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Background: Anxiety and social withdrawal are highly prevalent among patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the neural circuit mechanisms underlying these symptoms remain elusive, and there is a need for effective prevention strategies. Objective: This study aims to elucidate the neural circuitry mechanisms underlying social anxiety in AD. Methods: We utilized 5xFAD mice and conducted a series of experiments including optogenetic manipulation, Tandem Mass Tag-labeled proteome analysis, behavioral assessments, and immunofluorescence staining. Results: In 5xFAD mice, we observed significant amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation in the anterior part of basolateral amygdala (aBLA). Behaviorally, 6-month-old 5xFAD mice displayed excessive social avoidance during social interaction. Concurrently, the pathway from aBLA to ventral hippocampal CA1 (vCA1) was significantly activated and exhibited a disorganized firing patterns during social interaction. By optogenetically inhibiting the aBLA-vCA1 pathway, we effectively improved the social ability of 5xFAD mice. In the presence of Aβ accumulation, we identified distinct changes in the protein network within the aBLA. Following one month of administration of Urolithin A (UA), we observed significant restoration of the abnormal protein network within the aBLA. UA treatment also attenuated the disorganized firings of the aBLA-vCA1 pathway, leading to an improvement in social ability. Conclusions: The aBLA-vCA1 circuit is a vulnerable pathway in response to Aβ accumulation during the progression of AD and plays a crucial role in Aβ-induced social anxiety. Targeting the aBLA-vCA1 circuit and UA administration are both effective strategies for improving the Aβ-impaired social ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was to investigate the effect of various levels of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGB) on the serum antioxidant function, liver function, lipid metabolism, and serum glucose of Cichlasoma managuense. A total of 240 Cichlasoma managuense with an average weight of (60.30 ± 0.25) g were selected and randomly divided into four groups, with three replicates in each group and 20 fish in each replicate. The G0 group (control group), G1 group, G2 group, and G3 group were supplemented with 0, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg EGB of in the basic feed. The experimental period lasted for 28 days. The results showed that the activity of T-SOD, GSH-Px and the content of HDL-C in the serum of test fish in the G2 group were higher than those of the control group at 21 days (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the content of GLU, LDL-C, CHO, TG and MDA and the activity of CAT, ALT and AST in the G2 group were reduced (P<0.05). The study indicates that the addition of EGB to the feed can regulate blood lipid metabolism and improve the antioxidant capacity of Cichlasoma managuense, which can be used to prevent and treat hyperlipidemia. The optimal EGB dosage is 100 mg/kg for 14~21 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tunable photoluminescence (PL) has wide applications in optical waveguides and communication. Since the PL intensity is strongly dependent on the crystal field symmetry, curvature-dependent strain-induced PL modulation is expected in flexible antiferroelectric (AFE) thin film materials. Here, flexible Er-doped Pb 0.98 La 0.02 Zr 0.95 Ti 0.05 O 3 (PLZT) AFE thin films were prepared via the sol-gel method. A giant and reversible PL intensity modulation (482%) was achieved during the bending process. Based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations and Raman spectra measurements, the relationship amongst the curvature-dependent strains, crystal structure, and PL modulation was discussed. The induced strain leads to lattice distortion and even a phase transition, both of which contribute to the reduction in crystal symmetry and thus significantly enhance the PL intensity. [Display omitted] • Flexible antiferroelectric PLZT-Er thin films prepared by the sol-gel method. • Different tensile strains under different curvatures. • Strain-induced phase transition predicted by the density functional theory (DFT) calculations. • Photoluminescence changes realized by curvature-dependent crystal symmetry modulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intense ultraviolet radiation and large amount of saline-alkali soil in the Golmud region of Province, China, have deteriorated the performance of asphalt pavement. Given the effect of adverse conditions in this area, this paper investigated the collective and interaction effects of salt chemicals, air temperature, and ultraviolet radiation on asphalt and asphalt mixture through laboratory experiments under controlled conditions. In particular, using different concentrations of Na2SO4 and NaCl solutions, simulated salt chemicals for asphalt and asphalt mixture performance impact. The mechanism of performance deterioration of the asphalt mixture suffered from salt attack was explored. The results show that the original asphalt's storage and loss modulus are higher than the modified asphalt at different temperatures with the multi-factors effect. In addition, the modified asphalt's phase angle is 5%∼10% higher than the original asphalt below −2°C. At the same time, strength loss rates of asphalt mixture increase with the cycles and solution concentration, varying from 20%−40%. Wet-dry cycles and the concentration of salt solution are positively correlated with the deterioration of asphalt mixture strength. This research provides the durability prediction and the more reasonable composition design of the asphalt mixture applied in salt enrichment regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to analyse the attenuation law of skid resistance of steel slag asphalt mixture (SSAM) based on differential wear. In this study, an indoor accelerated wear instrument was used to accelerate the wear of the SSAM surface. A pavement laser scanner and a dynamic friction tester measured the three-dimensional morphology and dynamic friction coefficient (μ) of SSAM. Then, the improvement mechanism of steel slag on the skid resistance of SSAM was expounded by analysing the surface microtexture, mineral composition, and chemical composition of aggregates. The results showed no linear relationship between the amount of steel slag and the improvement of SSAM skid resistance. The SSAM with 50% steel slag maximised the differential wear effect and had the largest μ and the richest surface macrotexture. It was recommended that the steel slag content in the SSAM should not exceed 50%. The more mineral composition and higher average hardness of steel slag were the sources of its excellent skid resistance. In addition, it is suggested that the differential wear between mixed aggregates should be considered in the design of skid resistance pavement, and the proportion of different aggregates should be reasonably distributed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital holographic microscopy is an important measurement method for micro-nano structures. However, when the structured features are of high-slopes, the interference fringes can become too dense to be recognized. Due to the Nyquist's sampling limit, reliable wavefront restoration and phase unwrapping are not feasible. To address this problem, the interference fringes are proposed to be sparsified by tilting the reference wavefronts. A data fusion strategy including region extraction and tilt correction is developed for reconstructing the full-area surface topographies. Experimental results of high-slope elements demonstrate the validity and reliability of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The carcinogenic mechanism of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), a well-known tobacco carcinogen, has not been fully elucidated in epigenetic studies. 5-Methylcytosine (5mC) modification plays a major role in epigenetic regulation. In this study, the 5mC level increased in both BEAS-2B human bronchial epithelium cells treated with 100 mg/L NNK for 24 h and NNK-induced malignant-transformed BEAS-2B cells (2B-NNK cells), suggesting that 5mC modification is associated with the malignant transformation mechanism of NNK. Using a combination of Methylated DNA Immunoprecipitation Sequencing (MeDIP-seq), RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), and bioinformatics analysis of data from the Genomic Data Commons database, we found that the Adipogenesis regulatory factor (ADIRF) promoter region was abnormally hypermethylated, yielding low ADIRF mRNA expression, and that ADIRF overexpression could inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion of 2B-NNK cells. This finding suggests that ADIRF plays a tumor suppressor role in the NNK-induced malignant transformation of cells. Subsequently, using 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-2'-dC) and the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-Catalytically Dead Cas9 (dCas9 system), we verified that the demethylation of the ADIRF promoter region in 2B-NNK cells inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of the cells and increased their apoptosis ability. These results suggest that abnormal 5mC modification of the ADIRF promoter plays a positive regulatory role in the pathogenesis of NNK-induced lung cancer. This study offers a new experimental basis for the epigenetic mechanism of NNK-induced lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Epithelial mesenchymal transformation (EMT) in alveolar type 2 epithelial cells (AT2) is closely associated with pulmonary fibrosis (PF). Histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) is an important enzyme that regulates protein stability by modulating the acetylation level of non-histones. Here, we aimed to explore the potential role and regulatory mechanisms associated with HDAC3 in PF. Methods: We quantified HDAC3 expression both in lung tissues from patients with PF and from bleomycin (BLM)-treated mice. HDAC3 was also detected in TGF-β1-treated AT2. The mechanistic activity of HDAC3 in pulmonary fibrosis and EMT was also explored. Results: HDAC3 was highly expressed in lung tissues from patients with PF and bleomycin (BLM)-treated mice, especially in AT2. Lung tissues from AT2-specific HDAC3-deficient mice stimulated with BLM showed alleviative fibrosis and EMT. Upstream of HDAC3, TGF-β1/SMAD3 directly promoted HDAC3 transcription. Downstream of HDAC3, we also found that genetic or pharmacologic inhibition of HDAC3 inhibited GATA3 expression at the protein level rather than mRNA. Finally, we found that intraperitoneal administration of RGFP966, a selective inhibitor of HDAC3, could prevent mice from BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis and EMT. Conclusion: TGF-β1/SMAD3 directly promoted the transcription of HDAC3, which aggravated EMT in AT2 and pulmonary fibrosis in mice via deacetylation of GATA3 and inhibition of its degradation. Our results suggest that targeting HDAC3 in AT2 may provide a new therapeutic target for the prevention of PF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to analyse the attenuation law of skid resistance of steel slag asphalt mixture (SSAM) based on differential wear. In this study, an indoor accelerated wear instrument was used to accelerate the wear of the SSAM surface. A pavement laser scanner and a dynamic friction tester measured the three-dimensional morphology and dynamic friction coefficient (μ) of SSAM. Then, the improvement mechanism of steel slag on the skid resistance of SSAM was expounded by analysing the surface microtexture, mineral composition, and chemical composition of aggregates. The results showed no linear relationship between the amount of steel slag and the improvement of SSAM skid resistance. The SSAM with 50% steel slag maximised the differential wear effect and had the largest μ and the richest surface macrotexture. It was recommended that the steel slag content in the SSAM should not exceed 50%. The more mineral composition and higher average hardness of steel slag were the sources of its excellent skid resistance. In addition, it is suggested that the differential wear between mixed aggregates should be considered in the design of skid resistance pavement, and the proportion of different aggregates should be reasonably distributed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid fuel use (SFU) is common in most developing countries and would release many hazardous air pollutants posing high risks on human health. The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study highlighted risks associated with household SFU in Pakistan, however, high uncertainties prevail because of scanty data on SFU and unaccounted energy stacking. This study conducted a field campaign aiming at collecting first-hand data on household energy mix in Pakistan. The first survey was in Punjab and Azad Kashmir, and revealed that stacked energy use was pervasive, especially for cooking. The stacking was found to be much more obvious in SFU households (defined as those using SFU dominantly) compared to those non-SFU. There were significantly substantial differences between Azad Kashmir and Punjab because of distinct resources available and economic conditions. Woody materials comprised up to nearly 70% in Azad Kashmir, but in Punjab, gas was frequently used for cooking. Only investigating primary household energy would probably overestimate main energy types that being used for a longer time but underestimated other supplements, suggesting the preference of multiple-energy surveys in household energy studies. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor and a substrate protein of a Cullin 4B E3 ligase complex responsible for diverse cellular processes. In the lung, this receptor is responsible for the bioactivation of benzo[a]pyrene during tumorigenesis. Realizing that the AHR function is affected by its expression level, we are interested in the degradation mechanism of AHR in the lung. Here, we have investigated the mechanism responsible for AHR degradation using human lung epithelial A549 cells. We have observed that the AHR protein levels increase in the presence of chloroquine (CQ), an autophagy inhibitor, in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with 6-aminonicotinamide (6-AN), a chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) activator, decreases AHR protein levels in a concentration-dependent and time-dependent manner. This decrease suppresses the ligand-dependent activation of the AHR target gene transcription, and can be reversed by CQ but not MG132. Knockdown of lysosome-associated membrane protein 2 (LAMP2), but not autophagy-related 5 (ATG5), suppresses the chloroquine-mediated increase in the AHR protein. AHR is resistant to CMA when its CMA motif is mutated. Suppression of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in A549 cells is observed when the AHR gene is knocked out or the AHR protein level is reduced by 6-AN. Collectively, we have provided evidence supporting that AHR is continuously undergoing CMA and activation of CMA suppresses the AHR function in A549 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulmonary epithelial cells act as the first line of defense against various air pollutant particles. Previous studies have reported that particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) could trigger pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis by inducing pulmonary epithelial senescence and ferroptosis. Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) is one of critical the mitochondrial NAD+-dependent deacetylases, exerting antioxidant and anti-aging effects in multiple diseases. The present study aimed to explore the role of SIRT3 in PM2.5-induced lung injury as well as possible mechanisms. The role of SIRT3 in PM2.5-induced lung injury was investigated by SIRT3 genetic depletion, adenovirus-mediated overexpression in type II alveolar epithelial (AT2) cells, and pharmacological activation by melatonin. The protein level and activity of SIRT3 in lung tissues and AT2 cells were significantly downregulated after PM2.5 stimulation. SIRT3 deficiency in AT2 cells aggravated inflammatory response and collagen deposition in PM2.5-treated lung tissues. RNA-sequence and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis showed that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between SIRT3 flox and SIRT3 CKO mice were mainly enriched in ferroptosis and cellular longevity. Western blot further showed that SIRT3 deficiency in AT2 cells significantly upregulated the proteins associated with ferroptosis and cell senescence in PM2.5-treated lung tissues. In vitro experiments also showed that SIRT3 overexpression could decrease the levels of ferroptosis and cell senescence in PM2.5-treated AT2 cells. In addition, we found that PM2.5 could increase the acetylation of P53 via triggering DNA damage in AT2 cells. And SIRT3 could deacetylate P53 at lysines 320 (K320), thus reducing its transcriptional activity. PM2.5 decreased the protein level of SIRT3 by inducing proteasome pathway through downregulating USP3. Finally, we found that SIRT3 agonist, melatonin treatment could alleviate PM2.5-induced senescence and ferroptosis in mice. In conclusion, targeting USP3-SIRT3-P53 axis may be a novel therapeutic strategy against PM2.5-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis by decreasing pulmonary epithelial senescence and ferroptosis. [Display omitted] • SIRT3 deficiency in AT2 cells aggravates PM2.5-induced lung injury. • SIRT3 inhibits pulmonary epithelial senescence and ferroptosis by deacetylating P53 at lysines 320. • PM2.5 contributes to the degradation of SIRT3 by downregulating USP3 in AT2 cells. • Melatonin could protect against PM2.5-induced senescence and ferroptosis in lung. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asymmetric electrochemical carboxylation is the direct and effective method to fix and utilize CO2, and the selection of chiral catalysts is crucial. In this paper, a series of chiral metal salen complexes are prepared as chiral catalysts to achieve enantioselective conversion of acetophenone with CO2 to synthesis chiral 2‐hydroxy‐2‐phenylpropionic acid under electrochemical conditions. Under the catalysis of NiIIL1, the enantiomeric excess (ee) value of 90 % and yield of 59 % are obtained. By cyclic voltammetry and potentiostatic electrolysis, the effects of metal centers and tert‐butyl groups in ligand structures on the catalytic results are studied and the possible reaction mechanism is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Positive ratios of normal random variables are required for meaningful advertising claims. Positive ratios less than 1 for supporting superiority claims on attributes deemed important to minimize (e.g., our soap cleans effectively and is only 1/3 as harsh as the leading competitor) require estimating (1 − α) upper confidence bounds (UCBs) to protect against unwarranted deflated estimates. Here, we extend the ratio and multiplicative methods to estimate the UCB. Results show that the UCBs estimated by the ratio method are superior to those estimated by the multiplicative method and that the ratio method maintains inverse relation between the ratios X/Y and Y/X. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The APETALA 2/ ethylene-responsive element binding factors (AP2/ERF), are thought to be associated with plant abiotic stress response, and involved in some plant hormone signaling pathways. Trichosanthes kirilowii is an important edible and medicinal crop, so far no research has been conducted on the TkAP2/ERF genes. Result: In this study, a total of 135 TkERFs were identified, these genes were divided into 4 subfamilies and clustered into 13 groups. Moreover, 37 paralogous pairs were identified, with only two having Ka/Ks values greater than 1, proving that most TkERF genes underwent purifying selection during evolution. Co-expression networks constructed using transcriptome data at various flowering stages revealed that 50, 64, and 67 AP2/ERF genes correlated with members of the ethylene, gibberellin, and abscisic acid signaling pathways, respectively. When tissue cultured seedlings were treated with ETH, GA3 and ABA, 11, 12 and 17 genes were found to be up-regulated, respectively, suggesting that some members of the TkERF gene family may be involved in plant hormone signaling pathways. And under 4 ℃, PEG and NaCl treatment, 15, 20 and 19 genes were up-regulated, respectively, this suggested that these selected genes might be involved in plant abiotic stresses. Conclusions: Overall, we identified 135 AP2/ERF family members, a comprehensive analysis of AP2/ERF gene expression patterns by RNA-seq and qRT-PCR showed that they played important roles in flower development and abiotic stress. This study provided a theoretical basis for the functional study of TkAP2/ERF genes and the genetic improvement of T. kirilowii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, based on high-throughput technology, polymer dispersed liquid crystals (PDLC) composed of pentaerythritol tetra (2-mercaptoacetic acid) (PETMP), trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA), and polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGD 600) were investigated in detail. A total of 125 PDLC samples with different ratios were quickly prepared using ink-jet printing. Based on the method of machine vision to identify the grayscale level of samples, as far as we know, it is the first time to realize high-throughput detection of the electro-optical performance of PDLC samples, which can quickly screen out the lowest saturation voltage of batch samples. Additionally, we compared the electro-optical test results of manual and high-throughput preparation PDLC samples and discovered that they had very similar electro-optical characteristics and morphologies. This demonstrated the viability of PDLC sample high-throughput preparation and detection, as well as promising application prospects, and significantly increased the efficiency of PDLC sample preparation and detection. The results of this study will contribute to the research and application of PDLC composites in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Halide perovskites have attracted surge of interest in the memristor field due to their superior electrical property and corresponding remarkable device performances. However, the issues of toxicity and unstable properties still severely restrict their potential applications. Here, the lead-free all-inorganic perovskite Cs3Cu2Br5 films are adopted as the switching layer to fabricate memristors with Al/Cs3Cu2Br5/ITO structure. The prepared Al/Cs3Cu2Br5/ITO memristors exhibit typical reproducible bipolar resistive switching (RS) behavior with striking characteristics, including ultralow operating voltages (0.45, −0.39 V), moderate high resistance state/low resistance state ratio (≈102), and remarkable retention time (>104 s). In addition, the multilevel storage capability can be achieved by controlling compliance current. The RS effect, stemming from the formation/rupture of both localized conductive Br vacancy/Al atom filaments, is proposed to illustrate the memristors. More importantly, the RS behavior of Al/Cs3Cu2Br5/ITO memristors maintains robustness in harsh environments with humidity up to 80%, enabling secure hardware applicable in extreme environments. This work demonstrates the opportunity for exploring the next-generation nonvolatile memories based on lead-free all-inorganic halide perovskites in future environmental-friendly and humidity robust electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of traditional Peking opera facial masks often relies on hand painting by experienced painters, which restricts the inheritance and development of this intangible cultural heritage. Current research mainly focuses on the digital reconstruction and storage of existing Peking opera facial masks, while high-quality facial mask generation technology is still in an infancy stage. In this paper, different deep learning frameworks are improved for learning features of Peking opera facial masks and generating new masks, which can effectively promote the creative application of Peking opera facial masks. First, using different data enhancement methods, an improved Style Generative Adversarial Network-2 (StyleGAN2) can learn implicit and explicit features of Peking opera facial masks and automatically generate new facial masks. In addition, an image translation framework for joint cross-domain communication under weak supervision is used to translate face sketches and color reference maps to an intermediate feature domain, and then synthesize new facial masks through an image generation network. The experimental results show that the generated Peking opera facial masks have good local randomness and excellent visual quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One-dimensional nanocrystals with high-aspect ratio from natural polymers such as cellulose nanocrystals are attractive due to their anisotropic dimensions, versatile surface chemistry and ability to form lyotropic liquid crystalline (LC) phase in aqueous media. Most importantly, those anisotropic natural materials preserve their LC ordering in solid films under slow drying at ambient conditions. The resulting organised films with 'frozen' chiral nematic helicoidal morphology show unique optical properties such as selective light reflection, high optical birefringence, selective circular polarisation, along with enhanced mechanical performance, e.g. high ultimate strength, toughness and stretchability. Additionally, those films are lightweight, and potentially sustainable and biodegradable. Here we briefly overview recent work from our group on the chiral nematic organisation in LC suspensions and in thin films of cellulose nanocrystals and cellulose nanofibers obtained under diverse interparticle interactions, confined drying conditions, and external magnetic field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experimental realization of large‐scale, homogeneous semiconducting films with a single‐layer thickness is of major importance for next‐generation devices. Especially in view of the compatibility with state‐of‐the‐art semiconductor technology, Si‐based monolayer crystals are of particular interest. Here, the successful epitaxial growth of monolayer Si2Te2 (MLSi2Te2) films on semiconducting Sb2Te3 thin film substrates is reported. High‐quality (1 × 1) ML‐Si2Te2 films with a coverage as high as 95% are obtained as revealed by scanning tunneling microscopy. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirms the existence of the SiTe bonds in the obtained films. By combining scanning tunneling spectroscopy with density functional theory calculations, the existence of a semiconducting bandgap is demonstrated on the order of 370 meV for the MLSi2Te2 films which reside in an important mid‐infrared spectral range. The results pave the way for practical applications of this novel artificial two‐dimensional material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To understand the related influencing factors of outpatient hypertension detection and control and self-test control compliance rate. Methods. A total of 637 hypertensive patients who visited the outpatient clinic of our hospital from January 2021 to December 2021 were selected for investigation and research, and the relevant information such as blood pressure, treatment detection, and other related information of the patients were counted, and the detection and control of outpatient hypertension were explored through regression analysis and the related factors of the self-test control compliance rate. Results. There was no statistically significant difference in the number of patients who met the standard or not under the gender difference (P > 0.05), and it can be found that there was no statistically significant difference in the age of patients who met the standard and those who did not (P > 0.05). The proportion of patients with self-test hypertension control at home was 64.68%, and the compliance rate of self-test blood pressure was 42.54%. The compliance rate of blood pressure control in outpatient testing was 61.85%. Heart rate, exercise, smoking, medication compliance, and other factors are important factors affecting the control of hypertension. Knowing hypertension-related knowledge, regular follow-up, office blood pressure compliance, smoking, excessive salt intake, and hypertension complications are important factors affecting the self-test control of hypertension in the family. Conclusion. By urging patients to do daily physical exercise, admonishing patients to quit smoking, and improving patients' medication compliance, the control rate of hypertension in outpatient clinics can be effectively improved. Understanding the knowledge of hypertension, controlling the salt content in the diet, and receiving regular follow-up surveys from doctors can effectively improve the effect of self-measurement and control