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Magnetic properties in perovskite titanates ATiO3‐δ (A = Ca, Sr, Ba) were investigated before and after arc melting. Crystal structure analysis was conducted by powder synchrotron X‐ray diffraction with Rietveld refinements. Quantitative chemical element analysis was carried out by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Magnetic measurements were conducted by vibrating sample magnetometer and X‐ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD). The magnetic properties are found to be affected by impurities of 3d elements such as Fe, Co, and Ni. Depending on the composition and crystal structure, the occupation of the magnetic ions in perovskite titanates is selectively varied, which is interpreted to be the origin of the different magnetic behaviors in arc‐melted perovskite titanates ATiO3‐δ (A = Ca, Sr, Ba). In addition, both formation of oxygen vacancies and the reduction of Ti4+ to Ti3+ during arc‐melting also play a role as proven by XMCD. Nevertheless, preferential site occupation of magnetic impurities is dominant in the magnetic properties of arc‐melted perovskite ATiO3‐δ (A = Ca, Sr, Ba). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collagen is the functional protein of the skin, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, bone, and connective tissue. Due to its extraordinary properties, collagen has a wide range of applications in biomedicine, tissue engineering, food, and cosmetics. In this study, we designed a functional fragment of human type I collagen (rhLCOL-I) and expressed it in Escherichia coli (E. coli) BL21(DE3) PlysS containing a thermal-induced plasmid, pBV-rhLCOL-I. The results indicated that the optimal expression level of the rhLCOL-I reached 36.3% of the total protein at 42 °C, and expressed in soluble form. In a 7 L fermentation, the yield of purified rhLCOL-I was 1.88 g/L. Interestingly, the plasmid, pBV220-rhLCOL-I, was excellently stable during the fermentation process, even in the absence of antibiotics. Functional analyses indicated that rhLCOL-I had the capacity to promote skin cell migration and adhesion in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, we developed a high-level and low-cost approach to produce collagen fragments suitable for medical applications in E. coli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(Ti/Zr/Hf)CoSb 0.8 Sn 0.2 compounds are promising p -type thermoelectric materials. In this work, excessive Ga and Co deficiencies were introduced into Ti 0.2 Hf 0.8 CoSb 0.8 Sn 0.2 compounds. The microstructure, electrical, and thermal transport properties were investigated in the temperature range of 300 K < T < 1000 K. The excessive Ga formed nanoinclusions with Ti and Sn at the grain boundaries. The Co deficiencies lowered the thermal conductivity and simultaneously improved the electrical conductivity. As a result, the power factor was enhanced to 3.2 mW/m K2, and the maximum Z.T. of ∼0.93 at 988 K was obtained in the Ti 0.2 Hf 0.8 Co 0.99 Sb 0.8 Sn 0.2 –0.01Ga sample, which is an increase of ∼48% compared to that of the pristine Ti 0.2 Hf 0.8 CoSb 0.8 Sn 0.2 sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

miRNAs are a type of small endogenous noncoding RNA composed of 20–22 nucleotides that can regulate gene expression by targeting the 3′ untranslated region of mRNA. Many investigations have discovered that miRNAs have a role in the development and progression of human cancer. Several aspects of tumor development are affected by miR-425, including growth, apoptosis, invasion, migration, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and drug resistance. In this article, we discuss the properties and research development of miR-425, focusing on the regulation and function of miR-425 in various cancers. Furthermore, we discuss the clinical implications of miR-425. This review may broaden our horizon for better understanding the role of miR-425 as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in human cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of various exercise modalities on the improvement of sleep quality in adults remains controversial. This study aimed to perform a network meta-analysis to analyze the effects of different exercise interventions on sleep quality in adults. The PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, Web of Science, and EBSCO databases were searched for studies published from March 18, 1993, to March 18, 2023. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to assess the quality of the included studies. Then, a random-effects network meta-analysis was conducted within a frequentist framework. A total of 2142 participants from 27 randomized controlled trials were included in the analysis. Exercise modalities such as Pilates, yoga, and traditional Chinese exercises were found to significantly improve sleep quality when compared to a no-exercise control group, with Pilates exhibiting the most potent effect at a 95.3% improvement level. This study demonstrates that exercise interventions are effective in enhancing sleep quality in adults. Adapting exercise to individual preferences and needs may maximize the sleep-related benefits of the activity. The review was registered with PROSPERO, registration number CRD42023434565. • Exercise interventions have significant effects on sleep quality in adults: network meta-analysis. • Pilates, yoga, and traditional Chinese sports outperform the no-exercise group: 27 randomized controlled trials. • Pilates resulted in the largest improvements in sleep quality scores. • The benefits of exercise interventions can be maximized by adapting them to individual preferences and needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • N-N6A and N-N6B exhibit excellent properties exceeding the benchmark molecule HMX. • N-N6B features the highest density among the long-catenated nitrogen systems. • The nitroamide functionality may open a new venue for molecular design of HEDMs. Fully energetic functionalization of catenated nitrogen systems is highly challenging due to the lack of incorporation methodology. In this work, two catenated nitrogen N6 structures containing six nitro groups, i.e., (E)-1,1′-bis [5-Nitroamide-3,4-dinitro-1H-pyrazole] diazene (N-N6A) and its regioisomer (E)-1,1′-bis [4-Nitroamide-3,5-dinitro-1H-pyrazole] diazene(N-N6B) were designed and synthesized. Despite the same chemical formula and azo functionality, N-N6B exhibits better overall performance than N-N6A. Meanwhile, N-N6B has the highest density with excellent detonation performance (d = 1.94 g cm−3, Dv = 9440 m s−1, and P = 39.6 GPa) among the reported long-catenated nitrogen atom chains, indicating the potential for high energy materials. Particularly, as the precursors of N-N6A and N-N6B , the mechanical sensitivities of N6A and N6B (N6A , IS = 11 J, FS = 160 N; N6B , IS = 14 J, FS = 240 N) are apparently superior to that of literature long nitrogen-chains energetic material. The different performance of these compounds highlights the effect of the regioisomeric functionalization on designing advanced energetic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports an effective and facile strategy for developing multifunctional nanoplatforms by the in situ doping of manganese metal into stellate mesoporous silica nanoparticles (Mn-SMSN). The resulting Mn-SMSN@DOX-IR-780 effectively integrated enhanced chemodynamic therapy (CDT) combined with tumor imaging in a single platform after additional loading of doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) and IR-780 iodide (IR-780) onto Mn-SMSN. Mn-SMSN@DOX-IR-780 demonstrated excellent in vitro efficacy in killing cancer cells and inhibiting cancer cell migration and invasion. Further mechanistic investigations demonstrated that Mn-SMSN@DOX-IR-780 effectively promoted the production of cytotoxic reactive oxygen species to kill tumor cells. Moreover, Mn-SMSN@DOX-IR-780 efficiently delivered DOX and IR-780 into cells, indicating potential for chemodynamic therapy and tumor imaging. In summary, the developed Mn-SMSN@DOX-IR-780 integrated CDT and image guidance, which can provide insights for future