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The mechanical, thermodynamic, and electronic characters of TiFe intermetallic compounds were examined on basis of density functional theory. The stability of TiFe at 0–100 GPa was proved by phonon spectrum and the born mechanics stability criterion. Firstly, the results of Poisson's ratio, B/G and Cauchy pressure showed TiFe is a ductile material under high pressure. The elastic anisotropy index AU indicated TiFe is an anisotropic material, and its degree of anisotropy decreases with increasing pressure. Furthermore, empirical formulas were employed to calculate the Debye temperature, minimum thermal conductivity, and melting point of TiFe. Finally, the band structure illustrated that TiFe maintains stable metallic properties under 0–100 GPa. These calculated results might have important reference significance for the industrial application in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibody drugs targeting single inflammatory cytokines have revolutionized the treatment of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. To investigate whether dual targeting interleukin-17 (IL-17) and IL-36 enhances anti-inflammatory activity, bispecific Ab HB0043 was generated by linking the single chain fragment variables (scFvs) from humanized anti-IL-36R antibody (HB0034) to the C-terminus of the heavy chain of anti-IL-17A IgG1 (HB0017) Fc using a flexible peptide linker. HB0043 largely maintained the binding affinities and biological activities of the two parent monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in vitro. IL-17 and IL-36 cooperated to amplify the expression of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic genes in normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF). However, HB0043 more effectively blocked IL-6 and IL-8 production in NHDF stimulated by IL-17A and IL-36 compared to two monoclonal antibodies. In a mouse model of Oxazolone (OXA)-induced atopic dermatitis and Imiquimod (IMQ)-induced skin inflammation, administration of both anti-IL17A mAb HB0017 and anti-mouse IL-36R surrogate antibody HB0034SA showed improved effectiveness in alleviating skin thickening and inflammation based on histological assessment. Further, in cynomolgus monkeys, HB0043 showed no enhanced target-related toxicity compared with the two parental mAbs in vivo and with a moderate increase in production of anti-drug antibodies. Together, dual blockade of IL-17A and IL-36R in the form of a bispecific antibody may have advantages in blocking the overlapping and non-overlapping functions of these two cytokines in skin inflammation that could not optimally be curtailed with single mAbs. In conclusion, as monotherapy may reach therapeutic celling for certain difficult-to-treat inflammatory and fibrotic diseases, dual targeting could potentially pave a way to combat these diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a digital image encryption scheme based on Tabu Search (TS) algorithm and Chen's hyperchaos system. First, in order to enhance the security of the algorithm and resist the known-plaintext attack, the key is associated with the ordinary image, and the hash value generated by the ordinary image is used as the initial value of the hyperchaotic system. Moreover, the TS algorithm is used to obtain the optimal subsequence to scramble the sub-block image, which ensures the scrambling effect of the algorithm. In addition, for the sake of minimizing the correlation of neighborhood pixels and strengthening the effect of scrambling, the ordinary image is divided into blocks for scrambling and diffusion. Through simulation and experiments, the key sensitivity, differential attack and pure ciphertext attack are analyzed. Compared with the other encryption schemes, the results verify the effectiveness and reliability of the proposed scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intermetallic compounds were applied widely in the fields of automotive and aerospace because of its excellent shape memory effect. In this work, the structural, mechanical, and thermodynamic properties of Ni–Ti intermetallic compounds are studied by first-principle calculation. The results show that Ti, NiTi3, NiTi2, NiTi, Ni4Ti3, Ni3Ti, Ni4Ti, and Ni are stable based on Born stable criterion. On the mechanical aspect, the bulk modulus of Ni–Ti intermetallic compounds increases with the rising electron density. Their ductility is ranked as follows: NiTi3 > Ni4Ti3 > NiTi2 > Ni4Ti > NiTi > Ni3Ti. And when the ratio of Ni and Ti is 3:1, it is the hardest. In addition, the Ni–Ti intermetallic compounds in this work are anisotropy, except NiTi2. On the thermodynamic aspect, the Debye temperature θD, melting point Tm, and minimum thermal conductivity kmin of Ni–Ti intermetallic compounds increase first and then decrease with the rising content of Ni. The θD and kmin of NiTi3 are the minimum among the Ni–Ti ICs mentioned above, and θD of Ni3Ti and kmin of NiTi are both the maximum. The melting point of Ni3Ti is 1940 K, it is the highest temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There are significant sex differences in the incidence of stroke or diabetes mellitus. However, little is known about sex differences in stroke rehospitalization among diabetic patients. Object: To explore the sex differences in short-term and long-term rehospitalization of ischemic stroke patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted from 2017 to 2021. The rehospitalization events of ischemic stroke patients with diabetes mellitus were identified by the national unified Electronic Health Record. Propensity score matching was applied to adjust for multiple covariates, and LASSO regression was used to screen for independent variables. Cox proportional hazards model was utilized to analyze the different sex in short-term (90 days, 1 year) and long-term (5 years) rehospitalization in ischemic stroke patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Result: A total of 10,724 ischemic stroke patients were included in this study, of whom 5,952 (55.5%) were males. After a 1:1 propensity score matching, there were 3,460 males and 2,772 females. After adjusting for confounding factors, female patients with type 2 diabetes had an increased risk of ischemic stroke rehospitalization at 90 days (HR: 1.94, 95%CI: 1.13–3.33, P < 0.05), 1 year (HR: 1.65, 95%CI:1.22–2.23, P = 0.001), and 5 years (HR: 1.58, 95%CI: 1.26–1.97, P < 0.001). However, there was no significant relationship between male patients with type 2 diabetes and the risk of ischemic stroke rehospitalization, either in the short or long term. Conclusion: Females with type 2 diabetes mellitus have a higher risk of ischemic stroke rehospitalization in both the short-term and long-term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, an antimicrobial cellulose acetate composite nanofiltration membrane was successfully prepared via in-situ hybridization by anchoring silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) onto the surface of the cellulose acetate nanofiltration membranes for water treatment. DETA monomer was used as a reducing agent to reduce Ag+ in AgNO3 to AgNPs, while the primary amine group of Diethylenetriamine (DETA) monomer can react with 1,3,5-Trimesoyl chloride (TMC) to form a polyamides layer. As a result, the cellulose acetate nanofiltration membranes modified by AgNPs exhibited smoother surfaces and improved hydrophilicity, which resulted in enhanced permeability and resistance to fouling. The flux of the membrane increased from 12 to 37.7 L/m2h, and the FRR values of the membrane increased from 98.4 to 100% respectively in 3.5 cycles. Owing to robust electrostatic interaction between AgNPs and carboxyl groups of the cellulose acetate support, the membranes showed stable separation performance. Over extended operational periods, the membrane retained 37.7 L/m2h of flux and 92% of Na2SO4 retention rate. Benefiting from the broad-spectrum antibacterial properties of silver, the membranes showed an excellent bactericidal rate of E. coli and S. aureus (> 99%). This work provided a new method for preparing cellulose