Search

The design and development of organic solid-state luminescent materials stand as crucial pillars within the realm of contemporary photofunctional materials. Overcoming challenges such as concentration quenching and achieving tailored luminescent properties necessitates a judicious approach to molecular structure design and the strategic utilization of diverse stimuli to modulate molecular packing patterns. Among the myriad candidates, α-cyanodiarylethenes (CAEs) emerge with distinctive solid-state luminescent attributes, capable of forming self-assembled packing structures with varying degrees of π–π stacking. This characteristic endows them with potential in the field of intelligent molecular responsive materials and optoelectronic devices. This tutorial review embarks on an exploration of design strategies geared towards attaining tunable solid-state emission through customized packing of CAEs. It explores the utilization of stimuli responses, including such as mechanical forces, light irradiation, solvent interactions, thermal influences, as well as the utilization of co-assembly methodologies. The overarching aim of this review is to provide a widely applicable platform fostering the flourishing development of modern organic photofunctional materials through integrating principles of molecular engineering, organic optoelectronics, and materials science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel ratiometric fluorescent assay was proposed for protamine and heparin based on blue‐emitting N,P‐doped carbon dots (N,P‐CDs) and green‐emitting Eosin Y. The N,P‐CDs were prepared using arginine as carbon and nitrogen sources according to hydrothermal method with favorable luminescence intensity, photostability, and good reproducibility. And the N,P‐CDs were used as internal reference fluorescence molecules. The anionic Eosin Y was used as fluorescence signal molecule. Protamine with positive group could interact with Eosin Y through electrostatic effect, leading to the fluorescence quenching of Eosin Y. Upon the addition of heparin, heparin was combined with protamine with stronger affinity through electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonds, which preventing the bonding of protamine with Eosin Y and obvious fluorescence emissions of Eosin Y at 538 nm could be observed. Meanwhile, the fluorescence signal of N,P‐CDs at 420 nm remained stable during the whole process. A good linear range between the fluorescence emission intensity ratio of I538/I420 was obtained for protamine from 0.01 to 40 μg/mL with a low detection limit of 5.6 ng/mL, and heparin from 0 to 35 μg/mL with a low detection limit of 2.5 ng/mL. Moreover, the method was further applied to detection of heparin with satisfactory results in fetal bovine serum samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the characteristics of nasal airflow in the presence of nasal cycle by computational fluid dynamics. CT scan data of a healthy Chinese individual was used to construct a three-dimensional model of the nasal cavity to be used as simulation domain. A sinusoidal airflow velocity is set at the nasal cavity entrance to reproduce the breathing pattern of a healthy human. There was a significant difference in the cross-sectional area between the two sides of the nasal cavity. Particularly, the decongested side is characterized by a larger cross-section area, and consequently, by a larger volume with respect to the congested side. The airflow velocity, pressure, and nasal resistance were higher on the congested narrow side. The temperature regulation ability on the congested narrow side was stronger than that on the decongested wider side. During the nasal cycle, there are differences in the nasal cavity function between the congested and decongested sides. Therefore, when evaluating the impact of various factors on nasal cavity function, the nasal cycle should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is an effective phenolic antioxidant that can scavenge hydroxyl radicals and superoxide anions. Herein, the protective effects and mechanisms leading to CGA‐induced porcine parthenogenetic activation (PA) in early‐stage embryos were investigated. Our results showed that 50 μM CGA treatment during the in vitro culture (IVC) period significantly increased the cleavage and blastocyst formation rates and improved the blastocyst quality of porcine early‐stage embryos derived from PAs. Then, genes related to zygotic genome activation (ZGA) were identified and investigated, revealing that CGA can promote ZGA in porcine PA early‐stage embryos. Further analysis revealed that CGA treatment during the IVC period decreased the abundance of reactive oxygen species (ROS), increased the abundance of glutathione and enhanced the activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase in porcine PA early‐stage embryos. Mitochondrial function analysis revealed that CGA increased mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP levels and upregulated the mitochondrial homeostasis‐related gene NRF‐1 in porcine PA early‐stage embryos. In summary, our results suggest that CGA treatment during the IVC period helps porcine PA early‐stage embryos by regulating oxidative stress and improving mitochondrial function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroptosis suppressor protein 1 (FSP1) is a glutathione-independent ferroptosis inhibitory factor. FSP1 has been found to play a crucial role in the regulation of mitochondrial function and ferroptosis. However, its function in porcine early embryonic development remains unknown. In the present research, we found that FSP1 was expressed at different stages during porcine early embryo development. Compared with the control condition, inhibition of FSP1 reduced the cleavage rate at 24 h and 48 h and the blastocyst rate at 144 h. In addition, inhibiting FSP1 reduced the blastocyst diameter, total cell number, and proliferation capacity. Further analysis showed that inhibition of FSP1 significantly increased the levels of ferrous ions (Fe2+) and MDA but not GPX4. We also found that inhibition of FSP1 significantly decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP levels, which in turn caused excessive accumulation of ROS and decreased the levels of GSH and the activity of the intracellular antioxidant enzymes SOD and CAT in embryos. In conclusion, FSP1, an important regulator, participates in regulating the development and quality of porcine early embryos. Inhibition of FSP1 impairs blastocyst formation, induces glutathione-independent ferroptosis, and further leads to oxidative stress due to mitochondrial dysfunction, ultimately affecting the developmental competence and impairing the quality of porcine early embryos. • FSP1 is required for porcine early embryo development. • Inhibition of FSP1 leads to ferrous ions and MDA levels increasing in porcine early embryos. • Inhibition of FSP1 leads to oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in porcine early embryos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since scavenging free radical is regarded as an efficient strategy to enhance the durability of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), strong metal-support interaction (SMSI) effect between metal and reducible oxide supports is employed as a strategy to moderate the number of accessible active sites for reduction-oxidation reaction. Enriched Pt–CeO 2 interface to enhance SMSI effect is achieved as well via constructing multicore-shell structure Pt@CeO 2. Theoretical calculation confirms that SMSI effect at Pt–CeO 2 interface endows electrons flowing from Pt to CeO 2 to reduce the formation energy of oxygen vacancies, while Pt@CeO 2 with higher magnitude of lattice distortion plan provides enriched Pt–CeO 2 interface that made more concentration of Ce3+ ions feasible. Results show that better free radical scavenging performance is achieved with higher concentration of Ce3+ ions in Pt@CeO 2. Based on the open circuit voltage (OCV) test, the Pt@CeO 2 -modified membrane in this work decays at only 70% of the commercial membrane, while 65% of the maximum power is still maintained after the test. This superior performance to the commercial membrane indicates this designed structure with SMSI effect could be considered as a potential route to solve the free radical problem in PEM for enhanced durability of PEMFCs. • Multicore-shell structure Pt@CeO 2 with enrich interfaces makes SMSI effect enhanced. • Results demonstrated that SMSI leads to a high concentration of Ce3+ ions in Pt@CeO 2. • OCV decay and power retention performances are superior than commercial PEMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dyslipidemia is frequently exhibited in individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Remnant cholesterol (RC), an emerging novel lipid marker, plays an elusive role in CKD progression. This study sought to investigate the association of RC with decreased kidney function or albuminuria in the general population of U.S. Method: Data were retrieved from the continuous 2001 to 2018 cycle of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Individuals aged between 18 and 70 years were included. RC was divided into quartiles. Albuminuria was defined by albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) ≥30 mg/g, while reduced kidney function was described as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) below 60 ml/min/1.73 m2. Using a multivariable regression model, the association of RC with decreased eGFR or albuminuria was examined. The dose‒response relationship between RC and eGFR or ACR was also investigated using a restricted cubic spline (RCS) model. Results: A total of 1551 (10.98%) participants with impaired renal function or albuminuria were identified. After multivariate adjustment, RC was not significantly associated with kidney function decline or albuminuria (odds ratio (OR) 1.24, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.95, 1.61). However, a significantly inverse correlation was observed between RC and eGFR in a dose‒response manner (β -2.12, 95% CI: -3.04, -1.21). This association remained consistent when stratifying data by