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With the increasing demands for artificial intelligence, robotics, electronic skin, healthcare, and energy storage/conversion, the research focus on flexible electronics has started to shift from being merely bendable and rollable to being stretchable. In recent years, stretchable aerogels and foams have drawn significant attention in the field of flexible electronics due to their unique porous structures, low density, high porosity, and high flexibility. This work provides a comprehensive review of the state‐of‐the‐art developments in stretchable aerogels and foams, encompassing their preparation, structures, properties, and applications. The preparation methods, typical structures of stretchable aerogels and foams, stretching principle, and the relationship between their structures, stretchability, and other properties are investigated. Their latest applications in stretchable strain/pressure sensors, electrodes and conductors, chemical sensors and biosensors, supercapacitors, batteries, triboelectric nanogenerators, electromagnetic shielding, microwave absorption, thermal management, adsorption, separation/filtration, and shape memory are introduced. Furthermore, the challenges and opportunities of stretchable aerogels and foams are summarized. This work provides a guideline for the development of stretchable aerogels and foams and next‐generation high‐performance flexible electronics based on stretchable porous materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing the efficiency of charge carrier separation is crucial for improving the performance of photocatalysts, thereby offering more effective solutions to energy and environmental pollution challenges. In this study, a carbon‐deficient ultra‐thin porous g‐C3N4 (Vc‐UPCN) was synthesized and subsequently was integrated with Bi2Fe4O9 (BFO) using a sonochemical self‐assembly technique, a Bi2Fe4O9/Vc‐UPCN (BC) photocatalyst featuring a Z‐scheme heterojunction. The BC catalyst was subjected to corona poling treatment to obtain BCp, which possesses an intrinsic electric field. Compared with pure BFO and Vc‐UPCN, the BC heterojunction exhibited higher photo‐generated electron–hole separation efficiency and photodegradation ability. Upon introduction of corona polarization, the photocatalytic performance of BC was further enhanced. Specifically, BCp‐15 (BFO/BC mass fraction = 15) achieved complete degradation of methylene blue (MB) within 30 min. BCp‐15 demonstrated that its degradation efficiency for MB was 1.28 times higher than that of BC‐15, 1.85 times higher than that of Vc‐UPCN, and impressive 7.69 times higher than that of pure BFO. The coupling effect of the heterojunction and ferroelectric polarization significantly improved the separation efficiency of photo‐generated carriers in BCp. This study is expected to provide a reference for the synergistic application of heterojunction and ferroelectric polarization in traditional semiconductor photocatalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thyroid hormones (THs) may affect chronic thyrotoxic myopathy (CTM). The relationship between TH sensitivity and CTM is inconsistent. We aimed to investigate the associations between TH sensitivity and the risk of CTM and to screen potential CTMs with strength and function tests. A total of 162 Chinese patients (36.58% men) with Graves' disease were enrolled and divided into CTM and non-CTM groups. TH and sensitivity indices were measured. Muscle power and function were assessed by grip, upper-limb fatigue (ULFT), lower-limb fatigue (LLFT), and squat-up (SUT) tests, and walking pace. Association between sensitivity to TH indices and the risk of developing CTM was assessed via multivariate logistic regression. The diagnostic effectiveness of muscle power and function for predicting CTM was evaluated via receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Thyroid feedback quantile-based index FT3 (TFQIFT3) and the parametric TFQIFT3 (PTFQIFT3), TFQIFT4, and PTFQIFT4 were positively associated with CTM risk by using inverse probability of treatment weighting multivariate logistic regression. For each 1-SD increase in TFQIFT3 and PTFQIFT3, TFQIFT4 and PTFQIFT4, the odds ratios for CTM were 1.67 (95% CI = 1.17–2.48) ,1.64 (95% CI = 1.51–2.93), 1.60 (95%CI = 1.12–2.32), 1.58 (95%CI = 1.11–2.30), respectively. LLFT and SUT best predicted male/female CTM, respectively (AUC = 0.89/0.85). In Graves' disease patients, TH sensitivity is associated with CTM development, which can be predicted by SUT and LLFT results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have shown that a series of molecular events caused by oxidative stress is associated with ferroptosis and oxidation after ischemic stroke (IS). Differential analysis was performed to identify differentially expressed mRNA (DEmRNAs) between IS and control groups. Critical module genes were identified using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). DEmRNAs, critical module genes, oxidative stress-related genes (ORGs), and ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) were crossed to screen for intersection mRNAs. Candidate mRNAs were screened based on the protein–protein interaction (PPI) network and the MCODE plug-in. Biomarkers were identified based on two types of machine learning algorithms, and the intersection was obtained. Functional items and related pathways of the biomarkers were identified using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Finally, single-sample GSEA (ssGSEA) and Wilcoxon tests were used to identify differential immune cells. An miRNA-mRNA-TF network was created. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to verify the expression levels of biomarkers in the IS and control groups. There were 8287 DE mRNAs between the IS and control groups. The genes in the turquoise module were selected as critical module genes for IS. Thirty intersecting mRNAs were screened for overlaps. Seventeen candidate mRNAs were also identified. Four biomarkers (CDKN1A, GPX4, PRDX1, and PRDX6) were identified using two types of machine-learning algorithms. GSEA results indicated that the biomarkers were associated with steroid biosynthesis. Nine types of immune cells (activated B cells and neutrophils) were markedly different between the IS and control groups. We identified 3747 miRNA-mRNA-TF regulatory pairs in the miRNA-mRNA-TF regulatory network, including hsa-miR-4469-CDKN1A-BACH2 and hsa-miR-188-3p-GPX4-ATF2. CDKN1A, PRDX1, and PRDX6 were upregulated in IS samples compared with control samples. This study suggests that four biomarkers (CDKN1A, GPX4, PRDX1, and PRDX6) are significantly associated with IS. This study provides a new reference for the diagnosis and treatment of IS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solid-liquid equilibrium data of APP (ammonium polyphosphate, 18-58-0)-[CO(NH2)2-NH4NO3]-KCl-H2O system and its subsystems (APP(18-58-0)-[CO(NH2)2-NH4NO3]-H2O, KCl-[CO (NH2)2-NH4NO3]-H2O, APP(18-58-0)-KCl-H2O) at 5 °C were respectively determined by the dynamic method. The phase composition of the equilibrium solid phase was analyzed by XRD. The results show that the APP(18-58-0)-[CO (NH2)2-NH4NO3]-H2O, KCl-[CO (NH2) 2-NH4NO3]-H2O and APP (18-58-0)-KCl-H2O systems respectively contain two single crystal-phase regions [(NH4)3HP2O7, (NH4)4P2O7; KNO3, KCl; (NH4) 3HP2 O7, KCl], a co-satUrated crystalline region [(NH4) 3HP2O7 + (NH4) 4P2O7; KNO3 + KCl; (NH4)3HP2O7 + KCl]. APP( 18-58-0)-[CO( NH2)2-NH4NO3] -KCl-H2O system contains four single crystal regions of (NH4) 3HP2OC, (NH4)4P2O7, KNO3 and KCl. The maximum and minimum contents of N + P2O5 + K2O content in this system were 46.18%, 14.46% . With the increase of solutes in the APP(18-58-0)-[CO(NH2)2-NH4NO3]-KCl-H2O system, the content of water in saturated solution decreased gradually. The change trend of water content is consequently opposite to that of N + P2O5 + K2O content. However, the density is consistent with the evolution of N + P2O5 + K2O content. The obtained results provide reference value for the preparation of liquid fertilizer with different proportions of NPK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Battery-type self-powered electronic skins based on superelastic MXene/polymer aerogels are developed. • The e-skins combine ultrabroad pressure detection range, high sensitivity, and high stability. • The e-skins exhibit a wide working temperature range and high thermal insulation. • They can be used for physiological signal/motion monitoring and electronic skins of robots. Pressure-sensitive electronic