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Cancer immunotherapy relies on the insight that the immune system can be used to defend against malignant cells. The aim of cancer immunotherapy is to utilize, modulate, activate, and train the immune system to amplify antitumor T-cell immunity. In parallel, the immune system response to damaged tissue is also crucial in determining the success or failure of an implant. Due to their extracellular matrix mimetics and tunable chemical or physical performance, hydrogels are promising platforms for building immunomodulatory microenvironments for realizing cancer therapy and tissue regeneration. However, submicron or nanosized pore structures within hydrogels are not favorable for modulating immune cell function, such as cell invasion, migration, and immunophenotype. In contrast, hydrogels with a porous structure not only allow for nutrient transportation and metabolite discharge but also offer more space for realizing cell function. In this review, the design strategies and influencing factors of porous hydrogels for cancer therapy and tissue regeneration are first discussed. Second, the immunomodulatory effects and therapeutic outcomes of different porous hydrogels for cancer immunotherapy and tissue regeneration are highlighted. Beyond that, this review highlights the effects of pore size on immune function and potential signal transduction. Finally, the remaining challenges and perspectives of immunomodulatory porous hydrogels are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study objective: To evaluate the efficacy and pregnancy outcomes of intrauterine balloon and intrauterine contraceptive devices in the prevention of adhesion reformation following hysteroscopic adhesiolysis in infertile women with moderate to severe intrauterine adhesion. Design: A prospective, randomized, controlled trial study. Setting: A tertiary university hospital. Patients: A total of 130 patients with moderate (American Fertility Society [AFS] score of 5–8) and severe (AFS score of 9–12) intrauterine adhesions were recruited. Interventions: 86 patients were evenly allocated to group treated with an IUD for 1 month and group treated with an IUD for 2 months. 44 patients were allocated to group treated with a Foley catheter balloon.(IUD: Yuangong IUD). Measurements and main results: The primary outcome measures were the AFS score, endometrial thickness, and pregnancy outcome. After hysteroscopy, the AFS score was significantly decreased(P<0.05), whereas endometrial thickness was significantly increased across the three groups(P<0.001). Notably, the decline in the AFS score in the balloon group was greater than that in the IUD-1-month group and IUD-2-month group(P<0.01), with no significant difference between the IUD groups(P = 0.298). Lastly, In addition, the extent of the increase in endometrial thickness(P = 0.502) and the pregnancy outcomes(P = 0.803) in the three groups were not significantly different. Conclusion: Inserting a balloon or placing an IUD for one or two months can effectively lower the risk of adhesion recurrence and restore the shape of the uterine cavity. While the therapeutic effect of the balloon was superior to that of the IUD, no significant differences were observed in the one-month and two-month IUD groups. Trial registration: This research was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (http://www.chictr.org.cn/enIndex.aspx); Clinical trial registry identification number: ChiCTR-IOR-17,011,943 (http://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=17979). Date of trial registration: July 11, 2017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whole breast irradiation after breast‐conserving surgery for early breast cancer has become one of the standard treatment modes for breast cancer and yields the same effect as radical surgery. Accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) as a substitute for whole breast irradiation for patients with early breast cancer is a hot spot in clinical research. APBI is characterised by simple high‐dose local irradiation of the tumour bed in a short time, thus improving convenience for patients and saving costs. The implementation methods of APBI mainly include brachytherapy, external beam radiation therapy, and intraoperative radiotherapy. This review provides an overview of the clinical effects and adverse reactions of the main technologies of APBI and discusses the prospects for the future development of APBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. Postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) is an essential component of combined therapy for early‐stage, high‐risk breast cancer. Breast reconstruction (BR) is often considered for patients with breast cancer who have undergone mastectomy. There has been a considerable amount of discussion about the optimal approach to combining PMRT with BR in the treatment of breast cancer. PMRT may increase the risk of complications and prevent good aesthetic results after BR, while BR may increase the complexity of PMRT and the radiation dose to surrounding normal tissues. The purpose of this review is to give a broad overview and summary of the current controversies and trends in PMRT and BR in the context of the most recent literature available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The BESIII experiment, serving as the only operational τ -charm factory, has made significant strides in advancing our understanding of baryons. Notably, it has achieved a remarkable series of breakthroughs encompassing baryon decays, mass spectra, and production mechanisms. This mini review serves as the one-stop shop for readers who would like to know what has been studied about baryons at BESIII, and of course, it could be a starting point for studies about baryons at BESIII or even a super-Tau-Charm factory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is associated with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although early reperfusion is the most effective strategy to salvage ischemic myocardium, reperfusion injury can develop with the restoration of blood flow. Therefore, it is important to identify protection mechanisms and strategies for the heart after myocardial infarction. Recent studies have shown that multiple intracellular molecules and signaling pathways are involved in cardioprotection. Meanwhile, device-based cardioprotective modalities such as cardiac left ventricular unloading, hypothermia, coronary sinus intervention, supersaturated oxygen (SSO2), and remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) have become important areas of research. Herein, we review the molecular mechanisms of cardioprotection and cardioprotective modalities after ischemia–reperfusion injury (IRI) to identify potential approaches to reduce mortality and improve prognosis in patients with AMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Contemporary risk‐directed treatment has improved the outcome of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and TCF3::PBX1 fusion. In this study, the authors seek to identify prognostic factors that can be used to further improve outcome. Methods: The authors studied 384 patients with this genotype treated on Chinese Children's Cancer Group ALL‐2015 protocol between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2019. All patients provisionally received intensified chemotherapy in the intermediate‐risk arm without prophylactic cranial irradiation; those with high minimal residual disease (MRD) ≥1% at day 46 (end) of remission induction were candidates for hematopoietic cell transplantation. Results: The overall 5‐year event‐free survival was 84.