gender, age, race, hypertension, diabetes and body mass index (BMI). Conclusion: A higher RC was significantly correlated with a lower eGFR in the general population. The role of RC in predicting kidney outcomes needed further investigation in prospective studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In September 2019, the "4 + 7" centralized procurement pilot program was expanded nationwide aiming at reducing drug prices by means of volume-based procurement and using accredited generic drugs for branded drug substitutes. Given the current uncertain effect of the policy outside pilot areas, this study was conducted to evaluate the impact of the National Volume-based Procurement policy on the use of policy-related drugs after expansion. Method: A single-group interrupted time series was applied using drug purchase data, covering 25 months from December 2018 to December 2020. Drugs related to the centralized procurement policy were selected as samples, including 25 first-batch policy-related drugs and 56 alternative drugs. Centralized procured drugs can be divided into bid-winning and non-winning products, where non-winning products were sorted into generic and branded drugs, and alternative products were classified according to different degrees of substitution. Purchase volume, expenditures, and daily costs were measured. Results: After the implementation of the policy, a significant increase was associated with the volume of bid-winning drugs (p < 0.001) and the volume of generic and branded drugs decreased immediately. The DDDc of drugs under the same generic name significantly reduced (an instantaneous drop of bid-winning drugs by approximately 25%, 7.62 CNY for generics and 3.07 CNY for branded drugs), saving 48.2 million CNY of drug expenditures. The policy has a significant effect on the drug for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and exerted little influence on the drug for the treatment of nervous diseases, and the substitution of generics for antitumor-branded drugs was not obvious. In addition, the procurement volume of alternative drugs appeared to be a "carry-over". Conclusions: These findings indicated that the policy demonstrated positive effects in terms of price reductions and cost savings and accelerated the substitution of generics against branded drugs. The "patent cliff" for branded drugs has gradually emerged. Besides, a short-term "spillover effect" of the volume of alternative drugs was observed, requiring special attention and vigilance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chromatin‐associated RNA (caRNA) acts as a ubiquitous epigenetic layer in eukaryotes, and has been reported to be essential in various biological processes. Here, we propose a highly interpretable computational framework, named DeepRCI, to identify the interactions between various types of RNAs and chromatin. DeepRCI can serve as a useful tool for characterizing RNA‐chromatin interactions and studying the underlying gene regulatory code. Background: Chromatin‐associated RNA (caRNA) acts as a ubiquitous epigenetic layer in eukaryotes, and has been reported to be essential in various biological processes, including gene transcription, chromatin remodeling and cellular differentiation. Recently, numerous experimental techniques have been developed to characterize genome‐wide RNA‐chromatin interactions to understand their underlying biological functions. However, these experimental methods are generally expensive, time‐consuming, and limited in identifying all potential sites, while most of the existing computational methods are restricted to detecting only specific types of RNAs interacting with chromatin. Methods: Here, we propose a highly interpretable computational framework, named DeepRCI, to identify the interactions between various types of RNAs and chromatin. In this framework, we introduce a novel deep learning component called variformer and integrate multi‐omics data to capture intrinsic genomic features at both RNA and DNA levels. Results: Extensive experiments demonstrate that DeepRCI can detect RNA‐chromatin interactions more accurately when compared to the state‐of‐the‐art baseline prediction methods. Furthermore, the sequence features extracted by DeepRCI can be well matched to known critical gene regulatory components, indicating that our model can provide useful biological insights into understanding the underlying mechanisms of RNA‐chromatin interactions. In addition, based on the prediction results, we further delineate the relationships between RNA‐chromatin interactions and cellular functions, including gene expression and the modulation of cell states. Conclusions: In summary, DeepRCI can serve as a useful tool for characterizing RNA‐chromatin interactions and studying the underlying gene regulatory code. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using data obtained from a survey conducted with 737 employees of organizations in China, this study demonstrated that paradoxical leadership behavior can significantly and positively predict employees' core self-evaluation and perception of insider status. At the same time, insider status cognition significantly and positively predicted the core self-evaluation of employees, and played a mediating role in the impact of paradoxical leadership behavior on employees' core self-evaluation. Improving the perceived psychological safety level can enhance the relationship between paradoxical leadership behavior and the effect of perceived insider status on core self-evaluation. Managers can improve their paradoxical leadership skills, directly and effectively improve their employees' core self-evaluation, and also enhance employees' sense of belonging, by making employees think of themselves as insiders in the organization. Managers need to create a safe atmosphere for team members; an environment of mutual respect and trust can effectively catalyze the positive effects of paradoxical leadership behaviors on employees' core self-evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hi-C is a widely applied chromosome conformation capture (3C)-based technique, which has produced a large number of genomic contact maps with high sequencing depths for a wide range of cell types, enabling comprehensive analyses of the relationships between biological functionalities (e.g. gene regulation and expression) and the three-dimensional genome structure. Comparative analyses play significant roles in Hi-C data studies, which are designed to make comparisons between Hi-C contact maps, thus evaluating the consistency of replicate Hi-C experiments (i.e. reproducibility measurement) and detecting statistically differential interacting regions with biological significance (i.e. differential chromatin interaction detection). However, due to the complex and hierarchical nature of Hi-C contact maps, it remains challenging to conduct systematic and reliable comparative analyses of Hi-C data. Here, we proposed sslHiC, a contrastive self-supervised representation learning framework, for precisely modeling the multi-level features of chromosome conformation and automatically producing informative feature embeddings for genomic loci and their interactions to facilitate comparative analyses of Hi-C contact maps. Comprehensive computational experiments on both simulated and real datasets demonstrated that our method consistently outperformed the state-of-the-art baseline methods in providing reliable measurements of reproducibility and detecting differential interactions with biological meanings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There are a large number of infertile couples in China, but its treatment is notoriously expensive and not currently covered by insurance. The utility of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy as an adjunct to in vitro fertilization has been debated. Objective: To investigate the cost-effectiveness of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) versus conventional technology in in vitro fertilization (IVF) from the perspective of the healthcare system in China. Methods: Following the exact steps in the IVF protocol, a decision tree model was developed, based on the data from the CESE-PGS trial and using cost scenarios for IVF in China. The scenarios were compared for costs per patient and cost-effectiveness. One-way sensitivity analysis and probabilistic sensitivity analysis were performed to confirm the robustness of the findings. Main outcome measures: Costs per live birth, Costs per patient, Incremental cost-effectiveness for miscarriage prevention. Results: The average costs per live birth of PGT-A were estimated as ¥39230.71, which is about 16.8% higher than that of the conventional treatment. Threshold analysis revealed that PGT-A would need to increase the pregnancy rate of 26.24–98.24% or a cost reduction of ¥4649.29 to ¥1350.71 to achieve the same cost-effectiveness. The incremental costs per prevented miscarriage was approximately ¥45600.23. The incremental cost-effectiveness for miscarriage prevention showed that the willingness to pay would be ¥43422.60 for PGT-A to be cost-effective. Conclusion: The present cost-effectiveness analysis demonstrates that embryo selection with PGT‑A is not suitable for routine applications from the perspective of healthcare providers in China, given the cumulative live birth rate and the high costs of PGT‑A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Liver metastasis, a lethal malignancy of gastric cancer (GC) patients, execrably impairs their prognosis. As yet, however, few studies have been designed to identify the driving molecules during its formation, except screening evidence pausing before their functions or mechanisms. Here, we aimed to survey a key driving event within the invasive margin of liver metastases. Methods: A metastatic GC tissue microarray was used for exploring malignant events during liver-metastasis formation, followed by assessing the expression patterns of glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and GDNF family receptor alpha 1 (GFRA1). Their oncogenic functions were determined by both loss- and gain-of-function studies in vitro and in vivo, and validated by rescue