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To explore the formula for calculating the haemoglobin glycation index (HGI) in an appropriate Chinese population. Evaluating the applicability of the HGI calculation formula proposed by Hempe et al. in the Chinese population; according to the data from CHARLS 2011, 10,587 self-reported nondiabetics aged 20 years and older were selected as the study subjects, regression equations were constructed to fit the linear relationship between HbA1c and FPG in the population, and the profile characteristics of the resultant population were analysed. The standardized HGI formula put forth by Hempe and colleagues has been found unsuitable for application to the Chinese population. Leveraging CHARLS dataset, we derive a novel HGI calculation formula tailored to the Chinese demographic: HGI = Measured HbA1c-Predicted HbA1c, where Predicted HbA1c = 0.011×FPG + 4.032. We found statistically significant differences in HGI among obese individuals; those with higher waist circumference, total cholesterol levels, LDL levels, diastolic blood pressure and those with lower HDL levels. The HGI calculation formula proposed using CHARLS data is more applicable to the Chinese population and can be used as a standardised HGI to Chinese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaria parasites hijack the metabolism of their mammalian host during the blood-stage cycle. Anopheles mosquitoes depend on mammalian blood to lay eggs and to transmit malaria parasites. However, it remains understudied whether changes in host metabolism affect parasite transmission in mosquitoes. In this study, we discovered that Plasmodium infection significantly decreased the levels of the tryptophan metabolite, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), in both humans and mice. The reduction led to the decrease of 5-HT in mosquitoes. Oral supplementation of 5-HT to Anopheles stephensi enhanced its resistance to Plasmodium berghei infection by promoting the generation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. This effect was due to the accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria caused by 5-HT-mediated inhibition of mitophagy. Elevating 5-HT levels in mouse serum significantly suppressed parasite infection in mosquitoes. In summary, our data highlight the critical role of metabolites in animal blood in determining the capacity of mosquitoes to control parasite infection. Author summary: Plasmodium infection causes symptoms ranging from fever, headache, convulsions to death that are associated with metabolic dysregulation in patients. Because Plasmodium is transmitted to mosquitoes through blood, it remains unclear how host metabolic changes affect parasite transmission in mosquitoes. In this study, we show that Plasmodium infection reduces the metabolite 5-HT in humans, mice and mosquitoes. Artificially increasing and decreasing 5-HT levels in mosquitoes inhibits and facilitates Plasmodium infection in mosquitoes, respectively. Mechanistic studies show that 5-HT inhibits mitophagy, leading to the accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria, which exacerbates ROS generation. The increase in ROS, in turn, promotes parasite clearance. We also show that restoring the 5-HT levels in Plasmodium-infected mice to those of uninfected mice effectively suppresses parasite infection in mosquitoes. Collectively, these findings suggest the potential of correcting host metabolism to inhibit vector-borne parasite transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dendrite growth and volume expansion of the Li metal anode, as well as the LiPSs “shuttle effect” and slow conversion kinetics of the S cathode, have severely hampered the large‐scale development of LSBs. Herein, a simple hydrothermal method is employed to synthesize rod‐like AgVO3, which is then used as the Li metal anode current collector and the separator modification, respectively. As the Li metal anode current collector, AgVO3 has a strong Li affinity, which can lower Li nucleation overpotential and guide uniform deposition of Li metal. The AgVO3‐modified separator can accelerate the redox kinetics of LiPSs and achieve the anchoring of LiPSs. The results of DFT calculation and experiments reveal that the AgVO3 enable the Ag horizontal d orbitals (dxy/dx2‐y2) to hybridize with the S p orbital to form additional σ/σ* and π/π*. The activation of horizontal d orbitals can increase LiPSs anchoring ability, reduce the reaction barrier, and accelerate LiPSs transformation. Hence, the LSBs assembled with the Li@AgVO3 anode and AgVO3 modified separator show excellent cycle performance. This work gives a novel idea for the application of high catalytic performance materials represented by AgVO3, and its unique catalytic performance can successfully achieve LSBs with high performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shale oil reservoir within the Yanchang Formations of Ordos Basin harbors substantial oil and gas resources and has recently emerged as the primary focus of unconventional oil and gas exploration and development. Due to its complex pore and throat structure, pronounced heterogeneity, and tight reservoir characteristics, the techniques for conventional oil and gas exploration and production face challenges in comprehensive implementation, also indicating that as a vital parameter for evaluating the physical properties of a reservoir, permeability cannot be effectively estimated. This study selects 21 tight sandstone samples from the Q area within the shale oil formations of Ordos Basin. We systematically conduct the experiments to measure porosity, permeability, ultrasonic wave velocities, and resistivity at varying confining pressures. Results reveal that these measurements exhibit nonlinear changes in response to effective pressure. By using these experimental data and effective medium model, empirical relationships between P-and S-wave velocities, permeability and resistivity and effective pressure are established at logging and seismic scales. Furthermore, relationships between P-wave impedance and permeability, and resistivity and permeability are determined. A comparison between the predicted permeability and logging data demonstrates that the impedance–permeability relationship yields better results in contrast to those of resistivity–permeability relationship. These relationships are further applied to the seismic interpretation of shale oil reservoir in the target layer, enabling the permeability profile predictions based on inverse P-wave impedance. The predicted results are evaluated with actual production data, revealing a better agreement between predicted results and logging data and productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We prove that for a large class of quantum Fisher information, a quantum channel is sufficient for a family of quantum states, i.e., the input states can be recovered from the output by some quantum operation, if and only if, the quantum Fisher information is preserved under the quantum channel. This class, for instance, includes Winger–Yanase–Dyson skew information. On the other hand, interestingly, the SLD quantum Fisher information, as the most popular example of quantum analogs of Fisher information, does not satisfy this property. Our recoverability result is obtained by studying monotone metrics on the quantum state space, i.e. Riemannian metrics non-increasing under the action of quantum channels, a property often called data processing inequality. For two quantum states, the monotone metric gives the corresponding quantum χ 2 divergence. We obtain an approximate recovery result in the sense that, if the quantum χ 2 divergence is approximately preserved by a quantum channel, then two states can be approximately recovered by the Petz recovery map. We also obtain a universal recovery bound for the χ 1 2 divergence. Finally, we discuss applications in the context of quantum thermodynamics and the resource theory of asymmetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Abnormal remodeling of distal pulmonary arteries in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) leads to progressively increased pulmonary vascular resistance, followed by right ventricular hypertrophy and failure. Despite considerable advancements in PAH treatment prognosis remains poor. We aim to evaluate the potential for using the cytokine resistin as a genetic and biological marker for disease severity and survival in a large cohort of patients with PAH. Methods: Biospecimens, clinical, and genetic data for 1121 adults with PAH, including 808 with idiopathic PAH (IPAH) and 313 with scleroderma-associated PAH (SSc-PAH), were obtained from a national repository. Serum resistin levels were measured by ELISA, and associations between resistin levels, clinical variables, and single nucleotide polymorphism genotypes were examined with multivariable regression models. Machine-learning (ML) algorithms were applied to develop and compare risk models for mortality prediction. Results: Resistin levels were significantly higher in all PAH samples and PAH subtype (IPAH and SSc-PAH) samples than in controls (P <.0001) and had significant discriminative abilities (AUCs of 0.84, 