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Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a type of chronic disease in which multiple factors are responsible for the structural and functional disorders of the kidney. Piperazine ferulate (PF) has anti-platelet and anti-fibrotic effects, and its mechanism of action remains to be elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of PF against CKD in rats and to determine its mechanism of action. Network pharmacology was used to predict potential PF action targets in the treatment of CKD and to further validate them. A rat model of CKD was established; blood was collected, etc., for the assessment of the renal function; renal pathologic damage was examined using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and Masson staining; changes in the levels of TGF-β1 and α-SMA were determined with ELISA; EPOR, FN, and COL I expression were detected utilizing immunohistochemistry; and HIF-1α, HIF-2α, and EPO protein molecules were analyzed deploying western blotting. PF reduces Scr, BUN, and 24 h UP levels; decreases FN and COL I expression; and attenuates renal injury. Additionally, PF inhibited TGF-β1 and stimulated the production of HIF-1α and HIF-2α, which downregulated α-SMA and upregulated EPO. PF attenuated the progression of the CKD pathology, and the mechanism of its action is possibly associated with the promotion of HIF-1α/HIF-2α/EPO production and TGF-β1 reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using fly ash to synthesize zeolite molecular sieves can improve the reuse value of coal fly ash resources, reduce the synthesis cost of the zeolites, and protect the ecology. A novel approach was proposed to prepare zeolite socony mobil‐5 (ZSM‐5) zeolite via one‐pot hydrothermal synthesis. The mesoporous ZSM‐5 synthesized by adjusting the molar ratio of chemical reagents has higher crystallinity, larger specific surface area, and more adsorption sites. An analysis of methylene blue (MB) adsorption on mesoporous ZSM‐5 was conducted at many different adsorption parameters, including solution concentration, temperature, and duration of adsorption. The Langmuir model can objectively describe the adsorption behavior of MB on ZSM‐5, and the adsorption characteristics of MB on ZSM‐5 are better described by the pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model. The thermodynamic model provides the adsorption behavior as an endothermic reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of energy storage, potassium ion batteries (PIBs) have gradually become a suitable substitute for lithium-ion batteries. Where the layered transition metal oxides cathode materials of potassium ion batteries have attracted much attention due to their high theoretical capacity, unique two-dimensional potassium ion diffusion channels, simple preparation and low cost. In this work, we designed a K0.5MnO2@MWCNT@Super P (KMP) composite electrode with P3-type layered structure as the cathode in PIBs through coprecipitation—high temperature sintering method. The SEM results show that the prepared KMP composite electrodes are secondary particles formed by three-dimensional network structures and particles through point–line contact and point–point contact. As a result, the composite electrode with a 7 : 2 : 1 weight ratio of K0.5MnO2, conductive carbon (Super-P: MWCNT = 1 : 1) and PVDF delivers a high initial discharge capacity of 112.7 mA h g–1 at a current density of 20 mA g–1 and 72.1 mA h g–1 at 100 mA g–1. And, it has a capacity retention of 44% at 100 mA g–1 after 50 cycles. The results show that the unique three-dimensional network structure not only improves the conductivity of K0.5MnO2 material, but also effectively alleviates the volume change caused by K+ in the charging and discharging process. This study provides a new way to develop layered cathode materials for high energy density potassium ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pleistocene was characterized by climate fluctuations with rapid transitions between glacial and interglacial periods. East Asia's land bridge dynamics and monsoon system during the Middle Pleistocene transition (MPT) further constrained species distributions and dispersals, which promoted local adaptation and species diversification, making East Asia an excellent location to study species biogeography. Cypripedium macranthos Sw. a terrestrial orchid, diverged in the Pleistocene and became widespread in Russia, China, Korea, and Japan. Many populations are now at risk due to illegal harvesting or habitat loss. With comprehensive sampling including 171 individuals among 22 populations across the entire distribution range, together with plastid DNA sequencing, we have explored the origin and impact of palaeoclimate on its spatial genetic structure and historical biogeography. Regression-based analyses commonly used in landscape genetics were also applied to investigate the effects of precipitation, temperature, and wind on gene flow. The results revealed northeastern China as the probable cradle of C. macranthos , with northeastward divergence and range expansion during the MPT, aided by monsoon shifts and wind-driven seed dispersal. Isolation by environment was detected with winter temperature as a driver for north–south divergence controlling for an effect of isolation by distance, revealing cold adaptation of the northern populations or temperature-driven genetic differentiation. We also emphasize the founder speciation of an unique variety on Rebun Island of Japan. The widespread but genetically and ecologically divergent C. macranthos populations highlight the need for more conservation attention on northern populations under global warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to solve the severe erosion of kiln refractories for the high‐temperature treatment used during the process of recovering valuable metal elements from waste lithium batteries, this study investigates the low‐cost, no‐firing preparation technology of erosion‐resistant SiC–C–t‐ZrO2 composites with self‐prepared t‐ZrO2–SiC–C powder, as well as silicon carbide and flake graphite as the main raw materials, and phenolic resin as the binding agent. (1) The effects of different t‐ZrO2–SiC–C powder additions and heat treatment temperatures on the properties of SiC–C–t‐ZrO2 composites were studied in details. (2) The erosion resistance of SiC–C–t‐ZrO2 composites to after‐use lithium battery waste was evaluated using the static crucible method. The mechanical properties of the t‐ZrO2–SiC–C composites was the best that its cold modulus of rupture (CMOR) was 11.37 MPa and cold crush strength (CCS) was 41.96 MPa when heat treatment temperature was 600°C and content of t‐ZrO2–SiC–C powder was 10 wt%. At that condition, the bulk density of samples reached to 3.15 g/cm3 and apparent porosity of it was only at 11.09% which means that the samples designed in this work are compacted enough. In the erosion test, the t‐ZrO2–SiC–C composites had an excellent resistance to erosion of lithium battery waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many regions or countries seek to transition to a low-carbon economy, but there is ambiguity about how carbon emissions change with economic growth. This paper captures characteristics of carbon emissions in China using the Tapio Method. To detect driving factors of carbon emissions in economic growth, we adopt the Log-Mean Divisia Index decomposition method. The results of the paper are as follows: (1) Economic growth in most regions of China has outpaced the growth rate of carbon emissions, showing the characteristics of decoupling. (2) Metropolitan cities have a greater impact on the level of decoupling in neighboring provinces and municipalities. (3) The decoupling of carbon emissions from economic growth is caused by declining energy intensity in China. (4) The energy mix and industrial structure have little impact on the growth rate of carbon emissions. In addition, some policy implications are summarized according to the findings of this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunotherapy is a therapeutic modality designed to elicit or augment an immune response against