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Yttrium-stabilized zirconia-based electrochemical gas sensors have good application prospects in NO high-temperature detection systems due to their stability under extreme conditions. In this study, an LaMO3 (M: Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni) perovskite was prepared using the sol–gel method as the electrode material for an yttrium-stabilized zirconia-based electrochemical sensor for the selective detection of NO. The influence of M-site metals on the electrode performance was revealed through various experimental characterization studies and first-principles calculations. The results indicate that the response values of the different M-site metal perovskites can be arranged in the following order: LaCrO3 > LaMnO3 > LaFeO3 > LaNiO3 > LaCoO3. Among them, LaCrO3 exhibits a response value of −64.11 mV to 100 ppm NO, with high sensitivity (−41.19 mV per decade) and high selectivity. Further research has demonstrated that the number of oxygen vacancies and response values in these perovskite materials follow the same order. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy indicated that LaCrO3 exhibited the lowest polarization resistance, and that these changes promoted the adsorption and reaction of NO on the electrode. Finally, the mechanism of NO adsorption on the LaCrO3 surface was revealed using density functional theory calculations. This study not only provides a new approach for selecting high-performance electrode materials but also reveals the fundamental impact of M-site metals on the performance of perovskites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the applications of cloud storage, ensuring data's integrity is an important research problem and kinds of remote integrity auditing protocols have been proposed. A classical auditing method is checking the validity of returned proof from cloud service provider, which is calculated by aggregating designated data blocks and their tags. In order to obtain lower storage redundancy and communication overhead, Yang et al. recently designed a compressive integrity auditing technique for secure cloud storage, in which only tags are needed to be stored on cloud. Inspired by Yang et al.'s compressive scheme, in this paper, we introduce a general construction of compressive integrity auditing protocol from strong homomorphic encryption scheme, which greatly enriches the implementations of compressive integrity auditing schemes. Moreover, our general construction can be twisted for some special applications. In particular, if the original data owner only wants to outsource its auditing process to designated verifier instead of any third party auditor, then our twisted construction becomes a framework of implementing compressive integrity auditing protocols with designated verifier. Finally, in order to show the power of our general construction, we give a concrete instantiation and compare its performance with two related works, which shows that our proposed scheme is very competitive and thus can be used in future applications of cloud storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To explore whether the triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (TG/HDL-C) was independently associated with the risk of incident type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in a large Japanese cohort. Methods: A secondary analysis was performed using open-access data from a retrospective cohort study. A total of 12,716 eligible participants who had standard medical examinations at the Murakami Memorial Hospital were included in this study. New-onset T2DM was the main outcome during follow-up. The risk of T2DM based on the TG/HDL-C ratio was evaluated using Cox regression analysis and Kaplan–Meier analysis. Subgroup analysis was performed to understand further the significance of the TG/HDL-C ratio in particular populations. To assess the potential of the TG/HDL-C ratio for predicting T2DM, a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed. Results: One hundred fifty new-onset T2DM cases were observed during a median follow-up of 5.39 years. The incidence of T2DM increased with a rise in the TG/HDL-C ratio based on the Kaplan–Meier curves (P < 0.0001). After controlling for potential confounding variables, the TG/HDL-C ratio was positively related to incidence of T2DM (hazard ratio = 1.08, 95% confidence interval: 1.01–1.15, P = 0.0239). In subgroup analysis, those with a body mass index of ≥18.5 and <24 kg/m2 showed a significantly positive relationship. The area under the ROC curve for the TG/HDL-C ratio as a T2DM predictor was 0.684. The optimal TG/HDL-C ratio cutoff value for T2DM was 1.609, with a sensitivity of 54.7% and a specificity of 73.6%. Conclusion: The authors' results showed a significant relationship between the TG/HDL-C ratio and the incidence of T2DM in the Japanese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polybenzoxazine (PBZ) has emerged as a cutting-edge high-performance thermosetting resin, boasting a broad spectrum of applications in electrical insulation, friction materials, and aerospace industries due to its outstanding features such as exceptional thermal stability, mechanical properties, flexible molecular designability, and high char yield, among others. While existing reviews on benzoxazines cover various aspects of benzoxazine research, including synthesis methodologies, accelerated curing process, low-temperature polymerization, intramolecular hydrogen bonding, green flame retardants, low dielectrics, toughening, and others, there remains a noticeable gap in the systematic review of coatings – an essential application area for benzoxazines. This review strategically fills this gap by focusing on the functionalization of benzoxazines with composite coatings, exploring vital domains such as superhydrophobicity, anti-corrosion, anti-fouling, antibacterial, water–oil separation, and self-cleaning mechanisms. Delving into the intricacies of molecular design, synthesis, and modification, we provide comprehensive insights into the development of PBZs tailored for specific functionalized applications. Our review not only enhances the understanding of the multifaceted realm of functional PBZs but also offers practical guidance for designing benzoxazines with desired structures and properties. This, in turn, paves the way for their potential utilization in advanced applications, marking a significant step forward in the field of coating technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work we compare the predictions for the scattering length and effective range of the channels K 0 Σ + , K + Σ 0 , K + Λ and η p , assuming the N ∗ (1535) state as a molecular state of these channels, or an original genuine state, made for instance from three quarks. Looking at very different scenarios, what we conclude is that the predictions of these two pictures are drastically different, to the point that we advise the measurement of these magnitudes, accessible for instance by measuring correlation functions, in order to gain much valuable information concerning the nature of this state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superconductivity (SC) was experimentally observed for the first time in antimony polyhydride. The diamond anvil cell combined with a laser heating system was used to synthesize the antimony polyhydride sample at high pressure and high temperature. In - situ high pressure transport measurements as a function of temperature with an applied magnetic field were performed to study the SC properties. It was found that the antimony polyhydride samples show superconducting transition with critical temperature T c 116 K at 184 GPa. The investigation of SC at magnetic field revealed the superconducting coherent length of ∼40 Å based on the Ginzburg Landau (GL) equation. Antimony polyhydride superconductor has the second highest T c in addition to sulfur hydride among the polyhydrides of elements from main groups IIIA to VIIA in the periodic table. