chlorpyrifos can be calculated by observing the changes in color. The linear range of chlorpyrifos detection based on this strategy was 0.05–10.0 μg mL−1, the detection limit was 2.11 ng mL−1. This strategy provides a sensitive method for the quantitative determination of OPs, which is important for the monitoring of OPs in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Heatwaves in CA are becoming earlier, more frequent, more intense, more persistent. • Heatwaves are more frequently observed in the west but less in the central CA. • Soil moisture depletion is the main factor in formulating heatwaves in CA. Heatwaves pose increasing threats on water resources for ecosystems and human consumption especially in arid region, such as Central Asia (CA). As the hinterland of Eurasia, water scarcity and land degradation in CA have increased its vulnerability to heatwaves. While the frequency of heatwaves has been examined, more heatwave metrics such as timing are less known, possible influences of soil moisture on heatwave changes in this region are not fully understood. Using reanalysis and observational datasets, here we examine the spatial–temporal changes of heatwaves in CA during 1981–2020 and the role of various associated factors including soil moisture. The results show that the extreme heatwaves occurred more frequently in northwestern Kazakhstan. Temporally, heatwaves have been intensifying with significant increases in frequency (0.10 events/year), intensity (0.81 °C/year), and duration (0.08 days/year) since the 1980 s, and these trends have accelerated since 1997. The first yearly heatwave event tended to occur earlier in more recent decades, indicating an advanced heatwave season. We also found that the heatwave occurrences were significantly correlated with hydro-meteorological factors. In northwestern of CA, extreme heatwaves are exacerbated by a rapid decrease in soil moisture resulting from reduced precipitation and increased solar net radiation in this area. Our findings provide a scientific basis for understanding the mechanisms and predictions of heatwave in arid regions from the climate change perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the natural air diffusion electrode (NADE) cathode, a solar-driven electrochemical integrated sewage treatment technology and equipment in a pilot scale was developed to treat dispersed rural wastewater. The non-aeration NADE had efficient and stable H 2 O 2 production performance, maintaining the H 2 O 2 output between 1474 and 1535 mg h−1 within 50 h with the current efficiency of 77.4%–80.6%. This electrochemical integrated wastewater treatment system was coupled with technologies such as dual-cathode electro-Fenton, peroxi-coagulation and photoelectro-Fenton, which effectively improved the conversion and utilization efficiency of H 2 O 2. It integrated Fenton-like oxidation, electro-oxidation and UV/H 2 O 2 , as well as Fe(OH) 3 -dominated flocculation, which could effectively remove various pollutants in wastewater. The integrated sewage treatment equipment (500 L d−1) realized the effective treatment of a rural decentralized domestic sewage, achieving simultaneous removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), NH 3 –N, total phosphorus (TP) and bacteria. Driven by solar energy, its application feasibility, superiority and stability have been proved, providing theoretical and technical support for the efficient and low-consumption treatment of dispersed organic wastewater. [Display omitted] • Electrochemical integrated treatment equipment driven by solar energy is proposed. • The non-aeration NADE had efficient and stable H 2 O 2 production performance. • It integrates electro-oxidation, peroxi-coagulation and photoelectron-Fenton. • It has been successfully applied to the treatment of rural decentralized domestic sewage. • The pilot scale system exhibits good application feasibility, superiority and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Halide perovskites are promising emitters for light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) due to their outstanding optoelectronic properties, i.e., tunable bandgap, high photoluminescence quantum efficiency, and excellent color purity. However, in contrast to their green and red cousins, the present blue perovskite LEDs are still suffering from poor operational lifetime and electroluminescence shift during bias operation, hindering their practical applications in full‐color information displays. Developing rational strategies to achieve efficient and stable blue perovskite LEDs is one of the urgent tasks in this community. Herein, through substituting the Pb site with strontium ions, blue perovskite films with stable emission under relatively harsh working conditions, i.e., high electrical bias, constant thermal heating, and UV illumination, are obtained, which accordingly guarantees spectrally stable blue perovskite LEDs with external quantum efficiency of 4.1%. Moreover, different alkaline‐earth metal ions are also investigated to further explore the effects of B‐site ion substitution on the performance of perovskite LEDs. This work demonstrates an alternative path for the development of spectral‐stable blue perovskite LEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resveratrol (RES), a natural polyphenol in fruits, has shown promising anti-cancer properties. Due to its relative low toxicity which limits the adverse effects observed for conventional chemotherapeutics, RES has been proposed as an alternative. However, the therapeutic applications of RES have been limited due to low water solubility, as well as chemical and