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Objectives. To investigate the predictive value of serum cold‐inducible RNA‐binding protein (CIRP) and postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) after total aortic arch replacement. Methods. Eighty‐six patients with acute Stanford type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) admitted to hospital from October 2019 to February 2021 were retrospectively selected as the study subjects. All patients underwent total aortic arch replacement under moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest (MHCA) with selective antegrade cerebral perfusion (SACP). Detection of the level of serum CIRP after admission and perioperative clinical data of patients were collected and analyzed. Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria were used to stage renal function. Patients were divided into a non‐AKI‐3 group (n = 70) and an AKI‐3 group (n = 16) according to the stage of postoperative renal function. The risk factors for postoperative AKI KDIGO stage 3 were analyzed by a multivariate logistic regression model. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy. Results. In 86 patients, postoperative AKI‐3 stage accounted for 18.6% (16/86). Compared with the non‐AKI‐3 group, the AKI‐3 group had a higher preoperative BMI index, C‐reactive protein, and CIRP level; a longer intraoperative cooling time, cardiopulmonary bypass time, and aortic cross‐clamping time; and a higher intraoperative coronary artery bypass ratio (all P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression results showed that CIRP (OR = 1.001, 95% CI: 1.000–1.002, P = 0.012) was an independent risk factor for postoperative AKI KDIGO stage 3. Conclusion. The serum CIRP is associated with postoperative acute kidney injury after total aortic arch replacement in ATAAD patients and may serve as a predictive indicator for early detection and intervention to improve the prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fundamental limitation for pore preservation in a Type III porous liquid (T3PL) is the need for a small aperture from the porous filler to realize size exclusion of a bulky solvent. We present a dual‐layer surface weaving strategy that can disregard this limitation and achieve micro‐ and mesoporous metal–organic framework (MOF)‐based T3PLs even with apertures much larger than the solvent molecules. By first weaving a tight network of poly(tert‐butyl methacrylate) on the MOF surface, the poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) solvent can be effectively excluded from the pores while smaller guest molecules such as CO2, C2H4, and H2O can freely access the interior, as confirmed by low‐pressure adsorption isotherms. Further application of a PDMS‐containing polymer coating helps lower the viscosity of the PL due to increased particle dispersibility. This strategy has resulted in the successful construction of T3PLs with aperture sizes up to 3.1 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fundamental limitation for pore preservation in a Type III porous liquid (T3PL) is the need for a small aperture from the porous filler to realize size exclusion of a bulky solvent. We present a dual‐layer surface weaving strategy that can disregard this limitation and achieve micro‐ and mesoporous metal–organic framework (MOF)‐based T3PLs even with apertures much larger than the solvent molecules. By first weaving a tight network of poly(tert‐butyl methacrylate) on the MOF surface, the poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) solvent can be effectively excluded from the pores while smaller guest molecules such as CO2, C2H4, and H2O can freely access the interior, as confirmed by low‐pressure adsorption isotherms. Further application of a PDMS‐containing polymer coating helps lower the viscosity of the PL due to increased particle dispersibility. This strategy has resulted in the successful construction of T3PLs with aperture sizes up to 3.1 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acid protease is widely used in industries such as food processing and feed additives. In the study, low frequency magnetic field (LF-MF) as an aid enhances acid protease production by Aspergillus niger (A. niger). The study assessed mycelial biomass, the enzymic activity of the acidic protease and underlying mechanism. At low intensities, alternating magnetic field (AMF) is more effective than static magnetic fields (SMF). Under optimal magnetic field conditions, acid protease activity and biomass increased by 91.44% and 16.31%, as compared with the control, respectively. Maximum 19.87% increase in enzyme activity after magnetic field treatment of crude enzyme solution in control group. Transcriptomics analyses showed that low frequency alternating magnetic field (LF-AMF) treatment significantly upregulated genes related to hydrolases and cell growth. Our results showed that low-frequency magnetic fields can enhance the acid protease production ability of A. niger, and the effect of AMF is better at low intensities. The results revealed that the effect of magnetic field on the metabolic mechanism of A. niger and provided a reference for magnetic field-assisted fermentation of A. niger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals in flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum from coal-fired power plants are at risk of releaching during the processes of stockpiling and resource utilization. In this study, the effects of organosulfur chelators dithiocarbamate (DTC) and trisodium trithiocyanate-15 (TMT-15) on the solidification characteristics of heavy metals in desulphurized gypsum under different mass fractions, pH values, water contents and reaction times were investigated. The chemical composition and morphology were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The experiments showed that both DTC and TMT-15 were effective at stabilizing the heavy metals in the FGD gypsum, with more than a 50% curing effect for all the heavy metals except Pb. DTC showed a better stabilization for Pb, Hg, Cu, Zn, and Cr, and TMT-15 showed a better curing effect for Cd. The solidified gypsum had good heavy metal stability in low-water-content environments. Increasing the mass fraction, reaction time, and pH decreased the heavy metal leaching, and the mass fraction had the greatest effect on the total heavy metal leaching concentration, followed by the reaction time and pH value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The corrosion behavior of 6082 aluminum alloy in deicing salt was investigated by electrochemical impedance spectra combined with an X‐ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction, and transmission electron microscope. The experiment results showed that the corrosion tendency of 6082 aluminum alloy in deicing salt strongly depends on its different matrix and grain boundary precipitates, which also show the characteristics of transformation during the corrosion process. The Nyquist plot exhibits the characteristics of double capacitive resistance arcs, and the capacitive resistance arcs were affected by corrosion characteristics and corrosion products on aluminum alloy surface. The nucleation and development of pitting and the formation of a passive film were closely related to the Si phase in the 6082 aluminum alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antlerogenic periosteum (AP) is the unique tissue type that gives rise to antlers and their antecedents, the pedicles. Deer antlers are the only mammalian organ that can fully regenerate. Efficient investigation of the mechanism of antler formation and regeneration requires year‐round availability of AP, but naturally AP can only be obtained less than two months in a year. In the present study we took the cryopreservation approach to store the sampled AP in ultra‐low temperature to overcome the limited period of availability. First, we evaluated the suitability of vitrification and cell cryopreservation method for cryopreservation of AP, cell migration status of the AP tissue pieces confirmed that vitrification methods did not work as the only few AP cells migrated out, whereas migrated cell numbers in the cell‐cryo group (conventional method for cryopreservation of cells) were comparable to those of the fresh AP group. To further evaluate the suitability of cell cryopreservation method for AP tissue, AP samples were allocated into three groups based on the different ratios of cryopreservation reagents (dimethyl sulfoxide [DMSO], dulbecco's modified eagle's medium [DMEM] and fetal bovine serum [FBS]): AP‐Cell‐1 (1:4:5), AP‐Cell‐2 (1:2:7) and AP‐Cell‐3 (1:0:9), the results showed that migrated cell number were again comparable to the fresh AP group. There was no significant difference between the cell‐cryo groups (AP‐Cell‐1 and AP‐Cell‐3) and the fresh group: (1) in viability (p > 0.05) through trypan blue staining (91.2%, 90.8%, and 92.4%, respectively); (2) in the attachment day, and all on Day 5 after cell seeding; (3) in cell proliferation rate (p > 0.05) through Cell Counting kit 8 (CCK8) measurement; and (4) in number of the formed clones (Clonogenicity). In the in vivo trials, there was no visible difference in temporal differentiation sequence of the formed xenogeneic antlers between the fresh AP and cryopreserved AP (AP‐Cell‐1 and AP‐Cell‐3). Overall, we found that the AP tissue was well cryopreserved just using the conventional freezing and thawing methods for cells, and their viability and developmental potential comparable to the fresh AP both in vitro and in vivo. The long‐term preservation of the AP tissue is of great significance for the study of the periosteum biology in general and the mechanism underlying xenogeneic generation and regeneration of deer antlers in specific. Research highlights: The antlerogenic periosteum (AP) tissue was well cryopreserved just using the conventional freezing and thawing methods for cells, and their viability and developmental