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Abstract Manipulating surface charge, electric field, and plasma afterglow in a non-equilibrium plasma is critical to control plasma-surface interaction for plasma catalysis and manufacturing. Here, we show enhancements of surface charge, electric field during breakdown, and afterglow by ferroelectric barrier discharge. The results show that the ferroelectrics manifest spontaneous electric polarization to increase the surface charge by two orders of magnitude compared to discharge with an alumina barrier. Time-resolved in-situ electric field measurements reveal that the fast polarization of ferroelectrics enhances the electric field during the breakdown in streamer discharge and doubles the electric field compared to the dielectric barrier discharge. Moreover, due to the existence of surface charge, the ferroelectric electrode extends the afterglow time and makes discharge sustained longer when alternating the external electric field polarity. The present results show that ferroelectric barrier discharge offers a promising technique to tune plasma properties for efficient plasma catalysis and electrified manufacturing.

Under dynamic loads, such as blasting, excavation, or quarrying, rocks with fissures are the first to sustain damage, leading to instability in the engineering rock mass. To investigate the kinetic properties of fractured rocks, fractured coal mine sandstone specimens underwent impact compression tests using a dynamic–static combination SHPB (split Hopkinson pressure bar) test device at different loading rates under combined dynamic and static conditions. The damage characteristics of the specimens were analyzed from an energy point of view. The results show that under the dynamic and static combined condition, when five impact loading air pressures are used for loading at different impact rates, the trends of the dynamic stress–strain curves of prefabricated fissured rock samples under various impact pressures were discovered to be similar and were mainly categorized into three main stages of elasticity, yield, and destruction; the specimen’s dynamic compressive strength increases according to a power function relationship; as the average strain rate increases, the dynamic strain increases linearly and the dynamic modulus of elasticity increases in a quadratic relationship, all of which show a significant strain rate effect. The incident energy is a power function of the loading rate. The reflected, transmitted, and absorbed energies by the sample increase with the incident energy. The degree of the sandstone specimen fragmentation gradually grows with increasing impact loading rate and incident energy, as evidenced by a decrease in the scale of the fragments. The absorbed energy in the sample is mainly used for the deformation damage of the rock, and the more intense the fragmentation of the specimen, the more absorbed energy is required.

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of sandstone ring specimens with different inner diameters on dynamic compression mechanical characteristics after dry and wet circulation. To carry out our study, we subjected a sandstone ring specimen with a 50 mm outer diameter and a 0~25 mm inner diameter to 10 cycles of dry and wet circulation. Afterward, we recorded the specimen’s basic physical parameters and used a split-Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) test device to perform an impact compression test. Following dry and wet circulation, our results showed that the mass loss rate increased and the volume expansion rates and density decreased with the increase in the inner diameter of the sandstone ring sample. Simultaneously, with the increase in the inner diameter of the specimen ring, the dynamic compressive strength of the specimen presented an exponential negative correlation, the dynamic elastic modulus presented a quadratic negative correlation, and the dynamic peak strain presented a quadratic positive correlation. Concurrently, the average particle size of the specimen decreased, and the degree of breakage increased with the increase in the sandstone sample’s inner diameter. Regarding the energy analysis performed in this study, the sandstone ring sample’s energy dissipation increased, and its kinetic performance evidently weakened with the increase in the ring sample’s inner diameter. The results of this study have certain reference values for the construction and maintenance of natural cavity rock and underground hard rock roadways.

Lead (Pb) is a heavy metal that can have harmful effects on the environment, which has severe cytotoxicity in many animal tissues. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has antioxidant activity, reducing lead-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis, but its role in chicken cells is unknown. The current study explored the antagonistic effect of NAC on lead-induced apoptosis and oxidative stress in chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF). In this study, CEF was used as a model to measure the cytotoxic effects of lead nitrate at different concentrations, demonstrating a dose-dependent effect on CEF activity. Employing inverted microscopy, the investigation of morphological alterations in CEF cells was conducted. Fluorescence staining methodology enabled the assessment of reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels within CEF cells. Moreover, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was utilized to detect the presence of oxidative damage indicators encompassing superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) within CEF cells. Furthermore, the determination of the apoptosis rate of CEF cells was accomplished through the utilization of the Hoechst 33258 staining method in combination with the Annexin V-FITC dual staining method. By using RT-qPCR for detection, lead treatment increased expression of pro-apoptotic genes, caspase-3, and caspase-9, and reduced expression of anti-apoptotic genes, Bcl-2, and BI-1. Reduced antioxidant capacity was shown by increased ROS and MDA levels in CEF cells after lead treatment. The results showed that NAC inhibited the expression of caspase-3 and caspase-9 in lead-treated CEF cells, while NAC had a certain inhibitory effect on the relative expression of Bcl-2 and BI-1 mRNA in lead-induced CEF cells. NAC significantly reduced lead-induced oxidative damage and apoptosis. Overall, our results demonstrate a novel protective effect of NAC against lead-induced injury in chicken cells, providing a theoretical basis for future investigations of drugs that are effective in preventing lead poisoning in animals.