biomedical research applications concerning efficient prostate cancer treatment. [Display omitted] • Mn-SMSN@DOX-IR-780 is developed by in situ doping of manganese metal into Mn-SMSN. • Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) is integrated with tumor imaging by Mn-SMSN@DOX-IR-780. • This is achieved by loading of doxorubicin hydrochloride and IR-780 iodide onto Mn-SMSN. • Mn-SMSN@DOX-IR-780 promoted cytotoxic reactive oxygen species to kill tumor cells. • CDT and image guidance integration can provide insights for prostate cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) ARAP1-AS1 is abnormally expressed in a variety of tumors, but its role in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is unknown. This study aimed to explore the biological role of ARAP1-AS1 in ccRCC. Methods: The expression level of ARAP1-AS1 in ccRCC tissues and its relationship to patient's clinicopathological characteristics and survival rate were analyzed using the GEPIA database. The expression level of ARAP1-AS1 was measured in ccRCC and adjacent non-tumor tissues by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RTFQPCR). Patients were divided into ARAP1-AS1 high and low expression groups, the relationship between ARAP1-AS1 expression level and patient's clinicopathological characteristics was analyzed, and survival analysis was performed. The effect of ARAP1-AS1 in vitro proliferation, migration and invasion ability of ccRCC cells was determined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, transwell migration and invasion assay. Changes in the expressions of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway-related proteins were detected by Western blot assay. The effect of ARAP1-AS1 on tumorigenic capacity in ccRCC cells in vivo was verified by tumor xenografts in nude mice. Results: The analysis of the GEPIA database showed that ARAP1-AS1 was highly expressed in ccRCC and associated with advanced tumor stage as well as poor survival in patients (all P<0.05). The results of RTFQ-PCR showed that ARAP1-AS1 was highly expressed in ccRCC tissues and cell lines, and high expression correlated with tumor size and stage (all P<0.05). The overall survival rate was poor in patients with high ARAP1-AS1 expression (P<0.05). Knockdown of ARAP1-AS1 expression inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of ccRCC cells (all P<0.05). Silencing of ARAP1-AS1 reduced the expression levels of the proteins involved in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway (all P<0.05). Silencing of ARAP1-AS1 attenuated tumorigenic capacity in ccRCC cells and reduced Ki-67 proliferation index (P<0.05). Conclusion: ARAP1-AS1 promotes ccRCC progression through activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction (SIMD) is the most common complications of sepsis and septic shock with extremely high incidence and mortality. Lipocalin 10 (Lcn10) has recently been identified as a potential biomarker for heart failure, yet its relation to sepsis has not been investigated. The purpose of this study was to explore whether circulating Lcn10 could be used as a prognostic tool in patients with SIMD. Methods. In this single-center observational pilot study, seventy-five sepsis patients were enrolled after sepsis diagnosis or ICU admission (45.3% female, median age 60 years), and 35 patients (46.7%) developed myocardial dysfunction. Serum Lcn10 levels of septic patients were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at the time of admission. Other biomarkers of cardiac function and Lcn10 concentration were compared between SIMD and non-SIMD groups. Results. We observed that the median Lcn10 levels were 2.780 ng/mL in patients with SIMD and 2.075 ng/mL in patients without SIMD (P < 0.05). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for the diagnosis of SIMD was 0.797 (P < 0.05). In addition, elevated serum Lcn10 levels at the time of admission were positively associated with 28-day mortality in septic patients. Conclusions. Our study indicates that circulating Lcn10 levels may serve as a novel biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of myocardial dysfunction induced by sepsis. An additional large multicenter study may be warranted to confirm the findings of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of image fusion is the process of enriching an image and improving the image's quality, so as to facilitate the subsequent image processing and analysis. With the increasing importance of image fusion technology, the fusion of infrared and visible images has received extensive attention. In today's deep learning environment, deep learning is widely used in the field of image fusion. However, in some applications, it is not possible to obtain a large amount of training data. Because some special organs of snakes can receive and process infrared information and visible information, the fusion method of infrared and visible light to simulate the visual mechanism of snakes came into being. Therefore, this paper takes into account the perspective of visual bionics to achieve image fusion; such methods do not need to obtain a significant amount of training data. However, most of the fusion methods for simulating snakes face the problem of unclear details, so this paper combines this method with a pulse coupled neural network (PCNN). By studying two receptive field models of retinal nerve cells, six dual-mode cell imaging mechanisms of rattlesnakes and their mathematical models and the PCNN model, an improved fusion method of infrared and visible images was proposed. For the proposed fusion method, eleven groups of source images were used, and three non-reference image quality evaluation indexes were compared with seven other fusion methods. The experimental results show that the improved algorithm proposed in this paper is better overall than the comparison method for the three evaluation indexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N-type half-Heusler NbCoSn is a promising thermoelectric material due to favourable electronic properties. It has attracted much attention for thermoelectric applications while the desired p-type NbCoSn counterpart shows poor thermoelectric performance. In this work, p-type NbCoSn has been obtained using Sc substitution at the Nb site, and their thermoelectric properties were investigated. Of all samples, Nb0.95Sc0.05CoSn compound shows a maximum power factor of 0.54 mW/mK2 which is the highest among the previously reported values of p-type NbCoSn. With the suppression of thermal conductivity, p-type Nb0.95Sc0.05CoSn compound shows the highest measured figure of merit ZT = 0.13 at 879 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a detailed description of an innovative route of a melt spinning (MS) technique combined with a subsequent spark plasma sintering process in order to obtain high performance p-type Bi0.52Sb1.48Te3 bulk material, which possesses a unique low-dimensional structure. The unique structure consists of an amorphous structure, 5–15 nm fine nanocrystalline regions, and coherent interfaces between the resulting nanocrystalline regions. Measurements of the thermopower, electrical conductivity, and thermal conductivity have been performed over a range of temperature of 300–400 K. We found that MS technique can give us considerable control over the resulting nanostructure with good thermal stability during the temperature range of 300–400 K and this unique structure can effectively adjust the transport of phonons and electrons, in a manner such that it is beneficial to the overall thermoelectric performance of the material, primarily a reduction in the lattice thermal conductivity. Subsequently, this results in a maximum figure of merit ZT value of 1.56 at 300 K for p-type Bi0.52Sb1.48Te3 bulk material. This ZT value is over a 50% improvement of that of the state of the art commercial Bi2Te3 materials. We also report results of thermal cycling of this material for over one hundred cycles between 300–400 K. Our work offers an innovative route for developing high performance bismuth telluride based alloys and devices, which have even broader prospects for commercial applications. This