skins have drawn great attention in the fields of smart medical care, robots, and artificial intelligence. To meet the increasing demands for miniaturization and high integration of flexible electronics and extreme pressure sensing, there is an urgent need to develop self-powered broad-range electronic skins. Here, we report unprecedented battery-type self-powered one-body pressure-sensitive stretchable electronic skins consisting of highly elastic MXene/polyurethane (PU) aerogel anode, PU/lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO 4)/MXene cathode with microstructured surfaces, and poly (ionic liquid) ionogel electrolyte. The capability of pressure sensing of the electronic skins is achieved by the output current variation caused by resistance variation of the sensor under external pressure. The resulting electronic skins combine low detection limit (10 Pa), ultrabroad pressure detection range (10 Pa-3.2 MPa), high sensitivity, high fatigue resistance (up to 10,000 cycles under 65 kPa), wide working temperature range (−70 to 60 ℃), reversible stretchability (20 % strain), and thermal insulation. It is demonstrated that the electronic skins can be used for monitoring human body motions, physiological signals, and high pressures of tires. Besides, the electronic skins can enable the bionic hand and gripper to achieve broad-range tactile sensing under extreme environments. This work opens a new way to high-performance self-powered broad-range pressure-sensitive electronic skins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Emerging evidence has shown the crucial roles of pleomorphic adenoma gene (PLAG) family genes in multiple cancers. However, their functions and mechanisms in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) remain poorly understood. Methods: We analyzed the expression levels of PLAG family genes in both The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and a Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and confirmed the results in our three independent cohorts of 382 PAAD tissues and 362 adjacent nontumor pancreatic tissues. Integrated analyses were carried out to explore the function, mechanism and prognostic value of the selected PLAG family gene in PAAD patients. Results: By analyzing the TCGA and GEO databases, PLAGL1 was identified to be downregulated in PAAD tissues, and its decreasing levels of both mRNA and protein were verified in our three independent PAAD cohorts. PLAGL1 expression was inversely correlated with clinicopathological factors including the Ki67+ cell rate and pathologic stage. Further GSEA of the TCGA-PAAD cohort demonstrated that multiple signaling pathways implicated in cell proliferation were enriched in the lower PLAGL1 expressing PAAD group. Moreover, we demonstrated that PLAGL1 expression was obviously negatively associated with patients' overall survival outcome in both the TCGA-PAAD cohort and our verification cohorts. Additionally, through MTS and BrdU assays, we further demonstrated in vitro that PLAGL1 had the impact of preventing the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells. Conclusions: Our present study suggested that downregulated PLAGL1 might act as a biomarker in predicts poor prognosis and one of important factors in increasing cell proliferation in PAAD. This study provides us with a novel prognostic marker and therapeutic strategy for PAAD, which deserves further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, China has extensively made use of underground space, and with the rapid development of metros, more than 40 cities have opened rail transit. However, a problem has also emerged in the form and function of entrances to metro stations. Unlike countries of the West, Chinese design has developed under the historical background of rapid social and economic development and transformation. The design of entrances to metro stations mostly stays at the level of satisfying functions; many spaces adopt similar designs, lack innovative ideas and fail to spread urban culture and improve city visibility. Therefore, this study aims to conduct a comprehensive analysis and research on entrances to Chinese metro stations and proposes design concepts suitable for China's national conditions to stand out as examples for many metro stations that will be built in future. This paper investigates and analyses the entrances of independent metro stations in China, explores the problems in independent metro stations and proposes the corresponding solutions. Finally, the design concept of entrances to metro stations is discussed in terms of exterior and interior spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Petroleum-contaminated soil (PCS) exhibits a variety of oil–soil interfacial properties. Surface heterogeneity of soil particles is one of the most critical influencing aspects. The interaction energies of the heterogeneous surfaces of montmorillonite (Mnt) and kaolinite (Kln) for saturates adsorption were determined by molecular simulation to be −1698.88 ± 0.67 (001 surface of Mnt), −73.81 ± 0.51 (010 edge of Mnt), −3086.33 ± 0.46 (001 surface of Kln), and −850.17 ± 0.74 (010 edge of Kln) kJ/mol, respectively. The adsorption of both clays with saturates relied on van der Waals forces, and the edges of Mnt were hardly adsorbed with saturates. According to adhesive force measurements, the oil–clay interaction forces of Mnt and Kln were 111.18 ± 0.01 and 122.65 ± 0.03 μN, respectively. In agreement with the simulations, Kln adsorbed saturates more strongly. Dynamic interfacial rheology and liquid viscoelasticity also revealed differences in adsorption behaviors between Mnt–saturates and Kln–saturates. It demonstrated that in the case of relatively low clay concentrations, the impact of particle surface heterogeneity on the adsorption process was stronger than that of structure even though Mnt had multilayer structures. Moreover, in thermodynamic adsorption experiments, it was evident that Kln adsorbed more oil than Mnt at the adsorption equilibrium states even though both were multilayer adsorptions and the adsorption amounts declined with increasing temperature. Simultaneously, the characteristics of the thermal adsorption of clay and saturates with different proportions were consistent with clay dispersion in saturates, and Kln released more heat being combined with oil. Overall, the heterogeneity of clay particles strongly affects the oil–clay interfacial chemical behaviors, causing more difficulty in treating PCS containing Kln than those containing Mnt. These results provide a theoretical basis for PCS treatment technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finned-tube heat exchangers are extensively used in industrial and daily life. As complex system designs and digital twins increase, higher demands arise for predictive modeling of finned-tube heat exchanger performance. Previous studies faced issues like disparities in evaporator performance under dry and wet conditions, inaccurate predictions of refrigerant pressure drop, and a lack of comprehensive consideration for predicting the trends in physical details. With the evolution of AI algorithms, exploring novel modeling methods becomes essential. Therefore, this study proposes a physics-informed deep residual network model for accurate performance prediction of finned-tube evaporators. The model achieved mean absolute error of 0.14 % for heat transfer rate prediction, 0.36 % for refrigerant pressure drop prediction, and 0.49 % for air pressure drop prediction. This model addresses previous issues of performance disparities under dry and wet conditions and high errors in refrigerant pressure drop prediction. The proposed deep residual network model is found much better performance in capturing physical details than other machine learning approaches. It can serve as a benchmark model for transfer learning or complex system modeling. The method of determining the structure of residual networks through a priori physical knowledge also provides a new perspective on modeling physical systems. • A ResNet model with prior physical knowledge is developed for finned-tube evaporator. • A cascade network with enhanced input improves refrigerant pressure drop prediction. • It predicts heat transfer and refrigerant pressure drop with MAPE of 0.14 % and 0.36 %. • It captures more accurate physical details than other machine learning methods. • It can serve as benchmark model for transfer learning or complex system modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the realm of smart wearable electronic devices undergoes continuous