0.82, and 0.91, respectively; P <.001). High resistin levels (above 4.54 ng/mL) in PAH patients were associated with older age (P =.001), shorter 6-min walk distance (P =.001), and reduced cardiac performance (cardiac index, P =.016). Interestingly, mutant carriers of either rs3219175 or rs3745367 had higher resistin levels (adjusted P =.0001). High resistin levels in PAH patients were also associated with increased risk of death (hazard ratio: 2.6; 95% CI: 1.27–5.33; P <.0087). Comparisons of ML–derived survival models confirmed satisfactory prognostic value of the random forest model (AUC = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.62–0.79) for PAH. Conclusions: This work establishes the importance of resistin in the pathobiology of human PAH. In line with its function in rodent models, serum resistin represents a novel biomarker for PAH prognostication and may indicate a new therapeutic avenue. ML-derived survival models highlighted the importance of including resistin levels to improve performance. Future studies are needed to develop multi-marker assays that improve noninvasive risk stratification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mosquito‐borne diseases (MBDs) annually kill nearly half a million people. Due to the lack of effective vaccines and drugs on most MBDs, disease prevention relies primarily on controlling mosquitoes. Despite huge efforts having been put into mosquito control, eco‐friendly and sustainable mosquito‐control strategies are still lacking and urgently demanded. Most mosquito‐transmitted pathogens have lost the capacity of de novo nutrition biosynthesis, and rely on their vertebrate and invertebrate hosts for sustenance during the long‐term obligate parasitism process. Therefore, a better understanding of the metabolic interactions between mosquitoes and pathogens will contribute to the discovery of novel metabolic targets or regulators that lead to reduced mosquito populations or vector competence. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the effects of mosquito metabolism on the transmission of multiple pathogens. We also discuss that research in this area remains to be explored to develop multiple biological prevention and control strategies for MBDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Based on different physicochemical properties, common submucosal injection solutions could be classified into three categories: normal saline solution (NS), hypertonic solution (HS), and viscous solution (VS). We compared the efficacy and safety of various categories of solutions in this network meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to identify the optimal submucosal injection fluid. Methods: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched for RCTs that compared the efficacy and safety of NS, HS, and VS during endoscopic resection for gastrointestinal (GI) mucosal lesions. Pairwise and network analyses were conducted to determine the ranking of different fluids. Results: Thirteen RCTs were included in the final analysis with 1637 patients (1639 lesions). HS outperformed NS in rates of en bloc (pooled relative risk [RR] 1.50; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10–1.90), overall bleeding (pooled odds ratio [OR] 0.33; 95% CI 0.10–0.88; lesions >10 mm OR 4.65 × 10−2; 95% CI 1.10 × 10−3–0.46), and intraoperative bleeding (lesions >10 mm OR 7.10 × 10−6; 95% CI 4.30 × 10−18–0.26). HS showed the highest probability of ranking first in each outcome except for the volume of injection. Although VS was superior to NS in rates of en bloc, overall, and intraoperative bleeding in the lesions >10 mm subgroup, and required less fluid in pooled analysis, it ranked last in cost of submucosal injection solution. Conclusions: Both HS and VS were superior to NS in comparisons of efficacy and safety. Considering the better performance and potentially low cost, HS might be an optimal choice during gastrointestinal endoscopic resection, especially for colorectal endoscopic mucosal resection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and electrical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) are widely used in commercial energy storage systems, but each has inherent limitations. To overcome these limitations, the lithium-ion capacitor (LIC) has emerged as a hybrid energy storage device, combining the benefits of LIBs and EDLCs. However, the introduction of active lithium into LICs poses challenges due to lithium's reactivity and instability. In this study, we propose a dual wet chemical prelithiation strategy to enhance LIC performance. By wet chemically prelithiating both the activated carbon cathodes and hard carbon anodes, significant improvements are achieved compared to traditional prelithiation methods. The dual prelithiation approach outperforms electrochemical prelithiation in terms of energy storage performance, cycle life, and process simplification. LICs with dual wet chemically prelithiated electrodes demonstrate the highest energy density and retain a substantial portion of reversible capacity even at high discharge rates. The strategy exhibits fast kinetics and wide operational stability. In contrast, LICs with metallic lithium anodes or electrochemically prelithiated hard carbon anodes exhibit inferior performance and limited cycle life. The dual wet chemical prelithiation strategy represents a breakthrough in LIC technology, offering superior performance, cycle stability, and scalability. It holds promise for alkali-ion energy storage systems and drives advancements in electrochemical energy storage technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The myostatin (MSTN) gene also regulates the developmental balance of skeletal muscle after birth, and has long been linked to age-related muscle wasting. Many rodent studies have shown a correlation between MSTN and age-related diseases. It is unclear how MSTN and age-associated muscle loss in other animals are related. In this study, we utilized MSTN gene-edited bovine skeletal muscle cells to investigate the mechanisms relating to MSTN and muscle cell senescence. The expression of MSTN was higher in older individuals than in younger individuals. We obtained consecutively passaged senescent cells and performed senescence index assays and transcriptome sequencing. We found that senescence hallmarks and the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) were decreased in long-term-cultured myostatin inactivated (MT-KO) bovine skeletal muscle cells (bSMCs). Using cell signaling profiling, MSTN was shown to regulate the SASP, predominantly through the cycle GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of antiviral genes (cGAS-STING) pathway. An in-depth investigation by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis revealed that MSTN influenced three prime repair exonuclease 1 (TREX1) expression through the SMAD2/3 complex. The downregulation of MSTN contributed to the activation of the MSTN-SMAD2/3-TREX1 signaling axis, influencing the secretion of SASP, and consequently delaying the senescence of bSMCs. This study provided valuable new insight into the role of MSTN in cell senescence in large animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water resources carrying capacity (WRCC) has been evaluated repeatedly to guide sustainable regional development, with the increasing conflicts over water resources between society and nature. Urban underlying surfaces are constantly changing under the rapid development of urbanization, which has changed the WRCC. The chaotic particle swarm genetic algorithm (CPSGA) is proposed in this study to evaluate the WRCC. It combines the genetic algorithm (GA), chaotic optimization algorithm (COA), and particle swarm optimization (PSO), as well as introduces the chaotic mapping of COA and the velocity position update strategy of PSO into the GA framework to strengthen the population quality and improve the algorithm's efficiency. The effectiveness of CPSGA was demonstrated using three typical functions. Nanjing, China, was used as the study area to evaluate the WRCC from 2015 to 2018. The results showed that the comprehensive evaluation scores of the WRCC of Nanjing from 2015 to 2018 were up to 0.83. In addition, the CPSGA had better astringency and stability than GA, COA, and PSO. The application indicated that the proposed methodology is feasible, providing a reference for conducting WRCC research elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C17H14O6, monoclinic, P21/n (no. 14), a = 13.9003(10) Å, b = 7.6509(6) Å, c = 14.4694(11) Å, β = 105.300(3)°, V = 1484.3(2) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0357, wRref(F2) = 0.0947, T = 100(2) K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent study by Brian Mac Grory and colleagues investigated the safety of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) among patients under vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) use within 7 days prior to hospital admission. Through this retrospective, observational cohort study, they found prior VKA use did not increase the risk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) overall. However, recent VKA use with a presenting international normalized ratio (INR) > 1.7 was