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Although high-temperature solid-phase methods have become the dominant route for manufacturing layered oxide cathode materials in industry, severe Li+/Ni2+ cation mixing problems caused by high-temperature processes still prevent the realization of high-performance lithium-ion batteries. Herein, a wet chemical lithiation method by stepwise lithium intercalation to reduce and shorten the sintering temperature and time of the post-treatment process is proposed. Li 0.6 H x Ni 0.52 Co 0.19 Mn 0.29 O 2 stepwise products with lithiation efficiencies exceeding 60% were obtained at reaction temperatures below 200 °C. The as-prepared LiNi 0.52 Co 0.19 Mn 0.29 O 2 (HT-52-S) exhibits low Li+/Ni2+ cation mixing and good comprehensive electrochemical performance after subsequent heat treatment to complete all lithiation. Compared with LiNi 0.52 Co 0.19 Mn 0.29 O 2 (SS-52) prepared by the conventional high-temperature solid-phase method, the Li+/Ni2+ cation mixing of HT-52-S was relatively reduced by 57.9%, and the capacity retention after 100 cycles at 1 C was relatively improved by 22.1%. We believe that this work can serve as a useful reference to develop manufacturing processes for high-performance layered oxide cathode materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza viruses are both highly transmissible airborne viruses and causing high morbidity and mortality. Co-infection of these two viruses results in severe disease that have been observed when influenza and SARS-CoV-2 viruses cocirculated in the past three years, and vaccination is still the effective way to prevent these two diseases. However, influenza and COVID-19 vaccines are designed and manufactured in different platforms, all the individuals will need to get two shots in order to prevent those two severe respiratory diseases. Therefore, it is urgent to develop a Flu-COVID combo vaccine to provide an efficient way for receiving immunization against those two diseases. In this study, we developed a flu-COVID combo vaccine that includes both influenza virus haemagglutinin (HA) proteins and SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) protein which formulated with AddaVax. K18-hACE-2 transgenic mice were intramuscularly vaccinated with either combo vaccine or mono Flu (HA) or COVID (S) recombinant protein vaccine in a prime-boost-boost regimen, and then were challenged with lethal doses of influenza virus or SARS-CoV-2 to evaluate vaccine efficacy. The results showed that Flu-COVID combo vaccine protected mice from both Influenza and SARS-CoV-2 challenge by preventing body weight loss and clinical signs progression. The protective immune responses elicited by Flu-COVID combo vaccine were equivalent to those elicited by mono flu or COVID recombinant protein vaccines. In conclusion, our study highlights the effectiveness of the FLU-COVID combo recombinant protein vaccine in preventing both influenza and COVID-19 infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen is a promising alternative energy source for sustainable development worldwide. Despite being the world's largest hydrogen producer, China's hydrogen energy development is uneven across regions and sectors. The lack of a comprehensive and systematic analysis makes it difficult for policymakers to identify critical areas and links for targeted action. This study aims to establish a comprehensive multi-indicator framework based on a supply-demand-policy model to rank the city's hydrogen development potential. Findings are as follows. First, demand, supply, and policy environment shape the hydrogen market. Second, the development potential of hydrogen varies considerably across regions, and regional development is dependent largely on leading cities. Third, four hydrogen development patterns have been identified: advantage-demonstration, policy-guided, market-driven, and potential-enhancing. This research provides theoretical support and practical guidance for building a hydrogen-based society and may also be applied to similar energy sources. [Display omitted] • This study offers a panorama of China's hydrogen industry. • Demand, supply, and policy environment shape China's hydrogen market. • A multi-criteria economic analysis framework is established to evaluate the potential rankings of hydrogen. • Considerable heterogeneity exists across regions and four patterns are identified. • Governments and investors should explore differentiated development plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) regulates glycolipid metabolism and insulin homeostasis and acts as a cardioprotective factor by protecting against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, hypertension, and vascular dysfunction. FGF21 has been reported to prevent Doxorubicin (Dox)-induced cardiotoxicity, and the related signaling pathway is worthy of further study. Connexin43 (Cx43) protein was reduced by Dox treatment, especially low phosphorylated form of Cx43. Thus the aim of study is to explore the protection effect of FGF21 on Dox induced cardiotoxicity by improving the expression of Cx43 and the involved signaling pathway. FGF21 inhibited apoptosis in Dox-treated mice and cardiomyocytes. FGF21 increased the levels of connexin43 phosphorylated at serine (S) 282 (p-Cx43 S282) and total Cx43 to inhibit Dox-induced apoptosis. By RNA sequencing, we found that deubiquitinase monocyte chemoattractant protein-induced protein 1 (MCPIP1) expression was increased by FGF21. We further found that FGF21 induced the phosphorylation of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1), extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (Erk1/2), and Elk. Phosphorylated Elk translocated to the nucleus and increased the expression of MCPIP1. Then, MCPIP1 bound neural precursor cell expressed developmentally downregulated protein 4 (Nedd4), an E3 ubiquitination ligase, as shown by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP), and suppressed Cx43 ubiquitination and degradation, competitively inhibiting the binding of Cx43 with Nedd4. Thus Nedd4 could not bind and ubiquitinate Cx43, leading to the up-regulation of Cx43 and phosphorylation of Cx43 at S282. FGF21 inhibited the effects of Dox on cardiomyocytes by elevating the phosphorylation of Cx43 at S282 and total Cx43 expression. This study suggests a previously unknown mechanism for the FGF21-mediated enhancement of cardiomyocyte survival and provides an effective approach to protect against the adverse cardiac effects of Dox. [Display omitted] • This study shows for the first time the protective effect of FGF21, by inhibiting Dox-induced apoptosis by increasing the levels of p-Cx43 S282 and total Cx43 through increasing MCPIP1 expression. • This study suggests a previously unknown mechanism underlying FGF21-mediated promotion of cardiomyocyte survival and provides an alternative way to protect Dox-induced cardiotoxicity. • FGF21 could be a potential protective drug against adverse cardiac effects treated with doxorubicin and MCPIP1 could be a potential therapeutic target to attenuate doxorubicin cardiotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Metal-organic framework (MOF) materials are promising precursors to transition into metal-nitrogen-carbon (M-N-C) catalysts with high catalytic performance. Pyrolysis is one of the most common ways to convert MOFs into electrically conductive MOF-derived M-N-C catalysts. General interests in using MOFs as precursors derive from changing the MOFs' porous structure into the carbonaceous frame. However, this favorable structure is not always maintained, with the reason unidentified since pyrolysis is currently still more of an empirical process. Understanding the pyrolysis processes leading to the transformation of MOFs into M-N-C catalysts is essential to broaden the development of MOF-derived catalysts. We report here complete chemical and morphological evolution and transformation of two commercial MOFs with the same sodalite topology, the ZIF-8 and ZIF-67, via series of in situ and ex situ techniques. The results reveal that the structure of the ZIF-67 collapses after the pyrolysis due to the graphitization of the carbon. Graphitization is catalyzed by the metallic cobalt particles formed when the temperature rose above 460 °C. The ZIF-8 was found to be a promising precursor material since most of the metal evaporates at the early stages and does not aggregate to form metal particles. However, the insufficient metal-N active sites and intrinsic low electrocatalysis availability of Zn limit the performance of the final catalyst. To maintain the porous structure of MOFs it is important to control the metal species and prevent them from agglomeration. Direct utilization of high-concentration MOFs as pyrolysis precursors is not recommended without rational design to inhibit agglomeration and graphitization that are undesirable for catalyst activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electric field-modulated photoluminescent (E -PL) effect has received much attention because of its potential applications in optical data storage and communication. Based on the E- induced antiferroelectric-ferroelectric (AFE-FE) phase transition, a large and reversible modulation of the PL intensity was previously realized in lanthanum-doped Pb(Zr 0.9 Ti 0.1)O 3 (PLZT) ceramics. However, such systems contain abundant leads and are thus toxic to humans and the environment. In this work, Er-doped AgNbO 3 (ANO) lead-free ceramics were prepared, and their E -PL effect was investigated. From the perspective of the crystallographic symmetry, the reversibly E -induced orthorhombic Pbcm to orthorhombic Pmc 2 1 transition results