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 80.6–88.3) and 5‐year overall survival 88.9% (95% CI, 85.5–92.4). Independent factors associated with lower 5‐year event‐free survival were male sex (80.4%, [95% CI, 74.8–86.4] vs. 88.9%, [95% CI, 84.1–93.9] in female, p =.03) and positive day 46 MRD (≥0.01%) (62.1%, [95% CI, 44.2–87.4] vs. 87.1%, [95% CI, 83.4–90.9] in patients with negative MRD, p <.001). The presence of testicular leukemia at diagnosis (n = 10) was associated with particularly dismal 5‐year event‐free survival (33.3% [95% CI, 11.6–96.1] vs. 83.0% [95% CI, 77.5–88.9] in the other 192 male patients, p <.001) and was an independent risk factor (hazard ratio [HR], 5.7; [95% CI, 2.2–14.5], p <.001). Conclusions: These data suggest that the presence of positive MRD after intensive remission induction and testicular leukemia at diagnosis are indicators for new molecular therapeutics or immunotherapy in patients with TCF3::PBX1 ALL. Minimal residual disease ≥0.01% at the end of remission induction was associated with an inferior event‐free survival in patients with TCF3::PBX1 acute lymphoblastic leukemia despite intensified chemotherapy. The presence of overt testicular leukemia conferred a particularly poor outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The effect of prolonged pulse therapy with vincristine and dexamethasone (VD) during maintenance therapy on the outcome of paediatric patients with TCF3‐PBX1 positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) remains uncertain. We conducted non‐inferiority analysis of 263 newly diagnosed TCF3‐PBX1 positive ALL children who were stratified and randomly assigned (1:1) to receive seven additional VD pulses (the control group) or not (the experimental group) in the CCCG‐ALL‐2015 clinical trial from January 2015 to December 2019 (ChiCTR‐IPR‐14005706). There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics between the two groups. With a median follow‐up of 4.2 years, the 5‐year event‐free survival (EFS) and 5‐year overall survival (OS) in the control group were 90.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 85.1–95.4) and 94.7% (95% CI, 90.9–98.6) comparable to those in the experimental group 89.2% (95% CI 84.1–94.7) and 95.6% (95% CI 91.8–99.6), respectively. Non‐inferiority was established as a one‐sided 95% upper confidence bound for the difference in probability of 5‐year EFS was 0.003, and that for 5‐year OS was 0.01 by as‐treated analysis. Thus, omission of pulse therapy with VD beyond one year of treatment did not affect the outcome of children with TCF3‐PBX1 positive ALL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Installing rough strip energy dissipators (R-SEDs) at the bottom of curved spillways can facilitate energy dissipation and flow stabilization. In this study, the effects of R-SEDs set at the bottom of a 60° bend in a spillway were examined. This spillway had a large width-to-depth ratio (B / H > 5). Based on physical model tests, the distribution of hydraulic properties of the spillway under different runs was studied and analyzed. The results show that the R-SEDs effectively improved the flow pattern in the bend. The R-SEDs reduced the average dimensionless flow velocity by about 37.9% by increasing the roughness at the bottom of the bend. The energy dissipation rate of the R-SED decreased with an increase in discharge flow rate and ranged between 30% and 50%. These indicate that it is feasible to apply the R-SEDs to 60° bends of spillways with a large width-to-depth ratio at low-flow runs (the tested discharge flow rate = 15 L / s). These results will provide a theoretical basis for the R-SED design of similar curved spillways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rough-strips energy dissipator (R-SED) is applied to the bottom of the spillway bend and can play the role of energy dissipation and flow stabilization. In this study, based on 18 sets of orthogonal tests and the principle of dimensional analysis, a multifactor influence model of R-SED's energy dissipation rate was proposed. A dimensionless factor k was introduced, which can reflect the comprehensive characteristics of the geometric dimensions of R-SEDs. The multifactor influence model of the energy dissipation rate considered nine factors, including bend radius of curvature Rc, bend width B, flow velocity of the bend inlet v , R-SED's average height hL, R-SED's arrangement angle θ, R-SED's arrangement spacing ∆L, fluid density ρ, dynamic viscosity coefficient μ, and gravitational acceleration g. The residual sum of squares of the model (RSS) was 6.6% and the correlation coefficient R was 83.2% (>80%), indicating the universality and feasibility of the model. The independent variables of the multifactor model of the energy dissipation rate were ranked according to the Pearson value in descending order: (ΔL/Rc) > (θ) > (B/Rc) > (hL/Rc) > (1/Fr2). This indicates that R-SEDs' layout parameters showed larger effects on the multifactor model of the energy dissipation rate, compared with the engineering layout parameters of the spillway. The maximum relative error between the predicted value of the multifactor model and the measured value of the validation group was 6.28%, indicating good agreement. In the orthogonal tests, scenario 5 had the highest energy dissipation rate (44.83%) with k = 0.023; scenario 16 had the largest k value (0.043), with an energy dissipation rate of 40.78%. The multifactor influence model of R-SEDs' energy dissipation rate proposed in this paper was a semi-theoretical and semi-empirical calculation formula, which can provide reference and support for similar practical engineering designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to solve the unfair individual payment costs problem in the low-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) conflict resolution process, a multi-UAV conflict resolution algorithm based on the cooperative game concept "coalition complaint value" is proposed. Firstly, based on the low-altitude multi-UAV conflict scene characteristics, according to the "coalition complaint value" concept, the UAV conflict resolution payment matrix is established. Secondly, combined with the advantages of the artificial potential field (APF) method and the genetic algorithm (GA), a hybrid solution strategy for conflict resolution based on APF-GA is proposed. The final simulation results show that the APF-GA hybrid solution strategy has the best efficiency by combining the three evaluation indicators of calculation time, feasibility, and system efficiency. The reliability of the proposed algorithm is verified based on the Monte Carlo algorithm. The solution strategy based on the cooperative game "coalition complaint value" can improve individual fairness to a certain extent. At the same time, it can achieve the rapid planning goal with priority drones at the expense of a small amount of overall benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amitriptyline (AMI) is a traditional tricyclic antidepressant that has been proven to exhibit neuroprotective effects in various neurological disorders. However, the underlying mechanism by which AMI attenuates lidocaine-induced neurotoxicity remains poorly understood. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is an essential neurotrophin to neuronal development and survival in the brain, and recent studies have suggested that BDNF plays an important role in mediating lidocaine-induced neurotoxicity. The present study was performed to evaluate the protective effect of AMI against the neurotoxicity induced by lidocaine and to explore the role of BDNF-dependent autophagy in this process. The data showed that AMI pretreatment alleviated lidocaine-induced neurotoxicity, as evidenced by the restoration of cell viability, normalization of cell morphology, and reduction in the cell apoptosis index. In addition, autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) had a protective effect similar to that of AMI, but autophagy activator rapamycin eliminated the protective effect of AMI by suppressing mTOR activation. Moreover, at the molecular level, we found that AMI-mediated autophagy was involved in the expression of BDNF. The overexpression of BDNF or application of exogenous recombinant BDNF significantly suppressed autophagy and protected SH-SY5Y cells from apoptosis induced by Lido, whereas the neuroprotection of AMI was abolished by either knockdown of BDNF or use of a tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) inhibitor ANA-12 in SH-SY5Y cells. Overall, our findings demonstrated that the protective effect of AMI against lidocaine-induced neurotoxicity correlated with inhibition of autophagy activity through upregulation of BDNF expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periodic groundwater table fluctuations are found frequently in natural aquifers due to sea tides or seasonal recharge. However, their impact on the transport of volatile organic compounds in the vadose zone released from a groundwater contaminant source (i.e., vapor intrusion) has not been well known. A 2D numerical model was developed to explore vapor intrusion processes in the sandy vadose zone, subject to a fluctuating groundwater table with a range of fluctuation amplitudes and periods. A carcinogenic compound, Trichloroethylene (TCE), was chosen as the groundwater contaminant of interest in the current study and assumed to transport into the dwelling through a crack at the corner of the basement. Results showed that the resistant effect caused by high soil moisture contents in the thin capillary fringe is weakened by periodic groundwater table fluctuations, resulting in a higher concentration of gaseous TCE at the building foundation crack, in comparison with that under a static groundwater table. The increase of the gaseous TCE concentration was induced by the enhancement of diffusion and advection due to groundwater table fluctuations. Sensitivity analyses indicated that a higher amplitude and frequency of fluctuations lead to a higher TCE concentration at the crack under the dynamic equilibrium condition. Specifically, compared with the static groundwater table condition, the TCE concentration at the crack increased by one order of magnitude under the condition of groundwater table fluctuations with an amplitude of 0.2 m and a period of one day. The results obtained could provide insights into the importance of the amplitude and frequency of groundwater table fluctuations on vapor intrusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the applicability of a-C-based films in aviation bearings, a novel superlattice composite multilayered WC-enhanced a-C (CWCC) film and a traditional nanocomposite WC/a-C (WCC) film were prepared by an unbalanced magnetron sputtering system. The microstructures and mechanical properties of films were evaluated, and their friction behaviors under boundary lubrication conditions in aviation lubricant were intensively researched. In comparison to WCC film, the CWCC film showed significantly higher nanohardness and superior toughness attributing to its supperlattice multilayer structure and higher sp3 content. The EDS and Raman analyses indicate that there is only small amount of carbon on the wear scars against CWCC film, while evident tribofilms rich in phosphate and WO 3 formed on the wear scars against WCC film, leading to slightly lower friction coefficients of WCC film. However, CWCC film exhibits more superior wear resistance than WCC film. Especially, at 150 N and 200 N, the wear rate of CWCC film is only about 33.6% and 44.2% of that of WCC film, respectively. It was demonstrated that the novel CWCC film featuring excellent wear resistance in aviation lubricant possesses better potential for the application in aviation bearings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of frozen dough technology presents a compelling solution for prolonging the shelf life of flour products and enhancing production efficiency. This technology has been widely applied and continuously studied. However, the intricate production process of frozen dough introduces a persistent challenge—freezing damage—that impacts different components of frozen dough like starch, gluten protein, yeast, and lipid. This damage leads to a decline in dough quality. This review offers a comprehensive summary of changes occurring in different components in frozen dough from a multiscale perspective, specifically starch, gluten protein, lipid, and yeast. The process improvement methods involving from the main materials to the end products in the actual production process of frozen dough have been discussed. These encompass the selection and optimization of main materials, improvement of yeast freeze tolerance, additives, frozen processes (freezing, storage, and thawing), and dough-making processes. The selection of wheat flour with high gluten strength and the use of composite flour with high dietary fiber can improve the freezing resistance of gluten–starch matrix. The freeze tolerance of yeast can be improved through hybridization, genetic engineering, pretreatment with polycationic peptide (ε-poly- l -lysine), microencapsulation technology, and the addition of anti-freeze agents. In addition to improving the use-effect of different additives, effective methods of obtaining additives and synergistic combinations of multiple additives are in focus. Different frozen doughs need to choose an appropriate freezing rate. The novel physical field-assisted freezing technology has a positive effect on reducing freezing damage. For frozen storage, the subfreezing temperature (−12 °C) is more environmentally friendly and the lower storage temperature is more stable. The innovative microwave thawing has a poor application effect for frozen dough presently. Innovative dough-making processes such as vacuum mixing, heat treatment before dough freezing (part-baked, par-steamed, and preheated dough), and edible coatings are worth exploring. • The quality deterioration mechanism of frozen dough is elucidated with the changes of gluten–starch matrix and other components. • The improvement of the flour and yeast freezing tolerance can improve the quality of frozen dough. • Synergistic combinations of multiple additives can improve the effect of additives. • There is still plenty of room for innovation in frozen dough production such as freezing, storing, thawing and making dough. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to cope with the physical bottleneck of the development of electronic computers, the development of various new computers has attracted extensive attention. Ternary Optical Computer (TOC) is unique in the development of optical computer, from principle to experiment, then to algorithm and application. At present, decoding is the main problem faced by TOC. Aiming at the problem of decoding for TOC, an address calibration technique is designed and implemented in this paper, including address calibration strategy, field parallelism detection, solving separator line algorithm. Contrast to photonic crystals, which can decode logic 0 and 1, our decoder can recognize three logic values, 0, 1 and u. Since 3 is closer to the natural constant e than 2, and e-nary has the highest coding efficiency, our 3-valued encoding and decoding is more efficient. Finally, through the experiment on the TOC prototype SD16, the effectiveness of the decoder address calibration technology is verified. The address calibration technique lays a foundation for further promoting the development of TOC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Density functional theory was adopted in this work to reveal the reaction mechanism of CH2SH with HO2. Reaction rate constants were computed from 200 to 2000 K using the transition state theory combined with Wigner and Eckart tunneling correction. Moreover, localized orbital locator, atoms in molecules and Mayer bond order analyses were used to study the essence of chemical bonding evolution. Eleven singlet paths and three triplet ones