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Magnetic characteristics, magnetocaloric effect, and critical behavior of Nd1−xSrxMnO3 compounds by Sr doping (x = 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5) were studied. All samples maintained orthorhombic structures, but the space group changed from Pnma (No. 62) for x = 0.2, 0.3 to Imma (No. 74) for x = 0.4, 0.5. As Sr doping increased, the Curie temperature (TC), Curie–Weiss temperature (TCW), and magnetization increased, attributed to the double exchange (DE) interaction. A discrepancy between TCW and TC was observed due to the competition between polarons and DE interaction. The critical behavior was investigated systematically using the self-consistent (modified Arrott plots, MAP) method and the Kouvel–Fisher (KF) relation. The KF relation was suitable for the samples with x = 0.2 and 0.5, while the MAP method was suitable for the samples with x = 0.3 and 0.4. Among the Ising, XY, Heisenberg, and mean-field models, the samples with x = 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 aligned more closely with the mean-field model, except for the x = 0.5 sample. Entropy change (−ΔSM) of Nd1−xSrxMnO3 (0.2 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) increased with the applied field, with the maximum value observed around TC. For the sample with x = 0.3, (−ΔSM) reached 4.315 J/kg K at μ0ΔH = 50 kOe, corresponding to a relative cooling power (RCP) of 280.48 J/kg. Remarkably, the x = 0.4 sample displayed (−ΔSM) of 3.298 J/kg K at μ0ΔH = 50 kOe near room temperature, with the RCP of 283.64 J/kg. These findings underscore the role of Sr doping in tuning the magnetic properties, critical behavior, and magnetocaloric effect of NdMnO3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the multitasking scheduling problem via alternate periods, which is common in manufacturing and service industries. The shift pattern comprises regular shifts interspersed with breaks, allowing job switching. We focus on two alternate periods consisting of odd periods and even periods. Each job is not only processed completely within odd periods or completely within even periods, but job switching is also allowed between alternate periods with additional overhead. For this problem, we propose two job switching models. The first model is alternate periods multitasking scheduling with switching time, where a fixed switching time is incurred whenever a job is switched from one period to its adjacent period. The second model is alternate periods multitasking scheduling with diverse speeds, where an urgent switching cost is produced if a job is processed through the alternate periods with different speeds. For the two models, we study three scheduling objectives including minimising the total completion time, minimising the maximum lateness, and minimising the number of tardy jobs, respectively. For each of the problems under consideration, we investigate the structural properties of the optimal schedule and develop the corresponding pseudo-polynomial time dynamic programming algorithm. Furthermore, we give examples to effectively illustrate the proposed algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

α-Al2O3 is renowned for its extensive bandgap and diverse applications in electronic and optoelectronic devices. Employing density-functional theory-based methods, this study investigates the feasibility of chalcogen doping (S, Se, Te) in α-Al2O3. Standard modeling tools are utilized to construct α-Al2O3 supercells, focusing on the calculations of individual chalcogen-related and native point defects resulting from single-atom doping. Our analysis systematically explores the formation energies and transition levels associated with chalcogen (S, Se, Te) doping in oxygen (or aluminum) sites in Al-rich (or O-rich) limits. We observe a trend where increasing atomic number (from S to Te) correlates with a higher difficulty in forming anion-doped α-Al2O3, but a lower barrier to cationic doping. The results indicate a preferential substitution of chalcogen atoms for aluminum in O-rich environments. Specifically, in varying oxygen conditions, the dominant defect types, their prevalence, and defect formation energies in α-Al2O3 are significantly altered following chalcogen doping, offering new insights into defect processes in α-Al2O3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigating the phonon-surface scattering mechanism is essential for the evaluation of thermal transport in nanostructures. The theoretical description to quantify this mechanism remains to be developed at the atomic scale. This work presents a phonon wave packet method to study the phonon-surface scattering behavior at rough surfaces. We obtain the specularity distribution dependent on phonon polarization, wavelength, and surface roughness. The reflection of the diffuse wave packet is primarily attributed to the surface shadowing effect at a higher incident angle, surface disorder, and surface-induced localized modes. Taking the wavevector-dependent specularity data as input, the thermal conductivity of silicon nanowires is calculated based on the Boltzmann Transport Equation. Our specularity model provides an accurate evaluation for predicting thermal conductivity. This work offers an atomic-level analysis for phonon-surface interaction, which is helpful for the understanding of thermal transport in nanostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gas-phase reaction Cl + NH3 → HCl + NH2 is a prototypical hydrogen abstraction reaction, whose minimum energy path involves several intermediate complexes. In this work, a full-dimensional, spin–orbit corrected potential energy surface (SOC PES) is constructed for the ground electronic state of the Cl + NH3 reaction. About 52 000 energy points are sampled and calculated at the UCCSD(T)-F12a/aug-cc-pVTZ level, in which the data points located in the entrance channel are spin–orbit corrected. The spin–orbit corrections are predicted by a fitted three-dimensional energy surface from about 7520 energy points in the entrance channel at the level of CASSCF (15e, 11o)/aug-cc-pVTZ. The fundamental-invariant neural network method is utilized to fit the SOC PES, resulting in a total root mean square error of 0.12 kcal mol−1. The calculated thermal rate constants of the Cl + NH3 → HCl + NH2 reaction on the SOC PES with the soft-zero-point energy constraint agree reasonably well with the available experimental values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-damping magnetic insulators like LiFe5O8 have gained considerable attention in recent years for their exceptional properties such as low energy loss and high gyromagnetic ratio, making them suitable in microwave and spintronic fields. However, due to factors such as crystalline quality and stress, the damping behavior of LiFe5O8 thin films falls below expectations. In this work, we utilize miscut substrate to modulate the structure and magnetic properties of LiFe5O8 films. We found that miscut angles can improve the crystalline quality of the film. However, a miscut angle of 6° resulted in a phase transition from tetragonal to orthorhombic in the LiFe5O8 phase. In particular, the out-of-plane ferromagnetic resonance linewidth of the orthorhombic LiFe5O8 (LFO) film was significantly reduced compared to that of the tetragonal LFO film on a non-miscut substrate, which could be attributed to the structural change. The orthorhombic LFO film also exhibited lower damping and a higher in-plane remanence ratio, indicating superior microwave magnetic properties. These findings suggest that miscut strain could be a viable method for improving the microwave magnetism of LFO films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The metastatic cascade, a multifaceted and highly aggressive process, is the primary cause of mortality. The survival of quiescent cancer cells in circulatory system during metastasis is crucial, yet our comprehension is constrained by the absence of universally accepted quiescent cancer models. Method: We developed a quiescent cancer cell model using high-density cultivation. Based on the scRNA-seq analysis, IP-MS, metabolomics, mouse lung metastasis models, cholesterol assay, PLA and other molecular experiments, we explored the molecular mechanism. Immunofluorescence, atomic force microscope, FluidFM, and shear stress stimulation were used to analyze the cytoskeleton and membrane properties contributing to mechanical force resistance. Result: We established a quiescent cancer cell model induced by high-density cultivation. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis reveals that CDC25A plays a crucial role in the transition to quiescence, with its expression significantly elevated in the quiescent state. Depletion of CDC25A leads to an increased proliferative capacity, and reduced metastasis under high-density conditions. Mechanistically, upregulated CDC25A in quiescent cells enhances cholesterol metabolism via endosome pathways, leading to cell cycle arrest. This increase in cholesterol reinforces the cytoskeleton, alters membrane properties, and improves resistance to mechanical forces in circulatory system. Conclusion: CDC25A significantly increased the cholesterol metabolism through endosome pathway in quiescent cancer cells, leading to the significant changes in cytoskeleton and membrane properties so as to enhance the resistance of mechanical force in circulatory system, facilitating lung metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to construct an ischemic cardiomyocyte-targeted and ROS-responsive drug release system to reduce myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MI/RI). Methods: We constructed thioketal (TK) and cardiac homing peptide (CHP) dual-modified liposomes loaded with puerarin (PUE@TK/CHP-L), which were expected to deliver drugs precisely into ischemic cardiomyocytes and release drugs in response to the presence of high intracellular ROS levels. The advantages of PUE@TK/CHP-L were assessed by cellular pharmacodynamics, in vivo fluorescence imaging and animal pharmacodynamics. Results: PUE@TK/CHP-L significantly inhibited apoptosis and ferroptosis in H/R-injured cardiomyocytes and also actively targeted ischemic myocardium. Based on these advantages, PUE@TK/CHP-L could significantly enhance the drug's ability to attenuate MI/RI. Conclusion: PUE@TK/CHP-L had potential clinical value in the precise treatment of MI/RI. Article highlights Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MI/RI) is a series of pathological changes caused by revascularisation after myocardial infarction, for which there is no effective treatment. Excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is an important predisposing factor for MI/RI. Apoptosis and ferroptosis of cardiomyocytes are important pathological mechanisms of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury and both are closely related to excessive intracellular ROS. We have successfully synthesized ROS-responsive and cardiac-targeted liposomes loaded with puerarin (PUE@TK/CHP-L). It was found that PUE@TK/CHP-L could target ischemic myocardium. In vivo and ex vivo results showed that PUE@TK/CHP-L can effectively reduce the level of myocardial oxidative stress and decrease cardiomyocyte apoptosis and ferroptosis. These results suggested that PUE@TK/CHP-L could hopefully be a promising drug carrier for mitigating MI/RI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional global hybrid simulations are performed to explore how the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), the Martian crustal fields, and planetary pickup ions affect the twisting of the Martian magnetotail. The results agree with previous studies that the crustal magnetic fields cause the Martian magnetotail to twist counterclockwise or clockwise depending on the sign of the IMF Y -component in the Mars solar orbital coordinates. However, the twist is more pronounced when the crustal fields are on the nightside, contradicting the early explanation that the crustal fields affect the twist through dayside magnetic reconnection between the crustal fields and the draped IMF. Additionally, planetary pickup ions also contribute to the twist because their mass loading slows down the plasma flow and leads to the bending of the magnetic field lines in the magnetotail. It is demonstrated that the twist inside Mars' shadow in the near magnetotail region (at X = −1.5 R M, where R M is Mars' radius) is mainly attributable to the crustal fields, while the influence of planetary pickup ions starts to dominate outside Mars' shadow and in regions further away from Mars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proton cyclotron waves (PCWs) upstream of Mars are thought to be associated with the instabilities of pickup ions. The instabilities of pickup ions of ring distributions have larger maximum growth rates compared with beam distributions. However, observations revealed a notably‐reduced occurrence rate of PCWs for pickup ions of ring distributions. Linear instability analysis and a corresponding two‐dimensional particle‐in‐cell (PIC) simulation are performed to investigate the instabilities of pickup ion ring distributions upstream of Mars. Linear instability analysis indicates that a pickup ion ring distribution is unstable to the ion cyclotron, ion Bernstein, and mirror instabilities. The corresponding PIC simulation confirms the linear analysis results and further demonstrates that the pickup ions are scattered toward an isotropic shell distribution by the waves excited. Interestingly, the saturation energy of the waves is much lower than that driven by a corresponding pickup ion beam distribution, and mirror waves eventually dominate the system. Plain Language Summary: Without the shielding of a global intrinsic magnetic field, the Martian exosphere interacts directly with the solar wind. Pickup ions are generated when neutrals in the exosphere are ionized and "picked up" by the solar wind. The instabilities driven by these pickup ions lead to the generation of proton cyclotron waves upstream of Mars. Despite that linear analysis indicates higher maximum growth rates for pickup ion ring distributions compared with beam distributions, observations show that the excitation of observable waves upstream of Mars is relatively rare with pickup ion ring distributions. The present study carries out linear instability analysis for pickup ions with a ring distribution. The results reveal that the ion cyclotron, ion Bernstein, and mirror instabilities are unstable. The subsequent particle‐in‐cell simulation validates the linear theory prediction and illustrates the scattering of the pickup ions by the enhanced waves. Interestingly, although the ion cyclotron instability has the largest maximum growth rate, it eventually diminishes and transforms into Alfvén waves. Consequently, the simulation is dominated by mirror waves in the late stage. More importantly, the wave saturation energy for pickup ion ring distributions is much lower than for beam distributions. Key Points: A pickup ion ring distribution is unstable to the ion cyclotron, ion Bernstein, and mirror instabilitiesThe instability saturation level is lower for a ring distribution than a corresponding beam distributionThe mirror waves have the maximum power spectrum eventually in the simulation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) hold great promise for rechargeable batteries. However, the synthesis of COFs with abundant active sites, excellent stability, and increased conductivity remains a challenge. Here, chemically stable fully sp2 carbon‐conjugated COFs (sp2c‐COFs) with multiple active sites are designed by the polymerization of benzo[1,2‐b:3,4‐b′:5,6‐b′′]trithiophene‐2,5,8‐tricarbaldehyde) (BTT) and s‐indacene‐1,3,5,7(2H,6H)‐tetrone (ICTO) (denoted as BTT‐ICTO). The morphology and structure of the COF are precisely regulated from "butterfly‐shaped" to "cable‐like" through an in situ controllable growth strategy, significantly promoting the exposure and utilization of active sites. When the unique "cable‐like" BTT‐ICTO@CNT is employed as lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) cathode, it exhibits exceptional capacity (396 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 with 97.9 % active sites utilization rate), superb rate capacity (227 mAh g−1 at 5.0 A g−1), and excellent cycling performance (184 mAh g−1 over 8000 cycles at 2.0 A g−1 with 0.00365 % decay rate per cycle). The lithium storage mechanism of BTT‐ICTO is exhaustively revealed by in situ Fourier transform infrared, in situ Raman, and density functional theory calculations. This work provides in‐depth insights into fully sp2c‐COFs with multiple active sites for high‐performance LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) hold great promise for rechargeable batteries. However, the synthesis of COFs with abundant active sites, excellent stability, and increased conductivity remains a challenge. Here, chemically stable fully sp2 carbon‐conjugated COFs (sp2c‐COFs) with multiple active sites are designed by the polymerization of benzo[1,2‐b:3,4‐b′:5,6‐b′′]trithiophene‐2,5,8‐tricarbaldehyde) (BTT) and s‐indacene‐1,3,5,7(2H,6H)‐tetrone (ICTO) (denoted as BTT‐ICTO). The morphology and structure of the COF are precisely regulated from "butterfly‐shaped" to "cable‐like" through an in situ controllable growth strategy, significantly promoting the exposure and utilization of active sites. When the unique "cable‐like" BTT‐ICTO@CNT is employed as lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) cathode, it exhibits exceptional capacity (396 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 with 97.9 % active sites utilization rate), superb rate capacity (227 mAh g−1 at 5.0 A g−1), and excellent cycling performance (184 mAh g−1 over 8000 cycles at 2.0 A g−1 with 0.00365 % decay rate per cycle). The lithium storage mechanism of BTT‐ICTO is exhaustively revealed by in situ Fourier transform infrared, in situ Raman, and density functional theory calculations. This work provides in‐depth insights into fully sp2c‐COFs with multiple active sites for high‐performance LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mesothelioma (MESO) is an insidious malignancy with a complex diagnosis and a poor prognosis. Our study unveils Glutamine-Fructose-6-Phosphate Transaminase 2 (GFPT2) as a valuable diagnostic and prognostic marker for MESO, exploring its role in MESO pathogenesis. Methods: We utilised tissue samples and clinicopathologic data to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic significance of GFPT2 as a biomarker for MESO. The role of GFPT2 in the malignant progression of MESO was investigated through in vitro and in vivo experiments. The activation of NF-κB-p65 through O-GlcNAcylation at Ser75 was elucidated using experiments like HPLC-QTRAP-MS/MS and mass spectrometry analysis. Results: The study demonstrates that GFPT2 exhibits a sensitivity of 92.60% in diagnosing MESO. Overexpression of it has been linked to an unfavourable prognosis. Through rigorous verification, we have confirmed that elevated GFPT2 levels drive malignant proliferation, invasiveness, and metastasis in MESO. At the molecular level, GFPT2 augments p65 O-GlcNAcylation, orchestrating its nuclear translocation and activating the NF-κB signalling pathway. Conclusions: Our insights suggest GFPT2's potential as a distinctive biomarker for MESO diagnosis and prognosis, and as an innovative therapeutic target, offering a new horizon for identification and treatment strategies in MESO management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Primary skull base chondrosarcoma (SBC) is a rare malignant central nervous system tumor, often involving the cavernous sinus. Complete excision of tumors invading this region is exceptionally challenging due to the presence of the internal carotid artery and numerous nerves within the cavernous sinus, particularly in cases with substantial tumor volume. Case presentation: This report describes a rare case of a massive primary SBC pushing the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus, measuring approximately 6.6 cm × 4.5 cm × 4.4 cm. Utilizing neurophysiological monitoring and intraoperative navigation, we successfully achieved complete tumor resection along the membranous structure via a left modified pterional approach (pterional-zygomatic arch-subdural-infratemporal approach), employing tools such as a cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator (CUSA) and piezosurgery. During the excision, localized rupture and bleeding of the internal carotid artery occurred, but prompt repair and anastomosis were performed. Postoperatively, the patient's symptoms markedly improved, and good reperfusion of the internal carotid artery was observed without new severe complications. The postoperative pathological diagnosis, according to the World Health Organization classification, was Grade 1 chondrosarcoma; therefore, radiotherapy was not administered. Magnetic resonance imaging at the 8-month follow-up showed no residual tumor or recurrence. Conclusions: This case highlights that surgical complete excision of large intracavernous SBCs, while preserving vital neurovascular functions, is feasible and paramount for achieving favorable outcomes, particularly for Grade 1 and 2 SBCs, which comprise 82.4% of all subtypes. The use of a modified left pterional approach, intra-capsular tumor resection techniques, alongside CUSA and piezosurgery, provides valuable insights and serves as a reference for achieving complete excision of SBCs within the cavernous sinus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The study investigates the association between lipid accumulation product (LAP) and the risk of prediabetes and diabetes. LAP, a measure indicating lipid overaccumulation, is hypothesized to be a significant predictor for these conditions. This research utilizes data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted between 1999 and 2018. Methods: The study followed a structured methodology, starting with data extraction from the NHANES database. Participants' eligibility was determined based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, resulting in a final sample size of 24,121 individuals. LAP was calculated using established formulas for men and women. The diagnosis of prediabetes and diabetes was based on standard medical criteria, including HbA1c levels, fasting plasma glucose, and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) results. Covariates like demographic variables, lifestyle factors, and other health indicators were also considered. Statistical analysis involved categorizing LAP into quartiles and employing logistic regression models to examine the relationship between LAP and the risk of prediabetes and diabetes. Results: Participants in the highest LAP quartile exhibited distinct characteristics: older age, lower education levels, more former smokers and drinkers, higher blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and greater use of medications. A positive association was observed between LAP and the incidence of prediabetes and diabetes across all models. Specifically, each 10‐unit increase in LAP was linked to a 22% increase in risk. Nonlinear relationships were also explored, revealing an inflection point in the risk correlation at an LAP value of 68.1. Conclusion: The study concludes that LAP is a significant predictor of prediabetes and diabetes risk, with higher LAP levels correlating with increased risk. This finding underscores the potential of LAP as a useful marker in identifying individuals at higher risk for these conditions. It also highlights the importance of considering LAP in preventive health strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine oil exploration is important yet greatly increases the risk of oil leakage, which will result in severe environment pollution and economic losses. It is an urgent need to develop effective underoil adhesives. However, realizing underoil adhesion is even harder than those underwater, due to the stubborn attachment of a highly viscous oil layer on target surface. Here, inspired by endocytosis, a tough gel tape composed of zwitterionic polymer network and zwitterionic surfactants is developed. The amphiphilic surfactants can form micelle to capture the oil droplets and transport them from the interface to gel via electrostatic attraction of polymer backbone, mimicking the endocytosis and achieving robust underoil adhesion. Benefiting from the oil‐resistance of polymer backbone, the gel further realizes a combination of i) long‐term adhesion with high durability, ii) repeated adhesion in oil, and iii) renewable adhesion efficiency after exhausted use. The tape exhibits an ultra‐high adhesive toughness of 2446.86 J m−2 to stainless steel in silicone oil after 30 days' oil‐exposure; such value of adhesive toughness surpasses many of those achieved in underwater adhesion and is greater than underoil adhesion performance of commercial tape. The strategy illustrated here will motivate the design of sustainable and efficient adhesives for wet environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to describe a novel sandwich technique of minimally invasive surgical implantation by using corneal stromal lenticules for corneal perforation. This prospective observational study included nine patients aged 23–79 years (mean, 54 ± 9) from Tianjin Eye Hospital. Corneal stromal lenticules with a central thickness of 120 μm were obtained from small incision lenticule extraction(SMILE). With the corneal perforation as the central point, an iris-repositor was used to manually create a mid-stromal pocket; the stromal lenticular button was gently inserted into the intrastromal pocket and flattened. The graft was sandwiched between the anterior and posterior corneal stromal pockets; the incision was closed using two sutures. The primary health outcome measured in this study was the logMAR best spectacle-visual acuity at 6 months postoperatively. Corneal perforation closure and anterior chamber formation occurred immediately after surgery. No epithelial implantation, infection, or allogeneic rejection was observed during the follow-up. No patients required a penetrating keratoplasty. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography revealed a mean thickness of the grafted tissue of 122 ± 21 μm, with a clear interface in all cases. Comparing the baseline and postoperative 6-month values, the mean logMAR best spectacle-corrected visual acuity was improved from 0.18 ± 0.12 to 0.52 ± 0.31 (P < 0.001). There was significant reduction in the mean manifest spherical equivalent, refractive cylinder, and mean keratometry readings. The novel minimally invasive surgical method for corneal implantation. It was an effective alternative treatment that could restore corneal integrity and improve vision in patients with corneal perforations. This method appears safe, easy, cost- and time-effective, and reliable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronavirus stands for a large family of viruses characterized by protruding spikes surrounding a lipidic membrane adorned with proteins. The present study explores the adhesion of transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus (TGEV) particles on a variety of reference solid surfaces that emulate typical virus‐surface interactions. Atomic force microscopy informs about trapping effectivity and the shape of the virus envelope on each surface, revealing that the deformation of TGEV particles spans from 20% to 50% in diameter. Given this large deformation range, experimental Langmuir isotherms convey an unexpectedly moderate variation in the adsorption‐free energy, indicating a viral adhesion adaptability which goes beyond the membrane. The combination of an extended Helfrich theory and coarse‐grained simulations reveals that, in fact, the envelope and the spikes present complementary adsorption affinities. While strong membrane‐surface interaction lead to highly deformed TGEV particles, surfaces with strong spike attraction yield smaller deformations with similar or even larger adsorption‐free energies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on the correlation of exposure to metals with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is scarce, especially concerning the impact of mixed metals on DKD. This study aimed to explore the association of blood heavy metals with DKD risk among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. This cross-sectional study enrolled patients with T2DM in NHANES 2011–2020. ICP‒MS was applied to detect five metals, namely, Pb, Cd, Hg, Se and Mn, in blood. At the same time, the impacts of exposure to single and mixed metals on DKD were assessed using multivariable logistic regression, WQS, and BKMR models. The relationship was examined based on age, sex, BMI, hypertension, smoking status and PIR. Totally 2362 participants were enrolled for final analysis. Among them, 634 (26.84%) patients undergoing T2DM had DKD. Logistic regression indicated that, Pb (Q4: OR [95% CI]: 1.557 [1.175, 2.064]) was related to DKD when all covariates were adjusted. The WQS analysis, which was set in a positive directional mode, suggested that Pb was correlated positively with a higher incidence of DKD. In BKMR analysis, linear dose‒response curves were generated for Pb when fixing the other metals in the 50th percentile. In addition, exposure to mixed metals was significantly positively related to DKD. Subgroup analysis during logistic regression demonstrated that Pb was significantly and positively related to DKD in females, over 50 years, those with over 25 kg/m2, no hypertension, no smoking status and under PIR. Serum albumin (ALB) did not regulate the indirect impact of blood Pb on DKD risk. The results showed that the increased mixed metal concentration may lead to an increased DKD risk among patients with T2DM. Blood Pb is positively related to the DKD risk in diabetic patients, especially, in females, over 50 years, those with over 25 kg/m2, no hypertension, no smoking status and under PIR in T2DM patients. According to our observations, Pb absorption at least slightly influences DKD occurrence and progression. More studies are needed to validate the results in this work and illustrate the relevant biological mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The large void space of organic electrodes endows themselves with the capability to store different counter ions without size concern. In this work, a small-molecule organic bipolar electrode called diquinoxalino[2,3-a:2',3'-c]phenazine-2,6,10-tris(phenoxazine) (DQPZ-3PXZ) is designed. Based on its robust solid structure by the π conjugation of diquinoxalino[2,3-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (DQPZ) and phenoxazine (PXZ), DQPZ-3PXZ can indiscriminately and stably host 5 counter ions with different charge and size (Li+, Na+, K+, PF6− and FSI−). In Li/Na/K-based half cells, DQPZ-3PXZ can deliver the peak discharge capacities of 257/243/253 mAh g−1cathode and peak energy densities of 609/530/572 Wh kg−1cathode, respectively. The Li/Na/K-based dual-ion symmetric batteries can be constructed, which can be activated through the 1st charge process and show the stable discharge capacities of 85/66/72 mAh g−1cathode and energy densities of 59/50/52 Wh kg−1total mass, all running for more than 15000 cycles with nearly 100% capacity retention. Authors report on organic molecule called DQPZ-3PXZ that can stably store 5 counter ions during redox reaction and thus can be simultaneously used to construct three symmetric batteries with stable lifespan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer. These chronic infections are characterized by high expression of the HPV E6 and E7 oncogenes and the absence of the L1 and L2 capsid proteins. The regulation of HPV gene expression plays a crucial role in both the viral life cycle and rare oncogenic events. Alternative splicing of HPV mRNA is a key mechanism in post-transcriptional regulation. Through alternative splicing, HPV mRNA is diversified into various splice isoforms with distinct coding potentials, encoding multiple proteins and influencing the expression of HPV genes. The spliced mRNAs derived from a donor splicing site within the E6 ORF and one of the different acceptor sites located in the early mRNA contain E6 truncated mRNAs, named E6*. E6* is one of the extensively studied splicing isoforms. However, the role of E6* proteins in cancer progression remains controversial. Here, we reviewed and compared the alternative splicing events occurring in the genomes of HR-HPV and LR-HPV. Recently, new HPV alternative splicing regulatory proteins have been continuously discovered, and we have updated the regulation of HPV alternative splicing. In addition, we summarized the functions of known splice isoforms from three aspects: anti-tumorigenic, tumorigenic, and other cancer-related functions, including not only E6*, but also E6^E7, E8^E2, and so on. Comprehending their contributions to cancer development enhances insights into the carcinogenic mechanisms of HPV and explores the potential utility of alternative splicing in the diagnosis and treatment of cervical cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionic diode‐based generators show great superiority in harvesting low‐frequency mechanical energy from human motions for various wearable applications. The major challenge is to improve their extremely limited output voltage for the miniaturization/simplicity of ionic diode‐based self‐powered devices as well as further improvement of mechanoelectric conversion performance. Herein, the construction of gradient polycation/polyanion heterojunction is demonstrated to vastly boost the output voltage, energy‐harvesting efficiency, and sensing performance of ionic diode. Besides an inherent potential at the polyanion/polycation heterojunction interface, the additional transmembrane potentials can be generated across gradient polyanion and polycation conductors of ionic diodes due to their gradient charge distribution. Consequently, the gradient ionic diode‐based generators produce much higher output voltage (306.53 mV) than previously reported homogeneous ones (4.1–135 mV). Meanwhile, the high output voltage imparts gradient ionic diode‐based generator with ultrahigh power density (50.16 µW cm−2 or 250.8 µW cm−3) and pressure‐perception sensitivity (43582 mV/MPa), which are dramatically increased by 162.76% and 128.71%, respectively, compare to those of homogeneous one. Impressively, the resulting diode‐based generators can generate ultralarge current density (≈0.52 mA cm−2) with ultralong discharge time (>400 s), thus enabling the continuous power generation under the low‐frequency pressure for various wearable and implantable applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) often exhibit characteristic clinical manifestations, particularly neuropsychiatric symptoms. Previous studies have shown that white matter hyperintensity (WMH) is strongly associated with AD progression, as well as neuropsychiatric symptoms. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical and neuropsychological characteristics of AD patients with WMH. Methods: This retrospective study involved 104 18-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission computed tomography (18FDG-PET-CT)-defined AD patients treated at Tianjin Huanhu Hospital from January 2010 to December 2022. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provided semi-quantitative data on brain structure and WMH. Collect and analyze patient clinical data. Neuropsychological assessments were used to evaluate cognitive function and psychobehavioral traits. Results: Among the 104 patients, 66 were in the WMH group (63.5%) and 38 in the non-white matter hyperintensity (non-WMH) group (36.5%). There were no significant differences in gender, age, age of onset, education, BMI, smoking, drinking, diabetes, coronary heart disease, dementia family history, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) between the two groups. The WMH group showed higher rates of hypertension, homocysteine (Hcy) levels, NPI, and CDR scores as compared to the non-WMH group (p < 0.05). MMSE and MoCA scores were significantly lower in the WMH group (p < 0.05). In the MMSE subitem analysis, patients in the WMH group showed a decrease in attention, recall, and language scores. In the MOCA subitem analysis, WMH patients had lower scores in executive function, naming, attention, language, abstraction, and orientation (p < 0.05). Furthermore, subgroup analysis of NPI showed a higher incidence of delusions, depression, and apathy in the WMH group (p < 0.05). According to the hierarchical analysis of mild, moderate and severe dementia groups, the hypertension, leukoencephalopathy, Hcy level, Fazekas total score, PWMH and DWMH scores in the severe dementia group were significantly higher than those in the mild and moderate dementia groups (p < 0.05). As the disease progresses, more and more patients show increased white matter hyperintensity. Conclusion: White matter lesions are closely correlated with cognitive decline and psychobehavioral symptoms in AD patients, and may be used as an indicator of disease progression. Priority should be given to early screening and prevention of WMH-related risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

l‐2‐Hydroxyglutarate (l‐2‐HG) has been regarded as a tumor metabolite, and it plays a crucial role in adaptation of tumor cells to hypoxic conditions. However, the role of l‐2‐HG in tumor radioresistance and the underlying mechanism have not yet been revealed. Here, we found that l‐2‐HG exhibited to have radioresistance effect on U87 human glioblastoma cells, which could reduce DNA damage and apoptosis caused by irradiation, promote cell proliferation and migration, and impair G2/M phase arrest. Mechanistically, l‐2‐HG upregulated the protein level of hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α (HIF‐1α) and the expression levels of HIF‐1α downstream target genes. The knockdown of l‐2‐hydroxyglutarate dehydrogenase (L2HGDH) gene promoted the tumor growth and proliferation of U87 cells in nude mice by increasing HIF‐1α expression level in vivo. In addition, the low expression level of L2HGDH gene was correlated with the short survival of patients with glioma or kidney cancer. In conclusion, our study revealed the role and mechanism of l‐2‐HG in tumor radioresistance and may provide a new perspective for overcoming tumor radioresistance and broaden our comprehension of the role of metabolites in tumor microenvironment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renal fibrosis is an outcome of chronic kidney disease, independent of the underlying etiology. Renal fibrosis is caused primarily by oxidative stress and inflammation. We identified the components of Plantaginis semen and elucidated their anti‐fibrotic and anti‐inflammatory mechanisms. The renoprotective components and underlying molecular mechanisms of P. semen were investigated in rats with adenine‐induced chronic tubulointerstitial nephropathy (TIN) and in idole‐3‐acetic acid (IAA)–stimulated NRK‐52E cells. Acetate and n‐butanol extracts were found to be the bioactive fractions of P. semen. A total of 65 compounds including geniposidic acid (GPA), apigenin (APG), and acteoside (ATS) were isolated and identified. Among the seven main extract components, treatment with GPA, APG, and ATS reduced the serum levels of creatinine and urea in TIN rats. Mechanistically, GPA ameliorated renal fibrosis through repressing aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) signaling and regulating redox signaling including inhibiting proinflammatory nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐ƙB) and its target gene products as well as activated antioxidative nuclear factor‐erythroid‐2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2) and its downstream target gene products in both TIN rats and IAA‐stimulated NRK‐52E cells. The inhibitory effect of GPA on AHR, NF‐Ƙb, and Nrf2 signaling were partially abolished in IAA‐stimulated NRK‐52E cells treated with CH223191 compared with untreated IAA‐stimulated NRK‐52E cells. These data demonstrated that GPA alleviates oxidative stress and inflammation partly by suppressing AHR signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional research on linear polarization photodetector for 2D materials has focused on the search for different anisotropic materials, combinations between materials, introducing plasmonic structures, and patterning 2D materials to improve performance. However, these methods provide limited improvement in polarization sensitivity. Here, a balanced photodetector structure is proposed that does not require an additional process and relies only on the presence of anisotropy in the material itself to substantially improve the polarization sensitivity. The balanced photodetector consists of two ReS2 photodetectors, where the single ReS2 photodetector exhibits excellent performance at 650 nm illumination, including a responsivity and detectivity of 0.28 A W−1 and 4.22 × 109 Jones. Benefiting from the anisotropy of ReS2, the single photodetector achieves excellent polarization sensitivity of 2.79 at 650 nm. The balanced photodetector system achieves an excellent performance of ≈20 dB linear polarization extinction ratio and 0.003° Hz−1/2 noise equivalent light polarization difference at 100 kHz. These performances can also be further optimized by adjusting the gate voltage. The results provide a basis for further development of high‐performance polarization photodetector for 2D materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phase composition, microstructure, and mechanical properties of spark plasma sintered (SPSed) AlCrFeNiX (X = Co, Cu, and CoCu) high entropy alloys (HEAs) were investigated. The results show that gas‐atomized AlCrFeNiCo and AlCrFeNiCu HEAs exhibit the single body‐centered cubic (BCC) phase, while a dual‐phase (face‐centered cubic (FCC) + BCC) structure is observed in AlCrFeNiCoCu HEA. After spark plasma sintering, an FCC phase with different lattice parameters can be observed in all three HEAs except for the BCC phase. FCC1 phase enriched in Fe‐Cr and FCC2 phase enriched in Cu appear in SPSed AlCrFeNiCo and AlCrFeNiCu HEAs, respectively, while both FCC1 and FCC2 phases are precipitated in SPSed AlCrFeNiCoCu HEA. The SPSed AlCrFeNiCoCu HEA has the largest fraction of the FCC phase (33%), while the lowest fraction of