acetate nanofiltration membranes with excellent antibacterial and separation performance. It also paved a new avenue to water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The graphitization process of nano-crystalline diamond (NCD) under high pressure significantly influences the performance of sintered polycrystalline diamond bulks. Here, we investigated the graphitization temperature of both pure nano-diamond, with an average grain size of 50 nm, and a mixture of NaCl and nano-diamond powder in a pressure and temperature range of 5-9 GPa and 600-1 500 °C, respectively. With a quantitative analysis method employing powder X-ray diffraction, we analyzed the graphitization degree of NCD under different pressures and temperatures, examining both non-hydrostatic pressure conditions (pure NCD powder) and quasi-hydrostatic pressure conditions (NaCl-NCD mixed powder). Our findings indicate that the initial graphitization temperature of pure NCD powder exceeds 800 °C at 5 GPa, and ranges between 1 000 and 1 300 °C at 9 GPa. Notably, under quasi-hydrostatic pressure conditions at about 7 GPa, the graphitization temperature of NCD increases from 1 000 °C in non-hydrostatic pressure conditions to 1 500 °C or higher within a short holding time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the important factors in coronary artery thrombosis, endothelial injury and M1 macrophage polarization are closely related to the expression of miR-34a-5p. Exosomes in plasma are mainly derived from platelets and play an important role in thrombosis. Based on these facts, this study was conducted to investigate the acting mechanism of platelet-derived exosomes (PLT-exo) in the effects of endothelial injury and M1 macrophage polarization on coronary artery thrombosis. Firstly, rats were divided into the sham-operated group and the coronary microembolization (CME) group, and their plasma-derived exosomes were extracted to detect the expression of miR-34a-5p. Next, the PLT-exo were extracted from healthy volunteers and then co-cultured with ox-LDL-induced endothelial cells and LPS-induced macrophages, respectively. Subsequently, the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and ICAM-1 in endothelial cells was measured, and the level of markers related to M1 macrophage polarization and Sirt1/NF-κB pathway was detected. Finally, the above indicators were examined again after PLT-exo combined with miR-34a-5p mimic were co-cultured with endothelial cells and macrophages, respectively. The results demonstrated that the expression of miR-34a-5p in the CME group was up-regulated compared with the sham-operated group. In cell experiments, PLT-exo modulated the Sirt1/NF-κB pathway by inhibiting the expression of intracellular miR-34a-5p and down-regulated the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and ICAM-1 in endothelial cells and M1 macrophage polarization. After the transfection with miR-34a-5p mimic, endothelial cell inflammatory injury and M1 macrophage polarization increased to varying degrees. In conclusion, PLT-exo can alleviate coronary artery thrombosis by reducing endothelial cell inflammation and M1 macrophage polarization via inhibiting miR-34a-5p expression. In contrast, miR-34a-5p overexpression in PLT-exo may exacerbate these pathological injuries in coronary artery thrombosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive damage to both upper and lower motor neurons. Genetic factors are known to play a crucial role in ALS, as genetic studies not only advance our comprehension of disease mechanisms but also help unravel the complex phenotypes exhibited by patients. To gain further insights into the genetic landscape of ALS in the Chinese population and explore genotype–phenotype correlations among individuals, we conducted whole-genome sequencing to screen genes in 34 Chinese familial ALS (FALS) probands lacking the most common ALS-associated genes. Within this cohort, we identified a rare heterozygous missense mutation in the N-terminal domain of KIF5A (c.86A>G) in one of the probands. This finding is significant as mutations in the KIF5A gene have been implicated in ALS in European cohorts since 2018, predominantly characterized by C-terminal mutations. Analysis of the clinical phenotype within this familial lineage revealed a delayed onset of symptoms, an extended survival duration, and initial manifestations in both upper limbs. These observations underscore the clinical heterogeneity observed in ALS patients harboring KIF5A mutations. In conclusion, our study contributes to the growing body of evidence linking KIF5A to ALS and enhances our understanding of the intricate genetic landscape of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Music streaming services are increasingly popular among younger generations who seek social experiences through personal expression and sharing of subjective feelings in comments. However, such emotional aspects are often ignored by current platforms, which affect the listeners' ability to find music that triggers specific personal feelings. To address this gap, this study proposes a novel approach that leverages deep learning methods to capture contextual keywords, sentiments, and induced mechanisms from song comments. The study augments a current music app with two features, including the presentation of tags that best represent song comments and a novel map metaphor that reorganizes song comments based on chronological order, content, and sentiment. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is validated through a usage scenario and a user study that demonstrate its capability to improve the user experience of exploring songs and browsing comments of interest. This study contributes to the advancement of music streaming services by providing a more personalized and emotionally rich music experience for younger generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type A acute aortic dissection (TA-AAD) patients are prone to life-threatening complications and death. This study aimed to analyze the association between eosinophil (EOS) recovery and clinical outcomes in TA-AAD. A total of 274 patients with TA-AAD were eligible for inclusion, and 54 patients died within 1 month. The patients with poor clinical outcomes showed significantly lower EOS count within 8 days after surgery. The time-dependent ROC analysis showed that EOS recovery days predicted 1-month death with an AUC of 0.886 and a cutoff of 6 days. EOS recovery within 6 days was associated with a lower incidence of postoperative infection, a poorer prognosis, and a lower risk of 1-month and 6-month mortality than those requiring more recovery days. Collectively, postoperative early recovery of EOS predicted lower mortality and better prognosis and may be applied as an effective, rapid, and simple tool for the risk stratification and prognostic prediction of patients with TA-AAD. Clinical trial registration number: NCT05409677. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electronic and mechanical properties of a tetragonal Fe–N binary compound have been investigated under extreme pressure using density functional theory with the generalized gradient approximation. The results of formation enthalpy, phonon dispersion, and elastic stability criterion show that an Fe–N binary compound is stable up to 150 GPa. On the one hand, the electronic properties of Fe16N2 have been demonstrated by the band structures and density of states. On the other hand, the elastic constants, shear, and compressional modulus derived from elastic constants impact on compressional velocity (Vp) greatly. The shear modulus of a binary compound with N is about 14.7% lower than the data of pure Fe. The density and Vp of an Fe–N binary compound, which are closer with the value of a preliminary reference earth model (PREM), are lower than the pure Fe's, especially in the part of higher pressure. In addition, the density of an Fe–N binary compound is about 5.3% lower than the Fe's. The effect of the temperature is not considered in this work, but the varying tendency indicates that the light element N incorporating in pure Fe is helpful for building an earth's core model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies evaluating the influence of diabetes on the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) showed inconsistent results. The aim of the study was to systematically evaluate the association between diabetes and DVT after TKA in a meta-analysis. Methods: An extensive search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science to identify relevant cohort studies. Random-effects models were employed to pool the results after taking account of the potential influence of heterogeneity. Results: Thirteen cohort studies involving 546,156 patients receiving TKA were included, with 71,110 (13.0%) diabetic patients before surgery and 1479 (2.1%) patients diagnosed as DVT after surgery. Overall, diabetes was associated with an increased risk of DVT after TKA (risk ratio [RR]: 1.43, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12–1.84, p = 0.004; I2 = 44%). Sensitivity analysis limited to studies with chemoprophylaxis (RR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.50–2.54), and studies with multivariate analysis (RR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.12–2.11) showed consistent results. Subgroup analysis showed that diabetes was associated with higher risk of postoperative DVT in Asian countries (RR: 1.93, 95% CI: 1.49–2.52, p < 0.001; I2 = 1%) but not in Western countries (RR: 1.07, 95% CI: 0.86–1.34, p = 0.52; I2 = 0%; p for subgroup difference < 0.001). Conclusion: Diabetes may be a risk factor for DVT after TKA, even with the chemoprophylaxis of anticoagulants. The association between diabetes and DVT after TKA may be more remarkable in patients from Asian countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies evaluating the influence of diabetes on the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) showed inconsistent results. The aim of the study was to systematically evaluate the association between diabetes and DVT after TKA in a meta-analysis. Methods: An extensive search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science to identify relevant cohort studies. Random-effects models were employed to pool the results after taking account of the potential influence of heterogeneity. Results: Thirteen cohort studies involving 546,156 patients receiving TKA were included, with 71,110 (13.0%) diabetic patients before surgery and 1479 (2.1%) patients diagnosed as DVT after surgery. Overall, diabetes was associated with an increased risk of DVT after TKA (risk ratio [RR]: 1.43, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12–1.84, p = 0.004; I2 = 44%). Sensitivity analysis limited to studies with chemoprophylaxis (RR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.50–2.54), and studies with multivariate analysis (RR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.12–2.11) showed consistent results. Subgroup analysis showed that diabetes was associated with higher risk of postoperative DVT in Asian countries (RR: 1.93, 95% CI: 1.49–2.52, p < 0.001; I2 = 1%) but not in Western countries (RR: 1.07, 95% CI: 0.86–1.34, p = 0.52; I2 = 0%; p for subgroup difference < 0.001). Conclusion: Diabetes may be a risk factor for DVT after TKA, even with the chemoprophylaxis of anticoagulants. The association between diabetes and DVT after TKA may be more remarkable in patients from Asian countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

β-Co(OH)2 nanosheets were prepared in NaNO3 solution by cathode glow discharge electrolysis (CGDE) technique, in which Co sheet and Pt needle were regarded as anode and cathode, respectively. The formation mechanism of β-Co(OH)2 was discussed in detail, and the electrochemical performance was investigated as an electrode material for the pseudocapacitor. The results showed that the obtained β-Co(OH)2 has a single phase of the hexagonal brucite-like nanosheets with an angle of adjacent edges of 120°, side length of 400–500 nm, and thickness of 10-20 nm. The average pore size and specific surface area are 33.1 nm and 122.1 m2 g−1, respectively. The β-Co(OH)2 nanosheets exhibit a high specific capacitance of 335 F g−1 and excellent capacity retention of 77.1% after 3000 charge-discharge cycles at 1 A g−1. CGDE offers a simple, fast, highly effective, and green strategy for the preparation of β-Co(OH)2 nanosheets. The prepared β-Co(OH)2 nanosheets can be used as an alternative electrode material for supercapacitors. Highlights: β-Co(OH)2 nanosheets with hexagonal structure were prepared in NaNO3 solution by using CGDE. The preparation mechanism was discussed based on emission spectra, solution pH and structural characterization. The specific surface area and average pore size of nanosheets are 122.1 m2 g−1 and 33.1 nm, respectively. β-Co(OH)2 nanosheets has 335 F g−1 specific capacitance and 77.1% capacity retention after 3000 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with worse cognitive functioning. We aim to examine the association between baseline cognitive functioning and the reduction rate in HDRS-17 total scores and to highlight the predictors of the reduction rate in HDRS-17 total scores in MDD with first-episode, drug-naïve (FED) patients. Patients and Methods: Ninety FED patients were recruited consecutively and evaluated using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-17), the 14-item Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA-14), the Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST) and the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) at baseline and again at week 8. Results: Eighty-four FED patients completed the study. Comparison showed that response group had significantly higher T scores in TMT-A, BACS-SC, WMS-III, BVMT-R, MSCEI and CPT-IP, but showed significantly lower scores in FAST total scores including autonomy, occupational functioning, cognitive functioning, interpersonal relationship than non- response group (all p's< 0.05). Partial correlation analysis also found that the reduction rate in HDRS-17 total scores could be negatively associated with autonomy, cognitive functioning and interpersonal relationship domains as well as total FAST scores, also was further positively associated with T-scores of BACS-SC, CPT-IP and MSCEI in MCCB, even when accounting for potential confounders. Furthermore, the levels of cognitive function domain, autonomy domain in FAST, and BACS-SC, CPT-IP in MCCB may predict the reduction rate in HDRS-17 total scores in FED patients (all p's< 0.05). Conclusion: Our findings underscore significant correlations between baseline functioning and the reduction rate in HDRS-17 total scores in FED patients. Moreover, better baseline cognitive function, autonomy, speed of processing and attention/vigilance are more likely to predict patients' response to antidepressant treatment, indicating pre-treatment better cognitive functioning may be predictors to treatment response in FED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional thermoset polyurethanes (PUs) can be recycled through the dynamic carbamate bonds under specific conditions. However, there is limited research on the structural evolution and property changes of these PUs before and after recycling. Herein, we designed and fabricated a thermoset polyurethane network (PCU) using polyhexamethylene carbonate diol (PHMC‐diol) as soft segments, and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) and glycerol (GLY) as hard segments. Through careful formulation design, the PCU demonstrated colorless transparency (with up to 86% transmission), shape memory properties, and reprocessing capabilities, all achieved without introducing other dynamic covalent bonds. Furthermore, the PCU exhibited excellent mechanical properties, boasting a tensile strength of 59.2 ± 3.7 MPa and the elongation at break of 674.8 ± 37.3%. Of particular interest, the PCU samples displayed solid‐state plasticity and impressive shape memory performance, with shape fixity and recovery ratios exceeding 90%. Leveraging the combination of solid‐state plasticity and shape memory, the PCU samples demonstrated the ability to achieve arbitrary shape