are located on the potential surface (PES). The results show that the main products on the singlet PES are 1CH2S and H2O2, whereas on the triplet PES they are CH3SH + 3O2, which are coincident with the similar reaction of CH3S and HO2. This conclusion is also supported by rate constant calculation results. Interestingly, all the possible paths are involved in the hydrogen transfer. The results have provided underlying insights to the analogous reactions and further experimental studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common childhood malignancy, is characterized by recurring structural chromosomal alterations and genetic alterations, whose detection is critical in diagnosis, risk stratification and prognostication. However, the genetic mechanisms that give rise to ALL remain poorly understood.Methods: Using next-generation sequencing (NGS) in matched germline and tumor samples from 140 pediatric Chinese patients with ALL, we landscaped the gene mutations and estimated the mutation frequencies in this disease.Results: Our results showed that the top driver oncogenes having a mutation prevalence over 5% in childhood ALL included KRAS (8.76%), NRAS (6.4%), FLT3 (5.7%) and KMT2D (5.0%). While the most frequently mutated genes were KRAS, NRAS and FLT3 in B cell ALL (B-ALL), the most common mutations were enriched in NOTCH1 (23.1%), FBXW7 (23.1%) and PHF6 (11.5%) in T cell ALL (T-ALL). These mutant genes are involved in key molecular processes, including the Ras pathway, the Notch pathway, epigenetic modification, and cell-cycle regulation. Strikingly, more than 50% of mutations occurred in the high-hyperdiploid (HeH) ALL existed in Ras pathway, especially FLT3 (20%). We also found that the epigenetic regulator gene KMT2D, which is frequently mutated in ALL, may be involved in driving leukemia transformation, as evidenced by an in vitro functional assay.Conclusion: Overall, this study provides further insights into the genetic basis of ALL and shows that Ras mutations are predominant in childhood ALL, especially in the high-hyperdiploid subtype in our research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the applicability of a-C coatings in a wide temperature range, a novel Si- and WC- co-reinforced amorphous carbon coating (SiC-nWCC), consisting of Si-doped a-C nanolayers and WC/a-C nano-multilayers, is proposed in this paper. A series of SiC-nWCC coatings with different modulation ratios (0.49–1.98) were fabricated by a closed field unbalanced magnetron sputtering system. The influences of modulation ratio on the microstructure, mechanical properties together with thermal stability of SiC-nWCC coatings were explored. The tribological behaviors of SiC-nWCC coatings against M50 steel balls were investigated at room temperature to 500 °C in ambient air. The results show that the SiC-nWCC coating with the modulation ratio of 1.98 achieved superior wide-temperature applicability, featuring the average friction coefficient lower than 0.17 and the wear rate less than 9.84 × 10−6 mm3/N·m in the whole temperature range of 25–500 °C. The excellent wide-temperature tribological performance of the SiC-nWCC coating are mainly attributed to the good thermal stability and the formation of temperature adaptive tribological layers. At 25 °C, sp2-rich carbon is the main lubrication phase of tribological layers, and at 200– 400 °C, the lubrication performance of coating relies on both sp2-rich carbon and Si-rich oxides, and at 500 °C, the self-lubrication phases of Si-rich oxides and WO 3 are account for the outstanding lubricating performance of coating. This work provides a profound insight for developing the wide-temperature applicable a-C based coatings. • A novel wide-temperature applicable nanocomposite multilayer SiC-nWCC film is proposed. • SiC-nWCC film with modulation ratio of 1.98 achieves superior tribology performance at 25– 500 °C in ambient air. • Wide-temperature adaptive lubrication mechanism is the combination effects of sp2-rich carbon, Si-rich oxides and WO 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In order to improve and verify the anti-sand erosion performance of TiN film, a series of TiN films were fabricated using filtered cathodic vacuum arc technique by controlling nitrogen flow rate. The phase constituents and mechanical properties with variation of nitrogen flow rate were investigated. The nitrogen deficient phases of TiN 0.30 , Ti 2 N and TiN 0.61 decreased with increasing nitrogen flow rate, and the hardness of film increased monotonically from 16.77 GPa to 28.56 GPa. The results suggested that sand erosion was a complex process, where multiple mechanical properties contributed to the anti-sand erosion performance of TiN films. When the hardness of film was lower than a critical value of 23 GPa, the films exhibited poor anti-sand erosion performance. While for the films with high enough hardness, excessive residual stress was one of the main factors decreasing the anti-sand erosion performance of TiN films. It was demonstrated that by adjusting the phase constituents in TiN films, the variation of nitrogen flow rates made the mechanical properties of films quite different, and it ultimately showed a critical influence on the anti-sand erosion performance of TiN films. Especially, a better TiN film featuring the preferred orientation of TiN (111), the appropriate hardness of 27.33 GPa, the lowest residual stress of −2.15 GPa and the best anti-sand erosion performance was achieved at nitrogen flow rate of 20 sccm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To the best of our knowledge, the microRNA (miR/miRNA) expression profile of plasma exosomes in ovarian cancer has not been previously studied. The aim of the present study was to investigate the practicality of using plasma exosomal miRNAs as novel serological biomarkers of ovarian cancer. In the study, exosome-like vesicles were purified from the plasma of patients with ovarian cancer and healthy women using differential centrifugation. The purified vesicles, ranging from 50–100 nm in size, were identified as exosomes by transmission electron microscopy and western blotting. High-throughput sequencing demonstrated that 65 known miRNAs, 34 of which were upregulated and 31 downregulated, were differentially expressed between patients with ovarian cancer and healthy women (P<0.05; fold change ≥2). The miRNA expression levels of hsa-miR-106a-5p, hsa-let-7d-5p and hsa-miR-93-5p were significantly increased, whereas hsa-miR-122-5p, hsa-miR-185-5p and hsa-miR-99b-5p expression levels were significantly decreased in the exosomes of patients with ovarian cancer compared with those in the healthy controls. Additionally, the miRNA expression levels of plasma hsa-miR-93-5p were significantly increased in patients with ovarian cancer compared with those in the healthy controls, while the plasma expression levels of hsa-miR-122-5p and hsa-miR-99b-5p were significantly decreased in patients with ovarian cancer compared with those in the healthy controls. Overall, the present study identified plasma and exosomal miRNAs with dysregulated expression in patients with ovarian cancer compared with that in healthy controls, and the differentially expressed miRNAs may have potential as diagnostic and prognostic targets for the treatment of patients with ovarian cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract It is an effective and precise strategy to design the fluorescence probe for Hg2+ based on a new specific reaction. A novel turn-on fluorescent probe, 4-{2-[4-(2-Mercapto-benzoyloxy)-phenyl]-vinyl}-1-methyl-pyridinium[ e ]iodide (MBPVP) for Hg2+ was developed. The mechanism was based on Hg2+-mediated ester hydrolysis to release the fluorophore, 4-[2-(4-Hydroxy-phenyl)-vinyl]-1-methyl-pyridinium[ e ]iodide, which showed outstanding intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) and the yellow-green fluorescence were