of blood pressure at home and further improve the control rate of hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensive efforts have been made to develop models of hRSV infection or disease using various animals. However, the limitations such as semi-permissiveness and short duration of infection have impeded their applications in both the pathogenesis of hRSV and therapeutics development. Here, we present a mouse model based on a Rag2 gene knockout using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Rag2−/− mice sustained high viral loads upon intranasal inoculation with hRSV. The average peak titer rapidly reached 1 × 109.8 copies/g and 1c106 TCID50 in nasal cavity, as well as 1 × 108 copies/g and 1 × 105 TCID50 in the lungs up to 5 weeks. Mild interstitial pneumonia, severe bronchopneumonia, elevated cytokines and NK cells were seen in Rag2−/− mice. A humanized monoclonal antibody showed strong antiviral activity in this animal model, implying that Rag2−/− mice that support long-term stable infection are a useful tool for studying the transmission and pathogenesis of human RSV, as well as evaluating therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The household energy mix has significant impacts on human health and climate, as it contributes greatly to many health- and climate-relevant air pollutants. Compared to the well-established urban energy statistical system, the rural household energy statistical system is incomplete and is often associated with high biases. Via a nationwide investigation, this study revealed high contributions to energy supply from coal and biomass fuels in the rural household energy sector, while electricity comprised ∼20%. Stacking (the use of multiple sources of energy) is significant, and the average number of energy types was 2.8 per household. Compared to 2012, the consumption of biomass and coals in 2017 decreased by 45% and 12%, respectively, while the gas consumption amount increased by 204%. Increased gas and decreased coal consumptions were mainly in cooking, while decreased biomass was in both cooking (41%) and heating (59%). The time-sharing fraction of electricity and gases (E&G) for daily cooking grew, reaching 69% in 2017, but for space heating, traditional solid fuels were still dominant, with the national average shared fraction of E&G being only 20%. The non-uniform spatial distribution and the non-linear increase in the fraction of E&G indicated challenges to achieving universal access to modern cooking energy by 2030, particularly in less-developed rural and mountainous areas. In some non-typical heating zones, the increased share of E&G for heating was significant and largely driven by income growth, but in typical heating zones, the time-sharing fraction was <5% and was not significantly increased, except in areas with policy intervention. The intervention policy not only led to dramatic increases in the clean energy fraction for heating but also accelerated the clean cooking transition. Higher income, higher education, younger age, less energy/stove stacking and smaller family size positively impacted the clean energy transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing installation of battery energy storage systems, the safety of high-energy-density battery systems has become a growing concern. Developing reliable battery fault diagnosis and fault warning algorithms is essential to ensure the safety of battery systems. After years of development, traditional fault diagnosis techniques based on three-dimensional information of voltage, current and temperature have gradually encountered bottlenecks. It is necessary to adopt a proactive approach by using mulitidimensional information to advance fault diagnosis techniques. This involves integrating advanced sensing technologies, collecting multidimensional data and uncovering subtle changes in battery behavior. This paper delves into the mechanisms and evolutionary paths of battery faults, with a specific focus on the multidimensional observable signals associated with different faults for enhanced safety strategy. Furthermore, the paper provides a comprehensive overview of potential applications of different sensors for multidimensional measurement in battery fault diagnosis. It also explores the future trends and research directions of the next generation of battery fault diagnosis techniques driven by multidimensional data collection and artificial intelligence algorithms. [Display omitted] • Enhanced safety through proactive, multidimensional fault diagnosis techniques. • Integration of advanced sensing tech for precise multidimensional data collection. • Uncovering subtle battery behavior changes for improved fault detection. • Specific focus on multidimensional signals to enhance safety strategies. • Future trends in battery fault diagnosis driven by AI and multidimensional data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To study the effects of mind mapping combined with microvideo explanation on disease perception control and nursing cooperation during membrane induction therapy in patients with infectious nonunion after tibial trauma. Methods. 30 patients with infectious nonunion after tibial trauma treated in the hospital between March 2018 and March 2022 were selected as the research subjects, and the patients were divided into a control group (n = 15) and an observation group (n = 15) by the random number table method. During membrane induction therapy, the control group adopted a routine nursing method while the observation group was given a nursing method of mind mapping combined with microvideo explanation. The disease perception control, nursing cooperation, and self-care ability of the two groups of patients were compared. Results. After nursing, the scores of aspects of "life impact (3.87 ± 0.92)," "duration (3.20 ± 1.01)," and "emotions (3.93 ± 0.59)" of the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ) in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (5.27 ± 0.88, 4.67 ± 1.05, and 4.93 ± 0.80, respectively) (P < 0.05) while the scores of "self-control (6.80 ± 1.21)" and "disease awareness (7.27 ± 0.70)" were higher than those in the control group (5.00 ± 1.07 and 5.93 ± 0.70, respectively) (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the total compliance rate between the two groups (P > 0.05). After nursing, the scores of dimensions and the total score of the Exercise of Self-Care Agency Scale (ESCA) were increased in the two groups, and the scores were higher in the observation group than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion. Mind mapping combined with microvideo explanation can improve the disease perception control during membrane induction therapy in patients with infectious nonunion after tibial trauma, improve the self-care ability, and facilitate the smooth progress of treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strain engineering has attracted extensive attention as a valid method to tune the physical and chemical properties of two-dimensional (2D) materials. Here, based on first-principles calculations and by solving the semi-classical Boltzmann transport equation, we reveal that the tensile strain can efficiently enhance the thermoelectric properties of the GeS2 monolayer. It is highlighted that the GeS2 monolayer has a suitable band gap of 1.50 eV to overcome the bipolar conduction effects in materials and can even maintain high stability under a 6% tensile strain. Interestingly, the band degeneracy in the GeS2 monolayer can be effectually regulated through strain, thus improving the power factor. Moreover, the lattice thermal conductivity can be reduced from 3.89 to 0.48 W/mK at room temperature under 6% strain. More importantly, the optimal ZT value for the GeS2 monolayer under 6% strain can reach 0.74 at room temperature and 0.92 at 700 K, which is twice its strain-free form. Our findings provide an exciting insight into regulating the thermoelectric performance of the GeS2 monolayer by strain engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vehicle-to-everything communication (V2X) and mobile edge computing (MEC) have introduced significant technological innovations for autonomous ground vehicles (AGVs), enabling most driving task computations to be performed with edge servers with higher quality and effectively reducing computational power consumption for AGVs. For reducing more computational power consumption which can reach hundreds of watts, sending more offloading tasks to edge servers can result in high latency and congestion when the network resources are finite and even cause serious traffic accidents. Besides, in V2X network, multiple transmission paths, including vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) links and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) links, can provide more valuable resources for sending offloading tasks, but they increase the complexity of resource management. To improve the utilization efficiency of network resources and ensure low power consumption for AGVs, first, this paper analyzes mathematical models of bandwidth, delay and power consumption based on different computing modes and transmission paths. Second, we propose an allocation algorithm for network resource allocation, transmission paths and computing modes to minimize power consumption according to the states of the V2X-MEC network measured and predicted by the navigation and positioning system. Third, a traversal approach simplified by a road segmentation method is adopted to solve for the optimal parameters. Through simulations, we compare our solution against an allocation approach based on the shortest path method, minimum average delay method and game theory method to illustrate