the FCC phase (12%) is observed in the SPSed AlCrFeNiCu HEA. Furthermore, the brittle and hard σ phase is also precipitated in SPSed AlCrFeNiCo HEA. The SPSed AlCrFeNiCo HEA possesses the highest hardness of 465 HV and compressive yield strength of 1175 MPa, which is attributed to the high volume fraction of BCC phase and σ phase, while the SPSed AlCrFeNiCoCu HEA shows the lowest hardness of 363 HV and compressive yield strength of 1024 MPa due to the highest volume fraction of FCC phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Femtosecond laser two-photon polymerization (TPP) technology, known for its high precision and its ability to fabricate arbitrary 3D structures, has been widely applied in the production of various micro/nano optical devices, achieving significant advancements, particularly in the field of photonic wire bonding (PWB) for optical interconnects. Currently, research on optimizing both the optical loss and production reliability of polymeric photonic wires is still in its early stages. One of the key challenges is that inadequate metrology methods cannot meet the demand for multiphysical measurements in practical scenarios. This study utilizes novel in situ scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to monitor the working PWBs fabricated by TPP technology at the microscale. Optical and mechanical measurements are made simultaneously to evaluate the production qualities and to study the multiphysical coupling effects of PWBs. The results reveal that photonic wires with larger local curvature radii are more prone to plastic failure, while those with smaller local curvature radii recover elastically. Furthermore, larger cross-sectional dimensions contribute dominantly to the improved mechanical robustness. The optical-loss deterioration of the elastically deformed photonic wire is only temporary, and can be fully recovered when the load is removed. After further optimization based on the results of multiphysical metrology, the PWBs fabricated in this work achieve a minimum insertion loss of 0.6 dB. In this study, the multiphysical analysis of PWBs carried out by in situ SEM metrology offers a novel perspective for optimizing the design and performance of microscale polymeric waveguides, which could potentially promote the mass production reliability of TPP technology in the field of chip-level optical interconnection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common inherited heart disease and is characterized by primary left ventricular hypertrophy usually caused by mutations in sarcomere genes. The mechanism underlying cardiac remodeling in HCM remains incompletely understood. An investigation of HCM through integrative analysis at multi-omics levels will be helpful for treating HCM. DNA methylation and chromatin accessibility, as well as gene expression, were assessed by nucleosome occupancy and methylome sequencing (NOMe-seq) and RNA-seq, respectively, using the cardiac tissues of HCM patients. Compared with those of the controls, the transcriptome, DNA methylome, and chromatin accessibility of the HCM myocardium showed multifaceted differences. At the transcriptome level, HCM hearts returned to the fetal gene program through decreased sarcomeric and metabolic gene expression and increased extracellular matrix gene expression. In the DNA methylome, hypermethylated and hypomethylated differentially methylated regions were identified in HCM. At the chromatin accessibility level, HCM hearts showed changes in different genome elements. Several transcription factors, including SP1 and EGR1, exhibited a fetal-like pattern of binding motifs in nucleosome-depleted regions in HCM. In particular, the inhibition of SP1 or EGR1 in an HCM mouse model harboring sarcomere mutations markedly alleviated the HCM phenotype of the mutant mice and reversed fetal gene reprogramming. Overall, this study not only provides a high-precision multi-omics map of HCM heart tissue but also sheds light on the therapeutic strategy by intervening in the fetal gene reprogramming in HCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) is commonly used in the treatment of liver cancer; however, its low water solubility and poor stability significantly limit its clinical application. In recent years, research on exosomes has deepened considerably. Exosomes possess a unique phospholipid bilayer structure, enabling them to traverse tissue barriers, which provides natural advantages as drug carriers. Nevertheless, delivering exosomes safely and efficiently to target cells remains a major challenge. In this study, we utilized the affinity of the SP94 peptide for human liver cancer cell receptors. HCPT was coated with exosomes in our experimental design, and the exosome membrane was modified with SP94 peptide to facilitate drug delivery to liver cancer cells. Exosomes were purified from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, and targeted peptides were attached to their surfaces via post-insertion techniques. Subsequently, HCPT was incorporated into the exosomes through electroporation. Using the HepG2 hepatoma cell line, we evaluated a series of in vitro pharmacodynamics and studied pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution in animal models. The results indicated that ligand-targeted, modified drug-carrying exosomes significantly enhance drug bioavailability, prolong retention time in vivo, and facilitate liver targeting. Moreover, this approach reduces drug nephrotoxicity, enhances anti-tumor efficacy, and lays the groundwork for the development of novel liver cancer-targeting agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal infections present a significant health risk, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Berberine, a natural isoquinoline alkaloid, has demonstrated broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, though its antifungal potential and underlying mechanisms against both yeast-like and filamentous fungi are not fully understood. This study investigates the antifungal efficacy of berberine against Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, Trichophyton rubrum, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes in vitro, as well as its therapeutic potential in a murine model of cryptococcal infection. Berberine showed strong antifungal activity, with MIC values ranging from 64 to 128 µg/mL. SEM and TEM analyses revealed that berberine induced notable disruptions to the cell wall and membrane in C. neoformans. No signs of cell necrosis or apoptosis were observed in fungal cells treated with 2 × MIC berberine, and it did not increase intracellular ROS levels or affect mitochondrial membrane potential. Molecular docking and binding affinity assays demonstrated a strong interaction between berberine and the fungal enzyme CYP51, with a dissociation constant (KD) of less than 1 × 10−12 M, suggesting potent inhibition of ergosterol biosynthesis. In vivo studies further showed that berberine promoted healing in guinea pigs infected with T. mentagrophytes, and in a murine cryptococcal infection model, it prolonged survival and reduced lung inflammation, showing comparable efficacy to fluconazole. These findings indicate that berberine exerts broad-spectrum antifungal effects through membrane disruption and CYP51 inhibition, highlighting its potential as a promising therapeutic option for fungal infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Total testosterone (TT) and free testosterone (FT) are important biochemical markers for anabolism of the human body, and can also serve as early screening indicators for overtraining syndrome (OTS). Presently, there is no fast and reliable serum TT and FT determination method in the field of sport science that can meet the requirements of sports research. Thus, a rapid and accurate determination method for serum TT and FT to fill the gap is needed urgently in sports training. Herein, a simple and reliable liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the simultaneous determination of TT and FT in serum was developed and fully validated, followed by the application of professional athletes in training monitoring. Efficient pretreatments based on only one-step liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) for TT and one-step LLE after a 20 min ultrafiltration for FT were adopted in this study, and the isotope internal standard of testosterone-13C3 was used to ensure the reliability of the whole procedure. A linear range of four orders of magnitude with 0.02–100 ng/mL can