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of autophagosomes mediating the sequestration of cytoplasmic materials is the central step of autophagy. Several phosphoinositides, which are signaling molecules on the membrane, are involved in autophagy. However, it is not always clear whether these phosphoinositides act directly at the site of autophagosome formation, or indirectly via the regulation of other steps or pathways. To address this question, we used a set of phosphoinositide probes to systematically examine their potential presence on autophagosomal membranes in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). We verified the specificity of these probes using mutant cells deficient in the production of the corresponding phosphoinositides. We then examined starved yeast cells co-expressing a phosphoinositide probe together with an autophagosomal membrane marker, 2Katushka2S-Atg8. Our data revealed that PtdIns(4,5)P2 and PtdIns(3,5)P2 were mainly present on the plasma membrane and vacuolar membrane, respectively. We observed only occasional co-localization between the PtdIns(4)P probe and Atg8, some of which may represent the transient passage of a PtdIns(4)P-containing structure near the autophagosomal membrane. In contrast, substantial colocalization of the PtdIns(3)P probe with Atg8 was observed. Taken together, our data indicate that only PtdIns(3)P is present in a substantial amount on the autophagosomal membrane. For other phosphoinositides involved in autophagy, either their presence on the autophagosomal membrane is very transient, or they act on other cellular membranes to regulate autophagy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumers are attracted to traditional fermented foods due to their unique flavor and nutritional value. However, the traditional fermentation technique can no longer accommodate the requirements of the food industry. Traditional fermented foods produce hazardous compounds, off‐odor, and anti‐nutritional factors, reducing product stability. The microbial system complexity of traditional fermented foods resulting from the open fermentation process has made it challenging to regulate these problems by modifying microbial behaviors. Synthetic microbial communities (SynComs) have been shown to simplify complex microbial communities and allow for the targeted design of microbial communities, which has been applied in processing traditional fermented foods. Herein, we describe the theoretical information of SynComs, particularly microbial physiological processes and their interactions. This paper discusses current approaches to creating SynComs, including designing, building, testing, and learning, with typical applications and fundamental techniques. Based on various traditional fermented food innovation demands, the potential and application of SynComs in enhancing the quality of traditional fermented foods are highlighted. SynComs showed superior performance in regulating the quality of traditional fermented foods using the interaction of core microorganisms to reduce the hazardous compounds of traditional fermented foods and improve flavor. Additionally, we presented the current status and future perspectives of SynComs for improving the quality of traditional fermented foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cervical cancer (CC), one of the most aggressive tumors in women, has high risk rates of recurrence and metastasis. It is essential to study the key genes and proteins involved in CC development. IRTKS, a member of the IRSp53 family, has been reported as a tumor promoter in gastric and breast cancers. However, the biological role of IRTKS in CC is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore the biological function of IRTKS in CC cells in vitro and the effect of IRTKS on tumorigenesis in vivo. Siha and Hela cells were treated with si-RNA and plasmids. Cell proliferation and growth were detected by CCK8, colony formation assay and nude mouse tumorigenicity assay, respectively. Transwell assay was used to analyze cell migration and invasion. The expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins was determined by western blot. IRTKS was highly expressed in CC. IRTKS contributed to the proliferation of CC cells in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, IRTKS facilitated the migration and invasion of CC cells and modulated EMT. IRTKS plays a crucial role in CC tumorigenesis, suggesting it may be a potential key gene for new therapeutic strategies in CC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metabolite profiling has the potential to comprehensively bridge phenotypes and complex heterogeneous physiological and pathological states. We performed a metabolomics study using parallel liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) combined with multivariate data analysis to screen for biomarkers of primary aldosteronism (PA) from a cohort of 111 PA patients and 218 primary hypertension (PH) patients. Hydrophilic interaction chromatography and reversed‐phase liquid chromatography separations were employed to obtain a global plasma metabolome of endogenous metabolites. The satisfactory classification between PA and PH patients was obtained using the MVDA model. A total of 35 differential metabolites were screened out and identified. A diagnostic biomarker panel was established using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) binary logistic regression model and receiver operating characteristic analysis. Joint analysis with clinical indicators, including plasma supine aldosterone level, plasma orthostatic aldosterone level, body mass index, and blood potassium, revealed that the combination of metabolite biomarker panel and plasma supine aldosterone has the best clinical diagnostic efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to cleanly and efficiently extract zirconium from zircon sand (the main component is ZrSiO4), sodium hydroxide sub-molten salt was used to decompose ZrSiO4 in this study. When ZrSiO4 reacts with sodium hydroxide sub-molten salt, the formation of Na2ZrSiO5 (a water-insoluble product) considerably affects the separation efficiency of Zr and Si and increases production cost. Thus, it is necessary to control the formation of Na2ZrSiO5. The influence of NaOH content, reaction temperature, reaction time, and NaOH/ore mass ratio on the formation of Na2ZrSiO5 were systematically investigated. The optimum reaction parameters for the inhibition of Na2ZrSiO5 formation were as follows: 80% NaOH content, 245 °C reaction temperature, 4:1 NaOH/ore mass ratio, 10 h reaction time, and 400 r/min agitation speed. These results indicate that ZrSiO4 is decomposed to Na2ZrO3 and Na2SiO3 by reacting with NaOH, realizing the separation of Zr and Si, and then the reactions between Na2ZrO3 and Na2SiO3 result in the formation of Na2ZrSiO5, during the decomposition of ZrSiO4 using NaOH sub-molten salt. The sub-molten salt decomposition process can realize the clean extraction of zirconium, which is conducive to the sustainable development of zirconium resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, multi-functional lecture halls have developed rapidly and become a symbol of contemporary public spaces and places. This kind of spatial facility that brings together the advantages of land intensiveness and multi-functional integration also faces feedback such as poor acoustic effects. However, current research rarely involves the architectural design perspective, which is actually the root consideration of this problem; that is, how to set up corresponding spatial layout measures to optimize acoustic performance in a relatively economical and simple way. This study uses the academic lecture hall of the School of Architecture and Planning of Yunnan University as a case to try to solve these problems. The research is based on holistic considerations, starting from site selection, architectural design, aesthetic considerations, and environmental noise assessment, and combining simulation results with actual measurement results. Using a prediction–comparison–verification method, key acoustic parameters such as speech intelligibility, loudness, and reverberation time were calculated and evaluated to understand the acoustic design problems of the hall. The study found that the out-of-control reverberation time was the main cause of poor acoustic feedback, and based on this, optimization and transformation