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Primitive achondrites, representing 'transitional' samples between chondrites and differentiated achondrites, provide a great opportunity to decode the thermal histories of planetesimals in the early solar system. In this work, we report a comprehensive study of petrography, mineralogy, O-Cr isotopes and 53Mn-53Cr systematics of four ungrouped primitive achondrites, Northwest Africa (NWA) 12869, NWA 3250, NWA 11112, and Tafassasset. High resolution X-ray tomographic microscopy (HR-XTM) observations yield the 3D spatial distributions of metal, sulfide, and plagioclase, providing the direct petrologic evidence for incipient melting. In NWA 12869, NWA 3250, and NWA 11112, only FeNi-FeS eutectic melting occurs, with small fractions of metal and sulfide melt and amalgamate sporadically. As for Tafassasset, in addition to common metal and sulfide melt, plagioclase (±pyroxene) extensively melts and interconnects to form networks, with the generation of basaltic melts. The 53Mn-53Cr systematics in NWA 12869 [initial 53Mn/55Mn of (3.24 ± 0.32) × 10−6] and Tafassasset [initial 53Mn/55Mn of (3.48 ± 0.20) × 10−6] are determined with mineral separates and bulk samples. When anchored to the D'Orbigny angrite, NWA 12869 has a 53Mn-53Cr age of 4563.4 ± 0.6 Ma, while Tafassasset has an age of 4563.8 ± 0.4 Ma. The Mn-Cr ages of NWA 12869 and Tafassasset record the time of incipient melting within their parent bodies. Considering that NWA 12869, NWA 3250, and NWA 11112 exhibit the same olivine-dominated (47–69 vol%) mineral assemblages with recrystallized textures and a great similarity in mineral chemistry (olivine: Fa 35–38 ; pyroxene: Fs 27–30 Wo 3.0–3.5 ; plagioclase: An 47–50 ; chromite: Cr#: 74–76; Mg#: 14.0–14.6), oxygen fugacity (IW-2 to IW-1), as well as 54Cr nucleosynthetic anomalies (ε54Cr: 1.01 ± 0.09 to 1.44 ± 0.18) and oxygen isotopes (Δ17O: −1.72 to −1.78 ± 0.05‰), we first classify them into a new grouplet of primitive achondrites, different from Tafassasset. This grouplet does not share a parent body with CR chondrites, but rather derives from incipient melting of a carbonaceous chondrite parent body which formed in a nebular reservoir physically close to that sampled by CR chondrites. More chondrite, differentiated achondrite, and/or iron samples associated with this new grouplet would provide further constraints on the rate and onset time of accretion, as well as the interior structure of the planetesimal in the outer solar system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single photon LIDAR exhibits exceptional detection sensitivity and finds extensive applications in long-distance measurement and three-dimensional imaging domains. However, it is susceptible to background noise interference, leading to a trade-off between scanning imaging efficiency and angular resolution, thereby limiting its overall performance. In this paper, we propose a novel 'compression-resampling' high-resolution imaging method for single-photon scanning LIDAR based on the spatial correlation of the target scene. This approach significantly enhances the system's angular resolution without compromising imaging efficiency. By employing this method, we successfully conducted 3D imaging over distances exceeding 26 km even under challenging conditions with high levels of background noise during daylight hours. Within a target field of view measuring 1° × 1°, we reconstructed a high-resolution 3D point cloud image comprising 1000 × 1410 pixels. Notably, this achievement yielded an impressive angular resolution of 17.4 urad while maintaining an acceptable imaging time of approximately 20 minutes. The results unequivocally demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed method in improving the quality of three-dimensional imaging and enhancing angular resolution while simultaneously reducing imaging time requirements, thus expanding potential application scenarios for single-photon LIDAR technology. • A 'compression-resampling' high-resolution imaging method is proposed for single-photon scanning LIDAR. • A fast 3D imaging over distances exceeding 26 km was conducted during daylight hours. • A high-resolution 3D point cloud image comprising 1000 × 1410 pixels was reconstructed. The angular resolution is 17.4 urad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil salinization is a serious problem during ground improvement and foundation construction around the coastal region. This study used high alumina cement (HAC) as a soil stabilisation agent to modify the coastal chlorine saline soil as roadbed backfilling materials. In addition, Ordinary Portland cement (OPC), slaked lime (SL) and fly ash (FA) were used to better the understanding of the chlorine fixation and roadbed performance. The microstructures of different hydration products were investigated through the utilization of the X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersion spectrometer. The HAC-SL-modified soil depicts that the aluminium and calcium phases are beneficial to the formation of Friedel's salt and hydration products. The optimal chlorine fixation is approximately 20.5% at 6% HAC-SL incorporation (3% of HAC and 3% SL). At the early stage of curing, the strength of the HAC-treated soil is high. However, with a prolonged curing period, there is a slight decrease in the strength because the porosity will increase during the transformation of metastable CAH 10 and C 2 AH 8 into stable and dense C 3 AH 6. This evolution can be prevented by incorporating SL to enrich calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) and calcium aluminate hydrate (C-A-H). Furthermore, it is of key importance to mention that HAC reaction is quick, therefore, the compaction should be undertaken instantly to ensure the road performance. • It is effective for high alumina cement (HAC) with slaked lime (SL) to modify chlorine saline soil. • Al-phase component in cement react with Cl- ion to generate Friedel's salt and fix Cl-. • Excellent Cl- fixation is achieved with 20.5% fixation at 3% SL and 3% HAC to dry soil. • Alkalinity and Ca2+ source enhance Cl- fixation, compactability and performance. • Delayed compaction weakens the performance for quick hydration of high alumina cement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The symbiotic microbiota inhabiting the skin and gut of amphibians exerts roles in maintaining host health, especially during the critical stage of complete metamorphosis where failure to remodel the microbiota can result in various diseases. However, the composition and alterations in the amphibian microbiota in diverse diseased populations, as well as the exact mechanisms underlying disruptions in skin and gut microbial communities leading to diseases, are not yet well established. Herein, skin and gut microbiota were sampled from healthy Chinese spiny frogs (CTL group) as well as individuals with ascites disease (AD group), cataract disease (CD group), and rotten-skin disease (RD group) for Illumina high-throughput sequencing analysis to comprehensively explore potential associations between microbiota composition and the health status of the host. Venn diagrams and UpSet analysis revealed that the CTL group exhibited the highest number of unique amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) in their skin, while the CD group displayed the lowest abundance of ASVs in their gut. Compared to the CTL group, the alpha-diversity of skin microbiota was dramatically depressed in diseased groups, and notable variations in the beta-diversity of both skin and gut microbiota were observed. Further compositional analysis identified Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidota as the dominant bacterial phyla in both skin and gut microbiota, although their relative abundances varied widely among groups. The linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) analysis identified various bacteria species with substantial differences between skin and gut microbiota groups including beneficial populations as well as opportunistic ones. Functional predictions indicated significant differences between CTL and diseased groups mainly enriched in metabolism-relevant pathways. Furthermore, in vitro culture experiments confirmed the presence of a total of 19 strains of bacteria from the skin microbiota of RD group, including opportunistic bacteria population Acinetobacter closely associated with spiny frog rotten-skin disease. Taken together, this work provides insights into the composition dynamics of skin and gut microbiota under different health conditions in spiny frogs, highlighting potential applications for symbiotic microbiota modification in promoting healthy amphibian culture practices as well as preventing diseases. • Diseases significantly impacted alpha-diversity and beta-diversity of skin and gut microbiota in Chinese spiny frog. • Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidota might be intrinsic microbiota colonizing skin and gut of Chinese spiny frog. • Several sensitive indicator taxa were identified for host health assessment and disease prediction. • Diseases triggered biological dysfunctions in microbiota of Chinese spiny frog, especially pathways related to metabolism. • Skin-cultivable bacteria were identified from frogs with rotten-skin disease, dominated by opportunistic pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] In December 2020, Chang'E-5 (CE-5), China's first lunar sample return mission, successfully collected samples totaling 1731 g from the northern Oceanus Procellarum. The landing site was located in a young mare plain, a great distance from those of Apollo and Luna missions. These young mare basalts bear critical scientific significance as they could shed light on the nature of the lunar interior (composition and structure) as well as the recent volcanism on the Moon. In this article, we investigated a CE-5 basalt sample (CE5C0000YJYX065) using a combination of state-of-art techniques, including high resolution X-ray tomographic microscopy (HR-XTM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS)-based scanning electron microscope (SEM), and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) to reveal its 3D petrology and minerology. Our results show that this sample has a fine- to medium-grained subophitic texture, with sparse olivine phenocrysts setting in the groundmass of pyroxene, plagioclase, ilmenite and trace amounts of other phases. It has an extremely high ilmenite modal abundance (17.8 vol%) and contains a significant amount (0.5 vol%) of Ca-phosphate grains. The mineral chemistry is in excellent agreement with that of Apollo and Luna high-Ti basalts. The major phase pyroxenes also display strong chemical zoning with compositions following the trends observed in Apollo high-Ti basalts. Based on current data, we came to the conclusion that CE5C0000YJYX065 is a high-Ti mare basalt with a rare earth element (REE) enriched signature. This provides a rigid ground-truth for the geological context at the CE-5 landing site and clarifies the ambiguity inferred from remote sensing surveys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• CAFs suppress the killing effect of PBMCs on lung cancer cells through PD-L1. • Exosomes derived from CAFs suppress the killing effect of PBMCs on lung cancer cells. • MiR-142-5p suppresses lung cancer development through regulating PD-L1 in vivo. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the most important stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment (TEM) and have been reported to regulate various cancer development. Exosomes are considered important elements involved in intercellular communication and TME regulation, while the potential function of CAFs in lung cancer immunosuppressive microenvironments remains unknown. CAFs-derived exosomes (CAFs-exo) and normal fibroblasts (NFs)-derived exosomes (NFs-exo) were isolated by ultra-centrifugation and characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and western blot analysis. A549 cells were co-cultured with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Flow cytometry assay was performed to detect the killing role of PBMCs on A549 cells. Bioinformatics and luciferase reporter assays were used to analyze the relationship among microRNA (miRNA), long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and target gene. BALB/c mice were used to construct the lung cancer model by subcutaneous injection. Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) was up-regulated in lung cancer tissues and cells. PD-L1 also up-regulated in CAFs cell medium-mediated A549 cells. CAFs decreased PBMCs induced-cell apoptosis through increasing PD-L1 in A549 cells. Moreover, CAFs transferred exosomes to lung cancer cells to suppress the killing effect of PBMCs through up-regulating PD-L1. Using microarray assays, opa-interacting protein 5 antisense RNA 1 (OIP5-AS1) level was highly expressed in CAFs-exos. After treatment by CAFs-exos, miR-142-5p level was significantly down-regulated in A549 cells. OIP5-AS1 served as a sponge to target miR-142-5p and negatively regulated miR-142-5p expression in lung cancer cells. In addition, PD-L1 was a direct target of miR-142-5p. CAFs derived exosomal OIP5-AS1 reduced PBMCs induced-cell apoptosis and promoted tumor growth through decreasing miR-142-5p and up-regulating PD-L1. CAFs-derived exosomes suppressed the role of PBMCs induced-killing of lung cancer cells and promoted lung cancer progression by OIP5-AS1/ miR-142-5p/ PD-L1 axis, which provided a potential opportunity for diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction promotes the alveolar bone loss during the development of periodontitis. Mitochondria are the principal source of ROS. Hydroxytyrosol (HT), a natural phenolic compound present in olive oil, is well known for its antioxidant and mitochondrial-protective prosperities. Nonetheless, the impact of HT on periodontitis and its related mechanisms underlying bone cell behavior remains unknown. Osteoclasts differentiated from RAW264.7 model and oxidative stress (OS) induced pre-osteoblast MC3T3-E1 cell injury model were treated with and without HT. Cell viability, apoptosis, differentiation, mitochondrial function along with mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway were investigated. Meanwhile, the effect and related mechanisms of HT on bone loss in mice with periodontitis were also detected. HT inhibited osteoclast differentiation and prevented OS induced pre-osteoblast cells injury via regulating mitochondrial function as well as ERK and JNK signaling pathways. Moreover, HT attenuated the alveolar bone loss, increased bone forming activity, inhibited the osteoclasts differentiation and decreased the level of OS in mice with periodontitis. Our findings, for the first time , revealed a novel function of HT in bone remodeling of periodontitis, and highlighted its therapeutical potential for the prevention/treatment of periodontitis. [Display omitted] • HT inhibited osteoclast differentiation via suppressing ERK/JNK pathway regulated activation in mitochondria. • HT protected osteoblast from oxidative damage via suppressing ERK/JNK pathway regulated dysfunction in mitochondria. • HT ameliorated periodontitis in mice via attenuating osteoclast differentiation and osteoblast injury. • HT may act as a potential bone-protective therapeutic agent for the prevention or treatment of periodontitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potassium elemental and isotope systematics were investigated for a suite of central European tektites from three strewn sub-fields in Czech Republic and possible parent sedimentary materials from the vicinity of the Ries impact structure in SE Germany, supplemented by data for several other impact-related materials (bediasites, Ivory Coast tektites, Libyan Desert Glass). This is paralleled by computation of potential K loss and attendant isotope fractionation for physico–chemical conditions typical for formation of tektite precursor melts. These theoretical calculations indicate a <0.1% loss of K from tektite precursor melts up to 2,500 K and <0.002‰ change in the 41K/39K ratio even for a small sphere of 0.002 m at 2,500 K, precluding any significant K loss and isotope fractionation. Numerical modelling also indicates that differential velocities between surrounding gas and liquid are not sufficient to remove the gaseous boundary layer, such that the partial pressure of potassium developed around the molten moldavite beads impedes further evaporation and also contributes to back-condensation of the already evaporated potassium. Central European tektites (moldavites) are enriched in K compared to the assumed sedimentary sources from the wider Ries area whereby the latter materials do not exceed 2.9 wt.% K 2 O compared to 2.5–4.1 wt.% K 2 O in moldavites. The apparent K enrichment in moldavites may be explained by a yet unaccounted process during formation of tektite precursor melts and/or unidentified source, such as volcanoclastic deposits that were produced by large Mid-Miocene volcanic centers in the Pannonian Basin. The K isotope compositions of tektites are more variable than those of sediments from the wider Ries area but they largely overlap (δ41K from −0.78 ± 0.03‰ to −0.13 ± 0.03‰ versus −0.72 ± 0.03‰ to −0.28 ± 0.02‰, respectively). These ranges mimic 41K/39K variations reported for igneous and sedimentary portions of the upper continental crust (δ41K roughly between −0.7 and −0.1‰). They show a slight difference among the three investigated strewn sub-fields, depending on their respective distance from the impact. In detail, moldavites from the closest strewn sub-field in the Cheb Basin show predominantly heavy K isotope compositions and those from the farthest strewn sub-field in Western Moravia are uniformly isotopically light. The origin of this difference may reflect lithological heterogeneity of the target area. Potassium contents in bediasites and Ivory Coast tektites range between 1.3 and 1.8 wt.% K 2 O and their corresponding δ41K values vary from −0.57 ± 0.02‰ to −0.41 ± 0.03‰. Both ranges are significantly narrower than those observed for moldavites. When compared to data for possible sedimentary precursors in the Chesapeake Bay and Bosumtwi impact structure, respectively, it is apparent that these tektites were neither depleted nor enriched in potassium. The extent of their K isotope fractionation relative to plausible sources remains unconstrained. The Libyan Desert Glass displays invariant δ41K of ~ −0.57 ± 0.06‰ at ≤0.01 wt.% K 2 O. Given the silica-rich nature of LDG and the lack of possible parent materials, no further constraints can be placed at present to further resolve the source material or reveal details of LDG formation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MR fingerprinting (MRF) is a versatile method for rapid multi-parametric quantification. The application of MRF for lower MRI field could enable multi-contrast imaging and improve exam efficiency on these systems. The purpose of this work is to demonstrate the feasibility of 3D whole-brain T1 and T2 mapping using MR fingerprinting on a contemporary 0.55 T MRI system. A 3D whole brain stack-of-spirals FISP MRF sequence was implemented for 0.55 T. Quantification was validated using the NIST/ISMRM Quantitative MRI phantom, and T1 and T2 values of white matter, gray matter, and cerebrospinal fluid were measured in 19 healthy subjects. To assess MRF performance in the lower SNR regime of 0.55 T, measurement precision was calculated from 100 simulated pseudo-replicas of in vivo data and within-session measurement repeatability was evaluated. T1 and T2 values calculated by MRF were strongly correlated to standard measurements in the ISMRM/NIST MRI system phantom (R2 > 0.99), with a small constant bias of approximately 5 ms in T2 values. 3D stack-of-spirals MRF was successfully applied for whole brain quantitative T1 and T2 at 0.55 T, with spatial resolution of 1.2 mm × 1.2 mm × 5 mm, and acquisition time of 8.5 min. Moreover, the T1 and T2 quantifications had precision <5%, despite the lower SNR of 0.55 T. A 3D whole-brain stack-of-spirals FISP MRF sequence is feasible for T1 and T2 mapping at 0.55 T. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stable strontium and barium isotopes are potential tracers for understanding planetary differentiation and the nature of the building blocks of terrestrial planets. Strontium and barium are fluid-mobile elements, but it remains unclear how terrestrial weathering affects the Sr-Ba isotopes compositions in achondrites, thus hampering the utility of Sr-Ba isotopes in cosmochemistry. In this study, we conducted acetic acid leaching on three eucrites with varying weathering degrees (fall: Qiquanhu, hot desert find: Northwest Africa (NWA) 13583, and Antarctic find: Grove Mountains (GRV) 13001). Combined with detailed petrography observations and major and trace element analyses, we investigated the variations in Sr-Ba isotopes during terrestrial weathering. The degree of weathering follows an order of: NWA 13583 > GRV 13001 > Qiquanhu, evaluated based on several alteration signs, including: the presence of secondary carbonate, the enrichment of large ion lithophile elements (e.g., Sr, Ba, and U), and the Ce and Eu anomalies. The concentrations of Sr and Ba in the leachates of NWA 13583 show a good correlation with Ca, suggesting that the soluble Sr and Ba are derived from secondary carbonate. Differently, the concentrations of Sr and Ba in the leachates of Qiquanhu correlate with Al and Na, suggesting that the soluble Sr and Ba in Qiquanhu are derived from primary plagioclases. This also indicates that silicates dissolution may be inevitable in an acid leaching experiment for achondrites, even when using weak acetic acid. GRV 13001 shows no variation in Sr and Ba isotopes during leaching experiments. The δ 138/134Ba in the leachate (0.26 ± 0.02 ‰) of Qiquanhu is higher than that of the residue (0.04 ± 0.03 ‰), reflecting that aqueous fluids preferentially uptake heavy Ba isotopes during plagioclase dissolution. Conversely, the leachate of NWA 13583 shows lower δ 138/134Ba (-0.19 ± 0.05 ‰) than that of residue (-0.10 ± 0.03 ‰), reflecting the lighter Ba isotope composition in carbonate. Notably, the residue of NWA 13583 has δ 138/134Ba ∼ 0.1 ‰ lower than those of Qiquanhu and GRV 13001. This discrepancy may reflect plagioclase dissolution during hot-desert weathering rather than magmatism on the parent body. Different from Ba isotopes, the δ 88/86Sr of Qiquanhu shows tiny variation in the leaching experiment, suggesting that the dissolution of plagioclase may cause negligible Sr isotope fractionation. For NWA 13583, the δ 88/86Sr of leachate is slightly heavier than that of leaching residue and bulk rock, reflecting the high δ 88/86Sr in terrestrial fluids. Our results suggest that Ba and Sr isotopes of eucrites show different behaviors during terrestrial weathering. Sr isotopes show a smaller fractionation scale and may have greater resistance for terrestrial weathering than Ba isotopes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incorporating cold-start emissions from hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) into on-road emission modeling is fundamental to accurately assess the environmental impacts aligned with their projected deployment. This study introduces a cold-start emission model, integrating travel time, dynamic emission rates, and cold-start durations by fuel type. This study further explores the anticipated spatiotemporal patterns of annual cold-start emissions. Findings indicate a reliance on gasoline for most on-road vehicles in the next decade, but vehicle electrification could reduce carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC), and nitrogen oxide (NO X) emissions by over 60% by 2035. Cold-start emissions will remain significant (67%-79% of CO, 59%-71% of HC, and 42%-54% of NO X emissions), especially on local roads. Cold-start emissions from HEVs will contribute to 14%, 25%, and 13% of total CO, HC, and NO X emissions in 2035, respectively. This study highlights the importance of accurate modeling in understanding the environmental benefits of vehicle electrification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cloud base height (CBH) is a key parameter to characterize the cloud radiation effect. However, the CBH used in downwelling surface longwave radiation (DSLR) estimation is generally obtained indirectly through cloud top parameters retrieved by passive optical remote sensing instruments, which is of high uncertainty. At the same time, it is unreasonable to replace the effective radiation of the entire cloud layers by only using the cloud base radiation with single layer cloud model. This study proposes a new method to estimate cloudy-sky DSLR, which considers the radiation effect of the entire cloud layers from the cloud base to top. First, the CBH estimation model is established by the genetic algorithm-artificial neural network (GA-ANN) algorithm. The cloud top height and cloud attribute parameters (cloud optical depth, cloud water path, and cloud phase) from the passive remote sensing are used as the input features, and meanwhile CBH data from the active remote sensing are output features in the training and testing process of the model. Then, the cloud base temperature (CBT) is estimated based on the CBH combined with the temperature profile data in the EAR5 reanalysis data. Finally, the effective temperature of the entire cloud layers is calculated by using CBT and cloud top temperature. The verification results of CBH estimation showed that R2 is 0.83, the bias and root mean square error (RMSE) are 0.02 km and 1.56 km, respectively, which indicates a comparable accuracy and higher stability compared with the previous studies. The ground-based measurements in the SURFRAD network are used to validate the newly proposed DSLR estimation method, and the results showed that the bias and RMSE are 5.27 W/m2 and 28.48 W/m2, respectively. Additionally, this study found that although the effective temperature of the entire cloud layers has a weaker linear correlation with DSLR, the radiation contribution generated by cloud still occupies a certain weight, and the maximum ratio of cloud radiation in DSLR estimation can account for 30%. Therefore, the cloud radiation effect must be taken into account in the estimation of cloudy-sky DSLR. • A new CBH estimation model is established by combining passive with active remote sensing data. • The cloudy-sky DSLR is estimated by considering the radiation effect of the entire cloud layers from the cloud base to top. • The radiation contribution generated by cloud in DSLR estimation can up to 30%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Highly crystalline Li-rich cathodes with Mn2+/4+ double redox are prepared. • Nb5+ alleviates the MnO 6 octahedron distortion and the Jahn-Teller effect. • Nb5+ substitution improves Li+ percolation and electrode reaction dynamics. • Nb5+ improves the reversibility of structural evolution and redox reaction. Disordered rocksalt (DRX) cathodes are promising for next-generation lithium-ion batteries due to its high discharge capacity. Benefiting from the high degree of freedom in compositional design, cationic multi-electron redox is realized through the stabilization of d0 transition metals (TMs), and irreversible oxygen loss is alleviated by increased TM capacity contribution. However, such materials reported so far are almost weakly crystalline (fluorine)oxides prepared by mechanochemical methods. Herein, we prepare highly crystalline Mn(II)-based DRX oxides Li 1.15 Mn 0.275 Ti 0.575 O 2 (LMTO), and Li 1.23 Mn 0.275 Ti 0.255 Nb 0.24 O 2 (LMTNO) with partial d0 Ti4+ replaced by d0 Nb5+. Increased lattice spacings of LMTNO are confirmed due to the larger ionic radius of Nb5+, which is conducive to Li+ diffusion. In combination with bond-valence sum method and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, lower Li+ percolation energy and better rate performance of LMTNO are demonstrated kinetically. Density functional calculations reveal that d0 Nb5+ is superior to d0 Ti4+ for the stabilization of Mn-O bonds, and relieves MnO 6 octahedral distortion to alleviate the Jahn-Teller effect. In-situ X-ray diffraction indicates that the structural evolution and redox reaction are more reversible in LMTNO during the electrochemical process. This work understands the effect of d0 TMs on the electrochemical performance of DRX cathodes and provides new insights into multi-electron redox. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blind-bolts offer a feasible way for connecting a steel member with closed-hollow section to a member with open-section. However, the relatively higher cost of the available blind-bolts is an obstacle to practical application. For reducing the production cost, a modified Hollo-Bolt with standardized slotted sleeves (MBB) was proposed. To investigate the load-resisting behavior of the proposed MBB and conduct comparative studies with the normal blind-bolt (NBB), extensive experimental tests under pure tension and shear were performed on NBB and MBB of three different diameters and two common strength grades. The results indicate that MBBs and NBBs showed similar load-resisting behavior under tension as the fracture strength of the bolt shank solely controlled the ultimate tension-resisting capacity of the blind-bolt unit. Under simple shear, however, the load-resisting capacity of MBBs was slightly lower than that of NBBs due to the relatively shorter embedment length of its unslotted tube. Nonetheless, the load-resisting capacities of both MBBs and NBBs under simple shear were significantly higher than those of common high strength bolts, owing to contributions from the sleeve and unslotted tube. Moreover, finite element models incorporating ductile fracture criterion were established to replicate the load-resisting behavior of the blind-bolts under tested scenarios. It was revealed that the differences in the shear resistance of NBB and MBB were mainly attributable to the significant tensile stress of the bolt shank and the delayed damage of unslotted tube, which is essentially related to the embedment length of unslotted tube. • A modified blind bolt with standardized slotted sleeve (SBB) is proposed. • Experimental studies on SBB and the companion normal blind bolt (NBB) are conducted. • SBB showed similar load-resisting capacity as NBB under direct tension. • The shear-resisting capacity of SBB was slightly smaller than that of NBB • Numerical models considering fracture behavior are established and validated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We had observed