the effectiveness of our proposed method in reducing the power consumption and transmission delay of uplinks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to evaluate the macro-mechanical performance of asphalt mixture suffered from the sulphate–water–temperature–load coupling action, the self-designed asphalt mixture dynamic water–salt attack apparatus was adopted for the accelerated simulation of real service conditions in sulphate enrichment environment. Splitting test at room temperature and low temperature was conducted for assessing the performance of asphalt mixture suffered from still water immersion and multi-factor coupling action. Then the performance damage characteristics of asphalt mixture under different conditions were explored. The multi-linear regression analysis and t-test were applied to determine the significance of factors on the performance of asphalt mixture. The performance deterioration mechanism of asphalt mixture exposed to dynamic water and sulphate attack was preliminarily analysed. The results show that the sulphate–water–temperature–load coupling action plays an important role in the macro-mechanical performance deterioration of asphalt mixture and dynamic water further accelerates the deterioration process of sulphate attack to asphalt mixture. The dynamic water scouring times, temperature and sulphate solution concentration have a significant impact on the performance of asphalt mixture. The decreasing adhesion between asphalt and aggregate, along with exterior/interior sulphate crystallisation erosion contributes the important inducement for the performance deterioration of asphalt mixture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the miniaturization of electronic components and the complication of packaging processes, operating environments with high power density are bound to generate large amounts of heat. Conventional thermal interface material (TIM) typically aims to enhance thermal conductivity (TC) in only one direction (either through-plane or in-plane), which is insufficient to meet the growing requirement for heat dissipation. Here, highly oriented and tightly fitted flake graphite (FG)-based TIM with dual-direction thermal conductive pathways were prepared via rotating magnetic field assisted casting (RMAC), which can dissipate heat quickly in both directions. The results revealed that at 50 wt% filler and 30 r/min magnetic field rotation rate, the composites with dual-direction thermal conductive pathways exhibited in-plane and through-plane TC of 12.8 and 10.1 W/mK, respectively. Notably, these values represent significant improvements of 415.4 % and 134.1 % over random composites and also demonstrate outstanding advantages over composites with filler orientation in only one direction, horizontal or vertical. This also has been confirmed by finite element simulations and actual thermal characterization. The rational structural design of the filler in TIM can efficiently direct heat away from specific directions, which provides a feasible solution to the heat dissipation problem of high-power-density electronic devices. [Display omitted] • Dual-direction thermal conductive FG-based composites were prepared via RMACand a two-step curing method. • The through-plane and in-plane TC of D-50 are 10.1 and 12.8 W/mK, respectively, which are 4.2 and 1.3 times higher than R-50. • The effect of the magnetic field's rotational speed on the filler's orientation angle and through-plane TC was investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osmanthus fragrans is a famous ornamental tree species for its pleasing floral fragrance. Monoterpenoids are the core floral volatiles of O. fragrans flowers, which have tremendous commercial value. Geranyl diphosphate synthase (GPPS) is a key enzyme that catalyzes the formation of GPP, the precursor of monoterpenoids. However, there are no reports of GPPSs in O. fragrans. Here, we performed RNA sequencing on the O. fragrans flowers and identified three GPPSs. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that OfLSU1/2 belonged to the GPPS.LSU branch, while the OfSSUII belonged to the GPPS.SSU branch. OfLSU1, OfLSU2 and OfSSUII were all localized in chloroplasts. Y2H and pull-down assays showed that OfLSU1 or OfLSU2 interacted with OfSSUII to form heteromeric GPPSs. Site mutation experiments revealed that the conserved C XXX C motifs of OfLSU1/2 and OfSSUII were essential for the interaction between OfLSU1/2 and OfSSUII. Transient expression experiments showed that OfLSU1 , OfLSU2 and OfSSUII co-expressed with monoterpene synthase genes OfTPS1 or OfTPS2 improved the biosynthesis of monoterpenoids (E)-β-ocimene and linalool. The heteromeric GPPSs formed by OfLSU1/2 interacting with OfSSUII further improves the biosynthesis of monoterpenoids. Overall, these preliminary results suggested that the GPPSs play a key role in regulating the production of aromatic monoterpenes in O. fragrans. • RNA-seq analysis of O. fragrans flowers identified three GPPSs. • OfLSU1 and OfLSU1 interacted with OfSSUII to form heteromeric GPPSs. • The conserved C XXX C motifs of OfLSU1/2 and OfSSUII were essential for the interaction between OfLSU1/2 and OfSSUII. • OfLSU1 , OfLSU2 and OfSSUII co-expressed with OfTPS1 or OfTPS2 improved the biosynthesis of monoterpenoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Heart failure, which is characterized by cardiac remodelling, is one of the most common chronic diseases in the aged. Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) acts as an indispensable molecule modulating immune response and inflammation in many diseases. However, the effects of STING on cardiomyopathy, especially cardiac remodelling are still largely unknown. This study was designed to investigate whether STING could affect cardiac remodelling and to explore the potential mechanisms. Methods: In vivo, aortic binding (AB) surgery was performed to construct the mice model of cardiac remodelling. A DNA microinjection system was used to trigger STING overexpression in mice. The STING mRNA and protein expression levels in mice heart were measured, and the cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, inflammation and cardiac function were also evaluated. In vitro, cardiomyocytes stimulated by Ang II and cardiac fibroblasts stimulated by TGF-β to performed to further study effects of STING on cardiac hypertrophy and fibroblast. In terms of mechanisms, the level of autophagy was detected in mice challenged with AB. Rapamycin, a canonical autophagy inducer, intraperitoneal injected into mice to study possible potential pathway. Results: In vivo, the STING mRNA and protein expression levels in mice heart challenged with AB for 6 weeks were significantly increased. STING overexpression significantly mitigated cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis and inflammation, apart from improving cardiac function. In vitro, experiments further disclosed that STING overexpression in cardiomyocytes induced by Ang II significantly inhibited the level of cardiomyocyte cross-section area and the ANP mRNA. Meanwhile, TGF-β-induced the increase of α-SMA content and collagen synthesis in cardiac fibroblasts could be also blocked by STING overexpression. In terms of mechanisms, mice challenged with AB showed higher level of autophagy compared with the normal mice. However, STING overexpression could reverse the activation of autophagy triggered by AB. Rapamycin, a canonical autophagy inducer, offset the cardioprotective effects of STING in mice challenged with AB. Finally, further experiments unveiled that STING may inhibit autophagy by phosphorylating ULK1 on serine757. Conclusions: STING may prevent cardiac remodelling induced by pressure overload by inhibiting autophagy, which could be a promising therapeutic target in heart failure. 7L95hvXtvL9B9C8hEcizcQ Video Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F. H. Chen (P. notoginseng) is a medicinal plant. Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) monooxygenase superfamily is involved in the synthesis of a variety of plant hormones. Studies have shown that CYP450 is involved in the synthesis of saponins, which are the main medicinal component of P. notoginseng. To date, the P. notoginseng CYP450 family has not been systematically studied, and its gene functions remain unclear. Results: In this study, a total of 188 PnCYP genes were identified, these genes were divided into 41 subfamilies and clustered into 9 clans. Moreover, we identified 40 paralogous pairs, of which only two had Ka/Ks ratio greater than 1, demonstrating that most PnCYPs underwent purification selection during evolution. In chromosome mapping and gene replication analysis, 8 tandem duplication and 11 segmental duplication events demonstrated that PnCYP genes were continuously replicating during their evolution. Gene ontology (GO) analysis annotated the functions of 188 PnCYPs into 21 functional subclasses, suggesting the functional diversity of these gene families. Functional divergence analyzed the members of the three primitive branches of CYP51, CYP74 and CYP97 at the amino acid level, and found some critical amino acid sites. The expression pattern of PnCYP450 related to nitrogen treatment was studied using transcriptome sequencing data, 10 genes were significantly up-regulated and 37 genes were significantly down-regulated. Combined with transcriptome sequencing analysis, five potential functional genes were screened. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) indicated that these five genes were responded to methyl jasmonate (MEJA) and abscisic acid (ABA) treatment. Conclusions: These results provide a valuable basis for comprehending the classification and biological functions of PnCYPs, and offer clues to study their biological functions in response to nitrogen treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flavonoid glycosides are important plant secondary metabolites with broad pharmacological activities. Flavonoid glycosides are generated from aglycones, in reactions catalyzed by typical uridine diphosphate-dependent glycosyltransferases (UGTs). Liverworts produce various types of flavonoid glycosides; however, only two UGTs have been characterized from liverworts to date. Here, we isolated three genes encoding UGTs (MeUGT1 , MeUGT2 , and MpalUGT1) from the liverwort species Marchantia emarginata and Marchantia paleacea through transcriptome sequencing. Recombinant MeUGT1, MeUGT2, and MpalUGT1 proteins heterologously produced in Escherichia coli exhibited catalytic activity towards multiple flavonoids. MeUGT1 and MpalUGT1 catalyzed the glycosylation of flavonols into the corresponding 3- O -glucosides with UDP-glucose as the sugar donor, while MeUGT2 exhibited a wider substrate specificity that included flavonols, flavones, and flavanones. When MeUGT2 was expressed in E. coli , the yield of flavonol 3- O -glucosides reached to 40–60% with feeding of the substrates kaempferol or quercetin under optimal conditions. Furthermore, heterologous expression of MeUGT1 in Arabidopsis thaliana increased the flavonol glycoside contents in the plants. Therefore, the UGTs characterized in this study could provide new data that will be useful for examining flavonoid biosynthesis in liverworts. • Three flavonoids UGTs were isolated from two liverworts species. • The UGTs showed high catalytic efficiency towards flavonols in vitro. • The UGT could increase the flavonol glycoside content in Arabidopsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to cigarette smoke (CS) is strongly associated with impaired mucociliary clearance (MCC), which has been implicated in the pathogenesis of CS-induced respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD). In this study, we aimed to identify microRNAs (miRNAs) that are associated with impaired MCC caused by CS in an in vitro human air–liquid-interface (ALI) airway tissue model. ALI cultures were exposed to CS (diluted with 0.5 L/min, 1.0 L/min, and 4.0 L/min of clean air) from smoking five 3R4F University of Kentucky reference cigarettes under the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) machine smoking regimen, every other day for 1 week (a total of 3 days, 40 min/day). Transcriptome analyses of ALI cultures exposed to the high concentration of CS identified 5090 differentially expressed genes and 551 differentially expressed miRNAs after the third exposure. Genes involved in ciliary function and ciliogenesis were significantly perturbed by repeated CS exposures, leading to changes in cilia beating frequency and ciliary protein expression. In particular, a time-dependent decrease in the expression of miR-449a, a conserved miRNA highly enriched in ciliated airway epithelia and implicated in motile ciliogenesis, was observed in CS-exposed cultures. Similar alterations in miR-449a have been reported in smokers with COPD. Network analysis further indicates that downregulation of miR-449a by CS may derepress cell-cycle proteins, which, in turn, interferes with ciliogenesis. Investigating the effects of CS on transcriptome profile in human ALI cultures may provide not only mechanistic insights, but potential early biomarkers for CS exposure and harm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to cigarette smoke (CS) is a known risk factor in the pathogenesis of smoking-caused diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) and lung cancer. To assess the effects of CS on the function and phenotype of airway epithelial cells, we developed a novel repeated treatment protocol and comprehensively evaluated the progression of key molecular, functional, and structural abnormalities induced by CS in a human in vitro air–liquid-interface (ALI) airway tissue model. Cultures were exposed to CS (diluted with 0.5 L/min, 1.0 L/min, and 4.0 L/min clean air) generated from smoking five 3R4F University of Kentucky reference cigarettes under the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) machine smoking regimen, every other day for 4 weeks (3 days per week, 40 min/day). By integrating the transcriptomics-based approach with the in vitro pathophysiological measurements, we demonstrated CS-mediated effects on oxidative stress, pro-inflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), ciliary function, expression and secretion of mucins, and squamous cell differentiation that are highly consistent with abnormalities observed in airways of smokers. Enrichment analysis on the transcriptomic profiles of the ALI cultures revealed key molecular pathways, such as xenobiotic metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses that were perturbed in response to CS exposure. These responses, in turn, may trigger aberrant tissue remodeling, eventually leading to the onset of respiratory diseases. Furthermore, changes of a panel of genes known to be disturbed in smokers with COPD were successfully reproduced in the ALI cultures exposed to CS. In summary, findings from this study suggest that such an integrative approach may be a useful tool for identifying genes and adverse cellular events caused by inhaled toxicants, like CS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atherosclerosis is a chronic cardiovascular disease and contributes to pathogenesis of most myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke. Additionally, N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor plays a crucial role in myocardial infarction and ischemic strokes. The aim of our study was to investigate the underlying mechanisms of memantine (MEM), the blocker of NMDA receptors, in the development of atherosclerosis. In our study, human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) were stimulated with low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) to establish an atherosclerotic cell model. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and TUNEL staining were performed to detect the cell activity and apoptosis of HUVECs, respectively. The levels of inflammatory cytokines and malondialdehyde and the activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and caspase-1 were quantified with commercial assay kits. Finally, qRT-PCR assay and western blot analysis were carried out to determine the mRNA and protein expressions of inflammation-related genes in HUVECs. The results of the present study suggested that ox-LDL stimulation induced decreased viability of HUVECs, excessive inflammation, and oxidative stress, while these effects were counteracted by MEM treatment. Interestingly, MEM triggered the activation of BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway in HUVECs, and K252a, the inhibitor of the BDNF/TrkB pathway, abolished the suppressive effect of MEM on ox-LDL-induced inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in HUVECs. Overall, MEM attenuated ox-LDL-induced inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis via activation of BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway in HUVECs, indicating that MEM may be defined as a novel and effective agent for atherosclerosis treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many small molecules have been identified as entry inhibitors of filoviruses. However, a lack of understanding of the mechanism of action for these molecules limits further their development as anti-filoviral agents. Here we provide evidence that toremifene and other small molecule entry inhibitors have at least three distinctive mechanisms of action and lay the groundwork for future development of anti-filoviral agents. The three mechanisms identified here include: (1) direct binding to the internal fusion loop region of Ebolavirus glycoprotein (GP); (2) the HR2 domain is likely the main binding site for Marburgvirus GP inhibitors and a secondary binding site for some EBOV GP inhibitors; (3) lysosome trapping of GP inhibitors increases drug exposure in the lysosome and further improves the viral inhibition. Importantly, small molecules targeting different domains on GP are synergistic in inhibiting EBOV entry suggesting these two mechanisms of action are distinct. Our findings provide important mechanistic insights into filovirus entry and rational drug design for future antiviral development. Author summary: Filoviruses are among the deadliest pathogens known to mankind with mortality rates ranging from 25–90%. New outbreaks in central Africa and the identification of novel filoviruses in other regions highlight the urgent need to develop novel therapeutics. Although many novel anti-filovirus compounds have been reported as entry inhibitors, to date, none have made to market. This high rate of failure is in part due to a lack of knowledge of the mechanisms of action. In this report, we provide a molecular basis for the multiple mechanisms of action by which small molecule inhibitors of Ebola virus and Marburg virus block virus entry, which provides new mechanistic insight to guide design for next-generation viral entry inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gut dysbiosis has been associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases. The microbial communities play essential roles in host physiology, with profound effects on immune homeostasis, directly or via their metabolites and/or components. There are increasing clinical trials applying fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). The restoration of dysbiotic gut microbiome is considered as one of the mechanisms of FMT therapy. In this work, latest advances in