physical instability. This study investigated enhancing the anti-cancer activity of RES against non-small-cell-lung-cancer (NSCLC) by complexing with sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin (CD-RES) and loading onto polymeric nanoparticles (NPs). The physicochemical properties of the CD-RES NPs were then characterized. The CD-RES inclusion complex increased the water solubility of RES by ~66-fold. CD-RES NPs demonstrated very good aerosolization potential with a mass median aerodynamic diameter of 2.20 μm. Cell-based studies demonstrated improved therapeutic efficacy of CD-RES NPs compared to RES. This included enhanced cellular uptake, cytotoxicity, and apoptosis, while retaining antioxidant activity. The 3D spheroid study indicated an intensified anti-cancer effect of CD-RES NPs. Altogether, these findings marked CD-RES NPs as a potential inhalable delivery system of RES for the treatment NSCLC. Unlabelled Image • CD-RES inclusion complex was prepared to improve the aqueous solubility of RES by 66-folds. • CD-RES NPs proved to have excellent aerosolization potential using the Next-Generation Impactor™. • CD-RES loaded onto PLGA NPs significantly enhanced the anti-cancer effects when tested on NSCLC cell lines. • 3D spheroid study also indicated a considerably intensified anti-cancer effect of the CD-RES NPs compared to the plain drug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the unit viewing sphere imaging model, the projection of a space sphere includes the sphere image and its antipodal sphere image. As the pair of sphere images are separated, they have only one common self-polar triangle. In this study, a method for homography estimation based on the projection of the space sphere is proposed, which involves using a paracatadioptric camera. The proposed method requires two images of the space sphere from different positions to obtain a homography matrix. This homography matrix has eight degrees of freedom, and a line correspondence pair provides two constraints. Hence, using four pairs of line correspondences, the homography matrix can be solved, and the external parameters can be obtained. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified through simulation and experiments using real images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Parylene C polymer neural probe array with 64 electrodes purposefully positioned across 8 individual shanks to anatomically match specific regions of the hippocampus was designed, fabricated, characterized, and implemented in vivo for enabling recording in deep brain regions in freely moving rats. Thin film polymer arrays were fabricated using surface micromachining techniques and mechanically braced to prevent buckling during surgical implantation. Importantly, the mechanical bracing technique developed in this work involves a novel biodegradable polymer brace that temporarily reduces shank length and consequently, increases its stiffness during implantation, therefore enabling access to deeper brain regions while preserving a low original cross-sectional area of the shanks. The resulting mechanical properties of braced shanks were evaluated at the benchtop. Arrays were then implemented in vivo in freely moving rats, achieving both acute and chronic recordings from the pyramidal cells in the cornu ammonis (CA) 1 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus which are responsible for memory encoding. This work demonstrated the potential for minimally invasive polymer-based neural probe arrays for multi-region recording in deep brain structures. [2020-0018] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the clinical factors affecting pregnancy rates following the surgical removal of intrauterine adhesions (IUAs) and subsequent in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). We retrospectively evaluated case data from patients who had undergone hysteroscopic surgery to remove varying degrees of IUAs and who had subsequently received assisted reproductive treatments with IVF-ET (in all 140 cycles) at our hospital between January, 2011 and January, 2015. The patient data were divided into either the pregnancy or non-pregnancy groups based on the pregnancy outcomes, and a number of clinicopathological variables were compared these two groups, such as age, infertility (type and duration), the number of prior surgical treatments for and severity of IUAs, the baseline follicle-stimulating hormone/luteinizing hormone (FSH/LH) ratio and estradiol level, endometrial thickness on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration, etc. We selected the variables with statistically significant differences to generate multivariate logistic regression and linear correlation analyses. We found that i) the mean endometrial thickness on the day of hCG administration was greater in the pregnancy group, and that the average gestational age was younger than that in the non-pregnancy group. The different age groups had significantly different pregnancy rates. The mean baseline FSH/LH ratio of the women in the pregnancy group was lower than that in the women in the non-pregnancy group. The number of embryos transferred in the pregnancy group was higher than that in the non-pregnancy group. However, the other variables exhibited similar values between these two groups. ii) Our multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that age and endometrial thickness on the day of hCG administration had significant effects on the pregnancy outcome. The baseline FSH/LH ratio and the number of embryos transferred were similar between the groups. On the whole, age and endometrial thickness on the day