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Microwave sintering is a key technology for future lunar habitats, which has been verified by various lunar soil simulant experiments. However, nanophase iron (np-Fe0), a unique component of the real lunar regolith, has been ignored in previous studies of the microwave sintering of lunar soil simulants. In this study, microwave-sintering experiments of lunar soil simulant CLRS-2 with and without np-Fe0 at different temperatures were conducted. A comparison of the microstructure and chemical composition of sintered products indicates that all products of samples with 1.0 wt% np-Fe0 exhibit better properties than those without np-Fe0 after heating at equivalent temperatures. Adding np-Fe0 to the lunar soil simulant CLRS-2 couples well with microwaves, which may increase the real heating temperature in a sample, resulting in the product being solidified at 700 °C and a relatively dense product forming at 900 °C, thus improving the sintering efficiency. This study suggests that microwave sintering is an effective potential technology for future lunar habitats and road hardening because of the wide distribution of np-Fe0 in the lunar regolith. The technical parameters given in this study can provide an important guide for future lunar construction by microwave sintering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring plants growth dynamics requires continuously tracing their evolution over time. When using point cloud data, such a process requires associating the individual organs among scans, spatially aligning them, and accounting for their evolution, decay, or split. It is common to address this challenge by abstracting the point cloud into its skeletal form and defining point correspondence by Euclidean measures. As the paper demonstrates, standard skeletonization approaches do not capture the actual plant topology, and Euclidean measures do not document its evolving form. To address this alignment challenge, we propose in this paper a registration model that traces high-degree deformations and accommodates the complex plant topology. We develop an embedded deformation graph-based solution and introduce manifold measures to trace the plant non-isometric development. We demonstrate how a path-seeking strategy and invariant features capture the plant topological form, and then use a probabilistic linear assignment solution to associate organs across scans. By minimizing deviations from rigidity, our registration form maintains elasticity, and by solving locally rigid transformations, regularized by structure-related constraints, we secure smoothness and optimality. We also demonstrate how data arrangement and linear path-finding models make our solution computationally efficient. Our model is applied on high quality laser triangulation data, commonly tested in 4-D plant registration studies, but is also verified on low resolution and noisy pointsets reconstructed from a limited number of images by multiview stereo (MVS). Our results demonstrate 0. 1 mm levels of accuracy when applied to plant species exhibiting complex geometric structures. They improve by tenfold or more state-of-the-art results and transform correctly the plants form. Paper related resources are available at PLANT4D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to its high precision and flexibility, laser process system is widely used in laser marking, drilling, cutting and projection. Laser scanning machines are usually equipped with high-speed galvanometric scanning systems, which are inevitably accompanied by field distortion. The error compensation method can help improve the marking quality that minimizes inherent and random errors. This paper introduces a facile software compensation method for this purpose. Based on symmetry of field distortion, the length of four characteristic lines is required to determine the polynomial compensation function. The experimental results verified that the technique could effectively reduce the field-distortion errors in the galvanometer laser-machining system, which verifies the feasibility and effectiveness of the compensation method. Within the processing range of the experiment (100 × 100 mm), the average relative position accuracy is 0.00068 (＜1‰). In the light of these results, high-quality laser processing is promising for achieving by the compensation method. • Field distortion in laser marking were symmetric about the central origin of the projection. • A facile correction method was proposed based on interpolation with symmetric polynomials. • Compared with linear compensation, polynomial compensation is more effective in the entire marking area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The level of phospholipid peroxidation in spinal cord is increased in ALS mouse model. • Anti-phospholipid peroxidation treatment reduces spinal motor neuron loss in ALS mice. • The expressions of GPX4 are decreased in lumbar spinal cords of ALS mice and patients. • Knockdown of Gpx4 results in loss of spinal motor neurons and abnormal neuromuscular connections. • Intrathecal injection of GPX4 -AAV to overexpress GPX4 alleviates the pathological phenomenon of ALS. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by oxidative stress that triggers motor neurons loss in the brain and spinal cord. However, the mechanisms underlying the exact role of oxidative stress in ALS-associated neural degeneration are not definitively established. Oxidative stress-generated phospholipid peroxides are known to have extensive physiological and pathological consequences to tissues. Here, we discovered that the deficiency of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), an essential antioxidant peroxidase, led to the accumulation of phospholipid peroxides and resulted in a loss of motor neurons in spinal cords of ALS mice. Mutant human SOD1 G93A transgenic mice were intrathecally injected with neuron-targeted adeno-associated virus (AAV) expressing GPX4 (GPX4 -AAV) or phospholipid peroxidation inhibitor, ferrostatin-1. The results showed that impaired motor performance and neural loss induced by SOD1 G93A toxicity in the lumbar spine were substantially alleviated by ferrostatin-1 treatment and AAV-mediated GPX4 delivery. In addition, the denervation of neuron-muscle junction and spinal atrophy in ALS mice were rescued by neural GPX4 overexpression, suggesting that GPX4 is essential for the motor neural maintenance and function. In comparison, conditional knockdown of Gpx4 in the spinal cords of Gpx4 fl/fl mice triggered an obvious increase of phospholipid peroxides and the occurrence of ALS-like motor phenotype. Altogether, our findings underscore the importance of GPX4 in maintaining phospholipid redox homeostasis in the spinal cord and presents GPX4 as an attractive therapeutic target for ALS treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the phase 3 KEYNOTE-564 study (NCT03142334), adjuvant pembrolizumab prolonged disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) at increased risk of recurrence after nephrectomy compared with placebo (DFS at 24 months: 77.3% vs 68.1%; hazard ratio [HR] for recurrence or death, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.53-0.87; P=0.002).;Continued DFS improvement with adjuvant pembrolizumab was observed after 30 months of follow-up. Results of a post hoc exploratory analysis of DFS in patient subgroups based on UCLA Integrated Staging System (UISS) risk groups and disease stage are reported. Patients with histologically confirmed ccRCC (pT2, grade 4 or sarcomatoid, N0, M0; pT3 or pT4, any grade, N0, M0; any pT, any grade, N+, M0; or M1 with no evidence of disease [NED]) were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive intravenous pembrolizumab 200 mg or placebo every 3 weeks for up to 17 cycles (∼1 year). DFS was assessed by investigator. UISS risk groups were derived retrospectively from TNM stage, Fuhrman nuclear grade, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS). UISS groups were intermediate risk (pT2, grade 4, N0, M0; pT3, grade 1, N0, M0; or pT3, grades 2-4, N0, M0, ECOG PS of 0), high risk (pT3, grades 2-4, N0, M0, ECOG PS 1; pT4, any grade, N0, M0; or N1, M0), or M1 NED. Other subgroups based on disease stage were also evaluated. Baseline characteristics were generally balanced within subgroups. Median follow-up was 30.1 months (range, 20.8-47.5). Of 994 enrolled patients, most had UISS intermediate risk (n = 732 [73.6%]; pembrolizumab, n = 359; placebo, n = 373); 195 patients (19.6%; pembrolizumab, n = 100; placebo, n = 95) had UISS high risk, and 58 patients (5.8%; pembrolizumab, n = 29; placebo, n = 29) had M1 NED. DFS favored pembrolizumab versus placebo in the UISS intermediate-risk group (HR, 0.65 [95% CI, 0.48-0.88]; 24-month rate: 81.5% vs 72.4%), UISS high-risk group (HR, 0.77 [95%;CI, 0.49-1.20]; 24-month rate: 65.0% vs 55.9%), and M1 NED group (HR, 0.28 [95% CI, 0.12-0.66]; 24-month rate: 78.4% vs 37.9%). DFS favored pembrolizumab versus placebo across all patient subgroups based on disease stage (Table). Consistent with the results of the intention-to-treat (ITT) population, adjuvant pembrolizumab prolonged DFS compared with placebo for all patient subgroups based on UISS risk groups and disease stage. Taken together with results in the ITT population, these results further support the use of adjuvant pembrolizumab as standard of care for patients with RCC at increased risk of recurrence after nephrectomy. ©2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology, Inc. Reused with permission. This abstract was accepted and previously presented at the 2023 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium. All rights reserved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers the event-triggered predictive control(ETPC) problem for linear discrete-time multi-agent systems. To achieve accurate state estimation under