evolution, tapping into the energy generated by everyday human movement presents a compelling alternative to conventional batteries for powering these devices. However, conventional energy harvesting devices face limitations in capturing energy from ultra-low frequency mechanical excitation. This paper proposes a novel dual piezoelectric-electromagnetic energy harvester (DHEH). The DHEH consists of two PZTs comprising the piezoelectric energy harvesting unit (PEH), arc-shaped driving magnets, and two sets of coils constituting the electromagnetic energy harvesting unit (EMEH). The arc-shaped driving magnet facilitates coupling between two units, serving to generate a relative motion with the coils for energy harvesting and triggering the operation of the two PZTs. The excitation magnets can penetrate the coils completely. Meanwhile, employing two arc-shaped magnets with a repelling orientation can effectively enhance the power generation efficiency of the EMEH. Experimental findings indicate that under an external excitation of 2 Hz and an acceleration of 0.6 g, the optimal load resistance for the Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (PEH) is 80 kΩ, yielding a maximum output power of 0.306 mW. For the EMEH, the best-matched load is 96 Ω, resulting in a maximum output power of 10.65 mW, with a power density of 86.3 μW/cm3. Compared to the non-hybrid solution, adopting a hybrid approach increases the efficiency of the PEH by approximately 23-fold. Furthermore, hand-shaking tests reveal that the fabricated prototype of the DHEH can power common portable electronic devices, demonstrating its significant potential for practical applications. Graphical abstracts [Display omitted] • The harvester is capable of achieving frequency up-conversion of piezoelectric cantilever beam vibration and electromagnetic conversion using a single excitation source. • The harvester can capture energy from ultra-low-frequency human motion. • Simulations and experiments have found that the placement of the drive magnet magnetization in the opposite direction leads to a large increase in the output performance of the harvester. • The power density of the harvester can reach 86.3 μW/cm3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence and molecular characteristics of fosA3 and fosA7 among Salmonella isolates.Methods: Five hundred and fifty-one Salmonella isolates collected from food animals in China during 2016-19 were screened for fos genes. The drug resistance, serovars, clonal relationships and genetic environments of fosA were compared between fosA7- and fosA3-positive Salmonella.Results: A relatively high prevalence of fosA7 (9.26%) and fosA3 (6.53%) was identified. fosA3 was associated with high-level fosfomycin resistance (≥512 mg/L), while fosA7 conferred relatively low-level resistance that was independent of the presence of glucose-6-phosphate. Additionally, fosA7 could facilitate Salmonella survival under oxidative stress. Both fosA3 and fosA7 were found in diverse serovars and STs, but segregated into distinct groups. The fosA3-positive Salmonella Typhimurium/Salmonella Indiana strains showed close genetic relationships, while fosA7-positive Salmonella Meleagridis/Salmonella Agona/Salmonella Derby showed a relatively high degree of whole-genome sequence heterogeneity. fosA3 was located on conjugative IncHI2 plasmids or chromosomes, while fosA7 was strictly chromosomal. Furthermore, two strains carried large chromosomal fosA7 regions within genomic islands. The fosA3 and fosA7 contigs from our isolates and the NCBI could be segregated into four primary and distinct genomic backbones. IS26 and the antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) blaCTX-M, blaTEM-1B and rmtB were frequently adjacent to fosA3, while fosA7-carrying contigs generally lacked mobile elements and ARGs.Conclusions: fosA3 and fosA7 were the primary factors contributing to reduced fosfomycin susceptibility, to different degrees, in these Salmonella isolates. The distinct distributions and molecular characteristics of fosA7 and fosA3 indicated that their origin and evolution in Salmonella were most likely distinct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems have extensively contributed to diverse scientific applications in the recent past decades. For the next generation of top-level SAR systems, the multimodal operation of wide swath imaging, sliding spotlight, and highly sensitive ground moving target indication (GMTI) is becoming increasingly crucial. Following this concept, in this article, a novel airborne multiple-input–multiple-output (MIMO) SAR system, along with the space–time coding (STC) waveform scheme and the phased array, is developed to realize the multimodal operation. In particular, the airborne MIMO SAR system consists of two transmitters and four receivers. The signals of the multiple modes, which overlap in the frequency domain, are interpulse modulated and transmitted by different subarrays concomitantly. The superposed echoes are separated by range-Doppler filtering. Based on the separated echoes, we can obtain eight equivalent transceiver channels and, as a result, enhance the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for airborne multimodal operation. In the future, the STC waveform scheme and flight experiments of this novel airborne MIMO SAR system will be further investigated to reduce the pulse repeat frequency (PRF) for spaceborne multimodal operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is devoted to studying the asymptotic behavior of the solution to nonlocal Fisher-KPP type reaction diffusion equations in heterogeneous media. The kernel K is assumed to depend on the media. First, we give an estimate of the upper and lower spreading speeds by generalized principal eigenvalues. Second, we prove the existence of spreading speeds in the case where the media is periodic or almost periodic by showing that the upper and lower generalized principal eigenvalues are equal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The naturally formed aeolian sand dunes in northern Shaanxi exhibit unique engineering characteristics. Several challenges, such as the poor self-stabilization ability of the surrounding rock, difficultly in injecting grout, and insufficient construction experience, restrict the construction of road tunnels under this stratum. Therefore, in this study, a case study of the Shenmu No. 1 tunnel was conducted to investigate the engineering characteristics of aeolian sand tunnels, compare the grouting effects of commonly used grouting materials, and discuss the reinforcement effects of different construction schemes in aeolian sand tunnels. Based on a field grouting test, it was determined that it is difficult to inject ordinary cement grout into an aeolian sand layer. Furthermore, it was determined that superfine cement grout and modified sodium silicate grout can be injected, but the former exhibits a poor reinforcement effect. Additionally, results of numerical analysis indicated that an approach based on a concept of "horizontal jet grouting pile + benching partial excavation method with a temporary invert" is suitable for the construction of tunnels in aeolian sand in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autophagy is the process of lysosomal degradation and removal of abnormal or damaged organelles, which plays a pivotal role in a variety of physiological states and involves a variety of pathological processes. Moreover, acidic pH environments of lysosomes can induce and promote autophagy levels. Therefore, it is significant to distinguish between neutral and acidic lysosomes in the process of autophagy. Herein, a dual-channel signal fluorescent probe RD based on two fluorophores was developed for detecting lysosomal pH changes in living cells during the starvation-induced autophagy process. The dual fluorophores of the probe RD made the detection of lysosomal pH changes during autophagy more accurate and visual. More importantly, the probe RD realizes the visualization of distinguishing between natural lysosomes and acidic lysosomes during autophagy in living cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A Co-Mo 2 C/nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes composite was synthesized. • The bimetallic design of co and Mo 2 C provided high catalytic activity during cycles. • High capacity and long cycle Li–CO 2 batteries were realized. Li–CO 2 batteries have received increasing attention due to their high theoretical energy density. However, the insulating Li 2 CO 3 formed in the discharge process is difficult to decompose in the charging process, resulting in high overpotentials, short cycle life, and poor rate capability. The rational design of cathode catalyst is crucial to form and decompose Li 2 CO 3 during the discharge-charge cycles. Here, a Co-Mo 2 C/nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube composite has been achieved and introduced as the catalyst cathode for the Li–CO 2 batteries. The bimetallic modified Co and Mo 2 C provide high catalytic activity during discharge and charge process, respectively. The assembled Li–CO 2 batteries exhibit a low overpotential of 1.12 V at 100 mA g −1 with an extremely high discharge capacity of 18,001 mAh g−1, and provide a long-term stability of 120 cycles with a limited capacity of 500 mAh g−1. The bimetallic catalyst cathode design provides an efficient strategy to realize the high-performance Li–CO 2 batteries. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypochlorous acid (HClO) is a significant signaling species which plays a decisive role in the immune system as an excellent defense against invasive bacteria. Therefore, it is significant to monitor HClO accurately and quickly in organisms. Herein, a new turn-on fluorescent probe (BM-HA) with a simple structure for rapid sensing of HClO is presented. BM-HA has favorable properties, including high selectivity, a large turn-on fluorescence signal (140-fold), and fast response (about 15 s). Additionally, quantum chemical calculations with DFT and TDDFT proved that reduced fluorescence of the BM-HA probe was possible due to the a-PET effect and the non-coplanarity of the coumarin and the benzothiazole. Furthermore, imaging in living cells and zebrafish indicates that the probe can potentially be used to detect HClO in complex biosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reconstruction of sedimentary evolution plays a significant role in the investigation of natural groundwater contamination and stratigraphic mineral resources. In this paper, the variation in sedimentary characteristics and sedimentary evolution were studied by lithology, chronology and organic matter with the high-resolution grain size parameters of boreholes for Quaternary in northern Jianghan Basin. Following more traditional plotting of grain size parameters and summary statistics, visual categorization and analysis of grain size frequency distribution curves provided an effective measure for the identification of sedimentary facies. Combining with the Fisher model, new and highly efficient discriminant formulas were established, and tested for the validity. Additionally, the sedimentary evolution process and the provenance of different sedimentary facies were identified with the help of organic matter and δ 13C org data, provided geological information to explore the natural contamination of reducing arsenic ions and excessive nitrate in strata. The identification results suggest that fluvial and lacustrine sediments are dominant in the area, and the regional sedimentary environment is uniform and not affected by the transgression. The analysis results of grain size with organic matter parameters are consistent for discriminating sedimentary facies, which verified the rationality of grain size analysis and confirmed the use of organic matter content to be effective in identifying the process of fluvial and lacustrine sediments. Based on the chronological results of Optically Stimulated Luminescence dating and sedimentary facies determination, the sedimentary evolutionary process was deduced during the Quaternary for the study area. This research has important significance for the division and correlation of Quaternary borehole strata, underground contamination study, as well as environmental planning and protection. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies a dissipative heat equation with Delta sources of non-linear strength located on a periodic lattice. The model arises from intracellular waves in continuum excitable media with discrete release sites. Due to the presence of Delta sources, the solution of the model has discontinuous spatial derivatives. We focus on the bistable regime of the model, determined by the decay strength parameter a and the separation distance L between release sites, in which the model admits exactly three L -periodic steady states. We establish the existence of pulsating waves spatially connecting them. For the case of waves connecting two stable L -periodic steady states, the uniqueness and global exponential stability of pulsating waves are shown. Also a new technique is introduced to find the fine structure of the tails of pulsating waves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traction of cervical spine is an effective method for the treatment of cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR). In this study, a cervical tractor named traction exercise neck brace (TENB) was used to evaluate its effect on the patients with CSR. Forty CSR volunteers were recruited and randomly divided into two groups. One group was subjected to cervical muscle exercise with TENB under static traction condition. Another group was subjected to (JOBT) as controls. Symptoms of CSR were evaluated by the visual analogue scale (VAS) and neck disability index (NDI). Imaging characteristics were assessed by curvature of the cervical spine and size of the intervertebral foramen. A finite element (FE) analysis model of cervical spine was established by 3D reconstruction to simulate the TENB traction, which evaluates the biomechanical performance. Results showed that TENB significantly reduced scores of VAS and NDI in subjects, and this improved effect on symptoms of pain and radiculopathy is better than that of JOBT. TENB also improved the cervical curvature and enlarged intervertebral foramen at the C4–C6 level. Moreover, FE analysis found that simulated TENB traction increased the spacing of intervertebral foramen, intervertebral disc, and zygapophyseal and uncovertebral joints and changed the stress distribution on the facet joints and nucleus pulposus. This study demonstrates that TENB relieves the symptoms of CSR by adjusting structure of cervical vertebra and restoring its biomechanical performance, which may be a promising instrument in the treatment of CSR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of highly stretchable self‐powered electronic skins with a broad detection range is urgently needed but remains a great challenge. Herein, unprecedented highly stretchable, broad‐range‐response, supercapacitor‐type, one‐body, and self‐powered electronic skins are developed by assembling porous polyurethane/polypyrrole electrode, polyacrylic acid/polyacrylamide ionic gel electrolyte, and porous polyurethane/MXene electrode. The folded porous structure of the electrodes significantly enhances the stretchability, while the modulus‐gradient multilayer structure of the device effectively broadens the pressure detection range. The electronic skins combine self‐powered dynamic/static pressure sensing, ultrabroad detection range (20 Pa–3.5 MPa), ultrahigh stretchability up to 387%, excellent compression stability (5000 cycles under 195 kPa), and good stretching stability (500 cycles under 200% tensile strain). They have the capability of monitoring human body motions, physiological signals, and high pressures from motorcycle tires, as well as tactile sensing of robotic grippers. In addition, they can be applied for highly stretchable thermal management and electromagnetic shielding devices. This work provides a new strategy for the development of highly stretchable, broad‐range‐response, and multifunctional self‐powered wearable electronics and sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a ubiquitous degradation process in cells, autophagy plays important roles in various biological activities. However, the abnormality of autophagy is closely related to many diseases, such as aging, neurological disorder, and cancer. Thus, monitoring the process of autophagy in living cells has high significance in biological studies and diagnosis of related diseases. In order to real-time and in situ monitor the process of autophagy, various organic fluorescent probes have been explored in recent years owing to the advantages such as handy staining processes, flexible molecular design strategies, and near-nondestructive detection. However, this interesting and frontier topic has not been reviewed so far. In this tutorial review, we will focus on the latest breakthrough results of organic fluorescent probes in monitoring autophagy of living cells, especially the probe design