experiments. Multiple cell biological studies were performed to identify the underlying mechanisms. Results: In the invasive margin, GFRA1 was identified as a pivotal molecule involved in cellular survival during liver metastasis formation, and we found that its oncogenic role depends on tumor associated macrophage (TAM)-derived GDNF. In addition, we found that the GDNF-GFRA1 axis protects tumor cells from apoptosis under metabolic stress via regulating lysosomal functions and autophagy flux, and participates in the regulation of cytosolic calcium ion signalling in a RET-independent and non-canonical way. Conclusion: From our data we conclude that TAMs, homing around metastatic nests, induce the autophagy flux of GC cells and promote the development of liver metastasis via GDNF-GFRA1 signalling. This is expected to improve the comprehension of metastatic pathogenesis and to provide a novel direction of research and translational strategies for the treatment of metastatic GC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Insect cell lines have often been employed in pest management, where they have been used as tools to evaluate the activity and explore the toxic mechanisms of insecticide candidate compounds. This review summarizes the progression of insect cell line establishment, then introduces several recent studies based on insect cell lines coupled with advanced technologies. These cell-based studies could increase efficiency and reduce the cost of insecticide studies, providing a global and in-depth perspective to reveal and verify the mode of action of insecticides. During the past decades, research on insect cell culture has grown tremendously. Thousands of lines have been established from different species of insect orders, originating from several tissue sources. These cell lines have often been employed in insect science research. In particular, they have played important roles in pest management, where they have been used as tools to evaluate the activity and explore the toxic mechanisms of insecticide candidate compounds. This review intends to first briefly summarize the progression of insect cell line establishment. Then, several recent studies based on insect cell lines coupled with advanced technologies are introduced. These investigations revealed that insect cell lines can be exploited as novel models with unique advantages such as increased efficiency and reduced cost compared with traditional insecticide research. Most notably, the insect cell line-based models provide a global and in-depth perspective to study the toxicology mechanisms of insecticides. However, challenges and limitations still exist, especially in the connection between in vitro activity and in vivo effectiveness. Despite all this, recent advances have suggested that insect cell line-based models promote the progress and sensible application of insecticides, which benefits pest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the continuous utilization of nuclear energy and efficient control of radioactive pollution, low-cost materials with high efficient U(VI) removal are of great importance. In this study, low temperature plasma method was applied for the successful modification of O-phosphorylethanolamine (O-PEA) on the porous carbon materials. The produced materials (Cafe/O-PEA) could adsorb U(VI) efficiently with the maximum sorption capacity of 648.54 mg/g at 1 hr, T=298 K, and pH=6.0, much higher than those of most carbon-based composites. U(VI) sorption was mainly controlled by strong surface complexation. From FTIR, SEM-EDS and XPS analyses, the sorption of U(VI) was related to the complexation with -NH 2 , phosphate and -OH groups on Cafe/O-PEA. The low temperature plasma method was an efficient, environmentally friendly and low-cost method for surface modification of materials for the effective enrichment of U(VI) from aqueous solutions. [Display omitted]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In patients with degenerative lumbar diseases, we aimed to establish the cutoff value of Hounsfield units (HU) for osteoporosis screening on the basis of the relationship between computed tomography (CT) HU value and volume bone mineral density (BMD) measured by quantitative computed tomography (QCT).A total of 136 patients aged ≥ 50 years with degenerative lumbar diseases were retrospectively included. Their QCT-BMD of L1-2 were recorded, and the CT values of L1-2 were measured with the same CT images of QCT. The degree of bone loss was evaluated with the criteria based on QCT-BMD: cutoff value of 80 mg/cm3 for osteoporosis and cutoff value of 120 mg/cm3 for osteopenia. The cutoff of CT value was acquired according to the linear regression equation between CT value and QCT-BMD.The rate of osteoporosis, osteopenia, normal BMD was 33.8% (46/136), 51.5% (70/136), and 14.7% (20/136), respectively. The Pearson correlation coefficients between CT value and QCT-BMD were over 0.9 (P < 0.05). The cutoff of average CT value of L1-2 was calculated and adjusted to 110HU for osteoporosis and 160HU for osteopenia according the equation: average QCT-BMD of L1-2 = 0.76 ✕ average CT value of L1-2–0.46 (R2 = 0.931, P < 0.001). Cutoff value of 110HU was 91.2% (42/46) sensitive and 88.9% (80/90) specific for identifying osteoporosis. The cutoff value of 160HU was 95.0% (19/20) sensitive and 96.6% (112/116) specific for distinguishing normal BMD from abnormal BMD (osteoporosis and osteopenia).The CT value is effective in osteoporosis screening, and the QCT-based cutoff value is 110 HU for osteoporosis and 160 HU for osteopenia in the patients with degenerative lumbar disease.Methods: In patients with degenerative lumbar diseases, we aimed to establish the cutoff value of Hounsfield units (HU) for osteoporosis screening on the basis of the relationship between computed tomography (CT) HU value and volume bone mineral density (BMD) measured by quantitative computed tomography (QCT).A total of 136 patients aged ≥ 50 years with degenerative lumbar diseases were retrospectively included. Their QCT-BMD of L1-2 were recorded, and the CT values of L1-2 were measured with the same CT images of QCT. The degree of bone loss was evaluated with the criteria based on QCT-BMD: cutoff value of 80 mg/cm3 for osteoporosis and cutoff value of 120 mg/cm3 for osteopenia. The cutoff of CT value was acquired according to the linear regression equation between CT value and QCT-BMD.The rate of osteoporosis, osteopenia, normal BMD was 33.8% (46/136), 51.5% (70/136), and 14.7% (20/136), respectively. The Pearson correlation coefficients between CT value and QCT-BMD were over 0.9 (P < 0.05). The cutoff of average CT value of L1-2 was calculated and adjusted to 110HU for osteoporosis and 160HU for osteopenia according the equation: average QCT-BMD of L1-2 = 0.76 ✕ average CT value of L1-2–0.46 (R2 = 0.931, P < 0.001). Cutoff value of 110HU was 91.2% (42/46) sensitive and 88.9% (80/90) specific for identifying osteoporosis. The cutoff value of 160HU was 95.0% (19/20) sensitive and 96.6% (112/116) specific for distinguishing normal BMD from abnormal BMD (osteoporosis and osteopenia).The CT value is effective in osteoporosis screening, and the QCT-based cutoff value is 110 HU for osteoporosis and 160 HU for osteopenia in the patients with degenerative lumbar disease.Results: In patients with degenerative lumbar diseases, we aimed to establish the cutoff value of Hounsfield units (HU) for osteoporosis screening on the basis of the relationship between computed tomography (CT) HU value and volume bone mineral density (BMD) measured by quantitative computed tomography (QCT).A total of 136 patients aged ≥ 50 years with degenerative lumbar diseases were retrospectively included. Their QCT-BMD of L1-2 were recorded, and the CT values of L1-2 were measured with the same CT images of QCT. The degree of bone loss was evaluated with the criteria based on QCT-BMD: cutoff value of 80 mg/cm3 for osteoporosis and cutoff value of 120 mg/cm3 for osteopenia. The cutoff of CT value was acquired according to the linear regression equation between CT value and QCT-BMD.The rate of osteoporosis, osteopenia, normal BMD was 33.8% (46/136), 51.5% (70/136), and 14.7% (20/136), respectively. The Pearson correlation coefficients between CT value and QCT-BMD were over 0.9 (P < 0.05). The cutoff of average CT value of L1-2 was calculated and adjusted to 110HU for osteoporosis and 160HU for osteopenia according the equation: average QCT-BMD of L1-2 = 0.76 ✕ average CT value of L1-2–0.46 (R2 = 0.931, P < 0.001). Cutoff value of 110HU was 91.2% (42/46) sensitive and 88.9% (80/90) specific for identifying osteoporosis. The cutoff value of 160HU was 95.0% (19/20) sensitive and 96.6% (112/116) specific for distinguishing normal BMD from abnormal BMD (osteoporosis and osteopenia).The CT value is effective in osteoporosis screening, and the QCT-based cutoff value is 110 HU for osteoporosis and 160 HU for osteopenia in the patients with degenerative lumbar disease.Conclusion: In patients with degenerative lumbar diseases, we aimed to establish the cutoff value of Hounsfield units (HU) for osteoporosis screening on the basis of the relationship between computed tomography (CT) HU value and volume bone mineral density (BMD) measured by quantitative computed tomography (QCT).A total of 136 patients aged ≥ 50 years with degenerative lumbar diseases were retrospectively included. Their QCT-BMD of L1-2 were recorded, and the CT values of L1-2 were measured with the same CT images of QCT. The degree of bone loss was evaluated with the criteria based on QCT-BMD: cutoff value of 80 mg/cm3 for osteoporosis and cutoff value of 120 mg/cm3 for osteopenia. The cutoff of CT value was acquired according to the linear regression equation between CT value and QCT-BMD.The rate of osteoporosis, osteopenia, normal BMD was 33.8% (46/136), 51.5% (70/136), and 14.7% (20/136), respectively. The Pearson correlation coefficients between CT value and QCT-BMD were over 0.9 (P < 0.05). The cutoff of average CT value of L1-2 was calculated and adjusted to 110HU for osteoporosis and 160HU for osteopenia according the equation: average QCT-BMD of L1-2 = 0.76 ✕ average CT value of L1-2–0.46 (R2 = 0.931, P < 0.001). Cutoff value of 110HU was 91.2% (42/46) sensitive and 88.9% (80/90) specific for identifying osteoporosis. The cutoff value of 160HU was 95.0% (19/20) sensitive and 96.6% (112/116) specific for distinguishing normal BMD from abnormal BMD (osteoporosis and osteopenia).The CT value is effective in osteoporosis screening, and the QCT-based cutoff value is 110 HU for osteoporosis and 160 HU for osteopenia in the patients with degenerative lumbar disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple multipath paper-based device was designed for ultrasensitive detection of kanamycin using quencher-free 2-aminopurine fluorescence probe and exonuclease I. [Display omitted] • A multipath paper-based device was designed for ultrasensitive and rapid detection of kanamycin. • Quencher-free 2-aminopurine fluorescence probe was used as detection signal source. • Employment of high hydrolysis properties of exonuclease I toward single stranded DNA. • A synergistic effect of 2-aminopurine and exonuclease I enhanced the sensitivity. A quencher-free multipath microfluidic paper-based analytical device (µPAD) was constructed for ultrasensitive detection of kanamycin based on exonuclease I (Exo I)-assisted signal enhancement of 2-aminopurine (2-AP). Here, Exo I, a single-stranded DNA-specific nuclease, was introduced to fully liberate 2-AP mononucleotides to greatly enhance biosensing sensitivity. 