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Hybrid nanomaterials have recently emerged as a new interface of nanobiocatalysis, serving as a host platform for enzyme immobilization. Enzyme immobilization in inorganic crystal nanoflowers and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) has sparked the bulk of scientific interest due to their superior performances. Many breakthroughs have been achieved recently in the preparation of various types of enzyme@MOF and enzyme-hybrid nanoflower composites. However, it is unfortunate that there are few reviews in the literature related to enzyme@MOF and enzyme-hybrid nanoflower composites and their improved synthesis strategies and their applications in biotechnology. In this review, innovative synthetic strategies for enzyme@MOF composites and enzyme-hybrid nanoflower composites are discussed. Enzyme@MOF composites and enzyme-hybrid nanoflower composites are reviewed in terms of biotechnological applications and potential research directions. We are convinced that a fundamental study and application of enzyme@MOF composites and enzyme-hybrid nanoflower composites will be understood by the reader as a result of this work. The summary of different synthetic strategies for enzyme@MOF composites and enzyme-hybrid nanoflower composites and the improvement of their synthetic strategies will also benefit the readers and provide ideas and thoughts in the future research process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To find out the incidence and risk factors of opaque bubble layer (OBL) in eyes with myopia and myopic astigmatism following femtosecond laser–assisted in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK) and small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE). Methods: A total of 1076 eyes from 569 patients who had FS-LASIK or SMILE were included in the retrospective research. For each kind of surgery, eyes were separated into two groups: "OBL" groups and "no OBL" groups. In the FS-LASIK group, eyes that developed OBL were split into "hard OBL" and "soft OBL" groups. The incidence and size of OBL were analyzed after watching the surgical procedure videotaped during the operation and taking screenshots. Surgical parameters, including sphere, cylinder, keratometry, corneal thickness, flap thickness, cap thickness, lenticule thickness, and visual acuity, were compared. Results: In the FS-LASIK surgery, the incidence of OBL was 63.2% (347 eyes). A thicker central corneal thickness (CCT) was the only independent risk factor affecting the OBL area (β = 0.126, P = 0.019). One hundred and thirty of these eyes had hard OBL, and the flap thickness of these eyes was thinner than that of those with soft OBL (P = 0.027). In the SMILE group, 26.6% (140 eyes) developed OBL. A higher flat keratometry (K) and a thicker residual stromal thickness (RST) were risk factors affecting the OBL area (β = 0.195, P = 0.024; β = 0.281, P = 0.001). Conclusion: The incidence of OBL differs between the FS-LASIK surgery and the SMILE surgery. There are differences in the factors influencing OBL between the two surgeries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The insufficient durability of Pt‐based catalysts and the sluggish kinetics of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is hampering the development of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) for commercialization. Herein, a single atom Ti‐modified activated nitrogen‐doped porous carbon (Ti‐a‐NPC) is designed to equalize O2‐activation/*OH‐removal through regulating the charge rearrangement of ultra‐small L12‐Pt3Co for efficient and durable oxygen reduction. The Ti single‐atom modified in the surface/pore of Ti‐a‐NPC can anchor the Pt‐based intermetallic nanoparticles (NPs) not only guarantees Pt‐based intermetallics’ ultra‐fine size (≈2.62 nm) but also maintains Pt‐based intermetallics during ORR process. The enhanced catalyst (L12‐Pt3Co/Ti‐a‐NPC) achieves 11‐fold mass activity (1.765 A mgPt−1) compared to commercial Pt/C. Notably, after 30 000 cycles of accelerated durability tests, the mass activity of the L12‐Pt3Co/Ti‐a‐NPC only decreased by 3.7%, while that of commercial Pt/C decreased by 37.1%. Rationalized by theoretical simulation, the introduction of Ti atoms can form charge channels between L12‐Pt3Co NPs and Ti‐a‐NPC, accelerating the charge transfer in the ORR process. Furthermore, the charge of L12‐Pt3Co will accumulate to Ti atoms and buffer the electron transfer of L12‐Pt3Co to the N atoms, thus optimizing the adsorption performance of the active site to the oxygen‐containing intermediate and improving the intrinsic activity of the catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) poses a significant threat to the poultry industry, and vaccines play an important role in protection. However, due to the increasing scale of poultry production, there is an urgent need to develop vaccines that are suitable for convenient immunization methods such as spraying. Previous studies have shown that Newcastle disease virus (NDV)-ILT vaccines administered via intranasal and intraocular routes to commercial chickens carrying maternally derived antibodies (MDAs) are still protective against ILT. In this study, a recombinant NDV (rNDV) was generated to express infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) glycoprotein B (gB), named rLS-gB, based on a full-length cDNA clone of the LaSota strain. The protective effect of different doses of rLS-gB administered by spray vaccination to commercial chickens at 1 day of age (DOA) was evaluated. The chickens were exposed to 160-μm aerosol particles for 10 min for spray vaccination, and no adverse reactions were observed after vaccination. Despite the presence of anti-NDV MDAs and anti-ILTV MDAs in chickens, the ILTV- and NDV-specific antibody titers were significantly greater in the vaccinated groups than in the unvaccinated group. After challenge with a virulent ILTV strain, no clinical signs were observed in the 107 EID50/ml group compared to the other groups. Furthermore, vaccination with 107 EID50/ml rLS-gB significantly reduced the ILTV viral load and ameliorated gross and microscopic lesions in the trachea of chickens. Overall, these results suggested that rLS-gB is a safe and efficient candidate spray vaccine for ILT and is especially suitable for scaled chicken farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of Crohn’s disease (CD), a subtype of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is increasing worldwide. The pathogenesis of CD is hypothesized to be related to environmental, genetic, immunological, and bacterial factors. Current studies have indicated that intestinal epithelial cells, including columnar, Paneth, M, tuft, and goblet cells dysfunctions, are strongly associated with these pathogenic factors. In particular, goblet cells dysfunctions have been shown to be related to CD pathogenesis by direct or indirect ways, according to the emerging studies. The mucus barrier was established with the help of mucins secreted by goblet cells. Not only do the mucins mediate the mucus barrier permeability and bacterium selection, but also, they are closely linked with the endothelial reticulum stress during the synthesis process. Goblet cells also play a vital role in immune response. It was indicated that goblet cells take part in the antigen presentation and cytokines secretion process. Disrupted goblet cells related immune process were widely discovered in CD patients. Meanwhile, dysbiosis of commensal and pathogenic microbiota can induce myriad immune responses through mucus and goblet cell-associated antigen passage. Microbiome dysbiosis lead to inflammatory reaction against pathogenic bacteria and abnormal tolerogenic response. All these three pathways, including the loss of mucus barrier function, abnormal immune reaction, and microbiome dysbiosis, may have independent or cooperative effect on the CD pathogenesis. However, many of the specific mechanisms underlying these pathways remain unclear. Based on the current understandings of goblet cell’s role in CD pathogenesis, substances including butyrate, PPARγagonist, Farnesoid X receptor agonist, nuclear factor-Kappa B, nitrate, cytokines mediators, dietary and nutrient therapies were all found to have potential therapeutic effects on CD by regulating the goblet cells mediated pathways. Several monoclonal antibodies already in use for the treatment of CD in the clinical settings were also found to have some goblet cells related therapeutic targets. In this review, we introduce the disease-related functions of goblet cells, their relationship with CD, their possible mechanisms, and current CD treatments targeting goblet cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With the development and popularization of low-dose chest CT technology, the diagnosis and survival rates of patients with early lung cancer (LC) have significantly improved. The occurrence of colorectal cancer (CRC) as the second primary cancer (SPC) in primary lung cancer (PLC) survivors has become an essential factor affecting the prognosis of early LC. This study explored the potential association between PLC and CRC genetically, laying a foundation for developing SPC-CRC prevention strategies after primary early LC. Methods: Based on a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) design, this study systematically screened genetic instrumental variables (IVs) based on the genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of PLC and CRC, applied inverse variance weighted (IVW) as the main method to assess the incidence association between the two cancers, and used a variety of other MR methods for supplementary analysis. Finally, the Genetic Risk Scores (GRS) method