in our previous study that the active fucoidan (JHCF4), isolated from the crude fucoidan in acid-processed Hizikia fusiforme , possessed an anticancer effect. In this study, the antioxidant effect of JHCF4 was evaluated. Among the fractions, JHCF4 showed the highest scavenging activity against 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), alkyl, and hydroxyl radicals, as well as protective effect against reactive oxygen species (ROS) in 2, 2′-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-treated Vero cells. Furthermore, JHCF4 showed a protective activity against AAPH-induced apoptosis, as observed by nuclear staining with Hoechst 33342. Our results showed that JHCF4 can up-regulate Bcl-xL, down-regulate Bax and cleave caspase-3 with increased concentrations in AAPH-induced Vero cells. JHCF4 induced anti-apoptosis via a mitochondria-mediated pathway. Additionally, JHCF4 was selected for further in vivo screening in a zebrafish model, which markedly decreased ROS generation and lipid peroxidation. Thus, JHCF4 showed a potential protective activity against AAPH-induced ROS both in vitro and in the zebrafish model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental works have proved that imbibition under forced pressure (FP, the difference between hydraulic fluid pressure and original pore pressure) has a positive effect on fossil hydrogen energy development in tight oil reservoir. However, the knowledge of the influence of imbibition under forced pressure (forced imbibition, FI) on fracturing fluid flowback and water retention is still limited. In this paper, experiments were designed and conducted to reveal the mechanism of fracturing fluid flowback and water retention under imbibition effect in tight sandstones. As a comparison, unconsolidated sandstones were also investigated in this study. Core samples were divided into two categories: the imbibition ones (treated by imbibition) and the filtration ones (treated by displacement), in accordance with the real oil-water distribution after well shut-in. An imbibition core and a filtration core were stitched together to conduct a flowback experiment. During the experiment, fluid distribution in different pore sizes was monitored continuously by using a low-field nuclear magnetic resonance device. Results show that the flowback recovery in tight sandstones is much lower than that in unconsolidated sandstones due to the difference of pore structure. Meanwhile, forced imbibition leads to higher oil recovery than spontaneous imbibition (SI) in tight sandstones since forced pressure enhances water imbibition. The water imbibed into small-macro and macro pores contributes the major flowback recovery, but the imbibed water in micro pores is rather difficult to displace and finally retains in these pores during the flowback process. Overall, forced imbibition not only enhances oil recovery but also increases water retention, explaining the mechanism of well productivity increase by using the shut-in method in the field. This study can help to clarify the influence of forced imbibition on fracturing fluid flowback and enhancement of fossil hydrogen development, and further provide guidance for flowback designs. • The flowback process in tight sandstone was experimentally investigated. • The influence of forced pressure on imbibition was studied. • The effect of imbibition on water retention was revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the antiproliferative effects of fucoidan from three regional hijiki (Hizikia fusiforme) samples (Zhejiang-China, Jeju-Korea [JH], and Wando-Korea) in East Asia. Hijiki was processed using 1% citric acid to decrease heavy metal content. The JH sample was separated using diethylaminoethyl-cellulose-ion exchange chromatography to obtain four active fractions (JHCF1-JHCF4) and their monosaccharide composition was detected using high-performance liquid chromatography. The structure of the crude polysaccharides and four fucoidan fractions was analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. JHCF4 showed the highest fucose and sulfate content and decreased Hep3B cell growth in 48 h with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 33.53 ± 2.50 μg/ml, which represented the strongest anticancer activity. Further, nuclear staining with Hoechst 33342 and acridine orange-ethidium bromide staining demonstrated that the anticancer activity of JHCF4 was mediated by apoptosis. Moreover, JHCF4 down-regulated B-cell lymphoma extra-large, while up-regulating Bcl-2-associated X protein, caspase-3, and apoptotic bodies to different degrees in Hep3B cells. JHCF4 induced apoptosis via the generation of reactive oxygen species along with the concurrent loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, indicating the potential role of the mitochondria-mediated pathway. Therefore, these results indicate that JHCF4 exhibited antiproliferative effects on the investigated cancer cell lines. • Three regional Hizikia fusiforme samples were processed using 1% citric acid to decrease the heavy metal content. • Fraction 4 showed the highest fucose and sulfate content and represented the strongest anticancer activity. • Evidence that fraction 4 induced apoptosis via the mitochondria-mediated pathway was found in Hep3B cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tektites are mm to cm sized glassy objects generated through high-energy meteoroid impacts on the surface of the Earth under high temperature and pressure, and reducing conditions. They are the products of large-scale catastrophic events in Earth's history and can be used to understand the behavior of moderately volatile elements (e.g., K and Zn) during impact vaporization events. Here, we report bulk K isotopic compositions of tektites from three different strewn fields and "in-situ" profile analysis of both K and Zn isotopes in one complete tektite. All tektites span a narrow range in their K isotopic compositions (δ41K BSE : −0.10 ± 0.03‰ to 0.16 ± 0.04‰), revealing no discernible K isotopic fractionation from the Bulk Silicate Earth (BSE) and upper continental crust materials, which is consistent with previous results. In contrast, Zn isotopes show a large variation (δ66Zn: −0.39 ± 0.02‰ to 2.38 ± 0.03‰) even within one specimen. In order to provide a coherent explanation for the different behavior of moderately volatile elements (K, Zn and Cu), we have conducted thermochemical calculations to compute the partial vapor pressures of Cu 2 O, K 2 O, and ZnO dissolved in silicate melts as a function of temperature, pressure, oxygen and chlorine fugacities. In a large range of the parameter space, the calculations show that Cu and Zn can be vaporized much easier than K and thus produce large isotopic fractionation. In contrast, the lithophile element K is more prone to remain in the silicate melt because of its very low activity coefficient in the melt, and thus the K isotopes remain unfractionated. This study provides new constraints on the formation of tektites and is consistent with a "bubble-stripping" model to explain the extreme water and volatiles depletion in tektites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photon counting lidar has been widely used in long-distance target detection and long range active three-dimensional imaging fields due to its extremely high detecting sensitivity. The single-photon level sensitivity extends the detection range of the photon counting lidar, meanwhile makes it suffer from the noise interference. Especially, the strong sunlight background during the daytime limits the detection ability and applications of the photon counting lidar. In this paper, a new type of ultra-narrowband spectral filtering system is designed for the lidar, and based on which, a daytime working photon counting lidar system with 20 μ J pulse energy and 25 mm receiving aperture was established. A 24 km long-distance ranging experiment and a 22 km fast 3D imaging experiment were completed in daylight environment, which demonstrated outstanding daytime working performance of such a "small" lidar. • A new type of ultra-narrowband spectral filtering system for lidar is designed. • A brand new practical solution for daytime working lidars. • A fast 3D imaging with resolution of 400×1000 at 22 km in daylight environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroptosis is a form of regulated cell death that occurs depending on iron and reactive oxygen species (ROS), but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. The aim of our study was to investigate the role of solute carrier family 7 member 11(SLC7A11) in the progression of gastric cancer (GC) and its molecular mechanism. The expression of SLC7A11 in GC was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunohistochemistry (IHC) and western blot. SLC7A11 interference and overexpression vector was constructed in vitro, transfected into GC cells, and the high efficiency plasmid vector fragment was screened.CCK-8 assay was used to detect the effect of cell proliferation. The migration ability of cells was detected by transwell assay. The mitochondrial structure was observed by transmission electron microscopy.CCK-8 assay was also used to detect the effect of SLC7A11 on the growth inhibition rate of ferroptosis in GC cells. The level of malondialdehyde (MDA), the ultimate product of lipid peroxidation, was detected by micro-method. The effect of SLC7A11 on PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was detected by Western blot. SLC7A11 was significantly overexpressed in GC tissues than that in adjacent tissues. Knockdown of SLC7A11 inhibits cell proliferation, cell migration and invasion of GC, and increases the sensitivity of ferroptosis via moderating ROS and lipid peroxidation. Besides, overexpression of the SLC7A11 in GC cells reverses erastin-induced ferroptosis partially. Mechanistically, we reveal that suppression of SCL7A11 leads to inactivity of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and further enhancing ferroptosis related lipid peroxidation, and thereby inhibiting GC progression. SLC7A11 plays an oncogene role in malignant progression of GC. SLC7A11 reversely regulates ferroptosis of GC cells by activating PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Silencing