malignancies. Despite the immune system's ability to detect and eradicate neoplastic cells, certain neoplastic cells can elude immune surveillance and elimination through diverse mechanisms. Therefore, antitumor immunotherapy has emerged as a propitious strategy. Pyroptosis, a type of programmed cell death (PCD) regulated by Gasdermin (GSDM), is associated with cytomembrane rupture due to continuous cell expansion, which results in the release of cellular contents that can trigger robust inflammatory and immune responses. The field of nanomedicine has made promising progress, enabling the application of nanotechnology to enhance the effectiveness and specificity of cancer therapy by potentiating, enabling, or augmenting pyroptosis. In this review, we comprehensively examine the paradigms underlying antitumor immunity, particularly paradigms related to nanotherapeutics combined with pyroptosis; these treatments include chemotherapy (CT), hyperthermia therapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT), chemodynamic therapy (CDT), ion-interference therapy (IIT), biomimetic therapy, and combination therapy. Furthermore, we thoroughly discuss the coordinated mechanisms that regulate these paradigms. This review is expected to enhance the understanding of the interplay between pyroptosis and antitumor immunotherapy, broaden the utilization of diverse nanomaterials in pyroptosis-based antitumor immunotherapy, and facilitate advancements in clinical tumor therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Climate change is expected to alter the factors that drive changes in adaptive variation. This is especially true for species with long life spans and limited dispersal capabilities. Rapid climate changes may disrupt the migration of beneficial genetic variations, making it challenging for them to keep up with changing environments. Understanding adaptive genetic variations in tree species is crucial for conservation and effective forest management. Our study used landscape genomic analyses and phenotypic traits from a thorough sampling across the entire range of Quercus longinux, an oak species native to Taiwan, to investigate the signals of adaptation within this species. Results: Using ecological data, phenotypic traits, and 1,933 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 205 individuals, we classified three genetic groups, which were also phenotypically and ecologically divergent. Thirty-five genes related to drought and freeze resistance displayed signatures of natural selection. The adaptive variation was driven by diverse environmental pressures such as low spring precipitation, low annual temperature, and soil grid sizes. Using linear-regression-based methods, we identified isolation by environment (IBE) as the optimal model for adaptive SNPs. Redundancy analysis (RDA) further revealed a substantial joint influence of demography, geology, and environments, suggesting a covariation between environmental gradients and colonization history. Lastly, we utilized adaptive signals to estimate the genetic offset for each individual under diverse climate change scenarios. The required genetic changes and migration distance are larger in severe climates. Our prediction also reveals potential threats to edge populations in northern and southeastern Taiwan due to escalating temperatures and precipitation reallocation. Conclusions: We demonstrate the intricate influence of ecological heterogeneity on genetic and phenotypic adaptation of an oak species. The adaptation is also driven by some rarely studied environmental factors, including wind speed and soil features. Furthermore, the genetic offset analysis predicted that the edge populations of Q. longinux in lower elevations might face higher risks of local extinctions under climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the unflavored Schur indices in the N = 4 super-Yang-Mills theory for the Bn, Cn, Dn, G2 gauge groups. We explore two methods, namely the character expansion method and the Fermi gas method, to efficiently compute the q-series expansion of the Schur indices to some high orders. Using the available data and the modular properties, we are able to fix the exact formulas for the general gauge groups up to some high ranks and discover some interesting new features. We also identify some empirical modular anomaly equations, but unlike the case of An groups, they are quite complicated and not sufficiently useful to fix exact formulas for gauge groups of arbitrary rank. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loaded single-atom catalysts (SACs) exhibit high potential for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reactions (HER) owing to their unsaturated coordination environments and quantum size effects. However, SACs with only one active center can limit reactions involving multiple atoms, affecting adsorption efficiency. This paper presents a synergistic catalyst, Pt1Rux@C, successfully synthesized using an efficient microwave reduction strategy to load Pt1 atoms and Rux clusters onto carbon black for electrocatalytic HER in just 50 seconds. Characterization and theoretical calculations show that the interaction between Pt1 and Rux on the Pt1Rux@C surface optimizes HER kinetics and achieves unique acid/alkaline reactivity. Pt1Rux@C requires overpotentials of only 90.2 mV (acidic)/141.8 mV (alkaline) to achieve current densities of 100 mA cm−2 (acidic)/40 mA cm−2 (alkaline), outperforming commercial 20 wt% Pt/C. It also exhibits a low Tafel slope, high activity, and excellent stability. In conclusion, this study introduces a new path for efficient, cost-effective, and controllable electrocatalyst development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymers play a crucial role in promoting the progress of high‐performance inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, few polymers have simultaneously achieved defect passivation and device encapsulation in PSCs. Herein, a telechelic silicone polymer (poly(dimethylsiloxane‐co‐methylsiloxane acrylate) [PDMA]) is introduced, which possesses crosslinking capability to enable structure regulation through a condensation reaction. By leveraging the advantages of the polymers before and after crosslinking, a synergistic strategy of defect healing and device encapsulation for PSCs is developed via the application of the targeted polymer. PDMA as additives anchors tightly at the grain boundaries (GBs) and bridges the perovskite grains, achieving defect passivation and GBs crosslinking, increasing the efficiency of inverted PSCs from 22.32% to 24.41%. Crosslinked PDMA (CPDMA) is used as an encapsulant to encapsulate the entire device, enabling non‐destructive encapsulation at room temperature and inhibiting perovskite degradation under photothermal aging. Remarkably, the PDMA‐modified device with CPDMA encapsulation maintains 98% of its initial efficiency after 1200 h under continuous illumination at 55 ± 5 °C and retains 95% of its original efficiency after 1000 h of damp heat testing, meeting one of the IEC61215:2016 standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In recent years, the discovery of clinical pathways (CPs) from electronic medical records (EMRs) data has received increasing attention because it can directly support clinical doctors with explicit treatment knowledge, which is one of the key challenges in the development of intelligent healthcare services. However, the existing work has focused on topic probabilistic models, which usually produce treatment patterns with similar treatment activities, and such discovered treatment patterns do not take into account the temporal process of patient treatment which does not meet the needs of practical medical applications. Methods: Based on the assumption that CPs can be derived from the data of EMRs which usually record the treatment process of patients, this paper proposes a new CPs mining method from EMRs, an extended form of the traditional topic model - the temporal topic model (TTM). The method can capture the treatment topics and the corresponding treatment timestamps for each treatment day. Results: Experimental research conducted on a real-world dataset of