potential comparable to the fresh AP both in vitro and in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The typical outcome of mammalian wound healing is scarring, a fibrotic process mediated by myofibroblast aggregation. Perfect healing in a clinical setting is relatively unexplored. Surprisingly, our previous studies have shown that the large wound (10 cm diameter or more) of the pedicle of deer naturally achieves regenerative restoration, realized through a paracrine pathway from adjacent antler stem cells (AnSCs). Methods: AnSC-derived exosomes (AnSC-exos) were topically injected around the full-thickness wounds in a rat model. The effects on the rate of wound healing and the quality of healing were evaluated via morphological, histological, and molecular biological techniques on days 14 and 28 after surgery. Results: The results showed that AnSC-exos significantly accelerated the rate of wound healing and improved healing quality, including regeneration of cutaneous appendages (hair follicles and sebaceous glands) and the distribution pattern of collagen (basket-weave-like) in the healed skin. These effects of AnSC-exos were comparable to those of AnSCs but were significantly more potent than those of exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (bMSC-exos). Furthermore, AnSC-exos treatment effectively inhibited fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition (FMT), as evidenced by the reduction of full-thickness skin injury-induced FMT in vivo and TGF-β1-induced FMT in vitro. Conclusion: AnSC-exos could effectively promote regenerative cutaneous wound healing, highly likely through FMT inhibition. This suggests that AnSC-exos treatment could provide the potential for a novel approach to induce regenerative wound healing in the clinical setting. Highlights: • A novel type of stem cells, AnSCs, was found to be able to effectively promote regenerative cutaneous wound healing without scarring; • The cell-free therapy, AnSC-exos administration, had comparable effects to AnSCs but more potent than bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes on wound healing; • AnSC-exos could effectively inhibit the fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition (FMT) process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Existing pharmacogenetic algorithms cannot fully explain warfarin dose variability in all patients. CYP2C9*13 is an important allelic variant in the Han Chinese population. However, adjustment of warfarin dosing in CYP2C9*13 variant carriers remains unclear. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to assess the effects of adjusting warfarin dosages in Han Chinese patients harbouring CYP2C9*13 variants. Methods: In total, 971 warfarin-treated Han Chinese patients with atrial fibrillation were enrolled in this study. Clinical data were collected, and CYP2C9*2, *3, *13 and VKORC1-1639 G > A variants were genotyped. We quantitatively analysed the effect of CYP2C9*13 on warfarin maintenance dose and provided multiplicative adjustments for CYP2C9*13 using validated pharmacogenetic algorithms. Results: Approximately 0.6% of the Han Chinese population carried CYP2C9*13 variant, and the genotype frequency was between those of CYP2C9*2 and CYP2C9*3. The warfarin maintenance doses were significantly reduced in CYP2C9*13 carriers. When CYP2C9*13 variants were not considered, the pharmacogenetic algorithms overestimated warfarin maintenance doses by 1.03–1.16 mg/d on average. The actual warfarin dose in CYP2C9*13 variant carriers was approximately 40% lower than the algorithm-predicted dose. Adjusting the warfarin-dosing algorithm according to the CYP2C9*13 allele could reduce the dose prediction error. Conclusion: Our study showed that the algorithm-predicted doses should be lowered for CYP2C9*13 carriers. Inclusion of the CYP2C9*13 variant in the warfarin-dosing algorithm tends to predict the warfarin maintenance dose more accurately and improves the efficacy and safety of warfarin administration in Han Chinese patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Molecular toxicity of microplastic to the avian digestive system was characterized. • Unlike other species, microplastic caused intestinal necrosis and pyroptosis in avian. • The avian liver toxicity caused by microplastic is lipid metabolism disorder and apoptosis. • The gut microbiota participates in microplastic induced liver injury by the gut-liver axis. • Caffeine and melanin may be potential natural resistances to microplastic toxicity. Microplastic pollution seriously threatens the health and safety of humans and wildlife. Avian is one of the main species endangered by microplastics. However, the damage mechanism of microplastics to the digestive system of avian is not clear. The gut-liver axis is a bidirectional channel that regulates the exchange of information between the gut and the liver and is also a key target for tissue damage caused by pollutants. This study aimed to elucidate the digestive toxicity of microplastics in avian and the key role of the gut-liver axis in it. We constructed an exposure model for microplastics in environmental concentrations and toxicological concentrations in chickens and reveal the digestive toxicity of polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) in avian by 16S rRNA, transcriptomics and metabolomics. PS-MPs changed the death mode from apoptosis to necrosis and pyroptosis by upregulating Caspase 8, disrupting the intestinal vascular barrier, disturbing the intestinal flora and promoting the accumulation of lipopolysaccharide. Harmful flora and metabolites were translocated to the liver through the liver-gut axis, eliciting hepatic immune responses and promoting hepatic lipid metabolism disorders and apoptosis. Liver injury involves multiple molecular effects of mitochondrial dynamics disturbance, oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and cell cycle disturbance. Furthermore, metabolomics suggested that caffeine and melanin metabolites may be potential natural resistance substances for microplastics. Taken together, our data demonstrate the digestive damage of PS-MPs in avian, revealing a critical role of the liver-gut axis in it. This will provide a reference for protecting the safety of avian populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon–air batteries (SABs) are attracting considerable attention owing to their high theoretical energy density and superior security. In this study, In and Ga were doped into Si electrodes to optimize the capability of Si-air batteries. Varieties of Si-In/SiO2 and Si-Ga/SiO2 atomic interfaces were built, and their properties were analyzed using density functional theory (DFT). The adsorption energies of the SiO2 passivation layer on In- and Ga-doped silicon electrodes were higher than those on pure Si electrodes. Mulliken population analysis revealed a change in the average number of charge transfers of oxygen atoms at the interface. Furthermore, the local device density of states (LDDOS) of the modified electrodes showed high strength in the interfacial region. Additionally, In and Ga as dopants introduced new energy levels in the Si/SiO2 interface according to the projected local density of states (PLDOS), thus reducing the band gap of the SiO2. Moreover, the I-V curves revealed that doping In and Ga into Si electrodes enhanced the current flow of interface devices. These findings provide a mechanistic explanation for improving the practical efficiency of silicon–air batteries through anode doping and provide insight into the design of Si-based anodes in air batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. To investigate the potential role of extracellular cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRP) in total aortic arch replacement under hypothermic circulatory arrest. Methods. The serum extracellular CIRP levels at five time points in 96 patients with Stanford A aortic dissection were detected. Overall change trend of CIRP levels at five time points was described, and the risk factors for 30-day mortality after surgery were analyzed. Results. The serum extracellular CIRP levels increased gradually after surgery, starting to rise significantly at approximately 12 h postoperatively, reaching or approaching a peak at approximately 24 h postoperatively, and ceasing to rise significantly after approximately 48 h postoperatively. Age, troponin-I, urodilatin, cooling time, cardiopulmonary bypass time, cross-clamp time, duration of surgery, and CIRP level at the end of surgery in the death group were significantly higher than those in the survival group. Multivariable analysis indicated that CIRP level at the end of surgery, age, urodilatin, and cross-clamp time were independent risk factors for postoperative 30-day mortality. Conclusion. Extracellular CIRP is closely related to the perioperative condition and prognosis of hypothermic circulatory arrest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs), the favorite of next-generation energy storage devices, are popular among researchers owing to their environmental friendliness, low cost, and safety. However, AZIBs still face problems of low cathode capacity, fast attenuation, slow ion migration rate, and irregular dendrite growth on anodes. In recent years, many researchers have focused on Zn anode modification to restrain dendrite growth. This review introduces the energy storage mechanism and current challenges of AZIBs, and then some modifying strategies for zinc anodes are elucidated from the perspectives of experiments and theoretical calculations. From the experimental point of view, the modification strategy is mainly to construct a dense artificial interface layer or porous framework on the anode surface, with some research teams directly using zinc alloys as anodes. On the other hand, theoretical research is mainly based on adsorption energy, differential charge density, and molecular dynamics. Finally, this paper summarizes the research progress on AZIBs and puts forward some prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Permanent magnet synchronous generators (PMSGs) equipped with back‐to‐back grid‐forming converters have the ability to form a 100% renewable energy power grid. Black‐start is the key capability of grid‐forming converters when restoring the system from a blackout. It is necessary for a grid‐forming converter of the PMSG to operate in black‐start and grid‐connected active support modes. This paper investigates an improved damping adaptive grid‐forming (DA‐GFM) control method for PMSG wind turbines to suppress system frequency fluctuations and achieve a smooth black start. The proposed DA‐GFM control introduces the frequency variations and natural constant function to adaptively adjust its damping coefficient in the dynamic operating progress. The implementations and effects of the proposed DA‐GFM control method on the grid‐forming converter are theoretically evaluated. Additionally, the detailed black‐start operation process is completely studied through a microgrid system with two PMSG wind turbines and energy storages. Compared with the conventional grid‐forming control, the proposed control scheme can not only suppress frequency fluctuations better, but also achieve a smooth forming power grid process. Finally, experiment tests on a controller‐level hardware‐in‐the‐loop simulation platform are carried out to validate the proposed control strategy for achieving a smooth black start. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Longshan orogenic belt is located in the southwestern margin of Ordos Basin at the junction zone between the Western Qinling and Northern Qilian orogenic belt. Voluminous Early Paleozoic magmatism in this area is of key significance for determining the Early Paleozoic tectonic evolution and deep crust-mantle structure. Previous studies mainly focused on the Paleozoic granites; the coeval mafic rocks in this area are still poorly understood. A set of Late Silurian intraplate tholeiitic basalts has been discovered in Longshan area, providing key evidence for the mantle source and deep geodynamic background in this area. The Late Silurian Angou basalt has similar geochemical features as intraplate tholeiitic basalt, with high Na2O/K2O ratios (5.22–8.25), enriched in large ion lithophile elements and LREE. In combination with their relatively evolved Sr-Nd isotopic composition [87Sr/86Sr (i) = 0.7128–0.7140; εNd (t) =  − 5.55 to − 3.40], it is suggested that it originated from decompression melting of metasomatized enriched mantle in extensional setting. These results indicate that the mantle source in the junction zone of the West Qinling-North Qilian orogenic belt evolved from depleted to enriched with the continuation of Proto-Tethys subduction from the Cambrian to the Silurian. These results are of great significance to understanding the genesis of contemporaneous granite and the crust-mantle interaction in the junction zone between the Western Qinling and Northern Qilian orogenic belt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large amount of greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N 2 O) will be produced during the biological nitrogen removal process for organic wastewater of low C/N ratio. One of the effective methods to solve this problem is to incorporate inexpensive carbon source. In this study, raw wastewater (RW) from pig farm, that was not anaerobically digested, was utilized as exogenous carbon in both A/O and SBR aerobic reactor to treat liquid digestate with high ammonia nitrogen and low C/N ratio. The results showed that N 2 O emission in SBR was higher than that of A/O process under the same nitrogen load. The N 2 O conversion in the biological nitrogen removal process was investigated by the strategy of integrating stable isotope method and metagenomics. The δO18-N 2 O, δN15-N 2 O, and SP values of the SBR were closer to the denitrification values of Ammonia-Oxidizing Bacteria (AOB) than those of A/O. The abundance of AOB in the SBR reactor was higher than that in the A/O reactor, while the abundance of denitrifying bacteria was lower. The amoA/B/C gene abundance in the SBR was greater than that in the A/O, and the NOS gene abundance was the opposite. The results indicated that both AOB denitrification and bacterial denitrification led to the increase of N 2 O emissions of the SBR. [Display omitted] • RW as source of exogenous carbon source improved nitrogen removal while reducing N 2 O emissions. • Insufficient carbon source would result in more N 2 O emission. • A/O had more N 2 O emission reduction potential than SBR. • The denitrification of ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) resulted in more N 2 O emission from the SBR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Da Chuanxiong Formula (DCXF) is a traditional herbal prescription used for pain management. It consists of Chuanxiong Rhizoma (CR) and Gastrodiae Rhizoma (GR). Despite its long history of use, the underlying therapeutic mechanism of DCXF remains insufficiently understood. Therefore, in this study, key target genes were obtained through network pharmacology research methods and molecular docking techniques, including transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), adenosine A2a receptor (ADORA2A), nuclear receptor subfamily 3 group C member 1 (NR3C1), and protein kinase C beta (PRKCB). Molecular dynamics simulations demonstrated the favorable binding between all four key genes and their corresponding compounds. Notably, chronic constriction injury (CCI) treatment resulted in a significant decrease in mechanical threshold and thermal latency period for rat foot contraction, which was ameliorated upon administration of DCXF. Furthermore, real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) and western blot (WB) analyses indicated an upregulation of TRPV1, ADORA2A, NR3C1, and PRKCB expression in the rat dorsal root ganglion following CCI, which was attenuated by treatment with DCXF. The expressions of inflammatory factors, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), and interleukin 6 (IL-6), in the rat dorsal root ganglion were assessed using ELISA, confirming consistent trends with the aforementioned findings. The results of this study offer a promising theoretical foundation for the utilization of DCXF in the treatment of neuropathic pain (NP). [Display omitted] • Screening high-quality compounds through ADMET. • Molecular dynamics simulation technology makes prediction results more reliable. • By comparing multiple dose groups,10 mg/kg of DCXF is the optimal dose for treating NP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Hydrolysates from Baltic herring (BHH) and its byproducts (BHBH) had DPP-4 inhibitory activity. • 86 peptides from BHBH and 80 peptides from BHH were novel DPP-4 inhibitors. • Consumption of BHH decreased glucose and insulin tolerance in mice fed a high-fat, high-fructose diet. • Consumption of BHH decreased plasma C-peptide, GLP-1 and HOMA-IR scores. • BHH was ineffective in preventing body weight gain in high-fat high-fructose diet. Baltic herring is the main catch in the Baltic Sea; however, its usage could be improved due to the low processing rate. Previously we have shown that whole Baltic herring hydrolysates (BHH) and herring byproducts hydrolysates (BHBH) by commercial enzymes consisted of bioactive peptides and had moderate bioactivity in in vitro dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-4 assay. In this study, we identified the hydrolysate peptides by LC-MS/MS and predicted the potential bioactive DPP-4 inhibitory peptides using in silico tools. Based on abundance, peptide length and stability, 86 peptides from BHBH and 80 peptides from BHH were proposed to be novel DPP-4 inhibitory peptides. BHH was fed to a mice intervention of a high-fat, high-fructose diet to validate the bioactivity. The results of the glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance improved. Plasma DPP-4 activities, C-peptide levels, and HOMA-IR scores significantly decreased, while plasma glucagon-like peptide-1 content increased. In conclusion, BHH is an inexpensive and sustainable source of functional antidiabetic ingredients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Provided a detailed introduction on THz metamaterials for spectrum modulation. • Summarized the different structures of THz metamaterials reported previously. • Introduced various special materials used in THz metamaterials. • Summarized the applications of THz metamaterials for spectrum modulation. Metamaterials, an artificial electromagnetic (EM) material, have exhibited unique characteristics, enabling innovations in terahertz (THz) wavefront shaping, polarization modulation, surface wave manipulation, and spectrum modulation. In this review, we focus on the advancements in THz metamaterials for spectrum modulation, emphasizing their structural design, special materials, and applications. The review discusses various structural designs, including metal-dielectric composite structures, all-metal structures, and all-dielectric structures, each offering distinct advantages for THz applications. Key special materials such as graphene, vanadium dioxide (VO 2), molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2), and flexible materials are highlighted for their significant contributions to enhancing the performance and functionality of THz metamaterials. The applications of THz metamaterials in EM stealth and sensing are thoroughly introduced, with a particular focus on biosensing, pesticide detection, and other sensing applications. The review emphasizes the potential of THz metamaterials in developing highly sensitive and selective sensors, as well as efficient THz absorbers and filters. Future perspectives include the continuous development of novel materials, advanced fabrication technologies, and the integration of multifunctional capabilities to further expand the applications and