2-AP, a fluorescent adenine analogue embedded in single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), was employed as the detection signal source. The fluorescence of 2-AP is strong in the mononucleotide state, while it can have low fluorescence and even no fluorescence in ssDNA and dsDNA, respectively. The 2-AP fluorescence probe included 2-AP DNA and kanamycin aptamer. When kanamycin was present, binding occurred between kanamycin and the aptamer, leading to ssDNA, which was further digested by Exo I. In this case, free 2-AP mononucleotides were liberated, indicating strong fluorescence. In addition, the captured kanamycin was released for binding with the new aptamer, which resulted in the formation of a binding-hydrolysis-release cycle with the aid of Exo I. Under optimal conditions, this µPAD exhibited sensitive and multipath detection of kanamycin at concentrations as low as 1.26 × 10−14 M with a wide range of 10−13–10−7 M. Furthermore, satisfactory results were achieved for analysing spiked kanamycin in milk and honey samples. This strategy is a very promising tool for monitoring antibiotics and evaluating the safety of animal-derived foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consistent with our expectations, a reduced STING mRNA expression level was observed in the hippocampi of agomir-let-7i-treated HSI mice compared to scramble-treated HSI mice ( I F SB (2,6) sb i = 169.3, I p i < 0.001; Sham vs. Intranasal Administration of Agomir-let-7i Improves Cognitive Function in Mice with Traumatic Brain Injury. Right panel, HEK-293 T cells were co-transfected with a luciferase reporter construct containing wild-type or mutated human STING 3'UTR and assessed for luciferase activity 72 h after transfection (n = 3). [Extracted from the article]

Chlorfenapyr (CHL) is a type of insecticide with a wide range of insecticidal activities and unique targets. The extensive use of pesticides has caused an increase in potential risks to the environment and human health. However, the potential toxicity of CHL and its mechanisms of action on humans remain unclear. Therefore, human liver cells (HepG2) were used to investigate the cytotoxic effect and mechanism of toxicity of CHL at the cellular level. The results showed that CHL induced cellular toxicity in HepG2 cells and induced mitochondrial damage associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and mitochondrial calcium overload, ultimately leading to apoptosis and autophagy in HepG2 cells. Typical apoptotic changes occurred, including a decline in the mitochondrial membrane potential, the promotion of Bax/Bcl-2 expression causing the release of cyt-c into the cytosol, the activation of cas-9/-3, and the cleavage of PARP. The autophagic effects included the formation of autophagic vacuoles, accumulation of Beclin-1, transformation of LC3-II, and downregulation of p62. Additionally, DNA damage and cell cycle arrest were detected in CHL-treated cells. These results show that CHL induced cytotoxicity associated with mitochondria-mediated programmed cell death (PCD) and DNA damage in HepG2 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the economic globalization is advancing day by day. As the most widely used language for international communication, English is becoming more and more important. English education is the most important part of the whole English basic education, and English teachers play an important role in developing the cause of English basic education. Job competency assessment is a technical method to assess the staff's working ability, which can comprehensively and objectively evaluate the English teaching position competency. Based on the in-depth study of the relevant theories of the job competency model, the nonlinear random matrix is applied to the job competency evaluation, and the components of English teachers' job competency are deeply explored. The competency evaluation elements are constructed from three levels of knowledge ability, technical ability, and potential ability. Based on the established job competency evaluation model, this paper evaluates and analyzes the English teachers' job competency. The results showed that the model had good structural validity, and the correlation between factors and the scale was 0.3∽0.8, with no significant difference in each factor, which provided strong support for the assessment of English teaching competence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) is widely used as a food ingredient. Rosemary extract (containing 40% carnosic acid) exhibited potent antiobesity activity. However, the relationship between carnosic acid (CA) and changes in the gut microbiota of high‐fat diet (HFD)‐induced obese mice has not been fully investigated. C57BL/6 mice were fed a normal diet, an HFD, or an HFD containing 0.1% or 0.2% CA for 10 weeks. CA exhibited promising antiobesity effects and caused marked alterations in the gut microbiota of HFD‐induced obese mice. CA caused the prevalence of probiotics and functional bacteria, including Akkermansia muciniphila, Muribaculaceae unclassified, and Clostridium innocuum group, and inhibited diabetes‐sensitive bacteria, including Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. The ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes was regulated by CA in a dose‐dependent manner, decreasing it from 13.22% to 2.42%. Additionally, CA reduced bile acid‐metabolizing bacteria, such as Bilophila, Clostridium, Lactobacillus, and Leuconostoc. The results of the linear discriminant analysis and effect size analysis indicated that CA attenuated the microbial changes caused by HFD. The high CA (HCA) group (HFD containing 0.2% CA) exhibited a greater abundance of Verrucomicrobiae (including Akkermansia muciniphila, genus Akkermansia, family Akkermansiaceae, and order Verrucomicrobiales), Eubacterium, and Erysipelatoclostridium, and the low CA (LCA) group (HFD containing 0.1% CA) exhibited a greater abundance of Eisenbergiella, Intestinimonas, and Ruminococcaceae. Our results demonstrate that the antiobesity effects of CA might be strongly related to its prebiotic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the insufficient accuracy and accumulated error of the point cloud registration of LiDAR-inertial odometry (LIO) in an urban environment, we propose a LiDAR-inertial-GNSS fusion positioning algorithm based on voxelized accurate registration. Firstly, a voxelized point cloud downsampling method based on curvature segmentation is proposed. Rough classification is carried out by the curvature threshold, and the voxelized point cloud downsampling is performed using HashMap instead of a random sample consensus algorithm. Secondly, a point cloud registration model based on the nearest neighbors of the point and neighborhood point sets is constructed. Furthermore, an iterative termination threshold is set to reduce the probability of the local optimal solution. The registration time of a single frame point cloud is increased by an order of magnitude. Finally, we propose a LIO-GNSS fusion positioning model based on graph optimization that uses GNSS observations weighted by confidence to globally correct local drift. The experimental results show that the average root mean square error of the absolute trajectory error of our algorithm is 1.58m on average in a large-scale outdoor environment, which is approximately 83.5% higher than that of similar algorithms. It is fully proved that our algorithm can realize a more continuous and accurate position and attitude estimation and map reconstruction in urban environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In road engineering on clay foundation, the subgrade clay is often anisotropically overconsolidated, and the drainage boundary is commonly partially drained. Considering that few laboratory studies focused on the traffic-induced cyclic behaviors of anisotropically overconsolidated clay, and investigated intensively the differences in deformation between undrained and partially drained conditions, this study performs a series of one-way cyclic tests on the overconsolidated clay with various consolidation stress ratios (K) under different drainage conditions. The emphasis is put on the comparison of undrained and partially drained tests in terms of the permanent axial strain and its accumulated rate, resilient modulus and damping ratio. Test results indicate that the relative magnitude of permanent axial strain and its accumulated rate between the two drainage conditions is highly related to cycle number, K and CSR, with decreasing K and increasing CSR exacerbating the difference. The resilient modulus of partially drained tests is greater than that in undrained tests overall, while the relative relationship of degradation index between the two drainage conditions is