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[Display omitted] • Calculation-guided structure optimization was used to redesign Lns/Ans separation ligand. • Phenanthroline diamide ligands were prepared to reduce the rotation barriers for coordination. • Record high separation factors of SF Eu(III)/Am(III) were reported in n -octanol in high acidity. • Well-balanced extraction/stripping/recycling were demonstrated. Liquid-liquid extraction is the most wildly adopted industrial Lns/Ans separation approach which takes advantages of the subtle atomic size differences for Lns and Ans. Preorganized ligand architecture with coordination configuration locking strategy has been proven to be very efficient to enhance the separation factors by size exclusive effect from the preset ligand cavity while drawbacks such as sophisticated ligand synthesis, unbalanced extraction/stripping performances and limited solubility in environmental benign solvents prevent the economic practicability. In the current contribution, calculation-guided ligand structure optimization was utilized to optimize the hard/soft tetradentate phenanthroline diamide ligands. Reducing the number of alkyl chains around the binding sites from amide to imide led to less rotation energy barriers, eventually boosted both metal distributions and separation factors. Additionally, the formation of hydrogen bonds in the imine ligands enhanced their solubility in industrial-friendly solvent, such as n -octanol, leading to superior extraction performances. Finally, balanced extraction, stripping and recycling of the reported ligands were demonstrated to unravel the potential to be integrated into current industrial plants. The ligand design philosophy as discussed in this work could inspire the searching for new environment-friendly high-performance lipophilic ligand to close the current nuclear fuel cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An in situ reversible assembly strategy is demonstrated for the fabrication of p-n heterojunctions in BiOI/Bi 5 O 7 I composites. This approach allows for the generation of ample interfacial interactions and built-in electric field, resulting in a strong driving force for effective charge separation. These advantages drastically enhance the photocatalytic activity of BiOI/Bi 5 O 7 I composites towards efficient CO 2 reduction and pollutants degradation using visible light. [Display omitted] • In-situ reversible assembly strategy to fabricate BiOI/Bi 5 O 7 I p–n heterojunctions. • BiOI/Bi 5 O 7 I p–n heterojunctions provide ample interfacial interaction. • These advantages enable efficient visible-light photocatalysis for CO 2 reduction. • Theoretical and experimental studies reveal insights on interfacial charge transfer. Constructing efficient p-n heterojunctions holds great potential in the realm of photocatalysis for promoting the sustainable development of the environment and energy industries. However, traditional p-n heterojunctions suffer from limited interfacial interaction which severely restricts the effectiveness of the built-in electric field in boosting charge separation. Herein, we present an in situ reversible assembly approach to fabricate functional p-n junction in BiOI/Bi 5 O 7 I composites at room temperature. By controlling the reaction time or the amount of KI precursor added, we attain the as-designed BiOI@Bi 5 O 7 I and Bi 5 O 7 I@BiOI heterojunctions with large specific surface area and ample interfacial electric field. Subsequent application of the optimized heterojunction material as visible-light photocatalyst achieves efficient photoreduction of CO 2 reactant into CO product (0.46 μmol g−1h−1), even without using any sacrificial agent in the gas–solid reaction system. This catalytic performance is notably ∼ 6.6 times and 15.3 times higher than that of standalone BiOI and Bi 5 O 7 I materials, respectively. In situ XPS, in situ Kelvin probe force microscopy, and theoretical calculations reveal that the built-in electric field induces directional charge transfer to greatly boosts the efficiency of separating photogenerated electron-hole pairs at the interface of BiOI and Bi 5 O 7 I. This study provides valuable insights for the rational design and straightforward fabrication of next-generation, integrated heterostructured photoelectronic materials for efficient energy, environmental, and chemical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A numerical model is proposed to predict the ultimate uplift capacity of the anchoring rod of the anchoring devices. • The geomaterial behavior and the ultimate uplift capacity under the microgravity environment are analyzed by DEM simulation. • Calibration experiments calibrate the parameters of three typical geomaterials. • The distribution of loaded particle forces in the geomaterials under various anchoring conditions is compared and analyzed. • The error between the numerical model prediction results and the DEM simulation results is less than 5%. Due to the microgravity environment on the asteroid surface, the asteroid probe can not stay on the asteroid surface for a long time for in situ exploration. Therefore, an anchoring device is required to provide enough ultimate uplift capacity to hold the asteroid probe on the asteroid's surface. In this work, based on the circular arc failure surface hypothesis, a numerical model is proposed to predict the ultimate uplift capacity of the anchor rod of the anchoring devices during the anchoring process. The discrete element method (DEM) simulation is adopted to calculate the ultimate uplift capacity and analyze the geomaterial behavior. To accurately simulate material properties, the parameters of three typical geomaterials are calibrated by the calibration tests. The anchoring experiment verifies the DEM simulation results, and the error between the anchoring experiment results and DEM simulation results is less than 14%. The distribution of loaded particle forces in the geomaterials under various anchoring angles(30°–60°) and the anchoring depths(20 mm–40 mm) in the simulation are compared and analyzed. Compared with the DEM simulation results, the ultimate uplift capacity's numerical model prediction results have an error of 5%. This work provides a new approach to predict the ultimate uplift capacity of the anchor rod of the anchoring devices during the asteroid exploration process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stable operation of electronic devices requires flexible and thermally conductive graphite film (GF) to spread the locally generated heat in devices. However, the tedious and harsh production procedure, high cost, and brittle nature of commercially available GF derived from polyimide (PI) limited its further applications. Here, we used graphene sheets as a template to induce graphitization of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) in confined 2D space, and thereby generated high crystalline GF. The obtained flexible GF showed a high in-plane thermal conductivity (K) of 1282 W m−1 K−1 and conductivity (σ) of 9.94 × 105 S m−1. The K is 7.3 times than that of pure PAN-derived film, and even higher than pure graphene film (1201 W m−1 K−1). Besides, it is easy to produce thick GF (80 μm), which is difficult to achieve in conventional artificial GF. Our work promises low-cost and easy preparation of high-quality GFs from non-graphitizable synthetic and natural macromolecules with the aid of graphene template structure-directing effect. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kidney fibrosis is a histological hallmark of chronic kidney disease (CKD), where hyperuricemia is a key independent risk factor. Considerable evidence indicated that STAT3 is one of the crucial signaling pathways in the progression of kidney fibrosis. Here, we investigated that pharmacological blockade of STAT3 delayed the progression of renal fibrosis in hyperuricemia-induced CKD. In the study, we used the mixture of adenine and potassium oxonate to perform kidney injury and fibrosis in hyperuricemic mice, accompanied by STAT3 activation in tubular and interstitial cells. Treatment with STAT3 inhibitor S3I-201 improved renal dysfunction, reduced serum uric acid level, and delayed the progression of kidney fibrosis. Furthermore, S3I-201 could suppress fibrotic signaling pathway of TGF-β/Smads, JAK/STAT and NF-κB, as well as inhibit the expression of multiple profibrogenic cytokines/chemokines in the kidneys of hyperuricemic mice. These data suggested that STAT3 inhibition was a potent anti-fibrotic strategy in hyperuricemia-related CKD. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Hyper-NA ArF (193nm) immersion lithography is one of the most potential technologies to achieve 32nm critical dimension node. At the corresponding large angles in the photoresist, control of polarization becomes necessary. A polarization beam splitter (PBS) based on a subwavelength dielectric grating has been designed for use with 193nm light. The polarization-selective property of such grating is explained by the mechanism of mode interference. The designed grating working as a 1×2 beam splitter can transmit TM wave (∼90%) to the zeroth order with extinction ratio of 753, and it diffracts TE wave (∼80%) to the −1st order with extinction ratio of 300. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The parameters calculation for the modified Debye model in the electromagnetic finite difference time domain (FDTD) method is discussed. Validation for the selected parameters is done comparing the FDTD results with the Mie analytical solutions of a gold nanometer sphere under an optical plane wave incidence. Good agreement with an average relative error 6.7% has been demonstrated as to total electrical field amplitudes on the surface of the gold sphere. It indicates FDTD could be adopted in the optical region for a material even with a negative real relative permittivity particularly as metals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Single-crystal MnOOH microrods were prepared hydrothermally by reducing KMnO4 with NH4Cl at 150°C for 24h. After the subsequent heat treatment of the as-prepared MnOOH microrods at 350°C for 10h in air, single-crystal beta-MnO2 microrods were obtained, which retained the similar morphologies of MnOOH microrods. The products were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The influences of different reductants, the molar ratio between reaction materials, and temperature on the morphology and phase of the final products under hydrothermal conditions are discussed. The reaction temperature and reductant NH4Cl were crucial factors for the formation and morphologies of MnOOH microrods. Based on the experimental results and MnOOH crystal structure, a possible formation mechanism has been proposed on the growth of MnOOH microrods. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Investigation shows that concrete corrosion is a common problem for ocean reinforced concrete (R.C.) structures along China’s coast. A discussion of the corrosion characteristics, based on real project cases and field surveys, is presented in this paper. These factors that might affect corrosion, such as environmental effects, construction quality, cover thickness, property of the concrete material and structure type, are evaluated. Based on the analysis of these corrosion characteristics and affecting factors, the approaches available to improve the durability of ocean R.C. structures are proposed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Schematic diagram of Fabp4 in toxin induced nephropathy. Fabp4 regulated Pparγ and the phosphorylation of P65 and Stat3 to promote inflammation in toxin induced kidney injury and early fibrosis. [Display omitted] • Fabp4, highly expressed in kidney epithelia cells, is involved in toxins induced nephropathy; • Fabp4 inhibition reduced inflammation and early fibrosis in toxins induced kidney injury; • Fabp4 inhibition improved kidney injury via NF-κB and Stat3-mediated Pparγ activity; • Fabp4 might be a promising target for the treatment of toxins induced nephropathy; Considerable data have suggested that acute kidney injury (AKI) is often incompletely repaired and could lead to chronic kidney disease (CKD). As we known, toxin-induced nephropathy triggers the rapid production of proinflammatory mediators and the prolonged inflammation allows the injured kidneys to develop interstitial fibrosis. In our previous study, fatty acid-binding protein 4 (Fabp4) has been reported to be involved in the process of AKI. However, whether Fabp4 plays crucial roles in toxin-induced kidney injury remained unclear. To explore the effect and mechanism of Fabp4 on toxin induced kidney injury, folic acid (FA) and aristolochic acid (AA) animal models were used. Both FA and AA injected mice developed severe renal dysfunction and dramatically inflammatory response (IL-6, MCP1 and TNF-a), which further lead to early fibrosis confirmed by the accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins (α-Sma, Fn, Col1 and Col4). Importantly, we found that FA and AA induced-kidney injury triggered the high expression of Fabp4 mRNA/protein in tubular epithelial cells. Furthermore, pharmacological and genetic inhibition of Fabp4 significantly attenuated FA and AA induced renal dysfunction, pathological damage, and early fibrosis via the regulation of inflammation, which is mediated by suppressing p-p65/p-stat3 expression via enhancing Pparγ activity. In summary, Fabp4 in tubular epithelial cells exerted the deleterious effects during the recovery of FA and AA induced kidney injury and the inhibition of Fabp4 might be an effective therapeutic strategy against the progressive AKI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) was developed based on a well-designed Fe 3 O 4 -NH 2 @g-C 3 N 4 nanocomposite as sorbent for a mixture of six benzophenones (BPs) in environmental water samples. The composite fabricated via in-situ self-assembled g-C 3 N 4 shell with homogeneous polymerization of cyanuric chloride and cyanuric acid on Fe 3 O 4 -NH 2 core. While high adsorption capacity was derived from g-C 3 N 4 via hydrophobic, π-π and hydrogen bonding interactions to the targets, the fast magnetic separation was realized with Fe 3 O 4 core for less solvent consumption. In combination with LC-MS/MS, the Fe 3 O 4 -NH 2 @g-C 3 N 4 sorbent minimized the interfering components, reduced the matrix effects, and provided the enrichment factors of 121–150 for six BPs with relative standard deviations ≤ 9.7% even after 20 times extraction-desorption cycles. The present method gave the detection limits of 0.3–2.5 ng/L for six BPs with the linear ranges of 1.0–2000 ng/L, and the recoveries of 84.6%−104% in sea water and 86.2%−107% in lake water samples. Thus, the Fe 3 O 4 -NH 2 @g-C 3 N 4 -based MSPE coupled with LC-MS/MS method provided a convenient, efficient, and reliable alternative to monitor trace BPs in environmental water samples. [Display omitted] • Core-shell Fe 3 O 4 -NH 2 @g-C 3 N 4 was prepared via in-situ self-assembled growth. • The sorbent was applied for simple and effective MSPE of BPs in environmental water. • The method offered EFs of 121–150 and 20 cycles of