in a negative PL intensity change of 25%, which is different from the positive 30% PL modulation in the PLZT system triggered by the AFE-FE orthorhombic-rhombohedral phase transition. This symmetry-dependent negative PL modulation in ANO ceramics enriches the understanding of the E -PL effect in AFEs and provides an environmentally friendly alternative for multifunctional optoelectronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MXene exhibits excellent electromagnetic (EM) wave attenuation ability, but its high dielectric constant is prone to impedance mismatch. Usually, the introduction of other components can adjust EM parameters and improve the impedance matching of MXene. In this paper, MXene/polyaniline (PANI) composites with lots of heterogeneous interfaces were designed and prepared by electrostatic self-assembly process, and PANI was used as impedance matching modifier of MXene to adjust the impedance matching of the composites and achieve greater reflection loss. The effect of the content of PANI nanorods loaded on MXene nanosheets on the EM properties of the material was discussed in this work. The maximum reflection loss (RL max) of −60.6 dB corresponds to an effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 6.0 GHz for the composite with only 10% PANI loading, while the EAB reaches 8.64 GHz when the sample thickness is 2.3 mm. Moreover, the introduction of PANI balances the impedance matching of MXene while bridging individual MXene nanosheets to form a three-dimensional structure that increases the EM wave propagation path. The rich loss mechanisms such as interfacial polarization and dipole polarization provide effective attenuation of EM waves. This work provides a simple way to develop lightweight and broadband EM wave absorption materials. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep learning based facial landmark detection (FLD) has made rapid progress. However, the accuracy and robustness of FLD algorithms are degraded heavily when the face is subject to diverse expressions, posture deflection, partial occlusion and other uncertain circumstances. To learn more discriminative representations and reduce the negative effect caused by outliers, a stacked attention hourglass network (SAHN) is proposed for FLD, where new attention mechanism is introduced. Basically, in the design of SAHN, a spatial attention residual (SAR) unit is constructed such that relevant areas of facial landmarks are specially emphasized and essential features of different scales can be well extracted, and a channel attention branch (CAB) is introduced to better guide the next-level hourglass network for feature extraction. Due to the introduction of SAR and CAB, only two hourglass networks are stacked as the proposed SAHN with fewer parameters, which is different from traditional SHNs stacked by four hourglass networks. Furthermore, a variable robustness (VR) loss function is introduced for the training of SAHN. The robustness of the proposed model for FLD is guaranteed with the help of the VR loss by adaptively adjusting a continuous parameter. Extensive experimental results on three public datasets including 300W, WFLW and COFW confirm that our method is superior to some previous ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Fe-MOFs acted as recognizers and catalysts. • The peroxidase-mimic-like activity of Fe-MOFs was inhibited by glyphosate. • Direct detection of glyphosate by a colorimetric and fluorescence dual-mode strategy was proposed. To satisfy the public's urgent demand for food safety and protect the ecological environment, sensitive detection of glyphosate holds paramount importance. Here, we discovered that glyphosate can engage in specific interactions with iron organic frameworks (Fe-MOFs) nanozymes, enabling a selective detection of glyphosate. Based on this principle, an innovative colorimetric and fluorescent dual-mode detection approach was devised. Specifically, Fe-MOFs were synthesized at room temperature, exhibiting remarkable peroxidase-mimic activity. These nanozymes catalyze the conversion of colorless and fluorescent 3,3′,5,5′-Tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) into blue oxidized and nonfluorescent TMB (oxTMB) in the presence of H 2 O 2. However, the introduction of glyphosate disrupts this process by interacting with Fe-MOFs, significantly inhibiting the catalytic activity of Fe-MOFs through both physical (electrostatic and hydrogen bonding) and chemical interactions. This suppression further hindered the conversion of TMB to oxTMB, resulting in a reduction in absorbance and a corresponding enhancement in fluorescence. The method offers a colorimetric and fluorescence dual-mode detection capability with enhanced applicability. Notably, our approach avoids complex material modifications and is more stable and cost-effective than the traditional enzyme inhibition methods. This innovative detection technique holds immense potential for practical applications and provides a fresh perspective for the detection of pesticide residues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knitted fabrics with easily deformable loop structure have the potential in the development of shape memory polymeric composites with large recovery deformations. The knitted fabric reinforced shape memory epoxy polymer composites (SMPC) were prepared in this work. The effects of loop densities, orientations and bending radii on shape memory properties of SMPC were investigated. The shape fixity ratio and shape recovery ratio of SMPC subjected to U-shaped bending radius of 5 mm are above 98 %. The shape recovery force of SMPC can reach up to 5.9 N. The thermodynamic properties of SMP were also characterized to obtain mechanical parameters and a user-defined material subroutine (UMAT) of shape memory epoxy polymer (SMEP) was written. Based on viscoelastic theory and the multi-scale geometrical structures, the macroscopic homogeneous thermodynamic model and mesoscopic thermodynamic model of knitted fabric reinforced SMPC were established to study the macro-scale stress distribution and meso-scale deformation evolution during shape memory process, respectively. The neutral surface position of SMPC during bending deformation is offset inner. The unique anisotropic loop structure of knitted fabric determines the shape memory behavior of the SMPC. Finally, micro-CT characterizations of knitted fabric reinforced SMPC were conducted to further understand the loop deformation mechanism during shape memory process. This study will provide important theoretical and technical support for large deformation structure design and deformation prediction of smart composites. [Display omitted] • Shape recovery ratios of knitting-fabric SMPC with U-shaped bending are above 98 %. • An user-defined material subroutine of shape memory epoxy polymer was written. • Mesoscopic and macroscopic multi-scale viscoelastic models of SMPC were studied. • Micro-CT characterizations of SMPC were conducted to reveal deformation mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While it is well established that sensory cortical regions traditionally thought to be unimodal can be activated by stimuli from modalities other than the dominant one, functions of such foreign-modal activations are still not clear. Here we show that visual activations in early auditory cortex can be related to whether or not the monkeys engaged in audio-visual tasks, to the time when the monkeys reacted to the visual component of such tasks, and to the correctness of the monkeys' response to the auditory component of such tasks. These relationships between visual activations and behavior suggest that auditory cortex can be recruited for visually-guided behavior and that visual activations can prime auditory cortex such that it is prepared for processing future sounds. Our study thus provides evidence that foreign-modal activations in sensory cortex can contribute to a subject's ability to perform tasks on stimuli from foreign and dominant modalities. • Visual stimuli can activate the early auditory cortex of nonhuman primates. • Visual activations in the auditory cortex occur in different audio-visual tasks and for different visual stimuli. • Visual activations in the auditory cortex can be related to the monkeys' behavioral responses to both the visual and the auditory component of the audio-visual tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The park accessibility measurement considers park popularity and residents' choices. • Gini index and spatial autocorrelation are employed to analyze park spatial equity. • A limited number of residents enjoy an abundance of parks in the study area. • Enhanced spatial equity in park accessibility is achieved compared to existing methods. • Recommendations are proposed, emphasizing the principles of equity and supply–demand balance. Equitable access to parks, in alignment with resident needs, is crucial for promoting social equity, justice, and sustainable urban development. However, existing methodologies for evaluating park accessibility often overlook the effect of park popularity and resident choices. To address this limitation, this study introduces an improved two-step floating catchment area (2SFCA) method. This enhanced approach incorporates real-time user data to measure park popularity and employs the Huff model to determine the probability of residents selecting a specific park. By integrating these factors, the study offers a more accurate and robust assessment of park accessibility for residents in Jiangnan Main City, a central district in Nanjing's urban core. The study utilizes the Gini index and Lorenz curve to appraise the demographic equity