of hCG administration are the most important predictors of pregnancy outcome in the patients undergoing IVF-ET following the surgical removal of IUAs. Importantly however, the identification of effective methods with which to improve the endometrial thickness and the ovarian response in patients with diminished ovarian reserves warrants further investigation in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compatibilizing agents, namely, maleic anhydride‐grafted polyolefin elastomer (POE‐g‐MAH) and maleic anhydride‐grafted polypropylene (PP‐g‐MAH), were simultaneously employed in isotactic polypropylene (PP)/titanate whisker composites for high impact toughness and improved mechanical properties. POE‐g‐MAH was used in the composites for reinforcing impact strength of PP. In the meanwhile, PP‐g‐MAH compatibilized counterpart was enrolled for modulating the composite properties. With 3‐aminopropyl triethoxysilane modified whiskers, compatible compatibilizing agent PP‐g‐MAH contributed to maintain the tensile property, while POE‐g‐MAH compatibilized content was prone to improve the composites of PP/whisker with notch impact strength of 9.9 ± 0.7 kJ/m2, which was ~220% higher than that of PP. Validity of interface regulation revealed that POE‐g‐MAH and PP‐g‐MAH were dominated separately to improve impact and tensile strengths with the diversely compatibilized part ratio, and strived in combination for more superior mechanical properties. β‐Form crystals detected by differential scanning calorimetry in the composites favored the extra improvement of tenacity, and crystalline morphology confirmed the promoted heterogeneous nucleation of PP composites with addition of PP‐g‐MAH. Variations of glass transition temperature and loss factor also indicated the different effects of the two compatibilizers on the interface between whiskers and PP matrix. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:3421–3428, 2019. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Precipitation and ryegrass growth significantly affected the dynamic changing of soil water in the Sichuan Basin area. • The nitrogen fertilizer neither 225 kg/hm2 nor 75 kg/hm2 was sustainable for ryegrass due to the water stress and nitrogen stress respectively. • The nitrogen fertilizer application for artificial ryegrass land should be 150 kg/hm2, considering in a long period • The EPIC model simulated the dynamic changes of soil water well for a long period of time. To understand the impacts of fertilizer treatment and ryegrass growth on the dynamic changes of soil water is essential to use available soil water and rainfall sagaciously and develop a sustainable artificial ryegrass land in Sichuan Basin area and the similar areas in the world. In the current research, the dynamic changes of soil water were measured under different nitrogen fertilizer treatments by field experiment and EPIC model (Environment Policy Integrated Climate) simulation in the hilly region of Sichuan Basin area from 2011 to 2015. Results revealed that the EPIC model simulated the dynamic changes of soil water well, as the simulated and observed values of forage yield, leaf area index and ryegrass height exhibited a good correlation. When the nitrogen fertilizer was 150 kg/hm2 the soil water consumed by ryegrass during January to May period recovered well during June to September, it is more sustainable treatment than other experimental treatments, considering in a long period. Furthermore, our simulation demonstrated that the roots especially distributed in 0–50 cm soil has a significant effect on available soil water in 0–1 m soil. Root distributed in 0–20 cm and 60–100 cm soil affected the available soil water in 0–50 cm and 60–100 cm soil respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five common used green algae species, Chlorella vulgaris, Chlorococcum sp. GD, Parachlorella kessleri TY, Scenedesmus obliquus, and Scenedesmus quadricauda, were evaluated for their growth and nitrogen removal properties when being cultivated in synthetic wastewater with ammonium and nitrate as nitrogen sources. The five microalgae could adapt wastewater with different kinds of nitrogen sources, but the growth potential and nitrogen removal ability were species-dependent. Parachlorella kessleri TY cultivated in wastewater with ammonium and nitrate had higher biomass concentration of 2750 and 2765 mg L−1, respectively, compared to C. vulgaris, S. obliquus, and S. quadricauda. Chlorococcum sp. GD in wastewater with nitrate had the highest biomass concentration of 3095 mg L−1. Although all microalgae showed a good removal efficiency of nitrogen (ammonium: 85.30-97.03%; nitrate: 100%) after 7 days of cultivation, Chlorococcum sp. GD and P. kessleri TY removed 85-90.24% of ammonium and 100% of nitrate within 2-3 days, which was faster than the other three microalgae. It was also found that the growth and pollutant removal of microalgae in wastewater with nitrate was superior to those of microalgae in wastewater with ammonium. This was caused by the inhibitory effect of the low pH when microalgae were cultivated in wastewater with ammonium as the nitrogen source. Based on the results above, the growth and nitrogen removal was closely related to the microalgal species and the pH of the wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isotactic polypropylene (PP)/titanate whisker composites were tailored by two component blends, in which PP and the titanate fillers were processed with maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene (PP- g -MAH) and maleic anhydride-grafted polyethylene (PE- g -MAH) as compatibilizing agents, respectively. The