SLC7A11 expression can inhibit the progression of GC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a two-timescale projection neural network (PNN) for solving optimization problems with nonconvex functions. We prove the convergence of the PNN with sufficiently different timescales to a local optimal solution. We develop a collaborative neurodynamic approach with multiple such PNNs to search for global optimal solutions. In addition, we develop a collaborative neurodynamic approach with multiple PNNs connected via a directed graph for distributed global optimization. We elaborate on four numerical examples to illustrate the characteristics of the approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Nickel-containing wastewater is a serious hazard to water environment, so that it is a burning issue to find an efficient and environment-friendly adsorbent. The conventional biochar could not effectively adsorb nickel (Ni(II)), so our study focuses on exploring the adsorption of chemically modified biochar to Ni(II). In this study, the biochar derived from waste peanut shell was modified by KMnO 4 and KOH (MBC). And a series of experiment were carried out to evaluate the sorption ability and explore adsorption mechanism of modified biochar to Ni(II). The results showed the adsorption ability of MBC to Ni(II) reached 87.15 mg g−1. And the reaction process was spontaneous and endothermic chemisorption. Meanwhile, the analysis of FTIR and XPS visually revealed that the amine groups in the modified biochar could form NH 2 Ni with Ni(II) by complexation, while the hydroxyl could form nickel hydroxide and complexed nickel oxide by co-precipitation and complexation. This research showed this novel MBC is a promising adsorbent and has a fantastic prospect in the application of nickel-containing wastewater. Highlights • Strong adsorption of KMnO 4 and KOH-modified biochar to Ni(II). • The pore structure of modified biochar offered more adsorption sites of Ni(II). • Amine groups and removed Ni(II) by the formation of NH 2 Ni. • Hydroxyl removed Ni(II) by the formation of Ni(OH) 2 and nickel complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This study aims to improve the accuracy and consistency of T 1 and T 2 measurements using cardiac MR Fingerprinting (cMRF) by investigating and accounting for the effects of confounding factors including slice profile, inversion and T 2 preparation pulse efficiency, and B 1 +. The goal is to understand how measurements with different pulse sequences are affected by these factors. This can be used to determine which factors must be taken into account for accurate measurements, and which may be mitigated by the selection of an appropriate pulse sequence. Simulations were performed using a numerical cardiac phantom to assess the accuracy of over 600 cMRF sequences with different flip angles, TRs, and preparation pulses. A subset of sequences, including one with the lowest errors in T 1 and T 2 maps, was used in subsequent analyses. Errors due to non-ideal slice profile, preparation pulse efficiency, and B 1 + were quantified in Bloch simulations. Corrections for these effects were included in the dictionary generation and demonstrated in phantom and in vivo cardiac imaging at 3 T. Neglecting to model slice profile and preparation pulse efficiency led to underestimated T 1 and overestimated T 2 for most cMRF sequences. Sequences with smaller maximum flip angles were less affected by slice profile and B 1 +. Simulating all corrections in the dictionary improved the accuracy of T 1 and T 2 phantom measurements, regardless of acquisition pattern. More consistent myocardial T 1 and T 2 values were measured using different sequences after corrections. Based on these results, a pulse sequence which is minimally affected by confounding factors can be selected, and the appropriate residual corrections included for robust T 1 and T 2 mapping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Herein, we demonstrate a sustainable strategy for scalable production of α -Fe 2 O 3 nanocrystals on flexible carbon textiles via controllable chemical bath deposition process. The assembly of α -Fe 2 O 3 nanocrystals is densely anchored onto the carbon textiles, and the temperature-dependent mass loading and crystal size of α -Fe 2 O 3 are systematically investigated. As an integrated electrode for lithium-ion batteries, the optimized Fe 2 O 3 @CTs with ultrathin three-dimensional interconnected porous architectures achieves significantly enhanced cycling performance and rate capability attributing to the improved stability, electronic interconnection, and shortened solid state diffusion pathway for Li+ ions/electrons. After the reactivation of the precursor, the Li-ion batteries based on the recycled Fe 2 O 3 @CTs exhibits electrochemical performance with no decay compared to that of the devices based on the fresh products. This sustainable methodology, considering material abundance, eco-efficiency, synthetic approach and scalability, is of crucial importance to both academy and industry for achieving high-performance lithium-ion batteries. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • A sustainable strategy for α -Fe 2 O 3 based anodes has been demonstrated. • α -Fe 2 O 3 with 3D interconnected porous architectures was assembled on the CTs. • Fe 2 O 3 @CTs-100 exhibited excellent cycling stability and high rate capacity. • The recycled Fe 2 O 3 @CTs exhibited the battery performances with no decay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the acquisition of ASL data and quantification of multiple hemodynamic parameters was explored using a Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting (MRF) approach. A pseudo-continuous ASL labeling scheme was used with pseudo-randomized timings to acquire the MRF ASL data in a 2.5 min acquisition. A large dictionary of MRF ASL signals was generated by combining a wide range of physical and hemodynamic properties with the pseudo-random MRF ASL sequence and a two-compartment model. The acquired signals were matched to the dictionary to provide simultaneous quantification of cerebral blood flow, tissue time-to-peak, cerebral blood volume, arterial time-to-peak, B 1 , and T 1. A study in seven healthy volunteers resulted in the following values across the population in grey matter (mean ± standard deviation): cerebral blood flow of 69.1 ± 6.1 ml/min/100 g, arterial time-to-peak of 1.5 ± 0.1 s, tissue time-to-peak of 1.5 ± 0.1 s, T 1 of 1634 ms, cerebral blood volume of 0.0048 ± 0.0005. The CBF measurements were compared to standard pCASL CBF estimates using a one-compartment model, and a Bland-Altman analysis showed good agreement with a minor bias. Repeatability was tested in five volunteers in the same exam session, and no statistical difference was seen. In addition to this validation, the MRF ASL acquisition's sensitivity to the physical and physiological parameters of interest was studied numerically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Functional distinctiveness influenced SCBD indirectly through niche properties. • Species niche position (OMI) and breadth (Tol) affected SCBD in opposite ways. • SCBD values were lower for species with more unique trait combinations in the study plot. To biologically interpret β diversity patterns, in terms of species characteristics, needs to quantify how each individual species contributes to overall β diversity (SCBD). However, the lack of studies linking SCBD to functional traits hinders to explore the full potential of the approach in biodiversity conservation. Here, we combined census data, species functional traits, and environmental variables from a 50-ha stem-mapped forest plot in southern China, with the aim to disentangle the relationship among SCBD, species functional traits and niche properties. We used nine functional traits to estimate species functional distinctiveness, and eleven environmental variables were used to compute species niche properties (niche position and niche breadth). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to analyze how functional distinctiveness and niche properties jointly influenced SCBD. Results found that species with more unique trait combinations (higher functional distinctiveness) occupied marginal niche position and maintained smaller niche breadths and thus contributed less to overall β diversity. Meanwhile, functional distinctiveness and niche properties jointly determined SCBD. In addition, we found a negative effect of functional distinctiveness on SCBD, which implies the urgency of developing better biodiversity conservation strategies by unravelling the linkage between SCBD and ecosystem multifunctionality. These findings contribute to a better understanding of how species characteristics affect β diversity and making SCBD more applicable in biodiversity conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When integrating out unknown new physics sectors, what is the minimal character of the Standard Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT) that can result? In this paper we focus on a particular aspect of this question: “How can one obtain only one dimension six operator in the SMEFT from a consistent tree level matching onto an unknown new physics sector?” We show why this requires conditions on the ultraviolet field content that do not indicate a stand alone ultraviolet complete scenario. Further, we demonstrate how a dynamical origin of the ultraviolet scales assumed to exist in order to generate the masses of the heavy states integrated out generically induces more operators. Therefore, our analysis indicates that the infrared limit captured from a new sector in consistent matchings induces multiple operators in the SMEFT quite generically. Global data analyses in the SMEFT can and should accommodate this fact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• TMF tests were investigated on specimens manufactured by precision casting with holes. • TMF deformational behaviors of the specimen with holes were studied. • The stress concentration at the hole led to crack nucleation and final failure. • A TMF life prediction method based on stress concentration was proposed. Thermomechanical fatigue behavior of a