the alterations in gut microbiome and metabolome features in IBD patients and experimental mechanistic understanding on their contribution to the immune dysfunction were reviewed. Then, the therapeutic outcomes of FMT on IBD were summarized based on clinical remission, endoscopic remission and histological remission of 27 clinical trials retrieved from PubMed which have been registered on ClinicalTrials.gov with the results been published in the past 10 years. Although FMT is established as an effective therapy for both subtypes of IBD, the promising outcomes are not always achieved. Among the 27 studies, only 11 studies performed gut microbiome profiling, 5 reported immune response alterations and 3 carried out metabolome analysis. Generally, FMT partially restored typical changes in IBD, resulted in increased α-diversity and species richness in responders and similar but less pronounced shifts of patient microbial and metabolomics profiles toward donor profiles. Measurements of immune responses to FMT mainly focused on T cells and revealed divergent effects on pro-/anti-inflammatory functions. The very limited information and the extremely confounding factors in the designs of the FMT trials significantly hindered a reasonable conclusion on the mechanistic involvement of gut microbiota and metabolites in clinical outcomes and an analysis of the inconsistencies. • Gut microbes and their metabolites are key players in gut inflammation of IBD. • Gut microbiota-metabolite-human immunity axis in IBD was evidenced by existing data. • A summary of 27 FMT studies revealed promising results in a subset of IBD patients. • Data, albeit limited, support impact of FMT on microbiota-metabolite-immunity axis. • Microbiota-metabolite-immunity axis study drives mechanistic understanding of FMT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate estimation of the state-of-charge (SOC) is crucial for efficient and safe battery applications. However, existing SOC estimation methods fail to provide accurate SOC estimation for LiFePO 4 batteries that have a flat voltage-SOC relationship. The analysis of the voltage-SOC characteristics shows that the failure of the present model-based methods can be ascribed to their inability to simultaneously accommodate the differences in voltage characteristics between different open-circuit-voltage (OCV) ranges. To overcome this limitation, an adaptive recursive square root algorithm is used to online identify OCV and other battery model parameters. Then, the parameters of the extended Kalman filter are adaptively updated in different OCV ranges, which are distinguished based on the identified OCV. Additional filtering methods are employed to enhance the stability of the estimation. Large-scale experiments are conducted at different temperatures with various driving profiles for method validation. While conventional methods fail to converge, the proposed method ensures both high accuracy and stability, with a maximum absolute error of <2%. The viability of the proposed method is further verified using data collected from real battery systems. Our work lays a foundation for the reliable management of LiFePO 4 batteries in electric vehicles. • A novel state-of-charge estimation method for LiFePO 4 batteries is proposed. • State updating strategies are different in various open-circuit voltage ranges. • A series of methods are proposed to improve the robustness of the SOC estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predicting battery degradation is not only beneficial for the early detection of risks but also essential for advancing research on energy chemistries. Battery degradation is highly dependent on cyclic conditions, and leads to degradation in its capacity, internal resistance, polarization, etc. Despite decades-long efforts, existing predictions are only valid for one or a few degradation components after a fixed cycling-induced degradation, providing very limited insights. Here, we extend the prediction to the exhaustive voltage responses to various current profiles after uncertain cycling-induced degradation. This is achieved by developing a novel deep-learning framework that integrates future cyclic conditions and a battery model. A long short-term memory network is designed to summarize any given variable-length future cyclic condition flexibly for prediction. The battery model ensures that predictions generalize to various current profiles. As a case study, a large dataset covering 29,760 degradation cycles from 43 lithium-ion batteries is generated under uncertain cyclic conditions for validation. The results show that, by only using data from the initial cycle, the proposed framework can achieve accurate prediction with a median root mean square error below 12.7 mV over the entire state of charge range. This work opens up a promising avenue for conventional battery models to bridge future voltage behaviors of batteries, which is extremely helpful in understanding the degradation of electrochemical energy storage devices. A novel deep-learning framework is proposed to predict battery voltage responses to various current profiles after the given cycling-induced degradation. By customizing the cyclic plans and current profiles, an accurate prediction can be achieved based on data of the initial cycle only. [Display omitted] • Large battery degradation dataset under uncertain cyclic conditions is generated. • Method for predicting battery voltage response after uncertain cyclic conditions is proposed. • Future variability in both cyclic conditions and current profiles is considered for degradation prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy can be used for characterizing and monitoring the state of batteries. However, the difficulty in the onboard acquisition limits its wide applications. This work proposes a new method to obtain the impedance spectrum by using convolutional neural network, which uses the impedance measured at several characteristic frequencies as input. The characteristic frequencies are determined according to the time constants corresponding to the characteristic peaks and valleys of contact polarization and solid electrolyte interphase growth processes from the distribution of relaxation time. The proposed method is validated based on the dataset which contains the impedance spectra of eight batteries over the whole life cycle. The predictions coincide with the ground truth, with a maximum root mean square error of 0.93 mΩ. The developed method can also be quickly adapted to acquire the impedance spectrum of other batteries with different chemistries and be used for predictions of various battery states based on the transfer learning approach. [Display omitted] • Full-frequency impedance spectrum can be predicted only using the impedance of four frequencies. • Simple measurements and model-based predictions are combined. • Developed impedance prediction method can be quickly adapted to various batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The control system of pseudo-OCV construction. [Display omitted] • Equation between SOC error with voltage error and OCV slope is established. • Novel pseudo open circuit voltage is proposed to estimate SOC of LiFePO 4 batteries. • Accurate SOC estimation can achieved even during the plateau period. • Inter-partition correction is proposed to improve the robustness and convergency. LiFePO 4 batteries are widely used in electric vehicles and energy storage due to their high safety. However, their flat voltage characteristics in the middle state of charge (SOC) range make it difficult to correct SOC estimation errors with a feedback mechanism. This study proposes a pseudo-open circuit voltage (OCV) modeling method to improve the performance of a closed-loop feedback correction. First, the relationship between the derivative of OCV and SOC or the slope of OCV, SOC range, and estimation error is analyzed to select the SOC interval for OCV curve construction. Second, a pseudo-OCV curve is established. An optimization algorithm is developed to identify the parameters of the OCV model based on the selected SOC interval and OCV slope, which establishes a pseudo-OCV curve. Third, the pseudo-OCV is compared with the real OCV to adjust the selected interval and further determine the optimal construction interval, then the curves of the pseudo-OCV and real OCV are stitched together to obtain the optimal OCV curve for global SOC estimation. Finally, SOC estimation is carried out using the constructed full pseudo-OCV and compared with the reference SOC obtained from experiments. The results show that the SOC estimation error at the full SOC range is less than 3 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we report template‐assisted assembly of emissive carbon quantum dot (CQD) microcrystals on organized cellulose nanocrystals templates at the liquid–air interface. This large‐scale assembly is facilitated by the complementary amphiphilic character of CQDs and cellulose nanocrystals in the organized nematic phase. The resulting large microcrystals up to 200 μm across show unusually high emission that is not observed for limited CQDs aggregates. The dense crystal packing of CQDs in the layered fashion suppresses local molecular rotations and vibrations, thus restricting the intermolecular energy transfer and corresponding quenching phenomena. The as‐prepared crystals are mechanically stable and can be exploited for recyclable catalysis, enabling applications beyond the individual nanoparticles or disordered aggregates. The ligand‐templated assembly can be used to diversify CQD crystal architectures to guide formation of fibers, microplates, and micro‐flowers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we report template‐assisted assembly of emissive carbon quantum dot (CQD) microcrystals on organized cellulose nanocrystals templates at the liquid–air interface. This large‐scale assembly is facilitated by the complementary amphiphilic character of CQDs and cellulose nanocrystals in the organized nematic phase. The resulting large microcrystals up to 200 μm across show unusually high emission that is not observed for limited CQDs aggregates. The dense crystal packing of CQDs in the layered fashion suppresses local molecular rotations and vibrations, thus restricting the intermolecular energy transfer and corresponding quenching phenomena. The as‐prepared crystals are mechanically stable and can be exploited for recyclable catalysis, enabling applications beyond the individual nanoparticles or disordered aggregates. The ligand‐templated assembly can be used to diversify CQD crystal architectures to guide formation of fibers, microplates, and micro‐flowers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