technique may also be applicable to other thermoelectric materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ni doping Ti0.5Zr0.25Hf0.25Co1-xNixSb (x=0–0.05) half-Heusler compounds have been fabricated by combining high-frequency induction melting with spark plasma sintering technique, and their thermoelectric transport properties have been investigated in the temperature range of 300–900 K. With the increase of Ni doping content, the electrical conductivity increases significantly, and withal the Seebeck coefficient of all doped samples improve to some extent compared with the undoped Ti0.5Zr0.25Hf0.25CoSb compound. These lead to a great improvement in the power factor, and the highest power factor of 1.63×10-3 W m-1 K-1 is obtained at 715 K for Ti0.5Zr0.25Hf0.25Co0.95Ni0.05Sb compound. Furthermore, thermal conductivity of Ti0.5Zr0.25Hf0.25Co1-xNixSb compounds decrease remarkably due to Zr and Hf substitutions on Ti site and Ni doping on Co site. Compared with ternary TiCoSb compound, the thermal conductivity of Ti0.5Zr0.25Hf0.25Co1-xNixSb compound decreases 415%–430% at room temperature, and compared with undoped Ti0.5Zr0.25Hf0.25CoSb compound, the thermal conductivity of Ti0.5Zr0.25Hf0.25Co0.95Ni0.05Sb decreases 34% at 300 K and 21% at 900 K, respectively. A maximum dimensionless figure of merit ZT of 0.51 has been achieved for Ti0.5Zr0.25Hf0.25Co0.95Ni0.05Sb compound at 813 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute myeloid leukemia cytogenetics and molecular subtypes are connected with microRNAs, although it is unclear how miRNAs affect AML pathogenesis. miR-409–3p expression is downregulated in bone marrows, as we have previously demonstrated in our team. Nevertheless, the tumor-suppressing activities and molecular mechanisms of miR-409–3p remain unknown. Hence, in this study, we investigate at the functional significance of miR-409–3p in the development of AML. We found that a significant decrease in miR-409–3p expression was observed in THP-1 cell. The expression of miR-409–3p was altered in THP-1 by transfecting with agomiR-409–3p and agomiR-409–3p NC. A series of experiments showed that overexpression of miR-409–3p expression significantly suppressed proliferation and increased the apoptosis of THP-1. Moreover, Rab10 was confirmed as a direct target gene of miR-409–3p and was negatively modulated by miR-409–3p. Rab10 downregulation imitated the suppressed proliferation and increased the apoptosis of THP-1. Furthermore, miR-409–3p overexpression or Rab10 knockdown obviously down-regulated the expression levels of Bcl-2, but up-regulated Bax expression. In a xenograft mouse model, miR-409–3p-overexpressed THP-1 cells resulted in much less tumor weight and size in the mice bearing the cells as compared to the mock-transfected mice. Collectively, our findings demonstrated that miR-409–3p exerted tumor suppressor gene effects in AML by directly targeting Rab10, which might provide a promising therapeutic target for AML. [Display omitted] • miR-409–3p was downregulated and Rab10 was upregulated in THP-1 cells. • Rab10 was a target of miR-409–3p, and upregulation of miR-409–3p downregulated Rab10 mRNA and proteins levels. • miR-409–3p over-expression inhibited proliferation, promoted cell apoptosis, and inhibited AML tumor growth. • Rab10 knockdown inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis in THP-1 cells. • miR-409–3p inhibited the progression of AML via directly targeting Rab10. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been demonstrated to serve vital roles in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) development. Gastric carcinoma high expressed transcript 1 (GHET1) regulates numerous biological processes in cancer cells. However, the biological role of GHET1 in RCC has not yet been identified. This study aimed to investigate the role of GHET1 in RCC. In the present study, the expression of GHET1 in RCC tissues and the 786-O, A498 and 293 cell lines was assessed by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Cell Counting Kit-8, colony formation and cell scratch assays were used to determine the effects of GHET1 on tumorigenesis. Western blotting was performed to examine the effect of GHET1 on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in RCC cells. GHET1 expression was significantly increased in the RCC samples in comparison with adjacent tissues. High expression levels of GHET1 were associated with distant metastasis and clinical stage severity, thus, high GHET1 expression may serve as a predictor for a poor prognosis. In addition, RCC cells presented higher GHET1 mRNA and protein expression levels compared with in 293 cells. Furthermore, silencing GHET1 suppressed cell growth, weakened cell migration and inhibited EMT of RCC cells in vitro. In conclusion, the present study suggested that GHET1 may be considered a therapeutic target for the treatment or prevention of RCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most diagnosed cancer in Western male population. In this study, we insert mK5 (the mutational kringle5 of human plasminogen) into a DD3-promoted (differential display code 3) oncolytic adenovirus to construct OncoAd.mK5.DD3. E1A.dE1B, briefly, OAd.DD3.mK5. DD3 is one of the most prostate cancer specific promoters which can transcriptionally control adenoviral replication. mK5 has been proved to be able to inhibit the tumor angiogenesis and inhibit cell proliferation. Our results suggested that targeting PCa with OAd.DD3.mK5 elicited strong antitumor effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The Vestigial-Like Family Member 4 (VGLL4) functions as a native inhibitor of cell proliferation and tumor growth through multiple signaling pathways. We first discovered that VGLL4 causes G2/M phase arrest in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. Then, we designed a novel survivin-regulated oncolytic adenovirus Ad-sp-VGLL4 carrying the VGLL4 gene. Ad-sp-VGLL4 exerted high HCC-targeting-selectivity but is less harmful to normal cells. This adenovirus construction enhanced antitumor activity due to G2/M phase arrest and enhanced apoptosis. It's also indicated that Ad-sp-VGLL4 could suppress the growth of transplanted tumor of HCC in vivo experiment. Taken together, our results suggest that Ad-sp-VGLL4 possesses strong antitumor capacity and has great potential use for HCC therapy. Highlights • VGLL4 causes G2/M phase arrest in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. • The transcription level of VGLL4 gene is promoted by oncolytic adenovirus. • Oncolytic adenovirus harboring VGLL4 selectively kills hepatocellular carcinoma. • Oncolytic adenovirus harboring VGLL4 exerts G2/M arrest and apoptosis promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNA are non-coding small RNAs that bind to their target mRNA and cause mRNA degradation or translation inhibition. MiRNA dysregulation is linked to a variety of human cancers and has a role in the genesis and development of cancer pathology. MiR-328 has been reported to be involved in various human cancers. And miR-328 is considered a key regulator in human cancer. It participates in biological processes such as proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, migration, and EMT. The present review will combine the basic and clinical studies to find that miR-328 promotes tumorigenesis and metastasis in human cancer. And we will describe the diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic value of miR-328 in various human cancers. [Display omitted] • MiR-328 is differentially expressed in different types of cancer. • MiR-328 can target multiple different genes to regulate the biological functions of cancer cells. • MiR-328 can be regulated by lncRNAs and circRNAs and participates in multiple signaling pathways. • Targeting miR-328 could be a novel strategy for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microorganism breeding is a known cause of food spoilage and disease transmission. Aspergillus niger ( A. niger ) and Bacillus subtilis ( B. subtilis ) are examples of microorganisms that cause deterioration of fresh fruits and vegetables during storage, which can be a serious