was used for secondary analysis to verify the results robustness further. Results: From LC to CRC forward MR analysis, 20 genetic IVs of overall LC, 15 genetic IVs of squamous cell lung carcinoma (LUSC), and 10 genetic IVs of adenocarcinoma of the lung (LUAD) were screened. In the reverse MR analysis from CRC to LC, 47 genetic IVs for overall CRC, 37 for colon cancer, and 25 for rectal cancer were screened. The IVW method and a variety of MR methods all found that overall LC and CRC were significantly associated at the genetic level. Subgroup analysis also showed that LUSC was associated with CRC. And the results of the GRS method were consistent with those of the main analysis, confirming the robustness of the study. Summary: Our MR study found an association between LC and CRC, with an increased risk of SPC-CRC following PLC, especially LUSC. Our study provides an essential basis for the precise prevention of SPC-CRC after PLC, suggesting that we should pay more attention to the population with a history of PLC in clinical work, and pay close attention to the incidence of SPC-CRC, and carry out intervention and treatment as soon as possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In light of the ongoing depletion of global fishery resources, there has been a growing trend towards increasing the scope of stock enhancement activities. The objective of these efforts is to replenish the diminishing fishery resources and restore the ecological balance within marine biological communities. Nevertheless, the efficacy of the stock enhancement project has been hindered by the differential growth and environmental adaptability of released species, which can be attributed to the influence of abundant food resources. As a consequence, the project has not yielded the anticipated outcomes. One useful strategy for enhancing the efficacy of stock enhancement is the deliberate allocation of appropriate habitats for diverse released organisms. Fatty acids were extracted by the Folch method and the composition and content of muscle fatty acids were determined by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. This study examines the fatty acid composition of four commercially important species, namely, little yellow croaker (Larimichthys polyactis), red sea bream (Pagrus major), swimming crab (Portunus trituberculatus), and ridgetail white prawn (Exopalaemon carinicauda). The sum of available docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is employed as an indicator to assess the appropriateness of the marine environment for releasing these species (DE). The red sea bream exhibited the lowest DE value of 13.69% in the northern coastal water of the Bohai Sea, and the little yellow croaker displayed the lowest DE value of 10.91% in the southern coastal water of the Shandong Peninsula. Conversely, the DE values of other seas were comparable, averaging 20.16%. The range of the DE value of the swimming crab across various coastal waters was observed to be between 33.59% and 45.21%. The ridgetail white prawn had a DE value of 21.10% in the coastal water of Yancheng City, Jiangsu Province, as well as the southern coastal water of the Shandong Peninsula, and a DE value of 31.75% in the southern and central coastal waters of Zhejiang Province. The findings of the study indicate that the Bohai Sea and the northern region of the Yellow Sea are the appropriate stock enhancement areas for red sea bream. Similarly, the Yellow Sea and the northern part of the East China Sea are identified as suitable habitats for the little yellow croaker. The swimming crab, on the other hand, is adapted to be released in the Yellow Sea, the Bohai Sea, and the East China Sea. The north of the central part of the East China Sea is an appropriate release area for the ridgetail white prawn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The relationship between sleep disturbances and lung cancer is complex and bidirectional. This meta-epidemiological study aimed to explore the potential association between sleep disruption and the risk of pulmonary cancer. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive literature search of the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases to retrieve relevant studies. We employed the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale to assess the quality of the observational studies. Stata 17.0 was used to synthesize and conduct a meta-analysis of odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We used funnel plot analysis and Egger's regression test to evaluate potential publication bias. Results: A total of 11 studies were included with 469,691 participants. The methodological quality of the included studies ranged from moderate to high. Compared with 7–8 h of sleep time, short sleep duration was associated with a 13% higher lung cancer risk [OR, 1.13; 95%CI: 1.02–1.25; I2 = 67.6%; P = 0.018] and long sleep duration with a 22% higher risk [OR, 1.22; 95%CI: 1.12–1.33; I2 = 6.9%; P < 0.001]. Insomnia symptoms [OR, 1.11; 95%CI: 1.07–1.16; I2 = 0%; P < 0.001] and evening chronotype [OR, 1.15; 95%CI: 1.05–1.26; P = 0.002] were all related to a higher risk of lung cancer. Egger's test revealed no publication bias for sleep duration (P = 0.13). Discussion: This systematic review is the first one which observes positive correction between sleep disturbances and the incidence of lung cancer. While the plausible mechanism is not clear, it is hypothesized that the association of short sleep duration and lung cancer mainly mediated by melatonin secretion and the immune-inflammatory balance. Further studies are needed to examine whether other risk factors, such as age, occupation, cumulative effect of sleep disturbances might mediate the relationship between sleep disturbances and lung cancer risk. Conclusion: The present study revealed that insufficient and excessive sleep duration, insomnia symptoms, and evening chronotype were significantly predictive of an increased risk of lung cancer. This finding underscores the need to account for sleep disturbances as an independent risk factor for evaluating susceptibility to lung cancer. Trial registration: CRD42023405351. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current investigation aims at the optimal control problem for discrete-time nonstrict-feedback nonlinear systems by invoking the reinforcement learning-based backstepping technique and neural networks. The dynamic-event-triggered control strategy introduced in this paper can alleviate the communication frequency between the actuator and controller. Based on the reinforcement learning strategy, actor–critic neural networks are employed to implement the n-order backstepping framework. Then, a neural network weight-updated algorithm is developed to minimize the computational burden and avoid the local optimal problem. Furthermore, a novel dynamic-event-triggered strategy is introduced, which can remarkably outperform the previously studied static-event-triggered strategy. Moreover, combined with the Lyapunov stability theory, all signals in the closed-loop system are strictly proven to be semiglobal uniformly ultimately bounded. Finally, the practicality of the offered control algorithms is further elucidated by the numerical simulation examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondria form a network in the cell that rapidly changes through fission, fusion, and motility. Dysregulation of this four-dimensional (4D: x,y,z,time) temporal network is implicated in numerous diseases ranging from cancer to neurodegeneration. While lattice light-sheet microscopy has recently made it possible to image mitochondria in 4D, quantitative analysis methods for the resulting datasets have been lacking. Here we present MitoTNT, the first-in-class software for Mitochondrial Temporal Network Tracking in 4D live-cell fluorescence microscopy data. MitoTNT uses spatial proximity and network topology to compute an optimal tracking assignment. To validate the accuracy of tracking, we created a reaction-diffusion simulation to model mitochondrial network motion and remodeling events. We found that our tracking is >90% accurate for the ground-truth simulations and agrees well with published motility results for experimental data. We used MitoTNT to quantify 4D mitochondrial networks from human induced pluripotent stem cells. First, we characterized sub-fragment motility and analyzed network branch motion patterns. We revealed that the skeleton node motion is correlated along branch and uncorrelated in time. Second, we identified fission and fusion events with high spatiotemporal resolution. We found that mitochondrial skeleton nodes near the fission/fusion sites move nearly twice as fast as random skeleton nodes and that microtubules play a role in mediating selective fission/fusion. Finally, we developed graph-based transport simulations that model how material would distribute on experimentally measured mitochondrial temporal networks. We showed that pharmacological perturbations increase network reachability but decrease network resilience through a combination of altered mitochondrial fission/fusion dynamics and motility. MitoTNT's easy-to-use tracking module, interactive 4D visualization capability, and powerful post-tracking analysis aim at making temporal network tracking accessible to the wider mitochondria research community. Author summary: Mitochondria are the powerhouses of the cell and assume critical roles in cell fate, cell signaling, and cellular health. Mitochondria dysfunctions underlie many human diseases, including metabolic diseases, cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases. Contrary to the bean-shaped textbook depiction, mitochondria assume large interconnected and dynamic