strategies based on the several microenvironment changes of the autophagy process, and the responding mechanisms and bio-imaging applications in the autophagy process. In addition, we will discuss the shortcomings and limitations of the probes developed, such as susceptible to interference, unable to monitor the whole process, and lack of clinical applications. Finally, we will highlight some challenges and further opportunities in this field. This tutorial review may promote the development of more robust fluorescent probes to further reveal the mechanisms of autophagy, which is the basis of degradation and recycling of cell components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Targeting cyclin‐dependent kinases (CDKs) is a promising method of therapy for cancer. Unfortunately, the efficacy of CDK inhibitors in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is limited, due in part to incomplete understanding of cell cycle progression and a lack of specific biomarkers to adequately identify which patients may be responsive to CDK inhibitors. In the present study, we report that microtubule‐associated protein RP/EB family member 1 (MAPRE1), a gene involved in cell cycle and microtubule regulation, is significantly increased in HCC tissue, promotes HCC cell proliferation, enhances in vitro tumorigenesis, and associates with poor prognosis of HCC. We demonstrate that MAPRE1 binds with CDK2, resulting in the hyperphosphorylation of the CDK2 Thr161 residue in HCC cells. Our findings reveal that targeting MAPRE1 might be an effective therapeutic strategy in HCC, and suggest that MAPRE1 expression might provide a promising biomarker to stratify patients with HCC who may benefit from treatment with CDK inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on an actual engineering case, this study focused on the limit support pressure, instability mechanism, and instability failure mode of the excavation face in the sand pebble stratum when crossing below the Yellow River. First, PFC3D was used to investigate the instability mechanism and failure mode of the excavation face in the sand pebble stratum. Then, the Terzaghi loose earth pressure formula was reasonably modified, and the limit support pressure was derived using this modified formula and the limit equilibrium mechanics model. Finally, the result was compared with those of an indoor test and a numerical simulation. The research showed that the calculation method proposed in this study was more suitable for underwater shield tunnels and formations where the soil arching effect is evident. The support pressure had a significant influence on the instability failure mode, whereas the influence of the buried depth was small. The limit support pressure decreased with an increase in the internal friction angle, a decrease in the water cover depth, or a decrease in the angle between the maximum principal stress direction and the horizontal direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Transcritical CO 2 HPWH can approach optimum COP without high pressure control. • Charge management method is developed to replace high pressure control. • Average COP loss of the redesigned system without high pressure control is −0.2%. Optimal high pressure is crucial to the performance of transcritical CO 2 heat pump water heater (HPWH). From the perspective of refrigerant charge management, this work aims to approach optimum COP in CO 2 HPWH without high pressure control. By modeling a running CO 2 HPWH, we in-depth investigated the relation between optimal high pressure and refrigerant charge. It was found that the essence of optimal high pressure control is to manage optimum refrigerant charge of the system. If the optimum charge of the system could remain constant under any working conditions, the system would operate automatically at optimum COP with fixed refrigerant charge. Then influences of water inlet temperature, water outlet temperature and ambient temperature on optimum refrigerant charge were numerically analyzed. Finally, system design methods to approach optimum COP by minimizing the variation of optimum charge under variable operating conditions were developed. As a result, the average COP loss of fixed-charge system after resizing heat exchangers is only −0.8%. By comparison, with a high-pressure reservoir at the outlet of gas cooler, the average COP loss can be as low as −0.2%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria has become a great threat to global public health. Tigecycline is a next‐generation tetracycline that is the final line of defense against severe infections by pan‐drug‐resistant bacterial pathogens. Unfortunately, this last‐resort antibiotic has been challenged by the recent emergence of the mobile Tet(X) orthologs that can confer high‐level tigecycline resistance. As it is reviewed here, these novel tetracycline destructases represent a growing threat to the next‐generation tetracyclines, and a basic framework for understanding the molecular epidemiology and resistance mechanisms of them is presented. However, further large‐scale epidemiological and functional studies are urgently needed to better understand the prevalence and dissemination of these newly discovered Tet(X) orthologs among Gram‐negative bacteria in both human and veterinary medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct electrochemical oxidative functionalization of caffeine under metal‐free and external‐oxidant‐free conditions was achieved. Nucleophiles such as various substituted pyrazoles, alcohols, and sodium trifluoromethanesulfonate can be utilized with high diastereoselectivity for the dearomatizative functionalization of caffeine. In addition, selective C2 functionalization of caffeine has also been realized with the modification of solvent and reaction time. A gram‐scale experiment demonstrates the potential application in the derivatization of caffeine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigated spreading properties of the solutions of the Kolmogorov–Petrovsky–Piskunov–type (KPP-type) lattice system u ̇ i (t) = d i ′ (u i + 1 (t) − u i (t)) + d i (u i − 1 (t) − u i (t)) + f (i , u i). (∗) Motivated by the work in [H. Berestycki and G. Nadin, Spreading speeds for one-dimensional monostable reaction–diffusion equations, J. Math. Phys.53(11) (2012) 115619, 23 pp.], we develop some new discrete Harnack-type estimates and homogenization techniques for the lattice system (∗) to construct two speeds ω ¯ ≤ ω ̲ such that lim t → + ∞ sup i ≥ ω t | u i (t) | = 0 for any ω > ω ¯ , and lim t → + ∞ sup 0 ≤ i ≤ ω t | u i (t) − 1 | = 0 for any ω < ω ̲. These speeds are characterized by two generalized principal eigenvalues of the linearized systems of (∗). In particular, we derive the exact spreading speed when the coefficients are random stationary ergodic or almost periodic (where ω ̲ = ω ¯). Finally, in the case where f s ′ (i , 0) is almost periodic in i and the diffusion rate d i ′ = d i is independent of i , we show that the spreading speeds in the positive and negative directions are identical even if f (i , u i) is not invariant with respect to the reflection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A multi-stage reactor was developed to enhance flocculation performance. • The reactor with AR of 3.5 showed a gradual decrease mixing strength of flow field. • The flocs generated by the reactor with AR of 3.5 had high compactness and strength. • The reactor with AR of 3.5 efficiently removed 80.15% of turbidity and 89.06% of COD. • The multi-stage reactor shows universal applicability to various types of wastewater. Flocculation is a significant process in treating shale gas hydraulic fracturing flowback fluids. To achieve a high removal rate of pollutant, a range of multi-stage enhanced flocculation reactors that incorporated sequential intense, moderate, and weak mixing sections along the flow direction were devised, in which the aspect ratios (ARs) in the intense mixing section were varied. The results of the computer simulation indicated that the reactor with AR of 3.5 exhibited a gradual decrease in velocity and energy along the flow direction, and the flow field distribution is highly uniform and symmetrical. The generated flow field promoted the formation of small flocs in the intense mixing section and facilitated the collision of small flocs in the moderate mixing section, while preventing the fragmentation of flocs in the weak mixing section, therefore resulting in the generation of large and compact flocs. Moreover, the generated flocs demonstrated a good resistance to shear and oscillation, facilitating