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• COVID-19 infection leaves lasting mental health scars in youths, extending beyond the acute phase. • Moderate-to-severe difficulty thinking, breathlessness, and gastrointestinal symptoms were specific COVID-19 symptoms associated with worsening of various mental health outcomes. • Academic difficulties, economic disadvantages, family conflicts, food addiction, and alcohol consumption were identified risk factors for mental health in COVID + youths. The long-term mental health consequences of COVID-19 in children and adolescents remain unclear. We investigated the impact of COVID-19 infection on mental health after China's zero-COVID policy relaxation, focusing on symptom-specific and social-family risk factors for mental health issues in children and adolescents. In a longitudinal study, 8348 youths (aged 10–18) were assessed twice (T1: September to October 2022 and T2: April to May 2023). Mental health changes (Δ=T1-T2) were compared between COVID-19-infected (COVID+, n = 4108) and non-infected (COVID-, n = 4240). After balancing social–family confounding factors at T1 with propensity score-based inverse probability weights, multivariable logistic regression was employed to assess associations between COVID-19 infection and the onset/worsening of mental health symptoms. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to explore specific acute COVID-19 symptoms and social–family risk factors associated with the onset/worsening of mental health symptoms in COVID + group. Compared to COVID- group, COVID + group exhibited lower overall mental health improvement (Δ). COVID + group was associated with increased risks of depression worsening (OR 1.20, 95 % CI 1.04–1.39), anxiety worsening (OR 1.30, 95 % CI 1.15–1.47), stress worsening (OR 1.23, 95 % CI 1.03–1.46), insomnia worsening (OR 1.21, 95 % CI 1.05–1.39), and emotional symptoms worsening (OR 1.72, 95 % CI 1.27–2.33). Moderate-to-severe difficulty thinking, breathlessness, and gastrointestinal symptoms were specific COVID-19 symptoms associated with worsening of various mental health outcomes. Furthermore, academic difficulties, economic disadvantages, family conflicts, food addiction, and alcohol consumption were identified as social-family risk factors for worsening mental health symptoms in COVID + youths. COVID-19 infection leaves lasting mental health scars in youths, extending beyond the acute phase. Specific symptoms, particularly cognitive dysfunction and respiratory/gastrointestinal distress play a significant role in this vulnerability. Social-family factors further modulate these effects, highlighting the need for comprehensive interventions that address both biological and psychosocial aspects. This study provides valuable insights for tailoring mental health support to youths navigating the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multidrug resistance‐associated protein (MRP) ABCC4 facilitates substrate transport across the cytoplasmic membrane, crucial for normal physiology and mediating multidrug resistance in tumor cells. Despite intensive studies on MRPs, ABCC4's transport mechanism remains incompletely understood. In this study, we unveiled an inward‐open conformation with an ATP bound to degenerate NBD1. Additionally, we captured the structure with both ATP and substrate co‐bound in the inward‐open state. Our findings uncover the asymmetric ATP binding in ABCC4 and provide insights into substrate binding and transport mechanisms. ATP binding to NBD1 is parallel to substrate binding to ABCC4, and is a prerequisite for ATP‐bound NBD2‐induced global conformational changes. Our findings shed new light on targeting ABCC4 in combination with anticancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six ionone glycosides (1–3 and 5–7), including three new ones, named capitsesqsides A−C (1–3), together with an eudesmane sesquiterpenoid glycoside (4) and three known triterpenoid saponins (8–10) were isolated from Rhododendron capitatum. The structures of these compounds were determined by extensive spectroscopic techniques (MS, UV, 1D-NMR, and 2D-NMR) and comparison with data reported in the literature. The absolute configurations were determined by comparison of the experimental and theoretically calculated ECD curves and LC-MS analyses after acid hydrolysis and derivatization. The anti-inflammatory activities of these compounds were evaluated in the LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. Molecular docking demonstrated that 2 has a favorable affinity for NLRP3 and iNOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The effect of multiple factors on hygroscopicity of gluconic acid and nitrate aerosols was first studied. • The two components react and form gluconate, and the gluconate formation further reduces the hygroscopicity of gluconic acid-nitrate aerosols. • Salting-in effect promoted water-uptake ability for 1:2 gluconic acid/nitrate mixed particles. • CCN activity was estimated by hygroscopicity parameter κ. The aging process of atmospheric aerosols usually leads to a mixture of inorganic salts and organic compounds of anthropogenic origin. In organic compounds, polyhydroxy organic acids are important components, however, the study on composition and hygroscopic properties of the mixture containing inorganics and polyhydroxy organic acids is scanty. In this study, gluconic acid, the proxy of polyhydroxy organic acids, is mixed with the representative nitrate (Mg(NO 3) 2 , Ca(NO 3) 2) to form aerosols. ATR–FTIR and optical microscopy are employed to study the component changes and hygroscopicity as a function of relative humidity. As relative humidity fluctuates, the FTIR–ATR spectra display that the internal mixed gluconic acid (CH 2 (CH) 4 (OH) 5 COOH) and nitrate can react to release acidic gases, forming relevant gluconate and further affecting the hygroscopicity. The specific presentation is particles cannot be recovered to their original size after the dehydration–hydration process and there will be some disparities in GF for mixed particles. For the gluconic acid–Ca(NO 3) 2 /Mg(NO 3) 2 mixtures with molar ratios of 1:1, higher degree of reaction resulting in the production of large amounts of gluconate should be responsible to the lower hygroscopicity compared to ZSR model. For 1:2 gluconic acid–nitrate mixed systems (with higher nitrate content), the hygroscopicity of mixtures are higher than the ZSR prediction. A possible reason could be 'salt-promoting effect' on the organic fractions of the surplus inorganic salt in the mixture. These data can improve the chemical composition list evaluation, in turn hygroscopic properties and phase state of atmospheric aerosol, and then the climate effect. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cleft palate only (CPO) is one of the most common craniofacial birth defects. Environmental factors can induce cleft palate by affecting epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation, histone acetylation, and non-coding RNA. However, there are few reports focusing on the RNA modifications. In this study, all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) was used to simulate environmental factors to induce a C57BL/6J fetal mouse cleft palate model. Techniques such as dot blotting and immunofluorescence were used to find the changes in m6A modification when cleft palate occurs. RNA-seq and KEGG analysis were used to screen for significantly differentially expressed pathways downstream. Primary mouse embryonic palate mesenchymal (MEPM) cells were successfully isolated and used for in vitro experimental verification. We found that an increased m6A methylation level was correlated with suppressed cell proliferation in the palatine process mesenchyme of cleft palate mice. This change is due to the abnormally high expression of m6A methyltransferase METTL14. When using siRNAs and the m6A methyltransferase complex inhibitor SAH to interfere with the expression or function of METTL14, the teratogenic effect of atRA on primary cells was partially alleviated. In conclusion, METTL14 regulates palatal mesenchymal cell proliferation and cycle-related protein expression relies on m6A methylation modification, affecting the occurrence of cleft palate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The timing of autism spectrum disorder detection in research and clinical practice is characterised by substantial heterogeneity ranging from infancy to school age. In this study, we examined the age of diagnosis and its associated individual and socio-familial factors in Chinese children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. A sample of 1235 autism spectrum disorder children from 132 rehabilitation organisations in Shenzhen was investigated in 2021. We found a mean age of diagnosis of 31.4 ± 12.7 months and a median of 30.0 months. Although 71.7% of the children received their diagnosis between 25 and 36 months of age, and 13.3% were diagnosed early (⩽24 months), 15.1% did not have their symptoms detected until preschool or later years (>36 months). The diagnosis was likely delayed (>36 months) if the children were older, were less severe and presented with no intellectual impairment. The odds of delayed autism spectrum disorder diagnosis were more than 9 times higher among migrant autism spectrum disorder children than those with local household registrations. The study underscores the importance of identifying culturally sensitive socio-economic determinants in autism spectrum disorder detection in addition to clinical factors, as the former are likely to affect the quality of life of many autism spectrum disorder children and their families. Timely detection is an issue of paramount importance in the care of children with autism spectrum disorder. Whether the delayed autism spectrum disorder diagnosis can be explained by children's clinical presentations and socio-familial status in China is a question to be addressed. We investigated 1235 autism spectrum disorder children from 132 rehabilitation organisations in Shenzhen, China. These children were found to have a mean age of diagnosis of 31.4 ± 12.7 months and