event-triggered communication between agents, an event-triggered predictive control scheme as well as a novel class of triggering condition are proposed for synchronization of multi-agent systems with single-integrator dynamics, where the control input of each agent no longer remains constant but updates periodically within the time interval between two consecutive triggering instants. Then, the proposed scheme is extended to the general linear multi-agent systems. By comparing with the time-triggered control(TTC) method and the existing event-triggered control(ETC) methods, the control performance of the proposed ETPC scheme is almost the same as that of the TTC approach, and the communication payload between agents is reduced with much less triggering times than existing ETC methods. Finally, two numerical examples are given to verify the theoretical analysis and demonstrate the superiority of the proposed method comparing with some existing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this retrospective study was to establish the effect of the preoperative body mass index (BMI) on early outcomes of recipients after a kidney transplant, including liver and kidney function and fasting blood glucose recovery. Our analytical cohort were patients who had undergone a kidney transplant at The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC [2016-2019]. The BMI classifications were underweight (<18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (18.5-23.9 kg/m2), and overweight or obese (≥24 kg/m2). A χ2 test was conducted to compare differences between the patients in the different BMI groups. We enrolled 831 recipients in the study. The percentage of patients with normal serum creatinine and normal urea nitrogen in the BMI ≥24 group was lower at different periods after surgery (P <0.05). The percentage of patients with normal uric acid in the normal weight group was higher on day 1 and the first week after surgery (P < 0.001). In the first and second weeks postsurgery, the percentage of patients with aspartate transaminase/alanine aminotransaminase in the BMI ≥24 group was lower (P <.005). In the first week postsurgery, the percentage of patients with normal albumin/globulin in the normal weight group was higher (P <.05). No statistically significant difference among the 3 groups was found in the incidence of hyperglycemia (P >.05). The patients who were overweight or obese preoperatively had poorer renal and liver functions postoperatively. Targeted interventions to control or mitigate rates of overweight or obesity preoperatively should be identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Two poorly performing HCIC ligands were utilized to construct a dual-ligand system. • The dual-ligand system exhibited superior static and dynamic adsorption capabilities. • Molecular docking is used as an auxiliary tool to explain differences in selectivity. • The dual-ligand system separated antibodies from human serum with better performance. In conventional chromatographic ligand screening, underperforming ligands are often dismissed. However, this practice may inadvertently overlook potential opportunities. This study aims to investigate whether these underperforming ligands can be repurposed as valuable assets. Hydrophobic charge-induction chromatography (HCIC) is chosen as the validation target for its potential as an innovative chromatographic mode. A novel dual-ligand approach is employed, combining two suboptimal ligands (5-Aminobenzimidazole and Tryptamine) to explore enhanced performance and optimization prospects. Various dual-ligand HCIC resins with different ligand densities were synthesized by adjusting the ligand ratio and concentration. The resins were characterized to assess appearance, functional groups, and pore features using SEM, FTIR, and ISEC techniques. Performance assessments were conducted using single-ligand mode resins as controls, evaluating the selectivity against human immunoglobulin G and human serum albumin. Static adsorption experiments were performed to understand pH and salt influence on adsorption. Breakthrough experiments were conducted to assess dynamic adsorption capacity of the novel resin. Finally, chromatographic separation using human serum was performed to evaluate the purity and yield of the resin. Results indicated that the dual-ligand HCIC resin designed for human antibodies demonstrates exceptional selectivity, surpassing not only single ligand states but also outperforming certain high-performing ligand types, particularly under specific salt and pH conditions. Ultimately, a high yield of 83.9 % and purity of 96.7 % were achieved in the separation of hIgG from human serum with the dual-ligand HCIC, significantly superior to the single-ligand resins. In conclusion, through rational design and proper operational conditions, the dual-ligand mode can revitalize underutilized ligands, potentially introducing novel and promising chromatographic modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] A concise and collective biomimetic synthesis of myrtucommulones K-L and N, as well as callistiviminenes F-H, has been achieved utilizing a mild Me 2 AlCl-mediated hetero-Diels-Alder reaction as a pivotal step, all in only three steps without the need for protecting groups from readily available compounds. This approach exhibits excellent regioselectivity and good diastereoselectivity, operates under exceptionally mild conditions , and delivers good yields. Furthermore, this synthesis has led to the revision of the structure of myrtucommulone L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have garnered significant attention due to their exceptional thermoelectric properties. In this study, 2D Janus HfXY (X≠Y, X/Y=Cl, Br, I) monolayer materials are comprehensively examined using ab initio methods to ascertain their potential as promising thermoelectric (TE) materials. Our predictions reveal that these Janus materials exhibit favorable dynamic, thermal and mechanical stabilities. These materials are predicted to exhibit semiconductor characteristics, showcasing indirect HSE06 band gaps ranging from 1.30 eV to 1.44 eV when accounting for the spin-coupling effect. Furthermore, the calculated lattice thermal conductivities are 22.38 W/mK for Janus HfBrCl, 11.86 W/mK for Janus HfBrI, and 7.79 W/mK for Janus HfClI monolayers. These figures notably reside below the thermal conductivities found in the extensively employed transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs). These Janus materials are predicted to have higher electron carrier mobilities ranging from 1220 cm2/sV to 4289 cm2/sV, surpassing the majority of other 2D materials. The enhanced electron carrier mobility result in good n-type power factor parameters, ranging from 58.20 mW/mK2 to 247.40 mW/mK2 between 300 K and 600 K. Such merits of lower thermal conductivities and higher power factor parameters endow these monolayers with the large figure of merit (zT) values for n-doping types along x (y) directions: 0.87 (0.88) for Janus HfBrCl, 1.62 (1.80) for Janus HfBrI, and 1.67 (2.15) for Janus HfClI at 300 K. Furthermore, these zT values can further increase along with external temperature increasing. These calculated thermoelectric figure of merit values surpass those of Hafnium-based TMDCs. Our study highlights the promising prospects of 2D Janus HfXY (X≠Y, X/Y=Cl, Br, I) monolayers as strong contenders for applications in thermoelectric conversion devices. • The electron carrier mobilities of HfXY (X≠Y, X/Y=Cl, Br, I) ranging from 1220 cm2/sV to 4289 cm2/sV. • The electron carrier mobility ranging from 58.20 mW/mK2 to 247.40 mW/mK2 between 300 K and 600 K. • These thermoelectric figure of merit values of HfXY (X≠Y, X/Y=Cl, Br, I) materials surpass those of Hafnium-based TMDCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that seriously threatens the quality of life of the elderly. Its pathogenesis has not yet been fully elucidated. Ferroptosis, a cell death caused by excessive accumulation of iron-dependent lipid peroxides, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of AD. Uncontrolled lipid peroxidation is the core process of ferroptosis, and inhibiting lipid peroxidation of ferroptosis may be an important therapeutic target for AD. Based on previous studies, we mixed standards of icariin, astragaloside IV, and puerarin, named the standard mixture YHG, and investigated the effect of YHG on ferroptosis -lipid peroxidation in APP/PS1 mice. DFX, a ferroptosis inhibitor, was used as a control drug. In this study, APP/PS1 mice were used as an AD animal model, and behavioral experiments, iron level detection, Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation, lipid peroxidation level detection, antioxidant capacity detection, immunofluorescence, Western blot and real-time qPCR were performed. It was found that YHG could reduce body weight, significantly improve abnormal behaviors and the ultrastructure of hippocampal neurons in APP/PS1 mice. The results of biochemical tests showed that YHG reduced the contents of iron, malondialdehyde (MDA) and lipid peroxide (LPO) in brain tissue and serum, and increased the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione (GSH). Immunofluorescence, WesternBlot and real-time qPCR results showed that YHG could promote the expression of solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), solute carrier family 3 member 2 (SLC3A2) and glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4). Inhibited the expression of long-chain acyllipid coenzyme a synthetase 4(ACSL4) and lysophosphatidyltransferase 3 (LPCAT3). This study suggests that the mechanism by which YHG improves cognitive dysfunction in APP/PS1 mice may be related to the inhibition of ferroptosis-lipid peroxidation. • A combination of icariin, astragaloside IV, and puerarin, defined as YHG, was chosen instead of a single compound as a therapeutic agent. • YHG