reversed. In addition, the increase of consolidation-induced anisotropy degree promotes the strain development and improves the resilient stiffness, which should be noted for the traffic-induced deformation of subgrade clay. Based on the shakedown theory, the allowable cyclic stress ratio is determined as 0.44, and it is affected little by K or drainage condition. Finally, prediction models of permanent axial strain and resilient modulus are established for the anisotropically overconsolidated clay under both drainage conditions, where the deformation prediction is found to be related to the shakedown behavior. It is recommended that the prediction and control of subgrade clay settlement in engineering practice should take into account the in-situ consolidation sate and drainage condition. • Drainage condition has great and complex influences on cyclic behaviors of anisotropically overconsolidated clay. • The increase of consolidation anisotropy aggravates deformation difference between two drainage conditions. • The increase of consolidation anisotropy increases permanent strain and resilient stiffness, decreases damping ratio. • The allowable cyclic stress ratio is affected little by consolidation anisotropy or drainage condition. • Prediction models of permanent strain and resilient modulus are established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cell nucleus serves as the pivotal command center of living cells, and delivering therapeutic agents directly into the nucleus can result in highly efficient anti-tumor eradication of cancer cells. However, nucleus-targeting drug delivery is very difficult due to the presence of numerous biological barriers. Here, three antitumor drugs (DNase I, ICG: indocyanine green, and THP: pirarubicin) were sequentially triggered protein self-assembly to produce a nucleus-targeting and programmed responsive multi-drugs delivery system (DIT). DIT consisted of uniform spherical particles with a size of 282 ± 7.7 nm. The acidic microenvironment of tumors and near-infrared light could successively trigger DIT for the programmed release of three drugs, enabling targeted delivery to the tumor. THP served as a nucleus-guiding molecule and a chemotherapy drug. Through THP-guided DIT, DNase I was successfully delivered to the nucleus of tumor cells and killed them by degrading their DNA. Tumor acidic microenvironment had the ability to induce DIT, leading to the aggregation of sufficient ICG in the tumor tissues. This provided an opportunity for the photothermal therapy of ICG. Hence, three drugs were cleverly combined using a simple method to achieve multi-drugs targeted delivery and highly effective combined anticancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overcoming the lack of drugs for the treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI) has long been a major challenge for the pharmaceutical industry. MiRNAs have emerged as potential targets for progress assessment and intervention against TBI. The brain-enriched miRNA let-7i has been proposed as an ideal candidate biomarker for TBI, but its regulatory roles in brain injury remain largely unknown. Here, we find that the expression of let-7i is significantly downregulated in the early stages of a hippocampal stab wound injury. The noninvasive intranasal administration of let-7i agomir significantly improves cognitive function and suppresses neuroinflammation, glial scar formation, and neuronal apoptosis in TBI mice. Mechanically, STING is a direct downstream target of let-7i after brain injury. Furthermore, the intranasal delivery of let-7i agomir can also effectively inhibit STING and is beneficial for inflammation resolution and neuronal survival in a mouse model of pial vessel disruption stroke. Consequently, let-7i agomir is a promising candidate for clinical application as a chemically engineered oligonucleotides-based therapeutic for brain injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) with mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) protects the former from aggregation and promotes the controlled release of silver ions, resulting in therapeutic significance on cancer and infection. The unique size, shape, pore structure and silver distribution of silver mesoporous silica nanoparticles (Ag‐MSNs) embellish them with the potential to perform combined imaging and therapeutic actions via modulating optical and drug release properties. Here, we comprehensively review the recent progress in the fabrication and application of Ag‐MSNs for combination therapies for cancer and infection. We first elaborate on the fabrication of star‐shaped structure, core‐shell structure, and Janus structure Ag‐MSNs. We then highlight Ag‐MSNs as a multifunctional nanoplatform to surface‐enhanced Raman scattering‐based detection, non‐photo‐based cancer theranostics and photo‐based cancer theranostics. In addition, we detail Ag‐MSNs for combined antibacterial therapy via drug delivery and phototherapy. Overall, we summarize the challenges and future perspectives of Ag‐MSNs that make them promising for diagnosis and therapy of cancer and infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper-doped α-MnO2 (Cu-α-MnO2) nanowires were synthesized with various amounts of Cu2+ via a hydrothermal method. Based on the XRD and XPS data, the substitution of larger Cu2+ ions in place of Mn3+ (0.645 Å) or Mn4+ ions (0.530 Å) result in the expansion in the lattice and increase of the amount of Mn3+. The electrocatalytic results indicate that the Cu-α-MnO2 shows superior ORR activity than that of the pristine α-MnO2 due to the decreases in the charge transfer resistance and enhance the kinetic rate. In addition, the Mg-air battery using Cu-α-MnO2 (Cu: Mn = 1:4) displays a maximal peak power density of 73.4 mW cm−2 and high discharge voltage. This finding provides an effective and cheap method to improve electrocatalyst for Mg-air batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consider the computations at a node in a message passing algorithm. Assume that the node has incoming and outgoing messages $\mathbf {x} = (x_{1}, x_{2}, \ldots, x_{n})$ and $\mathbf {y} = (y_{1}, y_{2}, \ldots, y_{n})$ , respectively. In this paper, we investigate a class of structures that can be adopted by the node for computing $\mathbf {y}$ from $\mathbf {x}$ , where each $y_{j}, j = 1, 2, \ldots, n$ is computed via a binary tree with leaves $\mathbf {x}$ excluding $x_{j}$. We make three main contributions regarding this class of structures. First, we prove that the minimum complexity of such a structure is $3n - 6$ , and if a structure has such complexity, its minimum latency is $\delta + \lceil \log (n-2^{\delta }) \rceil $ with $\delta = \lfloor \log (n/2) \rfloor $ , where the logarithm always takes base two. Second, we prove that the minimum latency of such a structure is $\lceil \log (n-1) \rceil $ , and if a structure has such latency, its minimum complexity is $n \log (n-1)$ when $n-1$ is a power of two. Third, given $(n, \tau)$ with $\tau \geq \lceil \log (n-1) \rceil $ , we propose a construction for a structure which we conjecture to have the minimum complexity among structures with latencies at most $\tau $. Our construction method runs in $O(n^{3} \log ^{2}(n))$ time, and the obtained structure has complexity at most (generally much smaller than) $n \lceil \log (n) \rceil - 2$. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clinical trials have shown that dexmedetomidine might decrease the occurrence of postoperative delirium after major surgery, but neurosurgical patients were excluded from these studies. We aimed to determine the feasibility of conducting a full-scale randomized controlled trial of the effect of prophylactic low-dose dexmedetomidine on postoperative delirium in patients after elective intracranial operation for brain tumors.Methods: In this single-center, parallel-arm pilot randomized controlled trial, adult patients who underwent an elective intracranial operation for brain tumors were recruited. Dexmedetomidine (0.1 μg/kg/hour) or placebo was continuously infused from intensive care unit (ICU) admission on the day of surgery until 08:00 AM on postoperative day one. Adverse events during the study-drug administration were recorded. The primary feasibility endpoint was the occurrence of study-drug interruption. Delirium was assessed twice daily with the Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU during the first five postoperative days. The assessable rate of delirium evaluation was documented.Results: Sixty participants were randomly assigned to receive either dexmedetomidine (n = 30) or placebo (n = 30). The study-drug was stopped in two patients (6.7%) in the placebo group due to desaturation after new-onset unconsciousness and an unplanned reoperation for hematoma evacuation and in one patient (3.3%) in the dexmedetomidine group due to unplanned discharge from the ICU. The absolute difference (95% confidence interval) of study-drug interruption between the two groups was 3.3% (- 18.6 to 12.0%), with a noninferiority P value of 0.009. During the study-drug infusion, no bradycardia occurred, and hypotension occurred in one patient (3.3%) in the dexmedetomidine group. Dexmedetomidine tended to decrease the incidence of tachycardia (10.0% vs. 23.3%) and hypertension (3.3% vs. 23.3%). Respiratory depression, desaturation, and unconsciousness occurred in the same patient with study-drug interruption in the placebo group (3.3%). Delirium was evaluated 600 times, of which 590 (98.3%) attempts were assessable except in one patient in the placebo group who remained in a coma after an unplanned reoperation.Conclusions: The low rate of study-drug interruption and high assessable rate of delirium evaluation supported a fully powered trial to determine the effectiveness of low-dose dexmedetomidine on postoperative delirium in patients after intracranial operation for brain tumors.Trial Registration: The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04494828) on 31/07/2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 pandemic has caused more than 3 million deaths globally during the past year. The direct attack from SARS-CoV-2 and hyperactivated immune