In order to study the dynamic properties of temperature–water-coupled sandstone under axial pressure, impact compression tests were carried out on sandstone samples after temperature–water coupling under eight types of axial pressure (0.5~4.0 MPa) loading as well as no axial pressure loading by using the split-Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) test set. The results showed that the mass, volume, and density of the sandstone specimens increased by 0.57%, 0.37%, and 0.20%, respectively, after temperature–water coupling. With increasing axial pressure, the dynamic compressive strength of temperature–water-coupled sandstone samples decreased as a linear function, the dynamic strain increased as a quadratic function, the dynamic modulus of elasticity decreased as a quadratic function, and the average strain rate increased as an exponential function, indicating a strong strain rate effect. From the energy point of view, as the axial pressure increases, the absorption energy of the sample increases, the reflection energy gradually decreases, the crushing degree of the sample increases, and the size of the broken pieces decreases; the average particle size of the sandstone sample pieces decreases quadratically with the increase in the absorption energy and linearly with the increase in the axial pressure.

To investigate the dynamic mechanical properties of water-saturated fissure rock at different strain rates, prefabricated sandstone specimens with a 45° dip angle were treated with water saturation and the impact compression test was performed with a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) test device at different impact pressures. The results show that the clusters of dynamic stress–strain curves of water-saturated and natural sandstone specimens with a 45° dip angle of prefabricated fissures are basically similar under different impact air pressures. A distinct strain rate effect was observed for dynamic strain and dynamic compressive strength, both of which increased with increasing strain rate. From the failure pattern of the specimen, it can be seen that cracks appeared from the tip of the prefabricated fissure under axial stress, spreading to both ends and forming wing cracks and anti-wing cracks associated with shear cracks. As the strain rate increased, the energy dissipation density of the specimen gradually increased, and the macroscopic cracks cross-expanded with each other. The fracture form of the specimen showed a small block distribution, and the average particle size of the specimen gradually decreased. The specimen crushing energy dissipation density was negatively correlated with fracture size, reflecting a certain rate correlation. The sandstone fragments’ fractal dimension increases with the increase in crushing energy dissipation density, and the fractal dimension may be applied as a quantitative index to characterize sandstone crushing.