manipulations. Upon recycling, it was observed that the cross‐linking density of the PCU samples decreased, resulting in the formation of byproducts and subsequently leading to a reduction in tensile strength. Nonetheless, the PCU samples prepared in this study exhibit potential as thermadapt shape memory and recyclable materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were prepared in Na2SO4 solution with adding ethanol via cathode glow discharge electrolysis (CGDE) plasma using sacrificial anode as a source of Ag+ ions, in which Ag foil and Pt needle were served as anode and cathode, respectively. The physical characteristic of CGDE was investigated by current-voltage curve and oscilloscope. Ag NPs were characterized by XRD, UV-Vis, SEM/EDX, TEM and XPS. The preparation mechanism was discussed. The results showed that at 520–620 V discharge, the high energetic electrons impact water at plasma-liquid interface to form many active species, i.e., H•, O•, OH•, eaq–, OH– and H2O2. Adding 15 mL ethanol into the 150 mL electrolyte can trap oxidizing agent OH• and suppress producing AgOH/Ag2O. High purity Ag NPs are fabricated via the reduction of Ag+ ions by eaq– and H• in plasma cathode. Compared with other plasma-liquid interface technique, CGDE offers a simple, fast, high effective and environment friendly method for the synthesis of Ag NPs. Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were prepared in Na2SO4 solution with adding ethanol via cathode glow discharge electrolysis plasma using sacrificial anode as a source of Ag+ ions, in which Ag foil and Pt needle were served as anode and cathode, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eye gaze can be a potentially fast and ergonomic method for target selection in augmented reality (AR). However, the eye-tracking accuracy of current consumer-level AR systems is limited. While state-of-the-art AR target selection techniques based on eye gaze and touch (gaze-touch), which follow the "eye gaze pre-selects, touch refines and confirms" mechanism, can significantly enhance selection accuracy, their selection speeds are usually compromised. To balance accuracy and speed in gaze-touch grid menu selection in AR, we propose the Hand-Held Sub-Menu (HHSM) technique.tou HHSM divides a grid menu into several sub-menus and maps the sub-menu pointed to by eye gaze onto the touchscreen of a hand-held device. To select a target item, the user first selects the sub-menu containing it via eye gaze and then confirms the selection on the touchscreen via a single touch action. We derived the HHSM technique's design space and investigated it through a series of empirical studies. Through an empirical study involving 24 participants recruited from a local university, we found that HHSM can effectively balance accuracy and speed in gaze-touch grid menu selection in AR. The error rate was approximately 2%, and the completion time per selection was around 0.93 s when participants used two thumbs to interact with the touchscreen, and approximately 1.1 s when they used only one finger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In shockwave experiments, the launch velocity of flyer is a crucial parameter for determining the physical quantities in sample under dynamic compression. Magnet velocity induction system is used to determine the velocity of flyer which can work under hypervelocity conditions. Based on finite element method, ANSYS Electromagnetics Suite module was used to establish a three-dimensional model and the launch process of flyer was simulated. The simulated results well reproduce the experimental signals. Comparing to the experimental results, the relative error of simulated amplitude of induced electromotive force (AIEMF) is 1.1%, lower than the system error of 2.0%. The relative error for flyer velocity determined by simulation is less than 0.4%, also lower than the measurement system error of 0.9%. The dependence of AIEMF with the thickness, radius, tilt angle, launch velocity of flyer and the diameter of pick-up coils is analyzed. The simulation result provides a reference for better signal acquisition in shockwave experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cerebral stroke (CS) is the leading cause of death in China, and a complex disease caused by both alterable risk factors and genetic factors. This study intended to investigate the association of MMP3, MMP14, and MMP25 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with CS risk in a Chinese Han population. Methods: A total of 1,348 Han Chinese were recruited in this case-control study. Four candidate loci including rs520540 A/G and rs679620 T/C of MMP3, rs2236302 G/C of MMP14, and rs10431961 T/C of MMP25 were successfully screened. The correlation between the four SNPs and CS risk was assessed by logistic regression analysis. The results were analyzed by false-positive report probability (FPRP) for chance or significance. The interactions between four SNPs associated with CS risk were assessed by multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR). Results: rs520540 A/G and rs679620 C/T SNP in MMP3 were associated with risk of CS in allele, codominant, dominant and log-additive models. Ischemic stroke risk were significantly lower in carriers with rs520540-A allele and rs679620-T allele than those with G/G or C/C genotypes. However, rs520540-A allele and rs679620-T allele were associated with higher risk of hemorrhagic stroke. Stratified analysis showed that these two SNPs were associated with reduced risk of CS in aged < 55 years, non-smoking and non-drinking participants, and rs679620 SNP also reduced CS risk in male participants. The levels of uric acid, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and eosinophil were different among patients with different genotypes of rs520540 and rs679620. No statistically significant association was found between MMP14 rs2236302 G/C or MMP25 rs10431961 T/C with CS even after stratification by stroke subtypes, age, gender as well as smoking and drinking conditions in all the genetic models. Conclusion: MMP3 rs520540 A/G and rs679620 C/T polymorphisms were associated with CS risk in the Chinese Han population, which provides useful information for the prevention and diagnosis of CS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of the new crown epidemic has deepened people's awareness of the importance of antibacterial and antiviral materials. It is imperative to develop applicable and economical antibacterial materials. In this work, we have proposed a facile method to prepare plant fibers with prominent antibacterial and antiviral performance. In the proposed strategy, the fiber design and in situ assembly of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were applied to improve the antibacterial and antiviral performance of plant fibers. Mechanical refining split the fibers and made them conformable; in this instance, polydopamine (PDA) was precipitated onto the fiber surface by the oxidative polymerization of dopamine and linked closely with cellulose hydroxyl groups, while AgNPs were in situ grown on the PDA coatings; PDA acted as a bonder to link fibers and AgNPs together. Benefiting from the high AgNP loadings and strong bond between AgNPs and fibers, the fibers showed excellent antibacterial and antiviral performance. This study provides a novel route for improving the antibacterial performance of plant fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gemcitabine (GEM)‐based chemotherapy represents the first choice for locally unresectable advanced pancreatic cancer, while the benefit is limited due to acquired chemoresistance or drug delivery insufficiency. Hyperthermia treatment potentially improves the clinical efficacy of GEM. However, the underlying mechanism is incompletely revealed. Our study aims to investigate the effect and involved mechanism of thermochemotherapy on cell survival. Pancreatic cancer cells PANC‐1 and ASPC‐1 were either treated with GEM or thermochemotherapy, then cell viability, apoptosis, migration, invasion, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and Sp1 expression were evaluated. The