response contribute to the progress and deterioration of COVID-19. After the virus invades, the activation and release of cytokines/chemokines cause "cytokine storm", leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multiple organs dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Eliminating virus and blocking cytokines are important checkpoints of COVID-19 therapy, and several agents targeting immunopathology, including interferons, thymosin, glucocorticoids and immunoglobulin, have shown therapeutic effects in severe patients with COVID-19. Herein, we reviewed the practice evidences and concluded that several agents rounding up the immunopathology of COVID-19 may be the alternative approaches under the scenario of the lacking of effective antiviral drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, under a general cost function C, we present a dynamic programming (DP) method to obtain an optimal sequential deterministic quantizer (SDQ) for q-ary input discrete memoryless channel (DMC). The DP method has complexity O(q (N-M)2M), where N and M are the alphabet sizes of the DMC output and quantizer output, respectively. Then, starting from the quadrangle inequality, two techniques are applied to reduce the DP method’s complexity. One technique makes use of the Shor-Moran-Aggarwal-Wilber-Klawe (SMAWK) algorithm and achieves complexity O(q (N−M) M). The other technique is much easier to be implemented and achieves complexity O(q (N2−M2)). We further derive a sufficient condition under which the optimal SDQ is optimal among all quantizers and the two techniques are applicable. This generalizes the results in the literature for binary-input DMC. Next, we show that the cost function of α-mutual information (α−MI)-maximizing quantizer belongs to the category of C. We further prove that under a weaker condition than the sufficient condition we derived, the aforementioned two techniques are applicable to the design of α−MI-maximizing quantizer. Finally, we illustrate the particular application of our design method to practical pulse-amplitude modulation systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Use open data to measure walkability from the perspective of pedestrian needs. • Collect ground-truth GPS data to validate walking trips extracted from mobile data. • Identify and interpret the mismatch areas between walkability and walking trips. • Uncover the spatial effects of walkability and its four dimensions on walking trips. • Provide prioritized and contextualized built-environment intervention strategies. Stimulating more citizens to walk plays an essential role in building a healthy city. This paper explores the mismatch between walkability and walking behavior, using mobile phone data, street view images, and various sources of open data. Using Shenzhen as our case study, we identified walking trips of 6 months in 2021 from cellular mobile data, taking the rule-based heuristics approach. We collected ground truth GPS data to validate the walking trip extraction method. Open data and deep learning enabled quantifying walkability from the perspective of four pedestrian needs: safety, convenience, continuity, and attractiveness. We employed geospatial techniques to identify the mismatch areas between walkability and walking behavior in the city. We also explored the spatially varying effects of walkability on walking behavior. Our results showed that the mismatch areas with high-level walking trips but low-level walkability mainly occurred in the fringe areas of the central business district (CBD) and subcenters that require prioritizing more interventions. Moreover, walkability showed strong effects on walking trips in the inner suburbs. For the four aspects of our walkability framework, safety and convenience had greater positive effects on walking trips in suburbs than in urban areas. Continuity promotes walking trips mainly in the city's western sector. The positive effect of attractiveness on walking trips clustered in the central and western parts of the city. Based on the findings, we provide prioritized and contextualized built-environment intervention strategies and policy recommendations for urban designers and transportation planners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Friendships are the keystone of social networks. Predicting potential friendships of users in social networks has become a critical task in the real world. However, the computational models proposed by previous researchers do not effectively capture the behavior preferences of users, which limits the recommendation results. Moreover, the process of generating predicted values has not considered the cross-information among different features. Therefore, we design a potential friendship prediction model based on graph convolutional autoencoder and factorization machine (GCAFM). The GCAFM model uses a graph convolutional autoencoder to learn the hidden feature of users, which can make the similar users as close as possible in the embedding space. The hidden feature of the target users is then subjected to an element-to-element multiplication operation, and the product results are subsequently inputting into a factorization machine model that capable of feature crossover to get the predicted friendship. In addition, we use the federated learning framework to train the GCAFM model, which ensures the privacy of social network data. The experimental results on Douban and FilmTrust social network datasets show that the GCAFM model exceeds four comparison models under various kinds of evaluation metrics. The GCAFM model scored 0.856 and 0.850 under the AUC metric, 0.683 and 0.702 under the AUPR metric, 0.805 and 0.844 under the Precision metric on Douban and FilmTrust datasets. • Federated learning is used to train the model to protect the privacy of social network data. • Factorization machines can capture higher order associations of hidden features. • The proposed model can outperform other baselines on social network datasets. • The proposed model can capture hidden features in the potential friendship relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein we report a linear ionic molecule that assembles into a supramolecular nano‐tunnel structure through synergy of trident‐type ionic interactions and π–π stacking interactions. The nano‐tunnel crystal exhibits anisotropic guest adsorption behavior. The material shows good thermal stability and undergoes multi‐stage single‐crystal‐to‐single‐crystal phase transformations to a nonporous structure on heating. The material exhibits a remarkable chemical stability under both acidic and basic conditions, which is rarely observed in supramolecular organic frameworks and is often related to structures with designed hydrogen‐bonding interactions. Because of the high polarity of the tunnels, this molecular crystal also shows a large CO2‐adsorption capacity while excluding other gases at ambient temperature, leading to high CO2/CH4 selectivity. Aggregation‐induced emission of the molecules gives the bulk crystals vapochromic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein we report a linear ionic molecule that assembles into a supramolecular nano‐tunnel structure through synergy of trident‐type ionic interactions and π–π stacking interactions. The nano‐tunnel crystal exhibits anisotropic guest adsorption behavior. The material shows good thermal stability and undergoes multi‐stage single‐crystal‐to‐single‐crystal phase transformations to a nonporous structure on heating. The material exhibits a remarkable chemical stability under both acidic and basic conditions, which is rarely observed in supramolecular organic frameworks and is often related to structures with designed hydrogen‐bonding interactions. Because of the high polarity of the tunnels, this molecular crystal also shows a large CO2‐adsorption capacity while excluding other gases at ambient temperature, leading to high CO2/CH4 selectivity. Aggregation‐induced emission of the molecules gives the bulk crystals vapochromic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Narrowband microwave generation with tuneable frequency is demonstrated by illuminating a photoconductive semiconductor switch (PCSS) with a burst-mode fibre laser. The whole system is composed of a high-power linearly polarized burst-mode pulsed fibre laser and a linear-state PCSS. To obtain a high-performance microwave signal, a desired envelope of burst is necessary and a pulse pre-compensation technique is adopted to avoid envelope distortion induced by the gain-saturation effect. Resulting from the technique, homogenous peak power distribution in each burst is ensured. The maximum energy of the laser burst pulse reaches 200 μJ with a burst duration of 100 ns at the average power of 10 W, corresponding to a peak power of 4 kW. When the PCSS is illuminated by the burst-mode fibre laser, narrowband microwave generation with tuneable frequency (0.80–1.12 GHz) is obtained with a power up to 300 W. To the best of the authors' knowledge, it is the first demonstration of frequency-tuneable narrowband microwave generation based on a fibre laser. The high-power burst-mode fibre laser reported here has great potential for generating high-power arbitrary microwave signals for a great deal of applicable demands such as smart adaptive radar and intelligent high-power microwave systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipid digestion is critical for infant development, and yet, the interconnection between lipid digestion and the microbiota is largely understudied. This review focuses on digestion of the human milk fat globule and summarizes the current understanding of the mechanisms underlying this process in infants. We first discuss the partial hydrolysis of milk fat in the stomach, which leads to rearrangement of lipid droplets, creating a lipid-water interface necessary for duodenal lipolysis. In the first few months of life, secretion of pancreatic triglyceride lipase, phospholipase A 2 , and bile salts is immature. The dominant lipases aiding fat digestion in the newborn small intestine are therefore pancreatic lipase-related protein 2 and bile salt–stimulated lipase from both the exocrine