network structures in the cells. These four-dimensional temporal networks (space and time) could only recently be captured through advanced imaging methods such as lattice light-sheet microscopy (LLSM). The current challenge then becomes the lack of analysis tools to extract quantitative information from the resulting enormous LLSM datasets. Here, we present the software MitoTNT (Mitochondrial Temporal Network Tracking) to solve this data analysis problem. MitoTNT uses the distance and topology information in the mitochondrial network to track the mitochondrial network over time. MitoTNT achieves >90% tracking accuracy in synthetic ground-truth datasets and agrees well with previously published motility values from experimental data. Using MitoTNT, we uncovered distinct network movement patterns, fission and fusion preferences, and network-level responses to drugs. To make temporal mitochondrial network tracking widely accessible, MitoTNT comes with easy-to-use tracking module, interactive 4D visualization capability, and powerful post-tracking analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the incidence of an opaque bubble layer (OBL) in femtosecond laser–assisted in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK) flaps created with VisuMax Flap 2.0 as a result of a modification in the parameters of the flap programming. Methods: This retrospective study was comprised of 1400 eyes of 715 patients who received FS-LASIK surgery. OBLs were measured and reported as a percentage of the flap area to identify the incidence and extent. Flap creation, which is a modification technique, was performed with 8.1-mm flap diameters plus 0.3-mm enlarged interlamellar photodisruption (group Flap 2.0). The same flap diameters without extra photodisruption as the previous standard setting were also implemented (group Flap 1.0). The preoperative measurements, including sphere, cylinder, keratometry, and intraoperative characteristics such as flap size and thickness, were documented. Possible risk factors for the occurrence of OBLs were investigated in this study. Results: The incidence of an OBL was reduced when using the Flap 2.0 program (31.4%) compared to the Flap 1.0 program (63.7%). The area of hard and soft OBLs created by the Flap 2.0 program is smaller than those created by the Flap 1.0 program (P = 0.007 and P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression indicated that a thinner flap (P = 0.038) and a higher sphere (P = 0.001) affected the chance of hard OBLs occurring. Conclusion: The VisuMax Flap 2.0 program promotes gas venting by enlarging the interlamellar photodisruption size. The incidence and extent of OBLs appear to be reduced significantly when the Flap 2.0 program is applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile edge computing (MEC) is seen as a promising method of computation offloading. Moving services from cloud servers to mobile edge nodes (MENs) can decrease service response time. Due to the restricted processing and bandwidth capabilities of MEC networks, service caching and replacement incurs inescapable latency and energy costs. Thus motivated, we propose the joint service caching and task offloading problem in edge networks (SCTOE) to minimize the cost of edge services. We present a collaborative service caching mechanism (CSCM) that strengthens service sharing between MENs by forming caching coalitions. We prove that SCTOE is NP-hard and that CSCM can enhance the service efficiency of the edge network by theoretical analyses. Then we utilize a random rounding algorithm (RR) to figure out the feasible solution to the SCTOE problem. Finally, we test the performance of the CSCM+RR algorithm by simulating experiments using a real dataset. Simulation results demonstrate that our approach can effectively utilize the available caching resources to maximize the performance of the algorithm in the average response delay and the profit of edge networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CeO2 powders were synthesized via a solution combustion method. The product was characterized by X‐ray diffraction scanning electron microscope, and BET surface area analysis. The results indicated that the CeO2 powders present a foaming state with a surface area of 28.17 m2 g–1. The adsorption performance of the CeO2 powders was tested toward the removal of typical pollutants of Cr(VI) and Congo red (CR). The results showed that the adsorption of Cr(VI) and CR onto CeO2 powders followed the Langmuir isotherm model and pseudo‐second‐order kinetics, with an adsorption capacity of 5.69 mg g–1 and 35.51 mg g–1, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal foam, with large specific surface area, suffers serious corrosion problems, as flow field in proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). Ni/Sn nanoparticles are deposited onto the surface at galvanostatic and gradient current, respectively. The morphology of coated foams is examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), coupled with x-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The effect of deposited current on its corrosion resistance in simulated PEMFC cathode environment is evaluated by Tafel polarization test, constant potential test and electrochemical impedance spectra. The results show that the coating effectively improved the stability of metal foam in acid environment. A uniform and dense protective film is formed by Ni/Sn electrodeposition at a gradient current density from 0 to 40 mA cm−2. Its corrosion current at 25, 50 and 80 °C, accounts around 38.0%, 47.3% and 46.7%, respectively, of the value of uncoated metal foam. The most positive corrosion current is obtained, −0.12 mA, which is explained to higher coating resistance (R coat). No obvious pitting is depicted in the surface morphology after 8 h, which further proves its high corrosion resistance. • Ni/Sn are electrodeposited onto metal foam for PEM fuel cell application. • Ni/Sn coated Ni foam performs higher corrosion resistance than uncoated Ni foam. • The galvanostatic and gradient current modes result different surface morphologies. • A dense and compact Ni/Sn film obtained at gradient current shows better stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The molecular motors with controllable rotation modes are crucial for constructing the nanoscale machinery. We found that the energy barrier of the first isomerization step could be decreased significantly by anionization of the second-generation molecular motor and an oscillatory movement could be realized by a combination of a photochemical isomerization step, an anionization step, an anionic isomerization step and a neutralization step. The reorganization energy calculation based on Marcus theory indicates that oscillatory movement of molecular motor could also be realized by light-induced electron transfer reaction. This work proposes a new opportunity for constructing nano-systems based on the 2nd-generation molecular motors with characteristics of multiple stimuli-responsive and high-level control of motional mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schematic diagram of the components of the sandwiched soft actuator. The actuator could both achieve a variety of complex movements from one to three dimensions under the stimulation of NIR light and could be deformed under electric or optical heat or direct heating to achieve the role of switching, which could be regarded as a novel soft actuator with multiple stimulus responses and multi-function. [Display omitted] • A novel molecule was synthesized to the use of self-healing behavior. • Multi regulation of the deformation mode of the liquid crystal elastomers by polymerization method. • A novel and generally coating method for the preparation of functional layer. • Dual-responsive photothermally and electrothermally liquid crystal elastomers. • Self-healing and reusable and anti-fatigue soft actuator. Due to the great potential in many applications, multi-responsive soft actuators as a kind of smart materials have attracted great interest from the scientific community. Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are gradually becoming their preferred candidate matrix because of their unique mesogenic anisotropy and polymer elasticity. Here, we designed and synthesized a new disulfide-bonded aromatic molecule (named DSAC), which was used to endow the LCE matrix with a self-healing effect to extend the service life. The large conjugate structure greatly reduces the bond energy of the disulfide bond, thus allowing self-healing to occur at a lower temperature. Furthermore, the LCE matrix was coated with a novel type of functional layer with photothermal and conductive properties to make it be driven by multi-modes. Based on the above, we have prepared a healable and dual-driving mode soft actuator enabled by disulfide-bonded liquid crystal elastomers with multiple stimulus–response properties, which shows great potential in flexible electronics, artificial muscles and soft robots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sepsis still threatens the lives of more than 300 million patients annually and elderly patients with sepsis usually have a more complicated condition and a worse prognosis. Existing studies have shown that both Hematocrit (HCT) and albumin (ALB) can be used as potential predictors of sepsis, and their difference HCT-ALB has a significant capacity to diagnose infectious diseases. Currently, there is no relevant research on the relationship between HCT-ALB and the prognosis of elderly sepsis patients. Therefore, this study aims to explore the association between HCT-ALB and mortality in elderly patients with sepsis.Methods: This study was a multi-center retrospective study