whiskers modified with silica and 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane ensured the hybrid interfacial conceivement, and the usages of the diverse compatibilizers were intended for toughening effect and balanced mechanical properties of PP. Positively compatible PP- g -MAH and anti-compatible PE-g-MAH endowed the composites of PP/titanate whiskers with remarkable rise in notch impact strength of 7.4 ± 0.1 kJ/m 2 , which was significantly higher than 3.1 ± 0.4 kJ/m 2 for PP with trivial deterioration to both tensile and flexural strengths. Differential scanning calorimetry results demonstrated the presence of β-form crystals in the composite, favoring the extra improvement of impact toughness. Variations of glass transition temperature and storage energy detected by dynamic mechanical analysis also revealed both of the compatibilizing agents worked in the composites for reinforcement. With the greatly improved tenacity as well as balanced tensile and flexural properties in the composite, PP could find its potentials as impact plastic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • S, N self-doped electrocatalyst was derived from waste ginkgo leaves. • A Janus electrode was first constructed in flow-through electrochemical oxidation system. • The system could enhance oxygen mass transfer and enrich pollutant simultaneously. • This system had higher efficiency, lower energy consumption, and wider application pH. • It was promising and stable for removing various pollutants in water/wastewater. Facing low treatment efficiency, narrow adaptive pH and high energy consumption in electro-Fenton (EF), we proposed a novel flow-through metal-free electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOPs) using biomass derived S, N self-doped catalytic Janus cathode named SNJC. The SNJC was composed of a hydrophobic gas diffusion layer in the middle and hydrophilic catalytic membrane at both ends, while the catalytic membrane of S, N self-doped biomass carbon named SN-BC was derived from waste ginkgo leaves without additional supporting templates or activation processes. The conversion of graphite N, pyridinic N and thiophene S in SN-BC played a significant role in efficient oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) for H 2 O 2 generation and in-situ active species generation. The efficient enrichment and rapid degradation of pollutants in catalytic membrane achieved almost complete removal of tetracycline within 120 min with a low energy consumption of 16.8 kWh/kg TOC. This flow-through system exhibited superior catalytic performance in wide pH ranges (3–11) due to the collective effect of radicals (•OH and O 2 •−) and non-radical (1O 2). This work provides a new insight towards the design of S, N self-doped Janus electrode and activation mechanism of in-situ generation and metal-free catalysis of H 2 O 2 in flow-through EAOPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a notable feature of malignant tumors, invasion and metastasis are important events in the process of tumor progression. Amiloride, a synthetic inhibitor of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), is involved in these events. To evaluate the therapeutic value of amiloride in cervical cancer, HeLa cells were used as in vitro cellular models. The migration and invasion abilities of HeLa cells, in addition to the mRNA expression of matriptase, uPA, uPA receptor and 72 kDa type IV collagenase (MMP‑2), were detected using scratch assays, Transwell chamber assays and reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‑qPCR). The results of RT‑qPCR demonstrated that the mRNA expression of uPA and MMP‑2 in HeLa cells was downregulated significantly in a dose‑dependent manner when incubated with various concentrations of amiloride for 24 h. The migration distance of HeLa cells was significantly shorter at 6, 12 and 24 h following incubation with amiloride (P<0.01), and there was a positive correlation between cell migratory ability and cellular uPA protein expression level (r=0.955, P<0.01). The number of HeLa cells that penetrated the Matrigel following incubation for 24 h with different concentrations of amiloride decreased significantly compared with the control group, indicating that cell invasiveness was positively correlated with the protein expression level of uPA in the cells (r=0.993, P<0.01). The present study demonstrated that amiloride was able to specifically inhibit the mRNA expression levels of uPA in HeLa cells, and sequentially downregulate the mRNA expression of downstream MMP‑2 in the uPA system, thereby suppressing the migratory and invasive ability of HeLa cells. Therefore, amiloride may be a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of cervical cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A salt-resistant solar evaporator inspired by the mangrove trees was fabricated. • The hierarchical channels of loofah sponge offer abundant escape channels for solar steam. • High chemical potential of contained Na+ in sodium polyacrylate hydrogel leads to Donnan effect. • The mechanism of solar desalination mechanism based Donnan effect was proposed systematically. • Efficient solar evaporation performance is realized even for concentrated brines. Solar desalination is considered an efficient way to alleviate the global shortage of freshwater resources. However, the salt accumulation on the surface of solar absorbers drastically reduces light absorption and steam evaporation efficiency, especially in highly concentrated brines. Herein, inspired by the salt rejection mechanisms of the mangrove trees, a sodium polyacrylate carbonized