efficiency of THz metamaterials. These advancements are expected to drive significant progress in THz technology, impacting fields such as medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, food safety, wireless communication, and security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a novel nanocomposite of highly-dispersed MoS2 nanosheets supported on alkali-activated halloysite nanotubes (a-HNTs) was fabricated via a simple hydrothermal method. The alkali (5 M NaOH herein) could attack the inert outer surface of HNTs and thus abundant surface defects were created, while the crystal structure and tube morphology of HNTs were still preserved. Electron microscopy also evidenced that few MoS2 sheets could grow on the outer surface of raw HNTs while they were uniformly assembled on both the outer surface and inner lumen of the a-HNTs. The above phenomenon suggested that both the defects at the outer surface and Al–OH at the lumen could serve as nucleation sites for the growth of MoS2 nanosheets. Furthermore, the as-prepared MoS2/a-HNT nanocomposite exhibited significantly improved photocatalytic performance for rhodamine B (RhB) degradation, compared with the MoS2/HNTs and pristine MoS2 microspheres, and photogenerated holes (h+) played a more important role than hydroxyl radicals (˙OH) and superoxide radicals (˙O2−) during the photocatalysis, which was confirmed by radical trapping experiments. This work provides a low-cost fabrication of high-performance 2D materials by using modified natural minerals as carriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrolytic water-based hydrogen production demonstrates exceptional selectivity, minimal environmental impact, and superior purity of the generated hydrogen, thereby presenting promising prospects for a wide range of applications. The scarcity and high cost of Pt-based catalysts for industrial applications necessitate the development of low-cost, stable, and efficient transition metal electrocatalysts for hydrogen electrochemical precipitation (HER). In this paper, Mo 2 WS 6 nanorod array with honeycomb structure was successfully synthesized via one-step hydrothermal vulcanisation of transition metals W and Mo on nickel foam (NF) substrate. The honeycomb nanorod array structure exhibits enhanced specific surface area and abundant active sites, and the well-defined pore structure facilitates the transport of electrolyte and reactive substances. The intrinsic activity of the active sites is significantly enhanced by the synergistic effect of MoS 2 and WS 2 , facilitated by the formation of solid solution alloys. Excellent HER performance (η 10 =63 mV, η 100 =183 mV) was demonstrated in alkaline electrolyte (1.0 M KOH) with a corresponding Tafel slope of 93 mV dec−1. Furthermore, Mo 2 WS 6 exhibited excellent stability after undergoing 5000 cycles of charge/discharge and a constant voltage test lasting for 96 hours. This study provides a novel approach for facile synthesis of high-efficiency HER catalysts by a one-step hydrothermal method. • Mo 2 WS 6 solid solution alloy on nickel foam was synthesized via one-step hydrothermal method. • The 3D nanorod array structures were composed of stable and highly porous 2D nanosheets. • MoS 2 and WS 2 undergo electron transfer and synergistic interactions. • The catalyst exhibited low overpotential, rapid reaction kinetics, and excellent catalytic stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Based on H - ϕ formulation combined with moving mesh to establish full 3D models. • Using Halbach array rotors to improve levitation force and stiffness. • Optimized rotor produces larger area of flux penetration and shielding current. • Superconducting bulks coupled with optimized rotor maintains thermal stability. The superconducting flywheel system exploiting the magnetic coupling between the bulk high temperature superconductors (HTSs) and permanent magnets (PMs) exhibits excellent performance of self-stable levitation, and is promising for power applications. In this paper, we use the H - ϕ formulation combined with moving mesh to establish a full 3D model for the thrust type and journal type bearings in the HTS flywheel system. We then proposed different Halbach schemes to enhance the magnetic flux density of the rotor and thus the coupling, and investigated the levitation force, relaxation characteristics, electromagnetic transient distribution, and temperature characteristics of the bearings. Results show that, under axial zero field-cooled (ZFC) condition, the optimized PM rotor scheme can significantly improve the maximum levitation force and stiffness by 4.0 and 2.3 times respectively for the thrust type bearing, and the maximum levitation force of journal type bearing can be improved by a factor of 5.5. Under the radial ZFC condition, the maximum levitation force and stiffness of the journal type bearing have been increased by 4.9 times and 2.9 times. For the relaxation of both bearings during operation, the optimized PM rotors lead to relatively greater attenuation of levitation force. The proximity of the optimized PM rotors intensifies the magnetic flux movement of the HTS bulks but only brings about a limited temperature rise, and the superconductors still maintain a good low-temperature working environment. This study provides an effective methodology for analyzing the HTS bearing systems and good references for the optimal design of compact HTS flywheel energy storage systems (FESSs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An integrated wave energy extraction (IWEE) system consisting of a heaving buoy and a perforated wall was investigated using the linear potential flow theory. The methods for the separation of variables and eigenfunction expansion matching were adopted to determine the spatial velocity potentials. The model was verified through wave energy flux conservation and a flume experiment. Subsequently, a comparison and a parametric study was carried out to investigate the hydrodynamic performance of the IWEE system. The introduction of the perforated wall increased the maximum capture width ratio of the buoy and significantly reduced the transmitted coefficient. Compared with the IWEE system with a solid rear wall, the proposed system mainly generated a smaller reflection coefficient and the buoy endured a smaller horizontal wave force as well. The frequency where the radiation damping equals zero was not found for the buoy of the proposed system. The wave capture efficiency and wave attenuation performance could be enhanced by properly setting the geometrical parameters. Furthermore, the wave energy captured and dissipated by the proposed IWEE system was much greater than that dissipated by an isolated perforated wall, which indicates that the system is feasible in terms of energy consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy has revolutionized the treatment of many cancers. However, the limited population that benefits from ICI therapy makes it necessary to screen predictive biomarkers for stratifying patients. Currently, many biomarkers, such as tumor mutational burden (TMB), have been used in the clinic as indicative biomarkers. However, some high-TMB patients with mutations in genes that are closely related to immunotherapeutic resistance are not sensitive to ICI therapy. Thus, there is a need to move beyond TMB and identify specific genetic determinants of the response to ICI therapy. In this study, we established a comprehensive mutation-based gene set across different tumor types to predict the efficacy of ICI therapy. Methods: We constructed and validated a mutational signature to predict the prognosis of patients treated with ICI therapy. Then, the underlying immune response landscapes of different subtypes were investigated with multidimensional data. Results: This study included genomic and clinical data for 12,647 patients. An eleven-gene mutation-based gene set was generated to divide patients into a high-risk group and a low-risk group in a training cohort (1572 patients with 9 types of cancers who were treated with ICI therapy). Validation was performed in a validation cohort (932 patients with 5 types of cancers who were treated with ICI therapy). Mutations in these 11 genes were associated with a better response to ICI therapy. In addition, the mutation-based gene set was demonstrated to be an independent prognostic factor after ICI therapy. We further explored the role of the immune context in determining the benefits of immunotherapy in 10,143 patients with 33 types of cancers and found distinct immune landscapes for the high- and low-risk groups. Conclusions: The mutation-based gene set developed in this study can be used to reliably predict survival benefit across cancers in patients receiving ICI therapy. The close interplay between the extrinsic and intrinsic immune landscapes in the identified patient subgroups and the subgroups' differing responses to ICI therapy could guide immunotherapy treatment decisions for cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All drugs that can penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB) may lead to mental state changes, including the widely used anti-infective drug sulfamethoxazole (SMZ). Herein, we investigated whether lycopene (LYC) could ameliorate SMZ-induced brain injury and the postulated mechanisms involved. A total of 120 grass carps were exposed under SMZ (0.3 μg/L, waterborne) or LYC (10 mg/kg fish weight, diet) or their combination for 30 days. Firstly, brain injury induced by SMZ exposure was suggested by the damage of BBB (decreases of Claudins, Occludin and Zonula Occludens), and the decrease of neurotransmitter activity (AChE). Through inducing oxidative stress (elevations of malondialdehyde and 8-hydroxy-2 deoxyguanosine, inhibition of glutathione), SMZ increased the intra-nuclear level of NF-κB and its target genes (TNF-α and interleukins), creating an inflammatory microenvironment. As a positive feed-back mechanism, apoptosis