patients' hospitalization processes, and the achieved results demonstrate the applicability and usefulness of the proposed methodology for CPs mining. Compared to existing benchmarks, our model shows significant improvement and robustness. Conclusion: Our TTM provides a more competitive way to mine potential CPs considering the temporal features of the EMR data, providing a very prospective tool to support clinical diagnostic decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N‐alkyl anilines are a series of common and versatile compounds which not only have been used as reaction solvents, acid‐accepters, and organic‐bases, but also in synthesis of dyes, pharmaceuticals, and anti‐colodal. The N‐methyl and/or N,N‐dimethyl anilines are the most representative ones among these. Due to their widespread uses, numerous works have been reported on synthetic strategies in the past decades. The studies on N−H methylations of anilines mainly focus on selection of reagents, selection of catalysts, or ligands design. Different transition‐metals, e. g., Ir, Ru, Pd, and et. al, with different ligands have been used in the methylation protocols. Methanol (CH3OH), carbon dioxide (CO2), formaldehyde (HCHO), or dimethyl carbonate ((CH3)2CO3) was used as C source, and hydrogen (H2) or silanes as H source. In this work, we would like to summarize the latest advances on the synthesis of N‐methyl (N,N‐dimethyl included) anilines and derivatives. This review provides an overview of reactants and catalyst, as well as an emphasis on the scope of substrates and proposed reaction mechanism for each work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, viscose fiber (VF), as the raw material, was utilized to prepare the activated carbon fiber. The porous structure of the viscose-base activated carbon fiber (VACF) was obtained via a hybrid activation combining physical and chemical methods. The physicochemical properties of VACF were carried out and analyzed. The results showed that the specific surface area and pore volume of the samples increased. The specific surface area of VACF can reach up to 1846.65 m2/g. The effectiveness of VACF prepared in the adsorption of Cd(II) and As(V) has been studied as a function of pH, time and initial concentration. All adsorption processes fit the pseudo-second-order model and Freundlich isotherm equation. The maximum adsorption capacity of VACF for Cd2+ and AsO43− is 483.12 and 400.36 mg/g. In addition, the sample still has high removal property after repeated cyclic adsorption. This study provides a new disposal solution for viscos fibers and in further the textile fibers as well a feasible strategy for heavy metal pollution treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess the associations of corneal biomechanical properties as measured by the Corvis ST with refractive errors and ocular biometry in an unselected sample of young adults. Methods: A total of 1645 healthy university students underwent corneal biomechanical parameters measurement by the Corvis ST. The refractive status of the participants was measured using an autorefractor without cycloplegia. Ocular biometric parameters were measured using the IOL Master. Results: After adjusting for the effect of age, sex, biomechanical-corrected intraocular pressure and central corneal thickness, axial length was significantly associated with A1 velocity (A1v, β = -10.47), A2 velocity (A2v, β = 4.66), A2 deflection amplitude (A2DeflA, β = -6.02), HC deflection amplitude (HC-DeflA, β = 5.95), HC peak distance (HC-PD, β = 2.57), deformation amplitude ratio max (DA Rmax, β = -0.36), Ambrósio′s relational thickness to the horizontal profile (ARTh, β = 0.002). For axial length / corneal radius ratio, only A1v (β = -2.01), A1 deflection amplitude (A1DeflA, β = 2.30), HC-DeflA (β = 1.49), HC-PD (β = -0.21), DA Rmax (β = 0.07), stress–strain index (SSI, β = -0.29), ARTh (β < 0.001) were significant associates. A1v (β = 23.18), HC-DeflA (β = -15.36), HC-PD (β = 1.27), DA Rmax (β = -0.66), SSI (β = 3.53), ARTh (β = -0.02) were significantly associated with spherical equivalent. Conclusion: Myopic eyes were more likely to have more deformable corneas and corneas in high myopia were easier to deform and were even softer compared with those in the mild/moderate myopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

College freshmen are special populations facing great challenges in adapting to the brand new environment, and their lifestyle and emotional states are worthy of attention. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, their screen time and prevalence of negative emotions were significantly increased, but few studies have focused on such situation of college freshmen and illustrated relevant mechanisms. Thus, based on a sample of Chinese college freshmen during the COVID-19 pandemic, the current study aimed to investigate the association between their screen time and negative emotions (depression, anxiety and stress), and further explore the mediating effects of sleep quality. Data from 2,014 college freshmen was analyzed. The screen time was self-reported by participants using predesigned questionnaires. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Chinese Version of Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) were used to assess sleep quality and emotional states, respectively. The mediation analysis was conducted to examine the meditation effect. Results indicated that participants with negative emotions tended to have longer daily screen time and worse sleep quality, sleep quality partially mediated the association between screen time and negative emotions.The critical role of sleep quality and related intervention measures should be recognized and implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO) has been widely used in the petroleum industry, chemical industry, etc. The massive storage required by solid waste has become a serious problem. Due to their chemical composition, bauxite tailings as raw materials for high-temperature thermal storage ceramics show enormous potential in the fields of research and application. In this study, we propose a method for preparing ferric-rich and high specific storage capacity by adding Fe2O3 powder to bauxite tailings. Based on a 7:3 mass ratio of bauxite tailings to lepidolite, Fe2O3 powder with different mass fractions (7 wt%, 15 wt%, 20 wt%, 30 wt%, and 40 wt%) was added to the ceramic material to improve the physical properties and thermal storage capacity of thermal storage ceramics. The results showed that ferric-rich thermal storage ceramics with optimal performance were obtained by holding them at a sintering temperature of 1000 °C for 2 h. When the Fe2O3 content was 15 wt%, the bulk density of the thermal storage ceramic reached 2.53 g/cm3, the compressive strength was 120.81 MPa, and the specific heat capacity was 1.06 J/(g·K). This study has practical guidance significance in the preparation of high thermal storage ceramics at low temperatures and low costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostate cancer (PCa) patients with lymph node involvement (LNI) constitute a single-risk group with varied prognoses. Existing studies on this group have focused solely on those who underwent prostatectomy (RP), using statistical models to predict prognosis. This study aimed to develop an easily accessible individual survival prediction tool based on multiple machine learning (ML) algorithms to predict survival probability for PCa patients with LNI. A total of 3280 PCa patients with LNI were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, covering the years 2000–2019. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Gradient Boosting Survival Analysis (GBSA), Random Survival Forest (RSF), and Extra Survival Trees (EST) were used to develop prognosis models, which were compared to Cox regression. Discrimination was evaluated using the time-dependent areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (time-dependent AUC) and the concordance index (c-index). Calibration was assessed using the time-dependent Brier score (time-dependent BS) and the integrated Brier score (IBS). Moreover, the beeswarm summary plot in SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) was used to display the contribution of variables to the results. The 3280 patients were randomly split into a training cohort (n = 2624) and a validation cohort (n = 656). Nine variables including age at diagnosis, race, marital status, clinical T stage, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level at diagnosis, Gleason Score (GS), number of positive lymph nodes, radical prostatectomy (RP), and radiotherapy (RT) were used to develop models. The mean time-dependent AUC for GBSA, RSF, and EST was 0.782 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.779–0.783), 0.779 (95% CI 0.776–0.780), and 0.781 (95% CI 0.778–0.782), respectively, which were higher than the Cox regression model of 0.770 (95% CI 0.769–0.773). Additionally, all models demonstrated almost similar calibration, with low IBS. A web-based prediction tool was developed using the best-performing GBSA, which is accessible at https://pengzihexjtu-pca-n1.streamlit.app/. ML algorithms showed better performance compared with Cox regression and we developed a web-based tool, which may help to guide patient treatment and follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of fractures has emerged as one of the most prevalent injuries in the human body. In bone reconstruction surgery, after the implantation of porous hydroxyapatite materials, there is an initial infiltration of body fluids into the porous implant, followed by biomineralization-mediated apatite crystal formation and the subsequent ingrowth of bone cells. Despite extensive research efforts in this field, previous investigations have primarily focused on the formation of apatite crystals on exposed surfaces, with limited literature available regarding the formation of apatite crystals within the internal microstructures of bone implants. Herein, we demonstrate the occurrence of dynamic biomineralization within a three-dimensional porous hydroxyapatite/wollastonite (HA/WS) skeleton, leading to the abundant formation of nano-sized apatite crystals across diverse internal environments. Our findings reveal that these apatite nanocrystals demonstrate distinct rates of nucleation, packing densities, and crystal forms in comparison to those formed on the surface. Therefore, the objective of this study was to elucidate the temporal evolution of biomineralization processes by investigating the microstructures of nanocrystals on the internal surfaces of HA/WS three-dimensional porous materials at distinct stages of biomineralization and subsequently explore the biological activity exhibited by HA/WS when combined with cell investigation into apatite crystal biomineralization mechanisms at the nanoscale, aiming to comprehend natural bone formation processes and develop efficacious biomimetic implants for tissue engineering applications. The simultaneous examination of bone cell attachment and its interaction with ongoing internal nanocrystal formation will provide valuable insights for designing optimal scaffolds conducive to bone cell growth, which is imperative in tissue engineering endeavors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving high thermal conductivity and exceptional interfacial adhesion simultaneously in thermosensitive tactile recognition sensors poses a significant challenge. A copolymer, poly([[(butylamino)carbonyl]oxy]ethyl‐ester)‐co‐polydimethylsiloxane (referred to as PP), is synthesized and subsequently complexed with alumina particles coated with liquid metal (LMAl2O3) to prepare a composite material called PP/LMAl2O3 with high thermal conductivity and strong interfacial adhesion to address this challenge. The best thermal conductivity (4.43 W m−1 K−1), electrical insulation (10−6–10−7 S m−1), and adhesion properties derived from hydrogen bonding (1316 N m−2) are obtained by adjusting the volume fraction of PP and LMAl2O3 in PP/LMAl2O3. PP/LMAl2O3 with high thermal conductivity and high interface adhesion can efficiently transfer heat between thermal flux sensors and the objects being sensed, reliably detecting small thermal flux variations and ensuring accurate thermal flux measurements. In this study, PP/LMAl2O3 is used to make up thermosensitive tactile sensor. Surprisingly, PP/LMAl2O3 demonstrates high thermal signal sensitivity for tactile recognition applications, allowing the smart thermosensitive tactile sensor system to distinguish unknown rock materials even in the dark. Overall, PP/LMAl2O3 may function as a fundamental material in thermosensitive tactile sensors for lithology identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient I2/AgNO3 co‐promoted one‐pot annulation of alkynes with 1,2‐arylenediamines into quinoxalines is reported. The reaction proceeded smoothly under mild conditions and rapidly generated quinoxalines (37 examples) in good to excellent yields (up to 83 %) with a good tolerance of functional groups. Moreover, π‐conjugated polycyclic quinoxaline derivatives could also be successfully synthesized by this one‐pot strategy. Furthermore, a gram‐scale reaction of the one‐pot reaction is also investigated. Finally, a plausible mechanism for the one‐pot reaction is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondria are essential organelles for cellular metabolism and physiology in eukaryotic cells. Human mitochondria have their own genome (mtDNA), which is maternally inherited with 37 genes, encoding 13 polypeptides for oxidative phosphorylation, and 22 tRNAs and 2 rRNAs for translation. mtDNA mutations are associated with a wide spectrum of degenerative and neuromuscular diseases. However, the pathophysiology of mitochondrial diseases, especially for threshold effect and tissue specificity, is not well understood and there is no effective treatment for these disorders. Especially, the lack of appropriate cell and animal disease models has been significant obstacles for deep elucidating the pathophysiology of maternally transmitted diseases and developing the effective therapy approach. The use of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from patients to obtain terminally differentiated specific lineages such as inner ear hair cells is a revolutionary approach to deeply understand pathogenic mechanisms and develop the therapeutic interventions of mitochondrial disorders. Here, we review the recent advances in patients-derived iPSCs as ex vivo models for mitochondrial diseases. Those patients-derived iPSCs have been differentiated into specific targeting cells such as retinal ganglion cells and eventually organoid for the disease modeling. These disease models have advanced our understanding of the pathophysiology of maternally inherited diseases and stepped toward therapeutic interventions for these diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental pollution and the energy crisis have promoted the development of clean energy as well as new‐generation energy storage systems. Potassium ion batteries (PIBs) have emerged as a possible alternative to lithium‐ion batteries due to their abundant reserves, low cost, and impressive electrochemical performance. However, the search for suitable cathode materials has become particularly crucial. Recently, Prussian blue (PB) has been investigated as a potential cathode material for PIBs, which has an open three‐dimensional framework to accommodate a large volume of potassium ions and adjustable composition for different applications. In this review, Prussian blue and its analogues (PBAs) and their application in PIBs were summarized detailly. We presented the composition, structure, potassium ion storage mechanism, preparation process of PBAs, and then focus on the performance optimization methods of the PBAs, including transition metal doping and conductive material adding into PBAs. Finally, the challenges as well as the outlook on the future development of PBAs were proposed for further application in this battery system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare the therapeutic efficacy and safety of microwave ablation (MWA) and lauromacrogol injection for ablation (LIA) for benign predominantly cystic thyroid nodules. Materials and methods: In this retrospective study, 85 patients with predominantly