their separation from the simulated flowback fluids. The obtained reactor achieved remarkable removal efficiencies of 80.15 % for COD and 89.06 % for turbidity. Furthermore, when treating bentonite suspension, the multi-stage flocculation reactor achieved a turbidity removal rate of 99.34 % with a processing time of only 2.38 min and a settling time of just 20 min. This demonstrated the broad applicability of this reactor to various types of wastewater. This work provides valuable insights into the design of efficient flocculation reactors by integrating multiple mixing intensities within a reactor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we define the transition semi-wave solution (cf. Definition 1.1) of the following reaction diffusion equation with free boundaries (1) { u t = u x x + f (t , x , u) , t ∈ R , x < h (t) , u (t , h (t)) = 0 , t ∈ R , h ′ (t) = − μ u x (t , h (t)) , t ∈ R. In the homogeneous case, i.e., f (t , x , u) = f (u) , under the hypothesis f (u) ∈ C 1 ([ 0 , 1 ]) , f (0) = f (1) = 0 , f ′ (1) < 0 , f (u) < 0 for u > 1 , we prove that the semi-wave connecting 1 and 0 of (1) is unique provided it exists. Furthermore, we prove that any bounded transition semi-wave connecting 1 and 0 is exactly the semi-wave. In the cases where f is KPP-Fisher type and almost periodic in time (space), i.e., f (t , x , u) = u (c (t) − u) (resp. u (a (x) − u)) with c (t) (resp. a (x)) being almost periodic, applying totally different method, we also prove any bounded transition semi-wave connecting the unique almost periodic positive solution of u t = u (c (t) − u) (resp. u x x + u (a (x) − u) = 0) and 0 is exactly the unique almost periodic semi-wave of (1). Finally, we provide an example of the heterogeneous equation to show the existence of the transition semi-wave without any global mean speeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Performance deterioration of CO 2 heat pump water heaters in Shanghai was revealed. • Annual performance factor of heat pump water heaters was proposed and predicted. • Suggestions on system design and control of CO 2 HPWH for long-term operation were made. CO 2 heat pump water heating is an energy-efficient technology and being widely applied in Shanghai. However, its energy efficiency after long-term operation has not been well evaluated so far. In this paper, the energy efficiency and potential issues of CO 2 heat pump water heater after multi-year service are in-depth investigated. In-situ study of CO 2 heat pump water heating systems in Shanghai was carried out. Operating data were collected and field test was conducted. A typical case was chosen for comprehensive analysis. The results show that the annual performance factor (APF) of the actual system is 2.57, relative to 4.12 in its perfect shape. To find out what happened to this system, a simulation model was developed, calibrated and validated with field test data and operating data. In terms of simulations, suggestions were made on the system design and control for long-term performance improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Optimal high pressures of different CO 2 applications were in-depth differentiated. • Response surface methodology was used for quantitative difference analysis. • Optimal high pressure of refrigeration system is dominated by only one factor. • Optimal high pressure of HPWH is influenced by multiple factors. • New correlations of optimal high pressure in heat pump water heater were proposed. Optimal high pressure has a key role in transcritical CO 2 system performance. In this work, we conducted a quantitative difference analysis on optimal high pressure between CO 2 refrigeration system and heat pump water heater (HPWH) using response surface methodology. It revealed that temperature of CO 2 leaving gas cooler, with 96.38% contribution, is the predominant factor to optimal high pressure in CO 2 refrigeration system. However in HPWH, multiple factors affect optimal high pressure. Water outlet temperature, evaporating temperature, pinch point temperature difference and water inlet temperature account for 55.42%, 25.65%, 5.67%, 3.72% contributions, respectively. Furthermore, new quadratic correlations for HPWH with different number of variables were developed. As a result, when the number of variables increased from 1 to 4, mean error of COP almost linearly decreased from 5.28% to 0.22%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Special attention has been devoted to joint wireless communication and radar sensing systems in recent years. However, since communication and radar have conflict requirements in terms of waveforms, transceiver developments, and signal processing algorithms, realization of this system concept is still a great challenge. In this paper, we introduce an airborne multi-input multi-output (MIMO) radar, along with the modified orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) and space–time coding (STC) waveform schemes, for the implementation of the joint wireless communication and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging. The proposed system, which simultaneously transmits multidimensional waveforms with reconfigurable channels, can acquire adequate degrees of freedom. Thereby, it becomes a feasible method to perform both data transmission and high-resolution SAR imaging at the same time without intramodal interference. Theoretical analysis is validated by laboratory and flight experiments. Through our analysis, we aim to open up a new perspective of using MIMO radar to realize joint wireless communication and SAR imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we develop the theory of basic reproduction ratios R 0 for abstract functional differential systems in a time-periodic environment. It is proved that R 0 - 1 has the same sign as the exponential growth bound of an associated linear system. Then we apply it to a time-periodic Lyme disease model with time-delay and obtain a threshold type result on its global dynamics in terms of R 0 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactions between halogen substituted terpyridine ligands F- (L1), Cl- (L2), Br- (L3) and I-4′-phenyl-terpyridine (L4) and ZnBr2 or ZnI2 led to the formation of complexes [Zn(Br)2L1] (1), [Zn(i)2L1] (2), [Zn(Br)2L2] (3), [Zn(i)2L2] (4), [Zn(Br)2L3] (5), [Zn(i)2L3] (6), [Zn(Br)2L4] (7), and [Zn(i)2L4] (8), respectively, which were characterized by elemental analysis, 1H NMR, IR and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Their photoluminescence properties, solution stabilities, hydrophilicity/lipophilicity properties and anti-proliferative activity against three cancer cell lines as well as structure–function relationships are analyzed. All the complexes, which show high solution stabilities and lipophilicity under determination conditions, reveal much higher antiproliferative activities than cisplatin against the human lung carcinoma cell line (A549), human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (Bel-7042) and human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) in vitro. Fluorescence spectroscopy and circular dichroic analysis reveal that the compounds have strong affinity binding with ctDNA and stack onto the base pairs of the ctDNA. The results obtained are further explained in terms of the electronic properties of the compounds by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and it is found that the halogen anions play critical roles in the antitumor activity of these compounds. Their affinities to HSP90 proteins, ALK, EGFR and HER2 kinases and the binding sites on these proteins have been determined by computational docking analysis, and the results indicate that the only form of their binding is van der Waals forces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we prove the existence and uniqueness of almost periodic semi-wave solutions of KPP-Fisher equations with free boundaries in spatially almost periodic media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impacts of long‐term pumping on groundwater chemistry remain unclear in the Manas River Basin, Northwest China. In this study, major ions within five surface water and 105 groundwater samples were analyzed to identify hydrogeochemical processes affecting groundwater composition and evolution along the regional‐scale groundwater flow paths using the multivariate techniques of hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal components analysis (PCA) and traditional graphical methods for analyzing groundwater geochemistry. HCA classified the groundwater samples into four clusters (C1 