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poly (p-phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA) fiber, a new strategic material, has excellent mechanical properties, chemical corrosion resistance and flame retardant properties, and is widely used in aerospace, national defense, civil and other fields. The mechanical properties, relative molecular weight, aggregate structure and fiber surface and internal defects of four samples of para-aramid fibers were studied, and the relationship between properties, structure and defects of fibers was established. The results show that the relative molecular weight of PPTA is one of the important factors affecting the mechanical property of the fibers with the same chemical molecular structure, and the tensile strength and modulus of fibers increase with the increase of the relative molecular weight. The tensile strength of para-aramid is mainly related to its crystallinity, orientation, surface defects and internal microporous defects, among which crystallinity and micro-defects are two important factors. The fiber modulus is mainly related to its orientation, and the influence of crystallinity and fiber internal and external defects on fiber modulus is relatively small. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Common problems in horizontal grouting engineering projects that it is difficult to evaluate the grouting slurry diffusion range due to theoretical limitations. Here we report a novel experimental design that investigates the influence of grouting parameters (grouting time, pressure, slurry water-cement ratio) and permeability coefficient on grouting slurry diffusion in order to determine the diffusion law of horizontal grouting in shallow sand gravel layer. The results indicate that grouting pressure is sensitive to the most significant impact on the slurry diffusion radius, and the following rank is grouting time > slurry water-cement ratio > permeability coefficient of the stratum. Next, discrete element software was employed for single-factor analysis. Finally, a numerical model of shield tunnel settlement was developed to evaluate the impact of grouting reinforcement on ground settlement. The findings reveal that the slurry diffusion exhibits a non-standard columnar shape with horizontal symmetry, while the permeability coefficient of the sand and gravel influences vertical diffusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the digestive malignancy with poor prognosis, and there is still a lack of effective diagnostic biomarkers. We aimed to explore the diagnostic efficiency of DNA methylation in peripheral blood monocytes (PBMCs) in PDAC. 850K BeadChips were used to detect genome-wide methylation of PBMCs. For the selected sites, MethylTarget assays was used for further verification. The support vector machine was used to establish the combined panel. A total of 167 PDAC patients and 113 healthy controls were included in this study and were divided into three sets. In the discovery set, we found 4625 differentially methylated positions (DMPs) between cancer group and healthy controls. ZFHX3 (0.16 ± 0.04 vs. 0.18 ± 0.04, P = 0.001), cg01904886 (0.84 ± 0.05 vs. 0.81 ± 0.04, P = 0.02) and NUMBL (0.96 ± 0.005 vs. 0.957 ± 0.005, P = 0.04) were found to be significantly different in training set. The locus with more significant differences, namely ZFHX3, was used for further validation and to establish a combined diagnostic panel with CA19-9. In the validation set, the ROC curve indicated that the AUC value of ZFHX3 was 0.75. The AUC value of the combined model (AUC = 0.92) was higher than that of CA19-9 alone (AUC = 0.88). In patients with normal CA19-9 levels, the ZFHX3 methylation biomarker still maintained good diagnostic efficacy (AUC = 0.71). Our study preliminarily suggests that ZFHX3 methylation combined with CA19-9 can improve the detection rate of PDAC. Especially in patients with normal CA19-9, ZFHX3 methylation can maintain stable diagnostic efficacy. The diagnostic value of ZFHX3 methylation still needs to be prospectively validated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: HBP, a novel biomarker released from neutrophils, may induce inflammatory responses and exacerbate vascular permeability, representing the pathophysiological characteristics of sepsis and septic shock. However, it remains uncertain whether the combination of HBP with other biomarkers yields enhanced diagnostic capacity for sepsis. We hypothesized that measurements included IL-6·IL-8·HBP, IL-6·IL-8·HBP/ALB and HBP/ALB which based on HBP will improve its diagnostic efficacy and even better than the traditional infection biomarkers. Methods: Between July 2021 and June 2022, we carried out a comprehensive, multi-center, observational cohort study spanning six leading tertiary hospitals located in Heilongjiang Province, China. Patients were stratified into three categories based on the severity of infection: non-sepsis, sepsis, and septic shock. We collected clinical and laboratory data, along with infection and inflammation biomarkers, for analysis. Results: A total of 195 patients were enrolled. Among the three groups, patients with septic shock (n = 75, 38.5%) had significantly higher baseline levels of HBP, WBC, Lac, CRP, PCT, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 compared to non-sepsis patients (n = 43, 22.0%) and sepsis patients (n = 77, 39.5%), with statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) observed for all parameters. When compared to SOFA score and traditional markers of CRP, PCT, IL-6 and IL-8, the combined indexes of IL-6·IL-8·HBP and IL-6·IL-8·HBP/ALB demonstrated significantly improved diagnostic performance for sepsis and septic shock (AUC 0.911 and 0.902 respectively, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The combined measurements of IL-6·IL-8·HBP and IL-6·IL-8·HBP/ALB can augment the diagnostic capacity of HBP for sepsis, and offer reliable early supplementary indicators to traditional biomarkers for assessing disease severity in patients with infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the understanding of natural gas hydrates as a vast potential resource deepens, their importance as a future clean energy source becomes increasingly evident. However, natural gas hydrates trend towards secondary generation during extraction and transportation, leading to safety issues such as pipeline blockages. Consequently, developing new and efficient natural gas hydrate inhibitors has become a focal point in hydrate research. Kinetic hydrate inhibitors (KHIs) offer an effective solution by disrupting the nucleation and growth processes of hydrates without altering their thermodynamic equilibrium conditions. This paper systematically reviews the latest research progress and development trends in KHIs for natural gas hydrates, covering their development history, classification, and inhibition mechanisms. It particularly focuses on the chemical properties, inhibition effects, and mechanisms of polymer inhibitors such as polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and polyvinylcaprolactam (PVCap). Studies indicate that these polymer inhibitors provide an economical and efficient solution due to their low dosage and environmental friendliness. Additionally, this paper explores the environmental impact and biodegradability of these inhibitors, offering guidance for future research, including the development, optimization, and environmental assessment of new inhibitors. Through a comprehensive analysis of existing research, this work aims to provide a theoretical foundation and technical reference for the commercial development of natural gas hydrates, promoting their safe and efficient use as a clean energy resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycarboxylate superplasticizers BMC-L and BMC-S were utilized as modifiers in the formulation of novel cement-based grouting materials. Indoor tests were conducted on 32 groups of cement slurries, varying by water–cement ratio (0.5:1 and 0.6:1) and modifier content (0, 2‰, 4‰, 6‰, 8‰, 10‰, 12‰, and 14‰), to test their density, funnel viscosity, water separation rate, and stone rate. Four groups of slurry modified with BMC-L were selected as the preferred slurry, and the apparent viscosity test, uniaxial, and triaxial compression test of the slurry stone body were conducted. The study investigated the influence of BMC-L on various properties of the slurry, including its apparent viscosity, uniaxial compressive strength, stress–strain relationships, shear strength parameters, and elastic modulus. Ultimately, the pore structure and phase composition of the slurry stone body were detected by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and the impact of BMC-L on slurry performance was examined from a microstructural perspective. Results indicate that the two polycarboxylate superplasticizers exert minimal influence on the density and water separation rate of the slurry. Within the effective incorporation range of the polycarboxylate superplasticizer, increasing the dosage correlates with a decrease in both the stone rate and viscosity of the slurry. BMC-L significantly enhances the mechanical properties of the slurry stone body by promoting more complete cement hydration and reducing porosity. The uniaxial compressive strength of slurry stone body with a 6 ‰ BMC-L dosage reached 29.7 MPa after 7 days and 38.5 MPa after 28 days of curing, representing increases of 118.4% and 64%, respectively, compared to masonry with 0 BMC-L dosage. The shear strength parameters and elastic modulus of the