results showed that GEM dose and time‐dependently affected cell viability, and 30 μM GEM achieved favorable effect in suppressing cancer cell growth. Meanwhile, hyperthermia preconditioning (43°C for 60 min) 24 h before GEM treatment yielded superior effect than other treatment sequence. GEM caused significant cell apoptosis and proapoptotic genes of both cancer cells, and thermochemotherapy further promoted apoptosis and genes transcription, accompanied by excessive ROS production. Thermochemotherapy was superior to GEM in suppressing cell migration and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells. Meanwhile, GEM significantly reduced Sp1 mRNA and protein and its downstream gene Cox‐2, and thermochemotherapy further suppressed their expressions. ROS elimination with N‐acetyl‐l‐cysteine notably neutralizes the suppressive effect of GEM and thermochemotherapy on cell growth and expressions of Sp1 and Cox‐2. In conclusion, thermochemotherapy inhibited pancreatic cell viability, migration and invasion, and promoted cell apoptosis by inducing excessive ROS production, which subsequently suppressed Sp1 expression and the downstream Cox‐2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the complex characteristics of chaotic system, such as initial value sensitivity, periodicity and pseudo-randomness, chaotic sequences generated by chaotic system is very suitable for image data encryption after appropriate processing. This paper focuses on chaotic image encryption based on the improved Joseph algorithm, and proposes a hyperchaotic image encryption system based on N + 2 ring Joseph algorithm and reversible cellular automata. The initial value of the chaotic system is generated by the SHA-512 hash value of the original image, which makes the proposed encryption algorithm highly sensitive to the original image. In addition, the proposed N + 2 ring Joseph algorithm is formed by N chaotic sequences rolling forward like gears when scrambling each pixel position of the image. It greatly hides the pixel information of the original text, and increases the scrambling effect and the difficulty of being cracked. Furthermore, in the diffusion stage, we add the reversible cellular automata technology. On the basis of image shuffling, each pixel is further associated with other pixels, so that small changes of in pixel values can produce an avalanche effect. Finally, we conducted simulation experiments and safety analysis. The results illustrate that the encryption algorithm proposed in this paper has good encryption performance, and can effectively resist statistical attacks, differential attacks, known plaintext attacks, ciphertext only attacks, select plaintext attacks and select ciphertext attacks. In conclusion, it is a practical and secure image encryption algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Based on real-world case data, this study intends to explore and analyze the impact of rescue conscious sedation (CS) on the clinical outcomes of patients with anterior circulation acute ischemic stroke (AIS) receiving mechanical thrombectomy (MT). Methods: This retrospective study enrolled patients with anterior circulation AIS who received MT and were treated with either single local anesthesia (LA) or rescue CS during MT between January 2018 and October 2021. We used univariate and multivariate logistic regression methods to compare the impact of LA and CS on the clinical outcomes of patients with AIS who received MT, including the mRS at 90 days, the incidence of poststroke pneumonia (PSP), the incidence of symptomatic intracranial cerebral hemorrhage (sICH), and the mortality rate. Results: We reviewed 314 patient cases with AIS who received MT. Of all patients, 164 met our search criteria. Eighty-nine patients received LA, and 75 patients received rescue CS. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the 90-day good prognosis (45.3% vs. 51.7%, p = 0.418) and mortality (17.3% vs. 22.5%, p = 0.414). Compared with the LA group, the incidence of postoperative pneumonia in the rescue CS group (44% vs. 25.8%, p = 0.015) was more significant. Multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed that intraoperative remedial CS was independently associated with PSP following MT. In a subgroup analysis, rescue CS was found to significantly increase the incidence of PSP in patients with dysphagia (OR = 7.307, 95% CI 2.144–24.906, p = 0.001). As the severity of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) increased, intraoperative rescue CS was found to increase the risk of PSP (OR = 1.155, 95% CI 1.034–1.290, p = 0.011) by 5.1% compared to that of LA (OR = 1.104, 95% CI 1.013–1.204, p = 0.024). Conclusion: Compared to LA, rescue CS during MT does not significantly improve the 90 days of good prognosis and reduce the incidence of sICH and mortality in patients with anterior circulation AIS. However, it has a significantly increased risk of poststroke pneumonia (PSP), particularly in patients with dysphagia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgrounds: Gait disorder is associated with cognitive functional impairment, and this disturbance is more pronouncedly when performing additional cognitive tasks. Our study aimed to characterize gait disorders in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) under three dual tasks and determine the association between gait performance and cognitive function. Methods: A total of 260 participants were enrolled in this cross-sectional study and divided into MCI and cognitively normal control. Spatiotemporal and kinematic gait parameters (31 items) in single task and three dual tasks (serial 100-7, naming animals and words recall) were measured using a wearable sensor. Baseline characteristics of the two groups were balanced using propensity score matching. Important gait features were filtered using random forest method and LASSO regression and further described using logistic analysis. Results: After matching, 106 participants with MCI and 106 normal controls were recruited. Top 5 gait features in random forest and 4 ~ 6 important features in LASSO regression were selected. Robust variables associating with cognitive function were temporal gait parameters. Participants with MCI exhibited decreased swing time and terminal swing, increased mid stance and variability of stride length compared with normal control. Subjects walked slower when performing an extra dual cognitive task. In the three dual tasks, words recall test exhibited more pronounced impact on gait regularity, velocity, and dual task cost than the other two cognitive tests. Conclusion: Gait assessment under dual task conditions, particularly in words recall test, using portable sensors could be useful as a complementary strategy for early detection of MCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate changes in the incidence of infections by extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E) and analyzed whether there was an association between endogenous changes in the organism due to COVID-19 infection and the infections by ESBL-E.Patients and Methods: The study was a single-center retrospective case-control design. A total of 107 patients infected by ESBL-E during the COVID-19 pandemic were selected as the case group, while 214 uninfected patients selected by 1:2 propensity score matching (PSM) acted as the control group. Univariate analysis, LASSO logistic regression, and multivariate logistic regression were used to determine the risk factors for ESBL-E infection. An interrupted time series was used to analyze the changes in the incidence of ESBL-E infections in hospitalized patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.Results: The incidence of infection with ESBL-E showed a significant increase during COVID-19 (3.42 vs 4.92 per 1000 patients, p = 0.003). The incidence of ESBL-E infections increased at an average rate of 0.45 per 1000 patients per week compared to the pre-pandemic period (p = 0.022). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that a length of hospitalization ≥ 15 days (OR: 2.98 (1.07– 8.28), chronic kidney disease (OR: 4.25 (1.32– 13.70), white blood cell (WBC) > 9.5× 10^9/L (OR: 3.04 (1.54– 6.01), use of hormonal drugs (OR: 2.38 (1.04– 5.43), antibacterial drug use 1 type (OR: 5.38 (2.04– 14.21), antibacterial drug use 2 types (OR: 23.05 (6.71– 79.25) and antibacterial drug use ≥ 3 types (OR: 88.35 (8.55– 912.63) were independent risk factors for infection with ESBL-E, while chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was a protective factor (OR: 0.14 (0.03– 0.66). COVID-19 was not an independent risk factor for infection by ESBL-E.Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the incidence of infections by ESBL-E increased significantly. Increased exposure to traditional risk factors were the main reasons, however, COVID-19 was not an independent risk factor for ESBL-E infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to identify key circRNAs and pathways associated with heat stress in blood samples of Holstein cows, which will provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms driving heat stress in cows. Hence, we evaluated changes in milk yield, rectal temperature, and respiratory rate of experimental cows between heat stress (summer) and non-heat stress (spring) conditions with two comparisons, including Sum1 vs. Spr1 (same lactation stage, different individuals, 15 cows per group) and Sum1 vs. Spr2 (same individual, different lactation stages, 15 cows per group). Compared to both Spr1 and Spr2, cows in the Sum1 group had a significantly lower milk yield, while rectal temperature and respiratory rate were significantly higher (p < 0.05), indicating that cows in the Sum1 group were experiencing heat stress. In each group, five animals were chosen randomly to undergo RNA-seq. The results reveal that 140 and 205 differentially expressed (DE) circRNAs were screened in the first and second comparisons, respectively. According to the gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis, these DE circRNAs were mainly enriched in five signaling pathways, including choline metabolism, the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, the HIF-1 signaling pathway, the longevity-regulating pathway, and autophagy. Then, we obtained the top 10 hub source genes of circRNAs according to the protein–protein interaction networks. Among them, ciRNA1282 (HIF1A), circRNA4205 (NR3C1), and circRNA12923 (ROCK1) were enriched in multiple pathways and identified as binding multiple miRNAs. These key circRNAs may play an important role in the heat stress responses of dairy cows. These results provide valuable information on the involvement of key circRNAs and their expression pattern in the heat stress response of cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anions are always considered to explain most of the cellulose dissolution in the ionic liquid; where electron donor theory is always used to elaborate cellulose dissolution in the ionic liquids with different anions. However, the theory does not apply to ionic liquids with different alkyl chain anions. Herein, the hydrogen bond theory was proposed to further explain cellulose dissolution by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. 1-allyl-3-methylimidazole carboxylate ionic liquids with different alkyl chains including ([Amim][HCOO], [Amim][CH3COO], [Amim][CH3CH2COO], [Amim][CH3CH2CH2COO]) were investigated. The DFT results indicated that the alkyl chains of the anions directly affect the hydrogen bond and the interaction energy between the cations and anions; where the length of the hydrogen bonds between cation and anion is the most predominant factor for determining the polarity parameter β value of the ionic liquid itself and therefore governing cellulose dissolution. Moreover, a shorter length of hydrogen bonds between the anions of ionic liquid and cellobiose referred to a better solubility of cellulose in the ionic liquids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a fast hyperchaotic image encryption scheme based on RSVM and step-by-step scrambling-diffusion. In this scheme, we firstly propose a new algorithm named ring shrinkage with variable modulo (RSVM), which can randomly scramble the elements in a one-dimensional array, which are composed of the row numbers or column numbers of the pixel matrix to be encrypted. Before encryption, we use RSVM algorithm to generate two random one-dimensional arrays of pixel matrix (i.e. row array A s and column array B s ), and each element in the A s / B s represents the row/column number in the pixel matrix. Then the rows/columns of the pixel matrix are scrambled-diffused step-by-step according to the row/column numbers in the A s / B s . The initial control parameters of RSVM algorithm are controlled by SHA-256 of plaintext pixels, and RSVM algorithm controls the step-by-step scrambling-diffusion process of pixel matrix, rows and columns, so the small changes of plaintext pixels will lead to great differences in ciphertext images. In addition, the overall time complexity of the image encryption scheme is only Θ (1. 5 (M + N)) , which can greatly reduce the time cost. Finally, the experimental results and extensive security analysis prove the efficiency and feasibility of this image encryption method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multi-scale spatial and temporal evolution characteristics of extreme precipitation and isohyets in Ningxia were studied using daily, monthly, and annual precipitation data from 20 meteorological stations in Ningxia over the last 60 years. The results revealed that the intensity of rainstorms in Ningxia had decreased slightly over the previous 60 years, with the intensity of rainstorms in southern and central Ningxia being higher than in northern areas. Ningxia's annual and seasonal precipitation varied regionally, declining from the southeast to the northwest. Annual, spring and autumn precipitation exhibited a signifi cantly declining trend from 1960 to the early 21st century; summer precipitation displayed a slightly decreasing trend; and winter precipitation showed a signifi cantly increasing trend. Nevertheless, there was a noticeable increase in annual and seasonal precipitation after 2005. From the 1960s to the 2000s, the 200 mm isohyet moved slowly southward, while the 400 mm isohyet jumped southward twice in the 1970s and 2000s before jumping considerably northward in the 2010s to reach their northernmost region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve a breakthrough in the application of cold caustic extraction, it is necessary to limit the amount of alkali and to dissolve the hemicelluloses sufficiently. A NaOH/ZnO aqueous solution system was used to separate hemicelluloses from bleached bamboo pulp efficiently and selectively. The NaOH/ZnO process proved to be more successful in the removal of hemicelluloses. Under the conditions of 0.5% ZnO concentration, the NaOH/ZnO aqueous solution system decreased the hemicelluloses content to 4.99%, which was lower than 7.46% of the control sample treated with NaOH alone at the same 7% NaOH concentration. Correspondingly, the NaOH/ZnO system led to an increase in alpha-cellulose content with significantly improved hemicelluloses removal efficiency and selectivity. As a result of the NaOH/ZnO process, a higher degree of polymerization was observed, and the cellulose I structure was always maintained, which provided good benefits for the subsequent utilization of cellulose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beyond glycemic control, applications of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1r) agonists (GLP-1 RAs) inhibit inflammation and plaque development in murine atherosclerotic models. However, whether they modulate hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) to prohibit skewed myelopoiesis in hypercholesteremia remains unknown. In this study, GLP-1r expression in fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS)-sorted wild-type HSPCs was determined by capillary western blotting. Bone marrow cells (BMCs) of wild-type or GLP-1r−/− mice were transplanted into lethally irradiated low-density lipoprotein receptor deficient (LDLr−/−) recipients followed by high-fat diet (HFD) for