associated with a significantly increased risk of sICH. Future large‐scale randomized controlled trials should be conducted to further clarify the effects and feasibility of EVT therapy in ischemic stroke patients under anticoagulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat-treated ribbed bar 630 (HTRB630) is a new type of reinforcing steel produced in China. The tensile properties and low-cycle fatigue properties of HTRB630 high-strength steel bars after exposure to high temperature are crucial for the seismic performance of reinforced concrete structures potentially subjected to fire. With this aim, HTRB630 high-strength steel bar specimens were heated to high temperatures (200°C, 400°C, 600°C, and 800°C), and cooled to the room temperature by water. The appearance and microstructures of the specimens with different exposure temperatures were observed. The tensile tests and different constant strain amplitude low-cycle fatigue tests were carried out. Test results indicated that the specimens exposed to high temperature below 600°C had good tensile properties and low-cycle fatigue properties. Variations of the metallographic structures of the specimens resulted in different tensile properties and different low-cycle fatigue properties. After exposure to the same temperature, as the strain amplitude increased, the shape of the hysteresis curve of the specimen was fuller, its plastic strain amplitude and plastic strain range and elastic strain range ratio increased, its maximum stress per cycle increased slightly, its softening characteristic was more obvious, and its residual dissipated energy density decreased. All specimens performed ductile fracture failures. Therefore, HTRB630 high-strength steel bars have broad application prospects in antifire reinforced concrete structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: To clarify the prevalence, features and outcomes of small airway disease (SAD) in a Chinese cohort with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)‐associated vasculitis (AAV) related pulmonary involvement. Methods: SAD was recorded when the manifestations of either centrilobular nodules or air trapping were observed according to CT scans, except for infection or other airway‐related comorbidities. Baseline and follow‐up data were collected retrospectively. Results: Of the 359 newly diagnosed AAV patients with pulmonary involvement, 92 (25.6%) had SAD, including 79 (85.9%) cases of anti‐MPO‐ANCA positive, 9 (9.8%) cases of anti‐PR3‐ANCA positive and 2 (2.2%) cases of double positive. Patients with SAD were more likely to be younger, female, non‐smokers, have more ear–nose–throat (ENT) involvement, and have higher baseline Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS) compared to patients without SAD. Several AAV‐related SAD patients have improved lung function and CT scans after immunosuppressive therapy. Patients with SAD had a better prognosis compared to those without SAD. When dividing all patients into three groups: isolated SAD (only small airway involvements), SAD with other lower airway involvements, and non‐SAD, patients in the SAD with other lower airway involvements group had the highest risk of infection, while patients in the non‐SAD group had the worst long‐term outcomes. Similar results were observed in anti‐MPO‐ANCA positive patients when performing subgroup analyses. Conclusion: SAD is a unique manifestation of AAV‐related lung involvement and exhibits distinct clinical features. It is vital to focus on SAD because of its association with prognosis and infection in AAV patients, especially in anti‐MPO‐ANCA positive patients. Moreover, SAD might represent a better response to immunosuppressors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposed a two-way coupled computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and discrete element method (DEM) approach to analyze the evolution of clogging in slurry shield tunneling quantitatively. The interactions between clay particles and slurry were considered by exchanging three interaction forces, including buoyancy force, pressure gradient force, and drag force. The CFD-DEM coupling approach was first benchmarked by comparing cutterhead torque and total thrust with field monitored data of a practical slurry shield tunnel project. The evolution process of the particle phase and the fluid phase over time was presented. The results indicated that fewer than 70% of the particles can be washed away in time by the circulating slurry. About 9% of the particles adhered to the submerged wall, resulting in increased cutterhead torque and thrust. Through parametric analysis, the influence of the shield driving parameters on the clay clogging behavior is further explored. The time history of cutterhead torque or thrust can be used as a criterion for judging whether clogging has occurred. Additionally, a new assessment method of clogging risk and an optimization strategy of driving parameters were proposed, which were intended to provide some guidance for similar projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfoxides are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry and as ligands in asymmetric catalysis. However, the efficient asymmetric synthesis of this structural motif remains limited. In this study, we disclosed a Ni‐catalyzed enantioconvergent reaction that utilizes both racemic allenyl carbonates and β‐sulfinyl esters. Our method employs cheap and more sustainable Ni(II) as a precatalyst and successfully overcomes the challenging poisoning effect and instability of sulfenate generated in situ. This enables the synthesis of a series of dienyl sulfoxides with enantioselectivity of up to 98 % ee. The product exhibits tremendous potential in various applications, including diastereoselective Diels–Alder reactions, coordination with transition metals, and incorporation into medicinal compounds, among others. Using a combination of experimental and computational methods, we have uncovered an interesting associated outersphere mechanism that contrasts with conventional mechanisms commonly observed in asymmetric transition metal catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfoxides are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry and as ligands in asymmetric catalysis. However, the efficient asymmetric synthesis of this structural motif remains limited. In this study, we disclosed a Ni‐catalyzed enantioconvergent reaction that utilizes both racemic allenyl carbonates and β‐sulfinyl esters. Our method employs cheap and more sustainable Ni(II) as a precatalyst and successfully overcomes the challenging poisoning effect and instability of sulfenate generated in situ. This enables the synthesis of a series of dienyl sulfoxides with enantioselectivity of up to 98 % ee. The product exhibits tremendous potential in various applications, including diastereoselective Diels–Alder reactions, coordination with transition metals, and incorporation into medicinal compounds, among others. Using a combination of experimental and computational methods, we have uncovered an interesting associated outersphere mechanism that contrasts with conventional mechanisms commonly observed in asymmetric transition metal catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. To investigate the specific expression profile, clinicopathological significance and mechanism of Zic family member 2 (ZIC2) in oral cancer were unclear. Patients and Methods. We explored the expression pattern and clinicopathological significance of ZIC2 in oral cancer through performing in-house tissue microarray and integrated analysis global RNA-seq and microarrays containing large samples. The molecular basis of ZIC2 in oral cancer was further investigated in the aspects of transcription network and immune correlations. We also performed in vitro experiments and calculated drug sensitivity of oral cancer with different ZIC2 expression levels in response to hundreds of compounds. Results. All data unanimously proved the significant overexpression of ZIC2 in oral cancer. The upregulation of ZIC2 was remarkably associated with the malignant clinical progression of oral cancer. ZIC2 was predicted to be targeted by miRNAs such as miR-3140, miR-4999, and miR-1322. The infiltration level of CD8+ T and central memory cells was positively related to the overexpression of ZIC2. Oral cancer patients with higher ZIC2 expression showed higher drug sensitivity to two compounds including AZD8186 and ERK_2240. Conclusions. We demonstrated the upregulation of ZIC2 in oral cancer and its promoting effect on the clinical advancement of oral cancer. The potential clinical value of ZIC2 in oral cancer deserves attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global wind power expansion raises concerns about its potential impact on plant biomass production (PBP). Using a high-dimensional fixed effects model, this study reveals significant PBP reduction due to wind farm construction based on 2404 wind farms, 108,361 wind turbines, and 7,904,352 PBP observations during 2000–2022 in China. Within a 1–10 km buffer, the normalized differential vegetation and enhanced vegetation indices decrease from 0.0097 to 0.0045 and 0.0075 to 0.0028, respectively. Similarly, absorbed