extraction with RSD ≤ 9.7%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The target of this study is to gain a deeper understanding of the micro-dissolution process of cellulose in alkaline aqueous solutions and to develop a novel method for extracting cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs). Herein, the dissolution process of cellulose in alkaline aqueous solutions will be controlled by varying the temperature, and the undissolved cellulose will be analyzed to reveal the microscopic dissolution process of cellulose, and a novel process for extracting cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) will be developed based on the findings. The crystalline structure of cellulose was gradually disrupted as the dissolution progressed, and the crystal form of cellulose changed gradually from cellulose I to cellulose II during the dissolution process, while all undissolved cellulose crystals remained as cellulose I. Cellulose, after its structure is disrupted during the dissolution process, will inevitably decompose into CNFs, and the microscopic dissolution process of cellulose follows a "top-down" dissolution sequence. The CNFs extraction method developed in this study can extract CNFs with high yield (>60 %) in a stable manner, as well as narrow particle size distribution, high crystallinity (>77 %), and good thermal stability. This study enhances the comprehension of the dissolution process of cellulose and paves a possible way for industrialization of CNFs production. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asteroid anchoring is the premise for the spacecraft to conduct in-situ scientific exploration on the surface of a weak gravitational asteroid. There is not any precedent for successful anchoring on the asteroid surface all over the world. Ultrasonic drill actuated by the piezoelectric ceramic is especially suitable for drilling on the surface of a weak gravitational asteroid, showing outstanding advantages such as low power consumption, low required drilling pressure and wide temperature range. In order to solve the technical problem of anchoring, a novel anchoring device based on multiple ultrasonic drill cross-drilling geometric force closure is proposed. Firstly, the structure and working principle of the anchoring device are introduced. Then the EDEM software based on the Discrete Element Method is used to simulate the influencing factors of the anchoring force. Finally, the effectiveness of the anchoring device is proved by experiments. The results show that the ultrasonic drill is effective for the anchoring device; the anchoring device can provide an anchoring force of 60–250 N for the spacecraft; its structure is simple, compact and adaptable. • This paper focuses on the method of long-term anchoring of the spacecraft on the asteroid surface. • A novel anchoring device based on multiple ultrasonic drill cross-drilling geometric force closure is proposed. • EDEM model is built to predict the influencing factors of the anchoring force. • A testbed is established to measure the effect of media with various compressive strengths on the anchoring force. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Processing solvated graphene by ink printing technique holds exciting prospective in fabricating macroscopic carbonaceous materials with designed structures and outstanding properties. Direct ink writing has been utilized for highly porous graphene aerogels for multifunctional uses. However, densified graphene solid materials have kept unreached by 3D printing for the conflict between high concentration and good homogeneousness of printing ink. Here, we have fabricated high density compact graphene microlattices (CGM) with ordered structure via liquid crystalline (LC) direct ink writing. Concentrated but homogeneous graphene oxide/glycerol inks were prepared, reaching a solid containing up to ∼6 wt% and possessing LC nature. The flow unified LC order of inks renders highly ordered micro-structure of CGM, outstanding compressive strength (62.7 MPa at 90% strain) and high electrical conductivity of 2073 S m−1. Our CGM also exhibit an impressive elasticity up to 15–18% strain. Our facile methodology has introduced a graphene solid architecture material with high mechanical properties and multi functionalities, which should become a useful engineered carbon scaffolds with designed multiscale structures, mechanical and functional properties. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The AA6061 and Ti6Al4V plates were joined by atomic diffusion and interfacial reactions. Layers of solid solution and intermetallic compound were both formed at the interface, and the interface thickness increased as the heat input increased. The intermetallic compound layer was found to be mainly composed of TiAl 3. The shear strength of the friction stir lap AA6061-Ti6Al4V welds was found determined by the interfacial microstructure. The shear performance was promoted initially with the increase of interface thickness due to the formation of intermetallic compound. The maximum shear load of 4500 N was reached with a 7.5-μm-thick interface. When the thickness of interface further increased, the maximum shear load was found to decrease again because of the exorbitant residual stresses induced by the excessive intermetallic compounds. The fracture of the joints started with the micro-cracks formed at the intermetallic compounds and then leads to break during tensile shear test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Image shadow detection and removal can effectively recover image information lost in the image due to the existence of shadows, which helps improve the accuracy of object detection, segmentation and tracking. Thus, aiming at the problem of the scale of the shadow in the image, and the inconsistency of the shadowed area with the original non-shadowed area after the shadow is removed, the multi-scale and global feature (MSGF) is used in the proposed method, combined with the non-local network and dense dilated convolution pyramid pooling network. Besides, aiming at the problem of inaccurate detection of weak shadows and complicated shape shadows in existing methods, the direction feature (DF) module is adopted to enhance the features of the shadow areas, thereby improving shadow segmentation accuracy. Based on the above two methods, an end-to-end shadow detection and removal network SDRNet is proposed. SDRNet completes the task of sharing two feature heights in a unified network without adding additional calculations. Experimental results on the two public datasets ISDT and SBU demonstrate that the proposed method achieves more than 10% improvement in the BER index for shadow detection and the RMSE index for shadow removal, which proves that the proposed SDRNet based on the MSGF module and DF module can achieve the best results compared with other existing methods. • SDRNet can complete the shadow detection and removal tasks in a unified network. • SDRNet highly shares features and have no additional computational complexity. • A multi-scale global feature module is used to solve shadow area problems. • Shadow segmentation accuracy can be improved by using the image direction feature. • Superior performance can be achieved in both shadow detection and removal tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is sometimes difficult to distinguish primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) from other malignant brain tumors effectively. The study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of arterial spin labeling (ASL) and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-derived permeability parameters to differentiate PCNSL from high-grade glioma (HGG) and brain metastasis.Materials and Methods: Eight patients with PCNSL, twenty one patients with HGG and six brain metastasis underwent preoperative 3.0-T MR imaging including conventional, ASL and DCE. Quantitative parameters including relative cerebral blood flow (rCBF), extravascular extracellular volume fraction (Ve) and the volume transfer constant (Ktrans) among PCNSL, HGG and metastasis were compared with a one-way analysis of variance. In addition, the area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) was constructed to evaluate the differentiation diagnostic performance of each parameter and the combination.Results: The PCNSL demonstrated significantly lower rCBF, higher Ktrans and Ve compared with HGG and metastasis. For the ROC analyses, both Ktrans and rCBF had good diagnostic performance for discriminating PCNSL from HGG and metastasis, with the AUC of 0.880 and 0.889. With the combination of rCBF and Ktrans, the diagnostic ability for PCNSL was improved with AUC of 0.986.Conclusion: rCBF and Ktrans are useful parameters for differentiating PCNSL from HGG and brain metastasis. The combination of rCBF and Ktrans further helps to improve the diagnostic performance of PCNSL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Accumulating evidences indicated that hyperuricemia was an independent risk factor for kidney diseases and contributed to kidney fibrosis. Preventing and treating renal fibrosis was an optimal treatment for hyperuricemia-induced kidney diseases. In the study, pterostilbene (PTE) as a bioactive component of blueberries was confirmed to possess lowering serum uric acid and renal protective functions by the decrease of serum creatinine, BUN, urine albumin, and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) in a mouse model of hyperuricemic nephropathy (HN). Importantly, PTE treatment remarkably alleviated renal fibrosis of HN mice indicated by the downregulation of fibronectin, collagen I and α-SMA production. Furthermore, PTE could suppress the fibrosis-related protein expressions of TGF-β1/Smad3, Src and STAT3 in the kidneys of HN mice. In conclusion, PTE suppressed the activation of TGF-β1/Smad3, Src and STAT3 signaling pathway to alleviate renal fibrosis of HN mice, highlighting that PTE was a potential antifibrotic strategy for hyperuricemic nephropathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Abstract Bamboo is readily infected with fungi because of its abundant sugar, starch and protein content, which greatly restricts its utilization. To develop a highly effective environmentally sound antifungal agent for bamboo, flower-like ZnO microstructures supported on TiO 2 thin films have been synthesized on bamboo surfaces by a facile two-step low-temperature hydrothermal method. According to the results of various analytical techniques, including X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared–attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, the bamboo substrate combined with anatase TiO 2 by a hydrogen bonding or ligand exchange reaction between F― and –OH. The F― ions on the TiO 2 surface combined with [Zn(NH 3 ) 4 ]2+ via electrostatic adsorption, contributing to the formation of a flower-like ZnO microstructure, and were then deposited on the TiO 2 thin films. Moreover, the antifungal activities of the samples against a hybrid fungi group consisting of Trichoderma viride Pers. ex Fr ( T. viride ), Penicillium citrinum Thom ( P. citrinum ), and Aspergillus niger v. Tiegh ( A. niger ) were investigated during a three-month period under dark conditions. The results showed that pure TiO 2 thin films coated on bamboo presented better antifungal activities, with a 21-day inhibition, than that of the pristine bamboo, with a 5-day inhibition. The flower-like ZnO microstructures supported on the TiO 2 thin films bamboo exhibited effective antifungal capability, with a 90-day inhibition. The efficient antifungal behavior is due to the increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from the coatings by a possible synergistic effect between the ZnO and TiO 2 nanoparticles in attacking fungi and causing their death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A calculation method of the force space for coupling-input CDPRs is proposed. • The boundary equations of the force space are derived. • The Chebyshev center of the force space is analyzed. • Two load capacity indices are proposed to optimize a coupling-input CDPR. CDPRs (cable-driven parallel robots) with passive limbs are characterized by simplicity of construction and ease of control due to the reduction in the number of cables. However, the limited carrying capacity of passive limbs containing springs has an important impact on the load capacity of CDPRs. To design a CDPR with a good load capacity, an optimization design based on the force space index is carried out in this paper. First, we present an accurate calculation method of the force space for coupling-input CDPRs with passive limbs and derive the force space boundary equations. Subsequently, the Chebyshev center of the force space is defined, and its calculation method is presented. Then, we establish two load-capacity indices to optimize the design parameters of a 3-DOF (degree of freedom) coupling-input CDPR. Finally, it is shown that the isotropic load capacity of a 3-DOF coupling-input CDPR is better when Chebyshev center of the force space is closer to the force origin (origin of the force coordinate system). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals the immune microenvironment of pregnant women with HBV infection. • Inflammatory state of CD4+ T cells and cytotoxic characteristics of CD8+ T cells increase. • Monocytes showed a tendency for M1 polarization. • Cytotoxicity of NK cells was enhanced. Mother-to-child is the main route of the transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Tenofovir fumarate (TDF) antiviral treatment has become the most extensive choice worldwide. However, the effects of TDF treatment on the immune function of pregnant women remains unclear. Here we investigate the effect of TDF treatment on the immune microenvironment of pregnant women with HBV infection using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). Three HBV-infected pregnant women were treated with TDF and six samples were collected before and after the treatment. In total, 68,200 peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were extracted for 10 × scRNA-seq. The cells were clustered using t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) and unbiased computational informatics analysis. The analysis identified four-cell subtypes, including T cells, monocytes, natural killer (NK) cells, and B cells, and unraveled the developmental trajectory and maturation of CD4+ T and CD8+ T cell subtypes. The cellular state and molecular features of the effector/memory T cells revealed a significant increase in the inflammatory state of CD4+ T cells and the cytotoxic characteristics of CD8+ T cells. Additionally, after TDF treatment, the monocytes showed a tendency for M1 polarization, and the cytotoxicity of NK cells was enhanced. Furthermore, the analysis of intercellular communication revealed the interaction of various subtypes of cells and the heterogeneous expression of key signal pathways. The findings of this study reveal significant differences in cellular subtypes and molecular characteristics of PBMCs of pregnant women with HBV infection before and after TDF treatment