slurry stone body also showed corresponding increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep water areas with soft subsea soils, conventional surface conductor into the mud depth is too deep, long waiting time for resting, prone to surface conductor sinking and submerged wellhead instability. In this paper, based on the basic principles of mechanics and the understanding of the structure of the surface conductor, a mechanical model of the bearing capacity of the surface conductor is established. Three types of expandable surface conductors were designed by changing the distribution of the expansion material, in contrast to conventional surface conductors. The bearing characteristics of different structural surface conductors are also investigated by changing the soil parameters from the strength of the submarine soil. The study has obtained: the load-bearing capacity comparison graph between conventional surface conductor and expandable surface conductor; the load-bearing capacity change of expandable surface conductor under the change of soil parameters and the change of expansion material section; and the load-bearing capacity improvement effect of the three expandable surface conductors designed in the paper compared with conventional surface conductors, using stress as the evaluation criterion. This paper provides technical support for the design of expandable surface conductors and provides a basis for numerical simulation of surface well construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: We have compiled eight promising strategies for enhancing the specificity and selectivity of nanozymes, as depicted in the comprehensive summary above. Enzymes exhibit intricate and sophisticated structures, including substrate channels and active sites, which can inform the design of nanozymes. Replication of these structural features and the application of facet engineering/doping techniques can significantly enhance the catalytic specificity of nanozymes. Alternatively, the use of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs) to coat nanozymes represents an effective approach to impart substrate specificity. Furthermore, several straightforward stopgap strategies have been devised to improve nanozyme specificity for analytical applications, such as the integration of biorecognition elements and nanozyme sensor arrays through surface modification. Key Scientists: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, at the L-band, we design and verify an ultra-thin easy-realized absorber (LUTA) based on metasurface and magnetic material. The absorptivity achieves over 90% at 1–2.51 GHz (86.04% fractional bandwidth), covering the whole L-band (1–2 GHz) and the partial S-band (2–4 GHz). The total thickness of the LUTA is as low as 3.7 mm, corresponding to 0.012λ0 at the lowest operating frequency, which greatly breaks through the Rozanov limit. The excellent performance is achieved through analyzing the transmission line model of a basic absorber and then designing the metasurface layer with required impedance characteristics to make the impedance of the LUTA match with the air at the designed frequency band. The simulated absorption, power loss density, and the surface current distributions of the LUTA verify the design method, while the measured results demonstrate that the LUTA has the superiority of easy-fabrication, polarization independent, wide angle incidence, and high absorption at the whole L-band. The LUTA has great application potentials in the fields of L-band electromagnetic stealth and radar cross section reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine the relations between perceived teacher emotional support, Covid-19 anxiety, resilience, and mental well-being among Chinese vocational college students during Covid-19 pandemic. A sample of Chinese vocational college students (n = 1469) were surveyed with an online questionnaire composed of Teacher Emotional Support, Covid-19 Anxiety Scale, Brief Resilience Scale and Mental Well-being in Chinese version. Path analysis was employed in the study and the results showed that teacher emotional support was an important promoter for building up mental well-being but not a buffer for Covid-19 within Chinese cultural context, and the Covid-19 anxiety was significantly and negatively related to mental well-being. Resilience hindered the incidences of Covid-19 anxiety and was a significant protector for mental well-being. Covid-19 anxiety mediated the both relations between teacher emotional support and mental well-being, and resilience and mental well-being. These findings provided practical implications for coping with psychological problems and flourishing mental well-being among Chinese vocational college students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine the relations between perceived teacher emotional support, Covid-19 anxiety, resilience, and mental well-being among Chinese vocational college students during Covid-19 pandemic. A sample of Chinese vocational college students (n = 1469) were surveyed with an online questionnaire composed of Teacher Emotional Support, Covid-19 Anxiety Scale, Brief Resilience Scale and Mental Well-being in Chinese version. Path analysis was employed in the study and the results showed that teacher emotional support was an important promoter for building up mental well-being but not a buffer for Covid-19 within Chinese cultural context, and the Covid-19 anxiety was significantly and negatively related to mental well-being. Resilience hindered the incidences of Covid-19 anxiety and was a significant protector for mental well-being. Covid-19 anxiety mediated the both relations between teacher emotional support and mental well-being, and resilience and mental well-being. These findings provided practical implications for coping with psychological problems and flourishing mental well-being among Chinese vocational college students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light-assisted metal–CO2 batteries have attracted extensive attention. It is highly desirable to develop a photocathodic catalyst to simultaneously facilitate the activation and transformation of CO2 and maintain long-term operational stability. Here, for the first time we report a one-dimensional Fe2O3/Cu2O type-II heterojunction nanowire photocathode for light-assisted metal–CO2 batteries. With this new photocathode, a Li–CO2 battery can achieve an ultralow voltage gap of 0.19 V and a superior round-trip efficiency of 88% after 260 cycles under irradiation of full sunlight (AM 1.5 G). This cycling performance is the highest level ever reported (≤100 cycles) in the field of light-assisted metal–CO2 batteries so far. The impressive performance can be attributed to the built-in electric field across the Fe2O3/Cu2O type-II heterojunction featuring desired catalytic capability for both CO2 reduction/evolution kinetics and (photo)electrochemical reversibility. The Fe2O3/Cu2O type-II heterojunction photocathode also shows potential application in flexible energy storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Horizontal well development of natural gas hydrate (NGH) can greatly improve gas production and make it cost-effective, which is one of the key technologies for the efficient development of NGH in the future. World widely, there is only limited experience in drilling horizontal wells into gas hydrate sediments, which lacks certain reference. In this paper, the practice of drilling horizontal wells into gas hydrate sediments, were analyzed the challenges. The challenges encountered when drilling horizontal wells into hydrate sediments were also analyzed. At least, the application of horizontal wells and complex well structure, which based on horizontal wells are analyzed. The advantages and disadvantages of several novel well structure are compared. This paper will contribute to the development of natural gas hydrate of our country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work provides an overview on micromirror arrays based on different material systems such as dielectrics, element silicon, compound semiconductors, metals, and novel 2D materials. The goal is to work out the particular strength of each material system to enable optimum performance for various applications. In particular, this review is intended to draw attention to the fact that MEMS micro-mirrors can be successful in many other material systems besides silicon. In particular, the review is intended to draw attention to two material systems that have so far been used less for MEMS micromirror arrays, that have been less researched, and of which fewer applications have been reported to date: metallic heterostructures and 2D materials. However, the main focus is on metallic MEMS micromirror arrays on glass substrates for applications like personalized light steering in buildings via active windows, energy management, active laser safety goggles, interference microscopy, and endoscopy. Finally, the different micromirror arrays are compared with respect to fabrication challenges, switching speed, number of mirrors, mirror dimensions, array sizes, miniaturization potential for individual mirrors, reliability, lifetime, and hinge methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving nitrogen removal in a single device has attracted great attention of researchers in recent years due to its small footprint and low energy consumption. In this study, a novel continuous-flow air-lifting reactor is designed to establish multi-functional zones, including an aerobic zone, an anoxic zone, and a settling