based on the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC-IV) database and the eICU Collaborative Research Database (eICU-CRD) in elderly patients with sepsis. The optimal HCT-ALB cut-off point for ICU mortality was calculated by the Youden Index based on the eICU-CRD dataset, and multivariate logistic regressions were conducted to explore the association between HCT-ALB and ICU/hospital mortality in the two databases. Subgroup analyses were performed for different parameters and comorbidity status.Results: The number of 16,127 and 3043 elderly sepsis patients were selected from two large intensive care databases (eICU-CRD and MIMIC-IV, respectively) in this study. Depending on the optimal cut-off point, patients in both eICU-CRD and MIMIC-IV were independently divided into low HCT-ALB (< 6.7) and high HCT-ALB (≥ 6.7) groups. The odds ratio (95%confidence interval) [OR (95CI%)] of the high HCT-ALB group were 1.50 (1.36,1.65) and 1.71 (1.58,1.87) for ICU and hospital mortality in the eICU-CRD database after multivariable adjustment. Similar trends in the ICU and hospital mortality [OR (95%CI) 1.41 (1.15,1.72) and 1.27 (1.07,1.51)] were observed in MIMIC-IV database. Subgroup analysis showed an interaction effect with SOFA score in the eICU-CRD database however not in MIMIC-IV dataset.Conclusions: High HCT-ALB (≥ 6.7) is associated with 1.41 and 1.27 times ICU and hospital mortality risk in elderly patients with sepsis. HCT-ALB is simple and easy to obtain and is a promising clinical predictor of early risk stratification for elderly sepsis patients in ICU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interconnection of multiple microgrids can effectively improve the operating efficiency of the system and reduce the cost of power generation. First, establish an economic environment optimal dispatch model based on the regional interconnected multi‐microgrids system, and formulate a dispatch strategy based on the time‐of‐use electricity price and the supply‐demand relationship between microgrids; Secondly, in order to solve this constrained optimization problem, a whale algorithm improved with five strategies including adaptive inertial weights, dynamic spiral search and generalized opposition‐based learning is proposed to obtain higher solution accuracy and anti‐premature convergence ability; Finally, combined 12 test functions to test the effectiveness of the improved algorithm, and use the improved algorithm to solve the example model containing two microgrids, and analyze it in two states of interconnection operation and non‐interconnection operation. The simulation results show that the regional interconnection operation of the microgrid under the established dispatching strategy can effectively reduce the overall operating cost of the system, and at the same time show the effectiveness of the improved algorithm to solve the optimal dispatching problem. © 2022 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Heat stress is a major factor in causing substantial losses to the livestock industry, due to its negative effects on milk production, fertility, health and welfare. As the second largest diary producing species, buffalo face challenges from heat stress. To explore the nutritional metabolic mechanism of rumen bacteria in buffalo under hot environments, this study used 16S rDNA technology and metabolome analysis to identify heat stress-related bacteria, metabolites and their pathways. Our findings showed that heat stress increased respiratory rate and skin temperature, and decreased rumen volatile fatty acids. The structures of rumen bacterial communities at different levels significantly changed and a total of 32 metabolites mainly involved in gluconeogenesis were altered due to heat stress. Overall, this study improves our understanding of ruminal bacterial and metabolic alterations of buffalo exposed to heat stress. Exposure to the stress (HS) negatively affects physiology, performance, reproduction and welfare of buffalo. However, the mechanisms by which HS negatively affects rumen bacteria and its associated metabolism in buffalo are not well known yet. This study aimed to gain insight into the adaption of bacteria and the complexity of the metabolome in the rumen of six buffalo during HS using 16S rDNA and gas chromatography metabolomics analyses. HS increased respiratory rate (p < 0.05) and skin temperature (p < 0.01), and it decreased the content of acetic acid (p < 0.05) and butyric acid (p < 0.05) in the rumen. Omics sequencing revealed that the relative abundances of Lachnospirales, Lachnospiraceae, Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20_group and Clostridia_UCG-014 were significantly (p < 0.01) higher under HS than non-heat stress conditions. Several bacteria at different levels, such as Lactobacillales, Streptococcus, Leuconostocaceae and Leissella, were significantly (p < 0.05) more abundant in the rumen of the non-heat stress than HS condition. Thirty-two significantly different metabolites closely related to HS were identified (p < 0.05). Metabolic pathway analysis revealed four key pathways: D-Alanine metabolism; Lysine degradation, Tropane; piperidine and pyridine alkaloid biosynthesis; and Galactose metabolism. In summary, HS may negatively affected rumen fermentation efficiency and changed the composition of rumen community and metabolic function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proteins perform many essential functions in biological systems and can be successfully developed as bio-therapeutics. It is invaluable to be able to predict their properties based on a proposed sequence and structure. In this study, we developed a novel generalizable deep learning framework, LM-GVP, composed of a protein Language Model (LM) and Graph Neural Network (GNN) to leverage information from both 1D amino acid sequences and 3D structures of proteins. Our approach outperformed the state-of-the-art protein LMs on a variety of property prediction tasks including fluorescence, protease stability, and protein functions from Gene Ontology (GO). We also illustrated insights into how a GNN prediction head can inform the fine-tuning of protein LMs to better leverage structural information. We envision that our deep learning framework will be generalizable to many protein property prediction problems to greatly accelerate protein engineering and drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Early diagnosis and treatment of occupational pneumoconiosis can delay the development of the disease. This study is aimed at investigating the intelligent diagnosis of occupational pneumoconiosis by wavelet transform-derived entropy. Method. From June 2013 to June 2020, the high KV digital radiographs (DR) and computed tomography (CT) images from a total of 60 patients with occupational pneumoconiosis in our department were selected. The wavelet transform-derived texture features were extracted from all images, and the decision tree was used for feature selection. The support vector machines (SVM) with three kernel functions were selected to classify the two kinds of images, and their diagnostic efficiency was compared. Result. After eight times of wavelet decomposition, eight wavelet entropy texture features (feature set) were extracted, and six were selected to form the feature subset. The classification effect of linear kernel function SVM is better than those of other functions, with an accuracy of 84.2%. The diagnostic values of DR and CT for occupational pneumoconiosis were the same (kappa = 0.737 , P < 0.001). The detection rate of CT for stage I of occupational pneumoconiosis was significantly higher than that of DR (P = 0.031). Conclusion. It is helpful to improve the early diagnosis level of pneumoconiosis by using SVM to make an intelligent diagnosis based on the wavelet entropy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The DFT method was used to investigate the mechanism of [2+2] cycloaddition reactions catalyzed by (PDI)Fe-metallacycle. The results indicated the origin of the chemoselectivity under different catalysts to be due more likely to the different groups (N2 or CH3) coordinated with the core metal Fe, and not to the size of the specific substituent as speculated by experimenters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sepsis has high incidence and fatality rates in intensive care units, often leading to renal failure. The effectiveness of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) in sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (S-AKI) patients is currently uncertain.Aim: Joint model was used to determine the association between CRRT and the lactate trajectory trend and how it correlated to 28-day mortality for S-AKI patient in ICU.Methods: A retrospective study was applied to patients with sepsis and AKI, which were extracted from the MIMIC-III public database, with the endpoint being 28-day mortality. Every lactate level measurement within 28 days was observed and calculated using logarithms. Joint model combined the longitudinal analysis of the natural logarithm of the lactate level [log(lactate)] in longitudinal submodel and Cox regression by trajectory function, demonstrating the effects of CRRT on 28-day survival and log(lactate) changes, and its final relationship with the event status.Results: Among the 717 S-AKI patients, 157 received CRRT. CRRT was not associated with 28-day mortality. After adjustments, the relationship between CRRT use and log(lactate) elevation was statistically significant. The parameter estimation of CRRT and log(lactate) indicated that using CRRT will increase log(lactate) by 0.041 in S-AKI patients. The joint model also instigated a fixed association between changes in the lactate level and the event