were carried out from an architectural perspective. Finally, a renovation suggestion was made that the application of sound-absorbing materials on the rear wall can achieve better acoustic effects inside the hall. Among the space combination methods, the combination of "rear wall, central ceiling, and front ceiling" has the best effect. Practical insights are provided for improving the acoustic performance of the multi-functional lecture halls while taking into account the acoustic design and feasible requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The spleen plays a critical role in the immune response against malaria parasite infection, where splenic fibroblasts (SFs) are abundantly present and contribute to immune function by secreting type I collagen (collagen I). The protein family is characterized by Plasmodium vivax tryptophan-rich antigens (PvTRAgs), comprising 40 members. PvTRAg23 has been reported to bind to human SFs (HSFs) and affect collagen I levels. Given the role of type I collagen in splenic immune function, it is important to investigate the functions of the other members within the PvTRAg protein family. Methods: Protein structural prediction was conducted utilizing bioinformatics analysis tools and software. A total of 23 PvTRAgs were successfully expressed and purified using an Escherichia coli prokaryotic expression system, and the purified proteins were used for co-culture with HSFs. The collagen I levels and collagen-related signaling pathway protein levels were detected by immunoblotting, and the relative expression levels of inflammatory factors were determined by quantitative real-time PCR. Results: In silico analysis showed that P. vivax has 40 genes encoding the TRAg family. The C-terminal region of all PvTRAgs is characterized by the presence of a domain rich in tryptophan residues. A total of 23 recombinant PvTRAgs were successfully expressed and purified. Only five PvTRAgs (PvTRAg5, PvTRAg16, PvTRAg23, PvTRAg30, and PvTRAg32) mediated the activation of the NF-κBp65 signaling pathway, which resulted in the production of inflammatory molecules and ultimately a significant reduction in collagen I levels in HSFs. Conclusions: Our research contributes to the expansion of knowledge regarding the functional role of PvTRAgs, while it also enhances our understanding of the immune evasion mechanisms utilized by parasites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study investigated the role of Galectin-3 in the degeneration of intervertebral disc cartilage. Methods: The patients who underwent lumbar spine surgery due to degenerative disc disease were recruited and divided into Modic I, Modic II, and Modic III; groups. HE staining was used to detect the pathological changes in endplates. The changes of Galectin-3, MMP3, Aggrecan, CCL3, and Col II were detected by immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR, and Western blot. MTT and flow cytometry were used to detect cartilage endplate cell proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis. Results: With the progression of degeneration (from Modic I to III), the chondrocytes and density of the cartilage endplate of the intervertebral disc decreased, and the collagen arrangement of the cartilage endplate of the intervertebral disc was broken and calcified. Meanwhile, the expressions of Aggrecan, Col II, Galectin-3, Aggrecan, and CCL3 gradually decreased. After treatment with Galectin-3 inhibitor GB1107, the proliferation of rat cartilage end plate cells was significantly reduced (P < 0.05). GB1107 (25 µmol/L) also significantly promoted the apoptosis of cartilage endplate cells (P < 0.05). Moreover, the percentage of cartilage endplate cells in the G1 phase was significantly higher, while that in the G2 and S phases was significantly lower (P < 0.05). Additionally, the mRNA and protein expression levels of MMP3, CCL3, and Aggrecan in rat cartilage end plate cells were lower than those in the control group. Conclusions: Galectin-3 decreases with the progression of the cartilage endplate degeneration of the intervertebral disc. Galectin-3 may affect intervertebral disc degeneration by regulating the degradation of the extracellular matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The affective contagion theory is essential in marketing and consumer research. By integrating this perspective with cross-cultural mobile marketing, our study explores the role of valenced emotions aroused by cultural elements within the app and further affective contagion effects, culture affinity as antecedent, and cross-cultural factors that may affect these evaluations. Based on three evaluative conditioning experiments with foreign users in China, we found the valenced emotion aroused by cultural elements in local apps (movie posters, media content, products) triggers a contagion effect on their attitudes toward the app. Moreover, we validate the role of culture affinity in providing ex-ante emotional associations during the appraisal process, the negative impact of language foreignness, and the interaction between app origin and political ideology. Our findings hold practical implications for app developers and marketers, particularly regarding the relationship between emotion and cultural bias in global markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

X-ray diffraction (XRD) is extensively used in archaeometric investigation. Herein, we provide a novel XRD spectrum-based untargeted strategy for the classification of ancient painted pottery for various dynasties. It was accomplished using the original spectrum without a phase identification. To eliminate the influence of baseline drift, a new baseline drift correction algorithm was specifically designed for XRD spectra. The algorithm was implemented using local minimum values in the analyzed signal in an iterative optimization manner. The results indicated that with the aid of the algorithm, the baseline drift problem can be successfully resolved, and the classification of ancient painted pottery can be greatly improved. Finally, the developed strategy was successfully used to discriminate ancient painted pottery from the Han and Tang dynasties in the cities of Guyuan and Zhongwei, China. The developed untargeted strategy had the remarkable advantage of almost automatic data analysis. The toolbox of our strategy can be obtained from the authors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose or Objective: Surfactants, including polysorbates and poloxamers, play a crucial role in the formulation of therapeutic proteins by acting as solubilizing and stabilizing agents. They help prevent protein aggregation and adsorption, thereby enhancing the stability of drug substance and products., However, it is important to note that utilizing high concentrations of surfactants in protein formulations can present significant analytical challenges, which can ultimately affect the product characterization. Methods: In our study, we specifically investigated the impact of elevated surfactant concentrations on the characterization of monoclonal antibodies. We employed various analytical techniques including size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), capillary electrophoresis (CE-SDS), a cell based functional assay, and biophysical characterization. Results: The findings of our study indicate that higher levels of Polysorbate 80 (PS-80) have adverse effects on the measured purity, biological activity, and biophysical characterization of biologic samples. Specifically, the elevated levels of PS-80 cause analytical interferences, which can significantly impact the accuracy and reliability of analytical studies. Conclusions: Our study results highlight a significant risk in analytical investigations, especially in studies involving the isolation and characterization of impurities. It is important to be cautious of surfactant concentrations, as they can become more concentrated during common sample manipulations like buffer exchange. Indeed, the research presented in this work emphasizes the necessity to evaluate the impact on analytical assays when there are substantial alternations in the matrix composition. By doing so, valuable insights can be gained regarding potential challenges associated with assay development and characterization of biologics with complex formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium-ion batteries are important energy storage materials, and the prediction of their remaining useful life has practical importance. Since traditional feature extraction methods depend on parameter settings and have poor adaptability, singular value decomposition was used to extract 15 health indicators from the degradation data of lithium-ion batteries. To eliminate redundancy among the extracted health indicators, Spearman correlation analysis was subsequently used to determine the most appropriate health indicators. On this basis, the selected health indicators were processed by the denoising stack autoencoder, and a fusion health indicator was obtained. Finally, the support vector quantile regression model was used to predict the battery capacity interval by the fusion health indicator. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration battery dataset and Massachusetts Institute of Technology battery dataset were used to verify the validity and generalizability of our proposed model, and our proposed model was compared with the existing four classical prediction models. The experimental results showed that our proposed prediction model had higher prediction accuracy and better robustness than the other models and could effectively improve the prediction effect of the remaining useful life of batteries. The mean value of the root mean square error of the predicted results using our proposed model remained within 1.3%, and the mean value of the coefficient of determination was above 0.97. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Serine proteinase inhibitors, clade B, member 3 (SerpinB3) and B4 are highly similar in amino acid sequences and associated with inflammation regulation. We investigated SerpinB3 and B4 expression and their roles in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). Methods. The expression of SerpinB3 and B4 in nasal mucosa tissues, brush cells, and secretions from CRSwNP patients was measured, and their regulation by inflammatory cytokines were investigated. Their functions were also analyzed using air–liquid interface (ALI)-cultured primary human nasal epithelial cells (HNECs) and transcriptomic analysis. Results. Both SerpinB3 and B4 expression was higher in nasal mucosa, brush cells, and secretions from eosinophilic (E) CRSwNP and nonECRSwNP patients than in healthy controls. Immunofluorescence staining indicated that SerpinB3 and B4 were primarily expressed in epithelial cells and their expression was higher in CRSwNP patients. SerpinB3 and B4 expression was upregulated by interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5, IL-6, and IL-17a. Transcriptomic analysis identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in response to recombinant SerpinB3 and B4 stimulation. Both the DEGs of SerpinB3 and B4 were associated with disease genes of nasal polyps and inflammation in DisGeNET database. Pathway enrichment indicated that downregulated DEGs of SerpinB3 and B4 were both enriched in cytokine–cytokine receptor interactions, with CXCL8 as the hub gene in the protein–protein interaction networks. Furthermore, CXCL8/IL-8 expression was downregulated by recombinant SerpinB3 and B4 protein in ALI-cultured HNECs, and upregulated when knockdown of SerpinB3/B4. Conclusion. SerpinB3/B4 expression is upregulated in nasal mucosa of CRSwNP patients. SerpinB3/B4 may play an anti-inflammatory role in CRSwNP by inhibiting the expression of epithelial cell-derived CXCL8/IL-8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The elimination of schistosomiasis remains a challenging task, with current measures primarily focused on the monitoring and control of Oncomelania hupensis (O. hupensis) snail, the sole intermediate host of Schistosome japonicum. Given the emerging, re-emerging, and persistent habitats of snails, understanding their genetic diversity might be essential for their successful monitoring and control. The aims of this study were to analyze the genetic diversity of Oncomelania hupensis robertsoni (O. h. robertsoni) using microsatellite DNA markers; and validate the applicability of previously identified microsatellite loci for O. hupensis in hilly regions. Methods: A total of 17 populations of O. h. robertsoni from Yunnan Province in China were selected for analysis of genetic diversity using six microsatellite DNA polymorphic loci (P82, P84, T4-22, T5-11, T5-13, and T6-27). Results: The number of alleles among populations ranged from 0 to 19, with an average of 5. The average ranges of expected (He) and observed (Ho) heterozygosity within populations were 0.506 to 0.761 and 0.443 to 0.792, respectively. The average fixation index within the population ranged from – 0.801 to 0.211. The average polymorphic information content (PIC) within the population ranged from 0.411 to 0.757, appearing to be polymorphic for all loci (all PIC > 0.5), except for P28 and P48. A total of 68 loci showed significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P < 0.05), and pairwise Fst values ranged from 0.051 to 0.379. The analysis of molecular variance indicated that 88% of the variation occurred within snail populations, whereas 12% occurred among snail populations. Phylogenetic trees and principal coordinate analysis revealed two distinct clusters within the snail population, corresponding to "Yunnan North" and "Yunnan South". Conclusions: O. h. robertsoni exhibited a relatively high level of genetic differentiation, with variation chiefly existing within snail populations. All snail in this region could be separated into two clusters. The microsatellite loci P82 and P84 might not be suitable for classification studies of O. hupensis in hilly regions. These findings provided important information for the monitoring and control of snail, and for further genetic diversity studies on snail populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The key points of production and process optimization of high proportion regenerated collagen fiber blended yarn were discussed. The characteristics and advantages of regenerated collagen fiber were introduced. According to its special properties of low strength, high temperature resistance and high moisture recovery, the spinning process was adjusted and optimized, and equipment process was modified in the picking process. Temperature detection sensor was equipped on carding machine to avoid fiber damage caused by high temperature. The research and process optimization of flexible carding were strengthened, and the generation of short fibers was reduced as far as possible under the premise of ensuring adequate carding .In the drawing process, from the aspects of rubbered-covered roll and coating, the fiber entangling was reduced. Finally the siro condensed regenerated collagen fiber/Modal fiber 70/30 14.8 tex yarn was successfully developed, which further expanded the application field of regenerated collagen fiber yarn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The highly diverse microbial ecosystem of the human body colonizes the gastrointestinal tract has a profound impact on the host’s immune, metabolic, endocrine, and other physiological processes, which are all interconnected. Specifically, gut microbiota has been found to play a crucial role in facilitating the adaptation and initiation of immune regulatory response through the gastrointestinal tract affecting the other distal mucosal sites such as lungs. A tightly regulated lung-gut axis during respiratory ailments may influence the various molecular patterns that instructs priming the disease severity to dysregulate the normal function. This review provides a comprehensive summary of current research on gut microbiota dysbiosis in respiratory diseases including asthma, pneumonia, bronchopneumonia, COPD during infections and cancer. A complex-interaction among gut microbiome, associated metabolites, cytokines, and chemokines regulates the protective immune response activating the mucosal humoral and cellular response. This potential mechanism bridges the regulation patterns through the gut-lung axis. This paper aims to advance the