of park distribution in the study area. In addition, bivariate spatial autocorrelation analysis is employed to analyze the spatial patterns of park supply and demand. The findings indicate a spatial trend characterized by high accessibility in central locations and reduced accessibility in peripheral areas. Additionally, the northern section exhibits greater accessibility compared to the southern part. The calculated Gini index indicates that the top 10% of the population enjoys access to nearly 36% of the parks, highlighting a significant imbalance. In addition, a spatial mismatch is evident, with significant dislocation between parks and residential areas observed in approximately 29% of residential communities. Simulations conducted in the study demonstrate a marginal improvement in park spatial equity when accounting for park popularity and resident choice. These results emphasize the importance of incorporating these factors in park planning and management strategies. The study advocates for park planning that prioritizes equity and a balance between supply and demand. Moreover, it emphasizes the need for tailored strategies that cater to the unique characteristics of different urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) with anti-pathogenic properties have been increasingly utilized in animal husbandry as substitutes for antibiotics. However, lingering uncertainties persist regarding the mobility, bacterial hosts, and potential human hazards associated with antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in animal husbandry when TCMs are introduced. In this study, cecal digesta from Wuding chickens subjected to varying stocking densities (moderate and high) and treated with different TCMs (dihydroartemisinin, berberine hydrochloride, and oligomeric proanthocyanidins) were collected and subjected to metagenomics-based analysis. A total of 280 ARG subtypes were identified, with multidrug and aminoglycoside resistance genes being the most diverse and abundant. The primary antibiotic resistance bacteria identified belonged to the phyla of Firmicutes (38.68%), Bacteroidetes (22.74%), and Proteobacteria (12.71%); however, some pathogenic antibiotic-resistant bacteria (PARB) were also identified across different samples. Surprisingly, high stocking density was not observed to propagate ARGs, which could be due to the restricted usage of antibiotics. Furthermore, higher proportions of mobile genetic elements and some multidrug-resistant PARB (∼4 times) were observed in high-stocking-density chickens fed berberine hydrochloride than in high-stocking-density chickens fed other TCMs, which could facilitate the horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of ARGs and pose potential human health risks. In contrast, dihydroartemisinin reduced the total abundance of ARGs and the resistome risks to human health (∼10% decrease compared to control). Moreover, rank I ARGs with higher human health risk and the risk index based on ARG risk also ranked lowest (p < 0.05) in high-stocking-density chickens fed dihydroartemisinin. The reduction effect of dihydroartemisinin was achieved by regulating the cecal microbiome of broilers and inhibiting HGT (reducing the contribution from 17.7% to 4.0%). This study provides metagenomic evidence of the development of ARGs in broiler breeding environments. The findings highlight the distinct characteristics of TCMs as feed additives on regulating the antibiotic resistome during broiler farming and demonstrate dihydroartemisinin as an effective additive complying with the environmental safety. [Display omitted] • Effects of three Chinese medicines on antibiotic resistome of broilers were compared. • High stocking density did not obviously affect on antibiotic resistome of broilers. • Berberine hydrochloride addition enriched the multidrug-resistant pathogens. • Dihydroartemisinin reduced the antibiotic resistome risk of broilers to human health. • This reduction achieved by regulating cecal microbiome and inhibiting gene transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant tau glutathione S-transferase (GSTU) is a kind of multiple functions enzyme, but its specific roles in poplar disease resistance remain uncertain. In this study, 27 PdbGSTU -encoding genes from Populus davidiana × P. bollena were cloned and their protein architectures and phylogenetic relationships were subsequently analyzed. Expression analysis revealed that PdbGSTU s were differentially expressed under Alternaria alternate infection. Then, the PdbGSTU10 was further induced by phytohormones and H 2 O 2 , especially salicylic acid (SA), indicating its potential role in the pathogen defense of poplar. Subsequently, gain- and loss-of-function assays showed that overexpressed PdbGSTU10 activated antioxidant enzymes and significantly decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) content, ultimately improving the resistance to A. alternate in poplar. Conversely, silencing PdbGSTU10 had the opposite effect. Moreover, overexpressed PdbGSTU10 also increased the content of SA and induced the expression of SA signal-related genes. These results showed that PdbGSTU10 may enhance disease resistance in poplar by scavenging ROS and affecting the SA signaling pathway. Our findings contribute to the understanding of the functions of GSTU in woody plants, particularly in disease resistance. • Twenty-seven PdbGSTU -encoding genes were identified from Populus davidiana × P. bollena. • Alternaria alternate infection affected the expression pattern of PdbGSTU s in poplar. • PdbGSTU10 enhances the A. alternate defence in poplar • PdbGSTU10 balancing the reactive oxygen species in poplar during the A. alternate infection. • PdbGSTU10 activates the SA signal pathway in poplar during the A. alternate infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Multi-dimensional correlations between mechanization and Daqu quality were revealed. • Mechanization improved the activities of microbial metabolism and various enzymes. • Mechanization promoted the conversion of non-volatile compounds to volatile compounds. • Protease and saccharification activities were respectively contributed by bacteria and fungi. • LAB and Rhizopus were closely related to the production of volatile flavor compounds. Mechanization has emerged as a focal point in the modernization of traditional enterprises, offering standardized production and labor reduction benefits. However, little is known about how mechanization affects the microbiota and metabolite profiles of Daqu. To address this gap, we conducted a comprehensive comparison between traditional and mechanical sauce-flavor Daqu using a multi-omics approach. Results showed that mechanical Daqu exhibited higher acidity, amino acid nitrogen and enzyme activity, alongside lower fat and moisture levels. Following mechanization, lactic acid bacteria (LAB), Staphylococcus , Aspergillus and Saccharomycopsis were enriched and identified as biomarkers, whereas Oceanobacillus , Monascus and Scopulariopsis were notably decreased. Furthermore, significant disparities in metabolic profiles were observed between the two types of Daqu based on GC–MS, GC-IMS, and LC-MS/MS analyses. The content of volatile compounds was significantly higher in mechanical Daqu (332.82 ± 22.69 mg/kg), while that of non-volatile compounds was higher in traditional Daqu (753.44 ± 41.82 mg/kg). Moreover, OPLS-DA models identified 44 volatile and 31 non-volatile compounds as differential metabolites. Multivariate statistical analysis indicated that bacteria and fungi primarily contributed to protease and saccharification activities, respectively. Additionally, the co-occurrence network revealed that Oceanobacillus and Scopulariopsis were closely associated with non-volatile compound formation, while LAB and Rhizopus significantly influenced volatile compound production. These findings elucidate the multi-dimensional relationship between mechanization and Daqu quality, offering insights to advance the modernization of traditional industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstractive Text summarization aims to generate a short summary for a document while preserving salient information. Recently, contrastive learning has been extended from visual representation to summarization tasks. At present, the methods of contrastive learning summarization focus on modeling the global semantics of source documents, targets and candidate summaries to maximize their similarities. However, they ignore the influence of sentence semantics in the document. In this paper, we propose a sentence-level salience contrastive learning method to help the model capture salient information and denoise. The model expresses the sentence salience according to the semantic similarity between the summaries and sentences of the source document, and integrates the similarity distance into the contrastive loss in the form of soft weights. Therefore, our model maximize the similarity between summaries and salient information, while minimizing the similarity between summaries and potential noise. We have verified our method in three widely used datasets, CNN/Daily Mail, XSum and PubMed. The experimental results show that the proposed method can significantly improve the baseline performance and achieve competitive performance in the existing contrastive learning methods. • We propose a contrastive learning method for abstractive text summarization. • We construct contrastive samples in the source sentences. • We incorporate the salient distance-aware weightsinto the contrastive loss. • Experiments show that our model has obviously better performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In solar