cystic thyroid nodules (PCTNs) who underwent microwave ablation (MWA) or lauromacrogol injection for ablation (LIA) between June 2019 and August 2022 at three hospitals were included in our research. Forty-six patients were treated with microwave ablation, and thirty-nine patients were treated with lauromacrogol injection for ablation. The baseline characteristics, nodal volume, volume reduction rate (VRR), and incidence of postoperative complications were compared between these two groups. Results: After treatment, there were significant differences in the thyroid nodule volume and the volume reduction rate (VRR) at different follow-up times between the groups (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the nodal volume or the volume reduction rate (VRR) between the MWA group and the LIA group at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months (p > 0.05). Of note, no serious intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred in the corresponding group. Conclusion: MWA and LIA are very effective and safe strategies for the treatment of predominantly cystic thyroid nodules. However, LIA is more advantageous in that it is less expensive and has a shorter length of hospital stay than MWA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, a novel measure for the complexity of operator growth is proposed based on Lanczos algorithm and Krylov recursion method. We study this Krylov complexity in quantum mechanical systems derived from some well-known local toric Calabi–Yau geometries, as well as some nonrelativistic models. We find that for the Calabi–Yau models, the Lanczos coefficients grow slower than linearly for small n 's, consistent with the behavior of integrable models. On the other hand, for the nonrelativistic models, the Lanczos coefficients initially grow linearly for small n 's, then reach a plateau. Although this looks like the behavior of a chaotic system, it is mostly likely due to saddle-dominated scrambling effects instead, as argued in the literature. In our cases, the slopes of linearly growing Lanczos coefficients almost saturate a bound by the temperature. During our study, we also provide an alternative general derivation of the bound for the slope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing insurance fraud has resulted in the loss of large amounts of money, making it difficult to expand insurance coverage and scale. This phenomenon is particularly acute in the field of health insurance. Medical insurance fraud is the falsification of medical records to obtain medical insurance funds or medical insurance benefits. Therefore, effective detection of health insurance fraud is of great importance for the rational use of health insurance funds. To address the frequent violations and frauds in health insurance, this paper proposes a keyword combination-based approach for health insurance fraud detection. First, a medical dictionary is built by TextRank to segment the surgical procedure text and extract the surgical keywords, then, the synonyms corresponding to each keyword are extracted from the electronic medical record data to form a keyword combination pattern as the final detection rule, and finally, a medical insurance fraud detection model is built on this basis. In this paper, data on acute myocardial infarction and unstable angina were selected for examination, with 1371 and 1787 cases, respectively. The performance of the model was evaluated by the coverage rate and compared experimentally with the TF-IDF and LDA algorithms. The experiments also prove the efficiency and advancedness of the algorithm in this paper. In the case of acute myocardial infarction, the method in this paper improved the coverage rate by 23.77% and 9.4% compared with the TF-IDF and LDA methods respectively. In the case of unstable angina, the coverage of the method in this paper was improved by 20.21% compared to both TF-IDF and LDA methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The pathogenic gene CDH23 plays a pivotal role in tip links, which is indispensable for mechanoelectrical transduction in the hair cells. However, the underlying molecular mechanism and signal regulatory networks that influence deafness is still largely unknown. Methods: In this study, a congenital deafness family, whole exome sequencing revealed a new mutation in the pathogenic gene CDH23, subsequently; the mutation has been validated using Sanger sequencing method. Then CRISPR/Cas9 technology was employed to knockout zebrafish cdh23 gene. Startle response experiment was used to compare with wide-type, the response to sound stimulation between wide-type and cdh23−/−. To further illustrate the molecular mechanisms underlying congenital deafness, comparative transcriptomic profiling and multiple bioinformatics analyses were performed. Results: The YO-PRO-1 assay result showed that in cdh23 deficient embryos, the YO-PRO-1 signal in inner ear and lateral line neuromast hair cells were completely lost. Startle response experiment showed that compared with wide-type, the response to sound stimulation decreased significantly in cdh23 mutant larvae. Comparative transcriptomic showed that the candidate genes such as atp1b2b and myof could affect hearing by regulating ATP production and purine metabolism in a synergetic way with cdh23. RT-qPCR results further confirmed the transcriptomics results. Further compensatory experiment showed that ATP treated cdh23−/− embryos can partially recover the mutant phenotype. Conclusion: In conclusion, our study may shed light on deciphering the principal mechanism and provide a potential therapeutic method for congenital hearing loss under the condition of CDH23 mutation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is a maternally inherited eye disease due to mutations in mitochondrial DNA. However, there is no effective treatment for this disease. LHON-linked ND6 14484T > C (p.M64V) mutation caused complex I deficiency, diminished ATP production, increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), elevated apoptosis, and impaired mitophagy. Here, we investigated if the allotopic expression of human mitochondrial ND6 transgene corrected the mitochondrial dysfunctions due to LHON-associated m.14484T > C mutation. Methods: Nucleus-versions of ND6 was generated by changing 6 non-universal codons with universal codons and added to mitochondrial targeting sequence of COX8. Stable transfectants were generated by transferring human ND6 cDNA expressed in a pCDH-puro vector into mutant cybrids carrying the m.14484T > C mutation and control cybrids. The effect of allotopic expression of ND6 on oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) was evaluated using Blue Native gel electrophoresis and extracellular flux analyzer. Assessment of ROS production in cell lines was performed by flow cytometry with MitoSOX Red reagent. Analyses for apoptosis and mitophagy were undertaken via flow cytometry, TUNEL and immunofluorescence assays. Results: The transfer of human ND6 into the cybrids carrying the m.14484T > C mutation raised the levels of ND6, ND1 and ND4L but did not change the levels of other mitochondrial proteins. The overexpression of ND6 led to 20~23% increases in the assembly and activity of complex I, and ~ 53% and ~ 33% increases in the levels of mitochondrial ATP and ΔΨm in the mutant cybrids bearing m.14484T > C mutation. Furthermore, mutant cybrids with overexpression of ND6 exhibited marked reductions in the levels of mitochondrial ROS. Strikingly, ND6 overexpression markedly inhibited the apoptosis process and restored impaired mitophagy in the cells carrying m.14484T > C mutation. However, overexpression of ND6 did not affect the ND6 level and mitochondrial functions in the wild-type cybrids, indicating that this ND6 level appeared to be the maximum threshold level to maintain the normal cell function. Conclusion: We demonstrated that allotopic expression of nucleus-versions of ND6 restored complex I, apoptosis and mitophagy deficiencies caused by the m.14484T > C mutation. The restoration of m.14484T > C mutation-induced mitochondrial dysfunctions by overexpression of ND6 is a step toward therapeutic interventions for LHON and