improved cognitive dysfunction in APP/PS1 mice. • YHG inhibits ferroptosis-lipid peroxidation in APP/PS1 mice, and the mechanism is related to the regulation of SystemXc-GPX4-ACSL4-LPCAT3 process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• UV/PMS and PMS-UV contributed similar SMX removal but different DBP formation potentials. • PMS-UV with a short time interval reduced TCNM formation risk. • High PMS dose in PMS-UV increased TCNM formation risk obviously. • PMS-UV in alkaline conditions enhanced SMX removal and reduced DBP risk except TCM. UV/peroxymonosulfate (UV/PMS) advanced oxidation process has attracted significant attention for removal of micropollutants in water. However, during practical water treatment applications, the PMS treatment must be performed before the UV treatment to achieve full contact. In this study, sulfamethoxazole (SMX) was selected as the target micropollutant. Four different operational approaches, including UV alone, PMS alone, simultaneous UV/PMS and sequential PMS-UV, were compared for their differences in SMX removal and disinfection by-product (DBP) formation potentials during chlorine-driven disinfection. Among the four approaches, UV/PMS and PMS-UV achieved over 90% removal efficiencies for SMX without substantial differences. For raw water, the trichloronitromethane (TCNM) formation potential after treatment with PMS-UV was lower than that after UV/PMS treatment. The time interval over which the PMS-UV process was conducted had little effect on the final removal efficiency for SMX. However, a brief (5 min) pre-PMS treatment significantly reduced the TCNM formation potential and the genotoxicity from DBPs. The formation risk for TCNM during chlorination increased markedly with increasing PMS dosages, and the appropriate dosage under these experimental conditions was suggested to be 0.5–1.0 mmol/L. Under alkaline conditions, PMS-UV treatment can enhance SMX degradation as well as dramatically reduced the formation potentials for haloketones, haloacetonitriles and halonitromethanes. This study suggests that proper optimization of UV/PMS processes can remove SMX and reduce its DBP formation. [Display omitted]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing accumulation of plastic waste in the environment has created novel habitats known as the "plastisphere", where microorganisms can thrive. Concerns are rising about the potential for pathogenic microorganisms to proliferate in the plastisphere, posing risks to human health. However, our knowledge regarding the virulence and pathogenic potential of these microorganisms in the plastisphere remains limited. This study quantified the abundance of virulence factor genes (VFGs) in the plastisphere and its surrounding environments (water and soil) to better assess pathogenic risks. Our findings revealed a selective enrichment of VFGs in the plastisphere, which were attributed to the specific microbial community assembled. The presence of arsenic and ciprofloxacin in the plastisphere exerted additional co-selective pressures, intensifying the enrichment of VFGs. Notably, VFGs that encoded multiple functions or enhanced the survival of host microorganisms (e.g., encoding adherence functions) tended to accumulate in the plastisphere. These versatile and environmentally adaptable VFGs are more likely to be favored by bacteria in the environment, warranting increased attention in future investigations due to their potential for widespread dissemination. In terms of virulence and pathogenicity, this research offers new insights into evaluating pathogen-related risks in the plastisphere. [Display omitted] • The VFGs is selective enrichment driven by unique microbial community in plastisphere. • The transfer of VFGs from soil to water escalated microbiological risks in plastisphere. • Co-pollution of arsenic and ciprofloxacin amplified the VFGs enrichment in plastisphere. • Multifunctional and adaptable VFGs tended to accumulate in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid-charging capability of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) can effectively alleviate the load on new energy vehicles. The electrode material's structure can be severely harmed by rapid charging and discharging, necessitating the use of electrode materials that exhibit excellent performance in fast-charging. In order to enhance the rapid charging capability of LIBs while maintaining a large capacity, we utilized nanotechnology and carbon coating to create Ge-CNFs, which are rod-shaped germanium/carbon nanofibers. These Ge-CNFs serve to mitigate the volume fluctuations of germanium. Ge-CNFs-(700) demonstrated remarkable electrochemical characteristics and durability, maintaining a 795.9 mAh∙g−1 capacity even after 100 cycles at 0.1 A∙g−1, a capacity of 281.6 mAh∙g−1 capacity after 5000 cycles at 5 A∙g−1, and achieved a Coulombic Efficiency of 99.76 %. Furthermore, the Ge-CNFs-(700)/LCO full cell achieving a discharge capacity of 124 mAh∙g−1 after 100 cycles when operated at a current density of 0.2 A∙g−1. The main reason for the excellent electrochemical performance was the ability of CNFs to reduce crushing by serving as a buffer to absorb mechanical stress resulting from volume changes when lithium ions are intercalated/deintercalated. The electrospinning technique used to create a rod-shaped structure, along with its outstanding electrochemical capabilities, showcases the promise of germanium-based materials for rapid charging in electric vehicles. • Combined the advantages of nanotechnology and carbon coating to design one-dimensional rod-shaped Ge-CNFs nanofibers. • Ge-CNFs-(700) exhibited ultra-high fast-charging performance and stability, retaining 281.6 mAh∙g−1 after 5000 cycles at 5 A∙g−1. • Ge-CNFs-(700)/LCO full cell achieving an excellent discharge capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) has been recently demonstrated as a potential diagnostic biomarker for thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA). However, its precise role in the progression of TAA remains unclear. In this study, TAA models were established in ApoE-knockout mice and primary mouse vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) through treatment with angiotensin (Ang) II. Our findings revealed a downregulation of ESR1 in Ang II-induced TAA mice and VSMCs. Upregulation of ESR1 mitigated expansion and cell apoptosis in the mouse aorta, reduced pathogenetic transformation of VSMCs, and reduced inflammatory infiltration and oxidative stress both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we identified macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) as a biological target of ESR1. ESR1 bound to the MIF promoter to suppress its transcription. Artificial MIF restoration negated the mitigating effects of ESR1 on TAA. Additionally, we discovered that murine double minute 2 (MDM2) was highly expressed in TAA models and mediated protein degradation of ESR1 through ubiquitination modification. Silencing of MDM2 reduced VSMC dedifferentiation and suppressed oxidative stress. However, these effects were reversed upon further silencing of ESR1. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that MDM2 activates MIF by mediating ESR1 degradation, thus promoting VSMC dedifferentiation and oxidative stress during TAA progression. • ESR1 is downregulated in TAA and correlates with oxidative stress. • ESR1 upregulation alleviates aorta expansion and oxidative stress in TAA mice. • ESR1 upregulation alleviates Ang II-induced VSMC dedifferentiation and oxidative stress. • MDM2 mediates ESR1 protein degradation to rescue MIF transcription. • MDM2 silencing attenuates VSMC transition, whereas MIF upregulation augments it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Fabry-Perot resonant cavity has been recognized as a crucial mechanism for confining Terahertz (THz) waves. However, the efficiency of the Fabry-Perot device has been hampered by the absence of lossless materials. In this study, we present a Fabry-Perot resonant cavity with enhanced efficiency, utilizing one-step laser-induced graphene without complex fabrication process. Firstly, the THz response of the samples induced by varying laser power and scanning velocity is systematically studied and measured through Terahertz frequency-domain spectroscopy (THz-FDS). Subsequently, Fourier transform is applied to facilitate quantitative analysis of the resonance intensity. Finally, the optimal resonance intensity of the device is achieved by dynamically adjusting the laser power and scanning velocity. This research introduces an innovative and technically simple approach for enhancing light-matter interactions in the THz region. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal ions and organic pollutants discharged into various water bodies have caused serious water pollution, and the efficient removal of these contaminants remains a challenge. Here, we report a novel MXene/poly-melamine-formaldehyde (PMF) composite membrane, in which the PMF particles serve as spacers, and the –NH 2 groups of PMF and the hydroxyl groups of MXene nanosheets have a synergistic effect on the adsorption of pollutants, and the crosslinking of glutaraldehyde inhibits the swelling of the composite membrane. The MXene/PMF composite membrane with 83.7% PMF particle loading displays a water permeability of 381.2 L m−2 h−1 bar−1 (405% that of MXene membrane) and excellent adsorption ability. In static adsorption, the removal rates of Zn2+, Pb2+, phenol, and crystal violet reach 96.2%, 91.7%, 99.1%, and 96.4% respectively, 20∼100% higher than those of MXene membranes. In dynamic adsorption, the breakthrough volumes of the membrane for 2 ppm p-nitrophenol solution and methyl blue solution reach 75 mL (about 8500 times membrane volume) and 350 mL (about 39800 times membrane volume), and the saturation volumes are 1500 mL and 5000 mL, respectively. After cyclic adsorption/desorption for four times, the removal rate of the membranes still maintains above 90%. This work provides an efficient composite membrane for removing pollutants from wastewater. [Display omitted] • A novel MXene/poly-melamine-formaldehyde (PMF) composite membrane are prepared. • The introduction of PMF particles widens the transmission channel and increases water permeance. • PMF and MXene nanosheets have a synergistic effect on the adsorption of pollutants. • Removal rates of Zn2+, Pb2+, phenol and crystal violet by MXene composite membranes are above 90%. • After 4 times of use, the removal rate of pollutant of composite membrane is above 90%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel Ni 6 -based MOF was successfully synthesized and utilized as a molecular electrocatalyst for four types of alkaline alcohol oxidation reactions (AOR). [Display omitted] • A novel highly-connected Ni 6 -based MOF (CTGU-38) has been successfully synthesized and characterized. • CTGU-38 exhibits good electrocatalytic performance toward four kinds of alkaline alcohol oxidation reactions (AOR). • This work provides a new vision for designing molecular electrocatalysts for energy conversion. Designing economical and efficient anode catalysts is critical for the commercial use of direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs). In this work, a novel Ni(II)-based metal–organic framework (MOF), {[Ni 3 (μ 3 -OH)(TMBTI)(1,4-bib)(H 3 O)} n (H 6 TMBTI = 2,4,6-trimethylbenzene-1,3,5-triylisophthalate, 1,4-bib = 1,4-bis(1-imidazoly)benzene) (CTGU-38, CTGU = China Three Gorges University), was successfully synthesized through solvothermal method. Structural analyses reveal that the CTGU-38 possesses a unique Ni 6 (μ 3 -OH) 2 (COO) 12 cluster and 3D porous framework with a rare (6,16)-connected topology. Further electrochemical experiments demonstrate that the CTGU-38 exhibits good electrocatalytic oxidation performance towards various alcohol fuel molecules, including the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR), ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR), n -propanol oxidation reaction (NPOR), and isopropanol oxidation reaction (IPOR), with peak current densities ranging from 26.9 to 54.46 mA cm−2 in alkaline solution. These results indicate that the CTGU-38 appears to be a potential non-noble metal-based electrocatalyst for DAFCs, and this work provides new insights into the design of more efficient electrocatalysts at the atomic scale for energy conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical absorption (at room temperature), fluorescence (at room temperature and T = 78 K) and phosphorescence (at T = 78 K) spectra of solution of the molecular complex based on tryptanthrin with platinum chloride and DMSO [Pt(Try)(DMSO)Cl 2 ] (Try-Pt) was investigated. The positions of the first excited singlet (S 1) and triplet (T 1) energy levels were obtained. It was shown that in the excited state intramolecular singlet excitations energy transfer inside tryptanthrin π-electron system between two centers of optical absorption (that absorb equally) exists. It was found out the optical response of toxic influence of platinum chloride on tryptanthrin π-electron system inside this molecular complex as it is shown by us for a number of polynucleotides. Contrary to singlet energy transfer no intramolecular triplet electronic excitations energy transfer inside tryptanthrin π-electron system between both optical centers is observed. Taking into account the facts that such complexes can easy bind to telomeric G4 DNA the studied phenomena can be used for the design of new effective antitumor and anti-inflammatory drugs. • Optical absorption, fluorescence and phosphorescence spectra of the molecular complex [Pt(Tryptanthrin)(DMSO)Cl 2 ]. • The excited state intramolecular singlet excitations energy transfer inside Try π-electron system between two absorb centers exists. • No intramolecular triplet electronic excitations energy transfer inside tryptanthrin π-electron system is observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A staged data preprocessing strategy for honey peach young fruit is designed. • The SCAE is proposed to ensure the discriminability of the extracted features. • The SCAE is embedded into the DeepSORT to form the DeepSORT-SCAE approach. • The DeepSORT-SCAE can measure the spatially continuous trajectory of the young fruit. • The effectiveness of the developed method is verified by experiments. The young fruit bagging robot usually preferentially selects the object with largest prediction box size for bagging. However, due to the uncertainty in the output of the traditional models, the expected endpoint of mechanical motion may change constantly, which affects the bagging efficiency. This paper proposes a novel tracking algorithm for honey peach young fruit targets. Firstly, according to the proportion of young fruit prediction box in the original image, a staged data preprocessing strategy is designed. Then, the siamese convolution autoencoder (SCAE) is developed by combining autoencoding mechanism with siamese training mode, and the SCAE is trained in two-stages to ensure the discriminability of the extracted appearance features. Finally, the SCAE is inserted into the DeepSORT architecture to generate the DeepSORT-SCAE object tracking algorithm, which can measure the spatially continuous trajectory of multiple young fruit targets within video streams. The effectiveness of the developed method is verified by experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polysaccharide is one of the necessary macromolecules in life activities, and it is also a very promising natural product for tumor prevention and treatment. In this study, two homogeneous polysaccharides (APS-4I and APS-4II) were isolated from Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels. APS-4I was a linear glucan with molecular weight of 16.1 kDa, which was composed of 88.4% α-1,6-Glc p , 4.1% α-1,2-Glc p , 3.9% α-1,3-Glc p , and 2.8% α-T-Glc p. APS-4II was a novel polysaccharide with molecular weight of 11.1 kDa, which consisted of 55.4% α-1,6-Glc p , 10.4% α-1,3,5-Ara f , 8.7% α-T-Ara f , 9.2% α-1,5-Ara f , 4.0% α-1,3-Ara f , 3.6% α-1,4-Gal p , and 9.1% β-1,3-Gal p. NMR results demonstrated that APS-4II has a backbone composed of →6)-α-Glc p -(1 → 6)-α-Glc p -(1 → 5)-α-Ara f -. (1 → 5)-α-Ara f -(1 → 3,5)-α-Ara f -(1 → 3)-β-Gal p -(1 → 3)-β-Gal p -(1 → 4)-α-Gal p -(1 → 3)-α-Ara f -(1 → 3,5)-α-Ara f -(1→. Both APS-4I and APS-4II inhibited the tumor growth of B16-bearing mice, and the suppressive effect of APS-4II reached 64.7 ± 7.3%. Meanwhile, there were higher lymphocyte numbers and the levels of IL-2, IFN-γ, and TNF-α in peripheral blood of APS-4II-treated mice than those in APS-4I-treated mice. Furthermore, APS-4II showed a higher inhibitory effect on the proliferation of B16 cells and stronger promoting effects on the proliferation of splenocytes, the phagocytosis of peritoneal macrophages, and the cytotoxicity of NK cells. These results demonstrated that APS-4II could be a promising therapeutic agent for melanoma. • Two anti-melanoma polysaccharides (APS-4I and APS-4II) were isolated from Chinese Angelica. • APS-4I is consisted of α-1,6-Glc p , α-1,2-Glc p , α-1,3-Glc p , and α-T-Glc p. • APS-4II is composed of α-1,6-Glc p , α-1,3-Ara f , α-T-Ara f , α-1,5-Ara f , α-1,3,5-Ara f , α-1,4-Gal p , and β-1,3-Gal p. • APS-4II markedly inhibits the tumor growth of transplanted B16 in mice. • APS-4II exerts significant immune-enhancing effects both in vivo and in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A low response rate is the major challenge for existing cancer immunotherapies. Physical cues in the tumor microenvironment (TME) have been recognized as new hallmarks of cancer, which may synergistically contribute to low immunotherapy response. Recent evidence indicates that the physical hallmarks of cancer hold great potential as new targets for improved immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, carbon-based materials (e.g., graphene, carbon nanotubes, carbon quantum dots) have been used as electrocatalysts to catalyze the reactions such as hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Among them, graphene has attracted attention as an electrocatalyst, and its electrocatalytic performances have been improved by doping with metals and non-metals, surface and defect engineering, and hybrid development. In this perspective, the present paper reviewed the recent advances (2018 onwards) on the progress of graphene-based electrocatalysts for HER and overall water splitting (OWS). It is emphasizing strategies for optimizing electrocatalytic properties followed by challenges and future outlook. This review will provide the essential ideas and strategies that can help design graphene-based electrocatalysts of high performance that can be implemented for sustainable energy application. • Graphene-based electrocatalysts for HER and OWS. • Strategies for optimizing electrocatalytic properties. • To design graphene-based electrocatalysts of high performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Autophagy is critical for lipid homeostasis and proper function of adipocytes. • Autophagy-regulating microRNAs provide promising options in obesity therapy. • Tissue-specific administration of microRNAs is critical for their clinical use. • Autophagy-regulating microRNAs serve as biomarkers for diagnosis of obesity. Obesity is positively correlated with a variety of metabolic disorders. Autophagy is the major recycling process in adipocytes, dynamically regulating adipogenesis, lipid mobilization, and browning. miRNAs, a class of endogenous small noncoding RNAs, participate in each step of autophagy. Autophagy-regulating miRNAs are crucial for lipid homeostasis and proper adipocyte functioning. Herein, we summarize our current understanding of autophagy-regulating miRNAs