result, revealing an exp value of (0.755) = 2.12, indicating that an increase of one unit in log(lactate) will increase the risk of 28-day mortality 2.12-times.Conclusion: There was no significant association between CRRT use and 28-day survival in S-AKI patients, and JM showed that CRRT use might be associated with elevation of longitudinal lactate levels. Therefore, additional attention should be paid to other treatments to control lactate levels when providing renal support for patients with S-AKI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a series of metal organic framework (MOFs), materials of institute lavoisier frameworks (MILs) are expected to be excellent supports for enzyme immobilization due to their good water-stability and acid tolerance. However, enzyme loading on MIL-125-NH2 is very low due to small pore size and few amino groups on the surface of the MIL-125-NH2. In this work, catalase (CAT) was immobilized on the MIL-125-NH2 and amino functionalized MIL-125-NH2 by adsorption (CAT@MIL-125-NH2) and covalent binding (CAT@Amino MIL-125-NH2), respectively. Compared with the CAT@MIL-125-NH2 and free CAT, the CAT@Amino MIL-125-NH2 displayed high activity recovery, good pH stability, stability against denaturants, and thermostability. Furthermore, activity recovery of CAT@Amino MIL-125-NH2 was 56% higher than CAT@MIL-125-NH2. The CAT@Amino MIL-125-NH2 still retained 50% residual activity for 14 days at room temperature, whereas free CAT lost activity after storage for 1 day at the same storage conditions. Furthermore, the CAT@Amino MIL-125-NH2 maintained 62% of its initial activity after 4 consecutive uses, showing good reusability. The results showed that the amino functionalized MIL-125-NH2 is an excellent carrier of enzyme immobilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Effect of steam bubble length and height on CIWH onset is analyzed quantitatively. • Stratified flow and reverse flow of subcooled water in steam channel cause CIWH. • Dimensionless criterion has been developed to predict onset of CIWH. Condensation induced water hammer (CIWH) in equal-height-difference natural circulation systems (EHDNCS) can lead to significant damage to associated equipment. To investigate the mechanism and the prediction of the onset of CIWH in EHDNCS, a small-scale experiment of EHDNCS was conducted under different water temperatures, heat transfer powers, and resistance coefficients of the water-side inlet. This study analyzed the thermal hydraulics, flow regimes, and the onset mechanism of CIWH through temperature and pressure measurement, U-Net image segmentation, and analytical modeling. Four distinct flow regimes were observed in the horizontal pipe: single-phase flow, non-periodic bubble, periodic bubble, and CIWH. Flow regime maps based on water temperature and heat transfer power were obtained under different inlet resistance coefficients. When the steam bubble length is smaller than the pipe length, no CIWH occurs. When the steam bubble length reaches the pipe outlet to form stratified flow, CIWH occurs at a high steam channel height. The occurrence of stratified flow and reverse flow of subcooled water in the steam channel causes the onset of CIWH in EHDNCS. A dimensionless criterion has been developed to predict the onset of CIWH when the saturated steam-water mixture is discharged through a horizontal pipe in EHDNCS. This criterion effectively predicted the transition from periodic bubble to CIWH in the experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a two-dimensional underwater sound propagation model using the discontinuous Galerkin finite-element method (DG-FEM) to investigate the influence of current on sound propagation. The acoustic field is calculated by the convected wave equation with the current speed parameter. Based on the current speed data from an assimilation model, a two-dimensional coupled acoustic propagation model in the Fram Strait water area is established to observe the variability in propagation loss under different seasonal velocities in the real ocean environment. The transmission loss and signal time structure are examined. The results obtained in different source frequencies are also compared. It appears that the current velocity, time, and range variation all have an effect on underwater sound propagation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to examine the consumer's experience of sense, feel, thinking, action, and relate experience in the shopping process whether the consumer is willing to voluntarily make beneficial behaviors for the enterprise. The study also aimed to assess the mediating effect of subjective well‐being, brand identity, and received service fairness in the relationship between experimental marketing and customer citizenship behavior. Convenient sampling techniques were used to select samples. After deleting invalid questionnaires, a total of 109 valid questionnaires were recovered for data analysis. The analysis results after using SmartPLS for the structural model show that experience marketing will have a significant positive effect on customer citizenship behavior. The findings of this study extend the company's understanding of the relationship between consumer shopping experience in online shopping platforms, consumer subject well‐being, brand identity, perceived service fairness, and customer citizenship behavior. At the same time, this study also provides discussion and enlightenment for the companies that operate online shopping supermarkets, limitations, and suggestions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has been found to induce apoptosis selectively in cancer cells and has become a research hotspot, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Aquaporins (AQPs) on the cell membranes of cancer cells are believed to be related to the selective therapeutic mechanism of CAP. In this study, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by CAP, which are believed to play an important role in the apoptosis of cancer cells, crossed the membrane through aquaporin-1 (AQP1). The process of membrane penetration, the distribution of ROS on the membrane, and the free energy barrier of AQP1 on ROS are determined by the molecular dynamics simulation based on the GROMOS 53A6 force field. The ROS distribution shows that the presence of AQP1 results in a deeper distribution of hydrophilic ROS in cell membranes. The free energy barrier for the movement of hydrophilic ROS through AQP1 is significantly lower than that for their movement through the lipid bilayer. Therefore, AQP1 on the cell membrane can improve the efficiency of the entry of hydrophilic ROS into cancer cells. These results illustrate that AQP1 can improve the transmembrane efficiency of ROS and provide insights into the mechanism underlying the selectivity of CAP at the atomic level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) remains the most common cause of kidney failure, and the treatment options are insufficient. Here, we used a connectivity mapping approach to first collect 15 gene expression signatures from 11 DKD-related published independent studies. Then, by querying the Library of Integrated Network-based Cellular Signatures (LINCS) L1000 data set, we identified drugs and other bioactive small molecules that are predicted to reverse these gene signatures in the diabetic kidney. Among the top consensus candidates, we selected a PLK1 inhibitor (BI-2536) for further experimental validation. We found that PLK1 expression was increased in the glomeruli of both human and mouse diabetic kidneys and localized largely in mesangial cells. We also found that BI-2536 inhibited mesangial cell proliferation and extracellular matrix in vitro and ameliorated proteinuria and kidney injury in DKD mice. Further pathway analysis of the genes predicted to be reversed by the PLK1 inhibitor was of members of the TNF-α/NF-κB, JAK/STAT, and TGF-β/Smad3 pathways. In vitro, either BI-2536 treatment or knockdown of PLK1 dampened the NF-κB and Smad3 signal transduction and transcriptional activation. Together, these results suggest that the PLK1 inhibitor BI-2536 should be further investigated as a novel therapy for DKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an inborn defect of phenylalanine (Phe) metabolism, in which Phe accumulated in the blood causing alterations at the central nervous system. Therefore, the detection of PKU is very important for the early diagnosis of PKU patients. However, existing tests for PKU are time-consuming and require high-resource laboratories. In this study, a novel paper-based biosensor based on phenylalnine ammonia lyase (PAL) hybrid nanoflowers was constructed that provides a semi-quantitative output of the concentration of Phe from urine samples. PAL@Ca 3 (PO 4) 2 hybrid nanoflowers (PAL@NF) were first prepared using PAL and Ca2+. Synthesis conditions of the PAL@NF on the formation of the PAL@NF were optimized. The PAL@NF exhibited 90% activity recovery under optimal condition. Compared with free PAL, the PAL@NF displayed good storage stability and increased tolerance to proteolysis. After five consecutive operating cycles, the PAL@NF still retained 73% of its initial activity, indicating excellent reusability. Furthermore, the paper-based biosensor was able to detect Phe concentration in urine samples, and exhibited good linearity to the Phe concentrations in the range from 60 to 2400 μM and the response time was only about 10 min. Therefore, the paper-based biosensor can be a promising candidate as a biosensor for the detection of PKU. Unlabelled Image • PAL@Ca 3 (PO 4) 2 hybrid nanoflowers were successfully synthesized. • The PAL@Ca 3 (PO 4) 2 hybrid nanoflowers exhibited high activity and stability. • A paper-based