meet the concentration range requirement between a higher limit for male TT and a lower limit for female FT. The accuracy, precision, stability, and matrix effect were all within the limits of the guidelines. The serum TT and FT levels of 200 professional athletes (98 male athletes and 102 female athletes) were investigated by this method. Serum TT, FT, and FT/TT levels of professional athletes were significantly higher than the general population, and serum TT levels were significantly higher by LC-MS/MS than by a chemiluminescence immunoassay. In conclusion, the LC-MS/MS method for TT and FT measurement developed in this study is time-saving and easy to operate, which can be used as a reliable method for the determination of serum TT and FT in sports training, offering valuable information for monitoring anabolism of athletes and screening OTS in the early stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental pollution and global warming caused by fossil fuels have become increasingly serious issues. Therefore, it is urgent to explore novel strategies to obtain sustainable, renewable and clean energy. Fortunately, ambient energy harvesting technologies, which are receiving increasing attention, provide an optimal solution. Additionally, the investigation of two-dimensional (2D) materials represented by transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) significantly facilitates the advancement of ambient energy harvesting technologies due to their unique properties, enabling the application of ambient energy harvesting. Herein, we summarized recent advances in the application of TMDs in thermal energy harvesting, osmotic energy harvesting, mechanical energy harvesting, water energy harvesting and radiofrequency energy harvesting respectively. In the meanwhile, we listed some representative structure and device optimization strategies for enhancing the energy conversion performance of these ambient energy harvesters, aiming to provide valuable insights for future investigations towards further optimization. Finally, we highlight the pressing issues currently faced in the application of the TMDs ambient energy harvesting technologies and propose some potential solutions to these challenges. We aimed to provide a comprehensive review in the applications of the energy harvesting technologies, in order to provide innovative insights for optimizing existing TMDs-based technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-epoch real-time kinematics (RTK) has drawn attention for its benefits in managing cycle slips, yet research is mostly confined to short baselines. In this contribution, the triple-frequency GPS/Galileo/BDS single-epoch medium baseline RTK model is presented. Based on nine medium baselines, the positioning performance of triple-frequency single-epoch RTK is demonstrated and compared with the corresponding results of traditional dual-frequency scheme. It is shown that the triple-frequency scheme has a correctly fixing rate of 97.6%, which is roughly 5.6% higher than that of the dual-frequency scheme. For all solutions, including fixed and float epochs, the triple-frequency scheme achieves positioning accuracy of approximately 2.2, 1.8, and 5.3 cm in the east, north, and up directions, respectively, which is half the accuracy of the dual-frequency scheme. These results suggest triple-frequency observations enhance single-epoch medium RTK ambiguity resolution, potentially achieving centimetre-level accuracy in sparse reference station environments like offshore and desert regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light-based photo-stimulation has demonstrated promising effects on stem cell behavior, particularly in optimizing neurogenesis. However, the precise parameters for achieving optimal results, including the wavelengths, light intensity, radiating energy, and underlying mechanisms, remain incompletely understood. In this study, we focused on utilizing ultraviolet-C (UV-C) at a specific wavelength of 254 nm, with an ultra-low dose at intensity of 330 μW/cm2 and a total energy of 594 mJ/cm2 per day over a period of seven days, to stimulate the proliferation and differentiation of mouse neural stem cells (NSCs). The results revealed that the application of ultra-low-dose UV-C yielded the most significant effect in promoting differentiation when compared to mixed ultraviolet (UV) and ultraviolet-A (UV-A) radiation at equivalent exposure levels. The mechanism exploration elucidated the role of Presenilin 1 in mediating the activation of β-catenin and Notch 1 by the UV-C treatment, both of which are key factors facilitating NSCs proliferation and differentiation. These findings introduce a novel approach employing ultra-low-dose UV-C for specifically enhancing NSC differentiation, as well as the underlying mechanism. It would contribute valuable insights into brain stimulation and neurogenesis modulation for various diseases, offering potential therapeutic avenues for further exploration. Ultra-low-dose UV-C photo-stimulation promoted the differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) through Presenilin 1 mediated β-catenin and Notch 1 activations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates FoF managers' investment decision-making process and the most important fund/fund manager attributes perceived by FoF managers. We find that FoF managers apply strategic thinking and actively seek out fund managers who also possess strategic thinking competencies. Our findings show that the determinants of fund performance identified in the existing literature (e.g. fund age and education background) play a complementary role at fund-level investment decision, whereas selecting fund managers with strategic thinking competencies (e.g. accumulated working experience, individual cognitive ability, personality, core value and personal beliefs) dominates the qualitative criteria in FoF managers' thought processes. This study provides new empirical evidence from FoF managers, which sheds light on the challenges FoF managers face in the fund-level investment decisions. The comprehensive thematic framework of this study contributes to the investment decision-making literature and the findings of the study will be useful to practitioners while making investment decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nonlinear age-structured tumor population model, in which the tumor population is divided into proliferating and quiescent cells is proposed and analyzed. The probability of mitosis in proliferating cells is determined by the concentration of nutrient and the proliferating cells. The dynamic behaviors of the model are investigated by means of semigroup operator theory. Firstly, a threshold called F 0 is proposed, and the model always has a tumor-free steady state, which is locally asymptotically stable if F 0 < 1 , and a sufficient condition for its global stability is also obtained. Secondly, a special piecewise function with time delay describing the 'birth' of proliferating cells is introduced, and a particular threshold F 0 s in accordance with it is obtained. If F 0 s > 1 , it is shown that there exists a unique positive steady state, which is locally asymptotically stable once it appears. Further, several numerical simulations are carried out to illustrate the validity of the theoretical results, which shows that the nonlinearity of split rate not only halts tumor's exponential growth but also forces the tumor population converge to a constant and sometimes even like the Gompertz growth. The results suggest that it may be a good treatment to prolong the split time as long as possible during tumor therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The clinical application of polymyxin B (PMB) is limited by its nephrotoxic effects, making the reduction of PMB‐induced nephrotoxicity has become a pressing concern for clinicians. Tetrahydrocurcumin (THC), known for its beneficial characteristics in biological functions, presents an attractive option for intervention therapy to mitigate PMB‐induced nephrotoxicity. However, the underlying mechanism of how THC mitigates PMB‐induced nephrotoxicity is still poorly understood. Here, we first evaluated the potential of THC intervention therapy to mitigate PMB‐induced nephrotoxicity in an in vitro model of PMB‐induced cell injury. Moreover, we demonstrated that THC effectively protected HK‐2 cells from PMB‐induced apoptosis by using cell counting kit‐8 and flow cytometry assay. THC could also suppress