Search

Surgical resection is the preferred treatment in most conus medullaris and cauda equina tumor (CMCET) cases. However, total resection is usually challenging to obtain and has a strong possibility of causing various complications if forcibly attempted. Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) has become a necessary adjunctive tool for CMCET resection. The current study aimed to evaluate the application value of bulbocavernosus reflex (BCR) monitoring in CMCET surgery. A retrospective clinical study. The medical records of patients who underwent CMCET resection by the same neurosurgical team at our hospital from September 2020 to June 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. IONM was conducted in all surgeries. According to inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria, ultimately, 105 patients were enrolled in the study. The voiding function was assessed before surgery, 1 month after, and 6 months after surgery using the Neurogenic Bladder Symptom Score (NBSS). If the NBSS obtained 1 month after surgery exceeds 9 points than that before surgery, it can be considered that the patient suffered new-onset postoperative voiding dysfunctions (PVDs). Moreover, if the NBSS could restored (less than 9 points higher than before the surgery) at 6 months after surgery, it was defined as a short-term PVD. Otherwise, it was defined as a long-term PVD. The amplitude reduction ratios (ARRs) of bilateral BCR waveforms were calculated and compared between patients with PVDs and those without. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was subsequently applied to determine the cut-off value of the maximal and minimal ARRs for predicting PVDs. The maximal and minimal ARRs were significantly correlated with short-term and long-term PVDs (p<.001 for all comparisons, Mann-Whitney U test). The threshold values of maximal ARR for predicting short-term and long-term PVD were 68.80% (AUC=0.996, p<.001) and 72.10% (AUC=0.996, p<.001), respectively. While those of minimal ARR were 50.20% (AUC=0.976, p<.001) and 53.70% AUC=0.999, p<.001). The amplitude reduction of intraoperative bilateral BCR waveforms showed high predictive value for PVDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Subclass III sucrose nonfermenting1‐related protein kinase 2s (SnRK2s) are positive regulators of abscisic acid (ABA) signaling and abiotic stress responses. However, the underlying activation mechanisms of osmotic stress/ABA‐activated protein kinase 8/9/10 (SAPK8/9/10) of rice (Oryza sativa) subclass III SnRK2s in ABA signaling remain to be elucidated.In this study, we employed biochemical, molecular biology, cell biology, and genetic approaches to identify the molecular mechanism by which OsPP47, a type one protein phosphatase in rice, regulates SAPK8/9/10 activity in ABA signaling.We found that OsPP47 not only physically interacted with SAPK8/9/10 but also interacted with ABA receptors PYLs. OsPP47 negatively regulated ABA sensitivity in seed germination and root growth. In the absence of ABA, OsPP47 directly inactivated SAPK8/9/10 by dephosphorylation. In the presence of ABA, ABA‐bound OsPYL2 formed complexes with OsPP47 and inhibited its phosphatase activity, partially releasing the inhibition of SAPK8/9/10. SAPK8/9/10‐mediated H2O2 production inhibited OsPP47 activity by oxidizing Cys‐116 and Cys‐256 to form OsPP47 oligomers, resulting in not only preventing the OsPP47‐SAPK8/9/10 interaction but also blocking the inhibition of SAPK8/9/10 activity by OsPP47.Our results reveal novel pathways for the inhibition of SAPK8/9/10 in the basal state and for the activation of SAPK8/9/10 induced by ABA in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, with the rapid growth of the internet of things (IoT), the number of devices connected to the network has increased significantly. The rising trend of mass data that objects send to the network has become a big challenge for cloud networks. The next generation IoT applications require low delay and real-time responses. Hence, IoT applications need a new processing paradigm to be able to access distributed cloud services at the network edge. In recent years, fog computing has emerged as a distributed computing model compatible with heterogeneous environments that can provide cloud services with low delay at the network edge. Meanwhile, services provided by the IoT suffer from varying workload changes over time, and approaches are needed to automatically provision resources and satisfy quality of service (QoS) requirements. With this motivation, this study presents an improved political optimizer-based resource management scheme for fog-enabled cloud environments, which is named IPORM. IPORM seeks to efficiently allocate resources to IoT requests with the purpose of maximizing resource utilization. In addition, other objectives such as energy, bandwidth, and delay are also included in IPORM. Simulation results show that our scheme significantly improves network performance in terms of various metrics compared to its counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Aim Design Methods Results Conclusions Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care Impact Reporting Method Patient or Public Contribution To analyse the concept of frailty through a literature review and in‐depth interviews.A hybrid model of concept analysis.The theoretical phase identified 43 articles for reviewing the definition and measurement of frailty. Seven frail older adults were invited in the fieldwork phase for in‐depth interviews. In the final analysis phase, results from the fieldwork and theoretical phases were integrated to obtain a final definition of frailty.Attributes of frailty were heterogeneous, involving dynamic/bidirectional, multidimensional and multiple systems. The antecedents of the concept were exposure to various stimuli and challenges in responding to these stimuli. Consequences included losing autonomy and adverse health outcomes. Four themes of frailty were identified based on the fieldwork data: ‘accumulation of functional decline’, ‘powerlessness of coping with’, ‘vicissitudes of lived experience’ and ‘loss of autonomy and positivity’.The final definition of frailty was ‘a dynamic and fluctuating process of powerlessness to manage biopsychosocial and environmental stimuli, involving functional decline and vicissitudes of life, which results in losing autonomy and positivity or adverse health outcomes’.Characterising the definition of frailty is essential for nurses to address the lived experiences of older adults when providing person‐centred care and for developing interventions that meet the needs of frail older adults.Since some discrepancies existed in the definition of frailty from individual perception of older adults, combined in‐depth interviews with a theoretical literature review were used to provide comprehensive insight. This concept analysis provides guidelines of training for nurses and opportunities to improving quality of life for community dwelling older adults.N/A.No Patient or Public Contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: Negative charged acidic polarity (NCAP) has been unveiled as the guideline for selecting additives to regulate electric double layer (EDL) for Zn-ion batteries. NCAP glutamate has been verified to regulate EDL structure with synergetic effects, including preferential adsorption on Zn anode and reconstruction of hydrated Zn-ion clusters. Adding NCAP additives, Zn|Cu half-cell achieves a high Coulombic efficiency of 99.83% for 2000 cycles, and NH4V4O10|Zn full cell realizes a high-capacity retention of 82.1% for 3000 cycles. Zinc-ion batteries are promising for large-scale electrochemical energy storage systems, which still suffer from interfacial issues, e.g., hydrogen evolution side reaction (HER), self-corrosion, and uncontrollable dendritic Zn electrodeposition. Although the regulation of electric double layer (EDL) has been verified for interfacial issues, the principle to select the additive as the regulator is still misted. Here, several typical amino acids with different characteristics were examined to reveal the interfacial behaviors in regulated EDL on the Zn anode. Negative charged acidic polarity (NCAP) has been unveiled as the guideline for selecting additive to reconstruct EDL with an inner zincophilic H2O-poor layer and to replace H2O molecules of hydrated Zn2+ with NCAP glutamate. Taking the synergistic effects of EDL regulation, the uncontrollable interface is significantly stabilized from the suppressed HER and anti-self-corrosion with uniform electrodeposition. Consequently, by adding NCAP glutamate, a high average Coulombic efficiency of 99.83% of Zn metal is achieved in Zn|Cu asymmetrical cell for over 2000 cycles, and NH4V4O10|Zn full cell exhibits a high-capacity retention of 82.1% after 3000 cycles at 2 A g−1. Recapitulating, the NCAP principle posted here can quicken the design of trailblazing electrolyte additives for aqueous Zn-based electrochemical energy storage systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: T-cell responses can be protective or detrimental during severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection; however, the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. Methods: In this study, we screened 144 15-mer peptides spanning the SARS-CoV-2 spike, nucleocapsid (NP), M, ORF8, ORF10, and ORF3a proteins and 39 reported SARS-CoV-1 peptides in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from nine laboratory-confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients (five moderate and four severe cases) and nine healthy donors (HDs) collected before the COVID-19 pandemic. T-cell responses were monitored by IFN-γ and IL-17A production using ELISA, and the positive samples were sequenced for the T cell receptor (TCR) β chain. The positive T-cell responses to individual SARS-CoV-2 peptides were validated by flow cytometry. Results: COVID-19 patients with moderate disease produced more IFN-γ than HDs and patients with severe disease (moderate vs. HDs, p < 0.0001; moderate vs. severe, p < 0.0001) but less IL-17A than those with severe disease (p < 0.0001). A positive correlation was observed between IFN-γ production and T-cell clonal expansion in patients with moderate COVID-19 (r = 0.3370, p = 0.0214) but not in those with severe COVID-19 (r = −0.1700, p = 0.2480). Using flow cytometry, we identified that a conserved peptide of the M protein (Peptide-120, P120) was a dominant epitope recognized by CD8+ T cells in patients with moderate disease. Conclusion: Coordinated IFN-γ production and clonal expansion of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells are associated with disease resolution in COVID-19. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of T-cell-mediated immunity in COVID-19 and may inform future strategies for managing and preventing severe outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Blink reflex (BR) amplitude deterioration can be used to predict postoperative facial nerve function, especially eyelid closure function. • Patients with BR amplitude deterioration ≥51.0% have a higher risk of postoperative eyelid closure deficits. • Patients with facial corticobulbar MEP (FCoMEP)(O. oris) amplitude deterioration ≥50.3% have a higher risk of postoperative facial paralysis. The current study examined the efficacy of the facial corticobulbar motor evoked potentials (FCoMEPs) and blink reflex (BR) on predicting postoperative facial nerve function during cerebellopontine angle (CPA) tumor surgery. Data from 110 patients who underwent CPA tumor resection with intraoperative FCoMEPs and BR monitoring were retrospectively reviewed. The association between the amplitude reduction ratios of FCoMEPs and BR at the end of surgery and postoperative facial nerve function was determined. Subsequently, the optimal threshold of FCoMEPs and BR for predicting postoperative facial nerve dysfunction were determined by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Valid BR was record in 103 of 110 patients, whereas only 43 patients successfully recorded FCoMEP in orbicularis oculi muscle. A reduction over 50.3% in FCoMEP (O. oris) amplitude was identified as a predictor of postoperative facial nerve dysfunction (sensitivity, 77.1%; specificity, 83.6%). BR was another independent predictor of postoperative facial nerve deficit with excellent predictive performance, especially eyelid closure function. Its optimal cut-off value for predicting long-term postoperative eyelid closure dysfunction was was 51.0% (sensitivity, 94.4%; specificity, 94.4%). BR can compensate for the deficiencies of the FCoMEPs. The combination of BR and FCoMEPs can be used in CPA tumor surgery. The study first proposed an optimal cut-off value of BR amplitude deterioration (50.0%) for predicting postoperative eyelid closure deficits in patients undergoing CPA tumor surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Luteolin-7-O-β-d-glucuronide (LGU) is a major active flavonoid glycoside compound that is extracted from Ixeris sonchifolia (Bge.) Hance, and it is a Chinese medicinal herb mainly used for the treatment of coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, cerebral infarction, etc. In the present study, the neuroprotective effect of LGU was investigated in an oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) model and a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rat model. In vitro, LGU was found to effectively improve the OGD-induced decrease in neuronal viability and increase in neuronal death by a 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and a lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage rate assay, respectively. LGU was also found to inhibit OGD-induced intracellular Ca2+ overload, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) depletion, and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) decrease. By Western blotting analysis, LGU significantly inhibited the OGD-induced increase in expressions of receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 3 (RIP3) and mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL). Moreover, molecular docking analysis showed that LGU might bind to RIP3 more stably and firmly than the RIP3 inhibitor GSK872. Immunofluorescence combined with confocal laser analyses disclosed that LGU inhibited the aggregation of MLKL to the nucleus. Our results suggest that LGU ameliorates OGD-induced rat primary cortical neuronal injury via the regulation of the RIP3/MLKL signaling pathway in vitro. In vivo, LGU was proven, for the first time, to protect the cerebral ischemia in a rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model, as shown by improved neurological deficit scores, infarction volume rate, and brain water content rate. The present study provides new insights into the therapeutic potential of LGU in cerebral ischemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Treatment for medial lower eyelid wrinkles is in great demand now. However, conventional injection of botulinum toxin A (BTX‐A) often leads to serious complications. Aims: We aim to evaluate the safety and efficacy of BTX‐A injection with microneedle to treat medial lower eyelid wrinkles. Methods: We collected clinical data of 16 patients to treat dynamic wrinkles on the medial aspect of the lower eyelid. Adverse effects at each stage of the treatment were recorded. We used VISIA to compare the static and dynamic wrinkles of the medial lower eyelid before and after treatment. Furthermore, patients and physicians evaluated the wrinkles with Kappa scores. Results: All 16 patients completed the study. The objective evaluation indicator (the Ra variable given by VISIA) progressively and significantly decreased at 1 month and 3 months after treatment. The kappa scores given by patients and by surgeons were both significantly reduced after treatment. No adverse reactions, such as pouch prolapse, diplopia, and canthal tendon laxity, occurred at 1 week, 1 month, or 3 months after the treatment. Conclusion: BTX‐A treatment of medial lower eyelid wrinkles with microneedle injection allows better control of the injection depth and reduces both the amount of BTX‐A needed and the incidence of complications while maintaining the natural dynamic expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay offers strategies that can lead students to engage with Gao Xingjian and his plays of the 1980s through an analytical and creative learning experience. Student project design focuses on three plays that were publicly staged in China during the 1980s: Alarm Signal, The Bus Stop, and Wild Man. Reflecting on the challenges inherent in approaching Gao's plays, I argue that students in North America require a pedagogy that foregrounds Gao's conceptualization of theatre as an actor-centered, instead of script-centered, performing art. The essay concludes that leading students to a deeper understanding of how Gao composed "performance texts" – rather than "texts to be voiced" – is critical to their understanding of these plays as a key link in the chain of China's drama and theatre history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrochemical nitrite reduction reaction provides an alternative approach to offer sustainable ammonia source routes for repairing imbalances in the global nitrogen cycle. In this work, electrocatalysis is combined with enzymatic catalysis to provide an efficient and clean process for recoverable ammonia production. NO2− is reduced to NH3 by electroenzymatic cascade reduction reaction on a bioconjugate, in which 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bromide (ILBMB) modified chloroperoxidase (CPO) is fixed on polyethyleneimine (PEI) modified multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) to from bioconjugate (CPO‐ILBMB/MWCNT‐PEI). 