begins with activation of pro-death proteins (Bax/Bcl-2) and activation of caspases (caspase-9 and caspase-3). Meanwhile, a compensatory upregulation of constitutive Nrf2 and its downstream antioxidative gene expression (NAD(P)H Quinone Dehydrogenase 1 and Heme oxygenase 1) and accelerated autophagy (increases of autophagy-related genes and p62 inhibition) were activated as a defense mechanism. Intriguingly, under SMZ stress, LYC co-administration decreased NF-κB/apoptosis cascades and restored Nrf2/autophagy levels. The neuroprotective roles of LYC make this natural compound a valuable agent for prevention SMZ stress in environment. This study suggests that LYC might be developed as a potential candidate for alleviating environmental SMZ stress in aquaculture. • Sulfamethoxazole exposure leads to oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in the brain. • Lycopene supplementation ameliorates brain damage induced by Sulfamethoxazole. • Lycopene exerts neuroprotection by rebalance of NF-κB/Nrf2 pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous works have reported that magnetic fields serve as signals capable of influencing microbial metabolism. However, little is known about the effect of magnetic field on erythritol production by the model microorganism Yarrowia lipolytica (Y. lipolytica). Therefore, we investigated the effect of low-frequency alternating magnetic fields (LF-AMF) with different magnetic field intensities (0–1.5 mT) and different magnetic field treatment times (1–10 days) on the production of erythritol by Y. lipolytica -JZ204. The optimal treatment condition was 0.5 mT for 8 days. As a result, a maximal erythritol yield was achieved 63.74 g/L, the biomass was reached 37 g/L, and the specific erythritol yield per unit of biomass was 1.7227 g/g, which were 60.72%, 32.09%, and 24.85% higher than the control, respectively. We investigated the internal mechanism of magnetic fields impact by using transcriptomics and RT-qPCR technology. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of LF-AMF in enhancing erythritol production by Y. lipolytica JZ-204, providing insights for the application of magnetic field in assisting microbial fermentation and improving the synthesis of beneficial products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy elicits durable antitumor responses in patients with many types of cancer. Genomic mutations may be used to predict the clinical benefits of ICI therapy. NOTCH homolog-4 (NOTCH4) is frequently mutated in several cancer types, but its role in immunotherapy is still unclear. Our study is the first to study the association between NOTCH4 mutation and the response to ICI therapy.Methods: We tested the predictive value of NOTCH4 mutation in the discovery cohort, which included non-small cell lung cancer, melanoma, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, esophagogastric cancer, and bladder cancer patients, and validated it in the validation cohort, which included non-small cell lung cancer, melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, colorectal cancer, esophagogastric cancer, glioma, bladder cancer, head and neck cancer, cancer of unknown primary, and breast cancer patients. Then, the relationships between NOTCH4 mutation and intrinsic and extrinsic immune response mechanisms were studied with multiomics data.Results: We collected an ICI-treated cohort (n = 662) and found that patients with NOTCH4 mutation had better clinical benefits in terms of objective response rate (ORR: 42.9% vs 25.9%, P = 0.007), durable clinical benefit (DCB: 54.0% vs 38.1%, P = 0.021), progression-free survival (PFS, hazard ratio [HR] = 0.558, P < 0.001), and overall survival (OS, HR = 0.568, P = 0.006). In addition, we validated the prognostic value of NOTCH4 mutation in an independent ICI-treated cohort (n = 1423). Based on multiomics data, we found that NOTCH4 mutation is significantly associated with enhanced immunogenicity, including a high tumor mutational burden, the expression of costimulatory molecules, and activation of the antigen-processing machinery, and NOTCH4 mutation positively correlates activated antitumor immunity, including infiltration of diverse immune cells and various immune marker sets.Conclusions: Our findings indicated that NOTCH4 mutation serves as a novel biomarker correlated with a better response to ICI therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amine-based CO 2 absorption process has the benefit of purifying produced natural gas and reducing greenhouse gas emissions; however, it is associated with corrosion issues. This work aims to develop a corrosion prediction model for carbon steel in methyldiethanolamine (MDEA)-based binary mixtures with monoethanolamine (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA), or piperazine (PZ) at various concentrations using artificial neural network (ANN). Experimental studies of Q345R steel are performed, and corrosion rate data obtained by weight loss method is used to create a database for training and testing of the ANN model. A backpropagation (BP) multilayer perceptron (MLP) network with three layers is proposed. The number of input variables for the input layer is optimized after performing a correlation analysis. Effect of neuron quantity in the hidden layer on ANN model performance is studied; increasing the neuron quantity in the hidden layer is found to enhance the training accuracy and reduce the testing accuracy. A new index, max absolute relative deviation (MARD), is introduced to quantify the performance of the ANN model. The developed 5-8-1 type ANN model is able to give a MARD of 8.66 %. The same corrosion rate database is used to develop the SVM model, in which radial basis function (RBF) is used as the kernel function, and K-fold cross-validation technique is applied to select the optimal model values. A comparison of performance in both training and testing shows that the ANN model outperforms the SVM model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the paper, we give an equivalent description of the lens space L (p , q) with p prime in terms of any corresponding Heegaard diagrams as follows: Let M be a closed orientable 3-manifold with π 1 (M) ≠ 1 , and U ∪ F V a Heegaard splitting of genus n for M with an associated Heegaard diagram (U ; J 1 , ... , J n). Assume p is a prime integer. Then M is homeomorphic to the lens space L (p , q) if and only if there exists an embedding f : U ↪ L (p , q) such that L = { f (J 1) , ... , f (J n) } bounds a complete system of surfaces for W = L (p , q) \ f (U) ¯. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prospect for targeted therapies in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has dramatically changed since several recent clinical trials have yielded promising results. The number of second-line therapies is increasing, though the consequent challenge is to consider differences between these interventions. This is a comparative investigation of presently approved second-line drugs for HCC based on findings from phase III randomized controlled trials. Methods: Data related to treatment efficacy including overall survival (OS), progressionfree survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR) were extracted and compared using a Bayesian approach. Adverse events (AEs) and the rate of discontinuation due to AEs were assessed and compared with provide a more complete understanding. OS and PFS in patients with alpha fetoprotein (AFP) values greater than 400 were compared and ranked as a subgroup. Results: A total of five trials involving 2571 patients were included. The comparison suggests that regorafenib and cabozantinib significantly prolong OS compared with placebo. The rate of AEs and treatment discontinuation did not significantly differ, although the types of AEs varied substantially. Subgroup analysis did not highlight a significant OS difference between regorafenib [hazard ratio (HR) 0.68; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.50-0.92], cabozantinib (HR 0.71; CI 0.54-0.94) and ramucirumab (HR 0.69; CI 0.57-0.84). Conclusion: Among the four second-line HCC therapies compared, regorafenib and cabozantinib appear to be better choices in terms of OS. Cabozantinib, regorafenib and ramucirumab have similar levels of efficacy for those with AFP >400, although ramucirumab has fewer side effects. No significant difference was observed in AEs, but some AEs related to each of these interventions should be given further consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prospect for targeted therapies in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has dramatically changed since several recent clinical trials have yielded promising results. The number of second-line therapies is increasing, though the consequent challenge is to consider differences between these interventions. This is a comparative investigation of presently approved second-line drugs for HCC based on findings from phase III randomized controlled trials. Methods: Data related to treatment efficacy including overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR) were extracted and compared using a Bayesian approach. Adverse events (AEs) and the rate of discontinuation due to AEs were assessed and compared with provide a more complete understanding. OS and PFS in patients with alpha fetoprotein (AFP) values greater than 400 were compared and ranked as a subgroup. Results: A total of five trials involving 2571 patients were included. The comparison suggests that regorafenib and cabozantinib significantly prolong OS compared with placebo. The rate of AEs and treatment discontinuation did not significantly differ, although the types of AEs varied substantially. Subgroup analysis did not highlight a significant OS difference between regorafenib [hazard ratio (HR) 0.68; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.50–0.92], cabozantinib (HR 0.71; CI 0.54–0.94) and ramucirumab (HR 0.69; CI 0.57–0.84). Conclusion: Among the