biosensor based on the PAL hybrid nanoflowers for urinary Phe measurement was constructed for the first time. • The paper-based biosensor is expected to become a home-test monitoring for PKU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Choosing suitable load indexes of load profiles is of vital importance for load profiles clustering, which has wide applications in load forecasting, power grid planning and electricity price designing. To obtain a set of load indexes with rigorous mathematical theory and clear physical meaning, this study proposed a singular value decomposition (SVD) based method to extract indexes. First, empirical rank‐l approximation derived from SVD is proposed to extract load indexes. The relationship between singular values and relative approximation error guarantees the indexes retain major characteristics of load profiles, while the invariance of right singular vectors over seasons and sample sizes endows the indexes with good generalisation ability. Then the right singular vectors are discretised to determine definition of indexes and reveal physical meanings of the indexes. Finally, the new set of indexes extracted by the proposed method are applied in indirectly clustering in the case study, which verify the validity of the indexes, the performance of the clustering method and the advantages of the new indexes over the existing load shape indexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we investigate semi-supervised learning (SSL) for image classification using adversarial training. Previous results have illustrated that generative adversarial networks (GANs) can be used for multiple purposes in SSL. Triple-GAN, which aims to jointly optimize model components by incorporating three players, generates suitable image-label pairs to compensate for the lack of labeled data in SSL with improved benchmark performance. Conversely, Bad (or complementary) GAN optimizes generation to produce complementary data-label pairs and force a classifier’s decision boundary to lie between data manifolds. Although it generally outperforms Triple-GAN, Bad GAN is highly sensitive to the amount of labeled data used for training. Unifying these two approaches, we present unified-GAN (UGAN), a novel framework that enables a classifier to simultaneously learn from both good and bad samples through adversarial training. We perform extensive experiments on various datasets and demonstrate that UGAN: (1) achieves competitive performance among other GAN-based models, and (2) is robust to variations in the amount of labeled data used for training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phase-change interface is a non-linear mathematical problem, and the superposition principle is not suitable for the solution. At present, only a few researches contribute to the analytical solution on the phase-change problem. The advantage of the analytical solution is that it costs a few computational sources and results can be used to predict another situation with different conditions. To understand the heat-transfer character of phase-change materials (PCM), a one-dimensional physical model of the phase transition is established and the corresponding experiments are developed. Phase-change process of pure paraffin and composite PCM is analyzed with the method of the Runge-Kutta and verified by experiments. The temperature curves of the analytical solution have a consistent tendency with that of the experimental results. The temperature difference of experimental data (10.04°C) is smaller in the melting process of pure paraffin, while that of analytical solution (5.18°C) is smaller in the melting process of composite PCM. By comparing the experimental data and analytical solutions, it is found that natural convection dominates the melting of pure paraffin, while heat conduction dominates the melting of composite PCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports on a study of multilingualism, language choice, and identity construction for six Ukrainians in Shanghai, China. Thematic analysis of data collected from netnographic observation, semi‐structured interviews, and narrative frame writing revealed that diasporic Ukrainians' language choice is both instrumentally strategic and sociopolitically charged; in the public domain, they construct light "citizen of the world" and "nice foreigner" identities; in the private domain, they construct "Ukrainian who speaks Ukrainian language" identity. To understand the seemingly binary or even conflicted situation, we turn to the concept of "social anchoring" and propose a conceptualization of "diasporic people's language choice and identity selection." This study shows that the construction of diasporic identity is, first of all, an individualistic process, articulating the affective aspect in their seeking psychological stability; it is also a social practice indicating diasporic people's strategies in seeking social stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metabolic heterogeneity and the tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment (TIME) of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) hinder therapeutic effectiveness. Although emerging metabolic therapy and immunotherapy show promise, they are limited by off-target effects and immune escape. Here, a redox-activatable, sequentially-releasing nanoparticle (AMANC@M) for tumor-targeted delivery of anticancer agents and CRISPR/Cas9 has been developed. AMANC@M can reverse the TIME through dual metabolic inhibition, thereby enhancing TNBC therapy. AMANC@M demonstrates excellent biosafety and targets tumors precisely through biomimetic hybrid membrane-mediated homologous homing and the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. Once internalized into tumor cells, the CRISPR/Cas9 system ("energy nanolock") is released through glutathione (GSH) cleavage and effectively knocks down the expression of lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) to suppress glycolysis. After peeling off of the gene editing shell, a newly synthesized targeted drug, CPI-Z2 ("nutrihijacker" and "energy nanolock"), is released in a controlled manner to block the mitochondrial tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Nitric oxide (NO) produced from loaded L-arginine enhances the efficiency of CPI-Z2 and reduces drug resistance. Combined with NO therapy, both blockades of nutrients and energy production transform the hypoxia and acidic TIME into an immunocompetent tumor microenvironment (TME) for tumor elimination. Furthermore, AMANC@M offers capabilities for photothermal (PT) therapy and provides clear imaging through PT, photoacoustic (PA), or computed tomography (CT) signals in tumor tissue. Thus, this study provides a new and promising sequentially stimuli-responsive targeting strategy for nanoparticle development, making it a potential treatment candidate for TNBC and other tumors. [Display omitted] • A targeted, redox-activatable, sequentially-releasing strategy is proposed. • Regulation of glycolysis and TCA cycle with nutrihijacker and energy nanolock. • The NPs activate cytotoxic T lymphocytes by inhibiting metabolism to reverse TIME. • The NPs allow multimodal cancer treatment guided by PT/PA/CT multimodal imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Model for predicting occurrence of condensation induced water hammer was developed. • Critical instability of stratified flow considering condensation was analyzed. • Three types of critical instability were defined based on unstable wave amplitude. • Parameter effects on critical instability were analyzed. Kelvin-Helmholtz (K-H) instability theory is extensively used to predict the transition from stratified flow to slug flow. This study developed a one-dimensional (1-D) model based on K-H theory and considered the variation of axial wave amplitude to predict the transition from stratified flow to condensation-induced water hammer (CIWH). The prediction results of the present model were compared with the experimental data and existing models. The comparison shows that the present model could reasonably predict critical instability, which is the boundary between stratified flow and CIWH. Critical instability is divided into three types according to the wave amplitude of critical instability. Critical instability occurs at the upper limit, middle, and starting point of the exponential growth of wave amplitude under low, medium, and high liquid levels. The effects of major parameters, including liquid level, water temperature, pipe diameter, and pipe length, on the critical inlet steam Froude number and position of critical instability were analyzed. When the liquid level increases, the critical inlet steam Froude number decreases, then increases, and then decreases, and the position of critical instability moves downstream, then upstream, and finally turns to the steam inlet. The effect of water temperature, pipe diameter, and pipe length on the critical instability depends on the liquid level and is complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Cellulose-based separators have been extensively used for lithium batteries with high performance and high safety. • The source of cellulose materials and how they are treated before being used as separators were classified. • The manufacturing processes for cellulose-based separator were summarized. • Strategies for improving one specific aspect or the entire performance of cellulose separators were provided. • Cellulose-based separators used for the emerging lithium batteries were introduced. A separator is an essential part of the battery and plays a vital role both in its safety and performance. Over the last five years, cellulose-based separators for lithium