State-of-health (SOH) estimation is necessary for lithium ion batteries due to ineluctable battery ageing. Existing SOH estimation methods mainly focus on voltage characteristics without considering temperature variation in the process of health degradation. In this article, we propose a novel SOH estimation method based on battery surface temperature. The differential temperature curves during constant charging are analyzed and found to be strongly related to SOH. Part of the differential temperature curves in a voltage range is adopted to establish a relationship with SOH using support vector regression. The influence of battery discrepancy, voltage range, and sampling step are systematically discussed and the best combination of voltage range and sampling step is determined using leave-one-out validation. The proposed method is then validated and compared with an incremental capacity analysis (ICA)-based SOH estimation method using the Oxford and NASA datasets, which were collected from different cells under different conditions, respectively. The results show that the proposed method is capable of estimating SOH with the root-mean-square error less than 3.62% and 2.49%, respectively. In addition, the proposed method can improve the overall SOH estimation accuracy and robustness by combining with the ICA-based method with little computational burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pitayas are currently attracting considerable interest as a tropical fruit with numerous health benefits. However, as a long-day plant, pitaya plants cannot flower in the winter season from November to April in Hainan, China. To harvest pitayas with high economic value in the winter season, it is necessary to provide supplementary lighting at night to induce flowering. To further explore the molecular regulating mechanisms of flower induction in pitaya plants exposed to supplementary lighting, we used de novo RNA sequencing-based transcriptomic analysis for four stages of pitaya plants subjected to light induction. Results: We assembled 68,113 unigenes in total, comprising 29,782 unigenes with functional annotations in the NR database, 20,716 annotations in SwissProt, 18,088 annotations in KOG, and 11,059 annotations in KEGG. Comparisons between different samples revealed different numbers of significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs). A number of DEGs involved in energy metabolism-related processes and plant hormone signaling were detected. Moreover, we identified many CONSTANS-LIKE, FLOWERING LOCUS T, and other DEGs involved in the direct regulation of flowering including CDF and TCP, which function as typical transcription factor genes in the flowering process. At the transcriptomic level, we verified 13 DEGs with different functions in the time-course response to light-induced flowering by quantitative reverse-transcription PCR analysis. Conclusions: The identified DEGs may include some key genes controlling the pitaya floral-induction network, the flower induction and development is very complicated, and it involves photoperiod perception and different phytohormone signaling. These findings will increase our understanding to the molecular mechanism of floral regulation of long-day pitaya plants in short-day winter season induced by supplementary lighting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This investigation was performed to predict the pressure drop of ceramic membrane filters at high temperature. Experiments of hot flue gas filtration were carried out to monitor the flow rate, dust concentration, temperature and pressure behavior of the ceramic membrane filters, and the dust states at different temperatures. Based on the Carman-Kozeny's equation and experimental data, a semi-empirical formula was developed for predicting the pressure drop of ceramic membrane filters at high temperature. Results show that high temperature leads to high flue gas viscosity, low filtration efficiency and promotes the sintering of dust cake, which leads to fluctuations in pressure drop which increases at the beginning and then decreases. The highest applicable temperature with lowest pressure drop could be deduced by the semi-empirical formula. Unlabelled Image • Pressure drop of ceramic membrane filters in high temperature was studied. • The sintering of dust cake contributed to the decrease of pressure drop. • A semi-empirical formula for predicting pressure drop was developed. • The highest applicable temperature could be deduced by the semi-empirical formula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is the most common malignant tumor of the digestive tract and its molecular mechanism is not clear. HOXD9 plays an important role in tumor progression as transcription factor. In the current study, we explored the role of HOXD9 in GC. Methods: We predicted the expression and potential mechanism of HOXD9 in GC through an online database. The expression of HOXD9 was detected in GC and adjacent tissues, and then we analyzed the relationship between HOXD9 and the prognosis of patients with GC. In vitro, we investigated the effects of HOXD9 on malignant biological behaviors such as proliferation, migration, and invasion of the GC cell line MCG-803. In addition, we have initially studied the underlying mechanism by Western blot. Results: High expression of HOXD9 in GC was predicted by online database prediction and implied poor prognosis. In the clinical sample, we confirmed the above predictions. In vitro, we found that knockdown of HOXD9 could effectively inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion of GC cells. In terms of mechanism, HOXD9 may activate the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway. Conclusion: HOXD9 promotes the malignant biological process of GC, which may be a potential therapeutic target for GC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological photonic structures can precisely control light propagation, scattering, and emission via hierarchical structures and diverse chemistry, enabling biophotonic applications for transparency, camouflaging, protection, mimicking and signaling. Corresponding natural polymers are promising building blocks for constructing synthetic multifunctional photonic structures owing to their renewability, biocompatibility, mechanical robustness, ambient processing conditions, and diverse surface chemistry. In this review, we provide a summary of the light phenomena in biophotonic structures found in nature, the selection of corresponding biopolymers for synthetic photonic structures, the fabrication strategies for flexible photonics, and corresponding emerging photonic-related applications. We introduce various photonic structures, including multi-layered, opal, and chiral structures, as well as photonic networks in contrast to traditionally considered light absorption and structural photonics. Next, we summarize the bottom-up and top-down fabrication approaches and physical properties of organized biopolymers and highlight the advantages of biopolymers as building blocks for realizing unique bioenabled photonic structures. Furthermore, we consider the integration of synthetic optically active nanocomponents into organized hierarchical biopolymer frameworks for added optical functionalities, such as enhanced iridescence and chiral photoluminescence. Finally, we present an outlook on current trends in biophotonic materials design and fabrication, including current issues, critical needs, as well as promising emerging photonic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Battery safety is one of the most crucial issues in the utilization of lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) for all-climate electric vehicles. Short circuit, overcharge, and overheat are three common field failures of LiBs. In this paper, online fault diagnosis for external short circuit (ESC) of LiB packs is investigated. The experiments are carried out to obtain and compare ESC characteristics of 18650-type NMC battery pack and single cell. Based on the analysis of experimental results, a two-step equivalent circuit model is established to describe the ESC process and an online model-based scheme is proposed to diagnose ESC faults of battery packs. The proposed scheme is evaluated by experimental data. The results show that it can effectively diagnose ESC faults in 3.5 s after their occurrences with the terminal voltage error less than 25 mV. The proposed scheme has shown great generalization ability. ESC faults of battery packs under different number of cells connected in series and unavailable current information can also be diagnosed at the terminal voltage error less than 48 and 60 mV, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]