pancreas and milk. We summarize the interaction between ionic fatty acids and cations to form insoluble fatty acid soaps and how it is influenced by various factors, including cation availability, pH, and bile salt concentration, as well as saturation and chain length of fatty acids. We further argue that the formation of the soap complex does not contribute to lipid bioavailability. Next, the possible roles that the gut microbiota plays in lipid digestion and absorption are discussed. Finally, we provide a perspective on how the manufacturing process of infant formula and dairy products may alter the physical properties and structure of lipid droplets, thereby altering the rate of lipolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patient–ventilator asynchrony is common in mechanically ventilated patients and may be related to adverse outcomes. Few studies have reported the occurrence of asynchrony in brain-injured patients. We aimed to investigate the prevalence, type and severity of patient–ventilator asynchrony in mechanically ventilated patients with brain injury. Methods: This prospective observational study enrolled acute brain-injured patients undergoing mechanical ventilation. Esophageal pressure monitoring was established after enrollment. Flow, airway pressure, and esophageal pressure–time waveforms were recorded for a 15-min interval, four times daily for 3 days, for visually detecting asynchrony by offline analysis. At the end of each dataset recording, the respiratory drive was determined by the airway occlusion maneuver. The asynchrony index was calculated to represent the severity. The relationship between the prevalence and the severity of asynchrony with ventilatory modes and settings, respiratory drive, and analgesia and sedation were determined. Association of severe patient–ventilator asynchrony, which was defined as an asynchrony index ≥ 10%, with clinical outcomes was analyzed. Results: In 100 enrolled patients, a total of 1076 15-min waveform datasets covering 330,292 breaths were collected, in which 70,156 (38%) asynchronous breaths were detected. Asynchrony occurred in 96% of patients with the median (interquartile range) asynchrony index of 12.4% (4.3%–26.4%). The most prevalent type was ineffective triggering. No significant difference was found in either prevalence or asynchrony index among different classifications of brain injury (p > 0.05). The prevalence of asynchrony was significantly lower during pressure control/assist ventilation than during other ventilatory modes (p < 0.05). Compared to the datasets without asynchrony, the airway occlusion pressure was significantly lower in datasets with ineffective triggering (p < 0.001). The asynchrony index was significantly higher during the combined use of opioids and sedatives (p < 0.001). Significantly longer duration of ventilation and hospital length of stay after the inclusion were found in patients with severe ineffective triggering (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Patient–ventilator asynchrony is common in brain-injured patients. The most prevalent type is ineffective triggering and its severity is likely related to a long duration of ventilation and hospital stay. Prevalence and severity of asynchrony are associated with ventilatory modes, respiratory drive and analgesia/sedation strategy, suggesting treatment adjustment in this particular population. Trial registration The study has been registered on 4 July 2017 in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03212482) (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03212482). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shape memory alloy (SMA) is a very important smart material, which has been widely used in many fields, especially in vibration. Phase transformation can be induced by changing temperature and its stiffness changes accordingly. In this paper, the primary resonance vibration of a one-dimensional SMA oscillator is analyzed using the harmonic balance (HB) method. The amplitude-frequency curves of the SMA oscillator with different temperatures are drawn, and the effect of temperature and frequency on the amplitude is discussed. Then, the energy flow of SMA in the vibration process is researched by the power flow analysis (PFA) approach. The time-averaged input power (TAIP) is calculated using the analytical and numerical method, respectively, and the calculation time is compared. It is found that the difference between the analytical and numerical solutions is not significant in most cases, but the calculation time of analytical solution is only about one-tenth of that of the numerical solution, which is very important in saving computational cost, real-time control and so on. Finally, some other characteristics of energy flow in the SMA oscillator are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We theoretically investigate the frequency-nondegenerate and frequency degenerate squeezed lights with a four-wave mixing process (4WM) driven by two pump fields crossing at a small angle. Different from a 4WM process driven by a single pump field, the refractive index of the corresponding probe field, np, can be converted to a value that is greater than 1 or less than 1 by an angle adjustment. In the new region with np < 1, the bandwidth of the gain is relatively large due to the slow change in the refractive index with the two-photon detuning. In this region with an exchange of the roles of the pump and probe beams, the frequency degenerate and spatial nondegenerate twin beams can be generated, which has potential application in quantum information and quantum metrology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The iterated local search (ILS) is exceptionally successful in combinatorial solution spaces. However, few research works have reported on the application of ILS in continuous problems. In this article, a new hybrid population-based iterated local search (HILS) algorithm is proposed for solving numerical optimization problems. The proposed hybrid method introduces both success-history based parameter adaptation for differential evolution (SHADE) and limited-memory Broyden–Fletcher–Goldfarb–Shanno (LBFGS) as the perturbation and local search strategy, respectively, and integrates the benefits of exploration capability of SHADE and local search performance of LBFGS. The simulated annealing type of acceptance criterion is adopted to balance the exploration and exploitation of ILS. The proposed HILS is tested against the CEC2017 benchmark functions, which were used to evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm in solving numerical optimization problems. The experimental results show the effectiveness and efficiency of the HILS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient hydrophobic condensation surface was developed and used as an ultrasensitive surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensor. The sensors were based on ZnO–Ag hybrid mesoporous nanosheets (MNSs) grafted on ordered Si micropillar arrays for detection of explosives. The hybrid SERS substrates were prepared via three steps: first, the ZnO seeds were precoated onto highly ordered Si micropillar arrays through atomic layer deposition; second, porous ZnO nanosheet arrays were grown based on ZnO seeds via chemical bath deposition by a secondary solvent addition method. Finally, ion-sputtering of Ag-nanoparticles (NPs) onto the ZnO MNSs was performed. Because the ordered Si micropillar arrays with a high aspect ratio provided 3D framework structures, the 3D ZnO MNSs of the Si pillar also generated three types of SERS active "hot spots". And the excellent SERS effect induced by the three different "hot spots" from 3D structures was further theoretically confirmed by simulating the electromagnetic field distributions. What's really interesting was that the prepared substrates showed superhydrophobicity. Based on the hydrophobic condensation strategy, hazardous explosives of NTO, FOX-7 were label-free detected in real samples like tap water and river water. And these samples, which were spiked with nitrophenylamine explosive TNT, were also selectively detected by secondary solvent addition under the 4-aminothiophenol (4-ATP)-modified superhydrophobic surface. Because the electronic transfer compensation effect of the hybrids ensured the stability of substrates, ZnO–Ag MNS hybrid substrates could be used for ultrasensitive detection of explosives after being stored for 49 days. Therefore, these effective SERS substrates demonstrated a promising application in forensic science and homeland security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microstructures play an important role in the research on shape memory alloys (SMA). By using mathematical modeling tools to study microstructures, it is possible to predict the behaviors of these materials under applied fields. In the current paper, a thermo-mechanical model is proposed to simulate the microstructure of a SMA rod with both fixed and impact boundary conditions via Legendre wavelets collocation method. Because of the good performance of Legendre wavelets basis, this method shows excellent properties in both precision and stability. A detailed numerical algorithm is given, and the backward differentiation formula is employed to perform all the simulations in the current paper. Computational simulations are carried out to study the stress-induced phase transformation. The dynamics of microstructure evolution, presented at different temperatures, is well captured by our developed technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, seismic time series has been used to construct complex network models in order to describe the seismic complexity. The effect of the factor focal depth has been elided in some of these models. In this paper, we aim to construct a new complex network model for seismicity by considering depth factor from the earthquake catalog and investigate the statistical properties of the network. Since the networks have been proved to be scale-free and small-world properties, the new network models should be studied whether the properties have changed. The results show that the new network model by considering