batteries have drawn a lot of interest due to their high thermal stability, superior electrolyte wettability, and natural richness, which can give lithium batteries desired safety and performance improvement. In this review, we first go over where different types of cellulose come from and how they are treated before being used to make lithium battery separators. After that, we provide a summary of the cellulose-based separator manufacturing processes, and strategies for performance enhancement of cellulose-based separators in lithium batteries and their emerging applications are also discussed. Finally, we highlight the future development direction of cellulose-based separators and suggest some concerns that should be researched further. We hope this review will serve as a resource for future separator research aimed at boosting battery safety and performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two proteoglycans (HPP and LPP) with different ratios of protein/polysaccharide were extracted from S. glabra. The chemical compositions, relative average molecular weights, monosaccharide compositions, FT-IR spectra, and rheological properties of the two proteoglycans were determined. The results exhibited that the two proteoglycans had pseudoplastic fluids properties and displayed shear-thinning behavior. The apparent viscosity of the two proteoglycans both increased with increasing concentrations. The temperature had different effects on the viscosity of the two proteoglycans. As temperature increased from 25 to 85 °C, the viscosity of LPP descended while the HPP's viscosity rose first and then dropped slightly. The effects of CaCl 2 addition on the two samples were like that of the temperature. The viscosities of HPP and LPP had different tolerances to acidity and alkalinity. HPP solution was more sensitive to pH changes due to its high protein content. The addition of sucrose increased the viscosities of samples. The modulus G′ and G″ of HPP and LPP were increased with the increase of oscillation frequency, while the crossover points of G′ and G″ values decreased with the increasing concentrations of HPP and LPP. The above data presented that the two proteoglycans could be promising candidates for food industries and pharmacological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Hydrogenation of niobium foil was achieved by cathodic charging and its application as the interlayer facilitates a sound joint of TiAl/Ti 2 AlNb. The microstructure and mechanical properties of hydrogenated niobium were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), nano-indentation and thermogravimetry (TG) analysis. It is demonstrated that the plasticity of the surface of niobium interlayer is improved and dislocation density in niobium crystal lattice increases significantly, owing to the process of niobium interlayer hydrogenation and subsequent dehydrogenation. To investigate the effect of the hydrogenation of the niobium interlayer on the TiAl/Ti 2 AlNb diffusion bonding joint, the pure niobium foil was also applied as the interlayer for comparison. The effect of the bonding parameters on the interfacial microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of the joints were systematically analyzed by SEM coupled with an energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and shear test. The typical microstructure of the joint is found to be TiAl/B2 phase/Nb/δ phase/β phase/Ti 2 AlNb. With the increase of the hydrogen content, bonding temperature, holding time and bonding pressure, the bonding defects decreased and the thickness of the diffusion layer increased correspondingly. The shear strength of joint reached 258.9 MPa at 950 °C for 40 min under a pressure of 5 MPa with the hydrogenated niobium interlayer of 1.0 wt% hydrogen content. Highlights • Hydrogenated niobium foils are obtained by electrochemical charging technique. • Novel hydrogenated niobium was applied to achieve a sound joint of TiAl/Ti 2 AlNb. • Mechanisms for hydrogen-induced enhancement of diffusion bonding are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Novel dendrite Cu 2 O films exhibits excellent properties for the non-enzymatic glucose sensor. Highlights • Highly-branched Cu 2 O films were formed on ITO by electrodeposition with stirring. • The Cu 2 O/ITO electrode exhibited a higher electrocatalytic activity for glucose. • The highly-branched Cu 2 O films can be directly used as electrode in other fields. Abstract Cuprous oxide (Cu 2 O) thin films with highly-branched dendrite structures were synthesized by electroplating through a simple stirring condition. And, the improved performance of glucose oxidation was achieved on the dendrite Cu 2 O film electrode. For the amperometric glucose detection, a favorable performance with a high sensitivity of 1470.8467 µA mM−1 cm−2 and a low operating potential of 0.50 V were achieved. Thus, it would be a promising candidate electrode material for the development of non-enzymatic glucose sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrolysis of natural oils (vegetable oils and fats) by lipase has significant applications in food and medicine. However, free lipases are usually sensitive to temperature, pH and chemical reagents in aqueous solutions, which hinders their widespread industrial application. Excitingly, immobilized lipases have been widely reported to overcome these problems. Herein, inspired by lipase interface activation, a hydrophobic Zr-MOF (UiO-66-NH 2 -OA) with oleic acid was synthesized for the first time in an emulsion consisting of oleic acid and water, and the Aspergillus oryzae lipase (AOL) was immobilized onto the UiO-66-NH 2 -OA through hydrophobic interaction and electrostatic interaction to obtain immobilized lipase (AOL/UiO-66-NH 2 -OA). 1H NMR and FT-IR data indicated that oleic acid was conjugated with the 2-amino-1,4-benzene dicarboxylate (BDC-NH 2) by amidation reaction. As a result, the V max and K cat values of AOL/UiO-66-NH 2 -OA were 179.61 μM﹒min−1 and 8.27 s−1, which were 8.56 and 12.92 times higher than those of the free enzyme, respectively, due to the interfacial activation. After treated at 70 °C for 120 min, the immobilized lipase maintained 52 % of its original activity, but free AOL only retained 15 %. Significantly, the yield of fatty acids by the immobilized lipase reached 98.3 % and still exceeded 82 % after seven times of recycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel flexible high active polymer ZnCoO@PVDF membranes with high piezo-catalytic efficiency piezo-catalysis was preparation. • Zn 0.8 Co 0.2 O@PVDF membranes showed best piezoelectric coefficient of 44.7 pC/N under ultrasonic conditions. • The piezo-catalytic efficiency is enhanced by improving of β-phase PVDF with the introducing of ZnCoO. • Zn 0.8 Co 0.2 O@PVDF membranes showed excellent degradation and reuse efficiency for the removal of chlortetracycline. • The Zn 0.8 Co 0.2 O@PVDF piezoelectric membranes can be easily recycled and exhibits excellent cycle stability. Piezo-catalysis technology is considered an emerging technology to remove organic pollutants from wastewater. In this study, a ZnCoO@PVDF membranes with high-voltage electrical properties was prepared for the piezo-catalytic degradation of chlortetracycline (CTC) in wastewater. The entry of Co into the main lattice of ZnO changes the electrical properties of ZnO. The d 33 test shows that Co increases the piezoelectric coefficient of ZnO by 6.5 times. Under ultrasonic conditions, the Zn 0.8 Co 0.2 O@PVDF membranes exhibit the best piezo-catalytic activity, with a degradation rate constant of 0.2027 mM−1, which is 34.94 times higher than that of pure PVDF. At the same time, the doping of Zn 0.8 Co 0.2 O caused the change of the crystal form of PVDF, the β phase with piezoelectric properties increased significantly, and the piezoelectric coefficient increased from 27.3 pC/N of PVDF to 44.7 pC/N. Multiple by-products and degradation pathways were identified using LC-MS, and two main degradation pathways were proposed based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The toxicity of CTC and its by-products was estimated using Toxicity Estimation Software Tool (TEST) software, which further confirmed the reduction of environmental risk after piezoelectric catalytic degradation. This study provides new insights into the efficient piezo-catalytic treatment of antibiotic wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • CPI resins were prepared by copolycondensation of BPADA and TFMB with 6FDA or CBDA. • Chemical imidization was used to reduce the influence of the high-temperature process on optical transmittance. • CPI resins showed low melt viscosity due to the flexible structures and the introduction of the third monomer. • CPI resins showed higher transmittance and lighter color in contrast to commercial thermoplastic PI resins. In order to prepare polyimide resins with excellent melt processing properties and high transmittance, a series of thermoplastic fluorinated polyimide resins was prepared by copolycondensation of the flexible dianhydride monomer 4,4′-(4,4′-isopropyldiphenoxy)bis(phthalic anhydride) (BPADA) and the fluorinated diamine monomer 2,2′-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzidine (TFMB) with different contents of fluorinated dianhydride 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropyl)diphthalic anhydride (6FDA) or cyclobutanetetracarboxylic dianhydride (CBDA) via chemical imidization. The effects of the third monomer content on the melt processing properties, optical properties, heat resistance, and mechanical properties of the polyimide resins were systematically investigated. The minimum melt viscosity of the PI resins reached 630 Pa·s below 400 °C. The transmittance