chimerism analysis by FACS. In parallel, LDLr−/− mice were placed on HFD for 6 weeks and then treated with saline or Exendin-4 (Ex-4) for another 6 weeks. HSPC frequency and cell cycle were analyzed by FACS, and intracellular metabolite levels were assessed by targeted metabolomics. The results demonstrated that HSPCs expressed GLP-1r and transplantation of GLP-1r−/− BMCs resulted in skewed myelopoiesis in hypercholesterolemic LDLr−/− recipients. In vitro , Ex-4 treatment of FACS-purified HSPCs suppressed cell expansion and granulocyte production induced by LDL. In vivo , Ex-4 treatment inhibited plaque progression, suppressed HSPC proliferation, and modified glycolytic and lipid metabolism in HSPCs of hypercholesteremic LDLr−/− mice. In conclusion, Ex-4 could directly inhibit HSPC proliferation induced by hypercholesteremia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The current retrospective case-control study evaluates the diagnostic value of screening for a fetal cleft palate by using the ultra-sound-based observation of the "superimposed-line" sign appearing at the junction of the vomer and maxilla in the first trimester of pregnancy. Methods: Retrospective analyses were performed of ultrasonographic images of nuchal translucency obtained during the first trimester of pregnancy (11–13+6 weeks) from 45 fetuses with a cleft palate later confirmed following parturition or induced labor (cases) and 4,500 normal fetuses confirmed after parturition (controls). Ultrasonographic features of the "superimposed-line" sign were observed and recorded, and between-group comparisons were performed. Results: The "superimposed-line" sign was absent in 39 cases (86.67%), including 4 (8.89%) with simple secondary hard palate cleft and 35 (77.78%) with secondary hard palate cleft complicated by a primary cleft palate. The "superimposed-line" sign was shown in 6 cases (13.33%), including 2 (4.44%) with a simple secondary soft palate cleft, 1 (2.22%) with a simple secondary bifid uvula, and 3 (6.67%) with a simple primary cleft palate. Among the 4,500 controls, 31 fetuses showed an absence of the "superimposed-line" sign (0.69%) and 4,469 showed the "superimposed-line" sign (99.31%). The between-group difference was significant (p < 0.05). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive values of the "superimposed-line" sign in the first trimester of pregnancy for predicting fetal cleft palate were 86.67% (39/45), 99.31% (4,469/4,500), 55.71% (39/70), and 99.86% (4,469/4,475), respectively. Conclusion: The "superimposed-line" sign did not appear in fetuses with secondary hard palate cleft and primary cleft palate only when a secondary hard palate cleft is present. The sign appeared in normal fetuses and those with a simple primary cleft palate, simple secondary soft palate cleft, or a simple secondary bifid uvula. Based on these results, we propose that the "superimposed-line" sign in the mid-sagittal plane of the fetal face in the first trimester of pregnancy (11–13+6 weeks) is an important tool in screening for fetal cleft palate, especially secondary hard palate cleft. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a decentralized training approach, horizontal federated learning (HFL) enables distributed clients to collaboratively learn a machine learning model while keeping personal/private information on local devices. Despite the enhanced performance and efficiency of HFL over local training, clues for inspecting the behaviors of the participating clients and the federated model are usually lacking due to the privacy-preserving nature of HFL. Consequently, the users can only conduct a shallow-level analysis of potential abnormal behaviors and have limited means to assess the contributions of individual clients and implement the necessary intervention. Visualization techniques have been introduced to facilitate the HFL process inspection, usually by providing model metrics and evaluation results as a dashboard representation. Although the existing visualization methods allow a simple examination of the HFL model performance, they cannot support the intensive exploration of the HFL process. In this article, strictly following the HFL privacy-preserving protocol, we design an exploratory visual analytics system for the HFL process termed HFLens, which supports comparative visual interpretation at the overview, communication round, and client instance levels. Specifically, the proposed system facilitates the investigation of the overall process involving all clients, the correlation analysis of clients’ information in one or different communication round(s), the identification of potential anomalies, and the contribution assessment of each HFL client. Two case studies confirm the efficacy of our system. Experts’ feedback suggests that our approach indeed helps in understanding and diagnosing the HFL process better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C21H19O3P, triclinic, P 1 ‾ (no. 2), a = 9.5751(18) Å, b = 10.0602(19) Å, c = 10.307(2) Å, α = 82.979(3)°, β = 78.057(3)°, γ = 65.622(3)°, V = 884.0(3) Å3, Z = 2, Rgt(F) = 0.0429, wRref(F2) = 0.1110, T = 296 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. This study was designed to establish quality standards of Burnet gels and investigate the effects and mechanism of Burnet gels on steroid-dependent dermatitis (HDD) in guinea pigs. Methods. HPLC was used to determine the content of gallic acid, Gentiopicrin, and paeonol. A total of 48 male guinea pigs were recruited and randomly divided into control group, model group, tacrolimus ointment group, and Burnet gel group (Low, medium, and high concentration). The HDD guinea pig model was established by the 0.5% clobetasol propionate tincture. After HDD model establishment, control group and model group smeared normal saline and the rest of the group with corresponding drugs for three weeks. The contents of IFN-γ, IL-4, and IgE in the guinea pig serum were detected by the ELISA; the protein expression levels of FLG, LOR, and Caspase-14 in the epidermis of guinea pigs were detected by the immunohistochemical and Western blotting method. Results. The content of gallic acid, Gentiopicrin, and paeonol was 0.30 mg/g, 1.06 mg/g, and 0.56 mg/g. Compared with the normal group, the IFN-γ, IL-4, and IgE of guinea pig serum in the model group were significantly increased; the FLG, LOR, and Caspase-14 of guinea pig epidermis in the model group were significantly decreased; compared with the model group, the IFN-γ, IL-4, and IgE of guinea pig serum in the tacrolimus ointment group and Burnet gel group were significantly decreased; the FLG, LOR, and Caspase-14 of guinea pig epidermis in the tacrolimus ointment group and Burnet gel group were significantly increased. Conclusion. Burnet gels can improve guinea pig HDD model, and the mechanism may be related to inhibiting skin inflammation and promoting the formation of epidermal skin barrier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, bleached chemical pulp from hardwood was treated with different carboxylic acid choline chloride-based deep eutectic solvents (CA/ChCl DESs) including formic acid, acetic acid, ethanedioic acid, propanedioic acid and choline chloride. The dissolution and degradation of cellulose and hemicellulose in chemical pulps in these DESs were analyzed, while the relationships between the polarity parameters of DESs and the degradation and dissolution of cellulosic fibers were discussed. The results show that dicarboxylic acids/ChCl were more conducive to the solubility and degradation of cellulosic fibers compared to monocarboxylic acids/ChCl at a higher temperature. In addition, the increase in alkyl of the CA could reduce the solubility to cellulosic fiber. The further study reveals that the dissolution and degradation of cellulosic fibers are generally governed both by temperature and the ability of DESs hydrogen bond acidity (α), while temperature shows little effect on α. However, no remarkable relationships were found between the DESs hydrogen bond basicity (β) and cellulose degradation and dissolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by cathode glow discharge electrolysis in sodium fluoride solution, in which cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) acted as a stabilizer, and a Ti foil and a Pt needlepoint served as the anode and the cathode, respectively. The structure, component, and morphology of TiO2 NPs were characterized. A possible preparation mechanism was proposed. In addition, the photocatalytic performance of TiO2 NPs was assessed through the degradation of methylene blue (MB). The results showed that TiO2 NPs with 12.7 nm particle size could be prepared at 500 V discharge voltage. CTAB, as a stabilizer, can diminish the agglomeration. The photocatalytic property of TiO2 NPs for the degradation of MB with 0.15% CTAB is markedly superior to that of TiO2 NPs without adding CTAB and commercial TiO2 NPs (P25). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robot learning from demonstration (RLfD) is a technique for robots to derive policies from instructors' examples. Although the reciprocal effects of student engagement on teacher behavior are widely recognized in the educational community, it is unclear whether the same phenomenon holds for RLfD. To fill this gap, we first design three types of robot engagement behavior (gaze, imitation, and a hybrid of the two) based on the learning literature. We then conduct, in a simulation environment, a within-subject user study to investigate the impact of different robot engagement cues on humans compared to a "without-engagement" condition. Results suggest that engagement communication has significantly negative influences on the human's estimation of the simulated robots' capability and significantly raises their expectation towards the learning outcomes, even though we do not run actual imitation learning algorithms in the experiments. Moreover, imitation behavior affects humans more than gaze does in all metrics, while their combination has the most profound influences on humans. We also find that communicating engagement via imitation or the combined behavior significantly improves humans' perception towards the quality of simulated demonstrations, even if all demonstrations are of the same quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

EZH2 inhibitors (EZH2i), a class of small-molecule inhibitors that target EZH2 to exert anti-tumor functions, have just been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in treatment of adults and adolescents with locally advanced or metastatic epithelioid sarcoma. The application of EZH2i in several solid tumors is still in different stages of clinical trials and needs to be further validated. As a key epigenetic regulator, besides its role in controlling the proliferation of tumor cells, EZH2 has been implicated in the regulation of various immune cells including macrophages. But there are still controversial research results at present. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignant tumor that highly expresses EZH2, which has the third highest incidence and is the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Studies have shown that the numbers of M2-type tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are highly associated with the progression and metastasis of CRC. In the current study, we aim to investigate how EZH2 modulates the polarization of macrophages in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of CRC, and compare the role of two different EZH2 inhibitors, EPZ6438 and GSK126. We applied a 3D culture method to demonstrate that EZH2i did indeed suppress the proliferation of CRC cells in vitro. In vivo , we found that the percentage of CD206+ macrophages of the TME was decreased under the treatment of EPZ6438, but it increased upon GSK126 treatment. Besides, in the co-culture system of macrophages and CRC cells, EPZ6438 led to significant elevation of M1 markers and reduction of M2 markers. Furthermore, mechanistic studies validated by ChIP-qPCR demonstrated that EZH2i inhibit EZH2-mediated H3K27me3 levels on the promoters of STAT3, an essential transcription factor for M1 macrophage polarization. Therefore, our data suggested that EZH2i not only suppress CRC cell proliferation directly, but also regulate macrophage by skewing M2 into effector M1 macrophage to exert a tumor suppressive effect. Moreover, our study provided new insight for better understanding of the role of two kinds of EZH2i: EPZ6438 and GSK126, which may pave the way in treating CRC by targeting cancer cells and immune cells via this epigenetic approach in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indoor formaldehyde (HCHO) (emitted from furniture and/or wood products) causes widespread concerns, and photocatalysis is one of the effective methods to degrade HCHO. In this work, we prepared a new MOF-based photo-catalyst by modifying ZIF-67 (modified ZIF-67, ZIF-67-F) via a low-temperature thermal treatment, which allows the conversion of –N＝C– groups in ZIF-67 to –N＝C＝O, effectively expending the limited light absorption of ZIF-67 from 200–310 nm and 500–620 nm to a broad absorption in the UV-visible region of 200 to 780nm. In addition, the dissociation of the functional groups (–CH3) on ZIF-67 creates more cavities and improves the porous ZIF-67-F material. Benefiting from the excellent light excitation and adsorption performance, ZIF-67-F can successfully degrade 87.8% HCHO at room temperature, where, ˙O2− is the main active species in the degradation reactions. In addition, ZIF-67-F shows great stability and reusability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of food allergy (FA) is increasing, and there is an urgent need to take effective measures against it. One important measure is the avoidance diet, which shows a disadvantage, especially in case of accidental exposure. Oral tolerance restoration sheds new light on the control of FA. Oral tolerance is naturally a state of systemic unresponsiveness of the gastrointestinal tract to food antigens and its restoration can be a clinical therapy for FA. Its immune basis lies on the intestinal mucosal immune system and factors, such as gut microbiota and food processing methods, are also important. This review presents recent advances in oral tolerance and its closely related factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endothelial dysfunction is a driving force during the development and progression of cardiovascular complications in diabetes. Targeting endothelial injury may be an attractive avenue for the management of diabetic vascular disorders. Chicoric acid is reported to confer antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in various diseases including diabetes. However, the role and mechanism of chicoric acid in hyperglycemia-induced endothelial damage are not well understood. In the present study, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were incubated with high glucose/high fat (HG + HF) to induce endothelial cell injury. We found that exposure of HUVECs to HG + HF medium promoted the release of cytochrome c (cytc) from mitochondrion into the cytoplasm, stimulated the cleavage of caspase-3 and poly ADP-ribose-polymerase (PARP), then inducing cell apoptosis, the effects that were prevented by administration of chicoric acid. Besides, we found that chicoric acid diminished HG + HF-induced phosphorylation and degradation of IκBα, and subsequent p65 NFκB nuclear translocation, thereby contributing to its anti-inflammatory effects in HUVECs. We also confirmed that chicoric acid mitigated oxidative/nitrative stresses under HG + HF conditions. Studies aimed at exploring the underlying mechanisms found that chicoric acid activated the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway to attenuate HG + HF-triggered injury in HUVECs as AMPK inhibitor Compound C or silencing of AMPKα1 abolished the beneficial effects of chicoric acid in HUVECs. Collectively, chicoric acid is likely protected against diabetes-induced endothelial dysfunction by activation of the AMPK signaling pathway. Chicoric acid could be a novel candidate for the treatment of the diabetes-associated vascular endothelial injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]