a median age of diagnosis of 30.0 months. The majority of these children were able to receive their diagnosis during toddlerhood. However, about one in six were not diagnosed until they entered preschool or later, thus missing the golden window of opportunity for early intervention. The age of diagnosis was likely to be late if the children were older, were less severe and presented with no intellectual impairment. The odds of having a delayed autism spectrum disorder diagnosis were more than 9 times higher among migrant autism spectrum disorder children than among those with local household registrations, thus underscoring the importance of identifying culturally sensitive socio-economic determinants in autism spectrum disorder detection, as these factors are likely to affect the quality of life of many autism spectrum disorder children and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Background Design Methods Results Conclusion Relevance to Clinical Practice Patient or Public Contribution To explore the postoperative kinesophobia of patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and its related factors.Percutaneous coronary intervention is an effective method to treat coronary heart disease (CHD), and cardiac rehabilitation is an important auxiliary method after PCI. However, the compliance of patients with cardiac rehabilitation after PCI is not good, among which kinesophobia is an important influencing factor.A descriptive cross‐sectional design was implemented, and the high‐quality reporting of the study adhered to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology Statement.In total, 351 inpatients who underwent PCI in three tertiary grade‐A hospitals in China were selected by convenient sampling method. We use one‐way ANOVA and multiple linear regression analysis to determine the relevant related factors.The kinesophobia of patients after PCI was negatively correlated with chronic illness resource utilization and sense of personal mastery, and positively correlated with illness perception. Education level, clinical classification of CHD, exercise habits, chronic illness resource utilization, illness perception and sense of personal mastery entered the regression equation, which could explain 78.1% of the total variation.The level of kinesiophobia of patients after PCI is high. Education level, clinical classification of CHD, exercise habits, chronic illness resource utilization, illness perception and sense of personal mastery are the related factors of kinesiophobia of patients after PCI.By reducing the level of exercise fear of patients after PCI, patients are more likely to accept and adhere to the cardiac rehabilitation plan, thus improving their prognosis and improving their quality of life.The patient underwent PCI in the research hospital. Researchers screen them according to the inclusion criteria and invite them to participate in this study. If they meet the requirements, participants will answer the research questionnaire face to face after signing the informed consent form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing environmental pollution issues and continuous energy dilemma call for high‐performance energy storage systems (ESSs). While the inevitable safety concerns appear and restrict the application of lithium‐ion batteries in large‐scale ESSs. Contrastively, zinc ion batteries (ZIBs) attract increasing attention due to the inherent advantages of high safety, low cost, and environmental friendliness. However, the poor stability and reversibility of Zn anodes bring severe difficulty for its practical application. Considerable efforts are devoted in the anode modification, such as electrolyte adjustment, interfacial engineering, and anode structure design, but there is still a fuzzy field concerning the reaction process, regulation mechanism, and modified effect. Reviewing the history, the development of various electrodes greatly depends on the breakthrough in advanced characterization technologies, while the summarizations of technological advances in the Zn anode are still deficient. Hence, this review concentrates on the recent progress in various characterization techniques and related strategies of anode protection. The information is especially highlighted that each technique can offer the crucial or auxiliary role they play in proving specific issues. Furthermore, the opinions on current limitations and future directions of common characterization techniques are also discussed in detail, aiming to give a comprehensive perspective in designing advanced zinc anodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the effects of a mixture of glycerol monolaurate and cinnamaldehyde (GCM) supplementation on the laying performance, egg quality, antioxidant capacity, and serum parameters of laying hens. A total of 1120 14‐week‐old Jingfen‐1 strain laying hens with similar performance were randomly allocated to four dietary treatments: control, and GCM groups supplemented with 250, 500, or 1000 mg kg−1 for 12 weeks. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, GCM‐supplemented groups significantly reduced (P < 0.05) the rate of unqualified eggs of laying hens aged 17–24 weeks. Supplementation of GCM significantly increased (P < 0.05) yolk color and serum glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px) activity but decreased (P < 0.05) the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content in the serum of laying hens at the age of 20 weeks. Furthermore, groups supplemented with GCM showed a significant increase (P < 0.05) in Haugh unit, yolk color, activities of total superoxide dismutase and GSH‐Px, and the glucose content in serum, and a decrease (P < 0.05) in the content of urea nitrogen and H2O2 and malondialdehyde in serum of laying hens at the age of 24 weeks. 500 mg kg−1 GCM supplementation significantly increased (P < 0.05) the number of large white follicles and 1000 mg kg−1 GCM supplementation decreased the number of large yellow follicles in 28‐week‐old laying hens. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that GCM supplementation has positive effects on reducing egg loss and improving egg quality in the early laying period of laying hens. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperlipidemia, characterized by elevated serum lipid concentrations resulting from lipid metabolism dysfunction, represents a prevalent global health concern. Ginsenoside Rb1, compound K (CK), and 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD), bioactive constituents derived from Panax ginseng, have shown promise in mitigating lipid metabolism disorders. However, the comparative efficacy and underlying mechanisms of these compounds in hyperlipidemia prevention remain inadequately explored. This study investigates the impact of ginsenoside Rb1, CK, and PPD supplementation on hyperlipidemia in rats induced by a high-fat diet. Our findings demonstrate that ginsenoside Rb1 significantly decreased body weight and body weight gain, ameliorated hepatic steatosis, and improved dyslipidemia in HFD-fed rats, outperforming CK and PPD. Moreover, ginsenoside Rb1, CK, and PPD distinctly modified gut microbiota composition and function. Ginsenoside Rb1 increased the relative abundance of Blautia and Eubacterium, while PPD elevated Akkermansia levels. Both CK and PPD increased Prevotella and Bacteroides, whereas Clostridium-sensu-stricto and Lactobacillus were reduced following treatment with all three compounds. Notably, only ginsenoside Rb1 enhanced lipid metabolism by modulating the PPARγ/ACC/FAS signaling pathway and promoting fatty acid β-oxidation. Additionally, all three ginsenosides markedly improved bile acid enterohepatic circulation via the FXR/CYP7A1 pathway, reducing hepatic and serum total bile acids and modulating bile acid pool composition by decreasing primary/unconjugated bile acids (CA, CDCA, and β-MCA) and increasing conjugated bile acids (TCDCA, GCDCA, GDCA, and TUDCA), correlated with gut microbiota changes. In conclusion, our results suggest that ginsenoside Rb1, CK, and PPD supplementation offer promising prebiotic interventions for managing HFD-induced hyperlipidemia in rats, with ginsenoside Rb1 demonstrating superior efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: With the increasing number of patients with cognitive impairment, nonpharmacological ways to delay cognitive impairment have attracted people's attention, such as lifestyle changes and nutritional supplementation. Folic acid supplementation appears to be a promising treatment option. However, it remains controversial whether folic acid supplementation is effective in delaying adult's cognitive impairment. Therefore, we conducted a meta‐analysis to analyze the effects of folic acid supplementation on different cognitive impairments. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, EMbase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WanFang and VIP databases for randomized controlled trials on January 22, 2024. The included population comprised those diagnosed with cognitive impairment. We included trials that compared folic acid treatment with placebo, other dosing regimens, or other intervention controls. Conducting quality evaluation of included studies according to the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Statistical analyses were performed using Review Manager software. Results: Twenty‐two trials, including 3604 participants, met inclusion criteria. Compared with controls, the cognitive function of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients showed improvement with folic acid supplementation: supplementation with < 3 mg (standardized mean differences (SMD) = 0.15, 95% confidence interval (CI) –0.10 to 0.41), and supplementing with ≥ 3 mg folic acid could improve cognitive function in AD patients (SMD = 1.03, 95% CI 0.18 to 1.88). Additionally, it reduced homocysteine (HCY) levels (mean differences (MD) = –4.74, 95% CI –8.08 to –1.39). In mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients, cognitive function improved with folic acid supplementation: supplementation with > 400 μg (SMD = 0.38, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.63), and supplementation with ≤ 400 μg (SMD = 1.10, 95% CI 0.88 to 1.31). It also reduced HCY levels at intervention ≤ 6 months (MD = –3.93, 95% CI –5.05 to –2.82) and intervention > 6 months (MD = –4.38, 95% CI –5.15 to –3.61). However, supplementing with folic acid did not improve cognitive function in vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) patients, with folic acid supplements < 3 mg (SMD = –0.07, 95% CI –0.23 to –0.08), folic acid supplements ≥ 3 mg (SMD = 0.46, 95% CI –0.57 to 1.49), however, it reduced HCY levels at intervention > 6 months (MD = –5.91, 95% CI –7.13 to –4.69) and intervention ≤ 6 months (MD = –11.15, 95% CI –12.35 to –9.95). Conclusions: Supplement folic acid is beneficial to the cognitive profile of patients with MCI, supplementation with ≥ 3 mg folic acid can improve cognitive function in AD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the construction of resilient cities, regional air pollution prevention plays a pivotal role. Building on the previous research experience, the relationship between air pollution concentration and urban size exhibits a sublinear allometric growth pattern. To identify effective strategies for mitigating particulate matter air pollution, this study quantitatively explored 6 variables influencing urbanization in China’s cities and established an allometry model. Empirical analysis was conducted using data from 293 prefecturelevel cities and 1,827 county-level cities to examine the relationship between annual concentrations of fine particulate matter PM2.5 and PM10 in the atmosphere. ① The findings of this study provided partial validation for the Kuznets curve and demonstrated a reverse ‘U’-shaped association between urbanization and levels of PM2.5 and PM10 pollution. ② By partitioning the Hu Huanyong line, this study identified the spatial distribution pattern of PM2.5 and PM10. In central and western regions, as urban size expands, inhalable particle concentrations tended to increase further; whereas in the southeast region, inhalable particle concentrations gradually decreased and stabilized after a certain threshold of urban scale expansion was reached. Among the factors influencing urban size, green coverage within built-up areas exerted the most significant impact on both PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations, followed by the extent of built-up areas and the scale of secondary industries. This study presented an effective strategy for reconciling conflicts between urban expansion and air pollution management, while concurrently promoting resilient cities characterized by high levels of modernization and superior quality [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonlinear ultrasonic non-destructive testing (NDT) is a widely used method for detecting micro-damages in various materials and structures due to its high sensitivity and directional capability. However, the extraction and modulation of extremely weak nonlinear ultrasonic signals is quite a challenge in practical applications. Therefore, this paper focuses on the second harmonic modulation signal method in nonlinear ultrasonic NDT and proposes the design of the phononic crystal filter (PC filter) to achieve this filtering function. Through finite element simulations, it is demonstrated that the filtering frequency of the filter is influenced by the structural configuration, material wave speed, and geometric characteristics. Then, the design method for cubic PC filters is established. Furthermore, a time-domain finite element method is introduced to verify the filtering ability of the filter and further validate the rationality of this design approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discovery of novel flavonoids and elucidation of their biosynthesis are fundamental to understanding their roles in plants and their benefits for human and animal health. Here, we report a new pathway for polymerization of a group of novel oligomeric flavonoids in plants. We engineered red cells for discovering genes of interest involved in the flavonoid pathway and identified a gene encoding a novel flavanol polymerase (FP) localized in the central vacuole. FP catalyzes the polymerization of flavanols, such as epicatechin and catechin, to produce yellowish dimers or oligomers. Structural elucidation shows that these compounds feature a novel oligomeric flaven–flavan (FF) skeleton linked by interflavan–flaven and interflaven bonds, distinguishing them from proanthocyanidins and dehydrodicatechins. Detailed chemical and physical characterizations further confirmed the novel FFs as flavonoids. Mechanistic investigations demonstrated that FP polymerizes flavan-3-ols and flav-2-en-3-ol carbocation, forming dimeric or oligomeric flaven-4→8-flavans, which we term "papanridins." Data from transgenic experiments, mutant analysis, metabolic profiling, and phylogenetic analyses show that the biosynthesis of papanridins is prevalent in cacao, grape, blueberry, corn, rice, Arabidopsis , and other species in the plant kingdom. In summary, our study discoveries a group of novel oligomeric flavonoids, namely papanridins, and reveals that a novel FP-mediated polymerization mechanism for the biosynthesis of papanridins in plants. Papanridins are a group of yellowish oligomeric plant flavonoids that are polymerized from flavanols. Their structure is characterized by a novel flavan-flaven skeleton that is linked by interflavan–flaven and/or interflaven bonds. Flavanol polymerase catalyzes the polymerization process, leading to the formation of oligomeric papanridins in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[82] Encouraged by these reports, we investigated copper-catalyzed coupling chemistry involving I N i -phenoxyacetamides and 2 I H i -azirines for the synthesis of a series of -amino oxime ethers under mild reaction conditions (Scheme 1b). The reaction was initially carried out at room temperature for 12 h in tetrahydrofuran (THF) using 10 mol% CuI as the catalyst, which provided racemic oxime ether B 3aa b in 42% yield (entry 1), the structure of which was determined by X-ray diffractometry. Tyramine and l -tyrosine derivatives were successfully coupled with B 2a b to afford the desired oxime ethers in yields of 76% and 62%, respectively (Scheme 4a), while the reaction of B 1a b (5.0 mmol) and B 2a b (6.0 mmol) afforded B 3aa b in 77% yield under the optimized conditions (Scheme 4b). Keywords: copper catalysis; N -phenoxyacetamides; 2 H -azirines; ring-opening reactions; -amino oxime ethers EN copper catalysis N -phenoxyacetamides 2 H -azirines ring-opening reactions -amino oxime ethers 3393 3401 9 09/29/23 20231018 NES 231018 Graph Oxime ethers are present in numerous natural products and biologically active molecules; they also serve as diverse intermediates in synthetic chemistry due to the presence of weak N-O bonds and nucleophilic C=N bonds. [Extracted from the article]

This paper reconceptualised the interrelated learning constructs in higher education based on the Dynamic Systems Theory (DST). The university students' learning experience before, during and post the Emergency Online Learning (EOL) was investigated to explore the dynamic changes among the learning constructs in higher education. A case study of a Chinese university was conducted, and one hundred and ninety‐three university students participated in the questionnaire. The data collected from this empirical research identify different hierarchical constructs of the conceptualised learning environment and reconceptualise the period of system reformation influenced by the EOL. The key findings include the identifications of the attractors and repellors framed by the DST and the impact on the changes in the learning constructs. The results of this paper contribute to further understanding of the university constructs' changes to better plan and support students' active learning in higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a major neurological disease affecting elderly individuals worldwide. Existing drugs only reduce the symptoms of the disease without addressing the underlying causes. Commonly, Aβ25–35 peptide aggregation is the main reason for AD development. Recently, the discovery of multiple protein-targeting molecules has provided a new strategy for treating AD. This study demonstrates the neuroprotective potential of oxymatrine against multiple mechanisms, such as acetylcholinesterase, mitochondrial damage, and β-amyloid-induced cell toxicity. The in vitro cell culture studies showed that oxymatrine possesses significant potential to inhibit acetylcholine esterase and promotes antioxidant, antiapoptotic effects while preventing Aβ25–35 peptide aggregation in PC12 cells. Furthermore, oxymatrine protects PC12 cells against Aβ25–35-induced cytotoxicity and down-regulates the reactive oxygen species generation. The in vivo acute toxicological studies confirm the safety of oxymatrine without causing organ damage or death in animals. Overall, this study provided evidence that oxymatrine is an efficient neuroprotective agent, with a potential to be a multifunctional drug for Alzheimer's disease treatment. These findings present a reliable and synergistic approach for treating AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a broad class of chemicals, and previous studies showed that VOCs could increase the risk of central nervous system disorders. However, few studies have comprehensively explored their association with depression among general adults. Objective: We aimed to explore the association between blood VOCs and depression risk based on a large cross-sectional study of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Methods: We analyzed data from 3449 American adults in the NHANES 2013–2016. Survey-weighted logistic regression model was used to explore the association of ten blood VOCs with depression. Subsequently, the relative importance of the selected VOCs was determined using the XGBoost model. The weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression model was used to explore the overall association of 10 blood VOCs with depression. Subgroup analyses were performed to identify high-risk populations. Finally, restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis was utilized to explore the dose–response relationship between blood VOCs and the risk of depression. Results: XGBoost Algorithm model identified blood 2,5-dimethylfuran was the most critical variable in depression. The logistic regression model showed that blood benzene, blood 2,5-dimethylfuran, and blood furan showed a positive correlation with depression. In subgroup analysis, we found that the effects of the above VOCs on depression existed among the female, young middle-aged, and overweight-obese population. Mixture VOCs exposure was positively associated with depression risk (OR = 2.089, 95% CI: 1.299–3.361), and 2,5-dimethylfuran had the largest weights in WQS regression. RCS displayed that blood benzene, blood 2,5-dimethylfuran, and blood furan were positively associated with depression. Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that VOCs exposure was associated with an increased prevalence of depression in U.S. adults. Women, young and middle-aged, and overweight-obese populations are more vulnerable to VOCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Differential code bias (DCB) of satellite is an error that cannot be ignored in precise positioning, timing, ionospheric modeling, satellite clock correction, and ambiguity resolution. The completion of the third generation of BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS-3) has extended DCB to multichannel code bias observations and observable-specific signal bias (OSB). In this paper, the DCB and OSB products provided by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) are analyzed and compared. The DCB parameters for the BDS satellites are applied in both single- and dual-frequency single point positioning (SPP), and the results are intensively investigated. Based on the satellite DCB parameters of the BDS, the performance of precise point positioning (PPP) with different frequency combinations is also analyzed in terms of positioning accuracy and convergence time. The standard deviations (STDs) of DCBs at each signal pair fluctuate from 0.2 ns to 1.5 ns. The DCBs of BDS-2 are slightly more stable than those of BDS-3. The mean values and STDs of C2I and C7I OSBs for BDS-2 are at the same level and are numerically smaller than their counterparts for the C6I OSBs. The mean OSBs for each signal of the BDS-3, excluding C2I, fluctuate between 12.35 ns and 12.94 ns, and the STD fluctuates between 2.11 ns and 3.10 ns. The DCBs and OSBs of the BDS-3 of the IGSO satellites are more stable than those of the MEO satellites. The corrections for TGD and DCB are able to improve the accuracy of single-frequency SPP by 44.09% and 44.07%, respectively, and improve the accuracy of dual-frequency SPP by 6.44% and 12.85%, respectively. The most significant improvements from DCB correction are seen in single-frequency positioning with B1I and dual-frequency positioning with B2a+B3I. DCB correction can improve the horizontal and three-dimensional positioning accuracy of the dual-frequency PPP of different ionosphere-free combinations by 13.53% and 13.84% on average, respectively, although the convergence is slowed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoemulsion is a new multi-component drug delivery system; the selection of different oil phases can give it special physiological activity, and play the role of "medicine and pharmaceutical excipients all-in-one". In this paper, we used glycyrrhizic acid as the natural surfactant, and Blumea balsamifera oil (BB) and tea tree oil (TTO) as the mixed oil phase, to obtain a new green functional composite nanoemulsion. Using the average particle size and polydispersion index (PDI) as the evaluation criteria, the effects of the oil ratio, oil content, glycyrrhizic acid concentration, and ultrasonic time on the nanoemulsion were systematically investigated. The stability and physicochemical properties and biological activities of BB-TTO NEs prepared via the optimum formulation were characterized. The optimal prescription was BB: TTO = 1:1, 5% oil phase, 0.7% glycyrrhizic acid, and 5 min ultrasonication time. The mean particle size, PDI, and zeta potential were 160.01 nm, 0.125, and −50.94 mV, respectively. The nanoemulsion showed non-significant changes in stability after centrifugation, dilution, and 120 days storage. These nanoemulsions were found to exhibit potential antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of BB-TTO NEs against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa is 2975 μg/mL, 2975 μg/mL, and 5950 μg/mL, respectively. A lower level of inflammatory cell infiltration and proportion of fibrosis were found in the synovial tissue of AIA rats treated with BB-TTO NEs. These findings demonstrate that the BB-TTO NEs produced in this study have significant potential for usage in antibacterial and anti-inflammatory areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the subtype of breast cancer with the worst prognosis, and it is highly heterogeneous. There is growing evidence that the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) plays a crucial role in tumor development, maintenance, and treatment responses. Notably however, the full effects of the TIME on prognosis, TIME characteristics, and immunotherapy responses in TNBC patients have not been fully elucidated. Methods: Gene Expression Omnibus and The Cancer Genome Atlas data were used to data analysis. Single‐cell sequencing and tissue microarray analysis were used to investigate gene expression. The concentrations and distributions of immune cell types were determined and analyzed using the CIBERSORT strategy. Tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion score and the IMvigor210 cohort were used to estimate the sensitivity of TNBC patients with different prognostic statuses to immune checkpoint treatment. Results: Five immune‐related genes associated with TNBC prognosis (IL6ST, NR2F1, CKLF, TCF7L2, and HSPA2) was identified and a prognostic evaluation model was constructed based on those genes. The respective areas under the curve of the prognostic nomogram model at 3 and 5 years were 0.791 and 0.859. The group with a lower nomogram score, with a better prognosis survival status and clinical treatment benefit rate. Conclusion: A prognostic model for TNBC that was closely related to the immune landscape and therapeutic responses was constructed. This model may help clinicians to make more precise and personalized treatment decisions pertaining to TNBC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrolysis of ammonia borane (AB) is an efficient and safe way to produce hydrogen. A proper catalyst is required to accelerate the reaction rate at room temperature. In this work, a variety of composites are prepared from chitosan (CS) and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) with an ultrasonication assistance strategy for anchoring Ru nanoparticles (NPs) through an adsorption-chemical reduction approach. Benefitting from the suitable porosity (V p = 0.123 cm3 g−1, S BET = 35.9 m2 g−1) as well as the interesting confinement and anchoring effects of CS-h-BN with an optimized CS amount of 20%, Ru/CS-h-BN with a Ru loading of 2.0 wt% shows small particle size of well-dispersed Ru NPs and the highest catalytic activity toward AB hydrolysis among the investigated catalysts. Catalyzed by Ru/CS-h-BN, the specific hydrogen evolution rate (29.9 × 103 m L min − 1 g R u − 1 ) and turnover frequency (121.9 min−1) at 303 K, along with apparent activation energy (35.19 kJ mol−1) are obviously competitive compared to many Ru-based catalysts ever reported. Apart from providing a high-performance catalyst for hydrogen evolution from AB hydrolysis, our work paves a new avenue toward developing structure-sensitive nano-metal materials. [Display omitted] • Optimizing a composite material from chitosan and h-BN for anchoring Ru NPs. • Ru NPs with a mean size of 1.3 nm are evenly dispersed on CS-h-BN. • Ru/CS-h-BN displays excellent catalytic performance in AB hydrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some progress has been made in understanding the pathways related to rice heading, but their applications to breeding japonica rice varieties adapted to grow in low-latitude areas ("indica to japonica") are limited. We edited eight adaptation-related genes via a lab-established CRISPR/Cas9 system in a japonica variety, Shennong265 (SN265). All T0 plants and their progeny bearing random mutation permutations were planted in southern China and screened for changes in heading date. We found that the double mutant of Days to heading 2 (DTH2) and CONSTANS 3 (OsCO3) (dth2-osco3), two CONSTANS-like (COL) genes, showed significantly delayed heading under both short-day (SD) and long-day (LD) conditions in Guangzhou and manifested great yield increase under SD conditions. We further demonstrated that the heading-related Hd3a-OsMADS14 pathway was down-regulated in the dth2-osco3 mutant lines. The editing of the COL genes DTH2 and OsCO3 greatly improves the agronomic performance of japonica rice in Southern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the problems of small key space and weak resistance to differential attacks in existing encryption algorithms, we proposed a chaotic digital image encryption scheme based on an optimized artificial fish swarm algorithm and DNA coding. First, the key is associated with the ordinary image pixel through the MD5 hash operation, and the hash value generated by the ordinary image is used as the initial value of the hyper-chaotic system to increase the sensitivity of the key. Next, the artificial fish school algorithm is used to scramble the positions of pixels in the block. In addition, scrambling operation between blocks is proposed to increase the scrambling effect. In the diffusion stage, operations are performed based on DNA encoding, obfuscation, and decoding technologies to obtain encrypted images. The research results show that the optimized artificial fish swarm algorithm has good convergence and can obtain the global optimal solution to the greatest extent. In addition, simulation experiments and security analysis show that compared with other encryption schemes, the scheme proposed in this paper has a larger key space and better resistance to differential attacks, indicating that the proposed algorithm has better encryption performance and higher security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives In recent years, integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI)-containing regimens have been increasingly adopted in treatment for HIV/AIDS and promoted as non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis in China. This study aims to describe the prevalence of resistance to integrase and drug resistance mutations (DRMs) among ART-naive patients in Shenzhen, China. Methods Serum samples and demographic information were collected from newly reported ART-naive patients in Shenzhen in 2020. The study sequenced the coding sequence of the HIV-1 integrase gene and determined the DRMs.