four second-line HCC therapies compared, regorafenib and cabozantinib appear to be better choices in terms of OS. Cabozantinib, regorafenib and ramucirumab have similar levels of efficacy for those with AFP >400, although ramucirumab has fewer side effects. No significant difference was observed in AEs, but some AEs related to each of these interventions should be given further consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prospect for targeted therapies in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has dramatically changed since several recent clinical trials have yielded promising results. The number of second-line therapies is increasing, though the consequent challenge is to consider differences between these interventions. This is a comparative investigation of presently approved second-line drugs for HCC based on findings from phase III randomized controlled trials. Methods: Data related to treatment efficacy including overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR) were extracted and compared using a Bayesian approach. Adverse events (AEs) and the rate of discontinuation due to AEs were assessed and compared with provide a more complete understanding. OS and PFS in patients with alpha fetoprotein (AFP) values greater than 400 were compared and ranked as a subgroup. Results: A total of five trials involving 2571 patients were included. The comparison suggests that regorafenib and cabozantinib significantly prolong OS compared with placebo. The rate of AEs and treatment discontinuation did not significantly differ, although the types of AEs varied substantially. Subgroup analysis did not highlight a significant OS difference between regorafenib [hazard ratio (HR) 0.68; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.50–0.92], cabozantinib (HR 0.71; CI 0.54–0.94) and ramucirumab (HR 0.69; CI 0.57–0.84). Conclusion: Among the four second-line HCC therapies compared, regorafenib and cabozantinib appear to be better choices in terms of OS. Cabozantinib, regorafenib and ramucirumab have similar levels of efficacy for those with AFP >400, although ramucirumab has fewer side effects. No significant difference was observed in AEs, but some AEs related to each of these interventions should be given further consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel Alteromonas phage JH01, with the host strain identified to be Alteromonas marina SW-47(T), was isolated from the Qingdao coast during the summer of 2017. Transmission electron microscopy analysis showed that phage JH01 can be categorized into the Siphoviridae family, with an icosahedral head of 62 ± 5 nm and a long contractile tail of 254 ± 10 nm. The bioinformatic analysis shows that this phage consists of a linear, double-stranded 46,500 bp DNA molecule with a GC content of 44.39%, and 58 ORFs with no tRNA genes. The ORFs are classified into four groups, including phage packaging, phage structure, DNA replication and regulation, and hypothetical protein. The phylogenetic tree, constructed using neighbor-joining analysis, shows that phage JH01 has altitudinal homology with some Vibrio and Pseudoalteromonas phage B8b. Comparative analysis reveals the high similarity between phage JH01 and phage B8b. Additionally, our study of phage JH01 provides useful information for further research on the interaction between Alteromonas phages and their hosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 2D heterojunction nanosheet is prepared by a convenient molten-salt route. • Co-MoN-MgO/C shows superior catalytic activity for nitro-compound hydrogenation. • Co-MoN-MgO/C exhibits good retrievability and catalytic stability. • The good performance is mainly ascribed to the optimized electronic structure. • The DFT calculation infers reasonable reaction mechanism of 4-NP hydrogenation. The Co-based materials are the promising catalysts for the catalytic hydrogenation reactions. The optimization of the electronic structure and micro-morphology to achieve like-noble-metal catalysis is a current research hotspot. Here, the Co-MoN-MgO heterojunctions embedded on 2D carbon nanosheets (Co-MoN-MgO/C) were designed in a melt-salt system for efficient catalytic hydrogenation of the nitro-compounds. The tests show the intimate contact of Co with MoN, realizing effective synergy for promoting the electrons transfer from Co to MoN. The transfer optimizes the electronic structure of Co components, being favorable for the adsorption/desorption of intermediates and catalytic hydrogenation reaction. The 2D porous structure gives enhanced mass-transfer ability and large accessible surface for better contact with the reactants. Above features endow Co-MoN-MgO/C with good catalytic activity for p-nitrophenol (4-NP) hydrogenation, with a reaction rate constant k of 0.41 min−1 (10 °C), which is 2.73 times greater than Co-MgO/C catalyst (0.15 min−1) and even better than some reported noble-metal catalysts. Furthermore, the catalyst shows good cycling stability with no obvious deactivation after 10 cycles and obvious catalytic activity for a series of nitro-compounds. This work has important implications for the design of efficient non-noble-metal synergistic catalyst for the effective catalytic hydrogenation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Space-based 100-m light condensing reflectors can undergo considerable structural deformations. The simple and accurate analysis of a concentrator system is important, especially when the system has large deformation errors. Further, slope error measurement of large reflectors is challenging. Gaussian distribution and other calculation models cannot accurately characterize the continuous changes of the actual model. Moreover, the analysis of fully fitted deformed surfaces is complicated. Therefore, this paper proposes a method for approximating surfaces by planers. The side lengths of the planes affect the speed and accuracy of modeling. Therefore, this paper analyzes the influence of the side length of the modeling plane and derives the allowable maximum side length of the plane. The model is also analyzed to ensure that its slope error does not change compared to the actual model during the modeling process. Spherical concentrators have great advantages in spatial concentrating owing to their rotational symmetry. Herein, the error model of a spherical low-ratio concentrator is calculated. Finally, an experiment is designed to verify the correctness of the calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The shape of vortex ripples generated by wave boundary layers determines the local hydrodynamics and sediment motions, and therefore is critical for understanding coastal sediment transport in the rippled-bed regime. In this study, coarse-sand vortex ripples were generated by periodic oscillatory flows mimicking full-scale field conditions in an oscillatory water tunnel. A laser-based bottom profiler was applied for measuring the movable bed's profile. The observed ripple development from a flat bed is in agreement with many previous studies. Small ripple marks appeared within a couple of flow periods, and gradually became 3-dimensional (3-D) transient ripples, which eventually evolved to equilibrium 2-dimensional (2-D) ripples after O (100–1000) flow periods. The shape of equilibrium 2-D ripple was studied based on a representative ripple profile obtained by ensemble averaging a periodic ripple train. The shape of ripples formed under sinusoidal flows become increasingly sinusoidal as the flow becomes stronger (larger Shields parameter) or wave period becomes longer, which is possibly because the influence of coherent vortex becomes more significant. Wave nonlinearities have different effects on the ripple shape. Generally speaking, wave skewness makes ripples onshore-leaning while wave asymmetry makes ripples' crests sharper and troughs flatter. Our measurements also revealed some detailed geometric characteristics, i.e., the roundness of ripple crests and the maximum local slope along ripple flanks. Highlights • A full-scale experimental study on the geometry of coarse-sand vortex ripple is conducted in an oscillatory water tunnel. • Ripple development from a flat bed is reported, and the observation is in agreement with previous studies. • Full-scale coarse-sand vortex ripples can be well described by a sinusoidal profile. • Skewed flows make ripples become asymmetric while asymmetric flows make ripples become skewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract We introduce a class of F-theory vacua which may be viewed as a specialization of the so-called E 6 fibration, and construct a weak coupling limit associated with such vacua which we view as the 'square' of the Sen limit. We find that while Sen's limit is naturally viewed as an orientifold theory, the universal tadpole relation which equates the D3 charge between the associated F-theory compactification and the limit we construct suggests that perhaps the limiting theory is in fact an oriented theory compactified on the base of the F-theory elliptic fibration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda (SEDT) is a rare hereditary bone disease characterized by spinal and epiphyseal anomalies. We identified the disease by gene sequencing in a Chinese pedigree with SEDT. Methods. We extracted genomic DNA from five members of a four-generation Chinese SEDT kindred with three affected males and then analyzed the genetic mutation by PCR and DNA sequencing. Results. DNA sequencing showed that the genetic missense mutation occurred one bp upstream of exon 6 in the SEDL gene in two families, and a heterozygous mutation was found in a female carrier. In addition, no mutation was found in the other members of the family. Conclusion. SEDT in this family was caused by a G/C missense mutation in exon 6 of the SEDL gene, previously not shown to be associated with X-linked SEDT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The manifestations of pulmonary cryptococcosis with