photosynthetically active radiation and gross primary productivity decline from 0.0094 to 0.0034% and 0.0003–0.0002 g*C/m2 within a 1–7 km buffer. Adverse effects last over three years, magnified in summer and autumn, and are more pronounced at lower altitudes and in plains. Forest carbon sinks decrease by 12,034 tons within a 0–20 km radius, causing an average economic loss of $1.81 million per wind farm. Our findings underscore the balanced mitigation strategies for renewable energy transition when transiting from fossil fuels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Obesity is characterized by chronic low‐grade inflammation and is strongly associated with multiple immunological diseases, including cancer and inflammatory diseases. Recent animal studies revealed that obesity‐induced immunological changes worsen immune‐driven diseases and cause resistance to immunotherapy. Here, we discuss the role of obesity in the immunopathology and treatment responses of cancers, respiratory and allergic diseases, and IL‐17‐mediated inflammatory diseases. We summarize the unique features of the inflammatory state of these diseases, which are orchestrated by obesity. In particular, obesity alters the immune landscape in cancers with a reprogrammed metabolic profile of tumor‐infiltrating immune cells. Obesity exacerbates airway inflammation by dysregulating multiple immune‐cell subsets. Obesity also dysregulates Th17, IL‐17‐producing mucosal‐associated invariant T (MAIT), and γδ T cells, which contribute to IL‐17‐mediated inflammatory response in multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and rheumatoid arthritis. By identifying the effects of obesity on immunological diseases, new strategies could be devised to target immune dysregulation caused by obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The neutral hydrogen (H  i) intensity mapping (IM) survey is regarded as a promising approach for cosmic large-scale structure studies. A major issue for the H  i IM survey is to remove the bright foreground contamination. A key to successfully removing the bright foreground is to well control or eliminate the instrumental effects. In this work, we consider the instrumental effects of polarization leakage and use the U-Net approach, a deep learning-based foreground removal technique, to eliminate the polarization leakage effect. The thermal noise is assumed to be a subdominant factor compared with the polarization leakage for future H  i IM surveys and ignored in this analysis. In this method, the principal component analysis (PCA) foreground subtraction is used as a pre-processing step for the U-Net foreground subtraction. Our results show that the additional U-Net processing could either remove the foreground residual after the conservative PCA subtraction or compensate for the signal loss caused by the aggressive PCA pre-processing. Finally, we test the robustness of the U-Net foreground subtraction technique and show that it is still reliable in the case of existing constraint error on H  i fluctuation amplitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: The electrochemical principles/mechanism of Li–S batteries and origin of the shuttle effect have been discussed. The efficient strategies have been summarized to inhibit the shuttle effect. The recent advances of inhibition of shuttle effect in Li–S batteries for all components from anode to cathode. Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries are supposed to be one of the most potential next-generation batteries owing to their high theoretical capacity and low cost. Nevertheless, the shuttle effect of firm multi-step two-electron reaction between sulfur and lithium in liquid electrolyte makes the capacity much smaller than the theoretical value. Many methods were proposed for inhibiting the shuttle effect of polysulfide, improving corresponding redox kinetics and enhancing the integral performance of Li–S batteries. Here, we will comprehensively and systematically summarize the strategies for inhibiting the shuttle effect from all components of Li–S batteries. First, the electrochemical principles/mechanism and origin of the shuttle effect are described in detail. Moreover, the efficient strategies, including boosting the sulfur conversion rate of sulfur, confining sulfur or lithium polysulfides (LPS) within cathode host, confining LPS in the shield layer, and preventing LPS from contacting the anode, will be discussed to suppress the shuttle effect. Then, recent advances in inhibition of shuttle effect in cathode, electrolyte, separator, and anode with the aforementioned strategies have been summarized to direct the further design of efficient materials for Li–S batteries. Finally, we present prospects for inhibition of the LPS shuttle and potential development directions in Li–S batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More and more evidence shows that metabolic reprogramming is closely related to the occurrence of AD. The metabolic conversion of oxidative phosphorylation into glycolysis will aggravate microglia-mediated inflammation. It has been demonstrated that baicalein could inhibit neuroinflammation in LPS-treated BV-2 microglial cells, but whether the anti-neuroinflammatory mechanisms of baicalein were related to glycolysis is unclear. Our results depicted that baicalein significantly inhibited the levels of nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-6 (IL-6), prostaglandin 2 (PGE2) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) in LPS-treated BV-2 cells. 1H-NMR metabolomics analysis showed that baicalein decreased the levels of lactic acid and pyruvate, and significantly regulated glycolytic pathway. Further study revealed that baicalein significantly inhibited the activities of glycolysis-related enzymes including hexokinase (HK), 6-phosphate kinase (6-PFK), pyruvate kinase (PK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and inhibited STAT3 phosphorylation and c-Myc expression. By using of STAT3 activator RO8191, we found that baicalein suppressed the increase of STAT3 phosphorylation and c-Myc expression triggered by RO8191, and inhibited the increased levels of 6-PFK, PK and LDH caused by RO8191. In conclusion, these results suggested that baicalein attenuated the neuroinflammation in LPS-treated BV-2 cells by inhibiting glycolysis through STAT3/c-Myc pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glioma is an aggressive type of brain malignancy responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. In the current scenario, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinases targeted therapy showed significant benefits in glioma patients. Therefore, in the present study, we intend to investigate the anti‐glioma potential of a novel class of pyrazole‐pyrrolopyrimidine derivatives and their mechanism of action. The compounds will be synthesized in a straight‐forward synthetic route in excellent yields and subsequently tested for EGFR kinase inhibition. The compounds showed a diverse range of inhibitory activity against EGFR (IC50 = 3.4–873.2 nM). With an IC50 of 1.5 nM, compound 4i was determined to be the most effective EGFR inhibitor, even superior to the standard erlotinib (IC50 2.3 nM). Among them, the three most potent compounds (4i, 4j, and 4k) were further subjected to the anticancer activity against the panel of various cancer cell lines MCF‐7 (breast cancer), A549 (lung cancer), U87 (glioblastoma cell)‐EGFR‐Wild Type, U87 (mutant glioblastoma cells) EGFR‐mutant cell, MCF‐12A (normal cells). The compound 4i showed the most potent activity against glioblastoma cells as compared to other cancer cells. The effect of compound 4i was also studied on the apoptosis of U87 cells, where it showed induction of apoptosis in a concentration‐dependent manner. It also showed inhibition of the G2/M cell cycle phase of U87 cells. Our study demonstrated the development of novel pyrazole‐pyrrolopyrimidine derivatives as a novel class of anti‐glioma agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease with T188K mutation (T188K gCJD) is the most frequent genetic prion disease in China. To explore the penetration of T188K mutation and the pathogenesis of T188K gCJD, we constructed 2 lines of transgenic mouse models: homozygous Tg188K+/+ mice containing T188K mutation in 2 alleles of human PRNP background and heterozygous Tg188K+/- mice containing 1 allele of T188K human PRNP and 1 allele of the wild-type mouse PRNP. Spontaneous neurological illnesses were identified in all Tg188K mice at their old ages (750–800 days old). About half of the Tg188K mice died prior to the final observation (930 days old). Extensive spongiosis, PrPSc deposit, and reactive gliosis of astrocytes and microglia are neuropathologically identified, showing time-dependent exacerbation. Proteinase K-resistant PrP was detected in the brain, muscle, and intestine tissues, and positive real-time quaking-induced conversion reactions were elicited by the brain and muscle tissues of Tg188K mice. Those data verify that the constructed Tg188K mice highly mimic the clinicopathology of human T188K gCJD, strongly indicating the pathogenicity of T188K mutated PrP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) with