Introduction: Quorum sensing (QS) is a bacterial intracellular and intercellular communication system that regulates virulence factor production, biofilm formation, and antibiotic sensitivity. Quorum-sensing inhibitors (QSIs) are a novel class of antibiotics that can effectively combat antibiotic resistance. Autoinducer-2 (AI-2) is a universal signaling molecule that mediates inter- and intraspecies QS systems among different bacteria. Furthermore, LsrK plays an important role in regulating the activity and stability of the intracellular AI-2 signaling pathway. Thus, LsrK is considered an important target for the development of QSIs.Methods: We designed a workflow integrating molecular dynamic (MD) simulations, virtual screening, LsrK inhibition assays, cell-based AI-2-mediated QS interference assays, and surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based protein affinity assays to screen for potential LsrK kinase inhibitors.Results: MD simulation results of the LsrK/ATP complex revealed hydrogen bonds and salt bridge formation among four key residues, namely, Lys 431, Tyr 341, Arg 319, and Arg 322, which are critical for the binding of ATP to LsrK. Furthermore, MD simulation results indicated that the ATP-binding site has an allosteric pocket that can become larger and be occupied by small molecule compounds. Based on these MD simulation results, a constraint of forming at least one hydrogen bond with Arg 319, Arg 322, Lys 431, or Tyr 341 residues was introduced when performing virtual screening using Glide’s virtual screening workflow (VSW). In the meantime, compounds with hydrophobic group likely to interact with the allosteric hydrophobic pocket are preferred when performing visual inspection. Seventy-four compounds were selected for the wet laboratory assays based on virtual screening and the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) properties of these compounds. LsrK inhibition assays revealed 12 compounds inhibiting LsrK by more than 60% at a 200 μM concentration; four of these (Y205-6768, D135-0149, 3284–1358, and N025-0038) had IC50 values below 50 μM and were confirmed as ATP-competitive inhibitors. Six of these 12 LsrK inhibitors exhibited high AI-2 QS inhibition, of which, Y205-6768 had the highest activity with IC50 = 11.28 ± 0.70 μM. The SPR assay verified that compounds Y205-6768 and N025-0038 specifically bound to LsrK. MD simulation analysis of the docking complexes of the four active compounds with LsrK further confirmed the importance of forming hydrogen bonds and salt bridges with key basic amino acid residues including Lys 431, Tyr 341, Arg 319, and Arg 322 and filling the allosteric hydrophobic pocket next to the purine-binding site of LsrK.Discussion: Our study clarified for the first time that there is an allosteric site near the ATP-binding site of Lsrk and that it enriches the structure–activity relationship information of Lsrk inhibitors. The four identified compounds showed novel structures, low molecular weights, high activities, and novel LsrK binding modes, rendering them suitable for further optimization for effective AI-2 QSIs. Our work provides a valuable reference for the discovery of QSIs that do not inhibit bacterial growth, thereby avoiding the emergence of drug resistance.

Dengue virus (DENV) is a major mosquito-borne human pathogen in tropical countries; however, there are currently no targeted antiviral treatments for DENV infection. Compounds 27 and 29 have been reported to be allosteric inhibitors of DENV RdRp with potent inhibitory effects. In this study, the structures of compounds 27 and 29 were optimized using computer-aided drug design (CADD) approaches. Nine novel compounds were synthesized based on rational considerations, including molecular docking scores, free energy of binding to receptor proteins, predicted Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity (ADMET) parameters, structural diversity, and feasibility of synthesis. Subsequently, the anti-DENV activity was assessed. In the cytopathic effect (CPE) assay conducted on BHK-21 cells using the DENV2 NGC strain, both SW-b and SW-d demonstrated comparable or superior activity against DENV2, with IC50 values of 3.58 ± 0.29 μM and 23.94 ± 1.00 μM, respectively, compared to that of compound 27 (IC50 = 19.67 ± 1.12 μM). Importantly, both SW-b and SW-d exhibited low cytotoxicity, with CC50 values of 24.65 μmol and 133.70 μmol, respectively, resulting in selectivity indices of 6.89 and 5.58, respectively. Furthermore, when compared to the positive control compound 3′-dATP (IC50 = 30.09 ± 8.26 μM), SW-b and SW-d displayed superior inhibitory activity in an enzyme inhibitory assay, with IC50 values of 11.54 ± 1.30 μM and 13.54 ± 0.32 μM, respectively. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations elucidated the mode of action of SW-b and SW-d, highlighting their ability to enhance π–π packing interactions between benzene rings and residue W795 in the S1 fragment, compared to compounds 27 and 29. Although the transacylsulphonamide fragment reduced the interaction between T794 and NH, it augmented the interaction between R729 and T794. In summary, our study underscores the potential of SW-b and SW-d as allosteric inhibitors targeting the DENV NS5 RdRp domain. However, further in vivo studies are warranted to assess their pharmacology and toxicity profiles.

Witnessing intimate partner violence (IPV) is associated with adolescents’ externalizing behavior problems such as bullying and aggression, but its association with cyberbullying perpetration remains unclear. Given the prevalence of cyberbullying perpetration, this study aims to examine the relationship between witnessing IPV and cyberbullying perpetration, and also to explore whether self-control mediates, and parental psychological control (PPC) moderates the association. 1,670 primary and junior high school students (aged from 10 to 15 years, 53.7% boys) in China participated in the questionnaire survey in May, 2017. The results showed that witnessing IPV positively predicted cyberbullying perpetration significantly when sex and grade were controlled. Self-control partially mediated the relationship between witnessing IPV and cyberbullying perpetration, while PPC moderated the relation between witnessing IPV and cyberbullying perpetration. Specifically, the effect of IPV on cyberbullying perpetration was stronger when PPC was high compared to when PPC was low. Multi-group analysis showed that the effect of witnessing IPV on cyberbullying perpetration was stronger in boys than in girls and the mediation effect of self-control was stronger among junior high school students than among primary schools. The implications for intervention of cyberbullying perpetration are discussed.