at 450 nm of PI sheets prepared by compression molding reached 77%, and the color was significantly lighter than the commercial thermoplastic resin ULTEM, indicative of excellent processability and optical properties. Besides, the PI resins displayed outstanding thermal performance with glass transition temperatures ranging from 224 °C to 242 °C, 5% weight loss temperatures higher than 520 °C in a nitrogen atmosphere, and coefficients of thermal expansion of 51.45–68.97 ppm/K. Moreover, the PI sheets possessed tensile strengths of 88.4–104.7 MPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to intriguing electrical and optical properties, two-dimensional MoS2 has gained significant attention and emerged as a promising material in photonic and optoelectronic fields. Nevertheless, the intrinsic optical absorption of monolayer MoS2 is limited in the visible region only, restricting applications toward near-infrared (NIR) photodetection. Herein, we engineered the optical properties of MoS2 via alloying with Se to extend its optical absorption to the NIR region, and the phototransistor was fabricated based on monolayer MoS2(1−x)Se2x (x = ∼0.1). When under 780 nm (∼1.59 eV) illumination, the device delivered a photoresponsivity of 75.38 A/W, a specific detectivity of ∼1012 Jones, and an external quantum efficiency up to 11 230%. Additionally, it was revealed by density functional theory calculations that NIR absorption originated from the transition of valence states of sulfur vacancy (Vs) interband energy states between +1 and 0, providing an interband energy level of 1.58 eV away from the conduction band minima. Moreover, alloying of Se can suppress deep-level defects formed via Vs, further boosting device performance. This work has demonstrated high-performance NIR phototransistors based on ternary monolayer MoS2(1−x)Se2x, providing both a viable solution and fundamental mechanisms for NIR-blind MoS2 with extended optical absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CCHPs (Combined Cooling, Heating, and Power Systems) are capable of providing cold energy, heat, and electricity to users, allowing cascading utilization of energy and improving energy efficiency. The imbalance between cooling, heating, and electrical energy makes it difficult to accurately evaluate the performance of a CCHP system. Existing indices for evaluating the performance of the CCHP system do not account for the influence of time-sharing tariffs; therefore, the quantitative index of time-sharing is added and the time-sharing economic exergy efficiency of the radiator is established. Given that the electrical and thermal characteristics of the advanced absolutely hot compressed airheat storage system (AA-CAES) can complement the CCHP system, a model of the CCHP system with AA-CAES is established, which can be used to validate the validity of the quantitative evaluation index of time-sharing. A planetary search algorithm is proposed for solving the CCHP system model to address the multi-parameter solving characteristics of the CCHP system model and the disadvantages of the existing multi-objective optimization algorithms, which are prone to local optimality and poor optimization accuracy. Simulation validation demonstrates that the time-sharing economic exergy efficiency proposed in this paper can more accurately reflect the total energy consumption of the CCHP system than the existing evaluation indices. The performance of the CCHP system can be improved by using AA-CAES as a heat storage device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality of remote sensing images has been greatly improved by the rapid improvement of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which has made it possible to detect small objects in the most complex scenes. Recently, learning-based object detection has been introduced and has gained popularity in remote sensing image processing. To improve the detection accuracy of small, weak objects in complex scenes, this work proposes a novel hybrid backbone composed of a convolutional neural network and an adaptive multi-scaled transformer, referred to as HAM-Transformer Net. HAM-Transformer Net firstly extracts the details of feature maps using convolutional local feature extraction blocks. Secondly, hierarchical information is extracted, using multi-scale location coding. Finally, an adaptive multi-scale transformer block is used to extract further features in different receptive fields and to fuse them adaptively. We implemented comparison experiments on a self-constructed dataset. The experiments proved that the method is a significant improvement over the state-of-the-art object detection algorithms. We also conducted a large number of comparative experiments in this work to demonstrate the effectiveness of this method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monolithic macroporous barium zirconate derived from ionic precursors has been successfully prepared via a phase separation route in the presence of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and propyleneoxide (PO). Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) acts as a phase separation inducer, while propyleneoxide (PO) acts as a gelation accelerant in the sol–gel process. Appropriate choice of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and propyleneoxide (PO) allows the production of continuous macroporous monolithic gel with a porosity of ca. 63% and a macropore size of 1.8 µm. Some BaCl 2 recrystallizes in the dried gel, and subsequently tetragonal ZrO 2 phase precipitates after heat-treated at 800 °C. The crystalline phase barium zirconate forms after heat treatment at 1100 °C in air, while the macroporous structure is preserved with a slight increase of porosity and a decrease of macropore size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel biochar based ZnO@YFC-4 piezo-catalyst with high activity was prepared. • 89.04% TC was degraded in 20 min. • OH and O 2 − were turned out to be the main radicals for TC degradation. • Three degradation pathways of TC were proposed and the toxicity of its intermediate was evaluation. • ZnO@YFC piezo-catalytic system showed durable activity and good stability towards interference. Antibiotic wastewater has attracted significant attention in recent years. In this study, a novel biochar-based piezocatalyst with a nanoflower structure was synthesized using a method involving the in situ growth of ZnO on a Yang flocculant. The piezoelectric degradation rate of tetracycline was 89.07% after 20 min, and the first-order kinetic constant was 0.682 min−1. Density functional theory calculations showed that the high catalytic activity of ZnO@YCF resulted from its excellent electron transport ability. Radical quenching and electron paramagnetic resonance results showed that OH and O 2 − radicals were the main radicals involved in TC degradation, with contributions of 58.78% and 37.39%, respectively. A possible TC degradation pathway was proposed based on intermediate studies. Moreover, aquatic toxicity migration was evaluated during the TC degradation process using an ecological structure–activity relationship model. This study proposes a new concept and an efficient way to reuse biomass waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • VED+PV coupled process changed the sequence of separation of the multi-azeotrope system. • This study has significantly superior instructive for selecting different solvents to separate multi-component azeotropes. • EHH 2 O-EG process is the best process through the analysis of the economy, exergy, energy consumption and human toxicity potential. • This research investigated competitive and cost-effective and cumene to achieve the progressive goal of carbon neutralization. Industrial wastewater from the catalytic hydrogenation of acetone to isopropanol contains multi-azeotropes. It is difficult to purify acetone and isopropanol by traditional distillation, and the treatment capacity and potential economic benefits are huge. The process design of the sustainable development of vacuum extractive distillation coupled with pervaporation technology to separate the industrial organic wastewater from ACT hydrogenation to IPA has changed the sequence of separation of the multi-azeotrope system with sustainable development and reduced the energy consumption and energy consumption of the multi-azeotrope separation for resource recovery. The comprehensive economic cost enhances the evaluation of the environmental human toxicity to the wastewater separation and discharge process. Based on the strict design specifications of the chemical system process simulation software, the sequential iterative method is utilized to simulate the design and optimization of the chemical separation process. The EHH 2 O-EG process achieved a reduction of 7.40% (TAC), 7.51% (energy consumption and GWP), and 7.36% (HTP) compared with the EHEG-H 2 O process in terms of the economy, exergy, environmental assessment, energy consumption, and human toxicity potential, and EHH 2 O-EG process is better than EHEG-H 2 O process. This novel separation process provides a novel idea for process optimization, and is the best designing and separating sustainable process for promoting green chemical wastewater discharge treatment. It has significantly superior instructive for the design of selecting different solvents to separate multi-component azeotropes. The value of this research is investigated competitive and cost-effective in the current chemical industry for the production of rubber additives, bisphenol A and polycarbonate, isopropyl alcohol pharmaceuticals, and cumene to achieve the progressive goal of carbon neutralization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]