15N and 14N isotope labeling reveal that the NH3 species is derived from NO2− reduction. Density functional theory calculations identify that the FeII species in heme center of CPO serve as the key active site for NO2− reduction. The amino groups derived from MWCNT‐PEI not only serve as a bridge to covalently immobilize CPO but also enrich the NO2− ion at electrode/solution interface through electrostatic interactions. The low energy barrier of NO2− reduction and low adsorption free energy of the intermediate result in high Faradaic efficiency (96.4%), NH3 yield (112.7 mg h−1 mgCPO−1), and high selectivity in pH 5.0 solution. The highly efficient electroenzymatic reaction ensurespromising applications in the conversion of NO2− to NH3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a specific neurodegenerative disease. This study adopts single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) as a potential immunotherapeutic precursor for AD. According to the remarkable effects of monoclonal antibodies, such as the depolymerization or promotion of Aβ42 efflux by Crenezumab, Solanezumab, and 12B4, it is attractive to prepare corresponding scFvs targeting amyloid-β-42 protein (Aβ42) and investigate their biological activities. Crenezumab-like scFv (scFv-C), Solanezumab-like scFv (scFv-S), and 12B4-like scFv (scFv-12B4) were designed and constructed. The thermal stabilities and binding ability to Aβ42 of scFv-C, scFv-S, and scFv-12B4 were evaluated using unfolding profile and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. As the results indicated that scFv-C could recognize Aβ42 monomer/oligomer and promote the disaggregation of Aβ42 fiber as determined by the Thioflavin-T assay, the potential mechanism of its interaction with Aβ42 was investigated using molecular dynamics analysis. Interactions involving hydrogen bonds and salt bonds were predicted between scFv-C and Aβ42 pentamer, suggesting the possibility of inhibiting further aggregation of Aβ42. The successfully prepared scFvs, especially scFv-C, with favorable biological activity targeting Aβ42, might be developed for a potentially efficacious clinical application for AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A two-dimensional hole gas (2DHG) induced by polarization charges at the GaN/AlGaN hetero-interface is attracting much attention because of its potential to develop p-channel transistors required for GaN complementary logic integrated circuits. This platform is compatible with commercial AlGaN/GaN n-channel electronics, but the performance of GaN p-channel transistors has been far behind. In this work, 2DHGs in GaN/AlGaN/GaN heterostructures grown by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy have been investigated. The Al composition of the AlGaN barrier has been pushed as high as possible without obvious strain relaxation, and the record high 2DHG sheet density and conductivity on the GaN/AlGaN/GaN platform have been obtained. By adopting a parallel conduction model, a dependent relationship of the 2DHG density on temperature has been extracted. The temperature dependent Hall-effect results have demonstrated that the 2DHG density boosts by 75 times and 46 times at room temperature and 77 K, respectively, when the Al composition is pushed from 0.18 to 0.45 for the AlGaN barriers. The 2DHG sheet density reaches 3.6 × 1013 and 2.1 × 1013 cm−2 at room temperature and 77 K, respectively, and the lowest sheet resistance is 8.9 kΩ/□ at 77 K. Such a 2DHG is beneficial for fabrication of p-channel GaN transistors with lower on-resistance on the already-industrialized platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphogypsum (PG) is a solid waste product generated during wet-process phosphoric acid production. Various impurities considerably reduce the purity, whiteness, and application range of PG. This article analyzes the physical properties of PG in detail and systematically examines the content and distribution of impurities. Based on the obtained results, a simple process for the efficient removal of almost all impurities in the PG is proposed. The purity and whiteness of the purified gypsum (CaSO4) significantly increased to 99% and 92%, respectively. The migration of impurities and the material balance of this process were then analyzed. Most importantly, the purified gypsum showed high CO2 sequestration efficiency for CO2 mineral sequestration, through which a high value-added CaCO3 product was obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Onychopapilloma is a rare benign nail tumor affecting the distal matrix and the nail bed. Currently, the only available treatment is surgical resection, which has a recurrence rate of 20% and may lead to various complications. Here we report a new method to treat onychopapilloma with pulsed dye laser (PDL). Materials and methods: We retrospectively analyzed 13 cases and evaluated disease classification, dermoscopic examination, laser treatment parameters, photographs before and after treatment, and treatment outcome. Results: The site distribution of onychopapilloma was consistent with previous reports. PDL treatment was performed with 595 nm laser, with 1.5 ms pulse duration, spot diameter 3–5 mm, and 11.5–13.5 J/cm2 fluence. Irradiation covered the telangiectatic area up to the edge of the nail folds, with the terminal response of purpura occurrence. The overall effective rate was 77%; the effective rates for erythronychia, leukonychia, and melanonychia were 88%, 67%, and 50%, respectively. Conclusions: PDL treatment for onychopapilloma provides an alternative to traditional surgery with comparable effectiveness but much less risk for complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is characterized by a high mortality rate, rapid growth, and early metastasis, which lead to a poor prognosis. Moreover, limited clinical treatment options further lower the survival rate of patients. Therefore, novel technology and agents are urgently required to enhance clinical efficacy. In this review, from a holistic perspective, we summarized the therapeutic targets, agents and strategies with the most potential for treating SCLC, including chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T therapy, immunomodulating antibodies, traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), and the microbiota, which have been found recently to improve the clinical outcomes and prognosis of SCLC. Multiomics technologies can be integrated to develop effective diagnostic methods and identify new targets for new drug discovery in SCLC. We discussed in depth the feasibility, potential, and challenges of these new strategies, as well as their combinational treatments, which may provide promising alternatives for enhancing the clinical efficacy of SCLC in the future. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The highly concentrated pickled mustard wastewater presents significant potential for energy recovery, but the stress effect of high osmotic pressure on cell integrity and activity seriously impedes the methane production by anaerobic microorganisms. The survival ability of indigenous microorganisms (IM) in pickled mustard wastewater supports the establishment of anaerobic treatment. Moreover, inoculation of anaerobic digester sludge is a common start-up strategy. However, the effects of exogenous anaerobic sludge on IM are unclear, especially in hypersaline environment. This research aimed to investigate the influence of exogenous anaerobic sludge on the construction, performance, and microbiota at 3% and 5% salinity. And the research focused on the collaboration and competition between exogenous anaerobic sludge and IM. The neutral community model (which explains the formation and evolution of biological communities) indicated that the interaction between exogenous digester sludge microorganisms and IM dominated community assembly. At 3%, the digester sludge collaborated with IM to increase daily COD reduction and biogas production compared with IM group. However, at 5%, the competitive relationship reduced daily COD reduction and biogas production compared with IM group. This study provides a new perspective for the selection of inoculation strategies for exogenous anaerobic digester sludge under different salinity, in order to realize energy conversion from salinity organic wastewater. [Display omitted] • The effect of inoculation strategy was evaluated at 3% and 5% salinity. • The inoculation strategy was analyzed from the perspective of microbial interaction. • The microbial interaction dominated community assembly. • At 3%, digester sludge cooperated with native microbiota to enhance performance. • At 5%, the exogenous inoculation reduced the robustness of the microbial network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Shewanella accelerated the cycle of C, N and Fe redox by promoting electron transfer. • The coupling of Anammox and Bio-Fenton achieved advanced nitrogen and ROM removal. • OH was mainly produced by oxidation of Fe(Ⅱ) through one-electron transfer pathway. • The antioxidant genes were enriched to resist oxidative stress caused by Bio-Fenton. • Shewanella had a mutualistic symbiosis with AnAOB and DB, inhibiting AOB and NOB. The transformations of carbon, nitrogen, and iron are closely interrelated within the elemental biogeochemical cycles, influenced by numerous factors. The key roles of Shewanella in the three cycles, which drives Biological Fenton (Bio-Fenton) and improves biological nitrogen removal, have not been clarified. In this study, by coupling Anammox with Bio-Fenton in the cathodic chamber of a microbial electrochemical system (MES), we explored the ability of Shewanella to force C, N, and Fe transformation, and excavated the interactions among the complex reactions. In the coupling systems, nitrogen removal efficiency was enhanced by 22.69%, and Shewanella -mediated Fe (III) reduction improved hydroxyl radical (OH) production to decompose 1,4-dioxane. Fe (II) was generated with electrons from the cathode and then chemically oxidized, and one-electron transfer pathway was prioritized in OH production. Functional gene abundance reflected that the antioxidant systems of microorganisms were highly developed to resist the oxidative stress. The robustness of the coupling systems was demonstrated during long-term operation. This study provides valuable insights into the importance of Shewanella