mitochondrial diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cryptic lineage is a genetically diverged but morphologically unrecognized variant of a known species. Clarifying cryptic lineage evolution is essential for quantifying species diversity. In sympatric cryptic lineage divergence compared with allopatric divergence, the forces of divergent selection and mating patterns override geographical isolation. Introgression, by supplying preadapted or neutral standing genetic variations, can promote sympatric cryptic lineage divergence via selection. However, most studies concentrated on extant species introgression, ignoring the genetic legacy of introgression from extinct or unsampled lineages ("ghost introgression"). Cycads are an ideal plant for studying the influence of ghost introgression because of their common interspecific gene flow and past high extinction rate. Here, we utilized reference‐based ddRADseq to clarify the role of ghost introgression in the evolution of a previously identified sympatric cryptic lineage in Cycas revoluta. After re‐evaluating the evolutionary independency of cryptic lineages, the group‐wise diverged single‐nucleotide polymorphisms among sympatric and allopatric lineages were compared and functionally annotated. Next, we employed an approximate Bayesian computation method for hypothesis testing to clarify the cryptic lineage evolution and ghost introgression effect. SNPs with the genomic signatures of ghost introgression were further annotated. Our results reconfirmed the evolutionary independency of cryptic lineage among C. revoluta and demonstrated that ghost introgression to the noncryptic lineage facilitated their divergence. Gene function related to heat stress and disease resistance implied ecological adaptation of the main extant populations of C. revoluta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of robot thermosensitive touch recognition systems, it is a major challenge to achieve high thermal conductivity and adhesion properties simultaneously in thermosensitive touch sensors to improve their sensitivity. To address this challenge, this study synthesized a copolymer of polydimethylsiloxane-co-poly([[(butylamino)carbonyl]oxy]ethylester) (PDMSPBA) using UV light polymerization. Then, a core–shell LABN filler was prepared using the principle of electronic hole coordination by combining boron nitride (BN) particles with liquid alloy (LA). The LABN core–shell structured filler was introduced into the PDMSPBA copolymer matrix to prepare PDMSPBA/LABN composite material. The LABN core–shell structure can reduce the distance of phonon transfer inside the composite material and promote the formation of a continuous heat channel. A series of tests showed that the thermal conductivity of PDMSPBA/LABN composite material was 3.75 W m−1 K−1, the electrical conductivity value was 10–6–10–8 S/m, and the surface adhesion was 1.23 × 104 N/m2. Most importantly, the PDMSPBA/LABN composite material was used as the core thermal interface material in the robot thermosensitive touch recognition system. Surprisingly, this intelligent touch recognition system can distinguish rock types in the dark within a specific range using the PDMSPBA/LABN composite material. In summary, the PDMSPBA/LABN composite material has great potential for application in the field of tactile perception of mining robots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pyrolysis performances and reaction kinetics of pine needles (PN) were investigated by integrating thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The average activation energy of PN was estimated to be 183.2 kJ/mol by Kissinger Akahira Sunose (KAS) and 183.8 kJ/mol by Flynn Wall Ozawa (FWO), respectively at heating rates of 10, 20, and 40 °C/min. The pyrolysis of PN was found to be more efficient at the lower heating rates, while increased heating rates promoted the reaction. Using the King-Kai (K-K) method, the activation energies of hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin were calculated to be 156, 165, and 172 kJ/mol, respectively. The descending order of evolving gases and functional groups from PN was found to be CO2, C=C, C=O, H2O, CH4, and CO. The main pyrolytic by-products identified were hydrocarbons, phenols, alcohols, ketones, and aldehydes. The determination of kinetic parameters provides fundamental information for predicting the rates at which chemical reactions occur. This study demonstrates the potential of PN as a suitable source for bioenergy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pyrolysis performances and reaction kinetics of pine needles (PN) were investigated by integrating thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The average activation energy of PN was estimated to be 183.2 kJ/mol by Kissinger Akahira Sunose (KAS) and 183.8 kJ/mol by Flynn Wall Ozawa (FWO), respectively at heating rates of 10, 20, and 40 °C/min. The pyrolysis of PN was found to be more efficient at the lower heating rates, while increased heating rates promoted the reaction. Using the King-Kai (K-K) method, the activation energies of hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin were calculated to be 156, 165, and 172 kJ/mol, respectively. The descending order of evolving gases and functional groups from PN was found to be CO2, C=C, C=O, H2O, CH4, and CO. The main pyrolytic by-products identified were hydrocarbons, phenols, alcohols, ketones, and aldehydes. The determination of kinetic parameters provides fundamental information for predicting the rates at which chemical reactions occur. This study demonstrates the potential of PN as a suitable source for bioenergy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large amount of metallurgical solid waste accumulation poses a serious threat to the environment. Study on synergistic reinforcement of synthetic process of metallurgical solid waste‐based ceramics with fly ash is of great significance in reducing environmental pollution and resource utilization. A metallurgical solid waste‐based ceramic used as building ceramic was developed with the erosion part of used MgO–C bricks and fly ash as main raw materials, and the amount of solid waste added to the prepared ceramics was at least 60 wt% and up to 90 wt%. The effects of fly ash content and sintering temperature on the crystalline phase transitions, morphologies, and the main physical and mechanical properties of ceramics were investigated by X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and mechanical testing. The results show that the obtained ceramics presented maximum bending strength and minimum water absorption, 80.14 MPa and 5.04%, respectively, when the raw material proportions were the erosion part of used refractories accounted for 60 wt%, fly ash 20 wt%, pyrophyllite 10 wt%, and quartz sands 10 wt%, and the process parameters were the sintering temperature 1150°C, sintering time 120 min, and molding pressure 15 MPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Synaptic plasticity contributes to nociceptive signal transmission and modulation, with calcium/ calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMK II) playing a fundamental role in neural plasticity. This research was conducted to investigate the role of CaMK II in the transmission and regulation of nociceptive information within the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of naïve and morphine-tolerant rats. Methods: Randall Selitto and hot-plate tests were utilized to measure the hindpaw withdrawal latencies (HWLs) in response to noxious mechanical and thermal stimuli. To induce chronic morphine tolerance, rats received intraperitoneal morphine injection twice per day for seven days. CaMK II expression and activity were assessed using western blotting. Results: Intra-NAc microinjection of autocamtide-2-related inhibitory peptide (AIP) induced an increase in HWLs in naïve rats in response to noxious thermal and mechanical stimuli. Moreover, the expression of the phosphorylated CaMK II (p-CaMK II) was significantly decreased as determined by western blotting. Chronic intraperitoneal injection of morphine resulted in significant morphine tolerance in rats on Day 7, and an increase