threat to human health. In this work, we synthesized a self-assembled film of graphene oxide (GO) and chitosan (CS) biopolymers with titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) nanoparticles embedded in its surface. We then characterized its antibacterial and preservative properties. We found that these non-cytotoxic nanometer-scale films, especially when the ratio of graphene oxide, chitosan and titanium dioxide nanoparticles in the nanocomposites is 1:20:4, exhibited high antibacterial activity against the biofilm-forming strains A. niger and B. subtilis . The preservation capacity of the nanocomposites was evaluated by enzymatic experiments. The nanocomposites did not show any cytotoxicity against mammalian somatic cells and plant cells. Altogether, this work demonstrated that the nanocomposites disrupted microbial film formation while avoiding internalization by animal and plant cells. Due to their selectivity and safety, these nanocomposites demonstrate potential as antimicrobial coatings for food preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using an assembly method, dinuclear CoCo and CoFe complexes supported by a bdt ligand, [Cp*Co(μ–η2:η2-bdt)(μ-I)CoCp*][PF6] (1[PF6], Cp* = η5-C5Me5, bdt = benzene-1,2-dithiolate), and [Cp*Co(μ–η2:η4-bdt)FeCp′][PF6] (3[PF6], Cp′ = η5-C5Me4H) were synthesized in high yields. Upon chemical reduction with CoCp2, complexes 1[PF6] and 3[PF6] were converted to [Cp*Co(μ-η2:η2-bdt)CoCp*] (2) and [Cp*Co(μ–η2:η4-bdt)FeCp′][PF6] (3), respectively. Treatment of 2 with HBF4 resulted in the protonation of two cobalt centers to generate a hydride bridged complex, [Cp*Co(μ–η2:η2-bdt)(μ-H)CoCp*][BF4] (4[BF4]), which was identified by spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. When treating 3 with HBF4, a one-electron oxidation occurred to afford complex 3[BF4] along with the formation of H2. Importantly, heterodinuclear complex 3[PF6] and hydride bridged complex 4[BF4] can serve as effective catalysts to promote proton reduction for hydrogen evolution, as evidenced by cyclic voltammetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development and function of osteoblast lineage cells are regulated by a complex microenvironment consisting of the bone extracellular matrix, cells, systemic hormones and cytokines, autocrine and paracrine factors, and mechanical load. Apart from receptors that transduce extracellular signals into the cell, molecular transporters play a crucial role in the cellular response to the microenvironment. Transporter molecules are responsible for cellular uptake of nutritional components, elimination of metabolites, ion transport, and cell-cell communication. In this report, the expression of molecular transporters in osteoblast lineage cells was investigated to assess their roles in cell development and activity. Low-density arrays, covering membrane and vesicular transport molecules, were used to assess gene expression in osteoblasts representing early and late differentiation states. Receptors and transporters for the amino acid glutamate were found to be differentially expressed during osteoblast development. Glutamate is a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, and the mechanisms of its release, signal transduction, and cellular reabsorption in the synaptic cleft are well understood. Less clear, however, is the control of equivalent processes in peripheral tissues. In primary osteoblasts, inhibition of glutamate transporters with nonselective inhibitors leads to an increase in the concentration of extracellular glutamate. This change was accompanied by a decrease in osteoblast proliferation, stimulation of alkaline phosphatase, and the expression of transcripts encoding osteocalcin. Enzymatic removal of extracellular glutamate abolished these pro-differentiation effects, as did the inhibition of PKC- and Erk1/2-signaling pathways. These findings demonstrate that glutamate signaling promotes differentiation and activation of osteoblast lineage cells. Consequently, the glutamate system may represent a putative therapeutic target to induce an anabolic response in the skeletal system. Known antagonists of glutamate transporters will serve as lead compounds in developing new and specific bioactive molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoclasts originate from the hematopoietic stem cell and share a differentiation pathway with the cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineages. Development and activation of osteoclasts, and as a consequence regulation of bone resorption, depend on two growth factors: macrophage colony-stimulating factor and receptor activator of NF-κB ligand. Furthermore, cell development and activity are modulated by a microenvironment composed of cytokines and growth factors and of the extracellular matrix. Membrane transporters are a means for cells to interact with their environment. Within this study, the expression of proteins regulating cellular iron homeostasis in osteoclast-like cells grown from bone marrow-derived progenitors was compared to the expression of this set of proteins by monocyte/macrophage lineage cells. In differentiating osteoclasts, levels of transcripts encoding transferrin receptor 1 and divalent metal transporter 1 (Slc11A2) were increased, while levels of transcripts encoding ferroportin (Slc40A1) and natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 1 (Slc11A1) were decreased. Supplementation of the culture media with exogenous iron led to an increase in the proliferation of osteoclast progenitor cells and to the expression of a macrophage-like phenotype, while the development of osteoclasts was reduced. Upon transfer of mature OC onto a CaP substrate, iron depletion of the medium with the Fe(3+)-chelator Deferoxamine Mesylate decreased CaP dissolution by ~30 %, which could be restored by addition of exogenous iron. During the 24 h of the assay, no effects were observed on total TRAP activity. The data demonstrate transcriptional regulation of the components of cellular iron transporters during OC development and suggests that iron homeostasis may contribute to fine-tuning of the RANKL-induced OC development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermoelectricity has been recognized as an environmentally friendly energy conversion technology due to its ability to directly achieve conversion between heat and electricity for a long time. β-Zn4Sb3 has attracted considerable interest as promising thermoelectric material in the moderate temperature range (500 K–900 K), which is the temperature range of most industrial waste heat sources. In this paper, first we present the structure of β-Zn4Sb3 and the traditional doping strategy used to enhance its performance. Next, we review the details of some new methods utilized for improving the thermoelectric properties of β-Zn4Sb3 and its thermal stability as well as reliability. Finally, the review finishes with highlighting some promising strategies for future research directions in the material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen production from electrochemical water splitting is a promising strategy to generating green energy, which requires development of efficient and stable bifunctional catalysts for hydrogen and oxygen evolution reaction (HER/OER). Herein, dual transition metal phosphides/N-doped carbon/Nickel foam composite (CoNiP/NC-NF) is prepared via direct phosphidation of ZIF-67, in which ZIF-67 can control the size and N-doping content of CoNiP/NC, boosting the bifunctional activities for the OER and HER. Then, the overall water splitting is performed by using CoNiP/NC-NF as the cathode and anode, showing a low cell voltage of 1.60 V to reach current density of 10 mA cm−2. Experimental studies indicate that ZIF-67 influences the electrocatalytic performance, and theoretical studies identify the active component of CoNiP/NC-NF for HER and OER, respectively. [Display omitted] • ZIF-67 based TMPs were prepared with good activities for the OER and HER. • The overall water splitting was applied using this material as the cathode and anode. • ZIF-67 influenced the electrocatalytic performance of OER and