Quorum sensing (QS) is a cell-to-cell communication mechanism that regulates bacterial pathogenicity, biofilm formation, and antibiotic sensitivity. Among the identified quorum sensing, AI-2 QS exists in both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and is responsible for interspecies communication. Recent studies have highlighted the connection between the phosphotransferase system (PTS) and AI-2 QS, with this link being associated with protein-protein interaction (PPI) between HPr and LsrK. Here, we first discovered several AI-2 QSIs targeting the LsrK/HPr PPI site through molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, virtual screening, and bioassay evaluation. Of the 62 compounds purchased, eight compounds demonstrated significant inhibition in LsrK-based assays and AI-2 QS interference assays. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis confirmed that the hit compound 4171-0375 specifically bound to the LsrK-N protein (HPr binding domain, KD = 2.51 × 10−5 M), and therefore the LsrK/HPr PPI site. The structure-activity relationships (SARs) emphasized the importance of hydrophobic interactions with the hydrophobic pocket and hydrogen bonds or salt bridges with key residues of LsrK for LsrK/HPr PPI inhibitors. These new AI-2 QSIs, especially 4171-0375, exhibited novel structures, significant LsrK inhibition, and were suitable for structural modification to search for more effective AI-2 QSIs.

Abstract Processing and packaging of herpesvirus genomic DNA is regulated by a packaging-associated terminase complex comprising of viral proteins pUL15, pUL28 and pUL33. Marek’s disease virus (MDV) homologs UL28 and UL33 showed conserved functional features with high sequence identity with the corresponding Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) homologs. As part of the investigations into the role of the UL28 and UL33 homologs of oncogenic MDV for DNA packaging and replication in cultured cells, we generated MDV mutant clones deficient in UL28 or UL33 of full-length MDV genomes. Transfection of UL28- or UL33-deleted BAC DNA into chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) did not result either in the production of visible virus plaques, or detectable single cell infection after passaging onto fresh CEF cells. However, typical MDV plaques were detectable in CEF transfected with the DNA of revertant mutants where the deleted genes were precisely reinserted. Moreover, the replication defect of the UL28-deficient mutant was completely restored when fragment encoding the full UL28 gene was co-transfected into CEF cells. Viruses recovered from the revertant construct, as well as by the UL28 co-transfection, showed replication ability comparable with parental virus. Furthermore, the transmission electron microscopy study indicated that immature capsids were assembled without the UL28 expression, but with the loss of infectivity. Importantly, predicted three-dimensional structures of UL28 between MDV and HSV-1 suggests conserved function in virus replication. For the first time, these results revealed that both UL28 and UL33 are essential for MDV replication through regulating DNA cleavage and packaging.

Bacterial drug resistance caused by overuse and misuse of antibiotics is common, especially in clinical multispecies infections. It is of great significance to discover novel agents to treat clinical bacterial infections. Studies have demonstrated that autoinducer-2 (AI-2), a signal molecule in quorum sensing (QS), plays an important role in communication among multiple bacterial species and bacterial drug-resistance. Previously, 14 AI-2 inhibited compounds were selected through virtual screening by using the AI-2 receptor protein LuxP as a target. Here, we used Vibrio harveyi BB170 as a reporter strain for the preliminary screening of 14 inhibitors and compound Str7410 had higher AI-2 QS inhibition activity (IC50 = 0.3724 ± 0.1091 μM). Then, co-culture of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 with Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 was used to evaluate the inhibitory effects of Str7410 on multispecies infection in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, Str7410 significantly inhibited the formation of mixed bacterial biofilms. Meanwhile, the combination of Str7410 with meropenem trihydrate (MEPM) significantly improved the susceptibility of mixed-species-biofilm cells to the antibiotic. In vivo, Str7410 significantly increased the survival rate of wild-type Caenorhabditis elegans N2 co-infected by P. aeruginosa PAO1 and S. aureus ATCC 25923. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis showed that Str7410 reduced virulence factor (pyocyanin and elastase) production and swarming motility of P. aeruginosa PAO1 by downregulating the expression of QS-related genes in strain PAO1 in co-culture with S. aureus ATCC 25923. Compound Str7410 is a candidate agent for treating drug-resistant multispecies infections. The work described here provides a strategy for discovering novel antibacterial drugs.