​ Results In this study, 1682 newly reported cases were included and 1071 of them were successfully sequenced finally. The prevalence of primary drug resistance was 1.77%, with 19 samples showing varying degrees of resistance to INSTIs. The study detected six major DRMs in 16 individuals and eight accessory DRMs in 24 individuals. The prevalence of transmitted drug resistance (TDR) mutations was 1.21%, with five transmitted mutations detected in 13 individuals. The prevalence of drug resistance to raltegravir and elvitegravir was statistically higher than to bictegravir, cabotegravir and dolutegravir. Conclusions The prevalence of INSTI resistance in Shenzhen in 2020 was relatively high. ​Continued surveillance for resistance to INSTIs is recommended and treatment regimens should be adopted based on the pattern of resistance to INSTIs. ​Dolutegravir or bictegravir is first recommended when considering INSTIs as treatment regimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel photocatalytic water splitting device was constructed using economic graphene quantum dots as a photocatalyst and a Ni-based complex [(tpy-CH＝N)2Ni]Cl2 (tpy = terpyridine) as a co-catalyst. Under visible light irradiation and with a bias of −0.1 V vs. NHE, it produced an extremely stable photocurrent density of −9 μA cm−2 for 3 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the roads in forest being short of structured terrain, lateral stability of chassis is crucial for forestry vehicles. A forestry chassis with a novel articulated body and fitted luffing wheel-legs (AB + LWL) is proposed in this paper. The novel articulated body with three degrees of freedom which improves the ability to adapt to terrain is described. In particular, a luffing wheel-leg which enhances the lateral stability to run in forestry terrain, is proposed. After performing a detailed theoretical analysis of the mechanism equivalent, a new accurate the lateral stability model for the without driven luffing wheel-legs is derived. The new model predicts the lateral stability by analysis tyre contact forces, which is different from most models established by the geometrical position of centre of gravity. Significantly, a lateral stability model for an articulated body with driven luffing wheel-legs is derived. To verify the theoretical analysis, simulations that describe the lateral rollover for the chassis are established in ADAMS. The simulation is considered into two conditions, without driven luffing wheel-legs and with driven luffing wheel-legs. For the chassis without driven luffing wheel-legs, the lateral rollover is caused by the rear up-slope wheel when the inclination angle of slope reaches 34.8°. The maximum absolute percent difference of the rear up-slope wheel contact force with the theoretical analysis relative to the simulation is only 2.8%. For the chassis with driven wheel-legs, the lateral rollover which is also caused by the rear up-slope wheel will occur when the inclination angle of slope reaches 40.3°. The front or rear frame can be levelled by regulating the luffing wheel-legs when the inclination angle of slope is less than 15.29°. Compared with the chassis without driven luffing wheel-legs, the maximum inclination angle of slope increased 15.8%. The maximum absolute percent difference of the rear up-slope wheel contact force with the theoretical analysis relative to the simulation is only 1.6%. Simulation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed lateral stability models of the chassis in the two conditions. • Novel forestry chassis is proposed. • Lateral stability models not using geometric centre of gravity derived. • Simulations validated effectiveness of proposed lateral stability models. • New lateral stability models more accurate and more generic. • Articulated chassis with different active body control could be examined by models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We aimed to assess the impact of aerobic exercise (AE) on parameters related to cardiotoxicity in breast cancer (BC) patients receiving anthracycline or trastuzumab. Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of comparative studies on AE via the screening of standard databases from their inception to January 18, 2022. The risk of bias was assessed qualitatively using the domains outlined in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Data were analyzed quantitatively using fixed effects meta-analysis and subgroup analysis in RevMan software. Notable outcomes included imaging outcomes of cardiotoxicity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and cardiac biomarkers. Results: A meta-analysis of the pooled evidence obtained from seven studies revealed that AE significantly increased peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak) and E/A values, compared to the values observed during usual care. Moreover, AE was safe and feasible, and was associated with a lower risk of adverse effects, a higher participation rate, and better results, when combined with resistance exercise. Conclusion: In BC patients receiving anthracyclines or trastuzumab, the effects of AE on the levels of cardiotoxicity were mixed; the diastolic functions and VO2 peak values were improved, biomarkers were not affected, and the overall improvements in the levels of cardiotoxicity were promising, despite the use of different exercise parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: From 20 July to 26 August 2021, local outbreaks of COVID-19 occurred in Nanjing City and Yangzhou City (Jiangsu Province, China). We analyzed the characteristics of these outbreaks in an effort to develop specific and effective intervention strategies.Methods: Publicly available data on the characteristics of the COVID-19 outbreaks in Jiangsu Province were collected. Logistic regression was used to assess the association of age and sex with clinical severity. Analysis of onset dates, generation time distributions, and locations were used to estimate the mean transmission distance. A branching process model was used to evaluate different management strategies.Results: From 20 July to 26 August 2021, 820 patients were diagnosed with COVID-19 in Jiangsu Province, with 235 patients (28.7%) from Nanjing, 570 (69.5%) from Yangzhou, and 15 (1.8%) from other cities. Overall, 57.9% of the patients were female, 13.7% were under 20 years-old, and 58.3% had moderate disease status. The mean transmission distance was 4.12 km, and closed-loop management of the area within 2.23 km of cases seemed sufficient to control an outbreak. The model predicted that the cumulative cases in Yangzhou would increase from 311 to 642 if the interval between rounds of nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) increased from 1 to 6 days. It also predicted there would be 44.7% more patients if the NAAT started 10 days (rather than 0 days) after diagnosis of the first case. The proportion of cases detected by NAAT would increase from 11.16 to 44.12% when the rounds of NAAT increased from 1 to 7 within 17 days. When the effective vaccine coverage was 50%, the outbreak would be controlled even when using the most relaxed non-pharmaceutical interventions.Conclusions: The model predicted that a timely closed-loop management of a 2.23 km area around positive COVID-19 cases was sufficient to control the outbreak. Prompt serial NAAT is likely to contain an outbreak quickly, and our model results indicated that three rounds of NAAT sufficiently controlled local transmission. Trial registration We did not involve clinical trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Febuxostat is a xanthine oxidase inhibitor used to reduce the formation of uric acid and prevent gout attacks. Previous studies have suggested that febuxostat was associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular events, including atrial fibrillation, compared with allopurinol, another anti-hyperuricemia drug. Whereas in our clinical practice, we identified 2 cases of febuxostat-associated ventricular tachycardia (VT) events. The proarrhythmogenic effects of febuxostat on human cardiomyocytes and underlined mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we employed real-time cell analysis and calcium transient to investigate the effects of febuxostat on the cytotoxicity and electrophysiology properties of human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs). Up to 10 μM febuxostat treatment did not show toxicity to cell viability. However, 48-h febuxostat exposure generated dose-dependent increased irregular calcium transients and decreased calcium transient amplitude. Furthermore, RNA-seq analysis indicated that the MAPK signaling pathway was enriched in the febuxostat-treated group, especially the protein kinases c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Western blotting of 3 main protein kinases demonstrated that JNK activation is related to febuxostat-induced arrhythmia rather than extracellular signal regulated kinases (ERK) or p38. The dysfunctional calcium dynamics of febuxostat-treated hiPSC-CMs could be ameliorated by SP600125, the inhibitor of JNK. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that febuxostat increases the predisposition to ventricular arrhythmia by dysregulating calcium dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the setting of virus infection, autophagy regulates the synthesis of type I interferon (IFN) via multiple mechanisms to prevent adverse overreaction. Interferon regulatory factor (IRF) 3, the dominant transcriptional factor of type I IFN, can be degraded via autophagy-lysosomal pathway. However, the exact regulatory mechanism is not yet well elucidated. IRF3 was targeted into autophagosome by interacting with cargo receptors including p62, NDP52 and NBR1. The recent studies have reported the mechanism of p62 and NDP52 sequestrating IRF3. This work aims to investigate the role of NBR1 in the process of IRF3 degradation. We found that blocking autophagy via ATG3/ATG7 knockout and chemical inhibitors both resulted in the accumulation of IRF3 protein and increased synthesis of type I IFN, while enhancing autophagy activity led to more obvious clearance of IRF3 in HEK293T cells infected with Sendai virus (SeV). Our data suggested that NBR1 bound both unphosphorylated and phosphorylated IRF3 through its ubiquitin-associated domain. Meanwhile, viral infection elevated the expression of NBR1, which sequentially formed a negative feedback loop to promote IRF3 degradation and hence optimized the type I IFN signaling. This study expands the knowledge of molecular mechanisms regulating the IRF3 stability and function during viral infection. • Autophagy negatively regulates type I IFN synthesis by degradation of IRF3. • NBR1 as cargo receptor in IRF3 degradation and binds IRF3 via the UBA domain. • Deficiency of NBR1 enhances cellular antiviral immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Osteoradionecrosis of the jaw (ORNJ) is one of the most common and serious complications after radiotherapy of head and neck malignancies due to the high incidence of nasopharyngeal cancer in Southern China. Clinicians lack understanding and consensus on anti‐infective treatment in ORNJ lesions. This research aims to provide evidence for rational use of antibiotics by reviewing the bacterial spectrums and antimicrobial susceptibility test of ORNJ patients. Methods: We collected patient who was diagnosed with ORNJ from November 2012 to June 2019 in our hospital. Exudate or bone unexposed wound surface sampling, agar plates culturing, and susceptibility testing were analyzed. Descriptive statistics were used for data presentation. Results: A total of 219 samples were collected in our retrospective study. The most common cultured bacteria were Klebsiella pneumoniae (15.10%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (13.54%), and Staphylococcus aureus (10.94%). Methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) accounted for 5.21% in the whole positive samples. Ticarcillin, Ofloxacin, Vancomycin, Tigecycline, and Meropenem were more susceptible than other antibiotics to treat uncontrollable infection. Conclusions: Our research provided objective evidence for understanding the types of local bacterial flora and drug susceptibility in ORNJ lesions and gave a guiding reference for empirical antibiotics medication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of batteries has become more and more extensive, and the heat dissipation problem cannot be ignored. Oscillating Heat Pipe (OHP) is a good means of heat dissipation. In this paper, the methods to improve the energy conversion and flow thermal performance of micro-channel OHP are studied and summarized. The working principle, heat transfer mechanism, advantages and applications of PHP are also introduced in detail in this study. Proper adjustment of the micro-channel layout can increase the heat transfer limit of PHP by 44%. The thermal resistance of two-diameter channel PHP is 45% lower than that of conventional PHP. The thermal resistance of PHP under uneven heating can be reduced to 50% of the original. PHP pulse heating can alleviate the phenomenon of dryness. Different working fluids have different effects on PHP. The use of graphene nano-fluids as the work medium can reduce the thermal resistance of PHP by 83.6%. The work medium obtained by the mixture of different fluids has the potential to compensate for the defects while inheriting the advantages of a single fluid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of aviation industry, a series of problems have appeared in aviation and airspace, among which the most prominent problem is the congestion of aviation and airspace. Airspace congestion has become a major problem in the development of civil aviation in China. Especially in the central and eastern regions of China, airspace congestion is becoming more and more serious. To better solve the problem of airspace congestion, rough set theory and the Fuzzy C-means (FCM) model are first analyzed. By analyzing the temporal and spatial characteristics of traffic congestion in the control sector, a multisector traffic congestion identification model is established based on radar track data. Four multisector congestion characteristics including equivalent traffic volume, proximity, saturation, and traffic density are established. FCM and rough set theory are used to classify and identify sector congestion. Finally, the model based on FCM-rough set theory is compared with other methods based on the data of the regional control sector in northwest China. The experimental results show that the congestion recognition rate of the model is 92.6%, 93.5%, and 94.2%, and the congestion misjudgment rate is 1.5%, 1.2%, and 1.3%, respectively. Hence, the multisector congestion recognition model has a high recognition rate and a low misjudgment rate, and the overall discrimination result is relatively stable. By comparing the proposed method with other methods, it is concluded that the recognition accuracy of the model based on FCM theory is superior to other methods. In summary, the congestion situation of the sector is affected by a variety of macro- and micro-characteristics of the sector, and the congestion identification model is feasible and efficient. Multisector traffic congestion identification has certain application value for airspace planning, air traffic control-assisted decision making, and air traffic flow management. This work can optimize the aviation and airspace management system and provide relevant suggestions for the study of aviation and airspace congestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1,4-Butanediol (1,4-BDO) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) are important feedstocks for the synthesis of polyurethane elastomers, polybutylene succinate (PBS), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), spandex fibers, special rubbers and special-purpose coatings, as well as universal solvents and important raw materials for organic synthesis. In this review, we will discuss in detail the current new bio-based methods for the synthesis of 1,4-BDO and THF, including catalytic hydrogenation or bio-conversion of sugars, succinic acid, and furfural to 1,4-BDO as well as bio-based furfural to obtain THF. The bio-based process for the production of 1,4-BDO and THF will show continuous competitiveness in the future post-petroleum era. It also provides an outlook on environmentally friendly and energy-efficient low-carbon processes for the green synthesis of 1,4-BDO and THF in the future post-petroleum era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon hollow sphere encapsulated Ni3Se4 (Ni3Se4@CHS) nanocrystals are prepared using the Ni-soc-MOF by pyrolysis and further selenization. Ni3Se4@CHS exhibits a capacitance of 1720 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 and a capacitance retention of 97% after 6000 cycles at 5 A g−1. Moreover, the asymmetric supercapacitor of Ni3Se4@CHS//AC displays a wide potential window of 1.6 V, an energy density of 45.2 W h kg−1 at a power density of 800 W kg−1, and excellent cycling stability (89% capacitance retention) after 5000 cycles. Overall, this work establishes a significant step to synthesize a new carbon-based material with appreciable capacitance and long cycling durability for potential applications in energy storage and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To resolve the issues of a highly polluting and energy-intensive industry based on the Reppe method, herein we developed an economically feasible green route for the synthesis of poly(tetramethylene ether glycol) (PTMEG) and methane from furfural (FA). The synthesis route consisted of the base metal Ni and/or Cu catalyzed full hydrogenation of FA, followed by the subsequent selective hydrodeoxygenation of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFA) to tetrahydrofuran (THF) and methane. The latter was the key step for the process, where tetrahydrofurfural acted as an important intermediate in the alcohol–aldehyde equilibrium of THFA conversion on the Ni surface in a fix-bed reactor. This was followed by its decarbonylation to 2,3-dihydrofuran and CO, and subsequent hydrogenation to THF and methane. THF polymerization was catalyzed by phosphotungstic acid (PWA) with epichlorohydrin (ECH) as the initiator to produce PTMEG with a controllable molecular weight and distribution (Mw = 1889, D = 1.483). The comparative techno-economic analysis also demonstrated that the furfural method was more responsive to economic and green concerns than the traditional Reppe technique. Therefore, as the highly polluting and energy-intensive Reppe industry will most likely be restricted in a low carbon society, the green and economical furfural method is poised to establish sustained competitiveness for producing bio-PTMEG and bio-methane in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of molecular markers is one of the most sensitive, powerful technologies for genetic purity assessment of seed lots. In this study, we aimed to develop a set of insertion and deletion (InDel) markers, through bioinformatics approaches, that may effectively distinguish three representative japonica rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties, Nipponbare, Taichung 65 and Zhonghua11. The