to C4). PCA reduced the dimensionality of geochemical data into three PCs, which explained 86% of the total variance. The results of HCA and PCA were used to identify three zones: "recharge," "transition," and "discharge." In the recharge zone the groundwater type is Ca‐HCO3‐SO4 and is primarily impacted by the dissolution of calcite and silicate weathering. In the transition zone the groundwater type is Ca‐HCO3‐SO4‐Cl and is impacted by rock dissolution and reverse ion exchange. In the discharge zone the groundwater type is Na‐Cl and is impacted by evaporation and reverse ion exchange. In addition, anthropogenic activities impact the groundwater chemistry in the study area. The groundwater type generally changes from Ca‐HCO3‐SO4 in the recharge area to Na‐Cl in the discharge area along the regional‐scale groundwater flow paths. This study provides a process‐based knowledge for understanding the interaction of groundwater flow patterns and geochemical evolution within the Manas River Basin. Article impact statement: Hydrogeochemical evolution along the groundwater flow paths was analyzed by using multivariate statistics and graphical methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The theory of the principal eigenvalue is established for the eigenvalue problem associated with a linear time-periodic nonlocal dispersal cooperative system with time delay. Then we apply it to a Nicholson's blowflies population model and obtain a threshold type result on its global dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence and transmission of 16S rRNA methylase genes among Salmonella isolates from food animals in China.Methods: A total of 310 Salmonella isolates collected from food animals in seven provinces of China during 2016-17 were screened for 16S RMTase genes. The clonal relationship of the 16S RMTase-producing isolates and their plasmid contents were also characterized.Results: rmtB and armA were respectively identified in 12 and 1 Salmonella enterica serovar Indiana (Salmonella Indiana) isolates from farmed ducks. These 13 isolates concurrently expressed high-level resistance to amikacin, cefotaxime and ciprofloxacin. They were assigned to seven distinct PFGE patterns and the high similarity among 10 of the 12 rmtB-carrying isolates suggests clonal expansion. The rmtB gene was co-transferred with blaCTX-M-27-qepA and qepA in eight and two of the isolates, respectively, and was located on F2:A1:B1 plasmids with sizes of 135 and 100 kb, respectively. These 10 rmtB-bearing plasmids showed four restriction patterns with a high similarity. Four representative rmtB-bearing plasmids were fully sequenced and they exhibited remarkable similarity and possessed typical FII backbones. The primary differences were located in the region between blaTEM-1 and ycgA. Furthermore, a novel MDR region (13.5 kb) was identified that contained qepA, rmtB and blaCTX-M-27.Conclusions: This is the first report, to our knowledge, of the prevalence and complete sequences of plasmids simultaneously containing rmtB, qepA and blaCTX-M-27. These findings underscore a major public health threat posed by epidemic F2:A1:B1 plasmids bearing qepA-rmtB-blaCTX-M-27 that are circulating in XDR Salmonella Indiana clonal isolates from waterfowl husbandry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Petroleum-contaminated soil (PCS) poses a significant health risk. Catalyst-activated persulfate presents a promising technology for efficient treatment, while magnetic activated carbon catalysts are increasingly recognized for their easy recovery and robust performance in advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). However, the complex and costly preparation process has limited its widespread implementation. In this work, blast-furnace dust (BFD), a solid waste from steel mill, was used as a novel persulfate catalyst for the total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) removal from PCS. With the BFD/SP system (0.1 g BFD and 1 mM PS for per gram soil, 4:1 water-to-soil ratio, and 40 °C), removal rates of 88.10% and 84.39% were achieved for TPHs in 0.7% and 3.0% PCS, respectively, surpassing most reported persulfate AOPs, highlighting its superior efficacy. The main reason was that Fe/C components on BFD surface could cooperate to cyclically produce diverse reactive oxygen species, including SO 4 •−, OH•, O 2 •− and 1O 2. Furthermore, the amphiphilicity of BFD could promote both pollutants and oxidants to converge to its surface simultaneously, effectively utilizing short-lived ROS to degrade TPHs. Our findings implies that BFD is an excellent SP activator, providing an innovative approach for PCS treatment and promoting sustainable utilization of BFD. [Display omitted] • Blast furnace dust (BFD) of steel mill can be used as a novel persulfate catalyst. • Fe/C on BFD cooperate to cyclically produce variety reactive oxygen species (ROS). • Both free radicals and non-free radical existed in the catalytic system. • Pollution of both BFD and petroleum-contaminated soil (PCS) can be solved together. • 88.10% total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) can be removed from the 0.7% PCS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Vanadium pentoxide (V 2 O 5), as one of the most important electrode materials for lithium ions batteries, attracts tremendous attention. Here, carbon supported V 2 O 5 hollow nanotubes are synthesized using carbon fibers as templates through solvothermal reaction with subsequent annealing treatment. Morphological features of the samples are investigated by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns confirm the formation of phase-pure structure. Elemental mapping and XPS studies are used to confirm the existence of carbon and V4+ in nanotubes. Electrochemical Li insertion behavior of nanotubes are explored as cathode in half cell configuration (vs. Li) using cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge-discharge studies and rate tests. The V 2 O 5 hollow nanotubes display a good cycling performance with a specific capacity of 237 mA h g−1 after 50 cycles at 100 mA g−1 in the voltage range of 2.0-4.0 V. Moreover, the nanotubes cathode delivers specific capacities of 165.8, 140.3 and 109.6 mA h g−1 at 1000, 2000 and 5000 mA g−1, respectively, indicating a desirable rate capability. The good electrochemical performance of carbon supported V 2 O 5 hollow nanotubes can be attributed to the unique hollow nanotubes and the existence of carbon and V4+. Highlights • The carbon-supported V 2 O 5 hollow nanotubes are synthesized. • A small amount of carbon and V4+ can be retained after calcining. • The nanotubes deliver 237 mA h g−1 after 50 cycles and 109.6 mA h g−1 at 5000 mA g−1. • The nanotubes show a lower charge resistance and a larger diffusion coefficient of Li+ ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To investigate the prevalence and transmission of 16S rRNA methylase genes among Salmonella isolates from food animals in China. Methods A total of 310 Salmonella isolates collected from food animals in seven provinces of China during 2016–17 were screened for 16S RMTase genes. The clonal relationship of the 16S RMTase-producing isolates and their plasmid contents were also characterized. Results rmtB and armA were respectively identified in 12 and 1 Salmonella enterica serovar Indiana (Salmonella Indiana) isolates from farmed ducks. These 13 isolates concurrently expressed high-level resistance to amikacin, cefotaxime and ciprofloxacin. They were assigned to seven distinct PFGE patterns and the high similarity among 10 of the 12 rmtB -carrying isolates suggests clonal expansion. The rmtB gene was co-transferred with bla CTX-M-27- qepA and qepA in eight and two of the isolates, respectively, and was located on F2:A1:B1 plasmids with sizes of 135 and 100 kb, respectively. These 10 rmtB- bearing plasmids showed four restriction patterns with a high similarity. Four representative rmtB -bearing plasmids were fully sequenced and they exhibited remarkable similarity and possessed typical FII backbones. The primary differences were located in the region between bla TEM-1 and ycgA. Furthermore, a novel MDR region (13.5 kb) was identified that contained qepA, rmtB and bla CTX-M-27. Conclusions This is the first report, to our knowledge, of the prevalence and complete sequences of plasmids simultaneously containing rmtB, qepA and bla CTX-M-27. These findings underscore a major public health threat posed by epidemic F2:A1:B1 plasmids bearing qepA - rmtB - bla CTX-M-27 that are circulating in XDR Salmonella Indiana clonal isolates from waterfowl