loofah (PAAS-CLF) was designed using the biomass porous loofah sponge as the matrix, modified with sodium polyacrylate (PAAS) hydrogel coating for solar-driven desalination. The loofah sponge coated PAAS hydrogel as a substrate could obtain a naturally high porosity. Moreover, relying on the negatively charged PAAS hydrogel rich in –COO– groups, it could confine Na+ to induce the Donnan effect, thus reducing the diffusion of salt ions into the water supply layer and avoiding salt accumulation fundamentally. The PAAS-CLF had high water evaporation rates of 1.83 kg m−2h−1 with an efficiency of 94.54% attained under 1 sun. More notably, the evaporator maintained stable water evaporation rates over 1.45 kg m−2h−1 in salt water with a broad range of salinity (35–200 g kg−1), and no salt accumulation was observed during the long-time evaporation. Therefore, this work provides an approach of the flexible application using environmentally friendly biomass sponge composite polyelectrolyte hydrogel for salt-resistant evaporator in solar desalination and concentrated brine treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Electro-enhanced activation of PMS overcame the weaknesses of EAOPs and SR-AOPs. • The E-PTi-PMS system achieved an ultra-efficient removal of CBZ (k = 0.467 min-1). • 1O2 played a dominant role and converted from SO 4 • − , O 2 • − , •OH and V o • •. • PTi retained superiorities over wide pH (3–10) and excellent reusability (30 cycles). • The E-PTi-PMS system exhibited the ultra-low energy consumption (0.025 kWh/m3-log). Traditional free radicals-dominated electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOPs) and sulfate radical-based advanced oxidation processes (SR-AOPs) are limited by pH dependence and weak reusability, respectively. To overcome these shortcomings, electro-enhanced activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) on a novel perovskite-Ti 4 O 7 composite anode (E-PTi-PMS system) was proposed. It achieved an ultra-efficient removal rate (k = 0.467 min-1) of carbamazepine (CBZ), approximately 36 and 8 times of the E-PTi and PTi-PMS systems. Singlet oxygen (1O 2) played a dominant role in the E-PTi-PMS system and transformed from SO 4 • − , O 2 • − , •OH and oxygen vacancy (V o • •). The electric field expedited the decomposition and utilization of PMS, promoting the generation of radicals and expanding the formation pathway of 1O 2. The E-PTi-PMS system presented superiorities over wide pH (3–10) and less dosage of PMS (1 mM), expanding the pH adaptability and reducing the cost of EAOPs. Simultaneously, the excellent reusability (30 cycles) solved the bottleneck of recycling catalysts in SR-AOPs via an ultra-low energy (0.025 kWh/m3-log). This work provides a promising alternative towards high-efficiency and low-cost treatment of polluted waters. [Display omitted] Schematic of the proposed mechanism for CBZ degradation in the E-PTi-PMS system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the removal efficiency of low-concentration organic pollutants and enhance the oxidation efficiency of electro-Fenton (EF) process, a floating sandwich-type EF system (N/(A)/ D -EF) without aeration was constructed for the first time. This EF system electro-synthesized H 2 O 2 through the floating natural air diffusion electrode (NADE) without aeration, and regenerated Fe(II) effectively by the activated carbon fiber (ACF) interlayer, which significantly enhanced the process oxidation capacity since its •OH yield was 8.7 times that of the conventional EF system. In addition, the ACF interlayer could adsorb and enrich micro-pollutants and the generated •OH directly oxidize the pollutants adsorbed on the ACF, which enabled regeneration of ACF and maintained removal stability in 20 consecutive experiments. The removal rate constant (k) of carbamazepine by N/(A)/ D -EF process was 7.6 times and 2.1 times higher than that of conventional EF and ACF adsorption process, respectively. This process could efficiently remove mixed low-concentration organic pollutants (0.1 mg L-1) in domestic sewage and lake water with rate constant 1.6–7.1 times that of the conventional EF process but lower energy consumption. Meanwhile, the N/(A)/ D -EF process had a wider application range of sewage pH and conductivity, which was a promising process for removing low-concentration pollutants in wastewater. [Display omitted] • A floating sandwich-type electro-Fenton (EF) without aeration was first constructed. • It electro-synthesized H 2 O 2 through the floating natural air diffusion electrode. • Activated carbon fiber (ACF) interlayer could regenerate Fe(II), adsorb and enrich pollutants. • This EF has higher oxidation efficiency, lower energy consumption, and wider application pH. • It is promising and stable for removing low-concentration pollutants in water/wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A possible mechanism for TCAA degradation in C-FeZIF/PMS system was then proposed. [Display omitted] • Graphene-based catalyst was established with Fe/Co and nitrogen doping. • 1O 2 was the main active species produced in the C-FeZIF/PMS system. • •SO 4 and •OH radicals assisted the catalytic process to a certain extent. • The combined radical and non-radical processes decomposed organic pollutants. Integrating transition-metal and nitrogen into carbon-based materials have been attracted considerable attention in peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation, but it is a great challenge to establish strong interactions between metal species and graphene. Here, we established metal–organic frameworks (MOFs)-hydrogels which acted as templates to