published whole-genome sequences of these varieties were aligned using BWA-MEM, followed by manual inspection for InDels of more than ten base pairs in size with the tview function of SAMtools. A set of ten InDel markers were thus identified and then validated by PCR in the three japonica rice varieties and their intercross F 1 hybrids. Results showed that the InDel markers developed in this study could reliably distinguish these three japonica rice varieties. These molecular markers together with the detection method developed here can be applied to DNA-based genetic purity evaluation in rice breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capacitive deionization (CDI), as an energy-efficient desalination technique, has attracted worldwide attention. Bentonite, a natural clay with 2-dimensional structure, is much popular for water treatment because of its high adsorption capacity, low cost and environmental benign properties. However, the poor conductivity and narrow interlamellar spacing limit its electrochemical application. In this work, a carbon-covered Fe-pillared bentonite (PILB@C) was fabricated as a new type of electrode materials for CDI. Through Fe-pillaring in bentonite, the interlayer spacing enlarged, accompanied with enhanced specific surface areas and abundant mesopores. The further carbon coating endowed the bentonite with good conductivity and facilitating ion-transportation. The dual-regulated composites possessed the negatively charged surface feature, favorable for inverted capacitive deionization (i-CDI) with improved deionization performance. Under the optimal carbon loading, the PILB@C electrode delivered a superior desalination capacity (16.23 mg g−1, in 10 mM NaCl). Because of the intrinsic structural stability of bentonite, the desalination system exhibited the excellent cycling stability (90 % capacity retention over 50 cycles). When applied for industrial and domestic water purification, the PILB@C electrode realized salinity reduction and de-mineralization. This natural bentonite is nontoxic and cheap, rendering it highly promising as an electrode material candidate for future water treatment. [Display omitted] • Pillared bentonite (PILB) is synthesized by introducing iron proppant. • Carbon-coated PILB (PILB@C) is obtained by chitosan adsorption and carbonization. • PILB@C retains lamellar structure and its conductivity significantly increases. • PILB@C delivers Na+ adsorption capacity of 16.23 mg g−1 in 10 mM NaCl (10 mA g−1). • PILB@C is cheap and safe, applicable for cooling water and tap water desalination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Plasma H 2 S content in diabetic patients with skin wounds was decreased. • CSE knockout promoted necroptosis and delayed skin wound healing in diabetic mice. • CSE deficiency promoted M1 macrophage polarization in skin wounds of diabetic mice. • NaHS attenuated necroptosis and accelerated skin wound healing in diabetic mice. • NaHS attenuated M1 macrophage polarization in skin wounds of diabetic mice. Hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S), recognized as the third gasotransmitter, plays a pivotal role in the pathophysiological processes of various diseases. Cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE) is the main enzyme for H 2 S production in the skin. However, effects and mechanisms of H 2 S in diabetic skin wound healing remain unclear. Our findings revealed a decrease in plasma H 2 S content in diabetic patients with skin wounds. CSE knockout (KO) diabetic mice resulted in delayed wound healing, reduced blood perfusion, and CD31 expression around the wounds. It also led to increased infiltration of inflammatory cells and M1-type macrophages, decreased collagen levels, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression. Additionally, there were enhanced expressions of necroptosis related proteins, including receptor interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1), RIPK3 and mixed lineage kinase domain like protein (MLKL). In comparison, sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), H 2 S donor, accelerated skin wound healing in leptin receptor deficiency (db/db) mice. This acceleration was accompanied by increased blood perfusion and CD31 expression, reduced infiltration of inflammatory cells and M1-type macrophages, elevated collagen levels, α-SMA, and PCNA expressions, and decreased necroptosis-related protein expressions together with nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 phosphorylation. In conclusion, H 2 S regulates macrophage polarization and necroptosis, contributing to the acceleration of diabetic skin wound healing. These findings offer a novel strategy for the treatment of diabetic skin wounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on text analysis, public big data management is studied. The public data management of Mount Wutai tourism network travel notes is discussed. The positive, neutral, and negative effects of the naive Bayesian classification model and decision tree classification model on the tourism sentiment attitude of Mount Wutai are compared. The relationship between tourism resources, tourism facilities, tourism services, tourism environment, and tourism sentiment and attitude of Wutai Mountain is analyzed. The results show that the true positive rate, true negative rate, and F-measure of the Bayesian decision tree classifier to classify positive text are 86.64%, 81.27%, and 84.62%, respectively. The true positive rate for neutral text is 82.05%, the true negative rate is 78.89%, and the F-measure is 77.11%. The true positive rate for negative text is 83.67%, the true negative rate is 98.29%, and the F-measure is 82.83%. The Bayesian decision tree classifier can evaluate positive and negative texts better than neutral texts. The true positive rate of the C4.5 decision tree classifier for positive text is 91.44%, the true negative rate is 86.57%, and the F-measure is 89.45%. The true positive rate for neutral text is 90.17%, the true negative rate is 83.28%, and the F-measure is 84.06%. The true positive rate for negative text is 91.84%, the true negative rate is 99.05%, and the F-measure is 90.91%. The decision tree classifier has a better evaluation effect on positive and negative texts than on neutral texts. The ROC curve of the evaluation effect of the two classifiers shows that the evaluation effect of the two classifiers has a better evaluation effect on positive text than that of the neutral and negative texts, and the evaluation effect of the C4.5 decision tree classifier is better than that of the Bayesian classifier. The promotion degree of tourism resources and facilities in forwarding online travel notes is obviously higher, and there is a high correlation between tourism resources and facilities and forward online travel notes. In negative online travel notes, the promotion degree of tourism service and tourism environment is high, and the correlation between tourism service and tourism environment and negative online travel notes is high. In summary, improving the quality of tourism services and the tourism environment of Mount Wutai scenic spots can better enhance the recognition and satisfaction of tourists with Mount Wutai tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel method for the synthesis of various 2,4,5‐trisubstituted thiazoles from methylketones and thiourea/thioacetamide/amidinothiourea using NaBr/Oxone oxidative system has been developed. The three intimately connected advantages of this method, which form a whole, are that the reaction underwent a one‐pot α‐bromination/cyclization process, the use of more common methylene ketones as the raw material rather than α‐halomethylene ketones and a cheap and easily available catalytic amount sodium bromide as the bromine source instead of stoichiometric bromine or NBS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smart contracts are widely employed in many industries as a result of the high-quality development of science and economic technology, as well as the introduction of blockchain, which can automatically conduct retrieval, verification, and payment tasks. Smart contracts as an emerging topic, particularly the study of smart legal contracts, must remain forward-looking, and the smart contract sector cannot wait for the legal status of smart contracts to be resolved before advancing. The relative lag of the law becomes unavoidable due to the unassembled and unpredictable character of the law and thus its legislation. In this paper, we explore the incorporation of smart contracts into the scope of legal regulation, the construction of a series of systems for smart contracts, and the prognosis of smart contracts in terms of contract logic, arbitration process, and formal verification from the current law. Furthermore, a smart contract payment template based on semantic-aware graph neural networks is proposed to address the traditional smart contract vulnerability detection payment template method's low detection accuracy and high false alarm rate, as well as the neural network-based method's insufficient mining of bytecode-level smart contract features. Experiments comparing the method described in this research to comparable methods reveal that the strategy proposed in this study improves all types of indicators significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since December 2019, the deadly novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused the current COVID-19 pandemic. To date, vaccines are available in the developed countries to prevent the infection of this virus; however, medicines are necessary to help control COVID-19. Human coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E) causes the common cold. The main protease (Mpro) is an essential enzyme required for the multiplication of these two viruses in the host cells, and thus is an appropriate candidate to screen potential medicinal compounds. Flavonols and dihydroflavonols are two groups of plant flavonoids. In this study, we report docking simulation with two Mpro enzymes and five flavonols and three dihydroflavonols, in vitro inhibition of