understanding of the crosstalk of gut-lung microbiome during infection, could lead to strategize to modulate the gut microbiome as a treatment plan to improve bad prognosis in various respiratory diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The connection between head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) and M2 tumour‐associated macrophages is not yet fully understood. We gathered gene expression profiles and clinical data from HNSC patients in the TCGA database. Using Consensus Clustering, we categorized these patients into M2 macrophage‐related clusters. We developed a M2 macrophage‐related signature (MRS) through statistical analyses. Additionally, we assessed gene expression in HNSC cells using single‐cell sequencing data (GSE139324). We identified three distinct M2 macrophage‐related clusters in HNSC, each with different prognostic outcomes and immune characteristics. Patients with different MRS profiles exhibited variations in immune infiltration, genetic mutations and prognosis. FCGR2A may play a role in creating an immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment and could potentially serve as a therapeutic target for HNSC. Our study demonstrated that M2 macrophage‐related genes significantly impact the development and progression of HNSC. The M2 macrophage‐related model offered a more comprehensive assessment of HNSC patient prognosis, genetic mutations and immune features. FCGR2A was implicated in immunosuppressive microenvironments and may hold promise for the development of novel immunotherapeutic strategies for HNSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a type of tumour found in the cavity that is characterized by differentiation and metastasis to the lymph nodes. Although diagnosis strategy and clinical treatment have recently improved, the outcomes for OSCC patients remain unsatisfactory. This study verified the characteristics of circPUM1 in OSCC cells, subsequently generating dysregulated circPUM1 cell models, showing that circPUM1 promoted chemoresistance and natural killer (NK) cell toxicity. Furthermore, the transcription factor SP2 regulated the expression of circPUM1 in OSCC cells, circPUM1 acted as a molecular sponge for miR‐770‐5p. Moreover, Nucleosome Assembly Protein 1 Like 1 (NAP1L1) is a downstream target for miR‐770‐5p and essential for circPUM1‐mediated cisplatin resistance and NK cell cytotoxicity in OSCC cells. The network composed of SP2, circPUM1, miR‐770‐5p and NAP1L1 in OSCC appears to be a promising avenue for the development of novel targets for diagnosing or treating OSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a malignant tumor with high mortality and poor prognosis. Despite intensive research focused on tumor suppression, the 5‐year survival rate of ESCC is lower than 15%. Therefore, investigate fundamental mechanisms involved in ESCC is on‐demand crucial for diagnostics and developing targeted therapeutic drugs. Circular RNAs (circRNAs), as an emerging class of non‐coding RNA, have been elucidated that circRNAs participated in regulating a variety of pathological processes and tumorigenesis. Nevertheless, the functional role of circRNAs in the occurrence and development of ESCC remains unclear. We identify a novel circRNA (hsa_circ_0001707), which was highly expressed in ESCC patients' tissues and cell lines. Furthermore, gain‐ and loss‐of‐function assays were performed and found that overexpression of hsa_circ_0001707 significantly promote tumor proliferation, metastasis, and invasion. By functioning as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA), the dual‐luciferase activity assay verified that hsa_circ_0001707 can endogenously bind with miR‐203a‐3p and regulate its downstream gene Snail2. Rescue assay further confirms that hsa_circ_0001707 downregulation could partially attenuate the facilitation effect of miR‐203a‐3p, thereby inhibiting the endothelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) process of ESCC. Our results suggested that hsa_circ_0001707 play an oncogenic role in the pathogenesis of ESCC, which might be a potential biomarker for diagnostics and targeting therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this note we study the tensor and vector exchange contributions to the elastic reactions involving the pseudoscalars mesons π + π - , K + K - and D + D - . In the case of the tensor-exchange contributions we assume that an intermediate tensor f 2 (1270) is dynamically generated from the interaction of two virtual ρ mesons, with the use of a pole approximation. The calculation of the two-loop amplitude is facilitated since the triangle loops can be factorized and computed separately. The results show very small contributions coming from the tensor-exchange mechanisms when compared with those from the vector-exchange processes. We compare our results for π π and K K ¯ scattering with those obtained in other works where the f 2 (1270) is considered as an ordinary q q ¯ meson. Our picture provides a smaller contribution but of similar order of magnitude for pion scattering and stabilizes the results in the case of K K ¯ , allowing us to make estimates for D D ¯ scattering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To develop and validate a magnetic resonance imaging-based (MRI) deep multiple instance learning (D-MIL) model and combine it with clinical parameters for preoperative prediction of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in operable cervical cancer. Methods: A total of 392 patients with cervical cancer were retrospectively enrolled. Clinical parameters were analysed by logistical regression to construct a clinical model (M1). A ResNet50 structure is applied to extract features at the instance level without using manual annotations about the tumour region and then construct a D-MIL model (M2). A hybrid model (M3) was constructed by M1 and M2 scores. The diagnostic performance of each model was evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and compared using the Delong method. Disease-free survival (DFS) was evaluated by the Kaplan‒Meier method. Results: SCC-Ag, maximum lymph node short diameter (LNmax), and tumour volume were found to be independent predictors of M1 model. For the diagnosis of LNM, the AUC of the training/internal/external cohort of M1 was 0.736/0.690/0.732, the AUC of the training/internal/external cohort of M2 was 0.757/0.714/0.765, and the AUC of the training/internal/external cohort of M3 was 0.838/0.764/0.835. M3 showed better performance than M1 and M2. Through the survival analysis, patients with higher hybrid model scores had a shorter time to reach DFS. Conclusion: The proposed hybrid model could be used as a personalised non-invasive tool, which is helpful for predicting LNM in operable cervical cancer. The score of the hybrid model could also reflect the DFS of operable cervical cancer. Critical relevance statement: Lymph node metastasis is an important factor affecting the prognosis of cervical cancer. Preoperative prediction of lymph node status is helpful to make treatment decisions, improve prognosis, and prolong survival time. Key points: • The MRI-based deep-learning model can predict the LNM in operable cervical cancer. • The hybrid model has the highest diagnostic efficiency for the LNM prediction. • The score of the hybrid model can reflect the DFS of operable cervical cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) offers a fascinating approach to converting CO2 into valuable chemical feedstocks. Up to now, the development of highly efficient electrocatalysts has been a significant bottleneck in this field. In this study, employing density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we design a range of stable two-dimensional (2D) metalloporphyrin organic frameworks (TM-PMOFs, TM = Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ru, Rh, Pd, and Ag, respectively) built by copper clusters and metalloporphyrin (TM-TCPP), whose CO2RR performance is studied in detail. Among them, the 2D cobaltporphyrin-based organic framework (Co-PMOF) is identified to be the best CO2RR electrocatalyst on account of its low limiting potential (−0.53 V), whose enhanced electrocatalytic performance can be attributed to the presence of