zone. With an alternation aeration of double-layer aerators (DLAs), multiple dissolved oxygen (DO) environments are maintained and denitrification and carbon removal in the same reactor are achieved. Results demonstrate that frequent alternating aeration with a short duration (aeration of the upper-layer aerators for 30 min + aeration of the lower-layer aerators for 0.6 min) can achieve better mixing of microorganisms and pollutants, and lead to a good nitrogen removal efficiency of over 90%. This new reactor presents a good TN removal performance in treating real domestic wastewater with an effluent TN concentration lower than 10 mg/L without external carbon source addition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ovarian cancer is one of the most common cancers in women. Profiles changes of microRNAs (miRNAs) are closely linked to malignant tumors. In the present study, we investigated expression of miR‐451a in high‐grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). We also investigated the potential pathological roles and the likely mechanism of miR‐451a in the development of HGSOC using animal models and cell lines. Methods: Using bioinformatics techniques and a real‐time PCR, we analyzed differently expressed miRNAs in HGSOC compared to normal tissue. MTT (i.e. 3‐[4, 5‐dimethyl thiazol‐2‐yl]‐2,5‐diphenyl tetrazolium bromide), EDU (i.e. 5‐ethynyl‐2′‐deoxyuridine) and transwell assays were performed to investigate the effect of miR‐451a on the proliferation and migration of HGSOC SKOV‐3 cells. A dual luciferase reporter assay was performed to verify the targeting relationship of miR‐451 and RAB5A (one of the Rab GTPase proteins that regulates endocytosis and vesicle transport). Also, we analyzed levels of the RAB5A mRNA and protein by real‐time PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry assays in HGSOC cells and tissues. Finally, we performed in vivo experiments using HGSOC mice. Results: miR‐451a was substantially upregulated in HGSOC and associated with favorable clinical characteristics. miR‐451a knockdown significantly increased growth and metastasis of HGSOC cell line SKOV‐3 through Ras/Raf/mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) signaling. In addition, RAB5A, an early endosome marker, was shown to be a direct target of miR‐451a. Moreover, RAB5A is correlated with unfavorable clinical features and shows independent prognostic significance in HGSOC. Conclusions: We found that the miR‐451a/RAB5A axis is associated with tumorigenesis and progression through the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathway, providing prognostic indicators and therapeutic targets for patients with HGSOC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyethylene glycol-coated magnetic nanoparticles (PEGylated MNPs) have demonstrated prominent advantages in cancer diagnosis and hyperthermia therapy. However, there is currently lack of standard mode and sufficient toxicity data for determining the delayed risk of PEGylated MNPs. Nevertheless, the toxicity potentials, especially those associated with the oxidative stress, were ubiquitously reported. In this study, PEGylated MNPs and p-PEGylated MNPs were administrated to SD (Sprague Dawley) rats by single intravenously injection, and various toxicity indicators were monitored till 56 days post-administration for a comprehensive toxicity evaluation. We revealed that both nanoparticles could be rapidly cleared from plasma and enter tissues, such as, liver, kidneys and spleen, and p-PEGylated MNP is less prone to be accumulated in the tissues, indicating a lower toxicity risk. PEGylated MNPs were more likely to up-regulate the expression levels of Th2 type cytokines and trigger inflammatory pathways, but no related pathological change was found. Both MNPs are not mutagenic, while recoverable mild DNA damage associated with the presence of nanoparticles might also be observed. This study demonstrated a research approach for the non-clinical safety evaluation of nanoparticles. It also provided comprehensive valuable safety data for PEGylated and p-PEGylated MNPs, for promoting the clinical application and bio-medical translation of such MNPs with PEG modifications in the cancer diagnosis and therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Offshore oil development is gradually advancing to deep water, and the complex seabed topography and shallow geological conditions greatly affect the difficulty of subsea well construction and threaten the safety of drilling operations. To reduce the risk during drilling and optimize the drilling plan, the cause mechanism of complex seabed topography and shallow geological conditions is outlined, and the countermeasures taken by China National Oil Corporation (CNOOC) to deal with different seabed topography and shallow geological conditions are collected. The research results are of great significance in guiding the construction of subsea wells in the South China Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Craniofacial anomalies are one of the most frequent birth defects worldwide and are often caused by genetic and environmental factors such as pharmaceuticals and chemical agents. Although identifying adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) is a central issue for evaluating the teratogenicity, the AOP causing craniofacial anomalies has not been identified. Recently, zebrafish has gained interest as an emerging model for predicting teratogenicity because of high throughput, cost-effectiveness and availability of various tools for examining teratogenic mechanisms. Here, we established zebrafish sox10-EGFP reporter lines to visualize cranial neural crest cells (CNCCs) and have identified the AOPs for craniofacial anomalies. When we exposed the transgenic embryos to teratogens that were reported to cause craniofacial anomalies in mammals, CNCC migration and subsequent morphogenesis of the first pharyngeal arch were impaired at 24 hours post-fertilization. We also found that cell proliferation and apoptosis of the migratory CNCCs were disturbed, which would be key events of the AOP. From these results, we propose that our sox10-EGFP reporter lines serve as a valuable model for detecting craniofacial skeletal abnormalities, from early to late developmental stages. Given that the developmental process of CNCCs around this stage is highly conserved between zebrafish and mammals, our findings can be extrapolated to mammalian craniofacial development and thus help in predicting craniofacial anomalies in human. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Passive micromixers are widely used in the preparation of ultrafine explosives because of their efficient mixing and necessary safety. A novel passive micromixer was designed to prepare nano‐TATB. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used to simulate the opening width (K), fluid velocity and mixing performance of the micromixer. The results show that the proposed micromixer has good mixing performance in the Reynolds number (Re) range of 0.1~100, and its pressure drop less than 28204 Pa at Re=100. A microfluidic recrystallization system was established and nano‐TATB was prepared by a new micromixer. The results show that the average particle size of the prepared TATB is 93.12 nm, and the particle size distribution ranges from 43 nm to 151.4 nm. The SEM test shows that TATB has better morphological characteristics. XRD results show that the crystal structure of TATB is consistent with that of raw materials. This study proves that the new micromixer has good mixing effect and the feasibility of preparing nano TATB. It also provides reference for the design of micromixer and refinement of other energetic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The yak is the primary income source for millions of people in remote areas of western China and other parts of Asia, providing a basic subsistence commodity for herdsmen. Yaks depend on natural grazing, but the grass trace elements may be insufficient for the yaks' requirements. Our prior research demonstrated that the levels and sources of copper, manganese, and iodine could influence in vitro rumen fermentation for yaks. The aim of this study was to optimize yak feeding standards by examining the impact of diets containing different levels of copper, manganese, and iodine on yak growth. Results showed that diets containing 15.00 mg/kg of copper, 50.00 mg/kg of manganese, and 0.50 mg/kg of iodine had the most positive effect on the growth of growing yaks. Our study will facilitate yak diet formulation design and promote yaks' industry development. Copper, manganese, and iodine are part of a yak's required trace elements. However, knowledge about their dietary requirements is scarce. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to evaluate rumen fermentation, blood parameters, and growth performance and screen out the optimum levels of trace elements in yaks' diet. Here, 18 three-year-old castrated yaks were randomly divided into four groups, which fed with diets containing basal (CON: 4.40, 33.82, and 0 mg/kg) and low-level (LL: 10.00, 40.00, and 0.30 mg/kg), middle-level (ML: 15.00, 50.00, and 0.50 mg/kg), and high-level (HL: 20.00, 60.00, and 0.70 mg/kg) copper, manganese, and iodine for 30 days. With the increase in trace elements, yaks' daily weight gain (DWG), rumen pH, ammonia nitrogen, microbial protein (MCP), and volatile fatty acids levels and serum triglycerides and urea nitrogen levels showed firstly increasing and then decreasing trends and reached the highest values in ML, and serum ceruloplasmin and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activities showed continuously increasing trends. Yaks' DWG, rumen MCP, butyrate, and valerate levels and serum triglycerides, urea nitrogen, ceruloplasmin, and T-SOD levels in ML were significantly higher than CON. Therefore, the recommended levels of copper, manganese, and iodine in growing yaks' diet are 15.00, 50.00, and 0.50 mg/kg (ML), respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The yak is a unique species found on the Tibetan plateau, adapted to the high-altitude, low-oxygen environment, providing meat, milk, and other resources to local herders, and is an indispensable means of production and livelihood for herders on the Tibetan plateau and a major source of economic income for Tibetan herders. A change in diet leads to indigestion and anorexia during the acclimatization phase, which can lead to changes in dry matter intake and daily weight gain in the early part of the housing period. The rumen microbiota will be reshaped. Ruminal fluid transplantation can reshape the rumen microbiota of the recipient animals, which can rapidly restore the microbiota to a new homeostasis. Considering the special characteristics of yaks on the Tibetan plateau, the dynamic seasonal changes in pasture and the trend of changing from natural grazing to confinement farming, this study focused on the changes in rumen flora due to dietary changes and the improvement of rumen fluid transplantation on the remodeling of yak flora and production performance when yak breeding patterns were changed. A relatively stable microbial ecological balance system in the rumen plays an important role in rumen environment stability and ruminant health maintenance. No studies have reported how rumen fluid transplantation (RFT) affects the composition of rumen microorganisms and yak growth performance. In this experiment, we transplanted fresh rumen fluid adapted to house-feeding yaks to yaks transitioned from natural pastures to house-feeding periods to investigate the effects of rumen fluid transplantation on rumen microbial community regulation and production performance. Twenty yaks were randomly divided into the control group (CON; n = 10) and the rumen fluid transplantation group (RT; n = 10). Ten yaks that had been adapted to stall fattening feed in one month were selected as the rumen fluid donor group to provide fresh rumen fluid. Ruminal fluid transplantation trials were conducted on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th. Overall, 1 L of ruminal fluid was transplanted to each yak in the RT and CON group. The formal trial then began with both groups fed the same diet. After this, growth performance was measured, rumen fluid was collected, and rumen microbial composition was compared using 16s rRNA sequencing data. The results showed that rumen fluid transplantation had no significant effect on yak total weight gain or daily weight gain (p > 0.05), and feed efficiency was higher in the RT group than in the CON group at 3 months (treatment × month: p < 0.01). Ruminal fluid transplantation significantly affected rumen alpha diversity (p < 0.05). Up to day 60, the RT group had significantly higher OTU numbers, Shannon diversity, and Simpson homogeneity than the CON group. Principal coordinate analysis showed that the rumen microbiota differed significantly on days 4 and 7 (p < 0.05). Bacteroidota, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Spirochaetes were the most abundant phyla in the rumen. The relative abundances of Bacteroidota, Proteobacteria, and Spirochaetes were lower in the RT group than in the CON group, with a decrease observed in Bacteroidota in the RT group on days 7 and 28 after rumen fluid transplantation (p = 0.013), while Proteobacteria showed a decreasing trend in the CON group and an increasing trend in RT; however, this was only at day 4 (p = 0.019). The relative abundance of Firmicutes was significantly higher in the RT group than in the CON group on days 4, 7, and 28 (p = 0.001). Prevotella and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group were the predominant genera. In conclusion, our findings suggest that rumen fluid transplantation improves yak growth performance and rumen microbial reshaping. The findings of this study provide new insights into yak microbial community transplantation and a reference for improving feed efficiency in the yak industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a widely used material in underground engineering, clay–cement slurry grouting is known for its initial poor anti-seepage and filtration capacity, the low strength of the resulting stone body, and its tendency towards brittle failure. To explore efficient and environmentally friendly grouting materials, industrial-grade graphene oxide (GO) was incorporated into a clay–cement slurry to create a new type of slurry called a GO composite. These GO composites were then utilized to reinforce fractured formations. Uniaxial compression tests, shear strength tests, permeability tests, and electron microscopy scans were conducted to investigate the strength, permeability, and microscopic features of the GO composite-reinforced fractured formations. Furthermore, the optimization effect and application prospects of graphene oxide on clay–cement slurry materials were evaluated. The experimental results demonstrated that the modified slurry effectively improved the compressive strength (increased by 7.2% to 32.5%) and shear strength (increased by 28.6% to 105.3%) of consolidated fractured gravel. By conducting orthogonal experiments with range analysis, variance analysis, and multiple regression analysis, it was shown that there was a strong correlation between the consolidated body and three factors influencing the permeability coefficient. Among these factors, the OPC content had the most significant impact on the permeability coefficient, followed by the GO content. Graphene oxide was found to promote cement hydration reactions, guide the growth of hydration products on the surface of graphene oxide nanosheets, optimize the pore structure in grouting materials, and reduce microcracks between the slurry and the fractured gravel interface. Electron microscopy characterization and fractal analysis revealed that the addition of graphene oxide effectively reduced the degree of microdamage during the sample's failure process. This ensured the integrity of the sample during the unstable failure process, enhanced the material's toughness, and improved its ability to resist loads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An effective method is proposed for preparing energetic microspheres by fluid-focusing microchannels. This method combines the advantages of low reagent consumption, instrument miniaturization, accurate control, and efficient heat mass transfer. The effects of the two-phase liquid flow rate ratio of water to oil on droplet formation was fully studied. To verify the applicability of the method, the nitroamine explosives HMX (cyclotetramethylene tetranitramine) was employed with the fluorine rubber (F2602) as binder to prepare HMX/F2602 microsphere, which were compared with the samples prepared by traditional water-suspension method. SEM data showed that the morphology, particle size uniformity, and monodispersity of microspheres prepared by the droplet microfluidic method are better than those prepared by traditional water-suspension method. DSC data showed that the suspension method. DSC data showed that the apparent activation energy (Ea) values of HMX/F2602 increased by 25.47 kJ/mol compared with the water-suspension coated sample. Meanwhile, compared with the raw material HMX, the H50, the fluidity and bulk density of HMX/F2602 microspheres were significantly improved (HMX/F2602 microsphere and raw HMX: H50 = 86.9 and 25.2 cm, repose angle = 33.1 and 51.3°, bulk density = 0.714 and 0.604 g cm−3). This study demonstrates the feasibility of an efficient, accurate strategy to prepare the explosive microspheres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a widely used material in underground engineering, clay-cement slurry grouting is characterized by poor initial anti-seepage and filtration capacity, low strength of the resulting stone body, and a tendency to brittle failure. In this study, a novel type of clay-cement slurry was developed by adding of graphene oxide (GO) as a modifier to ordinary clay-cement slurry. The rheological properties of the improved slurry were studied through laboratory tests, and the effects of varying amounts of GO on the slurry's viscosity, stability, plastic strength, and stone body mechanical properties were analyzed. The results indicated that the viscosity of clay-cement slurry increases by a maximum of 163% with 0.05% GO, resulting in a decrease in the slurry's fluidity. The stability and plastic strength of GO-modified clay-cement slurry were significantly enhanced, with the plastic strength increasing by a 5.62 time with 0.03% GO and a 7.11 time with 0.05% GO at the same curing time. The stone body of the slurry exhibited increased uniaxial compressive strength and shear strength, with maximum increases of 23.94% and 25.27% with 0.05% GO, respectively, indicating a significant optimization effect on the slurry's durability. The micro-mechanism for the effect of GO on the properties of slurry was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a diffraction of X-rays (XRD) test. Moreover, a growth model of the stone body of GO-modified clay-cement slurry was proposed. The results showed that after the GO-modified clay-cement slurry was