in redox zones and presents novel technological advancements for wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to realize the monolithic integration of III-V devices on silicon platform, the heteroepitaxy of III-V semiconductor on silicon substrate has been widely studied in recent years. Due to the large lattice mismatch and different lattice structure between III-V semiconductor and Si, there are many mismatches and antiphase domains in III-V semiconductor grown on Si, which have a serious impact on device performance. However, the diatomic steps on Si (111) surface can avoid the formation of antiphase domains. In this work, GaAs (111) films were grown on Si (111) substrate by molecular beam epitaxy, and Al/AlAs was used as intermediate layer for the first time. A series of samples were grown to optimize the growth conditions of Al/AlAs interlayer and it is shown that Al/AlAs interlayers have positive effect on the quality of subsequent GaAs films. On this basis of the Al/AlAs interlayers, the GaAs films were grown by two-step method and the growth conditions were optimized. The results show that Al/AlAs interlayers provide a template for the epitaxial growth of GaAs and release the mismatch strain between GaAs and Si to a certain extent, so that the crystal quality of GaAs films can be improved. All of the above-mentioned work can provide new ideas and pathways for the growth of III-V semiconductor on silicon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Forkhead-box (FOX) transcription factors, as one of the largest gene families in humans, play key roles in cancer. Although studies have suggested that several FOX transcription factors have a significant impact on cancer, the functions of most of the FOX genes in cancer remain elusive. In the study, the expression of 43 FOX genes in 63 kinds of cancer diseases (including many subtypes of same cancer) and in response to 60 chemical substances was obtained from the Gene Expression Atlas database of the European Bioinformatics Institute. Based on the high degree of overlap in FOXO family members differentially expressed in various cancers and their particular responses to chemotherapeutic drugs, our data disclosed the FOX genes that played an important role in the development and progression of cancer. More importantly, we predicted the role of one or several combinatorial FOX genes in the diagnosis and prognostic assessment of a specific cancer and evaluated the potential of a certain anticancer drug therapy for this type of cancer by integrating patterns of FOX genes expression with anticancer drugs sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A windowed power spectrum demodulation algorithm, boosting SNR, measurement range, and accuracy. • Established a time-frequency demodulation model and analyzed window width's impact on accuracy. • Established a windowed optimization model to select the optimal width. The time-domain low coherent heterodyne interference axial clearance measurement method has the challenges of small range and low precision in the clearance measurement of rotating machinery. An axial clearance demodulation algorithm based on the windowed power spectrum density transform (WPSD) is proposed. Based on the characteristics of low coherent heterodyne interference signal, the relationship model between window width and rotating structure motion parameters (amplitude of axial clearance change, rotor speed) is constructed, and the optimal window width mathematical model is obtained. The axial clearance measurement experiments are completed under different axial clearance measurement distances based on an experimental clearance platform, different rotor speeds and different axial clearance variation amplitudes. The experimental results show that the absolute error of the axial clearance reconstruction signal is less than 17 μm and the relative error is less than 4.8 % when the axial clearance measurement distance is 2.1 mm ∼ 11.3 mm, the rotor speed is in the range of 6000 rad/min ∼ 12000 rad/min, and the variation of axial clearance is in the range of 150 μm ∼ 350 μm. The experimental and simulation results are basically consistent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recoupling of livestock and crop production by recycling of animal manure in croplands is urgently needed to achieve a sustainable agricultural development. However, an insufficient understanding of the resources and environmental performance of recoupling and the synergies and trade-offs among multiple sustainable development goals hinders the implementation of best management practices. Here, by combining footprint and life-cycle analyses, we distinguished two coupling degrees (semi-coupling, in which only solid manure is returned to croplands, and full coupling, which involves the return of both solid and liquid manure) and three coupling modes to quantitatively assess the influence of recoupling management measures on nitrogen (N) utilization, water and energy consumption, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Our results showed that conventional full coupling (FCPC) enhanced the system's N use efficiency and reduced reactive N (Nr) loss and the water footprint by 14 and 29 %, respectively, compared with semi-coupling (SCP), the status quo in most of China's livestock farms. However, FCPC slightly increased GHG emissions, mainly because of energy-water tradeoffs. An enhanced full coupling mode designed based on the water-energy-food nexus (FCPN) reduced the energy footprint and GHG emissions by 74 and 12 %, respectively, compared with SCP. Because FCPN additionally alleviated the pollution shift effect, the water footprint was further reduced by 34 % compared with SCP. Transforming from SCP to FCPC and FCPN offered a total social benefit, which integrates resource and environmental performances, of approximately 537 and 694 yuan t−1 milk at an implementation cost of 396 and 401 yuan t−1 milk, respectively. Our research fills a knowledge gap related to the quantification of recoupling impacts on the water-energy-food nexus and provides a solution for the collaborative optimization of multiple objectives in China and other countries facing the same challenges in livestock revolution. • The water-energy-food nexus in crop-livestock coupled systems was clarified. • Conventional recoupling reduced N loss and water footprint but increased GHG due to W-E tradeoffs. • Upgrading recoupling based on WEF nexus achieved multi-objective collaborative optimization. • Transforming to upgraded recoupling gained net social benefit but needed economic incentives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In-depth understanding the form of organic matter in low-rank coals contributes to the clean and efficient utilization of coals. Two low-rank coals were successively dissolved with cyclohexane, acetone and methanol at 300 °C, respectively. Six thermal dissolution (TD) extracts were comparatively analyzed using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC/TOF-MS). Cyclohexane tends to extract low-polar compounds inherent in coal, such as aliphatic hydrocarbons, arenes and phenols. Acetone can extract monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons containing alkyl side chains. Meanwhile, acetone can form N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds with nitrogen-containing organic compounds (NCOCs), facilitating the extraction of a greater quantity of NCOCs. Methanol breaks the ArCH 2 OArR structural unit within coal molecules and forms the dominant alkyl-substituted phenol. It was revealed that sequentially TD at 300 °C using different solvents only breaks intermolecular forces and weak covalent bonds. Additionally, a series of isomers of tricyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and alkylphenols were authenticated by GC×GC/TOF-MS. Principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis were applied to mine effective molecular information from the extensive MS data. The statistical results indicate that solvent had a significant impact on the structure and composition of the TD extracts, more so than the variations in coal species. Thus, the conjunction of GC×GC/TOF-MS and chemometrics provided methodological guidance for an enhanced comprehension of the molecular structure of coals. • GC×GC/TOF-MS overcame co-elution and improved separating ability for organic matter in coal. • Sequential thermal dissolutionenrich ed compounds with similar molecualr characteristics. • PCA and HCA revealed detailed difference in molecular information from complex mass spectra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Directly converting lignite into arenes as commodity chemicals and drop-in fuels is a highly desirable target for researchers. However, this is severely limited by the presence of stable inter unit C-O linkages in lignite. Herein, a highly active catalyst, Co-MoS 2 , has been designed and prepared to be used for the selective catalytic cleavage of inter unit C-O bridged bonds (BBs) in the conversion of Naomaohu (NMH), a lignite, to yield arenes. Both catalytic hydrogenation conversion (CHC) and thermal dissolution (a non-catalytic process, named NCHC) of NMH were conducted using n-hexane as the solvent. The soluble fractions from the first stage of NCHC (SF NCHC-1) and CHC (SF CHC-1), as well as the second stage of NCHC (SF NCHC-2) and CHC (SF CHC-2) were obtained using the