numerous active sites on both sides of its 2D framework, as well as the synergistic effect between copper clusters and cobaltporphyrins in facilitating CO2 reduction. These findings provide valuable insights and encourage further experimental research on metallic 2D PMOF materials for CO2 electrochemical reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a dynamic and competitive business environment, managerial ability emerges as a pivotal strategic factor for capitalizing on new opportunities within the technological revolution and digital transformation of enterprises. Based on data from Chinese A-share listed firms spanning from 2009 to 2019, this study integrates insights from the upper echelons theory and the behavioral theory of the firm to investigate the moderating roles of historical aspiration shortfalls and industrial competitiveness on the relationship between managerial ability and enterprise digital transformation from internal and external pressure perspectives. Our findings indicate a positive impact of managerial ability on digital transformation. The relationship between managerial ability and digital transformation is reinforced by historical aspiration shortfalls; nevertheless, industrial competitiveness has attenuated the aforementioned relationship. This study contributes to a better understanding of the strategic implications of managerial ability within the context of organizational innovation strategies. It offers valuable insights into the decision-making processes of firms as they navigate the challenges of digital transformation within an ever-evolving business environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to improve cancer-related fatigue (CRF) and health outcomes of colorectal cancer patients by understanding the status quo of CRF, exploring the relations of coping, anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, body image perception and CRF, and also identifying the factors affecting CRF based on a generalized linear modeling approach. Patients and Methods: An exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted on 370 colorectal cancer patients at two hospitals in Anhui Province, China, from July 2020 to February 2021. The data were collected by using general information questionnaire, cancer fatigue scale, simplified coping style questionnaire, generalized anxiety disorder-7 scale, patient health questionnaire-9, and body image scale. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation analyses, and generalized linear model analyses were applied to analyze the data. Results: The average CRF score of the patients was 21.612 (SD=6.160), with a prevalence rate of 69.4% for clinically relevant fatigue. The generalized linear model revealed that: In step 1, gender (female) (B=1.799, Waldχ2=7.506, p=0.006), per capita monthly income (1001– 3000 RMB) (B=− 1.673, Waldχ2=5.536, p=0.019) and treatment modalities (chemotherapy+others) (B=2.425, Waldχ2=8.211, p=0.004) were related to CRF. In step 2, depressive symptoms (B=1.223, Waldχ2=129.019, p< 0.001) and negative coping strategies (B=0.215, Waldχ2=11.347, p=0.001) exhibited significant positive correlations with CRF, positive coping strategies (B=− 0.319, Waldχ2=59.175, p< 0.001) showed significant negative correlations with CRF; While anxiety symptoms (B=0.162, Waldχ2=1.840, p=0.175) and body image perception (B=0.013, Waldχ2=0.048, p=0.826) had no correlations with CRF. Conclusion: The prevalence of CRF was relatively high among colorectal cancer patients. Coping and depressive symptoms were the modifiable influencing factors of CRF. Tailored interventions dedicated to promoting positive coping behavior, diminishing negative coping behavior and reducing depressive symptoms may improve the CRF of patients with colorectal cancer. Healthcare providers working with these patients should receive corresponding education and training in these complementary treatments. Additionally, when developing non-pharmacological interventions, appropriate consideration of the patients' gender, income condition and the type of anticancer treatment is also necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to realize the intelligent energy management of the complex ship energy system, achieve the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goal and reduce the ship carbon emissions and ship operating costs, this paper proposes a distributed energy management method for ships entering and leaving ports based on polymorphic network considering computing power resources. Firstly, a polymorphic network-based energy management system for ships entering and leaving ports is proposed to enhance the information exchange between ship computing power, power and port power, simultaneously improve the communication quality and communication security among different modes. Secondly, in order to reduce the ship operating costs and port carbon emissions, the energy management model of ships entering and leaving ports is constructed considering computing power resources. Then, according to the ship's berthing and departing operation modes, this paper uses the distributed algorithm to solve the energy management problem, and explores the impact on the ship microgrid when the ship's data load changes. Finally, simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advancements in urban economies and population growth have led to an escalation in urban soil heavy metal pollution, thereby posing significant threats to human life and health. This paper presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis, detailing the developmental trajectory, research hotspots, and emerging trends in the field of urban soil heavy metal pollution research. Utilizing the CiteSpace and VOSviewer software tools, we conducted an analysis of 1247 articles sourced from the Web of Science Core Collection Database (WoSCC) spanning the period from 2000 to 2022. Our analysis revealed a significant upward trend in the number of publications during the period 2000–2022, a trend expected to persist. Ahmad Kafeel, Khan Zafar Iqbal, and Huang Biao emerged as the leading authors in this domain. The journal, Science of the Total Environment, held the most influence, while China led in the number of publications, with the Chinese Academy of Sciences as the foremost contributor. The research predominantly focused on source apportionment of urban soil heavy metal pollution, pollution risk assessment, and the application of environmental magnetism. Future research priorities include assessing the human health risks from diverse sources of heavy metal pollution, a key aspect of ensuring urban safety and soil health. Our findings delineate the evolutionary trajectory of urban soil heavy metal pollution research over the past two decades and underscore the viability of employing a dynamic bibliometric approach to investigate this research discipline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Pseudobagrus ussuriensis is a high-value fish species widely distributed in various river basins across China. Its benthic lifestyle and lack of scales make its skin susceptible to damage, leading to diseases and mortality. Hypoxia represents a significant factor affecting fish health, whether in captive environments or natural water bodies. Exposure to low oxygen levels can result in various adverse effects, including causing an immune response in fish. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the differential immune responses of distinct tissues to acute hypoxia and reoxygenation by analyzing the histophysiological and transcriptional changes in the brain and skin of P. ussuriensis. Our findings revealed that both the brain and skin exhibited immune responses to hypoxia, which persisted even after reoxygenation. However, it was observed that the overall immune response intensity in the brain was lower than that in the skin. This research provides novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the response of P. ussuriensis to hypoxia stress. Pseudobagrus ussuriensis is an unscaled fish that is more susceptible to skin damage than scaled fish. To investigate the impacts of hypoxia and reoxygenation on skin and brain immunity, juvenile P. ussuriensis were subjected to hypoxia conditions (DO: 0.8 ± 0.05 mg/L) for durations of 0, 3, 6, and 12 h, followed by 12 h of reoxygenation (DO > 6 mg/L). Histological analysis showed a significant increase in the number of skin mucosal cells after 12 h of hypoxia and a significant decrease after 12 h of reoxygenation when compared to the control group. As the duration of hypoxia increased, an increase in antioxidant (SOD, CAT, GSH, MDA) and immune (cortisol, LZM) physiological parameters of the skin and brain appeared. The results of transcriptomic studies showed that the number of differential genes was greater in skin than in brain. Most of the immune pathways in both tissues under hypoxia conditions were all nonspecific immunity (TNF, IL-17, chemokines), while both tissues maintained their homeostasis through active energy supply and cell cycle regulation. Meanwhile, both physiological parameters and RNA transcriptome results showed that 12 h of reoxygenation could not completely eliminate the negative effects of 12 h of hypoxia. This study offers new insights into the immune responses of P. ussuriensis skin and brain during acute hypoxia and reoxygenation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Autophagy-mediated ferroptosis is implicated in pathogenesis of cancer, including cervical cancer. LncRNAs are involved in regulation of autophagy-mediated ferroptosis. LncRNA EGFR-AS1 stimulates cell growth of cervical cancer, while its role in autophagy-mediated ferroptosis remains unclear. Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of EGFR-AS1 on autophagy-mediated ferroptosis of cervical cancer, and assess the downstream target of EGFR-AS1. Results: The expression of EGFR-AS1 was elevated in cervical cancer tissues, and predicted poor survival rate in patients with cervical cancer. Knockdown of EGFR-AS1 enhanced fluorescence of LC3 in cervical cancer cells. Moreover, protein expression of p62 was decreased, while LC3-II/LC-I ratio was increased by silence of EGFR-AS1. Treatment with lysosomal inhibitor, chloroquine diphosphate salt (CQ) increased p62 expression and LC3-II accumulation in cervical cancer cells with EGFR-AS1 deficiency. Loss of EGFR-AS1 increased cellular iron and ROS level in cervical cancer cells. Furthermore, MDA was increased while SOD was decreased in EGFR-AS1-deficient cells. However, treatment with CQ attenuated EGFR-AS1 deficiency-induced decrease of SOD, increase of MDA, ROS, and cellular iron. Cell viability of cervical cancer was decreased by silence of EGFR-AS1. Loss of EGFR-AS1 increased miR-133b expression to reduce EGFR expression. Over-expression of EGFR weakened EGFR-AS1 deficiency-induced decrease of SOD, increase of MDA, ROS, and cellular iron. Moreover, EGFR-AS1 deficiency-induced increase of LC3-II and decrease of p62 were reversed by over-expression of EGFR. Conclusion: Knockdown of EGFR-AS1 promoted autophagy-mediated ferroptosis of cervical cancer via down-regulation of miR-133b-mediated EGFR expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent genetic research identified a protective factor against late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) in Caucasians, a variant called rs3747742-C in the TREML2 gene. However, the roles of other TREML2 variants in AD have not been fully explored. Objective: We conducted a focused analysis of 16 TREML2 variants, examining their connection to AD by studying their correlation with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) proteins, neuroimage, and cognition in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative database (ADNI). Methods: A multiple linear regression model was utilized to estimate potential associations between TREML2 genotypes and various endophenotypes in the entire ADNI sample at baseline, with age, gender, years of education, and APOE ɛ4 status included as covariates. To examine changes in clinical outcomes over time, linear mixed-effects models were employed. Results: We found that the SNP rs17328707-A was associated with higher ADNI-VS scores, smaller ventricles, and larger middle temporal volume at baseline. The SNP rs6915083-G was linked to lower CSF t-tau and p-tau levels, and higher CSF Aβ levels. The SNP rs9394766-G was associated with a smaller hippocampus and larger ventricles at baseline. In longitudinal cohorts, the rs6915083-G SNP was associated with changes in ADNI-MEM and ADNI-EF scores, as well as the rate of hippocampal and middle temporal atrophy. Conclusion: Our findings reveal that TREML2 gene variants have different effects on AD. Two variants are protective, while one may be a risk factor. This enhances our understanding of AD genetics and could guide future research and personalized treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic autoimmune disease characterized by autoantibody production, joint inflammation and bone destruction. Nearly 1/3 of RA patients with the active disease also exhibit a normal range of ESR and CRP. Here we assessed the performance and clinical significance of soluble CD24 (sCD24) as a biomarker of disease activity in RA. Methods: A total of 269 RA patients, 59 primary Sjogren's syndrome (SS) patients, 81 systematic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, 76 osteoarthritis (OA) patients and 97 healthy individuals (HC) were included in this study. Soluble CD24 in sera were detected by ELISA. Therefore, the concentration of sCD24 was analyzed in RA patients with different disease activity statuses. Results: The sCD24 was significantly increased in RA (2970 pg/mL), compared to other rheumatic diseases (380-520 pg/mL) and healthy individuals (320 pg/mL). Moreover, sCD24 was elevated in 66.67% of early RA and 61.11% of seronegative RA patients. In addition, sCD24 was significantly correlated with the disease duration and inflammatory indicators. Conclusion: The sCD24 could be an inflammatory biomarker in RA patients, especially in early and seronegative patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cisplatin (CDDP) chemoresistance is one of the predominant factors in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) treatment failure. Uncovering the mechanisms underlying CDDP resistance is of great importance in OSCC therapy. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a newly discovered class of noncoding RNAs, which are reported to participate in the progression of various diseases, including cancer. However, the function of circRNAs in CDDP resistance in OSCC remains unclear. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR was used to search for different circRNAs between OSCC cell lines and CDDP‐resistant cell lines. The results showed that circ‐ILF2 expression was higher in CDDP‐resistant OSCC cell lines. The stability of circ‐ILF2 was also confirmed using RNase R and actinomycin D assays. Functional experiments, including cytotoxicity, apoptosis and growth rate assays, showed that upregulation of circ‐ILF2 contributes to CDDP resistance. Luciferase reporter‐gene, RNA pull‐down and quantitative real‐time PCR (RT‐qPCR) assays showed that circ‐ILF2 functions as a microRNA sponge for miR‐1252. Luciferase reporter assays, RNA pull‐down, RT‐qPCR and Western blotting showed that miR‐1252 directly targeted and regulated the expression of KLF8. Circ‐ILF2 plays an important role in CDDP resistance in OSCC. Circ‐ILF2 exerts its function through the miR‐1252/KLF8 pathway. In addition, tumour‐associated macrophages (TAM) play important roles in cancer progressions, our results showed that circ‐ILF2 in OSCC cells induced the M2 polarization of macrophages which provided new thoughts on immunotherapy. Our results suggest that circ‐ILF2 may represent a potential therapeutic target in CDDP‐resistant OSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pb‐Sn mixed perovskite has received extensive attention because of its high research value in environmental protection and theoretical prospects. However, the film defects brought on by the quick crystallization of Pb‐Sn mixed perovskites and the facile oxidation of Sn2+ to Sn4+ are detrimental to the performance of Pb‐Sn perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Here, aiming at the interface of Pb‐Sn PSCs, which has been less studied, a reducing agent is first introduced on the top of Pb‐Sn