solidified, a clay-cement agglomerate space skeleton with GO monolayer as the core was formed inside the stone body, and with an increase in GO content from 0.03% to 0.05%, the number of clay particles increased. The clay particles filled the skeleton to form a slurry system architecture, which is the primary reason for the superior performance of GO-modified clay-cement slurry when compared with traditional clay-cement slurry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the 2020 global cancer data released by the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) International, gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide, with yearly increasing incidence and the second-highest fatality rate in malignancies. Despite the contemporary ambiguous molecular mechanisms in GC pathogenesis, numerous in-depth studies have demonstrated that zinc finger proteins (ZFPs) are essential for the development and progression of GC. ZFPs are a class of transcription factors with finger-like domains that bind to Zn2+ extensively and participate in gene replication, cell differentiation and tumor development. In this review, we briefly outline the roles, molecular mechanisms and the latest advances in ZFPs in GC, including eight principal aspects, such as cell proliferation, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasion and metastasis, inflammation and immune infiltration, apoptosis, cell cycle, DNA methylation, cancer stem cells (CSCs) and drug resistance. Intriguingly, the myeloid zinc finger 1 (MZF1) possesses reversely dual roles in GC by promoting tumor proliferation or impeding cancer progression via apoptosis. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the molecular mechanism of ZFPs on GC progression will pave the solid way for screening the potentially effective diagnostic indicators, prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets of GC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water-saving irrigation technology has been studied for many years, but due to insufficient investment in research and development of irrigation equipment, it cannot be effectively promoted and applied. In order to improve the water use efficiency of farmland irrigation, the automatic monitoring of groundwater level change, soil moisture change, and crop seasonal growth status is realized in the ditch or pump well irrigation area. An intelligent measuring terminal for water-saving irrigation based on RN2026 microcontroller is developed. The terminal uses the coefficient of "water conversion by electricity" to automatically convert the water consumption of farmers and uses the price mechanism of water rights to affect farmers' water conservation. In combination with changes in groundwater level, crop evapotranspiration, and dynamic changes in soil moisture, precision irrigation strategies are automatically generated to guide farmers to use water rationally. Through the function and performance experiments, the results show that the error of the coefficient of "water conversion by electricity" is less than 1%, the error of electric energy measurement is less than 0.5%, the estimated value of average water use right per unit arable area is consistent with the actual value, and the predicted value of daily average soil moisture change is consistent with the measured value. The equipment has strong adaptability to the environment, high measurement accuracy, strong data processing ability, low cost, and other characteristics. It meets the requirements of water-saving irrigation technology in practical applications and has good promotion and application value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the high penetration of renewable energy into the power grid is facing an obvious phenomenon of abandoning wind and light. Microgrid provides a good platform for the full utilization of renewable energy. The coordinated scheduling among multiple microgrids under active distribution network will further improve the utilization rate of renewable energy. Aiming at the problems of reduced distribution reliability, long scheduling time, and poor load balance in the current multi-microgrid access distribution network scheduling methods, an active distribution network hierarchical scheduling algorithm based on multi-microgrid system is designed. Construct a multi-microgrid active distribution network two-level planning model, optimize the energy storage configuration of the microgrid system, and control the battery capacity, charge and discharge performance and the equivalent voltage state of the grid at the same time, to provide support for the distribution network load balancing dispatch. Cross-source scheduling method combined with big data technology is used to preprocess active distribution network load. The improved ant colony optimization algorithm is used to construct the analytical model of the corresponding user type of the hierarchical dispatching terminal of the active distribution network to complete the dispatching optimization. According to the expected adjusted hierarchical load proportion distribution, combined with the ant colony optimization results, the hierarchical scheduling of active distribution network is realized. The IEEE 14-bus distribution network system is taken as an example to verify the algorithm. The experimental results show that under the proposed algorithm, the daily average deviation between the pre-measurement and the actual quantity of distribution power transmission in multi-microgrid is less than 2%, the maximum load balancing degree after scheduling is 99.8%, and the scheduling overhead is less than 0.95 s. It can realize the accurate prediction of electric energy transmission in active distribution network, the effect of load hierarchical scheduling is good, the load balance is ideal, and the scheduling time overhead is small. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yinyang philosophy encompasses an essential understanding of the mechanism and laws of nature, cosmos, and human society in Chinese culture, and reaches to many other parts of Asia and around the world. The purpose of this article is to explore how yinyang philosophy can serve as a philosophical underpinning of mixed methods research (MMR). In particular, harmony, one of the important features in yinyang philosophy, is applied to interpret the design of mixed methods research. Guided by this philosophy, other beliefs about an integrated approach to using qualitative and quantitative methods fit in with the MMR approach. These underlying precepts are not necessarily held by researchers, and will be shown to indicate harmony and a dynamic equilibrium of yin and yang. This perspective provides a novel window for considering controversial issues that have arisen about the use of different philosophical underpinnings for MMR during its emergence over the past several decades. The implications are for a softer interpretation, for example, when selection of quantitative rules needs to harmonize with certain types of MMR, and validity of self-developed questionnaires needs to consider different levels of criteria for MMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play crucial roles in various biological processes, and they are considered to be closely associated with the pathogenesis of intestinal diseases. However, the role and expression of lncRNAs in intestinal damage during weaning stress remain unknown. Herein, we investigated the expression profiles of jejunal tissue from weaning piglets at 4 and 7 d after weaning (groups W4 and W7, respectively) and from suckling piglets on the same days (groups S4 and S7, respectively). Genome-wide analysis of lncRNAs was also performed using RNA sequencing technology. A total of 1809 annotated lncRNAs and 1612 novel lncRNAs were obtained from the jejunum of piglets. In W4 vs. S4, a total of 331 lncRNAs showed significant differential expression, and a total of 163 significantly differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) was identified in W7 vs. S7. Biological analysis indicated that DElncRNAs were involved in intestinal diseases, inflammation, and immune functions, and were mainly enriched in the Jak-STAT signaling pathway, inflammatory bowel disease, T cell receptor signaling pathway, B cell receptor signaling pathway and intestinal immune network for IgA production. Moreover, we found that lnc_000884 and target gene KLF5 were significantly upregulated in the intestine of weaning piglets. The overexpression of lnc_000884 also significantly promoted the proliferation and depressed apoptosis of IPEC-J2 cells. This result suggested that lnc_000884 may contribute to repairing intestinal damage. Our study identified the characterization and expression profile of lncRNAs in the small intestine of weaning piglets and provided new insights into the molecular regulation of intestinal damage during weaning stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For different metals and varying geometries, this paper presents simulations of electrostatically actuated MEMS cantilevers regarding their influence on pull-in voltage and actuation speed. Three-dimensional electromechanical modeling including many non-linearities has been performed to study some static but mainly dynamic features. The results show that the involved parameters have different influences on the actuation speed and pull-in voltage: lower length, higher thickness as well as lower density and higher Young's modulus of material diminish the actuation time, while longer length, smaller thickness, and smaller Young's modulus reduce the actuation