power technology, flexible cable-supported photovoltaic (PV) systems (FCSPSs) offer an alternative to traditional ground-mounted supports due to their lightweight design, long spans, and resilience. Its adaptability proves invaluable in challenging terrains such as mountains, fish ponds, and sewage treatment plants. The wind-induced vibration coefficient is crucial for determining the system's vibrational response under different wind conditions. With significant wind deformation in FCSPSs, a fluid-structure interaction (FSI) analysis is essential. This study uses two-way FSI Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations to examine the effect of steel cable pre-tension on wind-induced vibration in FCSPSs. Firstly, the modal analysis cases of an FCSPS are conducted by varying the initial tension forces of the steel cables. Subsequently, the transient response of the cable-support structure and the wind field variation in the fluid domain under wind load are evaluated. Finally, a quantitative evaluation of the wind-induced vibration coefficient for displacement and support reaction in the FCSPS is performed. The results indicate that increasing pre-tension reduces the natural period and reaction force's vibration coefficient but increases the displacement vibration coefficient. The results provide valuable insights into optimizing pre-tension to minimize wind-induced vibrations and enhance the overall stability and efficiency of FCSPSs. • Two-way FSI CFD simulations examine the effect of initial pre-tension force on wind-induced vibration of FCSPSs. • The transient response of the cable-support structure and wind field variation under wind load are evaluated. • A quantitative evaluation of the wind-induced vibration coefficient for displacement and support reaction is performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Polystyrene microspheres (PSMPs) affect swimming performance, aerobic metabolism, and indicators of oxidative stress. • In juvenile grass carp, larger PSMPs affect physiology and swimming performance more than smaller PSMPs. • Excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) decreased with increased PSMPs exposure time. Microplastics (MPs) are a heterogeneous class of pollutants fouling aquatic environments and they are hazardous to aquatic organisms. This study investigated the size-dependent effects of polystyrene microspheres (PSMPs) on the swimming ability, metabolism, and oxidative stress of juvenile grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). Test fish were exposed to four sizes of PSMPs (0.07, 0.5, 5, and 20-μm), and swimming ability was tested after different exposure times (2, 7, and 15 days). To measure the effect on swimming ability, critical swimming speed (U crit) was determined, and to assess metabolic effects, oxygen consumption (MO 2), routine metabolic rate (RMR), maximum oxygen consumption (MMR), and excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) were determined. To assess the effects on oxidative stress, the activities of two antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were determined in the liver and gills of test fish. After exposure to 20 μm PSMPs, there was a significant drop in U crit compared to the control group (P<0.05), with decreases of 22 % on Day 2 and Day 7, and 21 % on Day 15. The RMR and MMR increased significantly (P <0.05), the RMR by 23.9 % on Day 2 and the MMR by 17.2 % on Day 2 and on Day 15, 44.7 % and 20.0 % respectively. The EPOC decreased with exposure time, by 31 % (0.07-μm), 45 %-(0.5-μm), 49 % (5-μm), and 57 % (20-μm) after 15 days. Exposure to the larger PSMPs increased CAT and SOD activity more than the smaller PSMPs and the increases began with SOD activity in the gills. The larger PSMPs were consistently more harmful to juvenile grass carp than the smaller PSMPs. Our results clearly show that PSMPs have detrimental effects on juvenile grass carp and provide additional scientific evidence that environmental monitoring and regulation of microplastic pollution is necessary. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is the most frequent pathogeny of aortic valve replacement in developed countries. Iron deposits are found in the intraleaflet hemorrhage (IH) areas of calcific aortic valves. Ferroptosis is a form of regulated cell death that involves metabolic dysfunction resulting from iron overload-dependent excessive lipid peroxidation. In this study, histological analysis showed that ferroptosis occurs in the IH areas of calcific aortic valves. We also demonstrated that Slc7a11 is expressed at low levels in OM-treated valvular interstitial cells (VICs) and IH areas and that low Slc7a11 expression is associated with calcification in CAVD. However, iron overload treatment did not promote VIC calcification under osteogenic conditions in vitro. Using lentiviral transfection to knockdown Slc7a11 in VICs, we found that the degree of iron overload-induced ferroptosis was positively increased in vitro. Finally, we also found that Slc7a11 knockdown promoted the osteogenic differentiation of VICs in vitro. In summary, this study reports a novel mechanism linking ferroptosis and CAVD development in which iron may promote Slc7a11-deficient VIC osteogenic differentiation by aggravating ferroptosis in vitro, thereby accelerating the progression of aortic valve calcification. Graphical abstract. The graphic illustration of Slc7a11 deficiency facilitates iron overload-induced calcification via exacerbating oxidative stress in VICs. [Display omitted] • Ferroptosis is associated with the progression of calcific aortic valve disease. • Slc7a11 expression is downregulated in osteogenic differentiation valvular interstitial cells (VICs) and calcified aortic valves. • Slc7a11 deficiency aggravates iron overload-induced ferroptosis in vitro. • Iron promotes Slc7a11-deficient VIC osteogenic differentiation by aggravating ferroptosis in vitro. • Tables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Innovative CBSFF design combines blocks and sub-channels for better PEMFC performance. • CBSFF design ensures superior oxygen uniformity. • CBSFF flow field achieves 16 % higher net power than SPFF. • Improved water and heat management with CBSFF design. • Analysis of structural parameters' impact on current density and pressure drop. Bipolar plate flow field design is crucial for optimizing Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) performance. This study employs three-dimensional simulations and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) methods to analyze and compare traditional Straight Parallel Flow Field (SPFF), Block Incorporated Flow Field (BIFF), Sub-channel Ribbed Flow Field (SRFF), and Combined Block and Sub-channel Flow Field (CBSFF). The findings indicate that CBSFF not only demonstrates superior oxygen distribution characteristics at high current densities but also shows improved uniformity in moisture and temperature distribution. In addition, the effect of the structural parameters of the CBSFF flow field on its performance has been investigated. In particular, at a voltage of 0.5 V, the net power of the CBSFF is increased by 18 percent compared with that of the SPFF when the height of the block, h b = 0.5 , and the height of the subchannel, h s = 0.3 , are used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Employing a novel two-way fluid–structure interaction (FSI) analysis unveils insights into wind-induced vibrations in FCSPSs at varying tilt angles. • Established a comprehensive approach for FCSPS wind-induced vibration coefficients, covering model equivalency, coefficient definitions, model creation, and grid/solution settings. • Quantitative exploration reveals distinct influences of panel tilt angles on support reactions and displacement wind-induced vibration coefficients in FCSPSs. With the increasing adoption of mountainous photovoltaic installations, pre-stressed flexible cable-supported photovoltaic (PV) systems (FCSPSs) are becoming increasingly popular in large-scale solar power plants due to their evident adaptability to sloping terrain. The wind-induced deformation of FCSPSs significantly influences the wind field. In this study, a two-way fluid–structure interaction (FSI) analysis is conducted to assess the wind-induced vibration response of FCSPSs at various panel tilt angles. Firstly, the analysis approach for wind-induced vibration coefficients of FCSPSs is established, which involves model equivalency, coefficient definitions, model creation, and grid and solution settings. Secondly, the modal analysis is then conducted on FCSPSs at various panel tilt angles. Subsequently, the transient response of the PV structure and the variations in the wind field are evaluated by adjusting the panel tilt angles. Finally, a quantitative analysis is performed to investigate the influence of panel tilt angles on the support reaction and displacement wind-induced vibration coefficients of FCSPSs. The results indicate that the tilt angle has a certain impact on wind-induced vibration coefficients (reaction force, displacement). The effect of the tilt angle on the internal force wind-induced vibration coefficient is more pronounced. However, the variation in displacement due to wind-induced vibrations is significantly greater than the variation in internal force. Meanwhile, the displacement wind-induced vibration coefficient and the support reaction wind-induced vibration coefficient should be considered separately for different tilt angles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyaluronic acid (HA), which is a highly versatile glycosaminoglycan, is widely applied across the fields of food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. It