multiple nodules or masses on computed tomography (CT) are diverse and difficult to differentiate from those of lung cancer and pulmonary tuberculosis. The present study compared the multislice spiral CT signs with pathological results and used the pathological results to explain the CT signs with the aim of improving the accuracy of the diagnosis of this disease. A retrospective analysis of 20 patients with primary pulmonary cryptococcosis with multiple nodules or masses was performed. Based on the CT signs, eight patients had been misdiagnosed with lung cancer accompanied by intrapulmonary metastasis andthree patients had been misdiagnosed with tuberculosis. The major CT manifestations were a cluster of nodules or masses located within 2 cm below the pleura and distributed along the bronchi. A total of nine patients had primary lesions with diameters of 1.1–2.0 cm and 12 patients had satellite lesions with diameters of 0.1–1.0 cm. Regarding treatment, 5 patients underwent surgical monotherapy, 12 patients underwent antifungal monotherapy and three patients received surgery in combination with antifungal therapy. HE staining indicated that Cryptococcus neoformans was engulfed by macrophages, which were surrounded by massive infiltrating lymphocytes and a large amount of fibrous tissue, which formed multinucleated macrophages or granulomas. Periodic acid-Schiff staining was positive and acid fast staining was negative. In conclusion, comparison of CT signs with the pathological manifestation of pulmonary cryptococcosis with multiple nodules or masses indicated that the pathological results may explain certain imaging signs. Combination of CT and pathological examination may provide a deeper understanding of this disease and improve the accuracy of its diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using OpenFOAM, a numerical model is proposed to simulate the interaction of dam-break waves and floating structures. A geometric volume-of-fluid (VOF) method (isoAdvector) is combined with overset grid techniques. To avoid undesired air bubbles appearing in bulk water regions, a source term is introduced to the VOF equation. Attempts are made to alleviate mass conservation defects of the overset grid. It is found that: (i) Among the mesh interpolation schemes considered, the kernel scheme is the most preferable because it reaches a better balance between accuracy and efficiency; (ii) Extending donor cell stencils is not recommended because it magnifies the mass conservation defect of the overset grid; (iii) A strong coupling strategy is recommended because it alleviates the "water leak" phenomenon. Then, to validate the numerical model, two cases are simulated. The first case is a three-dimensional floating body case. The result demonstrates that this model performs better in terms of mass conservation than the model proposed by Wang et al. (2021). The second case is a two-dimensional experiment of the interaction of a dam-break wave and a floating box. The result demonstrates that this model has better temporal and spatial convergence than the default overset grid solver in OpenFOAM. • The problem of undesired air bubbles appearing in bulk water regions are resolved. • The kernel interpolation scheme makes a better trade-off between accuracy and efficiency. • The mass non-conservation defect of overset grid techniques is significantly alleviated. • Present model performs better than the default OpenFOAM solver under tested conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Personalized ready-to-eat foods with complex three-dimensional (3D) structure can be realized through 3D printing. As a representative of high-fat food, Cheddar cheese has been selected to investigate the effect of Whey protein isolate nanofibrils (WPNFs) to reduce fat content and improve 3D printability. With excellent emulsifying, thickening, gelling and antioxidant activities, WPNFs have been used as the only additive to prepare processed cheese. As observed in the CLSM micrographs and LF-NMR analysis, WPNFs can immobilize the increased moisture and homogenize the distribution of fat and moisture. The cohesiveness of WPNF-processed cheese has been proved to be a key factor in maintaining line continuity and layer-to-layer fusion during 3D printing. In addition to regulating the printability of processed cheese, WPNFs could delay the color change of 3D printed constructions for its antioxidant properties. The 3D rabbit and swan printed by F20 have showed clear details and accurate shape, smooth surfaces, and stability. This study will provide a novel food additive WPNFs to improve the 3D printability of high-fat foods with customized shape, texture, flavor, and nutritional requirements. [Display omitted] • WPNFs can efficiently improve 3D printability of high-fat food. • WPNFs better homogenized the distribution of fat and water in processed cheeses. • WPNF-processed cheeses showed improved 3D printing accuracy and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) with mitral valve surgery is undisputed in severe ischaemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) treatment, but the controversy is whether mitral valve replacement (MVR) or mitral valvuloplasty (MVP) should be used.Methods: Data was collected from 130 cases of severe IMR patients who underwent CABG and MVP or MVR from June 2010 to June 2015 to compare the short-term efficacy of CABG with MVP or MVR in the treatment of severe IMR patients. There were 70 cases in the MVP group and 60 in the MVP group. The postoperative major cardiac cerebral vascular events and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD), and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) were recorded.Results: Eleven patients died in hospital, the remaining patients were followed up for 12 months; 18 patients died. The cumulative survival rate and the major cardiac cerebrovascular events were not significantly different. There was no significant change in LVEF, but LVEDD, LVESD and systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) improved significantly, and there was no difference between the groups. In the MVR group, the rate of postoperative moderate or severe mitral regurgitation patients was significantly less than that in the MVP group.Conclusion: The short-term survival rate, reversal of left ventricular remodelling and major cardiac or cerebrovascular events post-CABG combined with MVP were not significantly different to those with CABG combined with MVR in the treatment of severe IMR, but long-term efficacy remains to be observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (MPs), a new and increasing environmental pollutant, can cause ongoing damage to organisms. Although recent studies have revealed mechanisms of action for some of the hepatotoxicity caused by MPs, the role-played by cellular interactions, particularly immune cells, in the process of liver injury has not been elucidated. In the present study, 5-μm polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) induced liver inflammation as well as the formation of Macrophage extracellular traps (METs). Macrophage and LMH cell co-culture systems confirmed that PS-MPs-induced METs promote inflammation in hepatocytes. Mechanistically, macrophages actively phagocytose particles after 4 h of exposure to PS-MPs. Subsequently PS-MPs elevated ROS levels and disrupt mitochondrial kinetic homeostasis. Further activation of mitochondrial autophagy and lysosomes. After phagocytosis of PS-MPs by macrophages for 12 h, continued autophagy and lysosome activation eventually lead to lysosome rupture and release of calcium ions to induce the formation of METs. Blocking ROS (NAC) and autophagy (3MA) partially alleviated mitochondrial and lysosomal damage and thus inhibited the formation of METs induced by PS-MPs. NAC also delayed the onset of respiratory burst to alleviate METs formation. In conclusion, our study reveals the mechanism of METs formation in liver inflammation induced by PS-MPs exposure and suggests that lysosomal damage may be one of the key players in the formation of METs induced by PS-MPs. [Display omitted] • MPs causes mitochondrial damage, autophagy and lysosome activation in macrophages. • MPs trigger sustained mitophagy and lysosomal activation. • Macrophage lysosomal hyperactivation by MPs is involved in the formation of METs. • MPs induce macrophages to produce METs and promote liver inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common reproductive and metabolic disorder that is closely correlated with insulin resistance. Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) is an important carrier for regulating androgen activity and is affected by insulin level, which is related to metabolic abnormalities and long-term prognosis of PCOS. Insulin sensitizer pioglitazone can improve the SHBG level and dyslipidaemia in PCOS, but the mechanism remains unclear. We investigated liver SHBG expression, liver lipid levels, and the effects and potential mechanisms of pioglitazone on reproductive and metabolic disorders in a rat model of polycystic ovary syndrome with insulin resistance (PCOS-IR). PCOS-IR was induced by letrozole and a high-fat diet. Metformin was used as a positive control. Additionally, dihydrotestosterone and oleic acid combined with palmitic acid were used to induce the HepG2 cell models with IR. The cells were exposed to pioglitazone alone or in combination with a hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF)− 4α inhibitor. Changes in biochemical characteristics were analysed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Vaginal smears were used to analyse the oestrous cycle, and ovarian histology was used to analyse the changes in ovarian morphology. The degree of IR in vivo and in vitro was measured using the hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp and glucose oxidase techniques. The levels of key anabolism-related proteins, including SHBG, HNF-4α, and peroxidase proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR-γ), were measured using western blots. Pioglitazone and metformin significantly increased the SHBG levels in the sera and livers. Compared to metformin, pioglitazone significantly improved the lipid droplet deposition, triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels, HNF-4α protein expression, and weights of the livers in the PCOS-IR rats. After applying pioglitazone with an HNF-4α inhibitor in the PCOS-IR cell models, we found that pioglitazone may increase SHBG and improve IR, TG, and TC levels by upregulating HNF-4α. Similar to metformin, pioglitazone also restored the oestrous cycle and ovarian morphology, ameliorated IR and hyperandrogenaemia in the PCOS-IR rats. Our findings hint at the value of HNF-4α in the treatment of PCOS by PIO, which could shed light on potential targets that may be used in treatments for PCOS with metabolic disorders. • Pioglitazone can reduce liver weight in PCOS-IR rats. • Pioglitazone ameliorates lipid metabolism in PCOS-IR rat livers and HepG2 cells. • Pioglitazone upregulates SHBG and its transcription factors HNF-4α. • Pioglitazone partially increases SHBG levels and reduces TG, TC, and IR by upregulating liver HNF-4α protein expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parthenogenetically activated oocytes cannot develop to term in mammals due to lack of paternal gene expression. Disruption of imprinted gene expression and DNA methylation status in parthenogenetic fetuses has been reported in mice and pigs, but not in rabbits. In this study, the genomic imprinting status of the paternally expressed genes Neuronatin ( NNAT ), Nucleosome assembly protein 1-like 5 ( NAP1L5 ), and Makorin ring finger protein 3 ( MKRN3 ) was compared between rabbit parthenogenetic (PA) and normally fertilized fetuses (Con) using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and bisulfite sequencing PCR (BSP). The results revealed a significantly reduced expression of NNAT , NAP1L5 , and MKRN3 in rabbit PA fetuses compared with Con fetuses ( p < 0.05). In addition, the BSP results demonstrated hypermethylation in the differentially methylated regions (DMRs) of NNAT , NAP1L5, and MKRN3 in rabbit PA fetuses. Taken together, these results suggest that hypermethylation of DMRs is associated with decreased NNAT , NAP1L5, and MKRN3 expression, which may be responsible for developmental failure of rabbit PA fetuses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hundreds of leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinases (LRR-RLKs) play indispensable roles in a wide range of plant developmental and physiological processes. The mechanisms controlling LRR-RLKs at a basal and inactive status are essential but rarely studied. BKI1 is the only reported inhibitor of receptor kinases in Arabidopsis , which negatively regulates BRI1 in the brassinosteroid pathway. In this study, we found that BKI1 can also interact with another important LRR-RLK, ERECTA (ER). Phenotypic analysis showed that BKI1 and ER together regulate plant architecture, including pedicel orientation, which is a newly reported phenotype in the BR- and ER-mediated developmental processes. Gene expression analysis revealed that BKI1 regulates a subset of ER-responsive genes. Kinase assays demonstrated that BKI1 inhibits ER kinase activity. In addition, the release of BKI1 inhibition on ER signaling relies largely on BRI1 activation. Our data provide significant insights into the regulation and activation of RLKs and suggest that BKI1 functions as a common suppressor of the BRI1 and ER signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) have been investigated experimentally as anodes for Na and K ion batteries. In this work, atomic ZIF-8 models with Zn vacancies have been constructed and the adsorption and diffusion properties of alkali metal atoms are analyzed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Zinc vacancies have strong adsorption energy for alkali metal atoms, especially when the first atom is inserted. Additionally, the intercalation of alkali metal atoms would reduce energy band gap of ZIF-8 from 4.85 eV to 4.31 eV for Na and 3.82 eV for K. Moreover, alkali metal atoms can diffuse smoothly in ZIF-8, and the energy barriers are 0.10 eV for Li, 0.45 eV for Na and 0.66 eV for K, respectively. This work deeply explores the interaction mechanism between alkali metals and ZIF-8 theoretically, and provides a reference for the future design of porous carbon materials as anodes for metal ion batteries. [Display omitted] • Zinc vacancies have strong adsorption energy for alkali metal atoms. • The intercalation of alkali metal atoms would reduce energy band gap of ZIF-8. • The diffusion energy barriers in ZIF-8 are 0.10 eV for Li, 0.45 eV for Na and 0.66 eV for K, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluoride (F) is an environmental pollutant that continues to threaten human health. Long-term or excessive fluoride exposure can cause a series of acute or chronic systemic and organ-specific diseases. The liver is considered to be one of the important target organs of fluoride poisoning, however, the specific cause of liver damage caused by fluoride is still unclear. In the present study, we identified ferroptosis as a key mechanism of fluoride-induced liver injury. Under fluorosis conditions, lipid peroxidation levels in the liver are significantly increased and iron overload is induced. Combined transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis revealed that activation of the SIRT1/FOXOs pathway is one of the main causes of fluorosis-induced liver damage. Further analysis by in vitro experiments showed that the SIRT1/FOXOs pathway can cause the activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway under the condition of fluorosis, and can activate the P53-dependent ferroptosis pathway, leading to the occurrence of lipid peroxidation and iron accumulation, ultimately leading to ferroptosis. Our study provides insight into the mechanism of fluoride-induced liver injury, and our results also provide strategies for treatment to alleviate liver injury caused by fluorosis. [Display omitted] • Combined multi-omics analysis found that fluorosis can lead to ferroptosis in chicken liver. • FOXOs and Nrf2 pathways are involved in fluoride-induced P53-dependent ferroptosis. • Fluoride can induce Fe2+ accumulation and ROS accumulation in chicken primary hepatocytes and LMH cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (MPs) are a new type of pollutants that are widespread in nature, and their toxic effects on humans or animals are receiving attention. Birds are in a higher ecological niche in nature, and MPs may have potential bioaccumulation and biomagnification risks to birds. The mechanisms underlying the reproductive toxicity of MPs to birds are mainly unknown. To study the reproductive toxicity of MPs to birds, we randomly divided chickens into six groups and exposed polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) through drinking water (0, 1, and 100 mg/L) for 28 and 42 days. We found that PS-MPs caused testicular inflammatory infiltration and interstitial hemorrhage, resulting in testicular tissue damage; the expression of Claudin3 and Occludin in the blood-testis barrier (BTB) decreased and may damage the integrity of the BTB. PS-MPs exposure inhibited the expression of the Nrf2-Keap1 pathway, which in turn reduced HO-1 and NQO1, simultaneous GSH and T-AOC were also reduced, resulting in an imbalance of the redox system; in addition, the NF-κB signaling pathway was activated, increasing the expression of TNF-α, COX-2 and iNOS. Under redox system imbalance and inflammatory stress, exposure to PS-MPs led to decreased expression of Bcl-2 and increased Bax, cytc, caspase-8, and caspase-3, etc., activating apoptosis, and ultimately causing testicular damage. These results suggested that PS-MPs exposure led to an imbalance of the redox system and an inflammatory response, inducing both endogenous and exogenous apoptosis, resulting in testicular tissue damage. Our study provides a theoretical basis for reproductive injury mechanisms in chicken. [Display omitted] • PS-MPs resulted in inflammatory infiltration and hemorrhage of testicular tissue. • PS-MPs induced oxidative stress through excessive inhibition of antioxidant system. • PS-MPs caused reproductive toxicity through crosstalk NF-κB and Nrf2 pathways. • PS-MPs exposure led to apoptosis and thus reproductive toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The photocatalytic membranes with uniform thickness, flexibility and higher light absorption were prepared. • The CA/SCN-200 membrane showed excellent removal efficiency for algal cells under visible irradiation. • Algal organic matters including MC-LR could be partly removed in the photocatalytic process. • The practical application value of prepared photocatalytic membranes also was confirmed by the flowing flume experiment. Development of immobilized composite photocatalysts for efficient inactivation of algal cells is important because of the features of easy recycling and high stability. Herein, ultrathin g-C 3 N 4 (SCN) are embedded into cellulose acetate (CA) matrix to form CA/SCN composite membranes. The obtained photocatalytic membranes exhibit the properties of thickness uniformity, flexible and higher light absorption compared to the bulk one. Under visible light, 92% of algal can be removed by the optimal CA/SCN photocatalytic membrane (CA/SCN-200). During photocatalytic algal inactivation, algal cells occur photosynthetic activity decrease, antioxidant system collapse and membrane damage. In addition, algal organic matters and MC-LR can also be removed during the photocatalytic process. More importantly, large area membrane which also exhibits high algal removal performance can be prepared easily. This work provides a new way to develop high performance photocatalytic membranes for algal removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]