neuronic development and function is a promising therapeutic agent for treating depressive disorder, according to the neurotrophin hypothesis. However, the delivery of BDNF into the brain is not easy as these large protein molecules cannot efficiently cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and easily suffer oxidative damage in vivo. Therefore, the quercetin-based alginate nanogels (quercetin nanogels) loaded with BDNF have been developed, which could efficiently bypass the BBB via the nose-to-brain pathway and protect BDNF from oxidative damage, providing an effective route for the therapy of depressive disorders by intranasal delivery. Results: Quercetin nanogels exhibited uniform size distribution, excellent biocompatibility, and potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Quercetin nanogels in the thermosensitive gel achieved sustained and controlled release of BDNF with non-Fick's diffusion, exhibited rapid brain distribution, and achieved nearly 50-fold enhanced bioavailability compared to oral quercetin. Quercetin nanogels as a therapeutic drug delivery carrier exerted antidepressant effects on reserpine-induced rats, effectively delivered BDNF to reverse despair behavior in stress-induced mice, and exhibited antidepressant effects on chronic mild unpredictable stimulation (CUMS) rats. These antidepressant effects of BDNF-Quercetin nanogels for CUMS rats are associated with the regulation of the glutamatergic system, PI3K-Akt, and BDNF-TrkB signaling pathway. Conclusions: In this study, we provide a promising strategy for brain delivery of BDNF for treating depressive disorders, effectively achieved through combining quercetin nanogels and intranasal administration. Highlights: Natural antioxidant quercetin-based alginate nanogels protect BDNF from oxidative damage and have a quick brain distribution. Intranasal quercetin nanogels exhibit significantly higher bioavailability compared to oral quercetin. BDNF-Quercetin nanogels in thermosensitive gel release BDNF and quercetin in a sustained and controlled manner. BDNF-Quercetin nanogels in thermosensitive gel have significant antidepressant effects on stress-induced mice and rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The present study aims to determine the rectoanal colonization rate and risk factors for the colonization of present multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDRBs). In addition, the relationship between MDRB colonization and surgical site infection (SSI) following hemorrhoidectomy was explored. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Colorectal Surgery of two hospitals. Patients with hemorrhoid disease, who underwent hemorrhoidectomy, were included. The pre-surgical screening of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (MDR-GNB) colonization was performed using rectal swabs on the day of admission. Then, the MDRB colonization rate was determined through the rectal swab. Logistic regression models were established to determine the risk factors for MDRB colonization and SSI after hemorrhoidectomy. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 432 patients met the inclusion criteria, and the MDRB colonization prevalence was 21.06% (91/432). The independent risk factors for MDRB colonization were as follows: patients who received ≥ 2 categories of antibiotic treatment within 3 months (odds ratio (OR): 3.714, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.436–9.605, p = 0.007), patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD; OR: 6.746, 95% CI: 2.361–19.608, p < 0.001), and patients with high serum uric acid (OR: 1.006, 95% CI: 1.001–1.010, p = 0.017). Furthermore, 41.57% (37/89) of MDRB carriers and 1.81% (6/332) of non-carriers developed SSIs, with a total incidence of 10.21% (43/421). Based on the multivariable model, the rectoanal colonization of MDRBs (OR: 32.087, 95% CI: 12.052–85.424, p < 0.001) and hemoglobin < 100 g/L (OR: 4.130, 95% CI: 1.556–10.960, p = 0.004) were independently associated with SSI after hemorrhoidectomy. Conclusion: The rectoanal colonization rate of MDRBs in hemorrhoid patients is high, and this was identified as an independent risk factor for SSI after hemorrhoidectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sepsis and associated organ failures confer substantial morbidity and mortality. Xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) is implicated in the development of tissue oxidative damage in a wide variety of respiratory and cardiovascular disorders including sepsis and sepsis-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We examined whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the XDH gene (encoding XOR) might influence susceptibility to and outcome in patients with sepsis. Methods: We genotyped 28 tag SNPs in XDH gene in the CELEG cohort, including 621 European American (EA) and 353 African American (AA) sepsis patients. Serum XOR activity was measured in a subset of CELEG subjects. Additionally, we assessed the functional effects of XDH variants utilizing empirical data from different integrated software tools and datasets. Results: Among AA patients, six intronic variants (rs206805, rs513311, rs185925, rs561525, rs2163059, rs13387204), in a region enriched with regulatory elements, were associated with risk of sepsis (P < 0.008–0.049). Two out of six SNPs (rs561525 and rs2163059) were associated with risk of sepsis-associated ARDS in an independent validation cohort (GEN-SEP) of 590 sepsis patients of European descent. Two common SNPs (rs1884725 and rs4952085) in tight linkage disequilibrium (LD) provided strong evidence for association with increased levels of serum creatinine (Padjusted<0.0005 and 0.0006, respectively), suggesting a role in increased risk of renal dysfunction. In contrast, among EA ARDS patients, the missense variant rs17011368 (I703V) was associated with enhanced mortality at 60-days (P < 0.038). We found higher serum XOR activity in 143 sepsis patients (54.5 ± 57.1 mU/mL) compared to 31 controls (20.9 ± 12.4 mU/mL, P = 1.96 × 10− 13). XOR activity was associated with the lead variant rs185925 among AA sepsis patients with ARDS (P < 0.005 and Padjusted<0.01). Multifaceted functions of prioritized XDH variants, as suggested by various functional annotation tools, support their potential causality in sepsis. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that XOR is a novel combined genetic and biochemical marker for risk and outcome in patients with sepsis and ARDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper is the most common interconnecting material in the field of microelectronic packaging, which is widely used in advanced electronic packaging technologies. However, with the trend of the miniaturization of electronic devices, the dimensions of interconnectors have decreased from hundreds of microns to tens of or even several microns, which has brought serious reliability issues. As a result, nanotwinned copper (nt-Cu) has been proposed as a potential candidate material and is being certified progressively. Firstly, the physical properties of nt-Cu have been widely studied. Notably, the higher thermal stability and oxidation resistance of the (111) texture causes nt-Cu to maintain excellent physical properties under high-temperature serving conditions. Secondly, recent works on the electrolyte and electroplating processes of nt-Cu on wafer substrates are summarized, focusing on how to reduce the thickness of the transition layer, improve the twin density, and achieve complicated pattern filling. Thirdly, nt-Cu can effectively eliminate Kirkendall voids when it serves as UBM or a CuP. Additionally, the high (111) texture can control the preferred orientation of interfacial intermetallic compounds (IMCs) at the Cu–Sn interface, which should be helpful to improve the reliability of solder joints. nt-Cu has superior electromigration resistance and antithermal cycling ability compared to ordinary copper RDLs and TSVs. Above all, nt-Cu has attracted much attention in the field of microelectronic packaging in recent years. The preparation–performance–reliability interrelationship of nt-Cu is summarized and displayed in this paper, which provides a solid theoretical basis for its practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing evidence has demonstrated that ischemic preconditioning (IPC) increases cerebral tolerance to subsequent prolonged ischemic insults. However, the exact mechanisms underlying the process have not been fully explored. In the current study, we aim to investigate whether NLRP3 inflammasome and cell pyroptosis are involved in the neuroprotective mechanism of IPC after ischemic stroke. In vitro, IPC was set up by exposing BV-2 cells to 10 min of oxygen–glucose deprivation (OGD). In vivo, IPC was performed by a transient cerebral ischemia of 10 min occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in mice. We found that the NLRP3 inflammasome was activated and cell pyroptosis was induced at 6 h and 24 h post-stroke in an ischemic brain. IPC treatment increased cell viability under OGD state, reduced the infarct size, and attenuated the neurological deficits of mice. However, the effects NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis after stroke were attenuated by IPC, which decreased the expression of NLRP3, ASC, cleaved caspase 1, and GSDMD-N and reduced the production of IL-1β and IL-18. In addition, confocal immunofluorescence staining of Annexin V-mCherry and SYTOX green was inhibited by IPC. These findings suggest a more enhanced link between IPC and inflammatory signature and cell death, highlighting that the NLRP3 inflammasome may act as a promising target for the prevention and treatment of ischemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Virtual testing requires hazardous scenarios to effectively test autonomous vehicles (AVs). Existing studies have obtained rarer events by sampling methods in a fixed scenario space. In reality, heterogeneous drivers behave differently when facing the same situation. To generate more realistic and efficient scenarios, we propose a two-stage heterogeneous driver model to change the number of dangerous scenarios in the scenario space. We trained the driver model using the HighD dataset, and generated scenarios through simulation. Simulations were conducted in 20 experimental groups with heterogeneous driver models and 5 control groups with the original driver model. The results show that, by adjusting the number and position of aggressive drivers, the percentage of dangerous scenarios was significantly higher compared to that of models not accounting for driver heterogeneity. To further verify the effectiveness of our method, we evaluated two driving strategies: car-following and cut-in scenarios. The results verify the effectiveness of our approach. Cumulatively, the results indicate that our approach could accelerate the testing of AVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Sacubitril/valsartan is a commonly used medicine for treating heart failure (HF) patients, but the treatment effects significantly vary. Neprilysin (NEP) and carboxylesterase 1 (CES1) play an important role in the efficacy of sacubitril/valsartan. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between NEP and CES1 gene polymorphisms and the efficacy and safety of sacubitril/valsartan treatment in HF patients. Methods: Genotyping of 10 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the NEP and CES1 genes in 116 HF patients was performed by the Sequenom MassARRAY method, and logistic regression and haplotype analysis were used to evaluate the associations between SNPs and the clinical efficacy and safety of sacubitril/valsartan in HF patients. Results: A total of 116 Chinese patients with HF completed the whole trial, and T variations in rs701109 in NEP gene were an independent risk factor (P = 0.013, OR = 3.292, 95% CI:1.287–8.422) for the clinical efficacy of sacubitril/valsartan. Furthermore, haplotype analysis of 6 NEP SNPs (including rs701109) was performed and showed that the CGTACC and TGTACC haplotypes were significantly associated with clinical efficacy (OR = 0.095, 95%CI: 0.012–0.723, P = 0.003; OR = 5.586, 95% CI: 1.621–19.248, P = 0.005). Moreover, no association was found between SNPs of other selected genes in terms of efficacy in HF patients, and no association was observed between SNPs and symptomatic hypotension. Conclusion: Our results suggest an association between rs701109 and sacubitril/valsartan response in HF patients. Symptomatic hypotension is not associated with the presence of NEP polymorphisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An association between a SNP in the SYK gene promoter and histamine release in basophils. Association of a SYK promoter polymorphism with SYK expression and IgE-mediated histamine release An association between a SNP in the SYK gene promoter and SYK expression in basophils. [Extracted from the article]

Cell wall is the first physical barrier to aluminum (Al) toxicity. Modification of cell wall properties to change its binding capacity to Al is one of the major strategies for plant Al resistance; nevertheless, how it is regulated in rice remains largely unknown. In this study, we show that exogenous application of putrescines (Put) could significantly restore the Al resistance of art1, a rice mutant lacking the central regulator Al RESISTANCE TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR 1 (ART1), and reduce its Al accumulation particularly in the cell wall of root tips. Based on RNA‐sequencing, yeast‐one‐hybrid and electrophoresis mobility shift assays, we identified an R2R3 MYB transcription factor OsMYB30 as the novel target in both ART1‐dependent and Put‐promoted Al resistance. Furthermore, transient dual‐luciferase assay showed that ART1 directly inhibited the expression of OsMYB30, and in turn repressed Os4CL5‐dependent 4‐coumaric acid accumulation, hence reducing the Al‐binding capacity of cell wall and enhancing Al resistance. Additionally, Put repressed OsMYB30 expression by eliminating Al‐induced H2O2 accumulation, while exogenous H2O2 promoted OsMYB30 expression. We concluded that ART1 confers Put‐promoted Al resistance via repression of OsMYB30‐regulated modification of cell wall properties in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a lack of data on gestational weight gain (GWG) in twin pregnancies. We divided all the participants into two subgroups: the optimal outcome subgroup and the adverse outcome subgroup. They were also stratified according to prepregnancy body mass index (BMI): underweight (< 18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (18.5–23.9 kg/m2), overweight (24–27.9 kg/m2), and obese (≥ 28 kg/m2). We used 2 steps to confirm the optimal range of GWG. The first step was proposing the optimal range of GWG using a statistical-based method (the interquartile range of GWG in the optimal outcome subgroup). The second step was confirming the proposed optimal range of GWG via compared the incidence of pregnancy complications in groups below or above the optimal GWG and analyzed the relationship between weekly GWG and pregnancy complications to validated the rationality of optimal weekly GWG through logistic regression. The optimal GWG calculated in our study was lower than that recommended by the Institute of Medicine. Except for the obese group, in the other 3 BMI groups, the overall disease incidence within the recommendation was lower than that outside the recommendation. Insufficient weekly GWG increased the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus, premature rupture of membranes, preterm birth and fetal growth restriction. Excessive weekly GWG increased the risk of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia. The association varied with prepregnancy BMI. In conclusion, we provide preliminary Chinese GWG optimal range which derived from twin-pregnant women with optimal outcomes(16–21.5 kg for underweight, 15–21.1 kg for normal weight, 13–20 kg for overweight), except for obesity, due to the limited sample size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: COVID-19, the current global pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection, can damage the heart and lead to heart failure (HF) and even cardiac death. The 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS) gene family encode interferon (IFN)-induced antiviral proteins which is associated with the antiviral immune responses of COVID-19. While the potential association of OAS gene family with cardiac injury and failure in COVID-19 has not been determined. Methods: The expression levels and biological functions of OAS gene family in SARS-CoV-2 infected cardiomyocytes dataset (GSE150392) and HF dataset (GSE120852) were determined by comprehensive bioinformatic analysis and experimental validation. The associated microRNAs (miRNAs) were explored from Targetscan and GSE104150. The potential OAS gene family-regulatory chemicals or ingredients were predicted using Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD) and SymMap database. Results: The OAS genes were highly expressed in both SARS-CoV-2 infected cardiomyocytes and failing hearts. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the two datasets were enriched in both cardiovascular disease and COVID-19 related pathways. The miRNAs-target analysis indicated that 10 miRNAs could increase the expression of OAS genes. A variety of chemicals or ingredients were predicted regulating the expression of OAS gene family especially estradiol. Conclusion: OAS gene family is an important mediator of HF in COVID-19 and may serve as a potential therapeutic target for cardiac injury and HF in COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Nonvariceal gastrointestinal bleeding (NVGIB) is a common medical condition with significant mortality and morbidity. Several types of hemostatic modalities are currently available in clinical setting. This systematic review and network meta‐analysis aimed to assess the efficacy of these modalities in treating NVGIB. Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched for studies that compared the efficacy of different hemostatic techniques (over‐the‐scope clip [OTSC], hemostatic powder [HP] and conventional endoscopic treatment [CET]) for NVGIB published up to June 2022. The 30‐day rebleeding rate was regarded as the primary outcome. We performed pairwise and network meta‐analyses for all treatments. The heterogeneity and transitivity were evaluated. Results: Twenty‐two studies were included. Regarding the 30‐day rebleeding rate, OTSC and HP plus CET showed superior efficacy in treating NVGIB compared with CET (OTSC vs CET: relative risk [RR] 0.