of p-CaMK II expression in NAc in morphine-tolerant rats was observed. Furthermore, intra-NAc administration of AIP elicited significant antinociceptive responses in morphine-tolerant rats. In addition, compared with naïve rats, AIP induced stronger thermal antinociceptive effects of the same dose in rats exhibiting morphine tolerance. Conclusions: This study shows that CaMK II in the NAc is involved in the transmission and regulation of nociception in naïve and morphine-tolerant rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discovery of novel polymeric materials with variable heat transport properties could revolutionize the utilization and manipulation of thermal energy to keep devices working optimally. Here, we synthesized a poly-1-butyl-5-((4-(phenyldiazenyl)phenoxy)methyl)2-ethyl-2,4,4-trimethylpentanedioate (AzoBmapolymer) containing photoisomerization's groups through reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. Firstly, using a thermal conductivity (TC)-measuring instrument, we demonstrate the TC of photoresponsive AzoBmapolymer that reversibly switches between low (0.13 ± 0.02 Wm−1 K−1) and high (0.24 ± 0.02 Wm−1 K−1) states. And surprisingly, the 84.6% change of TC was achieved by the modulation of the AzoBmapolymer containing photoisomerization's groups through green and ultraviolet photoirradiation. What is more, our synthesized photosensitive AzoBmapolymer is capable of TC transition within 7 s controlled by photoirradiation, and its photoregulated TC transition rate is dozens or hundreds of times higher than that driven by magnetic field molecular orientation (0.17 h), electrochemical oxygenation (0.5 h), or temperature modulation (1 h). Theoretically, the photoisomerization's groups of AzoBmapolymer can lead to different spatial configurations of macromolecules. Meanwhile, this conformational transition results in a change in the π–π stacking (dπ–π) spatial configuration and an amorphous-to-crystal transition. More importantly, X-ray diffraction, crosspolarized optical microscopy, and TC-measuring instrument jointly demonstrate that photoirradiation reversibly change the thermophysical properties of AzoBmapolymer phonon transport. In other words, this result illustrates a powerful manipulation of the thermophysical properties of the polymers by photoirradiation. The AzoBmapolymer could complement traditional metal heat transfer materials used in applications; for instance, heat exchangers, electronic packaging, and heat sink. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aspidistra Ker Gawl. is one of the the most diverse and fastest-growing genera of angiosperm. Most Aspidistra species have been discovered in a limited area or a single site through morphological comparison. Because of the lack of population studies, morphological variation within species and the boundaries of some species remain unclear. In recent years, combining genetic and morphological markers has become a powerful approach for species delimitation. In this study, we performed population sampling and integrated morphometrics and microsatellite genetic diversity analyses to determine the species diversity of Aspidistra in Taiwan. We identified three species, namely Aspidistra attenuata Hayata; A. daibuensis Hayata var. daibuensis; A. mushaensis Hayata var. mushaensis; and reduced A. longiconnectiva C.T.Lu, K.C.Chuang & J.C. Wang to the variety level, and described a new variety, A. daibuensis Hayata var. longkiauensis. The description, diagnosis, distribution, and photographs of this new variety as well as a key to the known Taiwanese Aspidistra are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports a sequence of a Ca3YAl3B4O15:xEu3+ red phosphor prepared using a high‐temperature solid‐state reaction. At the excitation of 396 nm, the samples emitted intense red emission centred at ~623 nm, which could be attributed to the 5D0→7F2 transition of the Eu3+ ion. The results showed that the optimum Eu3+ doping concentration of Ca3YAl3B4O15:Eu3+ phosphor was x = 80 mol%, and the concentration quenching mechanism of Ca3YAl3B4O15:Eu3+ red phosphor belonged to the exchange coupling between Eu3+ ions. The Commission Internationale de l'éclairage (CIE) coordinates and colour purity of Ca3Y0.2Al3B4O15:0.8Eu3+ were calculated as (0.6375, 0.3476) and 95.5%, respectively. Moreover, the red emission of the obtained phosphor Ca3YAl3B4O15:0.8Eu3+ exhibited a low thermal quenching behaviour with an intensity retention rate of 92.85% at 150°C. The above results manifest that the Eu3+‐activated Ca3YAl3B4O15 phosphor is predicted to be a promising red luminescent component for white light‐emitting diodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Soil quality is undergoing severe degradation under anthropogenic effects. Different methods of land management have been implemented for soil reclamation, such as turfing. Although widely accepted to improve soil quality, turfing in specific environments may also culminate in soil deterioration. We aim to know how turfing impacts soils by changing mycobiomes. Methods and results The soil physicochemical properties and ITS metabarcoding were used to investigate mycobiome diversity and eco-function differences between the eudicot Dianthus plumarius and the monocot Poa pratensis in dry, cold, and high-alkali soil. The effects of plantation and the rhizosphere (e.g. root exudates) were tested. We showed that the change in soil mycobiomes in different planted bulk soils and rhizospheres could mainly be attributed to species turnover, with minor nestedness. Unexpectedly, the soil deteriorates more following turfing. The increasing saprotrophs in planted bulk soil were more marked in the monocot than in the eudicot, even the rhizosphere effect alleviated saprotrophic risks in the rhizosphere. Conclusions Turfing deteriorates the health of high-alkali soil by reducing nitrification, and upshift the soil saprotrophs in a dry and cold environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mg2SiO4:Eu2+ phosphors with olivine structure were prepared by the solid-state reaction under a reducing atmosphere, and their phase composition, crystal structure, microscopic morphology, and photoluminescence properties were investigated. It was suggested that Eu2+ ions occupied the lattice of Mg2+ ions, and a small amount of Eu2+ ions doping (0.05% ~ 0.2%) did not affect the crystal structure and morphology of the Mg2SiO4. The samples were crystallized into ellipsoidal particles with a size of 1–3 μm. The optimal doping concentration of Eu2+ ions in Mg2-xSiO4: xEu2+ phosphors is 0.1%. Upon the excitation of 275 nm ultraviolet light, the Mg2-xSiO4: xEu2+(x = 0.1%) sample exhibited a broad emission band with the maximum emission intensity at 453 nm, which is in the spectral absorption range of chlorophyll A and chlorophyll B, thus enabling the enhancement of the photosynthesis of the plant growth. The emission spectrum of the sample is decomposed into two subbands by the Gaussian method, which corresponds to the 5d-4f transitions of Eu2+ ions occupying the Mg1 and Mg2 lattice sites, respectively. In addition, the fluorescence decay behavior and thermal stability of the Mg2-xSiO4: xEu2+(x = 0.1%) sample were analyzed, and the sample showed good thermal stability. These results indicate that the Mg2SiO4:Eu2+ phosphor has enormous potential in plant lighting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium-ion batteries are known for their high efficiency for storing electrical energy, especially for hybrid vehicles. In this research, the development of mixture composites in the cathode electrode of LIBs has been discussed and designed based on ternary solid solutions. We have given a novel synthesis and method preparation of cathode electrode materials to reduce costs while increasing the efficiency and simultaneity for the future of these technologies. The major problem in the LIBs is related to LiCoO2 as a popular cathode material that, although it has a high efficiency, is expensive and very toxic. Therefore, the usage of a lower weight of cobalt compared to the LiCoO2 cathode material is economically advantageous for this research. Several samples of the (1-x-y) LiCo1/3Ti1/3Fe1/3PO4 xLi2MnPO4 and yLiFePO4 system were synthesized via sol–gel experiments. Various stoichiometric amounts of the LiNO3, Li2MnPO4, Mn (Ac)2. 