HER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermoelectric conversion may take a significant share in future energy technologies. Oxide‐based thermoelectric composite ceramics attract attention for promising routes for control of electrical and thermal conductivity for enhanced thermoelectric performance. However, the variability of the composite properties responsible for the thermoelectric performance, despite nominally identical preparation routes, is significant, and this cannot be explained without detailed studies of thermal transport at the local scale. Scanning thermal microscopy (SThM) is a scanning probe microscopy method providing access to local thermal properties of materials down to length scales below 100 nm. To date, realistic quantitative SThM is shown mostly for topographically very smooth materials. Here, methods for SThM imaging of bulk ceramic samples with relatively rough surfaces are demonstrated. "Jumping mode" SThM (JM‐SThM), which serves to preserve the probe integrity while imaging rough surfaces, is developed and applied. Experiments with real thermoelectric ceramics show that the JM‐SThM can be used for meaningful quantitative imaging. Quantitative imaging is performed with the help of calibrated finite‐elements model of the SThM probe. The modeling reveals non‐negligible effects associated with the distributed nature of the resistive SThM probes used; corrections need to be made depending on probe‐sample contact thermal resistance and probe current frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Images taken under low light or dim backlight conditions usually have insufficient brightness, low contrast, and poor visual quality of the image, which leads to increased difficulty in computer vision and human recognition of images. Therefore, low illumination enhancement is very important in computer vision applications. We mainly provide an overview of existing deep learning enhancement algorithms in the low-light field. First, a brief overview of the traditional enhancement algorithms used in early low-light images is given. Then, according to the neural network structure used in deep learning and its learning algorithm, the enhancement methods are introduced. In addition, the datasets and common performance indicators used in the deep learning enhancement technology are introduced. Finally, the problems and future development of the deep learning enhancement method for low-light images are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, multi-walled carbon nanotube composites (MWCNCs) were produced by catalytic pyrolysis of post-consumer plastics with aluminium oxide-supported nickel, cobalt, and their bimetallic (Ni/α–Al2O3, Co/α–Al2O3, and NiCo/α–Al2O3) oxide-based catalysts. The influence of catalyst composition and catalytic reaction temperature on the carbon yield and structure of CNCs were investigated. Different temperatures (800, 900, 950, and 1000 °C) and catalyst compositions (Ni, Co, and Ni/Co) were explored to maximize the yield of carbon deposited on the catalyst. The obtained results showed that at the same catalytic temperature (900 °C), a Ni/Co bimetallic catalyst exhibited higher carbon yield than the individual monometallic catalysts due to a better cracking capability on carbon-hydrogen bonds. With the increase of temperature, the carbon yield of the Ni/Co bimetallic catalyst increased first and then decreased. At a temperature of 950 °C, the Ni/Co bimetallic catalyst achieved its largest carbon yield, which can reach 255 mg g−1plastic. The growth of CNCs followed a "particle-wire-tube" mechanism for all studied catalysts. This work finds the potential application of complex oxide composite material catalysts for the generation of CNCs in catalytic pyrolysis of wasted plastic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The last decade has witnessed nanocomposites becoming a new paradigm in the field of thermoelectric (TE) research. At its core is to prepare high performance TE nanocomposites, both p- and n-type, in a time and energy efficient way. To this end, we in this article summarize our recent effort and results on both p- and n-type BiTe-based nanocomposites prepared by a unique single-element-melt-spinning spark-plasma sintering procedure. The results of transport measurements, scanning and transmission electronic microscopy, and small angle neutron scattering have proved essential in order to establish the correlation between the nanostructures and the TE performance of the materials. Interestingly, we find that in situ formed nanocrystals with coherent boundaries are the key nanostructures responsible for the significantly improved TE performance of p-type BiTe nanocomposites whereas similar nanostructures turn out to be less effective for n-type BiTe nanocomposites. We also discuss the alternative strategies to further improve the TE performance of n-type BiTe materials via nanostructuring processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Novel Eu2+-doped Ca2AlSi3O2N5 phosphors with a general formula of Eu x Ca2−x AlSi3O2N5 were successfully prepared via a solid-state reaction method under a nitrogen atmosphere. The produced phosphors were effectively excited by UV–vis light in the wavelength range between 250 and 400nm, and featured an intense green emission band which peaked at about 500nm. The emission spectra featured a red-shift over increasing Eu2+ content and the temperature of heat treatment. The maximum intensity of emission was obtained for x =0.014 and heat treatment at 1450°C. The photoluminescence properties of the produced Ca2AlSi3O2N5:Eu2+ phosphors qualify them for consideration in potential use as green phosphors in UVLED-based white LED. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this article, a rapid and cost-effective melt spinning (MS) subsequently combined with a spark plasma sintering (SPS) process was utilized to prepared n-type Bi2(Te1−x Se x )3 (x = 0.0–1.0) solid solutions from high purity single elemental chunks. The substitution of tellurium by selenium has significant impacts on the electrical and thermal transport properties of the Bi2(Se x Te1−x )3 compounds in a manner which can be well understood using a valence bond rule and the corresponding change in band gap. Furthermore, the selenium substitution effectively adjusts the carrier density allowing an optimum value of ∼5 × 10−19 cm−3. As a result, a maximum ZT of 1.05 at 420 K was achieved for the Bi2(Se0.2Te0.8)3 sample which also shows an improved average ZT of ∼0.97 in the entire measurement temperature range. By adopting the same p-type legs, the module fabricated by the MS-SPS Bi2(Se0.2Te0.8)3 material which acts as n-type legs shows ∼10% enhancement in thermoelectric conversion efficiency compared with the module fabricated by n-type zone melted ingots. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells have a high invasive potential, yet the mechanisms involved are not known. This study showed that Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) was highly expressed in MDA-MB-231 cells and played a critical role in cell invasion. Compared with the poorly invasive MCF-7 cells, MDA-MB-231 cells expressed 10.5-fold more TLR2. Using TLR2 agonist pg-LPS and TLR2 neutralizing antibody, we found that TLR2 activation significantly promoted MDA-MB-231 invasion, whereas TLR2 blockade diminished this capacity. TLR2 activation enhanced the activity of NF-κB and induced phosphorylation of TAK1 and IκBα in the TLR2/NF-κB signaling pathway in MDA-MB-231, but not in MCF-7 cells. TLR2 activation increased IL-6, TGF-β, VEGF and MMP9 secretion, which are associated with TLR2-NF-κB signaling. We demonstrated that TLR2 is a critical receptor responsible for NF-κB signaling activity and highly invasive capacity of MDA-MB-231 cells. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Microglia-mediated cytotoxicity has been implicated in models of neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, but few studies have documented how neuroprotective signals might mitigate such cytotoxicity. To explore the neuroprotective mechanism of anti-inflammatory cytokines, we applied interleukin-4 (IL-4) to primary microglial cultures activated by lipopolysaccharide as well as to activated microglia cocultured with primary motoneurons. lipopolysaccharide increased nitric oxide and superoxide (O2 ·−) and decreased insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) release from microglial cultures, and induced motoneuron injury in microglia-motoneuron cocultures. However, lipopolysaccharide had minimal effects on isolated motoneuron cultures. IL−4 interaction with microglial IL-4 receptors suppressed and nitric oxide release, and lessened lipopolysaccharide-induced microglia-mediated motoneuron injury. The extent of nitric oxide suppression correlated directly with the extent of motoneuron survival. Although IL-4 enhanced release of free IGF-1 from microglia in the absence of lipopolysaccharide, it did not enhance free IGF-1 release in the presence of lipopolysaccharide. These data suggest that IL-4 may provide a significant immunomodulatory signal which can protect against microglia-mediated neurotoxicity by suppressing the production and release of free radicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The cause of the neurodegenerative process in Parkinson’s disease (PD) remains unclear, but evidence suggests that failure of the ubiquitin–proteasome system may play a major role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Iron is believed to be a key contributor to PD pathology by inducing aggregation of α-synuclein and by generating oxidative stress. Our present studies have shown that micro-injection of the proteasome inhibitor lactacystin into the substantia nigra (SN) of C57BL/6 mice causes significant loss of dopaminergic cells and induces intracellular inclusion body formation. We have also found that co-injection of the iron chelator desferrioxamine not only attenuates the lactacystin-induced dopamine neuron loss, but also reduces the presence of ubiquitin-positive intracellular inclusions in the SN, whereas use of iron-deficient diet has no such protective effects. These results may support that iron plays a key role in proteasome inhibitor-induced nigral pathology and that reducing iron reactivity may prevent dopaminergic neuron degeneration and reduce abnormal protein aggregation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Pramipexole (PRX) is a non-ergot dopamine (DA) D2/D3 receptor agonist. Experimental studies have provided evidence that PRX may exert neuroprotective effects on the nigro-striatal system. Recent studies have demonstrated a slower decline of DAT density in Parkinson''s disease patients treated with PRX as measured by SPECT. The aim of this study is to determine whether PRX has direct biological effects on DAergic neuron-associated genes expression, including DAT, VMAT2, and Nurr1. The human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells were treated with PRX for various time periods and harvested to measure the mRNA and protein products of these genes. Treatment with PRX at 10μM significantly increased DAT mRNA levels by 54–130% in 4–8h, VMAT2 mRNA levels by 34% in 4h, and Nurr1 mRNA levels by 31–39% in 2–4h, which was the earliest induction among these three genes. The protein levels of DAT, VMAT2, and Nurr1 were markedly increased after PRX treatment, among which the increase of Nurr1 protein level was the highest at first 2h treatment of PRX. Nafadotride, a D3 DA receptor antagonist, blocked the increase of Nurr1 gene expression induced by PRX, while eticlopride, a D2 DA receptor antagonist, didn’t show this effect. Our findings that PRX has biological regulatory effects on DAergic neuron-associated genes may explain both the slower decline of imaged DAT and the neuroprotective effect of PRX. Furthermore, our results suggest that the induction of Nurr1 gene expression by PRX may be mediated by D3 DA receptor. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We introduce a new topology-preserving 3D thinning procedure for deriving the curve voxel skeleton from 3D binary digital images. Based on a rigorously defined classification procedure, the algorithm consists of sequential thinning iterations each characterized by six parallel directional sub-iterations followed by a set of sequential sub-iterations. The algorithm is shown to produce concise and geometrically accurate 3D curve skeletons. The thinning algorithm is also insensitive to object rotation and only moderately sensitive to noise. Although this thinning procedure is valid for curve skeleton extraction of general elongated objects, in this paper, we specifically discuss its application to the orientation modeling of trabecular biological tissues. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Layered TiS 2 is of great potential in thermoelectrics for room temperature and medium temperature applications due to its tunable transport properties, low environmental impact, low cost, and lightweight. Herein, we prepared Fe x TiS 2– δ with x varying from 0 to 0.05 through a two-step process, involving initial synthesis in sealed tubes followed by spark plasma sintering. Mössbauer spectroscopy indicated that Fe atoms occupy the octahedral sites in the van der Waals gaps and exist in the form of Fe2+ with a high spin state. Fe x TiS 2– δ with x ≤ 0.02 exhibit high in-plane power factors, reaching an average of ∼ 1.2 mWm–1K–2. The structural disorder caused by Fe intercalation leads to a significant decrease in out-of-plane lattice thermal conductivity. The anisotropy in the figure of merit, ZT , of Fe x TiS 2– δ is suppressed due to Fe intercalation. Fe 0.01 TiS 2– δ possesses the highest ZT of 0.39 at 625 K along the in-plane direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing body of evidence has shown that activating spinal cord glial cells (typically astrocytes and microglial cells) is closely related to hyperpathia and persistent pain. To investigate the expression of GFAP and CR3/CD11b in cornu dorsale medullae spinalis of rats with nonbacterial prostatitis, to explore the therapeutic efficacy and action mechanism of intrathecal injection of BNP alleviating chronic neuropathic pain.Eighteen male SPF SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation control group, nonbacterial prostatitis group (NBP) and intrathecal injection BNP group, the NBP model was established by intraprostatic injection of CFA, and the spinal cord of L6-S1 segment was extracted seven days after intrathecal injection of BNP; The expression of GFAP and CR3/CD11b in dorsal horn of spinal cord were detected by immunofluorescence and Western blot.The cumulative optical density values of GFAP and CR3/CD11b immunofluorescence assay in the NBP group were higher than those in the sham operation group, with statistical significance (p⁢ï⁢¼⁢œ 0.01); The expression of GFAP and CR3/CD11b in intrathecal injection BNP group were lower than those in NBP group, the differences were statistically significant (p⁢ï⁢¼⁢œ 0.01). Western blot results showed that the expression of GFAP and CR3/CD11B in NBP group were higher than those in sham operation group, with statistical significance (p⁢ï⁢¼⁢œ 0.05). The expression of GFAP and CR3/CD11B in intrathecal injection BNP group were lower than those in NBP group, the differences were statistically significant (p⁢ï⁢¼⁢œ 0.05).Intrathecal injection of BNP can down-regulate the expressions of GFAP and CR3/CD11b in L6-S1 spinal cord of NBP rat model and to further inhibit chronic pain caused by NBP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Our study is firstly to investigate the effect of Clostridium butyricum on structure and composition of gut microbiota and also explore the its effect on suppression of proinflammatory cytokines and NF-κB pathway by which reduced colitis associated colon cancer in mice. • We also explore the effect of Clostridium butyricum on expression of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-a, IL-6 and enzyme COX-2 and to explore whether Clostridium butyricum can promote apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells by blocking the activation of Nuclear Factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway. • We find that CB could regulate structure and composition of gut