The PB2 subunit of the influenza RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) has been identified as a promising target for the treatment of influenza. To expand the chemical space of the known influenza polymerase PB2 inhibitor–pimodivir (formerly VX-787) and improve its pharmacokinetic profile, two pimodivir analogs containing 2,3-dihydro-imidazopyridine fragment (comp. I and comp. II) were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for anti-influenza virus activity. In the cytopathic effect (CPE) inhibition assay, comp. I and comp. II showed IC50 values of 0.07 and 0.09 μM for A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1) and 0.04 and 0.07 μM for A/Hong Kong/8/68 (H3N2), respectively. Protein-binding affinity assay results showed a concentration-dependent association and dissociation pattern, with KD values of 1.398 and 1.670 μM, respectively. In vitro metabolic stability assays showed that comp. I and comp. II exhibited good stability to liver microsomes and considerably less sensitivity to aldehyde oxidase compared to pimodivir. The binding modes of comp. I and comp. II were similar to those of VX-787; however, comp. I and comp. II had lower structural adaptability to PB2 than VX-787. Our results provide helpful information regarding the structure–activity relationship for the design of novel PB2 inhibitors and a reference for the development of drugs containing 2,3-dihydro-imidazopyridine fragments.

Nickel–Cobalt oxide nanotubes are prepared by a simple electrospinning technique based on a phase-separation mechanism. Extra tetraethyl orthosilicate (Si(OC2H5)4) is introduced and removed by design to obtain nanotube structure. The prepared nanotubes deliver remarkable electrochemical performance as the lithium-ion batteries anode materials. It possesses a capacity of 924 mAh/g after 95 cycles at 100 mA/g. At 2000 mA/g, it has a high capacity of 770 mAh/g, and still has 255 mAh/g at 1000 mA/g after 500 cycles. The outstanding electrochemical performance is attributed to the unique hierarchical tubular nanostructures design. This simple method opens new opportunities for fabricating practical nanostructured anode materials.

Flaviviruses, represented by Zika and dengue virus (ZIKV and DENV), are widely present around the world and cause various diseases with serious consequences. However, no antiviral drugs have been clinically approved for use against them. Azelnidipine (ALP) is a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker and has been approved for use as an antihypertensive drug. In the present study, ALP was found to show potent anti-flavivirus activities in vitro and in vivo. ALP effectively prevented the cytopathic effect induced by ZIKV and DENV and inhibited the production of viral RNA and viral protein in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, treatment with 0.3 mg/kg of ALP protected 88.89% of mice from lethal challenge. Furthermore, using the time-of-drug-addition assay, the enzymatic inhibition assay, the molecular docking, and the surface plasmon resonance assay, we revealed that ALP acted at the replication stage of the viral infection cycle by targeting the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. These findings highlight the potential for the use of ALP as an antiviral agent to combat flavivirus infections.