4H2O, Co (Ac)2.4H2O, Ti(NO3)2.6H2O and LiFePO4 have been used for several compositions of chrome, manganese, cobalt and titanium in 28 samples of (1-x-y) LiCo1/3Ti1/3Fe1/3PO4. By using thermal characterization, five samples have been selected due to their conditions in viewpoints of capacity and cyclability as well as activation energy, which is one of the major factors. These composites exhibited fairly consistent charge/discharge curves during the electrochemical testing. From the viewpoint of the physical and chemical properties, among these samples, the Li1.501Co0.389Ti0.055Fe0.055Mn0.501PO4 structure has a high efficiency compared to other compositions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To develop a population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) model describing unbound teicoplanin concentrations in Chinese adult patients and perform Monte Carlo simulations to optimize the dosing regimens. Methods: The raw data for PopPK analysis in this study were collected from Chinese adult patients. A PopPK model of unbound teicoplanin was developed and Monte Carlo simulations were used to optimize the dosing regimens. The trough concentrations of unbound teicoplanin were targeted at 0.75 mg/L and 1.13 mg/L for most infection induced by Gram-positive bacteria and endocarditis or severe infections, respectively. Results: A total of 103 teicoplanin unbound concentrations were collected from 72 Chinese adult patients. A one-compartment pharmacokinetic model with first-order elimination was established. The typical values of clearance and the volume of distribution were 11.7 L/h and 811 L, respectively. The clearance and volume of distribution of unbound teicoplanin were positively correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and serum albumin concentrations, respectively. Dosing simulation results showed that standard dosing regimens were unable to meet the treatment needs of all patients, and the dosing regimen need optimize based on eGFR and serum albumin concentrations. The high eGFR and serum albumin concentration were associated with reduced probability of achieving target unbound trough concentrations. Conclusion: We successfully characterized the pharmacokinetics of unbound teicoplanin in Chinese adult patients. Importantly, we further highlight the importance of guiding dosing through unbound drugs. To achieve safe and effective treatment, the dosing regimens need to be adjusted according to eGFR and serum albumin concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, blue-emitting phosphors have attracted great interest due to their application in full-spectrum white light illumination. In this paper, a novel blue-emitting MgAl2Si4O6N4:Eu2+ phosphor was successfully synthesized through the solid-state reaction method in a reducing atmosphere. Under the excitation of near-ultraviolet (n-UV) light, the MgAl2Si4O6N4:0.02Eu2+ phosphor effectively emits a broad blue emission band centered at 456 nm with the FWHM as large as 81 nm. With the increasing Eu2+ concentration, the emission bands of MgAl2Si4O6N4:Eu2+ shift to a shorter wavelength and the FWHMs broaden gradually. Moreover, the MgAl2Si4O6N4:0.02Eu2+ phosphor exhibits a slight thermal quenching at a higher temperature. After fabricating the as-prepared MgAl2Si4O6N4:0.02Eu2+ phosphor into a white LED device, the intense neutral white light emission is obtained with excellent CRI (87.4) and CCT (5645 K). These results suggest that the blue MgAl2Si4O6N4:Eu2+ phosphor is a promising candidate in n-UV excited white LEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical activities recommendation is a key aspect of an intelligent healthcare system, which can assist doctors with little clinical experience in clinical decision making. Medical activities recommendation can be seen as a kind of temporal set prediction. Previous studies about them are based on Recurrent Neural Network (RNN), which does not incorporate personalized medical history or differentiate between the impact of medical activities. To address the above-given issues, this paper proposes a Next-Day Medical Activities Recommendation (NDMARec) model. Specifically, our model firstly proposes an inpatient day embedding method based on soft-attention which balances the impact of different medical activities to get a joint representation of medical activities that occurred within the same day. Then, a fusion module is designed to combine features of inpatient day and medical history to achieve personalization. These features are learned by the self-attention mechanism that solves the long-term dependency problem of RNNs. Last, adversarial training is introduced to improve the generalization ability of our model. Extensive experiments on a real dataset from a hospital are conducted to show that NDMARec outperformed both classical and state-of-the-art methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The critical need to enhance the quality of indoor air leads to the improvement of catalyst activity for the removal of formaldehyde. Sepiolite can be utilized in catalytic reactions for its unique structure, composition and high surface area. The adhesion between sepiolite fibers and the blocked microporous channel (by impurities) demands the activation of natural sepiolite through acid treatment. This treatment successfully produces acid-modified sepiolite Pt-supported samples. The impacts of different acid concentrations, Pt loading content and calcination temperature on catalytic activity for formaldehyde (HCHO) oxidation are studied. The catalytic activity of HCHO is characterized and evaluated by techniques including specific surface area, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectrum, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results show the maximum specific area of sepiolite at the optimized 0.06 M acid concentration. Among all the prepared samples, the 0.02Pt/Sep catalyst calcined at 500 °C exhibits the highest catalytic activity for the oxidation of HCHO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytoreclamation is the intervention of plants to improve degraded soil quality, changing soil biotic and abiotic properties. Many studies have focused on microbial composition and bioactivity, but few explored the changes in phylogenetic assemblages of soil microbiota after phytoreclamation. This study compared microbiomes of bare land to those of planted soils and investigated how the rhizosphere environment affects microbial assemblages from monocot Poa pratensis and eudicot Dianthus plumarius plantings using 16S rRNA metabarcoding. The results showed that the biotic susceptibility of soil to the rhizosphere environment was higher than that of the abiotic. A noticeable change was in some soil physicochemical properties like Na, P, Zn, Cu, C, and sand-to-silt proportion before and after phytoreclamation, but not between the rhizosphere and bulk soil of plantings. Contrastingly, microbial composition and diversity were significantly affected by both turfing and rhizosphere effects and were more susceptible to differences in turfing or not than in planting species. In the turfgrass, the microbiome differences between plants were greater in the rhizosphere than in the surrounding bulk soil, indicating the proximal influence of root exudates. We also found that the main abiotic factors that influenced microbial composition were Na, Zn, NOx, N, and S; as for the phylogenetic assemblages, were by K levels and the increase of silt. Turfgrass decomposes soil aggregates and changes the physicochemical properties, thereby evens the phylogenetic clustering of the soil microbial community. We demonstrated that the deterministic process affects the microbial assemblage and acts as a selective agent of the soil microbiota in fundamental and realized niches. Phytoreclamation may lead to abiotic soil changes that reallocate resources to microbes. This could affect the phylogeny of the microbial assemblages and increase microbial richness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]