is primary produced through Streptococcus fermentation, but the product presents inherent challenges concerning consistency and potential pathogenicity. However, recent strides in molecular biology have paved the way for genetic engineering, which facilitates the creation of high-yield, nonpathogenic strains adept at synthesizing HA with specific molecular weights. This comprehensive review extensively explores the molecular biology underpinning pivotal HA synthase genes, which elucidates the intricate mechanisms governing HA synthesis. Moreover, it delineates various strategies employed in engineering HA-producing strains. • Defects in commercial microbial fermentation to produce hyaluronic acid. • Gene-edited microbes produce high-quality hyaluronic acid. • Key genes control hyaluronic acid production and molecular weight. • Bioproduction of hyaluronic acid driven by synthetic biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Returning lysed sludge to biochemical tanks to achieve in-situ sludge reduction is promising. A novel approach for regulating and initiating the sludge lysis process utilizing thermophilic strains is proposed. In this study, three strains were isolated from sludge, and sequencing of the 16 S rDNA amplicon revealed that the three thermophilic strains were the closest relatives to the genus Geobacillus , and they were designated as Geobacillus sp. DX5, Geobacillus sp. DX8 and Geobacillus sp. DX11. Sludge lysis experiments demonstrated that composite thermophilic strains (CTS) were dosed at 65°C, and the sludge VSS removal efficiency after 24 h was 37.8%, significantly surpassing individual strains. Moreover, 65.8% of proteins and 52.0% of polysaccharides in Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of sludge were degraded. Furthermore, Three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix (3D-EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy results revealed a substantial release of dissolved organic matter during sludge lysis. Inoculation of CTS under optimal conditions (65°C, pH 7, 4 × 1010cfu/L) resulted in VSS removal efficiency and protease activity of 42.7% and 2584 U/L, respectively. After 20 days of inoculation with CTS to initiate sludge lysis reactor, VSS removal efficiency reached 46%. Additionally, it stimulated the growth of the thermophilic bacterial community, engaging indigenous thermophilic strains in the sludge lysis process. [Display omitted] • Three novel thermophilic bacterial strains were isolated from sludge. • Inoculated with CTS at 65 °C reduces sludge VSS by 36.8% within 24 hours. • CTS enables rapid initiation of the sludge lysis reactor. • Inoculation with CTS can rapidly adapt to the environment and colonize the sludge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Combined the process-based modeling/random forest obtained high spatiotemporal resolution and high precision NEE of coastal wetlands. • Considering tidal influence is necessary for NEE estimation in coastal wetlands. • The net CO 2 uptake ability of plants was S. alterniflora > P. australis > S. salsa. Accurate estimation of the net ecosystem CO 2 exchange (NEE) at regional scales is of great significance for studying the carbon sink potential of coastal wetland ecosystems and their responses to global climate change. However, current NEE estimation methods are mainly developed for terrestrial ecosystems and are therefore unsuitable for NEE estimation with high spatiotemporal resolution estimation in coastal wetlands subjected to sub-daily tidal flooding. In this study, we proposed a high spatiotemporal resolution NEE estimation method for coastal marsh wetlands that properly considered tidal influence by combining the advantages of process-based modeling and machine learning. This method was verified and applied in the Changjiang estuary and Liaohe estuary marsh wetlands based on eddy covariance and environmental measurements, climate reanalysis data, and satellite images. The proposed method had good performance in the NEE estimation of tidal marsh wetlands, with Phragmites australis, Spartina alterniflora , and Suaeda salsa having coefficients of determination (R2) of 0.850, 0.676, and 0.658, respectively, and root mean square error (RMSE) values of 7.211 μmol m−2 s−1, 8.105 μmol m−2 s−1, and 0.109 μmol m−2 s−1, respectively. By integrating the tide level and salinity, the NEE estimation accuracy for each vegetation type was improved. The total annual NEE values of the Changjiang estuary and Liaohe estuary marsh wetlands in 2022 were estimated to be −0.297 and −0.444 Tg C yr−1, respectively. This study demonstrated that integrating process-based model and machine learning estimation can reliably capture the NEE dynamics of coastal wetlands, providing a useful tool to quantify coastal blue carbon potential with high spatiotemporal resolution at large scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studied the microwave absorption performance of carbon fiber, mixed carbon fiber/MoSe 2 (CM) bilayer composite materials in the range of 2–18 GHz. The flower-shaped layer and core-shell double-layer interface of MoSe 2 work together to improve electromagnetic wave absorption, providing a new approach for designing lightweight, broadband, and strong absorption-absorbing materials. To address the drawbacks of the high conductivity of pure carbon fibers, transition metal sulfides were introduced promptly, and the CM core-shell materials with flower-shaped outer shell structures were prepared. An in-depth analysis of the working mechanism of CM absorbing materials and the influence of the interface between carbon fibers and MoSe 2 on the absorbing performance has been conducted, providing a favorable experimental basis for the application of fiber membranes in absorbing materials. [Display omitted] • Easy preparation of carbon fiber @ MoSe 2 (CM) through electrospinning. • Compared with pure carbon fiber, the microwave absorption ability of CM is greatly enhanced. • The CM achieved a reflection loss of −41.8 dB, with an effective absorption bandwidth of 5.23 GHz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dietary biomarkers measured in biospecimens can play an important role in correcting for random and systematic measurement error in self-reported nutrient intake when assessing diet-disease associations. To date, high-quality biomarkers for calibrating self-reported dietary intake have only been developed for a few nutrients.Objectives: To investigate new study designs and regression calibration approaches for calibrating self-reported nutrient intake for use in disease association analyses.Methods: We studied 3 regression calibration approaches: 1) an existing approach built on a calibration cohort assuming the existence of an objective biomarker (i.e., biomarker with random independent measurement error), 2) a proposed approach using a biomarker development cohort, and 3) a proposed 2-stage approach using both cohorts. We conducted simulation studies to compare the performance of different study designs/methods for estimating diet-disease associations and applied suitable methods to examine the association of sodium and potassium intake with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in Women's Health Initiative cohorts.Results: Simulation studies showed that the first approach can lead to biased association estimation when the objective biomarker assumption is violated; the second and third proposed approaches obviate the need for such an objective biomarker. Precision for estimating the association depends critically on sample size of the biomarker development cohort and the strength of the self-reported nutrient intake. Analyses based on the second and third approaches support previously reported significant findings using the first approach about associations of the ratio of sodium to potassium intake with CVD risk while providing efficiency gain for some outcomes.Conclusions: Self-reported dietary intake needs to be calibrated for measurement error correction in diet-disease association analyses. When there are no existing objective biomarkers that can be used for calibration purpose, controlled feeding studies can be used to develop new biomarkers for use in calibration or can be used to calibrate self-reported dietary intake directly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Transition metal-nitrogen-carbon (M-N-C) materials have been the focus of scientists' efforts to address the rising need for earth-abundant materials solutions for energy technology and decarbonization of the economy. They are viewed as one of the most promising candidates to replace platinum group metal (PGM) catalysts in the fuel cell and energy conversion fields, including the application of oxygen reduction reaction, carbon dioxide reduction reaction, and nitrogen reduction reaction. In the effort to improve M-N-C materials properties and achieve atomic dispersity of the transition metal in the carbonaceous matrix, a re-pyrolysis process has been proposed. This secondary heat treatment process of already obtained primary pyrolysis-derived M-N-C materials has been widely reported to substantially improve the electrochemical performance and operational stability of the catalysts. Here, we report a systematic investigation of this process used on samples of templated M-N-C catalysts to obtain state-of-the-art catalysts via in situ heating X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray computed tomography (CT) characterization methods. It is found that the re-pyrolysis of M-N-C materials could result in the partial amorphization of the carbonaceous substrate. It causes the rearrangement and transformation of multitudinous N moieties, leading to optimization of their morphological display and association with atomically dispersed transition metal dopants. Ultimately, the re-pyrolysis results in an increase in uniformity of the active Fe-N x sites distribution without the formation of nano-crystalline phases (metallic or carbide) and with overall preservation of the morphology of the carbonaceous framework achieved during the first formative pyrolysis step of the templated synthesis. These observations provide confirmation that empirically established re-pyrolysis is recommended to be used on all M-N-C materials despite the different synthesis routes to obtain a practical advanced catalytic material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The anti-inflammatory effect of BMSCs. • Identification of BMSCs and BMSCs-secreted exosomes. • The anti-inflammatory activity of BMSCs-secreted exosomes. • miR-223 in BMSCs-secreted exosomes delays the inflammatory responses by targeting NLRP3. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease with major clinical manifestations of human limb joint invasion, joint synovitis, and symmetrical lesions. In recent years, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) have been found to have low immunogenicity and immunomodulatory effects, which can regulate other types of cells through exosomes. However, the effect of BMSCs on immune response in the progression of RA has not been fully elucidated. The current research aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of microRNA (miR)-223 in exosomes secreted by BMSCs on immune response in the progression of RA. Firstly, BMSCs were isolated and extracted, and then the influence of BMSCs on the level of inflammatory cytokines was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Exosomes from BMSCs were extracted and characterized. Some key autoimmune response genes and their protein products were detected in vivo and in vitro by real-time quantitative PCR, western blot and ELISA. Finally, the targeting relationship between miR-223 and NLR family pyrin domain‐containing 3 (NLRP3) was predicted by bioanalytical software and verified by luciferase reporter assay and rescue experiments in vitro. Exosomes from BMSCs could inhibit the release of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-18 (IL-18), and NLRP3 activation in macrophages and RA rats. In addition, we predicted online that miR-223 could target NLRP3 and provided a possible regulation pathway for the anti-inflammatory effects of BMSCs-secreted exosomes. Furthermore, we further confirmed that miR-223 could target and inhibit the expression of NLRP3. Taken together, these findings suggest that miR-223 carried by BMSCs-derived exosomes targets NLRP3 to regulate the activation of inflammasomes, which therefore can be served as a possible therapy for RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• CS IM-CT (collagen score of the tumor margin minus tumor center) was proposed. • Collagen score was analyzed using multiphoton imaging. • CS IM-CT was an effective prognostic predictor in advanced rectal cancer. • Nomogram with the CS IM-CT can individually predict prognosis in rectal cancer. Little is known about the relationship between collagen and the prognosis of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT). This study aimed to quantitatively analyze collagen alterations, establish a collagen score (CS) in the tumor microenvironment, and evaluate and validate the relationship of the CS with prognosis in these patients. A total of 365 primary patients diagnosed with LARC after nCRT between 2011 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed (training cohort: 210; independent validation cohort: 155). Multiple collagen features of two fields in the tumor microenvironment, the core of the tumor (CT) and the invasive margin (IM), were derived from multiphoton imaging, and the CS IM-CT was generated using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression analysis. The CS IM-CT was created based on 3 features: collagen area, number of collagen fibers and a Gabor textural feature. In the training cohort, the CS IM-CT predicted 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.765 (0.675–0.854) and an overall survival (OS) with AUROC of 0.822 (0.734–0.909). Additionally, the CS IM-CT was significantly associated with DFS and OS in the two cohorts. A nomogram with the CS IM-CT was developed and showed good prognostic value predicting a 3-year DFS with an AUROC of 0.826 (0.748–0.905) and an OS with AUROC of 0.882 (0.803–0.960). The CS IM-CT is an effective prognostic marker in patients with LARC after nCRT, and the nomogram with the CS IM-CT can be used to accurately predict the individual prognosis of these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To examine and quantify the burden of opioid-related mortality utilizing a serial cross-sectional design of individuals 15 to 64 years of age whose death was related to opioid use from January 1, 1999, to January 31, 2019.Methods: Data was obtained from the CDC WONDER Multiple Cause of Death Online Database, which captures mortality and population estimates across the United States stratified by geography, age, sex, race, and ethnicity. The burden of opioid-related deaths in Texas was evaluated as the proportion of all deaths attributable to this underlying cause of death over the study period and years of potential life lost (YPLL).Results: Results revealed that between 1999 and 2019, 19,039 opioid-related deaths occurred among persons age 15 to 64, resulting in an increase of 402% over the study period (from 3.8 per 100,000 in 1999 to 8.2 per 100,000 in 2019). In 2019, the number of opioid-related deaths was highest among males (67.1%), non-Hispanic whites (76.0%), and adults aged 25-54 (74.1%). Overall, in Texas in 2019, opioid-related deaths resulted in 51,743 years of potential life lost (3.2 YPLL per 1000) most of which were among males (36,318 YPLL). Additionally, premature mortality due to opioids was highest among adults aged 25 to 34 years (5.1 YPLL per 1000) , and those aged 35 to 44 years (3.8 YPLL per 1000).Conclusions: We identified a steady yet significant rise in opioid-related mortality in Texas since 1999 and in particular among demographic groups considered at relatively high risk for midlife mortality. This study is also considered the first of its kind to quantify the burden of premature mortality related to opioid overdoses in Texas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • DME can quick and effectively recover oil from spent bleaching clay (SBC). • Over 80 wt% oil can be recovered through 5-stage DME extraction. • Equilibrium model of oil extraction from SBC by DME was approached. • Light petroleum hydrocarbon and SFA were preferentially extracted from SBC. With the increasing production of spent bleaching clay (SBC), the recovery of the waste oil in SBC is becoming an important and urgent needs for our environment and economy. In this research, we have developed a new effective recovery technique to recover oil from SBC by use of liquefied dimethyl ether (DME). Over 65 wt% oil and 81% wt.% oil are efficiently recovered from SBC under equilibrium single-stage extraction conditions and multi-stage extraction conditions, respectively based on the systematically investigation to the effects of the DME/SBC ratio, extraction time, stirring speed and extraction stage number on oil recovery via a batch extractor. Compared with using other extraction solvents, the extraction solvent DME can be reused without heating and therefore significantly reduce the energy consumption during the oil recovery process. In addition, the quantitative oil extraction relationship is derived from the adsorption equilibrium model and is well verified by experimental results. The results show a great potential for using this oil recovery technique in SBC as well as in the large amount of oily sludge and oil sands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A new calreticulin was identified from Takifugu obscurus. • Bacterial stimulation upregulated the expression of ToCrt. • rToCrt could bind to several Gram-negative bacteria and polysaccharides. • rToCrt could agglutinate different kinds of microorganisms. • rToCrt could suppress the growth of three Gram-negative bacteria. Calreticulin (Crt) is a highly conserved and multi-functional protein with lectin-like properties and important immunological activities. In this study, a Crt homolog, namely, ToCrt , was cloned and characterized from the obscure puffer Takifugu obscurus with an open reading frame of 1278 bp encoding a putative protein of 425 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of ToCrt consisted of three conserved structural domains: N-domain, P-domain, and C-terminal domain. In the phylogenetic tree, ToCrt formed a separate cluster with three Crts from other pufferfish species (Takifugu rubripes , Takifugu flavidus , and Takifugu bimaculatus). The mRNA transcript of ToCrt was ubiquitously expressed in all the examined tissues in a decreasing order: liver, spleen, kidney, gills, intestine, and heart. After Vibrio harveyi , Edwardsiella tarda , and Aeromonas hydrophila stimulations, the levels of ToCrt mRNA in the kidney and spleen were significantly upregulated compared with that in the control group. The recombinant calreticulin domain of ToCrt (rToCrt) could bind three Gram-negative bacteria (V. harveyi , E. tarda , and A. hydrophila) and polysaccharides from bacterial cell walls such as lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan. Meanwhile, rToCrt could agglutinate different kinds of microorganisms and exhibit antimicrobial activity. These