same solvent. After the first-stage catalytic treatment, the relative contents of arenes and alkanes in SF CHC-1 increased by 16.7 % and 9.3 %, respectively, compared to those in SF NCHC-1 , and the relative content of oxygen-containing compounds (OCCs), such as alcohols, phenols, esters, ketones, acids, and furans, decreased by 13.2 %. For the second-stage conversion, the relative contents of arenes and alkanes in SF CHC-2 were 53.5 % and 15.5 % higher than those in SF NCHC-2 , and the relative contents of OCCs was only 6.6 % in SF CHC-2. The catalytic mechanisms of cleavage of C-O BBs and deoxygenation were proposed based on the CHC of model compounds and density functional theory (DFT) calculation. The adsorption of OCCs and the activation of released hydrogen radical (H·) by Co-MoS 2 , followed by H· addition to the carbon atom connected to oxygen in C-O BBs and oxygen-containing functional groups, are crucial for the cleavage of C-O BBs and formation of deoxygenated compounds, particularly arenes. • Co@MoS 2 selectively cleave C-O bridged bonds in lignite. • Co@MoS 2 is effective for hydrodeoxygenation and generation of arenes. • C ar -O cleavage mechanism was revealed by catalytic model compounds and DFT calculation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc alleviates hepatic lipid deposition, but the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, we characterized the promoter of an SHP (short heterodimer partner) in a teleost Pelteobagrus fulvidraco. The binding sites of an FXR (farnesoid X receptor) were predicted by the SHP promoter, indicating that the FXR mediated its transcriptional activity. The site mutagenesis and the EMSA (electrophoretic mobility shift assay) found that the −375/−384 bp FXR site on the SHP promoter was the functional binding locus responsible for the Zn-induced transcriptional activation. A further study of yellow catfish hepatocytes suggested that the activation of the FXR/SHP is responsible for the effect of Zn on the decreasing lipid content. Thus, this study provides direct evidence of the interaction between the FXR and SHP promoter in fish, and accordingly elucidates the potential transcriptional mechanism by which Zn reduces hepatic lipid accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blockchain is believed to be able to build trust among multiple parties and improve the operational efficiency of economy and society, which is attributed to its decentralization property. However, the endless growth of Blockchain data keeps challenging the storage capacity of Blockchain nodes, compromising decentralization, and revealing the issue that the state-of-the-art storage systems of Blockchain are not scalable. From the perspective of improving the scalability of Blockchain storage systems, this paper introduces the logical and physical data structure used by Blockchain storage systems, surveys the current schemes of Blockchain storage systems in terms of the approaches to reducing data redundancy, the corresponding influence on its degree of decentralization and data reliability, and conducts quantitative analysis on data redundancy for schemes of Blockchain storage systems. The study finds that the key to realizing scalable Blockchain storage systems is to deal with the contradiction between data redundancy and its decentralization characteristic. Based on the findings, the node-based scalable model for Blockchain storage systems (SMBSS) is proposed, experimental analysis on the prototypes of the SMBSS is carried out to verify its validity, and future directions for scalable Blockchain storage systems are concluded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one type of the sensors, piezoelectric accelerometer may transform the acceleration signal into the electric signal, which are widely utilized for measurement, monitoring, or controlment. The mostly utilized piezoelectric materials are piezoelectric ceramics [e.g., PZT, ((1 – x)Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3 – xPbTiO3) (PMN-PT)] for their large piezoelectric stress constant (${d}_{{33}}$). However, their high dielectric permittivity ($\varepsilon _{r}$) leads to the relatively small piezoelectric voltage constant (${g}_{{33}}$), thus the low response sensitivity. In an effort to meet the demand of sensors with high sensitivity, low weight, and small size, in this work, a series of poly(vinylidene-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)) films are annealed at elevated temperature and fabricated into sensors. Thanks to its rather low permittivity, P(VDF-TrFE) sensor exhibits much larger ${g}_{{33}}$ and sensitivity than that of PMN-PT. Its sensitivity closely depends on the annealing temperature and film thickness. On a hand-made touch sensing instrument, about 10%–20% larger output voltage is obtained in P(VDF-TrFE) sensor than that of PMN-PT under the same stimulating force, although the thickness of P(VDF-TrFE) is only one twenty-fifth of PMN-PT. The results show the excellent piezoelectric sensing performance and great commercial potential of P(VDF-TrFE) for not only its excellent sensitivity but also the feasible processability for thin film in large scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, Fan et al. [Mod. Phys. Lett. A36, 2150223 (2021)] presented a generalized Clauser–Horne–Shimony–Holt (CHSH) inequality, to identify N -qubit Greenberger–Horne–Zeilinger states. They showed an interesting phenomenon that the maximal violation of the generalized CHSH inequality is robust under some specific noises. In this work, we map the inequality to the CHSH game, and consequently to the CHSH* game in a single-qubit system. This mapping provides an explanation for the robust violations in N -qubit systems. Namely, the robust violations, resulting from the degeneracy of the generalized CHSH operators correspond to the symmetry of the maximally entangled two-qubit states and the identity transformation in the single-qubit game. This explanation enables us to exactly demonstrate that the degeneracy is 2 N − 2 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roegneria is a polyploid perennial genus in the tribe Triticeae. Some species of Roegneria are morphologically similar to genus Elymus and have been classified in Elymus. To investigate the delimitation and phylogenetic relationships of Roegneria, nuclear (ITS, Acc1, and Pgk1) and chloroplast (trnL–trnF) DNA regions were sequenced for 38 allopolyploid species and 32 diploid species of Triticeae. Phylogenetic analyses of nuclear DNA revealed that all Roegneria species were included in the St and Y genome clades, and that the Y genome was closely related to the V and Xp genomes. The chloroplast DNA dataset showed that Roegneria species were grouped with Pseudoroegneria species. The Pseudoroegneria species from the Middle East (P. libanotica and P. tauri) and Central Asia (P. strigosa) were more closely related to Roegneria species. The results suggested that: (i) the species containing the St and Y genomes should be segregated from Elymus and treated as a distinct genus, Roegneria, based on the genomic constitution; (ii) P. libanotica, P. tauri, and/or P. strigosa potentially served as the maternal donor of the St genome in Roegneria; (iii) The Y genome of Roegneria originated from a diploid Y genome species, and the V and Xp genomes may have contributed to Y genome formation; (iv) among Roegneria species of previously uncertain genomic constitution, R. seriotina was tetraploid and possessed the StY genomes, E. calcicolus was hexaploid with the StYH genomic constitution and should be classified in Campeiostachys, R. glaucifolia possessed the StStY genomes, and R. tschimganica had the genomic constitution St1St2Y. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vector beams, featured by a specific space-variant distribution of polarization, have attracted intensive attention. Arbitrary and broadband spatial polarization processing is a key pursuit for vector beam generation, modulation, and detection. Here, we introduce black dye into liquid crystals to form a dichroic medium and imprint high-resolution patterns into the medium via photopatterning. Continuous cylindrical and binary vector beams are freely generated. Switching between a vector beam generator and a high-transmittance homeotropic state can be realized due to the electro-optical tunability of liquid crystals. On the basis of a radial vector beam generator array, the polarization distribution is characterized by calculating the darkest line of each generator. This strategy provides a platform for arbitrary spatial polarization processing and may bring more possibilities for polarization imaging, structured light generation, and materials characterization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visible thermal person re-identification, also known as RGB-infrared person re-identification, is an emerging cross-modality searching problem that identifies the same person from different modalities. To solve this problem, it is necessary to know what a person looks like in different modalities. Images of the same person at the same time from the same camera view in both modalities should be captured, so that similarities and differences could be discovered. However, existing datasets do not completely satisfy those requirements. Thus, a modality-transfer generative adversarial network is proposed to generate a cross-modality counterpart for a source image in the target modality, obtaining paired images for the same person. Given that query images are from one modality and gallery images are from another modality, it is necessary to produce a unified representation for both modalities so cross-modality matching could be performed. In this study, a novel dual-level unified latent representation is proposed for visible thermal person re-identification task, including an image-level patch fusion strategy and a feature-level hierarchical granularity triplet loss, producing a more general and robust unified feature embedding. Extensive experiments on both the SYSU-MM01 dataset (with visible and near-infrared images) and the RegDB dataset (with visible and far-infrared images) demonstrate the efficiency and generality of the proposed method, which achieves state-of-the-art performance. The code will be publicly released. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In‐memory computing (IMC) is a novel computing architecture that presents considerable potential in solving the data transmission and energy consumption problems faced by the von Neumann architecture. The compound Boolean logic operation (CBLO) is a crucial component of most advanced computing platforms. This study presents a static random‐access memory array structure comprising configurable embedded arithmetic logic units (ALUs), which can realize four types of CBLOs within a single cycle. The proposed structure can also form the ternary content addressable memory (TCAM) for ternary searching by configuring signal lines and sense amplifiers. The authors performed 5000 trials of the Monte Carlo simulation for four types of CBLOs. The results of all four types were observed to be accurate, and the delay of the TCAM was observed to be as low as 141 ps, which improves the parallelism of IMC, reduces power consumption, and significantly reduces calculation delay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The N -qubit Greenberger–Horne–Zeilinger (GHZ) states are the maximally entangled states of N qubits, which have had many important applications in quantum information processing, such as quantum key distribution and quantum secret sharing. Thus how to distinguish the GHZ states from other quantum states becomes a significant problem. In this work, by presenting a family of the generalized Clauser–Horne–Shimony–Holt (CHSH) inequality, we show that the N -qubit GHZ states can be indeed identified by the maximal violations of the generalized CHSH inequality under some specific measurement settings. The generalized CHSH inequality is simple and contains only four correlation functions for any N -qubit system, thus has the merit of facilitating experimental verification. Furthermore, we present a quantum phenomenon of robust violations of the generalized CHSH inequality in which the maximal violation of Bell's inequality can be robust under some specific noises adding to the N -qubit GHZ states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Peripheral injection of dexmedetomidine (DEX) has been widely used in regional anesthesia to prolong the duration of analgesia. However, the optimal perineural dose of DEX is still uncertain. It is important to elucidate this characteristic because DEX may cause dose-dependent complications. The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine the optimal dose of perineural DEX for prolonged analgesia after brachial plexus block (BPB) in adult patients undergoing upper limb surgery. Method: A search strategy was created to identify suitable randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in Embase, PubMed and The Cochrane Library from inception date to Jan, 2021. All adult patients undergoing upper limb surgery under BPB were eligible. The RCTs comparing DEX as an adjuvant to local anesthetic (LA) with LA alone for BPB were included. The primary outcome was duration of analgesia for perineural DEX. Secondary outcomes included visual analog scale (VAS) in 12 and 24 h, consumption of analgesics in 24 h, and adverse events. Results: Fifty-seven RCTs, including 3332 patients, were identified. The subgroup analyses and regression analyses revealed that perineural DEX dose of 30-50 μg is an appropriate dosage. With short−/intermediate-acting LAs, the mean difference (95% confidence interval [CI]) of analgesia duration with less than and more than 60 μg doses was 220.31 (153.13–287.48) minutes and 68.01 (36.37–99.66) minutes, respectively. With long-acting LAs, the mean differences (95% CI) with less than and more than 60 μg doses were 332.45 (288.43–376.48) minutes and 284.85 (220.31–349.39) minutes. Conclusion: 30-50 μg DEX as adjuvant can provides a longer analgesic time compared to LA alone and it did not increase the risk of bradycardia and hypotension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore levels of anti-oxidative molecules and inflammatory factors in patients with vascular dementia (VD) and their clinical significance. Methods: Sixty VD patients admitted in our hospital from January 2016 to January 2019 were classified into an experimental group, while another 60 healthy patients seeking physical examinations in the corresponding period were selected as a control group. Various indexes related to serum inflammatory factors and anti-oxidative molecules were compared among patients in such two groups. For the purpose of comparing anti-oxidative molecular expression levels and inflammatory factor levels in patients with VD of different severities, 60 cases in the experimental group were divided, based on a Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) scale, into patients with mild symptoms (n =20, score: 21~26), patients with moderate symptoms (n=22, score: 10~20) and patients with severe symptoms (n=18, score: 0~9). Results: By contrast to the control group, levels of inflammatory factors (e.g., TNF-α, CRP and IL-γ) in VD patients are all significantly increased and their differences show statistical significance (p<0.05); and, expression levels of anti-oxidative factors, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathion peroxidase (GSH-Px), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), catalase (CAT) and glutathione reductase (GR), in the experimental group are apparently below those of the control group (P<0.05). As dementia degree increases, expression levels of serum anti-oxidative molecules in such patients are inclined to drop in a significant way (P<0.05), while inflammatory factor levels tend to go up gradually (P<0.05). Conclusions: If compared with the normal population, inflammatory factor levels in serum of VD patients are higher; however, expression levels of anti-oxidative molecules become below those of the normal population. Additionally, levels of inflammatory factors and anti-oxidative molecules may change obviously as severity of illness increases. This suggests that inflammation and oxidation play a certain role of auxoaction in VD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optically controlled tunability of ferroelectric materials is of great interest for use in advanced multifunctional devices. Here, we report the effects of laser with visible (532 nm) and near-infrared (808 and 980 nm) wavelengths on the ferroelectric polarization and electrical properties of [001]-oriented 6Pb(Sc1/2Nb1/2)O3-61Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-33PbTiO3 (6PSN-61PMN-33PT) ferroelectric crystal. Our results show that laser irradiation increases the dielectric and piezoelectric properties of this crystal, and their increment is strongly dependent on the wavelength and power of the incident light. Compared with poled crystals, unpoled crystals are more sensitive to light illumination, and a large dielectric increment of approximately 104% (εr ≈ 5600) is obtained at ambient temperature using near-infrared 808 nm irradiation. The electrical properties of optically illuminated crystal show good stability, which reverse when the laser is off. These changes in macroscopic behavior are attributed to the laser-induced polarization change in nanoscale size regions. Our results have potential applications in the non-contact optical control of electronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the clinical effect of alteplase combined with butylphthalide in treating patients with acute anterior circulation cerebral infarction. Methods: Retrospective study methods were used. Eighty patient cases with acute anterior circulation cerebral infarction treated in Baoding First Central Hospital, China from January 2018 to December 2020 were randomly and averagely divided into two groups. Patients in the two groups were given symptomatic treatment. Patients in the experimental group were treated with alteplase combined with butylphthalide for thrombolytic therapy, whereas patients in the control group were treated with urokinase thrombolytic therapy. The NIHSS score, effective rates and neurological function recovery were analysed one day, seven days and 30 days after treatment were analyzed, respectively. So as the incidence of adverse reactions within seven days after drug adminutesistration. Results: The NIHSS scores of the two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment on one day, seven days and 30 days after treatment (experimental group, p=0.00; control group, p=0.02). The experimental group was more significantly lower than the control