the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, and in vitro inhibition of the HCoV 229E replication. The docking simulation results predicted that (+)-dihydrokaempferol, (+)- dihydroquercetin, (+)-dihydromyricetin, kaempferol, quercetin, myricentin, isoquercitrin, and rutin could bind to at least two subsites (S1, S1', S2, and S4) in the binding pocket and inhibit the activity of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. Their affinity scores ranged from −8.8 to −7.4 (kcal/mol). Likewise, these compounds were predicted to bind and inhibit the HCoV-229E Mpro activity with affinity scores ranging from −7.1 to −7.8 (kcal/mol). In vitro inhibition assays showed that seven available compounds effectively inhibited the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro activity and their IC 50 values ranged from 0.125 to 12.9 μM. Five compounds inhibited the replication of HCoV-229E in Huh-7 cells. These findings indicate that these antioxidative flavonols and dihydroflavonols are promising candidates for curbing the two viruses. • Ligand-receptor docking modeling shows flavonols and dihydroflavonols could bind to main protease of SARS-Cov-2. • Flavonols and dihydroflavonols could inhibit the SARS-Cov-2 main protease activities in vitro. • Flavonols and dihydroflavonols could inhibit the hCoV-229E replication in Huh-7 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Cu@MgO-La 2 O 3 was designed and synthesized for the direct hydrolysis of furfuryl alcohol (94.9% conversion) to 1,2-pentanediol (with 67.1% selectivity) and 1,5-pentanediol (with 18.8% selectivity). • Multiple characterization results indicated that Cu@MgO-La 2 O 3 catalyst was synthesized with a core–shell structure, and bifunctional metal and alkaline sites. • In-situ FTIR experiments demonstrated that La 2 O 3 was the primary adsorption site for FFA in the strongly alkaline carrier. • The highly dispersed Cu nanoparticles and alkaline sites were beneficial in improving catalyst activity and the selectivity of PeD. Selective ring-opening hydrogenolysis of the furan ring is the key to the efficient conversion of furfuryl alcohol (FFA) to high-value pentanediol. In this work, highly dispersed Cu@MgO-La 2 O 3 was designed and synthesized with a core–shell structure, and bifunctional metal and alkaline sites for the direct hydrolysis of FFA (94.9% conversion) to 1,2-pentanediol (1,2-PeD, with 67.1% selectivity) and 1,5-pentanediol (1,5-PeD, with 18.8% selectivity). Multiple characterization results indicated that at an Mg/La ratio of 1.9, the outer surface contained distributed La 2 O 3 -MgO species with uniformly dispersed Cu0 nanoparticles, and the inner layer of the catalyst possessed MgO, while some Cu0 were distributed at the La 2 O 3 and MgO interface. The addition of MgO increased the specific surface area of the outer layer, improving the dispersion of Cu and facilitating the formation of Cu0. In-situ FTIR experiments showed that FFA was adsorbed on the La 2 O 3 alkaline site of the carrier through the O atoms of the furan ring and CH 2 OH, which induced ring-opening to generate enol intermediates, which further hydrogenated to 1,2-PeD and 1,5-PeD over the Cu0 nanoparticles. Thus, this new core–shell structure combining with metal and alkaline sites provides new insight for developing effective and selective hydrogenolysis catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Balun or trap circuits are critical components for suppressing common-mode currents flowing on the outer conductors of coaxial cables in RF coil systems for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS). Common-mode currents affect coils’ tuning and matching, induce losses, pick up extra noise from the surrounding environment, lead to undesired cross-talk, and cause safety concerns in animal and human imaging. First proposed for microwave antenna applications, the Lattice balun has been widely used in MRI coils. It has a small footprint and can be easily integrated with coil tuning/matching circuits. However, the Lattice balun is typically a single-tuned circuit and cannot be used for multi-nuclear MRI and MRS with two RF frequencies. This work describes a dual-tuned Lattice balun design that is suitable for multi-nuclear MRI/MRS. It was first analyzed theoretically to derive component values. RF circuit simulations were then performed to validate the theoretical analysis and provide guidance for practical construction. Based on the simulation results, a dual-tuned balun circuit was built for 7T 1H/23Na MRI and bench tested. The fabricated dual-tuned balun exhibits superior performance at the Larmor frequencies of both 1H and 23Na, with less than 0.15 dB insertion loss and better than 17 dB common-mode rejection ratio at both frequencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the rapid time-decay phenomenon of the 3D incompressible Navier—Stokes flow in exterior domains. By using the representation of the flow in exterior domains, together with the estimates of the Gaussian kernel, the tensor kernel, and the Stokes semigroup, we prove that under the assumption ∫ 0 ∞ ∫ ∂ Ω T [ u , p ] (y , t) ⋅ ν d S y d t = 0 for the body pressure tensor T[u,p], if u 0 ∈ L 1 (Ω) ∩ L σ 3 (Ω) ∩ W 2 5 , 5 4 (Ω) with ∥u0∥ ≤ η for some sufficiently small number η > 0, then rapid time-decay phenomenon of the Navier—Stokes flow appears. If additionally ∣x∣αu0 ∈ Lr0 (Ω) for some 0 < α < 1 and 1 < r 0 < (1 − α 3) − 1 or α = 1 and r0 = 1, then the flow exhibits higher decay rates as t → ∞. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To summarize the evolution of Ilizarov technology in China, highlight important milestones, introduce the atmosphere of the era concerning the first uses and development of this technology, and share Chinese modification and experience in this field.Method: A thorough interview with senior ASAMI members of China and literature search and physical books in libraries was undertaken to summarize the history of Ilizarov technology in China.Results: The formal development of Ilizarov technology began when professor Ilizarov himself came to Beijing (1991) and gave a speech. In the following 31 years, his technology was rapidly developed through China, with many symposiums held and associations established including ASAMI China (2003) and ILLRS China (2015). Today, Ilizarov technology has become the main treatment of complex fractures, defects, nonunion, infections, deformities, and chronic ischemic ulcers of the limbs. In those years, Chinese scholars also developed some special treatment methods and made many modifications to Ilizarov external fixators.Conclusion: Ilizarov technology has developed in China for 31 years. It revolutionized the treatment of complex limb traumas, deformities, and diseases. In the treatment of millions of patients, Chinese scholars had many unique experiences and made modifications to this technology which is worthy to share with the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study mainly focuses on the risk assessment of public–private partnership (PPP) projects. Evaluating the risks of PPP projects precisely is critical to their successful implementation. However, the traditional approaches often lack mechanisms in manipulating imprecise and vague information, and they need auxiliary information or pre-assumptions (e.g., preset fuzzy membership functions). To solve this problem, an integrated method for evaluating risks in public–private partnership projects is proposed. This method is based on the strength of the group analytic hierarchy process (GAHP), rough set theory, and cloud model theory. The proposed approach integrates the strength of rough set theory in coping with vagueness of the information from experts' assessments without much pre-assumptions, the advantage of cloud model theory in investigating the randomness of experts' judgments, and the merit of the AHP method in evaluation under multiple criteria and complex situation. Finally, an application in a PPP project in Wuhu, China, is provided to show the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method. The proposed approach is effective in modeling hierarchy assessment as well as dealing with vagueness and randomness, and it can help managers to make reasonable and effective decisions in risk management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • PDMS shell graft on PAN nanofiber core for heterogeneous nanofibrous membranes. • The aggregation-release demulsification process for stable emulsion separation. • Both purified water and aggregated oil phase could be recovered from the permeates. Efficient oil/water recovery from emulsions is a challenging task for membrane separation in terms of perm-selectivity and long-term stability. Oil fouling on membrane surface and intrapore disables the efficient recovery of water and oil, limited by size exclusion. Herein, this work proposes an aggregation-release demulsification mechanism to address the fouling issue and achieve efficient oil and water recovery, respectively. Specifically, an ultra-thin sub-10 nm polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) shell layer was constructed on a hydrophilic polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiber core surface through the hydrolysis and condensation between vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES) and dimethoxydimethylsilane (DMS). The aggregation-release demulsification process on the lipophilic and slippery PDMS surface could be proposed as, oil droplet adsorption, spread out, aggregation and slippery, which vacates the membrane pore space and makes way for water flow. Thus, both purified water and aggregated oil phase could be easily recovered from the permeates. The prepared membrane enabled continuous operation without cleaning. The membrane shows high water permeance (2800 L m-2h−1 bar−1), high emulsion treatment capacity (8000 mL), and high oil (∼85 %) and water (nearly 100 %) recovery. The strategy reported in the current study might offer an opportunity for advancing practical applications of membrane separation for valuable oil products from emulsions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]