related to obesity, as well as their specific targets. Autophagy-regulating miRNAs might fill crucial gaps in our understanding of the nature of obesity and provide promising targets for the diagnosis and treatment of obesity-related metabolic disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescents with mental illnesses account for a significant proportion of young people globally. Mental illness is a major public health problem because of its harmful effects on adolescents' development. There is a need to better understand the prevalence and protective factors regarding adolescents' psychological distress to inform policies for effective prevention.Methods: We used data from the Global School-based Student Health Surveys between 2009 and 2017. The data were collected through anonymous self-report questionnaires. This report is based on four questions assessing psychological distress and three questions assessing parental involvement. We calculated the pooled overall and regional estimates by random-effects meta-analysis. Logistic regression models were used to analyse the association between psychological distress and parental involvement. The association between adolescents' psychological distress and a country's purchasing power parity (PPP) was examined by linear regression analysis.Results: We included 167,484 young adolescents (boys, 47.3%; girls, 52.7%) in low-income and middle-income countries. The overall prevalence rates of psychological distress (loneliness, insomnia due to anxiety, suicidal ideation, and no close friends) were 10.7%, 9.1%, 13.6%, and 6.4%, respectively. A high level of parental involvement was associated with good mental health. The relationships of PPP with loneliness and insomnia due to anxiety were positive, but the relationships of PPP with the other two aspects were negative.Limitations: The cross-sectional data do not infer causality between psychological distress and parental involvement.Conclusions: This study indicated that high levels of parental involvement were significantly associated with a decreased likelihood of psychological distress. In addition, PPP was also related to psychological distress. Specifically, PPP was significantly associated with a decreased likelihood of not having close friends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chuanxiong, the rhizome of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort., is an ancient herbal medicine that has gained extensive popularity in alleviating migraines with satisfying therapeutic effects in China. As the major bioactive component of Chuanxiong, the essential oil also exerts a marked impact on the treatment of migraine. It is widely recognized that neuroinflammation contributes to migraine. However, it remains unknown whether Chuanxiong essential oil has anti-neuroinflammatory activity. To explore the anti-neuroinflammatory properties of Chuanxiong essential oil and its molecular mechanisms by network pharmacology analysis and in vitro experiments. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to identify the chemical components of Chuanxiong essential oil. Public databases were used to predict possible targets, build the protein–protein interaction network (PPI), and perform Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses. Moreover, cytological experiments, nitric oxide assay, enzyme-link immunosorbent assay, western blotting, and immunofluorescence assay were adopted to prove the critical signaling pathway in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced BV2 cells. Thirty-six compounds were identified from Chuanxiong essential oil by GC-MS, and their corresponding putative targets were predicted. The network pharmacology study identified 232 candidate targets of Chuanxiong essential oil in anti-neuroinflammation. Furthermore, Chuanxiong essential oil was found to potentially affect the C-type lectin receptor, FoxO, and NF-κB signaling pathways according to the KEGG analysis. Experimentally, we verified that Chuanxiong essential oil could significantly reduce the overproduction of inflammatory mediators and pro-inflammatory factors via the NF-κB signaling pathway. Chuanxiong essential oil alleviates neuroinflammation through the NF-κB signaling pathway, which provides a theoretical foundation for a better understanding of the clinical application of Chuanxiong essential oil in migraine treatment. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shear characteristics of calcareous sand, a typical deposit in the South China Sea, could significantly influence the safety and stability of marine structures. Previous studies showed that many factors, such as temperature and surface roughness, could affect the mobilized shear strength between the calcareous sand and steel surface. Therefore, studies on the shear behaviors of the steel-sand interface under various thermal conditions are necessary. In this study, a new multifunctional sediment shear system has been developed and employed to investigate the shear performance. For this purpose, steel plates with different surface roughness were tested under various normal stress values, shear displacement rates and temperatures. Shear strength and deformation were analyzed using test data to reveal the relationships between several factors and the shear strength of the steel-sand interface. Results from test demonstrate that the interfacial shear strength on rough steel interfaces will be 1.45–3.15 times higher than that on the smooth steel interface. Besides, the shear strength of the interface rises significantly with the roughness of the steel plate. The peak friction angle increases rapidly at the start and then tends to stabilize with the increase of normalized roughness. The interfacial shear strength could be enhanced in low-temperature environments but would reduce in high-temperature environments, e.g. the energy pile, particularly under low normal stress. The shear displacement rate also has a positive effect on the interface shear strength for most cases in this study. Finally, a new nonlinear function is proposed to describe the peak friction angle ratio of foundation interface to consider the effect of temperature and shear displacement rate reasonably. • A new multifunctional sediment shear system has been developed and employed to investigate the shear performance of steel and calcareous sand. • Steel plates with different surface roughness were tested under different normal stresses, shear rates and temperatures. • A new nonlinear function is proposed to describe the peak friction angle ratio of foundation interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Binder jetting (BJ) additive manufacturing (AM) technology is a competitive technology for fabricating ceramic and metal parts. In most cases, a high level of binder saturation is necessary to achieve sufficient strength for the green part. However, the oversaturated binder may lead to shape distortion and excess carbon residual of the green part. To solve the problem, a novel binder consisting of HEMA (2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate) monomer and HDDA (1,6-Hexanediol diacrylate) monomer was proposed to improve the green strength and reduce carbon residual of parts at a low level of binder saturation. The monomer binder curing under the thermal-initiated free radical induced polymerization. This paper studies the printability, pyrolysis, and curing kinetics of the monomer binder, and investigates the effect of binder saturation on the strength and dimensional accuracy of WC-12Co green parts. The experimental results show that the monomer binder enables WC-12Co green parts to achieve a transverse rupture strength (TRS) of 0.66 MPa at a low binder saturation of 20%, and exhibits high dimensional accuracy. Additionally, the binder exhibited a high pyrolysis efficiency of 97.66%, resulting in a low residual carbon content of less than 0.3 wt% after debinding. This favorable pyrolysis characteristic does not compromise the phase composition of the WC-12Co matrix during the sintering process. This paper provides a new solution for fabricating cemented carbide parts with BJ AM technology. • This paper proposes a novel acrylate monomer binder to improve the strength and reduce carbon residual of the green part. • The monomer binder uses thermal-initiated free radical induced polymerization to improve the curing efficiency. • This paper studies the binder pyrolysis and curing properties and the effect of binder saturation on the green part. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the security of multi-agent systems (MASs), this paper investigates false-data injection attacks that cooperatively compromise communication links to stealthily destabilize the leader-following control process. Different from centralized systems, the communication coupling of MASs enables attackers to have more complex adverse influences. In view of this, we focus on how attacks perform ripple effect by spreading their influences to the agents receiving no compromised communication data. First of all, the existence of cooperative false-data injection (CFDI) attacks is studied based on the spectral radius of system matrices. Further, we explore attack ripple effect from the relations between impaired agents and attack targets against communication links. Therefore, with the geometric and algebraic properties of edge-to-node incidence matrices, a necessary and sufficient condition of minimum attack targets is developed. On this basis, the protection targets of communication data are qualitatively analyzed to resist CFDI attacks in MASs. The numerical simulations conducted on a group of two-link planar robots illustrate the theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface plasmon resonance effect has been previously reported as an essential mechanism for terahertz wave sensing applications. However, due to its structural geometric parameters dependence, either the reconfiguration of the arrays or the realignment of the prism system is required, which always remains one of the challenges limiting practical applications. Here, a graphene-based phase-jump inversion plasmonic sensor (GPPS) operating at a fixed gap and incident angle is established. The optimal wave vector matching between specific analytes and the GPPS can be achieved by adjusting the Fermi level of graphene. On this basis, an ultrahigh sensitivity of 0.488 THz/RIU is achieved under the optimal Fermi level. Remarkably, the comparison between the phase spectra and the reflective amplitude spectra indicates that the phase-based FoM and Q-factor are two orders of magnitude larger than those calculated by amplitude spectra, which could reach 244RIU−1 and 218.5. The unique phase-jump responses on graphene surface plasmon resonance provide new ideas for ultra-sensitivity THz sensing methods. [Display omitted] • A tunable graphene-based phase-jump inversion plasmonic sensor is designed. • No requirement on reconfiguration of geometric structure or realignment of optical components. • The phase-based spectra occupy significant better sensing performance than the amplitude spectra. • The sensitivity is 0.488 THz/RIU, the maximum and Q-factor and FoM reach 244RIU−1and 218.5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Epoxypropyl dimethydodecyl ammonium chloride (EPDDMAC) were grafted on γ-Al 2 O 3 particles. • α-Al 2 O 3 were coated with EVOH and modified with EPDDMAC. • Using the TIPS method, the alumina particles can be completely encapsulated with less polymer. • γ-Al 2 O 3 /EPDDMAC particles and α-Al 2 O 3 @EVOH/EPDDMAC particles showed great antimicrobial performance. Antimicrobial particles can inhibit or kill microorganisms, and have been widely used as antimicrobial filler in coatings and polymers. Herein, we present a facile method to prepare antimicrobial alumina particles by grafting epoxypropyl dimethydodecyl ammonium chloride (EPDDMAC) on γ-Al 2 O 3 or ethylene–vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) coated α-Al 2 O 3.The results show that EPDDMAC can be grafted on γ-Al 2 O 3 or EVOH-coated α-Al 2 O 3 particles effectively, and the grafting rate rises with the increased EPDDMAC amount. The grafted composite particles exhibit excellent antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli and display great potential in antibacterial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces an innovative structure for a self-restrained grid shear wall with diagonal CFRP-steel composite strips. Steel and CFRP strips are interwoven to enhance the structural integrity of the shear wall. Quasi-static tests are initially conducted on two shear wall specimens with and without diagonal CFRP-steel composite strips. Subsequently, a finite element model is established to represent the self-restrained grid shear wall with diagonal CFRP-steel composite strips. This model is helpful for exploring the influence of composite strips arrangement on the performance of shear walls. Furthermore, a prediction formula is developed to estimate the load-bearing capacity of the CFRP-steel composite strips grid shear wall. The test results show that the yield bearing capacity, ultimate bearing capacity, stiffness and energy dissipation capacity of the specimens increase by 46.6%, 58.2%, 43.6%, and 16.3% respectively after the replacement of composite strips. In addition, the results of finite element simulation indicate that the diagonal arrangement exhibits the highest efficiency in the use of CFRP materials among three reinforced structural forms-diagonal, spaced, and fully arranged composite strips. This arrangement is also the most economical and has the least adverse influence on the internal forces of the frame columns. • Completely discrete steel slit shear wall into steel plate strips. • The steel and CFRP strips are interwoven to enhance the seismic performance of the shear wall. • The effects of different composite strip arrangements are investigated. • The prediction formula of the ultimate bearing capacity of the grid shear wall with CFRP-steel composite strips has been derived. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The characteristics of mixed chlorine/chloramine species were summarized. • Analysis methods of mixed chlorine/chloramine species and limitation are reviewed. • Concomitant issues of chlorine/chloramine species conversion were identified. • Control strategies for alleviating mixed chlorine/chloramines were proposed. • Future research directions of mixed chlorine/chloramine species were recommended. Mixed chlorine/chloramines are commonly occurring in real drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs) but often overlooked. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the occurrences, characteristics, analysis methods, and control strategies of mixed chlorine/chloramines in DWDSs. The characteristics of mixed chlorine/chloramine species are summarized for treated water in drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs), secondary disinfection facilities, and DWDSs where different disinfectants could be blended. The key to differentiating and quantifying mixed chlorine/chloramine species is to separate organic chloramines (OCs) from di/tri-chloramines and overcome certain interferences. The complex interactions between water matrixes and chlorine/chloramine species could accelerate pipeline corrosions, enhance emerging disinfection by-products risks, lead to off-flavors in drinking water, and induce bio-instability issues (such as nitrification, microorganism regrowth, and promotion of horizontal gene-transfers). Three promising strategies for alleviating mixed chlorine/chloramine species are recommended, which include (i) removing precursors intensively and reconditioning the treated water, (ii) combining UV irradiation to eliminate undesired chlorine/chloramines species, and (iii) strengthening monitoring, operation, and maintenance management of DWDSs. Finally, the challenges for gaining insights into the mechanisms of mixed chlorine/chloramine species conversion are discussed and promising research directions are proposed. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To measure left ventricular (LV) trabecular complexity by fractal dimension (FD) in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and assess whether FD was an independent risk factor for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), or a significant predictor for adverse outcome in this population. The study retrospectively enrolled 104 participants with ESRD who underwent 3.0 T cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) from June 2018 to November 2020. LV trabeculation was quantified with fractal analysis of short-axis cine slices to estimate the FD. Logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate FD and cardiac MRI parameters and to find independent risk predictors. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to investigate the association between FD and MACE. LV FD was higher in in the HFpEF group than those in the non-HFpEF group, with the greatest difference near the base of the ventricle. Age, minimum left atrial volume index, and LV mean basal FD were independent predictors for HFpEF in patients with ESRD. Combining the mean basal FD with typical predictive factors resulted in a C-index (0.902 vs 0.921), which was not significantly higher. Same improvements were found for net reclassification improvement [0.642; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.254–1.029] and integrated discrimination index (0.026; 95% CI, 0.008–0.061). Participants with a LV global FD above the cutoff value (1.278) had higher risks of MACE in ESRD patients. LV trabecular complexity measured by FD was an independent risk factor for HFpEF, and a significant predictor for MACE among patients with ESRD. • LV FD were significantly higher in patients with HFpEFcompared to those without HFpEF. • Mean basal FD was an independent predictor for HFpEF in ESRD patients. • Adding mean basal FD to the baseline model resulted in a better discriminatory ability. • ESRD patients with a global FD above cutoff value had higher risks for MACE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• OTA exposure inhibits the proliferation of porcine granulosa cells. • RNA-Seq revealed OTA exposure triggers DNA damage of granulosa cells. • The mechanism of toxic effects of OTA exposure on granulosa cells. Ochratoxin A (OTA), a feed mycotoxin, tends to impair the reproductive performance of animals. Our previous studies have demonstrated that OTA exposure inhibits porcine ovarian granulosa cell (GC) proliferation and induces their apoptosis, but the underlying toxic mechanism is still uncertain. In this study, we explored the OTA exposure on porcine GCs in vitro and found that OTA exposure inhibited the proliferation of porcine GCs and arrested cell cycle of GCs in the G2/M phase. The results based on RNA-Seq revealed that 20 μM and 40 μM OTA exposure increase DNA damage of porcine GCs in vitro. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of 40 μM OTA exposure were enriched in the pathways of mismatch repair, nucleotide excision repair and homologous recombination in DNA replication compared with control group and 20 μM OTA exposure group. Meanwhile, OTA exposure increased the expression levels of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) gene γ-H2AX, and DNA repair related genes, such as BRCA1, XRCC1, PARP1, and RAD51. Above all, our research revealed that OTA might exert deleterious effects on porcine ovarian GCs, influencing DNA repair-related biological processes and causing DNA damage response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spinel oxides have been considered as promising precious metal-free catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). However, the poor intrinsic conductivity and moderate electrocatalytic performance hinder their practical applications. Hence, various strategies have been explored and reported in addressing the issues. Herein, an elaborate approach for enhancing the ORR performance of spinel NiCo 2 O 4 is proposed, by combining the decoration of NiCo 2 O 4 nanoparticles on electrospun carbon nanofibers and defect engineering with rich oxygen vacancies on NiCo 2 O 4 nanoparticles through a facilely controlling on calcination circumstance, which could not only increase more active sites and improve the intrinsic catalytic activity, but also render an excellent stability for long-term operation. Thus, the as-prepared hybrid exhibits significantly improved ORR electrocatalytic performance, including a high limited current density of −5.8 mA cm−2, a positively shifting of the onset potential at 0.88 V and half-wave potential at 0.76 V (vs. RHE). The performance of rechargeable Zn-air battery based on the as-prepared catalyst surpasses the one based on Pt/C catalyst significantly. This work can be also applied to other metal oxides based electrocatalysts, and then provided an avenue for the realization of metal-air batteries and fuel cells with high efficient and cost-effective. Image 1 • Coaxial-cable like NiCo 2 O 4 @CNF with rich oxygen vacancies have been synthesized. • The conductivity and ORR activity of the metal oxide have been increased greatly. • The material showed superior performance in Zinc-air battery as cathode catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complex three-dimensional nanosheet structure of Zn x Fe y O was prepared by highly stable co-sputtering oblique angle deposition. Scanning electron microscopy was employed to observe surface morphology evolution of Zn x Fe y O with different Fe concentrations. X-ray diffraction was employed to analyze compositions of ZnO, ZnFe 2 O 4 , and ZnFe 2 O 4 /Fe 2 O 3 with Fe doping. Furthermore, specific nanostructures of Zn x Fe y O decreased band gap and increased visible-light absorption ability. The ZnFe 2 O 4 /Fe 2 O 3 sample exhibited higher photocatalytic efficiency than those of other films for the degradation of methylene blue. Addition of Fe led to the enhancement of photoelectrochemical properties of ZnFe 2 O 4 /Fe 2 O 3 compared to pure ZnO and Fe 2 O 3 , and photocurrent response of ZnFe 2 O 4 /Fe 2 O 3 was ~10 times than that of pure ZnO at constant potential of −0.2 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a perennial grass, Humulus scandens is rich in cellulose which can be fermented for bioenergy producing. Hence, the hydrogen production potential of the Humulus scandens from dark fermentation by Enterobacter aerogenes was investigated in this paper. Cellulase amount, inoculation amount, and initial pH value were evaluated. The interrelationship between these factors were studied by Response Surface Box-Behnken Experiments. Results showed that there was a significant correlation between the three factors. Through the correction of the regression equation, the optimized technological conditions were obtained. The amount of cellulase was 0.203 g g−1 TS, the inoculation amount was 42.6%, the initial pH value was 6.59, the pre-estimated maximum cumulative value of hydrogen production was 65.12 mL g−1 TS, and it was similar to the test mean value which was 64.08 mL g−1 TS. • Humulus scandens can be used for biohydrogen production. • Three factors affecting bio-hydrogen production of Humulus scandens was optimized. • Cellulase amount, inoculation, initial pH value have obvious internal interaction. • The optimum level of three factors in favor of biohydrogen production was obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, three different fermentation methods, such as photo-fermentation (PF), dark-fermentation (DF) and dark-photo co-fermentation (DPCF) for bio-hydrogen production from corn stover were compared in terms of hydrogen production, substrate consumption, by-products formation and energy conversion efficiency. A modified Gompertz model was applied to perform the kinetic analysis of hydrogen production. The maximum cumulative hydrogen yield of 141.42 mL·(g TS)−1 was achieved by PF, DF with the minimum cumulative hydrogen yield of 36.08 mL· (g TS)−1 had the shortest lag time of 4.33 h, and DPCF had the maximum initial hydrogen production rate of 1.88 mL· (g TS)−1·h−1 and maximum initial hydrogen content of 44.40%. The results also indicated PF was an acid-consuming process with a low total VFAs concentration level of 2.90–4.19 g·L−1, DF was a process of VFAs accumulation with a maximum total VFAs concentration of 12.66 g·L−1, and DPCF was a synergistic process in which the total VFAs concentration was significantly reduced and the hydrogen production efficiency was effectively improved compared with DF. The energy conversion efficiency of PF, DF and DPCF were 10.12%, 2.58% and 6.45%, respectively. • PF, DF and DPCF for bio-hydrogen production from corn stover were compared. • PF was a more promising method for bio-hydrogen production from corn stover. • DPCF effectively improved the hydrogen production efficiency when compared to DF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel technology (co-sputtering oblique angle deposition) was used for fabricating W-doped Bi 2 O 3 films. After further annealing at 500 °C, the surface morphologies and microstructures of the films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. With increase in the sputtering current of W target in co-sputtering process, the surface morphology of W-doped Bi 2 O 3 films changed significantly. The mechanism of morphology evolution was systematically studied. The optical properties of W-doped Bi 2 O 3 films such as band gap and photocatalytic performance were also investigated. The results indicate that this co-sputtering oblique angle deposition technology is a promising new method for investigating the nanostructures photocatalytic and other performance of doped materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under investigation in this work is a longitudinal wave motion equation, which describes the solitary waves propagation with dispersion caused by transverse Poisson's effect in a magneto-electro-elastic circular rod. The Lie symmetry method is employed to study its vector fields and optimal systems, respectively. Furthermore, the symmetry reductions and eight families of soliton wave solutions of the equation are obtained on the basis of the optimal systems, including hyperbolic-type and trigonometric-type solutions. Two of reduced equations are Painlevé-like equations. Finally, by virtue of conservation law multiplier, the complete set of local conservation laws of the equation for the arbitrary constant coefficients is well constructed with a detailed derivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers the problems on the existence and uniqueness, the p th(p ≥ 1)-moment and the almost sure stability with a general decay for the global solution of stochastic delay differential equations with Markovian switching, when the drift term and the diffusion term satisfy the locally Lipschitz condition and the monotonicity condition. By using the Lyapunov function approach, the Barbalat Lemma and the nonnegative semi-martingale convergence theorem, some sufficient conditions are proposed to guarantee the existence and uniqueness as well as the stability with a general decay for the global solution of such equations. It is mentioned that, in this paper, the time-varying delay is a bounded measurable function. The derived stability results are more general, which not only include the exponential stability but also the polynomial stability as well as the logarithmic one. At last, two examples are given to show the effectiveness of the theoretical results obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the scheduling problem arising from refueling multiple geosynchronous (GEO) satellites with multiple servicing vehicles [many-to-many (M2M) refueling]. The problem is defined by a set of potential fuel tanker locations, a homogeneous fleet of servicing vehicles with limited capacities, and a set of fuel-deficient GEO satellites with known fuel demands. The objective is to open a subset of fuel tankers, to assign GEO satellites to these tankers and to design vehicle servicing sequences, in order to minimize the total mission costs. To achieve such an economical refueling strategy, the fuel tanker location and routing decision are required to be determined simultaneously. It is shown that this problem can be formulated as a location-routing problem (LRP) which is obviously NP-hard. In order to solve it, an ant colony optimization (ACO) metaheuristic that features a special solution representation scheme is proposed. The proposed algorithm is then tested on two types of instances depending on whether the cost for opening a fuel tanker is considered or not. Numerical experiments show that both the consideration of the fuel tanker opening costs and their locations do affect the refueling schedule. Furthermore, the proposed algorithm outperforms the existing approaches in the M2M refueling mission design, and it is able to detect the optimal refueling strategy on all instances containing 85 GEO targets with 15 potential fuel tankers while previous works stopped at 15 satellites and 2 fuel tankers. • Scheduling of the multiple satellites refueling mission is presented. • Servicing vehicle routing and the fuel tanker location are considered simultaneously. • An ant colony optimization based solving methodology is proposed. • A special solution presentation scheme is applied to improve the computational burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The twist angle has the most significant effect on the winglet of VAWTs. • The winglet's influence increases along the blade span towards the tip. • A winglet can weaken the tip vortex and