depth factor is still scale-free and small-world. However, it is found that its average degree is smaller than the original network. The clustering coefficient increases at the year including mainshocks. The assortativity coefficient, which demonstrates preferential attachment of nodes, is positive and shows consistent pattern when main shocks occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction of a nano-heterojunction photoanode is an attractive strategy for accelerated charge separation. Here, α-Fe2O3 nanorod arrays (Fe2O3 NAs) top-decorated with an MIL-101 layer are achieved via the CVD method for constructing one intimate contact between two layers. The systematical analysis in time-dependent deposition shows that the photoelectric response capability can be modulated by controlling the thickness of the MIL-101 layer as a function of CVD duration. An optimized thickness of 4–6 nm MIL-101 in the Fe2O3/MIL-101 photoanode presents the best PEC performance with the IPCE of 25% and a photocurrent density of 1 mA cm−2 at 1.3 V vs. RHE, about 2.5 times higher than that of pristine Fe2O3 NAs. The exciton lifetime and the electrochemical active surface area of the composited electrode are greatly improved by 14 and 1.3 times respectively compared to that of pristine Fe2O3. The notable advancement can be attributed to the fact that the top-decorated MOF layer can promote charge separation efficiency led by the built-in electric field and form a tight interface between Fe2O3 and MIL-101 with a favorable diffusion length for holes, as well as the fact that it can reduce surface defects and provide more reaction sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the structural evolution and microhardness of Al 2 O 3 –40 wt.% TiO 2 /NiCoCrAl gradient coatings deposited by atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) after high-temperature treatment carried out at 800 °C in air for 600 h. The gradient region exhibited a different ceramic growth and oxidation behaviour at different zones. The nonhomogeneous needle-like γ-Al 2 O 3 phase was formed at the ceramic region, whereas the homogeneous needle-like NiAl 2 O 4 phase was formed at the NiCoCrAl oxidation region close to the ceramic coating. And the ingrowth Cr-rich phase existed inside the NiCoCrAl splats at the gradient region close to the bond coating. An obviously microhardness improvement of the coating can be measured by a Vickers microhardness tester. The formation of the needle-like phase has an effect on the reinforcement of coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we present a novel TU series based on Ti 3 C 2 nanosheets modified UiO-66-NH 2 with Schottky junction for photocatalytic H 2 evolution. • Ti 3 C 2 nanosheets were integrated with UiO-66-NH 2 for enhanced photocatalytic HER activity. • TU series displayed superior photocatalytic H 2 evolution activity and stability. • Spatial separation and transfer of charge carriers was realized by the Schottky junction. • Ti 3 C 2 nanosheets with functional groups possessed abundant active sites. • DFT calculations revealed O-TC possessed the most positive Fermi level and lowest ΔG H*. As newly-developing non-noble metallic co-catalysts, MXenes have attracted intensive attention as an ideal candidate to promote the photocatalytic H 2 -production activity. In this study, Ti 3 C 2 nanosheets prepared by intercalation were further attached to porous MOFs (UiO-66-NH 2) via one-pot hydrothermal method to form face-to-face intimate contact. The obtained TU10 presented the highest photocatalytic H 2 -evolution rates in TU series, exceeding that of pure UiO-66-NH 2 by approximately 8 times. The speculation revolving about enhanced photocatalytic H 2 -production performance was proposed as the presence of exposed active sites at the edge of Ti 3 C 2 nanosheets and spatial separation and transfer of charge carriers introduced by the Schottky junction at TU series interface, which accumulated the photo-induced electrons on the surface of Ti 3 C 2 nanosheets and improved its electron-donating ability. The DFT calculations revealed that O-terminated Ti 3 C 2 possessed the most positive Fermi level and the lowest Gibbs free energy (|ΔG H* | = 0.08 ≈ 0). This work may provide new insights for constructing MXenes/MOFs structure based on Schottky junction effect to achieve high photocatalytic H 2 -production performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a glucose regulation disorder that has significantly enhanced mortality and the global disease burden. The prevalence of T2D has increased worldwide and is higher in the elderly. The function of pancreatic islets decreases with age, which is one important reason for the occurrence of diabetes in the elderly. Recently, peptidome analysis has attracted attention. However, the role of age‐related peptides in pancreatic dysfunction has not been investigated extensively. Here, we conducted a comparison of endogenous peptides between pancreas from adult and aging mice by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS). A total of 2,089 peptides originating from 1,280 protein precursors were identified, of which 232 were upregulated and 183 were downregulated in the aging mice (fold change ≥ 2 and p < 0.05), suggesting that the expression of pancreatic peptides in mice varied with age. The molecular weight of most peptides was <3.0 kDa, and the isoelectric point distribution had a bimodal characteristic. Further analysis of cleavage site patterns indicated that proteases cleaved pancreatic proteins according to their rules. Moreover, Gene Ontology and pathway analyses showed that the differentially expressed peptides potentially had specific effects on pancreatic dysfunction. Some differential peptides were located within the domains of precursor proteins that were closely associated with the development of diabetes. We believe that our research may advance the current understanding of pancreas‐derived peptides and that certain peptides may be involved in the etiology of diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characteristics of polyphosphazene based polymer electrolytes were investigated in contact to lithium metal electrodes with regard to interface stability, SEI, current-overpotential relation and kinetics of lithium deposition and dissolution. The comparative study concerned three electrolyte types: a) the pure liquid electrolyte 0.7 M LiPF 6 in 1:1 (v:v) EC/DMC as reference electrolyte, b) freshly prepared dry electrolyte membranes made from poly[bis(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy) phosphazene] (MEEP) with dissolved LiPF 6 and c) a MEEP-based gel containing MEEP with 50 wt% of the above liquid electrolyte. A combination of DC current-voltage analysis, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and optical microscopy was used to study lithium cycling, time dependent galvanostatic lithium plating/stripping and overpotential variation. A detailed model is presented which explains the observed voltage-time profile and the accompanying interface changes considering the comprehensive influences of electrolyte decomposition, changes of the interface morphology, the increase of surface roughness induced by dendrite formation (microscopically monitored) and the intermediately forming SEI (analyzed by impedance spectroscopy). Stable Li metal/Electrolyte interface The characteristics of LiPF 6 in EC/DMC and dry/gel polymer based on poly[bis(2-(2-methoxyethoxy) ethoxy) phosphazene (MEEP) were investigated in contact to lithium metal electrodes with regard to interface stability, SEI, current-overpotential relation and kinetics of lithium deposition and dissolution. MEEP gel polymer develops a very favorable Li/polymer interface (less dendrites) with a more conductive and more stable SEI on the lithium metal anode as well as exhibiting a faster formation. Image 1 • Different lithium plating/stripping kinetics, morphologies and SEI properties were observed for MEEP polymer electrolytes and liquid electrolyte. • MEEP electrolytes generate less dendrites compared to liquid electrolyte due to the faster SEI formation and their higher mechanical strength. • MEEP gel polymer develops a favorable interface with a more conductive & stable SEI on Li metal anode compared to dry polymer/liquid electrolyte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring the interaction behaviors of network traffic flows and detecting unwanted Internet applications and anomalous flows have become more challenging, since many applications obfuscate their network flow by using unregistered port numbers or payload encryption. In this paper, the temporal locality complex network model—TLCN is proposed as a way to monitor, analyze and visualize network flows. In TLCN, the TLCN node/edge filtering mechanisms are provided to describe the interactions of different levels of flows, and a method of temporal locality window determination is designed for constructing an effective TLCN structure to flow interactions. Then, the statistical characteristics and dynamic behaviors of the TLCNs are studied to represent the ability of structure representing of TLCN to flow interactions. According to the analysis of TLCN statistical characteristics with different Internet applications, we found that the weak interaction flows prefer to form the small-world TLCN and the strong interaction flows prefer to the scale-free. In the studies of anomaly behaviors of TLCNs, the structure of attacked TLCNs can have a remarkable feature for three attack patterns, and the evolution of TLCNs exhibits a good consistency between TLCN structure and attack process. With the findings of TLCNs, we could develop novel methods for traffic classification and traffic anomaly detection based on flow interaction behaviors. • A temporal locality complex network model is proposed. • The statistical characteristics of our model can determine Internet applications. • Our models from weak-and strong-interaction flows are proved to be small-world and scale-free separately. • The model structures from different attack patterns are analyzed. • The evolution of our model reveals attack behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]