microbiota and reduces colitis associated colon cancer in mice, the mechanism may be inhibiting NF-κB pathway and promoting apoptosis. We investigate the effects of Clostridium butyricum(CB) on gut microbiota and colitis associated colon cancer(CAC) in mice.6–8 weeks old C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control, azoxymethane (AOM) + dextran sodium sulphate (DSS) and AOM + DSS + CB groups. Mice in the latter two groups received an intraperitoneal injection of AOM (12.5 mg/kg), followed by three cycles of DSS diluted in water (2.5% w/v). Mice in treatment group received CB (2 × 108 CFU in 200 ul normal saline) by gavage administration three times one week. Microbiota composition was assessed by 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing. Colon samples were collected to examine severity of colitis and tumorigenesis. Cytokines including TNF-a, IL-6 and Cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) were detected by RT-qPCR. Expression of Bcl-2, Bax and the state of components of NF-κB signaling pathway were detected by western blot. The results revealed that CB regulated structure of intestinal flora and changed the microbial composition; decreased Firmicutes/ Bacteroidetes ratio in phylum level and increased the relative abundance of probiotics; decreased colitis, decreased incidence and size of colorectal cancer(CRC) and increased apoptosis of tumor cells; decreased cytokines including TNF-a and IL-6; decreased level of COX-2; decreased phosphorylation of NF-κB; decreased level of Bcl-2 and increased expression of Bax. In conclusion, CB could regulate structure and composition of gut microbiota and reduces colitis associated colon cancer in mice, the mechanism may be inhibiting NF-κB pathway and promoting apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clostridium butyricum (CB), a probiotic, is a gram-positive obligate anaerobic bacillus with acid and heat resistant properties. Previous studies have reported that CB has beneficial effects in intestinal diseases and regulates intestinal function. The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effects and mechanisms of CB on the intestinal barrier function. Mice were randomly divided into three experimental groups (n=15 mice/group), including control, dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) and DSS + CB. In the DSS and DSS + CB groups colitis was induced with 3% DSS dissolved in drinking water for 7 days. DSS + CB group mice were co-treated daily with 200 µl (2x108 CFU) CB solution via gavage. The intestinal mucosal barrier function in mice was assessed by measuring FITC-labeled 4-kDa dextran (molecular weight, 4,000 Da) flux and by analyzing the expression of tight junction (TJ)-related proteins using western blot analysis. In addition, the secretion levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-13, and the concentration of malondialdehyde, glutathione and superoxide dismutase were detected using ELISAs to determine inflammation and oxidative stress, respectively. The activation status of the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway was also investigated using western blot analysis. The results demonstrated that, in mice with DSS-induced colitis treatment, co-treatment with CB attenuated colitis symptoms and intestinal permeability, increased the expression levels of TJ-related proteins, decreased TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-13 secretion levels but increased those of IL-10, and reduced oxidative stress. Additionally, CB elevated the phosphorylation of Akt, mTOR and p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase. Collectively, the present results indicated that CB protected intestinal barrier function and decreased intestinal mucosal permeability via upregulating the expression levels of TJ-related proteins in a mouse model of DSS-induced colitis. Moreover, the results suggested that the effects of CB could be mediated by the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Battery-grade FePO 4 ·2H 2 O was prepared by copper slag resource utilization. • FePO 4 ·2H 2 O was synthesized by selective sediment in the leachate. • Adding Na 2 HPO 4 ·12H 2 O without extra pH adjustment. • The battery performance of synthetic LFP/C is effective. • Life cycle assessment indicates that the technology is environmentally friendly. Copper slag (CS) contains a high content of valuable iron, the stockpile of CS occupies a large amount of land and leads to a waste of secondary resources. This study proposed producing battery-grade FePO 4 ·2H 2 O from CS through selective leaching, synthesis, and purification. The combined acid leaching/evaporation method was used to leach out Fe and inhibit Si from fayalite selectively, and then FePO 4 ·2H 2 O was formed by adding Na 2 HPO 4 ·12H 2 O without extra pH adjustment. The purity of FePO 4 ·2H 2 O obtained by using a reactor heated for 5 h at 180 ℃ with an HCl concentration of 2.5 M was 99.47 %, and the impurities were all by the industry standard for battery-grade FePO 4 ·2H 2 O (HG/T 4701–2021). The LiFePO 4 /C material was further synthesized and tested for battery performance. Under the test current of 0.1C, the charging-specific capacity of the battery in the first week was 175.8 mAh/g, and the discharge-specific ability was 159.3 mAh/g, which was close to the theoretical specific capacity and effective. Life cycle assessment (LCA) indicated that for each 1 kg of iron phosphate produced, the carbon emission of this study was reduced by 4.71 kg CO 2 eq compared with the traditional technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Mn2+–Ce3+ co-doped MgYSi2O5N phosphors were prepared by a solid-state reaction method. Their photoluminescence properties were studied in terms of absorption, excitation, and emission spectra. They could be effectively excited by ultraviolet light and showed intense blue and red emissions, making them attractive candidate phosphors for white light LED application. The luminescence of Ce3+ significantly increased with the incorporation of Mn2+ and an efficient energy transfer from Ce3+ to Mn2+ ions occurred. The blue band emission was attributed to the 5d1–4f1 transition of Ce3+ ions, and the double red band emission was attributed to the single Mn2+ ion and Mn2+ pairs or clusters. The effects of Ce3+ and Mn2+ concentrations on luminance have also been studied. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

High performance Bi2Te3 bulk materials with layered nanostructure have been prepared by combining melt spinning technique with spark plasma sintering, and their thermoelectric transport properties are investigated. The electrical conductivity increases greatly and the lattice thermal conductivity decreases significantly with the increase of the roller’s linear speed. These lead to a great improvement in the thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT). The maximum ZT value of 1.35 is obtained at 300 K for the sample which is prepared by melt spinning with roller linear speed of 40 m/s. Compared with the zone melting sample, it increases by 73% at the same temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights from the article: After the publication of the above paper, the authors requested a change in the order of a pair of the authors listed on the paper; essentially, the placement of the second- and third-listed authors on the paper has been reversed, and so Xin Liu is now the second named author, and Qiang Chen is the third author. Furthermore, for the record, the authors who contributed equally to this study are now listed as Wenjie Xie and Xin Liu.