directional solidified superalloy was investigated. Circular holes were designed on the specimen manufactured by precision cast method. The results indicated that the TMF damage is mainly controlled by fatigue, creep and oxidation damage, and the stress concentration at the holes results in crack nucleation and final failure. A new TMF life prediction method for specimens with stress concentration is proposed. The stress gradient is introduced to consider the effect of stress concentration at hole and notch in this method, which is verified by TMF data of smooth, notched and hole specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytokinin oxidases/dehydrogenases (CKXs) are the only known enzymes that specifically catalyze the degradation of cytokinins (CKs). CKXs regulate CK levels in plants and play an essential role in CK regulatory processes. In spite of their physiological importance, systematic analyses of CKX genes in woodland strawberry, Fragaria vesca , have not been performed yet. In this paper, we report a genome-wide identification and characterization of FvCKX genes. A total of eight FvCKX genes were identified. Phylogenetic analysis showed that species-specific expansion of FvCKX genes have occurred, possibly through segmental duplication or single gene transposition-duplication. Various types of cis-elements detected in the promoters suggested a functional diversification of the FvCKX genes. Quantitative PCR assays were carried out, demonstrating differential expression patterns of FvCKX genes in the organs, under abiotic stresses including drought, salt and heat, and under abscisic acid (ABA) treatments. Most expressed FvCKX s exhibited relatively high expression in roots, stolons, leaves, flowers and young fruits. Significant induction of FvCKX genes was observed in leaves and roots under salt treatment, and in leaves under drought and ABA treatments, suggesting that CKs were negative regulators in strawberry responses to drought, salt and ABA. More FvCKX genes were repressed after heat treatment, indicating a possible different pattern of CK modulation under heat. Taken together, our results show moderate expansion and diverse expression patterns of FvCKX genes in woodland strawberry. This will help to enhance the understanding of functional divergence of these FvCKX genes and provide a basis for improving stress tolerance of strawberries by manipulating the CK content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persimmon fruits accumulate a large amount of proanthocyanidins (PAs) in “tannin cells” during development that cause the sensation of astringency due to coagulation of oral proteins. Pollination-constant non-astringent (PCNA) is a spontaneous mutant persimmon phenotype that loses its astringency naturally on the tree at maturity; while the more common non-PCNA fruits remain rich in PAs until they are fully ripened. Here, we isolated a DkMATE1 gene encoding a Multidrug And Toxic Compound Extrusion (MATE) family protein from the Chinese PCNA (C-PCNA) ‘Eshi 1’. Expression patterns of DkMATE1 were positively correlated with the accumulation of PAs in different types of persimmons fruits during fruit development. An analysis of the inferred amino acid sequences and phylogenetic relationships indicated that DkMATE1 is a putative PA precursor transporter, and subcellular localization assays revealed that DkMATE1 is localized in the vacuolar membrane. Ectopic expression of the DkMATE1 in Arabidopsis tt12 mutant supported that DkMATE1 could complement its biological function in transporting epicatechin 3′-O-glucoside as a PAs precursor from the cytoplasm to vacuole. Furthermore, the transient over-expression and silencing of DkMATE1 in ‘Mopanshi’ persimmon leaves resulted in a significant increase and a decrease in PA content, respectively. The analysis of cis -elements in DkMATE1 promoter regions indicated that DkMATE1 might be regulated by DkMYB4 , another well-known structural gene in persimmon. Overall, our results show that DkMATE1 may be an essential PA precursor membrane transporter that plays an important role in PA biosynthesis in persimmon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lung transplant recipients (LTR) experience problems recognizing and reporting critical condition changes during their daily health self-monitoring. Pocket PATH(®), a mobile health application, was designed to provide automatic feedback messages to LTR to guide decisions for detecting and reporting critical values of health indicators.Objectives: To examine the degree to which LTR followed decision support messages to report recorded critical values, and to explore predictors of appropriately following technology decision support by reporting critical values during the first year after transplantation.Methods: A cross-sectional correlational study was conducted to analyze existing data from 96 LTR who used the Pocket PATH for daily health self-monitoring. When a critical value is entered, the device automatically generated a feedback message to guide LTR about when and what to report to their transplant coordinators. Their socio-demographics and clinical characteristics were obtained before discharge. Their use of Pocket PATH for health self-monitoring during 12 months was categorized as low (≤25% of days), moderate (>25% to ≤75% of days), and high (>75% of days) use. Following technology decision support was defined by the total number of critical feedback messages appropriately handled divided by the total number of critical feedback messages generated. This variable was dichotomized by whether or not all (100%) feedback messages were appropriately followed. Binary logistic regression was used to explore predictors of appropriately following decision support.Results: Of the 96 participants, 53 had at least 1 critical feedback message generated during 12 months. Of these 53 participants, the average message response rate was 90% and 33 (62%) followed 100% decision support. LTR who moderately used Pocket PATH (n=23) were less likely to follow technology decision support than the high (odds ratio [OR]=0.11, p=0.02) and low (OR=0.04, p=0.02) use groups. The odds of following decision support were reduced in LTR whose income met basic needs (OR=0.01, p=0.01) or who had longer hospital stays (OR=0.94, p=0.004). A significant interaction was found between gender and past technology experience (OR=0.21, p=0.03), suggesting that with increased past technology experience, the odds of following decision support to report all critical values decreased in men but increased in women.Conclusions: The majority of LTR responded appropriately to mobile technology-based decision support for reporting recorded critical values. Appropriately following technology decision support was associated with gender, income, experience with technology, length of hospital stay, and frequency of use of technology for self-monitoring. Clinicians should monitor LTR, who are at risk for poor reporting of recorded critical values, more vigilantly even when LTR are provided with mobile technology decision support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently the ATLAS and CMS Collaborations at the LHC announced their observation of a potential 750 GeV di-photon resonance, after analyzing the s = 13 TeV LHC data. This observation has significant implications for low-energy supersymmetry. Beyond the MSSM and the NMSSM, we study the MSSM-extensions with an extra U ( 1 ) ′ gauge symmetry. The anomaly cancellation and the spontaneous breaking of the non-decoupled U ( 1 ) ′ generally require introducing vector-like supermultiplets (both colored and color-neutral ones) and singlet supermultiplets, respectively. We illustrate that the potential 750 GeV resonance ( Y ) can be accommodated in various mechanisms, as a singlet-like scalar or pseudoscalar. Three benchmark scenarios are presented: (1) vector-like quarks (VLQ) mediated p p → Y → γ γ ; (2) scalar VLQ mediated p p → Y → γ γ ; (3) heavy scalar (pseudo-scalar) H / A associated production p p → H ⁎ / A ⁎ → Y H / h . Additionally, we notice that the Z ′ -mediated vector boson fusion production and Z ′ -associated production p p → Y q q ′ , if yielding a signal rate of the observed level, might have been excluded by the searches for Z ′ via Drell–Yan process at the LHC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In emissions modeling, emissions released during cold starts are often underestimated, especially at the network level. This study quantifies the impact of cold-start emissions on human exposure during active travel (i.e., walking and bicycling) and while waiting at bus stops during the morning peak hour. Cold-start emissions of carbon monoxide (CO) are found to account for 90.2% and 77.9% of emissions on local roads and minor arterials. Neglecting cold-start emissions leads to an 82.0% underestimation of emissions at the network level. The results show that CO exposures are underestimated by 82.1%, 67.1%, and 88.8% for travelers walking, bicycling, and waiting at bus stops, respectively, when cold-start emissions are not considered. This study examines the significant contribution of cold-start emissions and recommends taking these into account in emissions modeling. The findings concerning active travelers indicate the need for a re-assessment of potential bias when neglecting cold-start emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminum alloys were used in various fields due to their high specific strength and low density. However, the disadvantage of low strength limits its wider application. In this work, the effect of ultrasonic surface rolling process (USRP) and artificial aging on microstructure and mechanical properties of 7075 aluminum alloy were investigated in detail. The results indicated that a multi-gradient nanostructure (MGNS) layer, i.e., grain gradient and precipitation gradient, was generated on the surface of the alloy. The tensile strength of the aged-USRP sample (692 MPa) was about 63 % higher than that of the coarse-grained sample (425 MPa), and the plasticity was comparable to that of the coarse-grained specimen. The underlying mechanisms of grain refinements, precipitation behavior and their effects on tensile properties were quantitatively