observed. The turn-on probe showed rapid response time, outstanding selectivity and sensitivity for Hg2+ over other metal ions in 100% PBS buffer (pH = 7.4). The linear range was 2–16 µM and the detection limit was 6.5 nM. Furthermore, MBPVP was used to determine Hg2+ in real samples and in the solid state. Graphical abstract fx1 Highlights • A turn-on fluorescence probe (MBPVP) for Hg2+ based on new specific reaction was developed. • MBPVP showed rapid response time, high selectivity and sensitivity in 100% aqueous solution. • The probe was applied in water samples and in the solid state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract To improve the tribological performance of M50NiL aero-bearing steel, the TiN, GLC and WC/GLC films were deposited on the M50NiL steel treated by low pressure vacuum carburizing. GLC and WC/GLC films were prepared using unbalance magnetron sputtering system, and TiN films were deposited by magnetic filtered cathode vacuum arc system. The microstructures and mechanical properties of the films were evaluated. The tribological properties of the films were investigated in different environments including dry sliding and #4010 aviation lubricant. The results show that, in dry sliding, WC/GLC film exhibits better tribological performance than GLC film under the load ranging from 5 N to 15 N, while as the load increases to 20 N, the wear rate of WC/GLC film is about 10% higher than that of GLC film. In #4010 aviation lubricant, under the full load ranging from 5 N to 30 N, TiN film shows lower friction coefficient than GLC film, and WC/GLC film performs the best tribological performance. Moreover, the wear mechanisms of TiN, GLC and WC/GLC films were analyzed. Highlights • TiN, GLC and WC/GLC films were deposited on the M50NiL steel treated by low pressure vacuum carburizing. • WC/GLC film performed the best tribological performance in #4010 aviation lubricant. • TiN film shows lower friction coefficient than GLC film in #4010 aviation lubricant. • The wear mechanisms of TiN, GLC and WC/GLC films were analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) can undergo dual nucleophilic reaction, which is a wise and effective way to distinguish biothiols and H 2 S. A novel H 2 S fluorescence probe, 4-{2-[4-(2-disulfide pyridyl-benzoyloxy)-phenyl]-vinyl}-1-methyl-pyridinium[ e ]iodide (DSPBP), with two nucleophilic reaction sites has been developed. The spectra results showed that DSPBP could detect H 2 S in ratiometric and colorimetric signals and has excellent selectivity and sensitivity. The fluorescence ratiometric signals (F 520 /F 450) displayed a prominent increase from 0.74 to 7.08, the fluorescence color turned to yellow form blue simultaneously. The linear range was 2–14 μM and its detection limit was 25.7 nM. Moreover, the biocompatibility of DSPBP was fine and its toxicity was very low. It has been successfully used for imaging H 2 S in cells. Graphical Abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • A ratiometric fluorescence probe (DSPBP) for H 2 S with bis-nucleophilic center was developed. • DSPBP showed rapid response time, high selectivity and sensitivity for H 2 S over biothiol. • DSPBP would used to detect H 2 S in living cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract To study the sand erosion damage evolution and mechanism of TiN/Ti multilayer coatings, the coatings with period numbers of 1, 2, 4 and 8, were deposited by combining the techniques of FCVA and MEVVA ion implantation. The coatings were evaluated via nano-indentation and scratcher, and numerical simulations and sand erosion experiments were conducted. All of the coatings show quite high adhesion strengths of ~80 N. Besides, it was found that the deposited defects could lead to premature failure of coating. In the absence of defects, attributing to the maximum tensile stress and highest stress gradient in the exposed topmost TiN layer, the TiN/Ti coatings are generally eroded off as layered. The simulation results showed the high tensile stress distributing on the surface and undersurface of every TiN layer were probably the main factors for crack initiation and brittle flaking. Accordingly, the TiN/Ti coating with one period performed the best erosion resistance, while the coating with eight periods showed the worst performance. These results indicate that based on the high adhesion strength and few defects, the fewer TiN layers in coating, the fewer vulnerable regions with high tensile stress, and resulting in better sand erosion resistance. Highlights • The TiN/Ti coatings are deposited by combining the techniques of FCVA and MEVVA ion implantation. • The highest tensile stress and maximum stress gradient distribute on the topmost TiN surface of the coating. • In the absence of deposited defects, the TiN/Ti multilayer coatings are eroded off as layered. • The fewer TiN layers, the fewer regions with high tensile stress, leading to better erosion resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spiropyran compounds are well known as an isomeric system, the closed spiropyran (SP) could be converted into the open merocyanine (MC) via acid-induced because stable protonated merocyanine (MCH) were formed by combination of MC and H + . In order to understand how the substituent affect the isomerization of spiropyran. A series of the chromene 7-subsituted spiropyran compounds were designed and synthesized. The photophysical properties of them were studied comparatively by UV-absorption and fluorescence spectra in different pH. The results demonstrated that the various substituents influenced not only the photophysical properties of SP, MC and MCH forms, but also the p K a of the MC-MCH transformation. There was a good linearity relationship between the p K a and the Hammett constant of substituent, the p K a was smaller when the Hammett constant of substituent was larger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Two conjugated copolymer donors, PTTABDT and PBTTABDT, based on a fused‐ring azepinedione acceptor unit, 5‐(2‐octyldodecyl)‐4H‐thieno[2′,3′:4,5]thieno[3,2‐c]thieno[2′,3′:4,5]thieno[2,3‐e]azepine‐4,6(5H)‐dione (TTA), are prepared. PTTABDT possesses a conventional donor–acceptor (D–A) structure with one TTA in the repeat unit, while PBTTABDT has a D–A–A structure with two TTAs in the repeat unit. Compared with PTTABDT, PBTTABDT shows a deeper highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) level, a narrower bandgap, and a higher hole mobility, and exhibits better performance in bulk heterojunction solar cells. Power conversion efficiencies of 6.18% and 7.81% are achieved from PTTABDT:PC71BM and PBTTABDT:PC71BM solar cells, respectively. The higher performance of PBTTABDT:PC71BM solar cells results from the enhanced open‐circuit voltage (Voc) and short‐circuit current density (  Jsc). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider the stability of standing waves for the fractional Schrödinger–Hartree equation. By using the profile decomposition theory and variational methods, we firstly obtain the best constant of a generalized Gagliardo–Nirenberg inequality and then prove that the standing waves are orbitally stable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider the stability of standing waves for the fractional Schrödinger–Choquard equation with an L 2 -critical nonlinearity. By using the profile decomposition of bounded sequences in H s and variational methods, we prove that the standing waves are orbitally stable. We extend the study of Bhattarai for a single equation (Bhattarai, 2017) to the L 2 -critical case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate the stability for the nonlinear Hartree equation with time-dependent coefficients We first obtain the Lipschitz continuity of the solution $u=u(\alpha ,\beta)$ with respect to coefficients α and β, and then prove that this equation is stable under the perturbation of coefficients. Our results improve some recent results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, natural wetlands have suffered severe ecological degradation (vegetation, soil, and biotic community) due to multiple factors. Understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics and driving forces of natural wetlands is the key to natural wetlands' protection and regional restoration. In this study, we first investigated the spatiotemporal evolutionary trends and shifting characteristics of natural wetlands in the Northeast Plain of China from 1990 to 2020. A dataset of driving-force evaluation indicators was constructed with nine indirect (elevation, temperature, road network, etc.) and four direct influencing factors (dryland, paddy field, woodland, grassland). Finally, we built the driving force analysis model of natural wetlands changes to quantitatively refine the contribution of different driving factors for natural wetlands' dynamic change by introducing the sparrow search algorithm (SSA) and extreme gradient boosting algorithm (XGBoost). The results showed that the total area of natural wetlands in the Northeast Plain of China increased by 32% from 1990 to 2020, mainly showing a first decline and then an increasing trend. Combined with the results of transfer intensity, we found that the substantial turn-out phenomenon of natural wetlands occurred in 2000–2005 and was mainly concentrated in the central and eastern parts of the Northeast Plain, while the substantial turn-in phenomenon of 2005–2010 was mainly located in the northeast of the study area. Compared with a traditional regression model, the SSA-XGBoost model not only weakened the multicollinearity of each driver but also significantly improved the generalization ability and interpretability of the model. The coefficient of determination (R2) of the SSA-XGBoost model exceeded 0.6 in both the natural wetland decline and rise cycles, which could effectively quantify the contribution of each driving factor. From the results of the model calculations, agricultural activities consisting of dryland and paddy fields during the entire cycle of natural wetland change were the main driving factors, with relative contributions of 18.59% and 15.40%, respectively. Both meteorological (temperature, precipitation) and topographic factors (elevation, slope) had a driving role in the spatiotemporal variation of natural wetlands. The gross domestic product (GDP) had the lowest contribution to natural wetlands' variation. This study provides a new method of quantitative analysis based on machine learning theory for determining the causes of natural wetland changes; it can be applied to large spatial scale areas, which is essential for a rapid monitoring of natural wetlands' resources and an accurate decision-making on the ecological environment's security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The peripheral nerve system has an intrinsic regenerative capacity in response to traumatic injury. To better understand the molecular events occurring after peripheral nerve injury, in the current study, a rat model of sciatic nerve crush injury was used. Injured nerves harvested at 0, 1, 4, 7, and 14 days post injury were subjected to deep RNA sequencing for examining global gene expression changes. According to the temporally differential expression patterns of a huge number of genes, 3 distinct phases were defined within the post-injury period of 14 days: the acute, sub-acute, and post-acute stages. Each stage showed its own characteristics of gene expression, which were associated with different categories of diseases and biological functions and canonical pathways. Ingenuity pathway analysis revealed that genes involved in inflammation and immune response were significantly up-regulated in the acute phase, and genes involved in cellular movement, development, and morphology were up-regulated in the sub-acute stage, while the up-regulated genes in the post-acute phase were mainly involved in lipid metabolism, cytoskeleton reorganization, and nerve regeneration. All the data obtained in the current study may help to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying peripheral nerve regeneration from the perspective of gene regulation, and to identify potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of peripheral nerve injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brown chitooligomers were obtained by gamma irradiation. Decolorization of brown chitooligomers in aqueous solution by ozonation was investigated. It was found that ozone could decolorize the brown chitooligomers in aqueous solution. When the pH value was below 2.93, the ozone treatment could inhibit yellowing and browning of chitooligomers in aqueous solution. As a result, the chitooligomers were slightly depolymerized by ozonation. The characterization showed that the decolorization by ozonation did not lead to the significant modification of chemical structure of the chitooligomers. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The mechanism of imine hydrogenation catalyzed by thiolate complexes of Rh(III) bearing a hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borato ligand has been investigated via the density functional theory calculations. The overall catalytic cycle for heterolytic cleavage of H2 and hydrogenation of N-benzylidenemethylamine by the model catalyst [TpRh(bdt)MeCN)] is presented in detail. The results show that the reaction proceeds via an ionic mechanism through three steps: formation of dihydrogen complex, protonation of imine and the hydride transfer process. Protonation of imine occurs after the formation of Rh(H)-S(H) moiety. For the whole catalytic cycle, the heterolytic splitting of dihydrogen is the step with the highest free energy barrier. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The classic role of vitamin D (VD) is to regulate metabolism of calcium, phosphorus and the bone. It is also important in the immune system, cell proliferation and differentiation. The liganding of 1,25(OH)D-VDR triggers tight association between VDR and a retinoid X receptor (RXR). VDR-RXR heterodimer is conformed to recognize vitamin D responsive elements (VDREs) in the DNA sequence of vitamin D-regulated genes. Although the hormone receptor complex acts rapidly via nongenomic mechanisms, 1,25 (OH) D-VDR functions mainly through genomic mechanisms. 1,25 (OH) D-VDR regulates gene transcription. The vitamin D ligand, the DNA sequence of the VDRE, and the recruited coactivator/corepressor are all capable of influencing gene expression. VDREs regulated by 1,25 (OH) D-VDR have important function. By using RANKL gene chromatin loop model, it is suggested that DNA-looping and chromatin architecture play a main role in VD regulation of gene expression. Gene expression regulated by 1,25 (OH) D-VDR may delay chronic disorders of aging such as cancer, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. A new knowledge about the association between VD and phosphate metabolism and aging is that 1,25 (OH) D-VDR plays an important role in this metabolic pathway through FGF23 in the bone and Klotho in the kidney. Phosphate stability regulated by VD may be the mechanism of age delaying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of novel benzo[ f]thiopyrano[3,4- b]quinolin-11(8 H)-one derivatives were synthesized via the reaction of aryl aldehyde, 2 H-thiopyran-3,5(4 H,6 H)-dione, and β-naphthylamine in glacial . This protocol features mild reaction conditions, high yields, and short reaction time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This study identified a autophagy receptor NBR1 in S. sclerotiorum and confirmed that SsNBR1 physically interact with SsATG8 both in vivo and in vitro. • This study experimentally characterized the biological roles of SsATG8 and its receptor SsNBR1 in S. sclerotiorum , and provided evidences that