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) has being recognised as a potentially interesting thermoelectric material, allowing flexible tuning of the electrical properties by donor doping. This work focuses on the assessment of tantalum doping effects on the relevant structural, microstructural, optical and thermoelectric properties of ZnO. Processing of the samples with a nominal composition Zn1−xTaxO by conventional solid-state route results in limited solubility of Ta in the wurtzite structure. Electronic doping is accompanied by the formation of other defects and dislocations as a compensation mechanism and simultaneous segregation of ZnTa2O6 at the grain boundaries. Highly defective structure and partial blocking of the grain boundaries suppress the electrical transport, while the evolution of Seebeck coefficient and band gap suggest that the charge carrier concentration continuously increases from x = 0 to 0.008. Thermal conductivity is almost not affected by the tantalum content. The highest ZT~0.07 at 1175 K observed for Zn0.998Ta0.002O is mainly provided by high Seebeck coefficient (−464 μV/K) along with a moderate electrical conductivity of ~13 S/cm. The results suggest that tantalum may represent a suitable dopant for thermoelectric zinc oxide, but this requires the application of specific processing methods and compositional design to enhance the solubility of Ta in wurtzite lattice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co-substitution of Eu and Nb into insulating CaTiO 3 can make it a good n-type potential thermoelectric (TE) material. In the present work, solid solution compounds with the nominal composition Ca 0.8 Eu 0.2 Ti 1– x Nb x O 3– δ (x = 0.05, 0.08, 0.1, 0.12) were synthesized and sintered in different atmospheres, including argon (Ar) and forming gas (5 vol% H 2 in Ar). Notably, the different reduction effects of these atmospheres resulted in significant differences in phase formation, grain size, oxygen deficiency, and TE properties of the synthesized samples. Introducing additional electrons to the system by donor substitution of Ti with Nb leads to significant changes in the electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient. The most favorable TE performance of the prepared samples was found in the sample with x = 0.05, primarily attributed to its proper charge carrier concentration. This work highlights the crucial role of the sintering atmosphere in manipulating the TE performance of n-type CaTiO 3 -based ceramics, an effect similar to donor doping. [Display omitted] • Sintering atmospheres play a vital role in determining thermoelectric transport properties of titanate perovskites. • Nb is an efficient electron donor in the titanate perovskite system. • Tungsten carbide impurity can significantly enhance the thermal conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As global climate change and human activities increasingly influence our world, forest fires have become more frequent, inflicting significant damage to ecosystems. This study conducted measurements of combustible materials (moisture content ratio, ignition point, and calorific value) across 14 representative sites. We employed Pearson correlation analysis to ascertain the significant differences in combustible properties and utilized entropy methods to evaluate the fire resistance of materials at these sites. Cluster analysis led to the development of four combustible models. Using BehavePlus software, we simulated their fire behaviors and investigated the effects of wind speed and slope on these behaviors through sensitivity analysis. The results revealed notable differences in the moisture content ratios among different types of combustibles, especially in sites 2, 3, 8, 9, and 13, indicating higher fire risks. It was also found that while humus has a higher ignition point and lower calorific value, making it less prone to ignite, the resultant fires could be highly damaging. The Pearson analysis underscored significant variations in the moisture content ratios among different combustibles, while the differences in ignition points and calorific values were not significant. Sites 5 and 6 demonstrated stronger fire resistance. The simulations indicated that fire-spread speed, fireline intensity, and flame length correlate with, and increase with, wind speed and slope. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the significant influence of these two environmental factors on fire behavior. This study provides critical insights into forest fire behavior, enhancing the capability to predict and manage forest fires. Our findings offer theoretical support for forest fire prediction and a scientific basis for fire management decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineering precious metals' sub‐nanometer cluster on 2D earth‐abundant supports provides a promising approach for the development of high‐efficient electrocatalysts in pursuit of green hydrogen. Herein, a novel solid phase deposition approach is demonstrated for the homogenous confinement of atomically thin Pt nanoclusters on 2D delta‐MoN as a viable catalyst for pH‐universal hydrogen evolution reaction. Notably, the optimized material (MoN‐5% Pt) exhibits excellent catalytic performance as evidenced by low overpotentials required, excellent mass activity exceeding 20 A mgPt−1 at 100 mV overpotential, and outstanding stability with negligible activity degradation. The enhanced performance is attributed to (1) novel nanostructure, constituting atomically thin Pt nanoclusters confined on 2D δ‐MoN substrate, thus rendering high atomic utilization and seamless surface mass transfer, and (2) influence of strong metal‐support interaction that effectively limits structural deformation and performance degradation. Theoretical simulations reveal that the strong metal‐support interaction induces substantial charge redistribution across the heterointerface, initiating an energy‐favorable multi‐active site microkinetics in which Pt atoms with an optimal hydrogen adsorption energy making way for enhanced H2 evolution, while Mo atoms situated at the heterointerface enhance water absorption/dissociation steps, enriching the catalytic surface with adsorbed hydrogen atoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, Si3N4 and Zr(NO3)4 were used as raw materials to prepare ZrN/ZrO2‐containing Si3N4‐based ceramic composite. The processing, phase composition, and microstructure of the composite were investigated. Hardness and fracture toughness of the ceramics were evaluated via Vickers indentation in Ar at 25°C, 300°C, 600°C, and 900°C. During spark plasma sintering, Zr(NO3)4 was transformed into tetragonal ZrO2, which further reacted with Si3N4, resulting in the formation of ZrN. The introduction of ZrN enhanced the high‐temperature mechanical properties of the composite, and its hardness and fracture toughness reached 13.4 GPa and 6.1 MPa·m1/2 at 900°C, respectively. The oxidation experiment was carried out in air at 1000°C, 1300°C, and 1500°C for 5 h. It was shown that high‐temperature oxidation promoted the formation and growth of porous oxide layers. The microstructure and phase composition of the formed oxide layers were investigated in detail. Finally, it was identified that the obtained composite exhibited a higher thermal diffusivity than that of monolithic Si3N4 in the temperature range of 100°C–1000°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Oxide materials are of current interest as high-temperature thermoelectrics in the automotive and manufacturing energy-harvesting sectors due to high chemical robustness, low toxicity and low cost. Driven by a need to improve the thermoelectric performance of n-type oxides to the level of p-type analogues, ceramics and composites based on donor-doped SrTiO 3 are considered as a promising material. Here Nb-doped SrTiO 3 with Nb content of 10 and 15% as well as Sr/(Nb + Ti) ratio of 1.00 and 0.98 was mixed with 0.6 wt. % of graphene oxide (GO) prepared by Hummer-based method and conventionally sintered in atmosphere of H 2 /N 2 to reduce both Nb-doped SrTiO 3 and GO. Addition of reduced GO in combination with introduction of Sr vacancies provides a synergistic effect of fastening charge transport and thereby increasing electrical conductivity σ and suppressing the thermal conductivity κ. These factors, together with a moderate Seebeck coefficient S , result in a high power factor PF = S 2 × σ up to ∼1.98 mW/(K2m) and thermoelectric figure of merit ZT = PF × T / κ up to 0.29. These findings offer further prospects for seeking high performance SrTiO 3 -based thermoelectrics by modification with reduced GO. Graphical abstract Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]