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.28–0.60; HP plus CET vs CET: RR 0.40, 95% CI 0.17–0.87), while OTSC and HP plus CET had comparable efficacy (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.38–2.31). HP plus CET ranked the highest in the network ranking estimate. The sensitivity analysis showed that it was not robust that OTSC was superior to CET regarding the short‐term rebleeding rate and the initial hemostasis rate. While all‐cause mortality, bleeding‐related mortality and necessity of surgical or angiographic salvage therapy showed no statistically significant difference. Conclusion: OTSC and HP plus CET significantly reduced 30‐day rebleeding rate compared to CET and had comparable efficacy in the treatment of NVGIB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The water industry faces significant challenges under the impacts of climate change, population growth, and water resource scarcity. Great efforts and progress have been made to understand the presence and behaviors of emerging contaminants, their health and environmental impacts, and the energy-efficient and cost-effective treatment technologies. In this 'Aqueous Emerging Pollutants and Treatment' special issue, we collect 32 articles to demonstrate recent research progress in aqueous pollutants and treatment approaches. An overview of these 32 articles is provided. Six main trends for future research in aqueous pollutants and their treatment technologies have been provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the 2020/2021 winter season, three nationwide cold waves took place from 28 to 31 December 2020, as well as from 5 to 8 January and 14 to 17 January 2021. These cold waves resulted in extreme cold weather in northern and eastern China. In this study, the common features of these cold waves were analyzed, and the key factors contributing to cold waves were illustrated, and the performance of the CMA-GEPS numerical model was evaluated in predicting the cooling effect of the cold waves, and its predictability source was discussed. The results indicated that the cold waves were caused by synergistic effects in the mid- to high-latitude atmospheric circulation of both the upper and lower atmosphere, including polar vortex splitting, enhancement of blocking high, and increased meridional circulation anomaly in the Siberian high area. During the time of cold waves, the mid- to high-latitude atmospheric circulation was undergoing low-frequency adjustment, with the Arctic oscillation continuously weakening, while the blocking high and Siberian high gradually increased to historically high-intensity states. The outbreaks of the three cold waves occurred at the peak and declining points of the blocking high and Siberian high, respectively, acting as short- to medium-term forecast factors. The CMA-GEPS model demonstrated high forecasting ability for the cooling of the cold waves due to its ability to accurately predict the evolution of the Siberian high and blocking high prior to and after the cold wave with a long lead time. Predictability analysis suggested the strong variability of key factors (such as the Siberian high and blocking) in cold wave events may benefit the model's prediction of cold wave events. These findings contribute to the understanding of the physical mechanisms behind cold waves and the potential for improved forecasting of extreme cold weather events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Screening of large and diverse libraries is the 'bread and butter' in the first phase of the discovery of novel drugs. However, maintenance and periodic renewal of high-quality large compound collections pose considerable logistic, environmental and monetary problems. Here, we exercise an alternative, the 'on-the-fly' synthesis of large and diverse libraries on a nanoscale in a highly automated fashion. For the first time, we show the feasibility of the synthesis of a large library based on 16 different chemistries in parallel on several 384-well plates using the acoustic dispensing ejection (ADE) technology platform. In contrast to combinatorial chemistry, we produced 16 scaffolds at the same time and in a sparse matrix fashion, and each compound was produced by a random combination of diverse large building blocks. The synthesis, analytics, resynthesis of selected compounds, and chemoinformatic analysis of the library are described. The advantages of the herein described automated nanoscale synthesis approach include great library diversity, absence of library storage logistics, superior economics, speed of synthesis by automation, increased safety, and hence sustainable chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine was discovered a century ago and has since been clinically applicable. BCG can not only be used for the prevention of tuberculosis, but also has a non-specific protective effect on the human body called trained immunity that is mediated by innate immune cells such as monocytes, macrophages, and natural killer cells. Mechanisms of trained immunity include epigenetic reprogramming, metabolic reprogramming, and long-term protection mediated by hematopoietic stem cells. Trained immunity has so far shown beneficial effects on cancer, viral-infections, autoimmune diseases, and a variety of other diseases, especially bladder cancer, respiratory viruses, and type 1 diabetes. The modulation of the immune response by BCG has led to the development of a variety of recombinant vaccines. Although the specific mechanism of BCG prevention on diseases has not been fully clarified, the potential role of BCG deserves further exploration, which is of great significance for prevention and treatment of diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internal phosphorus (P) loading from sediments is an important cause of eutrophication, and inorganic-phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (IPB) are known to play a vital role in the process of sediment P release. In this study, 10 IPB strains were isolated from the sediments of a lagoon suffering from macroalgal blooms dominated by Chaetomorpha linum – Rongcheng Swan Lagoon, China – and their taxonomy was determined by 16S rRNA sequence analysis. The phosphate-solubilizing characteristics of the obtained IPB strains were evaluated using a liquid medium, and the ability of IPB strains to dissolve P from sediments and the transformation of inorganic phosphorus (IP) fractions were investigated by inoculating IPB strains into a sediment–water experimental system. The 10 isolated IPB strains belonged to one family, two genera, and four species. All IPB strains in the liquid medium culture dissolved tricalcium phosphate, but the phosphate-solubilizing ability of IPB varied greatly between strains and appeared to be promoted when the strains were grown in mixed-strain cultures. Bacillus megaterium showed the strongest phosphate-solubilizing ability. The IPB inoculation experiment showed a large decrease in the Ca-bound P (HCl-P) concentration of sediments in various IPB inoculation treatments, especially in sediments from the central lake. Our results indicate that, under the action of IPB, there is great potential for the release of HCl-P, which is the primary IP fraction of lagoon sediments, and more attention should be given to the endogenous P pollution in Swan Lagoon Wetland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acid phosphatase type 6 (ACP6) is a mitochondrial lipid phosphate phosphatase that played a role in regulating lipid metabolism and there is still blank in the clinico-pathological significance and functional roles of ACP6 in human cancers. No investigations have been conducted on ACP6 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) up to date. Methods: Herein, we appraised the clinico-pathological significance of ACP6 in HCC via organizing expression profiles from globally multi-center microarrays and RNA-seq datasets. The molecular basis of ACP6 in HCC was explored through multidimensional analysis. We also carried out in vitro and in vivo experiment on nude mice to investigate the effect of knocking down ACP6 expression on biological functions of HCC cells, and to evaluate the expression variance of ACP6 in xenograft of HCC tissues before and after the treatment of NC. Results: ACP6 displayed significant overexpression in HCC samples (standard mean difference (SMD) = 0.69, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.56–0.83) and up-regulated ACP6 performed well in screening HCC samples from non-cancer liver samples. ACP6 expression was also remarkably correlated with clinical progression and worse overall survival of HCC patients. There were close links between ACP6 expression and immune cells including B cells, CD8 + T cells and naive CD4 + T cells. Co-expressed genes of ACP6 mainly participated in pathways including cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, glucocorticoid receptor pathway and NABA proteoglycans. The proliferation and