SsATG8- and SsNBR1-dependent autophagy is critical for the fungal development and pathogenesis. • This study revealed that SsATG8- and SsNBR1-mediate autophagy regulate proteasomal stress responses. • This study identified two docking sites, LDS and UDS of ATG8, which may responsible for binding to various autophagic adaptors and receptors, required for autophagy and pathogenesis S. sclerotiorum. Autophagy plays vital roles in the interaction between the necrotrophic fungal pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and its hosts. However, so far, only little is known about the impacts of autophagy machinery in S. sclerotiorum per se on the fungal morphogenesis and pathogenesis. Here, through functional genomic approaches, we showed that SsATG8, one of the core components of the autophagy machinery, and its interactor SsNBR1, an autophagy cargo receptor, are important for vegetative growth, sclerotial formation, oxalic acid (OA) production, compound appressoria development, and virulence of S. sclerotiorum. Complementation assays with chimeric fusion constructs revealed that both LDS [AIM (ATG8 interacting motif) / LIR (LC3-interacting region) docking site] and UDS [UIM (ubiquitin-interacting motif) docking site] sites of the SsATG8 are required for its functions in autophagy and pathogenesis. Importantly, Δ Ssatg8 and Δ Ssnbr1 mutants showed enhanced sensitivity to the exogenous treatment with the proteasome inhibitors bortezomib and carfilzomib, and Δ Ssnbr1 mutant had decreased expression of SsATG8 under the proteasomal stress conditions, suggesting that a cross-talk exists between ubiquitin–proteasome and selective autophagy pathways, which enables downstream protein degradation to proceed properly during diverse biological processes. Collectively, our data indicate that SsATG8- and SsNBR1-mediated autophagy is crucial for S. sclerotiorum development, proteasomal stress response and virulence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of novel tetrazolo[1,5- a]thiopyrano[3,4- d]pyrimidine derivatives were synthesized by reaction of aryl aldehyde, 2 H-thiopyran-3,5(4 H,6 H)-dione, and 5-aminotetrazole under solvent-free conditions. The features of this procedure are mild reaction conditions, high yields, and operational simplicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The mechanism of the aminolysis of dimethyl phenylphosphinate with ammonia was investigated by the density functional theory at the B3LYP level with basis set 6-31G(d,p) in the gas phase. Single point energy evaluations were also performed for more precise energy predictions at the B3LYP and the BB1K levels with the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set. Solvent effects on the uncatalyzed process were assessed by the polarized continuum model with B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) and BB1K/6-311++G(d,p) based on the gas-phase optimized geometries. Transition state structures and energies were determined for concerted and neutral stepwise pathways. The theoretical results show that the stepwise pathway is more favorable than the concerted process. The general base catalysis of the process was also examined. The catalytic role of a second ammonia molecule is executed by facilitating the hydrogen transfer processes and by decreasing all energy barriers. The results show that the most favorable pathway of the reaction is through the general-base-catalyzed neutral stepwise mechanism. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To investigate whether atypical antipsychotic drugs exert an effect on the neuroprotective protein Bcl-2, rats were chronically treated with clozapine or olanzapine for 28 days. The expression of bcl-2 mRNA and Bcl-2 protein was determined, respectively, by in situ hybridization in tissue sections and Western blot on tissue samples from rat frontal cortex and hippocampus. The bcl-2 mRNA positive cells were increased in these regions after drug treatments, and quantitative analysis revealed that the upregulation of bcl-2 mRNA and Bcl-2 protein is significantly greater than in vehicle control (p<0.05 or p<0.01). It is demonstrated that neuroprotective protein Bcl-2 is involved in the action of atypical antipsychotic drugs, and might represent a neuroprotective mechanism of these drugs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Brittle spalling is a crucial problem for hard ceramic coatings under high-angle sand erosion, especially for traditional binary nitride coatings such as ZrN. Here, we deposited the ZrAlSiN coating by co-doping Al and Si into the ZrN coating to improve the toughness and erosion resistance. ZrN coating was also prepared on Ti6Al4V substrates by magnetic filtration cathode vacuum arc technology (FCVA) under the same process for contrast. The microstructure, mechanical properties, and sand erosion resistance of ZrN and ZrAlSiN coatings were studied. The ZrAlSiN coating contains nanocrystalline ZrAlN and amorphous Si 3 N 4. The results show that the ZrAlSiN coating exhibits the highest H, H/E, H3/E2, and W elastic /W plastic among as-deposited coatings with the value of ~30.8Gpa, ~0.12, ~0.43Gpa, and 2.19, respectively. The erosion rate of the ZrAlSiN coating is about half that of the ZrN coating. The dopping of Si element is conducive to inhibition of the grain growth. The enhanced toughness while maintaining high hardness is one of the main reasons for the better anti-sand erosion performance of ZrAlSiN coatings. The research helps promote the application of ZrN-based coatings in the field of anti-sand erosion. • The co-doping of Al and Si elements resulted in a decrease in grain size. • The ZrAlSiN coating exhibited better mechanical properties with the highest H/E, H3/E2, and Welastic/Wplastic. • The co-doping of Al and Si enhances the toughness and erosion resistance of the ZrAlSiN coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Microstructure of TiN/Ti multilayer films transformed from TiN/Ti x N y /Ti to TiN/Ti x N y. • Evolution of impact damage mechanisms of TiN/Ti multilayer films was explored. • Crack growth mode changed from lateral along interface to vertical across multilayers. The evolution of cyclic impact damage mechanisms of TiN/Ti multilayer films were investigated in terms of microstructural transformation as the modulation period decreased sharp from micron-scale (1000 nm) to nano-scale (60 nm). It was found that the ductile Ti phases reduced with decreasing modulation period, and the microstructures of films transformed from TiN/Ti x N y /Ti to TiN/Ti x N y (x > y). The cyclic impact results showed that both impact resistance and damage mechanisms of TiN/Ti multilayer films were strongly associated with modulation period. In the cyclic nano-impact conditions, the smaller modulation period of TiN/Ti film, the lower critical fracture load and higher fracture probability, thus worse impact resistance. Furthermore, the evolution of cyclic impact damage mechanisms of TiN/Ti multilayer films were revealed that in T1000 film, only few cracks were observed and the Ti interlayers could prevent cracks from extending deeper into film, resulting in slight fracture with small chippings. While there were many more cracks in T60 film and these cracks could easily across multilayers, leading to severe brittle spalling with multiple layers. It was demonstrated that with the microstructural transformation from TiN/ Ti x N y /Ti to TiN/ Ti x N y , a higher cracking probability was found in TiN/Ti films, and the crack propagation mode changed from horizontal along interface to vertical across multilayers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 1.36 wt% Au/α-Fe 2 O 3 nanosheets exhibit excellent catalytic performance. • Acetone selectivity and yield is as high as 99 % and 95 % at 220 °C, respectively. • Acidic and redox properties affect isopropanol selective catalytic oxidation. • Acetone and other various compounds