group (p=0.00). The effective rate of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group (p=0.03), and the recovery rate after treatment was significantly higher than that of the control group (p=0.04). Within one week after treatment, the complication rate was 15% in the experimental group and 20% in the control group but was not significantly different (p=0.56). Conclusion: Alteplase combined with butylphthalide is effective and safe in the treatment of acute anterior circulation cerebral infarction without obvious complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to analyze the soluble portions (SPs) of eight lignites which were obtained by extracting using cyclohexane, methanol and ethanol, respectively, as the solvent. For thermal dissolution at 300 °C using cyclohexane, the intermolecular interactions between mobile phase and macromolecules in coal were weakened. Consequently, non- and low-polar compounds such as alkanes and aromatics were well dissolved. Methanol and ethanol were more likely to closely interact with oxygen-containing functional groups and promoted the breakage of hydrogen bonds and weak covalent bonds. Hierarchical cluster analysis classified all the 24 SPs, and the SPs from cyclohexane and ethanol solvents exhibited more similarity. Partial least squares discriminant analysis was established to reproduce the classification results of SPs entirely and accurately. The SPs were further classified by combining a small number of geochemical characteristic compounds rather than massive GC-MS data. • Three low-rank coals retain the biological properties of numerous aquatic plants. • Data mining provides convenient and accurate classification for coal samples. • PLS-DA classification is determined by differential geochemical characteristic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel iron-electrolysis assisted anammox/denitrification system was constructed. • N and P could be efficiently removed from low-strength wastewater in EAD system. • Electrolysis promotes EPS production and cell lysis to supplement the carbon source. • EMR has higher anammox activity than ESR due to the mass-produced EPS. • Vivianite is the major phosphorus recovery product in EAD system. Two iron-electrolysis assisted anammox/denitrification (EAD) systems, including the suspended sludge reactor (ESR) and biofilm reactor (EMR) were constructed for mainstream wastewater treatment, achieving 84.51±4.38 % and 87.23±3.31 % of TN removal efficiencies, respectively. Sludge extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) analysis, cell apoptosis detection and microbial analysis demonstrated that the strengthened cell lysate/apoptosis and EPS production acted as supplemental carbon sources to provide new ecological niches for heterotrophic bacteria. Therefore, NO 3 −-N accumulated intrinsically during anammox reaction was reduced. The rising cell lysis and apoptosis in the ESR induced the decline of anammox and enzyme activities. In contrast, this inhibition was scavenged in EMR because of the more favorable environment and the significant increase in EPS. Moreover, ESR and EMR achieved efficient phosphorus removal (96.98±5.24 % and 96.98±4.35 %) due to the continued release of Fe2+ by the in-situ corrosion of iron anodes. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated that vivianite was the dominant P recovery product in EAD systems. The anaerobic microenvironment and the abundant EPS in the biofilm system showed essential benefits in the mineralization of vivianite. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent Advances: The 2019 Nobel Prize awarded to the mechanisms for oxygen sensing and adaptation according to oxygen availability, highlighting the fundamental importance of gaseous molecules. Gaseous molecules, including reactive oxygen species (ROS), can interact with different cations generated during metabolic and redox dysregulation in cancer cells. Cross talk between calcium signaling and metabolic/redox pathways leads to network-based dyregulation in cancer. Significance: Recent discovery on using small molecules targeting the ion channels, redox signaling, and protein modification on metabolic enzymes can effectively inhibit cancer growth. Several FDA-approved drugs and clinical trials are ongoing to target the calcium channels, such as TRPV6 and TRPM8. Multiple small molecules from natural products target metablic and redox enzymes to exert an anticancer effect. Critical Issues: Small molecules targeting key ion channels, metabolic enzymes that control key aspects of metabolism, and redox proteins are promising, but their action mechanisms of the target are needed to be elucidated with advanced-omic technologies, which can give network-based and highly dimensioal data. In addition, small molecules that can directly modify the protein residues have emerged as a novel anticancer strategy. Future Directions: Advanced technology accelerates the detection of ions and metabolic and redox changes in clinical samples for diagnosis and informs the decision of cancer treatment. The improvement of ROS detection, ROS target identification, and computational-aid drug discovery also improves clincal outcome.Overall, network-based or holistic regulations of cancer via ion therapy and metabolic and redox intervention are promising as new anticancer strategies. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 34, 1108–1127. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to their high strength-to-weight ratio, superior corrosion resistance, and convenience in manufacture, fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bars can be used as a good alternative to steel bars to solve the durability issue in reinforced concrete (RC) structures, especially for seawater sea-sand concrete. In this paper, a theoretical model for predicting the punching shear strength of FRP-RC slabs is developed. In this model, the punching shear strength is determined by the intersection of capacity and demanding curve of FRP-RC slabs. The capacity curve is employed based on critical shear crack theory, while the demand curve is derived with the help of a simplified tri-linear moment-curvature relationship. After the validity of the proposed model is verified with experimental data collected from the literature, the effects of concrete strength, loading area, FRP reinforcement ratio, and effective depth of concrete slabs are evaluated quantitatively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intrinsic OER activity is Cr-NiFe LDHs > Co-NiFe LDHs > Mn-NiFe LDHs >NiFe LDHs. The enhanced catalytic performance upon doping can be attributed to the interface effect, which results in the tuning of the binding energies of the intermediate states in OER. The bottleneck of electrochemical water splitting is the sluggish kinetics of oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have been proposed as active and affordable electrocatalysts in OER. It has been reported that the activity of LDHs can be effectively tuned by doping of other metals. Despite previous experimental synthesis and improved catalytic performance, the in-depth OER mechanism on metal doped LDHs remains ambiguous. In the present work, transition metals (Cr, Mn and Co) doped NiFe LDHs were designed to investigate the doping effect in OER by both experimental analysis and density functional theory calculations. Based on experimental results, the intrinsic OER activity is Cr-NiFe LDHs > Co-NiFe LDHs > Mn-NiFe LDHs > NiFe LDHs, while the enhanced catalytic performance upon doping can be attributed to the interface effect, which results in the tuning of the binding energies of the intermediate states in OER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Corticosteroid-induced rosacea-like dermatitis (CIRD) is one of the cutaneous side effects of long and excessive application of topical corticosteroids, resembling rosacea that can present with a series of cutaneous manifestations. Most patients with CIRD undergo a variety of long-term treatments before their symptoms are relieved as there is no accepted standard therapy. We gave each of seven patients two sessions of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) mesotherapy before the routine treatment to restore their skin barrier function, and we were surprised to find that the patients' symptoms and appearance were significantly improved without any further treatments. Here we report this unexpected finding in dealing with CIRD. Case Presentation: Seven patients, one male and six female, who had history of applying topical corticosteroids on the face for more than 3 months continuously or intermittently for various reasons were diagnosed with CIRD, showing varying degrees of erythema, telangiectasia, and papules, with dry skin, pain, and burning or stinging sensation. We intended to use the restorative effect of PRP to restore the skin barrier function of the patients for further treatment such as tacrolimus ointment, intense pulsed light (IPL), or pulsed dye laser (PDL), so they were treated twice with PRP intradermal injections using a mesogun injector machine. We used the VISIA skin detector to photograph and compare the changes after the treatments. Clinical efficacy was also assessed by the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS). Patients' assessments were recorded using three-point scale questionnaires. After two sessions of PRP