form a family of FeCo/graphene aerogels (C-FeCo, C-CoMIL and C-FeZIF). The C-FeZIF, which co-doped Fe/Co and nitrogen into graphene aerogel, exhibited the most regular and stable metallic frameworks, the best crystallization and biggest pore sizes; it also showed the highest efficiency and stability in PMS catalysis for trichloroacetic acid (TCAA) degradation among these aerogels. By comparative analysis on different catalysis conditions (including catalyst dosage, PMS concentrations and reaction pH), 1 g/L C-FeZIF with 4 mM of PMS reacting under pH 5 showed to be the optimum conditions with an 81.2% removal of TCAA in 160 min. Meanwhile, the C-FeZIF/PMS system also performed well in TCAA degradation within a wide pH range from 3 to 9. Radical analysis suggested that 1O 2 was the main active species produced in the C-FeZIF/PMS system, while both SO 4 •- and •OH radicals assisted the catalytic process to a certain extent. The synthesis process is environmentally friendly, easy to carry out, safe and stable with no secondary pollution, which could be scaled up easily for catalyst preparation for water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A multifunctional Janus solar evaporator was developed. • It exhibited synergic photocatalysis and solar-driven interfacial steam generation. • The JPMS presented effective desalination without the risk of salt accumulation. • Excellent water purification capacity. The expeditious advancement of solar-driven interfacial steam generation by utilizing renewable and free solar energy is a promising strategy for remedying the water crisis. However, salt accumulation on solar evaporators and organic pollutants increases in the remaining bulk water block its commercial potential for practical applications. Herein, a Janus solar evaporator was designed by using a commercialized melamine sponge as the matrix, followed by PDMS modification and deposition of Chinese ink, and TiO 2 nanoparticles. The Janus photothermal melamine sponge (JPMS) was designed with containing a hydrophobic salt resistance layer, and a composite photothermal and photocatalysis layer from top to bottom. The applicability of the developed JPMS was systematically investigated for water evaporation, photocatalytic degradation, desalination as well as wastewater treatment. The JPMS exhibits an evaporation rate of 1.49 kg m-2h−1 with a corresponding efficiency of 93.54% under 1 sun illumination. Notably, the JPMS also exhibits the high efficiency of synergic photocatalysis for organic pollutants and acquires an excellent salt rejection capability. Integration of SISG, photocatalytic, and salt resistance may be viewed as a prospective avenue for water purifying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inactivation of von Hippel–Lindau (VHL) is critical for clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and VHL syndrome. VHL loss leads to the stabilization of hypoxia-inducible factor α (HIFα) and other substrate proteins, which, together, drive various tumor-promoting pathways. There is inadequate molecular characterization of VHL restoration in VHL-defective ccRCC cells. The identities of HIF-independent VHL substrates remain elusive. We reinstalled VHL expression in 786-O and performed transcriptome, proteome and ubiquitome profiling to assess the molecular impact. The transcriptome and proteome analysis revealed that VHL restoration caused the downregulation of hypoxia signaling, glycolysis, E2F targets, and mTORC1 signaling, and the upregulation of fatty acid metabolism. Proteome and ubiquitome co-analysis, together with the ccRCC CPTAC data, enlisted 57 proteins that were ubiquitinated and downregulated by VHL restoration and upregulated in human ccRCC. Among them, we confirmed the reduction of TGFBI (ubiquitinated at K676) and NFKB2 (ubiquitinated at K72 and K741) by VHL re-expression in 786-O. Immunoprecipitation assay showed the physical interaction between VHL and NFKB2. K72 of NFKB2 affected NFKB2 stability in a VHL-dependent manner. Taken together, our study generates a comprehensive molecular catalog of a VHL-restored 786-O model and provides a list of putative VHL-dependent ubiquitination substrates, including TGFBI and NFKB2, for future investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Bisphenol A (BPA) exposure altered spontaneous movement, touch response and swimming speed in developing zebrafish. [•] Consistent with deficits in swimming activity, BPA induced musculature damage at the same concentration range. [•] BPA exposure induced apoptotic cell death subsequent to ROS formation and oxidative DNA damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caffeoyl shikimate esterase (CSE) hydrolyzes caffeoyl shikimate into caffeate and shikimate in the phenylpropanoid pathway. In this study, we performed a systematic analysis of the CSE gene family and investigated the possible roles of CSE and CSE-like genes in Populus. We conducted a genome-wide analysis of the CSE gene family, including functional and phylogenetic analyses of CSE and CSE-like genes, using the poplar (Populus trichocarpa) genome. Eighteen CSE and CSE-like genes were identified in the Populus genome, and five phylogenetic groups were identified from phylogenetic analysis. CSEs in Group Ia, which were proposed as bona fide CSEs, have probably been lost in most monocots except Oryza sativa. Primary functional classification showed that PoptrCSE1 and PoptrCSE2 had putative function in lignin biosynthesis. In addition, PoptrCSE2, along with PoptrCSE12, might also respond to stress with a function in cell wall biosynthesis. Enzymatic assay of PoptoCSE1 (Populus