migration rate of HCC cells transfected with ACP6 siRNA was significantly suppressed compared with those transfected with negative control siRNA. ACP6 expression was significantly inhibited by nitidine chloride (NC) in xenograft HCC tissues. Conclusions: ACP6 expression may serve as novel clinical biomarker indicating the clinical development of HCC and ACP6 might be potential target of anti-cancer effect by NC in HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A magnetic adsorbent was synthesized by coupling magnetic nanoparticles, UiO-66-NH 2 and 1-butyl-trimethylimidazole bromide ([BMIM][Br]) to chitosan (CS)-based composite conveniently. A series of modern characterizations were employed to assess its properties. The results showed that UiO-66-NH 2 was uniformly distributed within the composite via in-situ growth, which can enhance the porosity obviously. The introduction of various ligands enables the composite to exhibit excellent extraction performance for four aflatoxins (AFs) through multiple interactions. The adsorption mechanism was elucidated and the main factors affecting extraction efficiency were evaluated. Under optimal conditions, the limits of detection (LODs) ranged from 0.08 to 0.56 μg/kg. The established method was successfully utilized to determine AFs from cereal samples (rice, glutinous rice, wheat, soybean, paddy, and corn) with satisfactory recovery of 77% ∼ 119% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 1.0% ∼ 11.7% (n = 5). The adsorbent demonstrated sufficient robustness for repeated use at least six times without obvious damage of extraction property. • A magnetic adsorbent was developed by coupling multiple ligands to chitosan-based composites. The composite was synthesized through self-shaping method conveniently. The proposed method exhibited excellent recognition of aflatoxins in complex cereal matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neutral aqueous organic redox flow battery (NAORFB) represents a highly promising energy storage device. However, one of its challenges is the need for high Cl− conductivity, highly stable ion-selective membranes. In this work, N-methylpiperidine-modified carbazole-based long side chain anion exchange membranes (QPCEP-x) were designed and prepared. The rigidity and hydrophobicity provided by the carbazole on the main chain, in conjunction with the flexibility and hydrophilicity provided by the alkyl-piperidine groups on the side chains, resulted in the observed excellent microphase separation properties of the prepared membranes. The prepared membranes exhibited excellent overall performance, with QPCEP-1 achieving a Cl− conductivity of 20.33 mS cm−1 at 25 °C. In NAORFB, the energy efficiency of QPCEP-1 ranges from 91.7 % to 62.4 % at 20–160 mA cm−2, far exceeding the 89.1 %–38.4 % of commercial AMVN. Furthermore, long-term cell cycling tests demonstrate that the energy efficiency of QPCEP-1 remains unchanged at 82.7 % at 60 mA cm−2 after 10,000 complete charge and discharge cycles, exceeding the majority of cycles reported in literatures. These findings suggest that QPCEP-x has significant potential for use in NAORFB. [Display omitted] • A systematic approach was developed to prepare rigid carbazole-based anion exchange membranes containing flexible alkyl piperidine side chains. • The planar conjugated non-rotating carbazole structure is a key factor in ensuring the long-term battery cycling. • The incorporation of flexible alkyl-piperidine side chains resulted in enhanced microphase separation, which in turn led to an improvement in the Cl− conductivity and energy efficiency of the NAORFB. • The prepared membranes demonstrated the capacity for full charge/discharge at 200 mA cm−2 and retained 82 % of energy efficiency after 10,000 cycles at 60 mA cm−2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Modulation on the twinning density and direction of Cu nanowires is achieved. • The thickness of twinning lamella is adjusted by varying the boric acid content. • Waterfall, bevel, and ladder type nt-Cu NWs are obtained by varying the current density. • The NWW growth behaviour diagram is proposed to describe the microstructural transition. • Twin characteristics of Cu NWs significantly impact their oxide morphology. In this study, nanotwinned Cu nanowires (nt-Cu NWs) with varying twin characteristics were fabricated via pulse electrodeposition using a novel H 3 BO 3 based electrolyte, and their impact on the oxidation process was investigated. The density and direction of twin lamellas within nt-Cu NW were adjusted by modifying the concentration of H 3 BO 3 and the current density. Specifically, the average twinning thickness of Cu NWs increases from 26.7 nm to 424.5 nm as the concentration of H 3 BO 3 increases from 0 g/L to 6 g/L. Moreover, three types of nt-Cu NWs with distinct twinning directions, namely waterfall type, bevel type, and ladder type were fabricated by changing the current density from −0.16 ASD to -1.6 ASD (vs Ag/AgCl). A nanowire Winand (NWW) diagram was established to describe the change of twin density and direction based on the difference between the growth behaviour of thin films and nanowires. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were further used to characterize the oxidation process of nt-Cu NWs. It revealed that the oxide thickness was closely related to the thickness of twin lamellas for the ladder type nt-Cu NWs. Also, the waterfall type Cu NWs exhibited a unique bead-chain like oxide morphology and a slower oxidation rate through the impact on the nanoscale Kirkendall effect (NKE). This study provides valuable insights into the controllable fabrication of nt-Cu NWs and Cu oxide NWs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A lithiophilic 3D CoO/Au nanoarray modified by the amorphous g-C 3 N 4 "outerwear" is developed as a multifunctional host. • G-C 3 N 4 layer avoids continuous corrosion of lithium metal from electrolyte. • Lithiophilic host induces lithium metal uniform deposition with a low nucleation barrier within the 3D skeleton. • Full cells equipped with the CACM electrode is cycled 400 times at 1C with negligible capacity decay. Lithium metal batteries (LMB) are thought of the most promising candidates for the next generation of high energy density batteries, but the problems of interface instability and uncontrollable dendrite growth are key constraints to the commercial application. Herein, we constructed an amorphous graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4) "outerwear" modified lithiophilic 3D Au/CoO nanoarray matrix (CACM) as a multifunctional dual-layer host, achieving dendrite-free and cycling stabilized Li metal anode. The density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that the reaction between CACM and Li atoms has a strong binding energy and a large amount of charge transfer. The lithiophilic 3D host induces Li metal uniform deposition with a low nucleation barrier within the 3D skeleton. The amorphous g-C 3 N 4 "outerwear" can effectively avoid direct contact between the electrolyte and Li and reduce the irreversible side reaction. Meanwhile, the g-C 3 N 4 layer has abundant Li ion transport channels, which facilitated fast Li+ transfer and modulate the ion concentration over the anode surface. Thus, the half-cell equipped with the CACM electrode has ultra-high cyclic stability, maintaining a CE value of 99.6 % over 230 cycles at 1 mA cm−2 with 1 mAh cm−2. The symmetric-cell can maintain a low overpotential stable run 1300 cycles at 10 mA cm−2. Similarly, the full cell also showed outstanding long-term cycle stability (capacity maintained at 96.3 % after 400 cycles at 1C) and superior rate capability. The in-situ visualization cell test and ex-situ SEM also demonstrated that the multifunctional host inhibits volume expansion and the dendritic growth of Li. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium (Na) dendrite growth poses challenges such as short circuits and capacity loss, and the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Although the experiments of Na dendrite growth were reported, there are very few simulations that can assist in analyzing its morphology evolution mechanism. In addressing this challenge, we develop a phase-field model to explore the influence of current density, anisotropic strength, and Na-ion consumption on the evolution of Na dendrite morphology. It is found that higher current density promotes more dendrite growth and lateral branches. Anisotropy strength influences dendrite growth rates horizontally and vertically, with horizontal growth exceeding or equaling vertical growth, reducing short-circuit risks. Increased Na-ion consumption results in significant lateral branches, kinks, and pores in dendrite structures. These results offer valuable insights into mitigating the formation of erratic dendrites, holding significant implications for the advancement of Na-based batteries with high stability and safety. [Display omitted] • Revealing Na dendrite dynamics intricacies via a novel phase field model. • Exploring effects of multi-factor on Na dendrite morphology evolution. • Mitigating short-circuit risks by controlling dendrite growth dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]