results suggested that T. obscurus ToCrt could serve as an antimicrobial effector in the host immune response against invading microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing new therapeutic strategies that damage tumour cells without harming normal tissues is among the primary obstacles in chemotherapy. In this study, a novel β-glucuronidase-sensitive albumin-binding prodrug was designed and synthesized to selectively deliver the drug SN38 to tumour sites and maximize its efficacy. After intravenous administration, the prodrug Mal-glu-SN38 covalently bound to plasma albumin through the Michael addition, enabling it to accumulate in the tumour and release SN38 when triggered by extracellular β-glucuronidase. Compared to irinotecan, Mal-glu-SN38 displayed a slower plasma clearance and increased drug exposure over time. Moreover, Mal-glu-SN38 caused an increase in tumour-site accumulation of both the albumin-prodrug conjugate and free SN38 released from albumin conjugate when compared with irinotecan. After administration of multiple doses, Mal-glu-SN38 also significantly delayed the tumour growth, resulting in an impressive reduction or even disappearance of tumours (67% of mice cured) without causing any observable side effects. A β-glucuronidase-sensitive albumin-binding prodrug was designed and synthesized to selectively deliver SN38 to tumour sites, which showed ameliorated pharmacokinetic characteristics, enhanced tumour selectivity and outstanding in vivo antitumor efficacy (67% of mice cured). [Display omitted] • A β-glucuronidase-sensitive albumin-binding prodrug was designed to selectively deliver SN38 to tumour sites. • Prodrug Mal-glu-SN38 covalently bound to plasma albumin, enabling it to accumulate and release SN38 in the tumour. • Mal-glu-SN38 showed ameliorated pharmacokinetic characteristics, tumour selectivity and outstanding antitumor efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Assessing estimated sodium (Na) and potassium (K) intakes derived from 24-h urinary excretions compared with a spot urine sample, if comparable, could reduce participant burden in epidemiologic and clinical studies. Objectives In a 2-week controlled-feeding study, Na and K excretions from a 24-h urine collection were compared with a first-void spot urine sample, applying established algorithms and enhanced models to estimate 24-h excretion. Actual and estimated 24-h excretions were evaluated relative to mean daily Na and K intakes in the feeding study. Methods A total of 153 older postmenopausal women ages 75.4 ± 3.5 y participated in a 2-wk controlled-feeding study with a 4-d repeating menu cycle based on their usual intake (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00000611). Of the 150 participants who provided both a first-void spot urine sample and a 24-h urine collection on the penultimate study day, statistical methods included Pearson correlations for Na and K between intake, 24-h collections, and the 24-h estimated excretions using 4 established algorithms: enhanced biomarker models by regressing ln-transformed intakes on ln-transformed 24-h excretions or ln-transformed 24-h estimated excretions plus participant characteristics and sensitivity analyses for factors potentially influencing Na or K excretion (e.g. possible kidney disease estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2). Results Pearson correlation coefficients between Na and K intakes and actual 24-h excretions were 0.57 and 0.38–0.44 for estimated 24-h excretions, depending on electrolyte and algorithm used. Enhanced biomarker model cross-validated R 2 (CVR2) for 24-h excretions were 38.5% (Na), 40.2% (K), and 42.0% (Na/K). After excluding participants with possible kidney disease, the CVR2 values were 43.2% (Na), 40.2% (K), and 38.1% (Na/K). Conclusions Twenty-four-hour urine excretion measurement performs better than estimated 24-h excretion from a spot urine as a biomarker for Na and K intake among a sample of primarily White postmenopausal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous 3D hierarchical construction has been proved to serve as a feasible method to prepare high-efficiency microwave absorption (MA) composites. Herein, an innovative hierarchical carbon fiber (CF)@MXene@ZnO core-sheath synergistic structure with tunable and efficient MA performance has been synthesized via a self-assembly (MXene) and hydrothermal (ZnO) process. Because of increased conductivity loss of the interlayer MXene sheath due to synergistic effects and the enhanced impedance matching of the outer ZnO layer, the optimal reflection loss (RL) value of CMZ2 is −67.35 GHz at 9.0 GHz at a thickness of 3.5 mm and the optimal effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) is 5.44 GHz, covering the full X band at a thickness of 4.0 mm. Furthermore, the CMZ microrods can be used as energy transformers and molecular heaters due to the synergistic effects of the high photothermal conversion efficiency of MXene, high photocatalytic activity of ZnO, and high thermal conductivity of CF. When used as wearable CMZ/polyurethane (PU) composite coatings, the surface temperature increases rapidly with a healing efficiency of above 91% for mechanical damage. These results provide a new strategy to fabricate wearable materials with effective MA and photothermal properties for designing safe and wearable devices. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of heteroatom is a practical tactic that can enhance the ability of carbon materials to store Na+. In this article, N, O, P co-doped hierarchical porous carbon (NOPC) is produced via co-carbonization with phytic acid and soybean protein as precursors. Phytic acid, as a multifunctional additive, macroscopically promotes the formation of a hierarchical pore structure in which micropores and mesopores coexist. It is necessary for the transmission of Na+ and penetration of electrolytes. It microscopically regulates different types of surface functional groups, induces defects to enhance the spacing between graphite layers, and enhances the adsorption and intercalation capacity of Na+. The macroscopic and microscopic co-working changes the NOPC to have a reversible capacity of 359.5 mA h g−1 at 0.05 A g−1. Using density functional theory, it is confirmed that the co-doping of N/O/P can increase the capture capacity of Na+ and reduce the diffusion barrier of carbon materials. Ex-situ XRD, ex-situ Raman and ex-situ TEM were used to verify the structural stability and cycle stability of the NOPC. This study is based on experimental design and theoretical calculations used to prove that synthesis strategy is an effective method for preparing heteroatom-doped carbon with excellent capacity to store sodium. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A JNK and its isoform were identified from Eriocheir sinensis. • Bacteria challenge upregulated the expression of EsJNK. • RNAi showed that EsJNK regulated the transcription of two AMPs. • Knockdown of EsJNK can weaken the host's ability to eliminate bacteria. • rEsJNK protein can accelerate the bacterial clearance. c-Jun NH 2 -terminal kinase (JNK) is a member of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) that participates in the regulation of various physiological and pathological processes. In this study, we identified a novel JNK (EsJNK) and determined the cDNA sequence of its isoform (EsJNK-a) from the Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis. The open reading frame (ORF) of EsJNK was predicted to encode 421 peptides with a serine/threonine protein kinase, a catalytic (S_TKc) domain, and a low complexity region. The ORF of EsJNK-a was 1380 bp encoding a protein with 459 amino acids, which was 38 amino acids more than that of EsJNK. The predicted tertiary structure of EsJNK was conserved and contained 15 α-helices and 10 β-sheets. Phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that EsJNK was clustered with the JNK homologs of other crustaceans. Quantitative real-time PCR assays showed that EsJNK was expressed in all the tissues examined, but it was relatively higher in hemocytes, muscles, and intestines. The expression of EsJNK mRNA in the hemocytes was upregulated by lipopolysaccharides and peptidoglycans, as well as by Staphylococcus aureus or Vibrio parahaemolyticus challenge. Functionally, after silencing EsJNK by siRNA in crabs, the expression levels of two antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), namely, anti-lipopolysaccharide factor and crustin , were significantly inhibited. The purified recombinant EsJNK protein with His-tag accelerated the elimination of the aforementioned bacteria in vivo. However, knockdown of EsJNK had an opposite effect. These findings suggested that EsJNK might be involved in the antibacterial immune defense of crabs by regulating the transcription of AMPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although dietary selenium (Se) deficiency or excess induces type 2 diabetes-like symptoms in mice, suboptimal body Se status usually causes no symptoms but may promote age-related decline in overall health.Objectives: We sought to determine the dietary Se requirement for protection against type 2 diabetes-like symptoms in mice.Methods: Thirty mature (aged 4 mo) male C57BL/6J mice were fed a Se-deficient torula yeast AIN-93M diet supplemented with Na2SeO4 in graded concentrations totaling 0.01 (basal), 0.04, 0.07, 0.10, and 0.13 (control) mg Se/kg for 4 mo (n = 6) until they were middle-aged (8 mo). Droplets of whole blood were used to determine glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in the mice from ages 5 to 8 mo. Postmortem serum, liver, and skeletal muscle were collected to assay for