husbandry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the conformational restraint strategy, we developed a hydrazonate-derived coumarin into a lysosome targeting probe for imaging native formaldehyde at the subcellular level. Using this probe, we observed the overproduction of formaldehyde in lysosomes when cells were treated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress inducers, suggesting the involvement of formaldehyde in protein misfolding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Objective: The cholinergic deficit is thought to underlie progressed cognitive decline in Alzheimer Disease. The lineage reprogramming of somatic cells into cholinergic neurons may provide strategies toward cell‐based therapy of neurodegenerative diseases. Methods and results: Here, we found that a combination of neuronal transcription factors, including Ascl1, Myt1l, Brn2, Tlx3, and miR124 (5Fs) were capable of directly converting human brain vascular pericytes (HBVPs) into cholinergic neuronal cells. Intriguingly, the inducible effect screening of reprogramming factors showed that a single reprogramming factor, Myt1l, induced cells to exhibit similarly positive staining for Tuj1, MAP2, ChAT, and VAChT upon lentivirus infection with the 5Fs after 30 days. HBVP‐converted neurons were rarely labeled even after long‐term incubation with BrdU staining, suggesting that induced neurons were directly converted from HBVPs rather than passing through a proliferative state. In addition, the overexpression of Myt1l induced the elevation of Ascl1, Brn2, and Ngn2 levels that contributed to reprogramming. Conclusions: Our findings provided proof of the principle that cholinergic neurons could be produced from HBVPs by reprogramming factor‐mediated fate instruction. Myt1l was a critical mediator of induced neuron cell reprogramming. HBVPs represent another excellent alternative cell resource for cell‐based therapy to treat neurodegenerative disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solid, yolk-shell and hollow V 2 O 5 microspheres are successfully synthesized via a facile solvothermal method with a subsequent annealing treatment. As the cathode materials, the V 2 O 5 hollow microspheres display good cycling performance and excellent rate capability, e.g., the discharge specific capacity of 217.1 mA h g -1 can be reached after 100 cycles in the potential range 2.0 to 4.0 V at 100 mA g −1 ; the high rate capacity of 178.5 mA h g -1 at 5000 mA g −1 can be delivered, which is higher than 122.1 mA h g -1 of V 2 O 5 yolk-shell microspheres and 89.3 mA h g -1 of V 2 O 5 solid microspheres. In the 5000 mA g −1 , the Li ions diffusion distance of the HM-V 2 O 5 , YS-V 2 O 5 and SM-V 2 O 5 is about 396.6 nm, 220.6 nm and 186.8 nm, respectively. The capacitive contribution of V 2 O 5 hollow microspheres is up to 48.5% for the total capacity at 0.2 mV s −1 due to high specific surface area arising from considerable amounts of pores. The excellent electrochemical performance of hollow microspheres can be attributed to the fact that the thin porous shell and hollow interior allow the easy penetration of electrolyte and rapid diffusion of ions, and ensure make full use of the V 2 O 5 active materials during Li + insertion/extraction process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The cfr gene associated with linezolid resistance has attracted wide attention. However, little is known about its prevalence and mode of transmission in Enterococcus faecalis. In this study, we investigate the prevalence and genetic environment of the cfr gene in 91 E. faecalis isolates collected from swine faecal swabs in 30 farms in Guangdong Province, China in 2012. A relatively high prevalence of cfr was identified in E. faecalis isolates (11/91, 12.1%) by PCR. All the cfr- positive E. faecalis strains had a multidrug-resistance phenotype including erythrocin, tetracycline, gentamicin, kanamicin and ciprofloxacin, except vancomycin and linezolid. Molecular typing indicated that ST475 and ST16 were the most common types in cfr- positive E. faecalis strains. In addition, we demonstrated that all the cfr genes were located on plasmids by S1 -PFGE and Southern blotting. A 12 kb cfr- positive plasmid (pE30) was identified in most (9/11) E. faecalis strains, but it couldn't mediate resistance to linezolid in the transconjugant. Sequence analysis showed that the pE30 was a pCPPF5-like plasmid and the region surrounding the cfr gene was the same as a cfr -carrying IS Enfa5 -composite element in Streptococcus plasmid pStrcfr with 4 bp direct repeat (GTAT) on both sides. In conclusion, the cfr gene which had no linezolid resistance phenotype was present in multidrug-resistance E. faecalis strains, and the clonal spread of ST475 and ST16 strains and the horizontal transfer of the pCPPF5-like plasmids have contributed to the dissemination of cfr. Highlights • A relatively high prevalence of cfr was found in E. faecalis isolates from swine in China. • A prevent cfr -carrying pCPPF5-like plasmids was found and it contributed to 'non-linezolid resistance' phenotype in E. faecalis isolates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The porous V 2 O 5 yolk-shell microspheres have been synthesized via hydro/solvothermal method with subsequent annealing treatment. Due to the volume contraction of the solid microspheres prepared by hydro/solvothermal reaction and the decomposition and combustion of the organics in air, the porous yolk-shell microspheres were prepared. Derived from the unique structure, the porous V 2 O 5 yolk-shell microspheres show a better electrochemical performance than the pristine V 2 O 5 powder. The electrochemical performance of yolk-shell microspheres is tested between 2.0 and 4.0 V, the V 2 O 5 microspheres can deliver a high initial capacity of 287.2 mA h g −1 , and a good capacity of 225.7 mA h −1 can be reached at a current density of 50 mA g −1 after 50 cycles. Moreover, the microspheres electrode possess a higher capacity than the pristine V 2 O 5 powder under the same rate, for example, 159.5 mA h g −1 of V 2 O 5 yolk-shell microspheres vs. 144.6 mA h g −1 of pristine V 2 O 5 powder at a current density of 2000 mA g −1 . Even at 1000 mA g −1 in the voltage range of 2.5–4.0 V, the yolk-shell microspheres can also deliver a good discharge capacity of 117.5 mA h g −1 after 1000 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quality control in parts built layer-by-layer via Additive Manufacturing (AM) process is still a challenge since critical features, such as the control in porosity, residual stress and deformation, surface roughness and microstructure, are yet to be fully addressed. In this work, we develop a phase field model to simulate powder bed-based AM, focusing on the effects of two major process parameters, the beam power and scanning speed, on the melt pool size and shape, porosity and grain structure. The model reproduces many important phenomena observed experimentally and reveals scaling relations for the depth and length of melt pool, the porosity and the grain density on process parameters. We find critical power densities below which the grain density or the porosity increases rapidly and the grain structure is controlled by different mechanisms in different power density regimes which allows for the possibility of controlling the grain structure. The present work could serve as a useful reference for accurate control of defects and microstructure in AM build. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review is aiming to systematically elucidate the unique role of nanotechnology in optimizing therapeutic modalities for combinatorial cancer immunotherapy, which enables the synergistic integration of multiple treatment strategies. In particular, nanotechnology has enabled the synergistic combination of immunotherapy with physical therapies, chemotherapy, metal therapy, and nucleic acid therapy. In each combination regimen, nanocarriers play multifaceted roles by achieving targeted codelivery of different therapeutics and optimizing each individual treatment modality. This offers new paradigms to guide precision medicine in cancer treatment. Immunotherapy alone is unlikely to achieve personalized precision medicine for cancer, and new treatment modalities are needed in the future. To overcome technical bottlenecks and realize precise regulation of the tumor microenvironment for personalized cancer treatment, it is crucial to develop novel nanosystems with integrated sensing, targeting, and therapeutic functionalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]