PMB‐induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress via PERK/eIF2α/ATF4/CHOP pathway. In addition, using PERK inhibitor GSK2606414 to inhibit ER stress also alleviated PMB‐induced apoptosis. Taken together, these findings provide novel insights that THC possesses the ability to alleviate PMB‐induced nephrotoxicity by inhibiting the ER stress‐mediated PERK/eIF2α/ATF4/CHOP axis, which sheds light on the benefits of THC as an intervention strategy to reduce PMB‐induced nephrotoxicity, thus providing a potential avenue for improved clinical outcomes in patients receiving PMB treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Mild asymptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (aICAS) is common in Chinese patients with hypertension. However, there are no data on its prognostic value in this population. The aim of the present study was to clarify the prevalence and associated cardiovascular risk factors of mild aICAS and determine its prognostic value for overall and cardiovascular mortality in patients with hypertension. METHODS In total, 1,813 participants were evaluated for aICAS using computed tomographic angiography. The predictive effect of mild to severe aICAS on all-cause and cardiovascular mortality was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox regression analyses. RESULTS The prevalence rate of mild aICAS was 35.7%. Poorly controlled hypertension, in combination with diabetes and dyslipidemia, was associated with aICAS. Patients with aICAS had an independently significant increase in the risk of all-cause and cardiovascular death, with adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for mild to severe stenosis ranging from 1.56 to 3.30 for all-cause death and from 2.48 to 6.38 for cardiovascular death. Among the patients with mild aICAS, only those with more than two stenoses had increased mortality after adjustment, with an HR of 2.44 (95% CI: 1.42–4.18) for total death and 4.49 (95% CI: 1.82–11.05) for cardiovascular death. CONCLUSIONS A significant association between mild aICAS and mortality in stroke-free patients with hypertension was revealed. The results indicate that mild aICAS might be an imaging marker for cerebrovascular lesions in patients with hypertension and poor control of blood pressure and lipids in this population requires further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new integrated electrode-separator-electrolyte hydrogel is designed and prepared, which is composed of organic liquid crystal, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyaniline (PANI), and reduced graphene oxide (rGO). The organic liquid crystal is introduced into PVA hydrogel, effectively improving compatibility between active materials and hydrogel matrix. The PANI active material is in situ polymerized in hydrogel to prepare PANI-double-network hydrogel. It simultaneously acts as electrode, separator, and electrolyte for assembling flexible solid-state supercapacitor. It obtains an area-specific capacitance of 160.2 mF/cm2 and a power density of 101.5 μW/cm2 with an energy density of 21.0 μWh/cm2. This work provides a new method to reduce interfacial resistance of electrode, separator, and electrolyte of flexible solid-state supercapacitor, further improving its electrochemical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel ultrasonic cavitation (USC)-assisted low-speed WEDM (WEDM-LS) process is proposed to address the issue of low machining efficiency and the recast layer when cutting thick nickel-titanium shape memory alloy (NiTi SMA) workpiece. Based on the Rayleigh-Plesset model, the machining mechanism of USC-assisted WEDM-LS is explored. Firstly, considering the influence of WEDM on vapor volume fraction (VVF) in the flow field, the impact strength of microjet, which is caused by collapsing near-wall acoustic bubbles on the workpiece surface, is studied. In addition, the influence of a single bubble collapse microjet impacting on the workpiece surface and recast layer is simulated and analyzed based on water hammer effect. The results demonstrated that the microjet is useful for removing workpiece material. The verification experiment results showed that, compared to traditional WEDM-LS, the material removal rate (MRR) of USC-assisted WEDM-LS increases by 31.65%, the thickness of the recast layer reduces by 20.39%, and the degree of burn surface is effectively reduced. These machining characteristics indicate that the surface integrity of the workpiece is improved greatly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the effects of ultrasonic vibration and powder mixed on Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) are investigated. Based on the heat transfer theory, an ultrasonic powder mixed EDM (US-PMEDM) heat transfer model combining ultrasonic vibration and powder mixed characteristics is established, and the heat transfer model carries out a transient thermodynamic simulation for the process of removing the material during the EDM process, and through the experimental and simulation analysis of four kinds of EDM, powder mixed EDM (PMEDM), ultrasonic (UEDM), and US-PMEDM, the accuracy of the simulation is verified. The accuracy of the simulation was verified by observing the surface morphology after machining. The material removal process was analyzed under different machining methods and different concentrations of powder mixed particles. Under the processing conditions of fixed processing current of 2A, ultrasonic amplitude of 5 µm, and powder concentration of 2g/L, the material removal rate (MRR) of the PMEDM method was increased by about 26.3% and the surface roughness (SR) was reduced by 7.78% compared with that of the EDM method, and the material removal rate of the US-PMEDM method was increased by about 49.4% and the surface roughness was increased by 4.05% compared with that of the EDM method. The surface quality can be improved by adding powder mixing, and the surface quality of powder mixing is better than that of ultrasonic vibration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing the lifetime of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is one of the essential challenges for their industrialization. Although the external encapsulation protects the perovskite device from the erosion of moisture and oxygen under various harsh conditions. However, the perovskite devices still undergo static and dynamic thermal stress during thermal and thermal cycling aging, respectively, resulting in irreversible damage to the morphology, component, and phase of stacked materials. Herein, the viscoelastic polymer polyvinyl butyral (PVB) material is designed onto the surface of perovskite films to form flexible interface encapsulation. After PVB interface encapsulation, the surface modulus of perovskite films decreases by nearly 50%, and the interface stress range under the dynamic temperature field (−40 to 85 °C) drops from −42.5 to 64.8 MPa to −14.8 to 5.0 MPa. Besides, PVB forms chemical interactions with FA+ cations and Pb2+, and the macroscopic residual stress is regulated and defects are reduced of the PVB encapsulated perovskite film. As a result, the optimized device's efficiency increases from 22.21% to 23.11%. Additionally, after 1500 h of thermal treatment (85 °C), 1000 h of damp heat test (85 °C & 85% RH), and 250 cycles of thermal cycling test (−40 to 85 °C), the devices maintain 92.6%, 85.8%, and 96.1% of their initial efficiencies, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the affine projection algorithm (APA) has shown remarkable performance in Gaussian environments, but it will perform poorly in impulsive noise. The APA with the maximum complex correntropy criterion (MCCC) as the cost function was incorporated to address the issue of handling colored input signals in non-Gaussian noises. Nevertheless, the estimation accuracy of MCCC-APA is limited. In this paper, we introduce the complex kernel risk-sensitive loss (CKRSL) as the cost function to integrate with APA, and then propose the widely linear complex kernel risk-sensitive loss affine projection algorithm (WL-CKRSL-APA) to deal well with the colored signals in non-Gaussian noises. To strike a balance between the convergence rate and filtering accuracy, we utilize a proportional coefficient and interval updating strategy to obtain an improved filtering performance. To validate its effectiveness, we conduct simulation experiments through system identification and stereophonic acoustic echo cancellation (SAEC). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]