are generated from different reactions. • Selective catalytic oxidation provides an alternative method for VOCs control. We prepare α-Fe 2 O 3 nanosheet supported 0.38, 0.81, and 1.36 wt% Au (average particle size = 4.0 nm) nanocatalysts, and investigate their performance and mechanism for the selective catalytic oxidation of isopropanol to acetone. In the presence of 1.2 vol% isopropanol and 40 vol% O 2 , 1.36 wt% Au/α-Fe 2 O 3 exhibits excellent catalytic performance, due to its moderate acidic sites and better redox properties, with acetone selectivity and yield being as high as 99% and 95% at 220 oC, respectively. In addition to acetone, little propylene, acetic acid, acetaldehyde, methyl vinyl ketone, 2-butanone, isopropyl ether, isopropyl acetate, 3-penten-2-one, isopropyl acrylate, isopropyl propionate, and 2, 4-dimethylfuran are detected. The possible reaction mechanism is proposed for the selective catalytic oxidation of isopropanol to acetone over the present catalysts. We believe the present selective catalytic oxidation method, rather than the traditional complete catalytic oxidation method, provides an alternative and economic method for VOCs emissions control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the wide-temperature applicability of amorphous carbon-based films, a novel a-C/(WC/a-C) film compositing of a-C nano-layers and super-latticed WC/a-C nano-multilayers was proposed and successfully fabricated on M50NiL substrate by an unbalanced magnetron sputtering system. For comparison, a monolayer a-C film and a super-latticed WC/a-C film were also prepared on the same substrates. The microstructures, mechanical properties and thermal stability of the as-deposited films were investigated. Particularly, the tribological behaviors of films against M50 counterpart were evaluated at the temperatures ranging from 25 °C to 350 °C. The results showed that because of the excellent thermal stability of super-latticed WC/a-C sublayers, the a-C/(WC/a-C) film has effectively overcome the poor tribological performance of a-C film at high temperatures (≥200 °C). While benefiting from the good toughness of a-C sublayers, the a-C/(WC/a-C) film showed significant better wear resistance than the WC/a-C film at the temperatures of 25–200 °C. The best wide-temperature applicability of the novel a-C/(WC/a-C) film should be attributed to the favorable mechanical properties, together with the formations of carbon-rich transfer film at 25–150 °C and WO 3 -rich transfer film at 200–350 °C. • A novel a-C/(WC/a-C) film compositing of a-C nano-layers and super-latticed WC/a-C nano-multilayers was proposed. • The a-C/(WC/a-C) film combined the excellent thermal stability of WC/a-C film and the good toughness of a-C film. • The tribological behaviors of a-C, WC/a-C and a-C/(WC/a-C) films against M50 counterparts were investigated at 25–350 °C. • Compared with a-C and WC/a-C films, the a-C/(WC/a-C) film exhibited the best wide-temperature applicability at 25–350 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanism of aromatic sulfur compounds oxidized on Ti-MWW zeolite with H 2 O 2 was studied by density functional theory. The results show that the adsorption capacity of solvents on Ti-η2-OOH decreases in the order of CH 3 COCH 3 > CH 3 OH > CH 3 CN > H 2 O. The energy barriers of thiophene on different active centers are in the order of Ti-η2-OOH-CH 3 CN < Ti-η2-OOH-CH 3 COCH 3 < Ti-η2-OOH-CH 3 OH < Ti-η2-OOH-H 2 O < Ti-η2-OOH < Ti-η1-OOH, showing a linear correlation with the Hirshfeld charge of O α. The interaction energy calculations indicate that the polar solvent not only participates in the reaction but also plays a critical role in timely removing products. Moreover, the oxidative activation energies of four aromatic sulfur compounds follow the order: thiophene > benzothiophene > dibenzothiophene >4, 6-dimethyldibenzothiophene, confirming that Ti-MWW could provide sufficient space for the aromatic sulfur compounds with relatively large molecular size and has an excellent oxidation desulfurization performance. Our results address the controversy over the oxidation desulfurization reactivity of aromatic sulfur compounds by Ti-MWW in experimental studies and provide insights to further studies. Image 1 • Oxidative desulfurization mechanism of aromatic sulfur compounds over Ti-MWW was revealed. • Independent gradient model method was used to study the weak interactions in Ti-MWW. • There is a linear correlation between energy barrier and Hirshfeld charge of O α. • The dual roles of solvents in oxidative desulfurization were put forward. • The controversy regarding the ODS reactivity of aromatic sulfur compounds was resolved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the purpose of optimizing the anti-impact performance of TiN film, a series of TiN films with different N/Ti ratios were investigated. The phase evolution and mechanical properties of TiN films were explored. In particular, the cyclic nano-impact tests with impact energy ranging from 0.1 μJ to 0.9 μJ were conducted to evaluate the anti-impact performance of TiN films. It was found that the non-stoichiometric phases of TiN 0.30 , Ti 2 N and TiN 0.61 reduced with increasing N/Ti ratio in TiN films. The hardness of film increased with increasing stoichiometric TiN phase in films, while as an indicator of toughness, the H3/E2 ratio decreased. The anti-impact performance of TiN films displayed a close relationship with both hardness and H3/E2 ratio, in which a high enough hardness was the prerequisite of outstanding impact resistance, and H3/E2 ratio was an important factor affecting the damage mechanism. As the H3/E2 ratio decreased, the damage mechanism of TiN film transformed gradually from plastic fatigue damage to brittle fracture failure. Especially, the TiN film featuring N/Ti ratio of 0.780 (TiN-16) was not only hard enough to resist penetration, but also tough enough to prevent the film from fracturing, thus it exhibited the best comprehensive anti-impact performance. • By adjusting the phase constituents, the variation of N/Ti ratios modified the hardness and toughness of TiN films. • Damage mechanism of TiN films transformed from plastic fatigue to brittle fracture with decreasing H3/E2 ratio. • TiN-16 film featuring a high hardness and an optimal H3/E2 ratio exhibited the best anti-impact performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice blast caused by Magnaporthe oryzae is the most destructive disease affecting the rice production (Oryza sativa), with an average global loss of 10-30% per annum. Recent reports have indicated that the fungus also inflicts blast disease on wheat (Triticum aestivum) posing a serious threat to the wheat production. Due to its easily detected infectious process and manoeuvrable genetic manipulation, M. oryzae is considered a model organism for exploring the molecular mechanism underlying fungal pathogenicity during the pathogen-host interaction. M. oryzae utilises an infectious structure called appressorium to breach the host surface by generating high turgor pressure. The appressorium development is induced by physical and chemical cues which are coordinated by the highly conserved cAMP/PKA, MAPK and calcium signalling cascades. Genes involved in the appressorium development have been identified and well studied in M. oryzae, a summary of the working gene network linking stimuli sensing and physiological transformation of appressorium is needed. This review provides a comprehensive discussion regarding the regulatory networks underlying appressorium development with particular emphasis on sensing of appressorium inducing stimuli, signal transduction, transcriptional regulation and the corresponding developmental and physiological responses. We also discussed the crosstalk and interaction of various pathways during the appressorium development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]