Hydroxamate, as a zinc-binding group (ZBG), prevails in the design of histone deacetylase 6(HDAC6) inhibitors due to its remarkable zinc-chelating capability. However, hydroxamate-associated genotoxicity and mutagenicity have limited the widespread application of corresponding HDAC6 inhibitors in the treatment of human diseases. To avoid such side effects, researchers are searching for novel ZBGs that may be used for the synthesis of HDAC6 inhibitors. In this study, a series of stereoisomeric compounds were designed and synthesized to discover non-hydroxamate HDAC6 inhibitors using α-amino amide as zinc-ion-chelating groups, along with a pair of enantiomeric isomers with inverted L-shaped vertical structure as cap structures. The anti-proliferative activities were determined against HL-60, Hela, and RPMI 8226 cells, and 7a and its stereoisomer 13a exhibited excellent activities against Hela cells with IC50 = 0.31 µM and IC50 = 5.19 µM, respectively. Interestingly, there is a significant difference between the two stereoisomers. Moreover, an evaluation of cytotoxicity toward human normal liver cells HL-7702 indicated its safety for normal cells. X-ray single crystal diffraction was employed to increase insights into molecule structure and activities. It was found that the carbonyl of the amide bond is on the different side from the amino and pyridine nitrogen atoms. To identify possible protein targets to clarify the mechanism of action and biological activity of 7a, a small-scale virtual screen using reverse docking for HDAC isoforms (1–10) was performed and the results showed that HDAC6 was the best receptor for 7a, suggesting that HDAC6 may be a potential target for 7a. The interaction pattern analysis showed that the α-amino amide moiety of 7a coordinated with the zinc ion of HDAC6 in a bidentate chelate manner, which is similar to the chelation pattern of hydroxamic acid. Finally, the molecular dynamics simulation approaches were used to assess the docked complex’s conformational stability. In this work, we identified 7a as a potential HDAC6 inhibitor and provide some references for the discovery of non-hydroxamic acid HDAC6 inhibitors.

With the gradual deepening of mine excavation depth, the strong disturbance of deep strata becomes more and more obvious. Rock’s failure under blasting mainly depends on its dynamic tensile strength. The changes in rock’s dynamic properties are obviously affected by temperature and water. In order to study the dynamic tensile properties of annular sandstone specimens under the influence of temperature and water, deep sandstone was drilled, followed by water bath tests at eight temperatures (25~95 °C). It can be seen from the analysis of test results that the mass and volume growth rates of the annular and the intact sandstone specimens first increased and then decreased, while the density growth rate first decreased and then increased. The mass and volume growth rates of the annular sandstone specimens were smaller, but the density growth rate was larger. Because of the increase in water temperature, the dynamic compressive strength first increased and then decreased. The dynamic tensile strength of the annular sandstone specimen was lower. The average strain rate and peak strain also showed a quadratic function relationship of first decreasing and then increasing with the increase in water temperature. The average strain rate of the annular sandstone specimen was smaller, but the peak value changed greatly. The Brazilian disc validity condition is applicable to two failure conditions of sandstone specimens. Through XRD and SEM analysis, we found that the changes in the dynamic properties of sandstone specimens were not due to their own material composition, but to the damage to their structure caused by the temperature–water coupling effect.

In many Asian countries, the silkworm (Bombyx mori) is economically important as a main silk-producing insect. Pesticide pollution often causes huge economic losses to the sericulture. Digital gene expression (DGE) was performed to investigate the gene expression profiles of Lan5 (sensitive) and Mysore (tolerant) silkworm strains at 48 h after exposure to fenvalerate. The results showed that a total of 1,575 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected in the Lan5 DGE library, and 1,485 DEGs were detected in the Mysore DGE library. The possible functions of all DEGs in biological process, cellular component, and molecular function were determined using the gene ontology (GO) classification system. Pathway enrichment analysis was carried out using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database. Furthermore, some selected DEGs were verified using quantitative real-time PCR (qRTPCR). These findings provide abundant data on the effect of pesticide exposure on insects at the molecular level and a new clue to control strategy of Lepidoptera pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The developments of communication technologies, Internet of Things (IoT), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) have significantly accelerated the advancement of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and Autonomous Driving (AD) in recent years. The exchange of sensed information by widely deployed radars, cameras, and other sensors on vehicles and roadside infrastructure can improve the traffic awareness of drivers and pedestrians. However, wireless data transmission in vehicular networks is challenged by highly dynamic path loss due to utilized frequency bands, weather conditions, traffic overheads, and geographical conditions. In this paper, we propose an Integrated Sensing and Communication System (ISAC) based path loss prediction approach to improve the knowledge of wireless data transmissions in vehicular networks, which utilizes multi-modal data collected by millimeter-wave (mmWave) radars, laser radars, and cameras to forecast the end-to-end path loss distribution. By leveraging a generative adversarial network for parameter initialization coupled with fine-tuning through supervised learning, the model's accuracy can be significantly improved. To increase the model's scalability, the effects of weather conditions, geographical conditions, traffic overheads, and frequency bands are all analyzed. According to the simulation results, our model achieves excellent accuracy with Mean Squared Error (MSE) of the predicted path loss distribution below $3e^{-3}$ across five different scenarios.