and demonstrate the recovery of immune response after treatment. These findings could help develop immune intervention measures to control HBV during pregnancy and the puerperium period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micro/nanoscale Mg-MOF-74 materials with different morphologies and sizes have been fabricated in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) by adjusting the amount of aqueous ammonia and reaction temperature. The obtained samples were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and it was found that the Mg-MOF-74 particles show morphology and size dependent adsorption properties. The selectivity factors of the Mg-MOF-74 particles at 273 K were calculated based on the experimental single-component isotherms by ideal adsorbed solution theory (IAST). The results indicate that the Mg-MOF-74 particles have intrinsic high selectivity for adsorption of CO 2 over CH 4 and N 2 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The target of this work is to measure and correlate the solubility of Raspberry Ketone, and obtain the thermodynamic parameters simultaneously. In this study, the solubility of Raspberry Ketone in nine mono-solvents, including ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-butanol, acetic acid, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, acetone, and binary mixtures of ethanol + acetone (the mass fraction of ethanol varied from 0.1 to 0.9, in intervals of 0.1) was measured at (293.15 to 333.15) K in atmospheric pressure by shake-flask method. The solubility of Raspberry Ketone both in mono- solvents and mixtures increased as the temperature increased. The deliquescent rules can be acquired by using modified Apelblat equation, van't Hoff equation, λh equation, Wilson model, Non-Random Two Liquid (NRTL) model, Universal Quasi–Chemical (UNIQUAC) Model and modified Jouyban-Acree model. The experimental data show highly conformance with the calculated data which obtain from all the selected models. Consequently, the solubility results of this study would be useful in purification, crystallization, recrystallization and a new synthetic route design of Raspberry Ketone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A composite multiple-model approach based on multivariate Gaussian process regression (MGPR) with correlated noises is proposed in this paper. In complex industrial processes, observation noises of multiple response variables can be correlated with each other and process is nonlinear. In order to model the multivariate nonlinear processes with correlated noises, a dependent multivariate Gaussian process regression (DMGPR) model is developed in this paper. The covariance functions of this DMGPR model are formulated by considering the “between-data” correlation, the “between-output” correlation, and the correlation between noise variables. Further, owing to the complexity of nonlinear systems as well as possible multiple-mode operation of the industrial processes, to improve the performance of the proposed DMGPR model, this paper proposes a composite multiple-model DMGPR approach based on the Gaussian Mixture Model algorithm (GMM-DMGPR). The proposed modelling approach utilizes the weights of all the samples belonging to each sub-DMGPR model which are evaluated by utilizing the GMM algorithm when estimating model parameters through expectation and maximization (EM) algorithm. The effectiveness of the proposed GMM-DMGPR approach is demonstrated by two numerical examples and a three-level drawing process of Carbon fiber production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A serious of novel and stable BiFeO 3 /α-Fe 2 O 3 type-Ⅱ heterojunction photocatalysts with different weight contents of α-Fe 2 O 3 were prepared just by a facile one step grinding method. XRD, TEM, SEM, XPS, UV–vis, and photoluminescence spectra, etc. were used to analyze the structure, surface state, optical properties, and interfacial interactions of the as-prepared catalysts. The results showed that type-Ⅱ heterojunction were successfully formed by this one step grinding method at the interface between BiFeO 3 and α-Fe 2 O 3 , and thus the transformation of the photogenerated electrons, separation of the photogenerated electron-hole pairs and visible-light absorption were enhanced. Among them, BiFeO 3 /α-Fe 2 O 3 -30% composite exhibits the optimal activity, there is 85.87% of phenol degraded under simulated solar irradiation after 2 h, which is 1.97 times of single α-Fe 2 O 3 and 4.23 times of single BiFeO 3 , respectively. Besides, the BiFeO 3 /α-Fe 2 O 3 -30% heterojunction composite also keeps an excellent catalytic performance after 3 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs) are one of the cardinal symptoms of schizophrenia (SZ). Cerebral dysfunction may represent pathophysiological underpinnings behind AVHs in SZ. However, regional and network functional deficits for AVHs in SZ remain to be identified. Methods: Seventeen medication-naïve first-episode SZ patients with AVHs, 15 without AVHs, and 19 healthy controls (HCs) were studied using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. We compared the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) among these subjects. Areas with both ALFF and ReHo alterations were used as seeds in functional connectivity (FC) analysis. Then we performed correlation analysis between image measures and symptoms and receiver operating characteristic analysis. Results: One-way analysis of variance showed significant differences of ALFF and ReHo in the bilateral putamen, thereby being used as seeds. SZ patients with AVHs showed decreased ALFF in the left putamen, increased ReHo in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and increased right putamen-seeded FC with the left DLPFC and Broca's area relative to those without AVHs. Furthermore, the increased strength of the connectivity between the right putamen and left Broca's area correlated with the severity of SZ symptoms. Both patient groups demonstrated hypoconnectivity within frontal/parietal/temporal cortico-striatal-cerebellar networks compared with HCs. Conclusion: AVHs in SZ may be caused by abnormal regional function in the putamen and prefrontal cortex, as well as hyperconnectivity between them. The putamen-related regional and network functional deficits may reflect imbalance in neuromodulation of AVHs in SZ. Furthermore, dysconnectivity within cortico-striatal-cerebellar networks might subserve the pathogenesis of SZ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leaching mechanism of the spent SCR catalyst was investigated by a combination of density functional theory (DFT) calculations and experiments. The models of surface clusters were created. The interaction between the surface clusters and the leaching agents of NaOH, H 2 SO 4 , HCl and HNO 3 was investigated by electrostatic potential, adsorption energy, PDOS and Mayer population, and corresponding experiments were carried out. The results showed that Acid reacts with O and alkali reacts with V and W during leaching. Alkali shows better leaching ability than acid for SCR catalyst. [Display omitted] • The DFT calculation of spent SCR catalyst leaching process was carried out. • The leaching mechanism and effect of different leaching agents are revealed. • Acid reacts with O and alkali reacts with V and W during leaching. • Alkali shows better leaching ability than acid for spent SCR catalyst. The leaching mechanism of the spent selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst was investigated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations and experiments. Three models, namely V 2 O 5 /TiO 2 , WO 3 -V 2 O 5 /TiO 2 , and WO 3 /TiO 2 , were created to simulate the spent SCR catalyst. Interaction between the surface clusters and the leaching agents of NaOH, H 2 SO 4 , HCl and HNO 3 was investigated by DFT calculations. The adsorption site was determined through electrostatic potential and adsorption energy. The calculations showed that NaOH tended to be adsorbed on V and W atoms. H 2 SO 4 , HCl and HNO 3 tended to be adsorbed on specific O atoms. H 2 SO 4 dissociated on all three models, HCl dissociated on V 2 O 5 /TiO 2 and WO 3 -V 2 O 5 /TiO 2 , while HNO 3 dissociated only on V 2 O 5 /TiO 2. The order of leaching ability among leaching agents was NaOH > H 2 SO 4 > HCl > HNO 3. Experiments showed that the leaching ratios of V and W in NaOH solution were 82.4% and 54.3%. In acid solution, the leaching ratio of V was 69.0% for H 2 SO 4 , 52.5% for HCl, and 42.2% for HNO 3 , while W was hardly leached out. After acid leaching, the change in the TiO 2 lattice parameter was greater than that after alkaline leaching. The experimental results were found to be consistent with the calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A tensegrity leg combining tensegrity structure with rigid mechanism is developed. • Force-workspace is proposed to reveal the unique force characteristics of legs. • A tensegrity quadruped robot is found to have a large load-weight ratio. • A tensegrity quadruped robot can adapt to terrains by dynamic-morphology ability. Tensegrity robots, which are famous for their lightweight and capability of sustaining massive loads, have unique potential applications in task execution in complex environments. In this paper, a quadruped robot with tensegrity legs is proposed. By combining the tensegrity structure with a rigid mechanism, a 3-DOF tensegrity leg is developed. Necessary theoretical basis of the tensegrity leg including kinematics, statics, force space and force-workspace have been derived and proposed for design and control. A quadruped prototype based on tensegrity legs is manufactured and shows unique walking ability in different morphologies. The high load performance and terrain adaptability based on dynamic morphologies of the quadruped robot is verified by experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extensive use of antibiotics causes drug resistance, which slows the healing process in wound infections and this calls for an urgent response to the development of novel therapeutic approaches. However, it is challenging to develop materials with intrinsic and effective antibacterial properties for enhanced wound healing. Here, a highly efficient, bacteria-responsive and controlled-release silver ion coating was constructed by the assembly of quaternized chitosan (QCS), tannic acid (TA), and silver ions using the layer-by-layer method. The coating platform exhibited a distinct "self-defense" behavior triggered by acidification and good antibacterial activity against both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, which was further enhanced by the positively charged groups of QCS and the release of silver ions. Moreover, the coatings exhibited excellent biocompatibility, highlighted by promoting both fibroblast and endothelial cell proliferation, supporting fibroblast migration, suppressing macrophage activation, and modulating inflammatory cytokine release. Notably, animal experimental results further revealed that the coatings terminated bleeding, inhibited bacterial growth and accelerated healing at the wound site. Collectively, the coatings showed outstanding hemostatic performance and antimicrobial activity as well as improved wound healing process, which might be as a promising wound treatment platform. [Display omitted] • The coating has a distinct "self-defense" behavior triggered by acidification. • The positive surface charge and silver ions contribute to antibacterial properties. • The coating possesses excellent biocompatibility and anti-inflammatory properties. • The coating has outstanding hemostatic and accelerated wound healing performance. • It shows good application potential as a promising wound treatment platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • FeNi or FeCo@N-doped graphene layer core–shell heterojunctions/N-doped carbon nanorods/rGO composites were synthesized. • The filler loading and rGo could effectively adjust the permittivity. • The strong absorption was achieved of −52.61 dB and −59.42 dB. • The effective absorption bandwidths were up to 4.64 GHz and 5.28 GHz. Rational construction of heterogeneous interfaces is an effective strategy to explore high-performance electromagnetic waves (EMWs) absorption materials. Herein, we adopt a facile solvothermal and pyrolysis process to fabricate the multicomponent and multidimensional composites containing the bimetallic FeNi or FeCo@N-doped graphene layer core–shell heterojunctions/N-doped carbon nanorods/reduced graphene oxide (FeNi@NC/NCR/rGO or FeCo@NC/NCR/rGO) derived from NH 2 -bimetallic (FeNi or FeCo)-metal organic frameworks (MOFs)/GO precursors. The excellent EMWs absorption performances are effectively achieved and regulated via the content of rGO and the filler loading. Compared with the case without rGO, the FeNi@NC/NCR/rGO composite (25 wt% filler loading) displays a strong reflection loss (RL) of −52.61 dB at 14.44 GHz with a thin thickness of 1.65 mm, and effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) is 4.64 GHz. And the FeCo@NC/NCR/rGO composite (20 wt% filler loading) displays a strong RL of −59.42 dB at 17.8 GHz with a thinner thickness of 1.42 mm, and EAB is 5.28 GHz at 1.66 mm. Their excellent absorption properties result from the synergistic effect between the increased dielectric loss (interfacial polarization, dipole polarization and conduction loss), impedance matching and attenuation constant. These results provide a pathway to prepare the multicomponent and multidimensional composites with superior EMWs absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Two EDTA derivatives were synthesized to enhance the selectivity of chelators. [•] PDTA had the highest stability constants for Cu2+ and Ni2+. [•] PDTA had the highest overall selectivity for trace metals over major cations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Pretreatment with electroacupuncture (EA) attenuates cerebral ischemic injury through the endocannabinoid system, although the molecular mechanisms mediate this neuroprotection are unknown. It is well-known that signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) plays an essential role in cell survival and proliferation. Therefore, we investigated whether STAT3 is involved in EA pretreatment-induced neuroprotection via cannabinoid CB1 receptors (CB1R) after transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats. Two hours after EA pretreatment, focal cerebral ischemia was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MACO) for 120min. The expression of pSTAT3(Ser727), which is necessary for STAT3 activation, was examined in the ipsilateral ischemic penumbra. Infarct volumes and neurological scores were evaluated at 72h after MACO in the presence or absence of the STAT3 inhibitor peptide (PpYLKTK). Neuronal apoptosis and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio were also evaluated 24h after reperfusion. Our results showed that EA pretreatment significantly enhanced neuronal expression of pSTAT3(Ser727) in the ischemic penumbra 6h after reperfusion. Moreover, EA pretreatment reduced infarct volume, improved neurological outcome, inhibited neuronal apoptosis and decreased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio following reperfusion. The beneficial effects of EA were attenuated by PpYLKTK administered 30min before MACO, and PpYLKTK effectively reversed the increase in pSTAT3(Ser727) expression. Furthermore, CB1R antagonist or CB1R knockdown with siRNA blocked the elevation of pSTAT3(Ser727) expression by EA pretreatment, whereas the two CB1R agonists increased STAT3 activation. In conclusion, EA pretreatment enhances STAT3 activation via CB1R to protect against cerebral ischemia, suggesting that STAT3 activation may be a novel target for stroke intervention. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • A 3D superstructure is composed of 2D MXene and 1D N-CNT derived from Ni-MOF. • The optimal RL of nanocomposite reached −57.78 dB with thickness of 1.49 mm. • Nanocomposites exhibit excellent and adjustable absorption in C and X band. • Performance enhancement is due to synergistic effect under 3D superstructure. Developing an expandable microstructure method to acquire high-performance microwave absorbers is an effective strategy to prevent electromagnetic wave radiation pollution. In this study, a three-dimensional (3D) conductive network is constructed using 1D carbon nanotubes (CNTs) derived from Ni (hollow and solid microsphere structure) metal–organic-frameworks (MOFs) and 2D Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene simultaneously to form a superstructure composite material. The results of the experiment and analysis confirm the successful synthesis of 3D superstructure composites with excellent microwave absorption (MA) properties. The optimal reflection loss (RL) is − 57.78 dB with a thickness of 1.49 mm at 8.4 GHz, and the maximum effective absorption bandwidth is 3.44 GHz for a thickness of 0.8 mm. In the unique 3D superstructure, microwave attenuation capacity and impedance matching are optimized under the synergistic effect of multiple resonances and polarization relaxation. Simultaneously, adjustable and efficient MA between the C and X bands is achieved by modulating the loading of the Ni particle hybrid. It is anticipated that this superstructure composite material can be used for a new generation of microwave absorbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel approach to prepare supramolecular high adhesion 3,5-BTP-PDMS-4 elastomer. • The 3,5-BTP-PDMS-4 obtained high adhesion force, high Young's modulus and energy-containing property. • The 3,5-BTP-PDMS-4 could complete autonomous self-healing at a low temperature of 0 °C. • The 3,5-BTP-PDMS-4 suitable for military applications. Self-healing materials are used in various applications because of their capacity to prolong the material's longevity and durability. Several important properties, including high adhesion force to various surfaces and mechanical robustness have the potential to further expand their application in various fields. In this study, we designed an energy-containing and high-adhesion elastomer (3,5-BTP-PDMS-4), which was fabricated via the click polymerization, that could self-heal at −20 °C. The prepared polymer adhesive exhibited prominent mechanical strength with a high Young's modulus of up to 17.91 MPa. The material also showed that it could autonomously and completely self-heal and restore its mechanical properties within 6 h at room temperature when the 3,5-BTP-PDMS-4 sample was cut into two separate pieces. Moreover, this material was found to possess a high adhesion force of up to 1.65 MPa on steel, which increased when the temperature was reduced. Furthermore, we prepared TATB-based PBXs using 3,5-BTP-PDMS-4 as a binder because of its energy-containing property and excellent self-healing properties to heal cracks generated during fabrication, transportation and storage. Surprisingly, the TATB-based PBXs achieved complete self-healing at 0 °C and partial self-healing at −20 °C, although the low plastic explosive crystals were detrimental to the material's self-healing properties. The successful development of a polymer adhesive that has a high-Young's modulus and can autonomously and completely self-heal could help expand its applications with enhanced versatility in several fields, including military and civil applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Essential oil profiles were obtained from four Hypericum species. • H. bellum and H. perforatum demonstrated neuroprotective activity. • H. hookerianum and H. bellum oil showed strong antibacterial activity. • H. perforatum collected in Wushan showed tyrosinase inhibition activity. • The study provided a scientific basis for future exploration of Hypericum species. St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) is a well-known medicinal plant often used to treat mild to moderate mental depression. In southwest China, four species of Hypericum including H. perforatum , H. hookerianum , H. bellum and H. pseudohenryi have been used as traditional medicines for skin care, such as healing wounds, burns, and snake bites by local people. Hypericum volatile oils of these four species were obtained by supercritical CO 2 extraction and analyzed by GC–MS. From H. perforatum , 56 compounds were identified, the amounts of marker components are different between two collection sites. From H. hookerianum , 71 compounds were identified, mainly comprised of alkanes. From H. bellum , 43 compounds were identified, and its essential oil contains mainly oxygenated sesquiterpenoids. From H. pseudohenryi , 57 compounds were identified, and the essential oil has relatively high levels of alkanes. Because Hypericum species are used traditionally to treat depression, wounds, and other skin problems, their volatile oils were evaluated in vitro for neurite outgrowth-promoting, neuroprotective, antimicrobial, and enzyme inhibitory activities. H. bellum and H. perforatum from Wushan demonstrated significant neurite-promoting and neuroprotective activity. The Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus ssp. aureus was inhibited by most of the tested oils. Sesquiterpenoids and alkanols are the most abundant constituents of H. hookerianum and H. bellum oils which showed strong antibacterial activity and help to explain the observed antimicrobial activity of the oil. H. perforatum collected in Wushan showed tyrosinase inhibition activity. Based on the current results, three Asian Hypericum species and two Chinese H. perforatum populations may be promising ingredients for cosmetics, foods, and pharmaceuticals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: To determine the immune function of Taishan Robinia pseudoacacia Polysaccharide (TRPPS) on chickens, 240 chickens were selected as experimental animals and treated with various doses of TRPPS by hypodermic injection before immunized NDV inactivated vaccine. The results indicated that any dose of TRPPS could significantly promote the development of the immune organs, increase the quantity of leukocyte and the ratio of lymphocyte, and improve the antibody titers against Newcastle disease. Meanwhile, it also increased the magnitude of SIgA in duodenum. However, the dose of 200mg/ml showed to be the most effective. Therefore, in terms of improving immunologic function and production performance, TRPPS could be used as a vaccine immunopotentiator for immune responses. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The overall process of field emission can be dominated by the contact resistance between the single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and the substrate. In order to reduce the contact resistance, we present a wet chemical process of constructing Ag–SWCNTs hybrid nanostructure. Constructing Ag–SWCNTs emitters could improve the electrical contact by increasing the contact area between SWCNTs and substrate. Contact resistance is greatly reduced compared to that of pristine SWCNTs. Field emission properties of Ag–SWCNTs hybrid emitters including current density and emitting image are remarkably improved. Field emission properties based on the modified Fowler–Nordheim (F–N) equation are discussed. Our studies show that this method can enhance the field emission properties of the SWCNTs by improving the contact resistance and is a promising way for mass production of SWCNTs for field emission display. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The fast-onset antidepressant actions of ketamine at subanaesthetic doses have attracted enormous interest in psychiatric disease treatment. However, the severe psychotomimetic side effects foster an urgent need to deeply understand the fast-onset antidepressant mechanism of ketamine. Ketamine, as a non-competitive NMDAR antagonist, increases the overall excitability of the mPFC, which is presumed to be essential for the antidepressant action of ketamine. However, the underlying mechanism is still elusive. Here, our results showed that low concentration of ketamine increased the activity and the excitatory/inhibitory ratio of pyramidal neurons; these changes were accompanied by diminished interneurons activity in the mPFC. Moreover, ketamine induced increases in excitatory transmission and antidepressant-like effects, which might rely on the functional intact of GABAergic system in the mPFC. These results suggest a critical role of the mPFC GABAergic system in the fast antidepressant effects of a subanaesthetic dose ketamine. • Ketamine increased the activity of pyramidal neurons but decreased the activity of fast-spiking interneurons in the mPFC. • Ketamine diminished presynaptic inhibitory inputs but strengthened excitatory output of pyramidal neurons in the mPFC. • Ketamine-induced antidepressant effects rely on the intact GABAergic transmission in the mPFC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal ions pollution has caused worldwide attention due to its toxicity to people's health. Existing as chromate anions, Cr(VI) is difficult to remove from polluted water. Owing to their low cost, stability, environmentally benign nature, and excellent properties, silicate materials are widely used in catalysis and adsorption. In this work, magnesium silicates with sepiolite and talc phase were synthesized through facile hydrothermal route using diatomite as substrate and silicon source. The Cr removal capacity of wire-like Mg 4 Si 6 O 15 (OH) 2 -diatomite exhibited a Cr adsorption capacity of 1292 mg/g, which was much higher than the other reported inorganic adsorbents. The adsorption followed Freundlich and Temkin models well, indicating that Cr species adsorbed onto adsorbent was a favorable, exothermic multilayer chemisorption process. The first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculation results revealed the interaction between adsorptive sites of adsorbents and Cr species, also demonstrated ion-exchange behavior between interlayer Mg ion and Cr(III). We believe these low-cost synthesized adsorbents have great potentials for practical applications in the treatment of heavy metal ions polluted wastewater. [Display omitted] • Sepiolite-D was synthesized using diatomite as silicon source and framework. • Sepiolite-D possessed a record high adsorption capacity of 1292 mg/g among all the inorganic adsorbents reported so far. • DFT calculation results demonstrated the important role of adsorptive site and ion exchange ability of adsorbents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Co3O4 crystallites with various morphologies such as urchin-like morphology, spherical morphology, quasi-cubic morphology have been selectively prepared at different synthetic conditions. The as-prepared products were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Some influencing factors including reaction temperature, reaction time, different surfactant, and cobalt source on the morphologies of the final products have been discussed. In addition, the possible formation mechanism of quasi-cubic morphology of Co3O4 crystallites is also proposed based on its crystal structure and experimental results. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Zinc sulfide hollow microspheres were synthesized via a solvothermal route. The products were characterized by the X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) techniques. The results showed that the as-prepared ZnS hollow spheres have uniform size about 2–3 μm in diameter and have been formed through the aggregation of ZnS nanocrystals. The optical property of the products was also recorded by means of photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: The low frequency of disseminated carcinoma cells in the blood now makes immunomagnetic bead sorting and reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique more popular. Methods: Three milliliters of peripheral blood were collected from 91 patients and 18 normal donors. The circulating carcinoma cells were enriched with CD45 and Ber-EP4 immunomagnetic beads. The α-fetoprotein (AFP) mRNA was amplified with nested RT-PCR. Results: The total positive detection rate was 72.1%, 43.8%, 25.0%, 100%, and 66.7% in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) untreated, liver cirrhosis (LC), hepatitis, metastasis liver cancer, and postsurgery of hepatocellular carcinoma, respectively. There was a significant difference among the patients with HCC, LC and hepatitis (HCC vs. LC, P <0.05; HCC vs. hepatitis, P <0.01) and between Class A and B of the HCC patients (P <0.05). Meanwhile, AFP mRNA was markedly expressed in HCC patients compared to the patients with no HCC (LC and hepatitis). The levels of aspartate transaminase (AST) and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) were significantly different in AFP mRNA-positive patients with autoimmune chronic active hepatitis B (CAHB) or LC in contrast to the corresponding negative patients. Conclusion: Combining negative and positive immunomagnetic bead sorting and RT-PCR technique can effectively detect circulating tumor cells. AFP mRNA is a more reliable marker of metastasis compared to serum AFP. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: By using t-Se powders and NaOH as starting materials, t-Se aligned microrod bundles, microtubes and dendrites were successfully grown through a reversible chemical reacting process under hydrothermal conditions. It is found that the quantity of MnCl2·4H2O, which served as the antalkali agent to control the reversible reaction, plays important roles in the morphology control of the final t-Se products. The possible mechanism of the formation of different morphologies was briefly discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

SiO2 thick films were quickly deposited on silicon wafers by flame hydrolysis deposition (FHD) method, followed by consolidation in electric resistance furnace at 1380 °C. The as-deposited films were confirmed to be vitreous silica by means of SEM and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The thickness of the films is up to 37 μm, and the deposition speed is as high as 8 μm min−1. The refractive index and absorbing loss (extinction coefficient) are also measured by spectroscopic ellipsometer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]