voltages. Shorter actuation times and smaller actuation voltages cannot be obtained and optimized simultaneously. Different metals such as Au, Ag, Cu, Ti, Ni, Al, W, Cr, Ta, and Mo as well as artificial metals are studied and compared. In this study, Al is found to be the best material for achieving shorter actuation times and smaller actuation voltages. The design rules of MEMS cantilevers are derived considering the large variety of studied parameters. Many involved non-linearities are discussed in detail influencing the MEMS dynamics. Finally, the actuation times are related to the existing experimental actuation times of optical MEMS shutters and MEMS cantilevers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different source forages fed to preweaning yak calves on growth performance, pancreatic morphology, and functional development. In the experiment, we performed three different sets of experimental treatments by feeding tests, collected pancreatic tissues and recorded their organ indices at the end of the experiment, collected pancreatic tissue samples to observe morphological structures by tissue sectioning, determined the activity of main digestive enzymes and hormone levels in the pancreas by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and obtained metabolic pathways and their small-molecule differential metabolites by nontargeted metabolomics techniques. The endocrine and exocrine divisions of the pancreas, which functions as a metabolic organ, are involved in the control of glucose and the organism's digestive metabolism. We discovered that feeding preweaning yak calves a combination of oat hay and alfalfa hay was better for the morphological and functional development of the pancreas than feeding either hay alone. This is essential for the early development of the pancreas in yak calves and serves as a critical resource for their healthy growth and scientific feeding. In this study, we used a combination of animal nutrition and nontargeted metabolomics to investigate the effects of feeding different sources forages rations on the morphology and function of the pancreas in preweaning yak calves, providing theoretical guidance and important references for the healthy and high-quality rearing of yak calves. At 45 days old, 21 yak calf males were divided into OP, AP, and AOP groups, with seven animals in each group, which were fed with oat hay, alfalfa hay, and mixed oat and alfalfa hay, respectively. Five calves from each group were selected randomly to slaughter after a pretest period of 21 days and the official period of 120 days, when the average daily feed intake reached 1 kg. During the test, the growth and pancreas weight of yak calves were recorded, and the morphology and function of the pancreas tissues were determined using tissue sectioning methods, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests, and nontargeted metabolomics strategies. The results showed that the body weight and pancreatic organ index of yak calves in the AOP group were significantly higher than those of the AP and OP groups. Compared to the AP and OP groups, the AOP group had considerably lower ratios of the area of the pancreatic endocrine component and overall percentage of that section of the organ, and the AOP group increased pancreatic amylase activity and a higher concentration of growth inhibitor. The AP group had significantly higher levels of the differential metabolites L-ascorbic acid, spermidine, spermine, and dopaquinone in the glutathione, β-alanine, and tyrosine metabolic pathways than the OP group. The AOP group had significantly lower levels of the differential metabolites spermine and phenylacetylglycine in the glutathione and phenylalanine metabolic pathways than the AP group. In summary, compared to feeding oat or alfalfa hay alone, combined feeding oat hay and alfalfa hay is more beneficial to promote the morphological and functional development of the pancreas in preweaning yak calves, so as to enhance the digestion and absorption of nutrients in the diet and maintain the positive regulation of blood glucose levels. This provides an important basis for the optimized forage supply of healthy and high-quality rearing in preweaning yak calves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper (Cu) is essential for the health of livestock, however, the optimal source and level of dietary Cu for yaks are uncertain. To fill this important gap, we designed an in vitro study to examine the effects of three Cu sources, namely Cu methionine (Met-Cu), Cu chloride (CuCl2) and tribasic Cu chloride (TBCC), at five levels, namely 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 mg/kg DM (includes Cu in substrate), on rumen fermentation in yaks. In vitro dry matter degradability (IVDMD) and amylase activity were greater (p < 0.05) with added Met-Cu than the other two Cu sources, and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), microbial protein (MCP) and propionate contents were greater with Met-Cu and CuCl2 than with TBCC. Total gas production and lipase activity were greater with Met-Cu and TBCC than CuCl2 (p < 0.05), which meant that the metabolizable energy yield was greater in the two former Cu sources than the latter, but CH4 production did not differ (p = 0.92) among Cu sources. IVDMD and lipase activity were greatest (p < 0.05) at 15 mg Cu/kg DM in the substrate and MCP, isobutyrate, butyrate and isovalerate contents, and amylase and trypsin activities were greatest or second greatest at 10 and 15 mg Cu/kg DM. It was concluded that Met-Cu was the best source of Cu and 10 to 15 mg Cu/kg DM was the optimal level for yaks, at least under in vitro conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Over the past few decades, despite advances in colon cancer surgery, the pro-gnosis of late colon cancer patients with liver metastasis remains poor. Currently, its incidence ranks second in men and third in women. Fortunately, accumulating evidence has unraveled that zinc finger proteins (ZFPs) will shed light on the treatment of colon cancer. As the largest transcription family in the human genome, ZFPs are a class of transcription factors that can bind Zn2+, self-fold to form "finger" domains and regulate the expression of target genes. In this article, we elucidate the specific molecular mechanisms of ZFPs that are well-suited to orchestrate pathophysiological changes in colon cancer development, which may lay a credible foundation for further precision oncology. According to the global cancer burden data for 2020 issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), colorectal cancer has risen to be the third-most frequent cancer globally after breast and lung cancer. Despite advances in surgical treatment and chemoradiotherapy for colon cancer, individuals with extensive liver metastases still have depressing prognoses. Numerous studies suggest ZFPs are crucial to the development of colon cancer. The ZFP family is encoded by more than 2% of the human genome sequence and is the largest transcriptional family, all with finger-like structural domains that could combine with Zn2+. In this review, we summarize the functions, molecular mechanisms and recent advances of ZFPs in colon cancer. We also discuss how these proteins control the development and progression of colon cancer by regulating cell proliferation, EMT, invasion and metastasis, inflammation, apoptosis, the cell cycle, drug resistance, cancer stem cells and DNA methylation. Additionally, several investigations have demonstrated that Myeloid zinc finger 1 (MZF1) has dual functions in colon cancer, which may both promote cancer proliferation and inhibit cancer progression through apoptosis. Generally, a comprehensive understanding of the action mechanisms of ZFPs in colon cancer will not only shed light on the discovery of new diagnostic and prognosis indicators but will also facilitate the design of novel targeted therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study aimed to investigate the nutritional intake deficiency on rearing yak calves. We investigated supplemental concentrate feeding effects on the morphological and functional development of the pancreas in early weaned yak calves. In the study, we determined the apparent digestibility of nutrients by digestion trail, the morphological development of the pancreas in yak calves by tissue sectioning, the activity of main digestive enzymes and hormone levels by ELISA kits, and the content of major small molecule metabolites in the pancreas by non-targeted metabolomics techniques. The morphological and functional development of the pancreas and its small molecule metabolites are mainly presented in graphical form, which had positive regulatory effects on the development of the pancreas in early weaned yak calves. In summary, we found that supplemental concentrate feeding was crucial for the high-quality growth and development of early weaned yak calves and had a positive influence on the intrinsic relationship between the overall development level and physiological functions of the pancreas, which could provide an important reference for scientific rearing of early weaned yak calves. This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of supplemental concentrate feeding on the pancreatic development of yak calves. Twenty one-month-old yak calves with healthy body condition and similar body weight were selected as experimental animals and randomly divided into two groups, five replicates in each group. The control group yak calves were fed milk replacer and alfalfa hay, the experimental group yak calves were fed