selenoprotein expression and markers of glucose metabolism. Data were analyzed by 1-way ANCOVA with or without random effects for time-repeated measurements using live mice or postmortem samples, respectively.Results: Compared with control, the consumption of basal diet increased (P < 0.05) fasting serum insulin (95% CI: 52%, 182%) and leptin (95% CI: 103%, 118%) concentrations in middle-aged mice. Dietary Se insufficiency decreased (P < 0.05) 1) glucose tolerance (13-79%) and insulin sensitivity (15-65%) at ≤0.10 mg Se/kg; 2) baseline thymoma viral proto-oncogene phosphorylation on S473 (27-54%) and T308 (22-46%) at ≤0.10 and ≤0.07 mg Se/kg, respectively, in the muscle but not the liver; and 3) serum glutathione peroxidase 3 (51-83%), liver and muscle glutathione peroxidase 1 (32-84%), serum and liver selenoprotein P (28-42%), and liver and muscle selenoprotein H (39-48%) and selenoprotein W (16-73%) protein concentrations at ≤0.04, ≤0.10, ≤0.07, and ≤0.10 mg Se/kg, respectively.Conclusions: Mice fed diets containing ≤0.10 mg Se/kg display impaired glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, suggesting increased susceptibility to type 2 diabetes by suboptimal Se status at levels ≤23% of nutritional needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Transition metal-nitrogen-carbon materials (M-N-C catalysts) are promising electrocatalysts in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) and electrolyzer applications. High temperature treatment in inert atmosphere (pyrolysis) is the essential, most common method for the synthesis of M-N-C catalysts and critical to achieve high electrocatalytic activity and electronic conductivity. To this day, despite many uses and successful implementations in materials manufacturing, pyrolysis has been an entirely empirical technology, with process control and optimization relying exclusively on "Edisonian" approach. The knowledge gap in the mechanism about how the precursor is being transformed into catalysts hinders further development of the M-N-C catalysts regardless of the precursor class and processing protocols. Herein, we probed the morphological evolution and chemical transformation of a nitrogen-containing charge transfer organic salt, mixed with transition metal (iron) salt and amorphous silica powder (precursor) during the pyrolysis process via a combination of in situ synchrotron and laboratory-based diagnostic techniques. The pyrolysis process is found to be divided into three stages. During a controlled temperature ramp, the selected organic N-C precursor (nicarbazin) began melting and decomposing just below 400 °C, forming a certain number of micrometer-scale pores and pathways. With increase in temperature from 400 °C to 900 °C, amorphous carbon domains started forming, and reduced (metallic) iron nanoclusters appeared, being dispersed uniformly throughout the carbonaceous matrix. When temperature advanced above 900 °C, graphitization of carbon commenced, associated with appearance and evolution of atomically dispersed metal-nitrogen moieties in the carbonaceous matrix. As the graphitization advanced further, a secondary process of agglomeration of metal nanoparticles occurred. Multi-analytical technique observations conducted here provide a base for rational design and optimization of M-N-C electrocatalysts via pyrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a substitute for graphene-based carbon materials, carbon fiber (CF) based absorbing materials have enormous application prospects. Effective improvements have been made in solving the problems of heavy quality and complex preparation processes of ordinary absorbing materials. In order to obtain a flexible thin fiber membrane absorbing material with good stability and excellent performance, we prepared a multi-layer hollow carbon sphere/CF@MoSe 2 with carbon fiber as the matrix, and controlled the microstructure through hollow carbon shell and MoSe 2 , and introduced transition metal chalcogenides to coordinate electromagnetic parameters. As a result, the hollow carbon sphere/CF@MoSe 2 flexible composite film achieved a minimum reflection loss (RL min) of −47.98 dB at a thickness of 2.5 mm, and an effective bandwidth (EAB) of 8.1 GHz at a thickness of 2.7 mm. The RL min of the hollow carbon ball/CF composite film reached −45 dB at a thickness of 2.6 mm, and the EAB reached 3.2 GHz. The theoretical characterization results jointly prove the reason for the improved performance, and this study provides an experimental basis for a more in-depth exploration of the birth of new absorbing materials. [Display omitted] • Elucidated the growth mechanism of electromagnetic wave absorption in multi-layer core-shell heterostructures. • The prepared hollow carbon shell/CF@MoSe 2 achieved an effective absorption bandwidth of 8.1 GHz. • Hollow carbon shell/CF@ MoSe 2 achieves effective absorption in the X and Ku bands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioactive scaffolds accurately mimicking the structure and composition of the extracellular matrix have garnered significant interest in tissue engineering. In this study, we developed a platform utilizing natural silk nanofibrils, hyaluronic acid, and basic fibroblast growth factor for the purpose of promoting spinal cord regeneration by creating an optimal microenvironment. The bioactive scaffold exhibited notable characteristics such as high porosity and hydrophilicity, attributed to its unique nanostructure, high connectivity, and polysaccharide composition. Furthermore, the pore size of the scaffold can be adjusted within the range of 90 μm to 120 μm by varying the content of hyaluronic acid. In vitro , human umbilical vein endothelial cells were seeded into the scaffold, demonstrating enhanced cell viability. The scaffold facilitated cell proliferation and migration. In vivo experiments on rats indicated that the scaffold had a beneficial impact on spinal cord regeneration, creating a conducive environment for motor function recovery of the rats. This effect may be attributed to the scaffold's ability to stimulate axon growth and neuronal survival, as well as inhibit the formation of glial scars, as evidenced by the decreased expression of growth associated protein-43, microtubule-associated protein 2, and neurofilament-200. This study presents a promising method to develop a feasible bioscaffold for the treatment of spinal cord injury. • Bioactive scaffold accurately mimicking ECM structure and composition were fabricated successfully. • The multifunctional scaffold supported cell growth and migration significantly. • The scaffold could significantly restore the function recovery of the spinal cord transected rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cooling channel (CC) design is an effective measure to improve the internal thermal management of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). In this paper, a new elliptical dimple (EDC) cooling channel structure is proposed. The heat transfer and flow characteristics of EDC, circular dimpled cooling channel (CDC), and smooth cooling channel (SC) are compared by numerical simulation method, and the influence of elliptical dimple structural parameters on their performance is discussed. The serpentine CC with elliptical dimples is further compared with the traditional serpentine CC. The results indicate that the EDC is more effective than the other two types due to the narrow surface of the elliptical dimple, which enhances fluid flow and creates a region at the trailing edge of the vortex that promotes heat exchange. It is worth noting that lengthening the elliptical dimple leads to reduced performance, while elongating it initially improves but eventually decreases performance. This study found that the EDC with an elliptical dimple of 0.1 mm depth and 0.6 mm length outperformed the SC, resulting in a 10.6% improvement. Furthermore, the elliptical dimple serpentine cooling channel was found to enhance heat transfer and reduce pressure loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constructing high-density contact-separation sites on conductive materials highly determines the sensitivity of flexible resistance-type sensors relying on the crack microstructures. Herein, inspired from the multiple-tentacle structures on octopus, we demonstrated a sort of novel carbonized ZIF-8@loofah (CZL) as conductive material to develop ultrasensitivity flexible sensor, in which the carbonized ZIF-8 nanoparticles (~100 nm) served as tentacles. Originating from the formation of high-density contact-separation sites, the fabricated CZL-based strain sensor delivered ultrahigh sensitivity of GF max = 15,901, short response time of 22 ms and excellent durability over 10,000 cycles. These features enable the sensor with efficient monitoring capacity for complex human activities, such as pulse rate and phonation. Moreover, when CZL was assembled into triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), CZL-based TENG can effectively convert the irregular biomechanical energy into electric energy, providing sustainable power supply for the continuous operation of the sensing micro-system. Our findings established a novel platform to develop high-performance self-powered sensing systems of physiological parameter of human inspired from the nature. • Constructing high-density contact-separation sites on CL by carbonized ZIF-8. • Overall performances of CZL-based hydrogels were enhanced. • CZL-based sensor displays satisfied gauge factor as high as 15,901. • CZL-based sensor displays short response time of 22 ms. • The maximum power density of 3.675 μW m−2 is achieved in CZL-based TENG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]