tomentosa), -2 and -12 showed that PoptoCSE1 and -2 maintained CSE activity. PoptoCSE1 and 2 had similar biochemical properties, tissue expression patterns and subcellular localization. Most of the PoptrCSE-like genes are homologs of AtMAGL (monoacylglycerol lipase) genes in Arabidopsis and may function as MAG lipase in poplar. Our study provides a systematic understanding of this novel gene family and suggests the function of CSE in monolignol biosynthesis in Populus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Central catadioptric cameras with a single effective viewpoint contain both mirrors and pinhole cameras that increase the imaging field of view. In this study, the common pole–polar properties of central catadioptric sphere or line images are investigated and used for camera calibration. From these properties, the pole and polar with respect to the image of absolute conic and the modified image of absolute conic, respectively, can be recovered according to the generalized eigenvalue decomposition. Moreover, these techniques are valid for paracatadioptric sensors with the degenerate conic dual to the circular points being considered. At least three images of spheres or lines are required to completely calibrate any central catadioptric camera. The intrinsic parameters of the camera, the shape of reflective mirror, and the distortion parameters can be linearly estimated using the algebraic and geometric constraints of the sphere or line images obtained by the central catadioptric camera. The obtained experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed calibration algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• LPS up-regulates NUTM2A-AS1 and HMGB1 while down-regulates let-7c-5p in HDPCs. • HMGB1 is a functional target of let-7c-5p, and let-7c-5p is a direct target of NUTM2A-AS1 in HDPCs. • NUTM2A-AS1 contributes to LPS-induced injury of HDPCs through targeting let-7c-5p/HMGB1 axis. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) NUTM2A antisense RNA 1 (NUTM2A-AS1) has been reported to be abnormally up-regulated in pulpitis tissues. However, the function of NUTM2A-AS1 in pulpitis remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the role and working mechanism of NUTM2A-AS1 in pulpitis using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated human dental pulp cells (HDPCs). 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, flow cytometry and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release detection assay were conducted to analyze the viability of HDPCs. Cell inflammatory response was analyzed through measuring the protein levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-8. Western blot assay and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were applied to measure protein expression and RNA expression, respectively. Bioinformatic database StarBase was used to predict the possible targets of NUTM2A-AS1 and let-7c-5p, and dual-luciferase reporter assay was conducted to verify these intermolecular interactions. LPS stimulation restrained cell viability and induced cell apoptosis and inflammation of HDPCs. LPS exposure up-regulated the expression of NUTM2A-AS1 and High-Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1) and down-regulated the level of let-7c-5p. LPS-induced injury in HDPCs was partly attenuated by the silencing of NUTM2A-AS1 or HMGB1. Let-7c-5p was confirmed as a direct target of NUTM2A-AS1, and let-7c-5p bound to the 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR) of HMGB1 messenger RNA (mRNA) in HDPCs. HMGB1 overexpression largely overturned NUTM2A-AS1 silencing-mediated effects in LPS-induced HDPCs. NUTM2A-AS1 knockdown attenuated LPS-induced damage in HDPCs partly through targeting let-7c-5p/HMGB1 axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND RESULTS CONCLUSION Nitrogen is a key factor affecting the quality of rice. Studying the impact of nitrogen fertilizer on the taste, physicochemical properties, and starch structure of Indica rice with different amylose contents is of great significance for scientifically fertilizing and cultivating high‐quality rice varieties for consumption.The results indicate that increasing nitrogen fertilizer application reduces the amylose content and increases the protein content, resulting in a decrease in taste quality. Simultaneously, it reduces the intergranular porosity of starch particles, improving the appearance and milling quality of rice. Compared to the N1 treatment (nitrogen fertilizer application rate of 90 kg ha−1), the taste of low‐amylose rice (Yixiangyou 2115) and high‐amylose rice (Byou 268) decreased by 14.24% and 19.79%, respectively, under N4 treatment (nitrogen fertilizer application rate of 270 kg ha−1). The effect of nitrogen fertilizer on low‐amylose rice is mainly reflected in increased rice hardness, enthalpy value, and setback viscosity, resulting in a decline in taste. The effect of nitrogen fertilizer on high‐amylose rice is mainly reflected in a decrease in peak viscosity, an increase in gelatinization temperature, and crystallinity under high nitrogen levels.Increasing nitrogen fertilizer application can improve the appearance and milling quality of rice, but it also leads to an increase in protein content, hardness, gelatinization enthalpy, decrease in breakdown value, and a decline in palatability. In practical production, different production measures should be taken according to different production goals. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary The environment in which rice is stored has a big influence on rice quality. Four rice cultivars with various amylose content types were kept at low temperatures (LT, 4 °C) and room temperature (RT, 20 °C) in this study: NAC: (Low‐amylose content <2%), LAC: (low‐amylose content, about 10%), MAC: (medium‐amylose content, about 17%) and HAC: (high‐amylose content, about 25%). After storage at two temperatures and comparison to the harvest year, the amylose content of 4 types increased, and the change range of the HAC was the lowest. The gel consistency held at LT was higher than that at RT. Under LT storage, the breakdown values of MAC and HAC greatly increased (0.47%–0.65%), but NAC significantly reduced. The enthalpy of gelatinisation (▵Hg) drastically reduced (7.81%–49.10%) from the harvest year. Regeneration enthalpy increased at the grain after being sealed for a year at LT (except HAC) and reduced noticeably at RT. With the exception of ▵Hg and pasting temperature, the DSC profiles had a positive correlation with gel consistency. HPV, CPV and SBV showed a positive correlation with amylose content. As a result, the ideal storage temperature should be chosen based on the amylose type and use of the rice during storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) play an essential role in suppressing the antitumor activity of T lymphocytes in solid tumors, thus representing an attractive therapeutic target to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy. However, the differences in protein expression between MDSCs and their physiological counterparts, particularly polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), remain inadequately characterized, making the specific identification and targeting of MDSCs difficult. PMNs and PMN-MDSCs share markers such as CD11b+CD14−CD15+/CD66b+, and some MDSC-enriched markers are emerging, such as LOX-1 and CD84. More proteomics studies are needed to identify the signature and markers for MDSCs. Recently, we reported the induced differentiation of isogenic PMNs or MDSCs (referred to as iPMNs and iMDSCs, respectively) from the human promyelocytic cell line HL60. Here, we profiled the global proteomics and membrane proteomics of these cells with quantitative mass spectrometry, which identified a 41-protein signature ("cluster 6") that was upregulated in iMDSCs compared with HL60 and iPMN. We further integrated our cell line-based proteomics data with a published proteomics dataset of normal human primary monocytes and monocyte-derived MDSCs induced by cancer-associated fibroblasts. The analysis identified a 38-protein signature that exhibits an upregulated expression pattern in MDSCs compared with normal monocytes or PMNs. These signatures may provide a hypothesis-generating platform to identify protein biomarkers that phenotypically distinguish MDSCs from their healthy counterparts, as well as potential therapeutic targets that impair MDSCs without harming normal myeloid cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dehydrins (DHN) belong to the late embryogenesis abundant II family and have been found to enhance plant tolerance to abiotic stress. In the present study, we reported four DHNs in Larix kaempferi (LkDHN) which were identified from the published transcriptome. Alignment analysis showed that these four LkDHNs shared close relationships and belonged to SK3-type DHNs. The electrophoretic mobility shift assay indicated that these four LkDHNs all possess sequence-independent binding capacity for double-strands DNAs. The subcellular localizations of the four LkDHNs were in both the nucleus and cytoplasm, indicating that these LkDHNs enter the nucleus to exert the ability to bind DNA. The preparation of tobacco protoplasts with different concentrations of mannitol showed that LkDHNs enhanced the tolerance of plant cells under osmotic stress. The overexpression of LkDHNs in yeasts enhanced their tolerance to osmotic stress and helped the yeasts to survive severe stress. In addition, LkDHNs in the nucleus of salt treated tobacco increased. All of these results indicated that the four LkDHNs help plants survive from heavy stress by participating in DNA protection. These four LKDHNs played similar roles in the response to osmotic stress and assisted in the adaptation of L. kaempferi to the arid and cold winter of northern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perfluorooctanoic acid degradation by a metal-free Fenton-like catalyst with dual-reaction-center confinement derived from biomass waste. • Biomass derived graphene is firstly used as metal-free Fenton catalyst. • The C F bonds in PFOA becomes weaker through interaction with OG. • The 3D macroscopic structure promotes H 2 O 2 decomposition. • The formation of the dual-reaction-center enhanced PFOA degradation. A three dimensional (3D) macroscopic modified graphene-based metal-free Fenton-like catalyst (OG) was obtained from biomass wastes in the aim of degrading perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Results showed that the OG could degrade 93.4 % of PFOA in 150 min with a defluorination rate of 38.3 %. Experimental and theoretical studies verified that electron density migration occurred in OG via the C O C bridge, promoting electron loss from the C F bonds in PFOA with an obvious increase in the HOMO of F from 0.95 % to 15.46 %. Due to the confinement effect associated with the 3D graphene assembly, the barrier of OG (1.10 eV) was much smaller than that of the 2D graphene state (1.60 eV), resulting in an increase of in the C O bond length and in the activity of the C atom to promote H 2 O 2 decomposition. This study implies that 3D graphene derived from biomass waste could serve as a novel metal-free Fenton-like catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]