milk replacer, alfalfa hay and concentrate. The pre-feeding period of this experiment was thirty days, the trial period was one hundred days. At the end of feeding trail, five yak calves from each group were selected and slaughtered and the pancreas tissues of yak calves were collected and determined. The results showed that: (1) Dry matter and body weight of yak calves in the test group were significantly higher than those of the control group. (2) The apparent nutrient digestibility of crude protein, crude fat, calcium and phosphorus in the test group of yak calves was significantly higher than that of the control group, while the apparent nutrient digestibility of neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber in the test group was significantly lower than that of the control group. (3) Pancreatic weight, organ index, total ratio of exocrine part area and total ratio of endocrine area of yak calves in the test group were significantly higher than those in the control group, while the ratio of exocrine area was significantly lower in the test group than that of the control group. (4) The activities of the main pancreatic digestive enzymes: pancreatic amylase, pancreatic lipase, pancreatic protease and chymotrypsin were significantly higher in the test group than those of the control group, as were the hormonal contents of glucagon, insulin and pancreatic polypeptide. (5) The main differential metabolites of the pancreas in the test group were significantly higher than those of the control group, such as D-proline, hypoxanthine, acetylcysteine, gamma-glutamylcysteine, thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid, piperidinic acid, ellagic acid, nicotinamide, tropolone, D-serine, ribulose-5-phosphate, (+/-)5(6)-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid(EET), 2-hydroxycinnamic acid, L-phenylalanine, creatinine, tetrahydrocorticosterone, pyridoxamine, xanthine, 5-oxoproline, asparagine, DL-tryptophan, in-dole-3-acrylic acid, thymine, trehalose, docosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, fatty acid esters of hydroxy fatty acids(FAHFA) (18:1/20:3), fatty acid esters of hydroxy fatty acids(FAHFA) (18:2/20:4), adrenic acid and xanthosine. In conclusion, supplemental concentrate feeding promoted the good development of morphological and functional properties of the pancreas in early weaned yak calves to improve the digestion and absorption of feed nutrients, so as to enhance the growth and development quality of early weaned yak calves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofilms adhering to surfaces have severe impacts on both public health and industry. Environmentally friendly strategies for combating biofilms are needed due to the biosafety issues brought by traditional commercial anti‐biofilm additives. Enzyme‐based strategies for biofilm treatment have attracted great research interest, but there is still a major challenge ahead due to the high economic cost and limited stability of natural enzymes. Inspired by the antifouling mechanism of natural haloperoxidase (HPO) secreted by marine algae, which catalyzes the oxidative bromination of bacterial quorum sensing signaling molecules, its artificial enzyme is proposed here in response to the situation mentioned above. A cerium‐based metal–organic framework (Ce‐MOF) is verified to possess HPO‐like activity. Based on its favorable enzyme‐like activity, the Ce‐MOF exhibits remarkable antibacterial and biofilm formation suppression abilities. This study not only expands the variety of HPO‐like artificial enzymes but also paves the way for the application prospect of Ce‐MOFs in water pipe cleaning and biofouling treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Yaks are important for the economy and livelihood of local herders in the Tibetan Plateau and are their primary source of income. Traditionally, the production performance of ruminants is generally improved by increasing the proportion of concentrate feed in the diet. To the best of our knowledge, the optimal proportion of concentrate feed is limited in actual production and research of yak. This study fed three diets with different dietary forage-to-concentrate ratios (50:50, 65:35, and 80:20) to 36 male yaks (Bos grunniens). The changes in the distribution of fecal microorganisms were studied by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. We found that the dietary forage-to-concentrate ratio significantly impacted yak fecal microorganisms. As such, these studies help us understand the fecal microbiota of yaks, further provide more complete information on the requirements of yak diets in terms of concentrate-to-forage ratio and improve yak growth performance, and provide a theoretical basis for accurate housing of yaks. (1) Background: This study aimed to investigate the effects of different dietary concentrate to roughage ratios on growth performance and fecal microbiota composition of yaks by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. (2) Methods: In the present study, three diets with different dietary forage-to-concentrate ratios (50:50, 65:35, and 80:20) were fed to 36 housed male yaks. (3) Results: The result shows that Final BW, TWG, and ADG were higher in the C65 group than in the C50 and C80 groups, but the difference was not significant (p > 0.05). DMI in the C65 group was significantly higher than in the other two groups (p < 0.05). The DMI/ADG of the C65 group was lower than that of the other two groups, but the difference was insignificant (p > 0.05). At the phylum level, Firmicutes were the most abundant in the C65 group, and the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes was lower in the C65 group than in the other two groups. At the genus level, the relative abundances of Ruminococcaceae_UCG_005, Romboutsia, and Christensenellaceae_R-7 were higher in the C56 group than in the C50 and C80 groups. The relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20 and Rikenellaceaewas_RC9_gut is lower in the C65 group, but the difference was insignificant (p > 0.05). At KEGG level 2, the relative abundance of lipid metabolism and energy metabolism were lowest in the C50 group, and both showed higher relative abundance in the C65 group. (4) Conclusions: In conclusion, the structure of fecal microbiota was affected by different concentrate-to-forage ratios. We found that feeding diets with a concentrate-to-forage ratio of 65:35 improved yaks' growth and energy metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) are a type of cancer originating in the mucosal epithelium of the mouth, pharynx, and larynx, the sixth most common cancer in the world. However, there is no effective treatment for HNSCCs. More than 90% of HNSCCs overexpress epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFRs). Although small molecule inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies have been developed to target EGFRs, few EGFR-targeted therapeutics are approved for clinical use. Ferroptosis is a new kind of programmed death induced by the iron catalyzed excessive peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids. A growing body of evidence suggests that ferroptosis plays a pivotal role in inhibiting the tumor process. However, whether and how ferroptosis-inducers (FINs) play roles in hindering HNSCCs are unclear. In this study, we analyzed the sensitivity of different HNSCCs to ferroptosis-inducers. We found that only tongue squamous cell carcinoma cells and laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cells, but not nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells, actively respond to ferroptosis-inducers. The different sensitivities of HNSCC cells to ferroptosis induction may be attributed to the expression of KRAS and ferritin heavy chain (FTH1) since a high level of FTH1 is associated with the poor prognostic survival of HNSCCs, but knocked down FTH1 can promote HNSCC cell death. Excitingly, the ferroptosis-inducer RSL3 plays a synthetic role with EGFR monoclonal antibody Cetuximab to inhibit the survival of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells (CNE-2), which are insensitive to both ferroptosis induction and EGFR inhibition due to a high level of FTH1 and a low level of EGFR, respectively. Our findings prove that FTH1 plays a vital role in ferroptosis resistance in HNSCCs and also provide clues to target HNSCCs resistant to ferroptosis induction and/or EGFR inhibition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the changes in the blood metabolic profiles of grazing yaks during the cold season to reveal their physiological status and seek the nutrients needed to be supplemented. Six castrated yaks (3 years old) with 166.8 kg (standard deviation = 5.3) of liveweight grazed in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau were used as experimental animals without supplementary feeding. Blood samples of each animal were collected in October and December 2015, and March 2016 for the analysis of serum biochemicals and metabolome. Results showed serum indices involved in protein metabolism in grazing yaks showed greater differences during the cold season than the metabolisms of energy or minerals. Cold stress in December had minor effects on the serum metabolic profiles of yaks compared with those in October. Yaks in October and December shared seven differential serum metabolites and enrichments of the "arachidonic acid metabolism" and "glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism" pathways compared with those in March caused by the shortage of feeds. Summarily, the nutrient deficiency would be influential