analyzed. The high strength of the aged-USRP sample originated from grain boundary strengthening, precipitation strengthening, dislocation strengthening and synergistic strengthening. The activation of geometrically necessary dislocations (GNDs) during tensile deformation improved the plastic coordination ability of different microstructures. Thus, excellent strength-ductility synergy of 7075 aluminum alloy was obtained. • Multi-gradient nanostructure was formed on the surface of 7075 Aluminum Alloy. • Gradient nanostructure of type and number density of precipitates formed. • The multi-gradient nanostructure enhanced strength-ductility synergy of the alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The different roles of Lu and La in the intergranular film in silicon nitride on the growth morphology are investigated via molecular dynamics simulations. While advanced microscopy shows each rare earth on the prism surface at room temperature, each additive affects the outward (perpendicular) growth of the surface differently. The simulations show the effect of elevated temperature on the adsorption of La and Lu on this surface that affects growth and provides the atomistic mechanism for the different growth morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate a facile approach to synthesize shape-controlled anatase titania with tailored facets via the employment of 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS) as shape-tunable and capping agent. The as-synthesized anatase TiO 2 nanorods was highly crystalline and exposed with {001} and {100} facets. The LIBs based on these highly crystalline TiO 2 nanorods with tailored facets reveals significant improvement in high-rate capacity and cycling performance. More importantly, this methodology enable the industrial application of anatase titania as anode materials for LIBs without high temperature annealing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to determine if electrical signals generated by soil microorganisms in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) can accurately respond to Cd 2+ concentrations and to evaluate the linear detection range of the method. MFCs were packed with soil spiked with 10 to 400 mg kg − 1 Cd 2+ and operated for 37 h at constant temperature (30 °C). The generated coulomb ( C ) and start-up time ( ST ) of the MFCs were calculated as electrical signals. The dehydrogenase activity (DHA) of the Cd 2+ -spiked soil was determined as a reference method. After MFC operation, the diversity of anodic bacteria was studied by using PCR-DGGE and the sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. The results showed that with increasing Cd 2+ concentration, C decreased while ST increased significantly. In the control, C was 30.86 ± 3.84 C and ST was 14.39 ± 1.44 h; these values decreased to 8.29 ± 5.08 C and 30.39 ± 2.87 h, respectively, for the treatment with 400 mg kg − 1 Cd 2 + . Both C (r 2 = 0.943, P < 0.01) and ST (r 2 = 0.937, P < 0.01) were linearly related to Cd 2+ at concentrations ranging from 10 to 100 mg kg − 1 and were in agreement with DHA. Cadmium stress significantly decreased the Shannon diversity and changed the community structure of anodic bacteria. Phylogenetic analysis of DGGE bands showed that the anodic bacteria were mainly affiliated with Bacillus , Comamonas , Clostridium and Enterobacter . We propose that electrical signals can be used to evaluate the toxicity of Cd 2+ to soil microorganisms at concentrations below 100 mg kg − 1 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decade, intensive human activity, particularly dam construction, has resulted in altered runoff in the Sanchahe River region. In this study, the changes in runoff and flood regime were analyzed using Mann–Kendall trend analysis and linear regression analysis. The annual runoff coefficient (ARC) was selected as the primary index to verify the relationship between reservoirs and change in annual runoff at the outlets of upstream Sanchahe River Basin (Yangchang hydrologic station) and the entire basin (Yachihe hydrologic station). The results indicate that the construction of dams and the subsequent development of reservoirs have significantly influenced stream flow process in the Sanchahe River Basin. As reservoirs in the upstream part of the basin are small in both number and storage capacity, the annual runoff depth decreased only slightly from 1963 to 2012, and this trend was not significant at the 95% confidence level. Trend analyses on ARCs demonstrate that the consumption of water during reservoir construction is likely the cause of decreased runoff depth. In contrast, the annual runoff depth of the entire basin decreased significantly (∼4.01 mm/y). The basin-wide flood regime has been influenced by reservoir construction in the entire Sanchahe River Basin. The annual maximum peak flow (AMPF), annual maximum 3-day flood volume (AM3FV), and annual maximum 7-day flood volume (AM7FV) all decreased significantly at Yachihe station, especially after the construction of the Puding and Yinzidu Reservoir dams. Large floods seldom occurred after the 1990s, and since 2000, no flood cases with a recurrence period of more than 10 years have occurred at the basin outlet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains, including those of O157:H7 and the “big six” serogroups (i.e., O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145) are food-borne pathogens that pose a serious health threat to humans. Ruminants, especially cattle, are a major reservoir for O157 and non-O157 STEC. In the present study, 115 E. coli strains isolated from small and very small beef processing plants were screened for virulence genes ( stx1 , stx2 , eae ) using a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Thirteen (11.3%) of the 115 isolates tested positive for stx1 , stx2 , or eae genes, but only 4 (3.5%) tested positive for either stx1 or stx2 . A multiplex PCR reaction targeting eight O-serogroups (O26, O45, O103, O111, O113, O121, O145, O157) identified 12 isolates as O26, O103, O111, or O145, with E. coli O26 being the most predominant serogroup (61.5%). The thirteen isolates were further analyzed using Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) subtyping. Consistent with previous studies, CRISPR alleles from strains of the same serogroup were similar in their spacer content and order, regardless of the isolation source. A completely different CRISPR allele was observed in one isolate (“7-J”) which exhibited a different O-serogroup (O78). Our results confirmed previous findings that CRISPR loci are conserved among phylogenetically-related strains. In addition, 8 E. coli O26 isolates and a collection of 42 E. coli O26 isolates were screened for 12 enterohemorrhagic E. coli -specific genes. Seven genes (ECs848—Hypothetical Protein, ECs2226—Hypothetical Protein, ECs3857— nleB , ECs3858—Hypothetical Protein, ECs4552— escF , ECs4553—Hypothetical Protein, and ECs4557— sepL ) were found in all 50 isolates. An additional 5 genes (ECs1322— ureA urease subunit γ, ECs1323— ureB urease subunit β, ECs1326— ureF , ECs1561—Hypothetical Protein, and ECs1568—Hypothetical Protein) were found to be highly prevalent in isolates from human sources, while lower in isolates from beef processing plants, cattle, and other sources. This finding indicates the possible role of these genes in virulence of human O26 strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our previous study demonstrated that microRNA 5100 (miR-5100) is overexpressed in lung cancer tissues; however, the function of miR-5100 remained elusive. In this study, we demonstrate that miR-5100 is highly expressed in a wide variety of lung cancer tissues and lung cancer cell lines. Exogenous expression of miR-5100 in A549 and H1299 lung cancer cells enhanced proliferation and colony formation, and conversely, suppression of miR-5100 exhibited inhibitory effects. Furthermore, we demonstrate that miR-5100 promotes tumor growth in nude mice. These effects may result from the ability of miR-5100 to promote G1/S transition and downregulate cyclin D1 and cyclin-dependent kinases 2 (CDK2) expressions in lung cancer stable cells. Using a bioinformatics target prediction tool, we identified Rab6 as a potential target of miR-5100. Consistently, overexpression of miR-5100 specifically reduced the expression of a luciferase reporter containing the predicted binding site from the 3′untranslated region (3′UTR) of Rab6 and decreased the accumulation of endogenous Rab6 in A549 and H1299 cells. Moreover, exogenous expression of Rab6 compromised the effects of miR-5100 on cell proliferation and colony formation. Our data suggest that miR-5100 promotes tumor growth by facilitating the G1/S transition and targeting Rab6. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Penthorum chinense Pursh has a long history of use as a health food and folk medicine to alleviate “heat”-associated disorders, promote circulation and diuresis, and to treat liver problems, and to protect the spleen. In this study we provide experimental evidence for the clinical use of Penthorum chinense in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. The aim of the study was to investigate the hypoglycemic effects of extracts and active constituents from Penthorum chinense . Materials and methods High fat diet and STZ (35 mg/kg) induced diabetic rats were administered with Penthorum chinense extract at graded oral doses (150 and 300 mg/kg/day, ig.) for 2 weeks. A range of parameters, including blood glucose and lipid, serum insulin, glucose tolerance, were tested to evaluate its anti-hyperglycemic effects. Moreover, oral starch tolerance test (OSTT) was performed to test the level of postprandial glucose after administrating Penthorum chinense extract. In vitro study, the Penthorum chinense extracts and purified Penthorum chinense polyphenols were tested for α-amylase inhibitory activity. The polyphenols were determined by UPLC-Q-TOF mass spectrometry and NMR. Results The Penthorum chinense extract possessed anti-hyperglycemic activities as shown by the decreased serum levels of glycosylated hemoglobulin A1C (HbA1c), triglyceride(TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), as well as increased serum levels of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and insulin. Penthorum chinense extract also improved the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) to a certain degree. Moreover, the OSTT study showed that in diabetic rats, the extract (600 mg/kg) caused a significant hypoglycemic effect with a blood glucose reduction of 42% at 60 min. To identify the active constituents, three polyphenols, pinocembrin-7-O-[4″,6″-hexahydroxydiphenoyl]-β- d -glucose ( 1 ), pinocembrin-7-O-[3″-O-galloyl-4″, 6″-hexahydroxydiphenoyl]-β- d -glucose ( 2 ), and thonningianin A ( 3 ) were isolated from Penthorum chinense . Compounds 1−3 moderately inhibited α-amylase activity, with IC 50 values of 0.14, 0.03, and 0.08 µmol/ml, respectively. Conclusions The folk medicinal plant, Penthorum chinense produced a moderated anti-hyperglycemic effect on STZ-induced diabetic rats and starch induced postprandial hyperglycemic mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High pressure processing (HPP) has previously been shown to be effective at reducing Escherichia coli O157:H7 in meat products. However, few studies have determined whether HPP may be effective at reducing non-O157:H7 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) in ground beef. This study investigated the efficacy of short and repeated HPP treatments to reduce non-O157:H7 STEC inoculated into ground beef. Irradiated ground beef patties (80:20, 90:10 [lean:fat]) were inoculated with pairs of E. coli serogroups O103, O111, O26, O145, O121, O45, O157:H7, and DH5α, vacuum-packaged and high-pressure processed (four, 60 s cycles, 400 MPa, 17 °C). Surviving E. coli populations were enumerated on Rainbow Agar O157 and Tryptic Soy Agar. HPP treatments produced > 2.0 log 10 CFU/g reductions of each E. coli serogroup, and reductions ranged from 2.35–3.88 and 2.26–4.31 log 10 CFU/g in 80:20 and 90:10 samples, respectively. These results suggest that HPP could be an effective, post-processing intervention to reduce the risk of non-O157:H7 STEC contamination in ground beef. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Penthorum chinense Pursh (Penthoraceae) has been used as a Miao ethnomedicine for the treatment of jaundice, cholecystitis, edema, infectious hepatitis and anti-drunk hangover in China. The aim of present study is to investigate the possible protective effects of Penthorum chinense against chronic ethanol-induced liver injury. Material and methods Mice were fed a Lieber-DeCarli liquid diet containing alcohol or isocaloric maltose dextrin as control diet with or without aqueous extract of Penthorum chinense (PCP, 5.15 and 10.30 g/kg/BW) for 4 weeks. Silymarin (86 mg/kg) was used as positive control to compare the efficacy of PCP against chronic ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity. Results Treatment with PCP (10.30 g/kg) significantly reduced the increases in serum ALT and AST levels, hepatic lipid accumulation and inflammatory cytokines ( i.e. TNF-α, IL-6), which were induced by chronic ethanol exposure. PCP was also found to attenuate reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and malondialdehyde (MDA) level, restore the glutathione (GSH) depletion, and increase the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities. In addition, PCP supplementation (10.30 g/kg) inhibited the induction of hepatic cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1), a major contributor to ethanol-mediated oxidative stress, and up-regulated the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and its downstream anti-oxidant protein heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in ethanol-treated mice. Conclusions These results indicate that the co-treatment with aqueous extract of Penthorum chinense (10.30 g/kg) protects against chronic ethanol-induced liver injury, possibly through suppressing CYP2E1-mediated oxidative stress and enhancing the oxidant defense systems via the activation of Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The use of thiazolidinediones (TZDs) has been associated with increased fracture risk. We performed a comprehensive literature review and meta-analysis to estimate the risk of fractures with TZDs Methods We searched MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane Database, from inception to May 2014. We included all randomized trials that described the risk of fractures or changes in bone mineral density (BMD) with TZDs. We pooled data with odds ratios (ORs) for fractures and the weighted mean difference in BMD. To assess heterogeneity in results of individual studies, we used Cochran's Q statistic and the I 2 statistic. Results We included 24,544 participants with 896 fracture cases from 22 randomized controlled trials. Meta-analysis showed that the significantly increased incidence of fracture was found in women (OR = 1.94; 95%CI: 1.60–2.35; P < 0.001), but not in men (OR = 1.02; 95%CI: 0.83–1.27; P = 0.83). For women, the fracture risk was similar in rosiglitazone (OR = 2.01; 95%CI: 1.61–2.51; P < 0.001) and pioglitazone (OR = 1.73; 95%CI: 1.18–2.55; P = 0.005) treatment and appeared to be similar for participants aged < 60 years old (OR = 1.89; 95%CI: 1.51–2.36; P < 0.001) and aged ≥ 60 years old (OR = 2.07; 95%CI: 1.51–2.36; P < 0.001). There was a non-significant trend towards increased risk of fractures in different cumulative durations of TZD exposure. TZD treatment was also associated with significant changes in BMD among women at the lumbar spine(weighted mean difference: − 0.49%, 95%CI: − 0.66% to − 0.32%; P < 0.001), the femoral neck (weighted mean difference: − 0.34%, 95%CI: − 0.51% to − 0.16%; P < 0.001) and the hip(weighted mean difference: − 0.33%, 95%CI: − 0.52% to − 0.14%; P < 0.001). Conclusions Our results suggest that TZD treatment is associated with an increased risk of fractures in women, effects of rosiglitazone and pioglitazone are similar, fracture risk is independent of age and fracture risk has no clear association with duration of TZD exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Pesticide residues caused great threat to human body health, and all countries protected the health of human body by specifying its upper limit. However, pesticide residues were generally very low, similar to trace analysis and as low as millionth or less, the content determination of pesticide residues was a troublesome problem. With the application and promotion of tandem mass spectrometry, it was able to do trace analysis. GC–EI/MS/MS was a common method for the determination of pesticide residues. The multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode was the most common quantitative method used in GC–EI/MS/MS. It has the characteristics of high sensitivity, good reproducibility, high accuracy, strong anti-interference and high ion flux. Multiple-twin precursor ions, product ions and collision energy of thirty-four pesticides were provided for MRM. It could play an important role in developing MRM method for the quantifying of 34 kinds of pesticide. Meanwhile, the development of MRM method for the quantifying of other compounds could also refer to this paper. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We report the calculated quasiparticle band structure and optical absorption spectrum of LiI, using many-body perturbation theory. Density-functional theory within local density approximation is used to calculate the ground-state properties of the system. The quasiparticle band structure is evaluated within the GW approximation. Taking the electron–hole interaction into account, electron–hole pair states and optical excitations are derived from the solution of the Bethe–Salpeter equation for the electron–hole two-particle Green function. The band gap is estimated within the GW approximation as 6.3eV, which is in good agreement with the experimental result of 6.4eV. And the calculated optical spectrum is also in agreement with experimental data. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Prevalence of Thermoplasmata was 18.4% in chronic periodontitis group by nested PCR. [•] Thermoplasmata were not the predominant archaeons in the subgingival dental plaque. [•] Existence of Archaea closely correlated with the presence of chronic periodontitis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The purposes of our study were to evaluate the correlation among apparent integrated backscatter coefficient (AIB), spectral centroid shift (SCS) of ultrasonic backscatter signals and bone mineral density (BMD) and to examine the effectiveness of ultrasound variables as predictors of osteoporosis. A total of 1011 persons aged 21–80 y old were included. All study participants underwent BMD measurements of the lumbar spine (LSBMD) and the femoral neck (FNBMD). The participants also underwent calcaneal measurements to determine AIB and SCS with central frequencies of 3.5 (one transducer) and 5.0 MHz (the other transducer). AIB decreased with age and was positively correlated with BMD, while SCS increased with age and was negatively correlated with BMD. The correlation coefficient of SCS with LSBMD and FNBMD at 3.5 MHz was −0.72 and −0.70, respectively. The correlation coefficient at 5.0 MHz was −0.75 and −0.74, respectively. The correlation coefficient of AIB with LSBMD and FNBMD at 3.5 MHz was 0.65 and 0.63. The correlation coefficient at 5.0 MHz was 0.59 and 0.55, respectively. The correlation between SCS and BMD was significantly better than the correlation between AIB and BMD. Using receiver operating characteristic analysis, a significant difference was found between the areas under the curve for SCS and AIB at 3.5 MHz (0.781 vs. 0.715, respectively, p < 0.05), as well as at 5.0 MHz (0.782 vs. 0.709, respectively, p < 0.05). The optimum T-score threshold for SCS was -1.3 for both transducers. The sensitivity and specificity of SCS at 3.5 MHz and 5.0 MHz for the optimum threshold were 64%, 85%, 63% and 86%, respectively. In conclusion, the correlations among the ultrasound parameters and BMDs are strong. SCS performs better than AIB in differentiating patients with osteoporosis. Ultrasound variables may be taken into consideration as predictors of osteoporosis in the future considering its portability. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]