treatment, before any further treatment, we were surprised to find that the patients' symptoms had improved significantly, as confirmed by VISIA skin detector and GAIS. All of the patients were satisfied with the outcomes, considering that mesotherapy was not painful and their appearance and symptoms had much improved. Conclusions: PRP mesotherapy may mitigate sensitivity and inflammation in patients with CIRD by reducing erythema, telangiectasia, and papules. It is worth conducting large randomized controlled trials to verify its safety and efficacy in treating corticosteroid-induced rosacea-like dermatitis and maybe rosacea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: This study was designed to examine the role of long noncoding RNA PRNCR1 in cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) in vitro and in vivo. Methods: The expression levels of PRNCR1 and miR-182-5p in cisplatin-induced AKI mice were examined. HK-2 cells were treated with cisplatin to induce cell damage. Then, the effects of PRNCR1 and miR-182-5p on cisplatin-stimulated HK-2 cell viability and apoptosis were detected by the CCK-8 and annexin V-FITC/PI method. Target genes of PRNCR1 and miR-182-5p were analyzed by bioinformatics analysis and luciferase. Results: The expression level of PRNCR1 was significantly reduced in cisplatin-induced AKI mice. In addition, overexpression of PRNCR1 attenuated the damage of cisplatin to HK-2. The expression level of miR-182-5p was significantly raised in cisplatin-induced AKI mice. MiR-182-5p was negatively regulated by PRNCR1 and leaded to an upregulation of EZH1 expression. Overexpression of PRNCR1 attenuated cisplatin-induced apoptosis by downregulating the miR-182-5p/EZH1 axis. Conclusion: LncPRNCR1 reduced the apoptosis of renal epithelial cells induced by cisplatin by modulating miR-182-5p/EZH1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the relationship between postoperative motor deficits and the duration of reduced motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) in patients with middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysm. This study included 285 cases of MCA aneurysm treated with clipping surgery with MEP monitoring. The effects of MEP changes on postoperative motor function were assessed, and the key time point for minimizing the incidence of postoperative motor dysfunction was found through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Motor dysfunction was significantly associated with the occurrence of MEP changes, and patients with irreversible changes were more likely to suffer motor dysfunction than were those with reversible changes. The critical duration of MEP changes that minimized the risk of postoperative motor dysfunction was 8.5 min. This study revealed that MEP monitoring is an effective method for preventing ischemic brain injury during surgical treatment of MCA aneurysm and proposes a critical cutoff for the duration of MEP deterioration of 8.5 min for predicting postoperative motor dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the effects of etibatide combined with emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on blood perfusion and cardiac function in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients. Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, controlled study. From November 2015 to June 2019, 196 patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing emergency PCI admitted to Baoding First Central Hospital were enrolled. The 196 STEMI patients were randomly divided into experimental group and control group. In the experimental group, STEMI patients were treated with emergency PCI + etibatide; while in the control group, only PCI was performed. Observation indexes included: general data, myocardial perfusion and cardiac function indexes and major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Results: There was no significant difference in general data between the two groups (P > 0.05). The rate of ST-segment resolution (STR) in the experimental group was better than that in the control group (P < 0.05). In myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE), higher peak intensity (PI) and shorter time-to-peak (TP) were observed in the experimental group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The platelet aggregation rate was compared between the two group at the time points of before PCI, after PCI and two hour after drug withdrawal, and there was no significant change in the platelet aggregation rate of the control group between different time points (before PCI, after PCI and two hour after drug withdrawal); while the platelet aggregation rate of the experimental group was significantly lower after PCI and two hour after drug withdrawal than that before PCI (P < 0.05), and an obviously decreased platelet aggregation rate was found in the experimental group(P < 0.05). After three months of follow-up, there was one case of MACE in the experimental group and 1 case of MACE in the control group, without any difference in the incidence of MACE between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Etibatide combined with emergency PCI could improve myocardial reperfusion and cardiac function in patients with acute STEMI without increasing the incidence of MACE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electric field is one of the key parameters to study the charge dynamics for corona discharge. To study the motion characteristics of space charge in different corona modes of ac corona, electrooptic (EO) modulation technique was used to obtain the electric field in corona space. This article focuses on the time-varying characteristics of electric field for ac corona discharge modes. The step phenomenon is observed and the evolution characteristics of electric field for corona modes, from the Trichel pulses to the stable glow, are obtained. It was found that the background field could not remove the space charge generated by the discharge completely within half a cycle, which directly proved the existence of retained charge. And it is proposed that the continuous and fast rising electric field is the characteristic of positive glow in ac corona, which may be an effective method to judge the positive glow. Additionally, electric fields at different spatial locations were studied. The electric field step at the migration zone is suppressed, and as the space charge density increases, the suppression phenomenon becomes more obvious. This article provides more information on the physical mechanisms of the ac corona modes and gives support for the research of corona plasma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and high‐performance liquid chromatography/time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (HPLC/TOF‐MS) were used to separate and reveal the molecular characteristics of organic matter in low‐rank coals. Methods: Six soluble portions (SPs) were obtained by sequential thermal dissolution (TD) of two low‐rank coals in the order of cyclohexane, acetone and methanol solvents at 300°C. Organic matter with different molecular characteristics were enriched in eachTD extract, which was further separated and analyzed by GC/MS and HPLC/TOF‐MS using an electrospray ionization source in positive mode to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the structural composition of coals. Results: Low polarity compounds like alkanes and arenes have a better solubility in cyclohexane. Phorone has the highest relative abundance in the acetone SPs, and the main compounds detected in the methanol SPs are alcohols and phenols. According to the data from HPLC/TOF‐MS, most of the oxygen atoms are in the form of carbonyl and alkoxy groups. The nitrogen‐containing compounds in SPs are mainly saturated aliphatic amines and pyridines. The sulfur‐containing compounds mainly exist in the form of thioalkanes and thiophenes. Conclusions: Non‐destructive methods were used to obtain soluble matter from coals, and different chromatographic and mass spectrometric techniques were used to separate and analyze the organic matter in coals. Detailed molecular structural information was obtained for the efficient and clean utilization of low‐rank coals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intramolecular [2+2] cycloaddition of ene–ketenes gives either fused‐ring (via normal [2+2] cycloaddition) or bridged‐ring (via cross‐[2+2] cycloaddition) cyclobutanones. For example, terminal ene–ketenes give the fused‐ring cycloadducts, whereas dimethyl‐substituted ene–ketenes furnish bridged‐ring cycloadducts. For monomethyl‐substituted ene–ketenes, both [2+2] cycloadducts are generated. However, there are no systematic theoretical studies on such regiochemistry in the literature. Herein, we report our DFT study on the mechanism and regioselectivity of these intramolecular [2+2] cycloadditions. DFT calculations reveal that both normal and cross‐[2+2] cycloadditions are concerted processes. The normal [2+2] cycloaddition transition state is forming an internal carbocation while the cross‐[2+2] cycloaddition transition state is generating an external carbocation (see Scheme 1 of the paper). On the basis of the relative stability of these carbocations, which is affected by both the tether and the substituent(s) on the alkene, a regiochemistry prediction model is proposed to understand and predict the reaction outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]