on the physiological status of grazing yaks during the cold season, especially on the protein metabolism, which could be improved by supplementary feeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid electrolytes are being considered as an effective solution to replace liquid ones for building safer batteries, but they suffer either low ionic conductivity or large contact ohmic impedance. Here, a highly conductive and thermomechanically stable quasi‐solid electrolytes (QSE) by self‐polymerization of a commercially available liquid electrolytes (1,3‐dioxolane (DOL), 1,2‐dimethoxyethane (DME), lithium trifluoromethane sulfonimide (LiTFSI) and LiPF6) at room temperature in a porous polyimide nanofiber film are reported. LiPF6 initiates the ring‐opening reaction of DOL and LiTFSI promotes the self‐polymerization to form poly‐DOL (PDOL), while the plasticizer of DME solidifies the PDOL. On the other hand, polyimide has a great affinity with PDOL that facilitates to form stable QSE network. As a result, the QSE film shows a high room‐temperature ionic conductivity of 2.9 × 10−3 S cm−1, a high mechanical strength of 31 MPa, and high heat resistance to 160 °C. The LiFePO4||QSE||Li batteries with a high cathode loading of ≈18.7 mg cm−2 show great cycling performance and stable electrode/electrolyte interfaces at a high current rate of 0.5 C with a capacity retention of 91.8% over 200 cycles at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various and critical electrocatalytic processes are involved during the redox reactions in the Li-S batteries, which extremely depend on the surface structure and chemical state. Recently, single-atom concept unlocks a route to maximize the use of surface-active atoms, however, further increasing the density of active site is still strictly limited by the inherent structure that single-atoms are only highly-dispersed on substrate. Herein, we provide a viewpoint that an elaborate facet design with single-crystalline structure engineering can harvest high-density surface active sites, which can significantly boost the electrocatalyst performance for excellent Li-S batteries. Specifically, the single-crystal CoSe2 (scCS) exhibits three-types of terminated (011) facet, efficiently obtaining the surface with a high-rich Co3+—Se bond termination, in contrast with lots of surface grain boundaries and dangling bonds in polycrystalline CoSe2. Surprisingly, the surface active sites concentration can reach more than 69%. As anticipated, it can provide high-density and high-efficient active sites, enormously suppressing the shuttle effect and improving the reaction kinetics via accelerating the conversion and deposition of polysulfides and Li2S. This surface lattice strategy with element terminated mode is a promising approach for designing electrocatalyst effect-based energy system, not merely for Li-S batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental caries is among the most prevalent dental diseases globally, which arises from the formation of microbial biofilm on teeth. Besides, tooth whitening represents one of the fastest‐growing areas of cosmetic dentistry. It will thus be great if tooth biofilm eradication can be combined with tooth whitening. Herein, a highly efficient photodynamic dental therapy strategy is reported for tooth biofilm eradication and tooth discoloration by employing a photosensitizer (DTTPB) with aggregation‐induced emission characteristics. DTTPB can efficiently inactivate S. mutans, and inhibit biofilm formation by suppressing the expression of genes associated with extracellular polymeric substance synthesis, bacterial adhesion, and superoxide reduction. Its inhibition performance can be further enhanced through combined treatment with chlorhexidine. Besides, DTTPB exhibits an excellent tooth‐discoloration effect on both colored saliva‐coated hydroxyapatite and clinical teeth, with short treatment time (less than 1 h), better tooth‐whitening performance than 30% hydrogen peroxide, and almost no damage to the teeth. DTTPB also demonstrates excellent biocompatibility with neglectable hemolysis effect on mouse red blood cells and almost no killing effect on mammalian cells, which enables its potential applications for simultaneous tooth biofilm eradication and tooth whitening in clinical dentistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tenderness is the main quality of meat products. However, the meat tenderness formation is a complex biological process, and pathways and proteins that affect the tenderness of yak meat are unknown. Methods: Label‐free proteomics method was used to explore the effects of differentially expressed proteins on the tenderness of yak skeletal muscle (tenderloin) during post‐mortem storage (0, 3, and 7 days) at 3 ± 1°C. Results: The tenderness of yak skeletal muscle improved significantly during storage. A total of 91 differentially expressed proteins of yak skeletal muscle during post‐mortem storage were identified by the following comparisons: day 3 versus 0, day 7 versus 0, and day 7 versus 3. NDUFS6, CYCS, COX6A2, LDB3, HSPB7, TPM4, TAGLN, COL1A1, LUM, MYH11, ACTC1, and MYOZ1 proteins showed a significant difference during yak skeletal muscle post‐mortem storage. Furthermore, bioinformatics analyses revealed that the identified proteins were related to carbon metabolism, citrate cycle, glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation, and RNA degradation. Conclusion: The results of the present study could provide proteomic insights into changes in yak skeletal muscle tenderness during storage and may be a valuable resource for future investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A lick block (LB) is a solidified mixture of molasses, urea, minerals, filler, coagulant and binder that is supplemented to livestock mainly in relatively extensive rearing systems. It provides nutrients, such as soluble sugars, proteins, minerals and vitamins to balance dietary intake and can improve rumen fermentation and facilitate digestion and absorption of nutrients. These supplements improve livestock production, reproduction and carcass quality. In addition, LB can partially replace concentrate, serve as a delivery vehicle for additives such as enzymes and drugs and mediate the distribution of grazing livestock. This paper classifies and analyzes representative research; discusses the types, ingredients and current status of the utilization of LB; and systematically reviews the processing technology, quality assessment, influencing factors of intake, action mechanism and application. This review can provide a basis for the development, popularization and application of novel LB products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For young ruminants, starter feeding can effectively facilitate the growth and development of rumen in ruminants, but the development of rumen is an important physiological challenge as it remains unclear for the mechanism of starter feeding stimulating. In this study, we performed an analysis of ruminal microbiota and their metabolites in yak calves to explore how the ruminal microbiota and their metabolites stimulate the ruminal function. This study associated 16S rRNA sequencing with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based metabolomics to evaluate the effects of starter feeding on ruminal microbiota diversity and metabolites in yak calves. We designed the experiment using 20 yak calves that were assigned equally into 2 groups, based on feeding milk replacer; the control (RA) group was fed with alfalfa hay while the treatment (RAS) group was fed with alfalfa hay and starter. After the experiment, we investigated the ruminal microbiota and metabolites through 16S rRNA sequencing and LC-MS-based metabolomics. During the preweaning period, the RAS group significantly promoted the growth performance and ruminal development in yak calves, including increases in body weight, chest girth, and development of rumen (P < 0.05). The RAS group increased the relative abundance of Bacteroidota , Proteobacteria , Chloroflexi, Synergistota , and Spirochaetota and decreased the abundance of Firmicutes , Desulfobacterota , Actinobacteriota , and Actinobacteriota at the phylum level (P < 0.05). At the genus level, the ruminal content of the RAS group was significantly enriched for Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group and Ruminococcus , while depleted for Prevotella , Christensenellaceae_R-7_group , and NK4A214_group (P < 0.05). A total of 37 metabolites were identified between the RA group and the RAS group, of which 15 metabolites were upregulated and 22 metabolites were downregulated compared with the RA group. Metabolic pathway analyses indicated that upregulated the metabolites of the RAS group yak calves were related to carbohydrate metabolism, ubiquinone, and other terpenoid-quinone biosynthesis, while the downregulated metabolic pathway was relevant to xenobiotic biodegradation, metabolism, and nucleotide metabolism. In summary, starter feeding before weaning significantly increased the dry matter intake and body weight of yak calves, changed the diversity and abundance of ruminal microbiota, and positively regulated the good development of ruminal morphology and function, providing an important basis for high-quality cultivation and the nutritional level of nutrition of yak calves in the Qinghai Tibet plateau. This study is based on the availability of 16S rRNA sequencing and LC-MS-based metabolomics in clarifying the function of starter feeding in the yak calves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]