enhance the power coefficient of the VAWT. Vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) have been attracting an increasing attention in recent years because of their potential for effectively using wind energy. The tip vortices from the VAWT blades have a negative impact on the power efficiency. Since a winglet has been proved to be effective in decreasing the tip vortex in the aerospace field, this paper numerically studies the aerodynamic effect of appending a winglet on the blade of a VAWT. Based on the theoretical motion pattern of the VAWT blade, this paper simplifies the three-dimensional full-scale rotor simulation to a one-blade oscillating problem in order to reduce the computational cost. The full rotor model simulation is also used in validating the result. The numerical approach has been validated by the experimental data that is available in the open literature. Six parameters are applied in defining the configuration of the winglet. The orthogonal experimental design (OED) approach is adopted in this paper to determine the significance of the design parameters that affect the rotor's power coefficient. The OED results show that the twist angle of the winglet is the most significant factor that affects the winglet's performance. A range analysis of the OED results produces an optimal variable arrangement in the current scope, and the winglet's performance in this variable arrangement is compared with the blade without a winglet. For the single blade study, the comparison result shows that the optimal winglet can decrease the tip vortices and improve the blade's power performance by up to 31% at a tip speed ratio of 2.29. However, for the full VAWT case, the relative enhancement in the power coefficient is about 10.5, 6.7, and 10.0% for TSRs of 1.85, 2.29, and 2.52, respectively. The winglet assists in maintain the pressure difference between the two sides of the blade, thus weakening the tip vortex and improving the aerodynamic efficiency of the surface near the blade tip. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pre-chlorination and UV disinfection are two common processes in drinking water treatment plants. Sulfamethoxazole (SMX), an antibiotic widely detected in source water, was selected as a precursor to study the conversion of chlorine/nitrogen species and DBP formation in pre-chlorination/post-UV process. The combined chlorine (mainly organic chloramines) produced in pre-chlorination of SMX can self-degrade and release free chlorine back again as pre-chlorination time goes on. With free chlorine dose increasing, the self-degradation rate of combined chlorine increased obviously. But the combined chlorine stopped self-degrading and remained stable around 1 mg-Cl 2 /L after adding 0.30 mM chlorine for 30 min. Post-UV treatment after pre-chlorination can enhance the degradation and achieve a complete removal of combined chlorine (including organic chloramines). Deamination occurred during pre-chlorination/post-UV process and deamination amount (-NH 2) per SMX concentration was 0.19 M/M. Radicals in this process had no obvious influence on chlorine/nitrogen species conversion. Direct chlorination of SMX had the lowest DBP formation potentials while the application of pre-chlorination and UV enhanced them. Compared with UV treatment only, dichloroacetonitrile formation potential of SMX reduced by 1.58 × 10−3 mol/mol-SMX (17.37 μg/l) after pre-chlorination/post-UV treatment. During pre-chlorination/post-UV/final-chlorination treatment of SMX, Br− and natural organic matter can enhance DBP formation and toxicity-weighted values. Acid conditions showed a very high DBP risk, while alkaline conditions could cut this risk obviously, especially for the toxicity-weighted values of these DBPs. Image 1 • Combined chlorine from SMX chlorination can self-degrade and release free chlorine. • UV can enhance the degradation of combined chlorine after pre-chlorination of SMX. • Pre-chlorination/post-UV treatment of SMX can lead to deamination. • Deamination in pre-chlorination/post-UV of SMX can reduce DCAN formation potential. • Alkaline condition can reduce DBPs in pre-chlorination/post-UV/final-chlorination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient synthetic approach for the synthesis of cyclopentenones containing a C–C stereocenter that relies on gold(I)-catalyzed Nazarov-type cyclization/1,6-addition of 1,3-enyne esters with p -quinone methides (p -QMs) is described. This tandem transformation exhibited a satisfactory substrate scope and passable functional group compatibility, providing a novel protocol for rapid assembly cyclopentenones in good to excellent yields under mild reaction conditions. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For about a decade, poly [ADP ribose] polymerases (PARP) inhibitors have been used almost exclusively to treat tumours that are deficient in one of the BRCA genes. In advanced prostate cancer, which is largely driven by the activity of the androgen receptor (AR), accumulating preclinical evidence has suggested an interplay between the AR and PARP, which could be therapeutically exploited independently of defects in the tumour's DNA homologous recombination repair (HRR) machinery. This includes the regulation of HRR genes by the AR, a mutual influence between the activities of PARP and the AR, and the co-localisation of BRCA2 to the retinoblastoma gene in the human genome. Based on these findings, randomised clinical trials have been initiated to study the addition of a PARP inhibitor to AR pathway inhibitor therapy. Three of four randomised studies demonstrated a significantly increased anti-tumour activity in men with metastatic prostate cancer, irrespective of HRR gene alterations. In this review, we summarise the available preclinical evidence that provides the rationale for the combination of inhibitors for PARP and the AR and discuss how it might contribute to the efficacy observed in the clinic. • The extension of poly [ADP ribose] polymerases (PARP) inhibition beyond homologous recombination repair (HRR) mutation–positive prostate cancer is a new concept. • Combination of androgen receptor and PARP inhibition improves outcomes in all-comers population with new metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). • We review reported molecular mechanisms underlying the synergy of the combination. • Further studies will elucidate the mechanisms of response to combination in HRR-negative mCRPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A simple and highly specific ratiometric fluorescence probe for AMP was firstly developed based on Eu-MOF and carbon dots. • The sensing platform could discriminate AMP from ADP and ATP through fluorescence restortion. • The probe exhibits a broad linear range of 1.0–80.0 μmol/L with LOD of 0.25 μmol/L. The selective detection of adenosine monophosphate (AMP) is of great significance for the study of cellular energy metabolism. In this study, a ratiometric fluorescent probe was designed based on europium-based metal–organic frameworks (Eu-MOF) and nitrogen-doped carbon dots (CDs) that could specifically recognize AMP. Europium nitrate and Disodium Terephthalate (Na 2 BDC) were used to synthesize Eu-BDC with red fluorescence. The fluorescence of the Eu-BDC was effectively suppressed due to water molecules coordinating with the Eu3+. However, the addition of AMP resulted in a significant restoration of the fluorescence of Eu-BDC, while the fluorescence remained suppressed upon addition of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). We developed a ratiometric fluorescence sensor that could accurately detect AMP by utilizing the blue fluorescence emitted from CDs as a reliable reference signal. Under optimal conditions, the Eu-BDC/CDs system for AMP detection exhibited a linear detection range of 1.0–80.0 μmol/L and a low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.25 μmol/L. The method displayed simple preparation, high selectivity and low cost for AMP detection. To our knowledge, this is the first highly-specify double-response biosensor for AMP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viscoelastic (VE) dampers can effectively mitigate the vibration of structures under dynamic loading depending on better energy dissipating capability and are widely applied in practical engineering. On the basis of the studies on the mechanical properties of the VE material, the nonlinear behaviors of the VE damper are frequency dependent which can be elucidated by the changes in storage modulus and loss factor parameters. In this paper, experimental results of the VE damper reveal that the mechanical performance of the VE damper is correlative with the displacement amplitude. Therefore, a modified fractional derivative model is proposed to reflect the softening behavior of displacement amplitude on the VE damper. This result demonstrates that the modified model is reasonably practicable and can accurately evaluate the characteristic parameters of the VE damper. In order to apply the proposed constitutive model to finite element software, an equivalent method is presented to transform this model into the generalized Maxwell model. A three-dimensional finite element model of the VE damper is established with ABAQUS for numerical analysis. And compared with the experimental results, it is indicated that the equivalent generalized Maxwell model is available. This work verifies the conversion of the fractional derivative model to the linear VE model is feasible and provides a useful approach for the utilization of the fractional derivative model of the VE damper in finite element software. • Investigated the softening effect of displacement amplitude on the VE damper. • Improved the fractional derivative model of the VE damper. • Proposed an equivalent conversion of the linear VE model and fractional derivative model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]