mixed perovskite interface. The results show that in NaBH3CN(SC), B─H can suppress the oxidation of Sn2+ and C≡N can enhance the perovskite crystallinity and passivate the surface defects. Benefitting from this synergistic effect, a champion power conversion efficiency of 21.3% is obtained for Pb‐Sn PSCs. In addition, the encapsulated device can maintain good stability under maximum power point tracking conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have higher pain and worse functional outcomes compared to men, even when treated with similar medications. The objective of this study was to identify sex differences in pain intensity, pain interference, and quantitative sensory tests (QST), which are independent of inflammation, in patients with RA. Methods: This study is a post hoc analysis of participants in the Central Pain in Rheumatoid Arthritis cohort. Pain intensity was assessed using a 0–10 numeric rating scale. Pain interference was measured using a Patient‐Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System computerized adaptive test. QST included pressure pain detection thresholds, temporal summation, and conditioned pain modulation. Women and men were compared using multiple linear regression, adjusted for age, education, race, research site, depression, obesity, RA disease duration, swollen joint count, and C‐reactive protein. Results: Mean ± SD pain intensity was 5.32 ± 2.29 among women with RA, compared to 4.60 ± 2.23 among men with RA (adjusted difference 0.83 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.14, 1.53]). Women with RA had lower pressure pain detection thresholds at the trapezius (adjusted difference –1.22 [95% CI –1.73, –0.72]), wrist (adjusted difference –0.57 [95% CI –1.07, –0.06]), and knee (adjusted difference –1.10 [95% CI –2.00, –0.21]). No statistically significant differences in pain interference, temporal summation, and conditioned pain modulation were observed. Conclusion: Women reported higher pain intensity and lower pressure pain detection thresholds (higher pain sensitivity) than men. However, pain interference, temporal summation, and conditioned pain modulation did not differ between men and women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of climate and neutrality, governments of many countries have introduced plastic restrictions. Enterprises often introduce pro-environmental services with certain force to the market. Does a good intention always have a good result? Despite good intentions, most pro-environmental services require extra effort (financial, physical, mental, etc.) from the participants. This will inevitably bring negative impact on some customers' repurchase intention. How to mitigate its negative consequences is worthy of academic attention. Previous studies show that sense of guilt motivates individuals to take prosocial actions to relieve or counteract temporary negative emotions. This paper analyzed and explained the affective mechanism of this phenomenon through two between-subject experiments. The results showed that: (1) High-autonomy effort (different from low-autonomy effort) can significantly release the sense of reactive guilt hence promote repurchase intention; (2) Low-autonomy effort (different from high-autonomy effort) will reduce people's perceived pleasure hence suppress repurchase intention; (3) Choice diversification can improve the perceived autonomy of individuals with low actual autonomy and compensate for the lack of actual autonomy, thus weakening the negative impact of low autonomous effort on perceived pleasure, and ultimately promoting people's repurchase intention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of efficient, recyclable and low‐cost heterogeneous catalysts for conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) into epoxides is highly desired, yet remain a challenge. Herein, we have prepared three two‐dimensional (2D) copper(I) cyclic trinuclear units (Cu(I)‐CTUs) based covalent metal–organic frameworks (CMOFs), namely JNM‐13, JNM‐14, and JNM‐15, via a one‐pot reaction by combination of coordination and dynamic covalent chemistry. Among them, JNM‐15 contained the highest density of copper catalytic sites, and exhibited the highest capacity for adsorption of CO2. More interestingly, JNM‐15 delivered the highest catalytic activity for cycloaddition of CO2 to epoxides with good yields (up to 99 %), good substrate compatibility (11 examples) and reusability (four catalytic cycles) under mild condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To identify modifiable physical and behavioural factors associated with widespread pain (WSP) in older adults with radiographic evidence of knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: Cross‐sectional initial visit data of participants with radiographic knee OA (Kellgren‐Lawrence grade of ≥2) from the Osteoarthritis Initiative Study were analysed. WSP was defined as pain on both sides of the body, above and below the waist, and in the axial skeleton. Time (hrs/d) spent participating in sitting and moderate‐strenuous physical activities were calculated from the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly questionnaire. Physical function was quantified using gait speed and the chair stand test. Restless sleep was assessed using an item on the CES‐D Scale. Logistic regression models were constructed to examine the strength of the associations between primary exposures and WSP in unadjusted and adjusted analyses. Results: Among the 2637 participants (mean age 62.6 years, 58.6% female), 16.8% met the criteria for WSP. All primary measures of interest were related to WSP in unadjusted analyses. In adjusted multivariable analysis, slow gait speed (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.43; 95% CI 1.01, 2.02), lower chair stand rate (aOR 0.98; 95% CI 0.97–0.99), and restless sleep (aOR 1.61; 95% CI 1.25–2.08) maintained significant associations with WSP. Conclusion: Poor sleep behaviours and low physical function capacity are associated with WSP in adults with radiographic knee OA. These findings highlight the importance of assessing sleep, physical function, and pain distribution in this population. Interventions to improve physical function and sleep behaviours should be investigated as potential strategies to mitigate WSP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cutting-edge technology of connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) will advance transportation systems for the foreseeable future. CAVs are expected to maintain fully automated judgment and manipulation without human intervention and, additionally, create safer driving and smarter traffic management. Digital twins (DTs) are the quiet but powerful forces enabling these new possibilities behind the scenes. In this article, we design a DT network (DTN) consisting of connected DTs to help CAVs in terms of ubiquitous perception, adaptive path planning, and precise motion control. Heterogeneous learning models and diverse learning methods are employed at different scales of solution, progressing toward specificity, adaptation, and accuracy. Qualitative evaluation of the proposed system is performed with the final goal of demonstrating the DTN’s assistance in improving the performance and effectiveness of CAVs, ultimately leading to a safer, more efficient, and more sustainable transportation system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of transition metal-based photocatalysts with low cost, strong visible light absorption, and high efficiency is a long-stand pursuit for advanced organic synthesis, yet remains highly challenging. In this article, an anthraquinone-based copper(I) cyclic trinuclear complex (1) was designed and it featured strong visible light absorption, high charge separation efficiency and photochemical properties. Complex 1 as a heterogeneous photocatalyst can efficiently catalyze homo-coupling of terminal alkynes and denitrification-oxidative coupling reaction between hydrazinopyridine and terminal alkynes with excellent yield (up to 99%), broad substrate tolerance (27 examples) and superior reusability (up to 10 cycles without loss of performance) under mild conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]